Once-in-a-lifetime adventures can be equal parts exhilarating and expensive. One way to cut costs is to tick off lots of incredible experiences in a single trip — with a cruise. We’ve found the sailings that show off the best of what the world has to offer from chasing the northern lights with a team of astronomers to gliding along the Nile and going back in time with visits to the likes of Luxor and Aswan.
The Latest Cruise Ships for 2024 and 2025
FANCY spiralling down 11 decks of a cruise ship in the dark? Or swinging out over the side, 50 metres above the ocean? Welcome to MSC World America, one of many exciting new cruise ships launching next year that promise to take your breath away, quite literally. That will be on the water slide that starts with a scary 90-degree drop. Packing in 6,769 passengers and more than 30 places to eat and drink, World America will be island-hopping in the Caribbean from Miami starting in April, with prices from £779pp for seven nights.
Next up it’s Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua, a lively ship where fun-seekers can ride the first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea. The ship has lots of places to eat, even more places to drink, with no one telling you what to wear, and a sports complex that becomes a nightclub in the evening. Aqua holds 3,571 passengers and will be sailing from Port Canaveral in Florida to NCL’s private island in the Caribbean from April, with seven-day prices from £1,041pp.
Royal Caribbean International’s gargantuan Star Of The Seas holds almost 8,000 passengers and is full of thrills and chills for all the family. There are 40 places to eat and drink, a different pool for every day of the week and flumes galore. Take on Frightening Bolt and you will do the tallest drop slide at sea. Come evening it is time to head to the dome where divers do the dare-devil stuff, plunging headfirst from dizzying heights into pools that look like they surely cannot be deep enough. Star Of The Seas will be sailing the Caribbean from Orlando in Florida from August 2025. Prices, from £624pp for seven days, include a call into Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day, where sun, sand and more scary waterslides await.
Luxurious and Unique Experiences
Kicking off in September, Virgin Voyages’ fourth Lady Ship, Brilliant Lady, continues the company’s tradition of banning kids and raising a few eyebrows with its risqué entertainment. But with free dining in every restaurant (think Mexican, Italian, Korean and seriously veggie), no tips required, a hammock on the balcony and Rock Star suites with their own turntables, “brilliant” sums up this ship well. September sailings from New York start at £2,232 for two sharing a cabin for five nights.
And then it’s time for the other 2025 star to make its glamorous appearance, starting in the Mediterranean in October but quickly high-tailing it to the Caribbean in search of winter sun. The latest from the Princess Cruises’ stable, Star Princess, will hold 4,300 passengers, has a new and exclusive Sanctuary Club for suite guests, and round-trip cruises from Fort Lauderdale from £755pp for seven nights.
Come November, discover your inner Hakuna Matata on Disney Cruise Line’s latest ship, the Disney Destiny, which will feature a Feast Of The Lion King musical dining show. The same month, you can ride the Magic Carpet on the side of Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel. “We can’t wait,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, boss of Celebrity. Frankly neither can we, given that Celebrity Xcel has a swanky Retreat where suite passengers have their own lounge and restaurant. Disney Destiny holds up to 4,000 passengers and has four-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to Disney’s Lookout Cay private island from £2,067 for two sharing a cabin. Celebrity Xcel holds 3,248 passengers and has Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale from £619pp for seven nights.
River Cruises: A More Intimate Experience
Prefer something smaller? Look to the rivers, where vessels count passengers in the hundreds, life is more sedate and Riviera Travel is going for the double. First up, the 114-passenger Riviera Rose makes its April debut on the Douro in Portugal, promising port wine, palaces and plazas on a round-trip from beautiful Porto. Then waltz over to the Danube in June to find Riviera Radiance setting sail for the first time. Its 178 passengers are spoilt for choice with three restaurants, a pool on the sundeck, Grand Suites with private balconies and cruises from Budapest that tick off city favourites Vienna and Bratislava. Prices, from £2,149pp and £1,849pp respectively for eight days, include flights.
The Future of Cruising: A Glimpse into Tomorrow
These new cruise ships represent a wave of innovation, with a focus on immersive experiences, unique dining options, and high-tech amenities. As the industry continues to evolve, passengers can expect even more thrilling and unforgettable voyages in the years to come. From high-speed water slides to immersive theatrical productions, these new ships are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the high seas. The future of cruising is bright, filled with adventure, luxury, and endless possibilities for exploration.
