Ponant Explorations Group has announced that Samuel Chamberlain, the group’s CEO of the Americas, is joining the Forbes Travel Guide’s inaugural Cruise Industry Advisory Committee (CIAC). Chamberlain will work alongside other executives and innovators who will be instrumental in shaping Forbes’ standards of luxury and service for the cruise industry, the company said in a...

The ports of Miyazaki are set to welcome 18 cruise calls this year, Yoshiaki Takatori, marketing director of the Miyazaki Prefecture Tourism Association, told Cruise Industry News. “The record for the most cruise calls was in 2017, with 30 calls, marking a peak in cruise tourism for the region. Looking ahead to 2026, a total...

Aurora Expeditions has partnered with UK environmental technology start-up Cleaner Seas Group to combat microplastic pollution. Ahead of the Antarctic season, Aurora will install Indikon marine-grade microfiber filtration systems on the washing machines aboard the Douglas Mawson. According to the company, the advanced filters, developed by Cleaner Seas Group, capture up to 99 percent of...

Oceania Cruises has highlighted its 2027 “Around the World” cruise, offered on the Oceania Vista. The 244-day voyage has been divided into 17 segments ranging from nine to 20 days and features more than 125 ports across 53 countries. The company said that the segments allow guests to tailor a personalized journey and choose between...

Horizon Air Freight, together with Delver Agents and Swift Marine, have announced the appointment of Kasper Diaz Sommer as senior vice president (SVP) of Global Cruise Logistics, effective November 3, 2025.” “Sommer’s leadership will accelerate our strategy to deliver seamless, end-to-end logistics solutions for the world’s marine and cruise operators,” said Jeff McCorstin, CEO of...

Dream Cruises has announced that for the second consecutive year, the company has served as the official venue sponsor for the HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards (HTGA) 2025. The event was held onboard the Genting Dream during its three-night Phuket Cruise from Singapore, sailing from September 30 to October 3, 2025, welcoming 43 participants and guests. The...

Holland America Line has announced that the company and its guests are joining relief efforts for communities in Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa. The company said in a statement that Jamaica is an important, longstanding partner to Holland America, and that its thoughts are with those impacted by the storm. Carnival Corporation, the Micky &...

TUI Cruises has announced that Finnish Captain Jan Rautawaara will be taking command of the Mein Schiff Flow, the second vessel in the InTUItion ship class. The company said in a press release that Rautawaara will command the ship on its inaugural voyages starting in the summer of 2026 in the Western Mediterranean. “It is...

MSC Cruises SA has announced its acquisition of SLAM.com S.p.A. from Vam Investments. MSC said in a press release that SLAM, an Italian brand specializing in sailing and performance sportswear, will continue to focus and invest in its core business activities while developing a new professional division dedicated to the business-to-business sector. This will include...

Explora Journeys has announced its “A Journey of Caribbean Calm & Bahamian Blue” cruise in the Caribbean aboard the Explora II in late January 2026. The sailing, departing from Miami, U.S.A., on January 25, 2026, and returning to Miami on February 4, 2026, will feature Explora Journeys’ Brand Ambassador, Mike Horn. “Discovery is at the...

The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) announced that it is commemorating 35 years since its establishment as a statutory body under the BVI Ports Authority Act, gazetted on October 31, 1990, with official operations commencing in January 1991. Managing Director Akeem Pickering said: “This milestone is a chance to celebrate everyone who has been...

Star Clippers has announced that the Royal Clipper will offer in-depth exploration in the Adriatic Sea in the summer of 2026. The ship will call at lesser-explored ports and historic centers in Croatia, Montenegro and Italy on the seven-night “Croatia and Montenegro” itinerary. The company said in a press release that the cruise offers guests...

Century Cruises has announced the promotion of David Fredericks to president and general manager (GM) of Century Cruises’ Americas Division. The company said that Fredericks’ strategic insight, integrity and dedication have been instrumental in driving Century Cruises’ success and innovation throughout 2025. Jianhu Peng, chairman of Gaund Holding Group and Century Cruises worldwide, said: “Fredericks’s...

Scenic Group has announced the introduction of its new Wine Group Program, designed for wine enthusiasts and travel advisors to curate bespoke group journeys that blend culture, gastronomy and wine experiences. The company said that the program is available across all Scenic and Emerald itineraries and elevates the group travel experience with exclusive amenities and...

Royal Caribbean Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jason Liberty, said that the company’s announcement of the new private destination, Royal Beach Club Santorini, further expands its portfolio of exclusive destinations, extends its reach beyond the ship and enhances the guest experience. During the company’s 2025 third-quarter earnings call, Liberty stated: “(The destination) reflects our...

Carnival Corporation, alongside the Miami Heat and the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, has made a $1 million donation to Direct Relief to assist with expected recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Carnival said in a press release that Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization aiming to improve the health and lives of people...

Sea Cloud Cruises has announced the appointment of William “Bill” Smith as Brand Ambassador for North America. In this role, Smith will collaborate with Mirell Reyes, CEO of Sea Cloud Cruises North America, and Kevin Smith, Chief Sales Officer (CSO), to elevate brand awareness and deepen engagement with the travel advisor community and past guests....

Tauck is getting ready for two more ships in 2026, said vice president of global sales and service, Steve Spivak. The Serene will be christened on the Seine and the Lumiere on the Rhone, according to 2026 European River Cruise Market Report by Cruise Industry News. “For river, we’re in growth mode. We’re growing because...

MSC Cruises has announced that work has begun on the upgrade of the MSC Magnifica, marking the start of an enhancement program that underscores the company’s investment in enhancing the guest experience. MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato said: “By introducing our MSC Yacht Club to these ships, along with new restaurants, gyms and wellness spaces,...

Princess Cruises has announced that it has partnered with Onboard Media to transform its port shopping services and elevate the guest experience with personalized programming and concierge-level advisory services. “Princess continually looks to enhance our guest experience and make each voyage distinctly personal and memorable,” said Alfredo Jimenez, VP of onboard revenue at Princess Cruises....

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced its most extensive collection of new offerings yet, unveiling four ships and six itineraries launching in 2027. New ships include three Super Ship builds: the Audrey, Marlene and São Rafael on Portugal’s Douro River. In addition are sailings on the Aqua Blu to mark the company’s debut in Singapore...

Scylla announced that it completed the first-ever autonomous Dock2Dock voyage on Friday, October 24, 2025, when undocking in Hardinxveld-Giessendam and docking in Gorinchem during a live showcase onboard the Lumière. The demonstration combined Retina’s M-Pilot maneuvering system with the ST BRAIN and Autonomous Lane Assist (ST Sailing) from Shipping Technology. “With the Dock2Dock project, we’re...

Ship&Play has announced its first-ever cruise partnerships with Azamara Cruises, Emerald Cruises and Tours and Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours. The luxury luggage shipping provider and team behind ShipSticks said that cruise passengers can ship their luggage from home directly to their suite and return it home again. The offer starts on fall 2025 itineraries...

Ports of Stockholm have announced that the traditional cruise season in Stockholm is coming to an end and that the year has seen a clear upturn, with more calls compared to last year. During the season, Sweden’s second shore power system for cruise ships was inaugurated in Stockholm. According to a statement, this is an...

Aroya Cruises, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Major Sports Cruises have announced a strategic partnership to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in shaping global sports and tourism experiences. The collaboration unites world-class football, Saudi Arabian hospitality, and the opportunity to explore Saudi Arabia through an integrated program built around the Spanish Super Cup, to be...

Hurtigruten has announced the appointment of Hayley Moore as its vice president of sales and marketing for the UK and emerging markets.   The company said that Moore will lead its sales and marketing strategy across the UK and high-growth emerging markets in EMEA, spanning both B2B and B2C channels. Moore will oversee the UK-based team...

Cunard announced that the Queen Mary 2 will take center stage in New York Harbor on July 4, 2026, as part of Sail4th 250, the official event marking 250 years since American Independence. The company said that with 250 days to go until the occasion, the Queen Mary 2 will play a key role as...

American Cruise Lines has announced 10 new ships through 2028 for the U.S. market, beginning with the American Pioneer, which debuts in Florida on October 31. The American Pioneer is the second new Patriot Class ship the company has launched this year. The balance of the order will be delivered over the next three years....

Ambassador Cruise Line and marine conservation charity ORCA have announced the launch of a new campaign, “#AmbassadorForWhales,” to help protect whales, dolphins and porpoises across the globe. Running from October 27 to November 12, 2025, the campaign will see Ambassador match every donation made to ORCA up to a value of £10,000, effectively doubling the...

A second ship on the Nile debuts later this year and another riverboat will be added to TUI’s European fleet for 2026, said Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises, in the 2026 European River Cruise Market Report by Cruise Industry News. The reasons are simple: demand is good, she said, noting that the company’s European...

Century Cruises has announced the appointment of Alexis McKinnon Puma as global sales executive and MICE strategist. Puma’s career spans more than two decades of transformative leadership across cruise, hospitality and technology sectors. David Fredericks, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Century Cruises, said: “I’ve known Puma for many years, and she is...

StarCruises has announced that it will welcome travelers aboard the Star Voyager as it returns to Hong Kong for another homeport deployment in 2026. The ship will operate for 9 months, from February 13 to November 13. Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises, said: “The Star Voyager’s return reflects our commitment to providing more vacation...

Oceanwide Expeditions has announced that its 2025-26 Antarctic cruise season has begun with the company’s first voyage of the season departing Puerto Madryn, Argentina, on a Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctica Photographic Special itinerary. The Hondius, Ortelius and Plancius will take guests from South America across the sub-Antarctic and into the Antarctic Peninsula and the...

TUI Cruises has announced that the Mein Schiff 1 will be offering a six-day sailing called “Rock ‘n ‘Sail 2026 with Peter Maffay and band” from and to Mallorca with stops in Gibraltar and Cartagena. The company said in a press release that Maffay and the band, who are reported as German rock legends, will...

Ambassador Cruise Line has renewed its partnership with Greatest Hits Radio and will launch a themed cruise with the station. Gordon Nardini, CMO of Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “Greatest Hits Radio is an engaging and dynamic platform, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with them for the Greatest Hits Radio Escape II with...

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced that it is building upon its Moana Explorer Program with 12 voyages scheduled for 2027 on the Paul Gauguin. The complimentary program, developed in partnership with Te mana o te moana, launched in 2020 as a way to engage young guests in hands-on, educational activities both onboard and ashore. Paul...

Ponant Explorations Group has announced the release of its second Ponant Science program report. Launched in 2021, the program welcomes scientific researchers onboard. The company said in a press release that these expeditions provide access to remote ecosystems, allowing data collection and contributions to international research efforts. Over the past five years, 230 researchers have...

The World Residences at Sea has appointed Lyubomir “Lubo” Ivanov Stoyanov as beverage manager aboard The World. Stoyanov joins The World with over 30 years of experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality and wine service. His career began in Bulgaria at the Palace Hotel and later took him to sea aboard the Aurora One, the...

South Korea is ramping up investment in its cruise industry, with the government announcing a plan to attract one million cruise passengers annually by 2027. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, has outlined several infrastructure projects, including a new wharf at Saemangeum in North Jeolla, due...

Swan Hellenic has announced its 2026 Explore Space at Sea Series, offering a series of expedition cruises in a partnership with the SETI Institute, an offshoot of NASA’s High Resolution Microwave Survey focused on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The 2026 series will feature eleven SETI Institute scientists, one per cruise, except for a...

cruisePAL announced that two APT vessels are now sailing with cruisePAL SMS/POS. The company said in a press release that the cruisePAL team visited the APT Ostara and APT Solara to install its software and train the crew. The company said: “We were happy to receive positive feedback from APT’s team members who highlighted cruisePAL’s...

Celestyal announced in a statement that on Tuesday, October 21, passengers on Norse Atlantic Airways’ last flight of the season from JFK to Athens received a special gift. All 300 of the onboard passengers were awarded a “Golden Ticket” from Celestyal for a potential cruise for next season, sailing from Athens, in celebration of the...

Holland America Line has announced the launch of new dishes and cocktails for the Caribbean cruise season, celebrating the region’s local flavors. Launching onboard all six ships exploring the region from October 2025 to April 2026, the new menu items and beverages aim to offer authentic local experiences. The company said in a press release...

Princess Cruises has announced that its Royal Princess has been named the 2025 “World’s Best Culinary Cruise Ship” by the World Culinary Awards. Voted on by the culinary community, industry experts and consumers from around the world, the awards celebrate and reward excellence in the culinary industry and recognize the commitment to delivering outstanding dining...

HX Expeditions is celebrating 130 years of exploration by offering guests the opportunity to book an 1896-themed cabin. In 1896, HX launched the world’s first expedition cruise. The anniversary cabin offering is now open for bookings. “The 1896 Cabin is a chance for our guests to not just see history but to live and sleep...

Celebrity Cruises has taken delivery of and welcomed the Celebrity Xcel and announced the name of its sixth Edge Series ship, the Celebrity Xcite. The ship’s first piece of steel was cut, and construction commenced at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. The Celebrity Xcite is expected to set sail in 2028. “Celebrity Xcel...