EGYPT GEARS UP FOR A NILE CRUISE BOOM
By WALLACE IMMEN/ The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities has launched a new Digital Visa-on-Arrival System to simplify entry procedures for international travellers. The pilot phase of the new system has begun at Cairo International Airport, and will be rolled out nationwide.
LOW WATER TURNS RIVERS CRUISES INTO ADVENTURES
By WALLACE IMMEN/ Soaring temperatures and drought in Europe are forcing cruise lines to adapt, with what some guests are calling “magical mystery cruises.” While the worst of the heat wave appears to be subsiding, an extended drought and wildfires are forcing changes in itineraries and excursions.
CRUISING’S LUCRATIVE NEW NICHE: How hotel cruise brands are creating, not converting, new customers
A new category of luxury travel is forming at sea, and it is not coming from the cruise industry. According to new 2026 booking data from Global Travel Collection (GTC), part of the Internova Travel Group, iconic hotel and hospitality brands now account for 5% of all future cruise bookings, with the average branded voyage priced at US$40,000. That is four times the cost of a traditional ocean cruise.
EMERALD GETS READY FOR INVASION OF NORMANDY
By WALLACE IMMEN/ Emerald Cruises & Tours celebrated the ceremonial launch of Emerald Lumi, a ship designed specifically to cruise the Seine River and sail right into the heart of Paris. The new ship measures just 110 metres in length, designed to navigate where few other river ships can reach.
HOW WOMEN PRESIDENTS ARE STEERING CRUISE INDUSTRY
Who runs the cruise world? Increasingly, it’s women in leadership positions throughout the industry.
DESTINY AWAITS: Carnival introduce new ship
Carnival Cruise Line marked a major milestone with the traditional steel-cutting ceremony for its newest ship, Carnival Destiny – arriving in summer 2029 as the first of three vessels in its next-generation of ships, officially named Ace Class.
SUNWING ADDS MSC OPERA TO CRUISE LINEUP
Sunwing Vacations is expanding its winter cruise offering with the addition of MSC Opera, providing Quebec guests with additional options to escape the winter. Beginning Dec. 14, the tour company will offer weekly Monday departures from Montreal to La Romana, D.R., connecting guests to seven-night Caribbean sailings with key inclusions bundled into one booking.
WHY YOU’LL WANT TO PLAY ON SEVEN SEAS PRESTIGE
By WALLACE IMMEN/ The shuffleboard is “supercharged” and the Pickleball and Padel courts are competition grade. There’s an 18-hole golf putting course, an enclave for sunrise and sunset yoga, a full-size pool and all-day relaxation zones.
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHANGING THE NATURE OF CRUISING
As cruise travel continues to grow, a new trend is quietly reshaping how passengers experience their vacations: travellers are increasingly connecting with fellow cruisers before they ever step onboard.
HOW MUCH FUN CAN A CARNIVAL BEACH HANDLE
By WALLACE IMMEN/ The numbers are staggering. Carnival’s private Caribbean port Celebration Key can now dock four mega-ships a day and see over 13,000 guests a day hitting the beaches and attractions.