Oceania Cruises®, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused luxury cruise line, today unveiled Oceania Aurelia™, The Ultimate Explorer, purposefully designed for extended global discoveries. Debuting in late 2027, she will be the ideal home at sea for long, immersive journeys, including the line’s 2028 and 2029 Around the World voyages as well as a series of expansive Grand Voyages.

Across the cruise sector and wider travel industry, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: in a world of digital tools, virtual training and AI-powered content, face-to-face connection still drives the strongest commercial results. Travel remains a relationship business, and nowhere is that more evident than in how we support and engage our agent partners - or as we call them at Virgin Voyages, our First Mates.

AROYA Cruises, the first Arabian cruise line, is currently making its way to Jeddah, its homeport in the Red Sea, where it will resume scheduled sailings during the month of May. The upcoming programme features multi-country itineraries across the Red Sea, with calls in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, combining regional destinations with AROYA’s distinctive onboard experience.

Building on strong momentum and record performance, Holland America Line announced Holland America Evolution, a bold multiyear investment to thoughtfully reimagine six ships. Representing the most ambitious guest experience update in the company’s 153-year history, Evolution will deliver a comprehensive bow-to-stern revitalisation while bringing the best of its Pinnacle Class ships across most of the fleet. The multiyear renovation will take place ship by ship, delivering substantial transformation focused on expanding onboard choice, adding restaurant and bar options, and refreshing and reinventing key guest spaces — including new stateroom and suite categories — while maintaining the spacious design and intimate ship feel guests value most.

The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) is highlighting Taiwan’s growing role as Asia’s cruise gateway at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026, promoting the destination under its international tourism brand, “Taiwan – Waves of Wonder,” as a strategic hub for regional cruise itineraries and fly-cruise travel. Building on this brand platform, TTA is also introducing “Taiwan 100 Ways” as a new framework for showcasing the island’s breadth of travel experiences through diverse themes, immersive journeys, and shareable moments.

Emerald Cruises has announced the launch of Emerald Kaia with the departure of its inaugural cruise. The 128-guest superyacht sailed from Limassol, Cyprus, on an 11-day itinerary, calling at Rhodes, Kos, Spetses and Athens.