MSC Bringing Yacht Club to Two More Ships
Sailings on MSC Cruises’ two vessels, the Musica and MSC Orchestra, which are being upgraded to feature the MSC Yacht Club, are open for booking. The upgraded MSC Musica will set sail in November 2026 and MSC Orchestra in March 2027, the company said in a statement. The refurbishments are part of its ongoing modernization…
AmaWaterways Christens AmaSofia on the Rhine
AmaWaterways held a christening ceremony for its newest river ship, AmaSofia, on March 14. More than 1,200 advisors attending the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam were invited to attend the celebration hosted on three of the river cruise line’s ships on the Rhine – the AmaPrima, AmaVenita and AmaSofia. The ship’s godmother is Sarah…
American Encore En Route to Pacific Northwest after Sea Trials
American Cruise Lines’ new riverboat, the American Encore, passed sea trials last week and is sailing to the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The riverboat is currently cruising along the coastal waterways of the Eastern Seaboard and will next sail through the Caribbean Sea, according to a statement. Helmed by Captain Andrew…
The Quiet Revolution: How Modern Propulsion Reduces Noise, Vibration and Emissions
As cruise operators face growing scrutiny around emissions and Underwater radiated noise (or noise performance), propulsion is increasingly being judged on more than efficiency alone. Advances in thruster design, hybrid power systems and fuel technologies show how quieter, cleaner operations can improve both passenger comfort and minimize underwater noise radiation which helps to protect marine…
Mein Schiff Flow Completes First Sea Trials
TUI Cruises’ newest ship, Mein Schiff Flow, completed its first extensive sea trials, technical and nautical sea tests, in the Mediterranean in February. Testing included engine performance, propulsion and maneuverability, as well as the ship’s key technical systems, the company said in a statement, which was accompanied by a video. Additionally, stabilizers, anchoring systems and…
AIDA Cancels 2026-27 Winter Season in Middle East
AIDA Cruises will not offer any cruises in the Middle East during the winter of 2026/27 as the situation in the region remains uncertain and cannot be reliably predicted for the foreseeable future, the company said in a press release. Consequently, the planned repositioning cruises of AIDAprima around Africa have also been cancelled. The company…
Norwegian Luna Opens Doors to First Guests in Rome
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Luna, welcomed her first guests in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The ship is scheduled to make her U.S. debut in Miami on March 23, 2026, followed by a christening ceremony on March 27. Following Fincantieri’s delivery of the vessel to Norwegian last week, the company shared new images of…
Arabian Gulf Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Remaining Sailings in the Region
Amid ongoing security concerns and regional operational challenges, multiple cruise lines have now cancelled the remainder of their 2025-26 winter deployments in the Arabian Gulf. MSC With sailings in the region through early April, MSC Cruises cancelled the remainder of its 2025-26 season in the Middle East. In its cancellation statement, the company said that…
Upcoming Luxury Cruise Ship Introductions
The luxury cruise ship orderbook shows more than three dozen new vessel introductions coming from now through 2037. Highlights include the entries of Four Seasons and Orient Express, and Explora Journeys rounding out its fleet to six ships by 2028. For a complete overview of the market, see the new 2026 Luxury Market Report by…
Jefferies Raises Viking Price Target, Keeps Hold on Norwegian
Jefferies analyst David Katz updated his outlook on two major cruise operators this week following their fourth quarter and year end 2025 earnings, lifting his price target on Viking while maintaining a cautious stance on Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Viking Impresses In a note sent to investors, Katz raised his price target on Viking $91…
Ritz-Carlton Reveals Luminara’s Summer 2027 Alaska and Asia Season
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection announced Luminara’s summer 2027 deployment, featuring 21 voyages across Alaska and Asia from April through October. The season includes 15 Alaska voyages sailing between Vancouver and Whittier, four Asia itineraries and two transpacific crossings. “Our summer 2027 season on Luminara reflects our continued focus on immersive exploration by sea, pairing expanded…
Orient Express Corinthian Completes Sea Trials
The Orient Express Corinthian has recently completed its first sea trials ahead of its delivery, which is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026. As the first ship to be introduced by Orient Express Sailing Yachts, the 15,000-ton vessel is currently being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique Shipyard in France. According to an update…
Disney Cruise Line Christens the Disney Adventure in Singapore
Disney Cruise Line christened the Disney Adventure on March 4 in Singapore, marking the cruise line’s first vessel to sail in Southeast Asia. The christening ceremony took place in the Walt Disney Theatre aboard the vessel, featuring performances by regional vocalists and musicians, a 23-piece orchestra and appearances from Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie…
Viking: Fleet Strategy Key Driver to Financial Performance
Viking’s purpose-built fleet, engineered for efficiency, consistency and guest experience, helped serve as a driver of the company’s strong financial results in 2025, according to remarks made by Founder and Chairman Torstein Hagen during the company’s fourth-quarter and year-end earnings call. On the ocean side, Viking operates one of the youngest fleets in the cruise…
Viking Orders Expedition Ships, More Ocean Ship Options
Viking is continuing its growth track as the company announced it had entered into a deal to build two expedition ships for delivery in 2030 and 2031. The two expedition ships will join the current Viking expedition fleet, the 378-guest Polaris and Octantis. The new ships will be sister vessels and be built in Italy….