On the new ship front, Celebrity Cruises announced plans to build a sixth Edge-class ship, a sister to the new Celebrity Xcel, which begins service later this year. Delivery is expected in 2028. Other Edge-class vessels include Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge—the first ship in the series that was delivered in 2018. On the luxury yacht front, Four Seasons Yachts celebrated the float-out of Four Seasons I at Fincantieri's Ancona, Italy shipyard. The vessel is now receiving interior outfitting prior to its inaugural sailing on January 25, 2026.
Separately, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has unveiled new Alaska itineraries aboard Luminara. Between May and September 2026, 13 sailings—the fleet’s first-ever voyages in the region—will visit 11 ports in Alaska and Canada. This past week, HX also debuted new Greenland cruises with round-trip flights from New York, while Swan Hellenic announced a cultural cruise focused on food and wine. For ultra-luxury travelers, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is introducing new entertainment shows fleetwide, while Seabourn is offering new 2026 Northwest Passage expeditions; both developments were covered by sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor.
As for Wave Season offers, Seabourn has also unveiled its annual “Sail of the Year” event for select 2025 and 2026 worldwide ocean and expedition voyages. Available until February 18, the promotion offers savings of up to 15 percent on select ocean and expedition voyages; 15 percent reduced deposits; and up to $1,000 in shipboard credit per suite. To assist travel advisors, Carnival Cruise Line has launched a “Book More, Earn Big” promotion for Wave Season; it runs through March 12. In supporting the trade, Riviera Travel—which now encompasses Riviera River Cruises—named Andy Stewart as its new Midwest regional sales director.
More than a half dozen 2025 Mediterranean itineraries aboard Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess are being altered due mainly to port congestion, according to CruiseHive.com. Closer to home, it was the busiest day ever at Port Canaveral, FL, on Friday, January 24, 2024, with 25 deep sea vessels in port. Those included six cruise ships, six cargo ships, eight space vessels (to support the space industry with booster retrieval), a gambling ship, and four fuel bunker barges.
Cunard recently celebrated Queen Anne’s inaugural call in Miami with a performance in the ship' theater by Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster. It's a precursor to Queen Elizabeth's October 2025 arrival in South Florida to begin Cunard's first-ever season of Miami homeporting. Separately, Hollywood film stars Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom will appear in a 60-second MSC Cruises’ television ad that will air during the 2025 Super Bowl. Showcasing the line’s continuing expansion in the American market, the ad will focus on the line’s blend of European elegance and American comfort, plus give a glimpse of a vacation aboard the new MSC World America. Travel Agent will sail on that ship’s inaugural voyage in April and provide advisors with insight about the new ship.
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