Travel advisors know that upscale cruise clients often desire to do more than simply view iconic sites ashore. Increasingly they also seek to explore local culture, music, storytelling, tastes and traditions. So, in the latest cultural news for cruise-selling advisors and their customers, Azamara has unveiled 35 new, exclusive and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings for 2026.
In fact, nearly every Azamara cruise of nine nights or longer next year will offer a one-of-a-kind AzAmazing Evening cultural experience ashore, while most seven- and eight-night cruises will offer one such shipboard experience. During a 15-night “China Intensive Cruise,” departing October 16, 2026, Azamara Pursuit‘s guests will sip cocktails and watch a dazzling Sichuan Opera cultural performance showcasing the traditional Chinese art of face changing, plus acrobatics and traditional dance.
Alternatively, Azamara Onward‘s guests sailing on the 17-night “Eastern and Southern Africa Cruise,” departing April 24, 2026, will take a candlelit walking tour through the UNESCO-listed Fort Jesus Museum. That will be followed by a light-and-sound show brimming with Swahili music, lasers, holograms and fireworks.
Separately, last week, Silversea also issued an update on its cultural and sports opportunities. For example, one upcoming voyage will take luxury guests to view Monaco’s Grand Prix, a Formula 1 motorsports race, while another will give guests a chance to see Japan’s springtime cherry blossoms.
On the cruise sales front, 1,200 Cruise Planners‘ franchise travel agency owners, advisors and associates learned last week that collectively the group’s overall vacation sales are up 14% year-over-year. Plus, luxury sales have increased 20% year-over-year, while cruise sales are up 15%. Cruise Planners executives also revealed other statistical takeaways during the “CP World: Rock On” annual conference on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas.
Most exciting, though, according to travel advisors that we chatted with, is Cruise Planners’ introduction of new Next-Gen Tech and AI Tools. Also on the AI front last week, Virgin Voyages and Google Cloud said they’ve partnered to launch AI Agents.
Cruise Port News
Increasingly, port destinations are taking action to manage cruise visitor numbers and prevent overtourism. Catalina Island’s City Council authorized Avalon City Manager David Maistros to negotiate a five-year preferential access agreement with the Magical Cruise Company Ltd. — doing business as Disney Cruise Line — for arrivals at the California isle. Two Disney ships would likely call on Tuesdays and Saturdays during the peak season over the next five years. According to the Catalina Islander, Disney has proposed a higher overall total fee for wharfage and preferential scheduling as part of any agreement.
While Disney ships are somewhat smaller than some others that call or might desire to call at Catalina Island over the next few years, “smaller capacity ships may provide an overall more enjoyable experience for passengers as well as other island visitors and residents,” Maistros wrote in a city report, stressing that “reduced crowds will result in less congestion.” He also said there would be more activity opportunities for visitors, plus quicker queuing at the Cabrillo Mole Ferry Terminal.
(The State of Baja California)
That said, many ports across the globe are tackling infrastructure improvements such as new terminals or piers with the goal of smoothing the cruise call arrival process and increasing cruise visitation. For example, Hutchison Ports’ Ensenada Cruise Port Village welcomed its one millionth passenger of the year on October 9, according to the port’s Linked In social media page. Infrastructure improvements also mean that the port can now accommodate such larger vessels as Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.
Along Florida’s Space Coast, Port Canaveral raised its parking garage fees for cruise passengers from $17 to $20 per day, effective October 1, 2025, according to Cruise Industry News. But it’s the first time in eight years that the port has done so, and many port infrastructure enhancements have debuted during that time frame.
(Photo by Port)
New Sailings, New Ships
Carnival Cruise Line has opened new 2027-2028 itineraries, featuring a mix of Caribbean sailings from three U.S. homeports and expanded European voyages, including a special solar eclipse sailing on July 29, 2027. Carnival Miracle will sail from Galveston, Texas, before heading to Europe for the summer season. Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise will continue cruising to the Caribbean from Jacksonville and Tampa.
In addition, MSC Cruises opened sales for its summer 2027 Alaska season, while Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Aqua has arrived in Miami for its winter 2025-2026 season of Caribbean voyages.
Travel Agent Central published a review recently about “Seagoing Star: 10 Things to Love About the New Icon-Class Ship. And we’re excited about the potential for the next Icon-class ship, the new Legend of the Seas. Launching in 2026, it will be the boldest of the series yet in serving the important, yet challenging, multi-generational family market, says CruiseNews.com.
Starting March 1, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line’s onboard drink packages will no longer cover drinks ordered by guests who are enjoying the day ashore at Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private-island-style Bahamian destination. According to Cruise Critic, complimentary beverages including water, iced tea, juices and more will continue to be available on the island after that date. In addition, while details are not yet available, passengers traveling on or after March 1, 2026, should be able to pre-purchase a new beverage package for use on Great Stirrup Cay, beginning on January 1, 2026.
Partners and Personnel Moves
Ponant Exploration Group has teamed up with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the world’s largest independent ocean science organization, for a three-year partnership to advance ocean research and education. In another eco-conscious move, yacht company TradeWinds has aligned with the UN Call for Sustainable Tourism.
In major personnel news, Carol Cabezas returns to the Royal Caribbean Group as senior vice president, global sales for ultra-luxury Silversea, effective October 14, according to Seatrade Cruise News. She’ll oversee the line’s sales organization including trade and consumer sales, call centers and e-commerce. She’ll report directly to Bert Hernandez, Silversea’s president. She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in sales, finance, revenue management and investor relations. She previously served as president of Azamara, overseeing the sale of that upscale brand several years ago to Royal Caribbean Group.
On his Linked In social media page, Captain Hernan Zini, another cruise veteran who’s served Royal Caribbean Group, announced that he’d been hired by MSC Cruises USA as the line’s new vice president of itinerary planning, port operations and commercial services.
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