The 11 best new cruise ships of 2025

The most exciting new cruise ship debuting in 2025 comes from a line you might not expect.

MSC Cruises, the scrappy, under-the-radar cruise operator known to international travelers and deal-seekers, is making a splash in 2025 when its gigantic MSC World America arrives in Miami this spring. Never before has the cruise line homeported a ship like this in North America, and it finally has a chance to give popular megaships, such as Royal Caribbean‘s Oasis Class vessels, a run for their money.

The ship aims to make MSC a household name in America with its long list of family attractions, indulgent ship-within-a-ship complex for suite guests, and plentiful bars and restaurants. Even though the ship is the second in a series, with many similarities to the 2-year-old MSC World Europa, it’s the first of its kind that U.S. cruisers are likely to experience.

Repeat ships are indeed the name of the game in 2025, though some lines are getting a bit more innovative than others with this year’s new-builds.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises are both turning out ships that are based on previous vessels, but with the volume (and size) turned up a notch. Norwegian Aqua will be 10% larger than the line’s newest ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, with cool touches like a hybrid waterslide and rollercoaster. Celebrity Xcel will take that line’s modern Edge Class specs and add some extra oomph.

Windstar Cruises is introducing its first newly built ship in decades, and Disney Cruise Line will dominate the fourth quarter with two ship debuts — Disney Adventure, its largest ship ever, to be based in Singapore; and Disney Destiny, a sister to Disney Wish and Disney Treasure with new venues like The Sanctum and De Vil’s.

And of course, Royal Caribbean fans can’t wait for the second Icon Class vessel, Star of the Seas, which will join its sister, Icon of the Seas, as the largest cruise ships in the world, with extraordinary family appeal.

We couldn’t forget ship launches from Princess Cruises, Viking and Virgin Voyages — just because they’re not first in class does not mean they’re not eagerly awaited.

Which new cruise ship will be your favorite in 2025, and which should you book ASAP? Here’s our list of the best new cruise ships of 2025, in debut order, and all the key details that have been revealed about them so far.

Norwegian Aqua

Maiden voyage: March 28, 2025

Norwegian Aqua, the latest iteration of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest Prima Class of ships, is scheduled to make its sailing debut in March. Designed to carry 3,571 passengers at double occupancy, it will be a larger version of its sister ships, prompting the line to refer to it as a Prima Plus Class vessel.

At about 10% larger than the first two ships in the Prima Class series, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, 156,300-ton Norwegian Aqua has given its creators room to innovate even further.

Most notably, the ship will have a hybrid waterslide and roller coaster that will replace the top-deck go-kart track found on Norwegian’s newest ships. Dubbed the Aqua Slidecoaster, the ride will consist of a set of two tube-style slides that will propel riders up and down three stories with the aid of a magnet — similar to how land-based roller coasters operate.

Further, an onboard Glow Court with an LED floor will host sports by day and transform into a nightclub when the sun goes down.

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

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

MSC World America

Maiden voyage: April 12, 2025

We predict that MSC World America is going to make a big 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 out of Florida, Texas, New York and its own Bahamian private island. Now it’s turning up the volume with a giant new ship, the second in its World Class series but the first in class to sail from the U.S. to the Caribbean.

MSC World America will attract families like no other ship in the fleet, with an entire area called Family Aventura devoted to their entertainment. Here, you’ll find Cliffhanger, an overwater swing ride; Jaw Drop @ The Spiral, a 10-deck-high spiraling dry slide; Harbour Light House, a play area themed around the lighthouse at MSC’s private island Ocean Cay; and Harbour Aquapark, a watery fun zone with four waterslides.

While similar in size to sister ship MSC World Europa, which debuted two years ago, MSC World America will have several new venues aimed squarely at the North American market. New dining outlets include Paxos, an indoor-outdoor Greek restaurant that takes the place of the seafood-serving La Pescaderia restaurant on MSC World Europa, and Eataly, which will become the only outpost of the authentic Italian food purveyor at sea. (You’ll find it in the space that houses the upscale Chef’s Garden Kitchen on MSC World Europa.)

Save room for dessert because the reimagined Sweet Temptations dessert venue will bring the sugar overload with next-level milkshakes, make-your-own ice cream bars and other treats, set in a colorful, Instagram-worthy venue.

MSC World America will bring the adult fun, too, with The Loft, an adults-only entertainment venue for karaoke, comedy and dueling piano performances. The Sportplex will lure all ages of cruisers with bumper cars, zorb ball competitions and drone classes open to everyone.

The MSC Yacht Club, the line’s exclusive-access area for guests booked in Yacht Club-designated cabins and suites, will be the largest in the fleet. Amenities include a two-level sundeck with a pool, hot tub, cabana, bar and grill; Top Sail Lounge for drinks and socializing; and Yacht Club Restaurant for elevated dining.

MSC World America will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises out of Miami. All will feature a visit to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line’s private island in the Bahamas.

Fares start at $688 per person for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Nov. 14, 2026. (November 2025 sailings are similarly priced.)

Viking Vesta

Maiden voyage: July 2, 2025

Summer of 2025 brings with it yet another new vessel for Viking‘s ocean fleet. Viking Vesta is a sister ship to the 11 nearly identical others that already ply the waters of Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. Like its fleetmates, Viking Vesta will focus on extra time in port with at least one complimentary excursion in each port of call and overnights in select destinations.

Although Viking Vesta will closely resemble its siblings in layout and soothing Scandinavian style, it will be about 30 feet longer, offering space for more passengers. Carrying fewer than 1,000 people — 998, to be exact — the ship is large enough to offer amenities like a luxurious Nordic spa but still small enough to navigate the out-of-the-way ports the line’s passengers enjoy.

The child-free atmosphere on board allows for a more refined and relaxed experience for the largely older, well-traveled cruisers who prefer Viking. (You must be 18 to sail.) Cabins will be relatively spacious; even the smallest will offer 270 square feet of space and come with balconies.

Onboard entertainment will include enrichment programs and low-key, intellectual activities like trivia. Several restaurants will serve elegant meals included in the cruise fare, and the onboard buffet will feature a selection of dishes inspired by the areas in which the ship will sail.

When it begins sailing in early July, Viking Vesta will feature a series of Mediterranean voyages, ranging from seven to 21 nights, departing from ports like Athens, Barcelona, Venice and Rome.

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

Allura

Maiden voyage: July 18, 2025

The second ship in Oceania Cruises‘ Allura Class will set sail in summer 2025. Allura will bring with it the same concepts that debuted on sister ship Vista, which became the line’s first new vessel in a decade when it launched in 2023.

Restaurants Ember (American fare with a twist) and Aquamar (wellness-inspired dishes) will reprise their roles on Allura, along with the Founder’s Bar, which features craft cocktails with interesting touches like flavored mist bubbles and frozen centers containing ingredients like tea.

Like Vista, Allura will offer more space per passenger than the older ships in the Oceania fleet. Plus, all cabins have balconies — either the traditional kind or a French balcony with a door that opens to allow in fresh air but does not offer any actual outdoor space.

Although it offers a fresh take, Allura is similar to Oceania’s older ships. The line’s regulars can enjoy a new spin on something that still feels familiar to them.

The ship promises elegantly designed public areas and accommodations with lots of space and comfortable beds, but don’t expect full luxury. Allura won’t be an all-inclusive ship, but it’s more inclusive than the mainstream lines. Fares include nearly all dining, fitness classes, nonalcoholic beverages and in-port shuttles.

Allura will sail voyages in the Mediterranean from various ports and to the Caribbean from Miami. Prices start from $799 per person for a four-night cruise to Saint John, New Brunswick, round-trip from New York on Sept. 30, 2025.

Star Princess

Maiden voyage: Oct. 4, 2025

Princess Cruises‘ 4,300-passenger, 178,000-ton Star Princess will be the second in the line’s innovative Sphere Class, following sister Sun Princess, which launched in 2024. This new class of ships is introducing several firsts for the cruise line, making the twin ships stand out from their fleetmates.

Star Princess will be the second ship in the Princess fleet to offer an exclusive restaurant, lounge and sundeck to guests booking its top Sanctuary Collection suites, mini-suites and deluxe balcony cabins. It will also have 1,500 guest rooms with balconies, a much higher number than on Princess ships in other classes. The ship’s extra-wide Deck 10 will be home to Cabana cabins with access to a private sundeck.

Sun Princess’ wow-factor public spaces return on sister Star Princess, including a glass dome housing a pool that turns into an evening hot spot, the convertible and hi-tech Princess Arena main theater, and a three-deck-high, glass-enclosed Piazza with a pop-up stage, giant LED screen and nonstop lineup of entertainment options.

A back-of-ship infinity pool and sundeck bring serious South Beach vibes. Spellbound, an intimate venue for Magic Castle magicians to wow guests, is also returning.

New to Star Princess will be the SkyDeck Sports Court & Track with a splash pad, dedicated court for pickleball and basketball, and plenty of shaded areas for hanging out in the fresh sea air.

Princess is also expanding the ship’s nonsmoking casino area to include 68 additional slot machines.

Like Sun Princess, Star Princess will offer far more bars and restaurants than is typical for Princess ships — 29 in all. Longtime favorites Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and the Crown Grill steakhouse team up with Sphere Class-exclusive venues such as Butcher’s Block by Dario, a meat-focused grill created by celebrity 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 hot pot.

Like its sister, Star Princess will place its buffet restaurant near the Piazza and not on the pool deck. The Lido Deck will have outlets serving pizza, tacos, salads, grilled fare and ice cream for hungry sunbathers. The ship’s O’Malley’s Irish Pub will be expanded to accommodate even more guests for live music, Irish food and, of course, pours of beer and whiskey.

Star Princess will stand out from its twin sister when it comes to deployment. Beginning in summer 2026, the ship will be the first Sphere Class ship, and the largest Princess ship, to sail Alaska. It will debut in the Mediterranean in October 2025, then reposition to the Caribbean a few weeks later for warm-weather winter sailings. In April 2026, it will sail through the Panama Canal en route to its Seattle homeport for the Alaska season, then return the way it came in late September for another winter of Caribbean cruises.

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

Star of the Seas

Maiden voyage: Aug. 31, 2025

Royal Caribbean’s next massive Icon Class vessel will bring a new attraction-filled megaship option to the Caribbean, with options for families, couples and groups. The ship will bring back many of the exciting spaces first debuted on its predecessor, Icon of the Seas.

Top-deck attractions will include a huge water park featuring six slides and seven pools. The family-focused Surfside neighborhood returns with its water play areas, arcade, carousel and family-friendly eateries and shops.

Fans of Icon’s AquaDome will be happy to see its return on Star of the Seas. This glass dome-covered space will house the vessel’s AquaTheater high-dive and acrobatic water shows and the AquaDome Market, the line’s five-venue food hall offering internationally inspired cuisine.

Icon’s added-fee adults-only restaurant, Empire Supper Club, will reemerge on Star of the Seas as Lincoln Park Supper Club. Diners can expect a similar experience — multicourse dining paired with live entertainment in an intimate setting — but with a 1930s Chicago vibe.

Star of the Seas will operate short three- and four-night sailings, as well as weeklong round-trip voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Port calls will include sunny destinations such as St. Thomas; St. Maarten; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The ship will also call on the 17-acre Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, which is set to open in late 2025.

Fares for Star of the Seas’ inaugural sailing start from $2,882 per person for an inside cabin (based on double occupancy), including taxes and fees.

Brilliant Lady

Maiden voyage: Sept. 5, 2025

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

The hip cruise line’s 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady will bring the line’s irreverent and playful atmosphere through contemporary decor, unique dining and lounges, and edgy entertainment found on identical sister ships Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady.

The line has confirmed Brilliant Lady will offer its popular balcony hammocks, multiple restaurants (no buffet or cavernous main dining room on Virgin ships) and impressive selection of wellness offerings — from a long list of treatments at the Redemption Spa to complimentary fitness classes.

Virgin has not yet revealed additional details about Brilliant Lady’s design and onboard offerings, so you’ll have to wait until 2025 for more specifics.

Brilliant Lady might be similar in looks to its sisters, but it will expand Virgin’s itinerary options with cruises from new home ports (New York City and Los Angeles) and to new regions for the line (Canada). The ship will debut with four sailings from five to 14 nights departing from New York City’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal in September and October 2025. These itineraries include stops in Bermuda; Charleston, South Carolina; and Saint John, Quebec City and Halifax, Canada.

Brilliant Lady will then reposition to Miami for Caribbean cruises through March 2026, then head through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles, where it will sail Mexico cruises through May. It’ll then make its way north to Seattle for a summer of the line’s first Alaska cruises.

Fares for the ship’s five-night inaugural sailing to Bermuda start from $2,090 per person for a windowless Insider cabin (based on double occupancy), including taxes and fees.

Celebrity Xcel

Maiden voyage: Nov. 18, 2025

Planned as the fifth and final ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class series, Celebrity Xcel is set to begin sailing in fall 2025. But don’t expect it to be just another carbon copy.

With this class of ship, Celebrity introduced the mainstream cruise industry to several key innovations, including Infinite Balconies (wall-to-wall windows that lower for fresh air, next to an indoor area that can be partitioned off from the rest of the room to create a balcony effect); Eden, a theater and immersive entertainment space that doubles as a restaurant and bar; and the Magic Carpet, a platform that moves up and down the side of the ship, serving as a bar/lounge area, a restaurant or a tender launch area, depending on the day and where it’s positioned.

The line hasn’t yet spelled out exactly what might be different about Celebrity Xcel in terms of dining, public spaces and entertainment. Given that not much changed between the first ship in the class and the fourth, it’s not clear how different Xcel might — or might not — be from its sisters.

What the ship’s unfinished deck plans currently show is that it’s likely to have a Magic Carpet and welcome back several cabin types — including 2,500-square-foot Iconic Suites located above the bridge, multiroom Penthouse suites that measure more than 1,575 square feet and the line’s first two-deck suites, known as Edge Villas — that rolled out with the dawn of the Edge Class.

Fares for Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural season of Caribbean cruises start at $1,056 per person for a seven-night voyage sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, on Dec. 14, 2025. Following its brief run there, the ship will reposition to the Mediterranean, where it will offer Celebrity’s first-ever overnight calls on Madeira, Portugal.

Disney Destiny

Maiden voyage: Nov. 20, 2025

Disney Cruise Line continues to rapidly expand its fleet with Disney Destiny, the third ship in the Wish Class of vessels, which includes newcomers Disney Wish (2022) and Disney Treasure (2024).

The 4,000-passenger Wish Class ships share a layout but have their own shipwide motif and themed spaces. Disney Destiny is all about Disney villains and the heroes who clash with them. Fairytale charm gives way to Wakanda energy in the vessel’s Grand Hall, where a statue of T’Challa from “Black Panther” will greet passengers.

New drink venues include the chic De Vil’s piano lounge, inspired by Dalmatian-detesting Cruella de Vil. Passengers will also be able to immerse themselves in the mystic world of Doctor Strange in The Sanctum, where they can enjoy cocktails and coffee and take part in daily activities.

On the dining front, Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King will be the new main dining experience in Disney Destiny’s three-restaurant rotational lineup. Live musicians, storytellers and special effects will bring “The Lion King” to life as you dine.

The ship will see the return of Wish Class complimentary restaurants The Worlds of Marvel and 1923 (an homage to Disney’s founding year), as well as the extra-fee adults-only Palo Steakhouse and Enchante.

The AquaMouse water ride will also return on Disney Destiny.

Itineraries for Disney Destiny include four- and five-night sailings to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. Fares for Disney Destiny’s inaugural season start at $4,442 per person, for a four-night voyage, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, departing Nov. 24, 2025. (Prices are based on double occupancy and include all taxes, fees and port expenses.)

Disney Adventure

Maiden voyage: Dec. 15, 2025

Hot on the heels of Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure will become the biggest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet when it debuts in Singapore in 2025. The 208,000-ton vessel will be about 44% larger than Disney’s Wish Class ships and accommodate 6,700 passengers at maximum capacity and 2,500 crew members.

The ship was initially ordered for Dream Cruises, an Asia-based company that collapsed in 2022. Disney purchased it from liquidators and redesigned the unfinished ship in its magical, immersive style. It will be the first Disney cruise ship to sail in Asia, attracting both local and international guests.

Disney Adventure will feature seven themed areas — Disney Imagination Garden, Disney Discovery Reef, San Fransokyo Street, Marvel Landing, Toy Story Place, Town Square and Wayfinder Bay.

Disney hasn’t revealed specifics about all of the areas. We do know Disney Imagination Garden will be a three-deck-high open-air space offering an “enchanted” backdrop for dining and performances. One of those performances will be “Avengers Assemble!,” a stage show full of stunts and special effects featuring Marvel superheroes and villains.

Disney Imagination Garden will also be home to two new dining venues. Mowgli’s Eatery will offer vegetarian and regional Indian dishes in a “Jungle Book”-inspired space. The Pacific Islands design and decor of Gramma Tala’s Kitchen will dovetail nicely with that restaurant’s Pacific- and Asia-inspired menu.

The line also promises experiences specially curated for Southeast Asia itineraries.

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

Fares for Disney Adventure’s inaugural three-night sailing round-trip from Singapore start at $1,565 per person, based on double occupancy. A three-night round-trip voyage from Singapore that departs Jan. 5, 2026, will start at $958 per person based on double occupancy. (Fares include all taxes, fees and port expenses.)

Star Seeker

Maiden voyage: Dec. 28, 2025

Star Seeker has been a long time coming. Windstar Cruises hasn’t added ships since 2015, when it adopted the last of three ex-Seabourn ships into its fleet, doubling from three small ships to six. Unlike those pre-owned vessels, Star Seeker will be brand-new. Yes, the ship was meant for expedition cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages, but Windstar bought the ship unfinished and will tailor it to its own style.

The 224-passenger, 9,315-ton Star Seeker will fit Windstar’s small-ship vibe, and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2 should keep service levels high. The all-suite ship will feature a balcony or a window wall that slides open to create a balconylike space in nearly every guest room. A space originally meant for a helipad has been turned into two top-deck Horizon Owner’s suites with wraparound balconies. The ship will offer 12 cabin and suite categories, and many will have an additional berth to sleep three.

Though small in the cruise ship world, Star Seeker will keep guests entertained with three dining venues and the Yacht Club cafe, a spa and fitness center, pool deck and a hot tub on the ship’s bow, and Windstar’s signature water-sports platform at the back of the ship.

The ship will set sail on its maiden voyage at the end of December 2025, sailing from Malaga, Spain, to Miami. After a christening ceremony in Miami, the ship will spend the spring sailing the Caribbean before crossing the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean, where Star Seeker will make its new home. The ship will focus on cruises to Alaska in the summer and around Japan in the fall.

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

Bottom line

The ships listed above might be our favorites, but they’re not the only new ships launching in 2025.

River cruise lines seem to launch a slew of new ships each year, and 2025 is no different. AmaWaterways will introduce AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, its first ships to sail the rivers of Colombia, along with a new ship in Portugal. Viking will debut a whopping 10 river ships, including Viking Tonle on the Mekong, two ships in Egypt and seven vessels in Europe.

Fans of the yachting lifestyle and high-end hotels should keep an eye on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which will launch its third “yacht,” Luminara, this summer. We put yacht in quotes because, while that’s what the line calls its vessels, they’re really not yachtlike at all. Luminara will rise 10 decks high and carry more than 400 people.

Regardless of whether you’re excited about the humongous megaships arriving from MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean or a tiny new ship from Windstar, you’ll want to call your favorite travel agent right now if you want to get the right room at the right price on a 2025 cruise on one of these new ships. New ships are always popular, and with this crop of innovative new-builds launching during a time when cruising is hot, you’re going to have to book early to snag a spot on one of these new ships.

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