Royal Caribbean International is removing visits to Japan from its itineraries departing from China onboard the Spectrum of the Seas in early 2026. According to a statement sent to travel advisors in China, selected cruises departing from Shanghai between January and April had their visits to Japanese ports of call removed. “Based on recent market...

Carnival Cruise Line sent another shipment of hurricane relief supplies today to Ocho Rios, Jamaica aboard the Carnival Horizon. The latest delivery includes 24 pallets weighing more than five tons of critically needed supplies, including hygiene kits, medical items and other essential goods, coordinated in partnership with Direct Relief, the Miami HEAT, and the Micky...

The World Voyager recently completed five years of service for Mystic Cruises after being delivered by the West Sea Shipyard on November 3, 2020. As the second ship in a series that started with the World Explorer in 2019, the 200-guest vessel was initially operated by Nicko . Delivered during pandemic, it spent several months...

PortMiami recently set a record after welcoming ten cruise ships and over 75,000 passengers in a single day. According to a social media update, the milestone was reached on Sunday, November 30, 2025, with 75,201 guests travelling through Miami’s cruise terminals. Seven cruise lines were sailing from Miami on that day, including Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity,...

The Caledonian Sky was sold to a Greek shipping company earlier this month, according to a report by Arxipelagos.gr. The Greece-based shipping news website said that Kalamata Shipping acquired the 1991-built expedition vessel from APT. In November 2024, Cruise Industry News reported that the Australian tour operator was looking to sell the 114-guest vessel after...

The Celebrity Edge made its maiden call in Newcastle on Saturday, bringing over 4,000 passengers and crew to the Australian port. Port Authority of NSW CEO John McKenna said that the 306-meter-long Celebrity Edge is the largest cruise vessel by length to visit this season. “From wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, to getting up...

The Legend of the Seas is scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale for a second winter season in 2027-28, Royal Caribbean announced in a press release. As part of the company’s seasonal deployment in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, the vessel is scheduled to arrive back in Port Everglades in November 2027. The 5,610-guest ship...

The MSC Virtuosa recently arrived in the Southern Caribbean to kick off its 2025-26 winter season in the region. After undergoing a routine drydock in Europe, the MSC Cruises ship embarked on a trans-Atlantic crossing to Martinique in late November. The 16-night repositioning cruise departed from the United Kingdom, sailing from Southampton to destinations in...

Adverse weather conditions along the Brazilian coast have diverted two cruise ships to Ilhabela this week. According to local authorities, the Costa Favolosa and the MSC Sinfonia were forced to change their original itineraries and seek shelter at the destination. The Costa ship made an unscheduled visit to Ilhabela on Tuesday, while the MSC vessel...

Ryobi’s R Yacht Co. recently revealed the first details of its newbuild, which is set to be built at the West Sea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. According to a press release, the yacht-style cruise ship will be named the Sefu and is scheduled for delivery in time for summer 2027. The Japan-based company...

When cruise passengers lose a personal item, they should never feel like their belongings have vanished, said Ervin LeMand, vice president of business development at Lost Returns (pictured above). “Guests must know what’s happening, what to expect and feel taken care of. Our end-to-end approach ensures guests understand that they can get their items back...

Set to be delivered to Windstar Cruises on December 15, 2025, the Star Seeker is getting its finishing touches at the West Sea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. Originally ordered by Mystic Cruises, the 9,300-ton ship was acquired by Windstar while still in the early stages of construction in 2024. Overseeing the building process,...

Carnival Cruise Line will serve as the official cruise line sponsor of the Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Boom, the largest Fourth of July fireworks show on the West Coast, the company said in a press release. The guests sailing over the holiday on Carnival Radiance, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Luminosa will get a...

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is chartering the Greg Mortimer for Alaska cruises starting in 2027. According to a press release, the SunStone Ships vessel will replace the National Geographic Sea Lion and the National Geographic Sea Bird, which are set to be retired in 2026. Lindblad stated that the move will expand its operations in Alaska,...

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today named Marc Kazlauskas as president of Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian), effective Jan. 19, 2026, according to a press release. He joins the company with more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across sales, operations, and innovation in the global travel industry. Kazlauskas most recently served as CEO of Avoya...

The Crystal Symphony resumed service in late November after undergoing a major refurbishment in Genoa, Italy. As part of the three-week drydock, the 50,000-ton vessel saw significant updates to its public areas and staterooms. According to Crystal, the project featured a series of aesthetic and functional upgrades, including a transformation of the ship’s atrium. The...

Antarctica21 has signed with V.Ships Leisure to manage its new Magellan Discoverer which will debut in Antarctica for the 2026-27 season. V.Ships will provide ship management, crew management and newbuild support, according to the company. The Magellan Discoverer is the second newbuild for Antarctica 21 and is currently under construction at the ASENAV shipyard in...

China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Corporation has announced that it signed a deal with Mystic Cruises to build one cruise ship with an option for three additional ships. The deal was signed at a ceremony in China last week, with Mario Ferreira, president of Mystic Cruises, signing the agreement along with Mei Zhonghua, vice general manager...

Royal Caribbean Group today declared a quarterly dividend of $1.00 per common share payable on January 14, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 26, 2025. The company also announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the repurchase of up to $2 billion of the company’s common stock....

All of the main Jamaican cruise ports are now reopen after Hurricane Mellissa, country authorities announced in a press release. According to a press release, Port Royal, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Falmouth are ready to welcome ships and guests following the storm, which was considered one of the strongest ever seen in the region....

The 2027 Arctic Season unveiled by Polar Latitudes Expeditions on December 9, 2025, will offer travelers new itineraries, including three first-time voyages exploring the North Atlantic and new Arctic Offerings. According to a press release, the 2027 season will also continue to feature the cruise line’s best-selling expeditions across Svalbard and Greenland. “We couldn’t be...

TUI Group reported its full year 2025 earnings on Wednesday and noted that its cruise division saw underlying EBIT increased to 481.1 million euro, up 28.5 percent from 2025. The company operates 18 ships under the TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Marella Cruises brands. TUI said that the performance was driven by higher occupancy rates...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises celebrated a milestone in the construction of the new Seven Seas Prestige, the company announced in a press release. As the first new ship class for the brand in ten years, the vessel floated from its building dock at Fincantieri on November 27, 2025. “The Seven Seas Prestige touching water for...

The MSC Grandiosa has made her maiden call in Nassau, which the company called a significant milestone in its long-term commitment to the Bahamas. The traditional maritime crest exchange of plaques to commemorate a ship’s first visit at a port was undertaken by Captain Danile Cho, the MSC Grandiosa’s captain, and Bahamian officials. The ship’s...

Royal Caribbean International revealed additional itineraries for its 2027-28 season in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. According to a press release, 13 cruise ships will sail in the region, including the new Legend of the Seas and the amplified Allure of the Seas. The company’s itineraries will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral and...

G Adventures’ former Expedition is back in Northern Europe after leaving the company’s fleet earlier this year. The 1972-built ship was laid up in South America ahead of a season in Antarctica when the expedition brand announced plans to replace it with a more modern ship, the Ocean Adventurer. Chartered from SunStone Ships, the 1976-built...

From routine maintenance to major refits, Cruise Industry News looks into some of the key drydock projects that are taking place in December 2025. MSC Magnifica Cruise Line: MSC Cruises Capacity: 2,516 guests Tonnage: 89,600 Year built: 2010 Drydock Period: Oct. 29 to Dec. 12, 2025 Shipyard: Palumbo (Valletta, Malta) The MSC Magnifica arrived at...

Guests joining Holland America Line’s 2026 Grand Voyages will receive a special tote bag made of upcycled ship textiles. According to a press release, the initiative marks the successful completion of the cruise line’s first fabric circularity project, which is said to be the first of its kind for the industry. The two-year program transformed...

Crescent Seas unveiled a new customization program for its newbuild, The Ocean, along with a reimagined Crescent Seas Design Studio. According to a press release, the new initiatives were announced during the ILTM Cannes 2025 and are said to mark the next evolution in the brand’s “mission to redefine what it means to live and...

Explora Journeys is launching a new partnership with the Hilton Honors loyalty program, the company announced in a press release. The luxury brand will become the exclusive luxury ocean travel partner for the debut of Hilton Honors Adventures, which is described as an extension of Hilton’s 235-million-member loyalty program. Explora explained that Hilton Honors members...

Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas, Relax Away, Half Moon Cay, recently celebrated the grand opening of four pickleball courts. According to a press release, the addition of pickleball courts is part of the cruise line’s drive to enhance the island, alongside other improvements such as new experiences and refurbished amenities. Holland America...

Sea Cloud Cruises’ 2026 intimate Cultivated Journeys sailings, hosted by celebrated media personalities, guest chefs, wellness experts, acclaimed musicians, and accomplished authors, will welcome onboard veteran broadcast journalists Joel Seidman, Kerry Sanders, and Kevin Tibbles. Seidman and Sanders will be returning hosts who have previously participated in the cruise line’s Cultivated Journeys program. “Our guests...

Libby Anschutz, the daughter of Windstar Cruises owner Phil Anschutz, was named Godmother of the cruise line’s first of two new all-suite yachts, the Star Seeker, on December 8, 2026. The official christening ceremony will take place in Miami on January 15, 2026. In November 2025, Libby, alongside Windstar president Christopher Prelog, toured the shipyard....

The Discovery Princess recently resumed service after undergoing a scheduled drydock in Singapore. The Princess Cruises ship arrived at the Seatrium Tuas Boulevard Yard in early November after repositioning from Alaska. During its two-week shipyard stay, the 116,000-ton vessel underwent routine maintenance, in addition to class overhauls and technical work. Public areas and staterooms were...

The Aroya is set to debut in Southeast Asia in early 2026 with a series of cruises between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. The operation will be part of a partnership between Aroya Cruises and IslamiCruise, a Malaysia-based tour operator. According to the company’s website, the Aroya will offer four itineraries that either sail from or...

Huaxia International Cruise is now set to operate the largest cruise fleet in Asia, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Chinese cruise holding was formed by at least six companies in December 2023. China is now planning to consolidate the operations into a...

Juneau celebrated a great cruise season in 2025, according to Alexandra Pierce, tourism director of the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ). As one of the main cruise destinations in Alaska, the port welcomed a steady number of visitors while working to enhance their experience on land. Pierce said that this stability is part of...

Phoenix Reisen donated 1.2 million euros at the annual ZDF Charity Gala which took place this past week in Germany. The funds will go to support the Christian organizations Misereor and Brot für die Welt. Misereor is committed to fighting poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America, while Brot für die Welt’s mission statement is...

The Costa Favolosa became the first large ship to visit Ilhabela this season with a call on November 24, 2025. The Costa Cruises ship arrived at the Brazilian destination during its first sailing in the region after repositioning to South America for the winter. The three-night cruise departed from Santos on November 23, 2025, and...

Villa Vie Residences welcomed a new captain to its team this week, the company announced in a social media update. After previously serving as staff captain onboard, Captain Emanuele Giudice will be sharing rotation with Captain Valentin Giuglea as master of the Odyssey. “Captain Emanuele looks forward to leading the Odyssey with professionalism, care and...

The MSC Grandiosa arrived at Port Canaveral on Saturday to begin week-long sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas. As the second MSC Cruises ship based at Port Canaveral, the MSC Grandiosa joins the MSC Seashore which shifts to three- and four-day cruises. “MSC is a valued partner, and we’re thrilled to have this beautiful new...

Holland America Line is celebrating the holiday season with its second annual “Great HALiday Giveaway,” the company announced in a press release. The 12-day online event runs from Dec. 5-16, 2025, and allows participants to enter a dedicated website daily for a chance to win a series of prizes. As part of the initiative, Holland...

Cunard’s Queen Victoria is back at its British homeport in Southampton for the 2025-26 winter season. The 2007-built vessel returned to the UK in late October following her Mediterranean season. The Queen Victoria’s 2025 summer season in the Mediterranean started in April and included a series of itineraries departing from ports in Italy and Spain,...

The Crown Princess recently arrived at a shipyard in Singapore for a routine drydock. The Princess Cruises’ ship entered drydock on Nov. 29, 2025 after completing a world cruise that sailed from Australia earlier this year. The 2006-built ship is now set to undergo scheduled maintenance and technical work, as well as class inspections. The...

The Disney Treasure recently completed its first year of service for Disney Cruise Line after being handed over on October 24, 2024. As the second ship in the company’s Wish class, the LNG-powered vessel was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Following its delivery, the Treasure made a technical call to Portugal’s...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is launching the new Epicurean Enrichment Studio, which is described by the company as state-of-the-art culinary theaters onboard the Seven Seas Mariner and the Seven Seas Voyager. According to a press release, the initiative will elevate the standard for culinary enrichment at sea with experiences designed to connect guests to destinations...

Spending some $120 million per year, Norway is basically subsidizing each passenger who travels on Hurtigruten or Havila on their coastal service. The program goes back to 1893 when the ships provided a vital link to remote coastal towns and villages along the Norwegian coast. Now, that program is up for review again. Last time,...

Two of Quark Expeditions’ vessels met in Antarctica in November, the company revealed in a social media update. Offering expedition cruises in the region, the World Explorer and the Ultramarine made a double call at Damoy Point. Operating its final season for the company, the World Explorer was offering Quark’s “Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th...

“About 25 years ago, we had cruise companies ask us for support. We now have a dedicated business unit for the cruise industry,” said Mark Dowling, vice president of global partnerships at Tower Supplies. After assisting Carnival UK with sourcing the company, which supplies PPE, workwear, safety equipment and hygiene products, now finds that most...

HX Expeditions has extended its Galápagos partnership with Metropolitan Touring through 2029 and outlined plans for its 2027 and 2028 seasons, the company said in a press release. The three-year extension builds on an original five-year charter agreement with Metropolitan Touring, the longest-established travel operator in the Galápagos, founded in 1953. HX holds a significant...

P&O Cruises’ Iona will arrive earlier in Southampton this weekend due to adverse weather conditions, according to a statement sent to guests onboard. Currently offering a 14-night cruise to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands, the vessel was initially scheduled to arrive back at its homeport on Saturday morning. The letter said that, with the...

The French Senate has approved a new tax for cruise operations across France, according to a report by Le Figaro. Voted on Monday, the new measure calls for every cruise passenger to pay a fee of 15 euros per stop in the country. While the law was green-lighted by senators, its draft will continue to...

Carnival Cruise Line’s new Grand Bahama destination, Celebration Key, has introduced its first set of holiday decorations and seasonal activities, the company said in a press release. The private destination, which opened earlier this year, now features festive décor across its themed portals. Holiday trees, wreaths and garlands have been tailored to each area, including...

The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will debut a new self-service restaurant following a routine drydock in January 2026. According to an update shared by Margaritaville at Sea, the new market-style dining experience will replace the ship’s traditional buffet. The company said that the space, which will be located on Deck 10, will feature individual stations...

Royal Caribbean International shared some of the key figures of its new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which is set to open later this year. Located at the Port of Nassau in the Bahamas, the new facility will offer a series of exclusive features for the company’s guests. When purchasing an unlimited open-bar and dining...

The Brazilian Port of Itajaí kicked off its 2025-26 cruise season on Sunday with the arrival of the Costa Diadema. The Costa Cruises vessel is now offering a series of cruises that sail from both Itajaí and Santos, after serving as a floating hotel during an UN Event in Belém. According to the local port...

Silversea has launched its 2026 Wave Season offer with savings of up to 40 percent on more than 800 voyages, the company announced. The promotion is available on new bookings made from Dec. 3, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2026. Savings amounts vary by suite category, and the offer includes reduced deposits starting at 15% for...