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...

TUI Cruises cancelled upcoming sailings in Europe onboard the Mein Schiff 5 due to the current conflicts in the Middle East. With the ship still stuck in the Arabian Gulf, two planned cruises in the Mediterranean will no longer go ahead. According to a statement issued by the company on Thursday, the April 17 and...

Oceania Cruises is changing the itinerary of its current world cruise to avoid sailing through the Middle East and the Red Sea. Having departed from PortMiami earlier this year, the 180-night voyage is taking place onboard the Oceania Vista. The cruise itinerary was initially scheduled to return to Florida via the Suez Canal, the Middle...

The fitness and spa areas on the MSC Poesia are getting an update tailored to its inaugural Alaska season, MSC Cruises said in a press release.  The refurbishments happening while the ship is in drydock in Malta include a newly designed MSC Aurea Spa and an expanded MSC Gym by Technogym.  “We have taken a thoughtful approach to enhancing MSC Poesia, ensuring the onboard experience matches...

Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador has announced the province’s 2026 cruise schedule, spanning 197 days from April to October. According to a press release, more than 180 cruise ships will call at nearly 30 ports and destinations throughout the province, welcoming over 100,000 passengers and more than 50,000 crew members. The Viking Polaris will open the...

MXP has launched an AI-powered tour audio guide that transmits tour guide voices directly to guests’ smartphones, eliminating the need for rented audio hardware, the company said in a press release. The solution includes real-time AI translation allowing guests to experience tours in their preferred language. Guests do not require mobile internet and do not...

Oceanwide Expeditions has released additional details on two eco-sail expedition vessels, including renderings and confirmation of a 2029 launch for the first ship. The company signed a letter of intent for the construction and delivery of the two vessels, according to a press release. Both will have capacity for 146 passengers and feature hybrid sail...

Dream Cruises has announced various onboard events and experiences in celebration of its 10th anniversary this year. New acts will be launched as part of this, including K-pop group KIIRAS, Amotti from Physical: 100 and Chef Tommie Lee (aka French Papa) from Culinary Class Wars Season 2. Furthermore, Forever Broadway, which is a collaboration with...

The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) is hosting its 41st annual trade show and conference in Naples, Florida, from March 29 to March 31, bringing together food and beverage and hotel suppliers and industry executives over three days at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Purchasing and procurement executives from all the major cruise companies, including Carnival,...

Holland America Line has unveiled its Spring Sale, offering lower fees for bookings made between March 24 and 31, 2026. The deal is applicable to April and May 2026 cruises to Alaska (plus cruisetours), Europe (both Northern Europe and the Mediterranean) and Canada and New England. It includes up to $200 onboard credit per stateroom...

Variety Cruises is celebrating the start of the European summer cruise season with the addition of a new itinerary, the company announced in a press release. The seven-night cruise will explore the Greek Islands and Turkey, a country that hasn’t been visited by the company’s ships since 2016. Sailing roundtrip from Athens aboard the Panorama,...

Cruise Industry News looks into some of the key drydock projects that are taking place in March. Azamara Journey Cruise Line: Azamara Capacity: 718 guests Tonnage: 30,200 Year built: 2000 Drydock Period: Mar. 1 to Mar. 9, 2026 Shipyard: Cernaval (Algeciras, Spain) The Azamara Journey underwent a quick drydock at a shipyard at the port...

Celestyal Cruises cancelled three additional cruises that were set to take place in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean in early April. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, two sailings onboard the Celestyal Journey and one onboard the Celestyal Discovery will no longer go ahead. The vessels are currently docked in the Middle East, waiting...

Watermark Group has reopened its maritime simulator training center in Hampshire, bringing the facility back into active use for the cruise and shipping industries, the company said in a press release. The center is equipped with Wärtsilä’s high-fidelity simulator technology and includes two full bridge simulators, an engine control room simulator, high-voltage training capability, a...

Azamara Cruises is launching a global contest to find inspiration for the names of new suites aboard the Azamara Quest, the company said in a statement. As part of “A Suite Story” contest, guests, crew members, travel advisors and employees are invited to submit the name of a meaningful city that formed part of their...

Swan Hellenic has announced its 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Antarctic seasons following a record 2025-2026 season that saw 53 percent growth in guest numbers and 66 percent increase in net revenue, the company said in a press release. “We are thrilled with the outstanding results achieved this season and the positive trend for the year ahead,”...

Seabourn has opened bookings for its 2027-2029 ocean voyages for sale. Spanning four continents, the new collection features voyages ranging from seven to 40 days, with extended time in port and new destinations, paired with special anniversary programming for Seabourn’s 40th anniversary. According to a press release, the 2027–2029 season will include 118 departures to...

BC Ferries has ordered man-overboard detection systems from Zelim for four hybrid-electric ferries scheduled to enter service in 2029, according to a press release. The contract was signed in February 2026, with installation expected to begin in 2027. Zelim’s ZOE man-overboard detection system uses computer vision and video analytics to deliver 360-degree surveillance for vessel...

MSC Cruises has revealed new details on two districts onboard its newest ship, the MSC World Asia, in a statement. One of the districts, the Harbour, will be revamped and continue to serve as an outdoor park for families. The other, the AquaDeck district, is getting a new design for its outdoor Manila Bay pool...

Explora Journeys today confirmed the Explora II will now be sailing in the Mediterranean from November 2026 to March 2027. The ship had previously been scheduled to sail in the Middle East. The company said: “This decision has been taken well in advance, following careful consideration and reflecting Explora Journeys’ commitment to providing guests and...

TUI Cruises cancelled an additional sailing due to the conflicts in the Middle East, according to a statement shared by the company. With its vessels still stuck in the Arabian Gulf, the company is now cancelling a repositioning voyage that was set to take place onboard the Mein Schiff 4 starting on April 11, 2026....

Bohai Ferry Group has decided to publicly list the Chinese Taishan for sale for the second time, with an asking price of $23 million. The decision was said to be approved at the company’s board meeting on March 9. The 832-guest ship holds the distinction of being China’s first independently operated and managed cruise ship...

Celestyal Cruises has cancelled an additional cruise in the Aegean Sea due to the ongoing situation in the Arabian Gulf. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the sailing that was set to take place onboard the Celestyal Discovery on April 3, 2026, will no longer go ahead. Celestyal said that the cancellation was necessary...

The AIDAdiva has recently returned to the port of Hamburg in Germany following AIDA’s 2025-26 world cruise. After undergoing a major refurbishment as part of AIDA’s Evolution refit program, the vessel embarked on the voyage in early November 2025. The AIDAdiva then visited 53 destinations in 27 countries before arriving back at its homeport on...

Oceanwide Expeditions has entered into what it said was an exclusive contract finalization with a shipyard for two eco-sail expedition newbuilds, with a letter of intent signed and financing secured. The company will begin commercializing the vessels in 2027. The ships will be 146 guests each. “Sailing has been part of OEX’s (Oceanwide) DNA from...

United Waterways is partnering with JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs to develop young talent and create dishes inspired by European river regions. The partnership will see emerging culinary professionals onboard United vessels connect with JRE chefs, the company said in a statement, bringing together JRE’s network of over 400 restaurants with United’s fleet of over 120 vessels. “The...

Customers staying in Royal Suites, Voyager Suites and Executive Suites across Marella Cruises’ fleet are getting an enhanced experience starting this summer. As part of the “Suite Service Max,” the cruise line is offering guests staying in these suites a collection of in-suite benefits meant to elevate their comfort, the company said in a press...

Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Line is looking for performers to join the live entertainment lineup aboard its upcoming vessel, the Beachcomber. In a statement, the company invited singer-songwriters, solo artists, duos, trios and bands to submit their audition materials to get a chance to join the Same Boat, a live music venue created in partnership...

Princess Cruises has announced its South America season aboard the Majestic Princess sailing from October 2027 through January 2028. The program features overnight experiences in the Antarctic Peninsula and access to 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the region. According to a press release, it will include overnight stays in Buenos Aires on every sailing,...

Carnival Corporation has announced a three‑year grant to Conservation International aiming to restore mangrove forests in the Caribbean. These coastal forests buffer shorelines from storms, absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and sustain marine life and local livelihoods in the Caribbean, the company said in a press release. Funding will come from programs like Holland America...

Six cruise ships remain stuck in the Arabian Gulf after their operations in the region were halted in late February. With the Strait of Hormuz virtually closed to international maritime traffic, the vessels are unable to leave the area and start repositioning voyages to other parts of the world. MSC Euribia Cruise Line: MSC Cruises...

Adora Cruises has announced the appointment of Captain Wei Zhiyi as the new master of Adora Magic City. This marks the first time a Chinese national has taken command of the vessel since its entry into service. Captain Zhiyi officially assumed command of the 135,500-ton Adora Magic City on March 17, bringing more than 20...

The Celebrity Solstice recently kicked off a spring season in the Pacific after undergoing a major upgrade project at a shipyard in Singapore. As part of a $250-million refit program that will see other Solstice-class vessels being modernized, the 2008-built ship welcomed guests back on March 2, 2026. Sailing from Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Center,...