19 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launching in 2023

Thanks to plenty of ship orders made in advance of the pandemic, there are more than a dozen ocean newbuilds on the horizon. In fact, not including smaller coastal and expedition cruise operators and ship transfers from other brands (such as Costa Cruises to Carnival Cruise Line), there are a total of 19 maiden mainstream vessels scheduled to set sail in 2023.

American Eagle and American Glory, American Cruise Lines

In addition to American Cruise Lines’ (ACL) new American Serenade riverboat, joining the fleet in 2023, the domestic brand will also welcome a pair of new coastal cruise ships. American Eagle and American Glory will be the first of 12 planned vessels in the line’s “Coastal Cat” series, also known as “Project Blue,” when they begin sailing along the East Coast in August and October 2023, respectively.

Both will accommodate 100 guests each and sport interior designs from Miami-based Studio Dado, responsible for ACL’s newest riverboats. New England, Chesapeake Bay and Southeast heritage will be on display in a contemporary fashion across six public venues and 56 private staterooms and suites.

Cruises will visit Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Cruise Line

Following Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, a third Excel-class ship will join Carnival Cruise Line — the historically named Carnival Jubilee. Currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the LNG- (liquefied natural gas) powered vessel will homeport from Galveston, Texas, beginning in December.

Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Cruises

Another sister ship to arrive in December will be Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Ascent. The fourth Edge-class ship will repeat the size and arrangement of the slightly larger and latest Celebrity Beyond, with its own Magic Carpet and all. Its inaugural voyage will sail to the Eastern Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Emerald Sakara, Emerald Cruises

Like Viking, Emerald Cruises is another line to recently expand from river cruising into ocean voyaging, and it is ready to launch its second yacht — Emerald Sakara — in August. The intimate 100-guest vessel will start off on its “Ionian Sea Adventure” from Athens to Rome.

Explora I, Explora Journeys

As an entirely new brand spun from MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys will be an all-inclusive luxury line taking cues from its famed MSC Yacht Club experience and making it ship-wide. The 922-guest Explora I will be the first of six planned ships when it comes out in July, first sailing from Southampton in the United Kingdom.

Janssonius, Oceanwide Expeditions

Oceanwide Expeditions’ Janssonius (sister ship to its latest vessel, Hondius) has been delayed multiple times at the shipyard, but is now expected to be delivered sometime in 2023. When it does arrive, it will be another Polar Class 6-rated expedition ship for cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica, catering to 170 passengers in 80 comfortable cabins, six with private balconies. Staff and crew will total 72 onboard.

In addition to a dedicated forward-facing observation lounge with a bar and a coffee corner, there will be a separate lecture room, as well as a library, a shop and a lobby. Meals will be served in a dining room complete with hot and cold buffet service. And two Zodiac boarding areas will facilitate adventurous excursions onshore.

MSC Euribia, MSC Cruises

Meanwhile, MSC Cruises will have its own new MSC Euribia debuting in June 2023. The line’s third Meraviglia Plus-class ship will be its second LNG-powered vessel and first from the company to display hull art. Euribia will be introduced in Northern Europe, departing from Kiel, Germany, and heading to the Norwegian Fjords. 

Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Cruise Line

On the heels of its latest Norwegian Prima, the second in the namesake class — Norwegian Viva — will be unveiled in August. Viva will repeat Prima’s latest take on The Haven ship-within-a-ship complex, and feature a massive array of culinary offerings, a go-kart racetrack and more when it arrives in Miami.

Ocean Albatros, Albatros Expeditions

Albatros Expeditions will expand its fleet with Ocean Albatros — sister ship to Ocean Victory and another of SunStone Ships’ signature X-Bow-equipped expedition ships — in May 2023. Sailing to the Arctic and Antarctica, it will be rated with a hull strength of Polar Class 6 and contain 95 staterooms and suites, a dozen of which will be dedicated to solo travelers (sans a single supplement).

Ocean Albatros will further feature multiple observation venues, two restaurants, open-deck dining, an Albatros Nordic Bar and a lecture lounge. There will also be retail boutique and wellness areas with a spa, a gym, a sauna and a pool deck. Facilitating onshore expeditions are an activity platform and a mudroom, which will launch a fleet of Zodiacs.

Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages third ship, Resilient Lady, is scheduled to launch in May, initially from Athens, Greece, and farther expanding to Australia. The brand’s “adult by design” casual atmosphere is expected to continue in full force.

Scenic Eclipse II, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Similar to corporate cousin Emerald Cruises, a second ship will also join the Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours fleet in April. Scenic II will debut with another pair of helicopters, and an upgraded deck pool experience, to luxuriously travel from pole to pole. Its inaugural “Incredible Iberian Discovery” voyage will travel from Lisbon to Barcelona.

Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn Cruise Line will be another in 2023 to double up on its adventure yachts when Seabourn Pursuit sets sail in September. Mirroring the design of Seabourn Venture, the luxury ship will embark on expeditions from the Arctic to Antarctica and remote destinations in between.

Seven Seas Grandeur, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Yet another luxury line preparing to launch a new ship is Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Its latest Seven Seas Grandeur will be a third sister to Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor when it embarks in November. The ship’s maiden voyage will be a weeklong journey from Venice to Barcelona.

RELATED: Regent Reveals New Details About Seven Seas Grandeur

SH Diana, Swan Hellenic

The recently renewed Swan Hellenic brand will add to its current fleet of two new ships with yet another. SH Diana will differ some from her predecessors as a Polar Class 6 ship, accommodating 192 guests and 141 staff. Double-occupancy cabins, including 11 suites, will offer 24/7 in-room dining, and will measure about 215 and 505 square feet. And the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge and Pool Bar & Grill will make up another three dining options.

Rounding out the onboard amenities will be a scenic observation lounge adjacent to an events room, a spa, a gym, a beauty salon, a Jacuzzi and a heated swimming pool. There will also be a  library, an expedition lab, a marina deck and a basecamp for launching Zodiacs.

Besides polar itineraries, Diana will also embark on routes to Norway, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, Madagascar, South Africa and more. 

Silver Nova, Silversea Cruises

If there was any remaining doubt that 2023 is shaping up to be a year full of luxury cruising, Silversea Cruises is scheduled to unveil its all-new Silver Nova in August. The entirely new class of ship will feature a unique asymmetrical layout with more scenic venues than ever before from the line. Nova will first launch in the Mediterranean Sea, roundtrip from Venice.

Viking Neptune and Viking Saturn, Viking

Not slowing down in the slightest, Viking has not one, but two, ocean ships for 2023. Viking Neptune, the line’s eighth ocean ship, was just christened this month, and its ninth, Viking Saturn, is on the calendar for April.

Vista, Oceania Cruises

Last, but certainly not least, is Oceania Cruises’ latest design and class of ships beginning with Vista in May, which will be the line’s first new ship in a decade. Building on the brand’s upscale reputation, Vista  will be somewhat larger than its preceding Marina and Riviera. Its maiden voyage season will begin in the Mediterranean.