Oceania Converts Nautica Into Suite-Heavy Aurelia for World Cruises

Oceania Cruises will convert Oceania Nautica into Oceania Aurelia, bringing the ship back in late 2027 as a lower-capacity vessel configured for extended global itineraries. The ship is slated to operate the line’s 180-day Around the World voyages in 2028 and 2029, as well as a series of Grand Voyages.

The project shifts Nautica toward more suites and fewer passengers after more than 25 years in operation. The finished ship will carry fewer than 500 guests and 400 officers and crew, down from Nautica’s 670-guest double-occupancy capacity, and will have 238 accommodations, including 179 suites.

A smaller suite mix for extended voyages

Built in 2000, Nautica is a 30,277-gross-ton ship measuring 593.7 feet in length. The vessel joined Oceania’s fleet in 2005 and was previously refurbished in 2022; the Aurelia conversion will move it into the next phase of OceaniaNEXT, the line’s fleetwide upgrade program.

Jason Montague, chief luxury officer of Oceania Cruises, said the ship is being designed for “guests who desire greater space, more suites and a deeper level of personalized care, particularly for extended journeys.” He said Aurelia would be a “smaller, more club-like ship” for longer cruises.

The suite mix will include remastered Owner’s, Vista and Penthouse Suites, plus new Oceania Suites, Horizon Suites, Oceanview Suites and Inside Suites. Most suites will exceed 300 square feet, with selected accommodations reaching up to 1,000 square feet, and many will include separate living and dining areas. Suites will also offer dedicated butler service.

Oceania did not disclose a project cost or identify the shipyard for the conversion.

Dining and enrichment changes

Dining venues planned for Aurelia include The Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Toscana, Terrace Café, Waves Grill and an evening Pizzeria. Baristas, the line’s coffee venue, will move to Horizons and add The Bakery and the Crêperie, while the new Founders Bar will offer mixology programming.

The ship’s enrichment program will add a Chef’s Studio for culinary workshops, alongside Artist Loft, the LYNC Digital Center and guest speaker programming. Oceania will also give all passengers unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace for the first time.

Some of the announced venues are also part of Oceania’s broader fleet work. Oceania Marina is scheduled for a major refurbishment in fall 2026 that includes refreshed public areas and additions such as Founders Bar, Chef’s Studio and The Bakery, while five Sonata-class newbuilds are scheduled to enter the fleet between 2027 and 2037.

First sailings build toward world cruises

Aurelia’s inaugural season is scheduled to begin with European sailings in late 2027, starting with a seven-day Rome-to-Trieste cruise departing Nov. 29. The early program continues with cruises from Trieste to Athens, Athens to Barcelona and Barcelona to Lisbon before a 14-day Lisbon-to-Miami crossing on Jan. 4, 2028.

A christening ceremony is planned for January 2028 in Miami. The 2028 Around the World voyage is scheduled to depart Miami on Jan. 18, 2028, and conclude in New York after calls across the Panama Canal, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

The 2029 Around the World voyage will sail from Los Angeles to New York beginning Jan. 6, 2029. Oceania has also listed two 2028 Grand Voyages for Aurelia: a 78-day Grand Nordic & Baltic Discovery from New York to Boston departing July 18, and a 71-day Grand South America Adventure from Miami to Los Angeles departing Oct. 27, including the Antarctic Peninsula.

Passengers booked on either 180-day voyage will automatically receive Gold-level Oceania Club status, while returning guests will advance to Platinum level or higher. Guests on the 2028 Around the World voyage will also be invited to take part in the Miami christening ceremony.