This Week in Cruise: New Ship Updates From RCL, Carnival and Virgin

It’s been another busy week for new ship updates from a host of major cruise lines. 

This week Royal Caribbean cut steel on its second Quantum Ultra class ship, which the line now reports will be named the Odyssey of the Seas. The line also announced that the new ship will sail from the United States in fall 2020. (The first Quantum Ultra ship, the Spectrum of the Seas, is set to be based in Asia with a focus on the domestic China market. )

Also this week Carnival Cruise Line opened bookings on the new Mardi Gras, the first in the line’s new XL class of cruise ships. Set to sail in 2020, the new ship will sail six- to 15-day sailings in Europe and the Caribbean

Virgin Voyages continued to count down to its debut this week with a look at the cabin designs for its first ship, the Scarlet Lady. Ninety-three percent of the ship’s accommodations will have an ocean view, and 86 percent will have a terrace. Staterooms will also have a bed that transforms into a lounger for guests, dynamic lighting that adjusts based on the time of day and the ship’s location and a number of energy-conserving features. The Scarlet Lady sets sail in 2020. 

In expedition cruise news, this week Quark Expeditions cut steel on its newest ship. It will set sail in 2020, accommodating up to 200 passengers. It will have an interior Zodiac hangar, four embarkation points, two helicopters with operable helidecks and a number of safety features. 

In luxury news, this week Regent Seven Seas Cruises released a preview of the top-tier Regent Suite onboard the Seven Seas Splendor, which sails in February 2020. The 4,443-square-foot suite will have an in-suite spa, a wraparound veranda, a $200,000 bed and exclusive access to a private dining room in The Study on Deck 11. 

In river cruise news, this week Uniworld provided an update on four new ships it has on tap for 2020. The cruise line is planning to launch three new ships in Vietnam, Egypt and Portugal, as well as to convert an existing vessel into a Super Ship in Italy. All told, the projects will bring Uniworld’s fleet to over half Super Ships, the cruise line said. 

Finally, this week Riviera River Cruises announced a special travel agent incentive to celebrate the launch of two new ships in April, the MS William Wordsworth and the MS George Elliot. The North American travel agent who books the most cabins with Riviera in February and March will receive a complimentary cruise for two guests aboard one of the new ships.

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