30 | CRUISE NEWS
www.nitravelnews.com
September/October 2025
Hays Travel Makes Major Move into Online Cruise Market with Largest Acquisition Since 2019
Majestic Princess Celebrates Maiden Call to the UK
Riviera Radiance Celebrates Maiden Voyage on The Danube River
THE latest edition to Riviera Travel’s fleet, MS Riviera Radiance, proudly set sail on its maiden voyage on Friday, June 9th 2025, to complete its first itinerary on the majestic Danube river. At 135 metres long, the river cruise ship can carry up to 178 passengers and 44 crew, and boasts the biggest suites available across all of Riviera Travel’s vessels. Its 89 cabins include Standard Cabins (172 ft2) with French balconies or fixed windows, Superior Suites (258 ft2) with floor-to-ceiling French balconies and lounge area, and the spacious Grand Suites (344 ft2) with separate living space and private balcony with outdoor seating. Its luxurious amenities include King-size or twin
beds, rain showers, Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and refined furnishings. Across its four decks, a wide offering of spaces and
dining opportunities awaits, enhanced by an split- level design with floor-to-ceiling windows that houses a two-storey Panorama Lounge & Bar, and open-plan dining areas to create a sense of space and flow. The Riviera Radiance’s luxurious facilities and amenities further include a sundeck with plunge pool, sun loungers and shaded areas, a spa and wellness area, fitness center, gift boutique, and lift access to all accommodation levels. In 2025, the MS Riviera Radiance will be operating across nine itineraries, all on the Danube river.
PRINCESS Cruises recently celebrated the maiden call of Majestic Princess to the United Kingdom. The 3,560-guest ship arrived
at Southampton’s QEII terminal, marking the first time the ship has called to a port in the UK. Launched in 2017, Majestic
Princess began her inaugural season in the Mediterranean and has since sailed across destinations in clud ing Alask a, Australia, and Canada and New England. This
HAYS Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel agency, has announced its largest acquisition since it took over Thomas Cook branches in 2019 – marking a major step forward in its digital expansion strategy. In a landmark move, Hays Travel has completed
its first-ever online acquisition by purchasing the Victoria Travel Group Limited. The deal brings a suite of prominent cruise-focused brands under the Hays umbrella, including
cruise.co.uk, Seascanner, and
Kreuzfahrtberater.de, Victoria Travel Group’s German division. The acquisition strengthens Hays Travel’s presence in the booming cruise sector, a core focus for the company’s future growth. Victoria Travel Group’s latest financial figures revealed a transactional value of £252 million, highlighting its significant market share in both the UK and Germany.
This latest move represents the seventh acquisition by Hays Travel since 2019, and further solidifies its position as a dominant force in the European travel landscape. Victoria Travel Group’s executive team, including Chief Executive Chris Gardner, Group CFO Carl Tromans, UK Managing Director Tony Andrews, and German Managing Director Tom Reiter, will remain in place to continue driving
Seadream Yacht Club Connects To Shore Power For First Time
SEADREAM Yacht Club has connected SeaDream II to shore power for the first time, eliminating all emissions during a visit to Bergen, Norway. With advanced shore power technology, both
SeaDream yachts can switch off their engines and reduce emissions in ports that offer shore power facilities. During a 14-hour call in Bergen, SeaDream II connected to the local power grid in Bergen for the first time – reducing emissions to zero. Andreas Brynestad of SeaDream Yacht Club comments: “This is an important milestone for us, and another step forward in our journey to more sustainable travel. Visiting some of the world’s most beautiful destinations comes with a responsibility. “We are glad to see more ports following the lead
of Port of Bergen and other front-runners in offering shore power facilities. It’s a benefit for us, it’s a benefit for the local communities and it’s a benefit for the environment. “We are ready to connect wherever the facilities
are available to us, and we have been for a long time. The more ports that make shore power available, the greater the impact we can have together.” SeaDream II was upgraded to accommodate
shore power connectivity in 2023, while SeaDream I successfully underwent the upgrade during a yard stay at Naval Rocha Yard in Lisbon in 2024.
Royal Caribbean Officially Welcomes New Icon Class Ship To Fleet
ROYAL Caribbean has kicked off the countdown to a new era of cruise holidays, officially welcoming Star of the Seas into the family. After nearly two years of construction at
the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the keys to the next Icon Class ship were officially handed over to Royal Caribbean just a few weeks ahead of its August debut in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. In a ceremony truly fit for a star, 1,250-plus
crew members and partners gathered to mark the milestone in the ship’s next-level AquaTheater. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, Jason Liberty, and Royal Caribbean President and CEO, Michael Bayley, along with Meyer Turku CEO, Casimir Lindholm, hosted the event, recognising the hard work and innovation that brought Star to life and celebrating the team of engineers, designers and architects who made it all possible. “The delivery of Star of the Seas marks another bold step forward in Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to reimagine the future of vacations. Star and the Icon Class are a symbol
Barcelona to Upgrade Cruise Terminal Despite Reducing Visitor Numbers
BARCELONA has become an increasingly popular cruise stop in recent years, with many tourists eager to see sights such as Las Ramblas and La Sagrada Familia. In turn, this has increased numbers of visitors
to the region and led to Barcelona becoming the largest cruise port in Europe. Despite this, backlash has come from locals in recent years due
the business forward under the Hays Travel banner. Jo Rzymowska is a Non-Executive Director
of Hays Travel and she and Jonathon Woodall- Johnston will join the Victoria Travel Group board as Non-Executive Directors. Speaking on the acquisition, Dame Irene Hays,
Chair of Hays Travel, said: “We have been hugely impressed by the strength of the Victoria Travel Group. Their innovative approach to online cruise retailing and the calibre of their management team make them a compelling addition to our business. This aligns perfectly with our cruise strategy and long-term ambitions.” She added: “We are delighted to welcome
Chris, Carl, Tony and Tom to the Hays Travel group. They share our values and are exceptional at what they do. We look forward to learning from one another and improving the experience, value, and choice we offer our customers.” Chris Gardner, CEO of Victoria Travel Group, echoed the enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to be joining the Hays Travel family. Their values, customer-first mindset, and long-term approach align perfectly with our own. This partnership opens up exciting opportunities to grow our brands and bring more value to cruise travellers across the UK and beyond.”
of what’s possible when innovation, imagination and our relentless focus on delivering exceptional experiences come together, ultimately creating unforgettable memories for millions of families and
marks
visit a
si gni fic ant milestone, as in 2026 Majestic Princess
will
sail roundtrip Southampton for the first time, taking guests around the British Isles and to Northern Europe.
In
addition, Princess Cruises recently announced that Majestic Princess will return for another British Isles and Northern Europe season in 2027. To celebrate the maiden call,
Princess Cruises hosted an onboard event attended by travel agents. A traditional plaque and key ceremony was held onboard, attended by Majestic Princess Captain Paul Slight and Associated British Port’s (ABP) Regional Director Alastair Welch.
vacationers,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We’re proud to bring this next-generation vacation experience to life with our valued partners at Meyer Turku.”
to overcrowding and mass tourism, which residents believe has affected housing, the environment in the area. Agreeing with this, Barcelona made the decision
back in 2018 to close its North Terminal in an effort to reduce mass tourism and “move cruise activity away from urban areas” said port officials by 2023. The space is now used as a social hub, with bars, restaurants and shops filling the space.
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