Key Aspects: Carnival has announced that the fifth Excel-class ship will be homeported from Texas when she sets sail in 2028. Carnival Tropicale will join Carnival Jubilee, bringing two of the line’s newest and largest ships to Galveston year-round. Itinerary details have not yet been released, but should be announced later this year. Everything is
Key Aspects: Two upcoming Rhapsody of the Seas sailings are adding La Romana as an extra port visit. The April 25 and May 2, 2026 cruises are the impacted sailing dates. No ports are cancelled on either itinerary, and both are now packed with ports and zero days at sea. How many sea days is
Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line announced temporary disembarkation instructions for Philadelphia. Passengers cannot arrange rideshare, taxi, or private pickup directly at the pier. Guests are transported by shuttle buses to either Philadelphia International Airport or the nearby Clarion Hotel. Passengers returning to Philadelphia on Norwegian Jewel are discovering that leaving the ship will involve almost as many
Key Aspects: Holland America Line begins its 2026 Alaska season on April 25 with Eurodam arriving in Seattle. Princess Cruises will stage a public drone show in Seattle ahead of Star Princess starting its inaugural season. The two Carnival Corporation brands will sail more than 180 voyages in Alaska in 2026. Carnival Corporation’s Alaska cruise season is ramping up
Key Aspects: Sapphire Princess recovered five bodies near Cartagena, Spain on Tuesday, April 21. The individuals were not guests or crew members from the cruise ship, but may have been migrants. No cause of death or origin point for the deceased individuals has been confirmed. Every cruise ship will respond immediately to any overboard reports,
Key Aspects: A toddler was hospitalized for observation after falling about 10 feet aboard Mein Schiff 7. The incident took place while the ship was docked in Funchal, Madeira. Authorities say the circumstances of the fall are still under investigation. A 2-year-old child was taken to the hospital after suffering a fall aboard the TUI Cruises’ Mein
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean has introduced an extra fee for guarantee stateroom guests to learn their room assignments early. The optional $30 fee per stateroom will release stateroom assignments within 24 hours after final payment is made. There are no additional perks with the extra fee and it is non-refundable, even if the booking is
Key Aspects: Ambassador Cruise Line reduced its standard spirit measure from 40ml to 25ml. The 15-drink daily cap was removed, and double measures are now allowed. Passengers complain the smaller pours reduce the value of their drink packages. Passengers sailing with Ambassador Cruise Line may notice a change at the bar. The cruise line confirmed
Key Aspects: A cruise ship crew member was arrested in Civitavecchia following a routine check on background documents. The crew member is accused of war crimes from the early 1990s, including violence, deportations, and killings. Routine background checks of guests and crew members are standard procedure as part of border protection. When guests set sail,
Key Aspects: Cunard will bring all four of its ships together for the first time in Liverpool on May 16, 2028. Queen Mary 2 will sail from New York to Liverpool for the event, marking Cunard’s first eastbound transatlantic arrival to the city in more than 60 years. The gathering takes place during Liverpool’s 2028 celebrations,
Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line sends an advisory out to guests regarding Carnival Adventure cruises from Sydney. A total of six departures will have homeport cruise terminal changes due to facility upgrades. Cruisers will be using the Overseas Passenger Terminal and the White Bay Cruise Terminal. Carnival Cruise Line has sent an advisory to guests
Key Aspects: While wagons are allowed on Carnival Cruise Line ships, there are stipulations. They must be folded and carried onboard and only used when off the ship. The company also updated its Prohibited Item list with more clarity around electronics and illegal drugs. Wagons are a frequent topic among cruise passengers who want to
