November was a big month for the cruise industry, with several lines—including Disney, Celebrity and Princess—debuting brand new ships. This month also saw cruise lines win big at the 2025 Travvy Awards and roll out their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
These are some of the biggest cruise news stories of November 2025.
Celebrity Xcel Makes Waves With Bold New Spaces and Experiences
Celebrity Cruises welcomed its newest ship this month with the debut of Celebrity Xcel.
Celebrity Xcel is the fifth ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series, with Captain Kyriakos “Kirk” Matragkas at the helm. It features seven new spaces and experiences, plus an array of new entertainment offerings. Brazilian chef Janaína Torres, who was named Best Female Chef in the World 2024 by World’s 50 Best, is the vessel’s godmother. The ship can accommodate up to 3,260 guests across an array of stateroom categories.
Star Princess Sets Sail: Exploring Princess Cruises’ Newest Cruise Ship
The Princess Cruises fleet got a little bigger this month, as Star Princess set sail on her maiden voyage. The vessel is the sister ship to Sun Princess and will spend her first season in the Caribbean before transiting the Panama Canal to Seattle for a series of seven-day summer 2026 Alaska cruises along the Inside Passage.
Star Princess (Photo Credit: Princess Cruises)
Disney Cruise Line, Godmother Susan Egan Officially Christen New Disney Destiny Cruise Ship
Disney Cruise Line christened its newest cruise ship, Disney Destiny, in November. The brand selected Susan Egan, the voice of Meg from the animated movie “Hercules,” to be the ship’s godmother. Disney Destiny is the third ship in the Wish-class ships, which first featured the Disney Wish in 2022 and the Disney Treasure in 2024. The theme of this new cruise ship is all about heroes and villains, with two prominent characters displayed on the ship’s exterior. Spider-Man and his Spider-Bots are featured on the Disney Destiny’s stern, while Hero Minnie Mouse adorns the ship’s bow.
Disney Destiny cruise ship docked at Castaway Cay (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Cruise Industry Wins Big at 2025 Travvy Awards
Cruise lines took home numerous awards at the 2025 Travvy Awards gala in Fort Lauderdale on November 6. Produced by TravelPulse and AGENTatHOME, the Travvy Awards spotlight the best suppliers across the travel industry, including cruise companies, hotels and resorts, destinations, tour operations and more. Travel advisors cast thousands of votes in more than 140 categories to determine the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners.
Royal Caribbean Group won 26 total honors, while Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive officer Michael Bayley won Travel Executive of the Year. Travel advisors also voted on the best river cruise lines, the best cruise companies and the best cruise ships.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions to Add Second European River Ship in 2027
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will launch its first river cruises in Europe in 2026, with sailings on one ship the Rhine. Then, during the 2027-28 season, the brand plans to expand its footprint by adding a second ship to Europe’s waterways, it announced this month.
In Europe, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ first river cruises will be offered aboard the new 120-guest ship, Connect. The brand is chartering the vessel, which was built in 2025, from Transcend Cruises. In 2027-28, Connect will continue sailing in Europe in the spring and summer.
But she will be joined by sister ship Evolve, which will offer three new Christmas and one holiday voyage exploring Europe’s Christmas markets. Evolve, also a charter from Transcend Cruises, will expand capacity and extend the line’s European river program into winter for the first time.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Connect (Photo Credit: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions)
Tauck Unveils Five New European River Cruises and Two Ships for 2027
Tauck is expanding its river-cruise lineup for 2027 with five new itineraries, two new ships and a series of shorter journeys designed to make river cruising more accessible. The two riverboats are the ms Saudade on the Douro and the ms Reverie on the Seine, joining Tauck’s fleet as sister ships to the ms Andorinha and ms Serene.
Tauck will also introduce a new six-day river cruise format, set to launch in late 2026, and will expand these shorter itineraries for 2027. Offered primarily during the shoulder seasons, these journeys provide guests with the added benefits of milder weather and fewer crowds along Europe’s top rivers.
Cruise Industry Offers Black Friday, Cyber Monday Deals
Cruise lines are offering big promotions this Black Friday—and travelers and travel advisors should take full advantage. From onboard credits and reduced deposits to free amenities and limited-time upgrades, the cruise industry’s Black Friday deals offer something for everyone.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises to Build Third Prestige Class Ship
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is getting a new ship. Parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced in November that Fincantieri will be building a third vessel in the Prestige Class series. The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2033 and will join Seven Seas Prestige, slated to debut in 2026, and a second Prestige Class ship scheduled to launch in 2030.
Rendering of RSSC’s next ship, Seven Seas Prestige. (Photo Credit: Regent Seven Seas Cruises)
Cruise Lines Deliver Aid and Supplies to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa ravaged much of Jamaica last month. In early November, cruise lines returned to the island to deliver supplies and volunteers.
Carnival Cruise Line’s ship Carnival Horizon visited Ocho Rios to drop off items like bottled water, baby food and diapers, canned goods, cereal and hygiene supplies to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and offloaded with the assistance of the Jamaica Tourism Cares Taskforce. Jamaican crew members aboard Carnival Horizon assisted with delivering the items.
Carnival Cruise Line team members with tourism minister Edmund Bartlett and Jamaica Tourism Cares taskforce member Joy Roberts (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
A few days later, Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam also visited Ocho Rios to deliver nearly 5,000 boxes of relief supplies while bringing cruise guests and volunteers to support Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa. The delivery included pantry-safe food items, baking ingredients, water, toiletries, cleaning supplies, bedding and clothing. The ship also delivered a large supply of canned meat donated by Holland America partner AlphaOne USA.
Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group Orders Another New Nile River Cruise Ship
Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group is expanding its presence on the Nile River. This month, the company shared that it had signed a contract with Egyptian shipbuilder The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) to build a second luxury riverboat to debut on the Nile in 2028. The vessel will be the sister ship to Nile Seray, An A&K Sanctuary, which is scheduled for delivery in late 2026. The new ships represent the most significant expansion of A&K’s Egyptian fleet in the company’s nearly five-decade history on the Nile.
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