Thanks to a plethora of new ships on the scene, novice sailors and practiced cruise-goers alike will have no trouble finding fresh adventures at sea in upcoming years. Here are 11 new vessels to keep on your radar as we enter 2023.
Brilliant Lady (Virgin Voyages)
The fourth addition to the Virgin Voyages family, Brilliant Lady will set sail on her maiden voyage out of PortMiami in December 2023. The new ship will feature design elements as seen in previous Virgin Voyages ships and is expected to present travelers with an excellent selection of restaurants and quality entertainment.
As for room offerings, cruise-goers will find a variety of cabins with sweeping ocean views and picture-perfect balconies (including the brand’s signature red hammock). Lavish rockstar-themed suites will also be on the roster in addition to cozy “Insider” rooms with all the modern bells and whistles.
Carnival Jubilee (Carnival Cruise Line)
In December 2023, Carnival Cruise Line will unveil its largest ship yet: Carnival Jubilee. The swanky new ocean liner will debut out of Galveston, Texas and will join its sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration as the newest addition to the company’s growing fleet.
Carnival Jubilee will boast six fun zones, a spacious outdoor deck, reimagined bars and restaurants (including a two-story tiki bar) and the much-anticipated Bolt rollercoaster. While many of the details have yet to be revealed, the cruise line promises that the ship will include lots of new fun in addition to traditional Carnival venues and activities.
Celebrity Ascent (Celebrity Cruises)
The final member of Celebrity’s popular Edge-class ships, Celebrity Ascent will hit the open ocean in fall 2023. Frequent sailors will notice a few familiar touches including Celebrity’s unique Magic Carpet which serves triple duty as a moveable deck, restaurant and embarkation area.
Additionally, Celebrity Ascent will feature luxurious staterooms with the brand’s iconic Infinite Veranda design where guests can enjoy open-air access to the ocean with just the touch of a button.
Explora I (Explora Journeys)
MSC Cruises’ Explora Journeys has exciting news as its first ship in a new six-vessel luxury expedition cruise line, Explora I is scheduled to embark on her inaugural sailing in July 2023. The epic 15-night adventure has been dubbed “A Maiden Journey into Epic Fjords and the Arctic Circle” and will explore Northern Europe with pitstops in 12 ports and four countries.
Explora I will also be the first Explora Journeys ship to feature the brand’s new Ocean Wellness concept, a wellness program designed to encourage travelers to find inspiration in the ‘mystical powers of the sea’.
MSC Euribia (MSC Cruises)
Travelers already know and love MSC Grandiose and MSC Virtuosa, but now there’s a new, third member of MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia Plus class for cruisers to embrace: MSC Euribia. And if they don’t already fall for the ship’s spacious layout and colorful exterior, MSC Euribia’s eco-friendly efforts are sure to capture sailors’ hearts.
Equipped with a state-of-the-art LNG power system, Euribia boasts reduced greenhouse gases and emissions by up to 20%. Additionally, an onboard wastewater treatment system ensures that all water undergoes strict treatment before it leaves the ship, reducing pollution and harm to natural ecosystems. Finally, things like climate control and ventilation have all been carefully considered in addition to the ship’s waste elimination to save energy at sea.
Norwegian Viva (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Thrill seekers can mark their calendars for August 2023, the much-anticipated launch date of Norwegian Vivia, the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class. Designed with fun in mind, the new ship will feature a massive three-level go-kart racetrack and several free-fall drop slides to give travelers a rush.
While fans of Norwegian cruises will recognize plenty of similarities between Viva and Prima, the cruise line teased that travelers can expect a few changes on the food and entertainment front.
Resilient Lady (Virgin Voyages)
After several delays, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady is scheduled to take to the seas in May 2023. Resilient Lady represents the third member of Virgin’s lady fleet and promises travelers the same adults-only experience that they’ve come to expect from the supplier. The ship will accommodate 2,700 passengers and will feature lots of fare-included perks such as Wi-Fi, fitness classes, basic beverage packages, a wide variety of dining options and more.
Onboard, sailors will have 1,408 cabins to choose from, 86 percent of which have balconies. Additionally, each is stateroom equipped with a motion-activated sensor to detect whether a room is in use, allowing amenities like blinds and A/C to adjust automatically to power-saving settings.
Seven Seas Grandeur (Regent Seven Seas Cruises)
Travelers can experience fine art as they never have before when they set sail aboard Regent’s newest ship: Seven Seas Grandeur. Weighing 55,254 tons and capping out at 750 passengers, the flashy new vessel will be home to a multi-million-dollar art collection thanks to the cruise line’s partnership with Fabergé.
Boasting the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the entire cruise industry, Seven Seas Grandeur’s intimate 750-passenger limit is by design to ensure that travelers receive spectacular service. But the luxury won’t stop there, the new vessel will also boast a plethora of lavish staterooms and the largest specialty restaurant at sea — Compass Rose.
Silver Nova (Silversea)
Beginning in 2024, Silversea’s newest cruise liner Silver Nova will treat travelers to adventures at sea in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and South America. However, perhaps the most anticipated of these adventures (aside from the ship’s maiden voyage) is what the cruise line is calling “Grand Voyage 2024 – Grand South America”, a 71-day epic itinerary that will feature stops at 38 destinations and 18 countries in Latin America.
As for the ship itself, Silver Nova is breaking cruise ship norms with its asymmetrical design, spacious open areas and sweeping balcony views. Foodies will enjoy a variety of incredible bars and restaurants, and, for those who like to be hands-on, S.A.L.T., the ship’s revolutionary program that immerses travelers in a destination through its gastronomic culture.
Viking Saturn (Viking Cruises)
After touching the water for the first time on June 23, 2022, the 930-guest Viking Saturn is slated to embark on its first voyage in April 2023. The new ship will be the ninth installment in Viking Cruises’ award-winning fleet of identical sister ships — Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Orion, Viking Jupiter, Viking Venus, Viking Mars and Viking Neptune.
Expected to offer 39 cruise itineraries, Viking Saturn will transport travelers through Scandinavian and the Nordic region in style. Speaking of Scandinavia, the new vessel charms with its modern Scandinavian design, elegant touches and modern amenities (including verandas in every cabin).
Vista (Oceania Cruises)
In December 2022, Oceania Cruises announced plans to accelerate the launch of its newest ship: Vista. Now setting sail on May 13th, 2023, the exciting change in plans came after an unprecedented demand for the vessel’s inaugural season.
The cruise line is dubbing Vista’s maiden voyage the “Founder’s Cruise” and the itinerary will feature stops in bucket list destinations such as Italy, Greece and Croatia. Additionally, cruise-goers aboard the Founder’s Cruise can expect to do plenty of celebrating with inaugural cocktail receptions and other special events slated to take place throughout the week.
About the Author
Senior Editor for VAX VacationAccess and world explorer, Jenna loves writing about all things travel. When she’s not busy creating content, she spends her time exploring the great outdoors, cuddling with her two black cats and researching her next big (sometimes strange) adventure.
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