Norwegian Aura Unveiled, Sailing June 2027 From Miami
Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled and opened for sale the Norwegian Aura, which it said is the longest and largest vessel in its fleet, which will homeport in Miami beginning in June 2027 for week-long sailings following her debut in Europe in late May 2027. The Norwegian Aura will be almost 1,130 feet long, 169,000…
Ritzenthaler: Azamara Forward ‘Introduction of a New Era’
The Azamara Quest will get a new penthouse deck later this year, with 12 new premium-priced staterooms, including two above-the-bridge suites with panoramic views. It’s part of the Azamara Forward refurbishment program that was announced on Thursday that will also include a new Chef’s Table restaurant, upgrades of all existing staterooms and much more, said…
Exploris One to be Auctioned
The Exploris One is heading to auction online as part of Exploris Expeditions & Cruises’ liquidation proceedings. Interested parties are able to place bids for the expedition vessel on Interencheres, a France-based marketplace for auctions. According to the website, the 132-guest ship is being offered for sale by auction house Ouest Enchères Publiques of Nantes….
Key Cruise Ship Drydocks in January
From routine maintenance to conversion work, Cruise Industry News looks into some of the key drydock projects that are taking place in January For a complete overview of the drydock market, see the new 2026 Drydock and Refurb Report. Celebrity Infinity Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises Capacity: 2,170 guests Tonnage: 91,000 Year built: 2001 Drydock Period:…
AIDA Cruises to Return to the Middle East in 2027-28
AIDA Cruises opened bookings for cruises to the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf during the 2027-28 winter season. The itineraries will be operated by the AIDAperla. The 2017-built vessel will offer its first season in the region, with cruises departing from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Starting on December 16, 2027, the deployment includes a…
2026 Drydocking and Refurbishment Report Out Now
Cruise Industry News has officially launched the 2026 Drydocking and Refurbishment Report, now available for immediate download in PDF format. This definitive resource provides a comprehensive analysis of the global cruise ship drydock market. It features a master calendar detailing current schedules and long-term projections extending through 2028. 2026 will be a record-breaking year for…
Oceania Announces Transition to Adults-Only
Oceania Cruises announced that, effective January 7, 2026, the cruise line will exclusively welcome guests aged 18 and older for all new reservations for future voyages, elevating the onboard ambiance and responding to the preferences of its guests. The company said that all existing reservations made prior to January 7, 2026, that include travelers under…
Princess Unveils Expanded Northern Europe Season for 2027
Princess Cruises will operate an extended Northern Europe cruise program in 2027, the company announced in a press release. With sales set to open on Jan. 13, 2026, the deployment will feature 48 voyages to 54 destinations across 18 countries. Four ships are scheduled to sail in the region, including the Sky Princess, the Majestic…
Cruise Industry Starts 2026 With 74 Ships on Order
Data from the latest edition of the Cruise Industry News Global Cruise Ship Orderbook shows that 74 vessels are currently on order. To be built at a cost of over $76.5 billion, the new ships will add over 205,250 berths to the industry through 2036. The new vessels have an average size of nearly 120,000…
Ambience Enters Multimillion-Pound Refit at A&P Tyne
Ambassador Cruise Line has confirmed that the Ambience will enter a scheduled dry dock at A&P Tyne in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, on January 7, 2026, for a three-week program of technical maintenance and refurbishment works. Nick Hughes, chief operating officer at Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “The Ambience’s dry dock in Hebburn represents a significant…
Meet the New Ships of 2026: Over 30,000 New Berths, $10+ Billion
Over 30,000 new berths will enter service in the cruise industry in 2026, with 14 new ocean-going ships slated to start cruising. The ships were built at a cost of over $10 billion; they range from the biggest of them all: the Legend of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International and Disney Adventure, to Antactica21’s…
Silver Muse Resumes Service After Drydock and Capacity Increase
The Silver Muse recently resumed revenue service for Silversea after undergoing a major drydock update in Europe. As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the project included a significant berth addition, which increased the ship’s capacity by roughly seven percent. With larger suites making room for smaller accommodations on decks 9, 10 and 11, the…
Cruise Industry Trends for 2026 and Beyond
Cruise Industry News takes a look at the trends across the cruise business for 2026 and beyond. Larger Newbuilds Cruise ships will continue to grow in size over the next decade, with new vessels exceeding 200,000 tons debuting for all major brands. The lineup includes new record-breaking ships for Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line…
Invitation to Tender for a Tenancy for Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, with its strategic location and deep-water port, has long served as a pivotal maritime hub in the region and now a tender has become available to operate and manage the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) starting from June 2028. Guided by the Action Plan on Development of Cruise Tourism (Action Plan) published by…
Phoenix Reisen’s Amadea Sets Sail on 146-Night Voyage
The Amadea recently departed from the German port of Bremerhaven for Phoenix Reisen’s 146-night world voyage. As part of the “Great Circumnavigation of the World,” the 1991-built ship will sail to a wide range of destinations in the Northern Hemisphere. The cruise starts with visits to destinations in Europe and the Atlantic before arriving in…