Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line and they are offering 31 unique cruises in 2025 on 12 of their cruise ships.
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These 31 cruises differ from the traditional seven night cruises to the Caribbean or Europe and short cruises to The Bahamas. They are unique sailings that are only offered once by Royal Caribbean in 2025 and all of them start in one port and end in another (aka repositioning cruises).
The cruises depart from February through December 2025 and range from five to 17 nights in length.
Here is a list of the 31 unique sailings that Royal Caribbean will offer in 2025 listed by sailaway date.
February 10, 2025 – Allure of the Seas will sail a nine-night Transatlantic cruise from Miami, Florida to Barcelona, Spain.
April 7, 2025 – Brilliance of the Seas will sail a 14-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona. The ship visit ports in the Azores and Spain.
April 8, 2025 – Quantum of the Seas will embark on a three week cruise from Sydney, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii. Port stops on the 21-day cruise include New Zealand, Tahiti, and the French Polynesia.
April 13, 2025 – Serenade of the Seas will sail a 16-night cruise through the Panama Canal that will depart from Fort Lauderdale and end in Los Angeles. Port stops on the cruise include Grand Cayman, Panama, Guatemala, and Mexico.
April 13, 2025 – Anthem of the Seas will sail a 12-night cruise from Singapore to Tokyo with port stops in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
April 16, 2025 – Ovation of the Seas will depart on a five-night cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong with two stops in Vietnam.
April 19, 2025 – Radiance of the Seas will sail a 15-night cruise through the Panama Canal from Tampa to Los Angeles. The cruise will visit Grand Cayman, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico.
April 25, 2025 – Anthem of the Seas will offer a 15-night cruise from Tokyo to Seattle with several port stops in Japan.
April 27, 2025 – Odyssey of the Seas is sailing a 14-night Transatlantic cruise from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. The ship will stop in the Azores, Spain, and Italy before arriving in Rome.
April 28, 2025 – Independence of the Seas is sailing a two-week Transatlantic cruise from Miami to Southampton with port stops in the Azores, Bermuda, Portugal and Spain.
April 28, 2025 – Quantum of the Seas will offer an eight-night cruise from Hawaii to Vancouver. The cruise will include a few stops in Hawaii.
April 29, 2025 – Serenade of the Seas is sailing a short five-night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
April 30, 2025 – Explorer of the Seas will offer a 12-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona. The ship will visit the Azores and Spain.
May 3, 2025 – Voyager of the Seas is sailing a 13-night cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona.
May 4, 2025 – Radiance of the Seas will sail a short five-night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
August 22, 2025 – Brilliance of the Seas will offer an eight-night cruise from Barcelona to Southampton that visits Portugal and Spain.
August 30, 2025 – Brilliance of the Seas is sailing a 15-night cruise from Southampton to Boston with port stops in Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
September 14, 2025 – Serenade of the Seas will offer a short five-night cruise from Vancouver to San Diego.
September 19, 2025 – Serenade of the Seas is sailing a 13-night cruise through the Panama Canal from San Diego to Miami.
September 26, 2025 – Radiance of the Seas will offer an eight-night cruise from Vancouver to San Diego with a few stops in California.
October 4, 2025 – Anthem of the Seas is sailing a nine-night cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii.
October 4, 2025 – Radiance of the Seas will offer a 16-night cruise through the Panama Canal and stop in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and Grand Cayman.
October 9, 2025 – Ovation of the Seas is sailing a 11-night cruise from Tokyo to Singapore with stops in Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and South Korea.
October 13, 2025 – Anthem of the Seas will offer a 17-night cruise from Hawaii to Sydney, Australia. This two and a half week cruise will visit Tahiti, French Polynesia and New Zealand.
October 22, 2025 – Odyssey of the Seas is sailing a 14-night cruise from Rome, Italy to Cape Liberty, New Jersey. The ship will stop in Italy, Spain and the Azores.
October 26, 2025 – Allure of the Seas will offer a 13-night cruise from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale.
October 31, 2025 – Jewel of the Seas is sailing an eight-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship will visit ports in the Southern Caribbean.
November 2, 2025 – Brilliance of the Seas will offer a seven-night cruise from Boston to San Juan. The ship will stop in Bermuda and ports in the Caribbean.
November 3, 2025 – Voyager of the Seas is sailing a 14-night cruise from Rome to Dubai with port stops in Greece and Jordan.
November 17, 2025 – Voyager of the Seas will offer a 14-night cruise from Dubai to Singapore with port stops in Oman, Mumbai, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
December 1, 2025 – Voyager of the Seas is sailing a 12-night cruise from Singapore to Brisbane with port stops in Bali and Australia.
A lot of cruise ships have very unique names, but there are also some popular names that crop up on a regular basis.
It might be that a cruise line repeats a ship name when one retires, or sometimes there are just popular words that feature across different lines – understandable, since there have been so many cruise ships to have ever sailed!
I’ve researched all the major cruise ships that have ever sailed – sticking exclusively to cruise ships – to find the most common names of ships of all time. And here they are…
Spirit (18 ships)
Star (16 ships)
Dream (11 ships)
Explorer (9 ships)
Sea (9 ships)
Sun (8 ships)
Discovery (6 ships)
Sky (6 ships)
Voyager (5 ships)
Majesty (4 ships)
Breeze (4 ships)
Vista (4 ships)
1. Spirit
“Spirit” is the most popular name for cruise ships – there are 18 that I’ve counted, although a few of those are for one cruise line. It’s a great name that invokes a sense of adventure, or perhaps it just hints at the booze you’ll enjoy if you get a drinks package (I’m kidding)!
Aegean Spirit
Golden Sun Cruises – 2000 to 2001
Aegean Spirit is better known as Enrico Costa, serving as a cruise ship for Costa Cruises. She was originally built in 1951 but only refurbished as a cruise ship in 1965, and for around a year she cruised as Aegean Spirit once sold to Golden Sun Cruises.
Carnival Spirit
Carnival Spirit
Carnival Cruise Line – 2001 to present
Carnival Spirit was the first ship in Carnival’s Spirit Class, and despite her age, she remains a popular ship in the fleet. She cruises from Alabama and Seattle.
Marella Spirit
Marella Cruises – 2003 to 2018 (also as Thomson Spirit)
Marella Spirit actually sailed for Holland America Line as an earlier Nieuw Amsterdam ship – she was sold to Thomson Cruises in 2003 and would serve until 2018, being sold that year and later scrapped the same year.
Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Cruise Line – 2004 to present
Norwegian Spirit is one of the older ships in the NCL fleet – she was first built in 1998 for Star Cruises, sailing as SuperStar Leo. She was refurbished in 2020.
Regent Spirit
Regency Cruises – 1992 to 1996
Regent Spirit is a ship with a long history, being first built in 1962. She served under a range of cruise lines, with four years spent sailing the Mexican coast and the Mediterranean under the Regent Spirit name.
Seabourn Spirit
Seabourn – 1989 to 2015
Seabourn Spirit was a very popular luxury ship for Seabourn for many years – she first launched in 1989 and served over 25 years for the cruise line. She now sails as Star Breeze for Windstar Cruises, meaning she makes another appearance later in this list…
Spirit of London
P&O Cruises – 1972 to 1974
Spirit of London didn’t last long with the name that she launched with, serving just two years before she was transferred to Princess Cruises and became Sun Princess. So this is another ship you’ll see again in this list – more than once, actually.
Silver Spirit
Silver Spirit sailing under Tower Bridge
Silversea – 2009 to present
Silver Spirit was the sixth ship to launch in the Silversea fleet, and she continues to offer guests a stunning luxury cruise experience, with a maximum capacity of just 648 guests.
Spirit of Adventure
Saga Cruises – 2020 to present
Spirit of Adventure is a modern cruise ship sailing for Saga Cruises, a British cruise line aimed at an older audience. Despite launching in 2020, her maiden voyage was delayed until 2021 due to the global shutdown at the time.
Spirit of Alaska
Spirit of Columbia
Spirit of Discovery
Spirit of Endeavour
Spirit of Glacier Bay
Spirit of Oceanus
Spirit of Yorktown
Spirit of ‘98
Cruise West – Various from 1990 to 2010
Cruise West was a small-ship cruise operator best known for Alaskan cruises. The fleet of ships were all named “Spirit of…”. The cruise line was forced to cease operations in 2010, with the ships sold off.
Wind Spirit
Windstar Cruises – 1987 to present
Wind Spirit is a currently-serving cruise ship for Windstar Cruises – one of three ships to feature a classic sail yacht design. She offers small ship luxury cruises for just 148 guests.
2. Star
The second most popular name for cruise ships, “Star” is popular because it has a number of meanings – the star/gem of a fleet, but also the shining beacon of light that is beautiful and captivating.
A-ROSA STAR
A-ROSA Cruises – 2005 to present
A-ROSA STAR is a river cruise ship offering luxurious journeys along Europe’s most beautiful rivers. Known for its elegant design and exceptional service, it has been a favourite for river cruise enthusiasts.
Atlantic Star
Pullmantur Cruises – 2009 to 2013
Atlantic Star has featured for several big cruise lines, including P&O Australia and Princess, but it was under Pullmantur that she sailed with that name for four years.
China Star
China Cruises – 2005 to 2017
China Star was a prominent cruise ship for China Cruises, also known under several other “Star” names – Omar Star and Saipan Star.
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Cruise Line – 2001 to present
Norwegian Star is a popular ship in the NCL fleet, and one of the longest-serving ships for the cruise line. She sails to various exotic destinations and underwent significant refurbishments in 2018.
Star Breeze
Star Legend
Star Pride
Star Legend
Windstar Cruises – 2014 to present
These three ships used to sail for Seabourn but were sold to Windstar Cruises to serve as the line’s new Star Class of ships, moving away from the traditional sail ships that they had been known for but still offering stunning luxury for guests.
Star Clipper
Star Flyer
Star Clippers – 1992 to present
Star Clipper and Star Flyer are stunning tall ships that offer a unique sailing experience. With their four masts and traditional design, they offer a blend of adventure and luxury, reminiscent of the golden age of sailing.
Star of the Seas
Royal Caribbean – Launching 2025
The second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas will be the biggest cruise ship in the world when she launches, and will wow guests with a huge range of onboard features.
Star Pisces
Star Cruises – 1993 to 2022
Star Pisces was a cruise ship that was owned by Star Cruises, offering short breaks from Hong Kong. Following the collapse of the company’s parent, Genting Hong Kong, the ship was sold for scrap in 2022.
Star Princess
Princess Cruises – 1989 to 1997
The first Star Princess served for Princess Cruises before being transferred to P&O Australia. She was ultimately scrapped in 2021.
Star Princess
Princess Cruises – 2002 to 2020
The second Star Princess continued the legacy of this popular name. Like her earlier namesake, she also transferred to P&O Australia, and she continues to sail.
Star Princess
Princess Cruises – Due to launch 2025
The third Star Princess ship will be the second Sphere-class ship in the fleet, following Sun Princess. She’ll offer stunning accommodation options and a wealth of great dining venues.
Viking Star
Viking Ocean Cruises – 2015 to present
Viking Star is the first ocean-going ship for Viking Cruises, known for her sophisticated design and cultural enrichment programs.
Wind Star
Windstar Cruises – 1986 to present
Wind Star is another of the classic Windstar ships to be powered by a mix of motor and sails. Like her sisters, she has a capacity of just 148 guests.
3. Dream
Do you ever find yourself dreaming of your next cruise? Perhaps a cruise is your dream holiday, as in your perfect option. Either way, it’s no surprise that so many ships have adopted the “dream” name.
Carnival Dream
Carnival Cruise Line – 2009 to present
The lead ship in Carnival’s Dream Class, Carnival Dream was the biggest ship in the Carnival fleet when she first launched. She’s still highly popular, offering cruises from Galveston in Texas.
Disney Dream
Disney Cruise Line – 2011 to present
Disney Dream is the first of two Dream-class ships to launch for Disney Cruise Line, followed by her sister Disney Fantasy. While these ships were the biggest in the fleet for a decade, they’ve now been surpassed by the Wish Class.
Dream Princess
Caspi Cruises – 2004 to 2006
This is another cruise ship that has been operated by several cruise lines and under several names, though her longest run was as Song of Norway for Royal Caribbean from 1970 to 1997.
Explorer Dream
Dream Cruises – 2019 to 2021
Sometimes a ship name is made up of just two very popular words – which is why Explorer Dream makes this list again, having already been mentioned in the “Explorer” section above.
Genting Dream
Dream Cruises – 2019 to present
Genting Dream is another cruise ship to have been built for the doomed Genting Hong Kong. She’s also transferred to Resorts World Cruises, but she has kept her name.
Marella Dream
Marella Cruises – 2010 to 2021
Marella Dream (also Thomson Dream, before the rebrand) enjoyed an 11-year stint sailing for the British cruise line, after a longer career as the Westerdam for Holland America Line. She was scrapped in 2022.
MS Dream
Tianjin Orient – 2023 to present
The MS Dream has a storied history, having served as the Adonia for P&O Cruises for a two-year period sandwiched between two stints as the Sea Princess for Princess Cruises. She now sails throughout Asia.
Ocean Dream
Ocean Deluxe Cruises – 2012 to 2015
This is the former Spirit of London ship already mentioned, and following her time under that name and as Sun Princess, she spent her last years as Ocean Dream before she was sunk and scrapped.
Ocean Dream
Pullmantur Cruises / Peace Boat – 2008 to 2021
The Ocean Dream began life as the Tropicale and sailed for Carnival Cruise Lines for several years. She also sailed for Costa Cruises and P&O Australia before becoming the Ocean Dream in 2008. She was scrapped in 2021.
SeaDream I and SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club – 2001 to present
The SeaDream yachts were originally built in 1984 and 1985 respectively and have sailed for Cunard and Seabourn prior to forming the SeaDream fleet. These luxury small ships have a capacity for just 112 passengers each.
4. Explorer
A cruise offers a sense of adventure, giving you the chance to see parts of the world you otherwise wouldn’t. The name “Explorer” is therefore the perfect choice for a ship that will whisk you off on a journey of a lifetime.
Explorer Dream
Dream Cruises – 2019 to 2021
The Explorer Dream was one short-lived name of this popular cruise ship which had previously spent 20 years sailing as SuperStar Virgo for Star Cruises. After the collapse of Genting Hong Kong, she’s now joined Resorts World Cruises and sails as Resorts World One.
Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean – 2000 to present
One of the oldest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Explorer of the Seas is still a very popular choice for loyal fans who prefer the Voyager-class ships to the biggest ships in the fleet.
Explorer Starship
Exploration Cruise Lines – 1974 to 1989
Explorer Starship spent 15 years sailing for the smaller cruise line Exploration, before becoming well known as the Song of Flower under Seven Seas Cruises and later Radisson. Later in life she would also sail as Le Diamant for Compagnie du Ponant, and then Ocean Diamond.
Marella Explorer & Marella Explorer 2
Marella Cruises – 2018 to present
The Marella Explorer ships are former Celebrity Cruises ships that were transferred to Marella Cruises to serve the British market. Marella Explorer 2 now operates as the cruise line’s adults-only ship.
National Geographic Explorer
Lindblad Expeditions – 2008 to present
The National Geographic Explorer is an expedition cruise ship designed to handle icy waters, and often sailing to the Arctic and Antarctic seas. She previously sailed for Hurtigruten as the Midnatsol.
Pacific Explorer
P&O Cruises Australia – 2017 to present
Pacific Explorer is a Sun-class ship currently sailing for P&O Australia, but she spent much of her life sailing as the Dawn Princess for sister brand Princess Cruises.
Sea Explorer
Clipper Group – 2013 to 2014
The Sea Explorer was a name given to a cruise ship that had previously spent much of its life sailing for Renaissance Cruises, before the company went bust in 2001. She’s undergone several name stints and is now known as Hebridean Sky, sailing for Noble Caledonia.
Silver Explorer
Silversea – 2011 to 2023
Silver Explorer is an ice-rated expedition ship that famously sailed for Silversea as a luxury vessel for several years. She had previously sailed under a variety of names such as World Discoverer and Baltic Clipper. She now sails as Exploris One for the Exploris line.
5. Sea
Caption: Mozzihh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sometimes the simplest names are the best, and so there are several ships named after that huge blue expanse that you’ll be sailing on. There’s loads of inspiration you can draw from the sea, and plenty of great ships that bear the name.
Sea Breeze
Dolphin Cruise Lines – 1988 to 2000
The Sea Breeze launched for Costa Cruises way back in 1958, sailing for 25 years as the Frederico C. She ultimately ended up at Dolphin in 1988 and was renamed Sea Breeze. She sank in 2000.
Sea Cloud
Sea Cloud II
Sea Cloud Spirit
Sea Cloud Cruises – 1979 / 2001 to present
The Sea Cloud ships are beautiful sail ships that offer luxury small-ship cruises. Sea Cloud first launched in the 1970s and the latter ships are more recent builds, aiming to recreate the authentic feel of the original.
Sea Diamond
Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines – 2006 to 2007
The Sea Diamond was the former Birka Princess, sold to Louis Hellenic in 2006. She ran aground in 2007 in Santorini, ultimately sinking.
Sea Explorer
Clipper Group – 2013 to 2014
I’ve already covered the ship – now known as the Hebridean Sky – in the ‘Explorer’ section above, but as another “sea” ship she gets a mention here too.
Sea Princess
Princess Cruises – 1998 to 2003, 2005 to 2020
This is the MS Dream I’ve covered above – a ship that completed 20 years of service for Princess Cruises, split between two runs (with a two-year gap as P&O’s Adonia in the middle). She’s now operating in Asia.
…of the Seas
Various (Royal Caribbean)
You could make an argument that “Sea” is actually the most popular cruise ship name since the entire Royal Caribbean fleet is named *something* of the Seas. I wanted to give it a brief nod since the “of the Seas” suffix isn’t part of the cruise line name, so it is a branding choice, but really the ships are better known by their first word.
6. Sun
It’s no surprise that “Sun” (and slight variants) is one of the most popular cruise ship names – it instantly has you thinking of great weather and the great times that go with it.
Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Cruise Line – 1999 to present
An older ship, Carnival Sunrise used to be called Carnival Triumph, but she was refurbished in 2019 and given a new name to match her exciting new features.
Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Cruise Line – 1996 to present
The oldest ship sailing in the fleet, Carnival Sunshine was formerly known as Carnival Destiny, but she was rebranded in 2013 when she became the first for Carnival to get the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades.
Norwegian Sun
Norwegian Cruise Line – 2001 to present
The second-oldest ship in the NCL fleet, Norwegian Sun is the second of the Sun-class ships and a sister to Norwegian Sky (see below). Despite her age, she is still popular with loyal NCL fans.
Sun Princess
Princess Cruises – 1974 to 1989
This ship makes its third entry in this list – the former Spirit of London and eventual Ocean Dream spent most of her life as the original Sun Princess for Princess Cruises.
Sun Princess
Princess Cruises – 1995 to 2020
The second Sun Princess was the first purpose-built ship for the cruise line since 1984’s Royal Princess. She was sold in 2020 and now operates as Pacific World for P&O Australia.
Sun Princess
Princess Cruises – 2024 to present
The third ship sailing for Princess Cruises with this name, Sun Princess is the first Sphere-Class ship for the cruise line.
Sun Vista
Sun Cruises – 1997 to 1999
The Sun Vista was an older cruise ship first built in 1963. After launching as Galileo Galilei and later sailing as Galileo, she joined Celebrity Cruises as Meridian. After being sold to Sun Cruises, she sank two years later.
7. Discovery
“Discovery” is a great name for a cruise ship, because there really is so much that you’ll discover on a cruise holiday – from stunning destinations, to great food, and even just the best ways to relax.
Celestyal Discovery
Celestyal Cruises – 2024 to present
Celestyal Cruises is a Greek cruise operator specialising in itineraries that call at multiple islands per day. In 2024 the former AIDAaura joined the fleet, rechristened to Celestyal Discovery.
Discovery
Voyages of Discovery – 2002 to 2014
Voyages of Discovery was a British cruise line and Discovery was one of the primary ships, mainly aimed at Brits but with some international guests too. She was broken up in 2014.
Discovery I
Discovery Cruises – 1970 to unknown (scrapped eventually)
Discovery I underwent several names during her sailing career, including Bleheim, Scandinavian Sea, and Venus Venture.
Discovery Princess
Princess Cruises – 2022 to present
One of the newest ships in the Princess fleet, Discovery Princess was the final Royal-class ship to launch. She’s extremely popular, with modern features and a wealth of great bars and restaurants.
Marella Discovery
Marella Discovery 2
Marella Cruises – 2016/17 to present
The Marella Discovery ships are the smallest ships in the Marella fleet, offering family-friendly, all-inclusive cruises for the British market. Both ships previously sailed for Royal Caribbean, as Splendor of the Seas and Legend of the Seas respectively.
8. Sky
Several ships have been given the name “Sky”, and it’s another great choice. The only thing more expansive than the ocean is the sky, and as well as the connotations of a beautiful blue sky to enjoy on your cruise, it conjures up a sense of sailing off into the great unknown.
Island Sky
Noble Caledonia – 1992 to present
Island Sky currently sails for Noble Caledonia, offering small-ship cruise tours with luxurious accommodations. There are just 59 suites onboard.
Norwegian Sky
Norwegian Cruise Line – 1998 to 2004, 2008 to present
Norwegian Sky is a Sun-class cruise ship currently sailing for NCL. She was originally to be called Costa Olympia but the incomplete hull was bought by NCL. She was renamed Pride of Aloha for four years while sailing for NCL America but her name reverted in 2008.
Royal Viking Sky
Royal Viking Line – 1973 to 1991
The Royal Viking Sky was used for luxury cruises around the world when she first launched. She’s undergone several names and been owned by many cruise lines since, including NCL and Princess. She was well known as Boudicca for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, too.
Sky Princess
Princess Cruises – 1988 to 2000
The original Sky Princess was first built for Sitmar Cruises as Fairsky and would also serve time sailing as Atlantic Star (yes, the one mentioned above).
Sky Princess
Princess Cruises – 2019 to present
The second Sky Princess ship to sail for Princess, this Royal-class ship debuted in 2019 and offers some spectacular features, including the impressive Sky Suite.
Viking Sky
Viking Cruises – 2017 to present
Viking Sky is another luxury cruise ship sailing for Viking on the oceans. She was the third ship to launch following the Viking Star and Viking Sea.
9. Voyager
Several ships have adopted the name “Voyager” as another name to conjure up that sense of adventure. Book your own voyage to experience a truly unforgettable holiday.
Grand Voyager
Ibero – 2005 to 2011
The Grand Voyager is a cruise ship that has enjoyed many ‘Voyager’ names, including Olympic Voyager and Costa Voyager, while sailing for Costa Cruises. She now sails for the Bohai Ferry Company as Chinese Taishan.
Ocean Voyager
American Queen Voyages – 2021 to 2023
Ocean Voyager is a small cruise ship that was best known for sailing for American Queen Voyages, until the company went bankrupt and was forced to sell the ship.
Marella Voyager
Marella Cruises – 2023 to present
The latest addition to the Marella Cruises fleet, Marella Voyager had previously sailed as the Celebrity Mercury and was due to be the original TUI Explorer 2, but that was delayed and instead the current Marella Explorer 2 took her place.
Seven Seas Voyager
Regent Seven Seas – 2003 to present
One of the ultra-luxury ships sailing for Regent Seven Seas, the Seven Seas Voyager is an all-suite vessel with the finest accommodations and service onboard.
Voyager of the Seas
Royal Caribbean – 1999 to present
A classic of the Royal Caribbean fleet, Voyager of the Seas is one of just a few ships to have been built pre-2000 to still be sailing for the cruise line. She’s still well-liked too, despite her age and comparatively small size.
10. Majesty
There are many regal-sounding names for cruise ships, with “Majesty” being the most common of those – a name befitting a holiday where you really are treated as a VIP.
Aegean Majesty
Seajets – 2020 to present
The former Veendam for Holland America Line, the ship was sold to Seajets in 2020 and rebranded as the Aegean Majesty. However she remains laid up since then, not yet having sailed.
Majesty of the Oceans
Seajets – 2021 to present
Another ship sold to Seajets and then remaining unused since, Majesty of the Oceans was better known as Majesty of the Seas for 28 years, operating for Royal Caribbean.
Ocean Majesty
Majestic International Cruises – 1995 to present
A former ferry, the Ocean Majesty has operated as a cruise ship since 1989 following extensive renovations, with the name Ocean Majesty being given to her in 1995. She is still technically sailing though has been used to house asylum seekers in recent years.
Norwegian Majesty
Norwegian Cruise Line – 1997 to 2009
This cruise line has had several ‘majestic’ names under different cruise lines, including Royal Majesty and Thomson Majesty. But her longest stint with a single name was as Norwegian Majesty, for 12 years.
11. Breeze
“Breeze” is a beautiful name for a cruise ship. It has connotations of breezing through the sparkling waters, but also reminds you of that feeling of standing on the deck, drink in hand, as the breeze gently washes over you. Talk about idyllic!
Carnival Breeze
Carnival Cruise Line – 2012 to present
Carnival Breeze is one of the best-loved Carnival ships in the fleet. She is packed with fun features and offers plenty of exciting itineraries from Galveston.
OceanBreeze
Premier Cruise Lines – 1997 to 2000
A relatively short stint as the OceanBreeze for this ship, which had previously sailed as Southern Cross, Calypso and Azure Seas. She was scrapped in 2003.
Sea Breeze
Dolphin Cruise Lines – 1988 to 2000
Another mention for the Sea Breeze, which sank in 2000. Check out the Sea section above for more.
Star Breeze
Windstar Cruises – 2015 to present
The Star Breeze is the former Seabourn Spirit. The luxury cruise ship was sold by Seabourn in 2015 after 26 years of service, joining Windstar’s new Star Class.
12. Vista
A “vista” is a spectacular view, and is there any better view than the one you’ll get from a cruise ship? Maybe just that view you’ll get of the ship itself as you arrive in port, ready for your holiday to begin!
Carnival Vista
Carnival Cruise Line – 2016 to present
Carnival Vista is the lead ship of Carnival’s Vista Class, alongside sister ships Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. She offers sailings year-round from Port Canaveral.
Sun Vista
Sun Cruises – 1997 to 1999
A second mention for this ship – Sun Vista was the former Galileo and Meridian which sank in 1999. Check out the “Sun” section above for more.
Vista
Oceania Cruises – 2023 to present
In 2023, Oceania Cruises debuted the new Allura Class of premium-luxury ships with the Vista, to be joined by Allura in 2025. She offers exceptional dining venues and beautiful accommodations.
Vistamar
Plantours & Partner – 1989 to 2012
The Vistamar was a cruise ship sailing for German cruise lines, primarily Plantours & Partner. She would go on to be renamed Med Queen and Orient Queen, and sank following an explosion while berthed in Beirut.
Final Word
Those are the most common cruise ship names, but there are plenty of amazing unique ship names too.
Do you have a particular favourite name for a ship? Maybe you’ve got your own ideas for what the ultimate cruise ship would be called? I’d love to hear them!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
If you like your cruise ships to be packed with exciting entertainment, offer a wide range of dining options, and you’re not too worried about the ‘tradition’ of cruising in favour of new innovations, then you’ll probably love either Royal Caribbean or NCL.
These are two of the biggest cruise lines in the world, and it can be tough to know which is the better option for you if you’re trying to decide between them.
In this side-by-side comparison, I’ll take you through everything that makes the two cruise lines similar, their differences, and help you work out which one is the best fit.
Ships
Neither of these cruise lines have a small fleet of ships, but Royal Caribbean’s is still significantly larger than that of NCL.
Icon Class – the biggest cruise ships in the world accommodating up to 7,600 guests each
Oasis Class – six mega ships that can accommodate around 6,800 guests each
Quantum Ultra Class – two modern ships accommodating 5,500 guests each
Quantum Class – three ships accommodating 4,900 guests each
Freedom Class – three ships accommodating 4,400 to 4,900 guests each
Radiance Class – four ships accommodating 2,500 guests each
Voyager Class – five ships accommodating 4,000 guests each
Vision Class – four ships accommodating 2,400 to 2,700 guests each
There’s a considerable difference in ages between the oldest ship in the fleet, which is Grandeur of the Seas, and the newest ship Icon of the Seas. Grandeur launched in 1996 and Icon launched almost 30 years later, in 2024.
There are currently nine classes of ships in the NCL fleet, with a tenth on the way:
Prima Plus Class – four ships on order, likely accommodating 3,500 guests each
Prima Class – two ships accommodating 3,200 guests each
Breakaway Plus Subclass – four ships accommodating 3,900 to 4,200 guests each
Breakaway Class – two ships accommodating 4,000 guests each
Epic Class – one ship that accommodates 4,100 guests each
Jewel Class – four ships accommodating 2,400 guests each
Pride of America Class – one ship accommodating 2,200 guests each
Leo Class – one ship accommodating 2,000 guests each
Dawn Class – two ships accommodating 2,300 guests each
Sun Class – two ships accommodating 2,000 guests each
Norwegian Spirit is technically the oldest ship in the fleet as she was built in 1998, but she only joined NCL in 2004. Two other ships have served the cruise line longer – Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star were both built in 2001.
Norwegian Viva is the newest ship, launching in 2023, so the age range of the ships between Royal Caribbean and NCL is comparable.
In terms of ship age, there isn’t much to separate the two cruise lines. Size does matter though and Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships are significantly bigger than the biggest NCL ships.
Icon of the Seas measures 250,800 gross tons (a measure of internal volume) while the biggest NCL ship, Norwegian Encore, is just around 170,000 – so around a third smaller.
This might help you make your mind up – if you like the idea of sailing on the biggest ships in the world, having the most space and the widest variety of things to see and do onboard, then Royal Caribbean is the better choice.
In reality, though, the bulk of the fleets are similar sizes, so unless you’re exclusively looking at the biggest ships, the ship size or age won’t matter when picking between Royal Caribbean and NCL.
Destinations
Both Royal Caribbean and NCL are global cruise lines, in that they have itineraries available across the world. There are some differences between them though.
Here’s a look at the itineraries each offers, in summary. For Royal Caribbean this is itineraries, rather than individual dates – there are a lot more than just 47 Caribbean cruises you can book!
Royal Caribbean
NCL
Africa
0
21
Alaska
96
31
Australia & New Zealand
29
16
Bermuda
7
23
Canada & New England
8
19
Caribbean & Bahamas
47
154
East Asia
36
46
Europe
107
191
Hawaii
7
8
Mexico & Latin America
8
7
Middle East & South Asia
3
0
Pacific Northwest
4
4
Panama Canal
5
41
South America
0
12
South Pacific
14
3
Transatlantic
22
24
Transpacific
5
0
Royal Caribbean Destinations
Royal Caribbean offers a range of destinations and a wide range of embarkation ports too – 35 around the world, meaning you should always have one nearby.
Despite that, a huge number of Royal Caribbean’s cruises depart from one of the three main ports in Florida – Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.
There are cruises from the UK available, all departing from Southampton and during the summer months only. For several years, the UK was able to enjoy the Quantum-class Anthem of the Seas, but from 2025 it’ll be the older Independence of the Seas taking her place.
Royal Caribbean does have two private island destinations – Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Labadee was suspended as a port of call for several months in 2024 due to unrest in parts of Haiti.
NCL Destinations
With Norwegian Cruise Line, you get even more choice of embarkation ports, with an incredible 56 different options for embarking on your cruise. This includes the typical big ports on both sides of the Atlantic, but also several that are usually used as a port of call rather than an embarkation port.
NCL also offers cruises from Southampton for UK travellers, but with the slight edge that there are some dates available outside of the summer months. Not many, but of the two cruise lines, NCL will be your only option if you don’t want to fly but the summer months don’t work for you.
NCL has its own private island in the Bahamas too, called Great Stirrup Cay, which features on several of the cruises to the Caribbean.
Which to Choose?
If you’re looking at the main cruise destinations around Europe or the Caribbean, there’s not a lot between the two cruise lines to help you make your decision. It would come down to the specific ship you were sailing on, the date, or the price when booking cruises in these regions.
Unless you especially wanted to visit one of the cruise lines’ private islands. Perfect Day at CocoCay is very popular, though guests do enjoy Great Stirrup Cay too.
NCL’s a better choice for Africa and South America, while Royal Caribbean offers a lot more cruises in Alaska or Australia, so if you’re looking at those regions your mind might be made up for you.
Staterooms and Suites
With Royal Caribbean and NCL, the basic accommodation options are going to be similar – it’s the same across all cruise lines, really.
You get a choice of interior, ocean view or balcony staterooms, or suites if you’ve got a bigger budget and want more space along with some nice perks.
There are some quirks to flag though, especially on a ship like Norwegian Epic for NCL, which has split bathrooms that are really unpopular with a lot of guests, due to the way the shower is almost open into the room.
Always keep an eye on the individual room you’re booking, but to compare the two cruise lines we’ll instead look at some of the more unique accommodation options available on each.
Royal Caribbean Staterooms and Suites
Virtual Balcony Staterooms
Available on many of the newer Royal Caribbean ships, Virtual Balcony Staterooms go some way to improving the experience for guests who choose an Interior room. Rather than having four dark walls, part of one wall is taken up by a digital screen. This screen shows a live image of the view from the ship, as if you had your own balcony.
It’s no replacement for natural light, but a lot of people like the rooms as they at least let you see the time of day outside!
Interior Balcony Staterooms
With most cruise lines, a Balcony Stateroom will have a view of the sea, but some of Royal Caribbean’s ships are so big that they have balconies facing the inside of the ship, overlooking the Central Park or Boardwalk areas.
They’re cheaper than a sea view, and good if you just want the natural light and fresh air of a balcony but don’t care too much for the view. You just have to bear in mind that directly across from you are more staterooms, so remember to draw those curtains when getting dressed.
Ultimate Family Accommodations
If you handed a kid a piece of paper and some crayons and told them to design their perfect bedroom, the result would probably look like the Ultimate Family Suites and Ultimate Family Townhouses on some of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.
These split-level suites include a massive range of features for the whole family, from piano-key staircases that actually work, to karaoke machines, and even a slide from the upper floor to the living area.
NCL Staterooms and Suites
The Haven
There are a few cruise lines that have ship-within-a-ship concepts and NCL’s is called The Haven. This is an exclusive part of the ship where the best suites are situated, along with public areas that only suite guests can access.
That includes a private restaurant, sundeck and pool, plus Haven guests get a whole host of extra perks, such as your own butler!
These are some of the best suite accommodations on any ‘mainstream’ cruise line (i.e. not one that purely targets luxury cruise guests), and well worth checking out if you want a special cruise experience.
Studio Rooms
At the complete other end of the scale, NCL’s Studio Rooms are some of the smallest at sea, but that’s by design. NCL has been a pioneer for single rooms, not just adding them to ships before many other cruise lines did, but expanding their range rapidly, revisiting older ships to add more rooms for solo travellers.
Yes they’re small, but they’re cheaper too, so if you just want a room where you can rest (with access to a shared Studio Lounge when you want to chill) then these are ideal.
Club Balcony
The Club Balcony class is what some other cruise lines would call a Mini Suite – a bridge between a Balcony Stateroom and a Suite. For a bit more money, you get up to 80 square feet of extra space compared to regular staterooms, and a small number of extra perks.
Which to Choose?
Royal Caribbean definitely has some of the more innovative stateroom options, with the Virtual Balcony rooms and those incredible Ultimate Family Accommodations.
But if you want something stylish and luxurious for adults, you might prefer The Haven to the suite options with Royal Caribbean.
And while Royal Caribbean does have a small number of single rooms, NCL offers many more and the Studio Lounge is a great addition, so that solo travellers have a dedicated space to unwind or meet others.
Food
Food’s such an important part of cruising and with both Royal Caribbean and NCL, you really aren’t going to be short on options.
Royal Caribbean Food
Royal Caribbean is all about variety – there’s a restaurant or food venue for any preference, whether you want a quick burger by the pool, a late-night slice of pizza, or something really sophisticated, with the most modern ships debuting restaurants that are more experiential – such as the Empire Supper Club themed like a 1920s New York jazz club.
A newer addition worth shouting out is the Surfside Eatery on Icon-class ships, which is a kids-themed buffet right next to the kids’ splashzone area – perfect for picky eaters.
As with pretty much any cruise line, there’s a main dining room and a buffet restaurant on every ship. Traditional dining times are still a thing, but you can choose My Time Dining if you want to eat at the main restaurant at a time that suits you – you just need to pre-pay gratuities.
NCL Food
NCL was one of the first cruise lines to start to change dining on cruise ships, abandoning the idea of set dining times and offering Freestyle Dining across the main restaurants. Eat when you want – just be aware that there might be a little wait for a table if you pick a busy time.
NCL also has plenty of speciality restaurants alongside casual snack bars and more. NCL’s speciality venues are particularly popular with guests, including some fun options that aren’t common, like the Brazilian-style Moderno which offers endless meat skewers carved at your table.
Which to Choose?
This one’s a close call because both cruise lines offer exceptional flexibility when it comes to dining, with great buffets and casual options, good menus in the main dining rooms, and lots of speciality options.
Royal Caribbean edges it for kids, with better ice cream options and the newer focus on providing venues specifically aimed at kids.
But for adults, it’s hard to pick one that’s better – instead, research the ship(s) you’re looking at booking and decide based on their individual venues.
Onboard Activities
NCL and Royal Caribbean are very similar in their approaches to cruising – as many amazing features onboard as possible, so that the ships are as much of a destination as the ports of call you visit.
Royal Caribbean Activities
While the activities you can enjoy on a Royal Caribbean cruise depend on the specific ship you choose, there are loads of options available. These include ice skating rinks, climbing walls, and exciting slides (dry and water).
Options that you’ll find on a Royal Caribbean ship but not on NCL include:
NCL Activities
NCL ships are equally exciting, and share many of the same features as Royal’s ships, such as climbing walls, bungee trampolines, laser tag, mini golf, and some fantastic water slides.
The unique features on NCL ships include:
Bowling alleys
Multi-level go-kart tracks
Which to Choose?
Each cruise line has its own unique attractions so if there’s something particular that’ll sway you – maybe you love bowling, or you’d love to give a surfing simulator a go – then choose the cruise line that offers those activities.
Otherwise, you won’t be bored on a ship for either line. Even the smaller ships have lots to do, though a general rule is the bigger and newer the ship, the better it is for activities.
Always check what your ship includes before you book, as you don’t want to get your hopes up over a particular attraction to find it’s missing when you board.
Entertainment
The live entertainment across both cruise lines is stunning – you may well struggle to pick between them!
Royal Caribbean Entertainment
Many cruise lines claim to offer Broadway-style entertainment but Royal Caribbean is one of the few to have licensed Broadway shows, such as Cats, Grease and Hairspray. Alongside the stage musicals, expect a broad range of family-friendly entertainment including singers, dancers and live comedy.
Where Royal Caribbean stands out is with the AquaTheater on bigger ships – these venues host amazing water-based shows themed around music and high diving. Truly spectacular.
NCL Entertainment
NCL is one of the other handful of cruise lines to have licensed Broadway shows, with Jersey Boys and Six being some of the exciting options onboard, depending on your ship.
NCL also has the very popular Burn the Floor show, which is Latin and ballroom dancing at its finest, and don’t miss the Howl at the Moon singalong (unless you hate singing along to popular songs…)
Which to Choose
You can’t choose between them here unless you have a specific show you want to catch. Royal Caribbean’s AquaTheater performances are very impressive but NCL’s variety and excellent interactive nights are just as fun.
Kids Facilities
Royal Caribbean Kids Facilities
Adventure Ocean is the name of the main kids’ clubs on Royal Caribbean ships, with lots of varied activities based in venues such as the Adventure Science Lab and the Imagination Studio.
Teens are also catered for with dedicated spaces for 12-14 year olds and 15-17 year olds. Rather than being structured, they have more of a flexible programme so that teens can pick and choose what to get involved in, and when to just chill in their lounge areas.
NCL Kids Facilities
NCL’s clubs work similar, with Splash Academy for children and pre-teens, and then Entourage aimed at 13 to 17-year-olds, with a chilled space for them to relax, play video games and more.
The key difference is that teens are generally grouped together in one space, which isn’t ideal.
Royal Caribbean slightly edges it here if you have teens, especially older teens who don’t want to share a space with 13-year-olds.
If you’re only sailing with younger kids then both cruise lines offer plenty of fun activities to enjoy and they’ll have a great time regardless.
Cruiser Demographics
Royal Caribbean Demographics
On a Royal Caribbean cruise, expect to see a lot of families, but there are plenty of couples, friend groups and solo cruisers too. In terms of age profile there’s a broad mix, but the average guest is between 30 and 50. The prices tend to stop most younger families with parents under 30 from cruising, though there will no doubt be some.
On smaller ships, don’t be surprised to find a lot more guests who are older. People have been loyal to Royal Caribbean for many years and the older generations do still love the quieter ships.
NCL Demographics
NCL also targets a slightly younger market than traditional cruise lines might, with guests typically aged between 30 and 50.
Again, it’s one where there’s a good mix of passengers including families, but NCL probably has slightly more of a party vibe onboard. If Royal Caribbean is fun for all ages, especially families, then NCL is fun for all ages, especially younger adults.
Families still love NCL, and young adults will have a great time on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but the cruise lines just slightly lean into those markets a little more.
Price
You won’t get the very cheapest cruise deals with either Royal Caribbean or NCL, but they aren’t the most expensive cruises you can book either.
Royal Caribbean Prices
You can get good deals on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but usually only on the smaller and older ships in the fleet.
The newer Icon-class and Quantum-class ships are a lot more expensive, with the Icon ships specifically being quite a lot more than others in the fleet – but they’re selling, because people want to try the biggest ships in the world.
Wonder of the Seas is an example of a large ship, but not the biggest, and she offers 7-night Caribbean cruises from between £100/$130 and £130/$165 per person, per night for an Inside Stateroom.
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NCL Prices
It’s not as easy to compare an NCL price with Royal Caribbean’s fares, because NCL offers different fare options, including the Free at Sea promotion which will offer extra benefits such as free drinks, free WiFi or free speciality dining (or a combination of them).
Generally, expect prices to be slightly higher than Royal Caribbean offers. A typical cruise in the Caribbean on the newest ships will be between £100/$130 and £150/$190, but always check the inclusions.
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The Verdict
There’s no way that I could definitely say that either Royal Caribbean or NCL is the better cruise line of the two. So much will depend on your travel party, your priorities when you’re on a cruise, where you want to sail and more.
NCL is slightly more aimed at young adults while Royal Caribbean is more about family cruising, and yet families won’t feel out of place on an NCL ship and vice versa.
Always check the specific ships regardless of which line you lean towards, as many of the best features are only on the newest ships in each fleet – arguably there’s a bigger difference in cruise experience between Icon of the Seas and Vision of the Seas, than there is between Icon of the Seas and Norwegian Viva!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
A second cruise ship has suffered delays due to protestors from the Extinction Rebellion group in the Netherlands.
Following the Jewel of the Seas being diverted from Amsterdam to Ijmuiden last week, now the Regent Seven Seas ship Seven Seas Mariner was blocked from docking in Ijmuiden.
The ship is in the middle of an 83-night epic Grand Arctic Adventure cruise, with the current segment in Northern Europe drawing to an end.
But the ship – carrying up to 700 passengers – was held up in the locks due to the actions of Extinction Rebellion who were directly targeting the ship, and ended up only arriving in Amsterdam at 10 pm – over four hours behind schedule.
“(Seven Seas Mariner is) an example of unprecedented luxury that seems to be reserved only for the richest in the world… ships like the Seven Seas Mariner exacerbate the crisis we are in the middle of.
“In 2022, the Seven Seas Mariner at Friends of the Earth received a B rating, which means ‘satisfactory… But this ‘satisfactory’ is a comparison with other cruise ships and therefore says nothing about how polluting they are, compared to other ways of holidaying.“
Extinction Rebellion statement
No arrests were made during the protest and the ship was able to continue on her planned journey from Amsterdam, albeit slightly delayed. She reached Bruges on time and will then sail around the Bay of Biscay to reach Barcelona later in August.
Regent Seven Seas has a Sail & Sustain programme which aims to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet, but protestors argue this doesn’t do enough to counter the impact that ships have on the environment.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Whether you’re a fan of the Disney company or not, you can’t deny that nobody does family vacations quite like the house of mouse!
DCL is pretty good at innovating – they’re known for their Imagineers, who helped to break new ground in the world of theme parks, attractions, resorts, and of course, cruise ships.
Disney Cruise Line isn’t just some basic cruise line that’s been thrown together by a company seeking to maximise profits. It brings that magical feel of a Disney resort to the sea, aboard ships that are packed with fantastic features and entertainment.
And with each new ship, there are new ideas that will inspire, excite and thrill every guest – the big kids paying for the cruise, too.
Let’s look at all of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, including those still being put together ready for the next big adventures of tomorrow.
Disney Ships – Newest to Oldest
Here’s a quick list of the Disney ships ranked from newest to oldest, including those that have been ordered from shipbuilders.
Ship name
Class
Launch
Passenger capacity
TBC
TBC
TBC 2027-2031
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC 2027-2031
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC 2027-2031
TBC
TBC
TBC
TBC 2027-2031
TBC
TBC
Wish
2029
4,000
Disney Destiny
Wish
2025
4,000
Disney Adventure
Global
2025
6,000
Disney Treasure
Wish
2024
4,000
Disney Wish
Wish
2022
4,000
Disney Fantasy
Dream
2012
4,000
Disney Dream
Dream
2011
4,000
Disney Wonder
Magic
1999
2,700
Disney Magic
Magic
1998
2,700
I know – that’s a lot of TBC but once we know more I’ll update it!
I’ve cruised on both the newest ship, Disney Wish and the oldest ship, Disney Magic and had a great time on each! That said, there’s something a little bit special about new Disney cruise ships.
The Newest Disney Cruise Ships Being Built
There are currently four Disney cruise ships being built for the cruise line, and while we don’t know a huge amount of detail, it’s certainly exciting as each ship will no doubt bring new and exciting features.
1. Disney TBC
Class: Wish
Size (gross tonnage): 144,000
Passenger capacity: 4,000
Launch: TBC 2029
Godmother: TBC
Character featured on the bow: TBC
Character(s) features in the Atrium: TBC
Character(s) featured on the aft: TBC
Don’t worry, that’s not the name – we don’t know what it is yet!
All we know about this ship is that she’ll be another Wish-class ship, but she’s being built for the Japanese market, and will be operated by the same company that manages Tokyo Disney Resort on land.
So expect a similar-sized ship to Disney Wish and her sisters, but with dining venues and facilities tailored to Asian cruisers.
2. Four more ships TBC
Class: TBC
Size (gross tonnage): TBC
Passenger capacity: TBC
Launch: TBC 2027-2031
Godmother: TBC
Character featured on the bow: TBC
Character(s) features in the Atrium: TBC
Character(s) featured on the aft: TBC
As little as we know about the Disney ship launching in 2029, we know even less about these four ships! Not the class, or where they’ll sail… or anything!
They were announced at the D23 fan event in August 2024 but with no other information for now. It’s still super-exciting to see the fleet growing so rapidly – I wonder if this will be a new class of ship?
3. Disney Destiny
Class: Wish
Size (gross tonnage): 144,000
Passenger capacity: 4,000
Launch: TBC 2025
Godmother: TBC
Character featured on the bow: Captain Minnie (in hero costume)
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Black Panther
Character(s) featured on the aft: Spider-Man
Disney is breaking tradition with its Wish Class – not that the tradition has been long-held. While prior ship classes have been limited to two ships, the Wish Class will add a third with Disney Destiny coming in 2025.
Originally there were only two ships announced, but at the D23 Expo in 2017, the third ship was revealed, while delivery dates for the ships were shifted later due to the COVID pandemic. They had been due earlier.
The ship will have a Heroes and Villains theme and will include the first Marvel Super Hero to appear on the ship’s stern. She’ll also have a Lion King-themed dining experience, a bar themed around Cruella De Vil, and lots more exciting features too.
4. Disney Adventure
Class: Global*
Size (gross tonnage): 208,000
Passenger capacity: 6,000
Launch: TBC 2025
Godmother: TBC
Character featured on the bow: Captain Mickey
Character(s) features in the Atrium: TBC
Character(s) featured on the aft: TBC
This is one of the most exciting developments in Disney’s cruise history. In late 2022, the cruise line announced that it was purchasing the unfinished ship Global Dream from Dream Cruises – a cruise line that had gone out of business.
The ship remains on course to be finished in 2025 and it will be Disney’s first ship over 200,000 gross tonnes. Only Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have ships of this size, with Carnival building some too, so it’ll be exciting to see how Disney approaches this mega ship.
We don’t know much about the ship yet – even the class name ‘Global’ is a placeholder.
But we do now know that she’ll sail out of Singapore, and offer cruises around Southeast Asia, bringing the magic of a Disney cruise to this exciting region.
And it’s been announced that she’ll have 7 different themed areas – the Disney Imagination Garden, Disney Discovery Reef, San Fransokyo Street, Marvel Landing, Toy Story Place, Town Square, and Wayfinder Bay.
Expect a ton of new features for guests of all ages!
5. Disney Treasure
Class: Wish
Size (gross tonnage): 144,000
Passenger capacity: 4,000
Launch: TBC 2024
Godmother: TBC
Character featured on the bow: Voyager Minnie
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and the Magic Carpet
Character(s) featured on the aft: Peter Pan & Hook
The next ship to launch for Disney, Disney Treasure was fully revealed in September 2023 at the D23 expo.
This ship will be themed around ‘adventure’ – look forward to some thrilling live shows and entertainment facilities, I’m sure. We also know that the atrium will be called the Grand Hall and inspired by palatial themes from across Asia, with references to Agrabah from the Aladdin movie series.
There’s exciting new dining and bar venues themed around Coco and the Jungle Cruise ride, a brand-new AquaMouse adventure and loads more.
Disney Treasure launches in 2025, the same year in which Disney opens Lighthouse Point, its second private island destination in the Bahamas. It, therefore, seems likely that Disney Treasure will call at the new port.
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Cinderella, Lucifer, Jaq and Gus
Character(s) featured on the aft: Rapunzel and Pascal
Disney Wish is the newest Disney ship currently sailing. The first of the Wish-class ships, she launched for the cruise line in June 2022. While accommodating the same number of guests as the Dream-class ships, she is around 10% bigger, with more space and more features.
It has a host of amazing things to see and do, including the Hyperspace Lounge themed around Star Wars, and the interactive dining experiences at Worlds of Marvel and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.
Don’t miss the AquaMouse too – Disney considers it to be their first true ‘attraction’ at sea, as a waterslide with its own soundtrack, video clips, water effects and more.
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Mademoiselle Minnie
Character(s) featured on the aft: Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse
The second Dream-class ship to launch, Disney Fantasy, is almost identical to Disney Dream. The main differences are the addition of the Aqua Lab splash zone and play area, the Muppets Mystery game, and a different experience at the Animator’s Palate restaurant, called Animation Magic – where guests can design their own characters and see them animated on the screens.
The ship did launch with a couple of other exclusive features, including the Satellite Sun Deck and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique which offers princess transformations for younger guests, but those have since been added to the Dream.
3. Disney Dream
Class: Dream
Size (gross tonnage): 129,960
Passenger capacity: 4,000
Launch: January 2011
Godmother: Jennifer Hudson
Character featured on the bow: Captain Mickey
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Admiral Donald
Character(s) featured on the aft: Sorcerer Mickey
Disney Dream launched a new class of ship for the cruise line, and with it came a wealth of exciting features. The ship is over 50% bigger than the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic, and it shows, with the sheer variety of things to see and do on board.
Expect themed live shows at night, two theatres (one for live Disney theatre shows and the other for screening first-run and classic movies), interactive dining venues and the AquaDuck, a thrilling water slide that loops around the top deck.
4. Disney Wonder
Class: Magic
Size (gross tonnage): 84,130
Passenger capacity: 2,700
Launch: August 1999
Godmother: Tinker Bell
Character featured on the bow: Steamboat Willie
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Ariel
Character(s) featured on the aft: Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie
Disney Wonder is the sister ship of Disney Magic, and overall she’s very similar, sharing many of the most popular features including the Marvel Super Hero Academy and the Wide World of Sports Deck.
The live show is themed around Frozen, rather than Tangled, and the Wonder is missing the AquaDunk waterslide, although it does still have the Twist ‘n’ Spout slide that also appears on Magic.
5. Disney Magic
Class: Magic
Size (gross tonnage): 84,130
Passenger capacity: 2,700
Launch: July 1998
Godmother: Patricia Disney
Character featured on the bow: Sorcerer Mickey
Character(s) features in the Atrium: Helmsman Mickey
Character(s) featured on the aft: Goofy
Disney Magic is the oldest Disney cruise ship, though she has been updated with refurbishments, the latest in 2018. So while she is a little more dated than the more recent ships, she isn’t tired and she still retains all of that magic (get it?) that made her so special when she first launched as the first Disney cruise ship.
Highlights of the ship include Tangled: The Musical in the ship’s theatre, the AquaDunk waterslide (not to be confused with the AquaDuck on later ships), the varied dining venues including Animator’s Palate, and the Frozen deck party.
Every new ship from Disney brings a lot of exciting new features to enjoy, including amazing interactive experiences and attractions to suit all ages.
It’ll be really interesting over the next couple of years to see how the upcoming ships are looking, and whether any more will be announced – so keep checking back here for the latest details.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Virgin Voyages has announced an exciting new selection of Eclipse Voyages for 2026, perfect for any guests who want to experience a total solar eclipse.
These cruises, designed to take advantage of the growing interest in ‘astrotourism’, will follow the path of totality for the 2026 solar eclipse due on 12th August.
The eclipse is due to appear across the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean along with Greenaldn, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. Virgin Voyages has announced two cruises for these destinations.
Valiant Lady will sail on a UK, Ireland and Iceland cruise with ports of call in Dublin, Greenock (Glasgow), and Reykjavik. During her visit to Iceland, guests will enjoy 98% totality.
Scarlet Lady will focus on the European ports, including a visit to Ibiza on 12th August which is on the path for 100% totality.
“Our Marvelous Voyages, paired with Brilliant Lady’s epic itineraries across all four corners of the U.S., just shows the growth and strength of this monumental brand and the choice we are committed to offering.”
Michelle Bentubo, chief operating officer at Virgin Voyages
The new cruises will be available to book from 21st August 2024.
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Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas was unable to dock at Amsterdam this weekend as planned, due to a protest by Extinction Rebellion.
The small group of just seven protestors managed to block key locks which meant that the ship was unable to safely reach the Amsterdam port.
Instead, the ship was forced to head to nearby Ijmuiden.
The impact was significant, as this was not a port of call mid-itinerary but it was an embarkation and disembarkation port.
This meant that guests had to board buses from the ship to get to the port, and vice versa – those guests due to embark on their cruise had to board the shuttle buses on the return journey to get to the ship.
The port was relatively close, with the bus journey taking less than an hour, but it was still a significant inconvenience for all guests leaving the ship or joining her for the next cruise.
The protest was directly against the cruise industry, with Extinction Rebellion releasing a statement:
This action is a direct protest against the scandalous pollution caused by cruise shipping. They deliberately prevented the arrival of the gigantic cruise ship, the Jewel of the Seas… Extinction Rebellion demands an immediate and total halt to the destructive cruise industry in the midst of the devastating climate and ecological crisis.
Police chose not to remove the protestors as they were not causing injuries or in life-threatening situations. The protestors left once they had caused the ship to divert.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Cruise Line had made a couple of changes to cruises due to Tropical Storm Ernesto that is in the Eastern Caribbean.
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Tropical Storm Ernesto currently has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and is moving WNW at 18 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane tomorrow.
Carnival Cruise Line has made changes to cruise itineraries on two of their ships. They are currently monitoring the storm from their Fleet Operations Center in Miami, Florida.
The cruise line said that the changes were made for the safety of guests and crew onboard the ships.
Carnival Pride arrived in Bermuda this morning but will now leave a day early since the island is in the storm’s current projected path. The ship arrived in Bermuda a day early and will leave a day early on Thursday.
Carnival Magic is currently on a seven night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami. The port stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico has been cancelled and a port stop in Nassau, Bahamas has been added for Friday.
Carnival said that they will continue to watch the storm and factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the local port authorities.
Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30. It is rare that cruises get canceled due to storms. Cruise lines will adjust itineraries to keep guests and crew members safe.
Cruise Fever will update this article if any more changes are made to Carnival cruise ships due to Tropical Storm Ernesto.
Following the success of the earlier Vista-class of ship for Holland America, the cruise line decided in 2008 to expand its fleet with a new class that enhanced the existing design. And the first of these Signature-class ships to launch was the MS Eurodam.
She may be a little older than some of the more recent additions to the fleet, but the MS Eurodam is still a very popular cruise ship. Offering a range of itineraries around the Caribbean and Alaska, guests can enjoy a relaxing escape with good food and comfortable accommodations.
But which accommodation specifically? That’s a decision you need to make when booking, but I’ve put together this guide to help you.
I’ve taken a look at all of the stateroom options on MS Eurodam, but also checked cruise forums and social media groups to see which are the best and worst choices for the ship.
If you’re considering a cruise on MS Eurodam, don’t book a thing until you’ve read this article – that way, you’ll be able to choose the perfect stateroom or suite for you.
MS Eurodam cabin types
There are four main cabin types you can choose from on MS Eurodam. These each have subtypes of cabins within them…
Inside – Standard, Large or Large Spa
Ocean View – Large, Large Obstructed or Large Spa
Verandah – Standard, Aft-View or Spa
Suites – Signature, Neptune, Neptune Spa or Pinnacle
Let’s take more of a look at each of these cabin types, so you can get an idea of which one is the best for you…
Interior Staterooms
The Holland America Eurodam has three different types of Inside cabins that you can book:
Room
Sleeps
Size
Standard
2 people
141-284 sq. ft.
Large
2-4 people
169-267 sq. ft.
Spa
2 people
141-284 sq. ft.
As they are with any cruise ship, Interior cabins are always going to be the cheapest option. They’re great if you’re on a budget and plan on spending most of your time outside of your cabin, exploring everything that MS Eurodam has to offer.
There are three different types on Eurodam, including Standard and Large. Both of these have two twin beds which are convertible into a single Queen bed if preferred – you just need to let your cabin attendant know.
Some of the Large Interior Staterooms sleep 3 or 4 guests. There’ll always be a sofa-bed, and those quad rooms will have an additional upper bed for a fourth guest.
The third type of Interior Stateroom is a Spa Interior Stateroom – more on those later on in this post.
Ocean View Staterooms
There are three types of Ocean View Stateroom available for guests to book on MS Eurodam. These are:
Room
Sleeps
Size
Large
2-4 people
169-267 sq. ft.
Large Obstructed
2-3 people
169-267 sq. ft.
Large Spa
2 people
169-267 sq. ft.
The next step up from an Interior Stateroom, Ocean View Staterooms have a window that lets you see out over the ocean. The window is pretty big and lets a lot of natural light into the room.
It’s also handy if you just want to check what you should be wearing before you head out of your cabin for the day – it’s more reliable to look out the window than check any weather app you might have on your phone, after all!
These cabins tend to be larger than the Inside Staterooms, which is another bonus that you get, as well as the obvious perk of having a window.
Some of the Ocean View staterooms on Nieuw Eurodam – those on Deck 4 – have an obstructed view. This is because the lifeboats are stored directly outside the room. Some are classified as fully obstructed, while others are partially obstructed.
They’re cheaper, as you’d hope, and they’re a good choice if you don’t care about the view but just want the natural light. After all, the windows are pretty huge!
Again, there are Spa versions of Ocean View staterooms, and there are also some that sleep families – again, there are options for 3 or 4 guests. And again, those for 4 people have a sofa bed and a Pullman bed that comes down from the ceiling.
Verandah Staterooms
Here are the three types of Verandah Stateroom on MS Eurodam:
Room
Sleeps
Size
Standard
2-4 people
213-379 sq. ft.
Aft-View
2 people
213-379 sq. ft.
Spa
2 people
213-379 sq. ft
Verandah Staterooms are always some of the most popular on a cruise ship. You don’t just get a view, but you get your own private balcony where you can sit and soak up the fresh sea breeze, and hopefully some of the warm sun too.
Verandah Staterooms are an ideal choice if you like to spend more time in your stateroom. It’s always refreshing to sit on your balcony on a pleasant day, drink in one hand, book in another.
There are three types of Verandah Staterooms, and the room sizes above include the balcony floor space too.
Of the Standard Verandah Staterooms, some again are suitable for 3 or 4 guests. So your kids can enjoy the view with you – although you will only get two chairs on the balcony.
Aft-View Verandah Staterooms often book up first. They have what many consider to be the best views of the ship, overlooking the wake as you sail. Plus you tend to be more shielded from the wind. You will pay a little more for the privilege though.
Finally, there are also Spa Verandah Staterooms that you can book. (More on those below).
Suites
Signature Suite
The different types of Suite on MS Eurodam are:
Room
Sleeps
Size
Signature Suite
2-3 people
273–456 sq. ft.
Neptune Suite
2-4 people
506–590 sq. ft.
Spa Neptune Suite
2-4 people
506–590 sq. ft.
Pinnacle Suite
2-4 people
1,357 sq. ft.
There are three main types of suites on MS Eurodam. She doesn’t have any Vista Suites like you’ll find on some other ships in the Holland America fleet, but considering how Vista Suites aren’t much better than a Verandah Stateroom, that’s no big loss.
Signature Suites are really the start of the real suite class for Holland America ships, with a much more spacious room and a longer list of perks that you get, although it’s still not super-lengthy. You get a queen-size bed (worth noting, as some Signature Suites on other ships get you a king-sized one) and a sofa bed for a third guest.
Signature Suite
Neptune Suites are larger again, and they have a lot more additional benefits. Just a heads up, if you were checking the deck plans yourself – Neptune Suites are marked as sleeping up to three guests, but their sofa beds are bigger and can accommodate two smaller guests. So you can comfortably fit four people in one.
Neptune Suite
Pinnacle Suites are the very best on the ship – they’re extremely spacious (with a Verandah that’s bigger than most of the actual staterooms on the ship) and they include an oversized whirlpool bath too. Again, a sofa bed large enough for two guests is included if you want to enjoy this suite with your family.
Pinnacle Suite
If you like the idea of a suite but aren’t sure which to choose, then you should be sure to compare the different perks that you get with each. Take a look at my Holland America Line Suite Benefits Guide to find out more.
Special cabin types
Beyond the standard selection of staterooms on MS Eurodam, there are a few more choices you can make.
Spa Suites and Staterooms
A popular choice for guests who like to pamper themselves, MS Eurodam has a selection of Spa Suites and Staterooms to choose from, across Interior, Ocean View, Verandah and Neptune Suite categories.
These staterooms and suites are no bigger than their non-spa counterparts, but what sets them apart is their location and the facilities you’ll find in the room.
These accommodations are all situated close to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, so you never have far to travel if you want to enjoy a relaxing massage or beauty treatment.
Inside the rooms, you’ll also find a selection of spa-themed amenities, including organic bathrobes and slippers, upgraded toiletries, and a loofah mitt with bath salts.
You’ll also get yoga mats and pedometers to help you stay active during your cruise, while the room has a countertop water feature so that you can set the perfect relaxing ambience.
If you’re someone who likes visiting the ship’s spa during your cruise, then these rooms are absolutely worth checking out. Otherwise, the additional cost means they probably aren’t worth it for you.
Accessible rooms
Almost all cruise ships have accessible stateroom and suite options – designed for guests with additional accessibility needs. And MS Eurodam is no different.
On MS Eurodam, the accessible rooms are split into two categories – Ambulatory Accessible, and Fully Accessible.
Ambulatory Accessible rooms are those which aren’t designed for wheelchair users, but that have small modifications to handle other accessibility needs for guests. On MS Eurodam, these rooms include:
14 Verandah Staterooms
6 Ocean View Staterooms
Fully Accessible rooms are suitable for wheelchair users, with widened doorways and a roll-in shower. These include:
2 Neptune Suites
2 Signature Suites
2 Verandah Staterooms
4 Interior Staterooms
Connecting rooms
While there are some staterooms on MS Eurodam that are suitable for 3 or 4 guests, the additional beds aren’t the biggest. They’re fine if you’re travelling with younger children, but for teenagers or other adults, they will be a little cramped.
But there is another option – there are connecting cabins that guests can book if they want two staterooms side-by-side. These have a doorway between them, which is normally locked. If your party has booked both rooms, you can ask for the door to be unlocked, giving all guests access to both rooms.
Connecting rooms are available for Interior, Ocean View and Verandah Staterooms, and if you request a connecting Verandah, then the balconies can also be connected, opening up that space more too.
You can even book a Neptune Suite and a Verandah Stateroom with connecting doors if you want to really maximise your space.
How to choose the best room
There are a lot of different decisions that factor into picking the best cabin for your cruise, and as you can tell, there are many different stateroom options on MS Eurodam to choose from too!
To help you out, I’ve created a cabin checklist that will tell you which rooms to avoid on any ship.
All you need to do is pop your email address and name into the form below and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.
MS Eurodam cabin grades
When choosing the best room on Eurodam, one thing that you’ll need to get your head around is the cabin grades.
Every cruise ship labels rooms with a cabin grade – this is usually one or two letters at the start of the room number which tell you what kind of room it is.
Different cruise lines have systems that vary slightly, but with Holland America, you just need to know what the letters stand for – that tells you the type of room. Then the digits afterwards will tell you what deck you are on, and specifically which room you’re in.
If your cabin has a four-digit number then it’s on the first 9 public decks, from the Main Deck (staterooms 1001-1130) right up to the Navigation Deck (staterooms 8001-8175). There are no staterooms on the ninth deck, which is the Lido Deck.
If your cabin has a five-digit number, it means you’re either on the tenth deck, which is the Panorama Deck (staterooms 10001-10046) or the Observation Deck (staterooms 11001-11010).
Here’s a rundown of the different grades of cabins on MS Eurodam:
Cabin Grade
Type
PS
Pinnacle Suite
SQ
Spa Neptune Suite
SA, SB, SC
Neptune Suite
SS, SY, SZ
Signature Suite
VQ
Spa Verandah Stateroom
V, VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VH
Verandah Stateroom
CQ
Spa Ocean View Stateroom
C, D, DD, E, F
Ocean View Stateroom
G
Ocean View Stateroom – Partially Obstructed View
H, HH
Ocean View Stateroom – Fully Obstructed View
IQ
Spa Interior Stateroom
I, J, K, L, M, MM, N
Interior Stateroom
The worst cabins on MS Eurodam – consider avoiding these!
Now before we get to the best cabins on this ship, let’s take a look at some rooms that you may wish to avoid. It’s not that these are always bad, but depending on your circumstances, you may wish to steer clear of these rooms…
1. Cabins that could make you seasick
8118 to 8179, 10001 to 10046, 11001 to 11010
Some people are more prone to getting seasick than others, and most cruise passengers never need to worry about it. However, if you are one of the unlucky ones who suffers, there are certain staterooms you should avoid that can make things worse.
Those are mainly the staterooms and suites on Decks 10 and 11, at the very front of the ship. This is where you’ll feel the most motion.
It’s not a terrible problem on MS Eurodam – the ship is medium-sized in terms of cruise ships, which helps (the bigger the ship, the less you feel the movement). And it has modern stabilisers.
Some cabins at the aft of the ship can feel the effects too, particularly nearer the top – so consider avoiding the rear cabins on Deck 8. This isn’t helped thanks to the sponson, which is the ducktail of the ship that extends from the stern – this can cause the occasional shudder on the aft-facing cabins which isn’t pleasant if your stomach is churning.
If you do suffer from seasickness, choose a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.
2. Spa Staterooms and Suites if you’re not interested
Cabin grades SQ, VQ, CQ and IQ
The option of booking a Spa stateroom or suite on MS Eurodam is good if you’re someone who is really into their spa treatments and lifestyle. The fact that you’re so close to the spa is convenient, and the additional touches in your room can make it feel much nicer.
But they are just little touches – so think about whether you’ll really use the yoga mats and the pedometer, or if you’d want to have the countertop water feature running.
If you’re not sure, then is it worth paying the premium for one of these staterooms, especially if you plan on spending most of your time elsewhere on the ship? The answer’s probably no.
Depending on your sailing, a spa stateroom might not cost much more than its equivalent standard room in the same category, so it’s up to you – but if the costs are substantially different, really weigh up if it’s worth the extra.
You can always take your own yoga mat.
3. Connecting Staterooms if you don’t use them
Various
On any cruise ship, connecting staterooms are handy for families and larger groups. Even more so on MS Eurodam, where there aren’t as many standard staterooms that sleep more than two guests.
But that’s not the reason to avoid booking them if you don’t need them. True, someone else might make better use of them, but there’s an even more practical reason why you should avoid them if you won’t be booking the adjacent room too.
Cruise ship staterooms are made from a metal frame, which offers a decent level of soundproofing. Cut a door into it – even a closed one – and that soundproofing is partially compromised.
The door may stay locked, but you’ll likely hear your neighbours, especially if they’re loud. Which also means they may hear you.
If you value your privacy, book a non-connecting room instead.
4. Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms
4055 to 4130
This really depends on whether the view is important to you or if you just like the idea of having some natural light.
Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms are situated on Deck 4 and are facing the lifeboats, so your view is going to be at least partially blocked – how much so depends on the individual stateroom.
If you don’t care about the view, then these are a good option since they’re cheaper.
And if the view does matter to you, then you won’t want it spoiled by a reminder of the emergency boats attached to the ship.
5. Verandah Staterooms with solid-steel railings
4001 to 4042
Some Verandah Staterooms also offer a limited view, except this is a little different.
These staterooms are situated at the front of the ship, where the wind is at its strongest. As such, the plexiglass that would normally be used for a railing isn’t strong enough, meaning they’re made from solid steel, which you can’t see through.
Not a problem if you’re standing up, but if you like to sit on your balcony, your view is definitely going to be impacted. The sky will look pretty at least.
The worst part is that these aren’t considered Obstructed View, so they don’t get the same discounts – after all, your view is completely uninterrupted if you don’t mind standing at the railing.
While these balconies are larger than average, they will be less comfortable due to the wind, so you may wish to look elsewhere.
6. Rooms directly above the World Stage
4001 to 4050
The World Stage is a fantastic theatre on the ship, taking up the height of two decks on the Lower Promenade Deck (Deck 2) and the Promenade Deck (Deck 3).
Because it’s so impressive, and it hosts amazing live performances, they have quite the sound system in order to fill the room. And if you’ve booked a cabin on the Upper Promenade Deck directly above (Deck 4) then that sound may well carry through the floor.
The live entertainment shows don’t run on too late, but if you’re someone who likes to be up early and then get an early night ahead of the next day, you might be disturbed.
Thankfully the bars that are open later into the evening are situated above staterooms on Deck 1, and the sound tends to travel upwards, so it’s not too bad late into the night. It’s just those evening hours when music and theatre performances at World Stage may cause you problems if your room is close by.
7. Rooms directly below the Pool Deck
8027 to 8077
If you’ve just read the section above and thought that the sound of the World Stage wouldn’t concern you, as you like to stay up at night, then definitely avoid the rooms directly below the swimming pools.
You won’t hear the noise at night here – even when movies are playing, because it just disperses into the open air. But what you may well hear is the sound of people grabbing a lounger first thing in the morning.
And not just reserving a lounger, but dragging it along the decked floor – and that is a sound that will carry right through your ceiling.
If you appreciate a good lie-in, and you don’t want early risers on the pool deck waking you up, book a room elsewhere on the ship.
On most decks of MS Eurodam, there are 14 elevators/lifts to help passengers get from floor to floor. Four of these are nearer the front of the ship and four are towards the aft, but the more problematic ones are right in the middle of the ship.
Because there are six elevators here, most passengers tend to come here because there’s more chance of them getting a ride. But they are adjacent to rooms on most floors too.
So if you get a stateroom or suite alongside this area, you might hear a lot of noise – not so much from the elevators themselves but from the congregating passengers.
The best cabins on MS Eurodam – try to book these!
So those are the worst cabins you could book on MS Eurodam – depending on you and your travelling party. What about the best? Which are the real gems of the ship that are always worth your consideration? Let’s take a look…
1. Extended Balcony rooms
4166, 4168
There are two staterooms on Eurodam that come with huge balconies, for no extra cost. In fact, these are four times as big as a standard balcony – a huge 205 square feet! They also come with four lounge chairs rather than the standard two.
The reason that these exist is that there is a crew stairwell next door. That means that these rooms get the balcony from what would be the next-door cabin in addition to their own. So they’re twice as wide!
And because these cabins are at the aft of Deck 4, like other balconies in this area, they’re double depth as well. Bonus!
These rooms will likely sell out quite quickly, but it’s certainly worth checking to see if they are available on your cruise.
There are other rooms with larger balconies too, where the ship draws inwards at the middle of the ship, but these tend to cost more than the equivalent rooms in the same category.
The most sought-after views on most cruise ships are those over the wake at the aft of the ship. As you’re sailing you get to see the churning waters you leave behind, and you have the benefit of shelter as the ship moves in the opposite direction.
There are Neptune Suites with an aft-view as well, but these are a lot more expensive. So while they are great choices, you do have to pay that premium to get the view.
3. Pinnacle Suite
PS7031, PS7036
No list of the best accommodations on MS Eurodam would be complete without a mention of the Pinnacle Suites, the largest suites on the ship by a significant distance.
Take a look at this video to see what to expect from the best suite on Eurodam…
As a guide, you could fit as many as six Interior Staterooms inside the Pinnacle Suite, and that’s just the indoor space – the balcony is also twice the size of the smaller Interior Staterooms too.
It’s not just about space though – the amenities and the perks you get for booking this suite are what really make it special. Relax in a whirlpool bath, enjoy a complimentary Mimosa each morning in your suite with breakfast, skip past lines almost everywhere on the ship – you’ll really get the VIP treatment.
It is, of course, extremely expensive compared to other staterooms and suites so it’s not for everyone. But if you have the budget available and want to treat yourself, it’s a fine choice.
4. Navigation Deck Aft Staterooms if you smoke
8118 to 8179
On most cruise ships these days, you are very limited in where you can smoke. It’s banned in your stateroom (including on the balcony) and in most public areas of the ship. On MS Eurodam, there are two smoking areas – the casino, if you’re playing, and the Sea View Bar on Deck 9.
If you’re a smoker (which includes e-cigs), it can be inconvenient to trek halfway across the ship when you want to smoke. But there are some staterooms situated just one deck below the Sea View Bar, so it’s only a short walk to the staircase or the elevator and you’re in a comfortable, sheltered smoking space.
Don’t worry if you’re a non-smoker and you book one of these rooms – it doesn’t tend to drift down, since it is an open-air bar – the wind will carry the smoke away. That makes these rooms a good choice for smokers, but not a bad choice for non-smokers.
Unless you get seasick, as these are some of the cabins I’d suggest avoiding for that reason too.
The best decks to book
The best decks on MS Eurodam are the Verandah Deck (Deck 5), the Upper Verandah Deck (Deck 6) and the Rotterdam Deck (Deck 7). These decks are surrounded by staterooms above and below, and so are best shielded from noise.
But really, most people across any deck won’t have many problems at all with sound coming through the floor or ceiling and so are likely to be fine. The best deck could instead come down to whether you’re prone to seasickness (aim for a lower deck) or you want to be nearer the pool (aim for a higher deck).
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Final thoughts
The MS Eurodam still has plenty to offer, despite being a little older, so she’s worth checking out if you like the idea of a premium cruise around Alaska or the Caribbean.
Just keep this guide handy, or sign up for my checklist, and you shouldn’t have any problems finding the best stateroom for you.
If you still have any questions about the accommodation on Eurodam, then those would be excellent places to ask. There aren’t any ship-specific Facebook groups for Eurodam, but the main Holland America one should be able to help.
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Related Posts:
If you found this interesting, please share!
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Looking for that first cruise holiday without the parents hanging around?
Or maybe you’re the parent and you’re sending off your kids with your blessing as they enter adulthood and want to enjoy a cruise with a bit of independence.
When I was 18 I spent a fantastic two weeks in Ibiza with my friends. We never thought of a cruise, but that would have been just as great. I’m sure!
Not every cruise line treats 18-year-olds as full adults though. So in this guide, I’ll let you know which cruise lines allow guests under 21 without parents, and what makes them a good choice.
Can you book a cruise at 18?
You can book a cruise when you’re 18 years old, and travel without your parents, but only on some cruise lines, and it depends on the destination too. For most cruises with a US port, you’d need to be 21 or older to be able to travel without a parent or other older passenger, but there are some exceptions
The rules for cruising on your own closely mirror those for drinking age. So if you’re considered a minor then you’re not usually able to cruise on your own, and in the US, and on certain American-based cruise lines, anyone aged 20 or younger is a minor.
Thankfully those rules don’t apply everywhere. There are some cruises where 18-year-olds can travel without parents, and they can also drink alcohol at sea. Even when cruising from Florida. Yay!
Cruising at 18 – what to expect
YouTuber ShipFaced first started cruising without his parents at the age of 18. He went on Symphony of the Seas with a friend and also took a solo cruise at 18 on MSC Bellissima.
He commented: “Thinking about going from cruising as a teen to cruising as an adult can be a daunting thought. Not having the teen areas to meet people and most significantly having to plan the holiday all on your own. As an 18-year-old I did cruises solo and with friends and really enjoyed both styles.”
“You will make mistakes. For example, I got off at Genoa and got a connecting flight back home when there was a direct and therefore got stuck in Paris airport for hours. Despite that, it’s okay to make mistakes and you will learn from them. There is so much variety now for cruising as a young adult and there are so many companies and ships to choose from, it’s an amazing way to travel as an 18-year-old.”
The cruise lines that allow 18-year-olds to sail as adults
Generally, British cruise lines will allow guests to travel once they are 18 years or older, while select European and American cruise lines will allow guests to sail to European destinations, such as MSC, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
Here are all the options for those aged 18, 19 or 20 to cruise without parents. I’ve ordered them starting with the best options…
1. Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is the best cruise line for under 21s looking for a party atmosphere. The ships are all adults-only, with 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds welcome to join the fun.
Expect deck parties with well-known DJs on select sailings, beach parties, nightclubs, risque entertainment, drag brunches, and themed events that are fantastic fun.
There’s a fantastic menu of drinks to choose from and 18-year-olds are allowed to drink alcohol. The United States doesn’t allow under 21s to drink, but as soon as the ship is 12 nautical miles away from the US and in international waters, the bar is yours.
MSC Cruises is another great choice for those under 21 who wish to travel without their parents. But, you’ll only be allowed on cruises that don’t include ports in the US.
MSC ships have a lively atmosphere on board, with good evening entertainment, a wide variety of dining options, and plenty of bars where you can grab a cocktail. MSC Cruises are pretty cheap too so they’re a good option for students or anyone who doesn’t have a ton of cash to splash.
One of the biggest cruise lines in the world, Royal Caribbean is an excellent choice for 18- to 20-year-olds who want a good atmosphere throughout their whole voyage. These are the ships packed with the most daytime activities, including rock climbing and surf simulators.
And then at night, there are some really cool bars and lounges where you can relax, while different ships have karaoke venues, escape rooms and more. Plus there’s always a nightclub if you fancy a late one.
Disney Cruise Line does accept guests who are aged 18 and over on European cruises, but you won’t be able to drink if you’re not travelling with your parents. Still, a Disney cruise is not a booze cruise!
Choose a Disney sailing if you love everything to do with the House of Mouse – you can expect amazing live entertainment, fun restaurants and some exciting daytime activities including water slides. A lot of the features are aimed at younger children though, and be aware that Disney cruises are expensive.
5. P&O Cruises
P&O is one of the biggest cruise lines operating out of Britain, and they have a mix of ships to suit different audiences. If you’re aged 18-20 you can either choose to sail on one of the two adults-only ships, or pick a family ship if you want the newest options such as Iona and Arvia.
I’d say that the family ships are actually better, as you’re more likely to meet people your own age. The adult-only ships are much smaller and tend to attract the over 50s.
Arvia in particular has some cool features like a high ropes course, mini golf and an escape room.
There’s a good mix of daytime activities if you want to relax, and at night there are some interesting bars that offer a more lively atmosphere.
Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line with ships that are modern and sleek. Expect innovative features including a moving bar on the side of the latest ships, real grass lawns where you can unwind, and stunning dining venues.
A Celebrity cruise would be a good choice if you have a healthy budget to spend and you aren’t looking for too many daytime activities, but you’d like a contemporary cruise experience.
Marella Cruises is a British cruise line that offers a good mix of daytime and evening activities, although nothing too wild or youth-oriented. Still, 18-year-olds are welcome on the ships and are allowed to drink as well.
The ships do all have a nightclub too, as well as various bars, so while it’s not a really young atmosphere there are plenty of places you can relax and have fun. Plus Marella’s all-inclusive options are very affordable for the young adult on a budget.
Ambassador Cruise Line is a relatively new British cruise line that is aimed, by its own admission, at the mainly over-50s crowd, although all adults aged 18 and over can book.
Don’t expect a party atmosphere on board. But if you are looking to travel and explore, and you like the idea of no-hassle cruising from the UK without flying, it’s worth exploring the sailings on offer.
Traditionally, Fred. Olsen cruises have been most popular with the older market, but 18-year-olds are welcome onboard. I’ve recently sailed on a Fred. Olsen cruise and it wasn’t what I expected. I was one of the younger people on board and I’m 38!
Again, don’t expect a party atmosphere. If you’re an 18-year-old who enjoys quiet relaxation, craft activities and exploring destinations then yes, consider a Fred. Olsen cruise. But this isn’t the cruise if you want to get a bit rowdy.
10. Cunard
Cunard is the quintessential traditional cruising experience and, being a British cruise line, guests are welcome to book without their parents once they reach 18.
With a Cunard cruise, you should expect more of a formal atmosphere than you’d find on other cruise lines on this list and the other cruisers will be mostly retired people. If that appeals, and you’re not looking for ships to be packed with innovation or thrilling daytime activities then certainly take a look.
11. Carnival
Technically, you can also cruise with Carnival if you’re aged 18 to 20, including ports in the US – but you have to be married and travelling with your spouse. That’s the only time that guests under 21 can travel without someone aged at least 25 with them.
Drinking on a cruise
There are some cruise lines where you can drink when you’re 18, but it depends on the cruise line and the itinerary – again, if you’re cruising to the US then you can’t drink even on the rest of the cruise, unless you’re on a Virgin Voyages ship.
You’ll probably want to note that some cruises also only allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drink beer, cider and wine – so no spirits – while others ask parents to sign a waiver saying they’re happy for their 18 to 20-year-olds to drink alcohol. But the parents have to be on that cruise with them.
So, if you’re 18, 19 or 20 years old and you want to book a cruise without the old folk hovering around you, there are a selection of cruise lines you can choose from, provided you stick to mainly European destinations.
Next, check out my article on how old you have to be to cruise in general, so that you can see the minimum age for younger guests who are sailing with their families.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
