The cruise industry is proceeding full steam ahead on new ship production: Following the nine new ocean cruise ships scheduled to debut throughout 2024, there are more than a dozen vessels on the calendar for next year. They range from a pair of small domestic coastal vessels to a sister ship to the largest cruise ship in the world.
Read on for a look at what’s to come in ocean cruising in 2025.
American Cruise Lines
Known for its U.S.-registered fleet of riverboats and small ocean ships, American Cruise Lines will introduce its new Patriot Class of vessels in 2025. Both the namesake American Patriot and American Pioneer are set to come online as 125-passenger, deep-draft sister ships designed specifically for smoothly navigating the East Coast from Maine to the Florida Gulf.
American Cruise Lines will introduce its Patriot Class of ships next year.
Credit: 2024 American Cruise LinesCelebrity Cruises
Following the continued success of its Edge Class, Celebrity Cruises will launch the fifth ships in the series — Celebrity Xcel — in November 2025. Like Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent before it, Xcel will be a bit larger than the line’s first two vessels, Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex. New spaces and fresh food and drink concepts are anticipated onboard.
Disney Cruise Line
Following the launch of Disney Wish in 2022 and Disney Treasure in 2024, Disney Destiny will be the third sister ship in the series, set to launch in November 2025. Disney Adventure will also debut next year during a yet-to-be-announced month. The 144,000-gross-ton Destiny will be themed to “Heroes and Villains,” while Adventure — Disney Cruise Line’s largest-ever ship, at 208,000 gross tons — will be a destination unto itself, representing a wide variety of Disney intellectual properties.
MSC Cruises
Next April, MSC Cruises will bring a sister ship to MSC World Europa online stateside. MSC World America consist of seven distinct zones tailored to American travelers, from the exclusive MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship complex to Family Aventura, with its expansive water park and thrillingly cantilevered Cliffhanger ride.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line will also launch a sister ship in April 2025. But rather than following exactly in the footsteps of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, the new Norwegian Aqua will be a slightly larger and enhanced Prima Plus Class of ships. One notable difference will be the replacement of a go-kart racetrack with the all-new Aqua Slidecoaster.
Norwegian Aqua will be part of the Prima Plus Class of ships.
Credit: 2024 Norwegian Cruise LineOceania Cruises
Hot off the heels of its success with Vista, Oceania Cruises will launch Allura in July 2025. Although the sister ship is anticipated to be a near carbon copy, Allura will feature some small updates, such as a passthrough between the Founders Bar and Grand Lounge for improved flow and service.
Princess Cruises
The first of two “stars” on the horizon for 2025 is Star Princess from Princess Cruises. Set to debut next October, the sibling to the recently launched, first-in-class Sun Princess will have features such as the Dome pool and entertainment venue, Love by Britto specialty dining and Spellbound by Magic Castle experience.
Star Princess is slated to debut next October.
Credit: 2024 Princess CruisesThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
In 2025, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will expand its fleet with a third yacht, the 46,750-ton Luminara. This vessel will have a larger guest capacity than the previous ships (the 298-guest Evrima and 448-guest Ilma), with space for 452 passengers, while still maintaining all of its luxurious hospitality hallmarks.
Royal Caribbean International
The second of next year’s two “stars” is Royal Caribbean International’s Star of the Seas. The second-in-series behind Icon of the Seas, Star will repeat Icon’s Category 6 aqua park and in-the-round AquaDome, AquaTheater and Absolute Zero ice rink when it sets sail next summer.
Viking
It seems like just yesterday that Viking ventured into the ocean cruise market, but in July 2025, the line will already be welcoming its 12th seagoing ship, Viking Vesta. Like the 2024-launched Viking Vela, Vesta will be a larger variant of the first 10 ships, carrying 998 passengers (versus 930) and powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages will eventually pull back the curtain on the long-delayed Brilliant Lady in September 2025. The fourth and final of the line’s current Lady Ships will be identical to the previous trio in regard to onboard venues and features, but it will sport an “adapted frame” to accommodate Panama Canal transits and Alaska voyages.
Windstar Cruises
Although Star Seeker was originally earmarked for Atlas Ocean Voyages, Windstar Cruises will finish construction on the ice-strengthened vessel for itself. Set to debut in December 2025, the ship will feature a signature Watersports Platform, James Beard Foundation cuisine, the Star Grill specialty restaurant, a Yacht Club cafe and lounge, and a double-decker spa and fitness facility.
