The Middle East has emerged as a significant hub for the cruise ship refit and refurbishment industry in the last decade, with Dubai and Saudi Arabia leading the charge.
Dubai and Saudi Arabia lead Middle East’s rise as cruise ship refurbishment hub
TUI nearing end of Mein Schiff 4 dry dock in Dubai ahead of repositioning via Cape Town
TUI Cruises is nearing the end of a refit programme being carried out on Mein Schiff 4 during her drydock in Dubai.
SS United States departs Philadelphia, ahead of conversion to artificial reef
America’s flagship, the historic ocean liner SS United States, has departed Philadelphia for the final time, bound for Mobile, Alabama, where she will be sunk 20 miles offshore to become an artificial […]
Celestyal Journey returns to service following dry dock in Dubai
Celestyal Journey has returned to service following a quick dry dock in Dubai during her inaugural Arabian Gulf cruise season.
Royal Caribbean reveals name and itineraries for third Icon class mega ship
Royal Caribbean International has revealed the name and debut season itineraries for its third Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, a sister ship to Icon of the Seas and Star of […]
Crystal Cruises reveals Cape Town-bound Wellness Retreat voyage for 2025
Crystal Cruises has announced its second annual Wellness Retreat Cruises, with one of the two voyages featuring Cape Town, South Africa as its final destination.
Cordelia Cruises plans expansion as larger cruise lines look to sell smaller ships
The Indian cruise line Cordelia Cruises has announced plans for immenent expansion of its one-ship fleet as larger cruise lines put in orders for ever-larger ships and look to offload smaller vessels.
Windstar sailing cruise ship Wind Surf emerges from refit and refurbishment
Windstar Cruises has revealed the refit and refurbishment work aboard its flagship sailing yacht Wind Surf, one of the largest sailing cruise ships in the world.
Costa Cruises to feature multiple ports in South Africa on 2027 World Cruise
Costa Cruises has opened bookings for its 2027 World Cruise, a 139-day voyage aboard Costa Deliziosa, with several ports of call in South Africa on offer, including Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
Almaco Group reflects on refit work for Saudi Arabia’s first cruise ship Aroya
Almaco Group completed a refurbishment project aboard Aroya, the first cruise ship in the AROYA Cruises fleet, in November last year, just a few weeks prior to the ship’s debut in the […]
Zaandam emerges from two-week refit and refurbishment with upgraded public areas
Holland America Line’s Zaandam has competed a two-week drydock in the Bahamas, during which her library and activity areas were expanded, and the spa, photo gallery, photo studio, and Neptune Lounge were […]
Windstar to introduce specialty venue Basil + Bamboo fleetwide, replacing Cuadro 44
Windstar Cruises will introduce Basil + Bamboo to its lineup of complementary specialty restaurants across the fleet in 2025, replacing the current Cuadro 44.
Fincantieri delivers first of new InTUItion class Mein Schiff Relax to TUI Cruises
Fincantieri has delivered Mein Schiff Relax to TUI Cruises, marking a significant milestone for the German cruise line’s fleet expansion.
MSC and BirdLife South Africa raise almost R10m for Marion Island conversation
MSC Musica’s recent 2,000 roundtrip nautical mile voyage from Durban to Marion Island almost halfway to Antarctica raised €500,000 (R9.5 million) for the nonprofit BirdLife South Africa, according to a press release.
Oceania revamps dining room menus aboard upcoming Allura with 270 new options
Oceania Cruises has revamped The Grand Dining Room menus aboard the line’s newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, launching in July 2025, introducing more than 270 brand-new recipes across all three meal services.
Norwegian Cruise Line enters mega-ship segment with new Fincantieri order
Norwegian Cruise Line has ordered four new ships of more than 220,000 gross tons from the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, putting the cruise line in the same mega-ship market as Royal Caribbean, Carnival […]
Celebrity Cruises to debut new Bazaar experience aboard Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity Cruises will introduceThe Bazaar,a brand-newmulti-level, multi-sensory space unlike anything else at sea aboard its new Edge class cruise ship Celebrity Xcel.
Celestyal offering cabin upgrades as part of special Middle East season deals
Celestyal Cruises is offering free cabin upgrades on 40 of its 2025/26 Desert Days cruises in the Arabian Gulf during its inaugural homeporting season in the region.
Viking 2026/27 World Cruise to feature overnight in Cape Town and West Africa leg
Viking has announced the itinerary for its 2026/27 World Cruise aboard Viking Sky, visiting 41 countries and offering 81 guided shore excursions across the 170 day voyage.
Cruise industry aims for sustainability through LNG and biofuels
Cruise industry giants are accelerating the shift to a greener future, with biofuels and LNG leading the charge in the race to net zero emissions by 2050.
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