With exciting updates like fleetwide pickleball events, newly launched ships, enhanced suite renovations and booking promotions, cruise lines are giving you a few fresh selling points for every type of client.
Aqua Expeditions to Launch Aqua Lares in 2026
Aqua Expeditions has announced the debut of Aqua Lares, the sixth vessel in its fleet. The 15-suite expedition yacht will operate 5- to 11-night itineraries through the Seychelles, with select voyages to Aldabra Atoll and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Spanning six decks, Aqua Lares will carry a maximum of 30 guests in 12 design suites and three twin cabins, including three Owner’s Suites. Onboard amenities include a panoramic sun deck, bar and lounge, a cinema, a boutique, a gym, indoor and outdoor dining areas and wellness facilities such as two Jacuzzis, a sauna, a massage room and a spa.
Aqua Lares will be equipped with five tenders (three Zodiacs and two Rafnar tenders), along with paddleboards, kayaks, snorkeling and diving gear and mountain bikes.
Inaugural sailings will depart Feb. 8, 2026, from Madagascar, with seasonal operations in the Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll and Zanzibar, Tanzania running November through April.
For more details, visit aquaexpeditions.com.
Costa Cruises Launches Labor Day Sale, Free Balcony Upgrades
Costa Cruises is marking the end of summer with a special Labor Day Sale, offering guests a free upgrade to a balcony cabin on select Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings departing September 2025 through February 2026. Your clients can enjoy balcony views for the price of an ocean view when booking by Sept. 1, 2025.
The promotion includes more than 100 sailings aboard Costa’s fleet, including flagship LNG-powered ships Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda, as well as Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Fortuna and Costa Pacifica.
Costa Smeralda will sail Western Mediterranean itineraries round-trip from Marseille or Barcelona, with calls at Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Genoa. Notable departures include Sept. 7, 2025, from Barcelona and Nov. 15, 2025, from Marseille.
Costa Toscana will operate round-trip voyages from Civitavecchia (Rome) or Savona, visiting Marseille, Barcelona, Palermo, Palma and Ibiza. In the Caribbean, Costa Pacifica will offer round-trip cruises from La Romana, Dominican Republic, calling at Catalina Island, Samana, Amber Cove, Cabo Rojo and Grand Turk.
Each itinerary includes Costa’s “Sea & Land Destinations” program, combining themed onboard events with immersive shore excursions.
For mor information, visit costacruises.com.
Crystal Symphony to Undergo Drydock Refurbishment
Crystal has announced that Crystal Symphony will enter dry dock in November for a three-week refurbishment, introducing both aesthetic and technical upgrades to enhance the onboard guest experience and ensure long-term operational efficiency.
Two suite categories—Aquamarine and Sapphire Classic suites on Deck 10—will be fully redesigned. The suites will receive new furnishings, carpets and wall coverings in line with the contemporary style introduced during the ship’s 2023 transformation. Several public areas will also be refreshed:
- Atrium and Crystal Cove: The ship’s central gathering space will be reimagined with a more fluid layout, additional seating and a new chandelier. Updates include the removal of the water feature, relocation of the piano, a two-story DeCastelli mosaic and high-end new furniture.
- Stair Lobbies (Decks 5 and 6): Architectural wall details, enhanced lighting and new brass finishes will provide a more cohesive, upscale look.
- Starlite Club: A redesigned dance floor and new ceiling centerpiece will refresh this entertainment venue.
- Deck 5 Guest Restrooms: Updated flooring, wall finishes and countertops will modernize the public facilities.
- Bistro: New wooden flooring to enhance the venue’s ambiance.
Crystal Symphony will undergo significant technical work, including a complete overhaul of the hydraulic system, replacement of freshwater piping and other upgrades.
For more information, visit crystalcruises.com.
Holland America’s Fleetwide Fun for National Pickleball Day
If you have active clients—or those looking to try a new sport at sea—you may find Holland America Line’s recent festivities a selling point. In honor of National Pickleball Day on Aug. 8, the cruise line hosted shipwide celebrations across its fleet, highlighting the growing popularity of America’s fastest-growing sport in a nautical setting.
On board Rotterdam, guests participated in a spirited Pickleball Day Tournament, complete with round-robin matches, prizes and plenty of spectator support from fellow cruisers. As part of Holland America Line’s exclusive partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), tournament winners received a prize package that included PPA-branded paddles, shirts and hand towels.
“Pickleball is one of our most popular activities on board, and guests especially love playing out on deck with an unbeatable view that changes day by day,” said Saul Orr, Senior Manager, Cruise Programming for Holland America Line, in a recent media statement. “As the exclusive cruise line partner of the PPA, we were excited to bring even more activities to our courts for National Pickleball Day and help guests create unforgettable moments at sea.”
Beyond the tournament, ships hosted extended play sessions, pickleball lessons led by the ship’s sports director and created a themed cocktail—the “Backspin Spritz.” All Holland America Line ships feature pickleball courts, complimentary equipment and beginner-friendly lessons.
For more information, visit hollandamerica.com.
Victoria Cruise Lines Sets Sail with New Electric-Hybrid Flagship
Victoria Cruise Lines will inaugurate its newest vessel, Victoria Isabella, on September 28, marking the debut of its new electric-hybrid ship ready to sail China’s Yangtze River.
The Victoria Isabella matches the size and style of the Victoria Sabrina, launched in 2020, and features six passenger decks accommodating up to 570 guests. The ship also features an onboard escalator, alongside a hybrid-electric propulsion system designed to reduce emissions and protect the river’s ecosystem.
The Victoria Isabella features 236 Superior Staterooms, each with private balconies. Guests can upgrade to one of 22 Executive Suites for more spacious accommodations and access to the line’s Luxury Amenities package, while two Shangri-La Suites offer top-tier comfort and style.
Victoria Cruise Lines’ Luxury Amenities package, included with suite bookings or available as an add-on, offers perks such as butler service, exclusive happy hour, enhanced dining, complimentary Wi-Fi and access to private ship areas.
Sailing options range from 3- and 4-night journeys between Chongqing and Yichang to 7-night roundtrips from Chongqing. Cruises include curated daily excursions to sites such as Fengdu’s Snow Jade Cave, the Small Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam, with optional tours—like Fengdu’s Ghost City—available for a supplemental cost.
Departures for the inaugural season are available through Nov. 26, 2025.
For more information, visit victoriacruiselines.com.
