Cruise lines are known for planning a long way ahead. Over the past couple of weeks almost all the major cruise lines have made big announcements about new ships that are on their way. The bad news is you’ll have to wait until at least 2019 to see any of these on the water.

Here’s the run down.

P&O Cruises / 1 ship

Launching: 2019

Capacity: 4,200

P&O will be the first line ever to purpose build a ship for the Australian market. Once complete, it will be the largest ship to be based in Australia full time. P&O won’t reveal the details, beyond saying that the ship is a “game changer” and will be designed specifically for the local market.

 

Princess Cruises / 2 ships

Launching: 2019 and 2020

Capacity: 3,560

The new ships will be the fourth and fifth in Princess’ Royal class, which currently features Royal and Regal Princess. Both will feature multiple dining, entertainment and retail venues, an outdoor theatre experience, a large central atrium and a host of new innovations. 80% of all staterooms will have balconies.

 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises / 1 ship

Launching: 2020

Capacity: 750

Regent’s new build will be a sister ship to Seven Seas Explorer, launching mid-2016. Explorer is billed as the most luxurious ship ever to sail, so expect the same high level of quality here. The all-suite and all-balcony ship will feature the decadent Regent Suite, a huge two-bedroom palace with a private glass enclosed garden, in-room spa, two and a half marble bathrooms and the obligatory grand piano. The ship will be Regent’s first new-build in 14 years.

 

Costa Cruises / 2 ships

Launching: 2019 and 2020

Capacity: 4,200

Designed specifically for the Chinese market, the new ships will be operated by Costa Asia. Details are yet to be released, however the ship will be built at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard that build all of Costa’s ships.

 

MSC Cruises / 2 ships

Launching: 2019 and 2020

Capacity: 4,888

Dubbed Meraviglia Plus, these two ships will be even larger than MSC’s upcoming Meraviglia vessels (which carry 4,500 and start rolling out in 2017). The ships will be 330 metres long, around 30 metres shorter than the largest ships in the world, and MSC claims they will be the largest ships able to call at any port. They will also feature an onboard fine art gallery.

 

Virgin Cruises / 3 ships

Launching: 2020, 2021 and 2022

Capacity: 2,860

Richard Branson has been talking about launching his own cruise line since 2014 and last year he finally signed an agreement with Italian shipyard Fincantieri to build three ships. Branson promises a fun product delivered in a fun and different way. The ships will all sail from Miami.