Last Month in Cruise September 2024 - Written By Sara Macefield

September settled into a steady rhythm of announcements with new ship news and the promise of more river craft, exciting ways to explore Antarctica’s less accessible areas from the air, and looking ahead to this winter’s Asia season.

All things new

Explora Journeys notched up a heap of celebrations with the naming of its second ship Explora II in Civitavecchia, only days after celebrating the keel laying of Explora III (which launches in 2026) and the steel-cutting of Explora IV (due to debut in 2027). Bookings opened for both Windstar Cruises’ new ship Star Seeker’s 2026 maiden season to the Caribbean, Alaska and Japan, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship Norwegian Luna, which joins the fleet in 2026. Meanwhile Virgin Voyages is promising a new look for its first ship Scarlet Lady with a “luxury glow up” that will bring reimagined dining spots, more suites, VIP cabanas and glam bar and lounge spaces.

Rivers roll on

More ships are flowing into the global river fleet with TUI River Cruises launching second Nile vessel, TUI Bahareya, and Amadeus River Cruises hailing Amadeus Amara, which debuts on the Danube in July 2025, as its greenest ship ever thanks to the sustainable design and lightweight construction. Riviera Travel has announced another two ships for 2026 with Riviera Resplendence and Victoria Mekong that will sail through Vietnam and Cambodia. The company has also unveiled its largest-ever river programme for 2026 with 428 sailings, while Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has unveiled new themed voyages for next year focusing on music, golf and its first-ever women’s only sailing.

Reach for the skies

Helicopter adventures to some of Antarctica’s most remote corners this winter are being flagged by Scenic for sailings on its Discovery Yacht Scenic Eclipse, and by Quark Expeditions which has launched two special Antarctica by Helicopter sailings in November and December 2025 aboard its ship Ultramarine which is equipped with two twin-engine choppers. However, anyone wanting stars in their eyes should take note after Azamara, Seabourn and Princess Cruises unveiled more sailings to coincide with the next solar eclipse in Europe in August 2026.

Eastern promise

Seabourn has unveiled new shore excursions in its 2024/25 Asia programme which sees two of its ships Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Quest in the region, while one of Silversea’s newest additions, the ground-breaking Silver Nova also makes its Asia debut this autumn. It then crosses to Australia and New Zealand for the winter season, before returning to Asia in February. Off-roading trips, afternoon tea and a F1 Grand Prix experience are some of the new excursions offered in Celestyal Cruises’ Arabian Gulf programme this winter.

What’s in an A . . .

There is a new one-week Splendours of the Northern Adriatic coastal cruise on CroisiEurope’s La Belle de l’Adriatiquewhich hugs the shores of Croatia and Montenegro. The round-trip Dubrovnik sailing has two departures in July and August 2025. Next summer also marks the maiden season of Oceania’s ship Riviera in Alaska with departures from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier. While NCL’s next ship, Norwegian Aqua which launches in April 2025,promises to debut the first show at sea that celebrates the life of musical mega-star Prince.