Cruise News

Anyone who greeted last month’s announcement of Carnival’s new fathom brand of voluntourism cruises with a sceptical “Is that it?” can look again today. The company has announced it has been given the all-clear to take their ship - which remains as P&O Cruises’ Adonia until next spring. – to Cuba. The news comes hard on the heels of MSC revealing that their ship MSC Opera will be based in Havana this winter. The concept of fathom is to provide “social impact” holidays, with passengers taking part in local volunteer projects. The first of those are in the Dominican Republic, [...]

In a surprise U-turn, Royal Caribbean International has reversed the decision to transfer cruise ship Majesty of the Seas to the company’s Spanish brand, Pullmantur. The 2,380-passenger ship – at 23 years old the veteran of Royal’s fleet - is to be given a multi-million dollar refit that will add waterslides and an outdoor cinema screen, as well as the superfast wifi that was introduced on the lines Quantum of the Seas. On Majesty, passengers will have free internet access. New restaurant options to be added include Izumi Japanese cuisine with fresh sushi rolls and sashimi; the Sabor Taqueria, featuring modern Mexican [...]

It’s exactly 175 years ago today that a Cunard ship made its first passenger crossing of the Atlantic. The steamship Britannia carried 115 passengers and 89 crew on the voyage, which took 12 days to reach Halifax, Nova Scotia from Liverpool, and went on to Boston and New York. That first Cunard ship would fit comfortably inside the main dining room of Queen Mary 2 (above), which leaves the Mersey today on a one-off voyage to recreate the crossing, and which remains the only vessel providing a scheduled Transatlantic service between Southampton and New York David Bowie and Rod Stewart [...]

Luxury line Silversea Cruises showed today that they can keep a secret - an announcement that they have ordered a new ship to be delivered in the spring of 2017 came out of the blue. Silver Muse, being built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, will carry 596 passengers, and is an evolution of the design of Silver Spirit, which was launched in 2009. With typical exuberance, Silversea say it will “redefine ultra-luxury ocean travel, enhancing the small ship intimacy and spacious all-suite accommodations that are the hallmarks of the Silversea experience.” Flagship Muse will expand Silversea’s fleet to nine ships; there [...]

Norwegian specialist Hurtigruten has acquired a new ship to boost its fleet to 13. The vessel is on her way from Portugal - where she was built in 2009 - and has been given the temporary name of MS Norway Explorer. A total reconstruction is planned before the ship sails under the Hurtigruten flag next year, when she will start service along the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, replacing MS Midnatsol which will be joining MS Fram on expedition voyages to Antarctica. Few details have yet been released about the Explorer’s former life; the 7,025-ton vessel  was built at [...]

Can the golden boy of British commerce find success at sea? Richard Branson has announced the first details of Virgin Cruises - which he expects to emulate earlier instances of the brand, like his records, planes, and trains. And hopefully prove easier to get off the ground than his Intergalactic space travel venture. Branson arrived by helicopter at the Perez Art Museum in Miami for today’s press conference, dressed in trademark Virgin red shorts and with a red captain’s cap over his flowing blond locks. He announced a deal had been struck with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for three ships to [...]

Four of a kind – Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' fleet will be together in one place for the first time when they meet in the Norwegian port of Bergen on July 28. Marching bands and other entertainment will greet the ships’ 4,000 passengers, who will be given the chance to compete in an inter-ship treasure hunt around the city. The crews will take part in a tug of war competition. The event coincides with the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first Fred Olsen, who founded a shipping company that operates ferries in the Canary islands and offshore power [...]