Seattle Cruise Season Kicks Off With 330 Calls and 2 New Brands
This week, the Port of Seattle is kicking off the 2026 Alaska cruise season, marking a milestone with 330 vessel calls and 2.1 million revenue passengers, the most in the port’ history. The season begins Friday, April 17 with the first in-transit arrival. In 2026, eleven homeport vessels will connect to shore power, with design…
ABS and United Waterways Joining Forces on Inland Crew Training
ABS has signed a letter of intent with United Waterways (UW) to establish a joint venture (JV) with River Academy, UW’s training and education subsidiary. The aim of the JV is to provide crew training programs across the European inland barge, river cruise and coastal vessel sectors, ABS said in a press release. “River Academy has earned a strong reputation for developing the skilled crews that this industry depends on,…
Adora to Take Delivery of New Ship Sooner than Planned
Adora Cruises will take delivery of its new cruise ship, the Adora Flora City, ahead of schedule. Based on an agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard, the vessel will be delivered on November 6, 2026, the company said in a press release. The ship will then launch international routes from Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. Adora’s CEO Roger Chen said: “We are now fully focused on the early…
Norwegian Aura Floated Out at Fincantieri
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) floated out the Norwegian Aura during a ceremony held on April 16 at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Now that the external hull construction is complete and the ship has touched water for the first time, work will continue on the ship’s interior development, according to a statement. Said to be the…
New Details Revealed for Oceania Sonata’s French Dining Venue
Oceania Cruises has shared new details of La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, its dining venue debuting aboard the Oceania Sonata next year. In a press release, Oceania described La Table as the most exclusive fine dining venue at sea, noting that it will offer an experience that embraces classic French techniques and innovative pairings to only 18 guests. “At Oceania Cruises, our dedication to cuisine is rooted…
Royal Caribbean Reveals China Sailings for 2027-28
Royal Caribbean has unveiled a new lineup of sailings on the Spectrum of the Seas for the 2027-28 season, which includes eight- to 10-night journeys from Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The company said in a press release that for the first time, guests can sail one way between cities, starting or ending their journey…
Royal Caribbean Group Foundation Formed to Support Global Communities
Royal Caribbean Group has launched the Royal Caribbean Group Foundation to advance change through global and regional partnerships and community-based solutions. In a press release, the company described the Foundation’s creation as a formal expansion of its commitment to strengthening ocean communities around the world. Its inaugural pledge supports the creation of the Emergency Medicine…
Mahler to Debut Under Riverside Banner in 2028
The Riverside Mahler will make her debut for Riverside Luxury Cruises in 2028, according to a press release. Joining her sister-ship, the Riverside Debussy, she is slated to sail itineraries on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube rivers. “This is the next chapter for Riverside. Introducing Riverside Mahler gives us the opportunity to take everything…
Princess Introduces Signature Beverage Collection POURS
Princess Cruises has launched “POURS,” a signature beverage program that enhances the onboard guest experience through a curated selection of balanced, founder-led premium spirits, as well as zero-proof and nonalcoholic beverage offerings. Launching fleetwide this summer and replacing the former Love Line Collection, POURS beverages represent an evolution in both design and guest experience, the…
Colombia Records Strong Growth in Cruise Passenger Arrivals
Colombia’s cruise industry is expanding, with cruise passenger arrivals increasing by more than 20% in the 2025–26 season. The industry generates approximately $50 million annually and plays a key role in local economies, according to a press release. One of the reasons for this expansion is thought to be the interconnection between biodiversity, culture, sustainability and community in the country. “Colombia offers a cruise portfolio as diverse as its…
Magnifica Calls at Shanghai, MSC Marks 20 Years in China
The MSC Magnifica made its inaugural call at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on March 29, 2026, coinciding with the company’s 20th year of operations in the Chinese market. The call was marked by a plaque exchange between MSC Cruises executives and Shanghai port authorities. The ship’s call was featured on the 2026 World…
Atlas Ocean to Open Bookings for New Sailing Ship
Atlas Ocean Voyages will open bookings for the maiden season of its new sailing yacht, the Atlas Adventurer, on May 20, 2026. According to the company’s president and CEO, James A. Rodriguez, reservations will open first for the members of the brand’s loyalty program, the Atlas Yacht Club. The general public will be able to…
Jamaica Sees Over One Million Visitors in First Quarter
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, delivered an address to the Jamaican diaspora community at the Embassy of Jamaica on April 8. In his statement, Bartlett unveiled that Jamaica welcomed over one million visitor arrivals and generated $956 million in foreign exchange earnings in the first quarter of 2026. This was just five months after…
Saga Celebrates 30 Years with New Itineraries
Saga Cruises has announced that it will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027 with bespoke new itineraries for the Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure. The company said in a blog post that both sailings will be offered in May 2027 and will feature onboard events and entertainment to mark the anniversary of the…
Princess Newbuilds Push Orderbook to 2039 and 82 Ships
Three Princess newbuilds ordered at Fincantieri have pushed the global cruise ship orderbook out to 2039, with the total now standing at 82 cruise ships on order. The trio of 4,700-guest ships ordered on Wednesday will be the largest Princess ships to date and be 183,000 tons each, with deliveries slated for 2035, 2038 and…