From debuting new terminals to investing in private islands, cruise lines continued to make headlines in April 2025. These were some of the biggest cruise news stories you might have missed this month.

MSC Cruises Opens New Terminals in Miami, Barcelona

Earlier this month, MSC Cruises opened the world¡¯s largest cruise terminal at PortMiami. The MSC Miami Cruise Terminal was designed by Arquitectonica and built by Fincantieri Infrastructure. With a size of 492,678 square feet, it can process up to 36,000 passengers daily and will serve both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys.?

Also this month, MSC Group unveiled a new cruise terminal at the Port of Barcelona. The debut coincided with the maiden call of EXPLORA II, the second luxury vessel from Explora Journeys, the company¡¯s high-end ocean travel brand.?

ASTA¡¯s 2026 River Cruise Expo Sells Out

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) River Cruise Expo has sold out for the fourth year in a row. The organization has started a waitlist for the 2026 event, which will be held in Amsterdam.

¡°The overwhelming response from advisors highlights the caliber of this experience," says Sarah Little, senior vice president of business development for ASTA. "Even more impressive is the immediate return on investment attendees are seeing¡ªturning what they learn at this event into real client bookings within days.¡±

Silversea Unveils More Details About New Hotel in Chile

Silversea unveiled more details about its new hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, this month¡ªincluding its name, the Cormorant at 55 South.

The 150-room lodging, which will be the southernmost hotel on Earth, will serve as a new home base for travelers heading to Antarctica. It¡¯s slated to open during the upcoming 2025-26 Antarctica season.

¡°The Cormorant at 55 South is a tribute to the rich culture, breathtaking natural beauty and storied history of Puerto Williams, immersing guests in their destination before embarking on their journey to Antarctica,¡± says Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea.?

Riviera Travel Launches New Ship on the Douro

Riviera Travel (formerly Riviera River Cruises) launched a new ship on the Douro River in Portugal this month.? Called the Riviera Rose, the new ship embarked on the ¡°Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca¡± itinerary.

¡°Riviera Rose represents an exciting new chapter for Riviera Travel, as we introduce contemporary new design elements and signature experiences that underscore our commitment to providing guests with memorable journeys through Europe¡¯s most iconic waterways,¡± says Stuart Milan, president of North America for Riviera Travel.?

Riviera Rose (Photo Credit: Riviera Travel)

2025 Alaska Cruise Season Gets Underway as First Ship Sails Into Juneau

This month marked the start of the 2025 Alaska cruise season as the first ship¡ªNorwegian Bliss¡ªsailed into Juneau. The city is estimating that roughly 1.65 million passengers will visit this season, which runs from now through October.?

Re-Launched Victory Cruise Lines Sets Sail on Inaugural Voyage

Victory Cruise Lines is officially back, as Victory I departed on the re-launched line¡¯s first revenue cruise this month. The ship was later christened in Toronto.

The Victory I is christened in Toronto, Ontario on April 27, 2025. (Photo Credit: Victory Cruise Lines)

AmaWaterways Sets Sail in Colombia

AmaWaterways made history this month when AmaMagdalena set sail on the Magdalena River in Colombia.

¡°We are proud to be the first major river cruise line to explore the Magdalena River, a region that until now has been largely inaccessible,¡± says Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and chief executive officer of AmaWaterways. ¡°AmaMagdalena opens the door to a culturally rich destination, and we¡¯ve worked closely with local communities to ensure our presence benefits everyone involved¡ªfrom our guests to the people who call this river home.¡±

MSC World America Sets Sail

MSC Cruises welcomed its newest ship this month, MSC World America. After a naming ceremony in Miami, the 6,764-passenger, 215,863-ton liner embarked on its inaugural season.?

MSC World America (Photo Credit: TravelPulse Canada/Natasha Lair-McKenty)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Agrees to Long-Term Charters for Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings revealed this month that it¡¯s lending some of its ships to other cruise lines. The company has entered into several long-term charter agreements for four ships across its three brands.

Norwegian Cruise Line¡¯s Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun will be used by Cordelia Cruises, a cruise line based in India, starting in 2026 and 2027. Regent Seven Seas Cruises¡¯ Seven Seas Navigator and Oceania Cruises¡¯ Insignia will be used by Crescent Seas, a new residential cruise line, starting in 2026 and 2027. The Seven Seas Navigator deal with Crescent Seas was announced last month.

Cruise Lines Unveil New Solar Eclipse Cruises

Solar eclipse cruises remain popular, as Windstar and Oceania announced additional sailings this month. Oceania announced four additional cruises for the 2026 total solar eclipse, while Windstar introduced an additional solar eclipse cruise for August 2026 after its first eclipse voyage sold out.

'Newly Dominant' Strain May Be Responsible for Recent Norovirus Outbreaks on Cruise Ships

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a ¡°newly dominant¡± strain may be responsible for the recent wave of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. So far this year, cruise ships have endured 13 outbreaks that meet the CDC¡¯s requirements for public notification.

Cruise Lines Invest in Private Islands?

This month, MSC Group confirmed plans to develop an island that will be about one-third the size of Ocean Cay, the cruise line's existing private island. Norwegian Cruise Line also revealed plans to upgrade Great Stirrup Cay, its private destination in the Bahamas.

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