Key Aspects: Holland America Line is adding new bandstands beside the Lido Pools aboard Oosterdam and Zuiderdam. These new venues will host live performers, sailaway entertainment, special events, and activities. The additions are part of Holland America’s over $500 million Evolution program, which will overhaul six ships beginning with Oosterdam in 2027. Holland America Line
Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador is reminding guests that crew members cannot accept homemade food as gifts. When crew members refuse such a gift, guests are urged not to remove gratuities but to understand they’re just following the rules. Only pre-packaged, factory-sealed, unopened food and snack items may be brought onboard Carnival cruise
Key Aspects: Pelican Plunge on Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay in the Bahamas is temporarily closed for refurbishment. The cruise line has not announced any reopening date for the floating platform and its two waterslides. Because Castaway Cay does not have extensive waterslides, the closure will be disappointing to many guests. Castaway Cay, one of
Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line is no longer offering an official Cruise Elegant evening on every short sailing. On “select” 3- and 4-night cruises, the formal event is being replaced with a “White Hot Night” theme. Professional photographers are still available with multiple backdrops regardless of the scheduled theme. The opportunity to dress in one’s
Key Aspects: Recent rainfall has improved water levels on parts of Europe’s Danube and Rhine rivers, but cruise lines are warning guests of possible continued disruptions. Emerald Cruises has already changed the ship assigned to an upcoming Danube cruise as conditions near Budapest and Bratislava remain uncertain. Viking and Saga are also warning passengers of
Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean has delayed Serenade of the Seas’ August 30 Alaska cruise by two days for additional maintenance in Vancouver. The shortened voyage will now depart September 1 and call only at Ketchikan and Prince Rupert before returning to Vancouver on September 6. Guests can sail with onboard credit and future cruise credit
There’s nothing better than learning more and seeing a shiny new cruise ship enter service. Knowing how a new ship became reality and what new features are onboard is one of the best things about the cruise industry. So, on this page we’ll keep you updated on new orders from all the major cruise lines
Key Aspects: Shipping fees for Princess Cruises’ Medallions have increased by $2 for guests in the US and Canada. The shipping rate increase is effective from Thursday, August 20, 2026 for all new orders. Guests may still pick up their Medallions for free during embarkation check-in at the cruise terminal. Princess Cruises’ guests eager to
Key Aspects: A man’s body has been recovered following a missing guest report from Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition on August 21, 2026. The man’s family has been informed but no further identification details or circumstances of the overboard have been released. Ambition’s debarkation in Dundee, Scotland and subsequent embarkation later that day were briefly delayed
Key Aspects: US Customs and Border Protection arrested 11 foreign national crew members at the Port of Boston on allegations of child exploitation crimes. The crew members were aboard Holland America Line’s Volendam as well as Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway. All arrested crew members will likely be returned to their home countries: 9 to
Key Aspects: A guest was reported missing from Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition on Friday morning, August 21, 2026. No overboard alert was raised at the time, but a full ship-wide search was conducted when the ship docked in Dundee, Scotland. Turnaround operations were briefly delayed, as was embarkation for the next cruise, but no itinerary
Key Aspects: MSC Cruises is making major changes to its winter 2027-2028 deployments, affecting three ships. The cruise line has shifted MSC World Europa to the Western Mediterranean instead of the planned Middle East deployment. Meanwhile, MSC World Asia will move from the Mediterranean to the Southern Caribbean, while MSC Meraviglia is now listed for
