FUTURE IS NOW WITH A NEW DECADE ON THE HORIZON
We’ve reached the point of year where I like to gaze into my crystal ball and see what the future holds. Well, not exactly; my crystal ball’s in the shop for retooling. But this is the time when I like to look forward to what’s coming in the following year, and 2020 offers a lot of things for cruisers to be excited about.
First up: the debut of Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s first foray into ocean cruising. Making its debut in the spring is the adults-only Scarlet Lady, a ship unlike any other. Sailing out of Miami to the Caribbean on shorter runs, Virgin Voyages will host events like special parties on-shore and on-board, and will introduce a number of interesting firsts, like the first tattoo parlour at sea.
Scarlet Lady is slated to debut on April 1, 2020, but you can be the first to hop on-board thanks to a series of recently released preview voyages. These threenight jaunts will depart from Miami on March 26 and
March 29, 2020 and will sail to Virgin’s own Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas.
In keeping with the new ship launches, I’m really excited about the debut of Carnival Cruise Line’s (cruise.center/carnival) new Mardi Gras. The ship, which debuts in August of next year, will be an entirely new class of ship for Carnival, which has given the massive 5,200-passenger vessel the historic name of the company’s first ship, the Mardi Gras of 1972 (which was, in reality, the former Canadian Pacific steamship Empress of Canada).
The new Mardi Gras will also debut a new livery for Carnival, something of a throwback colour scheme, along with the first roller-coaster at sea and new themed zones that could make this Carnival’s most distinctive Funship yet.
I’m also looking forward to the debut of nearly a dozen different luxury and expedition ships next year. There are so many new ships coming out in the next few years that it’s nearly a full-time job to keep track of them all.
For those looking for a good Christmas present to put under the tree, MSC Cruises (cruise. center/msc) has some amazing deals right now on its Caribbean voyages aboard MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside and the smaller but still lovely MSC Armonia. MSC’S Caribbean cruises offer a mixture of European flair and North American tastes, which I find particularly enjoyable in the Caribbean. Soon, MSC will open its new private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay, giving cruisers more reason to set sail to paradise.
Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favourite destination, Alaska. Cunard Line (cruise.center/cunard) will host its largest Alaska season in recent memory next year, as its iconic Queen Elizabeth returns to Vancouver for more voyages to the Last Frontier.
The biggest trend for 2020 is just how diverse the cruising world has become. While new ships continue to be all the rage, older ships are finding a new lease on life thanks to extensive refit programs that are only increasing in popularity. Don’t be surprised if you set sail on an old favourite next year to find entirely refreshed decor.
Older ships are also being placed on more interesting itineraries these days. Once relegated to doing quick three-and-four-day runs, older vessels are now operating more off-the-beaten-path voyages that will appeal to cruisers who feel they’ve been there, done that. The only real question is this: Where do you want to sail to in 2020?
Happy cruising.
Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia Cruiseshipcenters, 1-800-707-7327, www.cruiseshipcenters.com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com