Cruise Updates This Week: New Ship, Chef Partnerships, and a Polar Milestone
In other news, it’s been a lively stretch for the cruise industry. The cruise updates this week span everything from Princess Cruises’ newest ship to a historic Arctic passage. From culinary stars to seasonal offers, here’s what’s making waves.
Princess Levels Up with Star Power
Princess Cruises has officially welcomed Star Princess into its fleet, marking the brand’s 17th ship and the second Sphere-class vessel. At 177,800 gross tons, she’s the largest ship Princess has ever built.
The new ship debuts October 4, 2025, with an inaugural Mediterranean sailing before heading to the Caribbean and Alaska in 2026. Passengers can expect Princess favorites alongside new features like The Dome and the Sanctuary Collection.
HAL Brings the Flavor Back
Holland America Line is bringing back its Culinary Ambassador program for the 2026 Grand Voyages. The lineup features big names: Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Seattle restaurateur Ethan Stowell, tea guru Steve Schwartz, and chocolate legend Jacques Torres.
Each ambassador will appear on different voyage segments, offering tastings, cooking demos, and one-on-one events. The sweet spot comes March 7, 2026, when Volendam and Zaandam meet in Sydney for Torres’s over-the-top Chocolate Teatime.
Windstar’s Winter Promotion
Windstar Cruises has launched its Ways to Winter promotion, valid on bookings made by October 7. The offer bundles a free All-Inclusive Package (Wi-Fi, drinks, and gratuities) with up to $1,000 in onboard credit.
The promotion covers sailings through March 2026 across destinations like Tahiti, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, and Central America. In the Caribbean, Canary Islands, and Central America, it’s more about Windstar’s boutique scale: smaller ships slipping into quaint harbors, away from the mega-ship crowds.
Explora’s Autumn Glow
Explora Journeys is spotlighting what it calls the Mediterranean’s “golden season.” From September to November 2025, Explora I and Explora II will trace Eastern and Western routes, inviting passengers to enjoy the region in its calmer, cooler months.
The itineraries include Athens, Istanbul, and Venice in the east, plus Monte Carlo, Saint-Tropez, and Ajaccio in the west. The message is clear: fewer crowds, softer light, and more authentic cultural rhythms. Explora says that autumn isn’t an afterthought but the ultimate time to see the Med without summer’s bustle.
Aurora Hits 100 in the High Arctic
Aurora Expeditions has made polar history. Its ship Sylvia Earle made the 100th recorded passenger transit of the Northwest Passage, a milestone officially recognized by the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge.
For centuries, explorers chased this icy route through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, with many attempts ending in tragedy. It is hard to believe, that with ocean shipping ‘s deep history, that only a100 passenger ships have ever crossed it successfully. That makes the 100th transit a symbolic benchmark — a reminder of how rare and extraordinary these journeys remain.
