Salika Kebschull to succeed Isolde Susset as Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 06 October 2026 06 October 2026

After around 30 years with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Isolde Susset is set to retire at the end of the year. The long-standing cruise expert has had a particularly significant influence on the brand’s expedition segment and played a key role in the development of the three expedition ships: Hanseatic nature, Hanseatic inspiration and Hanseatic spirit. Since 2024, as Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and a member of the Executive Board of TUI Cruises GmbH, she has been responsible for the entire Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet. Salika Kebschull will take over her position on 1 January 2027.

Isolde Susset will remain in post until the end of the year. Salika Kebschull will join Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on 1 November 2026 and, during a two-month transition period, will work alongside Isolde Susset to prepare for the handover. On 1 January 2027, Salika Kebschull will officially take up the position of Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

“Isolde Susset has shaped Hapag-Lloyd Cruises over three decades with great expertise and passion, and has in particular played a decisive role in driving forward the development of our expedition segment. We are extremely grateful to her for this,” says Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. “In Salika Kebschull, we are gaining an experienced leader who combines expertise in the international luxury hotel industry with sales expertise and cruise experience. The joint transition phase creates the ideal conditions for a seamless handover at the start of the year.”

Isolde Susset, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: “Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has been a constant presence and a defining influence throughout many years of my professional life. I am grateful for the many special developments I have been able to shape together with fantastic teams, particularly the establishment and further development of our expedition segment. I am therefore all the more delighted to now hand over responsibility to Salika Kebschull during a personal handover period, and I wish her every success and fulfilment in her new role.”

Salika Kebschull, future Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: “Hapag-Lloyd Cruises stands for extraordinary travel experiences, the highest quality and a clear positioning in the luxury and expedition segments. I am very much looking forward to getting to know the teams, the ships and crews, and our partners, and to shaping the brand’s future development together. The opportunity to work closely with Isolde Susset from November onwards and to benefit from her many years of experience is a particularly valuable start to my new role.”

Salika Kebschull’s professional career has been characterised by leadership roles in the international luxury hotel industry and in tourism sales. Her career has taken her through renowned establishments and international hotel groups, as well as into senior roles in the areas of sales, marketing, revenue management, distribution, e-commerce and business development. Among other roles, she was General Manager of the Hotel München Palace, Director of Membership Services at Relais & Châteaux and Director of Cruise Consultancy at Sea Cloud Cruises. Most recently, she has been advising international hotel projects on strategic positioning, sales, guest experience and process optimisation.

Salika Kebschull completed her training at the Altötting Hotel Management School and at the renowned Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg. Study visits to Cornell University and an MBA from Reims Business School/NEOMA Business School round off her profile.

Carnival Corporation & plc to transfer ships between brands, Queen Anne to join P&O Cruises

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 06 October 2026 06 October 2026

P&O Cruises today announced Cunard’s Queen Anne will join the P&O Cruises fleet in 2029 following the completion of her 2028/29 World Voyage. In a related move, Arcadia will complete a special farewell season with P&O Cruises ending on 21 August 2029 before transferring to Holland America Line.

Queen Anne will continue sailing for Cunard through the completion of her 2028/29 World Voyage. She will then undergo an extensive reimagining and be renamed before entering service with sister brand in May 2029.

Carnival UK, P&O Cruises and Cunard president Paul Ludlow said: “These decisions reflect a careful, long-term view of our portfolio and where the individual strengths of each ship can best support guest demand and the future direction of our two cruise lines.

“Queen Anne was created as a bold and contemporary expression of Cunard, combining the brand’s hallmark service and sense of occasion with modern design, an extensive choice of dining and entertainment, and highly flexible public spaces.

“Those qualities give her a natural affinity with the modern P&O Cruises holiday experience. Following her reimagining, she will introduce a new class of ship to the P&O Cruises fleet and broaden the choice available to guests through a different scale, style of onboard experience and range of itineraries. This choice will complement the existing fleet and make her a defining addition to the next chapter of P&O Cruises.

“Queen Anne has established a special place within the Cunard fleet and she has an exciting programme ahead, including a central role in the Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028 and her final World Voyage as a Cunard ship in January ‘29. We will ensure that the seasons ahead are a fitting celebration of her time as a Cunard Queen.

“At the same time, the change will give Cunard a more closely unified fleet centred on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Each has a deeply established identity and embodies the timeless style, heritage and sense of occasion that guests around the world most closely associate with Cunard.

“This decision does not change our commitment to Cunard or its future. We will continue to invest in the ships, service, itineraries and guest experiences that make Cunard unique, while building on the strong following enjoyed by each of its three Queens.

“Next year we will also complete a major upgrade of Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2. As the world's only ocean liner providing regular transatlantic service, it’s a one-of-a-kind asset, and our investment is designed to ensure it continues to delight guests for decades to come.

“Arcadia has been a much-loved part of P&O Cruises for more than two decades and has created countless special memories for our guests. We are immensely proud of her place in the line’s history and pleased that, following a celebratory farewell season, she will continue her career within the Carnival Corporation family.”

Queen Anne will play an important role in the Four Queens celebration in Liverpool in May 2028 before completing her final World Voyage for Cunard in winter 2028/29.

Further details of celebrations marking her final Cunard season will be announced in due course.

Details of Arcadia’s farewell season and the on-sale date will be announced shortly.

Further information about Queen Anne’s reimagining, new name, onboard experience and inaugural P&O Cruises programme will be shared at a later date.

All currently published voyages before the ships’ respective transfer dates will operate as planned.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard floats out MSC World Atlantic

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 01 October 2026 01 October 2026

MSC Cruises has celebrated a major milestone in the construction of its next flagship, MSC World Atlantic, as the ship touched water for the first time at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France this past week.

The float out marks an important stage in the ship’s journey towards joining the MSC Cruises fleet, where the newly built vessel is moved from the construction dock into the water, where she will undergo the next phase of her completion ahead of delivery.

Set to become the 25th ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC World Atlantic will also be the fourth LNG vessel in the line’s pioneering World-class series.

The new flagship is designed to blend MSC Cruises’ signature European style with American comfort and will offer alternating 7-night and 14-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings to some of the most iconic destinations – including Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas from November 2027.

On board, guests will have the chance to experience a seamless blend of cultures, flavors, and styles from both sides of the Atlantic brought together in one thrilling destination at sea, with seven distinct districts, each offering its own atmosphere, facilities and entertainment.

Following her float out, MSC World Atlantic will remain at Chantiers de l’Atlantique as work continues on her interiors, public spaces and final technical elements.

The ship is scheduled to be officially delivered to MSC Cruises in 2027, ahead of her inaugural Caribbean season from November.

MSC Group's Cruise Division marks groundbreaking ceremony for Sandy Cay

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 30 September 2026 30 September 2026

Earlier this week, MSC Group’s Cruise Division celebrated the official groundbreaking ceremony for Sandy Cay, its new luxury private island destination located in The Bahamas. The ceremony marks an important step in the development of the destination, where construction and site works are already well underway ahead of the island’s scheduled opening in 2028.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together representatives from MSC Group’s Cruise Division, government officials from The Bahamas and key project stakeholders to commemorate the milestone and reinforce the Company’s long-term commitment to destination development in The Bahamas.

Attendees included Mr. Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the MSC Group’s Cruise Division and The Hon. Philip Davis, KC, MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Located adjacent to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Sandy Cay was first announced in April 2026 and is being developed exclusively for MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys guests. The destination has been designed to complement Ocean Cay by offering a distinct, intimate, elevated and immersive luxury experience.

Focused on wellness, relaxation and enjoying the natural surroundings, Sandy Cay will bring guests into a secluded island escape with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, while staying true to the ethos that defines Ocean Cay – connecting guests to the natural beauty and rhythms of the ocean.

It will also offer curated experiences with exceptional dining, spaces to relax and unwind, private retreats, and attentive hospitality.

Sandy Cay reflects MSC Group Cruise Division’s vision of creating world-class destinations, delivering unforgettable experiences that celebrate the beauty, culture and spirit of The Bahamas.

Upgrades coming to Ocean Cay: Ocean Cay has become one of the most distinctive destinations on Caribbean itineraries. Guests can look forward to some exciting new developments on the island to enhance their experience, including additional dining venues, new beach concepts for families and adults, expanded relaxation areas, and new immersive experiences enabling guests to engage more deeply with marine conservation. Together, these developments reinforce the Company’s vision of creating destinations that continue to evolve alongside guest expectations while respecting and preserving the natural environment that makes The Bahamas so unique.

For guests sailing with MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, Ocean Cay and Sandy Cay will offer unparalleled private island experiences. Whether seeking relaxation on pristine beaches, meaningful encounters with nature, family experiences, or elevated luxury escapes, guests will enjoy two distinct destinations, each with their own character while sharing the same commitment to environmental stewardship, authenticity and exceptional hospitality. Together, Ocean Cay and Sandy Cay represent the next phase of the Company’s vision to seamlessly connect life on board with unforgettable experiences ashore.