June 2025 Review
June turned into a scorcher and so did the cruise industry as the global fleet swelled with more ships; new itineraries were launched for as far ahead as 2028; and cruising’s impact on the UK economy was highlighted by a Carnival UK report detailing its positive contribution.
New ships and new bits
The new ship juggernaut continued to roll as Royal Caribbean International revealed superstar Diana Ross would name Star of the Seas in August in Orlando. RCI is also revamping Ovation, Harmony and Liberty under its “amplification programme”, unveiling their new-look features in 2026. Regent Seven Seas Cruises gave a first peek at what it says is the largest cruise ship suite in history covering 9,000 square feet and costing a jaw-dropping £20,000 a night. The Skyview Regent Suite takes pride of place on Seven Seas Prestige, debuting next year. MSC Cruises announced that MSC World Asia, launching in December 2026, will have the longest dry slide at sea and a new pan-Asian restaurant. Meanwhile, the steel was cut on Oceania Cruises’ first Sonata-class ship Oceania Sonata, debuting in 2027.
River news is flowing
Saga Cruises’ latest river ship Spirit of the Moselle was named in Amsterdam while AmaWaterways celebrated the official christening of AmaMagdalena on Colombia’s Magdalena River. CroisiEurope announced new Christmas markets cruises to Bruges and Ghent this December on MS Raymonde, and Amazon sailings on new ship Brasilian Dream in 2027. Viva Cruises unveiled new summer 2026 sailings on Viva Ruby from Berlin to Stralsund in Germany, with a three-day Copenhagen stay add-on.
All aboard for 2027 & 2028
Cunard launched its 2027/28 programme with 18 overnight port calls and 33 late evening departures, while Princess Cruises’ UK & Europe 2027 series includes two total solar eclipse voyages, more ex-UK departures on Sky Princess and Majestic Princess, and the line’s maiden call to Aberdeen on Caribbean Princess. Holland America Line returns to Dover with Nieuw Statendam from April to October 2027, while AE Expeditions announced its 2027 Arctic & Beyond season of 25 voyages on Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle with a highlight being an Arctic Women’s Expedition to Svalbard and Greenland. Ambassador Cruise Line’s 2027/28 programme features 75 itineraries, with 10 new options, plus short sailings, Caribbean cruises and a solar eclipse voyage.
Food glorious food
It’s fitting that foodie line Oceania Cruises’ new ship Allura will be christened in Miami this November by a selection of chefs, but there’s more to whet the appetite as Allura’s pan-Asian restaurant Red Ginger is among the first to serve new Japanese-Peruvian dishes, rolling out across the fleet. P&O Cruises is bringing West Indian flavours onboard Arvia and Britannia this winter after teaming up with chefs in Barbados for foodie events, local dishes and cocktails on Caribbean sailings. Seabourn has added spice with enhanced local flavours via freshly-caught seafood, regional specialities and more chances to shop with the chef.
Stars of the screen
More than a little stardust was sprinkled around with MSC Cruises’ branding taking centre-stage in newly-released film Formula 1 The Movie, starring Brad Pitt, while Fred Olsen Cruise Lines featured in behind-the-scenes Channel 4 series Dover 24/7: Britain’s Busiest Port. Coming up, Holland America Line takes centre-stage in an eight-part Channel 4 docuseries from July 3 called Supercruising: Life at Sea.