Princess Cruises Enchanted Princess, Princess Cruises

Launching next: Sister ship Valiant Lady debuted in Europe in March and Resilient Lady debuts in Europe in August 2022. What you’ll pay: From $1,200 for two passengers for a four-night sailing from Miami to the Bahamas in June 2022. “The audience is quite literally on the edge of their seats as our incredible cast members contort their bodies, slide down towering poles, and leap across the air on a seesaw.” Insider tip: Don’t miss the circus show Duel Reality, says Nirmal Saviermuttu, Virgin’s chief operations officer. Entertainment goes way beyond typical show productions, such as a loud video- and dance-driven dance party that keeps everyone on their feet. The most extravagant option: The Test Kitchen, with a five-course tasting menu featuring various palate pleasers (eggs and caviar served in a smoking orb, for example) that come with a detailed description of ingredients and how chefs created the dishes. The ship shines most on the dining front, with top-flight restaurants (no extra fees involved) replacing the standard dining rooms on other ships. Cleverly designed standard cabins come with beds that turn into sofas by day, and those with balconies feature a swinging hammock chair. Hip, flashy and certainly innovative - think tattoo parlor and late-night pool parties - best describes the first ship in the new Virgin Voyages fleet, the 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady. With only those 18 and older allowed onboard, adults-only gets interpreted in interesting ways, such as naughty signage. Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages Onboard, dine at a globally focused restaurant created by world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud. Launching next: Sister ship Celebrity Beyond debuts this month. What you’ll pay: From $1,648 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise in June 2022 from Amsterdam. Along with big-screen TVs, it has more than 40 beers and ciders on the menu and upscale comfort foods, such as Kobe beef sliders and truffle fries. Insider tip: No matter where in the world you’re cruising, you won’t miss the big game at the Craft Social Bar.

Even with kids welcome, a sense of romance prevails. An open-air platform called the Magic Carpet rides a track up and down one side of the ship, serving on alternate levels as cocktail and dining venues, and a no-stress way to board tenders to head ashore - you simply walk off the platform’s dock onto the small boats. In lieu of step-out balconies, “Infinite Veranda” staterooms become open-air spaces with the simple push of a button (that opens the upper half of a windowed wall). Debuted last summer in Europe, the Celebrity Apex, like its sister ship Celebrity Edge, targets couples seeking a stunning and cushy contemporary environment heavy on tech advances. At a new show, Rockumentary, you not only rock out to hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, but use the Celebrity app on your smartphone to choose the show’s ending. On the 2,910-passenger Celebrity Apex, a cartoon chef and his family dance in 3D across your plate as you dine on filet mignon during a Le Petit Chef experience.

Nice for Grownups Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Cruises

Ships 2022