May 2025 Review
It was the month we learned that cruising is getting younger – and that’s official. CLIA’s 2024 stats not only recorded another record-breaking year at 2.4 million, but showed the average age of cruisers dropped again to 54.3 years. Against a healthy line-up of new ships and a vibrant river cruise scene, the industry is setting a strong course for the future.
New ships and improved ships
As Royal Caribbean International prepares for the August launch of Star of the Seas, it promises its boldest entertainment to date with five signature shows including new headline production Back to the Future: The Musical. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revealed new Mediterranean restaurant Azure and debut suite categories on Seven Seas Prestige, launching in 2026, while MSC Cruises has ordered two more World Class ships for 2029 and 2030. It is also adding the MSC Yacht Club to MSC Magnifica for summer 2026, while Celebrity Cruises is splashing more than $250 million to modernise Solstice series ships, starting with Celebrity Solstice in 2026.
Rivers are rollin’
APT and Travelmarvel have unveiled their 2026 Europe Collection with more capacity on the Rhine and Moselle for Travelmarvel and additional APT Balkans and Western Front Explorer departures. Next year also sees the launch of Travelmarvel ship Rigel. TUI River Cruises’ winter 2026 programme includes new Danube voyages to Serbia and Croatia. From September, AmaWaterways’ Nile cruises have a new optional add-on three-night stay in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Riverside Luxury Cruises is getting into the swing of golf cruises with its first dedicated voyage on the Danube this July, while CroisiEurope has unveiled a new 2025 itinerary through Belgium and the Netherlands.
The world’s your oyster
Princess Cruises took the wraps off a 129-day Grand Circle Pacific Voyage, departing January 2027, with Seabourn announcing details of a 145-day 2027 Australia & South Pacific Panorama. Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiled its 133-night 2028 World Cruise and 2027/28 Grand Voyages together for the first time, while Crystal promised its most expansive world cruise to date with a 150-night Treasures of the Tides in 2028. Holland America Line announced two Grand Voyages for 2027 with a 129-day circumnavigation and a 70-day South America and Antarctica discovery.
Far-flung adventures
Explora Journeys is adding Alaskan adventures to its product mix for summer 2027 as Explora III marks the line’s debut in the region, while MSC Cruises will be sailing year-round in the Southern Caribbean in 2027 for the first time with MSC Opera and MSC Seaview sailing in winter and MSC Opera remaining for the summer. Princess Cruises’ ship Majestic Princess is to debut in the White Continent in 2026/27 as part of the line’s winter programme to South America and Antarctica. New themed voyages, additional Polar sailings and new Italian voyages are highlights of Scenic’s 2027/28 Worldwide Discoveries Collection.
And now for something a little different . . .
In what’s claimed as an industry first, HX Expeditions has created new guest experiences on Northwest Passage sailings between Greenland and Alaska with local Inuit communities. Designed to give guests a flavour of local life through fishing trips, storytelling and community events, all excursion revenue will go to locals in Nunavut.