There are over 350 ports getting AIDA calls globally, head of deployment planning Diana Havkost told Cruise Industry News. “This year is our 30th anniversary so we have a sister-ship meeting planned in Hamburg on June 7, with the AIDAsol, AIDAprima and AIDAperla.” Also new for 2026 is the AIDAblu’s summer program in the Eastern...

Nicko Cruises is cancelling a cruise onboard the Vasco da Gama on short notice to make room for an unscheduled shipyard visit. Local sources report that the 1993-built ship is currently facing a technical issue that also led to the shortening of its 2025-26 world cruise. The cancelled cruise was scheduled to depart from Hamburg...

ECOS LNG has signed an agreement with BASS Software to deploy BASSnet Neo software for its Floating Storage Regasification Unit operations, according to a press release. The contract was awarded following an evaluation process to replace ECOS’s legacy maintenance software. “BASSnet Neo is the right choice to align with our broader digitalisation strategy and digital...

“Part of our portfolio is to continue to have new things to keep people coming back,” Mike Pawlus, head of itinerary planning at Azamara Cruises, told Cruise Industry News. “We have more than 300 ports we call at each year, and we are seeing a lot of people that once they sail with us, they...

“The most important news is that we are bilingual now, every ship,” said Lisa Wilken, head of luxury at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “Since January, the three expedition vessels and the two Europa ships, are fully bilingual. Especially now on the Europa, we are getting more international clients.” The 135-year-old company, which helped pioneer leisure cruising, had...

Royal Caribbean International is repositioning the Symphony of the Seas to Florida starting in August 2027. The Oasis-class ship was initially set to offer cruises to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas from the Port of Galveston. Instead, the vessel will offer six- to eight-night cruises to the Caribbean, departing from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades....

Europe’s airports have welcomed AccelerateEU, the European Commission’s response plan to the energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, according to a statement from ACI Europe. The plan outlines measures aimed at safeguarding the continued availability of jet fuel across the European airport network. “No airport in Europe is currently facing jet...

Silversea has opened general sales for its 2029 World Cruise, a 125-day voyage departing San Diego on January 5, 2029, according to a press release. The voyage onboard the Silver Whisper will visit more than 60 destinations in 19 countries across the Pacific, spanning Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Asia and New Zealand. “With 17 overnights,...

These are engaging times for MSC Cruises with new programs and ships being launched. “We are starting to sail to Alaska for the first time this May with seven-night cruises aboard the MSC Poesia from Seattle,” said Luca Garritano, chief revenue and sales services officer. “And we are now also operating from Galveston year-round with...

Grupo Vidanta, the Mexican luxury resort operator, has entered the cruise business as the 216- guest Elegant has launched operations in the Mediterranean, where it will sail offering a luxury yacht-like product through the fall. Ivan Chavez, executive vice president of Grupo Vidanta, told Cruise Industry News they approached the ship they bought as if...

Ponant is offering flexible booking conditions during the month of April, according to a statement published on the company’s website. As part of its “Serenity Policy,” the cruise line will allow guests to change or postpone their cruises with no penalty. The condition coincides with the current conflict in the Middle East, which is currently...

Celestyal Cruises said that all of its upcoming cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean are going ahead as scheduled. In a statement shared on Monday, the company confirmed that its ships are currently sailing to Europe after spending over 50 days stranded in the Middle East. Celestyal stated that both the Journey and the Discovery have...

While the six stranded cruise ships have recently managed to leave the region, the future of cruising in the Arabian Gulf is still facing uncertainty. Cruise Industry News looks into the status of the 2026-27 season in the region, which has seen five cancellations so far. TUI TUI became the latest cruise line to cancel...

Every major cruise line operating from Florida’s Space Coast wants the same thing: more space at Port Canaveral. And Captain John Murray, the port’s CEO, has a clear answer for all of them. “Everybody wants the new terminal,” Murray said, speaking with Cruise Industry News. “And I refer to it as a non denominational terminal....

Meyer Turku has launched a five-year research program focused on developing cruise ship concepts and floating infrastructure for the coming decades, according to a press release. The MERiON program, co-funded by Business Finland, will run through 2030 and increase combined research investments by Meyer Turku and its ecosystem partners by up to 85 million euros....

TUI Cruises’ new Mein Schiff Flow is being redeployed for its inaugural winter season. The ship was originally scheduled to sail in the Arabian Gulf but will now move to sail from German homeports for the winter. While the geopolitical crisis forced the deployment change, CEO Wybcke Meier said it would work for the company...

Costa Cruises welcomed travel agents, partners and media onboard the Costa Diadema over the weekend for an event that marked the end of the 2025-26 cruise season in Brazil. The gathering also included an award ceremony that recognized over 20 travel agencies for their sales. “The Costa Brazil Awards is, above all, a recognition of...

Windstar Cruises will use d-flo Limited’s TravelComms software to manage guest travel communications, d-flo has announced in an online press release. The TravelComms platform is designed for travel companies to manage customer communications before, during and after trips through online and offline channels. “We’re very proud to have been selected to help Windstar Cruises achieve...

Royal Caribbean International’s new Legend of the Seas recently sailed from the Meyer Turku shipyard for its first set of sea trials. According to an update shared by the company, the LNG-powered vessel will spend the next 10 days at sea undergoing a series of real-world tests. The company said that the trials will push...

The Aroya recently transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the departure of all ships that were stranded in the Arabian Gulf. Following five other vessels, the Cruise Saudi-owned ship passed the strait on Sunday as part of a repositioning voyage to the Red Sea. The 150,000-ton ship is now sailing to the port of Jeddah,...

Carnival Corporation completed bridge simulator tests evaluating S-100 navigational data in collaboration with international hydrographic offices and industry partners, the company said in a press release. The tests were conducted at Carnival’s Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART) in Almere, Netherlands, and were recognized as an official International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Test Bed and Sea...

With the Strait of Hormuz now reopened for maritime traffic, the six cruise ships that were stranded in the region are expected to resume service soon. MSC Euribia Cruise Line: MSC Cruises Status: Repositioning to Europe Next Scheduled Cruise Departure: May 16, 2026, from Kiel, Germany Upcoming Itineraries: Northern Europe and Scandinavia Currently on its...

The Celebrity Infinity recently completed its 25th year of service for Celebrity Cruises. Built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the vessel was delivered on February 25, 2001. As the second ship in the company’s Millennium-class series, the Infinity initially offered a trans-Atlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale before embarking on its maiden voyage...

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has unveiled new pre- and post-cruise programs for voyages from fall 2027 through early 2029, the company announced in a press release. The programs are designed to enhance selected itineraries, allowing guests to extend their journey before or after their cruise. The programs range from guided city tours and nature-focused excursions to private...

Star Trek: The Cruise X is set to sail Feb. 20-27, 2027 from New Orleans aboard Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, the company said in a press release. The seven-day voyage will travel to Cozumel, Mexico, George Town, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The cruise will commemorate 40 years of Star Trek: The...

Five cruise ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz, completing what became a two-day passage of five vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf since the onset of conflicts in the Middle East. MSC Cruises confirmed on Saturday that the MSC Euribia has departed Dubai, safely transited the strait and is now en route to Northern...

MSC Cruises has confirmed that the MSC Euribia has departed Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to Northern Europe. The passage was completed in close coordination with the relevant authorities, the company said. The Euribia is on course to resume her Northern Europe season, and...