Category: News

Here is where you can find the latest updates on news in the cruise & travel world.

MSC ANNOUNCES THEY ARE HEADED TO ALASKA

MSC Cruises announced today that they will begin sailing into the Far North, adding Alaska itineraries to their list.  MSC Poesia will be homeporting in Seattle offering roundtrip 7-night itineraries during Alaska season beginning May 11, 2026.

The MSC Poesia will be dedicated to sailing itineraries from the U.S., spending summer 2026 cruising to Alaska and then moving to Miami for the winter. It will also offer transit cruises through the Panama Canal on its way to and from Alaska.

MSC Poesia is a mid-sized ship perfectly designed to explore the narrow channels of the Inside Passage and stunning glaciers up close. Her 7-night itineraries include calls to:

  • Icy Strait Point, Alaska – Alaska’s first Indigenous-owned cruise destination is set amid more than 23,000 acres of private beach and temperate rainforest about a mile from Alaska’s largest Tlingit village, Hoonah. It features the largest zip line in the world, the most accessible coastal brown bear viewing platforms in Southeast Alaska, whale watching, fishing, local cultural dances and oral histories, cooking classes, kayaking and more. The facilities include a museum and locally owned retail shops in a restored 1912 salmon cannery, along with several restaurants offering local seafood, craft beer and more.
  • Juneau, Alaska – The state capital is only accessible by air or sea, which makes a cruise the perfect way to experience Juneau’s snow-capped mountains, historic landmarks and breathtaking views. The city was founded during a gold rush in 1880 and continues to invite visitors to try their hand at panning for gold. Right at the cruise port, the Goldbelt Tram rises 1,800 feet up Mount Roberts, offering the perfect vantage point for taking in the Chilkat Mountains, Douglas Island, the Gastineau Channel, and more.
  • Ketchikan, Alaska – The best fishing town in Alaska offers prime opportunities for catching or eating wild salmon, as well as spotting the abundant population of bald eagles attracted by the fish. Historic Creek Street is lined with an eclectic mix of shops, with an abundance of local artists and craftspeople. Ketchikan is also known for its impressive displays of authentic totem poles, and also known as having some of the best shopping in Alaska.
  • Tracy Arm, Alaska – The journey along Tracy Arm is every bit as amazing as the destination, with every hairpin turn along the way to the Sawyer Glaciers revealing something new. Entering the narrow fjord, guests will marvel at cliffs rising 3,000 feet along either side of the narrow and winding passage. Excitement builds as the ship passes waterfalls, roaming bears and a local seal colony. After 27 miles, a final turn reveals the intense blue color of the Sawyer Glaciers towering above the waterline.
  • Victoria, British Columbia – The calm waters of the Salish Sea and the towering rainforests of Vancouver Island surround a city known for its British heritage, colorful gardens, and magnificent architecture such as striking architectural marvels like the famed Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel. Before entering the harbor, wildlife enthusiasts can look forward to spotting whales, porpoises, sea lions, seals and birds. Foodies will find nearly infinite choices with the highest concentration of restaurants anywhere in Canada. Victoria is British Columbia’s capital city—among the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest region.

MSC Poesia’s seasonal repositioning between Miami and Seattle allows for two truly unique itineraries sailing through the iconic Panama Canal at the start and end of the season. Offering guests an extraordinary opportunity to explore new horizons and embark on a bucket-list experience. 

Guests will have the chance to experience the canal transit, while also being able to explore up to ten vibrant destinations between Seattle and Miami including sunny West Coast highlights like San Diego and Los Angeles; historic Latin American treasures such as Cartagena and Cabo San Lucas; and the lush, exotic beauty of Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province.

The two sailings—departing from Miami on Thursday, April 23, 2026, and from Seattle on Monday, September 28, 2026—are available to book.

Itineraries are currently available to book.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES NEW ENTERTAINMENT ON THE AQUA

Norwegian Cruise Line announces Two Headlining Production shows for the All New Norwegian Aqua coming in April 2025. ‘Revolutions: A Celebration of Prince’ and ‘Elements: The World Expanded,’ Along with other new and returning entertainment venues and shows.

Reinforcing NCL as a leader in Entertainment at Sea, the new offerings expand It’s Collection of Original In House Productions developed at the Company’s Creative Studios by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

With more variety of entertainment options including only-on-NCL productions and returning guest favorites, there will be something for everyone to enjoy on board. The brand-new and immersive Prince tribute show, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince,” developed in partnership with Prince Legacy, LLC and Primary Wave Music, will honor and celebrate the Oscar® and Grammy Award winning artist during a concert-like experience featuring the music icon’s chart-topping hits, including “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Delirious,” “Purple Rain,” and more. 

NCL is also taking its highest guest-rated show in its history, “Elements,” and enhancing it with new surprises in “Elements: The World Expanded.” Blending acrobatics, magic and intrigue, this show draws inspiration from the four elements – earth, wind, water and fire – for an astonishing display of unexpected delights. 

Both productions were developed by NCL’s in-house production team at the Creative Studios by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in Tampa, Fla., in partnership with Patricia Wilcox, an award-winning Broadway choreographer, director and long-time NCL partner. From original costumes to one-of-a-kind entertainment, the Creative Studios has produced in-house shows since 2008.

Other new and returning entertainment venues and shows include The Aqua Theater & Club, “The Improv at Sea” comedy club, “The Price is Right LIVE on NCL” game show and “Syd Norman’s Presents: Rumours” – a Fleetwood Mac tribute experience that will be offered in the Aqua Theater & Club to accommodate more guests for this always jam-packed show.

Revolution: A Celebration of Prince

The hour-long show aboard Norwegian Aqua will be an in-house NCL production and concert experience celebrating Prince’s music, energy, and life. At its core, the show will embrace the global icon’s rise to popularity, as one of the leaders of soul, rock and pop music. Set in the Aqua Theater & Club, the show will feature performances both on stage and off for a fully immersive experience.Guests will also have the option to enjoy the show on the dance floor with the cast or watch from traditional theater seating.

Elements: The World Expanded

Fifteen years after its inception aboard Norwegian Spirit®, Patricia Wilcox’s “Elements,” has become one of NCL’s highest-rated guest shows of all time and is featured across four of the Company’s ships.  Now, it will be revamped and reimagined with the debut of Norwegian Aqua.  The all-new “Elements: The World Expanded” will be a more immersive version of the already dazzling production that revels in the four elements of earth, air, water, and fire, while featuring mesmerizing magic, visual acts of aerial acrobatics along with music and dance to captivate guests’ attention from the moment the show opens.

The Aqua Theater & Club

The Aqua Theater & Club, similar to the Theater & Club aboard Norwegian Prima® and Norwegian Viva®, will transform from a three-story theater to a three-story Vegas-style nightclub featuring an expansive dance floor, enhanced and interactive chandelier, state-of-the-art lighting, and more. Boasting two different bars, the Aqua Theater & Club will showcase all nightclub programming through three different themed experiences: “90s Party,” where guests can relive the top hits and outfits of the decade; “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” featuring the latest Latin jams for a night of non-stop dancing; and “Pop Life,” a Prince influenced club experience where guests can dance the night away to the music icon’s top-charting songs and music influenced by his unique style. The entertainment programming also includes a brand-new in-house production for NCL, “The Welcome Aboard Show” where vocalists, dancers, and onboard crew provide guests a tantalizing preview of all the offerings to come throughout their sailing. Immediately following this new show, guests can continue the fun at the popular “Ocean Music Fest,” an immersive concert and the ultimate jam session at sea, where multiple musicians merge their talents on stage for one world class concert experience.

Returning & Enhanced Guest Favorites

Norwegian Aqua, set to be the 20th ship in the NCL fleet, will also feature returning guest-favorite venues and shows, including the expanded “Improv at Sea” comedy club with more seating, and “The Price is Right LIVE on NCL” where guests will “come on down,” for the opportunity to spin the wheel and win big in the “Showcase Showdown”. The ever popular “Syd Norman’s Pour House” also returns to feature rock-and-roll tributes to Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and other legendary artists of the Classic Rock genre. Additionally, the highly sought-after Fleetwood Mac tribute experience, “Syd Norman’s Presents: Rumours,” which is a staple of the intimate dive-bar venue and always performs to a packed house, will now be offered in the main theater, accommodating over 700 guests in each show, making it the ultimate concert experience.

 Beginning April 2025, Norwegian Aqua will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., featuring calls to the tropical island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. Following the ship’s Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025 and then cruise five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the “Cruise Capital of the World,” beginning October 2025 through April 2026.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE NAMES NEW GRAND BAHAMA PORT DESTINATION “CELEBRATION KEY”

As Carnival gets ready to open itineraries in late September for cruises that will call on its highly-anticipated exclusive cruise port destination on Grand Bahama, it revealed the name – Celebration Key – to guests, employees, travel advisors and Bahamian officials today. Celebration Key is the first port destination exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line guests and its name is based on the vision for the destination to be a celebration of all that Carnival and The Bahamas has to offer for a memorable vacation. Once complete, it will be capable of welcoming two million guests each year.

“We are working very closely with the Government of The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority to ensure that we are highlighting the best of Grand Bahama and its culture, combined with fun like only Carnival can provide,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “Invoking the natural beauty of Grand Bahama, every day at Celebration Key will be a celebration of our guests’ own making with a variety of experiences and something for everyone.”

Grand Bahama is a northern island of The Bahamas and is known its breathtaking beaches, lush vegetation, and friendly people. Celebration Key will offer a uniquely Bahamian experience with an abundance of features and amenities, including a   one-mile stretch of white-sand beach, as well as Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options for Carnival guests to enjoy. For the ultimate convenience and maximum enjoyment time, the adjacent cruise pier will be able to accommodate up to two of Carnival’s Excel Class Ships simultaneously to allow guests to walk off the ship and arrive at Celebration Key. A groundbreaking ceremony for the destination was held in May 2022 and design, engineering and construction work is now underway.

In late September, Carnival plans to announce further details of the destination, along with opening for sale the first itineraries on at least ten ships from multiple homeports that will include a visit to Celebration Key, with the first cruises calling on the destination in July 2025.

CARNIVAL CELEBRATION ANNOUCES NEW ENTERTAINMENT

Get excited! Carnival Celebration’s big debut from Miami is only a month away, and from what I hear she’ll be bringing new reasons to celebrate nights at sea with never-before-seen live entertainment! Onboard you can enjoy a collection of new main production shows, cutting-edge technology, and next-level talent that will dazzle them every evening.  From aerialist acts, to game shows, parties, and events. Carnival Celebration will offer elevated and engaging presentations, upbeat vibes, energetic music, playful choreography, colorful scenes, and tons of fun.

THE MOST MAGNIFICENT CIRCUS

A story of celebrating self-discovery and acceptance will unfold to reimagined popular hits as a big-top circus comes to life. Taking talent to new heights – literally – wire-rigged performers will showcase their skills leaving the stage behind to soar above and beyond the audience, creating action in every direction. Guests will adventure through a fully immersive theatrical circus experience as the most extravagant aerialist show in the fleet uses all of the ship’s high-flying capabilities to the max, with mesmerizing trapeze, chair, chandelier, hoop, ladder, and mirror aerial performances throughout.

COLOR MY WORLD

Romance will be in the air as a popular artist and his assistant go on a journey of love through art and color. The artistic love story will blend fun dance styles such as street jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, and ballet with the best songs from indie rock and pop genres. Combining different mediums of art to create a visually captivating experience, this vibrant and colorful show will feature live painting on stage with music and choreography to match.

THE VISUAL SYMPHONY

Starting in December….As the name suggests, this innovative show will use the Celebration Central’s 16 massive moving LED screens, lasers, and classical rock music to create a high-tech visual masterpiece. Pushing the boundaries of theatrical performances, the show will take full advantage of the cutting-edge technology and special effects in Celebration Central’s three-deck-high space. As the LED walls’ content is synced with the choreographed lighting designs, the elevated multimedia experience will deliver an extraordinary live performance.

RIO CARNIVAL

Starting in May, this vibrant and high-energy Brazilian extravaganza will have guests moving their hips in a parade and celebration of music and dance as the cast performs authentic samba, bossa nova, marchinha, batudada, forro, carimbo, and capoeira to some of the most famous Latin pop songs of all time in both in Portuguese and English.

That’s not all, in addition to Color My World, Playlist Productions will present the enchanting Celestial Strings and Cuban-meets-Latin Amor Cubano shows as well as Center Stage’s festival-inspired We Are One performance.

T’S ALL FUN AND GAME SHOWS!

If you love Family Feud Live, Deal or No Deal, and the Love and Marriage game shows, well then we are sure they’ll have the best time with some of the new offerings including:

WHAT’S AGE GOT TO DO WITH IT

In this question and answer trivia show for fun of all ages, one parent and child will have to prove they are the best family duo.

CASH BASH

In partnership with the casino team, guests can win cash prizes as they compete in Fun Squad challenges and interactive activities.

GUESS THAT GROOVE

You will have to listen up and get ready to move as they show off their knowledge of iconic tunes and groovy dance skills.

The amazing news doesn’t end there. It wouldn’t be a Carnival cruise without new parties, of course! From Celebration Happy Hour at Latitudes Bar, to the new electrifying Evolution mega-dance party hosted by the ship’s pro DJ, this ship will have no shortage of ways for your clients to celebrate.

Make sure to spread the news! Carnival Celebration will launch her year-round, seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean beginning November 21st from our redesigned state-of-the-art Terminal F at PortMiami.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES CARNIVAL CELEBRATION’S SENIOR OFFICERS

Experienced Team to Lead Next New Excel-Class Ship Arriving in Miami This Fall

As its newest ship is just three months away from joining the fleet, Carnival Cruise Line today named the senior leadership team of Carnival Celebration, set to arrive to Carnival’s hometown homeport, PortMiami, this November. Capt. Vincenzo Alcaras, Chief Engineer Fabien Gervaise and Hotel Director Pierre Camilleri will lead more than 1,700 crew members on the new ship.

Carnival Celebration is currently under construction at Meyer Turku in Finland, and its new leadership team is there getting acquainted with the new ship as construction is completed.

“We’re proud to assemble this team of talented and knowledgeable maritime professionals to lead a dedicated crew on our next innovative Excel-class ship, Carnival Celebration. We can’t wait to welcome guests to vacation with all this ship has to offer, and this team will ensure a great onboard experience for our guests,” said Carnival President Christine Duffy.

Get to Know Carnival Celebration’s Senior Officers

Capt. Vincenzo Alcaras: When Carnival Celebration completes its first week in service from Miami, Capt. Vincenzo Alcaras will also mark his 26th anniversary with Carnival Cruise Line. Starting in 1996, Capt. Alcaras, who is originally from Italy, worked on Carnival’s first Celebration iteration, the M.S. Celebration, as a second officer. He was promoted to first officer while on board M.S. Celebration and was then promoted to Safety Officer two years later. He first became captain in Sept. 2006 on Carnival Miracle. He’s worked on several ships throughout the fleet and he has been part of the inaugural team for newbuilds, overseeing the delivery of Carnival Breeze and Carnival Celebration’s Excel-class sister Mardi Gras.

“I have a strong connection with Carnival Celebration, like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep,” said Alcaras. “There’s nothing like standing at the edge of the ocean, seeing its vastness on the horizon, and doing so will be all the more special for me from this ship as it holds a special piece of my own personal history with Carnival Cruise Line.”

Five Facts about Capt. Vincenzo Alcaras

Favorite place on board: Wheelhouse

Favorite food on board: My recipe at Cucina Del Capitano

Favorite Playlist Show: Celestial Strings

Most memorable moment with Carnival: When I was appointed captain on Carnival Miracle in 2006.

Favorite things to do when not on board: I love to spend time with my family as much I can, read books and watch soccer.

Chief Engineer Fabien Gervaise: For more than 22 years, Fabien Gervaise has worked on many ships across the Carnival fleet, including several recent newbuilds. Born in France, he moved with his family to Italy when he was a child and went on to start with Carnival in April 2000 as a third engineer on Carnival Paradise. He was promoted within his first two years to second engineer and in the early 2000s, he also served as an onboard environmental officer. He became chief engineer in December of 2013 on Carnival Breeze.

Five Facts about Fabien Gervaise

Favorite place on board: The front of ship’s open deck

Favorite food on board: Bonsai Sushi

Favorite Playlist Show: Celestial Strings

Most memorable moment with Carnival: Alaska cruise with Carnival Legend among the fjords.

Favorite things to do when not on board: I’m a licensed amateur radio operator and I enjoy talking with friends all over the world and building electronic devices for communications. I also love fishing.

Hotel Director Pierre Camilleri: Now in his 18th year with Carnival, Camilleri joined the company in 2004 as hotel director after managing a variety of hotel and resort properties in his native Malta, as well as Europe and Asia. He has served as hotel director on several Carnival ships and has been part of the inaugural teams for Carnival Breeze, Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Mardi Gras.

Five Facts about Pierre Camilleri

Favorite place on board: It will be The Gateway on Carnival Celebration

Favorite food on board: Big Chicken

Favorite Playlist Show: We Are One

Most memorable moment with Carnival: The day we sailed with guests on Mardi Gras during summer 2021 after the long pause.

Favorite things to do when not on board: Spending quality time with my three lovely daughters, Jessica, Julia and Ella based in England, Malta and Hungary.

Debuting from the redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami, Carnival Celebration will join sister Mardi Gras as the second Carnival ship in the fleet powered by a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system, part of Carnival Corporation’s pioneering green cruising platform. Carnival Celebration will offer year-round, seven-day Caribbean sailings beginning with its inaugural cruise from Miami on Nov. 21.