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AIDA Ship to Enter Drydock with Passengers

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AIDA Ship to Enter Drydock with Passengers

The AIDAmar is scheduled to enter drydock with passengers onboard as part of a special itinerary in Northern Europe.

According to the company’s website, the new 10-night itinerary allows guests to live a “shipyard experience,” with a visit to a facility in the Netherlands.

The unique cruise departs from the German port of Warnemünde on June 28, 2026, and visits destinations in the Baltic and the North Sea.

But the highlight is a 24-hour call to a shipyard in Rotterdam.

“This very special journey takes you not to the typical tourist terminals but directly into the vibrant, industrial heart of Europe’s largest seaport,” AIDA stated.

The company added that the visit to the historical shipyard in Rotterdam offers AIDA fans and seafaring enthusiasts a rare opportunity to accompany the AIDAmar during its drydock.

AIDA noted that passengers will enjoy a unique atmosphere onboard as the ship undergoes scheduled maintenance at the facility.

The Carnival brand also described the cruise as an “authentic maritime experience, far from the usual holiday routes.”

AIDA said it is currently studying the possibility of allowing guests to disembark the vessel during its drydock.

“As this is an active industrial site subject to strict security regulations, disembarking on foot across the shipyard grounds is strictly prohibited for safety reasons,” the company explained.

“Any possibilities for leaving the ship depend on the operational procedures on site and, if feasible, will only be carried out in an organized manner.”

In addition to the visit to the shipyard in Rotterdam, the cruise will also sail to Visby, Stockholm and Karlskrona.

The theme cruise will cater to soccer fans as well, with a series of activities designed to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Part of AIDA’s Sphinx class, the AIDAmar was built at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany and entered service in 2012.

The 71,000-ton vessel is scheduled to undergo a major refurbishment in November 2026 as part of the AIDA Evolution refit program.

Cunard To Add 30 New Cabins to Queen Mary 2

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Cunard To Add 30 New Cabins to Queen Mary 2

Deck plans published on Cunard’s website show that the company is planning to add 30 new staterooms to the Queen Mary 2.

Set to undergo a major refurbishment program in 2027, the 2004-built vessel will see the introduction of new suites and inside cabins.

Designed as the world’s first modern ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2 currently carries 2,620 passengers in double occupancy, and that will now increase by approximately 2.5 percent..

Most of the extra staterooms will be added to a section of Deck 13 that is being turned into a new accommodation area.

Currently housing a sun deck, the space will offer 18 Princess Grill Suites, as well as five inside staterooms.

On Deck 9, the current Concierge Lounge is being converted into four additional inside cabins, while a new Penthouse Suite is being added to Deck 8.

The premium accommodation takes over an area adjacent to the ship’s library, which is currently occupied by a book store.

Cunard is also replacing part of the Queen Mary 2’s Teens and Kids Zone on Deck 6 with four new inside staterooms.

Other changes to the vessel’s deck plan include the addition of a new sun deck on Deck 14, as well as the removal of the Boardwalk Café from Deck 12.

While no details of the refurbishment have officially been confirmed at press time, Cunard’s website confirms that the Queen Mary 2 will undergo enhancements ahead of next year’s summer season.

The 151,400-ton ship is expected to enter drydock in late March 2027 before welcoming guests back on May 9, 2027.

The cabin additions follow a recent trend in the cruise industry, which has seen  cruise lines adding significant numbers of new staterooms to their older ships.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Norwegian, Holland America and Celestyal are among the brands that added capacity to vessels in drydock recently.

MSC World America Completes First Year of Service

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MSC World America Completes First Year of Service

The MSC World America recently completed its first year of service after entering service for MSC Cruises on April 12, 2025.

As part of the company’s World-class series, the vessel was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

Along with its sister ship, the MSC World Europa, the 5,400-passenger ship debuted as the largest ship in MSC’s fleet.

With a series of tweaks aimed at the U.S. market, the MSC World America was designed for year-round service in the Caribbean.

After crossing the Atlantic with no guests onboard, the vessel made its official debut in Florida, following a christening ceremony at MSC’s new cruise terminal in PortMiami.

Actress Drew Barrymore served as the vessel’s godmother, cutting the ribbon that broke a celebratory bottle on the bow of the ship.

The MSC World America then kicked off a series of seven-night cruises to destinations in the Eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas.

For its maiden voyage, the LNG-powered ship sailed to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and San Juan in Puerto Rico, as well as MSC’s private island destination of Ocean Cay.

As it enters its second year of service, the MSC World America will continue to offer weeklong cruises from its homeport of Miami.

In 2026, the vessel’s schedule includes itineraries to both the Western and Eastern Caribbean, visiting a range of destinations, such as Cozumel in Mexico and Roatán in Honduras.

MSC is now getting ready to add two additional World Class ships to its fleet in the near future, including the MSC World Asia.

While its name pays homage to Asia, the 208,500-ton vessel is set to offer year-round cruises in the Western Mediterranean starting in December 2026.

In late 2027, the company is welcoming the MSC World Atlantic, which will sail from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.