Next year is shaping up to be a big year in cruise, with new ships launching across the categories.
Big bucks are spent on attracting new customers to cruising and on average, the world’s top cruise companies acquire or add one newly built ship every two to four years.
And each ship has unique offerings, building on each of the cruise lines’ previous fleets. You’ll see more activities, a greater range of dining options, new onboard experiences for both adults and families as well as bigger suites and staterooms.
Between 2025 to 2027, there are over 25 ocean liners on order across the industry globally.
Here’s which ships will make their debut in 2025.
Norwegian Aqua
The newest ship in Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Prima Class, Aqua is set to sail in the first half of 2025 out of Miami, Florida. The ship, to carry up to 3,571 guests, is touted as being designed for “each experience to flow into the next”, and features works from the first-ever female hull artist, Allison Hueman. The ship will also showcase first-of-its-kind experiences like the all-new Aqua Slidecoaster – think rollercoaster and waterslide meshed into one.
Claiming it is a “ship within a ship”, The Haven boasts NCL’s most luxurious accommodation concept giving elite guests their own sundeck, amenities and personalised service. You’ll be spoilt for choice between spacious suites and an all-new Haven Duplex Suite – a three-bedroom, three-bathroom, loft.
The dining venues will also cater for more guests and there will be new dining options like the such as the fleet’s first-ever dedicated Thai restaurant and a plant-based food outlet.
Star Princess
In October 2025 Star Princess will set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a couple of months later than originally planned. It joins its sister ship, Sun Princess, so her general layout will be kept the same, and completes Princess’ sphere-class fleet, rounding up their order for the line’s largest ships ever built carrying 4,300 guests.
Featuring the same central atrium popular in Sun Princess, Star Princess will also include spaces such as The Dome, an entertainment venue inspired by the terraces of Santorini, a Piazza with a glass sphere and Princess Arena, a configurable theatre that allows Princess to produce a variety of innovative entertainment concepts.
With expanded accommodation options, including Princess’ new Reserve and Signature Collections, guests will also be able to unwind in the two-story Lotus Spa, or escape the kids in the adults-only Sanctuary pool. Sailings start with an 11-night Mediterranean cruise from Spain.
Star of the Seas
Following the rip-roaring success of Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean will launch sister-ship, Star of the Seas in 2025. The ship features eight unique neighbourhoods – destinations in themselves – to ensure every type of traveller is catered for. Thrills include six of the fastest and tallest water slides, an AquaTheatre, 40-plus ways to drink and dine, and the Surfside neighbourhood designed specifically for young families.
With a capacity for 5,610 guests, Star of the Seas will be going where people flock to sail – straight to the Caribbean. As a bonus, some sailings stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Oceania Allura
Slated to set sail in July 2025, Allura will be Oceania Cruises’ eighth ship and will boast opulent suites, sophisticated lounges, and bespoke restaurants. Taking in 1,200 guests, Allura will also be home to 800 crew – which works out as two crew members for every three guests. The high-level service does not end there, with one chef allocated for every 10 guests.
Allura will also feature the most spacious standard staterooms at sea, at a whopping 27 metres. There is also an expansive new Culinary Center and accompanying Chef’s Studio where guests can enjoy cooking demonstrations.
Onboard enrichments include art classes at Oceania Cruises’ much-loved Artist Loft; numerous guest speakers; and sommelier demonstrations during exclusive Sommelier’s Choice and Cellar Master’s Classic Wine Pairing Luncheons.
As part of her inaugural season, Allura will sail the Mediterranean and a number of itineraries in Europe before heading to Canada and New England. A special four-day voyage round trip sailing from New York City is also planned for September 2025.
Viking Vesta
Launching mid-2025, the 998-guest Viking Vesta will join sister ship, Viking Vela – which is on track to debut in December 2024. Classified as a small ship, it is able to dock where larger ships cannot and will spend her inaugural season sailing popular itineraries in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
Viking sticks to its ‘no children, no casino’ motto for Vesta, appealing to “thinking adults” who want to sail in luxurious surroundings. The all-veranda ship features fine dining options including The Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, There’s the Nordic Spa to unwind, and a number of cabin options including an Explorer Suite and Owner’s Suite.
Disney Destiny
Magic for kids and adults alike, Disney Cruise Line will add Disney Destiny to its fleet in November 2025 kicking off an inaugural season of four- and five-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean.
Exclusive to Disney Destiny, the line’s in-house production team showcases Hercules with comedy and music from the famous 1997 animated film.
At the Worlds of Marvel, there will be special appearances from the likes of Spider-Man while the menu ranges from classic American fare to rich African flavours.
For those with a sweet tooth, the lovable Edna from The Incredibles has hung up her sewing kit and repurposed her lab to turn out some beautiful sweets and desserts.
For the adults, De Vil’s, taking a cue from 101 Dalmatians, is a stylish lounge, nestled in the Grand Hall. The cocktail menu is designed around Cruella’s opulence – martinis, old-fashioned cocktails and high-end bubbles are on the cards.
Disney will also add another new ship in 2025, with Disney Adventure sailing three-and-four-night itineraries from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre as part of a new collaboration between the cruise line and Singapore Tourism Board. It marks Disney’s first ship to be homeported in Asia and is expected to stay in Singapore until 2030.
MSC World America
MSC’s newest ship, World America, is set to debut in April 2025 as a sister ship to its popular, World Europa. Boasting the only Eataly restaurant on a ship, World America will also feature the only Over-Water Swing Ride at sea.
The new World Class ship with 2,626 cabins, 13 restaurants, and 20 bars, lounges, and cafes, will include a re-imagined outdoor World Promenade where guests can dine and lounge enjoying ocean views and an LED light show.
World America will exclusively sail 7-night Caribbean itineraries during her inaugural season from Miami, Florida and will include visits to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve—MSC Cruises’ private destination in The Bahamas.
Luminara
Seamlessly weaving design and function to create some of the world’s most stylish yachts, Luminara will be the third in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection series.
Fusing stunning contemporary design with a refined residential feel of a Ritz-Carlton resort, Luminara is expected to embark on maiden voyages in the Mediterranean in 2025 before an expansion into Asia-Pacific.
10 voyages varying from 10-15 nights between December 2025 and May 2026 will see Luminara departing from either Hong Kong, Tokyo, or Singapore to explore 28 ports across 10 countries in the region, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.
The intimate superyacht has a capacity for just 452 guests, spacious ocean view suites – each with its own private terrace – five restaurants, six bars and even a wine vault.
As an all-inclusive experience, guests can indulge in non-motorised water sports while at anchor from a Marina-style platform.
Celebrity XCEL
Claiming to be a game changer, Celebrity Xcel combines the line’s incredibly popular Edge Series ships with entirely new experiences.
Sailing from Fort Lauderdale to the islands of the Caribbean from November 2025, Xcel will offer 7-night voyages visiting destinations including The Bahamas, Mexico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Cayman, and Puerto Plata. From 2026, she will embark on her inaugural season in Europe on seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including Celebrity’s first overnights in Madeira, Portugal.
Xcel will retain similar features to her sister ships, Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent, including The Retreat, an exclusive resort-within-a-resort area for suite guests, an expanded Rooftop Garden, a multi-terraced Sunset Bar and the heart-pumping Magic Carpet, the world’s first floating platform reaching 13 stories above sea level.
The line is keeping tight-lipped about what exactly the new features will be on Xcel, claiming visionary new spaces and new food and drink concepts are in the works.
Douglas Mawson
Adventure buffs should be excited when Aurora Expeditions’ newest state-of-the-art small ship, Douglas Mawson sets sail in 2025. Not only is it the last in a line of purpose-built vessels redefining small ship expedition cruising, but it has also been designed for global discovery bearing the name of the legendary Australian geologist and explorer.
Taking a maximum of 130 adventurers on board for Expeditions, and just 154 on Small Ship Cruises, the ship boasts Aurora’s most extensive range of staterooms, a heated outdoor swimming pool and two restaurants.
In her inaugural season, Douglas Mawson will return to East Antarctica for the first time in 13 years with new itineraries on offer in a nod to her namesake’s own Antarctica voyage, departing from Hobart before sailing to the Atlantic Coast, British Isles and Mediterranean.
Four Seasons Yacht I
Following in the footsteps of Ritz-Carlton, hotel group Four Seasons have also been lured by the dazzling blue seas announcing their own series of ultra-luxe Yachts. The first of two, Four Seasons Yacht I will launch late 2025, setting sail for seven-nights in January 2026 from Speightstown, Barbados to Oranjestad, Aruba.
Featuring just 95 suites with extensive terrace decks, guests can expect to be engulfed in luxury and space where size does matter. Suites range from 500 to nearly 10,000 square feet giving off a more residential feel than a boxed-in hotel room.
The extraordinary Funnel Suite deserves a special mention. Housed within the vessel’s glass-enclosed funnel, the suite offers three bedrooms across four levels of living space, a private splash pool, outdoor gym and an almost 5,000 square feet exclusive terrace.
Guests can expect to enjoy fine dining across 11 restaurants and lounges, a dip in the 20-metre saltwater pool – one of the largest at sea – or a number of water sporting adventures onboard the yacht’s bespoke transverse marina.
Star Seeker
In a first for Windstar Cruises, Star Seeker will be its first-ever Star Class new build ship launching in December 2025, followed closely behind by a second sister-ship, Star Explorer in December of the following year.
Taking just 224 guests, the yacht will feature suites with fully private verandas and floor-to-ceiling infinity windows, as well as two new Owner Suites complete with wrap-around balconies for an extra luxurious experience.
Star Seeker will also boast excellent service, with a one-to-two staff-to-guest ratio, as she begins her inaugural season in January 2026 in the Caribbean before journeying to the Panama Canal towards Alaska, where she will sail until August before heading to Japan.
