As Oceania Cruises commits more to the Australian market than ever before, the first of its Allura‑class ships has made its Aussie debut. Karryon joins the welcome party on board.
Arriving in Sydney on Thursday as part of her 2026 world cruise, Oceania Vista will form a key part of the cruise line’s deployment to Australia in the coming years.
Following its first visit, the ship will return to Down Under with its world cruise in 2027, and then stay for an extended season, when the ship will be based around Australia and New Zealand for “two to three months” (in late 2027 to 28), says Oceania Cruises Global Ambassador Steve Odell. Alongside Vista, Oceania Riviera will also return in 2027 after a full summer season.
Speaking to travel partners and media, including Karryon, on board the Vista in Sydney on Thursday, Odell says Australian cruisers can look forward to more investment in the region “not only as a source market, but also as a destination”.
It’s no surprise the company, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, will expand its footprint Down Under, with Australia the cruise line’s third-largest market after the US and UK. Odell adds that Australia has been one of the cruise line’s key source markets since its inception 23 years ago.
What’s coming up?
According to Odell, who has just relocated back to Australia after two years in Miami, the cruise line has five new ocean ships on order to be delivered between now and 2037.
“They’ll be slightly larger, by about 100 staterooms. They’re around 1,390 [passengers],” he explains.
“The first one of those is going to be delivered in August next year, called the Sonata.”
With luxury cruising “evolving a lot”, he adds that there are going to be more suites on the Sonata “because we find, particularly here, that we sell from the top down… because people in luxury are wanting more space”.
The Sonata will also boast two additional restaurants, including a “very high-end French restaurant” plus all of the restaurants on the Vista.
And as always, Oceania Cruises will continue to focus on its culinary offering – including a new partnership with renowned French winemaker Gérard Bertrand.
“We’ve been innovators in this area [on our ships]. But it’s about education. It’s about the short excursion you can take with the chef. It’s about going to markets and shopping with the chefs on board. It’s about the whole experience, not just what you eat,” Odell says.
Oceania Vista departs Sydney for an 18‑night voyage to Singapore via several Queensland ports, Darwin and Indonesia.
