The ultimate guide to cruising around the globe in 2026 

What’s new in cruising this year and beyond, from the next generation of ships hitting the waters to destinations and itineraries in focus. 

Hotels at sea: the best in luxury cruising right now 

We’re living in a post-modern travel moment where cruise lines are designing ships that look like hotels – and hotel brands are designing hotels that float. It’s all in pursuit of experiential luxury, and an ultra-luxe fleet of yachts is spearheading the movement. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection kicked off the trend four years ago and has since introduced its legion of fans to the world of cruising with a trio of vessels: Evrima, Ilma and Luminara.  

Superyacht Aqua Lares will spend the summer months sailing Svalbard and the Arctic Circle.

‘Aman junkies’ feeling cruise-curious need not switch allegiance with the launch of Aman at Sea. Reservations are now open for the debut of 47-suite yacht Amangati for her Mediterranean season in the European spring of 2027, including select voyages that drop anchor at key cultural fixtures such as the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix. 

Amangati is Aman’s first foray into cruising. (Credit: Sinot)

Likewise, Four Seasons Yachts is rewriting the rules of indulgence at sea. Likened to floating palaces, its new-build vessels promise intimacy on a grand scale, where every detail feels couture-crafted. Leading the charge is Four Seasons I, a 207-metre showpiece setting sail on its inaugural voyage this season. 

Orient Express Corinthian brings nostalgia to the high seas. (Credit: Accor/Martin Darzacq)

Legendary heritage brand Orient Express is also entering the fray, launching its first-ever sailing yacht 140 years after its first luxury trains left the station. Orient Express Corinthian debuts in June 2026, sailing between Marseille, Corsica and Liguria with 54 nostalgia-rich suites and a culinary concept helmed by Yannick Alléno, one of the world’s leading chefs. Sister yacht Orient Express Olympian will follow in 2027.  

Explore Peru’s remote reaches in style with A&K Sanctuary’s Pure Amazon. (Credit: Damian Russell)

Luxury is also pushing into the wildest reaches. Aqua Expeditions’ latest superyacht, Aqua Lares, has launched in the Seychelles before it sails the Arctic from June to September, while A&K Sanctuary’s Pure Amazon brings the brand’s ethos of elevated exploration to the rainforest with a 12-cabin expedition vessel exploring Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. 

Dazzling debuts: new cruises coming this year 

New additions onboard the reinvented Celebrity Solstice include Trattoria Rossa.

Things are looking shipshape as a fleet of next-generFation vessels make their grand entrances this year and beyond. Making a splash is Explora Journeys’ newest addition, EXPLORA III, a destination in its own right that marks a milestone in the evolution of this envelope-pushing brand. Debuting ahead of schedule in the Mediterranean in July, the LNG-powered ship introduces next-gen sustainability alongside expansive design, elevated dining and immersive wellness – including a sound-healing pod.  

Expansive design onboard EXPLORA III.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Luna, the newest Prima Class ship from Norwegian Cruise Line, begins its debut sailings this year. Bookings are also now open for Norwegian Aura, the next evolution in the fleet – 10 per cent larger than its predecessors and designed with curated, family-focused experiences in mind. It launches in Europe in May 2027 before homeporting in Miami. 

MSC Cruises’ new flagship MSC World Asia sets sail in December 2026. Its design draws inspiration from Asian culture, art and landscape, including vibrant bespoke works by Vietnamese artist Hoan Phan. 

Upping the ante in the megaship stakes, Royal Caribbean will debut Legend of the Seas in Europe in July, the next in the Icon Class fleet pitched as the world’s best family holiday at sea. The line is also evolving its fleet with a cutting-edge new Discovery Class, slated to launch in 2029. 

Celebrity Solstice has been reborn. (Credit: Tracy Arm Fjord)

Celebrity Cruises is making its classics new again, investing over US$250 million to modernise its Solstice Series ships. First is Aussie fave Celebrity Solstice, which took to the seas in March with reimagined spaces, design upgrades and new onboard experiences. 

Reflective of a shift towards immersive slow travel, the demand for river cruising is ever-increasing. AmaWaterways debuts AmaSofia in the European spring, sailing the Rhine and the Danube. Next year, the brand will launch a new vessel on the Mekong as well as AmaRudi, a next-generation double-width Danube ship. 

Cruise the Danube with Uniworld. (Credit: Uniwold/Pam Mclean)

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises launches its first new-build since 2021: S.S. Emilie, a 154-passenger Super Ship sailing the Danube with Art Nouveau interiors inspired by Gustav Klimt and his muse, Emilie Flöge. The brand has announced four more ships for 2027, including S.S. Audrey and S.S. Marlene, named for screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich, plus S.S. São Rafael on Portugal’s Douro River.  

Egypt remains high on the bucket list. Viking answers the call with two new 82-guest vessels – Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet – sailing the Nile this year. Or perhaps you’ve had your fill of all that is new and cutting-edge? If so, consider stepping back in time.  

Experience life onboard Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker. 

Exploring the Caribbean and Alaska before sailing to Asia, with emphasis on immersion in Thailand and Vietnam, Windstar Cruises’ first new-build in its Star Class fleet, Star Seeker, also debuted this year. The 112-suite yacht will be joined by sister ship Star Explorer at the end of the year, purpose-built to glide into hard-to-reach river ports and cities such as London along the Thames. 

In other news, HX Expeditions has unveiled its vintage-inspired ‘1896 Cabin’ aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, inviting guests to experience life as an early polar adventurer. The immersive concept marks 130 years since HX Expeditions set out on its pioneering voyage from mainland Norway to Svalbard. 

New waters: the latest and greatest cruise itineraries  

Drop anchor at the Monaco Grand Prix with Silversea.

The year is already awash with horizon-expanding itinerary announcements. Part of 414 inspiring new sailings for 2027–28, Silversea’s three new Grand Voyages invite unhurried travellers to explore the Western Mediterranean, Asia and South America in depth over 51 to 77 days.  

Another cruise experience tapping into demand for extended itineraries, Explorations by Norwegian by My Cruises – the world’s longest cruise to and from Australia – is returning for a second year-long voyage with fresh destinations in Borneo, Kenya and the Philippines.  

Departing from Melbourne, luxury cruise line Crystal will embark on its first circumnavigation of Australia as part of its 2029 World Cruise – a 127-night voyage aboard Crystal Symphony.  

And in 2027, Uniworld will launch a collection of European itineraries blending boutique river cruising with its sister brand Luxury Gold’s premium small-group land travel. Expect everything from hiking in the Swiss alps to wine tasting on the banks of the Rhine and meeting the only saffron grower left in the Wachau Valley.  

Plus, Hurtigruten is expanding its Fjord and Arctic Voyages for 2027-28 with three brand-new ‘Limited Collection’ voyages including The Arctic Line – North, departing Copenhagen before sailing Norway’s coast.   

Sustainability at sea: eco-friendly cruise lines 

PONANT EXPLORATIONS invests in the environment. (Credit: Ponant/Daniel Ernst)

A wave of new initiatives shaped by an environmental ethos is rippling through the seas. Swap2Zero, a future transoceanic ship project from PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, is paving the way towards decarbonised, zero-emissions navigation by 2030 using breakthrough technologies and wind-assisted propulsion.  

Meanwhile, Viking’s 998-guest ocean ship Viking Libra will debut at the end of 2026 as the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, meaning it will be capable of operating with zero emissions. 

Also innovating in the eco-cruising space, HX Expeditions is launching two electric-powered ‘silent science boats’ to reduce underwater noise pollution during boat excursions in the Antarctic and Arctic.  

MSC Cruises is partnering with ORCA.

In Alaskan waters, MSC Cruises has announced a landmark partnership with marine conservation organisation ORCA to study whale behaviour, collect data and improve guest whale-watching experiences.  

Seize the moment: cruise experiences you can’t miss

Celebrity Xcel will host Med-inspired festivals during its European season.

Some experiences only come around once in a blue moon. Our advice? Seize the opportunity. Hurtigruten’s Astronomy Voyage on Signature offers first-class seats to the skin-tingling northern lights as you cruise Norway’s Arctic coast alongside an expert aurora chaser. 

Or perhaps opt for PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ solar eclipse cruises near Iceland’s fjords or off Spain’s Balearic Islands to see the rare total solar eclipse on 12 August, when the moon will obscure the sun, creating an ethereal ring. 

Plenty of cruise lines are tapping into the zeitgeist, too, and planning itineraries around cultural moments. Silversea’s newly unveiled voyage collection 2027–28 is built around some of the world’s best events and cultural, sporting and culinary festivals, from the iconic to the under-the-radar.  

Think the Monaco Grand Prix, Carnival in Rio, Awa Odori in Tokushima (Japan’s largest dance festival), the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the San Sebastián Street Festival in Puerto Rico. All promise high energy and deep community connection. 

The festivals come to life in The Bazaar onboard Celebrity Xcel. (Credit: Michel Verdure)

Seasonal sailings are also in focus, with AmaWaterways offering Festive Delights cruises that channel the warmth and wonder of Christmas along Europe’s rivers. Or explore the waters of Baja California, Mexico, during peak whale migration season with UnCruise adventures for blue whale, humpack, dolphin and flying mobula ray spotting, along with the chance to snorkel with playful seal lions.  

Cultural immersion is increasingly extending onboard, too. Celebrity Cruises’ brand-new Celebrity Xcel is a masterclass in this space. To mark its debut European season, the ship is launching four new Euro-inspired festivals at The Bazaar, designed to blend seamlessly with the in-port experience – celebrating, variously, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Moroccan flavours and flair. 

Destination spotlight: the growth of cruising Asia

Discover Japan with Princess Cruises.

Cruising in Asia is continuing to grow apace in 2026. Cruise Lines International Association data shows Asia Pacific is the fastest growing regional market. The continent sings with punchy flavours, ancient cultures and metropolises that move at lightning speed. So is it really a surprise? No.

But what continues to delight is the wealth of new ways to discover this region by water – whether you’re witnessing South Korea’s electric markets with Explora Journeys, Vietnam’s imperial citadels with Silversea or Japan’s crimson foliage with Princess Cruises; or, you can board Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, which will homeport for the first time in Singapore between October 2026 and February 2027.