If you thought cruise was a bit quiet in 2025, you won't be disappointed this year – there are loads of ship launches to get excited about in 2026!
High-profile launches in the year ahead include Royal Caribbean’s third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas; the debut vessel from Four Seasons Yachts; and the world’s first hydrogen-powered ship.
And that’s before we even get onto what the river sector has to offer – rest assured, there are plenty of river vessels for agents to get excited about too.
Here's the lowdown. And don't forget to let us know in the comments below which launches you're particularly looking forward to.
March
Disney Adventure is Disney Cruise Line’s first-ever ship to homeport in Asia. Its maiden voyage departs Singapore on 10 March. Marvel Style Studio will make its Disney Cruise Line debut on Adventure, which will also feature Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and new stage show Duffy and Friends. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a salon experience aimed at children aged three to 12. The ship will sail alternate three- and four-day cruises from Singapore throughout 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest Prima Plus Class ship, Norwegian Luna, will reposition from Civitavecchia to Miami where it will be based during its maiden programme. From April, Luna will sail seven-day Western Caribbean voyages to destinations such as Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Harvest Caye, Belize. It will also offer seven-day itineraries with calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.
Four Seasons I will be christened on 16 March at an “intimate ceremony” in Malaga before beginning its inaugural voyage four days later. The nine-night Grand Mediterranean sailing from Malaga to Valletta leads in from $51,900.
April
Emerald Kaia is the newest luxury yacht to join the Emerald Cruises fleet. The 128-passenger ship will launch on 4 April, with an 11-night maiden cruise departing Limassol, Cyprus. Ports of call include: Rhodes, Nisyros, Kos, Delos, Patmos all Greece, Bodrum and Kusadasi, both Turkey. Guests can dine at the new Night Market Grill, an Asian-inspired private dining experience for up to eight guests, for an additional cost.
The ship will also feature an infinity-style Aqua Pool with unfolding panoramas; the Amici Bar & Lounge; and a gym that opens up as an indoor/outdoor workout space.
June
Viking Mira, the first of two ocean ships Viking Cruises is launching this year, will debut in June sailing a series of Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries.
July/August
Royal Caribbean International’s third Icon class ship, Legend of the Seas, will launch on 11 July with a seven-night sailing from Civitavecchia. Royal will then host more than 500 agents from across its EMEA region, including "nearly 200 from the UK and Ireland", at its summer 2026 Seminar at Sea onboard Legend, which Royal said would be its "largest and most immersive" yet. The event will be held over 16-20 August on a Barcelona-Civitavecchia sailing, calling in Palma and La Spezia (for Florence and Pisa).
Agents will be able to experience first-hand the holiday experience onboard Legend, and take part in interactive training and Royal Q&A meets to develop the knowledge they need to sell the ship confidently. They will also enjoy welcome and farewell cocktail parties, plus onboard evening entertainment.
August
Explora Journeys’ Explora III vessel will officially launch with a seven-night sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon featuring seven ports in total. The 463-suite ship will also operate a special prelude voyage beforehand in July from Genoa to Civitavecchia. Explora Journeys president Anna Nash said: “This exclusive preview Journey is our way of honouring those who have grown with us and believed in our vision from the beginning.”
December
MSC Cruises is launching another World Class vessel in Barcelona in December. The 6,762-passenger MSC World Asia vessel will feature a new pan-Asian restaurant on the World Promenade and a new bar in Luna Park. In January 2026, MSC Group’s international sales boss Antonio Paradiso strongly hinted at inviting 100 UK and Irish agents to the naming in Barcelona. Details around the naming ceremony are currently being finalised.
Viking will launch its second ocean ship of the year in December when the 998-passenger Viking Libra join its fleet. The line claims it will be the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship.
Seven Seas Prestige will mark the launch of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ first new ship class in a decade. The 822-passenger ship is the first of three Prestige-class vessels launching before 2034. It celebrated a record-breaking on-sale day which outperformed the previous record for a new ship by 26%.
Windstar Cruises’ Star Explorer ship is slated to sail its maiden cruise on 28 December before operating a mix of European itineraries throughout the year. It will be christened on 31 May 2027 at Tower Bridge in London.
And what about river cruise?
AmaWaterways’ latest vessel, the 156-passenger AmaSofia, is scheduled to launch in Amsterdam during the Asta River Cruise Expo in March. Revenue sailings will start shortly after on the Danube and Rhine rivers.
Also in March, Uniworld’s latest super ship, Emilie, will launch. Its maiden cruise with paying passengers will depart from Amsterdam and travel to Antwerp on the Tulips and Windmills itinerary, along the rivers and canals of the Netherlands and Belgium. The line’s global chief executive and president Ellen Bettridge is expected to join this cruise as the launch coincides with the start of Uniworld’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Prior to the sailing, Uniworld is hosting 150 agents on Emilie, meaning that group will be among the first to stay overnight on the ship. The 17-19 March event will be invite-only.
To conclude a busy March, Tui River Cruises will launch its 190-passenger Tui Aria ship. The newly refurbished ship, with the highest capacity in the fleet, will sail down to European rivers: the Rhine and Moselle from Amsterdam, Basel and Frankfurt during summer 2026.
Trafalgar, part of The Travel Corporation, will operate its first-ever river cruises in April when three ships join the fleet. Trafalgar Harmonie, Trafalgar Reverie and Trafalgar Verity will sail on the Seine, the Danube and the Rhine respectively.
On 3 May, Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Astra will launch with a nine-day sailing visiting Hungary, Croatia, Belgrade, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. The ship can carry up 180 passengers and will sail on the Rhine, Moselle and Danube rivers.
Amadeus River Cruises’ new ship, Amadeus Aurea, will be christened in May and start operating the same month. The 158-passenger ship will sail on the Rhine and Danube rivers.
Travelmarvel’s new Rigel and Sirius ships will enter service in July and September respectively. Rigel will have similar “contemporary design, décor and fine furnishings” as Travelmarvel Polaris, Vega and Capella. The 62-cabin Sirius will cruise the Nile.
In July, Riviera Travel is launching Riviera Resplendence – a sister vessel to Riviera Radiance which launched last year – on the Rhine. The line will host agents on two fam trips on the ship’s Rhine Gorge and Cologne Discovery Cruise sailing.
This year, Viking is launching eight river ships including five 190-passenger Viking Longships on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers and one 168-passenger Viking Longship, called Vikiing Fjolvar, scheduled to begin sailing in July on the Seine River. Two new 82-guest ships, the Viking Ptah, and, the Viking Sekhmet, are currently scheduled to start operating on the Nile in September and November respectively.
