Cruise News

The Mediterranean cruise market is surging toward nearly six million passengers in 2026, fueled by massive mega-ships and fierce competition between European and American cruise lines. This episode explores the explosive growth reshaping ports from Santorini to Dubrovnik, MSC's bold strategy to broadcast all 104 World Cup matches fleet-wide, and the sobering reality check delivered by Celebrity Infinity's power failure off the coast of Greece—proving that even billion-dollar floating cities are still at the mercy of aging hardware.

In this episode, we explore three seemingly unrelated cruise industry stories that reveal a unified trend: the death of the generic cruise. From the Norwegian Pearl's highly regulated nude charter to the MSC Splendida's Mediterranean storm diversion and Royal Caribbean's artist discovery program, discover how cruise lines are creating hyper-controlled micro-communities to compensate for losing control of the external environment.

Today we unpack two contrasting stories shaping the cruise industry. First, Carnival Cruise Line's fleet-wide IT meltdown during a planned maintenance update that knocked out embarkation systems, Wi-Fi, casinos, and apps across 11 ships, forcing staff to manually count passengers and delaying departures by up to 10 hours. Then we pivot to Disney Cruise Line's bold 2027 deployment plans, sending their flagship Disney Wish to Europe for the first time while orchestrating a global fleet shuffle across Florida, Alaska, and Singapore.

Today we peel back the polished surface of cruising to examine the massive industrial machine underneath. We explore three stories spanning the lifecycle of cruise ships: Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas facing emergency azipod repairs in Australia that forced a cancelled sailing and stranded thousands of passengers; Fred Olsen's Bolette completing a meticulous 16-day refit at Falmouth shipyard involving 350 workers and 40 apprentices; and China's Adora Magic City reaching the stunning milestone of one million passengers in just two years of service, backed by government policy driving a domestic cruise boom.

This episode peels back the curtain on the fragility of the modern cruise ecosystem through three revealing stories. First, a fleet-wide Carnival tech outage on February 8th brought boarding to a standstill at multiple homeports, delaying ships like the Celebration, Venezia, Spirit, and Pride past midnight as digital manifests failed and the Hub app went dark — forcing crew to revert to paper schedules and SMS blasts.

Next, the Carnival Encounter faced scrutiny in Darwin, Australia, when the Maritime Union of Australia filed crew welfare complaints alleging wages as low as $2.50 an hour, pressure to work wh...

This episode explores what happens when the carefully scripted cruise experience goes off the rails. First, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas is overbooked for its February 2026 sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, prompting the cruise line to send voluntary cancellation emails offering full refunds plus a 50% future cruise credit — though the fine print on how "cruise fare" is calculated may surprise passengers expecting a windfall.

Next, winter storms batter the Mid-Atlantic coast, delaying Carnival Pride's departure from Baltimore by five hours and forcing Norfolk's port to close entirely, stranding Carnival Sunshine passengers and slashing their va...

This episode spans the full spectrum of the cruise industry, from strategic shutdowns to tragic loss at sea. Alaskan Dream Cruises has officially ceased all operations after a review of long-term objectives, highlighting the brutal economics facing small ship operators squeezed between mega-carriers and luxury expedition brands. With just 223 berths across four US-flagged vessels, the fixed costs proved insurmountable against competitors with far greater scale and marketing power.

On Norwegian Bliss, the Broadway musical Jersey Boys will officially end its run in February 2026 as NCL pivots away from expensive licensed productions toward rotating variety acts...

This episode unpacks three announcements that reveal how the cruise industry is locking in its future for the next decade. Celebrity Cruises has ordered 10 additional river ships from Teamco shipyard in the Netherlands, targeting a fleet of 20 vessels on European rivers by 2031. With the inaugural 2027 season selling out in under six minutes and 2028 bookings already open across 160-plus sailings to more than 50 destinations, the hosts examine how Celebrity is leveraging its ocean brand loyalty to challenge established river cruise heavyweights like Viking and AmaWaterways.

The episode then dives into Royal Caribbean Group's announcement of the...

This episode examines three developments that reveal how major cruise lines are asserting control over an increasingly complex industry. Norwegian Cruise Line's new NCL Air policy now mandates day-early arrival for all passengers booking through its air program — even on domestic flights — a direct response to the mounting unreliability of air travel that saw over 15,000 flight delays on the policy's launch day alone. The hosts break down the operational logic behind the change, the legal complexities of the Passenger Vessel Services Act that make missed embarkations nearly impossible to fix, and the hidden cost trap that could catch deal-savvy trav...

This episode of Cruise News examines a fascinating split-screen moment in the cruise industry, where major ports are moving in completely opposite directions. The Port of Los Angeles has selected Pacific Cruise Terminals to build a next-generation outer harbor terminal designed for the biggest ships afloat, complete with shore power and a waterfront destination experience. The port set records in 2025 with 241 cruise calls and 1.6 million passengers.

Meanwhile, the Port of New Orleans continues its remarkable consistency, topping 1 million cruise passenger movements for the ninth consecutive year. The city's unique position as the only US home...

In this episode of Cruise News, we take a comprehensive look at the cruise industry's busiest night of the year: New Year's Eve 2025/2026. In Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Bay, seven massive cruise ships anchored offshore with over 25,500 passengers and crew celebrating the holiday. Meanwhile, Funchal in Madeira hosted an even larger gathering of 12 ships from European cruise lines, creating a floating population of 30,000 people.

The episode also covers important maiden calls in St. Martin, where both the massive Sun Princess and the boutique luxury Allura made their first port visits on New Year's Day. However, tragedy struck...

Hurricane Melissa forced Disney Cruise Line to reroute the Disney Treasure and Disney Wish away from the Eastern Caribbean, while a Viking Star crew member went overboard in the Mediterranean during a transit between Crete and Sicily. Meanwhile, a viral TikTok video shows teenagers climbing outside balcony railings on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. From Category 5 storms scrambling itineraries industry-wide to the grim statistics on overboard survival rates, this episode examines how quickly safety conditions can shift at sea and why respecting the maritime environment matters more than ever.

Stories covered:

Carnival Cruise Line makes big moves in Australia and New Zealand, quietly raises Wi-Fi prices, and Royal Caribbean shakes up loyalty across its brands.

From new homeports to higher onboard costs and cross-brand points, here’s what cruisers need to know right now.

Carnival is expanding its presence Down Under with new seasonal homeports in Adelaide and Auckland for the 2027–2028 season, adding more ships, more destinations, and new itinerary options across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. At the same time, the line has quietly increased pre-purchase Wi-Fi prices across all plans, with some gues...

First, we look at the float-out of Magellan Discoverer, a new expedition cruise ship built by ASENAV in Chile for Antarctica21. Designed for fly-cruise operations to Antarctica, the Polar Class 6 vessel features hybrid-electric propulsion, battery energy storage, and reduced noise and emissions. We also touch on SELAR’s Captain Arctic, another low-impact expedition ship aiming for near-zero emissions when it launches in 2027.

Next, Norwegian Cruise Line begins preparing guests for a new Hawaii Transient Accommodations Tax starting in 2026. The tax, applied to cruise fares based on time spent in Hawaiian ports, could add hundreds of do...

Princess Cruises has been named home to the world’s best cruise ship dining, highlighting how onboard culinary programs are becoming a key differentiator in the cruise industry. At the same time, Adora Cruises is rapidly expanding in China toward a one-million-passenger milestone, while Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is being used as a high-tech test platform for next-generation energy efficiency and sustainable propulsion.

In this episode of Cruise News, we break down what these developments reveal about where the global cruise industry is heading, from premium guest experiences to regional market growth and...

In this episode of Cruise Industry News, we cover three major developments shaping the future of cruising, from cleaner ship technology to expanded deployment plans in key U.S. regions.

First, we look at how Aurora Expeditions is pushing sustainability forward with new environmental protections aboard its latest polar vessel. The company is installing microfiber filtration systems to reduce ocean pollution, alongside AI-assisted navigation designed to improve safety in remote and ice-prone waters. These upgrades reflect a growing focus on responsible expedition cruising as polar travel continues to expand.

Next, we...

In this episode, we explore the comprehensive strategic investments cruise lines are making to dominate global waterways, focusing on simultaneous fleet refinement, massive capacity expansion, and entry into highly competitive markets.

We look at how Princess Cruises is maintaining a competitive edge through targeted revitalization, such as the extensive two-week dry dock of the Sapphire Princess. This refit centered on transforming existing spaces into premium dining venues, including the acclaimed Crown Grill Steakhouse and the new Makoto Ocean Edomae-style sushi venue by Chef Makoto Okuwa. Beyond dining upgrades, this strategy supports targeted market expansion, as the Sapphire...

Explore the rapidly evolving cruise industry, focusing on enhanced guest experiences and major infrastructure projects. Discover how leading cruise lines are revolutionizing onboard entertainment through new collaborations with galleries like Park West Gallery and Clarendon Fine Art, bringing fine art programming, auctions, and museum-quality exhibitions to sea. Learn about significant port developments, including the operational debut of the state-of-the-art Las Palmas Cruise Terminal and the $110 million modernization of the San Juan Cruise Port. Plus, get expert advice on finding the best deals by booking strategically during Wave Season (January–March) and leveraging off-peak periods to unlock major savings.

We start by examining Celebrity Cruises' decision to cancel all stops at Labadee, Haiti, across 2025 and 2026 itineraries. We explore how the Level Four travel advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State—citing security concerns like violent crime and kidnappings—prompted this widespread industry shift. Learn about the popular replacement destinations taking Labadee's spot, including Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Next, we look at the rising tensions between cruise lines and their loyal patrons. We detail the policy revisions by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) that are drawing passenger backlash. Understand the new operational chan...

We analyze the severe consequences of passenger misconduct at sea, welcome the latest Disney ship showcasing a unique dual theme, and cover the maiden launch of a new Sphere-class vessel.

Major cruise operators, including Carnival Cruise Line and Margaritaville at Sea, are implementing stricter guest conduct policies in response to increasing unruly behavior. We detail the serious penalties now in force, which include $500 fines for fighting, immediate disembarkation without a refund, and potential lifetime travel bans that extend across sister brands within corporate families like Carnival Corporation.

Next, dive into the newest Wish-class ship, the...

This episode covers three distinct updates defining the future of maritime travel. First, we explore the debut of Aman Resorts’ first luxury yacht, Amangati, launching in spring 2027. This vessel is characterized by its minimalist Japanese-inspired design, exclusivity (47 suites), and commitment to sustainability through a hybrid propulsion system. Second, we highlight Carnival Cruise Line's 2027-28 itineraries, specifically the highly anticipated 11-day Carnival Journeys sailing aboard Carnival Miracle, which positions guests near the Strait of Gibraltar for optimal viewing of the August 2, 2027, total solar eclipse. Lastly, we recognize Princess Cruises' Sun Princess, which secured the title of #1 Mega Cruise Ship in th...

This episode examines the monumental strategic and technological changes sweeping through the cruise industry, from the urgent quest for net-zero emissions to the redefining of onboard experiences and fleet demographics.

Decarbonization at a Crossroads (The Fuel Challenge): The industry is accelerating efforts toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions, focusing on a multi-fuel strategy. LNG remains the most practical choice for new ships in the near term, supplemented by drop-in fuels to meet IMO 2030 and 2040 goals. However, operators face hurdles, including supply constraints for sustainable options like bio-LNG, which requires complex solutions like the book-and-claim model to verify green...

In this episode of Cruise News Daily, we explore major developments shaping the cruise industry, from sustainability and food recovery to new loyalty benefits and destination growth across Europe and Latin America.

Carnival Expands Meal Donations to Latin America

Carnival Corporation is deepening its commitment to social responsibility with an expansion of its meal donation program into Latin America. The initiative delivers unserved, high-quality meals from cruise ships to communities in need, supporting the company’s “Less Left Over” strategy to reduce food waste and repurpose surplus prepared meals.

The ex...