MSC Cruises will strengthen its presence in the Middle East for the 2023-24 winter season, with new ports of call and itineraries that promise travelers a unique and unforgettable experience. As the renowned cruise line continues to consolidate its leadership in the region, here's a closer look at what's in store for passengers.

MSC Virtuosa - Arabian Gulf Adventure

Authorities are searching for the missing person identified as 26-year-old Kevin McGrath, who was last seen on Monday morning after the cruise ship Carnival Conquest returned to the Port of Miami. Despite an extensive search on board, McGrath could not be located, prompting concerns for his safety.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has exposed a case of wage theft amounting to a staggering $2 million Australian Dollars (approximately 1.27 million US Dollars) aboard the luxury cruise ship MS Caledonian Sky, reports Mirage.News.

Virgin Voyages is set to make a return to the United Kingdom in 2024. The news comes as a follow-up to Virgin Voyages' inaugural sailing from Portsmouth International Port with its first ship, the Scarlet Lady, back in the summer of 2021.

Captain Thomas Mey, a seasoned mariner with a 47-year career at sea, bid farewell to the helm of AIDAsol on September 1st, 2023, marking his retirement from the maritime world. His impressive journey began with the Deutsche Seereederei, Rostock (DSR), and continued with AIDA Cruises, which emerged from DSR in 1996.

Today the cruise ship Celestyal Journey set sail from the port of Piraeus, Greece on her maiden voyage proudly bearing the Celestyal Cruises banner. This event was met with great anticipation by the cruise company welcoming the first guests aboard the ship, which has undergone extensive transformation amounting 20 million Euros.

Cruise passengers booked on a voyage on Royal Caribbean International's Radiance of the Seas received disappointing news recently. The cruise, scheduled to depart from Seward, Alaska, on September 1, was canceled due to unforeseen mechanical problems with the vessel. 

Port Charlottetown played host to a momentous occasion as it warmly welcomed the Zuiderdam and Zaandam ships from Holland America Line. The gathering marked the esteemed cruise company's impressive 150 years of operation. In a heartfelt gesture, Captain Bart Vaartjes presented a commemorative plaque to acknowledge the enduring partnership between the line and the port.

After rerouting due to Hurricane Idalia, the cruise ship Wonder of the Seas encountered further deviation from its planned course on Tuesday evening due to an incident involving a person falling overboard. At approximately 7:55 p.m., an announcement was made aboard the ship, notifying passengers that an individual had fallen or jumped into the sea.

The cruise ship Norwegian Epic experienced an oil spill during the pumping out of oil residues at the port of Split, Croatia. The spill affected the sea and coastline, but immediate actions by the ship's crew and a specialized company contained the spill.