Seven New Cruise Ships to Launch in 2016

Cruise Critic shares new ships to watch in 2016, including five lines introducing their biggest-ever ships

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Dec 14, 2015, 05:30 ET

EWING, N.J., Dec. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise Critic^®, the world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, highlights seven cruise ships launching in 2016, along with new onboard features hitting the seas in the upcoming year. Among the new ships, five will be largest-in-fleet and four will be inaugural ships in brand new ship classes.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, launching June 2016 (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean International)

"For travelers considering a cruise, 2016 is a great year to give it a go," explained Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. "With a majority of the ships being largest-in-fleet, first-in-class – or both – cruise lines are introducing products and offerings that will shape the course of the industry moving forward. Beyond the flashy, fun-to-have experiences, we're seeing thoughtful amenities directly addressing the needs of cruise's expanding audience – technological advances, increased family offerings and expanded culinary options, to name a few."

New ships in 2016 include:

Holland America Line – Koningsdam: Holland America's largest-in-fleet and first in its new Pinnacle Class
Launch Date: April 2016
New Features: Solo and family cabins, new dining venues, and farm-to-table dinners in the Culinary Arts Center

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Ovation of the Seas: The third ship in Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class
Launch Date: April 2016
New Features: Quantum Class features redesigned specifically for the Asian market

Viking Ocean Cruises – Viking Sea: Viking's second ocean-going vessel
Launch Date: April 2016
New Features: Popular elements from the line's first ocean ship – Viking Star – will be incorporated, including The Kitchen Table (a hands-on cooking experience), complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner, and some complimentary shore excursions

Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival Vista: Carnival's largest-in-fleet and first in its new Vista Class
Launch Date: May 2016
New Features: First-at-sea IMAX theater, onboard brewery, and dedicated family cabin area with a family lounge and family concierge

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Harmony of the Seas: Royal Caribbean's largest-in-fleet and third Oasis Class ship
Launch Date: June 2016
New Features: Royal Caribbean's first-ever waterslides, an aqua park for kids, a 10-story slide, and full-length productions of the Broadway hit Grease

Regent Seven Seas Cruises – Seven Seas Explorer: Regent's largest-in-fleet and a brand new ship layout
Launch Date: July 2016
New Features: All-suite, all-balcony cabins; two new specialty restaurants; and the line's first culinary center, the Culinary Arts Kitchen

Seabourn Cruise Line – Seabourn Encore: Seabourn's largest-in-fleet
Launch Date: December 2016
New Features: All-suite cabins with private balconies; a new restaurant from world-renowned chef, Thomas Keller; and expanded public areas

For additional details on 2016's class of new ships, visit Cruise Critic's round-up of New Cruise Ships in 2016.

About Cruise Critic
Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 150,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

About TripAdvisor
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