New Cruise Ships on Order for 2027 and 2028
Several major cruise lines have new ships on order for 2027 and 2028, featuring a range of innovative amenities and features.
Carnival Cruise Line has a new ship on order, the Carnival Festivale, which will be the fourth Excel-class ship for the line.
It will be able to accommodate approximately 6,400 guests and will feature a three-deck outdoor zone called Sunsation Point, which will include a water park with four new water slides.
Other new features on the Carnival Festivale include music-themed zones across three decks, new dining and drinking experiences, and a range of restaurants and bars.
The Carnival Festivale is expected to debut in Spring 2027 and will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
Explora Journeys is also expanding its fleet with the Explora IV, a small, ultra-luxury ship that will be similar to its sister ships.
The Explora IV will feature 461 ocean-front suites, seven restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, and five heated pools, and will have a passengers-to-crew ratio of 1.25:1.
The ship is expected to debut in Summer 2027 and will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
Norwegian Cruise Line has a new ship on order, the Norwegian Aura, which will be the line's biggest ship ever.
The Norwegian Aura will feature a range of new amenities and features, including a three-deck outdoor zone called Ocean Heights, which will offer fun family activities during the day and a more chill environment in the evenings.
The ship will also feature the most slides of any ship in the fleet, including a dueling mat racer waterslide and a drop-in slide.
The Norwegian Aura is expected to debut in May 2027 and will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
Viking Cruises has a new ship on order, the Viking Astrea, which will be a hydrogen-powered small ship.
The Viking Astrea will offer adults-only experiences that mirror what cruisers have already found on Viking Cruises' similar vessels.
The ship will feature just under 500 well-appointed and spacious cabins, a spa and fitness center, and a handful of restaurants and social spaces.
The Viking Astrea is expected to debut in June 2027 and will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
Royal Caribbean International has a new ship on order, the Hero of the Seas, which will be the fourth Royal Caribbean Icon-class ship.
The Hero of the Seas will feature a range of new amenities and features, including a new pool near The Lime and Coconut, a new cooking class experience in the Surfside neighborhood, and four new concepts at the AquaDome Market.
The ship will also feature a supper club restaurant styled after the early 20th-century French Quarter.
The Hero of the Seas is expected to debut in August 2027 and will be built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.
Oceania Cruises has a new ship on order, the Oceania Sonata, which will be the lead ship for the line's new Sonata class.
The Oceania Sonata will feature a range of new amenities and features, including a new class of cruise ships, the most spacious vessel to date, and the most amenities overall.
The ship will feature nearly a third of all the accommodation options as suites, including two new suite categories and a range of restaurants and bars.
The Oceania Sonata is expected to debut in August 2027 and will be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
MSC Cruises has a new ship on order, the MSC World Atlantic, which will be another World-class ship and the fourth of its class.
The MSC World Atlantic will feature a range of new amenities and features, including a new class of cruise ships and a range of restaurants and bars.
The ship is expected to debut in 2028 and will be built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France.
