Cruising Updates
Wild Earth launches French Polynesia guide
Wild Earth Travel has released a new French Polynesia e-brochure, designed as an easy reference tool for travel agents and a resource for clients.
Viking receives two new river ships
Viking has taken delivery of its newest river ships, Viking Honir, which will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, and Viking Thoth, which will sail the Nile.
WA and beyond: Spirit’s ANZ, Pacific season
NCL’s Norwegian Spirit makes her debut in Western Australia on 9 December.
New Uniworld land and cruise combo
Uniworld will launch six new itineraries across Europe and Asia in 2027.
NCL sees ‘high value’ guest potential, while highlighting value in current economy
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) continues to see multiple levels of opportunity to, in and from this region, with a focus on guests seeking a more boutique premium experience while also highlighting the benefits of cruising when economic conditions are tight.
Galapagos cruising and beyond
Peru Andean Travel Company is seeing increasing interest out of Australasia for its boutique cruising in the Galapagos and customised experiences in Ecuador and Peru – a trend which encouraged the company to exhibit at Luxperience in Sydney for the first time this year.
Uniworld launches 2026 savings
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has released a new limited-time offer, giving travellers the opportunity to save $3,000 per stateroom on 2026 departures.
Alliance to promote travel to Norway
Hurtigruten APAC has formed a new collective called the Hurtigruten Nordic Alliance, established to elevate New Zealanders’ and Australians’ travel to the Nordics and to drive mutual growth.
NCLH’s new three-brand loyalty programme
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, the company operating Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has launched its new Loyalty Status Honoring Program.
Tauck to add new riverboats
Tauck plans to add two new riverboats to its fleet in 2027, along with two ships launching in 2026.
Refurb under way for Heritage Adventurer
Heritage Expeditions reports the first wave of the ship-wide internal refurbishment of its 140-guest flagship Heritage Adventurer is underway in Singapore.
Aranui releases 2027 itineraries
Aranui Cruises’ 2027 programme features two ships, with new build Aranoa joining Aranui 5 in March that year.
Oceania 2027-28 open for reservations
Oceania Cruises has launched its 2027-28 Collection of Voyages with more than 230 cruises encompassing a year’s plus of itineraries across seven ships.
PONANT expands yachting segment
PONANT Explorations Group is expanding its exclusive sailing offering.
Regent solar eclipse voyages 2026-27
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled five voyages in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe in 2026 and 2027 based around a solar eclipse.
Viking’s Paris and Normandy
Viking’s eight-day Paris & the Heart of Normandy roundtrip from Paris is currently priced from A$6,395 per person, departing 22 November 2026, in a standard stateroom with fly free up to A$5,000 per couple if booked before 1 December 2025.
Aurora Expeditions launches 2027 cruises
Aurora Expeditions has launched its Small Ship Cruises 2027 Season.
Portside towns to discover with NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line is highlighting six portside towns from its 2026-27 Europe collection.
More to sell with Windstar: Visiting exec highlights extra Pacific capacity, new ships
Having a second ship in the Pacific year-round from March 2027, launching the new build Star Seeker for its inaugural season from December 2025 (with Star Explorer coming a year later), and catering more for ‘off-peak’ travel are all talking points for Windstar’s managing director – global commercial, Helen Beck during her New Zealand visit this week.
Star Clippers’ new brochure and discou
Star Clippers has released its 2026-2027 Collection brochure, plus early booking savings of up to 30%.
New cruise to remote Indonesia and Borneo
Heritage Expeditions has a new voyage exploring Indonesia and Borneo, including a visit to the orangutan rehabilitation centre Camp Leakey.
Hurtigruten reports strong ANZ results
Hurtigruten reports that trading has been ‘notably impressive’ in New Zealand and Australia this year.
Evolving view of luxury segment drives trend to world and themed cruises
A growing appetite for deeper cultural immersion and more adventurous, experience-led itineraries are driving many of the trends currently evident in luxury cruising, says Steve Odell, senior vice president international and consumer sales with Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Longer journeys resonate as Heritage Expeditions plans its 2027 season’s itineraries
Heritage Expeditions is seeing demand for longer journeys with more immersive in-depth experiences – a trend which is being taken into account while the company formulates its 2027 programming, says commercial director and expedition leader, Aaron Russ.
Return to Oceania for Nat Geo - Lindblad
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has announced the first of its 2027-28 deployment openings.
Nat-Geo Lindblad launches Expedition Masters: Agents can win Galapagos cruise
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has launched a new promotion designed to educate, and reward New Zealand and Australian travel advisors.
Ernest Shackleton descendant on PONANT trip
Jonathan Shackleton will travel aboard PONANT’s luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot, on an expedition from Ushuaia to Hobart – a 31-day journey retracing the path of Sir Ernest Shackleton and other pioneering polar explorers.
Gardening leave: NCL choices for garden lovers
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is promoting a number of cruises with a focus on gardens and other green spaces.
Natural and cultural encounters in Mexico
PONANT Explorations will offer an itinerary in Baja California, Mexico in 2027.
HX partners with Inuit community in Arctic
HX Expeditions has launched an excursion programme in Arctic Canada developed in partnership with Inuit Elders, local residents, and community-born staff.
Up to 30% savings on some Viking voyages
Viking has new booking incentives for select river journeys on 17 of its itineraries across Central Europe, France, Portugal, Egypt and Southeast Asia.
Well, well, well...cruising Asia with NCL
NCL is reporting a growing desire among New Zealanders and Australians to take a wellness orientated holiday in Asia.
Exploring new look m/s Paul Gauguin
PONANT Explorations country manager New Zealand, Alan Wilcock, recently hosted a ship inspection for cruise wholesale partners at Lautoka Port.
Hurtigruten emphasises deeper dive into Norway
Promoting Signature Voyages product, reminding agents about land tour-cruise combinations, and emphasising the special relationship Hurtigruten has with Norway and its communities have all been on the agenda for Andrew Eddy, the line’s sales director-APAC during his visit to New Zealand this week.
Hurtigruten’s new food and drink tour
Hurtigruten will launch a new culinary and drink-themed itinerary in September, 2025.
Kiwis short lead cruise mean potential still for 2025
Opportunities for agents to sell ‘in-year’ cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line are still available, say executives who visited New Zealand from the company’s Sydney office last week.
Viking's Asia specials
Viking has introduced new booking incentives for select Asia ocean voyages set to sail between September and November 2025.
AmaWaterways’ third ship on Douro
AmaWaterways’ newest luxury river cruise ship, AmaSintra, is on its inaugural voyage along the Douro River in Portugal.
NCL highlight scruising with culture
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is highlighting cruises that provide opportunities to engage in cultural attractions and activities.
A touch of Seuss with Carnival
Carnival’s Grinchmas in July sailings are returning to Australia this winter.
HAL’s Oosterdam completes upgrades
Holland America Line’s Oosterdam has had several major upgrades and enhancements to staterooms and public spaces throughout the ship. Oosterdam spent the past two weeks in dry dock in the Bahamas and is now crossing the Atlantic Ocean to reposition for the ship’s Mediterranean season.
Semi-circ of Antarctica bookings open
World Journeys reports that bookings are now open for the 1 February 2027 departure of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ expedition cruise from Ushuaia to Christchurch.
HX showcases Greenland’s cuisine
HX Expeditions has a new partnership with Greenlandic chef, Inunnguaq Hegelund, to develop a culinary programme that showcases the flavours of Greenlandic cuisine.
Oceania adds solar eclipse sailings
Oceania Cruises has added four more 2026 solar eclipse sailings, providing five itineraries to view the cosmic event.
Largest terminal opens in Miami
The Cruise Division of MSC Group recently inaugurated the world’s largest cruise terminal at Port Miami.
AmaWaterways expands into Colombia
AmaWaterways has officially welcomed AmaMagdalena, a luxury river cruise ship to navigate Colombia’s Magdalena River. This addition expands AmaWaterways’ portfolio, introducing a new region to its offerings beyond Europe, Asia and Africa.
Emerald Cruises unveils new ships
Emerald Cruises, part of the Scenic Group portfolio, has announced a multi-ship expansion for 2027, building on the momentum of Emerald Kaia and Emerald Astra, both set to launch in April 2026.
Full circumnavigation of Antarctica in 2028
PONANT Explorations’ luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot will embark on a full circumnavigation of Antarctica between January and March 2028, departing from Ushuaia.
NCL’s Ben Angell recommends…
Ben Angell, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vice president and managing director, APAC, is recommending three of this year’s trending European destinations for travellers keen to explore more onshore.
HX Expeditions: events, offers and surprises to mark 130 years
HX Expeditions’ upcoming celebration of its 130th anniversary in 2026 will include special offers, exclusive activities, and memorable moments through-out the year.
NCL: Let us entertain you
NCL has been receiving clear messages on what kind of entertainment guests want on board, says Bryan White, vice president entertainment production.
NCL's Indulge Food Court exceeds expectations
The addition of Indulge Food Court on the Prima class vessels has exceeded all expectations for NCL, says vice president food and beverage operations Christian Pratsch.
Evolving future for NCL's Pride of America
Agents should watch out for enhancements to NCL’s Pride of America, including the adoption of experiences and concepts that are working well on the brand’s newer vessels, says chief international sales and marketing officer Jason Krimmel.
NCL: Developing destinations and changing demographics
NCL will be looking at ways to encourage more New Zealanders and Australians to cruise the Caribbean, says Damian Borg, senior director sales, strategy and operations APAC.
More...
Norwegian Aqua’s first year
After a short series of inaugural European sailings, Norwegian Aqua will embark on a trans-Atlantic journey from Southampton on 28 March 2025.
Viking’s Arctic to Antarctica voyage
Viking’s new 87-day voyage from the Arctic to Antarctica will depart on 17 September 2026.
Riverside Luxury Cruises joins CLIA Australasia
Riverside Luxury Cruises has become the newest member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in Australasia.
Agent incentive with Coral Expeditions
Wild Earth Travel has launched an incentive for travel agents in partnership with Coral Expeditions.
