Princess Cruises is set to bolster its Alaska offerings in 2026 with the addition of what will be the line’s newest ship, Star Princess, sailing the Great Land from Seattle.
The cruise line typically deploys seven ships to Alaska, as it did in 2024 and will again in 2025, but will boost the number to eight in 2026.
The vessels will offer 180 departures and call at 19 destinations, including 20 cruisetour options to inland areas and national parks.
The 175,500-gross ton Star Princess, now under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, is the line’s second Sphere-class ship following Sun Princess, which debuted in February 2024.
Star Princess Cruise Ship (Render Credit: Princess Cruises)
Alaska cruises in 2026 will range from 7 to 20 days, and feature popular ports of call, remote destinations, and the famous cruising grounds of the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay National Park, and other areas.
“The deployment of the magnificent Star Princess to Alaska for the first time will offer guests unprecedented views, luxurious accommodations, and the finest food, beverages and entertainment ever seen in the Great Land,” said John Padgett.
“Our guests will experience Alaska like never before aboard our innovative Sphere-class ship,” added Padgett.
The 4,300-guest Star Princess originally was slated to launch in July 2025 but her introduction was delayed to September 2025. She is currently scheduled to enter service on September 26, 2025, and will be home-ported in Fort Lauderdale.
The ship will sail Caribbean voyages through March 2026, when she will reposition to Seattle for her inaugural season in Alaska.
Along with Star Princess, other ships that will deploy to Alaska in summer 2026 include Emerald Princess, Island Princess, Grand Princess, Royal Princess, Discovery Princess, Ruby Princess, and Coral Princess.
The cruise line will open bookings for sale on August 1, 2024, with a time-limited fare promotion on bookings made by September 2, 2024. It includes the line’s “Better Than Best Price Guarantee,” which pledges to provide 120% of the price difference as an onboard credit if a lower rate is found before the guest makes final payment.
Sample itineraries in the 2026 Alaska series include 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers sailings and a 14-day Voyage of the Glaciers Grand Adventure.
Seven- to 20-day cruises along the Inside Passage, featuring up to four glacier-viewing opportunities, are offered from multiple homeports, including Seattle, aboard Royal Princess and Star Princess; San Francisco, aboard Ruby Princess; and Vancouver, British Columbia, and Los Angeles, aboard Emerald Princess.
The longer itineraries include a 20-day Ultimate Alaska Solstice journey on Ruby Princess roundtrip from San Francisco and a 16-day Inside Passage Cruise on Emerald Princess from the Port of Los Angeles.
Cruisetours, Cultural Program Offer Destination Immersion
Onboard each of the ships, guests will enjoy cultural immersion experiences with the line’s “North to Alaska” program, which features educational activities, lectures by naturalists, a Northern Lights planetarium event, and cuisine that brings fresh Alaska seafood into the ship’s dining venues. The ship also will offer the cruise line’s popular Junior Ranger program for youngsters.
Princess Cruises in Alaska (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Princess Cruises in 2026 will offer guests 20-plus cruisetour land programs, which highlight Denali National Park and other pristine destinations.
A sample 15-night National Parks Tour offers guests access to five popular parks in the Great Land, including Glacier Bay, Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Skagway.
The cruisetour is a combination 7-day voyage and 8-night land tour, with transportation by rail and accommodations at four wilderness lodges that Princess Cruises owns.
Fans of the hit TV show “Golden Girls” have one last chance to experience the popular Golden Girls Fan Cruise, sailing from Fort Lauderdale aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection on March 9, 2025.
Organized by Flip Phone Events, the 6-night sailing will be the final Golden Girls theme cruise, following five successful “Golden Fans at Sea” voyages the company has sponsored in past years. The popularity of the cruises is considerable, with more than 1,000 guests sailing on previous “Golden Girls” theme sailings.
Flip Phone Events specializes in staging themed vacations and LGBTQ-Plus events, such as drag shows, dance parties, and holiday tours.
Golden Girls Cruise
The “Golden Girls” sitcom, which debuted in 1985, ran for seven seasons, and won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards, starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty as four retired women sharing a home.
The “Golden Fans at Sea” cruise is designed as a celebration of the show and a tribute to the actors, all of whom have died. The show’s original writer, Stan Zimmerman, will be a special guest onboard, and other special guests will be announced in the coming months.
Many events are planned, including trivia games, dance parties with music from the 1980s, panel discussions, pool parties, music and karaoke, bingo games, and character costume competitions.
Sailing from Port Everglades, cruisers who book the Golden Fans at Sea voyage will visit Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Mexico, and Bimini, Bahamas. Fares, starting at $1,694 per person, double, cover all drinks and meals, WiFi, crew gratuities, and all themed activities.
Besides hosting previous “Golden Girls” theme cruises, Flip Phone Events, working with Prysm Management, also has created special cruises onboard Celebrity Cruises’ ships tied to other hit TV shows.
In January 2024, the companies hosted “Wives at Sea: A Housewives Fan Cruise,” celebrating the popular “Real Housewives” series, onboard Celebrity Silhouette. It was a 4-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale calling at Cozumel.
And in March 2023, a “Schitt’s Creek” fan celebration cruise, “Moira’s Party Boat,” was held onboard Celebrity Summit. Sailing from Miami, the 4-night sailing that called at Key West and the Bahamas featured themed events such as a costume party and pool party.
Celebrity Reflection Offers 7 Suite Categories
Guests booking the 2025 “Golden Girls” cruise will sail aboard Celebrity Reflection, the largest of Celebrity Cruises’ five Solstice-class ships. The 126,000-gross ton ship that accommodates 3,000 guests in double occupancy, entered service in 2012.
The 17-deck ship offers three stateroom categories, inside, oceanview, and veranda, and seven categories of suites, including Sky Suites, Aqua Sky Suites, Celebrity Suites, Signature, Suites, Royal Suites, Penthouse Suites, and the top-level Reflection Suites.
Celebrity Reflection Cruise Ship in the Caribbean (Photo Credit: Khairil Azhar Junos)
All suite guests are located within the ship’s private area, called The Retreat, which offers access to a private lounge and restaurant. Guests can indulge in relaxing treatments at the ship’s Canyon Ranch Spa.
The ship features 13 dining venues, including six specialty restaurants: Le Petite Chef at Qsine, Murano, Tuscan Grille, Lawn Club Grill, The Porch, and Sushi on Five.
Guests who travel with children for the “Golden Girls” celebration cruise will find plenty for youngsters onboard Celebrity Reflection. The Camp at Sea program is geared to kids ages 3 to 12, with supervised activities that include sports and competitions.
The ship also features Teens Club, a dedicated space where teens can participate in video game tournaments, dances, and other events.
Celebrity Reflection is based year-round in Fort Lauderdale, and operates 3- to 10-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises.
MSC Cruises has revealed details about The Harbour, a new outdoor space designed for kids and families on the upcoming MSC World America.
The new ship, currently under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipbuilders in France, will begin its voyages from Miami in April 2025, introducing guests to new venues and concepts tailored to the U.S. cruise market.
You can take a look at the new outdoor features in the video below:
Located on the ship’s open-top deck, The Harbour promises stunning ocean views and a range of attractions. Key features include The Harbour Aquapark, offering thrilling water slides and splash areas, including a 90-degree vertical drop slide, a raft slide with virtual reality technology, and a dual racing slide.
A dry slide, Jaw Drop @ The Spiral, will be one of the longest at sea. It will spiral down 11 decks from the top deck through the ship’s center to the World Promenade. This slide, entered through the jaws of a fake shark, will also provide glimpses of sea views and alternate between light and dark.
Also providing thrills will be the one-of-a-kind over-water swing ride at sea, the Cliffhanger. The ride for four will propel guests over the edge of the ship in a motorized swing-like experience.
MSC World America Outdoor Features
Additional attractions include a rock-climbing wall and a 6,210-square-foot dual-level High Trail ropes course. Here, two Sky Rails will offer zip-line-like rides to get the adrenaline pumping while testing balance.
Also a feature of the new outdoor area is The Harbour Light House playground. This area will offer play areas and a slide modeled after MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve’s iconic lighthouse in the Bahamas. Lighting up like a real lighthouse beacon, kids can climb the lighthouse before swirling down.
“The Harbour will keep going from day into night, with musicians providing live performances for parents while children and teenagers continue to enjoy the attractions,”MSC Cruises announced.
MSC World America The Harbour Bar and Bites
Families can also find food and relaxation in The Harbor, with complimentary grab-and-go food and drinks located at the new Harbour Bar & Bites. There will also be family “dwelling area” with seating and shade to enjoy the views together.
The Family Aventura District
The Harbor will be part of MSC World America’s Family Aventura district, one of seven districts aboard the ship, that also includes the Doremiland kids area and the Sportsplex.
Spreading across 7,500 square feet, Doremiland will be the largest kids club in MSC Cruises’ fleet. The expansive space is divided into different areas tailored to various age groups, including the Baby Club for children 0 to 3 and the Mini Club, catering to children aged 3 to 6. Each features colorful play areas and interactive games.
For children aged 7 and older, Doremiland will provide a Junior Club for ages up to 11, the Young Club for preteens 12 to 14, and a Teens Club for ages 15 to 17. These spaces will offer LEGO experiences, building challenges, video games, movies, and social areas to hang out.
Meanwhile, the Sportsplex will provide a versatile space for active recreation for guests of all ages. The area will be equipped with facilities for various sports, including basketball, soccer, and tennis.
When completed in 2025, MSC World America will be a 215,863 gross ton World class ship, joining the sister ship MSC Europa and matching in size and passenger capacity.
Accommodating up to 6,732 passengers and 2,138 crew members across 22 decks, the vessel is slated to embark on its first cruise, a 7-day Eastern Caribbean voyage, on April 12, 2025. Prior to its sailing, it will host a christening and namingcelebration at PortMiami.
Two additional World class ships are scheduled to arrive in 2026 and 2027.
If anyone knows how to make a grand entrance, it’s Disney Cruise Line. The family-friendly cruise linewill be debuting the third Wish-class ship – Disney Destiny – in an unforgettable fashion in just under a week’s time.
The special 3-day reveal event will kick off on July 30, 2024 and last through August 1, 2024, and will pay homage to the “heroes vs. villains” that inspired the theme of the 4,000-passenger vessel.
“There are two sides to every story. The magic happens where the two meet. Where heroes meet villains—and that’s aboard the all-new Disney Destiny. Here, magic and mischief collide for a celebration of bold heroes and villains from beloved Disney, Pixar and Marvel films, and classic Disney Park attractions,”the cruise line wrote in an email blast.
While each Disney vessel gets a special theme, the new ship will be filled with adventure and lore of the Walt Disney company’s most beloved heroes and love-to-hate villains that will help every guest discover their own inner hero.
While the full schedule of events has not yet been released, the festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The entire event will also be held virtually on the Disney Parks Blog.
Each day, DCL will reveal new details about how classic Disney characters and stories will come alive on the highly anticipated ship.
As the 144,000 gross-ton vessel is still in the early days of construction at Germany’s Meyer Werft Shipyard in March of 2024, this is really the soonest opportunity that DCL has had to reveal the future sister of Disney Wish and Disney Treasure – which is slated to enter service at the end of 2025.
In fact, the new Disney Treasure, which will enter service one year sooner in December of 2024, was floated a bit early within the shipyard (ahead of the traditional float out ceremony) to make room for Disney Destiny in dry dock at the end of March 2024, allowing construction to begin.
Bookings For Disney Destiny’s Inaugural Season Launching Soon
For cruisers who want to be among the first to sail onboard Disney Destiny, they’ll get their opportunity to secure these big-ticket reservations shortly.
Bookings will open to the general public on August 9, 2024, after an early tiered booking opportunity is offered to members of Disney’s Castaway Club.
The Castaway Club is Disney’s tiered loyalty program that rewards guestsas they embark on more sailings. All guests are automatically enrolled after their first voyage, with the perks increasing incrementally by the number of Disney cruises taken.
However, DCL fans can’t start planning just yet. The itineraries for the 1,555-crew vessel have not yet been revealed – but will likely be one of the nuggets of information that is shared during the 3-day “Heroes and Villains” event.
In fact, the date and itinerary of the new cruise ship’s historic maiden voyage are yet to be released – although the ship’s delivery date has been set for December of 2025, meaning the inaugural sailing will likely embark then, too.
While not confirmed by the cruise line, early cruise tracking data suggests that the ship is slated to homeport in Florida’s PortMiami– at least initially – from where she is expected to operate roundtrip cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
We’ll likely find out if these prospective sailings are rumors or fact very soon – and certainly with enough time to get travel plans in order for when bookings open.
Utopia of the Seas, the sixth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class, debuted in July 2024, sailing its inaugural season from Port Canaveral, Florida. At the time, it made waves for a multitude of reasons, including new features and weekend-friendly itineraries.
However, there was one thing that really made this ship stand out: the Utopia of the Seas size. This ship is massive and, at debut, was the second-largest ship in the world. Just how big is it? Here’s everything you need to know.
Utopia of the Seas is a giant cruise ship constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France. It is 236,473 gross tons, 1,188 feet long, 211 feet wide, and has 18 decks, 16 of which are for guests. The sixth oasis-class vessel also has a passenger capacity of 5,668 at double occupancy and 2,290 crew members.
The Oasis class has never been shy of setting size records, however. The lead ship, Oasis of the Seas, was the largest passenger ship in the world when it debuted in 2009, and Oasis-class ships have only increased in size since then.
However, just what can you expect when considering Utopia of the Seas’ size? Let’s get more detailed about the impressive stats.
Utopia of the Seas Stats
Utopia of the Seas Gross Tonnage
To start, the ship measures in at a total of 236,473 GT, or gross tonnage. Gross tonnage is a type of measurement that looks at a ship’s internal volume. Each “gross ton” is the equivalent of 100 cubic feet of interior closed space.
Utopia of the Seas is just about a thousand more GT than its sister ship, Wonder of the Seas, which debuted in 2022, but still about 12,000 fewer GT than the largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas.
Utopia of the Seas Length
The ship is 1,188 feet long, so about a quarter of a mile long. If you were to walk the entire length of the ship, end to end, it would take you about 10–15 minutes, so long as you didn’t stop to look around (which is admittedly hard given all this ship’s cool features).
As for height, Utopia of the Seas is about 240 feet tall. That averages out to about the same size as a 24-story building (or taller than the Statue of Liberty, if you’re just looking at at the height of the statue itself, and not the base!).
Utopia of the Seas Size Comparison
Want a quick look at how Utopia of the Seas size stacks up against other large cruise ships, beyond the Royal Caribbean fleet?
Gross Tons
Length
Staterooms
Passenger capacity at double occupancy
Utopia of the Seas
236,473
1,188 ft.
2,834
5,668
Icon of the Seas
248,663
1,196 ft.
2,805
5,610
Carnival Jubilee
182,015
1,132 ft.
2,626
5,228
MSC World Europa
215,863
1,094 ft.
2,626
5,224
Utopia of the Seas Capacity
A ship of this size can accommodate a lot of passengers, as you’d expect. Utopia of the Seas fits 5,668 passengers at double occupancy. This means that, if every stateroom or suite on the ship has two people staying in them, then the ship can hold 5,228 people.
Of course, as any avid cruiser knows, it’s not typically the case that passengers are so equally divided across a ship. Many suites will have several people or even entire groups in them, while some smaller staterooms may only have one cruiser.
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas
However, the double occupancy passenger capacity provides you with a good average of what to expect, in terms of how many people will be on a cruise. So, if you plan on taking a Utopia of the Seas cruise, plan to do so with about five thousand other people.
All those passengers are going to need some care and attention, and that’s where the crew comes in. Utopia of the Seas is staffed by 2,290 international crew members, which works out to about one crew member for every two to three passengers.
Utopia of the Seas Cabins
All those people have to stay somewhere. On Utopia of the Seas, you’ll find 2,834 staterooms, but there are many, many different types of staterooms on this ship, including 168 oceanview rooms, 1,918 balcony staterooms, and 176 suites.
Beyond these general categories, the staterooms can be broken down even further. For example, there are…
Studio Single Cabins
These cabins can technically fit two cruisers, but are ideal for single cruisers as they can be booked at a single-occupancy rate, so you can avoid that pesky fee that often comes with booking a cruise ship cabin meant for multiple people as a solo traveler (called a single supplement).
Interior Cabin
These cabins range from about 95 to 105 square feet, depending on if you have a window or not.
Virtual Balcony interior cabins
While not a feature that’s on all Royal Caribbean ships, Utopia of the Seas does include a few virtual balcony interior cabins. While the virtual balcony feature isn’t exactly new anymore, it is still a cool touch if you’ve never stayed in a room with one before.
Essentially, a large screen projects real-time, outside views, onto your wall, as if you were looking out a balcony window. These cabins range from 150 to 170 square feet.
Spacious Interior Family Cabins
These slightly larger interior cabins, with 270 square feet, are made with families in mind, and feature bunk beds.
Boardwalk, Central Park and Promenade View Interior Cabins
Throughout a few of the ship’s neighborhoods (which we’ll cover in just a moment), there are cabins that are technically interior cabins, but they have large windows that overlook the neighborhood scenery.
These are a nice option if you want a little extra light and less boxy feel than you might get with a standard interior room, but do note that they may come with extra noise from the surrounding neighborhood.
These cabins measure in at around 180 square feet, so they’re slightly larger than the virtual balcony interior cabins.
Boardwalk and Central Park Balcony Cabins
Boardwalk Balcony Cabin
Similarly, and at just a bit larger (190 square feet inside, 50 square feet outside), these cabins feature balconies, but rather than the balconies facing the ocean, they overlook the neighborhood that they’re situated in. So, your boardwalk view balcony would overlook the boardwalk, for example.
Oceanview Cabins
Just what they sound like, these classic cabins offer windows that face the ship’s exterior, for ocean views. They’re around 175–185 square feet.
Oceanview Cabins
Family Oceanview Cabins
These cabins are a little larger, at 285 to 365 square feet, and actually offer a second bedroom, as well as a double sofa bed in the living space.
Spacious Ocean View Balcony Cabin
These ocean view balcony cabins offer the furnished, large balcony that you’d expect, but the verandahs are a little on the larger side, compared to what you might get with a balcony cabin facing the boardwalk or Central Park. They’re around 180 to 190 square feet inside, with a verandah that’s up to 80 square feet.
Spacious Ocean View Balcony Cabin
Ultra-Spacious Family Balcony Cabin
This cabin blends the benefits of a family cabin with a spacious private balcony cabin, for more sleeping space and a bigger verandah. All that space adds up to 305–405 square feet inside and 80–110 square feet outside.
Junior Suite
As we get into the suites, the most basic is the junior suite, and it’s not really a suite. There’s no separate bedroom, but you do get all the suite-class amenities and perks, such as access to the suite-guest only restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, and concierge services.
Depending on the exact junior suite you book, it will be either 290 or 300 square feet inside, with either a 80 or 120-square-foot verandah.
Grand Suites
The one-bedroom grand suites are luxuriously outfitted and feature desirable amenities such as double vanities, bar areas and large balconies. They’re 530 square feet inside, with a 110-square-foot balcony.
AquaTheater Suites
The AquaTheater Suite offers a wraparound balcony that can measure up to 650 square feet all on its own, plus a large living room, separate and private bedroom and a big bathroom.
This suite comes in both a one-bedroom and two-bedroom variety. Inside, these suites measure between 560 and 620 square feet for the one-bedroom variety and between 735 and 800 square feet for the two-bedroom variety.
Owners Suites
With a mammoth amount of space, both inside (860 square feet) and out (225 square feet), the owners suites are ultra-comfortable and the furthest thing from cramped.
Crown Loft Suites
These suites are unique in that they feature a two-story loft configuration. The downstairs main level features a sitting area, balcony, storage space and bathroom. Upstairs, you’ll find the master bedroom, bathroom, vanity and closet. In total, there’s 670 square feet inside and 105 square feet on the verandah.
Similarly, these loft suites are stretched out over two floors, but the royal loft suite is much larger and nicer than the crown loft suites, measuring 2,605 square feet inside and 520 square feet outside.
Royal Loft Suites
For example, there’s a bedroom both upstairs and downstairs, a big dining area, hot tub on the balcony and even a baby grand piano in the living space.
Solarium Suites
Solarium suites are big, bright and offer stellar views. Wall-to-wall windows wrap around nearly the entirety of the suite, offering constant views from every angle, no matter if you’re lounging in the large living space or in bed. Do note, there’s no balcony, but inside you do get 840 square feet.
Solarium Suite
The Ultimate Family Suite
This suite is set over two floors and offers enough space for everyone in the family, with tons of cool features that the kiddos are sure to love. Think an in-cabin slide, floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall, air-hockey table, theater and more. It’s the second-largest suite on the ship, at 2,475 square feet inside and 540 square feet outside.
The Ultimate Family Suite
Utopia of the Seas Neighborhood Breakdown
However, you’re not going to be spending all of your cruise days inside your stateroom or suite, no matter how cool or luxurious that stateroom or suite might be. So, what can you expect throughout the ship’s eight neighborhoods?
In general, expect more of what you’d see on any Oasis-class ship, but with a few new additions. Utopia of the Seas’ neighborhoods include:
Royal Promenade
Central Park
Boardwalk
Entertainment Place
Pool & Sports Zone
Youth Zone
Vitality Spa & Fitness
Suite Neighborhood
Here’s what you’ll see in each:
Entertainment Place
Starting from the bottom of the ship and working our way upwards, the Entertainment Place neighborhood starts on Deck 4, where you’ll find the Royal Theater, Casino Royale, The Attic, an ice rink, art gallery and Diamond Lounge.
View of Utopia of the Seas Cruise Ship
You’ll also notice that there are two casino spaces, one non-smoking and one smoking. A main dining room and the new Royal Railway—Utopia Station immersive dining experience are adjacent.
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade starts on Deck 5, and you’ll find lots of retail here, as well as Boleros, Sorrento, Café Promenade, Starbucks, Bell & Barley and a few other bars, like the new Pesky Parrot, which is a tiki-style bar. Guest services is also on this deck.
Pesky Parrot
Vitality Spa & Fitness
The Vitality Spa and Fitness neighborhood is exactly what it sounds like — the spa and the fitness center. You can find this neighborhood tucked away at one end of Deck 6.
The Boardwalk
On the other side of Deck 6, though, there’s the Boardwalk neighborhood. There, you’ll find the Carousel, Sugar Beach, Johnny Rockets, Schooner Bar and Playmakers Sports Bar.
Central Park
On Deck 8, Central Park takes over a good majority of the space, with its greenery and light and airy setting surrounded by restaurants and watering holes.
Utopia of the Seas Central Park
You’ll find a range of retail alongside the dining venues here, which include Park Café, Izumi Hibachi, Izumi in the Park, Trellis Bar, Rising Tide Bar, Chops Grille and 150 Central Park.
Pool & Sports Zone
The pool and sports zone neighborhood is on Deck 16 and 17.
On Deck 16, you’ll find loads of activity, from the multiple pools to Splashaway Bay, to a whirlpool or two, and some waterslides. There are also several bars here, such as Vue Bar and The Lime & Coconut on the pool deck. Restaurants include the Solarium Bistro, The Mason Jar, Windjammer buffet and the new poolside food truck, dubbed The Spare Tire.
Main Pool on Utopia of the Seas
Up on Deck 17, you’ll find even more to love, including the Ultimate Abyss slide (the longest dry slide at sea), Flowrider surf simulator, sports courts, the arcade and additional bars and eateries like El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca.
Youth Zone
The Youth Zone neighborhood takes up its own space that stretches across Deck 14 through 16. These spaces include the Adventure Ocean program, nursery and clubs for teens and preteens.
Suite Neighborhood
Lastly, the suite neighborhood likewise sits on decks 17 and 18. As such, the guests in these suites get some of the best possible views from their top-tier locations, as well as a quieter, less crowded spot to retire after they’re done exploring the rest of the ship.
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas
Final Words on Utopia of the Seas Size
there’s no doubt that Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is a giant of the seas! Even though the vessel is not the largest in the world, it still offers some of the best cruising experiences in the industry.
The ship’s size, with its eight neighborhoods, allows the 5,668 guests to be spread out. There are many different things to keep any type of cruiser busy, even during a sea day. You won’t feel that the ship is overcrowded, and as the sixth in its class, the cruise line has plenty of experience managing this.
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship will not be the final one in the Oasis class, so it will likely be overtaken in size when the next ship in the class joins the fleet in 2028. Of course, the Icon class, which started with Icon of the Seas, is the world’s largest.
Aroya Cruises has officially named its first ship Aroya, a 3,362-guest vessel slated to debut in December 2024, offering itineraries from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, geared to the regional Arabian market.
Cruise Saudi, a publicly funded tourism entity that is spearheading Saudi Arabia’s plans to become a leading tourism destination, announced the name change. The tourism entity launched Aroya Cruises in June 2023, following the acquisition of the ship.
The vessel, which launched in 2017, has a complicated history for so young a ship. Her construction was started by Star Cruises under the name World Dream but was transferred to Dream Cruises during the building process.
Cruise Saudi bought the ship at auction after Dream Cruises’ parent company, Genting Hong Kong, went bankrupt in 2022. The ship was initially renamed Manara.
Bookings opened in May 2024, and by then Aroya Cruises was already calling the ship Aroya. No specifics about a renaming or christening ceremony were revealed, but the announcement noted that the new name is a combination of Arabian and roya, which translates to “vision” or “dream.”
“We are delighted to have officially renamed our first Aroya Cruises ship to Aroya. The name evokes a sense of wanderlust and excitement, which passengers feel from the moment they step aboard,” said Joerg Rudolph, president of Aroya Cruises.
“We are looking forward to the launch in December 2024. A new very modern form of vacation is being introduced by Aroya in the Arab world,” added Rudolph.
The 151,000-gross ton ship is currently undergoing an extensive refit at a German shipyard, and will offer 1,678 staterooms in a mix of balcony and sea view cabins plus suites and villas.
With 18 decks and 1,600 crew members, the ship is envisioned as a floating resort with a wide array of dining and entertainment options.
The 1,018-seat Aroya Theatre will present live performances and movies, and a children’s zone will offer 20,000 square feet of activity space, including a large water park with water slides and a splash zone.
Exclusive spaces for women will be featured as well, including a dedicated pool, gym, and thermal spa. A full-service spa, called Blossom, will provide a range of services and treatments to both men and women.
Guests can also book a luxury experience called Khuzama, which features suite and villa accommodations and premium amenities such as priority boarding, VIP lounge access, an exclusive dining venue, and butler service.
Inaugural Cruise Series Focuses on Red Sea Region
Aroya Cruises, which operates as a separate entity from Cruise Saudi, detailed its planned cruise departures when sales opened earlier this year.
Aroya’s maiden voyage is slated to depart on December 16, 2024, on a 3-day sailing roundtrip from Jeddah. The itinerary includes cruising the Red Sea and calling at a private island destination owned by Cruise Saudi.
New Aroya Cruises Ship
Similar itineraries of 3 and 4 days are planned through May 2025. Four-day cruises that begin on January 5, 2025 will visit Egypt’s resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, located on the Sinai Peninsula, during the “World of Discoveries” voyage, or Al Aqaba, Jordan, where guests can visit Petra on the “Cultures from the Depths of the Sea” journey.
Longer cruises are offered, too. A 6-day “Legacy of the Desert and the Waves” sailing, also from Jeddah, will call at both Al Aqaba and Sharm El Sheik, with an overnight call in the Egyptian city. A 7-day cruise adds Cairo, Egypt, to the itinerary.
These itineraries are similar to scores of cruises that were cancelled by European and other Western cruise lines after war broke out in the Middle East in October 2023. Most cruise lines altered planned routes to avoid the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and Arabian Sea areas.
Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, welcomed some very special guests with a unique boarding procedure.
Rather than an arrival appointment, cruise terminal check-in, and trek up the gantry, these guests arrived via parachute to the ship’s helipad. The arrivals? None other than the Red Bull Air Force, joining the ship as part of the vessel’s inaugural celebrations.
The expert aerial jump team is the best in the world and they performed a precision jump onto Utopia of the Seas, the first skydiving event ever coordinated onto a cruise ship.
At the time, the new ship was positioned off Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International’s private island destination in the Bahamas.
Two divers, Miles Daisher and Luke Aikins, completed the stunt with great fanfare and enthusiasm. During the dive, they trailed red smoke for extra visual effects, and celebrated their landing on the ship’s helipad with none other than cans of Red Bull.
The ship’s bow helipad is just 60 feet across, making the precision dive a challenge. Even more challenging is that the ship was using thrusters at the time of the jump, and while the vessel was not moving at great speed, the motion does add an extra degree of difficulty to the maneuver.
After boarding the ship – albeit in a way not available to typical guests! – Daisher and Aikins, along with their families (who boarded the ship more conventionally) were able to join in the rest of the inaugural festivities, including enjoying the Perfect Day at CocoCay and the ship’s official naming ceremony.
Red Bull on Utopia of the Seas (Credit: Red Bull Air Force)
“Thanks to Royal Caribbean and Red Bull for a great few days on Utopia of the Sea. Miles and Luke did a first ever skydive onto a cruise ship, we danced to DJ Ruckus and Rev Run (from Run DMC) I sung along with Meaghan Trainor, caught up with friends and danced the night away!”said Nikki Daisher.
Utopia of the Seas hosted amazing parties for her inaugural events just days ago, including the naming ceremony headlined by Meghan Trainor, the ship’s official godmother, on Monday, July 15. More than 4,000 guests were onboard the ship, including cruise line executives, VIPs, and members of the media.
The 236,680-gross-ton ship then enjoyed a huge “wave out” celebration from Port Canaveral as she departed on her first revenue sailing on July 19, 2024. Hundreds of well-wishers were on hand to send the ship on her way to a vibrant and productive service life.
Sailing on Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas is the first of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class ships to debut with short, 3- and 4-night sailings. Typically, new ships are introduced with longer voyages, which has been the tradition with the previous five Oasis-class ships.
Utopia of the Seas Sets Sail from Port Canaveral (Credit: Port Canaveral)
Utopia of the Seas, however, was deliberately designed to offer the “ultimate weekend getaway” with shorter offerings, giving travelers a new type of opportunity to enjoy the innovative ship with a week-long cruise may not be an option.
All of the ship’s itineraries will visit both Nassau as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay, and the 4-night sailings include an extra day at sea. Utopia of the Seas is homeported year-round from Port Canaveral at least through April 2026.
She can welcome 5,668 guests aboard at double occupancy, with plenty onboard for everyone to enjoy every moment of their amazing oceangoing getaway.
Sir Richard Branson and his marketing team have done it again. This time, it’s a catchy “Kids Sail Free” promotion for the adults-only cruise line. Announcing that they have “Changed their mind,” the eye-catching deal is offering its special for young adults aged 18 to 26.
Allowing “kids” to sail for free with their parents, guardians, or caregivers this summer, the new promotion offers families a chance to bond and celebrate before their children move into new dorms, search for jobs, or turn 21.
The offer, valid on bookings made July 23 until August 23, 2024, invites “kids” 18 to 26 to set sail aboard any of Virgin Voyages’ 110,000-gross-ton ships without any extra cost.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady
The move is a departure from the brand’s 21-and-over policy, catering to families with grown-up children and creating an opportunity for multi-generational vacations.
“If you’re old enough to vote, you’re old enough to sail,”said Virgin Voyages.
Families can enjoy activities like beaded bracelet making, dodgeball games, Salty Trivia, and poolside dancing during Scarlet Night, as well as an array of family-friendly shore excursions. These include wine tasting in Italy, cooking classes in the Mediterranean, and swimming with sharks in Bimini, The Bahamas.
Although bookings must be made by August 23, the promotion is good for travel through December 31, 2024, and children must be between the ages of 18 and 26 at the time of sailing. To book, guests must call Sailor Services directly.
Passengers 18 and 26 are not allowed to book without an accompanying adult.
What’s the Twist?
While the cruise line is having some fun with its latest marketing ploy, the fine print reveals a catch.
In the Terms and Restrictions, guests will find that the offer applies only to a second sailor in the cabin, such as a mother and daughter or a father and son. If a family of two parents wants to travel with one or two adult children, the third and fourth sailors will pay full price.
Families can book the “Kids Sail Free” offer in Central Sea Terrace, Sea Terrace, Limited View Sea Terrace, and Insider cabins, which allow them to sleep three to four, and Sea View cabins, which can accommodate up to three.
Virgin Voyages, which each hold 2,770 passengers, offers various bed configuration options, from doubles to L-shaped twins to twins when accommodating two. For larger groups, bunk beds provide additional sleeping space.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)
Unfortunately, roomier XL Sea Terraces and RockStar Quarters are not included in the sale, which also keeps young adults from Richards Rooftop VIP lounge.
Interested families can select Mediterranean itineraries aboard Scarlet Lady from Barcelona. The ship repositions to Miami in mid-December and then begins Caribbean itineraries.
Resilient Lady is currently sailing in Athens, Greece, but will reposition to Portsmouth, England, in August for sailings to Holland, Belgium, northern Spain, and western France through September.
It will then briefly reposition in October back to the Mediterranean before making a transatlantic crossing to Miami and beginning a winter season in the Caribbean.
Valiant Lady is also sailing the Caribbean from Miami, with short excursions to Key West, Florida, and Bimini, as well as longer voyages to Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, Costa Maya, Mexico, and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.
Carnival Cruise Line has announced an order for a brand new class of ships to join the Fun Ship Fleet, with three new vessels confirmed with a size of nearly 230,000 gross tons.
The agreement has been signed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, and the new ships are scheduled for likely delivery in 2029, 2031, and 2033.
“We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE.”
Few details of the new class are yet available, but each will have more than 3,000 staterooms for a double occupancy capacity in excess of 6,000 guests per cruise. When fully booked, as many as 8,000 guests may be onboard. Crew complement has not been announced.
The new ships will also be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and equipped with the most up-to-date, advanced energy saving and environmentally-friendly features, though exact specifications are not yet determined.
“We are excited to join forces with Carnival Cruise Line to debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built in Italy,”said Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri CEO.
“We are proud of the role Fincantieri has played in helping Carnival Corporation secure its position as the world’s largest cruise company and look forward to continuing this success story together,”Folgiero added.
The order for all three ships is still contingent on suitable financing, as is standard in the shipbuilding industry. Those arrangements are expected to be completed before the end of 2024.
The new ships will be the largest ever for Carnival Cruise Line, roughly 50,000 gross tons – 25% larger than the cruise line’s Excel-class ships.
Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee measure 183,500 gross tons, and all were built by Meyer. Each ship has a guest capacity of 5,282 travelers at double occupancy.
Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship at Meyer Werft (Photo Credit: MartinLueke)
The new measurement – 230,000 gross tons per vessel – is comparable with Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class ships, but still smaller than the new Icon class, which is closer to 250,000 gross tons. Still, final numbers won’t be confirmed until the ships are actually under construction in the next few years.
As Duffy has hinted that the new ships will be the “next generation” for the cruise line, there will undoubtedly be brand new, never-before-seen features, as well as Carnival Cruise Line favorites.
On the Excel class, for example, the Bolt rollercoaster was introduced, as well as new entertainment venues and dining options like Emeril’s Bistro and Shaq’s Big Chicken.
“We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line,”said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Two other ships will also be joining Carnival Cruise Line in 2025 as the P&O Cruises Australia brand is dissolved. Two of the line’s three ships – Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter – will be rebranded and transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, but will still offer sailings in Australia.
With the announcement of the new class of even larger ships, Carnival Corporation & plc will be receiving new ships in 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031, and 2033.
“We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year,”Weinstein confirmed.
Homeports, itinerary options, and sailing regions for the new Excel-class vessels as well as the unnamed new class have not yet been announced, but more information is sure to come on all the company’s exciting new ships.
