The New Year comes with the anticipation of another exciting 12 months of new ship inaugurals, which will introduce design, technology, cruise lifestyle and environmental innovations that will shape the future of how we cruise.
In 2023, $11 billion worth of new ocean ships alone will debut around the world, adding close to 40,000 new berths to the global cruise fleet.
Here's our top 10 list of 2023's new ships we think will really 'float your boat!'
1. Explora I
The luxury, small-ship new cruise line by MSC, Explora Journeys is scheduled to launch in the summer with the inauguration of Explora I, the first of 6 identical sister ships sailing out over the next few years. Explora I holds less than 1000 guests, and stands out for having an incredible array of options for the small-ship concept: 18 food and beverage venues including 5 restaurants, 3 outdoor pools, another under a retractable roof.
Other, established cruise lines are also getting all-new designs in the form of the first of their new classes of ships:
2. Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas will be the first of its Icon class of ships - and the world’s new largest cruise ship, breaking the cruise line’s own record. Icon of the Seas will be home to 7600 guests and will have 8 ‘neighborhoods,’ 5 of which will be all-new creations. In addition to its phenomenal size, Icon is also noteworthy as the first ship for Royal Caribbean powered by more eco-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG.)
3. Silver Nova
Silversea’s Silver Nova is breaking new ground for the ultra-luxury cruise line. Powered by LNG and batteries at sea, it will use hydrogen-based fuel cells for power in port in a big environmental step forward for cruising. In a first for the cruise line, Silver Nova will have an asymmetrical design that maximizes sea-facing exposure for guests, as well as all-new outdoor spaces with a re-imagined, outward-facing pool deck; an al fresco dining area; and a sky bar that offers panoramic views from the ship’s aft.
We’re also pretty excited about these new sister ships joining some of our favorite fleets:
4. Seven Seas Grandeur
Seven Seas Grandeur is the third and final of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ three-ship Explorer class, joining Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor in 2023. While the three ships have a lot in common, we can’t wait to see how the final ship in the series will match its sisters in glamorous design, appointments and art.
5. Seabourn Pursuit
Expedition small-ship Seabourn Pursuit will join Seabourn Venture, which was inaugurated in 2022. The new ship literally doubles down on the ultra-luxury cruise line’s commitment to expedition cruising, combining adventure and Seabourn’s signature ultra-luxury style of cruising in remote waters of the world ranging from the Arctic to the Antarctic.
6. Scenic Eclipse II
Another addition to the increasingly popular small-ship expedition cruise trend is the Scenic Eclipse II, identical sister ship to the Scenic Eclipse (on the right, below), complete with both submarine and helicopter touring off the ship.
7. Emerald Sakara
Scenic’s more-budget conscious sister cruise line Emerald Cruises debuts ocean-going yacht Emerald Sakara, also nearly identical to her predecessor Emerald Azzurra (on the left, above), which expanded Emerald from exclusively river cruising into ocean cruises.
8. Viking Saturn
Viking hits a milestone in 2023, launching its 10th ocean-going vessel, the 930-guest Viking Saturn. Like its virtually identical sister ships, Viking Saturn boasts the cruise line’s signature Scandinavian style and amenities that translate across its river, ocean and expedition fleets (pictured, top and here below.)
9. Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Cruises’ fourth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Ascent, sets sail this year. While all the Edge-Class ships have much in common, particularly the stand-out ‘Magic Carpet’, the orange, cantilevered venue that slides up and down the side of all Edge-class ships, Ascent will be longer than her predecessors and also feature new and redesigned spaces to look forward to.
10. MSC Euribia
MSC Euribia is the third of MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia-Plus series of ships – and its second LNG (liquefied natural gas) ship. In keeping with its move to more eco-friendly fuel and a host of other sustainability innovations, MSC Euribia will also feature environmental-themed hull art to remind us of the company’s commitment to sustainability.
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Images courtesy of their respective cruise lines.
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