Luxury Cruising Editorial

To celebrate its 153rd anniversary, Holland America Line marked its enduring Dutch roots with the official naming of its newest signature tulip — “Savour the Journey” — during a ceremony at the iconic Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands. The vibrant orange tulip serves as a living symbol of the brand’s Dutch heritage and longstanding ties to Dutch culture, craftsmanship and tradition. 

Cultivated by renowned Dutch growers KP de Geus of Maveridge International exclusively for Holland America Line, the Savour the Journey tulip reflects qualities long associated with the brand: elegance, warmth, hospitality and attention to detail. Its bold orange petals and glowing yellow center embody both tradition and vitality, echoing the enduring connection between Holland America Line and the Netherlands’ rich horticultural legacy. 

“Our Dutch heritage is central to who we are, and naming our Savour the Journey tulip at Keukenhof is a meaningful expression of that connection,” said Nico Bleichrodt, vice president, international sales and marketing, Holland America Line. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to name this tulip and for the care and craftsmanship behind it. It reflects the sense of intention that defines our brand and how we invite guests to experience the world.” 

The tulip was officially named during a ceremony at Keukenhof that brought together Holland America Line leaders, partners and guests to mark the moment. The event traced the year-long journey to find and adopt the new tulip, highlighting the cruise line’s longstanding relationship with Keukenhof and its Dutch heritage. The program culminated in a live sand-art performance that revealed the tulip’s name, Savour the Journey, followed by the formal dedication led by Captains Eric Barhorst and Jeroen Baijens, tulip grower KP de Geus, and tulip godmother and Olympic medalist Joy Beune. The celebration concluded with a Champagne toast among the blooming gardens. 

A decorated Olympic medalist and one of the Netherlands’ most celebrated speedskaters, Joy Beune brings a deep personal connection to the moment. A proud Dutch athlete who has partnered with Holland America Line since 2025, Beune embodies the same spirit of excellence, heritage and forward momentum that defines the cruise line. In keeping with maritime tradition — where ships are formally named and welcomed into service with a godparent — Holland America Line extended that custom to its signature tulip. Beune’s role as godmother to the Savour the Journey tulip reflects the brand’s seafaring roots while celebrating modern expressions of Dutch culture. 

“It’s truly special to serve as godmother to this tulip,” said Joy Beune. “There’s nothing more Dutch than tulips and speed skating — both are part of our national identity. I love that Holland America Line is honoring its Dutch roots in such a meaningful way, and ‘Savour the Journey’ reflects a mindset I really connect with: taking pride in the path, not just the finish line.” 

As part of the tulip-naming celebration, Holland America Line will also take part in the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek Flower Parade on April 18, an event that draws around one million visitors each year. The cruise line last participated in the parade in 2013, when it unveiled its previous signature tulip, and first joined in 1948 to mark its role in transporting tulips from the Netherlands to the US. This year’s return continues that long-standing tradition. 

“We are honored to continue our longstanding relationship with Holland America Line in such a meaningful way,” said Ferry Huurman, Director of Operations at the Keukenhof. “Flowers, and tulips in particular, are deeply rooted in Dutch tradition, and welcoming a new tulip into our gardens is always a special moment. Hosting this celebration together symbolizes the rich Dutch heritage we proudly share, as well as the joy that tulips bring to visitors from around the world!” 

Holland America Line’s Dutch heritage continues to shape the guest experience today, particularly on its Northern Europe cruises embarking from Amsterdam, Dover and Rotterdam. From Dutch Day celebrations on board to regionally inspired cuisine and enrichment, the cruise line brings its roots to life throughout the journey. Cruise guests can sail on select Northern Europe itineraries that showcase this heritage while exploring some of the continent’s most storied ports. Itineraries include: 

• 7-Day Viking Trails & Celtic Origins: Edinburgh Evening Stay, June 14, 2026 — Reykjavik to Rotterdam 
• 14-Day Baltic & Scandinavian Capitals, June 26 or 27, 2026 — Roundtrip from Rotterdam or Dover 
• 7-Day Norwegian Fjords & Hidden Gems, Sept. 5, 2026 — Amsterdam to Rotterdam 
• 13-Day Fjords of Norway, Sept. 19, 2026 — Rotterdam to Dover 
• 15-Day Arctic Journey & Northern Lights, Oct. 15, 2026 — Dover to Rotterdam 
• 7-Day Norwegian Fjords & Sognefjord, May 8, 2027 — Roundtrip from Amsterdam 

For more information about Holland America Line or to book a cruise, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com. 

Norwegian Cruise Line^® (NCL) celebrated the float out of Norwegian Aura™, marking a construction milestone for the cruise company’s largest and most illuminating vessel to date.

The float out, which took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, marks the first time Norwegian Aura touched water, signifying the completion of the ship’s external hull construction. Following this milestone, the ship’s interior development will continue progressing to the next phase ahead of her debut in the spring of 2027. To commemorate the occasion and honor maritime tradition, two ceremonial coins were welded into Norwegian Aura’s hull during a traditional coin ceremony, symbolizing good fortune and safe passage for the ship, her crew and future guests.

“Norwegian Aura’s float out is a proud and meaningful moment for our entire team,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “She builds on the legacy of our award-winning Prima Class while taking our commitment to thoughtfully designed guest‑first experiences even further. Created in close partnership with Fincantieri, the ship is purposefully constructed to deliver an elevated, multi‑generational vacation experience, with expansive outdoor spaces like Ocean Heights™, that bring families and friends together for fun-filled days. With her flexible, open‑air design, Norwegian Aura is exceptionally well suited for Caribbean itineraries, offering the perfect balance of high‑energy fun, relaxation and an effortless escape for guests of all ages.”

Norwegian Aura

When she enters service, Norwegian Aura will set a new benchmark for NCL. Nearly 1,130 feet long and approximately 170,000 gross tons, the ship is 10% larger than her predecessors, Norwegian Aqua^® and Norwegian Luna™. She will feature over 1,970 well-appointed staterooms accommodating approximately 3,880 guests at double occupancy.

At the heart of Norwegian Aura’s onboard experience will be Ocean Heights, an all-new open-air activities complex designed as a true multi-generational hub. Guests can enjoy the most slides of any NCL ship, including Eclipse Racers, the Company’s first dueling waterslides; Aura Free Fall, a drop-in body waterslide that plunges guests down exhilarating twists and turns; and The Wave, a pendulum-style raft slide designed to accommodate up to four guests. Nearby, guests will discover the 82-foot Aura Ropes Course, a 25-foot rock-climbing wall and Aura Midway, which offers easygoing fun with carnival-style games. At night, the activity zone will transform into a visual spectacle with immersive lighting and LED projections for a more relaxed, social atmosphere.

Norwegian Aura will introduce an expanded pool deck more than 20% larger than her predecessors, with additional seating, an extra hot tub, open lounge areas and a nearby Kids’ Aqua Park, creating more space for families to relax and play together. Adults seeking a quieter escape can retreat to the ever-popular Vibe Beach Club, the exclusive adults-only outdoor lounge. An enhanced Ocean Boulevard, extended by 11%, will wrap around the ship’s hull on deck eight with new hot tubs, seating and social spaces. Debuting family‑friendly hubs ensure flexible ways for guests of every generation to enjoy time together or apart with Adventure Alley for kids aged six to 10, Little Explorer’s Cove for the youngest sailors and a dedicated purpose‑built Teen Hangout.

“Norwegian Aura’s float out marks a highly symbolic and operationally significant milestone in our shared journey with Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of Fincantieri’s Merchant Ships Division. “This vessel reflects the strength of a long-standing partnership and our ability to turn design vision and innovation into tangible solutions, helping to redefine onboard experience for future generations of guests.”

Norwegian Aura will set sail on her maiden voyage on May 21, 2027, with a seven-day Mediterranean voyage departing from Trieste, Italy and calling to iconic ports in Italy and Malta, before embarking on a 14-day transatlantic crossing to the United States. Beginning June 10, 2027, she will homeport in Miami and offer a variety of seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean with visits to the Company’s resort-style island destinations Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize through March 2028.

When Norwegian Aura calls to Great Stirrup Cay for the first time in June 2027, guests will step ashore to a fully enhanced and more accessible private island experience, supported by a new multi-ship pier, a welcome plaza, and a tram service that makes moving from ship-to-shore and around the island easier than ever. Highlights available on Great Stirrup Cay include the Great Life Lagoon, a resort-style pool area with two swim-up bars, cabanas and lounge chairs, alongside the nearby Splash Harbor, offering aquatic fun for kids.  It also features the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, a private beachfront retreat with premium seating and cabanas; and the Great Tides Waterpark, a nearly six-acre attraction featuring 19 waterslides, cliffside jumps, a kids’ splash zone and an immersive river experience—ensuring a seamless, flexible island day for guests of all ages, from arrival to departure.

For more information about the Company’s award-winning fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

Princess Cruises has announced three new shipbuilding agreements with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build three new cruise ships on a next-generation platform designed to further enhance the line’s already world-class vacation experience for its guests. The new builds are slated for delivery in late 2035, 2038, and 2039, respectively. 

The new vessels will seamlessly blend the most desired and highest-rated experiences and venues Princess Cruises is known for, with completely reimagined outer decks, staterooms and Piazza designs that cater to the brand’s global travelers and diverse deployments. These new ships will build upon the award-winning Sphere Class platform and continue to leverage the latest guest-facing and marine technologies. Similar to the highly successful Sun Princess and Star Princess, the Voyager class ships will be dual-fuel powered – primarily by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the best readily available advanced fuel technology that delivers immediate GHG reductions, significantly reducing air emissions compared with other widely available conventional marine fuels. The new ships, which will be the largest by capacity in the Princess Cruises fleet, will be built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

 “The Voyager class will delight both our loyal guests and attract the next generation of Princess guests. We have been leveraging extensive customer and agent research to strike the right balance between evolving our proven winners and introducing new concepts and partnerships grounded in what matters to our current and future guests,” said Gus Antorcha, Princess Cruises President. “From exceptional dining and inviting pool environments to elevated entertainment and beautifully reimagined spaces throughout the ship, we are leaving no area untouched as we thoughtfully evolve the Princess experience.”

The three ships will be 183,000 gross tons and will accommodate approximately 4,700 guests. Specification details for the ship design, along with anticipated features and amenities of this all-new platform design for Princess Cruises will be shared in the future.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, commented “We are delighted to announce this new agreement with Princess Cruises, which confirms the strength of a long-standing and forward-looking partnership. These new orders secure a robust workload for our shipyards through 2039 and further support the profitable development of our cruise business, as outlined in our 2026–2030 Industrial Plan. With the new Voyager-class ships, we are once again leveraging Fincantieri’s distinctive expertise in sustainable, next generation shipbuilding, supporting Princess Cruises in its growth trajectory and reaffirming our role as a trusted industrial partner for the evolution of the cruise industry.”

The agreements for Princess Cruises’ next-generation cruise ships represent what will be Carnival Corporation’s 19th, 20th and 21st LNG-based vessels and is part of the company’s ongoing fleet enhancement strategy, aimed at creating excitement in the vacation market while accelerating demand for cruising, the fastest growing segment in the vacation industry. In addition to these three ships scheduled for delivery in late 2035, 2038 and 2039, Carnival Corporation has seven additional new ships under contract that are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2033. 

The value of these agreements, subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions, are considered very important^[1].

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.