Cruise Ships to Look Forward to in 2022

There’s lots for cruise goers to look forward to in 2022 including brand new ocean-going cruise ships that run the gamut from big to small, and include a number of highly-anticipated first-in-class ships.

Practically every category of the cruise industry will see the entry of at least one new ship, giving cruisers a wide range of new choices to experience.

Viking Octantis, Viking Polaris

New ships from Viking Cruises aren’t as exciting as they once were, but Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris aren’t like any of Viking’s previous vessels. The line’s first polar class ships, the 378-passenger sister ships represent Viking’s entry into expedition cruising. Both will feature the Scandinavian aesthetic past Viking Ocean cruisers are familiar with, but will also introduce new spaces designed with expedition cruising in mind.

Highlights

The Hangar: An in-ship marina that makes it easier for people to get in and out of the ships’ fleets of Zodiacs, RIBs (rapid inflatable boats) and Arctic-tested kayaks, away from wind and waves.

The Laboratory: A working space for Viking Resident Scientists to do real-time research. Cruisers will have supervised access to The Laboratory to learn from and participate with the scientists.

Nordic Balconies: A sunroom (found in all cabins on both ships) that converts into an al fresco viewing platform with the touch of a button.

Submarines: Each ship will also have two six-guest submarines that feature revolving seats and 270-degree spherical windows.

Emerald Azzurra

The 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra will be river cruise operator Emerald Cruises’ first ocean-going vessel. The ship, which the company refers to as a superyacht, will sail the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black and Red Seas.

Highlights

Marina Platform: Used for water fun like paddle boarding and snorkeling, as well as for boarding the ship’s fleet of three tenders and two Zodiacs.

Spacious Cabins: The smallest cabin onboard is more than 285-square-feet in size and 88% of the cabins have a balcony.

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas, the fifth in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, will be the line’s largest ship to date (and the biggest in the world) when it debuts in March, capable of holding 6,988 passengers. It’ll also be the first Oasis-class ship with eight neighborhoods, rather than seven.

Highlights

Suite Class Neighborhood: A keycard-accessible area with the ship’s best suites, the Coastal Kitchen suite’s only restaurant, and an elevated Suite Sun Deck, complete with plunge pool and bar.

The Vue: This cantilevered pool bar is an all-new concept for Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Staples: FlowRider, Ultimate Abyss, Perfect Storm waterslides, 150 Central Park, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, The Lime & Coconut, Schooner Bar, Playmakers, etc.

Discovery Princess 

When it launches, Discovery Princess will be the sixth and final ship in Princess’ Royal class.  It will be similar to Enchanted Princess, but will not have a Bistro Sur La Mer.

Highlights

Gigi’s Pizza: This pizzeria takes the place of Alfredo’s.

Salty Dog Gastropub: A gastropub experience developed by Chef Ernesto Uchimura.

Take Five: A atmospheric bar where live jazz and craft cocktails are the main attractions.

Seabourn Venture

One of the first of the luxury lines to announce it was building upscale expedition cruise ships, Seabourn’s entry into expedition was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled to launch in 2021, the all-suite, all-balcony Seabourn Venture is instead debuting in 2022. 

Highlights

High-tech Equipment: Among the high-tech equipment onboard will be two six-person submarines and an underwater camera that will stream footage into the onboard Discovery Center.

Zodiacs: There will be 24 Zodiac boats, enough for every passenger to get off the ship at the same time, which is nearly unheard of in the expedition cruising segment.

Constellation Lounge: The highest indoor viewing point on the ship, this lounge will feature floor-to-ceiling glass walls offering a 270-degree view.

Expedition Team: Every sailing will carry 26 expedition guides who will offer lectures and lead shore excursions.

Celebrity Beyond

The third in Celebrity’s Edge Class of ship, Celebrity Beyond will be different enough from its sister ships to make it a noteworthy debut in 2022. Longer and taller than the first two Edge-class ships, Celebrity Beyond will do everything just a bit bigger.

Highlights

Sunset Bar: The popular sunset bar will span two decks on Celebrity Beyond.

Larger Resort Deck: The Resort Deck, which is much too small on Edge and Apex, will be 40% larger on Celebrity Beyond.

Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud: The first at-sea restaurant from the famed restauranteur.

Edge Villas: The two-story Edge Villas will be expanded to make room for a private outdoor plunge pool.

Evrima

The launch date for the much anticipated first vessel in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has been pushed back numerous times, but it seems likely to finally debut in 2022. The 298-passenger yacht-like ship has been designed to bring the upscale brand’s distinguished atmosphere to the sea.

Highlights

Dining Variety: There will be five restaurants to choose from including Mistral, an al fresco Mediterranean-inspired venue, and S.E.A., an extra-fee restaurant created by Sven Elverfeld, of the three Michelin-starred Aqua at The Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Aft Marina: The marina will feature a variety of water toys to choose from for days at anchor. It will also provide plenty of space for lounging for those who wish to relax.

Disney Wish

Disney Wish is one of the most anticipated cruise ships for 2022. The first new ship from Disney Cruise Line since Disney Fantasy launched in 2012, Disney Wish will be the first of three new ships. It will have 1,254 staterooms of which 70% will have a balcony and 451 will offer a connecting door.

Highlights

New Cabin Categories: Debuting on Disney Wish will be a cabin category of seven oceanview rooms located directly above the bridge. Each will feature floor-to-ceiling windows for a panoramic view. The ship will also have a new Royal Suites category with a Sleeping Beauty theme.

AquaMouse: A water coaster ride that combines animated shorts, lighting and special effects.

Pools: There will be six pools onboard including a Toy Story-themed space for younger kids.

“Frozen” Restaurant: The “Frozen”-themed dining venue will feature characters from the movie.

Marvel Restaurant: This main dining room will have diners engaging in an interactive Avengers mission while they dine.

Norwegian Prima

Another of the most anticipated cruise ships in 2022 is Norwegian Prima. The first in an all-new class of vessel, Prima will be the line’s most upscale to date, while still maintaining the NCL passion for freestyle cruising – do what you want, when you want to.

Highlights

Go-Kart Racetrack: The racetrack on Norwegian Prima will be three levels and almost a quarter-mile in length, the largest yet for the line.

The Drop: A freefall dry slide that plunges riders down 10-stories on the outside of the ship.

Glass Bridge: The ship’s Waterfront will feature a glass-bottomed section to give cruisers an un-impeded view of the ocean below.

Galaxy Pavilion: Norwegian Prima will be the third ship in the NCL fleet to have this virtual gaming complex, which will also feature two escape rooms.

Tidal Wave: Along with the line’s signature Aqua Park, Norwegian Prima will have a Tidal Wave inner tube waterslide.

Food Hall: A new concept for the line, the Food Hall will feature separate sit-down venues, each with a distinctive cuisine style.

“Summer”: Prima’s main entertainment space will be part Broadway-style theater, part Vegas-style nightclub and home to “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.”

Carnival Celebration

Sister ship to Carnival’s first XL-class ship, the 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration will have most of the same fun features currently found on Mardi Gras, along with all of Carnival’s signature attractions. But the ship will also have a few just-on-Celebration venues, which the line plans to announce in early 2022. 

Highlights

Zones: Like Mardi Gras, Celebration features six themed zones, each with its own eateries, bars and attractions.

BOLT: A roller coaster experience at sea that debuted first on Mardi Gras.

RedFrog Tiki Bar: A two-deck high pool bar.

Shaq’s Big Chicken: A free all-chicken venue helmed by Carnival Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O'Neal.

Dream Vacations - The Operach Team is a travel agency based in Overland Park, Kansas. We take pride in working with clients across the country who love to travel. We build vacation experiences that will create memories to last a lifetime.  Our team has specialties across a wide range of vacation options; custom Europe itineraries, Alaska, escorted tours, all-inclusive resorts, Disney, Caribbean, Hawaii, South Pacific, cruise holidays, and river cruises.   

We look forward to making your dream vacations come true!! 

Our Summer Iceland and Ireland Adventure

Time flies!  We had told both our boys years ago that for their graduation gift we will take them anywhere in the world they want to visit.   Well our oldest is now at K State and his request was Iceland and Ireland.   So off we went sailing on the wonderful Celebrity Reflection for 12 days visiting these exciting destinations. 

Our first destination - Belfast N. Ireland

What a great day on our Game of Thrones Tour with the Giants Causeway.  Our guide was the driver for many of the GOT stars and was full of inside information!

Iceland and ATV'ing in Reykjavik

Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik

Arriving into Akureyri

4X4 into the remoteness of Akureyri

On to Lake Myvatn Area

Two Tectonic Plates - one foot in North America land mass and the other Eurasian! 

Ending back in Ireland with Cobh, Kinsale, and Blarney

We did not have a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone but we did kiss in front of Blarney Castle instead. 

Dream Vacations - The Operach Team is a travel agency based in Overland Park, Kansas. We take pride in working with clients across the country who love to travel. We build vacation experiences that will create memories to last a lifetime.  Our team has specialties across a wide range of vacation options; custom Europe itineraries, Alaska, escorted tours, all-inclusive resorts, Disney, Caribbean, Hawaii, South Pacific, cruise holidays, and river cruises.   

We look forward to making your dream vacations come true!! 

Now That’s Entertainment

Cruise lines have really turned up the heat on their entertainment.  From Cirque acrobatics to full-scale Broadway productions, the top quality entertainment now featured on many ships is nothing short of astonishing.

CELEBRITY

Celebrity Cruises raises the entertainment bar in its main theater with custom-created productions Pulse, Remix, and Edge as well as tribute shows channeling the high energy and style of Broadway, London’s West End and Las Vegas.  Award winning European-style circus shows have also proven to be huge hits.  Their newest editions are Sin City a late-night comedy show aboard Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Solstice, 54 below, a cabaret-style club featuring Broadway style theater aboard the Celebrity Summit.  Also the Hot Glass Show, featuring stunning live glassblowing demonstrations on many Solstice class ships.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

The only cruise line offering Tony Award-winning musicals, Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas feature Hairspray, Chicago, and Saturday Night Fever  as well as custom-designed production extravaganzas, well known bands, singers, and comedians. Mamma Mia! will debut on the new Quantum of the Seas. With the only at-sea ice shows on Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager class ships, Royal Caribbean also offers AquaTheater dive shows with dancers, divers, acrobats, backlit fountains and gigantic screens on Oasis class.

Kid-cruisers on select ships love the wandering characters from Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda, Dreamworks Animation parades,  and the How to Train Your Dragon ice show.


DISNEY CRUISE LINE

The crown prince of entertainment, Disney Cruises has a non-stop parade of roaming characters, princess breakfasts, and Broadway style musicals featuring classic Disney elements and tunes custom-created for their four ships.  From Aladdin to Mickey Mouse, live shows to first run movies and up close and personal celebrity shoulder rubbing,  Disney has it all.


PRINCESS CRUISES


Although its Signature Shows are always a wow, their unique feature is the Movies Under the Stars program, a chance to enjoy a blockbuster Hollywood movie in the fresh night air.  When the skies darken, guests snuggle under cozy blankets and munch on popcorn, warm cookies, and milk in the 300 square foot 69,000-watt poolside top deck movie theater.

NFL fans can also enjoy Monday Night Football Under the Stars.

Not all entertainment happens at night!  ScholarShip@Sea program, a collection of more than 40 classes that run the gamut from engaging lectures on history and culture to Zumba, card making, wine tasting, pop choir, and more.


NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES

Norwegian Cruise Lines has a stunning entertainment lineup including Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Burn the Floor, and Rock of Ages.  On select ships, guests laugh along with Second City, the world-renowned improv comedy troupe that spawned comedic superstars.

Music fans will love listening to the Blues at Fat Cats Club and dueling pianos in Howl at the Moon.  Norwegian also boasts the longest running live musical tribute show in entertainment history Legends in Concert featuring perfectionists celebrity tribute artists such as Whoopi Goldberg,  Jimmy Buffet, Donna Summer, and Michael Jackson.

Cruise Trends for 2014

The New Year brings some exciting times and some changes to the cruise industry.  The industry is ever evolving and gets better every year.  Whether that is enhanced technology, new entertainment, new EPA regulations, better port destinations, or more dining options there is a cruise to fit every taste and budget. Let’s see what you should be expecting in 2014:


More Short Cruise Options 

Cruise lines are offering more three-, four- and five-night itineraries as they continue adding options for families and first-time cruisers interested in testing the waters and those simply looking for a quick, affordable getaway. Many cruise lines have already added more short cruises to their schedules for 2014 and are actually using bigger, refurbished vessels for the routes.  Celebrity Constellation, which received Solstice-class enhancements in April 2013, will return to Fort Lauderdale in November 2014 to offer four- and five-night itineraries.  Also offering short cruises from Florida will be Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess out of Fort Lauderdale;  Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, which will be joining Majesty of the Seas in Miami. The newly refurbished Disney Magic will also be a fantastic option out of Miami.   If the itineraries prove popular, we expect more cruise lines to expand their short cruising options and the sailings to attract a diverse passenger base.


More Outdoor Entertainment and Options 

Cruising offers passengers a myriad of dining and entertainment options, as well as ample opportunity to experience the open sea. As lines experiment with combining these elements, there should be an increase in the presence of alfresco eateries and activity options in 2014.   Breakaway and sister Getaway have multiple decks of outdoor activities that include waterslides, a ropes course, mini-golf and rock climbing, as well as Spice H2O, an outdoor adults-only party space, and The Waterfront, an outdoor promenade lined with bars and restaurants.

Royal Princess' Fountain Pool area boasts a dancing fountain, set to music and colored lights at nighttime; the new ship also features the Lawn Court for bocce and croquet, as well as the line's first SeaWalk, a glass-floored walkway that's cantilevered over the side of the ship.  In 2014, Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas will include an H2O Zone water park, along with a skydiving experience that will be housed on the ship's outdoor sports areas and a transparent pod that offers "flights" above the ship; while not technically outdoors, the ride will offer amazing views of sea and sky.  And Viking River Cruises, which launched 10 ships in 2013 and will turn out am amazing 16 in 2014, offers the popular Aquavit Terrace, an indoor-outdoor space for dining and lounging with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors.


Cruise Lines Will Continue to Differentiate Their Brands

Years ago the mainstream lines were very similar to each other.   They all had pools, cabins with balconies and one or two specialty restaurants.  Over the past few years, each line has focused on their core strategies, which is highlighted by new ship attractions and the new ship features that get rolled out to older ships.

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are focusing on entertainment with Broadway and other innovative performances, as well as onboard active experiences like ropes courses, skydiving and rock climbing. Norwegian's Freestyle Cruising concept sets the two apart.

Carnival is concentrating on value oriented mass-appeal dining establishments and lots of name-brand partnerships.  Celebrity is focusing on its foodie atmosphere with more upscale eateries and dynamic bar environments.  Holland America and Princess remain the traditionalists, with Princess expanding on its previous innovations, such as its Piazza, and reaching out to a slightly younger audience than Holland.  Holland has upped its game when it comes to dining, offering Le Cirque at sea, and it has invested in popular jazz and Dancing with the Stars theme cruises.


Cruise Lines Enhance Smoking Policies 

After several cruises line, including Royal Caribbean, Disney and Cunard, tightened onboard smoking restrictions in 2013, Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line became the last two major cruise companies to allow smoking on balconies. We expect that to change in 2014, as pressure from nonsmoking passengers continues to grow. We also predict the last cruise line to allow smoking in cabins, Crystal Cruises, to change that policy.


Numerous Dining Options Will Continue 

In the coming year, expect to see more and more dining venues onboard new and refurbished cruise ships. Gone are the days of just one or two alternative restaurants. It's now firmly established that a plethora of eateries is the way to go. A variety of culinary offerings ensures cruisers' will never be bored.

The notion of what constitutes a specialty restaurant is also expanding. Fine-dining venues like Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's Ocean Blue on Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway and Le Cirque on Holland America ships offer foodies the chance to splurge on gourmet courses. International cuisine continues to have an onboard presence, too, with French and Italian staples being joined by Asian, Mexican, Brazilian and Indian venues. A la carte seems to be a growing trend while fee-free eateries like Carnival's Blue Iguana Cantina and Fat Jimmy's C-Side BBQ and Royal Caribbean's Boardwalk Dog House, for example, give passengers an alternative to the main dining room or buffet.  We anticipate more partnerships with land-based chefs and restaurants, alfresco venues and fun, creative offerings.


Telecommunications Improve 

Guests love to stay connected to their family and friends.  Many cruise lines have started to update their communication infrastructure, while also testing new hardware to provide faster, more reliable and less expensive onboard Internet and mobile calling capabilities.  In 2014, we expect to see the lines move from testing to actually offering faster service and less expensive Internet packages onboard.


New EPA Fuel Rules Will Prompt New Technology -- or More U.S. Cruise Pullouts 

This is the last year cruise ships sailing along the U.S. and Canadian borders can operate on current fuel standards (1.0 percent sulfur) before the Environmental Protection Agency's new regulations (0.1 percent sulfur) kick in January 2015. In other words, cruise lines need to find ways to comply if they want to continue offering destinations like Alaska, Canada and New England that lie within the North American Emission Control Area. To adhere to the EPA's new regulations, cruise lines will have to endure higher costs for low-sulfur fuel.

Cruise lines are investing time and money in scrubbing technology (engine devices that naturally reduce sulfur emissions), a method that major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, already have been testing on some ships. Scrubbers would allow cruise ships to continue burning high-sulfur, low-cost fuel while producing cleaner exhaust. However, they haven't been proven to operate consistently over a long period of time.  It remains a possibility that we will see cruise lines pulling ships out of ports that are no longer cost efficient.   If scrubbing technology continues to show positive results, cruise lines that pull out of coastal sailings in the short term should return to those destinations.


Choose Your Perks 

Cruise lines that include Celebrity, Holland America and Princess rolled out promotions in 2013 that not only offered multiple bonuses but also gave guests their choice of amenity.  From options like onboard credit, complimentary specialty restaurant dinners, free drink packages and prepaid gratuities, you could choose your preferred reward or, depending on the deal, receive all of the above.

Celebrity Cruises' 123go! started the trend in 2013 and has a new offer for booking through 2/28/14.  The promotion offers a choice of one of three bonuses, with Europe cruisers getting to pick two of the three. This type of promotion was so popular other lines such as Princess and Holland offered their own version.  We expect these sales to be pop up throughout the year.


River Cruising Grows  

River cruising is the fastest growing type of cruise -- lines are continuing to add more ships to meet the increased demand. Across the globe, there are 36 new ships scheduled to debut in 2014, from Asia to Europe and the United States. And what this expansion means for guests is more and better choices, particularly when it comes to how much you want included in the price of your river cruise.

In 2014, cruisers will have more choice for both all-inclusive cruises, as well as more a la carte options. At the top end of the pricing spectrum, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection -- which already includes flights, shore excursions, transfers and free Wi-Fi in its pricing -- will also bundle drinks and gratuities into the overall fare.  The biggest name in the mid-priced tier of river cruises, Viking Cruises, is continuing with its traditional onboard offerings (price includes shore excursions and beer and wine at meal times), but it will be undergoing another huge expansion in 2014, adding 14 new ships and new itineraries in France and Southeast Asia.