Oceania firms order for two newbuilds

**Ally** · 06-19-2007, 04:33 AM

Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri have finalized the agreement for two 1,260-passenger ships for delivery on Sept. 30, 2010, and July 30, 2011, with an option for a third vessel to be delivered on May 30, 2012.

The total value of the three-ship contract at the Sestri Ponente yard is $1.6bn.

Oceania chairman and ceo Frank Del Rio predicted the 65,000gt newbuilds, to be designed by Yran & Storbraaten, will set ‘new standards.’

Features include six open-seating gourmet restaurants with the capacity to serve 150% of the passengers in a single seating. The Grand Dining Room will be an opulent space crowned with a frescoed domed ceiling. The four specialty restaurants will feature the line’s signature Polo Grill and Toscana along with two new specialty dining venues, an elegant French bistro and a Pan-Asian restaurant.

Each vessel will stretch 782 feet in length with a beam of 105 feet and a draft of 24 feet. The 630 staterooms and suites on each ship will average 50% larger than those of Oceania’s existing fleet. Ninety-five percent of the accommodations will offer teak verandas.

The newbuilds will be powered by diesel-electric engines and operate with twin screw propellers, for a speed of 20 knots. They will use the most advanced environmental systems and technology, the company said.

Fincantieri ceo Giuseppe Bono noted the order will further extend the Italian builder’s product range, which spans from mega-yachts of more than 70 meters to cruise ships of more than 113,000gt.