Tag Archives: Europe

AIDA Confident Amid Geopolitical Challenges as Demand Grows

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AIDA Confident Amid Geopolitical Challenges as Demand Grows

AIDA Cruises is seeing strong demand for cruises and a high share of premium bookings and remains positive despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, the company said in a statement.

Current figures show that just over three million German ocean cruise passengers traveled in 2025, growing by nine percent compared to the previous year.

“Cruising in Germany is driving growth in the tourism market. In 2025, AIDA generated profitable growth with unchanged capacity and record-level occupancy,” said AIDA president Felix Eichhorn.

“With around 1.5 million guests in 2025, AIDA is the clear market leader in the German cruise market. This success is driven by strong demand and long-term bookings.”

For summer 2026, AIDA said it seeing an above-average level of advance bookings, a trend which Eichhorn said continues steadily.

“. The disproportionately high number of high-quality, long-term premium bookings also shows that guests place particular value on quality,” he said.

Trips departing from German ports that can operate year-round, such as Hamburg, Kiel, and Warnemünde, as well as routes to Northern Europe remain especially popular, AIDA noted.

Cruises to the United Kingdom, the Baltic states, and classic Northern Europe routes including Norway, Denmark, and Sweden are also said to be experiencing strong demand.

Multi-generational travel is currently in particularly high demand at AIDA.

A YouGov study commissioned by the company found that 66 percent of Germans have already vacationed with multiple generations of their family.

Around 20 percent of respondents believe cruises are especially suitable for multi-generational travel.

The company is also offering 20 Northern Europe cruises this year where shore power is used during port stays at every port.

The first short cruise starts on March 12 from Kiel and takes AIDAbella via Kristiansand, Oslo, and Copenhagen before returning to Kiel.

“In 2023, we had just over 60 shore power connections; last year, that number already exceeded 400. Thanks to the opening of additional facilities in Europe, we expect a further increase to 600 port calls this year. Nevertheless, further expansion of shore power infrastructure in Europe remains necessary,” said Eichhorn.

Balmoral Back in Newcastle for Four-Month Sailing Program

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Balmoral Back in Newcastle for Four-Month Sailing Program

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral has started a four-month sailing program from Newcastle’s Port of Tyne.

Between February and September 2026,17 cruises will be departing from the city, with durations ranging from one‑night sailings to 14‑night explorations.

The program includes Northern Lights voyages in Arctic Norway, cruising through Norway’ s fjords, and sailings to the Baltic, Scandinavia and Iceland.

“We’re delighted to welcome our guests from the North East back on board Balmoral as she begins her programme of sailings from Newcastle,” said Doug Glenwright, guest experience director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

“This programme offers an inspiring collection of sailings – from the chance to seek out the Northern Lights in Arctic Norway to exploring Europe’s riverside cities.”

According to the company, the first cruise of the season departed Newcastle on February 21, taking guests on a 10-night “In Search of the Northern Lights” voyage.

The Balmoral has been updated and now eatures a new rotating Colors & Tastes menu and an exclusive Chef’s Table experience.

Additionally, a refreshed entertainment program, delivered in partnership with RWS, will be rolled out from February, featuring updated daytime activities and new evening theater productions launching from mid-2026.

Sailings from Newcastle include:

In Search of the Northern Lights

This 10-night cruise departs from Newcastle on March 23, 2026, with prices starting from £1,599 per person.

Guests can experience the Arctic winter, seek out the Northern Lights in Arctic Norway, and discover Arctic culture and landscapes, from fjords to Sami traditions.

European Cities & Scenic Rivers

This 14-night cruise departs from Newcastle on April 2, 2026. Prices start from £2,099 per person.

Travelers can explore riverside cities and European waterways, including France and Portugal’s rivers and historic cities, such as Bordeaux and Lisbon, and enjoy local culture, fine wine regions and landscapes.

Exploring Iceland in Nine Nights

This nine-night cruise departs from Newcastle on May 5, 2026. Prices start from £1,699 per person.

Iceland’s mountains, geysers, and waterfalls can be discovered by going hiking and bathing in hot springs, paired with whale watching.

Norwegian Fjords in Five Nights

This five‑night cruise departs from Newcastle on August 28, 2026, with prices starting from £999 per person.

Guests can take in Norway’s landscapes from the ship, or go kayaking, or hiking in Briksdal National Park. They can also discover the geology and the Ice Age legacy at Kjenndalen glacier.

Depending on the sailing, guests who book before March 11, 2026, can get onboard spend in the amounts ranging from £25 to £150.

Juneau Reaffirms Cruise Passenger Limits Amid New Dock Proposal

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Juneau Reaffirms Cruise Passenger Limits Amid New Dock Proposal

While a proposed new cruise dock could expand the number of cruise berths in Juneau, the city currently has no plans to increase the number of guests arriving.

Speaking with Cruise Industry News, Tourism Director of the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), Alexandra Pierce, highlighted the town’s sustainable approach to tourism and said that the development project has not been approved yet.

“We’re one of the communities in the world that has negotiated cruise ship limits, and we don’t have any plans to change those limits,” she said.

Juneau currently holds a voluntary five-ship-a-day limit, which keeps the number of arriving guests steady.

“We’re proud of having these negotiated agreements with the cruise industry,” she said, adding that the deals “were pretty hard fought.”

Pierce noted that the project for additional cruise berths in Juneau, which is being carried out by Goldbelt, is currently pending approval from local authorities.

“They had some preliminary meetings with the city regarding their plans. However, there are very extensive permitting and reviewing processes pending, not just by us, but also by other government agencies that would be impacted,” she explained.

While the proposed port could increase the number of berths available for ships in the town, the actual growth of cruise passengers arriving depends on many other factors, Pierce continued.

“These limits that we have in place allow us to manage for the volume that we have today,” she explained.

Pierce said that such an increase would impact many areas, from transportation to emergency services infrastructure.

“All of that needs to be taken into consideration before adding an additional 500,000 people to a port that already sees 1.7 million visitors a year,” Pierce added.

“To raise those limits, we would need to see some pretty significant infrastructure improvements, which is what our city council is kind of grappling with right now.”

Juneau is soon putting together a visitor industry task force, which will also discuss the matter, she continued.

“One of the things that we’re asking them is under what conditions can Juneau grow? What are our infrastructure needs? What are our criteria for being able to welcome more passengers?”

She noted that the city is working on infrastructure improvements, but these are aimed at better hosting the number of guests that are currently arriving.

“While infrastructure is a great destination management tool, it’s also a very slow destination management tool and very expensive,” Pierce said.

“We want to make sure that we fully recognise and understand the burden on our public facilities of any sort of growth and how we can mitigate that burden going into the future,” she added.