The cruise line’s 67,000 tonne, 1,200-guest vessel touched water for the first time on Friday (25 February).

Giuseppe Torrente, shipyard director for Fincantieri, was joined by Monsignor Tasca, archbishop of Genoa.

The shipyard’s Madrina, Anna Trucco, released a bottle of prosecco against the hull to invite "good fortune" for the ship and those that will sail on it. 

Howard Sherman, president and chief of Oceania Cruises, said Vista is the "most anticipated" ship in the company’s history.

"I am thrilled to be here with our partners from Fincantieri as the ship morphs from blueprints and steel into reality," he added. "Vista is truly a ship of dreams, and we cannot wait to welcome her inaugural season guests next year."
 
Vista will sail its maiden voyage from Rome to Barcelona on 14 April 2023, followed by 12 additional European voyages prior to commencing sailings from the US to the Canadian Maritimes and New England, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean.