Royal Caribbean’s Legend Starts Sea Trials
Royal Caribbean International’s new Legend of the Seas recently sailed from the Meyer Turku shipyard for its first set of sea trials. According to an update shared by the company, the LNG-powered vessel will spend the next 10 days at sea undergoing a series of real-world tests. The company said that the trials will push…
When the Middle East Ships Are Resuming Service
With the Strait of Hormuz now reopened for maritime traffic, the six cruise ships that were stranded in the region are expected to resume service soon. MSC Euribia Cruise Line: MSC Cruises Status: Repositioning to Europe Next Scheduled Cruise Departure: May 16, 2026, from Kiel, Germany Upcoming Itineraries: Northern Europe and Scandinavia Currently on its…
MSC Euribia Out of Dubai and Heading to Northern Europe for May 16 Start
MSC Cruises has confirmed that the MSC Euribia has departed Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to Northern Europe. The passage was completed in close coordination with the relevant authorities, the company said. The Euribia is on course to resume her Northern Europe season, and…
Different Strategies Expected to Move Cruise Ships Out of Gulf
Four cruise operators with ships stranded in the Persian Gulf have brought them down to minimum crew manning and are expected to begin repositioning them to Europe following news that the Strait of Hormuz is open. Each operator is expected to employ a different strategy to move the ships out of the region with minimal…
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…
Princess Cruises Orders Three New Ships
Princess Cruises today announced three new shipbuilding agreements with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build three new cruise ships on a next-generation platform, according to a statement. The LNG-powered newbuilds are slated to be delivered in late 2035, 2038 and 2039, respectively. “The Voyager class will delight both our loyal guests and attract the next generation…
State of Cruise Industry 2026: Record Demand Despite Temporary Challenges
Leaders from the top four cruise conglomerates, Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and MSC Group’s Cruise Division, gathered in Miami Beach on Tuesday morning to discuss the state of the global cruise business. “Nobody asks us about (fuel) hedging when the price is low. The starting point is fuel is something…
Cruise Industry News Spring 2026 Magazine Out Now
The 2026 spring issue of the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine focuses on itinerary planning, food and beverage, the luxury market segment, expedition cruises, operations and future forecasts for the largest publicly traded cruise companies. The Cruise Industry News editorial team has produced exclusive insight into the itinerary planning process of 35 different cruise lines,…
Cruise Industry 10-Year Timeline: 50+ Million Guests, 20% Growth
The global cruise business is on course to grow at least 20 percent between 2026 and 2036, with big new ships driving growth to an estimated 50 million guests, according to the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. That is compared to just over 23 million guests 10 years ago, and an estimated 39 million…
HX Expeditions Reports Record Antarctica Season
HX Expeditions announced that its October 2025 to March 2026 Antarctica season has been the company’s most successful on record, according to a press release. “This has been an extraordinary season, not only in terms of guest numbers and satisfaction, but in the depth of scientific engagement and responsible travel practices,” said Gebhard Rainer, chief…
MSC Poesia Debuts Enhancements Ahead of Season in Alaska
The MSC Poesia recently resumed service after undergoing a series of enhancements at the Palumbo Shipyard in Malta. Set to mark MSC Cruises’ debut in Alaska later this year, the 2008-built vessel spent almost two months at the facility in Valetta. Part of a modernization effort that will see all of MSC’s Musica-class ships undergoing…
GPH’s Kutman Continues Strategic Port Expansion Globally
Just over 20 percent of cruise passengers will go through a Global Ports Holding–operated (GPH) port this year as Chairman Mehmet Kutman continues his strategic expansion of the company. A deal to take GPH private in 2024 has only helped, giving Kutman the flexibility and speed he needs. Kutman said he was currently keeping an…
The Apollo Group Launches Maritime Services Division
The Apollo Group has announced its new Maritime Services division, which the company called a strategic expansion beyond its hospitality business into full-service maritime solutions for the global cruise and shipping industries. The new division positions The Apollo Group as both an operator and advisor, offering end-to-end support across technical ship management, operations, consultancy and…
Oceania Announces Extensive Refurbishment of Marina
Oceania Cruises announced plans for a refurbishment of the Oceania Marina, the company said in a press release. Scheduled to enter drydock in October 2026, the 1,250-guest vessel will undergo an extensive transformation as the first ship in the line’s OceaniaNEXT program. “At Oceania Cruises, raising the bar is not an initiative, it is our…
Winter 2026-27: World Europa to Become MSC’s 9th Ship in the Caribbean
The MSC World Europa will become the 9th ship from MSC Cruises sailing in the Caribbean during the 2026-27 season. Previously scheduled to operate a season in the Middle East, the 5,400-passenger ship will take over the itineraries that were originally announced for the MSC Seaview. Sailing from Martinique and Guadeloupe, the LNG-powered vessel will…