With seven new ocean cruise ships launching in 2016, including five of the largest-in-fleet, and four new ship classes, Cruise Critic®, the world's leading cruise review site and online cruise community, provides a round up.

“New ships in 2015 included P&O Cruises' Britannia, the largest ship built for the UK market, and Norwegian Escape, the third largest ship in the world,” commented Adam Coulter, UK Editor. “The trend of large ship launches continues in 2016, with Royal Caribbean delivering Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest ship, and five lines introducing the largest-in-fleet. These new additions indicate that cruise holidays are growing in popularity, and with the latest in onboard entertainment, activities, and dining options, there is much to capture the imagination of UK travellers, both existing cruisers, and newbies.”

New ships include:

Holland America Line – Koningsdam: Holland America's largest-in-fleet and first in its Pinnacle Class

Launch Date: April 2016

Passengers: 2,650

Features: With an emphasis on culinary venues and activities, key features include a show kitchen which hosts cooking classes by day, and transforms to a dining venue at night. Wine lovers can create their own wine in a purpose-built blending room.  Entertainment includes a music area presenting various music genres.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Ovation of the Seas: The third ship in Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class

Launch Date: April 2016

Passengers: 4,180

Features: Quantum Class features have been redesigned specifically for the Asian market. Onboard offerings include bumper cars and a skydiving simulator, as well as the North Star viewing pod.

Viking Ocean Cruises – Viking Sea: Viking's second ocean-going vessel

Launch Date: April 2016

Passengers: 930

Features: Popular features are to be incorporated from the Viking River Cruises brand including an alfresco dining venue, an infinity pool with glass windows offering sea views, and a main pool, which includes a retractable roof. Viking Sea will offer destination-focused experiences, with few sea days.

Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival Vista: Carnival's largest-in-fleet and first in Vista Class

Launch Date: May 2016

Passengers: 4,000

Features: The ship includes an IMAX theatre, and a 450-foot waterslide. There's also a pedal-powered, open-air aerial ride, located 150 feet above the sea, and more than twenty dining and drinking options, including an at-sea brewery.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Harmony of the Seas: Royal Caribbean's largest-in-fleet and third Oasis Class ship

Launch Date: June 2016

Passengers: 5,400

Features: Along with popular highlights from fellow Oasis-Class ships, Harmony of the Seas includes the line's first-ever waterslides, a 10-story spiral slide, and a full-length production of “Grease”.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises – Seven Seas Explorer: Regent's largest-in-fleet and a brand new ship layout

Launch Date: July 2016

Passengers: 738

Features: Pledging to be 'the most luxurious ship ever built', the ship offers a main theatre hosting a wide range of activities, from cooking classes in the morning, to concert recitals at night. It will also host the line's first culinary centre, the Culinary Arts Kitchen which is designed to mirror the world-renowned cooking schools of France.

Seabourn Cruise Line – Seabourn Encore: Seabourn's largest-in-fleet

Launch Date: December 2016

Passengers: 604

Features: All-suite staterooms with private balconies and expanded public areas.

An exclusive partnership with Michelin-starred Chef Thomas Keller will see a signature restaurant onboard.

For further information on the new ships for 2016, visit Cruise Critic.

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Note to Editors: Photos are available upon request.

About Cruise Critic

Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travellers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 150,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travellers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

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