Cruise Ships Scheduled to Debut in 2022

As 2022 gets off to a bumpy start for cruising, it remains to be seen if the Omicron variant will impact this year's new ocean ship introductions. Let's hope the surge peaks in mid- to late January as currently predicted and we'll see a number of shiny new cruise ocean-going ships enter service this year. Here's the tentative timeline of what to expect and when.

This U.S.-based small-ship specialist will introduce two modern riverboats in 2022 - the 175-passenger American Symphony in August and sister ship American Serenade at year's end. Also, the company's four classic paddlewheelers are undergoing some work and will emerge in March with a more modern décor, as depicted in the rendering above.

American Queen Voyages' new Expedition product will launch in May with the 186-passenger Ocean Victory operating in the less-traveled regions of Alaska's Inside Passage and then Mexico and Costa Rica. The ship has an innovative cross-bow hull, which places the most forward point of the ship under the water rather than above it, for smoother, quieter cruising. Staterooms average 257 square feet of size, including a private balcony in most categories.

This luxe-adventure company, which started expedition cruising with its first 196-passenger ship, World Navigator, plans to introduce a sister ship, World Traveller, in July, for its inaugural season in the Mediterranean. The vessel offers six dining options, a spa and an "All Inclusive All The Way" policy.

The "Choose Fun" cruise line will introduce the 5,400-passenger, 180,800-gross-ton Carnival Celebration in November, during the company's 50th birthday year. The ship will have six themed areas, the second BOLT roller-coaster and a variety of eateries.

The upscale line plans introduce the third ship in the Edge Series, the 3,260-passenger Celebrity Beyond, in Europe in April 2022. Among the many highlights is the Moroccan-inspired Sunset Bar, designed by Nate Berkus, which is nearly twice as large as previous iterations. The ship also will feature the Magic Carpet, the lounge cantilevered on the exterior hull that can move up and down the ship.

The new Disney Wish, expected to enter service in June, will initially operate three- and four-night Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral. Like its fleetmates, it will feature numerous spaces for children and adults alike, including the new "Frozen"-themed dining experience.

Emerald Azzurra, the line's first ocean-going vessel, is a 100-guest, luxury superyacht that will sail the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black and Red Seas. It has 50 deluxe suites and staterooms, with more than 80 percent of cabins featuring a balcony. It also has a cool pool that overlooks the back of the ship. Emerald Azzurra is the 10th vessel in the Emerald Cruises fleet - joining nine river cruising Star-Ships. The line's second superyacht, Emerald Sakara, will join the fleet in early 2023.

This company expects to introduce two ships in 2022. The 169,400-gross-ton, 5,877-guest MSC Seascape will be delivered in November. It will be followed in December by the 205,700-ton, 6,774-passenger MSC World Europa, which will feature green technologies.

Norwegian Prima will begin sailing in August in Europe before moving to the U.S. in October for Caribbean and Bermuda itineraries. The 142,500-gross-ton ship will accommodate 3,215 passengers. It will have an elevated, luxurious Haven and Ocean Boulevard, which wraps around the entire ship.

The line's newest ship - the 3,560-passenger, 143,700-gross-ton Discovery Princess - will debut in Los Angeles in spring 2022 for an inaugural season of Mexican Riviera and California itineraries.

This luxury company plans to introduce its first all-inclusive vessel, the 288-passenger Evrima, in May in the Mediterranean. The yacht features a spa, watersports marina and a signature restaurant designed by Chef Sven Elverfeld of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany.

Royal Caribbean International plans to introduce the new world's largest cruise ship, the 236,857-gross-ton Wonder of the Seas, in March 2022 from Fort Lauderdale. A larger version of the Oasis-Class ships, it will accommodate 5,734 passengers, double occupancy.

Seabourn's purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, is scheduled to enter service from the U.K. on April 10, 2022. The luxury ship will accommodate 264 guests in all-veranda suites. The PC6 Polar Class ship will carry two submarines, Zodiacs and kayaks.

Silversea will introduce the 596-passenger, 40,700-gross-ton Silver Dawn in March 2022 in the Mediterranean. Silver Dawn will offer eight dining options - including the Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.) program - as well as the Otium wellness concept. It will move to Fort Lauderdale in the fall.

In late December 2021, Viking took delivery of the 378-passenger Viking Octantis, the company's first of two new purpose-built expedition ships. The ship then headed for South America to launch Viking's first voyages to Antarctica in January. The ship then makes her way to the Great Lakes for the spring and summer. An identical sister ship, Viking Polaris, joins the fleet in August 2022 for journeys to the Arctic and Antarctica. Viking also will introduce two more identical ocean ships in 2022 - the 930-passenger Viking Mars and Viking Neptune make Nos. 8 and 9 in Viking's 930-passenger series.

Virgin Voyages' second ship, the 110,000-gross-ton, 2,770-passenger Valiant Lady, will enter service from the U.K. in March 2022 and move to Barcelona in May and to Miami for the winter. The third ship, Resilient Lady, will enter service in August 2022 in the Greek Isles.