Last Month in Cruise May 2024 - Written By Sara Macefield
It was the month a new royal joined the cruising fold with the arrival of Cunard’s 249th ship Queen Anne, and cruise lines continued to push the boundaries of where they sail to with new port-rich world cruises and more immersive ways to get under the skin of destinations.
Making an entrance
As the summer cruise season kicks off, the initial wave of homeporting ships arrived in Southampton with Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex debuting as the first Edge-class ship to be based at the Hampshire port. This came as sister ship Celebrity Edge and Silversea’s Silver Nova embarked on their first Alaska seasons. The six-star line also took delivery of next Nova-class ship Silver Ray, which embarks on its maiden voyage from Lisbon on June 15. Oceania’s Marina returned to service with three more dining options following a revamp, while it was announced that newest addition Allura will arrive a week early next year, departing Trieste on July 18, 2025.
Taking the wraps off new world-beaters
Silversea has unveiled its most destination-packed world cruise ever for 2027 with 80 stops in 35 countries, including 20 new calls. The 149-day voyage on Silver Dawn will cross the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans after departing Los Angeles in January 2027, before finishing in Copenhagen in June. Princess Cruises also launched its most ambitious global voyage yet with a 114-night cruise on Coral Princess visiting 52 ports in 28 countries, departing Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles in January 2026. Asia cruises are riding high with Princess extending its 2025/26 Japan & South East season, while Norwegian Cruise Line is adding more than 30 new itineraries across Asia Pacific and Australasia with Norwegian Sky, Sun and Spirit debuting in the region – making its NCL’s largest deployment there in its history.
Digging deeper into destinations
Azamara is getting even more port immersive with this summer’s Extended Destination Daysoffering 10 or more hours in port in the likes of Seville, Livorno, Nice and Edinburgh, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises is expanding its Immersive Overnights collection with a new Sunset Over Tuscany voyage on Seven Seas Mariner featuring overnight calls at every port, plus 24 new shore excursions and 12 debut land programmes. Calling all petrol-heads: Scenic has added a Monaco Grand Prix sailing along the French and Italian rivieras, departing May 2025.
Let’s talk about rivers
Christmas might be the last thing on your mind, but that hasn’t stopped Uniworld from launching its first festive brochure for 2024 and 2025 featuring the best yuletide markets and a debut Christmas Markets cruise on newest Super Ship Victoria. VIVA Cruises is promising winter magic with Seine sailings on Viva Gloria in November and December this year, while Emerald is offering city stays in the likes of Seville, Prague and Budapest that can be tagged on to sailings.
I will survive . . .
. . . fans of the Gloria Gaynor classic will be able to belt it out with the lady herself at an exclusive concert for Crystal guests aboard Crystal Serenity this autumn on its Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale voyage from October 26.