An Oceania Cruises Milestone: Taking Delivery of Vista

Today was such a special day for all of us at Oceania Cruises, and especially for the entire Vista shipboard team, as we officially took delivery of the magnificent, the elegant, the splendid, the brand-new Vista in Genoa, Italy!

I would like to express my appreciation and sincere thanks to everyone, and I mean everyone, shipboard and shoreside, across all of our ships and across the globe, for bringing us to this moment. It is truly a herculean team effort that took several years and tens of thousands of hours of hard work, sweat and grit. But it was time well spent as the ship is truly a masterpiece and the shipboard team exemplifies the spirit of Oceania Cruises – all hospitality and all smiles.

There is still work to be done in the days leading up to the arrival of our first invited guests, but we cannot wait to welcome you all on board. I know you will be as awestruck as I was the moment you first step aboard. And this day is not just about Vista, it's about all of our ships and the teams leading them – Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Marina, Riviera, and Sirena – as everyone on board has contributed to the growth and success of our brand. A great number of the Officers and Crew of Vista have been recruited from across the fleet to lead Team Vista to success and share our signature Oceania Cruises experience with our inaugural season guests. Below I’m proud to share Vista’s talented shipboard leaders, each one bringing a wealth of industry experience to their new role.

Vista Leadership Team

Captain Luca Manzi: Born in Chiavari, just east of Portofino, Italy, Captain Luca Manzi, Vista’s dynamic leader, has always been fascinated by life at sea. He graduated from the Marine Academy and the Navy Academy. With a career spanning over three decades, including serving as a lieutenant in the Italian Navy and commanding cargo ships, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role.

Staff Captain Edgardo Cossu: A native of Sardinia, Italy, Edgardo Cossu was born and raised in the small fishing village of Camogli, known as the “City of a Thousand White Sailing Ships.” Ever since he was a child, he had a passion for the sea, deciding to embark at a young age as a sailor working on small local ferries and private yachts. After graduating maritime nautical school, he began his career sailing around the world working on cargo and cruise ships.

General Manager Dominique Nicolle: Hailing from Brittany, France, Dominique Nicolle started his career as a trained chef working in high-end restaurants in Germany. In 1994, he entered the cruise industry during which time he has held multiple positions ranging from chef to general manager.

Executive Chef Frederic Camonin: Born in France, Frederic Camonin has been surrounded by cooking for as long as he can remember, starting with his family’s catering business. Since attending culinary school in Verdun he has myriad experiences to his credit including time spent at French restaurants and brasseries as well as catering. For the past 20 years, he has dedicated his life to traveling the world as a chef at sea, furthering his passion for elevated cuisine.

Food & Beverage Director Susanna Cahyadi: Susanna Cahyadi was born and raised on a farm in the North West province of South Africa. She completed her studies in hospitality management in Phalaborwa and worked at various private game reserves and lodges before joining Insignia in 2011. She relished her time on board and has expanded her career at sea ever since.

Cruise Director Paul Baya: Originally from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, Paul Baya now resides in Coconut Grove (Miami), Florida. He attended Lynchburg College in Virginia on a singing scholarship majoring in communications and minoring in theatre performance. In 1995, days after graduating college, Paul started working on board his very first ship which launched his illustrious career in the industry.

In closing, I'd like to acknowledge the phenomenal team at Fincantieri, our Marine and Technical Partners, our Travel Partners, and the amazing extension of our Oceania Cruises Family at The Apollo Group – it takes a village, and Vista is a marvel that will be enjoyed by many for decades to come.

With that, I encourage you to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in the coming days as we prepare for Vista’s much-awaiting christening on May 8, 2023, in Valletta, Malta. We have so many exciting inaugural events and moments we want to share with you. This is truly only the beginning.