Norwegian Aura adds Mediterranean sailings
Norwegian Cruise Line has opened bookings for two inaugural Mediterranean voyages aboard Norwegian Aura, its largest ship to date, following an anticipated early delivery.
The first sailing, a 10-day voyage from Trieste to Athens, departs May 2, 2027, followed by a nine-day return voyage departing May 12. Both itineraries feature destinations across Greece, Croatia and Montenegro.
The 170,000-gross-ton ship will introduce Ocean Heights, a multi-deck outdoor activities complex, alongside new dining, entertainment and wellness facilities, including the company's first specialty Indian restaurant, Tamara.
Following its inaugural sailings, Norwegian Aura will operate a seven-day Mediterranean cruise from May 21 before crossing the Atlantic to Miami. The ship will begin seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises in June 2027, followed by Western Caribbean itineraries during winter 2027/28.
Both inaugural Mediterranean voyages are now available for booking.
FHS World returns to Ras Al Khaimah in 2027
FHS World will return to Ras Al Khaimah in November 2027, with Wynn Al Marjan Island hosting the international hospitality investment summit.
Organised by The Bench in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Marjan, the event is expected to attract approximately 1,200 delegates, including 250 investors and 200 speakers from more than 60 countries.
Discussions will cover hospitality investment, destination development, wellness and medical tourism, sustainability, technology, artificial intelligence, branded residences and restaurant investment.
The summit will take place at Wynn Al Marjan Island’s Celebrations & Events Center, featuring a 7,708-square-metre venue and a 2,633-square-metre ballroom. Delegates will also experience Ras Al Khaimah’s mountain, desert and coastal attractions.
Ras Al Khaimah previously hosted the event in 2018 and 2019, when it was known as the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference.
Housing Ministry joins FHS Egypt as patron
Egypt’s Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities has joined Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Egypt as patron. The event will take place in Cairo on November 10–11, 2026.
The Ministry’s involvement aims to strengthen public-private sector collaboration and support investment opportunities across Egypt’s hospitality, tourism infrastructure and urban development sectors.
The announcement comes amid growing hospitality investment in Egypt. The country signed 53 new hotel deals in 2025, the highest number in Africa, while its hotel development pipeline increased 35.5 per cent year-on-year. Tourism arrivals reached nearly 19 million.
EDUOUTINGS plans expansion beyond poles
EDUOUTINGS is planning to expand its expedition travel portfolio beyond polar destinations, with a focus on wildlife-rich and lesser-explored regions, including the Amazon and Oceanic Islands, as it marks its tenth anniversary.
The company began by offering journeys to Norway and the Northern Lights before expanding into Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland and Svalbard. Over the past decade, it has served travellers from more than 50 nationalities and partnered with over 25 expedition operators worldwide.
Demand for expedition travel across the GCC has broadened, particularly among families and solo female travellers from the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.