Six Cruise Ships Scheduled for Delivery Before End of 2026

Six cruise ships are still scheduled to be delivered in 2026, according to the latest update of Cruise Industry News' global cruise ship orderbook.

While seven vessels were already added to the world's fleet this year, Explora will be the next company to welcome a new cruise ship to its fleet this summer.

Currently in the final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Explora III is scheduled for delivery to Explora Journeys in the coming weeks.

The five additional ships entering service this year are scheduled to debut in the fourth quarter, marking the addition of roughly 27,000 berths to the world's fleet.

Cruise Industry News' independently sourced data shows that the 13 cruise ships being introduced in 2026 have an average size of 94,715 tons and an average capacity of 2,085 guests.

The vessels have an estimated value of $9.5 billion, with an average cost of approximately $731 million per ship.

Following Explora, five other cruise lines are scheduled to welcome ships into their fleets before the end of the year.

The lineup includes MSC Cruises and Adora Cruises, which will take delivery of two large contemporary ships: the MSC World Asia and the Adora Flora City.

While the former is being built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France, the latter is under construction at CSSC in China.

Other highlights of this year's lineup include the Magellan Discoverer, which will debut for Antarctica21 in Antarctica.

As the only expedition ship being delivered this year, the 100-passenger ship is being built at the ASENAV shipyard in Chile.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is also introducing a new vessel this year, with the Seven Seas Prestige scheduled to be delivered by Fincantieri.

Considered the world's first hydrogen-powered ship, the Viking Libra is also scheduled to be delivered by the Italian shipbuilder during the fourth quarter.

Seven other ships have already entered service in 2026, including the new Legend of the Seas, which was delivered to Royal Caribbean by the Meyer Turku shipyard in June.

Norwegian Cruise Line also welcomed the Norwegian Luna to its fleet earlier this year, after taking delivery of the vessel from Fincantieri.

The Italian shipyard completed three additional ships in the first six months of the year: the Four Seasons I, the Mein Schiff Flow and the Viking Mira.

Marking the launch of the Orient Express Sailing Yachts brand, the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard also delivered the OE Corinthian earlier this year.

The Emerald Kaia completes the class of 2026, after being delivered by the Halong shipyard during the first quarter.

According to the latest update of Cruise Industry News' global cruise ship orderbook, 15 ships are scheduled to enter service in 2027.