https://www.ashoretoday.com/The cruise industry's news, in five minutesen-gb https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#carnival-freedom-valletta-maiden-callashoretoday-carnival-freedom-valletta-maiden-call Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Carnival Freedom called at Malta for the first time on 15 October, during an eight-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona that also visited Marseille, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Naples. Valletta Cruise Port says it is the fifth Carnival ship to visit Malta. The ship came to Europe in September for a drydock at Chantier Naval de Marseille, which included a new funnel, and returns to short Bahamas cruises from Florida in November. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/carnival-freedom-makes-maiden-call-to-valletta/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#capital-cruising-scotland-seasonashoretoday-capital-cruising-scotland-season Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Forth Ports' cruise business, Capital Cruising, is finishing its season in Scotland this month, with AIDAsol among the last calls at the deep-water anchorage off Newhaven. The Scotsman reports 155 ship calls into the Forth and Tay this year, and Capital Cruising expects further growth next year. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/capital-cruising-wraps-scotland-season-more-growth-expected-in-2027) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#portsmouth-meets-cruise-industryashoretoday-portsmouth-meets-cruise-industry Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Tourism leaders from Portsmouth and the wider south coast of England met representatives from across the cruise industry to promote the region as a destination, with a focus on keeping the benefits of cruise tourism local. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/keeping-cruise-tourism-local-portsmouth-meets-with-the-industry) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#royal-caribbean-australasia-seasonashoretoday-royal-caribbean-australasia-season Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas have started Royal Caribbean's 2026/27 season in Australia and New Zealand, sailing a mix of itineraries from Brisbane and Sydney. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/royal-caribbean-s-two-ship-australasia-season-is-off-and-running) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#mein-schiff-flow-winter-2027-28ashoretoday-mein-schiff-flow-winter-2027-28 Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 TUI Cruises has opened bookings for Mein Schiff Flow's 2027/28 winter. From November the ship sails five- to seven-day cruises from Hamburg and Kiel to Norway and the Baltic, then longer Hamburg round trips along Europe's west coast, including a 12-night Christmas cruise calling at Lisbon, A Coruña, Bilbao and Le Havre, and a 19-day voyage to the Canary Islands. A Caribbean voyage via Madeira follows in February 2028. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/bookings-open-for-mein-schiff-flows-2027-28-winter-season-in-germany/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#carnival-the-next-courseashoretoday-carnival-the-next-course Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Carnival Cruise Line has announced four new restaurants for its next Excel-class ships, Festivale (2027) and Tropicale (2028), including Emeril's Coastal Seafood with chief culinary officer Emeril Lagasse, plus music-themed bars on Festivale. Across the existing 29-ship fleet it has added earlier dining times, a shorter three-course Express Dining option and new menu dishes, guided by data from the more than 100 million meals it serves a year. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/carnival-unveils-the-next-course-culinary-strategy/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#antarctica21-2028-29-seasonashoretoday-antarctica21-2028-29-season Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Expedition operator Antarctica21 has opened bookings for its 2028/29 Antarctic season: 47 departures, its largest air-cruise programme so far. Every itinerary begins and ends in Punta Arenas, Chile. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/expedition-cruising/antarctica21-opens-bookings-for-2028-29-air-cruise-season) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#holland-america-80-years-alaskaashoretoday-holland-america-80-years-alaska Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Holland America Line is running heritage tours to mark eight decades in Alaska. Its business there goes back to Chuck West's company, founded in 1947 and later known as Westours, which Holland America went on to acquire. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/heritage-tours-mark-holland-america-s-80-years-in-alaska) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#phoenix-reisen-alvaraashoretoday-phoenix-reisen-alvara Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 German operator Phoenix Reisen is adding the 700-guest Insignia, built in 1998 and now sailing for Oceania Cruises, to its fleet; terms were not disclosed. The ship goes to Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven in September 2027 for Phoenix's turquoise livery and changes on board, starts sailing as Alvara that November and will be named in Hamburg on 26 November 2027. Online bookings open on 23 October. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/phoenix-reisen-adds-oceanias-insignia-as-the-alvara-in-november-2027/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#princess-sanctuary-collection-royal-classashoretoday-princess-sanctuary-collection-royal-class Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Princess Cruises is adding the Sanctuary Collection, so far only on Sun Princess and Star Princess, to five Royal Class ships: Royal, Discovery, Enchanted, Regal and Sky Princess. It includes a private pool club, a Sanctuary restaurant, a suite lounge with concierge and the Princess Premier package. Royal Princess goes on sale first, from 22 October, as part of the line's multi-year fleet update. Source: Porthole Cruise (https://porthole.com/princess-cruises-adds-to-its-sanctuary-collection/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#msc-grand-hamptons-villaashoretoday-msc-grand-hamptons-villa Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 MSC Cruises has unveiled the Grand Hamptons Villa, a single suite of more than 230 square metres on MSC World Atlantic with a double-height living room, a cinema loft, a kids' suite and a terrace with a whirlpool. Guests get MSC Yacht Club service. The ship will sail seven- and 14-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/msc-cruises-unveils-the-grand-hamptons-villa/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#azamara-journey-forward-2028ashoretoday-azamara-journey-forward-2028 Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Azamara Journey is the next ship scheduled for the line's Azamara Forward refurbishment programme, in late 2028. Azamara Quest goes first in November this year, followed by Azamara Onward in November 2027. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/refurb-design-interiors/azamara-journey-set-for-azamara-forward-updates-in-late-2028) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#helsinki-shipyard-expedition-shipsashoretoday-helsinki-shipyard-expedition-ships Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Helsinki Shipyard's order book is led by icebreakers and Arctic cutters, but its sales head says cruise and passenger ships remain a core part of its strategy. The yard's last cruise deliveries were Swan Hellenic's Minerva, Vega and Diana between 2021 and 2023. Its covered 280-metre dock can build ships of up to 70,000 tons, and a €200 million investment programme is under way at Helsinki and Pori. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/helsinki-shipyard-door-open-to-expedition-cruise-ships/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#versonix-seaware-nclhashoretoday-versonix-seaware-nclh Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is extending its use of the Seaware reservation platform from Versonix: Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will adopt it, and Norwegian Cruise Line will move to the latest version. Versonix describes Seaware as the base for reservations, inventory, pricing and distribution. Atlas Ocean Voyages, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and StarDream Cruises have also adopted it recently. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/versonix-expands-seaware-booking-platform-to-all-3-nclh-brands/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#explora-north-america-leadershipashoretoday-explora-north-america-leadership Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Lara Koslow joins Explora Journeys as president, North America, on 30 November, based in Miami and leading commercial, marketing and sales across the US, Canada and Mexico. Chris Austin moves to a new role as president, luxury travel partnerships, including work with MSC Cruises North America on MSC Yacht Club distribution. Explora plans six ocean ships by 2028. Source: Cruise Industry News (https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/explora-strengthens-north-american-leadership/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-22/#oceanwide-expeditions-esg-reportashoretoday-oceanwide-expeditions-esg-report Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Polar expedition operator Oceanwide Expeditions has published its first environmental, social and governance report. Chief executive Rémi Bouysset described it as a step towards being open about where the company stands, what it has achieved and where it still needs to improve. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/expedition-cruising/oceanwide-expeditions-publishes-its-first-esg-report) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#marseille-30-years-of-cruisingashoretoday-marseille-30-years-of-cruising Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Marseille Provence Croisière, the local cruise association, held its 30th anniversary on board MSC Meraviglia on 12 October. The port handled about 11,600 cruise passengers in 1993 and more than 2.63 million ocean cruise passengers on 660 calls in 2025. Its Horizon 2030 plan puts better port calls, more turnaround cruises, visitor-flow management and local benefits ahead of simply growing passenger numbers. Source: MedCruise (https://www.medcruise.com/news/marseille-provence-croisiere-celebrates-30-years-of-cruising-in-marseille) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#barcelona-closes-two-cruise-terminalsashoretoday-barcelona-closes-two-cruise-terminals Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 The Port of Barcelona will close Terminal C on the Adossat quay on 30 October and the World Trade Center terminal on 31 December. This follows an agreement with the city council to cut the number of cruise terminals from seven to five. A city committee has also given provisional approval to raise the tourist-tax surcharge for cruise passengers who stay under 12 hours, from €5 to €12 in 2027 and in stages to €24 by 2030. Source: Metrópoli Abierta (El Español) (https://metropoliabierta.elespanol.com/economia/20260922/puerto-barcelona-cerrara-terminales-cruceros-finalizar-ano/1003742796369_0.html) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#madeira-record-cruise-yearashoretoday-madeira-record-cruise-year Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Madeira's port authority, APRAM, expects to finish 2026 with a record 349 cruise calls and about 820,000 passengers. That would be the first time the islands have passed 800,000 in a year, up from 746,000 passengers and 331 calls in 2025. October alone has 33 calls booked, bringing more than 75,000 passengers, though the authority says the figures are provisional. Source: MedCruise (https://www.medcruise.com/news/madeira-set-to-reach-new-record-for-cruise-calls-in-2026) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#lisbon-europes-leading-cruise-destinationashoretoday-lisbon-europes-leading-cruise-destination Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Lisbon won Europe's Leading Cruise Destination at the World Travel Awards Europe, held in Montenegro on 17 October. It is the city's sixth win in the category, after 2009, 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2022. A few days earlier Lisbon was also named Europe's Best Cruise Destination at the 2026 World Cruise Awards. Source: MedCruise (https://www.medcruise.com/news/lisbon-named-europes-best-cruise-destination-for-the-sixth-time-at-the-world-travel-awards) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#denmark-proposed-cruise-passenger-taxashoretoday-denmark-proposed-cruise-passenger-tax Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 The Danish government plans a tax of 200 DKK (about €25) per cruise passenger from 2028, expected to raise about 300 million DKK a year towards the costs of pollution, noise and congestion. Business groups and the ports association Danske Havne have asked for the level to be looked at again, saying ships might skip Danish ports or call only at the largest cities. Denmark had 1.1 million cruise passengers in 2025, mostly through Copenhagen, Aarhus, Skagen and Rønne. Source: The Copenhagen Post (https://cphpost.dk/2026-10-09/news/round-up/business-groups-warn-200-dkk-cruise-passenger-tax-could-drive-tourists-away/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#new-zealand-cuts-cruise-border-levyashoretoday-new-zealand-cuts-cruise-border-levy Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 From 1 July 2027, New Zealand will cut the border processing levy for arriving cruise passengers from NZ$27.14 to NZ$7.20, while the charge for departing passengers rises from NZ$0.03 to NZ$0.71. The New Zealand Cruise Association called it a positive step. It added that because itineraries are planned years ahead, any effect on port calls may take time to show. Source: CruiseMapper (https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/16852-new-zealand-reduces-border-processing-levy) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#royal-caribbean-year-round-europeashoretoday-royal-caribbean-year-round-europe Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 For the first time, Royal Caribbean will sail in Europe all year in 2028-29, with seven ships in the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Canary Islands. Rhapsody of the Seas will sail all year from Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona and Lisbon, with Canary Islands, Cyprus and Malta routes from November 2028. The programme also brings the line back to Heraklion and Cagliari for the first time in more than a decade. Bookings opened on 15 October. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/royal-caribbean-to-offer-year-round-europe-cruises-for-first-time-in-2028-29) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#cunard-500th-transatlantic-crossingashoretoday-cunard-500th-transatlantic-crossing Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Cunard has published 93 more voyages for October 2028 to May 2029. They include Queen Mary 2's 500th transatlantic crossing, a 21-night round trip from New York that passengers can also join in Hamburg, Southampton or Liverpool. It is the first Cunard transatlantic departure from Liverpool since 2015. The programme also has a 115-night world voyage on Queen Elizabeth and an 86-night South America voyage on Queen Anne that is timed for Rio Carnival. General sale opens on 4 November. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cunard-to-mark-500th-transatlantic-crossing-with-liverpool-departure) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#norwegian-aura-early-mediterranean-debutashoretoday-norwegian-aura-early-mediterranean-debut Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Norwegian Cruise Line's largest ship so far, Norwegian Aura, is now expected to be delivered early and will start sailing on 2 May 2027. Two new voyages have been added: a 10-day trip from Trieste to Athens (Piraeus), and a nine-day return from Athens to Trieste from 12 May. The ship then sails from Trieste to Barcelona from 21 May, via Valletta, Salerno and Civitavecchia, before crossing to Miami for the Caribbean. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/norwegian-aura-to-debut-earlier-than-planned-with-two-new-med-sailings) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#aroya-first-mediterranean-winterashoretoday-aroya-first-mediterranean-winter Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Aroya Cruises, the Saudi-based line that is part of Cruise Saudi, has started its first Mediterranean winter season with its single ship, the 3,362-passenger Aroya. The ship is based in Istanbul and sails six- to eight-night voyages to and from Alexandria, calling at ports including Bodrum, Mykonos, Kotor and Valletta. It moves to Jeddah for a Red Sea season in September 2027. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/aroya-cruises-hails-important-step-towards-year-round-med-programme) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#star-clippers-2028-small-french-portsashoretoday-star-clippers-2028-small-french-ports Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Sailing-ship line Star Clippers will start voyages from Barcelona, Valletta and Las Palmas in summer 2028. The Barcelona sailings bring back the French ports of Sète, Port-Vendres and Cassis after ten years away. Cassis accepts only seven ships a season. A new 10-night Royal Clipper voyage from Valletta to Rome's port calls at Gozo, Lipari, Trapani, Agropoli and Sorrento. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/star-clippers-re-introduces-small-french-ports-as-part-of-2028-european-schedule) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#norwegian-bella-final-prima-classashoretoday-norwegian-bella-final-prima-class Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Norwegian Cruise Line has opened bookings for Norwegian Bella, the last of its Prima Class ships, which arrives in May 2028. The 170,000-ton ship carries 3,921 passengers, has a pool deck 15% larger than those on Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, and has 159 suites in The Haven. Her first season is seven-day round trips from Barcelona, with calls listed for Rome, Florence, Salerno, Marseille and Palma. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/ncl-opens-sales-for-last-prima-class-ship-to-debut-in-may-2028) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#msc-world-asia-eatalyashoretoday-msc-world-asia-eataly Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 MSC Cruises' new flagship, MSC World Asia, will have an Eataly restaurant when it starts Mediterranean cruises on 4 December 2026. It will be the second Eataly at sea, after MSC World America, with show cooking, an outdoor terrace and a wine cellar where guests can choose a bottle. The ship's seven-night routes call at Barcelona, Marseille, Messina, Civitavecchia, Naples and Valletta, and passengers can join at several of these ports. Source: MSC Cruises press area (https://www.mscpressarea.com/press-releases/msc-cruises-brings-renowned-eataly-restaurant-to-new-flagship-msc-world-asia/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#disney-imagination-japanashoretoday-disney-imagination-japan Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Oriental Land, which runs Tokyo Disney Resort, announced on 14 October that the first ship for Disney Cruise Line Japan will be named Disney Imagination. The Wish-class ship, adapted for Japanese guests, will sail from Tokyo from spring 2029. It will be about 140,000 gross tons, carry about 4,000 guests in around 1,250 staterooms, and have Ariel from The Little Mermaid on its stern. Source: The Disney Cruise Line Blog (https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2026/10/disney-cruise-line-japan-names-wish-class-ship-disney-imagination/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#viking-names-seven-river-shipsashoretoday-viking-names-seven-river-ships Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Viking named seven new river ships at one ceremony, held in Amsterdam and linked by video to Les Andelys in France, Rostock in Germany and Luxor in Egypt. Viking Haki, Halogi, Sjofn and Rota will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube, Viking Fjolvar the Seine, and Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet the Nile, with Sekhmet starting in 2027. Each ship's godparent is a travel advisor or industry partner who has worked with Viking for many years. Source: CruiseMapper (https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/16843-viking-names-7-new-river-ships) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#clia-21-new-river-ships-2027ashoretoday-clia-21-new-river-ships-2027 Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says 21 river ships are due to enter service in 2027. Most will sail on European rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Douro and Seine, and others will sail the Mekong, the Amazon and North American waterways. The new ships include Celebrity Cruises' first river vessels, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, three AmaWaterways ships and three from Uniworld. Source: Travel PR News (CLIA announcement) (https://www.travelprnews.com/river-cruising-heads-for-a-bigger-2027-as-clia-details-21-new-ships-across-global-waterways/travel-press-release/2026/10/14/) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#fred-olsen-record-trading-dayashoretoday-fred-olsen-record-trading-day Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines says the launch of its 2028 programme on 7 October gave it the strongest trading day in its history. The previous record was set only in July, with its 2028 Amazon and Antarctica Grand Voyage. The new programme has 39 cruises between January and July 2028, and the most popular were a 13-night northern Europe trip, an 18-night Italian Riviera and Amalfi Coast voyage, and a 37-night Caribbean cruise. Source: Cruise Trade News (https://www.cruisetradenews.com/ocean-news/fred-olsen-cruise-lines-records-strongest-ever-trading-day-for-second-time-this-year) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#virgin-voyages-uk-september-salesashoretoday-virgin-voyages-uk-september-sales Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Virgin Voyages says its UK sales in September were 34% higher than a year earlier, after a record summer. About a quarter of September bookings were for 2028, when the line runs new cruises from Amsterdam to Scandinavia and the Baltic. Its 2028 European programme is 41% bigger than in 2026. Source: Travel Weekly (UK) (https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/virgin-voyages-reports-september-sales-up-34-in-uk-market) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#carnival-seatrium-yard-agreementashoretoday-carnival-seatrium-yard-agreement Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Seatrium in Singapore has renewed its preferred-customer agreement with Carnival Corporation, continuing a partnership that started in 2010. The agreement covers maintenance and upgrades for ships from all eight of the group's brands. Royal Princess and Carnival Luminosa are due at the yard in October and Seabourn Encore in November, with more ships planned between 2027 and 2029. Source: CruiseMapper (https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/16845-seatrium-renews-services-agreement-with-carnival-corporation) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#malta-shore-power-norwegian-cruise-lineashoretoday-malta-shore-power-norwegian-cruise-line Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Norwegian Cruise Line has signed a shore power agreement with Transport Malta, so its ships can connect to Malta's electricity grid while berthed. The grid will run onboard services such as lighting and air conditioning, so ships can switch off the engines they would otherwise use in port. It is the fourth shore power deal Transport Malta has signed. Source: Engine (engine.online) (https://www.engine.online/news/norwegian-cruise-line-signs-shore-power-supply-deal-with-malta-82ca) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#seattle-record-season-shore-powerashoretoday-seattle-record-season-shore-power Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 The Port of Seattle closed its 2026 cruise season on 18 October with record figures: 330 ship calls and nearly 2 million revenue passengers. A record 66% of ships plugged into shore power, which the port estimates avoided about 6,189 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions, and work to extend shore power at Pier 91 continues this autumn. MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages based ships there for the first time, and Star Princess carried out the first LNG refuelling in Elliott Bay. Source: Cruise Hive (https://www.cruisehive.com/seattle-wraps-record-2026-cruise-season-with-330-ship-calls/221408) https://www.ashoretoday.com/edition/2026-10-21/#marpower-gas-turbine-cruise-studyashoretoday-marpower-gas-turbine-cruise-study Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 Marpower, an EU-funded research project, is preparing a digital case study that applies its gas-turbine power system to a reference cruise ship. The study will test energy use and emissions under different operating conditions. The project is coordinated by LUT University in Finland and is developing turbines that can run on renewable hydrogen and other sustainable fuels. Source: Seatrade Cruise News (https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/environmental-health/marpower-gas-turbine-system-to-be-tested-on-cruise-ships)