Gavleston will feature on Aurora’s Grand Tour, while Port Vila is included on Arcadia’s 106-night World Cruise. Both cruises are scheduled to depart from Southampton in January 2027.Agadir in Morocco, Alotau in Paua New Guinea, Kona in Hawaii, Newcastle in Australia, Port of Spain in Trinidad, and Progreso in Mexico have also been confirmed as new winter ports.In addition, P&O Cruises will … [Read more...]

There is no stopping it now, but will SS United States really depart on October 25? Credit: SSUSC As a permanent and welcoming fixture upon the Philadelphia skyline since July 1996, the iconic SS United States has officially changed hands and will depart for a watery grave on Friday, October 25 – if all goes to plan History records October 25 as the birthdate of Pablo Picasso. Katy Perry … [Read more...]

The delivery ceremony for the 82-passenger vessel took place at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.Viking Sobek has 41 staterooms and is identical in design to sister ships Viking Osiris, Viking Aton and Viking Hathor with a “distinctive” square bow.The new Nile ship will sail the line’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking, said: “We are proud to … [Read more...]

Itineraries include 101 destinations in 57 countries, comprising 62 Unesco World Heritage sites, 22 overnight port calls and 26 late-evening departures to give passengers more time to explore.Queen Anne, Cunard’s newest ship, will make a maiden call to South America as part of the 78-night South America Discovery voyage, which includes an overnight stay in Rio de Janeiro. The £479m vessel will … [Read more...]

The milestone was marked with a traditional maritime ceremony that took place in the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku (Finland), following nearly 19 months of construction.The celebration kicked off with a symbolic shot from a cannon before the dry dock was flooded with 92 million gallons of water.Star of the Seas was then floated out of the dry dock and into the outfitting pier where construction … [Read more...]

Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter – transferring to the fleet from sister line P&O Cruises Australia which will shut down early next year after nearly a century of voyages – will join Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa sailing from Sydney and Brisbane. Destinations include Moreton Island, the South Pacific, and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New … [Read more...]

The sailing which will take place onboard Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity’s newly refurbished vessel, which has just come out of dry dock, from September to December 2026.Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Our guests’ love of back-to-back sailings inspired the 110-night Grand Voyage which traverses 55 destinations across 15 countries with no repeated ports to provide an unrivalled … [Read more...]

SS United States has been in need of restoration or repurposing since the 1980s, but that time may never come. Credit: Reddit Gossip surrounds recent court rulings regarding the fate of SS United States. Both the ship’s conservation group and Florida’s Okaloosa County have signed a contract to reef the iconic cruise liner, but politics are at play. So – is SS United States doomed? All … [Read more...]

Cruise ships are - apparently - avoiding Guernsey with feverish energy. Or are they? Credit: Shutterstock According to various news sources, the Channel Island of Guernsey has fallen foul of major cruise lines. This feels hard to believe, as Guernsey offers stunning natural beauty, friendly people, and many attractions. Yet, cruise traffic continues to dip – so what’s going on? Back in … [Read more...]

The launch of TUI Bahareya comes after the successful sales of TUI Al Horeya, TUI River Cruises first ship on the Nile. The ship will sail down the River Nile in winter 2025. Like it's predecessor, TUI Bahareya will be a newly refurbished five-star ship – with Bahareya meaning 'belongs to the river' in Arabic. The ship will accommodate 136 passengers and 68 cabins, sailing two itineraries in … [Read more...]

Enjoy up to £453 ($600) of onboard credit per balcony stateroom* on selected Cunard Fare bookings, thanks to Cunard's latest promotion. You can choose between more than 300 voyages departing between March 8, 2025, and April 30, 2026, across all four ships in the fleet to redeem this offer. And yes, this includes Cunard's iconic Transatlantic crossings, Alaska, Norwegian Fjords and fly cruises to … [Read more...]

There's a big change coming for 2026, and not all cruise ships will be able to operate in Norway. Credit: Calum Brown There’s been heavy miscommunication regarding Norway’s attitude towards fuel-powered cruise ships. So, let’s get this straight – is Norway banning cruise ships from 2026? The answer is both yes and no. Here’s the lowdown Norway is more than the world’s largest sovereign … [Read more...]

The marriage ceremonies were part of Virgin Voyages' celebration sailings, marking the brand's 50 plus year history. Three couples said 'I do' onboard with Sir Richard Branson there to officiate. Brits Ben and Emma exchanged their vows onboard Valiant Lady in The Perch, Virgin Voyages crew members Alejandra and Matias (who met onboard) made it official onboard after their engagement onboard … [Read more...]

She may currently look a tad dishevelled, but SS United States remains as solid as she was on her famous sea trails. Credit: Charles Anderson/ SS United States Conservancy Eviction for the SS United States is fast approaching and no-one has come up with a better solution than simply sinking the national icon. For shame, America. SOS. This is an SOS for SS United States. An open letter to … [Read more...]

The SS United States is set to become an artificial reef via a recent Contingent Contract. Credit: Shutterstock/RRM It’s pretty much a done deal. SS United States – one of the finest cruise liners ever built – will now end her days as an artificial reef off the Florida coast. So, it’s come to this. North America’s greatest maritime achievement is set to add one final record to her name – … [Read more...]

Ambassador Ambition has been serving as a floating hotel throughout the Fringe Festival. Credit: Gillian Carmoodie Eagle-eyed cruisegoers recently clocked that Ambassador Ambition departed from Edinburgh’s Port of Leith for a one-off sailing to Newcastle. Those same eagle-eyed cruisegoers have also expressed confusion regarding Ambassador’s future in Edinburgh – so let’s clear a few things … [Read more...]

Following her sister ships, Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady has returned to Portsmouth International Port,where the brand launched in 2021.From August to October, Resilient Lady will embark on three- to six-night roundtrip getaways, as well as a 12-night voyage to Barcelona. Ports of call include Amsterdam, Bruges, Lisbon, Bordeaux, Casablanca and Ibiza. The adults-only line is also … [Read more...]

The cruise line – which has headquarters in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games – has launched the special offer to celebrate Team GB’s success across a range of sports. Great Britain achieved their third highest tally in Paris, collecting 65 medals – 14 golds, 22 silvers and 29 bronzes – matching their total medal haul from London 2012. Medal winners can choose from a selection of … [Read more...]

A ‘Greece, Sicily and Malta’ voyage, on the 162-passenger Star Flyer, will depart on October 16. It will include visits to the Acropolis, Athens, Nafplion, Monemvasia, Taormina and ancient sites of Epidaurus, Pylos and Syracuse’s Archaeological Park of Neopolis.Fares start from £2,999 per person including return flights, eight nights onboard Star Flyer, one night pre-cruise stay in Athens, one … [Read more...]

Every Viking expedition is an opportunity for scientific research and discovery. Can you tell us more about your latest finding?With scientific support from University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the J Craig Venter Institute, earlier this year the laboratory on board Viking Octantis was converted into an advanced scientific environment while the ship was in … [Read more...]

Icon of the Seas is the subject of a 60-minute show The World’s Biggest Cruise Ship. The Channel 4 documentary will show behind-the-scenes footage of crew and guests during Icon’s inaugural sailings from Miami earlier this year.Gerard Nolan, Royal Caribbean’s EMEA vice-president, said: “Icon of the Seas continues to break records for Royal Caribbean, from driving the biggest booking weeks in our … [Read more...]

Seabourn has added an 11-day voyage departing on March 10, 2026 onboard Seabourn Venture due to popular demand. The new departure is available to book now on Seabourn’s website.Robin West, Seabourn’s vice president and general manager of expeditions, said: “Exploring Antarctica in March offers a unique opportunity to witness the stunning landscapes as they transition into winter. This period is … [Read more...]

P&O Cruises has become Southampton FC’s official shirt sleeve sponsor after agreeing a multi-year deal.The cruise line’s logo will appear on the kits of the men’s, women’s and academy teams’ sleeves. The partnership, the first sports sponsorship for P&O Cruises, will also offer exclusive benefits and experiences to P&O Cruises guests and Southampton FC members and fans, including … [Read more...]

Star Legend will set sail on a Aegean Sea Odyssey via the Corinth Canal cruise on October 12, while Wind Spirit will depart on a Treasures of the Greek Isles cruise on October 13.The two yachts will meet in Kusadasi on October 16 for a celebration featuring live music and a five-course dinner in Ephesus.Christopher Prelog, Windstar president, said: “Windstar has had a remarkable 40 years in which … [Read more...]

The 'Talent of Tomorrow' competition will see the three finalists receive one-to-one mentoring from the Take That frontman Barlow himself and is open to all aspiring performers who can sing solo and play an instrument without a backing track.The winning musician will receive a seven-night cruise onboard Iona or Arvia with a guest, and will take to stage in The 710 Club by night to entertain … [Read more...]

The vessel will now sail a series of voyages to Southeast Asia, Japan, Hawaii, the Panama Canal and the Mediterranean between March and May 2025. The new deployment features 36 destinations in 18 countries, including 18 maiden calls and the ship’s first transit through the Panama Canal and its first visit to the US in Hawaii, California and Miami. Encore was originally scheduled to sail westbound … [Read more...]

The latest issue of World of Cruising is out now. Highlights include a review of the £479m Queen Anne, Cunard’s first new cruise ship in 14 years, an expert cruise port guide to Seattle – a US city that will blow you away with its beauty – and the low-down on World of Cruising TV which is currently airing on Freeview, ITV, Sky, Virgin and a host of other channels.Elsewhere we have a fantastic … [Read more...]

Hosted by World of Cruising and our sister publication Cruise Trade News, this year’s Wave Awards will take place at The Dorchester on November 11. This year’s awards have seen a record number of entries. Thirty one winners will be chosen on the night from the shortlist which features several new categories including Best for Accessibility, Best Consortia, Best Homeworking Network, and Best Trade … [Read more...]

Departing November 4, 2024, the lucky winner and their guest will be flown to Reykjavik for a four night adventure in Iceland. This prize includes VIP return transfers from home to airport, return flights from London Heathrow, four nights accommodation, transportation in each destination by coach, four breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner and excursions. These excursions are a tour in search of … [Read more...]

The eight-night sailing was announced by Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, during the line’s 2024 President’s Cruise.The annual cruise for Captain’s Club members is a chance for Hodges Bethge and other Celebrity Cruises executive team members to spend time with the line’s loyal guests, while enjoying experiences not offered on any other sailing.“The President’s Cruise is a … [Read more...]