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After departing from Fremantle earlier this month, the Pacific Explorer has completed its final voyage for P&O Cruises Australia on Feb. 18, 2025.The 11-night cruise included visits to ports of call in Indonesia and Malaysia before arriving at its final destination in Singapore.Wrapping up an eight-year sailing career for the Australian brand, the 1997-built ship was sold to Resorts World Cruises.Part of P&O Australia’s merger into Carnival Cruise Line, the sale of the ship was announced by Carnival Corporation in late 2024.Joining the Resorts World One and the Genting Dream, the vessel is now scheduled to offer cruises[...]

The next Icon Class ship will carry the name Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International said in a press release.Currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard, the 250,800-ton vessel will debut in the Western Mediterranean in July 2026.Following a summer season in the region, the new Legend of the Seas repositions to the Caribbean for six- and eight-night cruises departing from Port Everglades.“On the heels of celebrating one year of the record-breaking Icon Class and the memories made by vacationers of all ages on Icon, we are thrilled to announce the name of Royal Caribbean’s third[...]

Costa Cruises has announced that bookings for the 2027 edition of the World Cruise are now open.The company said in a press release that the cruise, onboard the Costa Deliziosa, will offer a 139-day experience, departing on Nov. 25, 2026, from Savona and arriving on April 12, 2027. The ship will cross five continents, visit 29 countries and call at 47 destinations.Costa added that the cruise offers an additional booking opportunity for the 100-day cruise with boarding in San Francisco.“With the World Cruise 2027, we want to offer a truly unique and unforgettable experience, combining the exploration of[...]

2025 will see various cruise ships undergoing significant refurbishments with the return of big drydock programs.Cruise Industry News looks at some of the key projects already announced for the year.For a complete overview of the global cruise ship drydock market, see the new 2025 Drydock and Refurb Report by Cruise Industry News.Norwegian BlissCruise Line: Norwegian Cruise LineCapacity: 4,200 guestsTonnage: 164,600Year built: 2018Date: January 2025Following the Norwegian Encore and the Norwegian Joy, the Norwegian Bliss underwent a significant refurbishment in early 2025.During the drydock, the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel saw several upgrades to its public areas and facilities. This[...]

The Pacific Explorer set sail from Fremantle on Friday to kick off its final voyage for P&O Cruises Australia.Sailing to Singapore, the 1997-built ship is now offering an 11-night repositioning cruise that features destinations in Indonesia and Malaysia.In addition to spending eight days at sea, the Pacific Explorer is set to visit Lombok and Langkawi as part of the itinerary.After being sold to Resorts World Cruises in late 2024, the ship is scheduled to be delivered to its new owners after arriving in Singapore.Originally built for Princess Cruises in the late 1990s, the Pacific Explorer is wrapping up[...]

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty stressed that the company’s entry into the river cruise business in Europe was based on the attractive fundamentals of the business.He pointed out that the initial order for the Celebrity brand was for 10 ships, and that this was “not a hobby” for the company.“Our ambitions, however, go far beyond that,” Liberty said.“We see river cruising as an exciting growth opportunity that aligns with our strategy of turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations” Liberty continued.“River cruising is a sizable and attractive market that has experienced double-digit growth[...]