56 | CRUISE NEWS
Riviera Travel Celebrates Official Naming of MS Riviera Radiance
www.nitravelnews.com
January 2026
MSC Cruises Reveals New Family Entertainment Experiences on Own Private Island
RIVIERA Travel has celebrated the launch of its newest five-star cruise ship, MS Riviera Radiance, with its official naming ceremony, which took place from 25-27 November 2025. Sarah Roberts, CEO of Practical Action Riviera Travel’s official charity for tackling poverty and climate change, officially christened the vessel during the festive themed event on the Danube. The event marks an exciting milestone for the growing brand, following the ship’s maiden voyage earlier this year. Riviera Travel chose Sarah Roberts as Godmother
of MS Riviera Radiance to reflect the strong partnership between the two organisations and their shared commitment to responsible travel. Instead of the traditional champagne smash, the team marked the moment in a more environmentally friendly way by pouring champagne over a beautiful ice sculpture of the ship. It created a thoughtful and memorable celebration that felt perfectly in tune with the values of both Riviera Travel and Practical Action. Sarah Roberts, Practical Action CEO highlighted,
“It’s a privilege to work alongside Riviera Travel on a partnership that truly reflects shared values. Their commitment to responsible travel and long-term support has already made a meaningful difference to communities in Kisumu, and it’s inspiring to see how deeply they care about creating positive impact. Together, we’re demonstrating what’s possible when purposeful travel and practical, people-centred solutions come together - improving lives, protecting the environment, and empowering communities to shape their own futures.” During the ceremony in Budapest, Riviera
Travel unveiled bold plans for fleet expansion, confirming the launch of MS Riviera Resplendence in 2026 and MS George Eliot, the world’s first river cruise ship dedicated entirely to solo holiday makers, in 2027. These future launches, will join recent introductions Riviera Rose and the newly named Riviera Radiance, further underlining the company’s position as the leader in River cruise. These launches showcase Riviera Travel’s ambition to accelerate growth and continue investment in elevating guest experience across European
Royal Caribbean Announce Details of 2027-2028 Caribbean Itineraries
ROYAL Caribbean has unveiled details of their Caribbean itineraries for 2027-28. Commencing
April 2027, these new
Caribbean itineraries are available throughout 13 Royal Caribbean ships, including Legend of the Seas and newly amplified Allure of the Seas. These sailings will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral (Orlando) and Tampa, Florida; New Orleans; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cartagena, Colombia; and Colon, Panama. Itineraries include a range of destinations
across the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean on a range of 3- to 9-night adventures, including visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas and Royal Beach Clubs in Paradise Island and Cozumel in 2026. Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Perfect
Day Mexico is set to debut in late 2027, with an exact opening date to be revealed in 2026. In these new itineraries, Royal Caribbean
will head to hot-spots such as Port Samaná, the gateway to lush jungles, the famous Salto del Limón waterfall and the best beaches – one of three scenic Dominican Republic ports of call in Royal Caribbean’s 2027-28 lineup.
waterways. Riviera travel also revealed that Ireland had a
fantastic year with booked revenue up over 100% YoY.
MS Riviera Radiance offers a contemporary yet welcoming style throughout. Highlights include a striking lobby designed to create an immediate sense of space, a new split level layout connecting the lounge, bar and restaurant for a lighter and more dynamic atmosphere, and cabins inspired by boutique hotels with bespoke furnishings and thoughtful details. Phil Hullah, CEO of Riviera Travel, said: “We
could not be prouder of MS Riviera Radiance. She reflects everything we stand for – innovation, exceptional quality, understated luxury and the kind of experience that keeps our guests travelling with us time and time again. With our most spacious suites to date and the introduction of a third dining venue, Riviera Radiance sets a new standard on Europe’s waterways. We are already receiving glowing feedback from guests who have travelled on the ship so far. Her naming ceremony, alongside the confirmation of two further ships for 2027 and 2028, marks an exciting new chapter for Riviera and our future.”
MSC Cruises has revealed it will expand the list of entertainment activities being rolled out at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve from January 2026 onwards. Ocean Cay, a former industrial site, serves as a unique private island destination where guests can enjoy eight pristine beaches, explore turquoise waters and learn about the MSC Foundation’s coral conservation efforts at the island’s new Marine Con- servation Centre. The new line up of activities will complement the
existing offerings on the island, from snorkeling, paddleboarding to jet skiing, and provide immersive and more ways for guests to enjoy the private island. The line up of new experiences include: WELLNESS AND SPORTS PROGRAMMING Two professional coaches featured on MSC Cruises’
ships based in the U.S., will lead a daily wellness and sports programme designed to create an authentic beach retreat experience on Ocean Cay. From yoga to functional training sessions, guests’ favourite sports, guests will have the opportunity to recharge in one of the most stunning destinations in the Caribbean. With activities scheduled throughout the day, of-
ferings will include a fire and ice challenge with hot yoga and ice baths, and sunrise yoga paired with sound healing meditation. AUGMENTED REALITY TREASURE HUNT Guests will be able to partake in an innovative, educational Augmented Reality (AR) treasure hunt designed for all ages. Guests can use their mobile devices or tablets to embark on a digital adventure, uncovering unique locations throughout the island through immersive storytelling. The app will lead players to wooden sculptures around Ocean Cay that can be scanned to trigger the AR storytelling function. Each of these points forms part of an edu- cational treasure hunt, with every location focusing on a specific ecological challenge and the measures MSC Cruises is taking to help address it. Children can also learn about native species to the island, includ- ing fish, flora and fauna.
Crystal Reveals Details of 2028 Voyages – Including Onboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Grace
The Australian Dream Arrives for Princess Cruises Passengers
PRINCESS Cruises has announced details on its 2027-28 Australian summer season. Three Princess ships will sail in the region:
Royal Princess, Grand Princess, and Sapphire Princess, offering voyages to New Zealand, full circumnavigations of the Australian continent, and South Pacific escapes to destinations like Fiji and Vanuatu. The 2027-28 programme will offer a variety
of homeports across Australia and New Zealand, including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth (Fremantle), and Auckland, with additional departures from Melbourne and Adelaide.
Explora Journeys and Hilton Announce New Travel Partnership
LEGO POP-UP Families will be welcomed to Ocean Cay with a vibrant LEGO® activation at the Welcome Pavilion, featuring seven LEGO® mascots and the MSC Cruises mascot, Doremi.
CRYSTAL has announced it’s 2028 winter and spring season itineraries aboard Crystal Serenity. The programme features warm-water sailings across the Caribbean, Central America and the Amazon, followed by a spring transatlantic crossing to the Azores. The season concludes in Lisbon, where the ship
will enter a scheduled dry dock for enhancements. Crystal Serenity’s itinerary complements the previously announced 2028 World Cruise aboard Crystal Symphony, Treasures of the Tides: A Global Odyssey, which will visit 84 destinations across 39 countries on six continents.
EXPLORA Journeys and Hilton have announced an exclusive collaboration. Hilton debuts Hilton Honors
Adventures, an extension of Hilton’s
guest loyalty programme focused on immersive, adventure-driven travel, with Explora Journeys as the exclusive luxury ocean travel partner. By summer 2026, Hilton Honors members will be able to book, earn, and redeem their Points to set sail aboard Explora Journeys voyages. Anna Nash, President, partnership
Explora Journeys, said “This unites two brands committed
to thoughtful travel, meaningful connection, and deep discovery. At Explora Journeys, we believe in giving our guests the time and space to slow down, choose intentionally, and feel truly in tune with their
surroundings; this is what we call ‘The Ocean State of Mind’. Together, we’re offering Hilton Honors members a stay at sea that blends the freedom of the ocean with the warmth of genuine hospitality. Our goal is simple: to create moments that are effortless, personal, and crafted with care, always guided by our commitment to the wellbeing of our guests.” Chris Silcock, President, global brands and
commercial services, Hilton, said: “Explora Journeys defines the pinnacle of luxury
ocean travel and unparalleled experiences. This exciting new partnership creates the perfect moment to launch Hilton Honors Adventures, introducing new ways for our members to experience iconic destinations and hidden gems around the world.”
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