AIDA Cruises has turned 29 and the countdown to the big 3-0 bash in 2026 is officially on! Since launching its very first ship in Rostock on June 7, 1996, AIDA has redefined cruising with a fresh, fun, and free-spirited vibe. Now a leader in the German cruise market, it’s planning a birthday blowout like no other.

Here’s what’s coming up:

• Best of AIDA cruise on AIDAdiva (April 2026) with Otto Waalkes, Beatrice Egli, Stefanie Heinzmann, Mickie Krause & more—plus music, comedy, drag, and full-throttle fun!

Royal Caribbean Group announced that Richard Fain, the long-serving Chairman of the Board, will step down from his role in the fourth quarter of 2025. Fain, who has chaired the Board since 1988 and is credited with shaping much of the modern cruise industry, will remain involved with the company as a Director on the Board.

Carnival Cruise Line is marking 35 years of operations at Port Canaveral with a series of celebratory announcements that highlight the company’s deep community ties, ongoing expansion, and commitment to sustainability.

The cruise line donated a hybrid pickup truck to Keep Brevard Beautiful, a local nonprofit focused on environmental conservation, in celebration of World Ocean Day weekend. The gesture reflects Carnival’s growing focus on sustainability.

A dramatic rescue unfolded Tuesday afternoon at the Port of Souda in Crete, when a 30-year-old crew member from a cruise ship plunged into the sea under unexplained circumstances.

The woman, identified as a Tunisian national working as an assistant seaman, fell overboard while the cruise ship flagged in the Bahamas, was docked at the port. The reason behind her fall remains unclear, prompting an ongoing investigation by Greek authorities.

Oceania Cruises marked a major milestone this week as steel was officially cut for its newest ship, Oceania Sonata™, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Venice. This marks construction of the first vessel in the brand-new Sonata class, a series of ships set to redefine luxury and experiential travel at sea.

When she enters service in 2027, Oceania Sonata will bring the total number of ships in Oceania Cruises’ fleet to nine. She will be followed by her sister ship, Oceania Arietta, further expanding the fleet.

MSC Cruises has canceled two upcoming sailings of the MSC Orchestra following an electrical malfunction that occurred in the ship’s engine room early Tuesday morning, prompting an emergency response and a significant delay in the vessel’s itinerary.

The crew of AIDAluna played a vital role in the successful rescue of several shipwrecked individuals found adrift in a life raft late Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, off the coast of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Circle. The rescue occurred around 11 p.m. when the German cruise ship AIDAluna spotted the survivors and swiftly sprang into action.

Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri has marked a major milestone with the launch of Mein Schiff Flow, the second in a pair of LNG-powered cruise ships commissioned by German cruise operator TUI Cruises.

Following the February 2025 delivery of its sister ship Mein Schiff Relax, the new vessel continues the line’s expansion of next-generation ships focused on environmental sustainability and passenger comfort. Once completed, Mein Schiff Flow will boast a gross tonnage of 160,000 and accommodate up to 3,984 guests.

Norwegian Epic broke free from its moorings while docked at the Port of Catania, Italy prompting emergency maneuvers at sea and leaving hundreds of passengers ashore with little information.

Just after 1 p.m. local time, loud bangs echoed across the port as mooring lines on the Epic gave way under pressure. Several guests witnessed concrete mooring bollards being ripped from the pier and crashing into the ship’s hull. The vessel began drifting away from the dock as high winds swept through the area, worsening the already unstable situation.

Hold the salad! A salmonella outbreak is rocking the high seas and the supermarket aisles — and you won’t believe what’s behind it. Yep… cucumbers.

Federal health officials have launched a full-blown investigation after at least 45 people across 18 states, including passengers aboard SIX cruise ships, fell seriously ill thanks to contaminated cukes.