Havila Voyages, which specialises in cruises along the Norwegian coastline, is a brilliant example of a sustainable cruise line. In summer 2022 Havila Castor became the first passenger ship to sail through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed fjords on battery power alone, and in 2023 the line will launch two new ships powered by largest battery packs on a passenger ship, allowing them to sail for up to four hours – emission and noise-free – on just battery power.
Silversea’s ultra-luxurious Silver Endeavour, which debuted in November 2022, has the highest space-to-guest ratio of any expedition cruise ship (there will be just 200 guests passengers on this eight-deck ship). Onboard amenities include a theatre, lecture rooms, casino, spa, yoga studio and jogging track, and the ship’s main restaurant (one of four) can seat 192 guests.
Check out our guide to the cruise ships with the coolest onboard features
Another option for eco-conscious cruisers comes from A-ROSA River Cruises. The line's new E-Motion ship, A-ROSA SENA, which launched in May 2022, uses ground-breaking technology that allows the ship to switch to battery power when approaching a port. Its hybrid propulsion system combines a diesel engine and a separate electric engine, which is powered by batteries. It's an exciting move towards sustainable river cruising for the industry.
Fancy something a bit more swanky than the standard passenger cabin? It’s a little-known fact that since 2019 passengers on Windstar Cruises’ flagship Wind Surf have been able to stay in the officer’s suite, located directly behind the bridge in an area labelled “crew only". Your neighbours will be the captain, chief officer, hotel manager and chief engineer, and the decor includes a sextant, binoculars and a museum-quality model of a J-class sailing ship.
It's not just roller coasters that are hitting cruise ships' decks. Some have observation capsules too. Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas features the North Star, a glass-enclosed pod that takes guests up to 300 feet (90m) above sea level. Inspired by the capsules on the London Eye, the striking feature holds the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.
We all know most pirate ships didn't actually have planks, but why let facts get in the way of fun? In the spirit of pirate-inspired adventure, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape ships feature eight-foot-long (2.4m) planks suspended over the ocean. Thankfully, there'll be no cries of "man overboard" as those game to walk the plank will be attached to a harness.
Another popular and thrilling cruise ship feature is Carnival Cruises’ SkyRide, which sees passengers pedal at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40km/h) in pedal-powered ‘go-mobiles’. The 800 foot-long (244m) ride soars above the top deck of Carnival Cruises' Panorama, Horizon and Vista ships – giving riders the chance to gaze at spectacular sea views as they whizz around.
Disney Cruise Line celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023. New entertainment will be rolled out across the line's ships, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse (both of whom can be found on all ships) will be given special anniversary outfits. Disney Cruise Line will launch several Pixar and Marvel-themed cruises in 2023, and in 2024 there will be a brand new ship, the Disney Treasure (artist rendering pictured). Details are few and far between, but it's known that characters from Aladdin will feature prominently, and that the 1,254-guestroom ship's design is inspired by Walt Disney's love of travel.
Take a look at amazing photos of Disney parks through the decades
Brits love nothing more than a proper cuppa, so it comes as no surprise that during a one-week Marella Cruises itinerary, 13,000 cups of English breakfast tea are brewed and served to satisfy passengers' cravings. To put this into perspective, if you lined up all those tea bags it would stretch for just under four times the length of Marella Explorer.
When the sun shines, cruise passengers love to cool off with a refreshing ice cream, it seems. During an average week on Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Anthem of the Seas, passengers will tuck into 8,000 gallons of the stuff. They'll also consume 18,000 slices of pizza, 86,400 eggs, 2,225 bottles of wine, 10,200 bottles of beer and 550 bottles of vodka. With 20 chefs, 222 cooks, 15 bar managers and 188 bartenders and bar servers onboard, there's plenty to keep them busy.
Tattooing is a time-honoured seafaring tradition but not something usually associated with cruising. Virgin Voyages decided to change that when it announced its ship Scarlet Lady would bring tattoo artistry to the high seas with its Squid Ink parlour. Two full-time resident tattoo artists are onboard, handpicked by industry legend Lou Rubino Jr. (Squid Ink also features a stellar line-up of guest artists). Skull and crossbones and anchor tattoos are optional.
In celebration of Virgin’s musical heritage and a first at sea, Voyage Vinyl is the go-to spot for music lovers and vinyl junkies aboard Scarlet Lady. Listen to tunes from all genres and eras at personal listening stations – passengers can also shop for limited-edition albums and special editions, as well as music magazines, headphones and record players. The record shop also doubles as a performance spot for live sets mixed by the ship's resident DJs.
One of Princess Cruises' newest ships, Enchanted Princess is a whopper and a speedy one at that. It has capacity for 3,660 guests, 1,346 crew and is 1,083 feet (330m) long (longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower) and 217 feet (66m) high (taller than London’s Tower Bridge). The Enchanted Princess can also go faster sideways than Princess Cruises’ original Love Boat, Pacific Princess, could travel forward. Her inaugural sail was from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the southern Caribbean in November 2021.
The 24 kennels on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 are arguably the most sought-after accommodation on the ship – they can book up to several years in advance. Many of their VIP guests have crossed the Atlantic several times over. The kennels were upgraded in 2016 during the liner’s £90 million ($123m) refurbishment and now boast their own kennel master who gets to know each dog (or cat) individually and attends to their every need. There’s also an owner’s lounge.
Luxury cruise lines are all about offering their guests the ultimate in indulgence from exclusive experiences to the world’s finest foods and wines. Often they combine both. Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn’s Caviar in the Surf experience sees the fishy delicacy and chilled Champagne delivered by speedboat as guests swim in a secluded Saint Kitts and Nevis bay. The cruise line serves over 58,000 bottles of Champagne and 2,000kg (4,400lbs) of caviar a year across its fleet to its well-heeled passengers.
SeaDream Yacht Club's ships are among the few offering dedicated raw food menus – its extensive selection is prepared using raw, organic and vegan ingredients, none of which are heated above 48ºC (118ºF). It's famous for its vegan and plant-based menus, too. Highlights include the vegan artichoke pizza, sweet potato and black bean burger and grilled cauliflower with carrot mousse. Make sure you leave room for dessert – we recommend the almond and raspberry pavé. Health-conscious passengers will also love the cruise line's vegan juice smoothie bars.
With 1,700 programmes to choose from, Azamara has the largest pre-and post-land programme in the cruising industry. Standouts on its “destination immersions” are a speedboat trip deep into the Borneo rainforest to see orangutans and meet the Mari Mari people, and tracking jaguars in the vast wetlands of Brazil’s Pantanal region.
Discover these exciting new cruise ships you'll want to explore
Cruising and exercise might not seem like natural shipmates but Celebrity Cruises has banished that notion with its strong fitness offering. It’s partnered with F45 Training to bring its 45-minute, station-based fitness classes to its Edge series ships: Celebrity Edge and the new Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond. Peloton was also offered for the first time at sea on Celebrity Edge and is now available on Millennium, Solstice and its Edge series ships. In another first, Celebrity Cruises teamed up with wellness and lifestyle brand Goop last year for a special Goop at Sea wellness cruise.
Onboard entertainment has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Take Norwegian Viva, which will take to the waves in August 2023. Highlights will include a three-storey theatre which converts to a Las Vegas-style nightclub (pictured is the club onboard sister ship, Norwegian Prima). The venue won't just host plays and musicals, but live versions of classic TV quiz shows such as The Price is Right. Then there's Resilient Lady, which will become Virgin Voyages' third ship when she launches in June 2023. Passengers won't find theatres or cabaret shows – instead, there will be a day-glo karaoke lounge, interactive dance parties and 'micro-plays'. Trust us, we're as intrigued as you are...
Cultural enrichment is part of Viking's MO. Channelling its Viking heritage, its ocean ships Orion and Jupiter reveal the secrets of the night sky and age-old navigation methods to passengers with their onboard planetariums. Known as the Explorers' Lounge, the circular theatre-like space is the highest definition purpose-built planetarium at sea. Showing 3-D films about space and exploration, the dome also connects with a portable Sky-Watcher telescope to show a live view of the night sky. Resident astronomers also hold lectures and stargazing sessions.
In a highly competitive space, cruise liners have to work hard to keep their food and beverage offerings fresh and exciting. Celebrity Cruises has gone one step further than most by bringing its tabletops to life in its Le Petit Chef experience. The digital animation dining experience is on offer at Le Grand Bistro restaurants on several Celebrity ships. As diners enjoy the story and adventures of Le Petit Chef, the playful menu will feature seriously good bouillabaisse, lobster and filet mignon.
Love a suite? Consider booking a spot on Celebrity Ascent, due to set sail in late 2023. Its oversized accommodation is generating the biggest buzz with six enormous Edge Villas. These split-level suites will have private plunge pools. If that’s not quite enough space, consider one of its Iconic Suites, which cover 4,994 square feet (464sqm) and have private Jacuzzis and cabanas. We suspect this isn't a ship where you'll be spending too much time in your cabin, however with 32 bars and restaurants as well as endless activities, including daily yoga sessions in the rooftop garden.
Regent Seven Seas’ flagship vessels Seven Seas Splendor, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Grandeur are said to have some of the most expensive and largest suites available at sea. Costing just under £9,000 ($11,000) per night, based on two sharing, the lavish Regent Suites sit at the top of the ships and promise the “pinnacle of luxury”. As well as wraparound verandas, they have an in-suite spa with sauna, steam room, hot tub and unlimited treatments. Guests have the use of a personal butler and a personal car with driver and guide in every port. The stunning suites are decorated with rare works of art (including lithographs by Picasso) and some have a custom Steinway grand piano.
Disney fans will adore the Wish Tower Suite, now making some guests' dreams come true onboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish. The high-end Moana-inspired two-floor penthouse cabin is built into the forward funnel and has two main bedrooms, a library, multiple bathrooms and a grand spiral staircase (naturally). The Disney Wish, which had its inaugural voyage in 2022, is the fifth ship to join the cruise line and was its first new ship in a decade. It also is home to the world's first Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience.
AmaWaterways has put together the longest-ever river cruise itinerary, which will see guests travel along Europe’s most famous rivers on four of its luxury river cruise ships. The new ‘Seven River Journey Through Europe’ debuts in April 2023 with a spring edition and sees passengers set sail aboard the AmaLyra on the Seine River in France to visit 14 countries over 46 nights. It finishes aboard the AmaVerde in the Danube with the final stop being Giurgiu, Romania. There is also a summer and autumn edition.
In another first at sea, Scenic’s ultra-luxury cruise ship, Scenic Eclipse, has a custom-built submarine, Neptune, which enables passengers to venture down into the ocean depths as part of an extraordinary excursion. With seats mounted on revolving platforms so guests can swivel to view in all directions, the custom-built U-Boat Worx Cruise Submarine can go to depths of 984 feet (300m) and can seat six people, plus the pilot. In January 2022, Scenic Eclipse became the first ship in four decades to operate a submarine in the icy South Georgian waters.
Who says you don’t travel along hard-to-reach waterways on a cruise ship? In October 2019, passengers on Fred Olsen’s Braemar experienced a breathtaking transit when it became the largest ship ever to traverse the historic Corinth Canal in Greece. Separating the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, the Corinth Canal is only 79 feet (24m) wide at its narrowest point while the Braemar is 74 feet (22m). A tugboat helped the record-breaking crew to avoid bumps along the way. It will repeat this exciting journey on its 25-night Greek Islands and Corinth Canal cruise, in May 2023.
American Cruise Lines is the only cruise line to offer overnight cruises along New York's Hudson River. The cruises start and finish in New York. The cruise line is also the only one to offer river cruises along California's Napa and San Joaquin Rivers, which it's offered since the 1940s. In 2023, the line will launch 10 new US itineraries and 21 new US ports of call.
Love outdoor space but appreciate privacy? Set sail on Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess or Discovery Princess, which all have two Sky Suites. These palatial cabins have the largest balconies at sea. You’ll get 669 square feet (62sqm) of outdoor space, and 270° views over the ocean.