27 new cruise ships launching in 2026

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Several exciting new ocean and river ships are set to launch in 2026, offering resort-style facilities, elevated design and luxurious accommodation, alongside waterslides at sea, suite-only residences with butlers and more places to eat and drink than guests could hope to get to on one sailing. Here are the details you need to know.

March

Four Seasons Yachts: Four Seasons I

The luxury brand’s debut yacht sets sail in the Mediterranean in March 2026, promising personal service and Michelin-style cuisine. It holds 190 passengers and has all-balcony, all‑suite accommodation, three restaurants, five bars, a spa and pool.

fourseasonsyachts.com

Disney Cruise Line: Disney Adventure

This is Disney’s biggest-ever ship, with room for 6,700 passengers. It will also be the line’s first Asia-based vessel, offering three and four-night cruises without port calls.
disneycruiseline.com

Uniworld River Cruises: Emilie

Expect art nouveau and gold accents on Emilie, named after Austrian painter Gustav Klimt’s muse, Emilie Flöge. It’ll be cruising the Danube and has Grand Suites that connect to French balcony cabins to create two-bed suites.

uniworld.com

AmaWaterways: AmaSofia

A Chef’s Table and heated pool with swim-up bar feature on AmaSofia, which will sail the Rhine and Danube. Expect all-day tapas in the lounge, cabins and suites with split balconies and indoor and outdoor seating.
amawaterways.co.uk

Tauck: Lumière

Highlights on board Lumière include spacious suites with two French balconies and a wellness retreat where guests can work out, enjoy a massage or just chill. The ship will be sailing the Rhône in France with just 130 passengers.
tauck.co.uk

April

Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Luna

A slidecoaster (think rollercoaster-meets-water flume) and The Drop, a 10-storey freefall slide, are among the thrills on Luna. Prefer to chill? That’s easy given all the places to eat and drink, with no dress codes or formal nights to consider.
ncl.com

Emerald Cruises: Emerald Kaia

A superyacht holding only 128 passengers, Emerald Kaia offers stylish suites, private cabanas and an aft marina with paddleboards, water scooters and other fun water toys. It will be sailing the Mediterranean from April.
emeraldcruises.co.uk

Tauck: Serene

Tauck’s second river ship for 2026 holds 124 passengers and will sail the Seine.
tauck.co.uk

May

Emerald Cruises: Emerald Astra

Astra, meaning ‘stars’ in Latin, holds 180 passengers, offers a choice of cabins and suites with floor-to-ceiling and drop‑down panorama windows. It also has an indoor swimming pool at the back that transforms into a cinema for screenings in the evenings.
emeraldcruises.co.uk

Amadeus River Cruises: Amadeus Aurea

Guests can enjoy Viennese coffee and cake as they sail the Rhine and Danube at Cafe Vienna on Aurea. There’s also a pool and Lido Bar on the sun deck, 12 suites with outside balconies and an intimate Amadeus Club lounge.
amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk

American Cruise Lines: American Encore

Launching in May, Encore holds 180 passengers, has large picture windows, massive Grand and Signature suites. Drinks, tips and selected excursions are included in the price.

americancruiselines.com

June

Orient Express Sailing Yachts: Orient Express Corinthian

Train operator Orient Express is going from rails to sails on what’s been described as the world’s largest sailing yacht. Corinthian, which debuts in the Mediterranean, will hold 110 passengers and 13 bars and restaurants. And, instead of canvas, it has rigid sails mounted on three masts.
orient-express.com

Orient Express Corinthian

Viking: Viking Mira

Viking’s trademark Scandi-style decor, Manfredi’s Restaurant and Nordic Spa are all present on new ocean ship Viking Mira, which will sail the Mediterranean and northern Europe from June.
viking.com

The Viking Mira. Image credit: Anthony Weller/Archimage

American Cruise Lines: American Maverick

Designed for exploring the US coastline, Maverick holds 130 passengers, has all-balcony cabins and suites, as well as an alfresco Sky Lounge and Sky Walk. It’s cruising New England in summer.
americancruiselines.com

July

Royal Caribbean International: Legend of the Seas

Expect a foodie journey travelling along the ancient Silk Routes with some ‘sweet’ surprises as Royal Caribbean’s third Icon Class mega ship sets sail with a Royal Railway restaurant. The Broadway musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be playing in the theatre.
www.royalcaribbean.ae

Riviera Travel: Riviera Resplendence

The third river ship to bear the Riviera prefix, 178-passenger Resplendence will offer guests three restaurants, including the Riverview Kitchen and new eatery Mosaic, alongside a split‑level lounge and Grand Balcony suites with a separate lounge and outdoor seating.
rivieratravel.co.uk

Travelmarvel: Travelmarvel Rigel

Named after the brightest star in the Orion constellation, Rigel will be sailing a new Rhine and Moselle cruise. The vessel accommodates 178 passengers, has four large Owner’s Suites, a top‑deck whirlpool and McGeary’s, an Irish bar that serves casual pub fare.
www.travelmarvel.com/en-au

Travelmarvel Rigel is to sail a new Rhine and Moselle cruise

August

Explora Journeys: Explora III

Explora’s third new-build ship makes its debut in northern Europe with a few more cabins than its sister ships, taking the passenger count to 926, with a second kids’ club for older children and a wellness centre with a spa and gym.
explorajourneys.com

Explora III

September

Viking: Viking Ptah

Named after an Egyptian god of creation, Viking Ptah will be sailing one-week Nile cruises round-trip from Luxor. It holds 82 passengers, has cabins with outdoor balconies and an Aquavit Lounge with indoor and alfresco seating.
viking.com

Travelmarvel: Travelmarvel Sirius

Temples, tombs and pyramids await passengers who book a cruise on Travelmarvel’s new Nile river ship. Sirius will have 62 cabins, a pool and an interior that reflects the colours of the landscape. A flight to see the temples at Abu Simbel is included in the price.
www.travelmarvel.com/en-au

American Cruise Lines: American Ranger

A sister to American Maverick (launching in June), Ranger will cruise the Hudson River from September and the Florida Keys in winter.
americancruiselines.com

October

A&K Sanctuary: Nile Seray

Seray means ‘palace’, which offers a clue as to what to expect from A&K Sanctuary’s fifth Nile river ship. It’ll have 32 suites, two restaurants and a pool, and will sail four-night cruises between Luxor and Aswan.
abercrombiekent.com

A&K Sanctuary’s luxury ship Nile Seray

December

MSC Cruises: MSC World Asia

Contrary to the name, MSC World Asia is making its debut in the Med. Expect more than 40 bars, lounges and restaurants, a new pan-Asian eatery and family Clubhouse.
msccruisesuae.com

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Prestige

New features on Prestige include two-storey Skyview Suites with large private terraces, Mediterranean restaurant Azure serving mezze-style sharing dishes and atrium bar Galileo’s. It will spend its first winter in the Caribbean.
rssc.com

Viking: Viking Sekhmet

A sister ship to Viking Ptah (launching in September), Viking Sekhmet is named after an Egyptian goddess of war.
viking.com

Viking: Viking Libra

Outwardly, this is like sister ship Viking Mira (launching in June), but Libra is different because it will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of sailing with zero emissions. It’s sailing the Med and northern Europe.
viking.com

Ponant: Spirit of Ponant II

Launching in late 2026, this yacht will carry 10 people, cruise in French Polynesia and carry all the gear needed for snorkelling, waterskiing and other watersports.
ponant.com