February 2026 Review
Emerald Cruises is gearing up to debut 128-guest superyacht Emerald Kaia in the Mediterranean this April
A triple whammy new ship order buoyed the cruise industry’s strong start to 2026 while preparations to welcome this year’s new arrivals gathered momentum. As sales opened for bucket list voyages up to 2029, some lines boosted their destination credentials with an exciting line-up of add-on shore stays.
Newcomers in the wings . . .
It was the turn of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to hit the headlines with a three-ship order – one for each of its brands NCL, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises – taking its total to 17 new builds by 2037. This came as Oceania celebrated the keel-laying of new-generation Oceania Sonata which launches in August 2027. Lip-smacking novel dining is promised for Royal Caribbean International’s newest Icon-class ship Legend of the Seas launching in July, with 28 choices including the immersive train-themed Royal Railway – Legend Station and the Hollywoodland Supper Club promising showbiz-style glitz and glamour. Emerald Cruises is gearing up to debut 128-guest superyacht Emerald Kaia in the Mediterranean this April.
River news flows in
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has teamed up with sister brand Luxury Gold, which specialises in group tours, for a new programme of luxury Cruise & Tour packages in Europe next year, while Amadeus River Cruises revealed a second Rhine concert cruise with conductor and violinist André Rieu departing on January 4, 2027. Riverside Luxury Cruises hailed 2025 as a landmark year after doubling sales, scooping industry awards and expanding its trade presence, while Emerald Cruises was looking ahead to May as it revealed a first look at new arrival Emerald Astra, whose design has been inspired by the line’s luxury yachts.
Epic voyages make their mark
Holland America Line released its 2027/28 Legendary Voyages series, with sailings spanning 26 to 47 days and including the first Caribbean-based Legendary Voyage that spends 28 days retracing historic Clipper routes through the region. Seabourn is promising the art of slow travel with a programme of ocean crossing between March 2026 and November 2027, while Explora Journeys opened reservations for its inaugural 128-day World Journey, called Endless Worlds and departing January 6, 2029. Windstar Cruises is offering 21 new itineraries across Tahiti, Asia, Latin America and more as part of its winter 2027/28 programme.
Closer to home
Sailings from UK shores have been buoyed by news that Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish will be coming to Southampton for the first time in summer 2027 with sailings of three to seven nights as part of its European debut. Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed the first season of ex-Portsmouth sailings from this April, while Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral is returning to Newcastle for a four-month stint this summer.
Land ahoy!
Cruise companies are turning their sights to shore stays with Azamara pushing destination immersion via an Alaska Cruisetours programme that accompanies its 2027 sailings in America’s frontier state. Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiled a new collection of nearly 50 curated pre and post cruise land programmes starting this year, while Seabourn announced new UK shore excursions created with crime writer Ann Cleeves (of Vera and Shetland fame). Work on Silversea’s first 150-room hotel at the bottom of the world continues apace and the luxury line unveiled interiors of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile.