etwas MEERzeit - FamilyCruise & News

AMADEUS River Cruises is getting serious about a greener future on Europe's rivers. The company has now officially confirmed the launch of a brand-new flagship for the 2027 season: the AMADEUS Mira. What makes this announcement so special? The Mira is not a standalone project. It is the second ship of a completely new hybrid generation, directly following its sister ship, the AMADEUS Aurea, which is set to launch in 2026.

MSC Cruises and the French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique (CdA) have opened another chapter in their partnership—and it's a big one: On November 12, 2025, the order for two more "World Class" cruise ships was confirmed. The investment volume for these two newbuilds, numbers seven and eight in the series, is an impressive €3.5 billion. The delivery of these giants is scheduled for 2030 and 2031.

Hello, Hamburg! TUI Cruises is making a significant move, sending its brand-new flagship, the Mein Schiff Relax, to the Hanseatic city for the entire 2027 summer season. What sounds like a simple schedule update is, in reality, a strategic maneuver with major implications for the cruise market in Northern Europe.

The Disney Destiny, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) fleet, was officially christened on November 10, 2025, in its new homeport of Port Everglades, Florida. But anyone expecting a stiff maritime ceremony is mistaken. Disney staged the christening as a spectacular "Waterfront Show" complete with a concert, drone effects, and projections. The clear goal: to dramatically bring the ship's central theme, "Heroes and Villains", to life.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is continuing to expand its ultra-luxury division, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. A third ship of the new Prestige Class has now been officially confirmed with the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. The remarkable detail: The delivery is not scheduled until 2033. This order is far more than just a new ship; it is a strategic move that offers deep insights.

It's over: Royal Caribbean has removed the popular Broadway musical "Grease" from two ships in its fleet after nearly a decade. The affected ships are the Harmony of the Seas and the Independence of the Seas. But anyone thinking this is just a simple show swap is mistaken. Behind this decision lies a clever and far-reaching strategic plan.

TUI Cruises is ringing in a new era, setting its sights on a more discerning clientele. With the new "InTUItion" class of ships, which includes the already-sailing Mein Schiff Relax and the upcoming Mein Schiff Flow (due in 2026), the cruise line is signaling a clear strategic realignment. A central component of this strategy is the collaboration with the Hamburg-based interior design firm JOI Design.

For seven live streamers from the so-called "Cx group," a seven-day Caribbean cruise came to an abrupt end. Royal Caribbean felt compelled to remove the group from the Harmony of the Seas after a series of escalating incidents on board. What was planned as a vacation quickly turned into a real problem for passengers and crew.

TUI Cruises has responded to the industry standard and is adapting its internet strategy. Just in time for the 2025 winter season, the "Mein Schiff" fleet is introducing the long-awaited "SurfMax Internet Flatrate." This move is a direct response to the fleet's upgrade to high-performance Starlink technology and the market pressure from AIDA and MSC, which have already introduced similar models.

Shipspotting

Bad news for cruise fans and the tourism industry in Newcastle, Australia: The shipping line Viking Cruises has decided to cancel all remaining port calls for this year in the Australian harbor. The affected calls are the Viking Orion (scheduled for November 24) and the Viking Venus (scheduled for November 29).

Today, November 10, 2025, the AIDAdiva departs from Hamburg's Cruise Center Steinwerder for the longest journey of the year. A 133-day circumnavigation of the globe is planned. The start in Hamburg marks the beginning of an XXL adventure that will take the ship and its guests to four continents.

Bad news for all "Queen watchers" in Hamburg: Cunard Line has canceled the planned call of its flagship, the Queen Mary 2, on the Elbe River, which was scheduled for Monday, November 17. The reason for this short-notice but necessary decision is technical problems with the ship's propulsion system.

TUI Cruises has had to make a far-reaching and very last-minute change for the upcoming start of the 2025/2026 Caribbean season. Contrary to plans, the Mein Schiff 1 will not call at Jamaica. This primarily affects the important homeport of Montego Bay for the 14-day "Best of Central America" cruise, which was originally scheduled to begin on November 10, 2025.

nicko Cruises' VASCO DA GAMA officially commenced its third 175-day World Cruise from the Cruise Center Steinwerder in Hamburg on November 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM. This extensive voyage, spanning over six months, is characterized by the concept of "Slow Cruising." This philosophy grants guests ample time to deeply explore the destinations visited, free from the rush of conventional travel.