These cruise lines are rolling out new ships, major refurbishments and specialized sailings designed to give travelers more ways to experience life at sea.
Oceania Cruises is planning what it says will be the industry’s first entirely gluten-free ocean voyage in 2028, Cunard is giving Queen Mary 2 a major makeover ahead of her 2027 return, and Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, has reached a key construction milestone ahead of its Miami debut next year.
Here’s the latest cruise news travel advisors should know.
A Gluten-Free Sailing Experience
Oceania Cruises is taking its culinary focus in a new direction with what it says will be the industry’s first entirely gluten-free ocean voyage.
The 12-night sailing aboard Oceania Vista departs May 31, 2028, roundtrip from Southampton and will visit England, Ireland and Scotland, with calls in Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Stornoway in the Hebrides and Edinburgh.
The voyage is designed to give guests with celiac disease and other gluten-free dietary needs access to Oceania’s full culinary program without having to navigate menus, ask about preparation practices or worry about cross-contact.
“This voyage gives our culinary team an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine our acclaimed onboard dining experiences through an entirely gluten-free lens while remaining true to the creativity, quality and abundance at the heart of our philosophy to serve The Finest Cuisine at Sea,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, in a media statement.
Every dining venue aboard Oceania Vista will offer entirely gluten-free menus during the sailing, including specialty restaurants. The sailing is being developed in collaboration with Celiac Cruise, which specializes in gluten-free travel and vacation experiences.
For more information, visit oceaniacruises.com.
A Makeover Fit for a Queen
Cunard is giving Queen Mary 2 a major makeover, with the iconic ocean liner set to enter dry dock in France in spring 2027.
The refurbishment will introduce new suites and staterooms, refreshed restaurants, an enhanced wellness center, expanded retail and updated guest spaces. Queen Mary 2 will enter dry dock in France on March 31, 2027, and return to service May 9. The ship is the only ocean liner to offer regularly scheduled Transatlantic Crossings between Southampton and New York.
The refurbishment will add 31 new staterooms, including 16 Princess Grill Suites and 15 Britannia-category staterooms. Existing Grill Suites will receive new interiors, furnishings and finishes, while all Grill Suite categories will get redesigned bathrooms with updated features.
Additional outdoor deck space will give guests more places to relax and enjoy the views, while classic deck games, paddle tennis and pickleball will continue to be offered. Queen Mary 2’s famous kennels—the only dedicated kennels at sea—will also be upgraded. The project will add redesigned kennels, increased capacity, a refurbished owners’ lounge and a larger outdoor walking area for guests traveling across the Atlantic with their pets.
The ship’s Mareel Wellness & Beauty space will be transformed as part of the project, while a new collection of luxury stores will add more shopping options. Illuminations, Queen Mary 2’s planetarium, will receive a digital upgrade designed to create more immersive experiences.
Following the refurbishment, Queen Mary 2 will continue offering Transatlantic Crossings, including special Event Voyages, as well as itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada and the Caribbean.
For more information, visit cunard.com.
A Hero’s Welcome
Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, has officially touched water for the first time, marking a major construction milestone ahead of its August 2027 debut in Miami.
The float-out took place at a shipyard in Finland, where workers used more than 90 million gallons of water to fill the ship’s dry dock overnight. Hero of the Seas has now moved to the outfitting pier, where construction will continue ahead of its debut.
The new ship will be the latest addition to Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class; Hero of the Seas will feature nine pools and 28 dining options, including the new Orleans Parrish Supper Club. Accommodations will include the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse.
For thrill-seekers, Crown’s Edge will combine a skywalk and zip-line experience 154 feet above the ocean. Guests looking to relax can head to the new Coconut Cove pool or adults-only The Hideaway.
The ship will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, with every sailing visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
For more information, visit royalcaribbean.com.
