Hop on board one of these brand new ships
MORE than 30 new ocean, river and expedition ships launch this year, almost all running on sustainable fuels, hydrogen or electric batteries. Southampton’s Horizon and Mayflower cruise terminals now also offer shoreside power so ships can ‘plug in’ to avoid emissions in port.
Meanwhile, on eco-tours, guests will have the opportunity to meet locals to learn about sustainable farming and traditional customs. So cruising in 2023 offers a positive impact for all — and that’s alongside great music and wacky go-kart racing or days simply lazing by the pool on a fabulous new ship.
Here we offer a round-up of 2023’s most interesting new ones.
POLE POSITION
GET ready to race friends and family on Norwegian Viva’s three-level gokart track or go down a gear to stroll round the 3,219-guest ship’s 360-degree Ocean Boulevard. BOOK IT: Nine-night Italy, Greece and Croatia cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) departs August 26 from £2,429pp (cruisekings.co.uk, 0800 197 8050).
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS
MSC Cruises launches luxury brand Europa Journeys this summer. The first of six ships, LNG-powered Explora I, features a Steinway & Sons partnership with performances by rising stars and well-known pianists. BOOK IT: 15-night Maiden Journey into Epic Fjords departs Southampton for Copenhagen on July 17 from £9,100pp (explorajourneys.com, 0800 031 8935).
AMAZON ADVENTURE
TAKE a boat along the Guajara River, a tributary of the Amazon, to meet the local caboclos people who work on riverside buffalo farms, during expedition ship Seabourn Pursuit’s debut sailing from Barbados. BOOK IT: 14-day Wild Guianas To The Amazon Basin departs October 10, from £8,054pp (seabourn. com, 0344 338 8615).
GREEN DANUBE
SAGA’S newest river ship, 190guest Amadeus Elegant, has a Green Award demonstrating high safety and environmental standards on Europe’s rivers. Her first all-inclusive cruise sails along the Danube. BOOK IT: 12-night maiden Hidden Treasures of Central Europe cruise to Bratislava and Vienna departs May 26. French Balcony cabins reduced from £3,486pp to £3,186pp including chauffeur service (saga. co.uk/cruises, 0808 239 7512).
SUPER NOVA
EACH passenger on the 728-guest all-inclusive new ship Silver Nova will enjoy a 24-hour butler service, free wi-fi and a complementary tour in each port — and while moored, the ship’s dual-fuel engines emit zero local emissions. BOOK IT: Seven-night maiden Venice round-trip cruise on August 14, from £3,950pp or £5,600pp with door-to-door chauffeur service, flights and transfers (silversea. com, 0844 251 0837).
SET SAIL FOR GREENLAND
VIKING Saturn joins eight identical 930-guest sister ships next month. During her maiden season in Nordic countries, guests can enjoy Viking’s signature delights, from the elegant winter tea garden to a Nordic wellness spa. BOOK IT: 29-day Greenland, Iceland, Norway & Beyond cruise departs Bergen for New York on May 23, from £10,490pp (vikingcruises. co.uk, 0800 298 97 00).
JOURNEY IN JEWELS
REGENT Seven Seas Cruises’ new ship Grandeur is one of the most opulent ever built and will house a stunning, one-off Fabergé
Egg as part of its multi-millionpound floating art collection. As a special event Sarah Fabergé, great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé, will host a sailing in 2024, details to be announced. BOOK IT: A seven-night Caribbean cruise departs Miami on December 14, from £4,849pp (rssc. com, 023 8082 1390).
HIGH SEAS SOLO
IT’S been ten years since Oceania Cruises launched a new ship and 1,200-guest Vista features staterooms for solo travellers with a private veranda, free laundry service and unlimited use of the spa. BOOK IT: 12-day Caribbean roundtrip from Miami, departs November 19, from £3,739pp (oceaniacruises.com, 0345 505 1920).