PackThePJs love cruise ships, especially those geared towards family and multi-generation holidays. Previously known as KidzCruises, we’ve marvelled and written about cruise ships since – well, since a long time ago! Before the blog, we wrote for cruise trade and business publications, and it meant we got to visit lots of shiny new ships 🙂 Our love of new cruise ships lives on, and this year is a bumper year for new ship launches. We are very lucky in that we’re going to visit most of them … very exciting! Here are the highlights we’ll experience once we board.
Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruises
Symphony of the Seas is the fourth Oasis Class ship from Royal Caribbean Cruises. She will carry some 6,680 passengers at a maximum speed of 22 knots when launched early in April 2018. The entertainment includes the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-storey slide; Splashaway Park, a formidable children’s water park; the Perfect Storm waterslide trio; a full-size basketball court; an ice-skating rink; and two 43-foot rock-climbing walls!
The Ultimate Family Suite! (Copyright Royal Caribbean Cruises)
There will be a choice of 20 restaurants too. A lot of the favourite features of other Oasis Class ships are also present, including the Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the surfing simulator, the Aqua Theatre, Central Park and the Bionic Bar.
The Bionic Bar (Copyright Royal Caribbean Cruises)
Symphony of the Seas will truly be the largest cruise ship in the world. She will sail from Barcelona from April 2018 on 7-night Mediterranean cruises. In October 2018 she will move to the Port of Miami in Florida and in November 2018, will begin Caribbean cruises.
Sugar Beach Candy Store (Copyright Royal Caribbean Cruises)
Carnival Horizon, Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Horizon is due to launch any day now. It is the sister ship of Carnival Vista, which we were lucky enough to spend some time on during her maiden season. Many of the highlights on Vista will also be on board Horizon, including the RedFrog Pub and Guy’s Burger Joint, as well as the amazing SkyRide and IMAX theatre.
SkyRide (Copyright Carnival Cruise Line)
New additions include a teppanyaki restaurant and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Q Smokehouse Brewhouse.
Teppanyaki restaurant (Copyright Carnival Cruise Line)
Horizon will carry 3,936 passengers and after a short season in the Mediterranean, will reposition to New York and then to Miami for year-round Caribbean cruises.
Dr Seuss Waterworks (Copyright Carnival Cruise Line)
Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Bliss, due to launch in April, will be the third member of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus Class. She will carry up to 4,000 passengers in 2,038 state rooms. A highlight of Norwegian Bliss will be its two-level, 1000-feet-long electric karting track. The karts will have 4 speeds and can travel up to 30 mph!
Race Track on Norwegian Bliss (Copyright Norwegian Cruise Line)
Other fun activities include the Laser Tag Court and two water slides. There will be a choice of 13 restaurants and bars.
Laser Tag (Copyright Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Bliss will sail in Alaskan waters during the summer season. There is a huge 20,000-square-feet Observation Lounge spanning the front of the ship. This allows for 180-degree panoramic views – perfect for scenery viewing in Alaska. During the winter season, Bliss will sail Caribbean cruises.
Aqua Park (Copyright Norwegian Cruise Line)
MSC Seaview, MSC Cruises
MSC Seaview will join the MSC Cruises fleet in June 2018. She will be the second of the Seaside Class of cruise ships, similar to MSC Seaside, which entered service in December 2017. Seaview will have a tonnage of 153,516 GT and will accommodate 5,179 passengers.
Bowling Alley (Copyright MSC Cruises)
There will be 463,000 square feet of public areas, panoramic elevators with sea views, suspended glass floors, a giant aqua park and an outdoor promenade with shops, bars and alfresco dining. The AquaPark will have five different waterslides; including an interactive slide boarding tube with combined video games, lights and music; and a 367-foot water slide.
Mini Club Lego (Copyright MSC Cruises)
There will also be two high-speed racing slides with clear loops that extend over one side of the ship; the AquaTube, an innertube slide; and a family flume-type slide. Other waterpark features include an AquaPlay and AquaSpray park for kids. Passengers can also climb high on the Adventure Trail, a ropes course that will have cruisers ducking spray cannons.
Garage Club (Copyright MSC Cruises)
The ship will also have the joint-longest (426-foot/130-metre) zipline at sea, along with its sister Seaside.
AIDAnova, AIDA Cruises
AIDAnova will become AIDA Cruises newest ship, and the first of three in the new Helios Class. With a gross tonnage of 180,000 GT she will be able to carry 6,600 passengers in 2,500 staterooms and will be their largest ship ever.
AIDAnova 4 Elements (Copyright AIDA Cruises)
There will be 20 different categories of cabins – from single cabins to the penthouse suite. There will be 17 restaurants and 17 bars on board offering a wide range of cuisines and atmospheres. The activity deck will have a waterslide, water park, mini-golf and high ropes as well as the Beach Club.
AIDAnova Beach Club (Copyright AIDA Cruises)
The Body & Soul Organic Spa, which is totally eco-friendly, will have five different saunas, fireplace rooms and massage rooms.
AIDAnova ‘Theatrium’ (Copyright AIDA Cruises)
AIDAnova will be totally ‘green’ ship, running from 100% LNG. Her debut season will start in December 2018. She will spend her Maiden season around Madeira and the Canary Islands.
Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Cruises
The 129,500 GT Celebrity Edge will be Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship when it launches at the end of the year. The ship will be able to carry 2,900 passengers in 1,467 staterooms and will have a huge range of new amenities. This will be the first of four new vessels in the Edge Class. There are some real innovations on board, including the Magic Carpet platform, the rooftop garden and the resort deck. The magic carpet platform achieves a height of 13 stories above sea level to provide stunning views, a full bar and an area for live music.
Magic Carpet on board Celebrity Edge (Copyright Celebrity Cruises)
The rooftop garden is a living urban ‘playscape’ with a layout designed for unwinding, creativity and relaxation. The resort pool deck will feature a large pool, impressive art installations, private cabanas and two-storey hot tubs shaped like martini glasses.
Eden Restaurant (Copyright Celebrity Cruises)
The Edge Stateroom will have the Infinite Veranda, which is an entire living space that transforms into a veranda at the touch of a button.
Infinity Balcony Staterooms (Copyright Celebrity Cruises)
So … which ship is your favourite? We’d love to know. They are all very special and we’ll write about them in greater detail once we’ve seen these majestic beasts in the flesh! We can’t wait 🙂
