A new year means new cruise ships are on the horizon, and 2023 is shaping up to be a significant year for the industry. Several major cruise lines are set to debut new vessels, each offering unique features and experiences.
Let’s look at some of the major cruise lines and see what they have in store for 2023.
Coming December 2023: Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival added the Mardi Gras in 2021 and Celebration in 2022 to their fleet. Now, a third Excel-class ship, Carnival Jubilee, will join the cruise line in December of 2023.
Jubilee is currently under construction in Papenburg, Germany and will be a LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered vessel.
The ship will offer six “zones” in which you will be able to find a variety of fun activities. Bolt, the ultimate Sea Coaster, SkyRide, SportSquare, Waterworks, Ropes Course and Mini Golf.
Emeril, Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer, will have a bistro on the ship. There will also be the familiar Carnival classics like Cucina del Capitano, Seuss at Sea, along with the newer offering of RedFrog Tiki Bar.
With its home port of Galveston, Texas, Jubilee will have a 5,374 passenger capacity. There is also room onboard for 1,735 crew and the ship’s length is 1,130 feet.
Coming Fall of 2023: Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Cruises
Coming in the fall of 2023, Celebrity Ascent is part of the Edge Series Ships and joins Celebrity Edge, Apex and Beyond.
Passengers who book The Retreat on Celebrity Ascent will have an exclusive private restaurant, sundeck and exclusive spaces. The retreat includes two-story Edge Villas with outdoor plunge pools, and a butler comes along with the suite accommodations.
The Ascent will have 32 distinct restaurants, 14 cafes, bars and lunges, 8 specialty restaurants, 4 main dining restaurants, 4 casual dining venues and 2 exclusive restaurants.
Celebrity goes for a more serene feel on its ships, so you won’t find any water slides or rock climbing walls on the Ascent, but there will be plenty of theaters and shows.
At 1,073 feet, the Ascent will hold 3,260 guests in double occupancy cabins.
Coming May 2023: Resilient Lady
Virgin Voyages
Joining Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady is Virgin’s third vessel. Its inaugural voyage will be around the Greek Isles, making stops in Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum and Mykonos when it leaves its home port in Piraeus, Athens.
Resilient Lady will then take a 44 night repositioning voyage, for the winter season in Australia and New Zealand.
This newest ship in Virgin’s fleet has a hydrodynamic hull design, mechanization that reduces emissions and Climeon technology that converts waste heat into clean, carbon-free electricity.
You won’t be short on good views on Resilient Lady as 93% of the cabins offer an ocean view and 86% have an outdoor balcony with Yellow Leaf Hammocks.
You will also have your choice of over 20 Michelin-starred chef collective onboard, with a variety of cuisines from Mexican to Korean BBQ grilling and fresh market fare.
New for Virgin on Resilient Lady will be classic supper club show, Another Rose, where cabaret will meet the theatrical. There will be comedy performances, magic tricks and the Festival Stage that features new talent and performers every few weeks.
Live music is positioned all over the ship and fan favorites like Duel Reality and UNTITLED DANCESHOW PARTYTHING, will also be held on Resilient Lady.
Resilient Lady will carry 2,700 sailors (as the line calls its passengers) and 1,150 crew.
Coming August of 2023: Norwegian Viva
Norwegian Cruise Line
Second in Norwegian’s Prima Class cruise ships, Viva will be the 19th ship in the NCL fleet.
The first cruise itineraries have the Viva sailing through the Mediterranean region of Europe with stops in various countries like Spain, Italy and France. At this point, the earliest you can book on Viva is August 2023.
Norwegian’s Viva will have three of the fastest slides on the ocean, The Drop, The Rush and a free-fall dry slide. At 10-stories tall, these slides are sure to thrill you.
Viva will also have a game gallery with pub darts, mini golf and immersive games. The Viva Speedway has a three-level race track that you can fly around in your own go-kart.
With an aqua park and main pool, Viva will have enough to keep the kiddos busy.
At 965 feet long, the Norwegian Viva will be able to accommodate 3,219 passengers at double occupancy.
Coming June 2023: MSC Euribia
MSC Cruises
MSC Euribia is named after the Greek goddess, Eurybia, who harnessed the winds and weather to master the seas.
MSC also hopes to master the sea with their latest ship that features original works of art, and a hull that is also a visual delight. The ship’s hull has a unique and iconic design by artist Alex Flamig that represents MSC’s dedication to saving the sea.
The LNG powered ship reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and compliments MSC’s environmental stewardship of waste management, wastewater treatment and energy efficiency on the Euribia.
The Euribia offers 5 unique pools, along with one of the biggest waterparks at sea.
Galleria Euribia is one of the longest LED domes on the sea and this indoor promenade has both main and specialty restaurants along with numerous shops.
The Euribia, at 1,085 feet, will hold 6,327 guests and 1,711 crew.
Coming November 2023: Seven Seas Grandeur
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
The luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas will launch a new cruise ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, as a third sister ship to Explorer and Splendor. The maiden voyage will be a week-long journey that travels from Venice to Barcelona.
Regent will offer 15 suite categories. Their most palatial suite is 4,443 square-feet, bigger than many houses. There will also be new restaurant designs, which will include their popular Prime 7 steakhouse and French Chartreuse.
Regent is an all-inclusive cruise line, which means that drinks, dining, WiFi and shore excursions are included in your fare. Also included are the Broadway-style shows in the Constellation Theater.
With a length of 735 feet, and 750 passengers and 542 crew, the Grandeur has one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios in the industry.
What Is On The Horizon?
Royal Caribbean’s Icon Of The Seas – Jan. 2024
The much-anticipated, Icon of the Seas, already has some January and February dates sold out. In fact, the first sailing sold out in less than 24 hours, a history-making event for Royal Caribbean. Featuring what will be the largest water park at sea, the Icon will have six record-breaking slides.
Category 6 is a sprawling water park that includes the slides, the first family raft slide and mat racers. Get up your courage to try the Frighteningbolt, which is the tallest waterslide to sail.
The Pressure Drop is the first open freefall waterslide on any cruise ship. The Icon will also feature the largest pool at sea along with a neighborhood created just for families with areas for all ages.
While there is not much information on dining venues, Chops Grille, will be one of the restaurants available. Deck plans show an eatery called Pearl Cafe, along with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. Izumi, RC’s Japanese specialty restaurant will be located in Central Park on Icon of the Seas, where you will be able to dine on a hibachi or get sushi.
According to deck plans, the Music Hall is a two-story venue located on decks three and four. They will feature live bands and DJS in the evenings.
The Icon, on certain routes, will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. The Icon will carry a capacity of 7,600 passengers.
In Conclusion
As the cruise industry continues to grow and evolve, the delivery of new cruise ships in 2023 is highly anticipated. With cruise lines like MSC Cruises, Celebrity and Carnival debuting new ships, there will be plenty of options for travelers to choose from.
From the luxurious Regent Seven Seas Grandeur to the environmentally conscious MSC Euribia, each ship offers unique features and amenities that cater to different types of travelers.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation or a romantic getaway, there’s a new cruise ship that will meet your needs.
With new ships that offer advanced technology, sustainability, and innovative design, travelers can look forward to an unforgettable cruising experience in 2023 and beyond.
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About
Joy is the Co-Founder & Content Manager/Expert for CruisePortAdvisor.com and one of the founders of the site. She loves to travel, sing & bake.
