Rebecca Gibson

Crystal is to introduce multiple family and outdoor spaces onboard its newest all-suite, all-veranda ship, Crystal Grace, which will debut in summer 2028. The 650-guest vessel, which was designed by architecture firm GEM, will feature interiors coordinated by Studio Ibsen and be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The ship will offer several new spaces on deck 11, including a dedicated open-air youth area with recreational games, a shallow pool and spaces for families to spend...

Spirits company Bacardi is to expand its partnership with circular technology provider ecoSPIRITS to reduce single-use glass bottles and packaging waste in the cruise sector and other industries. The two companies began collaborating in August 2023, when they worked with Carnival Cruise Line to develop ecoTOTE 3.0SC Cruise Edition, the first circular packaging solution designed specifically for maritime environments. The packaging, which offers enhanced corrosion resistance and complies...

The world is becoming increasingly divided, polarised and deglobalised. At the same time, AI is lowering barriers to cyberattacks, industrial disruption and geopolitical risk. According to Zubin Davar, global vice president of AVEVA’s CONNECT Platform, this has created a paradox for the industrial AI sector: as these threats become more complex and borderless, the industry needs greater connectivity and collaboration to address them. To navigate this challenge, Davar argues that industrial...

Located in the grounds of a former manor house in the UK, Drayton Manor Resort is home to more than 50 family-friendly rollercoasters and rides, as well as a hotel, a 15-acre conservation zoo and Europe’s only Thomas Land. The attraction, which opened in 1950, is now owned by pan-European leisure park operator Looping Group and hosts more than 1.5 million guests per year on average, making it one of the most-visited theme parks in the UK. Following its acquisition by Looping Group, the...

The Autumn/Winter 2026 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review is out now. The cover of our Autumn/Winter 2026 issue features Explora III, the first LNG-powered ship in the Explora Journeys fleet. The vessel, which is larger than its predecessors, offers expanded public spaces, enhanced accommodation and new culinary and wellness experiences. In our cover story, president Anna Nash tells us how the ship is helping Explora Journeys redefine the concept of ultra-luxury cruising. While Explora...

When MSC Group established Explora Journeys, its aim was to redefine the concept of ultra-luxury ocean travel. “We were never trying to create just another cruise line,” says Anna Nash, the brand’s president. “From the outset, our ambition was to develop an experience that would resonate equally with experienced cruise guests seeking something different and with a new generation of luxury travellers who may never have considered an ocean journey.” Explora Journeys set out to challenge...

Rebecca Gibson looks at how educators beginning headships can get off to a flying start

When Josh Weinstein became president and CEO of Carnival Corporation in 2022, the industry was in the midst of post-pandemic recovery. He took considered steps to move from survival mode to a period of disciplined growth, while building operational resilience for the future. Just four years on, the organisation has returned to record financial performance, achieved key strategic targets ahead of schedule and laid out an ambitious roadmap for future growth. Weinstein started by going back...

When Oceanwide Expeditions’ Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April 2026, guests were looking forward to the icy landscapes and wildlife encounters of an Antarctic cruise. But days later, they were confined to their cabins as a life-threatening strain of hantavirus began circulating onboard the ship. While international media outlets began speculating about the potential of a worldwide pandemic, Oceanwide Expeditions’ CEO Rémi Bouysset had one priority: to get the guests, crew and...

When MedCruise was founded in 1996, its primary mission was to promote the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas as a leading cruise destination and create a platform through which ports could collaborate rather than compete. Thirty years later, that core mission remains unchanged. However, the scope and complexity of the association’s work have expanded significantly. “Today, MedCruise represents more than ports; it represents destinations, regions and a wider ecosystem of stakeholders...