March 2026 Review
Scenic Group has revealed it will launch three new luxury river ships in 2027 and early 2028.
River news flowed forth with CLIA’s successful RiverView conference in Amsterdam which sparked a raft of ship announcements. Conflict in the Middle East prompted cancellations and changes, but the industry’s roll-call of new ships and itineraries continued unabated with 2029 programmes starting to roll in.
Rivers are all the rage
Scenic Group went for the triple with three new river vessels: Emerald Nova and Scenic Aria on the Douro in June and September 2027, respectively, and Scenic Spirit II in 2028 on the Mekong. TUI River Cruises announced the fifth addition to its European fleet, TUI Elara, for 2027 and, during the christening of TUI Aria in Frankfurt, revealed two new-builds for 2028. Amadeus River Cruises is to debut Amadeus Douro, its first Douro ship, also in 2028, while AmaWaterways announced a new city escapes programme of longer stays in the likes of Paris, Strasbourg and Cologne. Celebrity River Cruises revealed a destination discovery programme based on four themes, including bespoke tours and hands-on experiences.
. . . and mixed with oceans too
Windstar Cruises is promising the best of both worlds in river-to-ocean sailings aboard 224-guest yacht Star Explorer, launching this December. Itineraries include the Seine and the Thames, Bordeaux’s waterways and Spain’s Guadalquivir River.
New and improved ships
Norwegian Cruise Line christened Prima Plus Class ship Norwegian Luna in Miami, as Royal Caribbean International revealed its fourth Icon Class ship, debuting in August 2027, will be called Hero of the Seas. MSC Cruises unveiled immersive new features to The Harbour and AquaDeck district on MSC World Asia, debuting this December, and opened sales for MSC Yacht Club on MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra as the VIP enclave is being added to both ships during a dry-dock upgrade.
Middle East crisis prompts changes
With its fleet stranded in the Arabian Gulf, Celestyal cancelled April sailings, with the next planned departures in the Mediterranean on May 1 and 2. MSC Cruises revised its winter 2026/27 programme, deploying MSC World Europa to the French Caribbean instead of the Middle East, while Explora Journeys replaced Arabian Gulf voyages on Explora II for winter 2026/7 with a Mediterranean Winter series.
Pick of the ports
Barbados is to be a homeport in Princess Cruises’ expanded 2027 and 2028 Southern Caribbean programmes for the first time since 2010, while P&O Cruises has added five new Britannia voyages for April 2027. Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal Cruises revealed their collection of 10 joint 2027 sailings, each one starting with a two-night luxury hotel stay selected by A&K. New port calls including Runavik in the Faroe Islands and Kalamata in Greece, feature in Saga Cruises 2027 programme along with anniversary voyages marking the line’s 30th birthday, while Swan Hellenic unveiled enhanced and expanded 2026-2028 Antarctic programmes following a record 2025/6 season.
2029 starts to appear
Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiled an “epic” 150-night 2029 world cruise on recently-revamped Seven Seas Mariner, departing January 6, 2029, and visiting 31 countries while Ambassador Cruise Line’s new 2028/29 programme, with departures from six UK points, features new port calls including Motril in Spain and Marseilles. Seabourn opened its 2027-29 voyage collection covering the line’s 40th anniversary in 2028 with 40 special Ruby Collection sailings, plus new Alaska summer solstice itineraries and expanded Japan seasons.