Rebecca Gibson

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...

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