AIDA Cruises has signed a shipbuilding contract for a third next-generation cruise ship for the German brand. Scheduled for delivery in 2023, the 180,000gt vessel will be built at Meyer Werft and will have approximately 2,700 staterooms. She will be fully powered by LNG and will follow the launch of the first of three next-generation LNG vessels, to be called AIDAnova, which will join the fleet in December 2018, followed by a second to be christened in 2021. On 5th March AIDA Cruises announced their first female captain in the AIDA fleet and the highest-ranking woman on a cruise ship in Germany. Nicole Langosch was born in Osterode and grew up in Herborn in Hesse and has taken command of the 71,304gt/2011 built and 253m long AIDAsol. Captain Langosch navigated the ship into Hamburg for the first time as Captain on 25th March. The 125,572gt/2017 built AIDAperla, younger sister of the AIDAprima, made her debut at Southampton on 11th March.

Celestyal Cruises announced on 28th February that it will operate an extended 2019 season, which is seeing the company lengthen operations into November while returning to Istanbul for the first time since 2016.

Cunard Line has announced that it will base the Queen Elizabeth in Australia for an unprecedented 101 days over the 2019-20 Australian cruise season. The 90,901gt/2010 built ship will sail on six roundtrip cruises from Melbourne and two from Sydney between December 2019 and March 2020.

Disney Cruise Lines will make their debut at Belfast Harbour in September 2019 when the Disney Magic visits for the first time during a 7-night British Isles cruise itinerary.

Fred. Olsen Cruises announced on 21st February that, following on from the success of the ‘Four Ships in Bergen’ event in Summer 2015, and with the ‘Captains in Cádiz’ celebration looming on 10th September 2018, the company will reunite its fleet of four cruise ships, the Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch, at Funchal, Madeira on 4th April 2020.

P&O Cruises announced on 21st February that the 76,152gt/2000 built Aurora will become an adult-only ship from 8th April 2019 after her next refit, joining the 69,840gt/1995 built Oriana and 84,342gt/2005 built Arcadia.

P&O Cruises Australia revamped the 70,310gt/1990 built Pacific Jewel’s public spaces and venues during a 10-day dry dock in Sydney during March. The ship was fitted with a range of new features and furnishings including an outdoor barefoot lawn Bowling Green first introduced on the Pacific Explorer last year. Following positive reviews from guests on the Pacific Explorer and Pacific Dawn, Shell & Bones will make its debut on the Pacific Jewel serving up locally sourced seafood, grill and vegetarian dishes. The ship’s well-known public areas will be redesigned to mirror the contemporary look which has become a trademark of the P&O Australia fleet in recent years. Areas reworked include the Orient Bar, Connexions Bar and café. The ship also emerged with the Southern Cross livery emblazoned on her hull, now a signature feature of P&O’s fleet. The makeover was carried out in the privately managed dry-dock at Garden Island in Sydney.

Royal Caribbean International’s new Symphony of the Seas was reported by STX France as having completed her first round of sea trials on 19th February. With over 80 hours at sea, the ship was able to cover 1,000 nautical miles off Belle-Île Island. During the four-day trials, the full range of the ship’s systems were tried and tested. The 362m Symphony of the Seas is scheduled for delivery in late March after another short series of sea trials. The 226,000gt and 5,500 passenger capacity ship will claim the title of the largest cruise ship in the world when she debuts in April for the inaugural season in Europe. The 25th ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet will visit Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Provence, Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples before switching to her homeport of Miami, her year-round home, sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from the new Terminal A at the Port of Miami.

Seabourn announced on 7th March that actress and singer Elaine Paige will serve as godmother to the company’s new all-suite ship, the Seabourn Ovation. The naming ceremony will take place on Friday 11th May in the beautiful baroque harbour of Valletta, Malta during a spectacular ceremony that will light up the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage site and 2018 European Capital of Culture. Seabourn has a special partnership with UNESCO to support their efforts to protect World Heritage at sites around the world. The company also celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2018.

Victory Cruise Lines will double capacity on 27th July when the Victory II enters service, later than originally anticipated to allow for the refurbishment of the vessel. The ship will debut from Montreal to Detroit ahead of her Great Lakes programme, which begins from Detroit on 5th August, following the line’s originally published schedule. After her summer season, the ship heads to Miami to offer a new all-inclusive cruise between Miami and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The Victory I (above) was originally launched as the Cape May Light in 2001, while the Victory II was built as the Cape Cod Light. Built at a cost of $30 million each, the ships entered service at the time for Delta Queen Coastal Voyages, a subsidiary of American Classic Voyages.