Norfolk Reports Record 340,000 Guests in 2025
The Port of Norfolk welcomed a record number of guests in 2025. According to an update shared by Cruise Norfolk, the Half Moone Cruise Terminal hosted 47 turnaround calls from Carnival Cruise Line, as well as 15 port-of-call visits, with over 340,000 unique visitors arriving at the port. The year also marked the official launch…
Iona Completes Five Years of Service for P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises’ Iona recently completed five years of service after being delivered by the Meyer Werft shipyard on October 9, 2020. Part of Carnival Corporation’s Excel series, the 183,000-ton vessel debuted as the largest ship built for the British brand. The Iona also became the first LNG-powered ship dedicated to the British market and the…
Allure of the Seas: 15 Years of Service for Royal Caribbean
The Allure of the Seas recently completed 15 years of service for Royal Caribbean International after being delivered on October 28, 2010. As a sister to the 2009-built Oasis of the Seas, the 220,000-ton ship was built at the STX Europe Shipyard in Turku, Finland. Surpassing its sister ship by a slight margin, the vessel…
Costa Announces 2026-27 Season in South America
Costa Cruises has opened sales for its 2026-2027 season in South America, which will feature the Costa Diadema and the Costa Serena. According to a press release, the ships will serve national markets in the region between November 2026 and April 2027. The deployment includes three- to nine-night itineraries departing from Santos, Itajaí and Rio…
Norwegian Announces Return of Free at Sea Plus
Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing back its Free at Sea Plus package, according to a recent press release. The company stated that the return takes its Free at Sea program “to the next level, giving travelers even more ways to enjoy a seamless, stress-free cruise.” With prices starting at $49.99 per person per day, the…
MSC Magnifica Ready for Winter, World Cruise After Drydock
MSC Cruises has completed a major refurbishment of the MSC Magnifica at the Palumbo shipyard in Malta and the ship has now started her winter sailings in the Mediterranean Sea ahead of the vessel’s 132-day world cruise that starts in January. The two-month drydock included the addition of two new specialty dining venues: Butcher’s Cut…
Caribbean Tourism and Cruise Leaders Focus on Resilience After Hurricane Melissa
Caribbean tourism officials and cruise executives gathered aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in Miami this earlier month to discuss the cruise industry’s role in hurricane recovery and long-term regional resilience, according to event organizers. The “Iconic Summit” took place during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) second annual Caribbean Weekend, following Hurricane Melissa’s impact…
Carnival Corporation: Well Positioned Against Caribbean Capacity Surge
John Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation, downplayed concerns from Wall Street analysts around a spike in Caribbean cruise capacity in the first quarter. More ships, geopolitical concerns, airfare costs and private island development are driving a large Caribbean increase. Weinstein, speaking on Carnival’s fourth quarter and year end earnings call, said the question…
Carnival Corp Reports Record Full Year Net Income for 2025
Carnival Corporation has reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025 and provided an outlook for the first quarter and full year 2026. Key Highlights Full year net income of $2.8 billion with record adjusted net income1 of $3.1 billion, up over 60 percent. Full year record revenues of $26.6 billion on record net yields1 (in constant currency), outperforming…
Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2027-28 Deployment
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its 2027-28 deployment, along with the return of its Free at Sea Plus package. According to a press release, the new season includes over 370 sailings with a focus on the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The itineraries range from two to 22…
MSC: Two New East Med Itineraries for 2026 Summer Season
MSC Cruises announced in a statement that it will launch two new itineraries during the summer 2026 season in the Eastern Mediterranean. From April 4, 2026, the Lirica will operate 29 weekly voyages from Venice-Marghera to Kotor in Montenegro, Mykonos (with an overnight stay on the Greek island), the new destination of Syros, and Ancona…
Star Seeker Delivered to Windstar
Windstar Cruises has officially taken ownership of the new Star Seeker, following a handover ceremony on December 15 at the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. The 224-guest yacht is the first new build in Windstar’s Star Class and marks a major milestone in the small ship cruise line’s ongoing fleet expansion, the company…
MSC Orders Four Cruise Ships at Meyer Werft, Plus Two Options
MSC Cruises today announced a new order for four next-generation cruise vessels and two additional options from Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany marking the launch of its “New Frontier” platform. With a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 at 180,000 tons, the “New Frontier” ships will be delivered annually starting in 2030. The announcement was made…
Discovering Nature on Tokyo’s Izu Islands
Just south of Tokyo, the Izu Islands, a chain of nine volcanic islands that are part of Tokyo, feel worlds apart from the city. Every year, visitors are drawn to their peculiar geological landscapes, rich flora and fauna, and crystal-clear seas, making the islands a perfect destination for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty close…
Carnival Horizon Sets Sail with More Hurricane Relief Supplies for Jamaica
Carnival Cruise Line sent another shipment of hurricane relief supplies today to Ocho Rios, Jamaica aboard the Carnival Horizon. The latest delivery includes 24 pallets weighing more than five tons of critically needed supplies, including hygiene kits, medical items and other essential goods, coordinated in partnership with Direct Relief, the Miami HEAT, and the Micky…