Upcoming Changes: Five Cruise Ships Transitioning to New Owners

After being part of various recent transactions, these five cruise ships are set to soon debut for their new operators.

For a complete overview of the market, see the Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News.

Pacific Encounter

Capacity: 2,600 guests

Tonnage: 109,000

Year built: 2002

Current operator: P&O Cruises Australia

Next operator: Carnival Cruise Line

Debut: March 2025

With the discontinuation of the P&O Cruises Australia brand, the Pacific Encounter will be transferred to Carnival Cruise Line in 2025.

The 2,600-guest vessel is scheduled to undergo a minor update and refresh before being renamed Carnival Encounter in March next year.

Originally built for Princess Cruises, the 2002-built ship will continue to operate out of Australian ports after the transfer.

Pacific Adventure

Capacity: 2,600 guests

Tonnage: 109,000

Year built: 2001

Current operator: P&O Cruises Australia

Next operator: Carnival Cruise Line

Debut: March 2025

The Pacific Adventure is also being transferred to Carnival Cruise Line following P&O Australia’s winding down.

Set to be renamed the Carnival Adventure, the 2001-built vessel will undergo a minor update and refit before entering service for the U.S.-based brand in March.

After the transfer, the 2,600-guest ship, which was originally built as the Golden Princess, is set to continue operating in the Australian market.

World Explorer

Capacity: 224 guests

Tonnage: 9,300

Year built: 2019

Current operator: Quark Expeditions and Rivages du Monde (under charter from Mystic Cruises)

Next operator: Windstar Cruises

Delivery: December 2026

The World Explorer will be operated by Windstar Cruises starting in late 2026. Currently operating under charter for Quark and Rivages du Monde, the 9,300-guest vessel was acquired by the company earlier this year.

Before entering service for the upscale brand as the Star Explorer, the vessel is scheduled to undergo a drydock to get Windstar’s signature features and several updates.

As the first in a series of expedition ships built at the West Sea shipyard in Portugal for Mystic Cruises, the 200-guest vessel originally entered service in 2019.

Xpedition

Capacity: 100 guests

Tonnage: 2,842

Year built: 2001

Current operator: Celebrity Cruises

Next operator: Lindblad Expeditions

Debut: March 2025

After being acquired from Celebrity Cruises in June, the Xpedition is scheduled to make its debut for Lindblad Expeditions in March 2025.

Renamed the National Geographic Gemini, this 100-guest vessel will continue to offer exploration cruises in the Galapagos Islands, located in South America.

Originally constructed in 2001 as the Sun Bay, the expedition ship was purchased by Celebrity Cruises in 2004 for a reported $15 million.

Xploration

Capacity: 16 guests

Tonnage: 317

Year built: 2007

Current operator: Celebrity Cruises

Next operator: Lindblad Expeditions

Debut: February 2025

Also acquired by Lindblad Expeditions in June, the former Xploration will begin service for Lindblad Expeditions in February 2025.

The upscale catamaran will be renamed the National Geographic Delfina for expeditions throughout the Galapagos Archipelago.

Previously operated by Ocean Adventures, the 16-guest vessel started operating in 2007 before being acquired by Celebrity in 2016.