After a hiatus of seven years, Azamara Cruises will return to Alaska in summer 2026. Azamara Pursuit will operate 10- to 13-day cruises with itineraries that visit remote Alaskan destinations. Some extended port stays will span 10+ hours. On every Alaska cruise, the upscale line will also offer an AzAmazing Evening in Ketchikan: "An Alaskan Adventure: Timber, Traditions & Toasts."
Separately, Royal Caribbean International also introduced its 2026 Alaska voyage lineup. Making its Alaska debut, Voyager of the Seas is set to join Anthem of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas. Guests will sail from Vancouver, B.C., Canada or Seattle or Seward, AK.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises celebrated the steel-cutting for its new 850-passenger Seven Seas Prestige, scheduled for a 2026 delivery, according to sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor. The vessel is the first of two ships planned for the line’s new Prestige-class. In addition, sister brand Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced some details about new onboard experiences and expanded venues on its new Prima Plus-class ships -- Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna. They're set to launch in April 2025 and 2026, respectively.
More Cruise News
MSC Cruises revealed new concepts for the new MSC World America. These include a new sports bar, coffee emporium and the Loft, a new multi-purpose, adults-only venue for comedy shows, dueling pianos and karaoke nights. Princess Cruises unveiled new spaces and experiences on the 4,300-passenger Star Princess, which will launch in 2025. Among the enhancements are non-smoking casino areas, expanded dining venues, an expanded O’Malley’s Pub and new leisure experiences. The new ship is Princess’ second Sphere-class ship. The first, the nearly new Sun Princess, also recently debuted some restaurant “location” shifts and dining enhancements.
Cruise Croatia, a small-ship luxury operator, will launch the new 36-passenger Aretis in spring 2025; it will join the company’s existing fleet of 16 ships. Another small-ship line, Sea Cloud Cruises plans to deploy its newest ship, Sea Cloud Spirit, for four new Venice roundtrip sailings in summer 2025. During these nine-night voyages, the line's first homeported sailings from Venice, the ship will dock directly along the city's Grand Canal. Guests will also visit six Croatian ports of call and spend two days under full sail in the Adriatic Sea.
Pacific Happenings
Cruise ships are now returning to New Caledonia, a group of islands east of Australia, according to Cruise Fever. Earlier this year, political unrest and riots caused ships to cancel port calls there. But earlier this month, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions returned with its Orion visiting Lifou port. Coming up, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is slated to visit Port Noumea on November 10, while Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Splendor will call at that New Caledonia port on two November dates.
This week, Luxury Travel Advisor is sailing aboard Silversea’s 728-passenger Silver Nova during its inaugural Asia season and the line’s 2024 Venetian Society Reunion cruise for loyal past guests. Check out this first article about the start of our voyage from Tokyo, Japan, to Singapore, and look for a second report soon.
Bert Hernandez, Silversea's new president, joined this Venetian Society Reunion sailing in Hong Kong, and on October 24, 2024, he hosted an exclusive event for society members at Hong Kong’s Wine & Dine Festival. Unfolding shoreside along the city’s central harbor, this private event was a collaborative effort with the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Guests were treated to a Chinese Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra ensemble performance, dim sum prepared by a Michelin-star chef, private wine tasting of award-winning Chinese wines, and VIP access to the Wine & Dine Festival with its 300 tasting booths.
Also in the Pacific, Travel Agent recently sailed aboard HX’s Fridtjof Nansen for a two-night trade cruise from Vancouver, B.C., Canada, to Seattle, WA. Check out our Photo Tour and insights about this 530-passenger expedition ship which focuses strongly on adventure, science and sustainability.
Promotion News
Oceania Cruises unveiled a limited time promotional offer for 23 sailings to Alaska and the Caribbean in 2025. If guests book one of these sailings by December 4, 2024, they'll receive free roundtrip airfare and double loyalty credits. Loyal past guests will receive loyalty points for two cruise bookings. In addition, this offer includes complimentary airport transfers and an additional 5 percent bonus savings.
Also on the promotional front, Riverside Luxury Cruises is offering a €300 (approximately $323.44) onboard credit for 2025 voyages, plus up to 35 percent savings now through November 30, 2024. And small-ship oceangoing Ponant is offering a $2,000 air credit on select 2025 Kimberley voyages to remote northwestern Australia.