The ceremony was attended by Italian minister of enterprises Adolfo Urso and Italian minister for relations with parliament Luca Ciriani.Katie McAlister, president of Cunard; Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK; and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri were also present.The 3,000-passenger ship, the 249th vessel to sail under the Cunard flag – and the third built by … [Read more...]
Australian Traditional Owners announced as godparents of Seabourn Pursuit
The line said the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners’ appointment “serves as a symbolic gesture of stewardship and responsibility toward the environment and the communities that Seabourn visits, as well as Seabourn’s commitment to sustainable tourism”.The naming ceremony will take place during Seabourn Pursuit’s June 22-July 4 sailing in the Kimberley region.The Wunambal Gaambera people are the … [Read more...]
Record-breaking number of Brits took a cruise in 2023
In data published yesterday (April 17), CLIA also revealed that the Mediterranean remains the most popular destination for cruise travellers from the UK and Ireland. With 35 per cent travelling there in 2023, 29 per cent to Northern Europe and 12 per cent to the Caribbean.Exploration destinations have seen a 53 per cent increase in passenger numbers year-on-year and the average age of UK and … [Read more...]
Viking announces new Mongolia extension for China voyages
The five-night, fully guided pre- or post-extension will allow guests to further immerse themselves in the rich traditions of the region, from the ancient city of Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi Desert.The five-night, fully guided pre- or post-extension will allow guests to further immerse themselves in the rich traditions of the region, from the ancient city of Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi Desert. The Spirit … [Read more...]
World of Cruising announces new podcast
Produced by Jonny Heather and aimed at anyone with an interest in cruise, CruiseCast will offer listeners all the latest cruise news, views and ship reviews.Each month our SEO and heritage editor, Calum Brown, and senior digital editor, Kaye Holland will host a studio discussion with cruise industry guests covering all the latest talking points. On the rationale for the podcast, Kaye Holland said: … [Read more...]
Boxing legend Frank Bruno to join Cunard voyage
Bruno will sail on the 3,000 passenger Queen as part of her 14-night British Isles Festival Voyage which departs from Southampton on May 24.The 62-year-old will discuss the highs and lows of life of his life in the ring including his bouts against Mike Tyson in an intimate Q&A in Queen Anne’s Royal Court Theatre An active mental health campaigner, the boxing legend will also talk about his … [Read more...]
MSC Cruises reveals name of third world class ship
Work has officially commenced on MSC World Asia. The name follows the format of the World class ships which pay homage to the different continents. World Asia will feature signature design touches, experiences and features inspired by the continent.MSC World Asia will become the fourth ship powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) to join MSC Cruises fleet.Meanwhile, sister ship MSC World America … [Read more...]
Windstar Cruises to add two new ships to its fleet
The first of the pair of 224-passenger ships, Star Seeker, is under construction at the WestSEA shipyard in Portugal and is due to be delivered in December 2025. Star Seeker will be followed by Star Explorer a year later.Each ship has 112 suites, featuring private verandas and infinity windows, as well as two new Owner’s Suites with wrap-around balconies.With a capacity for 224 guests and a staff … [Read more...]
Solar eclipse: Cruise guests among first to experience 2024 eclipse
Sailing down the Gulf of California, guests onboard Swan Hellenic's SH Diana witnessed the total eclipse, with the line stating the guests "were quite possibly the first people in the world to see it". Paul D. Maley, from NASA Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society, was onboard the cruise to offer insights to guests as well as Dr. Michael Shara, from the American Museum of Natural … [Read more...]
New issue out now
The April issue of World of Cruising is out now. You can read all about editor Sarah Riches’ epic 11-night 'Pharaohs and Pyramids' cruise down the River Nile onboard Viking Aton (page 30), and get the low-down on Celestyal Journey (page 24) – Celestyal’s newest ship.Elsewhere we asked locals to lift the lid on Barbados (page 74), New York (page 80) and the Baltics (page 88) while former Neighbours … [Read more...]
Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham named godmother of Sun Princess
Waddingham, who has held roles in Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones and Sex Education and hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023, will next be seen in The Fall Guy opposite Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Earlier this year, Waddingham earned a Bafta TV Award nomination for her own Apple TV+ holiday special Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas. The award-winning actress and performer joins a … [Read more...]
American actor Jonathon Bennett named godfather of Carnival Firenze
The 5,260-guest Carnival Firenze is the second ship to transfer to the Carnival fleet from sister line Costa Cruises, following Carnival Venezia.Stage and screen star Bennett, is best known playing Aaron Samuels in Mean Girls and Sir Robin in Spamalot.Carnival Firenze will be christened in Long Beach, California on April 24, before embarking on its first sailing as part of the Carnival fleet the … [Read more...]
Riviera Travel removes single supplements on Rhine and Rhone itineraries
The river cruise and escorted tour specialist is offering 533 cabins to solo travellers on select departures in August and October.Itineraries include the Rhine, Strasbourg & Heidelberg voyage, Rhine & Moselle, Rhine Cruise to Switzerland, and the Burgundy, the River Rhône & Provence cruise.Prices for the Rhine, Strasbourg & Heidelberg cruise start from £2,749 for an August … [Read more...]
Competition: Win a river cruise with Riviera Travel
Moon river, wider than a mile / I’m crossing you in style some day... Two drifters, off to see the world / There’s such a lot of world to see.... sang the actress Audrey Hepburn in the classic 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Hepburn was right – there is such a lot of world to see. And if, like Hepburn, you’ve always dreamt of drifting down a river in style, then you may be in luck as Riviera … [Read more...]
First cruise ship docks at new Stornoway Deep Water port
Following a decade of debate, financing and construction, Stornoway’s new deep-water port has now welcomed its first official visitor – Ambassador Ambition. The 48,000 gross-tonne MS Ambition arrived in Lerwick at 7am on April 1, 2024, before departing for Belfast at 1pm the following day, disgorging 1200 passengers upon the Hebridean shores of Scotland's new cruising hotspot. It will be a further … [Read more...]
A poor silly fad? Middle-Earth Cruise promises 38 per cent survival rate
Would you survive a Middle Earth cruise? Credit: Reddit/Shutterstock/RRM Following a disastrous cruise to Laketown with an ill-timed excursion to Helm’s Deep, where the SS Daedalic Entertainment took everyone down with it, Boromir Three-Arrow Cruises has promised that at least 38 per cent of passengers should likely return home on new cruises There’s rampant speculation over ‘Why didn’t … [Read more...]
Riviera Travel celebrates 40 years
Guests including travel agents, journalists and supplier partners celebrated the milestone birthday onboard the 140-passenger Jane Austen, as she made two short cruises over consecutive days on the Seine via the Eiffel Tower. Guests also experienced a shore excursion to the Atelier des Lumières digital art centre.France was Riviera’s first destination when the operator launched in 1984, with … [Read more...]
Regent Seven Seas Cruises reveals world cruise costing a record-breaking £1.3 million
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' 140-night world cruise will be held onboard Seven Seas Splendor for the first time in 2027. Another first is that the cruise line is offering up the Regent Suite for this world cruise, priced at over £1.3 million pounds for two guests. The voyage departs January 11, 2027, will sail from Miami, Florida, to New York. Seven Seas Splendor will call at 71 ports of call in … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean announces new beach club in Mexico
Set to open in 2026, Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico is Royal Caribbean International's latest beach club. The beach club features swim-up bars, pools, private cabanas, snorkelling, kayaking and more. There will also be dining spots, including a restaurant, bar and lounge as well as a street market where you can take part in tequila tastings and cooking classes. Royal Caribbean Group president … [Read more...]
Competition: Win a 2-night stay with Chewton Glen
The New Forest’s history is as deep as its woodland, as William the Conqueror declared it a royal hunting ground in 1079. Fortunately, William the Conqueror wasn’t the only one to recognise its value, and in 2005 it was declared a national park. Covering 566sqkm, the forest rivals the Greek island of Corfu in size, so there are plenty of trails in which you can get lost on. Get back to nature by … [Read more...]