The key ships launching in 2025 – and how agents can get on them

Oceania Cruises has confirmed there will be “multiple opportunities” for agents to “experience” its new ship Oceania Allura (pictured) in 2025. “Details are currently being finalised and more will be announced soon,” the line has said.

Adults-only line Virgin Voyages has hinted its fourth ship, Brilliant Lady (pictured), may “touch” the UK in August before heading to New York for its maiden season. “We’re hopeful agents can come onboard,” said UK sales director SJ Walker. Also scheduled to enter service in late August is Royal Caribbean International’s Star of the Seas. Last year, the line’s UK and Ireland trade team launched agent loyalty platform Upper Deck, and plans to invite top-selling Upper Deck members to Star’s launch event in Orlando.

Princess Cruises will launch its new 4,300-passenger ship Star Princess in September. The line said its UK and Ireland sales team is planning to host agents on the new vessel in Alaska in 2026.

Agents hoping to join the inaugural sailing of Celebrity Xcel in November “should keep an eye on the Celebrity Loves Agents Facebook page in the coming months” to be in with a chance of winning a place, the line has said. Disney Cruise Line is launching Disney Destiny in November and Disney Adventure in December. The line is currently finalising its plans for both launches.

AE Expeditions has revealed agents in the UK and Ireland will have the opportunity to bag a place on the debut voyage of 154-passenger Douglas Mawson (pictured). The line has launched its biggest-ever trade giveaway where agents can earn vouchers for every booking they make as well as chance to win one of eight places on fam trip in the polar regions. The top prize will go to the agent who makes the most bookings. They will join the vessel’s maiden 11-day sailing around Tasmania, departing 1 December 2025, along with a plus-one.  

Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker is another vessel launching in December. UK sales lead Augustus Lonsdale said: “I’m putting together plans around the inaugural sailing, plus ship visits and fam trips so as many agents as possible can see the new ship.”

AmaWaterways is launching three ships this year – AmaMagdalena in March, AmaSintra in April and AmaMelodia in June. Sales director Andrea Stafford said: “We believe the time agents spend on our product will pay back multiple times in future sales. We’ll be running incentives and fam trips as well as our popular ‘Sell Five, Sail Free’ programme.”

Riviera Travel will launch Riviera Rose in late March and Riviera Radiance in June. The river line will award 20 places to agents via two separate competitions.

New APT vessels Ostara and Solara (pictured) will launch in March. Brad Bennetts, head of sales and business development, said APT will put “significant resources” into familiarising agents with new products, confirming there would be training, fam trips and incentives. Details will be made available from APTAgentClub.co.uk.

Uniworld said “key” agents would “definitely” experience its new ship Elisabeth on the Rhine either through ship visits or fams. The vessel launches in March.