An elderly Vietnamese couple tragically drowned at Sarakiniko Beach on Milos, Greece on Friday, August 8.
The couple had likely been sailing aboard Celestyal Journey on a 7-night Idyllic Greece itinerary.
Strong winds caused the couple to fall into the water, rough conditions that are not uncommon on Milos.
Even a wonderful cruise vacation to idyllic destinations can be fraught with peril, even leading to life-threatening dangers no matter how beautiful the landscape may look.
Few port destinations are as beautiful as Milos, Greece, with its smooth white cliffs, natural stone arches, and stunning aquamarine waters.
Yet high winds created devastatingly dangerous conditions on the island on Friday, August 8, 2025, ultimately costing a Vietnamese cruise couple their lives.
According to Greek Reporter, the incident happened at Sarakiniko Beach on the island’s north side, where white rocks and turquoise waters meet. The winds reached as high as 50 miles per hour, well into gale force strength.
The 64-year-old female guest was trying to take a selfie (what cruise tourist hasn’t?) when she was unbalanced by the strong winds and fell into the water. Her 65-year-old husband tried to rescue her but was also pulled into the water.
Sadly, both guests drowned. The local conditions initially made recovery challenging, but both guests were eventually located by a private boat and diver. Multiple private boats assisted with search efforts.
In order to safeguard their privacy and that of their families, the couples’ identities have not been released.
While the cruise ship the guests were from has not been confirmed, the only ship visiting Milos on Friday was Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Journey, formerly Holland America Line’s Ryndam.
The ship is homeported from Piraeus (Athens) and was on a 7-night itinerary through the Greek Isles and including Ephesus, Turkey. Milos was the last port visit before Celestyal Journey returned to Athens.
There is no word about whether or not the ship experienced any delays in her return, but the 55,800-gross ton vessel has already departed on her next itinerary.
Weather Risks Not Uncommon at Ports of Call
Strong winds are not unusual at Sarakiniko Beach, which has gotten its ethereal “lunar” landscape features through a combination of wind and wave erosion of the white volcanic rock.
The lack of vegetation and the exposed north shore make the beach particularly vulnerable to strong winds and rough waves. Ferries in the region are often impacted by the weather conditons.
Even on beautiful, clear days, weather can be a risk to cruise ships. In the Bahamas, for example, cruise ships occasionally have to cancel visits to private islands due to tendering or docking risks from ocean swells.
Unexpected geologic events can also have potentially catastrophic impacts on cruises. For example, the tsunami warnings on July 29 caused Pride of America to abruptly leave Hilo, Hawaii with hundreds of guests still ashore.
Earthquakes and volcanoes can cause similar disruptions in geologically active areas, and every cruiser knows the risks of hurricane season, particularly in the Caribbean.
Cruise lines take every possible precaution to safeguard their guests and crew members, but tragic incidents can still occur.
When visiting a port of call, cruise guests should always remain alert to potential hazards. This could be as simple as stepping cautiously on uneven or slippery surfaces, keeping well away from high ledges, or not overestimating one’s swimming skills while snorkeling.
MSC Seascape will homeport in Galveston starting November 9, 2025.
The ship will debut new family entertainment, including LEGO-themed activities.
Returning favorites will also be featured along with the Robotron thrill ride.
As MSC Cruises prepares to bring its 170,400-gross-ton MSC Seascape to homeport in the Texas Galveston, Texas, starting in November 2025, it has revealed new entertainment and activity programming is coming to the lineup.
The November debut will mark the launch of several new family offerings, including a LEGO Parade with onboard characters, a LEGO Family Game Show featuring timed building challenges, and “Boxes,” a mystery game show with prizes.
Families will also see an updated “Doremix Family Disco” with new visuals and tech, a Guinness World Record Family Quiz, and a MasterChef at Sea Juniors kids’ cooking competition.
New tech-focused games will include a Formula 1 Tournament on PlayStation 5 and “Quiz O’Clock,” a trivia format with versions for families, teens, and special themes like musicals or US history.
Said MSC Cruises’ Matteo Mancini, family entertainment director,“The ship is set to bring offerings to captivate today’s Gen Z and Gen Alpha travelers.”
He highlighted the immersive digital entertainment and interactive programming and said, “The arrival of MSC Seascape will offer top-of-the-line entertainment for cruisers of all ages.”
Returning entertainment favorites will also include interactive games, themed experiences, and live productions tailored to different age groups.
For example, “Break the Wall” will challenge passengers to complete surprise tests in front of a digital backdrop while the audience serves as judges.
Families can also take part in “Vikings,” a history-based game, or dive into live events inspired by the ship’s original web series “Cabin 12006.” This includes “The Secret Game,” with music, video, and mystery-solving tasks, and a family game show component.
For teens specifically, the MSC Dance Crew competition will let 10- to 17-year-olds compete for the title of dance crew of the year, while the Teens Late Show is a weekly program produced live from the Teens Club and will cover music and TV and feature guest stars and games.
Robotron on MSC Seascape
Additionally, Doremiland, the ship’s youth area, will feature a documentary shown in family cabins to introduce guests to the ship’s kids’ services and activities as the MSC Foundation Junior Ambassadors program introduces young passengers to environmental and humanitarian projects.
Galveston will also notice a standout attraction: Robotron, a robotic-arm thrill ride suspended 175 feet above the ocean, complete with customizable music, lighting, and visual effects.
Sailings from Galveston
MSC Seascape is currently sailing in the Caribbean and The Bahamas from its homeport in Miami. Her last cruise from that port will be a quick 2-night getaway to MSC Cruises’ private island destination, Ocean Cay, on November 2, 2025.
After that brief jaunt, the vessel will set sail for Galveston, where she will begin offering year-round sailings from the Gulf of Mexico port starting November 9, 2025, utilizing the Port of Galveston’s brand-new Terminal 16.
The ship is scheduled to operate 52 weekly 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries annually, visiting ports of call in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, along with Roatan in Honduras.
These itineraries also include two sea days so families can fully enjoy the ship’s offerings, which also include the Pirates Cove Aquapark and 15 dining options.
Tropical Storm Erin has officially formed and is on track to impact the Eastern Caribbean at the end of the week.
There is great uncertainty several days out in the forecast, but all cruisers should watch the storm carefully.
No cruise line has confirmed itinerary changes, but they will be monitoring the storm and will make any adjustments necessary to keep ships safe.
Hurricane season is heating up right on schedule, and that means cruisers need to be extra aware of how storm systems may impact their sailings.
On Monday morning, August 11, 2025, Tropical Storm Erin officially formed in the eastern Atlantic. While several days away, her path likely to bring the storm to the eastern Caribbean.
This may impact a number of popular ports of call, as well as cruise ships with itineraries heading east over the next 7-10 days.
The first official advisory for Tropical Storm Erin was issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, well above the 39 mph threshold for a tropical storm.
The westward track will bring Erin close to the top Eastern Caribbean ports on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16, before she turns north.
Forecast predictions have the storm likely to be a major hurricane of Category 3 or higher by that time.
Ports likely to at least feel moderate impact include Barbados, St. Lucia, the US and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Depending on when and how Erin turns north, the Turks and Caicos as well as the Bahamas, including private islands, are also likely to feel some impact.
Ships departing on Eastern or Southern Caribbean itineraries this coming weekend are most likely to have at least some itinerary changes.
This could include Rhapsody of the Seas from San Juan; Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral; Carnival Celebration from Miami; and Norwegian Aqua from Port Canaveral, among others.
To be clear, no cruise line has yet altered any sailings for Tropical Storm Erin. All cruise lines keep safety as the top priority and they will undoubtedly be monitoring the storm as she draws closer.
How Strong Will Erin Become?
The NHC’s forecast discussion advises caution this early, as it is always hard to predict how a tropical storm or hurricane will act several days in advance.
“The intensity forecast in the short-term is a little tricky,”the notes read.“The rate of intensification will likely increase in the second half of the forecast period.”
Wind shear, ocean temperature, regional atmospheric conditions, and other factors will all interact to determine how the storm may intensify and how she will move.
Forecast tracks (the “spaghetti” plots) do show the storm likely to turn north long before impacting larger islands or the Florida peninsula. That turn will not likely happen until the weekend, however, and could be significantly different than predicted so early in the storm’s formation.
Some forecast models show Erin reaching as high as a devastating Category 4 or 5 storm, though most believe she will remain no more than a Category 2 or 3 intensity.
Just as her path is difficult to predict precisely so many days away, however, her intensity can also vary tremendously as she gets closer.
Furthermore, the overall size of Erin’s wind field will also determine how far away her impact may be felt. Very large storms can often impact ports of call or cruise homeports hundreds of miles from the storm’s eye.
The peak of hurricane season, when storms are strongest and most numerous, is typically around September 10. This does not mean that storms before or after this date are any less dangerous or disruptive.
Any cruise guests with sailings booked over the next few days should watch Tropical Storm Erin carefully. Likewise, anyone with Caribbean sailings booked at this time of year should always stay informed about potential storms in case their cruise is impacted.
Princess Cruises will offer its largest Alaska deployment in its history with eight ships and 187 departures in 2027.
Sailings will be offered from five homeports from late April through September 2027.
Early booking deals include up to 40 percent off.
A week after sister line Holland America Line announced its biggest Alaska season to date, Princess Cruises has unveiled its own plans for its largest-ever 2027 deployment in the Last Frontier, proving Carnival Corporation is betting big on Alaska.
Princess Cruises, aka “The Love Boat” line, will be deploying eight ships and offering 187 departures across 17 itineraries from Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage (Whittier), San Francisco, and even Los Angeles.
“Few places captivate like Alaska – its beauty, its people, and its sense of wonder,”said Princess Cruises’ Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer. “That’s why our team puts so much heart into every detail of our Alaska season.”
Thornton says the season is designed to bring guests “closer to the soul of the Great Land,” including glaciers, wildlife, culture, and communities.
The itineraries and cruise features will feature these close-up opportunities both onboard and on shore. “All in a way only Princess can deliver,” he added.
Star Princess, the new Sphere Class ship debuting in October 2025, will spend her first season in Alaska in 2026 and is now scheduled to return in 2027. The 175,500-gross-ton vessel will operate weekly 7-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyages from Seattle.
Other ships in the 2027 Alaska lineup include Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Island Princess, Royal Princess, and Ruby Princess.
Itineraries range from 4 to 16 days with four glacier-viewing destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, and Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.
In fact, the season will feature 85 visits to Glacier Bay National Park, more than any other cruise line, according to Princess Cruises.
Sailings here include every-7-day Voyage of the Glaciers itineraries between Vancouver and Anchorage and all 14-day Grand Adventure voyages roundtrip from Vancouver.
Ports on the schedule include Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Haines, Icy Strait Point, and Victoria, British Colombia.
Star Princess Cruise in Alaska
Princess will also continue to pair sailings with land-based cruisetours, offering stays at five Princess-owned wilderness lodges and rail service that connects ships directly to the Denali area on the same day.
A standout of the cruisetours will be the 17-night Denali Escorted Cruisetour, with two nights at each of the five Princess lodges.
These include Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.
Princess Expands Alaska Presence
The 2027 Alaska cruises on Princess Cruises open for booking on August 12, 2025, with Crown Princess kicking off the season on April 27, 2027, sailing a 4-day roundtrip “sampler” from Vancouver to Ketchikan.
Star Princess will also begin her season that month, taking up to 4,300 passengers on a 9-day Inside Passage sailing from Vancouver to Seattle on April 30, 2027.
She will close out the cruise line’s season with a similar September 26 journey.
The cruise line will also feature two 16-day sailings from Los Angeles aboard Emerald Princess that will give West Coast passengers a rare chance to experience Alaska without the need for a flight to the Pacific Northwest.
These voyages will journey across the Inside Passage and visit Glacier Bay National Park.
Princess Cruises is offering early booking incentives for passengers who reserve by August 18, 2025: up to 40 percent off fares, free passage for third and fourth guests on select voyages, a reduced $99 deposit, and complimentary stateroom upgrades.
Cunard’s Queen Anne has updated fees for Bright Lights Society performances and what those fees include.
Three different shows now have fees from $20-46 (USD) per person, with select drinks included.
This is not the first time cruise lines have offered shows and performances that require extra fees.
One appeal of a cruise vacation is that plenty of dining, activities, and entertainment is included in the cruise fare. For guests on Cunard Line, however, a little less entertainment is now included.
Select shows at the immersive Bright Lights Society “show bar” aboard the new Queen Anne now have a nominal fee for guests to enjoy the signature performances. The fees, however, do include some special bonuses.
“Select shows such as Fizz and Noir now carry an entry charge of US$20pp, which includes a glass of champagne, a souvenir programme, and the service charge,”the cruise line’s website explains.
Fizz is a burlesque-style show with live music and immersive cabaret. The host, Monsieur Laurent, guides the evening and keeps guests engaged as they step back to the glittering era of these eye-raising shows.
Noir, on the other hand, is an interactive murder mystery that draws guests into the plot and subplots (though no one is forced to participate!) with intrigue and romance.
For both shows, guests get a glass of champagne to enjoy during the performance, as well as a souvenir program to commemorate the very special experience.
The third show offered at the Bright Lights Society is Bitter Sweet Symphony, which carries a higher fee of $46 per person. This fee covers three cocktails formulated to complement the unique music and dance performance. Non-alcoholic options are also available upon request.
If guests cancel their reservations for any of the shows at the last minute or simply fail to attend, cancellation fees will also apply.
To be clear, these fees are only for shows at the Bright Lights Society aboard Queen Anne, an exclusive venue only found on the Pinnacle-class vessel.
Cunard Queen Anne during the naming ceremony (Photo Courtesy: Cunard Line)
Bright Lights Society is located on Deck 2, forward on the starboard side of the ship, across from the Golden Lion. It is one of the more intimate venues onboard and even with fees, each show sells out quickly.
Queen Anne is currently sailing in Europe, offering longer itineraries in the Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, northern Europe, and the Greek Isles.
In January 2026, the ship will begin her 109-night Full World Voyage, a complete global circumnavigation and an epic journey for any traveler to experience.
Should Shows Cost Extra Fees?
While most guests who attend the Bright Lights Society performances agree the cost is well worth the quality of the experiences, others are less thrilled with signature entertainment becoming an add-on cost.
It isn’t unusual for cruise ships to feature add-on attractions. This ranges from specialty dining restaurants and escape rooms to signature attractions such as the Bolt rollercoaster on Carnival’s Excel-class ships to the Crown’s Edge ropes course on Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships.
Entertainment and shows, however, are generally all included in a cruise price. The exception is when prizes or food are part of the experience, such as Deal or No Deal participation or intimate cooking classes.
Some cruise lines have offered special event concerts, such as Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival LIVE Spotlight Series shows with exclusive performers. Those concerts range from $35-250 per person, depending on the featured artist, venue capacity, ship, and sailing date.
While not everyone may approve of extra-pay performances, the great news is that ships like Queen Anne offer many other activities and entertainment options that do not have additional fees.
Guests can always choose what they’d like to do onboard, and it is possible to have an amazing cruise vacation without additional spending.
Disney Cruise Line has confirmed that it will not be returning to Australia and New Zealand after the upcoming 2025/2026 season.
Disney Wonder will sail away with no planned return on February 2, 2026, after spending just three seasons exploring the region.
Disney Cruise Line will continue to make magic in new markets, and will debut Disney Adventure in Asia as soon as this December.
The rumors are true. Disney Cruise Line is permanently leaving Australia and New Zealand, at least for now.
Many DCL fans suspected as much as Disney Wonder, which is the Disney shipdeployed to the Land Down Under, was noticeably absent from port schedules for the 2026/2027 season.
And indeed, the 2025/2026 Australia cruise season, which will run from October 2025 to February 2026, will be the last for the 84,130-gross ton ship.
But now, the most magical cruise line at sea has confirmed the news in no uncertain terms that the Disney brand will be sailing elsewhere for the foreseeable future.
“We are currently going to be sailing in the Australia and New Zealand region up until February 2026. We will not return for the 2026/2027 season,” Tristan, a representative from Disney’s shoreside guest services leadership team, confirmed to Yahoo News.
Disney Wonder’s final round-trip voyage in the region will be a 3-day cruise to nowhere from Sydney, Australia, that embarks on January 30, 2026.
The 2,713-guest ship will then set sail on a 14-night one-way voyage from Sydney to Honolulu, Hawaii, on February 2, 2026.
Disney’s tenure in Australia was ultimately quite short. The brand only entered Australian waters for the first time ever at the end of 2023 when Disney Wonder embarked on her inaugural “Disney Magic at Sea” cruise.
The final itineraries show a good variety in length, ranging from 3-10 days and embarking fromMelbourne, Auckland, and Sydney.
While some feature ports of call, others are cruises to nowhere that allow guests to really embrace the entertainment onboard.
Why is Disney Leaving?
As much as inquiring minds would like to know, Disney Cruise Line has not released a reason for why the brand has decided to pull out of Australia and New Zealand.
That said, the powers that be are always keeping in mind supply and demand, as well as the company’s future goals.
When looking at our Cruise Hive booking feature, Disney Cruise Line’s sailings in the region are significantly more expensive than comparable sailings offered by brands like Carnival Cruise Line – which may be a contributing factor.
“We’re always looking at different destinations to explore with our guests, along with our crew members,” Tristan, the Disney representative, added.
“Sailings from Australia and New Zealand remain on our list for future consideration, however since future itineraries have not been released past the 2026/2027 season, we’re not able to make any comments on that regrettably,” he said.
Disney Wonder Docked in Sydney, Australia (Photo Credit: Stephen D. Gard)
As Disney has historically released new itineraries 15-18 months in advance, those sailings should be released really any time now.
DCL fans were not upset by the news, and were excited to explore new locations with Disney. Some hoped that Disney Wonder would be assigned to more domestic homeports.
“I feel ok if it means more San Diego sailings,”one cruiser said.
“I’m hoping at some point the Wonder makes its way to Galveston (or New Orleans if that resumes). We’re from Missouri and those are my closest home ports,” another chimed in.
Of course, the cruise line is also expanding to another brand new market this year with the debut of Disney Adventure in Singapore in December.
Parents can now track their children onboard Star of the Seas with a new feature called “Find My Kid” in the Royal Caribbean App.
Kids wear a tracking bracelet (called the Adventure Ocean WOW Band) that sends their real-time locations to their parents’ smartphones.
This feature is currently only available onboard the second Icon-class ship and for kids between the ages of three and 12.
For many kids, a cruise vacation offers their first taste of independence.
With surveillance, onboard security teams, and the sheer fact that kids are confined to the ship, many parents will allow their children to roam free at least some of the time.
But onboard the world’s largest cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and the newly launched Star of the Seas, the idea of letting your child explore on their own can be a bit more intimidating.
Both of these giant mega-ships can accommodate a whopping 7,600 guests at maximum capacity across 18 passenger decks that are packed full of attractions, meaning it could be easy to lose track of your little humans in the mix.
Thanks to a new tracking feature called “Find My Kid” that has debuted onboard the new Star of the Seas, parents will now be able to track their child’s location in real time using the Royal Caribbean App and the Adventure Ocean WOW Band.
The WOW Band, which is both waterproof and colorful (just how kids like it!), acts as a tracker that parents can access from their smartphones.
This option applies to kids between the ages of three and twelve, who are often too young for cellphones to message or text their parents using Wi-Fi packages.
How to Use “Find My Kid”
While many cruisers like to plan in advance, nothing needs to be done before embarkation day to use the “Find My Kid” feature.
Once onboard, parents can register their children at the Adventure Ocean Kid’s Club on Deck 6. Adventure Ocean WOW Bands must be purchased for $14.99 if families don’t already own one.
Positively, these bands can be used on future cruises for no additional fee, and also come with additional benefits that make thema good value for the money.
WOW Bands are already used on several other Royal Caribbean ships, but the “Find My Kid” tracker is not as of the time of publication.
For example, kids can use their WOW Bands to unlock their cabin doors so they don’t necessarily have to carry around their SeaPass cards. They can also be used to make parent-authorized onboard purchases.
Find My Kid App Feature
At least for the bands purchased onboard Star of the Seas, the band will also show the child’s muster station, which is very helpful if the young cruiser is on their own during an unexpected emergency.
Once a WOW Band has been purchased, parents can then sign up for the “Find My Kid” feature.
In order to access the tracker in the app, parents just need to follow three simple steps. First, they must connect to the onboard Wi-Fi network.
Next, parents will open the Royal Caribbean app and select the “Find My Kid” icon in the app’s menu.
From there, parents will be shown a live view of their child’s location on the app’s deck maps.
At this time, the “Find My Kid” tracker is only available onboard Star of the Seas – but it would not be surprising to see it roll out to more ships in the fleetin the near future.
A version of the tracker, called “Kidfinder,” was already tested onboard Icon of the Seas in the summer of 2024.
Holland America Line’s largest ships are those in its Pinnacle class — MS Rotterdam, MS Nieuw Statendam and MS Koningsdam — while its smallest ship is the MS Volendam.
As is the case with so many cruise lines, Holland America’s largest vessels are its newest, and its smallest ships are its oldest, and so there’s a big difference between them, beyond mere size.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of booking a cruise on any of the 11 Holland America cruise ships.
Holland America’s Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)
Holland America Line’s three newest ships, all in the Pinnacle class, tie for being the largest ships in the fleet. The ships in the Pinnacle class overall are about 15% larger than the ships in the cruise line’s Signature class.
The Pinnacle class ships include MS Rotterdam, MS Nieuw Statendam and MS Koningsdam, with MS Rotterdam, which debuted in 2021, being the newest of the three.
However, don’t let this fact convince you that the Pinnacle-class ships are big by today’s standards. When you look at the cold, hard numbers, Holland America Line’s biggest ships are still less than half the size of the largest cruise ships in the world by gross tonnage, and about a third the size of the largest cruise ships in the world by passenger capacity.
You may view this as a pro or a con, depending on the type of cruiser you are. Some cruisers prefer smaller ships, with fewer people, even if it means giving up some amenities. Other cruisers, though, want as much fun as possible, and as many options as possible, and they don’t care about crowds.
MS Rotterdam features 14 dining options, six bars and lounges, and a two-deck Lido Pool with a retractable magro-dome roof.
Gross Tonnage: 99,863
Length: 975 feet
Width: 114.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 2,668
Crew Capacity: 1,025
Entered Service: 2021
MS Nieuw Statendam
Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam (Photo Credit: iralgo74)
The middle Pinnacle-class ship, MS Nieuw Statendam is pretty much identical to MS Rotterdam. Beyond being the same size by GT, they have the same number staterooms (1,339). They have the same restaurants. They have the same theaters and Holland America’s signature entertainment venues.
The few places where they differ? Holland America reports that MS Nieuw Statendam can hold just a few more passengers than MS Rotterdam, despite the ships’ equal size and number of staterooms.
Additionally, while the two ships have the same number of bars and lounges, MS Nieuw Statendam has the Taste venue, whereas MS Rotterdam has the Half Moon Bar. Likewise, Nieuw Statendam has an art studio and MS Rotterdam does not.
Gross Tonnage: 99,863
Length: 975 feet
Width: 114.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 2,692
Crew Capacity: 1,025
Entered Service: 2018
MS Koningsdam
Holland America Koningsdam (Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line)
The very first Pinnacle class ship, when MS Koningsdam initially debuted, it was a pretty big deal. After all, as mentioned, the Pinnacle class was significantly larger than any of the other Holland America Line ships to come before them. That means that these ships introduced new venues and experiences previously unseen on the cruise line.
Though the exact same gross tonnage, length and width as its Pinnacle class sister ships, MS Koningsdam does carry fewer passengers, at 2,650 people, and it has just a handful fewer staterooms (1,331 to the other ships’ 1,339). Still, MS Koningsdam has a handful more crew members (1,036 to the other ships’ 1,025).
These differences, however, are so minute that you won’t notice them.
Gross Tonnage: 99,863
Length: 975 feet
Width: 114.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 2,650
Crew Capacity: 1,036
Entered Service: 2016
MS Nieuw Amsterdam
Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock
The fourth Signature-class ship, MS Nieuw Amsterdam is approximately 15% smaller than the Pinnacle class ships, give or take. As such, it can hold about 500 fewer passengers and a couple of hundred fewer crew members.
The ship debuted in 2010 and received refurbishments in 2023. This refurbishment only really added one new space, but it’s one that you won’t find anywhere else, on any other ship in the Holland America Line fleet: Morimoto by Sea, a restaurant crafted in partnership with celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Otherwise, the refurbishment focused on updating aspects of a ship that get a lot of wear and tear, such as carpeting and curtains.
Gross Tonnage: 86,700
Length: 936 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 2,106
Crew Capacity: 874
Entered Service: 2010
MS Eurodam
Holland America Line Cruise Ship
MS Eurodam is only very slightly smaller than MS Nieuw Amsterdam, at 86,273 gross tons, so about 400 GT less. The two otherwise are very similar, as they’re the only two ships in the Signature class.
MS Eurodam was refurbished and updated in the 2010s, so not long at all after it debuted. This refurbishment added a Gallery Bar, and made updates to cosmetic features like carpet and furniture, as needed.
Gross Tonnage: 86,273
Length: 936 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 2,104
Crew Capacity: 876
Entered Service: 2008
MS Noordam
Holland America Noordam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: twabian)
Just a bit smaller, MS Noordam is a member of the Vista class. The Vista class was the Signature class’s predecessor, and there aren’t a huge amount of differences between the two classes, except for size.
MS Noordam is considered quite small by modern cruise ship standards, but the ship still features six restaurants, five bars and lounges, six entertainment venues and public spaces such as a casino and pickleball courts.
Gross Tonnage: 82,318
Length: 936 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 1,924
Crew Capacity: 811
Entered Service: 2006
MS Westerdam
Westerdam in Alaska (Photo Credit: Effy Jewelry)
Another member of the Vista class, MS Westerdam continues the trend of being just ever-so-slightly smaller than its newer sister ships. It weighs in at about 13 GT less than MS Noordam — such a small amount that you won’t even be able to tell. The ship also carries about eight fewer passengers, technically.
Interestingly enough, MS Westerdam does offer two dining experiences that MS Noordam does not: Tamarind and the Morimoto by Sea pop-up (not to be confused with the Morimoto by Sea restaurant that can only be found on Nieuw Amsterdam). It also features the Gallery Bar, which is not on MS Noordam.
Gross Tonnage: 82,305
Length: 936 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 1,916
Crew Capacity: 812
Entered Service: 2004
MS Oosterdam
Holland America line Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Atakan Divitlioglu / Shutterstock)
MS Oosterdam entered service just a year before MS Westerdam, and the two sister ships are pretty similar. In fact, MS Oosterdam, MS Westerdam, and the older MS Zuiderdam all tie for size, with the same gross tonnage.
MS Oosterdam underwent a dry dock in April 2025. Refurbishments focused in on making the ship more accessible per ADA standards. The spa was overhauled.
The casino was expanded, as was seating around the Lido Pool (removing the ship’s taco bar in the process). Many other spaces also received cosmetic enhancements through decisions like replacing carpeting.
Gross Tonnage: 82,305
Length: 936 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 1,964
Crew Capacity: 812
Entered Service: 2003
MS Zuiderdam
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock
As mentioned, MS Zuiderdam is equal in size to sister ships MS Oosterdam and MS Westerdam. MS Zuiderdam was the first ship in the Vista class. It’s been refurbished throughout its lifetime and is known in part for its large ratio of ocean view and balcony staterooms to interior rooms.
MS Zuiderdam’s last refurbishment was in 2017, but since MS Oosterdam underwent a dry dock much more recently, there’s hope that perhaps MS Zuiderdam will be brought up to current standards soon as well.
Gross Tonnage: 82,305
Length: 936 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 1,988
Crew Capacity: 812
Entered Service: 2002
MS Zaandam
Holland America Zaandam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird / Shutterstock)
When looking at Rotterdam-class member MS Zaandam, and contrasting the ship against MS Zuiderdam, there’s a stark difference in size. MS Zaandam is about 20,000 GT smaller and about 150 feet shorter, and carries about 500 fewer people and 200 fewer crew members.
MS Zaandam has eight dining experiences, five bars and lounges, three entertainment venues, a casino, game room, kids club, pickleball courts and more.
Gross Tonnage: 61,396
Length: 781 feet
Width: 105.8 feet
Passenger Capacity: 1,432
Crew Capacity: 604
Entered Service: 2000
MS Volendam
Holland America Line Volendam (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia)
MS Voldendam is both the smallest and the oldest ship in the current Holland America fleet. It’s pretty close in size to MS Zaandam, but it’s still clenched the honor of “smallest ship” by weighing in at a few hundred GT less.
When you compare this smallest ship to the largest ship in the fleet, MS Rotterdam, the difference equates to approximately a 40% reduction in size.
Still, for only fitting around 1,400 people at max, this ship manages to give you lots of options, including eight restaurants, five bars and lounges, a casino, pool, spa and pickleball courts.
The highly anticipated Disney Destiny officially floated out at Germany’s Meyer Werft Shipyard on August 9, 2025.
The important construction milestone was celebrated with fireworks, an appearance by “Hero” Minnie Mouse, and the debut of the ship’s new theme song.
In the coming months, the Wish-class vessel will see her interior completed, will undergo her sea trials, and will make her way to Port Everglades, Florida, for her maiden voyage in November.
It’s been an exciting day at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany, where crowds gathered to witness the moment where Disney Destiny floated out of Hall 6 for the very first time.
This important construction milestone, which took place on August 9, 2025, marks the moment where the newly constructed cruise ship transitions from dry dock to a wet dock for the very first time.
The float out ceremony is often celebrated as the first time a new-build touches the water, but technically the Wish-class ship was “floated up” in March to allow construction crews to start testing the engines and other essential onboard systems.
However, it is the first time she has floated on her own in open water, which is a huge accomplishment in its own right.
Naturally, Disney Cruise Line couldn’t let this momentous occasion go by without a big celebration.
As the 144,000-gross ton ship floated into the sun, colorful fireworks were fired into the sky – which is fitting considering Disney is currently the only cruise line to offer fireworks at sea.
Just like its older sister Disney Treasure, the 4,000-passenger vessel is also getting its very own signature theme song, which was played for the first time during the float out celebration.
“Here’s the Disney Destiny’s float out celebration moment at MEYER WERFT, complete with a first listen to the ship’s new anthem,”Scott Gustin, who attended the event, posted on X.
Disney Destiny Floats Out
While the name of the catchy tune has not been announced, we can confirm that repeated upbeat lyrics like “This is your Destiny! Seize the moment, it’s your time” certainly fit the Disney brand and the “Heroes and Villains” theming of this ship.
Onlookers also got to hear the ship’s horn play out “When You Wish Upon a Star” (from Pinocchio) for the first time, which is the nostalgic horn song that serves as the cruise line’s famous calling card.
The First Real Look at Disney Destiny
The float out ceremony is always exciting because it marks the completion of the exterior of the cruise ship.
While Disney has released sneak peaks of what to expect along the way, this is the first time that cruise fans have really been able to see everything finished and put together on the LNG-fueled masterpiece.
The ship inched out of the construction hall with the stern (back) revealed first, with the mounted Spiderman and his famous Spider-Bots immediately drawing attention.
Minnie Mouse was also on site to greet DCL’s new addition, debuting a special hero outfit that matches the heroic artwork of Minnie on the bow(or the front) of the ship.
As a Disney fan myself (and a former cast member), seeing the freshly finished navy hull, classic red funnels, and gold accents is something that will never get old.
Disney Destiny is now well on her way to completion, with another key milestone met for the first time during her float out. Indeed, the vessel also docked for the first time.
“The Disney Destiny has been successfully docked.Today the Disney Destiny has left our building dock and is now on the equipment pile,”reads a translated social media post from the Meyer Werft Shipyard.
The post continues: “A big thank you to the entire team for their precise and dedicated work!”
Workers will now put the finishing touches on the interior of the ship, before sending her off on her sea trials in the coming months.
She’ll then make her way to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, in time for her maiden voyage, which embarks on November 20, 2025, and sails to both of Disney’s private islands in the Bahamas.
Disney Adventure, the largest cruise ship to ever join Disney’s fleet, also floated out in the very same shipyard on April 19, 2025. She will debut in Asia in December.
