Cruise News Roundup: Spring Breakers Are Coming, Itinerary Changes, Glacier Dropped
If you’ve missed any of the big cruise news headlines in recent days, you are in the right place. Cruise Hive’s weekly recap has all of the top stories and more.
Some of the developments in this week’s edition include Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee earning a perfect health inspection score; a video showing a trio of pier-runners turning out to be a faked incident; and Holland America Line shifting its vessels away from Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord due to unstable ice conditions.
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Viral Pier-Runner Video Found to Be Fake
Did they really miss their cruise ship or not? That was the question when a video surfaced on social media showing three distraught young women running along a pier as a cruise ship moved away from its berth at the Port of Nassau, Bahamas.
The video, posted on March 2, 2026, went viral, garnering 27 million views and being shared more than 50,000 times. But it turns out that the pier-running spectacle was a fake.
The video shows the three running toward what appears to be Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom as it pulls away from its dock.
But, in fact, the three gals were seen earlier on the pier, practicing for the video. Turns out that a guest watching from aboard Carnival Freedom, which was docked at the time, filmed their rehearsals.
Pier-runner videos often go viral, as passengers onboard docked cruise ships use their phones to film guests who arrive late to the pier and, unfortunately, miss their ship.
In this case, it appears that the three women in the video were not guests on Carnival Freedom but more likely were sailing on MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore, which was in Nassau on the same day. The Carnival ship was identified thanks to its funnel design, which features whale tale wings.
Cruise Line Issues Conduct Reminder to Spring Breakers
Anticipating a busy spring break season, Norwegian Cruise Line is reminding booked guests about certain rules and regulations designed to promote good conduct and avoid rowdy behavior.
Guests due to sail on Norwegian Joy were among those who received a letter from the cruise line detailing the minimum drinking age, adult supervision requirements, and other items.
Generally, cruisers can expect to see spring breakers onboard sailings in March and April, and while the cruise line welcomes younger passengers, it wants all guests to behave appropriately.
Among the reminders: The minimum drinking age across the cruise line is 21; however, those aged 18 to 20 can be served beer and wine if they have parental consent — forms are available at the Guest Services Desk.
Also, guests are asked to avoid making noise in hallways, and running in public spaces. Diving into pools is prohibited, and saving deck chairs is not allowed.
One of the major concerns is supervision. At least one guest over age 21 is required in every cabin. Groups of college students sharing staterooms must abide by the rule — even two 20-year-olds cannot stay in a cabin without someone over age 21.
Dress codes were included in the letter to guests, asking all passengers to dress appropriately in dining rooms and specialty restaurants.
Holland America Replaces Tracy Arm Scenic Cruising
Tracy Arm Fjord is a prime cruising ground for cruise ships sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage, but due to unstable ice conditions, Holland America Line has revised its itineraries to avoid the area.
The instability came to light in August 2025, when a landslide sent rocks and debris into the fjord, spurring a tsunami warning inside the waterway. According to the US Geological Survey, the slopes of the fjord’s glacier are continuing to shift, risking more landslides.
Rather than take that risk, Holland America is replacing Tracy Arm with Endicott Arm, a nearby fjord with equally spectacular glacier viewing opportunities. In fact, ships scheduled to include Endicott Arm will provide guests with a longer viewing day — a full 8.5 hours.
Among the ships that were slated to visit Tracy Arm and instead will cruise along Endicott Arm is Koningsdam, which was to offer scenic cruising of the fjord on May 4, 2026, as it sails a 7-night cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Noordam was to follow on May 6, sailing from Seattle. Other ships slated to tour the fjord in summer 2026 include Zaandam, departing from Vancouver, and Eurodam, sailing from Seattle.
Both Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm are fjords of Holkham Bay, about 45 miles southeast of Juneau.
Carnival Issues Itinerary Updates on Mexico Sailings
Guests booked to sail Mexican Riviera cruises aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Panorama in August and September 2026 are being informed of multiple itinerary changes.
The 4,008-guest ship, sailing from Long Beach, California, typically visits the popular ports of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Mazatlan, and while no destinations have been dropped from itineraries, the order of port calls and time in port have changed in several instances.
Also, departure and arrival times at Long Beach have been adjusted in some cases, meaning that booked guests may have to alter air travel and other transportation plans.
Carnival Cruise Line offered no explanation regarding the revisions, but noted that guests who booked shore excursions through the line will have their shore tours automatically adjusted to reflect the new itineraries.
Guests who booked independent excursions must make their own schedule updates.
Itinerary changes vary from sailing to sailing. For example, on the August 15, 2026, departure, the order of port calls was reversed and arrival times were altered. On the ship’s September 6 sailing, departure from Long Beach was pushed back by one hour, to 5 p.m., and the order of port calls was changed.
Carnival Jubilee Earns a Perfect Health Inspection Score
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee, a ship that entered service in 2023 and sails year-round from Galveston, has something to celebrate: It earned a perfect health inspection score from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cruise line ambassador John Heald used his popular Facebook page to congratulate the 1,700-plus crew members on the distinction. The 5,362-guest ship received a score of 100 on the comprehensive, and surprise, inspection by CDC officials.
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program requires the inspections of cruise ships at US ports at least twice each year. It’s a major undertaking, typically requiring inspectors to remain onboard a ship for up to eight hours.
Using a 100-point scale, inspectors review a wide range of public health standards. Ships earning scores of 86 or higher are considered satisfactory. Carnival Jubilee’s previous inspection, in October of 2025, earned the ship a score of 97.
The 183,521-gross-ton ship sails Western Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.
Flushed Towel Causes a Big Problem on Cruise Ship
In virtually every bathroom, in every cabin, in every cruise ship operating today, a sign above the toilet reminds guests that only toilet paper should be flushed. But apparently, that didn’t sink in with one passenger aboard the current sailing of MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia.
The ship, which departed March 15, 2026, on a 7-night Bahamas cruise from New York, suffered a blockage in its toilet and sewage system after someone apparently flushed a cotton towel.
In a notice to guests, the ship’s management informed passengers of the technical issue and said engineers were working to correct the problem.
The news made its way to social media and, oddly, some former passengers posted comments indicating that they had received similar notices on previous MSC Meraviglia cruises.
Those notices remain a mystery, but other former guests also commented about sewage smells and other plumbing problems on the ship, which entered service in 2017.
Fortunately, MSC Meraviglia is due to enter dry dock for routine maintenance in April 2026, so any ongoing plumbing issues are likely to be addressed. Meanwhile, the ship’s current cruise is proceeding normally, with no changes to its itinerary. MSC Cruises also later confirmed that there are currently no issues onboard.
First Glance at Royal Beach Club Lelepa
Royal Caribbean took the wraps off its new Royal Beach Club Lelepa, a private destination in Vanuatu slated to open in October 2027.
Among its features will be a nature trail, an adult-only area, two beaches, various water sports, and multiple food and drink venues featuring local cuisine.
Visits to the beach club will be included in guests’ cruise fare. Lounge chairs, towels, and umbrellas will be complimentary to guests, while comfy daybeds will be offered for rent. A retail area will offer souvenirs and other locally made goods.
Remote and exotic, Vanuatu is known for its crystal clear blue waters, active volcanoes, and pristine dive sites. The destination is a South Pacific archipelago roughly 1,500 miles east of Australia.
When it opens, Royal Beach Club Lelepa will become the first private cruise destination in the Southern Hemisphere.
Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ships to call at the destination.
More Cruise Headlines
There are plenty more important news stories that happened in the past week, so let’s keep going. Check out our coverage of Princess Cruises unveiling new experiences in its North to Alaska program in summer 2026; ongoing hostilities in the Persian Gulf region causing TUI Cruises to cancel more sailings; and MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia refreshing its menus and beverage choices.
Also, one Royal Caribbean holiday cruise in 2026 will feature a rare overnight stay in Cozumel, Mexico; and a proposal to build a larger cruise port in Tampa, Florida, hits a major roadblock.
Cruise News Roundup: Spring Breakers Are Coming, Itinerary Changes, Glacier Dropped