Pricing, Loyalty & Platform Updates

Cruise News Roundup: Serenade of the Seas Returns and More

Serenade of the Seas has resumed scheduled Alaska sailings after a technical cancellation. The roundup also covers cruise-duck restrictions, loyalty bonuses and 2027 Norway offers.

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 9, 2026.

Today’s cruise news roundup covers Serenade of the Seas returning to service after a cancelled sailing, restrictions on cruise ducks, Celebrity Cruises’ double-points promotion, Hero of the Seas’ float-out and Hurtigruten’s 2027 Norway offer.

Serenade of the Seas Resumes Alaska Sailings

Serenade of the Seas has resumed scheduled operations after a technical problem forced Royal Caribbean to cancel its previous Alaska cruise, Royal Caribbean Blog reports. The Radiance Class ship was scheduled to leave Vancouver, British Columbia, at 4 p.m. on September 6 for a seven-night, round-trip Alaska voyage.

The sailing is the ship’s first departure since maintenance work kept it in Vancouver the previous week. Royal Caribbean initially delayed the earlier cruise by two days and planned a shortened five-night itinerary, but cancelled it after repairs could not be completed in time for a safe departure.

The current itinerary includes Sitka, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan, with a return to Vancouver scheduled for September 13. Serenade of the Seas is expected to continue Alaska sailings through September before repositioning to San Diego, California, in October.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

Three Cruise Lines Restrict Cruise-Duck Hiding

Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Marella Cruises have introduced restrictions on hiding cruise ducks, Cruise Hive reports. None of the three lines lists ducks or duck toys among its official prohibited items, but each has asked guests to follow limits on where or whether they leave them.

Disney Cruise Line asks passengers not to hide rubber ducks or similar items in public areas or staterooms. Crew members may collect and discard ducks found around the ships, while guests can continue the activity through mailbox trades on stateroom doors, fish extenders or “pixie dust” gifting.

Royal Caribbean has designated Central Park on its Oasis- and Icon-class ships as a duck-free zone because of the area’s tens of thousands of real plants and trees. Marella Cruises’ notices on Marella Voyager and Marella Discovery ask guests not to leave or hide toys, novelty items or other personal objects around the ship or destinations, warning that crew members usually dispose of items they find.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Celebrity Offers Double Captain’s Club Points

Celebrity Cruises is offering double Captain’s Club points on eligible new bookings made from September 8 through September 21, 2026, Royal Caribbean Blog reports. The offer applies to select sailings departing from October 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027.

A seven-night Veranda booking, for example, would earn 42 points instead of 21, while eligible suite bookings could earn more than 330 points on a weeklong voyage. Solo travelers will earn three times the standard points, and the promotion applies only to the first two eligible sailings departing within the promotional window.

The promotion cannot be added to existing bookings, and MoveUp bids, Transatlantic sailings and Transpacific sailings do not qualify. Promotional bonus points also cannot be transferred to Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society through the Points Choice program.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

Hero of the Seas Floats Out in Finland

Hero of the Seas was floated out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on September 4, 2026, marking the first time water touched the completed hull, Cruise Hive reports. The fourth Icon-class ship has since moved to the outfitting pier, where construction will continue.

More than 90 million gallons of water filled the dry dock overnight for the milestone, which was attended by hundreds of construction workers. A ceremonial cannon firing marked the start of the float-out, and Meyer Turku and Royal Caribbean shared photos and video from the event.

Work ahead includes installing waterslides, decking, interior venues and artwork. The ship will later undergo sea trials covering navigation, steering, propulsion and emergency responses before delivery to Royal Caribbean.

Hero of the Seas is scheduled to enter service with a three-night inaugural sailing from Miami, Florida, on August 11, 2027, visiting Perfect Day CocoCay. It is then planned to operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Hurtigruten Offers 15% Off 2027 Norway Fly Cruises

Hurtigruten is offering savings of at least 15% on select 2027 fly cruises in Norway, Cruise Industry News reports. The promotion covers selected Signature and Original Voyages booked between September 7 and November 9, 2026.

The offer applies to more than 200 departure dates and includes sailings across all seasons, from winter Northern Lights voyages to summer trips featuring the Midnight Sun. Flights can depart from London Gatwick, London Heathrow or Manchester Airport, and the package includes airport transfers and onboard Wi-Fi.

Signature Voyages include longer port stays, all-inclusive meals and unlimited selected drinks, while Original Voyages include full-board dining and visits to 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes. The offer is limited to fly cruises, can be combined with the Ambassador loyalty discount and selected third-party discounts, and is subject to availability.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

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Cruise News Roundup: Serenade Cancellation and More

Royal Caribbean cancels a Serenade of the Seas sailing after boarding, while Carnival launches its rewards program and cruise lines unveil itinerary updates.

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 2, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Royal Caribbean's cancellation of a boarded Serenade of the Seas sailing, Carnival Rewards' official launch, a Carnival Encounter itinerary change in Australia, Celestyal's new winter cruises, and RoyalUp Experiences bidding.

Royal Caribbean Cancels Boarded Serenade Sailing

Royal Caribbean canceled Serenade of the Seas' current sailing after a technical problem prevented the ship from safely leaving Vancouver, Cruise Radio reports. Passengers had already boarded and spent several days waiting for the Alaska cruise to begin after its planned August 30 departure moved to September 1.

The cruise line is allowing affected guests to remain aboard temporarily while they arrange onward travel. Everyone must leave the ship by 11:59 p.m. on September 2, when Serenade of the Seas is scheduled to depart the terminal, and Royal Caribbean is providing complimentary internet access to guests who did not purchase a Wi-Fi package.

Passengers who joined the canceled sailing will receive full refunds for cruise fare, taxes, fees, amenities and shore excursions, plus prorated refunds for beverage, dining and VOOM packages and prepaid gratuities. Royal Caribbean is also offering onboard credit equal to two days of cruise fare per guest and a Future Cruise Credit worth 100% of the fare paid for a sailing departing within one year. The line had not announced whether the technical issue would affect Serenade of the Seas' next scheduled cruise later in the week.

Source: cruiseradio.net

Carnival Rewards Launches With Status Thresholds

Carnival Rewards officially went live on September 1, with status levels and earning rules now available, Cruise Radio reports. Guests receive Red status upon enrollment, while Gold requires 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars, Platinum requires 50,000 and Diamond requires 100,000.

Members earn three Stars for each dollar spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including gratuities, and one Star for every Casino Point earned. A separate Points balance awards three Points per dollar spent, plus one Point for each Casino Point left unredeemed at the end of a sailing. Points post about 14 days after a cruise and can be used for future cruises, shore excursions, specialty dining and spa treatments.

The credit card discussed earlier as the Carnival World Mastercard is now called the Carnival Rewards Mastercard. Its published terms include a 50,000-point bonus after $1,000 in spending within 90 days, up to six times the points on Carnival purchases, two times on restaurants and groceries, one time on other spending, a six-month promotional 0% APR on cruise bookings and 2,500 points on each card anniversary. Carnival also lists milestone rewards based on days sailed, beginning with 5,000 points at 50 days and extending to rewards at 100-day intervals and a special gift at 500 days.

Source: cruiseradio.net

Carnival Encounter Drops Cairns Call Over Shallow Water

Carnival Encounter will skip Cairns on its September 5, 2026, departure from Brisbane because channel depths are too shallow for safe passage, Cruise Hive reports. The six-night Great Barrier Reef sailing will instead visit Airlie Beach on September 8 and Townsville on September 9.

The original schedule called for Willis Island on September 7, Cairns on September 8 and Airlie Beach on September 9 before the return to Brisbane on September 11. Willis Island remains unchanged, while the ship's arrival in Brisbane has been pushed back one hour to 8:00 a.m.

Guests can look for Townsville excursions through the Carnival HUB app or at the Carnival Adventures Desk after boarding. Carnival said prepaid Cairns shore excursions will be refunded automatically, but it did not indicate that it would cover changes to post-cruise travel arrangements caused by the later arrival.

Carnival did not explain why the channel depths had decreased or say when the problem would be resolved. Carnival Encounter's next similar itinerary is scheduled to call at Cairns beginning September 29, after an Airlie Beach visit on September 28, and the cruise line has not announced changes to that sailing.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Celestyal Adds Overnight Alexandria Cruises

Celestyal is adding winter Eastern Mediterranean cruises with overnight time in Alexandria, Egypt, aboard Celestyal Journey, Cruise Radio reports. Beginning in December 2027, the ship will operate four seven-night Mediterranean Mosaics cruises between Athens and Istanbul, which can also be combined into three 14-night Three Continents Explorer voyages.

The itineraries include ports in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus alongside the Alexandria overnight. Celestyal said the longer call gives guests more time for trips beyond the port, including visits to Cairo and the pyramids.

The announcement follows stronger-than-expected bookings for Celestyal's first dedicated Western Mediterranean winter program, which went on sale July 1. North American guests account for 50% of Celestyal's customers, and the company said it expects the new itineraries to have particular appeal in that market.

Celestyal also released its summer 2028 schedule, with 124 sailings on Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery. The program includes three- and four-night Greek Isles cruises, seven-night voyages covering Greece, Italy and Croatia, and 14-night combination cruises, with departures available for booking through November 2028 by the end of the week.

Source: cruiseradio.net

Royal Caribbean Expands Bidding to CocoCay Cabanas

Royal Caribbean has expanded its RoyalUp program so eligible guests can bid on premium experiences, including cabanas, beach beds, casitas and daybeds, Cruise Radio reports. RoyalUp Experiences covers onboard casitas, beach beds and cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and cabanas at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Invited guests can submit one offer for each experience type, with the bid covering the entire experience rather than an individual guest. Taxes are included, gratuities are not, and a valid payment card is required. Royal Caribbean may accept or reject an offer up to departure, with accepted bids charged and confirmed by email.

Bids can generally be changed or canceled without charge until 48 hours before the experience. After that point, changes are generally final, subject to limited cancellation or refund exceptions, while unaccepted bids are canceled automatically if the cruise booking changes or is canceled.

Prices vary by ship, sailing and date. Cruise Radio reported that an email from a guest on one Icon of the Seas sailing showed bids ranging from $200 to $500 for a CocoCay beach bed, up to $1,500 for a cabana and as much as $1,400 for a sea-day casita; those figures are not fixed rates. Royal Caribbean says the program is available fleetwide.

Source: cruiseradio.net

Cruise News Roundup: Carnival Laundry Cuts and More

Carnival’s new loyalty program limits complimentary laundry, while Norwegian Prima guests receive Legionnaires’ disease notices and storm disruptions affect Royal Caribbean.

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 August 31, 2026.

Today’s cruise news roundup covers Carnival’s reduced laundry benefits and opt-in deadline, health notifications aboard Norwegian Prima, storm-related changes for Spectrum of the Seas, Princess Cruises’ Alaska moveover offer, and Norwegian’s expanded specialty dining perk.

Carnival Limits Loyalty Laundry Benefits

Carnival’s new Rewards program will keep complimentary laundry for Platinum and Diamond guests, but Cruise Hive reports that the benefit will be capped at specific bag allowances. The program begins September 1, 2026, replacing the VIFP Club structure after August 31.

On cruises lasting three to six days, Platinum guests will receive one free bag and Diamond guests two. For seven- to 13-day sailings, the allowance rises to two bags for Platinum and three for Diamond; cruises of 14 days or longer include four bags for Platinum and five for Diamond.

The new limits reduce the previous VIFP benefit, under which Platinum guests received two, three, or five bags based on sailing length and Diamond guests received unlimited wash-and-fold laundry. Guests must opt in and accept the new program’s terms by August 31, 2026, using Carnival’s Rewards website; Carnival says privacy rules prevent automatic enrollment.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Norwegian Prima Closes Hot Tubs During Testing

Norwegian Cruise Line is notifying guests about three reported Legionnaires’ disease cases involving passengers who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima in May and July 2026, Cruise Hive reports. The cruise line is working with the CDC, but it has not been established whether the guests became ill aboard the ship or elsewhere.

Testing of onboard water fixtures, including faucets, hot tubs, and showers, has so far produced negative results for Legionella bacteria. As a precaution, all public hot tubs and private balcony heated whirlpools are closed until sampling is complete and any required remediation follows CDC guidelines.

The 3,099-guest Norwegian Prima is currently homeported from Port Canaveral for seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Cruise Hive reports no other illness-related operational changes at this time and advises people who develop possible symptoms to seek medical attention.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Typhoon Delays and Shortens Spectrum Sailing

Typhoon Saudel’s closure of the Port of Shanghai has forced Royal Caribbean to extend one Spectrum of the Seas sailing and delay the next, according to Royal Caribbean Blog. Guests booked on the August 28 sailing were told that their departure would move back by one day and that the cruise would be shortened.

The revised itinerary called for departure from Shanghai on Saturday, a visit to Jeju in Seogwipo, South Korea, Monday at sea, and an early Tuesday return to Shanghai. The change removes one day from the original itinerary, while Royal Caribbean has offered affected guests the choice of sailing under the revised schedule or canceling.

Passengers who continue will receive a prorated refund initially issued as refundable onboard credit: $100 for interior and oceanview rooms, $150 for balconies, $250 for Sea, Sky, and Star Class suites, and $50 for third and fourth guests. The same amounts will also be provided as Future Cruise Credit, with those credits expected by September 15, 2026, and bookings required by August 29, 2027.

Royal Caribbean has canceled prepaid cruise-line shore excursions for Okinawa and will return the money as refundable onboard credit. Guests will receive four nights of Crown & Anchor Society points despite the shortened three-night itinerary, while Flights by Royal reservations will be adjusted automatically; passengers using independent transportation may qualify for up to $200 per guest per day in eligible travel costs, with receipts due by September 26, 2026.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

Princess Offers Refund to Select Alaska Guests

Princess Cruises is asking select guests booked on Emerald Princess to voluntarily change plans for the ship’s September 1, 2026, Alaska departure, Cruise Hive reports. Those accepted into the offer will receive a full refund, future cruise credit equal to 100% of the base fare paid, and up to $800 per person for documented travel expenses.

The affected voyage is a seven-night roundtrip Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver, with calls at Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan and scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park. Emerald Princess is scheduled to return to Vancouver on September 8, and the sailing is listed as sold out.

The future cruise credit excludes taxes and fees, remains valid for two years, and can be used for eligible Princess cruises, vacation protection, hotels, or flights booked through the line. The offer is first come, first served, may be withdrawn at any time, and does not guarantee acceptance; Princess also told guests not to cancel travel arrangements before receiving confirmation.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Norwegian Expands Specialty Dining Benefit

Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded the specialty dining benefit in its Free at Sea package to cover all guests in the same stateroom, Cruise Hive reports. The change applies to bookings made on or after August 26, 2026, extending eligibility beyond the first two guests to guests three through eight.

Previously, additional guests in the stateroom had to pay the regular specialty restaurant price even when traveling with guests whose package included the discount. Children ages two through 12 are not charged the specialty dining package price before the cruise, but the fee applies if they select a regular menu item; guests age 13 and older are charged the package fee.

Under the package, guests receive one specialty dining meal on two- to four-night cruises, two meals on five- to six-night sailings, three on seven- to eight-night cruises, and four on voyages of nine nights or longer. Each package meal carries a $20 cover charge including gratuities, while the source says an onboard purchase for the one-meal option would be $72; additional meals remain subject to the prevailing rate.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Cruise News Roundup: Mexico Passenger Fees, Asia-Pacific Deployments, Alaska 2028 and More

Mexico has doubled its cruise passenger fee, while Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises outline major future deployments. The roundup also covers eclipse cruises and Seabourn’s 2028-29 Caribbean season.

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 August 13, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Mexico's higher passenger fee, Royal Caribbean's 2027-28 Asia-Pacific reshuffle, Princess Cruises' 2028 Alaska season, eclipse-positioned ships in Iceland and Greenland, and Seabourn's 2028-29 Caribbean voyages.

Mexico Doubles Cruise Passenger Fee

Mexico's cruise passenger fee doubled to $10 per person on Aug. 1, 2026, and Cruise Hive reports that it is scheduled to rise again. The charge applies at cruise ports throughout the country, including Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and Costa Maya.

The fee is collected once per itinerary, even when a sailing calls at several Mexican ports. It will increase to $15 per guest on July 1, 2027, before reaching $21 on Aug. 1, 2028; that rate is scheduled to remain in place through at least Sept. 30, 2030.

Mexico recorded 4.8 million cruise visitors from January through April 2026, a 14.8% year-over-year increase, according to Cruise Hive. Cruise lines are adding the charge to the cruise fare rather than moving away from Mexican ports, the report says.

Mexico initially proposed a $42 passenger tax before reducing it after pushback from the cruise industry. Other destinations cited in the report with cruise-related tourism charges include Greece, where seasonal fees apply at Santorini, Mykonos and other ports, and Amsterdam, where the 2026 charge is €15 per person per day.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Royal Caribbean Expands Asia-Pacific Deployment

Royal Caribbean is reshuffling ships for its 2027-28 season, with three vessels scheduled to sail from Australia and expanded operations planned for Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, according to Royal Caribbean Blog. Ovation of the Seas will be based in Brisbane, while Anthem of the Seas will sail from Sydney.

Ovation will offer three- to eight-night cruises beginning in Brisbane in November 2027, including two four-night voyages to Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays. The ship's recently added features include a revamped pool deck, Splashaway Bay, private casitas and restaurants such as Izumi Teppanyaki and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.

Voyager of the Seas will move through five homeports during the deployment: Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. It is scheduled to offer seven Brisbane sailings from October through December 2027, followed by five cruises from Sydney and later voyages timed around Chinese New Year and Japan's cherry blossom season.

Voyager's Asia-Pacific program includes Hong Kong round trips, calls at Ishigaki and Okinawa, and itineraries visiting Taipei and Hue/Danang. In February 2028, four 10- to 12-night cruises from Tokyo will visit destinations around Japan.

Navigator of the Seas will also remain in Singapore longer than previously planned. After debuting in Asia in October 2026, it is now scheduled to stay through October 2027, offering mainly two- to five-night cruises to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, along with a 12-night sailing from Tokyo to Singapore.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

Princess Opens 2028 Alaska Season

Princess Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028 Alaska season, with eight ships offering 185 departures from late April through late September, Cruise Hive reports. The program includes 14 itineraries ranging from four to 16 days, with departures from Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The fleet will include Star Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Royal Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess. The ships will visit 16 destinations, including Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, along with the Canadian ports of Prince Rupert and Victoria on selected sailings.

Itineraries include round-trip and one-way cruises, as well as options to combine voyages into 14-day trips. Emerald Princess is scheduled to offer a 16-day Inside Passage round trip from Los Angeles, while Ruby Princess will operate 10-day round trips from San Francisco.

Planned scenic cruising includes Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord and Endicott Arm, although itineraries may change because of weather and safety conditions. Princess will also offer land-based cruisetour extensions featuring places such as Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, with stays at Princess-owned wilderness lodges.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Cruise Ships Line Up for Iceland-Greenland Eclipse

Multiple cruise ships have positioned across Icelandic and Greenlandic waters for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 13, Seatrade Cruise News reports. The eclipse is scheduled to begin in Reykjavik at 4:47 p.m. local time, with totality at 5:48 p.m. lasting just over one minute.

In Iceland's Westfjords near Isafjörður, totality is expected at 5:44 p.m. and will last one minute and 31 seconds. Some locations in Greenland will reach totality earlier, around 5:18 p.m.

Virgin Voyages has positioned Valiant Lady and Scarlet Lady for eclipse viewing. Valiant Lady is on a 15-night round trip from Portsmouth, while Scarlet Lady is sailing from Barcelona to Rome; the ships are offering approximately two minutes of totality from open ocean, along with programming involving astronauts, astrophysicists and scientists.

Ponant has positioned Le Lyrial near Isafjörður and Le Lapérouse west of Heimaey Island, while Queen Mary 2 is positioned in Reykjavik during a Southampton-to-New York crossing. Expedition operators including HX Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions and Quark Expeditions have also placed ships along the viewing path, with Scoresby Sund in Greenland hosting the largest concentration cited in the report.

Prices vary across the eclipse cruise market. Virgin Voyages' voyages start at £2,016 per person, while expedition sailings cited by Seatrade Cruise News range from $8,550 to more than $28,000 per passenger.

Source: www.seatrade-cruise.com

Seabourn Opens 2028-29 Caribbean Voyages

Seabourn has opened bookings for its winter 2028-29 Caribbean season aboard Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Quest, Cruise Industry News reports. The voyages run from Dec. 28, 2028, through March 29, 2029, with 10 itineraries lasting seven to 12 days.

The ships will visit 21 ports across 20 countries and island territories, including St. Barts, Bequia and Little Bay in Montserrat. The schedule includes late departures in St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, Aruba and Curaçao, while Ovation will sail between Bridgetown and Philipsburg and Quest will offer round trips from Miami.

Selected holiday voyages include New Year's Day celebrations at Carambola Beach, along with Christmas Eve at Carambola Beach and Christmas Day in Jost Van Dyke on certain 10-day sailings. Seabourn also plans its Caviar in the Surf experience at Carambola Beach in St. Kitts, and guests aboard Quest will see what the company describes as one of its most extensive interior updates.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Cruise News Roundup: Typhoon Disrupts Spectrum of the Seas, Naples Call Canceled and More

Royal Caribbean passengers face itinerary changes linked to a typhoon and Naples pier issues. The roundup also covers Captain Kate McCue’s resignation, MSC’s new private destination and Carnival’s eclipse-cruise loyalty changes.

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 August 6, 2026.

Today’s cruise news roundup covers Royal Caribbean’s typhoon-related disruption aboard Spectrum of the Seas, a second consecutive Naples omission for Legend of the Seas, Captain Kate McCue’s resignation, MSC Cruises’ new Catalina Sugar Beach destination and Carnival’s changes to Platinum benefits on its solar eclipse sailing.

Typhoon Extends Spectrum of the Seas Sailing

Typhoon Dolphin and the closure of Shanghai’s Baoshan port have delayed Spectrum of the Seas’ return to Shanghai, Royal Caribbean Blog reports. The ship was due back on August 8, 2026, but the affected sailing has been extended and the next departure is now scheduled for August 11.

The revised five-night itinerary will replace calls at Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya with visits to Jeju, South Korea, and Nagasaki, Japan. Guests who sail on August 11 will receive onboard credit ranging from $400 for inside staterooms to $1,100 for deluxe staterooms, while third- and fourth-berth guests will receive $150 each.

Royal Caribbean will reimburse up to $200 per guest for eligible non-refundable transportation change fees, provided documentation is submitted by September 16, 2026. Guests who do not want to take the revised sailing can instead receive a 100% future cruise credit valid for Royal Caribbean sailings through August 11, 2027, but prepaid excursions in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo have been canceled and will be refunded within 14 business days.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

Legend of the Seas Skips Naples Again

Legend of the Seas has canceled its Naples call for the second consecutive week because conditions at the Italian port’s pier prevented the ship from receiving clearance to dock, according to Royal Caribbean Blog. The ship had been scheduled to visit Naples on August 7, but will instead call at Marseille, France, on August 8 from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Royal Caribbean told guests that a recent assessment by the Italian Port Authority found the pier unsuitable for the visit and said safety was the priority. Guests with prepaid shore excursions for Naples will receive automatic refunds, while the ship’s scheduled August 6 call at Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, was reported to remain unchanged.

The cause of the infrastructure issue and the date when authorities may clear the pier for larger ships have not been announced. More than five other ships, including MSC World Europa, Enchanted Princess, Costa Toscana and Viking Sea, visited Naples during the week, while passengers expressed disappointment about losing the destination during Legend of the Seas’ inaugural European season.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

Captain Kate McCue Resigns From Four Seasons Yachts

Captain Kate McCue is leaving Four Seasons Yachts to spend more time with her family, Cruise Hive reports. She announced the resignation through social media on August 5, 2026, after changes in her family circumstances, including her father’s recovery from major back surgery and the unexpected death of her mother in June.

McCue said she had spent much of the previous year away from home while working and now plans to experience cruising as a guest with her father. His bucket list includes trying different types of cruise vessels, although McCue has not announced specific ships, cruise lines or destinations.

She is keeping her captain’s license active and has not ruled out returning to sailing. McCue has spent 30 years at sea, including 11 years as a captain, and during her career delivered two new ships and worked on a prototype vessel.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

MSC Names New Catalina Sugar Beach Destination

MSC Cruises has named its new private destination near La Romana, Dominican Republic, Catalina Sugar Beach, Cruise Hive reports. The site on Catalina Island is scheduled to welcome its first guests in November 2026 through calls by MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys.

The destination is being developed with CTL Maritime and Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. Planned features include an open-air buffet pavilion serving international and local dishes, two bars, water-sports equipment, daybeds, cabanas and a path with overlooks and interpretive signs through the natural landscape.

MSC Opera will be homeported from La Romana beginning in November and is scheduled to visit Catalina Sugar Beach on every seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. Its first call is set for November 17, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Explora III is scheduled to make the first Explora Journeys visit on November 19, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Removes Platinum Benefits From Eclipse Sailing

Carnival Cruise Line has removed several Platinum VIFP benefits from Carnival Legend’s August 9, 2026, departure from Dover, UK, Cruise Hive reports. The 11-night roundtrip sailing is the line’s first solar eclipse cruise and will be at sea for the total eclipse on August 12.

Platinum guests will not receive priority embarkation or debarkation, priority handling at ports, early stateroom access, early luggage dropoff or priority luggage delivery on this voyage. Priority service at the Deck 2 Guest Services desk and priority phone assistance may be offered only when demand allows, according to the notice sent to booked guests.

The Western Europe itinerary includes France, Guernsey, Spain, Portugal and Belgium before Carnival Legend returns to the UK on August 20. The ship can accommodate 2,124 guests at double occupancy, but Carnival does not publish the number of guests in each loyalty tier; the VIFP program is scheduled to be retired at the end of August.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Cruise News Roundup: Princess Payment Changes, Wonder of the Seas Incident, Europe 2028 and More

Princess Cruises is moving final payments earlier and raising deposits, while Wonder of the Seas lost a gangway at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Holland America Line expanded its 2028 Europe program, and Carnival Pride is testing robotic hull cleaning.

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 August 5, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Princess Cruises' revised payment and deposit rules, a gangway incident involving Wonder of the Seas, an arrest at Naples, Holland America Line's 2028 European deployment and Carnival Pride's robotic hull-cleaning pilot.

Princess Moves Final Payments to 120 Days

Princess Cruises will require final payment 120 days before sailing for all cruises, replacing the previous 90-day deadline for shorter voyages. Cruise Hive reports that the change applies to new bookings made from September 2, 2026, for sailings departing January 1, 2027, or later.

Deposits are also increasing for the first and second guests in each stateroom. For inside, oceanview, balcony and mini-suite cabins, the new amounts are $125 for voyages of five days or fewer, $300 for six to nine days, and $500 for 10 to 44 days; suite deposits will be $250, $600 and $1,000 across those same sailing lengths.

The deposit for voyages of 45 days or longer, including World Cruises, remains 30% of the fare for all stateroom types. Princess has also revised its cancellation fee schedule to align with the earlier payment deadlines, while its overall cruise fares are not changing. The cruise line told travel agents that bookings are automatically canceled when final payment is not received by the due date, with email reminders sent 14 and seven days beforehand.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Wonder of the Seas Loses Gangway at CocoCay

A gangway fell into the water as Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas departed Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday, August 1, 2026. According to Cruise Hive, no guests were on the equipment, and there were no reports of injuries or damage to the ship.

Video recorded from Allure of the Seas shows the 235,600-gross-ton vessel moving away from the pier while a forklift appeared to help bring the gangway aboard. The equipment tipped, hung briefly and then dropped into the sea alongside the ship.

Wonder of the Seas was on a three-night sailing from Miami and continued to Nassau on Sunday, August 2, before returning to Miami on Monday, August 3. Cruise Hive reported no departure delay or itinerary disruption, and Royal Caribbean had not issued a statement about the incident. The reason the ship appeared to move before all gangways were secured was not known.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Alleged Drug Ring Leader Arrested at Naples Cruise Port

Italian authorities arrested an alleged drug trafficking ring leader while he was attempting to board a cruise ship at the Port of Naples. Cruise Hive reports that Vito “Viktor” Rizzo, a 34-year-old man from Taranto, was detained under a precautionary order linked to a wider investigation.

The arrest followed a May 19 search of Rizzo's apartment, where officers allegedly found illegal substances, more than €700 believed to be drug-sale proceeds and a list of work shifts and accounts for people involved in dealing. Rizzo was not present during that search, but authorities believe he led drug activity in Taranto's Salinella neighborhood.

The ship involved and the date of the arrest were not identified. Cruise Hive noted that MSC Meraviglia and Odyssey of the Seas were in Naples on August 1, while Enchanted Princess and MSC World Europa visited on August 3; none of those ships is homeported in Naples. Cruise lines generally cooperate with local authorities, and identification checks can take place at homeports and ports of call depending on local requirements.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Holland America Opens 2028 Europe Season

Holland America Line has opened bookings for a year-round 2028 European program featuring five ships and destinations across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. In a report from Cruise Hive, the line says Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zuiderdam will operate the season from January through December.

The deployment represents the line's highest number of European ports in nearly a decade, with record visits planned for Norway, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands. Voyages will range from seven to 48 days and include overnight stays, extended port calls and late-night departures on selected itineraries. Early-booking offers include additional benefits for the Have It All package and an Early Booking Bonus.

From January through March, Nieuw Statendam will sail seven- to 14-day itineraries to the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Lisbon and Casablanca. Between March and May, Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Zuiderdam will join the ship on routes through the Mediterranean, Low Countries and Northern Europe, with calls including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bruges, Barcelona, Athens and Naples.

Volendam joins the European program from June through August for sailings to Norway, Iceland, the British Isles, the Baltic, Greece, Croatia and Turkey ranging from seven to 35 days. In autumn, four ships will operate seven- to 48-day itineraries in Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Ireland and the Netherlands, followed by seven- to 14-day Mediterranean, Canary Islands and transatlantic voyages from November into early December.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Pride Tests Robotic Hull Cleaner

Carnival Pride is the first ship in Carnival Cruise Line's fleet to pilot Jotun's Hull Skating Solutions, including the remotely operated HullSkater vehicle. Carnival News says the system is being used to inspect and proactively clean the ship's hull below the waterline.

The robot uses cameras and sensors to move along the hull, assess its condition and perform routine cleaning when needed. The approach allows more frequent monitoring and maintenance than traditional cleaning methods, helping remove marine growth before it builds up.

Carnival says marine growth can raise propulsion power demand by 25% to 30%, while propulsion accounts for approximately 60% of a cruise ship's total energy consumption. The team is collecting operational data aboard Carnival Pride to assess whether the technology can improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and support lower associated emissions.

Source: www.carnival-news.com

Cruise News Roundup: Grandeur Itinerary Change, Celebrity Gratuity Increase, Explora III and More

Royal Caribbean has replaced a port on a 2027 Grandeur of the Seas sailing, while Celebrity raises gratuities and Explora III begins its inaugural season. The roundup also covers Greek cruise taxes and a new Port Tampa Bay terminal.

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 August 4, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers a Royal Caribbean itinerary change for the Grandeur of the Seas, Celebrity Cruises' new gratuity rates, Explora III's maiden voyage, AIDA Cruises' Greek tourist tax policy and early work on Port Tampa Bay's next cruise terminal.

Grandeur of the Seas Replaces Bonaire With Santa Marta

Royal Caribbean is changing the itinerary for the Grandeur of the Seas sailing scheduled to depart on January 23, 2027, Cruise Industry News reports. The ship will no longer call at Kralendijk, Bonaire, and is instead scheduled for a seven-hour visit to Santa Marta, Colombia.

The sailing is part of the ship's 2026-27 Southern Caribbean season and is planned as a seven-night cruise from Colombia and Panama. Its other listed ports are Cartagena de Indias, Colón, Willemstad in Curaçao and Oranjestad in Aruba.

Royal Caribbean said shore excursions purchased through the company for Bonaire will be canceled automatically and refunded to the original forms of payment. Excursions for the replacement destinations are available through the company's booking channels.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Celebrity Raises Daily Gratuities

Celebrity Cruises has increased its discretionary onboard gratuities, with the new rates taking effect July 29, 2026, according to Cruise Industry News. Guests in inside, oceanview and balcony cabins now pay $19.50 per person per day, while Concierge Class and AquaClass rates are $20.50.

The daily charge for guests in The Retreat suites is now $24.50 per person. The increase is $1.50 per guest per day across all stateroom categories.

Passengers can prepay the gratuities at the former rates before sailing, Celebrity said. Otherwise, the new amount will be added daily to onboard accounts beginning July 29.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Explora III Begins Maiden Voyage

Explora III has departed Barcelona on its maiden voyage, beginning Explora Journeys' inaugural season on August 3, 2026, in a report from Cruise Industry News. Delivered by Fincantieri in late July, the 922-passenger ship is operating a seven-night itinerary through Portugal, Morocco and Spain.

The voyage includes calls at Portimão, Puerto Banús, Palma de Mallorca, Cádiz and Tangier, along with a full day at sea in the Western Mediterranean. It is scheduled to end in Lisbon.

A second seven-night cruise will take the ship to Southampton, with visits to Porto, La Coruña, Bilbao, Bordeaux and St. Jean de Luz. The two voyages can also be combined into a 14-night sailing from Barcelona to Southampton.

Explora III's inaugural season will also include Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America. Caribbean cruises from San Juan and Miami are scheduled to begin in December 2026.

The ship was christened at Barcelona on August 1, with marine educator and National Geographic Educator Cristina Ozores serving as godmother. The ceremony marked the debut of Explora Journeys' first LNG-powered vessel; a five-night pre-inaugural cruise had departed Genoa on July 24 and visited Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Livorno and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

AIDA to Add Greek Tourist Taxes to 2027 Cruises

AIDA Cruises will collect Greece's tourist tax directly from passengers on eligible 2027 cruises, Cruise Industry News reports. The mandatory charge will be added automatically to onboard accounts, with the amount determined by the port and travel period.

The fees apply to adults and children, although passengers who remain onboard during a Greek port visit will be exempt. Reservations made from August 1, 2026, are subject to the policy, while bookings made before that date remain exempt under AIDA's booking terms.

For Mykonos and Santorini, the charge is €4 per person per port from November 1 through March 31, €12 from April 1 through May 31 and in October, and up to €20 from June 1 through September 30. Other Greek ports carry charges of €1 in the winter period, €3 during the shoulder seasons and €5 during the summer months.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Port Tampa Bay Begins Work on New Cruise Terminal Site

Port Tampa Bay has begun restoring more than five acres of land for a new cruise terminal, Cruise Industry News says. The work is the first visible stage of the port's first new cruise terminal in more than 25 years, with completion planned for 2029.

Kimmins Contracting Corporation is leading the site preparation, including filling the former Metroport area and moving stormwater infrastructure. This phase is expected to continue through late 2026, followed by a settlement period before terminal construction proceeds.

The facility is expected to become Port Tampa Bay's fourth cruise terminal and handle more than 200 additional ship calls each year. The port projects that its cruise operations could reach more than 2 million passengers annually and produce an estimated $100 million in additional yearly economic impact; HDR and BEA Architects are designing the terminal and parking garage.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com