I love a new cruise ship – there’s always something to get excited about. Even if it’s a sister ship to one that’s already sailing, there are normally a few new features, or at least the chance to experience that class of ship in some new destinations.
And in 2025, we’re hardly getting short-changed – there’s an impressive 15 new cruise ships launching!
Some of these have already set sail, but be aware that delays could still happen. After all, some of these ships were originally scheduled for 2024…
1. Mein Schiff Relax
- Cruise line: TUI Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 160,000
- Capacity: 3,894
- Inaugural sailing: March 2025
Mein Schiff Relax is the eighth ship in the TUI Cruises fleet, primarily aimed at the German cruise market (though it’s far from exclusive and anyone’s welcome to book).
She is quite distinct from the seven ships that have come before her, as she’s the first in the new InTUItion class.
Apart from being almost 50% bigger, she has new features for the fleet, including single occupancy cabins for the first time on a TUI ship, and the beautiful Freedom Suite – a two-storey option that sleeps up to six guests.
She is also the first TUI ship to be powered by LNG, a cleaner fuel type.
She launched in March 2025 with a maiden summer season in the Mediterranean, and she’s due to be joined by a sister ship in 2026.
2. Norwegian Aqua
- Cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Line
- Gross Tonnage: 156,000
- Capacity: 3,550
- Inaugural sailing: March 2025
Norwegian Cruise Line introduced a new sub-class of ship with Norwegian Aqua. She is the first Prima Plus ship, taking the design of the existing Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Aqua and expanding upon it.
Norwegian Aqua isn’t the biggest ship in the fleet – the Breakaway Plus subclass keeps that title – but she does offer a huge range of exciting features.
Chief among those will be the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world’s first combination rollercoaster and waterslide (not just at sea, but anywhere in the world!).
Guests can also enjoy relaxing in the sumptuous Infinity Beach area, bracing the glass-floored Oceanwalk, and the most luxurious Haven accommodations yet.
Norwegian Aqua’s inaugural season offers sailings from New York, Port Canaveral and Miami, with itineraries including calls at NCL’s private resort Great Stirrup Cay.
3. MSC World America
- Cruise line: MSC Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 215,863
- Capacity: 6,762
- Inaugural sailing: April 2025
The second World Class ship to launch for MSC Cruises, MSC World America joined MSC World Europa as the largest ships in the fleet.
She is also the biggest MSC Cruises ship to sail around the Caribbean, offering cruises to the eastern and western sides of the region from Miami, including visits to MSC’s private island Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.
She continues the trend of recent MSC ships to blend innovative tech with sleek, modern design.
There are more than 30 bars, lounges and restaurants where guests can unwind, along with a host of leisure facilities including the MSC SportPlex with rollerskate arena, and plenty of live entertainment in the theatres and lounges, along with pop-up experiences all over the ship.
It’s also the first MSC ship with a comedy club!
MSC World America launched in April and is enjoying her maiden Caribbean season.
4. Allura
- Cruise line: Oceania Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 68,000
- Capacity: 1,200
- Expected delivery: June 2025
Typically, when a cruise line names a class after a ship, it’s the first ship in that class given the naming right. Typically, but not always. Oceania is making an exception, as Allura is set to become the second ship in the new Allura Class, following her sister ship Vista which launched in 2023.
Expect a continuation of everything that makes Oceania’s ships so great, including incredible dining options as part of The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
There’ll also be beautiful luxury accommodations that you can book, and exciting experiences. Allura will have a focus on mixology, with “experiential beverage carts” taking cocktails to whole new levels.
Allura’s inaugural season will include sailings in the Eastern Mediterranean and then around the Americas.
5. American Patriot
- Cruise line: American Cruise Lines
- Gross Tonnage: 3,000
- Capacity: 125
- Expected delivery: June 2025
American Cruise Lines is a smaller cruise company based in the US (and before you say “duh”, Norwegian Cruise Line ISN’T based in Norway, even if it was founded there, so it’s a valid point…).
They offer a mix of coastal and Great Lakes cruises, and American Patriot will be the first of two new Coastal Cat ships, part of a new Patriot Class.
She’s set to offer cruises in the New England region, and will accommodate up to 125 guests across just 56 suites, all of which have a private balcony. Her inaugural sailing will be a 14-night cruise from Boston.
6. Viking Vesta
- Cruise line: Viking Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 47,000
- Capacity: 998
- Expected delivery: July 2025
Viking Vesta will be the 12th ocean cruise ship in the Viking fleet – this is one company that loves to build a large fleet, as we’ve already seen with their river cruise arm.
Like her sister ship Viking Vela, which launched in December 2024, she’ll be larger than the previous 10 ships in the fleet, though not by much – she will still offer a luxury experience for under 1,000 guests.
Expect the same high-class facilities as you’d find across the rest of the fleet, including several bars and lounges, a main dining room and two speciality restaurants, a winter garden and two separate pool decks.
She’ll also feature stunning accommodations including the Owner’s Suite, which has its own private library, an ocean-view dry sauna and more.
Viking Vesta will offer cruises all across Europe in her inaugural season.
7. Luminara
- Cruise line: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 46,750
- Capacity: 452
- Expected delivery: July 2025
Luminara will be the third superyacht sailing for Ritz Carlton, the company that also owns several of the most luxurious hotels around the world.
She will have 226 suites available to guests with an incredible space ratio, including two categories of suite that have 1,000 square feet of space.
The ship will feature five restaurants and six bars, as well as a wine vault for the wine connoisseurs out there. She’ll also feature an expanded marina, allowing guests to enjoy even more water sports activities directly from the ship.
Her maiden season will be spent in the Mediterranean.
8. Star of the Seas
- Cruise line: Royal Caribbean
- Gross Tonnage: 250,800
- Capacity: 7,600
- Expected delivery: August 2025
Royal Caribbean will share the title of ‘Biggest cruise ship in the world’ with her sister ship, Icon of the Seas. Royal Caribbean confirmed that it is no longer looking to add an inch or two to each new ship within a class to constantly pass on the title.
She will still retain many of the features that Icon of the Seas guests already love, including the Category 6 waterpark, the Swim & Tonic bar and so much more.
Star of the Seas will expand its Surfside neighborhood to cater to children up to age 10, offering more play activations in Splashaway Bay and the Playscape. The ship will also pilot facial recognition for cabin doors, and changes to some dining options, such as the re-themed Lincoln Park Supper Club.
Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral and offer cruises to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with every cruise including a visit to the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Suggested read: 6 Changes Coming to Royal Caribbean in 2025
9. Brilliant Lady
- Cruise line: Virgin Voyages
- Estimated cost: $810 million
- Expected delivery: September 2025
Originally scheduled to launch in December 2023, Brilliant Lady was unfortunately delayed in September 2023 due to a combination of staffing issues, supply chain problems and construction delays at the shipyard.
She was then scheduled for early 2024 but that was pushed back once more – and now she’s set to debut in September 2025.
While it meant disappointment for a number of passengers already booked, it also means more time to get hyped about this incredible new ship.
With 20 onboard eateries, ranging from Michelin-style formal dining to casual snack venues for those late-night cravings, and with plenty of choices for bars and nightclubs, you won’t be short of things to see and do.
10. Star Princess
- Cruise line: Princess Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 175,500
- Capacity: 4,300
- Expected delivery: October 2025
The third ship named Star Princess to have sailed for Princess Cruises over the years, this latest vessel will set sail in the second half of 2025 and join Sun Princess in the Sphere Class.
The ships are almost identical by design, although Star will have a larger O’Malleys pub and a bigger non-smoking casino space.
She’ll have a huge range of bars and restaurants available and 1,500 cabins with balconies. She’ll also be the second Princess ship to be powered by LNG.
The Signature Suites return, as does the impressive dome, where guests can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment throughout their cruise. Her inaugural season will include cruises throughout Europe.
11. American Pioneer
- Cruise line: American Cruise Lines
- Gross Tonnage: 3,000
- Capacity: 125
- Expected delivery: October 2025
The second of the new Patriot Class ships for American Cruise Lines, American Pioneer will debut six months after her sister ship the American Patriot. Like her sister, she’ll offer comfortable accommodation in the biggest suites for the cruise line.
The new ships will also feature the very best in stabilisers, designed by Rolls Royce, along with special designs to make sure that the coastal cruises are as smooth as can be, even when the seas aren’t particularly calm.
American Pioneer will sail around the Florida Coast and Florida Keys, with the maiden voyage being a 14-night cruise from Jacksonville to St. Petersburg.
12. Celebrity Xcel
- Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 141,000
- Capacity: 3,260
- Expected delivery: November 2025
The next and perhaps final ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class is Celebrity Xcel, set to debut in the Caribbean in late 2025.
The cruise line is drip-feeding information on new features. So far we know about two.
With The Bazaar, the line between ship and shore is completely erased. From the culture, flavors, and sights to the sounds and local festivals that each destination is known for, Celebrity Xcel offers an immersive experience where exploration knows no bounds.
Guests will find themselves fully immersed in the spirit of each location as the ship brings these incredible places to life.
Elevating the dining experience, Celebrity Xcel introduces Bora, an alfresco restaurant that redefines brunch. Situated at the top of the ship, Bora offers breath-taking sea views paired with an extravagant Bloody Mary bar, making it much more than a meal – it’s an event.
As night falls, the restaurant transitions to bring the best of Mediterranean cuisine to your table, with dishes prepared tableside and cocktails expertly crafted.
You can view the Celebrity Xcel deck plans already but they are mostly covered up with a “Coming Soon” notice. It does confirm that the Magic Carpet, the moving bar that’s attached to the side of the ship, will be present.
13. Disney Destiny
- Cruise line: Disney Cruise Line
- Gross Tonnage: 144,000
- Capacity: 4,000
- Expected delivery: November 2025
That third Wish-class ship I mentioned above is also due for delivery in 2025, and is set to be called Disney Destiny.
She will have a Heroes & Villains theme, and will feature a range of encounters with characters from movies like The Lion King, Hercules, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians – plenty for guests young and old to get excited about!
She’ll have a new version of the AquaMouse, a water attraction, this time themed around a Silly Song. Plus guests can enjoy a pirate-themed sports pub, a tower suite themed around Iron Man and so much more.
14. Star Seeker
- Cruise line: Windstar Cruises
- Gross Tonnage: 9,300
- Capacity: 224
- Expected delivery: December 2025
A later addition to this list, Windstar Cruises waited until April 2024 to announce two new additions to its Star Class. The first, Star Seeker, will join in 2025 with sister ship Star Explorer following a year later.
These luxury small ships will offer exceptional comfort, relaxing dining and café spaces, and of course the iconic water sports platform that is featured across the Windstar fleet – perfect for enjoying some thrilling activities while exploring the oceans.
15. Disney Adventure
- Cruise line: Disney Cruise Line
- Gross Tonnage: 208,000
- Capacity: 6,000
- Expected delivery: December 2025
In 2016, Disney Cruise Line announced two new ships that would ultimately become the Wish Class, with a third ship confirmed in 2017.
But amongst that, an opportunity arose – Dream Cruises, a company owned by Genting Hong Kong, went out of business and put its under-construction ship Global Dream up for sale. Disney bought it, and is now putting the finishing touches to what will be the Disney Adventure.
She’s set to be the biggest Disney cruise ship by quite some margin – the Wish Class ships are all around 144,000 GT,
The ship will bring several first-at-sea experiences, such as a new Duffy and Friends stage show, an interactive treasure hunt, and the high-energy adventure of Captain Jack Sparrow & The Siren Queen.
Themed areas on board will include San Fransokyo Street inspired by Big Hero 6, Moana-themed Wayfinder Bay, and a Toy Story water play area.
Disney Adventure promises a unique family cruising experience, full of Disney magic, when it sets sail in December 2025.
One that’s been delayed…
Four Seasons Yacht
- Cruise line: Four Seasons
- Gross Tonnage: TBA
- Capacity: Approximately 200
- Expected delivery: Early 2026
Four Seasons has decided to follow in the footsteps of Ritz Carlton and move from the luxury hotels game into the world of cruising, with the launch of its first superyacht later now expected in early 2026.
But there’s a catch, which makes this quite unique from a cruising perspective – for the initial season at least, cruises are by invitation only.
So, you won’t be able to book onto a cruise unless Four Seasons invites you, with priority going to loyal hotel guests.
This is shaping up to be a seriously special ship. She is being designed around immersive luxury experiences and will have just 95 suites, with the best being the Funnel Suite.
This stunning accommodation option will be the first four-storey suite at sea, with a huge outdoor terrace and an incredible 9,500 square feet of space. That’s considerable, seeing as the suite is designed for a maximum of six guests.
The ship will have a massive 20-metre (66 feet) pool, a marina that stretches the entire length of the ship, and plenty of space to relax with a glass of Champagne and some fine dining. She will sail in both the Mediterranean and the Caribbean when she launches.
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To Conclude
There’s a real mix of ships launching in 2025, including a new biggest ship in the world, some fantastic luxury cruise ships, and some that are packed with family-friendly activities.
It’s going to be an exciting year, that’s for sure, so let’s cross our fingers that all the ships on this list launch as planned.
Bookings are already open for them, so don’t hang about – inaugural seasons sell out quickly and you’ll want to secure your place if you want to be one of the first onboard.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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