From New Cruise Ships to Adventurous Itineraries, There’s More To Come For Cruising In 2022
The buzz around sailing in 2022 isn’t about to go down any time soon: In the coming months, there will be launches of not just brand-new cruise lines but also brand-new cruise ships, itineraries, and even cruise lines themselves. Here are some of the ships and itineraries that we are most looking forward to, as well as instructions on how to book them before they become fully booked.
Journeys Into the Unknown
Explora Journeys, a brand-new cruise line, is planning to debut its namesake vessel, the Explora I, in May of 2023. Even the entry-level cabins, which are termed Ocean Terrace Suites, measure as some of the largest in the business with a total of 377 square feet of space, making the boutique vessel equipped with a total of 461 roomy suites some of the most spacious in the industry. A walk-in closet, heated bathroom floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, and wireless bedside charging stations are just some of the thoughtful touches that are included in every guest room as part of the ‘Home at Sea’ concept offered by Explora Journeys. Other amenities include a hairdryer that uses ultrasonic technology. The best part is that each suite has its own private terrace, which is outfitted with daybeds and a dining table so that guests may enjoy meals outside. In its first year of operation, the Explora I is scheduled to call at 132 ports located in 40 different countries. Among these ports are a few locations that are seldom visited by cruise ships, such as Saint Pierre, Martinique.
Expeditions led by Aurora
After the debut of its new expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle, in November 2022, Aurora Expeditions will introduce a variety of new Patagonia trip itineraries that will take place in Chile. The adventure company claims that the new itineraries would “dovetail perfectly” as an add-on tour to its Antarctic expeditions, the majority of which depart from Ushuaia, which is located in Argentina. (As part of the excursions, we will handle all of your transportation needs between Argentina and Chile.)
On the routes that last for 10 days, tourists will hike over rough terrain to visit locations such as the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Ascencio Valley. Along the route, there are going to be a lot of opportunities to see various animals, such as guanacos, rheas, flamingos, and condors from the Andes. Even better, the trips are only open to a maximum of twenty hikers at a time, so you can rest assured that the tranquility of the glacial lakes and snow-capped mountains will be preserved. After boarding the Sylvia Earle, passengers will have the opportunity to relax in a heated saltwater pool, in addition to participating in traditional expedition activities such as citizen science programs, Zodiac boat rides, and other activities.
Viking
This year, Viking is solidifying its position as a front-runner in the cruise business by introducing a number of ground-breaking new river ships across the world, in addition to introducing another expedition ship called Polaris. Later in the month of August, the ship Polaris, which is the company’s second exploration vessel, is scheduled to make its debut. The Octantis was the very first expedition ship ever built, and her sister ship, the Polaris, is likewise a Polar Class 6 ship specifically suited for travel to Antarctica. The same luxurious amenities, such as the Nordic Spa, which includes a sauna, steam room, pool, and warming cave, are provided in this space as well. Patagonia, Canada, and the Great Lakes are also on the itinerary for the ship during its time in the Southern Hemisphere, in addition to Antartica.
Also part of the rapidly growing company are three new notable river ships that will be debuting this summer. These ships are the Viking Mississippi, which will visit ports in the United States such as St. Louis, New Orleans, and Memphis; the Viking Saigon, which was purpose-built for the Mekong River in Vietnam; and the 82-guest Viking Osiris, which has just made its debut on the Nile River in Egypt.
Silversea
When Silversea Cruises’ Silver Endeavour embarks on its maiden voyage to the arctic regions in November, it will be one of the most opulent expedition ships ever to make her maiden voyage. Beginning on November 21, 2022, the boutique ship, which has a capacity of only 200 passengers, is scheduled to begin making journeys to Antarctica.
The duration of the cruises will range from five to twenty days, and will include Silversea’s Antarctic Bridge Fly-Cruise sailings as well as a new 10-day voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula. The Fly-Cruise option allows passengers to avoid the frequently rough Drake Passage in favor of flying directly to King George Island, where they will board the ship.
The ship itself, which was recently acquired from the cruise line Crystal Cruises, which has since gone out of business, and was slightly renovated by Silversea, has lavish architectural details and provides some of the most capacious rooms available in the expedition cruising industry. The Owner’s Suite, which is 1,868 square feet, and the Grand Suite, which is 1,668 square feet, are two of the most opulent rooms in the hotel. But regardless of the type of lodging they choose, guests can rest assured that they will receive individualized attention thanks to the passenger-to-crew ratio of 1:1. Every passenger will have easy access to heart-pounding excursions and will be able to get up close to marine life such as penguins, seals, and other bird species thanks to Silver Endeavour’s industry-leading ratios of experts-to-guests and Zodiac boats-to-guests. Silver Endeavour also has the highest guest-to-expert ratio in the industry.
Hurtigruten
Since Hurtigruten’s new West Africa itineraries were announced for the first time the previous summer, the vast majority of the cruise industry has been filled with excitement and anticipation. The expedition trips are scheduled to begin in November 2022 and will start from Dakar, which is located in Senegal. They will travel to the volcanic islands of Cape Verde as well as the Bissagos Islands. It is stated that the latter archipelago, which consists of 88 islands, is one of the most unspoiled locations in the world and is filled with all kinds of species. During the course of the four days spent visiting the islands, visitors have a good chance of coming across animals such as hippos, dolphins, sea turtles, crocodiles, manatees, and more than 500 species of birds. In addition, the trip will make a couple of stops in cities, one of which will be in Banjul, the capital city of the Gambia, and the other will be in Dakar, where visitors will spend a day seeing the city.
The MS Spitsbergen, which Hurtigruten describes as being one of the company’s most well-liked vessels, will serve as the vessel for the new itineraries. In addition to its fully staffed expedition team that delivers daily lessons, the vessel is outfitted with traditional Scandinavian details, such as streamlined design elements and an onboard sauna.
Uniworld
The newest ship from the boutique river cruise company Uniworld, the Mekong Jewel, will make its debut on the Mekong River, the river’s namesake, on 13-day itineraries through Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and the towns of Tien Loi, Vinh Long, and Sa Dec, as well as Cambodia’s Phnom Penh and the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, are all scheduled to be visited during the cruises, which are scheduled to begin in September 2022 and end in September 2023.
There is only room for 68 guests at the all-suite Mekong Jewel, and there are 51 employees total. Each stateroom features a marble bathroom as well as a balcony. The ship also features a library, two lounges, a hair salon, a nail bar, two restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa with a sauna and a steam room, a fitness center, and a sauna and steam room.
The arrival of two brand-new cruise ships later on in this year means that MSC will soon have an abundance of intriguing itineraries. In December, MSC Seascape will set sail from Miami on its maiden cruises, which will include roundtrips to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
However, the MSC World Europa will be the ship that truly steals the show for the company. World Europa will be outfitted with features that are designed to be futuristic in every sense of the word. These features include a Y-shaped aft that will provide passengers with breathtaking panoramic sea views, engines that are powered by liquid natural gas, and separate “districts” for children and adults to relax in. After making her premiere in November, the World Europa will be based in Doha, Qatar, for the duration of the FIFA World Cup. After the conclusion of the tournament in December, the ship will then set sail on seven-night itineraries across the Middle East. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the island of Sir Bani Yas in the United Arab Emirates, and the Al Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia are among the places that guests will visit.
Yacht Collection from the Ritz-Carlton
Both seasoned cruisers and people who have never been on a boat before will find the much-anticipated introduction of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first-ever ship, Evrima, to be a delightful experience. Intimate restaurants, a cigar-and-cognac bar, two infinity pools, and even a marina at the ship’s lower aft that offers “sun loungers, water toys, and seamless entry into the sea” are some of the amenities that make the atmosphere on board the ship feel more like that of a chartered superyacht than that of a cruise ship, as the name of the cruise line’s vessel suggests. This is intended to create an experience that is more reminiscent of
Each suite features a private patio as well as a minibar that may be stocked with items according to the guest’s preferences. In addition, every passenger is provided with their very own personal concierge, who sees to it that every aspect of their journey is taken care of, from making dinner reservations at the ship’s specialty restaurants to arranging shore excursions and seeing to any other special requests they may have.
The inaugural voyage of the Evrima will set sail in October 2022, departing from Barcelona and making stops in Palma de Mallorca, Saint-Tropez, and Nice in France. These itineraries will last for a total of seven nights. Keep in mind that you can also use your Marriott Bonvoy points to reserve a trip for yourself.
Regent Seven Seas
When Regent Seven Seas embarks on one of its distinctive “Grand Voyages,” an itinerary that spans several months and provides a comprehensive tour of a single area of the world, the line does so with the flair for which it is known. An excellent illustration of this is the Grand Spice Route Quest, which spans the entirety of Asia and northern Africa over the course of seventy nights. There will be overnight stays in a number of ports, including Bali, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, and Bangkok in Thailand. There will also be time spent in New Zealand, Indonesia, Egypt, and Greece, which are among the highlights of the trip.
Everything takes place on board the Seven Seas Explorer, which is widely considered to be among the most luxurious cruise ships ever built. The onboard art collection is worth $7 million and includes works by Picasso. Additionally, there are specialty dining options, such as the Asian-fusion restaurant Pacific Rim, which serves delicacies such as Peking duck and watermelon salad, chicken and foie gras gyoza, Korean barbecue lamb chops, and miso black cod.
Due to the overwhelming demand for the Grand Spice Route Quest itinerary, the cruise line has only begun accepting reservations for trips in 2025; nevertheless, it is anticipated that these spots will go quickly.
Ponant
Sailing to some of the most uninhabited tropical islands in the world is one of the most soothing things that can be done. And that is exactly what will be on the agenda for Ponant’s newest journey, which will take place over the course of sixteen days and will begin in the Seychelles, continue through the Maldives, and end in Sri Lanka. The passengers of the 184-passenger expedition ship, Le Jacques-Cartier, are in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the boutique vessel, Le Jacques-Cartier, explores the Seychelles archipelago. Ports of call include the bird sanctuaries at the Aride Island Nature Reserve as well as the secluded, clear waters of Anse Source d’Argent beach. The next stop will be in the Maldives, specifically on the atolls of Rasdhoo and Baa, both of which are part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and are home to vibrant reefs, turtles, and tropical fish. The fantastic journey comes to a close with a number of stops in Sri Lanka, which showcase the city life, beaches, and natural beauty of the country. Despite the fact that it won’t set sail until January 2024, this itinerary merely went on sale a short while ago and is likely to sell out very quickly.
