John Stansfield

England, Manchester

Journalist at Cruise Mapper

Writer at Freelance

Articles

Tauck charts new 2026 small ship voyages to Japan, Korea, and the Arctic

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Tauck has released details of its 2026 small ship ocean cruising programme, announcing the addition of two new itineraries: The Sakura Seas: Japan & South Korea and Arctic Days & Northern Lights. These routes mark an expansion of Tauck's maritime offerings in the North Pacific and Arctic waters, reflecting growing global interest in culturally immersive, small-ship expeditions.
Cunard unveils first phase of 2026 Event Voyages

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Cunard Line has released the initial segment of its 2026 Event Voyages schedule, featuring 5 distinct itineraries aboard the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Anne. These voyages, scheduled between May and November 2026, are structured to provide guests with specialized onboard experiences in collaboration with notable partners from the entertainment and cultural sectors. London Theatre at Sea with the Olivier Awards.
MSC Sinfonia's Mediterranean cruise called off due to technical issues

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

In the early hours preceding an anticipated Mediterranean voyage, MSC Cruises encountered an unforeseen operational hindrance. A technical malfunction aboard the MSC Sinfonia necessitated the abrupt cancellation of embarkation for over 1,000 guests slated to board in Bari (Italy) on April 12 for an 8-day itinerary. The notification, dispatched less than 12 hours before departure, informed passengers of the voyage's cancellation due to technical issues.
Royal Caribbean's Star OTS readies for sea trials following LNG bunkering

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Preparations for the sea trials of Star of the Seas, RCI-Royal Caribbean International's second Icon Class cruise vessel, have advanced with the successful completion of her inaugural liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on April 10, 2025. The LNG bunkering was executed by the Coralius, an LNG bunker vessel that arrived from Norway for this specific task.
Paul Gauguin Cruises completes major refit of ms Paul Gauguin

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

Paul Gauguin Cruises ( Ponant's fully-owned subsidiary) has concluded a comprehensive 7-week drydock refurbishment of the 330-guest ms Paul Gauguin in Singapore, with the vessel reentering service on April 1. The overhaul included significant upgrades to public areas, accommodations, and environmental systems, aimed at aligning the ship with contemporary maritime standards and operational sustainability.
Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre set for major infrastructure overhaul

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

The Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) is scheduled for a comprehensive infrastructure enhancement valued at S$40 million (~US$759,500). The 9-month redevelopment initiative, commencing in the first quarter of the year, represents the most substantial upgrade since the terminal commenced operations in 2012.
Island Princess marks the start of Taranto's 2025 cruise season

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

The maiden call of the Island Princess on April 13th officially marked the commencement of the 2025 cruise season in the port of Taranto (Italy). From April through October, the port is scheduled to handle approximately 124,000 cruise passengers. The Island Princess, a Coral-class vessel operated by Princess Cruises -a brand within the Carnival Corporation portfolio-has called at Taranto for the first time as part of its current world cruise itinerary.
NCL christens Norwegian Aqua and announces enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

On April 13, 2025, NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line officially christened its newest vessel, the Norwegian Aqua, at PortMiami (Florida USA). Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet served as the ship's godfather, initiating the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony to bestow good fortune upon the vessel and its future passengers. During the event, NCL President David J. Herrera outlined forthcoming enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas.
Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) achieves record cruise passenger movements

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

In March 2025, the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) reported a record-breaking 165,000 cruise passenger movements, surpassing its previous high of 155,000 set in March 2023. This milestone follows a record year in 2024, during which the port handled over 1.2 million cruise passenger movements. Port NOLA is unique among U.S. ports in offering both deepwater ocean cruises and river cruises.
Flooding aboard Sky Princess due to burst pipe

1 week ago | cruisemapper.com | John Stansfield

On the evening of April 8, 2025, the cruise vessel Sky Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, encountered a significant flooding event resulting from a burst pipe on deck seven. This malfunction led to the release of water from the Sky Pool, which cascaded through multiple decks, notably inundating the Piazza atrium on decks five and six. The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. local time, during the ship's 7-night round-trip voyage from Southampton, England.