Just this fall, since the return to ocean cruising, we’ve also seen a splendid return of cruise ship christenings.
Along with new health innovations like ventilation systems and virtual safety musters that help keep cruise travellers safe, these brand new ships offer cutting-edge design and brand-new experiences that make the ships destinations themselves.
Cruise travel expert Lynn Elmhirst, producer and host of BestTrip TV, names six new ships that debuted this fall, and are sure to become cruise fan favorites sailing in the Caribbean this Winter as they continue their inaugural seasons into 2022.
Celebrity Apex
Home Port: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Inaugural Season Itineraries: Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries for Winter 2022, that include Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Belize, Grand Caymans and more.
What’s New:
The Celebrity Apex is the latest Edge-class ship for Celebrity Cruises, and features outward-facing design that connects you to the sea at every turn; the cantilevered Magic Carpet venue; unique two-story villa accommodations with plunge pools and staterooms with infinite verandas; 29 restaurant bars and lounges including the new Craft Social bar with over three dozen handcrafted beers; spa and wellness programs designed by industry experts and first-at-sea F45 classes, along with Peloton bikes; 7000 feet of retail space, including new luxury retail boutiques at sea from Bvlgari, Cartier and the first-ever Montblanc lifestyle boutique.
The Apex also offers discerning guests the line’s exclusive The Retreat ship-within-a-ship, with stunning suite accommodations, a private restaurant, and an exclusive lounge and sundeck to rival any high-end resort. In addition, a dedicated team of Personal Retreat Hosts on-hand 24/7, ensures everything is taken care of while on vacation.
Holland America Line’s Rotterdam
Home Port: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Inaugural Season Itineraries: Rotterdam will sail in the Caribbean through April 2022, on 6- to 11- day voyages to southern, eastern, western Caribbean itineraries that all call in HAL’s top-rated private island beach resort in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay (pictured, top).
What’s New:
What’s old is new again for Holland America Line, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022. This Rotterdam is the seventh ship by that name for the cruise line.
Rotterdam has the amenities and innovations that transformed her sister ships for HAL, including the 270-degree surround screen World Stage, celebrating live music with a collection of world-class performances each night — from Lincoln Center Stage and B.B. King’s Blues Club to Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard.
The ship sees the return of guest favorites Rudi’s Sel de Mer restaurant and Grand Dutch Café. New on the Rotterdam: the Half Moon Bar, an immersive experience looking at the history of Holland America Line and cruising through the lens of a cocktail. Throughout the ship, Rotterdam showcases Holland America Line hallmarks, including museum-quality art collection valued at more than $4 million.
Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas
Home Port: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Inaugural Season Itineraries: For the winter, Odyssey of the Seas sails 6-night and 8-night cruises to the eastern, western and southern Caribbean, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In April 2022, the new ship heads to its summer home in Rome to sail Mediterranean itineraries.
What’s New:
Royal Caribbean’s newest ship is the first of the cruise line’s Quantum Ultra Class ship in North America, complete with signature features like the North Star pod on the top deck, Seaplex, skypad, ripcord by ifly and the Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
Odyssey of the Seas features a combination of new, thrilling experiences and signature adventures guests know and love. Highlights include a vibrant resort-style pool deck inspired by the Caribbean, the new Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Teppanyaki, the restaurant serving up Far East flavors and making its North America debut; and one-of-a-kind entertainment that pushes the bounds of imagination in the high-tech venue Two70 and the Royal Theater.
Enchanted Princess
Home Port: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Inaugural Season Itineraries: Caribbean for Winter 2022, then Northern Europe/Scandinavia for the summer 2022, Canada/ New England in the Fall, and back to the Caribbean
What’s New:
In addition to all the things that Princess cruise ships fans have grown to love, including “Medallion” wearable digital solution to accessing and managing your cruise experience, the Enchanted Princess introduces some new features.
They include a breathtaking new Sky Suite, with the cruise line’s largest balcony, giving you views that go on forever. In addition to Medallion-class digital cruise management, OceanNow let’s cruise guests make reservations at your preferred times for the main dining room or specialty restaurants, even order food and drinks to your lounge poolside.
Speaking of pools, Enchanted Princess has more spa tubs and two incredible deep-tank pools, linked by sunken, communal seating, adjacent to the top-deck bar. Plus there’s a new venue, Take Five, showcasing vintage footage, iconic imagery and intimate conversations that transport you to the heart of the jazz era with music and storytelling – and specialty cocktails, of course.
MSC Seashore
Home Port: Miami, Florida
Inaugural Season Itineraries: MSC Seashore will sail itineraries ranging from mini cruises, to 7, 8, and 11-night cruises in the Caribbean. All call at the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, on late night or overnight calls. Ocean Cay exists in harmony with the local ecosystem and is founded on a commitment to the restoration of marine resources and the ongoing conservation of existing marine life, including
endangered corals, and the implementation of other conservation and educational programs alongside two miles of sandy beaches and beach resort activities.
What’s New:
MSC Seashore is the first Seaside EVO ship, an evolution and enrichment of MSC’s Seaside class designed in the style of Miami beach-front condos. At more than 1,100 square feet — the longest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet — MSC Seashore boasts more than three acres of outdoor space including standout design features like its now-famous Bridge of Sighs, a glass-floored walkway, outdoor spa area, dining and lounges.
MSC Seashore has a number of favorite returning features, with many upgrades, including a new lounge, Cabaret Rouge, spanning two decks with panoramic views of the sea; Times Square with an LED wall spanning four decks with a projection of the real Times Square in NYC, with dueling pianos playing popular hits as guests join in the countdown to watch a New Year’s Eve-inspired ball drop spanning a different decade every night; five specialty restaurants; six swimming pools; an interactive waterpark and aft infinity pool; as well as the largest most luxurious MSC Yacht Club - the all-inclusive ‘ship within a ship.’
Carnival Radiance
Home Port: Long Beach, CA
Inaugural Season Itineraries: West Coast-based itineraries include three- and four-day sailings calling at Ensenada and Catalina Island, 4-5 day and week-long Mexico and Mexican Riviera voyages.
What’s New:
Carnival Radiance isn’t strictly new, but she’s undergone a $200 million makeover and taken on a brand new name and lease on life that fans of Carnival will delight in. The cruise line’s Chief Fun Officer, basketball and lifestyles celebrity Shaquille O’Neal was present with his mom for the naming ceremony. Before that, the mother-son duo cutting a ribbon to officially open Big Chicken, the second seagoing restaurant created by Shaquille, featuring dishes based on his family’s recipes.
In addition to Big Chicken, new offerings added to Carnival Radiance include Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse created by Food Network star and longtime partner Guy Fieri; Heroes Tribute Bar saluting those that serve in the Armed Forces; Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant; Bonsai Sushi; and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub. All of the ship’s public spaces have been transformed as well – including the water park, youth facilities, retail shops, Cloud 9 Spa and a new Liquid Lounge home to Carnival’s award-winning Playlist Productions shows. The exterior of the ship has also been adorned with the line’s new red, white and blue hull livery.
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Images courtesy of their respective cruise lines.
Top image: Holland America Line's Half Moon Cay private island.
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