Best New Cruise Ships of 2013

Royal Princess

It seems as if Princess just keeps making its ships bigger and better. Royal Princess, the line's newest megaship, is 20 percent larger than the now second-biggest Princess vessel. Onboard, passengers will find the cruise line's biggest top-deck pool, an expanded atrium (50 percent larger than the usual on Princess ships) and the first at-sea TV studio, called Princess Live!, which will broadcast onboard shows and events. Another highlight: Those who aren't particularly height averse can bravely venture onto the SeaWalk, a glass-enclosed walkway that hangs 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship—and 128 feet above churning waves. It's the first attraction of its kind on a cruise ship.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess will start sailing to ports in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean beginning in June.

MSC Preziosa

The 3,502-passenger MSC Preziosa is the fourth ship in the Italian line's Fantasia class. It shares many similarities with MSC's other Fantasia ships. For example, the ship-within-a-ship MSC Yacht Club—a collection of luxury suites that come with personal butlers and exclusive access to the special Yacht Club foredecks—will welcome those willing to shell out extra for some serious indulgences. Preziosa also adds a few new and unusual features to the Fantasia class, like the longest waterslide in cruising, and the first at-sea Eataly restaurant (a popular gourmet-food market and restaurant chain).

MSC Preziosa embarks on its inaugural voyage in March. It will sail to ports in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Europa 2

Europa 2 is the newest build from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German line, but this bilingual vessel is designed to appeal to English speakers as well. Expect to live the good life onboard the 516-passenger ultraluxury vessel, which will offer ginormous cabins starting at 300 square feet—all of which have balconies. The ship also offers a diverse assortment of restaurants with flexible seating and a theater with a two-story LED wall. But we think those oh-so-spacious cabins (they're some of the largest standard cabins at sea, in fact) are possibly the best part of the new ship; they feature swanky, innovative amenities, from Nespresso coffee machines to tablet computers.

Look for Europa 2 on the high seas this May. The ship will visit ports in the Mediterranean and Asia.

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Breakaway loves New York. The first of Norwegian's new Breakaway class of ships, Breakaway carries 4,000 passengers and features a kaleidoscopic Big Apple skyline on its hull, for starters. The New York theme carries on with free Sabrett hot dogs (which are sold on the streets of the city) and Brooklyn Lager dished out onboard. Ice sculptures of New York sights will decorate the ice bar. New York-based celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian will oversee seafood restaurant Ocean Blue. Oh, and the Rockettes are the ship's godmothers.

Naturally, Norwegian Breakaway will homeport in New York City, sailing round-trip to Bermuda during summer and to destinations in the Bahamas, Florida, and the Caribbean in winter. The brand-new vessel sets sail in April.

Le Soleal

In July, the world of small-ship cruising will welcome Compagnie du Ponant's luxurious Le Soleal, a yacht that carries 264 passengers. As far as itineraries go, think exotic: The intimate vessel will visit the wilds of the Arctic (among other destinations), cruising to remote landscapes in Greenland and Canada where polar bears roam and the northern lights illuminate the sky. According to USA Today, "Le Soleal's small size will allow it to reach small ports and natural areas such as narrow fjords that bigger vessels can't visit, and it will carry a dozen Zodiac rafts that are used to take passengers on expedition-like outings."

In July, Le Soleal will sail from Venice to Barcelona on its inaugural cruise before heading north toward Arctic destinations.

AIDAstella

As the seventh and final entry of a wildly successful class of ships that cater to the German market, 2,194-passenger AIDAstella is shaking up the European cruise scene. The ship's hull features some pretty wild designs, including a giant pair of lips smack on the bow. Other intriguing highlights include a microbrewery that can make beer from salt water and the largest spa at sea (according to the cruise line). Befitting the ship's name, there will be astronomy events and performances onboard, developed in partnership with the Planetarium Hamburg.

AIDAstella will begin sailing to ports in Northern Europe in March.

River Cruising: A Surge of New Ships

One of the biggest trends in cruising: sailing past port cities, hidden villages, vineyards, and castles on a relaxing river voyage. There are more than 15 new ships hitting the waterways in a diverse variety of destinations this year, offering travelers the chance to explore more ports than ever. Viking River Cruises, for one, is introducing 10 new longships to the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers in 2013. Add to that a handful of new vessels from AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Vantage Deluxe World Travel, and you've got an array of new ways to explore the world by ship in 2013.

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