Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of the event, and it was one for the books, with thousands of industry players gathering for workshops and key cruise industry announcements.
Notably, the event also included two maiden voyages for brand new cruise ships: MSC World America and Norwegian Aqua. For travel advisors keeping tabs on the latest cruise news, here are our biggest takeaways from the gathering.
Aman at Sea
Initial renderings and a venue list are now available for the first vessel from Aman at Sea, and more details are forthcoming. The luxury mega yacht will be named Amangati, which means "peaceful motion” in Sanskrit. The vessel is currently being built by T. Mariotti in Genoa, Italy, ahead of its scheduled 2027 launch.
Amangati was designed by Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design with an emphasis on elegant lines and an effortless flow. The 600-foot yacht will feature only 47 spacious suites, all with private balconies. Other venues will include four international dining options, a jazz club and a branded spa with a Japanese garden. A beach club will provide direct sea access at the ship’s stern. The yacht will sail sustainably thanks to green technologies such as battery power.
Amangati will carry passengers in the Mediterranean for the 2027 summer season, and be available for private charter trips as well.
American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines announced the launch of several sailings longer than 50 days. Those trips will arrive in 2026, just in time for the nation’s 250th birthday. Among the extended itineraries will be the 52-day “Great United States Cruise,” a 51-day “Spring Across America” cruise and the 55-day “Great American Fall Foliage Cruise.”
The longer cruises combine river and ocean routes, and itinerary highlights include national park visits and sightseeing along the Pacific Northwest coast, the Mississippi River, the Potomac River, the New England coast, the Gulf Coast of Florida, the Florida Keys, Chesapeake Bay and the Inside Passage towards Alaska.
An additional 36-day “Civil War Battlefields Cruise” will showcase 12 states while traveling on three of the line’s small ships.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways will reprise its Storyteller Series in 2026 with two all-star river sailings. “Rogue on the Rhone: A Legendary Voyage with Graham McTavish” will showcase the “Outlander” actor, author and Avalon spokesperson on an eight-day journey from Lyon to Arles. “Rockin’ on the Rhine with Sister Hazel” will highlight the popular musical group on an eight-day trip from Amsterdam to Basel. McTavish will offer behind-the-scenes insights into his career, and Sister Hazel will be on hand for special performances and other events.
Azamara Cruises
Azamara Cruises is pushing its signature shore excursion program Destination Immersion Elevated and has more than tripled its specialty voyages. Among them are three solar eclipse cruises (which will be scheduled in 2026) and 33 “country-intensive sailings.” Additionally, 25 new ports will debut in 2025-2026.
The line touts that 51% of a passenger’s time is spent in port, via late evenings onshore or overnights. The 2025-2026 season will encompass more than 13,500 Elevated Excursions, 34 new AzAmazing Evenings and the unveiling of the Curator’s Collection, a set of exclusive evening excursions.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line has named its upcoming fourth and fifth Excel-class ships. Carnival Festivale will launch in the spring of 2027 from Port Canaveral, Florida, and Carnival Tropicale will debut in the spring of 2028 (its homeport is yet to be determined). Both ships will forgo a Bolt Ultimate Seacoaster in favor of Sunsation Point and an expanded Carnival Waterworks Ultra. Then, another three new (and even larger) Project Ace 230,000-gross-ton ships are scheduled for 2029, 2031 and 2033.
The Carnival ship Mardi Gras will begin sailing short getaways from Port Canaveral in 2027 (when Festivale arrives) and will return to operating year-round from Mobile, Alabama, in spring 2027. The line is also considering positioning a larger Conquest-class ship in Baltimore, Maryland, for 2027.
/One-of-Carnival-Cruise-Line%27s-new-ships-Carnival-T.jpg?tr=w-768%2Ch-432%2Cfo-auto "One of Carnival Cruise Line's new ships, Carnival Tropicale, will debut in the spring of 2028")
One of Carnival Cruise Line's new ships, Carnival Tropicale, will debut in the spring of 2028
Credit: 2025 Carnival Cruise LineOnboard existing ships, Carnival will enhance the guest experience with updated decor, fresh dining and beverage options and updated entertainment.
Destination enhancements are also in the works under Paradise Collection by Carnival. This includes the upcoming debut of private port Celebration Key (coming this July) in the Bahamas; an expansion and pier addition at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay (also in the Bahamas); and an expansion of Mahogany Bay at Roatan, Honduras, which will add a pool, swim-up bar, cabanas and beach club. The latter destination will be renamed Isla Tropicale in 2026.
Crystal
Crystal is enhancing its Osteria d’Ovidio dining venue onboard its luxury ships; clients can expect an updated menu from three-Michelin-starred chefs (and brothers) Massimiliano and restaurateur Raffaele Alajmo. The refreshed offerings will launch on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony this summer and will include new dishes such as sliced veal in tuna sauce, lasagne with meat ragu, burrata ravioli with mixed seafood guazzetto and more.
Princess Cruises
Similarly, Princess Cruises is revamping Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, which will now feature a new menu inspired by Frescobaldi. The venue will debut on Majestic Princess first, and then fleet-wide over the coming months. Besides Frescobaldi wines, new flavor experiences will extend to courses such as Italian seafood stew with mussels and shrimp, simmered in fragrant tomato and white wine broth with garlic, herbs and chili; and a pan-seared Branzino paired with fried artichokes and lemon-infused olive oil.
Transcend Cruises
Transcend Cruises has announced the names of its first charter-exclusive riverboats: Transcend Connect and Transcend Evolve. The 135-meter sister ships will set sail in April 2026 and later in the second quarter of next year, respectively. They are currently under construction at Den Breejen Shipyard in the Netherlands as designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden.
Transcend Cruises has announced the names of its first charter-exclusive riverboats: Transcend Connect and Transcend Evolve.
Credit: 2025 Transcend CruisesUnCruise Adventures
UnCruise Adventures announced that passengers will now have Wi-Fi access — save in protected areas — on several of its ships. Internet access is currently available on Safari Endeavour, Safari Quest, Wilderness Adventurer, Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Legacy. Internet access will also be available on Safari Explorer and Safari Voyager in the future.
Viking
Viking will be the first cruise line to tout a hydrogen-powered vessel when its seagoing Viking Libra arrives in late 2026. Viking Astrea will follow in 2027 and will also be powered by the zero-emissions fuel source. Both 998-guest ships are currently being built at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard and will have the ability to partially run on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells.
What’s more, the line has ordered another two ocean ships for delivery in 2031, and it has secured the option for two additional vessels for a 2033 delivery.
