Category Cruise, Organisations & Operators

Holland America Line’s Koningsdam is back in service following a two‑week dry dock in the Bahamas. The Pinnacle-class ship has received a series of enhancements ahead of its upcoming Alaska season.

The line has added five new, larger ocean view staterooms. Each stateroom accommodates up to four guests and features two beds that convert to a queen-size bed, along with a double sofa bed. Four of the staterooms are connecting, allowing larger groups to book together. 22 Vista Suites were also upgraded with new sofa beds.

Introducing the hero of family vacations: Royal Caribbean has revealed Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class ship and bold evolution of family adventure arriving in Miami in August 2027. As part of the game-changing Icon Class that combines beach retreats, resort escapes and theme park thrills, Hero will raise the bar with more records and iconic ways for families to make lifelong memories. Hero’s eight neighborhoods will be home to the most pools at sea, a record-breaking 28 dining venues and cooking classes for all ages, brand-new family raft slides, new accommodations for multigenerational families – including the three-story Ultimate Family Treehouse – and more

Atlas Ocean Voyages today announced a defining evolution in its accommodations, formally transitioning to an all-suite experience across its fleet, reflecting the brand’s continued commitment to delivering a consistently elevated standard of luxury expedition travel.

Effective April 2, 2026, all guest accommodations will be reclassified under a unified suite nomenclature, reinforcing what guests already experience onboard: spacious, design-forward environments paired with intuitive, highly personalized service. This milestone marks a natural extension of Atlas Ocean Voyages’ elevated brand positioning introduced earlier this year.

Celestyal has confirmed the cancellation of all April 2026 departures as its ships wait to reposition to Athens, Greece.

The line’s fleet is currently positioned in the Arabian Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, UAE, and Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar. All guests and non-operational crew have been disembarked, while both vessels remain fully operational; their departure from the region will take place in accordance with safety guidance from the relevant authorities.

A new survey from cruise specialist cruise.co.uk has revealed a growing interest in river cruising, with 41% of customers yet to try a river cruise likely to book one within the next two years.

The research, which polled over 650 cruise.co.uk customers, also found that of those who had already sailed on a river cruise, 49% were expecting to take about the same number or more river cruises over the next two years.

Virgin Voyages has announced the new dates for their 2027 Red Hot Sailing Club voyages.

The two exclusive departures are available to book now. The itineraries offer music performances alongside access and events featuring the Virgin Voyages senior leadership team.

Princess Cruises unveils its 2027–28 South America season aboard Majestic Princess, featuring overnight experiences in the Antarctic Peninsula, late-night port calls, and access to 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the region. On sale now, the October 2027 through January 2028 season includes six departures across four itineraries (15 – 37 days), designed to give guests more time ashore in marquee cities and closer-to-nature scenic cruising in Patagonia and beyond.

Villa Vie Residences today announced that its flagship vessel, Villa Vie Odyssey, has been provisionally designated as the world’s first Global Flagship for Peace, in collaboration with the UNESCO Center for Peace and aligned international initiatives.

The designation marks a notable milestone not only for Villa Vie Residences, but for the broader residential cruise category, positioning Odyssey as a living, traveling platform for global unity, cultural exchange, and meaningful impact.

Viking® today announced that new dates for its India river voyages in 2027, 2028 and 2029 are now open for booking. These additional dates include sailings on the Viking Ganges, a new vessel designed specifically for the Brahmaputra River. Currently under construction and scheduled to debut in 2028, the Viking Ganges will join her sister ship, the Viking Brahmaputra, which is set to begin operations in late 2027.

Viking® today announced that the Viking Libra®, the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of operating with zero emissions, was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Scheduled for delivery in November 2026, the Viking Libra will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.