A new cruise ship will set sail from Florida this year. Let’s take a look.

ORLANDO — The next ship to claim the title of world’s largest cruise ship will head to Port Canaveral. Disney is bringing a new ship to Port Everglades for the first time. And new ships will debut from Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more.

These are some of the highlights of our upcoming Florida cruises in 2025.

The highlight event has to be the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, sister ship to current title holder Icon of the Seas. The landing of the newest and largest ship is the first in Central Florida, with all previous title holders having debuted from South Florida.

But these ports will also see a number of new ship operations as cruise lines respond to demand with new hardware. Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, and Port Miami are expected to see record numbers of nearly 20 million passengers in 2024, with each expected to increase further next year.

Here’s the latest information on Florida cruising in 2025.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas: From Icon of the Seas, a 250,000+ gross tonnage ship that will debut from Port Miami in 2024 and can carry 10,000 people, including crew and passengers. It is also expected to gradually become larger.

There is a water park with six slides, called Category 6, among nine districts built similar to the cruise line’s smaller Oasis class. A unique centerpiece of Star of the Seas is Back to the Future: The Musical, along with new productions of the ice rink and signature aquatheater.

The ship will also have its own upscale version of Icon’s Empire Supper Club with the introduction of the 1930s Chicago-themed Lincoln Park Supper Club. Over 40 food and drink options are included on board.

The ship’s maiden voyage will be on August 31st, with a seven-night itinerary alternating between the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Destiny: The third Wish-class ship follows the debut of Disney Wish in 2022 and Disney Treasure in 2024, both departing from Port Canaveral. But fate marks a change for Disney Cruise Line, as it will debut from Port Everglades, Disney’s second year-round home in Florida, in 2023.

The ship has the same square footage as its sister ship, but features a distinctive stage show based on the animated film “Hercules,” a dinner theater experience tied to “The Lion King,” and an “Incredibles”-themed sweets shop. Equipped with: There’s also a new piano bar themed after “101 Dalmatians” character Cruella de Vil, and a pub inspired by theme park rides and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series. It is also planned to be included.

The ship’s maiden voyage will be Nov. 20, beginning with four- and five-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Aqua from Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruises will debut as the first of what the company calls Prima Plus Class. This is a larger version of the recent Prima and Viva ships, featuring a large walkway around the lower deck and the popular food hall concept.

The ship features the first hybrid coaster at sea called the Aqua Slide Coaster. A dual slide that combines a roller coaster and waterslide, it features a magnetic lift and allows riders to adventure through two different courses across three decks. ship funnel.

Also new will be a digital sports complex, the route’s first dedicated Thai venue, a new wine bar concept and the route’s first three-bedroom duplex suite for an exclusive area called The Haven.

The ship will sail a seven-night Caribbean itinerary from Port Canaveral in April, then sail to New York in August before returning to Florida before sailing from Miami from October to April 2026.

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Excel: Details about what will be aboard the premium cruise line’s fifth Edge-class ship won’t be revealed until February, but the ship will be in line with recent sisters including the Magic Carpet It has the same design as a ship. This elevator platform primarily serves as an innovative way for passengers to disembark and reboard when the ship tenders at a port of call, but it also serves as an entertainment and dining venue.

The cabin will once again feature the popular Infinite Veranda stateroom, where the balcony is part of the cabin.

One of the unique aspects of this new vessel is its ability to use methanol as a fuel source. This is the first of its kind for a ship in the Royal Caribbean Group of Cruise Lines, which is working to reduce its carbon footprint.

The ship will depart Port Everglades on November 18th, before embarking on a seven-night regular voyage in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Princess Cruises’ Star Princess: The second largest Sphere class ship in the company’s fleet, following the 2024 Sun Princess, which can carry 4,300 guests on a two-seater basis .

The new ship will include an expanded non-smoking casino area, increased seating capacity in the Irish Pub and a larger version of the new art-inspired dining facility, Love by Britto. The architectural debut on board the Sun Princess will feature new features on the ship, including a spherical atrium called The Piazza that juts out on each side of the ship, a transforming theater space called The Arena, and a glass-enclosed entertainment venue on the top deck called The Arena. It is also reflected in dome.

What the Sun Princess lacked was a planned hang gliding attraction. So the Star Princess space becomes a dedicated sports court and track with a splash pad.

After her maiden voyage in Europe in October, she will head to Port Everglades and begin a seven-night regular Caribbean voyage in November.

MSC Cruises’ MSC World America: Royal Caribbean’s closest competitor in the large ship category is MSC’s World Class, which has a gross tonnage of over 200,000 tons and sails 6,762 passengers in addition to 2,138 crew. I can. This scale allows the line to be divided into so-called districts, similar to the Royal Oasis and Icon class districts.

These include The Harbor, an outdoor park with a thrill ride that swings alongside a ship called Cliffhanger, a water park, a ropes course and more. The other major space will be the three-story World Galleria, which will feature shopping, restaurants and bars. The MSC Yacht Club, an onboard concept for the line’s high-paying customers, will feature 152 suites.

Following a naming ceremony in Port Miami on April 9th, the ship will begin regular sailings on April 12th with a seven-night Caribbean itinerary.

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady: The last of four ships originally planned for Richard Branson’s adults-only cruise brand, Brilliant Lady has a modified hull design from her sister ships to enable her to cross the Panama Canal. has been.

The ship follows the offerings of its sister ships, with more than 20 dining and lounge options, balcony hammocks, and exclusive wellness spaces.

The ship will debut from New York in September, move to Miami on its maiden voyage on October 17, and begin 17 voyages ranging from seven to 12 nights through March 2026. It is then scheduled to head west via the Panama Canal. Coast departs from Los Angeles and Seattle and heads to Alaska.

Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Allura: As a sister ship to Oceania Vista in 2023, the culinary-focused cruise line plans to offer crepes.

The creperie will be strategically located adjacent to the coffee bar, taking space from its sister ship’s library. This will be the ship’s 12th dining venue, apart from the popular Culinary Arts Kitchen, which teaches cooking classes on a variety of themes to travelers.

Alura will arrive in Miami on October 12th and will conduct various voyages in the Caribbean and Bahamas through April 2026.

new destination

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines have been preparing new Bahamas destinations for customers since Disney’s new Bahamas destination, Lookout Cay, debuted at Lighthouse Point in 2024. There is.

Key to Carnival Celebrations: Carnival does not have its own private destination in the Bahamas and must share ports of call on sister routes Holland America and Princess Cruises, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay. No. This summer, the company will open a 369-acre site on Grand Bahama Island, welcoming ships from Port Canaveral, Port Miami, Port Jacksonville, Port Tampa, and six other U.S. ports.

The port will have a single dock capable of accommodating the company’s largest ships, the 6,000-passenger Excel class, including the Port Canaveral-based Mardi Gras and the Miami-based Carnival Celebration.

The largest port construction project in the line’s history will be divided into five segments, which the company calls portals. The property also includes a mile of south-facing beachfront and a vast inland freshwater lagoon, said to be the largest in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island: The cruise line is opening the first of several smaller resort destinations in its portfolio on 17 acres of land in Nassau, and the first visitors are expected in December.

Passengers can choose to visit a beach club that day. The club will feature Bahamian culture alongside traditional offerings, including two separate beaches, 40 cabanas, food and beverage venues, and seven pools with three swim-up bars.