Cruise news
Rhianna lewis discovers the newest itineraries, ports, ships and more so you can plan your next family cruise.
The newest itineraries, ports, ships and more so you can plan your next family cruise.
As the 2019–2020 cruise season begins, we sneak a peek at all the exciting developments to come. Be one of the first to splash into Royal Caribbean’s Cococay amusement park in the Bahamas, become a superhero for a day with Disney’s Marvel Day at Sea or embrace your inner pirate to walk a tightrope between two ships with P&O Cruises.
New fun with Royal Caribbean
Symphony of the Seas is making a huge splash since her debut in the Mediterranean in April. This buxom Oasis Class beauty boasts a shipload of unique new features. Kids can play glow-in-the-dark laser tag, attempt the escape room and stay in an Ultimate Family Suite, complete with in-suite slide and air hockey.
Royal Caribbean’s newest grand dame will be Spectrum of the Seas, due to launch in Barcelona in April. The new ship will sail to China to become the newest, largest and most expensive ship in the region. A Quantum Ultra Class ship, there’ll be a Leaf and Bean tea room for an authentic Asian touch, Star Moment karaoke and a Sky Pad virtual reality bungee trampoline experience, along with more diversified Asian itineraries.
Mariner of the Seas has also been reimagined as part of Royal Amplified, a
$900 million investment into the fleet. From May, guests will have the chance to visit Perfect Day at Cococay in the Bahamas. This exclusive Royal Caribbean destination has the tallest water slide in North America and a 137-metre-high helium balloon attraction. Cococay will be the first destination in the Perfect Day Island Collection.
Exciting upgrades for Carnival
Carnival Splendor will be cruising Down Under to join the Australian fleet in Sydney from December 2019, making her the newest and largest ship to homeport in Australia year-round. The refurbished ship will include new dining experiences as well as a splashtastic new water park the kids will love.
Carnival Spirit will be calling the new Brisbane cruise terminal home as of 2020. Itineraries will include South Pacific cruises as well as voyages around North Queensland.
Carnival Victory has been renamed Carnival Radiance and Carnival Triumph is now going by Carnival Sunrise following extensive refits to both ships as part of a $2 billion fleet enhancement, focusing on new dining and entertainment.
There’s more coming with a new Carnival ship to be based at Port Canaveral in 2020.
Travel the world with Princess
Princess has announced some thrilling itineraries for the 2019–2020 season. The new Royal Princess will offer US West Coast cruises to San Francisco and San Diego as well as cruises to Mexico, while the regal new Sky
Princess, with all-new top-deck Sky Suites, will sail around the Caribbean. South American itineraries will offer an opportunity for cruising families to visit magical once-ina-lifetime destinations such as Antarctica, Easter Island and Machu Picchu. There will also be itineraries to Panama Canal.
Majestic Princess has already sailed into in Sydney for the 2018–2019 season and will be here for six months before departing for Hong Kong on a Grand Asia voyage. Sun Princess will also be cruising around Australia, specifically Western Australia, following her major multi-million-dollar refit in dry dock.
In other news, Princess has hired Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build two innovative, eco-friendly dual-powered ships. These will run primarily on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Fincantieri has already been hired by Princess to build three new Royal-class ships, including Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess.
Even more enchanting for cruise lovers, Princess has also announced a 2020
World Cruise aboard the Pacific Princess,
departing from Florida and taking in some awesome new destinations including breathtaking Kaikoura in New Zealand and exotic Zanzibar in Tanzania.
New arrivals and fond farewells for P&O
Three new ships are on the way for P&O, with current Princess ships Golden Princess (renamed Pacific Adventure) and Star Princess and new-build Iona joining the P&O fleet. These additions will replace Pacific Eden, Pacific Jewel and Oriana in an attempt to refresh the fleet.
Speaking of being all shook up, Elvis fans looking for a rocking seaside soujourn should remember to book an Elvis Tribute Sailing, back by popular demand in 2019.
Disney-themed holiday fun
Good news for movie buffs as the popular Star Wars Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea will see all their favouite heroes (and villains) reappearing in 2019. Expect the kind of magical family activites that only the clever folks at Disney could make happen, along with themed food, drinks and merchandise.
Escape the Aussie winter and explore Europe with roundtrip cruises from Rome to new ports including Cartagena in Spain and Belfast in Northern Ireland. Disney’s summer 2019 itineraries will also include plenty of opportunities to explore family-favourite destinations including Alaska, the Caribbean and the balmy Bahamas.
If you’re travelling in the Northern Hemisphere autumn, see Bermuda, the Bahamas and Canada with departures from New York, Mexico from California or the Caribbean from Texas or Florida.
New Orleans will be the new homeport of Disney Wonder from 2020, allowing for a return to popular destinations like Hawaii and Puerto Rico and new itineraries starting from Florida and California. Disney has also announced three new ships, which will be setting sail in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“Star Wars Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea will be reappearing.”