The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board is expecting a busy cruise year with a 16 percent increase in ship calls scheduled over 2014. And that comes on top of a 43 percent increase last year over 2013.

Six Holland America Line ships will sail 11 full transits of the Panama Canal, and one ship will offer 14 itineraries that include both the southern Caribbean and partial transits during fall 2015 through spring 2016. The cruises will range from 10 to 22 days.

Tobago’s cruise sector is slated for a major boost next year when Carnival returns to the island. The cruise giant will be visiting the island as part of some of its longer Caribbean itineraries that include Eastern Caribbean destinations like Dominica, Martinique and Grenada.

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has announced that it has started building a fourth ship to add to its fleet of graceful square-riggers; its first new-build since the launch of Royal Clipper in July 2000. The new ship will technically be a five-mast square rigger, weighing 8,770 tons and powered by more than 6,350 sq. m of sails.

Costa Cruises has announced Costa Deliziosa will reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL, for the winter 2015-2016 season and sail a 10-night itinerary with calls throughout the eastern and western Caribbean.

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced a new seven-night Cádiz, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal, itinerary on the Tere Moana.