Cruise sales — particularly close-in bookings — are soaring. That’s one key takeaway for travel advisors from the second-quarter 2025 earnings reports of several of the world's largest cruise companies.
“Our second quarter results exceeded expectations, mainly driven by stronger- than-expected close-in demand” and several other factors, said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. For the full year 2025 outlook, the group's adjusted earnings per share are poised to grow 31 percent year-over-year.
Separately, “demand has rebounded across all three of our brands with bookings now ahead of historical levels in recent months," said Harry Sommer, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH). And just a few days earlier, Carnival Corporation's CEO Josh Weinstein reported "yet another phenomenal quarter" noting that the company had more than tripled its adjusted net income "driven by record net yields and strong close-in demand."
Small-ship lines are seeing good results too. For instance, Lindblad Expeditions had the most successful seven-day sales period in its history from July 23-29, 2025, for the co-branded National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions product. Lindblad called it a “significant milestone and underscored continued strong demand for meaningful, immersive travel experiences."
That achievement surfaced as the line announced its initial 2027-28 deployment schedules.
Congressional Bill, Tsunami Moves by NCL
A new bill that’s an updated version of the Cruise Passenger Protection Act has been introduced in both U.S. houses of Congress by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), according to Cruise Hive. The bill addresses additional safety, security and guest rights issues related to crimes at sea. Revisions and updates are likely as the bill is debated and moves through various committees. The potential legislation would apply to any cruise ship that carries more than 250 passengers for overnight accommodations and is sailing to or from any U.S. port.
In Hawaii, a tsunami warning resulted in Hilo's harbor being closed by authorities. In turn, that required a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ship to depart hours earlier than the announced departure time. Hundreds of Pride of America passengers were stranded ashore. After the warning period passed and the harbor reopened, the cruise ship returned to pick up those guests.
Separately, NCL announced a major investment in Great Stirrup Cay, its private-island-style experience in the Bahamas. With upcoming enhancements, cruise guests can expect a new, six-acre Great Tides Waterpark anchored by 19 waterslides. The water park will also offer a new 800-foot dynamic river, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone for kids, as well as the first cliffside jumps. Look for the enhancements by summer 2026.
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) told guests booked on 20 upcoming sailings of five ships that “out of an abundance of caution” its ships will be skipping cruise calls to Labadee, Haiti, at least through the end of October. That's RCI private port destination about 130 miles from Port-au-Prince. But in July 2025, the U.S. Department of State further updated its “Level 4: Do Not Travel” travel warning for Haiti, citing crime, terrorist activity, kidnapping threats and other issues. So, the line continues to monitor this evolving situation.
Viking floated out its newest ocean ship, Viking Mira, while Swan Hellenic Cruises’ Minerva has returned to the line’s fleet. The Swan Hellenic vessel will sail in Antarctica this coming winter, before launching the line's first-ever Asia-Pacific season in March 2026.
Now in a fast-paced growth mode, American Cruise Lines will debut nine new small ships between 2026 and 2028 (two Patriot-class ships and one Modern Riverboat-class vessels each year). Plus, American Pioneer, a Patriot-class vessel, will begin sailing this fall. We've just learned that the two Patriot-class vessels entering the ACL fleet between May and July 2027 will be named American Mariner and American Navigator.
The Love Boat, Grand Expeditions
Princess Cruises announced that two fan favorites from the 1977-1986 TV series, “The Love Boat," will sail on its upcoming themed “The Love Boat Celebration at Sea," departing November 16, 2025. So, guests can hobnob with Cynthia Lauren Tewes, who played Julie McCoy, the ship's cruise director on the series, and frequent guest star Charo, who played the role of entertainer April Lopez. Also expected to sail are fellow “Love Boat” cast members Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing), Fred Grandy (Burl “Gopher” Smith), Ted Lange (Isaac Washington) and Bernie Kopell (Dr. Adam Bricker).
For the first time, Seabourn will operate a 94-day “Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition” on the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture. Departing August 17, 2027, this eco-adventure voyage will span over 20,500 nautical miles, charting a course from the High Arctic and Northwest Passage to Antarctica. Right now, reservations are only open to Seabourn's past guests. According to sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor, the voyage will open for public sale on August 13, 2025.
Ponant Explorations is currently operating a 15-night expedition on Le Commandant Charcot that retraces the route of little-known 1985 journey to the Geographic North Pole by Sir Edmund Hillary, Neil Armstrong, Steve Fossett and Patrick Morrow. Descendants and team members of that original mission have returned to the top of the world on Ponant’s modern oceangoing icebreaker. Now sailing exactly 40 years later are Peter Hillary who'd participated in the original 1985 journey alongside his father, Sir Edmund Hillary; Alexander Hillary, the explorer’s grandson; Mark Armstrong, son of Neil Armstrong; and the original expedition's leader Mike Dunn.
Other Cruise News
Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, operated by Nauticus, announced an expanded slate of cruise ship port calls from NCL. In 2027, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Pearl will make 20 calls on Norfolk weekly between April and August. Approximately 49,000 additional cruise ship passengers will explore the Hampton Roads region, reported The Flagship, Military Newspapers of Virginia.
Last week, Celebrity Beyond returned to cruising after a propulsion repair in a Bahamian shipyard. However, Celebrity Cruises has now adjusted all the ship's itineraries through October to accommodate a slower ship speed. No voyages have been cancelled at this time, but the line has swapped ports or adjusted the ship's time in port. Separately, Celebrity Millennium lost propulsion in the Ionian Sea late last week. Travel Agent has reached out to Celebrity for an update about both situations.
Costa Cruises updated its cruise offer for fall/winter 2025-2028, while sister brand Holland America Line extended its "Travel by Sea" offer through August 20, 2025. MSC Group’s Cruise Division published its 2024 sustainability report. For those who love maritime history, the Queen Mary, a storied ocean liner that’s now a hotel at Long Beach, CA, has an all-new tiered membership program; different levels offer exclusive perks and year-round access. Built in the early 1930s, the liner sailed for Cunard Line through 1967.
On the personnel front, AmaWaterways appointed two new senior executives to support the river line’s global expansion. Angel Christopher Gomez is the new senior vice president, global consumer sales and service, while Sezin Aksoy is the new senior vice president, revenue management, insights and analytics. Aman at Sea appointed luxury cruise veteran Angela Composto as senior vice president of sales, marketing and reservations. Separately, Aurora Expeditions made two key sales appointments. It named Anthony Iozzia as sales director, Northeast and key accounts, and Erick Valdes as director, Midwest and key accounts.
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