CLIA’S Ocean Cruising Week highlights an exciting program of promotions for advisors and clients. Here’s all you need to know about new ships, itineraries and ventures for the top five classic luxury lines.
“Cruise Month is about inspiring cruise travellers and directing them towards CLIA travel agents to take advantage of their expert guidance,” says Joel Katz, CLIA Managing Director Australasia. As Katz said when launching the State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025, luxury cruising is a high-value segment for advisors, with 1.5 million travellers forecast to choose a luxury cruise experience by 2028.
“Luxury cruising has evolved into one of the most exciting areas of travel, where the creation of extraordinary experiences on shore is just as important as the experience on board.”
While the luxury cruise sector encompasses a growing number of new operators, the demand for voyages and experiences offered by classic, ultra-luxe lines is stronger than ever. Read on for the latest updates from Crystal, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Silversea.
Crystal
Since A&K Travel Group acquired Crystal in 2022, the company has not only invested millions of dollars in revitalising the venerable vessels Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, it has also ordered three more ultra-luxe ships from renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Due to set sail in 2028, 2030 and 2032, the ships will accommodate 690 guests and at 61,800 gross tons they will be bigger than Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, providing an even higher guest-to-space ratio. They will offer all-suite accommodation with private balconies, plus balcony accommodation for solo travellers. The crew-to-guest ratio is set to be among the best in the business at nearly 1 to 1.
Crystal aficionados will be happy to know that the new ships will feature the line’s traditional promenade deck as well as world-class dining options that include Nobu’s Umi Uma, Riccardo Giraudi’s Beefbar and an ongoing partnership with the highly acclaimed Alajmo brothers.
Next year, Crystal is launching new cultural voyages on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony in partnership with sister brand A&K Expedition Cruises. Following the inaugural Mediterranean voyage in August 2026, a select number of guests will enjoy all the luxuries of the classic ships along with the expertise of the expedition team across diverse itineraries in 2027.
Oceania Cruises
Oceania is on a roll. Just before its eighth highly acclaimed ship, Oceania Allura, made her maiden voyage in July 2025, Jason Montague, Oceania Cruises’ Chief Luxury Officer, was attending the steel-cutting ceremony in Venice for the first of the line’s new Sonata-class vessels.
Making her debut in (northern) summer 2027, Oceania Sonata will be followed by her sister ship Oceania Arietta in 2029, then two more in 2032 and 2035. According to James Sitters, Oceania’s Director of Sales Asia Pacific, “The ships will be significantly larger than Vista and Allura and will feature more spacious staterooms and suites, new public spaces and amenities and provide a higher space-per-guest ratio than their fleetmates.”
Local cruisers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 1,250-guest Oceania Riviera for her first full season of Australasian cruises between November 2025 and March 2026. A highlight is her 35-day Sydney round-trip Mesmerising Melanesia, departing 8 February 2026; she will also sail shorter regional itineraries to Bali and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Oceania Cruises and sister line Regent Seven Seas Cruises are committed to ambitious growth strategies in the Asia Pacific region. As reported in Karryon, Lisa Pile’s role as RSSC Vice President & General Manager Asia Pacific has just been expanded to include responsibility for Oceania’s APAC sales.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
About a year from now, the hotly anticipated, 822-guest Seven Seas Prestige will join the Regent fleet. The first of a new class of ships for the ultra-luxe line in 10 years, Seven Seas Prestige is about 40 per cent larger than her Explorer-class fleetmates but accommodates just 76 more guests.
Bookings opened on 25 June 2025 and broke Regent’s record as the biggest single booking day for a new ship launch. The AU$40,000 a night Skyview Regent Suite sold out for 10 of the ship’s first 13 voyages, proving once again the incredible demand for top-level ultra-luxe cruising. A second Prestige-class ship is due to launch in late 2029 and it would be no surprise to hear that a third will be announced soon.
Making way for Seven Seas Prestige, Seven Seas Navigator will leave the fleet next year. Three special farewell sailings are scheduled between August and October 2026, featuring nostalgic onboard celebrations, surprise guest appearances, gala dinners, auctions of ship memorabilia, themed trivia and engaging panel discussions.
Seven Seas Explorer is returning to Australasia for a series of voyages in December 2025, and in March 2026, the freshly refurbished Seven Seas Mariner will be sailing locally on her world cruise. Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of RSSC and Oceania Cruises will be onboard and spending some time in Australia and New Zealand.
Seabourn
“Whether guests are drawn to the thrill of expedition travel or the allure of exploring hidden destinations, our 2027-2028 season offers life-expanding voyages for every kind of traveller,” says Mark Tamis, President of Seabourn.
Seabourn’s fleet includes four ultra-luxe yacht-style ships, Seabourn Encore, Ovation, Quest and Sojourn, and two stunning expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit.
Bookings are now open for Seabourn’s 2027 ocean itineraries and 2027-2028 expedition itineraries – we’ll bring you more info on Venture and Pursuit during CLIA’s Expedition Cruise Week, 19-25 October.
Seabourn Sojourn is moving to Mitsui Ocean Cruises in May 2026, and from April to November 2027, Encore, Quest and Ovation will operate 63 cruises ranging from seven to 20 days in Alaska, Canada and New England, the Mediterranean, Japan and Northern Europe. Seabourn’s classic luxury yachts accommodate between 458 and 600 guests and offer Signature Events such as Marina Day watersports, shopping with the chef excursions and Evenings Under the Stars.
Seabourn’s Alaska sailings combine the line’s ultra-luxe amenities with its expedition expertise in the optional Ventures by Seabourn program – a great way for curious travellers to dip their toes into a more adventurous style of cruising. In 2027, Seabourn Encore’s 18 itineraries visit 15 ports and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.
Silversea
Silversea’s 12-strong fleet offers a mix of ultra-luxe ocean sailings and high-end expedition voyages on its eight classic luxury ships and four expedition vessels. Silver Nova, the first of Silversea’s Nova-class ships, made waves when she sailed Down Under last summer and it’s exciting to see her returning for the upcoming season.
Silver Moon joins Silver Nova in Australasia in November, both sailing a variety of regional itineraries until February 2026 – and both bringing Silversea’s renowned Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.) culinary program to local and overseas cruisers.
Looking further ahead, Silversea’s 2027-2028 Voyage Collection will be released at the end of October 2025 – watch this space! Meanwhile, Silver Shadow’s 2028 world cruise is open for bookings; the 132-day voyage will visit five continents, with standout destinations including Rio Carnival, a private visit to Andrea Boccelli’s vineyard in Tuscany and a two-night excursion to Cuzco and Machu Picchu.
And in case you missed it, Silversea’s latest global initiative is its Luxury of Choice fare structure, designed to provide guests greater flexibility of choice with three new types of fare. In a nutshell, these are the All-Inclusive Plus Fare, All-Inclusive Fare and Last-Minute Fare, enabling guests to personalise their travel experiences with pre- and post-cruise add-ons – including air travel, hotels, transfer, and land experiences.
For more information, visit Crystal, Oceania Cruises, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea; CLIA’s Cruise Month Toolkit is available at CLIA Members Hub
