United Waterways Teams Up with JRE to Enhance Culinary Experience
United Waterways is partnering with JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs to develop young talent and create dishes inspired by European river regions. The partnership will see emerging culinary professionals onboard United vessels connect with JRE chefs, the company said in a statement, bringing together JRE’s network of over 400 restaurants with United’s fleet of over 120 vessels. “The…
Six Cruise Ships Remain Stuck in the Arabian Gulf
Six cruise ships remain stuck in the Arabian Gulf after their operations in the region were halted in late February. With the Strait of Hormuz virtually closed to international maritime traffic, the vessels are unable to leave the area and start repositioning voyages to other parts of the world. MSC Euribia Cruise Line: MSC Cruises…
Carnival Encounter Returns to Brisbane Following Drydock
The Carnival Encounter has returned to Brisbane from drydock with refreshed interiors, a new hull livery and expanded entertainment programming. The ship now features a Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite with heated thermal lounges, saunas and steam baths. All five pool areas have been revitalized, seven jacuzzi tubs replaced and the sports court and Twin…
Adora Orders Two New Large Cruise Ships in China
China Tourism Group Co. and China State Shipbuilding Corporation have formally signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on New Domestic Cruise Shipbuilding Projects, with plans to build two cruise ships with one option for Adora Cruises. The first ship is due to be delivered by 2030, according to a press release. Further details were not released….
Holland America to Offer New 8-Day Itinerary in Southeast Asia
Holland America Line will offer a new eight-day itinerary to Southeast Asia as part of its 2027-28 winter season. According to a press release, the shorter cruise offers a rare opportunity to sail in the region with the company in less than 14 days. Sailing roundtrip from Singapore, the new itinerary will take place onboard…
Disney Cruise Line Unveils Disney Believe, Its Next Wish-Class Ship
Walt Disney Company’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro has unveiled the name and the theme of the next Disney Cruise Line ship. As the fourth in Disney Cruise Line’s Wish class, the next ship will be named the Disney Believe and is expected to join the fleet in late 2027. In a press release, the company…
MSC Bringing Yacht Club to Two More Ships
Sailings on MSC Cruises’ two vessels, the Musica and MSC Orchestra, which are being upgraded to feature the MSC Yacht Club, are open for booking. The upgraded MSC Musica will set sail in November 2026 and MSC Orchestra in March 2027, the company said in a statement. The refurbishments are part of its ongoing modernization…
AmaWaterways Christens AmaSofia on the Rhine
AmaWaterways held a christening ceremony for its newest river ship, AmaSofia, on March 14. More than 1,200 advisors attending the ASTA River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam were invited to attend the celebration hosted on three of the river cruise line’s ships on the Rhine – the AmaPrima, AmaVenita and AmaSofia. The ship’s godmother is Sarah…
American Encore En Route to Pacific Northwest after Sea Trials
American Cruise Lines’ new riverboat, the American Encore, passed sea trials last week and is sailing to the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The riverboat is currently cruising along the coastal waterways of the Eastern Seaboard and will next sail through the Caribbean Sea, according to a statement. Helmed by Captain Andrew…
The Quiet Revolution: How Modern Propulsion Reduces Noise, Vibration and Emissions
As cruise operators face growing scrutiny around emissions and Underwater radiated noise (or noise performance), propulsion is increasingly being judged on more than efficiency alone. Advances in thruster design, hybrid power systems and fuel technologies show how quieter, cleaner operations can improve both passenger comfort and minimize underwater noise radiation which helps to protect marine…
Mein Schiff Flow Completes First Sea Trials
TUI Cruises’ newest ship, Mein Schiff Flow, completed its first extensive sea trials, technical and nautical sea tests, in the Mediterranean in February. Testing included engine performance, propulsion and maneuverability, as well as the ship’s key technical systems, the company said in a statement, which was accompanied by a video. Additionally, stabilizers, anchoring systems and…
AIDA Cancels 2026-27 Winter Season in Middle East
AIDA Cruises will not offer any cruises in the Middle East during the winter of 2026/27 as the situation in the region remains uncertain and cannot be reliably predicted for the foreseeable future, the company said in a press release. Consequently, the planned repositioning cruises of AIDAprima around Africa have also been cancelled. The company…
Norwegian Luna Opens Doors to First Guests in Rome
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Luna, welcomed her first guests in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The ship is scheduled to make her U.S. debut in Miami on March 23, 2026, followed by a christening ceremony on March 27. Following Fincantieri’s delivery of the vessel to Norwegian last week, the company shared new images of…
Arabian Gulf Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Remaining Sailings in the Region
Amid ongoing security concerns and regional operational challenges, multiple cruise lines have now cancelled the remainder of their 2025-26 winter deployments in the Arabian Gulf. MSC With sailings in the region through early April, MSC Cruises cancelled the remainder of its 2025-26 season in the Middle East. In its cancellation statement, the company said that…
Upcoming Luxury Cruise Ship Introductions
The luxury cruise ship orderbook shows more than three dozen new vessel introductions coming from now through 2037. Highlights include the entries of Four Seasons and Orient Express, and Explora Journeys rounding out its fleet to six ships by 2028. For a complete overview of the market, see the new 2026 Luxury Market Report by…