editorial

Windstar’s Wind Spirit still evokes the romance of sailing under canvas, now paired with upgraded cabins and amenities thanks to the line’s Setting Sails initiative.

Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea

Words by Chris Kirkpatrick 
September 14, 2026
Much as we all love a gleaming new cruise ship, some of the industry’s boldest projects are breathing new life into vessels that have been sailing for decades.
<figure id="attachment_163187" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-163187" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-163187" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Azamara.jpeg" alt="Azamara Quest docked at Tauranga, New Zealand; Azamara has embarked on an enhancement program across its fleet of small ships." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Azamara.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Azamara-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Azamara-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Azamara-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-163187" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Azamara Quest docked at Tauranga, New Zealand; Azamara has embarked on an enhancement program across its fleet of small ships. (Tim Faircloth/Azamara Cruises)</figcaption></figure>
For decades, cruise ship refurbishments followed a familiar script. Dry docking typically meant fresh carpets, a coat of paint, updated upholstery, perhaps a new restaurant or two. The goal was to keep older vessels looking presentable until the next generation of ships arrived. Today, that equation is changing.
With the cost of newbuilds soaring, shipyard slots booked years in advance, and mounting pressure to improve sustainability, cruise operators are investing heavily in existing vessels. Rather than simply refreshing older ships, they’re reimagining them—adding new accommodations, overhauling public spaces, and, in some cases, changing who the ships are designed to serve.
These aren’t simple facelifts. They’re strategic reinventions that are reshaping how cruise lines think about fleet planning. Rather than liabilities, aging vessels are increasingly viewed as valuable assets—particularly in size categories that would be prohibitively expensive to replicate today.
Few examples illustrate the trend better than <a href="https://www.ncl.com/?DestinAsian">Norwegian Cruise Line</a>’s Norwegian Spirit. First launched nearly three decades ago, the ship emerged from a US$100 million transformation in 2020 that effectively reset the clock on its lifespan. Adult-only spaces were expanded, cabins modernized, restaurants reimagined, and interiors brought into line with Norwegian’s contemporary design language.
<figure id="attachment_163188" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-163188" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-163188" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Celebrity-Solstice-Deluxe-Panoramic-Ocean-View-Suite.jpeg" alt="A new-look suite aboard Celebrity Solstice." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Celebrity-Solstice-Deluxe-Panoramic-Ocean-View-Suite.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Celebrity-Solstice-Deluxe-Panoramic-Ocean-View-Suite-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Celebrity-Solstice-Deluxe-Panoramic-Ocean-View-Suite-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Celebrity-Solstice-Deluxe-Panoramic-Ocean-View-Suite-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-163188" class="wp-caption-text">A new-look suite aboard Celebrity Solstice. (Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)</figcaption></figure>
It’s also a response to evolving guest preferences. Today’s cruise passengers expect well-appointed accommodations, destination-inspired dining, expansive wellness facilities, and modern interiors, regardless of when a ship was built. Meeting those demands no longer requires a new hull.
<a href="https://www.celebritycruises.com/?DestinAsian">Celebrity Cruises</a> has taken a similar approach with Celebrity Solstice, the first of the line’s groundbreaking Solstice-class ships. When it debuted in 2008, features such as the Lawn Club and expansive glass elements helped redefine premium cruising. Nearly two decades on, a comprehensive refurbishment in Singapore has revitalized Solstice’s staterooms, restaurants, and other public spaces while taking design cues from Celebrity’s newer Edge-class vessels. The investment ensures it remains competitive for years to come.
Not every refurbishment is about reinvention. For some ships, it’s about preserving an experience that simply couldn’t be recreated today. That is certainly the case with <a href="https://www.windstarcruises.com/?DestinAsian">Windstar Cruises</a>’ trio of sailing yachts—Wind Star, Wind Spirit, and Wind Surf. Their towering computer-controlled sails remain a spectacle in their own right, yet the onboard experience still has to meet the expectations of today’s luxury travelers. Windstar has chosen to preserve these beloved vessels through extensive refits that include redesigned suites, upgraded restaurants and spas, and significant structural work, all while preserving the romance of sailing under canvas.
<figure id="attachment_163192" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-163192" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-163192" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea.jpeg" alt="Windstar’s Wind Spirit still evokes the romance of sailing under canvas, now paired with upgraded cabins and amenities thanks to the line’s Setting Sails initiative." width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea.jpeg 1920w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Wind-Spirit-Aerial-in-Moorea-1568x882.jpeg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-163192" class="wp-caption-text">Windstar’s Wind Spirit still evokes the romance of sailing under canvas, now paired with upgraded cabins and amenities thanks to the line’s Setting Sails initiative. (Courtesy of Windstar Cruises)</figcaption></figure>
For luxury and upper-premium operators, refurbishment has also become a way to sharpen brand identity. <a href="https://www.azamara.com/home?DestinAsian">Azamara</a>, whose four small ships specialize in destination-intensive itineraries and extended port stays, is investing across its fleet with renovations spanning suites, restaurants, lounges, spas, and technical systems. The objective isn’t to compete with floating resorts packed with attractions, but to enhance the intimate, destination-focused experience that has become the brand’s hallmark.
That approach has even reached the mainstream market. Instead of chasing after ever-larger ships, some operators are repositioning existing vessels for specific audiences. Case in point: <a href="https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/?DestinAsian">Marella Cruises</a>’ Marella Discovery 2. Rather than retiring the 1995-built ship, which began its career with Royal Caribbean, the British line will turn it into a dedicated adults-only vessel, replacing family-oriented facilities with a speakeasy, escape room, and other venues designed for a more mature clientele. The conversion, slated for completion by late 2027, underscores a growing realization that older ships can regain their competitive edge by serving a clearly defined market exceptionally well.
Yet the boldest projects don’t just renovate ships—they redefine them. At <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com/?DestinAsian">Oceania Cruises</a>, the OceaniaNEXT program has overhauled the line’s four Regatta-class ships with redesigned staterooms, refreshed public spaces, and upgraded technology, helping vessels dating from the late 1990s remain competitive in the upper-premium segment.
Now the line is taking that philosophy a step further. First launched in 2000, the former Nautica is set to reemerge in November 2027 as Oceania Aurelia, a substantially reimagined vessel carrying fewer passengers (476, down from 684) in favor of larger suites and more premium accommodations. Rather than simply updating the interiors, Oceania is repositioning the ship for longer Grand Voyages and world cruises, effectively creating a different product within the same hull. It’s a strategy that reflects a broader industry shift away from measuring success solely through passenger numbers, instead focusing on delivering greater value—and higher yields—from existing assets.
Economic realities are also driving the trend. The cost of building a new cruise ship has climbed dramatically, while strong demand means shipyard slots are often booked years in advance. At the same time, extending the life of an existing vessel avoids much of the environmental impact of building a replacement, especially when refits incorporate more efficient lighting, HVAC systems, wastewater treatment, and digital technologies that help reduce fuel consumption.
Passengers, meanwhile, are increasingly judging cruise ships by the caliber of the onboard experience rather than their launch date. Contemporary dining, thoughtfully designed accommodations, destination-focused programming, wellness facilities, and reliable connectivity matter far more than whether a vessel first entered service 10, 20, or even 30 years ago.
The future of cruising, it seems, won’t be shaped solely by the next generation of ships. It will also be shaped by how imaginatively the industry reinvents the ones already at sea.
<figure id="attachment_163189" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-163189" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-163189" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Oceania-Aurelia-Exterior.jpeg" alt="Oceania Aurelia is a completely reimagined cruise ship designed for extended global voyages." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Oceania-Aurelia-Exterior.jpeg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Oceania-Aurelia-Exterior-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Oceania-Aurelia-Exterior-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-Ship-Upgrades-Oceania-Aurelia-Exterior-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-163189" class="wp-caption-text">Oceania Aurelia is a completely reimagined cruise ship designed for extended global voyages. (Courtesy of Oceania Cruises)</figcaption></figure>
This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/">August/September 2026</a> print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Second Acts at Sea”). Buy a single issue or subscribe <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/">here</a>.

Windstar’s Wind Spirit features upgraded cabins and amenities.

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