Cruising Into 2026: 17 New Cruise Ships and Thousands of New Jobs

The cruise industry is lining up a big year in 2026, with 14 new ocean-going ships set to enter service. Together, they’ll add more than 30,000 new passenger berths and represent over $10 billion in investment.

The new ships cover a wide range, from massive new builds like Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Adventure, to smaller expedition vessels designed for more remote destinations such as Antarctica. It’s a mix of mega-ships, luxury vessels and niche explorers.

Major cruise brands including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Viking, TUI Cruises and Regent Seven Seas are all expanding their fleets, while luxury names like Four Seasons and Orient Express are making their first moves into cruising. There are also new coastal and smaller ships coming online, particularly in the US market.

In staffing terms, those extra 30,000 berths are likely to translate into roughly 12,000–15,000 new onboard jobs, based on typical crew-to-passenger ratios across the industry. That figure doesn’t include additional shore-side roles, which are also likely to grow as the fleet expands.

Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and varied year for cruising, with growth across ship sizes, styles and markets — and a significant boost to cruise employment as well.