Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line will use a hotel for check-in for its new Philadelphia season. Guests must shuttle to and from the Clarion Hotel near the airport for embarkation and disembarkation. The temporary process is due to PhilaPort’s construction delays. When Philadelphia was added as a new homeport for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in
Key Aspects: Starting on April 3, 2026, guests of Norwegian Cruise Line can pre-reserve parking for embarkations in Miami, Florida. The reservations allow guests to prepay and guarantee that they will have a parking spot on-site. Reservations will be offered through ParkWhiz and must be made by midnight on the day before sailing. The days
Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line used to allow guests to reserve their seats at many of the onboard shows in advance. But as of April 1, pre-cruise show bookings will no longer be available. This eliminates the pressure to reserve show seating before setting sail, but may lead to other challenges onboard for theater lovers.
Key Aspects: A redeployment has cancelled Mariner of the Seas sailings in 2007. Guests received a letter informing them of the change and outlining options. It comes as Royal Caribbean is moving Freedom of the Seas to sail from the UK instead. Thousands of Royal Caribbean cruisers just had their plans shaken up as two
Key Aspects: A toddler broke his femur while playing in the Nemo’s Reef Splash Pad onboard Disney Dream. The family recently returned to the Disney ship to find that the play area had been modified to make it safer. It’s unclear if the changes were or will be carried over to Disney Fantasy, which has
Key Aspects: Cruise passengers sailing from Flynn Cruiseport Boston were alerted that check-in will begin under a tent outside the terminal. The cruise port is undergoing massive renovations, with construction affecting space within the terminal. Guests are being told to arrive only at their assigned boarding time due to limited indoor space. Embarkation in Boston
Key Aspects: Two April Fool’s Day jokes have confused Carnival Cruise Line guests about whether they are real or not. Brand ambassador John Heald has firmly debunked both rumors, one about ducks and one about loyalty. Heald continues to use familiar jokes when communicating with guests, but without confusing them as true announcements. Carnival Cruise
Key Aspects: Three popular former Carnival cruise directors will be hosts for a “Legends at Sea” themed group cruise in May 2027. The unique event will be aboard Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, a new ship coming to the line in January 2027. Matt Mitcham, Steven Schwartz, and Jonathan “Cookie” Adams are the scheduled hosts. Carnival
Key Aspects: Carnival Miracle has received an itinerary change for its October 16 and October 26 departures in 2027. Both sailings will now call at Souda (Chania), in Crete, Greece, instead of Santorini, Greece. The ship’s only other 10-night sailing to Greece in 2027, which embarks on September 28, is unchanged. Carnival Miracle will only
Key Aspects: An online “influencer” has called out Guy’s Burger Joint for its short hours. John Heald has addressed their concerns, including costs, crew staffing, and extra charges for burgers. At this time, there are no changes planned for Guy’s Burger Joint onboard Carnival ships. If you know, you know – there’s nothing like a
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean Group and Bank of America announced two new rewards credit card options. The new cards offer rewards points on everyday purchases towards all three brands. This is just the latest in a recent trend of Royal Caribbean Group expanding its loyalty programs. Cruises are about to get a whole new exciting
Key Aspects: Koningsdam has returned to service after a 2-week dry dock in the Bahamas. Work included adding new cabins and upgrades to increase the ship’s capacity for families and groups. Entertainment venues, dining rooms, the casino, public spaces, and the fitness center have also received glow-ups. Guests boarding Holland America Line’s Koningsdam this week are stepping onto
