Gary Buchanan takes a look at upcoming new cruise ships
The momentous news regarding a slew of orders for new deluxe ships took the most astute cruise industry pundits by surprise in April. Headline writers searched for superlatives as four luxury cruise lines announced notable new-builds in as many days.
The annual Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami is the foremost showcase for cruise professionals and attracts the industry's big guns. This year's 'State of the Global Cruise Industry' presentation highlighted the resilience, innovation, and growth of the cruise industry. Delegates were told that total global passengers reached 31.7 million in 2023, almost two million more than in 2019. Forecasts also projected that passenger numbers will reach 34.1 million worldwide in 2024, rising to 36.4 million in 2025. To meet this demand, luxury cruise capacity is set to nearly double by 2028.
As the industry's movers and shakers tried to second guess which cruise lines would instigate this surge in expansion, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Emerald Cruises, and Windstar Cruises stole the show and unveiled a series of new ships. The revelations have taken the luxury cruise sector by storm.
Not only are these four cruise lines upping the ante, but their smoking-hot new-builds will continue to shatter stereotypes and are sure to deliver a supercharged experience exactly like nothing else.
Two new stars are set to shine bright as Windstar Cruises expands its fleet with two all-suite motor yachts. The 224-guest Star Seeker is expected to enter service in December 2025, followed 12 months later by the similar-capacity Star Explorer.
With a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:2, these innovative Star Plus Class ships will offer an intimate atmosphere, ensuring personalised service at every turn. Both all-suite vessels will feature private verandas and infinity windows, while two new Owner's Suites at the stern of the ships will have wrap-around balconies.
Guests will also welcome features that have proven popular with Windstar guests. These include the iconic watersports platform, which will have convenient direct access. There will be a cosy Yacht Club café and lounge, a two-deck-high spa and fitness facility, an intimate forward whirlpool on the bow, plus a spacious sun deck.
Windstar's commitment to exceptional cuisine continues to be a defining aspect.
The four culinary options will include a re-imagined main dining room, Amphora, which will serve a variety of inventive cuisine, including rotating items from James Beard Foundation-affiliated guest chefs. Alfresco dining will be available at both Amphora and the Star Grill. There will also be a speciality restaurant (without supplement), as well as 24-hour room service.
Star Seeker and Star Explorer will have ice-strengthened hulls, unlocking access to new destinations. The ships are equipped with the latest technology in safety, propulsion, and navigation. To reduce their environmental footprint and uphold the brand's commitment to sustainability, the vessels will have Tier III NOx-rated Rolls-Royce engines and shore power connectivity to minimise port emissions.
The expansion of the fleet also allows Windstar to bring back its beloved Wind Star to Tahiti, where it will join Star Breeze in 2027, adding more capacity to meet the growing demand for sailings in French Polynesia, where the company has over 36 years experience. Travellers will now have a choice of sailing among these idyllic Instagram-perfect archipelagos, where turquoise lagoons shimmer against a backdrop of jagged mountains, either on a Wind Class or Star Class ship.
Another hot ticket will be Emerald Kaia, a new addition to the Australian-owned Emerald Cruises' luxury boutique yacht fleet that has a reputation for punching above its weight in terms of quality. Slightly larger than the first two trendsetting 100-guest yachts – Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara - this newcomer, which will debut in April 2026, will accommodate 128 guests. Cabins and suites are set to be 10 percent larger but will continue to showcase the company's signature debonair décor. There will be enhanced dining venues, a reimagined gym, and wellness facilities, plus an expanded Elements Spa.
At the confluence of cutting-edge design and eco-friendly technology, this new superyacht will be whip-smart inside and out. Emerald Kaia's Sky Deck will be larger than on the previous yachts and will incorporate a new Sky Lounge, which offers an open-air vibe. There will also be swimming pools, Sky Deck cabanas, and a Sky Bar, as well as an observation Sun Deck at the bow. Lowered when the svelte Emerald Kaia is anchored off snazzy ports, a floating marina with a lounge and open-air gym is conceived with style junkies in mind. Advance publicity promises guests an unrivalled superyacht experience on sought-after, off-the-beaten-map itineraries ranging from the Mediterranean and Adriatic to the Aegean and Seychelles.
The construction order-book spree continued with an announcement from Oceania Cruises regarding a contract for a completely new class of ships. A duo of 86,000 gross tonne vessels with a capacity for 1,400 guests will be launched in 2027 and 2029. Details so far are sketchy, but this enterprising cruise line has said this new class of ships will be a dynamic evolution of the Allura class of ships and will be constructed at Fincantieri. The first of the Allura class pair of 67,000 gross tonne vessels is Vista, which has a capacity of 1,200 guests and entered service in May last year. Excitement is already building in anticipation of the arrival of sister-ship Allura in June 2025.
Not to be outdone, Regent Seven Seas Cruises also underscored the flourishing luxury sector by announcing two 77,000 gross tonne ships, each with a capacity for 850 guests. These will be an evolution of the trio of acclaimed 55,000 gross tonne Explorer Class ships, each of which has a capacity for 744 guests. The two new-builds will join the renowned fleet in 2026 and 2029. Once again, details are sparse, but the company has specified that Fincantieri will be the shipyard commissioned to create these two paragons, which will be the largest, most efficient, and most innovative in the fleet. It was also noted that the new ship designs are intended to advance the path towards decarbonisation.
This whirlwind of new orders follows ambitious growth plans for Crystal, which were announced last year. Two European shipbuilders will receive orders for four new opulent ships, including two 650-guest (approx) classic ships and two 220-passenger (approx) expedition vessels. This expansion programme will be completed by 2029.
Devotees of ship inaugurations are in for a treat this summer when two wunderships take their bow. Artsy and edgy with whip-smart tech, Silver Ray will join her almost identical sister-ship Silver Nova as the most sustainable luxury cruise vessel at sea when she graces the oceans for the first time in June. The 728-guest Silversea vessel defined a new era in finesse and luxe; furthermore, the advanced hybrid technology achieves zero local emissions while in port.
Other defining characteristics include a ground-breaking asymmetrical design that's more open to the sea than any other top-notch ship afloat. By conceiving a radical horizontal layout, these two ships have achieved a massive amount of open deck space. This is underscored by a passenger space ratio of 75, a yardstick of personal space that exceeds almost every other ultra-luxury ship. For context, Seven Seas Grandeur comes in at 67.9.
Another pacesetter blazing a similar trail to its much-lauded scion will be EXPLORA II, which embarks on its maiden voyage in August. This 922-guest vessel from newcomer Explora Journeys boasts an embarrassment of riches for a ship of its size. The ambiance is one of a grand European hotel with a modern residential aura. Sustainability also takes centre stage as the ship uses marine gas oil, which has a sulphur content of less than 0.1 percent. The vessel also has provision for battery storage to allow future hybrid power generation.
Explora Journeys offers a unique fusion of culinary bravura, where the quality of produce is paramount. It speaks volumes that the company's ships each have 129 chefs working in the multidisciplinary restaurant galleys (one chef for every seven guests), by far the highest ratio in the cruise industry. What is undeniable is the epicurean excellence that rivals many esteemed restaurants ashore.
It seems growth in the luxury cruise industry knows no bounds. Major players and their designers in this arena have embarked on a quest to create sassy vessels, the like of which have rarely graced the seven seas. In recent years, the hottest new ships have come with a host of innovations, and the coming years will be no exception. Cruising is very much in vogue, with discerning travellers opting for a seagoing lifestyle that's intrinsic to smaller, more exclusive cruise lines.
Call Panache Cruises on 0161 513 8200 if you want to learn more about Luxury Ocean Cruises
