RED HOOK — The giant cruise ship MSC Meraviglia currently towers over the Western Brooklyn waterfront. But come fall 2026, the 2,224-room vessel, which has been operating out of the Red Hook Cruise Terminal for almost three years, will be setting sail for a new homeport in Miami, according to publication Cruise Critic, which broke the news Wednesday. 

MSC has canceled five months of 2027’s sailings from Brooklyn, offering alternatives to booked passengers. The cruise line recently opened the “world’s largest cruise terminal” at PortMiami, Cruise Critic says.

The ship, which carries more than 5,600 people, was ranked the sixth-largest cruise ship in the world when it burst onto the scene in 2017, according to another cruise site, Cruise Hive. But its 2023 arrival in isolated Red Hook brought hours of gridlock every time its passengers disembarked en mass, resulting in traffic jams, bus delays and unsafe walking and biking conditions. 

Some Cruise Critic readers speculated that MSC might have been having trouble filling the enormous ship in a homeport that “is difficult to reach if you don’t have a car and where it’s eye-wateringly expensive to park if you do.”

The vessel also brought toxic diesel exhaust to the neighborhood, as the electrical shore power hookup on the pier was not initially positioned to properly connect to the vessel’s system.

In February 2024, the Red Hook Business Alliance wrote in an opinion piece published in the Brooklyn Eagle, “New York City’s haphazardly executed surge in cruise ship dockings, combined with the neglect of the cruise terminal, port infrastructure and the absence of planning for traffic or tourism, has dropped a mess of toxins and traffic on Red Hook’s residents and small business economy.”

The traffic conditions currently existing in Red Hook and along the Columbia Street Waterfront District — including deliveries to and from last-mile warehouses and vehicles bypassing the dilapidated Brooklyn-Queens Expressway — have raised major questions about the New York City Economic Development Corp’s Brooklyn Marine Terminal plans, which critics say is devoid of major traffic planning. 

The proposed 122-acre waterfront mega-development would bring as many as 18,000 new residents to a stretch from Atlantic Avenue to Red Hook on the East River, an area encompassing the Cruise Terminal.

The MSC Meraviglia’s last day in Brooklyn will be April 6, 2026. The line doesn’t yet have plans to replace it with another vessel, Cruise Critic reports.

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.”

Aqua Expeditions has revealed the name of its highly anticipated sixth ship, announcing Aqua Lares will make its debut in East Africa in early 2026.

According to Travel Weekly, the 30-guest vessel will sail itineraries ranging from five to 11 nights to Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll, Zanzibar and Tanzania beginning February 8, 2026.

Aqua Lares will cruise the region annually from November to April.

Spanning 253 feet, Aqua Lares boasts six decks, a dozen suites and three twin cabins, with accommodations ranging from 140 to 710 square feet. Amenities include a sundeck with a bar and lounge, a spa, a movie theater, a fitness center and saloon in addition to an indoor and outdoor dining area.

The ship is also equipped with seven tenders and three zodiacs. What’s more, guests will have access to paddleboards, kayaks and mountain bikes.

Offline bookings for 2026 and 2027 sailings are now open, with online bookings opening September 1, 2025. A five-night voyage starts from $9,000 per person.

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