Major Cruise News Highlights for July 2024

This July, the cruise industry has been abuzz with exciting developments and announcements. Here’s a roundup of the most significant cruise news:

1. Royal Caribbean Debuts Utopia of the Seas Royal Caribbean’s latest ship, Utopia of the Seas, made its grand entrance this month. TravelPulse’s Laurie Baratti was on board for the christening ceremony, where Meghan Trainor served as godmother. Approximately 1,000 attendees gathered at Port Canaveral to witness the ship’s inaugural voyage.

2. Disney Cruise Line Announces New Ship for Japan Disney Cruise Line is expanding its fleet with a new ship set to debut in Japan in early 2029. This vessel, developed in partnership with Oriental Land Company—operators of Tokyo Disneyland—will be built and operated by the Japanese company.

3. Princess Cruises to Deploy Star Princess in Alaska Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2026 Alaska cruise schedule, including the debut of its newest ship, Star Princess. Slated for launch in fall 2025, Star Princess will be the first Sphere Class vessel to sail in Alaska.

4. Carnival Orders Three Mega Ships for Future Delivery Carnival Cruise Line has ordered three new massive ships from Carnival Corporation & plc, with delivery scheduled for the summers of 2029, 2031, and 2033. Each vessel will accommodate nearly 8,000 passengers at full capacity.

5. Victory Cruise Lines Opens 2025 Great Lakes Bookings Victory Cruise Lines has resumed operations and opened bookings for 2025 Great Lakes cruises. The company will operate two ships, Victory I and Victory II (formerly known as Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager), offering unique Great Lakes experiences.

6. Celebrity Cruises’ 2025 President’s Cruise to Norwegian Fjords Celebrity Cruises has announced its 2025 President’s Cruise will explore the Norwegian fjords in May 2025. This follows the completion of its 2024 President’s Cruise in the Bahamas, with TravelPulse’s Laurie Baratti on board for the event.

7. Abercrombie & Kent Reveals Details of New Peruvian Amazon Riverboat Abercrombie & Kent has shared additional details about its new Peruvian Amazon riverboat, Pure Amazon. The ship will feature 10 suites and two single cabins, designed with a sleek and modern interior.

8. HX Partners with National Audubon Society for Birdwatching Voyages HX, formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions, has teamed up with the National Audubon Society to offer bird-focused voyages. Destinations include Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, and Alaska, catering to birdwatching enthusiasts.

9. Princess Cruises Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Pizza Party Princess Cruises, in collaboration with 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani, set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Pizza Party across multiple venues.

10. Amsterdam to Cut Cruise Ship Visits and Relocate Terminal In response to overtourism concerns, Amsterdam plans to reduce cruise ship visits by nearly half by 2026 and relocate its cruise terminal by 2035. Additionally, from 2027, all cruise ships must use shore power while docked in the city.

11. Hurtigruten Retrieves 4,500 Bottles of Sparkling Wine Hurtigruten has recovered 4,500 bottles of sparkling wine from the Norwegian Sea, part of its “Bubbles from the Sea” program. The wine complements the cruise line’s Norway’s Coastal Kitchen concept.

12. Norwegian Cruise Line to Launch Sailings from Philadelphia Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will begin sailing from Philadelphia in April 2026. The Norwegian Jewel will offer 7- to 9-day cruises from Philly to Bermuda, marking a return of cruise ships to the city.

These updates reflect the dynamic and evolving landscape of the cruise industry, highlighting new launches, operational changes, and unique experiences for travelers.