At a shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, Disney held a traditional steel cutting ceremony to kick off the build. It’s the first major step in making a cruise ship, where a giant machine cuts the very first piece of steel. This marks the beginning of the ship’s journey from concept to reality.
The Maritime tech firm Marcura has bought Brightwell Navigator, the crew payroll and payment arm of U.S. based Brightwell, to expand its global crew payment services and strengthen its presence in the cruise sector. Brightwell Navigator will integrate with Marcura’s MarTrust platform while retaining its brand during a transition period.
An 18-year-old passenger was rescued alive after jumping overboard from the cruise ship AIDAnova in the Baltic Sea, reports Morgenpost.
A day of fun at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, took a violent turn on Sunday when a massive brawl involving more than 30 people broke out at the Oasis Lagoon pool.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as “chaotic” and “out of control.” According to passengers posting on CruiseCritic and Reddit, the fight escalated quickly, with multiple groups involved in physical altercations. One man was seen bleeding heavily from the head and was reportedly evacuated from the scene for medical treatment.
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Pacific coast on Wednesday triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, activating emergency protocols for cruise ships in Hawaii, Alaska, and along the U.S. West Coast. Among the vessels impacted was Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, which was forced to depart Hilo, Hawaii, ahead of schedule—leaving some passengers behind amid the chaos.
Koper, Slovenia, has officially opened its new sustainable cruise terminal, enhancing its position as a key port in the Adriatic. Located steps from the Old Town, the modern facility replaces outdated infrastructure and is designed to accommodate growing cruise traffic while prioritizing environmental responsibility.
Viking’s newest ocean ship, Viking Mira, has been floated out at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, marking a key milestone ahead of her spring 2026 debut. The 54,300 GT vessel will feature 499 cabins and accommodate up to 998 guests.
The ship will sail itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe and continues Viking’s expansion in the small ship segment. The float-out ceremony was attended by Viking’s New Building Site Manager Gastone Lazzari and Ancona shipyard director Gilberto Tobaldi.
The FBI has launched an investigation into a reported sexual assault that allegedly occurred aboard Carnival Breeze during a recent sailing from Galveston, Texas. The incident was reported on a 4-day itinerary that included a call in Cozumel and returned to Galveston on July 28, 2025.
A protest by Extinction Rebellion activists briefly delayed the docking of Celebrity Eclipse in Amsterdam on Sunday morning. Around 30 demonstrators in kayaks and inflatables blocked access to the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam at 6 a.m., displaying banners such as “Cruise is polluting our planet.” Authorities intervened after two hours, arresting at least five protesters. The ship eventually docked and continued its itinerary.
Yesterday, the crew of Icon of the Seas faced one of their hardest days at sea after a fellow crew member went overboard.
The Oscar alarm sounded just after 7 p.m., and everything stopped. The ship slowed, turned back, and a rescue boat was sent out right away. Everyone watched in silence as life rings were thrown into the water and the rescue team searched the sea to bring their colleague back.
