11 New Small Oceangoing Cruise Ships for 2022 You Should Know About

11 New Small Cruise Ships

by Anne Kalosh

Nine expedition ships and two super-yachts will be sailing into the Quirky cruise fleet in 2022.

The new small cruise ships for 2022 range from comfortable to ultra-luxurious expedition ships to the long-awaited debut vessel for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Emerald Cruises’ first oceangoing ship.

This list doesn’t count the new vessels destined for the rivers of the United States, Europe and beyond. Those are another story.

“Quirky size” is typically 300 passengers max but we’re sneaking in one 378-passenger expedition vessel, Viking Polaris.

These 11 ships cover a wide array of styles and price points, and while the expedition vessels are built for the polar regions, those aren’t the only places they’ll go. Expeditions today explore everywhere from the Great Lakes of North America to Australia’s Kimberley.

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Here’s a preview of the new small cruise ships for 2022:

The Super-Yacht Emerald Azzurra

This 100-passenger super-yacht has 88 percent balcony cabins including suites with some incredible terraces, a marina platform for water sports and an infinity pool.

The roomy terrace of an Emerald Azzurra yacht suite. * Rendering: Emerald Cruises

Emerald Azzurra’s infinity pool. * Rendering: Emerald Cruises

Emerald Cruises, part of Australia’s Scenic Group, is known for its fleet of young river vessels. Scenic also fields the ultra-luxurious expedition yacht Scenic Eclipse, which debuted in 2019. Emerald Azzurra will provide a boutique experience that’s not quite as posh and expensive as Scenic Eclipse. And, unlike Eclipse, it’s not built for polar regions.

Drinks up top at Emerald Azzurra’s Sky Deck Bar. * Rendering: Emerald Cruises

Emerald Azzurra is scheduled to debut in the Red Sea in late January, with Greece and Turkey in the charts starting in May.

New Small Cruise Ships include Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima

With aft decks cascading down to a marina, everything about this 298-passenger vessel is sleek and stylish, from the multiple, gourmet-caliber restaurants to the all-suite accommodations and indulgent spa.

One of Evrirma’s grand suites. * Rendering: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima promises the same level of quality and anticipatory service that distinguishes Ritz-Carlton shoreside so expectations are high.

It’s challenging to launch a new cruise brand, though, and Evrima has been repeatedly delayed. Its inaugural cruise is now set to depart Lisbon May 6 and hopefully that date will stick.

The vessel will frequent yacht harbors, dividing its time between the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter.

Evrima’s chic marina. * Rendering: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Janssonius from Oceanwide Expeditions

One of the most experienced polar operators, Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions will be introducing a twin of 2019’s Hondius.

Cozy and informal, the 170-passenger Janssonius offers a mix of cabin categories including some with three or four berths, suitable for families. There’s an observation lounge with a separate library and a lecture room and one dining room.

The vessel is built to Polar Class 6 standard. A protected indoor Zodiac boarding area is also the launching point for sea-based activities like kayaking. Snowshoeing, mountaineering and Antarctic camping are among the options for the active international travelers drawn to Oceanwide.

Janssonius is scheduled to begin sailing in August in Greenland before heading south for the 2022/23 Antarctica season.

Oceanwide Expeditions’ plucky polar ship Janssonius. * Photo: Oceanwide Expeditions

Sylvia Earle & Ocean Odyssey

These are the fourth and fifth Infinity-class expedition vessels designed in Europe and built in China for Miami-based SunStone Ships, which customizes and charters them to different lines on a long-term basis.

Sylvia Earle will sail year-round for Australia’s Aurora Expeditions, which also fields the first Infinity-class ship, 2019’s Greg Mortimer. And Ocean Odyssey will go to Boston-based Vantage Deluxe World Travel, which has the second Infinity-class ship, 2021’s Ocean Explorer.

Ocean Odyssey will operate on year-round charter to Boston’s Vantage Travel. * Rendering: SunStone Ships

Built to Polar Class 6 standard, these vessels sport Ulstein Design’s distinctive inverted X-BOW for better seakeeping and fuel efficiency. Each ship has multiple lounges, a library, fitness center, spa and swimming pool.

Sylvia Earle will sail for Aurora Expeditions. * Rendering: Aurora Expeditions

Sylvia Earle is expected to debut in April for an inaugural season in the Americas, including Baja California, the Sea of Cortez and Alaska. Then the 132-passenger ship will explore the Russian Far East and Pacific islands before joining Greg Mortimer in Antarctica for the 2022/23 season.

Customized to a luxury standard for Vantage, Ocean Odyssey can accommodate up to 162 passengers including 15 rooms for solo travelers. Besides the main restaurant, there’s a private dining area and a top-deck alternative restaurant.

Ocean Odyssey is pictured during its construction in China. * Photo: SunStone Ships

Ocean Odyssey’s inaugural sailing, a Singapore to Mumbai adventure, is set to begin in late March. It’s bookended by optional add-ons to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and India’s Delhi and Agra/The Taj Mahal.

Seabourn Venture is one of New Small Cruise Ships for 2022

Seabourn’s first expedition ship sports interiors by hospitality design icon Adam Tihany. They’re decked out in tactile materials like wood, stone and textured fabrics. The fabulous suites, led by the two-story Grand Wintergarden pair with double-height views, also feature Tihany’s bespoke furniture.

A Seabourn Venture panorama suite. * Rendering: Seabourn

Seabourn Venture’s Constellation Lounge. * Rendering: Seabourn

Seabourn Venture continues the brand’s ultra-luxurious offerings with an expedition twist.

Among the multiple lounges are a Bow Lounge close to the water for wildlife viewing, the high-up 270-degree Constellation Lounge, an Observation Bar, a Discovery Center for cultural programming, an Expedition Lounge and The Club for afternoon tea and dancing at night.

The gourmet dining choices include The Grill by Thomas Keller and a sushi restaurant.

Seabourn Venture is Seabourn’s first purpose-built expedition vessel. * Rendering: Seabourn

Passengers can explore in a pair of six-person submarines.

The 264-passenger ship, delayed a couple times, is now set to debut April 10 on a maiden voyage from London (Greenwich). Seabourn Venture will sail two itineraries around the UK with voyages to northern Norway, Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland to follow.

 

 

SH Vega & Vega Class 3

The newly revived Swan Hellenic brand follows up its first expedition ship, 2021’s SH Minerva, with a sister, SH Vega, and a third (still unnamed ship) that measures 12,000 gross tons, larger than the first two 10,500-gross-ton vessels, and with capacity for 192 passengers, up from 152.

Like SH Minerva, SH Vega will be built to Polar Class 5 standard, while the third ship is a tad less robust at Polar Class 6.

Scandinavian-style interiors characterize these luxuriously outfitted vessels.

Swan Hellenic’s sleek stateroom finishing. * Photo: Swan Hellenic

SH Vega is planned to debut in April with varied inaugural-season itineraries that range from the British Isles paired with northern France to North Atlantic island hopping, an Iceland circumnavigation, Svalbard and the Russian High Arctic.

The third ship’s itineraries are to be announced.

SH Vega will be the twin of 2021’s SH Minerva, pictured here. * Photo: Swan Hellenic

Viking Polaris

After building a massive flotilla of river vessels and branching into ocean cruising with a fleet of 930-passenger ships, Viking is branching into expedition cruising. Having just introduced Viking Octantis in Antarctica this season, the company will bring out sister vessel Viking Polaris in August in the Arctic.

Large by expedition standards, the 378-passenger, 30,000-gross-ton vessel has U-tank stabilizers to decrease rolling by up to 50 percent when stationary. It is built to Polar Class 6 standard.

Features include The Hangar, an enclosed marina with a slipway for launching excursion craft. This allows passengers to embark and disembark from a flat, stable surface inside the ship.

There’s also a pair of six-person submarines.

The Aula is a panoramic auditorium for lectures and entertainment with floor-to-ceiling windows and 270-degree views.

Outside, at the stern, the Finse Terrace provides warming lava rock “firepits.” A Science Lab will support a broad range of research activities.

Expedition ship Viking Polaris has a multipurpose room for lectures and films called The Aula. * Rendering: Viking

World Traveller & World Seeker

Another pair of new small oceangoing cruise ships include the 196-passenger, Polar Category C/Ice Class 1B ships that are the sisters of 2021 “luxe-adventure” vessel World Navigator for the new Atlas Ocean Voyages brand.

They’re characterized by elegant European interior design, multiple dining venues with a focus on regionally inspired cuisine and a selection of lounges. These include The Dome, an observation lounge with a lively piano bar; a main lounge with a dance floor and library, and a theater for lectures and films.

There’s a SeaSpa by L’Occitane, a gym and an outdoor pool. A forward outdoor viewing area, The Water’s Edge, has heated seats for comfort in cold climes.

World Traveller is set to debut at Lisbon July 15 for an inaugural season of 11 voyages throughout the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas.

World Seeker’s itineraries haven’t been revealed yet.

World Traveller and World Seeker will be the sisters of 2021’s World Navigator. * Photo: Atlas Ocean Voyages

RELATED: Peter Knego reviews his maiden voyage of World Navigator from Greece to Egypt.

RELATED: Enjoy John Roberts’ video below, with highlights from his recent World Navigator expedition in Antarctica.

 

 

 

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