7 Cruise Ships That Will Debut in 2016!

As cruising continues to gain popularity as the way to see the world, Cruiselines are building bigger, more incredible vessels to get us there.  From unique culinary experiences to Broadway-like shows, cosmopolitan cabins to rip-roaring water attractions, lines will be taking the cruising experience to the next level this year!

Here are 7 ships that you can look to hit the waters this year.  Which one are you most excited about?

1. Holland America Line – Koningsdam.   The new ship will be Holland America’s largest-in-fleet and first in its new Pinnacle Class.

It will launch in April 2016 and feature Solo and family cabins, new dining venues, and farm-to-table dinners in the Culinary Arts Center.  Well known for being a more sophisticated cruise line, the Koningsdam has also been designed with a large space for their Club HAL, which provides a wide variety of exciting youth and teen-friendly activities for guests ages 3 to 17.

Their new Family Ocean-view Staterooms will make traveling together more convenient and pleasurable, with accommodations for up to five guests — including additional closet space and two separate shower facilities.

The 99,500-ton cruise ship will accommodate 2,650 passengers.

2.  Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Ovation of the Seas.   The third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class is set to hit the waters in April 2016.

Redesigned specifically for the Asian market, this ship will have many of the features that make the Quantum class ships popular like RipCord by iFly, a skydiving simulator; North Star, a jewel-shaped glass capsule that rises 300 feet above sea level, and SeaPlex, a massive indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with that offers bumper cars, roller skating and flying trapeze classes.

The 167,800-ton will accommodate 4,180-passengers.  Ovation will spend more of the Summer doing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 night cruises from Beijing Chine before moving on to Australia at the end of the year.

3.  Viking Ocean Cruises – Viking Sea.  Viking’s second ocean-going vessel will debut in April 2016.

Elements from the line’s first ocean ship, Viking Star, will be incorporated, including The Kitchen Table (a hands-on cooking experience), complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner, and some complimentary shore excursions.

The 47,800 ton ship will accommodate 900 passengers and will sail on various itineraries in the Mediterranean starting in Spain.

4.  Carnival Cruise Line will debut their Carnival Vista in May, 2016, Carnival will introduce their largest-in-fleet, and first in its new Vista Class.

This ship will undoubtedly take cruising to a new level with the introduction of an exciting array of groundbreaking new features including: SkyRide, a breakthrough suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX® Theatre on a ship; an expanded water park featuring the colorful Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first raft-riding water tube slide; Seafood Shack, a delectable New England-inspired eatery; RedFrog Pub, including the line’s first onboard brewery, and other enhanced dining, bar and entertainment options; as well as new scenic and family-friendly accommodation types.

The Carnival Vista debut May 1, 2016, with a 13-day cruise departing from Trieste, Italy — the first European voyage for Carnival in three years. A variety of spectacular Mediterranean itineraries will be offered with port calls throughout Italy, France, Spain, Croatia and Turkey, as well as several new destinations for Carnival such as Crete (Heraklion), and Corfu, Greece; Valletta, Malta; Palermo, Sicily; Cagliari, Sardinia; and Gibraltar. On October 21, 2016, Carnival Vista will embark on a special 13-day transatlantic crossing and arrive in New York November 3, 2016, then operate a series of voyages from the Big Apple.

5.  Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Harmony of the Seas will debut in June, 2016.

Royal Caribbean’s largest-in-fleet, and the third Oasis Class ship will have the line’s first-ever waterslides, an aqua park for kids, a 10-story slide, and full-length productions of the Broadway hit Grease.

Harmony of the Seas will be the Largest Passenger Ship in the water bypassing it’s sisters Allure and Oasis by more than 2,000 tons weighing in at 227,700 tons.  It will have 2,744 passenger staterooms with a capacity of 6,360 passengers (5,488 double occupancy), an increase of 64 passengers over Allure and Oasis.

It will debuts in Southampton on 22nd May 2016 before moving on to Barcelona on 7th June 2016.

6.  Set to launch in July, 2016, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’  Seven Seas Explorer will be the line’s largest ship.

Designed with a brand new ship layout, the Explorer will feature all-suite, all-balcony cabins; two new specialty restaurants; and the line’s first culinary center, the Culinary Arts Kitchen.

The 56,000 ton ship will carry 750 guests. Unlike other lines, veranda cabins on the Seven Seas Explorer start 307ft and begin at $9,000 per person for a 9 night cruise.  The penthouse offers almost double living space, but will set you back $16,000 per person.  A cool perk?  Cruisers who book this category or those above it will have their airfare covered!  Shore excursions are also included.

The Seven Seas Explorer will spend the Summer in Italy before heading to France and Greece.

7.  Seabourn Cruise Line will debut the line’s largest ship, the Seabourn Encore in December 2016. 

This ship will offer cruisers all-suite cabins with private balconies; a new restaurant from world-renowned chef, Thomas Keller; and expanded public areas. The ultimate luxury, the Seabourn Encore will only accommodate 208 guests and include design elements often found in private yachts.