9 Fun Reasons You Should Be Excited About Cruising This Fall

(1:15 p.m. EDT) -- It's already been an exciting 2019 so far, what with the new-to-North-America Norwegian Joy debuting this past spring and massive refurbs from Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival Sunrise), Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Millennium, Summit and Equinox) and Royal Caribbean (Navigator of the Seas). But there's still so much more to come -- and lots to see and experience if you haven't already taken your 2019 vacation!

We took a look at everything that's coming online in the next five months and pulled out nine reasons we believe you should be more excited about cruising than ever before.

1. Trampolines

Start stretching now; you'll want to be as limber as possible when Carnival Panorama debuts in early December 2019 with the first-ever trampoline park at sea aboard. The extra-fee 3,000-square-foot SkyZone Trampoline Park will have a 12-lane trampoline court and will offer open jump times, along with fitness classes and other activities such as dodgeball and basketball for all skill levels. The SkyZone park will also feature a climbing wall, balance/jousting beam, Sky Ladder climbing apparatus and a Tug of War court.

2. Virtual Reality Games

If you've ever dreamed of taking a jeep ride through Jurassic Park or getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 race car at a Grand Prix, then the Galaxy Pavilion is the perfect cruise attraction for you.  You'll find it onboard Norwegian Joy, which repositioned from Asia to the U.S. in April, and Norwegian Encore, which debuts this November.

The virtual reality arcade features nearly a dozen "rides" that use VR technology to make you feel like you're right in the middle of the action, whether that's hang gliding over mountains, defending a military base from alien invaders or running from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. There are also roller coaster and racing simulators, as well as an interactive 4D cinema in which you'll need to shoot up the most zombies, werewolves or other monsters to win.

3. Massive Balconies

You'll have to act fast if you want to grab one of just two specialty suites on Sky Princess, which launches in the Mediterranean in October and arrives in the U.S. in early December. Called Sky Suites, the new suite category features massive balconies -- 947 or 1,012 square feet, depending on the particular room booked -- with 270-degree views and perfect sightlines for the ship's Movies Under the Stars screenings.

Cruisers staying in these suites will be able to relax on a large day bed and loungers, and can take advantage of an exterior bar with mini fridge and TV. Plus, they'll enjoy enhanced and complimentary Ultimate Balcony Dining (breakfast and dinner), and will have free use of a deluxe telescope for stargazing. The suites are pretty nice inside, too; they've got two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a dining area with a sky light and room for up to five people.

4. Waterslides

Cruisers are spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a cruise ship with water slides, but there'll be three more exciting options by the end of 2019. Carnival Panorama and Norwegian Encore will both have multi-slide water parks when they debut this fall, as will Oasis of the Seas when it returns in November after a $165 million refurbishment.

Carnival Panorama's WaterWorks will feature two slides: the 455-foot-long and extra twisty Red Fun and 300-foot-long Blue Fun, along with a 300-gallon PowerDrencher tipping bucket. Norwegian Encore's Aqua Park will have two multistory waterslides: the Aqua Racer, a tandem waterslide, and Ocean Loops, with a double loop that extends over the side of the ship. When Oasis of the Seas emerges from its dry dock, it will feature the line's trio of waterslides (Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell), collectively known as the Perfect Storm.

5. Karaoke

As if there weren't already enough to do on Oasis of the Seas, the ship will boast a dedicated karaoke lounge when it returns from its 63-day refurbishment. At Spotlight Karaoke, singers can rock out on the main stage or book one of two private rooms, so start warming up your vocal chords now. If getting on stage isn't your thing but you love singing along, the ship will also have a new Music Hall where various cover bands will perform each night.

6. That's Kinky

Kinky Boots, that is! When it debuts in November, the Broadway show de jour on Norwegian Encore will be the Tony Award-winning "Kinky Boots," which features songs written by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and, of course, some of the most dazzling high-heeled boots you've ever seen. And while we're talking Broadway, Norwegian Joy, which is still new to the U.S. market after several years in Asia, features "Footloose" in its main theater. Make plans for a toe-tapping night out.

7. BBQ

Barbecue is the new black, at least at sea where barbecue joints are the latest trend. This fall will see the addition of three more finger-licking good BBQ spots on Carnival Panorama, Oasis of the Seas and Norwegian Encore.

Portside BBQ on Oasis of the Seas will be the first-ever barbecue venue for Royal Caribbean with a menu of smoked marble brisket, pulled pork and chicken, beef ribs and burnt ends, that'll make any barbecue lover heart Royal. Q on Norwegian Encore will be the line's third iteration of the Texas-style barbecue eatery, while Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse and Brewhouse on Carnival Panorama is the second appearance of this joint, which pairs yummy barbecue with various brews and smoked cocktails. It's the only one of the three that offers any free fare -- at lunch only.

8. Laser Tag

Lock and load and get ready to pit your shooting skills -- and, more importantly, your hiding skills -- against your fellow cruisers with laser tag on Norwegian Encore and Oasis of the Seas.  Each offers its own variety of laser tag arena.

On Encore, as on Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss, the arena is located high atop the ship, but this one will blend virtual reality with the amazingly realistic permanent elements. On Oasis, as on the other Oasis-class ships, the laser tag arena is layered on top of the Studio B ice rink when it's not in use and is only offered at select times -- but unlike on Encore, it's free to use. Laser tag on either cruise line offers high-energy fun and will get your heart racing as your team attempts to win the day.

9. Helicopters & Submarines

Only a handful of cruisers are going to get to experience this year's most exciting new ship. That's because the all-suite expedition yacht Scenic Eclipse only holds 228 people, and even fewer in Antarctica when the capacity comes down to 200. But if you've got the money, the ship, which debuts this August, boasts some of the cruise industry's most expensive "toys" -- two helicopters and a six-passenger submarine. Cruiser willing to spend a little extra will get to climb onboard for extra-special excursions that either go further inland or under the waves for views most travelers never get to see.