It’s All Happening!

We are now in the middle of January and boy has it been busy. So many of you have booked already for this year and next year AND looking towards the future to see what is new!  I can tell you there is plenty new ships on the horizon, the cruising world is as busy as ever!

What is new? What is there to plan for and watch out for?   I guess I have to start with this year.  In March we are awaiting the launch of the new MSC ship the Bellissima, she is a sister ship to the Meraviglia. Love them or hate them, MSC do have some fantastic ships.  Then we have the Costa Venezia which really is only built for the Chinese market (a booming market I may add!).    In April we have the Marella Explorer 2 and the RCL Spectrum Of The Seas – huge interest in both.  Later on in the year you can look forward to – Spirit of Discovery with Saga, NCL Encore, Costa Smerelda, the Sky Princess, another MSC ship the  Grandiosa, and the new Carnival Panorama.

I guess you probably know all about these ships for this year as has been “a bit” of advertising about them!  However, do you know about any of following all due to be launched in 2020?

There is the new Virgin ship the Scarlet Lady, Celebrity Apex, P&O Iona, Saga Spirit of Adventure, Carnival Mardi Gras, Enchanted Princess, another Royal Caribbean (as yet no name), another MSC ship the Virtuosa. I will leave 2021 for now, however you can see business is booming!

One thing though that I do notice is how big most of these ships are. You all know that personally I do prefer smaller ships, some of these are huge!  The MSC Virtuosa for example will hold nearly 6,300 people!  that is huge! Where are all these people going to sit at mealtimes? What about the shows in the evening, can it accommodate such a huge number with seats? Lastly what about the sun beds?  My pet hate is not enough sun beds – drives me mad!

At the end of the day is it all about making money and piling these people onto a ship which may not cope with servicing them?  I love cruising but have we all gone a bit mad? Give me a smaller ship anytime.

I would welcome your thoughts as always.

Till next time x