Luxury Cruising Editorial

Princess Cruises is inviting its top guests to enter a contest for a chance to win a ride aboard the cruise line’s float in the 2027 Rose Parade.

Princess Cruises is inviting Captain’s Circle Elite members to “Share Your Princess Story” for a chance to ride on Princess’ floral float in the 138th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2027.

Four winners will be selected to receive a trip for two and the opportunity to “sail” down Colorado Boulevard on Princess’ float; entries are open now through September 22, 2026.

How to Enter

To enter, eligible Captain’s Circle Elite members can submit a 300- to 500-word essay that celebrates the unforgettable memories, meaningful connections, and extraordinary destinations that have made Princess part of their story.

The entry form, official rules, prize description, and eligibility details are available at www.princessshareyourstory.com, and terms and conditions apply.

The contest is open to residents of the 50 United States and Canada, excluding Quebec. You must also be at least 18 years old and have completed 150 days on Princess ships or 15 cruises as of the start of the contest.

The winners will be selected on October 6, 2026, and receive a trip for two to Pasadena, including the winner riding aboard Princess’ float in the Rose Parade.

This will be the second consecutive year that Princess Cruises has had a float in the Rose Parade. The 2027 float will have the theme “Welcome”. It will reflect the discovery, connection, and sense of belonging that comes with exploring the world.

The float will be approximately 55 feet long and 22 feet high and feature more than 320,000 flowers, seeds, bark, leaves, and other natural materials. It will showcase areas of the world visited by Princess cruise ships, including Alaska, Japan, Australia, and Europe.

Marie Lee, Princess Cruises Chief Marketing Officer, gave the following statement:

“Princess guests have been at the heart of our story for more than 60 years, and many have shared incredible moments with us across decades of travel. As we celebrate the Rose Parade theme of ‘Welcome,’ we can’t think of a more meaningful way to bring it to life than by inviting some of our most loyal guests to share the Princess stories they treasure most – and welcoming four of them aboard our float on New Year’s Day.”

Seabourn, one of eight cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation, has announced a new 30-day cruise from Miami in 2028 that will sail up the Amazon River.

Seabourn Quest will depart from PortMiami on November 18, 2028, and return on December 18, 2028. The cruise ship will visit 15 destinations in seven countries and will be part of the cruise line’s Ruby Jubilee year celebrating its 40th anniversary.

This 30-day Amazon Explorer: Rivers & Rainforests itinerary will visit culturally rich destinations in northern South America along with a trip up the Amazon.

The new cruise follows a thoughtfully designed route from the Caribbean into the Amazon River, offering guests opportunities to experience vibrant cultures, remote communities and the changing landscapes that have captivated explorers and travelers for generations.

Highlights of the cruise include:

• Amazon River scenic cruising
• Manaus, Brazil
• Santarém, Brazil
• Boca da Valeria, Brazil
• Paritins, Brazil
• Devil’s Island, French Guiana
• Gustavia, Saint Barthelemy

After leaving Miami, the ship will visit the Caribbean before entering the Amazon River. A highlight of the trip will be an overnight stay in the gateway of the Amazon, Manaus, a historic city surrounded by rainforest.

Stops at Santarém, Boca da Valeria and Parintins will offer opportunities for guests to experience the landscapes, cultures and traditions shaped by one of the world’s great waterways.

The cruise ship will visit Devil’s Island in French Guiana, known for its dramatic history and remote setting, as well as make calls in the Caribbean, including Saint Barthelemy, Trinidad, and Grenada.

Prices for this 30-day Amazon cruise start at $13,499 per person for an ocean view cabin, $17,999 for a balcony, $31,499 for a Penthouse Suite, and $37,799 for Owner’s Suite and above.

The cruise will kick off a season of extended travel on Seabourn Quest. Following the 30-day trip to the Amazon, the ship will sail two 10-day Caribbean cruises before departing on an epic 138-day cruise around the world.

Mark Tamis, President of Seabourn, gave the following statement about this new cruise:

“The Amazon is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations, offering a sense of exploration unlike anywhere else in the world. Seabourn Quest will take guests into the heart of the Amazon to discover its extraordinary landscapes, cultures and traditions, while delivering the personalized service, thoughtfully curated experiences and intimate atmosphere that define Seabourn.”

Azamara Cruises has partnered with Starboard to launch the first-ever shopping rewards program on cruise ships that will allow guests to earn rewards through retail purchases on their cruise.

The Azamara Shopping Rewards is a first-of-its-kind rewards program that’s designed to enhance the guest experience on Azamara sailings.

The new program enables members to earn rewards each time they make an eligible retail purchase onboard an Azamara ship.

Members can then visit the Azamara Shopping Rewards Ecommerce Marketplace to redeem their reward points for merchandise such as wine and luggage, culinary experiences, concert tickets, and travel offerings such as flights and hotels.

The collaboration reflects a shared vision among Starboard, Azamara Cruises, and ONE to create a more personalized and rewarding retail journey that drives engagement and onboard spend, while connecting travelers to meaningful experiences both at sea and ashore.

ONE leverages proprietary technology to develop and implement unique sales, marketing, and service solutions that unlock incremental value for companies, while increasing customer engagement and loyalty.

Lisa Bauer, President and CEO of Starboard, gave the following statement:

“We’re thrilled to launch the industry’s first retail rewards program with Azamara Cruises as our initial partner. A wonderful complement to the company’s Azamara Circle loyalty program, Azamara Shopping Rewards transforms onboard purchases into meaningful lifestyle and travel rewards that keep guests connected to Azamara long after their cruise ends.”

Azamara Cruises is one of the world’s leading destination-focused cruise lines with four ships in its fleet.

Starboard is one of the world’s leading vacation brands and can be found on 14 different cruise lines and 87 ships.

Starboard partners with Blue Dream, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Resorts World Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Star Cruises, TUI Cruises and Virgin Voyages.

They are also dedicated Luxury Division partners with Azamara, Crystal, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Silversea and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Royal Caribbean celebrated a major ship construction milestone today when its next new mega ship, Hero of the Seas, floated for the first time.

The float-out for the fourth Icon class ship at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, keeps the ship on schedule for its August 2027 debut.

More than 90 million gallons of water filled the dry dock overnight as Hero of the Seas moved out of dry dock and into the outfitting pier.

Hero of the Seas is the next evolution of the revolutionary Icon Class lineup, combining Royal Caribbean signature favorites with new experiences designed for guests of all ages.

The cruise ship will be divided into eight neighborhoods, and the vessel will have nine swimming pools and 28 dining spots. Dining will include the brand-new Orleans Parrish Supper Club, and accommodations will range from inside cabins to the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse.

The cruise ship will have thrills for all ages that include Crown’s Edge, part skywalk, part zip line experience 154 feet above the ocean.

The ship will offer ways to kick back at the new Coconut Cove pool and adults-only The Hideaway. The vessel will also have an unmatched lineup of dining, bars, and entertainment; families of all kinds can make lifelong memories together while they cruise on the newest mega ship in the world.

Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku, gave the following statement about the float-out:

“Hero of the Seas is another important milestone in the long-standing partnership between Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean. Building consecutive Icon Class ships has enabled continuous development of our expertise, production processes and energy-efficient shipbuilding solutions together with our partners and thousands of shipbuilding professionals involved in the project. We are proud to see Hero of the Seas move one step closer to delivery.”

Hero of the Seas will sail seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from PortMiami, the Cruise Capital of the World. Every sailing on the ship will visit the cruise line’s award-winning private island, Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Hero of the Seas will be the 31st ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet when the vessel enters service in August 2027.