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Marella Launches Second Country Rhythms Themed Cruise

Marella Cruises has announced the return of its adult-only country music-themed cruise, “Country Rhythms,” aboard the Marella Explorer in November 2027. Chris Hackney, CEO at Marella Cruises, said:  “Following strong demand for our first Country Rhythms themed cruise in February 2026 and successful booking results in its first year, we’re excited to bring it back...

Noordam on Holland America’s 28-Night Cruise to Alaska

The Noordam sailed from Seattle earlier this month to kick off Holland America Line’s 28-night Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice Voyage. As one of the company’s longest cruises in the region, the monthlong itinerary includes visits to a wide range of destinations across Alaska and British Columbia. After departing from its homeport in Washington, the...

CroisiEurope Launches November Cruise Escapes Collection

CroisiEurope has announced the launch of its new November Cruise Escapes collection, which is designed for the quieter travel season. The company said that these sailings offer travelers the opportunity to explore iconic destinations in a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. “November offers a completely different way to travel,” said CroisiEurope’s E-commerce, Sales and Marketing...

Tauck Launches More Women’s Only Departures in 2027

Tauck has announced the opening of additional bookings for 2027 Women’s Only Departures, expanding from three itineraries to seven and extending the collection beyond Europe to include North America for the first time. All 2027 Women’s Only Departures are now open for booking. The expanded collection spans Italy, France, Portugal, Scandinavia, England and Canada, with...

Holland America’s Volendam Kicks Off Season in Canada and New England

Holland America Line’s Volendam recently arrived in Montreal to kick off its summer season in Canada and New England. Concluding a repositioning voyage that started in Fort Lauderdale, the 1999-built ship arrived at the Canadian port in late May. The Volendam is now offering seven- to 12-night cruises to a wide range of destinations in...

Chef Johann Lafer to Feature on Nicko Cruises Fleet in 2027

Nicko Cruises has announced that Star Chef Johann Lafer, an official culinary ambassador of the company, will come onboard three river ships sailing the Danube in May 2027. As part of the exclusive “ship-hopping” concept, the celebrity chef will provide a culinary barbecue highlights on the Viktoria, Bolero and Celina, with a menu specially developed...

HX Greenland Booking Reassurance Extended to 2027 Sailings

HX Expeditions is extending its HX Greenland Promise to cover all sailings to the region in 2027.  Originally launched in January, the deal now applies to all Greenland sailings in 2026 and 2027, giving guests and trade partners greater confidence when planning travel, the cruise line said in a press release.  It allows guests to transfer to another HX voyage, receive an additional 20 percent Future...

Atlas Makes Appointments in Commercial and Sales Teams

Atlas Ocean Voyages has expanded its commercial team with the recent appointments of three veteran cruise industry professionals whose expertise will support the company’s continued growth, trade partner engagement and luxury market positioning. Joining the organization are Rod Gadala as vice president of revenue management, Nicole Aguirre as regional sales director, South-Central U.S. and Dorothea...

Lloyd Werft Picked to Build Mercedes-Maybach’s Superyacht

Mercedes-Maybach has selected the Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven shipyard to build its 72-guest Beyond Horizons superyacht, the centerpiece of its Maybach Ocean Club concept. The concept is conceived as an invitation-only private members’ club centered around a superyacht, which is planned to be delivered in 2030. A preliminary agreement for this next phase of the project...

Velarca Unveils 32-Guest Expedition Vessel Concept

Velarca, an Isola Corvus company, launched the Velarca Explorer, a 32-guest, 100-meter-long luxury expedition newbuild concept developed in response to a shifting expedition market, on June 19, 2026. The company said that the expedition market is being shaped by tighter environmental expectations, evolving guest behavior and increasing demand for quieter, less congested forms of exploration....

Explora Journeys Details Shore Experiences for Inaugural Alaska Season

Explora Journeys has unveiled the destination experiences that will be available during its inaugural summer 2027 Alaska season.  Fourteen departures are scheduled from May to September 2027 for the brand’s first season in the region.  Operating the itineraries will be the Explora III, which recently completed sea trials in the Mediterranean, ahead of her July 24 launch.  “Marking an exciting new chapter in our destination portfolio, the inaugural Alaskan...

Alexandria Port Authority Welcomes Calls from Aroya and Regent

The Alexandria Port Authority celebrated calls of two cruise ships in early June: the Aroya and the Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. Officials were onsite to welcome both vessels, with representatives from the Alexandria Port Authority and other governmental entities, including the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Tourism Authority. Following a...

Holland America’s Rotterdam to Sail Inaugural Med Season in Fall 2027

Holland America Line’s has announced that the Rotterdam will sail its first season in the Mediterranean in fall 2027. There will be five new itineraries, spanning the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, the cruise line said in a statement. The 10- and 11-day voyages will call at destinations such as Lisbon, Naples, Kotor, Rhodes and Alexandria,...

Viking Yidun on First Mandarin-Language Transcontinental Voyage

Viking’s the Yidun departed Shanghai on June 5 on a 60-day sold-out repositioning voyage to Barcelona, marking the line’s first Mandarin-language transcontinental itinerary, according to a statement. The ship reached her first stop in the voyage which was Hong Kong followed by Singapore on June 12 (pictured). The ship last visited Singapore in January this...

Atlas Ocean’s Atlas Adventurer in Tank Testing Phase

Mystic Cruises’ Atlas Adventurer is in the tank testing phase ahead of its construction at the China Merchants shipyard in China. According to an update shared by CEO Mário Ferreira, a scale model of the vessel’s hull was built to study its hydrodynamics. The testing is aimed at identifying potential areas for enhancements and improvements,...

Australis Sees Global Demand Growth as Passenger Demographics Shift

As Australis rounded out its 35th anniversary season in Patagonia, the Chilean expedition cruise line is seeing strong passenger demand, a recovering European market, and a broadening demographic, according to the 2026 Expedition Market Report by Cruise Industry News. Felipe Castro, who oversees North American sales for the brand, said that sourcing is strong globally,...

Margaritaville at Sea Lines Up 3 Original Shows for Beachcomber

Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Line is adding three original production shows to the entertainment offering aboard its upcoming ship, the Beachcomber.  Designed exclusively for the ship launching in January 2027, the shows will run multiple times per sailing, the cruise line said in a statement.  “Live music and original entertainment have always been central to the Margaritaville at Sea experience and are one of the ways...

Carnival Introduces Bulleit Bourbon for America’s 250th Anniversary

Carnival Cruise Line, Starboard and Diageo have partnered to introduce a limited-edition Bulleit Bourbon as part of their celebration of America’s 250th anniversary this year. The single-barrel bourbon will be available exclusively in retail stores on 14 Carnival ships this summer. This collaboration complements Carnival’s planned A250 summer celebrations honoring America’s 250th anniversary from sea...

Hapag-Lloyd Bringing Back ‘Gatsby Nights at Sea’ Cruise in 2027

The “Gatsby Nights at sea” short cruise along the Cote d’Azur is returning to Hapag-Llyod’s Europa. Following what the cruise line said was a successful 2026 launch and enthusiastic guest feedback, the short cruise “Savoir vivre on the Cote d’Azur – with Gatsby Nights at sea” will be back May 27–31, 2027. “Our guests’ response...

Manhattan Cruise Terminal Community Fund Looking for Administrator

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is looking for fund administrators to manage the Manhattan Cruise Terminal Community Fund (MCTCF).  As stated in a press release, the MCTCF is financed through a $1 per passenger fee collected from cruise lines operating at the terminal.   NYCEDC expects total funds for MCTCF to reach around $2 million by the end of 2026, with...

Hurtigruten’s Vesteralen Relaunches with New Concept

Hurtigruten has relaunched the Vesteralen with a unique onboard concept inspired by the company’s 133-year history sailing the Norwegian coast, bringing this heritage to life throughout the guest experience. The ship now features historic details, coastal artwork, classic design references and tributes to ships and crew that have shaped Hurtigruten’s legacy. Menus take inspiration from...

Ponant Explorations Opens 2028 Arctic Season for Booking

Ponant Explorations has unveiled its 2028 Arctic season, which is now open for booking. Sailing from May to October 2028, the season will feature more than 35 departures operated by four ships. The itineraries will be accompanied by polar activities including guided excursions, hiking, polar plunging, kayaking and more, as well as wildlife sightings, Ponant...

Adora Schedules Three Additional Cruises Without Port Calls for December

Adora Cruises announced that it will operate three additional departures in December 2026 aboard the Adora Magic City that do not call at any overseas port. The new sailings follow the news of pricing strength for cruises to nowhere in China. The sailings are scheduled for December 11, 18, and 25, each departing Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal...

Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas Returns to Europe After 5 Years

The Harmony of the Seas returned to Europe in late May, kicking off a season in the Western Mediterranean following a five-year hiatus. As part of Royal Caribbean International’s summer deployment in the region, the Oasis-class vessel is scheduled to offer a series of seven-night cruises to Spain, Italy and France. Passengers can board the...

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Adopts Versonix Seaware Platform

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has licensed Versonix Seaware, a reservation and voyage management platform. “We are honored to partner with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a brand that has set the standard for luxury hospitality worldwide,” said Yuri Polissky, COO of Versonix. “Luxury is defined by exceptional experiences delivered with effortless precision, and Seaware was built...

SH Minerva Receives DCA ESG Certification

Swan Hellenic’s Minerva has earned the DCA ESG Certification from Dream&Charme, an internationally accredited certification body specializing in hospitality. The audit was conducted onboard by Giorgio Caire di Lauzet, CEO of Dream&Charme. The certification recognizes the company’s and the vessel’s dedication to environmental, social and governance excellence. The audit took place during the Hiroshima-to-Otaru cruise...

Century Star Delivered to Century Cruises

Century Cruises and United Waterways have confirmed the delivery of the river cruise vessel, the Century Star, from Dutch shipbuilder Concordia Damen. The newbuild is designed specifically for European waterways and underscores a strategic partnership that combines Century Cruises’ customer base and brand recognition with United Waterways’ European operating platform and infrastructure. United Waterways said...

Legend of the Seas to Feature Work by Emerging Artists

Royal Caribbean unveiled six artists whose work will be featured on its upcoming ship, the Legend of the Seas, debuting in Europe in July 2026.  Emerging artists from across the Caribbean and Central America will debut original, destination-inspired artwork throughout the ship, as part of the cruise line’s Artist Discovery Program.  “Since its introduction on Icon of the Seas, the Artist Discovery Program has continued to...

Aman at Sea Eyeing Madeira for 2028 Itineraries

Aman at Sea is looking into adding Madeira in its itineraries, Administration of the Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (APRAM) said in a press release.  The potential collaboration was discussed during the 68th MedCruise General Assembly, taking place June 9-12 in Palermo, Italy  “One new cruise line, Aman at Sea, operating within the premium luxury segment, expressed interest in including Madeira in its...

Hanseatic Spirit Completes First Drydock Ahead of Arctic Season

The Hanseatic Spirit underwent its first scheduled drydocking for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, spending 10 days at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven. The ship got a fresh coat of paint and public spaces were refurbished to align with the “inspired by nature” design concept, according to a statement. “Hapag-Lloyd Cruises enjoys a trusting partnership with Lloyd Werft in...

Fred. Olsen Unveils Autumn/Winter 2027 Program with 20 Sailings

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has presented its new Autumn/Winter 2027 program. It features 20 sailings departing between October and December 2027, allowing guests to see the Northern Lights in Arctic Norway, explore Morocco and the Mediterranean, or enjoy a festive escape, from Christmas markets to Caribbean island-hopping. It includes four maiden calls for the cruise...

HX Launches First Artist in Residence Program

HX Expeditions (HX) has announced its first-ever Artist in Residence program, launching with writer and novelist Katie Hale. The initiative is designed to bring creative perspectives onboard selected sailings, giving guests new ways to engage with the places they visit while supporting the arts. Gebhard Rainer, CEO of HX, said: “By introducing artists on board...

Pricing Strength Builds for Cruises to Nowhere from China

The Chinese cruise market has been marked by a pricing divergence this year between two product types: the conventional international itineraries visiting South Korea and other destinations, and the newly introduced cruises without port calls. The latter are commanding a pricing premium. Traditional South Korea voyages remain volume drivers for the season. Early-bird pricing for...

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority Names New CEO Jeremy Dunn

The board of directors of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) has named Jeremy Dunn as its new chief executive officer (CEO).  Effective July 7, 2026, he will replace Don Krusel, who served as GVHA’s interim CEO since December 2025.  Krusel is set to return to his position on the GVHA Board, GVHA said in a press release.  “Victoria has a unique harbor with unique opportunities. I’m excited...

MedCruise Concludes 68th General Assembly

The 68th MedCruise General Assembly has come to a close in Palermo.  Starting on June 9 and ending on June 12, this year’s edition of the event hosted by the Port System Authority of the Sea of Western Sicily drew more than 240 participants.  As shared in a press release, 27 cruise lines were in attendance, and more than 700 B2B meetings were held, a record for a MedCruise General...

Azamara Launching 18 Overland Experiences in 2027

Azamara Cruises unveiled its 2027 Overland Experiences collection, allowing deeper exploration of destinations that its ships sail to.  The collection features 18 journeys across seven countries.  With enhanced programming, expanded access to destinations and small-group experiences, it is designed to foster connections with the places guests visit, the cruise line said in a press release.  “The Overland Experiences for 2027 invite...

Singapore Cruise Centre Shifts to New HarbourFront Terminal

Singapore Cruise Centre has announced that it will relocate all ferry and cruise operations to its new Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) terminal in two phases starting in July 2026. Jacqueline Tan, CEO of Singapore Cruise Centre, said, “Regional travel continues to play an important role in how people connect and conduct business across the region.”...

Keel Laid for Royal Caribbean’s Seventh Oasis Class Ship

Royal Caribbean announced that it has celebrated a construction milestone for the seventh Oasis-class vessel with a keel-laying ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The event marks the start of assembly of the company’s new ship and kicks off the next two years of construction ahead of its anticipated 2028 debut....

Jamaica Reimagines Tourism with 3.0 Agenda

Jamaica’s tourism sector is entering a new era of transformation under the banner of Tourism 3.0, a strategy aimed at repositioning the destination for sustained growth, enhanced competitiveness and greater benefits for Jamaican workers and communities. Speaking at the opening of CTO Caribbean Week in New York, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett underscored the resilience...

Petition Against Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico Hits 5 Million Signatures

A petition asking the Mexican government to bar Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico project recently hit five million signatures. Published on the Change.org platform, the petition was created in late May and asks Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to stop the development. First announced in late 2024, the project aimed to build a new private...

Star Clippers Highlights World Ocean Month with Select Itneraries

This World Ocean Month, Star Clippers has encouraged travelers to celebrate the seas with its marine-focused itineraries. The company said that World Ocean Month, celebrated in June, serves as a meaningful reminder of the responsibility shared by travelers and the tourism industry alike. Officially observed each year on June 8 as World Oceans Day, the...

Adora Cruises Hosts Shanghai Immersion Event for Crew

Adora Cruises launched its “Ahoy Shanghai, Nóng Hǎo Shanghai” city experience for the crew of the Adora Magic City on June 8.  Departing from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, nearly 100 international crew members explored Shanghai’s landmarks, such as Yu Garden (City God Temple area), Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and the Bund.   In a press release, the cruise line singled out a flash mob performance at the North Bund waterfront...

TUI River’s First Music-Themed Sailing Coming to Rhine This Fall

TUI River Cruises will sail its first-ever music-themed sailing, “Rewind on the Rhine,” this fall.  The three-night itinerary onboard the TUI Skyla will combine cruising through the castles, vineyards and riverside towns surrounding the Rhine in Germany with music programming featuring hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s.  According to a statement, the cruise will depart Frankfurt on November 18, 2026, sail down the Rhine and stop in Koblenz and Rüdesheim, before returning to Frankfurt on November 21, 2026.  “This themed cruise...

First Two-Ship Alaska Program for Disney Sails from Vancouver

Disney Cruise Line’s first two-ship season in Alaska is underway. Marking the company’s largest deployment in the region, the cruise program includes the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. The vessels arrived in the region in May, kicking off a series of cruises departing from Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. The Disney Magic started its...

Signature Travel Hosts Cruise Aboard Azamara Quest

Signature Travel Network welcomed top-performing members aboard the Azamara Quest for its annual Member Appreciation Cruise through the South of France, according to a press release. The weeklong voyage featured calls in Nice, St. Tropez, Cannes, Provence and Sète, offering members a firsthand experience of the Azamara product alongside fellow members and Signature team members....

Regent Launches 2027 Spotlight Collection of Themed Sailings

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revealed its Spotlight Collection of immersive sailings for 2027. The collection features seven voyages that cover a range of themes, from wellness and genealogy to gastronomy and wine, with accompanying programming. In a press release, the cruise line singled out its first-ever wellness-focused cruise in partnership with Elemis aboard the...

Fred. Olsen Offers Half-Price Drinks Packages on Autumn/Winter Sailings

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled a promo that entails half‑price premium drinks packages on selected autumn and winter 2026-27 sailings aboard the Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral.  For new bookings made by July 30, 2026 (inclusive), on selected sailings departing between October 2026 and January 2027, the premium drinks package is available from £20 per person per night.  It includes beverages ranging from cocktails and premium spirits to wines, beers, soft...

Celebrity’s Eight-Ship Europe Deployment Is Now Underway

Celebrity Cruises’ eight-ship summer season in Europe is now underway, following repositioning voyages of six ships. Joining the Celebrity Infinity, which has been sailing in the region on a year-round basis, the vessels recently completed trans-Atlantic crossings to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The highlight of the season is the Celebrity Xcel, which completed the...

Ritz-Carlton and Approach Guides Elevate Advisor-Led Sales

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has collaborated with Approach Guides to provide travel advisors with personalized, co-branded marketing content and a fully co-branded version of ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com, reinforcing its commitment to the advisor community. The company said in a statement that since launching in 2022, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has introduced a distinct expression of luxury travel...

Santorini Implements New Cruise Tender Limits

The Greek island of Santorini recently implemented new rules for cruise operations, changing the proportion of passengers who can disembark at specific piers. While a pier for large vessels is not available at the destination, cruise ships can tender passengers to different ports. In its recent ruling, the local government determined that only 30 percent...

AmaLyra Hosts D-Day Anniversary History Cruise

Mat McLachlan History Cruises has announced the launch of an inaugural D-Day Anniversary River Cruise aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaLyra. The voyage will consist of an eight-day Paris-to-Normandy sailing along the Seine through France, departing June 3, 2027, fully escorted by an expert Historian, with two exclusive days exploring the D-Day landing beaches on the anniversary of...

Cunard Launches Sweepstakes for Queen Mary 2’s 450th Crossing

Cunard has launched a sweepstakes that offers travelers the chance to win passage on the Queen Mary 2’s 450th transatlantic crossing this November, according to a press release. “Transatlantic travel is the foundation of Cunard’s rich heritage and remains one of the most iconic experiences in luxury travel today,” said Liz Fettes, senior vice president,...

Fincantieri Delivers Mein Schiff Flow in Monfalcone

Fincantieri and TUI Cruises celebrated the delivery of Mein Schiff Flow at the Monfalcone shipyard. The vessel is the second of two next-generation InTUItion-class cruise ships, designed for dual-fuel operation (liquefied natural gas and marine gas oil). “With the delivery of Mein Schiff Flow, we celebrate a new milestone in our collaboration with TUI Cruises...

Aurora Expeditions Reports Strong Growth for Antarctica

Aurora Expeditions has recorded strong growth from the North American market for its 2025-26 Antarctic season, the cruise line said in a press release. Its U.S. bookings increased by 37 percent year-over-year, with travelers from the region accounting for one in three Aurora expeditioners last season. By comparison, the broader North American Antarctic market grew...

NCLH’s Great Stirrup Cay Pays $840K for Covid-Era Environmental Violations

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ Great Stirrup Cay paid around $840,000 in environmental penalties for Covid-era environmental infractions, according to a report by The Tribune. The amount was revealed by Zane Lightbourne, the Bahamas’ Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, in what is described as a rare public disclosure of the value of an environmental enforcement...
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