Welcome to New in Cruise, our bi-weekly update on all the latest happenings in the cruise sector.
Holland America is hopping on the bandwagon with its newly announced year-round cruises in Europe aboard Nieuw Statendam for the 2027-2028 season.
Most cruise lines flee Europe in the late fall, sending ships to warmer climates for the winter, before returning in the early spring. Recently, the combination of climate change and overtourism has seen travelers avoiding ever-hotter Mediterranean summers and seeking out quieter travel periods, even if the weather can be suboptimal.
Cruise lines are beginning to see an opportunity with winter Mediterranean cruises. Viking, Windstar, Costa Cruises, and MSC Cruises have already tested these (chilly) waters, and are doubling down, debuting new ships, such as Windstar’s Star Legend and MSC’s World Asia, on these formerly off-peak itineraries.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will begin winter Mediterranean sailings in 2026; sister brand Oceania Cruises will brave the cold in 2027 with Oceania Allura. Explora Journeys will keep Explora II in the Mediterranean through winter 2026-2027, as well.
Now, Holland America has decided to go cool with year-round Europe cruises.
"Europe continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for our guests," said Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning for Holland America Line. "Expanding to year-round Europe allows us to showcase a completely different side of the destination—one that is quieter, more immersive and deeply seasonal. From the festive charm of Christmas markets to a cooler and more relaxed Mediterranean region, winter offers a more authentic way to experience Europe."
Nieuw Amsterdam’s holiday sailings will thoroughly embrace the cold, heading north to the Baltic and Scandinavia. A 13-night Christmas markets cruise, sailing round-trip from Dover, England, will visit The Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark from early to mid December. Guests can sample several Christmas markets or book an optional excursion from Helsinki to Lapland, across the Arctic Circle, to visit the Santa Claus Village there.
The 15-night Christmas and New Year’s cruise combines overnights in Hamburg and Copenhagen with a deeper exploration into Norway and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve spent at sea.
The rest of the winter season will be spent in the somewhat warmer Mediterranean with itineraries to the Greek Isles, Canary Islands and classic Mediterranean destinations like Spain and Italy, spanning seven to 15 nights. Guests can also combine itineraries with Collectors’ Voyages up to 24 nights.
Winter cruises in Europe can be amazingly uncrowded, but they do have some drawbacks, as I discovered on a February cruise to Italy and Croatia with Windstar earlier this year. Advisors should be sure to message the pros and cons of winter Europe cruising with Holland America or any cruise line, so guests know what they’re signing up for. Setting expectations realistically about potential weather disruptions and venue closures will ensure more satisfied clients than if you exclusively focus on seasonal vibes and quiet, under-touristed destinations.
In Case You Missed It…
New Ships and Launches
- Construction has begun on Crystal’s newest ocean ship, Crystal Grace.
- Explora Journeys revealed new culinary experiences on Explora III, including an intimate wine experience at The Cellar, customized menus at The Chef’s Table and reimagined poolside dining.
- Emerald Cruises & Tours christened new river ship Emerald Astra in Amsterdam; the ship will sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
- Viking named Viking Mira in a ceremony in Venice, Italy; the ship will spend its inaugural season cruising the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Onboard Updates
- Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager set sail after a major refresh.
- Azamara revealed a new entertainment program for Azamara Journey.
- Seabourn unveiled a new regionally inspired culinary program on Alaska sailings.
- Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady starts its European summer cruises with a new Indian restaurant, 10 redesigned spaces and 20+ new events post dry dock.
- Carnival Magic emerged from a monthlong dry dock with refreshed public areas.
Itinerary Roundup
- Mexico rejected Royal Caribbean’s plans to build Perfect Day Mexico, a water park and exclusive destination in Mahahual, Mexico, citing environmental concerns.
- Avalon Waterways unveiled three new cruise-plus-tour itineraries for 2027 in partnership with Globus.
- Viking announced 2028-2029 world cruise itineraries on Viking Vesta.
- Silversea revealed the guest-selected itinerary for the 2027 Venetian Society Reunion Voyage hosted by the luxury line’s president.
- Carnival Cruise Line celebrated its expanded beach area, upgraded food and drink venues, and new tram service on its private Bahamian island, Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay, as well as a new pool area called Mangrove Bay at Isla Tropicale, its private destination in Honduras.
On Sale Now
- Azamara opened bookings for its 2028 spring, summer and fall voyages, featuring 360 late nights and overnight stays in port.
- Norwegian Cruise Line will open its new Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay in September; day passes and cabana rentals are now available for booking.
For the Advisor
- U.S News & World Report ranked AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Viking the best river cruise lines for 2026-2027.
- ASTA released data proving NCFs are reducing advisor commissions.
- Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tour is now part of Virtuoso’s travel network.
- Celestyal introduced a "Stars of Excellence" program to reward its top 50 highest-producing advisors in North America.
- Windstar Cruises named Jennifer West, previously at Norwegian Cruise Line, as its new vice president of sales for North America.
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