At the dawn of a new decade, 2020 seemed a good analogy of perfect vision, with a new generation of cruise ships on the horizon. They boast being sleeker and greener than their sisters, offering more space and luxury along with innovative food and entertainment options.
But rather than being the belles of the 2020 ball, the debutantes have had to cool their heels as their debuts kept being delayed by the cruise shutdown. Now, hopefully 2021 will be their year.
There’s a Scarlet Lady with such unique attractions as a tattoo parlor and a drag brunch. Regent Seven Seas claims that its new arrival is the most luxurious cruise ship ever. And Windstar is cutting ships in half to add new mid-sections filled with attractions.
Here’s a look at when the first crop of the decade will finally be welcoming guests:
Seven Seas Splendor—even more luxury
Regent Seven Seas Cruises aims to offer even more of the features that Regent boasts make sister ship Seven Seas Explorer “the most luxurious ship ever. ”
Christened by its Godmother, the supermodel and actress Christie Brinkley and Grammy Award-winning artist, Seal in February of 2020. Sidelined just as it was about to start a globetrotting itinerary, the ship is now due to resume service in the spring.
An expanded roster of seven restaurants includes an exclusive Coffee Connection with the ambience of an upscale metropolitan café as well as new interpretations of the French restaurant Chartreuse and the Prime 7 steak house.
The 750 guests will enjoy distinctive public spaces as well, with 375 suites ranging from 307 square-foot veranda suites, to a lavish 4,443 square-foot Regent Suite. With a private in-suite spa with steam room, a custom heated spa on a private balcony with heated ceramic lounge beds, the Regent Suite also comes with a butler and car and a driver at every port for daily excursions.
Star Breeze–plus in size and options
So rebuilt they’re billed as a new category of ship, a trio of Windstar Cruises ships is being lengthened and rebuilt in a $250-million Star Plus program. The expanded ships accommodate 312 passengers, up from 212.
Star Breeze was the first to stretch, being cut in half and getting a new 84-foot mid-section inserted. Star Legend and Star Pride are getting the same stretches later in the year.
The additions include 50 suites, a new pool and whirlpool on the upper deck along with a re-imagined, world-class spa and fitness center and new retail zone. Every bathroom on the ship will be re-built and fitted to modern luxury standards. Each ship has combined existing suites to create two three-bedroom, two-balcony Owner’s Suites.
The changes are not just cosmetic, the company says. It also involves removing and replacing the engines to ensure a cleaner, more environmentally-friendly operation the two new restaurants that take advantage of the added space: the eclectic Spanish-styled Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso and a modern, alfresco Star Grill by Steven Raichlen.
Windstar was among the first to cease cruises and Star Breeze is now scheduled to return to cruising May 15 on a new itinerary departing from St. Martin. Three departures of Beach Fun & Sun – A Remote Caribbean Getaway, will be more adventure-focused with an emphasis on secluded beaches and water sports activities.
There’s a boxing ring on deck of Scarlet Lady–Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Scarlet Lady—unlike any you’ve ever met
The wild card has got to be Virgin Voyages’ first of a planned fleet of ships filled with music and opportunities to stretch the limits of what you can do on a ship, or on land. An outdoor boxing ring, a tattoo parlor and a test kitchen are among the can you believe it offerings aboard the adults-only Scarlet Lady.
The ship did only one inaugural cruise before being sidelined by the shutdown and is now scheduled to begin service with four-and five-night Caribbean cruises from Miami in May.
Passengers will be called sailors and the concept includes lots of music and opportunities to dine whenever you want with no fixed seating assignments. The on-board program is billed as Vitamin Sea and the fitness center, spa and salon are part of what’s called a detox package. Then sailors are urged to retox with drinks and dancing.
Celebrity Apex has a distinctive upper deck–Courtesy Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Apex–can you top this?
Celebrity Apex is the 2,900-guest sister ship to the game-changing Celebrity Edge. Delivered in April, 2020, it’s slated to finally begin taking passengers nearly a year later, in the spring of 2021. It features new-to-cruise features, including The Magic Carpet, a movable deck cantilevered off the side of the ship which rises from decks 2 to 16 and transforms into a bar, a restaurant and an extension of the embarkation area.
Infinite Veranda cabins are designed to blend indoor and outdoor using bi-fold doors, adding almost a quarter more size to the available space. The Resort Deck, features a large pool flanked by sculptural trees and two martini glass-shaped Jacuzzis that overlook the deck below.
A Rooftop Garden, borrows from the hugely popular Lawn Club of Celebrity’s earlier Solstice Class ships, but adds whimsical touches. Meanwhile, The Retreat, a serene area includes a private pool and sundeck, lounge and restaurant. The ship will also introduce two new suite classes: the 5,000-square foot Iconic Suite; and the Edge Villa, a two-level suite.
For 2022, Celebrity Apex will sail to Scandinavia and Russia and the Norwegian Fjords from a new homeport of Amsterdam. The ship will also offer Iceland, Ireland and British Isles itineraries, ending the season with special Holy Land sailings round-trip from Civitavecchia (Rome).
Costa Firenze celebrates Renaissance style
Costa Cruises officially took delivery of their newest ship Costa Firenze from Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy in December. Originally due to start service last October, the new inaugural date is Feb. 28.
The ship’s décor is inspired by the Renaissance and features interior design celebrating the Tuscan city of Florence, a cradle of Renaissance art and culture. The ship is the fourth of seven newbuilds scheduled to be delivered for the Costa Group by 2023.
Iona is a giant newcomer for P&O–Courtesy P&O Cruises
Iona–vast and eco-friendly
P&O Cruises‘ Iona has two claims to fame. At 5,200 guests, it’s the biggest-ever ship built specifically for the U.K. market and also the first powered entirely by clean-burning Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Originally due last October, the first cruise will now be a Norwegian fjord cruise in April.
Stand-out features include a Lanai deck that takes half a mile to circle– complete with al fresco dining and drinking; a giant glass dome, a massive Atrium with triple-deck glass window. There are 17 food venues, seven of them specialty restaurants, along with 12 bars and 13 entertainment venue. Itineraries including the Norwegian Fjords and Western Europe sail from Southampton.
There are many more new innovative ships arriving in 2021 late because of the lost year. We’ll be visiting them soon. Stay tuned.
