Cruise ship pipeline includes 19 vessels above 200,000 gross tons
Newbuild activity is advancing across MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean’s Icon class and Carnival Cruise Line projects.
According to the reported orderbook, 19 cruise ships exceeding 200,000 gross tons are expected to enter service from November 2026 through 2037, representing one-quarter of vessels currently on order.
MSC World Asia completed a second round of sea trials in mid-September, following its first voyage to sea in July. The approximately 216,638-gross-ton ship is scheduled for delivery on November 25, ahead of its first revenue sailing on December 4. It is designed to carry more than 6,700 passengers and 2,100 crew members.
Construction is also progressing on MSC World Atlantic, which left its building dock on September 26 and is expected to begin service in late 2027.
At Meyer Turku, Hero of the Seas was floated and shifted forward from the assembly dock on September 4. The shipyard said assembly of the fifth Icon-class vessel had also begun after its first steel block was placed in dry dock. That ship is scheduled for delivery in 2028.
Fincantieri, meanwhile, started steel cutting for Carnival Destiny in Monfalcone, Italy, on July 10. The vessel is the first ship in the project known as Project Ace.