September 2025 Review
Rivers newcomer Celebrity Cruises unveiled novel designs for its first two ships Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker
Summer temperatures may have cooled, but river lines turned up the heat with new ship orders, innovative designs and a host of exciting products. The ocean sector wasn’t far behind with more fly-cruises, themed sailings and a sprinkling of debut destinations for 2026 and beyond.
Rivers rule the waves
AmaWaterways took the river cruise world by storm by promising eight new ships by 2030, taking its fleet to more than 40 vessels. It followed hot on the heels of Tauck’s announcement of two new river ships on the Seine and the Rhone next year. Rivers newcomer Celebrity Cruises unveiled novel designs for its first two ships Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, promising more deck-space and “Magic Edge” cantilevered dining pods. The company’s inaugural 2027 programme went on sale and sold out within hours.
There’s more rivers news too
VIVA Cruises unveiled new ship VIVA Unique to start sailing in 2027 in new destination, Italy’s River Po and the Venetian Lagoon. Riviera Travel’s 2027 programme stands out for its first dedicated solo cruisers’ ship, MS George Eliot, and its Asia debut with the new Riviera Alba on the Mekong. CroisiEurope is to launch its first paddlewheel cruises along the Seine next year and is following this in 2027 with three new eco-itineraries along the Amazon. Anyone looking for the best of both worlds can choose from combined ocean and river sailings from Scenic and Emerald Cruises which have added four new combinations.
Who’s coming and going
The new ship wheels keep turning with the float-out of Royal Caribbean’s third Icon Class ship Legend of the Seas, which debuts next August, and keel-laying of fourth Icon ship that follows in 2027. French line Ponant Explorations Group has launched new brand Ponant Yachting encompassing its three catamarans, including newest addition Spirit of Ponant II, while Princess Cruises has taken delivery of second Sphere Class ship Star Princess. Alas, Marella Cruises’ two new ships planned for 2031 and 2033 have been cancelled as the shipyard slots have been reallocated to sister brand TUI Cruises.
Highlights for 2026
Come fly with MSC Cruises thanks to its link-up with Jet2.com for an expanded programme of Fly & Cruise packages from selected UK airports to points across the Mediterranean, or dive into Windstar Cruises’ new range of themed voyages for 2025/26 encompassing art, wellness and enrichment. German line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is marking 2026 by making every cruise across its fleet bilingual with English and German spoken, while Seabourn is preparing for Seabourn Encore’s Alaskan debut from May to September next year. Celestyal Cruises is upping the ante for the 2025/26 season by confirming that both of its ships, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, will sail the Arabian Gulf, along with new Athens-Jeddah voyages.
Plus even more for 2027 and beyond
Voyages featuring Greenland and Malta’s vibrant carnival, plus a selection of mini-cruises, take pride of place in Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ 2027 line-up, while AE Expeditions’ programme of 21 departures includes nine new itineraries across the Mediterranean, Europe and Central America. Explora Journeys’ 2027/28 collection marks its inaugural Asia season along with the debut of fifth ship Explora V, while Marella Cruises has added Sarande in Albania plus the Italian city of Syracuse for summer 2027.