Steripower GmbH & Co. KG and FHCS Professional, through its brands Vileda Professional and Vermop, announced a partnership to develop and deliver hygiene solutions for the cruise industry.

According to a press release, the companies will combine their strengths to create innovative and sustainable products for both maritime and river cruise ships.

“Our partnership with Vileda Professional is an important step toward maintaining and enhancing the already high hygiene standards onboard cruise and river cruise ships,” said Jan B. Rombach, owner and managing director of Steripower GmbH & Co. KG.

“By combining our long-standing professional experience in cleaning and hand hygiene, we can further develop existing solutions, products, and services for the cruise sector. We look forward to the synergies this partnership will create. Together we are strong,” he added.

Described as an established and responsible partner in the cruise industry, Steripower currently supplies touchless hand sanitizers for vessels sailing worldwide.

Through its brands Vileda Professional and Vermop, FHCS Professional offers cleaning cloths made with recycled materials, as well as floor cleaning systems, cleaning trolleys and digital solutions.

The companies said that, by combining their expertise and resources, they aim to further develop existing solutions, products and services within the cruise industry.

A special focus is also currently being put on sustainability, with the promotion of items that include r-MicroTuff Swift, a cleaning cloth made from recycled PET bottles.

“I’ve been active in the cruise industry since 1988, serving in various roles onboard different cruise ships, spending 25 years at sea. Since 2007, I’ve been responsible for the global cruise division at Steripower,” Arno Ahrens-Boehm, managing director at Steripower Cruise, said.

“We’re excited about this new challenge and the opportunity to explore new paths in the cruise sector together with Vileda Professional & Vermop,” he added.

“This partnership with Steripower is a significant step for us in expanding our presence in the maritime sector. Together, we are pooling our expertise to develop innovative, sustainable and user-friendly hygiene solutions for cruise and river cruise ships,” said Christian Nowak, general manager at FHCS Professional DACH and managing director at Vileda GmbH.

“Our shared goal is to ensure the highest hygiene standards on board, protecting guests, crew and the environment. This partnership marks an important milestone toward future-oriented, sustainable hygiene solutions for the maritime industry.”

Cruise ships and true crime—they go together like Unsolved Mysteries and Robert Stack. And now, Virgin Voyages and iHeartPodcasts are giving murderinos the chance to come together for a true-crime-fueled cruise out of Miami. If you’re someone who perks up from cold cases and not cold brew, this five-night, adults-only cruise may be just the thing to bring some zing into your October. 

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Departing from Port Miami on Friday, October 10, Virgin’s True Crime Voyage will see its Valiant Lady cruise ship sail to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Virgin Voyages’ Beach Club in Bimini over five days, before returning to Miami on Wednesday, October 15.

Among the onboard activities are live podcast recordings of iHeartPodcast shows Betrayal, Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know and Buried Bones, along with meet-and-greets, workshops (about making podcasts, not committing crime) and giveaways.

“We’re beyond excited to bring our investigations to the high seas as there’s something deliciously twisted about discussing cold cases while sipping cocktails under the Caribbean sun,” said Buried Bones co-host Kate Winkler Dawson in a statement. “Our fans are going to experience true crime storytelling like never before, and honestly, what better setting for mystery than the middle of the ocean?”

“We’re always looking for ways to craft experiences as bold and original as our Sailors,” SVP of Fleet Experiences at Virgin Voyages Nicole Huang added. “This True Crime Voyage is a perfect expression of that, blending the intrigue of incredible storytelling with the indulgence of elevated travel. We’re taking everything our Sailors already love about Virgin Voyages and adding a twist for the Halloween season. It’s going to be mysterious, glamorous and like nothing else at sea.”

In addition to the podcast lineups, the October excursion will include plenty of Halloween-inspired programming, including costume contests, bar crawls and a special edition of the ship’s beloved Happenings Cast show. Plus, attendees can expect a spooky version of Virgin Voyages’ signature Scarlet Night soiree.

A cabin for two starts at $1,590 (that includes Wi-Fi, fitness classes, tips and gratuities, and most dining), while suite prices begin at $4,890. For more information and to book your voyage, click here.

Holland America Line announced that it is celebrating 80 years of exploring Alaska, offering more than 100 cruises available for booking as part of its 2027 anniversary season.

From April through September 2027, the company will deploy six ships to Alaska. Guests can choose to sail roundtrip from Seattle, Washington; roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia; or between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska, with voyages ranging from seven to 28 days.

The company said in a press release that itineraries will feature more than 175 shore excursions, including a new Reindeer Encounter at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

In the lead-up to the anniversary, Holland America Line will roll out an enhanced “Ultimate Alaska & Denali” in 2026.

The cruisetours combine multi-day inland adventures, including a two-night stay at Holland America Denali Lodge, and a visit to Alyeska, Seward or Homer with a seven-day “Glacier Discovery” cruise.

Each cruisetour itinerary will feature a tour director, and guests will enjoy a complimentary visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Alaska’s 2027 season highlights include the following:

New in 2027, an eight-day “Alaska Inside Passage” sailing takes guests roundtrip Vancouver through the Inside Passage before visiting Glacier Bay and calling to Skagway, Ketchikan and British Columbia’s Prince Rupert.

The 28-day “Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice” departs June 6 aboard the Noordam and sails roundtrip from Seattle to the Bering Sea and into the Arctic Circle. The ship visits 11 Alaska ports, plus Prince Rupert and Vancouver.

The seven-day “Alaska Inside Passage” cruises sail roundtrip from Vancouver on Koningsdam and Zaandam. A September 12 departure is available aboard the Westerdam, sailing from Vancouver to Seattle. The voyage visits ports including Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau.

The seven-day “Alaska Explorer” cruises sail roundtrip from Seattle aboard the Eurodam and Noordam, and include calls at Victoria, British Columbia (evening visit), and Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka. The Eurodam includes Alaska’s Icy Strait Point and Glacier Bay; the Noordam explores Dawes Glacier.

The seven-day “Northbound Glacier Discovery” and “Southbound Glacier Discovery” itineraries cruise between Whittier (Anchorage) and Vancouver aboard Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam. Ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

Both itineraries include stops at Glacier Bay; the northbound itinerary includes a visit to College Fjord, and the southbound itinerary includes a visit to Hubbard Glacier.

The 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer” sails roundtrip from Seattle aboard the Noordam, calling at ports like Kodiak, Valdez and Prince Rupert. It includes scenic cruising of Hubbard Glacier.

Guests looking to combine Alaska can embark on a seven-day “Great Bear Rainforest” cruise aboard the Noordam, sailing roundtrip Seattle, or choose between two sailings of an 18-day “Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer” aboard the Zaandam, sailing roundtrip Vancouver.