Tag: Carnival Cruise Line

Updates and reports on Carnival Cruise Line ships, routes, and onboard experiences.

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

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

Cruise News Roundup: Carnival Breeze Damage and More

Carnival Breeze leaves Cozumel after scraping a pier, Terra Nova Expeditions secures a replacement Antarctic vessel, and Disney Wish plans a 2027 Prince Edward Island call.

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 1, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Carnival Breeze's pier contact in Cozumel, Terra Nova Expeditions' vessel change for upcoming Antarctic seasons, and Disney Wish's 2027 call at Prince Edward Island.

Carnival Breeze Scrapes Pier in Cozumel

Carnival Breeze scraped the corner of a pier while docking in Cozumel on the morning of August 31, Cruise Hive reports. Photos and video posted online show paint scraped from the ship's starboard hull above the waterline, while no injuries have been reported.

The 3,690-guest ship was docking at an adjacent berth to Carnival Jubilee, and the two vessels did not make contact. The cause of the pier contact has not been confirmed, and Carnival Cruise Line had not responded to Cruise Hive by publication.

Carnival Breeze arrived at about 9 a.m. and was scheduled to remain in Cozumel until 5 p.m. AIS tracking showed the ship departed on schedule and continued its five-night Western Caribbean sailing from Galveston, which began August 29.

The itinerary called for a September 1 visit to Progreso from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by another sea day and a return to Texas on September 3. No pier damage has been reported or confirmed, and it is not known whether the incident will affect other Cozumel schedules.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Terra Nova Secures Vessel for Antarctic Seasons

Terra Nova Expeditions will use Terra Nova Adventurer for its 2026/27 and 2027/28 Antarctic seasons, according to Seatrade Cruise News. The vessel will replace the chartered St Helena, which cannot safely and promptly reposition from the Arabian Gulf for the start of the 2026/27 season.

The company said the repositioning issue is related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. Terra Nova Expeditions spent several months arranging an alternative vessel before finalizing the agreement for Terra Nova Adventurer.

The ship was formerly known as Expedition and G Expedition. The agreement covers the company's next three Antarctic seasons and allows its planned expedition program to proceed.

Source: www.seatrade-cruise.com

Disney Wish Sets 2027 Prince Edward Island Call

Disney Wish will make its first call at Port Charlottetown on October 27, 2027, when Disney Cruise Line returns to Prince Edward Island, Cruise Industry News reports. The visit will come nearly 10 years after Disney Magic called at Charlottetown on October 25, 2017.

The seven-night round trip will depart New York City on October 24 and return on October 31, calling at Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax. Disney said the sailing will be the Wish's only seven-night Canadian itinerary from New York.

The voyage will also be the first time a Wish-class ship sails from New York City and the longest round-trip itinerary during Disney Wish's limited fall 2027 New York season. Port Charlottetown, the Province of Prince Edward Island and tourism partners are also using the late-October call to support visitation beyond the traditional peak season.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

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

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

Cruise News Roundup: Carnival System Outage, Itinerary Changes, Alaska Plans and More

Carnival prepares for another reservations-system outage, updates 11 itineraries and rescues a mariner at sea. Holland America and Oceania also announce major deployment and fleet news.

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 28, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Carnival Cruise Line's planned reservations-system outage, itinerary changes across four ships, a Carnival Conquest rescue at sea, Holland America Line's 2028 Alaska deployment and Oceania Sonata's float-out.

Carnival Plans 18-Hour Reservations Outage

Carnival Cruise Line plans to take its reservations system offline for maintenance from 6 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, August 29, until a targeted completion time of noon on Sunday, August 30, Cruise Hive reports. During the planned 18-hour window, guests and travel advisors will be unable to make bookings, submit payments or manage existing reservations.

The outage will also affect Carnival's online check-in, Fun Shops, payment tools and other guest-facing services. The cruise line's Contact Center will not be able to process bookings or payments while the reservations system is unavailable, although parts of the website, including deck plans and frequently asked questions, will remain accessible.

Cruise Hive notes that this is Carnival's third planned reservations-system outage in 2026, following maintenance periods in May and on August 16. Previous downtime has extended beyond the expected end time, including a December 2024 outage that involved failed logins, missing personal information and frozen pages; during a May 2026 maintenance period, Cruise Hive reported glitches that seemed to create erroneous low fares, and those fares were later canceled.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Revises 11 Sailings Across Four Ships

Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests about relatively minor itinerary changes affecting 11 sailings on Carnival Spirit, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Legend and Carnival Elation, Cruise Hive reports. The revised departures range from November 2026 through April 2028 and involve port swaps or changes to port-call days and times.

Carnival Spirit's six-night sailing departing Mobile on November 8, 2026, will visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, instead of Princess Cays. The stop remains scheduled for November 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the sailing's planned Celebration Key visit remains unchanged. Carnival Legend's December 13, 2026, six-night departure from Tampa and Carnival Elation's April 15, 2028, five-night sailing from Jacksonville will instead swap the days for their Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay calls.

Eight Carnival Conquest cruises departing Miami are also being adjusted: November 16, 2026; January 25, February 15 and April 12, 2027; and February 7, March 27, April 3 and April 17, 2028. Most changes alter the day and timing of the RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay visit; the March 27, 2028, four-night Bahamas sailing will reverse the order of its port calls and move that stop to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from the original 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Carnival says shore excursions will be adjusted automatically when necessary. Excursions tied to the canceled Princess Cays call on Carnival Spirit will be canceled and refunded to the original form of payment, while the notices do not provide a reason for the broader schedule changes.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Conquest Rescues Mariner Bound for Grenada

Carnival Conquest rescued the sole occupant of a disabled sailboat on August 26 after receiving a distress relay from rescue authorities, Cruise Hive reports. The ship diverted during a sea day while sailing toward Grenada, brought the mariner aboard and continued toward St. George's as scheduled.

Passengers said the captain used the public-address system to keep them informed during the search-and-rescue response. Video shared from the encounter showed the small sailboat moving heavily in the water as Carnival Conquest approached, with its sails stowed.

Carnival Cruise Line said the rescued individual remained in the care of the ship's team as Carnival Conquest proceeded to Grenada. The 2,980-guest ship reached the port on Thursday, August 27, without a reported delay to the itinerary.

The ship departed Miami on August 21 for a 14-day sailing that includes St. Thomas, St. Croix, Dominica, Antigua and other ports before its scheduled return to Florida on September 4. The voyage is one of Carnival's invitation-only SEA, or Sailings Exclusively for Adults, cruises for eligible guests ages 21 and up.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Holland America Adds Nootka Sound to 2028 Alaska Plans

Holland America Line will include scenic cruising through Nootka Sound on select itineraries during its 2028 Alaska season, Seatrade Cruise News reports. The deployment also includes the Alaska debut of Oosterdam after its Holland America Evolution dry-dock work.

Six ships are scheduled to participate: Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam, Koningsdam, Westerdam and Zaandam. Voyages will run from seven to 18 days, with departures roundtrip from Seattle and Vancouver, between Vancouver and Whittier, and on a new San Diego-to-Vancouver sailing.

The season includes an 11-day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers voyage. Holland America Line said the program combines familiar Alaska highlights with less-traveled waterways and new onboard experiences.

Source: www.seatrade-cruise.com

Oceania Sonata Floats Out Ahead of 2027 Debut

Fincantieri and Oceania Cruises marked the float-out of Oceania Sonata at the Marghera shipyard in Italy, The Maritime Executive reports. The ship was moved from the assembly dry dock to a fitting-out berth, where work on the interior spaces will continue ahead of its scheduled 2027 entry into service.

Oceania Sonata is the first ship in Oceania's new Sonata Class. At 86,000 gross tons, it will be about 30 percent larger than the 68,000-gross-ton Allura and Vista class, while passenger capacity will rise 15 percent, from 1,200 to 1,390, through the addition of 90 staterooms.

One-third of the accommodations will be suites, including four Owner's Suites and two new suite categories. The ship will also have 13 dining venues, with Oceania describing the class as focused on more space, upgraded accommodations and enhanced culinary experiences.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has expanded the Sonata order to five ships. Oceania Arietta is beginning construction for delivery in 2029, while three additional sister ships are scheduled for delivery in 2032, 2035 and 2037.

The float-out coincided with Oceania Regatta's final cruise for the line on August 27 in Istanbul. Regatta is beginning a two-year charter with Australia's My Cruises for 365-day world cruises, while Oceania Sirena is slated for delivery to new owners in spring 2028 and Oceania Nautica is planned to become Oceania Aurelia after a 2027 reworking that will reduce its cabins from 340 to 238 and create 179 suites.

Source: maritime-executive.com

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

Cruise News Roundup: Royal Caribbean Seeks Voyager Volunteers, Carnival Firenze Medical Evacuation and More

Royal Caribbean offers incentives to guests willing to give up an upcoming Voyager of the Seas Alaska sailing. Plus, a Carnival Firenze medical evacuation, Azamara’s 2029 world cruise and more.

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 27, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Royal Caribbean's voluntary booking offer for a Voyager of the Seas Alaska cruise, a medical evacuation from Carnival Firenze, Azamara's 2029 World Cruise, Voyager's 2027-28 Asia-Pacific season and low water levels affecting European river cruises.

Royal Caribbean Seeks Volunteers for Voyager Alaska Cruise

Royal Caribbean is asking guests booked on Voyager of the Seas' September 4, 2026, Alaska cruise whether they would voluntarily give up their reservations, Cruise Hive reports. The seven-night sailing is scheduled to depart Seattle, visit Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, and include scenic cruising through Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier before returning to Seattle on September 11.

Guests who accept one option can move to one of three seven-night Voyager Alaska cruises from Seattle in 2027. The August 27 and September 3 departures include the same listed destinations, while the September 10 sailing visits Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Victoria.

Those who transfer would receive a full refund of cruise fare paid, excluding taxes and amenities, along with $200 in nonrefundable onboard credit per stateroom. Royal Caribbean also offers reimbursement for nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses, including hotels and flights.

Guests may instead cancel for a full booking refund, reimbursement of eligible nonrefundable travel costs and a future cruise credit worth 150% of the cruise fare paid. The credit can be used on a Royal Caribbean sailing departing by September 4, 2027. Applications are due by September 1; guests who are not contacted by September 2 remain booked in their existing staterooms.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Firenze Medical Evacuation Delays Baja Cruise Ports

A critically ill passenger was taken ashore from Carnival Firenze near Long Beach, California, on August 25, 2026, Cruise Hive reports. Long Beach Fire Department marine safety crews met the ship near the Long Beach Sea Buoy at about 7 a.m., transferred the passenger to a rescue boat and took them to a local hospital.

The medical emergency occurred as the 135,156-gross-ton ship headed toward Catalina Island on a four-night Baja Mexico cruise. Carnival said its medical team responded immediately and cared for the guest, but the passenger's illness and current condition have not been disclosed.

Carnival adjusted the itinerary but kept both scheduled port calls. Catalina Island moved from August 25 to August 26, while Ensenada replaced the previously scheduled sea day on August 27. The ship was still expected to return to Long Beach on August 28.

Carnival Firenze, formerly Costa Firenze, entered Carnival service in 2024 and offers three- to seven-night Mexico cruises from Long Beach. The ship is scheduled to remain based there through early 2027 before relocating to the East Coast for a series of South America voyages.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Azamara Unveils 195-Night 2029 World Cruise

Azamara Cruises has revealed a 2029 World Cruise aboard Azamara Quest, with Cruise Industry News reporting three booking choices for the first time. The full voyage will run 195 nights from San Diego to Copenhagen, covering five continents, 40 countries and territories, and 126 ports, including 12 maiden ports.

The itinerary is planned to include 16 overnight stays and 60 late nights, with 65% of the sailing spent in port. A 179-night option from San Diego to London will also visit five continents and include 12 maiden ports, 16 overnight stays and 52 late nights.

The third option is a 139-night voyage from Sydney to Copenhagen, also across five continents, with 43 late nights, 11 overnight stays and four maiden ports. The full cruise opens for booking September 23, 2026, while the shorter options open October 14.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Royal Caribbean Details Voyager’s 2027-28 Asia-Pacific Season

Royal Caribbean has released more details about Voyager of the Seas' Asia-Pacific program from October 2027 through April 2028, Cruise Industry News reports. The ship will offer cruises lasting two to 15 nights from Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The sailings will visit destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Korea. Voyager will begin the season in Brisbane and Sydney before heading north to Singapore and later homeporting in Hong Kong. Bookings from the four homeports open August 26, 2026.

The deployment is part of what Royal Caribbean describes as its largest Asia-Pacific season. The wider program also includes Navigator of the Seas year-round from Singapore beginning in October 2026, Ovation of the Seas from Brisbane, Anthem of the Seas from Sydney, and Spectrum of the Seas from Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Low Water Levels Disrupt European River Cruises

Historically low water levels on the Rhine and Danube have made this a difficult summer for European river cruise operators, Seatrade Cruise News reports. Lines have been rerouting vessels where possible instead of canceling, but the 2026 drought has already affected many sailings.

Viking recently reported that more than half of its sailings had been affected by low water since mid-July, with approximately 10% to 12% of customers on those cruises canceling. In Budapest, the Danube fell to four inches in early August, breaking the previous record low of 13 inches set in 2018.

The conditions follow droughts in 2022 and 2018, while concerns remain that climate change could make such events more frequent. The low levels are affecting tourism as European river cruise operators expand their fleets and new brands enter the market.

Source: www.seatrade-cruise.com

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

Cruise News Roundup: Disney Wish New York Sailings, Margaritaville Texas Launch and More

Disney Wish will offer a 2027 New York season, while Margaritaville at Sea prepares to launch weekly Galveston cruises. Carnival, Oceania and Tianjin Oriental also announced 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 August 26, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Disney Wish's 2027 New York deployment, Margaritaville at Sea's planned Galveston service, a Carnival Paradise itinerary change, Regatta's departure from Oceania Cruises and new cruises to nowhere from Tianjin.

Disney Wish Adds New York Sailings for 2027

Disney Wish will sail from New York City for seven departures between September 29 and October 31, 2027, Cruise Hive reports. The 4,000-guest ship will offer cruises of four to seven nights, with itineraries visiting Bermuda, Canada and New England.

The opening voyage is a four-night cruise to King’s Wharf in Bermuda. Other sailings include a Canada and New England itinerary with calls at Saint John and Boston, a six-night Bermuda-and-Canada cruise visiting Halifax, and a seven-night Canada voyage stopping at Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax.

Disney Wish will leave New York on October 31 for a five-night, one-way sailing to San Juan that includes Bermuda. Two Puerto Rico departures follow: a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise calling at Aruba, Bonaire, Dominica and St. Maarten, followed by a four-night Bahamas sailing to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay before returning to Port Canaveral. The reservations were listed as “Coming Soon” on Disney Cruise Line’s website on August 25, and bookings are not yet open.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Margaritaville at Sea Plans Weekly Galveston Cruises

Margaritaville at Sea will begin weekly Friday departures from Galveston, Texas, in October 2027, according to Cruise Hive. The service will operate from Cruise Terminal 28 and visit destinations in the Caribbean and Central America, making the cruise line Galveston’s seventh cruise operator.

The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agreement on August 25, 2026. The initial term is one year, with options to renew for two additional five-year terms, while the specific ports and itineraries have not yet been announced.

Margaritaville at Sea also has not identified the ship that will be based in Texas. The line currently operates Paradise and Islander, and Beachcomber is scheduled to debut from PortMiami in January 2027 after a transformation of the former Costa Fortuna. Ship and itinerary details are expected at a Port of Galveston event in September.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Paradise Replaces Princess Cays Call

Carnival Paradise will visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay instead of Princess Cays on its November 9, 2026 sailing from Tampa, Cruise Hive says. The six-night cruise will still call at Celebration Key and Nassau, with no other itinerary changes reported.

The replacement visit is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the same day and time originally assigned to Princess Cays. The two private destinations are about 15 miles apart, and Carnival Paradise will retain the same planned time in port.

Prepaid Princess Cays shore excursions will be canceled and refunded to the original form of payment. Guests can arrange excursions for RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay before sailing or onboard through the Carnival Adventures desk. Carnival has not given a reason for the change, and there is no indication that technical problems with the ship prompted it.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Regatta Completes Final Oceania Cruise

Regatta is completing its final cruise for Oceania Cruises before moving to Explorations by Norwegian, Cruise Industry News reports. The 684-passenger ship left Dubrovnik on August 17, 2026, and is scheduled to finish the ten-night voyage in Istanbul on August 27 after visiting ports in Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey.

The farewell itinerary includes Kotor, Igoumenitsa, Katakolon, Santorini, Mykonos, Piraeus, Kusadasi and Bozcaada. Regatta, which was built in 1998 and was among the first ships to sail for Oceania, is completing a 23-year career with the brand.

Under a charter deal with My Cruises, Regatta is scheduled to begin a 368-night world cruise from Civitavecchia, Italy, on September 1. The voyage is planned to visit 220 ports across seven continents, including destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, Alaska, the West Coast, Central America, the Caribbean, the Amazon, Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles and Ireland. A second year-long world cruise is scheduled to begin in late 2027 after the charter contract was renewed for another 365 days.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Tianjin Oriental Adds Three-Day Cruises to Nowhere

Tianjin Oriental Cruises’ Visio will operate two three-day round-trip cruises without port calls from Tianjin on August 29 and August 31, Cruise Industry News reports. Both sailings will depart Tianjin International Cruise Homeport at 3 p.m., with pre-sale fares ranging from RMB 500 to RMB 1,200 per person depending on the stateroom category.

The cruises follow China’s pilot launch of the “nowhere cruise” model. The Ministry of Transport classifies the route as a special international voyage, allowing exit-entry procedures for staff and crew to follow international-sailing rules and permitting travelers to board with either a passport or an entry-exit permit based on a resident identity card.

The two sailings have been added to Visio’s regular schedule of six-day round trips to Busan, Jeju and Incheon. The Tianjin pilot is the first commercial deployment of the model in northern China, while the port said the weekend cruises would be benchmarked against international standards.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

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Cruise News Roundup: MSC Cancellation, Royal Caribbean Delay, River Disruptions and More

MSC cancels a 26-night South Africa repositioning cruise, while Royal Caribbean revises an Alaska sailing after a propulsion issue. European river conditions, Carnival’s shorter-sailing dress-night changes and Norwegian Aqua’s 2028 Bahamas plans also make the roundup.

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 24, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers MSC Cruises' cancellation of a South Africa repositioning voyage, a two-day delay and itinerary change for Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, continued European river cruise disruptions, Carnival Cruise Line's revised evening schedule on select short sailings, and Norwegian Aqua's 2028 Bahamas deployment.

MSC Cancels 26-Night South Africa Voyage

MSC Cruises has cancelled a 26-night repositioning voyage from Italy to South Africa because of continuing security concerns affecting transit through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, Cruise Industry News reports. The MSC Armonia sailing was scheduled to leave Marghera on November 1, 2026, and arrive in Durban.

The itinerary was set to include calls in Croatia and Greece before the Suez Canal crossing, followed by Red Sea and Indian Ocean destinations including Aqaba, Mahé, Diego Suarez and Port Louis. The 2001-built ship is scheduled to debut in the region during MSC's 2026-27 winter season.

MSC said affected guests can cancel without penalty for a full refund, transfer to another MSC Grand Voyage of similar length, or move to another currently scheduled cruise. Grand Voyage replacements may include sailings of up to three additional nights, with MSC guaranteeing the more favorable fare between the original and replacement departure.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Serenade of the Seas Alaska Cruise Delayed Two Days

Royal Caribbean has delayed Serenade of the Seas' August 30, 2026, Alaska cruise until September 1 at 9 p.m. because propulsion-system maintenance is taking longer than expected in Vancouver, Royal Caribbean Blog reports. The change removes several planned ports and eliminates the itinerary's scenic glacier-cruising day.

The original seven-night sailing was scheduled to visit Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Under the revised plan, guests will visit Ketchikan and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, while spending most of the voyage sailing the Inside Passage.

Passengers who stay on the shortened cruise will receive refundable onboard credit equal to two days of their paid cruise fare, along with a future cruise credit for the same amount. Royal Caribbean will also adjust eligible prepaid packages and daily gratuities, and remaining onboard credit will be refunded to the card on file within 14 business days after debarkation.

The line is offering hotel reimbursement of up to $300 per stateroom per day for August 30 and 31, or air-change-fee reimbursement of up to $200 for domestic flights and $400 for international flights. Guests may board Monday or Tuesday while the ship remains in Vancouver, but those onboard cannot go ashore there and the ship's shops and casino will be closed.

Source: www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

European River Cruise Disruptions Continue

Rain has improved water levels on parts of the Danube and Rhine, but cruise lines continue warning passengers that itineraries may change, Cruise Hive reports. Low-water conditions remain uncertain near Budapest and Bratislava, and drought conditions were described as critical across much of Europe in an early-August assessment by the European Drought Observatory.

Emerald Cruises has reassigned the ship for Emerald Sky's seven-night Danube sailing departing Budapest on August 30, 2026. Guests will now travel aboard Emerald Destiny, which has the same 182-passenger capacity as Emerald Sky, while the line assesses whether the Budapest-to-Bratislava section can reopen; it expects the itinerary from Bratislava through Regensburg to operate as planned.

Saga River Cruises is reviewing voyages individually and may offer alternatives on the Dutch Waterways, the Main or navigable sections of the Danube. The company says affected sailings will remain river cruises rather than being converted into coach tours, and it plans to retain original flights where possible.

Viking River Cruises has also warned that some Rhine and Danube itineraries may require changes. Its operations teams are monitoring conditions, with affected passengers and travel advisors being contacted before departure; the line says its fleet and identical sister ships operating in opposite directions provide options when river sections are impassable.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Replaces Elegant Night on Select Short Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line is replacing its Cruise Elegant evening with a White Hot Night on select three- and four-night sailings, Cruise Hive reports. Carnival's updated dress guidance says short voyages without a Cruise Elegant event will host the white-themed evening instead, although some shorter cruises continue to schedule formal night.

Cruises of six days or longer will continue to have two Cruise Elegant evenings. The change was observed on the August 17, 2026, four-night sailing of Carnival Glory from Port Canaveral, while the August 15 three-night Carnival Freedom sailing from the same port still included a Cruise Elegant evening.

Professional photographers and multiple portrait backdrops remain available regardless of the scheduled theme. Reports from the Carnival Glory sailing also indicated that the American Feast menu was still served in the main dining rooms, although the menu offerings had been adjusted.

White Hot Night encourages guests to wear white and typically features a pool-deck dance party, with the event moving to the atrium if weather prevents an outdoor celebration. Carnival's website now lists the party for six-day-and-longer sailings and select shorter cruises.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Norwegian Aqua Adds Short Bahamas Cruises for 2028

Norwegian Aqua will begin offering three- and four-night Bahamas cruises from PortMiami in April 2028, Cruise Industry News reports. The 2025-built, 3,571-passenger ship will operate Friday departures for three-night weekend cruises and Monday departures for four-night sailings.

Every itinerary will visit Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island destination. The four-night cruises will also include a full day cruising in the Florida Straits, and the schedule calls for more than 50 short sailings between late April and late October 2028.

Norwegian says Great Stirrup Cay is undergoing enhancements that include the Great Tides Waterpark, a pier allowing guests to disembark directly from the ship, Horizon Park with lawn games and pickleball courts, and Hammock Bay with more than 50 hammocks. Norwegian's 2028 summer deployment also includes Norwegian Aura from Miami, Norwegian Escape from Port Canaveral and Norwegian Prima from Galveston.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

Cruise News Roundup: MSC Rescue Near Ibiza, Alaska Assistance and More

MSC Musica rescued eight people near Ibiza, while Wilderness Legacy assisted stranded Alaska boaters. Santorini also reopened its cruise path, and Royal Caribbean and Carnival shared ship 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 August 10, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers MSC Musica's rescue of eight people near Ibiza, Wilderness Legacy's assistance to stranded Alaska boaters, Santorini's reopened Karavolades Stairs, a shattered AquaDome panel on Legend of the Seas, and Carnival Festivale's construction progress.

MSC Musica Rescues Eight People Near Ibiza

MSC Musica rescued eight men from a disabled small boat about 16 miles east of Ibiza on July 31, 2026, Cruise Hive reports. The cruise ship was approaching the Spanish island for a scheduled port visit when its crew spotted the craft in distress shortly before 11:30 a.m.

The ship launched a lifeboat, and the men were transferred first to that boat and then aboard MSC Musica. The first mate, 27-year-old Roberto de Girolamo, led the operation, while Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil in Sant Josep were notified.

The men, reportedly from North Africa, were handed over to local authorities when the ship reached Ibiza; no further information about their identities or condition was released. MSC Musica was carrying 2,550 guests on a seven-night roundtrip Western Mediterranean voyage from Civitavecchia and returned to its homeport on schedule on August 3 without reports of a significant delay.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Wilderness Legacy Aids Stranded Alaska Boaters

UnCruise Adventures' Wilderness Legacy towed a fuel-starved skiff to safety in southeastern Alaska on August 3, Cruise Hive reports. The 21-foot Hewescraft boat requested assistance near Point Highland, about 85 miles south-southeast of Juneau, at 9:32 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard determined that the boat was not in immediate distress but needed assistance, then passed along the request at 9:56 p.m. Wilderness Legacy began its response at 10:58 p.m., towing the skiff more than nine miles to safe anchorage in Farragut Bay and supplying additional fuel.

The skiff was reported safely anchored at about 12:50 a.m. on August 4, completing the operation in just under three and a half hours. Two women, a child and a dog were believed to be aboard, with no injuries or vessel damage reported, and the 88-guest cruise ship was not significantly delayed.

A closer vessel, the 387-foot luxury yacht Launchpad, did not respond to the assistance request, according to the report. Launchpad is owned by Mark Zuckerberg, but the material does not explain why it failed to answer; the Coast Guard classified the incident as an assistance call rather than a distress call.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Santorini Reopens Karavolades Stairs

Santorini's Port of Fira has returned to normal operations after a collapsed wall temporarily blocked the Karavolades Stairs, Cruise Hive says. The Mayor of Thira, Anastasios Nikolaos Zorzos, reopened the route on August 3, after the damage was addressed and the walkway was deemed safe for pedestrians.

The closure had cut off the stepped route between the old port on the Bay of Fira and the city of Fira. Cruise visitors could still use the Santorini Cable Car or travel by road, while cruise operations were temporarily moved to Athinios, the island's main ferry port.

Athinios is about seven miles from Fira, with bus and taxi trips taking around 25 minutes. Greek authorities relocated cruise operations there on July 28, and shore excursions operated from the ferry port during the closure; no canceled port calls were publicly reported.

The previous limits on cruise arrivals are being enforced again now that the stairs have reopened, with up to 70% of guests required to disembark at Fira's old port and no more than 30% arriving through Athinios. Sixty ship calls remain scheduled for August 2026, including visits by MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Broken Glass Panel Spotted on Legend of the Seas

A glass panel in the AquaDome on Royal Caribbean's new Legend of the Seas has shattered, Cruise Hive reports. The discovery came just over a month after the Icon-class ship entered service on July 4, 2026, with the broken triangular panel apparently still held within its frame.

Royal Caribbean has not said what caused the glass to break. No injuries to guests or crew members were reported, and cruise tracking information showed the 5,610-guest ship continuing to sail normally in the Mediterranean near the end of a seven-night voyage scheduled to finish in Barcelona on August 9.

The AquaDome contains 673 glass panels and occupies the forward top deck of the 248,663-gross-ton ship. A similar triangular panel broke aboard the second Icon-class vessel, Star of the Seas, in May 2026, while a separate tempered glass panel on that ship shattered during a preview sailing on August 26, 2025.

Another glass-related incident occurred aboard Icon of the Seas in August 2025, when an acrylic panel on the Frightening Bolt waterslide shattered and injured a guest. That slide was closed on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas while the incident was investigated and repairs were completed.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Carnival Festivale Adds Propulsion Pods

Meyer Werft has released a construction video showing an azimuth thruster pod being installed on Carnival Festivale, Cruise Hive reports. The fourth Excel-class ship for Carnival Cruise Line now has both propulsion pods mounted, although the propellers will be installed closer to the vessel's launch.

The one-minute video shows cranes and rigging lifting a pod into position while engineers and construction workers oversee the installation. Welding is also visible in the background, and the ship's name appears on the aft hull beneath scaffolding.

Carnival Festivale and the other Excel-class ships use two azimuth thrusters to propel the 182,800-gross-ton vessel. Once completed, the ship is expected to reach 21.5 knots, or about 25 miles per hour.

The ship's steel was first cut on April 8, 2025, and its keel was laid on August 14, 2025. The engines were installed in March 2026, while the 949 crew cabins had been completed by mid-February and work was set to begin on guest staterooms.

Carnival Festivale is scheduled to welcome its first guests on May 19, 2027, on a four-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral. Before that sailing, the ship still must undergo final outfitting, sea trials, delivery to Carnival, crew embarkation and a first transatlantic voyage to Florida.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

Cruise News Roundup: Typhoon Delays Royal Caribbean Sailing, Disney Plans 2029 Fleet Milestone and More

A typhoon changes two Spectrum of the Seas sailings, while MSC Grandiosa resumes course after a false overboard alert. Disney, Carnival and Port Canaveral also announce 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 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

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.

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

Thanks for reading The Deck Briefing — your trusted source for clear, verified cruise updates. We’ll be back soon with more stories from the sea, and you can also follow our YouTube channel for the latest video briefings.