Blog Page 146

Two NCL Ships to Add Popular Venue in Upcoming Dry Dock

Catie Kovelman
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Two NCL Ships to Add Popular Venue in Upcoming Dry Dock

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line is adding the Vibe Beach Club to Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl later in 2025.
  • The Vibe Beach Club is an exclusive onboard area that is meant for adults only, featuring amenities like an extra hot tub and a private bar.
  • Day passes and private cabanas can already be reserved in advance for sailings starting at the end of 2025.

It’s standard protocol for cruise ships to visit dry dock at least once every two to five years for routine maintenance.

However, two of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel Class ships will be leaving dry dock with an extra special upgrade later this year that guests over the age of 18 will be very happy about.

Drum roll please: Both Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Jewel will be getting the popular adults-only Vibe Beach Club while in dry dock in the fall of 2025.

This is particularly exciting as the Vibe Beach Club is highly popular, but is only found onboard select ships in the NCL fleet.

Currently, the exclusive pool and lounge area is available onboard Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Prima, and Norwegian Viva.

Norwegian Cruise Line emailed Cruise Hive to share that the adults-only oasis would be replacing the additional sundeck that isn’t connected to the main pool on deck 14 onboard both vessels.

It will feature an additional luxury hot tub, as well as 54 lounge chairs and seven new private cabanas that can be reserved in advance.

“On both ships, guests will enjoy the addition of the popular, adults-only outdoor oasis Vibe Beach Club, which will replace the additional sundeck on deck 14 (separate from the main pool) and offer an additional hot tub, as well as 54 premium lounge chairs and seven new private cabanas to soak up the sun,” An NCL spokesperson wrote to Cruise Hive.

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship
Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Bill Wilcox)

The venue will feature a quiet atmosphere designed for adult-friendly relaxation, and will offer amenities like a full-service bar that is meant for the exclusive use of beach club patrons.

“Guests can escape to a quiet, serene atmosphere at Vibe Beach Club with expansive views of the ocean; a full-service private bar; and personalized services including water spritzers, chilled towels and fruit skewers,” the email added.

The work will be completed on Norwegian Jewel from September 25, 2025, through October 15, 2025.

Norwegian Pearl will follow suit with her own dry dock stint from November 3 to November 23.

How to Enjoy the Vibe Beach Club

One cannot simply walk into the Vibe Beach Club. First, guests obviously have to be over 18 years old, which is a rule that is strictly enforced.

Next, passengers who would like to enjoy the Vibe Beach Club have to purchase day passes, which vary in cost depending on the length of the cruise.

The private cabanas are also available for rent, with these rentals including beach club admission for two guests.

Cabanas must be rented for the entirety of the cruise and there is a limit of only one cabana rental per cruise cabin.

Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock

Day passes and cabana rentals can already be pre-reserved online for Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl’s upcoming sailings. As these are known to sell out quickly, future guests are encouraged to act fast.

Read Also: Top 12 Best Cruise Lines for Adults

But before guests can think about securing access to this exclusive onboard area, they first need to get onboard.

After completing dry dock, the 2,330-guest Norwegian Jewel will be homeporting in Miami, Florida, from where she will operate sailings to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal.

The new and improved Norwegian Pearl will join her sister-ship in Miami, from where the 2,344-guest ship will offer sailings to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal.

Both ships will also visit the highly anticipated Great Tides Water Park when it opens on Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas in summer 2026.

First Funnel Removed from SS United States for Museum Restoration

Donna Tunney
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First Funnel Removed from SS United States for Museum Restoration

Key Aspects

  • The SS United States is being prepped for placement as an artificial reef off the Florida coast.
  • The ship’s two funnels, at 65-feet tall, are being dismantled at a recycling center in Alabama.
  • The conservancy group that manages the vessel is building a companion museum in Destin-Fort Walton, Florida.

The illustrious and historic ocean liner SS United States will soon become an artificial reef off the coast of Florida, but parts of her will live on in a shoreside museum, including her enormous pair of funnels.

The first of the ship’s two funnels was dismantled on August 4, 2025 at her current location, a recycling center in Mobile, Alabama. The smokestacks are about 65 feet tall, and their removal is being watched by cruise ship enthusiasts, photographers, and others, according to local media reports.

The ship’s funnels were not just for show. They were fully functional, each serving an engine room and a boiler room on lower decks.

The funnels, along with other memorabilia still inside the iconic ship, will become a key focus of the SS United States Museum and Visitor Experience, which is slated to be built in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, located on the Panhandle of the Sunshine State. The artificial reef site is slated to be just off the Destin coast.

The 53,329-gross-ton ship that once accommodated about 1,900 guests and 900 crew members has a storied past. The SS United States was built in 1950 by United States Lines and sailed as a cruise ship until the early 1980s.

She holds the distinction of being the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic Ocean in either direction and welcomed scores of celebrities as well as many immigrants during her life span.

SS United States Museum
SS United States Museum

The ship was owned by multiple entities, left service in the mid-1980s, and eventually ended up docked at Pier 82 in Philadelphia in 1996.

The derelict vessel eventually came under the protection of the SS United States Conservancy, a non-profit group that attempted to save the ship. However, a lack of financing led to eviction notices, and after several court battles a compromise plan to sink the ship as an artificial reef finally was reached.

Historic Vessel Finally Arrives in Alabama in 2025

In early March 2025, the SS United States arrived at Modern American Recycling Services in Mobile Bay. She is expected to remain there for about a year while being prepped to be sunk. Along with memorabilia, any toxic materials will be removed from the vessel before she enters the ocean.

Also, the hull will be reinforced so that the ship will remain upright on the ocean floor, offering a prime dive experience. The artificial reef and the museum are expected to become major tourist attractions in the Destin-Fort Walton area.

Read Also: Uncovering the Secrets of the Cruise Ship Graveyard

SS United States Departs
SS United States Departs (Photo Credit: SS United States Conservancy – Hampton Roads Chapter)

“We are deeply committed to celebrating the enduring legacy of America’s Flagship, and we have assembled an extraordinary team to help us realize our vision,” said Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy.

“By incorporating iconic components from the historic ocean liner into an architecturally stunning land-based museum, the SS United States will continue to excite and inspire future generations,” added Gibbs, the grand-daughter of naval architect William Francis Gibbs, who designed the ship.

Other large parts of the ship are slated to be removed, restored, and added to the museum, such as its five-bladed propellers and her radar mast, which included revolutionary radar technology. 

Additional spaces of the ship, including its cocktail bars, will be retrieved, spruced up, and added to the museum.

There is no firm timeline yet for the placement of the ship into the ocean, nor is there an opening date for the museum.

Regal Princess Arrives in Port Following Rough Conditions

Catie Kovelman
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Regal Princess Arrives in Port Following Rough Conditions

Key Aspects: 

  • Regal Princess arrived safely in Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland, on August 5, which was a late addition to the itinerary in a bid to avoid Storm Floris.
  • Video footage shows disarray on the ship’s outer decks, which was caused by the storm-induced rough seas.
  • Storm Floris has now moved on from the UK and the remainder of the current 12-night British Isles itinerary can continue as planned.

The up to 4,250 guests onboard Regal Princess can now take a deep breath and enjoy a reprieve from rough seas, as the Princess cruise ship arrived safely in Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland, on the morning of August 5, 2025.

While the ship and its guests undoubtedly arrived in the port a bit worse for wear, there was no known significant damage to the vessel and there have been no reports of injuries.

Comedian Jay McGee, who was performing onboard during the current 12-night British Isles sailing, shared a video of one of the outside decks with tables and chairs thrown around and what looks like a tattered canvas flapping in the wind.

“Good morning one and all after a day of being thrown around by storm Floris,” McGee shared on social media.

“We are now docked in Greenock, Scotland. Captain kept us safe but the outside decks took a bit of a battering yesterday and has caused some damage,” the comedian posted.

The 142,714-gross ton ship was not actually supposed to visit Glasgow during this sailing, but the port was added at the last minute as the cruise line altered course to avoid the worst of Storm Floris.

Regal Princess During Storm
Regal Princess During Storm (Photo Credits: Jay McGee)

Regal Princess was originally supposed to visit Invergordon, Scotland, on August 4, which became a sea day, and Stornoway, Scotland, on August 5, which obviously became Glasgow.

This enabled the Royal-class ship to stay ahead of the storm and miss the worst of the weather, but she didn’t dodge the rough seas entirely.

Are Calmer Seas Ahead?

As of Tuesday, August 5, Storm Floris has begun to weaken and has moved on from the United Kingdom to Norway.

But at its worst, the uncharacteristically strong summer storm brought heavy rains and wind gusts of over 80 miles per hour to Northern Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. 

In the Scottish Highlands, wind gusts of over 124 miles per hour were recorded, which rivals the wind strengths of a Category 3 hurricane.

As the storm passes, the UK Met Office is easing warnings for impacted residents. The yellow warning that was in effect for the Northern Isles expired at 8 a.m. on August 5.

“Storm Floris has cleared the UK, but blustery winds linger today in its wake. While not as intense as yesterday, gusts of 40–50mph are still possible across parts of northern UK this afternoon,” the Met Office posted on X.

Tens and thousands of households have been left without power in the aftermath of the storm, with power lines and trees knocked down and damage reported to buildings, vehicles, and other infrastructure.

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

An additional storm system is on the horizon for the remainder of the week in the UK, but it won’t be nearly as significant as the wrath of Floris.

“While the system later this week won’t carry as many impacts as Storm Floris, a further period of unseasonable wet and windy weather is on the way late on Wednesday and into Thursday for those in northwestern parts of the UK,” said Mike Silverstone, a Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office.

Heavy rain and winds of over 50 miles per hour will be possible, especially for the western portion of Scotland.

More From Cruise Hive

The remainder of Regal Princess’ sailing, however, is expected to remain safe from further weather-related disruptions.

She will still call on Belfast, Northern Ireland; Cobh-Cork, Ireland; Portland, England; and Le Havre (Paris), France; before disembarking in Southampton, UK, on August 13.

Celebrity Cruises Reveals 175 Voyages Across Six Global Regions

Donna Tunney
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Celebrity Cruises Reveals 175 Voyages Across Six Global Regions

Key Aspects

  • The cruise line’s newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, will be deployed in Europe for the summer 2027 season.
  • Three ships will offer Alaska voyages in 2027, with multiple embarkation ports.
  • One ship is scheduled to sail East Asia itineraries from Japan.

Celebrity Cruises is providing the first glimpse into some of its 2027-28 fleet deployments, detailing a series of some 175 voyages across six global regions.

The just-revealed itineraries will take cruisers to 180-plus destinations in Europe, Japan, Canada/New England, Alaska, Hawaii, and Australia. 

The cruise line’s announcement on August 5, 2025 also discloses that its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, due to launch in November 2025, will join Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Apex in Europe, offering itineraries that call at 90 ports in 25 countries.

The cruise line had earlier announced that Celebrity Xcel will spend her inaugural summer season — 2026, in Europe, so the 2027 season will be her second deployment to the region.

With a nod to rising demand for destination immersion, the three ships will feature 60-plus overnights in port and more than 100 port visits of at least 12 hours in length. 

Sales are open starting on August 5, 2025 for cruises to Europe, Japan, Canada/New England, and the spring transatlantic voyages. Sailings to Alaska and Hawaii will open for sale on September 9, 2025, and to Australia on September 30, 2025.

Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship
Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship

Let’s dive into some of the itinerary and deployment highlights.

In Europe, Celebrity Xcel will sail mainly 7-night cruises from Barcelona while Celebrity Ascent offers 10-night voyages roundtrip from Rome. Among Celebrity Apex’s cruises are 7-night Norwegian fjord and Arctic Circle itineraries from Southampton, UK.

Scandinavia options abound on Celebrity Eclipse, which will sail from Amsterdam to ports in Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. Cruisers looking for an Iceland adventure can book Celebrity Silhouette’s 7-night roundtrip voyages from Reykjavik.

Looking to East Asia, the cruise line’s 2027-28 deployment plan shows Celebrity Millennium based for the second consecutive year in Japan, sailing to destinations in South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and China. 

Read Also: Celebrity Cruises Dining: 14 Must-Try Venues

Sailing roundtrip from Tokyo, port calls within Japan will include Kyoto, Kochi, Kobe, and Aomori, while cruises between Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo will feature visits to Jeju Island, Fukuoka, Kyoto, and Mount Fuji.

North America Options Feature Alaska, Hawaii, Canada/New England

In the US, Celebrity Cruises’ guests have a wide choice of voyages to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada/New England.

Three ships will be deployed to Alaska for summer 2027 — Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Solstice, and Celebrity Summit, offering departures from Seattle, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska. A series of cruise-tours also is offered, providing a land-side adventure to destinations like Denali, Anchorage, and Talkeetna.

Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice will sail Hawaii and South Pacific voyages. Destination highlights include Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Christchurch and Dunedin, New Zealand.

Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock

On the US East Coast, Celebrity Silhouette will homeport at Cape Liberty, New Jersey, and operate a series of 11-night voyages to Canada/New England and 7-night cruises to Bermuda. Overnight stays on the Canada cruises are scheduled in Quebec City.

The Celebrity Cruises fleet will expand to 17 ships once Celebrity Xcel enters service in November 2025. While the cruise line, which is a brand of Royal Caribbean Group, eagerly awaits the ship’s launch, it has been contending with several operational challenges in recent weeks.

Celebrity Constellation temporarily lost power in late July 2025 as she sailed off the Italian coast on a cruise from Ravenna to Rome. The technical malfunction lasted a few hours.

Celebrity Beyond has experienced recent engine problems that required an unscheduled emergency repair in the Bahamas in late July 2025. Propulsion issues have caused the cruise line to adjust some port arrival and departure times since the ship is still sailing at lower-than-usual speeds.

MSC Meraviglia Ditches New York for Miami With Season Shake-Up

Lissa Poirot
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MSC Meraviglia Ditches New York for Miami With Season Shake-Up

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Cruises is cancelling all MSC Meraviglia winter 2026-2027 sailings from New York and moving the ship to Miami.
  • Affected passengers have three rebooking choices, or can choose a future cruise credit or a full refund.
  • New itineraries will feature Caribbean ports, including Turks & Caicos and St. Maarten.

New York, New York. “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere,” sang Frank Sinatra.

But MSC Cruises is leaving the Big Apple behind – at least for the winter 2026-2027 season – in favor of Miami’s year-round cruise hub.

Guests booked to sail from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in New York aboard the 171,598-gross-ton MSC Meraviglia in late 2026 received notice that their itineraries have been cancelled.

“MSC Meraviglia will now sail from Miami, Florida, during the Winter 2026/2027 season, offering 6- and 8-night cruises to the Caribbean and The Bahamas,” the cruise line stated in a letter notifying passengers their bookings from New York had been scrapped.

Although MSC Cruises has not officially announced the change, passengers have quickly been spreading the word and sharing similar cancellation notices, from one set to depart on November 8, 2026, to another on March 7, 2027.

“With the ship’s move to Miami, we will no longer offer sailings from New York,” letters clearly revealed.

Instead, MSC Cruises promised new itineraries to Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos, Philipsburg in St. Maarten, Basseterre in St. Kitts, and other Caribbean destinations, joining MSC Cruises’ competitors to keep ships in the No. 1 cruise destination in the world.

The cruises will feature stops at the company’s private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, as was originally scheduled from the New York departures that would also have called in Port Canaveral, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas.

New Options for Affected Guests

As MSC Cruises revealed the cancellations, the cruise line outlined new options for affected passengers, saying all choices will be available starting August 6, 2025, once the company updates its booking system.

None of the options include a New York departure. Instead, guests can choose an 8- or 6-night sailing on MSC Meraviglia from Miami in the same accommodation and month as their original departure.

The longer option comes with no change fees, one extra night free (cruise fare only, no extras), and a $50 per person onboard credit, up to $100 per cabin.

The shorter 6-night option provides $100 per person onboard credit, up to $200 per cabin.

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship in new York
MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship in new York (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock)

On social media, some passengers voiced frustration about the compensation, noting the onboard credits offered aren’t as “generous” as other cruise lines who cancel voyages.

Those who feel the free night and onboard credit is worthy are still disappointed they need to rework their vacations plans, but considering the cancelled cruises are over a year away, it shouldn’t be too troublesome.

Read Also:  I Experienced Embarking at PortMiami’s New MSC Cruise Terminal

Guests are also given a chance to switch to any other 7-night MSC Cruises sailing from a US port – Miami, Port Canaveral, or Galveston, Texas – under the same rules for accommodation, month, and holiday restrictions.

If that option is not convenient, a Future Cruise Credit equal to the amount paid for the original MSC Cruises package would be available for use within one year of issue. Passengers don’t have to use the credit within a year; just make a new booking within that year.

The final option is a free cancellation with a full refund. Any passenger who does not choose another sailing or the Future Cruise Credit by September 30, 2025, will have refunds automatically processed to their original payment method.

Carnival Reminds Guests of Needed Documents Before Unique Sailing

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Reminds Guests of Needed Documents Before Unique Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is reminding guests that passport books or passport cards are required for Carnival Legend‘s February 2, 2026 departure.
  • That voyage is visiting both Colombia and Panama, which requires strict travel documentation, or guests cannot set sail.
  • Guests traveling with passport cards only can set sail, but will not be permitted to debark in Panama.

Packing for a cruise can be a stressful activity, especially if you’re like me and tend to pack not at the last minute, but at the last second. This raises the risk of forgetting something critical, such as appropriate identification.

Carnival Cruise Line is reaching out to guests booked on a special upcoming sailing of Carnival Legend to let everyone know what documents are necessary and what won’t quite work.

The affected sailing is the ship’s February 2, 2026 departure, a 14-night Carnival Journeys cruise that includes visits to both Colon, Panama and Cartagena, Colombia.

While the cruise is a closed-loop voyage roundtrip from Galveston, Texas, those special ports of call do have strict requirements for cruise visitors.

“In preparation for this memorable voyage, we have an important reminder regarding travel documentation requirements,” the cruise line said. “To comply with US Customs and Border Protection regulations, all guests (including infants) must carry a valid passport or passport card for this cruise.”

This means that a birth certificate and driver’s license will not be permitted for embarkation. The email goes on to note that permanent residents of the US must have both their Permanent Resident Card as well as a valid passport from their own country.

Furthermore, Panama’s requirements are even more strict.

“Although a passport card is an acceptable form of travel documentation for this voyage, to comply with guidelines for going ashore [in Panama], all guests (including infants) must carry a passport book,” the email explained.

“Guests with passport cards must remain on board when we visit the destination.”

The US Department of State notes that the current processing times for passports are 4-6 weeks, though expedited passports can be processed in just 2-3 weeks. With nearly six months before the cruise sets sail, guests have plenty of time to be sure their paperwork is in order.

While these documentation requirements are not new, Carnival Cruise Line is making a sincere effort to be sure all guests are aware and prepared for their unique voyage.

Guests can find thorough and updated travel documentation requirements for all sailings on Carnival’s website, with details for US citizens, permanent residents, and non-US citizens.

Cruise Does Not Include a Canal Transit

To prevent any disappointment, Carnival Cruise Line also clarifies that Carnival Legend is not, in fact, transiting the canal on this cruise.

“This voyage will dock in the Panamanian city of Colon. The cruise terminal is approximately 10 miles (driving distance) from the Canal,” the email explained.

Guests can purchase shore tours to visit the famed Panama Canal. If documents aren’t in order and guests aren’t permitted to debark in Panama, their tours will be refunded and a full day of activities will still be available onboard.

Carnival Spirit, Panama Canal
Photo Courtesy: Panama Canal Authority

Read Also: Passport Book vs. Card – What Is Best for Cruises?

This will undoubtedly include entertainment and activities such as trivia contests, cooking demonstrations, music, games, dance lessons and other onboard fun.

If cruise travelers are interested in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a Panama Canal transit, they will need to investigate one-way repositioning cruises when Carnival ships move between homeports.

For Carnival Legend, the next (and currently only) opportunity to sail through the Canal is on the ship’s October 6, 2025 departure from San Francisco.

That 16-night sailing will depart California, visit Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and Puntarenas in Costa Rica, then move through the iconic Panama Canal on October 16.

Visits to Colombia and Grand Cayman complete the itinerary before the ship will arrive in Galveston on October 22 to begin her Caribbean winter season.

Celebrity Ship’s Port of Call Shortened Mid-Voyage Due to Congestion

Catie Kovelman
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Celebrity Ship’s Port of Call Shortened Mid-Voyage Due to Congestion

Key Aspects:

  • Port authorities have required Celebrity Ascent to shorten her planned visit to Santorini on August 8, 2025, from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • The change was made due to an increase in port traffic in the small tender port, with three other cruise ships also expected to be present that day. 
  • Shore excursions booked through Celebrity Cruises will automatically be adjusted or refunded. 

Guests onboard Celebrity Ascent have just learned that the final port call of the current cruise will now be three hours shorter than planned. 

The current voyage, which is a 7-night sailing from Barcelona, Spain, to Athens, Greece, is saving Santorini for last as the grand finale of the trip on August 8, 2025. 

For many cruise fans, making Santorini the final port call on a cruise akin to saving the best for last.

While the up to 3,950 passengers onboard will still get to visit the popular Greek island, their time in port will be cut short by three hours due to port congestion. 

The 141,420-gross ton ship will now head back out to sea at 5 p.m. instead of the originally planned time of 8 p.m.

“Due to increased traffic conditions at the port in Santorini, Greece, local authorities have requested an adjustment to our departure schedule,” Celebrity Cruises notified guests. 

“As a result, our time in Santorini will be updated, with our new departure time now set for 5:00 PM,” the notice continued. 

The Edge-class ship has already called on Valletta, Malta, on August 4, and there are no expected changes to the additional planned stops at Mykonos Island, Greece, and Kusadasi, Turkey. 

In light of the change, all shore excursions that were booked through Celebrity Cruises will automatically be adjusted to accommodate the new timing. Any tours that can’t be adjusted will be refunded. 

Even with the shortened time in port, cruise guests will still be required to pay the new port tax in full that went into effect in Greece on August 1, 2025, which is set at €20 ($23.13 USD) per person from June through September. 

How Bad is Port Congestion?

It’s currently the peak cruising season in the Mediterranean, and the Santorini Cruise Port will be just about at capacity on August 8. 

In addition to Celebrity Ascent, NCL’s Norwegian Viva, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, and Star Clippers’ Star Flyer will also be in the port that day. 

As Santorini is already a small cruise port, port authorities may have staggered ship departures for both efficiency and safety. 

Santorini is also a tender port, which means all four ships will need to be transporting guests two and from the shore using smaller vessels simultaneously, which can also add to the congestion and possible navigational hazards.

Celebrity Ascent Cruise Ship
Celebrity Ascent Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Strategically timing arrivals and departures can help ease traffic by isolating peak times for when cruise ship tendering operations will be most in demand.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Tendering – Top 6 Pro Tips

It’s unclear why Celebrity Ascent specifically had to adjust her schedule, or why the change wouldn’t have been made sooner, but the cruise line appreciated guests’ understanding. 

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding,” the cruise line wrote. 

“While this change is beyond our control, please know that our commitment to your comfort and enjoyment remains unwavering.”

Celebrity Cruises also took this update as an opportunity to remind guests that the tender boats require at least some level of mobility, as guests must be able to handle a few steps and walk across the tender platform. 

Guests who use full-time mobility scooters or non-collapsible wheelchairs will unfortunately not be able to venture ashore in Santorini or Mykonos, which is also a tender port. 

Virgin Voyages Makes Iceland Debut as Brilliant Lady Nears Launch

Lissa Poirot
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Virgin Voyages Makes Iceland Debut as Brilliant Lady Nears Launch

Key Aspects:

  • Scarlet Lady is the first Virgin Voyages ship to call in Iceland, stopping in Akureyri on August 3, 2025.
  • The fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, is preparing for its inaugural U.S. sailings, starting in September from New York.
  • Virgin Voyages will enter the Alaska market in 2026 and expand its North American presence with four U.S. homeports.

Virgin Voyages continues its expansion and is becoming a major player in the cruise world.

On August 3, 2025, the cruise line visited Iceland for the first time, with Scarlet Lady arriving for her inaugural call in Akureyri.

The city is the island’s second-largest city outside of Reykjavik and considered the “Capital of North Iceland” due to its location at the base of Eyjafjörour fjord.

The 110,000-gross-ton ship began what is a new itinerary for the cruise line, a 10-night England to Iceland & Norway journey that departed from Portsmouth, England, on July 27, 2025.

Prior to her first visit to Iceland, Scarlet Lady brought nearly 2,700 passengers to Amsterdam, Bergen, Norway, and the Shetland Isles. She followed the first call with a visit to Isafjord, Iceland, and will conclude her voyage in Reykjavik on August 5.

“Scarlet Lady was the ship that started it all, and she’s still setting the pace,” said Virgin Voyages’ CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu.

He went on to say the ship’s arrival reflects a growing demand for the cruise line’s approach to cruises.

Read Also: Who Owns Virgin Voyages and How It All Started?

Scarlet Lady will follow up her maiden Iceland visit with an 11-night sailing back to Portsmouth, returning to each port for a second visit before moving on to more traditional ports in Scotland, Ireland, and Spain before summer comes to an end.

New Ship Nears Debut

As Scarlet Lady was making waves in the North Atlantic, eager Virgin Voyages guests have been watching with delight as the cruise line’s newest vessel, Brilliant Lady, wraps up her final preparations for an official debut.

The Fincantieri-built ship, also 110,000 gross tons and capable of accommodating 2,700 guests at double capacity, recently completed outfitting work in Palermo, Italy, and is en route to Lisbon and the UK for a series of onboard preview events.

Brilliant Lady is expected to launch her “MerMaiden” voyage from New York on September 3, 2025. The sailing will depart from Manhattan at 5 pm and spending an overnight call in Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard and enjoy two sea days.

Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: UrAvgPhoto)

The call will give media, industry insiders, and cruise agents a chance to preview the ship and will return to New York on September 10.

The ship will follow that sailing with a second journey to Bermuda before a series of fall foliage cruises in Canada and New England into October.

“With each new ship, we’re listening more and refining faster,” said Michelle Bentubo, COO at Virgin Voyages.

She highlights that the company’s newest ship is evolving the guest experience by offering longer cruise itineraries to provide passengers more time “to relax and more space to explore.”

She added that passengers have an “appetite for grown-up experiences that feel effortless, immersive, and fun.” 

“We’re delivering that across every part of our offering, from itineraries to on-board design,” she said.

Four US ports will house Brilliant Lady during her inaugural year, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The latter of which will serve as a homeport as the ship becomes the first in the fleet to sail to Alaska.

Brilliant Lady’s Caribbean season will launch on October 16, 2025, and then the brand-new vessel will embark on the cruise line’s first-ever Panama Canal crossing in March 2026 as she travels to Los Angeles.

She will arrive in Seattle in May 2026 to begin her summer season in Alaska.

Flying to Port Canaveral Getting Easier for Family Cruisers

Melissa Mayntz
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Flying to Port Canaveral Getting Easier for Family Cruisers

Key Aspects:

  • A new TSA program is offering dedicated security lanes for families with young children at select airports.
  • Orlando International Airport, the closest major airport to Port Canaveral, is one of the first to use the new program.
  • Other airports around the country will also be rolling out the “Families on the Fly” program in the coming months.

Traveling to or from a cruise homeport can be a nightmare of unwieldy luggage, crowded flights, and boring layovers. This can be even worse when juggling strollers, diaper bags, and worn out, cranky youngsters.

Families traveling to Port Canaveral, however, will have it just a little bit easier at Orlando International Airport (MCO), thanks to a new program to ease through security checks.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has rolled out the “Families on the Fly” initiative to smooth traveling family obstacles at major airports, including Orlando, the closest major airport to Port Canaveral.

The program was first announced in mid-July and Orlando International Airport is one of the first cities to have the initiative in place.

The new program features dedicated family security lanes for travelers with children under age 12. Agents have additional training for these lanes and can assist with strollers, car seats, and extra bags as needed.

“We understand that air travel can be challenging, especially for parents managing strollers, diaper bags, and young kids,” said Pete Garcia, TSA Federal Security Director for Orlando.

“This program goes beyond convenience; it’s about addressing the unique needs of traveling families to provide a smoother, more supportive experience at our security checkpoints. We’re dedicated to making travel smart, secure, and family friendly.”

The new lanes will be present at every security checkpoint, ensuring that families can move through security with a less stressful experience.

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At the same time, offering families dedicated lanes will also help ease congestion for other travelers by ensuring that bulkier items such as strollers are scanned appropriately with fewer delays.

While Orlando was selected as one of the first program locations due to the major theme parks nearby, cruise passengers will also benefit from the convenience.

Security checkpoints are for outward travel and won’t impact guests arriving ahead of their cruise. Nevertheless, the Families on the Fly program can be a great advantage for guests when returning home.

Cruise Ships Docked in Port Canaveral
Cruise Ships Docked in Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Travelers can get even more assistance as the program offers discounted TSA PreCheck fees, ensuring an even faster and lower hassle trip through security.

This can be particularly helpful for guests who have tighter flight arrangements and earlier flights. Cruise lines typically recommend guests not book flights before 12-1 p.m.

Orlando International Airport is approximately a 45-60 minute drive from Port Canaveral, but traffic snarls, road construction, or poor weather can cause significant delays.

Other Airports Also Implementing the Program

In addition to rolling out the Families on the Fly campaign in Orlando, several other major airports are also launching the program.

This includes the following:

  • Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) – Charlotte, North Carolina
  • John Wayne Airport Orange County (SNA) – Los Angeles, California
  • Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) – Honolulu, Hawaii

The program is also planned to be rolled out at other “select” airports across the country, including:

  • Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) – Jacksonville, Florida
  • Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) – Providence, Rhode Island
  • Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) – Sand Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Tampa International Airport (TPA) – Tampa, Florida

These cities ensure cruise families flying to and from different homeports, including Jaxport, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Port Tampa Bay can all enjoy a smoother, easier traveling experience.

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This can impact thousands of cruisers for all different cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and more.

Additional cities to implement the program will be named in the coming months.

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