This month Disney Cruise Line and the nonprofit Starlight Children’s Foundation paid a visit to Children’s Hospital New Orleans to mark the arrival of a new mobile movie theater. The event included the distribution of Disney-themed toys, games, and Starlight Hospital Wear. The celebration was made even more special with the presence of Captain Minnie Mouse and DCL cast and crew members, who treated the children to a special preview of Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto.

Princess Cruises has announced that Lavazza, a renowned coffee brand, will be its Official Coffee Partner. Lavazza has been synonymous with the Italian coffee for over 120 years, thanks to its passion for delivering superior quality coffee. The partnership will see Lavazza offerings being introduced on Princess ships throughout the spring for guests, and hopefully for the crew, to enjoy the brand's hot coffee options and Ready-to-Drink cans. 

The leading Greek cruise operator Celestyal Cruises has announced a new addition to the fleet, the Celestyal Journey, set to debut on September 2, 2023. The ship, which is currently undergoing a €20 million refurbishment and technical maintenance overhaul, will take over the schedules of the cruise ship Celestyal Crystal, starting with the seven-night ‘Idyllic Aegean’ itinerary.

Several crew members working in the Housekeeping department aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships voiced their concerns about how recent changes in stateroom services have affected their daily duties and the guest's experience as well as supervisors' expectations.

Carnival Cruise Line has officially welcomed its latest addition to the fleet, formerly known as Costa Venezia, now named Carnival Venezia. The ship is currently in dry dock in Cadiz, Spain for renovation, including a new paint job and upgrades to many areas around the vessel. The ship was handed over to Carnival Captain Claudio Cupisti by Costa Cruises Captain Tihomir Muzic, with members from both companies in attendance.

The first sea trials for MSC Cruises' latest cruise ship, MSC Euribia, which is currently being constructed in Saint-Nazaire, have been delayed due to union strikes against pension reform in French ports. Originally scheduled for Thursday, March 23, the shipyard has not yet announced a new date for the sea trials, and the timing will depend on the length of the social movement.

Among many difficult jobs on cruise ships, handpicking the toughest one is tricky. Still, one job will stand out in terms of horrific working conditions and cruel working hours-the galley steward. For most employees, there is a minimum of information about the job description before boarding the ship. Indeed, the galley steward is one of a kind job worldwide. I can not find any similar job that could be matched with the cruelty and inadequate pay of the galley steward job itself.

The crew of the Grand Princess rescued two sailors stranded at sea after their boat suffered engine failure and began taking on water near the coast of Wilsons, Australia. The sailors, a 58-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, had escaped in a dinghy after activating the emergency beacon.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has announced that Frank J. Del Rio, its current President and CEO, will be stepping down from his position on June 30. Effective July 31, Harry J. Sommer, who currently serves as president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, will officially assume the role. Del Rio will retire from his position and continue to serve as a senior advisor to the board of directors until 2025.

The Italian company Navim Group, a leader in construction and supply of marine equipment, has released a graphical representation of what could be TUI Cruises' newest mega cruise ship Mein Schiff 8, set for delivery in 2024. While TUI Cruises has not yet released any information or renderings of the ship, we know that the vessel is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, where Navim Group is installing equipment on the vessel.