Beth Mercier has been appointed Aurora Expeditions’ vice president of sales, North America. In her new position, Mercier will lead the cruise line’s sales strategy across North America, focusing on growing distribution and strengthening partnerships with the trade, according to a press release. “Beth’s deep experience within the polar expedition sector, combined with her background across both advisor and...

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...

MedCruise is launching a study aimed at providing an understanding of the economic, social and environmental impact of cruise tourism. The “Cruise Economic Impact Assessment Study” is conducted in cooperation with Professor Thanos Pallis of the Department of Maritime Studies at the University of Piraeus, MedCruise said in a press release. It is envisaged as a roadmap to optimize the economic, social and environmental benefits of cruise tourism. “This study marks a turning...

All Transatlantic Crossings aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 are set to feature an expanded entertainment program in 2026, the company said in a press release. Guests sailing between New York and Southampton can expect what the company says will be its most extensive program ever, marking the fact that the cruise line was selected Headline Partner of the Olivier Awards. “For more than 185 years, Cunard’s iconic...

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...

The Adora Mediterranea has set sail from the Port of Xiamen, launching a six-day, five-night international cruise itinerary to Manila and Boracay in the Philippines. This is Adora’s third consecutive year of operation from Xiamen as its homeport as it continues to deepen its presence along China’s southeastern coast, the cruise line said in a statement. “Xiamen is a key...

Oceanwide Expeditions has completed conservation and survey work carried out in cooperation with the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) at two sites in the Antarctic Peninsula. These are Base Y on Horseshoe Island and Base E on Stonington Island, two former British research stations, preserved as historic monuments under the Antarctic Treaty. These sites that are managed by UKAHT are often destinations for managed expedition tourism, according to a...

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has partnered with Swiss technology company Kitro to trial AI-powered food waste monitoring devices onboard the Bolette. As food waste is said to be responsible for around 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the technology could play an important role in reducing emissions and supporting decarbonization in commercial operations. In a press release, the cruise line said...

“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,...

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...