Alaska Set for Huge Cruise Season in 2026
The Alaska cruise market is set for an eventful season in 2026, with the arrival of newbuilds, the debut of new brands and the return of a cruise line. MSC Cruises is one of the three companies set to offer their inaugural seasons in Alaska in 2026. After repositioning from Europe, the MSC Poesia is…
Big Refits Making a Comeback in 2025
2025 will see various cruise ships undergoing significant refurbishments with the return of big drydock programs. Cruise Industry News looks at some of the key projects already announced for the year. For a complete overview of the global cruise ship drydock market, see the new 2025 Drydock and Refurb Report by Cruise Industry News. Norwegian…
Carnival Cruise Line Starts Year-Round Cruising From Norfolk
Carnival Cruise Line launched year-round cruising from Norfolk with Carnival Sunshine’s inaugural departure on Wednesday, Feb. 12. This marks the transition of Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center from a seasonal port to a year-round homeport, accommodating 150,000 guests annually. Ahead of the ship’s first embarkation, Carnival Cruise Line Vice President of Port Operations David Candib…
Windstar Announces New Specialty Restaurant
Windstar Cruises announced the addition of Basil + Bamboo to its lineup of complementary specialty restaurants. According to a press release, the new dining option is part of the company’s commitment to providing exceptional culinary experiences to its guests. Blending Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, the venue is said to offer a fresh and vibrant alternative…
Pacific Explorer Sets Sail on Final Cruise for P&O Australia
The Pacific Explorer set sail from Fremantle on Friday to kick off its final voyage for P&O Cruises Australia. Sailing to Singapore, the 1997-built ship is now offering an 11-night repositioning cruise that features destinations in Indonesia and Malaysia. In addition to spending eight days at sea, the Pacific Explorer is set to visit Lombok…
MSC Cruises Welcomes First Call at New Miami Terminal
The, MSC Seascape arrived at the new MSC Miami Cruise Terminal on Saturday morning, marking a key milestone as the first ship to call at the state-of-the-art facility. The new terminal is capable of accommodating three ships at once, and will be able to handle 36,000 guests per day. The project is a partnership between…
Fincantieri Delivers Mein Schiff Relax in Monfalcone
Fincantieri has delivered the new Mein Schiff Relax to TUI Cruises, with the ship being handed over on Friday in Monfalcone. Fincantieri said in a press release that the vessel is the first of two InTUltion class new concept cruise ships that are dual fuel powered (Liquid Natural Gas and Marine Gas Oil) that Fincantieri…
Disney Cruise Line: Two Ships in Alaska for 2026
Disney Cruise Line unveiled summer 2026, exploring Alaska, Europe, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will sail seven-night voyages to Alaska from Vancouver, visiting ports like Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, along with Dawes Glacier. The Disney Magic will also make stops at Icy Strait Point. It will mark the first…
Carnival Sunshine Sets Sail to Virginia After Drydock
The Carnival Sunshine is currently on its way back to North America after completing a drydock at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France. After departing Europe in late January, the 1996-built ship is sailing toward its new homeport in Norfolk, where it is expected to arrive on Feb. 10, 2025. One day later, the…
Port Everglades Celebrates Double-Digit Growth
Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades is on course for a buoyant fiscal year in 2025, according to a press release. The port celebrated double-digit growth during the first quarter of its fiscal year, which extends between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024. Multi-day cruise ship calls increased by 25 percent, with 235 calls compared to 188…
Fincantieri Firms Up New Ship Order for Norwegian Cruise Line
Fincantieri announced in a press release that its Letter of Intent with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, first disclosed on April 8, 2024, has been finalized into a firm order for four new cruise ships for the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) brand. The new ships, each approximately 226,000 gross tons, will be the largest ever built…
Norwegian Bliss Completes Drydock in Europe
The Norwegian Bliss is currently returning to the United States following a drydock in Europe. With the project done, the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel embarked on a trans-Atlantic crossing in England on Feb. 2, 2025. Sailing from Southampton to Miami, the 13-night cruise is scheduled to make visits to destinations in Spain, France and Portugal…
Former Royal Caribbean Ship Arrives in Alang for Scrapping
Royal Caribbean’s former Song of America arrived at the Alang Shipbreaking Yard this past weekend for scrapping. Last operated by Celestyal Cruises as the Celestyal Olympia, the 1982-built vessel had been facing an uncertain future for over a year. After eight months docked in the United Arab Emirates, the ship sailed to Alang as the…
Holland America’s Zaandam Enters Drydock in Freeport
Holland America Line’s Zaandam recently arrived in Freeport to undergo routine maintenance at the Grand Bahama Shipyard. After concluding a cruise in Fort Lauderdale, the ship entered one of the drydocks of the facility on Jan. 25, 2025. As part of its two-week shipyard stay, the Zaandam is now undergoing a series of technical overhauls,…
Holland America Unveils 5 New Legendary Voyages for 2026/27
Holland America Line has unveiled five new Legendary Voyages sailing roundtrip from the United States. The five cruises, which range from 27 to 45 days, include the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii, the company said in a press release. “Interest in longer cruises continues to grow, and these newest Legendary…