Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean announced they would transfer Monarch of the Seas out of their fleet and into sister company Pullmantur Cruises in April 2013. Now it is official that Monarch of the Seas will be home based year round in Curacao when that transfer is complete.

Valencia, Spain is becoming one of the top tourist spots in the Mediterranean due to the developing port for cruise ships. The city will be one of the main stop overs for tourists, especially those in a Spain’s east coast cruise, since new terminals will be in place this year for several large ships to dock all in one time.

Disney Cruise Line in 2013 will operate sailings from Miami for the first time starting Dec. 23. The company offers one six- and one seven-night sailing with a schedule of three-, four- and five-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean.

As the summer season gets under way in Europe, 79 ships will be sailing back from their winter routes in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Asia, bringing the total fleet in the region to 206 cruise vessels operated by 64 lines.