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THE NEXT ICON OF VACATIONS

Port Canaveral | Summer 2025

Icons never stop pushing limits.

Finally, a sequel as good as the original. The new Star of the Seas℠ doubles down on Icon Class thrills, chill and wows. Like six record-breaking waterslides and a fear-inducing challenge high above the sea. Seven splashy pools with epic views. Over 40 ways to dine and drink. Entertainment that rocks the house. Plus, stops at the award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay on every sailing. And much more to be revealed as we await the big arrival in summer 2025.

LARGER THAN LIFE

OVER THE TOP

VACATION GOALS START HERE

Max the memory-making on Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures to San Juan, St. Kitts, Cozumel and beyond — plus visit our private island Perfect Day at CocoCay on every itinerary.

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NONSTOP THRILLS --> NONSTOP THRILLS

Take your best-ever vacation and crank it up — way up. Brave six record-breaking slides at the largest waterpark at sea. Find the courage to conquer the Crown’s Edge℠. And open the floodgates on family fun at Surfside℠. This is the best family vacation in the world.

CATEGORY 6 WATERPARK

CROWN'S EDGE

WATER'S EDGE

SPLASHAWAY BAY

ADRENALINE PEAK

SPORTS COURT

NEXT LEVEL CHILLS  

Take your pick of seven different pools, plus ten whirlpools — and plunge into an all-you-can-swim buffet of splashes to satisfy every mood. All with next-level ocean views to keep you connected to the sea. And refreshing cocktails are on tap across three decks at The Lime & Coconut® bar. It’s your day your way — soak up every minute.

THE HIDEAWAY

Floating in mid-air eight stories up, the Hideaway Pool is no mirage — it’s an engineering marvel like nothing you ever swam before. Perfectly perched in the center of the Hideaway neighborhood with a resident DJ and full-sized daybeds surrounded by water, it's the ultimate spot for beach club vibes.

Reach for the sky at Cloud 17℠, an open-air sanctuary with ocean views that are high above ordinary. Tucked away on the top deck, this adults-only oasis achieves a new stratosphere of chic with a secluded pool, cantilevered whirlpool, and private access to The Lime and Coconut® bar.

SWIM & TONIC

Drift on over to the Swim & Tonic℠ swim-up bar for ice-cold drinks and sun-kissed beats. This is the coolest way to sip — so grab a seat at the bar or kick back on one of the in-water loungers for just a splash of the action.

The new Star of the Seas℠ amps up the artistry like never before. Superhuman stunt-filled performances push the bounds of bravery beneath a towering waterfall at the shimmering AquaDome℠. Skaters unleash bold feats as digital projection transforms everything around you at Absolute Zero℠. And Broadway-worthy stage sensations, comedy masterminds and master musicians cue the applause with finely filtered precision.

BOLD AS ICE

ABSOLUTE ZERO

AWE INSPIRING

ALL NEW ADVENTURES

Stay tuned as we reveal all-new adventures coming to Star of the Seas℠ — like experiences just for kids and teens, mind blowing entertainment, and the most immersive culinary journey at sea.

CRUISE FROM PORT CANAVERAL

The next Icon of Vacations℠ sails from Port Canaveral — launching your family adventures into a new stratosphere. Blast off for discovery at the Kennedy Space Center, swim with manatees, go museum hopping, or explore world-famous theme parks in Orlando, just a short drive away.

EXPLORE CRUISES FROM PORT CANAVERAL

PERFECT DAY ADVENTURES

With stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay on every sailing, the best family vacation in the world extends from the ship to our award-winning private island. It’s 19 total waterslides onboard and on shore. Luxurious lounging at Coco Beach Club®. And party-pumping beats at the adults-only Hideaway Beach℠.

EXPLORE PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get the latest news on Star of the Seas℠ ahead of its arrival, Summer 2025. Plus get special offers and last-minute cruise deals.

Sign up to receive information about our special offers and deals. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more details about how we use your information, view our Privacy Policy .

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Star of the Seas® is Orlando’s best family vacation.

The next Icon of Vacations℠, Star of the Seas℠, sails weeklong getaways from Orlando, Florida beginning Summer 2025 from Port Canaveral. Whether your ideal beach getaway involves larger-than-life thrills or unwinding at a peaceful waterfront chill spot, you’ll find it at our award-winning private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. So take your pick from Eastern to Western Caribbean and wander for a weeklong onboard the best family vacation in the world.

EXPLORE MORE

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Forbes Travel Guide Stories

A Sea of Shining Stars: Forbes Travel Guide’s 2023 Cruise Awards By Forbes Travel Guide Editor Jennifer Kester

June 26, 2023

Forbes Travel Guide is expanding its 2023 Star Awards for ocean cruises with the addition of three ships to its winners list. Evaluated through incognito, in-person inspections, the new winners — Seabourn Ovation, Silversea’s Silver Shadow and Oceania’s Insignia — join the roster of nearly 2,000 hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises on FTG’s 2023 Star Awards list.  

The only independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, the 65-year-old company launched its first fleet of ocean cruise Star Award winners in February 2023 and unveils its second wave of additions to the prestigious list today.

See the full list of 2023 Star-Rated properties here , and learn more about our roster of star-studded cruises below.

Silversea’s Silver Shadow

With only 388 guests and 300 staff members aboard this Four-Star Silversea ship, you will feel well taken care of — especially since everyone receives attentive butler service and champagne on arrival. Every accommodation is a suite with windows overlooking the ocean and a bathroom with a full-sized tub.

Come out of your luxurious suite to dine at standouts like La Dame, a classic French restaurant featuring white-glove service and custom-made crystal Lalique panels, and La Terrazza, an Italian restaurant that sources its premium ingredients from Naples, Umbria and other spots.

Seabourn Ovation

The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star ship puts a lavish touch on all its offerings. On board the all-suite cruise, you’ll stay in spacious, elegant accommodations and savor mouthwatering steaks and lobster thermidor from The Grill by Thomas Keller, the revered chef behind Five-Star The French Laundry in Napa.

Back on shore, Seabourn Ovation will treat you to its signature Caviar on the Surf event, where you will wade waist-deep into the sea to a surfboard bar where staff members pour champagne into flutes and dole out bites of caviar as an appetizer to a beach barbecue.

Oceania’s Insignia

This Forbes Travel Guide Recommended ship enlists iconic chef, TV host and author Jacques Pépin to oversee its restaurants and San Francisco-based Humphry Slocombe to supply its gourmet ice cream (Regatta Royale with bittersweet chocolate, orange zest and smoked sea salt is made exclusively for Oceania).

During the voyage, learn about your destination from expert speakers, like historians and naturalists. Peruse the spa’s Wellness Discovery Tours, shore excursions like hiking to an Argentine glacier or soaking in Rome’s thermal baths. And then retreat to the contemporary sea-and-sand-hued staterooms with teak verandas and bathrooms with Bulgari toiletries.

The following cruises earned Star Awards in February:

Celebrity Flora

There’s no better way to explore the Galapagos Islands’ wondrous wildlife than this Four-Star ship — it was specially designed to sail to the archipelago. Accommodating only 100 guests in 50 suites, Flora employs a team of Galapagos National Park-certified naturalists to lead onboard activities and twice-daily excursions.

The vessel also is eco-friendly — for example, every suite comes with a water filtration station so you can refill water bottles before heading out on an adventure; the ship stays in position without dropping an anchor and damaging the ocean floor; and solar panels help reduce emissions.

Celebrity Edge

The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Edge pioneered cruise ship design with the Magic Carpet, the world’s first cantilevered venue at sea, and “infinite verandas,” floor-to-ceiling windows that transform staterooms into indoor-outdoor spaces. Edge offers the Celebrity fleet’s widest range of staterooms, and each gray-drenched accommodation exudes modern luxury.

Edge also launched The Retreat, a sort of hotel-within-a-hotel experience featuring perks like a sundeck with a pool and hot tub, a lounge with concierge service and Luminae restaurant showcasing dishes from respected chef Daniel Boulud, who helms Five-Star NYC restaurant Daniel and also serves as Celebrity’s global culinary ambassador.

Celebrity Apex

You’ll find the same marquee signatures from Edge on its younger ship sibling, which made its maiden voyage in 2020. The Four-Star Apex features the floating orange Magic Carpet, sleek staterooms with infinite verandas and The Retreat’s elevated offerings.

Apex changed up some of its culinary experiences, introducing Craft Social, a bar specializing in craft cocktails, wines on tap and hard-to-find beers; adding a new 3D animation Le Petit Chef show that happens on your table; and updating the lush Eden restaurant to accommodate theatergoers. Visit the ship’s sculpture-dotted Rooftop Garden to catch alfresco films and live music.

Celebrity Millennium

Set sail on this Four-Star ship, which underwent a makeover in 2019 inspired by Celebrity Edge’s design. The renovation ushered in The Retreat with its sun deck; a refreshed casino; warm, stylish staterooms; and new spa-like AquaClass suites with on-demand wellness television programming and in-suite fitness amenities.

While away your days playing pickleball on the open-air courts, dancing the night away at a silent disco with dueling DJs or taking aim at a bullseye with some archery.

Celebrity Summit

Board this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended vessel to experience the hallmarks of the Celebrity brand, like The Retreat. Be sure to escape to the spa to choose from a whopping 120 treatments and relax in the Persian Garden (aquatherapy facilities)

Get complimentary, unlimited access to the latter by upgrading to AquaClass, wellness-focused staterooms that also include a spa concierge, a fitness pass, healthy room service options, a yoga mat and free dining at Blu, a clean-cuisine restaurant solely reserved for AquaClass guests.

How We Rate

To compile these ratings, FTG’s incognito inspectors boarded luxury cruises, posed as ordinary guests and tested hundreds of exacting standards. Since service is at the heart of FTG’s ethos, ocean cruises undergo the same formula as hotels: 70 percent of a cruise’s rating relies on its service, and 3 percent of that figure is made up of a new guest experience score that looks at how the overall experience feels, including the level of personalized service, sense of place and value. The quality and condition of the facilities determine the remaining 30 percent of the rating.

With three Recommended ships earning a place in the new guide, FTG’s entry-level award assures passengers of an exceptionally comfortable cruise experience with an array of high-quality amenities and services in upscale surroundings. Five ships earned Four-Star awards, which denote vessels that offer not only a high-quality facility but a particularly excellent level of personalized service.  

See our collection of Star-Rated cruises here and stay tuned for more — FTG inspectors are sailing on inspections that will result in more cruise ratings for our annual Star Awards in February 2024.

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Star Cruises

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

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Star Cruises fleet

Star pisces, review of star cruises.

Star Cruises (starcruises.com/sg/en) is owned by Genting Hong Kong (GHK) and is ranked world's 3rd biggest cruise company, following Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD . The company dominates the Asia-Pacific market and is listed on the Singapore Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In 2015, GHK introduced the corporation's newest cruise line brand - Dream Cruises . The new company started with 2 newbuilds - both top-luxury mega-liners, built specifically for the Asian / Chinese market.

Another large Chinese cruise brand is the new company (2015-founded) Adora Cruises/CSSC Carnival China Cruise Shipping . At the following link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to Star Cruises owner Genting Hong Kong .

IMPORTANT : On January 19, 2022, the parent company GHK-Genting Hong Kong Ltd (Malaysia) filed for bankruptcy. On Jan 10th, for insolvency filed the two GHK-owned shipbuilding companies in Germany - MV Werften and Lloyd Werft. On Jan 27th, Dream Cruises filed a winding-up petition with the Bermuda Court for liquidation. and the appointment of the provisional liquidators working with GHK.

NEWS : In late-April 2022, was announced that the docked in Malaysia ships Star Pisces (1990-built), SuperStar Gemini (1992) and SuperStar Aquarius (1993) are listed for scrapping and soon to the beached at Alang India . SuperStar Libra (1988) was last AIS reported on April 7th (in Wismar Germany). The three liners' last crew signed off on May 17th, as new/skeleton crew were hired to take them to the scrapyard for dismantling and recycling.

On August 31, 2022, GHK's Star Cruises Asia Holding Ltd announced entering into a SPA/Share Purchase Agreement to sell its wholly-owned Star Market Ltd (100% of its shares) for US$3,5M/RM15,84M to the company Resorts World Inc Pte Ltd. Resorts World is 50-50 owned by Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (GHK's former Executive Director) and Genting Berhad (Genting Group's parent company, if which Lim Kok Thay holds ~30% shares). Star Market owns trademarks and intellectual property rights.

Company history

The company's introduction on the global cruise shipping market allowed Star Cruises to tap into profitable and more mature markets in Europe and North America. Its services cater to Asian guests, as well as to Europeans, Australians and North Americans, interested in Asian destinations. Star Cruises chairman was Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, son of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong (founder of Genting Highlands, Malaysia).

Star Cruises was established as an associate of Genting Group of Malaysia, incorporated on November 10, 1993, in Bermuda, with corporate headquarters in Hong Kong China . The first ships of the company were two cruise ferries bought from the bankrupted estate of Swedish Rederi AB Slite. Star Cruises was the world's first major cruise company to recruit Filipinos for its ships.

The company purchased several other used vessels in the following years. In 1998, it took delivery of the first newbuild - SuperStar Leo (now Norwegian Spirit) . Sistership SuperStar Virgo (Explorer Dream/Resorts World One) followed in 1999. The same year Star Cruises acquired Sun Cruises.

In 2000, Star Cruises also acquired NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) , including the subsidiaries "Norwegian Capricorn Line" and "Orient Lines", becoming the biggest global cruise line in the world. Norwegian Capricorn Line's operations were soon merged into Star Cruises. Before the NCL purchase, Star Cruises had several other newbuilds (either under construction or planned), but following the merger, most of them joined NCL's fleet. However, in August 2007, Star Cruises sold 50% of NCL (for USD 1 billion) to Apollo Management, retaining just 28% stake in NCL.

In 2001, Star Cruises founded the sister company "Cruise Ferries", which started operations in July with the passenger ferry Wasa Queen on short itineraries between Hong Kong and Xiamen. These were followed by overnight gambling cruises - roundtrip from Hong Kong and from Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur). Wasa Queen stopped operating and was sold to another company in 2007, and eventually was scrapped in 2013.

The then-largest ship in the fleet - SuperStar Leo - was transferred in 2004 to Norwegian Cruise Line to take over Norwegian Sky voyages. Since 2006, the trend has been that newbuilds were to be constructed for NCL, and the old ships in the Norwegian fleet would be transferred to Star Cruises fleet in Asia.

In 2008, both Orient Lines and NCL America brands were discontinued, with Orient's sole ship, ms Marco Polo, sold to the Greece-based Global Maritime. The same year, the first ship from NCL Norwegian was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises as SuperStar Libra .

In 2011, Star Cruises received a brand new hull art. SuperStar Aquarius , Star Pisces , and SuperStar Virgo won their new attire. On April 27, 2012, it was announced that Norwegian Dream will join Star Cruises fleet and be renamed to SuperStar Gemini starting service in 2012.

On October 7, 2013, Star Cruises announced that together with their parent company, Genting Hong Kong had entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft, Germany for the construction of one new vessel. The vessel will be able to accommodate 3,364 passengers at double occupancy and will be delivered in Fall 2016.

On February 10, 2014, Star Cruises announced that a second ship was ordered and scheduled for delivery by Fall 2017. On February 9, 2015, the first steel cutting ceremony was held for Genting World at Meyer Werft shipyard. Both newbuilds will weigh 150,000 GT.

In May 2018, Genting Cruise Lines signed a partnership deal with Wirecard (digital payments / online shop development company) for implementing a fleetwide onboard payment system. The system ("Quick Pay") was first installed on World Dream and Genting Dream, then launched on SuperStar Virgo. "Quick Pay" allows the passenger to be in full control of their onboard money spending - including pre-authorized limits, account management, monitoring, paying the total bill at disembarkation. The technology is based on scanning individual QR codes (during check-in, in staterooms or via the ship's intranet network, then selecting the "Quick Pay" option. Payments can be made via Alipay (Chinese online payment platform) and the credit cards Visa, American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay. The mobile app allows passengers to set up pre-authorized amounts for themselves, as well as for friends and family members.

On March 2, 2018, via letters and emails sent to all booked customers, GHK announced that the liner SuperStar Libra ends its passenger shipping operations for Star Cruises on June 27, 2018. Since August 2018, the vessel serves as a hotel ship in Wismar (Germany) for the shipbuilding company MV Werften. SuperStar Libra is permanently docked (moored) at MV Werften Wismar shipyard's quay. Since April 2016, GHK fully owns MV WERFTEN - a new company incorporating the 3 Nordic Yards in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - the shipyards in Rostock , Stralsund , and Wismar.

(new) Genting Global-Class cruise ships

On May 10, 2016, the parent company GHK (Genting Hong) signed with Lloyd Werft Group in Wismar Germany a shipbuilding contract for all 10 new cruise vessels . In 2015, GHK purchased a majority stake in Lloyd Werft (dockyard in Bremerhaven Germany ). In 2016, GHK purchased Lloyd Werft's remaining 30%, plus the three shipyards owned by Nordic Yards (Wismar, Warnemunde, Stralsund), thus forming Lloyd Werft Group.

Of the 10 newbuilds, 6 are riverboats plus 2 ocean-going (all 8 for the GHK's subsidiary Crystal Cruises ) and 2 are mega liners (for Star Cruises and Dream Cruises). The new GHK liners are sisterships of the Global-Class, each with gross tonnage 204,000 GT tons, LOA length 341 m (1120 ft) and passenger capacity 5000 (lower berths). Ship deliveries were scheduled for 2020 (for Dream Cruises) and 2021 (for Star Cruises). The ship-order has optional 2 more vessels of the same class.

Global Class ships feature artificial intelligence technologies (including facial and voice recognition for expedited passenger services - boarding, disembarkation, payments), robots (performing mundane tasks), Cineplex (theme park), Asian spa complex, multiple Asian dining venues (including fast food), both affordable and premium retail shopping facilities, roller coaster, water park (with 5 slides), surf simulator. Staterooms are designed for Asian families and can sleep up to 2-4 persons. Most cabins are with two (split) bathrooms. Each liner has 8 sets of escalators and 28 elevators.

Vessel's waste and water management system was provided by Evac (world's leading company building integrated waste-wastewater-water management systems). The company's Complete Cleantech Solution package includes a vacuum collection system, wastewater treatment plant, dry and wet waste treatment plant, freshwater desalination plants (based on reverse osmosis). The freshwater generation plants have the capacity to produce over 3000 m3 of freshwater per day. The contract with Evac was signed on January 3, 2017.

On January 9, 2017, was signed a contract with ABB for delivery of Azipods (power-propulsion units), automation systems and the marine software for all 5 new Genting cruise ships ordered for both brands - Crystal and Star. The 3x Crystal vessels are from the Crystal Endeavor series (polar-class expedition yachts).

These are the first purpose-built ships for the contemporary Chinese market regarding onboard amenities and services (food, cultural events, shows, enrichment programs, shopping, tours/excursions. Cruise ticket prices will be affordable. In May 2019 were unveiled more Global-Class vessel details. The ships will have industry's first theme park at sea, largest cinema at sea, world's longest roller coaster at sea, self-guided robotic assistants, industry's largest standard staterooms (sized 20 m2), Bluetooth cabin door locks, touch-screen control panel, smartphone-control of different en-suite functions (mood lighting, air-conditioning, etc).

On March 8, 2018, at MV Werften shipyard ( Bremerhaven Germany ) started the construction of the first of the two Global-Class Genting cruise liners.

The GHK-owned Lloyd Werft Group has the capacity to produce annually 2 mega liners (over 200,000 GT tons each) plus 1 mid-sized vessel (around 50,000 GT tons). Lloyd Werft has 2 new covered drydocks, a new ship launching platform and over 0,5 million m2 of covered fabrication halls.

In December 2018, Genting Cruise Lines announced plans to build smaller-sized (Contemporary-class) ships for Star Cruises from the German shipbuilder MV Werften. The first liner will be delivered in 2023. In 2019, SuperStar Virgo was renamed "Explorer Dream" and transferred to Dream Cruises in April 2019.

Star Cruises shipboard experience

The big appeal to western clients of Star Cruises is that its ships not only take guests around Asia but also let you experience an Asian lifestyle.

"SuperStar" ships were the first to offer the largest number of restaurants afloat. This innovation later passed on to Norwegian's "freestyle dining". SuperStars Virgo and Leo offer Italian, Asian, Japanese and Chinese restaurants. Virgo also has the only Indian restaurant afloat. Naturally, Star Cruises ships offer the usual formal dining room, casual buffets, and poolside grills. All dining venues offer open seating for ultimate flexibility.

Shipboard entertainment features spectacular shows by Chinese acrobats, card rooms (Mah Jong), private rooms for parties, karaoke rooms. Onboard service is friendly, impeccable, discreet. Star Cruises has a no-tipping policy and brags with one of Asian cruising industry's highest crew-to-passenger ratios - one staff member for every two passengers.

Star Cruises predominantly markets Asian travelers. The internationally focused SuperStar Virgo attracted passengers from Japan, Malaysia, Australia New Zealand, as well as adventurous-spirited North Americans and Europeans.

In 2018, Genting Cruise Lines signed an agreement with Okinawa Agricultural Cooperatives Association and Leospo Inc. Following the partnership, on select GHK-owned cruise liners is offered Okinawa-sourced food and local produce.

• The new onboard dining options include the famous Okinawa Wagyu beef and Okinawa Agu pork. The offer is available on select ships and during summer when they cruise to Okinawa.
• In 2018 (April through November), these premium food specialties were available on three boats (World Dream, SuperStar Aquarius, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Virgo). The exclusive gourmet dishes were served via specially designed theme menus. They also included the traditional Japanese dishes Shabu Shabu (with ingredients stirred in cooking pot) and Teppanyaki (iron griddle cooked food), as well as BBQ Okinawa Agu Pork and the wok-fried Okinawa beef (with bitter gourd garlic) and Okinawa beef rib eye (with sweet plum sauce).

Genting fly-cruise deals

In June 2017, Genting Cruise Lines (grouping the companies Dream Cruises and Star Cruises) and Asia's largest airline "China Southern Airlines" signed a Memorandum of Understanding/MoU on an exclusive "flight and cruise" partnership in China.

• The deal is for discounted fly-cruise deals on cruises leaving from homeport Guangzhou-Nansha - a premium travel hub and cruise homeport in Asia.
• By this strategic agreement, both China Southern Airlines and Genting combined their resources in sales, marketing, promotions, and product development, creating a competitive travel product by the new "Air+Cruise+Travel" program. The program targets both individual and group travelers.

Free Birthday cruise

Star Cruises offers free Birthday cruise deals on select ships and departure dates. Company's "Free Birthday Celebrant Package" consists of:

• Cabin decorations (set up on the embarkation day)
• 0,5 kg chocolate cake
• Birthday card
• Cruise voucher (at the ship's Reception) is applicable at onboard retail shops and spa/wellness outlets. To use the voucher, you need to swipe your access card at the outlets. When you settle your bill during checkout, the voucher's value is deducted from the total amount due.
• Free Wifi vouchers for 2 passengers for the entire cruise (at the ship's Reception). Wi-Fi connections on Start Cruises ships are available in all public areas and in staterooms.

Genting Cruises Private Island Resort

In early November 2017, GHK corporation signed an agreement with the Macleod Island 's owner "Tint Tint Myanmar Group" (headquartered in Yangon Burma ) to jointly built new cruise ship facilities on this private island.

Cruise line private Islands are among the best-known assets of the world's largest cruise shipping companies ( Carnival Corporation , RCCL-Royal Caribbean , NCL , MSC ). However, most such private island resorts are located in the Caribbean.

GHK's partnering with Tint Tint Myanmar Group makes Macleod Island the first Asian private cruise resort destination. It is opened exclusively for Genting cruise ship tourists visiting the island via ships operated by the GHK-owned Dream Cruises and Star Cruises. Among GHK's other Asian projects are Guangzhou-Nansha Port development (in China) and Port Danang (in Vietnam).

Macleod Island was first visited by a Star Cruises ship (SuperStar Libra) on November 3, 2017. The 5-night / 6-day itinerary also included Penang Malaysia  and Phuket Thailand .

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Despite the global Coronavirus crisis , Genting Cruise Lines (shipowner) didn't suspend its fleet's passenger shipping operations. Instead, the company (parent of Dream Cruises and Star Cruises) expanded its cancellation policy with "Cruise As You Wish". It allowed all existing and new bookings made before or on October 30, 2020 (initially July 31), to be canceled penalty-free up to 48 hours (prior departure).

These bookings were fully refunded (100%) via FCC (future cruise credit). With rebooking, the amount of the fare paid is automatically transferred to any Dream Cruises or Star Cruises itinerary starting before or on March 31, 2021 (initially December 31 2020).

Itinerary of Star Cruises

Following on Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit held in Qingdao, Star Cruises celebrated the inaugural cruise of SuperStar Aquarius from her new homeport Qingdao on June 13, 2018. Guests from the Shandong peninsula and neighboring cities are now able to enjoy journeys to Japanese destinations like Beppu , Fukuoka City , Nagasaki , and Sasebo . The flagship SuperStar Virgo also offered Qingdao homeport itineraries (November 2018 through March 2019).

Star Cruises officially set a record number of homeport deployments done by the same brand in Port Qingdao. By homeporting here SuperStar Virgo, the company became the only cruise line in history to have 2 ships homeported in Qingdao during the same year.

While cruising at sea, passengers enjoy a hassle-free experience onboard SuperStar Aquarius, complemented by Asian hospitality and delicacies unique to Star Cruises. The flagship of Star Cruises, SuperStar Virgo, calls Qingdao homeport starting in November 2018, taking passengers on 4-night voyages to Kagoshima , Fukuoka, and Nagasaki.

Note: Starting operations for Dream Cruises in mid-April 2019, SuperStar Virgo was renamed "MS Explorer Dream" and homeported in Shanghai (China). For the winter season 2020, Explorer Dream was deployed in Australia-New Zealand.

Star Cruises related cruise news

Crystal Cruises Serenity and Symphony ships arrested in Freeport (Bahamas)

A couple of Crystal Cruises' ships were seized on Friday, February 4, by authorities in the Bahamas over unpaid fuel bills. Crystal Symphony and...

Star Cruises' ship Star Pisces sets sail on first voyage from Penang Island (Georgetown, Malaysia)

Genting Cruise Lines on Wednesday, December 22, achieved a new milestone with the Star Cruises brand as the Star Pisces ship set sail on her first...

GHK's Star Cruises is the first line to restart in Malaysia with Star Pisces ship from Penang

Genting Cruise Lines, along with PPC-Penang Port Commission and PPSB-Penang Port Sdn Bhd announced that the Malaysian government had granted approval...

Crystal Cruises sold superyacht Crystal Esprit to Lindblad Expeditions

Crystal Cruises sold its Crystal Esprit ship, saying that the small-yacht concept didn't fit into the brand's future plans.  In a statement...

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines retiring Boudicca and Black Watch ships

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is expected to retire two of its ships, Boudicca and Black Watch, when the company brings on the pair of former Holland...

Singapore to charter GHK-owned cruise liners as hotels for uninfected foreign workers

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The 16 Best Cruises to Book in 2023, According to T+L's Expert

Travel + Leisure hand-selected 16 different types of on-the-water adventures to consider in the year ahead.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Cruising is in the midst of an epic comeback . Travelers are turning to trusted lines to help minimize the hassles of country hopping and maximize relaxation time in each destination. With 2023 poised to be a big year for both new and frequent cruisers — thanks in part to an abundance of new ships and itineraries — Travel + Leisure has hand-selected 16 different types of adventures to consider in the year ahead.

The Nile on Viking Osiris

Alastair Miller/Courtesy of Viking

Viking Osiris is the line’s newest on the Nile, with just 41 suites and staterooms, a pool deck, and cool Scandinavian design. The ship sails between Aswan and Luxor, with pre- and post-sail touring in Cairo included with the 12-day itineraries.

Alaska on Ocean Victory

The Alaska trips on Ocean Victory , a fuel-efficient, 93-cabin ship from American Queen Voyages, come with the opportunity to kayak past glaciers and spot bald eagles and grizzlies. The vessel, which first debuted in 2021, represents an evolution in ship design for American Queen, with its cutting-edge X-Bow design (which helps reduce fuel burn) and chic suites, including many with private verandas.

The Galápagos Islands on Quasar Expeditions’ Evolution

In June, Quasar Expeditions is offering a Galápagos cruise on the 32-passenger Evolution for children with autism spectrum disorder, hosted by an expert in supporting families with special needs. The trip, which departs June 24, is a seven-night expedition that takes in many of the most notable sites on the islands, with programming specially tailored for both kids and adults.

Cruising Antarctica on Silver Cloud or Silver Endeavour

Adrian Wolodarczyk/Courtesy of Silversea

Silversea gives Antarctica travelers the option to skip two days of sailing the often-rocky Drake Passage. Instead, they can fly in comfort over the waters separating South America from the continent, then hop aboard the 127-suite Silver Cloud and 100-suite Silver Endeavour for trips along the frosty coastline.

The Caribbean, South Pacific, and Australia With Windstar Cruises

Windstar has a series of 2023 itineraries on the 156-cabin Star Pride and 171-suite Wind Surf that hit yachty Caribbean ports like Jost Van Dyke, in the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla. The small-ship line, which is known for both its sleek “Star Plus Class” ships and its classic vessels with their dramatic sails, also has an array of itineraries along the coast of Australia and in the South Pacific.

Cold-weather Cruises on Le Commandant Charcot

A game changer in lowering emissions, Ponant’s brand-new hybrid-electric Le Commandant Charcot can operate on less-carbon-intensive battery power and liquefied natural gas and has room for 245 guests. The game-changing ship, which has already hosted eclipse watchers on a trip to Antarctica and sailed to the geographic North Pole, also offers adventures in places such as Iceland and Svalbard.

Cruises Closer to Home With American Queen Voyages

Michel Verdure/Courtesy of American Queen Voyages

American Queen Voyages will offer the longest trips in the line’s history in 2023, with two 23-day river itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio aboard the 123-stateroom American Countess . “The ship will sail more than 1,700 miles from Minnesota down the Ohio River and Upper Mississippi River , calling on more ports and offering more guided tours than ever before,” as T+L reported in August .

The South Pacific on Paul Gauguin

Just refurbished, the 165-cabin Paul Gauguin will be exploring the Pacific in 2023, with trips to the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marquesas, and the Society Islands. The single-vessel brand was voted the very best small-ship cruise line in the World’s Best Awards 2022 , as T+L readers gave particularly high marks to the Paul Gauguin ’s on-board staff.

Mystery Cruising With Uniworld

Courtesy of Uniworld

Next year, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will offer two nine-night “mystery cruises ,” with the European destinations revealed only as guests depart: similar trips in 2022 sold out. Travelers on the June 2023 trip will meet in Amsterdam, while the July 2023 sailing rendezvous in Nice, France — from there, the itinerary is anybody’s guess.

Expedition Cruising With Seabourn

Courtesy of Seabourn

Seabourn Venture , the luxury line’s first 132-suite expedition ship, launched in late summer with itineraries in northern Europe; trips in Japan, the South Pacific, and Antarctica are on tap for 2023. Seabourn Pursuit , which will be a sibling ship to Venture, is scheduled to arrive in 2023, the second in Seabourn’s growing expedition fleet.

Seeing Europe’s Gems by Small Ship

Slated to launch in the spring, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse II will visit ports from Dublin to Lisbon, as well as both polar regions, in 2023 and 2024. The innovative vessel, which is similar in design to Scenic Eclipse , will have luxurious suites complete with butler service and all sorts of extras, including helicopters (plural) and a submarine.

Visiting Wild Places With Fewer Impacts

Aurora Expeditions, whose newest vessel is the 71-cabin Sylvia Earle , guarantees that all operations are carbon neutral, pledging to offset all emissions. The newly launched ship, with its fuel-saving X-Bow design, doesn’t skimp on expedition necessities: guests on Antarctica expeditions can explore by Zodiac or snowshoe and even, when conditions allow, go scuba diving in polar waters or camping on the ice.

Solo Cruising With a New Line

Upstart cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages offers all-inclusive fares on its two 98-suite vessels, and, in a departure from industry norms, the brand doesn’t charge solo travelers a single supplement. The line’s second ship, World Traveller , launched in November 2022 . It will sail nine-, 10-, 11-, and 12-night round-trips from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica through March 2023 before heading to the Mediterranean to hit Spain, France, and Portugal.

The Galápagos Islands on Celebrity Flora

Michel Verdure/Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Another ship that sails the Galápagos, the Celebrity Flora , has 50 suites, many with large verandas, plus a stargazing deck and a fleet of comfortable tenders. Two itineraries are available, the first of which is a seven-night “northern loop” that visits the volcanic island of Santiago and has guests spotting red-footed Boobies on Genovesa Island, a place sometimes called Bird Island thanks to its famed animals. The line’s “outer loop” also includes plenty of wildlife watching, plus a stop at the less-frequented Daphne Island.

Doing Wine Country on Seadream II

SeaDream Yacht Club has two Wine Voyages in 2023, which include vineyard visits in Greece, Italy, and Spain and a winemaker-hosted dinner on the 112-guest Seadream II . The highly regarded intimate-ship line wins frequent accolades from T+L readers for its on-board service and well-appointed vessels.

The 6 best 2023 cruise itineraries to book right now

How does a cruise to Arabia sound? Or what about the longest U.S. river cruise ever to set sail? With ships traveling all over the globe, it can be difficult to choose the destination that's right for you, especially when there are so many bucket list-worthy options.

That's why I've rounded up some of 2023's most exciting itineraries. From interesting new routes to tried-and-true ones that now have new ships, this list will prime your sense of wanderlust for both far-flung destinations and places close to home as we head into the new year. Prepare to be inspired.

Note: All prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Fares do not include taxes and fees.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Japan on Ponant's Le Soleal

After nearly three years of shutdowns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan finally reopened to travelers in November 2022. That includes cruise passengers, and several lines — including Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises (which is offering special "Spice Route" voyages that include Japan) — are returning.

However, the most exciting Japan itineraries I've spotted for 2023 are a couple of routes offered by Ponant 's Le Soleal. Not only is the line the first expedition ship to take passengers to Japan's southern islands, but its itineraries are also Japan-focused routes that don't include other countries like the ones offered by Holland America and Celebrity.

Details: The first route is an eight-day voyage, March 24-31, 2023, offering visits to traditional villages of the Okinawa archipelago and the Ryukyu Islands, as well as Ishigaki and Kume. Prices start at $6,000 per person for an ocean-view cabin.

The second route is an eight-day sailing from Osaka to Fukuoka, May 15-22, 2023, taking passengers to stops in the Seto Inland Sea, the oldest sea route in Japan. Fares start from $7,310 per person for an ocean-view room. More information on Ponant's Asia voyages can be found on the line's website .

West Africa on Hurtigruten's Spitsbergen

In a first for Hurtigruten , the line is offering a selection of sailings around the west coast of Africa, including the islands of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau's Bissagos Islands, which are made up of more than 80 beachy islands and islets, only about 20 of which are populated year-round.

Cape Verde voyages are rare, making this ideal for anyone wishing to check the country off their bucket list. Plus, with Hurtigruten's rapid expansion beyond its traditional Norway offerings and into expedition cruising, you can be one of the first to try out this first-for-the-line itinerary, which will be available four times in late 2023 (and into early 2024), departing from Dakar, Senegal.

Details: These 13-day sailings on Hurtigruten's Spitsbergen depart from Dakar in November and December 2023 and January 2024. Prices start at $5,974 per person for an inside cabin. More information can be found on Hurtigruten Expeditions' website .

Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on American Queen Voyages' American Countess

It's no secret that American Queen Voyages has been sailing U.S. rivers for years. But what makes this particular itinerary special is that it will be the line's longest ever. The 23-day cruises , which include travel on both the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, will be offered on the line's newest ship, the 245-passenger American Countess .

The vessel will feature stops in some of America's most notable small towns, including La Crosse, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Bettendorf and Burlington, Iowa; Hannibal, St. Louis, Kimmswick and Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Paducah, Henderson, Owensboro, Brandenburg, Louisville and Maysville, Kentucky; Madison, Indiana; Point Pleasant, West Virginia; and Cincinnati and Marietta, Ohio.

Details: The first voyage is set to begin in Red Wing, Minnesota (near Minneapolis), on July 24, 2023, and end in Pittsburgh on Aug. 15, 2023. The reverse itinerary will begin on Aug. 15, 2023, when the ship reaches Pittsburgh. Prices start from $10,599 per person for an inside cabin. You can find more details on the line's website .

The Middle East on Windstar's Star Legend

If you're looking for a cruise destination that's a bit more far-flung, Windstar Cruises is offering Red Sea and Persian Gulf sailings in the Middle East — a first for the line, which will sail its newly stretched Star Legend in the region, beginning in fall 2023.

The line will offer four different itineraries, but my favorite is the 10-day Persian Gulf option from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, which includes calls on places like Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and Khasab, Oman. The ship will also visit the UAE's island of Sir Bani Yas, which is known for nature and wildlife conservation. The sailings include overnights in Doha and Abu Dhabi, too.

Details: This itinerary is offered 11 times, beginning in November 2023 and running into early 2024. Fares start from $3,499 per person for ocean-view accommodations.

Caribbean and Bahamas on MSC Meraviglia and Carnival Venezia from NYC

Although Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries aren't a new thing from New York, two cruise lines will have a new presence there starting in 2023: Carnival Cruise Line with Carnival Venezia, which will begin sailing from Manhattan in June, and MSC Cruises with MSC Meraviglia, which will be based at Brooklyn's Red Hook terminal beginning in April.

The itineraries are fairly standard at first glance, but what's key here is that, for the first time, the lines' private islands — in this case, Carnival's Half Moon Cay and MSC's Ocean Cay Marine Reserve — will be accessible via sailings traveling round-trip from New York.

Details: Between April and December 2023, MSC Meraviglia is offering 11 seven-night sailings calling on Port Canaveral (near Orlando), and Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, both in the Bahamas. Prices start from $399 per person for an inside cabin. More info can be found on the MSC Cruises website .

From June through December, Carnival Venezia will sail one eight-day Bahamas voyage that includes Nassau, Freeport and Half Moon Cay, with prices starting from $484 per person for an inside cabin. During that time, the vessel is also scheduled to run five eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruises calling on Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay, with fares starting at $684 per person for an inside cabin. For additional details, visit the Carnival website .

Australia/New Zealand on Disney Wonder and Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady

With Australia and New Zealand finally picking up steam again post-shutdown, it's not surprising that some cruise lines are sending ships to the region for the first time in 2023. Beginning in November, Disney Cruise Line 's Disney Wonder will sail 14 two- to six-night voyages from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne — calling on places like Hobart and Eden in Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Noumea, New Caledonia — through the end of the year, offering Disney fans another option in terms of destination.

Plus, starting in December 2023, Virgin Voyages ' brand-new Resilient Lady will offer five two- to 14-night sailings from Melbourne, providing locals with a more modern ship. (It's rare for the Australian market to see brand-new vessels.) Voyages include stops in Hobart, Burnie or both Tasmanian ports. On the two-week sailing, ports also include Sydney, as well as Picton, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland in New Zealand.

Details: Disney Wonder's per-person fares for inside cabins start at $946 for two nights, $1,604 for three nights, $2,000 for four nights, $2,118 for five nights and $4,078 for six nights. For more information, visit the Disney Cruise Line website .

Virgin Voyages' per-person prices for interior accommodations start from $245 for two nights, $613 for five nights, $753 for six nights and $2,240 for 14 nights. Check out the Virgin Voyages website for more details on these cruises.

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Best Luxury Cruise Lines

Luxury cruise lines have long enticed travelers seeking a superior experience. Some offer exotic voyages to faraway

Luxury cruise lines have long enticed travelers seeking a superior experience. Some offer exotic voyages to faraway destinations, while others attract travelers with opulent cabins and stimulating enrichment programs. But with cruise lines continuously upping the industry standard, how do you know which one will deliver the best experience? Based on a methodology that factors in price class, health ratings and approval among experts and travelers, U.S. News determined the best luxury cruise lines.

Read Best Cruises Methodology

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Viking Ocean Cruises

Smaller ships (with verandas in every cabin) and destination-focused itineraries set Viking Ocean Cruises apart from other cruise lines. Viking's emphasis on cultural enrichment means you can expect activities like TED Talk screenings, cooking classes and riveting stage performances, as well as shore excursions like exclusive after-hours museum visits or culinary tours.

• 4.57 Overall Rating
• 9 Ships in Fleet

Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn treats travelers to a luxury cruising experience with its all-oceanfront suites, personalized service and excellent upscale dining options. Cruisers sailing with Seabourn can relax knowing that almost everything is covered in their cruise rate, including meals, fitness classes, enrichment activities and nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks.

• 4.39 Overall Rating
• 5 Ships in Fleet

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Travelers can indulge in excellent food and drinks at Regent's sophisticated dining venues and enjoy various spa treatments at the decadent Serene Spa & Wellness center. Onboard enrichment programs offer culinary and cultural history lessons, and travelers will have access to unlimited complimentary shore excursions, such as vineyard tours in Bordeaux, France.

• 6 Ships in Fleet

Oceania Cruises

Oceania's gourmet dining, cooking classes and culinary shore excursions cater to foodies. Plus, Oceania's midsize ships offer a high level of personalized attention, with four of its seven vessels hosting less than 700 passengers each. Passengers also praise the ships' elegant decor and onboard activities.

• 4.30 Overall Rating
• 7 Ships in Fleet

Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises specializes in exclusivity and personalization, with all-suite accommodations, exotic itineraries and gourmet restaurants. While its ships are smaller, Silversea still sets the bar high for upscale cruising. On board, you can attend stimulating lectures or take advantage of butler service while in your suite.

• 4.26 Overall Rating
• 8 Ships in Fleet

Azamara's small ships can reach off-the-beaten-path destinations, allowing the cruise line to offer unique shore excursions. Thanks to the AzAmazing Celebrations program, guests can enjoy immersive experiences day and night in their destinations, at no additional cost (available on most cruises). Azamara also offers outstanding service and elegant suites.

• 4.05 Overall Rating
• 4 Ships in Fleet

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

I've been on 50 cruises. Here are 3 routes I'd sail again in a heartbeat and 3 I'd probably skip.

• I've been on 50 cruises (at least six a year), and some routes are better than others. 
• I try to avoid cruises that make stops at Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas.
• My favorite cruise I've ever been on was a Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona. 

I've taken 50 cruises with family and friends, and I'm always looking to try out new routes with different port stops .

Before I ever book a cruise — which I do about six times a year — I try to find either a new-to-me ship or a new-to-me route. If neither of those options works for my budget or timeframe, I opt for a familiar favorite.

Here are my favorite cruise routes that I'm always happy to book, and the ones I don't need to sail again.

My favorite route is a Mediterranean cruise that starts and ends in Barcelona, Spain.

Mediterranean cruises start and end in various ports of call around Europe, typically throughout the summer sailing season.

Last year, my family and I took a Disney Cruise that started and ended in Barcelona, with stops in France and Italy.

My favorite part of this trip was splitting a day between Nice and Eze in the French Riviera . I was able to walk through cobblestone streets overlooking the ocean while sipping on limoncello.

I love Caribbean cruises along the western ports.

I've taken many western Caribbean routes over the years on Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line, and they never disappoint.

The route usually includes stops at Cozumel, Mexico, and Georgetown, Grand Cayman. But it may also include ports of call at Falmouth, Jamaica; Costa Maya, Mexico; or Roatán, Honduras.

I always get off the ship in Cozumel, even if it's just to have lunch at a taco shop. Don't get lured into the restaurants right at the docks because the best food is in the spots farther down the main street.

I also love getting off in Roatán. On a recent cruise, I took an excursion to Roatan Island Brewing Company to try different beers made with local ingredients.

I also enjoy routes that only stop at private islands.

Every once in a while, I can find a short three-night cruise on Royal Caribbean or Disney that only visits the brand's private islands.

These short cruises are ideal weekend getaways and go to some of my favorite ports of call, like Royal Caribbean's CocoCay and Disney's Castaway Cay.

I love both of these destinations because there's so much to do — you really can spend the entire day at the beach or exploring the various parts of the island. I also love that food and drinks are all provided, so I don't have to return to the ship for lunch.

On the other hand, I don't need to go to Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas again.

I love short cruises from Port Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but they often mean stopping at Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas .

I don't really think there's much to see at either stop once you've done it once or twice. If my route includes them, I usually stay on the ship to enjoy the less crowded pool and spa.

The trade-off for these two ports is often getting to visit a cruise line's private island , so I think it's worth it for that. But I don't need to go on another long cruise through the Bahamas.

I'm also not a big fan of Bimini, Bahamas.

Many cruise lines, like Carnival and Virgin Voyages , are now taking cruisers to Bimini for an easy beach day. But if you're not a big fan of chilling at the beach, there's not much else to do on the island.

I’d probably skip cruising to Key West.

I love Key West in the Florida Keys , but as a port stop, it was hard to see a lot of the island and explore beyond Duval Street.

I'd prefer to spend a few days in the destination to explore all that it has to offer instead of making it a cruise stop.

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Halong 3 star cruise selection

Here is a selection of our best Halong 3 star cruises . Book your cruise now and enjoy a memorable Halong 3 star cruise with a excellent service, comfortable cabins, quality meals cooked by an experienced chef and many activities.

Note : it is also possible to spend 3 days / 2 nights in Halong Bay Vietnam . Feel free to contact us for more informations.

Selection Halong bay 3 star cruise

Royal Palace (Halong bay 2D/1N)

Cozy Bay Cruise (Halong bay 2D/1N)

Le Journey Cruise (Halong bay 2D/1N)

Last reviews.

Photos, video show collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after cargo ship collision

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed Tuesday into the Patapsco River after it was struck by a large cargo ship.

The bridge's collapse has prompted huge emergency response, with the Baltimore City Fire Department describing the collapse as a mass-casualty incident, and rescue crews searching for seven people in the river. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency.

Baltimore  Mayor Brendon Scott  said on X that he was aware of the incident and was en route to the bridge. "Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway," he said.

The 1.6 mile, 4-lane bridge named for the author of the "Star-Spangled Banner," was the second-longest continuous-truss bridge span in the United States and third in the world.

Follow here for live updates → Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship collision; rescue effort underway

Photos show collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

Videos show francis scott key bridge's collapse.

The bridge's collapse, which came after it was struck by a container ship, was distributed on social media.

What did the Francis Scott Key Bridge look like before it was hit?

Contributing: Charles Ventura, Thao Nguyen and Susan Miller, USA TODAY .

Live updates: Biden wants the federal government to fund Baltimore bridge repairs

Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. Follow the latest at npr.org and wypr.org.

Part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday morning after a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, the Dali , crashed into it, sending people into the water in what authorities are calling a "developing mass casualty event." Here's what we're following:

• Officials say eight construction workers were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Two people have been rescued, one of them seriously injured.
• The Dali, which was traveling from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, had issued a "mayday" warning before the collision, which helped authorities reduce traffic on the bridge.
• The 1.6-mile Key Bridge is a vital transit route for both Maryland commuters and drivers traversing the East Coast. It also has a rich and patriotic history .
• Ship traffic is suspended in the Port of Baltimore , one of the largest shipping hubs in the country. At least six high-capacity commercial vessels are essentially trapped inside the harbor.
• Authorities say the search and rescue mission is their sole focus and will continue until divers determine they have reached the "non-survivability point."

Gov. Moore says the situation is still an 'active search and rescue mission'

By Jonathan Franklin

During an afternoon news conference, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters the Baltimore bridge situation is still an “active search and rescue mission" as six people remain missing.

Moore said he spoke to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris following the bridge collapse, and the two voiced their “full-throated” support.

The governor added that air, land and sea resources are being deployed to Baltimore to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

“There is not a single resource that we will hold off on deploying,” Moore said.

“This will not be short, there’s going to be a long road,” he added. “There's going to be a long road, not just as we go from search and rescue. There will be a long road as we talk about what does the future of this region, the future of the area looked like.“

‘Search and rescue is still underway,’ NTSB chair says

"What I can tell you is, a search and rescue is still underway," National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a mid-afternoon update from the shore near Baltimore’s harbor.

Investigators are also working to verify how many crew members were on board the Dali container ship, and what their status is, Homendy said.

In an incident that has brought a large number of state, local and federal agencies to bear, Homendy laid out who’s doing what.

The NTSB is leading the investigation into the bridge collapse, she said, while the Coast Guard is leading the search and rescue effort. And for now, she said, her teams are staying away from the ship to give the search operation room.

A main priority, she said, will be to acquire the ship’s recorders, which could provide more insights into the catastrophic collision.

NTSB has 24 people on site, including her, Homendy said. She added that her counterparts in Singapore, where the Dali is flagged, are also sending people to Baltimore to help with the inquiry.

Shippers are scrambling to reroute cargo

By Scott Horsley

Some $80 billion worth of cargo passes through the Port of Baltimore each year. With the port’s shipping channel closed indefinitely by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, shippers are scrambling to find alternate routes.

Some vessels have already been diverted to Norfolk, Va., said Margie Shapiro, who runs a century-old freight handling business in Baltimore. Other traffic could be rerouted through New York or Philadelphia.

Cargo already at the port will have to travel overland, but truck traffic will also be snarled by the loss of the bridge, which severed an important interstate highway.

“The whole ecosystem is going to be a little bit off,” Shapiro said. “Removing the Port of Baltimore from the equation just changes the whole chemistry. And we’ve lived that before with the Suez Canal disruption. When the ecosystem gets messy, things get messy. Freight rates go up. The world gets a little bit chaotic.”

Cargo traffic through the Suez Canal has been curtailed due to attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, while shipping through the Panama Canal has been limited by drought.

“We never get a break,” Shapiro said. She's been hearing from many of her clients, concerned about delayed deliveries and higher expenses.

She's heard an unofficial estimate that it could take two months to clear the shipping channel so cargo vessels can resume sailing.

President Biden also stressed the importance of reopening the port as quickly as possible.

“Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we're going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers," Biden said.

In the meantime, shipping companies are expected to declare a force majeure, invoking a clause in their contracts that allows them to drop Baltimore-bound cargo in other ports, leaving the recipient to bear the cost of additional transportation.

Baltimore's mayor says the state is in touch with construction workers' families

By Rachel Treisman

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who has been at the scene of the bridge collapse all morning, told NPR's Morning Edition that the focus remains on trying to save lives "until it's no longer a search and rescue mission."

Scott said crews are still looking for the six construction workers known to be in the water.

They were "simply just working, providing for their families, trying to make transit for other folks in Baltimore and Maryland better," he said.

He said Maryland officials are in contact with the families of those unaccounted for, and "will continue to lift them up and support them in every way."

Scott said authorities do not believe there was anyone driving on the bridge as it collapsed, though that could change.

He credited transit personnel with shutting down traffic in both directions after the ship put out its mayday call, saying they are "heroes for doing that."

Scott himself had just gotten off the phone with President Biden, and has been talking to members of the administration all day. He reiterated that Baltimore is getting strong support from local, state and federal agencies and is confident that will continue.

"We're going to continue to do the work," he said. "Anything that we need, we will ask for for sure."

Listen to his conversation with Morning Edition 's Leila Fadel.

Biden wants federal government to pay 'entire cost' of rebuilding bridge: 'We're not leaving until this job gets done'

By NPR's Washington Desk

In an address from the White House about the bridge collapse in Baltimore, President Biden said he intends for the federal government to “pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge. And I expect the Congress to support my effort.”

He vowed, “We're not leaving until this job gets done.”

“This is going to take some time,” he said, “the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt.”

He said prayers are with the families waiting to hear about their loved ones who are still unaccounted for.

He said every indication so far is that the event was an accident and not intentional.

Biden said ship traffic in the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until the channel is cleared. He noted that it is one of the largest shipping hubs in the U.S.

“We're gonna get it up and running again as soon as possible. Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we're gonna do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers,” Biden said.

Asked if the company that owned the ship should be held responsible, but he said, “That could be, but we’re not going to wait for that to happen. We’re going to pay for it to get the bridge rebuilt and open.”

He said he plans to go to Baltimore “as quickly as I can.” Biden is scheduled to fly with Vice President Harris to North Carolina this afternoon.

The White House says Biden spoke with the following federal, state and local officials:

• Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
• Governor Wes Moore (MD)
• Senator Ben Cardin (MD)
• Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD)
• Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)
• Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore, MD
• Johnny Olszewski, Executive of Baltimore County, MD

'It could've happened to us:' A Baltimore couple discuss losing a landmark bridge near their home

Miamonique and Travis Brooks of Baltimore were stunned when they heard the news of the bridge collapse.

They told NPR's Laurel Wamsley in Dundalk that they used to drive over the Francis Scott Key Bridge to get to work every day until they moved downtown several months ago — and they just happened to take that route again yesterday.

"It's crazy, we were just on that bridge," said Travis. "It could've happened to us."

Miamonique called the experience "an eye-opener to appreciate life." She said it was bittersweet, knowing that she and her husband are safe but that others are not.

"It's very sad to hear of tragedy," she added. "But as far as for my husband and I, it's just a blessing that we are here today and it just showed us that we have purpose."

The couple ended up back at the site of the bridge on Tuesday morning on their way to work. Miamonique said they tried to take a route that would be out of the way, "but we got right in the way because of the trucks." She said a drive that would normally take no more than 20 minutes stretched into nearly an hour.

They also stopped to take pictures for her family back in Georgia, who had checked in on them earlier.

"It is London Bridge falling down, just in Baltimore," said Miamonique, marveling at the crumpled structure. "'Cause it's so long — well, it was — and now it doesn't look like that anymore."

She said the bridge was not only a beautiful sight and a Baltimore landmark, but also a critical route for trucks that can't fit through highway tunnels closer to downtown. For people who live in their area outside of the city, Miamonique said, the "shorter route won't be shorter anymore."

"That's gonna be wicked," she said of the traffic. "Because that bridge is literally the only way out if you have to come over to this area."

President Biden to speak about the Key Bridge collapse

By Bill Chappell

President Biden was briefed earlier Tuesday about the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The White House said he would speak about what looks to be a tragic accident before departing for a trip to North Carolina.

Track the Dali’s path to calamity; at least 6 large ships are trapped in harbor

The stunning collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md., severed an important highway — and draped a ribbon of steel and concrete across a vital waterway used by freight and civilian craft.

The container ship Dali had been escorted from its docking and out toward the large bridge by two tugboats, the Eric McAllister and the Bridget McAllister, according to a re-creation of its path from the Vessel Finder marine tracking website.

Transponder data shows the Dali quickly speeding up as the two tugboats leave it, eventually reaching 8.8 knots on a southeast bearing of around 140 degrees. It slows slightly as it nears the bridge — but the ship also veers some 15 degrees further south — sending it into a large support column in the Patapsco River.

The two tugboats then rush back toward the stricken ship. A Coast Guard craft arrives shortly after, as emergency and rescue vessels flock to the scene.

The bridge is now blocking the harbor’s entrance, and at least six high-capacity commercial vessels are essentially trapped, according to live data from Vessel Finder.

The vessels include the cargo ships Balsa 94 and Saimaagracht; the bulk carriers Klara Oldendorff; Jy River; and Phatra Naree; and the vehicle carrier Carmen.

Three large inactive naval auxiliary ships are also in the harbor, along with dozens of passenger, charter and pleasure craft that use moorages in the Inner Harbor area.

The busy Port of Baltimore is suspending vessel traffic until further notice

Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice, port officials announced late Tuesday morning .

"This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is closed," they wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Trucks are being processed within our marine terminals."

They added that they do not know how long the suspension will last, but will provide an update as soon as that is determined.

"Until then please keep those involved in your prayers," they added.

The port is the deepest harbor in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, with five public and 12 private terminals. It's also within an overnight drive of one-third of the nation's population, according to the state .

And it ranks 9th in the nation for both total dollar value and tonnage of international cargo.

It collectively handled more than 847,000 autos and light trucks in 2023, the most of any U.S. port for the 13th consecutive year. It also ranked first in the nation last year in handling automobiles, light trucks, farm and construction machinery and imported sugar and gypsum.

The Port of Baltimore generates about 15,300 direct jobs, with another nearly 140,000 linked to port activities, per the state.

And it continues to set records: Gov. Wes Moore announced just last month that the port handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, worth $80 billion, in 2023.

In other words, the suspension of this busy Baltimore port is likely to have ripple effects far beyond the city.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the bridge collapse. It announced on X , formerly Twitter, that it is launching a "go team" and will hold a press briefing later Tuesday.

The NTSB website says a go team consists of "technical experts needed to solve complex transportation safety problems." When on duty, they must be reachable 24 hours a day.

"Most Go Team members do not have a suitcase pre-packed because there's no way of knowing whether the accident scene will be in Florida or Alaska, but they do have tools of their trade and necessary safety equipment such as hard hats, goggles, steel toed shoes," it added.

Ship’s mayday signal allowed officials to stop many vehicles before bridge collapse

Video footage moments before the collapse shows cars and trucks traveling over the bridge — but traffic seems to halt roughly 30 seconds before a large pillar gives way, triggering the structure’s rapid failure.

The crew of the Dali container ship alerted authorities that it was losing power, officials said in an update late Tuesday morning.

“We're thankful that between the mayday and the collapse that we had officials who were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic, so more cars were not up on the bridge,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters, adding that the intervention saved lives.

It was “shocking and heartbreaking” to learn the Key Bridge had collapsed, the governor said.

Moore also said no structural problems had been reported in the span: “In fact, the bridge was actually fully up to code.”

As bad as the catastrophe was, it could have been even worse — if the ship had hit the bridge at morning rush hour, for instance.

“Roughly about 35,000 people a day” use the bridge, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said.

There have been reports that vehicles fell into the water when the bridge gave way — and it's possible that those belonged to the eight-person construction crew.

When Wiedefeld was asked if searchers think any people might be in a vehicle in the water, he replied, "No, we do not believe so."

Authorities are still searching for six people, likely all construction workers

Authorities said at a mid-morning briefing that search and rescue operations remain underway, with six people still unaccounted for.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said an eight-person construction crew had been working on the bridge, but stressed that there were no structural issues and that they were "basically repairing potholes."

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also said at the briefing that the bridge was "fully up to code."

As of around 10 a.m. ET, the number of people rescued remains at two, one of whom is hospitalized.

"Response teams are doing everything in our power to rescue and recover the victims of this collapse literally as we speak," Moore said.

Authorities did not provide a timeline but stressed that their sole priority is search and rescue at the moment and that state and federal agencies are working together to get resources where they're needed.

U.S. Sen Chris Van Hollen, D-M.D., spoke about how the federal government is supporting the state, from the Coast Guard to the Army Corps of Engineers.

William J. DelBagno, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office, said the FBI is contributing crisis response resources, victims services and underwater search evidence recovery teams. He said the agency will provide resources as long as necessary and help take the investigation "to its logical conclusion."

He also emphasized that "there is no specific or credible information to suggest that there are ties to terrorism in this incident."

Officials are asking the public to be patient as more information becomes available and to keep those affected in their thoughts.

The Key Bridge has a rich and patriotic history

The Key Bridge isn't just a vital transportation route. It also has a special historical significance.

The structure itself was built between 1972 and 1977, opening to the public on March 23 of that year.

But its history goes much deeper than that, according to the state. Scholars believe it stood within 100 yards of the site where its namesake, Francis Scott Key, witnessed the failed British bombardment of Fort McHenry in September 1814.

The bombardment was a key turning point in the War of 1812, forcing the British to abandon the land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. The two sides reached a peace agreement later that year.

In short: British warships fired thousands of exploding mortar shells, cannonballs and rockets at the fort for more than a full day, but inflicted only minor damage because it was so heavily fortified. The Americans raised their garrison flag the next morning.

Key, an American lawyer, watched the battle from the British warship he had boarded to negotiate the release of a detained American civilian. The awe he felt at seeing the flag rise the next morning inspired him to write "Defense of Fort McHenry," which was renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.

The Key Bridge is vital for Maryland drivers and anyone traversing the East Coast

The Key Bridge is a vital transportation route, not just for Baltimore-area commuters but anyone driving up or down the Eastern Seaboard.

The four-lane, 1.6-mile bridge sees a traffic volume of some 11.3 million vehicles each year, according to state data.

It's the outermost of only three interstate crossings of the Baltimore Harbor into downtown Baltimore, and the only one that's a bridge. The other two are tunnels.

Matt Bush of member station WYPR told Morning Edition that it's heavily trafficked by Maryland residents and anyone who drives along the East Coast, particularly between New York and Washington, D.C.

"This is one of three ways to get through Baltimore on the interstate, and this is the one that's furthest away from downtown, so many people trying to avoid downtown traffic end up using this," he explained.

Bush said he was not aware of any recent safety concerns involving the bridge, adding that the most recent debate about it was over an increase in toll prices.

In the wake of its collapse, the Maryland Transportation Authority is asking commuters to avoid the southeast corridor of I-695, colloquially called the Baltimore Beltway. Drivers should use the I-95 or I-895 tunnels to cross the harbor instead and prepare for delays.

Further complicating some drivers' morning commutes, vehicles transporting hazardous materials (including propane over 10 pounds) are prohibited in those tunnels. They should use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels, authorities say.

A team of construction workers was on the bridge

Search and rescue teams were working early Tuesday to find anyone who was on the Francis Scott Key Bridge — and that includes a crew of construction workers who were working on the structure, says Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J Wiedefeld.

“They were basically doing some concrete deck repair,” Wiedefeld said.

When asked how large the work team was, the transportation head said that on such projects, “other workers show up sometimes. So that’s what we’re investigating.”

It’s too early to know precisely how many people in total were on the bridge when its central steel structure gave way, Wiedefeld said.

The water is approximately 50 feet deep in the area beneath the bridge, he said. Wiedefeld also said that officials have set up a facility where family members who believe they’ve lost a loved one in the bridge collapse can come for information and counseling.

Catastrophic bridge collapse was caught on video

The moment that the Dali container ship struck a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge — causing a large portion of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River — was caught on video. 

After the collapse, rescue crews at the scene began trying to reach anyone who was on the bridge at the time, from vehicles that were caught on the bridge’s roadway to construction workers who were doing repairs to the bridge’s concrete deck.

Officials say it’s too early to know how many people were on the bridge.

The ship management company says all crew members are accounted for

The company that manages the ship says all of its crew members are accounted for, and there are no injuries or pollution resulting from the crash.

Synergy Marine Group said in a statement that the Dali collided with one of the Key Bridge pillars around 1:30 a.m. ET "whilst under pilotage with two pilots onboard."

It said there were 22 crew members on board, "all Indian." The ship was heading from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the ‘DALI’ has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service," it added. "The US Coast Guard and local officials have been notified, and the owners and managers are fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies under an approved plan."

The vessel is managed by Synergy but owned by a different company, Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd.

Maryland's governor has declared a state of emergency

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency over the bridge collapse, he announced on the platform X early Tuesday.

"We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," he wrote .

Moore said his office is in communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and will remain in close contact with the various local, state and federal entities "that are carrying out rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragedy."

Moore visited the area himself later in the morning.

. @GovWesMoore is on site at the Francis Scott Key Bridge. pic.twitter.com/4nC12WQAz5 — Carter Elliott, IV (@CarterElliottIV) March 26, 2024

. @GovWesMoore with @MayorBMScott viewing the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. pic.twitter.com/9lneOzVtC1 — Carter Elliott, IV (@CarterElliottIV) March 26, 2024

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration announced flight restrictions around the area of the bridge on Tuesday morning, with a radius of five nautical miles and up to 2,000 feet above mean sea level.

"Do not interfere with rescue operations," it wrote on X. "If you fly, emergency response operations cannot."

Sun rises to show bridge wreckage is strewn across the river

Images from the scene Tuesday morning along the interstate’s path on land show segments of the bridge leading up from the highway and jutting into the open sky. A central portion of the bridge was snapped off at the points on either side where steel support beams once spanned the waterway.

Aerial photos show those beams are now part of a tangle of metal stretching across the water — and heaped onto the container ship’s prow.

Baltimore's mayor says the focus should be on the people, not the bridge

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the bridge collapse an "unthinkable tragedy," comparing it to something out of an action movie.

At Tuesday morning's press conference, he urged people to pray for everyone impacted, from the people "we have to try to find and save" to family members and first responders.

"We're going to continue to work in partnership with every part of government to do everything that we can to get us to the other side of this tragedy," he said.

When asked about plans for rebuilding the Key Bridge, Scott said that's not the priority right now.

"There will be time to discuss the bridge and how to get the bridge back up," he said. "But right now there are people in the water, and that's the only thing we should be worried about."

Darkness, tides and cold temperatures complicate the search and rescue mission

Authorities said at sunrise Tuesday that a search and rescue mission will continue for at least the next eight to 12 hours.

But there are some complicating factors, as Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace explained.

"We're battling darkness," he said before 7 a.m. "It's quite possible we may have somebody there that we've not seen yet."

Even in daylight, he said the water of the Patapsco River is "current-influenced," and the incoming tide adds an additional challenge.

"We can certainly dive in these conditions, but we have to take a lot of factors into play," he said, including that people may have been in the water for a significant time.

The water temperature in the area is 48.2 degrees just before 8 a.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . That's slightly warmer than the current air temperature of almost 42 degrees.

The Weather Channel forecasts a high of 58 degrees in Baltimore today, with partly cloudy skies in the morning to become overcast in the afternoon. The National Weather Service has a coastal flood advisory in place for the Baltimore area until 5 p.m., warning of "tides two and a half to three feet above normal."

The sun will set at 7:25 p.m.

Wallace stressed there is no set end time for the search and rescue mission yet.

"We're going to rely on the experts, which are our dive masters that are here, our dive team, to tell us when they believe we've reached that non-survivability point," he said.

Authorities are in touch with the ship and investigating a possible fuel spill

Authorities also spoke at the briefing about the Dali, the ship responsible for the collision and collapse.

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said search and rescue crews must examine the ship's deck but need to complete a damage assessment before they can board.

He said the ship's crew remains on board and has been communicating with authorities via the Coast Guard. The rescue operation has not interacted directly with the pilot, he added.

It is not known whether any crew members are among those in the water.

Authorities from multiple agencies are also working to determine whether there is an active fuel spill from the vessel, now that the sun is up. Wallace said there have been reported diesel odors, but no confirmation yet.

While the exact details of the collision remain unclear, Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said at the briefing that law enforcement's early investigations show "absolutely no indication this was done on purpose."

Two people have been rescued from the water so far

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said emergency responders removed two individuals from the water after the bridge collapsed.

Speaking to reporters early Tuesday morning, he said the first 911 calls about the bridge collapsing came around 1:40 a.m., and the first responders on the scene arrived some 10 minutes later.

"Our first unit arrived on scene and reported a complete collapse of the Key Bridge," he recounted. "We were also given information at that time that there were likely multiple people on the bridge at the time of the collapse and that, as a result, multiple people were in the water."

He said responders were able to remove two people from the water. One individual refused service and transport: "Essentially, that person was not injured."

The other was transported to a local trauma center in "very serious condition," Wallace said.

He said authorities don't have information on the ages and genders of those two individuals, or whether they should be included among the seven people in the water that the search and rescue mission is looking for. He said the second patient is injured severely enough that law enforcement has not been able to debrief them.

A reporter asked whether as many as 20 people could be unaccounted for. Wallace said authorities believe the number is at least seven, but didn't rule out the possibility of more.

A search and rescue mission is underway for 'upwards of seven individuals'

Maryland authorities said at a Tuesday morning briefing that a search-and-rescue mission is underway and will remain active for "some time" once the sun comes up.

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said authorities believe they are looking for "upwards of several individuals," but stressed that the incident involves a "very large footprint" and information is subject to change.

He said state and local law enforcement agencies and first responders are on the scene to search the surface of the Patapsco River, as well as the deck of the ship and underwater.

"Over the next eight to 12 hours you can expect to continue to see our air and maritime assets functioning out on the water and in the air above," he said.

That effort involves various types of sonar, unmanned aerial vehicles and — throughout the night — infrared technology.

Wallace said that sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water, but did not specify how many. It is unclear how many cars were on the bridge when it collapsed shortly before 2 a.m.

A container ship hit a Baltimore bridge, sending parts and people into the water

By Ayana Archie

A part of a Baltimore bridge serving as both an essential highway artery and a hub for shipping along the East Coast collapsed early Tuesday morning after a container ship crashed into it, sending people into the water.

The collision spurred a large search-and-rescue operation, and it was unclear how many people were in the Patapsco River. However, Kevin Cartwright, the Baltimore City Fire Department's director of communications, told NPR that seven people had fallen into the river and were being searched for. He called the collision and collapse a "developing mass casualty event," The Associated Press reported.

Emergency personnel have been dispatched to the scene, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott added .

The ship that collided with the bridge was the Dali, a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, U.S. Coast Guard public information officer Matthew West told NPR. The Singapore-flagged ship left Baltimore at 1 a.m. and was heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to MarineTraffic , a marine data platform.

Traffic was closed in both lanes after the collision and before the collapse, the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X.

The bridge is part of I-695, an arterial of Interstate 95, a major route running north-south along the Eastern seaboard of the U.S.

The 1.6-mile long bridge, named for the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner," opened in 1977 and is located about 45 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.