What to expect on cruise ships in 2023 and beyond

Expect to see plenty of new things happening in the cruise ship industry with one of the biggest changes the size of groups on shore tours.

The pandemic has been difficult for the cruise industry, but it has given companies time to refine concepts and innovations, and reinforce changes already under way.

The result? Holidays at sea are about to get even better to meet travellers’ evolving tastes. Ships are set to debut incredible designs, offer menus featuring more local produce, reduce the size of groups on shore tours, and spend extra time in port, Escape reports.

Celebrity Cruises cruise ship Solstice approaches Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour earlier this year. Picture: iStock

Much talk at the recent Cruise360 Australasia conference in Sydney centred on the guest experience. What is it that we want and how can cruise lines give us the best holiday possible?

According to industry leaders, we want more time to explore in port to truly linger and immerse ourselves in the culture of a destination. Those in charge of cruise itineraries are making changes that include longer stays in port and more overnights, encouraging that connection with locals.

Rockstar Suite on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady.

Virgin Voyages’ ships, for instance, arrive in port early and leave late or stay overnight, says the cruise line’s Sharon Hando. “Barcelona, for example, is a port that comes alive at night-time and it’s really important to have that evening experience as well,” she says. It’s an industry-wide trend that allows cruisers to return to their floating suite at their leisure, without feeling rushed.Meanwhile, shore excursions are trending towards smaller groups, allowing for more immersive experiences rather than watching the world go by on a giant coach. Michael Mihajlov from Carnival Cruises says more cruisers are booking shore excursions through the cruise lines, which means they can work with communities specifically on dispersing groups and managing the footprint. He sees a trend in smaller group excursions with more variety.

Dining on Princess Cruises.

“We’re really trying hard to offer that kind of experience across all the brands, whether it’s the six-star brand (like Seabourn), or the contemporary brand (like Princess). We’re trying to offer a variety of experiences from your standard,” Michael says.

It’s not just experiences on shore. According to cruise lines, guests are keen to dine on local cuisine back on board. Michael says Carnival plans to spend $100 million in Australia on fresh produce: “You want to know that what you’re eating is actually sourced locally, supporting a local community, and obviously, fresh.”

The Iconic Suite on Celebrity Edge.

We’re also seeing a design evolution. We’ve become accustomed to superb interior design in boutique hotels and on our TV screens on home renovation and real estate reality shows, and cruise ships are bringing that modern luxury experience on board. Australians will really get to experience that in home waters come December 2023 when Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge and Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady arrive within days of each other.

On Resilient Lady, we can see the interior design of Tom Dixon, including the VIP rooftop, an outdoor private club with sunken conversation pits and elevated pools. We’ll get a peek at the New York condo-like penthouse suites by London-based designer Kelly Hoppen on Celebrity Edge, and the industry-wide trend in bringing the outside in with more natural light and sea views.

According to Tim Jones from Celebrity Cruises, the change can be felt immediately upon stepping on board.

“So much has changed to bring the outside in and to make the ship feel incredibly open to the rest of the world and the destinations around you,” Tim says.

This story originally appeared on Escape and is republished here with permission