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Norwegian Cruise Line Settles Lawsuit Over Bermuda Drowning Death

Norwegian Cruise Line News

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Apr 7, 2026

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Norwegian Cruise Line Settles Lawsuit Over Bermuda Drowning Death

Key Aspects:

Over two years after a father drowned during an NCL shore excursion, the legal battle is finally coming to a close.
The family claimed that the cruise line did not properly warn guests about the risks associated with the Bermuda-based tour.
Norwegian Cruise Line agreed to settle with only days to go before the trial would have begun.

An unfortunate legal battle between Norwegian Cruise Line and the Shin family is finally coming to a close.

Hyon Duk Shin, his wife, their two sons, and Shin’s mother were all sailing together onboard the 145,655-gross ton Norwegian Getaway, when Shin died during a shore excursion in Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay on March 27, 2024.

The father was snorkeling with his young boys, who were just 7 and 9-years-old at the time, when he noticed a girl drifting away from the beach due to a strong rip current. Shin rescued the child, before becoming overpowered by the current and drowning.

Cruise Hive reported that the Shin family filed a lawsuit accusing Norwegian Cruise Line of negligence on March 25, 2025, nearly one year after the father’s untimely passing.

The filing claimed that NCL did not warn guests of the dangerous currents, that there were not enough lifeguards supervising the excursion, and that the cruise line did not disclose previous drowning deaths in the area.

Norwegian Cruise Line Agrees to Settle

Just two days before a bench trial was due to begin on April 6, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Shin family agreed to settle the lawsuit outside of the courtroom.

The details of the settlement are not publicly available, but it will take approximately 45 days for the proper paperwork to be filed and for a stipulation of dismissal to be filed with prejudice, which means the plaintiff cannot refile the same lawsuit ever again.

Shin’s relatives claimed that the cruise line should have been aware of the drowning risk at Horseshoe Bay due to previous incidents at the famous pink-sand beach.

NCL, on the other hand, argued that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently prove that the cruise line had notice of the risk to swimmers.

According to the cruise line’s request for summary judgment, which was denied in March 2026, NCL stated that it did not have a duty to warn of “the dangers associated with open bodies of water because they are open and obvious as a matter of law.”

For context, Norwegian Cruise Line would have filed the summary judgement in the hopes of deciding the case without a trial, which is a time consuming and costly undertaking.

However, US District Judge Cecilia Altonaga denied the motion because there was no clear-cut answer on whether NCL had advance notice of the dangerous conditions at the beach.

The judge cited other incidents with swimmers at the beach and pointed out that the captain’s log for Norwegian Getaway indicated that strong winds were present in the port at the time of Shin’s death, which could have caused rip currents.

Horseshoe Bay Beach, Hamilton, Bermuda (Photo Credit: Deron Levy / Shutterstock)

“NCL acknowledges it owed its passengers a ‘duty to warn of known dangers in places where passengers are invited or reasonably expected to visit,” Judge Altonaga said in her denial.

“Because plaintiffs were invited to or could be expected to visit the beach, NCL had a duty to warn its passengers of known dangers there,” she continued.

Ultimately, settling likely became the best way for the cruise line to concede without spending even more money on things like expert witness costs, court fees, and other legal expenses.

Bermuda Shore Excursion Still For Sale

Believe it or not, the shore excursion booked by the Shin family is still available to other guests. Called the “Horseshoe Bay Beach Transfer,” the 4-hour experience costs $59.99 for adults and $49.99 for kids.

Despite the lawsuit, the tour page on NCL’s website still lists the tour as an “easy” activity and does not note any warnings about dangerous currents or drowning risk.

But elsewhere on its website, Norwegian Cruise Line states that tours are operated by independent providers and the cruise line is not responsible for any injuries, losses, or damages while guests are participating.

“NCL makes arrangements for Guests for Shore Excursions solely for the convenience of the Guest; NCL does not act on behalf of or supervise the parties or persons who own, furnish, or operate such excursions, and the same are provided by independent contractors,” the cruise line wrote.

“NCL assumes no responsibility for, nor guarantees the performance of, any such excursion provider, and Guests acknowledge that NCL shall not be liable for losses or injuries arising from the acts or omissions of such provider,” the brand continued.

The 3,903-guest Norwegian Getaway has moved on from Bermuda and is currently operating round-trip sailings to the Bahamas from Miami.

However, Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Jewel are currently sailing to Bermuda, where guests can still visit Horseshoe Bay Beach.

Holland America Guests to Face Higher Daily Gratuities and Service Charges

Holland America Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Apr 7, 2026

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Holland America Guests to Face Higher Daily Gratuities and Service Charges

Key Aspects:

Holland America Line is increasing gratuities and service charges for all sailings after June 1, 2026.
Gratuities will go up $1 per person, per day, while service charges will be 20% instead of 18%.
The increase follows similar increases on Carnival Cruise Line, a sister line to Holland America Line.

Guests enjoying the great service that Holland America Line provides on every cruise will be paying a bit more in gratuities this summer. Booked guests have noted that pre-paid gratuity options have quietly been increased $1 per day for all guests.

This makes the new “crew appreciation” rates $18 (USD) per person, per day for most staterooms and $20 per person, per day for all suites. This is only a small increase from the previous rates, but small increases can add up in guest budgets.

The increase was not firmly announced but has been noticed on existing bookings as guests seek to pre-pay for gratuities for their upcoming sailings.

Travel agents have confirmed the change will be implemented for sailings departing on or after June 1, 2026. While these charges are added to guests’ onboard accounts for convenience, they remain at the discretion of guests and can be adjusted if desired.

Similarly, the onboard service fees for restaurants and beverages are increasing as well, from 18% to 20% of the various charges. These service charges are not considered gratuities and cannot be adjusted or removed.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on a similar increase for Carnival Cruise Line gratuities that took effect on April 2. On that line, the increase was also $1 per person, per day for all stateroom types.

Both cruise lines are part of the Carnival Corporation & plc family, but they are operated independently and with different policies and budgets.

How Other Cruise Lines Compare

The revised gratuity rates are comparable to those of other cruise lines in the industry. Royal Caribbean is slightly higher at $18.50 per person, per day, while Norwegian Cruise Line is higher still at $20 per person, per day.

Margaritaville at Sea also recently raised gratuities to $22 per person, per day, among the highest rates in the industry. That cruise line’s policy is that gratuities cannot be adjusted or removed.

It is not unusual for gratuity increases to come in waves across multiple cruise lines. Once one line establishes such an increase, other lines typically follow within a few weeks or months.

Holland America Ship Funnels (Photo Credit: Luis Ayerves Photography)

These types of fees are subject to change at any time, and when they are increased, it is usually only by a dollar or two per person, per day.

Cruise Hive regularly reports on gratuity increases, as guests need to plan appropriately for such costs in their cruise vacation and travelers on a tighter budget might not be expecting the increase. A family of four on a 7-night Holland America Line sailing in a balcony stateroom, for example, will pay $476 in gratuities at the end of May. At the beginning of June, that will increase to $504.

Who Gets Tips on Holland America Line?

Tipping culture and exactly how cruise lines break down which gratuities go to whom can be confusing. While most cruise guests expect their gratuities to go to their stateroom steward and dining team, there are other personnel who benefit from the crew appreciation payments.

Holland America Line describes their policy as the crew appreciation being “pooled to support team members across the ship who contribute to your experience, including roles you see every day, and those working quietly in the background.”

Guests are always welcome to add extra cash gratuities for crew members who make their experiences extra special or who might perform extra services. Crew members keep those extra tips and are always grateful for the acknowledgment.

Carnival Guests Flooded With Dozens of Identical Emails in Sudden System Glitch

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Apr 6, 2026

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Carnival Guests Flooded With Dozens of Identical Emails in Sudden System Glitch

Key Aspects:

Carnival guests have been flooded with dozens of identical promotional emails in just a few minutes.
The emails appear to be linked to the new Carnival Millions digital lottery or other casino offers.
Carnival Cruise Line has not acknowledged the email glitch, but it does appear to be resolved.

Every guest who has enjoyed a cruise vacation will suddenly find new offers and promotions in their email inbox, enticing them to make future bookings or add packages to existing reservations.

Carnival cruise guests, however, have recently found their inboxes filled with not just one or two messages from the cruise line, but dozens sent within just a few minutes.

The email flood seems to have been a tech glitch that filled select email inboxes with “Your Shot at Millions” emails. Some guests report as many as 30-50 emails sent nearly simultaneously.

At first, it may seem the emails were an April Fool’s Day prank, though it would be highly unusual for a cruise line to potentially alienate loyal guests with so much spam in such a short period. Furthermore, some guests received the mass of emails on April 2 or April 3, not just on April 1.

Cruise Hive previously reported on April Fool’s Day pranks such as rolling back the loyalty program and banning cruise ducks. Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, quickly debunked those rumors.

This email glitch, however, does appear to have been a legitimate technology issue. Not all Carnival Cruise Line guests have been inundated with the emails, however, so it may be limited to guests who have certain preferences with the cruise line or else who are eligible for certain special offers, such as through the casino.

It is also possible that the email is connected to the new instant digital lottery the cruise line launched in late March. The fleetwide “Carnival Millions” lottery gives guests the chance to win jackpots up to $1 million through the Carnival Hub app and daily drawings.

Carnival Email Glitch (Credit: Ernestine McMurtrey)

Most guests are magnanimous about the glitch, noting that technology issues do occasionally happen. Jokes about having a “one in a million shot” at being a lucky email recipient are getting plenty of laughs.

Carnival Cruise Line has not directly acknowledged the glitch, but the flood of emails seems to have ebbed. Guests are now only receiving typical promotional offers and reminder emails.

Carnival Tech Issues Do Happen

This is not the first time Carnival Cruise Line has had tech issues impacting guests. Occasional website issues happen when updates may not be compatible with users’ devices, and everyone experiences email glitches now and then.

In early February 2026, massive technology disruptions caused severe fleetwide problems for the cruise line. The widespread outages impacted not only guests using Carnival’s website, but also affected onboard internet access, delayed embarkation and debarkation on multiple ships, slowed onboard retail and casino operations, and much more.

In fact, Carnival Cruise Line’s president, Christine Duffy, issued an apology letter over the disruptions. Impacted guests received refunds for WiFi packages they weren’t able to use.

There is no indication that the recent email flood is at all related to the earlier tech concerns, nor have any ship or website operations been impacted.

It is possible that the email problems might trigger some automatic spam responses from email filters, depending on the email program individual guests use.

Guests booked on upcoming Carnival cruises should check their email folders and settings to be sure they don’t miss any legitimate and informative emails, such as payment or documentation reminders, itinerary changes, or embarkation delays.

Cruise Ship Left Stuck Near the Iconic Cast Away Movie Island

Port News

Lissa Poirot

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Apr 6, 2026

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Cruise Ship Left Stuck Near the Iconic Cast Away Movie Island

Key Aspects:

The small cruise ship Fiji Princess ran aground on a coral reef near Monuriki Island in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands.
About 30 passengers and 17 crew members were safely transferred to Port Denarau with no reported injuries.
Authorities and salvage crews are removing fuel, assessing damage, and planning for the ship’s recovery from the reef.

A small cruise ship sailing through Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands ran aground on a coral reef over the weekend, forcing the evacuation of all passengers and prompting an emergency response to protect the surrounding marine environment.

The vessel, the Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, struck a reef near Monuriki Island in the early hours of April 4, 2026, while on a 7-day itinerary in the region.

The island is widely known as the filming location for the 2000 movie “Cast Away,” starring Tom Hanks.

Thirty passengers and roughly 30 crew members were on board when the incident occurred during an overnight visit. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were evacuated the following morning after a fast ferry arrived alongside the ship.

The cruise line said the ship had anchored in calm conditions but was pushed toward the reef by sudden severe weather.

“Whilst it is very early in the investigation, conditions upon the ship anchoring in the area were calm, and it appears a severe squall cause the ship’s anchor to drag towards a nearby reef where the ship became grounded,” Blue Lagoon Cruises said in a statement to local media.

Guests and 17 non-essential crew members were taken ashore with their luggage and transported back to Port Denarau on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

Authorities say the ship suffered damage to its rear section and steering area after the grounding. The vessel also experienced engine failure and began taking on water following the impact.

Fiji Princess (Photo Credit: Blue Lagoon Cruises)

“Initial checks confirmed that the vessel has suffered serious damage to its rear left side, including the area where the steering equipment is located,” said the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji in a statement. “Part of the vessel underneath has also been damaged.”

Further investigation has been delayed due to rough seas and strong waves, with the Fiji Meteorological Service reporting heavy rain, strong winds, and flash flooding in the islands due to nearby Tropical Cyclone Vaianu.

Salvage Crews Work to Prevent Pollution

While all passengers were safely evacuated, Fiji Princess remains stuck on the reef as authorities and salvage teams assess how to refloat or recover the vessel.

A major concern for authorities has been the approximately 5,300 gallons of diesel fuel onboard the vessel, which could pose an environmental risk if released into the surrounding reef system.

At the time of inspection by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, no damage to the fuel tanks was uncovered.

To reduce the risk of a spill, crews began removing pumpable fuel and other oils from the ship as a precaution. By April 6, 2026, officials said much of the fuel had been transferred off the vessel.

Salvage operations are being coordinated between Blue Lagoon Cruises, the Fiji Navy, and maritime safety officials. A marine recovery specialist from Australia also arrived on site to oversee the recovery process and determine the next steps for stabilizing the ship and removing it from the reef.

However, rough sea conditions are holding up the process, with the Maritime Safety Authority saying it is not safe or effective to put equipment into the water at this time.

Some crew members have remained nearby to assist with savage efforts and are temporarily staying aboard the vessel’s sister ship while work continues.

Monuriki Island lies about 45 kilometers west of Nadi and is a part of the Mamanuca Islands chain, an area known for coral reefs, lagoons, and tourism.

Valiant Lady Makes Rare Charleston Stop as Repositioning Takes Dramatic Turn

Virgin Voyages News

Melissa Mayntz

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Apr 6, 2026

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Valiant Lady Makes Rare Charleston Stop as Repositioning Takes Dramatic Turn

Key Aspects:

Valiant Lady made her inaugural visit to Charleston on April 3 as she headed for New York.
The ship is the largest by gross tonnage to ever call on the South Carolina port.
Valiant Lady‘s next sailing is also unique with a dramatic itinerary change from Bermuda to Canada.

Virgin Voyages ships often have very diverse deployments, moving between homeports with limited departures to bring the unique adults-only vibe to cruisers all over the world.

As she moves from the Caribbean to Europe, Valiant Lady has been making some very interesting port visits, both as part of unique itineraries and as a result of weather-related changes.

On the ship’s 9-night sailing from San Juan to New York that departed on March 28, for example, she visited Charleston, South Carolina for the first time. Valiant Lady enjoyed the port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, giving guests plenty of time to experience the southern city’s charm.

Cruise Hive has previously reported that Charleston is no longer a cruise homeport, but the city still welcomes various vessels for day visits from major cruise lines.

While Valiant Lady is the first major ship to visit South Carolina this month, other ships with calls planned to Charleston in the coming weeks include Seven Seas Grandeur, Vision of the Seas, and Norwegian Jewel.

Valiant Lady will also be back to Charleston on Thursday, April 23, as part of a “Bermuda Beauty to East Coast Elegance” sailing that is her last roundtrip departure from New York before she heads across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean for the summer.

Valiant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Imaxe Press)

As a matter of interest, at 110,000 gross tons, Valiant Lady is the largest ship (by gross tonnage) to visit Charleston. She is not the largest by passenger capacity, however.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine was homeported in Charleston for years. At just under 104,000 gross tons, Carnival Sunshine is a smaller ship, but she carries as many as 3,002 guests. Valiant Lady, on the other hand, welcomes just 2,770 guests per sailing.

Next Valiant Lady Cruise Also Unique

While repositioning sailings often feature unique port visits, Valiant Lady‘s next cruise will also be more unique than originally intended.

Cruise Hive has already reported that the lady ship will be unable to visit Bermuda as planned due to poor weather. Instead, the ship is heading to Canada and will be visiting Saint John, New Brunswick.

The shift will be quite a dramatic change for guests who had been planning for tropical temperatures for their 5-night sailing, but now might have a chance of snow when they visit Canada.

Because of cool weather, the cruise season in Saint John doesn’t typically start until the summer months. In 2026, Carnival Venezia was to have been the first ship to visit when she arrives on Saturday, June 20, as part of a 5-night sailing from New York.

Instead, Valiant Lady will beat Carnival Venezia by more than two months. The Virgin Voyages ship will also be back to Saint John later in the season as part of an 8-night fall foliage sailing that departs New York on September 19, her first Big Apple departure after she returns from her summer in Europe.

During the summer, traffic is slow in Saint John with just three visits from Holland America Line, one from Norwegian Cruise Line, one from Royal Caribbean, and the Carnival Venezia visit.

In the autumn, however, the maritime port will see many more visits from travelers eager to see the brilliant fall foliage and enjoy the great temperatures and beauty of the region. Ships from Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, MSC Cruises, and more will join the lineup.

The September 23 visit of Valiant Lady will be Virgin Voyages’ only other call on the port this year, provided there are no further weather-related shifts or unexpected visits, which is always a possibility.

Princess Cruise Oversold, Asks Passenger to Give up Cabins

Princess Cruises News

Lissa Poirot

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Apr 6, 2026

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Princess Cruise Oversold, Asks Passenger to Give up Cabins

Key Aspects:

Princess Cruises oversold the Discovery Princess’ April 7, 2026, transpacific repositioning cruise.
The cruise line is offering some passengers a full refund plus a 100 percent future cruise credit if they voluntarily give up their cabins.
Passengers are also being offered $1,500 for travel expenses reimbursement.

Some passengers preparing to board an April 7, 2026, sailing on Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess received an unexpected message shortly before embarkation: Princess Cruises is asking guests to voluntarily change their plans.

The notice, sent to guests booked on the voyage, offers a full refund and a free sailing with a future cruise credit if they agree to move to a later sailing.

“Due to the popularity of your upcoming April 7th cruise on Discovery Princess you are eligible for exceptional savings should you choose to change your travel arrangements,” a letter shared by one passenger stated.

It went on to offer a 100 percent refund now, as well as 100 percent cruise fare paid as a bonus future cruise credit, valid for 2 years.

The message also said the cruise line would reimburse up to $1,500 per person for private travel expenses, such as airfare, provided documentation is submitted.

The sailing in question is a 30-night transpacific repositioning voyage beginning in Sydney, Australia, where Discovery Princess was based for an Australian season.

The vessel is traveling across the Pacific to start a summer season in Alaska with calls in New Zealand, French Polynesia, Hawaii, and the US West Coast before finishing in her next homeport of Vancouver on May 6, 2026.

Discovery Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)

Several passengers posted about the request on social media, with one receiving the message after landing in Sydney following a 17-hour flight.

“Flew from Texas to Sydney for this. Would need to reschedule for next April if I wanted to do the same trip, and find my way back to Texas now,” she said.

Others on the same sailing, including several guests from Australia, reported they did not receive the offer at all, suggesting Princess Cruises may have targeted specific bookings based on cabin category, which appeared to be balcony staterooms.

Why Cruises Sometimes Oversell

Overselling cabins is a practice used across the travel industry, though many cruise passengers are surprised to learn it happens at sea.

Cruise lines, like hotels and airlines, rely on historical data showing that some guests cancel before sailing or never show up at the port. To avoid empty cabins, companies may sell slightly more reservations than the ship technically holds.

For Discovery Princess, a 145,00-gross-ton ship, the vessel can accommodate up to 3,660 passengers at double capacity.

When those cancellations do not occur, cruise lines may send “move-over offers” asking guests to voluntarily change sailings in exchange for incentives, much like an oversold flight where an airline may offer passengers to take a later flight for cash incentives.

In the case of Discovery Princess, the offer includes reimbursement for travel expenses to help passengers return home another way.

In most cases, cruise lines will continue raising incentives until enough guests accept the deal, making involuntary removal from a cruise extremely uncommon.

Still, overselling can create major complications for passengers booked on international flights, hotels, and excursions. Travel advisors often recommend comprehensive travel insurance to protect against those costs.

Standard policies may reimburse prepaid expenses if a trip is disrupted for a covered reason, while “cancel for any reason” policies offer additional flexibility, though they typically reimburse only part of the total cost.

Passengers can reduce the chances of being caught in an oversell situation by selecting a specific stateroom instead of booking a “guarantee” category, where the exact cabin is assigned later. Guarantee bookings give cruise lines more flexibility to shift passengers if inventory becomes tight.

For flexible passengers, however, move-overs can turn into a windfall with heavily discounted or even free replacement voyages after accepting the incentive, such is the case for Discovery Princess.

Virgin Voyages Abandons Bermuda Plan and Heads North Instead

Virgin Voyages News

Melissa Mayntz

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Apr 4, 2026

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Virgin Voyages Abandons Bermuda Plan and Heads North Instead

Key Aspects:

Valiant Lady‘s April 6, 2026 5-night sailing will now be going to Canada rather than Bermuda.
The itinerary change is due to poor weather that makes docking unsafe in Bermuda.
The weather difference between the ports is upsetting some guests, but others are making the best of it.

Many cruise guests look forward to sunny skies, beautiful beaches, and tropical temperatures for their cruise vacations. That may be what guests boarding Valiant Lady in New York on Monday, April 6, 2026 had hoped for, but it is not what they will be getting.

Just three days before embarkation, Virgin Voyages reached out to guests to alert them to a drastic itinerary change.

“Due to forecasted weather, it’s become necessary to adjust our itinerary to keep things smooth, safe, and comfortable,” the email read. “Instead of Bermuda, we’ll now be heading to Saint John, New Brunswick.”

That’s right, instead of a visit to Bermuda, Valiant Lady will be visiting Canada, roughly 900 miles north of her planned port visit.

The ship will still enjoy an overnight port visit. Instead of Kings Wharf, however, Valiant Lady will be in Saint John from 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, through 4 a.m. on Thursday, April 9.

This gives guests a full day and into the night to enjoy the charm of the maritime port, even though it may not be the port they had originally planned to visit.

Cruise Hive has frequently reported on port of call changes due to weather. Cruise lines always prioritize safety, and the weather conditions in Bermuda during Valiant Lady’s planned visit are not acceptable.

According to the Bermuda Weather Service, the forecast for the island on Wednesday is deteriorating and not necessarily conducive to a cruise ship visit.

“Occasionally overcast with rain and blustery showers. Winds north-northeasterly moderate, soon increasing northeasterly moderate to strong, possibly strong for a time,” the public forecast reads.

Because docking can be tricky in Bermuda, strong winds can make it challenging to safely navigate a 110,000-gross-ton ship like Valiant Lady to dock securely.

While Saint John will not have the strong winds that could be unsafe for the ship, the temperature difference may be a shock to cruise guests. In Bermuda, the expected high temperature is near 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Saint John, however, the expected high is just 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, Tuesday evening (just before the ship arrives) may see snowfall in Saint John.

Guest Reactions Vary

Many cruise guests are understanding about the switch and the need to prioritize safety, even though it may not be the vacation they had anticipated.

“Wife and I are going to make the most of it. Love my neighbors to the north and I’ve never been there before so I’ll be going in with a positive attitude,” one commenter posted on Reddit.

“I’m not super upset about it. I wasn’t planning on getting off the ship anyway because this is more of a spring break getaway from our kids which we never get to do around this time of year,” another guest explained. “But I do get it sucks for a lot of people. We will make the best out of it and have some more drinks while doing so. Good luck everyone!”

Other travelers are frustrated, however, that Virgin Voyages is only offering $100 in onboard credit for the very dramatic itinerary change.

Guests can opt to cancel their sailing for a future cruise credit instead, but not for a full refund. Many travelers are taking that option in the hopes of rebooking on a more appealing sailing at a later date.

The April 6 departure is Valiant Lady‘s first sailing from New York for the season. She will remain in the Big Apple for just four departures, the last of which is her April 25 sailing, a 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona.

The ship will remain in Europe through the end of August, offering departures not only from Barcelona but also from Rome and Portsmouth on select dates. She will return to New York briefly in the fall, with four different Bermuda itineraries available before she heads to San Juan for winter in the Caribbean.

Mechanical Issue Delays Carnival Horizon and Impacts Next Sailing

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Apr 4, 2026

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Mechanical Issue Delays Carnival Horizon and Impacts Next Sailing

Key Aspects:

A minor mechanical issue has impacted Carnival Horizon‘s speed towards the end of its March 28 sailing.
Carnival has informed guests that the ship will arrive late back at PortMiami on April 5.
Embarkation for the next April 5 sailing is likewise shifted two hours later.

Guests currently onboard Carnival Horizon are going to get a slightly longer vacation than anticipated, as a mechanical issue has slowed the ship. This means she will be returning to Miami a bit later than originally planned on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The delay is not a significant one but may impact guests’ onward travel plans, particularly for anyone who may have hoped to catch an early flight on Sunday morning.

“Our engineers are actively working to repair a minor mechanical issue, which requires us to reduce our speed slightly,” a letter delivered to guests’ staterooms said. “As a result, we now expect to dock in Miami at 8:30 AM, a little later than originally scheduled.”

Carnival Horizon is finishing an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary that departed Miami on Saturday, March 28. The classic “ABC” voyage visited Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.

The ship is now at sea heading back toward the Sunshine State. Satellite tracking confirms a speed of 20 knots (23 miles per hour), which is close to the ship’s top sailing speed of 21.5 knots (25 mph), which seems to indicate that the minor mechanical issue has been successfully resolved.

Nevertheless, Carnival Horizon will still be slightly late back to Miami. Originally, the ship was scheduled to begin debarking at close to 8 a.m., but now debarkation will not likely begin until 9 a.m.

Guests are being asked to vacate their staterooms no later than 8:45 a.m. in order to permit housekeeping teams to turn over the rooms for the next sailing, minimizing any delay between cruises.

Carnival Horizon at PortMiami, Florida (Photo Credit: Just dance)

Carnival Cruise Line has opened the WiFi for the up to 4,977 guests onboard Carnival Horizon to help them adjust travel plans for the revised arrival and debarkation times. This will be essential for travelers who may have arranged taxis, ride shares, or pickups from the cruise terminal.

Some guests may also need to adjust flight times, particularly if they were planning early flights. With seven ships in port in Miami on Sunday, as well as ongoing construction in the area, traffic may continue to be congested as guests leave the port area.

Next Embarkation Delayed

Guests booked on Carnival Horizon‘s next sailing are also being notified about the delay.

The April 5, 2026 cruise is a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary with visits planned for Celebration Key, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman before the ship returns to Miami on Saturday, April 11.

While the overall itinerary is not likely to be impacted by the brief delay, guests are being advised to delay their cruise terminal arrival appointment by two hours to accommodate the change in debarkation for the previous sailing. Further updates to arrival times may yet be forthcoming as the ship arrives, and guests should opt in to text alerts for the latest information.

It is important for debarking guests to have time to claim luggage, clear customs, and exit the terminal and parking areas before new guests begin arriving to start their vacation, or else congestion will become even worse.

Propulsion Issues a Common Concern for Vista Class Ships

This is not the first time Carnival Horizon has had mechanical issues that affect the ship’s cruising speed.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on multiple similar issues for the vessel, including in August 2018, just four months after she first debuted. Other propulsion issues have been noted in 2021 and most recently in November 2025.

Interestingly, the most recent mechanical trouble was also at the end of an 8-night “ABC” itinerary, causing a delay in her return to Miami and a later embarkation for the next sailing.

The cruise line’s other Vista Class ships, Carnival Vista and Carnival Panorama, have likewise had multiple propulsion problems throughout their respective service careers.

Exact details of the propulsion difficulties in any of the instances, including the most current trouble, have not been disclosed, but all other onboard activities, entertainment, dining, and hotel operations are running smoothly.

Virgin Voyages Cancels All Tracy Arm Visits For its Inaugural Alaska Season

Virgin Voyages News

Catie Kovelman

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Apr 4, 2026

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Virgin Voyages Cancels All Tracy Arm Visits For its Inaugural Alaska Season

Key Aspects:

Virgin Voyages has changed Brilliant Lady’s itineraries for her inaugural season in Alaska.
Instead of Tracy Arm Fjord, the ship will cruise through Endicott Arm Fjord.
Tracy Arm continues to be geologically unstable following a major landslide in the summer of 2025.

Brilliant Lady is just a few short months away from becoming the first-ever Virgin Voyages cruise ship to visit Alaska, but her inaugural itineraries will look a little different from what was expected.

Due to ongoing geological instability in the famous Tracy Arm Fjord, the adults-only cruise line has opted to remove the scenic cruising destination from all of its 2026 Alaska itineraries.

Unfortunately, the area within the fjord remains unstable and at an increased risk for landslides following a landslide and tsunami that occurred near the South Sawyer Glacier on August 10, 2025.

Even the 2,770-guest ship’s MerMaiden voyage to Alaska, which embarks in Seattle on May 21, 2026, has been changed.

As a safer alternative, the 110,000-gross ton ship will sail into Endicott Arm, which is very close to Tracy Arm but doesn’t suffer from the same landslide risk. Both fjords have the same entrance point at Holkham Bay, located roughly 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska.

“We wanted to inform you about a change to your Sailor’s upcoming voyage,” Virgin Voyages wrote in a letter to impacted guests and First Mates.

“Your Sailor’s Brilliant Lady voyage will now visit Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier in place of Tracy Arm Fjord due to ongoing landslide risk in the area,” the notice continued.

It’s also worth noting that Virgin Voyages is not the first cruise line to make this decision. In March, Cruise Hive reported that Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line announced that they would also be replacing Tracy Arm with Endicott Arm.

A Historic First Alaska Season

It’s clear that even with the itinerary change, Brilliant Lady’s inaugural season in Alaska will still be one to remember.

As the first Lady ship to be Panama Canal compliant, she is the one and only ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet that can be deployed to the West Coast and Alaska.

After completing the cruise line’s first season in Los Angeles, the 2025-launched ship will arrive in Seattle, Washington, on May 21, 2026, which is the same day her final of four MerMaiden voyages sets sail.

For context, the mid-sized vessel also operated MerMaiden voyages in New York and Miami in 2025, and will embark on her Los Angeles MerMaiden sailing on April 7, 2026.

Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Capturing Images)

The ship will primarily operate 7-night sailings to Alaska, with a few longer voyages and one embarkation in Vancouver thrown into the mix. No other tweaks to the itineraries have been made aside from replacing Tracy Arm.

“The voyage length, ship, and overall experience remain unchanged, and we look forward to delivering an incredible time in Alaska,” Virgin Voyages confirmed.

In addition to Endicott Arm, guests will get to visit Ketchikan, Sitka, and Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada.

Endicott Arm Excursion in the Works

Making this itinerary change especially exciting, Virgin Voyages indicated that a special tour is in the works to make the most of the scenic cruising in Endicott Arm.

“We’ll be adding an exclusive new shore thing at Endicott that you can book once you’re onboard,” the cruise line stated.

Details about what this experience may look like are still under wraps, but cruise guests hope that it will be a boat ride that will give them a closer look at the famous blue ice and the stunning Dawes Glacier.

“If they offer a small boat excursion that day take it, it is worth it,” one cruiser asserted.

“Maybe a ride out on a zodiac from the ship for a closer look at the glaciers? Would be fun if so,” another chimed in.

Typically, Virgin Voyages allows guests to book Shore Things (or shore excursions) starting 135 days ahead of embarkation for RockStar suite guests or 120 days for other passengers.

In this case, the mystery excursion will only be sold onboard. Interested guests will want to make their way to the shore excursion deck on Deck 7 as soon as possible, as availability may be limited.