With a new crop of ships due to launch in 2025, here are the highlights of the year ahead
Just when you thought you had got to grips with all the latest ships, along comes another year of new launches. Next year, nearly 40 river and ocean ships are due to set sail for the first time, offering thousands more berths and exciting new facilities, activities and restaurants.
To the list below, add five as yet unnamed Viking Longships – one of which will operate on the Seine in France, with four sailing on the Rhine, Main and Danube. And Disney Cruise Line’s 6,700-passenger Disney Adventure, which will be spearheading Disney’s first foray into Asia with three and four-night cruises from Singapore, is due to start sailing on December 15.
The prices below were correct at the time of publication and are per person, based on two sharing and exclude flights unless otherwise specified. For details of other inclusions, contact the relevant cruise lines.
January
Viva Enjoy
Viva Cruises’ third new-build ship, and number eight in the line’s fast-growing fleet, Viva Enjoy will accommodate 190 passengers and offer three restaurants, a gym, steam room and sauna. It will cruise the Rhine and Danube.
Book it: From £650 for a four-night Wellness on the Upper Rhine round-trip cruise from Frankfurt.
viva-cruises.com
March
AmaMagdalena
The launch of AmaWaterways’ new-build AmaMagdalena will mark the first time the line has operated on the Magdalena River in Colombia. The 60-passenger vessel will offer a choice of cabins or suites, as well as a pool, massage room and gym.
Book it: From £4,707 including flights for a seven-night Magic of Colombia cruise from Barranquilla to Cartagena departing September 6.
amawaterways.co.uk
April
Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Cruise Line is making a splash – literally – with Norwegian Aqua as it unveils the first Slidecoaster at sea (think waterslide meets rollercoaster). Aqua will hold 3,571 passengers and feature a Thai restaurant and Swirl Wine Bar, as well as NCL’s largest Haven suite enclave with three-bedroom duplex rooms.
Book it: From £1,269 for a seven-night Great Stirrup Cay and Dominican Republic round-trip cruise from Port Canaveral departing April 26.
ncl.com
NCL Norwegian Aqua
MSC World America
Slated to cruise the Caribbean from Miami, MSC World America will hold 6,762 passengers and feature an overwater swing ride for those feeling brave. Greek restaurant Paxos, Italian diner Eataly – the brand’s first at sea – and five fast-food outlets will be new.
Book it: From £989 for a seven-night Caribbean cruise departing May 17.
msccruises.co.uk
AmaSintra
AmaWaterways’ third ship on the Douro will have capacity for 102 passengers. AmaSintra will feature lots of balcony cabins and a top-deck pool to enjoy those vineyard views in style.
Book it: Prices start at £2,927, including flights, for a seven-night Enticing Douro round-trip cruise from Porto departing on November 28.
amawaterways.co.uk
Riviera Rose
The first Riviera Travel vessel to bear the company name, the 114-passenger Riviera Rose will sail the Douro River in Portugal on round trips from Porto. It will boast a top-deck pool, as well as cabins and suites with French or outdoor balconies and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Book it: From £2,149, including flights, for the seven-night Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca maiden cruise departing April 1.
rivieratravel.co.uk
Riviera Rose
APT Solara, APT Ostara
These identical sister ships will carry 154 passengers in three suite categories. The vessels – which will sail the same 15-day voyages on the Rhine, Main and Danube – will feature six places to eat and allow passengers to borrow e-bikes.
Book it: From £5,995 including flights for a 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest on July 4.
aptouring.co.uk
APT Ostara
June
AmaMelodia
AmaMagdalena’s sister ship will accommodate 64 passengers, with French balconies in each stateroom and a whirlpool bath on the sun deck.
Book it: From £4,255, including flights, for a seven-night Wonders of Colombia cruise from Cartagena to Barranquilla departing October 8.
amawaterways.co.uk
Riviera Radiance
The second Riviera Travel ship to launch in 2025 will cruise the Danube. Riviera Radiance, which will have capacity for 178 passengers, will feature three restaurants and a split-level lounge, plus cabins and suites with French or step-out balconies.
Book it: From £2,949, including flights, for an eight-day Blue Danube roundtrip cruise from Budapest on June 2.
rivieratravel.co.uk
Pure Amazon
Adventure meets luxury on the Peruvian Amazon as Abercrombie & Kent debuts Pure Amazon. It will carry 22 guests in 10 suites and two single cabins, with kayaking and wildlife-spotting expeditions through the rainforest.
Book it: Prices from £4,430 for three nights’ full-board.
abercrombiekent.com
A&K Pure Amazon
American Patriot
One of two American Cruise Lines coastal vessels launching this year, American Patriot will accommodate 125 passengers in all-balcony cabins and suites, including eight for sole occupancy. Facilities will include a top-deck cafe, restaurant and two lounges.
Book it: From £9,944 for a 14-night Grand New England round-trip sailing from Boston departing July 5.
americancruiselines.com
Aretis
Cruise Croatia’s new vessel will accommodate just 36 passengers, allowing it to offer the ultimate in intimate sailings between Dubrovnik and Split. The vessel will feature an indoor-outdoor lounge, a bar and restaurant. The line offers half-board prices, allowing guests to enjoy dinner ashore most evenings.
Book it: From £1,745 for a seven-night cruise from Dubrovnik to Split departing October 4.
cruisecroatia.com
July
Allura
Oceania Cruises, the line that lays claim to the ‘finest cuisine at sea’, will offer a French-style crêperie on board Allura. The 1,200-passenger ship, which will spend its maiden season sailing in the Mediterranean, will also feature five complimentary
speciality restaurants.
Book it: From £2,365 for a six-day Trieste to Piraeus (Athens) cruise departing July 18.
oceaniacruises.com
Oceania Cruises Allura
Viking Vesta
Viking’s 12th ocean-going ship, which will accommodate 998 passengers, will continue the line’s successful formula of wrapping its restaurants, bars, lounges and cabins in minimalist Scandinavian decor. Viking Vesta will operate in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
Book it: From £5,940, including flights, for a 13-day Mediterranean Odyssey cruise departing July 2.
vikingcruises.co.uk
Viking Vesta
Luminara
Making its debut in the Mediterranean, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Luminara will offer all-suite, all-balcony accommodation for 452 passengers, including new Residential suites. The vessel will be home to five restaurants and six bars.
Book it: From £8,900 for a seven-night round-trip cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) departing July 31.
ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com
Ritz-Carlton Luminara
Spirit of the Moselle
Over-50s specialist Saga’s new river ship will be able to host 172 passengers, with 12 rooms for solo travellers. Spirit of the Moselle will feature a speciality restaurant, Beilstein, for those who fancy a change from the main eatery. Despite the ship’s name, you’ll find it sailing the Rhine and Main rivers.
Book it: From £2,546, including flights, for an eight-night Highlights of the Netherlands and Germany cruise from Amsterdam to Mainz departing July 1.
saga.co.uk
Amadeus Amara
Amadeus River Cruises is flexing its green credentials with Amara, which has a shallow draft to reduce water resistance and cut fuel consumption (while allowing it to sail when river levels are low), along with solar panels. Scheduled to sail the Danube, the 164-passenger ship will offer an indoor pool and suites with walk-out balconies.
Book it: From £1,747 for the eight-day Danube Rhapsody round-trip cruise from Passau departing August 30.
amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk
Amadeus Amara
September
Brilliant Lady
Virgin Voyages’ latest launch will be an adult-only ship offering free speciality dining covering Mexican, Italian, Korean and veggie cuisines. Passengers will enjoy included tips, Rock Star suites and occasionally off-the-wall entertainment. The ship, which will accommodate 2,762 passengers, will debut with sailings from New York to Bermuda and along the US East Coast.
Book it: From £2,734 for a five-night MerMaiden round-trip cruise from New York departing September 5.
virginvoyages.com
Viking Amun
Purpose-built for the Nile in Egypt, the 82-passenger Viking Amun will have Scandi looks, a pool, indoor and alfresco dining options, and cabins with French and outside balconies.
Book it: Prices start at £7,895, including flights, for a 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids holiday departing on September 1 that pairs a seven-night Nile cruise with hotel stays in Cairo.
vikingcruises.co.uk
October
Star Princess
Star Princess will make its debut in the Mediterranean before relocating to the Caribbean. It will accommodate 4,300 passengers and offer a range of places to eat, drink and be entertained, including a lively teppanyaki restaurant, magic shows and the Sanctuary Club for suite guests.
Book it: From £1,345 for the 11-day Inaugural Western Mediterranean round-trip cruise, which departs Barcelona on October 4.
princess.com
Star of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International’s second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, will have capacity for 7,600 passengers, and feature more than 40 places to eat and drink, six waterslides, seven pools and an infinity pool for adults. The ship will offer Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral.
Book it: From £997 for the seven-night maiden cruise, departing October 5.
royalcaribbean.co.uk
Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas
Viking Tonle
The 80-passenger Viking Tonle will cruise the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. The vessel will offer a top-deck pool, indoor dining and an alfresco bar, while its cabins will feature French or outside balconies.
Book it: From £7,595, including flights, for a 15-day Magnificent Mekong holiday departing October 3, which pairs seven nights on the Mekong with hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.
vikingcruises.co.uk
Viking Tonle
Kochi Pandaw
With room for just 20 passengers, the Kochi Pandaw will sail the Kerala backwaters in India. It will be home to 10 cabins, all of which will open on to a promenade deck, as well as an alfresco lounge, bar and bistro-style dining area.
Book it: Prices start at £4,208 for a seven-night Kerala Backwaters cruise round trip from Cochin departing September 23.
pandaw.com
American Pioneer
This sister to American Cruise Lines’ American Patriot has been designed for cruising along the Florida coast. It will have capacity for 130 guests, open seating at dinner and an observation terrace at the bow.
Book it: From £9,735 for a 15-night Grand Florida Coast & Keys round-trip cruise from St Petersburg, Florida, departing October 31.
americancruiselines.com
Viking Thoth
The sister ship for Viking Amun, Thoth is named after the Egyptian god of writing and education. Its 48-strong crew will cater for the 82 passengers, while the ship will feature the same Scandi styling as Viking’s other vessels.
Book it: Thoth will operate the same 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids cruise as Amun, with prices from £7,495.
vikingcruises.co.uk
November
Celebrity Xcel
We know that Celebrity Xcel will accommodate 3,248 passengers, will sail the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale and will feature an exclusive Retreat for suite guests and lots more that’s new for Celebrity Cruises – the details of which were under wraps as Travel Weekly went to press. Watch this space.
Book it: From £1,506 for the five-night maiden cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico from Fort Lauderdale, departing November 18.
celebritycruises.co.uk
Disney Destiny
Mickey and co’s splash-tastic new Disney Destiny will have room for 4,000 passengers, while offering a new Feast of the Lion King musical dining show. The ship will sail four-night mini-cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private islands from Fort Lauderdale.
Book it: From £2,107, in total, for two people on a four-night Bahamian Cruise departing December 3.
disneycruiseline.com
December
Douglas Mawson
The only expedition ship launching in 2025, AE Expeditions’ Douglas Mawson will host 154 passengers (130 in the polar regions) and will feature a science centre, heated pool and 10 supplement-free single cabins. It will spend its first winter in Antarctica.
Book it: From £6,236 for the 11-night Coastal Tasmania maiden round-trip from Hobart on December 1.
aexpeditions.co.uk
Star Seeker
Windstar Cruises’ vessel will operate a transatlantic cruise to Miami, before relocating to San Juan for a winter season in the Caribbean with Alaska and Japan to follow later in the year. The ship will accommodate 224 passengers, mostly in balcony cabins with five dining venues.
Book it: Prices start at £4,157 for the 16-night Malaga to Miami maiden voyage, departing December 28.
windstarcruises.com
Windstar Star Seeker
Diary dates
March 8-10: Clia RiverView Conference, Budapest (wait-listed) ukinfo@cruising.org
May 21: Clia new-to-selling-cruise day, Southampton
May 21: Clia Expedition Summit on board Swan Hellenic’s Diana, Portsmouth
May 22-24: Clia Conference, Southampton, cruising.org
River ship launches
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has chartered Riverside Luxury Cruises’ Crystal Mahler and will relaunch the 110-passenger vessel in March as Elisabeth. Prices will start at £2,132, including flights, for a seven-night Castles Along the Rhine voyage departing April 6.
- Viva Cruises will make its Douro debut in April with the Porto Mirante. The vessel sailed the Portuguese waterway for Riviera Travel in 2024. Seven-night cruises will start at £1,895 in July.
- Tui River Cruises will double its presence on the Nile with the launch of the 136-passenger Tui Bahareya in November. From £1,599 including flights for a one-week Ancient Gods and Famous Pharaohs cruise departing November 4.
PICTURES: Shutterstock/djgis; Eric Laignel
