What do you like best about a balcony stateroom on your cruise? That first morning cup of coffee watching the sunrise?
Or how about a mid-afternoon nap in your private lounge chair? For me, it’s wildlife watching for dolphins, flying fish, and magnificent frigatebirds.
What no one enjoys, however, is smelling another guest’s cigarette smoke (or other types of smoke) when they had hoped to spend time on their balcony in the fresh sea breeze.
Smoking on balconies is strictly prohibited by all cruise lines, but many guests might feel uncomfortable about reporting any smoking they witness. Carnival Cruise Line, however, has firmly reassured guests that their confidentiality is preserved if they make such a report.
The issue was brought up by a concerned guest who has been in the situation before but wasn’t sure how to react.
The guest reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s official Brand Ambassador, who regularly answers hundreds of questions from guests every week.
“John, how do you feel about this. Would you report your neighbor for smoking on balcony?”the guest asked.“This has happened to us a few cruises. I did not report them but it was a big inconvenience not being able to sit out and enjoy the ocean air.”
The guest did not disclose what ship or ships they’ve cruised on with these incidents, nor whether or not the smoking was recent. Nevertheless, Heald’s response is firm and reassuring.
“For the safety of the ship, I would report it immediately,”he said.“We encourage you to please report it immediately.”
It may not seem like smoking on a balcony in the middle of the ocean (surrounded by water) would be dangerous, but it absolutely can be. If any hot ash or a smoldering cigarette butt were to be discarded carelessly, it could potentially start a fire.
In fact, this is likely what happened in February 2025 aboard Carnival Glory, when a small balcony fire was quickly contained after a towel draped over a chair became “engulfed” in flames.
Some passengers, however, might be nervous about reporting smoking for fear of confrontation if the smoker realizes who contacted the ship’s security or Guest Services desk.
Heald, however, notes that reports are kept confidential and even offers to help with such a report if the commenter is currently onboard and having such difficulties.
“Nobody will ever know that it came from you,”he said.“Do you need me to do that for you, though? Let me know if you do.”
With regular reports of unpleasant confrontations not only on Carnival cruise ships but on other lines as well, it’s reasonable that a guest might not want to “make waves” over smoking on the balcony.
Consider this, however. Let’s say the stateroom next to you is one that is smoking on the balcony every evening before dinner. You brush it off as not worth the bother to call security for five minutes and instead you get ready for dinner and leave your stateroom.
No Smoking Sign on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Kaptures By K)
You continue enjoying your dinner, right? No big deal? But it’s a big deal when you go back to your stateroom to grab a sweatshirt before heading to the theater for that night’s game show only to find billows of smoke in the hallway and the carpets, bedding, and well, everything in your stateroom dampened by sprinklers.
Yes, a small fire had broken out on your balcony because of someone else’s hot ash or discarded butt.
Everyone is safe, there are no injuries, but now you have much more than a five-minute phone call inconvenience to deal with. Security will want to speak with you to determine if you were smoking, your belongings need to be cleaned or replaced, and you’re not going to make it to that game show.
Perhaps it would have been better to make that phone call after all.
What Happens to Guests Who Smoke on Their Balconies?
Carnival Cruise Line has addressed the smoking issue many times in the past. While smoking areas are provided onboard in different parts of the ship, including the main casino, there is absolutely no smoking permitted in individual staterooms or on balconies.
As for consequences, they can be quite severe for guests who are caught violating the cruise line’s smoking policies.
Carnival Cruise Line Balconies (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
“Anyone caught smoking on the balcony will face serious consequences also. If we catch someone doing so or find ash or anything smoking related on the balcony there will be a $500 fine and the serious possibility of not being allowed to cruise with us again,”Heald has confirmed.
Not only will guests in violation of the policy face a $500 fine (per incident!), but they may also be disembarked from the ship at the next possible port of call – at their own expense. A lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line is another possibility.
Norwegian Cruise Line boasts 20 ships in its ever-growing fleet, spread across seven major classes: Sun, Dawn, Jewel, Breakaway, Breakaway Plus, Prima and Prima Plus class. (Technically, Norwegian Epic, Pride of America and Norwegian Spirit stand apart in their own, independent classes.)
Each class is unique in its own way, with ships that may cater best to different kinds of cruisers. Here’s everything cruisers need to know about the different Norwegian Cruise Line ship classes, before they book.
While Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships may not be as large as those owned by Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line still holds its own when it comes to big, fun-filled ships. Over the line’s various classes, though, the individual 20 ships really do run the gamut.
You have smaller size, older ships that offer more low-key cruising experiences, and that can visit smaller destinations. Then, you have big, resort-style ships that offer the latest and greatest amenities.
Norwegian Prima and Viva Docked in St. Thomas (Photo Credit: Primestock Photography)
Typically, these ships are grouped together in various classes, or families, of ships, with three or four ships that all share similar characteristics (if you’re not up on your cruising lingo and are wondering what all this talk of ship classes is about).
Today, Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships and classes stretch back to the 1990s, with the oldest ship in the fleet being Norwegian Spirit and then the newest ship being 2025’s Norwegian Aqua in the Prima Plus Class — and there are still more ships to come in the next few years.
This wide variation allows for lots of flexibility when booking your cruise. Whether you want to sail on world class vessels packed with amenities, or you’re content with standard amenities like an onboard spa and sports courts, there’s a Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you.
Prima Plus Class
Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
The Prima Plus class is Norwegian’s newest cruise ship class, home to its most modern and flashy cruise ships yet.
However, whereas some cruise lines like to continually introduce cruise ships that are bigger than all the rest it’s ever produced (I’m looking at you, Royal Caribbean), the Prima Plus class, while by no means filled with small ships, doesn’t boast the largest-ever ships for the cruise line — at least not for now.
The one currently sailing ship in the class, Norwegian Aqua, and the next-to-launch ship in the class, Norwegian Luna, are both 156,300 GT — smaller than ships in the line’s prior Breakaway Plus class.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Aqua
156,300
3,550
2025
Norwegian Luna
156,300
3,550
2026
TBA
172,000
3,650
2027
TBA
172,000
3,650
2028
However, future Prima Plus class ships are planned that should exceed 172,000 GT. These yet-to-be-named ships, when they launch in a few years, will officially become Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships ever.
It’s worth noting that the Prima Plus class is an off-shoot of the original Prima class (Norwegian Cruise Line has done this before, with its Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes, creating a solid parent class and then enhancing and sizing up later class ships into a new “plus” class).
As such, while the Prima Plus class ships are somewhat similar to those ships in the Prima class, they also offer more to do, over a larger footprint (about 10% larger), with brand-new features.
For example, Norwegian Aqua claims to be both the most spacious new cruise ship at sea, with expanded outdoor deck space, and the new cruise ship at sea with the highest staff levels.
The ship counts a first-of-its-kind Aqua Slidecoaster among its brand-new features, which is a hybrid waterslide and rollercoaster. The ship’s VIP Haven area features new suite styles, too, and the ship overall offers more accommodation options than ever before.
The must-anticipated Norwegian Luna will be a twin ship to Norwegian Aqua, for all of the same to love and enjoy.
Prima Class
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
As explained, the Prima class is the predecessor of the Prima Plus class and includes Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. The two NCL ships are 10% smaller than those in the Prima Plus class, as well smaller than the ships in the older Breakaway Plus class.
That said, they still offer lots to enjoy, with notable features including the largest go-kart tracks at sea, as well as a 10-story dry slide.
With more than a dozen suite categories, these ships also offer more suite options than any other large ocean liner, and some of the largest suites and cabins not just for the brand, but for the industry as a whole.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Prima
142,500
3,100
2022
Norwegian Viva
142,500
3,100
2023
When the ships debuted, they likewise offered the largest Haven area yet to appear on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, and more outdoor deck space than any other new cruise ship at the time.
In other words, the Prima class pushed the boundaries of both Norwegian Cruise Line and the cruising industry, and the following Prima Plus class will do the same.
Currently, the Breakaway Plus class is home to Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships. The Breakaway Plus class features four ships, debuting between 2015 and 2019, so they’re all still pretty new.
The largest of them all is Norwegian Encore, though this ship isn’t the largest in the class in terms of guest capacity. That honor belongs to Norwegian Escape.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Escape
165,157
4,266
2015
Norwegian Joy
167,725
3,804
2017
Norwegian Bliss
168,028
4,004
2018
Norwegian Encore
169,116
3,998
2019
All of the ships in this class offer the big resort feel that you’ll find on many of the largest, newest cruise ships out there today.
There’s plenty of entertainment, everywhere you look, and in huge entertainment venues, too, that go way beyond your standard cruise ship theater. There are tons of restaurants, lounges and bars.
If you’re deciding between cruise ships in this class, though, it’s worth noting that Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy, being the two older ships in the class, are closer to the original Breakaway class in terms of style and amenities than Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. For example, Norwegian Escape doesn’t have go-karts or laser tag, while the other ships do.
All in all, this class is an excellent option for those who want the big, mega-ship feel with lots and lots to do, every day of your cruise, with no need to ever set foot off the ship — but who also don’t necessarily need to sail on the newest ships in the industry.
Breakaway Class
Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock)
The Breakaway class features just two ships, which are both quite similar to the Breakaway Plus class ships in many ways, but without the massive size and wealth of attractions. These ships have just barely passed their 10th birthdays, so they have received some refurbishments since launch, in 2018 and 2019.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Breakaway
145,655
3,963
2013
Norwegian Getaway
145,655
3,963
2014
Neither ship has a go-kart track or laser tag, but both ships do still have waterparks and pool areas, plenty of restaurants and bars. They also still feature the Haven VIP ship-within-a-ship area. Additionally, these ships were the first in the industry to offer full-size ropes courses on their top decks.
Epic Class
Norwegian Epic in Europe (Photo Credit: meunierd)
The Epic class is one of a handful of Norwegian Cruise Line’s different classes that are home to just a single ship — typically because the ship in question was acquired separately from a planned, carefully mapped out class of ships.
In Norwegian Epic’s case, it was actually intended to be a part of a new class of ships, but the other planned ships never came to fruition and so the cruise line left the ship on its own, turning attention to future endeavors.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Epic
155,873
4,100
2010
Norwegian Epic offers a few fun features, like the only tube-and-bowl waterslide on a cruise ship, as well as a bowling alley and ice bar.
As it’s still on the larger side (at least for Norwegian Cruise Line), Norwegian Epic is a good fit for those who are also fans of the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes.
If you’re worried about the ship’s age, don’t be — she was refurbished in 2015, keeping her comparable with the other Norwegian Cruise Line ships that debuted around the same time.
Jewel Class
Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Bill Wilcox)
When you drop into the Jewel class, you really start to see a noticeable size difference between this class, with its mid-2000s ships, and the newer ships in the fleet. While they’re not quite half the size of some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ships, they’re definitely significantly smaller.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Jewel
93,502
2,376
2005
Norwegian Jade
93,558
2,402
2006
Norwegian Pearl
93,530
2,394
2006
Norwegian Gem
93,530
2,394
2007
Still, for those who like to cruise on a firmly mid-size ship, they’ll find plenty to enjoy on the Jewel class ships.
While there aren’t 20-plus food outlets on these ships, you’ll still have 10-plus eateries to dine at during a vacation, and entertainment like pools and theaters. Just don’t expect anything super-flashy or any big thrills for the adventurers out there.
Pride of America Class
Pride of America in Hawaii (Photo Credit: Eric Broder Van Dyke)
Pride of America is, like Norwegian Epic, a cruise ship all on its lonesome, in a class of its own creation.
Debuted in 2005 and refurbished in 2016, Pride of America was originally intended to lead a class that would be dedicated to U.S.-flagged cruise ships. At its very beginning, it wasn’t evenowned by Norwegian Cruise Line.
However, the original parent company, American Classic Voyages, which wanted to boost the American shipyard business, declared bankruptcy when the ship was still under construction, and Norwegian Cruise Line swooped in to acquire the half-built ship.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Pride of America
80,439
2,186
2005
Norwegian Cruise Line did still honor some of the original plans for the ship. The ship is still US-flagged and has a mostly American crew.
It also primarily operates Hawaiian islands itineraries and, as such, it has no casino on-board (gambling is illegal in the state, so ship casinos have to close up when the ships are in Hawaiian waters — since the ship primarily sails to and from Hawaii, it just makes sense to have no casino at all).
This ship has undergone multiple dry docks throughout its life, including in 2013 and 2016, updating the ship to modern standards and adding extra staterooms and suites, as well as dining and entertainment venues.
Dawn Class
Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis)
Both ships in the Dawn class were originally ordered by Star Cruises. However, before the ships could be delivered to the cruise line, the ships were redirected to Norwegian Cruise Line, which was, at the time, a Star Cruises subsidiary.
Norwegian Dawn is notable as the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to feature hull art, a highlight that’s become synonymous with the brand.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Star
91,740
2,348
2001
Norwegian Dawn
92,250
2,340
2002
Both of these ships are pretty comparable to the ships in the Jewel class. They’re on the small side and don’t have a ton of amenities. Of those amenities it does have, none are over the top. Still, the ships have been refurbished in recent years (2016 for Norwegian Dawn and 2018 for Norwegian Star).
As such, if you don’t mind a smaller, older ship, and don’t need any fancy bells or whistles during your cruise, you’ll likely have a fine time sailing on either of these ships.
Sun Class
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Karis48 / Shutterstock)
The Sun class is the oldest “traditional” class in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. I say “traditional,” because, while there is one ship older than the two ships in the Sun class, it’s another one of those outliers that has a class to itself.
The Sun class features the smallest ships in the fleet by guest capacity, with each of the two ships carrying only around 2,000 passengers.
Norwegian Sky was originally Costa Cruises’ Costa Olympia, but, before the ship could be delivered, Costa Cruises suspended the ship’s construction, citing financial woes. Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the ship, finished her up and debuted her as Norwegian Sky.
After sailing as Norwegian Sky for four years, though, Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shift the ship to the same class as Pride of America, renaming her Pride of Aloha. Pride of Aloha sailed for another four years, before becoming Norwegian Sky once again.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Sky
77,104
2,004
1999
Norwegian Sun
78,309
1,935
2001
Norwegian Sun, meanwhile, does not have quite the dramatic backstory. Still, you won’t notice much difference between the two ships. Both have been renovated in recent years to keep them in as fine a working order as possible given their age.
It’s also important to know that NCL actually announced in early April 2025 that both vessels are being offloaded to the Indian-based cruise line Cordelia Cruises. The good news is that they aren’t being scrapped and will continue to sail.
These ships are best for those who really enjoy a more laid-back mood of cruising, who’re on board for relaxation, to lie by the pool, and get off for a full day in each port.
The dining, drinking and entertainment options are few and far between, and the staterooms are nothing to write home about. Still, for those who aren’t looking for a luxury cruise, or a resort experience, the ships more than deliver an enjoyable, intimate setting.
Last, but certainly not least, there’s Norwegian Spirit, the one and only ship of the Spirit class. Originally entering service in 1998 (don’t worry — there was a refurbishment that took place as recently as 2020), the ship is the smallest in the fleet in terms of gross tonnage.
Like some of the other oldest vessels in the fleet, Norwegian Spirit was originally a different ship by a different name, sailing for a different cruise line. It was a Star Cruises ship, where it operated under the name SuperStar Leo.
Ship Name
Gross Tonnage
Capacity
Year Entered Service
Norwegian Spirit
75,904
2,018
1998
However, in 2004, Star Cruises turned the ship over to Norwegian Cruise Line, in order to meet Norwegian Cruise Line’s greater demand (due, in part, to delays launching Pride of America) at which point the ship was rebranded.
The 2020 refurbishment was extensive, costing more than $100 million and encompassing the addition of multiple new restaurants, new bars, new staterooms and more.
Future Ships
Norwegian Luna Float Out
Beyond the upcoming Prima Plus-class ships that are set to debut in the latter half of this decade, Norwegian Cruise Line has even bigger and better ships on order, for 2030 and beyond.
These ships will be part of an unnamed class that will include four ships, all debuting between 2030 and 2036, and that will be 225,000 gross tons and capable of accommodating 5,100 passengers each.
The ships are currently just on order from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, but it’s expected that they’ll be not just the biggest cruise ships in the company’s history, but also the most energy efficient and the most overall innovative.
Water features can be nice unless they are the product of a major issue!
This happened to be the case earlier this week when the 3,660 passenger Sky Princess experienced flooding after a pipe burst on deck seven on April 8, 2025.
This caused water from the Sky Pool to pour down several decks, and passengers took to social media to share the less-than-ideal situation.
One of these passengers was Martin Coe, who posted a video of the flooding from deck five, showing water pooling around one of the staircases.
“Water started coming down the stairs slowly then ended up gushing out,”Coe said about the experience, adding,“We had to clear the whole deck 5 and 6 area.”
Wallis Thomas, another one of the passengers onboard during the flooding, shared a detailed TikTok highlighting some of the emergency procedures enacted and the severity of the situation.
The video starts with an announcement heard while in his stateroom that said, “A safety announcement. Proceed to your assigned muster station as we are fixing a major water problem.”
Sky Princess Flooding The emergency systems went down and started telling people there was a fire in the corridors which isn’t great. Have arrived in France which is good though. #fyp#princesscruises#flood#uk#wallisthomastravels
The footage then shows multiple crew members throughout the decks visible in the atrium area attempting to control and contain the excess water with towels.
Chris Furthermore Matt was another guest who captured some of the chaos caused by the flooding, sharing a video taken while on the way to his muster station.
The crew was seen with their shoes off and walking around with buckets as passengers were urged to go to their muster stations through the announcement system.
Flooding on Sky Princess (Photo Credit: @wallisthomastravels)
In this video, you can also hear the announcement that decks five, six, and seven needed to be cleared so that the crew could fix the issue quickly.
Matt provided an update the next day, sharing,“Water from a burst pipe emptied the Sky pool into the main atrium of the Sky Princess last night. All is well onboard the ship and the hard working crew have managed to clear the water and we are all safe.”
Having been attached to the pool on deck 16, the pipe caused water to flood into public areas, displacing passengers for some time.
To make matters worse, this incident occurred at 10:45 p.m., forcing passengers out of their cabins while many of them were either asleep or getting ready for bed.
Sky Princess is still currently on its 7-night round-trip voyage out of Southampton, England, which will disembark on April 12, 2025.
The 145,000 gross ton ship had already stopped in La Coruña and Bilbao in Spain, and was underway to Le Verdon-sur-Mer, France, when the pipe burst.
There were no changes to the itinerary, and the sailing went on as planned making a final stop in Cherbourg, France.
Princess Cruises commented on the situation to confirm the flooding and shared that it resulted in an accumulation of water in the Piazza on both decks five and six.
“Our shipboard teams immediately shut off the water and began clean-up of the spaces,” the cruise line shared, adding, “Evening entertainment in other venues was not interrupted, and guests were able to return to the Piazza the morning of 9 April.”
Thankfully, the issue was resolved, and no injuries or major damages were reported.
Water Wreaking Havoc on Cruise Ships
Unfortunately, Sky Princess is not the only ship that has recently had to deal with a burst pipe.
Back in January, P&O Cruises’ Azuraalso had a pipe burst from one of its pools, causing flooding on deck 8 and forcing guests out of their cabins in the middle of the night.
This incident was resolved within an hour, but some guests had to be moved to smaller rooms and received some level of compensation.
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas also had an issue with a pipe that was leaking pool water while being fixed in December 2024, and again, passengers had to be moved to new cabins.
While it was still not a great situation, passengers on Sky Princess did not have issues with flooding in their rooms and no one had to be moved.
At least pool water leaking is a whole lot better than a sewage leak! Both stink, but one is much worse.
Princess Cruises’ newest and biggest ship, Sun Princess, is shifting her deployment plans a bit and her March 19, 2026 departure has now been cancelled.
Impacted guests have been notified of the cancellation, but without any details as to why the voyage will no longer take place.
“Please be advised that due to changes in our deployment program, your 6-day Mediterranean with France & Italy voyage on Sun Princess has regrettably been cancelled,”the notification read.
The 6-night cruise was to have departed Barcelona on March 19, following a brief maintenance dry-dock in Spain. Port visits to Gibraltar, Marseille, and Genoa were on the itinerary before Sun Princess was to have arrived in Civitavecchia (Rome) on March 25.
Because the cruise is now cancelled, guests are receiving full refunds of all money paid to Princess Cruises. Furthermore, they are also going to get an additional future cruise credit (FCC) equal to 20% of their original base fare.
The FCC does come with some pretty harsh restrictions, however. The new cruise must also be aboard Sun Princess on a Mediterranean itinerary between March 2026 and October 2026. Guests must also book their replacement cruise no later than April 30, 2025 to take advantage of the FCC.
Typically, when a cruise line must cancel a voyage and offers guests a future cruise credit or discount as compensation, they have more options for rebooking – at least on different ships or in different regions if they prefer.
Of course, cruise lines aren’t obligated to offer any credits or discounts at all in these circumstances. While the cancellation is unfortunate and is sure to be disappointing to guests who were looking forward to their cruise, only a refund is necessary.
The 178,000-gross ton Sun Princessfirst set sail in February 2024. She can welcome 4,300 guests aboard and is also home to 1,600 international crew members – no matter where and when she is sailing.
The ship has only recently arrived in Europe for her 2025 Mediterranean season, during which she is offering departures from Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Naples, and Istanbul.
Sun Princess will return to the US and her homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in mid-November. Through the winter, she is offering 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries.
What Is Happening to Sun Princess‘s Schedule?
The cancellation notification does at least provide clues about what is happening to the Sphere-class ship’s overall schedule.
Now, the ship will be offering a new 9-night Mediterranean & Greek Isles voyage departing Rome on March 19, 2026 – the same day the ship was to have been leaving Barcelona.
This indicates that the dry dock work is likely being moved forward or shortened and Sun Princess will be able to return to service sooner than originally anticipated.
No further details are available about the next cruise or two, which may be similarly impacted as the ship’s schedule is tweaked to accommodate her new out-of-service period.
While shipyards do try to keep the schedules they have set, changes are inevitable as new ships are ordered, labor staffing changes, or emergency dry dock maintenance needs arise.
Fortunately, the change to Sun Princess‘s deployment and the cruise cancellation is 11 months away, giving guests plenty of time to choose an alternative sailing or adjust their vacation plans.
In the meantime, the second Sphere-class ship and sister to Sun Princess, Star Princess, is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and is scheduled to debut in October 2025.
Time flies, and here it is, Alaska cruise season once again. At the busy Port of Seattle, a major homeport for voyages to The Great Land, the season officially kicks off with the arrival of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss on April 12, 2025.
Adding to the celebratory atmosphere at the port is the launch this season of shore power availability at all three of the port’s cruise berths, a major environmental milestone.
Scores of cruise ships will embark guests at Seattle through mid-October, bringing adventure-minded cruisers to Alaska’s top ports, such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Seward, and Skagway, among others, and offering scenic cruising through pristine areas like Glacier Bay.
Revenue cruise passengers transiting the port are predicted to reach 1.9 million on 298 sailings, up from 2024’s roughly 1.75 million passengers and 276 ship calls.
In 2025, the economic impact from cruise-tourism is expected to approach $900 million, including pre- and post-cruise stays in the region and supporting some 5,500 jobs tied to the industry.
“Seattle is an incredible city to enjoy as part of the Alaska cruise experience, and 2025 promises to be another exciting cruise season,” said Sally Andrews, vice president of communications and public affairs at Cruise Lines International Association.
“With some of the most technologically advanced ships sailing in the region, the cruise industry is leading the way in helping to protect beautiful destinations like the Pacific Northwest,” added Andrews.
While virtually all of the major cruise lines have a presence in Seattle for the Alaska season, the brands owned by Carnival Corporation are especially welcome thanks to a 10-year berthing agreement the company reached with the port in 2024.
It provides preferential berthing privileges at two dedicated cruise terminals — Pier 91 (Smith Cove Terminal) and Pier 66 (Bell Street Terminal) — for all of the company’s brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard.
Carnival-Owned Cruise Ships Docked in Seattle (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography)
Cunard, in fact, will homeport its Queen Elizabeth at Seattle for the first time, starting in June 2025. The ship will sail 11 voyages ranging from 7 to 11 nights.
“We’re so excited to be homeporting in Seattle from June 2025 for our incredible Alaska itineraries on Queen Elizabeth,” said Liz Fettes, senior vice president, commercial North America at Cunard.
“We really look forward to working with our new partners and welcoming guests that are new to Cunard — and bringing loyal Cunarders to Seattle,” Fettes added.
The 2,100-guest ship’s 11-night sailings will call at Ketchikan, Haines, Tracy Arm, Juneau, and Sitka, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia.
Seattle Continues Leadership Role in Environmental Policy
While gearing up for its 2025 summer season, the Port of Seattle continues to expand the environmental leadership role it achieved since installing shore power at two new cruise berths in its Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 back in 2009.
In October 2024, it completed shore power infrastructure at its third berth, the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, making all cruise berths shore-power enabled.
Shore Power Connections (Photo Courtesy: Port of Seattle)
The technology allows cruise ships with plug-in capability to access the local power grid and turn off their engines while in port, thereby significantly cutting emissions.
Moreover, Seattle is the first port in the US to have a shore power mandate, requiring that 100% of all cruise vessels homeported in Seattle be shore-power capable and utilize shore power by 2027.
“The 2025 cruise season marks a major milestone as the first full season of clean energy shore power available at all three berths making our home port an international leader in shoreside decarbonization,” said Steve Metruck, executive director of the Port of Seattle.
Additionally, in 2025, Carnival Corporation is slated to conduct a biofuel pilot in the Seattle region in a bid to further reduce carbon emissions, according to Metruck.
At least one cruise line is crying foul after Hawaii lawmakers approved measures that would charge a head tax on cruise guests visiting the destination and/or expand the state’s accommodations tax to include cruise ships.
Either way, the moves would add to the cost of voyages that call at any port in the Hawaiian Islands or that travel on inter-island itineraries roundtrip from Honolulu. Just one cruise line offers the latter, Norwegian Cruise Line, and that brand is looking to stop the implementation of the bills.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America is able to sail inter-island cruises roundtrip from the Honolulu Cruise Port because it is US-flagged. Under US maritime law, all foreign-flagged ships are prohibited from doing so.
Local media reports indicate that Norwegian Cruise Line has threatened to sue the state over the measures or pull its ship from the region.
“We ask that you advise the Governor of these issues and take action to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation that will be forced upon the State and our clients should either of these proposals become law,” states a letter from Norwegian Cruise Line.
But Hawaii officials disagree, telling HawaiiNewsNow that the legislation simply asks cruise ships to pay their fair share.
“It should be a no-brainer. They are benefiting from Hawaii’s natural beauty,” Rep. Adrian Tam, of Hawaii’s House Tourism Committee, told the outlet.
Under HB504, a cruise passenger head tax of $20 per port entry would be charged starting on January 1, 2027. The per-port entry fee would add significantly to itineraries offered by Pride of America, since the ship visits multiple islands on her 7-night voyages through the islands.
Another bill, SB1396, calls for the state’s Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) to be applied to cruise cabins starting on January 1, 2027. The TAT is charged on short-term land accommodations of less than 180 days and is currently set at 10.25%.
Photo Credit: Eric Broder Van Dyke / Shutterstock
“There is no existing transient accommodations tax levied on commercial passenger vessels, which in 2024, accounted for 972,820 passenger port calls at port facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of transportation,” the text of SB1396 states.
“The legislature believes that a modest increase in the transient accommodations tax can generate greatly needed funding to support the restoration of the State’s valuable natural resources, help prevent and respond to the climate crisis, and leave a strengthened environmental legacy for future generations,” it adds.
Proposed Tax Legislation Can Still Be Amended
According to the local media reports, cruise line officials currently are lobbying Hawaii lawmakers to halt the measures. While the bills were passed in the state Legislature, work on them continues in conference committee, where the content could be significantly altered.
If it eventually passes, the Hawaii governor will have to sign them into law.
Besides Pride of America, many cruise ships call at Hawaiian ports on world voyages, repositioning cruises between the South Pacific and the US West Coast, and other itineraries.
Cunard’s Queen Anne, Viking’s Viking Sky, Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, and Princess Cruises’ Island Princess, for example, all will call at Honolulu, the destination’s largest cruise port, during their world cruises currently underway.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,200-guest Pride of America, one of 20 ships in the line’s fleet, sails year-round from Honolulu, with her weeklong voyages calling at Kahului, Maui; Hilo and Kailua Kona, Big Island of Hawaii; and Nawiliwili, Kauai.
Toilet paper would seem to be a rather personal and intimate choice, but cruise travelers know they get no choice on such amenities.
The toilet paper provided onboard cruise ships can be – shall we say – less than luxurious (even in suites!), but one common solution should not be used onboard or else multiple other toilets can be affected.
Such a situation recently happened aboard an unnamed Carnival ship, when one guest’s indiscretion with a discretionary product impacted nine other toilets.
Every cruise ship restroom, including both individual stateroom lavatories as well as public restrooms, has signs reminding guests not to flush anything other than bodily waste and toilet paper.
For example, no feminine products, contraceptives, diapers, paper towels, or other products should be put down the toilet, as they can cause clogs and difficulties with the vacuum-assisted suction flush system.
One other product recently caused challenges aboard a Carnival ship. The cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, brought it to the attention of his more than 600,000 Facebook followers to emphasize the seriousness of these toilet no-nos.
“We had a situation on a ship yesterday, and this is where somebody had flushed something down the toilet – wet wipes,”Heald noted.“Now, not only did it block their toilet, and not only did it have this person very upset that their toilet was blocked, but it also blocked and stopped the flushing of nine other toilets. Nine.”
Cruise ship plumbing is interconnected between adjacent staterooms. It is rare that any major issue remains confined to just a single stateroom.
“Luigi the plumber gets very upset about this,”Heald said – a lighthearted joke about a not-so-lighthearted mishap.
“Listen, I’m not going to sit here and proclaim that our lavatory paper is the best toilet paper in the world – it’s not,”he acknowledged.“But it is designed to accommodate the suction toilet system. Please don’t flush anything, anything, anything down the toilet. Any other toilet paper, wet wipes, and all that kind of stuff, please don’t do it.”
Cabin Toilet on a Cruise (Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock)
Even wet wipes that claim to be “flushable” simply aren’t. They don’t always break down well and can quickly clog up all sorts of plumbing systems, especially the unique suction systems and narrow pipes of a cruise ship.
It does not matter the size of the cruise ship or when she was constructed. Both old and new Carnival ships use very similar plumbing and pipe systems, and are subject to the same delicacies of operation.
Aren’t Wipes Prohibited?
To be clear, however, wet wipes are not prohibited and guests can bring them onboard if they wish. What they should not do, however, is put the wipes down the toilet after use. The same goes for any similar products, including a guest’s preferred brand of toilet paper or any other bathroom hygiene products.
Instead, wipes or similar products should be carefully put into the disposable bags provided for feminine products, or else wrapped in tissue, paper towels, or toilet paper and placed in the trash can for disposal.
Okay, yes, it may seem gross – that’s a given, considering what the wipes are used for. But consider the alternative – flush wipes and suffer through a clogged toilet (and the accompanying embarrassment) and possibly overflowing toilet water (you’re lucky if it’s just water) in the bathroom and into the stateroom.
If a guest needs additional disposal bags during their cruise, a discreet request to the cabin attendant – leaving a note can be helpful if you don’t actually see them too often – will ensure you have plenty of options for proper wet wipes disposal.
MSC World America made a splash in Miami, arriving at MSC Cruises’ brand-new cruise terminal on April 7, 2025, and then welcoming an invited group of industry insiders, travel advisors, and journalists to be the first to experience the ship on a 3-night preview cruise.
The special voyage launched on April 9, 2025, was a star-studded event featuring appearances by Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony, to name a few, and took passengers to MSC Cruises’ private destination, Ocean Cay in the Bahamas.
From the moment guests arrived at the expansive new terminal filled with light pouring through floor-to-vaulted-ceiling glass walls, it was made clear the occasion was going to be special.
Passengers eager to board the ship first went through state-of-the-art biometrics to board the ship using facial recognition, speeding up the boarding process so that it took mere minutes from drop off to embarkation.
And once onboard, the fun began. Arriving at Deck 6, there was bound to be a little confusion at the get-go, especially on a ship that can accommodate more than 6,700 passengers when it’s full.
The elevators, meant to move guests easily and quickly, were tucked to the left, while to the right, the ship’s bustling World Galleria began, so it wasn’t quite evident which way to turn.
But once passengers figured out how to call an elevator by first indicating a floor and entering a specific elevator, they were taken to quieter decks to gather their bearings.
First stop? Staterooms, of course. Meant to convey a contemporary European vibe, although designed for an American audience, the rooms are set in brown tones that lend the space some darkness, especially if not equipped with sliding glass doors.
Premium Suite Aurora on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Lissa Poirot / Cruise Hive)
Chocolate-colored carpet and chocolate striped curtains and pillows are set against a rather beige background, with beige beach towels and chocolate-colored couches and chairs.
Even the hallways leading to staterooms are awash with brown. However, away from the guest areas, MSC World America has begun to show its flair and unique aspects.
Each restaurant – and there are 19 onboard – has its own special look and feel. The casual eatery Hola! Tacos & Cantina, for example, certainly gives off a cantina vibe and is filled with color and premade frozen margaritas at the ready.
Sushi and teppanyaki are found in a hue of warm golds and oranges at Kaito, and Paxos’ World Promenade location works well for providing both an indoor and outdoor experience that feels as if dining in Greece.
Paxos Greek Restaurant on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Lissa Poirot)
The white-washed exterior and splashes of cobalt blue feel like stepping into a Santorini restaurant.
Of course, more color can be found at MSC World America’s attractions. From Cliffhanger’s bright red swings that take guests 160 feet above the ocean to the multi-colored waterslides for solo or double riders, the top-deck Harbor screams that it is the official fun zone.
Here, passengers can also literally enter the jaws of a giant shark as they climb in one by one to drop 250 feet in a twisting, turning slide that deposits the shaken in the World Promenade on Deck 8.
And kids and families will be drawn into spaces just for them with family and kid-only LEGO zones, and an expansive kid’s club that separates children by age into various play areas.
Family Lego Zone (Photo Credit: Lissa Poirot)
While most are filled with video game options during the adult-only preview, these spaces will also offer crafts, games, and other amenities for those 3 to 17.
Even babies have a space and can get some quality tummy time and stimulation as well as a quieter zone for catching their Zzz’s.
From Day to Night on MSC World America
The real treats come in the evenings, when MSC America’s lively bars and lounges come alive, including Bubbles, dedicated to, what else? Champagne; Master of the Sea, a true British-inspired pub, and the American All-Stars Sports Bar, complete with an array of beers of draft, TVs for catching the latest games, and pub games like darts and shuffleboard.
At the Panorama Stage, aptly named for featuring a wall of windows in the aft of the ship and accessible after walking through the MSC Signature Casino, screens can be lowered to create a backdrop.
This was the case during the Queen tribute performance, accompanied by a symphony, prerecorded and displayed on the backdrop as the singers danced, rocked, and performed acrobatics.
It was in this setting where MSC World America’s godmother, Drew Barrymore, and Orlando Bloom, celebrating their “Let’s Holiday” campaign, welcomed guests before Drew joined the captain and crew to cut the ribbon and officially christen the ship.
Passengers were quick to make their way to the top decks for two special celebrations taking place.
One was a poolside concert by Miami’s own Gloria Stefan and the Miami Sound Machine, while the other was a fantastic drone display that turned a pink flamingo into the ship of MSC World America in front of the Miami skyline.
Holland America Line has just announced that it is extending its 2026 European season by six weeks.
Cruisers now have four additional voyages to choose from on the 99,500 gross ton Nieuw Statendam, which will be between 7- and 15-nights long.
Paul Grigsby, Vice President of Deployment for Holland America Line, emphasized the importance of extending the season as it gives cruisers more opportunities to explore the region.
“Cruises rooted in the culture and history of Europe are proving to be popular with our guests,”Grigsby added, highlighting the significance of this decision.
Nieuw Statendam will be departing from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, with three of the four added cruises being round-trip out of this historic port.
The first of these newly added voyages is a seven-night cruise that will be exploring the scenic Norwegian Fjords.
Departing on October 31, 2026, this itinerary includes several stops in Norway, including Eidfjord, Olden, Alesund, and Bergen.
Additionally, there are two dedicated days to cruising in fjords, specifically Hardangerfjord and Nordfjord.
Then, on November 7, the ship will embark on a special 14-night cruise to the Arctic Circle, which will give passengers the chance to view the aurora borealis.
With 2026 projected to be a year with high aurora activity, the cruise line thought that adding a Northern Lights centered experience later in the year would give guests an excellent opportunity to witness the natural phenomenon.
This itinerary included stops in Norway, including Alesund, Trondheim, Tromso, Alta, Leknes, Andalsnes, and Bergen, as well as one stop in Lerwick, United Kingdom, and one day cruising through Trondheimsfjord.
After that, Nieuw Statendam will depart on another 14-night voyage — but this one will be the first time in 10 years that a Holland America Line ship has done a roundtrip cruise of the Mediterranean out of Rotterdam.
Departing November 21, 2026, this itinerary begins with an overnight stay in Lisbon, Portugal, followed by stops in Spain, including Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, and Cartagena.
The ship will also visit Gibraltar and Leixoes, Portugal, before returning to Rotterdam on December 5, 2026.
That same day, the 15-night transatlantic cruise will set sail, making stops in Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom before heading to the United States, where it will arrive on December 20, 2026.
Nieuw Statendam will spend the rest of 2026 into early 2027 taking voyages around the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico.
Other Opportunities for the 2026 European Season
With the four new cruises added to the 2026 European season, Holland America Line will offer a total of 155 itineraries in the region between March and December.
So far, only four have sold out, two of them being the same segmented cruise that will be in the line of totality during the solar eclipsehappening on August 12, 2026.
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
The 3,214 passenger Rotterdam will kick off the 2026 Europe season on March 22 when it will be doing a transatlantic itinerary that is essentially the reversed version of the one Nieuw Statendam just added in December.
In early April, both Nieuw Statendam and Oosterdam will head to Europe from Fort Lauderdale, Florida— both of which will disembark in Rotterdam, which will be the homeport for all three vessels during this season.
Rotterdam and Oosterdam will be heading back to tropical waters by early November, leaving Nieuw Statendam to finish the 2026 season.
Two other Holland America Line ships, Zuiderdam and Volendam, will be making stops in Europe as well during their 35- and 45-night voyages.
Surely, 2026 promises to be an exciting year for Holland America Line in Europe, offering guests a wide variety of cultural experiences and chances to witness something as special as a total eclipse or the aurora borealis.
