The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau is reporting a rise in cruise arrivals as well hotel and timeshare occupancy for 2010 in comparison to 2009.  The increase in tourism stems in large part, from the island's new commercial cruise port and continued overall development to the island.

Windstar Cruises announced its 2012 sailing schedule to the Caribbean, Baltic and Mediterranean seas, Costa Rica, Italy and the Greek Isles. The Seattle-based line operates three luxury yachts: the Wind Surf, the Wind Star and the Wind Spirit.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) denies a report in a South Korean media saying that it had sold Majesty of the Seas to a new cruise venture in the Asian country. “There have been inquiries asking if we are selling Majesty of the Seas and/or Monarch of Seas,” RCCL said in a statement on Facebook and Twitter.

Viking River Cruises announced that the christening of Viking Prestige will take place in Amsterdam, on June 30, 2011. Janice Farrar Titus, wife of the late Warren Titus, will serve as the ship’s godmother.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze, will enter service in June 2012 debuting with a summer schedule of 12-day Mediterranean voyages before repositioning to Miami in November for year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean departures.

Azamara Club Cruises has partnered with Assouline, publisher of illustrated books, luxury editions and a gift line dedicated to fashion, photography, art, travel and design, to offer the onboard Drawing Room by Assouline, where guests can find more than 200 titles of the publisher’s books. Assouline’s collection also will be available for guests to purchase, with some titles available onboard.