Iglu Cruise News - July 2025
July has already come to a close, if you can believe it, and that means a new edition of Iglu Cruise News is here for you to check out. A month where most of us enjoyed even more warm sunshine, England’s Lionesses triumphed with back-to-back Women’s Euros wins, and Superman himself returned to the big screen, the cruise industry was alive with announcements and updates; so, there really has been something for everyone to look forward to this month. There are also hundreds more cruise deals for you to dive into, with even more sailings to some of the world's most breathtaking destinations for you to book yourself onto.
If you want to make sure you’re clued up on these exciting announcements (the ones related to the cruise industry, anyway), we have rounded up the top highlights from July 2025 for you below.
A Monthly Roundup of the Biggest Cruise News
Celebrity Cruises confirms new venues aboard Celebrity Xcel
Ahead of its maiden voyage in November 2025, Celebrity Cruises has detailed four new experiences available on Celebrity Xcel, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy aboard this remarkable cruise ship.
The first of these is The Spa, which is being talked about as Celebrity Cruises’ most expansive spa experience yet. Boasting the fleet’s first Hydra Room in the SEA Thermal Suite, an expanded selection of destination-inspired spa treatments, a new Vitamin D Deck for lounging, and even more salon services to take advantage of, unwinding has never been easier!
You’ll also find the Celebrity Pool Club onboard when you embark on an upcoming adventure. This stylish space offers everyone the chance to enjoy all-day (and all-night) poolside experiences onboard, with entertainment, a pool valet service, and plenty of sun loungers to take advantage of. On the last sea day of each itinerary, this venue is also home to the Poolest Day Ever. This exciting party transforms the space with even more live entertainment and activities to enjoy.
Beyond this, Celebrity Xcel will also feature Attic at The Club – a new bar and games room with retro arcade games, pool tables, dart boards, and a bookable private event space for group activities – and the Flagship Store – a boutique retail experience that doubles as a Celebrity Cruises-focused museum exhibit. Bringing fresh experiences to the forefront of the onboard experience, an adventure on Celebrity Xcel is shaping up to be unforgettable.
Carnival Liberty returns with new venues and upgrades
Carnival Cruises’ Carnival Liberty has also recently finished a scheduled drydock, returning to active service with a variety of new updates and improvements.
In addition to the introduction of Carnival Cruises’ Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, a venue honouring military service members and their families that you’ll find across the fleet, Carnival Liberty now also boasts an improved WaterWorks aqua park, an improved spa with new salon stations and upgraded saunas, and an expanded casino venue. Younger cruisers can also look forward to enhanced amenities in Camp Ocean, new games in the video arcade, and upgrades to Club O2.
A transformational drydock, many of the ship’s other public areas have been refreshed too, bringing Carnival Liberty back to the highest standards. With Carnival Liberty cruises sailing throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas, an adventure aboard this ship just got a lot more enjoyable.
Princess Cruises adds new benefits to Plus and Premier packages
From 22 July, on voyages that depart from 14 January 2026, Princess Cruises’ customers can enjoy even more benefits with both Princess Plus and Princess Premier.
In addition to all the current benefits, guests with a Princess Plus package will be able to enjoy two more casual dining experiences. Meanwhile, the Princess Premier package will come with a new shore excursion credit bonus. Varying by the length of your voyage, with $100 available on voyages between six and nine days, $200 available on voyages between 10 and 20 days, and $300 on voyages that last more than 21 days, this bonus credit will make enjoying Princess Cruises’ exciting shore excursions even easier – and it makes grabbing Princess Premier even more rewarding. You can find out more about all of Princess Cruises’ fare packages right here.
TUI Bahareya gets an update ahead of maiden voyage
TUI River Cruises has confirmed that TUI Bahareya, which is due to embark on its maiden voyage along the River Nile in November 2025, is going to enjoy a few more new areas and facilities than initially thought. So, if you’re planning on exploring Egypt and northern Africa in the future, TUI Bahareya might just be the best river cruise ship to do just that.
Alongside the stylish Observatory Lounge and the welcoming Swimming Pool on the top deck, TUI Bahareya will also feature a unique Hetep wellness area and two Arabic-inspired dining venues – the main restaurant, Belhana, and Sofra, an al fresco dining experience on the Top Deck. In Hetep, you’ll be able to enjoy the fleet’s first sauna in the Egyptian fleet and couples massages. Meanwhile, both Belhana and Sofra will deliver exciting menus featuring regional dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible.
Other highlights include…
- Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man has swung onto the stern of Disney Cruise Line’s upcoming Disney Destiny, which is scheduled for delivery in late 2025
- Norwegian Cruise Line confirms an expansive new waterpark is coming to Great Stirrup Cay, its private island destination in the Bahamas
- Holland America Line is upgrading its entertainment offerings with more live music, new stage shows, and improved immersive cultural programming on its most popular ships
- More details about MSC Cruises’ MSC World Asia have been revealed, confirming that it will also feature venues like the Luna Park, The Harbour (although with an Asian theme), and the World Promenade – just like MSC World America and MSC World Europa
Iglu Cruises’ Top Blogs in July
During July, we continued adding to our river cruise blog series with two new blog posts: Douro River - Cruise Destination Focus, and River Cruising for Foodies: A Culinary Journey Through Europe. With one running through everything you could need to know about the Douro River, much like our other Cruise Destination Focus blogs on the Rhine and the Danube, you’ll be even more prepared when it comes to river cruising in Portugal. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to experience as many other cuisines as possible on your adventures, we’ve outlined the best river cruise destinations to do just that.
Book Your Next Getaway with Iglu Cruise Today
And, there it is; a quick rundown of this month’s major cruise news and what you can look forward to from the cruise industry in the future. With summer continuing to be a warm one, there’s never been a better time to hop on a cruise and explore the world with the ease and comfort a modern cruise ship affords. If you’re just looking for the latest cruise deals, you’ll find those right here. However, for those of you who want to dive into something else before booking, you can find a selection of other blog posts from the Iglu Cruise team below: