VidantaWorld Voyages has announced the long-awaited debut of the Elegant, which the company described as an ultra-yacht designed for Mediterranean cruising. From April 11 through October 2, 2026 and returning May through September 2027, the vessel will offer seven-night Mediterranean itineraries spanning the French Riviera, Spanish Coast, Azores and Portugal, Greek Islands and Adriatic Sea,...

With a record number of cruise passengers expected globally in 2026, the industry’s chargeback fraud problem is scaling right alongside it. From friendly fraud disputes on bundled vacation packages to organized refund abuse targeting high-ticket bookings, cruise operators are uniquely exposed. And according to Tim Tynan, chief executive officer of Chargeback Gurus, most aren’t equipped...

MSC Cruises cancelled the first cruise of the European season for the MSC Euribia, which was scheduled to depart from Kiel, Germany, on May 2, 2026. Docked in Dubai since late February, the LNG-powered vessel was scheduled to offer a seven-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. According to a statement sent to booked guests, the...

Next year, Viking will introduce several new ocean and river itineraries, including winter season sailings in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Six ships will sail in the Mediterranean, while the Viking Libra will sail 20 days from Barcelona to Tromsø in Northern Norway via London (Tilbury) for a Northern Lights cruise which is repeated aboard...

MSC Cruises will send five ships to South America for the 2026-27 winter season, following the addition of the MSC Seaview to the region’s deployment. Initially set to offer itineraries in the Southern Caribbean, the 2018-built vessel is now set to offer cruises to Brazil and Argentina. The move is related to a broader redeployment...

Just over 20 percent of cruise passengers will go through a Global Ports Holding–operated (GPH) port this year as Chairman Mehmet Kutman continues his strategic expansion of the company. A deal to take GPH private in 2024 has only helped, giving Kutman the flexibility and speed he needs. Kutman said he was currently keeping an...

Carnival Cruise Line is adjusting the itinerary of two cruises from its 2027 Mediterranean season onboard the Carnival Miracle. According to a statement sent to guests, the Oct. 16 and Oct. 26, 2027, sailings will replace one of their ports of call in the Greek Islands. Instead of visiting Santorini, the ship will now sail...

Alaska Native village corporation Huna Totem Corporation and the City and Borough of Juneau have finalized a tidelands lease agreement for the Áak’w Landing project, clearing the way for final design and construction of a new cruise ship dock and waterfront destination in downtown Juneau, the company said in a press release. The lease agreement...

The Apollo Group has announced its new Maritime Services division, which the company called a strategic expansion beyond its hospitality business into full-service maritime solutions for the global cruise and shipping industries. The new division positions The Apollo Group as both an operator and advisor, offering end-to-end support across technical ship management, operations, consultancy and...

Avora Residences will offer a series of exclusive amenities to the members of its new Continuum membership program. Launched in partnership with Villa Vie Residences, the company is planning to offer an upscale residential product onboard the Lumina. Currently sailing as the Seven Seas Navigator, the vessel will offer new features, including jet skis and...

The Harmony of the Seas recently entered drydock for a major refurbishment as part of Royal Caribbean International’s Royal Amplified program. After arriving in Europe in late March, the Oasis-class vessel reached the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz on April 3, 2026. The 227,625-ton ship is now set to undergo a six-week drydock before welcoming guests...

The MSC Seashore recently kicked off a routine drydock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, the Bahamas. After pausing its operations in Port Canaveral in late March, the MSC Cruises vessel arrived at the facility on April 1, 2026. The 4,560-passenger ship is now expected to undergo maintenance and routine work before welcoming guests...

The former Zhao Shang Yi Dun, once celebrated as China’s first luxury cruise ship, has been officially renamed Viking Yi Dun, with the new name painted on at Shekou International Cruise Home Port on March 24, 2026. The vessel has also been reflagged to Norway, marking what appears to be a return to the Viking...

Windstar Cruises launched a new complimentary All-Inclusive offer designed to drive bookings across with a limited-time upgrade on voyages worldwide, the company said in a press release. Available on select sailings booked between April 1 and June 30, 2026 for travel through June 30, 2027, the promotion includes Wi-Fi, gratuities and select unlimited cocktails, wine...

Selectum Blu has 56 cruises on the books this year, sailing from Cesme from April to mid-October. The cruises are short, three and four nights, and allow Turkish guests to visit Greece without traditional visas. “Our ports of call are determined by a special agreement between Turkey and Greece, which facilitates the entry of Turkish...

Aon Affinity Travel Practice has extended its relationship with Virgin Voyages to administer its travel protection program, the company said in a press release. Under the program, branded Voyage Protection, Aon Affinity provides U.S.-based Virgin Voyages passengers with access to a suite of travel protection benefits. “Aon is proud to support Virgin Voyages and its...

The Norwegian Sun recently arrived at a shipyard in Singapore for a routine drydock. Concluding a winter season in Southeast Asia and the Far East, the 2,000-passenger ship arrived at the shipyard on April 2, 2026. The work scope is said to include regular upkeep and class work. Following its 11-day drydock, the Norwegian Sun...

Flynn Cruiseport Boston is set to start its 2026 season, welcoming 23 cruise brands and nine homeport vessels from April through November, including the largest ship ever to homeport in Boston, the Norwegian Breakaway, the Massachusetts Port Authority said in a press release. Massport is also installing a new passenger bridge to streamline the boarding...

When the Seabourn Pursuit arrived at Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernández Islands on April 4, it brought more than guests ashore, the company said in a press release. For local residents, the ship could now provide access to much needed medical care that had been unavailable to them for months. “Seabourn Pursuit...

Emerald Cruises announced the launch of the Emerald Kaia after a successful transit through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, the company said in a press release. The 128-guest vessel has now departed from Limassol, Cyprus, on its inaugural voyage. The launch follows successful river trials of the Emerald Astra, which is set to join...

Oceania Cruises announced plans for a refurbishment of the Oceania Marina, the company said in a press release. Scheduled to enter drydock in October 2026, the 1,250-guest vessel will undergo an extensive transformation as the first ship in the line’s OceaniaNEXT program. “At Oceania Cruises, raising the bar is not an initiative, it is our...

Poseidon Expeditions announced a series of enhancements for its 2026 season in the Arctic onboard the Sea Spirit. According to a press release, the company is introducing updates to its products designed to improve the guest experience onboard. Among the enhancements is the debut of a new inclusion package, which is being added in response...

Chinese officials have set a formal timeline to shift the majority of cruise ship subcontracting and key component needs to domestic suppliers, with a target of sourcing more than 80 percent of supporting equipment and systems from Chinese companies by 2035. The goal, outlined by Chen Gang, Chairman of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS)...

“Eastern Cruise is not just a company that operates ships; we are establishing an Asian-style cruise philosophy that combines regular sailings, efficient service and immersive cultural experiences,” said Kiro Kim, managing director of the South Korean cruise brand. He added that the company’s 2026 operating strategy is based on this long-term vision and its understanding...

Carnival Cruise Line is kicking off its second summer Fun-ternship Program, giving more than 100 high school students ages 17 and older hands-on experience in cruise terminal operations at six U.S. homeports. The program returns to Baltimore, Tampa, Jacksonville, Norfolk, New York City and Long Beach following a successful debut in summer 2025, the company...

Port Saint John will kick off its 2026 cruise season over two months ahead of schedule with the arrival of Virgin Voyages’ the Valiant Lady expected on April 8 at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal. “Our ability to embrace opportunities like this on short notice speaks to the strength of our port and tourism ecosystems,...

MariApps Marine Solutionsannounced it has acquired 100 percent ownership of Hyderabad-based software company EffiaSoft Private Limited. “The acquisition of EffiaSoft is a testament to our vision of building a comprehensive digital maritime ecosystem,” said Sankar Ragavan, chief executive officer of MariApps Marine Solutions. “Their expertise in creating high-performance software aligns perfectly with our goal of...

The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) announced dates for its 2026 culinary scholarship program at the Culinary Institute of America’s Singapore campus, running June 15 to 19. The announcement was made at the MHA’s 41th anniversary conference and trade show in Naples, Florida, which wrapped up earlier this week. “We’re excited to be offering this amazing...

To open the year, the Club Med 2 operated in the Caribbean, sailing from the Dominican Republic down to French Guiana throughout the winter season. It was then set to sail in the Mediterranean this summer. Among highlights is a 16-day cultural cruise around Italy, from Porto Venere to Venice, visiting 13 Italian ports of...

MSC Cruises became the fourth cruise line to cancel its planned winter season in the Middle East for 2026-27. Following similar announcements from Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Explora Journeys, the company revealed its decision in late March. As the largest ship in the region, the MSC World Europa was scheduled to offer cruises in...

The MSC World Europa will become the 9th ship from MSC Cruises sailing in the Caribbean during the 2026-27 season. Previously scheduled to operate a season in the Middle East, the 5,400-passenger ship will take over the itineraries that were originally announced for the MSC Seaview. Sailing from Martinique and Guadeloupe, the LNG-powered vessel will...

P&O Cruises has launched five new Britannia cruises for April 2027, the company said in a press release. The new program includes two short breaks, two seven-night itineraries and a 14-night Spain, France and Norwegian Fjords cruise. All sailings depart roundtrip from Southampton. “Releasing these additional Britannia sailings gives agents even more choice to meet...

TUI Cruises made significant reductions to the number of crew members onboard its two ships in the Middle East, according to a report by Crew Center. Unable to return to Europe for their planned summer seasons in the Mediterranean, the Mein Schiff 4 and the Mein Schiff 5 are presently stranded in Abu Dhabi and...

Marella Cruises has announced headline acts for its first musical theme cruise, Musical Med-leys, sailing in October 2026 aboard the Marella Voyager, the company said in a press release. The five-night cruise departs Corfu, Greece, on October 30, 2026, and calls at Palma, Cartagena and Malaga, Spain. “These musical headline acts mark an exciting chapter...

The Oceania Marina recently completed 15 years of service after entering service for Oceania Cruises in early 2011. As reported by Cruise Industry News, the vessel was christened during a special ceremony at PortMiami on February 5, 2011. Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart served as the vessel’s godmother during the event. Built at the Fincantieri...

Windstar Cruises has celebrated the 40th anniversary of its first ship, the Wind Star, which originally entered service in 1986. The 148-passenger ship is currently undergoing a modernization project in drydock at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz, Spain. Windstar marked the occasion with a celebration at the facility that included a photoshoot featuring the vessel’s...

Bodrum Cruise Port officially inaugurated its 2026 cruise season April 3 with the arrival of the Astoria Grande carrying 909 passengers and 445 crew members. The port is expected to host 119 cruise calls and welcome approximately 140,000 cruise passengers in 2026, according to the company. “Bodrum has reached a new milestone in its international...

“Over the next two years our focus is on refining and redistributing capacity rather than reinventing the network. Lakshadweep remains a core part of our offering and continues to be one of our most popular destinations,” said Jurgen Bailom, CEO at Cordelia Cruises, which goes from one ship this year to three by the end...

Emerald Cruises’ newest mega yacht, the Emerald Kaia, is ready to welcome guests for its maiden cruise on April 4, 2026. After being delivered by the Halong Shipyard in Vietnam earlier this year, the 128-passenger ship is set to kick off its inaugural season in Europe. For its first revenue cruise, the Kaia will sail...

The deployment of the SS United States as the world’s largest artificial reef has been pushed to early May 2026, according to a recent report by Fox10 News. The former ocean liner is currently being prepared for its final voyage, which will end with a controlled sinking operation on the coast of Florida’s Okaloosa County....

The Carnival Glory is currently offering an adults-only cruise to the Canary Islands and the Western Mediterranean. As part of Carnival Cruise Line’s SEA program, the 15-night itinerary departed from the Spanish port of Barcelona on March 25, 2026. Before returning to the port, the European sailing is set to visit other destinations in Spain,...

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....

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...