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Sunday, January 19, 2025

The 11 greatest new cruise ships of 2025


Essentially the most thrilling new cruise ship debuting in 2025 comes from a line you won’t count on.

MSC Cruises, the scrappy, under-the-radar cruise operator recognized to worldwide vacationers and deal-seekers, is making a splash in 2025 when its gigantic MSC World America arrives in Miami this spring. By no means earlier than has the cruise line homeported a ship like this in North America, and it lastly has an opportunity to provide in style megaships, corresponding to Royal Caribbean‘s Oasis Class vessels, a run for his or her cash.

The ship goals to make MSC a family title in America with its lengthy record of household points of interest, indulgent ship-within-a-ship advanced for suite visitors, and plentiful bars and eating places. Regardless that the ship is the second in a collection, with many similarities to the 2-year-old MSC World Europa, it is the primary of its form that U.S. cruisers are more likely to expertise.

Repeat ships are certainly the secret in 2025, although some traces are getting a bit extra modern than others with this 12 months’s new-builds.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Superstar Cruises are each turning out ships which are based mostly on earlier vessels, however with the amount (and dimension) turned up a notch. Norwegian Aqua will likely be 10% bigger than the road’s latest ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, with cool touches like a hybrid waterslide and rollercoaster. Superstar Xcel will take that line’s trendy Edge Class specs and add some further oomph.

Windstar Cruises is introducing its first newly constructed ship in a long time, and Disney Cruise Line will dominate the fourth quarter with two ship debuts — Disney Journey, its largest ship ever, to be based mostly in Singapore; and Disney Future, a sister to Disney Want and Disney Treasure with new venues like The Sanctum and De Vil’s.

And naturally, Royal Caribbean followers cannot look ahead to the second Icon Class vessel, Star of the Seas, which can be part of its sister, Icon of the Seas, as the biggest cruise ships on this planet, with extraordinary household attraction.

We could not neglect ship launches from Princess Cruises, Viking and Virgin Voyages — simply because they are not first in school doesn’t imply they are not eagerly awaited.

Which new cruise ship will likely be your favourite in 2025, and which must you ebook ASAP? Here is our record of the perfect new cruise ships of 2025, in debut order, and all the important thing particulars which have been revealed about them up to now.

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Norwegian Aqua

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Maiden voyage: March 28, 2025

Norwegian Aqua, the most recent iteration of Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest Prima Class of ships, is scheduled to make its crusing debut in March. Designed to hold 3,571 passengers at double occupancy, will probably be a bigger model of its sister ships, prompting the road to discuss with it as a Prima Plus Class vessel.

At about 10% bigger than the primary two ships within the Prima Class collection, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, 156,300-ton Norwegian Aqua has given its creators room to innovate even additional.

Most notably, the ship could have a hybrid waterslide and curler coaster that can exchange the top-deck go-kart monitor discovered on Norwegian’s latest ships. Dubbed the Aqua Slidecoaster, the journey will encompass a set of two tube-style slides that can propel riders up and down three tales with the help of a magnet — just like how land-based curler coasters function.

Additional, an onboard Glow Court docket with an LED flooring will host sports activities by day and remodel right into a nightclub when the solar goes down.

When the ship splashes onto the scene, it is going to initially be based mostly in Port Canaveral, Florida, for seven-night sailings to the Caribbean. Port calls on the ship’s first itineraries will embody Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nice Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s non-public island within the Bahamas.

Fares begin from $999 per particular person for the ship’s seven-night maiden voyage — a repositioning cruise from Southampton, England, to Boston on March 28, 2025.

MSC World America

MSC CRUISES

Maiden voyage: April 12, 2025

We predict that MSC World America goes to make a giant splash when the 216,000-ton, 5,228-passenger ship hits U.S. shores this spring.

Europe-based MSC Cruises has been encroaching on the U.S. megaresort, family-friendly, warm-weather cruise market with ships based mostly out of Florida, Texas, New York and its personal Bahamian non-public island. Now it is turning up the amount with an enormous new ship, the second in its World Class collection however the first in school to sail from the U.S. to the Caribbean.

MSC World America will entice households like no different ship within the fleet, with a whole space known as Household Aventura dedicated to their leisure. Right here, you may discover Cliffhanger, an overwater swing journey; Jaw Drop @ The Spiral, a 10-deck-high spiraling dry slide; Harbour Gentle Home, a play space themed across the lighthouse at MSC’s non-public island Ocean Cay; and Harbour Aquapark, a watery enjoyable zone with 4 waterslides.

Whereas related in dimension to sister ship MSC World Europa, which debuted two years in the past, MSC World America could have a number of new venues aimed squarely on the North American market. New eating retailers embody Paxos, an indoor-outdoor Greek restaurant that takes the place of the seafood-serving La Pescaderia restaurant on MSC World Europa, and Eataly, which can change into the one outpost of the genuine Italian meals purveyor at sea. (You will discover it within the house that homes the upscale Chef’s Backyard Kitchen on MSC World Europa.)

Save room for dessert as a result of the reimagined Candy Temptations dessert venue will deliver the sugar overload with next-level milkshakes, make-your-own ice cream bars and different treats, set in a colourful, Instagram-worthy venue.

MSC World America will deliver the grownup enjoyable, too, with The Loft, an adults-only leisure venue for karaoke, comedy and dueling piano performances. The Sportplex will lure all ages of cruisers with bumper vehicles, zorb ball competitions and drone lessons open to everybody.

The MSC Yacht Membership, the road’s exclusive-access space for visitors booked in Yacht Membership-designated cabins and suites, would be the largest within the fleet. Facilities embody a two-level sundeck with a pool, scorching tub, cabana, bar and grill; Prime Sail Lounge for drinks and socializing; and Yacht Membership Restaurant for elevated eating.

MSC World America will sail alternating seven-night Japanese and Western Caribbean cruises out of Miami. All will characteristic a go to to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the road’s non-public island within the Bahamas.

Fares begin at $688 per particular person for a seven-night Japanese Caribbean cruise departing Nov. 14, 2026. (November 2025 sailings are equally priced.)

Viking Vesta

Viking Vesta. VIKING/FACEBOOK

Maiden voyage: July 2, 2025

Summer season of 2025 brings with it yet one more new vessel for Viking‘s ocean fleet. Viking Vesta is a sister ship to the 11 practically an identical others that already ply the waters of Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. Like its fleetmates, Viking Vesta will give attention to further time in port with no less than one complimentary tour in every port of name and overnights in choose locations.

Though Viking Vesta will intently resemble its siblings in structure and soothing Scandinavian model, will probably be about 30 toes longer, providing house for extra passengers. Carrying fewer than 1,000 folks — 998, to be precise — the ship is massive sufficient to supply facilities like an opulent Nordic spa however nonetheless sufficiently small to navigate the out-of-the-way ports the road’s passengers get pleasure from.

The kid-free environment on board permits for a extra refined and relaxed expertise for the largely older, well-traveled cruisers preferring Viking. (You have to be 18 to sail.) Cabins will likely be comparatively spacious; even the smallest will provide 270 sq. toes of house and include balconies.

Onboard leisure will embody enrichment packages and low-key, mental actions like trivia. A number of eating places will serve elegant meals included within the cruise fare, and the onboard buffet will characteristic a collection of dishes impressed by the areas through which the ship will sail.

When it begins crusing in early July, Viking Vesta will characteristic a collection of Mediterranean voyages, starting from seven to 21 nights, departing from ports like Athens, Barcelona, Venice and Rome.

Costs begin from $2,799 per particular person for a seven-night cruise from Athens (Piraeus) to Istanbul, setting sail on Dec. 22, 2025.

Allura

Allura. OCEANIA

Maiden voyage: July 18, 2025

The second ship in Oceania Cruises‘ Allura Class will set sail in summer season 2025. Allura will deliver with it the identical ideas that debuted on sister ship Vista, which turned the road’s first new vessel in a decade when it launched in 2023.

Eating places Ember (American fare with a twist) and Aquamar (wellness-inspired dishes) will reprise their roles on Allura, together with the Founder’s Bar, which options craft cocktails with fascinating touches like flavored mist bubbles and frozen facilities containing substances like tea.

Like Vista, Allura will provide more room per passenger than the older ships within the Oceania fleet. Plus, all cabins have balconies — both the standard form or a French balcony with a door that opens to permit in contemporary air however doesn’t provide any precise out of doors house.

Though it provides a contemporary take, Allura is just like Oceania’s older ships. The road’s regulars can get pleasure from a brand new spin on one thing that also feels acquainted to them.

The ship guarantees elegantly designed public areas and lodging with a number of house and comfy beds, however do not count on full luxurious. Allura will not be an all-inclusive ship, but it surely’s extra inclusive than the mainstream traces. Fares embody practically all eating, health lessons, nonalcoholic drinks and in-port shuttles.

Allura will sail voyages within the Mediterranean from varied ports and to the Caribbean from Miami. Costs begin from $799 per particular person for a four-night cruise to Saint John, New Brunswick, round-trip from New York on Sept. 30, 2025.

Star Princess

An artist’s rendering of Star Princess in Alaska. PRINCESS CRUISES

Maiden voyage: Oct. 4, 2025

Princess Cruises‘ 4,300-passenger, 178,000-ton Star Princess would be the second within the line’s modern Sphere Class, following sister Solar Princess, which launched in 2024. This new class of ships is introducing a number of firsts for the cruise line, making the dual ships stand out from their fleetmates.

Star Princess would be the second ship within the Princess fleet to supply an unique restaurant, lounge and sundeck to visitors reserving its high Sanctuary Assortment suites, mini-suites and deluxe balcony cabins. It’s going to even have 1,500 visitor rooms with balconies, a a lot greater quantity than on Princess ships in different lessons. The ship’s extra-wide Deck 10 will likely be house to Cabana cabins with entry to a non-public sundeck.

Solar Princess’ wow-factor public areas return on sister Star Princess, together with a glass dome housing a pool that turns into a night scorching spot, the convertible and hi-tech Princess Area most important theater, and a three-deck-high, glass-enclosed Piazza with a pop-up stage, big LED display screen and nonstop lineup of leisure choices.

A back-of-ship infinity pool and sundeck deliver severe South Seashore vibes. Spellbound, an intimate venue for Magic Fortress magicians to wow visitors, can also be returning.

New to Star Princess would be the SkyDeck Sports activities Court docket & Monitor with a splash pad, devoted courtroom for pickleball and basketball, and loads of shaded areas for hanging out within the contemporary sea air.

Princess can also be increasing the ship’s nonsmoking on line casino space to incorporate 68 further slot machines.

Like Solar Princess, Star Princess will provide way more bars and eating places than is typical for Princess ships — 29 in all. Longtime favorites Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and the Crown Grill steakhouse group up with Sphere Class-exclusive venues corresponding to Butcher’s Block by Dario, a meat-focused grill created by superstar Italian butcher Dario Cecchini, an expanded Love by Britto serving seven-course fusion menus in partnership with the artist, and three Asian venues serving sushi, teppanyaki and scorching pot.

Like its sister, Star Princess will place its buffet restaurant close to the Piazza and never on the pool deck. The Lido Deck could have retailers serving pizza, tacos, salads, grilled fare and ice cream for hungry sunbathers. The ship’s O’Malley’s Irish Pub will likely be expanded to accommodate much more visitors for reside music, Irish meals and, after all, pours of beer and whiskey.

Star Princess will stand out from its twin sister with regards to deployment. Starting in summer season 2026, the ship would be the first Sphere Class ship, and the biggest Princess ship, to sail Alaska. It’s going to debut within the Mediterranean in October 2025, then reposition to the Caribbean a number of weeks later for warm-weather winter sailings. In April 2026, it is going to sail by way of the Panama Canal en path to its Seattle homeport for the Alaska season, then return the best way it got here in late September for one more winter of Caribbean cruises.

Fares for Star Princess sailings begin as little as $569 per particular person for a four-night Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, departing Oct. 20, 2026.

Star of the Seas

Artist’s rendering of Star of the Seas. ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Maiden voyage: Aug. 31, 2025

Royal Caribbean’s subsequent huge Icon Class vessel will deliver a brand new attraction-filled megaship choice to the Caribbean, with choices for households, {couples} and teams. The ship will deliver again lots of the thrilling areas first debuted on its predecessor, Icon of the Seas.

Prime-deck points of interest will embody an enormous water park that includes six slides and 7 swimming pools. The family-focused Surfside neighborhood returns with its water play areas, arcade, carousel and family-friendly eateries and retailers.

Followers of Icon’s AquaDome will likely be completely satisfied to see its return on Star of the Seas. This glass dome-covered house will home the vessel’s AquaTheater high-dive and acrobatic water exhibits and the AquaDome Market, the road’s five-venue meals corridor providing internationally impressed delicacies.

Icon’s added-fee adults-only restaurant, Empire Supper Membership, will reemerge on Star of the Seas as Lincoln Park Supper Membership. Diners can count on the same expertise — multicourse eating paired with reside leisure in an intimate setting — however with a Nineteen Thirties Chicago vibe.

Star of the Seas will function brief three- and four-night sailings, in addition to weeklong round-trip voyages to the Japanese and Western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Port calls will embody sunny locations corresponding to St. Thomas; St. Maarten; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The ship can even name on the 17-acre Royal Seashore Membership Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, which is about to open in late 2025.

Fares for Star of the Seas’ inaugural crusing begin from $2,882 per particular person for an inside cabin (based mostly on double occupancy), together with taxes and charges.

Good Girl

Virgin Voyages’ Good Girl cruise ship. VIRGIN VOYAGES

Maiden voyage: Sept. 5, 2025

Virgin Voyages will add a fourth vessel to its fleet in 2025, practically two years after it was initially scheduled to launch.

The hip cruise line’s 2,770-passenger Good Girl will deliver the road’s irreverent and playful environment by way of modern decor, distinctive eating and lounges, and edgy leisure discovered on an identical sister ships Scarlet Girl, Valiant Girl and Resilient Girl.

The road has confirmed Good Girl will provide its in style balcony hammocks, a number of eating places (no buffet or cavernous most important eating room on Virgin ships) and spectacular collection of wellness choices — from an extended record of remedies on the Redemption Spa to complimentary health lessons.

Virgin has not but revealed further particulars about Good Girl’s design and onboard choices, so you may have to attend till 2025 for extra specifics.

Good Girl is likely to be related in appears to its sisters, however it is going to broaden Virgin’s itinerary choices with cruises from new house ports (New York Metropolis and Los Angeles) and to new areas for the road (Canada). The ship will debut with 4 sailings from 5 to 14 nights departing from New York Metropolis’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal in September and October 2025. These itineraries embody stops in Bermuda; Charleston, South Carolina; and Saint John, Quebec Metropolis and Halifax, Canada.

Good Girl will then reposition to Miami for Caribbean cruises by way of March 2026, then head by way of the Panama Canal to Los Angeles, the place it is going to sail Mexico cruises by way of Might. It’s going to then make its means north to Seattle for a summer season of the road’s first Alaska cruises.

Fares for the ship’s five-night inaugural crusing to Bermuda begin from $2,090 per particular person for a windowless Insider cabin (based mostly on double occupancy), together with taxes and charges.

Superstar Xcel

CELEBRITY CRUISES

Maiden voyage: Nov. 18, 2025

Deliberate because the fifth and last ship in Superstar Cruises’ Edge Class collection, Superstar Xcel is about to start crusing in fall 2025. However do not count on it to be simply one other carbon copy.

With this class of ship, Superstar launched the mainstream cruise business to a number of key improvements, together with Infinite Balconies (wall-to-wall home windows that decrease for contemporary air, subsequent to an indoor space that may be partitioned off from the remainder of the room to create a balcony impact); Eden, a theater and immersive leisure house that doubles as a restaurant and bar; and the Magic Carpet, a platform that strikes up and down the facet of the ship, serving as a bar/lounge space, a restaurant or a young launch space, relying on the day and the place it is positioned.

The road hasn’t but spelled out precisely what is likely to be totally different about Superstar Xcel by way of eating, public areas and leisure. Provided that not a lot modified between the primary ship within the class and the fourth, it isn’t clear how totally different Xcel may — or won’t — be from its sisters.

What the ship’s unfinished deck plans presently present is that it is more likely to have a Magic Carpet and welcome again a number of cabin varieties — together with 2,500-square-foot Iconic Suites positioned above the bridge, multiroom Penthouse suites that measure greater than 1,575 sq. toes and the road’s first two-deck suites, often known as Edge Villas — that rolled out with the daybreak of the Edge Class.

Fares for Superstar Xcel’s inaugural season of Caribbean cruises begin at $1,056 per particular person for a seven-night voyage crusing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, on Dec. 14, 2025. Following its temporary run there, the ship will reposition to the Mediterranean, the place it is going to provide Superstar’s first-ever in a single day calls on Madeira, Portugal.

Disney Future

Artist’s rendering of Disney Future. DISNEY

Maiden voyage: Nov. 20, 2025

Disney Cruise Line continues to quickly broaden its fleet with Disney Future, the third ship within the Want Class of vessels, which incorporates newcomers Disney Want (2022) and Disney Treasure (2024).

The 4,000-passenger Want Class ships share a structure however have their very own shipwide motif and themed areas. Disney Future is all about Disney villains and the heroes who conflict with them. Fairytale attraction provides approach to Wakanda power within the vessel’s Grand Corridor, the place a statue of T’Challa from “Black Panther” will greet passengers.

New drink venues embody the stylish De Vil’s piano lounge, impressed by Dalmatian-detesting Cruella de Vil. Passengers can even be capable to immerse themselves within the mystic world of Physician Unusual in The Sanctum, the place they’ll get pleasure from cocktails and low and participate in day by day actions.

On the eating entrance, Satisfaction Lands: Feast of The Lion King would be the new most important eating expertise in Disney Future’s three-restaurant rotational lineup. Stay musicians, storytellers and particular results will deliver “The Lion King” to life as you dine.

The ship will see the return of Want Class complimentary eating places The Worlds of Marvel and 1923 (an homage to Disney’s founding 12 months), in addition to the extra-fee adults-only Palo Steakhouse and Enchante.

The AquaMouse water journey can even return on Disney Future.

Itineraries for Disney Future embody four- and five-night sailings to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. Fares for Disney Future’s inaugural season begin at $4,442 per particular person, for a four-night voyage, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, departing Nov. 24, 2025. (Costs are based mostly on double occupancy and embody all taxes, charges and port bills.)

Disney Journey

Disney Journey. DISNEY

Maiden voyage: Dec. 15, 2025

Sizzling on the heels of Disney Future, Disney Journey will change into the largest ship within the Disney Cruise Line fleet when it debuts in Singapore in 2025. The 208,000-ton vessel will likely be about 44% bigger than Disney’s Want Class ships and accommodate 6,700 passengers at most capability and a pair of,500 crew members.

The ship was initially ordered for Dream Cruises, an Asia-based firm that collapsed in 2022. Disney bought it from liquidators and redesigned the unfinished ship in its magical, immersive model. Will probably be the primary Disney cruise ship to sail in Asia, attracting each native and worldwide visitors.

Disney Journey will characteristic seven themed areas — Disney Creativeness Backyard, Disney Discovery Reef, San Fransokyo Avenue, Marvel Touchdown, Toy Story Place, City Sq. and Wayfinder Bay.

Disney hasn’t revealed specifics about all the areas. We do know Disney Creativeness Backyard will likely be a three-deck-high open-air house providing an “enchanted” backdrop for eating and performances. A type of performances will likely be “Avengers Assemble!,” a stage present stuffed with stunts and particular results that includes Marvel superheroes and villains.

Disney Creativeness Backyard can even be house to 2 new eating venues. Mowgli’s Eatery will provide vegetarian and regional Indian dishes in a “Jungle E book”-inspired house. The Pacific Islands design and decor of Gramma Tala’s Kitchen will dovetail properly with that restaurant’s Pacific- and Asia-inspired menu.

The road additionally guarantees experiences specifically curated for Southeast Asia itineraries.

Disney Journey will sail three- to five-night cruises departing from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre.

Fares for Disney Journey’s inaugural three-night crusing round-trip from Singapore begin at $1,565 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy. A 3-night round-trip voyage from Singapore that departs Jan. 5, 2026, will begin at $958 per particular person based mostly on double occupancy. (Fares embody all taxes, charges and port bills.)

Star Seeker

A rendering of Windstar’s new Star Seeker anchored off the coast of Japan. WINDSTAR CRUISES

Maiden voyage: Dec. 28, 2025

Star Seeker has been a very long time coming. Windstar Cruises hasn’t added ships since 2015, when it adopted the final of three ex-Seabourn ships into its fleet, doubling from three small ships to 6. Not like these pre-owned vessels, Star Seeker will likely be brand-new. Sure, the ship was meant for expedition cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages, however Windstar purchased the ship unfinished and can tailor it to its personal model.

The 224-passenger, 9,315-ton Star Seeker will match Windstar’s small-ship vibe, and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2 ought to hold service ranges excessive. The all-suite ship will characteristic a balcony or a window wall that slides open to create a balconylike house in practically each visitor room. An area initially meant for a helipad has been became two top-deck Horizon Proprietor’s suites with wraparound balconies. The ship will provide 12 cabin and suite classes, and plenty of could have a further berth to sleep three.

Although small within the cruise ship world, Star Seeker will hold visitors entertained with three eating venues and the Yacht Membership cafe, a spa and health middle, pool deck and a scorching tub on the ship’s bow, and Windstar’s signature water-sports platform in the back of the ship.

The ship will set sail on its maiden voyage on the finish of December 2025, crusing from Malaga, Spain, to Miami. After a christening ceremony in Miami, the ship will spend the spring crusing the Caribbean earlier than crossing the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean, the place Star Seeker will make its new house. The ship will give attention to cruises to Alaska in the summertime and round Japan within the fall.

Star Seeker fares begin at $2,999 per particular person for a seven-night Caribbean cruise departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Feb. 6, 2026.

Backside line

The ships listed above is likely to be our favorites, however they are not the one new ships launching in 2025.

River cruise traces appear to launch a slew of recent ships every year, and 2025 is not any totally different. AmaWaterways will introduce AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, its first ships to sail the rivers of Colombia, together with a brand new ship in Portugal. Viking will debut a whopping 10 river ships, together with Viking Tonle on the Mekong, two ships in Egypt and 7 vessels in Europe.

Followers of the yachting way of life and high-end resorts ought to regulate The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment, which can launch its third “yacht,” Luminara, this summer season. We put yacht in quotes as a result of, whereas that is what the road calls its vessels, they’re actually not yachtlike in any respect. Luminara will rise 10 decks excessive and carry greater than 400 folks.

No matter whether or not you are excited concerning the humongous megaships arriving from MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean or a tiny new ship from Windstar, you may wish to name your favourite journey agent proper now if you wish to get the best room on the proper worth on a 2025 cruise on one in every of these new ships. New ships are all the time in style, and with this crop of modern new-builds launching throughout a time when cruising is scorching, you are going to must ebook early to snag a spot on one in every of these new ships.

Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:

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