Key Aspects: Port Tampa Bay is continuing to expand and has begun construction on a new cruise terminal. These growth plans are part of ongoing development to support all port operations. This news follows the cancellation of the planned new cruise port south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. While the idea of a new cruise
Key Aspects: Passengers visiting South Korea will be able to receive refunds of VAT and consumption taxes. The Korea Customs Service linked cruise guest manifests to the tax refund system so they could qualify. The program applies to purchases made at about 23,000 designated tax-free retail stores. Short cruise stops in South Korea are about
Key Aspects: Three passengers, who fell during their cruises, are suing Royal Caribbean. The lawsuits blame the cruise line for allowing unsafe conditions onboard and for not properly warning guests of slip hazards. Royal Caribbean prides itself on safety and exceeds safety standards set by regulatory authorities, such as SOLAS. People often say that bad
Key Aspects: Gratuity and Bottomless Bubbles drink package price increases went into effect for Carnival Cruise Line on April 2, 2026. Online calculators can help guests determine the costs of these expenses and how their budget is impacted. The increases were first announced in early February and guests could pre-pay to lock in the previous
Key Aspects: Forecasters predict that there will be 11-16 named storms during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Four to seven of these storms are expected to become full fledged hurricanes. These predictions, however, suggest that the season will be less active than 2025. With the memories of intense 2025 hurricanes like Melissa, Erin, and Imelda
Key Aspects: Norwegian Escape will be returning later than planned to New York at the end of her August 19, 2026 sailing. The change is due to berth availability in Manhattan, but no other itinerary change is noted for the 10-night cruise. The August 29 sailing is also impacted with a delay for embarkation due
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
