It’s so easy to settle into a cruise that you might wonder: “What would it be like to live at sea?” Forget days, or even weeks. Cruise lines are planning voyages that last for two and three seasons. One is selling a year of sailing and there are even companies turning ships into globe-circuiting floating residences.
After a transformative three-week makeover in Singapore, Cunard has unveiled a new-look Queen Elizabeth ahead of her inaugural Alaska voyages from Seattle and her debut season sailing from Miami, starting June 12 and Oct. 16 respectively.
It seemed a bafflingly abrupt end to a brilliant career at sea when long-time, well-known Capt. Kate McCue announced she was retiring from Celebrity Cruises after a groundbreaking 22-year career.
The countdown is the final hours for what MSC Cruises is promising is a world of experiences in its biggest ship yet – MSC World America. As its name implies, the 22-deck tall ship featuring 2,614 staterooms is aimed for the interests and tastes of North Americans. And it offers seven onboard districts designed to help guests choose their own holiday experience.
In celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8), Wild Women Expeditions, in partnership with Aurora Expeditions, has announced the launch of the first and only all-female Antarctic expedition designed by women, for women.
Seabourn Cruises says it will have one of the youngest fleets at sea with the sale of Seabourn Sojourn. The ship will continue to sail for Seabourn until May, 2026, as a charter from new owner Mitsui Ocean Cruises. Guests and their travel advisors with bookings after May 15, 2026, will receive a message from Seabourn with details on changes or rebooking options.
MSC Cruises is set for summer with a host of Mediterranean itineraries featuring both beaches and cityscapes; northern exposure in Iceland and the Norwegian fjords, and a first look at MSC World America, as she sails her inaugural summer season in the Caribbean.
The Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is expanding, with three brand new river cruise ships due to start sailing in 2027, completing the line’s transformation to an all Super Ship fleet.
With the popularity of river cruising unabated in 2025, Avalon Waterways recently sampled nearly 10,000 of its passengers to compile a deep-dive look at where they are planning to, and want to, go this year, and how they expect to do it.
Huntington Travel Group has launched a cruise product line and named industry veteran Christabel Sundram as cruise product manager to lead the division. The company says its new product offering expansion marks a significant milestone in its commitment to providing comprehensive travel products.
How hard is cider in Halifax? How do you forge a Japanese knife worthy of Kobe beef? They’re among the insights you can gain in an expanded range of ‘Culinary Discovery Tours’ from Oceania Cruises.
The historic, aging ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef departed from south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront last week, marking the opening segment of its final voyage.
Imagine if R2D2, the cute little droid from Star Wars, retired and got a job as a waiter. “Your order is here: please wait to be served,” the happy little robot chirps as he (it?) rolls up to our table on Sun Princess, loaded with comfort food. I half expected a natty C3PO to arrive next and set out the nachos and burgers at our table in the Americana Diner, one of the restaurants included in the fare on the newest ‘Love Boat.’
TravelBrands is setting sail with Shore Excursions Group, the world’s largest shore excursion provider. The collaboration brings a portfolio of over 4,000 tours in 300-plus ports worldwide, providing travel agents and their clients with high-quality, lower-priced excursions that enhance their travel experiences.
What’s a wood ear? You’ll find out as Windstar Cruises whips up new tastes with its new complimentary Asian/Mediterranean specialty restaurant Basil + Bamboo. The new concept is taking the place of Cuadro 44 restaurant across the line’s fleet in 2025. It’s first on Star Breeze in February 2025, and will debut as the new alternative dining venue aboard Star Seeker, due in December.
Princess Cruises – aka “The Love Boat” – will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year with a special 14-day anniversary cruise to Mexico, departing from Los Angeles on Dec. 6. On sale now, the 60th Anniversary Mexican Riviera Voyage aboard the Royal Princess will include some of the same ports on the cruise line’s first-ever voyage, which set sail on Dec. 3, 1965, on Princess Patricia.
Luxury cruise line Cunard has unveiled its 2026 Alaska program, which will operate between May and September, offering 15 roundtrip voyages from Seattle, ranging from seven to 12 nights. Guests looking for a longer vacation that combines contrasting destinations can choose extended voyages of up to 42 nights that includes the Caribbean.
AmaWaterways and Smithsonian Journeys – the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution specializing in small-group travel – have announced an alliance, starting in 2026. Beginning in April, select European river cruises will feature exclusive experiences, drawing on the Smithsonian’s 175-plus-year history as the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex.
A new concept on the coming Celebrity Xcel will be unlike anything at sea, offering guests activities to “explore the world before you even get there,” Celebrity Cruises promises. The Bazaar is is a three-level, multi-sensory space designed to physically transform several times over the course of each sailing to introduce travellers to experiences inspired by the destinations they visit.
Nearly as long as four football fields and carrying up to 5,000 guests on 19 decks, Sun Princess is the biggest ‘Love Boat’ ever. She’s a floating city filled with entertainment, and more restaurants and bars than anyone can reasonably be expected to discover in a full week on board.
Reservations for Azamara Cruises’ 2027 World Cruise are now open, with the journey set to be the small-ship, destination-immersive cruise line’s longest yet. The 188-night journey aboard the Azamara Quest will encompass 37 countries, 103 destinations, and five continents.
Celebrity Cruises is aiming to shake up European river cruising with a plan to build 10 new ships with Edge Class features and service “The Celebrity Way.” Celebrity River Cruises announced it will open bookings soon for cruises due to start in Europe in 2027, with bookings opening later this year.
A hefty cruise fee increase implemented in Iceland has led to numerous cancelled port calls. The infrastructure fee came into force on January 1 causing several cruise lines to limit or completely shift ships away from Iceland.
We’re told that Cozumel Island, where Sun Princess is docked alongside four more of the biggest cruise ships ever built is the place the ancients came to get into the mood for love. Cozumel island was considered sacred to the Maya moon spirit Ix Chel, so women made pilgrimages to temples here in hopes of boosting their fertility and finding a mate.
In an unexpected but very strategic move, Ponant Explorations Group is buying majority stake in small adventure ship line Aqua Expeditions to expand its range to South America and Asia. Aqua Expeditions operates small ships in ecologically diverse areas including the Galápagos, Indonesia, the Mekong River and the Peruvian Amazon.
An icebreaker cruise ship set sail on last Friday for a frosty journey that will bring passengers along the St. Lawrence River, a new route that tourism officials hope will usher in a new era of winter cruises in the province. Ponant, the French company that owns the vessel, says it is the first international passenger cruise ship to venture onto the St. Lawrence River during the winter.
I didn’t expect to find myself in handcuffs for ordering a cocktail aboard the new Sun Princess. But then there were a lot of things I didn’t anticipate about an evening of mystery and illusion on my Caribbean cruise.
Demonstrating its commitment to Alaska, Holland America Line is expanding and enhancing its popular Denali Lodge as well as its land-and-sea cruisetours with a US$70-million capital investment that will roll out over the next three seasons.
Cunard’s newest luxury ship, the Queen Anne, embarked on her historic 107-night maiden world voyage from Southampton, UK, Jan. 9, marking a new chapter in the cruise line’s distinguished history. Spectators gathered across the city to witness the ship’s 9 p.m. departure, which was celebrated with a dazzling fireworks display.
If you’re still unsure whether the cruise industry is on track to set new records, look no further than the latest announcement from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. They named a new team to lead a multi-billion-dollar fleet expansion and upgrading program for its ultra-premium and luxury cruise brands.