Oceania Cruises has unveiled two entirely new culinary concepts that will debut on board the Oceania Sonata, the first ship in its new generation Sonata Class, which will be launched in August 2027, during a press conference at ILTM Cannes.
On board the Oceania Sonata will debut the most exclusive fine dining restaurant at sea, La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, and Nikkei Kitchen, a nighttime space focused on the vibrant fusion of Peruvian flavors with refined Japanese culinary techniques.
La Table will be the only restaurant at sea launched with the official seal of the celebrated Maîtres Cuisiniers de France (Master Chefs of France, MCF), a world-renowned institution dedicated to promoting French culinary arts.
The collaboration with MCF to launch La Table is the first of its kind on a cruise line and further strengthens the close relationship between the cruise line and this prestigious association. Oceania Cruises' two Executive Culinary Directors, Chefs Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale, have been inducted into this distinguished organization, making Oceania Cruises the only cruise line in the world with two MCF members overseeing its culinary program.
La Table will have only 18 seats and will offer an intimate and elegant experience, with a rotating selection of exquisite menus created by chefs Quaretti and Barale in collaboration with a selection of Master Chefs from France and around the world. It will also host the return of Oceania Cruises' renowned Dom Pérignon Experience, a six-course tasting menu paired with three vintage Champagnes.
Nikkei Kitchen will join La Table as a new culinary offering aboard the Oceania Sonata, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy dishes inspired by this fascinating and ever-evolving gastronomic movement. Born from the combination of Peruvian ingredients with Japanese techniques—whose roots date back to the late 19th century when Japanese immigrants settled in Peru—Nikkei cuisine is characterized by distinctive dishes featuring fresh seafood, vibrant citrus fruits, soy-based sauces, and spicy peppers.
Working alongside chefs Quaretti and Barale in developing the Nikkei Kitchen menu is chef Gustavo Sugay, who brings over 20 years of experience in this dynamic cuisine. Over the past 12 months, Chef Sugay has collaborated with the Oceania Cruises team to introduce a collection of 12 innovative Nikkei dishes at the pan-Asian restaurant Red Ginger, receiving an excellent reception from guests.
The Nikkei Kitchen menu aboard the Oceania Sonata will celebrate both Peruvian and Japanese traditions while embracing experimentation—a philosophy perfectly aligned with Oceania Cruises. The restaurant's bright and open interior, featuring a modern open kitchen, will reflect the fresh and light dishes served each evening.
“Oceania Sonata represents an incredible opportunity to reimagine the future of our culinary program, while continuing to offer the dining concepts our guests know and love,” said Jason Montague, Director of Luxury at Oceania Cruises. “La Table and Nikkei Kitchen symbolize what sets Oceania Cruises apart: our ability to unite world-class culinary talent with the creative freedom necessary to create unforgettable dining experiences. These new concepts reflect our ongoing commitment to innovation and to serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea.”
Chef Quaretti commented, “These restaurants are not simply new spaces on board; they are the embodiment of the shared dedication between Chef Barale and myself to our culinary craft, and we are very excited to share more about these special experiences in the coming months. La Table has allowed us to create a dining experience that honors the heritage of French gastronomy—a cuisine we are passionate about—while simultaneously driving its evolution. With the addition of Nikkei Kitchen, we can celebrate bold global flavors in unexpected and fresh ways.”
La Table will be an exclusively reservation-only space, limited to 18 guests per night, and a supplement will apply for the wine experience. Nikkei Kitchen will be a limited-capacity experience included among the cruise line's always-available specialty options, accessible on a first-come, first-served basis without reservations. More details about these two extraordinary concepts, including the menus, will be revealed next year.
In addition to La Table and Nikkei Kitchen, the Oceania Sonata will feature ten top-tier dining experiences, which are already synonymous with Oceania Cruises, such as the elegant Grand Dining Room, as well as specialty restaurants Jacques (French cuisine), Red Ginger (Pan-Asian), Polo Grill (steakhouse) and Toscana (Italian specialties).
Becoming the ninth ship in the Oceania Cruises fleet, the Oceania Sonata will be the first of four 1,390-guest ships in the new Sonata Class. Scheduled to debut in August 2027, it will be the most spacious and well-appointed ship to date, with 30% of its accommodations in suite format. A true masterpiece of design, it will offer a symphony of unforgettable experiences at sea, underpinned by the brand's passion for gastronomy and its legacy of serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
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