Looking at all the new ships that have launched this past week, plus new ships on the horizon, cruise industry capacity is soaring.
Last week MSC Cruises ordered two more LNG-powered, 4,000-plus-passenger World-class ships, valued at $4.1 billion. Built by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, they'll launch in 2030 and 2031. Simultaneously, the line celebrated that shipyard's float-out of its new MSC World Asia as well as the keel laying for the new MSC World Atlantic, both also large World-class ships, according to Cruise Industry News.
But capacity growth was particularly prominent this past week in South Florida. For instance, Oceania Cruises' 1,200-passenger Oceania Allura was christened at PortMiami last week. Three larger new ships also began sailing from Port Everglades, Florida (Greater Fort Lauderdale). They included Celebrity Cruises' 3,950-passenger Celebrity Xcel, the latest Edge-class ship; Disney Cruise Line's 4,000-passenger Disney Destiny; and Princess Cruises' 4,300-passenger Star Princess.
Getting an immediate, firsthand look at the new Princess ship were 1,000 travel industry attendees participating in the 2025 "Thrive" conference of Dream Vacations and CruiseOne.
More small ships are also debuting and increasing capacity for small ship lines. American Cruise Lines recently christened its new 130-passenger American Pioneer, the 21st ship in its fleet, in Key West, Florida. The cruise company has nine additional ships currently under construction, including four sisters to American Pioneer.
New home ports around the U.S. are also expanding the market for cruise vacations. That's particularly important for attracting U.S. drive-market customers. Last week, for instance, MSC Seascape began MSC Cruises' first-ever sailings from Galveston, Texas. Departing every Sunday year-round from the port’s new Cruise Terminal 16, the ship will operate seven-night cruises to the western Caribbean, with stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Isla de Roatan, Honduras.
Black Friday Deals
It's that time of year: For consumers seeking the best deals of the year, the cruise industry’s annual Black Friday sales with discounts, value-adds and lower deposits, depending on the individual offer, are enticing. Plus, advisors who tap into these deals can increase their agency's end-of-year sales performance. Last week, for instance, Royal Caribbean revealed its early Black Friday deals.
Today, check out TravelAgentCentral.com for a separate Black Friday promotional update with additional deals from Norwegian Cruise Line, Silversea, Variety Cruise Lines, Cunard Line and Seabourn. Look for yet another update coming this week that showcases other cruise line deals as well as hotel/resort tour or other Black Friday offers.
Cruise Itinerary News
On Sunday, Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Horizon returned about eight hours later than expected to PortMiami due to an issue with propulsion speed. That delayed debarkation and subsequent boarding for guests booked on the next cruise. But at press time, the ship was expected to depart shortly after 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
A few months ago, Royal Caribbean said that Vision of the Seas would no longer sail year-round from Baltimore. It's slated to move to Miami starting in October 2026. But now WBAL-TV in Baltimore has reported that under a newly released plan, the ship will return to sail from Baltimore for summer season 2027, sailing to Bermuda and the Bahamas. Plus, it will operate fall trips to Canada and New England.
As for where cruisers might go next, Royal Caribbean will also launch new Texas, California and Northeast U.S. voyages starting in 2027. Sister brand Celebrity Cruises unveiled a new Caribbean, Asia and South America voyages for 2027-2028. Princess Cruises introduced new Caribbean and Panama Canal program for 2027-2028.
Looking ashore, Celestyal Cruises has expanded its Iconic Arabia shore excursion program. In addition, UnCruise Adventures unveiled a refreshed, eight-day “Denali Adventure by Rail & Trail with Fairbanks,” a guided land extension that pairs seamlessly with the brand’s small-ship sailings.
Advisors, Partners, Community
Carnival Cruise Line introduced “Partners in Paradise,” a new program for travel advisors. Advisors will receive insider access to Celebration Key, Carnival’s newest destination in the Bahamas, and other trade perks. Separately, Carnival Sunrise sailed into Ocho Rios, Jamaica, last week as cruise tourism begins to recover following Hurricane Melissa. Guests were welcomed by local officials and community partners.
In addition, MSC Cruises' MSC Divina sailed into Jamaica with relief supplies, plus MSC Group and the MSC Foundation further committed to providing ocean transport for 12 containers of relief supplies and also donated containers to several nonprofit agencies involved in relief efforts.
As its Disney Destiny debuted, Disney Cruise Line unveiled a new community initiative, “Discover Your Destiny.” The cruise line’s goal is to spark creativity and open doors to artistic careers for students in the port communities it serves. In leadership news, Sharon Siskie, DCL's general manager, will retire after four years helming the cruise line and a total of 31 years with Disney.
Looking to the future, the New York Economic Development Corporation's master plan for the redevelopment and modernization of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal includes sustainable infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements for residents and visitors, according to Seatrade Cruise News.
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