46 | CRUISE NEWS
www.nitravelnews.com
March 2026
Hurtigruten Adds New Fjord Only and Arctic Sailings to Future Programme
Celebrity Cruises Recognised with Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Rating
CELEBRITY Cruises has been awarded Forbes Travel Guide’s first-ever, five star rating for a restaurant at sea. Le Voyage on Celebrity Xcel – a restaurant in partnership with renowned chef Daniel Boulud, Celebrity Cruises’ global culinary ambassador – joins an elite group of the top restaurants globally holding the Five- star accolade. Celebrity Cruises was the first cruise line to earn
a Forbes Travel Guide Star Award in 2023 and was recognised in the inaugural ratings for restaurants on cruise ships in 2025. This year, Celebrity Cruises earned eight total awards for its ships and restaurants, a testament to the cruise line’s hospitality and culinary offerings. “At Celebrity Cruises elevated hospitality is in our
DNA. Guided by our guests, we dream up and deliver experiences that create memories and stories they cannot experience anywhere else. This dedication to excellence is reflected in our culinary offerings – from
our award-winning wine collection to our partnership with industry visionary, chef Daniel Boulud,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. Bethge continued, “We are extremely proud and
honoured to earn Forbes Travel Guides’ first Five-Star rating for a restaurant at sea, this industry-leading recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to culinary excellence.” “I have the honour of being Celebrity Cruises’ global
culinary ambassador, supporting their delivery of elevated culinary experiences. Throughout the years of partnership, I recognised Celebrity’s drive for culinary innovation and dedication to quality service. We began expanding our collaboration, first featu”ring my menus for their Suite guests, then trusting Celebrity to launch my first-ever restaurant at sea,” shared Chef Daniel Boulud. “Le Voyage is the culmination of our years-long partnership, and we are thrilled to be recognised with Forbes Travel Guides’ Five Stars. Together we look forward to continuing to redefine the possibilities of dining at sea.”
MSC Cruises Open Sales For Winter 2027/2028 Programme
MSC Cruises has officially opened sales for its Winter 2027/28 programme, unveiling an exciting season of sailings across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Guests from the UK can choose from a wide range of exciting itineraries, including sailings directly from Southampton on board MSC Preziosa to popular European destinations such as Hamburg, Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Le Havre. The Winter 2027/28 programme offers a variety of Mediterranean itineraries, sailing from popular ports including Barcelona, Valencia, Genoa and Bari on board MSC World Asia, launching later this year, MSC Euribia, MSC Seaview, MSC Lirica, MSC Magnifica and MSC Orchestra. Commenting on the opening of sales, Antonio Paradiso, VP of International Sales at MSC Cruises, said, “We are delighted to open sales for Winter 2027/28 in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. We offer a diverse range of itineraries combined with unforgettable onboard experiences.” Paradiso continued, “Travel agents play a crucial role in connecting guests with our sailings, and we remain committed to supporting them in showcasing our offering.”
Emerald Cruises Launch Asia River Cruises & Tours For 2026/27
THE cruise line has launched their Asia river cruises and tours programme to run from July 2026 to May 2027. The programme will feature around 200 departures
along with Mekong on Emerald Harmony, and land tours in Laos and Japan. Seventeen itineraries will be available and include an
11-13 day ‘Enchanting Mekong and Siem Reap’ cruise and tour showcasing immersive cultural performances and an enhanced 26-day ‘Wonders of Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia’, which features a tour of Japan at the beginning of the itinerary. Dominic Keely, head of marketing – Rivers & Land at
Emerald Cruises, said: “Our Asia river cruising itinerar- ies bring guests closer to the heart of each destination, blending luxury river cruising with curated land tours and authentic experiences. Strong demand is already building, so we invite guests to plan and take advantage of departures now available through to May 2027.”
HURTIGRUTEN has announced three new ‘Limited Collection’ itineraries for the 2027– 2028 season, expanding its range of sailings along Norway’s coastline. The new itineraries will sail aboard MS Trollfjord between April 2027 and May
2028.The voyages focus on fewer ports with longer stays, generally between
Oceania Cruises Place Order For Fifth Sonata Class Ship
nine and fifteen hours giving passengers the opportunity to explore areas of the Arctic and the fjords more in depth. Various destinations have been added to the programme, including Rosendal, Skjolden and Eidfjord. Routes will be flexible, with final sailing plans adjusted by the ship’s captain to reflect weather and seasonal conditions. Hedda Felin, CEO at Hurtigruten said, “These new voyages are rooted in generations of local knowledge, allowing our captains to adapt each journey to the conditions of the day – revealing Norway at its most spectacular. They are voyages shaped by nature, guided by expertise, and created for travellers who want to truly connect with the places they visit, not just sail past them.”
OCEANIA Cruises has placed an order for its fifth Sonata Class ship with Fincantieri shipbuilders, scheduled for delivery in 2037. The announcement comes in the wake of a record launch day for Oceania Sonata in January, reflecting enthusiasm from discerning travellers and valued travel partners. The order of the fifth Sonata Class ship further builds on the momentum of Oceania Sonata. Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises highlights, “The record-setting demand for Oceania Sonata affirms that travellers are seeking choice, connection and authentic experiences. The addition of a fifth Sonata Class ship allows us to provide our guests even more enriching, experiential travel opportunities.” Debuting in August 2027, the Sonata Class will ushers in a new era for Oceania Cruises focusing on elevated luxury with one-third more space, all- new suite categories and reimagined top-of-ship accommodations. Oceania Sonata’s inaugural season of sailing launching in August 2027.
Viking Announces New Cultural Partnership with Battle Proms Concerts
VIKING has unveiled a new cultural partner- ship with Battle Proms Concerts, becoming a sponsor of the iconic open-air classical music series for the first time in 2026. The partnership will see Viking support Battle
Proms events at Burghley House and Hatfield Park, before taking on the role of presenting sponsor at the flagship concert at Highclere Castle. The venue is already a longstanding cultural part-
ner of Viking and is best known as the filming loca- tion for Downton Abbey. Battle Proms is one of the UK’s longest-running outdoor concert series, combin- ing live orchestral music with fireworks, historic dis- plays and aerial performances in landmark settings. The collaboration reflects Viking’s ongoing com-
mitment to the arts, music and history, extending the cultural enrichment experiences it offers onboard its ships to events closer to home. Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking
UK, said: “We are delighted to begin this exciting new partnership with Battle Proms Concerts, and to offer our guests more opportunities to celebrate our
shared passion for history and love of music.”
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