Normal view

Yesterday — 17 March 2026Travel

Celestyal Cancels Additional Itineraries in the Mediterranean

Celestyal Cruises is cancelling additional itineraries of the Celestyal Discovery in the Eastern Mediterranean due to the conflicts in the Middle East. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the vessel’s March 27 and March 30, 2026, departures will no longer go ahead. The company said that the sailings have been cancelled as it “finalizes...

PATA Foundation Announces New Board of Trustees in 2026

17 March 2026 at 20:41
PATA Foundation trustees with face imagesThe PATA Foundation today announces the appointment of a new Board of Trustees, the governing body entrusted with guiding the organisation’s strategic efforts to ensure that the next generation across Asia Pacific is equipped with […]

Carnival Schedules 2026 Q1 Conference Call

Carnival Corporation has scheduled a conference call with analysts for Friday, March 27, 2026, at 10 a.m. (EDT) or 2 p.m. (GMT). The first quarter’s financial results, which are expected to be released that morning, will be discussed during the call, the company said in a statement. A simulcast of the call will be available...

China records over 150 million inbound arrivals in 2025, spurred by visa-free policy

17 March 2026 at 14:57
Traditional Chinese temple with red lanterns, Li River karst mountains, Yangshuo town, and Spring Festival horse sculpture in ChinaForeign tourist arrivals to China surged in 2025, with spending rising by 40% year on year, China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli said, as reported by CGTN. Inbound tourist trips exceeded 150 million last […]

Silversea’s Spirit Arrives in Europe for Summer Season

The Silver Spirit recently arrived in Europe for a summer season sailing in the Baltic, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Before starting its deployment in the region, the 2009-built ship is also set to undergo a major drydock at a local shipyard. Having completed its winter schedule in the Caribbean, the vessel kicked off a trans-Atlantic...

Shanghai Welcomes Two Luxury Cruise Calls in One Week

Shanghai’s North Bund welcomed two luxury calls last week , with the vast majority of passengers benefiting from China’s expanded visa-free entry policy. The week began with the arrival of Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer on March 6. Docking at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal on the North Bund. Port and immigration authorities reported that...

Sture Myrmell Named President of Aroya Cruises

Cruise Saudi has appointed Sture Myrmell as President of Aroya Cruises effective April 1, 2026, the company said in a statement. Based in Jeddah, he will oversee the cruise line’s commercial operations and guest experience, reporting to Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen. Clasen said that Myrmell’s expertise in operations, commercial strategy and market development will...

The Quiet Revolution: How Modern Propulsion Reduces Noise, Vibration and Emissions

As cruise operators face growing scrutiny around emissions and Underwater radiated noise (or noise performance), propulsion is increasingly being judged on more than efficiency alone. Advances in thruster design, hybrid power systems and fuel technologies show how quieter, cleaner operations can improve both passenger comfort and minimize underwater noise radiation which helps to protect marine...

Clasen Praises Aroya Team Following Safe Debarkation in the Gulf

Aroya Cruises confirmed that all guests who were onboard the Aroya when operations in the Arabian Gulf were suspended have safely disembarked the Aroya. In a statement shared on its website, the company said that it completed the debarkation operations on March 7, 2026. “I am incredibly proud of the professionalism and care shown by...

Hapag-Lloyd Charts Course for Indian Ocean Expeditions

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has unveiled 10 expedition cruises to the Seychelles and Madagascar aboard the Hanseatic Nature in winter 2027-28. In a press release, the company said this is the first time it is placing the Indian Ocean at the center of its expedition season. Sailing between October 2027 and March 2028, the voyages will be...

UK Joins Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Thailand, Singapore, and More Countries in British Airways’ Monumental Flight Disruptions, Slashing Dubai and Key Middle Eastern Routes Through May

17 March 2026 at 12:38
UK Joins Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Thailand, Singapore, and More Countries in British Airways’ Monumental Flight Disruptions, Slashing Dubai and Key Middle Eastern Routes Through May

British Airways has announced significant disruptions to its flight operations, affecting a wide array of destinations in the Middle East and beyond. The airline’s decision to slash key routes, including those to Dubai, comes amid a wave of cancellations and reductions across several high-demand destinations. This move, which impacts countries such as Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Thailand, Singapore, and more, has sparked concern among travelers and industry experts alike.

The post UK Joins Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Thailand, Singapore, and More Countries in British Airways’ Monumental Flight Disruptions, Slashing Dubai and Key Middle Eastern Routes Through May appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Uniworld Shares First Looks of S.S. Audrey and Marlene

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has unveiled the first renderings of its newest Super Ships debuting in 2027, the Audrey and Marlene, in a press release. “One-of-a-kind design has always been central to the Uniworld experience. With the S.S. Audrey and S.S. Marlene, we’re celebrating two women whose style defined an era,” said Ellen Bettridge, president...
Before yesterdayTravel

MSC Cruises Launching Creative Studio in Edinburgh

MSC Group’s Cruise Division has acquired a production studio in Scotland which is set to become MSC Creative Studios. As a central hub for creative development, the new facility will support the growing entertainment and productions across MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, MSC said in a press release. Steve Leatham, VP of entertainment for MSC...

Ambassador Launches 2028-29 Season Earlier than Ever

Ambassador Cruise Line launched its 2028-29 season on March 12, 2026. According to a press release, this marks the earliest season launch since the Ambience’s inaugural sailing in 2022. There will be 35 sailings plus four Christmas Party dates aboard the Ambience and 39 itineraries aboard the Ambition. UK, Mediterranean, Nordics, Americas and Caribbean itineraries...

Marella Announces Pixie Lott and Lemar for 30th Birthday Sailings

Marella Cruises has announced more headline acts including British singer-songwriters Pixie Lott and Lemar for its 30th birthday sailings in May, the company announced. “We’re excited to announce even more headline acts with British stars such as Pixie Lott and Lemar for both new and returning cruise customers,” said Chris Hackney, chief executive officer at...

Hilton Introduces its new digital concierge: Hilton AI Planner

16 March 2026 at 20:50
Woman using laptop in a modern hotel room while planning a stay with Hilton AI PlannerHilton has announced its new Hilton AI Planner, a generative AI–powered digital concierge that helps travellers explore the company’s global portfolio of hotels and plan memorable stays with Hilton. The introduction of the Hilton AI Planner, now in beta testing at […]

Originating from Naples’ thin and chewy recipe, a trio of Connecticut pizze…

Originating from Naples’ thin and chewy recipe, a trio of Connecticut pizzerias have defined their own New Haven-style pie over the last century, known simply as 'apizza.'

© <p>Sven Rehder/Getty Images</p>

Check Out the Disney Cruise Line Commercial That’s Reducing People to Tears

16 March 2026 at 17:44

Forget who won the Oscar for Best Picture or which actors were left out of the annual In Memoriam section. The thing which unexpectedly had people talking all across social media was a Disney Cruise Line commercial.

Why Disney’s Ad Hit Home

Disney Cruise Line ad aired during the oscars. Via YouTube

Nobody plucks at the heartstrings better than Disney. But while we’re used to that where their movies and even in-park experiences are concerned, nobody expected for a simple ad to have that impact on the viewing audience at large. Yet the moment it began, people felt themselves bracing for what was to come.

Why? The instantly-recognizable “Married Life” theme from the soundtrack of the Disney animated feature Up. For those not in the know, that beloved film opened with a sequence in which we saw a couple meet as children, fall in love, experience everything life has to offer — both the good and the bad — before the wife passed away.

To call it heart-wrenching would be a massive understatement. So to hear the music which accompanied that gorgeous sequence play immediately clued viewers in to the fact that something special was about to unfold.

Late Nights With Dad

The ad starts with a beautiful shot of a Disney ship cutting through the waters late at night. A dad whose baby isn’t able to sleep takes the child for a late-night stroll around the slumbering cruise ship. Simple enough, right? Cute, but not overly emotional.

But we then follow this father and son over the course of several years, each time on the ship, each time taking a late night stroll. “Dad,” asks the boy late one night, “can we do the walk?” Even when his offspring hits the sullen teenage years — opting to chill in the room instead of hang with the family by the pool — he still joins pop for a late night sojourn.

Two adults and a child walk on the deck of a Disney Cruise Line ship at night under a partly cloudy sky with a visible moon. The adults hold the child's hands, lifting them as they walk, capturing the magic seen in any Disney Cruise Line Commercial.

But it’s the final shots which really get us in the feels. As a now much older dad is laying in bed late at night, there’s a knock at the door. It’s his fully-grown son, now a dad himself, saying he and his child can’t sleep. The toddler reaches out, uttering one simple word — “Grandpa” — before we see the trio walking hand-in-hand on a moonlit night.

Cue the tears.

Don’t believe us? Check out the ad for yourself above. But don’t say we didn’t warn you.

💾

Those precious moments that you will always cherish. At Disney Cruise Line, we cherish them too. Make the memories that never leave you, where magic meets th...

Ocean Ventures Advisory Eyes Asia Newbuilding Potential

Ocean Ventures Advisory has been formed to guide and consult on cruise ship building in Asia and is headed up by Trevor Young who most recently was vice president of newbuilding at MSC Group, overseeing the newbuild programs at MSC and Explora. Young said more cruise ship newbuilds in Asia are coming, and the industry...

Disney Cruise Line Celebrates Family Moments in New Campaign

Disney Cruise Line launched a new ad campaign named “Midnight Magic” on March 15. According to a press release, the ad, which debuted during the Academy Awards on ABC, shows how moments on a Disney vacation can become lifelong memories and family traditions. The video follows a father and son during a nighttime stroll on...

Mein Schiff Flow Completes First Sea Trials

TUI Cruises’ newest ship, Mein Schiff Flow, completed its first extensive sea trials, technical and nautical sea tests, in the Mediterranean in February. Testing included engine performance, propulsion and maneuverability, as well as the ship’s key technical systems, the company said in a statement, which was accompanied by a video. Additionally, stabilizers, anchoring systems and...

Polar Latitudes to Launch Fly-Cruise Expeditions to Antarctica

Polar Latitudes Expeditions is launching new Fly & Cruise voyages to Antarctica starting in the 2027-28 season. The sailings will be operated by the Ocean Nova starting in January 2028 and will include charter flights between Punta Arenas in Chile and King George Island in Antarctica. According to the company’s Director of Product Development, Steffan...

Five Cruise Lines Planning Cruises in Arabian Gulf For 2026-27

While AIDA and Costa Cruises recently cancelled their sailings in the region, five brands are still planning to sail in the Arabian Gulf in 2026-27. Cruise Industry News looks at the current plans for all the brands that announced itineraries for the Middle East region during the upcoming winter season. MSC MSC is set to...

The European Union Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Officials: What This Means for Georgia’s EU Integration

16 March 2026 at 08:29
The European Union Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Officials: What This Means for Georgia’s EU Integration

In a landmark decision, the European Union officially suspended visa-free travel for Georgian officials on March 6, 2026. The decision, which was made by the European Commission, follows mounting concerns about Georgia’s political landscape, including democratic backsliding and human rights …

The post The European Union Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Officials: What This Means for Georgia’s EU Integration appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

F1 cancels Grand Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to ongoing conflict in the region

15 March 2026 at 16:56
Bahrain International Circuit illuminated at night during a Formula 1 Grand Prix race weekend in Sakhir, BahrainThe Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekends in April have been cancelled as a result of the war in the Middle East. Formula 1 has concluded after “careful evaluations” that it is not safe to […]

Seabourn Takes Alaska Deeper with New Denali Land Package

Seabourn has presented an optional pre-cruise land journey designed to extend guests’ exploration of Alaska in 2027 and 2028 called “The Denali Experience.” Designed to complement seven-day Inside Passage voyages, the land package pairs sightseeing with inland encounters that reveal Alaska beyond the coastline, the company said in a press release. It is an eight-day,...

Etihad Joins Qatar, Emirates, flydubai, Air Arabia, and Other Airlines in Evacuating Trapped Travellers from the Middle East with the Most Repatriation Flights, as They Operate Over 6,600 Flights from the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to the US, UK, China, Canada, India, and Other Key Destinations

15 March 2026 at 17:10

P&O Changes Balance Due Date for New Bookings

P&O Cruises is changing the balance due date for new bookings for all cruises departing from December 1, 2026. According to a statement shared with travel agents, the company will now require guests to pay their balances 120 days before departure. The change is valid for bookings made after March 10, 2026, and does not...

Tauck’s Women-Only European Sailings Open for Booking

Tauck has opened for booking three women-only departures in Europe this year. Each will operate as what the company calls a Small Group journey (20 and 24 guests) led by a female director, with sailings to Ireland, Italy and Portugal. According to a press release, the journeys are designed to foster connection, cultural immersion and...

Fred. Olsen Brings Lifesaving Equipment to Liverpool Waterfront

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has sponsored the addition of a defibrillator at Liverpool’s Pier Head. The 24/7 public-access defibrillator was unveiled on March 12, with an essential CPR training session delivered to community stakeholders onboard the cruise line’s ship, the Bolette. The equipment has been funded in support of the Heart 2 Heart charity, helping...

AmaWaterways Rolls Out Extended European River Sailings

AmaWaterways has introduced a new City Escapes program, offering extended time in Europe’s cities along the Seine, Rhine and Danube rivers in 2026 and expanding further in 2027. According to a press release, these departures are intentionally scheduled during quieter travel periods to allow guests to experience each destination with fewer crowds and more time...
❌
❌