Ten Reasons To Be Excited About Cruising in 2025

By Brooke Franco

Get ready to cruise in 2025! - *Photo by Canva*

The past year has brought many significant things to the world of cruising. We’ve seen the debut of highly-anticipated new ship classes, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class and Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class. There have also been several launches in the world of cruise line private destinations, such as Disney Cruise Line’s new destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera, as well as the opening of the adults-only space Hideaway Beach on Perfect Day at CocoCay. 2025 is shaping up to be even more exciting, with the launch of several ships, new homeports for cruise lines, and the opening of even more cruise line private destinations. Following are the top ten reasons we’re excited about cruising for 2025.

1. Debut of Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key

Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination on Grand Bahama Island, is slated to open in July 2025. Positioned on the south part of the island, Celebration Key will offer fun for guests of all ages with a mile-long beach, authentic Bahamian shopping and dining, and beach excursions. The destination will have many ways for guests to spend their day with five distinct portals: Paradise Plaza, Pearl Cove Beach Club, Starfish Lagoon, Lokono Cove, and Calypso Lagoon.

Carnival ships will dock at an adjacent cruise pier to Celebration Key. The pier can accommodate up to two Excel-class vessels simultaneously and is slated to be operational by 2026.

Celebration Key is set to open next summer, and over 400 cruises visiting the island are available to book now.

See All Cruises to Celebration Key

2. New U.S. Flagship Vessel for MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises ship MSC World America will debut in April 2025, sailing from the cruise line’s new terminal at PortMiami. The vessel is the second of MSC Cruises’ revolutionary World Class and the newest U.S. flagship for the brand.

MSC World America will feature seven onboard districts, allowing guests of all ages to choose their vacation experience. These districts include MSC Yacht Club, Family Aventura, Aqua Deck, Zen Area, Galleria, The Terraces, and the Promenade. It will be home to the largest Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship area of the MSC Cruises fleet and the first-ever Eataly at Sea concept restaurant.

The ship will spend an inaugural season sailing to the Caribbean, with all itineraries including a stop at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas.

Explore All Cruises on MSC World America

3. Launch of Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Cruise Line’s first Prima Plus class ship, Norwegian Aqua, debuts in April 2025, with cruises from Port Canaveral. The ship will be the 20th vessel in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, with a number of industry-and-brand-first experiences, including the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Glow Court digital sports complex, a Prince tribute show, and NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites. In dining, Norwegian Aqua will have the line’s first-ever Thai restaurant and its first all-plant-based eatery.

Norwegian Aqua will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries in its inaugural season, many with stops at the cruise line’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. Come August, the ship heads to New York City to sail Bermuda cruises through October 2025. Following, Norwegian Aqua sails back south for five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami from October 2025 into the spring of 2026.

Explore All Cruises on Norwegian Aqua

4. More Short Cruises

Cruise lines have recognized an increased demand by today’s travelers for quick short getaway cruises, typically 6 nights or less. These sailings are a great way to break away from one’s regular routine for a short vacation with a less expensive price tag and fewer days away from home.

Royal Caribbean is among the lines offering more short cruise options for 2025, with eight ships sailing short voyages from Florida, Texas, and California. These cruises will depart on weekends and midweek dates. Depending on the voyage, stops include ports in Mexico and the Bahamas, with several options for visiting the line’s own PerfectDay at CocoCay.

Sister brand, Celebrity Cruises will also offer new short getaway sailings on two ships beginning in 2025. Solstice Class Celebrity Reflection will sail year-round 3- and 4-night cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale, with calls at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Celebrity Summit will sail from Fort Lauderdale in 2025, with four- and five-night cruises calling on Key West, Cozumel, or Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Not sure if a short cruise is right for you? Let us convince you otherwise - Top 6 Reasons to Try a Short Cruise

5. New Culinary Experiences on Oceania’s Allura

Ultra premium operator Oceania Cruises’ new ship Allura launches in June 2025, with an inaugural season in the Mediterranean. This ship will spend the summer in Europe, before crossing the Atlantic for Canada/New England cruises for the fall of 2025. Come winter, the ship heads south for Caribbean cruises from PortMiami to round out the year.

Culinary will be a massive part of Allura's onboard experience, as is standard with all Oceania Cruises ships. Allura will have 12 eateries, including its first-ever Crêperie. Other restaurant venues include its main Grand Dining Room, The Terrace Café, Polo Grill, Toscana, Red Ginger, Ember, Aquamar Kitchen, Waves Grill, and Baristas. Guests can also enjoy a private dining experience at Prive or an afternoon tea service at Horizons onboard Allura.

One of the highlights in culinary for guests onboard Allura will be the opportunity to take part in the Chef's Studio teaching programs held in the ship’s expansive Culinary Center. Guests can also enjoy exceptional food and wine pairing experiences.

**Embark on a Vacation of Culinary Delights - Explore All Allura Cruise**s

6. Opening of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

*Photo by Royal Caribbean International/Canva*

Royal Caribbean is set to open a new 17-acre beach day experience on Paradise Island in Nassau in the summer of 2025. Named ‘The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island,’ the destination is a public-private partnership in which Bahamians will own up to 49% equity. When complete, the beach club will combine the beauty of The Bahamas with Royal Caribbean’s signature touches.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will feature three pools with swim-up bars, private cabanas, four dining spots, and experiences with local artisans and live music. Vacationers will access the Beach Club via a ferry from the Nassau Cruise Port.

Explore Royal Caribbean Cruises to Nassau

7. Inaugural Season for Virgin Voyage’s Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages’ upcoming new ship Brilliant Lady will launch in 2025, sailing from New York City between September through October to Bermuda and cities in Canada. At the end of October, Brilliant Lady will head south to Virgin Voyages’ own Terminal V at PortMiami to sail the Caribbean for the remainder of 2025 into March.

Following, Brilliant Lady will make its way to the West Coast, crossing the Panama Canal, to homeport from Los Angeles through the spring. From May - September 2026, the ship heads north to homeport from Seattle to offer Alaska cruises - the first time a Virgin Voyages ship has sailed in the Last Frontier.

Brilliant Lady is the fourth ladyship from the groundbreaking new cruise line. Its sister ship Resilient Lady won the 2024 Cruiseline.com Member Choice Award for Best New Cruise Ship, so we are eagerly awaiting Brilliant Lady’s big debut!

Explore 2025 Cruises on Brilliant Lady

8. Celebrity Cruises’ Fifth Edge Series Ship Debuts

Celebrity Cruises’ fifth Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcel, will launch in November 2025 from Fort Lauderdale. The ship will spend an inaugural season in the Caribbean sailing 7-night itineraries alternating between The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

Celebrity Xcel is the sister ship to Celebrity Ascent, which launched in 2023. Among the new features for Celebrity Xcel will be a two-story sundeck for Retreat guests, an expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck, a multi-level Sunset Bar, a Daniel Boulud restaurant, and a redesigned three-deck Grand Plaza.

Explore 2025 Cruises on Celebrity Xcel

9. MSC Cruises & Norwegian Cruise Line in Galveston

Both MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are making significant investments in the Port of Galveston to provide guests with another option to cruise to destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and beyond. Both companies have announced developments with Galveston Wharves that will increase operations from the Texas port in 2025.

MSC Cruises is making Galveston its newest homeport in 2025, further expanding its U.S. footprint. The Port of Galveston and MSC Cruises are converting an existing cargo warehouse into the port’s fourth cruise terminal. The $151 million cruise complex for MSC Cruises will have a 165,000-square-foot terminal and a $55 million parking garage. Beginning in November 2025, MSC Seascape will be the first ship from MSC Cruises to sail from Galveston, offering 7-night cruises to ports in the Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has also announced a significant expansion at the Port of Galveston. Galveston Wharves recently announced it had entered into a 10-year agreement with the cruise company that allows for regular seasonal cruises beginning in late 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Class ships Norwegian Prima, and Norwegian Viva are among the ships that will homeport from Galveston, with Caribbean cruises on Viva starting in November 2025.

Explore 2025 Cruises from Galveston on MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line

10. Disney Cruise Line Launches First Ship for Asia

Disney Cruise Line will homeport its first ship year-round in Asia in 2025. The new Disney Adventure will begin sailing from Singapore in December 2025, offering three- and four-night voyages from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. The ship will sail from Singapore for at least five years (2025-2030) as part of a collaboration between Disney Cruise Line and the Singapore Tourism Board.

Disney Adventure has been designed to celebrate Disney’s legacy of storytelling, bringing to life the characters of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel. In a first for the line, Disney Adventure will have three attractions on the ship's upper decks in an adventure zone inspired by the Marvel Universe. Other features will include new dining venues, entertainment, and a variety of staterooms. Guests can find their favorite onboard spaces with seven uniquely themed areas: Disney Imagination Garden, Toy Story Place, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, Wayfinder Bay, Disney Discovery Reef, and Marvel Landing.

Bookings on Disney Adventure open soon - stay tuned!