Cruise lines are reporting record bookings and that has them expanding their fleets with ever-larger ships. There’s a bumper crop arriving in 2024, each of which seems to offer more features than ever before.
Two newcomers will be among the world’s largest, including an Iconic record-breaker with room for more than 7,000 guests. There’s also the first new ship from Cunard Line in a decade and a long awaited new arrival from Disney Cruise Line.
Here’s a look ahead to a stellar year:
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas designed to thrill
With seven pools, the tallest waterslide at sea and a free-fall ride called Hyperdrop, Icon of the Seas promises to thrill adrenaline junkies. Icon of the Seas will accommodate a record 7,600 passengers and it promises plentiful laid-back options to please those just hoping to chill. Among show stoppers are a new glass-covered AquaDome containing 600 panes of glass. It’s so big it includes an AquaTheater and a food court called AquaDome Market. Other unique features include Swim & Tonic, Royal Caribbean’s first swim-up bar at sea and The Hideaway, an infinity pool suspended 135 feet above the sea.
Royal Caribbean says it’s seen record-breaking sales for Icon of the Seas, which debuts in January. The ship sails from Miami for eastern and western Caribbean itineraries that include Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at Coco Cay.
Here comes the Sun Princess
Princess Cruises is also making a radical expansion with the debut of the line’s first Sphere-Class ship. The 4,300-guest Sun Princess features new areas for children and teens along with SeaBreeze, the first rollerglider at sea for all ages. An area called Park 19 will have a ropes course and Coastal Climb, an obstacle-course-meets-ladder adventure spanning two decks.
The ship features two new types of suites. The Signature Collection suites have their own restaurant, lounge and sun deck. The Reserve Collection suites include what are called Club Class suites on other Princess ships, with the addition of new Cabana suites that have access to a private sundeck and whirlpool, as well as a dedicated Reserve Collection restaurant.
Sun Princess also boasts the largest casino ever built by Princess Cruises, with 50 per cent more space and 30 per cent more machines than the line’s Royal Class ships. Sun Princess, sets sail in February and will spend the spring and summer in the Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona and Civitavecchia.
Viking Vela marks Viking’s growth spurt
Viking seems to launch a new ship every year and the newest arrival has grown by just a bit compared to its predecessors. Viking Vela will have an additional 17 staterooms—bringing its capacity to 998 passengers. The ship will be familiar to Viking regulars with all the restaurants included in the fare. The newly christened ship spends the winter season sailing in the Mediterranean. In warmer months, Tilbury and Copenhagen will be home ports for cruises in Northern Europe.
Queen Anne is Cunard’s first new ship in 12 Years
Cunard Line is looking to shake up things while maintaining its storied traditions with its long-awaited new ship, the 3,000-guest Queen Anne. The ship will feature the line’s range of Brittania staterooms and Princess Grill and Queen’s Grill suites as well as penthouses. The Golden Lion and Mediterranean-inspired Tramonto are included restaurants, and Queen Anne will include three new specialty restaurants: Aji Wa, a Japanese restaurant with sushi and an omakase tasting menu; Aranya, a new Indian restaurant; and Sir Samuels steak house. The line has partnered with two-Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux to develop a new menu for the ship’s Queens Grill, as well as the Golden Lion pub.
Queen Anne debuts in May for cruises from Southampton and a year that includes cruises from Civitavecchia and Hamburg.
Utopia of the Seas expands Oasis Class
Icon of the Seas isn’t the only headline-grabber for Royal Caribbean. The 6,700-passenger Utopia of the Seas is–as expected–just a little larger than its Oasis Class cousins. Coming in July, the ship has the familiar Oasis layout with the signature Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods, as well as the Ultimate Abyss slide. But there are many new features, including an immersive restaurant with a luxury train theme.
Another innovation is that it’s focusing on short three- and four-day itineraries from its Port Canaveral homeport. Since you’ll never be able to experience everything on board in one trip, Royal Caribbean is hoping that will mean lots of repeat cruisers.
Silver Ray continues Silversea innovation
The second of Silversea Cruises‘ Nova-Class ships, the 728-passenger Silver Ray resembles its sister Silver Nova with an asymmetrical design which puts more emphasis on sea views from all venues. The ship has Silversea’s popular restaurants as well as a S.A.L.T. Lab, where the culinary adventurous can experience a 14-course tasting menu. Other additions are a new Otium spa and Otium suites at the rear of the ship. All suites also feature butler service.
Silver Ray debuts in July with itineraries from Rome, Athens and Venice in the summer and fall before it crosses the Atlantic for a winter series of cruises from Ft. Lauderdale to the Caribbean and South America.
Explora II expands Explora Journeys’ fleet
Following a successful launch in 2023, Explora Journeys will launch its second luxury ship, the 922-passenger Explora II in August. Expect the features that have wowed guests so far, including a dramatic lobby bar; numerous pools and an array of dining options that include an unlimited raw bar in the ship’s Emporium Marketplace. The new line by MSC Group features a menu of exploration experiences in each port. The new line is planning to expand to a total of six similar-sized ships in future years.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection introduces a bigger ship
The luxury hotel brand Ritz-Carlton launched its first cruise ship, the 298-guest Evrima in 2022. The next ship in its fleet is on a grander scale. The 456-passenger Ilma is significantly larger than Evrima, but will maintain the luxury-minded crew-to-passenger ratio. Ritz-Carlton promises the same yacht-like atmosphere, along with fine dining options and an expanded marina area. Ilma starts sailing in September in the Mediterranean and will cross to the Caribbean for a winter season.
Disney Treasure features rich adventure
The 4,000-passenger Disney Treasure–a sister ship to Disney Wish— puts Aladdin in the spotlight and its theme is adventure. The Grand Hall atrium will resemble Agrabah from the original Aladdin. New venues being introduced include an interactive dining experience called Plaza de Coco, based on the movie Coco. Jumbeaux’s Sweet Shop takes its inspiration from Zootopia
For kids, there’s a new AquaMouse slide, which has a new Mickey and Minnie-themed adventure story as well as two casual cafes named for the princesses Moana and Mulan. There are adults-only lounges that are also based on Disney theme park attractions. The ship has begun sailing weekly cruises from Port Canaveral to the eastern and western Caribbean.
AmaWaterways adds a continent and a ship on the Nile
Just when you thought there was nothing new in river cruising, AmaWaterways is shaking things up by not only building new ships but developing itineraries in an entirely new country and river. The Magdalena River in Colombia will play host to the new 60-passenger AmaMagdalena in November.
AmaWaterways is also expanding its presence on the Nile in Egypt. The 82-passenger AmaLilia will join AmaDahlia to offer itineraries that begin with a pre-cruise stay in Cairo before joining the ship in Luxor for a roundtrip sail.
Avalon brings a new ship to Portugal
Avalon Waterways is bringing its style of river cruise ship to Portugal’s Douro River. The 102-passenger Avalon Alegria will feature Avalon’s signature Panorama Suites, where the bed faces the river.
Among some of the tours that have been revealed are a guided bike ride along the quaysides of the Douro in Porto; food and wine tastings, learning to bake traditional Portuguese pastries and a visit to one of the Douro Valley’s oldest farms. The line is also planning a hands-on craft class where passengers can join a professional painter to create one of the traditional blue and white tiles seen throughout Portugal.
Seven Seas Grandeur is sailing the Caribbean and Pacific–Regent Seven Seas
So new, they’re part of the class of 2024:
And December of 2023 saw a rush of christenings of new ships: Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Ascent, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva and Oceania Cruises Vista and Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Grandeur. Their berth announcements are here.
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