Norwegian Luna Opens Doors to First Guests in Rome

Posted on 13 March, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Luna Opens Doors to First Guests in Rome

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Luna, welcomed her first guests in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.

The ship is scheduled to make her U.S. debut in Miami on March 23, 2026, followed by a christening ceremony on March 27.

Following Fincantieri’s delivery of the vessel to Norwegian last week, the company shared new images of the ship, featuring what it calls a bold and modern design, in a press release.

“Norwegian Luna is an absolutely beautiful ship and the true definition of what it means to cruise with NCL,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“After getting a first look at the ship, I am so excited for guests to enjoy the wide-open, outdoor spaces bringing them closer to the sea, the intimate yet thoughtful areas to retreat to and the electrifying entertainment and mouth watering cuisine,”

In addition to the Aqua Slide coaster, which was recently named the “Best Water Park Ride/Attraction,” the Luna will feature Luna Midway, an amusement park-style outdoor area featuring carnival-inspired games.

There will also be Moon Climber, a multi-level obstacle course designed for kids and adults; and Horizon Park, a complimentary recreational area featuring lawn-style games, all located across the ship’s top decks.

Guests looking for relaxation can visit the two-story Mandara Spa with its of saunas, treatment rooms and an expansive Thermal Suite with 180-degree views of the ocean.

In the entertainment section there’s the “Elton: A Celebration of Elton John” a concert-style experience honoring the music of Sir Elton John, and “HIKO: Innovation Meets Wonder,” a multimedia production blending cirque-style acrobatics and contemporary dance.

After reaching Miami, the Norwegian Luna will sail her inaugural season to the Caribbean, before debuting in New York City on April 6, 2027.

AIDAbella Back at Sea Post-Modernization

Posted on 13 March, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

AIDAbella Back at Sea Post-Modernization

The AIDAbella is resuming service in Palma de Mallorca on March 11 following its AIDA Evolution refurbishment.

The cruise ship had previously spent seven weeks in a shipyard in Marseille, where it underwent a comprehensive overhaul and modernization.

According to a statement from the company, the upgrade included new and additional restaurants, bars with enhanced service, new activity areas for families and a fresh look for the public areas.

In addition to redesigning guest cabins, new and additional suites were added, as well as exclusive areas such as the Sky Deck and the Rossini Lounge.

Furthermore, technical upgrades were made to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.

Approximately 5,100 pieces of furniture were donated to social organizations and 18 tons of aluminum from sun loungers and chairs were recycled, demonstrating circular economy in practice.

The company also refurbished approximately 45,000 m2 of carpets, 10,000 m2 of carpet underlay, 2,500 m2 of artificial turf and over 1,000 mattresses, giving them a new lease on life.

The crew and reception areas got a fully recyclable, allergy-friendly carpet made from Econyl yarn, produced from recycled carpets from the AIDAdiva and AIDAluna.

Thanks to a new reverse osmosis system, the AIDAbella can produce more fresh water from seawater using less energy, the company said.

The consistent use of LED lighting, further optimization of demand-based climate control, and modernized catering technology are meant to contribute to reducing energy and water consumption onboard.

Finally, a special biocide-free coating was added to reduce fouling on the hull, thus also reducing fuel consumption.

The ship’s first itinerary post-modernization is a seven-day roundtrip from Palma that includes stops in Civitavecchia (Rome), La Spezia, Marseille – with a special overnight stay – and Barcelona, before returning to Palma.

Royal Caribbean Announces Spectrum’s 2026-27 Hong Kong Season

Posted on 8 March, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean Announces Spectrum’s 2026-27 Hong Kong Season

Royal Caribbean International announced the Spectrum of the Seas’ 2026-27 Hong Kong homeport season, featuring new itineraries including a long-awaited combined Japan and South Korea route.

The upcoming season offers expanded scheduling with more flexibility and choice for vacationers.

The lineup includes exclusive, one-time-only itineraries designed to meet growing demand for diverse cruise vacations from Hong Kong, the company said in a statement.

Highlights of the 2026-27 season include a nine-night Japan and South Korea Thanksgiving and Autumn Foliage itinerary, marking the return of a combined route not offered from Hong Kong for years.

Guests will explore the cultures and landscapes of both nations, with calls at Tokyo, Osaka and Busan.

New this season are eight-night one-way voyages.

Guests can sail from Hong Kong to Tokyo along Japanese and South Korean destinations, or embark in Tokyo to explore Japan and Taiwan before disembarking in Hong Kong.

Two eight-night sailings can be combined to create one seamless vacation.

The season also features the classic five-night Okinawa and Ishigaki itinerary into Ryukyu culture, festive Christmas and New Year sailings, and a five-night Okinawa and Taipei route combining tropical island charm with city energy.

The four-night Vietnam Warm Winter Getaway is available one time only this season.

The just-concluded 2025-26 Hong Kong season achieved over 32 percent of guests on destination sailings originating from international markets, including North America, Europe and Australia.