The Baltic has become a popular cruise destination within the last five years. This has emerged from an analysis compiled by COWI, which has researched the growth of the international cruise market. The consultants have looked at the destinations within the Baltic region and compared them with the destinations in other sought-after cruise areas.

Discovery World Cruises added a second ship, the Explorer II, under a long-term lease. The 394-berth Explorer II, formerly the Minerva operated by Swan Hellenic, will undergo a “soft refurbishment program” before entering service with Discovery, the company said.

Romance, adventure, intimacy, happiness, great cuisine and a seductive atmosphere: all this is available on board the MSC Cruises fleet this Valentine’s Day, especially for those traveling to the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd made its euro bond market debut selling a bigger-than-expected one-billion-euro ($1.30 billion) bond after drawing keen investor interest.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is forecasting a year of formidable growth, with 12.62 million cruise passengers predicted to set sail in 2007, an increase of approximately one half-million guests over 2006.

Costa Cruises will inaugurate its newest ship, the Costa Serena, in Marseille, France, on May 19, marking the first time Costa has inaugurated a ship in France and the first christening of any cruise ship in Marseille, the cruise line.