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The latest cruise news. Dive into the top cruise industry stories, breaking news, expert analysis, and insightful interviews. 

Carnival Marks 30 Years of Cruising from New Orleans

Nominate Your Favorite Teacher to Win a Free Cruise

Search Ends for Crew Member Missing from World Cruise

Passenger Falls into Water Trying to Sneak Off Cruise Ship

Body of Passenger Found After Going Overboard on Elvis Cruise

Residential World Cruise Ship Delayed Two Weeks, Company Secures Financing

Virgin’s Newest Cruise Ship Set for NYC Debut in September 2025

Cruise Line Guarantees Glaciers on Alaska Sailings or Receive Cruise Credit

Elderly Cruise Passengers Left Behind in Spain After Returning Late

Investigation Underway After a Cruise Ship Reportedly Maneuvers Close to Shore

Carnival Cruise Line Shuts Down Drinking-Related Rumor

Travel Agent Leaves Cruise Passengers Stranded, Again

Royal Caribbean Ship Set for Alaska Cruise Following Cancellation

New Airline Compensation Rules Mandate ‘Prompt’ Cash Refunds for Travelers

Royal Caribbean Cancels Alaska Cruise, Guests Must Vacate by Sunday Afternoon

Sun Princess’ New Godmother, Hannah Waddingham, Has One Very Important Tip to Share With Cruisers

Florida Man Faces Staggering $143,000 Phone Bill Following Vacation

Carnival Firenze Gets an Italian-Style Christening at Long Beach

Sun Princess Christened in Barcelona by Hannah Waddingham, Princess Cruises [PHOTOS]

Construction Starts for Royal Caribbean’s Private Beach Club in Nassau

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Princess Cruises Flash Sale promotion: £1 deposits on 2025 and 2026 voyages

Princess Cruises has launched a flash sale with a special offer of £1 deposits for 1000+ sailings scheduled for 2025 and 2026. The limited...

MSC Bellissima passenger falls into water during suspected illegal re-entry into Japan

A man's attempt to leave a cruise ship using a rope ended in his apprehension after falling into the water. The incident occurred in Port Yokohama...

Montreal's 2024 cruise season sets sail with HAL's ms Volendam

The Port of Montreal (Quebec Canada) announced the commencement of the 2024 cruise season with the inaugural arrival of HAL-Holland America's ms...

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line celebrates 30 years homeporting in NOLA/New Orleans with Carnival Liberty...

On Monday, May 6th, on Carnival Liberty ship, the air resonated with the sound of trumpets as CCL-Carnival Cruise Line commemorated its 30th year of...

SeaDream Yacht Club unveils Caribbean cruises 2026 autumn

SeaDream Yacht Club has revealed its fall 2026 Caribbean voyages, featuring new ports, extended overnight stays, and exclusive access to a private...

Princess Cruises announces expanded Antarctic 2025-2026 season

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) reports a record 105,331 visitors to Antarctica last season. Princess Cruises is...

Body found after P&O Pacific Adventure cruise ship passenger was reported missing off Sydney

In a significant search operation off the coast of Sydney (NSW Australia), a body has been discovered following reports of a man going missing from a...

AROYA Cruises showcases Saudi Arabia's culture at ATM Dubai

On Monday, May 6th, AROYA Cruises (Cruise Saudi’s travel brand) will debut at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai UAE, a significant...

Sky Princess offers front-row seat to Solar Eclipse on Mediterranean cruise

The upcoming total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, presents a unique opportunity for travelers aboard the Princess cruise ship Sky Princess...

India-Sri Lanka ferry service resumes operations under private company

The passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam (India) and Kankesanthurai (near Jaffna in Sri Lanka) initiated by the Shipping Corporation of India...

HAL-Holland America Line introduces Glacier Guarantee for Alaskan cruises

HAL-Holland America Line has introduced a "Glacier Guarantee" to ensure guests have the opportunity to view one or more glaciers during their Alaska...

NCL's ship Pride of America conducts routine drydock inspection at Port Pearl Harbor

During the last weekend, the Hawaii-based cruise ship Pride of America made a notable visit to Port Pearl Harbor's drydock for a routine inspection...

Cunard's new ship Queen Anne embarks on maiden voyage from Southampton UK

Cunard's latest cruise ship has commenced her inaugural voyage from Southampton UK. Queen Anne marks the company's first new vessel in 14 years and...

Search called off for missing crew from Ambassador Ambience ship on around-the-world cruise

The search for a missing crew member during an around-the-world cruise has been halted. The 120-night voyage departed from Lisbon Portugal bound for...

Crystal Serenity ship welcomes American disco singer Gloria Gaynor for special concert cruise

Renowned 2-time Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Gaynor is set to perform aboard the Crystal Serenity during the October 26 sailing from Quebec...

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COVID-19 scare turns away US cruise ships from port

Cruise ship with COVID-19 cases aboard denied entry to two ports

Cruise ship blocked by two nations due to COVID-19 outbreak

COVID-19 outbreak on world's biggest cruise ship

Australian cruise industry set to pass two years of shutdown

Cruise ship ban extension a 'devastating blow',

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Australia's cruise ship ban extended by another three months.

Cruise ships may be anchored for 'some time'

COVID-19 cases rise on first cruise to resume sailing in Caribbean

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Aussie companies call for urgent re-start of cruise industry

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Breaking news and updates Australia: October 13, 2020

Carnival Cruise Line cancels Australia sailings into next year

Coronavirus outbreak for crew on cruise ship in Greece

Luxury vessels left to rot in cruise ship 'graveyard' amid COVID-19

Carnival cancels further 2021 trips as it battles COVID-19 travel slowdown

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Carnival Cruise Lines celebrates 30 years of sailing from NOLA with new ship

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE)—For a generation, Carnival cruise ships have set sail out of New Orleans. On Monday (May 6), a new boat joined the fleet.

“It’s beautiful,” said Gabbi Arcement. “We’ve been on the Valor before, which is the sister ship. So, it’s a very similar build, and I’m excited.”

The Carnival Liberty will call the Port of New Orleans home, sailing year-round to the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.

“She’ll be 6-to-8-day cruises, typically,” said Carnival’s Chris Chiames. “This week, she’s going to the Caribbean and Cozumel, but she’ll do a variety of Caribbean cruises out of here on a weekly basis.”

The ship was built in 2005 but is new to NOLA.

Carnival carries an estimated 400,000 passengers from New Orleans every year. A 2023 Port NOLA study found the cruise industry generates more than 300,000 hotel room nights and more than $125 million spent around town.

Most of the guests we talked to did not have to travel far to get on board.

“You just pull up and you’re gone for seven days,” said one eager passenger.

Celebrating this generation of Carnival Cruise vacations from New Orleans comes a new investment in the next generation: Carnival is investing in the Emeril Lagassee Foundation and even inviting culinary students to tour the ship.

“Emeril has been with Carnival for about four years. He’s been the Chief Culinary Officer for two years now,” said Chiames. “We had supported the foundation previously, but for our 30th anniversary, we’re having a celebration on board today and making a donation to the foundation as well to celebrate and share in our success.”

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At least 10 people on cruise ships went overboard this year, and 2 miraculously survived

• At least 10 people have gone overboard off major cruise line ships so far in 2023.
• Two of those people were rescued and survived.
• Despite these cases, overboard incidents are very rare, a cruise line trade association said.

The chances of you falling overboard off a cruise ship are extremely low .

But at least 10 people fell off major cruise line ships so far this year, turning fun-in-the-sun vacations into disaster situations — and only two survived the fall into the ocean.

Here's what happened to the passengers who went overboard:

Warwick Tollemache fell off a Royal Caribbean ship and wasn't found during a search

The family of 35-year-old Australian cruise passenger Warwick Tollemache told Nine News he was a "kind, beautiful, and gentle soul who was adored by everyone who knew him."

Tollemache fell into the Pacific Ocean after going overboard off Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas on April 26 at about 11 p.m. while the cruise ship was hundreds of miles off the coast of Hawaii.

The ship's crew immediately launched a search for Tollemache and the United States Coast Guard was ultimately called in to help. The Coast Guard called off its search after crew scoured the waters for two days.

Authorities didn't say how he fell in.

Ronnie Lee Peale Jr. was in his 'happy place' before he fell off a Carnival ship and was never seen again

Virginia resident Ronnie Lee Peale Jr., 35, was on a Carnival Magic cruise to celebrate his partner's birthday when he fell into the water on May 29 after officials say he leaned over a balcony railing on the vessel.

Peale Jr. went overboard as the ship was about 186 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida, and returning from the Bahamas. Carnival Cruise Line said security footage showed he "leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water" at about 4:10 am.

The Coast Guard searched over 5,171 square miles and more than 60 hours, but crews could not find Peale Jr.

"He loved the cruise life," Peale Jr.'s fiancée Jennilyn Michelle Blosser told WTKR . "Being able to drink, gamble, and socialize put him in his happy place."

A Royal Caribbean passenger beat the odds when she plunged off the 10th deck of the ship and was miraculously saved

Some who fall in are lucky to be alive.

A 42-year-old US citizen — whose name wasn't publicly revealed — fell overboard from the 10th deck of Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas vessel on June 25 at around 5:45 p.m. as the Curaçao-bound liner was more than 30 miles off the coast of the Dominican Republic.

The woman miraculously survived the fall. One witness told Business Insider that passengers lined up on their balconies and quickly banded together to try and guide the rescue boat as it scanned the water for signs of the woman.

Witnesses said cruise crew members managed to find her and brought her safely back on board in a roughly 45-minute ordeal.

The overboard woman was found to be in "good health" after the fall, the Coast Guard said. A rescue expert told Business Insider her survival was "nothing short of miraculous."

Jaylen Hill jumped off a Carnival cruise ship and was not found during a search, the company said

Carnival Elation passenger Jaylen Hill, 30, went overboard on the vessel on July 23 as the ship was on a four-day Bahamas sailing and on its way back to Jacksonville, Florida.

Hill's travel companion reported him missing after he wasn't seen all day. A Carnival spokesperson said that the cruise line determined Hill "jumped" from the ship "after an exhaustive on-board search and a review of security camera video."

The Coast Guard called off its search for Hill when he wasn't found after covering more than 1,347 square miles.

Reeta Sahani who 'could not swim' went overboard on a Royal Caribbean ship while traveling with her husband

Reeta Sahani was on Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas with her husband on July 31 in the Singapore Strait, the last day of their four-day cruise to Malaysia.

Sahani couldn't swim, her son would tell The Straits Times .

The 64-year-old mother went overboard while the cruise was on its way to Singapore.

Sahani's husband, Jakesh Sahani, woke up in the middle of the night and discovered his wife was not in their cruise cabin, the Straits Times reported. He notified the ship's officials, who, according to the news outlet, told him that his wife was seen on CCTV footage sitting on the ship's railing at about 4 a.m.

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The couple's son, Apoorv Sahani, told the Straits Times that the "ship's crew thinks she jumped."

Apoorv Sahani later said in a post on X that his family was given footage from the cruise ship. "With the footage, we have unfortunately learnt that my mother has passed away," he wrote.

Kenneth Schwalbe fell off a Princess cruise ship and couldn't be found

California resident Kenneth Schwalbe , 59, was traveling on the Emerald Princess ship when he went overboard on August 11 about eight miles off the coast of Hilo, Hawaii.

According to Hawaii authorities, police received a report on the morning of August 11 that Schwalbe was last seen on board the ship at around 8:30 p.m. the day before. Authorities searched the ship but couldn't find him.

Hawaii police said that surveillance footage from a camera on the exterior of the ninth deck of the vessel showed Schwalbe "falling from the ship" at about 4:18 a.m.

The Coast Guard couldn't find Schwalbe.

Sigmund Ropich was vacationing with pals before the teenager went overboard from a Royal Caribbean ship

College student Sigmund Ropich of Texas was vacationing with his friends on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world in August, his sister Savannah Ropich told Business Insider.

On August 29 as the ship was off the coast of Cuba, the 19-year-old Sigmund went overboard .

The ship's crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation but found no sign of Sigmund. Cuban officials called off their search for Ropich after they couldn't find the teen.

Savannah Ropich said in a Facebook post last month: "Although we are continuing to celebrate my brother's life, it does not equate to compliancy with @wonderoftheseas. I am still enraged by the fact that we are celebrating my brother's life without his body."

"The mishandling of the search and constant miscommunication throughout prompts the question.. was my brother's life valued by his ticket and age?" she wrote. "If so and if not, to what extent does this company value a human life to respond with appropriate actions of urgency?"

Royal Caribbean didn't respond to Business Insider's request for a response to Savannah Ropich's criticisms.

A crew member went overboard off an AIDA Cruises ship but couldn't be found during a search

The crew member went overboard off the German cruise ship, called the AIDAperla, on October 22 as the vessel was traveling from Hamburg to Spain.

The cruise ship company said in a statement to Sky News that the captain "immediately initiated all necessary rescue measures in close coordination with the local authorities."

However, the search for the crew member wasn't successful .

Another lucky Royal Caribbean passenger was rescued after going overboard

A passenger traveling on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas vessel went overboard on October 29 after the ship departed Barcelona and was saved.

"The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and began searching for the guest. Thankfully, the guest was successfully recovered and was brought on board," the cruise line told Business Insider.

A person who said they were aboard the vessel at the time posted on social media that they could see spotlights and rescue boats from their balcony during the nighttime search.

A Carnival cruise passenger was seen on surveillance footage jumping off the ship

Tyler Barnett, a 28-year-old father of two from Houma, Louisiana was on a week-long cruise with his younger sister and their uncle when he went missing in the middle of the night.

Barnett was last seen aboard the Carnival Glory — which was heading to the Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico — around 11:40 p.m. on November 12, the day of the ship's departure from New Orleans, his mother, Elisha Reid, told Business Insider.

For over 24 hours, Carnival crews searched the ship and the Coast Guard scoured a 200-mile section of the Gulf of Mexico looking for signs of Barnett.

But, on November 14, Carnival said it had finally found footage of Barnett that showed him climbing up onto a lifeboat and jumping off the ship around 1:40 a.m. on November 13, the company told Business Insider in an email.

The cruise line at first told Barnett's sister, who was also on the ship, that there was no surveillance footage of her brother that night, Reid said.

Reid said she found out her son was missing from a cousin, not the cruise company.

"I have my moments where I break, but I'm keeping the faith," she told Business Insider as the search continued. "I'm keeping the faith. I just want him home."

Despite these cases, overboard incidents are very rare, according to a cruise line trade association

According to a report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), there were 212 overboard incidents from 2009 to 2019, and only 48 — or 28.2% — of those who fell overboard were successfully rescued.

"Even one incident is one too many," CLIA told Business Insider, explaining, "The vast majority of cases are either reckless behavior or some form of intentional act. People don't just inadvertently fall over the side of a ship."

According to CLIA, cruise lines have maintained an exceptional safety record and cruising is one of the safest forms of travel.

From 2009 to 2019, the number of "operational incidents" declined by 41% and the rate of "man overboard incidents" declined by nearly 35%, while the industry's total capacity grew by 68%, CLIA said.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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14 Brand New Cruise Ships That Have It All

Posted: May 7, 2024 | Last updated: May 7, 2024

The shipping news

From vertigo-inducing slides and waterparks (including the largest waterpark at sea) and decadent afternoon teas to luxurious, marble-floored suites and hybrid, eco-focused ships – cruising is set to wow in 2024 and beyond. The newest ships offer something for all ages and every type of traveler, whether you’re after a quiet vacation or something seriously adrenaline-fueled.

Click or scroll through the gallery to discover a selection of the best new river and ocean vessels to get excited about, launching between now and the end of 2024, plus some 2025 inclusions too...

January 2024: Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

Never one to do things by halves, Royal Caribbean has created the world's largest cruise ship – at a whopping 1,198 feet, with space for 7,600 passengers on board. Icon of the Seas, the first of the line's Icon-class ships, is scheduled to set sail in January 2024 – and people are excited about it. In fact, when the ship's first sailing went online in October 2022, the cabins sold out in hours. Icon features 20 decks and eight themed neighborhoods, including Thrill Island, home to the largest waterpark at sea and six record-breaking slides; and Chill Island, which boasts the line's first swim-up bar at sea.

With a pool for every day of the week, including the largest at sea and a suspended infinity pool, as well as more than 40 restaurants, bars and nightclubs, you'll never be bored on board. For more fun, head out on the line's largest ice rink or marvel at the ship's waterfall. For entertainment, visit the AquaDome (pictured), which is perched on top of Icon and hosts aqua shows and theater by night. 

Cabins span 28 categories and include Family Infinite Balcony suites, with a separate bunk alcove for kids, decked out with TVs, beds and chill-out areas (pictured), or to splash the cash, book the three-story family townhouses. Icon of the Seas will sail year-round, seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean trips from Miami. 

February 2024: Sun Princess, Princess Cruises

When Sun Princess launches this year she will be Princess Cruises’ largest (and 16th) ship, with room for 4,300 passengers. Currently under construction in Italy, Sea Princess will pay tribute to Europe’s ship-building heritage, with public spaces inspired by Santorini’s famous terraces and the beautiful Piazza found on Princess’s other ships. 

Sun Princess will have a staggering 29 restaurants, lounges and bars. We’re predicting the most popular spot will be the three-story Piazza, with its enormous LED screen and various eating and drinking spots – including the Coffee Currents cafe, a new concept for Princess. There’s also the Dome, a glass dome with an indoor-outdoor pool that transforms into a stage at night and will be the setting for adrenaline-fueled acrobatic performances. 

Sun Princess’s 2,157 total staterooms (including 50 suites and 100 connecting rooms) will include a new cabin category. Passengers who bag one of the new Signature Collection cabins will enjoy luxury amenities and access to the Signature restaurant, as well as the Signature Collection sundeck and lounge. Sun Princess’s inaugural season will focus on the western Mediterranean. 

March 2024: Ama Magdalena, AmaWaterways

Although AmaMagdalena will have just 30 staterooms, there’ll be no shortage of space – all will have a twin balcony design, and will measure between 237 and 516 square feet. Amenities include the whirlpool (located on the ship’s sundeck) and a large fitness room, while the main restaurant will specialize in Western and Latin American cuisine.

Wondering about the name? It’s a nod to her home turf – Colombia’s Magdalena River. AmaWaterways will become the first major cruise line to offer sailings along this particular river, and they’re expected to be especially popular with wildlife fans, including twitchers keen to see Colombia’s 1,900 bird species (bonus points if you spot a rare Cianeguo hummingbird).

March 2024: AmaLilia, AmaWaterways

AmaLilia's 41 staterooms will accommodate 82 guests, and the swankiest cabins include the 13 suites, which have marble bathrooms featuring bathtubs as well as showers, and twin balconies from which to admire the views of the Nile. Africa's longest river will be her home turf, more specifically the stretches which weave past Egypt's the Great Sphinx and the three Pyramids of Giza.

There will be just two restaurants – a main restaurant and Chef's Table, for fine dining. Both will regularly serve up Egyptian delicacies, although it's not the only way in which guests can gain an insight into this beautiful region. The ship's crew will include an Egyptologist, and passengers who don't fancy joining group tours of the archaeological sites lining the Nile can sign up for various exclusive excursions, including private tours of the tomb of Queen Nefertari.

April 2024: Avalon Alegria, Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways' newest ship will have 37 Panorama Suites and 14 staterooms, but don't worry if you don't bag a suite – Avalon Alegria's staterooms will be 30% larger than the ones on other Avalon ships. The vessel has been designed to make the most of the views, with panoramic windows throughout and a sky-deck which includes its very own premium lounges. It's easy to stay connected, too – the ship will use Starlink for lightning-fast wifi. The best bit? It's included in the price. 

This particular ship is all about the added extras, whether it's the extra space in the staterooms, the window-facing beds (a rarity on river boats) or the way guests can hire fitness gear from the onboard gym. When it comes to dining, it's all about quality over quantity. Head to the main dining room for delicious buffets or to the Panorama Dining Room for decadent afternoon teas and four-course dinners.

April 2024: Amadeus Nova, Amadeus River Cruises

Amadeus Nova will have 12 suites with balconies and 67 exterior cabins with panoramic windows. The most sought-after spots look set to be the Lido Bar on the sun deck, along with the elegant Cafe Vienna for that all-important caffeine fix. She will sail along the Danube, offering cruises between Vienna and Bucharest and Passau and Budapest.

Amadeus Nova will be a seriously sustainable ship, relying on hybrid diesel-electric power and engines which significantly reduce emissions with the help of various hi-tech filters and catalysts. Heat recovery systems use excess heat from the engine room to heat public areas and highly insulated glass minimizes heat loss in winter.

May 2024: Queen Anne, Cunard Line

Love a fun fact? When the Queen Anne sets sail in 2024, she’ll be the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, and her launch will mark the first time since 1999 that Cunard has had four ships sailing the seas simultaneously. Her 3,000 passengers will stay in cabins spread over 14 decks, and there will be a huge selection of restaurants (15 in total), ranging from Cunard staples such as the Princess Grill to dining concepts being rolled out by Cunard for the first time.  

There will be six categories of accommodation and cabins have been designed by Sybille de Margerie, whose portfolio includes Atlantis, The Royal Residences in Dubai. The ship’s piece de resistance will almost certainly be the three-story lobby, closely followed by the ornate 835-seat Royal Court Theater. Another reason to love this ship, which will initially sail the waters of Northern Europe? It will be helmed by Inger Klein Thorhauge – Cunard’s first female captain.

June 2024: Silver Ray. Silversea

Silver Ray will be a sister ship to (and a mirror image of) Silver Nova. Silver Ray will be similarly spacious, with one of the highest space-to-guest ratios of any ship in Silversea's fleet. She'll have a maximum capacity of 728 passengers, and with 544 crew passengers, you can expect to be waited on hand and foot – thanks in part to the cruise line's legendary butler service. The eight restaurants will include several which have become Silversea staples, including S.A.L.T for regional cuisine.

Public areas will include the pool deck, Dusk Bar and Arts Cafe, and further details about onboard amenities will be released prior to her first sailing in June 2024. She'll spend her first few months sailing around the Mediterranean, offering itineraries which take in Athens, Venice and Rome.

June 2024: Viking Vela, Viking Cruises

Bagging a room with a view won’t be an issue on Viking Vela – every stateroom will have its own veranda. The 499 cabins can accommodate a maximum of 998 guests, and the ship’s restaurants will include Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, The Chef's Table and the World Cafe. Keep an eye out for the onboard art collection, which includes several paintings by Edvard Munch.

The amenity many passengers will love is the spa, more specifically the snow grotto and thermal area, inspired by Scandinavian bathing rituals. The idea is that passengers alternate between the snow grotto and the sauna (although we totally understand the temptation to stick to the latter!). The ship will specialize in Mediterranean cruises.

June 2024: American Liberty, American Cruise Lines

There will be just 100 guests on American Liberty, a compact vessel which American Cruise Lines says will offer expedition-style river sailing, thanks to its ability to slip into smaller ports. Every cabin will have a balcony, and it will have one particularly cool amenity – an activity platform at the stern of the boat designed for passengers who fancy a watersports session, or (if the weather allows) a dip in whichever river it's floating down.

American Liberty will spend her inaugural season sailing around New England's islands, a region which has inspired the decor – think homely color palettes, furnishings and artworks. Impressively, American Cruise Lines currently has five new ships under construction, some of which will offer sailings along the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers.

July 2024: Porto Mirante, Riviera Travel

Porto Mirante will accommodate 120 guests in 60 cabins. Highlights include the sun deck with its splash pool – perfect for those days when the mercury cranks up – and the spacious lounge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The ship will initially stick to the Douro River, offering seven-night sailings which depart and finish in Porto. The sailings are ideal for cruise fans with a dislike of unexpected added extras – the price of every cruise includes transfers, all onboard meals, a superior drinks package, complimentary onboard tea and coffee, plus wifi.

July 2024: Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

This will be one of the largest ships to launch in 2024, with room for 5,668 passengers. But it’s not the size which sets Utopia apart – there will be several Royal Caribbean firsts, including a Caribbean tiki bar, an immersive dining experience (details of which are yet to be revealed) and the longest dry slide at sea.

Utopia, which will be an Oasis class ship, will initially offer Caribbean sailings, the departure point for which will be Florida. Guests certainly won’t be going hungry – there will be 11 complimentary dining options, including a poolside food truck; as well as 12 specialty restaurants; plus 13 bars where passengers can enjoy a sundowner.

August 2024: Explora II, Explora Journeys

Explora II’s 461 suites will include 371 Ocean Terrace and Ocean Grand Terrace Suites, 22 Ocean Residences and – for those with cash to splash – one truly spectacular Owner’s Residence. Passengers can soak up the views from some of the largest balconies at sea, and all suites will have floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious walk-in wardrobes with seated vanity areas.

Passengers who can drag themselves away from their suites can take a dip in four pools (three are outdoor and one is indoor with a retractable roof) or retreat to one of 64 poolside cabanas. Did we mention the spa, which will cover 27,000 square feet? In addition to nine treatment rooms there’ll be a beauty salon and thermal area. Explora II will initially offer Mediterranean itineraries before heading for the Arabian Gulf.

November 2024: Estrela, APT Travel-marvel

Bigger is definitely better on board when it comes to Estrela, which will have the largest pool of any ship sailing along Portugal’s Douro River, along with a putting green, supersized fitness center and various areas designed without outdoor exercise in mind. There will be 60 suites and staterooms and the ship will have a maximum capacity of 120 passengers.

Estrela’s sailings will focus on Portugal and APT was keen that its newest ship reflected the destination. They commissioned Portuguese ship builders to construct the vessel and paid homage to the destination in a variety of ways, including via the decor, cuisine and entertainment. 

December 2024: Disney Treasure, Disney Cruise Line

Now for something guaranteed to appeal to younger cruisers. Disney Treasure, the sister ship to Disney Wish, has been designed with explorers in mind, and pays tribute to Walt Disney’s love of travel with decor inspired by wanderlust-inducing Disney movies such as Aladdin and Zootopia . Highlights will include a Marvel-themed dining experience and 1923, a restaurant filled with artwork from Disney’s most famous animated films. The ship's inaugural season will be spent in the eastern and western Caribbean.

The vast majority of the ship’s 1,256 staterooms will offer an ocean view, while 70% will have a veranda. Other highlights will include the Grand Hall, where passengers can meet their favorite Disney characters; the Walt Disney Theater, which will be the setting for Broadway-quality shows; and the Hero Zone, a fun-filled area where passengers can take part in game show-style competitions and sign up for action-packed physical challenges.

Spring 2025: Alma, Tui Cruises

Finally a look ahead into 2025, more specifically at the first newbuild ship being launched by TUI River Cruises. When TUI Alma sets sail next year she’ll have 62 cabins spread over four decks. We’re predicting that the top deck, with its sun lounger-surrounded pool, will be the most popular spot, although we’re also excited about the cuisine – the ship’s restaurants will include one specializing in Portuguese delicacies.

The ship’s first sailings will take place in spring 2025, and Alma will initially be based on Portugal’s Douro River, offering seven-night sailings that start and finish in Porto. The sailings are designed to highlight five specific riverside locations, including Entre-os-Rios, Peso de Regua, Vega de Terron and Barca d’Alva.

June 2025: Allura, Oceania Cruises

Oceania, which will have 613 staterooms and will initially offer itineraries focusing on the eastern Mediterranean, says that Allura will have the most spacious standard staterooms at sea – they’ll cover 291 square feet. Space won't be the only thing in abundance – there'll be one chef for every 10 guests, a reminder that Oceania Cruises takes its food very seriously. Details of the restaurants are yet to be revealed, but there will be five in total and every venue will pay tribute to a specific type of cuisine.

Allura will spend her first summer sailing around the Mediterranean (her first sailing will be a seven-day voyage from Athens to Istanbul, departing in early June 2025), before heading to Canada and New England. Her first winter will be spent in the Caribbean, and her launch will bring the total number of ships in Oceania’s fleet to eight.

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Why the 9-month Ultimate World Cruise is social media's latest obsession

It only took two weeks into a nine-month global cruise for it to go viral on TikTok.

The Ultimate World Cruise, a 274-night voyage aboard the Serenade of the Seas by Royal Caribbean Cruises, departed from Miami on Dec. 10. The cruise, which promises passengers travel to more than 60 countries and almost a dozen world wonders during its course, was intended to give those aboard the opportunity to spend the months “bonding with like-minded explorers over global discoveries across all seven continents,” according to Royal Caribbean’s website .

Shortly after its departure, many aboard the Serenade of the Seas began documenting their time on the ship. Some showed off cabins in the style of the MTV show “Cribs” while others opted to give tours of the entire ship. One couple made videos onboard joking about how they spent their children’s inheritances on the price of the cruise.

As people began to share their experiences on board, those on dry land were already reveling in the reality show that they believed would soon unfold on the Serenade of the Seas. On TikTok, the #UltimateWorldCruise tag has more than 54.8 million views as users obsess over what they speculate will turn into seaside drama. 

One person began tracking all the content creators on board so that others could easily follow along. Another offered advice to those on the ship on how to stay safe and healthy.

“I’m so invested in this 9 month world cruise happening cause I know it’s gonna be some MESS,” one person posted on X. 

“There’s going to be mutiny,” said one TikTok user. “There’s going to be blood. Someone is going overboard. I want to watch. Bravo, where are you? I need eyes,” the person said. “We’re witnessing Fyre Festival, Alabama Rush and no one is rushing there.”

Rumors also quickly began to circulate on TikTok, with some people alleging that the ship wasn’t at capacity and how some travelers with better membership status were being treated differently than the others on board. 

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Cruises did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment regarding the rumors, as well as the virality of the cruise itself. 

Although no major drama has unfolded aboard the ship, those following along on social media appear eager for reality TV-style turmoil to unfold. 

Jessica Maddox, an assistant professor of digital media at the University of Alabama where Bama Rush takes place each year, said she knows first-hand how morally gray it can be to wish drama onto the lives of real people.

“For the world cruise TikTok, I think it’s OK to think of the content we consume on TikTok as reality television,” she said. “But I think it’s important to remember these are real people, and that even reality television is scripted and coerced and is forced drama.”

Here’s everything we know.

Where is the cruise going and how much did it cost?

There are four legs of the cruise. The first traverses North America and South America over 67 nights and includes stops in Brazil, the Caribbean and Antarctica. 

The next leg of the cruise heads to the Pacific, stopping at 87 destinations in 87 nights. These stops include New Zealand, Japan, Australia, China and India, among other countries. 

The penultimate leg of the trip heads to the Mediterranean and Middle East destinations over the course of another 67 days. The stops include Egypt, Greece, Italy and Turkey. 

Finally, the last leg sees passengers touring Europe, with stops in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway over the final 63 nights. 

Some said they cannot fathom what being on the cruise, traveling to that many locations while eating and drinking the days away, would do to a person physically. 

“Imagine eating unlimited cruise food for nine months, like what that’s going to do to your body. I just worry people aren’t going to pace themselves and it’s going to be really hard on their bodies. They’re vacationing for nine months. Like, you can’t vacation for nine months! You need to have balance,” one TikToker said in a video about concerns for the passengers aboard the ship. 

But travelers were not required to book the entire nine-month duration of the cruise. Instead, they were able to purchase either a nine- to 28-night duration aboard the ship or one of the four segments of the trip, rather than booking the entire trip, Royal Caribbean's website states.

Those who chose the full trip, prices started at $53,999, according to the Royal Caribbean website. 

What’s really happening onboard? 

The passengers on the Serenade of the Seas so far seem to be enjoying the cruise, according to several who spoke to " TODAY ." 

Sisters Brandee and Shannon Lake, who are Black, said they’re sharing a cabin and said that quarantining  together during the pandemic prepared them to live in close quarters on the ship for nine months. 

Brandee Lake, 46, said the staff and passengers have been “so friendly, so kind, so much energy,” quashing some of the online chatter that there’s tension among different travelers. 

She appeared to have one issue, according to a TikTok that she posted, saying she has been repeatedly asked if she is a member of the ship’s staff rather than a traveler. 

“If I get asked if I work on this ship one more time,” she said in the video. “After I said I was not working, then I was asked if I was independently wealthy — like, basically, how did you afford this?

But she told "TODAY" that after she posted her TikTok, the cruise’s hotel manager made it a point to greet her during dinner. She and Shannon Lake, 42, said that nothing has happened yet on the ship that would be worthy of reality TV.

Brandee Lake did not immediately respond to a request for comment made by NBC News. 

Other passengers told "TODAY" they were on the cruise to celebrate wedding anniversaries. One traveler, Angie Linderman, said she took the trip because she is at a higher risk for developing cancer in her lifetime and wanted to check off bucket list items while she is healthy. 

“Retirement age is not a guarantee. And so (there is) an emphasis on just doing all of the things I can do now while I’m healthy, while I’m able, instead of putting them off in hopes that I can do them later, when in reality that may not happen,” she said. 

So is there drama and why is social media obsessed?

Well, not really. 

Some have homed in on the fact that “pinnacle members,” Royal Caribbean’s highest tier of membership, have access to different excursions and have allegedly had town hall meetings. This doesn’t appear to be out of the norm for a cruise, Maddox said. 

But there have been some suggestions that people of different backgrounds might be experiencing different treatment on the ship. 

One person claimed that American and non-American guests were being treated differently on board the ship. 

Beyond that, those documenting their time on the ship have yet to report any reality TV-worthy drama for TikTok to consume. The posts from those on land have mostly consisted of documenting who is aboard the ship, creating “bingo cards” for events on the ship, and cheering on drama. 

“I don’t love the idea of people dubbing themselves ‘gossip director’ or ‘content curator,’ which I’ve seen to describe, like, talking about viral trends and events on the ship,” Maddox said. “These are real people with real lives on the other side of the screen.”

Like Maddox, many likened the cruise to the viral BamaRushTok — the time of year when sororities recruit new members at The University of Alabama, which is often shared by potential recruits on TikTok. Maddox, who has taught some of the women who became stars of the Bama Rush phenomenon, said she’s seen first-hand how real people being treated like figures on reality TV can be damaging and stressful. 

“There’s definitely this fascination that’s baked into TikTok that we see exacerbated in things like Bama Rush and the world cruise of ‘I could never live this life, so I’m now going to live vicariously through these people,’” Maddox said. 

Maddox said it makes sense that people are trying to use the language of reality TV to understand what they see on TikTok, where “storytime” posts and drama are often posted episodically. Still, she urged viewers to remember that where reality TV is often scripted and planned behind the scenes, those on the Ultimate World Cruise are real people living their real lives.

“It’s an ethical issue to hope and wish drama upon people who are just trying to do this fun thing with their lives and decided to share it with us,” Maddox said. “So I hope everybody, including the people who are enjoying watching this content, take a pause and remember that ethical social media use applies to them too.”

Kalhan Rosenblatt is a reporter covering youth and internet culture for NBC News, based in New York.

Category: Top Stories

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Carnival cruise ship rescues nearly 30 people from adrift vessel

A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued nearly 30 people who were stuck at sea on Sunday.

The crew on Carnival Paradise saved 28 Cuban nationals who were signaling for help on a vessel that was adrift around 2:30 p.m. The cruise ship was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Roatan in Honduras at the time.

“The bridge team onboard spotted the vessel and turned the ship around to rescue them,” Carnival said in a news release . “All were taken aboard, given food and were seen by the medical team.” The cruise line also notified the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West and officials in Roatan.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The ship was set to visit Roatan on Monday. Carnival Paradise is on a five-day Caribbean cruise that departed from Tampa on Saturday, according to CruiseMapper .

The news comes after Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex ship rescued seven people in a small vessel adrift between Cuba and Mexico earlier this month. Another Carnival ship, Carnival Jubilee, also rescued two people stuck in a kayak off the coast of Mexico’s Isla Mujeres in January.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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9-1-1 boss breaks down the deadly cruise ship disaster finale — and what didn't make the final cut

The ABC first-responder drama's co-creator and showrunner, Tim Minear, also teases what's to come in season 7.

After three hours of pirates, explosions, and lots of water , 9-1-1 fans finally know who survived the epic, three-part season 7 premiere .

"It all happened really fast," co-creator and showrunner Tim Minear tells Entertainment Weekly of completing the cruise ship disaster episodes. "It was very difficult, and you always have that moment where you're just like, 'Am I going to be able to pull this off?'"

It may have felt quick, but getting Bobby ( Peter Krause ) and Athena ( Angela Bassett ) out of that sinking vessel actually took months of filming... and none of it on an actual cruise ship. As the series moves forward on dry land (though on one very wet driveway, with the Bachelor crossover coming next week ), we asked Minear to break down the deadly three-epsiode event, reveal what ideas never made it to air, and tease what's to come in the rest of season 7.

Chris Willard/Disney

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This was a big undertaking...

TIM MINEAR: Shooting Bobby and Athena on a honeymoon cruise was more challenging than many things I've done on this show in the last seven seasons. We never got an actual cruise ship, so we had to shoot in hotels and on different types of vessels, and then [use] special effects and CGI. But just the idea of that surprised me. I thought that would be easy: You'd rent a cruise ship, you'd shoot on it for three days, you'd get a lot of stuff on the decks. But it just didn't turn out that way. It was very difficult to get a cruise ship. No cruise line wanted to be associated with a capsized ship, which I guess I can understand.

Well it all made for a very dramatic three episodes. So many massive sets, so much rising water.

The water's not actually rising, the set is sinking! The set was built on a gimbal inside a water tank. We would slowly lower the set into the tank, and it gives the effect that the water's rising around them. And the casino set.... The lowering of the table with Norman [played by Daniel Roebuck] on it, that was complicated to write, and it was very complicated to shoot. But that's Peter up there. Peter is climbing across those ropes up there — that delighted me.

The other thing that absolutely delighted me was that Angela Bassett was game for anything. She went into that water. When the bomb goes off in episode 2, and she goes flying against that wall, she actually did it! There's a stunt woman in there too, but Angela, she was game for anything.

Was there anything you wanted to do with this disaster that you weren't able to?

There was one scene that I did have to cut, that I was sad to cut. It was when Wes [played by Denzel Johnson] opens the door and that fireball comes out. Originally in the script, they still continued in that direction, and when they looked into that room, it was an upside down restaurant and the water was on fire. And so it's like, "How do we get to the other side of the restaurant and stop the gas that is feeding this fire?" And in the scene, in the script, Lola [played by Romy Rosemont] actually dives under the fire and swims under the water to turn it off. It was very Shelley Winters [in The Poseidon Adventure .]

Time and money just prohibited that from happening, so I made a little bit more of Wes' death. And then did give Lola an opportunity to retrieve the flare gun later in the episode, so she still got to go underwater. But that was a moment that I was sad to lose. And I know Romy was too, but she still got a little bit of action there at the end.

So now that Bobby and Athena are rescued, what can you tease about the rest of the season?

I just finished locking episode 4 and I was like, "Hmm, there's no natural disasters. Things aren't blowing up all over the place." But there is the Bachelor crossover, so we have that to look forward to. And now we get to spend a little time breathing with the 118 and dig into their personal stories a little bit more. Yeah, I don't know how much I should spoil.... Definitely a beloved character will be returning in episode 4, I can put it that way....

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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Related content:

• Why  9-1-1  boss 'wasn't really interested' in Buck dating death doula Natalia — and what's to come in season 7
• 9-1-1 's Oliver Stark and Ryan Guzman on Buck and Eddie's 'open, sensitive, and vulnerable' season 7 dynamic
• Inside the epic  9-1-1  season 7 premiere: The shipwreck, the romances, the drama

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Best Cruise Ships for You

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Celebrity Edge

Debuted in December 2018, the 2,918-passenger Celebrity Edge stands out for its modernity. The Edge is dressed to the nines in contemporary designs and features a diverse array of technologies, amenities, activities and dining venues on board. Passengers can delight in the ship's rooftop garden, take a dip in one of many ocean-facing pools, work up a sweat on the jogging track or relax at the on-site spa.

You'll find plenty of evening entertainment options, too, including themed bars and lounges, a club and a theater showcasing a variety of productions. The Edge was the first Celebrity ship fitted with the Magic Carpet – the line's cantilevered venue at sea that travels 13 stories. The open-air venue can be repositioned alongside several decks, allowing it to transform from a live music venue to a bar to an exclusive specialty restaurant, depending on its location.

For dining, passengers have 29 options to choose from. These include four main restaurants and specialty options serving a range of cuisines, from sashimi to French bistro classics. After a bite to eat, take a break and relax in your modern stateroom or suite. Every room offers technology that allows guests to control temperature, service and lighting with a touch screen. What's more, with a roughly 2-to-1 passenger-to-crew ratio, service across the ship will be spot on.

Celebrity Edge makes sailings across Europe, Asia, Australia and more. 

U.S. News Insider Tip: On Edge Series ships, park yourself at the Sunset Bar with a spicy margarita every evening – it’s the best spot on the ship to watch for the fabled green flash. – Skye Sherman, Contributor

Celebrity Beyond

Launched in April 2022, Celebrity Beyond is the third ship in the cruise line's Edge Series, capable of holding up to 3,260 passengers and 1,400 crew members. On board, guests have their pick of 32 food and beverage venues serving everything from Greek to French to Italian cuisine; there are also several cocktail bars and lounges where guests can grab a drink.

One of the highlights of Celebrity Beyond is its 4,500-piece art collection, which includes works by travel photographers and international artists. There is also no shortage of unique entertainment options; these range from acrobatic shows to juggling mixologist performances. To enjoy stunning water views, enjoy Celebrity's "Magic Carpet," a large platform that hangs off the edge of the ship and moves from deck to deck.

Staterooms offer amenities like plush bathrobes, comfortable Cashmere mattresses and flat-screen TVs; many also come with private verandas. For a one-of-a-kind experience, splurge on a room in The Retreat. This resort-within-a-resort features villas and suites with added luxuries like plunge pools, hot tubs and butlers. Plus, guests of The Retreat have exclusive access to a private sundeck, restaurant and lounge, along with an onboard credit that can be used however you see fit.

Celebrity Beyond sails to a variety of popular Mediterranean and Caribbean destinations, including the French Riviera, Italy, Mexico and more. 

U.S. News Insider Tip: On Celebrity Beyond, if you're lucky, your drink might be poured by Captain Kate McCue herself during the nightly flair bartender show at the Grand Plaza Martini Bar. Make sure to follow her behind-the-scenes adventures on Instagram. – Skye Sherman, Contributor

Debuted in October 2021, Rotterdam welcomes up to 2,668 guests. The name hearkens back to the line's founding in the late 19th century, when its first ship, Rotterdam, sailed from the Netherlands to New York. Though the ship's name is rooted in the cruise line's past, its amenities are anything but antiquated. 

Among Rotterdam's standout facilities is World Stage, a performance venue that features a two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screen that creates a panorama of light and sound for audience members. For more entertainment, passengers can catch a performance at any of the ship's numerous music venues, including the Rolling Stone Rock Room and B.B. King's Blues Club.

When travelers aren't grooving to live tunes, they can test their luck at the onboard casino or relax at the spa. Meanwhile, kids can play the day away at the Kids Club. Foodies will be pleased to hear the ship offers eight dining options, including Rudi's Sel de Mer, a French brasserie, and Tamarind, which highlights the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan.

Cabins range in size from 143 square feet to 1,290 square feet, with some of the luxury suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, whirlpool baths and verandas with hot tubs.

Sailings aboard Rotterdam depart from ports like Fort Lauderdale, Florida , and Amsterdam to destinations in the Caribbean, Europe and the Panama Canal.

U.S. News Insider Tip: The art collection aboard Rotterdam is valued at more than $4.1 million and has 2,645 pieces of diverse works ranging in value from $500 to $620,000. Take some time to walk around the ship to explore the collections. Each of the three stairwells has a theme that reaches from top to bottom: architecture, music or zoology. – Jill Schildhouse, Contributor

Viking Venus

Launched in May 2021 from Portsmouth, England, Viking Venus features modern amenities and a contemporary design. The ship can hold 930 passengers and 465 crew members. Amenities include multiple pools and shops, as well as a cinema, a live performance theater, a jazz lounge, a spa, a fitness center and a salon. Plus, you can attend a lecture or discussion with the onboard historian, who helps educate passengers on the cultural aspects of each destination. An onboard cooking school, The Kitchen Table, also allows guests to learn about each destination's unique cuisine. 

Cruisers can enjoy daily updated food options at The Restaurant, diverse cuisine at the World Café, expertly paired tasting menus at The Chef's Table and Italian favorites at Manfredi's Italian Restaurant. There are eight dining venues on board in total, in addition to the ship's cooking school at The Kitchen Table and 24/7 room service.

When it's time to rest, there are six types of accommodations to choose from – all with private verandas. The standard Veranda Staterooms measure 270 square feet and feature plush beds, free Wi-Fi access and flat-screen TVs. Higher-tier rooms come with extras like priority shore excursion reservations, priority spa reservations, in-room coffee and free laundry services. Plus, travelers in these cabins will have more space: Rooms reach up to 1,448 square feet and may include separate living and dining areas.

The Viking Venus sails to popular European destinations like Barcelona , Athens , Bangkok , Istanbul , Rome , London , Sydney and Stockholm .

Celebrity Apex

The Celebrity Apex – which made its inaugural sailing in June 2021 – can hold up to 2,910 passengers and 1,320 crew members. Guests can wine and dine at 29 restaurants, bars and lounges, then spend the night testing their luck at the casino or enjoying live music at the Magic Carpet (which offers great ocean views). Specialty restaurants include a steakhouse and a raw bar, while main dining options feature Mediterranean, Italian and French cuisines. There are also meeting spaces and multipurpose areas on board, as well as upscale shops. 

Visit the spa or adults-only Solarium pool to stay relaxed throughout your stay at sea. For younger travelers, there are some kid-friendly areas of the ship – such as a Camp at Sea. However, the ship is geared more toward adult clientele (or families with older children) looking for a relaxing escape.

The ship's staterooms, which start at 181 square feet, offer smart TVs, customizable air conditioning and plenty of storage space. Many rooms also offer private verandas. If you're willing to splurge, consider booking a room in The Retreat. This exclusive section of the ship features luxury accommodations as well as access to a private restaurant, sun deck and lounge. Plus, rooms in The Retreat offer more space, measuring up to 1,892 square feet.

The Celebrity Apex sails to European destinations like Greece, Italy, Croatia and Portugal, as well as to Caribbean hot spots like St. Thomas , Puerto Rico , Belize and Grand Cayman . 

Seven Seas Splendor

Debuted in September 2021, the 746-passenger, 548-crew member Seven Seas Splendor is the newest ship within the Regent fleet. Seven Seas Splendor – along with most of the line's other ships – takes opulence to the next level by equipping each suite with its own private balcony. Other standard in-room amenities include interactive flat-screen TVs, luxurious bath products, bathrobes and slippers, signature queen-size beds and dining tables for two. There are 10 suite categories available, ranging from the smallest Veranda (307 square feet) and Deluxe Veranda suites (308 to 361 square feet) to the largest Regent (4,443 square feet) and Master suites (1,895 to 2,108 square feet). 

Guests have a wide array of things to do while on board. Spend your days relaxing at the spa, playing paddle tennis or bocce ball, working up a sweat on the jogging track or taking a dip in the ship's two whirlpools and two pools, one of which is an infinity-edge pool that stretches along the edge of the ship, providing swimmers with exceptional views of the ocean. At night, enjoy one of five shows at the onboard theater. 

When it comes to food, Seven Seas Splendor offers eight eateries ranging from casual to fine dining. Enjoy your breakfast alfresco at La Veranda and grub down for lunch at the Pool Grill buffet. For something more formal, opt for a French-inspired meal at Chartreuse, Pan-Asian dishes at Pacific Rim or Compass Rose, the largest restaurant on the ship.

Seven Seas Splendor visits a variety of European and Mediterranean destinations, as well as ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and South America.

Viking Saturn

Debuted in May 2023, the adults-only Viking Saturn has the capacity to hold 930 passengers and 465 crew members. Travelers love the ship's clean Scandinavian design and compact size, which allows it to dock in smaller ports that larger cruise ships cannot reach.

On board, travelers have access to a slew of amenities, including a fitness center, a spa, a library, a state-of-the-art theater, a hair salon, an infinity pool and more. A resident historian is also on board to offer lectures and educational programming about upcoming port destinations. When hunger strikes, Viking Saturn offers an array of dining options, from fresh seafood at World Café to afternoon tea service at Wintergarden to traditional Norwegian cuisine at Mamsen's. Or, learn how to prepare regional dishes from your itinerary at the onboard cooking school.

Starting at 270 square feet, standard staterooms come equipped with king-size mattresses (which can be converted into two twin beds), flat-screen TVs, full-size verandas and bathrooms with heated floors. What's more, each accommodation includes 24-hour room service. Travelers who opt to stay in one of the ship's upgraded suites (which reach up to 1,448 square feet) have access to additional perks such as separate living areas and dining rooms, complimentary laundry services and a welcome bottle of Champagne, among other luxuries.

Viking Saturn sails to a variety of destinations in northern Europe (such as Bergen, Norway; London  and Stockholm ) and the Mediterranean (think: Barcelona, Spain ; Rome ; Athens, Greece ; and Istanbul ).

The 930-passenger Viking Sky – which debuted in February 2017 – receives rave reviews from past cruisers for its port-heavy itineraries (fares include one complimentary excursion per port) and luxurious, comfortable staterooms. Cabins offer between 270 and 1,448 square feet of space and include balconies, complimentary Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs and bathrooms with heated floors, among other amenities. Those who opt for an upgraded stateroom or suite are treated to additional perks, like priority reservations at the spa and specialty restaurants.

Viking Sky's activities include classes at the fitness center, treatments at the spa and destination-focused lectures. The ship also offers two pools and two whirlpools, including an infinity pool on the stern of the ship. In the evenings, passengers can enjoy live performances in the theater or watch destination-related movies in one of two cinemas.

Guests also have their choice of cuisine, from alfresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace to Manfredi's Italian Restaurant. With 550 crew members on board, the ship maintains a nearly 2-to-1 guest-to-crew ratio.

Viking Sky sails to the Mediterranean, Europe, Central America and more. The ship also offers world voyages.

Viking Mars

Viking's newest ship, the Viking Mars accommodates 930 passengers and, since it's a smaller vessel, it can dock in many ports where some of the larger ocean-faring cruise ships can't reach. The all-veranda accommodations on this ship, which debuted in May 2022, range in size from around 270 square feet to 1,448 square feet. In-room amenities include free Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs, safes, minibars filled with drinks and snacks, robes, slippers and 24-hour room service.

Visitors will find a relaxing spa, a hair salon, a yoga area and a well-equipped indoor fitness center (plus an outdoor fitness center) aboard the ship. Those looking to unwind with a book in one hand and a cocktail in the other should snag a cozy spot in The Living Room. Like other Viking ships, the Viking Mars offers educational programming, lectures, cooking classes and more on board.

Cruisers can also enjoy amenities like the main pool and hot tub, the infinity pool, the cinema, the theater, a jazz lounge and various bars. Dining options on this ship include Manfredi's Italian Restaurant, Aquavit Terrace, World Café, The Chef's Table and The Kitchen Table.

Viking Mars receives rave reviews from recent cruisers. The variety of excursions, the delectable onboard dining and the comfortable cabins are a few things previous guests highlighted as superb. However, the staff received mixed reviews: Some experienced attentive and friendly employees, while a few noted they were expecting better service across the board for the price point.

Upcoming itineraries on the Viking Mars include cruises with ports of call in Iceland, Norway, Greece, Italy, Spain, the U.S. and Canada.

Seven Seas Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Explorer debuted in 2016. It's one of the largest vessels in the fleet, welcoming up to 746 passengers. The ship makes service a top priority, with 548 crew members on board. According to past cruisers, the staff was friendly and attentive.

Travelers were even more impressed by the all-suite accommodations, which are some of the largest offered among ocean liners. All 373 suites include spacious balconies, marble bathrooms, walk-in closets, interactive flat-screen TVs and unlimited Wi-Fi.

Another high point: the cuisine. Explorer offers eight dining areas that range from the casual Pool Grill to Asian creations at Pacific Rim. As part of the 'Regent Experience,' all specialty dining is included in the cruise fare.

Outside the cabins, guests can spend their days participating in cooking demonstrations, lounging by the pool or relaxing in the library. At night, entertainment options include casino games, cocktail lounges and shows in the Constellation Theater. Complaints about this ship are few and far between, though some reviewers felt the entertainment could be more impressive. 

The best perk, according to recent passengers? All shore excursions are included. Seven Seas Explorer sails to destinations in Alaska, Asia, Australia and more.

U.S. News Insider Tip: Pacific Rim is a favorite dining venue among cruisers, with its Asian-inspired cocktails and cuisine offering a selection of dishes from Thailand, Korea, China, Vietnam and Japan. Spin the bronze Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel as you enter the restaurant and be sure to sample the miso black cod. – Gwen Pratesi, Contributor

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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‘Lower the temperature’ on protests at university campuses, education minister says

The education minister was also asked about the pro-Palestine encampments taking place across Australian universities, and whether they should be allowed to continue for as long as students are willing to man them.

He told ABC RN that protests will always be a part of democracy, but said “we’ve just got to lower the temperature”.

There’s always going to be protests in a democracy, that’s part of being a democracy. What there’s no place for is hate or violence or prejudice or discrimination and certainly no place [for] antisemitism or Islamophobia – whether it’s on our university campuses or anywhere else in the country. What I’d say is that we’ve just got to lower the temperature. You know, what’s happening on the other side of the world is trying to pull our country apart. We’ve got to work together – whether it’s politicians or religious leaders or community leaders, whether it’s the media, or student representatives – to work to keep our country together, not let it get pulled apart.

Placement payment for student teachers and nurses not meant to be a wage, Clare says

ABC RN host Sally Sara noted that the government’s own economic inclusion advisory committee found payments like Austudy and Abstudy are too low and can’t be lived on . Why not tie placement payments to the minimum wage, she asked?

The education minister, Jason Clare , said this measure was not designed to be a wage but “a bit of extra financial support”. He said:

There’ll be a lot of people who will still be able to work at the same time as they’re doing [placements]. But there are people who can’t [and] this will provide that bit of extra help to pay the bills, put food on the table, pay for transport, sometimes the relocation costs that come with prac. The commonwealth government hasn’t done this before. This is the first time that this has happened. It’s happened in the in response to calls from students – both teaching students and nursing students and social work students – across the country, and it’s come out of the work for the universities accord team that heard loud and clear that there is placement poverty in this country. If we want more people to finish their teaching and nursing degrees – if we want to get more people teaching our kids, helping us when we’re sick, working in domestic violence refuges – [then] this is part of the way to do it.

Education minister on new placement payments for student teachers and nurses

As Paul Karp reported this morning, student teachers, nurses, midwives and social workers will receive a weekly payment of $320 during their mandatory placements under a new cost-of-living measure in the May budget.

The education minister, Jason Clare , was on ABC RN earlier to discuss the measure. Asked about any means testing model for the payment, he said:

Teaching students do about 600 hours as part of their degree in a classroom, nurses do about 800 hours in a hospital, and sometimes they’ve got to give up their part-time job to do [this] … We’ll work with unions as well as the university sector to make sure that we sharpen and define the means testing model that we’ll put in legislation to make sure that we’re giving this to the people who need it the most.

He flagged a means test could look at students who still live at home versus living independently, as well as those already receiving financial supports or students who work more than 15 hours a week.

Clare said he met a nursing student in Sydney last week who said the payment would mean “the difference between paying for parking at the hospital or paying for food that she wants to eat every night”.

New direct flight between Australia and Palau

A new direct flight between Australia and Palau has been announced today, with the first flight to depart this month.

The non-stop flights will go between Brisbane and Koror, Palau and “help create new opportunities for regional tourism and trade”, a statement from foreign minister Penny Wong and Palau president Surangel Whipps said.

Palau is a tiny country of over 500 islands in the Pacific, with a population of about 20,000 people.

Nauru Airlines will operate the flight until 31 October this year, with eligible Australian, Pacific and Asian airlines invited to participate in a tender to operate the route through to October 2025.

The route compliments the “Island Hopper” flight between Brisbane, Nauru, Tarawa, Majuro, Pohnpei and Koror.

Wong said in a statement:

Australia has heard the calls from Pacific leaders for deeper connections and easier movement around the region, and is working to improve access, mobility, and migration opportunities.

Calls for 'substantial increase' to jobseeker and youth allowance

A group of women and non-binary people from civil society have written to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese , seeking a “substantial increase” in jobseeker and youth allowance.

It notes that this was the priority recommendation of the government’s own Economic Inclusions Advisory Committee, quoting chair Jenny Macklin who said: “Women escaping violence also need to know that there will be a decent social security net for them.”

The letter said:

The current social security safety net cannot be described as “decent” nor safe. The JobSeeker Payment is just $55 a day. Youth Allowance is even less at $45 a day. Around 500,000 women receive these payments. While the government’s restoration of Parenting Payment Single to 82,000 single parents whose youngest child is aged between 8 and 14 was most welcome, there remain large numbers of women of all ages in receipt of JobSeeker and other working-age payments that are simply not enough to cover basic costs. Fixing the adequacy of Jobseeker and Youth Allowance to deliver basic economic security for women cannot wait.

The letter is signed by Macklin, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commissioner June Oscar , sex discrimination commissioner Anna Cody , single mothers advocate Terese Edwards, former NSW women’s minister Verity Firth , unionists Emeline Gaske and Correna Haythorpe and former independent MP Cathy McGowan .

Unlike last year’s letter coordinated by the Australian Council of Social Services, this does not appear to include current Labor MPs.

David McBride sentencing hearing to take place today

The sentencing hearing for military whistleblower David McBride will take place today.

McBride pleaded guilty to stealing commonwealth information and passing that on to journalists at the ABC, who used the material as the basis for an investigative series exposing war crimes in Afghanistan, titled The Afghan Files .

You can read the background below:

A rally is due to take place this morning, with a number of McBride’s supporters speaking. Saffrine Duggan, the wife of Dan Duggan , said in a statement:

In Australia we pride ourselves on transparent government and the right to a fair hearing in court. Situations like David’s and Dan’s, where Australians are being used as political scapegoats, cannot stand. It’s time for the prime minister and politicians in Canberra to prove the value of Australian citizenship and our nation’s sovereignty. I am horrified at this prosecution of both David and of my husband, Dan, and the damage it is doing to them and to their loved ones. We won’t give up, let’s stand together for justice.

Police search for man overboard cruise ship off Sydney

NSW police are leading a search in waters off Sydney after reports a person went overboard off a cruise ship early this morning.

Police said emergency services received reports a person had gone overboard off a ship 10 nautical miles (around 19km) off Sydney Heads just after 4am.

NSW police marine area command have deployed a number of resources to search for the person and are leading the coordination of the water search.

The P&O Pacific Adventure was due to dock in Sydney Harbour at 6am this morning.

P&O said in a statement that the ship – carrying 2,600 guests – was taking part in the search and rescue operation along with other nearby vessels, deployed to the area by AMSA’s joint rescue coordination centre.

The family of this guest is being cared for by our onboard team while every effort is being made to find them. Pacific Adventure’s arrival into White Bay Terminal this morning has been delayed while the search continues.

The flight radar shows a rescue helicopter sweeping a section of the ocean. The Marine Traffic map shows the cruise ship is continuing search efforts.

More on the NSW government’s $230m domestic and family violence package

In a first for the state, $38m will go towards funding a dedicated primary prevention strategy . $48m will fund the Staying Home Leaving Violence program , helping women and their children to remain safe in their homes after leaving a violent relationship.

Offender transformation programs will receive $2.1m and $48m will go towards early intervention , including funding for workers who support children affected by family violence.

Bail laws – blamed in part for the death of Forbes woman M olly Ticehurst – are part of its focus, with $45m earmarked to improve bail laws and justice system responses.

The state’s attorney general, Michael Daley , said the funds would “[ensure] we are reviewing domestic violence supports and systems from every angle”.

NSW needs a coordinated approach across multiple fronts to disrupt domestic violence – that is what this suite of funding initiatives is designed to achieve.

NSW minister for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, Jodie Harrison , said:

There is no shying away from the horrendous statistics, and the tragic stories behind each one of those statistics.

NSW government unveils $230m emergency package for victim-survivors

The NSW government has today committed to an emergency $230m package to support the victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

The new funding will cover four years of new programs and extensions of existing programs, and is informed by the lived experience of victim-survivors and leaders from the domestic family and sexual violence sector who met with the state cabinet last week.

The premier, Chris Minns , said in a statement:

Too many lives have been lost and too many families have been broken because of domestic and family violence. It is a blight in our communities, and it is a problem that deserves our government’s concerted attention and response. We are listening to leaders, organisations, victim-survivors, and communities from across NSW to drive solutions. Domestic, family, and sexual violence is preventable; we cannot accept the status quo. This funding announcement is an important step to doing better, to recognising that domestic violence supports need to be applied not just from a crisis response perspective, but with an eye to disrupting the cycle of domestic and family violence early and permanently.

And happy Monday – great to be with you for a new week on the Australian news live blog. I’m Emily Wind , and I’ll take you through our rolling coverage today.

Making news overnight: The NSW government has announced the details of its emergency $230m package to support the victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence. The new funding will cover four years of new programs and extensions of existing programs and follows a dedicated cabinet meeting last week . More on this soon from Daisy Dumas .

NSW police are leading a search in waters off Sydney after reports a person went overboard off a cruise ship around 4am today.

The sentencing hearing for military whistleblower David McBride will take place today. McBride pleaded guilty to stealing commonwealth information and passing that on to journalists at the ABC, who used the material as the basis for an investigative series exposing war crimes in Afghanistan, titled The Afghan Files.

A group of women and non-binary people from civil society have written to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese , seeking a “substantial increase” in jobseeker and youth allowance. The letter states jobseeker and other working-age payments “are simply not [earning] enough to cover basic costs”. Paul Karp will bring us more on this shortly.

And Mexican authorities have said the bodies believed to be two missing Australian brothers show they may have been killed with gunshots. You can read the entire story below:

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