Oceania Cruises placed a $1.3 billion order for two new
ships.
At 67,000 gross tons and 1,200 passengers, the ships will be
the same size as Oceania's previous newbuilds, the Marina (2011) and Riviera
(2012).
When delivered in 2022 and 2025, the two ships will expand
the size of the Oceania fleet to eight, including four ships that were
originally built for Renaissance Cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio, who once
helmed Renaissance and who founded Oceania, said the new Allura-class ships
will meet "the strong demand for upscale culinary- and destination-focused
cruise vacations around the globe."
The design of the two Allura-class ships "will retain
all the warmth, popular design elements and signature amenities" of the
Marina and Riviera, a statement said.
The ships will be built by the Italian yard Fincantieri,
which said the two vessels expand its cruise order book to 55 ships.
The contract price for each of the two vessels is
approximately $650 million per ship.