Disney Cruise Line has revealed the first details about its next ship, Disney Destiny, which will be the third in the line’s Wish class. Disney Destiny is the fourth new cruise ship overall following Disney Cruise Line’s acquisition of the partially-built Global Dream, which was subsequently renamed Disney Adventure. The announcement of Disney Destiny’s name was made as the ship reached … [Read more...]
Aroya Cruises launch delayed until August, but not due to Red Sea security crisis
The Saudi Arabian cruise line, Aroya Cruise, the first homegrown cruise line in the Arab world, will not launch in May this year as planned. Aroya Cruises is set to launch service in August instead of May, according to reports in the German media, quoting Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen. Although a reason for the delay was not given, it appears to be unrelated to the ongoing security … [Read more...]
Celebrity Infinity emerges from major refit with new public spaces and suites
Celebrity Infinity has emerged from a major refit and refurbishment with a reimagined Retreat Lounge, updated public spaces and new suite categories, and will now begin her European season. As part of Celebrity Cruises‘ refurbishment of the ship, The Retreat Lounge (formerly Michael’s Club) has been given a refreshed look, while the boldly elegant Luminae at The Retreat has been expanded, … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean International suspends port calls to Labadee in Haiti
Royal Caribbean International is suspending all upcoming port calls at Labadee, its private island in Haiti, due to the evolving security crisis in the country. The cruise line is the only major cruise operator with regular port calls in Haiti, with upwards of 150 ship calls per year to its privately-owned Labadee destination, an enclave around 100 kilometres from the capital … [Read more...]
Celestyal releases Arabian Gulf cruises for Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and Doha
Celestyal Cruises has launched three new Arabian Gulf cruise itineraries to coincide with the 2024 Grand Prix races in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Doha, Qatar, sailing roundtrip from Dubai. The cruises aboard Celestyal Journey have been tailored specifically to the Formula 1 schedule and offer multi-night stays in port in Abu Dhabi and Doha during the events. A three-day grandstand race … [Read more...]
Hamburg cruise ship leaves Dubai as first cruise ship bound for Red Sea
The German cruise operator Plantours Cruises will be the first cruise line to brave the Red Sea since the security crisis in the region began, with its cruise ship Hamburg planning a transit without passengers. Hamburg departed Dubai on Monday bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she will make a technical stop before continuing on to Aqaba, Jordan, to begin a March 24th cruise to the … [Read more...]
Utopia of the Seas to be delivered early with inaugural cruise brought forward
Royal Caribbean International is moving up the maiden cruise of its new vessel Utopia of the Seas in a change of events that has generally seen new cruise ships delayed since the pandemic. According to a statement from the cruise line, the new Oasis-Class vessel will now enter service on July 19th, 2024, instead of July 22nd, 2024, … [Read more...]
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman tourism officials revive Cruise Arabia Alliance
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman, founding members of the Cruise Arabia Alliance, a grouping of GCC cruise destinations aimed at fostering the growth of the region’s cruise tourism industry, have revived the alliance at ITB Berlin. The Cruise Arabia Alliance was first announced back in 2018 as a joint effort by key GCC cruise destinations to promote the Arabian Gulf to cruise lines and … [Read more...]
Teenage boy medically evacuated from MSC Splendida off Richard’s Bay
NSRI Richards Bay duty crew have evacuated an 18-year-old male passenger from MSC Splendida off the coast of Richards Bay following a medical emergency. NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated after the ship’s doctor, in consultation healthcare teams ashore, requested that the passenger be medically evacuated due to an injury sustained … [Read more...]
Emirates Airline renews fly-cruise partnerships with AIDA and TUI Cruises
Emirates Airline has renewed its partnerships with both AIDA Cruises and TUI Cruises for the next two cruise seasons, reinforcing Dubai’s place as a major maritime tourism hub with state-of-the-art cruise terminals supported by advanced air connectivity. The strategic alliances with AIDA Cruises and TUI Cruises were announced during the ITB Berlin, one of the largest travel trade … [Read more...]
MSC Cruises makes casinos aboard Euribia and Virtuosa non-smoking
MSC Cruises is banning smoking from the casinos of at least two ships of its fleet, according to Cruise Industry News. According to social media reports from passengers, the MSC Signature Casino onboard MSC Euribia and the Red Gem Casino onboard MSC Virtuosa were turned into smoke-free areas on February 18th, 2024. In various online … [Read more...]
MSC Poesia to cancel Suez Canal and Red Sea transits for 2024 World Cruise
MSC Poesia, currently sailing its 121-day 2024 World Cruise program for MSC Cruises, will cancel planned port calls in the Middle East on the back of security concerns in Red Sea. MSC Poesia will instead return to South Africa, sailing the West Coast of the continent for Europe, rather than her planned transit through the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. MSC Cruises is offering compensation … [Read more...]
Idols SA winner Thapelo Molomo defends decision to work aboard cruise ships
Idols SA 2022 winner Thapelo Molomo has assured his fans his singing career is doing just fine while working on a cruise ship. Molomo told TimesLive he took the singing job at sea after he was approached by agents of the cruise line, and that the move is just his latest attempt to earn money singing. The statement was made following rumours on social media … [Read more...]
Cunard reveals Bremont, Chanel and more amid Queen Anne retail offering
Cunard Line has revealed some of the retail offering aboard its new ship Queen Anne, due for delivery in May, 2024. Retail experiences awaiting guests aboard Queen Anne, include luxury watchmakers Bremont, the beauty division of French fashion house, Chanel, as well as 115 other brands, 27 of which mark first-time partnerships for Cunard. Hugo … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean World Cruise passengers stick with Dubai following re-routing vote
Passengers sailing the Ultimate World Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas have opted to keep the port call in Dubai, after the cruise line gave them the unprecedented choice of choosing the vessel’s itinerary following a decision to avoid the Red Sea. Serenade of the Seas was scheduled to cruise from Dubai for the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and Suez Canal in May, but … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean delays delivery date for new Icon class ship Star of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International has delayed the maiden cruise of its second Icon-class ship Star of the Seas by almost two weeks, cancelling her first two passenger voyages. Previously scheduled to depart Port Canaveral in mid-August, Star of the Seas will instead sail her first passenger-carrying cruise on August 31st, with departures on August 17th and 24th cancelled. Royal … [Read more...]
MSC Poesia calls in South Africa for first time on 2024 World Cruise
MSC Poesia was welcomed to the Mother City in style this week during her maiden call to South Africa on her 2024 World Cruise. A maiden call ceremony was held aboard MSC Poesia with Captain Roberto Leotta, Ross Volk, Managing Director of MSC Cruises SA, and James Voss, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth. Volk exchanged commemorative gifts with Captain Leotta during … [Read more...]
Dubai Holding in talks with Accor for $800m investment in Orient Express cruise brand
Dubai Holding is considering a major investment in Accor’s Orient Express cruise line brand, which will operate ultra-luxury cruising superyachts inspired by the famed train that travelled between Paris and Istanbul in the 20th century. The French hotel conglomerate is in advanced negotiations with Dubai Holding for the investment group to fund the building of two state-of-the-art cruising … [Read more...]
Princess reveals new dining, shopping experiences aboard upcoming Sun Princess
Princess Cruises has unveiled new dining experiences aboard Sun Princess ahead of her maiden voyage later this week, including Afternoon Tea with Royal Chef and wine tasting, along with new shopping experiences in its largest retail space at sea. Sun Princess is the largest cruise ship ever built for the cruise line, and is its first LNG powered vessel, but unlike other … [Read more...]
Norwegian Dawn allowed to dock in Mauritius following Cholera scare onboard
Norwegian Dawn, sailing the tail-end of her 12-night cruise from Cape Town, South Africa to Port Luis, Mauritius, has been allowed to dock after health authorities in the island nation determined there is no cholera onboard. Norwegian Dawn was initially blocked from entering port when at least 15 passengers were placed in isolation with a stomach illness authorities feared was cholera. The … [Read more...]