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50 Cruise Outfit Ideas for Your Vacation at Sea

For some, the most exciting part leading up to a cruise is planning what you are going to wear while you are on vacation. You know you are going to be having the time of your life and feeling great, so why not plan your wardrobe so you look fabulous as well.

As well as making sure you look on form when you are on your cruise, by following a list and planning ahead you are less likely to forget any items of clothing behind.

Here are some great ideas on clothing and outfits for you to pack for your vacation at sea:

Casual Clothing

For the Entire Family!

Sometimes you just have to get in that vacation spirit buy having matching outfits for the entire family. This set is very vibrant and can be worn not just around the cruise ship but in port too. Take a closer look here.

Summer Dress

This floral summer dress is everything you need to look the part on deck at sea. It is comfortable and lightweight, and the boho design is easy to wear for many different body types.

Casual Tops

Fashionable color blocking shirts are perfect when away. They are casual but still stylish enough to help you look great. They can be paired with jeans and sandals for a relaxed look. Check the details here.

High Waisted Harem Pants

Harem pants are all the rage at the moment and they are an ideal item to take along with you for your vacation at sea. They are incredibly comfortable to wear, but they create a relaxed yet elegant looking outfit. The bow tie front adds that extra bit of style to the pants.

Swing T-Shirt Dress

The comfortable and stretchy fabric make this dress ideal for spending time out on the deck. Paired with a necklace and some earrings and the dress can be taken from the deck to the bar easily. Have a look right here.

Sleeveless Cruise Outfit

A nice cruise inspired outfit which is a woman’s jumpsuit featuring a striped cotton design, Perfect for around the deck or even in port.

Hoody Dress

You never know when the rain might hit out at sea, but you always want to look your best as well. This hoody dress will give you that casual summer look, but it has the hood ready and waiting for those sudden downpours.

Men’s Belted Cargo Shorts

Cargo shorts are a must have. They will be comfortable for regular use on the cruise and the different pockets are essential for carrying around all your items such as cards, keys and cameras when out on the deck.

Baseball Shirt

Baseball shirts are a classic wardrobe item. They are casual and comfortable, and come in many different colors. Having a few of these on vacation with you will give you many different outfit options to choose from each day.

Loose-Fit Performance Shorts

Most cruise ships have gyms onboard. Be prepared to keep up with your work-out schedule with these loose-fit performance shorts. They are lightweight, quick drying and moisture-wicking.

Couple Matching Hawaiian Outfits

There’s nothing better than walking around the ship on a nice sunny sea day in matching outfits! A nice Hawaiian inspired style which is perfect for a Caribbean cruise. Take a look here.

Costumes and Beachwear Coverups

Strapless Bikini

You will need a bikini to show off your summer figure when sitting at the pool on a cruise. This strapless bikini is padded and has a lace up design at the back. The high-waisted pants are in fashion at the moment, giving your body a beautiful shape. More about this item can be found here.

Tie Knot Bikini

The tie knot bikini is a classic look. It is made with a soft and elastic 100% polyester material. It comes in a variety of colors, perfect to suit your style and wardrobe.

Padded Push-up Bikini

A little push-up bikini with a cute tropical print will be your favorite pool-side wear on your cruise. Nothing will get you into your cruise vacation mood more than a bit of a tropical print. The wrap around bikini top adds some extra flare to the piece as well.

Padded Monokini Push-up

If you prefer a more conservative look or want to cover up more of your skin from the sun, this monokini is a great choice. It comes in a variety of colors and gives great support to your figure with the push-up structure.

Kaftan Swimsuit Beach Cover Up

Throw on this light and airy kaftan cover up when you are done in the pool and want some extra protection from the sun. It keeps in tone with the holiday look and the tassels create a more styled look.

See-Through Bikini Cover Up

This cute little black number will be an ideal cover up next to the pool. It will transition fashionably from swims in the pool to cocktail hour at the bar on the deck. Check all the details here.

Lace Crochet Bikini Cover Up

This lace bodysuit is great to throw on once you are done splashing around the pool area. It covers up your swimwear, but still gives you that summer goddess look. It is light and airy which makes it perfect to wear in the summer heat.

Men’s Swim Trunks

A knee length pair of swimming trunks are a must in any man’s wardrobe. This pair offers a UPF 50+ protection, helping keep your skin safe from the sun. The triple stitched sides make them durable and sturdy for regular use.

Swimsuit Cover up

The sailing styled stripped design seems to be in fashion. Here is a nice cover up when you’re spending time at the beach during a port of call.

Short Swim Trunks

Every man needs a pair of brightly colored flamingo trunks. These blue and pink colored swimming pants will help you stick out among the crowd. They have that holiday feel that you will need to sit back and enjoy the sun.

Evening Wear

Off-The-Shoulder Dress

A little black dress is a must for every female. This off-the-shoulder dress has a zipper closure for easy wear and it the perfect mix of sophistication and fun for a fancy night out.

Spaghetti Step V-Neck Dress

If you are planning a fancy night out on the cruise, this little number will wow your date. Purple is such a fun color, and the design of the dress is whimsical and will make you feel like royalty. Click here for details.

Pashmina Silk Scarf

A pashmina scarf can fancy-up any dull outfit. It will be the perfect accessory for an elegant night out, and it will bring a pop of color to an ordinary outfit.

Halter V-Neck Dress

If you want to go all out with your evening wear, this is the dress for you. It is a showstopper in white and you will both look and feel like a celebrity the moment you step into the dining hall.

Glitter Shawl

A shawl is a timeless piece that can be worn with any evening wear dress or ensemble. It is perfect to use when spending time outdoors in a cool breeze, and is a stylish alternative to a jacket or sweater. Have look here.

Slim Fit Dress Shirt

A slim fit dress shirt always completes a formal outfit perfectly. It shapes the body to perfection and is sophisticated and elegant on a night out.

Skinny Tie

A good tie can turn an outfit from drab to dapper in an instant. The right color skinny fit tie will complete your outfit and make you look as elegant as can be.

Button Down Short Sleeve Shirt

If you want to avoid looking too formal on your night out, this button down palm tree shirt is a great alternative. It is casual enough to make you feel comfortable, but still gives off a bit of a formal look. The palm trees are a fun added extra to match your holiday feel.

Crew Sweatshirt

This sweatshirt will keep you looking smart and polished when out at a formal dinner on the cruise. It will keep you warm if there is a bit of a breeze, but it will in no way look too casual.

Polo Shirt

Polo shirts are a classic item that can transition from day time wear to smart night wear easily. They are smart enough to be worn to a fancy dinner, but can still be worn casually during the daytime. Check this one out.

Warmer Clothing

Lightweight Water-Resistant Vest

The zip down puffer vest is vital for when the weather cools down. It can be worn over normal clothing and adds that extra bit of warmth you need.

Loose Pullover Cardigan

Not only will a slouchy knit cardigan keep you warm, but it looks really pretty as well. Paired with skinny jeans and boots, you will have the perfect outfit.

Velvet Legging Pants

These velvet lined leggings will be your best friend when cold weather hits. Pair them with a jersey or long sleeve shirt and you will be set to go.

Leg Warmers

Leg warmers are a great option to be worn with shorts, a dress or a skirt when there is a chill in the air. They come in plain colors or you can choose a funky design to make your outfit pop.

Oversized Cable Knit Beanie

Keep your head and ears warm with a cute oversize cable knit beanie. It is a great winter accessory to any outfit.

Thermal Socks

When you can’t keep the chills out, these thermal socks will be the answer. They lock in the heat and fit inside any ordinary boot or shoe.

Beanie Skull Cap

This slouchy beanie wool hat will keep you warm and help keep the chills away when outdoors in a cool breeze.

Hooded Work Jacket

A good quality cargo work jacket will last you a lifetime. It is an essential item to keep and can be worn in any occasion. The can be dressed up or down to suit your needs.

Active Winter Pants

Keep up your workout routine, even when the weather turns sour with these active winter pants. They provide warmth but are also breathable with an elasticated waistband.

Cargo Pants

These sport cargo pants can be dressed up for day time or night time, all while keeping you warm and looking fit for the part.

Sleepwear

Cruise Control Pajama Set

Add a bit of extra fun to your holiday with this Cruise Control cotton pajama set. Your vacation finally gives you a reason to pack and show off your cruise addiction!

Camisole Pajama Set

A lightweight and soft sleepwear set will be your best option for those warm summer nights during the cruise. The racerback top and matching shorts are comfortable for sleep.

Fleece Winter Pajama Set

Always have a warm pajama set on hand in case the weather turns south. This fleece set will keep you warm while still being cosy for a good night’s sleep.

Oversized Sleep Shirt

An oversized sleep shirt is easy to throw on after a long day on vacation. Comfortable with no fuss.

One-Strap Slippers

The faux fur slipper will add that bit of cuteness to your pajama outfit, and they are comfortable enough to give your feet a break after a long day vacationing.

Mens Thermal Pajama Set

Even men need to be prepared for the colder weather that could hit during vacation. The thermal Henley top and fleece pants will keep you as warm as can be, letting you get a solid night’s sleep.

Soft Cotton Short Sleeve Sleepwear

A soft cotton summer pajama set will be perfect for your cruise vacation. It will keep you cool during the summer nights and the material is breathable and lightweight.

Memory Foam Slippers

Your feet also deserve a bit of comfort. They will be sore and tired from all the activities on the cruise all day, so give them a break at night with these super comfy memory foam slippers with anti-slip soles.

Sleep Mask

Make sure you get the best night sleep that you can. The sleep mask will cut out all light, letting you quickly slip into sweet slumber, resting up for the next busy day.

Time to Get Packing Then!

Be fully prepared and looking great when on your vacation out at sea. Use this list to help you pack for your trip, and make sure not to leave anything behind! Feel free to check our dedicated section for more packing tips.

Carnival Cruise Line Dominates Cruise Hive Awards

Carnival Cruise Line dominated our fifth annual Cruise Ship Awards for 2018, which we recently announced the winners for.

Carnival Cruise Line Wins Six Categories

The Miami-based cruise line has had an eventful 2019 so far, and it hasn’t all been so good, but let’s forget about that and look at the categories Carnival won.

We opened the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards at the beginning of September 2018 with a total of nine categories. The awards that have run for the past five years are heavily focused on the actual cruise ships, but from time to time, we add in a different category to mix it up.

Cruise Ship Awards

We only just announced the winners at the end of December and Carnival won more categories than any other cruise line. Royal Caribbean came out on top in two categories and Norwegian Cruise Line won one. Let’s take a look at the categories which Carnival Cruise Line came out on top:

Best Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line received more votes than the nine other cruise lines for the best cruise line category. It has been the first time we’ve done this category and makes sense to see which one Cruise Hive readers prefer to cruise with.

Carnival Ships by Size
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive

It was a busy 2018 for Carnival with the debut of Carnival Horizon in the Spring and some major cruise deployment changes.

View the full result here.

Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2019

Carnival Panorama has been voted as the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2019. This will be the third Vista-class vessel, and again, Carnival will be introducing something new to the fleet, which is the first Sky Zone trampoline park at sea.

Carnival Panorama Rendering
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line

The ship, which is arriving in December 2019, will be based on the U.S. West Coast out of the renovated Long Beach terminal. The ship was against seven others, including Norwegian Encore, which came in second, and Spectrum of the Seas in third.

View the full result here.

Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship

And the most anticipated future cruise ship went to the Mardi Gras! Not the original ship in 1972 but the fully powered LNG one which is coming in 2020. It will the largest ever built for the cruise line and is going to take Carnival into a new era of cruising.

Mardi Gras Rendering
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line

It comes as no surprise that Mardi Gras received more votes than five other ships. The ship will be huge at 180,000 gross tons and feature the world’s first roller coaster at sea. In second place came Scarlet Lady, which will enter service as the first Virgin Voyages cruise ship in 2020, and in third came the unnamed Leonardo-class ship from NCL.

View the full result here.

Best New Cruise Ship of 2018

The best new cruise ship for 2018 went to Carnival Horizon which is the second Vista-class ship. Many cruisers had been excited to see the new dedicated Guy Fieri BBQ venue and the first Teppanyaki restaurant in the fleet.

Carnival Horizon in Port
Photo By: Russell Otway (Copyright Cruise Hive)

With the ship being based out of New York and Miami in 2018 it sure has had a lot of attention! The ship came out on top over six other ships including Symphony of the Seas in second and Celebrity Edge in third.

View the full result here.

Best Cruise Ship Dining Venue

The best cruise ship dining venue went to Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse, which was featured on Carnival Horizon. This is the first dedicated venue in the fleet, which features a full bar and seating locations. It’s all backed with exclusively brewed beer from onboard.

Carnival Horizon Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line

The venue was up against six other dining spaces from five different cruise lines. In second place came Cagney’s Steakhouse, featured on Norwegian Cruise Line, and in third was Giovanni’s Table on Royal Caribbean. The category was mainly for dining venues which aren’t included in the cruise fare.

View the full result here.

Best Cruise Ship Feature

The first category result we announced in December was the best cruise ship feature. The SkyRide, which is featured on the Vista class vessel won for the third year in a row! Those Cruise Hive readers who have cruised on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon are really liking SkyRide which was first introduced in 2016.

Carnival Horizon SkyRide
Carnival Horizon SkyRide (By Russell Otway)

The feature is located on the top deck and raised above. Guests can peddle against each other around the SkyRide or simply go at any speed. It is 800 feet long and offers stunning ocean views. It is also included in the cruise fare with no added cost.

SkyRide was up against three other features from different cruise lines. In second the hugely popular Race Track at Sea which is so far on two Breakway-plus class ships from Norwegian Cruise Line. In third came the 10-story high Ultimate Abyss slide found on Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas.

View the full result here.

Thanks for Voting

It has been a great Cruise Ship Awards which received thousands of votes from Cruise Hive readers. The categories opened up in September and readers have only been able to vote once in each category.

Also Read: A Simple Guide on Carnival Ships by Size

2018 has been great for new cruise ships and innovations, let’s hope it continues in the years to come. Congratulations to Carnival Cruise Line for receiving more votes than any other in six different categories. We’ll be opening up the 2019 awards later in the year so do keep an eye out for that.

7 Carnival Cruise Ships Will Be Upgraded in 2019

It’s going to be a busy year for Carnival Cruise Line with seven ship dry docks including a major transformation of Carnival Triumph into the Carnival Sunrise.

Carnival Ship 2019 Upgrades

There are seven ships scheduled to undergo dry docks in 2019 including three Fantasy-class vessels, one Spirit-class ship, one Conquest-class ship, the Carnival Splendor and the biggest upgrade in years which will be the Carnival Triumph transformation.

Carnival Fantasy Dry Dock

Carnival Fantasy is the oldest ship in the fleet at the moment and she will also be the first to get an upgrade in 2019. The dry dock will take place from January 7 and be completed on January 20.

Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive

Nothing major is expected during the upgrade. Most of the attention will be done on maintenance and technical aspects. However, we could likely see modern fixtures in staterooms and adjustments to some public venues. The last dry dock for Carnival Fantasy was in 2016 and many of the FUN 2.0 features were already added. An Alchemy Bar wasn’t among the upgrades so that could be added in 2019.

Carnival Pride Dry Dock

Carnival Pride will be the only Spirit class ship getting some attention in 2019. The dry dock will take place from February 3 to February 16.

Carnival Pride at Sea
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line

All the FUN 2.0 features were already added in the 2014 upgrade so for the upcoming one just expect lots of maintenance and a modern touch to public spaces.

Carnival Freedom Dry Dock

Carnival Freedom will be the second biggest ship to receive a refurbishment in 2019. The dry dock will take place from February 13 to March 3.

Carnival Freedom Cruise Deals
Photo By: Russell Otway (For Cruise Hive Only)

Carnival has not yet revealed what will be done during the dry dock but as usual, maintenance will be done, new carpeting, tiles, decor, and updates to the staterooms.

Carnival Triumph Transformation

This will be the biggest dry dock transformation since Carnival Destiny transformed to Carnival Sunshine in 2013. The ship will be known as Carnival Sunrise after a huge multi-million dollar makeover. The dry dock will be from March 1 to April 28 which is almost two months and take place in Cadiz, Spain.

Carnival Sunrise Rendering
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line

There will be plenty of new features added onboard which have already become popular on more modern ships in the fleet. One of the highlights is a new Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse casual eating venue and the ever popular RefFrog Pub.

Carnival Sunrise will begin sailing 5-day to 7-day cruises out of Norfolk, Virginia starting on April 29, 2019.

Carnival Ecstasy Dry Dock

Carnival Ecstasy will be the second Fantasy-class vessel of the year to be upgraded. It’s too early to know what will be done during the dry dock but expect a new shiny coat of paint, carpeting, modern touches to staterooms and a lot more.

Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Deals
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line

The refurbishment will begin on October 5 and end on October 16. The older class ships are much smaller than the newer ships you see from Carnival Cruise Line. Space needs to be used wisely making sure a great vacation experience can be offered and still be able to provide the latest features.

The last dry dock was in 2017 which added the Alchemy Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, and other popular FUN 2.0 features.

Carnival Imagination Dry Dock

Carnival Imagination will be the third Fantasy-class ship to be upgraded in 2019. It is still too early to know what will be done but as usual, there will be maintenance and enhancements to public areas. Staterooms usually get refreshed too. The dry dock will take place from October 20 and be completed on November 2.

Carnival imagination
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Splendor Dry Dock

Carnival Splendor will be the largest Carnival ship of the year to receive an upgrade. She is in a class of her own and will be redeployed to Australia starting in December 2019. Before her new service from Sydney, the 113,300 gross ton vessel will under a major dry dock starting on October 30 and ending on November 24, 2019.

Carnival Splendor in Grand Cayman
Photo By: Russell Otway (For Cruise Hive Only)

We’re expecting some major new features to be added so she is already for the Australian market. A thrilling new waterpark will be added along with the latest FUN 2.0 features such as Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Pub and more. The cruise line will be announcing more details about the specifics in the coming months.

Also Read: Easy Guide on Carnival Ships by Age

A Busy Year!

It will be busy indeed with the cruise line also welcoming Carnival Panorama at the end of the year. Do keep checking Cruise Hive for more specific details on ship refurbishments as the cruise line doesn’t always reveal everything until during or after the dry dock. Most of the upgrades will take place at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas.

Carnival Cruise Line Voted Best Cruise Line of 2018

Carnival Cruise Line has won this year’s best cruise line as voted by Cruise Hive readers. Carnival received more votes than nine other major cruise lines.

Best Cruise Line of 2018 Announced

The world’s largest and most popular cruise line has been voted the best of 2018 by Cruise Hive readers. The Miami-based cruise line was up against nine other operators in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards. In second came Royal Caribbean and in Third place came Norwegian Cruise Line.

Carnival Cruise Line, which was founded by Ted Arison in 1972, was started with just one ship named the Mardi Gras. The cruise line now has 26 ships in the fleet, with even more on the way in the coming years. The original Mardi Gras name will even be making a come back in 2020 with Carnival’s largest-ever cruise ship.

Carnival Faster to the Fun Package (FTTF)
Photo By: Russell Otway (For Cruise Hive Only)

Carnival has never lost the “fun” image of cruising by targeting families to not just to relax on a Carnival ship but also to get involved in all the activities and features on offer. Carnival is the dominant line out of the United States and offers a huge range of cruises especially to the Caribbean which is why they’ve become “America’s Cruise Line.”

Also Read: Easy Guide on Carnival Ships by Age

Carnival currently has eight Fantasy-class vessels, four Spirit-class ships, three Sunshine-class ships, five Conquest-class ships, three Dream-class vessels, two Vista-class ships, and one Splendor-class cruise ship. In 2019 the company will welcome the newly transformed Carnival Sunrise and the third Vista-class ship Carnival Panorama.

The oldest ship in the fleet right now is Carnival Fantasy which entered service in 1990. You can read all about those iconic former Carnival cruise ships right here. The newest ship now is Carnival Horizon which arrived in Spring 2018.

Royal Caribbean Comes in Second

Royal Caribbean has received the second most amount of votes which really isn’t a surprise as it is the second largest and most popular cruise line. The company was founded in 1968.

Also Read: Easy Guide on Royal Caribbean Ships by Age

Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks
Photo By: Russell Otway

The cruise line has 25 ships in the fleet at the moment with Empress of the Seas being the oldest which arrived in 1990 and Symphony of the Seas as the newest which arrived in Spring 2018. Spectrum of the Seas which is an evolution to the Quantum-class vessel will arrive in 2019.

NCL Comes in Third Place

Norwegian Cruise Line came in third place for “Best Cruise Line of 2018” and it is well deserved with all the epic new features being introduced on the newer ships. The cruise line also continues to upgrade older vessels to make sure they are the best they can be. The company was founded in 1966 by Knut Kloster and Ted Arison.

Related: The Former Norwegian Cruise Ships, Where Are They Now?

The oldest ship in the fleet right now is Norwegian Sky and the newest is the third Breakway-plus class ship named Norwegian Bliss which actually features a race track at sea!

Full Results

It’s been the first time we’ve ever done this best cruise ship category and complements our focus on the cruise ships only for the fifth annual Cruise Ship Awards. We’ve received thousands of votes since the awards opened up at the beginning of September. Cruise Hive readers have only bee able to vote once in each category and the results have been checked for any repeats.

Cruise Ship Awards

Check the final order of results for the best cruise line of 2018:

  1. Carnival Cruise Line
  2. Royal Caribbean International
  3. Norwegian Cruise Line
  4. Celebrity Cruises
  5. MSC Cruises
  6. P&O Cruises
  7. Holland America Line
  8. Aida Cruises
  9. Princess Cruises
  10. Costa Cruises

This is the final category to announce in the 2018 awards and Carnival Cruise Line has won more categories than any other cruise line, take a look at everything we’ve announced:

Carnival Panorama Wins Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2019

Carnival Panorama has been voted as the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2019 in the fifth annual Cruise Hive Cruise Ship Awards. The Vista-class ship received more votes than any other vessel in the category.

Carnival Panorama Receives Most Votes

The Carnival cruise ship has won the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards for the “Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2019” category. Carnival Panorama won by a huge difference and was up against seven other cruise ships from five different cruise lines. In second place came Norwegian Encore from Norwegian Cruise Line and in third place came Spectrom of the Seas from Royal Caribbean.

Carnival Panorama Rendering
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Panorama is the third Vista-class cruise ship from Carnival Cruise Line and is currently under construction at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Italy. She will be almost identical to her sister ships Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon but with some slightly different features.

One of the major highlights of the upcoming ship is the first ever Sky Zone tram[oline park at sea. The new space will span two decks and include a 12-lane trampoline court. You can read all the details about it right here.

The vessel will join the fleet in December 2019 and will be based on the U.S. west coast. The ship will debut from the newly renovated Long Beach terminal in California with a 3-night inaugural sailing to the Mexican Riviera on December 11, 2019. From December 14, 2019, the new ship will begin sailing week-long Mexican Riviera cruises from the Los Angeles port.

Carnival Panorama will be 133,500 gross tons once completed and have a guest capacity of over 3,900 at double occupancy.

Norwegian Encore Comes in Second

Norwegian Encore will be the fourth Breakaway-plus class ship from Norwegian Cruise Line and will continue to bring groundbreaking features and venues to the market. The ship is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and will join the fleet in November 2019.

Norwegian Encore Aerial Rendering
Rendering By: Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruises will begin from Miami, Florida on November 17, 2019, through April 12, 2020. She will sail week-long cruises to the eastern Caribbean. The U.S. is in for a treat with the new largest race track at sea and virtual reality complex.

The ship will be 169,000 gross tons and have a guest capacity of around 4,000 making her the largest NCL ship ever.

Spectrum of the Seas Comes in Third

Spectrum of the Seas which came in third place in the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards is being purpose-built for the Chinese market and will be an evolution to the popular Quantum-class ships. She’s being constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard which is the same yard as Norwegian Encore we mentioned above.

Spectrum of the Seas Aft Rendering
Rendering By: Royal Caribbean

She will begin cruises from Shanghai, China in June 2019 after an epic 51-night Global Odyssey voyage which starts from Barcelona, Spain. She will be 168,800 gross tons and have a passenger capacity of 4,246.

Full Results

We received thousands of votes from Cruise Hive readers and it has been a great way for everyone to vote and have their view registered in the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards which are now in their fifth year. Here is the full result for most anticipated new cruise ship for 2019 in order:

  1. Carnival Panorama (Carnival Cruise Line)
  2. Norwegian Encore (Norwegian Cruise Line)
  3. Spectrum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
  4. Sky Princess (Princess Cruises)
  5. MSC Bellissima (MSC Cruises)
  6. Costa Venezia (Costa Cruises)
  7. Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises)
  8. MSC Grandiosa (MSC Cruises)

In 2017 sister ship Carnival Horizon won the category and she has become a popular ship for the cruise line. We must say a huge thank you for Cruise Hive readers who voted in this year’s awards which have been the biggest ever and opened up at the beginning of September 2018.

Cruise Ship Awards

Just in case you’ve missed everything we’ve already announced then take a look below at the results for this year. Right now we only have one more category to announce so keeping checking Cruise Hive for that.

Norwegian Bliss Wins Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork 2018

Norwegian Bliss has come out on top as having the best cruise ship hull artwork in the 2018 annual Cruise Ship Awards. The newest NCL vessel was up against five other ships, including sister ship Norwegian Joy.

Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork of 2018 Announced

The third Breakaway-plus class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line has received more votes than any other for “Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork” in this year’s cruise ship awards. Norwegian Bliss was up against sister ship Norwegian Joy which came in second and Princess Cruises Majestic Princess which came in third.

Norwegian Bliss at Sea
Photo By: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Bliss is an outstanding ship offering the very best from NCL, and she features an inspiring hull artwork that has been brought to reality by one of the world’s premier marine life artists, Wyland.

The design is named “Cruising with the Whales” which features a mother humpback whale and her calf. The artwork is very prominent at the bow and flows all the way towards the aft. The artwork is to showcase how important whales and marine life are to our world which Wyland has been very dedicated to highlighting in his iconic whale murals, marine life paintings, and sculptures.

Norwegian Bliss joined the cruise line in the Spring of 2018 and has been based out of Seattle, Washington, sailing Alaskan cruises before beginning a new Winter season from Miami, Florida.

The new Norwegian Cruise Ship is one of the largest in the world at 167,800 gross tons and a guest capacity of 4,000. She features a two-level electric powered race track at sea, an open laser tag course, expansive water slides and a wide range of bars and restaurants.

Norwegian Joy in Second

The second Breakaway-plus class vessel which has been purpose-built for the Chinese market received the second highest amount of votes from Cruise Hive readers in the Cruise Ship Awards.

Norwegian Joy won last year’s hull artwork category which you can read all about here.

The hull artwork for the currently based Shanghai cruise ship was designed by renowned Chinese artist Tan Ping. The design named “Phoenix” features a mythical bird which is believed to reign supreme over other birds around the world, popular within Chinese culture.

Norwegian Joy
Photo By: Meyer Werft

Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced that the ship will leave China and be redeployed to the U.S. West Coast starting in April 2019. The vessel will offer cruises from Seattle sailing to Alaska and Los Angeles sailing to the Mexican Riviera. The ship is 167,725 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 3,800 at double occupancy.

Full Results

The annual Cruise Ship Awards are mainly focused on the cruise ships and it’s now the fifth year we’ve done it. Cruise Hive readers have been voting since the beginning of September 2018 and they have only been able to vote once per category. Here are the full results for Best Cruise Ship Hull Artwork in order:

  1. Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line)
  2. Norwegian Joy (Norwegian Cruise Line)
  3. Majestic Princess (Princess Cruises)
  4. Aidaperla (Aida Cruises)
  5. World Dream (Dream Cruises)
  6. Genting Dream (Dream Cruises)

So far we’ve already announced the results for six different categories and Carnival Cruise Line is leading the way by winning four and then Royal Caribbean in second winning two.

Carnival Mardi Gras Voted Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship

Carnival’s future new generation cruise ship that will be named Mardi Gras has been voted as the number one most anticipated future cruise ship by Cruise Hive readers. Now we’re excited!

Carnival Mardi Gras Wins!

The Carnival Mardi Gras new generation cruise ship, which construction just recently started on has won this year’s “Most Anticipated Future Cruise Ship” in the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards.

The future mega ship received more votes than five other vessels from five different cruise lines. In second place came Scarlet Lady, which will be the first-ever Virgin Voyages cruise ship, and in third place came the yet-to-be-named first Leonardo-class vessel from Norwegian Cruise Line.

Mardi Gras will be the first fully powered Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line and will become the largest ever cruise ship to join the fleet. She will arrive in 2020 and is currently in the early stages of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

Mardi Gras Ship Rendering
Rendering By: Carnival Cruise Line

She takes her name from the original Mardi Gras, which was the first ever Carnival cruise ship back in 1972. A new era for the Miami-based cruise line will begin with the new-class mega ship bringing new innovative features to the fleet, including the first-ever roller coaster at sea.

Once completed the Mardi Gras will be a huge 180,000 gross tons and will have a guest capacity of 5,200 at lower birth. She’s going to an extremely popular ship for Carnival Cruise Line and Mardi Gras received way more votes than other future ships in the category. Once in service, she will be sailing Caribbean cruises from the new terminal at Port Canaveral, Florida, and the cruise line will release further details about the specific itinerary and ship features in the future.

Scarlet Lady from Virgin Voyages in Second

The first ever Virgin Voyages cruise ship named Scarlet Lady came in second place as one of the most anticipated future cruise ships. She is currently under construction at the Fincantieri Genoa shipyard in Italy. Once completed the new class vessel will be 110,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,700 and will be for adults only.

Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship Rendering
Rendering By: Virgin Voyages

The ship will be based out of PortMiami, Florida in 2020 sailing week-long Caribbean cruises with some even including extended stays in Havana, Cuba. We’ve covered the ship a lot on Cruise Hive so do check all the latest right here.

NCL’s Leonardo-class in Third

We still have a while to go until the first Leonardo-class vessel arrives for Norwegian Cruise Line in 2022. The LNG powered cruise ship is being built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and will be 140,000 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 3,300.

Leonardo Class
Rendering By: NCL

We don’t know too much about this future ship yet but do keep checking Cruise Hive as we’ll be posting any announcements from NCL. The cruise line has ordered a total of six Leonardo-class vessels coming in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

The Results

Thousands of Cruise Hive readers voted in this year’s awards which opened up early September 2018. Only one vote has been allowed per category and we have checked to make sure no repeats have been counted. Let’s take a look at the final result of the most anticipated future cruise ship in order:

  1. Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)
  2. Scarlet Lady (Virgin Voyages)
  3. Unnamed Leonardo-class (Norwegian Cruise Line)
  4. Celebrity Apex – (Celebrity Cruises)
  5. P&O Iona (P&O Cruises)
  6. World-class (MSC Cruises)

In 2017 Spectrum of the Seas came out on top as the most anticipated future cruise ship for Royal Caribbean. The ship will arrive in 2019 and is being purpose-built for the Chinese market. As the ship is coming out next year we moved her to the ships for 2019 category.

Cruise Ship Awards

Thanks to everyone has voted this year in the annual awards which are focused more on the cruise ships but we have added some new categories to mix things up slightly. Feel free to browse the results which we’ve already announced below:

Carnival Horizon Wins Best New Cruise Ship of 2018

Carnival Horizon, which is the newest ship in the fleet, has received the most votes from Cruise Hive readers in the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards. The Carnival cruise ship came in first place and was up against six other ships from six different cruise lines.

Carnival Horizon is the Best New Cruise Ship of the Year!

The second Vista-class vessel from Carnival Cruise Line has won this year’s “Best New Cruise Ship” category in the 2018 annual Cruise Ship Awards. Carnival Horizon received more votes from Cruise Hive readers and beat Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which came in second, and Celebrity Edge, which came in third.

Here are the results starting with the winner:

  1. Carnival Horizon (Carnival Cruise Line)
  2. Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
  3. Celebrity Edge (Celebrity Cruises)
  4. Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line)
  5. Nieuw Statendam (Holland America Line)
  6. MSC Seaview (MSC Cruises)
  7. Aidanova (Aida Cruises)

Carnival Horizon joined the fleet in Spring 2018 and has been hugely popular since then. She’s 133,500 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 3,900 at double occupancy. The ship continues the impressive features which sister ship Carnival Vista first introduced in 2016 including the award-winning SkyRide, an IMAX theater and Havana pool with bar.

She might be the second in the class but still introduced some new fleet first features including a new dedicated Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse dining venue, teppanyaki restaurant, and the first Dr. Seuss WaterPark at sea.

The ship was officially christened in New York on May 23, 2018, just after a transatlantic voyage from Europe. Cruises from the Big Apple started on May 24 and since September 22 the Carnival cruise ship has been based out of PortMiami, Florida sailing Caribbean cruises.

Symphony of the Seas Comes in Second

Symphony of the Seas, which is currently the world’s largest cruise ship, came in second place in this year’s cruise ship awards. The fourth Oasis-class vessel joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in Spring and just like the Carnival Horizon, she made her way across the Atlantic Ocean not long after.

She spent some time sailing her inaugural cruises in Europe out of Barcelona, Spain and departed for the final time on her transatlantic voyage on October 28, 2018. Symphony of the Seas made her U.S. debut at Port Canaveral, Florida on November 8. The next day she arrived at her new homeport at PortMiami for her naming ceremony and the start of 7-night Caribbean cruises year-round.

The ship has already won for being “Best Large Mega Ship” of 2018 and she truly is mega at an impressive 228,081 gross tons and has a guest capacity of 5,518 at double occupancy, that’s not even including the crew members!

Cruise Ship Awards So Far

Over the week we’ve been announcing the results of the 2018 Cruise Ship Awards which was opened up for voting at the beginning of September. Thousands of readers have voted and been only able to cast one vote each per category. Here are the results we’ve already announced:

Keep checking Cruise Hive as we continue to announce the results in the week to come including best cruise line, most anticipated future cruise ship, best cruise ship hull artwork and most anticipated new cruise for 2019.

Mariner of the Seas Wins Best Refurbishment of the Year

Mariner of the Seas has been voted number one for having the best cruise ship refurbishment of the year as part of Cruise Hive’s Cruise Ship Awards 2018.

Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment Announced

We’ve been announcing the annual Cruise Ship awards this week and for the “Best Cruise Ship Refurbishment” category Mariner of the Seas received the most votes. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship just about won over Carnival Paradise which is operated by Carnival Cruise Line.

Mariner of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

The Royal Caribbean vessel received a huge $120 million renovation as part of the cruise line’s Royal Amplified program which covers upgrades on 10 ships in four years. The Voyager-class ship was renovated in the Summer of 2018 before her new service sailing short Caribbean cruises from Miami, Florida.

Mariner of the Seas Returns to Miami
Photo By: Royal Caribbean

During the refurbishment, which took place in Cadiz, Spain, the ship was completely refreshed with some major new features, including Sky Pad, which is a virtual reality trampoline experience located aft, The Perfect Storm waterslides, laser tag, escape room, and a new FlowRider, which is already popular on other Royal Caribbean ships.

New ways to drink and dine onboard were added, including The Bamboo Room, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Jamie’s Italian, and Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.

The ship is now sailing short 4-night and 3-night cruises to the Bahamas including calls in Nassau and the cruise line’s own private island of CocoCay.

Carnival Paradise (Carnival Cruise Line

Mariner of the Seas only just won, with Carnival Paradise coming in second place. The Carnival cruise ship underwent a major month-long dry dock in March 2018, and the ship received some pretty big updates.

Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line

Some of the biggest updates were a new WaterWorks Aqua Park, 38 new staterooms, new balconies added to exciting staterooms, and all the FUN 2.0 updates, which were already on other ships in the fleet, such as Guy’s Burger Joint and the RedFrog Rum Bar.

The Fantasy-class vessel resumed year-round Caribbean cruises from Port of Tampa, Florida on March 26, 2018.

The Results

In third place for the best cruise refurbishment of 2018 came Carnival Legend. The ship underwent an upgrade at the Portland, Oregon, shipyard in May 2018.

Cruise Ship Awards

Sun Princess which is operated by Princess Cruises came on fourth place and the with the least amount of votes was Silver Spirit, a luxury vessel from Silversea Cruises.

Read Also: Carnival Horizon is Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2018

Thousands of Cruise Hive readers voted in this year’s Cruise Ship Awards. Readers were only able to vote once in each category since the awards opened up at the beginning of September 2018.

In 2017 Carnival Dream came out on top for best cruise ship refurbishment and in 2016 it went to Cunard Line’s iconic Queen Mary 2 in the annual awards.