A luxury cruise ship slated for a Swiss operator completes is final series of sea trials while construction continues on the fifth ship in a series ordered by a US cruise company. Orders have meanwhile been placed for sea-going and river cruise ships and a catamaran that will sail on excursions in Australia's Moreton Bay National Park.
American Cruise Lines confirmed today that it has seven new ships on order, including three recently ordered newbuildings. All are scheduled for delivery before the end of 2026.
Three of the seven new boats on order are yet to be named. Additional details about each boat will be announced over the summer.
The company plans to operate 21 small ships in 2025, and 24 ships in 2026, all exclusively sailing 100 per cent US itineraries along US rivers and coasts. All seven new ships are being built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland.
Fincantieri and Viking Cruises have entered into agreements for the construction of two cruise vessels. The vessels will be delivered in 2028 and 2029.
The new ships will be built according to the latest environmental rules and navigation regulations and will be equipped with modern safety systems. The vessels will also boast innovations made available by the ongoing cooperation between Fincantieri and Viking for the development of eco-friendly fuels and of zero-emission power generation systems.
The vessels will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. Each will have a gross tonnage of 54,300 and capacity for 998 guests in 499 cabins.
Australian eco-tourism company The Tour Collective has placed an order for a new catamaran vessel for operation in the waters of Moreton Bay Marine Park in Queensland. The highly-customised vessel will measure 22 metres long and will have seating for up to 196 passengers plus five crewmembers.
French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique laid the keel for Celebrity Xcel, the fifth Edge-class ship ordered by Celebrity Cruises, in a ceremony in St Nazaire on Thursday, June 13. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in November 2025.
Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, has confirmed that its newest ship has successfully completed her sea trials. Explora II will be the second of a fleet of six luxury ships to be built for Explora Journeys by Fincantieri in Italy.