Tag Archives: cruises

MSC Cancels Repositioning Voyage to South Africa

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MSC Cancels Repositioning Voyage to South Africa

MSC Cruises cancelled a repositioning voyage to South Africa that was scheduled to take place onboard the MSC Armonia in late 2026.

According to a statement sent to booked guests, the sailing cannot take place due to the geopolitical situation in the Red Sea region.

“Due to the persistent geopolitical situation in the Suez region and the impact this is having on maritime transport, it is now clear that we will not be able to guarantee safe transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea,” the company said.

The cruise onboard the MSC Armonia was scheduled to depart from Marghera, Italy, on November 1, 2026.

Sailing to Durban, the 26-night voyage was set to visit destinations in Croatia and Greece before transiting the Suez Canal.

The 2001-built vessel was then scheduled to sail to ports in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, such as Aqaba, Mahé, Diego Suarez and Port Louis.

“Your safety and well-being are our highest priority, and we want to offer you the certainty and peace of mind you need before leaving for your cruise,” MSC continued, noting that the decision to cancel the cruise was taken “after careful consideration.”

“We know that you have dedicated time to planning your cruise, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

The company said affected passengers will have three options, including canceling the booking with no penalty for a full refund.

Guests will also be able to transfer their reservations to any other MSC Grand Voyage of similar duration, the company said, adding that sailings with up to three additional nights are eligible.

In this case, MSC will guarantee the more favorable cruise fare between the original departure and the new one.

The company said passengers can also move their reservations to any other cruise currently scheduled without penalty.

The price of the newly selected cruise will be applied, and any payment already made for the previous cruise will be transferred to the new one, the company explained.

Debuting in the region, the MSC Armonia is scheduled to offer cruises in South Africa during the 2026-27 winter season.

Celebrity Beyond to Return to the UK with New Features in 2028

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Celebrity Beyond to Return to the UK with New Features in 2028

The Celebrity Beyond will return to the United Kingdom in 2028, offering a series of cruises departing from Southampton.

According to a recent press release, the ship will be part of Celebrity Cruises’ largest-ever season in Europe.

The 2022-built ship will return to the British homeport with new features, including a refreshed pool deck experience and new dining venues.

Celebrity said that the deployment will mark the first time the Beyond will sail in European waters since 2023.

The 3,260-passenger ship is scheduled to offer a series of seven- to 14-night cruises to Norway, Iceland and Scandinavia.

Highlights of the itineraries include two-week sailings to Norway and Iceland, visiting Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri and Seydisfjordur, as well as Geiranger, Alesund, Flam, Nordfjordeid and Bergen.

Before arriving in Southampton, the Beyond is scheduled to undergo a renovation, which will update parts of its guest areas.

New venues coming to the 3,260-passenger ship include the Mediterranean restaurant Bora and the Celebrity Pool Club, which was described as an “elevated poolside experience.”

The company said that the area will offer two new food and drink offerings: Orange Peel Bar & Grille and Tacos del Sol.

Celebrity will operate eight ships in the region in 2028, with the Apex and the Summit joining the Beyond in Northern Europe and Iceland.

While the first will offer itineraries to Scandinavia, the Baltic and the British Isles, the latter is scheduled to operate roundtrip cruises to Iceland.

The Celebrity Xcel, the Celebrity Ascent, the Celebrity Eclipse and the Celebrity Constellation are scheduled to sail in the Mediterranean and Western Europe.

According to the company, the deployment will mark the first time that four of its Edge-class ships will sail in Europe simultaneously.

The Celebrity Infinity is also sailing in the region as part of its year-round European schedule, which includes Eastern Mediterranean itineraries during summers and cruises to the Canaries during winters.

Regent to Cut Capacity on Explorer Class Ships by 10 Percent

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Regent to Cut Capacity on Explorer Class Ships by 10 Percent

Regent’s Explorer-class ships will feature improved crew- and space-to-guest ratios following their upcoming refits.

According to the company’s website, passengers will take advantage of more space and more personalized service following the updates announced in late July.

The Seven Seas Explorer, the Seven Seas Splendor and the Seven Seas Grandeur are set to undergo drydocks between late 2027 and late 2028.

Described by the company as a “transformative reimagining of select onboard accommodations,” the project will reduce the vessels’ overall capacity to 688 passengers.

With larger suites replacing smaller staterooms, the ships will see nearly a 10 percent drop in their cabin and guest count.

Regent said the crew-to-guest ratio will change from 1:1.3 to 1:1.2, allowing for more attentive and personal service.

Guest-to-space ratio will have a larger upgrade, going from 1:74 to 1:80, which Regent said provides more room for every onboard experience.

Following the changes, the ships will also offer what Regent called the largest entry-level suites, spanning between 38 and 43 square meters.

The company said the enhanced accommodations were designed for comfort and effortless livability, “offering more room to relax, entertain and settle into life at sea.”

Other updates include the debut of a new category, Horizon Penthouse Suite, and the addition of three extra Distinctive Suites on each ship.

The Splendor will be the first ship to debut the enhancements, offering its reimagined suites starting on December 6, 2027.

The Explorer and the Grandeur follow suit in 2028, introducing the upgrades on May 22 and November 13, respectively.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Explorer-class vessels are currently the newest ships in Regent’s fleet and entered service between 2016 and 2023.

In addition to refurbishing its Explorer-class ships, the company is introducing a new ship class later this year with the debut of the Seven Seas Prestige. The 822-guest vessel will be followed by sisters in 2030, 2033 and 2036.