When the Seabourn Pursuit arrived at Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernández Islands on April 4, it brought more than guests ashore, the company said in a press release. For local residents, the ship could now provide access to much needed medical care that had been unavailable to them for months. “Seabourn Pursuit...

Emerald Cruises announced the launch of the Emerald Kaia after a successful transit through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, the company said in a press release. The 128-guest vessel has now departed from Limassol, Cyprus, on its inaugural voyage. The launch follows successful river trials of the Emerald Astra, which is set to join...

Oceania Cruises announced plans for a refurbishment of the Oceania Marina, the company said in a press release. Scheduled to enter drydock in October 2026, the 1,250-guest vessel will undergo an extensive transformation as the first ship in the line’s OceaniaNEXT program. “At Oceania Cruises, raising the bar is not an initiative, it is our...

Poseidon Expeditions announced a series of enhancements for its 2026 season in the Arctic onboard the Sea Spirit. According to a press release, the company is introducing updates to its products designed to improve the guest experience onboard. Among the enhancements is the debut of a new inclusion package, which is being added in response...

Chinese officials have set a formal timeline to shift the majority of cruise ship subcontracting and key component needs to domestic suppliers, with a target of sourcing more than 80 percent of supporting equipment and systems from Chinese companies by 2035. The goal, outlined by Chen Gang, Chairman of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS)...

“Eastern Cruise is not just a company that operates ships; we are establishing an Asian-style cruise philosophy that combines regular sailings, efficient service and immersive cultural experiences,” said Kiro Kim, managing director of the South Korean cruise brand. He added that the company’s 2026 operating strategy is based on this long-term vision and its understanding...

Carnival Cruise Line is kicking off its second summer Fun-ternship Program, giving more than 100 high school students ages 17 and older hands-on experience in cruise terminal operations at six U.S. homeports. The program returns to Baltimore, Tampa, Jacksonville, Norfolk, New York City and Long Beach following a successful debut in summer 2025, the company...

Port Saint John will kick off its 2026 cruise season over two months ahead of schedule with the arrival of Virgin Voyages’ the Valiant Lady expected on April 8 at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal. “Our ability to embrace opportunities like this on short notice speaks to the strength of our port and tourism ecosystems,...

MariApps Marine Solutionsannounced it has acquired 100 percent ownership of Hyderabad-based software company EffiaSoft Private Limited. “The acquisition of EffiaSoft is a testament to our vision of building a comprehensive digital maritime ecosystem,” said Sankar Ragavan, chief executive officer of MariApps Marine Solutions. “Their expertise in creating high-performance software aligns perfectly with our goal of...

The Marine Hotel Association (MHA) announced dates for its 2026 culinary scholarship program at the Culinary Institute of America’s Singapore campus, running June 15 to 19. The announcement was made at the MHA’s 41th anniversary conference and trade show in Naples, Florida, which wrapped up earlier this week. “We’re excited to be offering this amazing...

To open the year, the Club Med 2 operated in the Caribbean, sailing from the Dominican Republic down to French Guiana throughout the winter season. It was then set to sail in the Mediterranean this summer. Among highlights is a 16-day cultural cruise around Italy, from Porto Venere to Venice, visiting 13 Italian ports of...

MSC Cruises became the fourth cruise line to cancel its planned winter season in the Middle East for 2026-27. Following similar announcements from Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Explora Journeys, the company revealed its decision in late March. As the largest ship in the region, the MSC World Europa was scheduled to offer cruises in...

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...

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...

“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,...

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....

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...