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 7, 2026.
Today's cruise news roundup covers typhoon-related changes to two Royal Caribbean sailings, a false overboard alert on MSC Grandiosa, Carnival Cruise Line's first female Staff Captain, Disney Cruise Line's 2029 fleet plans, and Port Canaveral's Cruise Terminal 10 overhaul.
Typhoon Delays Two Spectrum of the Seas Sailings
Typhoon Dolphin and the closure of Shanghai's port have forced changes to two Royal Caribbean sailings aboard Spectrum of the Seas, Cruise Hive reports. The ship will not return to Shanghai on August 8 as planned after completing its current five-night voyage from the city.
Spectrum of the Seas departed Shanghai on August 3 with calls scheduled at Busan and Yeosu in South Korea. After leaving Yeosu, the ship remained at sea and diverted from its planned return to avoid the storm, which is expected to make landfall south of Shanghai on August 9.
The next sailing will now begin on August 11 rather than August 8 and has been reduced from eight nights to five. The revised cruise will call at Jeju on Thursday and Nagasaki on Friday, with both visits scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., before returning to Shanghai on August 16 at an expected 6:30 a.m.; the original calls at Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo have been removed.
Royal Caribbean is offering refundable onboard credit based on stateroom type: $400 for inside rooms, $550 for outside rooms, $600 for balconies and $1,100 for deluxe rooms. The line is also providing a future cruise credit for the same amount per stateroom, with bookings required by August 16, 2027, and is prorating refunds for gratuities and prepaid drink, dining and internet packages.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
MSC Grandiosa Clears False Overboard Alert
A man-overboard alert aboard MSC Grandiosa was determined to be false after an emergency search and full headcount, Cruise Hive reports. The alert was issued shortly before 11 p.m. on August 6 while the ship was about 110 miles east of Palma de Mallorca on a return voyage.
The crew asked guests to remain in or return to their staterooms while stewards conducted the count, and crew members scanned their identification cards. Authorities were notified and a rescue helicopter was sent to assist as the ship slowed and briefly doubled back along its route.
After about two hours, the captain confirmed that every guest and crew member was accounted for. MSC Grandiosa resumed sailing toward Palma at 19 knots, with an estimated arrival at 6 a.m. on August 7 and no expected effect on debarkation or the next sailing.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Carnival Names First Female Staff Captain
Carnival Cruise Line appointed Daniela Gargiulo as the global fleet's first female Staff Captain during a ceremony in Sydney on August 5. Carnival Adventure Captain Francesco Bencivenga welcomed her as his second-in-command while the ship returned from the South Pacific.
Gargiulo joined Carnival Adventure last year and began with Carnival Cruise Line as a Deck Cadet in 2013. She entered nautical school in Italy at age 14 and advanced through the ranks during 13 years with the company.
As Staff Captain, Gargiulo will oversee marine operations, safety and crew leadership among other responsibilities. Carnival Adventure operates year-round from Sydney and carries more than 2,600 guests and 1,100 crew members.
Source: www.carnival-news.com
Disney Plans Three New Ship Debuts in 2029
Disney Cruise Line now expects three new ships to debut in 2029, Cruise Hive reports, marking the first calendar year in which the cruise line will introduce more than one vessel. The plans include a Japan-based Wish-class ship and two vessels from a smaller, not-yet-named class.
The updated schedule brings forward the delivery dates for three ships that had originally been expected in 2029, 2030 and 2031. Two are now planned for 2029, including one late in the year, while the third is expected in late 2030.
Disney Believe remains scheduled to debut in late 2027 and is under construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Disney Cruise Line has not announced bookings or itineraries for the fourth Wish-class ship, but more information is expected in October 2026; the fifth Wish-class vessel will be operated by Oriental Land Company and sail from Japan beginning in 2029.
The three ships in the undisclosed smaller class are estimated to accommodate roughly 3,000 guests at maximum occupancy. That would place them below the Wish-class ships and slightly above Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, which can each carry 2,700 guests.
Source: www.cruisehive.com
Port Canaveral Begins $95 Million Terminal 10 Upgrade
Port Canaveral has begun a $95 million expansion and renovation of Cruise Terminal 10, Seatrade Cruise News reports. The project is designed to support ships carrying up to 5,700 passengers and is scheduled for completion in November 2027.
The terminal serves MSC Cruises and Disney Cruise Line and will grow to more than 145,000 square feet, nearly 30% larger than its current footprint. Planned improvements include expanded security and luggage areas, new elevators and escalators, updated signage and HVAC systems, and additional lighting and artwork.
Miami-based Bermello Ajamil & Partners designed the reworked facility, while Orlando-based PCL Construction Services is handling construction. The project will also add a glass façade and modernized interiors.
Source: www.seatrade-cruise.com
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