In major news this past week, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that Norwegian Jewel will sail from the Port of Philadelphia in 2026. No other major cruise line currently home ports at Philadelphia, and it's expected that this port will attract many drive market guests from the Middle Atlantic states. From April 16, 2026, to October 17, 2026, the ship will sail seven- to nine-day cruises to Bermuda from Philadelphia’s SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex.
Pop singer and songwriter Meghan Trainor christened Royal Caribbean International’s new 5,668-passenger Utopia of the Seas and performed in a concert for guests sailing aboard the ship last week. As the line's sixth Oasis-class vessel, the vessel is now operating three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral along Florida’s Space Coast. Look for our story and slide show about the new ship early this week.
Separately, Royal Caribbean said its Quantum-class Ovation of the Seas will become the line's second home-ported vessel at Los Angeles. Starting in spring 2025, the ship will sail three-, five- and six-night voyages from the West Coast port. Originally, that ship was slated to cruise from China.
Chaos continued over the weekend at many airports dealing with the aftermath of a software glitch earlier in the week. An issue with Windows programs running cybersecurity technology from CrowdStrike knocked out systems for several major airlines. That resulted in "ground stops" or a total cessation of flights. Travel advisors scrambled to assist their cruise clients but given the timing and limited or nonexistent replacement transportation, many guests simply could not reach their ships in time to board.
On the river cruise front, The Travel Corporation, which has been family-owned and managed since 1920, has been acquired by an investment and asset management group. The company owns and operates multiple travel brands including Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
Other Cruise Developments
In a media statement provided to Travel Agent last Friday, Princess Cruises said: “We regret to announce that Princess is unable to accept delivery of the RollGlider, Coastal Climb and Ropes Course features within Park19 aboard Sun Princess and those experiences will not be opening. We are actively evaluating these areas for future recreational opportunities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests.” The new ship launched earlier this year.
While no more details were provided about why the features are not going to open, Princess’ statement continued: "Park19 continues to offer a variety of fun and safe recreational options for guests' enjoyment." Other options for guests there are Infinite Horizon, a hammock area, and Splash Zone, a recreational court and jogging track.
Ponant will add a new boutique expedition yacht to its fleet in 2025, according to sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor. In other luxury news, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has introduced its 2026-2027 voyage collection, while Seabourn has unveiled new extensions for its 90-day 2024 Grand Africa voyage, which departs in late November, In addition, Crystal has introduced new wellness retreats at sea.
Celebrity Cruises announced details about its 2025 President’s Cruise. Departing May 17, 2025, from Southampton, U.K., Celebrity Apex will sail an eight-night Norwegian fjords voyage hosted by Laura Hodges Bethge, the premium line’s president.
Due to a technical issue involving its engines, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jade returned more slowly to Port Canaveral than expected over this past weekend, according to a report from Cruise Hive. Disembarkation shifted from Saturday to yesterday. All guests were also offered a 10 percent discount as a future cruise credit, valid from August 7, 2024, through December 31, 2025. Guests on the subsequent cruise planning to board Sunday will now board today. They're receiving a prorated refund for the day missed. If air was booked through NCL, the line was also assisting with flight changes.
In further news, Le Boat has introduced its 2025 skipper-for-hire program, while A&K’s Akorn Cruise DMC has reorganized its leadership team.
Pricing and Fees
On the pricing front, Scenic Group has introduced summer promotions, while AmaWaterways is offering a summer triple savings promotion.
For the first time in 26 years, Ecuador has increased fees for all visitors entering the Galapagos Islands, a popular eco-discovery region for cruise expedition and yacht travelers. Effective August 1, 2024, the fees paid by international travelers—currently $100 for adults and $50 for children—will double to $200 and $100, respectively.
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