After two years of a life-altering pandemic, the world in general has been fervently hoping and looking forward to better days ahead.  And for those of us who are cruise aficionados, the pandemic might have put a stop to our cruise vacation plans, but there is no stopping the wheel of innovation and changes fueling the global cruise industry.

The world’s leading cruise lines have gone ahead with designing and building the cruise ships of the future. From making an earnest move towards sustainability to levering the latest technologies, cruise lines have left no stone unturned to redefine the cruising experience for their guests and create unique differentiators.

2022 brings with it the best of everything that cruising has to offer. In each size and each range, for solo traveler to those with families, there’s something here to satiate everyone. This blog takes you through some of the best upcoming ships of the year (in absolutely no order of preference).

Wonder of the Seas: Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is like a floating piece of rainbow over the vast Atlantic Ocean.  With eighteen decks and divided into eight unique neighbourhoods, this ship is by far the largest and grandest ship in the world! To keep its nearly 7,000 guests entertained round-the-clock, the ship has an assortment of 20 restaurants, 11 bars and a number of live-event, thrill and leisure options. Along-with returning fan-favourites FlowRider and UltimateAbyss is the anticipated AquaTheater with it’s promised edge-of-the-seat entertainment contrasting with stunning ocean views and dramatic new backdrops. For charming the little ones is the Playscape – with its underwater abode of slides, climbing walls and innovative games. This summer brings with it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the charms of Europe on 7-night cruises embarking from Rome, Italy.

Celebrity Beyond: Very much in tone with the heritage of the Edge series, Celebrity Beyond brings forth the perfect mix of opulence and adventure. Blurring the line between the passenger and the surrounding ocean are the strategically designed Edge Single Staterooms with its Infinite Verandas. While this ship may not have a gigantic capacity, with its maximum occupancy limited to four thousand guests, the makers have left no stone unturned to ensure their guests have the most pleasurable experience possible. You can choose to unwind at the Retreat Sundeck with its unadulterated outdoor bliss, or pamper yourself with shop-therapy from a carefully curated range of upscale yet sustainable products from the world’s premier brands at the Celebrity Shops. This ship also has a Vegas-style casino that would give any world-class casino a run for its money (pun intended)! The Celebrity Beyond begins its voyage to the Italian Riviera and France from April 2022 from home ports of Barcelona and Rome.

Enchanted Princess: When the ship itself is called Enchanted Princess you can be certain its unparalleled hospitality will make every moment memorable. Sharing the spectacular style and luxury with the Princess Fleet, Enchanted Princess’ new attractions include the glass-enclosed ocean walkway Sea Walk and the Princess Live TV Studio. From vintage Italian Pizzeria’s to the good old Gelato, whether it be fine dining or exclusive dessert places like the Chocolate Fantasy, every day on board is sure to be a new discovery for gourmet enthusiasts. Original Music Productions, casinos, spectacular concerts with featured guest entertainers will ensure that there is a never a dull moment on your voyage. Enchanted Princess will debut in Northern Europe in April 2022 and offer 7 to 10 nights cruises to the Norwegian Fjords from its home port in Southampton, UK.

Discovery Princess: 2022 brings with itself the opportunity to discover the Mexican Riviera and the mysteries of Alaska aboard Princess’ Cruises new Medallion Class ship, Discovery Princess. Bringing with it an assortment of excursions, entertainment and dining options for its 3660 passengers, Discovery Princess continues the legacy of its mothership of pushing the envelope when it comes to what can be achieved at sea. This vacation brings along with it a Truly Touchless experience, along with super-fast WiFi and the best technology that enables you to order any food or drink of your choice, no matter where you are on the ship. With grand 270-degree views of the sea as feast for the eyes and sumptuous dining options for your stomach, your days on the ship will pass by in a sea of exploration and self-pampering. Most notable among the entertainment options remain The Sanctuary and the Princess Live production line-ups at the state-of-the-art Princess Theatre.

Costa Toscana: If someone were to tell you that you could experience the feeling of flying on the sea with your feet firmly on the ground, wouldn’t that be a scratch-your-head moment? Well, the view from Costa Toscana’s sheer crystal deck comes as close to this unimaginable experience as possible. With an impressive twenty decks, eleven restaurants and nineteen themed bars, Costa Toscana has left no stone unturned to enthrall its 6,554 passengers at every turn. And all the more admirable is the feat that this ship is powered entirely by liquified natural gas. You get to enjoy shows and events featuring revered international artists and glide through swimming pools, water rides and sip the world’s choiciest cocktails while sailing through the majestic Mediterranean Sea. Life doesn’t get better than this, does it? Grab this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by booking yourself on a Costa Toscana Mediterranean cruise for seven-nights cruises taking you to the exotic ports of Rome, Valenica, Savona, Marseilles and Barcelona starting April 2022.

Norwegian Prima: The summer of 2022 proves to be a summer of superlatives for the Norwegian Cruise line, with the launch of its newest ship in the Prima Class. With newer, exciting itineraries, fastest ocean slides, an infinity beach, a three-level race track on sea and the largest outdoor deck space of any new ship, the Norwegian Prima has elevated its reputation all the more in the eyes of eager cruise-watchers. A particular mention goes to Ocean Boulevard – with multiple sea-facing restaurants and the innovative glass Oceanwalk bridges, the Indulge Outdoor Lounge, the stunning Concourse and a priceless opportunity to stargaze at the Indulge Firepit. As far as accommodations go, this ship pushes the envelope further for any Norwegian Class ship with a whopping thirteen categories of suites and NCL’s largest ever inside, Oceanview and balcony staterooms. Beginning from September 2022, this cruise has a select line-up of voyages in Northern Europe, the Norwegian Fjords and the Baltic Capitals before moving to the Caribbean in October for the rest of the season.

Valiant Lady: The Valiant Lady is the second in Virgin Voyages’ adult-by-design boutique luxury fleet, with contemporary design and the promise for newer, more invigorating experiences. This has been a rather valiant move to design a ship exclusively for the younger millennial and Gen Z generation, with a heightened focus on those seeking to experiment with their choices rather than the tried and tested method seen in most family-targeted cruiseliners. This ship has its doors or rather, floors open only for passengers over eighteen years with its maximum capacity of 2,700 guests. This automatically translates into indoors fashioned for adults – stunning workout rooms, massage pampering areas, wild party paradises, running tracks and entertainment options enough to make a millennial go berserk. These mid-sized ships are created for tailoring experiences (with 86% of its cabins having their own balconies, and 93% featuring ocean views). Starting spring 2022, the Valiant Lady is going to paint the Mediterranean in its scarlet hues throughout the summer with voyages departing from Liverpool, UK before crossing over the Atlantic for cruises to the Caribbean come winter.

Disney Wish: Disney brings with it a host of never-seen-before experiences in its dreamiest ship to date, including a Frozen themed theatrical dining experience, a Marvel dinner adventure and an adults-only Star Wars lounge. Called Disney’s Castle on the Sea, this ship promises extravagance not just in its excursions, but also, it’s accommodation.  Also on the menu is Disney’s first ever Attraction at Sea – the Aqua Mouse. The endeavor of its makers is very much to hold everyone on this vessel under their spell, thoroughly enchanted during your time there. The vessel begins its maiden voyage in July 2022 from Port Canaveral, Florida visiting Castaway Cay and Nassau for a 5-night voyage.

MSC World Europa: MSC Cruises’ most sustainable and futuristic cruise ship runs entirely on LNG and its enhanced water recycling technology. Claimed to have been built not to sail, but to change the world, the MSC Europa brings to you some of the most unique experiences onboard – from the scenic Panorama Lounge to the Luna Park arena and the stunning Kinetic Dome. Structured in a unique Y-shape, the ship benefits from a mammoth 341ft. long promenade with the Venom Drop – an 11 deck high dry slide being it’s crowning jewel. You’ve got hydroponic gardens and a microbrewery to giant bumper cars and waterparks as well as staterooms varying in nineteen different categories. This creation of sustainable modern technology begins its maiden journey this December from Doha, Qatar for an incredible journey of the Middle east.

2022 holds a lot of promise for cruise-lovers and those thirsty for exploring the world through the seas after a nearly two-year pandemic induced hiatus. The red carpet has been rolled out, with nearly every need catered to in some form or another including avenues of opulence and adventure that one might not even have thought of before.  So what are you waiting for, get onboard for a bucket list adventure on any ship that most strikes your fancy! Until next time, Happy Cruising!