One of the most notable reveals has been Regent's announcement of Seven Seas Grandeur, due to set sail in 2023. The latest evolution of this class of vessel will offer brighter interiors whilst keeping the core features which have made Explorer and Splendor so special.
Grandeur's inaugural season recently went on sale and begins with a relaxing transatlantic from Barcelona to Miami on 25th November, before a handful of Panama Canal voyages between Miami and Los Angeles and a Caribbean season. Early 2024 sees the ship return to the Mediterranean for a number of spring and early summer sailings exploring the Spanish and Italian coasts as well as the Greek islands and Turkey.
Oceania has released details of Vista's inaugural season, the first of their Allura Class ships. She launches in the Mediterranean with a 14th April 2023 Rome to Barcelona voyage, followed by a brief visit to UK shores, the US east coast, and two Panama Canal sailings between Miami and Los Angeles.
A first for Oceania, the ship will accommodate 1,200 guests in all balcony staterooms, representing a significant step up in entry level accommodation compared to their existing fleet. Dining will remain core to the offering, and in addition to the fantastic venues that have proven to be so popular on the Oceania class and Regatta class ships there are two new restaurants, Ember and the Aquamar Kitchen.
In recent weeks there have also been a succession of new ships commencing service, including the 198-guest World Navigator, the first ship to launch from new luxury line Atlas Ocean Voyages. Operating an Eastern Mediterranean voyage which also included a fantastic Egypt add-on, initial reports back from the American clientele have been enormously complimentary so we think this new all-inclusive line, which aims to compete with the more established ultra-luxury lines, could be one to watch.
For tall ship fans, Sea Cloud Cruises' much anticipated Sea Cloud Spirit was christened by Infanta Elena of Spain, the sister of the Spanish King Felipe VI, on 3rd September. A newly built three-masted full-rigged ship accommodating 136 passengers, she offers balcony cabins, a spacious spa, wellness area and gym with sea views, a fine dining restaurant and a bistro on the Lido deck. The third vessel in the Sea Cloud Cruises fleet, she'll be sailing around the Canary Islands this winter.
Moving on to a much bigger but equally Instagrammable ship, Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady finally resumed service having previously only completed a series of educational voyages for press, trade and influencers. If the words 'Instagrammable' and 'influencers' mean nothing to you, then Virgin Voyages probably isn't going to be to your taste, but this adult-only, hip reinvention of the large ship cruise concept has been well received by its target market of youthful new-to-cruisers.
In expedition news, the stunning Le Commandant Charcot has set sail, as has Crystal Endeavor. Hurtigruten's MS Midnatsol has emerged from an extensive refurbishment to be reborn as the biofuel-powered expedition ship MS Maud, and Lindblad Expeditions have taken delivery of their new polar build, National Geographic Resolution, a 126-guest vessel designed with the striking X-Bow profile that has now been adopted by a number of expedition operators.
