The secondhand cruise ship market is showing clear signs of renewed activity, with several high-profile transactions and fleet changes reported in recent weeks—pointing to a dynamic start to 2026 for the sector.
Goddess of the Night (ex Costa Magica)
Previously operated as Costa Magica, the ship has been sold by Seajets to Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line. Built in 2004 and roughly 103,000 GT, the vessel had been laid up in Greece for an extended period and is now expected to return to service for the Chinese market ahead of the 2026 season—reportedly under the name Vision, with some sources also citing Ideal as a later brand name.
Greg Mortimer (SunStone Ships)
The 2019-built expedition ship Greg Mortimer has secured a major forward charter: National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions will operate the vessel for three Alaska summer seasons starting in 2027, positioning it as the replacement for National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion on those itineraries.
Caledonian Sky
The boutique expedition/cruise vessel Caledonian Sky (built 1991, about 114 passengers) was reportedly sold in December 2025 to Greece-based Kalamata Shipping. The ship is currently berthed in Piraeus, while future deployment plans have not yet been disclosed.
National Geographic Sea Lion & National Geographic Sea Bird
Lindblad’s two classic coastal expedition ships—both built in the early 1980s and carrying 62 guests each—are expected to leave service after October 2026, following farewell seasons in Alaska and on the Columbia/Snake River program.
Expedition (to become Vestland Adventurer)
After being replaced within G Adventures’ lineup, the 1972-built Expedition (about 134 passengers) was reported sold to Vestland Classic Cruises and set for a rebrand as Vestland Adventurer, with deployment planned around Northern Europe and/or expedition-style cruising in the 2026 season.
