Luxury cruise lines outline major ship launches and 2026 seasons
Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are advancing new vessels and itineraries during 2026.
Explora Journeys accepted delivery of Explora III at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard on July 23, 2026, bringing the company halfway toward its planned six-ship fleet. The approximately 879-foot vessel is reported to be about 63 feet longer than Explora I and Explora II.
Marine environmentalist Rosalba Giugni named Explora III at Civitavecchia in May. The ship was scheduled to arrive in Miami on October 25, 2026, before beginning a winter Caribbean season.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises planned to introduce Seven Seas Prestige in late 2026. The 76,550-gross-ton ship is designed for 850 guests. Its two-level Skyview Regent Suite covers 8,794 square feet and is described by NCL Holdings as the largest all-inclusive cruise suite to date. Preview fares for flagship sailings were reported at about US$25,000 per person.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Luminara measures 794 feet and has 226 suites, all with private terraces. The vessel’s Alaska season was set to run from May through September 2026. The company’s 2026 brochure listed 10-night Luminara voyages starting at US$9,400.