The Most Exciting New Luxury Cruise Ships Setting Sail This Year

Silversea’s Silver Ray Sets Sail With a Culinary Focus

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Just 10 months after 2023’s Silver Nova ushered in a new generation of ships for ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea, her stunning identical twin, 728-guest Silver Ray, will set sail in June 2024. This second Nova-class ship mirrors her sibling with innovative asymmetrical design and a generous space-to-guest ratio. Once aboard, you’ll savor regionally-inspired cuisine in S.A.L.T. Kitchen, part of Silversea’s culinary-focused S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program, as well as eight other restaurants, and enjoy restorative pampering in the Otium Spa, inspired by the wellness rituals of ancient Rome. All suites feature a veranda as well as contemporary décor and are a spacious 357 square feet to 1,324 square feet

Silver Ray’s inaugural sailing from Southampton will be followed by 7-to-12-night itineraries in the Mediterranean through November 2024, when the ship will cross the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale and then offer cruises in South America.

Cunard Line’s Queen Anne Marks a New Era

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Cunard Line will launch its 249th ship in May 2024 — not a typo, since this venerable cruise line has been at sea since 1840 — when Queen Anne, its first new ship since 2010, sets sail. The 3,000-guest vessel joins Cunard’s royal trio, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Mary 2, and will be helmed by the line’s first female captain, Inger Klein Thorhauge. Tradition may reign supreme on Cunard, whose guests enjoy afternoon tea and themed formal nights, but Queen Anne’s décor will mark a luxurious new era with interiors re-imagined by world-renowned designer Adam D. Tihany in an “exciting, bold, contemporary interpretation” of Cunard’s classic Art Deco design. Guests can dine in 15 restaurants, including the new Aji Wa, which serves Japanese cuisine, and Aranya, which offers Indian flavors. Bright Lights Society, named to celebrate Cunard having the first ocean liner with electric lights, will be a new entertainment venue for cabaret-style shows. 

In her first season, Queen Anne will cruise from Europe to the Canary Islands, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Western Mediterranean, and more. In January 2025, the ship will embark on her maiden World Voyage, a 107-night sailing, roundtrip from Southampton, England.

Explora Journeys’ Explora II Offers Hotel-Inspired Luxury

Courtesy of Explora Journeys

When Explora II debuts in August 2024, guests of Explora Journeys, the new luxury cruise brand by Europe-based mainstream cruise line MSC Cruises, will have two identical 922-guest ships to get them into an “ocean state of mind.” The first vessel, Explora I, launched a year earlier, and Explora II will match its lookalike sibling’s indulgences: all-suite ocean-front accommodations, nine culinary experiences, four pools (three outdoor and one indoor), and uniquely bespoke onboard boutiques, including a Rolex shop.

Offering modern Italian interior design with a residential feel, Explora II will indulge guests with its hotel-inspired ambiance and lingo — cruises are called ocean journeys; staterooms are called suites, penthouses, or residences; and crew are called hosts — as the ship welcomes its first guests in Barcelona and sails a series of week-long Mediterranean cruises before heading to the Caribbean.

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma Expands on All-Inclusive Ease

Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The 298-guest mega-yacht Evrima by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is about to get a little — or perhaps we should say big — sister. The cruise line, a joint venture between the luxury hotel brand and a capital investment firm, will grow its fleet in September 2024 with its second yacht, Ilma. The expansion includes the vessel’s size since Ilma is almost twice as large (46,750 gross tons vs. Evrima’s 25,400) and accommodates 448 guests, giving it a generous space-to-guest ratio and all-inclusive ambiance. Ilma, which means “water” in Maltese, features five restaurants, six bars, a wine vault, a Ritz-Carlton Spa, and an expansive two-deck marina space designed for lounging and watersports. All suites are generously sized (294 to 1,033 square feet) and feature large private terraces and a custom luxury bed.

Ilma is scheduled for a September 2024 inaugural from Athens and the ship will sail 7- to 12-night itineraries in the Greek Islands and Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale to begin its Caribbean season.

Viking Ocean’s Viking Vela Breaks the Mold — Sort Of

Courtesy of Viking Ocean Cruises

While the first 10 ships in Viking Ocean’s fleet, launched from 2015 to 2023, are all virtually identical 930-guest vessels, the December 2024 debut of Viking Vela will break the mold — but only slightly. This new ship, which will accommodate 998 guests, will be 39 feet longer and seven feet wider, allowing for not only additional suites but also slightly larger square footage across all staterooms and suites. Like all Viking ocean ships, Viking Vela will be adults-only, and its airy interiors will feature sleek Scandinavian décor. Guests can enjoy two pools (one enclosed), a Nordic-style spa with a thermal area that’s complimentary to all guests, and six restaurants.

Viking Vela will set sail in December from Rome and sail a variety of itineraries in the Mediterranean, British Isles, and Scandinavia.

Riverside Luxury Cruises’ Riverside Debussy Adds Five-Star Elegance to the Rhine River

Courtesy of Riverside Luxury Cruises, © Ian Schemper; © Per Karehed

As the third vessel in Germany-based Riverside Luxury Cruises’ fleet, 110-guest Riverside Debussy made a March 2024 debut on the Rhine River offering ultra-luxury accommodations and an elevated culinary program in four onboard restaurants. The ship joins Riverside Mozart and Riverside Ravel (all three vessels are former Crystal river ships and have been refurbished to five-star hotel standards) and sails four 7-night itineraries on the Rhine, visiting cities in Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Riverside Debussy features a generous space-to-guest ratio, butler service, and spacious accommodations that range from 183-square-foot Melody Suites to the 754-square-foot, two-bedroom Owner’s Suite, and all feature king-sized beds.

Avalon Waterways’ Avalon Alegria Offers Wine-Centric Sailings on the Douro

Courtesy of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Alegria set sail in March 2024 as the newest ship in the Avalon Waterways fleet, accommodating 102 guests on new 7- and 10-night Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along Portugal Douro itineraries with a wine-centric focus. The ship has 14 deluxe staterooms and 37 Panorama Suites, the latter featuring floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that seamlessly transition to a balcony. Even better: Beds face the view. Three restaurants — the Main Dining Room, the more casual Panorama Bistro, and the al fresco Sky Grill — are complemented by two lounges and a Sky Deck with a swimming pool and shaded lounge chairs.

Viking Hathor to Become the Sixth Viking Ship on the Nile River

Courtesy of Viking River Cruises

When Viking Hathor debuts in November 2024, she will join identical sister ships Viking Osiris and Viking Atun (as well as three older ships) to become Viking River Cruises’ sixth vessel cruising Egypt’s Nile River. Accommodating 82 guests, the ship will feature Viking’s signature modern Scandinavian interior design along with a restaurant, a terrace (for scenic viewing and dining), an entertainment lounge, and a sundeck with an aft swimming pool_. Viking Hathor_, named for the ancient Egyptian deity who was the mother of Horus and Ra, offers four suite categories, from 232-square-foot Standard Staterooms to 525-square-foot Explorer Suites, and sails a 12-night Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary that begins and ends in Cairo with a transfer to Luxor for a one-week cruise visiting ancient temples and other landmarks in Aswan, Esna, Edfu, and other Nile ports.

Courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has signed a three-year charter deal with Riverside Luxury Cruises to operate its Riverside Bach as S.S. Victoria. The 100-guest ship, built in 2017 as part of the former Crystal river cruises fleet, debuted for Uniworld in March 2024 and is sailing itineraries on the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. Unlike most river ships, all of S.S. Victoria’s 55 suites are located on the middle and upper decks, meaning they’re above the water line and feature floor-to-ceiling windows for scenic views. Suites range from 188-square-foot French Balcony suites to two-bedroom Royal Suites offering 759-square feet of space. The onboard décor is signature Uniworld and features luxe fabrics, ample marble, and unique artwork in spaces that include a light-filled main lounge, a restaurant, and a sun deck with a swimming pool.

AmaWaterways’ AmaLilia Explores the Nile

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

Egypt’s Nile River, one of river cruising’s top bucket-list destinations, welcomed another new luxury ship in March 2024 as AmaLilia began cruising from Luxor. The second new ship from AmaWaterways on the legendary river since it re-started its cruise program there in late 2021, the 82-guest vessel is slightly larger than sister ship AmaDahlia but offers the same elegant sense of place with regionally inspired décor and a culinary program that blends familiar Western dishes with spice-infused local specialties. AmaLilia’s staterooms range from 215 to 522 square feet, and the ship features two dining venues, the Main Restaurant and the more intimate Chef’s Table for multicourse tasting menus, as well as a lounge and a sun deck with a pool. The ship joins AmaDahlia in offering 7-night Secrets of Egypt & the Nile sailings that also include a three-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Cairo.

AmaWaterways’ AmaMagdalena to Explore Colombia’s Magdalena River

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

A river cruise in Colombia? Yes, starting in November 2024 AmaWaterways will become the first luxury river cruise company to explore the Magdalena River, which stretches south from the Caribbean port city of Cartagena. Guests can book the 60-guest AmaMagdalena for a variety of 7-night sailings with pre- and post-cruise hotel options. Staterooms and suites range from 237 to 516 square feet and all feature AmaWaterways’ signature “twin balconies,” which boast exceptional views. Rounding out the amenities are a lounge, main restaurant, massage room, fitness center, and top-deck pool. AmaMagdalena will sail two itineraries, Wonders of Colombia from Cartagena to Barranquilla and Magic of Colombia between Barranquilla and Cartagena.