{"version":"1.9","identifier":"2f5fcf7d-b78a-4f96-985b-7e796d1dfbff","language":"en-US","title":"8 new cruise ships coming by the end of 2027, from Disney's Encanto ship to an 8,794-square-foot suite","layout":{"columns":7,"width":1024,"margin":32,"gutter":20},"componentLayouts":{"text":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"maximumContentWidth":720,"margin":{"top":12,"bottom":12}},"photo":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"margin":{"top":20,"bottom":20}}},"componentTextStyles":{"default":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"textColor":"#171717"},"headline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue-Bold","fontSize":36,"lineHeight":42,"conditional":[{"conditions":{"maxViewportWidth":480},"fontSize":28,"lineHeight":34}]},"intro":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":20,"lineHeight":28,"textColor":"#555555"},"caption":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":19,"textColor":"#666666"},"byline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":20,"textColor":"#666666"},"body":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"paragraphSpacingAfter":14,"linkStyle":{"textColor":"#00704a"}}},"metadata":{"canonicalURL":"https://www.loungefrog.com/news/new-cruise-ships-2026-2027-debut-dates","datePublished":"2026-10-12T19:08:42.252626Z","dateModified":"2026-10-14T23:45:35.524659Z","authors":["Patrick Karsh"],"excerpt":"The debut dates, first trips and standout features of the biggest new cruise ships launching from December 2026 through December 2027.","thumbnailURL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/2f5fcf7d-b78a-4f96-985b-7e796d1dfbff/27ec796c47c5579a6948b38ef83b66cf.jpg","generatorName":"Frog News","generatorVersion":"1.0"},"components":[{"role":"title","text":"8 new cruise ships coming by the end of 2027, from Disney's Encanto ship to an 8,794-square-foot suite","textStyle":"headline","layout":"text"},{"role":"intro","text":"The debut dates, first trips and standout features of the biggest new cruise ships launching from December 2026 through December 2027.","textStyle":"intro","layout":"text"},{"role":"byline","text":"By Patrick Karsh · Published October 12, 2026","textStyle":"byline","layout":"text"},{"role":"photo","URL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/2f5fcf7d-b78a-4f96-985b-7e796d1dfbff/27ec796c47c5579a6948b38ef83b66cf.jpg","caption":"The World Theatre aboard MSC World Asia · MSC Cruises","accessibilityCaption":"The World Theatre aboard MSC World Asia","layout":"photo"},{"role":"caption","text":"The World Theatre aboard MSC World Asia · MSC Cruises","textStyle":"caption","layout":"text"},{"role":"body","format":"markdown","text":"Eight big new cruise ships are lined up to start sailing between now and the end of 2027. They range from a Disney ship with the first Encanto stage show to a luxury ship whose top suite measures 8,794 square feet, according to Regent. Here is when each one debuts, where it sails and what makes it stand out. Every date below comes from the cruise line's own announcements.","textStyle":"body","layout":"text"},{"role":"photo","URL":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/55385/1791362889-msc-world-asia-world-theatre.jpg","caption":"The World Theatre aboard MSC World Asia","accessibilityCaption":"The World Theatre aboard MSC World Asia","layout":"photo"},{"role":"caption","text":"The World Theatre aboard MSC World Asia","textStyle":"caption","layout":"text"},{"role":"body","format":"markdown","text":"## 1. MSC World Asia: December 4, 2026\n\n[MSC World Asia](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/msc-world-asia) is the third ship in [MSC Cruises](https://crusiefrog.com/cruise-lines/msc-cruises)' World Class. It starts seven-night Mediterranean trips on December 4, 2026, from ports including Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa and Civitavecchia for Rome.\n\nMSC says it will have six big stage shows, three of them new, and 33 musicians playing every day. Read our full story on [MSC World Asia's shows](https://www.loungefrog.com/news/msc-world-asia-shows-queen-orchestra-33-musicians).\n\n## 2. Seven Seas Prestige: December 2026\n\n[Seven Seas Prestige](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/seven-seas-prestige) is [Regent Seven Seas Cruises](https://crusiefrog.com/cruise-lines/regent-seven-seas-cruises)' first new class of ship in a decade. Regent says it is 40% larger than its past ships but carries only 10% more guests, with 411 suites. In its October 6, 2026 release, Regent said the maiden sailing leaves Miami on December 28, 2026, on an 11-night Caribbean round trip.\n\nThe top suite, the Skyview Regent Suite, is what Regent calls the largest all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruise ship suite in history.\n\n## 3. Norwegian Aura: May 2, 2027\n\n[Norwegian Aura](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/norwegian-aura) will be [Norwegian Cruise Line](https://crusiefrog.com/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line)'s largest ship yet, at about 170,000 gross tons. [NCL](https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ncl) moved up its first sailings thanks to early delivery. The first trip leaves Trieste, Italy, on May 2, 2027. The ship then heads to Miami for Caribbean cruises.\n\nIts Ocean Heights area spans four decks with racing waterslides, a ropes course and carnival games. See our story on [Norwegian Aura's first sailings](https://www.loungefrog.com/news/norwegian-aura-early-delivery-inaugural-mediterranean-sailings-may-2027).\n\n## 4. Carnival Festivale: May 2, 2027\n\n[Carnival Festivale](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/carnival-festivale) is Carnival's next Excel-class ship, with a music theme. Its maiden voyage is a 15-day crossing from Southampton, England, on May 2, 2027. It reaches its home port of Port Canaveral, Florida, on May 16. The first Florida trip is a four-day Bahamas cruise on May 19, 2027.\n\nCarnival says the ship will sail six- and eight-day Caribbean trips, and every trip will visit Celebration Key.\n\n## 5. Hero of the Seas: August 2027\n\n[Hero of the Seas](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/hero-of-the-seas) is Royal Caribbean's next Icon Class ship, debuting in August 2027. Royal Caribbean says it will be the first ship to stage \"The SpongeBob Musical\" at sea.\n\n## 6. Oceania Sonata: August 7, 2027\n\n[Oceania Sonata](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/oceania-sonata) is the first ship in [Oceania Cruises](https://crusiefrog.com/cruise-lines/oceania-cruises)' new Sonata Class. Its maiden voyage is a 14-day trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Trieste, leaving August 7, 2027. Oceania says the first season has 22 sailings from August 2027 through April 2028, to more than 90 places.\n\n## 7. MSC World Atlantic: November 2027\n\n[MSC World Atlantic](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/msc-world-atlantic) will be MSC's 25th ship and fourth World Class ship. It floated out in France in September 2026. MSC says it will sail seven- and 14-night Caribbean trips from November 2027, with calls at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC's private island in the Bahamas.\n\n## 8. Disney Believe: December 18, 2027\n\n[Disney Believe](https://crusiefrog.com/ships/disney-believe) is the fourth Wish-class ship. It sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on December 18, 2027, on four- and five-night trips to the Bahamas and Caribbean. It will have the first stage version of Encanto and a two-story suite inside the funnel. I'd read our [Disney Believe story](https://www.loungefrog.com/news/disney-believe-encanto-musical-frozen-dining-december-2027).\n\n## Which new ship is right for you?\n\n* **For families:** Disney Believe, Hero of the Seas, Carnival Festivale and Norwegian Aura are all built with kids in mind.\n* **For luxury:** Seven Seas Prestige and Oceania Sonata are smaller and pricier, with more space per guest.\n* **For Europe:** MSC World Asia, Norwegian Aura's first trips and Oceania Sonata's maiden voyage all start in the Mediterranean.\n\n## Tips for booking a brand-new ship\n\nFirst sailings can sell out fast, and dates can move. Norwegian Aura's first sailings moved earlier this year. Ship delays can also happen. Book with a refundable deposit if you can, and watch the line's news for changes.\n\nYou can track every new ship on [Cruise Frog](https://crusiefrog.com/).\n\n## Related reading\n\n* [Crystal Serenity adds a 1,722-square-foot Owner's Suite with a fireplace and a Jacuzzi in 2028](https://www.loungefrog.com/news/crystal-serenity-owners-suite-junior-penthouse-2028)\n* [5 things Disney Cruise Line does well—and 1 it doesn’t](https://crusiefrog.com/news/disney-cruise-line-five-things-well-one-drawback)\n* [American is building a new 10,000-square-foot Admirals Club at Chicago O'Hare](https://www.loungefrog.com/news/american-airlines-new-admirals-club-chicago-ohare-concourse-l)","textStyle":"body","layout":"text"}]}