Luxury Cruising Editorial - Luxury Cruising

Royal Caribbean Ships By Age

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean will have 28 cruise ships by the end of 2024, with two more already on order. With new ships launching so often, it can be tricky to keep track of which is the newest Royal Caribbean ship.

Knowing the age of each of the ships is important because some of the Royal Caribbean International ships are over 25 years old, and so they offer a very different experience from the newest and biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

While it’s true that Royal Caribbean’s ships are each refurbished every three to five years, there’s still quite a stark difference between the oldest and newest ships. It’s not just that the decor is dated, the newer ships have some incredible technology and facilities that the old ones don’t.

So, read on for a list of Royal Caribbean ships from newest to oldest.

The Royal Caribbean ships listed by age

This table shows all Royal Caribbean cruise ships from newest to oldest as well as when what class of ship they are.

Ship Name	Class	Year Built
TBC*	Oasis	Due 2028
TBC*	Icon	Due 2026
Star of the Seas*	Icon	Due 2025
Utopia of the Seas	Oasis	2024
Icon of the Seas	Icon	2024
Wonder of the Seas	Oasis	2022
Odyssey of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	2021
Spectrum of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	2019
Symphony of the Seas	Oasis	2018
Harmony of the Seas	Oasis	2016
Ovation of the Seas	Quantum	2016
Anthem of the Seas	Quantum	2015
Quantum of the Seas	Quantum	2014
Allure of the Seas	Oasis	2010
Oasis of the Seas	Oasis	2009
Independence of the Seas	Freedom	2008
Liberty of the Seas	Freedom	2007
Freedom of the Seas	Freedom	2006
Jewel of the Seas	Radiance	2004
Mariner of the Seas	Voyager	2003
Serenade of the Seas	Radiance	2003
Navigator of the Seas	Voyager	2002
Brilliance of the Seas	Radiance	2002
Adventure of the Seas	Voyager	2001
Radiance of the Seas	Radiance	2001
Explorer of the Seas	Voyager	2000
Voyager of the Seas	Voyager	1999
Vision of the Seas	Vision	1998
Enchantment of the Seas	Vision	1997
Rhapsody of the Seas	Vision	1997
Grandeur of the Seas	Vision	1996

*Currently in construction

The newest additions…

These are the newest Royal Caribbean ships that are sailing in 2024…

1. Utopia of the Seas

Launches: 2024
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,788

Following on from the success of Oasis-class ships such as Oasis of the Seas which was launched in 2009 right up to Wonder of the Seas in 2022, Royal Caribbean launched another in summer 2024 – Utopia of the Seas.

The agreement to build a sixth Oasis-class ship was signed on 18th February 2019. Originally, the ship was scheduled to be delivered in late 2023, but the date has been put back due to the effects of the global pause.

She’s now arrived and she is packed with amazing features, including all the best dining venues and bars from the prior ships, along with some exciting new additions, such as Royal Railway, an interactive dining experience set in a train cart in the Wild West.

She offers the ultimate weekend getaway, with 3- and 4-night cruises that all call at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Suggested read: Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas

2. Icon of the Seas

Launched: 2024
Class: Icon
Guest capacity: 7,600

Debuting in January 2024, Icon of the Seas is the largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, and it opened for bookings in October 2022.

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the new Icon class and with a gross tonnage of 250,800 GT and a maximum guest occupancy of 7,600 – this ship is significantly larger than the previous biggest ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas.

Icon has eight neighbourhoods, with each hosting some incredible attractions. The six waterslides each break records, including the tallest ship at sea, the first open free-fall slide, and the first mat-racing duo slides on a cruise ship.

Plus there’s the thrilling Crown’s Edge skywalk/rope course/thrill ride hybrid that sees guests swing out over the sea.

With 28 different accommodation options, 15 restaurants, a wealth of bars and lounges, stunning live entertainment venues and so much more, Icon is a spectacular ship in every sense, bringing together the best of the Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships and adding even more.

3. Wonder of the Seas

Launched: 2022
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,988

Launched in March 2022, Royal Caribbean’s fifth Oasis-Class ship is Wonder of the Seas. When she launched, she was the biggest cruise ship in the world.

With a building cost of $1,350,000,000, this mega-ship has everything you could want, with eight distinct neighbourhoods including the new and exclusive Suite Neighbourhood.

Wonder of the Seas features the Wonder Playscape – an underwater world with slides, games and climbing walls that will keep your kids entertained all day long. The ship also has plenty of Royal Caribbean favourites like the FlowRider surfing simulator and the Ultimate Abyss slide.

Sailing in the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Rome as well as the Caribbean from Port Canaveral in Florida, Wonder of the Seas is one of the best ships that Royal Caribbean has to offer so far.

4. Odyssey of the Seas

Launched: 2021
Class: Quantum-Ultra
Guest capacity: 4,819

Launched in July 2021, Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum-ultra class ship offering adventures in the Mediterranean from Rome as well as the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the first and only Quantum-ultra class ship to sail from the US.

A little different from what’s gone before, Odyssey of the Seas featured a totally reimagined pool deck. Although Quantum-ultra class ships are slightly smaller than the Oasis-class, you’ll find so much to do on board with the SkyPad trampolines, RipCord skydiving simulator, the North Star observation pod and a 4D virtual reality adventure zone to name but a few.

Royal Caribbean Ships from the 2010s

The next ships are all fairly new, being launched between 2010 and 2019…

5. Spectrum of the Seas

Launched: 2019
Class: Quantum-Ultra
Guest capacity: 5,622

Launched in April 2019, Spectrum of the Seas was designed with Chinese guests in mind, so unless you want your fellow passengers to be mostly from Asia, then this might not be the ship for you. The primary language on board is Mandarin and signage is in simplified Chinese, followed by English.

Sailing from Shanghai and Singapore, Spectrum of the Seas offers mostly short cruises to Malaysia and Thailand as well as some week-long cruises to Japan.

The first ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Ultra Class, Spectrum of the Seas doesn’t actually offer much of an upgrade from the previous Quantum-class ships like Anthem of the Seas. It seems that this is the reason why this class was given the name Quantum Ultra, rather than a whole new name.

6. Symphony of the Seas

Launched: 2017
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,680

Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class ship that was launched in June 2017. The world’s biggest cruise ship before Wonder of the Seas came along in 2022, Symphony of the Seas offers a whole host of activities to enjoy at sea.

The first ship to feature Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Family Suite and glow-in-the-dark laser tag, Symphony of the Seas also has many Oasis-class favourites like the ten-storey Ultimate Abyss slide and twin FlowRiders.

Symphony of the Seas sails from Miami, Florida calling at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at Cococay, where you can chill or enjoy thrilling activities.

7. Harmony of the Seas

Launched: 2016
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,687

Harmony of the Seas was the first Oasis-class ship to launch in six years, and for a short while she held the title of the largest ship at sea – until her sister Symphony launched a year later.

While many of the features on Harmony of the Seas had been seen before, some – such as Jamie’s Italian and Wonderland – had only been available on Quantum-class ships before this.

Harmony of the Seas was also the first ship in the fleet to feature the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest (at the time) slide at sea.

8. Ovation of the Seas

Launched: 2016
Class: Quantum
Guest capacity: 4,905

Ovation of the Seas was the third Quantum-class ship, and the last before the introduction of the Quantum Ultra class. She shares many of the same popular features as her sister ships, such as the Bionic Bar and the North Star.

She’s also one of the few modern Royal Caribbean ships to offer something different to the usual Caribbean or Mediterranean itineraries – she sails from Seattle during the summer, often to Alaska, and then for the rest of the year it switches to the southern hemisphere summer from Sydney.

9. Anthem of the Seas

Launched: 2015
Class: Quantum
Guest capacity: 4,905

Anthem of the Seas is almost identical to her sister ship Quantum, with no real differentiating features. However, that’s not a bad thing – Quantum was well received, and having a sister ship that was the same just opened up more opportunities for people to experience the Quantum Class.

What was exciting – for British cruisers, anyway – was the plan for Anthem of the Seas to homeport in Southampton for the summer season, which she still does. She’s the biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ship to sail out of the UK.

10. Quantum of the Seas

Launched: 2014
Class: Quantum
Guest capacity: 4,905

Quantum of the Seas was an exciting new development for Royal Caribbean, and she was also interesting because she was the first ship in almost 10 years to be launched by the cruise line without the intention of making the next biggest ship in the fleet (or, indeed, the world).

Instead, Quantum of the Seas was themed around technology, with a real focus on the contemporary. She also introduced new fun features such as Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator.

11. Allure of the Seas

Launched: 2010
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,780

Just a year after her sister ship launched, Allure of the Seas entered service and became not only the largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, but the largest in the world – a title she would hold for six years.

She was due to get a massive upgrade to add features such as the Ultimate Abyss slide and Perfect Storm waterslides, but that was cancelled due to the global shutdown. There are rumours that she may yet be upgraded now that cruising is back to normal.

Allure of the Seas sails out of Orlando and Miami on Bahamas cruises, typically for 3 or 4 nights.

Suggested read: Allure of the Seas Vs Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Ships from the 2000s

These Royal Caribbean ships are all a little older, being built between 2000 and 2010. They still offer a great experience.

12. Oasis of the Seas

Launched: 2009
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,780

Oasis of the Seas was a true statement ship for Royal Caribbean. When the cruise line set out to make the biggest ship in the world, it didn’t just set the record by a small margin. Instead, it completely redefined what a cruise ship could be, and essentially created the idea of a “super-ship”.

So much of what we associate with modern Royal Caribbean debuted on Oasis of the Seas, including the zip-line, the Central Park area, and even just the concept of different neighbourhoods onboard.

Oasis of the Seas offers Caribbean cruises during the winter months, but then sails around the Mediterranean in summer, from Barcelona and Rome.

13. Independence of the Seas

Launched: 2008
Class: Freedom
Guest capacity: 4,560

The last of the Freedom-class ships to launch, Independence of the Seas has always been a popular ship in the fleet. This was especially so with British cruisers, as before Anthem of the Seas took over, Independence of the Seas was THE Royal Caribbean ship for cruises out of Southampton.

She’s now made Miami her year-round home, offering cruises around the Bahamas and both sides of the Caribbean. Popular features include the Playmakers Sports Bar, and the Flowrider surf simulator.

14. Liberty of the Seas

Liberty of the Seas navigating the ocean

Launched: 2007
Class: Freedom
Guest capacity: 4,960

When Liberty of the Seas launched in 2007, she was the biggest ship in the world. She also has a much higher capacity than her sister ship Freedom of the Seas, almost being one of the first ships to allow up to 5,000 passengers.

While she was another ship to have her Amplification postponed she has still been well maintained and she remains a popular ship with loyal passengers.

As well as Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from Fort Lauderdale, she also offers cruises to Canada & New England from Cape Liberty in New Jersey.

15. Freedom of the Seas

Launched: 2006
Class: Freedom
Guest capacity: 4,515

Freedom of the Seas was a mightily impressive ship when she launched, becoming the largest ever passenger ship to be built – taking the title from Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

She is packed with great features, but perhaps most notable is the FlowRider surf simulator, which debuted on the ship. It’s been added to every Royal Caribbean ship since, and retrofitted to some older ones too.

Freedom of the Seas sails out of both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and offers cruises on both sides of the Caribbean, including some shorter itineraries and some week-long sailings.

16. Jewel of the Seas

Launched: 2004
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,702

Jewel of the Seas was the last of the Radiance-class ships to launch, and arguably the last mid-sized ship to ever be built for the cruise line.

She still has plenty of exciting things to do onboard, including the Royal Theater, the climbing wall, the sports court, the arcade and more.

Jewel of the Seas offers a range of itineraries, including short Greece cruises from Haifa, and Caribbean cruises from Galveston and San Juan.

17. Mariner of the Seas

Launched: 2003
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,000

The Mariner of the Seas was already a fun-packed ship when she first launched over 20 years ago, but her Amplification since has seen even more awesome features added. Guests can enjoy duelling waterslides, the FlowRider surf simulator, or a relaxed meal in Jamie’s Italian.

Mariner of the Seas now offers cruises to the Caribbean, spending some time homeported in Galveston and the rest of the year sailing from Port Canaveral.

18. Serenade of the Seas

Launched: 2003
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,476

Serenade of the Seas was the third Radiance-class ship for Royal Caribbean, and she shared a lot of the same features as her sister ships. Guests can enjoy great food at a range of restaurants, plenty of fun activities including sports and spa treatments, and fantastic live entertainment.

She offers the Ultimate World Cruise, including segment sailings all around the world. The rest of the year, she sails around the Caribbean from Tampa.

19. Navigator of the Seas

Launched: 2002
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,000

Navigator of the Seas was a well-loved cruise ship for many years following her launch in 2002, but she got a whole new lease of life after her Amplification in 2019. Now guests can enjoy thrilling waterslides, the surf simulator, and some great restaurants including Hooked Seafood and Jonny Rockets Express.

Navigator of the Seas is based on the west coast of the US all year round, sailing to Mexico from Los Angeles.

20. Brilliance of the Seas

Launched: 2002
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,543

The Brilliance of the Seas was the second Radiance-class ship to launch, with many similar features to her sister the Radiance of the Seas. She’s a great ship for relaxing, with lots of tranquil spots including the Solarium, and some wonderful restaurants too.

The main highlight of Brilliance of the Seas is the itineraries – cruise the Caribbean from New Orleans or see Alaska from Vancouver. You can also cruise to Hawaii, or sail around Australia from Sydney.

21. Adventure of the Seas

Launched: 2001
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 3,807

Adventure of the Seas is another ship that was due to be Amplified, before that was postponed due to the shutdown. However, she has been well-maintained with her smaller updates since she launched in 2001, and she has plenty of great dining options and both daytime and evening activities to enjoy.

She has been used on both sides of the Atlantic previously, but she is now due to sail the Caribbean primarily from Port Canaveral.

22. Radiance of the Seas

Launched: 2001
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,466

Radiance of the Seas was something of a departure from Royal Caribbean. While the Voyager-class ships were immensely popular, the cruise line believed there was still a market for the smaller ‘mid-sized’ ships, and so created the Radiance Class.

Radiance of the Seas doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as larger ships in the fleet, and is instead more aimed at adults who was some fun, but a lot of relaxation too. She sails both to the Caribbean and to Alaska, with various departure ports to choose from.

23. Explorer of the Seas

Launched: 2000
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,290

Explorer of the Seas very much picked up where Voyager of the Seas left off, offering guests a wealth of exciting activities onboard a packed ship. She’s since had the FlowRider added, although her bigger Amplification upgrade was another that was postponed and has yet to be carried out.

During the winter months, Explorer of the Seas offers Caribbean itineraries similar to many other ships in the fleet – her base is Miami. In the summer, she sails around the Greek Isles from Ravenna.

The Oldest Royal Caribbean Ships

These ships were launched in the 1990s. They tend to be the smallest ships and have fewer facilities than the newer ships.

24. Voyager of the Seas

Launched: 1999
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,269

Voyager of the Seas was a bold new ship for Royal Caribbean when she launched just before the turn of the millennium. For the first time, it gave the cruise line the largest cruise ship in the world, with loads of exciting things to enjoy onboard. And these have been enhanced even further with the Amplification in 2019, twenty years after her debut.

She now offers Caribbean sailings from either Galveston or Port Canaveral, with mainly short breaks available.

25. Vision of the Seas

Launched: 1998
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,514

The last ship to launch in the Vision Class was also the one to share its name. Vision of the Seas may be the last ship to be built for Royal Caribbean before the focus switched to much larger vessels, but she still offers a great experience, including a variety of food options and some great live entertainment.

Now, Vision of the Seas sails out of Baltimore, offering cruises to the Bahamas and to Canada/New England.

26. Enchantment of the Seas

Launched: 1997
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,730

The third of the Vision-class ships, Enchantment of the Seas is another where the focus is on a quieter experience compared to the larger ships in the fleet, but still with great quality entertainment at night and a good choice of food.

During winter, she sails around the Caribbean from Tampa, but she’s another ship that crosses the Atlantic for the summer season, with a variety of Mediterranean cruises from Ravenna, Barcelona, and Athens.

27. Rhapsody of the Seas

The Rhapsody of the Seas cruising the ocean

Launched: 1997
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,416

Rhapsody of the Seas was the second ship in the Vision class, following on from Grandeur of the Seas. It doesn’t have all the exciting and colourful features that later ships in the fleet may have, but it does have good-quality kids’ clubs and plenty of space for adults to unwind.

She offers cruises mainly around the southern Caribbean, including departures from Colon in Panama, and Cartagena in Colombia.

28. Grandeur of the Seas

Launched: 1996
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,440

The oldest and smallest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Grandeur of the Seas has been sailing for over 25 years. The experience onboard is very different to what you’d get on the newest ships, but she still has a loyal fanbase and is great for anyone who wants the quieter side of the Royal Caribbean experience, including the food and the dedication to quality live entertainment.

Grandeur of the Seas primarily cruises around the Caribbean from different ports in Florida, although there are also cruises from Boston to explore Canada.

The next ships to launch

Royal Caribbean has signed agreements for the next three ships to be delivered in 2025, 2026 and 2028. Here’s a list of the newest Royal Caribbean ships that are on order and will be coming out over the next few years.

1. Star of the Seas

Launches: 2025
Class: Icon
Guest capacity: 7,600

Following on from the launch of the first Icon-class ship in 2024, Royal Caribbean will launch a second Icon-class ship in 2025 – Star of the Seas.

As is usually the case with sister ships within a class, it’s expected that these ships will be very similar. There will probably, however, be some slight changes such as different restaurants and bars and different shows in the theatre.

The agreement to build the second Icon-class ship was signed on 10th October 2016, at the same time as the agreement for the first ship, Icon of the Seas. At the time of signing, the two ships were set to be delivered in the second quarters of 2022 and 2024, although construction of new ships has since been pushed back by 12 to 18 months.

2. Unnamed Icon-Class Ship

Launches: 2026
Class: Icon
Guest capacity: 7,600

Royal Caribbean has plans to build at least three Icon-class ships, with the third scheduled to launch in 2026.

The agreement to build a third Icon-class ship was signed on 2nd July 2019. At the time, it was contingent on financing, so with everything that’s happened, we can’t be 100% sure that this ship will arrive in 2026. That said, the future does certainly look bright for the cruise industry right now.

3. Unnamed Oasis-Class Ship

Launches: 2028
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: TBC

In early 2024, it was announced that a new Oasis-class ship would launch in 2028. This surprised many, as it was expected that Utopia of the Seas would be the final one as the cruise line moved towards building Icon-class ships.

We know very little so far but I’ll keep you updated.

What makes the newer ships stand out?

There are several differences between the older and newer ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Let’s take a closer look at each of these…

Size

Royal Caribbean ships have increased in size as time has passed with the newer ships being much larger and with the capacity for more passengers compared to older ships.

Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 250,800, which makes her almost 3.5 times as large as Grandeur of the Seas with a gross tonnage of 73,817.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

Facilities

Newer Royal Caribbean ships have an incredible array of facilities onboard with amenities like water slides, zip lines, skydiving simulators, virtual reality trampolines, escape room games and bumper cars.

Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean ship

You won’t find any of these things on the older ships. However, every Royal Caribbean ship does have swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall, an arcade and a kids’ club.

Read more: The best Royal Caribbean ships for kids

Destinations

Each cruise ship sails out of one or two ports. In many cases, the ships are based in Europe in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter.

Many cruise ports have a limit as to the size of the ships they can accommodate. For this reason, Royal Caribbean uses its smaller, older ships to visit destinations that are not accessible to mega-ships.

Itineraries on smaller, older cruise ships are often more port-intensive with fewer sea days. With the newer ships, the ship itself is often the attraction rather than the ports of call, so you may have more days at sea.

Demographic

As the newer Royal Caribbean ships have so much to do on board, they tend to attract a younger crowd of families with children and younger couples. Older ships tend to be more popular with older couples and retired people.

If you cruise on one of the newer ships in the school holidays, there will be almost as many kids as there are adults.

Ambience

The atmosphere on board the oldest and newest Royal Caribbean ships is somewhat different. This is in part down to the passengers, as older ships tend to attract fewer children and an older, more relaxed crowd. You probably won’t find the nightclub to be pumping late into the night as it will be on a new ship.

Also, the decor of the newer ships will be much more modern. Royal Caribbean cruise ships are refurbished every three years, so the oldest ships are always in good condition, but the decor may look a little dated in some places in comparison.

Price

The older Royal Caribbean cruise ships are much cheaper than the newer ones. Frequent cruisers are always excited to try the next new ship, so cruises on brand-new ships are priced at a premium to reflect the demand for them.

If you’re cruising on a tight budget, you can save a lot by choosing one of the older ships.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

Reviews

So, are the new Royal Caribbean ships better than the older ones? Well, to find that out you can take a look at the reviews…

To make that easier for you, I combined all of the reviews from the major review sites and Ranked the Royal Caribbean Ships From Best To Worst according to their review scores.

To conclude

With new ships launched every year, it can be hard to keep up with Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ships. But, if you want to experience the latest in cruising innovation on these exciting new ships, then I can certainly see the attraction of picking the newest ship there is.

After all, that’s exactly what I did when I booked my first-ever cruise for our honeymoon on Allure of the Seas back in 2013. At the time, that was the newest Royal Caribbean ship, and it’s the ship that started a lifetime of cruise addiction for me.

Of course, the older ships have a lot to offer too, and the price can certainly be very attractive if you compare them side by side.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…

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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.

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Costa Cruise Ships By Size, Age and Class

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Costa Cruises Cruise Lines Cruise News

Costa Cruises is one of the cheapest cruise lines in Europe, offering a range of itineraries not just around the Mediterranean but also further afield, including the Caribbean, South America and more.

The Costa fleet is not quite as large as the biggest cruise lines in the world, but there are still various ships you can choose between depending on the kind of experience you want onboard.

In this guide, I’ll break down the full range of Costa cruise ships by their size, how old they are, and the different classes available.

Costa ships: biggest to smallest

Here’s a look at all of the Costa Cruises ships from largest to smallest.

Ship	Gross Tonnage	Length	Decks ( For Guests)	Guests	Crew
Costa Toscana	185,010	1105 ft / 337 m	18 (16)	6,554	1,646
Costa Smeralda	185,010	1105 ft / 337 m	18 (16)	6,554	1,646
Costa Diadema	133,019	1,003 ft / 306 m	15 (15)	4,927	1,253
Costa Fascinosa	114,500	950 ft / 290 m	14 (14)	3,700	1,100
Costa Favolosa	114,500	950 ft / 290 m	14 (14)	3,700	1,100
Costa Pacifica	114,500	950 ft / 290 m	14 (14)	3,700	1,100
Costa Serena	114,500	950 ft / 290 m	14 (14)	3,700	1,100
Costa Fortuna	102,669	893 ft / 272 m	14 (14)	3,470	1,090
Costa Deliziosa	92,720	964 ft / 294 m	13 (13)	2,828	934

Typically when comparing cruise ship sizes, you base it on gross tonnage – which, despite the name, is nothing to do with weight but is actually a measurement of the internal volume of the ship. The higher the number, the more ‘space’ onboard.

That’s why I’ve ranked Costa Deliziosa bottom, despite her being longer than some of the other ships on the list. Because she has one fewer deck, she has less space overall.

Those capacity figures are also the maximum capacity, if every room capable of sleeping 3 or 4 guests was at full occupancy. In most cases, they won’t be, since there will often be a lot of couples or pairs of friends sailing, so it’s rare for the ships to reach those numbers.

And one final interesting note with Costa – all of the ships barring the two biggest have a Deck 0, and it’s accessible to guests on the ship too. However, you should hope you don’t end up there, as the only guest facilities on that deck are the medical area/hospital. Otherwise, it’s a crew-only deck.

The two biggest Costa Cruises ships are Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda. These ships are part of the Excellence Class, and are not just the biggest ships ever built for Costa Cruises but they are also the first to be powered by LNG, a cleaner fuel type.

Costa Smeralda

These ships, as of 2024, make the list of the top 10 largest cruise ships in the world. However, in 2025, they will drop out as several ships measuring over 200,000 gross tonnes will launch.

The smallest cruise ship in the Costa fleet is the Costa Deliziosa – with a gross tonnage of 92,720, she is almost half the size of the biggest ships in the fleet. She is still not considered a small cruise ship as she can accommodate almost 3,000 guests.

None of the ships in the Costa fleet are small, so if you like the idea of a more intimate atmosphere onboard then it may not be the cruise line for you. But there is a very different experience on the smaller ships in the fleet compared to the biggest, with the larger ships definitely feeling busier, but compensating for that with more dining and entertainment options.

The Costa Deliziosa cruise ship captured from a side angle as it cruises on the deep blue ocean. Its white structure adorned with rows of balconies and distinctive yellow lifeboats is complemented by the ship's yellow funnel featuring a blue 'C' emblem, cruising under a bright blue sky with light wispy clouds. — Costa Deliziosa

Costa ships from newest to oldest

Here’s a look at the fleet now arranged by age, from newest to oldest. You won’t notice a huge difference between this and the ships arranged by size:

Ship	Class	Year Launched	Last Refurbished
Costa Toscana	Excellence	2021	N/A
Costa Smeralda	Excellence	2019	N/A
Costa Diadema	Diadema	2014	N/A
Costa Fascinosa	Concordia	2012	2018
Costa Favolosa	Concordia	2011	2018
Costa Deliziosa	Luminosa	2010	2018
Costa Pacifica	Concordia	2009	2017
Costa Serena	Concordia	2007	2023
Costa Fortuna	Fortuna	2003	2018

The newest cruise ship in the Costa fleet is Costa Toscana. She’s also tied for the biggest ship in the fleet, alongside her twin sister Costa Smeralda. She made her maiden voyage in March 2021.

Costa Toscana

The oldest Costa Cruises ship still sailing for the cruise line is Costa Fortuna, which has been sailing for over 20 years for the cruise line and was last refurbished in 2018.

Costa Fortuna

Costa Cruises has existed since the mid-20th Century and so has seen many older cruise ships come and go. Costa Fortuna did have a sister ship, the Costa Magica, but she was sold to Seajets in 2023 and renamed as the Mykonos Magic.

Unfortunately, the reviews for Costa Fortuna aren’t good, as you can see here.

Costa Cruises ship classes

There are currently five classes of ship in the Costa Cruises fleet – Excellence, Diadema, Luminosa, Concordia, and Fortuna. Several of these classes are part of wider ship classes for the Carnival group, with sister ships in other fleets.

The Carnival Group includes several cruise lines and has various classes of ship. The ships within these classes aren’t identical in size but will usually be pretty similar, though the onboard features will be tailored to the specific cruise line.

Here’s a quick look at the ship classes before we delve into each in a little more detail:

Ship	Costa Class	Wider Carnival Group Class
Costa Toscana	Excellence	Excellence
Costa Smeralda	Excellence	Excellence
Costa Diadema	Diadema	Dream
Costa Deliziosa	Luminosa	Vista-Spirit
Costa Fascinosa	Concordia	Concordia
Costa Favolosa	Concordia	Concordia
Costa Pacifica	Concordia	Concordia
Costa Serena	Concordia	Concordia
Costa Fortuna	Fortuna	Destiny/Sunshine

Excellence Class

There are two Excellence Class ships in the Costa fleet – Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda. They are part of the wider Excellence Class which includes ships such as P&O Cruises’ Iona and Arvia, and Carnival’s Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

Suggested read: My Costa Smeralda Review

Diadema Class

Costa Diadema is the only ship in Costa’s Diadema Class. It’s part of the wider Dream Class, which includes three Carnival ships including the Carnival Dream. Costa Diadema is the largest of this class.

An aerial view of the Costa Diadema cruise ship traveling on a sunlit sea, its wake forming a V-shaped pattern in the water. The ship's deck is lined with yellow lifeboats, and its large yellow funnel stands out with the letter 'C' against the deep blue of the ocean. — Costa Diadema

Luminosa Class

The Luminosa Class includes only one ship in the Costa fleet, the Costa Deliziosa. It was named originally for the Costa Luminosa, before she transferred to Carnival and became the Carnival Luminosa. Two Cunard ships – Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth – are also part of this wider class.

The Carnival Luminosa cruise ship is captured cruising on a clear day with its red and black funnel standing out against the ship's white structure with yellow lifeboats. The name 'CARNIVAL LUMINOSA' is prominently displayed on the hull, highlighting the ship's identity as it makes its way across the serene blue waters.

Concordia Class

There are currently four ships in the Concordia Class for Costa – Costa Serena, Costa Pacifica, Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa. There was a fifth, for which the class was named – the Costa Concordia, which sank in 2012. Carnival’s ship Carnival Splendor is part of this wider class.

Fortuna Class

The Fortuna Class for Costa only includes one ship, the Costa Fortuna. The Costa Magica was once part of this class too, but was sold in 2023. It’s a sub-class of the Sunshine Class, formerly the Destiny Class, including three Carnival ships.

Costa Fortuna

The best Costa Cruises ships

For most guests, the best Costa Cruises ships are the two biggest and newest, the Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda. They are in the best condition and have the most variety of dining options and activities to enjoy onboard.

However, because Costa’s cruises are cheap, that does mean that you’ll rarely find cruises on these ships that are below 60% capacity, and even at that level this can make them feel quite crowded at times. Indeed, both ships make the list of the 12 worst cruise ships according to customer reviews.

If you prefer a quieter experience then you may find the smaller ships are more appealing, especially Costa Deliziosa, which is the smallest but not the oldest. Again though, it doesn’t have the best reviews.

For anyone choosing Costa, as long as you understand what kind of experience to expect, you can still have a great time, but it makes sense to choose a ship that’s best suited to the style of cruising you enjoy.

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First Look at Carnival Cruise Line’s New Beach Club

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Diplomacy

Carnival Cruise Line today gave a first look at the Pearl Cove Beach Club that will be located at their new private port that is under construction, Celebration Key.

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Pearl Cove Beach Club will be an adults only (18+) retreat that offers a premium experience when visiting Celebration Key.

It will have an 11,000 sq. ft. infinity pool with a swim-up bar. Pink striped umbrellas will top sun loungers and there will also be daybeds that line the pool.

The beach club will have a private beach with sun loungers and beachside food and drink service.

Guests who are booked on a Carnival cruise that visits Celebration Key can book the Pearl Cove Beach Club on sailings through January 2, 2026.

The following three options are available:

Club access plus a welcome drink
Club access plus open bar (maximum of 10 drinks)
Club access, all inclusive (open bar (maximum of 10 drinks) and food from the Pearl Cove restaurant)

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“Celebration Key will give our guests elevated options and experiences across its five portals and we’ve specifically designed Pearl Cove Beach Club as the perfect place for adults to lounge, unwind or relax in their own paradise.”

“Guests booked on cruises to Celebration Key can now start planning their day as we open reservations for Pearl Cove, along with daybeds, cabanas and our unique supervillas, as well as shore excursions that celebrate the culture and beauty of Grand Bahama.”

Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line’s new private port that is currently under construction on Grand Bahama Island.

The port will open in July 2025 and will be able to accommodate up to two Carnival ships at a time. A pier extension will then be added to double the daily capacity to four ships each day.

In addition to giving us a first look at the Pearl Cove Beach Club, Carnival Cruise Line also opened for bookings shore excursions, supervillas, cabanas and daybeds on Celebration Key.

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Can You Bring Alcohol On A Cruise?

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Packing

There are lots of reasons you might want to bring your own alcohol onto a cruise.

It could be that you want to have your own bar in your cabin for pre-dinner drinks. Or maybe you just want to avoid the high drinks prices onboard, where possible.

In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about whether you are allowed to bring booze onto a ship, how much, and whether it’s better to just buy onboard.

Can you bring your own alcohol on a cruise?

Some cruise lines allow you to bring your own alcohol onto a cruise, but a handful don’t let you. Usually, you’re limited to one bottle of wine or Champagne, but there are some exceptions where you can bring a small number of beers or extra bottles of wine.

Obviously, it is in the cruise line’s interest to get you to buy your drinks onboard – that’s where they’ll make a lot of their money. So they don’t want you to bring too much with you.

They may charge corkage fees as well, depending on where on the ship you plan to drink it. Usually drinking in your stateroom is free of charge, but not always, so be sure to check!

Sparkling wine inside cruise ship stateroom

Which cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onboard?

Most cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onto your cruise, including the big names like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney Cruise Line and P&O Cruises. Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are two cruise lines that do not allow guests to bring any alcohol onto the ship, at all.

Here’s a quick summary of the major cruise lines, and whether they let you bring alcohol on board:

Cruise line	Can you bring alcohol onboard?	Is there a corkage fee?
Carnival Cruises	Yes	Only for public area consumption
Celebrity Cruises	Yes	Only for public area consumption
Costa Cruises	No	N/A
Cunard Line	Yes	Only for public area consumption
Disney Cruise Line	Yes	No
Holland America Line	Yes	Yes
MSC Cruises	No	N/A
NCL	Yes	Yes
P&O Cruises	Yes	Only for public area consumption
Princess Cruises	Yes	Only on 2+ bottles
Royal Caribbean	Yes	No
Virgin Voyages	Yes	No

How To Take Alcohol On A Cruise

If your cruise line does permit you to bring alcohol, you should check their policy about how much you can bring, and whether it should be packed in your checked luggage or carry-on bag. The rules are quite different for each cruise line, but I’ve listed them for the major cruise lines below.

When packing glass bottles, it’s vital that you pack them carefully so as to avoid breakages. The last thing you want is to fine broken glass and red wine all over your clothes!

I suggest that you invest in some of these wine bottle protectors to keep your alcohol safe inside your bag.

Can you take alcohol on Carnival cruises?

Guests are allowed to take one 750ml bottle of either wine or Champagne onto their cruise, per person. It must be packed in the carry-on luggage, and it must be completely unopened and sealed.

Only guests aged 21 and over are allowed to bring alcohol onto the ship, regardless of local laws. A $15 corkage fee applies if guests want to drink their bottle in a restaurant or bar on the ship.

Read the Carnival alcohol policy.

Carnival’s drinks aren’t the cheapest – expect to pay around $7 to $9 for a beer, and between $9.50 and $14 for a glass of wine. A cocktail will set you back around $10.50 to $12.50.You can see the drinks menus and prices here.

There is a drinks package, but it’s expensive – around $60 per person, per day if booked in advance. So definitely take advantage of your allowance to take a bottle onto the ship with you if you can!

Can you take alcohol on Celebrity cruises?

On a Celebrity cruise, guests are allowed to take two 750ml bottles of wine onto the ship with them. There’s a $25 corkage fee if you drink it in a public area of the ship, but no charge if you drink it in your stateroom. The corkage fee is waived if you’ve bought a Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package.

Read the Celebrity alcohol policy.

Drinks on a Celebrity cruise cost a similar amount to some of the other larger American-style cruise lines, so they aren’t cheap – around $7-10 for beers, $9-14 for glasses of wine and up to $20 for a cocktail. There are drinks packages but they are very costly – $89 per person, per day for the Classic package, and $109 per person, per day for the Premium package.

Can you take alcohol on Costa cruises?

Costa Cruises does not allow guests to bring any alcohol onto the ship at embarkation or at any of the ports of call. Costa won’t store any alcohol for guests either – and will just refuse to allow it on the ship at all.

Read the Costa alcohol policy.

Costa Cruises are known for being a little more penny-pinching when it comes to drinks in general – you don’t even get free tap water throughout the day. In terms of alcohol prices, they’re a little lower than on major cruise lines – beers start at around $5.50, cocktails start at $8 – and there are drinks packages available from $37 to $51 per person, per day.

Can you take alcohol on Cunard cruises?

According to Cunard’s terms and conditions, you’re allowed to take one bottle of wine of Champagne (750ml) onto the cruise ship “to celebrate special occasions”. You don’t need to prove it is for a special occasion though. A corkage fee of $25 will be applied if you want to drink the wine in the restaurants or bars on the ship.

Read the Cunard alcohol policy.

Cunard’s alcohol prices are mid to high – expect beers to start at around $6 and glasses of wine to cost from $8 up to around $14. Prices for cocktails range from $9 up to $17 for the fanciest, with most around $12.

Alcohol-inclusive drinks packages cost $69 per person, per day so are quite expensive too – definitely take that bottle of wine onto the ship with you.

Can you take alcohol on Disney cruises?

Any guests 21 years or older (regardless of local licensing laws) are allowed to bring either two unopened bottles of wine or Champagne onto the ship (no bigger than 750ml), or 6 beers no larger than 12 ounces (340ml) each. British guests must heed that size warning as many beer cans sold in the UK are 440ml or more. All drinks must be packed in the carry-on luggage.

Read the Disney alcohol policy.

Drinks on a Disney cruise are about as expensive as on similar American-style ships – there’s no massive ‘Disney’ premium, but you’ll still pay between $8 and $17 for a glass of wine, or $6.50 to $9 for a beer. There are no unlimited drinks packages, but you can buy a package with a set number of drinks included.

Can you take alcohol on Holland America Line cruises?

Guests are allowed to bring wine and Champagne bottles onto their Holland America Cruise, provided they are no bigger than 750ml.

There’s no limit on the number, though the cruise line states “wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive… will be refused.” A corkage fee of $20 is applied to each bottle, so it can get expensive if you bring a lot on board.

Read the Holland America Line alcohol policy.

You’ll pay a similar amount to other cruise lines for your drinks – $7 for a beer on average, $9-14 for a glass of wine, and $9-18 for a cocktail.

Drinks packages are available but buying an alcohol-inclusive package doesn’t make sense – instead, the Have It All package costs $50 per person, per day (cheaper than drinks packages bought separately) and includes drinks plus other benefits.

Can you take alcohol on MSC cruises?

MSC Cruises is another cruise line that, like Costa, refuses to allow guests to bring any alcohol onto the ship with them. Alcohol brought onboard at embarkation or at a port of call will be confiscated, and it’s not clear whether it will be returned to guests at the end of the cruise.

Read the MSC alcohol policy.

MSC’s drinks prices are actually some of the highest on any cruise line. A beer will typically cost between $10.50 and $12.50 and a glass of wine starts at $11, up to around $14. Cocktails start at around $12 too.

Drinks packages cost between $42 and $85 if you want to drink alcohol so those aren’t cheap either. Considering the price of the drinks, it’s a shame MSC doesn’t let you at least bring one bottle onboard.

Can you take alcohol on NCL cruises?

NCL has one of the most relaxed policies when it comes to bringing alcohol onboard. You are limited to wine and Champagne only, but you can bring as many onto the ship as you like, and the size limit is increased to a magnum (1.5 litres).

However, you do still have to pay a corkage fee, even if drinking the bottles in your stateroom – $15 for a 750ml bottle and $30 for a magnum.

Read the NCL alcohol policy.

NCL’s drinks prices are on a similar level to other American-style cruise lines. Expect to pay between $6 and $9 for a beer, and $8-10 for a glass of wine. A cocktail will usually cost $10 to $13.

Drinks packages can be bought for all-inclusive drinking but they are super expensive – $109 per day for the regular Premium package and $139 for the Premium Plus package.

Can you take alcohol on P&O cruises?

P&O Cruises lets guests bring 1 x one-litre bottle of alcohol onboard their cruises at embarkation, but they are not just limited to wine or Champagne – spirits and liqueurs are also permitted as part of the policy.

This is the most generous alcohol policy of all cruise lines. You can also bring unlimited mixers, so a litre of spirits can last quite a while.

I brough this gin and lemonade on my last P&O Cruise

Any drinks over that limit will be held by the ship until disembarkation day, and then returned to guests. A £20 corkage fee applies if the alcohol is drunk in the public areas of the ship, but not if it is consumed in the cabin.

Read the P&O alcohol policy.

Alcohol prices are pretty good – beers cost around £5 ($6) and a glass of wine ranges from £4.50 to £12.50 ($5 to $15.50). Cocktails cost between £6.95 and £8.95 ($8.50 to $11).

The drinks packages cost between £45 and £55 per person, per day ($56 to $68) so they aren’t cheap but they’re not at the level of some rival cruise lines’ top-tier packages either.

Can you take alcohol on Princess Cruises?

With Princess Cruises, you’re allowed to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto your cruise with you, up to 750ml. You can bring more, but those will be charged with a $15 corkage fee, no matter where on the ship you consume them. This only applies to wine and Champagne – no beer or spirits can be brought onboard.

Read the Princess Cruises alcohol policy

Drinks prices on a Princess ship aren’t too bad – a beer costs around $6-7 and a glass of wine $8-12. Cocktails are quite cheap too, ranging from $7.50 to $10 on average.

Drinks packages cost between $77 and $100 per person, per day, so are pretty expensive, though you can often get a better deal by booking a Princess Plus or Princess Premier cruise fare.

Can you take alcohol on Royal Caribbean cruises?

Royal Caribbean’s alcohol policy states that guests are allowed to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (maximum 750ml) onto their cruise. The policy also clearly states that any other alcohol brought onto the ship will be confiscated and not returned.

Also if you book consecutive sailings, you can bring on a bottle for each cruise, but you’ll only be allowed one for each individual sailing – you’ll then get your next one delivered to your room at the start of each cruise.

Read the Royal Caribbean alcohol policy.

The price of drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise is similar to a lot of other cruise lines – not great, but not terrible. Beers cost between $7 and $8 while a cocktail is between $8 and $13. Most glasses of wine are around $9-11 but some do cost up to $20.

Royal Caribbean does offer a decent selection of drinks for free, though.

You can get a drinks package, but the price varies from between $49 and $89 per day. If you’re paying in the upper limits, it is quite expensive.

Can you take alcohol on Virgin Voyages cruises?

With Virgin Voyages, guests (called “sailors”) are allowed to bring two bottles of wine to enjoy per cabin (so unless you’re a solo traveller, one per person), provided they’re no bigger than 750ml. Wine must be packed in the carry-on luggage – any alcohol in the checked bags will be held until the end of the cruise.

Read the Virgin Voyages alcohol policy. (Search for the question “Can I bring alcohol on board?”)

The drinks on a Virgin ship are a little towards the higher price bracket – beer is OK at $5 to $8 and there are cheap wines for $7 a glass, but some cost as much as $22 a glass. Cocktails vary between $12 and $17.

Virgin Voyages doesn’t offer drinks packages but instead lets you preload your ‘bar tab’ onboard and gives you bonus money – for every $300 that you add, you get $50 extra free.

Sneaking Alcohol On A Cruise

It is possible to sneak your own alcohol onto a cruise ship, but the risk is up to you. If it’s found then it will be confiscated, and you could get in trouble with the cruise line – though serious trouble is very unlikely.

While I can’t condone it, check out the ways you can sneak alcohol onto a cruise ship if you want to know more.

This Umbrella flask is available on Amazon.

Final word

Cruise line drinks can be expensive, so if you like to drink on a cruise, it’s a good idea to take a bottle or two with you – provided you follow the guidelines of what’s allowed.

Be careful because some ships will permanently confiscate any extra, and they will check – so you’re risking throwing money away if you try to get an extra bottle onboard. All you’re doing is topping up the crew’s own bar.

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Princess Cruises Unveils The Sanctuary Collection

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News News

Princess Cruises has unveiled a new exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept for its leading cruise ships, debuting in October 2024. The new area will be named the Sanctuary Collection.

It will feature on Sun Princess when the ship crosses the Atlantic Ocean and begins her winter cruise season from Fort Lauderdale. The Sanctuary Collection will also open on sister ship Star Princess when she debuts next year.

The benefits of the Sanctuary Collection are only available to guests who book in a Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Mini-Suite, or a Sanctuary Balcony.

It includes access to the Sanctuary Club – an adults-only sundeck space with its own custom snack menu, cocktail bar, a quiet pool and outdoor wellness classes. Cabanas are also available to rent here.

Guests can also enjoy the Sanctuary Collection restaurant, which has its own separate dining room with a custom menu offering elevated dining experiences.

There’s a Sanctuary Lounge too, an idyllic indoor space where guests can enjoy a relaxing coffee during the day or a cocktail to kick-off the night’s entertainment and festivities.

All guests booked in a Sanctuary Collection stateroom or suite will automatically get the Princess Premier fare, which includes premium drinks package, premium WiFi and a host of other perks.

And there will be bespoke additional amenities and wellness activities that guests in these rooms will be invited to enjoy too, including little touches that just enhance the overall feel of elegance and luxury.

Guests can book a Sanctuary Suite, Sanctuary Mini-Suite or Sanctuary Balcony now for cruises from October to secure their Sanctuary Collection experience.

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Royal Caribbean Kicks Off August With 2 Day Sale on Cruises to Their Private Island

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Diplomacy

Royal Caribbean is starting August off with a bang, a two day sale on cruises that visit their private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

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Royal Caribbean cruise ships in CocoCay

This two day sale from Royal Caribbean is good on nine cruise ships with all of the cruises on sale visiting CocoCay (with an exception of two: one visits Hawaii and the other Canada).

Prices start at $268 per person, and that includes taxes and port fees.

The nine ships included in this sale are:

Adventure of the Seas
Allure of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas
Icon of the Seas
Independence of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas
View Best Prices on Royal Caribbean Cruises

Thrill water park on Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay.

This two day Going, Going, Gone sale from Royal Caribbean runs through 11:59 pm on August 2, 2024.

It is good on various stateroom categories from inside to balcony cabins.

You can see a list of every sailing that is included in this two day sale from Royal Caribbean here.

For complete terms and details of this two day sale, visit RoyalCaribbean.com or contact your local travel professional.

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Royal Caribbean Introduces New Solo Cruise Fares But For An Exclusive Audience Only

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News News

Royal Caribbean has announced that it is offering a new range of solo cruise fares, reducing the solo supplement to just 125% of the regular fare – but only for certain guests, and on select sailings.

While it may seem like great news that a cruise line as big as Royal Caribbean is looking to entice more solo passengers, the fares are only being offered to guests at Diamond Plus or Pinnacle level in the cruise line’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty programme.

And the fares are only being offered on cruises along the Panama Canal, Transatlantic cruises, and Transpacific cruises.

The standard single supplement is 200%, meaning solo passengers essentially have to pay the same price as two guests onboard, minus the cost of daily gratuities for one person.

Guests could enjoy a discounted rate of 150% when in the higher tiers of the loyalty programme, and that will remain in place, but the new 125% discounts will apply to those specific destinations.

Also it’s important to note that the benefits of discounted solo cruises only kick in at 340 loyalty points, which means anyone who has just become Diamond Plus still won’t be eligible.

The Diamond Plus tier starts at 175 points, but guests will only qualify for the discount once reaching 340 points – which means cruising for 340 nights, or 170 nights in a suite.

So it’s only going to apply to the most loyal Royal Caribbean customers anyway – and even then, on sailings which typically don’t sell out as fast as those based in the Caribbean or Mediterranean.

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The Newest Carnival Ships (In Order)

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Carnival Cruise Lines Cruise News

There are 27 ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in 2024 with more on the way. With new ships being launched at a rate close to one per year, it can be hard to keep track of which are the newest ships.

To further confuse things, Carnival has a practice of renaming some of its older ships after they have undergone renovations. Plus, the cruise line sometimes buys ships from other cruise lines and adds them to the fleet. So, not every new Carnival ship is actually new.

For example, Carnival Luminosa is a new addition to the fleet, but the ship sailed for Costa Cruises as Costa Luminosa since 2009.

In this guide, I’ll show you the newest Carnival cruise ships, including ships that are currently under construction as well as ships that have been renamed.

The ships that will soon join the fleet…

First, let’s take a look at the newest cruise ships that will be added to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet over the next couple of years…

Carnival Adventure & Carnival Encounter – 2025

The first ships set to join the Carnival fleet are actually pretty old ships. P&O Cruises Australia will cease to be a brand in 2025, with one ship being sold and the other two joining the Carnival fleet instead.

Pacific Adventure will become Carnival Adventure and Pacific Encounter will become Carnival Encounter. The ships will be renovated ahead of their transfer, and will be similar sizes to the Conquest-class ships already sailing for the fleet.

TBC Excel Class Ships – 2027 & 2028

There are two more Excel-class ships scheduled to join the Carnival fleet, alongside sister ships Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

We don’t know much about these two new ships yet but they’re being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany and are set to join sometime in 2027 and 2028 respectively.

New Class – 2029, 2031, 2033

Carnival has announced it is working on a new class of ship that will be the biggest ever for the cruise line. Not quite the biggest in the world, but not far off with a gross tonnage of around 230,000.

The ships could accommodate up to 8,000 guests each which is a staggering number! Even if you don’t like the sounds of big crowds, it’s still very exciting to see what Carnival has up its sleeve for these brand-new ships when they launch between 2029 and 2033.

The newest ships already sailing

Carnival Firenze – 2024

In the spring of 2024, Carnival Firenze joined the Carnival fleet. The ship sails out of Long Beach, California, offering Italian-style cruising for American guests.

Previously known as Costa Firenze, this is also a Vista-class ship, and a sister ship to Costa Venezia, which joined the Carnival fleet a year prior.

Carnival Jubilee – 2023

The third ship in Carnival’s Excel Class, Carnival Jubilee, launched in 2023. This ship is almost identical to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, and she sails out of Galveston, Texas offering week-long Caribbean itineraries.

This ship was originally ordered for German cruise line AIDA Cruises, but a change of plans by parent company Carnival Corporation means that Carnival Jubilee joined the main Carnival fleet instead.

This isn’t the first time that Carnival Cruise Line has used the name Carnival Jubilee. The original Carnival Jubilee was built for Carnival in 1986. The ship became the Pacific Sun for P&O Cruises Australia in 2004 before being scrapped in 2017.

Carnival Venezia – 2023

Carnival Venezia is the second ex-Costa ship to join the Carnival fleet, making her debut in May 2023. The ship has previously been known as Costa Venezia.

Redesigned to be more aimed at North American guests, this ship takes Costa’s original Italian style and has tweaked it to offer the service, food and fun that Carnival guests love.

Suggested read: Carnival Cruise Ship Classes Compared

Carnival Celebration – 2022

A sister ship to the popular Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration made her debut on 6th November 2022.

The ship embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton UK and I was lucky enough to be invited on board for a tour. Let me tell you, this ship is something special indeed.

Carnival Celebration cruises from Miami all year round, offering week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Just like Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration has six different areas with various things to enjoy including the Bolt rollercoaster, the RedFrog Tiki Bar and Suess at Sea productions.

This is the second Carnival ship called Carnival Celebration. The first was built in 1987 and sold to Iberocruises in 2008 before being transferred to Costa Cruises in 2014 and finally being scrapped in 2021.

Carnival Luminosa – 2022

Costa Luminosa joined the Carnival fleet in September 2022, with the new name Carnival Luminosa.

Carnival Luminosa is a Spirit-class ship, similar to Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, Carnival Price and Carnival Miracle. She was christened in 2009, making her a few years younger than her classmates.

The ship sails out of Brisbane, Australia in the winter, offering South Pacific itineraries and out of Seattle in the summer, offering Alaska cruises.

Suggested read: Carnival Cruise Ship Classes Compared

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is the only ship in the Carnival fleet whose name doesn’t start with the word ‘Carnival’. This could be because Mardi Gras actually means Carnival, so the ship would be called ‘Carnival Carnival’ if that were the case. And that would be weird.

Mardi Gras was the first Excel-class ship for Carnival and so she debuted some exciting new features such as the Bolt rollercoaster – an 800-feet-long ride that goes up to 40 miles per hour.

Launched in July 2021, Mardi Gras was Carnival’s first LNG-powered ship and the largest ship ever built for the cruise line.

Mardi Gras has won a host of awards including ‘Best New Cruise Ship of 2021’ in Cruiseline.com’s Member Choice Awards and ‘Best New Cruise Ship’ in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

As well as being the latest ship, Mardi Gras was also the name of Carnival’s first-ever cruise ship back in 1972. The original Mardi Gras was originally launched as a transatlantic passenger ship called Empress of Canada in 1960 before being acquired by Carnival. In 1993, the ship left the Carnival fleet and had several name changes before being scrapped in 2003.

Carnival Panorama

Carnival Panorama was launched in 2019 as the third and final Vista-class ship in the Carnival fleet. The ship was originally designed for P&O Cruises Australia but was transferred during construction.

Carnival Panorama features a Sky Zone trampoline park, the ShyRide aerial bike course and a Waterworks water park that was inspired by Shaquille O’Neal. The ship sails from Long Beach, California visiting ports of call along the Pacific Coast en route to Mexico.

Carnival Horizon

Launched in 2018, Carnival Horizon is a sister ship to Carnival Panorama and Carnival Vista. She sails out of Miami offering fun-filled Caribbean cruises.

There’s so much to enjoy on Carnival Horizon including an IMAX cinema, the Dr. Seuss WaterWorks splash park and the SkyRide aerial bike track. Meanwhile, adults can relax in the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat and the Cloud 9 Spa.

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Renamed Carnival ships

Over the years, Carnival Cruise Line has renamed three of its ships. Each of these ships has undergone an extensive dry dock renovation. This means that the ship has been stripped back completely with brand-new features and decor added.

The ‘reimagined’ ships are as good as new, but as they were built over 20 years ago, they won’t be as large as Carnival’s new mega-ships.

Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Sunshine entered service in 2013. The ship was originally launched in 1996 under the name Carnival Destiny.

Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Sunrise was originally called Carnival Triumph. Launched in 1999, the ship was extensively renovated and renamed in 2019.

Carnival Radiance

Carnival Radiance debuted in 2021. However, before its makeover, the ship was known as Carnival Victory and was originally built for Carnival in 2000.

To conclude

Carnival Cruise Line launches new cruise ships at a rate of roughly one per year, with the oldest ships being scrapped at roughly the same rate to keep a consistent fleet size of over 25 ships.

While some new ships such as Mardi Gras and Carnival Jubilee were designed for Carnival, the cruise line sometimes takes on ships that were originally planned for other cruise lines in the Carnival Corporation. For example, Carnival Celebration was originally ordered for AIDA Cruises and Carnival Panorama was meant for P&O Cruises Australia before a change of plan.

Some of the new Carnival ships aren’t actually new, they’re renovated and renamed ships. While some of these come from within the Carnival fleet, the cruise line occasionally acquires older ships from other cruise lines too.

For a full list of Carnival ships, check out this List of Carnival Ships From Newest to Oldest.

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Royal Caribbean Ships By Age

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News Royal Caribbean

So, read on for a list of Royal Caribbean ships from newest to oldest.

The Royal Caribbean ships listed by age

This table shows all Royal Caribbean cruise ships from newest to oldest as well as when what class of ship they are.

Ship Name	Class	Year Built
TBC*	Oasis	Due 2028
TBC*	Icon	Due 2026
Star of the Seas*	Icon	Due 2025
Utopia of the Seas	Oasis	2024
Icon of the Seas	Icon	2024
Wonder of the Seas	Oasis	2022
Odyssey of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	2021
Spectrum of the Seas	Quantum Ultra	2019
Symphony of the Seas	Oasis	2018
Harmony of the Seas	Oasis	2016
Ovation of the Seas	Quantum	2016
Anthem of the Seas	Quantum	2015
Quantum of the Seas	Quantum	2014
Allure of the Seas	Oasis	2010
Oasis of the Seas	Oasis	2009
Independence of the Seas	Freedom	2008
Liberty of the Seas	Freedom	2007
Freedom of the Seas	Freedom	2006
Jewel of the Seas	Radiance	2004
Mariner of the Seas	Voyager	2003
Serenade of the Seas	Radiance	2003
Navigator of the Seas	Voyager	2002
Brilliance of the Seas	Radiance	2002
Adventure of the Seas	Voyager	2001
Radiance of the Seas	Radiance	2001
Explorer of the Seas	Voyager	2000
Voyager of the Seas	Voyager	1999
Vision of the Seas	Vision	1998
Enchantment of the Seas	Vision	1997
Rhapsody of the Seas	Vision	1997
Grandeur of the Seas	Vision	1996

*Currently in construction

The newest additions…

These are the newest Royal Caribbean ships that are sailing in 2024…

1. Utopia of the Seas

Launches: 2024
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,788

She offers the ultimate weekend getaway, with 3- and 4-night cruises that all call at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Suggested read: Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas

2. Icon of the Seas

Launched: 2024
Class: Icon
Guest capacity: 7,600

Debuting in January 2024, Icon of the Seas is the largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, and it opened for bookings in October 2022.

Plus there’s the thrilling Crown’s Edge skywalk/rope course/thrill ride hybrid that sees guests swing out over the sea.

3. Wonder of the Seas

Launched: 2022
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,988

Launched in March 2022, Royal Caribbean’s fifth Oasis-Class ship is Wonder of the Seas. When she launched, she was the biggest cruise ship in the world.

With a building cost of $1,350,000,000, this mega-ship has everything you could want, with eight distinct neighbourhoods including the new and exclusive Suite Neighbourhood.

Sailing in the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Rome as well as the Caribbean from Port Canaveral in Florida, Wonder of the Seas is one of the best ships that Royal Caribbean has to offer so far.

4. Odyssey of the Seas

Launched: 2021
Class: Quantum-Ultra
Guest capacity: 4,819

Royal Caribbean Ships from the 2010s

The next ships are all fairly new, being launched between 2010 and 2019…

5. Spectrum of the Seas

Launched: 2019
Class: Quantum-Ultra
Guest capacity: 5,622

Sailing from Shanghai and Singapore, Spectrum of the Seas offers mostly short cruises to Malaysia and Thailand as well as some week-long cruises to Japan.

6. Symphony of the Seas

Launched: 2017
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,680

Symphony of the Seas sails from Miami, Florida calling at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at Cococay, where you can chill or enjoy thrilling activities.

7. Harmony of the Seas

Launched: 2016
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,687

Harmony of the Seas was the first Oasis-class ship to launch in six years, and for a short while she held the title of the largest ship at sea – until her sister Symphony launched a year later.

While many of the features on Harmony of the Seas had been seen before, some – such as Jamie’s Italian and Wonderland – had only been available on Quantum-class ships before this.

Harmony of the Seas was also the first ship in the fleet to feature the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest (at the time) slide at sea.

8. Ovation of the Seas

Launched: 2016
Class: Quantum
Guest capacity: 4,905

9. Anthem of the Seas

Launched: 2015
Class: Quantum
Guest capacity: 4,905

10. Quantum of the Seas

Launched: 2014
Class: Quantum
Guest capacity: 4,905

Instead, Quantum of the Seas was themed around technology, with a real focus on the contemporary. She also introduced new fun features such as Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator.

11. Allure of the Seas

Launched: 2010
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,780

Allure of the Seas sails out of Orlando and Miami on Bahamas cruises, typically for 3 or 4 nights.

Suggested read: Allure of the Seas Vs Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Ships from the 2000s

These Royal Caribbean ships are all a little older, being built between 2000 and 2010. They still offer a great experience.

12. Oasis of the Seas

Launched: 2009
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: 6,780

So much of what we associate with modern Royal Caribbean debuted on Oasis of the Seas, including the zip-line, the Central Park area, and even just the concept of different neighbourhoods onboard.

Oasis of the Seas offers Caribbean cruises during the winter months, but then sails around the Mediterranean in summer, from Barcelona and Rome.

13. Independence of the Seas

Launched: 2008
Class: Freedom
Guest capacity: 4,560

She’s now made Miami her year-round home, offering cruises around the Bahamas and both sides of the Caribbean. Popular features include the Playmakers Sports Bar, and the Flowrider surf simulator.

14. Liberty of the Seas

Launched: 2007
Class: Freedom
Guest capacity: 4,960

While she was another ship to have her Amplification postponed she has still been well maintained and she remains a popular ship with loyal passengers.

As well as Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from Fort Lauderdale, she also offers cruises to Canada & New England from Cape Liberty in New Jersey.

15. Freedom of the Seas

Launched: 2006
Class: Freedom
Guest capacity: 4,515

Freedom of the Seas was a mightily impressive ship when she launched, becoming the largest ever passenger ship to be built – taking the title from Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

Freedom of the Seas sails out of both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and offers cruises on both sides of the Caribbean, including some shorter itineraries and some week-long sailings.

16. Jewel of the Seas

Launched: 2004
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,702

Jewel of the Seas was the last of the Radiance-class ships to launch, and arguably the last mid-sized ship to ever be built for the cruise line.

She still has plenty of exciting things to do onboard, including the Royal Theater, the climbing wall, the sports court, the arcade and more.

Jewel of the Seas offers a range of itineraries, including short Greece cruises from Haifa, and Caribbean cruises from Galveston and San Juan.

17. Mariner of the Seas

Launched: 2003
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,000

Mariner of the Seas now offers cruises to the Caribbean, spending some time homeported in Galveston and the rest of the year sailing from Port Canaveral.

18. Serenade of the Seas

Launched: 2003
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,476

She offers the Ultimate World Cruise, including segment sailings all around the world. The rest of the year, she sails around the Caribbean from Tampa.

19. Navigator of the Seas

Launched: 2002
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,000

Navigator of the Seas is based on the west coast of the US all year round, sailing to Mexico from Los Angeles.

20. Brilliance of the Seas

Launched: 2002
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,543

21. Adventure of the Seas

Launched: 2001
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 3,807

She has been used on both sides of the Atlantic previously, but she is now due to sail the Caribbean primarily from Port Canaveral.

22. Radiance of the Seas

Launched: 2001
Class: Radiance
Guest capacity: 2,466

23. Explorer of the Seas

Launched: 2000
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,290

The Oldest Royal Caribbean Ships

These ships were launched in the 1990s. They tend to be the smallest ships and have fewer facilities than the newer ships.

24. Voyager of the Seas

Launched: 1999
Class: Voyager
Guest capacity: 4,269

She now offers Caribbean sailings from either Galveston or Port Canaveral, with mainly short breaks available.

25. Vision of the Seas

Launched: 1998
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,514

Now, Vision of the Seas sails out of Baltimore, offering cruises to the Bahamas and to Canada/New England.

26. Enchantment of the Seas

Launched: 1997
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,730

27. Rhapsody of the Seas

Launched: 1997
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,416

She offers cruises mainly around the southern Caribbean, including departures from Colon in Panama, and Cartagena in Colombia.

28. Grandeur of the Seas

Launched: 1996
Class: Vision
Guest capacity: 2,440

Grandeur of the Seas primarily cruises around the Caribbean from different ports in Florida, although there are also cruises from Boston to explore Canada.

The next ships to launch

1. Star of the Seas

Launches: 2025
Class: Icon
Guest capacity: 7,600

Following on from the launch of the first Icon-class ship in 2024, Royal Caribbean will launch a second Icon-class ship in 2025 – Star of the Seas.

2. Unnamed Icon-Class Ship

Launches: 2026
Class: Icon
Guest capacity: 7,600

Royal Caribbean has plans to build at least three Icon-class ships, with the third scheduled to launch in 2026.

3. Unnamed Oasis-Class Ship

Launches: 2028
Class: Oasis
Guest capacity: TBC

We know very little so far but I’ll keep you updated.

What makes the newer ships stand out?

There are several differences between the older and newer ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Let’s take a closer look at each of these…

Size

Royal Caribbean ships have increased in size as time has passed with the newer ships being much larger and with the capacity for more passengers compared to older ships.

Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas has a gross tonnage of 250,800, which makes her almost 3.5 times as large as Grandeur of the Seas with a gross tonnage of 73,817.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

Facilities

You won’t find any of these things on the older ships. However, every Royal Caribbean ship does have swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall, an arcade and a kids’ club.

Read more: The best Royal Caribbean ships for kids

Destinations

Each cruise ship sails out of one or two ports. In many cases, the ships are based in Europe in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter.

Demographic

If you cruise on one of the newer ships in the school holidays, there will be almost as many kids as there are adults.

Ambience

Price

If you’re cruising on a tight budget, you can save a lot by choosing one of the older ships.

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Reviews

So, are the new Royal Caribbean ships better than the older ones? Well, to find that out you can take a look at the reviews…

To make that easier for you, I combined all of the reviews from the major review sites and Ranked the Royal Caribbean Ships From Best To Worst according to their review scores.

To conclude

Of course, the older ships have a lot to offer too, and the price can certainly be very attractive if you compare them side by side.

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The Newest MSC Cruise Ships (In Order)

August 1, 2024

by Luxury Cruising Editorial Cruise Lines Cruise News MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has been making waves (pun intended) in the world of cruising with some ambitious plans.

The cruise line has outright stated that it wants to become the biggest in the world, which would be some feat if it did manage to overtake established leaders Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

Yet the aggressive expansion strategy is well underway. In addition to five ships launched within just three years since cruising returned after the shutdown, there are another three ships planned – plus a whole new sub-cruise line!

Let’s take a look.

The newest MSC cruise ships sailing now

1. MSC Euribia – 2023

MSC Cruises newest ship is the final ship in the Meraviglia Plus Class, joining the MSC Grandiosa and the MSC Virtuosa.

MSC Euribia isn’t be the largest ship in the fleet – the World-class ships are bigger – but she is still mightily impressive, with a maximum guest capacity of over 6,300.

I’ve cruises on MSC Euribia and had a fantastic time! You can read my MSC Euribia review here.

Cruise Mummy, takes a selfie with a large cruise ship featuring a distinctive blue and white design in the background, docked at a port with visible security fencing and industrial equipment.

Along with many of the other newer MSC ships, she is significantly more friendly to the environment than older cruise ships. She’s powered by LNG, which is a cleaner fuel, and she has advanced water treatment and energy efficiency systems to minimise waste and ensure only the fuel needed is burned.

A ship this big is obviously packed with things to see and do, including five pools and a waterpark. She will also be home to the Galleria Euribia, the largest LED dome at sea in the indoor promenade.

MSC Euribia sails a variety of itineraries around Northern Europe and the Med from Southampton, making her one of the biggest ships to call the port home.

2. MSC World Europa – 2022

The MSC World Europa debuted in 2022 and quickly established herself as one of the most impressive ships currently sailing.

At the time of her launch, she was the first ship outside of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class to have a volume above 200,000 gross tonnes, slotting her into the number six position for biggest ships in the world. This of course means she is the biggest ship in the MSC fleet.

It’s not just about size with MSC World Europa though – the ship has a stunning modern design with futuristic attractions including the Luna Park Arena which hosts game shows, various kids’ activities and movie screenings.

She was the first ship in the MSC fleet to be powered by LNG, and she hosts the current longest dry slide at sea which travels for 11 decks on the ship.

The MSC World Europa sails the Mediterranean during the summer months, and the Middle East in the winter, with Grand Voyages (cruises between regions) also available.

Suggested read: MSC World Europa Review

3. MSC Seascape – 2022

The MSC Seascape launched in 2022 as the second of the Seaside EVO ships for MSC. The Seaside EVO Class is an expansion of the original Seaside Class, quite literally – they are around 10% bigger than the two Seaside-class ships.

MSC Seascape pays tribute to New York City in her design, with the retail area of the ship named Times Square featuring a projection of the Manhattan skyline, and an impressive three-metre-high replica of the Statue of Liberty as the centrepiece of the casino.

She is full of interesting attractions and features, along with beautiful artworks – the primary one being the Incando del Mare glass sculpture which rises from Deck 5 through to Deck 8. She has a real focus on outdoor spaces, including a fantastic Infinity Pool where guests can relax with stunning views.

MSC Seascape is based in the Caribbean year-round, sailing out of Miami. Itineraries typically call at Ocean Cay, the private marine reserve destination for MSC Cruises.

4. MSC Seashore – 2021

The first of the Seaside EVO ships, MSC Seashore debuted in 2021 and so remains one of the newest and best ships in the whole fleet.

She is an almost identical twin of her newer sister ship MSC Seascape, even down to the New York City theming, although her glass sculpture is unique and is named Danza del Mare.

Like her sister ship, she is packed with fantastic attractions including quality theatre shows, an expansive casino area, and extensive family-friendly areas, with some of the best kids’ clubs at sea.

She is also packed with environmentally-friendly tech to reduce emissions, recycle waste and ensure she is as efficient as possible, and therefore needs less fuel to move.

Unlike MSC Seascape, the MSC Seashore doesn’t have a permanent home. Instead, she offers cruises in the Caribbean and around South America during the winter months (again, with port visits to Ocean Cay) but during the summer she relocates to the Mediterranean.

5. MSC Virtuosa – 2021

The MSC Virtuosa launched in May of 2021 and became the second ship in the Meraviglia Plus Class. Similar to the Seaside and Seaside EVO classes, the Meraviglia Plus Class is an expansion of the original Meraviglia ships.

The MSC Virtuosa was, when she launched, the largest ship in the fleet, being around 6% larger than the Seaside EVO ships. She has a host of impressive features, including the Galleria Virtuosa with its LED dome, and the MSC Starship Club – the first robotic bar at sea with a humanoid robot bartender (unlike Royal Caribbean’s first robot bar at sea with two standalone arms).

MSC Virtuosa hosts many of the best signature features of the MSC fleet, including the MSC Aurea Spa and the MSC Yacht Club – a special area of the ship with dedicated lounges and a private pool just for those who book a Yacht Club cabin.

New MSC cruise ships on order

MSC World America – 2025

The MSC World America is set to be the next ship to join the MSC Cruises fleet. She will be the second World-class ship to launch for the cruise line, following the recent addition of MSC World Europa in 2022.

It’s more than just a name – this super-ship will be based in the US, and will offer sailings around the Caribbean when she launches in 2025. We don’t yet know if the plan is to remain there year-round or if she will follow the plan of many other cruise ships and travel to Europe during the warmer summer months.

MSC World America is expected to be very similar to MSC World Europa – typically, MSC ships don’t vary too much in terms of structure or features within a class.

So if you want to know more about the MSC World America, I’d recommend taking a look at the features and deck plans of the MSC World Europa, at least until more information is revealed on this ship. I also have an MSC World Europa review that you may be interested in.

MSC World Asia (2026) and an unnamed World ship (2027)

There are two more ships planned for the World Class for MSC Cruises, to follow in 2026 and 2027. Or I should say at least two more – with MSC Cruises’ plans to expand rapidly, and the early success of MSC World Europa, we may see more added to the schedule.

We don’t know much about these two ships yet with their debuts still some time away, but as soon as more information is revealed I’ll let you know.

If we’ll already have MSC World Europe, MSC World America and MSC World Asia, what do you think for the last one? MSC World Africa?

Explora Journeys

Only a quick mention here since the Explora Journeys aren’t technically part of the MSC Cruises fleet – but instead, a brand new cruise line launching that will be owned by the MSC parent company.

MSC Cruises is very much a mainstream cruise line with a lot of family activities. The newest ships are beautiful and modern, but they are aimed at a wider cruising market. So it makes sense for the MSC parent company to expand out into a more luxury cruise line.

Explora Journeys is that line, with smaller ships and a focus primarily on destination experiences. The first ship – Explora I – made her debut in 2023 while there are at least 5 more ships planned to set sail between 2024 and 2028.

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To conclude

It’s a really exciting time if you’re a fan of cruising with MSC. There have been a lot of new ship launches in the last couple of years – more than with any other cruise line – and there are plenty more on the horizon.

MSC isn’t a cruise line for everyone, but it has a lot of great features, especially for families. And with so many new ships expanding the capacity of the fleet, who’s to say they can’t challenge the likes of Royal Caribbean and Carnival in future?

From a cruise passenger perspective, it’s always good to have plenty of choice.

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The Royal Caribbean ships listed by age

The newest additions…

1. Utopia of the Seas

2. Icon of the Seas

3. Wonder of the Seas

4. Odyssey of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Ships from the 2010s

5. Spectrum of the Seas

6. Symphony of the Seas

7. Harmony of the Seas

8. Ovation of the Seas

9. Anthem of the Seas

10. Quantum of the Seas

11. Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Ships from the 2000s

12. Oasis of the Seas

13. Independence of the Seas

14. Liberty of the Seas

15. Freedom of the Seas

16. Jewel of the Seas

17. Mariner of the Seas

18. Serenade of the Seas

19. Navigator of the Seas

20. Brilliance of the Seas

21. Adventure of the Seas

22. Radiance of the Seas

23. Explorer of the Seas

The Oldest Royal Caribbean Ships

24. Voyager of the Seas

25. Vision of the Seas

26. Enchantment of the Seas

27. Rhapsody of the Seas

28. Grandeur of the Seas

The next ships to launch

1. Star of the Seas

2. Unnamed Icon-Class Ship

3. Unnamed Oasis-Class Ship

What makes the newer ships stand out?

Size

Facilities

Destinations

Demographic

Ambience

Price

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Reviews

To conclude

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Costa ships: biggest to smallest

Costa ships from newest to oldest

Costa Cruises ship classes

Excellence Class

Diadema Class

Luminosa Class

Concordia Class

Fortuna Class

The best Costa Cruises ships

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Can you bring your own alcohol on a cruise?

Which cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol onboard?

How To Take Alcohol On A Cruise

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Can you take alcohol on Celebrity cruises?

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Sneaking Alcohol On A Cruise

Final word

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