Five Cruise Ships to Look Forward To in 2026
Shipyards have had packed schedules over the past couple of years, with a record number of new cruise ships under construction. In 2025 alone, 7 new cruise ships debuted in North America.
While the number may be smaller in 2026, the ships launching still include several high-profile debuts from Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Explora Journeys, and MSC Cruises. Here are the 5 ships we’re looking forward to in 2026.
Norwegian Luna
Debut Date: April 4, 2026
Homeport: Miami
Norwegian Luna is part of a 6-ship order Norwegian Cruise Line placed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The first 2 ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, launched the Prima Class. The 3rd ship, Norwegian Aqua, and the 4th ship, Norwegian Luna, are part of what Norwegian calls the Prima Plus design and are approximately 10% larger than the original Prima Class ships.
Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna are twin sister ships and will be nearly identical in layout and features, with differences largely limited to artwork, minor refinements, and entertainment offerings.
Here is the Norwegian Luna section rewritten to match the exact same subhead-driven structure you are now using for Disney Adventure and Legend of the Seas. I did not add or remove content, only reorganized it so it is visually and structurally consistent.
Onboard Highlights
Game Zone
Norwegian Luna will feature the Game Zone, offering a mix of traditional arcade games along with virtual reality experiences.
Bullseye Bar
The ship will include the Bullseye Bar, which offers panoramic ocean views and electronic dart boards.
Tee Time Mini Golf
Tee Time Mini Golf will return, offering a mini golf experience. Unfortunately, it will still have an additional fee.
The Stadium
The Stadium is an outdoor recreation area that includes a dedicated pickleball court.
AquaCoaster
Norwegian Luna will feature the AquaCoaster, Norwegian’s signature hybrid waterslide and coaster attraction.
Expanded Spa and Thermal Suite
The ship will offer an expanded spa and thermal suite area compared to the original Prima Class ships.
New and Returning Dining Venues
Dining additions debuting on Norwegian Aqua will also carry over to Norwegian Luna, including the Thai specialty restaurant Sukhothai and the wine-focused venue Swirls Wine Bar.
The very popular Indulge Food Hall, a casual complimentary restaurant, with 10 different food stations to order from, also returns on the Luna.
Entertainment
Rock Man: A Celebration of Elton John
Norwegian Cruise Line continues to move away from Broadway-licensed productions, and Norwegian Luna will not feature a Broadway show. Instead, the headlining production will be “Rock Man: A Celebration of Elton John,” a concert-style show built around Elton John’s music.
HIKO
The ship will also debut “HIKO,” a production featuring Norwegian’s first original character, who will appear not only in the show but throughout the ship.
Syd Norman’s Pour House: A Tribute to the Eagles
The Syd Norman’s Pour House band will introduce “A Tribute to the Eagles,” replacing the popular Fleetwood Mac-themed “Rumours” show. The Eagles tribute will be performed in the main theater to accommodate larger crowds, something that many guests experienced on the earlier Prima Class ships will appreciate. The band will continue performing in Syd Norman’s Pour House, along with a new 90s-themed set.
Disney Adventure
Debut Date: March 10, 2026
Homeport: Singapore
Disney Adventure is unlike any ship currently sailing in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The ship features a completely different design and will only sail short 3- and 4-night cruises to nowhere from Singapore.
At approximately 208,000 gross tons, Disney Adventure will be the largest ship Disney has ever launched, making it about 44% larger than Disney Wish.
The ship was not originally designed for Disney Cruise Line. It began construction as Global Dream for the now defunct Genting Cruise Lines. When that company collapsed while the ship was still under construction, Disney acquired the vessel and continued the build.
The company had to put a lot of resources into reworking major elements and infusing its signature storytelling and theming. The work was extensive, apparently; Disney Adventure was supposed to debut in December 2025, but it was pushed back to March 2026.
Design and Layout
Disney Adventure features a split superstructure design that creates large interior spaces open to the elements and lined with staterooms. This layout is similar to Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and MSC’s World Class ships.
The ship will be divided into 7 uniquely themed areas, each with its own visual identity, dining, and entertainment offerings.
New Features and Experiences
New Regional Dining
Disney Adventure will introduce new restaurants serving regional cuisine, including Mowgli’s Eatery, which focuses on Indian-inspired dishes, and Gramma Tala’s Kitchen, featuring Pacific and Asian flavors.
Disney’s First Castle at Sea
The ship will debut Disney’s first castle at sea, located within the Imagination Garden. The centerpiece will be a 3-deck-tall, castle-inspired illustration that anchors the area and serves as a visual focal point onboard.
Theme Park-Style Upper Decks
The upper decks are designed to feel like a full-scale theme park, with attractions such as Ironcycle Test Run Roller Coaster, Pym Quantum Racers, and Groot Galaxy Spin spread across the space.
Water Play Areas
Disney Adventure will also feature a mini water park along with interactive splash areas designed for families and younger guests.
New Rotational Dining Experiences
Two new rotational dining venues will debut onboard. “Hollywood Spotlight Club” celebrates the Golden Age of Hollywood, while Navigator’s Club offers an elegant dining experience inspired by a night at the Captain’s Table.
New Stage Production
The ship will introduce a new stage production titled “Remember,” inspired by the robot duo from Disney Pixar’s WALL·E.
Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas
Debut Date: July 11, 2026
Homeport: Barcelona and Rome during summer; Fort Lauderdale during winter
Legend of the Seas will be tied with its sister ships to be the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in July. The mega ship is in the Icon Class, which represents the pinnacle of Royal Caribbean’s ship design, evolving the older, tried-and-true Oasis Class design into something even more refined.
Legend of the Seas will debut in the Mediterranean during summer 2026, marking the first time an Icon Class ship has sailed in Europe. In November, the ship will reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries.
Neighborhoods and Layout
Like Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas is divided into 8 distinct neighborhoods. The ship features a split superstructure design that creates open interior spaces lined with cabins, including the tranquil Central Park neighborhood and the family-focused Surfside area.
With 7 pools and more than 40 bars and dining venues, the ship offers an enormous variety of onboard experiences.
What’s New on Legend of the Seas
While largely similar to its sister ships, Legend of the Seas will introduce several notable changes.
Expanded Casino
The casino will be expanded into a 2-story venue. Deck plans have not yet been finalized, so details on how the space will be configured remain limited.
Royal Railway: Legend Station
The immersive dining experience first introduced on Utopia of the Seas will appear onboard as Royal Railway: Legend Station. Guests will dine inside themed rail cars with virtual windows while enjoying a 5-course meal that journeys along the ancient Silk Routes through China, India, and Italy.
Hollywoodland Supper Club
This upscale venue offers a highly curated dinner experience, pairing a multi-course meal with live music and cocktails. Seating is limited to approximately 50 guests per performance.
Entertainment
The headline stage production aboard Legend of the Seas will be Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” featuring many songs from the popular film adaptation.
Explora Journies Explora III
Debut Date: August 3, 2026
Deployment: Europe, Iceland, North America
So far, we have not covered much about Explora Journeys. The ultra-luxury cruise line was launched by parent company MSC in 2023. At the moment, the brand has only 2 ships in service, but in summer 2026, it will welcome the 3rd ship to the fleet.
The cruise line offers a luxury, all-inclusive experience, with nearly everything included in the cruise fare, including dining, Wi-Fi, and drinks. With a crew-to-passenger ratio of approximately 1.25:1, it delivers one of the more exclusive cruise experiences at sea.
While the first 2 ships, Explora I and Explora II, were nearly carbon copies of each other, Explora Journeys had time to tweak the design of Explora III during the construction process. The ship will still be relatively small by modern cruise ship standards, but it is about 10% larger than its predecessors, coming in at roughly 70,000 gross tons.
Despite the increase in size, the cruise line is not adding many additional guests. Only 2 cabins were added, bringing the total to 463 suites onboard, and the ship will carry fewer than 1,000 guests. However, the cabin mix has been adjusted. While every accommodation on Explora Journeys is a suite, the line offers elevated categories such as Ocean Penthouses, Ocean Residences, and Owner Residences, which provide additional space and amenities. On Explora III, the number of these higher-end suites has been increased.
Returning Favorites
All of the specialty fine-dining venues, which are included in the fare, will return on Explora III. These include Sakura (Pan-Asian), Fil Rouge (French), Med Yacht Club (Mediterranean), and Marble & Co. Grill (steakhouse). The elevated buffet concept will also make a return.
Changes from Previous Ships
- The gym and spa spaces will be combined into one unified area on Explora III, rather than being split across multiple decks
- The open-air fitness area will be enhanced, and the running track will be expanded
- The sports court will be enlarged and will support activities such as pickleball and basketball
- The kids club onboard, Nautilus Club, will be split into 2 dedicated spaces, one for children ages 3 to 5 and another for ages 6 to 17
- Explora III will be the first Explora Journeys ship to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG), a cleaner-burning fuel
MSC World Asia
Debut Date: December 4, 2026
Deployment: Mediterranean
MSC World Asia will be the 3rd ship in MSC Cruises’ World Class and one of the largest cruise ships in the world, right behind Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Icon Class.
The ship’s name may make you think it’ll be sailing in Asia, but it’ll actually be sailing Mediterranean itineraries. The name, in this case, reflects the ship’s theme, with many areas receiving updates inspired by Asian influences. As you walk down the World Promenade, a 40-foot-long stainless steel dragon with 3,000 LED lights will catch your attention day or night.
Design and Features
Like two of the other ships above, the World Asia features a split superstructure design with interior-facing cabins and distinct neighborhoods.
It will have more than 40 bars, lounges, and restaurants. Guests can enjoy nightlife venues, expansive pool decks, adventure attractions, or retreat to the exclusive MSC Yacht Club.
New and Returning Attractions
New additions include a Pan Asian specialty restaurant, along with a grab and go street food venue (which will replace the Greek restaurants on World America).
Top deck attractions will be redesigned with Asian inspired theming, while fan favorites such as the water park, splash park, ropes course, and Cliffhanger swing will return.
The SportsPlex will be reimagined as The Clubhouse, featuring retro styling and classic board games, along with activities like bumper cars, basketball, and roller skating.
The All-Star Sports Bar will also return to World Asia due to its popularity on World America.
Five More Ships for 2027
While 2026 is a quieter year for new ship launches, 2027 is already shaping up to be much busier. At least 6 new ships are currently on the horizon, including Carnival Festivale, the 4th Disney Wish Class ship, MSC World Atlantic, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 5th Prima Plus ship, which is expected to be about 10% larger than Aqua and Luna, the 4th Icon Class ship from Royal Caribbean, and Margaritaville at Sea’s third ship, the Beachcomber.
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