by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Thu January 22, 2026
This article
originally appeared in the January issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe
here to receive your free copy each month.
The future of
cruising looks bright. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty in the U.S. and
geopolitical turmoil abroad, travelers have a healthy appetite for ocean,
expedition and river cruise vacations.
“Cruising of all
types continues to be a strong seller for 2026, driven by the variety of
experiences available; its convenient, inclusive nature; and wonderful overall
value,” said Lori Kostecki, vice president of supplier relations for travel
advisor consortium Travelsavers.
That momentum is
reflected in the numbers, too. AAA is projecting another record-breaking year
ahead, with 21.7 million Americans expected to take an ocean cruise in 2026 — a
4.5% increase from 2025. If those numbers hold, 2026 will mark the fourth consecutive
year of record ocean cruise passenger volume, underscoring the industry’s post-pandemic
resurgence.
In response, many
ocean cruise lines are growing their fleets and expanding offerings to help
meet this demand, from mega-ships with cutting-edge onboard entertainment to
boutique vessels focused on lesser-known ports and immersive experiences.
The boom isn’t
just on the oceans, either. River cruising continues to ride a wave of
popularity, with many lines reporting strong bookings for 2026 and beyond. The
segment’s steady growth has caught the attention of several major brands, with
Celebrity Cruises, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and Trafalgar all
announcing plans to enter the river cruise market in the coming years.
Expedition, luxury
and yacht cruising are also experiencing a surge of interest, giving travelers
the chance to explore smaller destinations and remote places without
sacrificing comfort or amenities. And hotel brands such as Four Seasons, The
Ritz-Carlton and Aman are expanding into the cruise industry.
Here’s a snapshot
of the new vessels scheduled to debut this year, listed in the order of their
launch.
A rendering of The Harbour aboard MSC World Asia (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)
Ocean, Expedition and Yacht Cruise Ships
Four Seasons
I
Debut date: March 2026
Line: Four Seasons Yachts
Capacity: 190 guests
Staterooms: 95
Gross tonnage: 34,000
Length: 679 feet
Disney
Adventure
Debut date: March 2026
Line: Disney Cruise Line
Class: Adventure (Global)
Capacity: 6,700 guests
Staterooms: 2,111
Gross tonnage: 208,000
Length: 1,122 feet
Emerald Kaia
Debut date: April 2026
Line: Emerald Cruises & Tours
Capacity: 128 guests
Staterooms: 64
Gross tonnage: 5,755
Length: 393 feet
Norwegian
Luna
Debut date: April 2026
Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Class: Prima Plus
Capacity: 3,571 guests
Staterooms: 1,760
Gross tonnage: 156,300
Length: 1,056 feet
Viking Mira
Debut date: Spring 2026
Line: Viking
Class: Small Ships
Capacity: 998 guests
Staterooms: 499
Gross tonnage: 54,300
Length: 784 feet
American
Maverick
Debut date: June 2026
Line: American Cruise Lines
Class: Patriot
Capacity: 130 guests
Staterooms: 56
Gross tonnage: 5,000
Length: 243 feet
Orient
Express Corinthian
Debut date: June 2026
Line: Orient Express Sailing Yachts
Capacity: 110 guests
Staterooms: 54
Gross tonnage: 22,600
Length: 721 feet
Legend of the Seas (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean International)
Legend of
the Seas
Debut date: July 2026
Line: Royal Caribbean
Class: Icon
Capacity: 5,610 guests
Staterooms: 2,805
Gross tonnage: 248,663
Length: 1,196 feet
Explora III
Debut date: Summer 2026
Line: Explora Journeys
Capacity: 922 guests
Staterooms: 463
Gross tonnage: 72,810
Length: 879 feet
American
Ranger
Debut date: September 2026
Line: American Cruise Lines
Class: Patriot
Capacity: 130 guests
Staterooms: 56
Gross tonnage: 5,000
Length: 243 feet
Captain
Arctic
Debut date: November 2026
Line: Selar
Capacity: 36 guests
Staterooms: 19
Length: 230 feet
MSC World
Asia
Debut date: December 2026
Line: MSC Cruises
Class: World
Capacity: 6,758 guests
Staterooms: 2,582
Gross tonnage: 215,863
Length: 1,092 feet
Star
Explorer
Debut date: December 2026
Line: Windstar Cruises
Class: Star
Capacity: 224 guests
Staterooms: 112
Gross tonnage: 9,923
Length: 431 feet
Seven Seas
Prestige
Debut date: December 2026
Line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Class: Prestige
Capacity: 822 guests
Staterooms: 434
Gross tonnage: 77,000
Length: 843 feet
Viking Libra
Debut date: December 2026
Line: Viking
Class: Small Ships
Capacity: 998 guests
Staterooms: 499
Gross tonnage: 54,300
Length: 784 feet
Magellan
Discoverer
Debut date: December 2026
Line: Antarctica21
Capacity: 96 guests
Staterooms: 40
Gross tonnage: 6,730
Length: 308 feet
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Connect (Photo Credit: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions)
River Cruise Ships
AmaSofia
Debut date: March 2026
Line: AmaWaterways
Capacity: 152 guests
Staterooms: 76
Length: 443 feet
Trafalgar
Reverie and
Trafalgar
Verity
Debut date: April 2026
Line: Trafalgar
Capacity: 128 guests
Staterooms: 64
Length: 360 feet
S.S. Emilie
Debut date: Spring 2026
Line: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Capacity: 154 guests
Staterooms: 77
Length: 443 feet
Connect
Debut date: April 2026
Line: National Geographic-Lindblad
Expeditions
Capacity: 120 guests
Staterooms: 60
Length: 442 feet
Amadeus
Aurea
Debut date: May 2026
Line: Amadeus River Cruises
Capacity: 158 guests
Staterooms: 79
Length: 443 feet
Emerald
Astra
Debut date: May 2026
Line: Emerald Cruises & Tours
Capacity: 180 guests
Staterooms: 91 staterooms
Length: 443 feet
American
Encore
Debut date: May 2026
Line: American Cruise Lines
Capacity: 180 guests
Staterooms: 94
Length: 269 feet
Riviera
Resplendence
Debut date: July 2026
Line: Riviera Travel
Capacity: 178 guests
Staterooms: 89
Length: 443 feet
AmaMaya
Debut date: August 2026
Line: AmaWaterways
Capacity: 124 guests
Staterooms: 62
Length: 302 feet
Nile Seray, An A&K Sanctuary, Exterior (Photo Credit: A&K Sanctuary)
Nile Seray
Debut date: October 2026
Line: Abercrombie & Kent
Capacity: 64 guests
Staterooms: 32
Length: 246 feet
Tauck
Lumiere
Debut date: 2026
Line: Tauck
Capacity: 130 guests
Staterooms: 68
Length: 443 feet
Tauck Serene
Debut date: 2026
Line: Tauck
Capacity: 124 guests
Staterooms: 62
Length: 410 feet
Viking Rota
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 190 guests
Staterooms: 95
Length: 443 feet
Viking Dagur
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 190 guests
Staterooms: 95
Length: 443 feet
Viking Sjofn
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 190 guests
Staterooms: 95
Length: 443 feet
Viking Haki
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 190 guests
Staterooms: 95
Length: 443 feet
Viking
Halogi
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 190 guests
Staterooms: 95
Length: 443 feet
Viking
Fjolvar
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 168 guests
Staterooms: 84
Length: 410 feet
Viking
Sekhmet
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 82 guests
Staterooms: 41
Length: 236 feet
Viking Ptah
Debut date: 2026
Line: Viking
Capacity: 82 guests
Staterooms: 41
Length: 236 feet
Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico. (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Media)
Private Islands and Lodging
Beyond the new
ships coming online this year, cruise lines are also investing in private
destinations and lodging to provide a seamless, stress-free experience for
travelers.
“I’m seeing a lot
of excitement from clients for itineraries that visit private islands,” said
Denise Lorentzen of Dreams Travel Consulting. “They want that exclusivity that
comes with being the only cruise line to show up there. We are watching which
lines have these private locations to offer and leading with that as a selling
feature.”
Royal Caribbean,
for instance, just opened Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, its exclusive
destination in the Bahamas, in December 2025. Royal Beach Club Santorini and
Royal Beach Club Cozumel are slated to debut in 2026, followed by Perfect Day
Mexico in 2027 and Royal Beach Club Lelepa in 2028.
The company is
also building a new 150-room hotel in Chile, The Cormorant at 55 South, for
guests of sister brand Silversea. It opens in Puerto Williams in October 2026.
Meanwhile,
Norwegian Cruise Line is improving the guest experience at Great Stirrup Cay,
its private island in the Bahamas. The company is adding a new pier that allows
multiple ships to call on the destination simultaneously and, this summer, it
plans to unveil the new Great Tides Waterpark, with 19 waterslides, a dynamic
river, cliff jumps, swim-up bars and other features.
Carnival
Corporation & plc also continues to invest in Celebration Key, the new
Carnival Cruise Line destination that opened on Grand Bahama in July 2025. The
company is building a pier extension that will add two more ship berths and, in
the future, it plans to make Celebration Key’s footprint even larger.
Meanwhile, the
company is expanding and enhancing RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, the private
destination in the Bahamas used by both Carnival Cruise Line and sister brand
Holland America Line.
Formerly known as
the McKinley Chalet Resort property, Holland America Line’s Denali Lodge in
Alaska is also getting a $70 million upgrade, with work underway now,
continuing throughout the year and into 2027.
“The lodge
welcomes thousands of visitors each season, and it’s imperative that the
property maintains the high standards that guests experience onboard,” said Rob
Coleman, senior vice president of North America and Australia sales for Holland
America Line.
The upgrades at RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay are designed to complement the island's landscape and natural beauty. (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
Tips and Advice
for Travel Advisors in 2026
As the industry
continues to grow and evolve, travel advisors remain essential in helping
clients navigate the fast-changing cruise landscape, which now includes a wide
variety of vacation options for every traveler’s style, preferences and goals.
Emphasize
Cruising’s Stress-Free Appeal
“We’re welcoming
an increasing number of first-time cruisers who are discovering the ease and
enjoyment of cruising with world class dining, entertainment and activities
onboard, and the ability to visit a variety of wonderful destinations while
only having to unpack once,” said Erin Douglas, senior vice president of trade
sales in the U.S. for MSC Cruises.
Embrace
Innovation
“Advisors who pair
smart tools with human connections will have a clear competitive edge,” said
Janet Bava, chief commercial officer for Windstar Cruises. “The advisors who
use technology to target the right clients, tell the right stories and stay
engaged throughout the customer journey will be the ones who win big in 2026
and beyond.”
Use Storytelling
to Your Advantage
“Even a small,
thoughtful touchpoint can create impact,” said Chris Austin, president of North
America for Explora Journeys. “For example: sending a short email to a handful
of clients on a Thursday, inviting them to take just five minutes in the
evening on Friday to relax with a cocktail or glass of wine and watch an
Explora Journeys video. If what they see resonates, encourage them to give you
a call.”
Qualify Your
Clients Well
“With so many
ships, brands and destinations, advisors know how to match clients to the right
experience and how to elevate a trip,” said Michael Schottey, vice president of
membership, marketing and communications for the American Society of Travel
Advisors.
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