Rebecca Gibson

Riviera Travel is to add Riviera Rhapsody to its Europe-based river cruise ship fleet in April 2028. Designed specifically for North American guests, Riviera Rhapsody will join the Radiance-class fleet alongside Riviera Radiance, Riviera Resplendence and Riviera Reflection. The ship will feature a split-level architectural layout, high ceilings and expansive open spaces to create “an airy, residential feel”. Public spaces will include a two-storey lounge and three onboard restaurants –...

Holland America Line has embarked on the “most ambitious guest experience update” in its 153-year history, investing more than $500 million to complete extensive bow-to-stern revitalisations on six of its 11 ships. The multi-year renovation project, carried out in collaboration with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, will cover the brand’s four Vista-class ships – Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam and Noordam – and two Signature-class vessels, Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam. The brand aims to...

MedCruise opened its 68th General Assembly in Palermo, Italy, on 9 June 2026, welcoming more than 240 delegates to discuss topics including the impact of geopolitical developments on Mediterranean itineraries, the growing use of AI, and the role ports can play in balancing tourism growth and sustainability. MedCruise president Theodora Riga officially opened the event during a press conference for local and international media, which featured brief speeches from Annalisa Tardino,...

Drawn together by a shared set of values and an aim of “genuinely reimagining” the cruise guest experience, interior designers Javier Calle, Jorge Mesa, Yohandel Ruiz and Greg Walton opened Studio DADO in Miami, Florida, on 3 November 2016. Supported by Walton’s Italian greyhound Enzo – who served as the firm’s unofficial mascot until his owner retired in January 2025 – the team began working in a modest South Beach apartment. “We had a few Ikea tables, some broken keyboards, old laptops...

Canada’s ferry network transports more than 70 million passengers every year, serving a wide range of needs for tourists and people living in urban, rural and remote communities across the country. Ferries on inland waterways and the Saint Lawrence River, for instance, act as critical ‘bridges’ between communities, enabling Canadians to live and work where they choose. Similarly, they become a vital lifeline in the Northern and Prairie regions each spring when the ice bridges melt and it...

Fincantieri cut the steel for Carnival Cruise Line’s first Ace-class ship at its yard in Monfalcone, Italy, on 10 July. During the ceremony, the cruise line revealed the ship would be named Carnival Destiny and be the “most outward-facing megaship at sea” when it debuts in September 2029. The 230,000gt newbuild will be more than twice the size of the original 101,000gt Carnival Destiny, which now operates as Carnival Sunshine and was the first cruise ship in the world to exceed 100,000gt...

What is industrial intelligence? According to Amanda Oñate, vice president of ecosystem and platform marketing at AVEVA, the term describes the ability to turn industrial data into continuous, actionable insights which improve how assets, people and processes perform. As industrial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, organisations will be able to use connected technologies to optimise their operations in ways that were previously impossible. How can connected ecosystems and...

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...