66 Degrees Expeditions Highlights 2026 Arctic Itineraries
66° Expeditions has released its 2026 Arctic voyage schedule featuring itineraries designed to offer travelers the opportunity to witness both the Northern Lights and polar bears within a single journey. “Combining these two iconic Arctic phenomena in a thoughtfully designed itinerary addresses a specific desire we’ve identified in our clientele,” said Dr. Li Wei, chief…
Cruise Planners Hosts River Cruise Academy at ASTA Expo
Cruise Planners hosted its annual River Cruise Academy in partnership with AmaWaterways, an onboard training program designed to help advisors deepen their river cruise knowledge and better serve growing client demand, the company said in a press release. The fifth annual ASTA River Cruise Expo brought 1,600 travel professionals to Amsterdam for nine days of…
Disney Cruise Line Sailing into New Era of Global Expansion
As Disney Cruise Line continues to grow its fleet, the cruise line’s stated objective is to bring the “magic of its vacations at sea” to more guests in more places around the world. This includes offering a mix of shorter cruises, expanded regional sailing options and a continued presence in popular destinations like the Caribbean,…
Victoria Set to Welcome First Cruise Ship of 2026 Season
Victoria will welcome its first cruise ship of the 2026 season, the Nieuw Amsterdam, on April 10, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority said in a press release. The vessel will arrive at 10 a.m. and depart at 10 p.m. from Pier B at The Breakwater District at Ogden Point. “As the 2026 cruise season begins,…
Lionel Catherin Stepping into New Role at The World
Lionel Catherin has been promoted to Executive Chef at The World, Residences at Sea. Effective July 2026, he will succeed Senior Executive Chef Geoffrey Murray, who will retire on May 9, 2026, the cruise line said in a press release. In his new role, Catherin will partner with Executive Chef Sebastian Gnida to lead The…
Michael Eder Named MXP CEO
Michael Eder has been appointed chief executive officer of MXP, effective July 1, 2026. He brings over two decades of experience in IT/OT automation, software development and digital transformation, MXP said in a press release. “I am excited to join MXP at such a pivotal moment,” said Eder. “With its strong MXP Enterprise Platform and market leader position in the cruise…
Wartsila Inks 3-Ship Maintenance Deal with Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea has signed a 10-year lifecycle agreement with Wärtsilä for lifecycle planning, long-term maintenance support and technical services for three vessels. Two are already in service, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander, while the third, the Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, is scheduled to enter service in early 2027. The agreements for the first two vessels were booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2026, while the third vessel is…
Meyer Werft Debuting All-Electric Cruise Ship Concept
Meyer Werft has announced a concept study for what it says is the world’s first 100% battery-powered cruise ship, the 88,000-ton Vision. The ship will be 275 meters long and able to accommodate 1,856 passengers, with the battery system supplied by Corvus Energy. According to a press release, the battery system will be able to…
Refurbished Carnival Pride Returns to Baltimore
The Carnival Pride returned to service in Baltimore on April 9 following a 22‑day drydock in Freeport, Grand Bahama. In a statement, Carnival Cruises said the ship’s casino and retail areas, including the Effy Jewelry boutique, were refurbished. Now that the work is complete, the vessel is set to resume its year‑round service from Baltimore. Cruises to The Bahamas and Bermuda are…
Estonian Solutions Supporting Cruise Industry’s Green Transition
Estonian companies are developing practical solutions for modernizing vessels, reducing emissions and improving efficiency in the cruise and wider maritime industry, Trade Estonia said in a press release. Their technologies and services range from marine engineering and retrofit to shore power, digital tools and interior solutions for passenger vessels. The companies are part of a connected ecosystem spanning €25 million state-backed retrofit support, port electrification and digital systems. One of them is SRC, a marine retrofit company for passenger vessels and cruise ships. Its Methanol…
VidantaWorld Set to Launch Cruise Operation on Saturday
VidantaWorld Voyages has announced the long-awaited debut of the Elegant, which the company described as an ultra-yacht designed for Mediterranean cruising. From April 11 through October 2, 2026 and returning May through September 2027, the vessel will offer seven-night Mediterranean itineraries spanning the French Riviera, Spanish Coast, Azores and Portugal, Greek Islands and Adriatic Sea,…
Silversea Enhancing Venetian Society Loyalty Program
Silversea’s Venetian Society loyalty program is getting an upgrade starting July 1, 2026. There will be more ways to earn status, get recognition earlier and get benefits throughout the journey for guests, the company said in a press release. This includes two new loyalty milestones and additional benefits across every tier. “Our Venetian Society members…
Cruise Lines Face Chargeback Fraud as Industry Scales
With a record number of cruise passengers expected globally in 2026, the industry’s chargeback fraud problem is scaling right alongside it. From friendly fraud disputes on bundled vacation packages to organized refund abuse targeting high-ticket bookings, cruise operators are uniquely exposed. And according to Tim Tynan, chief executive officer of Chargeback Gurus, most aren’t equipped…
MSC Cancels Cruise in Europe for Vessel Stuck in Middle East
MSC Cruises cancelled the first cruise of the European season for the MSC Euribia, which was scheduled to depart from Kiel, Germany, on May 2, 2026. Docked in Dubai since late February, the LNG-powered vessel was scheduled to offer a seven-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. According to a statement sent to booked guests, the…
Viking Builds Up Winter Programs in Europe
Next year, Viking will introduce several new ocean and river itineraries, including winter season sailings in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Six ships will sail in the Mediterranean, while the Viking Libra will sail 20 days from Barcelona to Tromsø in Northern Norway via London (Tilbury) for a Northern Lights cruise which is repeated aboard…