Future of Cruising: Detailed Overview of New Cruise Ship Constructions Until 2031 and Shipyard Capacities

Bild: Disney
Leading European shipbuilding companies specializing in ocean-going cruise ships are experiencing such strong demand that their capacities are largely booked well into the next decade. Cruise lines such as Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Viking Ocean Cruises are notably driving this trend with extensive orders for new vessels to secure their growth. These companies sometimes expect up to two new ship deliveries per year.

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The two largest German cruise operators, AIDA Cruises and TUI Cruises, are also investing in expanding their fleets for the German-speaking market, having collectively ordered three new ships. The "Mein Schiff Flow," designed as a sister ship to the "Mein Schiff Relax" (delivered in early February 2025), is scheduled for launch in 2026. On April 7, 2025, AIDA Cruises signed contracts for two newbuilds, with deliveries planned for spring 2030 and the winter season of 2031/32. There is also speculation about further new orders for AIDA and Mein Schiff, which could be realized during the 2030s.

Recent orders from AIDA Cruises and Marella Cruises have particularly filled the order books of the Fincantieri Group, which operates shipyards in locations including Ancona, Marghera, Monfalcone, and Sestri Poente, well into the early 2030s. Other significant orders are being handled by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire (France), Meyer Turku in Finland, and Meyer Werft in Papenburg (Germany). The construction of cruise ships is almost exclusively the domain of European shipyards; shipbuilding companies in other European regions or Asia play only a minor role in this segment.

The following overview includes both firm orders and options for new ocean-going cruise ships. Plans for new river or coastal cruise ships are not considered here. Options for newbuilds are standard market practice and are often converted into firm orders at a later date. However, not all options agreed between cruise lines and shipyards are publicly disclosed.

Planned New Cruise Ships 2025:

  • Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Xcel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Disney Cruise Line: Disney Destiny (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Disney Cruise Line: Disney Adventure (Meyer Wismar)
  • MSC Cruises: MSC World America (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Aqua (Fincantieri)
  • NYK Cruises: Asuka III (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Oceania Cruises: Oceania Allura (Fincantieri)
  • Princess Cruises: Star Princess (Fincantieri)
  • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection: Luminara (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Royal Caribbean International: Star of the Seas (Meyer Turku)
  • Sun Stone Expeditions: Douglas Mawson (CMIH)
  • TUI Cruises: Mein Schiff Relax (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Vesta (Fincantieri)
  • Windstar Cruises: Star Seeker (West Sea Yard)

Planned New Cruise Ships 2026:

  • Adora Cruises: Adora Flora City (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding)
  • Antarctica 21: Magellan Discoverer (ASENAV)
  • Atlas Ocean Voyages: World Adventurer (West Sea Yard)
  • Emerald Cruises: Emerald Kaia (Halong Shipbuilding Company)
  • Explora Journeys: Explora III (Fincantieri)
  • Four Seasons Yachts: Four Seasons I (Fincantieri)
  • MSC Cruises: MSC World Asia (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Neptune Co. (Cruise Saudi): Unnamed – Project Sama (T. Mariotti)
  • Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Luna (Fincantieri)
  • Orient Express Silenseas (Accor Group): OE Corinthian (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Prestige (Fincantieri)
  • Royal Caribbean International: Legend of the Seas (Meyer Turku)
  • TUI Cruises: Mein Schiff Flow (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Mira (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Libra [First ship with hydrogen propulsion] (Fincantieri)

Planned New Cruise Ships 2027:

  • Aranui Cruises: Aranoa (Huanghai Shipbuilding)
  • Atlas Ocean Voyages: World Discoverer (West Sea Yard)
  • Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Festivale (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Disney Cruise Line: Unnamed – Wish Class 4 (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Emerald Cruises: Emerald Raiya (Halong Shipbuilding Company)
  • Emerald Cruises: Emerald Xara (Halong Shipbuilding Company)
  • Explora Journeys: Explora IV (Fincantieri)
  • Explora Journeys: Explora V (Fincantieri)
  • Four Seasons Yachts: Four Seasons II (Fincantieri)
  • MSC Cruises: MSC World Atlantic (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Norwegian Cruise Line: Unnamed – Prima Class 5 (Fincantieri)
  • Oceania Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 1 (Fincantieri)
  • Orient Express Silenseas (Accor Group): OE Olympian (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Royal Caribbean International: Unnamed – Icon Class 4 (Meyer Turku)
  • Ryobi Holdings: Unnamed – Expedition Cruise Ship (West Sea Yard)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Astrea [Second ship with hydrogen propulsion] (Fincantieri)

Planned New Cruise Ships 2028:

  • Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Tropicale (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Celebrity Cruises: Unnamed – Edge Class 6 (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Crystal Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 1 (Fincantieri)
  • Explora Journeys: Explora VI (Fincantieri)
  • Norwegian Cruise Line: Unnamed – Prima Class 6 (Fincantieri)
  • Oriental Land Company (Disney Japan): Unnamed – Wish Class 5 (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Royal Caribbean International: Unnamed – Oasis Class 7 (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 16 (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 17 (Fincantieri)

Planned New Cruise Ships 2029:

  • Carnival Cruise Line: Unnamed – XXL Class 1 (Fincantieri)
  • Disney Cruise Line: Unnamed – New Ship Class 1 (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • MSC Cruises: Unnamed – World Class 5 (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Oceania Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 2 (Fincantieri)
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 2 (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 18 (Fincantieri)

Planned New Cruise Ships 2030:

  • AIDA Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 1 (Fincantieri)
  • Crystal Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 2 (Fincantieri)
  • Disney Cruise Line: Unnamed – New Ship Class 2 (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Marella Cruises: Unnamed – Letter of intent for first newbuild (Fincantieri)
  • MSC Cruises: Unnamed – World Class 6 (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)
  • Norwegian Cruise Line: Unnamed – New Ship Class 1 (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 19 (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 20 (Fincantieri)

Planned New Cruise Ships 2031:

  • AIDA Cruises: Unnamed – New Ship Class 2 (Fincantieri)
  • Carnival Cruise Line: Unnamed – XXL Class 2 (Fincantieri)
  • Disney Cruise Line: Unnamed – New Ship Class 3 (Meyer Werft Papenburg)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 21 (Fincantieri)
  • Viking Ocean Cruises: Unnamed – Newbuild 22 (Fincantieri)