Cruise ships, ports, operators and the cruise industry.
MarineLink reported on 18 August 2026 that American Cruise Lines has named two new U.S.-built riverboats: American Beauty, due to launch on the Mississippi in 2028, and American Rhapsody for the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Final Department for Transport statistics put UK international cruise passengers at 3.1 million, with Southampton accounting for 2.6 million.
Royal Caribbean has unveiled details of Legend of the Seas, a family-focused LNG-fuelled ship due in the Western Mediterranean in July 2026 and Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises from November 2026, featuring a six-slide Category 6 waterpark and 28 dining venues.
A Department for Transport policy paper sets out a shared ambition for sustained cruise growth, with economic opportunity linked to responsible development.
The group says the next Icon Class vessel is due in 2027, with agreements allowing for a fifth and sixth ship.