It's very difficult to summarize the enormous range of cruises available in summer in just a few pages, so we've selected only the most modern or representative ships from each company in the most popular destinations. And even then, many more have been left out.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 68 – March 2024
MEDITERRANEAN AND GREEK ISLANDS
Cruises
offers up to seven embarkation ports in Spain this year, including Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Tarragona, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Focusing on the summer season, their most modern and representative ships are:
In Barcelona:
• MSC World Europa • Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona.
• MSC Grandiosa • Barcelona, Tunis, Palermo, Naples, Livorno, Marseille, Barcelona.
• MSC Seaview • Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Palma, Barcelona.
In Valencia:
• MSC Seaside • Valencia, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Ibiza, Valencia.
COSTA CRUCEROS
operates its two most modern ships in Barcelona:
• Costa Smeralda • Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Marseille, Barcelona.
• Tuscan Coast • Barcelona, Ibiza, Palermo, Civitavecchia, Savona, Marseille, Barcelona.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
As every year, one of its Oasis-class ships operates from Barcelona:
• Oasis of the Seas • Barcelona, Palma, Marseille, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, at sea, Barcelona.
• While the Greek Islands are operated from Civitavecchia (Rome) with its most modern Quantum-Ultra-class ship.
• Odyssey of the Seas • Civitavecchia, at sea, Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, at sea, Naples, Civitavecchia.
NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line is focusing on longer 9- and 10-night itineraries in 2024, largely avoiding a single homeport:
• The Norwegian Escape offers a varied itinerary including Trieste – Barcelona, Barcelona – Barcelona, Barcelona – Civitavecchia, Civitavecchia – Civitavecchia, and Civitavecchia – Trieste. Meanwhile
, its newest ship, the Norwegian Viva, will sail a triangular route between Athens, Civitavecchia, and Lisbon:
• Norwegian Viva • Trieste, Ravenna, Split, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Santorini, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Mykonos, Athens.
• Norwegian Viva • Athens, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Mykonos, Santorini, underway, Messina, Naples, Livorno, Villefranche, Civitavecchia.
• Norwegian Viva • Civitavecchia, Livorno, Villefranche, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Motril, Cádiz, Gibraltar, Lisbon.
• Norwegian Viva • Lisbon, Gibraltar, Cádiz, Motril, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Marseille, Villefranche, Livorno, Civitavecchia.
• Norwegian Viva • Civitavecchia, Livorno, Naples, Messina, Valletta (Malta), Catania, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Split, Koper, Trieste.
From Athens:
• Norwegian Getaway • Athens, Rhodes, Bodrum, Mykonos, Heraklion, Santorini, Paros, Athens.
Many of the world's most modern and impressive ships are available in the Mediterranean
CELESTYAL CRUISES
The Greek cruise line has acquired two ships that renew and improve its offerings, and which will be launched this year.
From Athens:
• Celestyal Journey • Athens, Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Heraklion, Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Athens.
• Celestyal Discovery – 4 nights • Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Heraklion, Santorini, Athens.
• Celestyal Discovery – 3 nights • Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini, Athens.
PRINCESS CRUISES
The newest Princess Cruises ship, Sun Princess, will be sailing a triangular route between Barcelona, Civitavecchia, and Athens from spring through September:
• Sun Princess • Barcelona, at sea, Gibraltar, at sea, Marseille, Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia.
• Sun Princess • Civitavecchia, Naples, at sea, Santorini, at sea, Istanbul, Mykonos, Athens.
• Sun Princess • Athens, at sea, Kotor, Corfu, Messina, Naples, at sea, Barcelona.
CUNARD
New ship for the British shipping company, which will thus operate 4 ships for the first time since 1999.
From Southampton:
• Queen Anne – July 28 • Southampton, sailing, sailing, Cadiz, sailing, Barcelona, sailing, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, sailing, Cartagena, Gibraltar, sailing, sailing, Southampton.
OCEANIA CRUISES
Launched in 2023, the Vista will spend the summer cruising the Mediterranean and Greek Islands, embarking from Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, and other ports.
From Barcelona:
• Oceania Vista • Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, St. Tropez, Livorno, Porto Cervo, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina, underway, Istanbul, Istanbul, Bozcaada, Athens.
From Athens:
• Oceania Vista • Athens, Santorini, Heraklion, Bodrum, Antalya, Limassol, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Bozcaada, Istanbul, Istanbul.
From Istanbul:
• Oceania Vista • Istanbul, Istanbul, Mytilene, Kusadasi, Santorini, Katakolon, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Chania, Athens.
SILVERSEA CRUISES
The Royal Caribbean group's ultra-luxury cruise line will launch its new ship in June, the Silver Ray, which will primarily cruise the Adriatic and Greek Islands until November, with Venice (Fusina) and Athens as its most frequent embarkation ports.
From Venice:
• Silver Ray • Venice, Trieste, Zadar, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Bari, Kotor, Corfu, underway, Heraklion, Santorini, Athens.
EXPLORA JOURNEYS
The MSC Group's luxury cruise line will have the Explora I offering Mediterranean cruises this summer, and in August it will be joined by its sister ship, the Explora II, recently launched, also offering Mediterranean and Greek Islands cruises:
• Explora I • Triangular cruises between Athens, Venice, and Istanbul.
• Explora II • Cruises departing from Barcelona, Civitavecchia, and Tarragona in August and September.
VIRGIN VOYAGES
Sir Richard Branson's cruise line operates two of its ships in the Mediterranean with its distinctive premium style.
From Barcelona, 3 routes:
• Scarlet Lady • Barcelona, Marseille, Cannes, sailing, Palma, Ibiza, Ibiza, Barcelona.
• Scarlet Lady • Barcelona, Toulon, Marina di Carrara, Civitavecchia, sailing, Ibiza, Ibiza, Barcelona.
• Scarlet Lady • Barcelona, Toulon, Marina di Carrara, sailing, Ajaccio, Ibiza, Ibiza, Barcelona.
From Athens, 2 routes:
• Resilient Lady • Athens, Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum, Mykonos, Mykonos, Athens.
• Resilient Lady • Athens, sailing, Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Athens.
Cruises
positions its newest ship on a triangular route between Barcelona, Civitavecchia, and Athens:
• Celebrity Ascent • Barcelona, Valencia, sailing, Villefranche, Santa Margherita, La Spezia, Civitavecchia.
• Celebrity Ascent • Civitavecchia, Naples, sailing, Mykonos, Kusadasi, sailing, Santorini, Athens.
• Celebrity Ascent • Athens, sailing, Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, sailing, Naples, Civitavecchia.
• Celebrity Ascent • Civitavecchia, Ajaccio, Portofino, La Spezia, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona.
NORTHERN EUROPE AND NORWEGIAN FJORDS
MSC
Cruises is betting on its most modern ship in Northern Europe, where it was a resounding success last year.
From Kiel:
• MSC Euribia • Kiel, Copenhagen, underway, Hellesylt, Molde, Flåm, underway, Kiel.
COSTA CRUISES
From Kiel:
• Costa Diadema • Kiel, Copenhagen, sailing, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Alesund, Stavanger, sailing, Kiel.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
From Southampton:
• Anthem of the Seas • Southampton, sailing, Bergen, Olden, Flam, sailing, Zeebrugge, Southampton.
The introduction of strict restrictions in the Norwegian Fjords from 2026 could significantly impact the cruise industry
NCL
's newest ship, the Norwegian Prima, will be sailing from Southampton to Reykjavik and back, passing through the Norwegian fjords.
From Southampton:
• Norwegian Prima • Southampton, Zeebrugge, Amsterdam, underway, Bergen, Geiranger, Ålesund, underway, Akureyri, Åsafjord, Reykjavik.
• Norwegian Prima • Reykjavik, Åsafjord, Akureyri, underway, Ålesund, Geiranger, Bergen, underway, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge, Southampton.
CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity Cruises' successful Edge class will also be present in Northern Europe with cruises through the Norwegian Fjords or Spain and Portugal.
From Southampton:
• Celebrity Apex • Southampton, Zeebrugge, sailing, Flåm, Geiranger, Bergen, sailing, Southampton.
CUNARD.
Already mentioned in the Mediterranean section, the Queen Anne will combine Mediterranean cruises with departures to Northern Europe, visiting Iceland and the British Isles as well as the Norwegian Fjords.
From Southampton:
• Queen Anne • Southampton, sailing, Invergordon, Kirkwall, sailing, sailing, Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Isafjord, Akureyri, sailing, sailing, Greenock, sailing, Southampton.
• Queen Anne • Southampton, sailing, Stavanger, Olden, Geiranger, Haugesund, sailing, Southampton.
SILVERSEA
From Stockholm:
• Silver Dawn • Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Klaipeda, Gdynia, Ronne, Copenhagen.
OCEANIA CRUISES
The Marina will spend the summer cruising between Southampton, the Baltic Sea, and Iceland, with various routes that can be combined into longer cruises.
From Southampton:
• Marina • Southampton, sailing, Gothenburg, Kiel, Warnemünde, Ronne, Visby, Stockholm, Klaipeda, Gdynia, Copenhagen.
WINDSTAR
The Star Legend, after spending the spring in the Mediterranean, will be operating cruises between Scotland, the Norwegian Fjords, and the Baltic Sea.
From Dublin:
• Star Legend • Dublin, Douglas (Isle of Man), Portrush (Northern Ireland), Tobermory (Isle of Mull), Portree (Isle of Skye), Kirkwall, Invergordon, Edinburgh.
CARIBBEAN
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
The recently launched Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, will operate year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami. Not content with that, in August Royal Caribbean will debut its sixth Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas, which will offer short 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral.
From Miami:
• Icon of the Seas • Miami, sailing, sailing, Basseterre (St. Kitts), St. Thomas, sailing, CocoCay, Miami.
From Port Canaveral:
• Utopia of the Seas • Port Canaveral, CocoCay, Nassau, Port Canaveral.
• Utopia of the Seas – Port Canaveral, Nassau, sailing, CocoCay, Port Canaveral.
The Caribbean is always a good plan
Cruises
continues to expand its operational capacity in North America, with three of its flagship ships in the region.
From Miami:
• MSC Seascape • Miami, sailing, Ocho Rios, George Town, Cozumel, sailing, Ocean Cay, Miami.
• MSC Seascape • Miami, sailing, Puerto Plata, San Juan, sailing, Nassau, Ocean Cay, Miami.
From New York:
• MSC Meraviglia • New York, sailing, Port Canaveral, Nassau, Ocean Cay, sailing, sailing, New York.
From Port Canaveral:
• MSC Seashore • Port Canaveral, Ocean Cay, Ocean Cay, sailing, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Port Canaveral.
NCL,
with many of its most modern ships based in Europe, makes the Norwegian Breakaway the best representative of the company's values in Miami during the summer.
From Miami:
• Norwegian Breakaway • Miami, sailing, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, sailing, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami.
Cruises
is deploying one of its most modern Edge-class ships in the Caribbean, alternating between 6- and 8-night cruises, with a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, for the first time.
From Fort Lauderdale:
• Celebrity Beyond • Fort Lauderdale, CocoCay, sailing, George Town, sailing, Bimini, Fort Lauderdale.
• Celebrity Beyond • Fort Lauderdale, sailing, sailing, Willemstad, Orangestadt, Kralendijk, sailing, sailing, Fort Lauderdale.
VIRGIN VOYAGES
4 and 5 night Caribbean getaways from Virgin Voyages.
From Miami:
• Valiant Lady • Miami, cruising, Puerto Plata, cruising, Bimini, Miami.
• Valiant Lady • Miami, cruising, Key West, Bimini, Miami.
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Disney's most modern ship offers 3- and 4-night cruises year-round from Port Canaveral with a stop at its private island, Castaway Cay.
From Port Canaveral:
• Disney Wish • Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay, sailing, Port Canaveral.
Carnival Cruise
Line launched a new ship in late 2023, a sister ship to the Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. It's an Excel-class ship, related to similar vessels from Costa and P&O, and powered by liquefied natural gas. What distinguishes this class of Carnival ships is its on-deck roller coaster, Bolt. Carnival has chosen to base this new ship in Galveston, Texas.
From Galveston, Texas:
• Carnival Jubilee • Galveston, sailing, sailing, Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, sailing, Galveston Cay, sailing, Port Canaveral.
REMOTE / EXOTIC
This list could be endless, but here are some rather special suggestions.
SILVER WIND
• Silver Wind – July 14 • Arctic with assistance in Spanish – Longyearbyen, Jan Mayen Island, Reykjavík.
DIAMOND PRINCESS
• Diamond Princess – July 31 • Japan with Spanish assistance – Tokyo (Yokohama), Sakaiminato, Busan, Kochi, Tokushima, Tokyo (Yokohama).
SILVER NOVA
• Silver Nova – Alaska • Vancouver, sailing, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Seward.
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