Cruise Lines

Later next year, a cruise ship will visit 34 countries on six continents on one voyage that will last for over four months. The ship will overnight in eight ports along the way with late night departures in Casablanca and other cities.

Costa Cruises, one of Carnival Corporation’s nine cruise lines, is offering a 128 day cruise that will depart on November 21, 2025 from Trieste, Italy. The cruise will offer immersive shore excursions across 48 ports in 34 countries.

The cruise will start off in the Mediterranean and cross both the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In addition to a transit of the Panama Canal, the ship will sail by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Fares of this unique cruise start at just $19,089 per person, based on double occupancy.

After departing from Italy, Costa Deliziosa will cross the Mediterranean to Marseilles, France, and Barcelona, Spain, then on to the Canary Islands by way of Casablanca, Morocco.

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean to visit the Caribbean, the ship transits the Panama Canal before sailing down the west coast of South America and making way to Easter Island.

Costa Deliziosa will then head to the Pitcairn Islands and French Polynesia en route to Sydney, Australia. The cruise ship continues up the east coast of Australia to Papua New Guinea and on to Japan, before heading to South Korea and Taiwan. The ship then traverses the South China Sea to China, Vietnam and Singapore, heading east to Sri Lanka and India.

Costa Deliziosa then sails across the Arabian Sea, through the Suez Canal to Greece, before heading north to Croatia and Italy, ending the cruise on March 28, 2026.

“Costa’s world cruise is unique in that it begins before the holidays so guests get to usher in the new year and continue on their travels around the world in one seamless voyage,” said Ruben Perez, general manager for Costa Cruises North America. “This itinerary is designed so that guests can experience dozens of extraordinary destinations — from major cities to ports very few people ever visit — making it a truly international experience both ashore and on board with our Italian-style hospitality.”

Carnival Cruise Line has revealed new details on their new private port that is opening in The Bahamas, Celebration Key. This new port built specifically for Carnival cruise ships will open in July 2025. The port will have everything from the largest swimming pools in the Caribbean to floating cabanas.

Carnival Cruise Line also released a new video giving a first glimpse at many of the features the port will have. You can view the video here.

18 Carnival cruise ships will visit Celebration Key on more than 500 itineraries. These cruises are currently open for bookings. The pier at the port will be able to accommodate two of Carnival’s largest ships on the same day.

“No one does FUN like Carnival and we are designing Celebration Key, and its five portals, with endless ways for our guests to unlock their own kind of fun in this incredible paradise that also celebrates the beauty of Grand Bahama,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Celebration Key is uniquely positioned to bring an island experience to our diverse range of guests, in a way that lets them choose their slice of ‘paradise.’”

The five portals that will be on Celebration Key are:

The Welcome Portal will have live music and a larger than life sandcastle that will welcome cruisers to the port.

The Family-Friendly Portal is a spot just for families that has a large freshwater lagoon, two racing waterslides, splash pad with shallow pool, and sports courts. It will also have a beach with loungers, cabana rentals, and villas with personal slides into the lagoon.

The Adult-Friendly Portal is just for adults. It will have a swim-up bar, cabana rentals, and a DJ to create a high energy vibe. It will have several dining venues including a full-service restaurant.

The Private Club Portal is an adults-only retreat that has an infinity pool and elevated dining experiences.

The fifth portal will be the Retail Portal. It will be an authentic Bahamian shopping experience with local retailers and Duty-Free stores.

Sponsored Links

Carnival Cruise Line also has plans to expand the port even more in the future. Future expansion of Celebration Key includes a waterpark and zipline course.

Celebration Key is located on Grand Bahama Island and is being built specifically for Carnival cruise ships.

The cruise line stated that they will have even more details on this private port as it gets closer to opening.

Holland America Line, a premium cruise line from Carnival Corporation, has announced four epic new cruises including a roundtrip cruise to Europe from New York in 2025.

This epic cruise will depart from New York City on October 7, 2025 and return to New York 45 days later. The cruise will visit 20 ports in Europe including overnights in Rome, Istanbul, and Alexandria. The cruise will take place on Volendam and visit ports in Italy, Spain, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Tunisia, U.K., and Egypt.

“Based on the popularity of our 2024 Ultimate Mediterranean cruise, it’s clear that guests are eager for more in-depth exploration of the region,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. “Being able to offer this cruise roundtrip from New York City in 2025 creates a rare opportunity for people in North America to enjoy the Med and our award-winning service without a long flight.”

Other epic cruises announced by Holland America Line include a 28 day “Islands of the South Pacific” itinerary that will visit Fiji, Papua New Guinea, The Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands.

“The South Pacific is home to some of the most popular ports for cruisers. We worked to create an itinerary like no other in this region, with multiple calls to islands that are less traveled and a must-see for anyone looking to experience all that the region has to offer at an unhurried pace,” said Paul Grigsby, Holland America Line’s vice president for deployment and itinerary planning.

The other two new cruises added are a 27 day South Pacific Crossing Legendary Voyage aboard Noordam that departs October 12, 2025 and a 36 day South Pacific Crossing Legendary Voyage aboard the same ship that departs March 15, 2026.

The longer 36 day cruise will visit Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, and Hawaii.

The cruise line’s Legendary Voyages are longer cruises that range from 25 to 59 days in length that offer guests extended exploration opportunities.

Royal Caribbean is celebrating a monumental day today when the largest cruise ship ever built, Icon of the Seas, sails its inaugural cruise from PortMiami.  However, the cruise line’s next two new ships will sail cruises from the world’s busiest cruise port, Port Canaveral.

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line with 27 cruise ships in service. They have three more cruise ships on order/under construction that will debut over the next few years.  The next two, Utopia of the Sea and Star of the Seas, will both homeport at Port Canaveral, Florida.

Utopia of the Seas will be the sixth and largest Oasis class ship. It will be the first Oasis class powered by LNG and will sail her inaugural cruise this summer on July 22, 2024.

Utopia of the Seas will sail three and four night cruises to The Bahamas. This is unique because it’s unheard for a brand new cruise ship to sail short cruises to The Bahamas.  The four night cruises will depart every Monday with the three night weekend cruises leaving every Friday.  All cruises will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s insanely popular private island.

The cruise ship will have all of the popular features of Oasis class ship like Central Park and the Boardwalk. The vessel will also have some new concepts like Royal Railway, a unique dining experience that will mimic train rides all around the world.

Utopia of the Seas will have more than 40 dining and drink venues and a new Caribbean tiki bar that will replace the robot bartenders found on other Oasis class ships.

Izumi will be imagined and relocated to Central Park. It will also have a pick-up window for fresh sushi and Japanese street food.

Utopia of the Seas will be the second largest cruise ship in the world when she debuts this July. View Prices on Cruises on Utopia of the Seas

Star of the Seas will be the second Icon class ship from Royal Caribbean and will sail her maiden voyage on August 17, 2025 from Port Canaveral.

While Royal Caribbean has a tradition of making each new ship in a class slightly larger than the previous one, they have yet to announce if that will be the case for Star of the Seas.

In a press conference that took place on Icon of the Seas this week, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about how the cruise line builds large cruise ships. He said that they don’t start off by wanting to build the largest ships, they just add amenities that they know guests will love and the ships just have to be large to fit everything in. Their focus is on experiences, not on the size of cruise ships.

Star of the Seas will have all of the great new features that Icon of the Seas has like Thrill Waterpark and Surfside neighborhood that is custom designed for families with small children. For adrenaline seekers, Crown’s Edge is a mini zip line that takes you over the side of the ship, 150 feet above the water.

Star of the Seas will sail seven night cruises every Sunday from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean. Some cruises will sail to the Eastern Caribbean while others will sail to the Western Caribbean. View Prices on Cruises on Star of the Seas

Ports that the cruise ship will visit include Cozumel, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Roatan, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

And of course, the cruise ship will also stop for a day at CocoCay.

Sponsored Links

These two cruise ships will join Wonder of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas in offering cruises from Central Florida port.

After spending three fast-paced days on Icon of the Seas, I found there were several things about the ship that surprised me.   And no, they weren’t anything to do with the size of the ship.

I was an invited guest on Icon of the Seas and was able to attend the Naming Ceremony with soccer legend Lionel Messi as the “Icon of the Icon”.   The inaugural sailing for Icon is this Saturday.

After the excitement of the ceremony and festivities I was really able to explore the ship deck by deck and get a certain vibe from the vessel.

Anyone who has heard of this ship already knows it’s the largest cruise ship in the world.  That was no surprise.  Although, it didn’t feel any bigger than any of the other Oasis-class vessels I’ve sailed on.  In fact, it felt a little smaller and more intimate than the previous largest ship class in the world.

More on this later.

Here are the elements of Icon of the Seas that surprised me the most.  And I think upcoming Royal Caribbean passengers will agree on most points.

1. The seamless navigation and flow

I was amazed at how well-connected various neighborhoods and spaces were on the ship.  Navigating from neighborhood to neighborhood was simple and flowed easily.

For instance, I’m writing this from Central Park on the ship right now.  And if I wanted to head down to the iconic Pearl on the Royal Promenade just a couple decks below, there is a set of elegant stairs with access right in the middle of the park.

There is even a large, curved wall of glass in Central Park that allows passengers to see the outside of the pearl, but more importantly they can see the ocean itself.  This was never possible in Central Park on any other Royal Caribbean ship.

The connection to the sea from even interior parts of the vessel is very apparent throughout Icon.

From the Surfside neighborhood there is a set of stairs going up to Central Park and going down to the Royal Promenade, all clearly marked and easy to navigate.

Even after a day of walking around the ship I found it very easy to get from point A to point B with less tine and effort than even smaller ships with the cruise line.

2. The vibrant colors of the ship

Royal Caribbean broke out the color palette with Icon of the Seas.  You don’t have to look around very long before you see pops of color that are bold, bright, and sometimes pastel.  This is most noticeable on the pool decks, where everything from the bright blue and green loungers to the interior curves of the walls are splashed with colors that remind you of vacation in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The artwork, décor, and overall vibe is one of color.   From the onboard cabanas, wicker chairs, bamboo plated walls, and shutters along the interior facing cabins, there are hues aplenty.

Sponsored Links

3. How unlike an Oasis-class ship this is

I know this is an entirely new ship class.  But ever since the idea of Icon of the Seas was introduced it led to comparisons to the successful Oasis-class vessels.   And in terms of size, it’s much more comparable to Oasis than any other class.

But I was surprised at just how different this ship is from Oasis.  The Royal Promenade and its iconic Pearl, the completely redesigned ice-skating rink at Absolute Zero, the entirely transformed and family-friendly Surfside, and the contrasts of Thrill Island and Chill Island make Icon of the Seas a completely new cruise ship for certain.

And sometimes the changes were subtle, like how the huge sports court was moved above a casual dining venue at Basecamp to open up the areas below a lot more.  And how Cloud 17 is an extra deck above the busier pool deck while still having easy access to the largest water park at sea.

Of course, a concept like The Hideaway are completely new.  The aft-facing infinity pool with it’s cozy daybeds and great views is going to be a very popular spot.  Add in the fact that the entire space is adult-only, has padded loungers and two large hot tubs, and this space will be an attractive allure for guests over 18.

But the biggest difference is the incredible AquaDome and Overlook at the front of the ship.  There is no solarium on the ship, but The Overlook quickly became my favorite spot on the ship which I will talk about in the last point.  By the way, I absolutely loved the AquaDome Market with its variety of foods and floor to ceiling windows.  If you’re in the mood for crepes, macaroni and cheese, Asian food, or a panini, this is the place to be.

4. The quality of entertainment

By calling this a surprise I don’t mean it as a slight.  What I mean is that the attention to detail, level of technology and craftsmanship that go into each production – it all exceeded my expectations.

The production of the Wizard of Oz was spectacular in its quality of acting, props, and tech.  But the cherry on top is the live orchestra of 16+ instrumentalists that add so much to the whole production.  Hearing Dorothy sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with live strings in the Royal Theater is not something you want to miss.

I also attended an ice-skating show at Absolute Zero that was absolutely stunning in its lighting, effects, and talent of the performers.   And having guest star and juggler extraordinaire Viktor Kee was just the icing on the cake.

On the last night of the 3-day sailing I was able to attend a show in the AquaDome.   Needless to say, it was the most unique performance I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship.  This was just a sneak peek of the shows to come on the ship as this sailing was pre-inaugural, but I think cruise passengers are going to really love the AquaTheater shows in this space.

Sponsored Links

Once again, the quality of the technology and performance was unparalleled at sea.   The usage of light projecting onto the canvas of the dome and robots to add lighting effects, and powerful water fountains, along with talented divers, made it a very entertaining experience.  The backless seats of the AquaDome worked out since most people were on the edge of their seats anyway.

5. How beautiful and relaxing many spaces were

Sometimes we get lost in the statistics of a ship.  And while Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, it’s also one of the most beautiful.  The Overlook is one of the most stunning, relaxing, and calming spaces I’ve seen on a ship.  Much like a solarium, the entire area is sun-soaked, but the seating is so cozy and inviting as there are numerous spots to nestle in and enjoy the view from the peaceful quietness.

I can see myself spending hours in this area on a sea day.  Pictures don’t do it justice.   But it’s conveniently located right next to the Rye and Bean which as some great coffee options that I enjoyed during the sailing.  And the AquaDome Market is right next to it as well, which was often less busy than the Windjammer buffet area.

Another beautiful spot was the Pearl Café.   You can find this dining and beverage venue at the top of the steps of the Pearl.  There is a huge window that overlooks the ocean and plenty of plush couches and chairs to take in the view.   A lovely artwork piece of a Humpback whale hangs over the area, and it’s just a wonderful spot to charge your phone, meet with family and friends, or just enjoy the ocean.

And if you want another beautiful space to enjoy from the Pearl Café, you can just walk up the steps right into the heart of Central Park.  As I mentioned in the first point, everything on this ship is connected so seamlessly that it makes navigating a 250,800 gross ton vessel a breeze.

We will be posting many more pictures, videos, and articles on Icon of the Seas in the coming days and weeks.  We posted a lot of pictures from our social media accounts this past week, so check them out if you’d like to get up to speed as well.

See Icon of the Seas images and videos on X (formerly Twitter) here.

I am currently on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever built. It’s a three night preview cruise for members of the media and travel agents before the ship’s inaugural voyage this weekend.

After spending a few nights onboard, here are my first impressions of Icon of the Seas.

One of the first things that stood out to be about the Icon of the Seas is the amount of space on the ship. The Royal Promenade is so much more open that other Royal Caribbean cruise ships and all of the venues have open facades instead of a doorway to get in them.

While Icon of the Seas is a brand new class of ships, those who have sailed on an Oasis class vessel will find the basic layout of the ship semi-familiar but with one key difference. The cruise line connected the neighborhoods and it’s much easier to get from one to another now.

There’s a stairway to get from the Royal Promenade to Central Park.  From Surfside, which is located where Boardwalk is on Oasis class ships, you can go straight to Central Park or the Royal Promenade from it. I believe this will greatly improve the flow of traffic around the ship for those who are concerned with the number of passengers the ship carries.

Another pain point that Royal Caribbean looks to have fixed is the elevators.  The hallway where the elevators are located is huge and there’s 10 in each one. They are smart elevators, you push the floor you are going to and it tells you which elevator to get in.

At a press briefing yesterday, the cruise line said that they are using AI with the elevators to move people around the ship faster.  Even though the new system is already faster than the old one, they said in a few months that they will be able to tweak it for optimal performance based on data from the first few cruises.

Icon of the Seas is very colorful, from the shutters in Central Park to the main pool deck. Since the ship is sailing to the Caribbean, it instantly puts you in vacation mode.

There are more than 40 dining and drink venues on Icon of the Seas. I’m been attempting to try as many of them as possible on this three day cruise. We will have a complete rundown of everywhere to eat on this ship when the cruise is over.  So far, it’s been great.

Royal Caribbean has replaced Cafe Promenade with the Pearl Cafe and it’s one of the best changes Royal Caribbean did on this ship. There’s a 25-30 foot glass window which provides a great view of the ocean while you’re sailing. I am actually sitting there right now writing this first impressions article.

Under all of the couches, there are 110 outlets and USB, including USB-C, so you can plug in laptops and phones and work in this space. More people than ever are working while on cruises and this area is going to be popular for that.

Royal Caribbean has really raised the bar on entertainment on Icon of the Seas.  Yesterday, I was able to view STARBURST: Elemental Beauty in Absolute Zero, the cruise line’s new oval ice rink.  For those who know me, you know I’m usually not into most cruise entertainment. However, this show was phenomenal and loved how they brought in Viktor Kee as a guest star in it.  I remember watching him make it into the top 10 on America’s Got Talent and he’s the most incredible juggler I’ve ever seen.

The biggest headliner show on Icon of the Seas is a full stage production of The Wizard of Oz. I was able to catch the first half of the show yesterday (had dinner so missed the second half) but plan on watching the rest of it today as it will have two more performances. Anyone who is a fan of the classic movie is going to love this show.

The AquaDome is something you have to see and experience. It’s also a great lounge during the day with incredible views over the ship’s bow.

The Dueling Pianos venue is a hit and standing room only.

Sponsored Links

We are staying in an ocean view balcony cabin on deck 8. It has a decent size shower, plenty of power outlets, a couch, and a good size balcony. It has everything you need for a cruise.

The crew have been awesome as always. When I was getting a Coke on CocoCay, the bartender saw me and said, you came into the Schooner Bar the other day and also ordered a Coke. I didn’t remember him but he remembered me. Royal Caribbean does have some of the best crew members in the industry.

For those who have young children, you’re going to love Surfside. I have a three year old boy and wish he was here with me. He will never want to leave Surfside and it’s such a great space for kids.

Located where Boardwalk is on Oasis class ship, Surfside takes up this entire area and has everything from a waterpark to restaurants. It’s far and away the best area at sea for families with young children.

I have not seen Rover yet, the resident dog on Icon of the Seas. She’s a Golden Retriever and I heard she will spend a lot of time in Surfside with the kids.

In an effort to connect guests to the sea as much as possible, you can now see the ocean from Central Park.

I am going to go and experience more of Icon of the Seas.  There’s the world’s largest cruise ship waterpark on the top deck calling my name and other features that I need to check out before I get off the ship tomorrow.

Cruise Fever will have more about this brand new cruise ship once the cruise is over so stay tuned for those articles. You can follow along on our cruise on Icon of the Seas on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok (Username: @CruiseFever).