Carnival, the owners of P&O and Cunard have launched the Carnival Horizon. This is a Vista Class ship that holds just under 4,000 guests. Sister ship to the Carnival Vista. The crew went on board on March 1st, and this week she had her naming ceremony. Queen Latifa named her and is now the Godmother. For beer drinkers, it offers four craft beers brewed exclusively at Smokehouse|Brewhouse on Carnival Horizon: ParchedPig Smoked Porter, ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale, ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale, and ParchedPig West Coast IPA. So, that appears to mean there is a brewery on board. Entertainment wise Carnival Horizon will offer three new Productions shows: Soulbound, Celestial Strings, and Vintage Pop. The fourth show, Amor Cubano: A Caribbean Dance Romance, has already been performed on Carnival Vista. The Doris Visits CARNIVAL UK CHAT & COMMUNITY SITE

Size wise it is a little larger than the companies Royal Class ships, which include the Britannia, Regal, Royal, Sky and Majestic. But, it is smaller than the new 5,200 guest ships planned like the Iona now named by P&O. Also this week, the new Marella ship, the Explorer was launched. Whatever you ship, we have a chat site of cruisers who know the ships and sail them. Find your ship and its chat site hereNew Marella Explorer sets sale in a new direction for TUI cruises 

The ship will start this summer with a European program, as many new ships do, staying safely in the Mediterranean while snagging and tinkering can be done if need be. It will then head to Bermuda, the historic refuelling ground for ships since the civil war, then up to New England. From New York it will come down and settle Miami, where she will do year-round cruises to the Caribbean, replacing Carnival Vista. Carnival Vista will reposition to Galveston, Texas.

Planned for 2019 is the third Vista-class ship, the 3,960-passenger Carnival Panorama, sailing from Long Beach to the best destinations along the Mexican Riviera. This will be the first new Carnival ship to base in Southern California for over 20 years and will make fly cruising to LA and Mexico a treat for British cruisers. This third Vista ship will feature the popular American fan-favourite dining, entertainment and relaxation experiences but they promise ‘new stuff too!’ So what is the new stuff? So what is different about the Carnival Vista class of ships? Flying bicycles? Yes you can cycle around the ship to keep fit, but not on the promenade deck. SkyRide at SportSquare is a twin-track suspended bike course — strap in and race around for the win or just cruise for great views. The Havana Bar & Pool look very special, an island retreat on board. This classic Cuban-style lounge has the emphasis on style and the views. Then there are the water slides – the Kaleid-O-Slide also has light and colour effects. It is an American ship, so you will find diners to match, Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse. If you want a little more peace, there is the usual adult only area that most large ships cherish. As with other ships it is called the Serenity Retreat, here the food station is chopped salad.

So these are the Vista class ships, and already they are far from the largest. Even Carnival have larger ships on order and one heading for P&O.