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Three cruise lines are adding cruises to Alaska to their schedule in the summer of 2026: Azamara, MSC, and Virgin.Returning to the destination after a seven-year hiatus, Azamara will offer a series of ten- to 13-night cruises in Alaska and Canada starting in May 2026.Sailing in the region for the first time, the Azamara Pursuit will operate open-jaw itineraries that sail between Whittier and Vancouver.According to Azamara, the voyages were created to prioritize unspoiled destinations, visiting locations such as Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and Icy Strait Point.The deployment will also include excursions aimed at bringing guests closer to natural[...]

Celebrity Cruises launched its inaugural homeporting season in Port Canaveral this week with the Celebrity Equinox.According to Port Canaveral, the vessel has become the 15th vessel to be homeported in its cruise terminals.After completing a trans-Atlantic crossing that began in Europe, the ship arrived in Port Canaveral for the first time on Monday, December 3, 2024.Following a three-night cruise to the Bahamas, the Equinox is set to start a series of seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral this weekend.With departures every Saturday, the vessel will offer itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean through late April 2025.The cruises include[...]

HX Expeditions (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions) has been acquired by a consortium of investors, according to a statement.The company said that the acquisition will facilitate the final stage in the separation of HX from its sister company Hurtigruten (both previously part of the Hurtigruten Group) and will include 140 million euro of new junior funding by the consortium to support new growth opportunities.The investment by the consortium, which is led by Arini Capital Management and Cyrus Capital Partners, marks yet another exciting phase for HX, according to a statement.The company said it will have the resources and[...]

Virgin Voyages is set to debut in Alaska in 2026 with the new Brilliant Lady. Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the company’s inaugural season, which features departures from Vancouver and Seattle.First CruiseDates: May 11, 2026Length: Ten nightsHomeports: Vancouver (Canada) to Seattle (United States)Itinerary: Ketchikan, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Icy Strait Point and Juneau (United States)For its first cruise in Alaska, the Brilliant Lady is scheduled to offer a 10-night itinerary that starts in Vancouver, Canada.Before ending in Seattle, the voyage features visits to six destinations in the region, including Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka. The[...]

Norwegian Cruise Line is moving its ships back to the Caribbean and North America as part of a redeployment plan that saw over 50 cruises for 2025-26 being cancelled.Here’s all we know about the cancellations and the new itineraries, which will open for booking on Nov. 29, 2024.Norwegian StarCancellation timeframe: Nov. 20, 2025, to April 14, 2026Original deployment: South America and AntarcticaNew deployment: Bahamas and Southern Caribbean; homeport to be confirmedInitially scheduled for a winter season in South America, the Norwegian Star is now set to offer cruises to the Bahamas and Southern Caribbean in 2025-26.Norwegian Cruise Line[...]

Princess Cruises announced its most extensive voyage yet with a new 131-day Circle Pacific itinerary departing in January 2026, according to a press release.Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, the voyage will feature 60 port stops across 19 countries around the Pacific Ocean, replacing the previously announced 2026 World Cruise, which had included stops in the Red Sea and nearby areas.“This Circle Pacific Voyage is more than just an itinerary, it’s an invitation to explore some of the Pacific’s most iconic and remote destinations in a single, unforgettable journey,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “We’ve crafted this route to[...]