The 5 Best Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022

Table Of Content

• Pregnant woman medevaced from cruise ship highlights health risks of cruising while pregnant
• Best Boutique Cruise Line: Viking Ocean Cruises
• The 5 Best Large-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022
• Navigator — Regent Seven SeasArrow
• Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise
• Discovery Princess (Princess Cruises)
• The best cruises of 2022, according to U.S. News & World Report

With all this space, Royal Caribbean is taking your ultimate cruise vacation to the next level with more ways to wonder than ever. While in the Caribbean, Wonder of the Seas will sail a variety of Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, all including a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. In terms of dining, one new restaurant has been revealed so far for Celebrity Beyond. Le Voyage is an intimate 50-seat restaurant by world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud.

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For specialty restaurants, this new ship delivers a diverse culinary experience. From the Royal Caribbean staple Chops Grille, to the newly imagined Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Izumi Sushi, the brand-new Teppanyaki, and Wonderland, you can’t go wrong. Odyssey of the Seas is now sailing the Caribbean on 6-8 night itineraries. At the end of April 2022, the ship will reposition to Europe to offer exciting itineraries to Greece and the Holy Lands. Finally, the ship will transition to Florida once again sailing the Caribbean beginning in November 2022. If you are looking to venture beyond the Caribbean, Scarlet’s newest sister ship, Valiant Lady, also debuts in early 2022.

Best Boutique Cruise Line: Viking Ocean Cruises

An 11-deck dry slide called The Spiral will be the longest at sea, and new dining venues include Chef’s Garden Kitchen, focusing on microgreens, and La Pescaderia, a traditional seafood grill with alfresco seating. The ship will also be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology. Princess Cruises has been adding to its fleet fast, and the next of its Royal Class ships -- the 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess -- has a March 2022 debut date.

The 5 Best Large-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022

The first Excel-class ship for the cruise line received more votes than ships operated by rival lines and within the same fleet. Voting in the annual awards opened in September, with eight categories, including the best overall cruise ship of 2022. Most notably, MSC has confirmed that World Europa will be one of the most eco-friendly cruise ships at sea. World Europa will be installed with a fuel cell pilot plant called Blue Horizon, which is an LNG-powered fuel cell.

Navigator — Regent Seven SeasArrow

Designed by the innovative Richard Branson, Virgin Voyages is breaking barriers when it comes to cruise ships. This class of ships features an adult-only environment with plenty of places to dine and drink. Virgin's ships will continue to forgo the traditional main dining room and instead offer multiple restaurants and specialty dining options for cruisers to enjoy. French luxury cruise line Ponant aims to make passengers feel as if they're traveling on their own private yachts.

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Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise

The ship will also boast the largest MSC Yacht Club in the entire MSC Cruises fleet. MSC Seascape is also designed with environmental friendliness in mind, with catalytic reduction systems to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% and sulphur oxide emissions by 98%. A new water feature combines cinema with water slides, and new tech-heavy indoor experiences allow for interactive family fun.

Sister ship to P&O Cruises’ Iona, Arvia is an Excel-class cruise ship that boasts a few highlighted features. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates just one ship, but it is exquisite, hosting 330 guests and sailing only in the South Pacific to destinations like Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The ship is small enough to access private ports at remote beaches and take travelers well off the beaten path. Named the best small-ship ocean cruise line in T+L's 2022 World's Best Awards, Golden said the line is known for Tahitian-inspired massage techniques in the onboard spa and noted that cruisers particularly love the wonderful staff. Viking Cruises is a river and ocean cruise line that recently added expedition sailings and the Great Lakes trips to its repertoire.

Discovery Princess (Princess Cruises)

Smaller cruise lines — with ships that fit hundreds rather than thousands of guests — dominated U.S. Here, average daily rates accounted for 60% of scores, while expert, traveler and health ratings accounted for the other 40%. Cruise lines with average daily rates of $300 or more did not qualify for this category. The publication evaluated 17 cruise lines through a combination of expert evaluations (30%), traveler reviews (50%) and health ratings published by the U.S.

The best cruises of 2022, according to U.S. News & World Report

Non-standard fun is at the heart of Virgin’s ships, including the first ever Tattoo Shop at sea. Entertainment will continue to be unique and diverse, similar to Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Unfortunately, the ship’s unusually small pool will most likely not be changed. Resilient Lady will also have plenty of wellness options and nightclubs for cruisers to enjoy.

This venue will feature an exclusive collection of world-class rock performances nightly. Of course, there is also the 270-degree surround-screen World Stage, elevating main theater entertainment to the next level. Not to mention, Mardi Gras has debuted Shaq’s Big Chicken on the Lido Deck. While we have yet to experience it for ourselves, the reviews speak for themselves.

There were no nominations within the category, and readers were able to type in their favorite ship. With 2022 coming to an end, it’s that time to begin announcing the winners of Cruise Hive’s Cruise Ship Awards. Receiving the most votes from readers, Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras cruise ship has become the winner of the best overall cruise ship of 2022. It’s now the second consecutive year that Mardi Gras has won the category. Celebrity Beyond will also introduce the Magic Carpet, which is the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform that lifts guests 13 stories above sea level.

What’s exciting about Viking Mississippi is that the ship will have many of the onboard features that people already love on other Viking vessels. There will be a two-story Explorers’ Lounge observation area; the Aquavit Terrace outdoor dining venue; an infinity pool and sun deck. There’s also a new outdoor seating area known as The Bow, which promises excellent views of the river. Plenty of inclusions are also on offer, such as beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; a complimentary shore excursion per day; lectures; Wi-Fi and free room service. Setting sail in Spring 2022, cruise ship fans will have to look forward to the launching of the Discovery Princess℠.

The 5 Best Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022

Table Of Content

• Norwegian Prima is First-in-Class with New Slides, a Race Track and Vegas-Style Nightlife
• Cruising on the comeback?
• Resilient Lady (Virgin Voyages)
• The 5 Best Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022

MSC Cruises’ newest flagship, MSC Seashore, is elevating the guest experience to a whole new level. Thus, this latest ship in the MSC Cruises’ rapidly expanding fleet should also top your list of the best cruise ships for 2022. This new ship will debut in Miami this November, making it a perfect choice for your next cruise vacation. MSC Seashore will sail 7-night cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean, including stops at the new private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.

Norwegian Prima is First-in-Class with New Slides, a Race Track and Vegas-Style Nightlife

A sister ship to the other highly-anticipated Carnival ship, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration will feature a lot of the same amenities and entertainment options. Carnival Celebration will feature the same six fun zones, as well as the same rollercoaster at sea, BOLT. As for its onboard offerings, MSC Cruises is taking a page from Royal Caribbean's playbook by breaking down the public areas of MSC World Europa into districts. They will include an adults-only "Zen district" and a separate "family district" that houses as many as 10 new kids facilities.

Cruising on the comeback?

The ships will share all of the spectacular style and luxury of their predecessors including the overwater SeaWalk and an expansive Piazza, as well as some other enhancements of their own. Regardless of which ship you choose, you will be treated to the same Princess MedallionClass experience. With the use of this technology, Princess Cruises can deliver a more contactless and personalized cruise vacation. From ordering on-demand food and beverages, to having your stateroom door unlock as you approach, all of this is possible with the wearable Ocean Medallion.

Resilient Lady (Virgin Voyages)

It'll also boast a staggering 24 Zodiac boats for waterborne exploring and landings in remote areas — enough to get every passenger off the ship at the same time (something that isn't always the case with expedition ships). And it'll be home to 26 expedition guides including scientists, historians and naturalists who will lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land. Among the most notable newcomers will be Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship ever built (and by big, we're talking about a ship that can hold nearly 7,000 passengers). Originally set to debut in 2021, it's now scheduled to begin sailing in March. The 3,099-person capacity vessel, which boasts a 24-hour butler service and three-level race track, was just named the best new cruise ship of 2022 in the Ocean category, CNN Travel reports. This year marked the return of the annual awards ceremony, which took a hiatus during a tumultuous few years for the industry.

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This is the first time this new technology will be used for a cruise ship, which makes the launch of MSC’s World Europa even more exciting. This cruise ship will be one of the biggest and most technically advanced ships in the world! Similar to Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class cruise ships, MSC’s World Europa will be divided into different districts/neighborhoods. These will include adult-only zen areas and family-friendly neighborhoods with plenty of activities for kids. The ship’s pool has been totally redesigned to offer more space for swimming and chilling in the shade. Wonder of the Seas will feature the all-new Wonder Playscape, which is an underwater world with slides, climbing walls, puzzles and games on the ship’s top deck.

The 5 Best Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022

Enchanté will offer the most luxurious dining experience on Disney Wish. This upscale specialty restaurant will feature a gourmet menu crafted by Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Lallement. Celebrity Beyond is the third ship in Celebrity Cruises popular Edge Class of ships. When Celebrity Beyond debuts in April 2022, she will be longer, taller, and more luxurious than her sister ships, Celebrity Edge and Apex. With a 20 meter stretch and 1 deck taller, the ship will feature targeted increases in space for a feeling of more openness.

In addition to the F1 simulator and XD cinema, the ship debuts the first of its kind ultimate rafting simulator. The new and improved aquapark, The Pirates Cove Aquapark, features exciting activities for the whole family including a virtual reality experience on the main waterslide. With an expansive Waterfront Boardwalk, the impressive glass-floored Bridge of Sighs, and six pools including the new aft infinity pool, this ship is ideal for warm weather cruises. With 65 percent of the public spaces completely reimagined, MSC Seashore boasts some of the most outdoor space at sea.

Princess Cruises

Take some time to relax in the Sanctuary, which is an ultra-relaxing retreat onboard for adults-only. Discovery Princess will also showcase more pool spaces with more hot tubs, an infinity pool and 2 deep-tank pools. Interestingly enough, Prima will be smaller than Norwegian's more previously built ships.

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Discovery Princess will also introduce a new live jazz bar called Take Five, a craft cocktail venue and a comedy club. With slides, climbing walls, games, an interactive mural activated by touch, and puzzles, this open-air playground comes to life. The ship will sail the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, before heading to Asia and Australia.

The Magic Carpet will have a full bar and live music, all while offering breathtaking views of the open ocean. The Disney Wish will be the first cruise ship in Disney's fleet to offer a multilevel Concierge Tower Suite located inside of the famous Disney stacks. This indoor/outdoor venue will offer alternative dining in an al fresco setting with American classics and Mamsen’s Norwegian specialties. This 5-deck ship, purpose-built for the Mississippi River, will be the largest and most modern vessel in the region. It will feature Viking’s signature Scandinavian design, expansive windows, and other comfortable amenities. Billboard Onboard is Holland America Line’s piano bar with two musicians performing all the chart-topping hits from the decades.

Viking’s ocean ships also allowed the line to rank top for Best Cruise Line in the Mediterranean. Disney Cruise Line has remained number 1 for Best Cruise Line for Families since U.S. News began ranking cruise lines, and for the eighth consecutive year, is also Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean. Viking also has several other new ships debuting in addition to Viking Octantis. Drinking spots will include an English-style pub serving beer made on board as well as a new gin bar concept, a first for MSC Cruises.

Though mass Covid-19 outbreaks early in the pandemic exposed health concerns surrounding cruising, a new survey indicates travelers may not abandon ship travel after all. In addition, Silver Dawn will include the line’s culinary immersion program S.A.L.T., which debuted in 2021 to rave reviews. If you’re a foodie, this deep dive into local food and drink, offered both onboard and ashore, is a can’t-miss. MSC World Europa will have several onboard “districts” divided into separate areas.

And according to the Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards, that's the Norwegian Prima. Seabourn Venture debuted in August 2022 with cruises in the British Isles, Norway and the Arctic before transiting to South America and Antarctic for winter 2022. On all itineraries expect adventure along the way, with stops at small ports and remote areas. Mardi Gras brought new concepts and innovations to the fleet, including the BOLT roller coaster, a first-ever at sea.

Beyond the environmental commitment, what we love about the ship is its groundbreaking layout to match every passenger’s preference. From a tranquil zen zone for adults to a lively partially open promenade with entertainment options for everyone – you will never run out of things to do while onboard. Not to mention ‘The Spiral’, which is an 11-deck state-of-the-art slide that makes roaming around the cruise so much easier. A place where the everyday gives way to the extraordinary, Celebrity Beyond is another cruise ship for you to consider.

Valiant Lady will make her debut in the UK this March before sailing the Med next summer from her homeport of Barcelona. In 2022, Scarlet Lady is sailing the Caribbean on a variety of 4 and 5-night itineraries, all including a stop at the private Beach Club at Bimini. Scarlet Lady also features some of the most unique cabin categories at sea.