 Photo courtesy of Ponant A good number of new ships are being launched in 2018 and 2019, with more coming in 2020. This year will bring Seabourn's Ovation, Scenic's Eclipse Discovery yacht, Viking's Orion and Ponant's new explorer class Le Laperouse and Le Champlain ships. Celebrity is showcasing the new Edge and Holland America is introducing the Niew Statendam, the sistership to the lovely Konigsdam. Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean all have new mega ships. Not to be outdone, Amadeaus, AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, CroisEurope, Crystal, Emerald Waterways, Uniworld and Viking will all have new river ships in 2018 and 2019. Whew! That's a lot of new ships! While they all have distinct personalities, four of these ships stand out with unique and exciting features : a Magic Carpet, the Blue Eye, 34 extra feet, a submarine and helicopter! Celebrity is known for being less traditional and conservative, a bit more "edgy" (no pun intended), and this new ship really delivers. New, fresh experiences. Modern luxury. Exciting, groundbreaking spaces, including Infinite Veranda staterooms and villa suites.  Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruise Line A highlight is an extra-ordinary venue - The Magic Carpet - a cantilevered floating platform that moves between decks 2 and 14. The venue transforms into distinct experiences depending upon the deck it is stationed at. It could be a bar on one deck, an open air dining venue at another, or an extension of the pool area at another. The Edge will also have a host of global inspired dining venues (more on this in a future article), a rooftop garden and meeting space for groups, among many other enhancements. Intriguing, isn't it? Photos courtesy of Ponant Ponant is introducing The Blue Eye in their new explorer class expedition ships - Le Laperouse and Le Champlain launching in 2018 and Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d'Urville in 2019 and two more in 2020. A one of kind multi-sensory, underwater observation lounge, it's design includes a sound system that will use microphones designed to capture underwater sounds up to 3 miles away from the ship. In addition to the listening experience, two special portholes located on both sides of the lounge will allow guests to observe marine life in their natural habitat. How cool is that? What's an extra 34 feet in width? A LOT when you are speaking about a river ship. No matter what cruise line you are on, the width of a river ship is generally the same - 38 feet wide. The differences are on the inside - layout, decor, personnel, etc. That is, until AmaWaterways launches the new AmaMagna on the Danube in May 2019. She will be 72 feet wide, 34 feet wider than normal. All the staterooms will be more spacious - the majority ranging from 205 sq. ft up to 355 sq. ft. for the veranda staterooms ( normally around 210 sq.ft.). The Owner's Suite is a luxurious 710 sq. ft. The added space on the AmaMagna allows for more staterooms, plus additional dining venues like the Wine Bar and a fun water sports platform. This ship will truly be something special!  Photos courtesy of AmaWaterways As Scenic says so well , the Eclipse takes luxury ocean cruising to an entirely new level. Beautiful suites akin to a 5 star hotel, exceptional service and world class cuisine, all included. But what sets this ship apart is the on-board submarine and helicopter, offering guests exclusive experiences and unique moments, above and below the water. Imagine flying over parts of Antarctica or "swimming" alongside marine life you'd normally only see on television. Amazing. And a sure bet you'd earn some bragging rights too. Cruise lines are consistently pushing the envelope with new, unique experiences not found anywhere else. I for one really appreciate this and I'm looking forward to the opportunity of checking them out, especially these four. Ready to get started on your next adventure? Call Laurie at 602.540.7338 or complete this simple form and expect a quick reply. Comments are closed.
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Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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