Virgin Introduces Solar Eclipse Voyages and 2026 Marvelous Collection
Virgin Voyages is launching its inaugural Eclipse Voyages as part of its new series of cruises: Marvelous Voyages, according to a press release. Scheduled for August 2026, the Eclipse Voyages offer guests a chance to cruise along the path of totality. The 12- and 15-night itineraries include stops in Dublin, Glasgow and Reykjavik onboard the…
Disney Cruise Line to Build Four More New Ships
Disney said it would build another four new cruise ships between 2027 and 2031, joining its current fleet of five and four on order, and bringing its fleet count to 13 ships. The news came during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase and the company said that the ship names, designs, and itineraries were still in…
Over 20k Crew Needed for New Cruise Ships in 2025
With 15 new cruise ships set to enter service next year, cruise lines are expected to hire over 20,000 new crew members in 2025 just to accommodate the pipeline of new ships The figure includes the total number of new crew members that will be onboard the new vessels, as well as 25 percent additional…
Onboard Revenue Reaches New Highs
With onboard revenue playing an increasingly larger role for the bottom line, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) reported gross onboard spend per passenger per day estimated at $126.85 and net $98.51 (after related costs) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, up significantly from $96.70 and $75.35 respectively in the second quarter 2019, the…
Each Additional Cabin on Norwegian Encore: $150k in Revenue
Norwegian Cruise Line will add 24 new staterooms to the Norwegian Encore in a drydock scheduled for late this year, matching what it did on a recent drydock for the Norwegian Joy. In addition are a number of changes to the premium suites in the ship’s Haven, Norwegian’s exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept. The additional rooms are…
Princess to Increase Alaska Capacity For 2026 Season
With the new Star Princess debuting in the region, Princess Cruises is planning its largest-ever season in Alaska in 2026. According to numbers from the Global Cruise Ship Index by Cruise Industry News, the season will represent roughly an 18 percent increase in terms of berths compared to 2025. A total of eight Princess ships…
MSC Cruises to Reduce Fleetwide Emissions by Up to 15%
MSC Cruises is set to reduce fleetwide emissions by up to 15 percent in 2026 by implementing a new itinerary planning optimization tool, OptiCruise, according to a press release. Developed in collaboration with OPTIMeasy, the new mathematical model reportedly analyzes various factors influencing the planning of MSC Cruises’ itineraries. The goal is to achieve maximum…
Azamara Onward Completes 25 Years in Service
The Azamara Onward is soon celebrating its 25th year anniversary. Originally built for Renaissance Cruises, the ship was delivered by Chantiers de l’Atlantique on July 28, 1999. As part of a series of eight sister ships known as the R Class, the 680-guest vessel initially offered year-round cruises in French Polynesia as the R Three….
Chinese Market Adding Longer Sailings
According to local reports in China, the market is expanding its offerings to include longer cruises to destinations across Asia. Moving away from its traditional short cruise model, which typically features three- to five-night itineraries to Japan and South Korea, Chinese brands are now adding an increasing number of longer voyages in the near future….
Global Ports Holding Set to Go Private In Strategic Move
Global Ports Holding (GPH) will soon become a private company, delisting from the London Stock Exchange. Chairman and CEO Mehmet Kutman described the move as a strategic which he said was in the best interest of the company, and also added that he is fully committed to keep the company closely held and family owned…
Norwegian’s 2026 Summer Cruise Deployment Highlighted by Unique Mix
Norwegian Cruise Line’s recently announced plans for the 2026 spring and summer in North America include nine ships in the region. Cruise Industry News looks at the highlights of the deployment, which will mark the company’s return to Philadelphia. Return to Philadelphia Ship: Norwegian Jewel Homeport: Philadelphia (United States) Highlighted Ports of Call: King’s Wharf…
Norwegian Cruise Line: Onboard and Prebooked Revenue Grows
The second quarter of 2024 saw continued strength in onboard revenue for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, according to CEO Harry Sommer, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings call. “During the second quarter, we observed continued strength in onboard revenue as well, which was driven by our guests’ continued enjoyment of our shore excursion and…
MSC Splendida to Swap China for Brazil for 2024-25 Season
The MSC Splendida will reposition to South America for the upcoming winter, MSC Cruises announced in a press release. Previously poised to become the company’s second ship in the Chinese market, the 3,300-guest ship will now sail from different ports in Brazil for the 2024-25 winter season. According to MSC, the change strengthens its leadership…
Windstar to Celebrate 40 Years of Small Ship Sailing in Ephesus
Windstar Cruises will commemorate its 40th anniversary with two special cruises: the Aegean Sea Odyssey on October 12 aboard the Star Legend, and the Treasures of the Greek Isles on October 13 aboard the Wind Spirit. The Star Legend and the Wind Spirit are set to meet in Kusadasi on October 16 for a celebration…
Holland America Line Introduces New 2026 Celestial Cruises
Holland America Line is introducing a new series of 2026 cruises to take guests to experience celestial events, according to a company statement. Starting July 31, travelers can book these special Celestial Cruises to see sights like the Northern Lights, a total solar eclipse, or the summer solstice above the Arctic Circle. “After the excitement…