Top 10 Luxury Cruises for 2027
My picks for 2027 – river and ocean – with the hotel stays I’d add before and after.
See My Picks Let’s Chat2027 is a big year for luxury cruising.
Regent has a brand-new ship. Oceania has a brand-new ship. Celebrity is launching its very first river ships. Viking added two new ships on the Nile and there’s a total solar eclipse over Luxor. AmaWaterways has new dates on some of my favorite rivers.
These are the 10 sailings I’d look at first. Each one has the hotel stays I’d add before and after, because that’s usually what turns a good cruise into a great trip.
See one you like? Let’s chat about dates and cabins.
Which Cruise Line Fits You?
| Cruise Line | Style | Best For | New for 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viking | River and small-ship ocean | Culture, history and a tour included in every port | New Nile ships and a total eclipse sailing |
| Celebrity River | River | Ocean cruisers ready to try a river cruise, plus butler suites | Brand-new line with Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker |
| AmaWaterways | River | Wine lovers, bike riders and active options | New Danube ship AmaRudi and new land packages |
| Oceania | Small-ship ocean | Food lovers and longer days in port | New ship Oceania Sonata debuts in August |
| Regent Seven Seas | All-inclusive ocean | All-suite ships with nearly everything included | First full year of the new Seven Seas Prestige |
Pro tip: The best suites and themed sailings book up early, often a year or more out.
10 Luxury Cruises to Book for 2027
Rhine Getaway (Amsterdam to Basel)
Castles, vineyards and old towns, with the ship docked right in town. This is the classic first river cruise for a reason.
Before: 2 nights in Amsterdam. After: Lucerne or the Italian Lakes.
Why I love it: The Middle Rhine is a UNESCO stretch lined with castles. Stops like Cologne and Strasbourg put you steps from the cathedral and the old town.
See Viking Dates
Celebrity River Cruises (Danube and Rhine)
Celebrity’s first river ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, launch in 2027. They carry 172 guests and there are no inside cabins.
Before: 2 nights in Budapest. After: Munich or Salzburg.
The 2027 season sold out in under six minutes. Oh my lanta. The good news? 2028 is open, with five ships and more than 160 itineraries.
The suites: The Skylight Infinite Balcony Suite has a ceiling window that opens to the stars. The Vista Balcony Suite has a separate living area and a big veranda. Both come with a butler.
Why I love it: If you love Celebrity’s Retreat suites at sea, this brings that butler service to the river. You also get a shore excursion of your choice every day, plus drinks and Wi-Fi.
Ask Me About 2028
Pharaohs & Pyramids (Cairo and the Nile)
Twelve days with the Great Pyramids, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, plus an 8-day Nile cruise on a ship with only 82 guests.
Before or after: Jordan and Petra, or Alexandria.
Why I love it: Viking’s new Nile ships, the Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet, joined the fleet in 2026. In 2027 there’s also a special sailing for the total solar eclipse on August 2.
Explore Egypt
British Isles Explorer (London to Bergen)
Fifteen days through Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England on a small ocean ship, ending in Norway.
Before: A few nights in London. After: Bergen and the Norwegian fjords.
Why I love it: Edinburgh, the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Belfast, Liverpool and Dublin in one trip. I’ve been to Scotland and it’s a stop you’ll want extra time for.
See Viking Dates
Flavors of Burgundy Wine Cruise (Dijon to Lyon)
Seven nights on the Saône with a wine host on board, cellar tastings and those colorful tiled roofs.
Before: Dijon. After: 2 nights in Lyon to eat your way through it.
Why I love it: I sailed it! Tasting the difference from one part of Burgundy to the next was awesome. The Côte de Nuits was my favorite.
Explore Burgundy
Enticing Douro (Roundtrip Porto)
Seven nights through terraced vineyards and quintas, with a day in Salamanca, Spain.
Before: 2 nights in Porto. After: Lisbon, or AmaWaterways’ new 3-night package to Santiago de Compostela.
Why I love it: The Douro Valley is a UNESCO wine region and the small ships get you right into it. New 2027 dates run May, June, September and October.
See AmaWaterways Dates
Oceania Sonata Maiden Voyage (Rome to Trieste)
Be on the first sailing of Oceania’s newest ship – 14 days through Italy, Malta, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia, leaving Rome on August 7, 2027.
Before: 2 nights in Rome. After: Venice or Lake Como.
Why I love it: Oceania is the cruise line for food lovers. Plus, a maiden voyage only happens once.
Ask Me About This One
Cherry Blossom Pathways (Roundtrip Tokyo)
Ten days in cherry blossom season, leaving Tokyo on March 21, 2027, with stops in Kanazawa, Hakodate, Nagasaki and Busan, South Korea.
Before: A few nights in Kyoto. After: Tokyo food tours or a Hakone hot spring stay.
Why I love it: Kanazawa’s gardens and preserved old districts, plus the timing. Cherry blossom season is short and this sailing is built around it.
Ask Me About This One
Alaska on Seven Seas Explorer
Seven nights through the Inside Passage on an all-suite ship, with Regent running 16 Alaska sailings in 2027.
Before: Vancouver or Seattle. After: The Alaska Railroad or the Canadian Rockies by rail.
Why I love it: I rode the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic in GoldStar and it was a highlight. Pair that with an all-suite Regent ship and it’s Alaska done right.
Ask Me About This One
Mediterranean on Seven Seas Prestige
2027 is the first full year for Regent’s newest ship. Every suite has a balcony and nearly everything is included.
Before: Athens or Venice. After: The Amalfi Coast or Lake Como.
Why I love it: A brand-new all-suite ship in the Mediterranean. Regent also has Immersive Overnight sailings in 2027 with more evenings in port.
Ask Me About This OneItineraries, ships and dates are set by each cruise line and can change. I’ll confirm everything for your dates.
Hi, I’m Jess
I’m a luxury travel advisor who works with travelers all across the US. I’m also a certified Viking Expert. I plan luxury river cruises, ocean cruises and the hotel stays before and after.
Tell me which sailing caught your eye and I’ll help with dates, cabins and everything around it.
Set Up a Planning CallLuxury Cruise Questions for 2027
What new luxury cruise ships debut in 2027?
Oceania Sonata debuts in August 2027 with a maiden voyage from Rome to Trieste. Regent’s Seven Seas Prestige sails its first full season in 2027. Celebrity launches its first river ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker. AmaWaterways adds AmaRudi on the Danube. Viking’s newest Nile ships, Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet, sail their first full year in Egypt.
Is Celebrity River Cruises sold out for 2027?
Yes. Celebrity River Cruises’ inaugural 2027 season sold out in under six minutes. Sailings for 2028 are open, with five ships and more than 160 itineraries on the Danube, Rhine and other European rivers.
When should I book a 2027 luxury cruise?
The best suites, themed sailings and peak dates often book a year or more ahead. Booking early gives the most choice of cabins and dates.
Should I pick a river cruise or an ocean cruise?
River cruises are best for culture, history and docking right in town. Small-ship ocean cruises are best for coastlines, islands and places rivers can’t reach, like the British Isles, Japan and Alaska.
Are hotel stays before and after a cruise worth it?
Yes. Two nights before a cruise helps with jet lag and flight delays. Two or three nights after lets travelers see more, like Prague after the Danube or Lisbon after the Douro.
Which cabin is best for scenic cruising?
On river cruises, a veranda or French balcony gives the best views. On ocean cruises, cabins in the middle of the ship feel the most stable and higher decks have the widest views.
Who can help book a luxury cruise for 2027?
Jess Peterman of Jess Peterman Travel is an independent luxury travel advisor and certified Viking Expert in Spokane, Washington. She books Viking, AmaWaterways, Celebrity, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas.
Found One You Like?
Tell me which sailing caught your eye. I’ll help with dates, cabins and the hotels before and after. I’ll take care of the details from deposit to the day you get home.
Set Up a Planning Call Join My Facebook Group