The cruise industry is always growing and changing, and as technology advances, so does the cruise experience. New ships are being designed and built and each is bigger than the last with more luxurious surroundings, bigger and better entertainment and more restaurants.
One new ship, Royal Caribbean’s
Ovation of the Seas, has added LED screens to the inner cabins that show live views of the surroundings outside, so even guests without a veranda can see the ocean as they travel to their exotic destinations.
Another ship,
Carnival Vista, is going to have the cruise industry’s first aerial bike ride — Sky ride. Guests will be able to pedal along a sky track and see stunning views of the ocean as they race against family, or leisurely take in the “Vista.”
Holland America’s new ship the
ms Koningsdam will feature a 270 degree LED screen on its World Stage, and the Culinary arts center will serve chef prepared meals that use fresh ingredients from the kitchen’s glass enclosed garden for a real farm to table experience.
Disney has announced plans for 2 more ships, but details have not yet been shared. We can only guess what those imagineers will come up with.
Disney Cruise Lines has been inspiring the industry with magical innovations since the Disney Magic’s maiden voyage in 1998.
MSC Cruises has just signed a 100-year lease for an island in the Bahamas to create a 200 million dollar island destination, Ocean Cay. They plan to create an unprecedented marine reserve, landscape the 95-acre island with 80 species of indigenous flora, and create a Bahamian style village. The island is set to be open to guests in December of 2017.
In May of 2016 Carnival’s
Fathom will be offering
cruises to Cuba for Americans. Restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba have been in effect since 1963, but in the last year they have been lessened. Americans are still unable to cruise to Cuba with a goal of tourism, but certain acts and licenses have deemed Fathom a people –to-people brand. This means the ‘social impact’ cruise will be educational and humanitarian in nature.
Norwegian Cruise Line is opening their new private island, Harvest Caye, in Belize in November of this year. The island offers an exclusive 7-acre beach, exciting shore excursions (including
Sea TREK), and private beach villas.
Richard Branson, the mastermind behind the Virgin conglomerate, announced that he is building a cruise line that will be ready for launch in 2020.
Virgin Cruises are sure to be luxurious with state-of-the-art technology, and imaginative onboard activities. Richard Branson hopes to bring people who are ‘non-cruisers’ to the cruise industry. Currently the website asks what you would like to be able to do on a cruise. We think
Clear Lounge on a cruise ship sounds spectacular.
The future of the cruise industry defies the imagination. With technology constantly advancing, the possibilities are only limited by the imagination.
Huffinton post has a great article on the possible future of cruise ships… Pretty intriguing.
Do you know any up and coming cruise industry news? Share in the comments below.
