29 Photo: credit and Crystal Symphony. The brand also has three newbuilds on order, all of which will accommodate around 690 passengers and continue the cruise line’s trademark high crew-to-passenger ratios. Residential cruising – a corner of the market which has remained quietly steady for years – has also gained traction. New residential cruise line Villa Vie Residences debuted its ship Villa Vie Odyssey, which departed on its maiden 15-year voyage from Northern Ireland in September 2024. In 2025, former Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings chairman Russell Galbut announced residential cruise line Crescent Seas. The cruise line intends to eventually operate a fleet of five ships, starting with the refurbished Seven Seas Navigator, chartered to the brand in an agreement with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With the action heating up in Continental Europe, Elite Exhibitions has relocated its annual Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe (CSI Europe) event for 2025. This year, it will hold its first-ever edition in Germany, a country popular for river cruises and the home of shipbuilder Meyer Werft. The cruise ship interiors supply chain, from shipyards to suppliers, will convene at the Hamburg Messe + Congress from 3-4 December for two days of conversations, conferences and meetups designed to help attendees discuss the most relevant industry topics. Half of the 300 exhibitors will be new to the show, meaning visitors will meet a mixture of new faces and old friends. The conference, which will be hosted in partnership with hospitality industry network NEWH, will explore everything from how to create efficiencies across the shipbuilding process, to delivering a premium experience onboard Europe’s many smaller river and ocean-going vessels. The event will also feature the Hospitality@CSI zone with panels exploring how hotel operations teams deliver guest experiences. An intimate Lunch & Learn session will feature a speaker from a leading hotel brand, who will explore how their understanding of their market shapes the way they create impactful guest experiences. This will be followed by a networking lunch. On the evening of day two, the bustling show floor will seamlessly transform into the star-studded Cruise Ship Interiors Awards, sponsored by marine lighting firm Kalmar. The only awards ceremony dedicated to celebrating the creativity, innovation and beauty of the cruise ship interiors community will present all-new categories and a refreshed judging panel. Register to attend and get your two-day pass to CSI Europe at: bit.ly/45rI3lZ
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