Part of the fun of travel is the anticipation, and next year’s new cruise ships are inspiring plenty of it. “Ships” isn’t entirely accurate, though: 2026 will see the debut of two major luxury cruise lines. Across the board, we’re looking forward to experiencing jaw-dropping new suites, new restaurants, stops in off-the-beaten-path ports and exclusive excursions. All the vessels below are open for booking now. If any sound as enticing to you as they do to us, our Travel Office can help you find the perfect itinerary (and the best rate).

A Ship for All Seasons

In March 2026, Four Seasons I, the first vessel from Four Seasons Yachts, will start sailing in the Mediterranean. Guests will enjoy hiking the ancient marble quarries in Paros, visiting the history-soaked Maltese island of Gozo and touring the rosé vineyards of Bandol, France. All 95 of the yacht’s residential-style suites come with floor-to-ceiling windows, double-vanity baths and large private terraces. With their modular walling, many suites can be configured to accommodate groups of different sizes. Among its 11 restaurants and bars is a cozy terrace bar featuring rare caviar, Balik salmon and grand cru and grower Champagnes. Other amenities include a large saltwater pool, a spa and a unique transverse marina with both port and starboard platforms. Rates start at $17,300 per suite.

Good Things Come in Threes

Emerald Cruises unveils its third ocean yacht in April. Emerald Kaia will host 128 passengers in accommodations (most with verandas) that are 10 percent larger than those on its 100-passenger sister ships. Other enhancements include an expanded Sky Deck with private cabanas and an indoor lounge; reimagined dining venues, including a new Asian-style grill; a significantly larger spa; and an open-air fitness center with direct access to the ocean from a swim-up platform. In its inaugural season, this next-generation yacht will sail in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean seas as well as the Seychelles. Itineraries include hidden gems like Piran on the Slovenian coast, with its charming Venetian architecture, and Praslin Island in the Seychelles, known for its ancient palm forests. Rates start at $6,390 per person.

Come Sail Away

Orient Express Sailing Yachts, a new partnership between Accor and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, will launch its first ship in June, the sleek Orient Express Corinthian. Touted as the world’s largest sailing yacht, it measures 722 feet in length and boasts three towering masts. Yet it’s an intimate vessel with just 54 suites ranging in size from 463 to 2,486 square feet. The spacious accommodations (some two stories) offer panoramic bay windows and wood, leather and marble finishes. The dining scene promises to impress, considering that Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno oversees the ship’s five restaurants. Other amenities include eight bars, a spa, two pools, a marina and — why not? — a recording studio. The ship will sail the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas, calling on popular ports such as Saint-Tropez and smaller gems like Portoferraio in Italy, where Napoleon lived in exile. Guests can expect exclusive excursions, such as a private tour and dinner at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice. Rates start around $21,800 per suite.

Off the Beaten Port

Come August, Explora Journeys’ Explora III will set sail from the Mediterranean, initially offering cruises through Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland, calling on less-visited ports like Rønne in Denmark and Nanortalik in Greenland. It will then cruise along North America’s East Coast before heading to the Caribbean. Of the ship’s 461 suites, 150 are in the higher categories, giving those of us who like a little extra room plenty of options. The accommodations range from a spacious 377 square feet to two Owner’s Residences with more than 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The ship will feature all the favorite dining outlets of Explora I and Explora II, plus new concepts the company has not yet revealed. The spa and fitness center have been reimagined and enhanced, and the expanded Sports Court offers pickleball, padel and basketball. Rates start at about $3,850 per person.

Queen of the Amazon

In September 2026, &Beyond will expand its offerings in South America with the launch of the stylish &Beyond Amazon Explorer. This 32-passenger riverboat will cruise the Peruvian Amazon, sailing out of Iquitos or Nauta and into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. The biodiverse environment teems with wildlife — like pink dolphins, macaws and charapa turtles — that guests can see up close on skiff and kayak excursions and on guided walks. The itinerary also includes visiting an Indigenous community deep in the rainforest. On board, guests will settle into 15 luxurious suites (ranging from 355 to 861 square feet) with floor-to-ceiling windows and interiors inspired by local Shipibo-Conibo culture and accented with local Kené art. Guests can take in demonstrations and classes in an interactive cooking station, burn calories in a gym, relax in a spa and sun on a pool deck. Rates start at $5,190 per person.

Suite Heaven

And in late 2026, Regent Seven Seas Cruises debuts the 822-passenger Seven Seas Prestige, which the company says will offer one of the industry’s highest passenger-to-space ratios. Regent’s first new ship class in 10 years boasts 411 all-balcony, residential-style suites ranging in size from 440 to (a startlingly vast) 8,794 square feet. The latter, the two-level Skyview Regent Suite — one of four new suite categories — starts at $25,000 per night and features two bedrooms, a stylish living room, an in-suite elevator and a 3,703-square-foot wraparound balcony. Among the 11 dining experiences are seven specialty restaurants, including a new Mediterranean concept. The inaugural sailings will be in the Caribbean and Europe with itineraries that include two transatlantic crossings, Panama Canal transits and overnight stays in Lisbon, London and Bordeaux. Rates start at $6,499 per person.