John Stansfield

England, Manchester

Journalist at Cruise Mapper

Writer at Freelance

Articles

High winds lead to mooring line breakage on MSC Seascape in the Bahamas

6 days ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

On May 31, 2025, MSC Seascape experienced a mooring incident while docked at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. A sudden squall brought high winds that exceeded the capacity of the vessel's mooring lines, causing them to snap and the ship to drift from the pier. The gangway was dislodged into the water during the event. Passengers were returning to the ship as the weather deteriorated.
Oceania Cruises charts a 2026 course of culinary enrichment and cultural immersion

6 days ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Oceania Cruises has announced its lineup of 2026 Specialty Cruises, offering a series of itineraries that blend destination-rich voyages with curated onboard programming. These voyages will feature appearances by notable culinary figures including Claudine Pépin, Sara Moulton, and Oceania's own Executive Culinary Directors, Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale.
HAL-Holland America Line charts 2027 voyages for celestial phenomena

6 days ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

HAL-Holland America Line has announced a series of cruises for 2027, offering passengers the opportunity to witness notable celestial events, including a total solar eclipse and the Northern Lights. The total solar eclipse is scheduled for August 2, 2027, with its path of totality crossing primarily over Northern Africa.
Norwegian Epic experiences mooring failure in Catania due to high winds

6 days ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

On May 30, 2025, NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line's vessel, Norwegian Epic, encountered a mooring failure while docked in Catania, Sicily. The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time, as the ship's mooring lines reportedly snapped under pressure, causing the vessel to drift away from the pier. Eyewitness accounts and video footage indicate that concrete mooring fixtures were dislodged from the dock, with some impacting the ship's hull.
Legal dispute arises over Skagway's revised excursion tax policy

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

In December 2024, the Municipality of Skagway, Alaska, enacted Ordinance 24-12, amending its sales tax code to include commissions earned by cruise lines on excursions sold to passengers. Previously, only the base price of tours commencing and concluding within the borough was subject to local sales tax, excluding additional fees imposed by cruise operators.
Cairo hosts inaugural Cruise Egypt Forum to advance maritime tourism strategy

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

On June 1-2, 2025, Cairo will host the inaugural Cruise Egypt Forum under the theme "Navigate Egyptian Legacy." This event marks Egypt's first national forum dedicated to cruise tourism, aiming to position the country as a central hub in the global cruise industry by leveraging its strategic location and rich cultural heritage.
Celebrity Cruises commences $250M modernization of Solstice-class fleet

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Celebrity Cruises has initiated a substantial refurbishment program, allocating over US$250 million to modernize its Solstice-class vessels. The project will commence with the Celebrity Solstice in March 2026, followed by updates to the remaining ships in the class: Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, and Celebrity Reflection. The modernization aims to enhance guest experiences through the introduction of new venues and the revitalization of existing spaces.
Fincantieri launches TUI's Mein Schiff Flow at Monfalcone, Italy

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

On May 30, 2025, Fincantieri launched Mein Schiff Flow, the second vessel in TUI Cruises' InTUItion-class, at its Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. This 160,000-gross-ton cruise ship is part of a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, reflecting a strategic emphasis on sustainable maritime operations.
Sea ice may alter Carnival Pride's Greenland itinerary

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line has notified passengers aboard Carnival Pride of significant sea ice conditions along its intended route to Greenland, raising the possibility of itinerary changes. According to reports from cruise industry sources, the notification was delivered via a letter to guests currently sailing aboard the vessel. The ship is presently navigating northeast, positioned south of Newfoundland and Labrador, having departed from Baltimore MD on May 25.
Celebrity Cruises charts new course into river cruising with 2027 debut on the Rhine and Danube

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of the Royal Caribbean Group, will enter the European river cruise market in 2027, beginning operations on the Rhine and Danube rivers. This marks the brand's first foray beyond ocean cruising and signals a strategic expansion into inland waterways. Earlier this year, Celebrity confirmed its plans to launch a new river cruise division with an initial fleet of ten vessels.