Cruise News

Norwegian Cruise Line reverses its drink package exclusion at Great Stirrup Cay after guest backlash, while investing $150 million in island upgrades. DOT data shows cruise ship sex crime reports rose to 131 in 2025 amid record passenger volumes. And Oriental Land forms a subsidiary for Disney-branded Japan cruises targeting 2028 service.

Miami-Dade weighs a direct rail link from MIA to PortMiami as cruise traffic hits record levels. Princess Cruises sets a record 2026 Alaska season with 180 sailings across eight ships. And Viking floats out the Viking Libra, the cruise industry's first hydrogen-powered vessel.

Silversea's Silver Ray drops its Madeira overnight for weather and adds Leixoes, Portugal instead. Two stowaway burrowing owls from a Royal Caribbean cruise are finally released back in Florida after a year-long international rescue. And Explora Journeys launches a structured wellness program with tennis star Jannik Sinner across its fleet.

TUI Cruises cancels Mein Schiff 4 and 5 sailings through March 2026 as Middle East conflict keeps ships docked in the Gulf. MSC Cruises opens bookings for refurbished Musica and Orchestra with new Yacht Club suites debuting in late 2026. And Disney Cruise Line unveils the Disney Believe, its fourth Wish-class ship set to sail in late 2027.

Royal Caribbean announces Royal Beach Club Lelepa in Vanuatu, its first private destination in the Southern Hemisphere, opening October 2027. American Cruise Lines' new riverboat American Encore begins its Panama Canal delivery voyage for a May 2026 Columbia River debut. And Victory Cruise Lines invests $5 million upgrading two ships during their 2026 Jacksonville layup.

Celestyal Cruises cancels spring 2026 sailings as its ships remain stuck in the Gulf amid Middle East conflict. Shanghai begins processing cruise passengers under China's expanded 15-day visa-free transit policy. And Carnival adjusts port times and sequences for 11 Panorama Mexican Riviera itineraries in late 2026.

Holland America and Carnival drop Tracy Arm Fjord from all 2026 Alaska cruises after a landslide and tsunami near South Sawyer Glacier. Brent crude above $100 puts unhedged Carnival Corporation in the fuel cost spotlight. And Disney Cruise Line debuts its Midnight Magic ad campaign during the Oscars, emphasizing quiet family moments over spectacle.

Princess Cruises ends free Medallion shipping and doubles home delivery fees to $20, while raising its onboard service charge to 20%. Multiple cruise lines cancel Arabian Gulf winter seasons over security concerns, redeploying ships to the Mediterranean. And TUI Cruises' new Mein Schiff Flow completes its first Mediterranean sea trials ahead of a June 2026 christening.

The CDC investigates a norovirus outbreak on Star Princess after 153 passengers and crew fall ill during a Caribbean sailing. Virgin Voyages announces Ariya, a new Indian restaurant by chef Maneet Chauhan, debuting on Valiant Lady in May 2026. And Celebrity River Cruises adds included destination discovery experiences for its 2027-28 European season.

Costa Cruises pulls the Costa Smeralda from the Middle East for winter 2026-27 amid regional uncertainty, redeploying to the Canary Islands. Portland, Maine raises cruise passenger fees to $24 per head starting January 2027 under its new Tariff 11. And P&O Cruises' Ventura returns from a major Rotterdam drydock refit with refreshed cabins and redesigned public spaces.

French cruise line CFC freezes 2026-27 fares through March 2027 despite Middle East conflict concerns. Oceania Cruises launches its adults-only brand campaign as the segment grows toward $18 billion by 2033. And Royal Caribbean debuts America's Got Talent LIVE aboard Legend of the Seas starting August 2026.

Port Tampa Bay sets a monthly record with 51 cruise calls in March 2026, fueled by spring break demand and multi-ship days. Princess Cruises opens sales for its 115-day 2028 world cruise aboard Coral Princess, spanning 49 ports across 24 countries. And Margaritaville at Sea adds two ultra-exclusive bridge wing suites to its upcoming Beachcomber ship debuting in 2027.

Carnival rolls out Express Dining fleetwide by May 2026, delivering multi-course dinners in under an hour at no extra charge. Newport city leaders fight a proposed cruise passenger fee hike that could make it New England's most expensive tender port. And P&O Cruises shifts its final payment deadline to 120 days before sailing for new bookings.

Royal Caribbean adds a $4.99 Coca-Cola Freestyle surcharge to two drink packages starting March 2026. Port Canaveral begins vertical construction on a $93 million, 3,732-space cruise parking garage targeting a fall 2026 opening. And Holland America's Zaandam and Volendam grand voyage guests unite in Sydney for a chocolate-themed afternoon tea by Jacques Torres.

MSC scraps its Lirica Brazil deployment for the 2026-27 season, leaving booked passengers scrambling. Virgin Voyages moves its New York sailings from Manhattan to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. And Uniworld reveals two new 154-guest super ships debuting on the Rhine and Danube in 2027.

Norwegian Bliss returns to Puerto Vallarta after months of security-driven reroutes away from Mexico's Pacific coast. Scenic Group drops its long-running two-for-one U.S. pricing and rolls out four new fare types across Scenic and Emerald Cruises. And the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection maps out Luminara's summer 2027 voyages, including maiden Alaska and expanded Asia itineraries.

Princess Cruises announces Bridgetown Barbados as a new seasonal homeport starting in 2027, opening fly-and-cruise options from the Southern Caribbean. Orient Express Corinthian hits 12 knots under sail during sea trials, proving wind-powered luxury cruising is more than a concept. And R Yacht selects CruisePal systems for its Sefu superyacht ahead of a 2027 debut, bringing smart cabin technology...

Celestyal Cruises cancels remaining March Arabian Gulf sailings as regional tensions force ships out of the area, stranding passengers and triggering complex repatriation logistics. Royal Caribbean swaps Falmouth Jamaica for Cozumel Mexico on Legend of the Seas due to port facility issues. And the Port of Mobile Alabama marks a historic milestone with two cruise ships docking simultaneously for th...

Celebrity Solstice returns to service after an extensive Singapore refit that added 54 cabins and eight new onboard experiences as part of a 250-million-dollar Solstice-class modernization program. Margaritaville at Sea earns perfect 100 scores on CDC inspections for both ships, joining an exclusive group of only 24 vessels to achieve a perfect mark. And Queen Mary 2 meets her historic namesake of...

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings stock drops 11 percent after management issues a weak 2026 EPS forecast and admits to self-inflicted execution gaps in Caribbean deployment. Costa Smeralda swaps La Goulette for Naples after forecast winds exceed port safety limits. And Viking reports 86 percent of its 2026 core cruise capacity already sold.

TUI Cruises cancels Arabian Gulf sailings for Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 after airspace closures and a drone strike near Abu Dhabi leave thousands of passengers stranded. Dense fog in Jacksonville delays Carnival Elation boarding by three hours on a routine Bahamas turnaround. And Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings charters the Seven Seas Navigator to become Avora Lumina, a floating residential s...

Hong Kong health authorities investigate a norovirus outbreak aboard Holland America's Westerdam after 76 passengers and crew fall ill during an Asia sailing. Carnival Sunshine is delayed departing Norfolk after an overnight power outage leaves passengers in the dark. And HX Expeditions announces two new Alaska Inside Passage cruises for 2026, offering expedition-style small-ship access to remote...

MSC Cruises cancels all remaining Euribia Arabian Gulf winter sailings due to regional instability, stranding booked passengers and keeping the ship docked in Dubai. Norwegian Cruise Line extends drink package access to Great Stirrup Cay through March 2026, reversing an earlier policy that frustrated passengers. And the Blue Dream Melody cruise ship is detained in a Chinese port over an unpaid $59...

Royal Caribbean becomes the first major cruise line to restrict smart glasses like Apple Vision Pro and Meta Ray-Bans in pools, spas, and changing areas, setting a new privacy standard at sea. Norwegian Cruise Line takes delivery of the Norwegian Luna, their newest Prima Plus class ship featuring 19 restaurants and a go-kart track. And StarCruises expands its Star Voyager 2026 sailing schedule fro...

Aroya Cruises cancels all remaining 2026 Arabian Gulf sailings as regional conflict forces passengers to disembark in Dubai. The Port of Vancouver forecasts a record cruise season with nearly 360 ship calls, 1.4 million passengers, and Disney homeporting for the first time. And Liverpool Cruise Port partners with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on a year-long community program balancing cruise growth wit...