Super-sized cruise ships to get even bigger with new ‘floating cities' announced
Who could forget the images that went viral last year of a cruise ship's stern looking like a top-heavy birthday cake? So colorful and cartoon-like were the decks layered with twisting waterslides, turquoise pools and neon accoutrements galore, many commenters wondered how it could float.
If you thought the simultaneous buzz and uproar that accompanied the January 2024 launch of the world's biggest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean's 1196-foot-long Icon of the Seas — was the last you'd hear about super-sized cruise ships for a while, think again.
The bigger-is-better adage is one that the world's biggest cruise lines — Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line among them — continue to embrace, as one mega-size cruise ship after another rolls down the pipeline on its way from the shipyard to the sea.
This year alone will see a litany of new larger-than-life (and in many cases, larger than their predecessor sister ships) cruise ships traversing the world's oceans.
In late April, Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, began cruising out of Florida's Port Canaveral with a passenger capacity of 3600 — 10 per cent more than other Prima Class ships can carry. The cruise line has ordered four larger ships, carrying 5000 passengers each, for delivery starting in 2030 (with several more Prima Class ships rolling out in the interim).
Also in April, MSC Cruises debuted its second-largest ship after Mediterranean-based MSC World Europa. MSC World America can accommodate 6762 passengers and stretches 1,092 feet long. It sails on Caribbean itineraries out of the MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the largest cruise terminal in North America, which is capable of processing 36,000 passengers daily on three ships.
Two more new MSC World Class ships are in the pipeline for delivery in 2026 (MSC World Asia, which will sail in the Mediterranean) and 2027 (MSC World Atlantic, which will cruise the Caribbean from Port Canaveral).
Carnival Cruise Line has plans to launch its most behemoth cruise ship class ever in 2029 when it takes delivery of the first of three ships with more than 3000 cabins and maximum capacity of nearly 8000 guests.
And in August of this year, the sister ship to the 7600 passenger Icon of the Seas and the second ship in Royal Caribbean's Icon Class, Star of the Seas, will set sail from Port Canaveral on seven-night year-round Caribbean sailings. The ship will have roughly the same maximum passenger capacity and 20 equally eye-popping decks festooned with waterslides, a water park, seven pools and 40 places to eat and drink.
Royal Caribbean isn't stopping there. In 2026, Legend of the Seas, the third ship in the Icon Class, is slated to set sail from Fort Lauderdale. And a fourth yet-to-be-named ship is on tap for delivery in 2027.
A demand that shows no signs of ebbing
More than 37 million passengers are expected to cruise in 2025, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The global cruise ship orderbook extends through 2036, with 77 new cruise ships scheduled for delivery, a CLIA spokesperson told CNN.
While that may sound overwhelming when it comes to choice, size and carbon footprint, rolling out bigger and better ships isn't new.
'Pre-pandemic, cruise lines were on a tear with lots of ships on order. And then, of course, the pandemic happened and virtually everything halted,' says Cruise Critic's editor-in-chief, Colleen McDaniel.
What we're seeing now, she says, is what appears to be more cruise ships on order than ever before.
Cruise Critic's users are 'absolutely looking forward' to cruising on some of the bigger ships, including Star of the Seas and MSC World America, says McDaniel.
'If you look at the orderbook for cruise ships all the way through 2036, their ships on those, there are some really big ones,' she says. 'The more cruisers you can get onto a ship, the more potential revenue you have from those cruisers.'
And while there's no official passenger number when it comes to what defines a super-sized cruise ship, McDaniel says Cruise Critic generally considers ships with more than 3000 passengers in that category.
According to CLIA, a little less than one-third (28 per cent) of all cruise ships fall into the large category, with 3,000 or more 'lower berths' (indicating double-occupancy passenger capacity).
All about the flow
The key to making the experience of a super-sized ship pleasant for passengers is the flow of movement onboard as well as the creation of distinct spaces for guests to escape and make their own, McDaniel says.
'(Cruise lines) have to be able to ensure that if you are on a ship that has 6000 people on board, that they're still able to move passengers through comfortably and to make them feel like it's an experience that doesn't have that many guests on board,' says McDaniel, adding that this is something the mega ships do well.
'They make sure that the flow is good. They count on passengers to sort of find and return to spaces they really love,' she says.
Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Class ships have 'neighborhoods' while MSC's World Class ships have a 'districts' concept meant to make a large cruise ship feel more manageable.
As a result, she says, the ship feels like a destination unto itself and therein lies the appeal for many passengers.
'The era of guests going on a cruise to simply get to a destination is over,' says Suzanne Salas, MSC Cruises executive vice president, marketing, eCommerce and sales.
'People are not using a cruise to get to the Bahamas. People want the cruise to have innovation, to have bars, to have dining, to have entertainment,' she says.
And the mega ships offer all that in spades.
'Yes, you are going to really wonderful places, be it the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, but the ship offers so much to do that it's actually difficult to fit it all into the space of a week,' McDaniel says.
A formula that's working
In the increasingly competitive global cruise industry, large providers are looking for opportunities to gain market share by driving unique travel experiences, says Jerry Roper, chief digital architect at Deloitte Digital, which analyzes travel industry trends.
'Larger ships are seeing considerable increase in occupancy and the newer experience is a draw for customers,' Roper says.
The market is changing from cruise to an integrated experience with multiple examples of cruise partnerships plus expanded, captive experiences — Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and MSC's Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, for example — that expand the cruise experience beyond the confines of the ship, Roper says. Carnival Cruise Line will open its new cruise port destination, Celebration Key, on the south side of Grand Bahama Island this summer.
Tampa, Florida, resident Jeanetta Sheppard has sailed on roughly 20 cruises aboard ships of varying sizes but says she prefers mega ships like Icon of the Seas and ships in Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, like Utopia of the Seas, which can carry over 5600 passengers.
Even when a show ends up getting cancelled, Sheppard says she still finds plenty to do onboard like 'being able to explore the ship and walk and all the different artworks and different floors. There's always something to do.'
A few months ago, she cruised on a smaller ship from Tampa and was disappointed despite the service being excellent, Sheppard says.
'I told my husband, 'Let's go explore the ship', and I swear, I walked out my door and before long we'd seen it all,' she says.
'Everything's on track'
Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley says that while the company was very optimistic with the launch of Icon of the Seas last year, they had 'no clue how well-received it would be'.
The ship was not only the biggest, but the biggest hit the company has ever introduced, he says.
Bayley attributes that success, in part, to multi-generational families traveling together more and every member of the family wanting to have places on board where they can gather together and disperse to on their own.
A mega ship like Icon or Star takes a bit over two years to build, Bayley says, with the conception and design process starting some five years before the ship will ever enter the water.
Still under construction in the shipyard in Turku, Finland, as of early May, Star of the Seas is currently in its finishing stages, says Bayley.
'Her engines are in there with all the techs in there. The ship is almost finished. All of the public spaces are being finalized. So you can imagine the scale of the construction of a ship of that size, and everything's on track and on time,' Bayley told CNN Travel.
The sea trials come next, when technicians test the ship's major systems in the water, then it will be sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to Port Canaveral for 'shakedown cruises' to iron out any issues before entering service in late August, he says.
Legend of the Seas is in the same shipyard in Finland but still in its early construction stages, Bayley says, adding that it will fundamentally be the same ship as Star with 'various upgrades and some tweaks and changes that improve the product and improve the overall experience.'
Right now, he says, Legend looks like a jumble of Lego blocks.
'You look at it and think, what's that?' he says.
The enviromental red flags you can't see
For all the fans they have in passengers eager to explore their neighborhoods and shows, water parks and thrill rides, behemoth ships also raise environmental concerns and some ports are wary of receiving the inundation of passengers.
Mega cruise ships are 'essentially floating cities', says Bryan Comer, marine program director at the International Council on Clean Transportation.
'And with each new launch, we're seeing increases in fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and wastewater discharges,' he says.
Mega ships including Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and MSC World America are powered by LNG, an alternative marine fuel produced from natural gas from underground reserves, and traditional marine fuel. All three have shore power connectivity that allows engines to be switched off in port to cut down on local emissions.
The sustainability pages for Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises, Carnival and Norwegian all state the companies' commitments to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
But Comer says bio-methanol and renewable e-methanol are better options than LNG when it comes to long-term climate risk and achieving very low life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
'Even if ships eventually use bio-LNG or renewable e-LNG, any methane emissions from the fuel tanks or engines will erode some of the climate benefits, making it very challenging to achieve net-zero emissions,' he says.
The industry has the opportunity to innovate and lean on low-emission travel now, he says.
'I think it's important to remember that the future of cruising doesn't have to look like the past,' says Comer.
There is also the question of overtourism to consider and the impact to local infrastructure that comes with dropping thousands of tourists in ports, big and small.
'Many of the tourism destination leaders we work with tell us yes, some cruise tourism is beneficial to the local economy,' says Paula Vlamings, chief impact officer of global nonprofit Tourism Cares, a pioneer in promoting sustainable tourism.
But there's a tipping point, says Vlamings.
Too many large ships in a port at once — or the equivalent in the form of one mega ship — can create negative impacts that 'far outweigh the positive,' overwhelming the people that live there, providing little economic opportunity in return and putting a heavy burden on local resources and infrastructure, she says.
'Whether it's cruise ships, tour operators or attractions, the travel industry must focus on protecting the places and people who call them home.'
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West Australian
18 hours ago
- West Australian
World's Best Hotels Guide: Familiar faces and fresh suggestions
The World Tourism Awards 2024 gives a snapshot of the globe's best travel options. Our thoughts on familiar names corroborated and new places, suggestions and brands are thrown up. It isn't a surprise, in luxury and interesting accommodation, to see Raffles Singapore, Aman Resorts and the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group. But most of us won't be familiar with Amazing Evolution, named the world's leading boutique hotel operator for 2024. The 12-year-old company prides itself on offering 'a tailored approach to each project in light of its DNA'. It is no surprise to me that Serengeti Balloon Safaris in Africa was among the winners, along with the world's leading luxury train, the Maharajas Express in northern India. And there is Abercrombie & Kent as the world's best luxury safari company. But it may be a surprise that Parques de Sintra, Monte da Lua, Portugal, is the world's leading conservation company, and that Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador, is the world's leading adventure hotel. The parks, Moorish Castle and monuments of Sintra make the park at Monte de Lua one of the most historical and iconic places in Portugal. Pikaia Lodge, in the Galapagos Islands, was built using more sustainable methods and materials, and offers a high level of service. Arbatax Park Resort, Italy, was named best eco resort; Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas, Greece, as the top eco lodge; and the world's best green hotel award went to Gaia Hotel and Reserve, Costa Rica. Thanda Island, Tanzania, is the best exclusive private island. Just one kilometre long and 350 metres wide, there is just one private villa with five suites and two rustic Tanzanian bandas. It is in Tanzania's Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve, surrounded by a coral reef. Another interesting name is Sixt. It won the luxury car rental category, and Sixt Ride was named the world's leading luxury chauffeur service. World's Leading Adult-Only Boutique Hotel Domes Noruz Mykonos, Greece Luxury adults-only lifestyle resort in the heart of the Island. World's Leading All-Suite Hotel THE VIEW Lugano, Switzerland On a hillside with panoramic views of Lake Lugano. World's Leading Adventure Hotel Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador Sustainable luxury eco lodge in the Galapagos Islands. World's Leading Boutique Beach Hotel The Postcard on the Arabian Sea, Maravanthe Beach, India On a secluded beachfront expect an entrancing atmosphere and its candlelit dinners. World's Leading Boutique Hotel Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa In the ritzy and relatively secure Sandhurst area of Johannesburg, a ritzy luxury hotel with landscape grounds to wander, and 33km from O.R. Tambo International Airport. World's Leading Boutique Hotel Brand Aman Resorts Swiss-based but founded by Indonesian hotelier Adrian Zecha in 1988, Aman has 35 luxurious properties in 20 countries. 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The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Erick an 'extremely dangerous' category four hurricane
Southern Mexico's Pacific coast is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Erick, which has been upgraded to an "extremely dangerous" category four, the US National Hurricane Center says. The major storm threatens to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge near where the eye crashes ashore. The Miami-based centre reported Erick was about 110km west-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and about 145km southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, early on Thursday. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 230km/h and was moving northwest at 15km/h. A hurricane is defined as category four when wind speeds reach 209-251km/h. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a category five hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40 centimetres could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane centre advisory. Southern Mexico's Pacific coast is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Erick, which has been upgraded to an "extremely dangerous" category four, the US National Hurricane Center says. The major storm threatens to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge near where the eye crashes ashore. The Miami-based centre reported Erick was about 110km west-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and about 145km southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, early on Thursday. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 230km/h and was moving northwest at 15km/h. A hurricane is defined as category four when wind speeds reach 209-251km/h. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a category five hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40 centimetres could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane centre advisory. Southern Mexico's Pacific coast is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Erick, which has been upgraded to an "extremely dangerous" category four, the US National Hurricane Center says. The major storm threatens to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge near where the eye crashes ashore. The Miami-based centre reported Erick was about 110km west-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and about 145km southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, early on Thursday. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 230km/h and was moving northwest at 15km/h. A hurricane is defined as category four when wind speeds reach 209-251km/h. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a category five hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40 centimetres could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane centre advisory. Southern Mexico's Pacific coast is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Erick, which has been upgraded to an "extremely dangerous" category four, the US National Hurricane Center says. The major storm threatens to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge near where the eye crashes ashore. The Miami-based centre reported Erick was about 110km west-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and about 145km southeast of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, early on Thursday. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 230km/h and was moving northwest at 15km/h. A hurricane is defined as category four when wind speeds reach 209-251km/h. Late on Wednesday, Erick's projected path crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, and centred on a sparsely populated stretch of coastline between the Oaxacan resort and Acapulco to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. The storm's course shift could be welcome relief for residents of storm-battered Acapulco. The city of nearly one million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a category five hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort's hotels. Forecasters said Erick was expected to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 40 centimetres could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane centre advisory.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Sky News AU
Delta Goodrem ties the knot with fiancé Matthew Copley in star-studded Maltese wedding
Delta Goodrem has tied the knot with her partner of six years, Matthew Copley, in a star-studded wedding on the island nation of Malta. The Australian singer and actress, 40, and Matthew, 38, who is a guitarist, said "I do" in picturesque Europe last Monday, according to New Idea. The high-profile couple's celebrity pals, including entertainer Renee Bargh, TV presenter Richard Wilkins and his son Christian, as well as Delta's mother, Lea, and brother, Trent, joined them at the celebration. The magical location where the nuptials occurred is significant to the couple, as it's where Matthew first got down on one knee two years ago. The Born to Try hitmaker once addressed the location's significance by claiming, 'My partner's family is all from Malta'. After the wedding, photos obtained by New Idea show the couple continued to celebrate with family and friends at a seaside beach club. Delta, with her sandy blonde hair styled in loose waves, beamed as she flashed her signature smile and wedding band while embracing guests. She then slipped into a more comfortable electric blue swimsuit, which she accessorised with a white and black sarong and gold jewellery. Delta took a dip in the Mediterranean waters while at the afterparty, no doubt revelling in the joy of being a newly married couple with Copley. The bride and groom are understood to now be continuing their celebration with a romantic honeymoon through Europe. The musicians are likely to still find the time to make music together throughout their travels, which Delta once said bound them together. 'It's a love language for us,' Delta told Stellar in May. 'Music is how we met; it's what we both do. "I have an amazing partner, and we live a good life, and we get to tour the world doing what we love.' Speculation is rife Delta and Matthew got legally married in Australia some weeks ago after she was spotted with a wedding band on her ring finger during a performance in London in May. If the rumours are true, the newlyweds have been officially married for a month but decided to celebrate with their loved ones in Malta on Monday. Delta has been officiating her wedding plans for a while now and kicked things off with a hen's party in Sydney's Palm Beach in April. The singer boarded a luxury yacht in the suburb on the city's Northern Beaches, where she was joined by her close friends, including former Nine presenter Airlie Walsh and Renee Bargh. Delta and Matthew, who are based in Los Angeles, are believed to have met through their mutual friend, fellow Aussie singer Conrad Sewell. In 2023, the couple launched their own record label, ATLED Records. Delta was previously engaged to Irish singer Brian McFadden and has been romantically linked to both Mark Philippoussis and Nick Jonas. The Sydney-born performer has previously said she values deep, lasting relationships, and she and Matthew effortlessly intertwine this into their lives. "I'm somebody who loves to go deeper," Delta told HELLO! magazine in 2020. "I'm all about long-term friendships and relationships, and I love those people with all my heart. "When Matt and I work together, it's really easy to go straight to the core of our feelings because we're living and breathing life together all the time. "It's wonderful to work with him."
