March 2025 Review
New ships ahoy! The launch season is with us as the first new-builds of the year take to the waters, and it’s all systems go on the rivers with a string of new ships promised. Meanwhile, cruise lines continue to unveil a steady stream of sailings as far ahead as 2028.
Rivers rule the waves
Uniworld announced that it is building three new Super Ships which will join its fleet in 2027, following the launch of SS Emilie next March, while CroisiEurope revealed it is building a new luxury craft to offer eco-tourism sailings on the Brazilian Amazon from early 2027. The 32-passenger vessel will homeport in Manaus offering 12-day itineraries. Avalon Waterways says it is taking its Suite Ships to the next level over the next two years with a fleet-wide revamp that includes improved wifi, fresh interiors and upgraded outdoor areas. Meanwhile Riverside Luxury Cruises is targeting solo cruisers with sailings where single supplements have been waived.
Hello to new ships and a new name . . .
As Norwegian Cruise Line welcomed Norwegian Aqua, MSC Cruises was counting down to April’s naming of MSC World America by American actress Drew Barrymore at its new terminal in Miami. TUI Group confirmed plans to order two new-build ships for Marella Cruises, though these will not launch until around 2031 and 2033 due to shipyard constraints. Further ahead in the build stakes is Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Prestige following this month’s keel laying. Due to debut next year, it is Regent’s first new ship class in a decade, while French-based Ponant has become Ponant Explorations as part of the newly-named Ponant Explorations Group.
. . . and farewell to
Seabourn Cruises’ Seabourn Sojourn which has been sold to Japanese line Mitsui Ocean Cruises, which previously bought its sister ship Seabourn Odyssey. Sojourn will leave the Seabourn fleet at the completion of its world cruise in May 2026.
2026 progs and beyond
Swan Hellenic has unveiled an enhanced 2026/27 Antarctica programme with 24 sailings from Ushuaia and a 20-night semi-circumnavigation from Cape Town on SH Vega and SH Diana, while Holland America Line’s 2026/27 Hawaii, Mexico and Panama Canal selection features 12 transits through the famous waterway. Saga Cruises is including an excursion in every port in its new 2026 season, which also features new five-night mini voyages, while Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s new autumn/winter 2026 programme has reportedly reeled in record-breaking sales after featuring new inclusive pricing and dining drinks. Princess Cruises has put its 26/27 south-east Asia sailings on sale, with Diamond Princess homeporting in Singapore.
New world cruises
Talk about planning ahead, Silversea has unveiled its 2028 circumnavigation, a 132-day extravaganza on Silver Shadow which departs Miami on January 5, 2028, and finishes in Nice on May 16, having visited 29 countries and made 17 overnight stops. More than 100 ports in 46 countries feature in Oceania Cruises’ newly-released 2027 World Cruise on Vista which spans 180 days, departing Miami on January 6, 2027, before finishing in Southampton on July 5. There’s also a mega 224-day option (the longest one Oceania has ever offered on a world voyage) which continues on to New York finishing there on September 7.