Where Will Your Next Cruise Take You?

HX Expeditions is commemorating the 130th anniversary of its first polar expedition voyage, which departed Hammerfest for Svalbard aboard steamship DS Lofoten in 1896, at a time when much of the Arctic was still unmapped. The company is marking this milestone with special offers, immersive historical experiences such as the 1896 Cabin, and messaging from CEO Gebhard Rainer that connects HX’s pioneering heritage with its future-focused, sustainable exploration ethos.

The article says travel trade feedback on Royal Caribbean’s **Legend of the Seas** is strongly positive, with descriptors such as “awe-inspiring,” “incredible,” and “unbelievable.” It appears to focus on how agents and other industry professionals reacted to the ship and what that means for selling it to customers.

Aurora Expeditions has entered its biggest year yet, closing out 2025 with record performance and expanding its fleet to three purpose-built expedition ships with the addition of the Douglas Mawson. The company is leveraging this new capacity to grow into fresh geographic markets, add more diverse itineraries, and secure charter arrangements that broaden distribution. Strategic moves in product, capacity and partnerships position Aurora for continued growth in the high-end expedition cruise segment.

Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class ship Legend of the Seas has departed Civitavecchia on its maiden seven-night cruise in the Western Mediterranean, following delivery from Meyer Turku in June 2026. The 250,800-ton, LNG-powered vessel will call at ports in Italy, France and Spain, marking the start of its inaugural European season.

Celebrity Silhouette has arrived in Reykjavik to launch a dedicated Iceland season featuring intensive circumnavigation-style itineraries. The ship repositioned from its spring program in Bermuda via a 13-night Cape Liberty–Reykjavik sailing that called in Canada, Greenland and Iceland, and will now operate a series of 7-night Iceland-focused cruises roundtrip from Reykjavik. These sailings highlight key Icelandic ports such as Seydisfjordur, Akureyri and Isafjordur, along with overnights in the capital.

Cordelia Cruises’ newly acquired Cordelia Sun (currently sailing as Norwegian Sun) is slated to begin operations in India in November 2027, according to the line’s website. The 2001-built ship, purchased alongside sister vessel Norwegian Sky in April 2025, will expand the homegrown brand’s fleet and support its broader deployment plans in the Indian market.