March 2025


www.nitravelnews.com MSC’s New Cruise Terminal in Barcelona


Welcomes First Passenger ON Saturday the 15th of February, the first guest disembarked from MSC Fantasia, becoming the inaugural passenger to experience the new terminal in Barcelona. This state-of-the-art terminal will serve both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys ships and is a significant infrastructure development for the Cruise Division of MSC Group. To commemorate the moment, Sandra


Yunta, Introducing A New All-Suite Ship on the Mekong! Director


of the MSC Barcelona Cruise Terminal,


was


in charge of welcoming and receiving the first passengers with a special toast with cava together with Gianluca Suprani,


SVP


IN RESPONSE to increasing demand for luxury suite-only ships, Asian river cruise specialist Pandaw has announced details of a new ship on the Mekong which enters service on 1st November 2025. The RV Tonle Pandaw will boast just 14 suites, each measuring 40 square metres (1,600 square feet) with its own private deck and panoramic views through French windows to both port and starboard sides. Each suite will be finished with rich Cambodian fabrics,


re-purposed pure Burma teak


panelling and the finest of amenities, and will have its own butler. The RV Tonle Pandaw was originally known as Pandaw III and saw a year’s service in Burma in 2003 before moving to the Mekong. Following a complete refurbishment, The RV Tonle Pandaw will


feature a brand new spa as well as a gym, library, cocktail saloon and extensive open deck areas which are a hallmark of all Pandaw ships. The RV Tonle Pandaw also has an ultra-shallow draft of just over a metre which allows it to travel up river into low water areas when other vessels are stuck well below. The ship will sail two different Mekong


itineraries: a three-night cruise between Saigon and Phnom Penh and a seven- night Classic Mekong cruise between Saigon and Siem Reap. Excursions with expert guides by sampan, cyclo or tuk tuk and cultural entertainments on board are a feature of any cruise. Prices for The RV Tonle Pandaw include


all meals and drinks, guided sightseeing tours and gratuities.


Carnival Sunshine Returns to Service After month-Long Drydock


CARNIVAL Cruise Line ship Carnival Sunshine has returned to service following a month-long drydock. The 3,700-guest ship sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on February 11 for a six-day cruise to the Bahamas, calling at Freeport and Bi- mini, following a ceremony attended by Carnival Cruise Line vice president of port operations David Candib, Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander and Stephen Kirkland, executive director at Nauticus, a maritime discovery centre located in Norfolk. The departure represents the ship’s first from the port and the start of Carnival’s year-round cruising from Norfolk, which will see up to 150,000 guests sail from the port annually. Carnival Sunshine’s drydock included technical maintenance, along with updates to public areas and staterooms. The ship features a three-level Serenity adult-only retreat as well as food and beverage options such as Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, the RedFrog Pub, Havana Bar and the Alchemy Bar. As part of its year-round deployment, Carnival Sunshine will visit destinations in the Bahamas, Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean. From September 2025, it will sail to Celebration Key, Carnival’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama.


New Land & Sea Experiences 2026 Announced on New Ship, Star Seeker


WINSTAR has unveiled its 2026 Southeast Asia programme for its newest yacht, Star Seeker, which debuts December 2025. The line is offering two core itineraries combinable in 17 different variations including inland pre- and post-cruise tour programmes.


of Global Port Development and Shore Activities. The new cruise terminal, a cutting-edge ar chitec tural pr oject developed by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBT A), r einfor ces MSC Group’s commitment to Barcelona and their vision for the future. It seamlessly combines elegant and innova tive design with an enhanced guest e xperience, ensuring a


CELEBRITY Cruises is inviting holiday makers worldwide to create their dream getaway experience on Celebrity Xcel with Xcel ‘Dream MakersSM.’


Open to all who wish to join, this global community will test, try and vote on new experiences.


Their selections will launch on


Celebrity Xcel in November 2025 for holiday makers to enjoy. “We want to ensure our guests love our products


and experiences, so involving them in the process to perfect Celebrity Xcel was a great way to achieve this,” shares Michael Scheiner, chief marketing and product officer of Celebrity Cruises. “Celebrity Cruises is known for ground-breaking innovation in ship design and experiences unlike any other at sea, when Xcel launches guests won’t have just found their happy place, they’ll have helped us build it.” IIn an industry first, Dream Makers will have


the final say across key elements of the cruising experience to be offered on Celebrity Xcel when she sets sail. Through online polls and one-of- a-kind experiential in-person events, the public will


perfect the ship’s design, culinary and


entertainment offerings. Dream Makers will put their design, experiential


and foodie skills to the test on Celebrity’s newest ship,


smooth and memorable journey from the very first moment. The new terminal will be


officially inaugurated in the coming months when more details will be announced.


making decisions across key spaces,


including the ship’s seven, new, yet-to-be-revealed experiences. Dream Makers will make their mark on the


Celebrity Xcel by: Choosing textiles, managing interior design elements and curating service offerings; Picking their favourite dishes and beverages, choosing table settings and shaping dining concepts; and Providing input on headline shows, curate


props and costumes, select playlists and partake in selections to appoint pivotal entertainment positions onboard. The ship reached a major milestone on 18th


January, floating out of dry dock at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The float out ceremony celebrated the completion of the ship’s exterior, bringing Celebrity Xcel one step closer to welcoming guests. Celebrity Xcel is sailing her inaugural season from


Fort Lauderdale, offering seven-night itineraries alternating between the Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. In Summer 2026, Celebrity Xcel will set sail on her inaugural European season where guests can immerse themselves in the Mediterranean like never before on seven-to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens, including all new overnight stays in Madeira, Portugal.


Windstar Cruises Announces New Iconic Brand Collaboration


WINDSTAR Cruises has an- nounced a new sponsor- ship with AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), the world leader in sports and entertainment.


Starting


in February, Windstar will become the official cruise line of AEG owned venue The O2, the world’s most popular live entertain- ment, leisure, and retail destination.


As the world’s busiest


arena, The O2 hosts over 200 events a year and has welcomed legendary artists and comedians in- cluding U2, Trevor Noah, Adele, The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, Chris Rock, Madonna, Beyoncé, Drake and many more since opening in 2007. It has also been home to world- class sporting events in- cluding the London 2012 Olympics,


NBA


Windstar Cruises’ Flagship Sailing Yacht ‘Wind Surf’ Unveils


Redesigned Public Spaces & New Suites


WINDSTAR Cruises’ flagship vessel, Wind Surf, has unveiled its latest transformation project focused on the yacht’s common spaces and suites. The upgrades to the 342-guest sailing yacht debuts amidst Wind Surf’s prime Caribbean sailing season, with itineraries including Classic Caribbean and Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway. Highlights of the renovation include full reimaginations of the main lobby and reception


area, Yacht Club Café, Compass Rose Bar and Lounge, Amphora Restaurant and Wine Room, Pool Bar & Deck, Owner’s Suite, Star Boutique and public restrooms, along with new TVs in all guest staterooms. Joining Windstar’s all-suite, Star Class yachts, Wind Surf’s refurbishment also features the


brand-new addition of Broadmoor and Sea Island Suites, which are inspired by luxury, five star sister resorts The Broadmoor in Colorado and Sea Island in Georgia. The Sea Island Suite touts coastal and airy touches that evoke the property’s Addison Mizner design, including a sea-glass green colour palette, curved arches, light walls and sophisticated wood furnishings.


season


games, UFC and the Laver Cup.


CRUISE NEWS | 41


Celebrity Cruises Open Application for Travellers to ‘Dream Up Their Perfect Vacation’


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