Oceania Cruises to reimagine luxury cruise ship for longer voyages
Not long after reimagining its cruise experience by transitioning to an adults-only cruise line, Oceania Cruises is preparing to transform and relaunch one of its ships. The culinary- and destination-focused luxury cruise line owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings aims to set a new standard for far-reaching, immersive travel with its new ship upgrade project.
Oceania Cruises offers destination-rich voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days on its fleet of eight luxury cruise ships. By purposefully renovating one of those vessels specifically for extended voyages, the cruise line will upgrade its long, world cruise offerings.
Here's what luxury cruise travelers can look forward to as Oceania Cruises reimagines how its passengers sail on extended journeys across the globe.
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Oceania Cruises to turn Oceania Nautica into Oceania Aurelia
As part of the line's OceaniaNEXT initiative to continually enhance its guest experience, Oceania Cruises will renovate Oceania Nautica and relaunch it as Oceania Aurelia in late 2027. Billed as "The Ultimate Explorer," Oceania Aurelia will be designed as a luxurious, residential-style home at sea for long journeys, including the line's 2028 and 2029 Around the World voyages as well as a series of expansive Grand Voyages.
Inspired by the openness of Oceania's newest ships and the warmth of a boutique hotel, Oceania Aurelia will feature a spacious, intentional design and a club-like sense of community. Luxurious accommodations that feel like private residences will be complemented by sophisticated, inviting spaces to relax, connect, and unwind.
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Built in 1999 and last refurbished in 2022, the ship is one of Oceania's smallest vessels. Once transformed, it will be even more intimate as the renovation reduces its capacity from 670 passengers to fewer than 500 guests and 400 officers and crew.
Most of the ship's accommodations will be luxurious suites with dedicated butler service. Designed for comfort during longer voyages, most suites will exceed 300 square feet, with some spanning up to 1,000 square feet, and many will include elegant living and dining spaces.
"Oceania Aurelia is our ultimate world explorer. She is designed specifically for guests who desire greater space, more suites and a deeper level of personalized care, particularly for extended journeys. Oceania Aurelia will be a smaller, more club-like ship that truly feels like a home at sea, providing travelers a deeper connection to the ports they visit," Oceania Cruises Chief Luxury Officer Jason Montague said in a press release.
Global exploration will be enhanced by dining, enrichment experiences
Dining aboard Oceania Aurelia will offer another way to experience the world, with menus reflecting the regions being explored in signature venues. Coffee venue Baristas will move to Horizons observation lounge and add the Bakery and the Crêperie to enhance the onboard café experience, while a new Founders Bar will bring elevated mixology experiences.
To offer new enrichment opportunities for extended time at sea, Oceania Aurelia will feature culinary workshops at a new Chef's Studio, creative activities at the Artist Loft, interactive classes at the LYNC Digital Center, and guest speakers providing engaging talks on a range of topics. Additionally, voyages on the reimagined ship will include unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace for all passengers for the first time.
Related: Review: Norwegian Luna's spectacular thermal spa
Oceania Nautica's transformation into Aurelia will follow extensive bow-to-stern enhancements of the 1,250-passenger Oceania Marina in fall 2026, including redesigned staterooms, refreshed public areas, and venue additions including the Founders Bar, Chef's Studio, and The Bakery.
In addition to upgrading its existing ships, Oceania Cruises is building five new Sonata Class ships slated to debut between 2027 and 2037.
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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 5:03 PM.