Following the successful debut of Icon of the Seas earlier this year, Royal Caribbean International announced that it has agreed with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku to build up to three additional Icon-Class ships (on top of the two more already ordered). The second ship in the class, Star of the Seas, is set to debut in one year, with the third under construction and set for a 2026 debut. This new order includes a fourth ship, expected to launch in 2027, alongside the option for two further Icon-Class ships.
Oceania Cruises made headlines this week when it announced it will become "the first ultra-premium cruise line to have dedicated voyages from Tampa." The line will offer a collection of new Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings departing from Florida’s west coast in early 2026 aboard the 670-guest Insignia.
In other cruise news, Holland America Line has made segments of its 2025 Grand Voyages available for sale, starting at $169 per day. The segments allow guests to choose from a range of shorter itineraries, tailoring the Grand Voyage experience to their own taste and timeline. Seven segments are available on the "Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole" aboard Volendam, ranging from 33 to 100 days, while on Zuiderdam’s "Grand World Voyage," guests can choose from six segments ranging from 20 to 55 days.
Holland America this week also opened in 2026 Alaska cruise season for sale. The line will deploy six ships in the region—Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam—which will sail round-trip from Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC, or between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage) from April through September 2026.
On site: Travel Agent this week is sailing aboard the Viking Mississippi. After a two-night stay in St. Louis, we boarded the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi for a seven-night “America's Heartland” itinerary between St. Louis, MO, and St. Paul, MN. Ports on this itinerary include Alton, IL; Hannibal, MO; Burlington, Quad Cities (Davenport) and Dubuque, IA; La Crosse, WI; Red Wing, MN, and, finally, St. Paul, where guests will overnight prior to traveling home.
New and Renovated Domestic Hotels
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island has unveiled 340 redesigned guestrooms following the completion of the first phase of its renovation. All guestrooms now offer revitalized bathrooms, coastal-inspired furnishings and décor, flat-screen LCD televisions, custom hardwood finishes, and more. Upcoming upgrades include the addition of a new hot tub and adult pool with cabanas, a refreshed lobby bar, an expanded pool bar and a new poolside retail area, plus other improvements.
In California, Monterey Beach Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel, has reopened its doors following renovation and rebranding. Built in 1967, the hotel has reopened under its original name. The property has over 600 linear feet of shoreline as well as 188 guestrooms and four suites, the majority of which have ocean views.
Another reopening, The Ansonborough Charleston is set to launch on September 3. Formerly known as The Ansonborough Inn, this intimate luxury inn is set to debut following a property-wide, multimillion-dollar refresh. The hotel offers just 45 guestrooms and suites, with a standout accommodation being the 871-square-foot Admiral Suite, which offers apartment-style spaces complete with a walk-in shower, Peloton bike, dining table and gas fireplace.
As far as new openings, Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole has debuted as the destination’s first adults-only hotel. Set atop the East Gros Ventre Butte, Hotel Yellowstone affords unobstructed views of the Teton Mountain Range and Snake River Valley. The hotel has 36 suites, housed in clusters across the property’s four acres. Facilities include a heated indoor pool with retractable glass windows, Olivia’s Restaurant and Bar and a spa offering a variety of treatments, red light therapy and cold plunges.
Travel Advisor Certifications, Rewards and More
Ensemble launched a new certification program for its travel advisor members. Featuring a suite of Specialist Certifications tailored to meet the diverse needs of travel professionals, the certifications span various product verticals, destinations and travel niches, ensuring that members can deepen their expertise in areas most relevant to their business. Options cover cruise certifications, insurance, luxury or regional specialists and more.
Separately, KHM Travel Group has made several investments to bolster its compliance resources including new roles, team members and education opportunities for travel advisors. In addition to new education for advisors, the company also increased its internal training for staff on understanding cybersecurity, authentication and access control.
Good to know: My Booking Rewards has partnered with VacationCRM enable advisors to monitor their clients’ trip needs, accept payments and access booking information on the go. The VacationCRM software now also allows advisors to log bookings and collect cash rewards via integration with My Booking Rewards’ platform.
Air Travel Strikes
Ground workers at several top Portuguese airports are set to go on strike August 31 and September 1, according to STTAMP (Union of Transport Workers of Portugal). TAP Air Portugal says “there may be disruption on some flights” this weekend as a result. It recommends that travelers check the status of their flight before heading to the airport and to avoid taking checked luggage if possible.
Separately, United Airlines flight attendants authorized a strike “should management fail to agree to significant improvements,” including a significant double-digit base pay increase, pay for time at work on the ground, retroactive pay to the amendable date, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements, job security, retirement and more.
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