Breaking Travel News

Cruise News

Virgin Voyages celebrates UK First Mate Appreciation Month

Virgin Voyages celebrates UK First Mate Appreciation Month

Virgin Voyages is celebrating its UK trade partners throughout July with First Mate Appreciation Month. The campaign is designed to thank agents with extra incentives, giveaways and exclusive opportunities. As part of the campaign, every booking logged through First Mate Loot – the online agent incentive platform – will earn First Mates £15, three times the usual £5 per booking.

AE Expeditions Celebrates 35 Years of Chasing Wonder with Limited-Time Expedition Savings

AE Expeditions Celebrates 35 Years of Chasing Wonder with Limited-Time Expedition Savings

AE Expeditions is marking 35 years of pioneering expedition travel with a limited-time offer giving travellers the opportunity to save up to 30% and receive up to £2,600 in air credit per person on select Antarctica, Arctic and Global voyages. Available on select departures booked and deposited between July 1 and September 30 2026, the offer comes as travellers continue to seek more meaningful, experience-led journeys to remote destinations. From wildlife-rich polar regions to wild coastlines, rainforests, historic islands and bucket-list natural phenomena, the featured voyages highlight the breadth of AE Expeditions’ small-ship, expedition-led programmes

Hollywood Composer Unveils World's First Soundtrack Inspired by a Cruise

Hollywood Composer Unveils World's First Soundtrack Inspired by a Cruise

Acclaimed composer Benjamin Squires has announced the launch of his new album, Soundtrack for the Seas - the world's first original musical score of a cruise. Inspired by a voyage to seek out the Northern Lights, it was created in his new role as the first ever Composer-in-Residence for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, and the cruise industry as a whole

CELEBRITY RIVER CRUISES INNOVATES PRE- AND POST-CRUISE EXPERIENCES

CELEBRITY RIVER CRUISES INNOVATES PRE- AND POST-CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Starting today, Celebrity River Cruises guests can discover even more of Europe with guided, multi-day Before and After Stays - thoughtfully curated, end-to-end destination experiences. Before and After Stays, Celebrity’s innovative version of pre- and post-cruise experiences, are available before a river cruise journey begins or after it ends. 2027 programs in Prague and Budapest and 2028 programs that add Amsterdam and Lausanne are now open for booking.

Oceania Cruises® Reveals Destination-Rich 2027 Specialty Cruises

Oceania Cruises® Reveals Destination-Rich 2027 Specialty Cruises

Oceania Cruises® announced its 2027 Specialty Cruises, bringing together destination rich itineraries and hosted experiences where cuisine, culture and personal connection take centre stage. The line’s 2027 Specialty Cruises offer guests unique opportunities to engage with renowned guest hosts and celebrated experts while exploring some of the world's most evocative regions. From the sun-drenched Mediterranean and historic Baltic shores to captivating Japan, these thoughtfully crafted voyages offer fresh insights and memorable experiences inspired by culture, cuisine and history. Through exclusive events, expert insights and distinctive experiences, every journey is designed to go far beyond the expected.

VIVA Cruises launches new travel agent training programme

VIVA Cruises launches new travel agent training programme

VIVA Cruises has launched a new video-led training programme as part of its travel agent portal. The programme now comprises five modules covering an introduction to the operator, its fleet of ships, the onboard experience and shore excursions, and two destination sessions. Each includes a quiz to help grow agents’ knowledge of the river cruise line, with more modules to be added in due course.

Carnival Corporation Completes New Pier Extension for Celebration Key in The Bahamas

Carnival Corporation Completes New Pier Extension for Celebration Key in The Bahamas

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, today announced the successful completion of its Celebration Key pier extension on Grand Bahama Island. The flagship expansion adds two new berths, enabling Celebration Key to accommodate up to four ships simultaneously and welcome over 13,000 guests in a day to the popular exclusive destination. Building on the original two-berth pier that opened with Celebration Key in July 2025, the two additional berths were delivered ahead of schedule and double the arrival capacity to four ships at once. This marine-side expansion adds operational flexibility and unlocks roughly 200 more ship calls and 700,000 additional guest arrivals each year.

Celestyal launches ‘Suite Summer Sale’ with fares from £499pp

Celestyal launches ‘Suite Summer Sale’ with fares from £499pp

Celestyal has launched a ‘Suite Summer Sale’ - live from July 1 - offering guests the chance to upgrade their summer holiday with suite fares from £499pp. The campaign, running until August 31, 2026, is available across Celestyal’s Mediterranean 2026 programme, including cruises to Greece, Italy, Croatia and Montenegro.

The Rise of Pre-Cruise Social Networking

The Rise of Pre-Cruise Social Networking

As cruise travel continues to grow, a new trend is quietly reshaping how passengers experience their vacations: travelers are increasingly connecting with fellow cruisers before they ever step onboard. For decades, the social side of cruising began at sail-away parties, pool decks, dining rooms, and shore excursions. Today, many passengers are arriving at the terminal already connected with fellow travelers through online cruise communities.