Ocean cruise

Cruise ship stuck on reef after running aground off coast of Papua New Guinea

The vessel suffered a 'grounding incident' off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea around 30 kilometres from the city of Lae

Azamara allocates extra $1 million to pay commissions in 2026 after flurry of new agent registrations

Azamara, which operates four ocean-going vessels, has enjoyed several record-breaking sales days over Cyber Monday and the week of Black Friday

'Some cruise lines are too reliant on promotions at this time of year'

Azamara's former UK and Ireland managing director Richard Twynam shares his views on cruise's 'promo dependency' problem ahead of wave season officially kicking off

Agents join Ambassador Cruise Line's five-night fam trip to 'truly understand' line's offering

Agents joined the five-night Canals and Cultures of Hamburg and Amsterdam itinerary on 29 November

Orient Express reveals new sailing yacht itineraries for 2027 ahead of spring launch

The luxury brand announced earlier this year that its first yacht, Orient Express Corinthian, would be heading to Europe and the Mediterranean in March 2026 to begin its inaugural season.

Six key cruise talking points every agent needs to be aware of heading into 2026

What made cruise tick over the past 12 months? And what should agents be bearing in mind going into 2026? Six key talking points caught TTG's eye at this week's Clia Forum

Dame Irene Hays raises 'possibility' of Hays Travel acquiring another OTA next year

In late July 2025, Hays Travel bought Victoria Travel Group to spearhead its expansion into the online cruise selling market

Hays Travel boss bemused by cruise lines' agent-by-agent commission stance

Hays Travel has more than 720 homeworkers, but Dame Irene Hays wants every Hays agent to be paid the same level of commission for cruise bookings

Specialist line bolsters UK trade team ahead of landmark year

Matt Irwin joins the five-ship line as trade partnerships manager while Henry McCoy-Filby takes up the role of inside sales executive

MSC Cruises' new ship class to hit the water in 2030

The order, which also includes two options, secures capacity at the Papenburg shipyard in Germany well into the next decade with delivery schedules stretching into the 2030s. The first ship will be delivered in 2030.

Each ship will have a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 and approximately 180,000 gross tons.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises executive chair, said: “Meyer Werft’s track record, expertise and proud history make it a true beacon of European shipbuilding.

UK agencies top Princess Cruises' trade sales rankings during 'amazing year'

Five of the line's eight top-selling agency brands based in the UK, Princess's UK and Europe vice-president Eithne Williamson reveals

'Agents have got behind it': Seabourn's UK chief hints at more partnerships following Uniworld tie-up success

The 15-day Venice and Mediterranean Sea package is completely sold out having only gone on sale in August

Seven takeaways from TTG's final Agenda briefing of the year

TTG invited an expert panel to discuss the past few months and what could be around the corner at its final Agenda breakfast briefing of the year

Line aims to host 100 UK agents on new ship launching in 2028

Crystal Grace will be Crystal's first new build ship in a quarter of century when it launches in 2028

On the Beach vows to 'disrupt' UK cruise market after axing Classic Collection

The OTA says it has trebled the size of its addressable market from 16 million to 50 million passengers since its 'transformational partnership' it signed with Ryanair in 2024

Royal Caribbean explains decision to base smaller ship in Southampton

Line to station Mariner of the Seas in the UK in 2027 to allow passengers to visit a wider range of destinations from Southampton

'From £15,000 expeditions to £50,000 family adventures, this is how I sell Silversea sailings'

Stewart Travel’s Donna Bicker reveals why Silversea remains the go-to choice for her discerning clients

Royal Caribbean confirms plans for 'biggest-ever' seminar at sea sailing

The family-focused line will allocate cabins to travel agents with varying degrees of cruise-selling experience in 2026 for the Barcelona departure

Royal increases support for agents with expanded UK&I sales team

New trade resource added ahead of Legend of the Seas' European bow next summer in sales team shake-up

Yasmin Mckechnie to succeed Hayley Moore as Princess Cruises' sales director

Mckechnie, who joined Princess in April 2024, promoted to sales director UK and Europe, effective from 1 December

Watch: TTG takes an exclusive tour of Celebrity Xcel

TTG's Harry Kemble takes a tour of Celebrity Cruises' newest ship Celebrity Xcel.

Travel agents urge Celebrity Cruises to increase ex-UK capacity following Apex success

Celebrity Apex has been hugely popular with travel agents since it arrived in Southampton in 2024 but the trade now want the premium line to build on that success

HX promotes Nathaniel Sherborne as top team shake-up continues

Sherborne moves into senior sales and commercial post overseeing broader range of markets

More 'activations' and 'no lulls': the feedback that shaped Celebrity Cruises' new Edge series ship

Speaking on Celebrity Xcel, Royal Caribbean Group president Jason Liberty revealed travel agents and guests had indicated occasionally there was 'not a lot to do' on previous Edge series ships