For those who just can't get enough of cruising, Royal Caribbean International is launching the Ultimate World Cruise: 274 nights on board Serenade of the Seas, visiting all seven continents, more than 150 destinations in 65 counties and 11 great wonders of the world. The epic journey, which sets sail from Miami, USA in December 2023, is tipped as the world's longest cruise and, unsurprisingly, doesn't come cheap. Prices start at around £45,400 ($61,000) so best start saving!
Royal Caribbean International lays claim to having the world's largest cruise ships: the present record holder is its Symphony of the Seas. With a gross tonnage of 228,081, it is 1,188 foot (362m) long, 215.5 foot (66m) wide and has a 6,680-guest maximum capacity. The ambitious cruise line will continue its ocean dominance with the debut of Wonder of the Seas, which takes to the water in the US in March 2022, followed by Europe in spring. This new behemoth will have a gross tonnage of 236,857 with a 6,988-guest maximum capacity. It will be a sight to behold.
When Hurtigruten’s MS Roald Amundsen launched in 2019, it was the world’s first hybrid ship. The state-of-the-art expedition vessel featured new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption and cut emissions by 20%. It proved to the world that hybrid propulsion on large ships was possible. The cruise line was also the first to ban single-use plastics across its entire fleet back in 2018.
Taking her inaugural cruise in August 2021 from Southampton to Cornwall and up to Scotland, including to her namesake island, P&O Cruises’ Iona is the first British cruise ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Other innovations include its SkyDome – a two-deck glass dome designed by award-winning British engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan – plus aerial shows and an on-board craft gin distillery. After her inaugural season of UK coastal cruises, Iona has voyaged to Spain and the Canary Islands.
Another option for eco-conscious cruisers comes from A-ROSA River Cruises whose new E-Motion ship will arrive silently and emission-free into ports. Sailing on the Rhine from 2022, A-ROSA SENA will feature an E-Motion concept that allows the ship to switch to battery power when approaching a port. Its hybrid propulsion system combines a diesel engine and a separate electric engine, which is powered by batteries. It's an exciting move towards sustainable river cruising for the industry.
When new ship Carnival Mardi Gras debuted in July 2021, she featured the first ever roller coaster at sea – BOLT. The "sea-coaster" ride features motorcycle-like vehicles that race along a track towering 187 feet (57m) above sea level. After an exhilarating launch, where riders achieve racing-car-like levels of acceleration, BOLT culminates in a high-powered hairpin turn around the cruise ship's funnel. Hold on to your hats…
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It's not just roller coasters that are hitting cruise ships' decks. Some have observation capsules too. Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas features the North Star, a glass-enclosed pod that takes guests up to 330 feet (100m) above sea level. Inspired by the capsules on the London Eye, the striking feature holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.
We all know most pirate ships didn't actually have planks, but why let facts get in the way of fun? In the spirit of pirate-inspired adventure, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape ships feature eight foot-long (2.4m) planks suspended high over the ocean. Thankfully, there'll be no cries of "man overboard" as those game to walk the plank will be attached to a harness.
Another popular and thrilling cruise ship feature is Carnival Cruises’ SkyRide, which sees passengers pedal at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40km ph) in pedal-powered ‘go-mobiles’. The 800 foot (244m) long-ride soars above the top deck of its Panorama, Horizon and Vista ships – giving riders the chance to gaze at spectacular sea views as they whizz around.
Intergalactic adventures will land on Disney Cruise Line ships next year with its popular Star Wars Day at Sea set to return. These day-long celebrations takes place on nine Disney Fantasy cruises to the Caribbean from January to March, and promise themed activities, character encounters and live shows. Guests can rub shoulders in the spa with Darth Vader, hang by the pool with C-3PO and watch Stormtroopers and Jawas invade the breakfast buffet. There are Marvel-themed days too.
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Brits love nothing more than a proper cuppa, so it comes as no surprise that during a one-week Marella Cruises’ itinerary, 13,000 cups of English breakfast tea are brewed and served to satisfy passengers' cravings. To put this into perspective, if you lined up all those tea bags it would stretch for just under four times the length of Marella Explorer.
When the sun shines, cruise passengers love to cool off with a refreshing ice cream, it seems. During an average week on Royal Caribbeans’ mega-ship Anthem of the Seas, passengers will tuck into 8,000 gallons of the stuff. They'll also consume 18,000 slices of pizza, 86,400 eggs, 2,225 bottles of wine, 10,200 bottles of beer and 550 bottles of vodka. With 20 chefs, 222 cooks, 15 bar managers and 188 bar tenders and bar servers on board, there's plenty to keep them busy.
Tattooing is a time-honoured seafaring tradition but not something usually associated with cruising. Virgin Voyages decided to change that when it announced its ship Scarlet Lady would bring tattoo artistry to the high seas with its Squid Ink parlour. Two full-time resident tattoo artists are on board, handpicked by industry legend Lou Rubino Jr. Squid Ink will also feature a stellar line-up of guest artists. Skull and crossbones and anchor tattoos are optional.
In celebration of Virgin’s musical heritage and a first at sea, Voyage Vinyl will be a go-to spot for music lovers and vinyl junkies aboard Scarlet Lady to listen to tunes from all genres and eras. There are personal listening stations and passengers can also shop for limited-edition albums and special editions, as well as music magazines, headphones and record players. The record shop will also double as a performance spot for live sets mixed by the ship's resident DJs.
Princess Cruises' newest ship, Enchanted Princess is a whopper and a speedy one at that. It has capacity for 3,660 guests and is 1,083 feet (330m) long, that’s longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower. At 217 feet (66m) high the ship is taller than London’s Tower Bridge. The Enchanted Princess can also go faster sideways than Princess Cruises’ original Love Boat, Pacific Princess, could travel forward. Her inaugural sail takes place from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the southern Caribbean in November.
The 24 kennels on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 are arguably the most sought-after accommodation on the ship – they can book up to several years in advance. Many of their VIP guests have crossed the Atlantic several times over. The kennels were upgraded in 2016 during the liner’s £90 million ($123m) refurbishment and now boast their own kennel master who gets to know each dog (or cat) individually and attends to their every need. There’s also an owner’s lounge.
Luxury cruise lines are all about offering their guests the ultimate in indulgence from exclusive experiences to the world’s finest foods and wines. Often they combine both. Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn’s Caviar in the Surf experience sees the fishy delicacy and chilled Champagne delivered by speedboat as guests swim in a secluded Saint Kitts and Nevis bay. The cruise line serves over 58,000 bottles of Champagne and 2,000kg (4,400lbs) of caviar a year across its fleet to its well-heeled passengers.
SeaDream was a trailblazer when it launched a "raw food" plant-based menu aboard its twin mega-yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II back in 2012. Vegan or not, guests can experience an array of delicious and creative dishes made with organic and plant-based ingredients, none of which are heated above 48ºC (118ºF) to retain their nutrients. The menu, which includes the likes of Asian-style cashew curry salad and cashew lemon cheesecake is created in conjunction with the Hippocrates Health Institute.
With 1,700 programmes to choose from, Azamara has the largest pre-and post-land programme in the cruising industry. Standouts on its “destination immersions” are a speedboat trip deep into the Borneo rainforest to see orangutans and meet the MariMari people, and tracking jaguars in the vast wetlands of Brazil’s Pantanal region.
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Cruising and exercise might not seem like natural shipmates but Celebrity Cruises is set to banish that notion with its strong fitness offering. It’s partnered with F45 Training to bring its 45-minute, station-based team training workouts to its new Edge series ships: Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond. In another fitness first, Peloton was offered for the first time at sea on Celebrity Edge and is now available on Millennium, Solstice and its Edge series ships, which also have a wellbeing offering from Goop. Founder and CEO, Gwyneth Paltrow is Celebrity’s wellbeing advisor.
You can also brush up on your culinary skills while at sea. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has a professional standard cookery school aboard its flagship luxury ship Europa 2, featuring all the latest Miele appliances and kit. Professional chefs will teach budding chefs and keen amateurs classic techniques and recipes with an emphasis on discovering new ingredients and learning about the culinary culture of the destinations the ship visits. You could be creating calamari stuffed with herbs and ricotta on a Mediterranean cruise or making Mali's chicken mafe as you explore Africa.
Cultural enrichment is part of Viking's MO. Channelling its Viking heritage, its ocean ships Orion and Jupiter reveal the secrets of the night sky and age-old navigation methods to passengers with their on-board planetariums. Known as the Explorers' Lounge, the circular theatre-like space is the highest definition purpose-built planetarium at sea. Showing 3D films about space and exploration, the dome also connects with a portable Sky-Watcher telescope to show a live view of the night sky. Resident astronomers also hold lectures and stargazing sessions.
In a highly competitive space, cruise liners have to work hard to keep their food and beverage offerings fresh and exciting. Celebrity Cruises has gone one step further than most by bringing its tabletops to life in its Le Petit Chef experience. The digital animation dining experience is on offer at Le Grand Bistro restaurants on its Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge ships. As diners enjoy the story and adventures of Le Petit Chef, the playful menu will feature seriously good bouillabaisse, lobster and filet mignon.
Old-school high-seas glamour is on offer on board MSC Cruises' ships. Guests on eight of its fleet are dazzled by gleaming Swarovski crystal staircases in their main atriums and MSC Yacht Club areas. Each step contains 640 Swarovski crystals and there are 96 steps in the main staircase. Now that’s what we call making an entrance. As well as its Swarovski staircases, MSC Bellissima dazzles guests further with the addition of the cruise line's first crystal cabin. A total of 700,000 crystals embellish the luxurious space.
Regent Seven Seas’ flagship vessels Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer are said to have the most expensive and largest suites available at sea. Costing from £8,000 ($10,000) per night, based on two sharing, the lavish Regent Suites sit above the bridge on Deck 14 and promise the “pinnacle of luxury”. As well as wraparound verandas, they have an in-suite spa with sauna, steam room, hot tub and unlimited treatments. Guests have the use of a personal butler and a personal car with driver and guide in every port. The stunning suites are decorated with rare works of art and have a custom Steinway grand piano.
Disney fans will no doubt prefer the Wish Tower Suite, set to make some guests' dreams come true on board Disney Cruise Line’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish. The high-end Moana-inspired two-floor penthouse cabin will be built into the forward funnel. It will have two main bedrooms, a library, multiple bathrooms and a grand spiral staircase (naturally). Due to sail in June 2022, the Disney Wish is the fifth ship to join the cruise line and its first new ship in a decade. It also promises the world's first Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience.
Long-term travel is a growing trend in cruising – no doubt driven by a desire to catch up with lost travel time – and more lines are creating some seriously epic expeditions. After its 2021 and 2022 world cruises sold out in record time, Viking has announced it will operate two world cruises in 2023-2024 just days apart. Viking Sky and Viking Neptune will both depart Fort Lauderdale in December 2023 and will take passengers to 28 countries and 57 different ports over 138 days.
Meanwhile, Silversea is breaking new ground with its Unchartered World Tour, said to be the first-ever expedition world cruise. The Silver Cloud departs in January 2022 and goes from Ushuaia to Tromsø over 167 days. Passengers aboard the Silver Whisper can also embark on an extraordinary “north-south world cruise” that sees the cruise line travel in parallels of 65°S to 65°N, from Antarctica all the way up to Iceland. Silversea’s The Tale of Tales 2022 is scheduled to depart from Florida in January 2022. It will cover six continents, 32 countries, and 69 destinations in 138 days.
AmaWaterways has put together the longest-ever river cruise itinerary, which will allow guests to travel along Europe’s most famous rivers on board four of its luxury river cruise ships. The new Seven River Journey Through Europe cruise sees passengers set sail aboard the AmaLyra on the Seine River in France on 1 June 2023 and visit 14 countries over 46 nights. It finishes aboard the AmaVerde in the Danube with the final stop being Giurgiu in Romania.
In another first at sea, Scenic’s ultra-luxury cruise ship, the Scenic Eclipse, has a custom-built submarine, Neptune, which enables passengers to venture down into the ocean depths as part of an extraordinary excursion. With seats mounted on revolving platforms so guests can swivel to view in all directions, the custom-built U-Boat Worx Cruise Submarine can go to depths of 984 feet (300m) and can seat six people, plus the pilot. In its 2021/2022 cruises, Scenic Eclipse will be the first ship with permits to operate a submarine in the icy South Georgian waters.
Who says you don’t travel along hard-to-reach waterways on a cruise ship? In October 2019, passengers on Fred Olsen’s Braemar experienced a breathtaking transit when it became the largest ship ever to traverse the historic Corinth Canal in Greece. Separating the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, the Corinth Canal is only 79 feet (24m) wide at its narrowest point while the Braemar is 74 feet (22m). A tugboat helped the record-breaking crew to avoid bumps along the way. It will repeat this exciting journey on its 25-night Corinth Canal & Ancient Greece cruise, in April 2022.