The Big Ships We're Excited About in 2022
Wonder of the Seas Will Be the World's Largest Cruise Ship
At 6,988 passengers, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas will become the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in early March 2022. While Wonder of the Seas is technically an Oasis-class ship and not first in its class, (there are even some major design changes between Wonder of the Seas vs. Symphony of the Seas, for example), the vessel does have some extras, including the new Suite neighborhood, where high-spenders will have access to an enhanced Suite Sun Deck, with its own plunge pool, bar and loungers.
Families will be excited by the ship's new Wonder Playscape, an underwater-themed area for kids that will include slides, climbing walls, views and an interactive mural. Finally, a new cantilevered pool bar, called The Vue, will offer fantastic sunning opportunities during the day and turn into a colorful outdoor venue after sunset.
Disney Wish Introduces AquaMouse, Star Wars and Avengers-themed Innovations
Disney Cruise Line's first new ship in a decade will usher in a number of firsts when Disney Wish debuts in June 2022. The 4,000-passenger ship -- designed primarily around the theme of "enchantment" -- will offer new dining experiences, reimagined kids clubs (always Disney's strong-suit), and the first-ever Disney attraction at sea: the 760-foot-long waterslide known as AquaMouse, which mixes storytelling and thrills. Disney Wish deck plans reveal a world of wonders for the young and young-at-heart.
But Disney has also mindfully designed Disney Wish for parents, too. The adults-only Quiet Cove will introduce the cruise line's first infinity pool, while grown-ups will be the only ones allowed to dine at Enchante, the line's new onboard restaurant designed by three-Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Lallement. Where will Disney Wish sail from? Like its earliest fleetmates, Disney Wish will debut in the Caribbean and Bahamas, sailing from the line's flagship terminal in Port Canaveral -- a view that will be best seen from the line's massive suite inset into one of the ship's funnels.
Discovery Princess Comes to The West Coast and Alaska
Princess Cruises has been adding to its fleet fast, and the next of its Royal Class ships -- the 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess -- has a March 2022 debut date. It's the latest ship to debut with the line's Medallion technology built right in, which allows passengers to do everything from check into the ship to open their cabin door to buy things in designated shops in some ports.
Discovery Princess will also have most of the onboard features that debuted on sister ships Majestic Princess and Enchanted Princess, including the Salty Dog Gastropub and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria with specialty pastas. If you want a fabulous suite experience, check out the Sky Suites, which have one of the best balconies at sea, with a direct view of Movies Under the Stars.
Norwegian Prima is First-in-Class with New Slides, a Race Track and Vegas-Style Nightlife
With Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Cruise Line ushers in a new class of ship, with an array of accompanying new features. The Norwegian Prima deck plan includes something for everyone. Thrill seekers will love The Drop -- a dry, freefall slide that has a 10-story plunge -- as well as a new version of the popular top-deck race track. There's also The Rush, a pair of dueling dry racing slides, and the line's first Tidal Wave innertube waterslide.
Norwegian always leans into nightlife, and Norwegian Prima's theater will be able to convert into a giant Las Vegas-style nightclub. The marquee show onboard will be a version of "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical." The line is also bringing on Light Balance, a dance troupe winner from "America’s Got Talent," for a show that combines high-energy dance and aerobics with a multisensory light show.
Celebrity Beyond Brings High Design and Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop Onboard
Technically, Celebrity Beyond is the third Edge Class ship from Celebrity Cruises. In reality, the 3,260-passenger ship is offering enough new onboard features that it can almost qualify as a class of its own. Also exciting: TikTok and Instagram star Capt. Kate McCue will take command of Celebrity Beyond when it launches in April 2022.
Chief among the changes is a re-imaging of Celebrity's wellness program, led by actress and lifestyle maven Gwyneth Paltrow (who is now also the line’s Well-Being Advisor). New suites are being added in AquaClass and The Retreat -- Celebrity's resort for suite passengers -- is 40 percent larger than on other ships. Celebrity Beyond will also have the first fine-dining restaurant at sea from Michelin-star chef Daniel Boulud.
Adults-Only Cruise Options Expand with Valiant Lady
Virgin Voyages, which launched its first cruise ship Scarlet Lady for paying passengers in 2021, is coming out with a sister ship in 2022. Valiant Lady, which debuted in March 2022.
Carrying 2,770 passengers, the ship will be an adults-only cruise and have a similar design and attitude to Scarlet Lady (which won the Cruise Critic's Editors' Picks award for Best New Cruise Ship of 2021). Valiant Lady will sail in the Mediterranean, and we're excited to see how Virgin's hip and quirky approach to cruising works in Europe (nights in Ibiza, anyone?).
New Carnival Celebration Ship Marks Line's 50th Birthday
Carnival Cruise Line turns 50 in 2022, and the line is leaning into the festivities with its next Excel Class ship, Carnival Celebration. Set to debut with a 14-night transatlantic cruise departing Southampton on November 6, 2022, Carnival Celebration will homeport out of Miami when it arrives Stateside.
The Bolt roller coaster aboard sister-ship Mardi Gras is one of the line's biggest hits, and Carnival Celebration will also feature Bolt, the line's popular roller coaster at sea. Carnival's new neighborhood concept will also be continued aboard Carnival Celebration, although word is that it will be different from the French Quarter aboard Mardi Gras. As for what will replace it? Stay tuned.
MSC Cruises' New MSC Seascape Offers MSC Yacht Club, Expanded Public Areas
MSC Cruises' second Seaside EVO class ship, MSC Seascape will debut at PortMiami in November 2022 when it launches. Like sister-ship MSC Seashore, which made its U.S. debut in fall 2021, MSC Seascape will offer 2,270 individual cabins across 12 separate grades of accomodations, including balcony staterooms, suites and MSC's coveted Yacht Club luxury ship-within-a-ship concept.
An increased focus on public rooms that connect with the sea will be showcased aboard MSC Seashore, with some 70 percent of all public spaces being completely redesigned from the ship's predecessors, MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview. But, like its fleetmates, MSC Seascape will offer some of the most distinctive features of this class, including the massive Waterfront promenade and the spectacular glass-floored "Bridge of Sighs" perched 16 decks above the water.
MSC World Europa Will Be a New -- And Bigger -- Class of Cruise Ship for MSC
As if launching MSC Seascape in 2022 wasn’t enough, MSC Cruises is dreaming even bigger with an all-new class of ship. MSC World Europa will carry 5,079 passengers (at full occupancy) and will boast 22 decks, immediately becoming the longest, tallest and largest ship in the entire fleet. The ship launches in December 2022 and is earmarked to sail in the Arabian Gulf.
On a ship this size, you’d expect a ton of fun. MSC World Europa will have several onboard “districts” divided into separate areas. An 11-deck dry slide called The Spiral will be the longest at sea, and new dining venues include Chef’s Garden Kitchen, focusing on microgreens, and La Pescaderia, a traditional seafood grill with alfresco seating. The ship will also be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology.
