Today, August 14, the world's only operational ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, celebrates 20 years in service. The QM2 arrived this morning at the port of Hamburg, Germany where celebrations are already in full swing.

This morning, a reception on board featured invited guests, live music, and ongoing festivities. If weather permits, the ship will join the harbor barges for a mini harbor tour in the evening, traveling from Steinwerder to the Elbphilharmonie.

A crew member was reported missing from the Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Dream on Friday, August 9. Carnival confirmed that a female team member went missing while the ship was en route from Cozumel, Mexico, to Galveston, Texas. She is now presumed missing at sea.
Carnival released a statement shared by Cruise Radio and Cruise Hive, stating:

The German shipyard Meyer Werft has secured its largest-ever order: building four cruise ships for Disney Cruise Line by 2031. This new contract is a major boost for the financially struggling shipyard, although the exact value of the order has not been disclosed.

The ships are set to be delivered between 2027 and 2031, with details on their design still in development.

On August 11, 2024, climate activists from Extinction Rebellion once again targeted the IJmuiden lock to disrupt the arrival of a cruise ship. This time, they targeted Seven Seas Mariner, operated by Regent Seven Seas. The protest caused a delay of several hours, but thanks to police intervention, the ship was able to resume its journey to Amsterdam in the evening.

Disney Cruise Line is about to make waves with a major expansion, adding four brand-new ships to its fleet between 2027 and 2031! The big reveal was announced on Saturday by Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, with a little help from the iconic musical group All-4-One.

Passengers aboard the Nidri Star 1, a ship offering day cruises to the Ionian Islands, experienced moments of sheer terror as a near-collision incident unfolded with the private mega yacht BLEU DE NÎMES. The Nidri Star 1, carrying approximately 480 passengers, was navigating its usual route when the BLEU DE NIMES, a massive 72.25-meter converted luxury motor yacht, appeared to be sailing directly toward them without slowing down or changing course.

After the official announcement of three new mega cruise ships for Carnival Cruise Line, it seems that another major order for new builds is on the horizon for Carnival Corporation.

The cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas rescued 77 migrants after their boat was adrift in the Mediterranean Sea. The rescue operation took place on August 5, while the ship was sailing on a 7-day Greek Isles voyage. Under the leadership of Captain Marek, the crew saved all the migrants, providing them with medical care, food, and shelter.

The latest addition to the Disney cruise family, the Disney Treasure, just rolled out of the construction dock at Papenburg Meyer Werft, and it's making waves in a big way! This massive 341-meter-long, 37-meter-wide beauty is getting its final touches at the shipyard pier before heading out to sea. The cruise ship is expected to sail to the North Sea on September 21st for testing before the delivery by the end of the year.

MSC Cruises has introduced Opticruise, a groundbreaking technology designed to optimize navigation operations and reduce the environmental footprint of its fleet. Developed in partnership with OptiMeasy, a research company associated with the University of Genoa, Opticruise is an innovative model that enhances the planning of cruise ship itineraries.