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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: 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

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

Cruise News Roundup: Astoria Grande Homeport Change, MSC Arrest and Disney Attraction Closure

Astoria Grande is moving its homeport to Antalya, while an MSC World America crew member faces an arrest involving a teenage passenger. Disney has also temporarily closed Pelican Plunge at Castaway Cay.

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 25, 2026.

Today's cruise news roundup covers Astoria Grande's homeport change to Turkey, an arrest involving an MSC World America lifeguard, the temporary closure of Pelican Plunge at Castaway Cay, Hurtigruten's new Arctic voyage and Holland America Line's planned poolside bandstands.

Astoria Grande Moves Homeport to Antalya

Astoria Grande will move its homeport from Russia to Turkey, with future cruises departing from Antalya, Cruise Industry News reports. The shipowner said the change was made in the interests of passenger and crew safety.

Charter flights from Russian airports and land transfers will be arranged in advance. Passengers who keep their bookings for the new departures will receive cabin upgrades, airport and port assistance in Antalya, and support for documented expenses linked to the change in departure and arrival ports.

The revised itineraries will add destinations in Greece, Italy and Egypt, including Piraeus, Heraklion, Corfu, Thessaloniki and Port Said. The ship will also continue visiting regional ports such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Izmir, Çeşme, Bozcaada Island and Alexandria.

Russian passengers will receive Schengen visas at no charge, with Astoria Grande handling the process. Passengers who do not want to continue with their reservations can request a full refund or receive a future cruise credit worth 120 percent of the original fare for use in 2026 or 2027.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

MSC World America Lifeguard Arrested in Miami

A lifeguard from MSC World America was arrested in Miami after allegations involving a 17-year-old passenger, Cruise Hive reports. Rafael Cayetano Blanco, 38, faces a charge of unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor, and his bond was set at $7,500.

Investigators allege that Blanco exchanged numbers with the passenger on August 16 and later met her in his cabin, where the alleged sexual activity occurred twice. He was detained when the ship returned to PortMiami on August 22, then booked into Miami's Metro West Detention Center; he remains in custody on an immigration hold.

MSC Cruises said it contacted law enforcement after discovering the alleged conduct, assisted the passenger and dismissed Blanco from his position. The case remains pending, no court date had been publicly released, and no attorney was listed in the booking records.

MSC World America had departed PortMiami on August 15 for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise calling at Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Ocean Cay. The ship departed again on August 22 for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas sailing scheduled to visit Puerto Plata, San Juan and Ocean Cay before returning August 29.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Disney Closes Pelican Plunge at Castaway Cay

Pelican Plunge at Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay is temporarily closed for refurbishment, Cruise Hive reports. Disney has not announced when the floating platform and its two waterslides will reopen.

The platform's attractions include one open and one enclosed slide, a water dump bucket and water guns. Guests must be at least 38 inches tall to use the slides and must swim to the platform, which is located off the island's northern family beach.

Disney has told guests that the water-play structure in the swimming lagoon and Spring-A-Leak remain open. Visitors can also use the island's swimming areas and book activities including snorkeling, banana boat rides and other water sports.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

Hurtigruten Adds Six-Day Arctic Voyage

Hurtigruten has introduced a six-day offering called “Northern Delights: Svalbard and Arctic Norway,” Cruise Industry News reports. The itinerary is available to book for the 2026-27 season and starts in Longyearbyen.

The land program includes a wilderness evening at Camp Barentz with reindeer stew and a husky safari. Travelers then fly from Spitsbergen to Tromso, with time for independent exploration before boarding in the evening of the fourth day.

The sea portion visits Skjervoy and Hammerfest before continuing to Honningsvag and the North Cape. The route also passes Finnkirka and the northernmost mainland lighthouse before ending in Kirkenes on day six, where guests can extend their stay at the Kirkenes Snowhotel.

Prices start at £1,655 per person and include the flight from Longyearbyen to Tromsø, transfers, hotel accommodation, ship passage and selected activities.

Source: cruiseindustrynews.com

Oosterdam and Zuiderdam to Get Poolside Bandstands

Holland America Line will add permanent bandstands beside the Lido Pools aboard Oosterdam and Zuiderdam, Cruise Hive reports. The venues will host solo performers and full bands, as well as sailaway parties, special events and the cruise line's Orange Party.

The Lido Pools have retractable glass roofs, allowing the performance spaces to be used in poor weather. Oosterdam is scheduled to debut its bandstand in fall 2027 after its Evolution transformation, while Zuiderdam's updated sailings begin on April 2, 2028.

The bandstands are part of Holland America's Evolution program, a fleet update costing more than $500 million and covering six ships: Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam. The project will also add staterooms, expand dining options and introduce some experiences from the Pinnacle-class ships.

Both Oosterdam and Zuiderdam will receive a Grand Dutch Café. Zuiderdam is also set to gain one reimagined Pinnacle Suite, two Bridgeview Suites, 14 enhanced Vista Suites and 32 Solo Verandah rooms, while other existing spaces will be refreshed.

Source: www.cruisehive.com

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