Captain Kate Resigns from Position at Four Seasons Yachts

Posted on 7 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Captain Kate Resigns from Position at Four Seasons Yachts

Captain Kate McCue is leaving Four Seasons Yachts to begin a new chapter in her career, according to a recent video update.

McCue said that her life has taken an unexpected turn, with her father undergoing major back surgery and the sudden loss of her mother.

“That was when I realized that I spent the majority of the last year away from home because I was working,” she explained.

“After 30 years at sea, delivering two new vessels, launching a new brand with a prototype vessel and sailing as captain for the last 11 years, I don’t think I have to prove anything to anyone,” McCue continued.

“I’ve made my parents proud, and I’ve made myself proud, so I made the decision to resign,” she added.

Captain Kate said this next chapter would prioritize family time while also giving her more freedom to pursue other things she loves.

McCue noted that she wants to take her father cruising and plans to board different types of vessels.

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who was on this journey and all the opportunities I’ve had,” she continued, noting that her captain’s license remains active.

“Sailing again is absolutely not off the table, but for now, many new adventures lie ahead, and this time, they’ll be surprises to me too.”

Before joining Four Seasons in 2025, Captain Kate spent 22 years serving onboard Royal Caribbean Group ships.

In 2015, she became the first American female to take the helm of a cruise ship, as captain of the Celebrity Summit.

More recently, McCue took part in the construction and launch of the Four Seasons I, which was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

The 180-passenger luxury vessel entered service earlier this year, beginning a maiden season in the Mediterranean.

Explora III Sets Sail on Maiden Voyage

Posted on 5 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Explora III Sets Sail on Maiden Voyage

The Explora III recently sailed from the Spanish port of Barcelona to kick off its maiden voyage for Explora Journeys.

Delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in late July, the luxury ship officially started its inaugural season on August 3, 2026.

The 922-passenger ship is now offering a seven-night cruise that includes visits to destinations in Portugal, Morocco and Spain.

The itinerary is highlighted by stops in off-the-beaten-path ports in the region, including Portimão and Puerto Banús.

Before ending in Lisbon, the maiden voyage will also include visits to Palma de Mallorca, Cádiz and Tangier, in addition to a full day of cruising in the Western Mediterranean.

The ship will later offer a second seven-night cruise to Southampton, which will sail to Spain, Portugal and France.

On its way to the United Kingdom, the Explora III will visit Porto, La Coruña, Bilbao and Bordeaux, as well as St. Jean de Luz.

In addition to sailing the individual cruises, guests were able to combine the two weeklong voyages for a 14-night itinerary sailing from Barcelona to Southampton.

As part of its inaugural season, the 70,000-ton vessel is also set to offer itineraries to Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America.

The ship is also set to offer cruises to the Caribbean departing from San Juan and Miami starting in December 2026.

Before kicking off its maiden voyage, the Explora III was christened during a special ceremony at the Port of Barcelona. Marking the debut of Explora Journeys’ first LNG-powered vessel, the inaugural event took place on August 1, 2026.

Cristina Ozores, a marine educator and National Geographic Educator, served as the ship’s godmother during the ceremony.

The Explora III also offered a pre-inaugural cruise in the Western Mediterranean, which departed from Genoa, Italy, on July 24, 2026.

The five-night preview journey included visits to destinations in France and Italy, including Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Livorno and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Carnival to Reveal More Details on Destiny in November

Posted on 15 July, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival to Reveal More Details on Destiny in November

After revealing the name and initial details of the new Carnival Destiny, Carnival Cruise Line will announce more about the new ship later this year.

According to the company’s President Christine Duffy, a further announcement is scheduled for this November.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the first Ace-class vessel will carry the name previously used by the 1996-built Destiny.

“It’s back (to the future) but it’s looking forward because we are very excited to cut the steel on our beautiful Carnival Destiny,” Duffy said in an interview with Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald.

“The next big update will probably come in November and then we’ll be talking more about it and putting out a link for people to learn more as we go forward,” she continued.

Carnival announced the name and first details of the new ship during an event at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, on July 10, 2026.

In addition to introducing the first details of the first Ace-class ship, the gathering celebrated the partnership between the company and the shipbuilder.

According to John Heald, the event also marked the 30th anniversary of the delivery of the original Carnival Destiny.

Captain Giovanni Gallo, who brought the ship out of the shipyard for its inaugural season, was also present in Monfalcone.

“Thirty years ago, I was a young cruise director onboard… and a lot of the crew members and I will have memories of a pretty rough crossing across the Atlantic but mostly of the pride and the extraordinary pomp and circumstance that came with delivering the ship,” Heald said.

Then the world’s largest cruise ship, the 101,000-ton vessel, was the first built for Carnival by the Italian shipyard.

Fincantieri later built over 15 vessels for the U.S.-based brand, including the Carnival Panorama, which was the latest Carnival newbuild delivered by Fincantieri in 2019.

Carnival and the shipyard are now working together again for the three Ace-class vessels that are set to be delivered between 2029 and 2031.