Kebschull to lead Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as Susset retires

#expeditioncruising .

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has named Salika Kebschull managing director from 1 January 2027, succeeding Isolde Susset, who will retire after nearly 30 years with the company.

Kebschull joins on 1 November for a two-month handover. Her previous roles include senior positions at Hotel München Palace, Relais & Châteaux and Sea Cloud Cruises. Most recently, she advised international luxury hotels on strategy, sales and guest experience.

Susset helped expand Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ luxury expedition business and develop HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit. She has overseen the fleet as managing director since 2024.

“In Salika Kebschull, we are gaining an experienced leader who combines expertise in international luxury hospitality with sales and cruise experience,” TUI Cruises chief executive Wybcke Meier said.

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Swan Hellenic reports record growth as younger travellers broaden expedition market

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The operator says demand from younger guests and multigenerational groups is expanding opportunities for travel advisers, alongside strong polar and Asia-Pacific sales.

Swan Hellenic has reported record July revenue and an average guest age of 43, as the expedition cruise operator urges travel advisers to widen their customer base beyond retirees.

Leira Maldives yacht planned for 2027 launch

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The 45-metre vessel will carry up to 24 guests on seven- and 14-night cruises through the central atolls.

Maldivian operator 7 Degrees North plans to launch Leira, a 45-metre yacht, in 2027. The vessel will accommodate up to 24 guests in 14 suites and is designed for both leisure travellers and divers. Prebooking enquiries are open, but the operator says reservations and departure dates remain subject to confirmation.

Variety Cruises to launch Croatia and Montenegro itinerary in 2027

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Variety Cruises will launch a seven-night Croatia and Montenegro itinerary in April 2027, with weekly round-trip departures from Dubrovnik aboard the 34-passenger yacht M/Y Callisto.

New hybrid-electric Magellan Discoverer prepares for Antarctic debut [updated]

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UPDATE 28 Sept 2026: ASENAV says the 100-passenger Magellan Discoverer has completed sea trials off Chile, including tests of navigation, safety and technical systems. The PC6 vessel remains in final construction at Valdivia and is expected to receive its first passengers on 15 December.

Antarctica21’s new 96-passenger expedition ship is expected to reach Punta Arenas in late October ahead of its naming ceremony and inaugural Antarctic season.

The Chilean operator says Magellan Discoverer is nearing completion at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Punta Arenas on 25 October, undergo a naming ceremony in November and begin carrying passengers in December 2026.

HX flags financial uncertainty but reports strong booking growth

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Expedition cruise operator HX has sought to reassure travellers and the trade after its latest accounts warned that geopolitical and market pressures may create uncertainty over its ability to continue as a going concern.

HX Hold Co’s second-quarter financial statement said conflict in the Middle East, US tariff announcements and wider market uncertainty had affected near-term demand. These pressures “may cast significant doubt” on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

[updated] Brand new ship for Aranui Cruises to sail French Polynesia's southern islands

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UPDATE 28 September 2026: China’s Huanghai Shipbuilding delivered the 197-passenger Aranoa to Aranui Cruises on 28 September, with the handover confirmed publicly on 7 October. The 116-metre ship carries 48 TEU of cargo and 103 crew, with revenue service from Papeete scheduled for 2027.

Tahiti campaign puts small-ship cruising and remote islands in focus

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New international promotion highlights French Polynesia’s cruise options as Windstar and Aranui prepare to expand operations in 2027.

Tahiti Tourisme has launched A New Feeling Every Island, an international campaign promoting small-ship cruising to explore French Polynesia beyond its best-known resort islands.

andBeyond Amazon Explorer – A New Luxury River Expedition Vessel [updated]

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In yet another exciting addition to their South American portfolio, conservation-led luxury adventure company &Beyond has launched their latest project, a state-of-the-art river expedition yacht to be based in the Peruvian Amazon. Boasting the ultimate in modern design and technology, the &Beyond Amazon Explorer is currently under construction at the SIMA Shipyard in Iquitos, Peru, and is due to set sail on 29 September 2026.

Update: 20 per cent early-bird discount

Pandaw Cruises to Resume Irrawaddy Delta Expeditions After Six-Year Hiatus

River cruise operator Pandaw Cruises will resume expeditions in Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta in November, marking a return to the region after a six-year layup.

The company said its vessels RV Kanee Pandaw and RV Kha Byoo Pandaw sailed from Bagan to Yangon last month for dry docking and survey. Both ships have secured permissions to operate the delta route.

From On Board Swan Hellenic in North Africa: Astapor (Essaouira)

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Vessel: SH Diana (IMO: 9921740)

Itinerary: Atlantic Horizons: Portugal to Canary Islands
Location: Essaouira, Morocco

(C) HBO

I thought I was a Game of Thrones expert, but I only found out today that the ramparts of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Essaouira here in Morocco were used as the slave port of Astapor. You know, that scene where Daenerys lines up the Unsullied to become her private army in Season 3? Yeah, well I stood right there in the 18th-century Skala de la Ville. [shivers]

UnCruise Adventures to Double Capacity for 2028 Aleutian Islands Cruises

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UnCruise Adventures will more than double capacity on its Aleutian Islands itinerary in 2028 and has opened bookings.

The line will replace the 36-guest yacht Safari Explorer with the 74-guest Wilderness Explorer (pictured) for its 10-night Aleutian Islands Adventure with Dutch Harbor & Kodiak, citing strong demand. The 2025 debut of the itinerary sold out within days, according to the company.