Cunard’s Queen Quartet Coming Together in Liverpool in 2028
Cunard has announced that all four of its ships will come together in Liverpool for the first time on May 16, 2028. The Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne will unite on the River Mersey, marking the first time the full fleet of four has ever assembled. In a press release,…
Ponant Offering Flexible Booking Conditions in April
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 Confirms Upcoming Cruises in the Mediterranean
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…
Five Brands Out for 2026-27 Season in Arabian Gulf
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…
Cruise Line Duo Pledges $175K to Rebuild Alaskan Veterans’ Facility
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are joining forces to provide $175,000 in 2026 to help rebuild an American Legion Post in Ketchikan, Alaska. After more than 85 years at the same location, the Joseph T. Craig, Post 3 building was destroyed by arson in September 2023, according to a statement. The organization provides support to Ketchikan’s veterans, their families and the broader community. “At Princess Cruises, we are deeply…
Wind Star First in Fleet to Complete Two-Phase Redesign
Windstar Cruises’ Wind Star has completed the second and final stage of the company’s Setting Sails refurbishment project. This redesign is meant to bring a more refined, modern feel to the experience aboard the 148-guest vessel, which celebrated its 40th anniversary of operation earlier this month. The ship is now the first in the Wind Class fleet to complete Phases 1 and 2 of the refurbishment program, the company said in a statement. The Wind Surf is scheduled to complete Phase 2…
Music Meets Meditation Program Returning to Europa in 2027
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is reintroducing its “Classical Music Meets Meditation” format aboard the Europa in 2027, the company said in a press release. The combination of classical music and guided mindfulness will be available during a 12-day journey from Santa Cruz to Cape Town sailing November 6-18, 2027. The Swiss CHAARTS ensemble, soprano Marlis Petersen and Italian composer and violinist Francesca Guccione will create a concert setting that will serve as backdrop for daily yoga, meditation and bodywork sessions. The combination is expected to enable guests to…
SeaDream II Returns to Med for 24 Summer Voyages in 2028
SeaDream Yacht Club announced its summer 2028 Mediterranean season, with 24 new voyages between May and October aboard the SeaDream II. The ship will be repositioned from Northern Europe to deliver a full season spanning 12 countries and more than 70 ports of call, due to what the cruise line said in a statement is an extraordinary demand for its Mediterranean program….
StarCruises Launches Hong Kong-Themed Cruise Experience
StarCruises has presented its “Knows Hong Kong Best” itinerary, envisaged as a staycation and getaway experience for Hong Kong travelers. The Star Voyager will be sailing from Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal for a series of two-, three- and five-night Cruises to Okinawa in Japan, Vietnam and the coastal cities of Penghu and Keelung. The two-night High Seas Cruise also departs every Friday night and returns Sunday in the afternoon, according to a statement. …
Port Canaveral’s New Terminal Will Be for Everyone and No One in Particular
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 Launches Five-Year R&D Program for Future Cruise Ships
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….
Fred. Olsen Names Leanna Lakes Technical and Marine Ops Director
Leanna Lakes has been appointed to the newly created role of technical and marine operations director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the company said in a press release. She will oversee the captains, quality and resource and port operations, and the management of the company’s technical colleagues in Norway. Fred. Olsen added that the position has been created to provide strategic and commercial leadership…
P&O Cruises’ Summer 2028 Program Visiting 29 Countries
P&O Cruises has unveiled what it says is its biggest ever summer program, with 215 new cruises on sale, departing from March to October 2028. Sailing from Southampton and on fly-cruises from Malta, the summer program will visit 121 destinations in 29 countries, with 64 overnight calls and 69 late evening departures that are expected to give guests more time to explore…
Mein Schiff Flow Redeployment Will Work Well for TUI
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…
Marella Discovery I Opens Cyprus’ 2026 Season
The Marella Discovery I arrived at the DP World Limassol’s cruise terminal for the first time this year, marking the start of Cyprus’ 2026 cruise season. This is where the ship will homeport for the season, with 26 calls scheduled between April and November, according to a statement. The ship is sailing an eight-day itinerary with stops at Kusadasi, Mykonos, Piraeus, Souda…