THIS YEAR’S BIG LAUNCHES
Norwegian Bliss
Cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Line. Launch date: April 2018. Size: 168,800 gross tons/4,000 guests. Home ports: Seattle and Miami. Itineraries: Alaska and the Caribbean. Highlights: Go-kart racetrack, laser tag course, barbecue smokehouse with live music, Coco’s chocolate café, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at Sea, indoor observation deck.
Symphony of the Seas
Cruise line: Royal Caribbean. Launch date: April 2018. Size: 227,000 gross tons/5,535 guests. Home ports: Barcelona and Miami. Itineraries: Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Highlights: World’s largest cruise ship, Ultimate Abyss (the tallest slide at sea), indoor laser tag, AquaTheater shows, casual Mexican restaurant El Loco Fresh, Bionic Bar with robotic bartenders, Ultimate Family Suite staterooms with private cinema, pool table and slide.
Celebrity Edge
(Inset, above right) Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises. Launch date: December 2018. Size: 117,000 gross tons/2,918 guests. Home ports: Fort Lauderdale, Rome, Barcelona, and Southampton. Itineraries: Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Highlights: Magic Carpet cantilevered space on the side of the ship including a speciality restaurant, Rooftop Garden with daytime activities and movies or music at night, The Retreat, with private pool, lounge, and butler service, Staterooms with Infinite Verandas.
MSC Seaview
Cruise line: MSC Cruises. Launch date: June 2018. Size: 154,000 gross tons/5,179 guests. Home ports: Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona and Santos. Itineraries: Mediterranean and South America. Highlights: Outdoor promenade around the ship, Eataly Italian restaurant, panoramic elevators, two unique Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows in the Carousel Lounge.
Scenic Eclipse
Cruise line: Scenic Tours. Launch date: August 2018. Size: 16,500 gross tons/228 guests. Itineraries: Mediterranean, Arctic, and Antarctica. Highlights: World’s first ‘discovery yacht’, two helicopters, submarine, Zodiacs, kayaks, all cabins suites with verandas, swimming pools, included drinks, internet, shore excursions.
Viking Orion
Cruise line: Viking Cruises. Launch date: July 2018. Size: 47,800 gross tons/930 guests. Home ports: Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Venice, Mumbai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Bali, Sydney, Auckland, Tokyo and Vancouver. Itineraries: Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, and Alaska. Highlights: Five categories of all-veranda staterooms, The Wintergarden, The Kitchen Table cooking class, Manfredi’s Italian restaurant.