Norwegian Cruise Line to Recategorize Spa Cabins

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According to a statement sent to booked guests and obtained by Cruise Industry News, Norwegian Cruise Line is recategorizing the spa category cabins onboard its ships.

“We are committed to providing the best vacation at sea and work tirelessly to continue to elevate the quality of our offerings and overall guest experience,” the company said.

“In an effort to provide more availability and access to NCL’s Mandara Spa and Salon’s Thermal Suite, Spa Suites in the Haven by Norwegian, Spa Club Balcony, and Spa Balcony Staterooms have been recategorized to traditional Suites, Club Balcony and Balcony Staterooms,” Norwegian Cruise Line continued.

With the change, additional capacity at the Thermal Suite will be offered to all stateroom categories onboard, the company added.

The reclassification of the Spa Staterooms will begin for sailings after January 1, 2024.

In addition to maintaining their access to the Thermal Suite, guests who booked one of the impacted cabins prior to October 2, 2023, will see their reservations updated to reflect the change, the company said.

In related news, Norwegian Cruise Line also announced the introduction of over 1,000 new solo cabins across its 19-ship fleet.

Opening for bookings this week, the staterooms will be available for sailings starting on January 2, 2024, and include three different solo categories: Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview and Solo Balcony.

With pricing and availability dependent on the destination and demand, solo travellers can expect to pay less than a traditional double occupancy room, the company said.

Guests who stay in the new solo stateroom categories will also have access to the key card entry only Studio Lounge, which is available on selected ships.

According to Norwegian, the venue offers a dedicated space to relax, a bar equipped with beer and wine and a variety of snacks served daily.

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P&O makes a play for the School half-terms to capture the Family Market.

P&O Britannia sitting pretty in the Caribbean photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr account)

P&O Cruises has bolstered its autumn half-term offering for 2025 in an effort to entice more families onboard its ships. 

The line will operate three seven-night ex-Southampton sailings specifically aimed at families whose children go to schools in different countries within the UK.

The voyages depart on 18 October, 25 October and 1 November 2025. Each sailing covers a different October half-term either in Scotland, Northern Ireland or England. 

A P&O Cruises spokesperson said: “Consequently, there will be a much larger number of holidays departing during this period.”

P&O Cruises sales director Ruth Venn said: “We’ve tried to put three consecutive sailings to cover each of three half terms. It’s great to have broad appeal.” 

P&O Cruises will return to 12 ports, including Los Angeles, Melbourne, Bali, Bodo and Dunedin, for the first time in five or more years during 2025/26. 

The programme also features two new itineraries for Britannia. Prices for the sailings, which include calls to Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and Dominican Republic, start from £1,399pp.

From January 2026, Arcadia will operate a 100-night Eastern Circumnavigation World Cruise for the first time in nine years. 

The ship will call into 28 destinations including Dubai, Singapore, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Dunedin, Auckland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Prices start from £9,599pp. 

The line will visit Tangier, Morocco, for the first time when Azura calls there during its sailing from Valetta, Malta. 

Cruises booked by 4 December will include a 10% saving. Past guests, who have cruised with P&O Cruises for 15 nights or more, can access a further 5% discount on selected sailings. 

Next Royal Caribbean Ship Named Star of the Seas

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The second Icon-class ship will carry the name Star of the Seas for Royal Caribbean International when it debuts in the summer of 2025.

“The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

The first look at Icon and Icon Class set the tone in October 2022 when it led to the cruise line’s single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in the brand’s then 53-year history, the company said in a press release.

The demand sparked Royal Caribbean to release 2025-26 cruises on Icon three months ahead of schedule and now Star’s name and debut season. Royal Caribbean said more details on the ship’s features and deployment will follow soon.