12 of the newest cruise ships to hit the high seas

In the next two years, there are more than 100 cruise ships on order at shipyards ranging from the most sumptuous luxury ships to high-tech adventure ships and family-focused offerings. 

Australians are in for a treat as a slew of new ships heads Down Under. Cruise industry stalwarts such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Ponant are bringing top-of-the-line vessels for us to try. 

Here is what you can expect to see over the next 12 months

One of the newest ships to sail Down Under is the new Carnival Luminosa. She’ll be sailing from November 2022 from her homeport of Brisbane visiting local destinations such as Cairns and Airlie Beach, as well as the islands of the South Pacific and the breathtaking fiords of New Zealand. Her welcome will be huge – she’s one of the largest Carnival ships to sail in Australia. Fitted with plenty of signature Carnival dining options such as Guy’s Burger Joint, Seaday Brunch and the special Chef’s Table, the ship is designed for the entire family. A highlight for kids is meeting Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two at the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, before heading down the Green Waterslide. 

Fresh from her revamp, Pacific Encounter will also be based in Brisbane with new features never before seen on P&O Cruises Australia’s vessels. Guests in selected suite or mini-suite accommodation will receive access to the exclusive Byron Beach Club, a private retreat with a pool, spas and expansive seating on Pacific Encounter’s top deck. The all-Australian ship showcases the best of local produce as well as venues from celebrity chefs such as Luke Mangan’s Bar & Grill and Johnny di Francesco’s award-winning pizza joint 400 Gradi. And in 2023, the line will be installing twin-racer waterslides. The kids will have a dedicated indoor-outdoor family area with a pool, as well as family-focused fun games, parties and activities.

The new technologically advanced Celebrity Edge is one of the most anticipated arrivals for the Australian 2023/24 season. The luxurious vessel will sail out from Sydney on a 12-night cruise to New Zealand on December 9. This kicks off a huge season of cruising with just a few of the highlights being a 10-night cruise through the South Pacific, a 10-night Great Barrier Reef Cruise and a nine-night Australian Wine cruise, all out of Sydney and all on board the much-celebrated Celebrity Edge. The ship has 29 restaurants, bars and lounges, a massive spa and the Retreat, an exclusive “ship within a ship” luxury area with dedicated teams of hosts and concierges. 

Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Spirit will arrive in Australia fresh from a $144 million refurbishment. Foodies will rejoice with 14 dining options to choose from such as the French Le Bistro and contemporary Italian specialties at Onda by Scarpetta. There is plenty of entertainment on board including Elements, which is a visual assortment of flying, dancing and magic. Staterooms are more spacious with balcony staterooms including floor-to-ceiling windows for ocean views from your bed. Norwegian Spirit will sail 10 itineraries between December 2022 and March 2022 including eight 12-day sailings between her home ports of Sydney and Auckland where she will visit smaller regional ports including Hobart, Burnie, Melbourne and Eden in Australia; and Napier, Tauranga, Wellington and Akaroa in New Zealand.

The first of her class, Norwegian Prima launched in Reykjavik earlier this year. The ship was designed to have extra deck space and the line partnered with world-renowned architects, including Italian designer Piero Lissoni and Tillberg Design of Sweden. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping aspect of the new ship is Ocean Boulevard – a sweeping 44,000-square-foot deck with two infinity pools, a sculpture garden and viewing decks. The ship also has the Indulge Food Hall, an upscale open-air hub with eateries Tapas Food Truck, the Latin Quarter and Nudles. But the biggest star attraction of the ship is a multi-level go-kart racetrack. The ship will also boast seven levels of accommodation – from modest studios to private suites to the luxurious Haven. The latter is an exclusive ship-within-a-ship area with an infinity pool and a private dining area, which is attended by a concierge and butlers. 

Known for its luxury river cruising and land tours, APT is also venturing into the small-ship sector with the new Lady Eleganza. The ship has been custom-made for exploring the coastlines of Croatia and Montenegro, and its design creates an intimate cruising experience for just 34 guests. The ship docks overnight in some fascinating ports and the onboard chefs use locally sourced ingredients from destinations on the Lady Eleganza’s itinerary. There are beautiful sun beds and a spacious swimming deck at the stern of the ship. 

The sister ship to the recently launched Emerald Azzurra, the Emerald Sakara superyacht, accommodates just 100 guests. The ships, due to their size, sail to smaller destinations in the Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, the Red Sea, the Caribbean and Central America. Aside from the onboard experience, Emerald offers shore excursions such as attending a Klapa performance in the cellar of Diocletian’s Palace and a guided tour of Petra. The line also offers kayaking tours of Tigullian Bay in Portofino and snorkelling at Ras Mohammad National Park in Sharm el-Sheikh. 

It’s been 18 years since the launch of Cunard’s last ship, the regal Queen Mary 2. But in 2024, she will be joined by a new queen of the seas, Queen Anne, with her keel to be laid in just a few weeks. The ship will continue Cunard’s traditional style of service, but with some plush and opulent new offerings. At the top end, the Queens Grill Grand Suites will have their own dedicated dining room with an adjacent butler’s pantry, walk-in wardrobes, marble-finished bathrooms with views out to sea, a spacious bedroom and the largest balconies onboard. The ship will have 15 restaurants boasting cuisines from around the world. Entertainment venues on Queen Anne will include the flagship Royal Court Theatre, which will regale guests with musicals, celebrity headliners and insightful speakers, and a reimagined Queens Room, hosting spectacular events and gala evenings.

Luxury small ship line Ponant is bringing its three-masted sailing ship Le Ponant to the Kimberley in a unique partnership with the Paspaley pearl family. The yacht, which has recently undergone a major refit to create an ultra-luxe vessel for just 32 passengers, will sail unique itineraries to and from its home port at Kuri Bay, about 370 kilometres north of Broome. Guests will be ferried to and from the ship’s embarkation point on one of the Paspaley family’s three vintage Grumman Mallard flying boats. Le Ponant, at 89 metres and built in 1991, offers 16 staterooms and suites with one crew member per guest and a dedicated chef preparing fine gastronomic food showcasing the local culinary heritage. The seven- and eight-night itineraries begin in April 2023, and feature journeys from Kununurra to Broome.

The luxurious Seabourn Venture is scheduled to launch in 2022, with sister ship Seabourn Pursuit slated to launch in 2023. The first for the classic American line, both ships will be designed and built for exploring the polar regions. The ship will carry two custom-built submarines on board and is designed to also carry a complement of double sea kayaks and 24 Zodiacs that can accommodate all onboard guests at once. Each ship will feature 132 ocean-front suites with verandahs.

Oceania Cruises has revealed the new Vista ship, the seventh vessel in its fleet. The 1200-guest ship will be the first of Oceania’s Allura Class and will set sail in 2023 followed by a sister ship in 2025. Vista will feature nine in-class culinary experiences, luxurious signature public spaces, and spacious suites and staterooms. Some of the restaurants include favourites such as the Pan-Asian Red Ginger but also new additions including Ember where culinary-connoisseur cruisers can sample dishes such as grilled swordfish with asparagus or short ribs on polenta. Some of the interiors include glamorous public spaces such as the Grand Dining Room, which soars almost two decks in height and pays homage to the “beautiful age” of early 20th-century Parisian society through its contemporary interpretation of Belle Epoque.

The new expedition ship from Viking is designed, like her sister ships, to explore the world’s most remote destinations. She will be launching at the end of 2022, and will explore the breadth of Patagonian shores and Chilean fjords, as well as the Great Lakes of America. Designed for 378 guests, the ship also has a pair of submersibles for guests to explore underwater. The ship will have the luxuries and comforts of the line’s ocean-going ships, including the forward-facing Explorers’ Lounge, the Aquavit Bar, the Living Room and a dedicated library. There will also be swimming pools, a spa and fitness centre, outdoor deck spaces and a viewing area on the bow. Dining options include the Nordic and Scandinavian specialist, Mamsen’s.