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They Had Paid to Live on a Cruise for 15 Years, Only to Be Abandoned in Cambodia

October 30, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

More than 200 passengers who had paid to live aboard a cruise ship were disembarked and left behind during a port call at Sihanoukville, Cambodia, it emerged on Wednesday from independent sources.

Odyssey, a nearly 200-meter-long liner, had departed Northern Ireland in October 2024 for a voyage during which residents could buy or lease cabins for vacations or for living aboard, some passengers even selling all their possessions to be able to afford it. But during a scheduled call at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville, passengers were given only seven hours to pack and depart, according to Long Dimanche, vice-governor of Preah Sihanouk Province (south).

A Dream of Life at Sea Comes to a Brutal Halt

In a statement, he indicated that 203 passengers and 156 crew members had boarded the ship flying the Bahamas flag on October 23, coming from Thailand, and were to travel to Vietnam. Some passengers took flights to leave the area while others stayed in the town, he noted, adding that the ship itself was due to refuel and sail again on October 31.

American Randy Cassingham and his wife Kit had been aboard the vessel since its departure from Belfast in October 2024, after paying around $1 million for this all-inclusive voyage they hoped would last at least fifteen years.

“It was great, for a while”, Cassingham told AFP by telephone from his hotel in Sihanoukville. “My wife and I really love traveling. But we hate airports and airlines. It was a way to pack once, (…) and wake up in a new place almost every day.” Disembarked by force in Cambodia, he says he has no regrets, telling AFP that, “regardless of money, it was a fantastic adventure”.

Carol Larson, a 69-year-old Californian, told AFP that she had initially paid $120,000 for her cabin – not counting monthly maintenance fees – for a voyage that was meant to last fifteen years or for the ship’s lifetime. But after only a year and a half, she and a friend are now “stuck” on land in Sihanoukville. “I place the greatest blame on (U.S. President Donald) Trump” for the wars in the Middle East. “But there has probably also been some not-so-sound accounting”, she said. Nevertheless, the voyage “was well worth it”.

According to Randy Cassingham, who runs a cruise-focused blog, the disembarkation order followed a “cascade of problems”. In an article titled “Abandon Ship!”, he recounts that the Belfast launch had been delayed by four months, and that the ship never reached its maximum capacity of 650 residents, the ceiling being around 350.

Rising Fuel Costs Strain the Operator

The American operator of the Odyssey, Villa Vie Residences, said on Tuesday that it had “suspended its activities in Cambodia” as it grapples with “exceptional” increases in fuel costs stemming from the war in Iran. Villa Vie indicated that monthly fuel expenses per cabin had risen from an average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000–$8,000 in parts of Asia. “The company cannot simply pass on such large increases to residents, and the resulting deficit has placed an unsustainable financial burden on its current operating model”, it stated.

Barbara Figiel, 62, and her husband had been passengers on the Odyssey since late 2024. “I’ve always said, when I retire, I want to live on a cruise ship”, she told AFP. But over the last four months, “we knew something wasn’t right because they kept asking us for money again and again”, lamented this former UN employee. “I don’t think we were victims of a scam. We were offered a wonderful lifestyle, but they underestimated the costs.”

M. Cassingham accuses the company of having “absolutely nothing” done to help the passengers stranded in Sihanoukville, saying they were taken to the town center and left there, without even a hotel list.

Villa Vie did not respond to AFP’s questions, but stated in a press release that it “is working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary housing solutions”.

Marseille-Provence Cruise Celebrates 30th Anniversary and Plans for the Future

October 28, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Patrick Pourbaix (MSC Croisières France), Jean-François Suhas, Jacques Truau et Jacques Hardelay (les 3 présidents successifs de Marseille Provence Croisière), Danielle Milon (Provence Tourisme), Hervé Martel (GPMM) et Jean-Luc Chauvin (CCI Aix Marseille Provence) réunis à bord du MSC Meraviglia pour les 30 ans de l'association - Photo : AB

PONANT

He received a standing ovation. While “90 years knock at his door,” Jacques Truau, founder-president of the Club of Marseille Provence Cruise, which became in 2023 Marseille Provence Croisière, was present alongside Jacques Hardelay and Jean-François Suhas, respectively president and deputy president of the association, on Monday October 12, 2026 aboard the MSC Meraviglia, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the “Club.”

A project he carried forward with his teams and partners for nearly twenty years, at a time when only a few in the early 1990s could see, as he did, the potential of Marseille as a “cruise destination.”

“In his work Terre des Hommes, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote that a man faces an obstacle, measures it when he stands before it. And that to master or reach it, he must create a tool… Hence the birth of the Club de la Croisière,” thus introduced Jacques Truau.

It must be noted—with context—that at the start of the 1990s, the Port of Marseille-Fos was undergoing a period of profound social turbulence, marked by the crisis of the port-handling reform.

In that challenging context, a few players perceived the potential of a still-nascent activity in the Mediterranean: cruising. Thus, in 1993, when Marseille was barely hosting 11,606 passengers, fourteen institutional and professional actors signed the Cruise Charter.

The Cruise Club, Jacques Truau’s Bold Bet

Three years later, in 1996, the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the City of Marseille and the Port Authority of Marseille joined forces to create the Cruise Club, driven by its founding president, Jacques Truau.

The bet was far from won, because convincing international cruise lines, developing infrastructure, professionalizing the welcome, and gradually uniting the entire region around this new activity all had to be accomplished.

But behind the scenes, Jacques Truau was already at work. Since 1994, he was trying to persuade Pippo Costa, CEO of Costa Croisières and son of the company’s founder, to call at Marseille. “When I suggested Marseille as a base, at a time when he had some Mediterranean cruise development projects, he told me: ‘But coming to Marseille, Mr. Truau, you must not even think of it! Never, even if you offered me free cruises, I would not set foot in Marseille’ ,” recalled the honorary president of Marseille Provence Croisière.

A few months later, however, while passing through Marseille, Pippo Costa saw the city evolving… in the right direction. “Dominique Vlasto, the tourism deputy at Marseille city hall under Jean-Claude Gaudin, had the brilliant idea of redoing the quay pavements and dressing the restaurant terraces in deep blue,” continued Jacques Truau.

A proof for Costa Croisières that the city was working toward its rehabilitation.

Thus, in May 1996, the Costa Romantica inaugurated seven-day Mediterranean cruises from Marseille (a month earlier, Royal Caribbean International’s Splendour of the Seas had already docked at the port). “Every Saturday, when the Costa liner came into Marseille at four o’clock in the morning, we had to walk the docks to ensure that no obstacle—still more obstacles—would paralyze the calls,” added Jacques Truau.

Marseille Provence Croisière: A Site for Collective Construction

In 1997, MSC Cruises joined Marseille, while in 1998 Norwegian Cruise Line docked at the Léon Gourret pier for eleven calls on the head line route.

“At the time, cruising did not yet occupy the place it now holds in the maritime and tourist economy of our territory,” stressed Hervé Martel, chairman of the board of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille. “It was necessary to unite energies, make a port, a city, and a chamber of commerce work together, but also bring together companies, tourism professionals, and all the economic players of the area. It was necessary to pool skills and build a shared ambition.

Thirty years later, that ambition has borne fruit. It has allowed the club to become, over the years, much more than a promotional tool. It is a place of dialogue, coordination, and collective construction, where port, tourism, economic, industrial, and institutional logics converge,” he summarized.

For the history of Marseille Provence Croisière is intrinsically linked to that of the port and its transformation. To currently welcome more than 2.6 million passengers annually, major investments had to be made, notably the creation of successive welcome infrastructures, up to the inauguration of the Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal (MPCT).

On the J4 quay, opposite the MUCEM, a provisional passenger terminal will soon be put into service while awaiting a durable terminal not before 2028.

Also note the renovation of the Forme 10, the provision of free shuttles inside the port for excursion passengers, and, more closely, the shore power connection for ships at berth (CENAQ), with four years’ lead time ahead of European directives.

The Ecological Transition, A Colossal Project

Jacques Hardelay, Jacques Truau et Jean-François Suhas, les 3 présidents successifs de Marseille Provence Croisière, autour de Jean-Luc Chauvin, président de la CCI Aix Marseille Provence - Photo : AB

A project that, like the ecological transition of cruising, has been the flagship issue of Marseille Provence Croisière’s second president, Jean-François Suhas.

Under his presidency, from 2015 to 2025, Marseille Provence Croisière inaugurated a new format, the Blue Maritime Summit, which brought together international players in the sector around the energy and environmental transition.

This momentum led notably to the Blue Charter, then to the Mediterranean Sustainable Cruise Charter and to the Durable Stopovers Commitments. “The commitments made in recent years and the investments carried out show that a profound transformation is possible when all stakeholders move forward together. Our responsibility today is to continue this momentum and ensure that cruise development is fully compatible with the environmental and societal expectations of the territory,” reminded the current deputy president aboard the Meraviglia.

During his ten years at the helm, the port’s pilot had to confront many detractors, starting with the City Hall, which withdrew its subsidies from the association, denouncing an polluting industry.

Today, the new president of Marseille Provence Croisière, Jacques Hardelay, does not lose hope for a rapprochement with the City. “There is a renewed dialogue, because our stance is somewhat different, largely thanks to the on-shore electrical connection.
Previously, the discussion focused only on pollution. That issue masked everything else. Now that pollution is largely under control with shore power, we can talk about everything else: the economic impact on the city, how to manage passenger flows, and above all how to build something together,” he said.

Achieving 100% Clean Stopovers by 2030

The association’s third president – which currently brings together 104 members – intends to evolve the cruise sector’s development model, based on its “Horizon 2030” plan and its three priorities: environmental commitment, territorial integration, and competitiveness.

“Our objective is clear, precise and ambitious: to achieve 100% clean stopovers by 2030. This objective is primarily for the residents of Marseille, but also for the women and men who sustain our territory,” he emphasized.

Yet despite ecological performance targets, “our vision has changed profoundly,” the president continued. “As you may have seen, we have almost tripled the number of passengers in 13 years (in 2013, Marseille reached one million cruise passengers, ndlr), but the number of stopovers rose only 50% because the ships have grown much larger.”

This realization guided the evolution of the Club’s strategic roadmap. “For the first time in our history, we deliberately chose not to set any numerical attendance targets.
As I often say, our absolute priority is no longer to do more cruises, but to do better. That means better distributing passenger flows to encourage longer stays ashore during port calls and preserving the quality of life for the people of Marseille. It also means working to integrate decarbonized mobility, such as electric buses for excursions; but also to maximize local added value rather than simply increasing quantity.”

The latest example of this strategy: the opening of a flight link between Marseille and New York in 2027, operated by United Airlines. “An example of successful collaboration with the airport and evidence that we are pursuing quality, with the ambition of having a new terminal at J4 in 2028, which would attract cruises of even higher quality,” stated Jacques Hardelay.

If today the provisional J4 terminal can handle 200 passengers, the aim is to accommodate a thousand. “Thanks to the Marseille-New York link, shipowners are showing interest in J4, with this arrival opposite the MUCEM, but only if we can welcome 1,000 passengers. All of this is being put in place,” adds the president of Marseille Provence Croisière.

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croisiere, jacques hardelay, jean francois suhas, marseille, marseille provence croisiere

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Superb reportage. Bravo Madam

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Cruise Industry: CLIA Updates on New Environmental Technologies

October 14, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

CLIA relève des progrès dans les technologies environnementales - Depositphotos.com Auteur ml12nan

CroisiEurope

Selon les données de CLIA 30 navires de compagnies membres disposent aujourd’hui de moteurs polycarburants, contre un seul en 2018.

Ces systèmes doivent permettre aux navires de basculer vers des carburants à émissions nulles ou quasi nulles lorsque ceux-ci seront disponibles à grande échelle.

Le carnet de commandes d’août 2026 prévoit 31 navires polycarburants en service d’ici fin 2026 et 56 d’ici 2030. À l’horizon 2039, le rapport estime que 69 navires pourraient disposer de cette technologie.

En parallèle, la part du fioul lourd (HFO) dans la consommation déclarée des navires de croisière est passée de 74,2 % en 2019 à 60,6 % en 2024, tandis que les carburants autres que le HFO ont progressé de 25,8 % à 39,4 %.

CLIA estime leur part à 40,3 % pour ses compagnies membres en 2025.

L’alimentation électrique à quai progresse

Le raccordement à l’alimentation électrique à quai (OPS) constitue également un axe de développement.

Le nombre de navires des compagnies membres de CLIA capables de se connecter à ces installations est passé de 55 en 2018 à 193 en 2026, soit 65 % des navires déclarants et 72,5 % de la capacité déclarée.

47 navires doivent par ailleurs être rétrofités et 39 nouveaux navires doivent intégrer cette technologie dès leur construction. À l’horizon 2039, environ 279 navires pourraient disposer d’une capacité OPS.

L’enjeu dépend toutefois également des infrastructures portuaires : actuellement, seuls 40 ports dans le monde, soit moins de 3 %, disposent d’au moins un quai de croisière équipé d’un système OPS.

Le rapport relève également une généralisation des équipements permettant aux navires de produire leur eau douce à bord. 293 navires, soit 98,7 % des navires déclarants, disposent de cette capacité. Parmi eux, 218 peuvent théoriquement produire 100 % de leurs besoins en eau douce à bord.

Côté traitement des eaux usées, l’ensemble des navires de croisière membres de CLIA actuellement en service dispose de systèmes de traitement à bord. 249 navires sont équipés de systèmes avancés de traitement des eaux usées (AWTS), contre 136 en 2018.

Une flotte majoritairement composée de navires de petite et moyenne taille

En août 2026, les 45 compagnies de croisière en mer membres de CLIA exploitent au total 327 navires, représentant environ 692 000 lits et plus de 90 % de la capacité mondiale de croisière océanique.

La majorité de la flotte, soit 72 % des navires, compte moins de 3 000 lits. Cette répartition devrait rester relativement stable jusqu’en 2039, même si la part des grands navires doit progresser de 28,3 % en 2026 à 31,8 % à cette échéance.

Le rapport souligne enfin la progression des dispositifs de gestion des déchets, avec notamment 137 navires équipés de digesteurs microbiens pour traiter les déchets alimentaires, contre 103 en 2022.

Publié par Amelia Brille Rédactrice TourMaG.com
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Ambassador Cruise Line Launches in Germany with the Oceania Sirena

October 14, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Ambassador Cruise Line se lance en Allemagne avec l’Oceania Sirena - Depositphotos.com Auteur sasaperic

CroisiEurope

Déjà présente en France avec Ambassador Croisières, l’ex-Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC), Ambassador Cruise Line poursuit son expansion européenne et annonce son arrivée sur le marché allemand.

Ambassador Cruise Line announces the acquisition of the Oceania Sirena, which will join its fleet in 2028 under the name Ambella. With a capacity of around 670 passengers, the ship will be the first to operate for the new German brand Ambassador Kreuzfahrten.

Launched in the summer of 2028, the program will be offered exclusively to adults and will be based on a fully German-language offering. The ship will have home ports Bremerhaven and Kiel, with itineraries in Northern Europe and the Baltic states, as well as a few calls in Southern Europe.

The operation is designed to allow Ambassador to enter the continent’s primary source market for cruising, which counts more than 2.8 million cruise-goers each year according to the group. Sales of the German program are expected to open in November 2026.

Outside the German off-season, the Ambella will also host Semester at Sea programs, as part of a ten-year partnership with the Institute for Shipboard Education. The ship will thus serve as a floating campus from September to April, starting in the autumn of 2028.

CruisePro Set to Expand the French Cruise Market

October 14, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

CroisiEurope

Fifteen brands, but not fifteen companies doomed to compete for the same passengers.

For Emmanuel Joly, head of Cruisepro, the breadth of the portfolio is, on the contrary, the main lever for the growth of the general travel agency in France. « All of our brands meet demand without cannibalizing each other », he asserts.

Royal Caribbean targets families and fans of large ships, Virgin Voyages targets adults, while Celebrity Cruises occupies the premium segment.

Cunard cherishes its maritime heritage, NCL leans toward a more relaxed offering, and Azamara focuses on destination immersion.

Cruisepro also covers luxury and ultra-luxury with Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn, Crystal Cruises or Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. AmaWaterways finally enables its presence on the river cruise segment.

Cruisepro: deals with networks “in the works”

The proliferation of brands is therefore not aimed at repartitioning the existing client base. It is intended to widen the market by offering responses to profiles and budgets that are very different.

To achieve this, Cruisepro wants to strengthen its ties with travel agencies. Emmanuel Joly notes that signatures with several distribution networks are currently in the works.

The reservation calendar makes this collaboration all the more strategic.

Despite the growth of last-minute sales, driven, he says, by geopolitical uncertainties, the manager recalls that it is generally necessary to book nine to eighteen months before departure to obtain the best terms and preserve a real choice of cabins.

The work with distributors must therefore begin well before boarding. It involves training, product briefings, and the ability to direct each client toward the cruise line that truly matches their expectations.

Cruisepro also aims to bring cruising out of its circle of regulars. “We must reach clients who take exotic trips”, says Emmanuel Joly. In other words, persuade travelers who already travel far but have not yet considered the ship as a way to discover.

New Developments as Proof by Example

The 2027 programming must give agents talking points. Royal Caribbean will position Mariner of the Seas departing from Barcelona on itineraries that travel through the Costa del Sol, Casablanca, Tangier and Portugal. A way to combine time onboard with a sequence of calls rarely gathered on a single Western Mediterranean cruise.

Celebrity Cruises will again offer a seven-night Iceland circuit aboard the Celebrity Silhouette. Cunard, for its part, will focus on a transatlantic crossing between Le Havre and New York on June 25, 2027, aboard the Queen Mary 2. The ship will have just emerged from a renovation carried out in Brest and will feature a French-speaking accompaniment.

NCL will launch in April 2027 the Norwegian Aura, touted as the largest ship ever built for the company. Oceania Cruises will inaugurate the Oceania Sonata in August of the same year, while developing culinary-themed cruises.

On the more exotic segments, Cruisepro can rely on Azamara’s long voyages and the expedition cruises of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. In the river segment, AmaWaterways will reinforce its departures on the Magdalena River, in Colombia, with two 60-passenger vessels and calls in Mompox, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Published by Laurent Guéna Journalist – TourMaG.com
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Hurtigruten Signature Cruises: The Second Pillar of Norway’s Cruise Offer

October 13, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Ce sommet, organisé par la compagnie, concerne directement le marché français. "Hurtigruten considère la France comme un marché en progression et souhaite poursuivre son développement auprès des distributeurs.", insiste Christine Bois.Photo : Tourmag

CroisiEurope

From September 22 to 25, Hurtigruten hosted nearly 200 partners from its various markets aboard the MS Trollfjord.

From Bergen to Oslo, the Global VIP Partner Summit at Sea combined strategy briefings, product discoveries, visits and excursions. All of it with a central idea, to enable distributors to better understand the experience they offer to their clients.

For Christine Bois-Beauval, Director France and Benelux of Hurtigruten, the objective was notably to “inspire confidence” in partners.

A démarche qui prend tout son sens pour les croisières Signature, une gamme lancée en 2023 en complément de l’Express Côtier.

“Where the historic product remains tied to the Norwegian coastal itinerary, Signature seeks more to highlight exploration, longer calls, and onshore activities. We want distributors to be able to experience the product themselves before marketing it.” adds her.

From the Coastal Express to Signature, an expanding offering

« L’Express Côtier, c’est l’ADN de Hurtigruten », rappelle Christine Bois-Beauval. La compagnie entend donc conserver cette identité tout en développant une gamme complémentaire.

Signature propose notamment des itinéraires plus orientés vers l’expérience, avec des escales plus longues et davantage de possibilités d’excursions.

Randonnée, kayak, vélo électrique ou sorties accompagnées par les équipes d’expédition font partie des activités mises en avant.

Le sommet organisé à bord du Trollfjord a précisément permis aux distributeurs de comprendre cette différence en la vivant eux-mêmes. Les conférences sur les paysages et la géologie des fjords, les présentations sur la culture sámi, les excursions à Kristiansand ou encore les interventions consacrées aux aurores boréales n’étaient donc pas seulement destinées à animer le programme. Elles correspondaient aux différents ateliers proposés à leurs clients.

An offering that expands to multiply sales opportunities

This strategy also explains why Hurtigruten continues to broaden its programming.

Among the products already offered, the Nordkapp Line, departing from Oslo toward the Svalbard region, and the Nordland Line, departing from Bergen, notably enable Hurtigruten to extend its reach into the Arctic and the autumn and winter seasons.

The program is especially enriched by three new offerings. Odyssey at the Heart of the Fjords, eight days from Bergen, provides a journey through the great fjords of southwestern Norway. The Arctic Route, between Copenhagen and Tromsø, opens a new gateway to the High North. Finally, the Boreal Odyssey, departing from Tromsø, places greater emphasis on the Arctic experience and the Northern Lights.

Through this extension of the range, Hurtigruten aims to keep its must-have products while multiplying sales opportunities for distributors with different durations, different territories and especially different seasons.

Making Norway a four-season destination

Behind these new routes lies a second strategy: de-seasonalization.

Hurtigruten aims to make Norway a destination that sells year-round, based on experiences that vary with the seasons.

If summer remains associated with the fjords, long days and the Midnight Sun, autumn and winter allow in particular to highlight snowy landscapes and the Northern Lights, especially sought after from late September to March.

Gastronomy as a selling point

Gastronomy was also among the elements the company wished to highlight. Partners could discover the Trollfjord’s three restaurants: Flora, the main dining room; Røst, more oriented toward gastronomy; and Árran, dedicated to Sámi cuisine.

The topic particularly caught the attention of French partners. Cheeses, beers, seaweed and seafood products were presented during tastings and meals.

Hurtigruten also emphasizes its local sourcing and notes that more than 80 % of the foods served at table come from local producers.

The Cruise Gains Momentum at Amplitudes [ABO]

September 29, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Le voyagiste privilégie les petites unités, les navires d’expédition et les catamarans, plus conformes à son positionnement haut de gamme, voire désormais très haut de gamme @Deposit-Photos - Yobro 10

CroisiEurope

L’année n’est pas terminée, mais Amplitudes a déjà largement dépassé son meilleur résultat d’avant-Covid dans la croisière.

« Avant le Covid, notre meilleure année représentait environ un million d’euros de volume d’affaires. En 2026, nous atteignons déjà près de 1,7 million d’euros, soit une progression de plus de 75 % », indique Laura Martinez, directrice générale d’Amplitudes.

Cette croissance récompense le travail réalisé cette année par le voyagiste. La rubrique croisière de son site internet a été entièrement refondue, tandis qu’une personne dédiée à la production a remis à plat et actualisé les différents produits.

Les conseillers, spécialisés par destination, ont parallèlement été formés aux croisières proposées dans les régions qu’ils connaissent.

From a specialized shop to a shared expertise

Laura Martinez, directrice générale d'Amplitudes @Amplitudes

La croisière n’est pourtant pas nouvelle chez Amplitudes. Il y a une dizaine d’années, elle était déjà vendue ponctuellement, généralement comme une composante d’un voyage plus large.

Le voyagiste décide d’accélérer en 2017 en ouvrant à Toulouse une boutique entièrement consacrée à ce produit.

L’expérience prend fin en 2023, lorsque la responsable de la boutique quitte le secteur. La difficulté à recruter un profil possédant une connaissance suffisamment large des compagnies conduit Amplitudes à revoir son organisation. La boutique redevient généraliste et la croisière est confiée aux différents spécialistes destinations.

« Nous sommes sortis du système reposant sur un référent. Aujourd’hui, la croisière est vendue par tous nos conseillers, et en particulier par ceux qui ont une affinité avec ce produit », explique Laura Martinez.

Une réorganisation qui n’a donc pas freiné les ventes. « Cela nous a incités à redistribuer les cartes entre nos spécialistes. Finalement, le pari a été plutôt payant, puisque nous enregistrons une véritable croissance du chiffre d’affaires sur ces produits. »

A deliberately tightened offer

Amplitudes ne cherche pas à référencer l’ensemble du marché. Le voyagiste privilégie les petites unités, les navires d’expédition et les catamarans, plus conformes à son positionnement haut de gamme, voire désormais très haut de gamme.

« Nous travaillons volontairement avec une offre de bateaux très réduite, pour qu’elle corresponde à notre ADN et à celui de nos clients. Notre savoir-faire consiste à déterminer quel est le bon bateau pour la personne qui vient nous voir », souligne la dirigeante. Citons Ponant Explorations, Hurtigruten, Aranui, Catlante, Explora Journeys ou encore Dream Yacht.

Cette sélection permet également de répondre à des profils très différents. Laura Martinez observe notamment un rajeunissement de la clientèle. La location de catamarans dans les Caraïbes, particulièrement dans les Grenadines, attire ainsi des familles et des groupes d’amis.

« La croisière n’est pas réservée à une clientèle parfois considérée, dans l’imaginaire collectif, comme très âgée. Chez nous, nous constatons un véritable rajeunissement de la cible. »

Le choix dépend aussi du rythme et des activités recherchés. Certains voyageurs privilégient une croisière sportive, d’autres une expérience contemplative ou culturelle.

Un client peu attiré par les grands paquebots pourra apprécier un catamaran ou un petit navire d’expédition. « Nous proposons ce qui est adapté au client, au rythme qu’il souhaite et à l’expérience qu’il recherche. C’est notre force, car nous effectuons déjà ce travail de découverte du client pour nos circuits terrestres. »

An average basket of around 40,000 euros per booking

La croisière permet surtout à Amplitudes de construire des voyages à forte valeur. Le panier moyen atteint environ 40 000 euros par dossier, généralement pour deux à trois personnes.

Le voyagiste prend le plus souvent en charge les vols internationaux et ajoute des séjours avant ou après la croisière. En Polynésie, une navigation à bord du Paul Gauguin peut ainsi être complétée par plusieurs jours sur des îles qui ne figurent pas au programme du navire.

Cette logique se retrouve en Égypte, au Vietnam ou dans les régions polaires. « Nous proposons le voyage dans sa globalité. La croisière en est une composante, mais nous pouvons ajouter quelques jours, voire plusieurs semaines, avant ou après. C’est tout le savoir-faire du voyage sur mesure », précise Laura Martinez.

La Polynésie, la Norvège, l’Égypte et le Vietnam figurent parmi les destinations qui fonctionnent le mieux.

Cruise: Tunisia stop replaced by Italy — should the cruise line compensate the passenger? [ABO]

September 29, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Croisière : une escale en Tunisie remplacée par l’Italie, la compagnie doit-elle indemniser la cliente ? - Depositphotos.com Auteur bloodua

CroisiEurope

A traveler has brought the Mediation a complaint following a modification of the itinerary of her Mediterranean cruise.

She argued that replacing a planned stop in Tunisia with a stop in Italy diminished the quality of her trip and sought compensation.

The passenger had booked a one-week Mediterranean cruise. The initial program included, among other components, a port of call at La Goulette in Tunisia. A few days before departure, the itinerary was altered and this stop was replaced with a Naples stop in Italy.

The traveler considered that this modification caused her to miss an important destination of her stay. She also argued that cruises offering an itinerary with a Naples stop were marketed at a lower price than what she had paid. She therefore requested a goodwill gesture of 300 euros.

The cruise company, for its part, refused any compensation, arguing that the modification did not justify a refund.

What the texts say:

To form her opinion, the Mediation relied on Article L. 211-16 of the Tourism Code, which provides that the organizer of a package tour is responsible for the proper execution of the services provided under the contract.

This same text specifies that when a significant portion of the services cannot be provided as agreed, the professional must offer replacement arrangements and, if those are of inferior quality, grant the traveler an appropriate price reduction.

In this case, replacing a stop at La Goulette with a Naples stop did not constitute a simple itinerary adjustment. It involved two destinations located in different countries, offering distinct tourist experiences.

What the Tourism and Travel Mediation recommends:

The Mediation thus considered that this modification concerned an important element of the trip and that the substitute service was of lower quality than initially planned.

Under these conditions, without calling into question the overall execution of the cruise, the Mediation deemed a price reduction justified. It recommended granting compensation equal to 15% of the cruise price to offset the itinerary change.

Find all the practical cases of the Tourism and Travel Mediation by clicking HERE.

Five Cruise Ship Deliveries Set to Define the End of 2026

September 11, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Le 4 décembre verra entrer simultanément en service le plus grand et l’un des plus innovants navires de notre sélection, MSC World Asia et Viking Libra (photo) @Fincantieri

Hurtigruten

The delivery of Explora III, on July 24 in Genoa, has not closed the book on 2026’s novelties.

After its christening in Barcelona and the start of its inaugural season on August 3, five other cruise ships are still due to enter service before year-end. Explora Journeys.

The calendar sketches an astonishing contrast. The smallest, the Magellan Discoverer will welcome fewer than a hundred passengers in Antarctica. The largest, the MSC World Asia, will be able to embark up to 6,762 in the Mediterranean.

Between the two lie three other models: a large cruise ship intended for the Chinese market, a vessel partially powered by liquid hydrogen, and a new showcase of all-inclusive ultra-luxury.

A 2026 vintage with character

With thirteen new cruise ships, 2026 is not a record year for the number of deliveries. The vintage stands out more for its eclectic mix.

According to Cruise Industry News’ orderbook, the ships delivered this year add roughly 27,000 beds and a cumulative investment estimated at 9.5 billion dollars.

The fleet has already been enriched by the Norwegian Luna, the Disney Adventure, the Mein Schiff Flow or the Legend of the Seas, which became the largest cruise ship in the world. Delivered on July 24, Explora III was the eighth ship in this lineup.

The 2026 vintage thus covers almost all sector evolutions. It brings together floating resorts capable of hosting thousands of passengers, ultra-luxury units, a small expedition vessel, and the first responses from the shipowners to the question of the post-fossil-fuel era.

September: Magellan Discoverer opens the final wave

The eagerly awaited Magellan Discoverer is slated for delivery in September before beginning its itineraries in November, during the southern hemisphere season 2026-2027.

Built in Chile for Antarctica21, it will become the first hybrid-electric polar ship built in South America. Classified as PC6, it will be able to accommodate 76 passengers within the company’s “air-cruise” programs and 96 on wholly maritime journeys.

The model enables travelers to reach Antarctica by air, without crossing the Drake Passage, and then board near the peninsula. Batteries, electric propulsion, heat recovery and a scientific laboratory are expected to enable the company to pursue a low-impact approach in one of the planet’s most sensitive environments.

November 6: China delivers Adora Flora City

The next major milestone is set for November 6. Adora Flora City is to be delivered in Shanghai, before heading to Guangzhou to begin its commercial career.

The second large cruise ship built in China after Adora Magic City, the vessel measures 341 metres and has 2,130 cabins. It can accommodate up to 5,232 passengers. The inaugural voyage will depart from Nansha Port, in Guangzhou, on November 22. The five-night itinerary will call at Hong Kong and Chan May, gateway to Huế in Vietnam.

The interior design, dining and entertainment will incorporate references to Chinese culture. A special program bringing together Cantonese opera, acrobatics, traditional music and puppet theatre is planned for the inaugural voyage.

4 décembre : Viking Libra ouvre l’ère de l’hydrogène

Delivered by Fincantieri in November, Viking Libra is set to welcome its first guests on December 4 in Piraeus. Its inaugural voyage will be a ten-day itinerary through the Greek islands, returning to Athens on December 13.

The ship will stay true to Viking’s established format: a relatively compact footprint, 499 balcony cabins and a capacity limited to 998 passengers. The breakthrough will lie beneath the hull.

Viking Libra will be equipped with a propulsion system partially powered by liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. With a power output of up to 6 MW, this installation is designed to allow the cruise ship to operate with zero emissions during certain sailing sequences or at its ports of call.

Viking presents it as the first cruise ship in the world capable of using liquid hydrogen directly for propulsion.

A highly watched first, even though the vessel will also retain conventional engines.

La sculpture est appelée à devenir l'une des signatures de MSC World Asia @MSC

Imagined by Balich Wonder Studio, the dragon becomes the main symbol of the Asian references woven into the ship’s design. Despite its name and this aesthetic universe, MSC World Asia will not immediately head toward Asia.

After its delivery in Saint-Nazaire and its christening in Le Havre on November 28, it will move on to Marseille to begin its first Mediterranean season. The dragon will thus come to life in Europe.

Published by Laurent Guéna Journalist – TourMaG.com
See all articles by Laurent Guéna

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Why Choose a Cruise Over a Land Tour? [ABO]

September 5, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Vacances en circuit ou en croisière ? Comment choisir ? A moins de combiner les deux... - DepositPhotos.com, lsantilli

TAP Air Portugal

Recently, friends took their first cruise. They found it enjoyable, albeit somewhat “frustrating”.

“This isn’t for us,” they explained, mentioning that they did not have enough time on land during the various port calls. “Too short, too fast.” I can understand them.

Cruises are ideal when you are seeking a stress-free trip to multiple destinations, because they allow visiting several places without unpacking your suitcases and offer an all-inclusive budget (meals/housing included).

On the other hand, land tours are preferable if you seek deeper immersion, greater flexibility, and better control of your schedule and pace.

In both cases, the idea remains to be able to discover as much as possible and to multiply experiences. We are talking here about travels where the purpose, the reason, is not the destination, but the journey itself.

The Vacation Club Detour: A Choice That Must Be Well-Targeted

I take the opportunity to open a parentheses because, ashore, you also find the vacation club.

In this specific case, the client will look at both the destination and what is included: activities (which can be very expensive), meals, restaurants, drinks, pool access, wifi, etc. Often, they will stay in the same place and keep the same room. A considerable advantage that is also found on cruises.

About the creation of Club Med, what a beautiful Franco-Belgian boast it is! I must underscore it… and mention the cruise ship Club Med 2, a successful blend of cruising and club living. Yes, yes, it is a cruise ship. Sorry, I’m too purist to call it “a sailing ship.” The importance of words. End of the digression.

Thus, unless your client prefers changing hotels several times and packing and unpacking every day or every other day, advise them to opt for a cruise rather than a land tour for a single destination (remote and magical) such as French Polynesia.

In the end, it will be truly cheaper to choose a cruise departing from Papeete than to visit several islands and stay in beautiful hotels, traveling by plane. Especially since the price of meals and drinks in high-end hotels on these islands is relatively expensive, this must be taken into account.

Find all of Frédéric Jansen’s chronicles by clicking here.

Land tour vs cruise: why not combine them?

Another possible option: combine a land tour and a cruise.

I have known luxury cruise lines that ventured into this territory… but be careful, it is a sensitive topic! It is indeed difficult to find qualified staff (and for the francophone niche, guides who speak good French) and trustworthy agencies around the world. It takes time and requires serious support and preparation.

Likewise, the scouting – when there is any, since it costs money – is usually done by one or two people. Yet, in all the places visited later as well as in the restaurants, imagine 50 or 100 people doing the same thing. This preparation, this study, is essential.

As for the escort profession (on a land tour and thus also as a pre-cruise option), while it is certainly pleasing, it can also be quite challenging. Adaptation, being available 24/7, short nights, unforeseen events…

And if the pre-cruise does not go well, I can assure you that, from boarding, passengers will let the crew, the ship’s management… and the other passengers know. “Welcome on board!” A good start to the cruise.

Nevertheless, I would recommend offering it in this order: a land tour first and then a cruise. It is preferable. The main argument being that the cruise will be more restful after days spent on land.

“The best way to travel is to discover the land by the sea,” is that not so, Mr. de Kersauson? Keep his phrase in mind.

Australia / New Zealand

For such distant journeys, a combination is essential. Far too many clients think they can visit these destinations in 15 days.

My recommendation : Opt for three weeks or more. Otherwise, it’s frustrating.

Japan

Japan is also about the interior, its mountains, its villages and its hidden onsen. Hence the combination.

Vietnam

The same reasons as Japan.

Caribbean

Really? A pre-cruise in the Caribbean? Isn’t the cruise enough? Here is my explanation and guidance. Martinique and Guadeloupe are indeed islands, but they are large and cannot be explored in a single port call.

My recommendation : A few days on these islands, one after another, or even combined. How can you miss Les Saintes (south of Guadeloupe)? Will you really skip the moment to sing Voulzy on Marie-Galante? Smiles. You must take the time. France, in its broad sense, is beautiful, all of France!

And if you want to surprise, there are still paradise corners in the Caribbean. Take Tobago, a gem further south, located to the north of its larger neighboring island, Trinidad. A bit further north, the Grenadines.

Some lesser-known islands such as Canouan, Mayreau, Bequia (with a stop at Mac’s for its famous lobster pizza), Carriacou. The pre-cruise becomes synonymous with luxury, rest, paradise, adventure… And the locals, who are slowly but surely recovering from Hurricane Beryl that affected them a couple of years ago, are so charming and welcoming.

The Mediterranean

Rome, Venice, Naples, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Nice, Dubrovnik, Athens… and I’m forgetting others, deserve these few days of pre-cruise, as there is so much to see, so much to live!

Finally, cruising isn’t only about destinations: there are onboard activities, that multicultural side with passengers and even crew members, different languages, etc. What a richness!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of cruise vacations?

I say it and repeat it: the cruise world comprises so many different products that you have to target carefully.

Cruises (as we imagine them) are ideal for families, multigenerational groups, first-time travelers, couples, and those seeking relaxation. With the option, or not, to visit, ashore, sites, towns and villages of interest.

Advantages : unpack once, visit several places (usually one port of call per day), easily plan your program thanks especially to the ship’s daily journal, enjoy onboard entertainment.

Disadvantages : indeed you must cope with limited time in each port, less flexibility due to excursion schedules, meals, and excursions’ timing… and potential hidden costs (excursions, beverages, Wi-Fi, etc.).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of land travel?

A land journey is ideal for backpacking adventurers, for culture enthusiasts, and for those who want to stay longer in one place.

Advantages : deep cultural immersion, flexible itineraries, more spacious accommodations, and the freedom to set your own pace.

Disadvantages : greater logistical planning when not using a tour operator, higher costs for meals and transport, but also the time (lost?) spent in transit.

Frédéric Jansen - Photo Studio Digital PhotoShop

Frédéric Jansen est un consultant d’origine belge et avant d’avoir récemment officié à terre pendant 7 ans comme Global Brand Ambassador pour une compagnie française, il a été directeur de croisière durant 20 ans pour 9 compagnies de croisières, à bord de 20 navires différents.

Organisateur et accompagnateur de voyages extrêmes pour une clientèle haut de gamme, il a voyagé dans le monde entier avec une passion pour les langues, les rencontres avec les populations et les cultures locales.

Il est sur le point de publier son premier ouvrage « Journal de Bord d’un Directeur de Croisière » (en deux versions, française et anglaise), où il retrace ses anecdotes de voyage les plus incroyables.

Il a également participé récemment à plusieurs émissions : Héros avec Faustine Bollaert (RTL) ; Legend avec Guillaume Pley (YouTube) et NRJ Belgique avec Mike.