Welcome to The Deck Briefing — your quick daily read for everyone who loves ships, sea days, and stories from the decks. Here’s what’s making waves on September 10, 2026.
Today's cruise news roundup covers AIDAperla's Le Havre incident and missed Zeebrugge call, Norwegian Joy's Alaska itinerary changes, Norwegian Sun's maintenance-related schedule adjustment, Disney Wish's Port Canaveral terminal change, and Margaritaville at Sea's 2027 Galveston deployment for Beachcomber.
AIDAperla Hits Quay and Misses Zeebrugge
Strong winds caused AIDAperla to break free from her berth at the Port of Le Havre on September 8, 2026, and make contact with the quay, Cruise Hive reports. The ship's forward mooring lines parted at about 4 p.m., and the vessel's stern struck the quay wall as it drifted backward. No injuries were reported.
The 3,286-passenger ship was helped back to her berth by tugboats while technicians and authorities began inspections. Both gangways were torn away during the incident, and about 500 guests who were ashore on excursions were temporarily unable to reboard. The port was briefly closed while crews secured the ship and cleared the harbor.
AIDAperla was scheduled to leave Le Havre on September 8 and call at Zeebrugge on September 9, but the Zeebrugge visit was canceled. AIDA Cruises confirmed that the vessel is undergoing a thorough inspection, while German media reports said it also requires clearance from the responsible classification society before departure. The next scheduled call, in Rotterdam on September 10, and the ship's return to Hamburg on September 12 remained unchanged in the available information.
The ship was operating a seven-night sailing that departed Hamburg on September 5 after calling at Southampton on September 7. TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 3 was also held by tugboats in Le Havre and departed two hours late because of the port conditions.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Norwegian Joy Drops Skagway and Sitka
Norwegian Cruise Line has changed the May 19, 2028, Alaska itinerary for Norwegian Joy, according to Cruise Hive. The 10-day roundtrip sailing will no longer visit Skagway or Sitka and will instead call at Whittier. The ship will continue to depart from and return to Seattle as planned.
The revised schedule keeps Juneau as the first port call on May 21, but changes the following five days. Icy Strait Point moves to May 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; scenic cruising near Hubbard Glacier is set for May 23; and Whittier is scheduled for May 24 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 25 becomes a sea day, while Ketchikan remains on May 26 but now runs from noon to 8 p.m. instead of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The sailing will still include a sea day on May 27 and a visit to Victoria, British Columbia, on May 28 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Norwegian Joy is scheduled to return to Seattle at 6 a.m. on May 29. Norwegian Cruise Line told guests that berth availability prompted the changes.
The revised itinerary was sent to booked guests by email, and the changes are automatic. Cruise Hive reports that guests may need to review plans for port days, including excursions connected with ports that were removed or had their times changed.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Norwegian Sun Adds Copenhagen Overnights for Maintenance
Norwegian Sun will spend three days docked in Copenhagen during its September 23, 2026, departure, Cruise Industry News reports. Norwegian Cruise Line is changing the nine-night sailing to allow for technical maintenance on the 2001-built ship.
The adjustment removes the planned visit to Oslo and one day at sea, replacing them with two overnight stays in Copenhagen. Norwegian said the maintenance does not affect the safety of the ship, guests or crew, and passengers must still arrive at the terminal during their assigned check-in windows even while the ship remains overnight.
As a gesture of appreciation, Norwegian is providing a $100 non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom, divided as $50 for the first guest and $50 for the second guest. After Copenhagen, Norwegian Sun will continue the itinerary with calls in Warnemunde, Gdynia, Klaipeda, Riga, Nynashamn and Tallinn before ending in Helsinki.
Source: cruiseindustrynews.com
Disney Wish Changes Port Canaveral Terminals
Disney Wish will use different terminals for its three-night sailing from Port Canaveral on September 11, 2026, Cruise Hive reports. The ship will depart from Cruise Terminal 10 on Friday and return to Cruise Terminal 8 for debarkation on Monday, September 14.
The two terminals are next to each other on the port's west end but do not share parking facilities. Guests who park are instructed to drop luggage at Terminal 10, move their vehicle to Terminal 8, and use the provided shuttle to return to Terminal 10 for check-in. Guests using rideshares, taxis or private drop-offs are advised to go to the correct terminal for the relevant day.
Disney Cruise Line motorcoach passengers will be transported between the appropriate terminals. Cruise Hive advised guests parking at the port to allow extra time when arriving for their boarding appointments.
The reason for the switch has not been released. Cruise Hive notes that Port Canaveral is undertaking a $95 million expansion and renovation of the terminal, a project expected to be completed by November 2027.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Margaritaville Brings Beachcomber to Galveston
Margaritaville at Sea will base its newest ship, Beachcomber, in Galveston beginning in October 2027, Cruise Hive reports. The 2,716-guest ship will offer four- to seven-night sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas, including the line's first call at Veracruz, Mexico.
Beachcomber's first Galveston departure is a four-night Cozumel Express sailing on October 4, 2027. The only Galveston sailing currently scheduled to visit Veracruz departs January 14, 2028, and also calls at Cozumel and Progreso. Other announced destinations include Aruba, Key West, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Belize.
The ship is planned to debut with Margaritaville at Sea from Miami in January 2027 before moving to Galveston. Renovations and rebranding are planned ahead of its Margaritaville at Sea debut.
Beachcomber will feature 15 new onboard experiences, including a four-deck 5 o'Clock Somewhere space at the aft pool area. The ship is also set to have 17 dining venues, 12 bars and lounges, more than 20 entertainment options, and Same Boat, a live music venue created with Zac Brown.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
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