A Look at the Inaugural Season of the Explora II
Currently in the final phase of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the new Explora II is scheduled to enter service in September. A sister to the Explora I, the 922-guest vessel will be the second ship for the new luxury brand from MSC: Explora Journeys. Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at…
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas Repositions to Miami
The Allure of the Seas recently repositioned to PortMiami for a series of three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas. Previously sailing from Port Canaveral, the Royal Caribbean International ship is now offering a week-long cruise before beginning its short cruise program. The seven-night itinerary sails to the Eastern Caribbean and includes visits to Puerto…
Northern Europe: Record Cruise Season for 2024
According to 2024 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, the Northern/Western Europe cruise market is expected to see a record year despite deployment limitations in the Baltic with Russia off limits. On top of years of continuous growth, independent research from Cruise Industry News shows that region’s capacity will increase by another four percent this year….
Disney Cruise Line To Base Ship Year-Round in Japan in OLC Deal
Disney and Oriental Land Co. (OCL) are teaming up to offer year-round Disney cruise vacations to Japan, according to a press release. OLC will operate a new Disney cruise ship that will be registered and based in Japan year-round. Under a recently signed agreement, OLC will manage a Disney-branded cruise business in Japan, with operations…
Cruise Industry News Summer 2024 Magazine Out Now
The 2024 Summer edition of the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine has been released, featuring 140 pages of exclusive insight into the global cruise industry. Among the main topics covered are the European brands, including AIDA, Marella, MSC, Celestyal, TUI, Costa, Fred. Olsen and others. In-depth reporting on the expedition cruise market is highlighted by…
Silversea’s 2027 World Cruise to Visit 80 Destinations Across Three Oceans
Silversea’s 2027 World Cruise is set to visit over 80 ports of call across three different oceans. Now available for booking, the 149-day global voyage is said to be the most destination-intensive ever offered by the luxury brand. Named “The Three Oceans,” the itinerary features visits to 35 countries on five continents, including 20 new…
New Viking Vesta Floats Out in Ancona
Viking’s newest ship, the Viking Vesta, was floated at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona on Friday, July 5. The float out of the Viking Vesta commenced on July 4 at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, marked by the Viking team cutting a cord to allow water to flow into the ship’s building dock. After a two-day…
AIDA Cruises: 2026 Summer Program Includes 450 Cruises
AIDA Cruises 2026 summer program includes approximately 450 cruises, the company announced in a press release. During the season, the company’s 11-ship fleet is set to cruise in two regions: Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. A total of eight vessels are set to offer itineraries in Northern Europe, AIDA said, including the AIDAnova and the…
MSC Cruises Made 44 Shore Power Connections in 2023
MSC Cruises made 44 successful shore power connections in 2023, according to the company’s recent Sustainability Report. Eight ports across Norway, Germany, Malta and the United Kingdom provided MSC’s vessels with shore energy, including Alesund, Bergen, Warnemunde, Southampton and Malta. The year also marked the first time that the company’s fleet made regular shore power…
July Update: New Luxury Cruise Ships Increase Orderbook Numbers
Recent orders from luxury cruise brands are contributing to an increase number of new cruise ships on order, according to the current global cruise industry orderbook. The latest update of Cruise Industry News’ orderbook report shows that 61 ships are currently expected to enter service by 2036. With a recent order placed at the Fincantieri…
Hurricane Beryl Forces Itinerary Changes in the Caribbean
As Hurricane Beryl is elevated to a category five storm, a number of cruise lines have confirmed itinerary changes in the Caribbean. According to The Weather Channel, after moving south of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Tuesday, Beryl is expected to take a west-northwest track in the Caribbean through the rest of this week Carnival…
Carnival Cruise Line: Bigger Share of Corporate Mix
With new ships, transfers from Costa and two P&O Australia ships, Carnival Cruise Line is quickly growing and will represent a bigger share of the Carnival Corporation fleet mix by 2028, said Josh Weinstein, CEO, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings call. “By 2028, the Carnival brand will represent 37% of our portfolio, up…
Carnival’s Weinstein: Starlink is a Game Changer
Carnival Corporation is now using SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its entire fleet after completing the roll out across all ships in May. According to the company’s president and CEO, Josh Weinstein, the service is a game-changer for the company’s onboard connectivity. “We completed the rollout of Starlink this quarter, another revenue uplift opportunity and…
Disney Returns to Australia and New Zealand for Third Season in 2025-26
Disney Cruise Line recently confirmed plans to operate a third season in Australia and New Zealand in 2025-26. According to a press release, the Disney Wonder is set to return to the region in October 2025 for cruises departing from three homeports. The Wonder will offer a series of three- to five-night voyages from Sydney,…
Crystal Orders Two New Cruise Ships from Fincantieri
Crystal announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for two new luxury cruise ships. The 690-passenger, 61,800-gross-ton ships will feature a host of amenities and innovative designs, the company said, ensuring unparalleled comfort and indulgence for guests. The delivery date for the first ship is spring 2028. A…