The global cruise industry is gearing up for one of its biggest years yet. In 2026 alone, a wave of brand-new vessels will make their debut across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and beyond – from intimate ultra-luxury ships to floating mega-resorts carrying thousands of passengers.
According to Travel Market Report, more than 25 new ocean-going ships are set to launch between now and the end of 2027. Here’s a closer look at the fresh fleet arriving in 2026, which includes boutique yachts, next-generation explorers, and a record-breaking ship with room for over 6,700 guests.
December/January
Windstar Cruises will kick things off early with Star Seeker, which launches on December 28, 2025. The ship will cross the Atlantic from Málaga to Miami on her maiden voyage, just in time to start the new year. She carries 224 guests across 12 cabin categories and will split her first season between the Caribbean, Alaska and Japan.
January brings the debut of Four Seasons I, the luxury hotel group’s first ocean ship. With space for 190 guests and just 11 suite categories, she’s designed to feel like an exclusive floating resort. Her first season begins in the Caribbean, sailing a seven-night Lesser Antilles itinerary from Barbados to Aruba.
April
In spring, Emerald Kaia will set sail on her first 11-day cruise through the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean Seas, travelling from Cyprus to Athens. With just 128 passengers, she’s aimed at travellers looking for a smaller, more personal experience.
Joining her is Norwegian Luna, which will start with a 13-day transatlantic crossing from Rome to Miami in March before beginning her Caribbean routes. She can carry 3,550 guests and offers 35 different cabin categories – one of the widest selections in her class.
June
June sees Orient Express make its luxury cruise debut. The Orient Express Corinthian launches this month, with sister ship Olympian following in 2027. Each will carry 108 guests on four- and six-night itineraries around the French and Italian Rivieras from Marseille.
Viking Mira will also arrive in June. The 998-guest ship will spend her first season sailing the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, featuring the clean, Scandinavian design Viking is known for.
July
Summer brings one of the biggest launches of the year: Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas. With space for 5,628 guests, she begins with a seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Barcelona on 2 August, before moving to year-round Caribbean itineraries. She’ll offer 28 cabin categories and the large-scale entertainment the line is famous for.
August
In August, Explora Journeys will launch EXPLORA III. Carrying 926 guests, she sets sail on August 3 from Barcelona to Lisbon. Her first season includes Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries, along with trips to Greenland, Iceland, the US East Coast and the Caribbean.
December
The year will end with some major launches. MSC Cruises will introduce World Asia, a megaship with capacity for 6,762 guests. She begins her maiden season on December 11, 2026, with a seven-night roundtrip from Barcelona, sailing the Mediterranean with 19 cabin categories.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will also debut Seven Seas Prestige that month. She carries 850 guests and will start with a 14-night transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Miami before heading to the Caribbean and Panama Canal.
Windstar’s second new ship of the year, Star Explorer, will set off on her maiden eight-night Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona on December 28, offering the same 224-guest capacity and 12 cabin categories as her sister ship.
Finally, American Cruise Lines will launch American Maverick and American Ranger on US rivers and coastal waters. Each will carry 125 guests, with more details on their inaugural itineraries still to come.
Full list:
Four Seasons I (Four Seasons)
Guests: 190
From: Jan. 25, 2026, seven-night Lesser Antilles (featuring Antigua and St. Lucia) from Barbados to Aruba
Maiden season: Caribbean
Suite categories: 11
Star Seeker (Windstar Cruises)
Guests: 224
From: Dec. 28, 2025, 17-day transatlantic (Malaga to Miami)
Maiden season: Caribbean, Alaska, Japan
Suite categories: 12
Emerald Kaia (Emerald Cruises)
Guests: 128
From: April 4, 2026, 11-day Mediterranean (Cyprus to Athens)
Maiden season: Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean Seas
Suite categories: 8
Norwegian Luna (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Guests: 3,550
From: March 10, 2026, 13-day Transatlantic (Civitavecchia to Miami)
Maiden season: Caribbean
Suite categories: 35
Legend of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)
Guests: 5,628
From: Aug. 2, 2026, seven-night Western Mediterranean (RT Barcelona)
Maiden season: Summer: Mediterranean; followed by year-round Western and Southern Caribbean
Suite categories: 28
Orient Express Corinthian (Orient Express)
Guests: 108
From: June 6, 2026, four- or six-night French Riviera (Marseille RT for the six-day version)
Maiden season: Mediterranean/French and Italian Rivieras
Suite categories: 14
Orient Express Olympian (Orient Express)
Guests: 108
From: June, 2027, four- or six-night French Riviera (Marseille RT for the six-day version)
Maiden season: Mediterranean/French and Italian Rivieras
Suite categories: 14
Viking Mira (Viking)
Guests: 998
From: June 5, 2026, Western Med
Maiden season: Mediterranean, Northern Europe
Suite categories: 18
World Asia (MSC Cruises)
Guests: 6,762
From: Dec. 11, 2026, seven-night (RT Barcelona)
Maiden season: Mediterranean
Suite categories: 19
Seven Seas Prestige (Regent Seven Seas Cruises)
Guests: 850
From: Dec. 13, 2026, 14-night transatlantic (Barcelona to Miami)
Maiden season: Caribbean, Panama Canal
Suite categories: Not yet revealed
Star Explorer (Windstar Cruises)
Guests: 224
From: Dec. 28, 2026, eight-night (RT Barcelona)
Maiden season: Mediterranean
Suite categories: 12
American Maverick (American Cruise Lines)
Guests: 125
From: Not yet revealed
Maiden season: Not yet revealed
Suite categories: 5
American Ranger (American Cruise Lines)
Guests: 125
From: Not yet revealed
Maiden season: Not yet revealed
Suite categories: 5
EXPLORA III (Explora Journeys)
Guests: 926
From: Aug. 3, 2026, seven-night Barcelona to Lisbon
Maiden season: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Greenland & Iceland, East Coast U.S.A., Caribbean
Suite categories: 15