Solo travel is on the rise this year, based on both solid travel industry research and anecdotal trade feedback. So, it came as a bit of a surprise last week when Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings revealed a shift away from its previous strategy for solo accommodations.
During its third quarter 2025 earnings call, Harry Sommer, the line’s president and CEO, told financial analysts that the company plans to minimize the number of single cabins across its Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleets. That change in approach comes just two years after the cruise company was headed in the opposite direction, explains Cruise Industry News.
As for that third quarter 2025 financial report, NCLH posted record quarterly revenue of $2.9 billion, up 5% versus the same quarter a year ago.
Sommer said the company's strategic focus on Caribbean itineraries is attracting more families to the NCL brand, and that the Oceania and Regent Seven Seas brands continue to capitalize on sustained demand for luxury travel.
Situations at Sea
In an odd incident, Royal Caribbean allegedly kicked several live streamers off a cruise ship sailing in the western Caribbean last week. According to the unofficial Royal Caribbean Blog, they were told to leave Harmony of the Seas following two incidents that reportedly involved fighting and harassing of other passengers. They were part of a larger CX Group, led by streamer Ice Poseidon.
Typically, the group's approach is to broadcast nearly everything they do on Kick.com.
Separately, Carnival Cruise Line and the Miami office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have confirmed that a federal investigation is under way following a passenger's death on Carnival Horizon. That ship docked as scheduled at PortMiami on Saturday.
Carnival said in a statement that it's focused on supporting the guest's family and cooperating with the FBI. No additional information was available at press time.
Celebrity Pizzazz!
Star power delivered a hefty dose of cruise pizzazz as Princess Cruises celebrated the arrival of a sparkling new cruise ship, while Cunard Line unveiled trendy designer fashions while crossing the North Atlantic Ocean. Serving as godparents, Academy-Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila McConaughey christened the new Star Princess last week at Port Everglades, Florida.
Local VIPs, cruise industry executives, media, consortia/host agency executives and travel advisors attended the star-studded event onboard the new 4,000-passenger ship. Sheryl Crow, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, also dazzled the crowd as a surprise guest performer.
Fashion notables also sailed last week on Cunard Line’s annual Transatlantic Fashion Week voyage between New York City and Southampton, U.K., last week. Unfolding on the luxury line’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, the special event programming was headlined by fashion icon Christian Siriano.
He supervised two exclusive runway shows and conducted a Q&A session for guests. In addition, legendary designer Bob Mackie and supermodel Coco Rocha set sail on this fashion-focused voyage.
Black Friday, New Voyages
Virgin Voyages unveiled a Black Friday sale. NCL announced its biggest sale of the year and also that it's reverting to a modified, enhanced version of its “Free at Sea" package. Royal Caribbean International also announced an early Black Friday sale while Aurora Expeditions introduced savings on select Northern Europe sailings.
Itinerary-wise, more lines are heading to unexpected places across the globe, adding maiden calls or expanding the length of the cruise season in select regions. Oceania Cruises unveiled its first full winter season of 17 Mediterranean voyages in winter 2027-2028, while Cunard also introduced 110 new itineraries for October 2027 through May 2028. For its 2027-2028 season, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has unveiled its most expansive lineup of river itineraries to date with voyages in Egypt, India, Vietnam and Europe.
HX Expeditions has loaded its new 2027-2028 expedition voyages. Adventure Canada has also introduced its 2027 expeditions including the new 13-day "Ellesmere Island and North Greenland: Journey to the Top of the World” expedition, departing August 19, 2027.
For a luxury journey with a strong culinary bent, Chef Kevin Fehling will sail onboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa for six 2026 voyages. He's the creative force behind The Globe, the ship's specialty restaurant. During his time aboard, he'll make personal appearances, design exclusive menus and interact with cruise guests.
Port Developments
Releasing its annual State of the Port update, Port Canaveral, Florida, reported a total of 1,038 cruise ship calls for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. It also welcomed a record 8.6 million passengers traveling on multi-day voyages, a 13 percent year-over-year increase. Port Canaveral’s CEO Captain John Murray also revealed that the port's total annual revenue was $218 million, some $182 million of that from cruise operations.
Also seeing sizable growth is the Port of Galveston, Texas, which celebrated the opening of its fourth cruise terminal last Friday with a terminal ribbon-cutting and welcoming ceremony for MSC Seascape. That MSC Cruises ship is the first cruise vessel to homeport at the new terminal.
Trade News
Upscale Azamara Cruises has launched a new “Azamara Anytime” hotline for travel advisors. Swan Hellenic has expanded its North American sales team, while Atlas Ocean Voyages appointed Ray T. Huynh as sales director, Northeast USA & Canada – Key Accounts, based in New York City.
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