6 new cruise ships launching soon
Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are all expanding their fleets


New ships from some of the world's biggest cruise lines are getting ready to set sail in late 2023 and 2024, including Royal Caribbean's record-breaking Icon of the Seas. Come aboard for all the details:
Celebrity Ascent from Celebrity Cruises
Le Voyage on the Celebrity Ascent is Daniel Boulud's second restaurant at sea
The Celebrity Ascent offers a new twist on cruising. Ready to hit the high seas in November, the Ascent has an innovative Resort Deck with a rooftop garden that extends over the water. There's also the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered floating platform where guests can have a drink, listen to live music or just chill, 13 stories above the sea. The Ascent has more room for solo travelers, with double the number of Edge Single Staterooms, while The Retreat offers suite accommodations with butler service and access to a private restaurant, sun deck and lounge.
Seven Seas Grandeur from Regent Seven Seas
The Seven Seas Grandeur has 373 suites, each with a private balcony
The Seven Seas Grandeur promises luxury at all levels. On this 10-deck ship, set to debut in November, each of the 373 suites comes with a furnished private balcony. The Grandeur has a multimillion-dollar art collection, with a one-of-a-kind Fabergé egg called the Journey in Jewels as its sparkling centerpiece. The opulence continues with four new over-the-top shows set to premiere in the Constellation Theater and 130 new dishes being prepared in the ship's restaurants, including several plant-based options.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sun Princess from Princess Cruises
The Sun Princess has 21 decks and room for 4,300 guests
The Sun Princess is for all ages. The top deck of the ship, launching in February 2024, holds Park19, a family entertainment zone featuring the Sea Breeze Rollglider and Infinite Horizon leaning tilt walls. Young cruisers will have three clubs and lounges to explore based on age, while adults looking to relax can explore the Lotus Spa and dive into the infinity pool at Wake View Terrace. The Sun Princess' centerpieces are The Piazza, home to lounges, cafes and bars, and The Dome, where guests can watch three shows created in collaboration with Cirque Éloize.
Icon of the Seas from Royal Caribbean
When the Icon of the Seas, pictured under construction in May 2023, is completed, it will be the world's largest cruise ship
It doesn't get bigger than the Icon of the Seas. When this behemoth starts sailing in 2024, it won't only be the world's largest cruise ship, it will also boast the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-setting slides, including the Frightening Bolt (the tallest waterslide on the ocean) and the Pressure Drop (the first open freefall waterslide on a cruise). For those seeking chill rather than thrill, there will be seven different pools to choose from (the Royal Bay is the largest at sea) and 15 nightlife and live music venues.
Queen Anne from Cunard
The Queens Grill is one of several restaurants on the Queen Anne
Cunard's new queen will be crowned in May 2024. The Queen Anne is the cruise line's 249th ship, and its accommodations range from the comfortable Britannia staterooms to the luxe Queens Grill Suites, which come with butler service, access to the exclusive Queens Grill restaurant, a pillow concierge menu and a well-stocked complimentary mini bar. The Pavilion is where guests will gather for pool time, movie screenings and wellness activities like yoga and meditation. A new Cunard offering is the Bright Lights Society show bar, which plans to have different entertainers and musicians on stage every night to ensure that no two performances are the same.
Silver Ray from Silversea
The Silver Ray is Silversea's second Nova Class ship
The Silver Ray aims to let in the light. There are walls of glass everywhere, including in the new Otium Suites. Each of these suites has a balcony with a whirlpool and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer 270-degree views. The pool deck also has a fresh new layout, with more sunbeds and the largest pool on any Silversea ship. The ship is set to go on its first voyage in summer 2024.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
June 3 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include RFK Jr. and the CDC, Elon Musk's DOGE exit, and Donald Trump versus academic freedom
-
Sail in style onboard the brand-new Explora II
The Week Recommends Hit the high seas on a luxury cruise from Barcelona to Rome
-
Ponant Le Champlain: an immersive Caribbean voyage
The Week Recommends On board the luxury French operator's eight-night cruise from St Lucia to the West Indies
-
A spectacular off-season cruise along the Danube
The Week Recommends Take in vineyard-lined hills and icy castles on a tranquil boat trip from Budapest to Passau
-
The world's best river cruises
The Week Recommends From the Danube to the Nile, these are the most scenic rivers to explore by boat
-
A luxury cruise along the Rhône
The Week Recommends Leave behind the stresses of everyday life on a tranquil boat journey from Avignon to Lyon
-
Despite the pandemic and environmental alarm, the cruise industry is soaring
In the Spotlight Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian all went into 2024 with record high bookings
-
Silversea cruise review: a Central and North American adventure
The Week Recommends An incredible journey featuring cultural exploration, cooking classes, comfort and more
-
How to plan an unforgettable trip to Antarctica
The Week Recommends Everything you need to know about planning an adventure on the ice