100 CRUISE ORDER BOOK Small ships on the rise Luxury small-ship travel is trending, with this season’s new arrivals offering enhanced onboard guest spaces and experiences. Michele Witthaus reports From ocean-going ships to riverboats and luxury yachts, the global order book confirms the popularity of small-ship cruising. The Viking ocean fleet welcomes its latest small cruise ship the Viking Mira in spring 2026. Initial itineraries for the ship will take guests to destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Viking Mira to our ocean fleet – like her sister ships, she is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports,” says Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director of Viking UK. “There is clear and sustained demand for smaller ships with fewer guests and a more intimate experience – as with all our ocean ships, the Viking Mira accommodates fewer than 1,000 guests. This is a trend that is here to stay, and we will continue to expand our fleet to meet this demand.” Scenic Group’s Emerald Cruises brand will begin sailings on its latest yacht, Emerald Kaia, in the Mediterranean in April 2026. The Emerald Cruises fleet is designed by MKM Yachts to meet what the parent company says it has identified as growing demand for yacht-style cruising. “The launch of Emerald Kaia marks a major milestone for Emerald Cruises,” says Nichola Absalom, managing director of sales and marketing at Scenic Group. “From the very beginning, our vision was to redefine luxury yacht cruising through intelligent design, generous space and access to smaller ports that allow for more intimate, off-the-beaten-track experiences beyond the reach of larger ships. Emerald Kaia is the next step in that journey. “As one of our next-generation superyachts, she has been purpose-built to host just 128 guests in beautifully reimagined surroundings that balance comfort with contemporary style. For us, this launch is about more than a new ship – it represents our continued commitment to shaping the future of luxury yacht cruising.” The trend towards more spacious onboard guest areas on small ships continues with Explora Journeys’ first LNG-powered ship Explora III, which will emerge from Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard in July 2026. Described by Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, as “a destination in her own right”, the 19.2-metre ship will have more space onboard than previous vessels in the series, driven by the need to accommodate the large LNG tanks. This will allow for the introduction of a second Owner’s Residence alongside the usual mix of luxury suite types. Another small ship aiming for recordbreaking scale is the new riverboat from Viking Mira under construction at Fincantieri’s yard
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