A cruise ship’s naming ceremony, or christening, is one of the most important milestones for a new build because it officially launches its career at sea.
And in November of 2025, four brand new cruise ships have (or will be) christened in a ten-day time span.
These include Princess Cruises’ Star Princess on November 6, Disney Cruises’ Disney Destiny on November 10, and Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Allura on November 13, 2025.
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel will be christened on November 16, bringing the total to four naming ceremonies in ten days.
This spells good news for the cruise industry, which has absolutely been booming – and the upward trajectory is expected to continue into the new year.
A record 21.7 million Americans are expected to cruise in 2026, which is a 4.5% increase upon the 20.7 million projected to set sail in 2025.
Thankfully, these ships will be able to accommodate a combined 12,760 guests on every sailing (when looking at capacity numbers based on double occupancy).
Star Princess
Star Princess was the first of the four ships to be christened this month on November 6, 2025, and I actually got to be there to witness the festivities in person.
Godparents Camila and Matthew McConaughey broke from tradition to bless the ship using a bottle of their brand of tequila, which is Pantalones Tequila.
I was then lucky enough to stay onboard for the second Sphere-class ship’s maiden voyage, which was a 3-night sailing to the Bahamas that officially embarked on November 7.
But while this was her official inaugural sailing in the US, the 4,300-guest ship operated a series of European sailings before crossing the Atlantic. She only arrived in Fort Lauderdale on November 5.
The young ship will remain homeported in Fort Lauderdale through April of next year, when she relocates to Seattle to begin her inaugural Alaska season.
The 177,800-gross ton vessel was constructed by Fincantieri at its shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy – where Sun Princess was also built.
Disney Destiny
Disney Destiny, DCL’s “heroes and villains” themed ship, received a hero’s welcome during her naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 10, 2025.
The event was commemorated with the fanfare that Disney is known for, including drone effects, scenic projections on the Wish-class ship itself, and elaborate musical performances.
This is fitting as Susan Egan, the prolific Broadway performer and famous Disney voice actress, is her godmother.
Since the naming ceremony, the 4,000-guest ship has been operating preview sailings for VIPs, travel experts, and members of the media.
She will officially kick off revenue sailings on November 20, 2025, with a 5-night maiden voyage to both of Disney’s private islands in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
The 144,000-gross ton ship has had a bit of a wait, as she first arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida, on November 2, before completing her journey to Fort Lauderdale.
But she is now home to stay, and will continue operating Caribbean and Bahamas-bound sailings through at least mid-2027.
She’s really come a long way since construction first began at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in March of 2024.
Oceania Allura
Up next is Oceania Allura, which was formally named in Miami, Florida, on November 13, 2025. She had first arrived in the US at the end of October.
The pier-side ceremony culminated in a first-of-its kind godparent christening, in which several acclaimed chefs representing the Food & Wine Best New Chefs franchise came together to bless the ship.
Following the festivities, the 1,200-guest vessel launched her inaugural season in the Caribbean.
Her inaugural voyage actually already set sail months ago on July 18, 2025. It was a 6-night sailing from Trieste, Italy, to Athens, Greece.
The 68,000-gross ton ship will continue to homeport in Miami through spring of next year, when she crosses back to Europe.
She will even return to Italy, not far from where she was constructed in the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Genoa, Italy.
Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity’s newest Edge-class ship arrived in the US in early November to prepare for her naming ceremony and official launch. While she waits, she has been operating preview sailings.
The 3,260-guest ship will officially be christened on November 16, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale.
The chosen godmother who will do the honors is Janaína Torres, an award-winning chef and the first Brazilian chef to be named godmother of a major cruise ship.
Once christened, the 140,600-gross ton ship will embark on a 5-night maiden voyage to Bimini Island in the Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico, on November 18.
She will continue to homeport in Fort Lauderdale, operating Bahamas and Caribbean sailings, until the spring of 2026.
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Starting in May, she will primarily homeport in Barcelona, with the occasional embarkation from Athens, Greece.
She’ll even return to her “birth country” of France. For context, the innovative ship was constructed in the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Four New Cruise Ships Officially Enter Service in Just Ten Days
