Yachting is the new cruising... my latest piece for @ttgmedia.bsky.social www.ttgmedia.com/cruise/saili...

Congratulations to Jo Rzymowska, who has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List today for her outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion in the travel industry. She said: ‘We must keep pushing for a world where everyone feels seen, heard and valued.’

My piece for @ttgmedia.bsky.social about residential cruising is now online… www.ttgmedia.com/cruise/livin...

For the first time in 20 years, I’m about to board QE2 - the former Cunard ship that is now a luxury hotel in Dubai.

Sailing towards Dubai on Celestyal Journey

Food in the main dining room of Celestyal Journey last night. The steak was a €25.95 supplement but I fancied it.

The Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Bahrain, as seen on an excursion from Celestyal Journey

Sailing away from Doha as our Arabian Gulf cruise on Celestyal Journey begins…

My junior suite on Celestyal Journey

Boarding Celestyal Journey in Doha for a week’s cruise around the Arabian Gulf

Waking up in Doha ahead of joining Celestyal for a week-long cruise around the Arabian Gulf

Living the high (32,000ft) life in Qatar Airways business class

Settling into my seat on Qatar Airways - business class certainly spoils you!

And so the adventure begins - I’m at Heathrow preparing to fly with Qatar Airways to Doha to board Celestyal Journey for a week’s cruise around the Arabian Gulf. Follow me on X/Twiitter, Bluesky or Instagram (all @shipmonk) for updates and pictures.

MSC World America has successfully completed sea trials in the Atlantic. The 23rd ship in the MSC Cruises fleet is due to be handed over at its French shipyard on March 27 and named in Miami on April 9.

Legend of the Seas, the third Royal Caribbean Icon-class ship, will launch in Europe. The newcomer will debut with 7-night Western Mediterranean holidays from Barcelona between July and October 2026 before heading to the Caribbean later in the year.

The £1.2bn project hoping to bring cruise ship building back to Scotland - my latest piece for the Telegraph (subscription service) www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/...

Celebrity River Cruises will rock the boat and shake up river, agents say

Celebrity River Cruises will rock the boat and shake up river cruising, agents say - my piece for @ttgmedia.bsky.social www.ttgmedia.com/cruise/celeb...

Royal Caribbean Group has signed an agreement with Chantiers de l'Atlantique to order a sixth Edge-class ship for delivery to Celebrity Cruises in 2028. Edge 6 or ‘Xcel 2’ will be the sister ship to Celebrity Xcel, which is preparing to take its inaugural voyage later this year.

Cruisers are being invited to help make key decisions on culinary, entertainment and interior design offerings on Celebrity Xcel, launching in November. Through online polls and in-person events, the Dream Makers will test, try and vote on new experiences.

Artist Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves), author Jenny Eclair and celebrity photographer Scarlet Page will capture guests’ most memorable moments on Fred Olsen cruises in 2025 - Moir on Borealis leaving Dover on May 28; Eclair on Balmoral from Rosyth on June 27 and Page on Bolette from Liverpool on July 25.

The new Viking Vela was forced to change course from Narvik to Ålesund after passengers reported the ship was rocked by 100mph winds and 35ft seas off the coast of Norway. A Viking spokesperson confirmed: ‘The weather conditions were worse than forecast.’

Why Disney is betting big on cruise ships - my latest piece for the Telegraph (subscription service) www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruis...

Your favorite cruising Duo and our friends the Morrill’s were featured in a Daily Telegraph article today by David Monk (aka @shipmonk.bsky.social). It’s a fun read. Be sure to check it out! www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruis...

Have a wonderful time, everyone! And here's to a fabulous 2025!

The conclusion to Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks at Disney World last night 🎆 (Music on! ☺️)

After an exhausting (but fun) 12 hours in Disney World, I haven’t the energy to post about all the amazing things I saw and did, including some terrifying rides! I leave you with one picture of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime fireworks ☺️

At Disney World ☺️

Skeletal fish sing and dance in the Haunted Mansion Parlor on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

The Haunted Mansion Parlor on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

The Incredibles Incredi-Games assault course on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

A cartoonish figure with big ears… standing next to Mickey Mouse ☺️ #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

The incredible Tomorrow Tower Suite in a funnel of Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

More, er, treasure awaiting me in my cabin last night #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

Fireworks end pirates night on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

A final picture from today at Castaway Cay. Thanks to Chantelle Champs for the great shot ☺️ #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

Just saw the stage production of The Tale of Moana on Disney Treasure (no photography allowed). The production and performance levels were off the scale. Breathtaking effects and faultless singing - everything you would expect from Disney #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline #moana

The Periscope Pub on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

Disney Treasure at Castaway Cay #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

A whole new world… first sights on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

My cabin on Disney Treasure #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

Delicious meal in Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge last night #disneytreasure #disneycruiseline

On board Virgin Atlantic to Orlando to spend a night in Disney World then board the new Disney Treasure ship for a three-night cruise tomorrow. Follow me for pictures and updates ☺️

New year, new look: Cunard's Queen Elizabeth is to get a major refurb ahead of her 2025 Alaska and Caribbean seasons shipmonk.co.uk/2024/12/04/n...

Virgin Voyages is to launch an Annual Pass in 2025, allowing travellers to enjoy unlimited cruises for a year on all the line’s adult-only ships. Priced at £94,689.12/$120,000 (excluding taxes/fees), the pass is available on a first-come, first-served basis until March 31.

Viking Vela has become the 13th ship to be delivered by Fincantieri to Viking - and the first with an increased passenger capacity of 998. The vessel was handed over in Ancona, Italy. Including options and confirmed orders, another 13 ships are due to join the fleet.

Cunard reports record-breaking bookings in 2024 following the launch of its latest ship, Queen Anne. From January 1 to October 31, bookings were up 73,000, or 23%, on the same period in 2023.

Hurtigruten has been acquired by a consortium of existing investors and has received around €110m in new, long-term funding. The transaction will mark the end of the process to separate the company from HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) and won’t affect its daily operations.

I'm elated to join 'endless cruise' at last, says woman originally banned from boarding over WhatsApp complaints shipmonk.co.uk/2024/11/28/i...