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
Key Aspects: A Virgin Voyages passenger tipped a crew member $5,000. The crew member was visibly emotional in the widely shared video. The video has sparked new discussions of the importance of tipping on cruises. A routine conversation between a cruise passenger and a member of the housekeeping crew aboard a Virgin Voyages ship turned
Key Aspects: A German tourist has successfully sued his tour company for chair hogs at a resort in Greece. While a cruise line was not involved in this lawsuit, this could be a precedent for similar legal action. Most cruise lines have policies limiting lounger reservations, but enforcement is inconsistent. Lounging by the pool is
Key Aspects: Due to the findings of a recent inspection, Seward’s revitalized cruise terminal needs a little more time before opening. The opening date has been pushed back from May 14, 2026, to May 22, 2026. During the delay, cruise ships bound for Seward are being rerouted to the nearby Whittier, Alaska. Seward’s revitalized cruise
Key Aspects: Carnival’s Mardi Gras came to the aid of a disabled boat near Sebastian’s Inlet. Nine people were successfully rescued and brought onboard, and their boat was later retrieved by the US Coast Guard. The refugees were handed over to Bahamian authorities in Nassau the morning after the rescue. Carnival Cruise Line to the
Key Aspects: Radiance of the Seas temporarily lost power after departing Cozumel on May 16, 2026. Guests reported the ship went dark and drifted for a period before propulsion was restored. Passengers also reported the ship had returned to Cozumel before the outage to deal with a medical emergency. Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas experienced
Key Aspects: A burst pipe onboard Enchanted Princess caused massive flooding on Decks 5 and 6 on Friday, May 15. The ship was docked in Santorini at the time and crew members sprang into action for cleanup and repairs. There was no delay in the ship’s overall itinerary and some guests never even knew the
Key Aspects: Purchasing Royal Caribbean’s The Key upgrade gives you access to several upgrades. Upgrades make your cruise a more convenient and less hectic experience. Evaluating The Key perks before purchasing ensures it’s worth the investment for your specific cruise. The Key upgrade from Royal Caribbean gives you a bundle of perks for an extra
Key Aspects: US District Court Judge Lance Walker has overturned Bar Harbor’s daily passenger cap of 1,000 guests. The ordinance has been deemed unconstitutional outside of July and August, which are the busiest times for tourism. Cruise tourism has steadily decreased in Bar Harbor since the ordinance went into effect, and it could take years
Key Aspects: A ceiling panel collapsed aboard Norwegian Luna during a Caribbean sailing on May 14, 2026. The incident took place inside The Local Bar & Grill, the 24-hour eatery located on Deck 8. The cruise line confirmed several guests were treated for minor injuries. A dinner aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship quickly turned chaotic after
