The cruise industry already has a packed order-book for 2027 and 2028, with 17 new ships expected across some of the biggest names in cruising.
The lineup covers almost every part of the market. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, and Disney all have major new ships on the way, while Viking, Explora Journeys, Crystal, Oceania, and Celebrity are also adding to their fleets.
Some of these ships are extensions of classes cruisers already know, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon and Oasis classes, Carnival’s Excel class, and Norwegian’s Prima Plus class. Others represent something new, such as Oceania Sonata, which will launch an entirely new class for the line.
There’s a huge range in size too. Some of the new luxury ships will carry fewer than 1,000 guests, while the biggest vessels on order are designed for well over 6,000 passengers.
Here’s a look at the new cruise ships currently expected to debut in 2027 and 2028, along with what we know about them so far.
New Cruise Ships Coming In 2027
Nine new ships are currently expected to enter service in 2027, including major additions from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Viking, Oceania, and Explora Journeys.
Some will extend existing ship classes, while Oceania Sonata will introduce an entirely new one. Here’s what’s currently planned for the year.
Carnival Festivale – Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Festivale is scheduled to join Carnival Cruise Line in spring 2027 as the fourth ship in the Excel class.
A major part of the ship’s identity will be music. Studio 724 will span three decks and use media and sound to create an immersive themed space, while also incorporating restaurants and bars. Another area, The Festival, will have more of an outdoor music-festival atmosphere with additional food and drink venues.
Several new dining and bar concepts are also planned. The Spark and Mix will both follow the music theme, while the restaurant lineup will include Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, Fetaccine for Mediterranean dishes, Uku Lei Lei for Hawaiian-Asian food, and Le Bistro Musicale for Parisian café-style bites.
Outdoor attractions are getting plenty of attention too. Sunsation Point will be a new three-deck area centered around a waterpark with four waterslides. Carnival also plans to operate the waterpark after dark, making it the first Carnival ship where guests will be able to use the waterpark at night.
The Festivale name itself goes back much further than the Excel class. Carnival previously operated a ship of the same name in the 1970s. That earlier vessel carried roughly 1,400 passengers, compared with 5,356 guests at double occupancy on the new ship, with room for more when extra berths are in use.
- Debut: Spring 2027
- Guest Capacity: 5,356 at double occupancy
- Gross Tonnage: 182,015 GT
- Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Explora IV – Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is continuing its rapid fleet expansion with Explora IV, which is expected to enter service in summer 2027.
The ship will be part of a six-vessel luxury fleet that Explora Journeys plans to have in service by 2028. Like the ships that come before it, Explora IV is expected to focus on a smaller-scale, luxury experience rather than trying to compete with the huge resort-style ships being launched elsewhere in the industry.
Explora IV will be LNG-powered and is expected to share many of the same features as its sister ships. That includes 461 ocean-front suites, seven restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, and five heated pools.
The line also places a strong emphasis on service levels. Explora IV is expected to operate with a passenger-to-crew ratio of about 1.25 to 1, which is one of the main ways the brand distinguishes itself in the luxury market.
- Debut: Summer 2027
- Guest Capacity: Approximately 900
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 72,000 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Norwegian Aura – Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Aura will arrive in May 2027 as the largest ship Norwegian Cruise Line has operated to date.
At 172,000 gross tons, it will be around 10% larger than Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, and NCL is using that additional space to expand several areas already familiar to Prima Plus guests. Ocean Boulevard will be about 11% larger, the pool deck will grow by around 20%, Vibe Beach Club will be roughly 15% bigger, and the ship will have about 30% more suites.
One of the biggest new spaces will be Ocean Heights, an open-air area covering Decks 18 through 21. It will be designed around family activities during the day, before shifting toward a more relaxed atmosphere in the evening.
Norwegian Aura will also set a new fleet record for the number of slides onboard. Eclipse Racers will be a dueling mat-racer waterslide, Aura Free Fall will add a drop-style experience, and The Wave will be a lotus-style waterslide. An 82-foot ropes course will add another option for passengers looking for something more active.
Vibe Beach Club will also introduce private cabanas that extend over the side of the ship, while Ocean Boulevard will gain a new bar along the promenade.
- Debut: May 2027
- Guest Capacity: 3,840 at double occupancy
- Gross Tonnage: 172,000 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Viking Astrea – Viking
Viking Astrea is scheduled to enter service in 2027, continuing Viking’s established small-ship, adults-only approach.
The ship will carry 998 guests in 499 staterooms and will follow the same general size and design philosophy as Viking’s other ocean ships.
One important difference will be its propulsion system. Viking has confirmed that Viking Astrea will be hydrogen powered, following Viking Libra, which is due to become the company’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship in late 2026. Viking says Viking Astrea will also be capable of operating with zero emissions.
Facilities will include Viking’s familiar mix of restaurants, lounges, a spa, fitness facilities, and quieter public areas rather than large-scale attractions.
- Debut: 2027
- Guest Capacity: 998
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 54,300 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Recommended read: 7 Big Changes Coming to Viking Cruises in 2026 and Beyond
Hero Of The Seas – Royal Caribbean
Hero of the Seas will become Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship when it enters service in August 2027.
The biggest differences are expected around the ship’s pools and water attractions. Coconut Cove will add a new pool near The Lime and Coconut, while The Hideaway will have two pools on this ship. Splashaway Bay is also getting new attractions.
The waterpark will introduce two new slides, including what is expected to be the first funnel raft slide at sea.
Royal Caribbean is also changing up the food and activity lineup. Hero of the Seas will have its own version of the Icon-class supper club, this time inspired by the early 20th-century French Quarter. Surfside will gain a new cooking class experience, while AquaDome Market will feature four new concepts.
Those additions will sit within the broader Icon-class setup cruisers already know. Hero of the Seas will still have eight neighborhoods, extensive pool areas, and 28 dining venues spread across the ship.
So while the overall layout will remain recognizably Icon class, Royal Caribbean is using the fourth ship to introduce several new venues and attractions rather than simply repeating the same onboard experience.
- Debut: August 2027
- Guest Capacity: 5,610 at double occupancy
- Gross Tonnage: 248,663 GT
- Shipyard: Meyer Turku, Turku, Finland
Suggested read: Royal Caribbean Confirms a Brand-New “Discovery Class” of Cruise Ships
Oceania Sonata – Oceania Cruises
Oceania Sonata will be the first ship in Oceania Cruises’ new Sonata class when it debuts in August 2027. The class is now expected to include five ships following an additional order placed in 2026.
Dining is one of the areas where Oceania Sonata will introduce some of its most distinctive features. The ship will have 10 restaurants, including La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.
Oceania has described La Table as “the most exclusive fine-dining restaurant at sea.” It will seat just 18 guests at a time and is expected to be the only restaurant at sea carrying the approval of Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.
Another new option will be Nikkei Kitchen, which will combine Peruvian and Japanese influences.
Accommodation is also a major part of the new design. Nearly a third of the ship’s accommodations will be suites, and every cabin and suite is expected to have a private veranda.
Among the new categories are Horizon Suites measuring more than 600 square feet. These will include separate living and sleeping areas, as well as walk-through wardrobes.
The largest accommodations will be the Owner’s Suites, which will measure around 2,500 square feet. Located on the aft corners of the ship, they will offer 180-degree views and include two bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom.
Oceania has said Oceania Sonata will be its most spacious ship to date, with the new class designed to provide more room across both accommodations and public areas.
- Debut: August 2027
- Guest Capacity: 1,390
- Gross Tonnage: 86,000 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Related read: Oceania Cruises Has Officially Made the Switch to Adults-Only
MSC World Atlantic – MSC Cruises
MSC World Atlantic is expected to enter service in November 2027 as the fourth ship in MSC Cruises’ World class.
The ship will continue many of the features already introduced on earlier World-class vessels, including The Clubhouse entertainment space and the Cliffhanger overwater swing. At the same time, MSC is planning several additions of its own.
One of those will be Viva La Musica, a new lounge centered around Latin music and cocktails. MSC has also said the ship will include new “thrill-seeker-style” attractions, although details of those features have not yet been announced.
There will be plenty of space for all of this. MSC World Atlantic is expected to offer more than 38,000 square meters of public areas, along with more than 40 restaurants and bars spread across the ship.
- Debut: November 2027
- Guest Capacity: 6,758
- Gross Tonnage: 215,863 GT
- Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France
Related read: MSC Is Planning a New Generation of Mega Ships – Here’s What We Know So Far
Explora V – Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is expected to add a second new ship in 2027 with Explora V, which is scheduled to enter service in December.
It will follow closely behind Explora IV and is expected to offer a very similar onboard experience. The ship will have 457 ocean-front suites, along with five heated pools, seven restaurants, and 12 bars and lounges.
Explora V will also continue the line’s focus on newer fuel technologies and lower-emission operations, which have been part of the wider fleet expansion strategy.
Like the other Explora ships, the emphasis will be on a smaller-scale luxury experience with a high level of service rather than large resort-style attractions.
- Debut: December 2027
- Guest Capacity: Approximately 900
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 72,000 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Disney Believe – Disney Cruise Line
Disney Believe is expected to join Disney Cruise Line in 2027 as the fourth ship in the Wish class.
Disney has now revealed more about how the ship will look. Its Grand Hall will be themed around Moana, with a bronze statue of Moana alongside Pua and Heihei as a focal point.
The exterior artwork will also give Disney Believe its own identity. Tinker Bell will appear on the bow, while Buzz Lightyear and Woody will feature on the stern.
The ship will continue Disney’s wider use of familiar characters and stories throughout its fleet, while still sharing the basic platform used by Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.
Disney’s expansion plans also extend beyond Disney Believe. A new class of smaller ships is expected to begin arriving in 2029.
- Debut: 2027
- Guest Capacity: Approximately 4,000
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 144,000 GT
- Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Further reading: Disney Cruise Line Reveals Disney Believe Designs and a Completely New Class Of Ships
New Cruise Ships Coming In 2028
The 2028 orderbook is a little less settled than 2027, with several ships still unnamed and some details yet to be announced.
Even so, there’s already a broad mix on the way. Luxury lines such as Viking, Crystal, and Explora Journeys have new ships planned, while Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, and Norwegian are continuing to expand some of their biggest and best-known ship classes.
Viking Lyra – Viking
Viking Lyra is expected to enter service in May 2028 as the 17th ocean ship in Viking’s fleet.
Like the rest of the line’s ocean vessels, it is expected to follow Viking’s adults-only format with a strong focus on quieter spaces, simple Nordic-inspired design, and a smaller guest count.
The ship will measure around 784 feet long with a beam of about 101 feet and will span 10 decks. It is expected to carry 998 guests in 499 cabins.
Onboard facilities will include several dining and drinking venues, a spa, fitness center, and pools. In keeping with Viking’s usual approach, there will be no casino onboard.
- Debut: May 2028
- Guest Capacity: 998
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 54,300 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Crystal Grace – Crystal Cruises
Crystal Grace is scheduled to debut in 2028 as Crystal Cruises’ first new ocean ship in 25 years.
The ship will carry around 650 guests, which is small by current industry standards, and Crystal is emphasizing the amount of space available per passenger. The line expects Crystal Grace to offer one of the highest guest-to-space ratios at sea.
Recreation and family spaces will also be part of the design. The ship will include areas specifically for younger guests, including a children’s pool area, along with paddle tennis and pickleball courts. Private cabanas overlooking the pool will provide another option for passengers who want more dedicated outdoor space.
Dining will be a major part of the ship as well. Crystal says Crystal Grace will feature the only Nobu restaurant at sea, while Beefbar will also be among the ship’s nine dining venues.
The relatively low guest capacity, combined with the new dining and leisure spaces, is clearly intended to keep the onboard experience more spacious and less crowded than what passengers might find on much larger ships.
- Debut: 2028
- Guest Capacity: 650
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 62,000 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Explora VI – Explora Journeys
Explora VI is expected to enter service in August 2028 and will complete Explora Journeys’ currently planned six-ship fleet.
The luxury line, which is part of MSC Group, has been expanding steadily since its first ship entered service in 2023. Explora VI is expected to continue the same small-ship model, with just over 450 ocean-front suites and a strong focus on space, service, and lower-emission operations.
Onboard, the ship is expected to feature five heated pools, seven restaurants, and 12 bars and lounges. The line also plans to maintain a guest-to-crew ratio of around 1.25 to 1.
Explora Journeys has described Explora VI as a “floating hotel,” which fits the brand’s emphasis on residential-style spaces and a less traditional cruise-ship feel.
- Debut: August 2028
- Guest Capacity: 922
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 72,800 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
Celebrity Xcite – Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Xcite is scheduled to debut in November 2028 as the sixth ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge class.
The ship is expected to continue the design approach seen across the rest of the class, with a strong focus on ocean views, open public spaces, and modern onboard venues. It is also likely to share several features with Celebrity Xcel, which entered service in 2025.
At this stage, Celebrity has not released a great deal of detail about what will make Celebrity Xcite different from its sister ships, so much of the final onboard lineup is still to come.
What is clear is that Celebrity is continuing to build on the Edge-class formula rather than introducing a completely new ship concept for 2028.
- Debut: November 2028
- Guest Capacity: 2,900
- Gross Tonnage: 141,000 GT
- Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, France
Carnival Tropicale – Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Tropicale is expected to join Carnival Cruise Line in 2028 as the fifth ship in the Excel class.
The class began with Mardi Gras in 2021 and later expanded with Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee. Carnival Festivale is due to follow in 2027, with Carnival Tropicale arriving after that.
Like Carnival Festivale, the name is a nod to Carnival’s past. The original Tropicale entered service in the 1980s, so the 2028 ship will revive another name from the line’s earlier fleet.
Carnival has not revealed as much about Carnival Tropicale yet, but the line has confirmed one important detail: the ship will homeport in Galveston, Texas, when it enters service. It will join Carnival Jubilee there, giving Galveston two Excel-class ships.
More details about its onboard venues and attractions are expected as the ship gets closer to launch.
- Debut: 2028
- Guest Capacity: Approximately 5,000–6,000
- Gross Tonnage: Approximately 180,000 GT
- Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Germany
Royal Caribbean’s Fifth Icon-Class Ship
Royal Caribbean is expected to add another Icon-class ship in 2028, which will become the fifth vessel in the class.
The ship has not yet been named, and relatively few details have been released so far. Based on what has been announced, it will continue Royal Caribbean’s expansion of the Icon class rather than introducing a completely separate design.
That means the ship is expected to follow the same broad formula as its sister vessels, with a large range of cabins, dining venues, entertainment, and family-focused attractions. However, Royal Caribbean has not yet confirmed which features will be carried over unchanged or what new additions may be introduced.
For now, several important specifications, including gross tonnage and guest capacity, remain unconfirmed.
- Debut: 2028
- Guest Capacity: TBA
- Gross Tonnage: TBA
- Shipyard: Meyer Turku, Finland
Royal Caribbean’s Seventh Oasis-Class Ship
Royal Caribbean is also expected to expand its Oasis class again in 2028 with a seventh ship in the series.
The Oasis class first entered service in 2009 and has changed considerably over the years, with newer ships introducing updated dining, entertainment, and outdoor spaces while keeping the basic neighborhood-style layout that defines the class.
The 2028 ship has not yet been named, and Royal Caribbean has released very little information about it so far.
For now, it is reasonable to expect the vessel to build on the direction seen with more recent Oasis-class ships such as Utopia of the Seas, but specific attractions, restaurants, and design changes have not yet been confirmed.
- Debut: 2028
- Guest Capacity: TBA
- Gross Tonnage: TBA
- Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, France
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Fourth Prima Plus-Class Ship
Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to add its fourth Prima Plus-class ship in 2028, following Norwegian Aura in 2027.
The unnamed vessel is expected to be similar in size to Norwegian Aura, at around 172,000 gross tons, with capacity for about 3,840 guests at double occupancy.
It is also expected to be the final ship in the Prima and Prima Plus series before Norwegian moves on to a new class of even larger vessels.
That would make the 2028 ship something of a bridge between two eras for the line. It will continue the design direction of the Prima family, while Norwegian prepares for a much larger long-term expansion program with Fincantieri extending through 2037.
- Debut: 2028
- Guest Capacity: 3,840 at double occupancy
- Gross Tonnage: 172,000 GT
- Shipyard: Fincantieri, Italy
What The 2027–2028 Orderbook Tells Us
Looking across the ships due in 2027 and 2028, there’s no single direction the cruise industry is moving in.
Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Norwegian are continuing to invest heavily in large ships with more attractions, dining venues, and onboard entertainment. At the same time, lines such as Explora Journeys, Viking, Crystal, and Oceania are expanding with smaller ships that place more emphasis on space, service, and a quieter onboard experience.
There’s also a clear split between ships that continue an existing class and those that mark a bigger change. Oceania Sonata will introduce an entirely new class, while several of the others are updated versions of ship designs cruisers already know.
The 2028 lineup is also still taking shape. Some ships remain unnamed, and several details have yet to be confirmed, so more announcements are likely as their launch dates get closer.
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