While it's true that some cruise lines, such as those under Carnival Corporation & plc, have slowed down the production of new ships as an ongoing COVID rebound strategy, there are other lines that are doing the opposite.
Between 2023 and 2028, over thirty new ships as expected to enter service across the globe. From Norwegian's second Viva-class vessel in mid-2023 to three Icon-class ships for Royal Caribbean by 2026, there's a lot to look forward to in the cruise industry!
2023 in particular is a big year for small-ships, as six are set to be delivered to their respective cruise lines.
Here's a list of cruise ships making their debut this year and beyond.
Note that these dates are subject to change as a result of construction delays; we've seen numerous inaugural sailings get pushed back, including the Disney Wish just this year.
Viking Saturn, Viking Cruises (February 2023)
Viking is made up of three different subsets: Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking River Cruises, and Viking Expeditions.
To date, they have eight ocean and seventy-six river ships, and Viking Saturn will be their ninth ocean vessel!
Viking Saturn fits within the small-ship category, as the ship will only be 47,842 gross registered tons and 745 feet long when completed!
The maiden voyage is scheduled to take place February 17, 2023.
Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages (May 2023)
Virgin Voyages turned heads when they annouced that they were going to be an adults-only cruise line where pretty much everything is included, except for a few miscellaneous things, like alcoholic beverages and the tattoo parlor.
Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages' third ship, will be similar to her sister ships in that she'll be 110,000 gross tons and carry over 2,700 passengers!
Guests may love how Virgin Voyages has done away with the traditional concept of cruise ship dining. In other words, there are no buffets or main dining rooms. There are over 20 restaurants onboard, and passengers can walk in anytime to be seated.
She'll set sail on May 9, 2023 with a round trip sailing from Piraeus (Athens), Greece.
Vista, Oceania Cruises (May 2023)
(Pictured is Marina, an Oceania vessel part of the Oceania-class)
With only six ships in their entire fleet, the largest holding a maximum of 1,250 passengers, Oceania is a a small-ship cruise line that focuses on port-intensive itineraries.
The Vista will be their third new build, following the Marina in 2011 and Riviera in 2012; this is Oceania's new vessel in over one decade! It is also the first ship in their Allura-class.
When completed, Vista will be 67,000 gross registered tons and 791 feet long, and you can expect to find sailings to destinations such as the Middle East & Holy Lands, Panama Canal, and Mediterranean.
The inaugural sailing is slated for May 13-20, 2023.
MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises (June 2023)
After MSC World Europa, which entered service in 2022, MSC Euribia will be the second ship in MSC's fleet to be powered by liquid natural gas (LNG) fuel.
Her name is fitting, as she was named after Eurybia, the ancient goddess who called upon the winds, weather, and constellations to master the seas.
Plus, it'll be the first ship to feature hull art! The hull was designed by artist Alex Flämig during a worldwide competition launched my MSC Cruises in October 2021. The five other finalists will have their artwork displayed aboard the ship in an art gallery.
While not the largest ship at sea, she surely won't be considered a small-ship, as she'll be 1,086 feet long, measures 181,541 gross tons, and carry over 6,300 passengers!
MSC Euribia will set sail on June 17, 2023 out of Kiel (Lubeck), Germany.
Explora I, Explora Journeys (July 2023)
The Explora I is the first ship for this brand-new luxury cruise line from MSC! The other five remaining ships planned will set sail in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
According to Explora Journeys, they hope to take guests to "lesser-traveled harbors to enjoy a more authentic experience and a slower pace of travel."
Itineraries begin at seven-nights and sail to places such as Bozcaasa, Turkey; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Kastellorizo, Greece; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and the Lofoten Islands of Norway.
Explora I will be 64,000 gross tons and, at double occupancy, carry 922 passengers.
People hoping to be the first to sail onboard a new cruise line should mark their calendars for July 17, 2023 and expect to pay $12,450 per person, based on double occupancy.
Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Cruise Line (August 2023)
In 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line's newest class of ships, the Prima-class, finally arrived after about nine years of not releasing a new class, other than enhancing their Breakaway ships.
When completed the Norwegian Viva, the second ship in this class, will be 965 feet long, measures 142,500 gross tons, and carry 3,219 passengers at double occupancy.
The Norwegian Viva's maiden voyage is set for August 10, 2023 from Venice (Trieste), Italy to Lisbon, Portugal.
However, staring in mid-December, she'll homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and sail 7-day itineraries to the Caribbean.
Silver Nova, SilverSea Cruises (August 2023)
With the debut of their first ship in 1994, SilverSea Cruises pioneered all-inclusive cruising, and construction began on their eleventh ship, Silver Nova, on November 18, 2021.
SilverSea Cruises claims that this is one of the most spacious cruise ships ever built. At only 54,700 gross registered tons with the maximum capacity of 728 guests, the space-to-guest ratio will be 75GRT per passenger.
SilverSea Nova will be the first ship at sea to feature what they've dubbed a "horizontal design," where all the cabins are located at the forward of the ship, while all public areas at at the aft.
The first sailing is a 7-night round trip voyage from Fusina (Venice), Italy on August 14, 2023.
Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn Cruise Line (October 2023)
(Pictured is the Seabourn Venture, the sister ship to the upcoming Seabourn Venture)
Seabourn Cruise Line is unlike any other; their new class of expedition ships are built with the intention of connecting passengers with nature, culture, and adventure. The first, Seabourn Venture, debuted in July 2022, and the Seabourn Pursuit will be its sister ship.
Perhaps one of the smallest new builds of today, the Seabourn Pursuit is planned to be only 23,000 gross tons.
Onboard, there will be an expedition team comprised of twenty-six academics, scientists, and naturalists, plus two submarines!
The ship's first voyage is a fourteen-day Wild Guianas to The Amazon Basin, departing from Bridgetown, Barbados on October 10, 2023 and arriving in Manaus, Brazil on October 24.
Seven Seas Grandeur, Regent Seven Seas Cruises (November 2023)
(Pictured is the Seven Seas Splendor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises' newest ship that debuted in 2020)
The Seven Seas Grandeur will be the sixth ship in what Regent Seven Seas Cruises argues is "The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™."
Known for their all-inclusive fares, Regent strives to provide guests with the pinnacle of opulence. The fare includes premium wine and alcohol, all dining, most excursions, Wi-Fi, valet laundry service, and gratuities.
Plus, their guest-to-staff ratio allows for a greater level of personalized service than other cruise lines are able to provide, as the ship will hold up to 732 passengers and will have a gross tonnage of 55,000.
The inaugural sailing is a transatlantic cruise that departs from Barcelona, Spain on November 25, 2023 and arrives in Miami, Florida on December 9, 2023.
Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Cruises (December 2023)
The highly anticipated fourth ship in Celebrity's Edge-class will enter service in December 2023.
Like her sister ships, Celebrity Ascent will feature fan-favorites including the three-deck venue Eden that offers both daytime and evening entertainment, infinite veranda staterooms, and multipurpose Magic Carpet that hangs over the side of the ship.
Her maiden voyage is a seven-night round trip Eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 3, 2023.
Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Cruise Line (December 2023)
Carnival Jubilee is the last brand-new scheduled ship in Carnival Cruise Line's foreseeable future. When launched, she'll join the Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration in the cruise line's Excel-class.
The ship's name comes from the MS Jubilee, which was a Holiday-class cruise ship that sailed for Carnival Cruise Line from 1986-2004 and was scrapped in 2017.
She'll differ from her two sister ships in that there will be two new zones onboard that have yet to be revealed by Carnival. Of course, many flagship amenities will be available, such as Guy's Burger Joint, the Alchemy Bar, Waterworks, and the third-ever roller coaster at sea: BOLT.
Carnival Jubilee will arrive in Galveston, Texas and set sail on her seven-night inaugural sailing on December 23, 2023.
Brilliant Lady, Virgin Voyages (2024)
(Pictured is the Virgin Voyages' first ship, Scarlet Lady)
Virgin Voyages is starting 2024 off strong with the launch of Brilliant Lady, the cruise line's fourth ship.
She, too, will be 110,000 gross tons and carry over 2,700 passengers!
The Brilliant Lady will enter service on January 6, 2024 and sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico on their "Sunsets in the Lesser Antilles" itinerary.
Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean (January 2024)
The next ship setting sail in January 2024 is Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, the very first of its class. In fact, Royal Caribbean has not released a new class of ships since the Quantum-class in 2014.
Kept under lock and key for years, Royal Caribbean finally unveiled the details of Project Icon in late 2022; it's nothing like they've ever done before!
Icon will rightfully steal the title of largest cruise ship in the world, but until her debut, Wonder of the Seas will continue to hold it.
There are all sorts of new features and changes to look forward to, such as a waterpark with the largest waterslides at sea, revamped pool decks, additional dining and dink venues, new stateroom categories, and a whole lot more.
When completed, Icon will be 1,198 feet long, measure 250,800 gross tons, and carry 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity.
As of January 18, 2023, all interior, ocean view, and balcony staterooms for the inaugural sailing on January 27, 2024 from Miami, Florida are sold out. Suites start at $7,075 per person, based on double occupancy.
Sun Princess, Princess Cruises (February 2024)
Sun Princess will be the third ship to be honored with the same name. The first sailed under Princess Cruises from 1974 to 1988 and the second from 1995 to 2020.
When launched, Sun Princess will be the cruise line's largest ship, as well as the first ship in the Sphere-class, and feature an epic sphere atrium, the first-ever geodesic dome inspired by the terraces of Santorini, 29 bars and restaurants, and 1,500 balcony cabins.
Additionally, Sun Princess will be the line's first liquid natural gas (LNG) powered ship.
The maiden voyage is currently planned for February 8, 2024 out of Barcelona, Spain.
Queen Anne, Cunard Line (May 2024)
Queen Anne was initially scheduled to join Cunard's fleet in 2022; however, her launch was delayed due to the COVID Pandemic.
Technically, Queen Anne will be the 249th ship in Cunard's history, and she'll be the first Cunard ship to grace the seas since Queen Elizabeth in 2010!
She will be 1,058 feet long, come in at 113,000 gross tons, and have the ability to host 2,996 guests.
Onboard, passengers can expect to find luxurious and unique venues and events, including the Pavilion Wellness Studio, which will be located on the top deck of the ship, and gala evenings.
On May 3, 2024, she'll embark on her first-ever sailing to the Lisbon and La Coruña Southampton, England.
Utopia of the Seas (Spring 2024)
(Pictured is Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis-class ship that set sail in 2022)
Royal Caribbean is set to launch the sixth Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas. She will be the first in the class powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered ship.
Little has been revealed about the ship's design; however, we assume it will be similar to the Wonder of the Seas, with thrills such as the Ultimate Abyss, FlowRider surf simulator, and a zip line that soars across the Boardwalk neighborhood.
The gross tonnage is expected to be around 236,850, with the ship's length near 1,188 feet long. At double occupancy, Utopia will be able to hold close to 5,630 passengers.
Upon completion, Utopia will be the fifteenth vessel delivered to Royal Caribbean by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and the 29th ship in their fleet.
No information regarding sailings has been released yet.
Silver Ray, SilverSea Cruises (June 2024)
Silver Ray will be the second Nova-class ship released by SilverSea Cruises and will resemble every aspect of her sister ship. Her inaugural sailing is slated for June 3, 2024 out of Southampton, England.
Explora II, Explora Journeys (August 2024)
(Pictured is concept art for Explora Journeys)
The second ship in Explora Journeys' fleet is set to make her introduction in August 2024. Explora I and Explora II will be nearly identical.
The ship will measures 64,000 gross tons and host 922 passengers per sailing.
In May of 2022, the ship's kneel laying was celebrated at the Fincantieri shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy.
Unnamed Viking cruise ship, Viking (Winter 2024)
(Pictured is concept art for Viking)
Little information has been revealed about this ship other than its expected completion date.
Mein Schiff 7, TUI Cruises (2024)
(Pictured is Mein Schiff 6, which was launched in 2017).
In November 2022, TUI Cruises released new details regarding their upcoming ship, Mein Schiff 7.
The company acknowleges the recent demand of solo cabins, so the ship will be outfitted with twelve interior and fourteen ocean view solo staterooms.
Mein Schiff will also feature new restaurants, such as a café on deck 5 and sushi eatery.
No information has been released regarding her inaugural season.
Disney Treasure (2024)
(Pictured is Disney Wish, the first Triton-class ship)
Disney Treasure will be the second ship in the line's Triton class and is planned to be "adventure themed."
The inspiration for the three-story hails from Asia and Africa and will be home to Jasmine and Aladdin statues. Unlike the bright and inviting Grand Hall onboard the Disney Wish, the Grand Hall will be outfitted with shades of dark blue and gold trimmings.
No information has been released regarding her maiden season or other ship-specific details.
MSC World America, MSC Cruises (2025)
(Pictured is MSC World Europa, the first World-class ship by MSC Cruises)
MSC World America will be the second in MSC Cruises' World-class family, following the launch of MSC World Europa.
She will be 215,863 gross tons and 1,060 feet long with a maximum capacity of 6,762 guests.
When released, she will sail round trip itineraries from Florida the Caribbean.
Unnamed third and fourth Prima-class cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Line (2025)
(Pictured is Norwegian Prima, the first Prima-class ship in Norwegian's fleet)
Little information has been revealed about these ships other than their class and expected completion year.
Unnamed second Sphere-class cruise ship, Princess Cruises (2025)
(Pictured is Discovery Princess, Princess Cruises' newest ship that set sail in March 2022)
Little information has been revealed about this ship other than the class of ship and its expected completion year.
Unnamed third Triton-class cruise ship, Disney Cruise Line (2025)
(Pictured is Disney Wish, the first Triton-class ship)
Little information has been revealed about this ship other than the class of ship and its expected completion year.
Unnamed second Allura-class cruise ship, Oceania Cruises (2025)
(Pictured is Marina, an Oceania vessel part of the Oceania-class)
Little information has been revealed about this ship other than the class of ship and its expected completion year.
Unnamed fifth Edge-class cruise ship, Celebrity Cruises (2025)
(Pictured is Celebrity Beyond, the third ship in the cruise line's Edge-class)
Little information has been revealed about this ship other than the class of ship and its expected completion date
Unnamed Viking cruise ship, Viking (2025)
(Pictured is Viking Sea)
Little information has been revealed about this ship other than its expected completion date.
Unnamed Disney Cruise ship, Disney Cruise Line (2025)
(Pictured is the Disney Fantasy)
In November 2022, Disney Cruise Line acquired the cruise ship formerly known as Global Dream.
According to a press release, "The ship's previous owner filed for bankruptcy before completing the vessel, enabling Disney Cruise Line to secure it at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance The Walt Disney Company provided on its recent earnings call."
At 208,000 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 6,000, it will be the largest Disney cruise ship.
While little has been revealed about their renovation plans, the cruise line has said that the ship will be based outside of the United States.
Unnamed second and third Icon-class cruise ships, Royal Caribbean (2025 and 2026)
(Pictured is the rendering concept art for "Thrill Island" onboard Icon of the Seas)
Little information has been revealed about these ship other than the class of ship and their expected completion years.
Unnamed third and fourth World-class cruise ships, MSC Cruises (2025 and 2027)
In early 2020, MSC Cruises signed a contract with Chantiers de l'Atlantique for two more World-class vessels that are to be completed in 2025 and 2027, respectively.
Little information has been revealed about any ship-specific details or maiden season sailings.
Unnamed fifth and sixth Prima-class cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Line (2026 and 2027)
(Pictured is a rendering photo of Norwegian Prima, the first Prima-class ship in Norwegian's fleet)
Little information has been revealed about these ships other than their class and expected completion year.
Explora III, Explora IV, & Explora V, Explora Journeys (2026, 2027, & 2028)
(Pictured is a rendering photo of Explora I, which is set to launch in July 2023)
As a new cruise line, Explora Journeys' is quickly trying to expand their fleet, releasing a total of five ships between 2023 and 2028.
Other than the ship names, no information has been revealed about ship-specific details or future voyages.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
