Aroya Sails from Istanbul for First Cruise in the Mediterranean
The Aroya sailed from the Turkish port of Istanbul on Saturday for Aroya Cruises’ first voyage in the Eastern Mediterranean. Having repositioned from the Red Sea earlier this month, the 3,400-guest ship started its inaugural cruise in the region on June 28, 2025. The sailing also marked the ship’s debut in Istanbul’s Galataport Cruise Terminal,…
Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service
The Norwegian Epic recently completed 15 years of service after being delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on June 17, 2010. The 150,000-ton vessel was built as a prototype vessel at the STX France Shipyard, currently known as the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, in St. Nazaire, France. After leaving its building dock, the Norwegian Epic embarked on…
Viking Takes Delivery of Viking Vesta
Viking today announced it has taken delivery of its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. According to a press release, the Viking Vesta features 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. The ship will spend her inaugural…
AIDA Evolution Program Paying Off for Carnival
The AIDA Evolution drydock upgrades for the AIDAdiva have been well received, said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, speaking on the company’s earnings call. Those upgrades are part of the company’s strategy to rebalance itself toward its higher returning brands, Weinstein said. The initial refit program was for three of the AIDA Sphinx-class ships,…
Carnival Executives Detail Latest Ship Sales
Carnival Corporation has sold two ships this year as the Seabourn Sojourn will head to Mitsui Ocean Cruises next year, and the Costa Fortuna will sail for Margaritaville in late 2026. “Over time, since ships get older, we will sell them to other parties,” said David Bernstein, CFO, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings…
Carnival Cruise Line Gets Ready to Open Celebration Key
Carnival Cruise Line is ready to welcome the first guests to its new private destination, Celebration Key, the company announced in a press release. First announced in mid-2023, the new port of call in Grand Bahama will be officially opened by President Christine Duffy on July 19, 2025. According to Carnival, Celebration Key is currently…
Aroya Set For First Season in the Mediterranean
Aroya Cruises is ready to begin its inaugural season in the Eastern Mediterranean later this month. The Aroya recently arrived at the company’s new homeport in Istanbul after embarking on a repositioning voyage from Jeddah. The 3,400-guest ship is now set to undergo some routine maintenance before kicking off its inaugural cruise from the Galataport…
MSC World Asia to Feature Industry’s Longest Dry Slide
The new MSC World Asia will feature the largest dry slide onboard a cruise ship, MSC Cruises said in a press release. According to the company, the Tree of Life @ The Spiral will serve as a signature architectural feature of the vessel, which will be the third in the company’s World class series. In…
Costa to Offer 65-Night Cruise from Japan to Argentina
Costa Cruises recently revealed the details of a new world cruise itinerary that will sail from Japan to Argentina onboard the Costa Serena in 2026. As it redeploys from Asia to Europe and the Western Hemisphere, the 2007-built vessel is set to offer a 65-night voyage departing from Tokyo on Oct. 18, 2026. The cruise…
P&O’s Britannia Sets Sail on 10-Year Anniversary Cruise
The Britannia is currently offering a special voyage to celebrate its tenth year of service for P&O Cruises. The 144,000-ton vessel was delivered to the British brand on Feb. 22, 2015 following her completion at Fincantieri. “The Britannia has been at the heart of so many cruise holidays, from getaways close to home to big…
Here Are All the Changes Coming to Celebrity’s Solstice Class
Celebrity Cruises announced a major refurbishment program that will see its Solstice-class ships undergoing significant enhancements. Cruise Industry News looks at some of the key changes coming to the series of vessels, which includes the Celebrity Solstice, the Celebrity Equinox, the Celebrity Eclipse, the Celebrity Silhouette and the Celebrity Reflection. Celebrity Barcade Replacing the ship’s…
These 13 Cruise Ships Remain Out of Service
From smaller expedition vessels to large, modern contemporary ships, Cruise Industry News gathered the latest on a number of cruise ships that are currently sitting in a limbo status. For a complete overview of the market, see the Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News. Minerva Last Operator: Swan Hellenic Cruises Year Built: 1996 Capacity: 350 guests Tonnage: 12,892 Location: Elefsis, Greece In…
PortMiami to Welcome Seven New Ships in 2025
PortMiami is expecting to welcome seven new cruise ships at its terminals during 2025, including a series of newbuilds and new-to-port vessels. The first ships to arrive were the MSC World America and the Norwegian Aqua, which debuted in South Florida soon after leaving their building docks. As part of MSC Cruises’ World Class series,…
Westerdam Embarks on Cruise to Alaska and Arctic Circle
The Westerdam set sail from Seattle earlier this month for the second annual edition of Holland America Line’s “Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice” itinerary. Cruising roundtrip from the Pacific Northwest, the 28-night voyage will sail all the way to the Bering Strait while visiting 14 destinations in Alaska and Canada. Described by the company as its…
These Cruise Ships Are Changing Hands in 2026
Cruise Industry News lists some of the key ship transfers set to take place next year. Costa Fortuna Cruise Line: Costa Cruises New Operator: Margaritaville at Sea Cruises Capacity: 2,720 guests Tonnage: 103,000 Year Built: 2003 Delivery Date: September 2026 After being sold by Costa Cruises in early May, the Costa Fortuna will be delivered…