October 2025 Review
Princess Cruises’ second Sphere-class ship, Star Princess, embarked on its maiden voyage from Barcelona
This month proved there’s no stopping the flow of new ships – as fast as they arrive, a string of newbuilds step in to take their places behind them. It’s all go as more 2027 programmes are launched, revealing Southampton homeporting changes and the excitement of a London ship christening.
Making an entrance
Princess Cruises’ second Sphere-class ship, Star Princess, embarked on its maiden voyage from Barcelona and Celebrity Cruises welcomed Celebrity Xcel while also revealing its sixth Edge-class ship would be called Celebrity Xcite. Crystal confirmed that construction of its first new ship in 25 years would start in May 2026, with delivery in May 2028. Scenic’s third 270-guest Discovery Yacht Scenic Ikon is to launch in April 2028 and the second of Windstar Cruises’ new all-suite yachts, Star Explorer, will be named at London’s Tower Bridge on May 31, 2027.
Rivers are surging
Uniworld is embarking on its largest-ever fleet expansion for 2027 with three new Super Ships – newbuilds SS Audrey, SS Marlene and SS Sao Rafael – plus exclusive sailings on Aqua Expeditions’ Aqua Blu, marking Uniworld’s debut in Singapore and Indonesia. TUI River Cruises unveiled its biggest river programme yet for 2027, featuring first new-build TUI Luzia on the Douro, while this winter the line is adding more excursions on Nile sailings. Travelmarvel’s new Nile ship Travelmarvel Sirius is to debut from September 2026 and Emerald Cruises’ reported that latest Star-Ship, Emerald Astra, was floated out in Romania ahead of its Amsterdam debut in 2027. AmaWaterways has teamed up with the upmarket Mandarin Oriental hotel group for new pre and post cruise stays.
Looking ahead to 2027/28
Silversea unveiled its “largest-ever” voyage collection for 2027/28, featuring a debut summer season in Japan and an unprecedented number of warm water expeditions, while Holland America Line marked its 2027/28 Asia programme on Noordam with new ports including Nagoya and Maizuru. Princess Cruises’ American West Coast offering to Mexico, Hawaii and the California coast features 70 sailings on 13 itineraries. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises put their 2027 Alaska seasons on sale. RCI will have four ships in the region and its first cruise-tour land experiences, while MSC’s second Alaska programme is based on Seattle sailings aboard MSC Poesia. Quark Expeditions opened bookings for its Arctic 2027 and Antarctic 2027/28 seasons earlier than ever before with new itineraries and expanded science and discovery programmes.
Look who’s coming to Southampton
P&O Cruises flagship Britannia will homeport in Southampton year-round for the first time since its launch from winter 2027/8, while MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia will be based at the Hampshire port from May-October 2027.
New experiences at sea and ashore
Cultural evenings in Ecuador, Japan, Shanghai and Helsinki are among 35 new AzAmazing Evenings offered by Azamara Cruises in 2026, while Royal Caribbean International is opening its own resort, the Royal Beach Club Santorini, next summer on the Greek island. P&O Cruises’ adult-only ships, Arcadia and Aurora, are opening up to families on selected sailings from December 2026, and Ambassador Cruise Line is wooing Greatest Hits Radio fans after teaming up with the station again to spin classic sounds on its second Greatest Hits Radio Escape II sailing aboard Ambience next March.