2019 is an exciting year for cruise lovers as there will be a handful of new ships put into service. Ship enthusiasts can look forward to spectacular ship christenings. Altogether, 25 new cruise ships will have their maiden calls in 2019.
Some of the more noteworthy new ships include the MSC Bellissima by MSC Cruises, Spectrum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruise’s Sky Princess.
Whereas past ships were built to be bigger, greater, and more spectacular, this year’s ships show slightly different trends. Celebrity Flora represents Celebrity Cruises’ focus on improving luxury aboard its ships. High-quality interiors, personal butler service, locally sourced products and dinner under the stars are all measures the shipping company takes to increase the passengers’ experience.
While this is a clear step towards improving the whole experience, other cruise companies focus on specific aspects of the cruise. MSC Cruises’ new vessels MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa both want to offer a more exclusive experience with the MSC Yacht Club. This special area of the ship offers guests a dedicated space with higher quality amenities and cuisine. Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas offers four suite-only decks with a private elevator, lounge, and restaurant.
Overview of New Cruise Ships in 2019
Celebrity Flora (Celebrity Cruises)
Celebrity Flora is different from the rest of Celebrity Cruises’ fleet. High-quality interior suites allow guests to control everything with the touch of a button. Every room comes with a personal butler service and very spacious bathrooms. Celebrity Cruises focuses especially on being considerate of the environment, which shows in both the interior and the locally sourced bath products. Given that the ship calls at the Galapagos Islands, being conscious about the interior and sourcing from Ecuador was a must for the cruise company.
Both the Seaside and the Ocean Grill restaurants serve fresh gourmet food daily. The culinary offers cover everything one could imagine, ranging from a seafood barbecue to a dinner under the stars. The Discovery Lounge offers plenty of space to relax and socialise with lectors and fellow passengers. The Observatory is a library especially dedicated to the Galapagos Islands, so guests can learn more about the Islands while enjoying the beautiful views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
You can read, in detail, everything that the luxurious Celebrity Flora has to offer.
Viking Jupiter (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Viking Jupiter is the newest addition to the Viking Cruises fleet and the sixth of a total of ten identical cruise ships that are being built for the cruise company. Up to 930 passengers can decide among a wide-ranging offer, from a Veranda Stateroom to Suites. The public area, including the elegant restaurants, bars, and lounges, shines with Scandinavian style. The official christening was planned for June 2019, from where the cruise ship will spend its first season in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Pacific Adventure (P&O Cruises Australia)
In October 2020, P&O Cruises Australia’s newest and largest ship, Pacific Adventure, will join the fleet. Her first handful of itineraries depart from Sydney and include voyages to New Zealand, Fiji, and New Guinea. Additionally, the Grand-class cruise ship will offer a three-night comedy cruise and a four-night cruise to Moreton Island. The new vessel will also help you escape the Christmastime stress with South Pacific cruises around Christmas and New Year’s. Pacific Adventure will be jampacked with classic P&O highlights and a range of new features that will amaze you!
One example is Byron Beach Club, an exclusive beach club…aboard Pacific Adventure. The guest list fills up fast as P&O Cruises Australia only grants passengers booked in suites and certain mini-suites access to the private retreat. Byron Beach Club, sitting like a crown on the top deck, offers a secluded outdoor pool, whirlpool spas, and comfortable seating. Surrounded by chic furnishing and panoramic sea views, guests can relish in relaxation.
Norwegian Encore (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Encore is the 17th ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’ fleet. The Spanish artist Eduardo Arranz-Bravo designed the colourful bow of the ship, which accommodates up to 4,000 passengers at once. Guests can expect the usual high-quality entertainment programme, dining options, and fun activities that they know and love from the other Norwegian Cruise Line ships. The vessel will be delivered on 31 October 2019 and start its roundtrips to the Caribbean from its homeport in Miami, Florida.
Sky Princess (Princess Cruises)
Sky Princess is Princess Cruises’ forth Royal-class vessel. The cruise ship accommodates 3,660 passengers and is an upgraded version of its sisters Royal Princess and Regal Princess. That is also why the vessel features some proven highlights, such as the Piazza-looking Atrium, the adults-only spa The Sanctuary, and the kid and teen playground Camp Discovery. Sky Princess’ spa has more private cabanas than its sisters.
The pool deck features two pools, and the rear deck offers a retreat pool. So that guests can enjoy the view, 80% of the cabins have a balcony attached to it. Exclusive Sky Suites offer amazing comfort at 145 square metres as well as a 270-degree panorama view with nothing in front of the guests other than the sea and the “Movie Under the Stars”-screen on the pool deck. Sky Princess will start its maiden voyage on 20 October 2019 from Athens through the Mediterranean to Barcelona.
Celebrity Apex (Celebrity Cruises)
Celebrity Cruises sets the standard for modern cruise travel with its next ship: Celebrity Apex. Following her sister Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex is the second ship in the Edge series. Just like her sister ship, Celebrity Apex features stunning artistic spaces and a state-of-the-art sea-facing design that will urge you to see the world through a new perspective.
Starting in April 2020, Celebrity Apex will sail from Southampton, the UK to the glittering Mediterranean. The ship will island-hop around the Caribbean via Fort Lauderdale, Florida beginning on November 2020. Retire to versatile accommodations that mix the indoors and outdoors. Float high about the waves on the multipurpose Magic Carpet. Delight in the quirks of the Rooftop Garden. Prepare your tastebuds for culinary pleasures at the unbeatable range of restaurants, bars, and lounges. And for suite guests, enjoy the exclusive atmosphere of the luxurious Retreat.
Carnival Panorama (Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Panorama is the third ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s Vista-class. Many of the innovations and much of the interior from its sister ships are also aboard Carnival Panorama, which offers room for 3,954 guests. The cruise ship, like its sisters Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, features the enormous water park as well as the bike parkour SkyRide, which offers a great view of the sea.
Culinary highlights include the exclusive restaurants Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi. Of course, Carnival Panorama also offers a great deal for children. Not only can they have loads of fun in the water park, but the ship’s “Family Harbor” offers spacious rooms with plenty of room for families. Homeport will be Long Beach, California, where it will have its inaugural cruise on 11 December 2019 before offering eight-day roundtrips.
Spectrum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)
Spectrum of the Seas is the very first ship in the Quantum Ultra Class of Royal Caribbean. The vessel is Asia’s largest cruise ship with 1,551 international crew members and accommodating up to 4,246 passengers when it enters the sea in June 2019. Starting its first cruise in Shanghai is the obvious choice, considering it was created specifically for the Asian market.
A noteworthy addition is the four suite-only decks that require a special key card. The luxurious area offers a private elevator, a separate restaurant, and its own lounge. Other intriguing innovations aboard are the Bionic Bar, where robots prepare individually mixed drinks, and the Sky Pad, a virtual trampoline experience promising fun and thrills. The family-friendly vessel offers an ultimate family suite that has space for up to eleven people stretched over two decks.
Enchanted Princess (Princess Cruises)
Princess Cruises’ new Enchanted Princess will bewitch you with her innovative cruise experience. The fifth of Princess Cruises’ Royal-class ships, Enchanted Princess will mirror her predecessors in luxury and remarkable style. The new ship’s onboard attractions will be where the similarities end. Get your tastebuds ready for exquisite dining experiences, featuring fresh ingredients and regional flavours. Don’t worry about missing out on pool time, Enchanted Princess will have more pools and whirlpool baths than any other cruise ship. Take your seat for showstopping performances at first-class entertainment venues. Enjoy expansive sea views from the largest balcony at sea, only available from the new Sky Suite. Starting in 2020, Enchanted Princess will set sail in Europe.
MSC Bellissima (MSC Cruises)
MSC Bellissima, with its many attractions, is comparable to its sister ship MSC Meraviglia. The 100-metre-long promenade Galleria Bellissima is the eyecatcher on this ship. The amazing gallery features a breathtaking LED dome that adapts its lighting to simulate ambiences like the sunrise and the starry sky. Beautiful bars, cafés, and boutiques make for a nice stroll along the promenade. Ten restaurants satisfy the passengers’ culinary needs. With everything from the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse to Kaito Sushi and Teppanyaki and 20 bars and lounges, there is something for everybody. Other highlights aboard include the two Cirque du Soleil shows created specifically for MSC Bellissima and both the atmosphere pool and horizon pool, which becomes a dance floor at night, located on the sun deck and rear of the ship, respectively.
MSC Grandiosa (MSC Cruises)
MSC Cruises will not only introduce MSC Bellissima in February 2019 but also MSC Grandiosa in October 2019. The 331-metre-long vessel will be the first of a total of two new ships in the Meraviglia-Plus class, which is an upgrade from the Meraviglia class and has 2,440 cabins. The promenade will be even bigger than before and, therefore, offers plenty of space to stroll around and linger. The astonishing LED sky completes the shopping sprees.
Exclusively created Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows entertain guests in the Carousel Lounge, which stretches over two storeys. Another addition is the Parisian-style bar and lounge Atelier Bistrot that also has a dance floor. With adding “Zoe”, MSC Grandiosa will be the second ship, after her sister MSC Bellissima, to feature a personal voice assistant on a cruise ship. The prototype in the Meraviglia-Plus class will be christened on 9 November 2019 in Hamburg and set sail for the first time the day after, heading towards the Mediterranean.
Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)
In 1972, Carnival Cruise Line changed the cruise world with its first ship TSS Mardi Gras, making cruising more casual, less fancy, and something for the whole family. Carnival Cruise Line pays homage to its first ship with its brand-new one: Mardi Gras. Launching in 2020, the new Mardi Gras will be built to live up its namesake.
Mardi Gras will showcase six themed Zones, each area filled to the brim with new amusing activities, dining experiences, and places for cold drinks. A lot has yet to be announced, but Carnival Cruise Line has already revealed BOLT, the first rollercoaster at sea. Mardi Gras will have something for everyone on their fun-filled holiday.
When it comes to planning your cruise, earlier is always better. Browse our fantastic cruise deals aboard a new ship now or call our Australia-based cruise experts on 1300 857 345 to learn more about cruises that might interest you.
