News in Brief: Seatrade Cruise News Latest Headlines

 

Ilma's yachty differences shine in Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debut Off Saint-Tropez, a sea of fabulous yachts. This week the biggest, newest and most attention-getting was Ilma, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's sleek beauty stretching 790 feet/241 meters. Full article

Grand Bahama Shipyard $600m transformation will make world's largest cruise repair facility The Bahamas government inked an agreement with Grand Bahama Shipyard, authorizing a $600m transformation project to position the facility as a global leader in cruise and commercial ship repair. Full article

Line-up for Seatrade Cruise Med 2024 opening keynote confirmed The line-up for the Seatrade Cruise Med 2024 State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry Keynote is confirmed. Full article

CLIA Australasia holds biggest Southern Hemisphere cruise convention Cruise Lines International Association Australasia’s Cruise360 2024 in Sydney on Friday was the biggest cruise convention and trade exhibition ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. Full article

Tibet features in Viking's 2025 China/Japan cruise packages Viking's 2025 Asia program expands on China ship Zhao Shang Yi Dun's itineraries in China, Japan and Korea with Tibet by air as a new featured destination. Full article

Cruise industry ‘vital’ for Asia says Patricia Yuen, HKTB’s director, cruise The cruise industry plays a vital role in Asia’s economy, generating numerous positive outcomes for the local community, Hong Kong Tourism Board’s director, cruise, Patricia Yuen, told Seatrade Cruise. Full article

Port Tampa Bay bags Oceania Cruises for an early 2026 series Oceania Cruises will offer Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings from Port Tampa Bay in early 2026. Full article

New 2026/27 Carnival cruises feature expanded Half Moon Cay Half Moon Cay will feature in more Carnival Cruise Line itineraries in 2026 and 2027 when the destination is expanded and gains a pier so ships can dock. Full article

First Buccellati jewellery boutique at sea to appear on Explora II Explora II will feature the first-ever Buccellati jewellery boutique at sea. Full article

Coral Expeditions sees strong Kimberley demand, 2026 sales open soon Coral Expeditions reported a successful 2024 season cruising the Kimberley, with record booking levels for 2025. Full 2026 season details will be available September 9. Full article

Port, destination and cruise line executives learn from each other in Visby, Gotland TUI Cruises and Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) organized for the first time a TUI Cruises' Gotland Day in Visby on board Mein Schiff 7 during a recent transit visit. Full article

Zelim man overboard recovery system awarded type approval Zelim’s SWIFT Rapid Man Overboard Recovery system received full type approval from Lloyd’s Register. Full article

Sales open for Crystal cruises in first half 2026 Crystal opened sales for individual cruise segments for the first two calendar quarters of 2026 for Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. Full article

Ponant's Sam Chamberlain hones target organization/leadership team Sam Chamberlain, who became CEO for Ponant in the Americas in April, reached his target organization and identified his six-member leadership team. Full article

Ritz-Carlton, Starboard inaugurate first Bvlgari boutique on a yacht The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Starboard Cruise Services inaugurated the first Bvlgari boutique on a yacht, the soon-to-debut Ilma. Full article

New name, same cruise network. But what is Cruise Denmark – Copenhagen and beyond? This year, the Danish cruise network ‘CruiseCopenhagen’ changed its name to ‘Cruise Denmark – Copenhagen and beyond’ due to its nationwide focus on cruise tourism. Full article