New Ships, Updated Itineraries, and More Cruise News From June

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Tue June 30, 2026

June brought a wave of major cruise industry developments, from new ship debuts and milestone ceremonies to fresh itineraries, destination upgrades and significant infrastructure projects, along with one high-profile marine wildlife incident. These are the biggest cruise news stories of June 2026.

AmaWaterways Unveils First Renderings of AmaRudi

This month, AmaWaterways offered a first look at AmaRudi, its second double-width river ship scheduled to set sail on the Danube River in the spring of 2027. AmaRudi is the first vessel in the company's history named after a man, honoring co-founder Rudi Schreiner.

"AmaMagna changed what travelers believed was possible on a river cruise ship," said Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and chairman of AmaWaterways. "We knew there would be a right time to revisit that concept, and with river cruising continuing to grow, that time is now."

American Cruise Lines Christens American Maverick

American Cruise Lines christened its newest ship, American Maverick in Newport, Rhode Island, during the ship’s inaugural nine-day “New England Islands” cruise, with guests, crew, community partners and many employees from the company’s headquarters in Connecticut.

The ship’s godmother is Susan Renner, board chair and treasurer for American Cruise Lines.

“We set the bar high for ourselves with American Maverick and were surprised to see that we set the bar for the rest of the river cruise industry in the process,” said Charles B. Robertson, president and chief executive officer of American Cruise Lines. “The American Maverick is the new standard by which others should follow and with eight more ships under construction, shows that the U.S. river cruise market will lead the way.”

Royal Caribbean Celebrates Opening of New Cruise Terminal in Alaska, Shares Statement on Dead Whale

Royal Caribbean Group celebrated the opening of a new cruise terminal in Seward, Alaska, alongside partners Alaska Railroad, The Seward Company and Turnagain Marine Construction.

The new terminal replaces dock facilities that date to the mid-1960. It’s now the largest cruise terminal in Alaska, located right next to the Alaska Railroad station with service to Anchorage, Fairbanks and other communities. Built for year-round operations, the terminal features 41,500 square feet of enclosed space and 27,000 square feet of open, pass-through luggage transfer space. The pier also has a new shore power system.

Not long after the new terminal’s debut, however, tragedy struck when a Royal Caribbean Group ship arrived in port with a dead 61-foot-long, pregnant female endangered fin whale on its bow. A necropsy later revealed blunt force trauma consistent with a ship strike as the cause of death.

In a statement shared with TravelPulse, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesman confirmed the incident involved one of the company’s vessels.

“We are deeply saddened by the whale incident involving one of our ships en route to Seward and take any impact to marine life with the utmost seriousness,” the spokesperson said. “We are cooperating fully with NOAA, and we will partner with them following their final investigative findings. Our respect for the ocean is at the core of everything we do.”

Scenic Group to Debut New India, Sri Lanka Trips in 2027

Scenic Group announced its plans to launch a ship on India’s Hooghly River in the fall of 2027. The company will offer a selection of itineraries on the Scenic Aura, a 44-guest ship that will embark on its inaugural season from October 2027 to March 2028. The voyages are being paired with land journeys in India and Sri Lanka.

"The introduction of Scenic Aura on India’s Hooghly River is a significant milestone for Scenic Group with the collection developed entirely around what our guests are asking for," says Adam Burke, journey designer for Scenic Group. “These itineraries have been thoughtfully designed to provide unique and exclusive experiences that are culturally rich and showcase the best of India and Sri Lanka, all delivered with the depth of inclusions and personalized service Scenic is known for."

EXPLORA III Completes Sea Trials Ahead of July Debut

EXPLORA III is one step closer to making her debut. In June, the new ship successfully completed sea trials in the Mediterranean, a process that validated the vessel’s technical and operational performance ahead of her Mediterranean prelude journey on July 24. After sea trials, the ship returned to Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard near Genoa for interior outfitting and final finishing touches. The vessel, which is the first LNG-powered ship in the fleet, is on track for delivery ahead of schedule.

Carnival Cruise Line Unveils Upgrades at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay

This month, Carnival Cruise Line unveiled new upgrades at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. Guests can now enjoy free loungers and umbrellas, as well as reservable cabanas and daybeds, at the private island destination Carnival Cruise Line shares with Holland America Line.

The company also debuted new and upgraded food and drink venues, including Orchid Beach Grill, Hibiscus Beach Grill, Luna Tide Beach Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack and Lil’ Tiki Bar. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay also has a new pier that allows Excel-class ships to visit the destination for the first time.

The Stay Awhile Beach Shack at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay

A new tram service connects all areas of the island, while the new scenic Papaya Pathway offers a walking route for those who prefer to explore on foot.

The south side of the island is also being refreshed with new design elements and food and beverage venue upgrades, while a variety of activity options and excursions will continue to be available for guests to enjoy.

Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery of Legend of the Seas, Celebrates Keel-Laying for New Oasis Class Ship

In June, Royal Caribbean took delivery of its newest ship, Legend of the Seas. After nearly two years of construction at Meyer Turku’s shipyard in Turku, Finland, the third Icon Class ship is now ready to make its July 2026 debut. Legend of the Seas sailed to Cadiz, Spain, where Royal Caribbean is adding finishing touches before the ship sets sail on seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. In November, the ship will sail to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to begin offering six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean voyages.

The cruise line also commemorated the start of construction on its seventh Oasis-class ship with a traditional keel-laying ceremony at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The event signals the beginning of the ship's assembly process and kicks off what is expected to be a two-year construction period before its planned 2028 debut.

Viking Unveils Two New River Cruise Ships, New Experiences

In June, Viking took delivery of its newest river ships, the Viking Annar and the Viking Fjolvar. Built at Meyer's Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany, the Viking Annar will sail the company's itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while the Viking Fjolvar will sail itineraries on the Seine River.

The company also introduced a slate of new excursions, small-group experiences and pre- and post-land extensions for Europe river cruises. Guests can now book Zeppelin flights over Cologne and the Ruhr Valley, enjoy dinner at a winery in Austria and more.

Viking also held a traditional naming ceremony for its new 989-guest ocean ship Viking Mira in Venice, Italy, this month. Rebecca “Becky” Webb Wilson, an attorney, author, photographer and philanthropist, is the ship’s godmother.

Emerald Cruises Christens New Ship Emerald Kaia in Venice

Emerald Cruises christened its newest ship Emerald Kaia this month in Venice, during the eight-day “Adriatic Discovery: Venice, Istria & the Croatian Archipelago” itinerary. The 128-guest vessel is the third yacht in the brand’s growing fleet.

“Emerald Kaia is a proud addition to our yacht fleet and a fitting highlight as we celebrate 40 Years of Innovation,” says Glen Moroney, chairman and founder of Scenic Group. “Designed and delivered by our expert team at MKM Yachts, the superyacht delivers an experience that blends relaxed luxury, innovative design and immersive access to the world’s most remarkable coastlines. It is especially meaningful to see her entrusted to two of our longest-serving team members as godparents.”

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