38 | CRUISE NEWS
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Global Cruise Line Marks Major Milestone with Float out of Newest Ship
June 2026
Emerald Cruises Celebrates Latest Ship’s Inaugural Sailing
EMERALD Cruises has announced the launch of Emerald Kaia with the departure of its inaugural cruise. The 128-guest superyacht sailed from Limassol,
Cyprus, on an 11-day itinerary, calling at Rhodes, Kos, Spetses and Athens. For its Mediterranean summer season in 2026 and 2027, Emerald Kaia will cruise the Adriatic Sea, with 8 and 15-day itineraries, between Venice and Dubrovnik. The ship will reposition to the Indian Ocean, in
sailing the Seychelles archipelago from
December 2026 to March 2027. Itineraries range from 8 to 20 days, including the 16-day Safari & Seychelles journey. Glen Moroney, Chairman and Founder of Scenic
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) mark a major construction milestone with float out of its newest ship Norwegian Aura. The float out took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, marking the first time Norwegian Aura has touched water. To celebrate the occasion, two ceremonial coins were welded into Norwegian Aura’s hull during a traditional coin ceremony, symbolising good fortune and safe passage for the ship, her crew and future guests. Norwegian Aura is set to debut in spring 2027 and will be the cruise lines largest ship to date weighing 170,000 gross tons and will feature over 1,970 staterooms accommodating 3,880 guests. Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, said: “Norwegian Aura’s float out is a proud and meaningful moment for our entire team,” “She builds on the legacy of our award-winning Prima Class while taking our commitment to thoughtfully designed guest-first experiences even further. “Created in close partnership with Fincantieri, the ship is purposefully constructed to deliver an elevated, multi-generational vacation experience, with expansive outdoor spaces like Ocean Heights, that bring families and friends together for fun-filled days. “With her flexible, open-air design, Norwegian Aura is exceptionally well suited for Caribbean itineraries, offering the perfect balance of high-energy fun, relaxation and an effortless escape for guests of all
ages.”
Marseille Becomes first port in Europe to Power Cruise Ships from Shore
Crystal Launches New Itineraries for Summer and Autumn 2028
CRYSTAL has announced new itineraries for summer and autumn 2028 highlighted by the inaugural season of Crystal Grace along with inspiring new voyages for Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. The sailings span the Mediterranean, Northern Europe,
the Arctic, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean. Mario Parodi, vice president of itinerary planning and port and fuel operations for Crystal,comments: “Our 2028 voyages are designed to offer guests
deeper exploration across some of the most beautiful regions around the world. “Crystal Grace will debut with sailings from the
Mediterranean, Canada and New England to the Caribbean; Crystal Symphony will travel from the Panama Canal to Alaska and Japan; while Crystal Serenity will explore Europe, the Arctic and the Eastern Mediterranean. “Each ship will spend the season discovering the
various regions through carefully curated itineraries that we hope our guests will love.”
Royal Caribbean Expand Entertainment Line-up for Legend of the Seas
THE Port of Marseille-Fos in Southern France has marked a major milestone in reducing emissions across maritime operations in the Mediterranean following their activation of one of Europe’s most advanced shore-side electricity systems for cruise ships. Located in one of Europe’s busiest cruise hubs, the new electricity systems will allow up to three ships access to renewable electricity whilst docked eliminating the need to run on board engines leading to reduced emissions. Particularly reducing local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The introduction of the new system is part of the“Onshore Power Supply for Ships – Smoke-Free Port Call” initiative which focuses on reshaping the cleanliness and eco friendliness of Marseille’s port. The 100% renewable electricity that is provided is distributed via France’s national grid operator ENEDIS, ensuring vessels are powered by clean energy. French officials described the project as a major step forward in maritime decarbonisation.
ROYAL Caribbean has announced its expansion of entertainment on board its newest ship Legend of the Seas. Legend of the Seas is set to debut July 2026, departing from Rome for a seven night Western Mediterranean cruise. The Icon Class ship will offer various family
experiences and entertainment on board. New and returning entertainment experiences
will include aqua shows, iceskating performances, its Royal Theatre will feature Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, along with a live showing of Americas Got Talent. Legend of the Seas features an immersive dining
experience in its Royal Railway – Legend Station as well as its Hollywoodland Supper Club which is inspired by the golden age of Hollywood. Families can also visit the Quack Bash block party
in Surfside, complete with music, face painting and more or celebrate global destinations at the Voyage to Adventure parade in the Royal Promenade. The ship will have over forty-five musicians performing across 20 bars, lounges and seven live music venues for guests on board.
concepts and partnerships grounded in what matters to our current and future guests.” Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of
Fincantieri, commented: “We are delighted to announce this new agreement
with Princess Cruises, which confirms the strength of a long-standing and forward-looking partnership. These new orders secure a robust workload for our shipyards through 2039 and further support the profitable development of our cruise business, as outlined in our 2026–2030 Industrial Plan. “With the new Voyager Class ships, we are once again leveraging Fincantieri’s distinctive expertise in sustainable,
next-generation shipbuilding,
supporting Princess Cruises in its growth trajectory and reaffirming our role as a trusted industrial partner for the evolution of the cruise industry.” Specification details for the ship design, along with anticipated features and amenities of this all-new platform design for Princess Cruises will be shared in the future.
Record-Breaking Cruise Numbers as UK and Ireland Passengers Sail Through 2025
CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) has revealed holidaymakers from the UK and Ireland took 2.54 million ocean cruises last year, surpassing the previous highest total of 2.4 million in 2024. 34.5% of passengers sailed in the
Mediterranean, 27.2% Northern Europe and 13.7% the Caribbean. The Caribbean saw year-on-year passenger growth of 12%. The three destinations were
similarly the most popular among UK and Ireland cruisers in 2024. The Caribbean remains the most popular overall global cruise destination. CLIA further stated that the average
age of cruisers was 54.6, consistent year-on- year, with a 7% increase in children under 12. It also showed average cruise length was 9.6 days, in line with 9.7 days in 2024. Seven-night departures remain the most popular, accounting for 44% of sailings. The CLIA member cruise line fleet will also see eight new
ships enter service this year, bringing the total to 320 ocean-going vessels. Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland managing director, said: “Cruise continues to appeal to a wide range of holidaymakers, with the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean all offering a great range of experiences and itineraries. They represent a shift towards deeper cultural engagement and more time spent in destinations, supporting local economies through onshore activities and extended stays. “This diversity of destinations, combined with the flexibility and value that cruising offers, means it remains a very attractive choice for
families, couples and multi-generational groups alike. It’s encouraging to see more children than ever travelling, reflecting cruise’s appeal as an easy and convenient holiday option.”
Group, said: “The launch of Emerald Kaia and the upcoming inaugural sailing of Emerald Astra in May mark important milestones for Scenic Group as we celebrate 40 years of innovation in travel. As the only cruise company that designs, builds, and operates our own ships, we continue to set new benchmarks in luxury yacht and river cruising, driven by technical excellence and a commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience.” Emerald Kaia will be joined by sister yachts
Emerald Raiya in 2027 and Emerald Xara in 2028, expanding the fleet to five, alongside Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, with sailings across the Mediterranean, Seychelles, and Caribbean.
Cruise Industry Boost as Major Cruise Line Announce Three New Ships
PRINCESS Cruises expands its fleet with announcement of three new ship building agreements with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The new builds are set to be delivered in late 2035, 2038 and 2039 and will be the largest by capacity in the cruise lines fleet. The additions follow from Princess Cruises ongoing
fleet enhancement strategy which is aimed at accelerating demand for cruising. Gus Antorcha, Princess Cruises president, said:
“The Voyager Class will delight both our loyal guests and attract the next generation of Princess guests. We have been leveraging extensive customer and agent research to strike the right balance between evolving our proven winners and introducing new
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