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 15, 2026.
Today’s cruise news roundup covers Royal Princess skipping two Alaska ports because of engine problems, Norwegian Jade moving after a fire at an Alaska cruise dock, MSC World Asia completing final sea trials, Celebrity’s first river ship entering fitting-out, and HX Expeditions’ 2028/29 season launch.
Royal Princess Skips Two Alaska Ports
Royal Princess has cancelled calls at Juneau and Ketchikan during its seven-night Alaska cruise that departed Seattle on September 12, 2026, Cruise Hive reports. Princess Cruises said an engine issue has reduced the ship’s operating speed, while the technical problem does not affect the safety of guests or crew.
The ship was scheduled to spend September 14 at sea instead of visiting Juneau and to call at Skagway from 6 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. on September 15. It is then expected to proceed to Victoria, arriving at 9 p.m. on September 18 and departing at midnight. Skagway and Victoria are the only remaining ports listed after the two cancellations, while Princess has not confirmed whether the planned Glacier Bay scenic cruising will proceed.
Guests will receive a refund equal to 50% of their cruise fare, returned to the original form of payment, with processing expected to take 10 to 15 business days. Shore excursions booked through Princess for Juneau or Ketchikan will be cancelled automatically and credited to onboard accounts.
Royal Princess is expected to return to Seattle on September 19, and the material says there is currently no impact to the ship’s following 14-night sailing to Tokyo. Princess has not provided further technical details or confirmed whether the engine issue will be resolved before the current cruise ends.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Norwegian Jade Moves After Whittier Dock Fire
Norwegian Jade moved away from the Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal in Whittier, Alaska, after a fire broke out on a local tour boat at about 11 a.m. on September 14, 2026, Cruise Hive reports. No damage to the 2,402-guest cruise ship or injuries were reported.
The fire involved Klondike Express, a Phillips Cruises & Tours vessel that was moored at the dock without passengers aboard. The boat was released from the pier, the blaze was extinguished, and officials confirmed that the vessel sustained some fire damage. Fire and rescue units from Girdwood, Whittier and Anchorage, along with LifeMed Alaska, responded.
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel closed for several hours to help emergency responders reach Whittier and reopened near 2 p.m. The cause of the fire had not been announced, and the material does not establish how the incident will affect cruise operations at the terminal in the following days.
Norwegian Jade was scheduled to begin a seven-night southbound Alaska cruise from Whittier on September 14, with calls at Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan before arriving in Vancouver on September 21. Norwegian Cruise Line said access to the area remained restricted while emergency personnel responded and that embarkation would proceed from the alternate Whittier Alaska Cruise Ship Terminal 1.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
MSC World Asia Completes Final Sea Trials
MSC World Asia has completed its final sea trials in the Atlantic ahead of its scheduled delivery on November 25, 2026, Cruise Hive reports. The 216,638-gross-ton, LNG-powered ship underwent tests of propulsion, maneuvering, safety capabilities, performance and efficiency after departing the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire.
MSC Cruises plans to officially name the third World Class ship in Le Havre three days after delivery. The ship’s first passengers are due to board in Barcelona on December 4 for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise calling at Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina and Valletta before returning to Barcelona on December 11.
MSC World Asia will accommodate up to 6,764 guests in 2,614 cabins and will be divided into seven onboard districts. Among its features is The Spiral @ Tree of Life, a 266-foot dry slide spanning 12 decks, while the ship’s design, dining and onboard spaces draw on Asian art and culture.
The ship is scheduled to offer seven-night Mediterranean itineraries through mid-November 2027 before repositioning to the Caribbean. It will become the 24th ship in the MSC fleet, following MSC World Europa and MSC World America, while MSC World Atlantic is under construction for a planned 2027 debut.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Celebrity Floats First River Cruise Ship
Celebrity Cruises’ first river ship has been floated out and moved to a fitting-out yard in the Netherlands, The Maritime Executive reports. The vessel, which will be named Celebrity Compass, is scheduled to launch the brand’s European river operation in August 2027.
Construction of the first hull began at Zwijnenburg’s Rotterdam shipyard in January 2026, and the float-out started on September 9. The hull then traveled about 50 miles to TeamCo’s yard in Heusden, where the interiors will be completed. Zwijnenburg said the second hull is expected to follow within 12 weeks.
Each ship will measure about 135 meters and accommodate up to 170 passengers in 86 staterooms. The accommodations will include 12 suites, 27 balcony staterooms, 31 rooms with lowering-window “infinite balconies,” and 16 river-view staterooms. Celebrity says the lightweight hull design is intended to support smoother sailing in low-water conditions and fewer itinerary interruptions.
Celebrity Compass is due to sail the Danube between Budapest and Vilshofen beginning in August 2027. Celebrity Seeker is scheduled to join the fleet in October, with the program expanding to the Rhine in December. The brand has committed to a 20-ship river fleet by 2031, including an initial commitment for 10 ships and 10 additional vessels announced in January 2026.
Source: maritime-executive.com
HX Launches 2028/29 Expedition Season
HX Expeditions has opened its 2028/29 season with 57 voyages, including 26 new itineraries, Seatrade Cruise News reports. The program covers 1,288 ports in 14 destinations.
The season includes new routes in Greenland and Alaska, along with voyages featuring Antarctica and South Georgia, Scandinavia, Svalbard and the Northwest Passage. HX is also promoting shorter eight-day expeditions for travelers with less time available.
Among the new options is an eight-day round trip from Nuuk exploring West Greenland’s Disko Bay and meeting communities along the coast. Two eight-day Alaska Inside Passage sailings will operate between Vancouver and Sitka in opposite directions, and the voyages can be combined into a 15-day Vancouver-to-Vancouver expedition without repeating a port.
Source: www.seatrade-cruise.com
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