Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line has revealed the dated, ship-specific designs for the Carnival Rewards Diamond and Platinum pins. Guests at those status levels can pick up the appropriate pin from the onboard photo gallery for sailings beginning September 1, 2026 and later. Pins for Gold status guests have been discontinued with the Carnival Rewards
Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Rewards program begins Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Guests need to be aware of stars, points, and milestone rewards as they move forward with the new spend-based program. Glitches have been reported in the days before the new program launches following a planned website outage. Carnival Cruise Line’s new
Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line is alerting guests to three recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease involving guests who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima in May and July 2026. All testing for the Legionella bacteria onboard has been negative thus far and the cruise line is working with the CDC. It is not known whether the guests
Key Aspects: An HM Coastguard helicopter airlifted a guest from Carnival Legend on the morning of Saturday, August 29, 2026. The ship was traveling in the English Channel at the time of the medical emergency and diverted slightly to meet the helicopter. No delay has been reported for Carnival Legend returning to Dover for debarkation
Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded the specialty dining offer of its Free at Sea package to include all guests in one stateroom. Previously, the package pricing for discounted dining at specialty restaurants only applied to the first two guests. All cruises booked on or after August 26, 2026 will have the new specialty
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean has dropped the “at” in the name of its private Bahamian destination, now Perfect Day CocoCay. The preposition has been removed from marketing materials, the cruise line’s website, and the booking engine. No explanation has been offered for the change, but it does align better with the names of other Royal
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean has narrowed the potential names for Hero of the Seas’ future Chief Dog Officer to seven finalists. Cruisers can cast their vote for their favorite name before CEO Michael Bayley makes the final decision. The dog will become Royal Caribbean’s fourth Chief Dog Officer, following Rover, Sailor, and Skipper aboard the
Key Aspects: Princess Cruises is offering select guests booked on Emerald Princess‘s September 1, 2026 Alaska sailing a full refund plus a future cruise credit to voluntarily change their plans. The future cruise credit is worth 100% of the base cruise fare paid and is valid for two years, while Princess is also offering up
Key Aspects: John Heald has clarified that the new Carnival Rewards program still includes free laundry for Diamond and Platinum guests. The overall amount of complimentary laundry bags depends on sailing length and has been reduced from the VIFP program. Heald also reminds guests that they must opt in to the new program no later
Key Aspects: A Cuban woman who previously worked aboard a cruise ship says she was barred from returning to Cuba for five years after remaining abroad. The woman says Cuban immigration authorities linked the penalty to rules governing citizens working aboard international vessels, though the specific regulation has not been identified. She says she had
Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, PhilaPort, and local officials held a ribbon-cutting for Philadelphia’s new cruise terminal on August 27, 2026. The new terminal is now where Norwegian Jewel docks and will support Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem in future deployments. NCLH donated $20,000 to the local fire department and $30,000 to local Boys
Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line has opened new West Coast sailings from Long Beach for its 2028-2029 season. Baja Mexico cruises ranging from 2 to 3 nights will be offered aboard Carnival Radiance, plus a special 4-night Christmas sailing in December 2028. Meanwhile, Carnival Panorama will operate longer 5-night Mexican Riviera itineraries. Carnival Cruise Line
