The three-year partnership will bring Singapore’s arts into one of the country’s key international gateways. Following MBCCS’s expansion last year, its increased capacity also gives Singapore artists opportunities to reach a growing, diverse audience of cruise travellers.

SATS-Creuers CEO Gregory Tan commented: “MBCCS’s position as Asia’s premier cruise terminal makes it the natural gateway to introduce travellers to Singapore’s unique culture and heritage from the moment they arrive on our shores.

Through our partnership with NAC, we hope to broaden the reach of our local arts community and create meaningful opportunities for home-grown talents. We are honoured to showcase the very best of Singapore to all who pass through our terminal.”

Over the next three years, MBCCS will progressively introduce performing and visual arts activations in the terminal as well as multicultural musical performances during peak cruise periods that coincide with maiden calls, major festivals and local school holidays. 

New and existing wall spaces across MBCCS will gradually feature contemporary murals, creating a multicultural storytelling experience for terminal visitors.

“The arts can be experienced in many different places, and partnerships like this allow us to create more opportunities for Singapore artists to share their work with new audiences.

By bringing the arts into MBCCS, we hope that more travellers will encounter and connect with the diversity of Singapore’s arts and culture as part of their journey, and discover Singapore through the work and perspectives of our artists,” said NAC Deputy CEO Lynette Pang.

Mural Manifest

The partnership builds on arts activations already piloted at the cruise centre, including a new mural titled Manifest by local artist Eunice Hannah Lim, which ties together Singapore’s rich maritime history and cultural heritage. 

An animated version of Manifest will greet passengers at the newly expanded terminal and lead them to the full mural, where symbolic sea creatures and maritime and cultural motifs invite visitors to reflect on Singapore’s enduring relationship with the ocean.

SCCS and NAC envision this to be the first of several collaborations with local artists, with more arts activations to be introduced at the terminal over the three-year partnership.

About SATS-Creuers Cruise Services
SATS-Creuers Cruise Services (SCCS) is the terminal operator of Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore. SCCS is a 60:40 joint venture between SATS, the leading provider of gateway services and food solutions in Singapore, and Creuers del Port de Barcelona (Creuers), a terminal operator of Europe’s leading cruise home port and a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world’s largest cruise port operator. 

(Source: SCCS)

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NBT World TV channel reported that TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool met with company executives last week to discuss marketing cooperation, new travel routes, and infrastructure improvements.

The discussions covered attracting passengers from North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia while encouraging greater spending in local communities. 

Proposed cruise routes would connect Phuket with Phang Nga and Krabi, and Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri with Rayong and Chanthaburi. TAT is also considering familiarisation trips to introduce industry partners to additional attractions and travel experiences.

Both sides reviewed potential upgrades to cruise terminals, especially at Laem Chabang, along with rail infrastructure and transport connections to nearby destinations. 

The proposal prioritises higher visitor spending and a broader distribution of tourism income over passenger numbers alone.

Royal Caribbean Group currently operates cruises calling at Laem Chabang, Samui Island, and Phuket through its Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands. In 2025, its ships made 181 port calls in Thailand, bringing approximately 424,000 passengers and generating an estimated THB2.12 billion in spending.

(Source: NBT World)

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Adventurers can explore Alaska’s majestic glaciers, diverse wildlife and coastal communities on seven-night vacations departing from Seattle, Seward and Vancouver. The 2028 lineup of Alaska vacations is now open to book on Royal Caribbean.

Alaska Summer 2028 Highlights

Anthem of the Seas – From Seward and Vancouver

From May to September, Anthem will combine Alaska’s iconic coastlines with immersive inland experiences on seven-night vacations and two- to six-night Cruisetours that extend the journey before or after the vacation, including adventures to Denali National Park. Vacationers can marvel at one of Alaska’s most spectacular natural wonders at Hubbard Glacier and explore Ketchikan for fishing, kayaking, hiking and zip lining through forests.  

Ovation of the Seas – From Seattle

The newly amplified Ovation will bring vacationers to Alaska’s natural wonders on seven-night adventures from Seattle between May and September. Vacationers can discover the lush landscapes and rich heritage of Sitka, Skagway and Juneau, along with the breathtaking waterfalls, valleys and mountain views at Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. 

Serenade of the Seas – From Vancouver

On Serenade, vacationers can explore Alaska’s rugged mountains, temperate rainforests, and wildlife-rich coastline on seven-night getaways from Vancouver, May to September. Adventures await with the longest and highest zipline at Icy Strait Point, hiking in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and browsing the historic district of Juneau. 

Voyager of the Seas – From Seattle

From April to September, vacationers on Voyager can enjoy seven-night getaways from Seattle to Alaskan towns of Sitka, Juneau, and Skagway, and Canada’s Victoria, British Columbia. Adventurers can visit national historic sites of the Last Frontier and take in postcard-perfect views of the surrounding mountains and coastal landscapes, while keeping an eye out for wildlife like grizzly bears, harbour seals and bald eagles. 

(Source: Royal Caribbean)

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The campaign captures the unhurried rhythm of life at sea, from morning through night, and the freedom that comes when you have nowhere else to be.

At the heart of the campaign is a simple idea: Crystal is not just a way to see the world; it’s the perfect place to step out of it.

While much of travel culture is built around maximising every destination, experience and moment, Crystal offers a different perspective. With every detail taken care of and personal preferences met, guests enjoy the freedom to set their own pace, wander without a plan, linger over a meal, watch the world go by or do nothing at all.

The campaign follows a day and night with Crystal, using cinematic imagery and sensory storytelling to evoke the feelings of travel rather than simply depicting the places visited. 

Developed by Crystal’s in-house creative team, the campaign launched 1 October and runs through to 30 September 2027. The new assets will run across global markets through connected TV, digital & online video advertising, print, and social media.

(Source: Crystal)

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Vacationers can explore historic ports including Nagasaki and Osaka; discover the regional flavours of Kobe, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima; and visit Okinawa, Mount Fuji (Shimizu), Sasebo (Uragashira), and destinations across South Korea, including Jeju (Seogwipo) and Busan.

Cruises exploring Japan 

A 10-night holiday from Hong Kong to Tokyo, showcasing Japan’s mix of history, culture and cuisine; vacationers can explore the heritage of Nagasaki, discover the regional flavours of Kagoshima, and enjoy an overnight stay in Kobe, a cosmopolitan port city known for its scenic waterfront and culinary heritage, before experiencing Osaka’s food scene and continuing to Tokyo.

Roundtrip holidays from Tokyo — ranging from 11 to 12 nights — offer different ways to explore Japan and South Korea, with ports of call spanning major cities, regional destinations, and island escapes. Vacationers can experience Kobe and Osaka, discover Kumamoto’s castle heritage, sample Fukuoka’s celebrated food culture, explore Nagasaki’s history, take in Kagoshima’s volcanic scenery and regional flavours, and visit Sasebo, known for its coastal landscapes.  

The holidays are part of Voyager’s broader 2027- 2028 Asia Pacific season, which features two- to 16-night trips from Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; Singapore; and Hong Kong — taking vacationers across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Korea.

(Source: Royal Caribbean)

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The new season runs from 11 December 2026 to 1 September 2027, with Keelung serving as Star Navigator’s main homeport and departure point.

During the winter school holidays, Star Navigator will sail from Kaohsiung from 24 January to 4 February 2027, giving families more ways to enjoy a cruise before the Lunar New Year.

As the only cruise ship sailing from Kaohsiung during this period, guests can choose from two- and three-night roundtrip cruises to Hong Kong and Okinawa, Japan.

With year-round sailings from Keelung, StarCruises offers more ways to explore Japan, with itineraries covering 12 destinations across Japan, as well as select sailings that combine visits to Busan and Jeju in South Korea. 

(Source: StarCruises)

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The new Princess Cruises app puts the brand at the forefront of Large Language Model (LLM)-powered cruise discovery while keeping travellers connected to Princess’ booking ecosystem.

“There is a broader shift in travel discovery as consumers increasingly use generative AI not simply to find information, but to help evaluate choices and plan increasingly complex trips,” said Princess Cruises Vice President of Digital Commerce and Experience Neena Vicente. “This launch places Princess at the forefront of agentic commerce in the cruising industry, creating a new entry point into cruise discovery that inspires guests to find the vacation that is right for them.”

For guests, the experience is simple. By tagging @princesscruises and installing the Princess app in ChatGPT, travellers can use everyday language to explore 330+ cruise destinations across 17 ships, check pricing and availability, and refine their plans in the same conversation — making cruise planning and booking simpler, faster, and more intuitive.

For example, travellers can ask ChatGPT to check current cruise pricing and availability or narrow options based on individual vacation preferences.

The experience lets travellers keep refining their plans naturally. A guest searching for an Alaska cruise, for example, could follow up by asking which options visit Glacier Bay National Park, which depart from Seattle, or how two itineraries differ – all within the same conversation.

The Princess Cruises app will initially be available through ChatGPT, but Princess intends to expand to additional compatible AI platforms in the future, subject to platform availability and technical requirements.

(Source: Princess Cruises)

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Since launching, Explora Journeys has sought to change the way people experience ocean travel through its Ocean State of Mind philosophy — combining the freedom and discovery of travelling by sea with the elegance and refinement of European hospitality and design. The brand now intends to bring that same approach to Europe’s most iconic rivers.

The company has not disclosed the exact number of river vessels ordered, guest capacity, or ship dimensions. Renderings and onboard feature specifications will be released closer to the 2027 sales launch. Details regarding ship design, onboard experiences, delivery schedules and initial itineraries will be announced shortly. However, cruises will focus on the Rhine, Danube, and Seine rivers.

About Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is the privately owned luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Rooted in Swiss precision, understated European elegance and the Aponte-Vago family’s 300 years of maritime heritage, the brand has grown from a long-held vision to redefine the ocean experience.

(Source: Explora Journeys)

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Speaking to Travel Trends host Dan Christian, Seward describes a market where both booking behaviour and traveller expectations are changing – from earlier bookings for Antarctica to growing demand for specialist experiences such as photography, kayaking and citizen science.

“People are looking for something different, something that is unique, something that they can’t necessarily do anywhere else,” said Sam Seward, President of Quark Expeditions. “And I think that is one of the real appeals of expedition travel.”

From scale to specialised experiences

Unlike conventional cruising, expedition travel is built around smaller vessels, expert-led experiences and access to remote destinations.

Quark is responding with increasingly specialised experiences within its expedition programmes. Its Guided Photography Program, for example, creates dedicated groups of no more than 16 guests, supported by specialist guides and Zodiac excursions. The company is also seeing demand for experiences combining exploration with education and conservation, including citizen science and expert-led programmes.

Antarctica is being booked further in advance

The shift is also visible in booking behaviour. According to Seward, Antarctica is increasingly being booked further in advance and at higher average booking values, while the Arctic has historically seen more last-minute demand.

“We’re seeing people booking Antarctica further and further out. The average booking value is higher, and people are willing to commit earlier,” said Seward.

The trend points to a broader change in high-value travel, as travellers increasingly plan to secure specific itineraries and experiences rather than waiting for availability or discounts.

Technology supports the experience 

Technology is also playing a growing role in expedition travel, with digital tools and data being used to make the journey more seamless and better understand guest preferences.

But Seward argues that technology is ultimately there to support – rather than replace – the human element.

“Technology can make the experience easier, but it can’t replace the people who make the experience special – the guides, the scientists, the crew and the people you meet along the way.”

For Christian, this tension between technology, access and human connection reflects a wider question for the travel industry: as travellers seek more personalised and meaningful experiences, how can technology enhance the journey without becoming the experience itself?

Travel Trends Podcast launches season 8

The conversation with Quark Expeditions opens Season 8 of the Travel Trends Podcast, which launched on 9 September. The new season covers polar and expedition travel, wellness, culinary tourism, Indigenous and culturally driven travel, marketing, distribution and startups, alongside its ongoing focus on travel technology and AI.

About Travel Trends Podcast
The Travel Trends Podcast is a B2B travel podcast focused on the people, innovations and trends shaping the global travel industry. Hosted by travel industry executive Dan Christian, the podcast features conversations with executives, entrepreneurs, founders and industry leaders across travel technology, hospitality, aviation, tours and activities, cruising and destinations. 

Learn more at traveltrendspodcast.com

(Source: Travel Trends Podcast)

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The opening marks the completion of SCC’s transition to a purpose-built facility designed to support the next phase of regional ferry and cruise travel.

Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Transport, Murali Pillai, said: “Singapore’s ferry and cruise networks connect people across the region, whether for business opportunities or a long-awaited holiday. As travel patterns evolve, technology and innovation will be increasingly important in making these experiences smoother and more effortless.”

Since commencing full operations on 15 July 2026, the terminal has handled more than 720,000 ferry and cruise passengers.

Designed to meet evolving traveller needs, the new terminal brings together technology, automation, and improved space planning to streamline passenger and baggage processing, while strengthening SCC’s capabilities to support future growth in regional travel.

Technology connecting the passenger journey

A key feature of the new terminal is a new interoperable ferry and cruise passenger departure control system, developed by SCC in partnership with Sqiva, a travel technology company specialising in passenger transport software.

Built around SCC’s Cruise and Ferry Operating System (CFOS), the boarding system brings ferry and cruise operations onto a common platform.

It integrates with SITA’s FAST self-service solution, an aviation passenger-processing system supporting functions such as check-in, bag drop and boarding. This enables passenger information to flow across key stages of the journey, from check-in through to boarding. 

CFOS is also integrated with the terminal’s Baggage Handling System (BHS), which supports real-time tracking and image capture throughout the handling process, allowing operations teams to monitor baggage movements more closely and respond more quickly when intervention is required.

Faster, simpler journeys for passengers

Beyond connecting systems across the passenger journey, the new terminal has been designed to simplify how passengers move through the facility, with a more streamlined layout and expanded self-service options.

For ferry passengers, all operators are now located within the main terminal concourse on a single level, compared with two floors at the former terminal.

Eligible passengers who have purchased their tickets online can use self-service facilities to validate their passports, check in, and obtain their boarding passes and baggage tags in under a minute, then deposit checked baggage through self-service bag-drop facilities in a similar timeframe.

Baggage handling has also been enhanced, with self-service and assisted counters giving passengers greater flexibility while still supporting those who need it. On arrival, checked baggage is now screened before reaching the carousel, allowing passengers to collect their bags and proceed directly towards the exit without a separate X-ray screening step.

These enhancements have supported smoother passenger flows during peak periods.

It has processed 18,000 departing passengers in a single day since operations began in July 2026. This has helped to reduce processing time and manage passenger throughput during a high-volume travel period.

Singapore Cruise Centre Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Tan said: “This new terminal is more than a move to a new building. It allows us to rethink how ferry and cruise journeys end to end. By connecting systems that previously operated separately, we can make the journey simpler for passengers while giving our teams better visibility across operations. More importantly, the terminal gives us a platform that we can continue building on as regional travel evolves.”

(Source: Singapore Cruise Centre)

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