Carnival Cruise Line is offering passengers a multi-course dinner experience in under an hour as part of its latest onboard enhancement, Express Dining.
Currently, Carnival passengers can spend up to two hours at dinner in the Main Dining Room, with early dining starting around 5:00 p.m. and late dining starting after 7:00 p.m.
But with the new Express Dining experience, dinner can be over in a much quicker time frame.
Available every night in the ship’s main dining room, groups of six and fewer have the opportunity to finish their meal in only an hour, according to a recent press release from the cruise line. The offering is perfect for family and friends who want a quick meal to go catch a show or put the kids to bed.
Express Dining is already available on 15 of Carnival Cruise Line’s ships, with plans to expand to the full fleet by the end of May.
“Our guests continue to tell us they value greater flexibility in how they spend their time on board, and Express Dining was designed with that in mind,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our pilot program generated positive feedback from our guests.
“With this in mind, we are excited to expand Express Dining to offer them the same high quality dishes and attentive service our dining rooms are known for, while giving guests the ability to use more of their time to enjoy all the other onboard fun.”
Despite its speedy service, Express Dining still maintains “a thoughtfully curated menu, mirroring the main dining room offerings, with a slightly abbreviated selection,” as noted in the release.
The offering is currently available on ships including the Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Firenze, and Carnival Panorama.
(Independent Online)
Malcolm says: Dose this idea make perfect sense or is it the beginning of the end? Let me know what you think.
Personally, I feel that dinner should be savoured and SHOULD last a minimum of 1.5 hours, but I do appreciate that cruising is not all about me. I can see how today’s families would be incapable of siting still for more than an hour. In fact, it is probably a novelty for many families to actually eat at a table, let alone all sit together. (The image above looks like ‘lobster tail’ is being served. I can’t imagine many kids selecting that option, rather than a hamburger or pizza).
Are Brits losing out in compensation, compared to US passengers.
Watch this great video from ‘Sail Away Magazine’.
Malcom says: I’m not a P&O fan anyway, but reports like this don’t help persuade me that they are worth my money. There increasingly bigger ships get very mixed reviews.
I’ve not actually been to see a travel agent, face to face, for many decades now.
(Remember this: people talking face-to-face, shelves and brochures?)
Back in the day (a phrase which means that I am now old), I used to regularly ‘pop’ into my local travel agent’s shop, in the high street. I recall it was a ‘Lunn Poly’ branch, if you remember them. I believe that they became ‘Thomson’, who then became ‘TUI’.
Inside the shop, were vast bookcases of thick, glossy holiday brochures, which I would regularly take home. I must admit it was all a bit wasteful, as 99% of those brochures, hit my bin pretty quickly, after a quick thumb through…
TUI River Cruises will launch the TUI Elara in summer 2027, the company’s fifth ship in its European fleet, the company said in a press release.
(TUI Elara)
The 138 passenger vessel will operate five, seven and 14 night sailings along the Rhine, Moselle, Dutch and Belgian waterways from Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Basel.
“As we enter our fifth year of sailing, we’re thrilled to continue expanding our fleet with the introduction of the TUI Elara to Europe’s waterways,” said Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises.
The ship will be the first in the TUI River fleet to sail to Brussels.
The TUI Elara will offer 15 itineraries in total, including five new routes along the Rhine, Moselle, Dutch and Belgian waterways.
The adults-only ship will feature 70 cabins, including eight French balcony junior suites.
The ship will feature the Verdastro as its main à la carte restaurant and the Observatory as the primary lounge, bar and entertainment space.
Full board plus is included as standard with an all-inclusive upgrade option.
The ship will also offer day and night entertainment programming.
A newbuild, the TUI Luzia, will sail exclusively on the Douro River in summer 2027.
(TUI)
Malcolm says: TUI are my top tip for good value European river cruises. See below…
Great Value River Cruise
Over Christmas 2024, I (Malcolm) took a TUI European river cruise which was almost perfect.
Ok in reality, it was not actually “perfect” of course, nothing is, but it was very enjoyable and ticked all of my boxes.
(TUI Isla, December 2024)
Sadly, most European river boats DO NOT meet my simple requirements:
I require:
Good accommodation
Good food and service
Good entertainment each evening
A reasonable fare
Ideally, some included perks
Now, you would not think that the above list would be very difficult to fulfil, given the vast number of river cruise lines and boats to choose from, but it is.
There are many river products out there that offer good-great food, service, and accommodation. However, most have fares that are simply eye-watering. I’m not going to pay £8K*+ for a couple, for a 7 night river cruise, plus extra for the flights.
A travel expert has warned that a common holiday habit could see you landed with a fine – before your trip has even started.
Many British holidaymakers arrive in Italian cities such as Rome and Portofino with their luggage in tow, ready to sightsee straight from the airport or train station.
But what most don’t realise is that doing so could be illegal.
Italy has introduced tourist behaviour laws, with specific luggage rules prevalent.
In Rome, dragging a wheeled suitcase down the Spanish Steps is banned under the city’s urban decorum laws, with fines starting at €250 (£218) and rising to €400 (£350) or more if damage is caused.
In Portofino, a municipal regulation explicitly bans tourists who linger in congested areas with suitcases, with fines reaching up to €500 (£437).
Jacob Wedderburn-Day, travel expert and CEO at luggage storage company Stasher, says the laws are catching Brits abroad off guard.
Jacob explained: ‘These rules point people to doing what feels completely normal when arriving in a new city: bags in hand and heading straight to iconic landmarks.
‘The problem is that marble staircases that have stood for centuries can’t handle millions of suitcase wheels grinding across them each year.
‘Even the vibration from bouncing luggage down steps causes microscopic damage that accumulates over time.’
Police in Rome actively patrol hotspots throughout the day and respond quickly.
Jacob adds: ‘Never treat your arrival day as a sightseeing day if you still have your bags with you.
‘Head straight to your accommodation or use a luggage storage service first because being slapped with a fine by local police before your holiday has even started is not the kind of experience anyone wants.’
There are plenty of other rules that could see you hit with a hefty fine, too.
In the Acropolis, Greece, no high heels are allowed.
Jacob explains: ‘Greece has banned sharp-heeled footwear at ancient sites, including the Acropolis and the Epidaurus Theatre. The fine for ignoring it can reach up to €900 (£786).
(Daily Mail Online)
Malcolm says: As a tourist, I am increasingly getting the feeling that I am unwanted. However, bigger/softer rubber wheels on suitcases makes a lot of sense.
M/S Sudan Nile Cruise Is like being on no other cruise ship on the Nile, build at the dawn of the 20th century, the steam ship Sudan brings turn-of-the-century travel on the Nile to life again.
The 5 suites and 18 cabins are laid out between the two decks, off broad passageways where the passengers can sit, relax and read in the evening, or enjoy a drink. Each cabin proudly bears a name linked to Egyptian history…
The Spirit of Tasmania V is a new, state-of-the-art Ro-Pax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) ferry built by Rauma Marine Constructions in Finland for TT-Line Company to operate between Geelong and Devonport.
It is a sister ship to Spirit of Tasmania IV, designed to handle the Bass Strait’s challenging conditions with LNG-powered, 212-meter, 47,994-gross-tonne vessels.
Feb. 2026 (above): The vessel is currently laid up at the Port of Leith in Scotland due to construction completion before necessary port infrastructure upgrades in Devonport, Tasmania, are finished. The building on the left is the Leith whisky distilliary. It has a nice bar at the top, overlooking the harbour, cruise terminal, and Royal Yacht.
Deployment Timeline: It is scheduled to remain in Scotland until at least May 2026, following a similar, delayed deployment schedule to its sister ship, Spirit of Tasmania IV.
Features: The ship features 301 cabins, increased capacity for vehicles and passengers, and advanced stabilizers for better comfort in rough seas.
Inaugural Service: The new ships (IV & V) are expected to fully replace the current vessels (I & II) around October/November 2026, following the completion of terminal upgrades.
Below: Sister ship ‘Spirit of Tasmania’, in Leith, Scotland 2025.
She has now re-located to Tasmania after six months at Leith.
The journey from Leith to Tasmania is 14,857 nautical mile (27,515km) and took about four weeks.
Elliott Investment Management, who have a 10% economic interest in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. They have sent a presentation and letter to the company’s Board of Directors pushing for big changes at the company.
The materials described Norwegian’s “strategic and execution missteps during a time of strong demand in the cruise industry, which have led to profound undervaluation and substantial untapped potential,” the company said in its letter.Elliott’s materials detailed the case for change, including a decade of “strategic misjudgments and poor execution, meaningful financial and stock-price underperformance and a long-term erosion of investor confidence. ”
In the materials, Elliott argued that the Board of Directors has failed to fulfil its fundamental responsibilities, including its most important obligation. to select the right leadership.Elliott criticized the Board for appointing successive CEOs who have each “destroyed significant shareholder value and said the recent abrupt appointment of a long-tenured Board member with no cruise-industry executive experience continues this troubling pattern of poor judgment and insufficient process.”
Elliott’s materials outlined a clear path for Norwegian to improve its financial performance, restore credibility with investors and materially boost its shareholder value. Elliott called for comprehensive Board change, including the addition of new, truly independent directors with relevant industry and operational expertise.
Elliott further called on the new Board to ensure that the right executive leadership is in place to execute an ambitious turnaround.
Finally, Elliott noted that the company must develop and implement a new business plan that achieves the best-in-class performance that Norwegian shareholders deserve. Elliott believes these actions create a clear path for the stock to reach $56 per share, or 159% higher than current levels.
“Norwegian benefits from a rare combination of secular tailwinds, high-quality assets and untapped opportunity,” Elliott wrote in its letter. “Realizing this potential, however, requires meaningful change.”
Elliott expressed its desire to reach a constructive resolution with Norwegian, while noting that it is prepared to take its case directly to shareholders at the company’s upcoming annual meeting.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holding has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Fincantieri for the design and construction of three new cruise ships.
The order includes one ship for each of the company’s brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with one vessel to be built as a sister ship to Oceania Sonata, one as a sister ship to Seven Seas Prestige, and one as a sister ship to the previously announced Norwegian Cruise Line newbuilds order.
All three ships will be built at Fincantieri’s shipyards in Italy and delivered between 2036 and 2037.
The Mediterranean will see close to 6 million cruise passengers this year, according to the upcoming 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.
CIN data shows that over 180 ships will sail in the region across 57 cruise lines, with capacity up 3.7 percent on a year-over-year basis.
MSC and Costa will together account for nearly 40 percent of the capacity in the Mediterranean this year.
Among North American brands, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity round out the top five, collectively accounting for approximately 18 percent of the market.
In addition, AIDA, Princess, Marella and TUI each bring significant capacity, while Viking Ocean has expanded its presence as it continues to expand.
New entrants and niche operators are adding further diversity. Aroya Cruises is positioning a ship in the region for a second straight year, while Orient Express is set to debut its much-anticipated Corinthian.
The capacity increase is being driven primarily by larger vessels.
Just because I write a cruise blog, doesn’t mean that I don’t book the wrong cruise occasionally.
Here is a story which dates back to 2019. It is about about a beautiful river and a little boat, from a major river cruise line. Sadly, this story is not a happy one!
(Scary? The senior crew)
Imagine a river cruise where the price was five star, but the onboard standards were one star.
Imagine a river cruise where crew members smoked on the bridge wings and their smoke drifted into your cabin.
(Porto – Cruising the river Douro)
Imagine a river cruise where the waiters were poorly trained and there was virtually NO choice of menu.
Imagine a river cruise where the included wine was generally ‘plonk’.
(Fine dining? Self-service Paella put in the middle of the table to share and a laminated menu)
Prologue
After several successful river cruises in Europe, I cruised on Portugal’s Douro river.
The river and scenery were FANTASTIC, possibly the most attractive river that I have seen. However, much of the experience onboard the boat was TERRIBLE. My advice is to simply avoid this river cruise line.
All the unpleasant details are in my review below.
‘Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ Marco Polo was a “real ship”. She was built in East Germany, in 1965, with an ice-strengthen hull. At 22,800 gt she was one of the smaller cruise ships, that regularly operated from UK ports. She could accommodate 820 passengers.
She was tragically scrapped post COVID, in 2021, at the age of 44, after the demise of CMV. Most cruise ships are retired at around 30 years old or earlier, so she had an exceptional innings.
(Marco Polo @ Tilbury: What a lovely fan-tail)
However, in 2022, the new Ambassador Cruise Line rose from the ashes of CMV, like a Phoenix. They are a new cruise line, but share some of the DNA (and a CEO) with CMV. They even occupy the same offices, in Purfleet.
Ambassador currently operate two ships ‘Ambience’ and ‘Ambition’.
I cruised on Ambition, in December 2023. She was built in 1999 and is the smaller of their two ships. Although somewhat bigger than the Marco Polo and bearing no external resemblance at all, some of Ambition’s public rooms reminded me of some of those onboard the Marco Polo. For example, the shopping Gallery is a little bigger, but looks very similar. Some of the bars/lounges also bare some similarities.
(Ambition)
Ambition has a more intimate feel than many ships today, including Ambience. Ambassador’s food and entertainment, is arguably better than some of CMV’s. Their two ships are less well-worn and less outdated.
Many of the crew members working onboard Ambience and Ambition are ex-CMV and have worked on a number of CMV ship, including the Marco Polo. Do you remember Mr. Lovely Jubbly?
The Marco Polo is gone. She can never be replaced, but on a cruise onboard Ambition, surprisingly I felt myself travelling down memory lane.
MSC Cruises is bringing its MSC Yacht Club to two additional ships, the MSC Musica and the MSC Orchestra.
The expansion marks the completion of the MSC Yacht Club refurbishment for the entire Musica class.
The MSC Musica will receive the upgrade later in 2026, ahead of the South American season, followed by the MSC Orchestra in the first quarter of 2027 ahead of its season in the Mediterranean from Bari, Italy.
Once complete, all four ships in the Musica class, the MSC Poesia, the MSC Magnifica, the MSC Musica and the MSC Orchestra will feature the MSC Yacht Club.
The MSC Yacht Club is designed as a ship within a ship concept, featuring spacious and elegant suites, 24-hour butler and dedicated concierge service, as well as exclusive private venues including a restaurant, lounge and sundeck.
Guests of the MSC Yacht Club benefit from personalized services.
This includes daily in-suite indulgences such as fresh fruits, macarons and chocolates, and a complimentary bottle of premium spirits.
Guests can take advantage of unpacking and packing services, private shopping appointments in the onboard boutiques outside regular opening hours, and more.
Guests will also receive MED by MSC, the cruise line’s exclusive collection of organic bath amenities crafted for MSC Yacht Club guests.
With the addition of the MSC Musica and the MSC Orchestra, the MSC Yacht Club will be available across 19 ships fleetwide.
The MSC Musica will sail in South America from November 2026 through April 2027, offering cruises to Brazilian destinations and eight-night to nine-night holiday sailings to Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Punta del Este over Christmas and New Year.
The season concludes with a 16-night transatlantic crossing departing Santos on April 1, 2027, to Genoa.
The MSC Orchestra will begin sailing with the new MSC Yacht Club from Bari, Italy, from March 13 to April 24, 2027, exploring Turkey’s destinations, including Izmir and Istanbul, with calls at Piraeus and Corfu, Greece.
(CIN)
Malcolm Says: MSC seem to get many mediocre and even poor passenger reviews, but most guests agree that the Yacht Club provides a very good experience.
Officials in Amsterdam are advancing a policy proposal to eliminate port calls by ocean-going cruise ships within the city limits by the year 2035, part of a broader maritime and urban planning strategy aimed at managing overtourism and its effects on the historic Dutch capital.
The launch of this initiative comes as the city prepares for municipal elections in March 2026, after which the newly formed city executive will be positioned to determine whether the phase-out will proceed. Amsterdam’s authorities have weighed the costs and benefits of relocating the existing sea cruise terminal outside the city against the option of discontinuing visits by large seagoing vessels, concluding that the substantial investment required to move the terminal would entail greater financial uncertainty than a gradual cessation of calls by ocean liners.
The projected economic impact of ending ocean cruise visits has been quantified by municipal analysts at around EUR 46 million in foregone port fees and tourism-related revenue over the next three decades, a figure that would accrue as the presence of large passenger ships diminishes. Amsterdam already has implemented measures to curb cruise traffic, including lowering the annual cap on ocean cruise ship calls to 100 beginning in 2026 and mandating shore-power connections for docking vessels to reduce emissions. Alongside these steps, river cruise ship movements are also subject to stricter limits, with the intent to balance the flow of visitors arriving by watercraft with the city’s sustainability and livability objectives.
PTA proximity to Amsterdam city centre
Under the proposed framework, river vessels would continue to access Amsterdam’s docks — albeit in reduced numbers — while ocean cruise ships would be effectively phased out by mid-century. The final decision rests with incoming municipal leadership, which is tasked with assessing the long-term implications for urban quality of life and tourism dynamics before formalising any ban on seagoing cruise calls.
(net)
Amsterdam PTA
Malcolm says: The world is starting to become offended by the pollution cruise ships bring and the vast number of passengers, than descended on a port, for a day. Bigger and bigger ships have not helped the situation. Although modern cruise ships are ‘greener’ than ever before, they are still massive polluters. (However plugging into shore power can allow cruise ships to turn of their generators in port). Venice of course, has also been very sensitive of this issue too, in recent years.
The last time that I was in Amsterdam, I was onboard the tiny ‘Marco Polo’. We docked the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA). This was opened in the year 2000. Its wave-like glass structure is a striking example of the modern architecture to be seen on the Amsterdam waterfront. I must say that it was very convenient, we were able to walk into the city, no shuttle bus required.
Over the past decades cruise ships have been progressively getting bigger and bigger.
When I first started cruising 70,000 gt was classed as a mega-ship. Now that tonnage is just regarded as mid-sized, at best.
Royal Caribbean’s new class of ship, “Icon of the seas”, is an amazing 250,00 gross tonnes – the world’s biggest. Including the crew, she can accommodate over 9000 people! Icon exceeds the size of the world’s former biggest ship, Royal Caribbean’s ‘Oasis’ class.
In addition, there are many other very big ships (MSC, NCL, etc.) are already in the shipyards order books, which will be entering service within the next decade or so. Therefore it is hardly surprising that there are two major concerns about today’s leviathans:
1) How well will the ships cope with the huge number of passengers that they carry.
2) How will the ports of call cope?
Many people are now asking the bigger question “Have cruise ships become too big”?
Mainland Britain used to be served with many ferry routes to her islands and Europe. However, many of the European routes became extinct. I guess this is because of the success of Easyjet and the other low-cost airlines, cheaper car hire, and the end of duty-free.
Plans for the new ferry route, from Rosyth, Scotland to Dunkirk, France, entitled ‘Project Brave’, were brought to the table in 2022. The service was scheduled to launch in spring 2025. However, there were delays due to lack of funding and the need to build a new border control facility to process certain goods at Rosyth. If everything goes to plan, the service could launch this as soon as the spring.
The Ferry would run three times a week and take a total 20 hours to get from one port to the other, making it one of the longest ferry routes in Europe (second only to the Portsmouth to Bilbao service, which lasts between 27 and 30 hours). Initially, it’ll be able to carry 51,000 passengers a year, with hopes to increase that to 79,000 later down the line. MPs estimate that it could bring a £11.5 million boost to the Scottish economy.
It wouldn’t be the first time that a ferry has run from Scotland to mainland Europe. There was previously a service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium, which took 17 hours and ran four times a week – but that was permanently as a passenger service in 2010.
Over 30,000 new berths will enter service in the cruise industry in 2026, with 14 new ocean-going ships slated to start cruising.
The ships were built at a cost of over $10 billion; they range from the biggest of them all: the Legend of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International and Disney Adventure, to Antactica21’s new Magellan Discoverer, with capacity for just under 100 guests.
In addition are two new market entrants with Four Seasons and Orient Express.
Ambassador Cruise Line has confirmed that the Ambience will enter a scheduled dry dock at A&P Tyne in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, on January 7, 2026, for a three-week program of technical maintenance and refurbishment works.
The project follows the recent refit of sister ship Ambition at A&P Falmouth and marks the continuation of Ambassador’s ongoing investment in its UK-based fleet.
Key elements of the refit include upgrades to the propulsion control system, engine overhauls, replacement of rudder bearings and SCR catalyst elements, and extensive steel and structural work throughout the tanks and hull areas.
The company said that, alongside these technical works, the project will deliver a wide-ranging program of guest-facing enhancements across accommodation and public areas.
Improvements include the:
Installation of additional plug sockets and USB and USBC ports in cabins and suites Refurbishment of guest lifts Replacement of carpets across selected decks and refreshed furnishings, and Finishes in suites, balcony cabins and public spaces.
A program to replace windows and improve visibility will begin, while the Green Sea Spa will receive a refresh, including new flooring, tiling, artwork and greenery to enhance the overall onboard ambiance.
Ambience set to become the largest cruise ship to enter dry dock in the North East in more than 20 years.
Ambassador Cruise Line added that upon completion of the works, the Ambience will return to service at her home port, London Cruise Terminal in London Tilbury, ahead of departing on the 40-night “Jewels of the Caribbean Sea” itinerary.
NCL’s 2027/28 season is highlighted by a significant capacity expansion in Puerto Rico.
For the first time, the company will deploy two Prima-class ships in San Juan: the Norwegian Prima and the Norwegian Viva.
The vessels will offer seven-night cruises to destinations in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean between November 13, 2027, and April 22, 2028.
The Norwegian Prima will sail from Puerto Rico every Saturday for weeklong cruises that feature visits to Road Town (Tortola), British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
(NCL)
Departing from San Juan on Sundays, the Norwegian Viva will offer seven-night cruises that focus on the Southern Caribbean, with stops in Aruba, Curaçao and more.
In addition to the expanded homeporting season in Puerto Rico, the deployment is highlighted by a strong lineup in Florida.
Seven ships will sail from the Sunshine State, including the Norwegian Luna, the Norwegian Joy and the Norwegian Jewel from Miami.
Three additional vessels, the Norwegian Aqua, the Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Epic, will sail from Port Canaveral, while another, the Norwegian Dawn, will sail from Jacksonville.
Norwegian’s 2027-28 season also features cruises departing from Galveston and New Orleans onboard the Norwegian Escape and the Norwegian Getaway,
respectively, in addition to itineraries on the West Coast on the Norwegian Encore.
The Norwegian Jade will return to Asia while the Norwegian Spirit is set to operate a season in Australia and New Zealand.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have named Marc Kazlauskas as president of Norwegian Cruise Line effective Jan. 19, 2026.
He joins the company with more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across sales, operations, and innovation in the global travel industry.
Kazlauskas most recently served as CEO of Avoya Travel, one of the largest travel companies in the U.S. and a leading travel platform and host agency. Prior to this, he served as president of FROSCH and managing director of Chase Travel Group, a JP Morgan Chase company.
NCLH said he has a strong proven track record in driving commercial performance, customer-experience enhancements and major modernization initiatives that align with Norwegian’s continued focus on disciplined pricing, operational efficiency and elevated guest offerings.
(NCL)
Malcolm says: They come and go, but good luck to him. There never appears to be much continuity of management over the years, with NCL and some other cruise lines.
MSC Cruises today announced a new order for four next-generation cruise vessels and two additional options from Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany marking the launch of its “New Frontier” platform.
With a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 at 180,000 tons, the “New Frontier” ships will be delivered annually starting in 2030.
The announcement was made today at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and Energy Minister-President Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago and Meyer Werft’s CEO Dr Bernd Eikens.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises, said: “Meyer Werft’s track record, expertise and proud history make it a true beacon of European shipbuilding. Together, we will create vessels that redefine the cruise experience while preserving the craftsmanship that keeps Germany at the forefront of maritime engineering. The New Frontier class will enable us to design new and exclusive itineraries, offer exceptional guest experience and will feature next-generation environmental technologies that will advance our net-zero 2050 commitment.”
In a ‘major breakthrough’ for Virgin, the Eurostar rival says it can now progress with plans to launch its cross-Channel rail services, offering routes from 2030. The Government’s Office of Rail and Road have announced that Sir Richard Branson’s company will be allowed to use the Temple Mills International rail depot to maintain their fleet of 12 trains.
The Temple Mills site has been in high demand, with several of Eurostar’s competitors vying for space at the depot. Richard Branson has previously said space here was a ‘major hurdle’ in being able to offer a service. But now, the regulatory green signal puts Virgin on course to introduce cross-Channel services from London St Pancras to Europe within the next five years.
Sir Richard Branson said: ‘The ORR’s decision is the right one for consumers – it’s time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route. Virgin is no stranger to delivering award-winning rail services, and just as we have successfully challenged incumbents in air, cruise and rail, we’re ready to do it again. We’re going to shake-up the cross-Channel route for good and give consumers the choice they deserve.’
Data from Cruise Industry News’ global cruise ship orderbook, which is valued at $63 billion through 2036, shows that just under 70 vessels are currently on order for the next decade.
The lineup leading into 2036 will add approximately 178,243 berths for an average cost of $354,898 per berth.
The average size of the new ships is now 113,600 tons, while the average capacity lies in the 2,500-guest range.
The 2026 orderbook totals a total of 14 new ships with an average size of 102,428 tons and 33,107 berths, averaging a price of $323,255.
I am lucky enough to have been on a few river cruises. However, one down-side for me is that all modern European river boats all tend to be very similar to each other. Only the livery, décor and onboard operation really differs. Most are even a similar in size, and length, with three passengers decks.
Most river boats, have a deck plan similar to the one below (an Amadeus vessel). Emerald, Celebrity and AmaWaterways* vessels are also built to the same design.
The basic layout is: a small foyer amidships, a bar/lounge at the bow of one deck and a restaurant at the bow of another deck. There may be one or two other small public rooms, such as a gym.
The cabins on deck one have small windows or port-holes. Other cabins tend to have a Juliette balcony (or infinite balcony with drop down window), with floor to ceiling windows. There are normally standard cabins and some bigger suites, on offer.
River boats do not have the extensive facilities that Ocean ships do, of course, simply because they are so much smaller. However, AmaWaterway’s ‘AmaMagna’ is the exception.
(AmaMagna)
AmaMagna is about twice the width of a regular European river boat. Regular river boats carry 160-170 passengers, but AmaMagna carries 196.
The deck plans do not really do her increased size justice.
However, the video below does better show her scale. She’s like two boats welded side-by-side, together. This boat will probably change your perceptions of river boats.
Malcolm says: I appreciate that AmaMagna is a unique luxury product. However, the cheapest fare that I could see in 2025 was £2,725pp for a five night cruise (based on two sharing).A 7 night cruises was 3,675pp. That is a bit too expensive for my budget. However, I will write an extensive review when they give me a free cruise!
I have been lucky enough to cruise on some more modest/cheaper river vessels.
Why river cruises are better than ocean cruises – HERE
The cruise industry is welcoming 70 new cruise ships over the next decade, according to data from the latest update of ‘Cruise Industry News’ global cruise ship orderbook.
Valued at $64.8 billion, the lineup will add approximately 185,000 berths to the market, for an average cost of $352,457 per berth.
The average size of the new ships is now 115,607 tons, while the average capacity lies in the 2,600-guest range.
Royal Caribbean Group has announced a long-term agreement with Meyer Turku that secures Royal Caribbean Group’s rights to build at their shipyard through the next decade.
As part of this agreement, the group also confirms an order for Icon 5 to be delivered in 2028 and adds an option to build Icon 7 (in addition to the previously announced option to build Icon 6).
The company said in a press release that to date, Meyer Turku has built, and Royal Caribbean Group has launched, two Icon Class ships with the Icon of the Seas (January 2024) and Star of the Seas (August 2025), with the third Icon ship, the Legend of the Seas, scheduled to sail next year (Summer 2026).
Icon 4 is scheduled to be delivered in 2027.
In addition, this multi-year agreement readies Royal Caribbean Group for a new, game-changing class of ship beyond Icon.
(RCI)
Malcolm says: great news for some ship lovers and a “worst nightmare” for others. I wonder what “beyond Icon” will look like? You can read my “Oasis” experience HERE.
The SS United States Conservancy owns an extensive collection of ship artefacts, fixtures, furnishings, vintage audio-visual material, and archival documentation that tell the story of the SS United States and situate America’s Flagship in its cultural and historical context.
For over a decade, the Conservancy has advanced plans for a future museum to house its collections and has explored both shipboard and land-based design possibilities and visitor experiences.
Celebrity Cruises said that priority booking access for its newly announced river cruises sold out in just six minutes.
According to the company, the product experienced “unprecedented demand” after opening for bookings on the morning of Sep. 3, 2025.
Priority access allows guests the first chance to book Celebrity’s new river sailings before they become available to the general public.
Back Story:
Celebrity Cruises revealed its first two riverboats, set to sail in 2027, the Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker.
“Celebrity River Cruises ships will be the most innovative on the river, with a patent-pending industry-leading design that offers more space to vacation while bringing guests even closer to destinations,” said the company. Its revolutionary open decks offer the most usable outdoor space of any river ship and remain accessible throughout the entire journey.
Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker offer guests the chance to dine floating above the river on the Magic Edge – the first-ever cantilevered dining pods.
The company said its revolutionary open decks offer the most usable outdoor space of any river ship and remain accessible throughout the entire journey.
Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker offer guests the chance to dine floating above the river on the Magic Edge – the first-ever cantilevered dining pods.
Transformative shade structures, furniture and a top-deck bar and grille, maximize guests’ time on deck.
Plus, an infinity-edge plunge pool invites guests to cool off while taking in the sights.
For the cabins, Celebrity said innovative stateroom design delivers intuitive storage, enhanced configuration, king sized beds in every stateroom and spacious balconies. Suite guests also enjoy a dedicated, on-demand butler through Butler Chat, complimentary exclusive dining, room service and happy hour experiences, complimentary laundry once each sailing, and priority booking for shore excursions.
For food and beverage, there are eight restaurants and bars – including Celebrity-favorite venues Martini Bar, Sunset Bar and Café Al Bacio.
33 seven-night sailings on the Rhine and Danube are available to book for the line’s opening season.
(Celebrity)
Malcolm says: Celebrity have a very good reputation as a premium ocean cruise provider. Their food, for example, is pretty rated highly. I don’t doubt that their river cruise product will be equally good. Their very positive “branding” explains the unprecedented demand.
I do note that the Celebrity river fares are pretty high, as you might expect. I’ve not done a comparison, but I bet that they are similar to Viking’s river cruise fares.
However, I do wonder how “inovative” their river product will really be. After all, there is a lot of quality competition sailing on Europe’s rivers.
Most modern European river boats are the same size and of a very similar design (4 decks). Celebrity Cruises will have its new European riverboats built by TeamCo Shipyard, a company based in the Netherlands. TeamCo has a history of constructing river vessels for other cruise lines, including Amadeus, AmaWaterways, and Emerald Cruises.
Celebrity Cruises has ordered 10 new vessels from TeamCo. Looking at the deck plans, the general layout looks very similar to most other riverboats. As for the statement: “The boats revolutionary open decks offer the most usable outdoor space of any river ship and remain accessible throughout the entire journey”, I can’t see “more useable deck space” on the deck plans. Their riverboats appear to be the same size as many other boats, so they appear to have a similar amount of deck space. If their design really does offer more deck space as they say, I can’t imagine it is a lot more.
I do note that some of the higher grade of cabins have small balconies, which is not such a common feature. The other river lines mentioned do have ‘infinite’ balconies, as Celebrity do.
Celebrity say: “…guests have the chance to dine floating above the river on the Magic Edge – the first-ever cantilevered dining pods.” You can see these in the video below. They look like a bit of a gimmick to me. Let’s hope that they don’t hit a bridge or another boat!
Celebrity says: “..there are eight restaurants and bars.” This sounds more than most river boats. However, I doubt if they will all be open simultaneously. So it remains to be seen if there will really be as much food/beverage choice as it sounds. Although, Celebrity claims 24/7 food, but who needs this?
Surprisingly, children over four years old will be allowed on board. This will divide public opinion. I would suggest that river cruising is NOT a suitable experience for most kids.
Finally, I think the entertainment is a major weakness onboard most river boats. Now, you can’t have a fully fledged theatre onboard a river boat, there’s no space. However, I would like to see something better dedicated to entertainment, rather than just the corner of a lounge. I would like to see a purpose-built entertainment space, with a small stage, professional lighting, and sound. Disappointingly, Celebrity do not appear to offer anything new here.
Finally, I am not suggesting that Celebrity River Cruises will not be a very good product. Their brand is their strong point. I just wonder how different the experience will be from other premium/luxury river cruises.
Carnival Cruise Line recently became the latest cruise line to deploy one of its newest and largest ships on short cruises to the Bahamas.
Following a trend that has been on the rise over the past few years, the company will dedicate the Mardi Gras to four- and five-night cruises departing from Port Canaveral starting in May 2027.
Having deployed the new Utopia of the Seas on short cruises out of Port Canaveral, Royal Caribbean International is dedicating a second Oasis-class ship to a year-round schedule of three- and four-night sailings.
Norwegian Cruise Line is also increasing its capacity in the short cruise market with newer and larger ships.
The itineraries, which were historically operated by smaller ships like the 2,000-guest Norwegian Sky, will now be operated by the Norwegian Getaway starting this November.
MSC Cruises is also following the trend with the MSC Seaside kicking off a series of three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas out of Miami starting in November.
(CIN)
Malcolm days: I believe Brits have traditionally favoured two week cruises. I also believe that Brits get more annual leave than North Americans do, plus many Brit cruise passengers were/are often retired. Shorter itineraries are, of course, much cheaper. They probably attract younger cruisers/families. The downside is that you can’t get very far with a departure from the American or UK coast in a few days. I prefer a cruises of at least 7 days. This could take you to Norway, from a UK port, for example.
The Hawaiian Department of Transportation is planning to significantly reduce cruise ship visits in an effort to cut the state’s carbon emissions.
(Not photoshop, my real image taken in Hawaii)
The measure is part of Hawaii’s Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan, which is available online and aims to slash emissions by 75 per cent by 2035.
To reach the goal, the local government is planning to implement a series of actions, including cuts to the current cruise activity on the islands.
Using 2023 numbers as a reference, the plan calls for a 50 percent reduction in the number of cruise calls by 2030, followed by a 75 percent reduction by 2035.
A special focus will be given to limiting the number of ships arriving in the state with over 3,000 passengers.
Reducing the number of cruise ships visiting Hawaii’s ports “could result in substantial environmental co-benefits, as well as emissions reductions,” the government noted.
The plan calls for the Hawaiian Department of Transportation to implement regulations limiting both the number of calls and the size of cruise ships visiting Hawaii.
However, the indirect economic impacts of the strategy “must be carefully examined,” the state noted.
Hawaii wants to require all cruise ships visiting commercial ports, except for homeported vessels, to operate on low- or zero-emission fuels.
(CIN)
Malcolm says: This is another example of countries/ports resisting the ever expanding cruise calls and passenger numbers. After all, most new mass-market cruise ships carry 3,000 passengers or more. Hawaii is very beautiful, and they want to keep it that way.
Only one cruise ship homeports at Honolulu, Hawaii. That is NCL’s ‘Pride of America’. However, she only carries 2,500 passengers. She offers 7 night round trips of the Hawaiian islands every week of the year. Other ships (often bigger) visit Hawaii from mainland USA, such as from Los Angeles or San Francisco. It will be interesting how this affects itineraries and cruise availability in the future.
The city of Amsterdam revealed some measures it plans to implement to reduce river cruise traffic.
City officials note it welcomed nearly 2,000 river ship calls in 2024.
Amsterdam aims to limit river cruise calls at 1,150 per year.
River cruise visitation represents about 2% of the total visitation to Amsterdam, fuelling about $257 million in direct tourism, the European River Cruise Association says.
The city wants to reduce the number of visitors arriving via river by around 250,000 by 2028.
This could mean docking in the city during set time periods, Verbeek said.
“We can perfectly manage that.”
It follows Amsterdam’s tentative plans to cut down on ocean cruise ships too.
It plans to relocated ocean ship docking berths out of the city within the next decade.
It is part of a broader policy to better manage tourism and cut overcrowding.
This has already led to plans to suspend new hotel projects and cracking down on tourists’ anti-social behaviour.
Progress continues to be made on the redeployment of the SS United States as an artificial reef, Okaloosa County announced.
As it gets ready to be sunk off the coast of Florida, crews removed the 65-foot forward smokestack from the former ocean liner on Monday.
According to Okaloosa County, the funnel will be preserved in a secure location for future use in the SS United States Conservancy’s land-based museum.
The vessel’s main mast was also removed and now the aft funnel is expected to be detached over the next few days.
(Proposed museum)
This is a massive next step toward an environmental effort that will benefit our local marine habitat and build upon our robust tourism industry in Destin-Fort Walton Beach,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon.
The 990-foot vessel will join more than a dozen large ships that have already been deployed in the Gulf by the Natural Resources Team at Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
(CIF)
Malcolm says: to quote the above text – “Progress continues to be made.” Sorry, But I don’t call that progress!
They also said: “This is a massive next step toward an environmental effort that will benefit our local marine habitat…” but it does not preserve maritime history. Scuttling the ship does not achieve that, in my opinion.
2/8/25 Ambassador’s new ship* ‘Resaiassance’ is seen here moored in Scotland’s Firth of Forth river, (adjacent to Leith, Edinburgh) She was tendering passengers ashore.
(Telephoto image, hence quality)
*London/Paris – 9 January 2025: Ambassador Cruise Line and French cruise operator CFC (Compagnie Française de Croisières), have reached an agreement to merge, forming the “Ambassador Group”.
With Ambassador’s success in the UK market and CFC’s strong presence in the French no-fly cruise sector, the combined operators provide a formidable platform from which to expand the newly formed Ambassador Group’s footprint in the European market, taking advantage of the significant growth in the European cruise sector over the next decade.
The Group will operate a fleet of three small-to-mid-sized vessels incorporating Ambassador’s Ambience and Ambition and CFC’s 1,200 guest-capacity Renaissance, which is fully refurbished following recent multimillion-euro investments.
Both the Ambassador and CFC vessels will continue to offer a traditionally British or French product offering to their respective markets, with each brand retaining its unique national identity so as to ensure that allAmbassador Group is introducing a joint fly-cruise Caribbean programme in Winter 2025/26 in partnership with Corendon, a leading European travel operator. With itineraries from October 2025 and homeporting in Barbados, Martinique and Curaçao, sailings will combine source markets from the UK, France and the Netherlands, marking the Group’s entry into the fly-cruise market.
MS Renaissance re-entered service in June 2023. The ship was built in Italy in 1992 as Maasdam for Holland America Line, the second ship in a series of vessels known as S-Class.
The ship was bought in 2022 by a new French operator, Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC).
MS Renaissance is 55,575 gross tonnes. CFC reduced her capacity from 1,258 passengers to 1,100 passengers.
Finland-based shipping company Viking Line is to launch an emission-free route between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia, which will be serviced by what is hailed as “the world’s biggest” all-electric passenger car ferry.
Christened Helios, the vessel could enter service in the Gulf of Finland as soon as the 2030s.
The ferry will reportedly be equipped with a battery capacity of around 85-100 megawatt hours (MWh). It is set to transport up to 2,000 passengers across the Gulf in just over two hours. The length of the concept vessel is 195 meters. Its width is envisioned to be 30 meters, while the unit is projected to achieve a speed of approximately 23 knots.
According to Viking Line, the ferry will necessitate a charging capacity of over 30 MWh.
Speaking on the development, Viking Line’s CEO Jan Hanses said that this was a ‘great opportunity’ for both Helsinki and Tallinn ports in terms of the establishment of a green maritime corridor between Estonia and Finland.
“Electric shipping is not created solely by ship investments. It also requires efficient, reliable charging infrastructure in ports. The home port for the new electric vessels would be Jätkäsaari, where the Port of Helsinki has a development and expansion programme underway until 2032.
The progress of this project is extremely important for our own plans,” he further elaborated, adding that the company has plans to book at least two units that would service the planned route.
MSC has 17 ships in the European market, with 13 sailing in the Mediterranean and four in Northern Europe, said Gianni Onorato, CEO, in an interview with Cruise Industry News.
Onorato also pointed out the new 5,400-guest World Asia, which will debut in Europe in 2026, making MSC the only brand putting new tonnage into the European market.
“The key feature for our European homeporting is accessibility,” he said, pointing to air, high-speed rail and drive-in potential.
“Some ports are responding to this type of need, while others are more difficult.
“With so many embarkation points, we pick up local guests that have easy access in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK and elsewhere.”
MSC has key investments in Barcelona and Marseille in terminals, and Valencia continues to become more important as Spain is a key source market for MSC, Onorato said.
“It is really accessible with high-speed trains from Madrid; similar to Marseille with Paris,” he continued.
Potential
The core European markets remain full of potential.
“In Italy, the market is about 1 million guests in a country of 60 million people,” Onorato said. “France is very tiny as is Spain, and in Germany, we are offering a different product from the national brands; it’s the same in the UK. If guests want a British experience they can consider one of the other brands, if they want a more international experience they can choose MSC.”
Germany may represent the market with the most potential, as its the largest holiday-package market in Europe, Onorato said.
Emerging source markets include Eastern Europe, highlighted by Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
“These countries have residents who are travelling the world and cruise is an opportunity,” Onorato said.
Inventory Management
MSC has a unique differentiator in Europe which is its interporting program, meaning guests can board at any port on an itinerary and then disembark a week later. They are not tied in to starting their cruise on a Sunday for instance.
Growing
Further south, there are programs out of Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, and from Brooklyn, while the company expands its Caribbean presence with a year-round program from La Romana with the 2004-built Opera beginning in winter 2026-27 through summer 2027. For the winter 2026-27 season, the Opera will be joined by the 2018-built Seaview, marking the first time the company operates two ships during the season in the South Caribbean.
(Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Summer 2025)
The Ambassador Group is stronger as a result of the merger earlier this year between Ambassador and Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC), CEO Christian Verhounig told Cruise Industry News.
He said the merger will strengthens the company’s presence in the no-fly cruise market and expand its product offerings, including a new joint Caribbean fly-cruise program set to launch this autumn.
“CFC will retain a French product for its home market, primarily operating from Dunkirk and Marseille. Itineraries include Northern Europe, the British Isles, the Nordics, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and West Africa,” Verhounig explained. “Ambassador will continue to focus on adults-only no-fly cruise experiences combined with multi-generational itineraries.”
The fleet includes Ambassador’s 1991-built Ambience, which launched the brand coming out of the pandemic, plus the 1999-built Ambition, which joined in 2003, and CFC’s 1993-built Renaissance.
According to Verhounig, Ambassador’s success in the U.K. market and CFC’s strong presence in the French market will provide a formidable platform from which to expand the merged business’s footprint in the European market.
“We are always looking for suitable additions to our fleet. We are exploring several opportunities, and there are many, but we have yet to make a decision. For us, growth has to be natural and, when the time is right, we will provide an update as appropriate,” he said.
“Our priority is to build on the momentum we’ve created, which is demonstrated by our forward bookings that are at an all-time high: growing our loyal guest base, expanding our fleet responsibly and continuing to offer a wide range of authentic, accessible cruise experiences,” Verhounig said.
“We are confident in our potential and ability to become a market leader. With strong forward bookings, high guest satisfaction and a focus on ESG, accessibility and innovation, Ambassador is well-positioned for long-term success.”
(Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Summer 2025)
Malcolm says: Regular readers will know that I am an Ambassador fan. I don’t see why they shouldn’t enjoy long term success, given their good value/good quality product (for the fare paid). However, being cynical, I remember reading how successfully ‘Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ (CMV) were doing in late 2018. They operated five vessels at the time, mainly from UK ports. Their 2019 season was already half-sold. Then COVID struck, which caused them to go bust! There are no certainties in business.
(Although Ambassador are ‘technically’ a new cruise line, they rose from the ashes of CMV).
Viking has announced that its first river voyages in India will take place in 2027 on the Viking Brahmaputra (below), a new 80-guest vessel designed for the Brahmaputra River.
Currently under construction and scheduled to debut in late 2027, the Viking Brahmaputra will sail between Guwahati and Nimati Ghat in the northeastern state of Assam as part of Viking’s new 15-day itinerary, “Wonders of India”.
In addition to an eight-day river voyage, the itinerary includes a fully guided land program with overnights in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
“With its rich heritage, deep cultural traditions and fascinating natural wonders, India is a vast and vibrant country that has captured the imagination of explorers for centuries,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking.
“In recent years, our guests have particularly enjoyed visiting Indian ports on our ocean itineraries. We are now delighted to introduce a new way for curious travellers to explore the heart of this phenomenal country, in-depth and in Viking comfort,” Hagen added.
The Viking Brahmaputra will accommodate 80 guests in 40 outside staterooms, and all staterooms and suites will feature floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a veranda.
Amenities include a spa and fitness centre, as well as an open-air sky bar on the Upper Deck.
According to the company, the 15-day Wonders of India itinerary will operate roundtrip from Delhi, with hotel stays in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur that bracket an eight-day Brahmaputra River voyage, sailing east or west, respectively.
The program includes 13 tours and 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlights include Agra’s Taj Mahal, Old Delhi and Jaipur’s Palace of Winds.
While sailing the Brahmaputra River, guests will see Guwahati’s temple, the villages along its banks, the one-horned rhino and buffalo of Kaziranga National Park and Majuli.
Viking is also offering new pre- and post-land extensions for the Wonders of India, including Delhi (two nights), Dubai (three nights, fully guided), Kathmandu (four nights, fully guided) and Cochin and Mumbai (five nights, fully guided).
(Viking)
Malcolm says: Sounds fascinating. If you are interested, mortgages are available!
Ambassador Cruise Line will operate exclusively as an adult-only cruise company for its entire 2027/28 season, marking a big shift in its business model. The decision affects all 75 itineraries scheduled between March 24, 2027 and April 14, 2028.
The cruise operator said the move to eliminate multi-generational cruises came after “extensive” guest feedback.
For the first time in the company’s history, no cruises will accommodate children, even during school holiday periods. The company stated its aim is to “create a calm, adult-focused community at sea” across its two-ship fleet, Ambience and Ambition.
The 2027/28 programme encompasses 32 no-fly cruises and four festive events aboard Ambience, whilst Ambition will operate 43 cruises.
Both vessels will depart from multiple UK ports including London’s Tilbury terminal, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol Royal Portbury and Portsmouth.
The fleet will visit 131 ports across 41 countries on three continents, with 10 new destinations added to the itinerary. These include Hellesylt in Norway, Fredericia in Denmark, Torquay in the UK, Ibiza in Spain, Klaksvik in the Faroe Islands, and Samana in the Dominican Republic.
Viking has welcomed 12 ocean cruise ships to its fleet in a ten-year timeframe following the delivery of the new Viking Vesta from Fincantieri.
Viking named its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta, with a traditional ceremony in Split, Croatia over the weekend. The ship was recently delivered from Fincantieri to Viking.
(Courtesy Ships Monthly)
The Viking Vesta will now continue her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
“As we celebrate 10 years of ocean voyages in 2025, we are pleased to welcome the new Viking Vesta to our award-winning fleet of elegant sister ships,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking.
(Viking)
Malcolm says: As I have often said, the speed of Vikings ocean (and river) fleet expansion is eye watering. The other cruise line, which amazes me, with its growth, is MSC cruises. I often wonder where all the passengers will come from. In MSC’s case, their cheap fares often undercut many of their rivals. However, Viking of course charge top dollar. I guess there are still plenty of people willing to pay for quality.
WaterWorld by Malcolm Oliver 
