Cruise ships make a big splash
Lines unveil bigger, more innovative vessels.
Get ready for a big year in the world of cruising. Just about every major line will have a new ship in 2018 as the industry continues to expand rapidly around the globe. Among the newcomers will be a vessel from Royal Caribbean that will smash the record for biggest cruise ship ever — if only by a tad. Just as notable will be a ship from Celebrity Cruises that will boast an innovative design. Major new vessels also are on the way from Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line. What will the ships be like? With the peak period for cruise bookings — aka Wave Season — now underway, USA TODAY offers a look at three of the most notable new vessels of 2018. (For profiles of more new ships, visit USA TODAY’s Cruise Hub at usatoday.com/travel/cruises.) SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS Line: Royal Caribbean Maiden voyage: March 31 Home ports: Barcelona; Miami Size (in tons): 230,000 Passengers: 5,535
The buzz: Think cruise ships can’t get any bigger? Think again. At 230,000 tons, Symphony will be more than 3,000 tons bigger than the current size leader in the cruise world, Royal Caribbean’s 226,963-ton Harmony of the Seas, making it the new World’s Largest Cruise Ship.
Like Harmony, Symphony will be part of Royal Caribbean’s recordbreaking Oasis Class of ships, which also includes the line’s giant Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Yet Symphony will have more cabins than the three earlier vessels, including a first-of-its-kind, two-deck-high family suite with a slide between floors. Other new features will include a New England-style seafood restaurant and a sports bar that sprawls across a rearfacing Boardwalk area.
Symphony, like the earlier Oasis Class vessels, will be a floating megaresort. Symphony will have a trio of multideck water slides on its top deck as well as four deck-top pool areas, two FlowRider surf simulators, a minigolf course and a nine-deck-high zip line. It also will have a version of the Ultimate Abyss slide that made its debut on Harmony — a nine-deck-high twintube plunge.
Itineraries: After an inaugural summer in the Mediterranean, Symphony will reposition to Miami to offer alternating, seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.
Information: 866-562-7625; royalcaribbean.com.
NORWEGIAN BLISS Line: Norwegian Cruise Line Maiden voyage: April 23 Home ports: Seattle; Miami Size (in tons): 167,800 Passengers: 4,000
The buzz: Fast-growing Norwegian Cruise Line is creating yet another major mega-resort at sea — its fifth in six years. A sister to the recently unveiled Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape, Bliss will rank among the 10 larg- est ships in the world and feature such over-the-top amusements as a twodeck-high racing course where passengers compete against each other in electric go-carts — a first for a vessel based in North America.
Bliss also will have multistory water slides; a restaurant-lined boardwalk; Tony Award-winning production shows including Jersey Boys and a giant spa. Dining options will include a modern Texas barbecue eatery that will feature live pop country music. In addition, Bliss will feature many of the signature eateries and bars that are staples of the Norwegian fleet, including a Cagney’s steakhouse, French restaurant Le Bistro and Italian restaurant La Cucina.
Just as noteworthy is where the ship will be sailing at least part of the year: Alaska. Operating out of Seattle starting in May, Bliss will become the largest vessel ever to cruise to the 49th state. Itineraries: Bliss will spend summers sailing to Alaska out of Seattle and winters sailing to the Eastern Caribbean out of Miami. Information: 866-234-7350; ncl.com CELEBRITY EDGE Line: Celebrity Cruises
Maiden voyage: Dec. 9 Home ports: Barcelona; Civitavecchia, Italy; Fort Lauderdale
Size (in tons): 117,000
Passengers: 2,900
The buzz: After six years without a new ship, Celebrity is into growth mode. Edge is the first of four new vessels due by 2022 that boast innovative designs.
Among Edge’s most notable features: A 90-ton platform the size of a tennis court that will be cantilevered over its side. Called the Magic Carpet, it will move up and down the side of the ship, serving functions that range from tender boarding platform to 90-seat alternative restaurant. Among other unusual features, Edge will have a jogging track that spans two decks and winds around the ship's terraced pool area.
A relaxation area to the aft of the pool deck called the Rooftop Garden also is on its plans, as are six poolside cabanas. Hot tubs will be perched on stems in what Celebrity says is a “martini glass” design.
Accommodations will feature what Celebrity is calling Infinite Veranda cabins designed to blend the indoor and outdoor experience. The rooms will have balconies that are set off by bi-fold doors that can be opened wide to create a larger main room area. Itineraries: Edge initially will sail to the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale before moving to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2019. Information: 888-751-7804; celebritycruises.com.