(Daily Mail) When a gleaming new cruise ship comes over the horizon, it is always something to celebrate.
And there’ll be no shortage of them in 2024, including the world’s biggest.
It’s been a record-breaking year for cruising, with more than 31.5million passengers, and bookings for 2024 are expected to top that again.
Here’s a pick of the most exciting new ships to book now.
RETRO GLAMOUR
The Queen Anne (above) is Cunard’s latest ship – the first new one since the Queen Elizabeth, which launched in 2010
It’s been worth the wait for the 3,000-passenger Queen Anne – Cunard’s first ship since it launched the Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
Designers have used archived furnishings from bygone Cunard liners as inspiration for its retro glamour. Dining includes a fresh take on classic pub grub in the Golden Lion, with a menu by two-Michelin star chef Michel Roux Jr, and Aranya, an Indian restaurant, as well as the Commodore Club, the place for cocktails and cabaret.
Meanwhile, West End hit shows will be shown at its Royal Court Theatre, beginning with Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter.
Sail away: A 14-night Canary Islands cruise from Southampton calling at La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz and Lisbon, departing on November 3, from £1,899pp for a balcony cabin (cunard.com).
ACTIVITIES GALORE
At the heart of the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess will be the Piazza, with cafes, bars and restaurants inside a glass sphere, including Spellbound By Magic Castle, a Victorian-themed bar featuring conjurors and magicians. Elsewhere on board you can expect dance and acrobatic shows with dazzling sound and light effects. An activity zone for families includes the Sea Breeze Rollglider – like hang-gliding, but safe as can be. The main dining area will be spread over three decks.
Sail away: A seven-night Mediterranean With Greece And Italy cruise from Athens to Barcelona calling at Kotor, Corfu, Sicily and Naples, departing May 4, from £899pp; flights cost extra (princess.com).
WHOPPER OF THE WAVES
Icon Of The Seas stretches 365 metres and has a capacity of 7,600 passengers
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Of The Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world, like a floating town stretching 365 metres with a capacity of 7,600 passengers – making the Titanic look like a tiddler at 269 metres. The bill for the ship came to a whopping $2 billion (£1.5 billion). Eight ‘neighbourhoods’ will include one called Central Park, filled with trees, while a massive waterpark will feature endless waterslides. Take your pick of seven pools and be awed by the 55ft-tall glass waterfall. Check-in to the three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse suite and you’ll have your own white picket fence and a mailbox, too – but it comes with a £60,000 price tag for seven nights.
Sail away: A seven-night Caribbean round trip from Miami, calling at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and the Bahamas, departs on February 17 with cruise-only fares from £1,483pp (royalcaribbean.com).
DIVINE ON THE RHINE
SS Victoria has a crew of 41 looking after just 110 passengers
Formerly sailing as Crystal Bach (before six-star Crystal Cruises went bust), SS Victoria is the much refreshed, revamped and renamed ship joining Uniworld’s fleet next year.
It’s small, with 41 crew looking after just 110 passengers, sailing on the River Rhine. But the boutique boat has some of the most spacious suites on Europe’s rivers, an indoor pool and a rooftop bar with flowers and original art throughout.
Sail away: Seven-night Castles Along The Rhine cruises between Basel and Amsterdam, departing from March to November, start from £3,399pp all-inclusive including flights (uniworld.com).
AHOY MICKEY!
Disney Treasure (above, one of her rides) will debut next winter with a seven-night Caribbean cruise
You’ll have to wait until next winter to sail on the 4,000-passenger Disney Treasure, the latest cruise by the entertainment giant – with Mickey, Minnie and pals on board.
For its sixth offering, the world of Aladdin can be found in the Grand Hall, complete with his flying carpet, while Miguel and his familia from the film Coco lead a song and dance dining extravaganza in Plaza de Coco where Mexican food is served.
The adult-only Periscope Pub pays tribute to 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, fashioned like Captain Nemo’s submarine. And Skipper Society, based on Disney theme parks’ popular Jungle Cruise, is a new watery and leafy venue for cocktails.
Sail away: A seven-night Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, calling at Cozumel in Mexico, Grand Cayman and Jamaica, departing on December 28 is from £3,652pp including Gatwick flights (disneyholidays.co.uk).
SAILING WITH GAS
