Key Aspects: Virgin Voyages has officially launched its first Alaska cruise season on May 21, 2026. The new season extends into September 2026 aboard Brilliant Lady from Seattle. The cruise line has introduced Alaska-focused programming, dining, and retail. Virgin Voyages is officially heading north. The adults-only cruise line launched its first Alaska season on May 21, 2026, aboard Brilliant Lady,
Key Aspects: The Mangrove Bay pool, splash pad, and private cabanas and day beds are now open at Isla Tropicale in Honduras. Carnival Jubilee was the first ship to enjoy the new features on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. A swim-up bar is also part of the 48,000-square-feet of new recreational space at the private destination.
Key Aspects: Ovation of the Seas must skip scenic cruising to Hubbard Glacier on her May 15 sailing to reach Whittier for an early debarkation. The one-way tunnel leading in and out of Whittier requires earlier debarkation so all guests can leave the port in time. The ship was originally scheduled to debark in Seward,
Key Aspects: For at least three sailings, and likely more, Norwegian Gem will no longer be visiting Koper, Slovenia. The port, which was featured on summer sailings from Rome to Ravenna, has been replaced by Trieste, Italy, or Zadar, Croatia. Norwegian Cruise Line did not directly confirm the cause of the switch, but port availability
Key Aspects: Carnival Legend and Carnival Magic will both debut a new bow crest as they return from dry dock in the Bahamas. The new “From Sea to Shining Sea” crest will gradually be added across most of the Carnival fleet. Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Tropicale will still feature the Texas star showing their connection
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas has completed six weeks in dry dock in Cadiz, Spain. During this time, the ship received several new dining venues and bars and nearly 100 new staterooms. The ship will resume service in Barcelona on May 21, 2026, with a 4-night sailing. Harmony of the Seas is
Key Aspects: Government leaders in Mexico have rejected Royal Caribbean’s plans to develop Perfect Day Mexico, leading to the project’s cancellation. The project could not overcome significant ecological concerns and has been controversial from the very beginning. While Royal Caribbean is not happy about this, it respects the decision made by the Mexican authorities. In
Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line is reminding all guests not to wear camouflage in certain ports of call where it is prohibited. The reminder comes after a 12-year-old guest was escorted back to Carnival Horizon due to camouflage attire. Such restrictions are set by individual countries and ports and are not under the cruise line’s
Key Aspects: Carnival Cabins include most amenities guests may need during their time onboard, but they do not have digital alarm clocks. One guest wrote to Brand Ambassador John Heald to ask that digital alarm clocks be added to cruise cabins. The cruise line has no plans to supply digital clocks at this time, and
Key Aspects: Barcelona’s mayor plans to double tourist taxes on cruise guests in the coming months. The fee increase on day visits was already approved but was to have taken effect gradually over several years. Guests embarking or debarking in Barcelona are not subject to the tax increase. Barcelona can be a phenomenal destination for
Key Aspects: Princess Cruises is removing Istanbul embarkations from multiple 2027 Mediterranean sailings. Guests are sharing notices of schedule changes taking place on Enchanted Princess and Sun Princess. New embarkation ports are Trieste, Italy, and Athens, Greece. A planned overnight stay in Istanbul is disappearing from multiple 2027 Princess Cruises sailings, leaving some booked guests rethinking long-planned Mediterranean
Key Aspects: David Rush was a guest aboard Disney Wonder when he set a world record for breaking toothpicks in February 2025. The attempt has not yet been verified due to a submission backlog, but is a significant leap over the previous record. Rush seeks to break a different world record every week, even when
