Tag Archives: travel

MSC Reveals New Venues for World Asia

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MSC Reveals New Venues for World Asia

MSC Cruises today unveiled details of new and redesigned entertainment venues for MSC World Asia, which will start sailing in the Mediterranean in December 2026.

Among the highlights, the Clubhouse will be a new venue designed for families to enjoy classic table games, bumper cars, basketball, roller skating and the ship’s Lego family zone.

The two-deck Luna Park, which is also featured on sister World Class ships the MSC World Europa and MSC World America, will have a new design for a new bar, interactive game shows, parties, LED displays and themed events. The main arena will have immersive digital displays, ceiling projections and dynamic lighting and sound to host daily youth activities.

The venue is also MSC World Asia’s main nightlife venue, featuring live DJ sets and party experiences, the company said.

The Harbour has been redesigned with an Asian theme, and the expansive outdoor park will feature Cliffhanger, an over-water swing ride sending guests over 50 meters above the ocean, making MSC World Asia the only ship in Europe to offer the attraction.

The Harbour will also be home to the longest dry slide at sea, beginning from a new Asian pagoda. The Tree of Life @The Spiral will transport guests 81.3 meters down 12 decks in just a matter of seconds.  Families can also explore a thrilling high ropes course, waterslides, a dedicated children’s playground and complimentary food at The Harbour Bar & Bites.

In addition, the MSC World Asia will also feature the Panorama Lounge with its backdrop of panoramic ocean views.  The venue during the day hosts dance classes and acoustic performances, with cocktail hours and cabaret-style entertainment in the evenings and live music at night.

The MSC World Asia’s open-air boardwalk, the World Promenade, will be an open-air space located at the heart of the ship, where dining, lounges, Sports Bar and entertainment options are paired with ocean views.

The MSC World Asia during winter 2026-27, will sail seven-night itineraries to Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina, and Valletta with embarkation available in every port.  In summer 2027, the ship will operate seven-night voyages to Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, and Valletta.

Juneau Eyes New Seasonal Tax System Aimed at Cruise Visitors

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Juneau Eyes New Seasonal Tax System Aimed at Cruise Visitors

After doubling the fees that cruise lines pay to dock in the town, Juneau is now pursuing a plan to introduce a new seasonal sales tax system.

According to KTOO, the change is aimed at capitalising on the 1.7 million cruise ship passengers that visit the town every summer.

The new structure would raise sales taxes in the summer months and lower them in the winter, according to the local news website.

After being greenlighted by the Juneau Assembly, the proposal will now be presented to residents later this month.

Assembly members want to hear from locals before deciding whether to put it on a municipal ballot scheduled for October.

Other Southeast Alaskan towns, including Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway, already adopt seasonal taxes, KTOO said.

Residents and visitors currently pay a five per cent tax on year-round sales in Juneau, the website explained.

If voters approve the proposed seasonal tax system, consumers will instead pay a 7.5 per cent tax in the summer and a 3.5 per cent tax in the winter.

The proposal determines that the summer season starts in April and ends in September, while the winter season runs from October through March.

In June, Juneau agreed to double the fees that cruise lines pay to dock their ships at the city-owned piers.

The change was unanimously approved by the town’s assembly and applies only to large cruise vessels.

At the time, Juneau’s Visitor Industry Director, Alix Pierce, said that the change was aimed at making the dockage fees in the town more competitive with the private sector.

“We know that our rates are definitely low compared to the private docks here, and other ports in the region are also looking at their fee structure,” she explained.

While dockage fees were previously calculated using vessels’ tonnage and length figures, the new rates are based on the ships’ passenger capacities.

Majestic Princess Kicks Off Repositioning Cruise to Boston

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Majestic Princess Kicks Off Repositioning Cruise to Boston

The Majestic Princess recently sailed from Southampton to kick off a repositioning cruise to Canada and New England.

After sailing from the British port on July 18, the Princess Cruises vessel is now offering a 15-night voyage that will end in Boston.

The trans-Atlantic cruise features visits to destinations in Iceland and Canada, including Reykjavik, Isafjord and Grundarfjordur, as well as Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax.

After arriving at its new homeport in North America, the Majestic Princess is set to kick off its first-ever fall foliage season in Canada and New England.

Sailing round-trip from Boston, the vessel offers seven-night cruises around the region that include visits to Portland, Halifax, Sydney, Eastport and Saint John.

In September, the Majestic Princess is also scheduled to offer open-jaw itineraries that sail between Quebec City and Boston.

Upon completing the deployment on the East Coast, the 141,000-ton ship is set to reposition to Fort Lauderdale for itineraries in the Caribbean.

Before arriving in Florida, the vessel offers a 14-night “Canada and Colonial America” itinerary that sails between Quebec City and Port Everglades.

The open-jaw itinerary includes visits to Saguenay, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Boston, New York City, Newport and Norfolk.

As part of its 2025-26 winter season, the Royal-class ship offers six- to eight-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to destinations in the Western, Southern and Eastern Caribbean.

Originally designed for service in China and Asia, the Majestic Princess was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in 2017.

Before kicking off its maiden season in the Mediterranean earlier this year, the 3,600-guest ship underwent a major refurbishment at a shipyard in Italy.

As part of the modernisation project, the vessel debuted new venues, reimagined spaces and refined touches, including the addition of O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Bellini’s Cocktail Bar.

The Majestic Princess also got new dining options, such as the Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar, Alfredo’s Slice and The Salty Dog Grill.