New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2020

Update on August 4, 2020: We have updated this list to reflect cruise ship launch date delays due to shipyard shutdowns and delays, as well as the cruise line suspensions due to COVID-19. If a ship does not have a "New Launch Date" listed, it means that as of right now the ship is/was able to launch on schedule or we don't yet have information on whether it has been delayed or not. We will update this article as we receive new information.

Original Article: Just when you thought 2019 couldn't be topped, 2020 is shaping up to be a huge year for the cruise industry. The first roller coaster at sea will debut with the launch of Carnival’s largest ship ever: Mardi Gras, Celebrity is launching a sister ship to the well-received Celebrity Edge, and P&O Cruises is launching their biggest vessel to date: Iona. Two brand-new cruise lines will also be launching their first ships this year, Scarlet Lady from Virgin Voyages, and Evrima from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Here are the new ships in store for us in 2020. 

Mardi Gras

New Launch Date: Mardi Gras will now sail her inaugural cruise from Port Canaveral on February 6, 2021. All voyages from November 14, 2020 to January 30, 2021 have been canceled.

Original Launch Date: November 2020
Line / Class: Carnival Cruise Line / XL Class
Size: 180,000 gross tons / 5,200 passengers 
Homeport: Port Canaveral
Itineraries: Caribbean
Highlights: 

• BOLT rollercoaster
• Big Chicken by Shaq
• RedFrog Tiki Bar
• WaterWorks aqua park
• Emeril’s Bistro 1396
• Havana cabins with exclusive bar and pool
• Family Harbor cabins with exclusive lounge
• Carnival Excel Suites with Loft 19 sundeck access

Mardi Gras Deals  

Odyssey of the Seas

New Launch Date: Due to shipyard and supply chain delays due to COVID-19, the debut of Odyssey of the Seas has been pushed back to April 2021. The ship will now sail her inaugural season from Rome in spring 2021, and then proceed to Fort Lauderdale as planned in November 2021. 

Original Launch Date: Fall 2020
Line / Class: Royal Caribbean / Quantum Ultra Class
Size: 168,800 gross tons / 4,200 passengers
Homeports: Fort Lauderdale and Rome
Itineraries: Caribbean and Mediterranean
Highlights: 

• Sky Pad bungee trampoline
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Bumper cars
• RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator
• Imaginative Alice-inspired restaurant Wonderland
• North Star observation capsule
• Two-story Lime and Coconut Bar

Odyssey Deals  

Celebrity Apex

New Launch Date: Because of travel restrictions and precautions due to COVID-19, Celebrity Cruises took delivery of Apex virtually in March 2020 (which is believed to be an industry first). It's not currently known when the first official cruise will sail, but it will likely be shortly after Celebrity is able to resume sailing.

Original Launch Date: April 2020
Line / Class: Celebrity Cruises / Edge Class
Size: 117,000 gross tons / 2,900 passengers 
Homeports: Fort Lauderdale, Barcelona, and Southampton
Itineraries: Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe
Highlights: 

• Magic Carpet transformative mobile space
• Rooftop Garden sundeck
• Qsine restaurant with the Le Petit Chef projection mapping experience
• The Retreat sundeck and lounge for suite guests
• Three-story transforming Eden lounge

Celebrity Apex Deals  

Scarlet Lady

New Launch Date: October 2020

Original Launch Date: March 2020
Line: Virgin Voyages
Size: 110,000 gross tons / 2,770 passengers
Homeport: Miami
Itineraries: Caribbean
Highlights: 

• The Test Kitchen Cooking Lab & Restaurant
• Squid Ink tattoo parlor
• Gunbae Korean BBQ restaurant
• Draught Haus tap room
• The Groupie private karaoke rooms
• Included WiFi
• The Dock sundeck lounge
• Pink Agave upscale Mexican restaurant

Scarlet Lady Deals  

Enchanted Princess

New Launch Date: All Europe and Transatlantic cruises on Enchanted Princess for summer 2020 have been canceled. There's no word on an official new launch date, but it will likely be shortly after Princess resumes sailing.

Original Launch Date: June 2020
Line / Class: Princess Cruises / Royal Class
Size: 145,000 gross tons / 3,660 passengers
Homeports: Fort Lauderdale, Rome, Barcelona, and Athens
Itineraries: Caribbean and Mediterranean
Highlights: 

• Phantom Bridge escape room
• Bistro Sur La Mer, a French restaurant created with Chef Emmanuel Renaut
• Discovery at SEA programs
• Sky Suites with the largest balconies at sea
• The Voice of the Ocean
• Wakeview Pool at the aft
• Festivals of the World onboard parties
• The Salty Dog Gastropub

Enchanted Princess Deals  

MSC Virtuosa

New Launch Date: Construction on MSC Virtuosa has reportedly been delayed, and no new launch date has been announced yet.

Original Launch Date: November 2020
Line / Class: MSC Cruises / Meraviglia Plus Class
Size: 181,000 gross tons / 4,842 passengers
Homeports: Barcelona, Rome, Genoa, and Marseille
Itineraries: Mediterranean
Highlights: 

• Two-story promenade with LED “sky”
• A virtual cruise assistant in every cabin
• Exclusive MSC Yacht Club cabins and shared areas
• A polar-themed water park
• Multipurpose Sportplex space
• Two original Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows
• Full-size bowling alley

MSC Virtuosa Deals  

Iona

New Launch Date: Iona completed sea trials in early June and is nearing her delivery to P&O Cruises. The line has announced that the ship will be delivered before fall 2020, but it's not clear when the line plans to start sailing the ship with passengers. 

Original Launch Date: May 2020
Line / Class: P&O Cruises / XL Class
Size: 183,900 gross tons / 5,200 passengers
Homeport: Southampton
Itineraries: Northern Europe, Canary Islands, and Spain & Portugal
Highlights: 

• Fusion Asian Kitchen restaurant
• 18 whirlpools
• The Glass House tapas restaurant
• SkyDome entertainment hub with swimming pool
• The Keel & Cow gastropub
• 710 Club - a “secret” nightclub with live music
• The Olive Grove Mediterranean restaurant
• Sindu restaurant - Indian cuisine with an English twist

Evrima

New Launch Date: Evrima's first official voyage will be on April 22, 2021 from Lisbon, Portugal to Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Original Launch Date: June 2020 
Line: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection 
Size: 26,500 gross tons / 298 passengers
Homeports: Various
Itineraries: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada & New England, and the Caribbean
Highlights: 

• Aft marina and terrace at the water’s edge
• Infinity pool
• Ritz Kids programming
• Talaat Nam restaurant serving Southeast Asian cuisine
• Observation Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows
• Al fresco restaurant Mistral, serving Mediterranean-inspired dishes
• All staterooms are suites with private balconies and double vanity bathrooms.
• Access to non-motorized water sports while anchored
• Included WiFi

Evrima Deals  

Seven Seas Splendor

Launch Date: February 2020
Line / Class: Regent Seven Seas Cruises / Explorer Class
Size: 55,254 / 750 passengers
Homeports: Miami, Barcelona, and other various ports
Itineraries: Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe
Highlights: 

• All staterooms are suites with private balconies.
• Infinity-Edge plunge pool
• Sette Mari at la Veranda, an Italian restaurant
• Culinary Arts Kitchen for cooking classes
• A Golf Net and putting greens
• Pacific Rim restaurant, serving Pan-Asian cuisine
• Prime 7 American steakhouse

Splendor Deals  

Crystal Endeavor

New Launch Date: The shipyard where Crystal Endeavor is being constructed had to temporarily shut down due to COVID-19, so all 2020 itineraries on the ship have been canceled. The line has not yet announced a new launch date. 

Original Launch Date: August 2020
Line / Type: Crystal Cruises / Expedition ship
Size: 20,000 gross tons / 200 passengers
Homeports: Various
Itineraries: Alaska, Northern & Western Europe, South America, South Pacific/Australia, Asia, and Antarctica
Highlights:

• All staterooms are suites with private balconies.
• Two helicopters and a 7-person submersible
• Solarium with a pool and hot tub
• The Marina fold-out platform
• Resorts World at Sea Casino
• Crystal Life Spa with a sauna and steam room
• Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling gear
• Connoisseur Club cigar lounge

Crystal Endeavor Deals  

Silver Moon

New Launch Date: Silver Moon's August inaugural cruise has been canceled. An exact date for its rescheduled debut has not been confirmed, but Silversea hopes to launch the ship in October.

Original Launch Date: August 2020
Line / Class: Silversea Cruises / Muse Class
Size: 40,700 gross tons / 596 passengers
Homeports: Various
Itineraries: Mediterranean, Caribbean, South America, and Panama Canal
Highlights: 

• S.A.L.T. Lab (Sea, Land, and Taste), which hosts workshops and cooking demonstrations
• S.A.L.T. Bar, serving locally-inspired cocktails and drinks
• S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the ship’s destination-focused restaurant
• La Terrazza Italian restaurant
• Arts Cafe, a space that showcases paintings and sculptures and is a cafe and deli-bar by day, and a cocktail lounge by night
• Observation Library
• Connoisseur’s Corner cigar lounge
• Zagara Beauty Spa with an outdoor hot tub as well as sauna and steam rooms

Silver Moon Deals  

Fridtjof Nansen

New Launch Date: According to Hurtigruten's website, Fridtjof Nansen will sail her first passenger expedition cruise on June 24, 2020 from Germany to Iceland and Norway. 

Original Launch Date: April 2020
Line / Type: Hurtigruten / Expedition ship
Size: 20,889 gross tons / 530 passengers
Homeports: Hamburg, Germany and Reykjavik, Iceland
Itineraries: Northern and Western Europe
Highlights:

• All cabins are exterior, with either a window or balcony 
• Nansen Science Center, an edutainment venue
• Aft infinity pool
• Expedition boats, kayaks, and Blueye underwater drones
• Lindstrøm, a restaurant serving modern Norwegian cuisine
• Young Explorers’ kids program
• Included WiFi

Fridtjof Nansen Cruises  

Sea Cloud Spirit

New Launch Date: Due to delivery delays, Sea Cloud Spirit won't be able to launch in August. The cruise line has not confirmed a new official delivery date, but anticipates that it will be sometime towards the end of 2020. 

Original Launch Date: August 2020
Line: Sea Cloud Cruises
Size: 4,228 gross tons / 136 passengers 
Homeports: Various
Itineraries: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Morocco & Canary Islands
Highlights: 

• Cabins with balconies (not all)
• Spa with a sauna, steam bath, and multi-sensory shower
• Fitness sun deck
• Library with panoramic windows
• Flexible lido dining

Spirit of Adventure

New Launch Date: Due to COVID-19, the Meyer Werft shipyard had extensive delays and the ship won't be able to launch in August. The line has not yet announced a new launch date.

Original Launch Date: August 2020
Line / Type: Saga Cruises / Expedition ship
Size: 58,250 gross tons / 1,000 passengers
Homeports: Dover and Southampton
Itineraries: Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and Caribbean
Highlights:

• All cabins have private balconies.
• Khukuri House, the first Nepalese restaurant at sea
• The Spa with a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, and steam room
• Amalfi, serving high-end Italian dishes
• Supper Club steakhouse and live music venue
• Included WiFi, specialty dining, and select alcoholic beverages
• The Library with a cafe as well as card and craft rooms

Costa Firenze

Launch Date: October 2020
Line / Class: Costa Cruises / Vista Class
Size: 135,225 gross tons / 4,200 passengers
Homeport: Hong Kong
Itineraries: Asia
Highlights: 

• The ship’s interior design is inspired by Florence, Italy
• An enclosed pool deck area

Passenger capacity numbers based on double occupancy. 

Renderings are artistic concepts. All features, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice.