Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the new Norwegian Aqua, first in the next-generation Prima Plus-class and the 20th ship in its fleet, at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy. In addition, the line’s next new vessel, Norwegian Luna, floated out and is now undergoing interior construction and outfitting.
Sporting multiple enhancements, Carnival Spirit is back at sea serving Carnival Cruise Line’s guests on transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises. Upgrades include a new Heroes Tribute Bar, a gathering point for active-duty military and veterans that sail with the line, and a new mini-golf course. Plus, the Cloud 9 spa, fitness center and retail shops were refreshed. Two new shops—Carnival Adventure Shop and Dreams Studio—were also added. In addition, Chef's Table now has a dedicated space, and the casino has a new look, layout and more gaming machines.
Prior to its first winter season sailing from Miami, Cunard’s 2,000-passenger Queen Elizabeth has returned to service after a refurbishment. Signature spaces including the Commodore Club, Queens Room, Garden Lounge and The Pavilion have been revitalized. Guests in the Grills suites will discover enhanced interiors and exteriors along with sumptuous furnishings, according to sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor.
Four Seasons Yachts announced that Captain Kate McCue will take the helm of the new Four Seasons I, an ultra-luxury yacht entering service in early 2026, according to Cruise Industry News. McCue, who brings nearly three decades of maritime experience to her new role, sailed for many years as a Celebrity Cruises captain. In 2015, she became the first American female captain of a mega cruise ship.
Separately, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will launch a new river vessel, the 154-passenger S.S. Emilie, on Europe's Danube River. It's also introducing a new 50-night ‘Rivers of the World’ sailing, three new "Mystery Cruises," new family-friendly "Generations Collection" sailings and more.
The Financial Front
Describing his company’s first quarter 2025 financial results as “outperformance” led by “incredibly strong demand,” Josh Weinstein, CEO, Carnival Corporation, also cited “exceptional close-in demand that exceeded expectations for both ticket price and onboard spending.” First quarter revenue was a record $5.8 billion, up more than $400 million, compared to the previous year.
That said, the company’s first quarter 2025 net loss was $78 million. Yet, that was an improvement of $136 million compared to 2024, and included $252 million of costs for debt extinguishment, which should prove positive for future earnings. Carnival Corporation’s cumulative advanced booked position for the remainder of the year is also in line with the prior year’s record levels with pricing at historical highs.
Across the Globe
Last week chaos ensued in air travel after a fire near London's Heathrow Airport caused a shut-down of the airport. More than a thousand inbound flights were diverted and others cancelled. The airport was closed all day Friday, and while the airport is now back open, it's taking time to get back to normal. Many cruise passengers expecting to board ships at London, Southampton or other ports were impacted. For the past several days, airlines, travel advisors, insurance companies and cruise lines have all been dealing with the travel disruptions caused by the airport's closure.
In other news, Silversea announced a 132-day World Cruise 2028. The 392-passenger Silver Shadow will depart from Miami on January 5 and arrive in Nice, France, on May 16. During this robust global journey, guests will go ashore in 58 destinations in 29 countries and enjoy 17 overnights in ports.
Viking announced that its new river vessel, Viking Nerthus, identical to the line’s existing Seine River ships, will sail a new “Christmastime in Paris & Normandy” itinerary, as well as the line’s “Paris & the Heart of Normandy” itinerary. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has added two new chartered voyages—marking the line’s return to Indonesia. The voyages will explore the Coral Triangle, Spice Islands, Raja Ampat and more.
Atlas Ocean Voyages revealed the lineup of culinary experts for its upcoming 2025 Epicurean Expeditions, while Variety Cruises announced a new “Mystery Cruise” for 2025. MSC Cruises unveiled the new entertainment offerings for MSC Virtuosa. Highlights include a “Dirty Dancing” concert, two circus shows, programs developed in partnership with the LEGO Group and more. Paul Gauguin Cruises has introduced a “Kids Sail & Fly Free” promotion,
Carnival Corporation opened two new solar parks at Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Roatan, Honduras, and Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Mexico, marking a step forward in integrating renewable energy solutions across the company’s global port operations.
Na-Dena', the tourism joint venture between Doyon and Huna Totem Corporation (HTC), acquired Portage Glacier Cruises as part of its strategy to enhance tourism infrastructure across Alaska. In 2023, Na-Dena in partnership with Klawock Heenya developed a new cruise destination on Klawock Island, which welcomed its first cruise ships in 2024.
Kensington Cruises reported unprecedented growth with sales up 100 percent year over year, a doubling of its team size and new partnerships, including Windstar Cruises and Riverside Luxury Cruises. Starting in late 2026, Crescent Seas will begin “residential cruising” with five ships including Royal Caribbean International’s former Seven Seas Navigator, according to Seatrade Cruise News.
Trade Moves
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) announced that it will return to the Rhine River to host the ASTA River Cruise Expo. For its fifth year, the event will take place March 11-15, 2026, in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Margaritaville at Sea has brought on two new trade executives. Ron Gulasky, a Celebrity Cruises veteran, is the new senior vice president of sales, while Preston Cadell is the new vice president of sales. Separately, Viking promoted Erik De La Cruz to lead Viking’s field sales team and Mike Eng to head the line’s national accounts partnerships. The company thanked 25-year sales veteran Michele Saegesser for her contributions, saying that she’s “embarking on an entirely new journey.”
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