Oceania Cruises has marked a major milestone in the construction of its new 1,200-guest ship, Allura, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy, next to the seaport of Genoa.
In a historic moment of construction, the ship was floated out of the dry dock and moved to the pier to begin fitting out the designer interiors.
The ship was blessed by the shipyard chaplain, Father Stefano, in a discreet ceremony in deference to the recent passing of General Claudio Graziano, President of Fincantieri.
The Godmother of the Allura shipyard, Caterina Romeo, designer of the technical department of Fincantieri, christened the ship as is traditional, blessing the vessel and all those who would embark on it.
“Our hearts and minds go out to the entire Fincantieri team as they mourn the passing of General Graziano,” said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises.
“The launch is a significant moment for everyone at Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri, as we move ever closer to welcoming Allura into our family. Now that her hull is complete, we are excited to begin work on her interior“.
“We have many exciting upgrades on Allura, our eighth ship, further elevating our offering and firmly establishing Oceania Cruises as the only ultra-premium cruise brand“.
Allura is rapidly progressing towards its debut and is now entering the final stages of construction, focusing on its suites, lounges, and restaurants, all embodying Oceania Cruises' commitment to culinary excellence and destination immersion.
Allura will officially enter service from Trieste, Italy, on July 18, 2025, undertaking a six-day cruise to Athens, Greece, with stops at iconic Eastern Mediterranean locations such as Rijeka, Croatia; Ravenna, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Kotor, Montenegro.
Following her summer season in the Mediterranean, Allura will sail to Canada and New England for a series of North American immersion voyages before her winter season in the Caribbean, homeported in Miami. As part of her inaugural collection, Allura will also undertake a four-day round-trip voyage from New York in September 2025.
Allura is Oceania Cruises' eighth ship and the second in the Allura class, with a capacity for 1,200 passengers. It follows its sister ship, Vista, which was launched to great global success in May 2023.
The Allura's highlights include:
- A new creperie on board, serving freshly made crepes and waffles to order, as well as ice cream in the afternoon.
- A new library, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, oversized chairs, and residential-style furnishings.
- One chef for every 10 guests and 50% of the crew members are dedicated to culinary experiences.
- Five specialty restaurants, including the newest additions to the line, Ember and Aquamar Kitchen, at no extra cost.
- 1,200 guests served by 800 crew members; two crew members for every three guests.
- The most spacious standard cabins at sea, with an area of 291 square feet.
- Hundreds of shore excursions and guided tours to choose from on every trip.
- Onboard enrichment, including art classes in Oceania Cruises' Artist Loft, numerous guest lecturers, and sommelier demonstrations during Sommelier's Choice lunches and Cellar Master's Classic Wine Pairing.
- A spacious Culinary Center and Chef's Studio, where the onboard chefs will share their epicurean secrets.
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