News In Brief: Seatrade Cruise News Latest Headlines

 

It's official: MSC Cruises is expanding to Galveston MSC Cruises is expanding beyond the US East Coast for the first time with sailings from the Port of Galveston, starting in November 2025. Full article

Ports go to MARSEC 2 after Ecuador declares state of emergency (updated) Ecuadorian ports went to MARSEC Level 2, which calls for additional protective security measures, following the declaration of a nationwide state of emergency. Full article World's largest cruise ship Icon of the Seas arrives to fanfare at PortMiami home Icon of the Seas, the new world's largest cruise ship at 250,800gt, is home, arriving at PortMiami early Wednesday to fanfare by air, land and sea. Full article Port Everglades ILA-member porters get hospitality training Port Everglades' professional porters who are members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local 1526 are participating in a hospitality training program. Full article HX’s Alex Delamere-White, Jim Sayer and Nathaniel Sherborne promoted Following six months as acting interim CCO at HX, Alex Delamere-White is HX’s new CCO, with Nathaniel Sherborne and Jim Sayer also stepping up. Full article NCL taps new heads of Experiences at Sea, Sixthman Norwegian Cruise Line appointed Neil Brodie to lead Experiences at Sea as VP and Jeff Cuellar as the new CEO of Sixthman. Full article Oceania Cruises' Nathan Hickman moves up to SVP global marketing Nathan Hickman was promoted from VP to SVP global marketing at Oceania Cruises. Full article

Cruise Saudi confirms it's acquired World Dream, renamed Manara Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, confirmed the purchase of the former Genting Hong Kong ship World Dream but wasn't able to comment on the price. Full article

Local cuisine and zero-alcohol bevvies among growing F&B trends Local dishes, sustainable seafood and low/zero-alcohol beverages are predicted to be among the leading cruise F&B trends for this year and beyond, while inflation and supply chain disruption are set to continue. Full article Carnival adds a fourth Galveston ship offering longer cruises Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its Galveston offerings by bringing a fourth ship to the port for longer sailings. Full article Expanding to S. America, AmaWaterways plans two-ship Colombia river program AmaWaterways now plans two custom-built vessels for its expansion into South America with culturally rich cruises on Colombia's Magdalena River. Full article Singer Nicole Scherzinger to become godmother of P&O’s Arvia Singer and presenter Nicole Scherzinger will serve as godmother for P&O Cruises’ Arvia and will perform during the ship’s naming ceremony in Barbados this month. Full article Natalya Leahy succeeds Josh Leibowitz as Seabourn president Natalya Leahy, chief operating officer for Holland America Group, is succeeding Josh Leibowitz as president of Seabourn. Full article Carnival Corp. & plc arranges new forward starting $2.1b credit facility Carnival Corp. & plc arranged a new forward starting $2.1b multi-currency revolving credit facility that will replace its existing multi-currency revolving credit facility upon its maturity in August 2024. Full article Cruise planners call for Baltic 'reimagining,' sustainability support The Baltic is still very much a feature for cruise lines' North European deployments despite the impact of the war in Ukraine and the removal of the previous must-have destination, St Petersburg. Full article