The global cruise ship orderbook now stands at 84 vessels, with deliveries scheduled through 2039. Recent commitments lift planned investment to $88.8 billion and point to nearly 230,000 additional berths worldwide.
What the cruise ship orderbook says about scale
The planned vessels have an average size of 116,529 tons and an average cost of more than $1 billion.
Cruise ship size figures generally refer to gross tonnage, a measure based on enclosed internal volume rather than the vessel’s weight. The averages cover a varied pipeline that includes large resort ships, smaller luxury vessels and expedition ships designed for remote destinations.
Five more vessels are due before the end of 2026
Five ships remain scheduled for delivery this year after eight vessels entered service earlier in 2026.
MSC World Asia is the largest ship among the remaining 2026 arrivals. The 205,700-ton vessel is under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
Luxury and expedition brands expand their plans
The latest commitments span five brands and include newly confirmed orders as well as options negotiated under earlier agreements.
| Brand | Order | Builder | Planned delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viking | Two additional luxury ships, each carrying 988 guests | Fincantieri | 2032 |
| Crystal | A third sister ship to the 690-passenger Crystal Grace | Fincantieri | 2034 |
| SeaDream | SeaDream III, its first newbuild, carrying 230 guests | Shipyard in China | 2029 |
| United Waterways | Its first purpose-built expedition ship, carrying 186 passengers and operated by Poseidon Expeditions | China Merchants | Not announced |
| Four Seasons | A 190-passenger vessel that will become its third ship | Fincantieri | 2031 |
Viking exercised previously agreed options, while Crystal also converted a contract option into a firm commitment. SeaDream announced its project as part of its 25th-anniversary plans, and United Waterways finalised an order announced earlier under its management programme.
Disney and American Cruise Lines revise delivery plans
Disney Cruise Line moved forward the deliveries of two new ships, while American Cruise Lines updated its nine-vessel pipeline.
- American Grace and American Beauty are scheduled to debut in 2028.
- American Rhapsody is scheduled to follow in 2029.
Revised dates and ship names were not specified for the two Disney vessels.
What travellers should watch next
Travellers should use the delivery years as planning markers and wait for confirmed itineraries, sale dates and fares before choosing a sailing.
A construction target does not necessarily identify the first passenger departure, and delivery schedules can change. Travellers interested in a particular vessel should monitor announcements from its operator as launch plans develop.
The next practical milestone is the completion of this year’s remaining deliveries. Longer-term choices will emerge gradually as operators publish destinations, cabin details and booking information for ships arriving from 2028 onward.
