Category Cruise, Organisations & Operators

Holland America Line’s Rotterdam has returned to service following a two-week dry dock in the Netherlands.

The cruise line’s flagship has welcomed guests back onboard for the ship’s summer Northern Europe season.

Cruise.co.uk has revealed that actor and musician Sam Palladio will perform as the headline act on its ‘Nashville Nights No-Fly Authentic Country Music Cruise’.

Born in Cornwall, Sam rose to prominence portraying country songwriter Gunnar Scott on ABC’s TV show ‘Nashville’, which ran for six seasons. He most recently appeared in the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ biopic and the series ‘The Couple Next Door’.

Holland America Line today announced itineraries for its two 2028 Grand Voyages, thoughtfully designed journeys shaped by years of guest feedback and a shared appetite for discovery measured not in days, but in continents crossed and time well spent ashore. Travelers can choose between a sweeping 129-day circumnavigation of the globe aboard the 2028 Grand World Voyage or a 90-day deep dive into Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific on the Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage. Holland America Line President Beth Bodensteiner shared the news today with guests aboard the 2026 Grand World Voyage.

Holland America Line unveils 2028 Grand Voyages

Holland America Line has announced the itineraries for its two 2028 Grand Voyages. Guests can choose between a 129-day circumnavigation of the globe on the Grand World Voyage or a 90-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage.

Royal Caribbean Group, a global vacation leader redefining the future of vacations, has announced it has confirmed with Meyer Turku the order of a sixth and seventh Icon Class ship to be delivered in 2029 and 2030, respectively.

Aurora Expeditions has delivered its largest Antarctic season to date, operating 30 voyages, facilitating an estimated 819 landings, and welcoming a 30% increase in expeditioners, representing 56 nationalities.

The 2025/26 programme was underpinned by the launch of the company’s third expedition vessel, Douglas Mawson, in Sydney in November, ahead of its inaugural Antarctic season. This was the first time in its 35-year history, Aurora operated three ships simultaneously in Antarctica, expanding access and choice for expeditioners.

Holland America Line is preparing for the start of its 2026 Alaska cruise season on April 25, with the arrival of Eurodam in Seattle.

The programme comprises more than 100 voyages across six ships – Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam – running through to September. Itineraries will sail roundtrip from Seattle, Washington; roundtrip from Vancouver, Canada; and between Vancouver and Whittier.

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.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has today (April 22, 2026) revealed holidaymakers from the UK and Ireland took 2.54 million ocean cruises last year, surpassing the previous highest total of 2.4 million in 2024.

34.5% of passengers sailed in the Mediterranean, 27.2% Northern Europe and 13.7% the Caribbean. The Caribbean saw year-on-year passenger growth of 12%.

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.