debuting this year will call Florida home, including the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. Norwegian, Carnival, Holland America and Celebrity also are moving new ships to Florida.
Five cruise ships
to PortMiami in September. The sister ship to Carnival Vista, Horizon will also have the signature SkyRide suspended bicycle attraction that wraps around much of the ship’s top deck.
Also on board will be an IMAX theater, a Dr. Seuss-themed water park as well as a new dining and brewery concept that marries the Guy Fieri barbecue concept Pig and Anchor with four new beers brewed right on board. The 3,934-passenger ship begins Miami service on Sept. 20.
In November, Royal Caribbean will begin sailing Symphony of the Seas from its new expanded terminal in Miami. The line’s fourth Oasis-class ship will be very similar to Harmony of the Seas with its notable Ultimate Abyss 10-deck dry slide, Perfect Storm water park and ship layout featuring seven neighborhoods and 18 dining venues.
One unique feature will be the line’s first laser-tag venue. The 5,535-passenger ship that debuts in April in Europe will begin service from Miami on Nov. 9.
Also in November will be the arrival of Norwegian Bliss, a sister ship to Norwegian Escape, and notable for the largest go-kart track at sea and hull artwork from artist Wyland. Also on board will be an open-air laser-tag course, a high-end barbecue venue and water slides that send riders out over the ocean. The 4,004-passenger vessel will first head to Alaska, becoming the largest ship ever to sail the West Coast, before beginning service from Miami on Nov. 17.
Also in November will be the debut of Celebrity Edge, a new class of ship that will sail from Port Everglades that features some industry firsts including an entertainment and dining venue called Magic Carpet that will move up and down the side of the 16-deck ship. A three-story venue called Eden will feature an 18-foot-tall wall of plants over a bar that uses ingredients from the plants in its drinks. The venue will act as relaxing lounge during the day and dinner theater venue at night with aerialists and musicians. The 2,918-passenger ship that is the first new class for the line in 10 years will begin service Nov. 21.
And finally in December, Holland America will debut the ms Nieuw Statendam, the second Pinnacle Class ship from the line and sister ship to the ms Koningsdam. Highlights of the 2,650-passenger ship include the the “Music Walk” venues of the Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King’s Blues Club. It begins service Dec. 19.
Symphony of the Seas, Horizon and Bliss will spend time either sailing in Europe or Alaska before beginning service for the Sunshine State while the Celebrity and Holland America ships will make their way to North America first thing.
All five ships are the largest ships ever built for each of their respective cruise lines.
The arrival of new ships also means some shuffling of older ships from port to port. Some notable ships leaving Florida include Norwegian Escape, which is heading to New York in April and Carnival Vista, which is heading to Galveston in September.
Royal Caribbean will expand its Cuba offerings with Majesty of the Seas from Port Everglades beginning in November. Holland America began Cuba sailings from the port in December 2017.
Cuba sailings will continue this year from both Carnival and Royal Caribbean from Tampa as well as from both Norwegian and Royal Caribbean from Miami.
Also new in 2018, the smaller port of Palm Beach will add a second ship with short sailings to the Bahamas.