Cruise Topics

The International Cruise Summit 2023 in Madrid

The 13th edition of the International Cruise Summit (ICS) took place in Madrid on November 14th and 15th, bringing together leaders and executives from the cruise industry. They explored the strengths of the cruise industry, emphasizing its greater competitiveness compared to traditional travel options like flights and hotels, and showcased its longstanding commitment to sustainability. […]

Cruise Topics

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Ascent Delivered

Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in the Edge class by Celebrity Cruises, has been officially handed over to the company’s officials at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. Executives from the Royal Caribbean Group and the crew of Celebrity Cruises were also present. Now officially part of Celebrity Cruises‘ fleet, Celebrity Ascent […]

Cruise Topics

Celebrity Xcel will be the fifth ship of the Edge Series

Celebrity Cruises has announced, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, where the first piece of steel has also been cut, that the fifth ship of its award-winning Edge Series will be named Celebrity Xcel. In addition to featuring the innovative experiences already present on its sister ships, this new unit will go […]

Cruise Topics

ICS 2023: The present and future of the cruise industry

The start of the International Cruise Summit 2023 is just around the corner, the foremost cruise conference in Europe, set to take place in Madrid on November 14 and 15. The event will host key figures in the cruise industry, with representatives from no fewer than 21 cruise companies on stage or in the audience, […]

Cruise Topics

MedCruise: The Cruise Industry Gathers in Burgas

The official opening of the 63rd General Assembly of MedCruise took place at the new International Congress Center in Burgas, attended by numerous authorities. Resilience and unity were the key themes of the most anticipated event in the cruise sector, held for the first time along the shores of the Black Sea in Burgas, Bulgaria, […]

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Two new ships for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is thrilled to announce the addition of two new Super Ships to its fleet, the S.S. Victoria and the S.S. Elizabeth, set to sail in Europe in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Uniworld will take possession of the ships from the Seaside Collection as part of a three-year lease agreement for each […]

Cruise Topics

Explora I christened in New York

Explora I, the first of the six luxury ships by Explora Journeys, was christened at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York, following the highly anticipated arrival of the ship in the United States in recent days. This was a significant ceremony held in New York, not only because it marks the official christening of […]

Cruise Topics

Porto Cruise Terminal: Growing Number of Passengers

The cruise activity at Porto Cruise Terminal in the first half of 2023 has seen an 88% increase in the number of passengers and a 12% increase in the number of cruises compared to the same period in 2022. In the first six months of the year, the port welcomed a total of 56 cruise […]

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Celebrity Ascent successfully completes Sea Trials

The sea trials are always a crucial step, not only from a technical standpoint but also symbolically, marking the maiden voyage of a new ship in open waters. It’s a shared success, as demonstrated by the ship’s two brother captains, who guided her into open waters for a series of tests. This achievement is significant […]

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A-ROSA Expands Its Fleet with the addition of two ships

A-ROSA is expanding its fleet for the 2024 season with the addition of two ships, A-Rosa Alea and A-Rosa Clea, which will set sail from April on the Rhine, both to the north towards Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and to the south towards Basel and Strasbourg. Starting in the 2025 season, one vessel will be transferred […]

Cruise Topics

Explora Journeys: Order for 2 Hydrogen-Powered Ships

MSC Group’s Cruise Division has confirmed an order for two hydrogen-powered ships for its luxury brand, Explora Journeys, as part of its commitment to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. The ships, Explora V and Explora VI, are scheduled to be delivered in 2027 and 2028, respectively, and will feature innovative energy efficiency systems. Additionally, […]

Cruise Topics

AIDA Cruises: Building Schools for a Better Future

Traveling, exploring the world, and doing good at the same time: AIDA Cruises has been following this approach with its charitable initiative, “AIDA Cruise & Help,” since 2019. On board the fleet, frequent charitable activities are organized. What’s new is that since mid-2023, each AIDA ship has been responsible for its very own partner project. […]

Cruise Topics

Hanseatic Nature: it’s First Northwest Passage

Since 1906, only a few ships have ventured on this marvelous route, made possible by the Arctic summer. This marks the 21st time that Hapag Lloyd has offered its guests this extraordinary journey and the very first for the Hanseatic Nature. The first ship in Hapag-Lloyd Cruises‘ new expedition fleet has successfully completed the Northwest […]

Cruise Topics

Scaling Sustainably: Seatrade Europe in Hamburg

Scaling sustainably. This was the central theme of the recent Seatrade Cruise Europe, held in the splendid setting of Hamburg from September 6th to 8th, 2023. A crucial moment of gathering and discussion for all industry stakeholders, aiming to steer growth towards a sustainable process that respects both natural resources and local communities. The effort […]

Cruise Topics

Explora Journeys: The Fleet Construction Continues

Just two months after the delivery of Explora I, Explora Journeys, the new luxury cruise brand within the MSC Group, is advancing the construction of its fleet with a dual ceremony held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente: the technical launch (float-out) of Explora II and the steel cutting for Explora III. The ceremony […]

Cruise Topics

Crystal Symphony returns to service

Crystal Symphony, one of the jewels of the luxury cruise industry, has officially returned to service after an extensive refurbishment. Following its acquisition by A&K Travel Group last summer, the second of Crystal Cruises‘ two units has undergone a transformation that promises to redefine the standards of luxury cruising. The refurbishment operations have encompassed a […]

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Seabourn Pursuit Sets Sail on Its Inaugural Voyage

Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn‘s second ultra-luxury expedition ship, embarked on its maiden journey and welcomed its first guests on board on Saturday, August 12, 2023, with an eight-day itinerary from La Valletta, Malta, to Rome. “For 10 years, we have provided engaging expedition experiences with our team of experts, and now we have two cutting-edge ultra-luxury […]

Cruise Topics

Silver Nova Sets Sail on its Inaugural Journey

Silver Nova, the first ship of the Nova class and the twelfth vessel in Silversea‘s ultra-luxury fleet, has embarked on its inaugural journey from Venice, Italy. With a seven-day itinerary traversing the Adriatic, it will make stops at Piran, Slovenia; Zadar, Dubrovnik, Split, and Rovinj in Croatia; and Kotor, Montenegro. “Silver Nova revolutionizes ultra-luxury cruising […]

Cruise Topics

Crystal Symphony successfully completes sea trials

Crystal Symphony, the second ship by Crystal to resume operations following the recent return of Crystal Serenity, has successfully completed sea trials in anticipation of its inaugural cruise from Athens, Greece, on September 1st. Currently in the final stages of an extensive refurbishment at the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste, Italy, the ship carried a full […]

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Silver Nova: Senior Officers Onboard

On August 14th, Silver Nova will embark its first passengers for its inaugural cruise departing from Venice. Silversea Cruises has announced the lineup of its expert senior officers for what will be one of the most environmentally-conscious cruise ships ever built. Silver Nova will visit many of the Adriatic’s most iconic destinations in seven days, […]

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Emerald Sakara Embarks on Inaugural Cruise

Emerald Cruises‘ second luxury vessel, Emerald Sakara, set sail from Piraeus port on August 5 for its sold-out inaugural cruise against the captivating backdrop of ancient Athens. The following morning, its twin ship, Emerald Azzurra, officially welcomed it to the fleet as both ships embarked on a picturesque journey through the Corinth Canal. Under the […]

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Norwegian Viva delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line

The cutting-edge vessel by Norwegian Cruise Line is now officially part of the fleet, following its delivery to the operator on August 3rd. This marks the nineteenth addition to NCL’s fleet and the second ship in the groundbreaking Prima Class, built at the acclaimed Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. This historic event heralds the arrival […]

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Celebrity Cruises wins 18 Wine Spectator Awards

The cruise company is undoubtedly among the most frequent winners of the prestigious “Best Of Awards of Excellence,” thanks to its various restaurants spread across the fleet. Celebrity Cruises has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2023 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for their wine offerings. Celebrity was […]

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Two sisters will be the godmothers of Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Cruises has revealed the godmothers of Celebrity Ascent, the new ship that will join the fleet in the next month of November. Sandy Yawn, known for her appearance on the famous Bravo TV series “Below Deck,” along with her sister Michelle Dunham, founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism (JSA), have been selected as […]

Cruise Events — Cruise Topics — 11 | Cruising Journal