Top Cruise Travel Stories From May

by Donald Wood
Last updated: 6:00 AM ET, Sat May 27, 2023

American Cruise Lines Christens Two New Ships

1/11 American Cruise Lines celebrated the christening of two new sister ships on May 3, the American Serenade on the Mississippi River and the American Jazz on the Snake River in Washington. The two ships are the newest members of the cruise line’s fleet of six American Riverboats.

 

Seabourn Installs SpaceX’s Starlink on Expedition Ships

2/11 Seabourn has announced that two of its luxury expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, will be equipped with next-generation Wi-Fi connectivity with SpaceX’s Starlink, the leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology. This upgraded tech will provide Seabourn’s guests with faster service, greater connectivity and more reliable Wi-Fi wherever Starlink’s services are available.

 

Princess to Homeport in Port Canaveral

3/11 Princess Cruises announced it would homeport in Central Florida for the first time ever. Officials from the cruise line said the Caribbean Princess ship will re-position in late November 2024 to sail eastern and western Caribbean itineraries out of Port Canaveral for its winter season.

Oceania Celebrates Frank Del Rio at Vista Naming Ceremony

4/11 Oceania Cruises welcomed its new 1,200-guest ship Vista with a naming ceremony on May 8 while also bidding a laudatory farewell to its founder, Frank J. Del Rio. The two-hour affair, held dockside at the port of Valletta, Malta, also served as the official hand-over of Oceania to the next generation, Frank A. Del Rio, who is the new president of the upscale food- and destination-focused cruise line.

 

Viking Polaris Debuts in Great Lakes

5/11 Viking Cruises is doubling its capacity along the Great Lakes with the debut of the Viking Polaris, which arrived in Toronto on May 3. The new ship is identical to the Viking Octantis, which debuted in the Great Lakes in 2022 as the first Viking ship to sail in the region. It offers space for 378 guests and will sail all five Great Lakes through September.

 

Royal Caribbean Announces New Plans for China, Singapore

6/11 Royal Caribbean International announced it would return to China in April 2024 with Asia’s largest ship, Spectrum of the Seas, sailing from Shanghai. Travelers can enjoy a series of four- and five-night cruises to popular destinations like Fukuoka, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. 

The cruise line will also offer eight sailings from Hong Kong, starting in December 2024, to places such as Ishigaki and Miyazaki, Japan; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, China; and Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Nassau Cruise Port to Open Phase 1 of Development

7/11 Officials from the Nassau Cruise Port announced the first phase of its $300 million project opened on May 26, marking the completion of a four-year redevelopment. The Bahamian port will now be capable of accommodating six ships per day thanks to the addition of a new berth, bringing total arrival capacity to 20,000-30,000 passengers per day.

 

Cunard Announces Katie McAlister as Next President

8/11 Cunard announced Katie McAlister has been named the company’s next president. McAlister is scheduled to join the British cruise line in August after a 20-year career with TUI, where she remains chief marketing officer for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

 

Crystal Announces New 2024 Grand Journeys

9/11 Crystal has announced four new extended 2024 Grand Journeys sailing itineraries. Designed to foster discovery, these extended itineraries offer longer port stays and overnight calls to iconic and off-the-beaten-track destinations all around the globe.

Azamara Reveals More About Epic World Cruise

10/11 Almost five months at sea can sound a bit repetitive, but Azamara has ensured that its world cruise next year is packed with special events. The 155-night cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 5, 2024.

 

“Having just announced the expansion of our AzAmazing programming, we’re pleased to share these carefully crafted events that are sure to make Azamara Onward’s first-ever World Voyage one to remember,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara

 

MSC Cruises Extends Formula 1 Partnership

11/11 MSC Cruises has extended its partnership with Formula 1 and is now the Official Cruise Partner of all races through the end of the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The cruise line has agreed to bring ships during Grand Prix weekends for special event and hospitality packages.

 

As the peak summer vacation travel period approaches, the cruise industry made major waves with several marquee announcements and debuts.

From cruise lines announcing and adding new ships, to technological upgrades designed to make each voyage more enjoyable, the industry has worked tirelessly to give travelers the best cruise experience.

In May, some of the biggest cruise lines in the world—including Royal Caribbean, Princess and Viking—made headlines when they announced new itineraries, leadership changes and new partnerships.

With 1.85 million people expected to travel via buses, trains, cruise ships and other alternative modes of transportation during the Memorial Day holiday travel period, the busy summer season is starting off hot.

Here are the top cruise stories from May.

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