TUI Cruises has just shared new pictures of their upcoming cruise ship, 'Mein Schiff Relax,' being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. This ship, which is set to start sailing in spring 2025, has been docked at the shipyard since November 2023. From the outside, the ship's construction is already looking pretty far along.
Inside, work is also moving great. The cabins are mostly finished since they were prefabricated on land and then installed on the ship. 

A website by a new startup cruise company called Globe Cruises caught our attention today, offering travelers a three-year round-the-world cruise. This voyage sounded very familiar, of a similar startup that left many without their life savings after they paid for a voyage that never happened.

Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, has earned a spot on the Forbes 50 Over 50 List in the lifestyle category. This list honors 200 extraordinary women who show that it's never too late to achieve great success. Duffy is the only executive from the cruise industry and one of just two from the travel sector to be recognized this year, joining an impressive group of women from various industries.

MSC Cruises is expanding its presence in the United States by building a new cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston. The new facility, called Cruise Terminal 16, is part of a $151 million project that will transform old cargo warehouse into a modern terminal. Set to open in November 2025, this terminal will serve as the homeport for MSC Seascape, a state-of-the-art cruise ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line is making an important change to help protect the environment by introducing new reusable serveware. This serveware, which looks like a bento box, is made from 50 percent recycled materials. It's designed to make room service more convenient for guests by replacing heavy plates and eliminating the need for plastic wrap.

The legendary Seabourn Odyssey is on her final Alaska voyage before embarking on a new chapter under Mitsui Ocean Cruises in Japan. Before that, the ship will head to dry dock in Vancouver, where she will undergo refurbishment to meet the requirements of the Japanese cruise line and be renamed Mitsui Ocean Fuji.

A fire broke out aboard the China-owned cruise ship Adora Mediterranea while it was docked at South Korea's Jeju Island port, injuring three crew members, reports Cruise Radio. The incident happened just an hour after the ship, formerly known as the Costa Mediterranea, arrived at the port with 2,430 passengers and 736 crew members on board.

Today, August 14, the world's only operational ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, celebrates 20 years in service. The QM2 arrived this morning at the port of Hamburg, Germany where celebrations are already in full swing.

This morning, a reception on board featured invited guests, live music, and ongoing festivities. If weather permits, the ship will join the harbor barges for a mini harbor tour in the evening, traveling from Steinwerder to the Elbphilharmonie.

A crew member was reported missing from the Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Dream on Friday, August 9. Carnival confirmed that a female team member went missing while the ship was en route from Cozumel, Mexico, to Galveston, Texas. She is now presumed missing at sea.
Carnival released a statement shared by Cruise Radio and Cruise Hive, stating:

Carnival Cruise Line is launching a massive recruitment drive to hire thousands of new crew members for its expanding fleet, including the three new cruise ships. In a move to enhance its workforce, the company is offering scholarships to Filipinos who wish to join their team. The scholarships and expanded curriculum at PMMA are expected to significantly improve the career prospects for Filipino seafarers.