Dining News

Captain Steve Jones is President of the Passenger Vessel Association for 2025. As his term comes to a close in February at the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2026 in Covington, KY, Captain Jones has achieved several long-sought-after successes during his term and set in motion other important association undertakings intended to deliver noteworthy benefits to PVA members in the coming year and beyond. Captain Jones has been with the Gateway Clipper Fleet since 1987. The Gateway Clipper Fleet…

Lady Kailani, a new 20-meter (65 foot) luxury catamaran designed by Incat Crowther for Kauai Sea Tours in Hawai'i, is now in service offering tours along Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast.The successful delivery of Lady Kailani by south Louisiana shipyard Breaux Brothers Enterprises has allowed the tourism operator to expand to year-round tourism experiences in Kauai, Hawai'i.The multifunctional vessel has been designed to provide a luxurious and immersive tourism experience. Lady Kailani has a custom hydraulic swim platform providing snorkeling and ocean access.

A record crowd of more than 900 industry and community representatives gathered for the 11th annual State of the Port, where Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka outlined his vision for the future, highlighting “Build Bigger and Build Smarter” investment priorities.Hosted by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association since 2016, ticket proceeds from the event have now raised more than $350,000 for local non-profit organizations. This year’s recipients were EXP and the Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro.Seroka announced the Port handled 10.2 million container units in 2025…

American Cruise Lines has announced that the newest cruise ship in the country, American Pioneer, was christened in Key West, Florida on Monday, November 10. \American Pioneer is the 21st ship in the American Cruise Lines fleet. The inaugural cruise followed the company’s new 16-Day Grand Florida Coast & Keys itinerary, which explores both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida. American Pioneer was docked at Mallory Square for last week’s christening festivities. Key West is a regular 2-day stop on the new itinerary and offers 20 different shore excursions…

American Cruise Lines has announced 10 new ships for the U.S. market beginning with American Pioneer debuting in Florida on October 31st. American Pioneer is the 2nd new Patriot Class ship the company has launched this year. All American’s new boats will continue to sail domestically, operating itineraries across the Line’s growing portfolio, including the Mississippi River, Alaska, and the East Coast. The new ships will also accelerate American’s expansion into new niche markets such as the Great Lakes, the Arkansas River, and National Parks cruises.

Construction on a new 24-m catamaran is complete with Elysian set to enter service for its private owners. The project has seen Incat Crowther collaborate with the owner throughout all aspects of the project including design, the shipyard tendering process, and by providing technical support during construction. The new vessel was constructed by Mason Marine Industries in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.The motor yacht, capable of travelling at speeds of up to 29 knots, meets the operator’s exacting requirements and features a range of tailored innovations.

Hanwha Ocean has been selected as the preferred bidder for an icebreaking research vessel project, led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and intended for polar research at the Polar Research Institute, an affiliate of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology.The contract is expected to be signed this month, with the vessel completed by December 2029.The 16,560 gross ton vessel will be equipped with an LNG dual-fuel electric propulsion system and capable of breaking through 1.5-meter-thick ice in both directions.

The UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has unveiled a new Innovation Hub in Southampton, designed to accelerate advances in ocean technology and support sustainable growth across the blue economy. Backed by a £200,000 investment, the facility will serve as a catalyst for innovation in marine autonomous systems (MAS), the blue economy and beyond—bringing together researchers, businesses and entrepreneurs to drive progress across the ocean and maritime sectors.The new hub features state-of-the-art meeting…

Fincantieri has held a keel laying ceremony for Seven Seas Prestige, the ultra-luxury cruise ship being built for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.The keel laying ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, in Venice.Seven Seas Prestige is the first of two next-generation ultra-luxury cruise ships for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2026.During the event, three specially chosen coins were welded…

East Africa Marine Transport has taken a significant step towards creating a more sustainable and efficient logistics solution for Lake Victoria with the commissioning of M.V. MPUNGU, the lake’s first scheduled roll-on / roll-off freight vessel.Offering faster and safer crossings and reduced carbon emissions, the fuel-efficient vessel is set to transform regional trade by cutting journey times from days to hours and supporting the decarbonisation of the region’s transport sector.Owned by East Africa Marine Transport (EAMT) and operated by Grindrod Logistics Africa - Uganda (GLAU)…

American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce their biggest Alaska cruise season ever. The company will have 2 small ships in Alaska and 5 extraordinary itineraries, delivering once-in-a-lifetime experiences aboard sailings operating this May through September.For 2025, American has repositioned small ship, American Constitution, to the West Coast for summer Alaska cruises and spring and fall Puget Sound cruises. Doubling capacity in the region, 170-passenger, American Constitution…

Hornblower Group has announced that Liz Crisafi will join the company as the Senior Vice President of Marketing, effective November 1.Reporting to CEO Mike Flaskey, Crisafi will lead global marketing activities, overseeing brand, communications, revenue optimization, digital and data strategy across Hornblower’s portfolio of water- and land-based experiences.Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water-based experiences (dining and sightseeing cruises)…

Marine transportation and experiences company Hornblower Group announced it has appointed Mike Flaskey as its new chief executive officer.Flaskey will lead Hornblower through its next phase following the company's recent emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy under new ownership. He succeeds outgoing CEO Kevin Rabbitt."We are thrilled to welcome Mike as Hornblower’s new CEO," said Jonathan Waggoner, Co-Head of the North American Operating Team at Strategic Value Partners, Hornblower's majority owner. "He has a clear vision for the future of Hornblower.

Hornblower Group has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy under new ownership following the completion of its court-approved financial restructuring plan, the marine transportation and experiences company announced on Friday.Under the plan approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, majority ownership of San Francisco-based Hornblower has transitioned to funds managed by investment firm Strategic Value Partners (SVP), while private equity firm Crestview…

Hornblower Group on Friday announced its financial restructuring plan has gained court approval, clearing way for the marine transportation and experiences company to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the coming weeks.Under the plan approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, majority ownership of San Francisco-based Hornblower will transition to funds managed by investment firm Strategic Value Partners (SVP), while private equity firm Crestview…

The U.S. and Taiwan navies conducted joint drills in the Pacific in April that, officially, did not take place, four people briefed on the matter said, as the two militaries boost cooperation amid rising Chinese military threats.Washington and Taipei have been expanding their military cooperation in recent years amid almost daily Chinese incursions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone and drills by Chinese forces near the island.U.S.-Taiwan military engagement, including visits and training…

Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has taken delivery of a new state-of-the-art research vessel. Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Thai shipbuilder Seacrest Marine, the 25-meter catamaran will be used by the DMCR to patrol Thailand’s coastal environments and monitor the nation’s fisheries and marine resources.Based the Incat Crowther 25 design, the vessel has a range of innovative features and equipment to help its crew monitor and protect sensitive…

A newly unveiled concept for a sail-powered catamaran cruise ship aims to offer a luxury cruising experience on board a vessel that can travel emissions free.The unique vessel design--codenamed "Seabreeze"--comes from Norway-based YSA Design, who engineered the 104.5-meter-long ship to feature four 50-meter-high foldable sails mounted on 6-meter-high bases on deck for emissions-free propulsion.“Sustainability is critical but cruise shipping also needs to continuously reinvent itself,” said Trond Sigurdsen, Senior Architect and Partner, YSA Design.

American Cruise Lines is set to take delivery of two more new small ships in 2025.The 125-passenger sister ships, American Patriot and American Pioneer, represent the fifth and sixth ships in the company’s Project Blue series of 12 new small ships for the U.S. market. The ships will be built at the company’s affiliated shipyard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland.American Patriot will begin sailing in June 2025, and American Pioneer in November 2025 and both new ships will operate a host of American’s U.S.

Carnival's Seabourn brand has taken delivery of its second purpose-built, ultra-luxury expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit, during an official handover ceremony at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The "yacht like" small ship is designed and built for remote, diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and includes modern hardware and technology that extend the ship's global deployment and capabilities and allows the line to offer a wide range of expedition activities led by an expert 24-person expedition team of scientists…

In a canyon at the Idaho border and alongside a bayou in Louisiana, two nearly identical cruise ships were just christened. American Cruise Lines announced the christening of sister ships American Jazz and American Serenade, two of the lines’ six new riverboats.“The two christenings, one in a desert canyon and one on the bayou, show the incredible breadth of river cruise options in the USA,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO, American Cruise Lines. “They also show the growth of American Cruise Lines and the range of places that we explore.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced it has delivered a new ocean cruise ship for shipowner Viking from its shipyard in Ancona.The newly built Viking Saturn will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. Like its sister ships, Viking Saturn is about 47,800 tons, 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers.According to Fincantieri, the “Viking Saturn”, the tenth of this class, has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineers, including an interior design team of Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios and London-based SMC Design…

BYD-Naval Architects has secured a contract to develop the design for a new electric 27-meter passenger catamaran for Ottawa Boat Cruises as part of their initiative to continue delivering zero emissions tourism to Canada.Robert Taillefer, president of Ottawa Boat Cruises, said, “Ottawa Boat Cruises is a leader in sustainable technology innovation. They built the first certified 100% electrical boat in the world in 2016. Their second electrical boat was built in 2022 and they are now building two new electrical vessels.