MSC is redesigning the Yacht Club Restaurant on four of its ships.
This refurbishment is expected to be completed on all ships by February 2028.
This is just the latest in recent efforts by MSC to upgrade its fleet.
Since 2008, MSC Cruises has been giving its guests the luxury VIP treatment with MSC Yacht Club, and that experience is about to get even more premium.
MSC Cruises has announced a complete redesign of the Yacht Club Restaurant on the cruise line’s four Fantasia Class ships: MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida, MSC Divina, and MSC Preziosa.
The refurbished restaurants will feature a more contemporary design and layout, bringing modern elegance to the over ten-year-old ships.
The upgraded Yacht Club Restaurant is already available aboard MSC Splendida, which re-entered service on February 7, 2026, following completion of her refurbishment at Palumbo Malta Shipyard.
Guests aboard the 139,936 gross ton ship are currently enjoying the new Yacht Club on a 7-night, round-trip Mediterranean cruise with stops in Italy, France, Spain, and Tunisia.
Other itineraries aboard MSC Splendida featuring the redesigned Yacht Club are now available to book, including 7-night Mediterranean sailings from MSC’s new terminal in Barcelona, which opened last year.
New Yacht Club Restaurant
Meanwhile, the oldest ship in the class, MSC Fantasia, which debuted in 2008, is expected to complete her refurbishment in December 2026, followed by MSC Divina in April 2027, and MSC Preziosa in February 2028.
The restaurant isn’t the only thing changing on these ships, however.
As a part of this massive refurbishment effort, MSC is also rolling out a completely redesigned Future Cruise Office, with the same modern luxurious design sensibilities they’ve applied to the Yacht Club.
Yacht Club guests get access to a private butler service, complimentary drinks, exclusive shore excursions, a personal photographer, and a plethora of private, luxury spaces onboard, including an exclusive restaurant.
Yacht Club is currently available on fifteen ships:
The other two Musica Class ships, MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica, will debut their Yacht Clubs in summer 2026. When all currently announced upgrades and refurbishments are complete, MSC’s Yacht Club will feature on 20 of the 24 ships in the fleet.
Other MSC Refurbishment Efforts
The Fantasia Class ships aren’t the only vessels in MSC’s fleet to get a modern sprucing up. Lately, the cruise line has been making major investments in getting its entire fleet up to modern luxury standards.
It’s not just the ships getting a facelift either. In 2025, MSC welcomed guests to two brand new, state-of-the-art cruise terminals in PortMiami and Barcelona.
Between major upgrades like these and brand new ships rolling out in years to come, including the 6,750-guest MSC World Asia debuting in December 2026, MSC Cruises is showing their dedication to premium cruising experiences.
The “white night bride” has explained her grandmother’s enthusiasm for her upcoming wedding on Oasis of the Seas.
The bride did not know about her grandmother’s request that no one wear white on her wedding day.
In fact, the bride thinks it would be funny for others to wear their own wedding gowns if they want to.
It’s grandmotherly enthusiasm for the win for a bride sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas departing on March 21, 2026.
Cruise Hive reported yesterday on a grandmother’s unintentional entitlement of asking that all 6,780 guests aboard the ship change their White Night attire plans so as not to detract from her granddaughter’s wedding day on the third night of the cruise.
While the initial post quickly went viral through social media with the assumption of entitlement, it’s actually just a case of a grandmother wanting her granddaughter to have the most memorable and amazing wedding day.
Now, the bride has responded to the viral conversation to explain the rest of the story.
“I did not personally request that anyone change their attire or that the ship changes the theme night. Part of why we chose to get married on a cruise is that we’re pretty easy going, low-key people that don’t like the spotlight too much,”she explained.
“I’m honestly mortified that this has all happened. I’m aware that my grandma’s post was quite bold, but it was just a loving grandma with good intent, trying to make her granddaughter’s wedding day as perfect as possible.”
Cruise Hive spoke with the bride directly to get more details of their very special day at sea. This will be the bride’s third cruise and her fiancé’s first time setting sail.
The couple will be accompanied by approximately 40 friends and family members on the cruise for their special day. The wedding will be aboard Oasis of the Seas, and yes, the bride herself will be wearing white.
The Bride During Cruise Wedding (Photo Credit: Severina Chavez Lynch)
Bridesmaids will be in sage green, and as for the thousands of other guests onboard, the bride doesn’t mind whatever they might wear.
“I do think it would be hilarious if everyone did wear white or maybe even use this as an excuse to bust out your own wedding dresses and veils! But most importantly, of course, it’s whatever you choose to wear,”she said.
And her grandmother? She will be walking the bride down the aisle and is sure to be lovely in whatever color she wears.
Guests Support Both Bride and Grandmother
Reaction to the story has been on both extremes. While at first it seemed the grandmother was being very entitled to expect other guests to dress accordingly for a wedding they aren’t a part of, many guests now see the love behind the request.
“Honestly I thought it was so endearing that your grandma put in the effort to make sure you felt special,”one commenter said.
“We will all be celebrating you!! You will now have the biggest wedding ever! And we’ll give a round of applause for Granny too,”another laughed.
In an interesting twist, it appears that Royal Caribbean may, in fact, have changed White Night away from the bride’s wedding day. While the cruise line has not officially commented on the situation, updates in the Royal Caribbean app can show when theme nights change.
Theme nights and overall activity schedules do fluctuate from cruise to cruise, depending on port schedules and when different activities can be worked into the schedule without too much conflict from signature events.
On this particular 8-night sailing, the first two full days of the cruise are at sea as Oasis of the Seas makes her way to Oranjestad, Aruba on Tuesday, March 24. The next day will be a visit to Curacao, followed by two more days at sea as the ship heads north again.
The last port of call is a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Saturday, March 28, the last night of the cruise before the ship returns to Fort Lauderdale.
Cruise Hive wishes the happy couple and the enthusiastic grandmother, along with all their guests, a wonderful wedding and many happy anniversaries to come.
A UK agency has completed its investigation into a passenger death aboard Spirit of Discovery in 2023.
The 85-year-old guest severely injured his spine during a major storm at sea and later died.
Propulsion problems caused the ship to tilt violently as it sailed through the Bay of Biscay.
A UK government investigation into the death of one cruise passenger and injuries to dozens more during a storm at sea in 2023 is highly critical of the actions taken by shipboard officials and medical staff.
An accident report published on March 11, 2026, by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) revealed the details of a weather emergency that impacted Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery as the ship sailed a Canary Islands cruise roundtrip from Portsmouth, England, on October 24, 2023.
The violent weather, which included 10-meter waves (32 feet) and strong winds, hit while the 58,250-gross-ton ship was crossing the Bay of Biscay.
One guest, 85-year-old Trevor Gilks, died from injuries he sustained during the storm, but the MAIB report puts the blame on the ship’s medical staff, who it says provided “suboptimal treatment.”
More than 100 guests were treated for injuries, including fractured hips and ribs, a shoulder injury, head trauma, and spinal injury. It was a spinal injury that claimed Gilks, and the accident report details a lack of sufficient care by the onboard medical team.
According to the report, Gilks was sitting in a high-back chair when the ship violently rolled by 10 to 13 degrees, causing him to fall backward, severely injuring his neck.
Gilks was taken to the ship’s medical center, where an X-ray was taken of his neck and emailed to an onshore radiologist. The specialist was unable to say whether his spine was damaged or broken. No additional X-rays were taken and transmitted ashore.
Due to the storm, a helicopter evacuation was not possible, so Gilks did not receive hospital care until the ship returned to Portsmouth. He died four days after his injury.
Findings Point to ‘Overstretched’ Medical Team
MAIB’s report indicates two medical determinations: The lack of implementation of a mass casualty incident plan contributed to the medical team becoming overstretched, and the delay in identifying that a passenger had suffered a spinal injury led to him receiving suboptimal treatment.
Spirit of Discovery Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Kevin Shipp)
“While cruising remains safe and accidents rare, Spirit of Discovery’s violent motion in heavy weather caused injury to over 100 passengers and, very sadly, one passenger lost their life as a result of injuries sustained,” said Rob Loder, chief inspector of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
“A complex sequence of events led to this accident and we have identified a number of clear lessons around vessel safety, crew decision-making and medical response,” added Loder.
According to the report’s findings, Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion due to violent motion, which caused propeller exposure, overspeed, and automatic shutdown. Also, the decision to cross the Bay of Biscay during the storm was not effectively managed by the crew and onshore management, it added.
A Closed Port Prompts an Unlucky Route Change
On the fifth day of the 14-day voyage, the report revealed, the ship’s captain and Saga’s shore team began discussing the approaching storm. Three days later, the decision was made to skip the itinerary’s final Canary Islands port call, to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and sail instead to La Coruna, Spain, on November 4. The ship would then continue on to Portsmouth on November 5.
However, on November 3, as Spirit of Discovery sailed past Portugal’s southern coast, it was learned that the port of La Coruna had closed due to the weather. At that point, the captain decided to sail directly to Portsmouth, arriving there on November 6, a day earlier than scheduled.
Among the recommendations from MAIB are two that were specifically made to Cruise Lines International Association. One, that cruise ships should increase the number of medical personnel with an Advanced Trauma Life Support qualification, and two, that passenger vessels should update their policies on securing furniture in heavy weather.
While the report reads like a lawyer’s dream document, given the placement of blame and the exacting details of crew and medical staff actions, it also specifically notes that it is not written with litigation in mind.
In fact, its contents are deemed inadmissible in any judicial proceedings whose purpose is to attribute liability or blame.
Lawsuits brought by injured cruise guests are common across the industry. In a recent case, three people sued Carnival Cruise Lines for negligence after they were injured when a tender boat experienced turbulent conditions.
It is not only injuries that prompt lawsuits; more than 100 guests who became ill while sailing on a P&O Cruises’ ship in 2024 are suing the line for compensation.
Spirit of Discovery accommodates 1,000 guests and 530 crew members. The ship entered service in 2019 and sails European cruises year-round from Portsmouth and Dover, England.
Legend of the Seas will feature a brand-new “America’s Got Talent LIVE” stage show.
The show will offer unique entertainment for guests, possibly with a different lineup for each performance.
The new show joins a diverse lineup of entertainment options for the third Icon Class ship.
In an industry first, Royal Caribbean’s upcoming Legend of the Seas will host some truly legendary talent acts with the debut of the “America’s Got Talent LIVE” stage show.
Following 20 years of the show’s success on network television, “America’s Got Talent LIVE” will showcase a variety of different acts to stun guests, including magicians, musicians, acrobats, aerialists, and more.
The show is described as a “reimagined extension of the beloved global variety show” with a “dynamic lineup.” This may indicate a different performance or a unique mix of acts with every show, making it even more popular with guests who are always craving new and unique entertainment.
“At Royal Caribbean, we are constantly redefining live entertainment at every turn—bringing jaw-dropping performances to life across stage, air, water, and ice—and America’s Got Talent LIVE on Legend of the Seas is the perfect expression of that vision,”said Christine Coachman, vice president of entertainment, Royal Caribbean.
“As one of the most acclaimed entertainment franchises on television, America’s Got Talent perfectly reflects our commitment to bold, world-class experiences that will truly wow our audiences on Legend.”
While few details have been revealed about how “America’s Got Talent LIVE” will be presented, it does seem that a key feature of the franchise will not be available onboard. There does not appear to be any voting or other interactive component to the showcase, though perhaps those details are yet to be announced.
Legend of the Seas America’s Got Talent
Nevertheless, fans of the show will be amazed at the range of acts available with each new show offering truly outstanding talent to enjoy.
“We’re thrilled to bring Got Talent to an all-new at sea experience as we set sail for the first time with Royal Caribbean,”said Erica Gadecki, Executive Vice President of Partnership Solutions, Fremantle.“We can’t wait to showcase incredible acts from around the world on a brand-new stage onboard, creating an unforgettable experience for fans.”
Interestingly, this bold announcement comes just weeks after Norwegian Cruise Line announced what may be a similar experience onboard its ships.
Cruise Hive previously reported on the end of the popular musical “Jersey Boys” on Norwegian Bliss, which is being replaced with a “rotating collection of performers” instead of another musical production.
That announcement was met with mixed reactions from guests, but perhaps the branded show aboard Legend of the Seas will prove more popular with Royal Caribbean guests.
Diverse Entertainment Coming to Legend of the Seas
Not only will the Got Talent show provide a mix of performers for guests to enjoy onboard Legend of the Seas, but the third Icon Class ship will have a broad range of other entertainment options.
The cruise line’s signature air-water-ice performances will also be onboard in the AquaDome theater and Absolute Zero ice arena, with robots, high divers, aerialists, dancers, special effects, and more featured in different shows.
Comedy performances and live music will also be part of the entertainment lineup and the ship will offer two iconic dining-and-entertainment options with the Hollywoodland Supper Club and the Silk Routes at the Royal Railway – Legend Station.
The 250,800-gross-ton ship will also offer a broad range of other activities for guests seeking their own entertainment, from games and contests to the Ultimate Abyss slide, the Thrill Island waterpark, miniature golf, the Royal Casino, and so much more.
Currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Legend of the Seas was floated out in September 2025 and is currently being outfitted. She is scheduled to debut in July 2026 from Civitavecchia, Italy, and will spend the summer and fall in the Mediterranean before making her way to Fort Lauderdale in late October.
From Port Everglades, Legend of the Seas will offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries through April 2027, welcoming as many as 7,600 guests onboard at each sailing. In summer 2027, the ship will return to the Mediterranean.
MSC Seashore dealt with a possible overboard situation while sailing away from MSC Ocean Cay.
Emergency protocols were quickly enacted, including turning around to search the suspected fall area.
Ultimately, video surveillance and a headcount of all passengers confirmed that this was a false alarm.
Just one day after embarking on a 4-night Bahamas sailing, MSC Seashore experienced a possible overboard situation. Thankfully, it was only a false alarm.
A report was made that a male guest had fallen overboard from Deck 8 in the early morning hours of March 10, 2026.
“A man has reportedly fallen overboard, supposedly from deck 8. Prayers to him and his family,” a current passenger posted on Reddit.
As time is of the essence in overboard situations, the crew members immediately launched an emergency response to locate and rescue a passenger who was never missing at all.
MSC Seashore Alters Course to Search
At the time of the incident, the 4,540-guest ship would have only just departed from MSC Ocean Cay in the Bahamas, where it docked from 8 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on March 9.
Per cruise tracking data and accounts from current guests, the ship turned around as quickly as possible to retrace its path and search the waters it had just traversed with spotlights.
“Anyone else on the ship now? Currently re-routing back towards Ocean Cay while the search is ongoing,”a current passenger shared at the start of the ordeal.
“00:25, spotlight very active on the water. Ship still circling the location,” they updated shortly after midnight on March 10.
MSC Seashore Overboard False Alarm (Credit: Nick Smyrna)
Thankfully, there were no itinerary changes made because of the diversion. The 170,412-gross ton ship is next due to call at Nassau, Bahamas, on March 11, which is only 103 nautical miles away from MSC Ocean Cay.
This is a distance that a modern cruise ship can cover in roughly four to six hours, and the planned sea day on March 10 made it very easy to make up for lost time without impacting the sailing.
Surveillance Footage Reviewed
While some crew members scanned the ocean, others were in charge of checking surveillance cameras and completing a headcount of all guests and crew members.
The first good sign that nobody had actually gone overboard was that the cameras did not capture any jumps or falls.
“Announcement saying they’ve reviewed the video and have found no evidence of the man overboard. However, the search still appears to be ongoing,”one passenger updated.
“They have no video evidence of a man falling overboard,” another echoed.
Cruise ships are equipped with high-end cameras and advanced overboard detection systems in place, so it would be nearly impossible to go overboard unnoticed.
Headcount Confirms False Alarm
All passengers were sent to their cruise cabins to wait to be counted by designated crew members. During this process, their cruise cards would be scanned and the crew would ask guests to verbally verify that their entire group was present.
The headcount took an hour or so to complete, with 2,270 cabins onboard the MSC ship that each needed to be checked. Guests also could not leave their cabins until the count was complete and they were given permission to do so.
“Two crew members just scanned our cruise cards and made sure we were in our cabin. Hoping it was a false alarm,”one impacted guest commented on social media.
The guest count was then followed by a count of the approximately 1,413 crew members who are currently working and living onboard the ship.
After 1 a.m., an announcement was made that everyone was accounted for, which is the best possible news in a situation like this.
Better Safe Than Sorry
It’s not the first time that an overboard alert turned out to be a false alarm, and it certainly won’t be the last.
For example, Cruise Hive reported that Disney Wish launched a search and rescue mission for a potential overboard while on its way to Castaway Cay in August of 2025. This was also a false alarm.
In November of 2025, a big splash led to overboard concerns for Carnival Radiance while the ship was off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. In the end, it turned out the splash was most likely created by a whale.
As inconvenient and scary as these false alarms are, it’s critical that immediate action is taken with overboard alerts because a timely response can make the difference between life and death. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Carnival Cruise Line is not responsible if guests miss private tours due to time differences.
John Heald has reminded guests that not all ports are on the ship’s time or Daylight Savings Time.
Cruise lines take several steps to remind guests about important times, but guests are ultimately responsible for being on time.
One great thing about a cruise vacation is the ability to not worry about timing, schedules, or (in this writer’s case) deadlines while at sea. But what about in ports of call? One Carnival cruise guest learned the hard way that when visiting a port, it’s critical to stay on top of timing and doing so is not the cruise line’s responsibility.
With much of the US beginning Daylight Saving Time just a few days ago, there is naturally a period of confusion about exactly what time it is, especially for guests traveling between different time zones.
On cruises, guests are urged to stay on “ship’s time,” but even cruise ships change for Daylight Saving Time if it aligns with their homeport.
One guest has found out the hard way, however, that time changes are not universal and it is important to make sure everyone involved in travel plans at ports of call synchronizes their watches.
This guest reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, with her displeasure. While Heald did not directly share her comments, he did share her story and his warnings with it.
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
“If you are booking a private excursion outside of Carnival Cruise Line please remember that it is your personal responsibility to check the timings of everything that comes with doing this,”he said.
“The Caribbean ports may not follow the same time as the ship and in this lady’s case may not follow the United States daylight savings time. So if, like this lady, you miss the private excursion because of the time difference it is not Carnival’s fault.”
The guest missed the departure for her privately organized tour. The tour company did not refund her money, which is understandable as it was her error that caused the missed departure.
Cruise Hive has previously reported on similar instances when Carnival Cruise Line is not responsible for unfortunate circumstances, such as guests missing their ship’s departure due to traffic as they drive to the port.
What Time Is It in Port?
Heald did not reveal which ship the woman was sailing on or in which port she missed her tour. A number of popular destinations on Caribbean itineraries do not follow Daylight Saving Time, including:
Belize – Belize City, Half Moon Caye
Costa Rica – Puntarenas
Dominican Republic – Amber Cove, Puerto Plata
Honduras – Roatan
Jamaica – Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Montego Bay
Mexico – Costa Maya, Cozumel
Puerto Rico – San Juan
Carnival Cruise Line does take several steps to alert guests to the proper time when arriving at a new port of call. The ship’s cruise director will likely make multiple announcements the day before and the morning of arrival at the port about the new time. It will be printed in the Fun Times newsletter as well as in the Carnival Hub app, and there will be signage at the gangway.
All of these alerts are not only to urge guests to stay on the ship’s time but also to be aware of the all-aboard time before the ship’s departure as it leaves the port.
One unique difficulty guests may face is if they rely on cell phones or smart watches to keep track of the time. Depending on the device settings, it may automatically adjust to local times in ports of call. This can be helpful for private shore tours or retailer operating hours, but it may not align with the ship’s time.
Ultimately, Carnival Cruise Line is not responsible if guests do not make it back to the ship on time after private tours or exploring on their own.
Likewise, the cruise line is not responsible if guests miss out on tours or other opportunities on shore because they are mistaken about the time. On a tour booked through the cruise line, however, the ship will wait for a late or delayed tour to return before departure.
Coral Princess will operate a 115-night world voyage in 2028.
Princess Cruises has just announced one of the most exciting world cruises yet for Coral Princess.
The Coral-class flagship will depart on an epic 115-night sailing on January 3, 2028, with roundtrip itineraries offered from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Los Angeles, California.
In just under four months, Coral Princess will traverse 36,000 nautical miles, visit 24 countries on five different continents, and cross both the Equator and the International Date Line. It will visit a total of 49 different ports.
“Our 2028 World Cruise is an unparalleled voyage designed for travelers to see the world in a meaningful, immersive way — with more overnight stays, more time in port, deeper cultural connections and unforgettable moments at every turn,”said Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer.
“Guests will embark on an exceptional and deeply rewarding journey with extraordinary exploration, effortlessly wrapped in Princess’ signature warmth,” Berra continued.
Passengers are welcomed to remain onboard the 2,000-guest vessel for the entirety of the global voyage. Alternatively, Cruise Hive has confirmed that shorter segments ranging from 20 to 100 nights will also be offered for guests who can’t be away as long.
An Exciting Global Itinerary
Coral Princess is no stranger to world cruises and is currently in the middle of a 131-night Circle Pacific Voyage, which is a route that avoids regional tensions in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Another 129-night Circle Pacific Voyage is scheduled for 2027, which will visit 61 iconic destinations across three continents.
But what makes the newly unveiled 2028 cruise extra special is that the 2003-launched ship will make her maiden call at Mossel Bay, South Africa.
Coral Princess World Cruise Itinerary
Mossel Bay is not only a charming coastal town, but alsoa UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning coastal caves that hold some of the earliest evidence of modern human culture that dates back more than 160,000 years.
In addition to visiting South Africa, the 91,627-gross ton vessel will sail to the Panama Canal, Hawaii and the South Pacific (including Samoa and Fiji), Australia, New Zealand, the Indian Ocean (Mauritius and Réunion Island), and Casablanca, Morocco (Africa).
A significant portion of the voyage will also be spent in Europe, with port calls scheduled in the Mediterranean (i.e., Barcelona and Sicily) and the Adriatic Sea (i.e., Dubrovnik).
After completing the European portion of the sailing, the ship will cross the Atlantic Ocean to return to North America.
Extended Calls & New Excursions
In order to make the most of all the exciting destinations on the itinerary, Princess Cruises is offering ten extended port calls and brand new shore excursions.
Late-night visits will take place in bucket list destinations like Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.
Guests will also enjoy even longer, overnight calls in Cape Town, South Africa, and Auckland, New Zealand.
“These extended calls let guests experience each destination after dark. Highlights include world‑class dining and wine in South Africa, Mediterranean cultural treasures, Hawaii’s vibrant island life, and the cosmopolitan energy of Australia and Europe,”Princess Cruises stated.
In terms of tours, Princess Cruises is offering safari adventures to Africa’s top five celebrated game preserves. These include the Aquila Game Reserve and the Pumba Private Game Reserve, which is famous for its white lions.
Captain’s Circle Members (Princess Cruises’ Loyalty Program) may also be eligible for a $3,000 onboard credit, which can be put toward shore excursions like these.
The 2028 world cruise is already available for booking directly through the cruise line or through qualified travel professionals, including Cruise Hive.
Norwegian Cruise Line currently sends five of its ships on Alaska cruises — Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Spirit — and the best of the bunch is going to depend on what kind of experience you’re hoping for and what matters most to you when cruising.
Overall, while yes, the brand may not have a long legacy of offering Alaskan cruises (that honor would have to go to Princess Cruises or Holland America), Norwegian Cruise Line is an absolutely excellent pick if you’re taking a cruise vacation to Alaska with the family, including kids and teens. All the ships are packed with family-friendly amenities and activities.
So how do you pick? I’m breaking down everything you need to know about each ship so you can make the best choice for your upcoming getaway.
Ship Overview
Ship
Homeport(s)
Glacier Access
Best For
Norwegian Bliss
Seattle
Glacier Bay
Big‑ship amenities
Norwegian Encore
Seattle
Glacier Bay
Modern, activity‑heavy cruising
Norwegian Jade
Vancouver, Whittier
Hubbard Glacier, Inside Passage
Smaller‑ship comfort
Norwegian Joy
Seattle
Glacier Bay
Feature‑rich without crowds
Norwegian Spirit
Honolulu, Vancouver
Varies by itinerary
Intimate, unique routes
Norwegian Bliss
Originally built in 2018 and weighing in with a gross tonnage of 168,028 GT and a double occupancy of just over 4,000 people, Norwegian Bliss offers a lot to love.
For years, the ship has offered highlights such as a go-kart track on the top deck, a double-loop waterslide that hangs out over the ocean, and the ritzy VIP Haven area.
Photo Credit: lenic
However, things got even better in early 2025, when the vessel underwent some massive refurbishments that made it all the more ideal for an Alaskan cruise.
The dry dock introduced a new outdoor venue, Horizon Park, with lawn games and loungers, and the first immersive theater at sea. In The Haven, Premiere Owner’s Suites were upgraded to offer three bedrooms. A new seafood restaurant, Palomar, was likewise added.
What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Bliss
Expect an upgraded, top-tier cruise experience with plenty to do at all hours. This ship is packed to the gills with amenities and fun, as well as spots to catch amazing views of the Last Frontier as it passes by.
You’ll find awesome views in the Observation Lounge, where you can enjoy 180-degree scenery without braving the cold. However, do note that on glacier days, this venue is packed, packed, packed, and you’ll have better luck outdoors. To escape the crowds, head outside to the Waterfront oceanfront promenade, or even Vibe Beach Club.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
If you’re lucky enough to be staying in The Haven, you’ll also enjoy good views in The Haven Restaurant. Otherwise, the District Brew House is a nice pick, if you snag a window seat.
Of course, if you have a balcony stateroom, you can enjoy the views in private, too. Just note that this ship isn’t going to give you an intimate experience and there can be, as alluded, crowds.
If you want a quiet, low-key Alaskan cruise, you might want to consider one of the other ships or another cruise line altogether. Additionally, for full disclosure, you may find some of the Norwegian Cruise Line-offered excursions to be a little on the pricier side.
Norwegian Bliss Alaska Deployments
Norwegian Bliss sails itineraries ranging from seven to 11 nights, with fares starting at under $100 per night. All of the itineraries depart from Seattle, with round-trip sailings visiting the oh-so-popular Glacier Bay, as well as favorites like Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and more.
Norwegian Bliss Pros & Cons in Alaska
Pros
Cons
Lots to do on the ship
A bigger ship with crowds
Recently updated
Ship-sold shore excursions can be pricey
Plenty of spots for great views, both indoors and out
Norwegian Encore
Norwegian Encore is fairly similar to Norwegian Bliss. It was built in 2019, and measures 169,116 GT, with a double occupancy just under 4,000 people.
It likewise offers highlight amenities and features such as the top deck go-kart track, the Waterfront promenade, the Observation Lounge, and adrenaline-pumping waterslides for the thrill-seekers. Families will enjoy the indoor entertainment options such as VR games.
Norwegian Encore in Alaska (Photo Credit: EWY Media / Shutterstock)
Norwegian Encore underwent its last refurbishment in late 2024. The changes decreased the size of the Observation Lounge, added more staterooms, increased the sizes of suites in The Haven, and added the Spice H20 adults-only outdoor space with its hot tubs, pool and bar. Seafood restaurant Palomar was also added.
What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Encore
This ship will give you a modern cruise experience with loads to do and plenty of options around every corner, from booking your stateroom to picking where you’ll eat to deciding how to stay entertained when you’re not in port.
Norwegian Encore Docked in Alaska (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
Speaking of being in port, though, a lot of cruisers do find that Norwegian Encore doesn’t really stop long enough in each destination.
Snag those great views in the Observation Lounge (though, again, you’re going to run into crowds), as well as on the promenade and in Spice H20. Since Alaska doesn’t typically offer pool-friendly weather, you’ll be able to easily get yourself a seat on the pool deck.
Keep in mind that some of these longer itineraries are actually NCL Cruisetours and have you on land for further exploration at the start or end of a trip — you’re not on the ship all 12 nights. Stops include Ketchikan, Victoria, Glacier Bay, Skagway and more.
Norwegian Encore Pros & Cons in Alaska
Pros
Cons
Big modern ship
Bigger ships come with crowds
Lots of amenities and options
You’ll likely compete with other cruisers for restaurant reservations, show seat availability and views
Norwegian Jade
Compared to the first two ships on this list, Norwegian Jade is much older and much smaller. Built in 2006, the ship weighs less than 100,000 GT and holds just about 2,400 passengers at double occupancy.
Don’t worry, though — while this ship may be far from its infancy, it’s receiving new life as of late. A major three-week dry dock refurbishment in spring 2026, ahead of the ship’s Alaska cruising season, brings some nice changes.
The cruise line is adding the adults-only Vibe Beach Club to Deck 14 and Deck 7 gets a Starbucks, for example. Otherwise, the ship will receive a general refresh to keep things spiffy.
What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Jade
If you’ve been avoiding one of the larger ships that Norwegian Cruise Line sends to Alaska, because you really do think that they’re just going to be too big, too crowded and too overwhelming for your liking … well, then, Norwegian Jade may just be your perfect fit!
Think about it — Norwegian Jade can only fit about half the number of passengers that are routinely on Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Encore. That’s a big difference.
As such, you’ll enjoy a more low-key, mid-sized ship experience, which ultimately makes for better scenic cruising and easier getting off and on the ship during port days.
Yes, the ship is older and refurbishments can only do so much, but if you’re planning to spend the large majority of your time actually enjoying Alaska rather than the cruise ship, you’ll be just fine.
Norwegian Jade Alaska Deployments
You’ll find a ton of Norwegian Jade Alaska itineraries on offer, with the majority being 10 to 13-night cruises (again, though, note that some of these are Alaska Cruisetours, so keep that in mind as you’re booking).
Cruises depart from both Vancouver and Whittier. This can be a pro or con, depending on who you ask.
Some American cruisers like the convenience of cruising directly from Seattle, on a round-trip cruise. Others, meanwhile, would prefer to get started right away in Alaska, and then take a one-way cruise to Vancouver, even if it comes with the added travel hassle of starting and ending your cruise in different ports.
Which is the best option is up to you. Stops include the Hubbard Glacier, Icy Straight Point, Inside Passage and others. Fares start at under $80 per night.
Norwegian Jade Pros & Cons in Alaska
Pros
Cons
Smaller, more intimate ship
No deployments from Seattle
More affordable cruise fares
Older ship, despite renovations
Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Joy isn’t quite as big as Norwegian Bliss, but it’s definitely not as small and compact as Norwegian Jade.
Built in 2017, it weighs in at 167,725 GT and can hold around 3,800 cruisers. It boasts the features that many have come to expect from Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer ships, such as a go-kart track, the Waterfront Promenade, and the Galaxy Pavilion.
Photo Credit: EB Adventure Photography
Norwegian Joyunderwent a dry dock in 2024. These changes redesigned suites in The Haven and expanded both the spa and Vibe Beach Club.
What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Joy
This Breakaway Plus-class ship provides plenty to do and enjoy, even if it’s not the largest in the fleet. For example, it has more than 20 bars and lounges and more than a dozen restaurants.
Norwegian Joy Open Deck
However, despite the ship’s size and guest capacity, many report that it doesn’t feel all that crowded, even if you’re sailing on a full Alaskan cruise. As such, if you’re really tempted by all those features on Norwegian Bliss, but the crowds are scaring you off, consider Norwegian Joy.
For views, bundle up and take a stroll along the outdoor promenade. It’s a quarter-mile long, so you should be able to find some room.
Norwegian Joy Alaska Deployments
You’ll find nine and 10-night itineraries offered on Norwegian Joy, with fares starting at around $90 per night. All itineraries leave from Seattle, and all are round-trip. Popular stops include Sitka, Skagway, Glacier Bay and others.
Norwegian Joy Pros & Cons in Alaska
Pros
Cons
The ship doesn’t feel overly crowded
Cruisers report a lot of onboard upselling
Tons of amenities, food, and beverage options
Not a ton of itinerary options or a wide range of departure ports
Norwegian Spirit
The final ship out of the five that Norwegian Cruise Line sends to Alaska is also the oldest. Built in 1998, Norwegian Spirit is modestly sized, at 75,904 GT, with a double occupancy of 2,018 cruisers. Norwegian Spirit received a massive $100 million overhaul in 2020.
After the dry dock, the ship boasted 14 new venues, more staterooms and an expanded spa (doubled in size!). New venues included an extra main dining room, multiple new bars and other dining options, and Spice H20 (which took the place of the children’s waterpark that was there previously).
As such, if you sailed on this ship a long time ago, like before 2020, then your past opinions of the vessel may no longer hold true.
What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Spirit
Even with the refurbishments, though, there’s only so much that a cruise line can do with a small ship like this. They can’t really magically add waterslides or go-karts. You can only fit in so many restaurants and bars.
As such, during an Alaskan cruise, you’re not going to find quite so much to do on this ship. However, if you’re not worried about spending time on the ship, and want to focus on an authentic Alaska experience, you’ll likely not be bothered at all.
Additionally, the smaller size makes for a more intimate cruising experience with fewer crowds and a calmer environment.
Norwegian Spirit Alaska Deployments
Norwegian Cruise Line offers some very unique routes on Norwegian Spirit — 16-night cruises that combine time spent in the tropics and time spent in Alaska. You could visit Honolulu, Kahului Maui, Nawiliwili Kauai, and then head on over to Sitka, Skagway, and Ketchikan.
Oh, and then? The ship turns right back around for Alaska-to-Hawaii itineraries. Cruises start at around $85 per night.
Celestyal Cruises has cancelled the next two sailings of Celestyal Discovery, due to the Iran war.
The line’s two ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, are in Dubai and Doha, respectively.
Both ships were operating Arabian Gulf itineraries when the conflict began.
As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to escalate, engulfing the Middle East in chaos, another cruise line, Celestyal Cruises, has cancelled two future voyages.
The boutique line’s two ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, are stuck at the Arabian Gulf ports of Dubai, UAE, and Doha, Qatar, respectively. Like other cruise brands, Celestyal has been unable to move its ships away from the conflict, which began on February 28, 2026.
In a Facebook post on March 9, 2026, the cruise line confirmed that it has cancelled Celestyal Discovery’s next two cruises, a 3-night and 4-night sailing, both scheduled to sail roundtrip from Athens on March 20 and March 23, respectively.
“Given the current situation we have taken the decision to cancel the March 20 (3-night Iconic Aegean) and March 23 (4-night Iconic Aegean) sailings operated by Celestyal Discovery, while we finalize operational arrangements for the ship’s repositioning to the Mediterranean ahead of the summer season,” Celestyal Cruises said in its post.
Guests were being offered full refunds or future cruise credits. The cruise line has not yet announced any cancellations of Celestyal Journey’s upcoming itineraries. Both ships are set to begin their summer series of Mediterranean cruises from Athens.
First Priority: Transporting Guests Home
The cruise line’s priority in recent days has been the safe disembarkation of guests who were onboard the two vessels when the military conflict began. Celestyal Cruises confirmed that all guests had debarked from Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, and the line was working to disembark guests from Celestyal Journey.
According to the post, the disembarkation from that ship was estimated to be completed sometime on March 10, 2026. Celestyal Discovery accommodates 1,360 guests, and Celestyal Journey has a capacity for 1,260.
“We continue to follow developments closely and remain focused on resuming our planned programme as soon as possible. We sincerely thank our guests and valued partners for their patience and understanding,” the cruise line wrote.
Celestyal Discovery’s next scheduled voyage, a 3-night Greek Islands cruise, is set to depart March 27, 2026, while Celestyal Journey’s next cruise is a 7-night Adriatic voyage departing on April 4, 2026. Both are to sail roundtrip from Athens.
Celestyal Cruises bought Celestyal Discovery in 2023 from AIDA Cruises, where the ship operated as AIDAaura. Celestyal Journey was acquired the same year from Seajets. The ship had previously sailed in the Holland America Line and P&O Australia Cruises fleets.
Next Priority: Getting Cruise Ships to Safer Ports
Following the disembarkation of all guests, the cruise line will join other cruise brands in another challenge — attempting to safely sail its ships away from the region.
As reported in Cruise Hive, several cruise ships have been stranded in the Middle East, unable to sail to safe destinations without transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which is at least temporarily closed to shipping.
Among the cruise lines that found their ships in harm’s way as the conflict unfolded was MSC Cruises. The brand’s MSC Euribia was operating its winter season cruises from Dubai when the war began.
The line has since cancelled three 7-night voyages that were to depart on March 14, 21, and 28, 2026. Guests had the choice of embarking on the ship in either Doha or Abu Dhabi. The mega-ship has the capacity to carry 6,300 guests with all berths full. MSC Cruises also had to debark guests from the ship while it was docked in Dubai, and arrange to fly passengers home.
Most recently, Aroya Cruises, a small cruise line based in Saudi Arabia, announced it would cancel all scheduled sailings of its one ship, Aroya, from Arabian Gulf ports for the rest of the 2026 season.
