The Best New Cruise Ships of 2023

Table Of Content

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• The World's Largest Cruise Ship Is Coming in January—Here's What It's Like Inside
• Eating and drinking around Thrill Island
• The ‘Icon Of The Seas’ Will Soon Be The World’s Largest Cruise Ship — Here’s How Much It Costs To Get Aboard
• The adult-only suspended infinity pool
• Mein Schiff 8 (TUI Cruises)

If you’ve already cruised on Silver Nova, you won’t notice much difference between the two sister ships, as Silver Ray is essentially the same — but that’s all the more reason to love the ship. Both of the ships boast status as some of the most environmentally conscious ships ever to take on the high seas. Silver Ray also boasts that it’s one of the most spacious ships ever not only for Silversea Cruises, but overall for the industry.

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The new ship will soon be ready for use, starting in January 2024, the cruise company says, after hitting a milestone last month with the successful completion of its initial round of sea trials. During those trials, the ship was put on the open ocean for the first time. Icon of the Seas is just the first of three sister ships Royal Caribbean has on order for delivery by 2026 that will represent an all-new class of vessels at the line — to be called the Icon class.

The World's Largest Cruise Ship Is Coming in January—Here's What It's Like Inside

Gary Shteyngart: Crying Myself to Sleep on the Icon of the Seas - The Atlantic

Gary Shteyngart: Crying Myself to Sleep on the Icon of the Seas.

Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

It's a city at sea, accommodating up to 7,600 passengers in 2,805 staterooms and nearly 10,000 people, including the crew. The ship offers different experiences that include seven pools — one is the largest on any ship — the world's first onboard water park with six water slides, theaters, a casino and over 40 dining and drinking spots. Of course, when you’re the largest cruise ship at sea, you have plenty of room to break other records, too. For example, Icon of the Seas, the lead ship in Royal Caribbean’s planned Icon class, will also boast the largest water park at sea. The water park will offer six water slides (the most ever on a cruise ship).

Eating and drinking around Thrill Island

Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer. "Infection of the Seas by Royal Caribbean," another person jested, seemingly alluding to past COVID outbreaks on cruise ships during the pandemic. A weeklong Caribbean cruise costs about $3,500 for two people in an average stateroom. For those seeking more luxury, the Ultimate Family Townhouse – a three-story suite complete with touchscreen tables and a slide – can go for up to $100,000 per trip. The Royal Loft, aimed at high-rolling adults, offers two bedrooms, a private hot tub, and a spacious balcony starting at $40,000.

From the cruise line's first-ever swim-up bar to the largest pool at sea, infinity-edge Cove and Cloud 17 Pools, Chill Island is, undoubtedly, going to be the best pool deck at sea. While Thrill Island is chalked full of brand-new experiences, the cruise line is also bringing back some fan-favorites, including the FlowRider surf simulator and rock wall. Thrill Island was designed to ensure that the multigenerational family is able to have a great vacation together. Throughout the neighborhood, you will find plenty of seating to cheer on family and friends who are stepping up to the challenge.

The adult-only suspended infinity pool

Thrill Island is one of eight neighborhood that will be found onboard Icon of the Seas. It is not the only new concept, either, as families with young children will love the brand-new Surfside Neighborhood. You will step out onto a ledge that hangs 154 feet above the ocean right by the infamous Royal Caribbean crown and anchor. The walkway will stop, and you will be left admiring the ocean views until the trap door releases, sending you on a short glide right back where you began. Groups of four can ride together and boomerang off of a lotus leaf while soaking up some incredible ocean views.

That said, there are still a few new features that give long-time Disney Cruise Line fans plenty to look forward to. When Royal Caribbean opened much-anticipated bookings in October 2022, the cruise line reported the most bookings in a single day ever, in the cruise line’s entire history. But compared to the rest of my mediocre meals on Icon of the Seas — including dinner at a specialty restaurant — my complimentary pork pita wrap from the food hall's Mediterranean-inspired stall was admittedly pretty decent. After completing the first round of European sea trials, Royal Caribbean’s newest – and its largest, the cruise line boasts – is one step closer to its January 27 inaugural voyage. "The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one," Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in October.

Carnival may follow Royal Caribbean in making huge ship move - TheStreet

Carnival may follow Royal Caribbean in making huge ship move.

Posted: Sun, 21 Apr 2024 17:00:00 GMT [source]

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. If you’re a cruising fan — or even an avid traveler of any type — then you already know this new cruise ship that’s been making waves in a big way (literally). Icon of the Seas has plenty of live music venues — including rowdy karaoke and dueling pianos bars, if that counts. But if you're a jazz fan or looking for a peaceful nightcap, none of these options will top the live music at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.

Mein Schiff 8 (TUI Cruises)

The 1,772-square-foot suite is comprised of three stories and has a private "backyard" that leads directly to Surfside. The inaugural cruise will depart on Saturday, January 27 and sail to Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis' Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Perfect Day At Cococay. This voyage will signify the ship's completion, as the ship will officially be ready for regular service.

It combines a ropes course, skywalk, and thrill ride into one jaw-dropping experience. Thrill Island is an immersive experience that's themed after a lost island. Details include distressed wood, a sunken boat, and even small artifacts left from prior explorers. Norwegian Encore also is home to nearly 30 eateries, lounges and bars; Broadway shows; a sprawling spa; a casino that fills half a deck; and more than 2,000 rooms. Two more of the ships -- Norwegian Encore and Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas -- could be back in operation as early as November.

The previous world’s largest cruise ship was also a Royal Caribbean vessel, Wonder of the Seas, which spanned 1,188 feet long and featured 18 decks. Norwegian Encore is big enough to have room for an entire go-kart track and laser tag area on its top deck -- yeah, these are now things on cruise ships. And there's plenty of room to spare for pools, waterslides and a kiddie splash zone.

The last time that happened was in 2009 when Royal Caribbean unveiled its much-ballyhooed Oasis Class of vessels. With progress on Icon of the Seas moving along, Royal Caribbean has already started building another large “icon class” ship. The cruise line expects that unnamed vessel to launch in 2025, per a statement. The first step to building this brand-new neighborhood was to conduct research on the adventures themselves. "...We spoke to a lot of people about what they wanted to have [and] what they expected to experience," said Bayley. The line until now has resisted the trend among major brands to build ever-bigger vessels.

Icon of the Seas will have 28 cabin and suite types to suit every type of traveler, including the aforementioned family cabins, inside cabins with extra-large walk-in closets and panoramic ocean-view rooms in the AquaDome. However, Icon of the Seas will only have 2,805 cabins compared to Wonder's 2,867 — despite carrying more people when all berths are filled. That's because Royal Caribbean is targeting this ship to families and planning for the ship to sail with more cabins carrying more than two passengers. That’s certainly been the mantra for Miami based cruise line Royal Caribbean, who just announced their largest ship Icon of the Seas will officially enter service in 2024. At maximum capacity, Icon will be capable of hosting 7,600 passengers on its inaugural sail on January 28, 2024.

Disney is opening its second cruise ship-focused Bahamian island in June 2024, Lighthouse Point, to cruisers, so Disney Treasure guests will have that new experience to look forward to as well. The ship’s Piazza is surrounded by domed glass and takes its inspiration from historic piazzas, offering access to a range of luxurious venues. The Horizons Dining Room is now three stories tall, and other dining options on the ship will include both new and classic Princes Cruises favorites. Icon of the Seas, once it debuts in 2024, will be the largest cruise ship in the entire world, surpassing the prior largest cruise ship, also from Royal Caribbean, Wonder of the Seas. But enough gushing — what can you expect from this year’s batch of new cruise ships? The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do.

Once it’s completed, the ship will measure in at 20-decks high, 1,200 feet long, and 250,800 gross tons. This floating mini-city is expected to sail year round and offer seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises out of Miami. Every one of the vessels can hold more than 5,000 people with every berth filled. All of them offer dozens of restaurants and bars, Broadway-style entertainment, casinos and lots of deck-top attractions. Back in January, before COVID-19 halted cruising around the world, two of the biggest big-ship cruise lines -- Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises -- were just starting up sailings with their biggest ships ever.