Happy New Year to our readers: Here’s what’s making me excited about cruising in 2026

• From incredible new ships to growth in Australia, our publisher Peter Lynch is looking forward to 2026 cruising.
• There will be bigger family ships, more luxury and new destinations.
• Thanks for reading cruisepassenger.com.au all year – you can be sure we’ll continue to keep you informed. Make signing up for our newsletter your NY resolution!

The past 12 months have seen incredible growth in holidays on the water. Now 2026 cruising promises to see a lot more, with quality offerings hit the water, from green ships to incredible luxury.

New destinations and sailings across the calendar will see more communities benefiting from cruise holidays, and more passengers avoiding the crowds.

Here’s what’s getting me exciting about the coming year!

Orient Express Corinthian – you can’t get greener than this…

The Orient Express Corinthian feels like the bravest, most courageous launch we’ve seen in years. In an era of safe bets and incremental change, here comes the world’s largest sailing yacht, unapologetically ambitious and gloriously different. This is not nostalgia dressed up as innovation; it’s a genuine statement of intent. Wind-assisted, design-led and dripping with romance, it dares to reframe what ultra-luxury at sea can be. I admire the confidence behind it as much as the ship itself. It reminds us that cruising still has room for bold ideas — and that sometimes, the biggest risks create the most enduring legends.

Four Seasons 1 – if you have to ask the price…

The new Four Seasons yacht — rather prosaically named Four Seasons I – debuts in early 2026. Built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and carrying just 190 guests in 95 all-suite residences, this 207-metre, 14-deck vessel feels more like a floating private villa community than a traditional cruise ship. The Funnel Suite – a four-level super-residence spanning nearly 10,000 square feet that sits where a traditional funnel would have been, is the place to be – at something like $40,000 a night. It comes with panoramic ocean views, a private splash pool, outdoor gym, spa area, multiple bedrooms and its own elevator.

Quiet season sailing

One of the smartest shifts I’m seeing is the growing confidence in off-season cruising. Regent Seven Seas’ move to promote its so-called “quiet season” feels both timely and inspired. Sailing outside the traditional peak months brings calmer ports, cooler temperatures, sharper value and a more relaxed onboard atmosphere — all things seasoned travellers quietly crave. The Med without the crowds, Northern Europe without the frenzy, even shoulder-season Asia suddenly feels more immersive and civilised. This isn’t about compromise; it’s about sophistication. As travellers become more experienced, the appeal of quieter, less obvious timing is growing – and the cruise lines are finally listening.

Disney Adventure – the Mouse that Roared

Disney Adventure, sailing from Singapore, is a fascinating proposition. I’ve just come off Ovation of the Seas with 4,900 families and found it surprisingly uplifting — energetic, yes, but not overwhelming. That experience has genuinely shifted my perspective. So now I’m intrigued to see how Disney handles 6,700 guests, all under the guiding hand of the Mouse. Disney does crowd management and emotional engagement better than anyone. If any brand can scale family cruising without losing joy, it’s this one. I’m genuinely curious, cautiously optimistic -and ready to be impressed.

Regent Seven Seas Prestige – even more all-included luxury

Regent Seven Seas Prestige launching in December is luxury cruising doing what it does best: raising the bar, then casually stepping over it. The Skyview Regent Suite, at nearly 9,000 square feet, will be the largest suite ever built on an all-inclusive cruise ship — a floating statement of intent. Regent understands that space is the ultimate luxury, and this ship looks set to deliver it in abundance. Prestige feels like a confident evolution rather than a reinvention, and that’s no bad thing. For travellers who want everything included — including bragging rights — this will be irresistible. I can’t wait to sail her.

River cruising cool? You bet…

On the rivers, the momentum is remarkable. Trafalgar launches its first ships, Tauck adds two, AMA Waterways two more, Uniworld one, A&K puts its fifth ship on the Nile, and Viking launches five. That’s not growth — that’s confidence. River cruising has had its biggest year yet, and 2026 promises to see yet more growth as it actaully becomes “cool” (who would have thought it?). And, of course, 2026 will see the launch of luxury cruising on our very own Murray River.

Let’s fix Australian cruising

Closer to home, I’m hoping and praying 2026 finally brings clarity for Sydney Harbour. After a year of committee doodling on its notepads, surely we can resolve capacity issues and unlock growth. And maybe — just maybe — we can get Federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell in a room with the cruise industry to plan a whole-of-government strategy and present it to cruise lines to ensure our continued growth. Or is that too much to hope for?

Safe sailing in 2026, wherever you set course.

Peter Lynch

Publisher