DEPARTURES TRAVEL THE NEXT WAVE 14 The Newcomers Artsy and edgy with whip-smart tech, ten standout ships will take to the water in 2020, flaunting everything from green credentials to polar ports of call. THE MAJORITY OF THE latest launches have sensibly tied their ropes to the trends that have come to define the industry, whether it’s the youthful clientele, environmental sustainability or adventure-focused destinations. Take Scarlet Lady, the much-hyped inaugural ship from Virgin Voyages (virginvoyages.com). Designed specifically for the 18-35 crowd – a coveted cohort – it is set to sail against the tide of established norms when cruises commence to the Caribbean from Miami in April. There will be no dress code or kids; Broadway-style shows and cheesy cabarets have been banished, and so have buffets and set dining times, while speciality restaurants include Razzle Dazzle, where a brunch show features the ship’s resident drag artistes. For those up for a lasting The Scenic Eclipse patrols the Drygalski Fjord in South Georgia souvenir, Squid Ink has two tattooists offering special designs created exclusively for the cruise line. Another hotly anticipated haven of the seas that has been conceived with millennials and fashionistas in mind will be christened in Southampton in April. Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex will embrace her affinity with the ocean, especially with its Magic Carpet – a lounge-like platform, which, cantilevered from the side of the ship, is raised and lowered 13 decks from water’s edge to the rooftop garden throughout the day, comprising the perfect vantage point on cruises in Europe and the Caribbean (celebritycruises.com). Raising the bar for an extraordinary ship, then catapulting over it, is exactly what the designers did with Seven Seas Splendor, which launched in February. Building on the success of the muchlauded Explorer, this latest paragon ROGER PIMENTA
