8 Most Anticipated Luxury Cruise Ships Of 2024

26.01.2024 - 16:52 / forbes.com / queen Anne / Monte Carlo / Daniel Boulud / Silver Nova / Silver Ray

The forecast looks bright for luxury cruising as a new wave of ships prepares to take the seas in 2024. These new vessels accelerate the trend of next-level luxury liners with innovative design, higher staff-to-guest ratios and exceptionally curated itineraries covering dream destinations. Consider Forbes Travel Guide all aboard these eight new cruise ships.

Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity’s newest ship embarked on its seven-night maiden voyage to the Eastern Caribbean in December, so we’re including the Ascent in our 2024 list. The vessel boasts all of the signature elements of the Edge class ships — outward-facing design, staterooms with convertible indoor/outdoor spaces and the amenities of The Retreat suite class — and incorporates a beloved feature from the Solstice class ships: a whimsical rooftop garden. Among the ship’s 30 restaurants, don’t miss Le Voyage from Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star chef Daniel Boulud and the plant-based tasting menu at Eden.

Climb aboard the Ascent for voyages to Greece, Turkey and the Italian Riviera this summer.

Ilma , The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection made its splashy debut in 2022 with the sleek 624-foot Evrima, which holds up to 300 guests. The brand’s second addition to its growing fleet, the 790-foot Ilma (“water” in Maltese), will go a bit larger, accommodating only 448 guests in 224 impeccably designed suites — the highest space ratio per guest at sea. The vessel was designed to mirror a luxury yacht’s residential feel and provide the caliber of amenities (spa, infinity pool, humidor) and service that defines the brand.

For its inaugural season, the Ilma will set off to iconic yachting destinations such as the Greek Isles, the Amalfi Coast, the French Riviera and Monte Carlo. In 2025, Ilma will take to the North and Baltic seas for nine exclusive voyages around Northern Europe.

Queen Anne , Cunard

The Queen Anne’s 3,000 passengers will feel like royalty with staterooms designed by the Paris-based design firm Sybille de Margerie (which also did the interiors for Mandarin Oriental, Paris and Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa); afternoon teas and black-tie events hosted in the opulent Queens Room venue; and formal services such as white-gloved bellhops greeting you upon boarding.

Cunard’s first female captain, Inger Klein Thorhauge, will sail the Queen Anne in three regions during its inaugural season: the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Silver Ray , Silversea

The Silver Ray, the second of Silversea’s Nova class ships, will join its older sister, Silver Nova, on the high seas this summer. The 728-passenger ship shares the Nova’s signature horizontal design (363 staterooms line the vessel’s length) and