Here Are All the New Ships Entering Service for Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean International is set to take delivery of four newbuilds through 2028. Here are the details of the company’s newbuild schedule, according to the latest Cruise Industry News Global Cruise Ship Index. Star of the Seas Debut Date: August 2025 Capacity: 5,610 guests Tonnage: 250,800 Shipyard: Meyer Turku (Finland) Status: Under construction Following the Icon of…
Key Ship Conversions in 2024
2024 was a strong year for the drydock and secondhand ship market, which led to a number of ships debuting for new operators. These are some of the key conversion jobs that took place during the year: Celestyal Discovery Former: AIDAaura Capacity: 1,270 guests Year built: 2003 Previous operator: AIDA Cruises New operator: Celestyal Cruises…
A Look at the Inaugural Season of the Explora III
Explora Journeys recently revealed the maiden season of the new Explora III. Set to debut in August 2026, the luxury ship will offer cruises to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and North America. Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the deployment, which features a series of seven- to 11-night itineraries. Maiden Voyage Date: August…
All The Cruise Newbuild Orders Placed in 2024
Approximately 35 new cruise ships were ordered in 2024. New ships ordered include smaller expedition and luxury vessels, as well as mega ships for brands like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. February Antarctica21 Ship/Order Details: Magellan Discoverer Capacity: 100 guests Tonnage: 590 Estimated Cost: $65 Million Shipyard: ASENAV (Chile) Planned Delivery: Q4 2026 Carnival Cruise…
MSC Grandiosa Completes Five Years in Service
The MSC Grandiosa recently completed five years of service for MSC Cruises after being delivered by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard on Oct. 31, 2019. Before embarking on its maiden season in the Western Mediterranean, the ship sailed to Germany for a christening ceremony in Hamburg. MSC’s fleet godmother, Italian actress Sophia Loren, named the…
Disney: Adventure, Heritage and Families
What sets Disney Cruise Line apart is the fact that it is an entertainment company first and then an experience business that is also in the cruise business, according to Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager. “Entertainment is a big component,” she told Cruise Industry News aboard the Disney Treasure. “We have a…
Carnival: Prices Up at All Major Brands
“For 2024, prices were up in all of our major brands and trades between mid-single-digit to mid-teen percentages,” said Josh Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation, speaking on the company’s year-end and fourth quarter earnings call. “And on top of this, onboard spending levels actually accelerated sequentially each quarter throughout the year. Additionally, unit…
Carnival: 2025 Cruises Selling Quickly
Carnival Corporation may not have much inventory left for 2025, as CEO Josh Weinstein stressed on the company’s fourth quarter and year-end earnings call that consumers should book now while there is still space available. “Both price and occupancy are higher for each of the four quarters of 2025, and we managed to increase both…
Star Scorpio: Former Pacific Explorer to Join Resorts World Cruises
Resorts World Cruises has announced it is expanding its fleet with the 1,800 guest Star Scorpio, which will join the company this March. The ship is currently operating as the Pacific Explorer for P&O Australia and will leave the Carnival Corporation brand early in 2025. Resorts World said that prior to starting operations, the 1997-built…
Viking Sky Sets Sail on World Cruise
The Viking Sky is in Fort Lauderdale today to kick off its 2024-25 world cruise. Sailing to 58 destinations in 29 countries, the 137-night itinerary sails to the South Pacific, Asia, the Indian Ocean and Africa. After departing from Port Everglades, the 930-guest ship visits destinations in the Caribbean before crossing the Panama Canal. The…
Summary: MSC’s Six-Ship Program in South America
After opening the cruise season in the region in early November, MSC Cruises is operating a six-ship lineup in South America. Cruise Industry News looks at the highlights of the company’s deployment in the destination, which includes departures from eight homeports in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. MSC Seaview Sailing Season: Nov. 7, 2024, to Apr….
Viking Vela Sets Sail on Maiden Cruise
The Viking Vela recently embarked on its maiden season after being delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard earlier this week. For its inaugural cruise, the Viking ship is offering a seven-night cruise to the Western Mediterranean that features destinations in Spain, Italy and France. After departing from Civitavecchia on Dec. 12, the itinerary includes visits to…
Atlantic Canada Sets Record with Over 1 Million Passenger Visits
The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) announced that the region recorded over 1 million cruise passengers in 2024, marking a record-breaking season with over 675 calls between April and November, according to a press release. “This year’s achievements underscore the dedication and teamwork of our ports, industry partners, regional stakeholders an communities,” said Sarah Rumley,…
Princess to Offer New 79-Night Circle Pacific Cruise in 2027
Princess Cruises is offering a new “Circle Pacific Adventure” cruise in 2027 as part of its recently announced 2026-27 deployment in Australia. Sailing onboard the Grand Princess, the 79-night cruise will depart from three homeports: Brisbane, Sydney, and Auckland. Starting in June 2027, the itinerary will cover over 23,600 nautical miles, crossing the Equator and…
TUI 2024 Results: Strong Cruise Revenue Performance
TUI Group reported 2024 financial results on Wednesday with a notable improvement in financial performance across the company’s three cruise brands, TUI Cruises, Marella Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Underlying EBIT rose to 374 million euro, up from 236 million euro in 2023, the company said, noting it was a record. The company also said it…