48 | CRUISE NEWS


www.nitravelnews.com


September/October 2025


Unforgettable Croatia Release First Look at New Luxury Small Ship


UNFORGETTABLE Croatia has unveiled a first look at its brand-new vessel, MV Aretis. Constructed at the shipyard in Split, Croatia,


MV Aretis is the first luxury small ship of its kind to be built in the country in the past four years. The 36-guest vessel joined the


Norwegian Cruise Line Unveil Plans for Six-Acre Waterpark on Private Island


NORWEGIAN Cruise Line have announced additional


details for a private transformation on Great Stirrup Cay in


island the


Bahamas headlined by a nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark set to open in summer 2026. The expansion of the island’s offerings is designed to elevate the overall guest experience for all ages. David J.Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line highlighted that, “Great Stirrup Cay has always been an amazing part of the Norwegian Cruise Line guest experience and continues to be one of our highest rated destinations.” Herrera continued, “At 270 acres our private island


provides us with an incredible blueprint to reinvent what guests can experience when they escape to ‘The Great Life’ with us. This new water park is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island soon to debut. With each phase of our enhancements, we’re bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL. ”


Norwegian Cruise Line have announced plans to


elevate Great Stirrup Cap with the addition of a nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark, set to open in summer 2026. Great Tides Waterpark will consist of 19 waterslides,


a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, a 9,000 square-foot splash zone for children, and cliffside jumps standing at 10 and 15 feet tall; a first for the cruise industry. Shore excursions for adventure-seeking passengers will include trips to the island’s all-new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts, an excursion which combines go-karting and jet skiing.


CRYSTAL has announced that Crystal


Symphony will enter drydock for a scheduled three-week refurbishment of select areas in November 2025. The project is focused on refining the onboard experience through aesthetic and functional updates to two suite categories and several key public spaces. The drydock will see the complete redesign of Aquamarine and Sapphire Classic suites on Deck 10. While preserving their existing layout and spacious bathrooms featuring separate bathtub and shower configurations, these suites will be outfitted with new furnishings, aligning with the design style introduced during the ship’s 2023 transformation. Complimenting these updates, new carpets and


wall coverings will refresh the look and feel of each suite. These upgrades will be expertly executed by the De Wave Group, an interior design firm based in Genoa, Italy. Several public spaces will also be updated during


this time, with improvements designed to elevate the onboard ambiance: Atrium and Crystal Cove: Under the direction


Amsterdam Plans Major Overhaul for River Cruise Traffic to Address Overcrowding Concerns


AMSTERDAM has announced new measures aimed at curbing the volume of river cruise ships visiting its waters. In 2024, the city welcomed nearly 2,000 river cruise calls, but with overcrowding and sustainability concerns on the rise, officials have set a target to limit this number to just 1,150 per year by 2028. Starting next year, Amsterdam will implement a river cruise quota, though the exact number of ship calls is still under discussion. To create a workable solution,


the European River Cruise Association (ERCA) has joined forces with city officials. A task force has been established to strike a balance between the tourism industry’s needs and the city’s capacity to accommodate visitors. Robert Verbeek, a board member of ERCA,


expressed that while the river cruise industry plays a vital role in Amsterdam’s tourism economy, it does not need to be seen as part of the problem. “River cruising could be a solution and is not part of the problem,” Verbeek stated, adding that the industry is eager to cooperate on a compromise. At the minute, river cruises make up approximately


2% of Amsterdam’s overall tourism traffic, contributing an estimated $257 million in direct economic impact. However, the city aims to cut down on river cruise visitors by around 250,000 by the year 2028. This


initiative is part of a broader effort to manage the city’s tourism in a more sustainable way and reduce congestion in its historic centre. One possible solution being explored is to implement scheduled docking times for river cruise ships, which would help control the flow of visitors. “We can perfectly manage that,” Verbeek said, indicating that the river cruise sector is open to negotiating this new approach. This move follows Amsterdam’s plans to scale back


ocean cruise ship arrivals as well. The city intends to relocate ocean cruise docking berths outside the urban centre over the next decade. These decisions are all part of Amsterdam’s larger strategy to manage tourism more effectively, reduce overcrowding, and maintain the city’s appeal as a destination for travellers.


of Gerolamo Scorza, a leading outfitter in marine interiors, the ship’s central gathering space will be transformed, providing a more modern and fluid layout with additional seating. Key updates include the removal of the water feature, the relocation of the piano, a two-story mosaic produced by DeCastelli and a new chandelier. The reception area will have an elevated space with a new desk, marble top and backlit panel. The surrounding walls and columns will be refinished with new wallpaper. The ceiling slats and lighting will be replaced at Deck 5, while the Crystal Cove bar will receive a new front counter, backbar niche, and bottle shelving. New high-end


Ambassador Cruise Line Welcomes 100,000th Guest Aboard Ambience


Unforgettable Croatia fleet in July 2025, and will operate 19 seven-night sailings between Dubrovnik and Split through to October 2025. A full summer season of 24 departures is already confirmed for 2026. Graham Carter, co-founder of Unforgettable


Croatia, said: “We’re incredibly proud to introduce MV Aretis to our growing fleet. The demand for luxury small-ship cruising continues to rise, as travellers look for more immersive and intimate ways to experience destinations. MV Aretis is one of the most stylish and elegant vessels ever built in Croatia, and we believe she offers a truly amazing way to discover the Dalmatian coast. We can’t wait to welcome our guests onboard this season.”


Crystal Symphony to Undergo Three-Week Refurbishment at End of This Year


furniture will elegantly redefine the area. Stair Lobbies on Decks 5 and 6: Also led by


Gerolamo Scorza, these transitional areas will be refined with updated ceiling structures, enhanced lighting, architectural wall details and new brass finishes around the elevator entrances, bringing a more cohesive and elegant feel to the ship’s public corridors. Starlite Club: Trident Maritime Systems will


provide a subtle redesign of the dance floor and new ceiling centrepiece will breathe new life into this much loved venue while preserving its vibrant character. Deck 5 Guest Restrooms: These public facilities


will be aesthetically refreshed by Gerolamo Scorza with new flooring, wall finishes and countertops. Bistro: Wooden floors will be updated offering an enhanced look and feel.


AMBASSADOR Cruise Line celebrated a major milestone recently with the 100,000th guest setting sail on its flagship, Ambience, from London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, Essex. Accompanied by his two daughters,


Mr Daryl Upton from Leigh-on-Sea was welcomed aboard Ambience ahead of the six- night Scandinavian Explorer cruise taking in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Ambience’s 100,000th guest, who had booked the sailing to mark his 80th birthday, was congratulated on arrival by Ambience’s captain, her hotel director, guest experience manager and fellow crew members. Gordon Nardini, Chief Marketing Officer,


Ambassador Cruise Line. highlighted, “It’s a case of many happy returns in every sense of the term, given that Mr Upton holidayed with us two years ago and will be celebrating his 80th birthday this week as the 100,000th guest to sail on our first lady of the sea.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80