cruise

A new, longer-range version of the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile (RAACM) has been unveiled by CoAspire at the Sea-Air-Space 2026 exposition near Washington, D.C. The development comes just days after the U.S. Air Force launched market research for its Family of Affordable Mass Missiles — Beyond Adversary’s Reach (FAMM-BAR), reflecting the service’s interest in low-cost, long-range strike weapons, specifically for anti-surface warfare.

Jamie Hunter of TWZ spoke about the RAACM-ER (RAACM pronounced ‘rack-em;’ ER for Extended Range) with Doug Denneny, founder, CEO, and owner at CoAspire.

First off, it’s worth looking at the original RAACM, a modular, low-cost cruise missile that leverages 3D printing to bring down cost and enable rapid production ramp-up.

“When we designed the original RAACM, we knew that it was going to be the size of a GBU-38,” Denneny said, referring to the 500-pound version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), which is 92.6 inches long and has a wingspan of 14 inches.

An official video promoting the original RAACM:

RAACM Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile

“When you go to that size, there are great reasons to do it, but it doesn’t go as far as a larger variant could do,” Denneny continued. “We really wanted to take everything we learned and now have an extended-range version. And what’s beautiful about the additive manufacturing that we use is that we can really optimize fuel tank volume, which means this can go very far.”

According to the manufacturer, the RAACM-ER has a range greater than 1,000 nautical miles.

This is especially remarkable considering the relatively compact size of the weapon. Indeed, when it comes to anti-ship missiles, the only weapon in the U.S. inventory that comes close is the BGM-109 Block V Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST). This can be launched from destroyers, submarines, and the U.S. Army’s Typhon system. Like the RAACM-ER, it is subsonic, but a single round costs $3.64 million, according to the Navy. While the RAACM-ER clearly has a degree of low observability, it is not to the same degree as on the MST.

Like RAACM, the extended-range model is designed for launch from aircraft, as well as from the ground and from naval vessels. For surface-launched applications, the RAACM-ER adds an additional rocket booster behind its turbojet, meaning it can be propelled out of its launch canister.

Despite the nomenclature, the RAACM-ER is a new design, rather than a modification of the RAACM.

Denneny explained: “Our engineers came to us and said, ‘Hey, if we’re going to make a bigger one, should we make it look just the same?’ I mentioned earlier that RAACM was made that shape just to ease integration. We’re an engineering company, so we said, ‘Let’s optimize fuel volume, let’s optimize survivability features, let’s optimize physics so that this thing can go as far as possible and take the sensors needed. That’s why it’s in this slightly different shape.”

The RAACM-ER is somewhat reminiscent of the AGM-158 Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), in terms of appearance and capabilities, but Denneny is keen to avoid direct comparisons.

“Physics is physics,” he added. “When people look at shapes, they look similar, but just like an Airbus looks like a Boeing, but what they have different inside is really what matters, and that’s how we differ in many ways.”

In terms of sensors, the RAACM-ER is currently fitted with a GPS navigation system, suitable for air, ground, and surface launch.

“Both our RAACM and our RAACM-ER also have a long-wave infrared sensor in the nose,” Denneny continued, “so we have the opportunity to search and find targets as well.”

Unlike the JASSM and similar cruise missiles, however, the RAACM-ER, like the RAACM before it, is optimized for low cost.

For Denneny, “the most important thing is affordable mass. [This] means keeping the cost down, so that the nation and our allies can purchase these at scale. That’s number one. Number two is to use as many commercial off-the-shelf parts, so that we’re we are not locked into a single supplier for anything. The final thing is to have something that can survive enemy countermeasures, and also hit the target, whether it’s stationary or moving. Those are the main requirements.”

When it comes to price point, CoAspire has optimized mass rather than the highest-end capabilities. This is a reflection not only of the sheer number of targets that the U.S. military and its allies would face in a potential conflict with China, but also the fact that a considerable proportion of missiles won’t make it to their targets anyway. Still, as recent conflicts have shown, the ability of lower-end drones, especially, to overwhelm adversary air defenses when fielded in large numbers is significant. After all, quantity has a quality all of its own.

Denneny confirmed that CoAspire plans to test-fly the RAACM-ER “very soon.”

The original RAACM has already undergone flight trials aboard a contractor-operated A-4. CoAspire is now under contract to the U.S. government for RAACM, and the weapon is in production at the company’s plant in Manassas, Virginia.

In the past, we’ve learned that both the Air Force and the Navy have funded work on the RAACM project. It has also been reported that CoAspire is one of two companies producing Extended Range Attack Missiles (ERAM) for Ukraine — this may well involve the RAACM or a related weapon.

As for the RAACM-ER, this was unveiled only a week after the Air Force launched market research for its Family of Affordable Mass Missiles — Beyond Adversary’s Reach (FAMM-BAR).

“The potential procurement objective is to produce an inventory for the [U.S.] Government and Foreign Military Sales. The expectation is that the annual production orders will range from 1,000 to 2,000 units per year for five years (procurement numbers will vary by year),” the Air Force says in the request for information.

The FAMM-BAR program lists five desired attributes for the potential weapon: a range of at least 1,000 nautical miles, a speed of at least 0.7 Mach, the option of palletized delivery from a cargo aircraft, the ability to receive midcourse navigation updates, and the manufacturing capacity to produce more than 1,000 rounds annually. The main target set for the weapon is “slow-moving maritime” vessels.

A video showing a demonstration of the Rapid Dragon air-launched palletized munitions concept, using surrogate weapons delivered from the cargo holds of a C-17A and an EC-130J:

Rapid Dragon Flight Test

This requirement reflects the growing focus on anti-surface warfare as the U.S. military plans for a high-end conflict in the Pacific, especially against China. The U.S. military is increasingly investing in a diverse mix of anti-ship capabilities, part of a broader strategic shift driven by China’s growing maritime power. At the same time, real-world operations have exposed how rapidly missile stockpiles can be depleted, intensifying concerns that sustaining the massive volumes of anti-ship fires required in a China conflict will demand significant expansion of U.S. production capacity and inventories.

At the same time, the RAACM-ER would be useful for striking static land targets during an Indo-Pacific war, too. With such a considerable range, the weapon will also be better able to deal with increasingly far-reaching air defenses, something that the Pentagon is increasingly concerned about, including the likelihood of enemy missiles that can target its aircraft at ranges as great as 1,000 miles.

It should be noted that there are already other FAMM programs underway, namely the FAMM-Palletized and FAMM-Lugged cruise missiles for the Air Force. However, these require ranges of 250-500 nautical miles.

At this point, the low-cost, long-range strike weapon field is becoming increasingly crowded. Other contenders include designs from Anduril, General Atomics, and Zone 5 Technologies. From the last of these companies, the Rusty Dagger recently underwent release tests from an Air Force F-16 as part of the FAMM-L effort.

Global Technical Systems is also pitching a cruise missile with a range of 1,200 nautical miles and an anti-ship warhead.

However, with the original RAACM already in production, and proven in flight tests, the new RAACM-ER looks well-positioned to go far — figuratively and literally — in the FAMM-BAR program.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

L3Harris is pushing its modular Wolf Pack family of “launched effects vehicles” for the U.S. Army, including to equip its H-60 Black Hawk series and AH-64 Apache helicopters, with an eye on the specific demands of a future conflict in the Pacific. The family of vehicles includes the Red Wolf, configured for long-range precision strikes against targets on land or at sea, and the Green Wolf fitted with an electronic warfare payload. Overall, these are part of a wider drive toward fielding modular, relatively cheap, and small systems that increasingly blur the line between uncrewed aerial systems, especially longer-range kamikaze drones, and cruise missiles, as well as decoys.

Readers can refer to our previous coverage of the Wolf Pack family, and it is also worth noting that the company is under contract with the U.S. Marine Corps to deliver the related PASM, the Precision Attack Strike Munition.

At the Army Aviation Association of America’s Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, this week, TWZ caught up with Brad Reeves, the director of strategy and requirements for the Agile Development Group at L3Harris, to talk about the company’s vision for the Wolf family with the Army.

TWZ: What is the primary driver behind the Wolf family, and how is it relevant to the Army’s rotary-wing fleets?

Brad Reeves: The Department of War has a heavy emphasis on the Pacific and a conflict over there. Mass is an issue. We have a lot of exquisite weapons today, but the numbers are not maybe as high as we might hope for a conflict over there. So, they’re trying to solve that problem. Affordable mass has kind of become the buzzword, which basically means, “hey, how do we get capability that we can buy in quantity without breaking the bank?” And so, with that, the Department of War, actually Secretary Hegseth, issued a memo on April 30 of last year. And one of the things he called out specifically was launched effects, the urgency to get that fielded beginning this year. So, that’s a high-emphasis item for those guys.

Launched effects are really meant to be an affordable mass solution for the Army. But the real story behind this is what we call our Wolf Pack family of systems, and our offering and the capability it brings. And the story here is it’s very capable, but it’s what it does for the Army and for Army aviation. So it’s transforming Army aviation, and it’s addressing platforms that lack some relevancy today in the fight. Black Hawks, Apaches, etc, have a very short-range capability, relatively speaking, when you’re talking about the Pacific, and you have the tyranny of distance and anti-access/area-denial threats. It’s a much harder challenge than what we’ve dealt with in the decades since those aircraft were first invented.

Now we’re basically bringing relevancy to those platforms. We’re transforming from a weapons-effectiveness range and lethality range of single-digit kilometers, maybe up to a dozen kilometers, and we’re now extending that to hundreds of kilometers. We’re taking what before was a single-mission aircraft that’s supporting the Army; it’s doing close combat attack missions for Army soldiers on the ground, and is basically specific to that single service. And we’re now expanding that, and we’re giving that platform a joint or coalition viability in a Pacific flight. And so, the relevance now has increased. We’re taking what was before, a single-domain, fully land-based capability. We’re turning it into multi-domain, so now surface, meaning maritime, and land. And then we’re taking the target sets, which were traditionally tanks, maybe threats that we get from ground forces, etc. Again, we’re expanding that so it can be maritime threats and ground threats. It’s kind of a revolution in the way that the Army is going to fight and what they’re going to contribute to the joint coalition force. The Army desperately needs this capability.

TWZ: And what are the differences between the Wolf Pack family members?

Brad Reeves: Our launched effects offering, we call it the Wolf Pack family of systems. Today, we have two high-level mission capability variants. We have the Red Wolf, which is the kinetic variant, so a cruise missile. We have the Green Wolf, which has a purely (non-kinetic) electronic warfare payload. So now you’re also doing suppression of enemy air defenses. These types of missions, the DILR mission — detect, ID, locate, report — and/or electronic attack to suppress this threat.

Wolf Pack is designed to have multiple variants, so one aircraft, let’s say an Apache in this instance, you could launch multiple variants, Green and Red. You have a Green Wolf that goes out ahead and is searching and building the EMBM, the electromagnetic battle management. Through some software we call DISCO, which is AI-driven software, it’s building the landscape where the threats are, whether on the surface or on the land.

TWZ: How does PASM, the Precision Attack Strike Munition, differ from these?

Brad Reeves: It comes out of our Wolf Pack family. It’s a unique variant designed for the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper, and we’re delivering early operational capability. They did a long-range precision fire, LRPF, last September, and that was somewhat of a graduation event. Now we’re basically starting to work with production at our plant in Virginia.

TWZ: So these are basically loitering munitions?

Brad Reeves: We don’t consider it a loitering munition, but technically, by definition, yes, what it’s doing is it’s flying a pattern. It’s very smart: it goes out, starts detecting threats, then it will set up a pattern to make sure that a) it’s survivable itself, so it doesn’t fly over a threat and get shot down. But b), it will maximize the search pattern, and then it will deconflict with the others in the pack, so that you can, if you have a large area, you can have one, one will say, “hey, I’m going to go do maybe a zigzag pattern over here looking for threats. You go do a zigzag pattern and then report those back.” Once they find the threats, they’ve got options. Either the aircraft can just avoid the threats because they know where they are, or if they need to go through them, then you can either use electronic attack to jam them, or you can send a signal to one of the kinetic variants. Then the kinetic variant does the destruction of enemy air defenses mission.

That’s kind of why we call it the Wolf Pack: working together collaboratively in a pack to perform a mission that’s assigned by the pilot, and they do that autonomously. They have been ground-launched. They have been air-launched from both manned and unmanned platforms, and they can be launched from rotary-wing or fixed-wing. Since we’re here with the Army, the target is Black Hawks and Apaches very specifically.

TWZ: Would you say that the Wolf Pack is oriented generally towards the SEAD/DEAD mission?

Brad Reeves: It is much broader. But certainly one of the main applications is SEAD/DEAD. With the EW variant, that’s really applicable when you’re doing SEAD/DEAD, or you’re just looking for platform survivability, meaning you’re going towards a mission, but you want to maybe send something out ahead. These fly at high subsonic speeds. They’re going out ahead when launched from a helicopter. They’re scouting out the area, giving them the picture, and allowing them to either avoid, suppress, or defeat threats that may be in their way.

TWZ: Presumably, the cost point of these means the numbers can be fairly scalable, depending on the requirement?

Brad Reeves: Absolutely, it depends on the mission set. One of the advantages is that, while it is an affordable mass munition, it also comes with significant capability. There are some, what I would call differentiators, that put this capability at the high end of the affordable mass, meaning it’s very inexpensive compared to traditional legacy weapons that the forces are using today. We usually say it’s about five times cheaper than what these aircraft would be using today. There are BAAs, broad area announcements, something the U.S. government will release to industry, asking for different capabilities. Right now, when they’re asking for this type of capability, they’re usually targeting somewhere between $300,000 to $500,000 for that market, per round, and we’re certainly in that sweet spot.

TWZ: Aside from the small turbine engine that they share, how modular are the Wolf Pack vehicles themselves?

Brad Reeves: Some people call it a truck, but for some reason, that offends me. But you’ve got the platform, and we’ve designed it modularly with what’s called WOSA, weapon open systems architecture. And so you can interchange the payload. You can take the platform, you can put a warhead in it, and it becomes kinetic. You can take the warhead out, you can put an EW payload in it. I’m oversimplifying a little bit because with the kinetic variant, there are sensors and other stuff. So you probably wouldn’t physically take a kinetic one and swap out the warhead for an EW payload.

TWZ: When it comes to Green Wolf, which has no warhead, is this designed to be expendable or recoverable?

Brad Reeves: We have both. We have a recoverable variant. It depends on what the customer wants. In some instances, they want recoverability. And with recoverability, you lose a little bit of range. So in some instances, it’s going to be on a one-way mission; they just want maximum range. Basically, the parachute equipment we use to recover it takes up a little bit of space that otherwise would be fuel tank space.

TWZ: How do these vehicles navigate?

Brad Reeves: It has the standard inertial navigation and GPS. It has those capabilities inside of it, and then the seeker effectively is used purely for in-game targeting.

TWZ: To what degree would you be able to surge production to meet urgent demands?

Brad Reeves: We gave our manufacturing team the problem and said, “Hey, multiple customers are asking for as many as a thousand per year. We expect this to really blow up. How do we know how big a plant to build? How do we know what we can do?” And so they actually designed a modular, scalable production plan. In theory, you can scale up to as many as you want. But right now, what we’re doing is we’re scaling towards a thousand a year, which is the current path, and then if the demand signal spikes, we have the ability to scale above that.

The beauty of this vehicle is that there’s a lot as a significant amount of commonality, which does allow us to scale, and also gives us economies of scale, price, etc.

Meet the “Wolf Pack”

TWZ: Where are you now with testing?

Brad Reeves: We’ve flown over 50 times in test events with the military. So we’ve done multiple services. We’ve done formal testing with those services. It’s been launched twice off the AH-1Z. We’ve launched off fixed-wing UAS, but this gets a little sensitive with the customers, as to what those platforms are. And we’ve done ground launch.

TWZ: Do you have a pathway toward testing on the Black Hawk and Apache?

Brad Reeves: I am very passionate about making sure this gets fielded to U.S. Army soldiers, specifically the Apache and the Black Hawk. Right now, we’ve obviously got Epic Fury. But if something lights off in the Pacific, this just pales in comparison. If I were young enough to be flying in that fight, I would want more capability. And so I am a little bit of a zealot. The U.S. Army, I know, has to have this capability, and I believe they want it. It’s going to be a game-changer for them, and it’s going to be important to the joint force and coalition forces. It is a significant transformational capability.

Jamie Hunter contributed to this story.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

SUNDAY may be a day of rest in Europe, but that’s not the case for Puerto Rico. 

The shops were shut, but the city of Ponce was very much awake.  

As I wandered the streets, locals cruised past in their vintage cars, music blasted from lively bars and groups of youngsters burst into spontaneous dance on the streets. 

In the main square, families strolled past colourful murals and beautiful yet crumbling Art Deco buildings, while old men put the world to rights over a leisurely game of dominoes in the main square. 

Ponce (pronounced Pon-say) was the last stop on my Tropical Isles cruise onboard the recently refurbished Marella Discovery. 

It’s a new port for Marella so, like ­Christopher Columbus — who discovered the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico back in 1493 — I was excited to be one of the first people to explore. 

BEST BAR NONE

Enjoy the full F1 Grand Prix plus cruise experience for under £2,000

TAKE THE MEDS

Spanish GP and cruise to Ibiza on 11-night adventure from just £2,149pp

Week-long sailings start and finish in La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, calling at the nearby nature reserve of Isla Catalina, the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan and the US Virgin Islands of St Thomas and St Croix. 

Now I’ve been lucky enough to visit the Caribbean a few times before, but I was still surprised by how green these islands were.  

And while this itinerary gave me plenty of opportunity to sunbathe on white-sand beaches and sample local rum (I recommend Ron del Barrilito), I was still able to go hiking in the rainforest and kayak through beautiful coves. 

Staying active is something I would definitely recommend on a Marella cruise — not just because you’ll miss out on amazing experiences if you don’t, but because you’ll need to burn off all the extra calories you’re bound to consume on board. 

With nine restaurants and seven bars spread over 11 decks, you certainly won’t go hungry or thirsty — especially as Marella cruises are all-inclusive as standard.  

This means your flights, cabin, transfers to and from the ship, drinks, food and entertainment are all included in the price. 

Even your bags go straight from your home airport to your cabin door so you don’t have to worry about collecting them from a carousel or lugging them around. 

Compared to other cruise ships, Marella Discovery is quite small, accommodating up to 1,800 passengers.  

It’s really set up for British tourists, though, with Yorkshire Tea on tap and dishes such as steak and ale pie readily available in the excellent Islands buffet. 

Entertainment-wise, passengers can find their way out of an escape room, play a round of mini-golf or enjoy a musical afternoon tea. Plus there are West End-style shows, quizzes and gameshows galore. 

For better-quality booze and speciality ­coffees, you can upgrade to a Premium All Inclusive package, while speciality restaurants, including the Surf & Turf Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, come at an extra charge. 

But be sure to leave room for some traditional Caribbean delicacies when you leave the ship. At Café Manolin, in San Juan, I joined locals queuing to tuck into giant plates of mofongo, a much-loved Puerto Rican dish of fried green plantain stuffed with meat or veggies. 

Coffee is also big business here — and almost as popular as rapper Bad Bunny, who hails from the island.  

Many coffee plantations welcome visitors to sample their wares but I got my caffeine fix at Hacienda Jacana, in the mountainous region of Adjuntas, where owner Jonathan and his ex-cop father proudly showed off their farm while explaining details of the coffee-making process. 

I was buzzing after a few cups of their delicious Latitude 18° coffee — but it couldn’t possibly compare to the buzz I got in St Thomas after snorkelling with a group of green turtles in the crystal-clear water of Magens Bay. 

Granted, I had to keep reminding myself that I wouldn’t die if I tried to breathe ­normally underwater, but I forgot all about breathing when a metre-long turtle paddled right past my face. Just wow. 

As an animal lover, and a keen traveller missing my two dogs back home, I was also thrilled to stumble across the Ruff Night — Hair Of The Dog Bar in St Croix (pronounced Croy), just steps from where Marella Discovery docked in Frederiksted.

The lively bar, in the courtyard of the Victoria House Inn, is run by volunteers from the Ruff Start STX animal charity who love nothing more than mixing super-strong cocktails and bringing in puppies for punters to cuddle.  

And if that’s not reason enough to visit, all money raised from the bar goes directly to local dogs in need, so go armed with plenty of cash in your pocket! 

I’d certainly worked up a thirst after a morning kayaking in the nearby Salt River Bay, and I enjoyed getting back to nature there almost as much as I did at El Yunque National Forest — the jewel in the crown of Puerto Rico. 

The 28,000-acre site is the only tropical rainforest in the US and it has more than 100 miles of walking trails just waiting to be explored. With enormous trees providing canopies of greenery and exotic birds and frogs creating a cacophony of noise, it was just how I imagined a rainforest to be. 

While mosquitoes are rife here after dark, I managed to avoid being savaged by the pesky wee beasties during the daytime. 

One thing was for sure, though — I had definitely been bitten by the Caribbean cruise bug.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Pons, Polselli, Rennie, Ulberg; Rouge, Lacans; Belmas, Hands, Butler, Jussaume, Stefani, Marion.

Interchanges: Rodriguez, Chan, Roumanos, Wallace.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Whitbread, Martin, Dezaria, Leyland.

Referee: Aaron Moore.

We boarded the P&O Cruises sailing around Canary Islands and Madeira with a previous cruise experience in mind – but P&O Cruises offered a completely unexpected holiday

‘I get seasick when I am on a rowing boat’.

Those 10 words from my friend Paul filled me with dread as we prepared for our first ever cruise together. He was a cruise virgin having always avoided a holiday on board a ship due to seasick fears and the idea of not being in one place for very long.

My last cruise was 25 years plus ago so we were definitely newbies as we boarded P&O’s Azura in the Port of Santa Cruz following a chartered flight from Gatwick to Tenerife. But we had decided to take the leap of faith in a bid to soak up some winter sunshine, relax and explore the Canary Islands and Madeira.

This kicked off with a trip to Tenerife’s Mount Teide where we were immediately hit by the contrast of winter underfoot and the sunshine hitting our skin. Following a bumpy and exhilarating cable car journey towards the summit of the 3,715 metre high volcano we emerged onto the crisp snow that crunched under every step.

Just minutes earlier we had been at the bottom among ashen, molten rock on a lunar landscape more at home on Mars or the Moon. Our guide explained that they had experienced more rain and snow than in many many a year, but this just added to the breath-taking scenery.

However each destination offers something different with a whole host of excursions available. Regular cruisers told us the excursions and the entertainment on sea days are what sets this cruise apart and we really could not disagree.

Our other excursions on Gran Canaria and then Lanzarote continued the theme of feeling like you are stepping off the boat onto another planet. We visited Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote where a 40-minute bus tour takes you through lunar landscape shaped by eruptions towards the park’s Islote de Hilario where geothermal demonstrations wow the crowds of tourists and chickens are cooked on BBQs using the volcanic heat. In Gran Canaria we did a two-hour walking guided tour around the edge of a volcano where we again mixed ash, molten rock and thriving greenery before heading to a vineyard to sample local wines and cheeses.

Thankfully the destination days were separated by two sea days which allowed us to recover from exploring the islands and discover everything the Azura had to offer. It is one of the largest cruise liners in the P&O fleet with more than 1500 cabins spread across 14 decks which also include five pools, a gym, a spa, a casino, theatre as well as several restaurants and bars.

It meant there was plenty of opportunity for us to unwind and indulge – and there was not even the smallest of suggestion that Paul was going to be seasick . We spent several hours in the modern and well-equipped gym but it was the spa that was the real special retreat with an adult-only pool, jacuzzi, sauna and plenty of treatments.

The escape from the sun-kissed bustling decks was welcome before the highlight of dining and then on to more exploring – this time trying out the nightlife onboard!

When it came to food, there was an impressive amount of choice, but one must-visit is the sophisticated Epicurean which offers fine dining and makes you feel at home for the black-tie evenings. The dishes are not just beautifully presented but the taste was exceptional and the whole experience felt extremely luxurious.

Other highlights included Sindhu which is a stylish Indian eatery, the Beach House offering Caribbean and Mexican style dishes (which includes the stand-out Fillet steak served on a lava rock), as well as The Oriental featuring a mix of British and global dishes.

It was this variety – not just for dining – but across the whole experience which saw us converted to cruise enthusiasts. There really is something for everyone and something for every budget. You can mix fine dining and extravagant excursions or you can mix the buffet with exploring the islands yourself. You can relax by the pool and bars or head to the spa.

You can work out in the gym and swim or you can soak up the sun on the decks. You can try quizzes, the casino, sports and much more. It seems to be perfect for couples, friends, families, as you truly can make what you want out of the holiday.

In the meantime, I know for sure that I won’t be leaving it another 25 years before I board my next cruise.

Book the holiday

Prices for the Spain, Portugal & Canary Islands cruise (N617) start from £1,299pp, sailing 14-nights on a roundtrip from Southampton on 18 July onboard Ventura, based on two people sharing an inside cabin. Book on pocruises.com.

I went behind the scenes on a Marella cruise and ended up getting a sneak peek at some of the rooms that the passengers usually don’t get to see

Cruises are made to feel effortless – from island-hopping, flowing cocktails to all-inclusive dining. But behind the scenes, an army of staff are working around the clock to keep things powered to the highest of stands.

For my first Caribbean cruise on board the Marella Discovery, I was given access to areas passengers don’t normally see. After getting to grips with the 11-deck vessel – home to nine restaurants, six bars and everything from mini golf, an escape room and a climbing wall to keep you entertained, it was time to see the ship from a new angle.

Here’s everything I learned…

Where the magic happens

Only a handful usually get to see the command centre of any ship; the bridge. Here, the Captain and his crew navigate these huge vessels from ‘parking’ in tight corners at the docks, to steering the course when out in the middle of the ocean. The view from the bridge was unlike anything I’d seen before, and quite impressive. We watched how the crew navigated as our ship docked among huge superyachts owned by millionaire (just to add that extra bit of pressure).

Your air con affects the speed of the ship

Next, I head into the engine room where a team operates the smooth running of five engines, two massive propulsion motors and multiple air-conditioning systems – working 24 hours a day. Modern cruise ships like the Marella Discovery distribute power to meet the demand. That means lighting, kitchens and even your cabin’s air con will play a role. “If we were in Alaska in the middle of the night, with no air con running, we could reach 24 knots,” one crew member explained. “But during the day, when everything’s in use, it drops to around 22.” At full speed, the ship burns around 8,000 litres of fuel an hour. Efficiency is key.

It all comes out in the wash

In the laundry room, staff wash around 1000 towels a day with industrial machines and steam presses. It’s not just the passengers who are catered for. In these rooms tucked out of sight, the crew’s immaculately white uniforms are maintained. Since that’s a lot of similar looking clothing, every item is labelled with a unique number to make sure they go back to the right person.

The show must go on

As a theatre fan, I couldn’t wait to get up on the stage of the Broadway Show Lounge – from a view not many get to see. Behind the curtain, the performers do more than just sing and dance. I learned that they handle their own props, do their own hair and make-up, and of course all of the warm-ups they undergo. In the dressing room, wigs, hairspray and hairpins fill every space, but among the seeming chaos there’s a strong camaraderie. After working with each other for three months at sea at a time, it’s clear the performers are like family.

The motion in the ocean might be in your head

Unlike the seasoned sailor, I admit that being a cruise-newbie means I feel the ship moving especially at night. However, according to the crew, the tilting is far less dramatic than I was expecting. Thanks to stabilisers, the ship can only ever move to a maximum of one degree either side. “We keep your soup in your bowl and your drinks in your glasses,” one jokes.

The most eaten food on board? It’s not what you’d expect

I got a chance to see the ship’s galley – the central multi-floor hub of the ship where thousands of meals are prepared every single day. A team of 101 chefs work around the clock to fuel up 1800 passengers and 700 crew members every single day. The head chef shows me what is known as ”the manual’, a list of detailed recipes for every single food item on the menu – ensuring the exact same meal can be recreated anywhere in the TUI fleet. Around 3,600 meals are served at lunch and dinner, but breakfast is the real peak with passengers get through a staggering 7000 dishes a day. The most popular food on board? Eggs. Around 2,300 are served up at breakfast alone – that’s a lot of omelettes.

The customer service is down to a tea

It’s not just the big systems that are carefully thought out on Marella. As an avid Yorkshire tea drinker, I was thrilled to see the boat was well stocked even in the Caribbean. One crew member told me it’s something that was introduced after passenger feedback and quickly became a staple.

Book the holiday

Marella Cruises offers a seven-night Tropical Isles round trip from La Romana, Dominican Republic on Marella Discovery from £1573 per person. Price based on two adults sharing a Deck 2/3 inside cabin on an all-inclusive basis. Includes flights from London Gatwick, 20kg of luggage per person, transfers, tips, and service charges. Find out more at tui.co.uk/cruise.

If you’re planning a cruise holiday this summer, it’s crucial to know the prohibited items list – and one travel expert has shared five things that could be confiscated

Summer is just around the corner, and millions of Britons are busy planning their getaways. Cruises are a wonderful way to explore the world – but if you’re setting sail, it’s vital to know precisely what you can and cannot bring on board.

Packing can be a stressful experience – but knowing what’s permitted and what isn’t puts you one step ahead. Will Sarson, a travel expert with cruise operator Riviera Travel, has revealed the five items you cannot bring aboard a cruise to make your trip that bit smoother, reports the Express.

He said: “When packing for a cruise holiday, it’s important to do your research to understand the list of prohibited items. This can help better planning while packing and help avoid disappointment when items are confiscated.”

His first item to leave behind is alcohol. While not outright banned, many cruise companies have restrictions to prevent passengers bringing their own supply. He said: “Often, travellers are restricted to just a single bottle of wine or champagne – with potential corkage fees for drinking in public spaces.

“With so much alcohol available on board, we recommend leaving the bottles at home to avoid further costs and instead making use of the available liquor found throughout the ship and at varying ports across the world.” His second item to leave at home is your clothes steamer or iron.

Will explained: “Many cruise liners do not allow irons or steamers onboard as they pose a fire hazard. This is an item that constantly catches people out, with travellers forced to part ways with their iron or steamer.

“To avoid disappointment, it’s best to leave these items at home. Many ocean and river cruises have irons or steamers onboard that can be borrowed by guests during their stay.”

Similarly, candles and incense are prohibited owing to the fire risk they present. Cruise personnel will seize these straight away – so it’s advisable to leave them behind.

If you’re fond of your CBD oil, you’re in good company – it’s an extremely popular wellness product for assistance with muscle pain and mental health, but due to its varying legality worldwide, it’s forbidden on cruises. Will stated: “While the product is 100% legal for sale and tender throughout the UK, this is not the case in certain cruise ship stop-off destinations. As a result, the substance is not allowed on board the ship.

His final recommendation may seem entirely self-explanatory, but according to Will, a lot of people don’t realise their pets cannot come with them on their cruise.

He said: ” You’d be surprised at how many people try to gain access to their cruise alongside pets. Domestic animals are typically not allowed on cruises due to the allergy risk and general health and safety aspects that come with allowing cats or dogs on board.”

His final suggestion may appear completely obvious, but according to Will, many people don’t realise their pets cannot accompany them on their cruise.

He stated: “You’d be surprised at how many people try to gain access to their cruise alongside pets. Domestic animals are typically not allowed on cruises due to the allergy risk and general health and safety aspects that come with allowing cats or dogs on board.

“However, animals such as guide dogs are granted access due to the medical assistance they provide. If you’re a pet owner with a cruise holiday booking, it’s best to seek arrangements for your animals, as they generally won’t be allowed to join you on board.”

SEOUL, April 14 (UPI) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles from a 5,000-ton naval destroyer, state media reported Tuesday, as he called bolstering nuclear deterrence the country’s “most important priority task.”

The North’s Choe Hyon destroyer launched two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles at island targets in the Yellow Sea on Sunday, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The cruise missiles flew for roughly two hours and 12 minutes before striking their targets, KCNA said, while the anti-ship missiles flew for about 33 minutes.

The test was “aimed at checking the launching control line of the warship’s integrated weapon commanding system … as well as confirming the accuracy and the rate of hits of the improved active anti-jamming navigation system,” KCNA reported.

Pyongyang described the cruise missiles as “strategic,” a term it typically uses for systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Kim observed the test-firing alongside senior defense officials and naval officers, KCNA said. Images published by state media showed Kim and the officials watching from an unspecified pier.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying the North’s “most important priority task [is] to steadily and unlimitedly bolster up the powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent.”

“He clarified the important tasks for further strengthening the strategic and tactical attack capability, a key component of the nuclear war deterrent,” KCNA added.

Kim observed a pair of similar test launches last month, involving cruise missiles only.

Sunday’s expanded test may indicate the destroyer is nearing deployment, an official from South Korea’s Unification Ministry told Yonhap News Agency and other local reporters.

“It appears to be a final check of the weapons system if the test took place before the delivery of the Choe Hyon to the Navy,” the official said.

Pyongyang launched the Choe Hyon, its first 5,000-ton destroyer, last April, as Kim called for strengthening the country’s naval capabilities. Photos released by state media show the ship’s missile and radar systems resembling those found on Russian vessels, prompting speculation that Pyongyang received technical assistance from Moscow.

North Korea has deployed troops, artillery and weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine and is believed to be receiving financial support and advanced military technology in return.

A second destroyer, the Kang Kon, suffered an accident during its launch ceremony last year that left it listing on its side before it was repaired and relaunched in June.

KCNA said Kim was also briefed on plans for the weapons systems of two more destroyers currently under construction.

South Korean Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the People Power Party said earlier this month that commercial satellite imagery showed North Korea accelerating construction of a new warship at a shipyard in the western port city of Nampho.

“North Korea appears to be accelerating the modernization of its navy on the back of military technology assistance from Russia,” Yoo said.

Kim Jong Un has ordered a third 5,000-ton destroyer to be completed by Oct. 10, the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.

ALL eyes are on Europe this summer, with cruise lines slashing the price of voyages around the Med and close to home.

With some destinations off-limits right now, holiday sites like iglu.com have recorded a surge in interest for locations such as Northern Europe, the Arctic and the British Isles.

Plus big names including Celebrity Cruises have up to £800 off staterooms.

David Gooch, boss at iglu.com, says: “Holidaymakers remain committed to travelling, but are carefully choosing their destinations.”

You’ll need to be quick to lock in those bargains, though.

Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the top summer cruise deals to bag right now:

FJORD FIESTA

I tried the Nordic cruise with dog-sledding, Northern Lights and cable cars

SEA OF FEAR

Cruises thrown into chaos by Iran crisis as ‘thousands stranded’ in Middle East

SPAIN FROM SOUTHAMPTON

YOU can save £55pp on this two-week sailing around Spain’s sun-drenched coastline, ticking off the hotspots of Cadiz and Barcelona, where you can shop and gorge on tapas to your heart’s content.

Best of all, you won’t need to hop on a plane beforehand, as it sets sail straight from Southampton.

Step on board Cunard’s Queen Anne, home to 15 restaurants, a zen spa with a wellness studio and more than enough entertainment to keep you amused.

Exclusive to this ship is the Bright Lights Society, a classy ­velvet-clad venue where passengers can cosy down with a glass of fizz and live musical performances.

GO: The 14-night Sun-Kissed Spain itinerary costs from £1,314pp, departing Southampton on August 16 to Lisbon, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga and Cadiz. See cruise.co.uk or call 0870 990 8824.

BEST OF GREECE

HOW does a balmy week hopping around the rugged islands of Greece sound?

On board the glossy Celebrity Infinity, you’ll tick off the ancient city of Athens, where you can explore sandy ruins before sailing over to Rhodes, which boasts even more fascinating history.

The ship then makes its way to Ephesus in Turkey and Santorini and Hydra in Greece, with a final stop in Mykonos, loved by celebs and famous for more than just its nightlife, with stunning sandy beaches dotted across the island.

If you’re new to cruising, Celebrity Infinity is the perfect ship size for first timers, with room for just over 2,000 passengers and enough space for exploring — but it’s not so large you’ll feel overwhelmed.

GO: The seven-night Best of Greece voyage now costs £799pp (with discounts applied), departing Athens on July 4. Flights cost from £99pp.

See celebritycruises.com.

MED, AEGEAN & ADRIATIC

YOU’LL be spoilt for choice when it comes to late fun on board Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess.

A buzzing Vegas-style casino sits alongside swanky cocktail bars and an epic two-storey theatre hosting concerts, movie nights and sports event screenings.

There are cracking kids’ clubs, for those travelling with little ones and teens.

Meanwhile parents can unwind with a daiquiri on a cabana in adults-only The Sanctuary.

In 14 nights you’ll tick off some of the most scenic Greek Islands, Croatian gems and some of Italy’s top foodie spots, including Naples, home to the best pizza in the world — at least the Sun Travel team think so.

GO: The 14-Day Mediterranean, Aegean & Adriatic voyage is from £1,339pp, departing Civitavecchia on August 18 and calling at Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Naples, Salerno, Santorini, Kusadasi and Katakolon. See princess.com.

NORWEGIAN FJORDS

NORWAY’S bright blue fjords and ice-capped mountains aren’t just for winter.

In fact these magical landscapes look even more spectacular during the summer months, under the sun’s glow.

On this seven-day voyage on board MSC Virtuosa, you’ll get to explore Lerwick, The Shetland Islands’ only town, then experience the spectacular silver sand beach on Maloy and cascading waterfalls in Flam.

Before returning to Southampton, the ship calls at Kristiansand, known for its glorious sandy beaches and fresh seafood.

While on board MSC Virtuosa, swing by the spaceship-themed Starship Club, where a friendly robot bartender named Rob can whip you up a cocktail.

GO: The seven-night Norwegian Fjords from Southampton cruise now costs from £792pp, departing Southampton on July 18. See ­iglucruise.com.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

TICKING off some of Europe’s top bucket-list destinations, this week-long Mediterranean sailing is great for adventurous families keen to explore key landmarks but with time to unwind on board.

And if you’ve still got energy to burn, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas won’t disappoint.

With racing waterslides on the upper decks, a zipline and action-packed laser tag experiences, youngsters will never be bored.

Grown-ups needn’t panic, though, there are plenty of pools and seven whirlpools for those keen to take things at a slower pace.

In one week, you’ll be able to shop ’til you drop in Barcelona, pose in front of the leaning Tower of Pisa, see Rome’s ancient colosseum and more.

GO: The seven-night Western Med Cruise is from £783pp, from Barcelona June 28, calling at Palma, Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples.

See ­royalcaribbean.com.

Reddit users claiming to be cruise ship crew members have shared wild behind-the-scenes stories ranging from shooting incidents and man overboard emergencies to fake kidnapping scams and lifestyle cruises

As temperatures across Europe gradually begin to rise, cruise season is almost upon us – and with it come the horror stories.

From tales involving enormous vessels, crew members, alcohol, rowdy passengers, mechanical breakdowns and behind-the-scenes crises, sailing season brings all of this and considerably more besides.

While passengers are almost always guaranteed a fantastic time on a cruise, for those working onboard, life at sea can be equally colourful and chaotic.

And that’s precisely what some viral Reddit threads are bringing to light.

Offering a candid glimpse into life working aboard a cruise ship, Reddit users claiming to be both current and former crew members are lifting the lid on industry secrets, spilling the details across various online forums.

The stories shared on these no-holds-barred subreddit threads range from utterly outrageous to downright deadly, painting a vivid picture of how life on the high seas can bring its fair share of turbulent waters, reports the Express.

On the subreddit AskReddit, one user posed the question: “Cruise Ship workers of reddit, what was the biggest “oh s***” moment on the boat, that luckily, passengers didn’t find out about at all?”

With the slate wiped clean (pun intended), one Reddit user recounted their tale: “Water pipe burst in a store room and soaked ALL of the spare toilet paper. This was on day 2 of a 14 day voyage to Antarctica. The cabin stewards had to swap around rolls of paper between “low use” and “high use” guest cabins and it came right down the wire. None of the guests found out or realized. Now toilet paper is hidden in every cabin instead of a centralized location.”

Another Redditor remembered a frightening incident on board: “Somebody shot at the navigation bridge of the ship from the shore on my last ship, the bullet bounced off and hit my colleague on the hand (no real damage but it scares the hell out of her, ended up going home for a few weeks).

“While we waited for the local police to come on and investigate and take statements, guests were told we were delaying the departure to take on fresh water. I’m still shocked that never leaked out.”

One former cruise ship employee took a trip down memory lane as they recalled a chilling ‘man overboard’ incident: “I used to be a crew member, and one time a guy working at the front desk jumped overboard after a crew party.

“He was found a few hours later by the coast guard, and everybody was asked to be discrete in order to keep the cruise running smooth, and everything was fine until the captain came on the PA and said we were delayed because a crew member jumped overboard.

“Then the madness begins, rumors appear out of nowhere, and the rest of the cruise was pretty much guests asking what happened the whole time.”

The very same user then recounted another harrowing tale, writing: “A lot of s*** happens onboard, I could write a book, maybe even more than one.

“Another time a guy committed suicide in his cabin, and his family was onboard, including a little girl, but this time it didn’t leak to the guests. I saw the family as they were being escorted to the security office, felt so bad for them.”

The same person also revealed a rather outrageous incident involving a colleague who was dismissed after taking his drinking far too far: “A friend of mine got fired for getting wasted, got p***** and starting peeing all over his cabin while the security guys were there to take care of him.

“He spent the night in the little jail onboard [brig] before being dumped the next day in whatever port we were in.”

Throwing fuel on the fire, one Redditor commented on the now-viral thread: “There are small fires in places like the kitchens that happen somewhat regularly. Most of the time they’re controlled quickly and no one even knows they happened.

“People drop dead all the time, especially on some of the nicer lines that are basically floating retirement homes. Ironically it’s when there’s a survivable medical emergency that guests become aware of it, when they need to do an emergency evacuation either by tender boat or helicopter.”

The user went on to recount a jaw-dropping incident from their time working onboard, describing it as the “worst accident”.

They explained: “Probably the worst accident that happened during my tenure was when a kid literally put his eye out on a ball valve handle on one of the open decks. Pretty sure word spread quickly on that one though.”

It turns out that life on the open water isn’t quite the plain sailing experience many might expect.

In a separate subreddit named Cruise, another user put forward the question: “What’s the craziest story a crew member has told you?”

The responses got increasingly outrageous, with one Reddit user recalling: “A CD [Cruise Director] told a story about a DJ that got drunk and got on the ship’s intercom at like 3am and announced an abandon ship order to everyone. Pandemonium ensued.

:They now limit who has access to that system. He said the captain got on and tried to calm people down but a lot of people chose to sleep on the lido deck that night with their life jackets. The DJ was thrown into the brig [tiny cruise ship jail] and was met on shore by the authorities. (Not sure what agency).”

Another user cast their mind back to their very first cruise in the 90s, sharing the scam they were almost certainly subjected to: “We had a cabin attendant on our first cruise in the 90s tell us how his family was being held hostage and he needed tips to pay off the people….. he would leave extra tip envelopes every day on our beds.

“Every day he would update us on what the kidnappers were telling him and made us promise not to tell anyone because he could get fired. I knew he was scamming but I still tipped cause I was going to anyway. I felt bad he obviously was hard up enough to do that.

“My mom was a sad wreck the whole week worrying over his family. I remember telling mom that he was spending most of the tips on phone calls since he had so much information to relay to us each day about the ‘kidnappers'”

In an unexpected revelation for one cruise passenger, their perspective was transformed regarding an entirely different style of voyage: “We were on a ship the week after a “Lifestyle/clothing optional” theme cruise. We got into several conversations with different workers about the details of what was allowed and what was normal.

“(Clothes required in dining room, not many other places). We thought the clothing optional cruise was pretty interesting. Until a crew member explained what a true lifestyle cruise is.

“It’s for swingers. Some of the rules include you have to bring a partner with you on the ship. No solo cruisers. The kids play rooms are converted into adult play rooms for the week and mattresses cover the floors. You have to be invited to join someone on a mattress, you can’t just join in any current activity.”

The passenger continued, explaining they’d enquired with their waiter about how evening meals operated on these ‘Lifestyle Cruises’, with the waiter clarifying: “They [the guests] usually came to dinner the first night with whomever they brought with them. Every night after that it was usually someone new.

“I’m not sure how much was exaggeration but I don’t think much. Google lifestyle or swingers cruisers and there are some interesting cruises/cruisers out there.”

Chet Holmgren had 30 points and 14 rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points and 11 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the NBA’s best regular-season record with a 128-110 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points for the NBA champion Thunder (64-16), who will have home-court advantage throughout the postseason in their title defense after holding off San Antonio (61-19), which is on an 18-2 run since February. Oklahoma City has won seven straight and 19 of 20 to earn the West’s No. 1 seed for the third straight season.

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Brook Lopez added 16 for the eighth-place Clippers, who had won seven of nine. The Clippers are 35-18 since shortly before Christmas, but still must win one of its final two games to extend this once-moribund franchise’s streak to 15 consecutive winning seasons.

The Clippers head to Portland on Friday for a crucial game. The winner almost certainly will finish eighth in the Western Conference, while the losers will slip to ninth, where they’ll need two wins in the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.

While Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 20 points in his record 141st consecutive game despite sitting out the fourth quarter, Leonard scored at least 20 in his 56th straight game. Leonard also remained on track to play in at least 65 games this season — his second-most in seven years with the Clippers, and enough to qualify for All-NBA consideration.

Holmgren scored 24 points in the first half and propelled the Thunder to an early 25-point lead. Oklahoma City hit 58.1% of its shots and thoroughly stifled the Clippers’ offense, allowing no fast-break field goals.

Darius Garland sat out for the Clippers to manage his toe injury. He hasn’t played in back-to-back games since Los Angeles acquired him from Cleveland in a trade for James Harden.

Up next for the Clippers: At Portland on Friday.

April 6 (UPI) — A cruise ship in Fiji ran aground at Monuriki Island, a small, uninhabited island off the coast of Fiji where the movie Cast Away was filmed.

The ship is the 180-foot Fiji Princess, part of Blue Lagoon Cruises. It ran aground on a reef while visiting the island. All 30 passengers and 17 of its 31 crew were taken off the boat on the same day, and there were no injuries reported.

“Initial checks confirmed that the vessel has suffered serious damage to its rear left side, including the area where the steering equipment is located. Part of the vessel underneath has also been damaged,” a spokesperson for the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji said.

“The vessel also experienced engine failure and was reported to be taking in water following the grounding. Due to rough seas and strong waves, officers were unable to safely inspect the vessel underwater at the time,” the MSAF said.

The main priority is protecting the environment, a spokesperson said.

The ship was carrying about 5,300 gallons of diesel fuel. The spokesperson said authorities had taken oil spill equipment to the area “as a precaution” but that the sea was too rough to use it.

“At the time of inspection, there were no signs that the fuel tanks had been damaged,” the spokesperson said.

Salvage teams, with the help of an Australian salvage specialist, were working to remove the fuel and oil from the ship.

​​”Msaf’s main concern at this time is the safety of all personnel, the protection of Fiji’s marine environment, and ensuring that response efforts continue safely,” a spokesperson said. “Msaf will continue to work closely with the vessel operator and all response teams, and will provide further updates as necessary.”

Monuriki Island is where the 2000 movie “Cast Away,” starring Tom Hanks, was filmed. It is part of the Mamanuca Island chain, on which “Survivor” has been filmed since 2016.

Centuries before Donald Trump started playing around with the world economy, “tariff” was a levy paid to Spain by ships using the strait of Gibraltar; it was named for Tarifa, the town near the strait’s narrowest point. France’s kings had long dreamed of a waterway linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean: as well as depriving the Spanish monarch of easy money, it would save ships a long voyage around Spain and Portugal, risking storms and pirates.

From the Atlantic, vessels can reach Toulouse from the Gironde estuary (on the Garonne River), but not until the 1660s did anyone have a viable plan for the remaining 200km to the Med. Considered one of the biggest engineering feats of the 17th century, Pierre-Paul Riquet’s Canal du Midi (finished in 1681 and called the Canal Royal du Languedoc until the revolution) rewrote the history of transport and commerce in the south of France – for centuries it carried wheat and wine, people and post.

In 1996, Unesco added the canal to its world heritage list, citing the way Riquet “turned a technical achievement into a work of art”. Today, the canal attracts more than 70,000 visitors a year, almost three-quarters of them from outside France. From La Ville Rose (as Toulouse is known) to the sea, here is how to enjoy it, however you decide to travel.

Toulouse-Carcassonne

The canal south-east of Carcassonne sees the most tourists; the Toulouse side has fewer attractions, but is enjoyably quieter, all sunflower fields and old windmills. In centuries past, horse-drawn barges would make their first stop at Négra lock; it’s a good place to clock the unusual oval shape of the lock basins, which helps the stone walls withstand water pressure. The inn that served passengers lunch is now a Locaboat rental firm, which hires out barges sleeping from two to 12.

The technically minded will enjoy the Seuil de Naurouze, the canal’s highest point, where it crosses the watershed between the Atlantic and the Med. Key to Riquet’s plan was feeding the canal with water channelled from the Montagne Noire, north-east of here. It’s a peaceful spot, with an avenue of plane trees leading to an obelisk commemorating the engineer. A short walk away, Le Pas de Naurouze offers a meaty (this is south-west France) but excellent set lunch for €23.

Eight miles on is Castelnaudary, home of rib-sticking bean cassoulet, invented while the town was besieged by the English in 1355: try it at the renowned restaurant Chez Marty. The coming of the canal boosted this town’s fortunes: waterside terraces on its lake-like Grand Bassin have an expansive feel, and a 10-minute climb to the restored 17th-century Cugarel windmill offers great views. Across the water, Le Grand Bassin is, in high season, an eco-friendly holiday let sleeping 15, but in shoulder season it lets out individual en suite rooms from €90. Handy for the station and boat jetty, it also offers cycle storage and repairs, and luggage transfers.

Carcassonne – and on

Much has been written about Carcassonne’s medieval citadel, but it is best avoided in the summer season. The canal grows more attractive from here though, even if the towpath gets bumpier. Sleepy villages in golden stone include Trèbes, between the canal and the Aude River, with its 13th-century church, marina and Sunday market. A lovely walk south-east takes in the Domaine des Pères olive oil mill (book visits online), and a three-lock flight on which boats drop seven metres of their 80-metre descent to the Mediterranean.

Paraza, 25 miles on, is an arty village, home to several studios and the unfortunately named CLAP gallery (Centre Local d’Art Parazanais). Château de Paraza winery offers tastings – and luxury castle rooms for a splurge. Cheaper options include Domaine Méditerranée (from €85) with a pool and dinners on request.

Toulouse is just under 200km from the sea, but the canal’s many loops and meanders add another 40km. One loop, just after Paraza, runs to France’s first canal aqueduct, the 1676 Pont-Canal de Répudre, the parapets of its one-arch bridge spanning the river of the same name.

Escape the canal

There’s a holiday feel to the route after Capestang. The countryside is more open, there are more pleasure craft on the water, and plenty of attractions.

It’s worth detouring a few miles to the village of Saint-Chinian, in Languedoc’s oldest winemaking area. It has narrow streets, shady squares and a Benedictine abbey, but also lots of ways to get active. Rock climbers can tackle any of 15 routes up the magnificent west-facing Notre-Dame cliff nearby. There’s kayaking on the Vernazobre and Orb rivers, horse riding and cycling among the vines on Oenovélo 1, a mostly off-road bike route that links Saint-Chinian to the canal at Colombiers (see below). This makes a nice change if you have been riding the towpath for days.

South of here is the circular, spiral-built village of Puisserguier, topped by its 1,000-year-old battlemented castle (entry free but hours can be erratic; try +33 6 62 14 70 96). Then it’s back to the canal at Capestang, with its chunky stone bridge and great market (Wed and Sun) by the tall Saint-Étienne church. There’s good food at Le Pourquoi Pas, right by the canal a few miles west, while La Pause Sous le Pin (doubles from €90 B&B) is a welcoming B&B with a pool and garden, five minutes’ walk from the centre.

To Béziers and the coast

The area around the ancient village of Colombiers used to be classic Insta-worthy Canal du Midi – curved stretches of waterway reflecting rows of tall planes – but severe canker stain infection saw about 1,600 trees felled. Many have been replanted, though, and are now thriving. Before Colombiers, there are two sites of note. The Oppidum d’Ensérune is a Gallic hill fort dating from the sixth century BC (€9 including museum). A scenic walk away (and free) is the world’s oldest canal tunnel, the Malpas, bored through a ridge. Finished in 1680, it takes just a few minutes to pass through but is a unique experience for boats, bikes and walkers.

Colombiers is the place to take to the water if you haven’t already. Sunboat offers permit-free day boats for 4-12 people from €35, all with cushions and sunshade; larger ones have a Bluetooth speaker and table for musical lunches. There are also rowing boats, kayaks and paddleboards to hire – and guided sightseeing trips. Colombiers’ 12th-century chateau is mostly closed for restoration, but there are guided tours on Wednesdays. Check out the wine cellars, glazed in multicoloured metro tiles.

Just outside Béziers is maybe the canal’s most remarkable sight: the “nine locks” of Fonseranes, allowing boats to drop 21 metres. It’s a lively spot, with plenty of spectators on the banks. Boats now enter and leave via basin seven, so the flight is six locks, but it’s impressive all the same.

And relax …

The canal empties into the Étang de Thau at Les Onglous, but boats would then cross the lagoon to unload at Sète harbour, which Riquet also designed. Sète is a pretty, lively port town, with train links on to Marseille and Avignon or back to Toulouse. It has canals of its own, sandy beaches, a covered market and traditional water jousting tournaments (great fun to watch). Les Terrasses de Saint-Clair is a peaceful B&B with three bedrooms (from €130), pool and boules court on the hill between the port and lagoon. After a canal odyssey of any kind, Séte makes a great place to stay still for a few days.

Find information about this year’s events at canal-du-midi.com

All impacted guests have been offered a full refund or a future cruise credit, and will be supported by the firm’s teams, who will provide rebooking options and assistance.

A major cruise line has cancelled all its April sailings as the impact of the Iran war on travel worsens.

Celestyal has confirmed the cancellation of all April 2026 departures as its ships wait to reposition to Athens, Greece.

The line’s fleet is currently positioned in the Arabian Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, UAE, and Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar. All guests and non-operational crew have been disembarked, while both vessels remain fully operational. The cruise line announced that staff and crew’s departure from the region will take place in accordance with safety guidance from the relevant authorities.

“Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, all sailings scheduled for April 2026 have been cancelled,” a statement from Celestyal read.

The next planned departures are:

• Celestyal Discovery – May 1, 2026 (3-night Iconic Greek Islands)

• Celestyal Journey – May 2, 2026 (7-night Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia)

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Our priority remains the safety and confidence of our guests, crew and partners. While we know this will be disappointing, taking this decision now provides greater clarity and flexibility for those affected. Our teams are working closely with guests and travel partners to support rebooking options and ensure a smooth transition, and we remain focused on returning to service in the Mediterranean as soon as it is safe to do so.”

All impacted guests have been offered a full refund or a future cruise credit, and will be supported by Celestyal’s teams, who will provide rebooking options and assistance.

READ MORE: European city with 6 of the best restaurants and the biggest theme park — not ParisREAD MORE: Southwest Airlines passengers slam new ‘fat tax’ policy as ‘discrimination’ and ‘stressful’

The news comes as senior figures from the energy, shipping and banking sectors prepare to meet Sir Keir Starmer as Donald Trump hinted the conflict with Iran could intensify.

Oil prices surged after the US president revealed he was weighing up a military operation to take control of Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical component of the country’s export infrastructure.

The Downing Street talks are expected to centre on Iran’s continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely disrupted a key shipping route for the oil and gas industry, as well as supplies of other goods such as fertiliser.

The gathering will include representatives from energy giants Shell and BP, shipping behemoth Maersk, maritime insurance specialist Lloyd’s of London, and banking heavyweights HSBC and Goldman Sachs.

Major General Richard Cantrill, the UK’s maritime operations commander, will also brief those in attendance on the latest developments in the region.

This follows the Royal Navy’s announcement that it is equipping the transport vessel RFA Lyme Bay with minehunting drones — a move widely understood to be aimed at giving ministers options for securing the strait once conditions allow.

Downing Street confirmed the purpose of the meeting was to hear directly from businesses and explore how the Government and private sector can join forces in tackling the ongoing conflict.

The No 10 summit is expected to be followed by a Cobra meeting on Tuesday, where senior ministers will assess the continuing economic damage caused by the war, Sir Keir has suggested. The summit follows Mr Trump’s comments that he could “take the oil in Iran” or potentially seize control of Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub.

AS a veteran showbiz reporter, I’m used to free- flowing champagne, egomaniacal celebrities and all-round general excess.

So who knew a Caribbean cruise could beat any A-lister party?

Drawing back the curtains every morning, before me was a beautiful new backdrop. Different every day, and every day seemingly more stunning. No need for Instagram filters.

Not even Paul Daniels in his prime could have mustered up such magic.
Stepping aboard the 5,200-guest Arvia as a cruise virgin, I really did not know what to expect.

Yet absolutely everything on board this P&O Cruises ship — don’t, whatever you do, call it a “big boat” as I did — confounded all expectations.

I had thought, wrongly, I’d be the youngest onboard. How foolish of me.

SHIP SHAPE

F1 fans turn race weekend into luxury cruise holiday without breaking the bank

CRUISE CONTROL

Royal Caribbean ‘cancels multiple scheduled cruises for 2027’

From singletons enjoying rum-tasting at 11am to older couples, married 55 years and still finding conversational titbits over the lunch table, my gang included a 22-year-old influencer and a 57-year-old rocker in the shape of Blur’s Alex James (who played a stunning sundowner set one evening).

Also on board were more than 2,000 crew. Which goes some way to explaining the pristine levels of both cleanliness and hospitality.

Each cabin is serviced with a personal “butler” who caters for any whim.

With 30 bars and restaurants on board, endless shops, a gym, spin studio, spa, cinema, four pools and an uber-cool jazz club, you could spend a year on board and yet not repeat the same day twice.

Arvia is also utterly vast.

My Garmin watch tells me I average 15,000 steps a day simply from milling around, getting lost and exploring. On the days we moored up, this rocketed to well over 20,000

The whole mooring bit, naturally, being the very point of a cruise. So after landing in Barbados, we sailed overnight and I awoke in Martinique.

Here, we jumped in a taxi and drove 50 minutes to a Club Med hotel for a day of sunbathing at the picturesque beach club.

Surrounded by turquoise seas and an Insta-worthy backdrop — certainly the influencers among us including ex-Towie star Lydia Bright and MIC’s Ollie Locke were very happy — we enjoyed a rosé-fuelled lunch.

That evening we had dinner at one of the speciality restaurants, Keel and Cow.

The elevated gastro-pub diner may cost a little extra but it is just a little — from £3.50 for a starter of potted chicken and bacon rillette to a melt-in-the-mouth fillet steak for £15.50 that came with chunky chips, onion rings, grilled mushroom and tomato, roasted garlic and an iceberg lettuce wedge with sour cream and bacon crumb — and was well worth the extra cost.

The next morning, I rise early to check the gym. With machines overlooking the gently rolling Caribbean seas, treadmill running, for once, becomes a pleasure, not a pain.

It has everything one might need, plus a full timetable of classes ranging from stretching and Pilates to spin and weights.

As anyone who knows me knows, breakfast is very important to me. I judge places by their fast-breaking offerings. Thankfully, breakfast thrilled.

The Horizon buffet had all the options for a quick brekkie and you could enjoy table service in the main Meridian and Zenith dining rooms.

But it was the 6th Street Diner, an American-themed eatery, that nailed the breakfast brief (think waffles, over-easy eggs, bacon and maple syrup, washed down with endless coffee.)

While there are plenty of included options for dining, it was great to have such a choice if you wanted to spend a little extra. There’s even an extensive room service menu that offers a club sandwich for about £4.

Another joy was sailing around the Caribbean but still only paying in pounds onboard for everything from a beauty must-have in the shops to a drink at the bar.

The biggest jolt of the week, however, came as I went to log on to the wi-fi for the week — £150! Apparently it’s something to do with satellites and lots of other technical jargon, but with my day job kicking off — thank you, Brooklyn Beckham — I had no option but to log in.

Thankfully, P&O offers some great options to buy all-inclusive packages in advance that cost from £49 a day. The Classic includes alcoholic and soft drinks as well as essential wi-fi for browsing and credit towards speciality dining depending on the length of your cruise.

The Deluxe includes a wider range of posh spirits, craft beers and cocktails as well as fast wi-fi for streaming and video calls plus enhanced dining credit.

I’ll know better on my next cruise.

Our next port of call was St Kitts and after we sailed in admiring its verdant hills, off I trotted on a catamaran excursion.

What a day. The pinnacle to the most incredible day’s sailing — one accompanied by a banging Nineties soundtrack and copious amounts of champagne — was a spot of snorkelling before a lobster salad lunch.

That evening we had an incredible dinner at Epicurean, the ship’s fine-dining eatery.

After another day at sea, it was time for another highlight: a speedboat to private island White Bay, off the British Virgin Islands – the stuff of Robinson Crusoe dreams. I really did feel like I’d stepped out on to a movie set.

The Sunset bar proved my favourite way to unwind after another busy-busy day of sunbathing, eating, drinking and experiencing all the tropical delights of the Caribbean.

Forget those red carpets — you can give me a blue sea all day long.

The Pentagon is alarmed by the rate at which Tomahawk cruise missile stocks have been depleted during ongoing operations against Iran, according to officials who spoke to The Washington Post. The latest development highlights a matter of growing importance for the Department of Defense, which is increasingly looking at the resilience of weapons stocks as it envisages a future high-end scenario in the Pacific, especially a conflict over Taiwan.

So far, the U.S. Navy has fired more than 850 Tomahawk missiles in the war with Iran, officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. This has prompted discussions about how more missiles could be made available.

As it stands, only a few hundred examples of the critical long-range strike weapon are manufactured each year, meaning the global supply is limited. The exact number available to the U.S. military at any given time is a closely guarded secret, although the article suggested a higher-end figure of between 4,000 and 4,500 Tomahawk missiles on hand at the start of Epic Fury, and a lower-end figure closer to 3,000 missiles. Again, the Tomahawk would be a primary weapon system used in a conflict with China, where the target sets can range into the tens of thousands, and the country’s anti-access umbrella will require the use of standoff munitions like none other in history.

“The Pentagon has tracked the number of Tomahawks used with an increasing focus on what the burn rate will mean for not only a sustained campaign against Iran but for future military operations as well,” the report states.

One official told The Washington Post that the number of Tomahawks left in the Middle East was “alarmingly low,” while another said that without intervention, the Pentagon is closing in on “Winchester” — military slang meaning out of ammunition — for its supply of the missiles in the region.

The Tomahawk also comes with a hefty price tag: up to $3.6 million for some of the more recent versions, and each round can require up to two years to build. The Navy also faces a problem in that, in recent years, only small batches have been purchased: just 57 examples were included in last year’s defense budget.

At the same time, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that critical munitions stockpiles have not been dangerously depleted in the Iran war.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this month that the U.S. military “has more than enough munitions, ammo and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump — and beyond.”

Every indication we have seen is that for some munitions, that is not reality. The war in Ukraine and constant crisis in the Middle East have depleted those stockpiles, and many of the weapons take years to build, with finite caps on how many can be delivered in any given year. This is a story we have been covering for years. The Trump administration is working to greatly expand production of advanced munitions, but even the fruits of those efforts will take years to realize.

UPDATES:

We have concluded updates for the day.

UPDATE: 10:37 PM EST-

A missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia has led to significant injuries to U.S. personnel. 10 American service members were wounded, two of which were seriously injured. It isn’t clear what damage was done to aircraft, but we have seen at least one tanker destroyed in recent satellite imagery. This is in addition to the attack that damaged multiple tankers and destroyed another earlier in the war.

Ten American service members were wounded in an Iranian drone and missile attack on Prince Sultan Airbase earlier today-Multiple US and Arab officials to the WSJ

Two of the service members are considered seriously wounded. pic.twitter.com/fZFuVQaOCg

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 27, 2026

“The injured service members were inside a building on the base that was struck in the attack, the officials said…At least one missile struck the base, as well as several unmanned aerial vehicles…The missile strike is at least the second to strike the base during the war… pic.twitter.com/bI5MrwmEDE

— Steve Lookner (@lookner) March 27, 2026

Trump is threatening to abandon NATO after member nations did not pitch in with opening the Strait:

NOW – Trump suggests the U.S. may abandon NATO countries: “We would’ve always been there for them [NATO], but now based on their actions I guess we don’t have to be.” pic.twitter.com/NKgO72FUvf

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 27, 2026

He is also joking about renaming the Strait after himself or the U.S.:

Trump on Iran:

They have to open up the Strait of Trump, I mean Hormuz… the fake news will say that I said it accidentally.

There are no accidents with me. pic.twitter.com/zQtky4AmZy

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026

Trump is also saying Cuba is next on his list:

As expected, the USS George Washington and its strike group are deploying to the Middle East:

New: The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier will deploy to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, the major combatant command overseeing American military operations against Iran, sources told @JimLaPorta @ellee_watson and me. @CBSNews

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2026

UPDATE: 3:30 PM EST –

Reuters is reporting that Arab states in the Gulf are urging the United States to ensure that any deal with Tehran should do more than end the war. Instead, it must ensure Iranian missile and drone capabilities are “permanently curbed” and that Iran will never again be able to “weaponize” global energy supplies. The agency cites four unnamed Gulf sources.

Meanwhile, it appears that Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait are prioritizing a quick end to the war, while the UAE, Saudi ‌Arabia, and Bahrain ⁠are more willing for the fighting to continue, if their longer-term aims are met in any deal to end the war.

Qatar, Oman and Kuwait are pushing behind closed doors for a swift end to the war. The UAE, Saudi ‌Arabia and Bahrain ⁠say they are ready to absorb an escalation of the war and will not accept a post-war Iran that is still able to use the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip. https://t.co/LI26CkM40E

— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 27, 2026

UPDATE: 3:10 PM EST –

The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has confirmed that Israel struck two of its most important steel production facilities, as well as nuclear sites — presumably including the Khondab Heavy Water Complex (see previous updates).

Araghchi said that Friday’s strikes contradicted President Donald Trump’s pledge to postpone attacking Iran’s energy infrastructure for 10 days after he claimed talks were “going well.” He further said that Tehran would exact a “heavy price” for the attacks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

Israel has hit 2 of Iran’s largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the U.S.

Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy.

Iran… pic.twitter.com/rrSF3PkXxs

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026

Saudi Arabia wants the U.S. military to ramp up its attacks on Iran, according to a Saudi intelligence source, and the kingdom is meanwhile reportedly also considering joining the fight directly, alongside the United States and Israel. Whether or not Saudi Arabia also starts launching strikes against Iran remains to be seen, but it is the clearest indication so far that the kingdom might become more deeply involved in the conflict, at least at some level.

A Saudi intelligence source confirmed to The Guardian that Riyadh was urging the United States to both continue and intensify the military campaign against Iran. The same source confirmed similar reporting in The New York Times, which states that Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had called upon Trump to not curtail Operation Epic Fury, and that the U.S.-Israeli campaign represented a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East.

Earlier this week, Trump told journalists that the crown prince is “a warrior. He’s fighting with us.”

At this point, however, there are no reports of active Saudi military involvement in the conflict, but the kingdom is now at least weighing up that option, if peace efforts fail.

This week, The Wall Street Journal and Jerusalem Post both reported that Saudi Arabia has decided to open up additional military bases for the use of the U.S. military in its operations against Iran. Reportedly, the facilities include King Fahd Air Base in Taif in western Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has come under direct Iranian attack since the start of Epic Fury, including a drone strike last week on the oil refinery in Yanbu on the Saudi Red Sea coast.

At the same time, Saudi oil exports are not as vulnerable as those of other countries in the region, so it has not suffered to the same degree as other Gulf states. Much of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports are carried by a pipeline to the Red Sea, purposefully avoiding the Strait of Hormuz.

There is also the threat that the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, which have long waged a separate war with Saudi Arabia, could be drawn into the current conflict if the Saudi position changes.

Were that to happen, the vital Red Sea oil pipeline could become a very prominent target for Iran and the Houthis.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared today that shipping “to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies” is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, Iranian state media reported.

The IRGC added that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and any attempted transit through the strategic waterway will face “harsh measures.”

There have been reports today of three container ships of various nationalities turning back from the Strait of Hormuz, after warnings were issued by the IRGC Navy.

IRGC:

This morning, following the lies of the corrupt president of America regarding the openness of the Strait of Hormuz, three container ships of different nationalities moved toward the designated corridor for the transit of ships with permits, which were turned back with a… pic.twitter.com/uIvDmzpBQJ

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026

COSCO vessels abort Strait of Hormuz transit attempt amid ongoing instability

Following COSCO’s announcement to resume booking acceptance to Gulf destinations, new developments overnight suggest the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly unstable.

According to… pic.twitter.com/VkrtGwOZgD

— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 27, 2026

As we reported in our previous rolling coverage, Trump threatened last Saturday that he would destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

On Monday, the U.S. leader postponed his threat for five days (until Friday), citing “very good and productive conversations” with Iran on ending the war — something that Tehran has described as “fake news.”

Now, Trump is pushing that deadline back again, pausing his threat to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure for 10 days until April 6, claiming that the request came from Tehran and that talks were going “very well.”

At the same time, there are suggestions that the Iran war, in general, may be of diminishing interest to the U.S. president.

“[Trump] is getting a little bored with Iran,” a senior White House official told Jake Traylor of MS NOW. “Not that he regrets it or something — he’s just bored and wants to move on.”

There are suggestions of something of a rift between Israel and the United States, as to the course the conflict should take.

According to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, U.S. Vice President JD Vance had a “difficult” call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week.

Reportedly, Vance said that Israeli assessments for toppling the Iranian regime were not realistic enough, saying, “You were too optimistic in your assessments regarding the overthrow of the regime in Iran.”

According to Barak Ravid, U.S. Vice President JD Vance had a difficult call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday where he said that Israeli assessments for toppling the Iranian regime were not realistic enough, saying “You were too optimistic in your… pic.twitter.com/KfEuGbUkzt

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 27, 2026

As we reported earlier this week, F-35Cs from the U.S. Marine Corps are the latest fighters poised to deploy to the Middle East region for Operation Epic Fury. The movement of these aircraft to RAF Lakenheath in England signals what is set to be the first land-based combat deployment for the F-35C, the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter flown by both the Navy and Marine Corps. We now have some better imagery of the first visit of these aircraft to a base in the United Kingdom.

🇺🇸 The Tomcats / VMFA-311

Four Lockheed Martin F-35Cs of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA-311) based at MCAS Miramar departed RAF Lakenheath on the 26th March as MAZDA 31-34.

This is the first time ever that F-35Cs have visited the United Kingdom.

Probably some of the… pic.twitter.com/1QnZ9TFcea

— Havoc Aviation (@havoc_aviation) March 27, 2026

The United Arab Emirates has told allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as it pushes to form a coalition to ensure shipping can pass through the vital waterway, the Financial Times reports.

According to the FT, the UAE has told the United States and other Western nations that it would take part, and that Abu Dhabi would deploy assets from its own navy.

Like Saudi Arabia, the UAE is taking a harder line on Iran, as it comes under regular attack by Tehran’s retaliation strikes.

The same report also states that the UAE is working on a UN Security Council resolution with Bahrain to provide any future task force with a mandate.

The UAE is pushing to form a multinational naval force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

It’s willing to deploy its own navy and is lobbying allies and the UN for support.

Only Bahrain has backed the plan so far, while others remain cautious.

Source: FT pic.twitter.com/AWBfpyeTbf

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026

According to an assessment from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., the U.S. strike campaign has settled into a “sustainable pace of bombing,” striking between 300 and 500 targets per day. U.S. forces are also now mainly using stand-in weapons, rather than more expensive standoff munitions. As a result of the “munitions transition,” the costs of running the war have been greatly reduced — although not without risk to aircraft and airmen.

“The U.S. strike campaign has settled into a sustainable pace of bombing between 300 and 500 targets per day. U.S. forces also now predominantly use far less expensive, short-range munitions.” https://t.co/iQm636cWwO

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 27, 2026

The Pentagon is looking at sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal has reported, quoting Defense Department officials. Having more troops in the region would give Trump more military options and greater bargaining power, as he seeks to bring Tehran to the negotiating table.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that “it should not be necessary” for U.S. forces to invade Iran. “I think we can get this resolved without it,” he added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson tells @BretBaier, “It should not be necessary” for U.S. forces to invade Iran. “I think we can get this resolved without it.”

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) March 27, 2026

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also suggested that the U.S. military will not need to deploy ground troops to accomplish U.S. objectives in the war, although he also reflected on the importance of giving Trump “maximum optionality” for any contingency.

NEW: Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells me at the airport before leaving France that the US does NOT need to deploy ground troops to accomplish its objectives in the #IranWar‌.

But part of the cabinet’s job is to always give President Trump maximum optionality, he adds. pic.twitter.com/oYQrmF6Fdy

— Eric Martin (@EMPosts) March 27, 2026

So far, it seems that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not yet agreed to negotiations.

Should the U.S. military conduct some kind of ground operation, various energy infrastructure within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would come under Iranian attack, with a target list published by Iran’s state-backed Fars News Agency. Designated targets include desalination plants, nuclear power plants, and other power hubs across the UAE.

Iran’s state-backed Fars News Agency has released a target list of energy infrastructure within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that they plan to strike if the U.S. conducts a ground operation against the strategically and economically important Kharg Island or any other Iranian… pic.twitter.com/PbwM14SPIZ

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 26, 2026

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they carried out further strikes on targets in Tehran early on Friday. A brief military statement said Israeli forces “completed a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.”

In a separate statement, the IDF said that it had also struck “ballistic missiles and aerial defense systems production sites across Iran.” It reported hitting missile launchers and storage sites in western Iran, as well as missile production sites in the capital. Other targets apparently included Iran’s primary facility for the production of naval cruise missiles and sea mines in Yazd, Iran.

“The site was used for the planning, development, assembly, and storage of advanced missiles intended for launch from cruise platforms, submarines, and helicopters toward both mobile and stationary maritime targets,” the IDF said.

🎯🌊 STRUCK: Iranian Regime’s primary facility for the productions of missiles and sea mines in Yazd, Iran

The site was used for the planning, development, assembly, and storage of advanced missiles intended for launch from cruise platforms, submarines, and helicopters toward…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 27, 2026

The latest round of U.S.-Israeli strikes hit a heavy water reactor in central Iran, Iranian media reported today.

“The Khondab Heavy Water Complex was targeted in two stages by aggression from the American and Zionist enemy,” the Fars News Agency reported, citing Hassan Ghamari, an official in the central Markazi province. Fars and other media said there were no casualties or radiation leaks from the site.

The facility is intended to produce the heavy water used to cool nuclear reactors. As a byproduct of this process, plants of this kind also produce plutonium, which can potentially be used in nuclear weapons. This would offer another route to procuring a nuclear warhead, other than enriched uranium.

There are reports out of Iran that recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted key steel production facilities. The semi-official Iranian Mehr news outlet claims that steel plants were hit in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, with separate attacks on the Khuzestan Steel and Mobarakeh Steel factories.

In response to an inquiry from The Jerusalem Post, the Israeli military said that it was not aware of any Israeli strikes on the facilities.

Reports from Iran suggest that all three of Iran’s largest steel production plants were struck in a coordinated targeted strikes.

This could substantially affect the national steel industry and manufacturing pic.twitter.com/mmrnyDS8UX

— Ben Tzion Macales (@BenTzionMacales) March 27, 2026

The U.S. military has deployed ​uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for patrols as part of its operations against Iran, the Pentagon has said, according to the Jerusalem Post. The specific type of drone boats that have been deployed was not reported, although this is not the first time that the U.S. military has used USVs in the region, notably in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has accused the U.S. military of using Persian Gulf citizens as human shields.

“From outset of this war, U.S. soldiers fled military bases in GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] to hide in hotels and offices. They use citizens as human shield. Hotels in U.S. deny bookings to officers who may endanger customers. GCC hotels should do same,” Abbas Araghchi said in a post on his X account.

IRGC:

The cowardly American and Zionist forces, who lack the courage and ability to defend their own military bases, are attempting—out of fear of the firepower of Islamic fighters—to use civilian locations and innocent people as human shields.

Since it is our duty to eliminate…

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026

As we reported yesterday, Iranian bombardment of U.S. military facilities in the wider region does appear to be driving the relocation of soldiers, although there is no suggestion of a human shield policy.

According to a report from The New York Times, citing military personnel and American officials, a significant number of U.S. troops have been forced to relocate from their bases to hotels and office spaces throughout the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claims that since the start of the war, US troops have left military bases in the GCC to shelter in civilian spaces, effectively using residents as human shields, and urges Gulf hotels to follow US counterparts in denying accommodation to… pic.twitter.com/MJrUht8Di1

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 26, 2026

Reports in the Lebanese media suggest that an Israeli strike hit Beirut’s southern suburbs early today. Several explosions were heard in the area, which is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Israel has previously issued evacuation warnings for the area but provided no specific warning in advance of Friday’s strike, AFP said.

Kuwait’s Shuwaikh port was hit by drones, causing material damage with no injuries reported, the Kuwait Ports Authority said today.

The international airport in Kuwait City also appears to have been on the receiving end of recent Iranian attacks, with a significant blaze there today, after a reported drone strike.

🔥 Fire breaks out at fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport following an Iranian drone attack on Thursday

Firefighters are reportedly still battling the blaze pic.twitter.com/ti0r1RCAH1

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) March 27, 2026

Iran-linked hackers today claimed they had accessed ​FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email inbox, Reuters reports. The group claims to have published photographs of the ‌director and other documents on the internet.

Satellite imagery of the Yazd missile complex, one of the most important in Iran, from earlier this month, reveals the shadow of an apparent Khorramshahr missile before being launched toward Israel. The original Khorramshahr first emerged publicly in 2017, and it is assessed to be derived, at least in part, from a North Korean design. It is a liquid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a claimed range of around 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers).

Recent analysis from ThePrint, an Indian digital news platform, suggests that Iran has launched around 4,300 missiles and drones since the start of the current conflict, with the majority of these targeting Gulf nations, rather than Israel. The analysis states that Tehran has launched at least 1,815 drones and 372 missiles at the UAE since the start of the war. Israel, in comparison, has faced roughly 930 missile and drone attacks in the same period.

Interesting number crunching by my colleague @Keshav_Paddu

4,300 missiles & drones since day 1 of war: Gulf nations, not Israel faced brunt of #Iran’s retaliation#Israel, in comparison, has faced roughly 930 missile, drone attacks in the same period.https://t.co/WLOancpE8z

— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) March 27, 2026

In related news, Reuters today published an assessment stating that, so far, the Pentagon can only confirm that about a third of the Iranian missile arsenal has been destroyed.

Satellite imagery from yesterday indicates that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has left Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete, Greece, escorted by three patrol boats. The supercarrier went to Souda Bay for repairs after a fire broke out in the laundry area while underway in the Middle East on March 12, injuring two sailors.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that his country has “reached an important arrangement” with Saudi Arabia on defense cooperation. The agreement between the defense ministries of the two countries is almost certain to involve counter-drone technologies and expertise.

“We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Now into the fifth year, Ukrainians are resisting the same kind of terrorist attacks — ballistic missiles and drones — that the Iranian regime is currently carrying out in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial.”

We have reached an important Arrangement between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on defense cooperation. The document was signed ahead of our meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.… pic.twitter.com/j3aXzLXSNr

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 27, 2026

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

DISNEY is launching another cruise ship next year – with some first time princess appearances.

In 2027, Disney Cruise Line will be launching its ninth ship called the Disney Believe.

The ship will be the fourth ship in the Wish class, joining Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny.

It will be themed on “dreamers and doers who dare to pursue their own happily ever after”.

On board, stories that will be featured will be from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

Each Wish class ship features its own theme, for example Disney Wish is enchantment-themed, Disney Treasure is adventure-themed and the Disney Destiny is heroes and villains-themed.

Read more on travel inspo

SET SAIL

I’ve been on 50 cruises…here’s the best ship for cruise virgins & a dirt cheap one

TRIP TIPS

I’ve visited Disney 55 times… mistakes parents make that ruin trips & waste money

Disney Believe will be ‘promise and possibilities-themed’.

Disney Cruise Line stated: “Onboard the Disney Believe, powerful tales of characters who believe in themselves and their dreams will come to life in exciting new ways.

“From the mystical worlds of Encanto and Frozen, to the wishing wells of Snow White, to the depths of the sea with Moana and The Little Mermaid, there are endless stories waiting to be discovered and new chapters ready to unfold onboard.”

These characters already feature onboard some of the Wish class ships, with an Arendelle dining experience onboard the Disney Wish.

However, Snow White currently does not feature prominently on any of the current Wish class ships.

The Disney Believe is expected to launch in late 2027.

Disney also announced last month that the Disney Wish ship will be coming to the UK next year.

The ship will sail from Southampton on three to seven-night European sailings.

Entering through the Grand Hall, passengers will meet famous Disney princes and princesses.

Inside each stateroom, passengers will find spacious wardrobes, sprawling beds and a theme specific to a Disney character.

When it comes to food on board the ship, guests won’t be short for choice, with market-style buffet options and immersive dining adventures, such as Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

As for other entertainment, passengers can head to West-End style shows including Disney Seas the Adventure, where passengers follow Goofy on a journey sailing the ship.

For a thrilling adventure, head on the Disney AquaMouse ride, which features lighting, special effects and scenes of Mickey and Minnie on different adventures.

And the ultimate night for the whole family is Pirates’ Night, where Captain Jack Sparrow takes a fateful leap from the ship’s funnel.

Parents wanting some time to themselves can check their kids into either the full-service nursery or kids and teens clubs before exploring the ship’s adult-only spaces such as the Senses Spa & Salon.

The cheapest sailing is a three-night Belgium cruise from Southampton, sailing to Zeebrugge (Bruges) in Belgium costing from £1,633 for two people.

In other cruise news, here’s the ultimate family cruise – it has a water roller coaster, a private island and an onboard beach club.

Plus, there’s a Nordic cruise that sails from the UK with dog-sledding, Northern Lights and mountain cable cars.

NORWEGIAN Cruise Lines have long been trailblazers of the seas.

When NCL introduced Freestyle Cruising at the turn of the millennium, it changed the way we holiday at sea.

Cruises became less about sticking to rigid dining schedules and entertainment plans, and more about doing what you want, when you want.

Now, the cruise line are once again raising the bar – with its new Prima Class ships offering more options onboard than ever.

The launch of Norwegian Prima, Viva, and Aqua saw new, upscale dining options and significantly larger outdoor decks.

Now, it’s the turn of Norwegian Luna to make her appearance, as she sets sail from April 2026 — and we got an early look at what it’s like on board.

RIDE ON

New ‘theme park’ cruise ship to set sail with world’s 1st waterslide-rollercoaster

SET SAIL

New cruise ship to launch in Europe next year with huge attractions & waterslides

The new ship will sail across Mexico and the Caribbean, to destinations like the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata, as well as Great Stirrup Cay – a private island paradise in the Bahamas.

The private island is home to a sprawling pool with swim-up bars, plenty of loungers and cabanas, as well as an adults-only retreat with a private beach and bar.

Plus, the Great Tides Waterpark is set to open on the island in summer 2026, with a whopping 19 water slides and a 9,000 square-foot splash zone for families.

Other holiday hotspots across the ship’s itineraries include Bermuda, the Bahamas and Saint Thomas – home to Magens Bay, rated among the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Sailing the Norwegian Luna is a once-in-a-blue-moon cruising experience.

With an aqua coaster, obstacle courses, a free-fall slide and glowing LED sports courts, this cruise ship feels more like a giant playground.

Even the mini golf, Tee Time, is jazzed up to the max with a futuristic neon course. In fact, it’s the first interactive and tech-immersive mini golf at sea. 

Meanwhile, the Glow Court makes getting in your onboard exercise more exciting.

The floor is illuminated by LEDs, transforming into a range of sports courts and interactive games.

These courts even turn into a disco lounge at night, transforming the sports floor into a party with a view.

Perhaps the most exciting activity, however, is the Aqua Slidecoaster.

This hybrid between a water slide and a roller coaster sends teams of two down a thrill ride with a splash, reaching speeds of up to 31 miles per hour!

And don’t worry about bringing your towel – this ship has a walk-in drying machine for you to step into afterwards.

Just in case you’re itching for yet another adrenaline rush, The Drop is a slide just as thrilling as the name makes it sound.

The Drop is the world’s first free fall slide at sea, spiralling down a jaw-dropping ten stories.

Alternatively, if you have younger children (or kids who prefer something more chilled) there’s plenty of other options.

The Splash Academy is a kids club with sports, artsy activities, and supervised group sitting available in the evenings.

There’s also a complimentary dedicated space with activities for teens, The Entourage, as well as a parent and toddler play programme, Guppies.

Plus Mum and Dad aren’t forgotten about either, with a huge fitness centre, your pick of 14 bars and lounges, and a world-class spa.

The Mandara Spa is massive, boasting a two-story waterfall, multiple saunas, a thermal suite and more – all under the relaxing glow of midnight-blue lighting.

And if you really want to splash out, the adults-only private Vibe Beach Club has its own fully-stocked bar, waterfall and infinity hot tubs.

There are of course multiple swimming pools to take a dip in, too.

The spacious main pool is surrounded by plenty of stylish sun loungers, with two hot tubs and a kids’ splash park nearby.

Or take a dip in one of two infinity pools, both of which are surrounded by comfy daybeds to sprawl out on and soak up the Caribbean sun.

What makes Norwegian’s Prima Class ships stand out is the sheer amount of outdoor space there is to explore.

The Oceanwalk glass bridge lets you see the waves crash beneath your feet as you walk, whilst outdoor dining at restaurants like Los Lobos come with a side of sea views.

When it comes to food, there’s plenty of restaurants to choose from – six of which are complimentary.

The Local Bar & Grill is a cosy option offering pub classics and pints, whilst the Indulge Food Hall lets you order anything from Chinese dishes to tapas to your table via a handy iPad.

Rooms range from the simple Studio, ideal for solo travellers, to ‘The Haven’ – home to luxurious suites and cabins that come with their own 24-hour butler.

You don’t have to pay a premium to feel pampered, though, as all rooms come with comfy, spacious beds, as well as round-the-clock room service.

The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, recently set sail on the Norwegian Luna. She said:

“I was the first UK journalist onboard Norwegian Luna as it set sail on its first transatlantic crossing to its new home port in Miami and loved the laid back luxury of this stunning ship.

“Its celestial theme comes across in beautiful spaces – including the multi-deck Penrose atrium – that shimmer and shine with a sophisticated, luxe look.

“While there’s even more space on the top decks surrounding the main pool, what I love about NCL’s Prima class ships are the many places to sunbathe on deck eight, alongside infinity pools and oodles of comfy loungers and cabanas.

“Families will love the huge range of innovative, high-tech attractions from the thrilling hybrid water rollercoaster, Aqua Slidecoaster, to The Drop – the world’s first free-fall slide at sea spiraling you down ten decks.

“The all-new Luna Midway is an outdoor amusement-style park with carnival inspired games and also debuting is the Moon Climber multi-level rope obstacle course.

“The whole family can do battle in the neon Glow Court where sports and social combine as cruisers compete in games across a high-tech LED floor – and the grownups can continue to enjoy the fun after dark when it transforms into a late night club.

“But Luna also scores highly for the incredible amount of choice when it comes to food and drink.

“There are 17 dining options and 18 bars and lounges across the ship, with a highlight for me being the included in your fare Indulge Food Hall, where you order from tablets from nine stations serving up everything from noodles and tapas to barbecue favourites and Indian curries.

“For those looking to splash out, there are plenty of speciality restaurants at an extra cost – I loved the freshest, tastiest sushi options in Nama and the Thai dishes with a twist in Sukhothai.

“For sunset sips, head to the Soleil Bar for stunning sea views and for sophisticated cocktails, the Belvedere Bar is a must”.

Sailing on the Norwegian Luna starts from £324pp for a 2-day cruise to the private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

Click here to browse NCL cruise deals.

SEOUL, March 11 (UPI) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from a naval destroyer, state media reported Wednesday, as the United States and South Korea began a large-scale joint military exercise this week.

The North’s Choe Hyon destroyer launched the missiles at island targets in the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said, with Kim watching via a video feed. The missiles flew for roughly two hours and fifty minutes before striking their targets, KCNA said.

Pyongyang described the weapons as “strategic,” a term it typically uses for systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The launches came days after North Korea conducted a similar cruise missile test from the destroyer ahead of its commissioning.

The test also coincided with the start of the allies’ annual Freedom Shield exercise on Monday, an 11-day program of command-post simulations and field training drills.

North Korea has long condemned the joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion. On Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, warned that the drills could destabilize the region and lead to “unimaginably terrible consequences.”

After observing the launch, Kim praised the “superiority of the destroyer’s integrated combat system,” according to KCNA.

“The components of our war deterrent are now being included in the very sophisticated operational system … and the country’s nuclear forces have made a switch to the phase of multifaceted operation,” Kim said.

Images released by state media showed Kim watching the test alongside his daughter Ju Ae, who has appeared frequently with her father at major events. South Korea’s spy agency said last month that Ju Ae, believed to have been born in 2013, appears close to being designated as Kim’s successor.

Pyongyang launched the Choe Hyon, its first 5,000-ton destroyer, last April as Kim called for strengthening the country’s naval capabilities. North Korean reports say the vessel carries a range of weapons, including nuclear-capable cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles.

Photos released by state media show the ship’s missile and radar systems resembling those found on Russian vessels, prompting speculation Pyongyang may have received technical assistance from Moscow.

North Korea has deployed troops, artillery and weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine and is believed to be receiving financial support and advanced military technology in return.

A second destroyer, the Kang Kon, suffered an accident during its launch ceremony last year that left it listing on its side before it was repaired and relaunched in June.

Kim has ordered another 5,000-ton destroyer completed by Oct. 10, the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.

Cruise missiles were seen launching into the sky as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests from a new naval destroyer aimed at assessing the warship’s capabilities.