More than 24 hours after she was supposed to depart Vancouver to begin a 7-night Alaska Inside Passage sailing, satellite tracking data confirms that Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas finally began moving at about 6:30 p.m. local time.
The ship had initially departed Vancouver’s Canada Place cruise terminal Sunday afternoon, but turned around and returned to the dock after just a couple of hours.
Guests were required to remain onboard the vessel and were not permitted to explore Vancouver while they waited for updates on their sailing.
Unfortunately, updates were not easily forthcoming. Finally, the Royal Caribbean app was updated with a refreshed itinerary, confirming that the first planned port of call, Sitka, Alaska, was cancelled.
The remaining ports of call on the cruise were still planned, though the times in port for each one were slightly adjusted. Serenade of the Seas will now explore the Last Frontier as follows:
Tuesday, July 8 – Day at sea (previously Sitka)
Wednesday, July 9 – Scenic cruising through Tracy Arm Fjords; Juneau, Alaska from 2:30-9 p.m. (previously 2-7:30 p.m.)
Thursday, July 10 – Ketchikan from 3-9:30 p.m. (previously 2:30-10 p.m.)
Friday, July 11 – Prince Rupert, British Columbia from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (previously 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Saturday, July 12 – Day at sea
Sunday, July 13 – Arrival back to Vancouver
While the time changes are not strongly significant at any one port destination, some shore tours will undoubtedly need to be adjusted slightly to accommodate the ship’s new schedule. If tours were booked through Royal Caribbean, these adjustments will be made automatically.
If tours are unable to be adjusted, guests will be notified individually of any cancellations, and refunds will be provided.
At this time, guests have not yet been informed of any onboard credit or pro-rated refund for missing Sitka. It is possible this may yet be forthcoming, but it would need to be approved and authorized from the cruise line’s headquarters.
Serenade of the Seas Cruise (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
On the previous sailing, her June 29 departure, Serenade of the Seas developed similar technical problems that required reduced speed and the ship skipped Icy Strait Point. For that disappointment, guests were provided an onboard credit equal to one day of their cruise fare.
It is entirely likely, though not confirmed, that similar compensation may be offered to guests currently onboard and finally setting sail on their Alaskan cruise vacation.
Has the Problem Truly Been Fixed?
Guests – both those onboard as well as passengers booked on upcoming sailings – are understandably nervous about whether or not the technical issue has been fully corrected.
Of course, if it has, Serenade of the Seas should have smooth sailing and guests are in for amazing experiences as they visit different ports.
If the problem recurs, however, it is possible that additional adjustments may be necessary and more ports could be removed from the itinerary if the ship’s speed must be reduced.
Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas are sister ships – could they be having similar technical difficulties? Time will tell, but Cruise Hive wishes the ship and everyone aboard smooth and safe cruising.
While Florida is known for its hot summer, things got way too hot on a bus taking cruise guests home from their vacation over the weekend.
A bus taking recently disembarked cruise passengers from their Florida cruise port to Georgia spontaneously caught fire on the morning of Saturday, July 5, 2025, while driving along Interstate 95 near Daytona Beach.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but it seems like everything escalated quite quickly and without warning.
“We just came off a cruise. Fifty-four or 55 people having a good time, and then out of nowhere, there is chaos, fire. I mean, the truck burned to a crisp,” Tanetta Hampton, who was on the bus with her 7-month-old daughter Naomi, told 7 News Miami.
“I didn’t even think to grab my baby’s baby bag with her formula and diapers and things,” Hampton continued.
Hampton and her daughter had just disembarked from a Carnival cruise, although it’s not clear which ship they came from. However, this likely means other passengers were Carnival guests as well.
It’s also not known which cruise port or ship the recent guests were coming from, but Port Canaveral (Orlando) would be the closest port to Daytona Beach at around 60 miles away.
While all the cruisers were able to safely evacuate from the burning vehicle, most had to leave their luggageand personal belongings behind.
Footage from witnesses shows the motor coach completely engulfed in bright orange flames and black smoke with luggage still stored just out of reach in the underbelly of the bus.
Hampton also spoke about the panic at the scene: “Some family trying to get their luggage, some family like, ‘Oh, it’s going to explode, get away,’ so it was a lot of emotions up.”
“People were like crying and tussling with each other, trying to save family from going, you know, towards the fire. That was the scariest part, was the panic of everybody even outside of the bus,” she added.
Thankfully, personal belongings can be replaced and no injuries or deaths have been reported – which is what really matters at the end of the day.
As a bit of a social media influencer, Hampton was recognized by one of her followers who picked up her family from the side of the road and drove them the rest of the way to Georgia.
The other passengers were picked up by another bus, which reportedly reached its destination safely.
Is Bus Travel Safe for Cruisers?
Although the cause of this bus fire has not been released, it was most likely a freak occurrence related to something like an electrical malfunction or fuel leak.
Authorities are already investigating the incident to determine the cause and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
But as this is the second bus incident in about two weeks, some cruise passengers may be wondering how safe traveling by bus really is.
Ketchikan Cruise Passenger Bus Crash (Credit: Ketchikan Fire Department)
That said, thousands (if not millions) of cruise passengers board buses as part of shore excursions and to travel to and from their cruise ports every year with no issue.
Traveling to and from cruise ports via bus is a good option for cruisers trying to save a few bucks.
For example, a flight from Orlando (where Port Canaveral is) to Atlanta, Georgia, can cost $80 per person round-trip on the low end to over $300 at the high end.
There are bus stops either within or very close to Port Canaveral, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and Port Everglades, so additional transportation methods, such as taking an Uber, would not be necessary.
Meanwhile, a bus from Port Canaveral to Atlanta takes just about a day and costs around $70 to $75 per person.
The Florida cruise ports also offer shuttle services to and from their local airports, with prices usually ranging between $20 to $40 for the trip.
Another change in dry dock scheduling has hit Carnival Cruise Line, this time impacting a total of five sailings aboard Carnival Breeze.
The cruise line has reached out to booked guests, alerting them to the cancellations and offering alternatives (with incentives!) if they wish to rebook.
The following sailings are now cancelled for Carnival Breeze:
January 11, 2027 – 4 nights
March 5, 2027 – 8 nights
March 13, 2027 – 4 nights
March 18, 2027 – 4 nights
March 22, 2027 – 5 nights
“Due to a short-term change in itinerary and dry dock plans (scheduled maintenance) for Carnival Breeze for the specific timeframe referenced above, we are sorry to inform you that the above voyages, including yours, have been cancelled,”the notification read.
All of the impacted sailings are from the ship’s Galveston homeport and are Western Caribbean cruises. Each of the cruises was to have visited Cozumel, Mexico, with other ports such as Progreso, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica on the longer sailings.
The reasoning behind the dry dock scheduling change has not been disclosed, but it isn’t uncommon for shipyard schedules to need adjustment due to labor management, supply chain concerns, or overall maintenance work bookings.
Because the “scheduled maintenance” for the 128,000-gross ton, Dream class Carnival Breeze is now going to take longer to complete, this does lead to speculation about whether or not the ship needs more work than anticipated.
This is unlikely, however, considering the dry dock is still 18 months away. If the maintenance needs were urgent, it would be necessary to pull the ship from service rather than extend a planned maintenance period more than a year away.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled sailings due to dry dock changes.
At the end of June, it was necessary to extend Carnival Liberty‘s time in dry dock and cancel her first sailing due to switching shipyards. A labor dispute caused the change, but Carnival Liberty has now completed the work and is returning to New Orleans to welcome guests on July 13.
In late May, Carnival Conquest had six cruises cancelled in January 2026, and in both Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magic have had sailings cancelled. For all three ships, the changes are related to dry dock scheduling adjustments.
Incentives Offered for Rebooking
Carnival Cruise Line is offering several incentives for cruisers who wish to rebook on different sailings. The cruise fare rate will be protected for any “comparable sailing in similar accommodations,” ensuring guests can enjoy the best price for their cruise vacation.
Also, guests will receive $25 of onboard credit per person (up to $50 per stateroom) for most of the cancelled cruises. Guests who were booked on the now-cancelled March 5, 2027 sailing – the 8-night cruise – will receive $50 of onboard credit (up to $100 per stateroom).
Photo Credit: 4kclips / Shutterstock
If guests do not want to rebook, they will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items such as pre-paid gratuities, wi-fi packages, or drink packages.
Even non-refundable deposits will be refunded, as the cruise line is the one cancelling these sailings, not the guests.
Refunds will be processed automatically after July 21, 2025. If guests wish to reschedule their cruise, they should contact Carnival Cruise Line or their travel agent before then to ensure they can receive the onboard credit and price protection for their new vacation plans.
While it will be disappointing for guests to learn their cruises must be cancelled, getting the notification more than 18 months ahead of sailing will be helpful for choosing another Carnival cruise or otherwise adjusting vacation plans.
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas has returned to Vancouver just two hours after setting sail, with as-yet-undisclosed technical issues having a significant impact on her current sailing.
The ship was to have departed Vancouver on Sunday, July 6, 2025 for a 7-night Inside Passage sailing in Alaska. While Serenade of the Seas did in fact leave (albeit a bit later than originally scheduled) she turned back after just two hours and as of Monday afternoon, remains in Vancouver.
Guests onboard have noted that the ship appears to be having engine difficulties and travelers are not being permitted off to explore the Canadian city. No safety systems have been impacted.
The current problems follow difficulties on the previous cruise as well, when Serenade of the Seas was forced to skip a visit to Icy Strait Point as well as a day of scenic cruising so the issues could be worked on.
During that sailing, “speed restrictions from a technical issue onboard” were cited as the difficulty, though the exact nature of the technical issue was not disclosed.
Royal Caribbean did not notify guests now onboard the ship’s July 6 departure of any anticipated itinerary changes or other adjustments to their sailing, though that now seems inevitable.
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Serenade of the Seas was to have been arriving in Sitka, Alaska for a visit from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8. Given that the ship is still docked in Vancouver, it would be all but impossible to keep that original itinerary.
Undoubtedly guests will receive updates onboard as the issue is further investigated. It is hoped the ship may be able to sail an adjusted itinerary and guests will be informed as soon as plans are confirmed.
Hopefully, the situation aboard Serenade of the Seas will not be as convoluted as what happened aboard Radiance of the Seas in 2024, with similar propulsion problems that impacted multiple cruises, including a cancelled sailing after guests had already embarked.
The two vessels are sister ships at 90,090 gross tons with a guest capacity of just over 2,450 travelers.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for updates as information affecting Serenade of the Seas is confirmed.
Now, Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed the new sailings and homeports for both vessels, with options that will be very exciting for cruisers.
New Homeport for Norwegian Breakaway
A total of 21 sailings for Norwegian Breakaway were cancelled. This is the ship’s entire season from San Juan, Puerto Rico, covering departures from November 8, 2026 through and including the March 28, 2027 sailing.
Now, the ship will be setting sail from the Big Easy, offering colorful 7-night itineraries for guests to enjoy.
“Norwegian Breakaway will sail from New Orleans offering Norwegian Prima’s original Western Caribbean cruises,”a letter to guests confirmed.
“Yes, your original itinerary will still be available from New Orleans, but now on Norwegian Breakaway!”
These new bookings will be available for reservations from Friday, August 8, 2025.
Guests who had been booked aboard Norwegian Prima sailing from New Orleans will receive a full refund for their now-cancelled sailing, but they will not be automatically rebooked on Norwegian Breakaway.
They will, however, also receive a 10% future cruise credit that can be used as a discount on a new booking, including Norwegian Breakaway‘s season from New Orleans.
The credit can also be used on any other Norwegian Cruise Line ship from any homeport in any sailing region through December 31, 2027.
The 145,655-gross ton Norwegian Breakaway can welcome 3,963 guests at double occupancy, more than 860 extra guests than Norwegian Prima.
While the ship is older, the larger vessel and bigger capacity offers spectacular opportunities for cruisers from New Orleans.
Now, over the entire season, Norwegian Breakaway will spend sailing from Louisiana, she will be able to welcome more than 17,000 extra guests aboard, which is above the capacity Norwegian Prima could accommodate.
New Homeport for Norwegian Prima
As Norwegian Breakaway takes over her fleetmate’s sailings from New Orleans, Norwegian Prima will likewise take over the Southern Caribbean sailings that had been planned for Norwegian Breakaway from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“Your original itinerary will still be available from San Juan, Puerto Rico, but now on one of NCL’s newest, next generation ships, Norwegian Prima!”the cruise line confirmed.
As with the cancellations for Norwegian Breakaway, booked guests are receiving full refunds as well as 10% future cruise credits for the 20 sailings now cancelled for Norwegian Prima.
While the ship has a smaller capacity of just 3,099 guests, moving Norwegian Prima to San Juan brings a new and updated cruise experience to Puerto Rico, offering guests all the updates of the new class with outstanding Southern Caribbean sailings to Aruba, Curacao, the US Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia, and more.
Personally, I was hoping the cruise line would extend Norwegian Prima‘s stay at Port Canaveral, where she will be homeported from November 2, 2025 through November 8, 2026.
We’re excited to sail on her, but already have plans for her sister ship, Norwegian Aqua, later this month, and we haven’t yet booked for summer 2025. Maybe a spring break cruise!
It isn’t unusual for cruise lines to occasionally rearrange which ships are deployed where based on booking trends, itinerary schedules, and guest feedback.
Undoubtedly, the swapping of Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima will draw attention from eager cruisers and both ships will offer fantastic vacations from their new homeports.
Every cruise traveler daydreams about their upcoming sailing, hoping for an amazing vacation with beautiful weather, delicious food, outstanding entertainment, spectacular service, and more.
Unfortunately, even a seemingly perfect cruise can have bad experiences, but that doesn’t mean the cruise line is at fault.
One recent Carnival cruiser disagrees and believes the cruise line should have a greater responsibility for guest safety – for something absolutely outside of Carnival Cruise Line’s control.
“I got a extreme sunburn with a big sort of blister starting (not really a blister so far but it is thicker then my normal skin, rippled, but same color as my skin) on my right leg and hurts when I touch it,”the guest explained.
The guest notes that they did go to the ship’s Medical Center, but they disagreed with the charge for treatment. They do not clarify, however, whether they accepted that treatment or not.
“I was on the Serenity area for the day when I got this sunburn,”they continued.“There was no water spritzer bottles to cool the skin. There were no places to buy sunblock. Carnival’s refusal to help me is wrong. There was not any warnings or signs.”
There’s no denying that sunburn can be very painful and can certainly put a damper on one’s vacation experience.
Furthermore, if one isn’t accustomed to summer rays, a severe sunburn can happen more quickly than expected. While the guest doesn’t indicate where their ship was sailing, such burns can happen anywhere the sun is strong – from Alaska to the Caribbean to Antarctica.
But is Carnival Cruise Line responsible? Is the cruise line doing enough to let passengers know that sitting out in the sun might – surprise! – result in a sunburn?
Heald responded, but not in the way the guest might have wished.
“I truly feel so very sorry for this chap. Anyone who has had sunburn and sported blisters as big as Steakhouse dinner plate deserves some sympathy,”he acknowledged.
“I can only hope that this [guest] has now learnt two valuable lessons — 1) always apply sunscreen when on your cruise and 2) when things go wrong it isn’t always Carnival Cruise Line who is to blame.”
Was Carnival Responsible for the Sunburn?
Let’s go a bit further. The guest claims that “water spritzer bottles to cool the skin” would have been helpful, but sunburn isn’t actually caused by heat.
There is no evidence that misting water on exposed skin can have an impact on a sunburn, though it can help you stay more comfortable in the hot sun.
That might actually have the opposite effect, however. If you’re more comfortable basking in the hot sun, you would be more likely to stay in the sun longer, increasing the risk of a bad sunburn.
Next, the guest claimed that “There were no places to buy sunblock.” This might be true directly on the adults-only Serenity Deck, but different types of sunblock are indeed available onboard in the Fun Shops. The price might be high and it might not be one’s preferred brand, but it is in fact there.
Passengers on Cruise Ship Deck (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
The guest also asserts that Carnival refused to help with their burn. They contradict that assertion, however, by noting they went to the medical center and were offered treatment – they just didn’t want to pay for that treatment.
Finally, the guest claims there were no warnings or signage, presumably about the dangers of sun exposure and need for sunscreen.
Really? You need to be told that? Undoubtedly, many other guests nearby would have been applying sunblock, and it’s certainly no secret that excessive sun exposure can result in painful burns.
Furthermore, I have seen notes in the Fun Times newsletter urging guests to wear sunscreen, and have heard cruise directors including such warnings in their morning announcements. This may not be consistent on different sailings or ships, but it does happen.
This guest’s comments would be similar to complaining that Carnival doesn’t have signs in every stairwell that falling down stairs can result in injuries. Well, duh.
The original poster did not receive sympathy from other guests who noted there are many ways to prevent sunburn.
Putting a towel over one’s legs, seeking shade, or even just realizing “wow, it’s really hot, maybe I should get out of the sun” are all obvious answers.
Some guests also note that there are not usually sunblock or sunburn warnings posted at lakes, beaches, or pools, so why should Carnival Cruise Line be responsible?
We just crossed the halfway point for 2025 and already Cunard’s 2027 launch is off to a fast start.
The cruise line reported a 55 percent increase in nights booked during the first week of its 2027 program release compared to the same period last year.
And much of that momentum comes from both the UK and North American markets, where bookings rose nearly 50 percent and more than 100 percent, respectively.
“We’re delighted with the response to our 2027 launch,”said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard.
“It’s wonderful to see so many guests choosing to sail with us, and the rise in bookings show just how much people continue to value the Cunard experience,” she added.
Cunard says interest in its top-tier accommodations has been particularly notable, with bookings for its Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites more than 100 percent over last year’s launch period. These premium accommodations include butler service, access to private dining, and space that reaches over 2,000 square feet.
Said McAllister, the bookings “tell us that more guests are seeking the space, service, and thoughtful details that make our luxury Grills suites so special.”
Transatlantic crossings aboard the 148,528-gross-ton Queen Mary 2 also continue to be one of the 185-year-old line’s most popular offerings.
This isn’t the first time Cunard has reported record-breaking bookings either. By June 2024, the cruise line broke its booking records after launching its newest ship, the Queen Anne in May. The 2,996-guest vessel, which set sail from Liverpool, helped spur renewed interest in the cruise line.
By December of 2024, the company, which is owned by Carnival Corporation, again bested its booking record by 23 percent.
To capitalize on the momentum, Cunard unveiled themed cruises around cuisine, entertainment, and the celebration of the cruise line’s anniversary in June 2025. That voyage departed Southampton on June 24 and is ending in New York City on July 8.
An Exciting Lineup
Cunard introduced its 2027 itineraries at the beginning of June 2025 with a lineup featuring 195 new voyages across its four-ship fleet. Collectively, the ships will visit 115 ports in 32 countries between April 2027 and January 2028.
The itineraries include visits to 93 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including iconic destinations like the Historic Centre of Florence, the Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia), and the ancient ruins of Ephesus (Turkey).
In addition, 18 overnight port calls and late-evening departures are also featured on the schedule to offer extended time in port for guests looking to explore more on land.
Queen Anne Ship (Photo Credit: Martin Augustus)
Also a highlight? The return to homeport cruising from Cunard’s Southampton, England, base. For the first time since 2018, three of Cunard’s ships will sail roundtrip from the UK, which increases Southampton departure capacity by 54 percent year over year.
The 2027 itineraries also include several maiden calls and lesser-known ports. For instance, the 113,000-gross-ton Queen Anne, will visit La Rochelle, France, and Sorrento, Italy, for the first time.
Meanwhile, The 90,900-gross-ton Queen Elizabeth will offer an extended European season to its 2,081 passengers, with 65 sailings that include 22 ports not visited in more than 15 years and maiden calls in Trieste, Italy, and Calvi, France.
Queen Victoria, which is slightly smaller at 90,000 gross tons and managing 2,061 guests, will be taking guests to Iceland’s Grundarfjordur, marking Cunard’s first return since 2009. It will also make its inaugural call to Latvia’s capital of Riga.
Finally, Queen Mary 2 will continue to bring nearly 2,700 passengers on its signature crossing sailings and celebrate major moments like the Fourth of July in Boston and Christmas in the Caribbean.
If you’re an avid cruiser, then you’re probably a member of at least one cruise line loyalty program. However, if you cruise with a handful of different lines, did you know that some cruise lines offer loyalty status matching?
That means, if you have a top-tier status with one cruise line, you could enjoy the same status and all the perks that come with it, on another cruise line, without working your way up from that other line’s loyalty program introductory tier.
Yes! MSC Cruises status matches quite generously. If you have a high ranking in just about any other travel brand’s loyalty program, chances are likely that you can status match the next time you sail with MSC Cruises.
The cruise line’s status match program is applicable to literally dozens of other loyalty programs, including hotel programs, airline programs and more.
So, for example, I currently enjoy perks like booking discounts, gifts, and free Wi-Fi when I fly with certain airlines and stay at certain hotel chains. With status matching, I can get similar perks with MSC Cruises.
What Cruise Lines Does MSC Cruises Status Match With?
For cruising specifically, you can get an MSC Voyagers Club status match if you’re already enrolled in a loyalty program with one of the following other cruise lines:
Aida Cruise Line
Azamara Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
Ponant
Princess Cruises
Regent Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea
How Do I Apply for the MSC Cruises Status Match Program?
MSC World Europa in Barcelona (Photo Credit: Lara-SH)
In order to get your matched tier, all you have to do is fill out a short online application. You’ll have to provide your contact info and other loyalty program membership information, including a photo of your loyalty card.
From there, MSC Cruises will take a look at your loyalty status and place you in a comparable tier within the Voyagers Club.
A pro tip? MSC Cruises very much rewards your loyalty to other travel brands by giving you a Voyagers Club status that will match your status elsewhere as closely as possible.
As such, when you pick the other loyalty program that you want MSC Cruises to match, pick the program in which you currently have the highest status.
For example, if you have a mid-tier status with another cruise line, but the highest possible status with, say, Marriott, you’d want to ask MSC Cruises to status match you according to your Marriott status. Forget the other cruise line.
Keep in mind, also, that you can only status match one time in your life. If you’re about to reach a particularly noteworthy status within one of your travel loyalty programs, you might want to hold off on status matching until you’ve achieved that higher tier. You might just get a better Voyagers Club tier as a result.
Want to get a guess at what status you might get on MSC Cruises, based on your status elsewhere? Check out this official conversion table. It’s slightly outdated but still should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Does Virgin Voyages Status Match?
Resilient Lady (Photo Credit: JTTucker / Shutterstock)
Yes, relatively new cruise line Virgin Voyages does offer status matching, so you can increase your status within the line’s Sailing Club, based on your status elsewhere.
However, the list of eligible loyalty programs isn’t quite as long as that of MSC Cruises’. You won’t find a bunch of hotel or airline loyalty programs on the list.
Still, if you have a certain status within another cruise line loyalty program, chances are good that you can get a comparable status with Virgin Voyages.
What Cruise Lines Does Virgin Voyages Status Match With?
Eligible cruise line loyalty programs for status matching with Virgin Voyages include:
Azamara Circle
Carnival VIFP (or very important fun person) Club
Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club
Disney Castaway
Holland America Line Mariner Society
Norwegian Cruise Line Latitude Rewards program
Oceania Club
P&O Peninsular Club
Princess Captain’s Circle
Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society
Windstar Yacht Club
So, as you can see, your options aren’t as plentiful as they are with MSC Cruises, but Virgin Voyages will match with a few lines that MSC Cruises will not, such as the Windstar Yacht Club.
There is, though, one caveat. For some of the above cruise lines that Virgin Voyages status matches with, the cruise line will not match with every single status tier.
For example, while Virgin Voyages will status match with the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, Virgin Voyages will only status match you if you have Crown & Anchor Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club status. If you have Gold, Platinum or Emerald status, you’re out of luck.
In order to apply for a status match, you do need a voyage on Virgin Voyages currently booked. You also cannot apply for status match if it’s less than a week until your sailing.
The short online application just requires your contact info and a photo of your eligible loyalty program membership card.
Also, it’s worth noting that Virgin Voyages says it will status match “for a limited time.” This may mean that the offering isn’t here to stay. If you’ve been putting off filling out the status match application, you may want to do it now.
Does Royal Caribbean Group Status Match?
Yes! All Royal Caribbean Group cruise lines status match, but only with one another.
Royal Caribbean Group owns three cruise line brands:
Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Cruises
Silversea
As such, if you have a loyalty status with one of these three lines, you can get a comparable status with the other two.
What Status Will I Get When Status Matching with Royal Caribbean Group Brands?
Royal Caribbean Loyalty Program Across Brands
Gold members within Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society get Classic status in the Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and 1 VS Day within Silversea’s Venetian Society.
If you have Platinum status or Emerald status in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Select status in the Captain’s Club and 100 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
If you have Diamond status in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Elite status in the Captain’s Club and 250 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
If you have Diamond Plus in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Elite Plus in the Captain’s Club and 350 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
Lastly, if you have the highest tier, Pinnacle Club status, in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Zenith status in the Captain’s Club and 500 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
Of course, all of the above applies in reverse as well, so you can get the same onboard benefits and onboard services, no matter which Royal Caribbean Group cruise line you sail with. You can always expect a similar current level of benefits.
How Do I Apply for a Royal Caribbean Group Status Match?
In order to qualify for the loyalty status match program, you do have to actively enroll in each of the loyalty programs (or at least in the two you want to status match).
If you’re already a member of the programs, then you’ll automatically receive an email telling you that your status has been matched.
Does Explora Journeys Status Match?
Explora Journeys Cruise Ship
Yes, Explora Journeys Explora Club Members can status match with a handful of other cruise lines. As an MSC Cruises’ sister brand, Explora Journeys’ status matching policy is rather generous, too.
However, as a luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys primarily status matches with other luxury cruise lines.
What Cruise Lines Does Explora Journeys Status Match With?
Explora Journeys will offer you a comparable Explora Club status to whatever status you currently hold with the following cruise lines:
Seabourn
Regent Seven Seas
Silversea
Crystal Cruises
Ponant
Seadream Yacht Club
Scenic Luxury Cruises
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Oceania Cruises
Beyond these luxury cruise lines, though, Explora Journeys will also status match you if you’ve earned status within sister brand MSC Cruises’ Voyagers Club.
To see what status you’ll get within the Explora Club, based on your current cruise line loyalty status level, check out the official conversion chart.
How Do I Apply for a Explora Journeys Status Match?
When you create your Explora Club membership, you’ll be able to tick a box saying that you’d like to request status match. If you already have a membership created, you can request a status match within the Explora Experience Centre or My Explora profile.
You’ll have to provide proof of your loyalty status and you can only request one status match, ever. Status match requests are processed within about 10 business day.
Why You Should Status Match Before Your Next Cruise
Multiple Cruise Ships Docked in Nassau, Bahamas (Photo Credit: Sven Hansche)
There are so many reasons why you should status match before your next cruise, but you absolutely should run, not walk, to do so if you have an existing, highly elevated status with any loyalty program.
Signing up for a status match is free, easy and can only lead to good things (like onboard perks, onboard discounts, freebies and more).
Why would I not want to enjoy benefits very similar to those that I get on Norwegian Cruise Line, when I sail on Virgin Voyages? Or similar perks that I love on Carnival Cruise Line, when I cruise with MSC Cruises?
It’s just an easy way that I can make every cruising experience as great as possible, without the need to build up loyalty over time, with cruise lines that are new or relatively new to me.
However, above and beyond all this, consider the recent move that Carnival Cruise Line pulled. Carnival Cruise Line recently announced that it would be revamping its loyalty program and, in the process, it would be eliminating lifetime loyalty statuses.
However, those cruisers who are losing their status, can status match with MSC Cruises, for example, right now, and get a similar status with MSC Cruises for life (so long as you cruise once every three years).
So, not only will taking the minimal time necessary to status match ensure you get some great perks across a larger number of cruise lines, but it’ll also ensure that you can keep a higher status on at least one line, if one of your other loyalty programs shakes things up.
The world’s oldest cruise ship has reached the end of her storied history as Astoria has reached the scrapyard, where she will be broken after 77 years of service.
The 15,614-gross ton ship’s last journey has been a relatively short one, as she has been laid up in Rotterdam following the closing of Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2020 – yet one more ship that fell victim to the pandemic.
On June 17, 2025, Astoria was finally sold at auction for €200,000 (approximately $235,600 USD) to the recycling company Galloo. She is now set to be scrapped in Ghent, Belgium.
Her final journey, then, was just over 100 miles – following a lifetime of thousands upon thousands of seagoing miles over the decades. She left Rotterdam on Thursday, July 3, and arrived in Ghent the next day.
Some fans and maritime aficionados were on hand at various points in her passage to bear witness to her final journey, but all in all, Astoria has quietly ended a life that had some not so quiet highlights over her more than seven decades of service.
The ship will now be broken, with vital components removed and materials sorted for appropriate reuse and recycling.
A Stunning History
Originally built in 1948 as Stockholm for Swedish America Line with a capacity to welcome 390 guests, the ocean liner we now know as Astoria has served various cruise lines under various names and for various purposes, including:
As Volkerfreundschaft with an East German cruise line, she passed safely through the US blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, bringing guests to Havana to refuel and resupply.
As Fridtjof Nansen, with a Panamanian company, she was used as a barracks ship for asylum seekers in Oslo, Norway in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
As Athena for Classic International Cruises, the ship was attacked by pirates in December 2008 but staved off unwanted boarding with high-pressure water cannons.
Perhaps her most infamous – and yet simultaneously heroic – moment was on July 25, 1956, when Stockholm was sailing in heavy fog off the coast of Nantucket. At roughly 11:10 p.m., she collided with the luxury liner Andrea Dorea.
Andrea Dorea capsized and ultimately sank, with half of her lifeboats rendered unusable in the collision due to listing. Despite the extensive damage to her own bow, Stockholm remained at the site of the collision to aid Andrea Dorea, ultimately rescuing 572 passengers and crew.
Stockholm then sailed to New York without assistance and was rebuilt in three months. Her captain was found not guilty following an inquiry, as Andrea Doria‘s captain did not follow standard procedures that might have avoided the collision.
Interestingly, it wasn’t until September 2020 that Stockholm‘s bow and anchors were finally discovered and confirmed near the final resting place of Andrea Doria.
Just three months later, Astoria (formerly Stockholm) was laid up and would never greet guests again.
photo Credit: Peter Titmuss / Shutterstock
Could the Old Ship Have Found New Life?
Following the global cruise shutdown, it was hoped that Astoria would once again be sold and perhaps converted for use as a hotel ship or floating maritime museum.
Despite several promising plans, however, no firm action ever materialized and the ship remained empty and unused for more than four years.
As many ocean liner lovers have discovered in recent months with the disposition of the SS United States – now being prepped to be scuttled as the world’s largest artificial coral reef – it can be excruciatingly expensive to retrofit an old ship to modern safety, operational, and environmental standards.
It is a sad end to the ship’s long life, but Stockholm–Astoria will never be forgotten.
