Latest news with #cruise
Travel Weekly
an hour ago
- Travel Weekly
Ponant is adding a second ship in French Polynesia
Ponant Explorations Group is adding a second vessel in French Polynesia for the 2026-27 winter season. Le Jacques Cartier will join the Paul Gauguin in the region from October 2026 through February 2027, marking the ship's first time sailing French Polynesia. It will sail three different 14-night itineraries round trip from Papeete, Tahiti. One will visit the Austral Islands, another will travel to Pitcairn Island and the third will call on the Marquesas and Society Islands. Le Jacques Cartier has 88 staterooms and suites and an onboard marina. "While the m/s Paul Gauguin continues to define immersive, year-round discovery in the region, the winter deployment of Le Jacques Cartier brings a new perspective — more remote and more expeditionary," said CEO of the Americas Samuel Chamberlain.
Condé Nast Traveler
3 hours ago
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
How to Build a Mega Cruise Ship
The work at Chantiers de l'Atlantique isn't limited to building megaships. During my visit two smaller vessels were also under construction: the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection's 452-passenger Luminara and Celebrity Cruises' 3,248-passenger Celebrity Xcel. The shipyard has also played a central role in several recent green-tech cruise breakthroughs; by the end of next year, it will complete the construction of the world's largest sailing yacht, the Orient Express Corinthian, which will have a first-of-its-kind wind-powered propulsion system. No matter what your cruising preference, megaships are astonishing feats of human innovation. 'Any function you can imagine a land-based city should have—from electricity to water treatment plants—that's all here,' Bernhard Stacher, MSC Cruises' senior vice president of shipboard hospitality operations, told me. But unlike a city, 'it has to float.' A megaship requires its own security force, food production facilities, waste disposal systems, medical centers, and even its own jail and morgue. And its inhabitants must be kept entertained. That means water parks, Broadway-caliber musicals, comedy shows, karaoke, casinos, hundreds of hours of live music, and an almost unimaginable amount of booze. Behind every sailing is a level of logistical planning that surpasses even that of the largest resorts. 'If you're on land, you can easily call a supplier and say, 'Listen, I'm running out of flour. Can you deliver some tomorrow?'' Stacher said. 'With a ship that is not possible.' When I boarded MSC World America for its inaugural voyage, I saw no signs of the months of planning or years of construction. Instead of workers hanging in harnesses from the ceiling, there were acrobats in silver bodysuits dangling in aerial silks. The ship's steel bones had been fashionably concealed in Italian marble and polished chrome. 'It's magical to see a ship of this size come to life,' Lynn Torrent, MSC Cruises' president for North America, told me after our embarkation. 'It's really an overwhelming feeling.' As I sipped my first glass of Champagne while singers belted tunes from Dirty Dancing, the whirling noises of drills and saws felt worlds away. And that's the point, after all: to create a universe unto itself that is untethered to any semblance of reality. The next morning on my balcony, I glanced up to see a giant red swing set hanging over the side of the upper deck. High above the blue Bahamian sea, its riders shrieked in excitement, feeling the adrenaline—and the magic of an experience like no other. This article appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Five essential things to know before you board a Princess Cruises ship
Founded in 1965 and later acquired by British-owned P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises was swallowed up by US giant Carnival Corporation in 2003. Eschewing the swagger of other American lines, Princess wears its heritage in a more refined way, while rolling out inventive concepts that have helped change the face of the cruise industry. Princess led the way in incorporating more private balconies on ships (its fleet still has one of the highest percentages of balcony cabins) and was the first to bring al fresco movie screens on board, with its Movies Under the Stars programme. Other innovations include the exclusive, adult-only Sanctuary deck space, a concept later adopted by rivals, and a wearable device called Ocean Medallion that lets passengers order food and drinks from around the ship and acts as a cabin door key. The California-based line has built up a solid reputation for offering a premium, 'classic cruising' ambience. Its ships are known for popular features such as the central atrium hub, the Piazza, and eateries including Sabatini's Italian trattoria and Crown Grill steakhouse. These are complemented by a signature chef's table and balcony dining experiences. Underpinning all of this is Princess's Love Boat legacy. The line became a household name in the 1970s when its ships Pacific Princess and Island Princess took viewers to exotic destinations for the popular American TV series. Set on Pacific Princess, the show is credited with bringing cruising to a new audience, and Princess still references its Love Boat connections today. 1. Where does Princess Cruises sail? The line's 16-strong fleet covers the world, with sailings to all seven continents and port calls at more than 330 destinations. The Mediterranean and the Caribbean (private resort Princess Cays is located in the Bahamas) are strongholds in summer and winter, respectively, although Princess is also known for imaginative itineraries, particularly to Japan and Australia (where it bases ships), the Panama Canal and Hawaii. Alaska is another region that it dominates, claiming to take more guests to the region than anyone else. Sailings to Alaska can also be combined with stays at the five wilderness lodges it owns. These 'cruise tours', combining cruises and land tours, are also offered in Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand and Japan. Sailings vary from two-night mini-breaks to grand voyages and world cruises. Princess also bases ships in Southampton – three will be home-ported there in summer 2025. It also offers a handful of departures from Dover. 2. Who does Princess Cruises appeal to? Princess's elegant ships, high-end ambience and varied itineraries appeal to well-travelled couples in an older age range (the average is 59.4) than you would find on livelier lines like Royal Caribbean International or Carnival Cruise Line. Families are catered for with nurseries that take babies aged from six months to teen hangouts that cater for youngsters up to 17. While Princess ships lack the watersides and rides of other family-focused lines, Caribbean Princess has an interactive children's splash zone. Family-friendly accommodation, shore excursions and entertainment also make the line popular with multi-generational groups. Princess was the first line to offer weddings at sea and offers three wedding packages as either legal or symbolic ceremonies. It's worth noting the relatively steep gratuities that will be added to the final bill. 3. Princess Cruises' fleet There are 16 ships in the Princess fleet, though its ranks will be swelled by the arrival of the second Sphere-class ship Star Princess in September. Other ships are grouped as Royal, Grand and Coral. Sphere class Star Princess (4,300 passengers), Sun Princess (4,300 passengers) The newest and ground-breaking ship class for Princess feels more spacious and has a livelier vibe. When Sun Princess launched in spring 2024, it was hailed as the largest and most innovative Princess ship yet, with many new features. The enlarged Piazza is housed in a glass sphere, the main theatre has been replaced by smaller performance venues, including the Princess Arena and The Dome, and there is a themed magic experience called Spellbound by Magic Castle. Favourite restaurants have been joined by new additions, including the romantic Love by Britto, offering a romance-inspired fixed-priced menu. The Sanctuary private deck area has been expanded to The Sanctuary Collection offering a private sun deck with pool and a dedicated restaurant and lounge. Sails to: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal Royal class Discovery Princess (3,660 passengers), Enchanted Princess (3,660 passengers), Sky Princess (3,660 passengers), Majestic Princess (3,560 passengers), Regal Princess (3,560 passengers), Royal Princess (3,560 passengers) These ships have more space than their predecessors, with a larger atrium, a glass-bottomed walkway on the top deck called the SeaWalk, extending over the edge of the ship, private poolside cabanas and a live TV entertainment studio, Princess Live! Dining options include Chef's Table Lumiere – a custom-made table surrounded by a shimmering curtain that encloses diners in a curtain of light. All outside staterooms on these ships also have balconies. Sails to: Alaska, Asia, Australasia, the Pacific coast, Caribbean, US Eastern Seaboard, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Europe, Canary Islands, British Isles, Hawaii, Pacific coast, Australasia Grand class Emerald Princess (3,090 passengers), Ruby Princess (3,080 passengers), Crown Princess (3,090 passengers), Caribbean Princess (3,140 passengers), Diamond Princess (2,710 passengers), Sapphire Princess (2,680 passengers), Grand Princess (2,610 passengers) These popular ships encapsulate many of the activities and facilities for which Princess is known, while offering a more intimate ambience. The heart of the ship is the atrium and piazza, which is a gathering point for drinks, coffee and live performances. Entertainment is spread across the main theatre and lounges and the line's most popular restaurants are on board. Diamond Princess has features which appeal to the Japanese market, as the ship is largely based there, while Caribbean Princess has a family pool deck. Sails to: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Panama Canal, West Coast US, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Alaska, Pacific Coast, Hawaii, Australasia, World Cruise, Asia, Caribbean, South America, Antarctica, Europe, US Eastern Seaboard, Australasia Coral class Coral Princess (2,000 passengers), Island Princess (2,210 passengers) These are the smallest ships in the fleet. The trade-off is facilities – while there is a good line-up, it doesn't match those of larger, sister ships. Coral Princess and Island Princess generally offer more destination-rich itineraries, along with world cruises and long voyages. Sails to: Pacific Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Australasia, Asia (Coral); Panama Canal, the Caribbean, US Eastern Seaboard, Hawaii, Pacific Coast, Alaska, Mediterranean 4. Loyalty scheme Princess's Captain's Circle programme has four tiers, starting with Gold for one sailing, and progressing to Ruby, Platinum and Elite – the highest level reached after 15 cruises or 150 cruise days. Benefits range from early access to new itineraries and members-only events, to discounts on shore excursions and at on-board shops, and priority disembarkation. 5. Access for guests with disabilities Ships have accessible staterooms and public areas. Braille and tactile signage is available on all ships and hearing telecommunications with advance notice. Service animals are welcome. For more details, see or call 0344 338 8663.
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Protest against Gaza war prevents Israeli visitors from touring Greek island
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists left the Greek island of Syros Tuesday without its passengers disembarking, after more than 150 protesters demonstrated at the island's port, unfurling Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the war in Gaza. Carrying banners that read: 'Stop the Genocide' and 'No a/c in hell' — a reference to the conditions Palestinians face in the Gaza Strip — the protesters chanted slogans on the dock near where the cruise ship, the Crown Iris, was docked on Tuesday, local media said. There were no reports of any violence. The ship is operated by an Israeli company, Mano Cruise, which said about 1,700 passengers were on board and it is sailing to Cyprus. Greece's coast guard said the ship set sail at around 3 p.m., earlier than originally scheduled, but did not immediately have any further details. 'The management of Mano Cruise has decided in light of the situation in the city of Syros to now sail to another tourist destination,' the company said in a press release. 'All passengers and crew members are resting and spending time on the ship on their way to the new destination.' Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the incident, the Greek foreign ministry confirmed. It did not release any details of their discussion.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
What Barcelona port terminal closures mean for cruise passengers
The number of cruise terminals at the Port of Barcelona are set to be reduced by the end of the decade in an effort to address concerns about overtourism in the city. Barcelona City Council and the Port of Barcelona have unveiled plans to reduce the number of passenger cruise terminals from seven to five. Under the plans, terminals A, B and C will be demolished as part of a €185m (£160m) project. A new terminal will be built on the site of terminal C that will have capacity for 7,000 passengers at any given time. The changes will reduce Barcelona's maximum cruise capacity from 37,000 passengers to 31,000 per day. This could alter how often ships visit Barcelona. The new terminal will prioritise cruise lines that start or end at the port, plus small vessels and those that stay overnight, according to the announcement. Work will begin at the end of next year and the new terminal will be complete by 2030. It won't affect terminals D and E, which are operated by Carnival Corporation, Terminal H, operated by MSC Cruises, or Terminal G, run by Royal Caribbean Group. There will be a €90m (£78m) expansion to the Porta d'Europa bridge that links the wharf with the city. More shuttle services, and crowd-monitoring information screens, have been proposed. Onshore power supplies will be installed to help ships reduce their engine emissions while in-port. A study has also been commissioned to see how cruise passengers move around the city as part of a new sustainable mobility plan. Barcelona is Europe's largest cruise port and, according to the proposal, has seen a 20 per cent increase in passengers since 2018. Of 12.8 million cruise passengers who visited Spanish ports last year, 3.7 million came to Barcelona. This has prompted protests about overtourism and overcrowding in the city. The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, said the growth cannot be infinite, adding: 'For the first time in history, a limit is being placed on the growth of cruises in the city. 'The current management of tourism involves setting limits and managing better.' Barcelona has been scaling back cruise operations since 2018, moving from the city centre to Adossat Wharf, before closing its North Terminal, located near La Rambla, in 2023. A statement from the port said: 'The agreement will reduce the number of cruise terminals at the Port of Barcelona and will roll out a series of projects to improve passenger mobility and make it more sustainable, moving forward in the responsible management of cruises and improving the coexistence between port activity and the city.' A spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) trade body, said: "While cruise visitors currently represent less than five per cent of total tourists to Barcelona, cruise tourism contributes more than €1bn (£867m) annually to the Catalan economy and supports over 9,000 jobs, according to the University of Barcelona. 'Ensuring the sector's continued contribution – while enhancing sustainability – requires a thoughtful, collaborative approach, and we welcome the opportunity for ongoing dialogue and partnership with the Port of Barcelona, the City Council, and regional authorities. 'By working together, we can ensure that cruise tourism continues to be a well-managed, economically valuable, and increasingly sustainable part of Barcelona's future. "Cruise tourism is managed tourism, with scheduled arrivals planned years in advance and supported by guided excursions, and coordinated transportation, allowing for better tourism management and oversight."
