How Many New Ships are Coming in 2023.

16 of the Best New Cruise Ships Debuting This Year

New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2023 from Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Emerald, Seabourn, Oceania, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Viking Cruises, Explora Journeys, Virgin Voyages, Carnival, MSC Cruises, Swan Hellenic

As always, I am excited to bring you the latest information about the new ocean cruise ships on the books of the major shipbuilders for 2023.

This is an overview - follow me and subscribe to get more detailed information and updates on each ship in the future.

This year we can look forward to a plethora of new cruise ships debuting, ranging from sleek, luxury yachts, to mega-ships and everything in between.

Most of the key players are introducing new vessels in 2023, and it is also the year when a new luxury cruise brand launches - Explora Journeys with its first new ship EXPLORA I.

I have listed the ships by anticipated launch dates, although these are obviously subject to change Inaugural/maiden sailings May be later

FEBRUARY 2023

Emerald Sakara ✅

Scenic Group/Emerald Yacht Cruises is due to welcome luxury mega yacht Emerald Sakara to the fleet in February 2023. Sister ship to Emerald Azzurra, we can expect the same sleek design and features.

The luxurious Emerald Sakura will feature a variety of areas to dine and relax and an on board wellness centre, complete with a spa, gym, and sauna for the ultimate indulgence, as well as three tenders and a Zodiac. The superyacht’s marina platform will be designed for easy access to snorkelling, paddle boarding and swimming – just some of the many activities included.

MARCH 2023

Seabourn Pursuit ✅

Seabourn Pursuit is the second Seabourn expedition ship - the first being sister ship Seabourn Venture launched in 2022.

Seabourn Pursuit, a PC6 Polar Class vessel, has been designed and built to sail in diverse environments, and will include modern technology that will extend the ships’ global deployment and capabilities. The ship will carry two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, kayaks, and a 26-person expert expedition team whose role is to engage guests throughout each voyage.

APRIL 2023

Oceania Vista

Oceania Vista is the first of two brand new Allura Class 1200-passenger cruise ships. She will be the seventh ship to join the Oceania fleet, which is renown for its culinary excellence boasting The Finest Cuisine at Sea®.

Featuring all-veranda luxury accommodation, Oceania Vista will have beautifully appointed bathrooms with oversized rainforest showers, large vanity units and copious storage space. In a first for the brand, Vista will feature a new category of Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms dedicated to solo travellers.

Signature spaces include the spectacular Grand Staircase, The Grand Lounge, Martini Bar, a fabulous pool deck and the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center to name just a selection.

Scenic Eclipse II

Scenic Cruises set the benchmark for ultra-luxury cruises with the launch, back in 2019, of Scenic Eclipse, the trailblazer of The World's First Discovery Yachts™. Now Scenic Eclipse II is set to continue this when she debuts in April 2023, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona.

Scenic Eclipse II will offer ultra-luxury all-inclusive expedition cruising, in spacious suites with butler service, access to Senses Spa and a choice of ten dining experiences.

MAY 2023

Ambassador Ambition

The second ship to join Ambassador Cruise Line will be Ambition, a smaller ship offering motor traditional. Raising experience.. Ambition will carry up to 1,200 passengers in her 714 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m2 of living space.

Dining options include two main restaurants, speciality dining options, and a more casual bistro style café. Guests will be able to sit back, relax and enjoy a drink in one of her four bars, lounges and pub. Entertainment includes a tiered main theatre, casino, card room, library, and craft studio.

Other facilities include the wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, perfect for days at sea.

Viking Saturn

Adult-only Viking Saturn becomes the ninth ship to join the Viking Ocean Fleet, following hot on the aft of her sister ships Viking Mars and Viking Neptune who debuted in 2022.

Viking Saturn will be practically identical to her sister ships, exuding the same sophisticated charm, with high-end Scandi design. The ship will have 465 all-balcony cabins and three suite options - Penthouse Junior Suites, Explorer Suites and the Owner’s Suite.

Consistent with other Viking ships, Viking Saturn will be inclusive of a range of options including 24-hour room service, a range of shore excursions, gratuities, dining at specialty restaurants, wine, beer, and sodas with lunch and dinner, and access to the spa's thermal suite.

SH Diana

Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana will be the largest ship to join the fleet. A polar-class vessel featuring a Polar Class 6 ice-strengthened hull, she will offer 5 Star accommodation for just 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites. The exclusive and elegant SH Diana, named after the Ancient Roman goddess of light, the moon, hunting and the wilderness, has been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth. SS Diana will be equipped with two comfortable tenders instead of Zodiacs for expedition landings.

When not exploring, guests may enjoy Al fresco dining beside a heated outdoor pool, or relaxing in the Observation Lounge or The Club Lounge.

EXPLORA I

I’m particularly excited for the arrival of Explora Journeys EXPLORA I, having been closely following her development. EXPLORA I is the first of six ships for the new luxury lifestyle brand, who promotes an ‘Ocean State of Mind’.

EXPLORA I will offer 461 ocean-front suites, penthouses and residences designed to be ‘Homes at Sea’ for guests, all with sweeping ocean views, private terrace, a choice of 11 distinct culinary experiences across six restaurants, plus in-suite dining, 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, Chef`s Kitchen four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas, wellness facilities, and refined entertainment.

Find out full details on my Explora Journeys page.

Resilient Lady

The much anticipated 2,700-passenger Resilient Lady will become the third vessel in Virgin Voyages' fleet, joining her sisters Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Originally due to launch back in August 2022, Virgin Voyages made the decision to postpone her debut until May 2023 (see my related article here) with the fourth sister ship, Brilliant Lady, due to complete the quartet later in the year.

With over 20 included fabulous dining options (I speak from experience - the food is exceptional), entertainment like you’ve never seen at sea, Redemption Spa and much more, including accommodation from solo cabins to mega-rockstar suites, Resilient Lady will have a lot to offer!

JUNE 2023

MSC Euribia

MSC Euribia is a Meraviglia Plus-class ship with maximum capacity of 6300 guests. Euribia has been announced as the industry's most environmentally advanced ship to date being MSC's second newbuild designed to be LNG-powered (liquified natural gas), the first being MSC World Europa launched in 2022. MSC Euribia differs from others in the fleet with her distinctive exclusive hull artwork design by Alex Flaemig/Undercover Design, who were selected via an international online contest.

With 12 eateries, including a buffet which is open for 20 hours, and several fine dining speciality restaurants, guests definitely won’t go hungry. Entertainment is a key feature on MSC Euribia, with lavish production shows, a large water park, and a two-deck high amusement park. Of course there is also the ubiquitous LED dome ceiling ("digital sky") displaying visual shows, and the not-to-be missed MSC Starship Club with the iconic Rob the robotic bartender.

JULY 2023

Norwegian Viva

The second ship in the brand’s Prima class, Norwegian Viva follows in the wake of her much acclaimed sister, Norwegian Prima which debuted in 2022.

Guests on Norwegian Viva can expect an elevated experience featuring more wide-open spaces, thoughtful and stunning design and exceptional service, mirroring the upscale design and structure of her sister ship Norwegian Prima. Norwegian Viva can accommodate 3,219 guests at double occupancy, in spacious accommodations including the brands’ largest inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms. The world-class vessel will not only offer the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories and largest variety of suite categories available at sea, but will also boast a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept.

Norwegian Viva’s key features include Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000 square foot outdoor walk way which wraps around the entire ship; Indulge Food Hall featuring 11 varieties of eateries; The Concourse boasting an outdoor sculpture garden; expansive pool decks and infinity style pools at Infinity Beach and Oceanwalk, showcasing glass bridges above water.

Visit/bookmark my dedicated Norwegian Viva page for updates

Silver Nova

Silversea’s Silver Nova will be the eleventh ship to join the fleet. The all-balcony Silver Nova (a first for Silversea), will offer 728 guests an ultra luxury cruise experience with 270 degree unobstructed views to boot. Her revolutionary asymmetrical design will provide vast open areas and more space than ever before.

Silver Nova will offer guests a reimagined pool deck and all-new outdoor venues. The new ship will have eight signature restaurants wiith both formal and informal options, decks three, four, and five will accommodate Silver Nova’s indoor restaurants, while The Marquee on deck 10 will house her two outdoor dining options,

NOVEMBER 2023

Seven Seas Grandeur

Six-star cruise line Regent Seven Seas will debut their newest ship, Seven Seas Grandeur in November 2023. The 750 guest ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise ship will be the sixth ship in the Regent Seven Seas fleet, and the third of its new builds. Each of the 375 luxurious balcony suites has ocean views and benefits from butler service. Seven Seas Grandeur has a far more contemporary luxe design than her sister ships, whilst retaining some of the traditional features enjoyed by guests.

There is a variety of dining options including the Compass Rose Main Dining Room, Prime 7 reservation-only American Steakhouse, and new speciality restaurant, Chartreuse serving French cuisine and premium cocktails. There is also a cookery school, Culinary Arts Kitchen, where guests can learn to prepare wonderful dishes using premium ingredients at one of the 18 cooking stations.

Guests in Seven Seas Grandeur can enjoy the Canyon Ranch SpaClub and Wellness Center, The Boutique shopping area as well as many bars and lounges, whilst the Lido deck is home to a large swimming pool and two jacuzzis

December 2023

Carnival Jubilee

We will have to wait a little longer than anticipated for Carnival Jubilee, as her debut has been delayed until the end of 2023. Carnival Jubilee will be the third Carnival XL-Class ship, following in the wake of sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.

The ship will have 2641 passenger cabins, divided into 22 different categories, including 2-deck duplex apartments. Carnival Jubilee will also share many similarities with her sister ships, including Grand Central day-to night entertainment complex; French Quarter with its many eateries; La Piazza; and Summer Landing. Of course Carnival Jubilee wouldn’t be complete unless it featured The Ultimate Playground, a large family-friendly outdoor playground area with the fleet's largest aqua park, Carnival WaterWorks, and an expanded sports complex, SportSquare. It is here that you will also find "BOLT”, theUltimate Sea Coaster.

Brilliant Lady

The fourth of Virgin Voyages Ladyships, Brilliant Lady, is set to debut at the end of 2023, when she will join her sisters Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady. The four ships are pretty much identical - I mean if it works, why change it right? You can expect fabulous included restaurants (22 in fact) - none of which carry a supplement, not even the fabulous Wake, a high end steak and seafood restaurant, or the innovative Test Kitchen.

Entertainment is contemporary and unlike any you will have seen onboard other ships - forget traditional theatre shows, cruise ship crooners and port talks. Think more street dance, racy, interactive cabaret, edgy aerial performances and even a drag breakfast. If all this excitement leaves you needing some down time head for the Redemption Spa or just hang in your Virgin signature red sea terrace hammock.

You can find out about Virgin Voyages on my dedicated page.

Celebrity Ascent

If you are a regular reader, or follow me on social media, you will know that I am obsessed with Celebrity Cruises, and in particular their newest ship, Celebrity Beyond. Having sailed on her in 2022, I felt that she would be a hard act to follow, but having done my research, I think Celebrity may just manage to top their best with Celebrity Ascent.

Like her older sister-ships (Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond), Celebrity Ascent is also an Edge Class vessel, the fourth and last in the series. Having found the perfect formula with Celebrity Beyond, expect the same fabulous spaces onboard Celebrity Ascent, including the iconic tangerine Magic Carpet (cantilevered platform moving between decks), the Rooftop Garden with its sculptural trees, The Retreat and Luminae exclusive areas for suite guests and a fabulous Resort Deck with pool and two "martini glass" Jacuzzis.

Accommodation includes sixteen solo cabins, 918 Infinite Veranda cabins, plus two-storey Edge Villas and of course The Iconic Suite as seen on Celebrity Beyond.

Celebrity Ascent will debut on 3 December 2023, sailing the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.

To get a taste of what to expect visit my “All Things Celebrity Beyond” and “All Things Celebrity Ascent” which will be updated as we receive more information.

Two much-anticipated ships will actually not now come into service until 2024 - Princess Cruises Sun Princess and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Whilst Icon of the Seas is due to be delivered at the end of 2023, she won’t take passengers until the following year.

Don’t forget to subscribe to receive updates on these beautiful new ships as more information is released.