Regent Seven Seas Breaks Record for New Ship Bookings

Regent Seven Seas Breaks Record for New Ship Bookings

Regent Seven Seas Cruises enjoyed its biggest single booking day for the launch of a new ship, the company announced in a press release.

The record was achieved on June 25, 2025, when the luxury brand opened reservations for the new Seven Seas Prestige.

Bookings exceeded Regent’s previous record for a new ship launch day, when the Seven Seas Splendor went on sale in 2018, by 26%.

In addition, the Skyview Regent Suite, which was available at $25,000 per night, sold out on six out of the 13 available sailings.

According to Regent, the result is the best performance of a top-tier product the cruise line has ever experienced on an opening day.

“I’m absolutely thrilled, but not surprised, by the phenomenal results that the Seven Seas Prestige has produced – we knew that luxury travellers were extremely eager to reserve their suite on this incredible ship,” said Jason Montague, chief luxury officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

“The Seven Seas Prestige promises to begin a new legacy for the entire ultra-luxury cruise sector, and we cannot wait until she joins the fleet in December 2026. I’d like to thank our valued guests and Travel Partners, as well as Regent’s highly talented and professional teams around the world, who all contributed to this fantastic achievement,” he added.

Set to be delivered in late 2026, the Seven Seas Prestige will be the first in a new class of ships developed by the company.

The 77,000-ton vessel will be 40 per cent larger than Regent’s previous ships, yet it will accommodate just ten per cent more guests, the company said.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the ship will host 822 guests in all-balcony suites, as well as 630 crew members.

During its maiden season, the ship offers 13 voyages across the Caribbean and Europe, visiting boutique ports and offering multiple overnight stays.

Marella Cruises Launches All-Inclusive Cruise Calculator

Marella Cruises Launches All-Inclusive Cruise Calculator

Marella Cruises has introduced the All-Inclusive Cruise Calculator, a free tool that reveals the cost of sailing with the company.

The company said in a press release that the tool demonstrates savings from booking an all-inclusive offering.

The tool highlights the all-inclusive offering, which includes flights, food and drink, transfers, entertainment, tips and service charges.

Chris Hackney, managing director at Marella Cruises, said: “The new All Inclusive Cruise Calculator allows customers to see the value for money we provide to our customers.”

“With all-inclusive at the heart of our cruise holidays, we provide an exceptional end-to-end service which includes flights, transfers, tips and accommodation rolled into one price, as well as entertainment, food and drink offerings and fantastic service,” added Hackney.

“We hope the tool helps new-to-cruise customers who are looking for alternative holidays consider a cruise holiday this summer and beyond.”

Research by Marella Cruises revealed that over 60 per cent of Brits plan to take a holiday this year, yet 20 per cent admit that the cost of living is stopping them from booking.

Twenty-two per cent see an all-inclusive cruise to be the best value; however, 46 per cent would be open to a cruise holiday if they could compare the costs more easily.

Chelsea Dickensen, a travel expert influencer, said: “All inclusive holidays are back in fashion with searches for stress-free escapes skyrocketing by 60 per cent year on year.”

“And it’s not just resorts seeing the love, with cruise holidays expecting to surpass pre-pandemic levels by reaching 37.1 million passengers in 2025. However, prices are on the rise too, with the average package holiday prices rising 4.2 per cent compared to 2024,” added Dickensen.

“For cruises, these hidden costs could include your flights, transfers, meals, drinks and tips, though companies such as Marella Cruises do include all of these as standard. Their All Inclusive Cruise Calculator is really helpful in sharing exactly what you’ll get, and how much you could save by having it as part of your package.”

Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima to Swap Homeports

The Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Prima will swap homeports for the 2026-27 winter season, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement.

After announcing the cancellation of over 40 sailings onboard the ships, the company said that the Breakaway will now offer itineraries from New Orleans, while the Prima will sail from Puerto Rico.

“Due to a fleet redeployment, the Norwegian Breakaway’s sailings from November 8, 2026, through and including March 29, 2027, have been cancelled, and the ship will be repositioned to New Orleans,” Norwegian explained.

“In her place, the Norwegian Prima will sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico, offering the Norwegian Breakaway’s original Southern Caribbean cruises during the same time frame,” the company continued in a letter sent to booked guests.

Bookings for the new itineraries on both ships will be available for booking starting August 8, 2025.

“As passionate cruisers ourselves, we know this wasn’t part of your plan, and we truly apologise for any disruption or disappointment this may cause,” Norwegian added.

The company stated that it’s working to implement the change “as smoothly as possible,” noting that full monetary refunds will be automatically issued to the original form of payment used by guests at the time of booking.

“We recognise that this wasn’t part of your original travel arrangements, and as a token of our appreciation for your patience, we’re pleased to offer a ten per cent discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit (FCC),” Norwegian added.

According to the company, the credit can be used towards any published sailings through December 31, 2027.

Earlier this month, Norwegian announced the cancellation of over 40 sailings set to take place onboard the Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Prima between November 2026 and March 2027.

The Norwegian Prima was initially set to debut in New Orleans during the 2026-27 season, while the Norwegian Breakaway was poised to debut in Puerto Rico.

A Look at the Inaugural Season of Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

A Look at the Inaugural Season of Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

The third ship in Royal Caribbean International’s Icon class is scheduled to offer itineraries in Europe and the Caribbean as part of its maiden season in 2026.

Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the Legend of the Seas’ schedule, which includes seven-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean, as well as six- and eight-night itineraries departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

First Cruise
Date: August 2, 2026
Length: 7 nights
Homeport: Barcelona (Spain)
Itinerary: Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona (Spain); La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Naples (Italy)

According to Royal Caribbean’s website, the Legend of the Seas is scheduled to enter service in early August 2026, with a cruise to the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from Barcelona, the seven-night maiden voyage features visits to destinations in Spain and Italy, such as Palma de Mallorca, La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Naples.

Seven-Night Cruises in the Mediterranean
Dates: Multiple sailings between August and October 2026
Length: 7 nights
Homeport: Barcelona (Spain) and Civitavecchia (Italy)
Itinerary: Palma de Mallorca (Spain); Marseille (France); La Spezia and Naples (Italy)

Later in August, the Legend of the Seas kicks off a series of regular seven-night cruises to the Western Mediterranean that sail to ports of call in France, Spain and Italy.

With departures scheduled through October, the itinerary sails from Barcelona and Civitavecchia and features visits to Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, La Spezia and Naples.

Maiden Trans-Atlantic
Date: Oct. 25, 2026
Length: 13 nights
Homeports: Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale (United States)
Itinerary: Alicante, Málaga and Cádiz (Spain)

Upon completing its inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean, the Legend of the Seas offers a trans-Atlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale.

The 13-night repositioning voyage sails from Barcelona and features visits to three additional destinations in Spain: Alicante, Málaga and Cádiz.

Eight-Night Cruise to Southern Caribbean
Dates: Multiple sailings between November 2026 and April 2027
Length: 8 nights
Homeport: Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Oranjestad (Aruba); Willemstad (Curaçao); Cabo Rojo (Dominican Republic); and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas)

Sailing from its homeport in Fort Lauderdale, the Legend of the Seas offers different itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including this eight-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean.

Offered between November 2026 and April 2027, the itinerary includes visits to Aruba, Curaçao, and Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic. The LNG-powered ship is also scheduled to stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Six-Night Cruise to Eastern Caribbean
Date: Multiple departures between November 2026 and April 2027
Length: 6 nights
Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States)
Itinerary: Labadee (Haiti); Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas); and Falmouth (Jamaica)

The Legend of the Seas also offers cruises to the Eastern Caribbean that sail to ports of call in Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

As part of the six-night itinerary, the ship sails to two of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations in the region: Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The Legend is scheduled to visit Falmouth before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

MSC Joins Carnival and Royal in Grand Bahama Shipyard Partnership

 

MSC Joins Carnival and Royal in Grand Bahama Shipyard Partnership

Grand Bahama Shipyard is set to welcome MSC Cruises as a partner, joining Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean, who are part owners of the facility in the joint venture, according to a statement.

The yard is set to expand with two new floating docks, which are part of a $600 million investment.

“We are delighted to see positive momentum on our expansion and modernisation, which is expected to increase activity here in the shipyard, boosting local businesses, creating economic opportunities, and enriching the community for Grand Bahamians,” said Chris Earl, CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard.

The new docks are set to be operational in 2026.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas Marks 10 Years of Service

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas Marks 10 Years of Service

The Anthem of the Seas recently completed ten years of service for Royal Caribbean International, having been delivered to the company on April 10, 2015.

As a sister to the 2014-built Quantum of the Seas, the vessel was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Following a delivery ceremony in Bremerhaven, the Anthem sailed for the English port of Southampton to kick off its maiden season.

Before welcoming its first paying guests, the 158,000-ton ship was named by actress Emma Wilby at a special ceremony that took place at its homeport on April 20, 2015.

Sailing round-trip from Southampton, the Anthem offered a series of itineraries to the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and Northern Europe as part of its maiden season.

The 4,204-guest vessel was later repositioned to the United States for cruises departing from New York Harbour.

For its North American debut, the ship sailed from Cape Liberty Cruise Port to Bermuda and the Caribbean, as well as Canada and New England.

After additional seasons in the United Kingdom and the New York metropolitan area, the Anthem of the Seas recently repositioned to the Pacific Ocean for cruises to other destinations.

As part of a ship shuffle, the vessel debuted in Southeast Asia during the 2024-25 winter, offering cruises from Singapore.

Earlier this year, the Anthem kicked off its first summer deployment in Alaska, offering seven-night cruises that sail from Seattle and also include visits to destinations in Canada.

Before debuting on the West Coast, the vessel also underwent a routine dry dock in Singapore, which included minor updates to staterooms and public areas, as well as technical maintenance.

In mid-October, the ship will reposition to the South Pacific for its inaugural season in Australia. Sailing from Sydney, the Anthem offers itineraries to a wide range of destinations, including Nouméa, Picton and Airlie Beach.

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur - Video

This video was filmed of the Seven Seas Grandeur's first visit to the historic City of Liverpool

Seven Seas Grandeur is an Ultra-Luxary cruise ship operated. It's the third vessel in the Explorer Class, known for its all-inclusive experience and high staff-to-guest ratio. The ship debuted in November 2023 and features a reimagined Compass Rose restaurant, a state-of-the-art spa, and luxurious accommodations. 

Key Features:

• All-inclusive experience:

  Seven Seas Grandeur offers a luxurious, all-inclusive experience with gourmet dining, included excursions, and premium beverages. 
• Luxurious accommodations:

  The ship features spacious suites with private balconies, plush bedding, and high-end amenities. 
Culinary excellence:
It boasts multiple restaurants, including the reimagined Compass Rose, offering a variety of dining experiences. 
Wellness and spa:
The ship features a state-of-the-art spa with treatment rooms, thermal suites, and a relaxation area. 
Art and design:
The ship showcases a blend of art and bold décor, creating a sophisticated and striking ambience. 
Sister ship to Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor:
It shares similarities in size and layout with its sister ships but with unique enhancements. 

Destinations:

Seven Seas Grandeur offers cruises in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Northern Europe.
In 2025 and 2026, the ship will visit various destinations, providing opportunities to explore these regions in style. 

MSC Cruises Named Official Main Partner of Tudor Pro Cycling

MSC Cruises Named Official Main Partner of Tudor Pro Cycling

MSC Cruises has partnered with Tudor Pro Cycling to become its official main partner through the 2027 season, including a debut at the 2025 Tour de France, which starts on July 5.

The partnership was unveiled today ahead of the Tour de France Official Team Presentation in Lille.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman at MSC Cruises, said: “We are proud to partner with the Tudor Pro Cycling team as the official main partner at the start of this exciting new chapter for the team as they are participating for the first time in the world’s biggest cycling event.”

“We look forward to supporting the team as they race across the world, introducing our brand to a new global audience that follows this exciting international sport. Team sports, such as this, reflect our commitment to delivering outstanding experiences driven by teamwork, excellence and passion,” added Vago.

Raphael Meyer, CEO of Tudor Pro Cycling: “We are honoured and excited to welcome MSC Cruises as our new main partner of Tudor Pro Cycling. Their support comes at a truly historic moment for our team, as we prepare to compete in our very first Tour de France.”

“This milestone marks a bold new chapter in our journey, and we are thrilled to have MSC Cruises on board with us. Together, we share a commitment to excellence, innovation, and pushing boundaries, values that will drive us forward both on and off the road,” added Meyer.

MSC Cruises said in a press release that the company will have visibility across the Tudor Pro Cycling team’s kit, with branding featured on rider jerseys as well as on team vehicles, including support cars and team buses.

Audiences will see the new branding for the first time at the 2025 Tour de France.

MSC Cruises added that the move is its first involvement in the world of professional cycling.

MSC said the partnership reflects a shared national heritage and a focus on high operational standards.

Explora Journeys Evolves Loyalty Program

Explora Journeys Evolves Loyalty Program

Following the launch of Explora Club in April 2025, Explora Journeys has announced the second phase of the brand`s exclusive loyalty program.

The company said that Explora Club Members can now enjoy benefits and privileges while on board and view their points balance and loyalty status via their My Explora Account on explorajourneys.com.

Every night sailed onboard, eligible onboard purchases and Destination Experience bookings now contribute to earning points, unlocking an expanding collection of exclusive privileges and benefits with every journey.

For those yet to join, Explora Journeys invites guests to enrol so they can begin enjoying privileges including bespoke onboard events, value savings, surprise gifts, and elevated services designed to make every journey uniquely personal, the company said in a statement.

The brand also said it is expanding its Explora Club Status Match to include guests of Oceania Cruises, bringing the program to a total of 11 brands.

This enhancement is a direct response to guest feedback, driven by strong demand for Oceania’s inclusion. Travellers holding status with any of the eligible programs can match to the equivalent Explora Club level by providing proof of status, unlocking curated benefits from their very first journey.

Explora Club offers a seamless and intuitive, five-level structure – Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond – with each level unveiling a collection of benefits, from priority access and bespoke events to personalised gifts and exclusive savings.

Explora Club Member Benefits Include:

• Thoughtful touches such as birthday gifts (Silver onwards) and special turndown service surprises (Gold onwards).
• Exclusive savings and rewards, including member offers (Classic onwards), future journey savings (Silver onwards), Journey Experience Credit (Platinum onwards), and a complimentary journey for two (Diamond).
• Pre-journey privileges like early access to new journeys, a dedicated online members area (Classic onwards), priority assistance (Silver onwards), private transfers and suite upgrades (Diamond).
• Exclusive hosted events, from cocktail receptions with ship leadership (Silver onwards) to curated President Journeys and Chef’s Kitchen experiences (Diamond).
• Enhanced onboard services include complimentary laundry (Gold onwards), a bridge tour (Platinum onwards), and personal shopping advice (Diamond).

Viking Names Vesta in Croatia

Viking Names Vesta in Croatia

Viking named its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta, with a traditional ceremony in Split, Croatia, over the weekend. The vessel was recently delivered from Fincantieri to Viking.

Serving as ceremonial godmother of the Viking Vesta was the Norwegian journalist Lene Tangevald-Jensen, according to a press release.

The Viking Vesta will now continue her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

“As we celebrate 10 years of ocean voyages in 2025, we are pleased to welcome the new Viking Vesta to our award-winning fleet of elegant sister ships,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking.

“We are also very grateful to Lene for serving as godmother. In addition to her personal and professional accomplishments, Lene embodies the values that are very important to me and to Viking—she is kind, honest, hardworking and, of course, curious. I am proud to count her as a friend and a valued member of the extended Viking family.”

In keeping with the naming tradition, during the ceremony, Lene used a Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship’s hull.

Guests also enjoyed performances by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter, and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.

Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service

Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service

The Norwegian Epic recently completed 15 years of service after being delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on June 17, 2010.

The 150,000-ton vessel was built as a prototype vessel at the STX France Shipyard, currently known as the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, in St. Nazaire, France.

After leaving its building dock, the Norwegian Epic embarked on a series of pre-inaugural cruises before setting sail from Southampton, England, for a seven-night crossing to New York City.

Continuing its maiden season celebrations, the vessel was christened by entertainer Reba McEntire on July 2, 2010.

After additional celebrations in New York City and Miami, the Epic officially embarked on its inaugural season on July 10, 2010.

Sailing from PortMiami, the ship offered a series of alternating seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Ports of call included Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Costa Maya, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas; and Roatán, Honduras.

In 2011, the Norwegian Epic repositioned back to Europe for its first summer season in the Mediterranean, before returning to Miami ahead of the 2011-12 winter season.

Earlier this year, the 4,200-guest ship underwent a significant refit at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France.

As part of the project, the ship debuted new venues, including an expanded Vice Beach Club and a refreshed Kids’ Aqua Park.

Other changes include the addition of eight new staterooms, as well as the debut of a new hot tub and enhanced exterior decks.

After completing its renovation, the Norwegian Epic embarked on a summer season in the Mediterranean.

Sailing from Civitavecchia, a port near Italy’s capital city of Rome, the ship is offering nine- and ten-night cruises to destinations in Greece and Malta.

Ports of call being visited include Valletta, Heraklion, Santorini, Piraeus, Katakolon, Argostoli and Mykonos.

In November, the Norwegian Epic repositions to the Southern Caribbean for itineraries departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Carnival Mirical in Liverpool

Carnival Miracle Arriving in the Historic port of  Liverpool on the 25th June 2025 at around 7:50am.

Click on the Above Image to Watch YouTube

Name	Carnival Miracle
Owner	Carnival Corporation & plc
Operator	Carnival Cruise Line
Port of registry	Panama City,  Panama
Builder	Kvaerner Masa-Yards Helsinki New Shipyard Helsinki, Finland
Cost	US $375 million
Yard number	503
Launched	June 5, 2003
Sponsored by	Jessica Lynch
Christened	February 27, 2004
Completed	2004
Maiden voyage	February 27, 2004 (Bahamas)
In service	2004–present
Homeport	Long Beach, CA
Identification	Call sign: H3VS IMO number: 9237357 MMSI number: 354277000
Status	In active service
Notes	[1]
General characteristics
Class & type	Spirit-class cruise ship
Tonnage	88,500 GT
Length	963 ft (294 m)
Beam	105.7 ft (32.2 m)
Draft	25.5 ft (7.8 m)
Decks	12 decks
Installed power	Six diesel engines 62,370 kW (combined)
Propulsion	Two ABB Azipods (17.6 MW each)
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity	2,124 passengers
Crew	930

Carnival Executives Detail Latest Ship Sales

Carnival Executives Detail Latest Ship Sales

Carnival Corporation has sold two ships this year, as the Seabourn Sojourn will be transferred to Mitsui Ocean Cruises next year, and the Costa Fortuna will sail for Margaritaville in late 2026.

“Over time, since ships get older, we will sell them to other parties,” said David Bernstein, CFO, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings call.

“We do not feel that those parties come back to compete against us because they are generally in different marketplaces with different brands,” he continued.

Neither Bernstein nor Josh Weinstein, CEO, would comment on the sales prices of either ship, although Weinstein said it was “nicely over book value.”

“People came to us looking for ships and gave us prices that we thought were in the best long-term interest of the company,” Weinstein said.

He also explained that the Costa Fortuna's departure from the fleet does not impact Costa’s core program in Europe, as the Serena will take its place in the market.

Aroya Set For First Season in the Mediterranean

Aroya Cruises is ready to begin its inaugural season in the Eastern Mediterranean later this month.

The Aroya recently arrived at the company’s new homeport in Istanbul after embarking on a repositioning voyage from Jeddah.

The 3,400-guest ship is now set to undergo some routine maintenance before kicking off its inaugural cruise from the Galataport on June 28, 2025.

“We’re excited to be bringing Aroya to some of the Mediterranean’s most popular cruise destinations this summer,” said Dr. Joerg Rudolph, president of Aroya Cruises.

“Aroya Cruises first set sail just six months ago, and we’re incredibly proud of all we’ve achieved so far, with passenger numbers in the Red Sea exceeding expectations. We look forward to welcoming our valued guests aboard this season,” he added.

As part of its inaugural season in the region, the Aroya will offer a series of six- and seven-night cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Extending through September, the season includes two itineraries to ports in Turkey, Greece and Egypt, such as Kas, Bodrum, Marmaris, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Alexandria and Souda Bay.

According to Aroya, the product blends iconic destinations with its Arabian-inspired onboard experience.

“The move to the Mediterranean marks a strategic next chapter for Aroya Cruises as it expands its itineraries and brings a taste of Arabian culture and hospitality to Europe,” the company stated in a press release.

Aroya also celebrated the successful completion of its maiden season in the Red Sea, which started in December 2024.

Sailing from Jeddah, the company welcomed more than 70,000 guests onboard for sailings that visited Egypt, Jordan and the Saudi Red Sea private island of Jabal AlSabaya for Saba Beach.

Originally in service for Dream Cruises, the Aroya was acquired by the company in late 2023 and underwent a year-long refurbishment before launching service for its new owners.