Key Aspects: Celebration Key has officially opened with the arrival of Carnival Vista, the first ship to visit the new private destination on Grand Bahama island. Opening festivities included live music, dignitary visits, fireworks, a ribbon cutting, and much more to celebrate the first ship visit. Celebration Key cost $600 million to build and Phase
Key Aspects: A Carnival cruise guest expressed concerns about potential shark attacks while swimming in the ocean at the newly opened Celebration Key. Brand Ambassador John Heald and the data both confirm that shark attacks are extremely unlikely. If guests are still nervous, there are plenty of ways to participate in water-filled fun at Celebration
Private island visits can be an amazing part of a cruise vacation and are even more enjoyable when the weather lines up just right – not too hot, gorgeous skies, and that perfect turquoise water. Those were exactly the conditions when Norwegian Aqua approached Great Stirrup Cay at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025,
Let’s dig into Cruise Hive’s weekly news recap, keeping you up to date on the industry’s big developments. Some of the top stories this week feature the soon-to-open Celebration Key, a new express coffee service from Carnival Cruise Line, and all-new entertainment planned for Princess Cruises’ newest ship. Make sure you stay well informed by
Key Aspects: Holland America Line alerted guests to unrest in Torre Pacheco, which is around 69 miles from the cruise port in Alicante, Spain. The area around Alicante’s cruise port is still considered safe, and the warning was issued out of an abundance of caution. More cruise ships will be calling on Alicante this summer
Key Aspects: 18 outbreaks of illness on cruise ships have been reported to the CDC in 2025, which means this year is on track for more outbreaks than 2024. Despite layoffs, the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation program continues to monitor cruise ships to ensure health and safety standards are being met and to track outbreaks. The
Two-and-a-half years after the first steel was cut for Star of the Seas’ hull construction, Royal Caribbean’s second Icon-class ship has officially left the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and will soon enter service. The 248,663-gross-ton vessel, sister to Icon of the Seas, was delivered to the cruise line on July 10, 2025 during a
Virgin Voyages has announced its first-ever True Crime Cruise, which will coincide with the 2025 Halloween season. The 5-night Caribbean sailing will be hosted onboard Valiant Lady and will embark from Miami on October 10, 2025. During the cruise, true crime fans will get to enjoy live podcast recordings, meet-and-greets with top podcasters, and more.
Key Aspects: The number of cruise terminals at Barcelona’s Adossat wharf will be cut from seven to five. Terminals A, B, and C will be demolished, and a brand new terminal with a capacity for 7,000 guests will open at the location of terminal C by 2030. Additional measures are being taken to improve sustainability
On July 16, 2025, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an official report of the 18th outbreak to happen on a cruise ship this year. Navigator of the Seas disembarked guests on July 11, which is the same day the crew sent the report of a gastrointestinal illness outbreak to the
The Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, is a popular port for East Coast cruises headed out to the Bahamas, Bermuda, New England or Canada. It’s easily accessible for those who live in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, and arguably easier to drive to than the Manhattan NYC cruise port. Myriad cruise
If you’ve ever wondered how a Holland America Line cruise ship really operates, you’ve got to look past the public spaces and staterooms and explore the inner workings of the vessel. That opportunity is once again a reality, since the cruise line has resumed offering its behind-the-scenes ship tours. These insider peeks at places most
