The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has named Tim Klauda as senior vice president, customer experience, effective March 30, 2026.   Working in a newly created role, he will lead the evolution of the guest experience across the fleet, reporting to Ernesto Fara, president and CEO.  According to a press release, Klauda brings more than two decades of leadership positions at the intersection of product, design and guest experience.  Most recently, he served as vice president of global products at McDonald’s, working at advancing crew experience...

MSC Cruises announced today that it is cancelling its planned 2026-27 season in the Middle East onboard the MSC World Europa. According to a press release, the decision is part of a revised deployment for 2026-27 that will strengthen its presence in the Caribbean. Replacing the MSC Seaview, the MSC World Europa will make its...

Carnival Cruise Line has donated more than 1,000 towels to children learning to swim in Vanuatu, the company said in a statement.  Since this island nation has the world’s fourth‑highest drowning rate, the cruise line is providing funding for swimming lessons through the guest-funded Pacific Partnerships program. “Carnival guests love visiting Vanuatu, and this towel donation is one way we can give back to...

Ambassador Cruise Line CEO Christian Verhounig has told trade partners the cruise line’s 2026 and 2027 programs are fully hedged and there are no plans to introduce fuel surcharges despite rising fuel costs. In a letter to trade partners dated March 30, Verhounig said the escalating crisis in the Middle East should end any illusion...

Celestyal has cancelled all April 2026 sailings due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.  The cruise line said in a press release that its ships are currently positioned in the Arabian Gulf – the Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, UAE, and the Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar – as they wait to reposition to Athens, Greece.  “Our priority remains the safety and confidence of...

All accommodations on Atlas Ocean Voyages vessels are being reclassified under a unified suite nomenclature starting April 2, 2026.  The reclassification ensures consistency across all accommodations, the cruise line said in a statement.  “At Atlas, this is not about changing a name, it’s about aligning our language with the experience we deliver every day,” said James A. Rodriguez, president and CEO of Atlas...

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 arrived in Singapore after completing a six-day voyage from Hong Kong and Vietnam during her 108-night World Voyage. Over 900 guests sailing her full World Voyage were invited to a Gala Event at the Roselle–Simpor Ballroom during her overnight stop in Singapore on March 27, the cruise line said in a...

Royal Caribbean International has revealed the first details of its fourth Icon-class ship: the Hero of the Seas. According to a press release, the ship will enter service in August 2027, offering cruises departing from Miami. Royal Caribbean said that the vessel combines “beach retreats, resort escapes and theme park thrills,” raising the bar with...

For over a decade, the Blue Whales Blue Skies program (BWBS) has been working to reduce ship strikes on whale populations along the California coast. Now, for the first time, cruise lines can be part of the solution. Founded in 2014 by the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, BWBS asks ships transiting California’s busy shipping lanes...

R Yacht Co. has selected the team for the maiden season for the Sefu, which is set to enter service in 2027. Born in Osaka, Katsuya Matsui will serve as Sefu’s first captain, bringing three decades of experience to the company. According to R Yacht Co., Matsui first joined the cruise industry in 1994, starting...

Aurora Expeditions has launched a new Arctic photography expedition for 2027 following demand for its sold-out Antarctica photography voyage, the company said in a press release. The Iceland & East Greenland: Through the Lens expedition departs July 31, 2027, aboard the Sylvia Earle for 11 days with fares from $14,956 per person in Australian dollars....

Cruise Industry News gathered the latest on 11 cruise ships that are currently out of service and facing a limbo status.  Blue Dream Melody Last Operator: Blue Dream Cruises Year Built: 2002 Capacity: 1,218 guests Tonnage: 42,200 Location: Beihai, China Originally built as the AIDAvita, the Blue Dream Melody has been laid up at the Chinese...

The Brilliant Lady recently completed its inaugural transit through the Panama Canal, marking the first time a Virgin Voyages vessel has sailed through the waterway. In a social media update, the Panama Canal Authority celebrated the milestone, noting that the transit was one of the highlights of its 2025-26 season. The authority also stated that...

AIDA Cruises has released its summer 2028 program, with over 450 cruises available on routes in Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean from April to October 2028. Northern Europe The AIDAluna will depart from Kiel on two-week voyages to the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe, and to the Lofoten Islands. A...

Riviera Travel has kicked off its 2026 river cruise season in which just under 200 departures are planned, the cruise line said in a statement. A new Radiance-class vessel, increased solo departures and enhancements designed to make the experience more accessible to North American travelers are set to mark the season. “After doubling our passenger...

The Valletta Cruise Port has presented a landmark retrospective publication to the Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, according to a press release. The new publication was created to celebrate over two decades of transformation at the Mediterranean port, which was described as one of the region’s most historically layered maritime gateways. According to the...

Construction of the new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal is facing significant delays, according to a report from 6 ABC Action News. According to the report, the new facility will not be ready for the company’s inaugural cruise, which is scheduled for April 16, 2026. The Norwegian Jewel is set to leave from the port then, marking...

The Port of Auckland launched the city’s new international cruise terminal on March 27, according to a statement. Set to open in early 2027, the Te Waharoa terminal is part of a wider $200 million investment by the Port of Auckland. A new big ship wharf at Bledisloe North will be developed as part of...

“Norwegian Cruise Line is definitely in the premium space, above contemporary,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president, aboard the new Norwegian Luna (pictured above, right) Kazlauskas along with Mark Kansley, chief experience officer, and Kiran Smith, chief marketing officer (pictured above, middle), cited the dining, entertainment and service aboard the fleet, including the Haven experience, speaking to...

Heritage Expeditions played a key role in supporting Professor Tim Flannery’s rediscovery of a marsupial previously thought to be extinct for 6,000 years, according to a company press release. Flannery, a mammalogist, conservationist and regular guest lecturer with Heritage Expeditions, rediscovered the Ring-tailed Glider, known as Tous ayamaruensis, after more than a decade of research....

Hurtigruten has appointed Ellie Webb to the newly created role of senior sales manager for UK and emerging markets at Hurtigruten. Webb is set to join the business in late June, reporting to the recently appointed sales director Matthew Stuart, the company said in a press release. Working with travel partners, Webb will focus on...

The Villa Vie Odyssey has been provisionally designated as the world’s first Global Flagship for Peace in collaboration with the UNESCO Center for Peace, the company said in a press release. The designation positions the residential cruise ship as a platform for global unity, cultural exchange and peace initiatives. “This represents more than a designation,...

Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that it will continue to honor all of its beverage packages in its private island destination of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. In statements sent to booked guests, the company announced that it will not implement a new policy requiring passengers to purchase an additional package to order alcoholic drinks...

Phoenix Reisen has announced a series of summer sailings aboard the Artania celebrating the German TV series starring the ship, Verrückt nach Meer (crazy about the sea), and special theme cruises. A Verrückt nach Meer cruise will kick off the summer season with many of the participating stars from the TV series onboard including Captain...

The Port of Dover’s 2026 cruise season is starting on April 1, with the Viking Vela visiting for the first of 115 cruise calls. Marking the 30th anniversary year of cruising in Dover, this season is expected to see a fifth consecutive year of growth, the port said in a press release. Around 200,000 cruise...

Mein Schiff is bringing dance and reading-themed cruises onboard Mein Schiff 2, 3 and 6 in 2026, TUI Cruises said in a statement. Dance Cruise Professional dancer Christian Polanc and other professionals and trainers will work with guests on Mein Schiff 6 sailing between Las Palmas and Cape Town in the fall of 2026. Polanc,...

Three cruise lines have now cancelled their planned seasons in the Arabian Gulf during the 2026-27 winter. With conflicts in the Middle East entering their fourth week, Explora Journeys became the latest cruise line to change plans for the region. Costa Along with AIDA, Costa Cruises was the first company to cancel its plans for...

The Disney Dream completed its 15th year of service for Disney Cruise Line earlier this year. As reported by Cruise Industry News, a handover ceremony from Meyer Werft was held on Dec. 10, 2010, marking the end of a two-year construction process. After crossing the Atlantic with no guests onboard, the 128,000-ton vessel was christened...

HX is offering up to 35 percent off select expeditions or a free suite upgrade on Antarctic voyages through its 130th anniversary sale. The promotion runs from March 24 through April 30, 2026, and applies to departures from April 20, 2026, through March 31, 2028, the company said in a statement. Antarctica voyages offer up...

Carnival Corporation’s focus on reducing fuel consumption is generating returns, with CEO Josh Weinstein disclosing on the company’s first quarter 2026 earnings call that efficiency gains are saving the company approximately $650 million this year alone when compared with 2019. “Whatever the price is, if we use less, we do better,” he said, adding the...

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) christened its newest ship, the Norwegian Luna, in Miami on Friday, marking the latest addition to the company’s Prima Plus Class fleet. The ceremony took place at NCL’s LEED Gold Certified terminal at PortMiami before more than 2,000 guests. Street artist ELLE, named the ship’s godmother, created the vessel’s hull artwork,...

Casablanca Cruise Port, operated by Global Ports Holding (GPH), has handled its first-ever triple ship call. The call brought together the Seven Seas Voyager, Azamara Journey and La Belle des Océans, the port said in a press release. The milestone was commemorated with plaque exchange ceremonies onboard, with Ouadii Bouchana, general manager of Casablanca Cruise...

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Luna, made its inaugural visit to PortMiami on March 23, 2026. Delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard earlier this month, the Prima-class vessel arrived in Florida to conclude its first trans-Atlantic crossing. The 13-night cruise started in Italy and also included visits to destinations in Spain and the United...

Carnival Corporation is seeing some small shifts around its European booking activity in the weeks since Middle East situation escalated, but CEO Josh Weinstein played down any impact, speaking on the company’s first quarter earnings call. On cruise cancellations, Weinstein was unequivocal: “We’re really not seeing anything significant to talk about with respect to cancellation...

Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein used the company’s first quarter 2026 earnings call to point out the case for fleet revitalization over newbuild growth: pointing to the AIDA Evolution program as proof of concept and said that a second Carnival Corporation brand will announce its own modernization initiative next month. Addressing analyst questions about fleet...

Holland America Line is partnering with Jefferson’s Bourbon to age whiskey at sea across its fleet, the cruise line said in a press release. Announced on International Whiskey Day, March 27, this marks the distillery’s first partnership with a cruise line for its Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon series, following 35 bottled voyages on cargo...

Transcend Cruises has signed an agreement with Den Breejen Shipyard for two additional new river ships, bringing its growing fleet to four vessels by 2028. The company said the agreement marks a significant expansion milestone as the company’s inaugural ship, Connect, nears completion and prepares to enter service this July as the first river cruise...

Carnival Corporation has announced financial results for the first quarter 2026 and provided an updated outlook. Diluted EPS of $0.19 and adjusted EPS of $0.20, up 50 percent compared to the prior year. Record revenues of $6.2 billion, gross margin yields up nearly 10 percent and record net yields (in constant currency), outperforming guidance on...

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today announced the appointment of what it called five highly qualified members to its Board of Directors and a cooperation agreement reached with Elliott Investment Management. Effective March 31, 2026, the following individuals will join the Board as independent directors: Alex Cruz, former Chairman and CEO of British Airways; Kevin A....

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that it has entered into an employment agreement and restricted share unit award agreement with John W. Chidsey, its new president and CEO. “His compensation structure is designed to immediately align his incentives with long-term shareholder value creation, with the majority of his long-term compensation delivered in performance-based equity,” the...

TUI River Cruises has announced the signing for two new 188-guest river ships at the TUI Aria’s Christening in Frankfurt. The company said the move signals its continued commitment to growing its river brand. The two vessels will grow TUI River Cruises’ fleet from six ships in 2026 to a program that expands the fleet...

The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) will be debuting a new breakout format for its Tuesday morning panel session next week during its annual trade show and conference being held at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. For the first time, the MHA is introducing a concurrent breakout session format, replacing the traditional single-track conference program with...

P&O Cruises is offering up to £800 onboard spending money on selected cruises departing Southampton between June 1, 2026, and November 29, 2027. The extra onboard spend is available for new P&O Cruises Select Price bookings made between March 24, 2026, and June 1, 2026, the company said in a statement. It applies to selected...

The Celebrity Equinox sailed from Santos earlier this week for a new edition of the “Dave Koz & Friends at Sea” theme cruise. Sailing in South America for the first time, the eight-night voyage departed from the Brazilian port on March 22, 2026. As part of the music cruise, the Celebrity vessel is set to...

Silversea has concluded its 2025-26 Antarctica season, welcoming guests on 38 voyages on its three expedition ships between October 5, 2025, and March 5, 2026. In a press release, the company said the Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offered 20 voyages crossing the Drake Passage and 18 Antarctica Fly-Cruise sailings this season. “Antarctica...