Biggest Cruise News Stories of July

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 7:50 AM ET, Wed July 30, 2025

Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination, a variety of new ships, record-breaking sales and other developments made headlines in the cruise world this month. In case you missed them, these are some of the biggest cruise news stories from July 2025.

NCL Unveils Private Island Expansion Plans Featuring New Waterpark and Exciting Amenities

This month, Norwegian Cruise Line shared more details about its plans to expand Great Stirrup Cay. Next summer, the company will unveil the brand new Great Tides Waterpark at its private island in the Bahamas. The massive waterpark, which spans nearly six acres, will have 19 waterslides, cliff jumps, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone, swim-up bars, a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, a new jet karts water track and other experiences.

A rendering of the new Great Tides Water Park at Great Stirrup Cay

Oceania Allura Sets Sail

Oceania Allura debuted this month, with TravelPulse’s Claudette Covey onboard for the ship’s shakedown cruise. She has a full review of the vessel’s many upscale features and amenities, writing that “Ocean Allura, and its sister, Oceania Vista, fall squarely in the luxury category.”

Saga Christens New River Cruise Ship

Saga officially welcomed its newest ship, Spirit of the Moselle, to its fleet. In July, the company hosted a christening ceremony for the new river cruise vessel in Amsterdam, with Louise Robinson—editorial director of Saga Magazine—serving as godmother. She performed the traditional act of smashing a bottle of Champagne against Spirit of the Moselle’s hull.

Princess Cruises Unveils Entertainment Offerings Aboard New Star Princess Ship

Star Princess won’t officially debut until October 4. But, already, Princess Cruises is sharing details about the entertainment offerings aboard its new, 4,300-guest ship. Guests who join Star Princess sailings can enjoy two original theatrical productions, immersive candlelight concerts and high-energy pop-up performances every night.

The sister ship to Sun Princess, Star Princess was built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone and will sail to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal and Alaska.

Avalon Waterways Celebrates Record-Breaking Sales for 2026 River Cruises

Avalon Waterways is celebrating record-breaking bookings for its 2026 river cruises. This month, the cruise line revealed that 2026 sales are 17 percent higher than 2024 and seven percent higher than 2025 at the same time last year. For Avalon Waterways, 2026 is poised to be its biggest year yet.

Royal Caribbean Takes Over Costa Maya Port to Build Perfect Day Mexico

The Port of the Grand Costa Maya in Mahahual, Mexico is now under the administration of Royal Caribbean ahead of the cruise line’s development of its next private destination, Perfect Day Mexico. Perfect Day Mexico, expected to be completed in 2027 and span over 200 acres of coastline, complete with the cruise port, a waterpark, the longest lazy river in the world, an adults-only pool area, a premium beach club option and an area for partying. The destination will also provide 12 dining options and 24 drinking options.

Viking Unveils New Ship, New Itinerary for India's Brahmaputra River

Viking announced this month that it’s launching a new itinerary in India. Called “Wonders of India,” the 15-day fully guided land and river journey is scheduled to debut in 2027. Bookings for all 2027 and 2028 departures are now open.

HX Expeditions to Debut Expanded Kayaking, Camping Options in Antarctica

HX Expeditions announced this month that it plans to launch an expanded kayaking and camping program during the upcoming Antarctic cruise season. Starting in October, guests will have even more opportunities to explore the White Continent. The company is planning a 188 percent increase in kayaking capacity and twice the camping spots, with space for up to 60 guests to sleep on Antarctica.

Carnival Cruise Line Opens Celebration Key

After years of planning, Carnival Cruise Line opened Celebration Key this month. The new private destination on Grand Bahama first hosted a special preview for locals and leaders, followed by the grand opening ceremony with Shaq.

Since then, Carnival has been celebrating various milestones at Celebration Key, including two ships docking at the same time and the arrival of the first Excel class ship.

But this is only the beginning for Celebration Key and Carnival more broadly. Construction is already underway to expand Celebration Key, and the brand has other big developments coming down the pipeline in the future.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Celebrates Record Booking Day

Regent Seven Seas Cruises recently revealed that it had its best-ever single booking day on June 25, the day reservations opened for new ship Seven Seas Prestige. Bookings that day exceeded the cruise line’s previous record new ship launch day—when Seven Seas Splendor voyages went on sale in 2018—by 26 percent. The massive Skyview Regent Suite, available starting $25,000 per night, also sold out on six of 13 available sailings in the inaugural season.

Explora Journeys Celebrates Multiple Construction Milestones for New Ships

Explora Journeys celebrated three major construction milestones in July. The cruise line hosted a festive event at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente Shipyard in Genoa, Italy, to mark the float out of EXPLORA III and the steel cutting for EXPLORA V. Caroline Cooney-Hurrell, customer journey strategist at Explora Journeys, was also honored as godmother during the traditional coin ceremony of EXPLORA IV.

Viking Celebrates Naming Ceremony for New Ship Viking Vesta

Viking officially named its newest ocean ship, Viking Vesta, at a traditional ceremony held in Split, Croatia, in July. Norwegian journalist and philanthropist Lene Tangevald-Jensen, the ship’s godmother, used a Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that caused a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break across the ship’s hull. Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø, who also serves as the godmother of the Viking Jupiter, and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold performed at the event.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Christens New Galápagos Islands Ships

Four vessels from the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet met in the Galápagos Islands this month to celebrate the naming of the line’s two newest ships. National Geographic Delfina, National Geographic Gemini, National Geographic Islander II and National Geographic Endeavour II came together in Academy Bay off the coast of Santa Cruz Island. The ceremonial gathering took place ahead of the traditional christening ceremony for new ships National Geographic Delfina and National Geographic Gemini.

National Geographic Delfina and National Geographic Gemini in Academy Bay

Silversea Debuts New Charter Flights for Galápagos Islands Cruises

This month, Silversea debuted new charter flights to the Galápagos Islands for cruise guests sailing onboard the Silver Origin. Guests will no longer have to stop in Guayaquil as they make their way from Quito to San Cristóbal Island, which should eliminate roughly two hours of travel time. Instead, they’ll fly directly to the island from Ecuador’s capital city, with amenities like private check-in services, upgraded in-flight meals, blocked middle seats and more space.

Norwegian Cruise Line Scraps Four Months of Sailings in Major Ship Swap

In a significant schedule shake-up, Norwegian Cruise Line announced this month the cancellation of more than four months’ worth of sailings for two of its ships, the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Breakaway, as part of what it’s calling a “fleet redeployment” for the 2026 season.

Star of the Seas Officially Joins the Royal Caribbean Fleet

Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated Star of the Seas has officially joined the fleet, marking a major milestone as the next generation of cruise vacations prepares to set sail. After nearly two years under construction at Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard, the cruise line has taken possession of its second Icon Class vessel, just weeks ahead of its August launch from Port Canaveral.

American Cruise Lines Christens New Ship American Patriot

American Cruise Lines christened its newest ship, American Patriot. In July, the company held a traditional ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, to officially welcome the first ship in its new Patriot Class. The 130-passenger vessel will soon be joined by sister ships American Pioneer, American Maverick and American Ranger, which are slated to debut later this year and into 2026.

Celebrity Cruises Shares More Details About Celebrity Xcel's New Spaces

Celebrity Cruises shared more details this month about the spaces onboard its forthcoming ship, Celebrity Xcel. The vessel will debut four brand new venues: the Celebrity Pool Club, Attic at The Club, a massive spa and a Celebrity Flagship store.

The new vessel, slated to debut in November, will spend its first season in Fort Lauderdale, offering 7-night sailings to The Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Next summer, the vessel will head across the Atlantic to Europe to offer 7- to 11-night journeys from Barcelona and Athens.

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