The cruise industry is accelerating its return to Southeast Asia by introducing new routes and reinstating ports that have been absent from itineraries for years. In 2026, several lines are launching first-time or reimagined voyages across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore. These routes range from boutique two‑night journeys in Vietnam’s secluded bays to multi‑country voyages that span nearly a month. They demonstrate both regional governments’ commitments to developing cruise tourism and operators’ confidence that demand for Southeast Asia will grow. The following sections outline each of these new routes and explain their significance for travellers and the regional economy.
Vietnam’s Emerging Coastal Routes
Beihai (China) – Ha Long (Vietnam) seasonal route
For decades, Ha Long Bay has been a popular destination for cruise ships, but scheduled sailings from China’s Beihai City are new. Starting in October 2025 and running through April 2026, Vietnam’s Ha Long International Cruise Port is hosting the first season of a sea route linking Beihai and Ha Long. An inaugural call by the Blue Dream Melody signalled the opening of the route. During the 2025–2026 season, nine voyages are planned, allowing Chinese tourists to reach northern Vietnam directly by cruise ship[1]. Officials hope the route will increase regional tourism cooperation and pave the way for longer‑term scheduling.
Heritage Line’s Bai Tu Long Bay voyage
Halong Bay’s success has inspired Vietnamese operators to seek less‑crowded alternatives. Heritage Line—a boutique cruise company—announced in June 2025 a new two‑night itinerary to Bai Tu Long Bay, a lesser‑visited area northeast of Ha Long. Sales opened in August 2025, and the first sailing is scheduled for 2 January 2026. The cruise uses Heritage Line’s tiny six‑suite ship Violet and accommodates just 12 guests[2]. Unlike typical day trips around Ha Long Bay, the three‑day itinerary offers immersive experiences such as visiting floating villages, exploring geological caves, kayaking in peaceful lagoons and enjoying secluded beaches[3]. Moving away from mainstream Halong itineraries reflects a deliberate strategy to provide more authentic, sustainable experiences and reduce overtourism.
StarDream Cruises’ Regional Exploration
Expanded cruises from Malaysia and Singapore
StarDream Cruises (formerly Dream Cruises) will base the Genting Dream in Singapore for the 2026–2027 season and has announced several new short cruises. Beginning in April 2026, the ship will offer three‑night voyages to Pulau Redang and four‑night itineraries that combine Koh Samui and Pulau Redang. Longer five‑night sailings will call at Bangkok (via Laem Chabang) and return to the Thai resort island, while December 2026 sees the return of five‑night cruises to Bali[4]. The season also reintroduces Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and the historic port of Melaka as departure points, restoring two Malaysian gateways that have not hosted major cruise turnarounds since before the pandemic[5]. To diversify passenger options, StarDream is adding 3‑night and 4‑night itineraries from Port Klang and Melaka to Singapore and Penang[6]. These changes not only broaden access for Malaysian travellers but also underline Malaysia’s ambition to develop multiple cruise hubs along its west coast.
Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker Program
Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
Luxury small‑ship operator Windstar Cruises is deploying its new 312‑guest ship Star Seeker to Southeast Asia in 2026. One of the core itineraries is a ten‑day voyage linking Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Departing from Hanoi or Bangkok, the cruise spends multiple days in Vietnamese ports with overnight stays in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and includes a visit to Cambodia with an option for an excursion to Angkor Wat[7]. Shore excursions emphasise cultural immersion, combining river experiences with visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites. The itinerary appeals to travellers who want to sample both Southeast Asia’s urban centres and its ancient history without the longer transoceanic legs found on world cruises.
Thailand, Singapore & Malaysia
A second core itinerary focuses on Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. This 11‑day route calls at six Thai ports—such as Krabi, Ko Yao Noi and Ko Mak—and features an overnight in Singapore[8]. By including smaller Thai islands alongside major hubs, Windstar offers a blend of beach destinations and cultural experiences. The line allows guests to combine itineraries into 17 different variations or extend their journey through pre‑ and post‑cruise tours to Hanoi, Angkor Wat or Chiang Mai, providing flexibility and encouraging longer stays in the region[7].
Princess Cruises’ Enhanced Presence
Diamond Princess returns to Southeast Asia
Princess Cruises’ 2026‑2027 program positions the Diamond Princess in Singapore from November 2026 to March 2027. The season comprises eleven voyages that visit 28 destinations across eight countries. Core itineraries are 10‑ to 16‑day round‑trip cruises from Singapore calling at Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. One highlighted route is a 14‑day “Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam” itinerary visiting Port Kelang (for Kuala Lumpur), Ho Chi Minh City and Laem Chabang (for Bangkok)[9]. Longer 16‑day and 24‑day sailings include UNESCO‑listed Ha Long Bay and other Vietnamese ports such as Da Nang and Hue[9]. The season opens and closes with 14‑ to 31‑day repositioning voyages between Singapore and Japan via Taiwan and Hong Kong, culminating in an ambitious 31‑day itinerary that also visits Ishigaki, Okinawa, Kochi and Kobe[9]. These extended routes signal Princess Cruises’ confidence in Southeast Asia’s market and offer travellers deep exploration of multiple countries.
Royal Princess debut voyages
Beyond the Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises will bring the 3,560‑guest Royal Princess to Southeast Asia for the first time. According to the 2025 announcement, the ship will reposition from Seattle to Singapore via a 26‑night cruise that includes calls in Alaska, Japan and Hong Kong before arriving in Singapore[10]. In October 2026 it will operate two cruises from Singapore: a nine‑night Southeast Asia voyage featuring an overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City and calls at Ko Samui and Bangkok, followed by a 15‑night repositioning cruise to Australia visiting Lombok, Darwin, Yorkeys Knob and Brisbane[10]. These back‑to‑back voyages can be combined into a 24‑night experience, giving guests a rare opportunity to sail through Southeast Asia and onwards to Australia in one trip[10].
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas Expansion
Royal Caribbean International is expanding its presence in China and Southeast Asia with the Spectrum of the Seas during the 2026‑27 season. Starting in May 2026, the ship will operate from Shanghai and Hong Kong, offering itineraries ranging from two to nine nights. New eight‑night adventures will take guests to Mount Fuji and Nagoya in Japan[11]. Other sailings will include ports such as Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, Busan and Jeju, while select itineraries from Hong Kong will also call at Da Nang and Hue in Vietnam[11]. The program introduces a “cruise‑to‑nowhere” experience from Hong Kong and special holiday voyages with themed entertainment[12]. Although not exclusively Southeast Asian, the inclusion of Da Nang and Hue brings new large‑ship options for Vietnamese ports.
Seabourn’s Luxury Voyages
Seabourn, a leader in ultra‑luxury cruising, unveiled its 2026–27 fall, winter and spring season with a strong focus on Asia. Seabourn Encore will undertake 11 sailings across Japan and Southeast Asia from December 2026 to April 2027, visiting more than 46 ports in 11 countries[13]. The season introduces two round‑trip voyages from Singapore: an eight‑day “Malaysia & Thailand” cruise and a 14‑day “Gulf of Thailand & Malaysian Peninsula” itinerary[14]. These cruises feature signature experiences such as the line’s “Caviar in the Surf” beach barbecue on Ko Kood, and overnight stays in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City[14]. Seabourn is also offering a 22‑day holiday voyage that departs Singapore on 14 December 2026 and ends in Hong Kong on 5 January 2027, visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with a Christmas stop at Ko Kood[15]. By blending luxury amenities with immersive shore experiences, Seabourn aims to attract affluent travellers seeking longer, slow‑paced explorations.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Asia‑Pacific Journeys
Carnival Cruise Line will enter the Asian long‑cruise market in late 2026 with Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure. The new programme features four voyages covering Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia[16]. The first departure on 9 October 2026 is a 14‑day cruise from Tokyo to Singapore with maiden calls at Hong Kong, Osaka and Fukuoka in Japan, Seogwipo on Jeju Island, Taipei and Ho Chi Minh City[17]. On 30 November 2026, Carnival Luminosa will sail a 14‑day voyage from Singapore to Brisbane, visiting Bali, Darwin, Cairns and Airlie Beach[18]. In 2027, Carnival Adventure will operate a 14‑day cruise from Sydney to Singapore via Airlie Beach, Darwin, Bali and Lombok, followed by a nine‑day round‑trip from Singapore with maiden calls at Koh Samui, Bangkok and Sihanoukville in Cambodia, alongside a visit to Ho Chi Minh City[19]. Carnival emphasises that these itineraries represent some of its most “exotic and diverse offerings” in the Asia‑Pacific region[20]. With maiden calls at multiple ports, the line is venturing beyond its traditional markets and providing new cruising options for Southeast Asian travellers.
Significance for Southeast Asia
The proliferation of new routes underscores the region’s rising appeal and the willingness of cruise operators to invest in Southeast Asian ports. For governments, these itineraries translate into increased tourism revenue and incentives to upgrade infrastructure. Vietnam, for example, is leveraging the Beihai–Ha Long route and the Bai Tu Long cruise to draw more high‑value Chinese and international tourists. Malaysia’s addition of Port Klang and Melaka as turnaround ports is poised to disperse economic benefits beyond Singapore. Thailand and Cambodia will see more overnight calls, which typically generate higher onshore spending. Meanwhile, the luxury segment—led by Windstar and Seabourn—highlights a trend towards longer stays and culturally immersive excursions, aligning with sustainable tourism goals.
These routes also bring cruise ships into ports that previously lacked large‑ship visits. Carnival’s maiden calls at Osaka, Fukuoka, Seogwipo, Sihanoukville and Airlie Beach illustrate the market’s expansion. Royal Caribbean’s inclusion of Da Nang and Hue exposes Vietnam’s central coast to a new demographic of travellers. Combined with the return of established lines like Princess Cruises and the homeporting of the Genting Dream, the 2026 season signals a robust and diversified recovery for Southeast Asian cruise tourism.
Conclusion
In 2026, Southeast Asia will witness a diverse array of new cruise routes ranging from boutique ventures in northern Vietnam to multi‑country expeditions that connect the region with Japan and Australia. Government‑backed infrastructure improvements and cruise lines’ desire to capitalise on pent‑up demand are driving this expansion. As the region opens new ports and offers itineraries that balance cultural immersion with leisure, travellers will have more opportunities than ever to explore Southeast Asia by sea. These developments not only reaffirm the region’s prominence in the global cruise market but also promise to spread tourism benefits across lesser‑visited destinations.
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