The cruise industry's global orderbook shows 59 new ships and roughly 57,200 new crew positions between now and 2036. Here is where the hiring boom is happening and what it means if you are trying to get on board.
New cruise ship jobs are opening at a pace this industry has rarely seen. Right now, shipyards from Finland to China are building 59 new cruise vessels for delivery between 2026 and 2036. That count starts in 2026, not 2025, since every ship due in 2025 has already entered service. Based on standard crew-to-passenger ratios, the ships still to come will need an estimated 57,200 additional crew members. That is one new hire for roughly every two new passenger berths coming online.
I have spent my career on the operational side of this business. I started as an Executive Officer and F&B Director on ships for Princess, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean. Later, I helped build the software that runs cruise ship hotel operations at Micros-Fidelio, now part of Oracle. I have never seen an orderbook this deep. If you are wondering whether now is a good time to try to get hired on a cruise ship, the ship count says yes.
What Is Actually On Order Right Now
Cruise Lines International Association reports that 325 CLIA-member ocean-going ships will be sailing in 2026. Together they represent around 690,000 lower berths worldwide and a workforce drawn from more than 150 countries. The 59 ships still to come sit on top of that existing fleet, and they are not spread evenly. The next two years carry more than half the ship count:
2026: 17 ships, an estimated 12,513 new crew.
2027: 17 ships, an estimated 12,526 new crew.
2028 to 2036: 25 ships, an estimated 32,154 new crew.
Just over half the remaining ships, 34 of 59, arrive in 2026 and 2027. The crew total for those two years runs a little behind that at 25,039, since several of the largest ships on order are not due until later in the decade. If you want a brand new ship rather than an older one, 2026 and 2027 is the window.
Which Cruise Lines Are Hiring the Most New Crew
Every major cruise line still has ships on order, but a few stand out for sheer hiring volume. Norwegian Cruise Line tops the list with 7 more ships and an estimated 12,508 new crew positions. Carnival follows with 5 ships and roughly 11,760 positions. Royal Caribbean, Disney, Viking Ocean, and MSC Cruises round out the top six, each adding thousands of new roles across multiple ships.
Norwegian: 7 new ships, an estimated 12,508 new crew.
Carnival: 5 new ships, an estimated 11,760 new crew.
Royal Caribbean: 3 new ships, an estimated 6,774 new crew.
Disney: 4 new ships, an estimated 4,800 new crew.
Viking Ocean: 8 new ships, an estimated 4,696 new crew.
MSC Cruises: 2 new ships, an estimated 4,320 new crew.
Viking Ocean is worth a second look. Eight ships is the largest number of any line on this list. The crew count per ship is smaller though, because Viking builds mid-size luxury ships rather than mega-ships. That matters for job seekers. A smaller ship usually means a tighter, more visible crew. That can be a faster route to being noticed and promoted.
The Hiring Boom Is Not Just Mega-Ships
It is easy to picture the orderbook as nothing but 6,000-passenger giants, and some of it is. Royal Caribbean's new Star and Seas class ships, due in 2026 and 2027, carry over 5,600 guests each and need an estimated 2,244 crew per ship. Disney has four more ships coming through 2031, each carrying about 3,000 guests and 1,200 crew.
But the same orderbook includes small luxury and expedition vessels that need a completely different kind of crew. Four Seasons has another 180-passenger ship on the way. Aman at Sea has a 100-passenger vessel on order. Antarctica21 is adding a small polar expedition ship. Its guests want naturalists and expedition staff, not a casino and a water slide. American Cruise Lines has seven more small coastal ships coming out of a Chesapeake, Virginia shipyard. They are built specifically for U.S. domestic river and coastal itineraries.
If big-ship life does not appeal to you, this orderbook still has a seat for you. Expedition and small-ship roles typically want more specialist skills such as naturalist guides, zodiac drivers, and hospitality staff comfortable with a much smaller, closer-knit crew.
Where the New Ships Are Sailing
Deployment plans in the data lean heavily toward the Caribbean. A large "worldwide" category covers luxury and expedition lines sailing global routes. Europe, Asia, and China-based deployment each account for a meaningful share too. MSC Cruises' World Asia and Adora's China-built Flora City both target fast-growing Asian source markets.
For job seekers, deployment region affects contract logistics: joining and disembarkation ports, flight routing, and sometimes visa requirements. A ship deploying in Asia usually crews and repatriates crew through different hub airports than a Caribbean-based ship. It is worth asking your manning agency which region a new ship will actually sail before you accept a contract.
How to Land One of the New Cruise Ship Jobs
None of these ships hire directly. Manning agencies handle the vast majority of cruise ship recruitment. A new ship generates a fresh wave of manning agency job requests in the 6 to 12 months before delivery, covering every department. Food and beverage remains the largest department on any cruise ship by headcount, so F&B roles make up a sizeable share of that 57,200 figure. But housekeeping, guest services, entertainment, deck, engine, and the concession departments (spa, casino, retail, photography) all grow with every new hull too.
A few practical steps if you want in on this wave:
1. Register with two or three reputable manning agencies now, rather than waiting for a specific ship to be announced. New-ship job requests move fast once shipyards confirm delivery dates.
2. Get your CV cruise-ready before you apply. Recruiters for a new ship are often processing hundreds of applications for the same launch window.
3. Stay flexible on cruise line and ship class early in your career. The data shows opportunity across mass market, luxury, expedition, and small coastal ships, not just the big names.
4. Ask your agency which ships they are currently crewing for. A recruiter actively staffing a 2026 or 2027 delivery is a very different conversation than one with no open positions to fill.
If you want a second pair of eyes on your CV before you start applying, CruiseCareer Pro offers a free CV Evaluation and Review. It includes a free ATS score that shows how your CV performs against the applicant tracking systems manning agencies and cruise lines actually use. It only takes a few minutes and there is no account required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many new cruise ships are currently on order?
At least 59 cruise vessels are confirmed on order across major shipyards, with deliveries scheduled from 2026 through 2036. This spans ocean, river, and expedition ships from mass market, luxury, and small-ship operators.
Which cruise line has the most new ships on order?
Viking Ocean has the most new ships on order among the operators tracked here, with 8 vessels in the pipeline. Norwegian Cruise Line has the highest estimated new crew count, at roughly 12,500 across 7 ships.
Do I need experience to get hired on a brand new cruise ship?
No. New ships hire across every experience level, from entry-level housekeeping and dining roles to senior officer positions. Manning agencies staff new ships the same way they staff any other vessel, through standard applications, interviews, and certification checks.
When is the best time to apply for a job on a new cruise ship?
Manning agencies typically start recruiting for a new ship 6 to 12 months before delivery. Registering with agencies now, rather than waiting for a specific ship announcement, puts you in the pipeline earlier.
Is this hiring boom only for large cruise lines?
No. The current orderbook includes small luxury operators like Four Seasons and Aman at Sea. It also includes expedition specialists like Antarctica21, and coastal operators like American Cruise Lines, alongside the major mass market brands.
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Founder, CruiseCareer Pro | Retired Executive Officer & F&B Director | Former Director, Micros-Fidelio (Oracle) Fidelio Cruise Software
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