Iglu Cruise News - November 2025
Winter is well and truly upon us, and November has come to a close; so, not only is it time to start thinking about festive decorations, but it’s also time for another edition of Iglu Cruise News! This month has been a busy one for major cruise lines, and that’s not just because of the incredible selection of Black Friday deals available for a limited time. Below, you’ll find all the major announcements from the last month, exciting travel inspiration, and more.
So, without further ado, it’s time to settle in and check out the latest iteration of Iglu Cruise News!
A monthly round-up of the biggest cruise news
Dazzling Disney Destiny embarks on maiden voyage
The latest addition to Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, Disney Destiny, embarked on its maiden voyage earlier this month, departing from Fort Lauderdale in Florida for the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The third Wish-class cruise ship in Disney Cruise Line’s rapidly expanding fleet, Disney Destiny adopts a unique ‘Heroes and Villains’ theme. From the outside, you’ll spot a larger-than-life Spider-Man statue on the stern – the first Marvel hero to feature externally on a Disney Cruise Line ship. Within, you’ll find things like a statue of T’Challa (Marvel’s Black Panther) in the Grand Hall atrium space, a Haunted Mansion-themed bar, the Star Wars Cargo Bay interactive play space, and a sweet shop themed after The Incredibles’ Edna Mode!
Disney Destiny's Grand Hall, Haunted Mansion Parlor, Cask and Cannon, The Sanctum, Hero Zone
A cruise ship that leans much more heavily on Disney’s wider portfolio of characters and franchises than those that have set sail before it, Disney Destiny is sure to be a hit with fans of all ages. Not only does it cater to younger guests with onboard attractions like Fairytale Hall and The Incredibles’ Hero Zone, but older fans can look forward to drinks in the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Cask and Cannon, lounging in a space inspired by Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, and more. Truly a fantastic addition to Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, the cruise line’s focus is now shifting to Disney Adventure. Set to be the cruise line’s largest ship so far, Disney Adventure is due to enter service in March 2026. So, if you’re not entirely convinced by Disney Destiny just yet, watch this space – there’s a lot more to look forward to.
Exciting Celebrity Xcel sets sail for first time
Disney Destiny isn’t the only remarkable cruise ship to embark on its maiden voyage from Florida in November; Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel also welcomed its first guests last month. Sailing from Port Everglades, heading for Cozumel in Mexico and the Western Caribbean, Celebrity Xcel invites cruisers to enjoy an incredible onboard experience featuring familiar favourites and new innovations, elevating Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class even further. Home to an abundance of impressive attractions everyone can enjoy, inviting social spaces with engaging entertainment to look forward to, and refined dining experiences exploring cuisines from around the world, you’ll certainly have no trouble keeping yourself busy while onboard.
Iglu Cruise commercial manager Jack Bennett was fortunate enough to spend some time aboard Celebrity Xcel earlier this month; check out some of his snaps below!
Celebrity Xcel is also home to Celebrity Cruises’ now-iconic Magic Carpet, a cantilevered floating platform on the side of the ship that features a stylish bar space and entertainment area, alongside fresh experiences like The Bazaar, Attic At The Club, and Celebrity Pool Club. In The Bazaar, the lines between ship and shore are blurred in the best way, and you’ll find incredible dining and entertainment inspired by the destinations around you here. Meanwhile, Attic At The Club is a modern sports bar with engaging games that position itself perfectly for anyone after some friendly competition.
Oh, and here are a few more snaps of Jack's time on Celebrity Xcel, showcasing even more areas of this spectacular ship.
The Celebrity Pool Club, to counter these, is somewhere where the pool days are so good, you’ll never want them to end. A stylish outside space with a welcoming swimming pool, shaded seating areas, and personalised service to look forward to, this is the perfect place to soak up the sunshine while sailing. With a refined spa space and vibrant Rooftop Garden area adding to the fresh experiences available onboard, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to when it comes to adventures aboard Celebrity Xcel.
Several major cruise lines confirm fleet expansions
If the thrilling launch of Celebrity Xcel wasn’t enough excitement for Celebrity Cruises fans, November saw this cruise line reveal Celebrity Xcite: a new cruise ship designed to excite every sense. Set to debut in 2028, details are light regarding Celebrity Xcite. However, Celebrity Cruises has confirmed that this will be another Edge Class cruise ship. So, alongside the cantilevered Magic Carpet, expect Celebrity Xcite to offer an elevated onboard experience with innovative attractions, refined dining options, and engaging entertainment that everyone can enjoy.
Adding to this, MSC Cruises also confirmed the order of two new World Class cruise ships this month. Joining MSC World America, MSC World Asia, MSC World Europa, and MSC World Atlantic, these ships will see MSC Cruises’ World Class fleet expand to eight ships by 2031. At the moment, the fifth and sixth ships joining MSC Cruises’ World Class fleet are also unnamed, so there are a lot of exciting announcements on the way in the coming months (and years). We don’t know a lot about these as-of-now unnamed ships yet, but they’re certain to be exciting if MSC Cruises’ current World Class cruise ships are anything to go on.
And, if that wasn’t enough, Oceania Cruises also unveiled Oceania Sonata this month. Set to embark on its maiden voyage in 2027, this is expected to be the first of four Sonata-class cruise ships, marking an exciting moment in the evolution of Oceania Cruises’ fleet. Designed to be the most spacious ship in the fleet to date, with approximately 30% of staterooms designated as suites, Oceania Sonata will offer 10 refined dining experiences. Little else is known about this cruise ship at the moment, but expect some interesting announcements in the coming months.
That’s far from all the news from November; you’ll find a few more highlights below:
- Azamara Cruises has unveiled a new pre-cruise booking system for speciality dining and spa services, giving guests the chance to secure their spot for these exciting experiences before setting sail. This should give everyone more flexibility and easier access to some of the services available onboard moving forward.
- Juneau tourism director Alexandra Pierce confirms cruises to Alaska visiting Juneau aren’t going to get busier, despite expansion to existing cruise docks. The negotiated cruise ship limit is set to remain in place, and infrastructure improvements are set to make this incredible destination even more exciting to visit in the future.
- Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery and Marella Voyager both began routine drydocks in November. With both ships enjoying routine maintenance and technical improvements, guests can expect a refreshed experience when they embark from December onwards.
Our top blog posts in November
The Iglu Cruise creative team has also been busy this November, sharing a whole host of interesting travel blogs about vegan-friendly holiday hotspots, travel destinations based on your favourite festive flicks, and the itineraries you need to keep an eye on heading into the New Year and beyond.
Aside from exploring the best cruises in 2026 and the best cruises in 2027, here are the highlights of Iglu Cruise’s blog posts throughout November:
- River cruising on a budget - tips and tricks
- Top 10 vegan-friendly cities in Europe
- Five reasons to spend Christmas on a cruise ship
- Top 5 travel destinations based on your favourite Christmas film
If you’re already feeling inspired to take advantage of some last-minute cruise deals, be sure to check out our selection of the best Christmas cruise deals right here. You’ll also find the hottest Black Friday deals right here; be sure to book soon, though, they’re only available for a limited time!
Book your next exciting getaway with Iglu Cruise today
Are you ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime? From luxury cruises and solo adventures to family getaways and short breaks in some of the world’s best places, you’ll find a fantastic selection of cruise deals available with Iglu Cruise. To elevate your experience further, be sure to browse some of the best all-inclusive cruises here and our collection of handcrafted cruise and stay packages right here.
For more travel inspiration, here are a few blogs from the Iglu Cruise creative team you may have missed in recent months: