Iglu Cruise News - October 2025
In the blink of an eye, Halloween has arrived, and October has come to an end. With the sun setting even earlier, and temperatures continuing to drop as winter fast-approaches, there’s never been a better time to embark on a cruise somewhere sunny. Before you rush to start packing your bags, though, another iteration of Iglu Cruise News is here – and it’s packed with interesting information, travel inspiration, and more.
So, starting with a run-down of the biggest cruise industry news, and then a deep dive into everything the Iglu Cruise creative team has been working on this month, let’s get stuck into October’s Iglu Cruise News!
A monthly round-up of the biggest cruise news
Royal Caribbean reveals new private resort destination
Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean confirmed plans to open a brand-new private resort-style destination in Santorini – a stunning Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Set to open in 2026, Royal Beach Club Santorini is an exciting addition to Royal Caribbean’s already impressive collection of exclusive private cruise destinations; this is something the cruise line hopes to expand even further in the coming years, with a total of eight locations planned by 2028.
Continuing Royal Caribbean’s commitment to delivering unforgettable and exclusive cruise experiences around the world, while also aiming to highlight everything exciting about this bucket list destination, Royal Beach Club Santorini will form an integral part of an expansive experience that encourages cruisers to fully explore this remarkable island. From its iconic blue-domed churches and white-washed walls to an abundance of intriguing local arts and fresh, flavourful foods, Santorini is simply idyllic; this is certain to be a fantastic addition to Royal Caribbean’s Mediterranean cruises in 2026 and beyond.
Princess Cruises wins big at World Culinary Awards
Cruising as a foodie is fantastic, with cruise ships often offering an impressive range of sensational cuisines and fine dining experiences alongside the chance to visit varied destinations, which afford you the opportunity to indulge in flavourful foods that are authentically prepared in local restaurants and dining spots. While there are very few bad dining experiences available on cruise ships, there are certainly some that stand out as a cut above, and the World Culinary Awards has identified one cruise ship that excels when it comes to delivering an exquisite culinary experience: Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess.
A modern, mid-sized cruise ship launched by then-Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton in 2013, Royal Princess has been voted the World’s Best Culinary Cruise Ship in 2025, a prestigious award that is decided by the culinary community, industry experts, and cruisers from around the world.
On this impressive award, Sami Kohen, Princess Cruises’ vice president of food and beverage, had the following to say: “Being honored as the world’s best culinary cruise ship is an incredible achievement and a true testament to the dedication and creativity of our entire food and beverage team… From our culinary and wine partnerships to our focus on fresh, locally inspired ingredients, we’re proud to deliver memorable dining moments that create exceptional sailing memories.”
Royal Princess is home to a plethora of excellent dining options, though the following are among the highlights:
- Crown Grill - Princess Cruises’ signature steakhouse, Crown Grill boasts classical elegance with an open kitchen and a menu featuring premium aged beef and fresh seafood
- Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria - a stylish restaurant featuring a refreshed menu inspired by Frescobaldi, Italy’s legendary Tuscan winemakers, Sabatini’s prides itself on delivering flavourful food expertly paired with Frescobaldi’s finest wines
- Chef’s Table Lumiere - this dining experience is home to meticulously-crafted multi-course menus and Champagne toasts, an extravagant evening meal hosted by the ship’s executive chef
- Alfredo’s Pizzaria - voted “Best Pizza at Sea”, you’ll have the chance to enjoy incredible hand-crafted pizzas in this stylish spot
- Caymus Winemaker’s Dinner - during this dining experience, you’ll indulge in chef-curated multi-course evening meals perfectly paired with wines from the iconic Napa Valley winery Caymus Vineyards
If you want to enjoy this award-winning culinary experience yourself, you’ll find a fantastic selection of upcoming Royal Princess cruise deals right here.
Major cruise lines confirm new ships are coming
This month has also been an important one for new ship announcements, with Celebrity Cruises and Scenic among the cruise lines confirming exciting expansions to their existing fleets are coming.
Following the delivery of Celebrity Xcel and the successful launch of Celebrity River Cruises, Celebrity Cruises has unveiled Celebrity Xcite: a new Edge Series ship scheduled to set sail in 2028. Details on what to expect from Celebrity Xcite are light right now, but Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series is an evolution of traditional cruising that continues to innovate and deliver incredible experiences with itineraries sailing to some of the world’s most exciting destinations. So, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Adding to this, Scenic has unveiled Scenic Ikon, an incredible addition to its growing fleet of ultra-luxury discovery yachts set to sail in 2028.
With its own helicopter programme and custom-built submersible, Scenic Ikon will continue this cruise line’s commitment to delivering extraordinary expedition cruise experiences in some of the world’s most breathtaking regions, while also ensuring the onboard experience available is second-to-none. Onboard, you’ll encounter extensive wellness facilities, innovative entertainment spaces, and elevated dining experiences – much like you would aboard Scenic’s other ultra-luxury yacht-style ships. Scenic Ikon also boasts new venues, such as Textura and Summa, which offer more vibrant cuisines onboard.
That’s far from everything that has happened throughout October; you’ll find a few more highlights below:
- With noctourism on the rise, a travel trend that focuses on nighttime experiences, Seabourn is introducing new After-Dark Experiences to its selection of shore excursions in 2026; these include exclusive nighttime concerts at the ancient Odeon theatre in Ephesus, night snorkelling experiences in Hawaii, and evening experiences at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania – just to name a few
- Royal Caribbean has confirmed that its upcoming ship, Legend of the Seas, will feature the cruise line’s first two-storey casino venue; this comes alongside news that Harmony of the Seas’ casino venue will also be improved during a refit scheduled for 2026
- Carnival Mardi Gras has set sail once more, following an extensive drydock that saw it receive a number of interesting enhancements; these include new retail venues, an expanded casino space, and improved accessibility in both public spaces and cabins
- MSC Cruises has confirmed that its upcoming launch, MSC World Asia, will feature the fleet’s most extensive selection of MSC Yacht Club suites yet, something that includes the brand-new Royal Duplex Suite: a two-bedroom, two-storey space with a private balcony and whirlpool bath to enjoy
- Norwegian Cruise Line is set to stop honouring its drinks packages on Great Stirrup Cay, among the best private island destinations out there right now, in March 2026; while complimentary beverages will still be available, this announcement comes with confirmation that a new drinks package, which will include Great Stirrup Cay, will be available
Our top blog posts in October
October hasn’t just been a busy month for the cruise lines; the Iglu Cruise creative team has also shared a fantastic selection of interesting blogs for you to read throughout the month.
From travel inspiration for gluten-free foodies and P&O Cruises’ latest launch to digital detox destinations and more, we’ve touched on a whole host of topics throughout October. Below, you’ll find the highlights:
- Cruising Canada and Alaska - Everything you need to know
- The ultimate guide to digital detox travel
- River Seine - Cruise Destination Focus
- Gluten-free travel - the top destinations for those who avoid gluten
We know it might seem a little early to some, but this month has also seen the Iglu Cruise creative team share several Christmas-focused blogs. Informative and inspirational, these data-led reports are a fantastic resource for those looking to travel during the holiday season. Check them out below:
- Extreme day tripping: your ultimate festive itinerary - 5 Christmas destinations
- Top river cruise destinations for Christmas markets
That’s not all, though; beyond this, October also saw us speak to two Iglu Cruise customers who recently won a competition, winning a sensational Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity Cruises. Sailing to remarkable destinations like La Spezia, Cagliari, and Portofino aboard Celebrity Apex, this exciting experience is not one you want to miss. If, though, you’re wondering what it’s really like to cruise with Celebrity, you’ll find our competition winners’ thoughts on their incredible adventure right here: Meet our competition winner | Terry and Margaret’s Mediterranean adventure with Celebrity Apex
You can also find the latest Celebrity Apex cruise deals right here, if you're ready to embark on your own adventure!
Book your next adventure with Iglu Cruise today
Inspired to travel somewhere new in the coming months? From solo adventures and luxury cruises to family fun and everything in between, you'll find an incredible selection of cruise deals available with Iglu Cruise. You'll also find a fantastic selection of all-inclusive cruise deals, bespoke cruise and stay packages, and so much more.
For more inspiration and information, though, check out the following from the Iglu Cruise creative team: