At Sea with Doug Newman

Oceania Cruises has firmed its order with Fincantieri for two new mid-sized premium cruise ships to be delivered in September 2010 and July 2011. In addition, the $1.6-billion order includes an option for a third ship to be delivered in May 2012. All three ships will be built at Fincantieri’s Sestre Ponente yard in Genoa.

At a cost of over $500m per ship, or over $400,000 per berth, this goes on record as one of the most expensive orders ever on a per-berth basis.

The interiors of the new ships will be designed by Yran & Storbraaten, in contrast to those of the existing Regatta-class ships, which were designed by SPACE the design practice (then known as McNeece). Y&S has already done refurbishment work on Oceania’s existing Regatta-class vessels.

The new 65,000 GT ships will be 782 feet long, 105 feet wide, draw 24 feet and carry 1,260 passengers on 11 decks. The crew of 770 will allow for a better than two-to-one passenger/crew ratio and the passenger/space ratio will be exceptional for a premium-class ship at 51.6. The new Oceania-class ships will be twin-screw, diesel-electric vessels with a cruising speed of 20 knots; 20% faster than the Regatta-class. The ships will, naturally, have two bow thrusters and all the latest environmental technology.

The ships’ 630 cabins and suites will average 50% larger than those on the Regatta-class; 98% will be outside and 95% will have balconies. There will be 4 Owner’s Suites, 8 Vista Suites, 12 Oceania Suites, 117 Penthouses, 457 Veranda Staterooms, 20 Oceanview Staterooms and a mere 13 Inside Staterooms.

The ships will have six dining venues: the Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill (steak), Toscana (Italian) and Terrace Café/Waves Grill (casual/tapas) restaurants present on the Regatta-class ships, plus a new French bistro and a new Pan-Asian restaurant. For dinner they will be able to seat no less than 150% of the ship’s passenger capacity at any given time.

Public areas will include the Main Lounge, Lobby Lounge, Horizons, Grand Bar, Night Club, Waves Bar, Oceania Spa, Art Gallery, Library and Card Room. The ships will include many popular design features of the Regatta-class vessels such as a domed, frescoed ceiling in the Grand Dining Room and the sweeping grand staircase in the Main Lobby.

You can read the full press release here at Oceania’s web site.

Click on the thumbnail below for a color rendering of the new ship. Image courtesy Oceania Cruises.