As we are getting ready to wave goodbye to 2014 and say hello to 2015 I would like to have a quick look back at the new cruiseships that the major cruiselines introduced and have a look at what they have planned for us in the next couple of months.
In January this year we joined NCL’s Getaway leaving Rotterdam, before her Atlantic crossing from Southampton to New York and onwards to Miami.
You can read more about our trip on Norwegian Getaway in two previous posts: a short getaway – part 1 and a short getaway – part 2.
At the end of May Princess Cruises brought us the Regal Princess. The SeaWalk, a glassbottom walkway, is one of it’s most exciting features.
Also in May German based TUI Cruises took delivery of Mein Schiff 3. A total of 8 identical ships will be deliverd, the last one in 2019, all of them focusing on the concept of well-being.
Italian Costa Cruises debuted Costa Diadema in November 2014. It is currently the largest ship flying an Italian flag and currently Costa Crociere’s flagship.
Just a few weeks ago Royal Caribbean launched it’s long awaited and much anticipated Quantum of the Seas. The first of it’s new Quantum class ships featuring inside cabins with “virtual balconies”, bumper cars, a skydiving simulator and the Noth Star, an observation pod that extends up and over the ship for 360-degree views.
But that was 2014, what can we expect in 2015?
P&O Cruises is starting the year with the launch of the MV Britannia in March.
Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas will join her sistership Quantum of the Seas in late April. Anthem of the Seas will be based in Southampton during summer 2015, offering Mediterranean itineraries. Starting November she will be based in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, offering Caribbean cruises.
In May we’ll see the debut of Mein Schiff 4 ( for german based TUI Cruises) and Viking Star. Viking Star will be the first ship for Viking Cruises featuring Baltic and Mediterranean itineraries. In 2016, Viking Star will be joined by two sister ships,Viking Sea and Viking Sky. On December 4th the order of a fourth ship was announced.
German cruise line AIDA Cruises will start offering cruises on the AIDAprima in October. AIDAprima will be the company’s 11th ship featuring a completely new kind of hull design which should increase energy efficiency considerably.
Norwegian Cruise Line will launch Norwegian Escape, the first of four vessels in the line’s new Breakaway-Plus class of ships, in October.
