Review of New Cruise Ships 2023
How Many New Ships Debuted in 2023?
16 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launched in 2023
As the year comes to a close, let’s review the new cruise ships which entered service in 2023.
Most of the main cruise lines introduced new vessels in 2023, and it is also the year when a new luxury cruise brand launched - Explora Journeys with its first new ship EXPLORA I.
FEBRUARY 2023
Emerald Sakara
Scenic Group/Emerald Yacht Cruises welcomed luxury mega yacht Emerald Sakara to the fleet in February 2023 - sister ship to Emerald Azzurra, with the same sleek design and features.
The luxurious Emerald Sakura features a variety of areas to dine and relax and an onboard wellness centre, complete with a spa, gym, and sauna for the ultimate indulgence, as well as three tenders and a Zodiac. The superyacht’s marina platform has been designed for easy access to snorkelling, paddle boarding and swimming – just some of the many activities included.
MARCH 2023
Seabourn Pursuit
Seabourn Pursuit is the second Seabourn expedition ship - the first being sister ship Seabourn Venture launched in 2022.
Seabourn Pursuit, a PC6 Polar Class vessel, has been designed and built to sail in diverse environments, and includes modern technology that will extend the ships’ global deployment and capabilities. The ship carries two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, kayaks, and a 26-person expert expedition team whose role is to engage guests throughout each voyage.
APRIL 2023
Oceania Vista
Oceania Vista is the first of two brand new Allura Class 1200-passenger cruise ships. She was the seventh ship to join the Oceania fleet, which is renown for its culinary excellence boasting The Finest Cuisine at Sea®.
Featuring all-veranda luxury accommodation, Oceania Vista has beautifully appointed bathrooms with oversized rainforest showers, large vanity units and copious storage space. In a first for the brand, Vista features a new category of Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms dedicated to solo travellers.
Signature spaces include the spectacular Grand Staircase, The Grand Lounge, Martini Bar, a fabulous pool deck and the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center to name just a selection.
Scenic Eclipse II
Scenic Cruises set the benchmark for ultra-luxury cruises with the launch, back in 2019, of Scenic Eclipse, the trailblazer of The World's First Discovery Yachts™. Now Scenic Eclipse II has joined the fleet and offers ultra-luxury all-inclusive expedition cruising, in spacious suites with butler service, access to Senses Spa and a choice of ten dining experiences.
MAY 2023
Ambassador Ambition
The second ship to join Ambassador Cruise Line was Ambition, a smaller ship offering a premium value traditional.cruising experience.. Ambition can carry up to 1,200 passengers in 714 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 suites with up to 62m2 of living space.
Dining options include two main restaurants, speciality dining options, and a more casual bistro style café. Guests can sit back, relax and enjoy a drink in one of her four bars, lounges and pub. Entertainment includes a tiered main theatre, The Palladium, casino, card room, library, and craft studio.
Other facilities include the stunning Green Sea Spa wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, perfect for days at sea.
Viking Saturn
Adult-only Viking Saturn became the ninth ship to join the Viking Ocean Fleet, following hot on the aft of her sister ships Viking Mars and Viking Neptune which debuted in 2022.
Viking Saturn is practically identical to her sister ships, exuding the same sophisticated charm, with high-end Scandi design. The ship has 465 all-balcony cabins and three suite options - Penthouse Junior Suites, Explorer Suites and the Owner’s Suite.
Consistent with other Viking ships, Viking Saturn is inclusive of a range of options such as 24-hour room service, a range of shore excursions, gratuities, dining at specialty restaurants, wine, beer, and sodas with lunch and dinner, and access to the spa's thermal suite.
SH Diana
Arriving in early 2023, Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana is the largest ship to ever join the fleet. A polar-class vessel featuring a Polar Class 6 ice-strengthened hull, she offers 5 Star accommodation for just 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites. The exclusive and elegant SH Diana, named after the Ancient Roman goddess of light, the moon, hunting and the wilderness, has been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth. SS Diana is equipped with two comfortable tenders instead of Zodiacs for expedition landings.
When not exploring, guests can enjoy Al fresco dining beside a heated outdoor pool, or relaxing in the Observation Lounge or The Club Lounge.
EXPLORA I
I was particularly excited for the arrival of Explora Journeys EXPLORA I, having been closely following her development. EXPLORA I is the first of six ships for the new luxury lifestyle brand, who promotes an ‘Ocean State of Mind’.
EXPLORA I offesr 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ for guests, all with sweeping ocean views, private terrace, a choice of 11 distinct culinary experiences across six restaurants, plus in-suite dining, 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, Chef`s Kitchen four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, wellness facilities, and refined entertainment.
Find out full details on my Explora Journeys page.
Resilient Lady
The much anticipated 2,700-passenger Resilient Lady became the third vessel in Virgin Voyages' fleet, joining her sisters Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Originally due to launch back in August 2022, Virgin Voyages made the decision to postpone her debut until May 2023 (see my related article here).
With over 20 included fabulous dining options (I speak from experience - the food on Virgin Voyages ships is exceptional), entertainment like you’ve never seen at sea, Redemption Spa and much more, including accommodation from solo cabins to mega-rockstar suites, Resilient Lady has a lot to offer!
JUNE 2023
MSC Euribia
MSC Euribia is a Meraviglia Plus-class ship with maximum capacity of 6300 guests. Euribia has been procaimed as the industry's most environmentally advanced ship to date being MSC's second newbuild designed to be LNG-powered (liquified natural gas). MSC Euribia differs from others in the fleet with her distinctive exclusive hull artwork design by Alex Flaemig/Undercover Design, who were selected via an international online contest.
With 12 eateries, including a buffet which is open for 20 hours, and several fine dining speciality restaurants, guests definitely won’t go hungry. Entertainment is a key feature on MSC Euribia, with lavish production shows, a large water park, and a two-deck high amusement park. Of course there is also the ubiquitous LED dome ceiling ("digital sky") displaying visual shows, and the not-to-be missed MSC Starship Club with the iconic Rob the robotic bartender.
JULY 2023
Norwegian Viva
The second ship in the brand’s Prima class, Norwegian Viva follows in the wake of her much acclaimed sister, Norwegian Prima which debuted in 2022.
Guests on Norwegian Viva can expect an elevated experience featuring more wide-open spaces, thoughtful and stunning design and exceptional service, mirroring the upscale design and structure of her sister ship Norwegian Prima. Norwegian Viva can accommodate 3,219 guests at double occupancy, in spacious accommodations including the brands’ largest inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms. The world-class vessel not only offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories and largest variety of suite categories available at sea, but also boasts a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept.
Norwegian Viva’s key features include Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000 square foot outdoor walk way which wraps around the entire ship; Indulge Food Hall featuring 11 varieties of eateries; The Concourse boasting an outdoor sculpture garden; expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach and Oceanwalk, showcasing glass bridges above water.
Visit/bookmark my dedicated Norwegian Viva page for updates
Silver Nova
Silversea’s Silver Nova was the eleventh ship to join the fleet. The all-balcony Silver Nova (a first for Silversea), offers 728 guests an ultra luxury cruise experience with 270 degree unobstructed views to boot. Her revolutionary asymmetrical design provides vast open areas and more space than ever before.
Silver Nova offers guests a reimagined pool deck and all-new outdoor venues. The new ship has eight signature restaurants wiith both formal and informal options, decks three, four, and five accommodate Silver Nova’s indoor restaurants, while The Marquee on deck 10 houses her two outdoor dining options,
NOVEMBER 2023
Seven Seas Grandeur
Six-star cruise line Regent Seven Seas debuted their newest ship, Seven Seas Grandeur in November 2023. The 750 guest ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise ship was the sixth ship in the Regent Seven Seas fleet, and the third of its new builds. Each of the 375 luxurious balcony suites has ocean views and benefits from butler service. Seven Seas Grandeur has a far more contemporary luxe design than her sister ships, whilst retaining some of the traditional features enjoyed by guests.
There is a variety of dining options including the Compass Rose Main Dining Room, Prime 7 reservation-only American Steakhouse, and new speciality restaurant, Chartreuse serving French cuisine and premium cocktails. There is also a cookery school, Culinary Arts Kitchen, where guests can learn to prepare wonderful dishes using premium ingredients at one of the 18 cooking stations.
Guests in Seven Seas Grandeur can enjoy the Canyon Ranch SpaClub and Wellness Center, The Boutique shopping area as well as many bars and lounges, whilst the Lido deck is home to a large swimming pool and two jacuzzis
December 2023
Carnival Jubilee
We had to wait a little longer than anticipated for Carnival Jubilee, as her debut was delayed until the end of 2023. Carnival Jubilee is the third Carnival XL-Class ship, following in the wake of sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
The ship has 2641 passenger cabins, divided into 22 different categories, including 2-deck duplex apartments. Carnival Jubilee also shares many similarities with her sister ships, including Grand Central day-to night entertainment complex; French Quarter with its many eateries; La Piazza; and Summer Landing. Of course Carnival Jubilee wouldn’t be complete unless it featured The Ultimate Playground, a large family-friendly outdoor playground area with the fleet's largest aqua park, Carnival WaterWorks, and an expanded sports complex, SportSquare. It is here that you will also find "BOLT”, theUltimate Sea Coaster.
Celebrity Ascent
If you are a regular reader, or follow me on social media, you will know that I am obsessed with Celebrity Cruises, and in particular their last ship, Celebrity Beyond. Having sailed on her in 2022, I felt that she would be a hard act to follow, but I think Celebrity may have managed to top their best with Celebrity Ascent, which debuted in early December 2023.
Like her older sister-ships (Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond), Celebrity Ascent is also an Edge Class vessel, the fourth and last in the series. Having found the perfect formula with Celebrity Beyond, you can expect the same fabulous spaces onboard Celebrity Ascent, including the iconic tangerine Magic Carpet (cantilevered platform moving between decks), the Rooftop Garden with its sculptural trees, The Retreat and Luminae exclusive areas for suite guests and a fabulous Resort Deck with pool and two "martini glass" Jacuzzis.
Accommodation includes sixteen solo cabins, 918 Infinite Veranda cabins, plus two-storey Edge Villas and of course The Iconic Suite as seen on Celebrity Beyond.
Celebrity Ascent is currently sailing the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.
To get a taste of what to expect visit my “All Things Celebrity Beyond” and “All Things Celebrity Ascent” .
Brilliant Lady (Delayed Indefinitely)
New Virgin Voyages ‘ladyship’, Brilliant Lady, was due to enter service in December 2023, but the launch has been postponed indefinitely, according to an announcement from the brand in September 2023.
The fourth of Virgin Voyages Ladyships, Brilliant Lady, was set to debut at the end of 2023, when she was to join her sisters Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady. The ship is under construction at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Italy, and was floated out in November last year (2022) with bookings opening in September 2022.
The delay of Brilliant Lady has had an impact across the fleet as Virgin Voyages attempt to reshuffle sailings to minimise disruption as much as possible.
Brilliant Lady’s two inaugural sailings were cancelled, as was a roundtrip 5 night cruise from Miami on Christmas Eve and another round trip from San Juan on 30th December 2023.
Sailings from Brilliant Lady’s intended home port, San Juan, have also been cancelled with guests being offered alternatives. In order to facilitate this, there has also been some disruption to some itineraries on both Resilient Lady and Valiant Lady who are being redeployed to try to bridge the gap. Selected winter 2024 voyages to the Caribbean scheduled to be operated by Brilliant Lady will now be operated aboard Valiant Lady. Find out more HERE
You can find out about Virgin Voyages on my dedicated page.
Two much-anticipated ships will actually not now come into service until 2024 - Princess Cruises Sun Princess and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Whilst Icon of the Seas was delivered at the end of 2023, she won’t take passengers until early in 2024..
I will be publishing a preview of new ships coming in 2024 in the New Year, so don’t forget to subscribe.