Tag Archives: Fincantieri shipyard

Ventura Enters Drydock in Rotterdam

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Ventura Enters Drydock in Rotterdam

P&O Cruises’ Ventura is currently undergoing a drydock at the Damen Shipyard in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The vessel wrapped up its regular operations in Southampton on February 7, 2026, before arriving at the facility one day later.

Following the drydock, the Ventura will then welcome guests back on February 27, 2026, to kick off a 35-night cruise to the Caribbean and the United States.

Ports of call set to be visited include Port Canaveral and Miami, as well as New Orleans, where the Ventura is expected to stay two days docked.

In the Caribbean, the Ventura will make visits to Cozumel, Freeport, Belize and Roatán, as well as Freeport in the Bahamas.

The 3,100-guest ship is also scheduled to sail to the port of La Coruña in Spain, as well as Praia da Vitória in the Azores.

In September 2025, P&O cancelled a short cruise that was set to depart soon after the drydock. As Cruise Industry News reported, the vessel was scheduled to offer a four-night cruise on February 23, 2026.

At the time, the company said that the sailing was no longer possible due to an extension to a necessary refit for the Ventura. Cruising to the Netherlands, the itinerary included an overnight call to the port of Amsterdam.

Upon returning to Southampton in early April, the Ventura offers a series of cruises in Northern Europe and the Canaries.

The schedule is highlighted by visits to a wide range of destinations, including Santander, Vigo, Zeebrugge, Funchal and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Ventura features a design based on Princess’ Grand-class series and entered service in 2008.

Discovery Princess Arrives in Asia for the First Time

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Discovery Princess Arrives in Asia for the First Time

Sailing in the region for the first time, the Discovery Princess recently arrived in Asia as part of a repositioning cruise.

The ship embarked on a 29-night itinerary between Seattle and Singapore following its summer season in Alaska.

The month-long repositioning voyage departed from North America in late September and included visits to four destinations in Alaska before crossing the Pacific.

For its Asia debut, the Discovery Princess visited ports of call in the Far East and Southeast Asia, such as Shimizu, Kochi, and Kagoshima in Japan; Keelung in Taiwan; and Nha Trang in Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong.

The Royal-class ship is also scheduled to offer a single short cruise in the region before entering drydock in early November.

Sailing roundtrip from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Center, the five-night sailing features visits to three destinations in Malaysia: Port Klang, Langkawi and Penang.

The Discovery Princess is then set to enter drydock before heading south for its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand.

Starting in late December, the deployment includes a series of three- to 14-night cruises departing from Sydney.

In addition to a series of destinations in New Zealand, the itineraries feature visits to ports of call in Southern Australia, Queensland and the South Pacific.

Highlighted destinations include Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Kangaroo Island in South Australia and the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand.

The season runs through early April, when the vessel is scheduled to return to North America via Hawaii and French Polynesia.

As the sixth and last vessel in a series of ships that started with the Royal Princess in 2013, the Discovery Princess entered service in March 2022.

The 3,600-guest ship was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and spent its maiden season sailing in Alaska, the U.S. West Coast and the Mexican Riviera.

Cunard Starts Charging for Select Shows Onboard

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Cunard Starts Charging for Select Shows Onboard

Queen Anne on her Maiden visit to Historic Liverpool, Photo credit Spacejunkie2 Flickr

Cunard is now charging fees for specific live performances onboard its newest ship, the Queen Anne.

According to the company’s website, an entry fee is essentially charged for three shows presented at the Bright Lights Society bar.

In its frequently asked questions section, the company explains that the fees also include additional perks, including beverages.

“Select shows such as Fizz and Noir now carry an entry charge of $20 per person, which includes a glass of champagne, a souvenir program, and the service charge,” Cunard states.

Guests attending a third show, Bitter Sweet Symphony, will be charged $46 per person. According to the company, the fare includes service charges and three cocktails.

Bright Lights Society is described by Cunard as the ship’s “most intimate and immersive entertainment venue,” offering exclusive live performances in a cabaret-style theatre with a premium cocktail lounge atmosphere.

Guests can make a reservation via the company’s My Voyage app or by visiting the Purser’s Office once onboard.

“Shows are popular and space is limited, so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment,” Cunard’s website adds.

Guest reports on social media indicate that the charges were introduced in late May 2025 and were received with mixed reactions.

“It’s worth every penny; the cast are very talented and entertaining,” a former passenger stated in a Facebook post.

“Disappointing that Cunard is going the same way as other cruise lines with ‘nickel and diming,’” a guest replied.

As the newest ship in Cunard’s fleet, the Queen Anne was built by the Fincantieri shipyard and entered service in May 2024.

At the time, the company said that the vessel was designed to reflect the evolution of its brand, introducing a new look, as well as new features and dining venues.

In addition to itineraries to Northern Europe, the Atlantic Islands and the Mediterranean, the 3,000-guest ship offers annual world cruises departing from Southampton.