Princess Cruises said the cruise industry’s traditional “hurry-up-and-wait” disembarkation process will become history as the line introduces a new, streamlined farewell process for passengers. Typically at the end of a cruise, passengers listen to the public address announcements for their luggage tag color to be called, signaling the staggered times they will disembark.

An expansive new aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, along with an exclusive adults-only area, and a totally redesigned “resort-style” main pool will be incorporated into the Carnival Fantasy when the 2,052-passenger Super Liner undergoes a multi-million-dollar dry dock this fall.

New York-based Apollo Management LP has completed the acquisition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) from Minneapolis-based Carlson. Apollo subsidiary Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH), Regent Seven Seas’ new parent, gave the green light for the luxury line to open talks with shipyards for a newbuild.

The world-famous Queen Elizabeth 2 passenger liner on her final world cruise left Montevideo on Wednesday and is expected to call in the Falkland Islands on Friday. It was her tenth and last call to Montevideo.

The eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, the capital of the province of the same name, is a major destination for cruise ships.

MSC Cruises will more than double its presence in the Caribbean next winter with the addition of the MSC Orchestra, currently its newest and largest ship.