Holland America Line hosted a week-long immersive tea programming during the Volendam’s Grand World Voyage in Asia from March 24–30. As part of the cruise line’s Culinary Ambassador program, Master Tea Blender Steve Schwartz, founder of Art of Tea, hosted various tea-themed experiences for guests. The experiences were designed to deepen guests’ appreciation for tea...

Century Cruises has announced what it describes as exciting news and ambitious expansion plans that are set to be unveiled later in April. Announcing the news in a statement, the company also said that its Miami office is fully operational, enabling it to become a “true player” in the global cruise family. Sales have also...

Celebration Key has become the first cruise destination to earn KultureCity’s sensory inclusion certification, Carnival Cruise Line said in a press release. More than 400 team members at the cruise line’s destination in Grand Bahama are now trained to help guests with sensory needs navigate the vacation environment. “This milestone demonstrates Carnival’s dedication to making vacations accessible and enjoyable for all, including families with sensory processing needs. By...

Tauck has christened its new riverboats, the Lumière and the Serene, in two separate ceremonies, the company said in a press release. The ceremony for the Lumière was held in Lyon on March 27, with around 50 guests, including Tauck leaders, travel advisors, supplier partners and members of the media, in attendance. “Our past river...

Carnival Cruise Line is removing visits to Tracy Arm Fjord from its itineraries during the upcoming summer season in Alaska. According to a statement sent to booked guests, the change affects sailings scheduled for the Carnival Miracle, the Carnival Luminosa and the Carnival Spirit. “We have been closely monitoring geological conditions in Tracy Arm Fjord....

Viking’s newest ships for the Nile, the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet, have touched water for the first time, the company said in a press release. Following the float out ceremonies at Massara shipyard in Cairo, the ships will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. The Viking Ptah is set to...

StarCruises has introduced three-night roundtrip cruises to Kaohsiung and Penghu departing from Hong Kong aboard the Star Voyager, according to a press release. The new sailings replace previous three-night Sanya itineraries and depart April 12, April 19 and May 10, 2026. The itinerary includes calls at Kaohsiung and Penghu Island. “These specially curated sailings are...

“Asuka Cruise offers a refined, enriching experience through its two ships, the Asuka II and Asuka III, each providing guests with a distinct concept,” said Kenji Atsuta, managing corporate officer at NYK Cruises, parent company to Asuka. “Together, they present Japanese hospitality and cultural appeal within the elegant setting of Japanese-flagged vessels.” In 2026, the...

Royal Caribbean International confirmed that the Freedom of the Seas will replace the Mariner of the Seas for the 2027 season out of Southampton. As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Freedom was expected to serve the British market after having its deployment for the timeframe cancelled. Originally set to offer itineraries from Miami...

Celestyal Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer Chris Theophilides said that the company’s ships will sail from the Middle East “as soon as it is safe to do so.” In a statement shared on social media, he added that the line remains firmly focused on resuming service in Greece. “Over the past few weeks, we have continued...

The newest Super Ship in Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ fleet, the S.S. Emilie, sailed its inaugural voyage March 21–30. Guests on the inaugural voyage experienced the 10-day “Tulips & Windmills” itinerary through the Netherlands and Belgium with stops in cities such as Amsterdam and Antwerp, the cruise line said in a press release. Highlights included strolling through the tulip fields of Keukenhof Gardens, sailing...

Oceania Cruises is launching a multi-year training program for its onboard chefs in partnership with The Butter Book digital training platform. Called the Floating Pastry Academy, the education program is said to be the first of its kind for the cruise industry. According to a press release, more than 200 Oceania pastry and bakery chefs will complete this three-year program combining theory with practical assessments online and in person onboard the vessels....

Cruise lines will spend roughly $80 billion on new cruise ships over the next decade, according to the latest update of Cruise Industry News’ global cruise ship orderbook. Following recent orders, 79 newbuilds are set to be delivered by 2037, adding nearly 205,000 berths to the market. The new vessels have an average size of...

The Ovation of the Seas recently entered drydock in Singapore to undergo a major refurbishment as part of Royal Caribbean International’s Royal Amplified program. During the month-long refit, the 2016-built ship will see the addition of new features and updated public rooms, as well as extra cabins and refreshed areas. Among the main changes coming...

Carnival Cruise Line cancelled a sailing onboard the Carnival Splendor that was set to take place on October 12, 2027. According to a statement sent to booked guests, the cruise is no longer going ahead due to a full-ship charter. Sailing roundtrip from Sydney, the 3,000-passenger ship was set to offer a ten-night Carnival Journeys...

Oriental Land Co. recently established a new subsidiary to manage its cruise business in Japan, which will be launched in partnership with Disney Cruise Line. The Japan-based entertainment company is currently building a Wish-class vessel at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. According to a press release, Oriental Land Cruise Co. was announced during a...

Seabourn will celebrate its “Ruby Jubilee” in 2028, marking 40 years of sailing, the company said in a press release. The cruise line’s 2028 season will therefore feature events commemorating four decades since its story started in 1988 with The Yachts of Seabourn. Alongside sailings featuring onboard programming inspired by the anniversary, a series of...

Heineken has added new brands to its cruise portfolio to elevate onboard relevance and choice for guests. Brands have been selected to match itineraries and passenger profiles, according to a press release. The destination-driven portfolio approach built around regional relevance and local heritage is expected to enable cruise lines to offer more personalized beverage experiences...

With the Strait of Hormuz still deemed unsafe for international maritime traffic, six cruise ships have been stuck in the Arabian Gulf since late February. With itineraries planned in Europe and the Red Sea and uncertain dates for repositioning voyages, the vessels are expected to resume service in early May should they be able to...

The Azamara Onward is scheduled to enter a two-week drydock in early November 2027. The refurbishment forms part of Azamara Forward, said to be the brand’s most extensive fleetwide renovation program to date. The ship is getting onboard upgrades designed to elevate the guest experience, Azamara said in a statement. This includes a transformation of onboard nightlife venues, a newly dedicated Chef’s Table experience, a reimagined...

The Royal Caribbean Group and Bank of America today announced the launch of Royal ONE Visa Signature and Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature credit cards. According to a press release, the new tri-branded cards will simplify how travelers earn and redeem rewards across the company’s brands: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea. The company said...

On March 29, the Adora Magic City set sail from Shanghai on a five-day, four-night themed cruise to Jeju Island and Busan, South Korea. This is the inaugural voyage of the “Sea Film Festival” themed sailing season set to run on all three Adora ships until late June this year. Actors Hou Yong and Liu...

Windstar Cruises recently cancelled a trans-Atlantic crossing that was set to take place onboard the Wind Surf starting on December 5, 2026. In a statement sent to booked guests, the company explained that the cancellation was necessary due to an extension of the vessel’s scheduled drydock. Windstar noted that the refit was enlarged to accommodate...

The Costa Favolosa recently sailed from the port of Buenos Aires in Argentina for a repositioning voyage to Europe. Wrapping up a four-month season in South America, the Costa Cruises vessel is now offering a trans-Atlantic crossing that will sail to the company’s Palacrociere Cruise Terminal in Savona. The 19-night itinerary sails to Uruguay, Brazil,...

The Koningsdam is back in service after undergoing a two-week drydock in the Bahamas, Holland America Line announced in a press release. According to the company, the vessel now offers new accommodations for families and friends, as well as refreshed entertainment and retail spaces. The Pinnacle-class ship welcomed guests back on March 29, 2026, kicking...

Nicko Cruises is hosting ship tours of the Vasco da Gama on four dates in Hamburg and Kiel between May and October 2026 for travel agents. The tours provide travel agents with insights into the ship’s amenities, service and atmosphere to support customer consultations, the company said in a statement. The Vasco da Gama carries...

Norwegian Cruise Line is making changes to its “Happy Birthday” onboard package, which previously included a six-inch cake. According to a statement sent to guests, the celebratory package, which also offers cabin decorations, will now include other perks. “This package has been refreshed as part of our continued effort to elevate the way we celebrate...

Royal Caribbean International presented the Chief Dog Officer for its upcoming Icon-class ship, the Legend of the Seas. According to a social media update shared by the company’s President and CEO Michael Bayley, Skipper will continue a tradition that started with the Icon of the Seas. The 2023-built vessel was the first to introduce the...

The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) opened its 41st annual conference and trade show Sunday, March 29, in Naples, Florida, bringing together cruise line purchasing executives with food and beverage and hotel supply vendors and industry leaders for three days at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. The event kicked off Sunday evening with an opening reception...

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...