Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2, renowned for her signature trans-Atlantic Cruise, has been named "Best Luxury Cruise Ship” for the eighth consecutive year by the readers of Travel Weekly, the national publication of the travel industry. 

The Around-the-World cruise, which already sold out months prior to departure, will host about 2,300 passengers from around the world: more than half the guests will be Italian and German, along with numerous French and Spanish.

With the dynamic expansion of the worldwide cruise industry attention is focusing increasingly on the subject of sustainability. International shipping lines have been introducing a whole range of ecological and social measures. Environmentalists and cruise experts are also calling for greater corporate social responsibility.

Tourism officials in Mazatlan, Mexico, are criticizing Holland America for dropping calls at the city through March. In a statement sent to USA Today, Mazatlan Tourism Trust spokesman Julio Birrueta said the safety concerns the line is citing in canceling visits over the next three months are unfounded.

Two cruise lines, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, separately will offer interporting options in the Caribbean during the winter 2012-13 season.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ new Carnival Magic made its first call at Puerto Costa Maya in Mexico on Dec. 21. The call was originally scheduled for Nov. 17, but was postponed when the ship required some work in dry dock.