HX Expeditions is commemorating the 130th anniversary of its first polar expedition voyage, which departed Hammerfest for Svalbard aboard steamship DS Lofoten in 1896, at a time when much of the Arctic was still unmapped. The company is marking this milestone with special offers, immersive historical experiences such as the 1896 Cabin, and messaging from CEO Gebhard Rainer that connects HX’s pioneering heritage with its future-focused, sustainable exploration ethos.
The article says travel trade feedback on Royal Caribbean’s **Legend of the Seas** is strongly positive, with descriptors such as “awe-inspiring,” “incredible,” and “unbelievable.” It appears to focus on how agents and other industry professionals reacted to the ship and what that means for selling it to customers.
Aurora Expeditions has entered its biggest year yet, closing out 2025 with record performance and expanding its fleet to three purpose-built expedition ships with the addition of the Douglas Mawson. The company is leveraging this new capacity to grow into fresh geographic markets, add more diverse itineraries, and secure charter arrangements that broaden distribution. Strategic moves in product, capacity and partnerships position Aurora for continued growth in the high-end expedition cruise segment.
Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class ship Legend of the Seas has departed Civitavecchia on its maiden seven-night cruise in the Western Mediterranean, following delivery from Meyer Turku in June 2026. The 250,800-ton, LNG-powered vessel will call at ports in Italy, France and Spain, marking the start of its inaugural European season.
Celebrity Silhouette has arrived in Reykjavik to launch a dedicated Iceland season featuring intensive circumnavigation-style itineraries. The ship repositioned from its spring program in Bermuda via a 13-night Cape Liberty–Reykjavik sailing that called in Canada, Greenland and Iceland, and will now operate a series of 7-night Iceland-focused cruises roundtrip from Reykjavik. These sailings highlight key Icelandic ports such as Seydisfjordur, Akureyri and Isafjordur, along with overnights in the capital.
Cordelia Cruises’ newly acquired Cordelia Sun (currently sailing as Norwegian Sun) is slated to begin operations in India in November 2027, according to the line’s website. The 2001-built ship, purchased alongside sister vessel Norwegian Sky in April 2025, will expand the homegrown brand’s fleet and support its broader deployment plans in the Indian market.
Princess Cruises has introduced a new style of Destination Experience fam trips, showcased through a two-night Marseille itinerary designed to immerse agents in both the onboard product and in-depth shore experiences. The programme shifts fams from traditional ship tours to curated, hosted destination activities that mirror what guests actually receive on Princess shore excursions.
Cooler destinations are gaining momentum in summer travel demand, as European heatwaves influence traveller choices and reshape agency booking patterns. The article Cooler destinations gain ground as Europe faces summer heat first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Tourism Innovation Summit 2026 will bring tourism, hospitality and travel professionals to Seville for three days focused on innovation, technology and business performance. The article Tourism Innovation Summit 2026 to gather tourism leaders in Seville first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Airlines are increasingly monetising elite status rather than loyalty points, creating new ancillary revenue opportunities while strengthening customer retention and differentiation in an AI-driven travel market. The article Airline loyalty shifts towards elite status monetisation first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Regional airports are emerging as the first operational hubs for electric and hydrogen aircraft, playing a central role in aviation decarbonisation through infrastructure, testing and industry collaboration. The article Regional airports key to sustainable aviation transition first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Vibe has launched an AI integration that enables corporate travellers to book and manage business travel through ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot while keeping TMCs in control. The article Vibe enables AI corporate travel booking through ChatGPT first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Silversea has launched its 2028-29 Voyage Collection, featuring 278 voyages between March 2028 and March 2029, which it positions as its most extensive program of Mediterranean expedition sailings to date. The program spans 497 destinations across 71 countries and includes more than 120 new or reintroduced ports, with full itineraries presented in a dedicated brochure and general sales opening July 9, 2026.
Fincantieri has signed a contract with Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings, joint owner/operator of Four Seasons Yachts, to build a **third ultra-luxury, all-suite vessel** for delivery in 2031. The 34,000-gross-ton ship will be part of a purpose-designed class of residential-style cruise yachts being constructed at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, following the first vessel already in service and a second scheduled for 2028. The order deepens the strategic partnership between Fincantieri and Four Seasons Yachts around innovative, high-end hospitality at sea.
This Cruise Corner bonus podcast episode features HX Expeditions’ Dr Verena Meraldi, who explains how she progressed from guest lecturer on expedition cruises to becoming the industry’s first-ever chief scientist. She discusses her scientific background, the creation of her role at HX, and how onboard research and education are being integrated into the expedition cruise experience. The conversation also highlights how science-led programming engages guests and supports meaningful polar and environmental research within the commercial cruise environment.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises & Tours have unveiled a dedicated portfolio of 2026–2027 European Christmas-market river cruises across the Rhine, Danube and Main, giving clients multiple options to experience festive markets and traditions in one trip. The program ranges from 8-day to 15-day itineraries linking iconic cities such as Amsterdam, Budapest, Vienna, Cologne and Strasbourg with smaller riverside villages decorated for the holidays.
Visit Bellevue has launched the Bellevue Airport and Cruise Shuttle, a transportation program linking participating Bellevue hotel pickup points with Seattle’s cruise terminals. The service, which builds on the existing Bellevue Airport Shuttle, is designed to simplify pre- and post-cruise stays by providing a direct, scheduled connection between Bellevue, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and the Port of Seattle cruise berths.
Holland America Line has revised five seven-day 2027 Norway itineraries on Rotterdam to expand scenic fjord access, adding calls at Flåm and Hellesylt plus enhanced scenic cruising. Guests will now be able to experience marquee fjords such as the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, Storfjorden and Oslofjord alongside popular ports including Oslo, Kristiansand, Eidfjord, Ålesund and Bergen. These updated cruises are open for booking and follow the brand’s broader deployment moves for its 2027-28 season.
SixStarCruises has launched a dedicated expedition cruise division to tap into continued growth in the expedition segment. The new brand extends the company’s luxury positioning into adventure-led itineraries, backed by its 15 years of experience in high-end cruise sales and a specialist expedition website with destination guides, reviews and video content.
Cruise Summit is returning to London this autumn, bringing together senior cruise and travel industry leaders to address the sector’s most pressing commercial and operational challenges. The one-day event will focus on future strategy, marketing, distribution, and adapting to evolving customer expectations and regulatory pressures.
Celestyal has launched its first dedicated Western Mediterranean programme, centred on a new 14-night Mediterranean Odyssey itinerary on Celestyal Discovery that links Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The season includes 14 maiden calls, overnight stays in Barcelona (Tarragona) and Lisbon, and options to split the voyage into seven-night segments or extend it with repositioning cruises between Athens and Barcelona for up to 26 nights.
The article is a Q&A-style feature in Cruise Trade News’ Question Time series where Paramount Cruises apprentice Josh Harris asks how to convert cruise sceptics into first-time customers. Industry experts outline practical strategies for addressing common objections around cost, crowding, safety, sustainability and value, and recommend reframing cruises as flexible, experience-led holidays rather than rigid, mass-market trips. It emphasises tailoring recommendations to individual traveller preferences, using specific ship and itinerary examples to counter stereotypes, and leveraging transparent pricing and onboard inclusions to demonstrate overall value compared with land-based holidays.
AIDA Cruises will mark the finale of its 30th anniversary celebrations with an exclusive charity concert, “AIDA & Friends,” at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie on October 28, 2026. Headlined by German artists Mark Forster, LEA and Revolverheld, the event will raise funds for the AIDA Cruise & Help initiative through ticket sales and additional donations.
Nicko Cruises has opened bookings for a 6-day Schlager-themed cruise aboard the Vasco da Gama running from October 22 to 27, 2027. The sailing will combine a western Mediterranean itinerary with onboard performances and parties tied to Germany’s Schlagermove festival.
Carnival Magic has marked 15 years of service with Carnival Cruise Line, having been delivered on April 27, 2011 as the 100th vessel across Carnival Corporation brands. The 3,650-passenger Dream-class ship, built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy, has operated a wide range of itineraries and has been updated over time to feature the line’s latest onboard offerings. Its anniversary underscores the ship’s continued importance in Carnival’s fleet and its role in serving key homeports and markets.
Cunard has detailed its 2027 entertainment program, confirming the return of four themed Event Voyages aboard Queen Mary 2 and launching a new portfolio of Entertainment Residencies across Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. The program, developed with leading cultural partners, will feature theater, ballet, classical music and literary experiences, delivered through immersive performances, workshops and artist-led events at sea.
Royal Caribbean’s new Legend of the Seas will partner with Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity during its July 2026 inaugural European season, using onboard fundraising and awareness campaigns to support specialist Roald Dahl Nurses across the UK. The collaboration is tied to the shipboard debut of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and includes a dedicated preview cruise for nursing staff as a thank-you for their work.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has become the first cruise line to earn Silver Carbon Literate Organisation status, recognizing its commitment to building climate awareness and encouraging practical emissions-reduction action across the business. The award follows earlier Bronze accreditation in November 2025 and reflects training delivered to 88 employees across 17 departments, reaching 40% of the workforce.
Norwegian Prima is spending its first summer season in the Caribbean, sailing round-trip from Port Canaveral with weeklong itineraries. The ship is alternating between Eastern and Western Caribbean routes and includes calls at Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.
Aurora Expeditions is promoting a range of Arctic voyages aimed at maximizing travelers’ chances of seeing the Northern Lights while exploring remote parts of Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Canada. The company says select 2026 and 2027 sailings are currently discounted by up to 30 percent, with itineraries including trips such as "Arctic Golden Autumn & Northern Lights" and "Northern Lights Explorer."
Wimbledon-based luxury travel agency Swords Travel has announced plans to expand its operations beyond the UK into Australia and the United States. The business aims to build an international affiliate network while maintaining its highly personal, bespoke service model for high-end clients. The expansion strategy includes recruiting a select group of advisors and affiliates to support growth in these new markets.
Maritime software provider NAPA has introduced an AI-powered Permit to Work dashboard within its NAPA Fleet Intelligence cloud platform, aimed at improving fleet-wide safety oversight and reducing administrative workload. Early adopters include Virgin Voyages and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which are using the tool to generate real-time, natural-language-driven views of permit activity across multiple vessels. The system converts operational permit data into interactive dashboards without sending raw data through the AI layer, supporting safer, faster decision-making for shore-based teams.
Trafalgar has launched its first major river cruise brand campaign, **‘Sail A Great Story,’** to spotlight immersive experiences and authentic local perspectives on its European river itineraries rather than just product features. Running June through September 2026 across multiple channels, the campaign supports Trafalgar’s expansion into river cruising with the Trafalgar Reverie and Trafalgar Verity vessels leased from Uniworld. The initiative is designed to build awareness among new-to-cruise and repeat travelers and drive engagement with travel advisors as the primary booking channel.
One Washington Circle has joined Tapestry Collection by Hilton, introducing a refreshed brand identity, upgraded design and enhanced guest benefits while preserving its residential-style accommodations in Washington, D.C.'s West End. The article One Washington Circle joins Tapestry Collection by Hilton first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Rental Escapes has expanded its European portfolio with luxury villas in London and Mallorca, adding new private accommodation options and personalised travel experiences for families, groups and multi-generational travellers. The article Rental Escapes expands portfolio with London and Mallorca villas first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
New GBTA and Radisson Hotel Group research shows corporate travel managers are reshaping hotel programmes through greater AI adoption, flexible pricing models and evolving sourcing strategies. The article GBTA study highlights shifts in corporate hotel programmes first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Smartwings will launch new direct flights from Prague to Bergen and Venice during the 2026/2027 Winter season, while also expanding services to Lisbon, Porto, Bilbao, Toulouse and Nice. The article Smartwings adds Bergen and Venice to Winter schedule first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Jamaica is placing gastronomy at the centre of its tourism strategy, linking culinary heritage to its 10x10x10 vision of attracting 10 million visitors and generating US$10 billion in tourism earnings. The article Jamaica positions gastronomy at the centre of tourism growth strategy first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection has expanded its portfolio with five independent properties across New York, Washington and California, including resorts, boutique hotels and conference-focused hospitality venues. The article Curator Hotel & Resort Collection adds five independent properties first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
JetBlue Vacations has launched a dedicated team of Theme Park Experts to help customers plan and book Orlando holidays, including packages for Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. The article JetBlue Vacations introduces dedicated theme park experts first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Royal Caribbean has expanded its trade loyalty offering with the launch of **UpperDeck250**, a new tier designed to reward its highest-performing UK trade partners. Building on the existing UpperDeck100 scheme, the new level targets agents generating £250,000 or more in annual bookings and offers enhanced rewards, experiences and brand recognition.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is reporting record UK demand for its 2026 river cruise programme, with bookings from the market running nearly a third higher than at the same point last year. The surge reflects strong interest in river itineraries and is prompting Uniworld to further focus on the UK as a key growth source.
Carnival UK, parent of P&O Cruises and Cunard, has announced a major company-wide restructure that creates shared cross-brand teams and redefines several senior leadership roles. The changes aim to speed up decision-making, deepen collaboration between the two cruise lines, and sharpen each brand’s distinct proposition while leveraging their combined scale.
The Australia-based startup plans to accelerate development of its conversational AI platform, which helps tours, activities and attractions operators automate customer service and bookings across voice and web channels.
Tong Yin, founder and CEO of InsightBridge Global, argues that most hotel revenue management systems are built on outdated assumptions and must evolve into adaptive, human-in-the-loop platforms that learn from operator expertise and changing market signals.
Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, the 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady, made its first-ever call at Prince Rupert Cruise Port as part of its inaugural Alaska season, with Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson on hand to mark the occasion. The May 26, 2026 visit was the final stop on a new Alaska itinerary, part of a broader season of 17 voyages to 12 destinations across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest planned for summer 2026.
Four Seasons Yachts has unveiled the Four Seasons II, a new yacht that will feature the line’s Yacht Residential Suites. The vessel is slated to begin sailing in April 2028 in the Eastern Mediterranean after delivery from Fincantieri, marking the next stage of the brand’s expansion after its launch.
The Port of Vancouver has welcomed The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s ultra-luxury yacht Luminara for its first-ever call, marking the debut of an ultra-luxury cruise brand at the Canada Place terminal. Arriving June 8 as part of a new annual Alaska program, Luminara will make nine calls to Vancouver this season, underscoring the port’s expanding role in the premium and luxury cruise market.
Royal Caribbean Group has named Exit Glacier Greenhouses in Seward, Alaska, founded by Sydney Singer, as the first-ever winner of its Port Partners Small Business Accelerator Award. The recognition highlights the company’s role in supplying fresh, local produce and flowers to the community and visiting cruise guests, while supporting sustainable growth in a key port destination.
Celebrity Cruises has proposed a restructure of its sales and marketing teams across several key markets, affecting roles and reporting lines in the UK, Ireland and wider EMEA region. The move is aimed at driving greater efficiency, tighter alignment across regions, and stronger support for trade partners to accelerate growth in the premium cruise segment.
Dream Cruises is marking its 10th anniversary by debuting the new ‘Forever Broadway’ musical revue aboard the Genting Dream, starting June 5. Produced in partnership with Broadway Asia International, the show reimagines classic Broadway and West End hits for Asian audiences as part of an enhanced onboard entertainment program.
The article says small-ship cruising is growing rapidly and is no longer a niche, with UK search demand for 19 small-ship and luxury cruise brands up 71% over two years and generic search interest in terms like “small ship cruises” and “expedition cruising” also rising strongly. It argues the boom is being driven by changing guest preferences for more immersive, less crowded, and more curated travel, with smaller ships able to access ports larger ships cannot.
Aroya Cruises has announced its strategic international travel trade partnership with Lufthansa City Center International (LCCI), the international franchisor of the Lufthansa City Center (LCC) global travel agency network. The partnership comes as Aroya prepares for an expanded 2026 season, with itineraries across the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Sture Myrmell, president of Aroya, said:...
Eastern Cruises’ Eastern Venus became the first cruise ship to call at Vladivostok in six years when it arrived on June 4, 2026, restarting cruise operations at the Russian Far East port. The roundtrip sailing from Busan carried South Korean guests on an international itinerary calling at Sokcho, Vladivostok and Sakaiminato, where passengers joined organized excursions and local tours.
Lufthansa Group and ANA will expand their Europe-Japan joint venture to include ITA Airways from autumn 2026, increasing connectivity between Japan, Italy and wider European markets. The article ITA Airways joins Europe – Japan joint venture first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas has arrived in Seattle to begin its first-ever Alaska season, homeporting in the Pacific Northwest after previously sailing from New Orleans and Texas. The 1999-built Voyager-class ship will operate a program of seven-night Alaska cruises through the summer, marking a new deployment for the vessel within the brand’s North American offering.
European tourism associations have welcomed the European Commission’s infringement procedure against Spain over traveller data collection requirements and their compatibility with EU data protection legislation. The article European tourism groups welcome EU action on Spain traveller data rules first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
SAS and Garuda Indonesia have signed a new codeshare agreement, expanding connectivity between Scandinavia and Indonesia and providing passengers with additional travel options across both airlines’ networks. The article SAS and Garuda Indonesia launch codeshare partnership first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Small Luxury Hotels of the World has expanded its partnership with Mews beyond Europe, giving member properties in the Americas and APAC access to the hospitality technology platform. The article Small Luxury Hotels of the World expands partnership with Mews first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
International bookings to 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico are rising sharply ahead of a major football tournament, with Group Stage demand significantly outpacing Knockout Round growth. The article Global football tournament drives travel surge across North America first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
The Port of Vancouver has processed its one millionth cruise passenger using its dedicated facial biometric embarkation system at Canada Place Cruise Terminal, less than two years after launch. The milestone was marked by the Fullerton family from Kentucky, departing on an Alaska cruise, highlighting growing adoption of streamlined, contactless processing for cruise guests.
Atlas Ocean Voyages reports that year-to-date sales for all future voyages are 49% ahead of the same point last year, signaling robust growth for the luxury expedition line and positioning it for another record year in 2026. The gains are driven by strong demand across its portfolio of expedition itineraries and reflect growing consumer interest in small-ship, upscale adventure cruising.
MSC Cruises has launched “Oceans Day powered by MSC Foundation,” a new onboard program timed to World Oceans Day. The initiative is designed to help children and families learn about, celebrate, and care for the ocean through interactive activities that blend education, creativity, and participation.
Explora Journeys has named marine educator, dive trainer and National Geographic Educator Cristina Ozores as the godmother of the new EXPLORA III, aligning the announcement with World Ocean Day to underscore its ocean-conservation credentials. Ozores, known for her work in advancing ocean literacy and environmental responsibility, will preside over the ship’s naming ceremony in Barcelona on August 1, 2026.
Widgety has launched a new AI-powered cruise selling tool designed to help travel agents quickly match customers with the right cruise product, using a natural-language chat interface and real-time data. The system draws on Widgety’s existing cruise content, itineraries and ship information to generate instant, tailored recommendations that can be refined and exported into quotes or marketing materials.
A UK travel agent secured two high-value HX Expeditions bookings worth nearly £50,000 just days after attending CLIA’s Expedition Cruise Summit and ship visit to HX’s MS Fram. The agent credits the immersive training, product insight, and confidence gained at the event for enabling them to quickly convert a complex, premium polar expedition enquiry into confirmed business. The story underscores how targeted trade events and ship visits can translate directly into significant sales for specialist expedition cruise product.
P&O Cruises has confirmed it will launch an online live chat tool for travel agent partners to make communication faster and more efficient. The move is part of its effort to improve trade support and streamline day-to-day queries from agents.
MSC Cruises has revealed new onboard attractions for MSC World Asia, adding to the ship’s wider entertainment and leisure offer. The vessel will also feature more than 40 bars, lounges and restaurants, seven pools, and 13 hot tubs.
Marella Cruises has relaunched its annual trade incentive, offering travel agents the chance to win a place on a Caribbean sailing. The campaign rewards agents for making Marella bookings during the promotional period and engaging with the line’s trade activity.
Princess Cruises says its 2028 Europe program will be the largest in the line’s history for the region, with 291 departures across 150 itineraries. The season will cover Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Transatlantic sailings, with bookings open for voyages ranging from seven to 53 days.
Virgin Voyages has refreshed **Valiant Lady** with a new look, highlighting the ship’s ongoing positioning as a key part of the brand’s modern adult-only cruise offering. The update is likely aimed at keeping the vessel competitive and attractive to both guests and travel sellers as Virgin continues to evolve its fleet.
Emerald Cruises & Tours christened its newest European ship, Emerald Astra, in Amsterdam on May 31, 2026. The ship’s godmother is Toni Lanotte-Day, a U.S. travel advisor and entrepreneur who is described as one of Scenic Group’s top global sellers.
Mitsui Ocean Cruises has announced that the Mitsui Ocean Sakura will operate 29 cruises in its inaugural season, beginning September 19, 2026. The 2010-built former Seabourn ship will debut under the Japanese brand after completing its final sailing for Seabourn earlier this year, offering a mix of itineraries tailored to the Japan cruise market.
Costa Cruises has announced an eight-day ‘Eclipse Cruise’ aboard Costa Pacifica, timed around the solar eclipse returning to the Mediterranean in August after 20 years. The itinerary will operate in two departures, including a sailing from Civitavecchia (Rome) on August 8.
Azamara Pursuit has made its inaugural call to Nanaimo, British Columbia, marking the first time the port’s cruise terminal has hosted a peak-season Alaska itinerary. The Nanaimo Port Authority hailed the visit as a significant milestone that underscores Nanaimo’s emergence as an alternative gateway for Alaska cruises and a boost to the local visitor economy.
Carnival Cruise Line is rolling out its new main dining room dinner menu to three additional ships in the coming weeks, expanding a concept first introduced on Carnival Magic in January. With these additions, a total of 14 ships in the fleet will feature the updated menu, which is being phased in across the brand.
Milan Bergamo Airport has introduced a premium airport e-bike rental service, allowing passengers to begin cycling experiences directly from the terminal while supporting sustainable tourism mobility. The article Airport e-bike rental service launches at Milan Bergamo Airport first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Hilton has launched Undergraduate by Hilton, a new upper-midscale lifestyle brand specifically designed for college and university markets, aiming to capture demand in campus-adjacent and college-town locations. The brand targets value-conscious but experience-driven travelers with locally inspired design, social spaces, and modern essentials, while giving owners a flexible conversion-friendly product under the Hilton engine.
New Skyscanner data shows travellers are prioritising experiences, embracing AI-powered trip planning and seeking less crowded destinations as travel behaviours continue to evolve. The article Travel trends 2026: How AI, authenticity and smarter spending are reshaping tourism first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Carnival Cruise Line has opened a new pier and unveiled expanded amenities at its private Bahamian destination, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, enabling more and larger ships to call without tendering. The upgrades include enhanced beach facilities, new food and beverage options, and refreshed guest areas designed to improve flow, capacity, and the overall island experience.
Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady has completed a drydock at Fincantieri’s Palermo yard, emerging with 10 redesigned public spaces and refreshed experiences ahead of her Mediterranean deployment. The upgrades aim to enhance repeat appeal, with CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu saying the line focused on making the ship even more worth coming back for.
Explora Journeys’ newbuild Explora III has successfully completed her sea trials in the Mediterranean, validating the vessel’s technical and operational performance ahead of entering service. The ship remains on track for her planned summer 2026 debut, marking another key milestone in the brand’s multi-ship fleet rollout.
Carnival Jubilee has completed what Carnival Corp calls the first-ever cruise ship LNG bunkering in Latin America and the Western Caribbean, using a mobile LNG fueling solution at the company’s private destination Isla Tropicale in Roatán, Honduras. The operation, carried out in partnership with fuel and logistics providers, allows LNG-capable ships to refuel mid-itinerary in the region, reducing the need for longer repositioning solely for bunkering.
The Port of San Diego has honored 24 ship companies, including multiple cruise lines, for participating in its voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Program aimed at lowering emissions and improving air quality in and around San Diego Bay. By reducing speeds to 12 knots or less within designated coastal zones, participating vessels help cut greenhouse gases and other pollutants while supporting the port’s broader Maritime Clean Air Strategy goals.
Viking has officially named its newest 998-guest ocean ship, Viking Mira, during a traditional ceremony in Venice, Italy, marking the latest addition to its small-ship ocean fleet. Rebecca “Becky” Webb Wilson served as the ship’s ceremonial godmother, highlighting her background in law, the arts and philanthropy, while the vessel begins its inaugural program in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Royal Caribbean International’s Liberty of the Seas has returned to service following a major drydock refurbishment in France under the Royal Amplified program. The ship now features updated public spaces, refreshed accommodations and décor, and new or enhanced guest amenities aligned with the latest standards across the fleet.
MSC Preziosa has begun a new year-round deployment in Northern Europe for MSC Cruises, with Hamburg as its homeport after repositioning from South America. The ship will operate a mix of seven- to 14-night itineraries, and later in the year it is scheduled to add winter sailings in the region, including routes to Western Europe and the North Sea.
AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar will undertake a ten-night Northern Europe cruise in October 2026 that includes sailing into a Dutch shipyard drydock with guests onboard for several days. Marketed as a “shipyard experience,” the itinerary combines standard ports with an in-drydock stay where only hotel and entertainment services are offered while technical work is carried out. The cruise departs Warnemünde and features stops in Norway and Denmark before and after the yard call, highlighting a novel way to monetize maintenance periods.
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino has opened The Westerly, a new 161-room ocean-facing tower on Palm Beach that expands the resort’s upscale accommodation offering with contemporary design, premium room categories and upgraded in-room amenities. The new tower is positioned to deliver a more personalized, high-touch guest experience through dedicated services, enhanced leisure spaces and exclusive programming for couples, families and premium leisure travelers.
World of Cruising and Cruise118 have teamed up to launch a new television series showcasing exclusive cruise holiday offers. Starting 1 June, the programme will spotlight curated itineraries and deals to inspire viewers to book cruise trips through Cruise118.
Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with ELE Spa to open the first Italian property under its midscale Spark by Hilton brand, a 118-room hotel near Milan Linate Airport scheduled to debut later this year. The conversion property will target value-conscious leisure and business travelers with modern, comfortable rooms, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, and convenient access to both the airport and central Milan.
Glasgow Airport has launched a new twice-weekly Edelweiss Air service from Zurich, providing a direct seasonal link between Scotland and Switzerland throughout the summer. The inaugural flight was formally welcomed by the airport and is expected to strengthen inbound tourism and business travel from the Swiss market.
Baha Mar in The Bahamas has introduced a new destination wedding collection in partnership with celebrity event designer Colin Cowie, featuring curated wedding concepts tailored to the resort’s diverse venues. The program blends luxury design, local Bahamian elements, and customizable packages aimed at couples seeking high-end, turnkey celebrations in a Caribbean setting.
White Elephant Resorts is entering the Colorado market with the planned June 2026 opening of White Elephant Aspen, a 54-key luxury boutique hotel that brings the brand’s art-centric aesthetic to the Rocky Mountains. The property will feature curated contemporary art, upscale dining concepts, and programming designed to attract both winter ski and summer leisure travelers year-round.
The article reports that France has recorded the largest annual increase in inbound business travelers worldwide, with the United States in second place, while smaller markets such as Cyprus and Japan are among the strongest performers in proportional growth. Drawing on new global business travel data, it highlights how established hubs are rebounding strongly, and several secondary destinations are rapidly expanding their share of international corporate and MICE traffic.
Blockskye, FCM and Kayak for Business have announced a strategic partnership to build an end-to-end corporate travel, payment and expense solution that they claim will fundamentally re-architect managed travel. The trio aims to combine Kayak’s global booking front end, FCM’s servicing and program expertise, and Blockskye’s blockchain-based payment and data infrastructure to challenge traditional, monolithic TMC–GDS–OBT stacks. The offering is pitched as a more flexible, transparent and data-rich ecosystem for corporates, with emphasis on direct connections, cleaner data flows and reduced reliance on legacy intermediaries.
Travelport has partnered with Cognizant and Anthropic to modernize its technology stack and embed advanced generative AI across its Travelport+ platform, aiming to speed product development and enhance retailing capabilities for agencies and suppliers. The collaboration will use Cognizant as the primary systems integrator and Anthropic’s Claude models to build new AI-driven tools for shopping, servicing, and agency workflows.
BCD Travel has implemented a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) framework across its Tripsource platform to orchestrate and standardize how multiple AI agents and data sources interact. The move is designed to make Tripsource more modular, interoperable and capable of delivering faster, more context-aware services to both travelers and travel managers. BCD positions MCP as the backbone for broader AI use across its ecosystem, enabling quicker deployment of new features and integrations.
Trip.Biz has integrated Conferma’s virtual card technology into its Trip.Biz One booking platform to enable embedded, automated hotel payments for corporate travellers. The partnership aims to improve payment security, streamline reconciliation and give travel managers greater control over spend and policy compliance.
Big Blue Analytics' technology works with live airline operations to evaluate the impact of a disruption on aircraft, crew, passengers and maintenance.
Silversea has ended its 2026 World Cruise in Lisbon, Portugal, completing a 140-day voyage aboard Silver Dawn. The itinerary, themed “The Curious and the Sea,” covered 59 destinations in 30 countries across six continents after departing in January.
Okaloosa County has confirmed that environmental remediation of the historic ocean liner SS United States is complete, clearing the way for the vessel to be intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. The ship now awaits final approvals from state and federal agencies before it can be scuttled offshore as part of a long-planned reef and tourism project.
Margaritaville at Sea’s two ships, Paradise and Islander, met in Nassau in late April for the first time, creating a company milestone. The cruise line described the gathering as an unforgettable meetup, with crew and guests from both ships celebrating together.
Viking Sea has marked its 10th anniversary in service with Viking Cruises, having entered the fleet in 2016 as the company’s second ocean vessel. Built by Fincantieri in Ancona, the 930-guest ship has spent the last decade operating a global program of destination-focused itineraries across Europe, the Caribbean, South America and other key regions. The milestone underscores Viking’s successful expansion in the ocean-cruise segment and the enduring popularity of the line’s small-ship, adults-focused product.
Carnival Corporation has been named to two of Forbes’ 2026 lists of America’s best employers, recognizing the company for both its workplace culture and its appeal to recent graduates. The company appears on Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Company Culture list at No. 390 and on the America’s Best Employers for New Grads list at No. 125, and says it is the top-ranked cruise company on both rankings.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is bringing back Caribbean Week to New York, running from Monday, June 1, at the InterContinental New York Times Square under the theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences.” The program will gather tourism ministers, directors, private-sector partners, and media for a series of business meetings, investment discussions, cultural showcases, and consumer-facing events designed to promote Caribbean destinations and travel demand. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands will play a featured role, underscoring the region’s leadership focus on tourism recovery, airlift growth, and sustainable development.
Marella Cruises has expanded its Mediterranean excursion program with nine new tours designed to offer more culturally immersive, small-group experiences in key ports. The new options range from tuk-tuk sightseeing in Olbia and a food tour in Athens to wine-tasting in Kefalonia and coastline drives along the Amalfi Coast.
The new 998-passenger Viking Mira will launch its maiden season in early June with a seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia, following delivery to Viking from Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. As the 13th oceangoing ship in Viking’s series that began with Viking Star in 2015, Mira’s inaugural program focuses on Mediterranean itineraries before expanding to other regions.
AIDAsol has celebrated 15 years in service with AIDA Cruises, having entered operation on March 31, 2011 as the fifth ship in the Sphinx class. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, the 71,000-ton vessel is noted for its high proportion of balcony cabins and family-friendly features, and continues to sail popular Northern Europe and Baltic itineraries for the German market.
MSC Opera has arrived in Lisbon to begin its summer interporting season in Portugal after a winter deployment in South Africa. Through late September, the ship will operate 15 roundtrip cruises from Lisbon plus a repositioning voyage to Genoa, with itineraries spanning the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic.
Navan has integrated its AI-powered travel and expense management capabilities into Google’s Gemini for Workspace Enterprise, allowing employees to manage travel, expenses and itineraries directly inside the Gemini interface. The integration is positioned as Navan’s first step in a broader strategy to connect its AI agents to multiple large-language-model platforms used by corporate clients.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has reworked its 2027 Great Lakes deployment for the Hanseatic inspiration, replacing three shorter sailings with two longer itineraries. The new routes will offer guests extended voyages that combine all five Great Lakes with the St. Lawrence River, which the company describes as a first for the region.
Margaritaville at Sea has launched a new wellness and lifestyle lineup on the Beachcomber, including the St. Somewhere Spa & Salon, the Fins Up! Fitness Center, and an updated Permanent Reminder Tattoo Studio. The company says this is its largest wellness footprint to date, expanding the ship’s onboard experience beyond dining and entertainment.
Cruise Trade News’ review of Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Prima Plus-class ship, Norwegian Luna, positions it as a purpose-built vessel for multigenerational, warm‑weather cruising. The article highlights Luna’s family‑focused amenities, tropical itineraries, and expanded spaces versus earlier Prima-class ships, designed to appeal to both adults and children.
The National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions have announced six National Geographic Explorer–led research projects selected for the 2026 Arctic season under the Visiting Scientist Program. These projects will be carried out across 11 voyages on the National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution, focusing on topics such as climate change, Arctic ecosystems, and local communities while engaging guests in onboard science and education.
Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas has marked five years in service since its March 31, 2021 delivery from Meyer Werft, completing the line’s Quantum-class series. The 4,200-passenger ship has spent its career alternating between Caribbean deployments from Florida and summer seasons in Europe, and is scheduled to continue offering Eastern Mediterranean itineraries from Civitavecchia in 2026.
Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort has completed the first phase of a multi-million-dollar renovation project, upgrading all 490 guest rooms as part of a wider property transformation. The article Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort completes guest room renovation first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Airportr and Condor have introduced a new door-to-flight baggage service at Frankfurt Airport, allowing passengers to have their luggage collected from homes or hotels, checked in, and delivered directly to the aircraft. The service aims to streamline the airport journey by removing the need to queue at check-in or handle bags in the terminal.
myRiva and Groups360 have integrated their platforms so corporate clients can manage business travel and meetings in one workflow, linking air, hotel and ground with real-time meeting space availability and group booking tools. The partnership aims to streamline end-to-end trip and event planning, reduce manual processes, and give companies better visibility and control over travel and meetings spend.
Open Connectivity for Travel (OCTO) has created an AI Advisory Board to guide the tours, activities and attractions sector on responsible adoption of artificial intelligence. The board will help shape industry standards, foster collaboration between suppliers and technology providers, and advise on emerging AI use cases specific to in-destination experiences.
Trailborn Hotels & Resorts has opened Trailborn Jackson Hole, a 203-room mountain resort in Wyoming, featuring the brand’s first full-service spa and expanded meetings and events facilities. The article Trailborn opens Jackson Hole resort in Wyoming first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
Airbus has signed a partnership with Mistral AI to expand the use of artificial intelligence across commercial aviation, helicopters, defence and space activities, with a focus on secure, sovereign and mission-critical aerospace applications. The article Airbus partners with Mistral AI for sovereign aerospace AI applications first appeared in TravelDailyNews International .
A travel photographer recounts losing four years of images to a corrupted SD card and explains how dedicated photo recovery software can often restore files even when a card appears unreadable or has been accidentally formatted. The article walks through practical recovery steps, limits of what can be saved, and how to prevent future losses with better backup habits.
PhocusWire profiles the 17 startups selected as finalists for the 2026 Global Startup Pitch, representing a mix of early-stage and emerging companies across key travel verticals. The piece outlines their core propositions, geographic spread and focus areas, and notes that they will compete live at Phocuswright Europe, with regional winners later showcasing at WiT Singapore.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is highlighting the commercial value of trade ship visits after a UK travel agent secured a £45,000 Svalbard expedition booking just four days after a ship tour. The two-day Edinburgh event brought 20 agents on board National Geographic Endurance for tours, product training, an overnight stay, and a National Geographic-led photography workshop, strengthening agents’ product knowledge and sales confidence.
{"summary":"Explora Journeys has released its winter 2026-27 sailings for Explora II after cancelling the ship’s Middle East season. The move replaces the previously planned programme with a new winter schedule.","key_points":["Winter 2026-27 sailings are now on sale for Explora II.","The new programme follows cancellation of the ship’s Middle East season.","The article indicates the change is a direct response to the earlier itinerary cancellation."],"industry_relevance":"This matters to travel agents because itinerary changes affect cruise availability, client rebooking opt
Cruise Trade News’ inaugural Retreat gathered cruise lines, travel agents and industry partners to discuss evolving luxury demand, the strength of late bookings, and the importance of closer collaboration across the trade. Speakers highlighted changing customer expectations, opportunities in the lates market, and ways to better support agents through training, marketing and partnerships. The event underlined cruise’s resilience and growth potential, especially when the trade works together to align product, pricing and service with what modern cruisers want.
Expensify has introduced a Model Context Protocol (MCP) layer that lets corporate clients expose their Expensify data securely to AI agents, enabling natural language queries and workflows. The move aims to turn expense data into an accessible knowledge source for both internal and third-party AI tools while maintaining permission controls.
Celestyal has cancelled its entire 2026-27 winter Arabian Gulf cruise season due to the ongoing conflict and instability in the Middle East, and will instead extend its Eastern Mediterranean deployment. The line is redirecting capacity away from the Gulf and focusing on more resilient core markets while the security situation remains uncertain.
The Port of Seattle Commission has approved a new long-term lease amendment with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, extending a homeport partnership that began in 2000. The renewed agreement secures NCLH’s continued deployment from Seattle while expanding commitments to environmental stewardship, local community benefits, and regional economic impact.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Voyager has returned to service after a 25‑day, multi‑million‑dollar drydock in Marseille, featuring upgraded suites, refreshed public spaces and enhanced dining venues. The refit is part of Regent’s program to elevate its all‑inclusive ultra‑luxury offering across the fleet.
Wärtsilä will invest about €90 million to boost technical production capacity at its Sustainable Technology Hub (STH) in Vaasa, Finland, by 30 percent, with expanded operations expected to start in the first half of 2028. The project, which includes related upgrades across its global supply chain, is driven by strong demand for modern, efficient engines and future-fuel solutions from marine and energy customers, including cruise lines.
Fincantieri has delivered the new ocean ship Viking Mira to Viking at the Ancona shipyard, marking another milestone in the long-running partnership between the two companies. The 54,300-gross-ton vessel features 499 cabins for up to 998 passengers and continues Viking’s small-ship, destination-focused ocean model.
Carnival Magic has returned to service from Miami after a 35‑day drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard, emerging with refreshed public spaces and technical work completed. The ship will now operate a program of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from its Miami homeport.
P&O Cruises hosted a special cookalong event with celebrity chef Marco Pierre White for 22 travel agents during a ship visit, giving them a hands-on experience of the line’s food offering. The session allowed agents to cook alongside the chef, learn more about the onboard dining product, and strengthen their connection with the brand.
Polar Latitudes Expeditions has appointed Filip Werne Hermann as its new CEO, effective August 1, 2026, succeeding former CEO and co-founder Patrick Shaw, who passed away earlier this year. Hermann, a former Hurtigruten and Holland America executive, will lead the company’s next phase of growth while honoring Shaw’s legacy and maintaining its focus on small-ship Antarctic expeditions.
The Marella Discovery has marked 30 years in service, having first entered the market in 1996 as Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas. Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique as a sister ship to Legend of the Seas, it has since sailed for multiple brands and now operates for Marella Cruises in the UK market.
Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas has marked 25 years in service, having first sailed on April 7, 2001 as the prototype of the line’s Radiance class. The 90,000-ton ship, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, has operated a wide range of itineraries over the years and, following a major 2011 refurbishment, continues to sail from Tampa with deployments published through at least April 2028.
The 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report projects the global cruise fleet to expand from 459 ships in early 2026 to at least 540 by 2037, driving annual passenger capacity from roughly 36 million to about 50 million guests. Growth will come from both newbuilds and larger average ship sizes, underlining long-term confidence in demand and continued investment in the sector.
MSC Cruises has increased its daily hotel service charges on sailings in North America, effective May 11, 2026. Standard stateroom guests aged 2 and over now pay $17 per person per day, while MSC Yacht Club suite guests pay $23 per person per day, up from $20, with children under 2 exempt.
A Navimeteo and Vaisala Xweather event in Chiavari, Italy, examined how increasingly unstable and localized weather patterns in the Mediterranean are affecting maritime navigation. Speakers from cruise, shipping, yachting, port and meteorological sectors highlighted the operational risks from sudden storms and extreme conditions and showcased how improved forecasting, nowcasting and real-time monitoring can support safer route planning and decision-making at sea.
Advantage data shows cruise demand is still growing, with couples emerging as the dominant booking segment. The growth is being driven mainly by no-fly departures, especially from Southampton, and Mediterranean fly-cruise options. The article also suggests cruise is becoming a more distinct holiday choice rather than just an alternative to other packages.
Cunard has added four new UK trade ship visit dates in Southampton, expanding its programme to give more agents the chance to experience the fleet first-hand. The additional dates cover both Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2, combining guided tours with hosted lunches on board.
Atlas Ocean Voyages will enter the Asia and Africa markets in 2028 with its new luxury expedition sailing yacht, Atlas Adventurer, whose inaugural season runs from November 2028 in Kobe to late spring 2029 in Athens. The program features destination‑rich itineraries across Japan, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, including Indonesia, Thailand, Madagascar and Kenya, with early access for Atlas Yacht Club members and added-value booking incentives.
Juniper Group has acquired Travelport’s corporate online booking and travel management platform Deem, marking Travelport’s exit from direct ownership of OBT technology while retaining a distribution relationship. Deem will continue to operate as an independent company under Juniper, which plans to invest in product development and maintain existing integrations with GDSs, OBTs and TMC partners.
Cvent has released its 2026 rankings of top meetings destinations and hotels worldwide, based on more than $20 billion in sourcing volume flowing through its RFP platform. Orlando again leads North America, while Cvent’s lists across regions highlight the cities and properties capturing the most group demand and awarded business for future-year events. The rankings are designed to guide planners toward high-performing destinations and hotels as they finalize 2026 meeting and incentive programs.
American Airlines will equip more than 500 of its narrowbody aircraft with SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, aiming to deliver faster, more reliable in-flight connectivity for passengers. The rollout targets a significantly improved online experience for business travelers, with service capable of supporting VPN, video streaming, and other bandwidth-heavy tasks in flight.
Navan and UK-based travel technology provider Vibe have each launched Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that connect their corporate travel platforms to mainstream AI assistants. The servers allow AI tools to query travel data and, in Vibe’s case, support end-to-end booking and trip management while keeping TMC controls, policies and content intact. Navan is starting with a read-only deployment for safer experimentation, while Vibe is already live in testing with ITG Business Travel.
Core Travel Insurance has launched a digital group travel insurance management platform that lets corporates centrally manage group coverage while giving individual travelers the option to add extra protections. The tool is designed to streamline administration, enhance risk visibility and better support duty-of-care obligations in managed travel programs.
Hilton and Navan are launching an API-led direct integration that makes Navan the first travel management company to connect directly to Hilton’s Central Reservation System and content services for corporate hotel travel. The connection will support real-time shopping and booking, deliver authoritative property and room content, and improve payment flows, aiming to modernize the corporate hotel booking experience. The partnership is positioned as an evolution of legacy hotel distribution, creating a more seamless, traveler-focused process from search through checkout.
Empath, a platform focused on non-employee and guest travel management, has named Balboa Travel as a preferred TMC partner to deliver integrated booking and expense solutions for corporate clients. The partnership enables Balboa’s corporate customers to use Empath’s technology for policy-compliant, in-policy guest travel bookings at preferred rates while keeping the TMC relationship and workflows intact.
American Airlines will begin flying retrofitted Airbus A319 and A320 narrowbody aircraft this summer, featuring updated cabins designed to improve comfort and consistency for business travelers. The upgrades focus on refreshed interiors, revised seating layouts and enhanced onboard amenities to keep American competitive on key domestic and short-haul routes.
The article argues that a company’s travel program is only as resilient as its most vulnerable element when crisis hits, whether that weakness lies in data, policy, supplier relationships, communication, or technology. It calls for an integrated, end‑to‑end approach to risk management so that all stakeholders, tools, and processes work together to protect travelers and sustain business continuity.
The article argues that AI is ending travel’s traditional “free look” model, where searching was effectively free because booking fees covered the cost. It says agentic AI makes search far more expensive and exposes that old pricing bargain as outdated, shifting the question of who should pay for search and how vendors recoup those costs.
PredictX has launched Orchestra, a **multi-agent AI platform** designed to automate complex travel and expense management tasks, freeing corporate travel teams from manual analysis so they can focus on strategy. The platform coordinates multiple AI agents to handle data preparation, forecasting, policy and supplier analysis, and sustainability reporting within a unified, travel-specific workspace.
