About Spacejunkie2

I love all things Cruise and add that to my hobby Photography I'm in dreamland, I'm an exTravel agency owner with the inside contacts, so I will try to keep you updated in all things travel related with a side serving of images and other maritime stories.

TUI Welcomes Mein Schiff 4’s New Captain Adam Swietlik

Posted on 24 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

TUI Welcomes Mein Schiff 4’s New Captain Adam Swietlik

TUI Cruises promoted Captain Adam Swietlik as the Captain of the Mein Schiff 4.

In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “Swietlik has been part of the TUI Cruises family since 2014 and has taken on various responsible positions within our fleet during this time, most recently as Staff Captain for several years.”

The company said that Swietlik succeeds Captain Panos Varotsos, and that with more than 20 years of experience at sea and his team-oriented leadership style, he brings the best prerequisites for his new role.

“We wish Swietlik and his crew onboard Mein Schiff 4 all the best, much success and always a hand’s breadth of water under the keel,” TUI Cruises stated.

According to Schiffe Und Kreuzfahrten, Swietlik joined Celebrity Cruises in spring 2010 and, in 2014, moved to TUI Cruises. He worked at the company for five years and was then promoted to Staff Captain in 2019. Świetlik officially assumed command of the vessel on July 19, 2026.

According to the article, Swietlik will first sail the Mein Schiff 4 in the Adriatic Sea.

The ship is currently operating seven-night roundtrip cruises from Trieste, Italy, with visits to ports across Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, and Slovenia. The seasonal program will continue until October.

Swietlik will be the third new TUI Cruises captain brought on in 2026. At the beginning of the year, Kira Schikorr steered the Mein Schiff 6 in Asia for the first time, and Alexander Orendt first captained the Mein Schiff 3 from Bremerhaven.

The company said that the promotions are due, among other things, to the growth of the Mein Schiff fleet.

Viking Reveals Names of Its Next Two Ocean Ships

Posted on 24 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Viking Reveals Names of Its Next Two Ocean Ships

Viking recently revealed that its next two ocean newbuilds will be called the Viking Leda and the Viking Vega.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard, the 998-passenger ships will join the company’s fleet, respectively, in late 2028 and mid-2029.

As previously announced, Viking is also set to take delivery of three ships between 2026 and 2028, including the Viking Libra, the Viking Astrea and the Viking Lyra.

The Viking Leda is scheduled to enter service in December 2028, kicking off a winter schedule in the Mediterranean.

According to published deployment, the vessel will offer a series of eight- to 16-day itineraries departing from Greece, Italy and Spain.

The cruises sail to destinations in the Aegean, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, including the Greek Islands, the French Riviera and Morocco.

The Viking Vega is set to debut in June 2029, welcoming its first guests in the Mediterranean.

After offering itineraries in Southern Europe, the vessel is scheduled to reposition to the British Isles in mid-July 2029.

Highlights of the ship’s inaugural season include cruises departing from ports in Italy, Spain, Norway and the United Kingdom, such as Civitavecchia, Barcelona and Bergen.

The Leda and the Vega will be the 17th and 18th ocean ships built for Viking at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.

The 47,000-ton vessels will feature a design similar to the Viking Star, which was the first newbuild introduced by the company in 2015.

In addition to the two ships, Viking’s current orderbook includes nine other vessels, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2031.

Before welcoming the Leda and the Vega, the company is taking delivery of the industry’s first hydrogen-powered ships.

Set to be delivered in 2027 and 2028, respectively, the Viking Astrea and the Viking Lyra will be able to operate with zero emissions using a new technology that relies on containerized fuel.

Viking’s lineup also includes two additional expedition ships, which will join the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris in 2030 and 2031.

Duffy: 65 Original Destiny Crew Members Still with Carnival

Posted on 21 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Duffy: 65 Original Destiny Crew Members Still with Carnival

Thirty years after the ship’s debut, 65 crew members from the delivery team of the original Carnival Destiny, which entered service in 1996, are still working with Carnival Cruise Line.

“I think that says a lot about the Carnival family, the culture and our leaders,” the company’s President Christine Duffy said.

Speaking at the steel-cutting ceremony of the new Carnival Destiny, Duffy said that many crew members who started their careers on the 101,000-ton ship now hold leadership positions.

“Many started in entry-level positions and have grown their careers across the fleet and in our headquarters offices,” she continued.

Three Deck Officers who were part of the Destiny’s first bridge team are now Captains in Carnival’s fleet, while two Technical Officers are now Chief Engineers.

Duffy noted that John Heald, who currently serves as Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, was also onboard as the ship’s Cruise Director.

Introducing a new design to the company’s fleet, the new Carnival Destiny is scheduled to enter service in 2029.

As the first vessel in the new Ace-class series, the 230,000-ton ship will be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Northern Italy.

With capacity for over 8,000 passengers at maximum occupancy, the new Destiny will become the largest ship in Carnival’s fleet.

While additional details of the vessel will be revealed at a later date, the company said that the ship will feature the most outward-facing areas in the company’s fleet.

The new Destiny will also feature a dining, beverage and entertainment lineup that is more than 70 percent new.

Two additional Ace-class ships are set to be built by Fincantieri, with deliveries scheduled for 2030 and 2031.

Carnival is also building two additional Excel-class ships, the Carnival Festivale and the Carnival Tropicale, at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The 183,900-ton sister ships are scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.