Celebrity Cruises takes delivery of Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Ascent has officially joined Celebrity Cruises’ fleet of award-winning ships redefining premium travel, as company officials took delivery of its newest ship at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. The fourth ship in the line’s innovative Edge Series, Celebrity Ascent continues to shatter preconceived notions of cruising with its forward-thinking design by the world’s leading architects and interior designers; culinary excellence from Michelin starred chefs; wellness woven throughout the experience; expansive onboard entertainment and more. Celebrity Ascent will make her official debut in Fort Lauderdale on December 3, with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing visiting such popular destinations as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.

Welcoming the ship to the Celebrity Cruises family were Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge, and Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l'Atlantique. Captains Dimitrios Kafetzis and Tasos Kafetzis, the first brother captains honored with taking a new ship from the shipyard, were also on-hand for the celebration, along with 1,400 Celebrity Ascent crew members.

To mark the moment, they participated in several maritime traditions including the signing ceremony and the changing of flags onboard the ship, along with a celebratory toast in the ship’s spectacular three-story Grand Plaza.

“Celebrity Ascent is yet another example of innovation driving our mission to provide the best vacations responsibly,” said Liberty. “The ship continues Celebrity’s ambition to redefine premium travel and take it to new heights,” said Liberty. “I want to thank and congratulate the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team, our Newbuild and Celebrity Cruises’ teams and their partners for the vision, craftmanship and passion that went into bringing this spectacular ship to life.”

“Celebrity Ascent features all the innovative and award-winning Edge Series signature experiences that launched a new era in cruise ship design, plus a few new enhancements, and I can’t wait to welcome our guests aboard,” said Hodges-Bethge. “It is a true honor to welcome this ship to our fleet and I am so grateful to everyone involved with all that goes into a launching new ship.”

“I am convinced that Celebrity Ascent will meet the same success as the other ships in the prestigious Edge Series. Its fine exterior and interior design and its exceptional seaworthiness make it an outstanding ship. Celebrity Ascent embodies the strong bond between the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Royal Caribbean Group and Celebrity Cruises teams,” said Chantiers de l’Atlantique General Director Laurent Castaing.”

Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship will be Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) unveiled today the evolution of the Prima Class with the all-new Norwegian Aqua, the first of the expanded Prima Plus Class setting sail in April 2025.

Starting today, travelers can book Norwegian Aqua’s first voyages to the Caribbean with 7-night itineraries departing from one of the world’s most sought-after cruise ports, Port Canaveral, Fla. Voyages include calls to the idyllic 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.

The legacy continues with renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri constructing this next-generation Prima Plus Class. Building upon the award-winning experiences of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Aqua will set new standards and deliver brand-new guest experiences to be discovered with an overall 10 percent size and capacity increase from its sister ships. Spanning 1,056 feet long, 156,300 gross tons and accommodating 3,571 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Aqua will offer more outdoor space and the highest staffing levels of any new contemporary cruise ship.

"Norwegian Aqua is a true testament of fusing together what represents the future of our Brand as the first ship in the Prima Plus Class, and our commitment to pushing the boundaries in guest-first experiences that will make new waves at sea," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Named for both the beautiful shades of blue from the ocean and our connection to the sea, Norwegian Aqua will feature new, elevated and exhilarating offerings that once again showcase NCL as the innovator in the industry and as a key contributor to a new era of cruising."

Norwegian Aqua will showcase a lively and colorful hull art design by NCL’s first-ever major female hull artist, Allison Hueman. World-renowned for her street art and global brand collaborations, including Nike, L’Oreal and Google, Hueman’s distinctive art style is a blend of ethereal realism. Norwegian Aqua’s design, entitled "Where the Sky Meets the Sea," is curated by Goldman Global Arts and evokes modern mythology through colorful mashups of abstract and figurative representations of sea and sky, ruled by ancient goddesses.

"I’m honored, not only to be the first major female hull artist for Norwegian Cruise Line, but to also know that my artwork will be roaming the seas touching different parts of the world," said Allison Hueman, Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist. "It’s incredibly special for me to partner with a brand that believes in the magical connection between art and exploration."

World's first hybrid coaster

Norwegian Aqua will premiere the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster. Complete with exhilarating dual slides and a magnetic lift that propels adventurous guests through two different courses, this NCL exclusive experience will feature three stories of exciting twists and turns around the ship's funnel.

The new Glow Court, a digital sports complex with an interactive LED floor, will offer a variety of interactive guest activities by day and then transform into a nightclub in the evening. Guests will also be able to continue to enjoy some of their favorite Prima Class experiences aboard Norwegian Aqua, including The Drop, NCL’s 10-story free-fall slide, and the Stadium, a now expanded game space offering complimentary activities.

Largest Haven complex to-date

Boasting NCL’s first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites, Norwegian Aqua will offer all-new luxurious accommodations in the Brand’s premium keycard-access-only-complex, The Haven by Norwegian. These four two-story spacious suites feature separate living and dining areas; three bathrooms; a sprawling balcony; and three bedrooms, of which two include a king size bed, with the master offering floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking ocean views. The Haven aboard Norwegian Aqua will offer the largest Haven complex in the fleet with 123 well-appointed suites, including access to an expansive, dedicated sundeck; a serene infinity pool overlooking the ship’s stern; an outdoor spa complete with a glass-walled sauna and cold room; two hot tubs; a private lounge; exclusive bar pouring rare spirits and vintages; and sweeping sea views available from every public space. Haven guests will continue to enjoy 24-hour butler service and a dedicated concierge team.

Norwegian Aqua will offer a variety of the most spacious accommodations in the fleet including inside, ocean view and balcony category staterooms, while solo travelers will continue to enjoy NCL’s signature Studio staterooms, which are priced and designed with the solo traveler in mind and include private keycard access to a dedicated Studio Lounge. The ship will also feature the Company’s latest solo stateroom expanded categories, solo inside, solo oceanview and solo balcony, offering more space and variety of accommodations to single cruisers at reduced fares that are less than the cost of paying double occupancy.

Debuting on board Norwegian Aqua, The Haven will feature four three-bedroom duplex suites as apart of the largest Haven complex across the fleet.

More family-friendly public areas

NCL’s family-favorite Splash Academy, for children ages three to 12, will return to Norwegian Aqua. Adolescents aged 13 to 17, can engage in fun, age-appropriate activities at Entourage, NCL’s signature teen club, which will enjoy its very own dedicated space.

Guests looking to spend their days lounging at sea, will enjoy Norwegian Aqua’s infinity edge pool with expanded seating, and for the first time in NCL’s fleet, day beds will be available on the main pool deck for guests to lounge and relax. For an elevated and adults-only experience, the expanded Vibe Beach Club will also offer more lounge seating. With additional outdoor spaces, guests can spend their days exploring and enjoying NCL’s most expansive Ocean Boulevard to-date, the outdoor walkway that wraps around the entire ship complete with Oceanwalk, a glass bridge that offers great photo opportunities; Infinity Beach featuring expanded vistas and intimate pools overlooking each side of the ship; and La Terrazza, the open-air lounge with sweeping sea views.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, New York and Portmiami

Following a series of seven-day Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, Fla., Norwegian Aqua will offer five and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025. The ship will then sail five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the "Cruise Capital of the World," beginning October 2025 through April 2026.

Additional new features and highly anticipated guest experiences aboard Norwegian Aqua will be unveiled in the upcoming new year.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas begins second sea trials

Royal Caribbean International’s highly anticipated Icon of the Seas begins its second and last round of sea trials, one of the final construction milestones. For several days on the open ocean, the first-of-its-kind vacation will be pushed to the limit ahead of its January 2024 debut in Miami. Teams of experts will test everything, from the six record-breaking waterslides and seven pools to the first waste-to-energy plant at sea and the engines’ top speeds.

Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland is expected to deliver 250,800 gross ton newbuild next month.

Koper creates first-ever Gourmet Festival to celebrate the arrival of Azamara’s four-ship fleet

Azamara, the small-ship cruise line renowned for Destination Immersion experiences and Extended Destination Days, brought its four ships together again on October 5 in Koper, Slovenia. In celebration of the fleet’s arrival, Azamara guests were welcomed by the city of Koper with its first-ever Gourmet Festival to highlight the city’s culinary experiences and connect with the local community.

“It’s such a unique moment to have our four ships meet once again and host all of our guests at a specially curated event where they can experience local gastronomy while meeting new people from this wonderful country,” said Mike Pawlus, Head of Itinerary Planning at Azamara. “Our local tour operator, Atlas Express, who we honored as an AzAmazing Partner in 2023, has done a phenomenal job bringing the destination to life for our guests. We’re thankful to the Municipality of Koper, the Slovenian Tourism Board, the Port of Koper, and Visit Koper for all their support in making this happen.”

Guests from each of the four ships – Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit, and the fleet’s latest ship, Azamara Onward – were given complimentary tickets to enjoy the Gourmet Festival’s local cuisine, wines, and entertainment. The Vice Mayor of Koper, Mateja Hrvatin Kozlovic, presented the four captains with a plaque to commemorate this occasion and celebrate the collaboration between Azamara and local partners and officials.

Azamara’s Extended Destination Days offered the opportunity for guests onboard Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit to enjoy a late night in port to discover the destination’s undiscovered haunts and hotspots, while guests onboard Azamara Quest experienced an immersive AzAmazing Evening in Tito Square following the event.

World's first battery-hybrid expedition cruise ships meet in Northwest Passage

A momentous event unfolded on August 28 in the Northwest Passage as Hurtigruten Expeditions’ Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen crossed paths for the first time in their respective histories. The bow-to-bow meeting of the battery-hybrid vessels – including Roald Amundsen, the world’s first hybrid battery-powered cruise ship, also named after the first explorer to traverse the Northwest Passage – took place in Cambridge Bay, Canada. Guests and crew were invited to celebrate with flags, banners and warm beverages on the top decks.

“This gathering serves as a moment to celebrate our legacy,” said Hurtigruten Expeditions' Group CEO, Daniel Skjeldam. “As the founders of expedition cruising in 1896, we are born explorers, taking generations of travellers into the unknown.”

The two ships crossed during Fridtjof Nansen’s 27-day westbound Northwest Passage sailing to Nome, Alaska and Roald Amundsen’s 26-day eastbound Northwest Passage sailing to Halifax, Canada. Guiding the vessels are Captain Terje Willassen and Captain Raymond Martinsen, united in their pursuit of navigating the historic route. “Passing Zenith Point, I'm struck by the remarkable achievements of past explorers in these cold, remote places more than one hundred years ago. However, it's the enduring presence of today's inhabitants, surviving here since the Thule era, that commands my utmost respect,” said Captain Raymond Martinsen.

In the wake of great explorers: Roald Amundsen

An ice-covered maritime route that links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic, the Northwest Passage has long captivated the imaginations of travelers. In 1906, Roald Amundsen (best known for being the first person to reach the South Pole) pioneered the first successful Northwest passage crossing, a three-year journey culminating in Nome, Alaska. His achievement was the result of diligent study, learning from both former explorers and native Inuit societies who provided indispensable insights into surviving in the Arctic.

Captain Terje's unique connection to Roald Amundsen's legacy – growing up and residing in the same Norwegian town as the prolific explorer – adds a layer of significance to this occasion. “Growing up, listening to the tales of Roald Amundsen, and sailing aboard the ship named in his honour through the Northwest Passage fills me with pride. The expedition that consumed three years of his life, we strive to conquer in a mere 24 days. This experience both uplifts my pride and instils humility within me as I trace the path of this remarkable explorer,” said Terje.

More than a passerby: ties to the passage

Like Roald Amundsen, Hurtigruten Expeditions is guided by the invaluable insights gained from local scientific study and communities. During their passage, both ships will offer guests opportunities to conduct research on behalf of third-party entities with the expedition cruise line’s Citizen Science program. Projects available to guests during this journey include eBird, iNaturalist, Cloud observations, Secchi Disk, and Happywhale. Additionally, travellers onboard Roald Amundsen will journey alongside guest scientist Frances Crable, a PhD student collecting oceanographic and hydrographic data along the route.

Furthermore, this year, the Hurtigruten Foundation granted funds to Red Fish Arts Studio, aiding disadvantaged youth in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Another beneficiary – Oxen Expedition Engagement Network, founded by Alex McNeil, Senior Vice President of Expeditions Product at Hurtigruten Expeditions – seeks to integrate local perspectives in the Arctic travel experience and support local business growth in Arctic communities.