Today NCL’s newest flag ship Norwegian Prima was floated out from her drydock at Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, marking a major milestone as the game-changing vessel touches water for the first time. With a 142,500 gross tonnage and nearly 300 meters in length, Norwegian Prima can accommodate up to 3215 passengers.

Today August 13, is a big day for Cunard Line as their first ship resumes operations with passengers after a 17 month break. Queen Elizabeth will depart from Southampton Ocean Terminal later this evening on her first UK Coastal Cruise. The vessel will sail a series of British Isles itineraries until the end of the summer before returning to international sailings in October this year.

A burst pipe on the Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas caused flooding in some crew areas yesterday, while the cruise ship was sailing in the South China Sea. Water spewed down the corridors and staircases, leaving some crew cabins flooded.

The German cruise line Aida Cruises was forced to alter the current Itinerary of the cruise ship AidaBlu due to the wildfires in Greece which affected several tourist destinations including the popular cruise stop Olympia, also known as Katakolon.

Cunard crew members are making the final touches on board the Queen Elizabeth in preparation for her return to sailing this Friday. After a 17 month break, Queen Elizabeth will set sail from Southampton on August 13, as the first vessel to restart cruises in Cunard’s fleet.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced on Sunday that a federal judge ruled to temporarily halt the Florida law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibiting businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for customers. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams granted the preliminary injunction, allowing NCLH to require vaccine proof from guests while the case heads to trial. 

Several passengers tested positive for Covid-19 onboard the ship Costa Smeralda during a cruise to the Mediterranean. Costa Cruises announced, six members of two families tested positive on the ship, which docked in Marseille, France yesterday.

P&O Cruises’ latest flagship, Iona, departed on her maiden voyage from Southampton on Saturday, sailing a 7-night UK scenic cruise with no stops.

Today MSC Cruises newest ship MSC Seashore, will set sail on her very first voyage from the port of Barcelona.  MSC Seashore will depart Barcelona at around 6:30 pm with 1200 crew and about 3000 guests onboard. The ship will start her maiden voyage with a seven-night western Mediterranean itinerary including Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina and Valletta.

A floatplane crashed in southeast Alaska, on Thursday killing all six people on board, including five passengers sailing on the Holland America Line cruise ship ms Nieuw Amsterdam who took the sightsing tour in Ketchikan.