Zaandam Wraps Alaska Season With Great Bear Rainforest Cruise

Zaandam

The Zaandam is currently sailing Holland America Line’s “Great Bear Rainforest and Alaska Explorer” cruise. Sailing roundtrip from Vancouver, the 18-night voyage calls at 11 destinations in Alaska and Canada. Highlights include calls at ports less frequently visited by cruise ships, such as Prince Rupert, Homer and Anchorage, where the vessel will stay overnight. The…

Century Cruises Sets August 2027 Rhine Debut for New Century Diamond

Century Diamond

Century Cruises has announced the Century Diamond, the second vessel in its new generation of river ships in Europe, with the ship’s inaugural voyage scheduled for August 2027. The announcement follows the inaugural voyage of the Century Star on the Danube. The 135-meter-long ship will feature 76 cabins and suites across four decks and accommodate…

Solstice Kicks Off Celebrity’s First Grand Voyage

Solstice

The Celebrity Solstice is currently offering Celebrity Cruises’ first Grand Voyage, a 110-night itinerary that will sail to 15 countries. Sailing from Canada to Hong Kong, the cruise departed from the Port of Vancouver on September 13, 2026. The complete voyage is scheduled to sail to 58 ports around the Pacific, including destinations in Alaska,…

Explora and MSC to Enter River Cruise Market

Explora I

Explora Journeys has signed a Letter of Intent with Den Breejen Shipyard for the construction of its first luxury river ships, marking the brand’s planned entry into river cruising for MSC Group. The company that said since launching, Explora Journeys has sought to change the way people experience ocean travel through its Ocean State of…

Royal Caribbean Group Buys 50% of Sandals Resorts

Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts today announced the signing of an agreement to form a partnership in the all-inclusive resort space with a 50% investment from Royal Caribbean Group. The companies said the joint venture will create new opportunities for continued resort growth while broadening the experiences across Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform. The…

Ambassador Buys Oceania Sirena; Semester at Sea to Charter Ship in Winter

New look Sirena

Ambassador Cruise Line is entering the German market with the former Oceania Sirena. The UK company said in a statement it acquired the ship from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. It will be leased back to Oceania Cruises through spring 2028. The 670-passenger vessel will be renamed the Ambella before joining the company’s new Ambassador Kreuzfahrten…

Key Cruise Ship Drydocks in September

Key September Drydocks

From routine work to major refurbishments, Cruise Industry News looks into key drydock projects taking place between late August and September. Cordelia Sky Cruise Line: Cordelia Cruises Capacity: 2,000 guests Tonnage: 77,104 Year built: 1999 Drydock Period: September 13, 2026 to TBD Shipyard: Besiktas (Yalova, Turkey) Being prepared to launch service for Cordelia Cruises, the…

MSC Musica Enters Drydock for Big Refurbishment

MSC Musica at Piraeus

The MSC Musica arrived at the Palumbo Malta Shipyard earlier this month to begin a significant refurbishment project. As part of a four-ship upgrade program, the Musica-class vessel will spend approximately 45 days at the shipyard. The ship will then emerge from drydock with a new Yacht Club space, as well as new specialty dining…

Disney Floats Out Giga-Block for the Disney Believe

Disney Block

Disney Cruise Line has floated out the first of three blocks for the new Disney Believe under construction at Meyer Werft and slated to enter service in late 2027. The Disney Believe will be the fourth Wish-class ship for the cruise line at approximately 144,000 tons and with a guest capacity of 2,500 (double occupancy),…

Carnival Freedom Gets New Funnel in Drydock

New funnel

The Carnival Freedom is getting a new funnel during its routine drydock in France, according to an update published by Carnival Cruise Line. In a social media post, the company shared a behind-the-scenes look at the new structure being added to the ship at the Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard. The pictures show a shorter…

Planning a New Cruise Operation? These Ships May Be Available

Blue Dream

A series of cruise ships is currently available for new cruise operations, according to data from the new Secondhand Market Report from Cruise Industry News. The list includes the World Odyssey, which is looking for a summer operator. After completing a final deployment for Phoenix Reisen earlier this year, the former Deutschland is believed to…

Great Stirrup Cay Pier Welcomes First Double Call

Double Call

The new Great Stirrup Cay pier has welcomed a double call for the first time this past weekend, according to Norwegian Cruise Line. The company celebrated the milestone in a social media update, noting that the operation marked a first in its history. Spending its first summer in the Caribbean, the Norwegian Prima was joined…

MSC Announces Euribia’s Canary Islands Deployment for Winter 2027-28

MSC Euribia at sea

MSC has announced deployment plans for the MSC Euribia during the winter 2027-28 season. The ship will offer seven-night Canary Islands and Madeira cruises, while the Fantasia will take over its current seven-night Western Mediterranean program. The company said in a statement that the deployment reflects the continued popularity of winter cruises in the Canary…

Ruby Princess Opens San Diego’s Record-Breaking Cruise Season

Ruby Princess at Port of San Diego

The Port of San Diego welcomed the Ruby Princess on September 14, officially kicking off its cruise season. The ship docked at the B Street Pier Cruise Terminal for a seven-day Classic California Coast tour. “San Diego has been an important part of the Princess Cruises story for more than 50 years, and we’re proud…

MSC World Asia Ready for Debut Following Sea Trials

MSC World Asia Final Sea Trials Chantiers de l’Atlantique

MSC Cruises has announced that its World Asia has completed its final sea trials as part of preparations for its delivery on November 25, 2026. The final trials took place in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of France this week to test the ship’s engines, maneuverability, fuel efficiency, safety systems, speed and stopping…