Disney Cruise Line Reveals First Details of New Ship Class

Posted on 18 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Disney Cruise Line Reveals First Details of New Ship Class

Disney Cruise Line revealed the first details and images of its new ship class, which will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

With deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030, the series of newbuilds will initially include three 105,000-ton vessels.

During its D23 Expo, the company revealed a rendering of the ships, which will feature a look similar to Wish-class vessels.

Of note, the ship will feature a three-deck-high glass area amidship, while bringing back the company’s traditional look with a black and gold hull and two funnels.

In a video, the company also highlighted a few fundamentals of the new class project, noting that it will have an optimized hull.

The class will also feature what Disney called a state-of-the-art lightweight design, which will allow for more energy efficiency.

According to the company, the new ship was designed to capture the magic of the ocean, with new features set to be revealed at a later date.

“From sketches and finished drawings, thinking ahead and creating new attractions for months and years to come, we keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things,” Disney said.

Slightly smaller than the company’s more recent newbuild, the new vessels are expected to have capacity for up to 3,000 passengers.

Before welcoming the first of the new ships into its fleet, Disney is introducing the new Disney Believe in 2027.

Currently under construction at Meyer Werft, the 140,000-ton vessel will be the fourth in the company’s Wish-class series.

The series also includes a fifth, yet-unnamed vessel, which is scheduled for delivery in early 2029.

The 2,500-passenger vessel will mark Disney Cruise Line’s debut in Japan through a partnership with Oriental Land Company.

Norwegian’s Pride of America Delays Return to Honolulu Due to Hurricane

Posted on 18 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian’s Pride of America Delays Return to Honolulu Due to Hurricane

The Pride of America had to delay its return to Honolulu due to Hurricane Lala, which impacted Hawaii over the weekend.

With the port closed due to adverse weather, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship was only able to dock one day later than planned on Sunday, August 16, 2026.

According to a text message sent to boarding guests, check-in at Honolulu Harbor was then open until 9:00 PM local time.

Initially set to depart from its homeport on August 15, 2026, the Pride of America was scheduled to offer a seven-night interisland cruise in Hawaii.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this weekend’s weather-related delays,” Norwegian stated.

“We are pleased to share that we have received the all-clear to begin embarkation and check-in,” the company continued.

“We are currently finalizing itinerary details and will communicate as soon as it becomes available,” Norwegian added.

The ship’s original itinerary included visits to Hilo and Kailua Kona, as well as overnight calls to Kahului and Nawiliwili.

In addition to the Pride of America, the Norwegian Spirit was also impacted by Hurricane Lala and had to delay a planned arrival to Honolulu.

Offering a series of cruises that connect the South Pacific and Hawaii to Alaska, the 1999-built vessel was scheduled to arrive at the port on August 16, 2026.

The adverse weather in the region forced Norwegian Cruise Line to move the planned call to August 17, 2026.

As a result, passengers who were set to board the ship’s upcoming cruise were asked to arrive at the Honolulu port one day later.

The Norwegian Spirit is scheduled to offer a 16-night cruise that will sail to destinations in Hawaii and Alaska before ending in Vancouver, Canada.

The itinerary originally included visits to Kailua Kona, Nawiliwili, Kahului, Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan.

Regent to Cut Capacity on Explorer Class Ships by 10 Percent

Posted on 12 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Regent to Cut Capacity on Explorer Class Ships by 10 Percent

Regent’s Explorer-class ships will feature improved crew- and space-to-guest ratios following their upcoming refits.

According to the company’s website, passengers will take advantage of more space and more personalized service following the updates announced in late July.

The Seven Seas Explorer, the Seven Seas Splendor and the Seven Seas Grandeur are set to undergo drydocks between late 2027 and late 2028.

Described by the company as a “transformative reimagining of select onboard accommodations,” the project will reduce the vessels’ overall capacity to 688 passengers.

With larger suites replacing smaller staterooms, the ships will see nearly a 10 percent drop in their cabin and guest count.

Regent said the crew-to-guest ratio will change from 1:1.3 to 1:1.2, allowing for more attentive and personal service.

Guest-to-space ratio will have a larger upgrade, going from 1:74 to 1:80, which Regent said provides more room for every onboard experience.

Following the changes, the ships will also offer what Regent called the largest entry-level suites, spanning between 38 and 43 square meters.

The company said the enhanced accommodations were designed for comfort and effortless livability, “offering more room to relax, entertain and settle into life at sea.”

Other updates include the debut of a new category, Horizon Penthouse Suite, and the addition of three extra Distinctive Suites on each ship.

The Splendor will be the first ship to debut the enhancements, offering its reimagined suites starting on December 6, 2027.

The Explorer and the Grandeur follow suit in 2028, introducing the upgrades on May 22 and November 13, respectively.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Explorer-class vessels are currently the newest ships in Regent’s fleet and entered service between 2016 and 2023.

In addition to refurbishing its Explorer-class ships, the company is introducing a new ship class later this year with the debut of the Seven Seas Prestige. The 822-guest vessel will be followed by sisters in 2030, 2033 and 2036.