One of the oldest cruise lines in the world is going to explore a host of new destinations in the coming years, giving its passengers a chance to visit smaller cruise ports during a just-announced new season.
Cunard, which operates four ships all with British Royal Family monikers and has been in operation since 1840, just dropped its 2027-2028 lineup. Each ship will go to places never-before visited in 115 destinations in 32 countries.
The season, which will run from April 2027 and January 2028, will feature nearly 200 voyages for passengers to choose from.
The new deployment includes 93 UNESCO locations, 18 overnight calls, and 33 departures scheduled late in the evening.
Among the season’s highlights are Queen Anne’s maiden visits to Sorrento, Italy, and La Rochelle, France; Queen Mary 2’s debut in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Queen Victoria’s first arrival in Riga, Latvia;and Queen Elizabeth’s maiden calls in Calvi, France, and Trieste, Italy.
“This new program is all about giving our guests more choice and more unforgettable voyages,”said Kate McAlister, president of Cunard.
“Whether it’s Queen Anne visiting new destinations, Queen Elizabeth returning to favorite ports in the Med, or Queen Mary 2 sailing iconic routes with her usual style, there’s something to suit every kind of traveler,” she added.
McAlister says she and the cruise line are proud of the new offerings.
Fleet Highlights
In 2027-2028, Queen Elizabeth will return to Europe for the first time in years, carrying up to 2,000 passengers as she sails 65 voyages between May and October.
The 113,000-gross-ton ship, which completed a 3-week retrofit in March 2025 that gave the vessel a refresh in both its exterior and interior spaces, will call in 22 ports she hasn’t visited in over a decade, including stops in Istanbul and Palermo, Italy.
Sailings range from 1-week journeys to longer 28-night Mediterranean routes.
Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth (Photo Credit: City of Port Lincoln)
Meanwhile, Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s 81,237-gross-ton flagship, will continue her signature Transatlantic Crossings in 2027, following her own yet-to-be-detailed but massive renovations scheduled to take place in early 2027, according to the cruise line.
In addition to the New York to Southampton, England, route, the ship will take 2,139 passengers on seasonal sailings to Canada, New England, and the Caribbean.
Itineraries include an Independence Day call in Boston on July 4 and holiday voyages to the Caribbean over Christmas and New Year.
Newer ship, Queen Anne, which debuted in 2024 and made her first arrival in the US and Australia at the start of 2025, will also sail from Southampton, providing shorter roundtrip voyages to mostly UK-based cruisers.
These include extended stays in key cities like Barcelona and Copenhagen, as well as a late-night call in Madeira on New Year’s Eve timed to coincide with the island’s renowned fireworks display.
As part of her 2027-2028 season, the 113,000-gross-ton Queen Anne will also call at new ports for the cruise line, including bringing 2,996 passengers to Sorrento and La Rochelle.
Queen Victoria’s 25 voyages will also take her 2,061 guests from Southampton during the season and cover Iceland, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean. During the season, the 90,049-gross-ton vessel will return to Grundarfjorur, Iceland, for the first time since 2009.
For cruisers looking to sail aboard multiple Cunard ships, the line is also promoting “Queen-to-Queen” voyages that allow passengers to link sailings across two or three vessels within a single booking.
Cunard World Club members receive early booking access on June 11, 2025, with sales for the new itineraries opening to the general public on June 12, 2025.
As summer cruising season begins in North America, Carnival Cruise Line, which operates “the Fun Ships,” is reminding guests of its shipboard rules.
The “Have Fun. Be Safe” guidelines reinforce policies on curfews, noise, smoking, and illegal drugs.
The cruise line shared a letter with passengers boarding new cruises on June 1, 2025, outlining several safety and conduct-related expectations.
Among them is a curfew that requires guests 17 and under to be out of public areas by 1 a.m. unless they’re with an adult over 21 from their cruise group.
Carnival states the curfew will be “strictly enforced.”
Guests are also asked to keep noise to a minimum in guest corridors. That includes refraining from running or shouting in hallways, as this may disturb others in their staterooms.
For safety reasons, the cruise line also bans handheld fans on dance floors and in nightclubs, along with any beverages.
Public spaces require earphones when using personal devices, and all speakers or radios are prohibited and will be confiscated if found, since the cruise line officially banned Bluetooth, portable, and wireless speakers in November 2024.
Carnival Cruise line also reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on illegal narcotics, including marijuana and its derivatives.
“Do not attempt to purchase or use any illegal substances ashore, as you may be arrested and not allowed back on board,” the letter from the cruise line states.
Carnival also emphasized that smoking, including vaping, is only allowed in designated areas. Smoking in cabins or on balconies is banned and could result in fines or removal from the ship.
“Additionally, reimbursement costs for damages or destroyed Carnival property will be posted to the guest’s Sail & Sign account,” the company reiterated.
The letter ends with a reminder that “Any guest who violates these policies or whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety, or well-being of others will be disembarked at their own expense, and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future.”
Cruise Line Crack Down
Carnival Cruise Line already details these policies on its website, including costs of violations, such as a $500 fee for breaking its smoking policy.
The letter follows a number of inquiries made to the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, who often receives complaints and concerns about the topics and addresses them on his social media.
For instance, last month, Heald discussed passengers smoking on balconies and told guests it is more than okay to report when they smoke violations, as it could lead to a fire, which is extremely dangerous on a ship at sea with limited firefighting capabilities.
In fact, in February 2025, a small balcony fire broke out on Carnival Glory, when a chair became engulfed in flames.
The cruise line isn’t messing around when it comes to violations, keeping true to its word of kicking passengers off a sailing when catching someone in an illegal act.
One passenger learned his lesson last month when he was arrested in Galveston for possession of marijuana, fentanyl, and heroin.
Another shared by posting on TikTok that she had gotten away with smuggling alcohol onboard, but Carnival was watching! The cruise line banned her for life for breaking the rules and attempting to teach others her trick.
The cruise line even employs drug-sniffing dogs and reminds passengers it follows federal laws, meaning what may be legal in one state may not be legal aboard its fleet.
The majority of guests sharing the letter across social media channels are in favor of the reminder and just want the cruise line to enforce its policies and fellow passengers to follow the rules so that everyone can enjoy their voyages.
There’s trouble in paradise at MSC Ocean Cay – MSC Cruises’ private island and marine reserve in the Bahamas.
Stormy weather rolled in during MSC Seascape’s visit to the exclusive destination on Saturday, May 31, 2025, with high winds causing the 170,412-gross ton vessel to break free from its moorings.
“Our ship the MSC Seascape just broke away from the dock. We are safe, but Wi-fi is spotty. Will update when I can,”one current guest shared with a video on Facebook.
She further explained what happened in the video clip:“So we are docked, it is not near the time for us to depart yet. So, the wind came and broke the tether lines right here, and the ship started moving.”
Another current passenger also shared that the gangway had actually fallen into the water as well. But thankfully, no injuries to crew members or guests have been reported.
“Wicked storm blew into Ocean Cay. Gangway in the ocean, snapped ropes, and station keeping off the pier. All good and some grade A pool entertainment,” he said.
Local weather forecasts do call for chances of low wind and rain showers, but the footage makes the storm look more severe than what was predicted.
Video and photographs from witnesses also show that the gate to the pier – where cruise guests would normally embark and disembark from the ship – had been closed for the time being for safety reasons.
A large crowd can be seen huddled under a couple awnings to escape the wind and the rain. It’s unclear how long they may be waiting, as it can take several hours – or even days – to fix broken mooring lines.
Weather Forces MSc Seascape to Break From Moorings (Credit: Cherlyn Beatty)
It’s also unclear if the 5,877-guest ship will be delayed leaving the private island at the end of the day – with cruise tracking data showing that the vessel is supposed to set sail again at 8 p.m. EST.
Ocean Cay was the second and final stop on a 3-night getaway sailing to the Bahamas, with the cruise ship expected to return to Miami, Florida,on the morning of June 1, 2025.
Do Moorings Break Often?
People often say things happen in threes, and now we’ve officially had three unusual occurrences with mooring lines in 2025.
Just one day before this event, Norwegian Epic broke free from its mooringsin Catania, Italy, also due to strong winds. But in this case, guests using the gangway were thrown into the water below – with a married couple who fell into the harbor, requiring a trip to the hospital.
Ocean Cay is not currently under a wind advisory, while the Italian port was under a moderate warning for sustained wind speeds of 26 to 39 miles per hour and bigger gusts reaching up to 57 miles per hour.
And in March of 2025, Holland America Line’s Rotterdam actually had to skip a port call after rough seas and swells caused the mooring lines to snap while the 99,935-gross-ton vessel was attempting to dock.
While cruise ship moorings can break in certain circumstances or when under extreme stress, it’s not exactly common.
Cruise ship moorings are designed to be quite tough to stand up to strong currents, inclement weather, and to keep extremely heavy vessels safely tethered to the pier.
However, it’s worth noting that weather patterns have become weirder and more extreme – with some scientists coining the term “global weirding.”
This means that storms are also becoming more intense, which feels ominous with the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially beginning on June 1, 2025 – especially as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)has predicted a stormy year.
But while stronger or unpredictable weather might lead to more mooring mishaps in port, rest assured that cruise ships are equipped with the latest and greatest weather tracking technology – making them one of the safest places to be during a storm.
Stay on top of all the exciting cruise news right here at Cruise Hive, where our weekly recap brings you industrywide coverage. Top stories this week include a possible UFO sighting at a major Mexican cruise port, and an altercation between guests at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
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Sea Ice And Other Warnings For Greenland Voyage
Ice Around Greenland (Photo Credit: ge zheng)
Who knew there would still be sea ice drifting off Greenland in late May, possibly causing a cruise ship’s itinerary to change? The captain of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Pride, that’s who.
Guests booked on the ship’s 14-night cruise to Greenland and Canada, which departed on a roundtrip cruise from Baltimore on May 25, 2025, were notified that sea ice is present in the area and might impact the ship’s routing.
It turns out that temperatures around Greenland in May typically average about 39 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, dipping to 27 degrees at night.
In addition to the sea ice warning, guests were also cautioned that anyone with mobility issues might have problems going ashore at ports where the ship cannot dock at a pier but rather uses tenders to ferry guests to land.
The first three port calls are tender ports — Nanortalik and Qaqortoq in Greenland, and Saint Anthony, in Newfoundland, Canada.
In the case of the tender ports, guests also were reminded that mobility devices must be foldable in order to be placed on a tender boat.
UFO Speculation as Ship Calls at Cozumel
UFO Near Cruise Ship (Credit: Jam Press)
Was it a bird, a plane, a drone, a ghost — or maybe even a UFO? Cruisers sailing onboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander caught sight of something strange as the ship was docked for a port call in Cozumel, Mexico, on May 18, 2025.
The unknown object was seen by guests and videotaped from a land-based webcam that was facing Cozumel’s International Pier, where the 2,600-guest ship was docked. The footage showed a dark, round metallic thing flying fast through the air.
The quality of the image wasn’t great, and it was impossible to tell what the object was, however, with the abundance of drones flying over destinations around the globe, it might be a good bet that’s what it was.
Cozumel is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean, sometimes hosting up to 10 ships at a time and well over 1,000 ship calls each year. So, if you are among those with a cruise itinerary that includes Cozumel, remember to look up.
How Close Is Too Close to a Private Cabana?
Passengers Fight At CocoCay (Credit: tiedye_dreamer)
It wasn’t a perfect day for everyone at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas, on May 24, 2025.
One of the luxury experiences on the private island is renting over-water cabanas in the destination’s Chill Island area. Rentals can cost a few thousand dollars for the day, and for that price, guests expect an exclusive atmosphere.
However, on this day, guests using the nearby public swimming area apparently ventured too close to one cabana, prompting the cabana renters to start an altercation with the swimmers. This included a shouting match that led to profanities and the situation devolved into thrown punches — and we don’t mean rum punches!
Lifeguards had to intervene. The altercation was, of course, filmed and uploaded to social media. Royal Caribbean has not commented on the squabble, but it shows that not everyone chills out on Chill Island.
Carnival Ambassador Dismisses Adults-Only Rumor
Carnival Magic Departing Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)
It didn’t take long for the cruise community to spread rumors about Carnival Cruise Line becoming an adults-only line, or offering a steady stream of adult-only voyages.
The speculation started when the line, which draws mainly families, announced it would host special Casino Offer voyages on Carnival Magic in November 2025. Since the cruises will be centered on casino events and tournaments, only adults over 18 will be allowed to sail.
But Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, who interacts with guests on his popular Facebook page, has put the kibosh on the notion that the cruise line is changing into an adults-only brand.
It turns out that Carnival Magic was to have been in dry dock during most of November 2025, but the shipyard plan was postponed. The delay provided an opportunity for the line to schedule cruises during November after all, and it chose to plug in a few casino-themed voyages.
Casino Offer cruises typically are by invitation-only for guests in the Carnival Players Club casino loyalty program.
Star of the Seas Completes Trials, Adds Preview Cruises
Star of the Seas Departing Shipyard (Photo Credit: Jouni Niskakoski)
Royal Caribbean’s soon-to-launch Star of the Seas, second in the Icon class, completed her sea trials with flying colors and returned to Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard on May 27, 2025.
Sea trials are a key component of the construction process, as all onboard systems are put to the test, such as navigation, propulsion, and safety, before the final touches are put in place prior to delivery to the cruise line.
The 5,600-guest ship, sister to the line’s popular Icon of the Seas, was at sea for eight days while the trials were held. They finished in record time, enabling the shipyard to handover the vessel a bit early.
That means Royal Caribbean can introduce the new-build earlier than expected. In fact, it will enable the line to add three showcase sailings before the ship’s 7-night inaugural voyage from Port Canaveral on August 31, 2025.
The preview cruise schedule now includes a three-night cruise departing on August 20, 2025, followed by two four-night sailings. All of the preview sailings will make one port call, to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas.
Carnival Conquest Cancels Sailings Due to Dry Dock Change
Scheduling dry docks for its ships seems to be an ongoing challenge for Carnival Cruise Line. For the second time in recent weeks guests were informed that cruises have been cancelled due to the changing dates of shipyard maintenance. This time it’s Carnival Conquest.
Seven voyages aboard the 3,000-guest ship with departure dates in January 2026 no longer will operate, thanks to dry dock scheduling changes.
All impacted sailings were 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises set to depart PortMiami between January 5, 2026 and January 26, 2026. Guests can rebook on a similar itinerary and get an onboard credit up to $100 per stateroom, or receive a full refund.
The cruise line also will reimburse up to $200 per guest for those having to pay non-refundable change fees for air travel (documentation required).
In mid-April, multiple voyages aboard Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magic were cancelled due to rescheduled dry docks. Ships usually undergo dry dock maintenance once every three to five years.
Virgin Voyages Nixes Three Cruises in Summer 2026
Valiant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Guests booked on three Virgin Voyages cruises in 2026 received the disappointing news that their sailings aboard Valiant Lady have been cancelled.
One 10-night sailing departing from Barcelona on June 28, 2026, and two 14-night cruises, both roundtrip from Portsmouth, England, on July 8 and July 22, 2026, no longer are operating.
Cruisers were presented with a few options, including rebooking any sailing, with price protection and a $100 onboard credit per stateroom. A second alternative was to rebook on a choice of three Scarlet Lady itineraries, all departing in 2025. This option comes with a $300 onboard credit.
And finally, guests can opt for a full refund, which can be either repayment or a future cruise credit (FCC). Cruisers have 60 days to decide, after which their refund will be processed as an FCC.
Meanwhile, several new, shorter sailings were unveiled for June and July 2026, all from Barcelona. These voyages take place during the same timeframe as the cancelled sailings, and are 6- to 10-night cruises.
More Cruise Headlines
Ready for more news? Check out additional stories brought to you by Cruise Hive, including Holland America adding solar eclipse sailings in 2027, Tropical Storm Alvin forming in the eastern Pacific, and Juneau nearly doubling its cruise ship docking fees.
Cruisers hoping to sail to Jamaica on an upcoming voyage will be glad to learn that their vacation just got a little bit safer.
It seems like almost every time the US State Department revises a travel advisory, it’s to indicate that a location has become more dangerous.
However, the government has opted to lessen the severity of the advisory from a Level 3: Reconsider Travel to a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.
The change comes after Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, visited Jamaica in March of 2025 as part of a tour of the Caribbean.
During his travels, Rubio met with the Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, to discuss how Jamaica has made great strides in becoming safer in recent years.
Indeed, recent data shared by Dr. Kevin Blake, the Commissioner of Police in Jamaica, shows that there has been an 18% decrease in major crimes within the Western Caribbean cruise port.
However, this doesn’t mean that all crime has been eliminated, and violent crime rates are still high – but more so in areas that aren’t frequented as much by tourists and cruise guests.
“While violent crime in Jamaica has decreased since 2024, it remains statistically high throughout the country. Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country,”reads the travel advisory.
“The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common,” continued the notice.
Visitors are also advised that medical care within Jamaica is lower quality than in the United States – and that emergency services are not always readily available or may come with longer wait times.
What Does “Exercise Caution” Really Mean?
Travel advisories are not uncommon at popular cruise destinations, and are currently in place for destinations throughout the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Panama, and even Europe and Australia.
For example, Turks and Caicos and Costa Rica are also under Level 2 travel advisories, Honduras is under a Level 3 travel advisory, and Haiti – which is home to Royal Caribbean’s private resort at Labadee – is famously under the most severe Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory.
In 2024,more than 1.4 million cruiserssailed to Jamaica – generating $197.8 million in revenue – and the vast majority never had an issue.
Jamaica Flag and Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Rest assured that the cruise lines always have safety as their top priority, and will not sail to a destination that has become too dangerous.
No matter where you are traveling to, it’s always a good idea to remain aware of your surroundings and stay vigilant – whether the destination is under a travel advisory or not.
In Jamaica’s case, the US government has issued specific guidelines on how to stay safe.
First, it is illegal to bring firearms or ammunition into the cruise port – and the punishment can be severe, even for non-citizens.
“Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, are severe, and can include long prison sentences,”the advisory states.
Additionally, guests are advised to avoid walking or driving at night (most port calls usually only take place during daylight hours anyway) and to avoid remote areas.
It is also not recommended to utilize public transportation, such as buses. If you will need a ride around the port, the safest course of action is to pre-book a reputable service in advance or take a shore excursion that has been vetted by the cruise line.
Passengers aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic experienced a chaotic afternoon on May 30, 2025, when the ship broke free from its moorings while docked in Catania, Italy.
The incident occurred just after 1 p.m. local time as guests were reboarding the vessel following a port stop in the Sicilian city.
Videos and eyewitness reports indicate that the ship’s lines snapped one by one with loud cracks, sending some guests, who had been on the gangway, tumbling into the water.
“All of a sudden, we heard this loud bang,” said one passenger. “One by one, the concrete nubs in the ground that hold the ropes were pulling out of the ground and went flying into the ship,”said one passenger.
Local media reported that strong winds were a contributing factor in the incident.
Indeed, the Italian Meteorological Service had issued a moderate wind warning, which indicates sustained wind speeds of 26 to 39 miles per hour or frequent wind gusts of 35 to 57 miles per hour.
While the exact cause is still under investigation, reports indicate that the mooring points on the dock may have failed under stress, combined with mechanical pressure from the ship’s movement.
Port authorities and emergency responders acted quickly to pull two individuals from the water after a female passenger fell into the water and her husband jumped in to rescue her.
Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that one guest in the process of disembarking fell from the gangway into the water and both passengers were taken by ambulance to the local hospital.
“On-duty crew members were able to immediately assist the guest from the water and see that they were evaluated by the medical team,” said a spokesperson for the cruise line to Cruise Hive.
“It was determined that they sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment.”
As the ship floated away from the dock and into the harbor, crew members advised guests still on land to return to the city and check back later.
Response to Norwegian Epic Breaking From Moorings (Photo Credit: Brian Koning)
Once Norwegian Epic regained control and returned to port, authorities delayed reboarding until the winds died down.
Passengers reported being told they would be able to embark by 4 or 5 p.m., but high winds continued into the early evening, further delaying the process.
“The disembarkation and embarkation process was paused until weather conditions improved and the ship was able to safely dock again,” said Norwegian Cruise Line to Cruise Hive.
A guest shared that the ship finally began the reboarding process at 7:15 p.m., six hours after the incident.
Cruise Delayed in Catania
Norwegian Epic can accommodate over 4,000 passengers and is sailing a 10-night round-trip voyage from Civitavecchia (Rome).
After visiting Santorini, Athens, and Olympia, Greece, as well as Malta, the 155,873-gross-ton ship arrived in Catania at 8 a.m. The call was meant to conclude at 6 p.m., and at press time, 9 p.m. local time, the ship remains in port.
Local Police help After Norwegian Epic Breaks Free From Moorings (Photo Credit: ANSA)
She is scheduled to arrive in Naples, Italy, on May 31, followed by visits to Livorno (Florence), Italy, and Cannes, France, before concluding on June 3, 2025.
During the incident, passengers stuck on land took to social media to share their frustration, including a lack of communication from the crew in port or via the Norwegian Cruise Line app.
“Everyone is stuck at the port, very little information from NCL, some of us have been waiting here since noon. Very little water, older folks are hot, there is not enough water or seats,”shared one guest.
Norwegian Cruise Line responded to the reports and said, “During this interruption, our crew were actively attending to our guests until they were able to re-embark the ship. As always, the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority.”
Despite the delay, broken mooring lines are not uncommon. In March 2025, a Holland America Line ship had to skip a port after the lines broke on Rotterdamduring rough swells.
Cruise lines with private islands in The Bahamas will soon face tighter tax scrutiny as the government rolls out new compliance measures aimed at increasing revenue.
Prime Minister Philip Davis KC unveiled a new initiative on May 28, 2025, as part of the 2025-2026 Budget, calling the move essential to ensuring “fairness and equity.”
The Prime Minister said the tax contribution from cruise operators has not kept pace with their growing footprint, particularly at private island destinations that cater to millions of passengers annually.
“In 2024 alone, cruise visitors numbered 9.4 million – an increase of 20.3 percent over the previous year and representing a staggering 83.4 percent of total tourist arrivals. These numbers are not just impressive; they are transformative,” Davis told local media.
However, he also pointed out that while cruise volumes have soared, contributions to government revenue have “not kept pace.”
“We’ve seen exponential growth in private cruise destinations, where premium onshore activities like cabana rentals now fetch as much as $4,000 per day, yet these earnings often flow offshore with limited benefit to the Bahamian taxpayer,” said Davis.
Government officials are now in discussions with cruise lines regarding taxes on all imports to their destinations, all services provided to guests, “watercraft” activities being reserved for Bahamians, Customs duty enforcement, and “the payment of work permit fees for expatriate employees.”
Cruise lines don’t own land in The Bahamas; instead they use it through long-term leases with the government. These leases include specific rules the cruise lines must follow, and if they don’t, the government can take the land back.
But the government can’t just add new rules to those agreements unless the cruise lines agree to them.
Davis said cruise lines agree with the Bahamian principles and requests and have promised to work with the government to ensure they are meeting requirements.
As a result, Davis anticipates that revenue from private cruise destinations will be the nation’s largest GDP growth driver over the next 3 to 5 years.
That number includes revenue following the upcoming grand opening of Carnival Cruise Line’s $600-million Celebration Key in July 2025 and Royal Caribbean’s brand-new $110-million Paradise Island Beach Club in December 2025.
Destinations Draw Millions
Several major cruise lines operate exclusive private destinations in The Bahamas and will now face heightened regulatory oversight under the government’s new tax compliance initiative.
Designed as self-contained, resort-style experiences, they host millions of visitors each year.
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, located in the Berry Islands, is one of the most prominent of these destinations.
With attractions such as a waterpark, beach club, and helium balloon ride, the island welcomed over 3 million visitors in 2024, making it one of the busiest private ports in the region.
MSC Cruises Private Island in the Bahamas (Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises)
Not far from there, Norwegian Cruise Line operates Great Stirrup Cay, a 250-acre island offering zip lines, snorkeling, and a swim-up bar. That property attracts around 400,000 guests each year and is currently undergoing a $150 million multi-ship pier upgrade.
Carnival Corporation has long maintained a presence with Half Moon Cay, a beach getaway located on Little San Salvador Island, which is shared between Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line.
Nearby on Eleuthera, Princess Cruises, also owned by Carnival Corporation, operates Princess Cays, featuring a mix of water sports and local craft markets.
Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay, located near Great Abaco Island, is another key player in the region, particularly for family-focused itineraries with Disney character meet-and-greets.
Meanwhile, MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bimini chain emphasizes eco-tourism and marine conservation, recently opening a coral reef restoration center on the island.
Carnival’s new Celebration Key, located on Grand Bahama, is projected to handle up to 2 million guests per year.
Passengers eager to set sail with Carnival Cruise Line in late 2026 and early 2027 may want to double check their itineraries.
The cruise line has made a series of updates affecting four ships: Carnival Valor, Mardi Gras, Carnival Spirit, and Carnival Glory.
The adjustments include destination swaps, new port arrival times, and in a few cases, reversing the order of port visits.
Carnival Cruise Line began notifying impacted passengers via email on May 29, 2025.
“We have made adjustments to the itineraries for the following cruises, which include yours,” the letter reads. “The changes will be reflected on Carnival.com within 24 hours.”
Among the notable changes is the substitution of Costa Maya with Progresso in Mexico on several Carnival Valor sailings. These voyages will also see adjusted port times.
Similar reversals and timing changes are also coming to Mardi Gras, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Spirit voyages, with the latter also swapping a port in the Bahamas altogether.
Carnival noted that guests who pre-purchased shore excursions will be automatically refunded and offered the chance to rebook based on the updated itineraries.
Carnival Valor
The 2,980-passenger Carnival Valor’s upcoming round-trip cruises from New Orleans are being adjusted on seven separate dates in 2026 and 2027.
Instead of sailing to Cozumel and Costa Maya during the 5-night Western Caribbean voyages, it is replacing Costa Maya with Progresso.
The change of port also means a change in arrival and departure times. Instead of a call from 1 to 10 p.m., the Progresso call will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Affected departure dates include April 18, May 2, June 13, July 25, September 5, and October 17, 2026, as well as January 9, 2027.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras’ September 19, 2026, round-trip cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, carrying up to 5,200 guests has reversed the order of ports to visit Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel; and Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination, Celebration Key in the Bahamas, opening in July 2025.
At press time, the sailing details had not yet been updated on Carnival.com for more information.
The cruise line’s 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit will also have its ports visited in a different order for its 6-night Bahamas cruise from Mobile, Alabama, on December 6, 2026. Guests will first visit the Bimini Islands, then Celebration Key.
The change affects call times. Instead of visiting Bimini from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests will now arrive at 11 a.m. and stay until 7 p.m.
And the good news is that all receive more time in Celebration Key, arriving at 8 a.m. instead of 12 p.m. (Still departing at 5 p.m.)
However, Bimini will be skipped on the February 28, 2027, sailing and replaced with Nassau from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Carnival Glory
Also getting an update in February is the 2,980-passenger Carnival Glory’s 4-night Bahamas cruise departing from Port Canaveral on February 15, 2027, as well as its March 29, 2027, offering.
Its visits and port times to Nassau and Celebration have been updated.
The changes follow a previous announcement that eight Carnival Cruise Line ships will also be undergoing changes during winter 2025 and 2026 sailings.
These types of tweaks are slight and common for cruise lines that plan cruises two years in advance. Sometimes, it’s a matter of slight repositioning of fleets, but oftentimes it can be due to port availability or congestion as other cruise lines make their plans.
Mein Schiff Flow, the second ship in TUI Cruises’ InTUItion-class, celebrated a milestone with the May 30, 2025 float-out from her construction bay at an Italian shipyard.
The 4,000-guest ship is being built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone location, where a launching ceremony was held to mark the first time the ship’s hull touched water. The float-out ceremony, a maritime tradition, drew executives from the cruise line and the shipyard.
Among those attending were Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, a unit of TUI AG. Cristiano Bazzara, shipyard director, also attended the celebratory event.
Another major construction milestone, the 160,000-gross-ton ship’s keel laying ceremony, was held in November 2024.
Mein Schiff Flow is set to debut in July 2026, following the introduction of the first ship in the class, Mein Schiff Relax, in March 2025.
Like her sister ship, Mein Schiff Flow will have an ecologically advanced fuel system that can power the vessel with both LNG (liquified natural gas), a low-emission fuel, and traditional marine gas oil.
“Mein Schiff Flow will feature catalytic converters meeting Euro 6 standards, a steam turbine, using the residual heat from the diesel generators as well as an electrical shore-power connection,” a statement from Fincantieri explained.
“All this will ensure almost emission-free operations while in port (about 40% of operating time),” the statement added.
Other environmentally responsible systems the ship is being built with include one for waste treatment, which uses a thermal process that makes organic materials recyclable.
Following the float-out ceremony, the shipyard’s focus now turns to completing any exterior work and starting the interior design of the vessel. The next milestone for Mein Schiff Flow will be her sea trials, expected in spring 2026, before her delivery to TUI Cruises.
Mein Schiff Flow Float Out
Sea trials will test the ship’s key systems, such as navigation, propulsion, safety, and other onboard programs.
When Mein Schiff Flow enters service in 2026, she will be TUI Cruises’ third new ship in as many years, since Mein Schiff 7, which is not part of the InTUItion class, launched in 2024 and Mein Schiff Relax followed in 2025.
Together, the three new ships represent a capacity increase of about 60% in the nine-ship fleet, enabling TUI Cruises to enter new markets.
Mein Schiff Flow‘s First Sailing Scheduled for July 2026
Mein Schiff Flow’s first scheduled cruise is set for July 19, 2026. The 9-night Western Mediterranean voyage roundtrip from Palma De Mallorca, Spain, will call at Barcelona, La Spezia, and Rome, Italy; Ajaccio, Corsica; and Marseille, France.
TUI Cruises, which caters to the German market, has already revealed several of Mein Schiff Flow’sdesign highlights. Interior spaces, the line promised, will offer a new way of experiencing lightness. A three-deck atrium with oversized windows, for example, will allow the centerpiece of the ship to be bathed in natural light.
Atlantic, the ship’s main dining room, is being designed with large windows that offer expansive sea views, and a new outdoor area, called Agora, will be modeled on a traditional Greek village.
Agora will feature an infinity pool, food and beverage service, and live entertainment. The ship’s pool deck will offer an 80-foot-long swimming pool and a dedicated bar.
Mein Schiff Flow will offer seven dining venues included in the cruise fare plus four specialty restaurants — the Surf & Turk steakhouse; Richards, also a steakhouse; Hanami, service Asian specialties; and Schmankerl-Entspannt, offering Austrian dishes.
TUI Cruises, which is based in Germany, was created in 2007 and is a 50/50 joint venture between Royal Caribbean Group and TUI AG.
