The world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International’s new, 248,663-ton Star of the Seas arrived at Port Canaveral, FL, on Saturday. Following a series of showcase voyages and a christening by godmother and music icon Diana Ross, the Icon-class ship will set sail at the end of August on seven-day eastern and western Caribbean voyages.
Travel Agent Central will board August 13 for a three-night preview cruise, so stay tuned for our firsthand insights. Akin to a city at sea, Star of the Seas offers 40 bars, restaurants and lounges; the largest water park at sea; an ice-skating rink; escape room experience; laser tag; and expansive play areas for children of all ages. Among more than 2,800 staterooms are several suite options that accommodate up to nine guests.
Sister vessel Icon of the Seas, which also homeports at Port Canaveral, was the scene of a scary incident last week. A guest was sliding on the Frightening Bolt Waterslide when a high-up acrylic glass panel broke. Water poured through a large hole to the deck below. That waterslide has a 46-foot drop, the biggest at sea. While not ejected, the guest was injured but is stable, according to Cruise Hive. The waterslide has been closed, pending an investigation.
Cruise Tourism: Too Much, Too Little?
Small, family-owned tourism-related businesses are publicly expressing concern about the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s (HDOT) proposal for cruise restrictions within the state’s proposed 2025 Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan. Under the proposed regulations, designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Hawaii’s cruise ship port calls would be slashed 50 percent by 2030, compared with 2023 call levels.
Plus, those cuts would rise to 75 percent by 2035. Even more strict in this proposal is that calls by ships carrying more than 3,000 passengers would be reduced 75 percent by 2030, compared with 2023 levels, according to Seatrade Cruise News. Homeported ships (most notably, Norwegian Cruise Line’s U.S.-flagged Pride of America) reportedly would be exempt.
In a brief statement, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said that it supports “practical and effective environmental solutions that positively impact the communities that we visit.” It described the cruise industry as “a leader in advancing sustainability technology and practices.” Annually, cruise tourism contributes $965 million to Hawaii’s economy. It supports 6,400 jobs and results in $216 million in wages. CLIA said a significant portion of that benefits multiple Hawaiian islands.
In a different region, the Dominican Republic and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) recently strengthened their ties, pledging to boost cruise tourism and create long-term benefits for that country’s economy, communities and cruise guests.
Short and Long
Travelers who’ve never cruised often desire to try out cruising via a short voyage. In addition, a cruise line’s loyal past guests may desire to combine a short cruise with a city stay, work trip on land, escorted tour or even another voyage. To meet those needs and draw both new-to-cruise and past guests, Windstar Cruises has launched new “Quick Getaways” in Europe.
Alternatively, much longer Grand Voyages and World Cruises also are proving popular. Oceania Cruises announced its new 129-day “Kangaroo Route” sailing, crafted from its 180-day “Around the World” cruise in 2027. Departing on February 26, 2027, the 1,200-passenger Oceania Vista will sail to more than 80 ports across 34 countries and four continents. Overnight stays are planned at Cairns, Australia; Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; Mumbai, India; Luxor, Egypt; and Bordeaux, France.
More Cruise News
(Virgin Voyages)
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady arrived in Iceland on a maiden port call, and Brilliant Lady is ready to debut. MSC Cruises has expanded its port and itinerary options for winter 2026 and 2027. In one notable shift, the 4,488-passenger MSC Meraviglia will not homeport in New York as expected for the winter but instead do so in Miami.
The new 4,000-passenger Disney Destiny was floated out at Meyer-Werft in Papenburg, Germany. The ship’s maiden voyage is November 20, 2025, from Port Everglades (Greater Fort Lauderdale), FL. Fueled by liquid natural gas (LNG), the 144,000-ton ship is a sister to Disney Wish and Disney Treasure.
Princess Cruises launched its largest ever Japan deployment for 2027, while upscale Azamara has elevated its ships’ suite experience with new inclusions. For its cruise guests heading to Antarctica, Silversea is building its own luxurious hotel, The Cormorant at 55 South, opening in Puerto Williams, Chile, in 2026. For its guests staying at that Patagonia hotel, the line has unveiled new outdoor experiences to put them in an expedition mindset before they set foot on the White Continent.
Clients who are “Downton Abbey” fans may like knowing that Queen Elizabeth’s November 27, 2025, cruise from Miami will have a special Insight Speaker onboard. Cunard Line is bringing aboard British actor Hugh Bonneville, famed for his roles as Lord Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Mr. Brown in the “Paddington” franchise.
Explora Journeys has unveiled its new “Invitation to Explore” promotion, while Costa Cruises is celebrating the end of summer with a “Labor Day Sale” featuring a free balcony cabin upgrade offer on select itineraries. On the river cruise front, AmaWaterways and Smithsonian Journeys have partnered for a portfolio of 2027 river cruises, while Riviera Travel, which operates European river cruises, has unveiled a new web site.
Onboard Activities
Crystal announced that beloved former cruise director Shane Morley has returned to the line aboard Crystal Symphony. He’ll help ensure that luxury cruisers know about and enjoy shipboard programming, activities and entertainment.
(Photo by Holland America Line)
Separately, Holland America Line says that one of its most popular guest activities is pickleball. All that line’s ships have pickleball courts. In celebration of National Pickleball Day on August 8, 2025, all Holland America’s ships offered expanded play time, pickleball lessons led by the ship’s sports director, and a pickleball-themed cocktail: the “Backspin Spritz.” A spirited Pickleball Day Tournament on Rotterdam also offered round-robin matches, prizes and support from fellow cruisers.
Personnel and Trade News
Expedition line HX appointed Kelvin Murray as director of expedition operations. Celestyal Cruises has launched a trade engagement survey and incentive. Internova Travel Group announced its new 2025-2026 Distinctive Voyages Planner.
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