Preview: The hottest new cruise ships of 2018

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Get ready for a big year in the world of cruising. 

Just about every major cruise line will have a new ship in 2018 as the industry continues to expand rapidly around the globe. 

Among the newcomers will be a new vessel from Royal Caribbean that will smash the record for biggest cruise ship ever — if only by a tad. Dubbed Symphony of the Seas, it’ll carry more than 6,000 passengers and feature dozens of lounges, bars and restaurants as well as an array of deck-top amusements.

Just as notable will be a new ship from Royal Caribbean’s sister company, Celebrity Cruises. To be called Celebrity Edge, the 2,900-passenger vessel will be the line’s first new ship in six years and boast an innovative new design.

RELATED:  The biggest cruise stories of 2017 

Also unveiling new ships in 2018 are Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. At all five brands, the newcomers will be sisters to earlier vessels. Fast-growing Viking Ocean Cruises also will be rolling out a new ship in 2018 — its fifth since its 2015 debut. 

In all, that adds up to eight major new oceangoing cruise ships aimed at the North American market. What will the ships be like? With the peak period for cruise booking — aka Wave Season — now underway, USA TODAY Cruises offers the following guide to the new vessels of 2018 (click on the ship names below to go to a full page on each of the newcomers that offers details on on-board features, home ports, itineraries and pricing).

USA TODAY Cruises guide to the new ships of 2018 (oceangoing vessels)

Page 1: Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Maiden voyage: March 31

Page 2: Carnival Horizon (Carnival Cruise Line)
Maiden voyage: April 2

Page 3: Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Maiden voyage: April 23

Page 4: Seabourn Ovation (Seabourn Cruise Line)
Maiden voyage: May 5 

Page 5: MSC Seaview (MSC Cruises)
Maiden voyage: June 10 

Page 6: Viking Orion (Viking Ocean Cruises) 
Maiden voyage: June 19

Page 7: Nieuw Statendam (Holland America)
Maiden voyage: Dec. 5

Page 8: Celebrity Edge (Celebrity Cruises)
Maiden voyage: Dec. 16 

In addition to the above vessels, there also are several major oceangoing
ships coming in 2018 from lines that cater to overseas markets such as
Germany’s Aida. The year also will bring several new small, expedition-style cruise vessels from such companies as Lindblad Expeditions and Ponant. 

USA TODAY Cruises:  The 25 most beautiful ships at sea