Le Commandant Charcot Completes Upgrades at Damen Shipyard
Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot recently completed a drydock at Damen Shipyard in Brest, France. According to the facility, the 2021-built vessel underwent a range of work including blasting and painting of the hull. Designed with a PC2 hull, the LNG-powered icebreaker saw the application of new hull coating, which is said to enable withstand regular…
Scenic Eclipse I and II Berth Bow-to-Bow in Seville
Seville Cruise Port witnessed a “bow-to-bow” berthing of two ships at Muelle de las Delicias. According to a statement, the milestone took place on May 9 and 10 between the Scenic Eclipse I and Scenic Eclipse II. “Seeing both Scenic Eclipse yachts docked together in Seville is a proud moment for our team and a clear indicator of the port’s potential,” said Beatrice Rasmini,…
MSC Cruises and Eni Prove Biofuel’s Readiness for Cruise Ship Engines
Testing by Eni and MSC Cruises has confirmed the technical feasibility of using biofuel in its pure form to power cruise ship engines, the cruise line said in a press release. During the tests with Enilive’s HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) diesel, one of the MSC Opera’s engines was powered for approximately 2,000 hours with pure HVO. No engine modifications were made, while performance and emissions data…
Hondius Departs Tenerife for Rotterdam with 25 Crew Aboard
The Hondius departed Granadilla, Tenerife, at 19:00 local time on May 11 and is now underway to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with an expected arrival on the evening of May 17, according to Oceanwide Expeditions. The total number of individuals repatriated to their home countries and the Netherlands was 122, consisting of 35 crew and 87…
Adora Mediterranea Enters Drydock in Zhoushan for Major Refurbishment
The Adora Mediterranea has entered a scheduled drydock at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. for a 10-day maintenance and upgrade project. The vessel docked at the shipyard’s No. 2 drydock on Wednesday, May 7. Marine engineering firm Peak Ocean is overseeing the interior refurbishment work under a contract procured by Columbia Cruise Services on behalf…
MSC Poesia Kicks Off Alaska Season from Seattle
The MSC Poesia embarked on its first sailing from Seattle to Alaska on May 11. This follows the ship’s recent transit through the Panama Canal during her 18-night Grand Voyage from Miami to Seattle. The ship’s inaugural summer Alaska season will last through September, according to a statement. Seven-night itineraries are offered, calling at Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point and Juneau in Alaska (US) along with Victoria (Canada)….
Caribbean Continues to Claim Lion’s Share of Market
The Caribbean continues to be the backbone of the cruise industry with 42 percent of the global cruise capacity deployed in 2026, up 12 percent from 2025, and with a record 16.5 million guests, according to the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report This year, more than 200 ships from more than 40 cruise lines…
Ponant: Exploration as North Star
Creating the ideal deployment is one of the biggest challenges for an expedition cruise line, according to Belinda Hindmarsh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Global Business for Ponant Explorations Group. “The complexity in building a fleet deployment is not to be underestimated,” she said. Deployment can either make or break a year from a commercial…
Disney Adventure Resumes Service Following Technical Issues
The Disney Adventure is back in service after facing a technical issue that led to the cancellation of one cruise. Resuming its regular schedule, the 2025-built ship sailed from Singapore on May 11, 2026, kicking off a three-night cruise in Southeast Asia. The itinerary includes two days of sailing in the South China Sea before…
Atlas Adventurer’s Inaugural Season Revealed
Atlas Ocean Voyages has announced the inaugural season of the Atlas Adventurer. The 400-guest luxury expedition sailing ship is set to join its fleet in November 2028. The inaugural season’s expeditions start on November 6, 2028, in Kobe, Japan, and culminate in late spring 2029 in Athens, Greece, the company said in a press release. It features journeys across Asia and…
Trio of Cruise Ships Remain Laid Up in China as Market Challenges Persist
Three cruise ships,the Blue Dream Star, Blue Dream Melody, and Chinese Taishan,remain out of service in mainland China and looking for their next careers. The 1,218-guest Blue Dream Melody, operated by Blue Dream Cruises, was withdrawn from service at its Beihai homeport on January 4, 2026, citing a need for “systematic hardware upgrades and maintenance.”…
Three Cruise Ships Mark Inaugural Calls in Victoria
Three cruise ships had their inaugural calls at Victoria May 9–10, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) announced in a press release. On Saturday evening, the Star Princess arrived for the first of 21 calls into Victoria this summer. Since the cruise terminal is located on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, the ship…
Ushuaia Port Workers Warn 2026-27 Antarctic Season at Risk
Port workers in Ushuaia have issued a public warning that the upcoming 2026-27 Antarctic cruise season cannot be guaranteed amid an ongoing federal government takeover of the port. The workers of the Provincial Port Directorate issued an open letter stating that operational reliability at the port is now at risk following the January intervention by…
Alcoholic Beverages Temporarily Not Available at Disney’s Lookout Cay
Disney Cruise Line will temporarily suspend the sale of alcoholic beverages at its private destination of Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. According to a statement issued by the company, drinks will not be available for guests visiting the port on May 12, 2026. Joining Royal Caribbean and MSC, which announced similar temporary bans, Disney said…
Virgin Voyages Makes Maiden Visit to Vancouver
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority celebrated the maiden call of Virgin Voyages to the Port of Vancouver, according to a press release. The Brilliant Lady arrived at the Canada Place Terminal today as part of the brand’s debut in Alaska and the West Coast. “We are delighted to welcome Virgin Voyages to the Port of…