Cruise News
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® 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 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.
Queen Mary 2 To Take Centre Stage During America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration In New York Harbour
British luxury cruise line Cunard will mark a landmark moment on 4 July as the world’s only ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, takes centre stage in New York Harbour for Sail4th 250, the centrepiece of the United States’ 250th Independence Day celebrations.
Survey reveals strong demand for a solar eclipse at sea
Nearly half of cruise travellers (48%) would be interested in watching a solar eclipse while at sea. The survey, from online specialist cruise agency cruise.co.uk, polled more than 1,000 customers.
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.
Azamara Cruises Unveils “The Next Big Thing Is Small™,” a New Global Campaign
Azamara Cruises, The Global Leader in Destination Immersion®, today unveiled its new global brand campaign, ‘The Next Big Thing is Small™’ — a bold declaration that the future of premium travel is defined not by scale, but by access, authenticity, and exploration.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN PARTNERS WITH ROALD DAHL’S MARVELLOUS CHILDREN’S CHARITY
Royal Caribbean have announced a new partnership with Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity ahead of the July 2026 European debut of Legend of the Seas. Featuring the hit Broadway musical Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Legend will bring the partnership to life onboard, offering guests meaningful ways to support the charity and raise vital funds for specialist Roald Dahl Nurses caring for more than 50,000 seriously ill children and their families across the UK.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE UNVEILS THE NEXT COURSE: A NEW WAVE OF EXCITING CULINARY EXPERIENCES AT SEA
Carnival Cruise Line revealed The Next Course, a new wave of culinary experiences featuring restaurants and bars launching on Carnival Festivale in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028, and with new innovative dining experiences now being rolled out across the fleet. Carnival carries more than six million guests and serves over 100 million meals annually, giving the cruise line unique dining trend insights which fueled the new culinary offerings.
Havila Voyages offer £400 per cabin on-board credit
Havila Voyages has launched a new booking campaign offering up to £400 worth of on-board credit per cabin on cruises departing from October to December 2026. Guests booking the Round Voyage between now and the end of August will qualify for the full amount, with a Voyage North or Voyage South earning them £200 credit per cabin, based on two sharing.
What’s new from Uniworld: Record bookings, new Super Ships, and luxurious land-based adventures
Luxury river cruise line Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is riding a wave of record demand from UK travellers, with bookings for 2026 up 32% year-on-year and 2027 bookings already 63% ahead of the same point last year. The growth comes as Uniworld launches a host of new experiences, ships and itineraries for 2026 and 2027, including a brand-new generation of Super Ships, a new series of luxury cruise-and-tour holidays, and an inaugural programme of immersive, land-based journeys around the world in partnership with sister brand, Luxury Gold.
Registration Opens for the Cruise Industry’s Only Official Conference in the Caribbean and LATAM
The cruise industry is now open for business, as registration is officially open for the FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show, the only official cruise conference taking place in the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) keynote and only open registration event allowing any attendee to target about 100 high-level cruise executives during an agenda featuring workshops, networking functions, one-on-one meetings, and more.