New Pickle Ball Courts, Golf Cruises And The Biggest Bands At Sea

Summer travel is upon us, and cruising has not seen such high demand in many years. Market data from Statista shows that revenue in the cruise segment will top more than $25 billion this year with a more than 9% annual growth rate. Cruising is back, and bigger than ever.

Travel in general is outperforming expectations, too. The Omnitrak Travel Market Penetration Index showed that Spring Break plans outperformed predictions that price and recessionary concerns might cause a slowdown. March travel demand outpaced previous months.

As passengers return, there are new onboard features, new ships and new itineraries to look forward to on future sailings. Expect celebrity chefs and winemakers as well as themed cruises and robotic thrill rides. Here is some the latest cruise news you can use to stay updated on the latest in cruising.

Two new Grand Voyages from Silversea for 2024

Silversea released its largest portfolio of Grand Voyage Collection extended cruises for 2024. They include sailings between one and two months in length visiting a more in-depth list of destinations. Silver Spirit will offer one cruise to 34 destinations in 43 days around the Mediterranean while Silver Cloud will visit 45 places in the Indian Ocean within 66 days. The line offers the largest collection of extended sailing cruises in the industry for 2024 and 2025. Other options are a pole-to-pole expedition sailing as well as one around the South Pacific.

Celebrity Cruises now offering pickle ball on nine ships

Dubbed the world’s fastest growing sport, nine Celebrity ships will be outfitted with new pickle ball courts. Guests can access the courts free of charge or take place in guided lessons and tournaments from the entertainment staff. There will be separate play times for children and adults with equipment available on board for those that do not want to bring their own paddles. It will be available on Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Apex (both Edge Class ships); plus, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit.

Azamara doubles down on AzAmazing events

After a decade of offering AzAmazing evening events, the small-ship cruise line is doubling down on its offering. Not only will it continue to offer the complimentary evening events to all customers on its sailings, but it will expand with AzAmazing Days, a daytime version of the free benefit with local entertainers and musicians giving guests a taste of the destination. It will also offer cultural performances and local cuisine via Destination Celebrations events.

All of these are available on sailings of at least seven nights and have become a repeat cruiser favorite bringing travelers up close to destination highlights that may otherwise be difficult to experience in the same way independently. It’s part of the line’s focus to stay longer in ports (sometimes overnight), which gives guests more time to experience the ports of call. Upcoming events include a Zulu tribe performance in Durban, South Africa; a carnival celebration in Barranquilla, Colombia; and a “nights of Arabia” performance by musicians and dancers on the Ayla Golf Resort grounds in Aqaba, Jordan.

Azamara offers new PerryGolf cruise sailings

A popular option for golfers, Azamara’s partnership with PerryGolf gives cruisers the opportunity to visit some of the world’s top golf courses as they sail on a cruise. PerryGolf cruises cover more than two dozen countries and over 80 different golf course experiences, 20 of which regularly make the world’s top 100 list of best courses to play. Golf equipment is already on board, and guests have transportation to each course where equipment is already set up for them. Greens fees, food and drinks, gratuities and cart fees are part of the overall cruise rate. Back on board, golfers enjoy special programming as well as the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. New sailings for the coming year include New Zealand and Australia on Azamara Quest and Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil on Azamara Pursuit.

Emerald Cruises names new luxury yacht godmother

Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), is the newly announced godmother for luxury yacht Emerald Sakara. Launching in Puerto Rico this December with its naming ceremony, the ocean yacht boasts environmental safeguards, including the Green Passport designation from the European Union for its recycling efforts. Craighead’s credentials are substantial including past and present roles as the government’s senior representative for travel and tourism and the first deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism at the Department of Commerce.

Oceania boosts entertainment levels on new Vista

The inaugural cast aboard the Oceania Vista, the first of two Allura class ships for the culinary-focused cruise line, will perform under a production team including a “Dancing with the Stars” choreographer. Three new shows will be part of the ship’s lineup boosting the level of entertainment offered aboard Oceania ships. The 1,200-passenger ship will make its first sailing in May from Rome.

MSC Euribia adds one of the largest big bands at sea and new theater design

When it launches, the entertainment offerings aboard the new MSC Euribia will be bigger and better than anything the line has ever offered. It will feature one of the largest big bands at sea as well as seven theatrical shows to appeal to all ages, one of which is a nostalgic look of the great circus performers over the decades. This is the fifth ship for MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia class, but sports a redesigned layout of the Carousel Lounge that now has an outdoor section beneath two covered terraces.

MSC World America now open for passenger bookings

MSC’s newest ship is now available for reservations. Its first trip will take place in April 2025 when it becomes the second in the line’s LNG-powered, World Class ships. In total it will be the third LNG sustainable ship for the company and its first to operate in North America. All of its Caribbean itineraries will include a stop at the cruise line’s private destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Explora Journeys names oceanographer as godmother

For its first ship Explora I, Explora Journeys will name it for Dr. Sylvia Earle, an oceanographer, explorer and conservationist. Earle’s commitment to deep-sea exploration and ocean conservation led the line to choose her as its first godmother. Explora I is the first of six luxury ships, which will will be designed for low environmental impact. Its maiden voyage through the Arctic Circle takes place this summer.

Windstar adds whole food, plant-based menu

Vegetarians and healthy eaters rejoice. Windstar is adding to its vegetarian lineup with a plant-based menu in a new partnership with the National Health Association. Launching this summer, it was born out of a special request on certain charters or for groups, but proved too popular to abandon. This will complement its existing menu and expand the number of choices for guests. New dishes include vegetable enchiladas with black bean and cilantro sauce, baked cauliflower croquettes with salsa verde and chia seed truffles with dates and coconut sauce.