What’s new for 2016 ?

Well the world of cruising is forever changing and its getting bigger with more and more ships being added to the fleets every year .

Here is a quick summary and highlights of the ships that are hitting the seas for the first time this year.

Royal Caribbean are leading the way with two brand new ships launching this year
‘The Harmony of the Seas ‘in May and The Ovation of the Seas’ in April .

The Harmony of the Seas

Will be the biggest cruise ship in the world ,holding more than 6,600 passengers. She will have new features including the Ultimate Abyss, a 100-foot slide that speeds riders from the Sports Zone to the Boardwalk, and a “Bionic Bar” with robotic barmen. The musical Grease is playing in the theatre. Harmony after two mini-cruises from Southampton in May will then relocate to Barcelona for a summer in the Mediterranean.

The Ovation of the Seas

Will hold just over 4000 passengers. Her highlights include the skydiving simulator, dodgem cars, roller skating and a North Star pod that lifts riders more than 300 feet above the ocean, more of a gadget ship that will have super-fast internet and use wristbands to sign for drinks. After two cruises from Southampton in April, Ovation relocates to Tianjin, in China.

Seven Seas Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has created high expectations for this all-suite, all-balcony ship by calling it the most luxurious ship ever built. She will launch in July and has the most extravagant suite at sea – at nearly 4,000 square feet, it’s almost the size of two tennis courts and comes with a sauna, steam room and private car and driver in each port. Explorer’s 750 passengers can take cookery lessons in the “Culinary Arts Kitchen” and indulge in French and Asian cuisine in the Pacific Rim and Chartreuse restaurants.She will also have a theatre that has been constructed to have absolutely no obstructions!!

Holland America Koningsdam

The Koningsdam will be the first new ship for 6 years and will also be the largest in the fleet .She launches in April and will spend her first season from Amsterdam visiting the Fjords and the Baltic.She will have a Music Walk, where guests can take their pick of live classics, blues or songs from the hit parade. As other ships have she will also have a culinary arts centre with cookery demos and classes by day and becomes a new restaurant, Dinner, in the evening.

Carnival Vista
We haven’t seen Carnival in Europe for a few years now so its about time we are introducing the Vista into the Med. She will hold just short of4000 passengers .Vista has pedal bikes suspended from an 800-foot track 150 feet above the ocean and the first IMAX theatre at sea. Kaleid-o-slide is a colourful water tube ride; Havana Cabanas are a new style of cabin with outdoor patios.

Seabourn Encore
This will be Seabourn’s first new ship for five years she will be sailing from Athens to Singapore in December for an inaugural season in Asia. She has room for 600 passengers and new features including a restaurant created by Michelin-starred US chef Thomas Keller, as well as an adults-only sanctuary with hot tubs and cabanas. A redesigned Seabourn Square, has a bigger café and open-plan passenger help desks.

Viking Sea
An exciting time for Viking as they introduce their second ocean-going ship. The Viking Star, won universal acclaim when it launched in 2015 so it’s no surprise the company has kept the winning formula for its second vessel. Viking Sea holds 930 passengers, the décor is a blend of chic living room and trendy Scandinavian, and spa goers can sweat in a sauna and cool off in a snow room. She enters service in April and will be sailing the Mediterranean and Baltic.

So there we have the highlights of 2016 !!

Any take your fancy ? They all take mine !!!