Our world is full of screens of all sizes – tiny screens on smart watches and cell phones, medium screens on computers, and huge screens on other televisions, movie theaters, and yes, cruise ships.
But what should be shown on the huge outdoor poolside screens on a cruise ship? Carnival Cruise Line has gotten some criticism for what it shows at its Carnival Seaside Theaters, but change may be coming.
One guest raised the issue to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, noting what is – and isn’t – shown.
“We have been on Carnival several times and this last week we took our grandchildren on Jubilee. I would like to see less Carnival advertising on the big screen. It is on all day long,”the guest explained.“Could we maybe have island scenes and port scenes. Even ocean scenes would be great.”
It is true that the big screens – typically located on the Lido deck near the main pool – show quite a bit of Carnival Cruise Line advertising. This might range from exclusive shows to advertisements for shore tours to highlights from new ships or new port destinations.
Sometimes there are ocean and beach scenes shown, but this has become less common in favor of more advertising, it seems.
Of course, Carnival Cruise Line does offer the Dive-In Movies – top-rated movies great for a fun night under the stars – but those are usually shown in the evening, with only the occasional afternoon matinee.
“Second, I would love to see anything they are doing special at poolside put up on screen,”the guest commented.“It was very hard to see for all the people crowded around.”
Being a bit shorter myself, I can certainly attest that when there are Lido Deck events – ice carving, games, pool competitions, etc. – it can be hard to see unless you’re at the front of the crowd.
Carnival Cruise Ship Open Deck (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Showing a live camera view on the big screen during the even would be very helpful. Sometimes this is arranged, but not always.
Heald is in firm agreement with the guest that more events should be broadcast via the Seaside Theater, and is going to take steps to see if this might be possible.
“I absolutely agree. I think we need to do more and I think we can, so please leave this with me,”he said.“For the fleet, not just this ship, I will share it with my colleagues.”
Heald often shares ideas and requests with “the beards” for consideration. While this is certainly no guarantee that there might be changes, it does show that Carnival Cruise Line is open to suggestions and delivering what guests want.
Not All TV Changes Are Possible
It should be noted, however, that the cruise line cannot do everything, screen-wise, that guests may want.
Many times, guests have asked for specific sporting events – tournaments, certain teams, special events, etc. – to be broadcast, but that isn’t always an option.
Carnival Cruise Line has broadcast contracts with certain channels and companies, and can only offer showings in accordance with those contracts.
Cruise Passengers On Ship During Port Day (Photo Credit: Emrys Thakkar)
Some big events, such as the Super Bowl, are often broadcast onboard, but it does depend on which channels have the exact rights each year.
The cruise line will not, however, broadcast any televised events that might be considered too polarizing and controversial, as these could result in unpleasant situations onboard. This was the case with the recent presidential election, and is typically the same for any similar political events.
Guests can, however, tune in to such events on their stateroom televisions (even if the screens aren’t as large!) and can catch the news, different sports broadcasts, and more on a variety of channels.
If a guest’s preferred channels aren’t available, the Premium Wi-Fi Plan supports higher internet speeds that permit streaming movies and apps such as Netflix and Hulu, so guests can see what they wish on their own screens.
On April 14, 2025, Disney Cruise Line announced exciting new details about its latest ship.
Disney Destiny, which is themed around heroes and villains, is set to depart on its maiden voyage on November 20, 2025.
The cruise line has just shared a new concept design of the ship’s Great Hall which is inspired by Marvel Studios’ Black Panther.
During the day, this part of the ship will be filled with positivity brought by heroes, but that can change at any moment!
With 360-degree lighting effects available, the Grand Hall will be a continuously changing space as it reacts to the presence of certain characters, providing a magical experience for guests.
Passengers can expect to see some of the most legendary villains from both Disney and Marvel lore, including Loki, the god of mischief.
When he enters the Grand Hall, it will trigger a visual transformation, taking the room from a bright and sunny area to one that is surrounded by Loki’s signature green aura.
While Loki may be intent on clearing his name with the mortals of Midgard, he may also attempt to claim himself as ruler of the vessel and its occupants.
Of course, he is just one of the villains that may show up in this area seeking out new subjects. Dr. Facilier may also be lurking around the Grand Hall area ready to dazzle passengers with a parlor trick or slide of hand.
If you aren’t interested in joining him for a game of chance, you can also visit Maleficent at Saga Entertainment Lounge to witness her magical powers and experience her evil through close-up demonstrations.
Disney Destiny Cruise Ship
Two brand-new entertainment experiences featuring the fashion icon herself, Cruella de Vil were also announced.
These fashion-centered opportunities allow stylish cruisers to put their personal style to the test on Cruella’s own wretched runway, where she will be providing live commentary.
Be warned though, Cruella promises to be dreadfully honest, so be prepared for her to fawn or faint over your fashion!
As a part of these shows, there will be a time when a terribly inaccurate version of the song plays — audience members may be recruited to sing a more flattering tribute to this in Cruella’s honor.
Other Exciting Features on the Character-Driven Ship
Cruella de Vil does not just have her own show on the 4,000-passenger Disney Destiny — she also has her very own piano bar!
Announced in 2024 during an unveiling event held by Disney Cruise Line, this ship will feature De Vil’s piano lounge, where guests can also interact with a live-action version of the villain.
This lounge will reflect Cruella’s unique style choices, focusing on a white, black, and red color scheme. Of course, the One Hundred and One Dalmatians will also be integrated into this experience but through animations only.
Unlike the fashion show, this piano bar is an adult-exclusive area that will have live music as well as a wide selection of wines, martinis, and cocktails to choose from.
Just across from this is the Cask and Cannon pub, which promises to transport guests right into the Pirates of the Caribbean universe.
This pub will be covered in treasures and will offer several kinds of rums and custom brews to choose from.
Disney Destiny will be the second ship in Disney’s fleet to have the Haunted Mansion Parlor, but this one promises to be more nautical-themed than the one on Disney Treasure.
Beyond just the bars and pubs, there will be additional experiences open to guests such as dance parties themed around Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas and meet-and-greets with villains such as Sleeping Beauty’s Maleficent or Peter Pan’s Captain Hook.
The ship will also feature AquaMouse, the cruise line’s signature water ride that is already available on Disney Wish and Disney Treasure.
Homeporting in Port Everglades, the new vessel will offer 4- and 5-night itineraries to the Caribbean, including some of Disney’s private destinations.
While only six ships are sailing as part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, both Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure are set to begin sailing by the end of 2025. The 144,000 gross ton Disney Destiny is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
With plans to add five more ships between 2027 and 2031, the cruise line’s fleet will more than double in size offering cruisers more magical experiences at sea than ever!
A dream vacation turned into a costly nightmare for a British couple who flew more than 10,000 miles to sail on an Australian cruise.
Despite having traveled with a valid passport and passing through numerous travel and immigration checkpoints without any fanfare, the couple was denied boarding at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal.
Citing a damaged passport, David Hornsby of Southampton and his wife were told they wouldn’t be sailing a 14-night voyage from Sydney to Singapore on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth after all.
“We arrived at the cruise terminal, went to check in as usual, having already dropped our luggage off, and they looked at my passport and then called somebody over, and then took it away,”Hornsby told hislocal media outlet.
“My wife was cleared for boarding, but they said there was damage on my passport, which there wasn’t,” he continued, saying the concern was over loose stitching on the center of the UK passport.
Meant to depart from Sydney by 7 p.m. on February 11, 2025, to visit Airlie Beach and Darwin, Australia, and Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia, before arriving in Singapore on February 25, the Hornsbys instead had to quickly rearrange travel home.
After waiting several hours to have their baggage retrieved, the couple booked flights back to the UK from Syndey, which cost £700.
Due to Cunard’s cancellation policies, the Hornsbys are also out of pocket on the original cruise and flight costs.
David has been appealing to Cunard in hopes of getting a refund, a replacement cruise, or some sort of compensation.
However, Cunard says it is not responsible for the Hornsby missing their cruise.
“Our understand is that Mr. and Mrs. Hornsby were refused embarkation to the ship by immigration officials at the international cruise terminal due to a damaged passport,”said a spokesperson for Cunard.
“The planned voyage included a port call to Indonesia, where they have strict standards for damaged passports,” Cunard continued.
“Unfortunately, the actions of foreign immigration authorities are outside of our control, and any associated costs should be directed to the guests’ travel insurers.”
Cunard refunded the couple for portions of excursions booked, but would not refund the voyage or provide an alternative voyage.
“We appreciate this is not the outcome that Mr. and Mrs. Hornsby would have wanted, but this set of circumstances is not one Cunard can take responsibility for,” the cruise line stated.
Strict Passport Rules Leave Little Recourse
Cruise lines feature strict cancellation policies, providing refunds based on the date of cancellation from the sailing date, as the closer to the departure date, the less likely they are to sell the space to another passenger.
Cunard advises any guest to purchase travel insurance to cover the costs of an emergency preventing them from boarding.
Although the Hornsbys didn’t mean to “cancel” their sailing, by being denied embarkation due to Australian border officials, they missed the boat, so to speak, by being unaware of immigration policies.
Queen Elizabeth in Sydney (Photo Credit: girlwander1982)
It’s at the discretion of border control whether or not to accept a passport.
Normal wear and tear is typically okay but if a passport has tears, missing pages, water damage, unofficial markings (even if a child has colored in a passport), or anything that makes a passport difficult to read could result in a denied entry.
Although the Australian government’s passport page doesn’t specifically mention a binding issue, Indonesian border control is notorious for denying entry based on even the most minor damage.
The Bali media has reported on numerous cases of travelers from Australia being told their passports were no good since Indonesia tightened its security in 2019.
And travel insiders say incidents like this can happen more and more as biometric scanners are increasingly used to scan passenger data and require passports to be in near-pristine condition to work best.
Carnival Spirit has nearly finished her repositioning sailing from Miami, Florida to Seattle, Washington to kick off the Alaska sailing season, and guests onboard just received a special treat for their generosity.
Following through on his commitment to wax his chest in public on the ship’s last sea day if $10,000 or more was raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, cruise director Alex Siegler underwent the torturous treatment on Sunday, April 13.
What is even more amazing and generous, however, is that the fundraising goal wasn’t quite reached. Nevertheless, Siegler didn’t let his fans down.
“As you can probably guess, we did not quite make our goal of $10,000,”Siegler announced Sunday in the ship’s theater.“We are just over $8,000 for St. Jude, however, we are going go ahead and go through with the waxing anyway!”
Cheers met his announcement, and Siegler quickly got set up for the excruciating event.
“I am not ready at all,”he admitted before removing his shirt to another chorus of cheers.
One of the ship’s spa personnel prepared the wax as Siegler answered a few questions from the crowd and kept his hilarious commentary going with some bracing deep breaths.
He narrated much of the event, from the initial cleansing to the wax application.
“Who’s had their chest waxed before? This doesn’t hurt, right?”Siegler asked before the first wax was slathered on his not-that-hairy chest.
A bunch of guests in the theater lied to him, loudly responding “No!” while other guests smirked and laughed at the craziness of the event.
Siegler appeared surprised at how warm the wax was, but he kept up his good natured comments as the first guest – Sue – approached for her “prize” of removing the first wax strip thanks to her generous donations.
“Remember, it’s for the kids!”Sue said just before firmly pulling off the very first wax strip.
Siegler’s immediate response to his first chest waxing experience? A surprisingly high pitched, lengthy yelp and a word I’m not allowed to publish.
Yet he kept up the smiles and jokes throughout the experience as more of his chest hair was removed, never letting his happy attitude slip and thanking the guests for their participation. The entire experience, after all, was for a great cause and one Siegler has supported in other fun ways.
In January 2025, he agreed to shave off his beard if guests raised $5,000 for St. Jude. Despite falling a few hundred dollars short of that goal, Siegler still dramatically trimmed – though did not completely shave – his beard.
“I may not be 100% clean shaven, but I could not tell you the last time I saw this much of my face,”he joked about that fundraiser.
While he didn’t share the last time he saw as much of his chest as he has with this latest fundraiser, let’s all hope he doesn’t pick a different body part to de-hair on another Carnival Journeys sailing.
Sailing With Alex Seigler
Seigler will remain aboard Carnival Spirit to lead the ship’s Fun Squad into the Alaska season through May 27. The ship’s first 7-night Alaska sailing departs Seattle on Monday, April 14, with visits planned for Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria.
Seigler will also be Carnival Spirit’s cruise director for much of the end of the Alaska season when he returns to the ship for another contract beginning on July 15, 2025 and lasting through September 9, 2025 – just two departures short of the end of the season.
Carnival Cruise Director Charity (Photo Credits: NAN728 & Alex Siegler)
The popular Carnival cruise director does not yet have a confirmed ship assignment after September, but it is not uncommon for assignments not to be confirmed so far in advance.
After the Alaska season, Carnival Spirit will offer a special 15-night Hawaii sailing roundtrip from Seattle before then departing the Pacific Northwest and returning to Mobile for the winter.
From Alabama, the ship will be sailing a variety of Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries before she returns to the Last Frontier in April 2026.
It’s been an exciting week for debuts in Miami, culminating with the highly anticipated arrival and christening of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest cruise ship.
Sailing into the world’s busiest port on April 11, 2025, the 156,300-gross-ton Norwegian Aqua celebrated her official launch on April 13 with more than 2,000 attendees and the ship’s godfather, Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet.
Stonestreet, best known for his role as Cameron Tucker in the ABC sitcom “Modern Family,” took the stage to share his enthusiasm for the role of godfather.
“As a new cruiser who has a deep passion for travel, it is absolutely spectacular to see the amazing features and experiences that travelers and their families can enjoy aboard Norwegian Aqua, including the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster,”exclaimed Stonestreet.
He went on to praise Norwegian Cruise Line’s team and said he was honored to serve as Norwegian Aqua’s godfather.
“As part of the NCL family, I can’t wait for guests to ‘Experience More at Sea’ with NCL and create unforgettable memories with their families as I look forward to doing with mine as well,”he said.
The ceremony took place while the vessel was docked at NCL’s terminal, featuring a preview of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest onboard production, “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince.”
The immersive Prince tribute show has been developed in partnership with the Prince Legacy to honor the Oscar and seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician.
Following the performance, David J. Herrera, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president, revealed some changes are in store of the company’s private island destination, Great Stirrup Cay, which will be a regular feature of Norwegian Aqua’s sailings.
“It’s a very special time for all of us at NCL – we are welcoming a new incredible ship into our fleet with the christening of the stunning and action-packed, Norwegian Aqua, and we are doing so alongside her godfather, Eric Stonestreet, who perfectly embodies the authenticity of what it means for our guests to ‘Experience More at Sea,’”he said.
Final Preview Journeys for Norwegian Aqua
After the christening, Norwegian Aqua took its early-bird guests on a preview sailing to Great Stirrup Cay.
It’s the second “first” look at all the new bells and whistles, as Norwegian Aqua also welcomed industry insiders aboard the ship during a quick stopover in New York on April 7, 2025.
Originally slated to make its North America entrance in Boston, the vessel was forced to skip the stop in Beantown due to a severe storm taking place in the North Atlantic during her transatlantic crossing from Southampton, England.
Norwegian Aqua in Miami (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
That voyage gave onboard guests, also filled with travel advisors and content creators, extra fun sampling the array of amenities, including more than 20 restaurants and bars, an interactive LED Glow Court sports court, the Mandara Spa, and multiple pools and hot tubs.
The most exciting newcomer to the high seas is the Aqua Slidecoaster, the first at-sea hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide ride found on what the ship’s top deck Aqua Park and Main Pool area.
Once Norwegian Aqua returns to Miami, she will offer a few short sailings to the Bahamas, including Nassau, which recently broke records for passenger visits.
The vessel will then make her way up Florida’s coast to Port Canaveral, where she will begin a summer Caribbean season with a 7-night roundtrip Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas, the US and British Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.
The cruise ship will continue to provide the itineraries from the Central Florida port until August 2025, when she returns to New York to offer guests a series of sailings to Bermuda through September.
Norwegian Aqua will homeport officially in PortMiami during the 2025-2026 winter Caribbean season, beginning in October.
Private islands can be amazing cruise destinations, and one great port is about to get greater! Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has announced new amenities and features for all ages coming to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
From the first time guests step foot on the island to how they explore the destination, there will be something new to enjoy.
The new pier to eliminate the need for sometimes uncertain (or uncomfortable – depending on how feisty the waves are!) tender boats was announced in April 2024, with the official groundbreaking in January 2025.
The $150 million project will permit two ships to dock at once and will be a much more convenient and reliable way for guests to reach Great Stirrup Cay. Now, they’ll find even more fun ashore once they do reach the island.
Up first, guests will be greeted by a new welcome center that will also serve as a hub for new tram service. Via tram, guests can better explore the island and enjoy their time at the destination with improved accessibility for everyone.
From youngsters and families enjoying the new splash pad to chilling out in the poolside cabanas to diving into the new heated pool with a swim-up bar, the upcoming enhancements have something for all guests to enjoy, no matter how many times they may already have visited Great Stirrup Cay.
“These newly announced enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay will further improve the guest experience on the island, which is already one of our top-rated destinations worldwide,”said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
“Great Stirrup Cay has long been a guest favorite,”added David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.“These new additions will take the private island experience to the next level by offering our guests even MORE and the continued freedom and flexibility to design their best vacation.”
Great Stirrup Cay Pool Area
Other new additions to the already popular island will include the adults-only Vibe Beach Club – already a favorite feature onboard many Norwegian Cruise Line ships – as well as Horizon Park, a lawn games area for even more interaction and friendly competition.
The exact timeline for all these updates to open has not yet been confirmed, though they should all be available to guests later in 2025.
Of course, a variety of factors could impact that projected completion, including the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which is projected to feature above-normal activity.
Nevertheless, it is full speed ahead on the enhancements, all of which are sure to excite visiting guests. Visitors should note, however, that there may be some disruptions to existing experiences while construction is underway, though such disruptions should be minimal.
More Updates and Enhancements Already Being Planned
Furthermore, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is not stopping. While this first phase of updating is already underway, more ideas are already being considered for future expansion and development.
“We look forward to adding more exciting and guest-centric experiences on Great Stirrup Cay in the future,”said Herrera.
While there is no hint at what those further developments may be, it’s clear that the cruise company is committed to providing an exceptional guest experience at its private island.
Great Stirrup Cay Pool Area
“Along with the completion of a new multi-ship pier later this year, we’re improving both access and amenities on the island. As we anticipate annual guest visits to exceed one million by 2026, we are actively evaluating additional investments in the island to support that growth and expand the amenities our guests can enjoy,”hinted Sommer.
Thus far there are no confirmations about what those new investments may be, but it is clear that private destinations are a hit among cruise travelers.
Other cruise lines are likewise investing in their own destinations to provide exceptional experiences for guests.
Carnival Cruise Line’s first-ever private destination, Celebration Key, will open this summer, while Disney Cruise Line’s newest destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, will soon celebrate its first anniversary.
Coming in 2027 will be “Perfect Day Mexico” with Royal Caribbean at Costa Maya, and Carnival Cruise Line is likewise renaming and updating Roatan to “Isla Tropicale” to enhance its vacation vibes.
The Bahamas continues to make waves in the Caribbean cruise season, with its capital city on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory as the most-visited cruise destination in the region.
After breaking its own one-day passenger record on March 11, 2025, when 30,538 guests arrived on six different ships at Nassau Cruise Port, the port did it again in less than a month.
On April 8, 2025, Nassau Cruise Port welcomed a whopping 31,011 passengers.
“We’ve done it again!” the port exalted.
“We are very proud to announce that we welcomed a record-breaking 31,011 passengers in a single day,” Nassau Cruise Port shared on its social media channels.
“This marks the second time this year that we surpassed our daily passenger record, solidifying Nassau’s position as a premier destination in the cruise industry.”
During the port’s Super Tuesday, Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas arrived within an hour of each other in the morning and stayed in port until 5 p.m.
Carnival Cruise Line also had two ships pull in simultaneously for an 8 a.m. call, including Carnival Paradise and Carnival Celebration. The two vessels departed at 4 and 5 p.m., respectively.
Rounding out the day was Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, also enjoying an 8-hour call, meaning port staff was working hard to manage five ships ranging from 70,367 to 236,860 gross tons at the same time.
Mike Maura Jr., CEO and Director at Nassau Cruise Port, said the achievement “underscores Nassau’s growing appeal among travelers and the unwavering efforts of our team to deliver world-class experiences.”
“Breaking our own record twice in one year is a testament to the momentum we are building as we continue to invest in Nassau’s future,” he said.
Setting Pace for More Growth
While the passenger count on April 8 was through the roof, five-ship port days are not that uncommon at Nassau Cruise Port.
In fact, the port often sees the arrival of six cruise vessels at once, as was the case on its previous record day and actually a regular occurrence on April 1, 2, 3, 6, and even the day prior to the new record-setting day.
The port has been able to welcome six ships at once since 2022, following an extensive dredging and expansion project.
Also becoming the new normal? Record-breaking years in terms of visits to the island from both sea and air. In 2024, the port witnessed the arrival of 5.6 million cruisers, dramatically surpassing the 3.2 million who visited in 2023.
The port, which is operated by Global Ports Holding, says it is on track to best itself again in 2025, adding nearly another 1 million guests and topping out at nearly 6.5 million arrivals.
Passengers in Nassau, Bahamas (Photo Credit: Nassau Cruise Port)
During a press conference held at Seatrade Cruise Global, the industry’s largest trade show, the Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper highlighted a series of upcoming projects that will continue to bolster Nassau’s growth.
These include a revitalization project for the capital’s downtown region and the completion of a $35-million waterpark at Nassau Cruise Port by the year’s end, along with new dining and recreational experiences and upgrades.
Cooper also discussed diversifying to grow cruise tourism beyond the Bahamas’ main tourism islands – out of 700 islands – to combat worries of overtourism. This includes investing $1.8 billion in islands like Abaco, Eleuthera, and Exuma.
Nassau Cruise Port is ranked No. 4 in the world based on passenger movements following PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Cozumel, Mexico’s cruise port.
From its newest ship, Star Princess, to its oldest ship, Grand Princess, Princess Cruises delivers an enjoyable, almost old-fashioned cruising experience.
The focus is on spectacular service, world-class amenities and a relaxing, enjoyable time — not flashy features like the first roller coaster at sea or the first go-karting track at sea.
If you find the big resort-style ships to be a little too over-the-top for your liking, you may just love Princess Cruises.
Here’s what you can expect across all 17 of its ships, from newest to oldest.
Star Princess Cruise Ship (Render Credit: Princess Cruises)
The soon-to-be newest vessel in the Princess Cruises fleet is 2025’s Star Princess. The ship is also one of the largest in the fleet, tying in size with Sun Princess, which debuted just a year earlier as a sister ship.
Unique features on Star Princess include expanded non-smoking casino areas; a new SkyDeck sports court and jogging track; expanded dining venues with a larger Irish pub than has been on past ships and a larger Love by Britto restaurant; and The Dome, the first geodesic dome at sea.
The ship offers just over 2,150 staterooms. Guests staying within The Sanctuary Collection suites, mini suites or deluxe balcony cabins enjoy access to a ship-within-a-ship area, with VIP, exclusive dining and relaxation areas.
Entered service: 2025
Gross tonnage: 175,500
Passenger capacity: 4,310
Sun Princess (2024)
Sun Princess Docked in San Juan (Photo Credit: San Juan Cruise Port)
The lead Princess ship for the cruise line’s newest class, the Sphere Class, Sun Princess was the cruise line’s first ship in about two years (so not that long of a wait at all in cruise line terms).
Sphere class ships take their name from the giant glass-enclosed sphere featured on each, known as The Dome.
When it debuted, the ship offered the most technologically advanced theater in the Princess fleet (you can now find this same theater design on Star Princess); 30 restaurants and bars; and Sanctuary Collection accommodations that provide access to a top-deck retreat area.
The ship also featured five pools and more than 5,000 square feet of shopping, with 25 brands making their first debut on the ocean.
While it’s since been surpassed by the Sphere Class in gross tons, Discovery Princess was once the largest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet. Wrapping up the six-ship Royal Class, the ship offers 19 decks and just over 1,800 staterooms.
It offers more than 20 dining and drinking venues, four pools and 10 hot tubs, and all the requisite features that you’d expect on a cruise ship, including a casino, the Lotus spa, kids clubs, theater and multiple lounges.
Entered service: 2022
Gross tonnage: 145,000
Passenger capacity: 3,660
Enchanted Princess (2020)
The Love Boat on Enchanted Princess (Photo Credit: Vintagepix)
Enchanted Princess is the fifth Royal Class ship, very similar in design to Discovery Princess, even if slightly smaller by gross tonnage if not by passenger capacity. It offers 19 decks, just over 1,800 staterooms and many of the same venues and amenities.
When the ship first debuted, it was one of the few to immediately come outfitted with robust tech features via Princess Cruises’ Medallion feature, a wearable device and app combo that allows you to do all sorts of things, from opening your cabin door to accessing Wi-Fi to placing food and drink orders.
Entered service: 2020
Gross tonnage: 144,650
Passenger capacity: 3,660
Sky Princess (2019)
Sky Princess Cruise Ship Docked in Fort Lauderdale (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
Sky Princess is identical in size to sister ship Enchanted Princess, as the fourth ship in the Royal Class. Cruisers may find overall fewer combined included and specialty restaurants, as well as bars, than they might on the newer Discovery Princess, as well as a fewer number of hot tubs, but there’s still lots to love.
When the ship debuted, it offered some of the largest suite balconies at sea, as well as outdoor spa treatments, Michelin-starred dining and Medallion technology.
Entered service: 2019
Gross tonnage: 144,650
Passenger capacity: 3,660
Majestic Princess (2017)
Photo Credit: RickDeacon / Shutterstock
A member of the Royal Class, Majestic Princess is an example of a cruise ship that was built for a certain market.
Designed to sail from Shanghai, the ship features Chinese signage, private karaoke rooms, a tea bar, Cantonese dining and a VIP casino. However, despite these features, the ship has not spent the entirety of its life sailing itineraries from Shanghai.
The ship is smaller than its newer Royal-class sister ships, both in overall size and passenger capacity, with fewer staterooms, pools and other features.
Entered service: 2017
Gross tonnage: 143,700
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Regal Princess (2014)
Regal Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Peter Titmuss)
Regal Princess may be more than a decade old now, but that doesn’t mean that you should bypass this ship immediately. The second-ever Royal-class ship, the ship is very, very similar to lead class ship, Royal Princess.
For example, it also offers the SeaWalk glass walkway off the Lido Deck. However, Regal Princess differs by adding an aft pool and promenade deck to its offerings.
Entered service: 2014
Gross tonnage: 142,229
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Royal Princess (2013)
Royal Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Nate Hovee)
The lead ship in the Royal Class, Royal Princess introduced new and noteworthy features include the aforementioned SeaWalk, with its over-water, glass walkway; an atrium with new bars; a new dining option, Chef’s Table Lumiere; new layouts for the buffet; a dedicated pastry shop; and private cabanas.
There’s even a television studio — something you’re not likely to find on just any cruise ship. The studio produces live shows and educational and entertaining content for the cruisers.
Entered service: 2013
Gross tonnage: 142,229
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Ruby Princess (2008)
Ruby Princess at Los Angeles World Cruise Center (Photo Credit: Underawesternsky)
Ruby Princess is about half a decade older than Royal Princess, as well as a good deal smaller, holding about 500 fewer passengers.
The Crown-class ship only offers just over 1,500 staterooms, though still a good amount of restaurants, bars and lounges, as compared to some of the newer ships in the fleet.
The Crown Class is relatively small, with only three ships, Ruby Princess being the last.
The middle Crown-class ship, Emerald Princess is nearing two decades in age, but, luckily, recent dry docks have kept the ship in fine condition, including dry docks in 2012 and 2015.
However, do note that, because of this ship’s age, you’re not going to find some of the higher-end, newer, tech-savvy features you might get on a Sphere-class ship.
The ship, though, is still in good condition, offers plenty of high-quality entertainment and upholds the level of service that Princess Cruises is known for.
Crown Princess is the lead ship for this class, named for the Crown Plaza on the ships, designed in the style of an Italian piazza. It’s the place to go for people watching or grabbing a drink, or just soaking up all that cruise ship energy.
Other ship highlights included the Crown Grill steakhouse and adults-only Sanctuary deck.
Entered service: 2006
Gross tonnage: 113,561
Passenger capacity: 3,090
Caribbean Princess (2004)
Photo Credit: Andrew F. Kazmierski / Shutterstock.com
Getting into the Grand Class ships, Caribbean Princess was the largest Princess Cruises ship by passenger capacity when it debuted, and it stayed in that position for years, with newer ships coming up smaller.
Caribbean Princess was finally surpassed by Royal Princess nearly a decade later. Caribbean Princess is still, though, the largest ship in the Grand class, as it features an additional deck.
Like its name suggests, Caribbean Princess was designed to serve Caribbean itineraries, and along those lines, it features no pool roof. However, the ship has not spent its entire life to date sailing the Caribbean.
It also has sailed through New England and even to Greenland — a time when that pool roof may’ve been sorely missed.
Despite being larger than Caribbean Princess by gross tonnage, Sapphire Princess can hold far fewer passengers, nearly 500 people less.
The Grand-class ship has 18 decks and just over 1,300 staterooms. It offers an impressive five main dining rooms, as well as a good selection of other restaurants, bars and lounges for its size.
To account for the ship’s age, it has been refurbished several times, including in 2012 and 2018, to provide cosmetic enhancements, as well as add new features like mini suites and kids and teens clubs.
Entered service: 2004
Gross tonnage: 115,875
Passenger capacity: 2,680
Diamond Princess (2004)
Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Osaka (Photo Credit: HIROSHI H / Shutterstock)
Princess Cruises had a busy year in 2004, with three cruise ships entering service. Diamond Princess was the third of these, alongside sister ships Caribbean Princess and Sapphire Princess. Diamond Princess is quite similar to Sapphire Princess, although able to carry more overall passengers.
Like a handful of Princess Cruises ships, Diamond Princess was designed with a certain market in mind. In this case, it was Japan. As such, special features you can spy on this ship include Japanese dining options throughout the restaurants, a dedicated sushi restaurant, Japanese bath facilities and Japanese culture-oriented entertainment and classes.
Entered service: 2004
Gross tonnage: 115,875
Passenger capacity: 2,710
Island Princess (2003)
Island Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
The newest of the Coral-class cruise ships (one of only two in the Princess Cruises fleet), Island Princess is much smaller than Diamond Princess and a relatively small cruise ship overall.
At less than 100,000 GT and capacity for just over 2,000 passengers, this ship is intimate. Coral-class cruise ships were designed to sail through the Panama Canal, though, which is to credit for the ships’ small sizes.
Island Princess only has 16 decks and just over a thousand staterooms (with the very, very large majority being exterior staterooms). There are two main dining rooms and a handful of restaurants and lounges, as well as three pools.
Entered service: 2003
Gross tonnage: 92,822
Passenger capacity: 2,210
Coral Princess (2003)
Photo Credit: Just dance / Shutterstock
The lead Coral-class ship is just slightly smaller than its sister. Coral Princess, though, despite the smaller gross tonnage and passenger capacity, actually has quite a few more staterooms, about 1,500 to Island Princess’ thousand or so.
Coral Princess was one of the first Princess Cruises ships to make its debut after the cruise line was purchased by Carnival Corp.
Entered service: 2003
Gross tonnage: 91,621
Passenger capacity: 2,000
Grand Princess (1998)
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Brave Behind the Lenz)
The oldest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, Grand Princess entered service in the last millennium — but don’t let that dissuade you from booking a cruise on this ship.
It’s received its fair amount of dry docks, including one scheduled for April 2025. Throughout various dry docks, the ship has received new and updated restaurants, lounges, kids club, public spaces and more.
At the time the ship entered service, it was one of the best in the biz — huge for the time, and rather, well, “grand.”
While it’s since been far surpassed by not just cruise ships in its own fleet, but also around the world, Grand Princess still manages to please thanks to the cruise line’s fine attention to detail and service.
Entered service: 1998
Gross tonnage: 107,517
Passenger capacity: 2,610
What is the Newest Princess Cruises Ship You Can Book Now?
New Princess Cruise Ship Under Construction (Photo Credit: Novikov Aleksey)
The newest Princess Cruises ship you can book now is Star Princess, which will set sail in early October 2025 with its first itinerary being an 11-day Mediterranean cruise from Spain.
Other bookable itineraries include lengthy cruises to the Greek Isles, Turkey, France, Italy and Greece, ranging from nine to 21 days; week-long Alaska cruises; and five to 14-day cruises in the Caribbean (both Eastern and Western).
A third Sphere-class Princess Cruises ship has yet to be announced.
What’s the Newest Class of Princess Cruises Ships?
The newest Princess Cruises ship class is the Sphere class. So far, there are two ships in this class: Sun Princess and Star Princess, debuted in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The ships are known for their “spheres” on the top of the ship, which create one-of-a-kind common spaces within what’s the first geodesic dome at sea.
What’s the Oldest Princess Cruises Ship?
The oldest Princess Cruises ship is Grand Princess, which entered service in 1998 as the lead Grand-class ship. Over its lifetime, the ship has been refurbished multiple times, to keep it up to modern standards, as well as to add new successful ship features for the line.
Although it’s the oldest ship in Princess Cruises’ fleet, it’s not the smallest.
On April 10, 2025, the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) announced that it recorded over 165,000 passenger movements in March of this year.
Passenger movements are categorized as the number of cruise passengers either boarding or disembarking from a ship.
The previous record was set in March of 2023 when the port had just over 155,000 cruise passenger moves during the month.
Beth Branch, the President and CEO of Port NOLA, commented on the significance of the milestone, sharing that the demand for itineraries out of the port has made New Orleans a premier cruising destination.
“This record momentum solidifies Port NOLA’s position as the 6th largest U.S. cruise port, offering travelers a unique blend of ocean and river cruising experiences,”Branch said, sharing more about the versatility of Louisiana’s cruise hub.
While it may not be the largest port, it is the only one in the United States that offers both river and ocean cruising options.
Port NOLA Director of Cruise Steven Gauthier also shared his excitement about the increase in port calls, saying that guests are enjoying the city and events like Mardi Gras.
“We look forward to welcoming even more cruise guests in 2025 and showing them that one-of-a-kind Big Easy hospitality,” added Gauthier.
NOLA is a city that embraces and welcomes cruise tourism, as it continues to have a positive impact on the local economy.
Port NOLA Continues to See Unprecedented Growth
Cruisers bring upwards of $125 million in local spending annually to New Orleans, as 70% of them choose to extend their trips either before or after cruises by one to two days.
With 90% of passengers coming from out of state, hotels around the port have seen about 300,000 nights of booking yearly directly from cruisers.
Cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line both chose to extend their contracts with the port in 2024 due to the demand for cruises out of this port.
While both Carnival Liberty and Carnival Valor are sailing year-round with NOLA as their homeport, one of these ships will be absent during the spring.
Carnival Valor departs on a transatlantic voyage on April 24, which will disembark passengers in Barcelona, Spain, on May 10.
This ship will then enter a month-long dry dock for repairs and upgrades, after which it will be on the same transatlantic voyage heading from Barcelona back to NOLA beginning on June 11.
Carnival Cruise Ship in New Orleans (Courtesy: Port of New Orleans)
Carnival Liberty, however, will still be available during this time, sailing weekly to Mexico and the Caribbean.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway disembarks passengers on April 13 following a 7-night itinerary, sailing just two more times this month out of NOLA before heading to New York, which will be its homeport for most of the year.
Norwegian Escape will take its place in Port NOLA starting in October 2025, offering 7-night cruises with stops in the Caribbean and Mexico.
Royal Caribbean also began sailings out of Port NOLA again in November of 2024 — but Brilliance Of The Seas ended its season at this southern port earlier this month.
As of now, the next Royal Caribbean ship to depart out of NOLA will be Mariner Of The Seas on November 1, 2026.
While there are many cruise lines to choose from, Carnival remains the only one with year-round options at this specific port.
Things are finally catching up to the way they were pre-pandemic for Port NOLA, as it was projected it would see 1.2 million passenger movements in 2020.
While it did not happen then, it did in 2024— and if this new record is any indicator, that number could be even higher by the end of 2025!
