2019 is going to be an exciting year for cruise lovers, as there will be a couple of new ships put into service. Altogether, 25 new cruise ships will have their maiden calls in 2019 so ship enthusiasts can look forward to spectacular ship christening ceremonies.
Some of the more noteworthy new ships include the MSC Bellissima by MSC Cruises, the Spectrum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Princess Cruise’s Sky Princess.
Whereas past ships where built to be bigger, greater, and more spectacular, this year’s ships show slightly different trends. The Celebrity Flora represents Celebrity Cruises’ focus on improving luxury aboard its ships. High-quality interior, personal butler service, locally sourced products and dinner under the stars are all measure the shipping company takes to increase the passengers’ experiences. While this is a clear step towards improving the whole experience, other shipping companies focus on specific aspects of the cruise. MSC Cruises new vessels Bellissima and Grandiosa both want to offer a more exclusive experience with the MSC Yacht Club. This special area of the ship offers guests a dedicated space with higher quality amenities and food. Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the seas offers 4 suite-only decks with a private elevator, lounge and restaurant.
Overview over new cruise ships 2019
Celebrity Flora – Celebrity Cruises
The Celebrity Flora is different from the rest of Celebrity Cruises’ fleet. High-quality interior suites allow guests to control everything with the touch of a button. Every room comes with a personal butler service and spacious bathrooms. Celebrity Cruises focuses on being considerate of the environment, which is reflected in both the interior and the locally sourced bath products. Given that the ship calls at the Galapagos Islands, being conscious about the interior and sourcing from Ecuador was a must for the shipping company. Both the Seaside and the Ocean Grill restaurant, serve fresh gourmet food daily. The culinary offers cover everything one could imagine, ranging from a seafood BBQ to a dinner under the stars. The discovery lounge offers plenty of space to relax and socialise with fellow passengers. The Observatory is a library especially dedicated to the Galapagos Islands, so that guests can learn more about the Island while enjoying the beautiful view through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Viking Jupiter – Viking Cruises
The 930 passenger capacity Viking Jupiter is the newest addition to the Viking Cruises fleet and the 6th of a total of 10 identical cruise ships that are being built for the shipping company. Passengers can decide between a wide-ranging offer from a verandah cabin to suites. The public area, including the elegant restaurants, bars and lounges, shines in a Scandinavian style. The official christening is planned for June 2019, from where the cruise ship will spend its first season in the Mediterranean Sea and Northern Europe.
Norwegian Encore – Norwegian Cruise Lines
The Norwegian Encore is the 17th ship in the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ fleet. The Spanish artist Eduardo Arranz-Bravo designed the colourful bow of the ship, which accommodates up to 4,000 passengers at once. Guests can expect the usual high-quality entertainment program, dining options and fun activities that they know and love from the other Norwegian Cruise Lines ships. The vessel will be delivered on 31 October 2019 and start its roundtrips to the Caribbean from its home port in Miami, Florida.
Sky Princess – Princess Cruises
The Sky Princess is Princess Cruises’ 4th royal-class vessel. The cruise ship accommodates 3,660 passengers and is an upgraded version from its sisters Royal Princess and Regal Princess. That is also why the vessel features some proven highlights, such as the Piazza-looking Atrium, the adult spa The Sanctuary and the child and teen playground Camp Discovery. The Princess’ spa has more private cabanas than its sisters. The pool deck features two pools and the rear deck offers a retreat pool. 80% of the cabins have a balcony attached to it, so guests can enjoy the view. Exclusive sky suites offer amazing comfort on 145 sq. metres, as well as a 270-degree panorama view with nothing in front of the guests other than the sea and the “Movie under the Stars” screen on the pool deck. The Sky Princess will start its maiden voyage on 20 October 2019 from Athens through the Mediterranean Sea to Barcelona.
Carnival Panorama – Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Panorama is the third ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s Vista-Class. Many of the innovations and much of the interior from its sister ships is also aboard the Carnival Panorama, which offers room for 3,954 guests. The cruise ship, like its sisters Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, features the enormous water park, as well as the bike parkour SkyRide, which offers a great view on the sea. Culinary highlights include the exclusive restaurants Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi. Of course, the Carnival Panorama also offers a great deal for children. Not only can they have loads of fun in the water park, but the ship’s “Family Harbor” offers spacious rooms with plenty of room for families. Homeport will be Long Beach in California, where it will have its inaugural cruise on 11 December 2019 before offering 8-day roundtrips.
Spectrum of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International
The Spectrum of the Seas is the very first ship in the Quantum Ultra Class of Royal Caribbean International. The vessel is Asia’s largest cruise ship with 1,551 international crew members and accommodating up to 4,246 passengers when it enters the sea in June 2019. Starting its first cruise in Shanghai is the obvious choice considering it was created for the Asian market specifically. One of the more noteworthy additions are the suite-only decks 13 -16, that require a special key card. The luxurious area offers a private elevator, a separate restaurant, as well as its own lounge. Other intriguing innovations aboard are the Bionic Bar where robots prepare individually mixed drinks and the Sky Pad, a virtual trampoline experience promising fun and thrill. The family-friendly vessel offers an ultimate family suite, that has space for up to 11 people stretched over 2 decks.
MSC Bellissima – MSC Cruises
The MSC Bellissima with its many attractions is comparable to its sister ship the MSC Meraviglia. The 100-metre-long promenade Galleria Bellissima is the eyecatcher on this ship. The amazing gallery features a breathtaking LED dome that adapts its lighting to simulate moods like sunrise and the starry sky, where beautiful bars, cafés and boutiques make for a nice stroll along the promenade. 10 restaurants satisfy the passengers’ culinary needs, with everything from the Butcher’s cut steakhouse to the Kaito Sushi and Teppanyaki and with 20 bars and lounges, there is something for everybody. Other highlights aboard include the two Cirque du Soleil shows specifically created for the MSC Bellissima and both the atmosphere pool and horizon pool, which is a dance floor at night, located at the sun deck and rear respectively.
MSC Grandiosa – MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises will not only introduce its Bellissima in February 2019, but also its MSC Grandiosa in October 2019. The 331-metre-long vessel will be the first of a total of 2 new ships in the Meraviglia-Plus class, which is an upgrade from the Meraviglia class, and has 2,440 cabins. The promenade will be even bigger than before and therefore offers plenty of space to stroll around and linger. The astonishing LED sky completes the shopping sprees. Exclusively created “Cirque du Soleil at Sea” shows entertain guests in the Carousel Lounge, which stretches over two decks. Another addition is the Parisian style bar and lounge Atelier Bistrot that also has a dance floor. With adding “Zoe”, the MSC Grandiosa will be the second ship after her sister MSC Bellissima to feature a personal voice assistant on a cruise ship. The prototype in the Meraviglia-Plus class will be christened on 9 November 2019 in Hamburg and set its sails for the first time the day after heading towards the Mediterranean Sea.
Spirit of Discovery – Saga Cruises
The Spirit of Discovery is one of the 2 new ships of the British shipping company Saga Group. Although the ship is comparatively small, all 999 possible guests have a balcony. The ship built for the British market is a perfect example of luxury, with its beautiful design and outstanding service. Saga Cruises was able to collaborate with Jools Holland to offer passengers not only the jazz-inspired steakhouse The Club by Jools, but also some shows aboard the vessel. The ship design is rather of a hotel than a cruise ship, which is especially evident in the spa and the Britannia Lounge, but also The Living Room that is the place to be to socialise and grab a coffee or cocktail. The library does not only offer fiction, but also reference books so guests can research destinations before-hand, while enjoying a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Its maiden voyage will take place in June 2019 from Dover port.
When it comes to planning your cruise with one of the exciting new ships the earlier the better. Call our experts at to learn more about any cruise you might be interested in on 0808 2746 777 or search for your perfect cruise now.
