cruise&TRAVEL
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(Press Release) MIAMI, April 22, 2026 — Today at Google Cloud Next in Las Vegas, Virgin Voyages – the award-winning, kid-free cruise line – introduced Rovey, the brand's first AI Crew assistant and AI-powered travel assistant. Rovey will soon arrive on VirginVoyages.com to help Sailors navigate the complexity of cruise planning with personalized recommendations tailored to their travel style, pace and interests.
Rovey is the first expression of Project Ruby, Virgin Voyages' AI platform co-developed with Google Cloud and designed to guide Sailors through the pre-voyage journey from inspiration to booking. It is a named Crew member with a specific job: to make the planning feel less like research and more like the beginning of something epic, which has always been the Virgin Voyages way. Nathan Rosenberg, Chief Brand Experience, Marketing and Momentum Officer at Virgin Voyages said, "Richard always said, ‘be the reason someone smiles today’ and that comes to life in the quiet moments onboard. That means the shore excursion that caught a Sailor off guard, the ah-ha moment that happens in a morning meditation at dawn, the Crew member who remembered exactly how you take your coffee. Rovey brings that same energy to the part of the trip that happens before Sailors cross the gangway.” Rovey is a named Crew member with a specific job: to be genuinely useful in the weeks and months before a voyage. It was built with Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, Gemini models and BigQuery to enable Sailors exploring itineraries to get recommendations shaped around their travel style, pace and interests. Those weighing Shore Things get curated suggestions — from cooking classes to adventurous hikes to catamaran sails — based on what they love doing on land. Travelers toying with cabin categories, dining options, or what to pack for an Alaska voyage in May get answers to all of it. Rovey remembers where they left off. It knows what they are still figuring out. It doesn’t make Sailors start from scratch with every interaction. Billy Bohan Chinique, VP Global Brand Marketing and AI Transformation at Virgin Voyages said, "Virgin Voyages has always been a brand that knows what it means to make someone feel something. Planning a sailing with Rovey should feel the same way our Crew makes Sailors feel onboard. Not like research. Like being looked after by someone who genuinely gets it. It knows this ship, knows the brand, and we are already excited for them to experience it.” As a result of Project Ruby, seven expressions are planned across the full Sailor journey from first discovery through the voyage itself. Rovey is the first. "We are excited to collaborate with Virgin Voyages and leverage Google Cloud’s leading AI technology to enhance the cruise booking process," said Sam Sebastian, VP, North America Regions, Google Cloud. "By powering Rovey with our AI tools, Virgin Voyages is able to mitigate booking friction, deliver personalized travel recommendations at scale, and build deeper, more valuable connections with Sailors." Rovey is coming soon to VirginVoyages.com.
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 Aerial View of Marine Conservation Centerat Ocean Cay (Simone Piccolij) (Press Release) GENEVA– April 22, 2026 - The MSC Foundation is marking a year of meaningful progress in The Bahamas, strengthening partnerships and expanding its work in coral restoration, marine science, education and stakeholder engagement, particularly in Bimini.
Since opening its Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay in April 2025, the Foundation has established a strong on-the-ground presence, advancing coral restoration, delivering hands-on training for over 20 marine science students, and engaging more than 17,000 visitors in ocean education, reinforcing its long-term commitment to The Bahamas’ globally significant marine ecosystems.  View of Nassau from MSC Grandiosa (Photo: Gerry Barker) (Bahamas News)-- At the just-concluded Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach, Bahamas Tourism Director General Latia Duncombe shared updates on a sweeping portfolio of investments, developments and destination upgrades that collectively represent the most ambitious period of cruise infrastructure growth in Bahamian history, with a focus on in-destination experiences and growth of overnight on-island visitation. The Bahamas is generally considered the biggest cruise destinations in the Caribbean, ranking as the busiest cruise port destination with major, high-traffic ports in Nassau and its surrounding islands, showcasing the varied islands within the archipelago.
 Credit: Windstar Cruises (Press Release) MIAMI, FL, April 21, 2026 – When Windstar Cruises’ 148-guest Wind Star debuted 40 years ago, it helped pioneer a new kind of cruising, with real working sails, an intimate scale, and an experience that felt more like a private yacht than a traditional cruise. Now, Windstar has completed a full transformation of the original sailing yacht, marking a major milestone in the brand’s groundbreaking Setting Sails initiative.
 Rendering Courtesy of Explora Cruises (Press Release) MIAMI, USA (April 15, 2026) – Explora Journeys has today unveiled a landmark partnership that brings together the worlds of ultra-elegant ocean travel and high-velocity racing. Headlining the announcement at the cruise industry’s annual conference, Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, Explora Journeys confirmed it has entered into a multi-year major global sports partnership as the Title Partner of the Swiss SailGP Team. The team will now compete globally as the Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team, a partnership defined by shared values: driven by precision, powered by teamwork, and rooted in a shared respect for the ocean. The partnership brings to life a natural contrast between two worlds: the high-intensity, split-second discipline of elite racing and the calm, considered sanctuary of the ‘Ocean State of Mind’ aboard Explora Journeys. Often described as ‘F1 on water’, the appeal of SailGP lies in its synchronized athleticism, extreme speed and the formidable power of the elements. It is a narrative of effort meeting effortlessness – where the collective strength required to harness the wind mirrors the composure and precision that define the Explora Journeys experience. This strategic move further embeds Explora Journeys into a world of peak performance and international distinction, standing alongside its partnership with Jannik Sinner, the World No. 1, and its association with the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco.
 MSC Euribia (MSC) (MSC)__MSC Cruises confirms that MSC Euribia has departed Dubai, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, and is now en route to Northern Europe. The passage was completed in close coordination with the relevant authorities.
MSC Euribia is on course to resume her Northern Europe season, and as the ship will now be able to return sooner than previously anticipated, MSC Cruises confirms that the cruise departing on May 16 from Kiel (and May 17 from Copenhagen) will now operate as originally scheduled, with all subsequent sailings operating as planned. Guests whose cruises were cancelled will have the option to transfer their booking to this sailing should they wish, and will be contacted directly with further details from tomorrow.  Credit: Seatrade Cruise Global (Press Release) MIAMI, April 16, 2026 – F&B@Sea, the leading event dedicated to the cruise food and beverage community, concluded this year’s program with the 2026 F&B@Sea Awards, presented by Rémy Cointreau. The awards were an exciting ending to what has been a thought-provoking and highly successful edition of the show.
This year’s event united cruise lines, suppliers, and hospitality leaders from around the world to celebrate innovation, creativity, and excellence in onboard food and beverage. Held on the final day of F&B@Sea at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center in Miami, the Awards ceremony honored those redefining standards and raising the bar for F&B experiences across the industry  Keynote session (Courtesy of Seatrade)  Photo by Gerry Barker (Press Release) MIAMI, April 17, 2026 — Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 concluded at the Miami Beach Convention Center, bringing together cruise line executives, suppliers, and industry stakeholders from around the world for four days of collaboration, innovation, and forward-looking dialogue. Held from April 13–16, 2026 as the industry’s leading annual gathering, the event once again served as a platform for advancing key conversations shaping the future of cruise travel, with over 12,500 attendees from 125 countries, including over 85 cruise line brands, representing the global cruise ecosystem.
 MSC Poesia (MSC) (Press Release) MIAMI – April 9, 2026 – With one month to go until MSC Cruises’ inaugural Alaska sailing, MSC Poesia departed dry dock over the weekend, beginning the ship’s journey to Seattle for its first sailing season in the region. The summer 2026 season marks MSC Cruises’ first time sailing in Alaska, further expanding the brand’s presence in North America and bringing its signature blend of European style and American comfort to one of the world’s most sought-after cruise destinations.
 Read Our Review of MSC Grandiosa's Sailing From Port Canaveral
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