10 Features You'll Find on New Cruise Ships

cruise features main 21 cruise

You won’t believe the features you’ll find aboard the newest cruise ships that are taking to the seas. They’ve got everything from two-level go-kart tracks to pedal-powered rollercoasters and underwater lounges. Let’s take a peek at some of the most impressive features you can expect to discover on the hottest new cruise ships.

1. The Ultimate Family Suite – Symphony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean

family cinema cruise

Symphony of the Seas is the newest cruise ship from Royal Caribbean, and the state-of-the-art Ultimate Family Suite is guaranteed to keep the whole family entertained for the duration of your trip.

Designed with kids in mind, this spectacular suite is home to a cinema room (complete with a popcorn machine), as well as an air hockey table and a Lego wall. There’s even a tube slide to get you from the upper floor to the lower floor of your suite, because taking the stairs just isn’t fun enough.

2. Open-air laser tag – Norwegian Bliss by Norwegian Cruise Lines

laser tag cruise

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Norwegian Bliss has to be the perfect cruise ship for you. The onboard dining will be right up your street; it’s home to the likes of the Dolce Gelato ice-cream parlour, Coco’s chocolate, and the Bake Shop brimming with colourful French macarons. If they can’t satisfy your sugar cravings, it’s safe to say that nothing will.

If you want to work up an appetite first, you could always head for the world’s first open-air laser tag course at sea. This new feature is space-themed, and you’ll be challenged to locate a missing spaceship without being discovered by the enemy.

3. Ultimate Abyss – Symphony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean

tube slide cruise

Slides have become a favourite attraction, but this new cruise ship has taken it to a whole new level. The Ultimate Abyss is the tallest tube slide to be found on any cruise liner, plummeting 10 stories from deck 16 to deck 6.

Throw yourself down the slide and you’ll be plunged into darkness, while flashing lights and frightening noises make for an even more dramatic experience. The question is: are you brave enough to take it on?

4. Blue Eye Lounge – Ponant Explorers by Ponant

If you haven’t heard of it before, Ponant is a luxury yacht cruise line, and they’ve recently launched four new cruise ships. They’re all state-of-the-art, and they all feature a spectacular underwater bar. One look and you’ll see that no expense has been spared when it comes to the décor.

The Blue Eye Lounge lies around three metres beneath the surface of the water, and  comes complete with an amazing sound system; it’s designed so you can hear the sound of sea creatures within a 5km radius of the ship.

5. Two-storey go-kart track – Norwegian Bliss by Norwegian Cruise Lines

go cart track cruise

Thrill-seekers won’t be able to resist taking on this brilliant go-kart track, which is split over two levels. Put your foot down and you’ll reach up to 30mph when you press the turbo boost.

This go-kart track is actually 40% longer than the one on board Norwegian Joy (another liner from Norwegian cruise lines). Plus, the vehicles have been specially fitted with silenced engines, so you won’t have to worry about disturbing the other passengers while you’re busy having fun. They can’t silence the squeals from the kids, though, and this is definitely one for active families who love something different.

6. AIDAnova – AIDA Cruises

The recently launched AIDAnova (launched in November 2018) is the very first cruise ship to be powered entirely by liquefied natural gas (LNG). This is significant because it’s believed to be the world’s cleanest-burning fossil fuel, and this technological development represents a huge leap for the cruise industry.

This new cruise ship measures 337 metres long by 42 metres wide. It weighs around 180,000 tonnes and can accommodate up to 6,600 passengers.

7. The Magic Carpet – Celebrity Edge by Celebrity Cruises

deck restaurant cruise

The Magic Carpet is an extraordinary venue onboard the Celebrity Edge cruise. It’s a spectacular floating platform that’s been designed to glide between the decks of the ship, and its function depends on which deck it’s on.

For example, it could be an al fresco seating area for the seafood restaurant on deck five, or an extension of the pool zone up on deck 14. Wherever it is, the Magic Carpet comes complete with a full bar, comfy seats and an area for live music performances.

8. Bridge of Sighs – MSC Seaside by MSC Cruises

The MSC Seaside has two glass-floored catwalks that you can step out onto and enjoy amazing views out to sea and beyond. The best glass catwalk on board is the Bridge of Sighs, which you’ll find on deck 16.

This glass-bottomed walkway is located 40 metres in the air, extending out over the water. Take a walk along all 98 feet of the walkway and you might just feel as though you’re walking on water.

9. SkyRide – Carnival Horizon by Carnival Cruise Lines

One of the most exciting features on board Carnival Horizon is SkyRide, a pedal-powered roller coaster that flies above the top deck of this new cruise ship. It’s part of the Dr Seuss-themed water park, where you’ll find lots of other activities for kids and grown-ups alike.

You’ll zip around a two-lane course in a pedal-powered pod that’s suspended high above the deck. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also a great work out. It’s up to you whether you race around the course or take it slow and soak up the view of the sparkling seas.

10. Photography studio – Silver Cloud by Silversea Cruises

photography studio cruise

Forget about wonky photographs and terrible lighting; the Silver Cloud by Silversea Cruises will make sure you leave with picture-perfect shots, thanks to its new state-of-the-art photography studio.

The photography studio comes complete with a light room and an editing suite, which is jam-packed  with the latest gadgets. It’s got everything you need to turn your amateur photographs of your trip into works of art. You’ll also find a dedicated photo manager to help you learn more about the technical side of taking photos, so you can brush up on your skills along the way.

Want to know more about the newest cruise ships? Get in touch to find out more and ask about the latest adventures and the very best deals.