Cruise Industry News takes a look at the trends across the cruise business for 2026 and beyond.
Larger Newbuilds
Cruise ships will continue to grow in size over the next decade, with new vessels exceeding 200,000 tons debuting for all major brands.
The lineup includes new record-breaking ships for Disney Cruise Line.
Other brands, including Royal Caribbean and MSC, are also set to continue to build on the success of their larger ship series, such as the World class..
Greener Operations
Ships are getting bigger but also greener with new technology that aims to reduce their operational impact.
Alternative fuels are expected to continue to gain momentum in 2026 and beyond, even hydrogen-powered ships in the near future.
Other initiatives include the reduction of single-use items and plastics, in addition to the responsible use of water onboard.
More ports in Europe and other regions are also adding support for shore power operations, allowing vessels to shut down their engines while docked.
New Deployment Trends
New deployment trends are emerging across the cruise industry, including a focus on off-season itineraries in the Mediterranean.
Following larger brands such as Regent Seven Seas.
Traditionally, Viking has had a significant winter presence in Europe, with itineraries spanning both the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Other trends include the return of homeports in the United States, such as Mobile.
Private and Exclusive Destinations
Cruise lines are moving towards a future with more exclusive and private destinations.
The Royal Caribbean Group is leading the way with plans to operate over eight exclusive destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and South America.
Carnival Corporation is also investing in its destination portfolio with the debut of Celebration Key and planned enhancements to Mahogany Bay, which will be renamed Isla Tropicale; RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay and more.
More Time in Port
As part of its 2027-28 winter season, Norwegian Cruise Line will offer cruises that feature an average port time of 9.5 hours and 71 late departures, as well as 70 overnight stays.
The trend is also illustrated by Regent’s Immersive Overnight itineraries, which feature up to three days docked at each port of call.
Windstar are more brands focusing on itineraries that feature more time in port.
More Cruise Taxes and Pax Caps
Another trend that is set to shape future itineraries is the introduction of new cruise-focused taxes, fees and guest caps.
In an effort to manage the number of passengers arriving, various destinations have announced plans to charge additional taxes or limit and regulate ship calls.
While some of the measures are already in place, most of the new measures are set to take effect starting in 2026. Notable examples include proposed or confirmed taxes for guests in France.
Older Ships Retired
As hardware becomes an increasingly important factor in boosting revenue and commanding higher ticket prices, various older and smaller ships will continue to be retired by larger companies in the next few years.
Carnival Corporation, for example, retired over 20 vessels from its fleet over the past five years, including the Costa Fortuna and the Seabourn Sojourn, which were sold off in 2025.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also shifted its fleet management strategy, announcing plans for its first ship withdrawals in over 15 years.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is another cruise line making moves, having recently announced plans to retire its two longest-serving ships, the National Geographic Sea Lion and the National Geographic Sea Bird, in 2026.
Less Ships in Limbo
As markets warm up around the globe, the industry’s ”limbo fleet,” which included over 20 vessels in 2024, is expected to be extinct in the near term.
In 2025, most of the vessels that were laid up found new homes, including the former Costa Magica, which was sold to China-based Tianjin Orient International Cruises in November.
Other ships that returned to service include the former Ocean Adventurer.