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Iglu Cruise News - January 2025

31 January 2025

It’s safe to say that 2025 is well underway now and, as the longest month draws to a close, it’s time for another exciting edition of Iglu Cruise News! In the January 2025 edition, we’ll run through all the major announcements and updates from the cruise industry, while also letting you know what you can look forward to in the future and what we’ve been working on.

If that sounds good to you, keep reading to find out more!

A Monthly Roundup of the Biggest Cruise News


MSC World Asia Sales Open Ahead of 2026 Debut

MSC Cruises’ exciting new ship, MSC World Asia, is due to debut in December 2026 with several seven-night voyages in the Mediterranean – one of MSC Cruises’ most popular destinations, and a favourite among cruisers from the UK and around the world. Ahead of this debut, which is just over two years away now, sales have opened up for the impressive 5,400-guest vessel and sailings from its debut, right up until October 2027.

A rendering of MSC World Asia

The third World Class vessel in MSC Cruises’ growing fleet, guests embarking on an adventure aboard MSC World Asia can expect a celebration of the continent onboard – from the cuisine to the culture – alongside experiences similar to what you’ll find on MSC World Europa and MSC World America. So, for those who have sailed on this ship before, this experience will feel fresh yet familiar; meanwhile, newcomers can expect to enjoy an abundance of excellent amenities, incredible entertainment, and a fantastic variety of eateries, bars, and lounges. You’ll find MSC Cruises favourites here, like Butcher’s Cut, Kaito Teppenyaki, and Fizz Champagne Bar, alongside new venues to explore.

With an impressive selection of itineraries including visits to Barcelona, Genoa, Rome, Valletta, and more, you can find out more about all the upcoming MSC World Asia cruises right here.

Disney Cruise Line Detail Plans for New Ships

If you’re looking for more Disney magic in the future, you’re in luck; the Disney Cruise Line fleet is about to get a lot bigger, and a lot more exciting. Following confirmation that a fourth Wish-class cruise ship is coming in 2027, and a fifth one is expected in 2029, Disney Cruise Line has also confirmed that three smaller vessels will be joining the fleet in 2029, 2030, and 2031.

While details are light on the upcoming Wish-class cruise ships, these are expected to be roughly 144,000gt with a capacity of around 4,000 guests, joining Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny – which is due to embark on its maiden voyage in November 2025.

A family enjoying a holiday with Disney Cruise Line

Meanwhile, the three ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet beyond that are expected to be around 100,000gt each, with a lower capacity of roughly 3,000 guests. This will make them slightly larger than Disney Cruise Line’s original Magic-class cruise ships – Disney Magic and Disney Wonder – but smaller than its Dream-class cruise ships – Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Expected to be among the lightest cruise ships of this size, these three vessels will be able to run on a variety of fuel types and feature next-generation propulsion and power systems, something being done to ensure they’re more energy efficient and adaptable to future fuel developments in the cruise industry.

While details are light on what we can expect these ships to look like, and what venues will be available onboard, it’s safe to assume that we can all expect more Disney magic from Disney Cruise Line – with themed areas, venues paying homage to our favourite Disney characters, and appearances from Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie – from these upcoming cruise ships. Keep an eye on Iglu Cruise for more in the coming months, you’ll be the first to know when more information is revealed.

Celebrity Cruises Cut Ships Ahead Of Major Fleet Changes

It’s all changing at Celebrity Cruises, with several major announcements coming in the last several weeks – and some very exciting times ahead. Following their sale to the National Geographic-partnered Lindblad Expeditions, both Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration – which primarily offered expedition cruises to the Galapagos Islands – ended their sailing careers with Celebrity Cruises earlier this month.

However, this news comes alongside an exciting announcement that a new Edge-class cruise ship has been ordered by Celebrity Cruises, and is expected to join the fleet by 2028. A sister ship to Celebrity Xcel, this new vessel will feature new and existing venues while pushing the innovation of the Edge-class cruise ships already sailing to new heights.

A promotional image for Celebrity Cruises' upcoming river cruises

And, in addition to this, Celebrity Cruises has confirmed dramatic plans to join the River Cruise industry from 2027, with ten new river cruise ships joining the current Celebrity Cruises fleet by 2029. Aiming to offer intimate, culturally-enriching experiences that lean on the innovative, exciting Edge-class experience already available on ocean cruises, Celebrity Cruises aims to start with river cruise itineraries in Europe before expanding to other iconic rivers around the world. Expect more details about what this entails, and what to expect from this exciting new experience, in the coming months.

Susan Calman’s Cruise of a Lifetime Series Starts

Scottish writer, television presenter, comedian, and cruise enthusiast Susan Calman is back with another incredible cruise-focused series on Channel 5 this month, and you can already watch the first five episodes!

Airing weekly every Friday evening on Channel 5, from now until March 7, Susan Calman’s Cruise of a Lifetime will follow Calman as she embarks on a series of different adventures around the world on a variety of cruise ships – something that will give viewers a fantastic insight into what life is like on some of the biggest cruise ships sailing alongside the best small luxury cruise ships.

Susan Calman in the Caribbean

With the first two episodes of the series following Calman in India aboard Ganges Voyager II, episode 3 sees Calman exploring the Norwegian fjords aboard Fred. Olsen CruisesBolette. Following this, episodes 4 and 5 see Calman embark on a Caribbean cruise with Emerald CruisesEmerald Sakara. Future episodes will then see Calman cruise the Aegean with Celestyal Cruises, adventure in Australasia with Norwegian Cruise Line, and more.

An exciting ten-episode series, you’ll be able to watch any episodes you’ve missed – or may miss in the coming weeks – on My5 for the foreseeable future. If you’re not sure cruising is right for you, or you’re looking for some inspiration ahead of your next cruise getaway, this can be a fantastic – and very entertaining – way of learning more about life at sea and the adventures you can experience in these remarkable regions.


Iglu Cruises’ Top Blogs in January

Throughout January, we have been hard at work making a variety of important content updates to the Iglu Cruise site – from detailing future cruise launches and new cruise ships to enriching content on existing ship pages and expanding details on destinations you can explore in the future, and even more on top of all that. However, we have also uploaded a handful of informative blogs for you to check out.

🏖 Best Cruises in 2026 🏖

If you’re looking forward to planning a cruise holiday in the future, you’ll be pleased to know that we have collated some of the best cruises in 2026 for you to check out right here. With impressive sailings whisking you away on adventures across the world – and around the world, if you’re looking for a longer voyage – you’re certain to find something to suit your tastes and preferences for 2026. It might seem a little while away yet, but you’ll still have time to take advantage of the incredible January deals and Wave Sale offers available throughout January and February if you book now.

🏔 Your Top Frequently Asked Questions about Expedition Cruises 🏔

For those of you interested in expedition cruising, but still unsure if this is the right type of cruise experience for you, we have even more information for you to check out. Following our broad exploration of expedition cruises last month, we’re diving deeper into the specific questions you’re asking about these incredible experiences with answers to some of the most popular questions on expedition cruising. Be sure to check out this blog, and keep your eye on Iglu Cruise for even more expedition cruise content in the future.

🛳 Top Cruise Lines for Solo Cruises 🛳

This is one you may have missed in December; we recently published a blog on some of the best cruise lines for solo travellers and singles cruises. If you’re looking to travel alone, this guide will help you work out which cruise line offers the best solo staterooms, the most engaging activities designed for solo travellers, and more.

Book Your Next Getaway with Iglu Cruise Today

Whether you're looking for an all-inclusive getaway, a Cruise and Stay package, or a last minute deal, Iglu Cruise is here to help you choose the perfect adventure – and you'll find more cruise deals and great offers always being added to the site. Book your next holiday with Iglu Cruise today, and prepare for the holiday of a lifetime!

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