Next year is shaping up to be a joyful comeback in cruising, with cruise lines aiming for a full return to service, and lots of new ships hitting the high seas. As your experts in travel, we’re here to fill you in on things to look forward to in 2022, from enhanced technology onboard and ashore, to new perks, ports and more.
1. Enhanced Safety Protocols, Here to Stay
If you’re like us and couldn’t wait to get back on board, then you’ve experienced some of the new and enhanced safety protocols from the cruise lines. This includes ships meeting sanitization standards prior to every cruise, required vaccinations and negative test results, and “bubble” shore excursions that follow the same safety protocols onboard. These safety and health-focused measures will be a continuous trend for 2022 and beyond. And with most cruise lines requiring 100% vaccination from those eligible, it can be argued that it’s safer to be on a cruise than at a store or restaurant.
2. Technology to Keep You Safe
In addition to sanitization protocols, ships have undergone transformations to their HVAC systems. With 100% fresh, filtered air and new HEPA or MERV medical-grade air filters installed, you can breathe easy knowing the ship’s air is clean—much cleaner than the air in restaurants, stores and possibly your home.
Touchless technology is also on the rise for 2022. Some early adoptions of this are Princess Cruises’ Ocean Medallion, used for identification, payment and access to your stateroom, and Celebrity Cruises’ app which also allows you to control your stateroom’s air, lighting, blinds and TV from anywhere onboard (on Edge Class ships). Virtual muster drills allow you to watch the drill from your mobile device or stateroom TV, helping you stay informed without leaving your stateroom. Coming down the pipeline is a technology that will automatically unlock your stateroom door as you approach with your mobile phone (like how a Smart Lock works for your home). It’s evident that tech-empowered travel will be even more essential in 2022.
3. Technology to Keep Our Planet Safe
Not only has cruising made strides in onboard safety, but new, sustainable changes are coming for the planet’s sake, too. Shore power is gaining traction with several ports announcing new installations or expansions to their dockside power. San Diego, for example, is doubling their shoreside power by September 2022—just before California’s new requirement for all cruise ships to use shore power by January 1, 2023. This change will help mitigate pollution while ships are docked.
Beyond the dock, more environmentally sustainable technology is on the horizon. Anchorless positioning systems, which use propulsion to stay in place and protect delicate reefs, are gaining popularity among the new breed of cruise ships. Celebrity Cruises was the first to do this on Celebrity Flora and MSC will deliver ships using this technology in 2022. Lines like Royal Caribbean, Silversea and Hurtigruten announced new hybrid-powered ships for 2023. These ships cut emissions and reduce fuel consumption by using alternative energy sources like hydrogen fuel cells and electricity. These are new changes we can all feel good about!
4. New Ships in the Mix
After much anticipation, a slew of new ships are finally set to launch in 2022. Cunard and Disney are launching their first new builds in over a decade. Princess will launch their sixth and final Royal Class ship—Discovery Princess—in Spring 2022. Norwegian Cruise Line is making waves with the first of six new ships in the Leonardo Class. Norwegian Prima will feature more outdoor deck space than any cruise ship. Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is also set to break records as the largest cruise ship in the world and it’ll include the eight distinct neighborhoods like its Oasis Class sisters. Celebrity takes us beyond our imagination with their newest Edge Class ship, Celebrity Beyond. Other newcomers for 2022 include Viking Octantis, Seabourn Venture, MSC World Europa and several more.
5. More Inclusive Perks Than Ever Before
Many cruise lines are doing away with the pay-as-you-go model and instead are including valuable perks in the cruise fare. For example, Celebrity’s new Always Included cruise fares come with drinks, tips and Wi-Fi. You still have the choice to go with a cruise-only fare, but bundling your extras is more economical than purchasing them individually. Plus, you’ll never worry about being nickel-and-dimed while trying to relax on your cruise.
6. New Ports to Discover
If the return to cruising isn’t exciting enough, now there are new ports to explore in 2022. Azamara released their 2022 cruise collection with a whopping 10 maiden ports of call including Arica, Chile; Brest, France; Manta, Ecuador; Milos & Pylos, Greece and more. Celebrity Cruises reimagined their 9- and 10-night Bermuda itineraries for 2022 with an overnight stay in historic Charleston, South Carolina and, in 2023, the popular summer colony of Martha’s Vineyard. Royal Caribbean is featuring itineraries with less usual ports in Trinidad, Grenada, Salerno (Amalfi Coast), Tarragona, Chegu (South Korea) and more.
7. Never-Before-Seen Itineraries
For those who are really looking to shake up their next cruise experience, we recommend one of the several newly expanded and first-of-its-kind itineraries now available. Azamara is fully committed to Destination Immersion with more country-intensive voyages than ever before, including expanded Black Sea and Turkey itineraries. Celebrity Cruises recently unveiled Grand Journeys aboard Celebrity Edge from Rome to Sydney and Royal Caribbean announced its first-ever 274-night world cruise hitting all 7 continents, over 60 countries and 150+ destinations. Although the Celebrity and Royal cruises won’t sail until 2023, we recommend getting in early. Oceania Cruises’ 180-day circumnavigation sold out in a single day. One thing is certain, cruisers aren’t wasting any time.
8. Culinary Experiences That Go Beyond the Plate
Craving something new? You’re in luck. New ships on the horizon mean new restaurants where you can indulge. OceaniaNEXT will showcase exciting enhancements to Oceania’s current dining experiences like adding fresh, made-to-order Poke Bowls to Waves Grill and over 21 new menu options at Toscana. For an immersive gastronomic experience, Silversea’s new S.A.L.T. program goes beyond the plate with authentic ingredients prepared with respect to tradition, cooking demos with local guest chefs, market trips, and even special dinners. There’s so much more to explore—read New Food Experiences for 2022.
9. Wellness Programs and Eco-friendly Excursions
As travelers look forward to getting back out there in 2022, one thing is certain: we all value our health and personal space more than ever. Some of the best vacations for a socially distanced trip are those that offer natural, outdoor attractions. With that in mind, you can expect to see more socially distanced explorations and small group tours being offered, as well as a refocus on onboard wellness programs and eco-friendly excursions.
10. Personalization and Guidance, More Crucial Than Ever
In this new world of ever-changing travel requirements, expert guidance from a travel professional is more important than ever. While some web browsing and review sites may have sufficed for trip planning in the past, things are more complicated now and planning your vacation can be much more complex and overwhelming. Our trained and qualified Personal Vacation Managers® are best equipped to be your source of wisdom and support along the way. And our pre-arranged Value Inclusive Packages and Enrichment Journeys take the guesswork out of your itinerary. Give us a call today to explore your options!
