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American Cruise Lines launches first all U.S. cruises on the Great Lakes

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 September 2025 25 September 2025

Domestic U.S. Great Lakes cruises are now available. In response to guest demand, American Cruise Lines has announced the debut of three Great Lakes itineraries for the 2026 cruise season. These brand-new cruises, sailing May through August 2026, will be operated aboard American Patriot, the newest small cruise ship in the country.

“Guests have long asked for our style of cruising on the Great Lakes,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “We are now proud to offer these cruises as only American can, aboard a new small ship sailing 100% domestically.”

This announcement marks the first time in decades that an American ship will offer domestic cruises in the growing Great Lakes cruise market. Without the need to cross borders, the new cruises are a completely unique experience apart from all other cruise lines currently on the Lakes. Where other ships dock at ports intended for foreign ships and international entry, American Cruise Lines can dock in the heart of small towns, city parks, and private marinas for an authentic and exclusive experience not available with any other cruise line.

American’s 2026 Great Lakes itineraries include a 9-Day cruise visiting the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls, while an additional 9-Day itinerary highlights Lake Michigan, Green Bay inlet, and the wilderness of The Upper Peninsula. The Line’s signature 14-Day cruise, dubbed the American Great Lakes, travels 800 miles through three of the Great Lakes (Erie, Huron, and Michigan).

All cruises offer an included pre-cruise hotel stay and complimentary domestic airfare. Each itinerary is comprised of days filled with excursions in small towns, and time spent cruising the magnificent Lakes. All itineraries begin, end, and remain in the U.S., making a passport or international flight unnecessary for American travelers.

American Patriot is fully stabilized for smooth sailing and accommodates just 130 guests. The new ship features private balcony staterooms including Suites, and Singles available without Supplement, plus many amenities like spacious lounges including a top deck lounge and walking track, a main restaurant with views from every seat, a casual café, chart room, fitness center, laundry room, and elevators to all decks.

Margaritaville's newest ship to sail year-round from PortMiami

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 September 2025 24 September 2025

The homeport reveal for Margaritaville at Sea’s newest flagship vessel Beachcomber is here – and so is the chance to book sun-drenched sailings to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean from PortMiami. Beginning in 2027, Beachcomber will offer 4- to 8-night itineraries to a vibrant mix of all-new ports, including St. Maarten, where a lively blend of Dutch and French charm surrounds sky-high palms; St. Thomas, which delivers postcard-perfect harbors and reef-lined waters; and San Juan, with a dazzling mix of cobblestone streets and coastal forts. Guests will also set sail for the Dominican Republic, where mountain views meet golden beaches in the lush landscapes of the north coast. Each itinerary is crafted for longer escapes, deeper relaxation, and more chances to soak up the Caribbean sun.

“In just a few short years, we’ve gone from one ship and one itinerary to three homeports, three distinct ships, and over 25 amazing Ports of Indecision throughout the Caribbean,” said Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Line. “The arrival of Beachcomber in PortMiami is the next big chapter in our growth, giving our guests greater accessibility, more horizons to explore, and more time to unwind.”

“The debut of Beachcomber in PortMiami is a clear reflection of how Margaritaville continues to grow in bold and meaningful ways,” added Brad Schwaeble, Chief Operating Officer of Margaritaville. “This ship brings our brand’s signature energy and spirit of adventure to life on a larger scale, offering guests even more ways to experience the Margaritaville state of mind at sea.”

Setting sail from PortMiami, Beachcomber's new homeport will offer guests the ability to conveniently sail from the most connected and traveler-friendly cruise hub in the world with easy access from all major U.S. and international airports. With more than seven million cruise passengers annually, it is the ideal launch point for Margaritaville at Sea’s newest and most ambitious sailings to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

“Miami-Dade has always been a gateway to the world — welcoming visitors from every corner and sending travelers off to new horizons,“ said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “With Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber now homeporting at PortMiami, we’re proud to continue that tradition by connecting our community and our guests to even more unforgettable destinations across the Caribbean.”

“Welcoming Margaritaville at Sea to PortMiami marks an exciting milestone,” said Hydi Webb, PortMiami Director and CEO. “Beachcomber is a fantastic addition to our port, bringing longer itineraries and the brand’s signature spirit of fun and escapism to the Cruise Capital of the World®. We thank the entire Margaritaville team for their partnership and trust in Miami-Dade County.”

Beachcomber’s first voyages are now available to book, with 2027 departures visiting a variety of vibrant and culturally rich destinations, including:

Philipsburg, St. Maarten
St. Thomas, USVI
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Bimini, Bahamas
Oranjestad, Aruba
Kralendijk, Bonaire
Willemstad, Curaçao

With three homeports and an ever-growing list of immersive destinations, Margaritaville at Sea now offers a range of cruise experiences to suit every kind of adventurer:

Paradise offers quick, 2- to 4-night getaways from Palm Beach to Key West, The Bahamas and beyond

Islander delivers longer 4- to 10-night adventures and family-friendly experiences from Tampa to Mexico and the Western Caribbean

All-new Beachcomber introduces predominantly 7-night sailings from Miami to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean
With more time to unwind and stretch out at sea, guests aboard Beachcomber can look forward to even more space and immersive experiences. At over 100,000 gross tons, Beachcomber is the largest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Line fleet, created to take the brand’s signature offerings even further. Built for longer escapes and island-minded adventurers, Beachcomber features more than 15 brand-new venues along with fan-favorite activities, reimagined dining, upgraded staterooms, and more.

American Cruise Lines expands on the Mississippi River

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 September 2025 24 September 2025

American Cruise Lines has announced an expanded fleet and three new itineraries that exemplify what is now possible for world-class river cruising in the U.S. The company is adding capacity and itineraries on the Mississippi River and tributaries, by introducing the first-ever 9-Day Arkansas River Cruise between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Memphis, Tennessee; a new 11-Day Great Smoky Mountains Cruise between Knoxville and Huntsville, Tennessee; and a brand-new 8-Day Gulf Coast Cruise between Pensacola, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. All three itineraries include sections of the Mississippi River, where American Cruise Lines now offers 14 itineraries, plus additional themed and holiday cruises.

Following a decade of rapid growth, introducing 16 new ships, American continues to innovate, exclusively developing exceptional and unique itineraries for the domestic cruise market. Many more riverboats are on the way in the next three years and will be well positioned to handle the increase in demand for Mississippi River cruising.

Celestyal confirms two-ship deployment to Arabian Gulf for 2025/26 season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 September 2025 22 September 2025

Celestyal has confirmed its commitment to the Arabian Gulf with both the 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey and 1,360-guest Celestyal Discovery deployed to the region beginning in December of this year. This follows their maiden 2024/25 program and represents a 211% year-on-year capacity increase.

As part of its updated deployment plans, Celestyal has amended its two 14-night 2025 repositioning sailings, “Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi”, departing November 22, 2025, onboard Celestyal Journey, and November 28, 2025, onboard Celestyal Discovery.

Two new 7-night Athens to Jeddah itineraries will now operate, sailing from Athens, Greece, on the same departure dates. Celestyal Journey will now call at Marmaris, Turkey, three ports in Egypt- Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh, and Safaga, concluding in Jeddah. Celestyal Discovery will now call at Kusadasi, Turkey, two ports in Egypt- Sharm el Sheikh, and Safaga, concluding in Jeddah. 6-night segments will also be available from the Turkish ports.

Most of the guests who are booked on the original segments departing Athens, sailing to Sharm El Sheik and Jeddah will be unimpacted, for some there will be port changes or shorter sailings offered.

Following these departures, both ships will continue their passage from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, enabling them to arrive in the Arabian Gulf in time to begin the season as planned.

Celestyal Journey will open the season on December 6, 2025, with a special Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebratory cruise, before operating the seven-night “Desert Days” itinerary for the rest of the season, sailing roundtrip from Doha and calling at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, as well as two full days and an overnight stay in Dubai.

Celestyal Discovery will then join her fleet mate for her inaugural season in the region, departing December 12, 2025 and launching the line’s new three-, four- and seven-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises, sailing roundtrip from her winter homeport in Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha, Qatar; Khasab, Oman; Dubai, UAE; Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE and maiden visits to Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

John Diorio, Managing Director and Vice President of Business Development North America at Celestyal said: “Our maiden Arabian Gulf season firmly established Celestyal as a standout in the region, with exceptional feedback from both guests and our trade partners. Listening to that feedback, we’re enhancing our deployment with two new seven-night Athens-to-Jeddah sailings that highlight even more of Egypt’s diverse beauty, calling at Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh, Safaga, plus Marmaris or Kusadasi in Turkey, and Aqaba before concluding in Jeddah.

“These refinements give us great confidence as we return stronger to the Arabian Gulf for 2025/26 with two ships and significantly increased capacity to meet soaring demand for the winter sun. Our multi-year partnerships with Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah remain central to this growth, and together we’re committed to showcasing the very best of the region to both new and returning cruisers. With demand already running high, we’re incredibly optimistic about the opportunities ahead and confident this will be one of our strongest seasons yet.”

All travel partners have been notified, assured protected commission and provided with updated information and guest rebooking options.

AmaWaterways expands European orderbook with eight new ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 September 2025 18 September 2025

AmaWaterways, the largest cruise line dedicated exclusively to river cruising, has announced plans to expand its European orderbook with eight new ships scheduled for delivery by 2030. With these additions, the company’s global fleet will grow to more than 40 vessels – doubling its vessel count since 2020. This expansion reflects the surging demand for AmaWaterways’ immersive river cruise experiences.

“Our expanding fleet is a direct response to the strong demand from guests eager to discover river cruising and Europe’s beautiful rivers,” said Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways. "These new ships represent exciting opportunities for our valued travel advisor partners and us to grow together. With each new ship, we will continue to sail our guests to the heart of every destination while delivering the high-touch service, elegant design, and immersive experiences that define AmaWaterways."

AmaWaterways is known for its carefully curated itineraries and immersive shore excursions, ranging from guided cultural explorations to exclusive culinary and active experiences. Each day on an AmaWaterways cruise offers up to seven included excursions tailored to a wide range of interests and activity levels – from history-rich walking tours and scenic bike rides to wine tastings in renowned vineyards and unique local experiences like truffle hunting in the south of France.

Onboard, guests enjoy award-winning cuisine and AmaWaterways’ signature Wellness Hosts lead daily exercise and relaxation classes, providing guests with holistic experiences both on and off the ship. Leisure options onboard feature sun deck pools, walking tracks, fitness rooms, spas, and local cultural performances each evening. Guests are accompanied throughout their journey by a dedicated Cruise Manager and a highly attentive crew, with select suites offering butler service for the ultimate in personalized care.

AmaWaterways also offers a variety of specialty cruises and partnerships, including collaborations with Disney, Backroads, and Smithsonian Journeys, catering to families, solo travelers, and active explorers alike. AmaWaterways has been recognized for having the highest number of returning guests in river cruising, a testament to the exceptional experiences that keep travelers coming back year after year.

With its planned fleet expansion, AmaWaterways continues to set the standard for immersive river cruising in Europe. The company will continue to work closely with its community of travel partners while delivering the high-touch, high-value service that guests have come to expect and love. Further details on the new ships will be announced in the months ahead.