Key Aspects: Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition returned to Antwerp after an oil spill closed the Scheldt River. The ship was not affected by the spill but had to remain in port until authorities reopened the waterway. The closure forced itinerary changes before it concludes its 6-night voyage in Portsmouth, UK. Plans for a short cruise through Belgium,
Key Aspects: Enchanted Princess was unable to visit Ajaccio in Corsica on April 9, 2026. Fishermen have been blocking the port during a protest over rising fuel costs. Cruise disruptions should cease going forward as an agreement with the fishermen was reached late on April 9. Two Princess cruise ships have now been blocked from
Key Aspects: Symphony of the Seas will not be sailing from Galveston in 2027 as planned. Instead, the ship will be moved to Fort Lauderdale to offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises. Icon of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will remain sailing from Texas as scheduled. Royal Caribbean is shaking up its 2027
Key Aspects: MSC Group will convert part of the Grand Lucayan Resort into a new 20-acre MSC Beach Club for cruise guests. Construction is set to begin on April 12, 2026. The project is tied to a broader $450 million cruise port development planned for Freeport Harbor. A long-idle portion of one of Grand Bahama’s
Key Aspects: MSC Poesia has finished her extensive dry dock in Malta and is making her way to Alaska. The ship will be the first for MSC Cruises to ever sail in Alaska, offering 7-night cruises from Seattle. The MSC Yacht Club has been added to the ship, plus a thermal suite and other updates.
Key Aspects: Carnival Pride returned to service on April 9, 2026, after a 22-day dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas. Refurbishments included updates to the casino, retail areas, and new carpets and upholstery. The ship resumed year-round sailings from Baltimore with a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. After more than three weeks out of service for maintenance and
Key Aspects: Carnival Spirit has adjusted the itinerary on her current weeklong cruise due to “in-service work” needed. The visit to Bimini was cancelled and Celebration Key was moved to a day later than originally planned. There is no reported disruption to the ship’s onboard operations and the visit to Nassau is not changed. Guests
Key Aspects: Meyer Werft unveiled the project “Vision,” a concept for a fully battery-electric ship. The 82,000-gross-ton ship could carry 1,856 passengers and be delivered by 2031. The design could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95 percent. The idea of a cruise ship powered entirely by batteries is moving closer to reality. German
Key Aspects: MSC Euribia‘s May 2 departure from Kiel has been cancelled as the ship remains in the Arabian Gulf. Guests have rebooking and refund options for their now-cancelled vacation plans. No further itineraries are impacted at this time, but might be necessary in the weeks to come. While the conflict in the Middle East
Key Aspects: The lease agreement for a new cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau has been finalized. Áak’w Landing project is being designed and built by the Huna Totem Corporation. The project will include a dock, retail spaces, and cultural attractions built in three phases. The City and Borough of Juneau and the Huna Totem
Key Aspects: Brilliant Lady arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on April 6, 2026, marking the first Virgin Voyage cruise season operating from California. The ship began its inaugural 5-night “L.A. MerMaiden” sailing on April 7, visiting Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada, Mexico. After several Mexican Riviera sailings, the ship will reposition on May
Key Aspects: Upside-down pineapples on cruises are displayed and worn by swingers to discreetly signal their lifestyle to others. Some cruise lines no longer allow passengers to display non-family-friendly symbols such as pineapples on their cabin doors. A lot of on-ship décor and symbols worn by cruisers have no specific meaning and are just tropical and for fun. If you spot an upside-down pineapple on a
