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Imagine staying in one luxury hotel while exploring a handful of destinations across Europe—without ever having to unpack or hop on an Easy Jet flight out of London Gatwick. That dream—which these cruise ships make a reality—is exactly why we included ships on T+L’s It List for the second year in a row. Here, the best new ships to launch in the last year, all vetted by T+L editors and reporters.
Cunard’s Queen Anne
Courtesy of Cunard
When it comes to cruise lines, there’s old school and then there’s Cunard. With a heritage dating back 180 years, the British brand is one of the most fabled in maritime history, known as the operator of the famed Carpathia and the modern-day Queen Mary 2. Joining the fleet in May 2024 was Queen Anne, Cunard’s first new ship in more than a decade. With 1,498 cabins and an endless variety of activities, it’s a quintessential vacation destination, offering an unabashed big-ship experience, with live shows, a choice of pools, a sizeable spa and wellness center, and fantastic dining at both the buffet (Artisans’ Foodhall) and in the several upscale restaurants on board. Yet what stood out to me on a round-trip sail from Southampton, England, to Norway was how delightfully, well, British the whole thing was: high tea every day, two black-tie gala nights, the Golden Lion pub serving shepherd’s pie and proper pints, trivia contests with clues about Theresa May and David Beckham. The ship also distinguishes itself by way of its four categories of travel; guests book into a class of service and are by extension granted entrance to the associated dining room—though one can always opt for an “alternative” restaurant, like the excellent Sir Samuel’s steakhouse. I was satisfied with, if not blown away by, my entry-level Britannia accommodations, which are a fabulous value, starting at less than $1,200 per person for a week-long trip, a lovely balcony and all meals included. But an upgrade to Britannia Club, Princess Grill, or Queens Grill is almost certainly worth it if you’ve got room in the budget; the dining in “the Grills,” as they’re called by Cunard regulars, is said to be some of the best at sea. Despite the traditional hierarchy, everyone mingled around the pool and at the many excellent bars on board. My fellow guests were relaxed, friendly, and simply excited to be having a lovely holiday at sea. I imagine it’s been that way for nearly 200 years. Accessible ship. Doubles from $1,199 per person for a seven-night sailing. —Paul Brady
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure
Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
Disney Treasure, the latest addition to the fleet from the T+L reader-favorite cruise line, sailed its inaugural voyage in December 2024, inviting guests to experience beloved tales like “Aladdin,” “Moana,” and “Coco” in all-new ways, from theatrical dinners to Broadway-caliber stage shows. The ship’s 1,256 staterooms (with a maximum capacity of 4,000 guests) range from cozy inside cabins and family-focused verandah rooms to the two-story Tomorrow Tower Suite, an Epcot-themed room inside the ship’s forward funnel. Disney nods to its own theme parks and attractions throughout the new ship; bars inspired by beloved rides like Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise are among the most sought-after spots on board (and were my personal favorites after spending three nights on the ship). Onboard dining experiences include the new Plaza de Coco restaurant—the setting for a Dia de los Muertos celebration with mariachis and a couple of guests from the Land of the Dead—and the adults-only Enchanté, created by chef Arnaud Lallement of Michelin three-starred L’Assiette Champenoise in France. Engaging kids’ clubs and spaces just for adults mean everyone can find their version of a magical vacation between memory-making moments, like the breathtaking new “Disney the Tale of Moana” show or Disney Cruise Line’s hallmark Pirate Night celebrations. The Treasure’s inaugural season will offer seven-day Eastern or Western Caribbean itineraries departing from Florida’s Port Canaveral. Accessible ship. Doubles from $1,098 for a three-night sailing. —Elizabeth Rhodes
Explora Journey’s Explora II
Ivan Sarfatti/Courtesy of Explora Journey
“We actually have the largest lead-in suite in the entire category,” says Chris Austin, president of Explora Journeys in North America, explaining the ample 461 suites aboard the Explora II. I was on board to take a seven-day sail from Miami: two days at sea, then island-hopping through Anguilla, Dominica, Guadeloupe, and St. Martin, before disembarking, with my husband and kids, in Puerto Rico. The ship, launched in September 2024, sails the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Arabian Peninsula, and is a study in luxury, with 11 restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, four pools—one, the Helios Pool, reserved solely for adults—a pickleball court, running track, entertainment venues, a casino, a spa, a kids’ club, and even shopping. The Explora II, the second in the fleet (and not the last, as four more ships will follow suit, through 2028) has set a high bar for luxury, from the decor–herringbone floors, backlit quartz in the lobby bar, brushed suede banquettes in the dining rooms–to the food. At the casual Emporium Marketplace, where meals are served all day and night, my children giddily ate through a roster of fresh pastas and pizzas as I sampled offerings from the raw bar. Fil Rouge, a formal French-inspired concept, offers time-capsule classics, like lobster thermidor and veal Wellington. But my favorite dish aboard the ship arrived on my final night, at the European steakhouse, Marble & Co. Grill: an appetizer of fingerling potatoes, served in a ring mold and floating in a sea of Normandy butter, came topped with a decadent quenelle of Calvisius caviar. Off ship, we waded through waterfalls in Dominica, explored botanic gardens in Guadeloupe, and snorkeled with barracuda in St. Martin. Still, the greatest pleasure, we learned, lay in the journey, and not in the destination. Accessible ship. Doubles from $2,295 per person for a five-night sailing. —Hannah Selinger
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma
Don Riddle/Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
This floating hotel has a beach club, a large outdoor lounge area with a staircase leading directly to the water, and a huge inflatable platform, complete with cabanas and sun loungers around a netted ocean pool. Two sides of the hull even fold down to create bar seating hovering just above the waterline. As it courts the non-cruise crowd, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma feels like a hotel, all the way down to the choice of furniture, wines, and 700-piece art collection, among which are an original Picasso, Warhol, and Hockney. You’ll never set eyes on a buffet, either: helmed by two acclaimed chefs, Michael Mina and Fabio Trabocchi, the dining is some of the finest at sea. Ilma is bigger than its sibling Evrima and can carry 448 passengers in 224 stylish suites, all with balconies. With the highest ratio of space per guest at sea, you never feel crowded or as if you’ve joined someone else’s vacation. Accessible ship. Doubles from $7,100 per person for a seven-night sailing. —Chrissie McClatchie
Silversea’s Silver Ray
Courtesy of Silversea
The 728-passenger Silver Ray manages to achieve extreme pampering in the unstuffy way that contemporary cruisers crave. Guests on the ship, a twin of 2023’s Silver Nova, are traveling first class, and that comes with both a sense of privilege and room to spread out. At the sultry rooftop pool and in the glass-encased indoors, too, you’ll find yourself mesmerized by uninterrupted views of sea and shore. That local food and libations are available on board—thanks to Silversea Cruises’ S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) program, which includes a restaurant, bar, and cooking school—is another reminder that you are not in a stagnant hotel, but on a voyage. Guests indulge in Michelin-star dining, endless complimentary Champagne pours, and fancy massages—and sink into the kind of cushy furnishings that make you remember the warmth of your childhood teddy bear. Everyone stays in an oversized suite with a marble-clad bathroom and balcony. Six suites in two categories are wheelchair accessible, as are public areas. Butlers attend to everyone’s needs, and on a cruise in Portugal and Spain, mine asked what would make me happy—and then treated me to a caviar snack daily at 5 p.m. It was my warmup for (onboard) nights on the town, and here the ship even manages to achieve a retro-cool factor, including not only lavish meals in the restaurants but live jazz and light bites in a supper club. Guests hit the tables at the lively casino, watch performing singers and dancers, and gush over vintage Hermès bags in the boutiques. My favorite evening was spent dancing the night away to a band playing 1980s tunes, with views of the Moorish architecture of Cadiz, Spain, as a backdrop. Silver Ray summers in the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean. Accessible ship. Doubles from $4,650 per person for a seven-night sailing. —Fran Golden
