Celebrity Eclipse Repositions to the Mediterranean for the Fall Season

Posted on 11 September, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Celebrity Eclipse Repositions to the Mediterranean for the Fall Season

The Celebrity Eclipse arrived in Barcelona earlier this month to kick off its fall season in the Mediterranean.

The ship was one of Celebrity Cruises’ vessels in the region for the summer, having spent the past few months offering itineraries in Northern Europe.

In late August, the Solstice-class vessel embarked on a repositioning voyage that sailed from the Netherlands to Spain.

The 12-night cruise departed from Amsterdam and included visits to destinations in France, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Barcelona.

Highlights of the itinerary included visits to Le Havre, Lisbon and Palma de Mallorca, as well as a transit of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Celebrity Eclipse is now scheduled to offer ten- to 11-night cruises that sail to destinations in both the Western and the Eastern Mediterranean.

In addition to Barcelona, the itineraries depart from ports in Italy and Greece, including Ravenna and Piraeus.

Sailing to the Adriatic and the Aegean, the cruises are highlighted by visits to the Greek Islands, Croatia, Turkey and Italy.

Among the destinations set to be visited are Dubrovnik, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Split, Naples and La Spezia.

The season runs through early November, when the Eclipse is scheduled to embark on a repositioning voyage to Florida.

Sailing from the Port of Barcelona, the 2,850-passenger ship offers a trans-Atlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale.

The 14-night cruise will feature stops in destinations in Spain, the United Kingdom and Bermuda, such as Málaga, Gibraltar and King’s Wharf.

The vessel is then scheduled to offer cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas from Port Everglades before returning to Northern Europe in May 2027.

In related news, the Celebrity Eclipse underwent a refurbishment project during a drydock in early 2025.

As Cruise Industry News reported at the time, the 2010-built ship introduced an enhanced suite enclave following the refit, as well as a slight increase in its guest capacity.

Ambassador’s Ambience Celebrates 35 Years

Posted on 7 September, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Ambassador’s Ambience Celebrates 35 Years

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience recently completed 35 years of service, having been delivered as the Regal Princess on July 20, 1991.

First ordered for Sitmar Cruises, the 70,000-ton vessel was acquired by the P&O Group while still under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Along with a sister ship, the Crown Princess, the vessel was transferred to the Princess Cruises brand, undergoing project changes before being completed.

After leaving Italy, the Regal Princess was christened by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The naming ceremony was held in New York City and took place on August 8, 1991.

The 1,578-passenger ship continued to sail for Princess on worldwide itineraries through 2000, when it was transferred to the company’s resident Australia fleet.

In 2007, the Regal Princess was withdrawn from Princess’ fleet and transferred to P&O Cruises Australia.

Renamed the Pacific Dawn, the ship continued to sail for the Carnival Corporation-owned Australian brand through early 2020.

After spending a few months laid up, the vessel was acquired by Ambassador Cruise Line in early 2021.

Then a startup brand, the company invested in a major modernisation project for the ship before welcoming its first guests in early 2022.

In 2026, the Ambience is offering a series of cruises from ports in the United Kingdom, including itineraries to Northern Europe, the British Isles, Iceland, Scandinavia, the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.

The vessel will also offer a special 45-night cruise to the Caribbean in early 2027, sailing round-trip from Tilbury.

The itinerary is highlighted by overnight visits to a series of destinations, including Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, Cartagena in Colombia and Belize City in Belize.

Before kicking off its 2026 season, the Ambience underwent a three-week drydock refurbishment at a shipyard in the United Kingdom.

The multimillion-pound refurbishment included technical updates, as well as enhancements to public areas and staterooms.

Explora III Arrives in Northern Europe During Maiden Season

Posted on 7 September, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Explora III Arrives in Northern Europe During Maiden Season

Explora Journeys’ newest ship, the Explora III, recently arrived in Northern Europe during its maiden season.

The vessel is now offering a series of cruises to the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and the British Isles, having welcomed its first guests in early August.

The Explora III kicked off its schedule in the region a few weeks later, following a repositioning voyage that started in Lisbon, Portugal.

The 15-night itinerary included visits to destinations in Spain, England, France and Norway before ending in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For its debut in the region, the ship is now offering a cruise in the Baltic that sails to Estonia, Sweden and Latvia.

The eight-night itinerary is highlighted by stops in Tallinn, Riga, Visby and Ronne, in addition to an overnight call in Stockholm.

The ship will offer additional itineraries to Scandinavia, the British Isles and Iceland before repositioning to North America.

In late September, the Explora III will cross the Atlantic for the first time ahead of a fall season in Canada and New England.

The vessel will then reposition to the Caribbean in late October, offering itineraries departing from Miami, Puerto Rico and Barbados.

Built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy, the Explora III was delivered to Explora Journeys in late July.

As the third ship in a series that began with the Explora I in 2023, the 922-passenger vessel is the first in the company’s fleet to be powered by LNG.

The 70,000-ton vessel is also slightly larger than its predecessors, offering additional public areas and more suites.

Before arriving in Northern Europe, the ship offered itineraries in the Mediterranean, Iberia and the Atlantic.

Explora is now preparing to welcome the Explora IV and the Explora V to its fleet in 2027, with the Explora VI following suit in 2028.