The-bigger-the-better trend is in vogue this year, with six of 11 cruise ships debuting in 2024 expected to carry more passengers, or be bigger, than their predecessors.
While this year's crop includes quite a few second-in-a-class ships, there are also some highly anticipated firsts.
Travel advisors have been buzzing about two ships due out this quarter, Royal Caribbean International's giant Icon of the Seas and the Sun Princess from Princess Cruises.
Julie Hollender, a Cruise Planners franchise owner in Marietta, Ga., said she's excited about what the Sun does for the Princess brand.
"I truly believe that they have taken it to the next level of sophistication and technology with the glass-enclosed dome and a theater in the round," she said. "It feels as though they are marketing to a younger audience, as well, with this new state-of-the-art ship."
Marisel Aleman, co-owner of Cruise Elite in Ormond Beach, Fla., said the Icon would be its own destination.
"Icon itself is, to me, a theme park at sea, because you don't even care where the ship goes," she said.
The Class of 2024 also includes Cunard's first Queen in a decade and Disney's take on adventure cruising. Here's a look at this year's new ships, in order of delivery.
Icon of the Seas
Probably the most anticipated ship of 2024, the Icon is the first of Royal Caribbean's Icon class. At 250,800 gross tons, the vessel will claim the title of world's largest cruise ship. The Icon, which debuts Jan. 27 in Miami, will accommodate 5,610 guests at double occupancy (with a max guest capacity of 7,500).
The Icon will have 28 stateroom categories and introduce new concepts, including the brightly colored Surfside neighborhood for young families and the Crown's Edge aerial obstacle course in the Thrill Island neighborhood. It will sail seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami.
The Sun Princess will debut Feb. 8 in Barcelona. Photo Credit: Princess Cruises
Sun Princess
At 175,500 gross tons, the Sun Princess will be the largest ship in Princess' fleet and the first of the Sphere class, the line's first new class since 2013.
The Sun Princess will carry 4,300 guests and feature the new Sphere Atrium (a geodesic dome), a three-deck activity zone and eight new restaurants, including one serving an aphrodisiac menu.
The Sun Princess will debut Feb. 8 in Barcelona and sail from Florida's Port Everglades in winter 2024.
Queen Anne
Cunard will debut its first ship in more than a decade, the 2,996-passenger, 113,000-gross-ton Queen Anne, on May 1.
Larger than both the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, it will have a retractable dome over the pool deck and more open spaces and outdoor options. The vessel will sail its maiden voyage from Southampton, England.
Silver Ray
The second ship in Silversea's Nova class, the 728-passenger Silver Ray will enter service this June in the Mediterranean.
The ship, identical to its sister, the Silver Nova, will come in at 54,700 gross tons and feature an asymmetrical design and 40% more glass than the line's Muse-class ships, offering better viewing options.
Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's sixth Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas is smaller than the Icon but will carry more guests: 5,668 at double occupancy. Slightly larger than its latest sister, Wonder of the Seas, it will carry fewer passengers.
Utopia will also have different spaces than other Oasis ships, including what Royal says will be the longest dry slide at sea and a new specialty dining venue that mimics dining on a train. Utopia launches on July 22 from Port Canaveral, sailing short cruises of three and four nights.
Explora II
MSC Group's luxury line, Explora Journeys, will debut its second ship. Aside from some retail changes, the Explora II will be a the same as last year's Explora I.
The ship will have 461 balcony suites, nine culinary experiences and four pools (three outdoor and one indoor). The ship debuts Aug. 11 from Barcelona and will sail in the Western Mediterranean.
American Liberty and American Legend
American Cruise Line will debut its second pair of 100-passenger catamarans.
The Liberty launches in August, sailing cruises in New England and chasing fall foliage down to Georgia's coast by year's end. The Legend will sail the Florida Gulf Coast and the Keys in November.
Ilma
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is launching its second ship, the 448-passenger Ilma, which will be nearly double the size of its sister, the 298-guest Evrima.
The Ilma will have two new upper-suite categories, each with accommodations of at least 1,000 square feet. The ship is set to debut in September in Northern Europe.
The Haunted Mansion Parlor will be a themed bar on Disney Treasure. Photo Credit: Disney
Disney Treasure
Where its sister, the Disney Wish, focused on enchantment, the Disney Treasure will lean into adventure. The ship will showcase stories from "The Lion King," "Aladdin," "Coco," "Zootopia" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
New concepts include the Haunted Mansion Parlor bar and a production featuring Moana. The second ship in the Triton class will sail seven-day Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral in December.
Viking Vela
The Vela will become the 11th ship in the line's oceangoing fleet when it debuts in December. The 998-passenger Vela will accommodate about 60 more guests than its sister ships and will sail its inaugural season in Europe.