Newest Trends in Cruise Ship
The good news for cruisers is that these new ships are offering very attractive fares their first year at sea, which is unusual since passengers love to sail on a new ship. If you’re flexible with your dates, and can travel without months of planning, you can get a really good deal. And you’ll likely enjoy the new features.
It will come as no surprise that the newer ships are bigger. And the biggest of them all, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, can accommodate an astonishing 5,400 passengers. Her sister, Allure of the Seas, launches later this year.
What’s new here, and positively revolutionary in cruise ship design, is an open-air space with a leafy, green park complete with trees, fresh air, and blue skies overhead. Passengers can enjoy the outdoors smack dab in the middle of the ship. And several of the “inside” cabins overlook the space.
Spas are becoming more popular on land and sea, and many of the new ships have spas that can compete with those at five-star resorts. Spa staterooms that offer special in-room amenities, and exclusive access to spa solariums, Thalasotherapy pools, and restaurants are available on NCL and Costa ships. And passengers on Seabourn Odyssey can book spa villas by the half day. These luxurious retreats have private balconies with Jacuzzis, day beds, and separate treatment rooms.
Many ships with existing spas have upgraded them, and Canyon Ranch SpaClub is now running the facilities onboard Oceania and Regent Seven Seas. Another hedonistic extra this year is private pool-side cabanas. You’ll find them on Celebrity, Holland America, Oceania, and Regent.
