Cruise News – Summer 2025

 

CroisiEurope is celebrating 30 years on the Rhone and 25 years in Venice

The Rhone

CroisiEurope started operating on the Rhône in February 1995 with a cruise from Chalon to Martigues on the MS Camargue. 30 years on, they now have four ships on the Rhône offering itineraries in Burgundy and Provence that sail from the wild expanses of the Camargue to the majestic gorges of the Ardèche, passing through the Vercors massif and visiting the beautiful cities of Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Lyon and Vienne.

Venice

CroisiEurope started operating in Venice in 2000 with a cruise on the MS Michelangelo which docked in the heart of the city, very close to Saint Mark’s Square. Today, CroisiEurope is one of the only operators still allowed to sail into the heart of Venice with cruises that reveal the splendors of the city and take guests to other historic towns and cities such as Mantua, Padua, Murano, Burano and Verona.
Visit: www.croisieuroperivercruises.com

 

Virgin Voyages Reveals Showstopping Entertainment Line-Up Ahead of Brilliant Lady’s Inaugural Seasons

When Virgin Voyages’ newest Lady Ship sails into the New York harbour this September, fans are expecting the brand’s award-winning entertainment line-up to be, in a word – Brilliant. Shaped by customer feedback and the brand’s commitment to continuous innovation, those aboard will enjoy even more comedy, live music and immersive storytelling. The entertainment is designed to keep pace with the ship’s adventurous spirit as Brilliant Lady introduces seven new, original productions. This ship will also bring back reimagined favorites, all designed to complement Brilliant Lady’s longer itineraries and diverse destinations. Virgin’s new routes range from five to 16 nights and take Sailors from Bermuda’s pink sands to Alaska’s majestic landscapes and glacial fjords.

Visit: www.virginvoyages.com

 

Seabourn Announces 145-Day 2027 World Cruise Aboard the Seabourn Quest

Seabourn, a leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel, has unveiled its “2027 World Cruise: Australia & South Pacific Panorama,” a 145-day roundtrip voyage from Miami that will chart an extraordinary journey through some of the world’s most captivating regions in the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and South America. Sailing between Jan. 5 and May 30, 2027, the award-winning Seabourn Quest will travel nearly 34,000 nautical miles and visit 67 destinations in 19 countries.

Visit: www.seabourn.com

 

Viking Floats Out Newest Nile River Ship

Viking® has recently announced its newest ship for the Nile River—the 82-guest Viking Thoth—was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set for delivery in October 2025, the Viking Thoth will join Viking’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

The Viking Thoth & Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet
Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Thoth is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships, with the signature Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The Viking Thoth features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. In addition to the Viking Thoth, Viking plans to welcome four new ships in Egypt in the next two years, which will bring Viking’s fleet to 12 vessels on the Nile River by 2027.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari, the tomb of Tutankhamen, the Temple of Khnum, the Dendera Temple complex, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

Visit: www.viking.com

 

MSC Cruises Unveils Details of Most Expansive Retail Offering to Date Aboard New Flagship MSC World America

MSC Cruises’ onboard retail experiences will be brought to another level with a huge and varied retail offering aboard its flagship, MSC World America.

MSC World America’s onboard retail highlights include:

• NEW! “Luxury at Sea”: MSC Cruises’ first pre-loved accessories concept situated in the Luxury Accessories shop onboard. The new concept will give guests the chance to shop unique, pre-owned high-end items from brands such as Hermès, Chanel, Dior & Louis Vuitton.
• NEW! Bulova Pop-Up Shop: an exciting pop-up experience, located in the ships vibrant World Galleria, offering a wide range of watches from the iconic brand.
• NEW! Sif Jakobs Lab-Grown Diamonds: a first at sea, debuting exclusively on MSC World America. Situated in the ship’s Shopping Gallery, guests can discover a curated selection from Sif Jakobs’ radiant 14k gold and lab-grown diamond collection, with each piece certified and crafted with care.
• TimeVallée: for the third time in MSC Cruises’ fleet, the luxury and innovative watch multi-brand retail concept will offer access to a curated portfolio of seven prestigious watch brands (Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Chopard, Hublot, IWC, Panerai, Tag Heuer) along with a compelling range of experiences and services.
• Omega Shop: the fourth single-brand boutique in MSC Cruises’ fleet, offering the latest collections.
• World of Jewels – a luxury and innovative multi-brand boutique, offering a wide choice of exquisite jewellery from world-renowned brands including Chopard, Messika and RF Jewels.
• Effy Jewellery store: Featuring an exquisite range of Effy’s fine jewellery.
• Shopping Gallery: 3,918 square feet (364m2) shopping area offering a range of products and experiences for guests to enjoy.
• MSC Shop – showcasing a wide range of exclusively branded MSC Cruises and MSC World America merchandise to take home as souvenirs or as great gifts for loved ones.

Visit: www.msccruises.com

 

Princess Cruises Announces 2026-2027 Southeast Asia Program with Voyages to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and More

Princess Cruises has announced its highly anticipated 2026-2027 Southeast Asia cruise season, offering travelers an effortless way to explore the vibrant cultures of this region with acclaimed itineraries.

Diamond Princess will depart from the homeport of Singapore, taking guests to 28 destinations across eight countries on 11 sailings, from November 2026 to March 2027. With durations ranging from 10 to 31 days, cruises include late-night stays in Ha Long Bay/Hanoi, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kyoto, offering ample time for exploration.

2026-2027 Southeast Asia Program Highlights

•10- to 16-day roundtrip sailings from Singapore visiting Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore: Spend the holidays at sea over Christmas and New Year’s on a 14-day Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam itinerary, including Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Laem Chabang (for Bangkok).

•16- and 24-day Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam itineraries that include UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay in Vietnam (from Cai Lan), as well stops in Phuket and Da Nang/Hue (Chan May).

•The season begins and concludes sailing between Singapore and Japan, offering a variety of options from 14- to 31-days via Taiwan, Vietnam and includes a late-night More Ashore visit to Hong Kong.

•31-day Southeast Asia & Japan includes stops to the beautiful island destinations of Ishigaki and Okinawa, Kochi as well as Kobe (for Kyoto).

•Access to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Singapore Botanical Gardens, established in 1859 with over 10,000 types of flora and The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nata from (from Osaka).

Visit: www.princess.com

 

Explora Journeys Unveils Extraordinary New Itineraries for Winter 2026-2027

Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, reveals its highly anticipated Winter 2026-2027 itineraries. This new season of itineraries spans some of the world’s most captivating regions, inviting guests to experience the extraordinary aboard Explora I, Explora II, and Explora III, where a unique blend of ultra-elegance and discovery await.

The brand is expanding into new regions, unveiling remarkable routes and maiden ports that promise an immersive and unforgettable experience. The new itineraries between October 2026 and May 2027 include:

• Explora I will sail to idyllic islands in the vibrant Caribbean, traverse the rich cultural landscapes of Central and South America from November 2026 until March 2027, and immerse in the breathtaking wild and biodiversity of the Amazon in February 2027.

• Explora II will unveil the mysteries of the Red Sea and the ever-changing landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula from December 2026 until March 2027, where parched deserts and craggy mountains give way to sublime coasts and vibrant cities.

• Explora III, the newest fleet addition, will sail guests on enchanting journeys through the sun-soaked Caribbean and Central America from October 2026 until April 2027, continuing through the Panama Canal to the iconic Central and North America Pacific Coast in May 2027.

Visit: https://explorajourneys.com