Cruise ships have undergone an extraordinary transformation over the past half-century. In the 1970s, some of the world's largest passenger vessels were former ocean liners adapted for cruising.

By the 1980s, purpose-built mega-cruise ships were beginning to appear. Then came enormous vessels with shopping promenades, ice-skating rinks, water parks, theatres and entire "neighbourhoods" onboard.

The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important waterways, allowing ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without sailing around the southern tip of South America.

But the canal depends heavily on freshwater, which means that climate patterns such as El Niño can have a major effect on its operations. As El Niño strengthens in 2026, the Panama Canal is once again facing concerns about lower rainfall and falling reservoir levels. The Panama Canal Authority has already announced that daily vessel transits will be reduced from 36 to 34 starting in early September, with a further reduction to 32 expected from September 15.

There are few better ways to see how much the cruise industry has changed than by comparing two ships that share the exact same name.

Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas first entered service in 1995. More than three decades later, the cruise line has brought the name back for its newest Icon Class ship, which entered service in 2026.

​Despite sharing a name, these two ships could hardly be more different. The original Legend of the Seas was a relatively modest cruise ship by today’s standards, designed around traditional cruising and carrying just over 2,000 passengers at maximum capacity. The new Legend is a giant floating resort with thousands of passengers, enormous water attractions, multiple neighborhoods and more than 40 places to eat and drink.

So, how different are they really?

For more than two decades, Queen Mary 2 has occupied a unique place in modern cruising. Launched in 2003, she was designed not simply as a cruise ship, but as a true ocean liner capable of maintaining the famous transatlantic route between Southampton and New York.

Even today, Cunard describes her as the world's only ocean liner. But ships cannot sail forever. Eventually, Queen Mary 2 will reach the end of her working life, raising an intriguing question: What could replace her?

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings surprised the cruise industry in late July 2026 by confirming that Oceania Sirena has been sold.

​While the company has not revealed who purchased the 670-guest luxury cruise ship, it did confirm that Sirena will continue sailing for Oceania Cruises under a charter agreement until spring 2028 before being handed over to her new owner. The announcement has immediately sparked one big question among cruise enthusiasts: who bought Oceania Sirena?

​When most people think of a cruise, they picture tropical beaches, buffet dinners, and relaxing days at sea. But today's cruise industry offers so much more than the traditional holiday.

Whether you're looking for adventure, exclusivity, or the chance to meet like-minded travellers, there's a cruise experience to suit almost every interest. Here are five of the most unique cruises you can book for an unforgettable holiday.

​Some ships become famous for luxury. Others for speed. A few earn their place in history through sheer resilience. The Astoria belonged firmly in the last category.

For more than 70 years, this remarkable ocean liner crossed oceans, survived one of the most infamous maritime disasters in modern history, served under multiple names and owners, and became the world's oldest operational cruise ship. Yet despite escaping catastrophe and decades of change in the cruise industry, her final destination was one she could never outrun: the scrapyard.

Luxury cruising has evolved dramatically in recent years, and few brands have made as much of an impact as Explora Journeys.

Launched by the MSC Group as a new luxury lifestyle brand, Explora Journeys has been designed for travellers who value space, elegance, exceptional service, and meaningful experiences over traditional cruising.

There are ship names, and then there's Carnival Destiny. When Carnival Cruise Line announced that its first Ace-class ship, launching in 2029, would carry the iconic Destiny name, it wasn't simply recycling an old favourite. It was paying tribute to one of the most influential cruise ships ever built.

The original Carnival Destiny didn't just change Carnival—it changed the entire cruise industry. Now, 33 years later, history is repeating itself.

When Queen Mary 2 returns from her scheduled refit in spring 2027, she will emerge as a noticeably different ship.

While Cunard has confirmed the addition of 30 new staterooms and enhancements across the vessel, recently released deck plans reveal a much bigger story. From an entirely new accommodation block on the top deck to additional Princess Grill Suites and changes to some of the ship's most recognisable open spaces, the refit represents the biggest redesign of QM2 since her landmark remastering in 2016.

For some passengers, the changes are an exciting investment in the future of the world's only purpose-built ocean liner. For others, they raise questions about preserving the spacious feel that has long made QM2 unique.