Despite some of the latest headlines, cruising has never been more popular – it’s currently the fastest growing sector of the travel industry. More people are cruising than ever before because it’s a safe and affordable way to see the world. For me, one of the most exciting parts of cruising is the launch of a new ship. Over the next two years, 10 new ocean and 15 new river ships will be debuting. This year, four new mega ships are setting sail — each with their own set of extraordinary features.Â
List of New Cruise Ships in 2013
MSC Preziosa (MSC Cruises) March 2013
Set to become the third largest cruise line this year, MSC Cruises is making waves with their newest ship, MSC Preziosa. The Preziosa will sail the Western Mediterranean (the line is primarily based in Europe) and features an expansive water park with the longest single-ride water slide at sea, an exclusive adults-only solarium, and the popular restaurant chain Eataly.
Norwegian Breakaway – (Norwegian Cruise Line) May 2013
New York City is about to get a new resident — the Norwegian Breakaway will be the largest ship ever to homeport in NYC, accommodating nearly 4000 passengers on weekly cruises to either Bermuda or the Bahamas. There’s a crazy amount of new dining and entertainment options, including: three Broadway shows, an enormous Aqua Park with the five water slides and a weekly fireworks spectacular.Â
Carnival Sunshine (Carnival Cruise Lines) May 2013
While not completely brand new, the transformation from Carnival Destiny into Carnival Sunshine will be so extensive it might as well be a new ship. Carnival Sunshine is getting the full Carnival Fun Ship 2.0 treatment with faves like Guy’s Burger Joint and Alchemy Bar, as well as several new features – The Havana Bar, ShakeSpot, JavaBlue Café, Pizzeria del Capitano, a three-level Serenity adults-only retreat, a full-service Asian restaurant, Jiji Asian Kitchen, and a massive racing-themed water park. Carnival Sunshine will sail her inaugural season in Europe before home-porting in New Orleans.
Royal Princess – (Princess Cruises) June 2013
It’s been five years since Princess debuted a new ship– which makes this a very exciting time for the cruise line. The new Royal Princess will have all of the best features from previous princess ships, along with some fantastic new innovations, including: Princess Live! all day programming, a 60″ glass bottom SeaWalk, a dazzling water & lights show, and the largest outdoor movie screen at sea. Royal Princess will sail a Mediterranean itinerary through the summer, before arriving at her homeport in Fort Lauderdale for weekly 7-night eastern Caribbean itineraries.
