The average size of a new vessel on the cruise ship orderbook is now 91,245 tons, the lowest average tonnage on the forward-looking orderbook since 2003, according to the latest Cruise Industry News Cruise Ship Orderbook Data Report.

While the cruise ship orderbook stands at record levels, the average ship size has come down with a flurry of niche, expedition and luxury ships being ordered by a number of cruise lines over the past two years, with small ship deliveries now extending out to 2027.

Viking Cruises has the largest orderbook of small ships, with 12 930-guest cruise ships on order at 47,000 tons each, in addition to two expedition ships, which will be smaller, both in tonnage and guest capacity.

Among other trends, MSC Cruises is entering the luxury market with four 1,000-guest five-star ships, with annual launches starting in 2023. The newbuilds will be 64,000 tons each. 

Seabourn, which has traditionally had luxury vessels, will also now also enter the expedition market with a pair of 23,000-ton 264-guest ships.