Oceania Cruises has revealed its inaugural itineraries for Oceania Sonata, the first ship in its new Sonata Class. Bookings are now open.
Debuting in August 2027, the 1,390-guest vessel will operate 22 voyages during its maiden season, sailing until April 2028. The programme spans more than 90 destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America, with itineraries ranging from seven to 16 days.
Oceania Sonata’s inaugural season will begin with a 14-night maiden voyage departing Rome (Civitavecchia) on August 7, sailing to Trieste. The itinerary includes calls in Italy, Malta, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia, reflecting the line’s destination-rich philosophy.
Throughout her European season, the ship will visit major cities such as Barcelona, Athens and Lisbon, alongside lesser-known ports including Paros, Koper and Sarandë. A number of overnight stays are also planned, allowing guests more time ashore in destinations such as Istanbul, Livorno and Bordeaux.
Following the Mediterranean programme, Oceania Sonata will cross the Atlantic to Miami to begin her inaugural tropical season, calling at ports across the Caribbean and Latin America. Highlights include Bridgetown, Tortola, Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa and Puerto Quetzal, as well as a daylight transit of the Panama Canal.
Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer at Oceania Cruises, said the inaugural season sets the tone for the Sonata Class, combining cultural diversity, geographic variety and “meaningful, unrushed freedom to explore the world.”
Fred. Olsen appoints cruise industry’s first Composer-in-Residence
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has appointed composer Benjamin Squires as the cruise industry’s first ever Composer-in-Residence, with plans to create an original musical score inspired by life at sea.
Squires will join a Fred. Olsen voyage this spring, using his time onboard to compose a soundtrack that reflects the full cruise experience – from the anticipation of setting sail to awe-inspiring moments such as witnessing the Northern Lights. The initiative marks a new approach to storytelling at sea, designed to deepen guests’ emotional connection to cruising.
Known for his work across film, TV and interdisciplinary performance, Squires’ recent credits include trailers for major Hollywood releases such as Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as the Netflix documentary Tiny Creatures. The Fred. Olsen project represents a departure from his usual work, creating a single narrative score inspired by an entire journey.
In March, Squires will sail on a northern lights cruise aboard Bolette, where he will have full access to the ship, its crew and guests to inform the composition. The finished soundtrack will be performed and recorded by a 60-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios before being released on Spotify.
The project follows new research commissioned by Fred. Olsen showing the strong link between music and travel memories, with 79% of Brits associating specific songs with past holidays and 86% saying music is important to their holiday experience.
Doug Glenwright, Guest Experience Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said the initiative would allow guests to relive their holidays long after returning home, while offering non-cruisers “a taste of the experience” through music.
Atlas Ocean Voyages plans first luxury expedition sailing yacht
Atlas Ocean Voyages has announced it is building its first-ever luxury expedition sailing yacht, marking a major milestone in the brand’s ongoing growth within the luxury expedition cruise sector.
The new Atlas-class vessel, Atlas Adventurer, will accommodate up to 400 guests, supported by a crew of 275, and will offer all-suite accommodation across every category. Designed to significantly expand the onboard experience, the yacht will feature increased space, enhanced amenities and an extended range of dining, wellness and social options, while retaining Atlas’ signature boutique hospitality.
Onboard facilities will include seven dining venues, five lounges and cocktail bars, two outdoor bars, a culinary studio, an expanded fitness and wellness centre, a large swimming pool and dedicated expedition infrastructure such as Zodiacs, luxury motorboats and a marina platform with an ocean pool.
Scheduled to enter service in late 2028, Atlas Adventurer will sail itineraries across Asia – including Japan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asia – and Africa, to destinations such as Seychelles, Madagascar and South Africa.
The 26,000-gross-tonne yacht has been designed with sustainability at its core, featuring hybrid propulsion, dual-fuel engines, a large marine battery system and three carbon masts with solid sails. When conditions allow, the vessel will be capable of zero-emission, near-silent sailing. It will also feature Ice Class 1B capability, enabling exploration across a wide range of global destinations.
James A. Rodriguez, President and CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages, said the new vessel would allow the line to expand into regions guests have been requesting, while reinforcing its position in the luxury expedition category.
Further details on suites, onboard experiences and itineraries will be released in the coming months, with early booking incentives including bonus savings and air credits available on select voyages.
Regent Seven Seas introduces evening dining at Pool Grill
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled a new relaxed dining option across its fleet, with the introduction of evening service at the Pool Grill, complemented by a new gourmet pizzeria menu.
Available nightly from 18.00 to 21.00, weather permitting, the Pool Grill will transform into an al fresco evening venue, offering guests a more casual dining experience while maintaining Regent’s ultra-luxury standards. The new concept is now available across The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet®.
Evening menus at the Pool Grill will include freshly prepared favourites such as strip loin minute steak, rosemary roasted chicken, Provençal-marinated lamb chops and vegetable kebabs, alongside an expanded salad bar and appetisers including hummus with pita chips and Caprese and Greek salads.
The enhanced pizzeria menu, which debuted on Seven Seas Mariner following its December 2025 dry dock, features handcrafted pizzas made with premium ingredients. The menu is now available on Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Grandeur and Seven Seas Splendor, and will be introduced on Seven Seas Voyager after its May 2026 refurbishment, as well as on Seven Seas Prestige upon launch later this year.
Guests can also enjoy a curated selection of sparkling wines and Champagne, with the adjacent Pool Bar open throughout the day and evening.
Carnival Cruise Line launches adults-only sailings
Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new series of adults-only “Sailings Exclusively for Adults” (SEA sailings) aboard the Carnival Conquest, with Barbados as a key port of call on its Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries.
The invitation-only, casino-themed voyages combine adults-only departures with extended journeys to Bridgetown and other regional destinations. The inaugural cruise departed Miami on January 5, followed by a second sailing on January 17. Additional calls to Barbados are scheduled through the end of January and in August.
The programme blends adults-only casino experiences with family-oriented offerings, with Carnival monitoring its performance as it evolves. Each visit is expected to boost local economic activity, benefiting cruise stakeholders and supporting onshore businesses.
“Carnival’s special sailings represent a significant opportunity for Barbados,” said Tia Broomes, Senior Business Development Officer at Barbados Tourism Marketing.
“These itineraries attract visitors eager to explore, dine, and invest in authentic experiences, reinforcing Barbados as a must-visit Southern Caribbean port.”
Win Chelsea football tickets, fam trips and goody bags with MSC
To mark its partnership with Chelsea FC, MSC Cruises has launched a scratchcard incentive giving UK travel agents the chance to win match tickets and other prizes. Agents can earn a scratchcard by making a booking, promoting an MSC offer or delivering standout customer service.
More than 200 prizes are available, including Chelsea FC tickets, fam trips, beach towels and goody bags. Scratchcards will be distributed by the MSC Cruises sales team in person, with digital versions also available. The promotion runs until February 28, 2026.
Antonio Paradiso, Vice President International Sales and Managing Director UK & Ireland said: “We want to give our trade partners the chance to experience a Chelsea match themselves, so by booking, promoting or delivering excellent service, agents could win tickets courtesy of MSC Cruises.”
Football fans sailing with MSC Cruises can also watch live matches on board, with participating itineraries marked by a ‘Watch Football Matches on Board’ symbol.
