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Princess Cruises Reveals Epic 2026 Alaska SeasonPrincess Cruises Reveals Epic 2026 Alaska Season
Princess Cruises, the leading cruise line in Alaska, today unveiled its biggest-ever Alaska season for 2026, highlighted by the debut of the newest ship in its fleet, Star Princess. The exciting, expanded Alaska programme for 2026 features eight ships, 180 departures, and 19 destinations, providing travellers with an unparalleled selection of Alaska adventures by sea, or by both land and sea. For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to explore Alaska aboard a Sphere Class ship as Star Princess sails her first summer season in the Great Land, offering unparalleled views of glaciers and wildlife. As the second ship in the Sphere Class following Sun Princess, Star Princess launches in autumn 2025 and promises an elevated cruising experience. A true engineering marvel and a global citizen, this ship features innovative architectural spectacles like The Dome, the industry's first geodesic structure, and The Sphere, a suspended glass Piazza. Additionally, it is celebrated, along with sister ship Sun Princess, as the greatest foodie destination at sea, promising to tantalise taste buds with world-class culinary offerings. Bookings open August 1 with the "Best Price Guarantee" offering the best rates and 120% of the price difference as onboard credit if a lower rate is found before final payment. This promotion ends September 30, 2024 with full details here. “2026 will reinforce Princess’ leadership in Alaska cruises. The deployment of the magnificent Star Princess to Alaska for the first time will offer guests unprecedented views, luxurious accommodations, and the finest food, beverages and entertainment ever seen in the Great Land. Our guests will experience Alaska like never before aboard our innovative Sphere Class ship,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveller, Princess is the ultimate choice for luxury and adventure, with awe-inspiring glaciers, unforgettable wildlife encounters, and the freshest seafood imaginable.” 24 July, 2024 -
MSC Cruises unveils details on The Harbour debuting on MSC World America
MSC Cruises unveils details on The Harbour debuting on MSC World America
MSC Cruises today revealed the exciting attractions and experiences that will await guests in The Harbour, a brand-new revolutionary outdoor space on MSC World America, specially designed for kids and families to gather, play and relax together. MSC World America is set to launch in April 2025 and will invite guests to discover a new world of cruising with a range of new and reimagined venues and concepts tailored specifically to the U.S. market. As a family-owned company, MSC Cruises is known for its award-winning family offerings, delivering an unforgettable cruise experience for children of all ages and their families. MSC World America will take those offerings to new heights with unprecedented spaces and activities for the whole family to enjoy. The crowning glory of the ships’ Family Aventura district, The Harbour is a brand-new outdoor park thoughtfully designed to connect guests to the ocean and offer families an outdoor oasis to come together to enjoy a wide variety of activities, soak up the sun, enjoy delicious bites or sit back and relax all in one convenient location. The Harbour is not only a daytime affair, but also a premier spot to hang out at night. In the evening, live musicians will keep the atmosphere going with live performances for parents, while children and teenagers can continue to enjoy the attractions that remain open. A first of its kind for MSC Cruises, the new space is nestled in the heart of the ship’s open top-deck and will offer some of the most stunning ocean views and combine a wide variety of dry and water-based adventures with unforgettable experiences waiting to be discovered, including: The Harbour Aquapark – promising to be a perfect blend of adventure and leisure for all ages, The Harbour Aquapark features an impressive range of thrilling water slides, plus a fun-filled splash area. Only the bravest can take on the 90-degree vertical drop slide - climb into the departure pod and take a moment to gather your breath, then in a split-second freefall through a trapdoor to the decks below before twists and turns bring you to the splash zone. Thrill seekers can also choose between a raft slide featuring virtual reality technology to make every run even more exciting or a race against a friend in the dueling slide. Jaw Drop @ The Spiral - a striking architectural masterpiece and one of the longest dry slides at sea – Jaw Drop takes riders through the jaws of a shark and spiraling down 11-decks through the heart of the World Promenade. The stainless-steel dry slide spirals dramatically through dark and light segments offering glimpses of stunning sea views out the back of the ship in a unique, adrenaline-pumping experience. Rock-Climbing Wall – an adventure for kids, little ones can enjoy climbing the vibrant rock wall as they attempt to navigate different handholds and footholds to see how far they can get. High Trail Ropes Course – offering the ultimate challenge, the exhilarating two-level ropes course will span 577sqm and will be enriched with two Sky Rails similar to a zip line. Guests will get the chance to get their adrenaline pumping and test their balance while enjoying sea views from new heights. The Harbour Light House – a thematic playground for kids, modelled after the iconic lighthouse at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. Getting lost in their own world, this lively safe-haven is filled with a slide and play stations designed to spark imagination and physical activity. The Harbour Bar & Bites- Those looking to take a break from all the excitement can opt for The Harbour Bar & Bites, offering a delicious selection of convenient quick and easy bites as well as refreshing drinks, ready to order, collect and go. Guests can choose from a variety of savoury dishes and sweet treats - offering something for the whole family to enjoy. Family Dwelling Area – Guests can make their way to the family dwelling area with comfortable seating and shade to sit back and relax while taking in the breathtaking sea views. Cliffhanger – announced earlier this year, the unique Cliffhanger attraction is the only over-water swing ride at sea, featuring four-seat swing towers 50m above the ocean, propelled back and forth for a one-of-a-kind, edge-of-your-seat thrill. For more information on Cliffhanger, click HERE. The Harbour, together with the Doremiland kids area and Sportsplex form the ship’s Family Aventura district – which will become the go-to destination for kids and families around the clock. 24 July, 2024 -
Carnival Corporation Orders Three Additional Ships for Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Corporation Orders Three Additional Ships for Carnival Cruise Line
With consumer demand for cruise vacations at historic levels,Carnival Corporation &plc(NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced an order for three new ships for its namesake Carnival Cruise Line brand for a new class of vessel, at nearly 230,000 gross registered tonnes. The agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri provides for the design, engineering, and construction of these liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships, which will be delivered in the summers of 2029, 2031 and 2033, respectively. "We are proud to be known as America's cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests," saidChristine Duffy, president ofCarnival Cruise Line. "For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will takeCarnival Cruise Lineinto the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE." With today's order, there have been five new ship orders forCarnival Cruise Lineannounced in 2024. Earlier this year,Carnival Corporationplaced its first newbuild orders in five years for two more Excel-class ships that will join theCarnival Cruise Linefleet in 2027 and 2028. The company also recently announced a series of strategic shifts to further optimize the composition of its global brand portfolio and to increase guest capacity forCarnival Cruise Line, transferring a total of five vessels from sister brands to theCarnival Cruise Linefleet between 2023 andMarch 2025. "We are doubling down on the growth ofCarnival Cruise Line– our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world's most popular cruise line," saidJosh Weinstein, chief executive officer ofCarnival Corporation &plc. "At this point, our newbuild pipeline is just one delivery in each of 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031 and 2033. We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year." According to Weinstein, this order will take the company's overall measured capacity growth between 2025 and 2033 to an average of approximately 1.5% per year. "This gives us the headroom to strategically provide new capacity to the brands in our portfolio likeCarnival Cruise Line, which provide outsized returns while continuing to execute against our responsible capital strategy, using our strong free cash flow over the next several years to improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce our debt, and continue to transfer value from debt holders to shareholders," he said. With over 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in theCarnival Corporationglobal fleet and will be able to deliver fun to more guests than any ship in the world when carrying almost 8,000 guests at full capacity. Once delivered in 2033,Carnival Corporationwill have a total of 16 LNG-powered ships – including eightCarnival Cruise Lineships – making up almost 30% ofCarnival Corporation'sglobal capacity and delivering immediate greenhouse gas emission reductions. The new ships will also feature advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies to further reduce the company's environmental footprint. "We are excited to join forces withCarnival Cruise Lineto debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built inItaly. We are proud of the role Fincantieri has played in helpingCarnival Corporationsecure its position as the world's largest cruise company and look forward to continuing this success story together," said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO, Fincantieri. Design details and itinerary information for the newCarnival Cruise Lineships will be announced in the future. This order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be completed later this year. 24 July, 2024 -
VIVA Cruises enhances trade support with Traveltek partnership
VIVA Cruises enhances trade support with Traveltek partnership
VIVA Cruises has moved to bolster its distribution through the UK trade by partnering with travel technology provider Traveltek. Through the new partnership, agents will now have access to flat file pricing, itineraries, and ship content for the cruise line’s nine ships which operate across seven rivers. VIVA’s fleet includes own-build shipsVIVA ONEandVIVA TWO,with its third,VIVA ENJOY, in the pipeline. The line also recently announced new Douro itineraries will take place onboard new shipPorto Mirantefrom May 2025. Traveltek currently offers access to more than 300 suppliers across the aviation, accommodation, cruise, payment and ancillaries sectors. Tracy Sharp, Global Director of Revenue and Supply at Traveltek, said: “I am delighted to announce that VIVA Cruises has chosen to partner with Traveltek as an important addition to its cruise product offering and part of our river cruise portfolio expansion. This partnership will benefit our customers who are responding to the surge in demand in European river cruises.” Patrick Ell, Director Marketing and Digital for VIVA Cruises, added: “We are very excited about our collaboration with Traveltek. By adding our river cruise itineraries into the Traveltek platform, VIVA Cruises is expanding its reach and providing travel agents with a new premium river cruise experience for their customers, who will appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and the varied itineraries on offer.” 22 July, 2024 -
Seabourn announces immersive Image Masters Photography Programme on select Expedition Voyages
Seabourn announces immersive Image Masters Photography Programme on select Expedition Voyages
Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury voyages and expedition travel, is introducing ‘Image Masters,’ a new hands-on programme designed to sharpen the camerawork of guests via intimate photography masterclasses available on select Seabourn expedition voyages. Launching in August 2024, the new hands-on programme will provide in-the-field instruction on photo composition, camera technique, editing, and retouching all led by an accomplished nature photographer. Imagine capturing the moment when a colony of penguins jump out of the water in Antarctica; when humpback whales breach in the Arctic; or when a Scarlet Macaw in the Amazon rainforest spreads its wings. ‘Having a sharp eye for photography when surrounded by natural wonders in remote regions of the world is an extraordinary way to capture the moment, and our new Image Masters programmewill teach guests how to best photograph the incredible landscapes and wildlife seen on our expedition voyages’, said Robin West, Seabourn’s Vice President and General Manager, Expedition Operations and Planning. ‘Like every element of the Seabourn experience, Image Masters is designed for guests to enjoy their time with us to the fullest and share it when they return home’ Image Masters will be offered on select sailings of Seabourn’s new purpose-built expedition ships, Seabourn Ventureand Seabourn Pursuit. Space will be limited with just 10 guests eligible to join the photography-focused programme for the duration of their voyage. Participating guests will enjoy priority access to the onboard photographer, curated outings both onboard and ashore, and priority access to the Photo Studio, as well as participation in lively programming designed to polish their photography skills, including: Photographer-Led Zodiac Tours and Walks -Guests can join the Image Masters each time the ship has a Zodiac® or walking tour, hosted by the group’s dedicated Seabourn photographer. The tours include stops for capturing photographs and discussing techniques. This is a hands-on learning experience where guests can apply the knowledge gained from onboard lectures and workshops. Exclusive Lectures and Workshops - Each voyage will host at least three lectures that will dive deep into topics like camera setup, composition, lighting, storytelling and post-processing, in addition to important tips about the specific regions guests will be photographing. 1:1 Mentoring and Coaching Sessions -Guests can sign up for 30-minute slots of individual time with the onboard photographer to discuss personalised topics, receive photo critiques, get editing assistance or even shoot together onboard. Private photo studio Hours with Lightroom Access for Enrolled Guests Only- Guests will collaborate directly with the photographer on editing and receive personalised feedback. The photo studio will be reserved solely for participants during these sessions. Photographer Hosted Dinner- This exclusive meal gives guests time to reflect and build enriching connections within their group. It is more than just a dinner, it’s a chance to be part of a community of photography enthusiasts, sharing insights, stories, and the joy of capturing the world through a lens. Guests enrolled in Image Masters will leave with an enhanced understanding of basic photography principles, editing expertise, a new community of fellow photographers, and professional-level photos from their trip. Seabourn will roll out the new Image Masters programmeon Seabourn Venture’s11-Day Fjords of East Greenland voyage, departing 5th August 2024. Cost for the program starts from £1,560 ($2,000) per participant (costs vary based on itinerary and location). 22 July, 2024 -
Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas arrives in Port Canaveral Florida
Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas arrives in Port Canaveral Florida
The vacation flipping the script on short getaways has arrived. Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seasmade its first appearance in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, just a few days ahead of its official debut on Friday, July 19. The ultimate short getaway was welcomed home as more than 2,000 crew members celebrated across Utopia’s vibrant Caribbean pool deck and thrills, from the longest dry slide at sea – The Ultimate Abyss – to the signature FlowRider surf simulator. Up next is a celebration fit for the getaway of all getaways that will feature Utopia’s newly revealed godmother, GRAMMY-winning artist and songwriter Meghan Trainor, as she takes center stage to name the new vacation and perform one hit after the next before it begins sailing 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday vacations. Utopia brings unmatched weekend energy to everyone and every day of the week, with a combination of ways to celebrate any occasion or just getting away. On deck are more than 40 ways to dine, drink and party, including a lineup of parties only on Utopia, two casinos, a new Caribbean tiki bar – The Pesky Parrot, Royal Railway – Utopia Station, a first-of-its-kind immersive train car dining experience; more pools than the days to count; thrills and ways to chill; show-stopping entertainment across air, ice, water and stage; and more at Perfect Day at CocoCay 22 July, 2024 -
Princess Cruises announces new partnership with World Pizza Champion Chef Tony Gemignani
Princess Cruises announces new partnership with World Pizza Champion Chef Tony Gemignani
Princess Cruises today announced another exclusive celebrity culinary collaboration, with Pizza Chef Tony Gemignani, the 13-time World Pizza Champion and undisputed greatest pizza maker in modern history. Chef Gemignani has created five unique pizzas for Princess, each with an exciting blend of savoury flavours and premium ingredients from Soppressata sausage and hot honey to Gorgonzola and sweet fig preserve, further enhancing the line’s position as offering the Best Pizza at Sea. Chef Gemignani’s artisan, hand-crafted pizzas will initially debut at Alfredo’s onboard the new Sun Princess, adding to the greatest assembly of culinary experiences at sea, with plans to extend to the rest of the fleet this summer. Princess chefs received specialised training under the guidance of Chef Gemignani from his acclaimed Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco ensuring they can masterfully replicate his original, hand-crafted pizzas at sea. To mark the exciting, new collaboration, Princess Cruises will attempt to set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title on July 12 for Largest Pizza Party at multiple venues with fresh-from-the-oven pizza prepared by the line’s master chefs, including new selections from Chef Gemignani. Chef Gemignani is the most decorated pizzaiolo in American history, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, master instructor, philanthropist, founder of Slice House by Tony Gemignani, and author of PIZZA, The Pizza Bible, and The Pursuit of Pizza. Born and raised in Northern California, he opened his first restaurant in San Francisco in 2009 – Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – offering several styles of pizzas including Classic American, Italian, Sicilian and Neapolitan pizzas artfully made with artisan flours, an array of authentic sauces, and seasonal ingredients and finished in seven different, regionally-specific ovens. The restaurant was met with immediate success upon opening and was named the best pizzeria by USA Today and top pizza restaurant by the Travel Channel. 22 July, 2024 -
Norwegian Cruise Line announces Philadelphia as a new homeport with its 2026 Spring Summer Season
Norwegian Cruise Line announces Philadelphia as a new homeport with its 2026 Spring Summer Season
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of breaking boundaries, today announced its 2026 spring/summer itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, and Canada and New England, as well as a new season of voyages from the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) for the first time in many years. On 16th April, 2026, Norwegian Jewel® will commence seven-to-nine-day cruises to Bermuda, launching the city as a new cruise destination. Departing from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex, where plans are currently underway with the local government to develop a facility to welcome cruisers in 2026, Norwegian Jewel’s Bermuda itineraries will feature overnight calls to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, providing guests more time to enjoy and discover the island’s turquoise blue waters and pink-sand beaches. “We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.” “The Port of Philadelphia is extremely excited to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the world’s premier cruise lines,” said Jeff Theobald, executive director and CEO of PhilaPort. “Philadelphia has so much to offer, as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation’s history, we look forward to connecting cruisers with our world class city. This new service rounds out the portfolio of services offered at PhilaPort, and we look forward to this next phase of growth.” The Company’s new 2026 spring/summer season includes nearly 250 itineraries for nine of its soon-to-be 20 ships. Embarking from U.S. and Canadian ports between April and November 2026, these voyages will call to 30 unique destinations across the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Canada and New England, as well as Alaska. With an average of 10 hours in port, guests can choose to enjoy the picture-perfect beaches, colourful cities and vibrant culture of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda; enjoy the rustic fall foliage of Canada and New England; or dive deep into the pristine nature and abundant wilderness found in Alaska. Herrera continued, “Our new 2026 spring/summer deployment further meets the vacation demands of our guests with more shorter cruise offerings to fun-in-the-sun destinations, such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean, as well as a variety of longer itineraries to bucket list destinations, such as Alaska.” 22 July, 2024 -
Disney and Oriental Land Co Ltd to launch Disney Cruise Holidays in Japan
Disney and Oriental Land Co Ltd to launch Disney Cruise Holidays in Japan
Disney and Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC) announced a new agreement that will bring year-round Disney cruise holidays to Japan. Under a recently signed agreement, OLC will operate a Disney-branded cruise business in Japan, expected to commence by early 2029. This is the latest evolution in an over 40-year relationship between Disney and OLC, which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort. The addition of a locally based Disney cruise ship will offer fun and relaxation for Japanese Disney fans and visitors from around the world during magical voyages filled with the incredible entertainment, world-class dining and exceptional guest service that set Disney cruises apart. “Disney Cruise Line has ambitious plans to bring family vacations and Disney storytelling to more guests around the world than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Experiences. “We are thrilled to continue the success of this expansion as we collaborate with Oriental Land Co. to introduce another distinctly Disney vacation experience to families and fans in Japan.” “I am sincerely proud that Disney and Oriental Land will be able to work together to create a world-class cruise business in Japan,” said Yumiko Takano, representative director, chairperson and CEO, Oriental Land. “Oriental Land will use their knowhow from the theme park business to continue pushing boundaries and provide family entertainment cruise experiences filled with inspiration and surprise.” OLC will operate a new Disney cruise ship to be registered and based in Japan year-round. The ship will be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, with imaginative designs created by Walt Disney Imagineering. A sister ship to the popular Disney Wish, it will feature many guest-favourite venues and experiences from that ship with select modifications specially designed with Japanese guests in mind. It is expected to be approximately 140,000 gross tons and powered by liquefied natural gas, with about 1,250 staterooms. More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date. The Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to world-class destinations in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand, and year-round cruises from Singapore are planned to begin in 2025. 22 July, 2024 -
Almost 8000 guests celebrate England win against Netherlands across the PO Cruises fleet
Almost 8000 guests celebrate England win against Netherlands across the PO Cruises fleet
Almost 8,000 P&O Cruises guests enjoyed watching England beat Netherlands and make it into the UEFA European Championship Final. Throughout Europe across seven ships, guests flocked to the theatres, bars and Arvia’s SkyDome to watch the tense game. The UEFA European Championship Final will be shown onboard P&O Cruises fleet on Sunday evening, along with other popular sporting events happening this summer. 22 July, 2024