Viking announced it has taken delivery of its ninth ocean-going cruise ship, Viking Saturn, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The 47,842 gross tons vessel will be officially named in New York City on June 6, 2023, by philanthropist and Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera, Ann Ziff, who will also serve as the ship’s ceremonial godmother.
Carnival Jubilee, the next ship in the Excel class, will offer unique and immersive ocean-themed experiences in two new zones called Currents and The Shores. The Currents zone, located on Decks 6 and 7, will transport guests below the waves with innovative technology, new bar and dining venues, live music, and massive LED windows and ceiling that create immersive environments for guests to enjoy.
Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO, Michael Bayley, has recently been awarded the prestigious Cruise Lines International Association Lifetime Achievement Award at the CLIA Cruise360 event held in Fort Lauderdale from April 18 to April 23. This recognition is reserved for individuals who have dedicated their lifetime to championing the growth and success of the cruise travel industry.
Crystal Cruises has announced the return of three cruise directors as the company prepares to resume operations under new ownership, indicating its readiness to follow the footsteps of the previous leadership.
On the recent 5-night cruise aboard P&O's Pacific Explorer, passengers and crew were treated to an extraordinary spectacle - a total Hybrid Solar Eclipse. The ship sailed from Fremantle and anchored off the coast of Exmouth, Western Australia, offering an unparalleled view of the eclipse on April 20. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a Hybrid Solar Eclipse that tracked over the North West Cape of Western Australia, including Exmouth.
During the National Association of Music Merchants 2023 event, also known as NAMM Show, Kirby Mathurin, popularly known as DJ CUE, represented both Carnival Cruise Line and his home country Saint Lucia as the very first Pro DJ to open up the Pioneer Booth.
A ceremony was held at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, with the Mardi Gras ship in the background, to celebrate the arrival of a fire truck donated by Carnival Cruise Line and the City of Miami Fire-Rescue Department to the Grand Turk Fire Services in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Marella Cruises has announced that it has chosen two of its own crew members as the godmothers for its newest cruise ship, Marella Voyager. In a departure from the typical choice of celebrities, Marella Cruises has selected Chief Purser Tatyana Olkhovska and Senior Destination Services Operations Manager Jacqui Nobile, who together have over 40 years of combined experience in the cruise industry across various roles and ships.
Cunard's latest cruise liner, reached a significant construction milestone at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The iconic red and black funnel, which has become synonymous with Cunard's seafaring heritage, was securely installed on the vessel in a process known as the 'funnel lift.' This marks a major step forward as Queen Anne prepares for her maiden voyage in May 2024.
A crew member aboard the cruise ship MSC Virtuosa required urgent medical attention and was evacuated shortly after the vessel departed from Hamburg, Germany. MSC Virtuosa, which had 6,300 passengers on board and had made 14 calls to Hamburg previously, left the Cruise Center Steinwerder around 9 p.m. on Sunday evening en route to Zeebrugge, Belgium.
