Cruising is an increasingly popular holiday choice with an eclectic range of cruise companies offering a vast choice of itineraries, near and far. Seven new cruise ships will set sail in 2016. Highlights include a Bionic Bar where cocktails are mixed by robots, the most luxurious cruise ship built to date and the first floating IMAX theatre.
Viking Sea
Consistently voted the best in the business, Viking Cruises already offer award winning river cruises which offer great value and great quality. Their first ocean-going ship, Viking Star, won universal acclaim when it launched in 2015 and Viking Cruises have kept the same winning formula for their second cruise ship, Viking Sea. A third new cruise ship, Viking Sky, is due to launch in 2017. Viking Sea holds 930 passengers in a setting of understated Scandinavian elegance and comfort. She enters service in April 2016 and will be sailing the Mediterranean and Baltic.
Koningsdam
Holland America Line’s first new cruise ship for six years, Koningsdam will be the biggest in its fleet. It has capacity for 2,650 passengers and features a new live-music entertainment experience called Music Walk which offers chamber music, an eight piece jazz band from Memphis, two pianists, a guitarist and a DJ. It launches in April 2016 and will spend the summer cruising the Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords.
Ovation of the Seas
Give a standing ovation to Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum Class Ovation of the Seas holds just over 4,000 passengers. Its sky diving simulator, dodgems, roller-skating rink and a viewing pod which lifts passengers more than 300ft above the ocean, it is an ideal cruise ship for active cruises. This technologically advanced ship offers fast internet and “smart” payment by electronic wristband is due to come into service in the Spring of 2016.
Carnival Vista
Carnival Cruise Line is offering a bunch of eye-catching firsts to mark its return to Europe after a three-year absence. Carnival Vista features the Sky Ride, a pedal-bike track 150ft above the water, the first floating IMAX theatre, a new water-tube ride and Havana Cabanas which are a new style of cabin with outdoor patios. She holds 3,936 passengers and will set sail on May 1st, with cruises through the Mediterranean between May and October 2016.
Harmony of the Seas
Harmony of the Seas launches in May 2016, the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class. She will be the world’s largest cruise ship, holding more than 6,600 passengers. New features include a 216ft long slide called the Ultimate Abyss and a Bionic Bar where the cocktails are mixed by robots! The musical Grease will be playing in the ship’s theatre. Harmony of the Seas sails two mini-cruises from Southampton in May 2016 before relocating to Barcelona to spend the summer cruising in the Mediterranean.
Seven Seas Explorer
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has created high expectations for this new all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship. They describe the Seven Seas Explorer as the most luxurious ever built. This cruise line pride themselves on offering all-inclusive elegant luxury cruising. With capacity for 750 passengers, there are options to take cookery lessons in the Culinary Arts kitchen and to enjoy Asian and French cuisine in the Pacific Rim and Chartreuse restaurants. She launches in the Summer of 2016.
Seabourne Encore
Launching in December 2016, Seabourne‘s first new cruise ship for five years will sail from Piraeus (Athens) to Singaport for an inaugural Asian season. With capacity for 600 passengers, new features include an adults-only sanctuary with hot tubs and cabanas and a restaurant created by Michelin-starred US chef Thomas Keller. Seabourne Encore will crown a fleet that is already the newest, most modern and most acclaimed in the ultra-luxury segment. An additional sister-ship, Seabourn Ovation, is scheduled for delivery in 2018. Both new cruise ships will deliver a wealth of new concepts, a fresh vision and a host of illuminating ideas to delight the world’s most discerning travellers.
Ultimate Destinations are luxury cruise specialists and we are proud to be members of the Association of Cruise Experts where we hold Ambassador status.
With a broad range of luxury cruise operators to choose from, some specialist, taking you to destinations off the beaten track, some more main stream, there is so much choice available. We can’t stress enough how important it is that you speak to an expert who knows their way around the volume of brochures and websites available in order to help you select, from a wide range of luxury cruises, the one that is right for you.
We hope that some of the new cruise ships listed above may just inspire you to explore new options for your next luxury holiday. Let Ultimate Destinations help you find the perfect luxury cruise for you. Call us today on 01923 284148 or send an email to info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk – we will be delighted to be of service.
