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Guide to the hottest new cruise ships on order

What’s next from the world’s largest cruise lines?

February 27, 2015

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​Below is our annual list of ocean-going ships on order for major brands such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, updated to include new details of what will become the world's largest cruise vessel.

As in the past, we include only ships from lines that market to North Americans, leaving out such operators as Germany-based Aida Cruises, which caters to the German-speaking market. We also have left off river cruise ships on order.

For the coming year, the big story in cruise-ship building is the development of Viking Star, the first ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking. Also notable is the biggest ship ever for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Among the most complex traveling machines built by man, ocean-going cruise ships take years to construct, so any new orders placed in the coming months likely won't be filled until 2018 at the earliest. We'll continue to update this page as new orders are announced.

2015

Viking Star (Viking Ocean Cruises) Passengers: 928 Maiden voyage: April 11 Notable: First ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking

Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) Passengers: 4,180 Maiden voyage: April 22 Notable: Sister to Quantum of the Seas

Le Lyrial (Ponant) Passengers: 264 Maiden voyage: May 9 Notable: Fourth in upscale line's Boreal class series

Norwegian Escape (Norwegian Cruise Line) Passengers: 4,200 Maiden voyage: Oct. 29 Notable: Norwegian Cruise Line's largest ship ever

2016

Koningsdam (Holland America) Passengers: 2,650 Maiden voyage: February  Notable: First new ship for line since 2010

Viking Sea (Viking Ocean Cruises) Passengers: 928 Maiden voyage: April 3 Notable: Second ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking

Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) Passengers: 5,400 Maiden voyage: April Notable: Third in the hugely successful Oasis Class series

Carnival Vista (Carnival Cruise Line) Passengers: 3,954 Maiden voyage: spring Notable: First new ship for line since 2012

Viking Sky (Viking Ocean Cruises) Passengers: 928 Maiden voyage: June 24 Notable: Third ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking

Seven Seas Explorer (Regent Seven Seas Cruises) Passengers: 750 Maiden voyage: Summer Notable: First new ship for luxury line since 2003

Ovation of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) Passengers: 4,180 Maiden voyage: Fall Notable: Third in new Quantum class series 

Seabourn Encore (Seabourn Cruise Line) Passengers: 604 Maiden voyage: second half of 2016 Notable: Seabourn's largest ship ever

Titanic II (Blue Star Line) Passengers: 1,680 Maiden voyage: N/A Notable: A replica of the famed Titanic

2017

Unnamed (Viking Ocean Cruises) Passengers: 928 Maiden voyage: Early 2017 Notable: Fourth ocean-going ship for river cruise giant Viking

Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line) Passengers: 4,200 Maiden voyage: Spring 2017 Notable: Second in line's new Breakaway Plus series

Unnamed (Princess Cruises) Passengers: 3,560 Maiden voyage: 2017 Notable: Third in line's new Royal series 

Unnamed (MSC Cruises) Passengers: 4,500 Maiden voyage: 2017 Notable: First in a new class of ship for MSC

Unnamed (MSC Cruises) Passengers: 4,140 Maiden voyage: November 2017 Notable: First in the Seaside class of ship for MSC

2018

Unnamed (Royal Caribbean) Passengers: 5,400 Maiden voyage: 2018 Notable: Fourth in the Oasis class series

Unnamed (Norwegian Cruise Line) Passengers: 4,200 Maiden voyage: Spring 2018  Notable: Third in line's new Breakaway Plus series

Unnamed (MSC Cruises) Passengers: 4,140 Maiden voyage: May 2018 Notable: Second in the new Seaside class of ship at MSC 

Seabourn Ovation (Seabourn Cruise Line) Passengers: 604 Maiden voyage: 2018 Notable: Second of two larger ships coming to Seabourn

Unnamed (Celebrity Cruises) Passengers: 2,900 Maiden voyage: Fall 2018 Notable: First in a new class of ship for Celebrity

2019

Unnamed (MSC Cruises) Passengers: 4,500 Maiden voyage: 2019 Notable: Second in a new class of ship for MSC

Unnamed (Norwegian Cruise Line) Passengers: 4,200 Maiden voyage: Late 2019 Notable: Fourth in the line's new Breakaway Plus series

2020

Unnamed (Celebrity Cruises) Passengers: 2,900 Maiden voyage: Early 2020 Notable: Second in a new class of ship for Celebrity

Major lines with no ships on order: Azamara Club Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Windstar Cruises.