Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, the two largest cruise lines in the world, have new port projects opening in The Bahamas in 2025.
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The projects include a brand new port, Celebration Key, just for Carnival cruise ships and Royal Caribbean’s first Royal Beach Club.
Here is a look at these two new cruise destinations that you will soon be able to visit.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key is a new port under construction that is opening on Grand Bahama Island. It’s located around 25 miles east of Freeport (where cruise ships currently dock on the island).
The port will only be visited by Carnival cruise ships and is currently scheduled to open on July 19, 2025. A pier will allow up to two Carnival cruise ships to visit the port each day. The pier will eventually be expanded so four Carnival Funships can visit at a time.
The port will be divided up into five portals:
Paradise Plaza – Welcome center with live music, an ice cream shop, and more
Calypso Lagoon – Adult-friendly portal
Starfish Lagoon – Family-friendly portal
Pearl Cove Beach Club – Adults-only area
Lokono Club – Bahamian shopping
The port will feature the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean and will have something for everyone, from beaches to pools.
Debuting with the opening of the port will be Island Eats. Island Eats will allow guests to use their Sign & Sail card to enjoy one complimentary meal while visit the port.
Celebration Key will also have full service restaurants where guests can receive 25% off an entrée.
18 Carnival cruise ships are scheduled to visit Celebration Key on over 500 itineraries. You can see a list of all of these cruises here.
Once the port opens and is completed, Carnival Cruise Line has plans for a Phase 2 that includes a water park.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first of two new beach clubs being built by Royal Caribbean. It is currently under construction in Nassau on Paradise Island and is scheduled to open near the end of the year.
This private Oasis will be for Royal Caribbean passengers only. The entry fee to access the beach club includes all food and drinks, making it an all-inclusive beach and pool day. A short water shuttle will take guests from the pier right to the club.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will have the world’s largest swim-up bar.
The world’s largest swim-up bar will be located at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.
The beach club will be divided up in the following three zones:
Family Beach
Chill Beach
Party Cove
The Family Beach will be located steps away from the Shallow End zero-entry pool. Beach games will range from tug-of-war to paddle ball.
The Ultimate Family Cabana will have a thrilling slide, dedicated hot tub, frozen drink machine and more.
The Chill Beach will be the spot for relaxation on Paradise Island. The Deep End of the pool will be by the white, powdery sand of Chill Beach.
Artist rendering of the Royal Beach Club in Nassau.
Party Cove will live up to its name, the place to keep the party vibes going. It will have the world’s largest swim-up bar, a VIP space, and personal poolside service with the best views.
This 17 acre beach club will have three swim-up bars, seven beach bars, and more than 40 cabanas.
Royal Caribbean is working on the project with the Bahamian government to bring architectural design and experience that includes live music, local artisan shops and culinary fare.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is scheduled to open in December 2025.
The cruise line is also working on a Royal Beach Club in Cozumel that will open at a later date.
Holland America Line has announced a $70 million expansion and enhancement coming to their Denali Lodge and Alaska Cruisetours over the next three years.
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The investment will help Holland America Line expand guest capacity at their Denali property and enhance the cruise line’s land and sea Cruisetours.
The expansion will take place in three stages with one starting this year and continuing in 2026 and 2027.
The first stage will begin this year and will see enhancements to the riverside interpretive trail with scenic viewpoints, improved on-site wayfinding, refined menu offerings for restaurants, and public space improvements for the Cottonwood and Canyon Lodge guest room buildings.
In 2026, the project will see 48 remodeled rooms in the Holland America Denali Lodge, a new coffee shop, and a remodeled Karstens Public House with expanded indoor and outdoor seating to provide a more immersive experience.
In 2027, the project will continue with a new guest-room building with 120 suite and standard rooms as well as a main lodge renovation that will include a new restaurant concept, a new lobby bar, and an enhanced coffee experience.
Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, gave the following statement about this $70 million enhancement:
“It’s truly special that we can bring guests to a lodge at the doorstep of Denali National Park. This investment is a win for Alaska, our guests, and Holland America Line. Enhancing and expanding the Holland America Denali Lodge will help meet the growing interest in combined land and sea Cruisetours for our 49th state and further support the Alaska tourism industry.”
Queen Anne departs Southampton for historic maiden world voyage
This is the moment Cunard’s newest luxury ship Queen Anne embarked on her historic 107-night maiden world voyage from Southampton, marking a new chapter in the cruise line’s distinguished history.
Spectators gathered across the city to witness the ship’s 9pm departure last night (9 January), which was celebrated with a dazzling fireworks display.
The 3,000-guest ship will make her first American landfall in New York on 17 January, a city that has an enduring connection to Cunard and has welcomed Cunarders and their guests longer than any other destination.
Queen Anne becomes the 14th ship in Cunard’s illustrious history to undertake a full world voyage. Notably, Queen Anne will also be the largest Cunarder to achieve a full circumnavigation of the globe.
Over 107 nights, Queen Anne will call at 30 different ports across 18 countries. Highlights of the voyage include iconic calls to Miami, San Francisco, the Panama Canal, Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong and more. Guests will also cross the International Date Line on 12 February, experiencing the rare phenomenon of ‘jumping through time’.
The full world voyage also includes overnight stops in New York, Honolulu, Sydney, and Singapore, with Queen Anne returning to the south coast on 27 April.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “This is a significant moment for Cunard as Queen Anne begins her maiden world voyage. It’s especially fitting that her first visit to the USA will be New York, a city that has long been at the heart of Cunard’s story. This voyage celebrates our heritage while offering guests the opportunity to explore the world in the style and luxury only Cunard can provide. Queen Anne truly reflects the evolution of our brand, and this journey will be an unforgettable experience for all on board.”
On board, guests will enjoy a variety of curated experiences, including world-class entertainment and a spectacular sailaway party, with celebrations continuing throughout the voyage.
Highlights will include a special World Voyage cocktail party and a shoreside Gala Event – as well as enriching talks from notable speakers, such as Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington OBE, hypnotist Paul McKenna, actor Charley Boorman and former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne’s design concepts have been founded on heritage, craftman-ship, style, storytelling, and innovation, and the 14-deck ship offers travellers several breath-taking experiences, and more choices of entertainment, dining, and bars than ever before.
She also boasts the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa facilities so far seen on a Cunard ship, with her reimagined Mareel Wellness & Beauty proposition – spearheaded by an exclusive Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea programme – heralding a new era of wellbeing at sea.
The best things to do in Half Moon Cay, now officially called RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, are mostly simple ones: swim and lounge on a curving white-sand beach, eat the free barbecue lunch, and add one or two paid extras such as horseback riding through the surf, a stingray encounter, kayaking in Bonefish Lagoon or a rented cabana. Below are 18 ideas for your day, plus what is free, what costs extra, how you get ashore in 2026 and a few tips that save money and time.
Half Moon Cay sits on Little San Salvador, a mostly undeveloped island in the Bahamas between Eleuthera and Cat Island. Holland America Line opened it in 1997, and today it is shared by Carnival Corporation brands. Only a small slice of the island is developed; much of the rest is set aside as a bird sanctuary.
What’s New at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in 2026
The island has changed more in the past two years than in the two decades before. If you last visited a few years ago, these are the headline updates:
New name. Carnival announced the RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay name in December 2024, alongside a major expansion plan. It is now part of Carnival’s “Paradise Collection” with Celebration Key and Mahogany Bay.
A pier, at last. A new pier on the north side opened on 1 June 2026, when Carnival Sunrise became the first ship to tie up alongside. Large Excel-class ships such as Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee can now call regularly.
More free food and bars on the north side. Carnival added Orchid Beach Grill and Hibiscus Beach Grill (buffet-style lunch), plus Luna Tide Beach Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack and Lil’ Tiki Bar, a tram linking different areas and a walking route called the Papaya Pathway.
Holland America’s Beach Club and food pavilion. On the south side, Holland America opened a Beach Club after an inauguration on 22 October 2026. A day pass was reported at $125 per person and includes priority tendering, waiter service, beach accessories, specialty bites and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A new food pavilion outside the club serves a complimentary barbecue menu, and the cabanas, bars and beach seating (daybeds and canopy loungers for two) have been refreshed.
Princess is arriving. Princess Cruises has begun swapping some Princess Cays calls for Half Moon Cay, for example on Sun Princess’s 22 November 2026 Eastern Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale.
Which side you use depends on your cruise line. Carnival ships generally use the new north-side pier, while Holland America guests are still tendered to the south side (the Beach Club’s “priority tendering” perk confirms tenders are still in use). Check your ship’s daily planner for the exact arrangement on your date.
18 Things to Do in Half Moon Cay
The list runs roughly from free and easy to paid excursions. Prices change by season and by cruise line, so treat any figures as a guide and confirm in your line’s app or cruise planner.
1. Spend the day on Half Moon Beach
The crescent beach that gives the island its name is the main event. The sand is fine and pale, and the water is usually calm, clear and shallow near the shore. Loungers are free on a first-come basis; walk away from the arrival area and the crowds thin noticeably.
2. Eat the free island barbecue
Lunch is included in your fare. Expect a cookout-style buffet with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, ribs, salads, fruit and desserts, usually served for around two hours in the middle of the day. Holland America guests use the Tropics Restaurant area and the new food pavilion; Carnival guests also have the new Orchid and Hibiscus beach grills.
3. Splash at the pirate-ship aqua park
The Half Moon Lagoon aqua park sits in the water off the beach, with slides and a pirate-ship structure. On land, the Waterworks play area has small slides and climbable sea creatures for younger children. Check on the day whether there is a charge for the floating park, as access rules have varied.
4. Walk the nature trail and Papaya Pathway
Trails start across from the dining pavilions, with a paved loop and a rougher path towards Pegasus Ranch. Carnival’s new Papaya Pathway adds a scenic walking route on the north side. There are misting stations along the way, but go early before the midday heat.
5. Go birdwatching
More than 40 bird species have been recorded on the island, including the Bahama mockingbird, Bahama yellowthroat and gray catbird. Bring binoculars and head for the quieter trails; most of the island beyond the resort area is protected habitat.
6. Snorkel from the beach
There is a beginner-friendly snorkel area near the Welcome Center where you may see blue tangs, sergeant majors and the occasional stingray. Gear rental has been around $20 for the day, but you can bring your own mask and fins. For better reefs, a guided snorkel-by-boat trip goes further out.
7. Swim with stingrays
At Stingray Cove you wade into shallow water to meet and feed southern stingrays with a guide. It is one of the most family-friendly paid activities, and it has typically cost in the region of $55 per person.
8. Ride horses on the trails and through the sea
The horseback excursion starts at Pegasus Ranch with an orientation, then heads along trails before the horses wade and swim in the bay with you on board. It is the island’s signature excursion and sells out early on busy days. Recent listings have been around $125 per person, with age and weight limits.
9. Kayak Bonefish Lagoon
The protected lagoon is calm and shallow, so it suits beginners. Look out for juvenile lemon sharks, stingrays, sea stars and urchins. Single kayaks have been listed at around $30 and doubles at around $46. Holland America also lists the lagoon as a lifeguarded swimming spot.
10. Ride a jet ski or the Aqua Trax course
Personal watercraft can be rented to cruise the shoreline, and the Aqua Trax Watercraft Adventure follows a buoyed course for a more structured ride. Expect a short safety briefing and a fuel and life jacket fee included in the price.
11. Sail a Hobie Cat
Holland America offers roughly hour-long sails around the bay on a Hobie Cat catamaran. It is a breezy, quiet alternative to motorised watersports and a good choice for couples.
12. Take a glass-bottom boat tour
If you want to see coral and fish without getting wet, a narrated glass-bottom boat trip is a good option for less confident swimmers, grandparents and young children.
13. Cycle or ride the tram
Holland America guests can rent bikes and pedal to Pegasus Ranch, or try a water bike in the bay. On Carnival’s side, a free tram now connects key areas of the beach, and a narrated tram tour has been offered as a paid option.
Cabanas and villas are the easiest way to guarantee shade on a private island day. Photo: Сокіл Sokil on Pexels
Cabanas, Villas, the Beach Club and Private Oasis
Shade is the one thing the beach lacks, so private spaces sell out quickly, especially on sea-day-heavy itineraries. Here is how the main options compare. Prices are recent guide figures and vary by sailing.
Option
Who it suits
What’s included
Guide price
Clamshell or umbrella
Couples on a budget
Shade for two loungers
Modest daily rental
Cabana
Families of up to four
Shade, loungers, snacks, water and soft drinks
From around $500
Two-story beach villa
Groups of up to eight
Private deck, hot tub, snacks, more space
From around $800
Holland America Beach Club
Adults who want drinks and service
Priority tender, waiter service, all drinks, specialty food
About $125 per person
Private Oasis
Special occasions, larger groups
Secluded beach area with chef, bartender, lunch and drinks
From roughly $1,850
14. Book a cabana or villa
Book these as soon as your line’s shore planner opens. A cabana makes most sense for families with small children or anyone sensitive to sun. Split between four people, it can work out similar to two paid excursions each.
15. Try the new Beach Club
For Holland America guests, the Beach Club is the newest upgrade on the island. Because the day pass includes alcohol and you usually cannot use your ship’s drinks package ashore, it can be good value if you plan to have several cocktails.
16. Treat yourself at the Lobster Shack
The Lobster Shack serves grilled lobster, lobster rolls and seafood at market prices, charged to your cruise card. It is not part of the free lunch, but it is the most popular paid food stop on the island.
17. Get a massage on the beach
Massages are offered in a cooled oceanfront cabana. Prices are similar to an onboard spa treatment, and the sound of the waves is a bonus.
18. Shop the straw market and post a card
Near the arrival area you will find a straw market with Bahamian crafts and island souvenirs, plus a tiny post office where you can send a postcard with Bahamian stamps. There is also a small chapel used for weddings.
Drinks on the island are charged separately unless you have a Beach Club pass. Photo: quang vinh on Pexels
What Food and Drinks Are Included at Half Moon Cay?
Here is a quick breakdown of what is free and what costs extra on a Half Moon Cay day:
Free: the barbecue lunch, water, lemonade and iced tea at the buffet, beach loungers, the tram on the Carnival side, the beach itself, trails and the children’s Waterworks play area.
Extra: cocktails, beer and sodas from the island bars, the Lobster Shack, cabanas, villas, the Beach Club, watersports and guided excursions.
Drinks packages: ship-based beverage packages have generally not been valid on the island. Carnival guests have reported that the CHEERS! package does not apply ashore, so check the latest terms before you go.
Everything is billed to your cruise card, so you do not need cash. Bring a small amount in US dollars only if you want to tip or buy from straw market vendors.
Half Moon Cay Weather: When to Visit
Half Moon Cay is warm all year. Winter (December to March) is the most comfortable, with highs in the high 70s to low 80s°F and lower humidity, although cooler fronts can bring wind and choppier seas that sometimes cancel calls. Spring brings low to mid 80s and generally settled weather. Summer pushes into the 90s with humidity and short showers. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October; that is when itinerary changes are most likely.
Holland America’s 2026-27 season includes the island on more than two dozen Caribbean itineraries between October 2026 and April 2027, so this winter is a good time to see the refreshed south side. If you are still choosing a ship, our Holland America vs Celebrity Cruises comparison may help.
Tips for Your Day at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Get off early. If your line tenders, the first boats are the busiest, but going ashore early still means better lounger choice and shorter lines for activities.
Bring your own shade and reef-safe sunscreen. A compact beach umbrella or sun shelter is often allowed; check your line’s rules.
Pack water shoes. They help in the lagoon and on rocky patches near snorkel areas.
Book popular excursions before you sail. Horseback riding, the stingray encounter, cabanas and villas often sell out.
Watch the last tender or all-aboard time. Lines get long late in the afternoon, so head back a little early.
Remember the weather caveat. On tender days, high winds or swell can cancel the call. The new pier makes this less likely for ships that dock.
The beach, loungers, the barbecue lunch with water, lemonade and iced tea, nature trails, the children’s Waterworks play area and, on the Carnival side, the island tram are included. Bar drinks, the Lobster Shack, cabanas and excursions cost extra.
Is there a drink package for Half Moon Cay?
Ship drinks packages have generally not applied on the island. Holland America guests can buy a Beach Club day pass, reported at about $125 per person, which includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for the day.
Do ships dock or tender at Half Moon Cay?
Since June 2026 a new pier on the north side lets ships, including Carnival’s largest, dock directly. Holland America guests are still tendered to the south side, so check your planner.
Where is Half Moon Cay?
It is on Little San Salvador, a small island in the Bahamas between Eleuthera and Cat Island, roughly 100 miles southeast of Nassau.
Are there shops at Half Moon Cay?
Yes. There is a straw market with local crafts, a few souvenir shops near the arrival area and a small post office selling Bahamian stamps and postcards.
Princess Cruises issued a statement this afternoon for those who have an upcoming cruise booked with them and are affected by the wildfires around Los Angeles.
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Anyone who has a Princess cruise booked that is scheduled to depart between January 11 and January 30, 2025 and is affected by the wildfires around Los Angeles, they can cancel their cruise and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit.
The cruise line said that this offer was made for those who live in an evacuation area or have homes that have sustained significant damage due to the fires.
The Future Cruise Credit will equal the value of their booking. Full refunds will be given for any extras that have been purchased like shore excursions or any of the Princess Packages that make their cruises all-inclusive.
The Future Cruise Credit will be good for any sailing out of the Los Angeles Cruise Center for the rest of the year.
Princess Cruises currently has 3 ships with cruises scheduled to depart from Los Angeles for the remainder of January. They are Discovery Princess, Grand Princess and Island Princess.
The full statement from Princess Cruises can be read below.
“Princess Cruises, Los Angeles’ hometown cruise line, is deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Our hearts go out to all those affected during this challenging time.
“While the Los Angeles World Cruise Center and Los Angeles International Airport remain fully operational and unaffected by the fires, we are keenly aware of the hardships faced by many in our community.
“To support our guests residing in evacuation areas or whose homes have sustained significant damage, Princess Cruises is offering the flexibility to cancel their cruises scheduled to depart between January 11 and January 30, 2025. These guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to the value of their booking, along with full refunds for any additional purchases, such as shore excursions or Princess Packages.
“We are committed to ensuring these guests have the opportunity to rebook their cruise when the time is right for them. The Future Cruise Credit will be valid for any Princess cruise departing from the Los Angeles World Cruise Center in 2025.
“At Princess Cruises, we are proud to be part of the Los Angeles community, and we remain committed to supporting our neighbors as we face these challenges together.”
Are interior cabins on a cruise only for cheapskates? Are these windowless boxes only for penny-pinching veteran cruisers who cruise 12 times a year and can’t afford an upgrade on each getaway?
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Interior cabin or balcony cabin? 3 reasons to consider inside staterooms. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
I’ve booked just about every type of cabin available on dozens of cruise ships and have had my share of inside cabin experiences.
In some cases, it was not so bad. In others, I felt like I was more of a crew member than a passenger on vacation.
It’s definitely not for everybody. While some cruisers I know will only book an inside cabin, others, after trying it once, swear to never do it again.
Despite the drawbacks of these low-cost cabins, there are three reasons to at least consider it.
Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald, recently made a social media post talking about interior cabins and their benefits.
As you can imagine, viewpoints were all over the map on this somewhat controversial topic, with some pointing out that there’s a reason luxury cruise ships don’t even have interior cabins.
Interior cabin on Symphony of the Seas
1. You want to try out as many ships as possible
While still cheaper than land-based vacations, the cost of cruising can add up if you regularly hop on these floating resorts.
In another Cruise Fever post I analyzed the cost of interior vs. balcony cabins on over 300 cruises. On average, a balcony stateroom carried a 65% premium. The cost difference was even higher with more premium cruise lines compared to mainstream cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
Across these 300 cruises, a balcony stateroom was $450 more expensive than an interior cabin.
If you cruise just once in a while, it’s not such a big deal. Big if you want to take as many cruises as possible, an interior cabin allows you to get on the ship and experience every other part of it.
2. You plan on spending very little time in the cabin
Let’s be honest here, even if you love interior cabins, they aren’t the most inviting spaces.
Sure, I’ve tried the “virtual balcony” cabins before but ended up just annoyed at the flickering screen that I could never quite block out with the curtain.
But if you only use your cabin for sleeping and changing clothes, by all means book inside cabins on every cruise you take.
There’s no point in splurging on a sprawling suite or even balcony stateroom if you’d rather be on the pool deck or in the aft pool enjoying the wake view.
And with the money you save by booking this low-cost cabin you can pay for a specialty dining experience or an excursion.
3. You prefer the sleep benefits of an interior cabin
I know some veteran cruisers that claim this is their number one reason for booking inside cabins. The complete darkness of the room provides the perfect sleeping environment, they say.
This can also lead to sleeping in if you’re used to waking up to natural light, but it’s your vacation so why not grab a few more winks.
On top of that many inside cabins are more centrally located and so feel less movement in rough seas, although the difference is more subtle than the claims.
Being midship and on a lower deck has a bigger impact on movement, but side to side movements can be minimized with a more centrally located cabin.
All these factors can make for some solid shuteye.
One reason NOT to book an interior cabin
While I could list many reasons to avoid these cabins, my biggest reason for opting out of an interior cabin experience is so I can have my own private space to enjoy the views only a cruise ship provides.
This makes an even bigger difference when taking a cruise to Alaska, or around Hawaii, or while seeing the fjords of Norway.
Yes, I can get these same views on the top deck of the ship. But there’s something to be said about your own cozy environment, just feet away from your bed, where you can soak in the natural light of a beautiful world.
And when the hustle and bustle of a busy pool deck on a sea day becomes too much, a retreat of your own to enjoy is well worth the extra cost, in my opinion.
The biggest drawback of an interior cabin is not having easy access to the views and privacy of a balcony.
I have a friend who booked an interior cabin on a cruise. The ship was sailing along the Falkland Islands when the captain announced some of the views in the early morning.
He and his family could not just open the curtains and see it. It was a cold day, so they had to bundle up and head up several decks to see what he described as one of the most picturesque views he had ever seen from a ship.
If your cruise destination has the kinds of views you want to remember forever, an inside cabin might present a few more obstacles to your enjoyment of them.
Carnival Cruise Line has launched a 72-Hour Flash Sale on cruises that has up to 45% off sailings that depart over the next eight months.
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Carnival Cruise Line is kicking off the new year with a 72-Hour Flash Sale. Cruises included in this deal range from three- to 15-days in length and visit The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Greenland, Panama Canal, Bermuda and Europe.
Carnival’s 72-Hour sale includes the following:
Up to 45% off cruises
Good on select cruises that depart through the summer of 2025
Offer is only available on new bookings and in guarantee categories (inside, oceanview, and balcony cabins).
When you book a guarantee cabin, Carnival Cruise Line will choose your cabin for you in the category that you booked. While you can’t choose your exact cabin, you will pay less for your cruise than using a cruise fare that allows you to choose an exact stateroom.
A balcony cabin on a Carnival cruise ship
For complete terms and conditions of this 72-Hour Flash Sale from Carnival Cruise Line, contact your preferred travel agent or visit Carnival.com.
MSC Cruises has announced that their new mega cruise ship that is headed to Miami, MSC World America, will be featured in a 60 second Super Bowl commercial. The ship will have 37 restaurants, bars and lounges and be over 200,000 gross tons in size.
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MSC Cruises’ new flagship, MSC World America.
MSC World America will be the cruise line’s new flagship when she debuts on April 12, 2025 out of Miami.
To help promote this new mega ship, MSC Cruises is running a 60 second commercial during the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025.
The commercial will have two yet-to-be-revealed celebrities in it sailing on this new ship.
Also featured in the ad will be the cruise line’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC World America will sail out of the largest cruise terminal in North America. The terminal is expected to open a few days ahead of the ship’s debut.
The ship will be the largest non-Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the world and it will be divided into seven districts.
It will have the following features:
19 dining venues
The only Eataly restaurant at sea
18 bars and lounges including All Stars Sports Bar and Loft Comedy Club
Outdoor venue for families with a ropes course, water park, playground, dining and relaxation areas
The world’s first over-water swing ride on a ship
One of the world’s largest dry slides at sea
Three level World Galleria lined with restaurants, bars and shops
The largest Yacht Club at sea
Suzanne Salas, EVP, Marketing, eCommerce & Sales, MSC Cruises USA, gave the following statement:
“Our message is clear: a cruise vacation with MSC Cruises goes far beyond traditional expectations. We offer the experience of a lifetime, seamlessly blending European style with American comfort. The Big Game provides an unmatched platform to showcase our first campaign and first ship designed specifically for North American guests.”
Azamara, one of the world’s leading destination focused cruise lines, has announced an epic 188-day cruise that will set sail in 2027.
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Azamara’s 2027 World Cruise is their biggest yet. This epic cruise will visit 103 ports in 37 countries on five continents. Out of the 103 ports, 65 of them will feature late night or overnight visits.
The cruise will be divided up into 12 segments. Guests will embark in San Francisco on January 5, 2027 and disembark Azamara Quest in Copenhagen, Denmark 188 days later.
Included in this cruise are $40,000 in extras that include:
All gratuities
Unlimited WiFi for two devices
Premium Beverage Package
$3,500 in shore excursion credits
$5,000 in onboard credit
One night hotel stay pre-cruise
All transfers
Weekly laundry service
Airfare credit
12 AzAmazing evenings
3 exclusive events
This epic 188 day cruise will start off by visiting Hawaii before heading to the French Polynesia and Australia/New Zealand. The ship will head to Asia for stops in Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo.
The cruise will continue back to North America and visit Alaska, San Diego, Central America, and a trip through the Panama Canal.
After a visit to Miami, the cruise ship will head to Europe and spend the final weeks visiting London and ports in the Baltic.
Prices for this 188-day cruise from Azamara start at the following. Prices are listed per person based on double occupancy and do not include taxes and fees.
Club Interior: $49,279
Club Oceanview: $56,309
Club Veranda: $70,309
Club Veranda Plus: $77,309
Club Continent Suite: $105,309
Club Spa Suite: $144,309
Club Ocean Suite: $144,309
Club World Owner’s Suite: $180,309
This new 188-day World Cruise from Azamara is now open for bookings.
Princess Cruises will become to the first major cruise line to have a standalone non-alcoholic bar menu when they debut their Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection this spring.
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The Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection will consist of 10-20 craft cocktails. It is being developed by a collaboration team behind the world’s #1 bar (Sips, Barcelona), Princess mixologists, and cocktail artist Rob Floyd.
In addition to the cocktails, non-alcoholic beer and wine (white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines) will also be available.
The new menu will launch this spring on all Princess cruise ships and the drinks will be included in the cruise line’s Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages.
Four signature offerings in the Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection can be seen below.
Betty Buzz Creations
Known for its premium, all-natural mixers, Betty Buzz adds a bright, effervescent touch to the collection. Highlights include the Blake’s Breeze, a crisp and refreshing blend of Betty Buzz Sparkling Grapefruit, a splash of soda, and a twist of citrus.
Kylie Minogue’s Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé
Known for her elegance and style, Kylie Minogue’s award-winning nonalcoholic sparkling rosé offers a light, crisp, and celebratory option, perfect for toasting unforgettable moments at sea.
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Guests can savor complex mocktails featuring Lyre’s award-winning spirits alternatives, such as the No-Jito Royale, a modern take on the classic mojito made with Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, fresh mint, and lime.
24K Margarita
This dazzling creation combines the artistry of nonalcoholic spirits with the glamour of a signature margarita, featuring Almave tequila by Lewis Hamilton in a nonalcoholic version crafted exclusively for Princess.
Sami Kohen, vice president of food and beverage for Princess Cruises, gave the following statement:
“At Princess, we’re committed to creating inclusive experiences for all of our guests. The Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection reimagines what non-alcoholic drinks can be—delicious, sophisticated, and celebratory.
“By collaborating with exceptional brands like Betty Buzz and Lyre’s, and industry-leading mixologists, we’re proud to offer premium zero-proof options that complement the elevated Princess experience.”
Every Princess cruise ship will have this new non-alcoholic menu by the end of March 2025.
