2010 was a great year for new cruise ships, with several new ships continuing trends toward multiple dining venues, new types of staterooms and spectacular entertainment.
Celebrity Eclipse, the third ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice Class, launched with signature features like the grass-covered Lawn Club. A new feature, the alternative restaurant Qzine, offers a unique menu and make-your-own guacamole.
The Seabourn Odyssey, like its sister the Sojourn, has the one of the largest spas on any luxury cruise ship. There are indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and a Kinesis wall that combines cardio, strength and flexibility training. The indoor/outdoor concept is also featured in the Colonnade restaurant, where diners can watch their delicious meals being prepared in the open kitchen.
Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Epic, like the cruise line’s other ships, features freestyle dining. Unlike other NCL ships, the Epic has a sprawling Aqua Park with water slides and a tube ride, and 128 studio cabins with a shared lounge space specifically for solo cruisers. The ship’s entertainment includes the Second City comedy improvisation troupe and the Blue Man Group.
While bigger isn’t always better, one would be remiss to leave out Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, now the world’s largest cruise ship, which began serving passengers in late November.
River cruise lines are also adding new ships to accommodate the growing demand for river cruises in Europe and Asia. While river cruise ships are necessarily smaller than their ocean-going cousins, new ships are being designed with larger staterooms and luxury features like balconies.
To find out more about how you can sail on one of the fabulous new ocean or river cruise ships – and to find out what’s in store for 2011 – talk with your personal cruise expert.
