Cruising 2016: A Look at the Year Ahead

by Daniel McCarthy January 06, 2016

As the calendar turns to 2016, it’s time to look forward to what the new year will offer in the world of cruising. With impressive new ships scheduled to make their debut, and cruise lines becoming more and more aware of how important travel agents are, 2016 already is shaping up to be a banner year for cruising.

Here is a sampling of what cruise lines have planned.

Avalon Waterways is introducing new Europe itineraries for 2016 and will expand the number of themed cruises and departures it is offering.

Carnival Cruise Line will bring its newest ship, the Carnival Vista, into service in May 2016. The ship will be Carnival’s largest and will feature the firsts ever brewery at sea, a 450-foot long water slide and SkyRide, a suspended open-air track on top of the ship. The ship will sail Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries during its inaugural year. According to VP of trade sales and marketing for Carnival Adolfo Perez, the cruise line will also enhance its “Onboard with You” travel agent platform, allowing agents to maximize sales with the cruise line.

Crystal is in the midst of a major expansion that will continue to roll out throughout 2016. The luxury cruise line will introduce three new classes of cruising over the next three years and in 2016 it will be debuting new Crystal River Cruises. The cruise company’s first river cruise ship, the Crystal Mozart, will sail in its maiden voyage from Vienna in July 2016 and four more river cruise ships will debut over the next two years.

Cunard will celebrate by 2016 by unveiling a new and improved Queen Mary 2. The ship will be undergoing a 25-day dry dock refit from May 27 to Jun 21 next year and will re-enter service with a number of improvements. All of the ship’s suites, along with the Princess Grill, Kings Court, and Queens Grill restaurants, will be renovated. The ship’s debut will also mark the first time in 80 years that guests will be able to eat in the Verandah Grill, as the refit includes the relaunching the restaurant.

European Waterways is launching its new eight passenger luxury barge—the 17^th in its fleet—the Finesse. The ship will cruise South Burgundy beginning in May 2016.

Holland America’s new ship, the MS Koningsdam, will debut in April 2016. The ship—along with its sister ship that will debut in the fall of 2018—will introduce new music venues, including BB King’s Blues Club and Lincoln Center Stage, a chamber music venue created in partnership with New York’s Lincoln Center. The cruise company is also committing $300 million to enhance its existing fleet over the next few years, retrofitting the updates that will debut on the Koningsdam in April to the rest of its existing fleet.

MSC is making a number of improvements to its agent programs, including enhancements to its new booking engine, MSC Book. The cruise line is also planning to launch a Travel Agent University to educate travel agents on selling MSC Cruises.

Royal Caribbean is introducing two new ships next year. The cruise line will be adding its third Quantum, Class ship when the Ovation of the Seas debuts in spring 2016. The ship will sail Asia and Australia during its inaugural season. And, in June, the cruise line will be unveiling the Harmony of the Season, an Oasis class ship that includes the world’s largest water slide (10 stories tall).

Uniworld is adding two new European collections for 2016. The Monarch Collection takes guest to the heart of Europe’s aristocratic tradition with sailings down the Danube and excursions to the Royal Lipizzan Stallions and Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The Connoisseur Collection revolves around Europe’s culinary history, with onboard and onshore activities including a Valrhona chocolate tasting and a cooking demonstration and tea party at the Institut Paul Bocuse.

Victoria Cruises will be renovating its flagship, the Victoria Jenna. The ship is just six-years-old but, according to the public relations and customer service manager for Victoria Larry Greenman, has been “surpassed by the rest of our revitalized fleet and so we’re putting it through another overhaul.”