Sonata (Oceania)

Sonata at a glance

Sonata is the newest ship in the Oceania Cruises fleet, due to launch in 2027. Here are the essentials a traveller sizes her up by:

• Known for: Oceania's signature culinary focus, with eight dining venues, onboard cooking classes and a dedicated fine-dining enclave for suite guests

Sonata sails the Caribbean, Western Mediterranean, Transatlantic, British Isles, Norway, the Western Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera, with departures from Miami, Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, Southampton, Trieste, Lisbon, Reykjavik and Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), among others.

Dining on Sonata

Sonata carries eight distinct dining venues, from an included flagship restaurant to intimate reservation-only specialty rooms — food is the centrepiece of an Oceania voyage.

The Grand Dining Room is the ship's main restaurant, open to all guests and included in the cruise fare. Menus change daily, with at least ten starters and ten mains each evening alongside the Executive Chef's tasting menu and vitality options.

For specialty dining, Polo Grill brings classic steakhouse elegance — premium aged USDA Angus beef alongside seafood such as grilled swordfish and Maine lobster. Jacques reimagines classical French cuisine by Master Chef Pépin, from Coq au Vin to Confit de Canard with an extensive cheese and wine list. Toscana is the Italian room, all Chianti leather, hand-blown Venetian glass and Carrara marble, with dishes served on exclusive Versace porcelain. Red Ginger brings Pan-Asian flavours — Thai, Korean, Japanese and Malaysian — to dishes like seven-spice lamb rack and spicy duck oil watermelon salad. All four specialty restaurants carry a cover charge and operate à la carte. Privée is the most intimate option: just eight guests per evening for La Reserve wine pairing menus, beneath a blossom-shaped ceiling installation and a chandelier over a marble table — cover charges apply.

Casual dining is equally well considered. Terrace Café offers an airy indoor-outdoor space running from breakfast pastries through rotisserie and grilled lobster at dinner. Aquamar Kitchen takes a lighter, Mediterranean-inspired approach — avocado toast and smoothies at breakfast, Lebanese bowls and fish tacos at lunch — and is included in the fare. Poolside, Waves Grill serves made-to-order burgers, herb-marinated fish and hand-dipped milkshakes, also included.

For coffee, Baristas offers 270-degree sea views, complimentary Illy coffee and fresh pastries in a Viennese coffeehouse setting.

Enrichment and activities on Sonata

Sonata's enrichment programme is built around the destinations she visits, with hands-on learning included in the fare.

The Culinary Center runs hands-on cooking classes led by onboard chefs, teaching the regional cuisines of each port of call — all included in your cruise fare, with optional chef-led food tours ashore available as an extension. Artist Loft offers painting, drawing, sculpture and photography classes with sea views through large windows; classes vary by voyage and are included. LYNC Digital Center provides complimentary photography and video tuition from smartphone basics to travel photography, while the wood-panelled Library with floor-to-ceiling glass walls is a quiet retreat for reading or destination research.

Active guests will find the Running Track & Sports Deck on the top of the ship, with open-ocean views, and the Fitness Center equipped with treadmills, strength training, a Kinesis® wall, and complimentary group fitness classes including yoga and Pilates (personal training is available for a fee). The Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center covers spa therapies, salon services and the fitness facilities — general use of the fitness areas is complimentary; individual spa treatments carry a charge.

The pool deck is designed around organic shapes that echo the ocean; sun loungers and the pool itself are included in the fare, while shaded cabanas and waterside daybeds carry an additional charge. The Casino, inspired by classic European gaming rooms, is complimentary to enter, though wagers and casino bar drinks are charged separately. The Boutiques carry jewellery, holiday wear and essentials.

Cabins and suites on Sonata

Full deck plans and every cabin grade are on the Sonata cabins and deck plans page; two grades worth highlighting here are the extremes of the range.

The Owner's Suite spans 235 m² as a two-bedroom suite, sleeping up to four guests. It is the largest category aboard. At the other end of the booking ladder, Concierge-level veranda cabins (grade A1) measure 27 m² and sleep two; the standout inclusion at this level is an extended room-service menu drawn from the Grand Dining Room's lunch and dinner menus — a benefit exclusive to Concierge-level cabins.

Suite guests across all suite categories also have access to the Executive Lounge and Concierge Lounge, both keycard-access private spaces with dedicated concierge teams and complimentary drinks, coffee and snacks throughout the day.

Where Sonata sails

The Caribbean is Sonata's busiest region, with the largest share of sailings departing from Miami. Browse Caribbean cruises in 2027 or, if the Med is your destination, explore Mediterranean cruises in 2027 or all-inclusive Mediterranean sailings in 2027.

Sonata also covers Transatlantic crossings, the British Isles and Norwegian fjords. Six sailings depart from Southampton — a useful no-fly option for the right itinerary — and others set out from Barcelona, Lisbon, Trieste, Reykjavik and Ijmuiden (Amsterdam). Browse all Europe cruises to compare routes across the continent.

Because every sailing departs from an overseas port, the cruise sits in the middle of a longer trip for Australian travellers. Cruise1st can book the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers alongside the cruise — one booking, one point of contact. That's what a Cruise1st Package is designed for.

Why book Sonata with Cruise1st

Cruise1st's Best Price Guarantee covers every Sonata sailing we sell. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week — before you book, they can walk through the difference between a Concierge-level veranda and a suite, explain what each fare includes, and make sure you're not paying for inclusions you won't use. And because all Sonata departures require a flight from Australia, our Cruise1st Packages are particularly well suited here: flights, hotels and transfers booked alongside the cruise as one complete holiday.

If you'd like to compare Sonata with other ships in the Oceania fleet, the Regatta, Riviera, Nautica, Sirena and Marina are all bookable through Cruise1st. For long Oceania voyages, see Oceania world cruises and grand voyages.

Alternatives to Sonata

If you'd like to compare before committing, these ships sail overlapping itineraries from the same departure ports — no flight differences to account for.

Seabourn Ovation (Seabourn) sails from the same ports and calls at many of the same countries, including the United States, Spain, France and Italy. Prices start from A$5,698pp*.

Seven Seas Grandeur (Regent Seven Seas Cruises) shares the highest country overlap of the three, also departing the same ports. Prices start from A$7,720pp*.

EXPLORA II (Explora Journeys) covers much of the same ground across the United States, Spain, France and Italy, departing the same ports. Prices start from A$3,035pp*.

Common questions about Sonata

When does Sonata launch?

Sonata is scheduled to launch in 2027. The sailings currently on sale with Cruise1st depart from late September 2026 onwards, so the first available voyages fall in that window — check the live search results for the current earliest departure date.

Are specialty restaurants on Sonata included in the cruise fare?

The Grand Dining Room, Terrace Café, Aquamar Kitchen and Waves Grill are all included. The specialty restaurants — Polo Grill, Jacques, Toscana, Red Ginger and Privée — operate à la carte with a cover charge, so dining there is an additional cost. Baristas coffee is complimentary.

Which cabin grade gives the most value for Sonata?

That depends on what you want from the sailing. Concierge-level veranda cabins (A1) include an extended room-service menu from the Grand Dining Room — a meaningful upgrade for guests who like dining privately — while suite guests also gain access to the Executive Lounge and Concierge Lounge. Cruise1st's Australian cruise experts can compare grades for your specific itinerary seven days a week.

Do I need to fly to join Sonata?

Yes — all Sonata sailings depart from overseas ports including Miami, Rome, Barcelona, Southampton, Trieste and Lisbon, so Australian travellers will need to fly. A Cruise1st Package covers flights, hotels and transfers alongside the cruise as a single booking.

What is the longest sailing available on Sonata?

The longest Sonata voyage currently on sale runs to 59 nights. Shorter sailings and repositioning cruise deals are also available across the regions she covers.