Key Aspects: The former Costa Magica, which once sailed under Carnival’s Costa Cruises brand, has a new owner. She has been sold to Tianjin Orient International Cruises to expand cruising out of Tianjin, China. The vessel will likely undergo quite a bit of repairs and refurbishments before debuting to Chinese clientele in summer of 2026.
Key Aspects: Carnival Horizon continues to sail slowly and her visit to Grand Cayman has been cancelled to compensate. Repairs are underway, but it is not possible to maintain the original itinerary for the 6-night cruise. There is no confirmation about any additional sailings or if more adjustments may still be necessary. After returning to
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean is introducing a Duckie-Go-Round carousel onboard Legend of the Seas. The whimsical duck-themed ride is a nod to the popular cruising ducks phenomenon that guests love. Each duck has a quirky, different theme and personality linked to the onboard fun the ship offers. The cruising ducks phenomenon continues to fly far
Key Aspects: Queen Mary 2 has docked in Bremerhaven instead of Hamburg to facilitate propulsion repairs. The next sailing, a 2-night cruise returning to Southampton, has been cancelled. There is no word yet on whether her upcoming transatlantic cruise will be adjusted or cancelled. While enjoying a Northern Lights itinerary, Queen Mary 2 has now
Key Aspects Biscayne Boulevard will have detours and road restrictions in place from August 1 to 4, 2025. Several Carnival Cruise Line ships are due to depart during the roadwork schedule. Booked guests are advised to leave extra time for potential traffic delays. Arriving in a timely manner at a cruise departure port is the
Key Aspects: The US government has reissued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Travel Advisory for the chilly continent of Antarctica. The reasoning behind the advisory is that Antarctica is prone to hazards caused by extreme and unpredictable weather, which is worsening with global warming. Cruising to Antarctica is still safe, especially when sailing with
Key Aspects: Norwegian Pearl will visit Norfolk, Virginia, as a port of call on 20 cruises from April through August 2027. The port visit will be part of Bermuda itineraries, but offers a rare extra port for guests to enjoy. Growing interest in Norfolk ensures more opportunities for eager guests as the cruise port completes
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean is continuing to cancel all calls to Labadee, Haiti, at least through October 2025. More than 20 sailings across five ships have confirmed itinerary changes, removing Labadee visits. Haiti remains under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory from the US Department of State due to violence and crime. Guests booked
Key Aspects: Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revamped its “elegant casual” evening dress code to be more relaxed, with the new guidelines coming into effect on August 1, 2025. Thanks to the change, passengers can now wear refined denim and dress sneakers, which previously wasn’t allowed. Some fans of the luxury cruise line are worried
Key Aspects: Celebration Key visitors have noted an abundance of bees, which can be a problem for those with phobias or allergies. Carnival Cruise Line is taking mitigation steps to reduce the bee population near public areas so guests are not alarmed. First aid stations are equipped with allergy medications and guests can also purchase
Key Aspects: Following a controversial post, Carnival cruise fans are once again debating when and if saving seats for shows onboard is appropriate. One side of the argument thinks that it’s okay to save seats under certain circumstances, but others say that the practice should never be allowed. Notably, Carnival does not permit seat saving
Key Aspects: Pride of America left more than 300 individuals behind at her emergency departure from Hilo due to tsunami evacuation measures. The ship will return to Hilo Harbor once a required safety assessment is complete and the harbor has reopened. No itinerary changes have yet been confirmed, but the ship will be unable to
