Five cruise ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz, completing what became a two-day passage of five vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf since the onset of conflicts in the Middle East. MSC Cruises confirmed on Saturday that the MSC Euribia has departed Dubai, safely transited the strait and is now en route to Northern...

Atlas Ocean Voyages has presented the suite collection for the Atlas Adventurer, scheduled for launch in late 2028. Portuguese studio Oitoemponto designed the suites divided into three categories for the 400-guest luxury expedition sailing ship, according to a statement. The design is said to reflect the Art Deco spirit of 1930s cruise ships, featuring materials including polished marble, high-gloss mahogany and hand-finished metals. “Atlas Adventurer represents a pivotal step forward for our brand and for expedition travel,” said James...

MSC Cruises has confirmed that the MSC Euribia has departed Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to Northern Europe. The passage was completed in close coordination with the relevant authorities, the company said. The Euribia is on course to resume her Northern Europe season, and...

Global Ports Holding (GPH) showcased its North European cruise port network at a press conference held during a Miami Beach industry event. The portfolio encompasses ports in Scotland, Liverpool and Bremerhaven. In a press release, GPH explained that it continues to see a substantial cruise ship orderbook and growing demand across Northern Europe, which it says reinforces the long-term potential of the region. Greenock Cruise Port Greenock Cruise Port’s deep-water berth...

Silversea has unveiled its 125-day World Cruise 2029 onboard the Silver Whisper called “A Pacific Awakening.” Sailing from San Diego on January 5, 2029, the world cruise will explore more than 60 destinations in 19 countries, spanning Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Asia and New Zealand. In a press release, Silversea shared that the voyage will feature six signature events and one included overland experience. “The depth and variety of experiences around...

Commuting along the Norwegian coast is set to become more eco-friendly with the addition of new P-12 electric hydrofoil vessels. Norway’s Boreal has ordered 20 of these vessels from Sweden’s Candela Technology, the latter said in a press release, noting that this will mark the world’s largest electric fleet to date. “Candela P-12 is the...

Azamara Cruises has announced a new partnership with MJM Marine for the execution of the upcoming Azamara Forward enhancements aboard the Azamara Quest. The collaboration follows MJM Marine’s previous work on the refit of the Azamara Pursuit. “This partnership with MJM Marine reflects our commitment to thoughtfully evolving the Azamara Cruises experience while delivering the...

Lindblad Expeditions’ CEO, Natalya Leahy, has shared insights into what lies ahead for adventure travel and the transformative power of exploration. Leahy said that expedition cruising is entering a new phase of strategic maturity, and identified where the real growth is coming from, how portfolio mix is shifting, what “responsible expansion” now looks like, and...

The new Celebrity Xcel is soon completing its inaugural season in North America, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Delivered to Celebrity Cruises in late 2025, the vessel entered service in November, kicking off a series of weeklong cruises from Fort Lauderdale. Earlier this month, the ship embarked on its final sailing to the Western Caribbean,...

PeppaRose has expanded its presence in cruise retail with recent placements aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, according to a company press release. The brand has developed two new design collections, The Sorrento Collection and Le Jardin Bleu, for Mediterranean itineraries. “We continue to see strong engagement from guests when products reflect the...

EcoNavis Solutions is developing a next generation wind-assisted propulsion system designed to enhance the performance and commercial viability of Flettner-type rotor sails for deep-sea shipping, the company said in a press release. The company’s Eco Rotor Sail introduces a patented tail-appendage device designed to increase thrust, reduce power demand and widen the range of wind...

G Adventures’ new Expedition is celebrating 50 years of service, having been delivered to its original owners on December 30, 1975. Built as a cruise ferry in the former Yugoslavia, the ice-strengthened vessel first debuted as the Alla Tarasova for the Murmansk Shipping Company in the Soviet Union. As the third in a series of...

Survitec received a Technology Qualification Statement from DNV for Seahaven, its Advanced Evacuation System for passenger ships, the company said in a press release. The system is designed as an alternative to conventional lifeboats and can evacuate up to 1,060 passengers using two self-propelled inflatable survival craft deployed via vertical escape helical slides. “This Technology...

The Celestyal Discovery became the first cruise ship to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the conflicts in the Middle East. After being docked in Dubai, the Celestyal vessel departed the UAE port on the afternoon of Friday, April 17, 2026. According to AIS data, the 1,360-passenger ship transited the Strait of...

Four cruise operators with ships stranded in the Persian Gulf have brought them down to minimum crew manning and are expected to begin repositioning them to Europe following news that the Strait of Hormuz is open. Each operator is expected to employ a different strategy to move the ships out of the region with minimal...

Swan Hellenic has announced two Grand Voyages taking guests southward along the West Coast of Africa in fall 2026. The two Grand Voyages can be combined into a 26-day exploration from Dakar to Luanda, spanning 14 countries and 18 ports, the company said in a press release. Additionally, the West African program will grow to nine cruises across two seasons in 2027. There...

Global Ports Holding (GPH) announced the signing of a concession for Acapulco Cruise Port, highlighting a partnership with ASIPONA and their shared vision for the destination’s future. The partners said that they share a commitment to enhancing infrastructure, improving operational efficiency and delivering a high-quality passenger experience. On April 9, 2026, GPH signed a 24-year...

Telenor Maritime has announced the expansion of its partnership with edge-to-cloud network platform Quvia on AI-driven connectivity optimization. This builds on what Telenor says is a successful Proof of Concept (PoC) announced last year that delivered measurable improvements in network performance and passenger experience. Joint solutions between the two companies are already active on cruise vessels, and the collaboration is focused on strengthening the management and optimization...

Port Milwaukee will welcome the Viking Polaris as the first cruise ship to call on the city for the 2026 season on Thursday, April 23. “We are proud to kick off our record-breaking cruising season and welcome visitors from around the world to our city,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “Each arrival brings new energy...

The Mein Schiff 4 and 5 from TUI Cruises will sail out of the Persian Gulf when it’s appropriate said CEO Wybcke Meier. The ships have been stranded in the region since early March. Speaking with Cruise Industry News earlier this week, Meier said Mein Schiff 4 was in Abu Dhabi and Mein Schiff 5...

Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz completely open to commercial vessels for the remaining period of the current ceasefire, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced on X on Friday. The reopening comes more than six weeks after Iran heavily restricted passage through the waterway following the start of hostilities with the United States...

Dominica is expanding its port of call experiences for cruise passengers thanks to new shore excursions designed to provide a deeper connection to the island. According to a statement by Discover Dominica Authority, these experiences are tailored to be enriching and accessible, allowing visitors to make the most of their time in port. “Dominica continues to stand out in the Caribbean...

Zelim has announced that its AI-enabled ZOE man-overboard detection (MOB) system received official ISO certification from Lloyd’s Register. More specifically, the system received the ISO 21195:2020 standard, which sets out the minimum required performance for automatic MOB systems used on passenger ships. This follows extensive sea trials onboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition, the company said in a press release. “The 90-day testing window...

Norwegian Cruise Line has changed the departure port for the cruise that is set to take place onboard the Norwegian Dawn on August 2, 2026. The ship will now sail from Tarragona instead of Barcelona. According to a statement sent to booked guests, the decision was made due to changes in port availability. “As we...

Croisiere Marseille Provence has released figures for cruises in France for 2025, revealing that the year saw notable increases in terms of passenger numbers and calls. The insights were as follows: Total number of passengers: 6,284,121 +6.2 percent compared to 2024 The share of total passengers by region was 26 percent from overseas, 12.1 percent...

AmaWaterways has announced its most ambitious expansion to date, growing its global fleet to more than 50 ships by 2032, with 15 new ships in Europe and more than 60 percent capacity growth beyond the region, including new ships in Africa and Asia. This builds on a fleet of 31 ships currently in operation, with...

Ambassador Cruise Line has appointed James Doohan to the role of business development executive, North. Doohan joins from Althams Travel, where he worked as assistant manager for the last two years. Ambassador’s Deputy Head of Trade, Karen Cameron, said: “I am delighted to welcome Doohan to the Ambassador family, which will only benefit our trade...

Virgin Voyages and TikTok have partnered to launch the largest “Creator Voyage” to date: a full ship takeover bringing more than 1,000 creators and their guests onboard the Scarlet Lady for a three-night sailing from Miami to Bimini, April 19-22. Nathan Rosenberg, CMO at Virgin Voyages, said, “Creators are some of the most trusted media...

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced its return to Philadelphia with a season of voyages to Bermuda and Canada and New England aboard the Norwegian Jewel. According to a press release, this makes it the first cruise line in 15 years to sail from the city, which is said to be an ideal gateway for Mid‑Atlantic travelers. “Norwegian Cruise Line’s return to Philadelphia...

CTL Maritime, part of the MSC Group, and Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, a subsidiary company of Central Romana Corporation Ltd., have announced their joint venture to operate and re-develop Catalina Island beach destination, Dominican Republic, just off the coast of La Romana. The long-term 50/50 venture will see the companies collaborate to upgrade...

StarDream Cruises is reinforcing its commitment to talent development and industry-academia collaboration through an ongoing partnership with the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT). This collaboration aims to nurture future hospitality leaders and strengthen the cruise industry workforce capabilities in the local markets and across the region. “A strong homeport presence allows us...

Carnival Cruise Line informed guests that the Carnival Spirit is set to undergo further in-service repair work during its April 12, 2026, voyage. According to a statement issued by the company, the required maintenance led to changes in the ship’s itinerary, including a later than scheduled departure. As part of its repositioning voyage to Seattle,...

This week, the Port of Seattle is kicking off the 2026 Alaska cruise season, marking a milestone with 330 vessel calls and 2.1 million revenue passengers, the most in the port’ history. The season begins Friday, April 17 with the first in-transit arrival. In 2026, eleven homeport vessels will connect to shore power, with design...

ABS has signed a letter of intent with United Waterways (UW) to establish a joint venture (JV) with River Academy, UW’s training and education subsidiary. The aim of the JV is to provide crew training programs across the European inland barge, river cruise and coastal vessel sectors, ABS said in a press release. “River Academy has earned a strong reputation for developing the skilled crews that this industry depends on,...

Adora Cruises will take delivery of its new cruise ship, the Adora Flora City, ahead of schedule. Based on an agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard, the vessel will be delivered on November 6, 2026, the company said in a press release. The ship will then launch international routes from Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. Adora’s CEO Roger Chen said: “We are now fully focused on the early...

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) floated out the Norwegian Aura during a ceremony held on April 16 at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Now that the external hull construction is complete and the ship has touched water for the first time, work will continue on the ship’s interior development, according to a statement. Said to be the...

Oceania Cruises has shared new details of La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, its dining venue debuting aboard the Oceania Sonata next year. In a press release, Oceania described La Table as the most exclusive fine dining venue at sea, noting that it will offer an experience that embraces classic French techniques and innovative pairings to only 18 guests. “At Oceania Cruises, our dedication to cuisine is rooted...

Royal Caribbean has unveiled a new lineup of sailings on the Spectrum of the Seas for the 2027-28 season, which includes eight- to 10-night journeys from Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The company said in a press release that for the first time, guests can sail one way between cities, starting or ending their journey...

Royal Caribbean Group has launched the Royal Caribbean Group Foundation to advance change through global and regional partnerships and community-based solutions. In a press release, the company described the Foundation’s creation as a formal expansion of its commitment to strengthening ocean communities around the world. Its inaugural pledge supports the creation of the Emergency Medicine...

The Riverside Mahler will make her debut for Riverside Luxury Cruises in 2028, according to a press release. Joining her sister-ship, the Riverside Debussy, she is slated to sail itineraries on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube rivers. “This is the next chapter for Riverside. Introducing Riverside Mahler gives us the opportunity to take everything...

Princess Cruises has launched “POURS,” a signature beverage program that enhances the onboard guest experience through a curated selection of balanced, founder-led premium spirits, as well as zero-proof and nonalcoholic beverage offerings. Launching fleetwide this summer and replacing the former Love Line Collection, POURS beverages represent an evolution in both design and guest experience, the...

Colombia’s cruise industry is expanding, with cruise passenger arrivals increasing by more than 20% in the 2025–26 season. The industry generates approximately $50 million annually and plays a key role in local economies, according to a press release. One of the reasons for this expansion is thought to be the interconnection between biodiversity, culture, sustainability and community in the country. “Colombia offers a cruise portfolio as diverse as its...

The MSC Magnifica made its inaugural call at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on March 29, 2026, coinciding with the company’s 20th year of operations in the Chinese market. The call was marked by a plaque exchange between MSC Cruises executives and Shanghai port authorities. The ship’s call was featured on the 2026 World...

Atlas Ocean Voyages will open bookings for the maiden season of its new sailing yacht, the Atlas Adventurer, on May 20, 2026. According to the company’s president and CEO, James A. Rodriguez, reservations will open first for the members of the brand’s loyalty program, the Atlas Yacht Club. The general public will be able to...

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, delivered an address to the Jamaican diaspora community at the Embassy of Jamaica on April 8. In his statement, Bartlett unveiled that Jamaica welcomed over one million visitor arrivals and generated $956 million in foreign exchange earnings in the first quarter of 2026. This was just five months after...

Saga Cruises has announced that it will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027 with bespoke new itineraries for the Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure. The company said in a blog post that both sailings will be offered in May 2027 and will feature onboard events and entertainment to mark the anniversary of the...