The cruise industry has been growing at an incredible pace in recent years. Almost every year, new ships are introduced, and the number of passengers keeps climbing.
But which ships are the most anticipated in the coming years? Below is a list of soon-to-launch ships that you definitely won’t want to miss.
As you’ll notice, the list includes ships from all the major cruise lines, and each one will bring exciting new features that are set to change the cruise world forever!
Star of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is set to launch on August 31, 2025 as the second of the Icon-class mega-ships. It will be a 250,800-ton ship with 20 decks and will carry about about 7,600 people.
According to the last news, Star of the Seas will be based in Port Canaveral and will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries with stops like St. Kitts, San Juan, Cozumel, and a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay on every cruise.
Like all the last Royal Caribbean ships, Star of the Seas is designed for family fun on a massive scale. Onboard, you will find the largest water park at sea and an adults-only suspended infinity pool offering panoramic ocean views.
Guests can also expect some Royal Caribbean favorites, including neighborhoods like Central Park and the Surfside family zone, alongside brand-new entertainment such as a dazzling Broadway-caliber show and even a “Chief Island Officer” mascot dog to charm families.
The cabins will range from budget-friendly interiors to the incredible Ultimate Family Townhouse, a three-story suite with a slide and private patio.
Star of the Seas is definitely one of the most hyped cruise debuts of 2025.
MSC World Asia (MSC Cruises)
MSC Cruises’ MSC World Asia is one of the most anticipated new ships of 2026, marking the third entry in MSC’s World-class series of mega-ships.
This new huge ship will be comparable in size to her sisters (around 215,000 gross tons and 333 meters long) and will carry up to 6,750 passengers with about 2,140 crew members.
From what we know, MSC World Asia will initially debut in the Western Mediterranean during winter 2026-27 but one unique aspect is its flexible homeporting: the ship will offer 7-night itineraries embarking from multiple ports like Barcelona, Marseille, and Genoa, making the cruise easily accessible from several cities.
True to its name, MSC World Asia will incorporate elegant design aspects inspired by Asia’s rich cultures and landscapes , but there are still no pictures of the interior at the moment.
While it will serve Europe initially, the idea will probably be to bring MSC’s brand of cruising to Asia.
Just a reminder: back in 2019, Costa Cruises also tried to expand into Asia, especially China, but with little success. Will it be any different for MSC?
Well, for now, its innovative design (plus the prospect of eventual Asian itineraries) makes it one of the most hyped ships on the horizon for 2026.
Carnival Festivale (Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Festivale is set to debut in spring 2027 as the fleet’s next Excel-class mega-ship.
As someone may have noticed, this ship revives the name of one of Carnival’s classic 1970s ships, but everything on board will be thoroughly next-generation.
At roughly 180,000 gross tons and with a max capacity of about 6,500 guests, Festivale will rank among the largest ships in Carnival’s history.
It will homeport at Port Canaveral, Florida, with specific Caribbean itineraries to be announced closer to launch.
You could probably expect weeklong Caribbean cruises packed with Carnival’s signature fun, likely including calls to new destinations and Carnival’s own island destinations in the Bahamas.
An interesting thing to mention is that it will not have the BOLT rollercoaster found on its sister ships in favor of “Sunsation Point,” an outdoor family recreation zone spanning the top three decks.
This area will offer fresh ways for families to play and relax together, capitalizing on the space freed up by removing the coaster.
In addition, Festivale will introduce music-themed venues that celebrate different genres, presumably with live entertainment to match.
Of course, Carnival’s favorites will return: an onboard waterpark, the expansive Serenity adults-only retreat, and a great array of dining options from casual to upscale restaurants.
Like its sisters, it will be powered by LNG fuel in order to be both fun and environmentally friendlier.
Thanks to all these elements, Carnival Festivale is the most anticipated “Fun Ship”, as Carnival promises it will represent the next generation of Carnival cruising.
Disney Destiny (Disney Cruise Line)
Disney is also about to launch a brand new cruise ship. It will be called Disney Destiny and will be launched in late 2025 as the third vessel in Disney’s Wish-class series.
For now, the inaugural voyage is scheduled for November 20, 2025, with Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale as its home port.
This ship will be a sister to the Disney Wish (2022) and Disney Treasure (2024), meaning a gross tonnage around 140,000 and an expected capacity of about 4,000 passengers with 1,555 crew.
Destiny’s initial itineraries will focus on the Caribbean and Bahamas, giving guests a mix of tropical vacation with a unique Disney atmosphere.
Itineraries are still not confirmed, but week-long cruises from Fort Lauderdale are likely to include calls at classic Eastern Caribbean ports like St. Thomas and St. Maarten, as well as stops in the Bahamas, including Disney’s own private island.
Onboard, Disney Destiny will carry forward the best elements of the Wish-class while carving out its own identity through the great Disney imaginative theming.
For example, Disney Cruise Line is famous for its richly themed dining experiences, and Destiny will continue this tradition: families can dine in venues that might feature the worlds of Disney movies (for example, Disney Wish has a Frozen-themed dinner musical and a Marvel cinematic dining adventure).
The ship will also have a beautiful Walt Disney Theatre for Broadway-quality stage shows, likely including a new original production alongside favorites.
Like all Disney ships, this one will be designed primarily with kids in mind, but adults will have their own spaces too. There will probably be adult-exclusive areas such as the elegant dining at Palo or Enchanté, a big spa, and maybe a themed lounge.
Its arrival will cap off Disney’s rapid fleet expansion, and cruisers who love Disney are eagerly awaiting what new things Destiny will unveil as she joins the fleet in 2025.
Norwegian Luna (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Luna is Norwegian Cruise Line’s upcoming ship, launching in April 2026 as the second ship in NCL’s Prima Plus class.
According to the first reports, it will reach 156,300 tons, so about 10% larger than the earlier Prima-class ships, with 1,056 feet long and accommodating roughly 3,550 guests (on double occupancy).
Norwegian Luna will have its inaugural season in Miami in spring 2026, offering a mix of Caribbean itineraries.
Initial 7-night cruises will feature two alternating routes: one western Caribbean itinerary stopping in Roatán (Honduras), Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico), and NCL’s private Harvest Caye in Belize.
And another eastern itinerary visiting Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Tortola (BVI), St. Thomas, and Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s Bahamian island (which will have a new pier by late 2025).
As a Prima Plus ship, Norwegian Luna will build on the innovations of Norwegian Prima, with some big twists. In fact, designers have replaced the go-kart racetrack of the first Prima ships with the Aqua Slidecoaster, a groundbreaking new attraction that combines the thrills of a roller coaster with a waterslide.
Debuted on sister ship Norwegian Aqua, this two-person slidecoaster uses a magnetic launch to propel riders through multi-story twists at up to 30+ mph. In addition, with the space saved, Luna also features expanded leisure areas like the Glow Court, an interactive LED-lit sports court for playful games day or night.
You will also find infinity-edge pools and glass-bottom bridges at Ocean Boulevard, spacious outdoor lounge areas, and a wide array of dining choices, from food-hall style areas to upscale restaurants.
In short, Norwegian Luna promises “more of everything” for NCL lovers. More space, more amenities, and more innovation, and this definitely make Luna one of 2026’s most awaited new ships.
Celebrity Xcel (Celebrity Cruises)
The Celebrity Xcel will make its debut in late 2025 as Celebrity Cruises’ newest Edge-series ship.
More specifically, it is set to launch on November 18, 2025 from Fort Lauderdale and will immediately start a season of Caribbean cruises, ranging across the Western, Eastern, and Southern Caribbean islands
This ship continues the upscale innovation of Celebrity’s Edge-class. At roughly 140,000 gross tons and about 1,073 feet long, with a capacity of approximately 3,260 passengers, it will be among Celebrity’s largest ships.
The itineraries will bring guests to very famous cruise ports (like Cozumel, St. Thomas, Aruba) while offering the prefmium onboard experience Celebrity is known for.
On board Celebrity Xcel, you will find all the beloved features of the Edge-class and some new things. Accommodations will include the loved Infinite Veranda staterooms, where with the touch of a button the entire cabin wall opens to the sea.
Xcel will have nearly 30 dining and bar venues, from high-end specialty restaurants to various complimentary dining rooms. An interesting thing that Celebrity does is to divide its main dining into four themed restaurants (Tuscan, Normandie, Cosmopolitan, and Cyprus), each with different ambiances and menus.
As usual, entertainment will be top notch, with a technologically advanced theater and productions that are crafted down to the tiniest detail.
If you prefer to relax, you will enjoy the two-level Solarium pool and the Rooftop Garden, an open-air deck filled with live plants and cozy seating (we already saw it on Celebrity Beyond, I’ll drop a photo below).
So to conclude, Celebrity Xcel is the best choice if you’re looking for “modern luxury” at sea. What makes it special is this blend of high-tech innovation and the usual elegant comfort and premium vibe.
As Celebrity’s first new ship in a couple of years and a standard-bearer for the line’s future direction, Celebrity Xcel definitely deserves a spot on this list of the most anticipated cruise ships.
I have tried several of them but these are the most durable and sturdy.
