January 2026 Review
The powerful momentum of 2025 continued into the New Year with the latest financial updates exceeding expectations while Wave gathered pace, fuelling strong forward sales for 2026. Notable orders for ocean and river ships and ambitious new itineraries set a powerful pace for the year ahead.
New ships, a new ship class . . .
It was a big month for Royal Caribbean International with an order for two ships in the new Discovery Class for delivery in 2029 and 2032. The month saw construction start on the fifth Icon ship, debuting in 2028, and preparations for the next Icon class Legend of the Seas launching this summer. Norwegian Cruise Line opened sales for its largest vessel yet, Norwegian Aura, debuting in May 2027, while Explora Journeys revealed third ship, Explora III, will arrive ahead of schedule in July with a Mediterranean prelude voyage.
. . . and a new approach
It’s adults-only from now on for Oceania Cruises which is only accepting over-18s on new reservations.
Refresh and renew
Azamara Cruises is promising a new era with the biggest fleet refresh in its history, dubbed Azamara Forward and debuting on Azamara Quest this December. Silversea’s Silver Muse emerged from its first major dry dock with a newly-installed SALT Kitchen and bar, while MSC Cruises is to upgrade private Bahamian island resort Ocean Cay with new guest experiences and an extended pier.
Rivers are making waves
Celebrity River Cruises opened its 2028 season with another splash as it announced a further 10 river ships, doubling the fleet to 20 by 2031, and revealed that construction had started on first vessel Celebrity Compass. AmaWaterways unveiled a new brand identity, while Amadeus River Cruises launched its 2027 programme featuring new ship Amadeus Mira on the Rhine and Danube, plus 30 new excursions. Private experiences offering behind-the-scenes access are features of Scenic’s 2026/7 Asia sailings on the Mekong, while land tours in Laos and Japan are highlights of Emerald Cruises’ 2026/7 Asia programme.
Looking ahead to 2027/28
Princess Cruises is ramping up Europe sailings on Regal Princess with more combinable voyages and its most immersive European voyage ever with a 64-night Ultimate European Journey round-trip from Southampton. NCL’s winter 2027/8 deployment sees the return of its “Free at Sea Plus” amenities package, along with longer port stays and overnight calls particularly in Asia, Australia and New Zealand plus, for the first time ever, two of its newest ships homeporting in Puerto Rico. Carnival Cruise Line has Europe in its sights for 2027/28 with an expanded programme and its first North African ports in Tunisia and Morocco.
Far flung fancies
Ponant Explorations Group is stepping up its presence in French Polynesia this winter with two ships, Paul Gauguin and expedition vessel Le Jacques Cartier, plus new itineraries and ports of call, while Swan Hellenic has unveiled Indonesian diving expeditions on four of its winter 2026/7 Raja Ampat voyages on Minerva. Celestyal ships Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery are to sail from Athens to the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah this November as they reposition to the Arabian Gulf for winter, while MSC Cruises has revealed its first year-round South Caribbean sailings from new homeport La Romana in the Dominican Republic from November.