Industry growth
The cruise industry continues to grow, with 27 million cruisers expected in 2018, a million more than last year and up from 18 million in 1979. This year, 27 new ships are being introduced, according to the Cruise Line international Association: 10 for river cruising, and 17 for ocean.
New ships
■ Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas will be the world’s largest cruise ship when it launches in the spring. Its inaugural season will be in Europe, with sailings from Miami beginning in November. Features include a laser-tag arena, a Bionic Bar where robots make drinks, a 10-story racing slide called Ultimate Abyss, rock-climbing and ice-skating.
The ship will host a production of the Broadway hit “Hairspray,” and its sports bar will feature 30 big-screen TVs. A luxury family suite for eight includes a two-story slide, private movie theater, Lego wall and secret crawl space. But it’s not for budget conscious: It’s priced in the tens of thousands of dollars.
■ Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss will launch this spring with cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. It’s designed for enjoying natural scenery, with a 180degree observation lounge perfect for watching glaciers or dolphins.
Recreation includes laser tag, a race course for electric go-karts, and a waterslide with a transparent tube that swooshes you along the side of the ship. Other features include a Beatles club with a cover band, and a spa with a snow room and a salt room.
■ Holland America Line will launch the Nieuw Statendam in December. The ship’s features include World Stage, an entertainment venue with a two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screen; Music Walk, where three lounges offer various genres of music; and Blend, where guests can blend their own wine.
Holland America is also continuing a partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine, through 2018, on 300 cruises with programs for meditation, health, style and even a book club. Holland America Line is also starting roundtrip Boston-Cuba trips this year.
■ Celebrity Edge will begin sailing in November. Its futuristic design concepts include the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered movable deck that will serve as a walkway as well as a place to enjoy ocean views and a space for live music and themed dining. The new ship also features a venue called Eden with a three-level window on the ocean, al fresco seating, walkways and an “Eve at Eden” experience that will blend performance art and unusual culinary offerings.
■ Carnival Horizon is scheduled to make its debut in April with a Dr. Seuss-themed water park, an eatery called Smokehouse Brewhouse featuring Guy Fieri barbecue and craft beers brewed onboard, and an LED Dreamscape atrium sculpture that will show artwork by patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a Carnival charity partner. Carnival Vista already has the three deckhigh Dreamscape light panels.
Other fun features on Carnival ships range from “Green Eggs and Ham”themed breakfasts for kids to Lip Sync Battles a la the popular Paramount Network TV show.
■ MSC Cruises are betterknown in Europe than North America, but the brand is working to change that.
When MSC Seaside launched in December, it was named best new ship of 2017 by CruiseCritic.com. It features an interactive aqua park, an open-air promenade with glass-floor catwalks, two zip lines, a four-deck atrium, an Aurea spa with a snow room and beachlike condo suites. You can see the sea from glass elevators.
Seaside, with a 4,100guest capacity, is based in Miami for Caribbean itineraries. Its sister ship, MSC Seaview, will launch in June with Mediterranean cruises for its inaugural season.