CRUISE GUIDE 2026
ancient Egypt’s temples and tombs are in huge demand, so much so that Viking is launching another two river ships there in 2026, while Travelmarvel is entering the market with new ship Travelmarvel Sirius. “We’re confident [Egypt] will
become one of the most sought-after regions in our portfolio,” says David Cox, Travelmarvel’s chief executive. Alaska is also hot stuff, prompting
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line to base a record number of ships there in 2026 and others to start moving in. Azamara Cruises returns after seven years away and Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises and Crystal make their debut. “Our European guests have been
awaiting the opportunity to sail to Alaska with MSC Cruises,” says chief executive Gianni Onorato. The sailings are on MSC Poesia, now with an exclusive Yacht Club and Butcher’s Cut steakhouse following a refurbishment in February.
GOING SOLO Solo cruising has come of age over the past few years as cruise lines have set aside single cabins, no longer expecting those travelling alone to reside only in inside cabins, and have reduced or waived single supplements. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Crystal and Ambassador Cruise Line are among lines with individually priced single cabins rather than 100% supplements, while Saga Cruises and Riviera Travel have dedicated solo river cruises. Riviera is going one stage further,
setting aside river ship George Eliot exclusively for solo cruising from 2027. “It will have just 68 passengers
instead of the usual 132, so will be a more intimate experience,” says Riviera’s product director, Will Sarson.
ENTERTAINING TIMES At a cruise conference in 2009, delegates laughed when the then UK boss of MSC Cruises predicted that one day, Elton John would replace the
ubiquitous songs-from-the-shows acts on cruise ships. They wouldn’t laugh now. Elton
might not have performed at sea - though new NCL show Rocket Man: A Celebration of Elton John comes close - but entertainment has come on in leaps and bounds. Back to the Future: The Musical is playing on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, Dirty Dancing is on MSC Virtuosa and Come from Away is on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Gloria Gaynor has been entertaining Crystal passengers and in October 2026, lead singers from Wet Wet Wet and Spandau Ballet, Marti Pellow and Tony Hadley, will headline on an Ambassador Cruise Line voyage in Scandinavia. Do any of these trends convince a
client to cruise? Perhaps not when taken alone – but together, they offer options to entice new-to-cruise clients or give returning guests a reason to book again, and if that’s the case, it’s a trend that will last long after the latest fashions have been forgotten.
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
December 2025 43
PICTURE: sbw-photo
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