Water wonderlands

Underwater lounges, £38,000-a-week family suites, helicopters, zip lines and levitating restaurants.

These are just some of the amazing features that can be found on cruise ships being launched this year.

thumbnail for post ID 6635981 ‘Stranded’ on an island by a tall ship – and I couldn’t be happier

Here we take a look at 2018’s most innovative newcomers, including the world’s largest passenger ship.

These will be bringing excitement, adventure and fun to the high seas.

ultimate family suite on Symphony of the Seas
In-slide cabin: the ultimate family suite on Symphony of the Seas (Picture: Royal Caribbean)

Name: Symphony Of The Seas

Line: Royal Caribbean

Tonnage: 230,000

Passengers: 5,535

Debut: April

Special features: As the latest Royal Caribbean vessel to claim the title of the largest passenger ship in the world, Symphony of the Seas will include some of the headline features of its predecessors, such as a ten-storey-high mat slide, a park with 12,000 plants and a huge water theatre.

It will also introduce the ‘ultimate family suite’, a two-storey apartment for up to eight people featuring a giant 3D TV, a slide from the bedroom to the living room, a Lego wall, air hockey table and balcony whirlpool.

If you fancy staying there, start saving now – it will cost the lucky occupants nearly £38,000 a week.

Celebrity Edge cruise ship
Rise and dine: The Magic Carpet on Celebrity Edge (Picture: Celebrity Cruises)

Name: Celebrity Edge

Line: Celebrity Cruises

Tonnage: 129,500

Passengers: 2,900

Debut: November

Special features: The most eye-catching part of this new ship is the Magic Carpet, a 90-seat restaurant that moves up and down between decks two and 16 on the starboard side.

Former Dragons’ Den star Kelly Hoppen has been heavily involved in the interior design.

A lounge called Eden transforms from a ‘chillful’ area in the morning to a ‘playful’ performance space in the afternoon and a ‘sinful’ restaurant in the evening.

Norwegian Bliss
Lap top: A rendering of the race track on Norwegian Bliss (Picture: NCL)

Name: Norwegian Bliss

Line: NCL

Tonnage: 167,800

Passengers: 4,004

Debut: April

Special features: Norwegian Bliss will feature the longest race track at sea, allowing guests to drive electric cars at up to 30mph.

There will also be an open-air laser-tag area themed as an abandoned space station and multistorey water slides extending over the side of the ship.

After a debut in Europe, Bliss will head to Seattle, where it will sail week-long voyages to Alaska.

Carnival Horizon
Pedal power: The SkyRide on Carnival Horizon (Picture: CCL)

Name: Carnival Horizon

Line: Carnival Cruise Line

Tonnage: 133,500

Passengers: 3,974

Debut: April

Special features: Like its sister ship Carnival Vista, launched in 2016, Carnival Horizon will feature an 800ft-long suspended cycle ride above the top deck, and a ropes course.

It will also be the first ship to have a Dr Seuss-themed water park with two slides and a 150-gallon tipping bucket.

Scenic Eclipse cruise ship
Cruise chic: Scenic Eclipse (Picture: Scenic Cruises)

Name: Scenic Eclipse

Line: Scenic Cruises

Tonnage: 17,000

Passengers: 228

Debut: August

Special features:  This is the James Bond of cruise ships, with two helicopters and a submarine on board.

After a debut season in the Mediterranean, including a trip to the UK, Scenic Eclipse will head to the Arctic and Antarctic where it will carry just 200 guests instead of the normal complement of 228.

Le Lapérouse and Le Champlain
Sea, hear and feel: Le Laperouse and Le Champlain have The underwater lounges (Picture: Ponant)

Name: Le Laperouse and Le Champlain

Line: Ponant

Tonnage: 10,000 each

Passengers: 184 each

Debut: June and September

Special features: These two new ships from French operator Ponant will be fitted with underwater lounges so the guests can see passing sea life as they sail in luxury from one port to another.

They will even be able to feel the experience as sofas will vibrate in harmony with sub-aquatic sounds picked up by hydrophones below the keel.

The whole experience should make you feel like a cross between Jacques Cousteau and Jules Verne.

Norwegian explorer: The Roald Amundsen (Picture: Hurtigruten)

Name: Roald Amundsen

Line: Hurtigruten

Tonnage: 20,889

Passengers: 530

Debut: October

Special features: Built to ‘bring Antarctica to the masses’, this Norwegian ship, named after the first man to reach the South Pole, features an infinity pool, hot tubs and a large observation platform so guests can travel to the seventh continent in comfort.

Most cabins on the hybrid-powered ship will have balconies.

MSC Seaside
Cruise zip: MSC Seaview (Picture: MSC Cruises)

Name: MSC Seaview

Line: MSC

Tonnage: 154,000

Passengers: 4,130

Debut: June

Special features: Like MSC Seaside, christened in December, MSC Seaview will also feature twin zip lines that run from the funnel to the back of the ship.

The Swiss-based company is in the middle of a huge building spree and will be introducing at least one new ship every year until 2026.

Other ships being launched this year include Seabourn Ovation, Nieuw Statendam, Viking Orion, Flying Clipper and National Geographic Venture.

Dave will be joining some of these ships for their maiden voyages, so look out for his reviews on metro.co.uk. He also writes about cruising at shipmonk.co.uk.

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