Cruise Lines Leverage Drydocks to Add Capacity to Existing Ships

Posted on 5 February, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Cruise Lines Leverage Drydocks to Add Capacity to Existing Ships

Cruise lines continue to add a significant number of staterooms to existing ships during routine drydocks, as highlighted in the new 2026 Drydock Report from Cruise Industry News.

The additional capacity generally fills in under utilized public areas, with revenue that flows right to the bottom line.

Among upcoming programs, the 2016-built Ovation of the Seas will see the addition of 40 new staterooms, which will take over space currently occupied by various public areas.

Also included in the company’s modernization effort, the Harmony of the Seas is set to enter drydock in April for a refit that will include the creation of 91 additional staterooms.

A third ship is also getting a significant capacity increase with 68 new staterooms: the Liberty of the Seas.

Silversea’s Silver Muse saw a seven percent increase in 2025.

After entering drydock in November, the 2017-built vessel returned to service with 18 smaller staterooms replacing its original larger suites.

Norwegian Cruise Line continued to expand its ships’ capacities in 2025 by adding 26 additional staterooms to the Norwegian Bliss. The increase followed similar projects carried out onboard the Norwegian Joy and the Norwegian Encore in 2024.

A second ship, the Pride of America, saw the addition of 26 new staterooms during a drydock on the West Coast in May.

Other key capacity addition projects:

Celestyal Discovery – 47 new staterooms
Carnival Miracle – 5 new staterooms
Holland America’s Zuiderdam – 11 new staterooms
Norwegian Epic – 8 new staterooms

Caribbean Cruise Capacity Up Over 10% for 2026

Posted on 5 February, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Caribbean Cruise Capacity Up Over 10% for 2026

The Caribbean will have over 40 percent of cruise market share worldwide in 2026, according to the upcoming 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

CIN data shows that more than 200 ships will sail in the region, with capacity up over 10 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Larger brands, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC and Norwegian, will account for 75 percent of the capacity in the Caribbean this year.

Pushing up the numbers are large new ships, which are set to enter service for some of these brands over the course of 2026.

Norwegian will add a new ship to its Caribbean lineup in the second quarter, with the debut of the new Norwegian Luna.

Currently under construction in Italy, the 3,571-passenger vessel is set to offer weeklong cruises departing from PortMiami.

In November, Royal Caribbean is also introducing the next largest ship in the world, the Legend of the Seas.

As the third vessel in the company’s Icon-class series, the 5,610-guest ship will offer a seasonal deployment out of Fort Lauderdale.

The Caribbean is also welcoming new ships from a series of upscale and niche brands, such as Explora Journeys.

After an inaugural season in Northern Europe, the 922-guest ship will spend the 2026-27 season offering a series of cruises between San Juan and Miami.

Other luxury ships arriving in the region this year include the Seven Seas Prestige, the Four Seasons I, and Orient Express’ Corinthian.

2026 will also mark the first full year of service for megaships that entered service in 2025.

The lineup includes MSC’s World America, which debuted last April, Norwegian’s Aqua, which also debuted in April, and Royal Caribbean’s Star, which entered service in August.

After kicking off its maiden season in November 2025, the Disney Destiny will also offer its first year-round schedule in Port Everglades

MSC Cruises to Add Yacht Club to Two More Ships

Posted on 3 February, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Cruises to Add Yacht Club to Two More Ships

MSC Cruises is bringing its MSC Yacht Club to two additional ships, the MSC Musica and the MSC Orchestra, according to a press release.

The expansion marks the completion of the MSC Yacht Club refurbishment for the entire Musica class.

The MSC Musica will receive the upgrade later in 2026, ahead of the South American season, followed by the MSC Orchestra in the first quarter of 2027 ahead of its season in the Mediterranean from Bari, Italy.

Once complete, all four ships in the Musica class, the MSC Poesia, the MSC Magnifica, the MSC Musica and the MSC Orchestra will feature the MSC Yacht Club.

The MSC Yacht Club is designed as a ship within a ship concept, featuring spacious and elegant suites, 24-hour butler and dedicated concierge service, as well as exclusive private venues including a restaurant, lounge and sundeck.

Guests of the MSC Yacht Club benefit from personalized services.

This includes daily in-suite indulgences such as fresh fruits, macarons and chocolates, and a complimentary bottle of premium spirits.

Guests can take advantage of unpacking and packing services, private shopping appointments in the onboard boutiques outside regular opening hours, and more.

Guests will also receive MED by MSC, the cruise line’s exclusive collection of organic bath amenities crafted for MSC Yacht Club guests.

With the addition of the MSC Musica and the MSC Orchestra, the MSC Yacht Club will be available across 19 ships fleetwide.

The MSC Musica will sail in South America from November 2026 through April 2027, offering cruises to Brazilian destinations and eight-night to nine-night holiday sailings to Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Punta del Este over Christmas and New Year.

The season concludes with a 16-night transatlantic crossing departing Santos on April 1, 2027, to Genoa.

The MSC Orchestra will begin sailing with the new MSC Yacht Club from Bari, Italy, from March 13 to April 24, 2027, exploring Turkey’s destinations, including Izmir and Istanbul, with calls at Piraeus and Corfu, Greece.