Tag Archives: Emerald Cruise

13 New Cruise Ships to Enter Service in 2026

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According to the latest edition of the cruise ship orderbook by Cruise Industry News, 13 cruise ships will enter service in 2026.

As part of a strong year for the shipbuilding business, 13 vessels are set to be delivered to 12 cruise lines, including Viking, which is set to welcome two luxury vessels from Fincantieri.

[Download a PDF of the orderbook here]

The year will be particularly strong in the luxury segment, with seven upscale vessels set to enter service.

In addition to Viking, other brands taking delivery of high-end newbuilds include Emerald Cruises, Explora Journeys, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Marking Orient Express’s official debut, the OE Corinthian is also set to enter service in 2026, kicking off the company’s first-ever cruise program.

The industry is welcoming several large ships next year as well, including the Legend of the Seas.

Currently being built for Royal Caribbean International at the Meyer Turku in Finland, the 250,000-ton vessel will be the second in the company’s Icon-class series.

Norwegian Cruise Line and TUI Cruises are also welcoming large vessels to their fleets with the debuts of the Norwegian Luna and the Mein Schiff Flow.

Continuing its record-breaking World class, MSC Cruises is set to take delivery of the MSC World Asia from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

Other ships entering service include the Adora Flora City, which will become the largest cruise ship ever built in China, and the Magellan Discovery, which was designed to offer expedition cruises in Antarctica.

According to CIN’s independent research, the new ships will add roughly 38,000 berths to the industry in 2026.

With an average size of 112,377 tons and an average cost of $805,066,667, the newbuilds will cost over $12 billion.

Emerald’s First Ocean-Going Ship Completes First Year in Service

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The Emerald Azzura has just completed its first year in service. As Emerald Cruises’ first ocean-going vessel, the mega-yacht departed on its inaugural voyage on March 12, 2022.

Entitled “Best of the Red Sea,” the sold-out maiden cruise departed from the Jordanian city of Aqaba and also included visits to ports in Egypt and Israel.

With over 100 guests travelling on the ship’s 50 suites, the eight-day itinerary sailed to the resort towns of Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Eilat before returning to Aqaba for an included guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Petra.

In May, after additional cruises in the Red Sea and Europe, the Emerald Azzurra was officially christened during a ceremony in Venice, Italy.

During the summer, the 10,000-ton vessel offered a series of itineraries in the Adriatic and the Eastern Mediterranean visiting destinations in Greece, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus and more.

Later this year, the vessel is set to debut in the Caribbean, offering eight- to 19-day cruises to varied ports in the region, including Puerto Rico, Panama, Saint Vincent and Martinique.

Built by the Halong Shipbuilding Company in Vietnam, the Emerald Azzurra became the 10th vessel in the Emerald Cruises fleet – joining nine river cruising ships.

According to Emerald Cruises, the vessel offers modern suites and staterooms, 88 per cent of which have balconies.

The yacht also features a large infinity pool, a spa with an infrared sauna and a gym. Designed for cruising in warm waters, the Azzurra is also equipped with a retractable marina platform, that offers SEABOBs, paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and a water trampoline.

A fleet of electronic bikes from Gocycle is also available onboard and can be used “for local village trips and active explorations,” Emerald said.

The vessel is set to be followed by a sister ship in 2023 as the Emerald Sakara debuts in the Mediterranean in August.