A host of new cruise ships will take to the seas in 2025, with Disney Cruise Line starting a new Adventure on a 6,700-passenger giant based in Singapore.
The year will also see a lot of sister ships joining fleets, including Disney Destiny, as well as MSC World America, Star of the Seas and Star Princess.
Here’s my annual preview of the ships to look out for this year…
Disney Adventure
This ship, debuting in December, will be by far the line’s biggest and the second one to join the fleet this year, after Disney Destiny in November. Disney Adventure started life as Global Dream but was snapped up for a reported $44million (£35million) when original owners Hong Kong Genting went into administration during Covid. The 6,700-passenger ship will boast the longest rollercoaster at sea, the 820ft Ironcycle Test Run, and be divided into seven themed areas – Disney Imagination Garden, Toy Story Place, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, Wayfinder Bay, Disney Discovery Reef and Marvel Landing.
Disney Destiny
Destiny will be a sister ship to Disney Wish, launched in 2022, and Disney Treasure, which entered service last month. The theme of the 4,000-passenger ship will be heroes and villains, based on Marvel characters such as Black Panther, Doctor Strange and Iron Man. Elsa fans will love the main theatre production: Frozen, A Musical Spectacular.
Norwegian Aqua
Following on from Norwegian Prima and Viva, Norwegian Aqua will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s first Prima-Plus ship when it sets sail from Port Canaveral in Florida for the Caribbean in April. At ten per cent bigger than its older sisters, Aqua will carry 3,571 passengers and introduce a hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster, which sends riders through three storeys of twists and turns around the ship’s funnel.
MSC World America
The US-themed sister ship to MSC World Europa will feature the terrifying Cliffhanger ride where passengers swing to and fro over the side, 160ft above the waves. The 6,700-passenger ship, which will start sailing from Miami in April, will also boast the only Eataly restaurant at sea, as well as an American microbrewery, based in a British-style pub. Every voyage will include a visit to MSC Cruises’ private island and marine reserve in the Bahamas.
Star of the Seas
Royal Caribbean has a reputation of building the world’s largest cruise ships and Star of the Seas is no exception. A sister to the record-breaking Icon of the Seas, Star will be the second in a six-strong series of giants and feature eight themed ‘neighbourhoods’. The Finnish-built ship, which carries 5,610 passengers at double capacity but can take a maximum of 7,600, will make its debut in August at Port Canaveral, Florida.
Celebrity Xcel
The fifth in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge series of pioneering ships – recognisable by the orange ‘Magic Carpet’ venue on the starboard side – will start sailing in November from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean. The 3,260-passenger newcomer will also retain the familiar features of the three-deck Eden lounge and ‘infinite veranda’ balcony rooms that replace an outside space with a panoramic window that slides halfway down to give fresh air and sea views.
Star Princess
After Sun Princess, launched last year, Star Princess is the second member of Princess Cruises’ Sphere class with a nine-deck glass-enclosed piazza in the middle and a geodesic dome on top. The 4,300-passenger ship will feature a larger Irish pub and bigger art-inspired dining venue Love by Britto than its older sister. Star Princess will sail an inaugural season in the Caribbean before repositioning to Alaska in spring 2026.
Brilliant Lady
Sir Richard Branson’s fleet of Virgin Voyages ships reaches four with the debut of Brilliant Lady in September. The 2,770-passenger vessel will embark on longer itineraries of up to 14 nights on routes such as New York to Bermuda and Canada, Los Angeles to Mexico, Miami to the ABC Islands, and Seattle to Alaska.
Allura
With one chef for every ten guests, Allura will maintain Oceania Cruises’ reputation for fine cuisine. A sister ship to Vista, launched in 2023, the 1,200-passenger newcomer will enter service from Trieste, Italy, on July 18. Following a summer season in the Med, Allura will sail to Canada and New England before spending winter in Miami sailing to the Caribbean.
Star Seeker
Windstar is expanding its fleet with two 224-passenger, ice-strengthened ships. Star Seeker, being built in Portugal, is due to make its maiden voyage from Malaga to Miami in December. The ship, which features a watersports platform, will be followed a year later by Star Explorer, currently operating as World Explorer with Quark Expeditions.
Other ships making their debut this year include Luminara for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Viking Vesta for Viking Cruises and Douglas Mawson for AE Expeditions. American Cruise Lines is also adding American Patriot and Pioneer to its collection of coastal ships.