April 2025 Review
As the industry sets a course for continuing growth, it can look forward to more ground-breaking new ships – and even a cruise hotel at the bottom of the world, as well as cracking itineraries in hot and cold climates.
New ship announcements . . .
Marella Cruises unveiled plans for two newbuilds arriving around 2031 and 2033, while Carnival Cruise Line welcomed former P&O Cruises Australia ships, the renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. The US line revealed its next Excel-class ships will be called Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale and it will launch three next generation ships – Carnival Corporation’s largest at nearly 8,000 passengers – in 2029, 2031 and 2033. Disney Cruise Line is planning more magic with Disney Destiny, launching in November, which will have a heroes and villains theme. Captain Hook, eat your heart out! Emerald Cruises is expanding its superyacht fleet with plans to follow next year’s launch of Emerald Kaia with Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara in 2027.
. . . and some refurbs
O’Malley’s Irish pub, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and Alfredo’s Slice are new additions on Princess Cruises’ Majestic Princess, following a dry dock. Two Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager are set for a multi-million dollar refresh this November and April 2026, respectively, with upgraded suites and an enhanced Pool Grill.
Rivers news flow
Uniworld is getting set for its 50th anniversary next year with newbuild SS Emilie’s launch plus a 50-night Rivers of the World voyage, three new mystery cruises, and a new Generations family itinerary on the Rhone. Emerald Cruises plans to follow 2026’s debut of Emerald Astra with its first Seine sailings aboard the new Emerald Lumi in 2027. This month marked the start of AmaWaterways sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River on AmaMagdalena and christening of its third ship on Portugal’s Douro, AmaSintra. Meanwhile APT marked the naming of its first owned Douro ship MS Estrela by Travel Weekly editor Lucy Huxley with plans for a second ship in 2028. Bringing a classical flavour is Saga Cruises with a chance to see violinist/conductor Andre Rieu in concert on 2026 Spirit of the Rhine sailings.
Chill options
Ponant announced that itsluxury ice-breaker, Le Commandant Charcot, will be the first cruise ship to circumnavigate Antarctica from January to March 2028, with bookings opening this December, while Silversea says it is opening the southernmost hotel on earth next winter with 150-room The Cormorant at 55 South in the Chilean city of Puerto Williams. Azamara Cruises is debuting Cruisetour packages for its 2026 Alaska season paired with Azamara Pursuit’s 10 Alaska voyages. Oceania Cruises is reaching for the stars with four more solar eclipse sailings in August 2026, taking its total to five, while Windstar Cruises is planning a second solar eclipse voyage after the first sold out.
And hot stuff
Swan Hellenic unveiled two Grand Voyages of Africa’s west coast for 2026 with a 51-night sailing in March, followed by a 35-night voyage in September, while Fred Olsen Cruise Lines announced its 2027 98-night world cruise with extended stays in Japan and Hawaii. Holland America Line’s new 2026/27 Caribbean programme offers longer voyages and calls at its upgraded private island RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, while SeaDream Yacht Club is debuting sailings from Palm Beach to the Bahamas Out Islands from later this year.