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Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas Finishes Sea Trials in Record Time

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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May 27, 2025

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas Finishes Sea Trials in Record Time

The cruising world is waiting eagerly for the second Icon-class ship to make her debut, and it seems that Star of the Seas is just as eager to join the Royal Caribbean fleet and set sail as the star she is.

Meyer Turku, the shipbuilder responsible for the massive vessel, has announced that she has successfully completed her sea trials and is ready for the final phase of construction work.

“Star of the Seas completed her sea trials in record time and returned to the shipyard on the morning of Tuesday, May 27th,” the shipyard confirmed.

“Star spent a total of eight days at sea, during which all systems were thoroughly tested. All tests were completed successfully.”

Star of the Seas began these open water tests on May 19, 2025. This is one of the most important milestones of the ship’s construction, when every system is fully tested to ensure proper operation.

Navigation, propulsion, emergency maneuvers, safety responses, and other systems are tested while the ship is underway, ensuring that everything is functioning well within established guidelines.

For a ship with such a glamorous name to live up to, Star of the Seas is certainly holding her own.

“These were the best sea trials I have ever participated in. There was a strong sense of team spirit throughout,” said Jaakko Leinonen, Project Manager for Meyer Turku. “Now it’s time to focus on completing the remaining work on the ship.”

While the ship’s systems are now fully operational, more finishing detail work must be completed before Star of the Seas is considered complete and ready for handover to Royal Caribbean, which should happen in the next few weeks.

Work has progressed amazingly well on the vessel, so well that her debut has been pushed forward for three “showcase sailings” ahead of her planned inaugural 7-night cruise on August 31, 2025.

Now, the ship will welcome her first guests on August 20 for a 3-night Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise, followed by two 4-night showcase cruises also visiting the private island destination.

The “official” inaugural cruise is a Western Caribbean itinerary that will not only visit Perfect Day at CocoCay (as will all sailings of the new ship!), but also Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.

Star of the Seas will remain homeported from Port Canaveral year-round, offering both Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean sailings. The Eastern Caribbean routes will be visiting St. Thomas and St. Maarten, while select sailings will call on San Juan and St. Kitts instead.

Undoubtedly, the ship will arrive in Port Canaveral ahead of her first showcase sailings, with great fanfare to welcome her home.

One crew member is already learning the proverbial ropes, as Star of the Seas‘ Chief Dog Officer, Sailor, recently met her big sister onboard Icon of the Seas and began to learn what a life at sea can mean for a canine cruiser.

Up Next – Another Sister Ship!

From an Icon to a Star – up next is a Legend! The wild popularity of Icon of the Seas and the impressive progress on Star of the Seas has certainly set high expectations for the third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas.

Also under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in southern Finland, Legend of the Seas is scheduled to debut in 2026. At the moment, her first sailing is planned as a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, departing August 2.

The ship will remain in Europe until November 2026, at which time she will homeport from Port Everglades.

This will position all three Icon-class ships from Florida homeports – Icon of the Seas from Miami, Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral, and Legend of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale – each one offering amazing cruise adventures for everyone aboard.

Woman Explains Why She Decided to Live on Cruise Ships

Princess Cruises News

Catie Kovelman

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May 27, 2025

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Woman Explains Why She Decided to Live on Cruise Ships

I think many of us can relate to wanting to leave demanding corporate jobs behind and relax on the high seas indefinitely. One woman, who goes by Laura, has actually taken the leap.

This cruiser made life on a cruise ship her reality – and has booked sailings to occupy about 95% of her time through March of 2027.

She started her cruise journey on January 18, 2025, and has been on 13 sailings so far – most of which were onboard Princess Cruises’ fleet.

In fact, her first YouTube video documenting her new life was filmed during her fourth back-to-back sailing in a mini suite onboard Enchanted Princess – which first entered service at the end of 2021.

“I am in my mid-50s, and I recently left the corporate grind to pursue my dream of living full-time on cruise ships,” she began her video. “I’m on an adventure to travel the world, living bougie on a budget.”

Though she plans to document her experience on her new YouTube channel (Living on Cruise Control), the avid cruiser started off by explaining how and why she decided to make such a drastic life change in the first place.

Arguably, the biggest motivating factor was the cost. She has been able to make living on cruise ships full-time less expensive than it would be to rent or own a home on land by a significant margin.

“I’m only spending hundreds of dollars sailing in a mini suite with everything paid for, including Wi-Fi, specialty drinks, gratuities, etc. for less than $1,000 a month,” she said.

Though she hasn’t yet shared how she finds her cruise deals, the all-inclusive cruise experience – which covers housing, entertainment, food, and more in one reasonable price – is a big selling point in of itself.

The travel lover is never bored with entertainment like production shows and comedy performances happening daily, and even basics like laundry service are free now that she’s become an elite member of the Princess’ Captain’s Circle loyalty program.

Watch Laura Explain Her New Lifestyle in Her Own Words Below:

Better Health and Safety Onboard

For Laura, cruising full time is not just about the money. It’s also about her safety and overall wellbeing.

As a female myself, I can understand how it can be intimidating to travel solo – but Laura feels safe onboard thanks to the security measures and prevalent surveillance in public spaces.

“I feel very safe. I think that, you know, to begin with, there’s cameras everywhere,” she said.

“Your steward that takes care of your room, I feel like become like so friendly and they’re constantly checking on me to make sure that I’m okay and that I’m doing okay,” she added.

Considering I befriend crew members in sailings that last for under a week, I can only imagine how well Laura may get to know some of the hard working men and women that live onboard with her during back-to-back sailings.

Enchanted Princess in Port (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)

Contrary to what you might expect, Laura is also feeling healthier and shared that she has lost weight since transitioning to living on cruise ships full time – despite all the buffets and specialty restaurants onboard.

“You have an amazing gym right here, right? Open 24 hours or close to 24 hours. There are fitness classes, dance classes, Zumba, meditation. I’ve learned Tai Chi. I’ve been lifting weights,” she explained.

Laura added that she also frequently gets in over 10,000 steps a day between navigating the ship, exploring the ports of call, and making simple choices like opting to use the stairs over elevators.

Hopefully she will continue to feel as happy and healthy as she does now – as her new life at sea is only just getting started.

Court Rules in Favor of Cruise Guest After Urinating in Glass

Cruise News

Catie Kovelman

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May 27, 2025

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Court Rules in Favor of Cruise Guest After Urinating in Glass

The verdict is in! According to a court in the western German City of Düsseldorf, an unidentified man and his two travel companions should not have been kicked off their cruise after some alleged misbehavior.

So, what exactly did the guest in question do to warrant such a severe punishment? According to witnesses, the man urinated into a glass at an onboard bar while visiting with his travel party and left the glass on the table.

When a crew member came to clean the table later, they confirmed that there was indeed a strong smell of urine. The specific cruise line and cruise ship has not yet been identified publicly.

There were no consequences for the guest’s alleged action until three days later – when the man and his two cruise companions were prevented from re-boarding at one of the ports of call and told to “book their own flights home.”

Even though the man’s fellow travelers were not accused of doing anything wrong besides being present, they were also removed from the sailing.

It’s unclear why there was such a long delay from the incident to the consequences – although the cruise line may have been silently conducting an investigation and reviewing any available surveillance footage.

Understandably angry to see his holiday coming to an abrupt end, the man sued the cruise line. Ultimately, the court found that his alleged actions – which the man has continued to deny doing – did not justify removal from the cruise ship without any notice or prior warning.

Per this cruise line’s contract, guests can be removed from the cruise for violent, discriminatory, and abusive behavior – and as disgusting as urinating into a glass in public may be, it didn’t fit the criteria for early termination of their travel contract.

The court ordered the cruise line to refund the man for the days he should have been onboard but missed, and to reimburse him for the new flights home and taxi rides.

He was also entitled to compensation for the two other men – as the accused booked the cruise for the entire group. When all was said and done, he was awarded €9,000 (or about $12,222 USD).

Was the Ruling Correct?

As the daughter of two lawyers, I’ve absorbed a lot of legal insight through the natural osmosis of being around my parents – and it sounds a lot like the man may have won in court because he got lucky due to how the language in the cruise contract was worded.

Every situation is also different – and other factors played a role here, such as the fact that the cruise ship docked in another port and allowed the guests to re-board the ship before giving them the boot at a later destination.

Among cruise fans, there was a large feeling that the man’s bad behavior had just been rewarded – and that forcing crew members to clean his mess was potentially a health hazard and abusive to employees.

“The rules need to be changed. That is not only disgusting behavior, but a health issue.. Take the cruise line employees in consideration.. they had to handle that disgusting glass risking their health in doing so. I definitely would not want to be anywhere near that revolting pig,” one person said.

“I would argue that expecting the crew to clean up your bodily fluids is abusive,” another added.

Many also brought up indecent exposure – which can be charged as a criminal offense in some cases.

One person asked: “Could they kick him off for indecent exposure?”

Specific laws and punishments vary depending on the country – but it could be enough to get someone banned from the cruise line for life at a minimum, assuming the man really behaved as it was reported.

Juneau to Nearly Double Cruise Dockage Fees in 2026

Port News

Lissa Poirot

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May 27, 2025

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Juneau to Nearly Double Cruise Dockage Fees in 2026

It’s about to become more expensive for cruise ships to dock in Juneau, Alaska. And, eventually, more expensive for passengers.

On May 19, 2025, the Juneau Assembly unanimously approved an increase in dockage fees, aiming to bring public port charges in line with those at privately operated docks in Southeast Alaska.

“We’ve been talking about it for a few years,” Juneau Visitor Industry Director Alix Pierce told local media, referring to the cruise lines’ awareness of the impending fee hike. “They’ve known that it’s coming.”

Indeed, in April 2024, Cruise Hive reported on Juneau’s plan to collect millions of dollars in passenger fees from cruisers annually via a port fee increase.

However, the fees are controlled via an agreement with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska (CLIA Alaska) following a 2019 settlement between the Juneau Assembly and the organization.

At that time, CLIA Alaska objected to the port fees, saying Juneau’s plans were falling out of line with the original settlement.

Now, a year later, the city has found a way around the agreement and is raising dockage fees.

Instead of charging fees based on the tonnage of each ship that arrives and its length, the rates will now be based on each vessel’s passenger capacity.

The city expects to raise $5 million in fees annually with the change.

New Fee Structure

The new dockage fees will be under less restrictions than the previous fee program under the 2019 CLIA Alaska agreement, and will not limit the city to using fee revenue towards its tourism industry.

As Juneau operates two of the city’s four cruise ship docks near Marine Park, Pierce said the new model will bring its municipal rates closer to what private operators charge.

“We know that our rates are definitely low compared to the private docks here and other ports in the region are also looking at their fee structure,” she said.

In addition to the dockage fee changes, Juneau’s cruise ship passenger fee program remains a major funding mechanism for tourism-related improvements.

The city collects three types of passenger fees: a $5 Marine Passenger Fee (MPF), a $3 Port Development Fee (PDF), and a $5 portion of the state’s $34.50 Commercial Passenger Vessel Excise Tax.

With 1.65 million cruise visitors forecasted in 2026, Juneau anticipates collecting $21.45 million in passenger-related revenue.

Shopping Near the Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Artchemy Labs)

Under the 2019 settlement agreement with CLIA Alaska, the use of MPF funds is tightly controlled and tied to mapped zones within the city.

Projects within the core port area are generally approved without issue, while proposals outside of the port require additional consultation with CLIA.

In 2026, Juneau plans to spend more than $22 million in passenger-related funds. Major proposed expenditures include $3 million for expanding shore power, $2.5 million to complete Marine Park improvements, and $2 million for the next phase of the Seawalk.

As the city aims to bring in more revenue from Alaska’s popular cruise tourism – which continues to grow year over year – some residents of Juneau have been fighting hard to limit the number of cruise ships allowed to pull into port.

Proponents of the initiative want to cap daily visitors at 16,000 passengers and no more than five large cruise ships a day. They also want Juneau to set an annual limit at 1.5 million cruise passengers a year.

In 2023, the city welcomed 1.6 million cruise guests and then 1.68 million in 2024.

However, Juneau needed 2,720 signatures to move the proposal to legislation but failed to do so by the May 19, 2025, deadline.

As the debate continues, Royal Caribbean is in the process of sidestepping the port altogether by building a new port on Douglas Island, just opposite of Juneau. That port will not be subject to the city’s new port fees.

Carnival Not Seeking to Become an Adults-Only Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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May 26, 2025

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Carnival Not Seeking to Become an Adults-Only Cruise Line

Despite persistent internet rumors and incomplete information circulating in recent days, Carnival Cruise Line has repeatedly noted that it is not, in fact, seeking to become an adults-only cruise line or planning regular adults-only sailings.

These enticing rumors have sprung up due to the recent announcement of special Casino Offer sailings aboard Carnival Magic in November 2025. Because of the special nature of casino-themed cruises, these special sailings are indeed adults-only.

The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has tried to reiterate the arrangement several times since the casino cruises first became available. There has been a lot of confusion about why such a family-oriented cruise line would suddenly offer adults-only sailings.

Most recently, he addressed the special sailings during one of his wildly popular (almost) daily Facebook videos.

“One of the jobs I have to do, it seems more and more, is to respectfully correct a few people,” he noted.

“One of those [rumors] is that we are moving to become – quote – an ‘adults only’ cruise line. Please ignore that! We are a proud family cruise line. We have been and I’m sure always will be.”

Heald goes on to explain that Carnival Magic‘s rescheduled dry dock opened the opportunity for new sailings to be added, which include the casino offer cruises.

The original dry dock was to have been from roughly October 6 through November 20, 2025. Instead, due to scheduling at the shipyard, that dry dock has been delayed until mid-April and into late May 2026.

This means Carnival Magic will remain in service during her original late 2025 dry dock dates – dates that can now be filled with extra sailings.

“The casino have taken a couple of cruises and made them adults-only,” Heald explained. “Because they are casino offers, we cannot make those casino offers to children, which is why these cruises are for adults only.”

Heald does admit that he doesn’t know what the future might hold, but there are no plans for Carnival Cruise Line to become any sort of adults-only cruise line.

“These [are] cruise-specific situations,” he confirmed.

Another unique cruise now being offered during the previously scheduled dry dock period is a new sailing with Heald himself, on the ship’s November 15, 2025 departure. He will be aboard the 6-night Eastern Caribbean sailing with his charming personality and inimitable British wit for extra fun – for all ages!

What to Expect on a Casino Offer Cruise

The specific casino sailings aboard Carnival Magic are generally by invitation-only for guests who are high-ranking members of the cruise line’s Carnival Players Club casino loyalty program.

It should be noted that this is different from the cruise line’s overall Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program, which is based on the days guests sail with Carnival.

The casino loyalty program is based on time (and money!) spent in onboard casinos, and invitation cruise offers recognize players who certainly give the casino good business.

Casino on the Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship

Onboard a casino cruise, there will be special tournaments, gaming lessons, welcome gifts, free drinks, giveaways, and other unique events that aren’t always possible onboard regular sailings.

Some travelers may be disappointed with the change, of course, especially if they had already booked the sailing with children or grandchildren. Only a very few guests might be impacted with needing to change their vacation plans due to the age limit, however.

Because Carnival Magic had been scheduled for drydock at the time of these new casino offer cruises, very few travelers would have had the opportunity to book the newly opened cruises before they were confirmed as casino sailings.

It is possible these impromptu casino cruises could become a beta test for whether or not adults-only cruises might become regular offers in the future?

As Heald noted, anything is possible, but it is unlikely. Carnival Cruise Line has invested decades of experience and hundreds of millions of dollars as a family-oriented cruise line, which is not changing anytime soon.

Guests Clash Over Ocean Space at Royal Caribbean’s Private Island

Royal Caribbean News

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May 26, 2025

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Guests Clash Over Ocean Space at Royal Caribbean’s Private Island

A private island destination can be an amazing port of call for cruise guests, but what about when the experience isn’t exactly what you expected? Some guests at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas had a less than perfect experience on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

According to guests in the vicinity who shared their experiences on Reddit, an altercation broke out in the Chill Island area, which is supposed to be a quieter, more restful space for guests to enjoy a peaceful beach day.

The incident allegedly happened due to a dispute over ocean space (really?). A group of guests who had rented the overwater cabana closest to the swimming area open to everyone were upset throughout the day that some swimmers were supposedly encroaching on the cabana space.

You can watch the footage below:

Mind you, this is in the water. While there are buoy lines to mark off the privately rented cabana space, there is no other physical division between them and of course the waves and currents move freely.

That day’s tides apparently kept pushing various swimmers closer to the cabana area, and at various times, lifeguards posted in the area reminded guests to keep their distance from the rented cabanas.

This one group of cabana renters, however, was not at all accommodating about what they perceived as “their” space. Harsh words – including profanities – were directed at the lifeguards from the rowdy group, as well as at nearby guests.

The situation escalated when two members of the cabana guests apparently decided to take matters into their own hands, swimming after another man and his son in the water. Pushes, punches, and even dunks happened quickly even as lifeguards intervened.

Passengers Face off at CocoCay (Credit: tiedye_dreamer)

Guests on shore and in the swimming area noted that the cabana group continued to taunt and mock others until more security guards arrived. Different people nearby were interviewed about what they saw and heard during the incident.

Renting the cabanas can have a steep price tag – up to several thousand dollars per day for larger cabanas with more perks. This does not, however, give any guest the right to rude or entitled behavior, or to encroach on the peace and relaxation of another guest’s vacation.

Will There Be Consequences?

Royal Caribbean has not made any official statement about the incident, nor what actions may be taken with respect to those involved.

Nor has it been clarified which ship the involved guests may have been sailing aboard. Both Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas were enjoying Perfect Day at CocoCay on the day in question. Neither ship was reported to be delayed in any way.

It is possible that formal charges of assault may be filed, or there may be fines or other consequences from the cruise line, as violent behavior is a violation of Royal Caribbean’s Guest Health, Safety, and Conduct Policy.

Such consequences could include suspension of one’s loyalty benefits, being confined in one’s stateroom, being removed from the cruise, or even a complete ban from all future sailings in the Royal Caribbean Group.

From guest reports and videos of the incident, violations of the policy in this instance could include verbal abuse, offensive language, “uninvited physical contact,” and more.

Hopefully, this will prove to be an isolated incident and future guests to CocoCay and other private destinations will enjoy the peaceful beach days and great fun they have looked forward to as part of their cruise vacations.

Should Carnival Visit Local Bars to Keep Guests on Time?

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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May 26, 2025

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Should Carnival Visit Local Bars to Keep Guests on Time?

Pier runners – guests who don’t make it back to the ship until the last minute before all-aboard time – are controversial, but is it the cruise line’s responsibility to help travelers stay punctual?

One Carnival Cruise Line guest reached out to John Heald with a suggestion that crew members should take on the additional duty in ports of call to help guests return to the ship in a timely manner.

The guest suggested that the ship has the “responsibility” to send crew members or security to bars near the cruise ports in Cozumel and Costa Maya to alert people to the all-aboard time and ensure they head back to the ship on time.

Heald disagrees, noting that guests need to have some personal responsibility in their timeliness.

“I do not believe it is the ship’s responsibility to send security or other crew to the bars by the pier in Cozumel and the same in Costa Maya 30 minutes before the ship sails to make sure people are back on board in time,” he explained. “I believe people should take personal responsibility for that.”

Both Cozumel and Costa Maya have several bars close to the cruise terminal, as well as restaurants that serve alcohol, and resorts and hotels that serve both food and drinks.

Should Carnival Cruise Line be responsible for visiting every such establishment – not to mention retail stores, restrooms, or photo spots – to be sure all guests are accounted for?

Never mind the fact that the manpower necessary to do this would be immense, but there are also other logistical concerns. How far should crew members venture from the cruise terminal to look for tardy guests? Should they only visit approved retailers, or pop into every bar, restaurant, and shop in busy areas?

Furthermore, what if a guest insists they have plenty of time and refuses to start heading back to the ship?

Fortunately, the original poster is not getting much support from Heald’s other commenters. With more than 1,800 replies, while some think such a service might be a good idea, no one demands it should be implemented.

Instead, the overwhelming sentiment is that guests who are responsible enough to leave the ship and enjoy a cruise port on their own are certainly responsible enough to return to the ship before that afternoon’s scheduled departure.

Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship Docked in Cozumel (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Carnival Cruise Line does take quite a few steps to urge guests to be back on time. Signs are prominently posted at the gangways telling guests when the all-aboard time is. The information is also included on the daily schedule in the printed FunTimes Newsletter as well as the Carnival Hub app.

Guests are urged NOT to rely on their phone’s automatic time updates, which might adjust to local time. Because this can differ from the ship’s time, it is imperative to remain on ship’s time so you don’t miss the ship.

Similarly, guests should not rely on local clocks – such as in rental cars or bank or shop displays – for when to head back to their ship.

Why Are Mexican Ports So Prone to Pier Runners?

While pier runners can happen at any port of call, Cozumel has a particular reputation for a show of late guests running back toward their ship as ropes are lowered.

The lower drinking age (18 years, compared to 21 years in the US and onboard Carnival ships in keeping with US federal law), cheap libations, and the proximity of so many bars to the pier make the port a well-known pier runner destination.

The multiple docks in Cozumel, as well as their angles compared to ship orientation, also offer prime viewing of tardy guests as they rush back to the ship.

Some travelers have urged Carnival Cruise Line to prohibit the cheering (and jeering!) of pier runners by those already back onboard the ship. While not an officially sanctioned activity, it also isn’t prohibited.

Personally, I love to stake out a good spot and watch for pier runners. Given that it is getting harder and harder on some sailings to get that good spot – because so many other guests are already watching! – this isn’t an activity that will be going away anytime soon.

MSC Cruises to Sail from Two Embarkation Ports in the Southern Caribbean

MSC Cruises News

Lissa Poirot

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May 26, 2025

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MSC Cruises to Sail from Two Embarkation Ports in the Southern Caribbean

As MSC Cruises works to offer more North American cruise offerings for its fleet, the cruise line has announced it will deploy one vessel year-round in the Southern Caribbean beginning with the winter 2026-2027 season.

This will be the first time ever that the cruise line has kept a ship in the region for summer, and the first time MSC Cruises will have two ships sailing in the South Caribbean during the winter.

The smaller 65,591-gross-ton MSC Opera will begin its sailings from La Romana, Dominican Republic, on November 16, 2026, offering a series of 7-night cruises to lesser-frequented ports.

Passengers will also have the option to combine sailings into 14-night “butterfly” itineraries that visit different ports each week.

In April 2027, the ship will add Fort-de-France, Martinique as a second embarkation port.

“Whether guests are seeking to escape to sun-soaked beaches and crystal-clear waters for a serene retreat to unwind in summer or winter, MSC Cruises is offering brand-new itineraries for the ideal getaway in any season,” the cruise line said in its announcement.

The new deployment provides expanded access to Southern Caribbean destinations, and will include calls in Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands.

MSC Opera, accommodating up to 2,150 passengers, will be joined in the region by the 6,592-guest MSC Seaview, which will continue offering its own 7-night itineraries from Fort-de-France during the same winter season.

These will feature sailings to similar destinations, as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia.

MSC Expanding Caribbean Presence

MSC Opera, a Lirica Class vessel, has been journeying to many first-time destinations as MSC Cruises expands its global reach. Last winter, 2024 to 2025, she spent her maiden season in the Canary Islands.

Part of MSC Cruises’ growth strategy is to break away from its European background and offer more destinations and ships for the North American market.

In April 2025, the cruise line debuted its first North American-themed cruise ship, the second World Class vessel in the fleet, aptly named MSC World America.

It is currently enjoying time in the Bahamas and the Caribbean and homeported in PortMiami, where the cruise line also debuted the world’s largest cruise terminal on April 5, 2025.

Deck of MSC Opera (Photo Credit: CeltStudio)

Last week, the cruise line announced it would be introducing two more World Class ships in 2029 and 2030, after it debuts the brand-new MSC World Asia in December 2026 and MSC World Atlantic in February 2027.

The latter ship will also be Caribbean-focused, sailing from its Port Canaveral, Florida, homeport with up to 6,774 passengers, while MSC World Asia will take Mediterranean adventures.

The ships are under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, where the newly announced vessels will also be built.

Read Also: Just How Big is MSC World America?

MSC Opera’s first roundtrip voyage from La Romana will depart on November 16, 2026, and sail to Catalina Island, Dominican Republic; Bridgetown, Barbados; Fort de France; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe; and Tortola in the Virgin Islands.

A second itinerary option, launching November 23, 2026, will include calls in Samana Bay in the Dominican Republic; Virgin Gorda, Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Catalina Island.

Beginning on December 28, 2026, passengers will find St. John’s, Antigua, on the schedule, before the ship begins adding Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Kralendijk, Bonaire; and St. George, Grenada; in March and April 2027.

The vessel is currently enjoying a summer season in the Mediterranean, operating 7-night cruises from Bari and Venice, Italy.

Oasis of the Seas Departing Late Due to Minor Mechanical Issue

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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May 26, 2025

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Oasis of the Seas Departing Late Due to Minor Mechanical Issue

Every cruise guest knows that fun feeling as they walk up the gangway and onto their ship, their oceangoing home for the next few days as they’re ready to dive right into vacation vibes.

Onboard Oasis of the Seas on Saturday, May 25, 2025, however, those vibes have to wait a few extra hours before the ship will actually pull away from the pier.

While guests have been able to board the ship in Port Everglades as planned, the 226,800-gross ton ship was not able to depart at 4 p.m. as planned.

It is not unusual for cruise ship departure times to be approximate, but satellite tracking data shows Oasis of the Seas still docked as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday evening.

According to multiple guests who boarded the ship on Saturday afternoon, the vessel’s departure has been delayed at least twice and she should now be setting sail closer to 9 p.m., though that may yet be revised again.

The captain apparently made an announcement indicating a scrubber needed to be repaired before the ship could depart. The scrubbers are part of a cruise ship’s exhaust management and ensure only acceptable amounts of particulates are expelled from the smokestacks.

Oasis of the Seas is due to start a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing. Her first port of call, for Sunday, May 26, is Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Fortunately, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas is just 137 miles east-southeast of Fort Lauderdale. Because Oasis of the Seas can reach a top speed of 24 knots (28 miles per hour), she could reach CocoCay in just about five hours if necessary.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas Cruise Ship — Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Cruise Ship

Of course, this does not include maneuvering or docking time, but nevertheless, the ship has plenty of extra time to make up for any departure delay without impacting her planned 7 a.m. Sunday morning arrival at CocoCay.

To be clear, there is no indication that the ship’s propulsion system – engines or thrusters – are impacted in any way, nor are any safety systems compromised.

What is changing this evening is some of the onboard experience. Because the ship cannot legally open the casino or retail shops until she reaches international waters, those venues may not be available until much later than expected for embarkation day.

The rest of the ship’s itinerary is unlikely to be impacted – other than the earlier announced cancellation of the visit to Labadee – and there have been no changes confirmed at this time.