Testing the Waters with Dori: (cue The Pointer Sisters) I’m So Excited

Memory gets fault with age, but I could’ve sworn I used to find the end of December to be a quiet time in the cruise industry. Press releases slowed down, new ships were mostly scheduled to come out end of the first quarter and beyond, and I could just relax for a little while.

That’s certainly not been the case this year. Having just returned last week from the Monfalcone shipyard where Sun Princess is undergoing its final preparations, and with the news of Lionel Messi named as “Icon” of the Icon of the Seas, the cruise industry feels anything but quiet right now.

And, I’ve got to say, it’s got me pretty excited.

If 2023 was a great year for the cruise industry, 2024 shows signs of being just as amazing.

Looking backwards, 2023 finally saw the launch of MSC’s luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys, as well as the rebirth of Crystal. We also saw first-in-class ships from Oceania Cruises and Silversea Cruises, as well as many next-in-class new ships – and the year’s not over, Carnival Jubilee is still yet to launch (it’s inaugural sailing begins two days before Christmas).

On a personal note, 2023 was also a series of cruise firsts for me: my first time on Celestyal Cruises, my first President’s Cruise, my first late-season Alaska sailing, and in just a few days, my first Antarctic cruise.

While 2024 doesn’t have an all-new cruise line hitting the waters, there’s still so much to be excited about, starting with the arrival of Icon of the Seas. Regardless of how you feel about its size, the ship is a marvel of modern engineering and will catch the attention of thousands upon thousands of first-time cruisers.

From a travel advisor perspective, Royal Caribbean is giving cruise-selling advisors the greatest New Year’s gift. You don’t have to sell Icon of the Seas. It sells itself. Even better, you can use the interest generated by Icon to move people in different directions, if you think Icon is not right for them.

But Icon isn’t the only new ship coming out next year. It’s not even the only first-in-class new ship.

Princess has Sun Princess coming out, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t super excited about it when I read the first few press releases. It sounded a bit like the Royal-class ships, only with a different silhouette.

But then I got to see the ship in the shipyard, and, in particular The Dome.

In its initial reveal, Princess described The Dome as “inspired by the terraces of Santorini” and “a multi-level covered deck” with a “glass-enclosed dome.”

Truthfully, I couldn’t picture it, and so I wasn’t all that excited. Then, last week, I saw it in person. And it’s stunning – a massive solarium (with air conditioning) with about 270 degrees of tiered levels encircling the pool. At night, the pool is covered and the central space turns into a stage for Cirque-style shows.

Also debuting in a class of its own next year is Queen Anne, Cunard’s first new ship in 12 years. To say the anticipation among Cunard loyalists is high would be a gross understatement.

There are plenty of other new ships coming out next year, including what well may turn out to be the last Oasis-class ship from Royal Caribbean.

But the next thing that’s got me so excited for 2024 isn’t a new ship at all. It’s the ASTA’s third annual River Cruise Expo, which next year will be located in Amsterdam and will have even more river ships in attendance for travel advisors to tour and dine on.

As I said back in March of this year, the ASTA River Expo is one of the best events a travel advisor can invest in. Unless you consider yourself an expert in all the different river cruise lines, there’s no way you can attend this event without learning something. Unfortunately, the 2024 event is already sold out, but make a note in your calendar for March 15, 2024 when the dates and location of the 2025 event will be announced.

When it comes to cruising, there’s plenty more to be excited about for 2024, like AmaWaterways’ debut on the Magdalena River or the arrival of Disney Treasure, for which many kids (and kids at heart) are eagerly awaiting.

Again, on a personal note, I’m also looking forward to my first-ever Hurtigruten and first-ever AmaWaterways cruises, along with a Windstar sailing in Tahiti (Bora Bora, here I come!).

Are you as excited as I am about what the cruise industry has in store for us in 2024? Anything in particular that you’re most looking forward to? I’d love to hear what’s got you buzzing about next year, email me at dsaltzman@travelmarketreport.com. 

Until 2024, happy holiday season. May the New Year be full of your favorite clients and commissions with commas.