
Can a Cruise Ship Survive a Hurricane?

The cruise industry tends to make the news for all the wrong reasons, especially when the weather is involved.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection celebrates float out of new ship Ilma

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has celebrated the float out of its new ship Ilma at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
New ship Sun Princess to debut new dining options and culinary experiences

Princess Cruises’ upcoming new ship Sun Princess will offer 29 new and signature dining and lounge options when she debuts early next year.
MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys to open Saudi office ahead of 2023/24 cruise season

MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, part of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group, have announced plans to open a joint office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Viking Cruises launches new Grand Voyage through Middle East to India

Viking Ocean Cruises is offering a brand-new Grand Voyage from Barcelona in Spain to Mumbai in India, with several Middle East port calls among the destinations visited.
Hotel Review: Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal

Lying resplendent on the shores of the Grand Canal in Abu Dhabi, the Ritz-Carlton offers a lavish escape for those seeking opulence and relaxation.
MSC Cruises expects up to 200,000 passengers for coming Saudi cruise season

MSC Cruises is seeing significant growth in passenger numbers on its Red Sea itineraries out of Saudi Arabia, with up to 200,000 expected for the coming 2023/24 cruise season.
Phoenix Reisen to sail Dubai to Savona in 2024 aboard Artania

The German cruise line Phoenix Reisen is bringing Artania to the Middle East in April, 2024 with a 23-night cruise from Dubai in the UAE to Savona in Italy.
AIDA Cruises to sail Dubai to Mallorca in 2024 aboard AIDAbella

AIDA Cruises will sail a 15-night voyage from Dubai to Palma De Mallorca on April 16th next year aboard AIDAbella, as part of her repositioning from Asia to Europe for the summer.
Aroya Cruises selects naval architects to redesign first cruise ship

Aroya Cruises has selected British naval design studio SMC to be lead designer for the refurbishment project on the former World Dream.
Revamped Crystal returning to South Africa for 2025 with cruise to Mombasa

Crystal Cruises will be returning to South Africa, offering voyages to and from South Africa and other destinations on the continent in 2025, following its acquisition by A&K Travel and multi-million dollar […]
Luxury French line Ponant to offer range of Arabian itineraries during 2023/24 season

The luxury French cruise line Ponant has partnered with the Dubai-based cruise agency CruiseXplore to offer a series of voyages homeporting in the Arabian Gulf during the 2023/24 cruise season.
Crystal Cruises to homeport in Arabian Gulf for first time during 2025/26 season

Crystal Cruises for the first time will be homeporting a ship in the Arabian Gulf during the 2025/26 Middle East cruise season, with Crystal Symphony set to sail a range of voyages […]
Explora Journeys confirms two upcoming ships will be hydrogen powered

MSC Group, the parent company of luxury cruise line Explora Journeys, has confirmed that the final two vessels in an initial six-ship order from Fincantieri will be hydrogen-powered.
Ras Al Khaimah in UAE says its well-placed to serve emerging luxury cruise trends

Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE’s emergent cruise port on the Arabian Gulf, is targetting smaller, niche cruise lines as it seeks to tap into a new luxury cruise travel segment that prioritises […]
Bahrain set to receive five maiden cruise calls during the coming 2023/24 season

Five new cruise ships are expected dock at Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port during the upcoming 2023/24 cruise season, with a total of 47 cruise calls scheduled overall.
Sending larger cruise ship to SA is strategic move amid economic challenges says MSC

MSC Cruises says the decision to deploy the larger MSC Splendida in South Africa for the 2023/24 cruise season is a strategic decision intended to help mitigate the slow growth in cruise […]
Hurtigruten rebrands cruise expedition arm as HX in move to differentiate brands

Hurtigruten Group, the leading cruise company in Norway, is rebranding its adventure travel brand Hurtigruten Expeditions as HX, according to a company statement.
Disney to invest $60bn in cruise and parks divisions amid 98% cruise occupancy

Disney’s parks and cruise business have been a bright spot for the Disney group in recent years, propping up the whole company with an estimated $10 billion in profit this year, with […]
Utopia of the Seas floated out of construction dry dock at Chantiers de l’Atlantique

Royal Caribbean International’s upcoming ship Utopia of the Seas has been floated for the first time at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, bringing her a step closer to her […]