Norwegian Prima broke free of her mooring lines while docked in Port Canaveral on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Sudden wind gusts up to 48 miles per hour contributed to the stress that snapped the ropes holding the ship.
No injuries were reported in the incident and the ship’s 7-night Caribbean itinerary should not be impacted.
Norwegian Prima is having a rough start to her January 18, 2026 departure from Port Canaveral. Hours before the ship’s scheduled departure, while guests were embarking, sudden wind gusts broke the ship’s mooring lines and she drifted away from the dock briefly.
The incident happened at roughly 2 p.m. on Sunday. Throughout the morning, winds had been relatively steady at 5-7 miles per hour, but just after 9 a.m., winds began to rise to 15-20 miles per hour as a cold front passed through the region.
Just before 2 p.m., sudden gusts were recorded as high as 48 mph, and even steady winds were noted as high as 30-35 mph.
The lines securing the 143,535-gross-ton ship to the pier were quickly stretched beyond their load-bearing capacity and snapped, causing the ship to drift slightly away from the dock.
Video posted of the incident shows the lines breaking, as well as two tugboats in position to move the cruise ship back to the dock and hold her in place safely while new lines can be attached.
Norwegian Prima Breaks From Moorings (Photo Credit: Jodie Romain)
Guests onboard heard “Code Echo” called over the ship’s public address system. This is a standard emergency code used to alert crew members to high winds impacting ship operations, including when a vessel may begin to drift.
At no time was Norwegian Prima completely loose or in danger, and no damages or injuries have been reported from the incident.
“Things seem to be good now, but that was a fun start before we actually get started!”said one guest on Reddit about the situation.
While Norwegian Prima was quickly brought back under control and safely secured, there were brief interruptions to the embarkation process and luggage delivery operations until the situation was resolved.
Itinerary Not Impacted
Norwegian Prima was docked at Cruise Terminal 5 at the west end of Port Canaveral on Sunday. While the lines breaking caused a slight disruption to operations at the time, the cruise ship was still expected to depart as planned at 6 p.m.
The itinerary is a 7-night Caribbean voyage, with calls to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico before the ship returns to central Florida on Sunday, January 25.
Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Studio Porto Sabbia)
At this time, there is no expected adjustment to the itinerary and despite the brief interlude of strong winds, Norwegian Prima should have fairly smooth sailing for her voyage.
The ship remains homeported from Port Canaveral through mid-November, offering a variety of Caribbean itineraries. In November, she will reposition to San Juan for different sailings, including Eastern Caribbean routes and visits to Barbados.
In April 2027, Norwegian Prima will head to Europe for the summer season before returning to San Juan that autumn.
Not the First Line Breaks for Norwegian Prima
This incident is not the first time Norwegian Prima has broken free from mooring lines. In fact, this is the third time such an incident has happened with the first ship in the innovative Prima class.
In July 2023, Norwegian Primabroke free of her moorings while docked in Zeebrugge, Belgium for a port visit. In that incident, both her forward and aft gangways were dragged into the water, but no one was injured. Guests were held ashore briefly while new gangways were attached after the ship was brought back into a secure position.
The ship broke free from her moorings a second time during embarkation in Galveston in January 2024. Just as with today’s incident, strong wind gusts broke the lines and the ship was briefly loose at the dock before being firmly resecured.
It may seem concerning that this is the third time the lines have snapped for Norwegian Prima in her relatively short service life, as the ship only began sailing in September 2022.
At 20 decks high (16 of those decks accessible to passengers), Norwegian Prima has a proportionally tall profile that can be particularly susceptible to high winds. It is important to note, however, that the ship has enjoy many incident-free sailings and that any cruise ship could be subject to unusual conditions that cause lines to snap.
It is a credit to the crew members as well as the fast actions of port workers at all three locations that none of these incidents led to any injuries and Norwegian Prima was able to safely set sail as planned.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) boasts an array of ships within its fleet, including some of the most innovative and family-friendly cruise ships on the oceans today.
At the moment, there are 20 NCL ships in the fleet, with Norwegian Aqua being the newest and Norwegian Spirit being the oldest. The fleet will expand even further when Norwegian Luna arrives in 2026 and Norwegian Aura in 2027.
So now you know which of NCL’s cruise ships are bigger than the rest and which are newer and which are older — but what else do you need to know before you book that cruise? Here are the need-to-know details on each ship, as well as a few fun facts.
We’ve listed the Norwegian Cruise Line ships by age, including the upcoming Norwegian Luna and Norwegian Aura:
Norwegian Aura (2027)
Norwegian Aura Cruise Ship
Norwegian Cruise Line is elevating its Prima-class ships once again in 2027 with the arrival of Norwegian Aura, announced on January 15, 2026, and reported by Cruise Hive. The vessel will become the largest in the fleet at an impressive 168,000 gross tons, making it 10% larger than Norwegian Aqua and Luna. There will also be a total of 1,976 staterooms.
The ship will be the first to feature Ocean Heights, a new fun zone for guests to enjoy, and it will span from 18 to 21! The space includes NCL’s first -ever mat racing dual waterslides. The entire area will also be illuminated like an aura at night. The open spaces onboard will also be 20% more expensive than Norwegian Aqua and Luna.
Norwegian Aura will debut from Barcelona in Spain on May 21, 2027. The new ship will begin its inaugural season from Miami, Florida, in June 2027 and will offer seven-day Eastern Caribbean voyages through October 2027. Aura will shift to Western Caribbean sailings from winter 2027.
Will Arrive: May 2027
Gross Tonnage: 168,000
Length: 1,130 feet
Guest Capacity: 3,840
Shipyard: Fincantieri
Norwegian Luna (2026)
Norwegian Luna Cruise Ship
Norwegian Luna will become the second cruise ship built for the Prima Plus class and sister ship to Norwegian Aqua. The vessel will feature the thrilling Aqua Slidecoaster, a digital sports complex called Glow Court, and many of the features already found on other Prima-class ships. However, there will no longer be any go-kart track. The ship will be based out of Miami and will sail the Caribbean.
Will Arrive: March 2026
Gross Tonnage: 156,300
Guest Capacity: 3,571
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Aqua (2025)
Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Aqua is the third Prima-class cruise ship ordered by the cruise line. The ship is also 10% larger than earlier sister ships at an increased 156,300 gross tons and a passenger capacity of 3,571. The ship is the next generation of the class and also features the first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide.
I actually sailed on the newest ship in the fleet along with Cruise Hive staff member Paul Bartlett, you can see what he thought here.
Entered Service: April 2025
Gross Tonnage: 156,300
Guest Capacity: 3,571
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Viva (2023)
Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Robert McGillivray)
Debuted in 2023, Norwegian Viva was built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. The ship features some of the same amenities and world-first offerings that can currently be seen on Norwegian Prima, Viva’s Prima-class sister.
The ship brings more than 43,000 square feet of outdoor space, more than one infinity pool and a cool dining concept called the Indulge Food Hall, which encompasses nearly a dozen restaurants all in one dining experience.
Entered Service: August 2023
Gross Tonnage: 142,500
Guest Capacity: 3,215
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Prima (2022)
Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Studio Porto Sabbia)
Debuting in 2022 and kicking off the Prima class, Norwegian Prima was also built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. Guessed to cost the cruise line approximately $850 million to build, the ship features world-class accommodations, a wealth of suite options, and a bigger and better go-karting track, unlike anything cruisers have ever seen before.
Entered Service: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 143,535
Guest Capacity: 3,099
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Encore (2019)
Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Encore was the last Breakaway Plus ship. With nearly 30 different dining and drinking venues aboard the massive ship, as well as tons of family-friendly entertainment, cruisers certainly won’t be wanting for things to do, no matter where they sail.
Entered Service: 2019
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 169,116
Guest Capacity: 3,958
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Bliss (2018)
Photo Courtesy: Port of Seattle
Designed with improved energy efficiency in mind, so as to better meet Alaskan environmental regulations during Alaskan cruises, Norwegian Bliss was built by Meyer Werft in Germany.
The ship offers 20 decks and more than 2,200 cabins. Like other Breakaway Plus ships, Norwegian Bliss offers a wealth of dining options and entertainment spaces.
Entered Service: 2018
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 168,028
Guest Capacity: 4,010
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Joy (2017)
Photo Credit: Igor Grochev / Shutterstock.com
Another mammoth Breakaway Plus-class ship, Norwegian Joy, was likewise built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Delivered in 2017, the ship has sailed around both Asia and North America.
Despite being in the same class, Norwegian Joy does stand apart in a few ways, from sister ship and predecessor Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Joy, for example, has a lower guest capacity, but also more restaurants, a larger casino and more shopping options.
Entered Service: 2017
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 167,725
Guest Capacity: 3,776
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Escape (2015)
Photo Credit: Mia2you / Shutterstock.com
The first of the Breakaway Plus-class ships, Norwegian Escape was likewise built by Meyer Werft in Germany. When Norwegian Escape debuted, it featured the largest water park in the entire NCL fleet.
Entered Service: 2015
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 164,998
Guest Capacity: 4,218
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Getaway (2014)
Photo Credit: StockPhotosLV / Shutterstock
One of two Breakaway-class ships, Norwegian Getaway was built by Meyer Werft in Germany and, at the time of its debut, was the ninth-largest cruise ship in the world. It featured a range of new amenities specific to its class, such as restaurants helmed by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Grammy and magic-themed entertainment areas.
Entered Service: 2014
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 145,655
Guest Capacity: 3,903
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Breakaway (2013)
Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock
The first Breakaway-class ship, Norwegian Breakaway was actually named by the public, via a contest that NCL hosted in 2011. Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway shares many amenities with sister ship Norwegian Getaway, such as a Geoffrey Zakarian-designed restaurant.
Entered Service: 2013
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 145,655
Guest Capacity: 3,903
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Epic (2010)
Photo Credit: Vintagepix / Shutterstock
One of NCL’s stand-alone ships without a class, Norwegian Epic debuted in 2010 after being built at the STX France Cruise SA, Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. When built, the ship was the third-largest in the world.
Originally, the cruise ship was intended to have some sister ships, but a dispute with the builder caused the other two ships to be canceled, leaving Norwegian Epic alone.
Entered Service: 2010
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 155,873
Guest Capacity: 4,070
Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, France
Norwegian Gem (2007)
Image Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
The last Jewel-class ship, Norwegian Gem, was built in 2007 by Meyer Werft in Germany. Built at a cost of $700 million, the ship shares exterior features with Norwegian’s Dawn Class, though its interior and amenities are all Jewel-class.
Entered Service: 2007
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,530
Guest Capacity: 2,344
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Jade (2006)
Photo Credit: David Fowler / Shutterstock
Originally built by Meyer Werft in Germany as Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Jade received a rebranding in 2008 when Pride of Hawaii was removed from the Hawaiian market and redeployed.
Along with the name change, the ship also received new livery and extra features at that time, including the addition of a casino.
Entered Service: 2006
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,558
Guest Capacity: 2,352
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Pearl (2006)
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Norwegian Pearl
Launched in 2006, Norwegian Pearl was built by Meyer Werft in Germany. The ship has made appearances on a variety of television shows and documentaries and frequently hosts themed or special interest cruises.
Entered Service: 2006
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 93,530
Guest Capacity: 2,344
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Jewel (2005)
Photo Credit: GTS Productions / Shutterstock
The first Jewel-class ship, Norwegian Jewel, debuted in 2005 after being built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Similar to sister ship Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel has connections to several pop culture figures; the ship’s godmother is former First Lady Melania Trump and the ship appeared on an episode of The Apprentice.
Entered Service: 2005
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,502
Guest Capacity: 2,330
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Pride of America (2005)
Photo Credit: A. Michael Brown
Built partially in Mississippi and partially in Germany, Pride of America was part of an NCL effort to build and flag several cruise ships within the United States.
When inaugurated in 2005, the ship was the first new U.S.-flagged deep-water cruise ship in multiple decades. Because of its U.S. registration, the ship has no casino, a mostly U.S. crew and only sails around the United States.
Entered Service: 2005
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 80,439
Guest Capacity: 2,180
Shipyard: Lloyd Werft, Germany
Norwegian Dawn (2002)
Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship
Built by Meyer Werft in Germany (and originally built for Star Cruises), Norwegian Dawn was the first NCL cruise ship to feature hull art. Now, the cruise line is known for its colorful exteriors.
Entered Service: 2002
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 92,250
Guest Capacity: 2,290
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Star (2001)
Photo Credit: Galina Savina / Shutterstock
The first Dawn-class ship, Norwegian Star, like Norwegian Dawn, was built for Star Cruises before being transferred over to NCL. Norwegian Star was built by Meyer Werft in Germany.
Entered Service: 2001
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 91,740
Guest Capacity: 2,298
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Sun (2001)
Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO / Shutterstock.com
Built by Lloyd Werft in Germany, Norwegian Sun was the last Sun-class ship. She was launched in 2001 in a dual christening ceremony with sister ship Norwegian Star. In April 2025, the cruise line announced that Norwegian Sun would leave the fleet in 2026 for the Indian-based cruise line Cordelia Cruises.
Entered Service: 2001
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 78,309
Guest Capacity: 1,878
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Sky (1999)
Norwegian Sky Cruise Ship
Originally ordered by Costa Cruises, Norwegian Sky was built by Lloyd Werft in Germany. For a short time, Norwegian Sky, now a Sun-class ship, sailed as Pride of Aloha. The vessel will also depart the fleet for Cordelia Cruises in 2026.
Entered Service: 1999
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 77,104
Guest Capacity: 1,944
Shipyard: Lloyd Werft, Germany
Norwegian Spirit (1998)
Photo Courtesy: NCL
Built in 1998 for Star Cruises by Meyer Werft, Norwegian Spirit officially became a NCL vessel in 2004. Norwegian Spirit is one of the few NCL ships that do not fit into any particular Norwegian ship class.
Freedom of the Seas will be using the MSC Cruises’ terminal at PortMiami for the January 19, 2026 departure.
The alternative terminal use comes just days after the construction on the new Terminal G has begun.
Guests are advised to prepare for walking as the MSC Cruises terminal is the largest in the world.
Guests boarding Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas on Monday, January 19 in PortMiami will feel like they’re setting sail with MSC Cruises – because they kind of are.
With the demolition of the old Terminal G to make way for the construction of a new and updated cruise terminal, there is no designated Royal Caribbean terminal available for Freedom of the Seas to use for Monday’s departure. The cruise line has reached out to booked guests to alert them to the alternative plans.
“Our usual terminal is currently undergoing renovations, and in the meantime, we’re excited to be using the brand-new Terminal AA, courtesy of our friends at MSC,”the email notification confirmed.
The email does alert guests that the MSC Cruises terminal “has the feel of an airport concourse” and to be prepared for extensive walking.
In fact, Terminal AA, which opened in April 2025, is the world’s largest cruise terminal at 492,678 square feet, with four levels capable of welcoming three cruise ships simultaneously.
Guests are reminded to follow the port signage for Terminal AA, noting that they will be driving by Royal Caribbean’s Terminal A along the way.
“That is not your terminal – do not stop there,”the email urges.“You’re sailing from Terminal AA for this sailing, so stay in the proper lane and follow the signs accordingly.”
Guests will also utilize the parking facilities for Terminal AA, which will open for arriving guests at 11 a.m. Prior to that time, embarking guests will not be able to enter the parking area as it is necessary for debarking guests to exit first.
Royal Caribbean signage will be in place to guide guests to the proper embarkation point for Freedom of the Seas as they head off on their 5-night voyage to the Bahamas, with visits to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Who’s Using Terminal A?
In addition to the now incapacitated Terminal G, Terminal A at PortMiami is also a Royal Caribbean terminal. In fact, it’s not altogether that old, having just opened in late 2018.
At the time, Terminal A was the largest cruise terminal in the US and was designed to accommodate two Oasis-class ships. It is one Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, that will be using the facilities on Monday, January 19.
While Freedom of the Seas is smaller as the lead ship in the Freedom class, ongoing renovations and updates at Terminal A make it less practical to host two ships for the time being.
Royal Caribbean PortMiami Terminal (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
There are no changes to Freedom of the Seas‘ departure plans or overall itinerary. The ship offers 4- and 5-night sailings from Miami year-round, visiting destinations such as Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Grand Turk, Jamaica, and other ports depending on sailing date and cruise length.
Occasional 9-night sailings are also offered to Southern Caribbean destinations, including Curacao, Aruba, and Cabo Rojo. Nearly every Freedom of the Seas sailing also visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Coming Up at Terminal G
Just over a week ago, ground was broken on what will become the new Terminal G at the western end of PortMiami’s main channel, next to the Virgin Voyages terminal.
Demolition of the existing Cruise Terminal G began in July 2025, at which time a bit of berth juggling has become necessary to accommodate all planned cruise ships at the busy cruise port.
The new terminal will be more environmentally updated with silver LEED certification and will be sized to accommodate the Icon-class ships and up to 7,000 guests.
A multi-level parking garage and a transportation hub for buses, ride shares, and shuttles is also part of the new terminal development.
No confirmed opening date has yet been announced for Cruise Terminal G, but it is expected to welcome its first guests in late 2027. Ships from the entire Royal Caribbean Group – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea – will utilize the new terminal.
Undoubtedly, Royal Caribbean will be amenable to generously “sharing” the new terminal with other cruise lines if necessary, just as MSC Cruises’ generosity has helped out Royal Caribbean ships.
Cruise Hive now has a Cruise Drinks Package Calculator tool.
This feature allows guests to see if they are saving or losing money on cruise ship drink packages.
The calculator compares the cost of what guests expect to drink daily against the daily price of cruise ship drink packages.
Many of the major cruise lines offer drink packages to their guests, where passengers essentially pay for their drinks in advance in order to save money onboard. But are guests really saving money?
Cruise Hive now has a feature that will calculate if passengers are actually saving money or losing money when they invest in drink packages based on their specific needs. It’s called the Cruise Drinks Package Calculator, and you can check it out here.
Saving Guests’ Money
The cruise lines encourage guests to invest in drink packages in advance by saying that they will save money onboard.
However, that is not true for every passenger. It ultimately comes down to the needs of the specific guest and what package they are interested in purchasing.
For example, guests who love to indulge at the bar and enjoy specialty coffees and teas daily may benefit from a premium or deluxe package rather than purchasing à la carte onboard.
Cruise Hive’s Drink Package Calculator
However, people who consume less or no alcohol and forgo specialty drinks and soft drinks might find that they actually save money purchasing their refreshments as they go.
Cruise Hive’s Cruise Drinks Package Calculator lets guests compare the cost of their average daily drinking habits with cruise drink packages to see if they are actually making a worthy investment.
Guests are given an accurate idea of how the drink package falls into their budget rather than simply guessing, which helps them make better decisions for their vacations and their wallets.
How To Use the Calculator
The first step is to access the tool, which can be found on the Cruise Hive website under the “Cruise Tools” tab.
Then, all you have to do is select your cruise line, set the gratuity percentage (if applicable), and choose your package tier.
Next, you will be prompted to enter the number of different types of drinks you consume each day on average, including waters, coffee, soda, cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits.
Cruise Hive’s Drink Package Calculator
Your average daily bar spend will automatically be calculated and compared to the total daily package cost. A box will appear at the bottom of the screen that shows the specific amount you would be saving or losing by purchasing the package.
If you would like to reference your results later, you can also have them emailed to your inbox by entering your name and email address at the bottom of the page.
Cruise Hive’s Drink Package Calculator Result
At the moment, this feature is available for Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Holland America Line.
But make sure to stay tuned, as more helpful features and additional cruise lines will be added in the future.
Drink Packages Can Be Confusing
Every cruise line handles drink packages a little bit differently, which can lead to confusion about what is included and who needs to purchase packages.
Many passengers end up purchasing packages without fully understanding them because they’ve been told it’s the right thing to do by the cruise line and other cruise fans.
For example, brands like Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean sell drink packages on a per-person basis.
However, many don’t realize right off the bat that all adults staying in the same cruise cabin are typically required to purchase a package once one person does to prevent sharing. In other words, it’s an all-or-nothing situation.
Additionally, some cruise lines include gratuity for the crew as part of the package’s purchase price, which is what Princess Cruises does for the Premier and Plus packages.
Other brands, like Norwegian Cruise Line, tack on a gratuity and service fee of 20% to their drink packages.
With these details changing from brand to brand, it’s certainly a lot of information to keep straight. Hopefully, this calculator can make your cruise planning easier.
This week’s edition of Cruise Hive’s news update is chock full of developments across the industry. Stay on top of it all by reading our coverage of Norwegian Cruise Line unveiling a rebranding campaign, Royal Caribbean cancelling all calls to Labadee through 2026, and an unlucky cruise guest missing his ship after arriving at the wrong departure port.
Get your daily cruise news fix by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, delivered to your inbox each morning.
Guest Embarrassed After His Items Are Confiscated
A Carnival Cruise Line guest was shocked to learn that security officials confiscated his Leatherman multi-tool and laser pen/flashlight, items that he had packed in a suitcase and routinely brought on his cruise vacations.
Sailing aboard a recent Carnival Spirit cruise, crew members had delivered only two of the three pieces of luggage the guest and a companion were sailing with. Curious, the guest went to a crew area where luggage is sorted and asked about his missing suitcase.
After finding it, the bag was scanned and some items were identified as suspicious. The guest was asked to open the bag, and the offending items were found and confiscated.
The guest posted on brand ambassador John Heald’s Facebook page, informing him of the incident he described as embarrassing and degrading. While Heald offered no specific advice to the guest, he did ask others to comment on items they’ve had confiscated.
Plenty of people responded, telling Heald about various items they’ve had taken from them, such as travel fans, flashlights, an electric toothbrush, and hair curlers, among others.
Norwegian Cruise Line Reveals Major Rebranding
“It’s Different Out Here.” That’s the marketing tagline of Norwegian Cruise Line’s new brand identity, a theme that was used by the line back in the 1990s.
The campaign, which also features a new color on the line’s logo — black instead of the former blue, will have promotional materials with the phrases “Out Here, the Memories Make Themselves,” “A Vacation Shouldn’t Be Able to Tell Time,” and “Restore Your Factory Settings.”
Norwegian Cruise Line Logo (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
The national marketing campaign was introduced on Facebook, Instagram and X, and features a “For All Maritime” television commercial that references the concepts of flexibility and guest choice rather than strict rules.
The rebranding comes at a pivotal time for Norwegian Cruise Line, which has taken bold steps in recent years. The addition of its Prima-Plus class of ships brings larger vessels into the fleet — Norwegian Aqua debuted in April 2025, Norwegian Luna is due out in April 2026, and Norwegian Aura will enter service in May 2027.
Also, the line has invested in a major $150 million overhaul of Stirrup Cay, its private island in the Bahamas, where a new pier was added to accommodate two ships at a time, enhancements were made to the pool and other areas, and the new Great Tides Waterpark is set to open in summer 2026.
MSC Poesia Cancels 10-Night Sailing in February
With less than a month to go before setting sail, guests booked on an MSC Cruises’ ship found out they won’t be cruising after all.
The cruise line has cancelled MSC Poesia’s February 13, 2026 voyage from Southampton, UK, to Valletta, Malta. The 10-night trip was to call at Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, and Rome.
MSC Poesia Open Deck (Photo Credit: Ana del Castillo)
MSC Cruises cited operational reasons for the cancellation, however, since the ship had a scheduled dry dock coming up at the Palumbo Shipyard in Malta, it is likely the change is tied to that project.
Affected guests on the cancelled voyage are receiving a full refund and a Future Cruise Credit equal to 50% of the cruise fare they paid. The credit is valid on any future MSC Cruises voyage.
The 2,550-guest ship is slated to have the line’s MSC Yacht Club, two dining venues, and a lounge added during the dry dock. The ship currently has no cruises scheduled between February 13 and April 6, 2026.
Guest Misses Cruise After Arriving at Wrong Port
Port Canaveral. Port Everglades. What’s in a name?
One cruiser found out the hard way when he mixed up his departure port, arrived at the wrong one, and missed out on his Caribbean voyage.
Sharing his sad story on social media as a warning to others, the guest explained that he was booked to sail on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral. But he mistakenly thought Port Canaveral was in Fort Lauderdale.
Port Canaveral is in Central Florida, about a three-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale, where Port Everglades is located, in South Florida.
Utopia of the Seas Arriving at Nassau Cruise Port
It was the January 12, 2026 departure of Utopia of the Seas, a 4-night cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Realizing his error, the guest asked Royal Caribbean whether he could join the ship in Nassau if he flew there at his own expense.
But the line said that would not be possible. The guest’s request, it said, was denied by port authorities.
Since it was already noon when the guest realized his mistake, there was not enough time to travel to Port Canaveral to make the ship’s 4 p.m. departure.
For this guest, it turned out to be a better-luck-next-time situation.
Labadee Pulled From Itineraries Through 2026
Acting out of an abundance of caution, Royal Caribbean ships will not call at Labadee, Haiti, through 2026, the line confirmed.
Labadee is the cruise line’s private destination in the north of the island, about 85 miles from Port-au-Prince, where gangs have essentially taken over.
While Royal Caribbean began cancelling visits to Labadee in 2023, when the government all but collapsed, it had planned to include calls to the destination on several ships this year.
Royal Caribbean’s Labadee Cruise Port, Haiti (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
For example, Freedom of the Seas was set to call there on an itinerary departing May 2, 2026, and Adventure of the Seas was to visit during a cruise departing on September 12, 2026. Those port calls are now nixed, with replacement calls slated for Nassau and Grand Turk, respectively.
Star of the Seas will add a sea day instead of visiting Labadee or another destination on the ship’s May 3, 2026 departure. In all, the itineraries of more than a dozen Royal Caribbean ships are impacted.
Guests are being notified by email about the changes to their cruise itineraries.
While Labadee has its own security system, the US Department of State has a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory in place for the entire island of Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, potential terrorist activity, and other concerns.
New-Build Norwegian Aura Will Homeport in Miami
Chalk up another big win for PortMiami. Norwegian Cruise Line revealed that Norwegian Aura, its fifth Prima-class ship, will deploy to the South Florida port when she debuts in May 2027.
At 169,000 gross tons and with capacity for 3,840 guests in double occupancy, Norwegian Aura will be the largest in the fleet. Under construction at a Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the ship will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from PortMiami.
Featured port calls on the ship’s itineraries include Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, plus the private destinations Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye.
Norwegian Aura
Bookings have opened for sale. Norwegian Aura is the line’s third Prima-Plus-class ship, joining Norwegian Luna, launching in April 2026, and Norwegian Aqua, which entered service in April 2025.
Norwegian Aura will offer 1,976 staterooms and will feature 30% more suites than the other Prima vessels.
Her maiden voyage, a 7-night Mediterranean cruise from Trieste to Barcelona, departs on May 21, 2027, and calls at Malta, Salerno, and Rome. A 14-night transatlantic cruise follows, as the ship makes her way to PortMiami in mid-June 2027.
Points Choice Loyalty Plan Is Officially Unveiled
Speculation about Royal Caribbean Group’s new Points Choice loyalty program has been rampant for months on social media, following the cruise line’s hints in October 2025 that a new, better plan was on the way.
On January 15, 2025, the cruise line officially announced details of the new system, which takes effect with cruise departures on and after January 30, 2026.
Points Choice will allow guests sailing on the company’s three brands — Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, to apply their loyalty points to any of the three lines.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in Miami (Photo Credit: JMT Photography and Media)
It means that rewards can be assigned to Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, or Silversea’s Venetian Society, no matter where the points were earned.
An exchange table shows guests what their per-night points will earn based on cruise length and cabin category. For instance, guests booking Sunset, Owner, Aqua-Theater, or Oceanview Panoramic suites would earn two points per night in Crown & Anchor Society, eight points per night in Captain’s Club, or one point per night in Venetian Society.
Guests must request the transfer of points via a form available on the line’s app or web site before their sailing or up to 14 days after their cruise.
More Cruise Headlines
There are many more news and feature stories you won’t want to miss on Cruise Hive, including one MSC Cruises’ ship nixing a port call due to rough weather near Sicily, and another experiencing a burst pipe that flooded staterooms.
Also, Carnival Cruise Line opens bookings on 2027-28 West Coast sailings, and the Port of Galveston receives $8 million in grants. Finally, find out what Wave Season is all about and how it can save you money on your next cruise vacation.
Developers are exploring a privately financed cruise port in West Florida.
The port would allow larger cruise ships that cannot pass under the bridge to reach Port Tampa Bay.
The proposed terminal must clear local zoning, permitting, and public review before construction can begin.
A proposed cruise port on Florida’s Gulf Coast could allow larger cruise ships to sail from the Tampa Bay region for the first time.
The project would be located south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which cruise ships like Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Miracle, which homeport in Tampa, must currently pass under to reach the Port of Tampa.
The bridge’s 180-foot height restriction prevents many of today’s largest cruise ships from accessing the port, especially Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships, which are nearly 250 feet in height.
SSA Marine, a global marine terminal operator, said it is working with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC to explore development of a cruise port on 328 acres of land known as the Knott-Cowen’s tract in Manatee County.
Details of the proposal were released through a newly launched website promoting the project.
If approved, the project would represent a significant expansion of cruise infrastructure along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Royal Caribbean Ship in Tampa, Florida (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
Construction of the facility, if it moves forward, is estimated to take between 3 and 5 years. Before any construction can begin, however, the project must go through Manatee County’s zoning and permitting process.
This includes reviews by the planning commission and county commissioners, and no timeline has been set for those approvals.
“Throughout this project, we are committed to transparently working through the public process and welcome the opportunity to engage local residents in meaningful dialogue and work collaboratively with the community to ensure this effort reflects West Central Florida’s needs and creates sustained, long-term public benefit,” the project website states.
Project Details
The Knott-Cowen Cruise Port is described as a privately financed project led by SSA Marine, which operates port facilities across Florida, including at Port Tampa Bay, Port Canaveral, PortMiami, Port Everglades, and JAXPORT in Jacksonville.
Plans call for a multi-berth cruise facility with supporting infrastructure. The project also includes a separate land purchase of Rattlesnake Key, a 710-acre island adjacent to the site.
Developers say the island will not be commercially developed and is intended to remain in conservation.
The Knott Cowen tract of land is the site of a proposed cruise port near Tampa.
Economic projections published on the project website estimate more than 31,000 jobs tied to construction and related activity, with more than 13,000 ongoing jobs once the port is operational.
The developers also project roughly $40 million annually in tax revenue, though those figures have not yet been reviewed throughout the public approval process.
Port Tampa Bay recorded about 368 cruise ship sailings in fiscal year 2025, handling more than 1.6 million cruise passengers. That number was a record for Tampa Bay and includes other brands that homeport in the region, like Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Margaritaville at Sea.
Despite that growth, Tampa’s cruise operations remain constrained by the bridge, which provides roughly 180 feet of vertical clearance at zero tide. Cruise ships taller than that cannot access the port.
Most of today’s large cruise ships exceed that height. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, for instance, rise above 200 feet from waterline to top deck, putting them out of reach for Tampa Bay.
Developers argue that a cruise port south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could allow Florida’s West Central coast to compete more directly with those high-volume homeports by enabling access for larger ships.
Disney Cruise Line has increased internet pricing for its packages by more than 15% without warning.
The prices are now among the highest in the industry with two options for basic internet or streaming quality.
Internet access is not strictly necessary during a Disney cruise vacation, depending on guests’ preferences.
As a premium cruise line, Disney Cruise Line includes a lot of amenities in their basic cruise fare that other lines simply do not offer or that guests must add on with extra charges, such as twice-daily stateroom cleaning, room service, and most soft drinks.
Internet access, however, is not one of those included amenities, and guests will now be paying more to stay connected while on a magical cruise vacation.
Guests booked on Disney cruises have noticed the increase from January 2026, with prices now significantly higher than other lines charge for different wi-fi packages. No notice of the increase was given to booked guests, with no option to lock in lower costs before setting sail.
The price increases are now as follows:
Standard Internet 24-Hour Access – $30 (previously $26)
Premium Surfing and Streaming – $49 per day (previously $42)
These increases are 15% and 17%, respectively, and prices apply to just a single device.
Disney Cruise Line does not offer a discount for multiple devices for the same guest or traveling party. If guests can use just a one device at a time, they could log in and out on different devices with just one charge, but this would be cumbersome for multiple guests.
While these increases are just a few dollars a day, the costs can add up quickly when multiple guests in the same family want to connect their own devices to stay in touch on social media, play online games, check email, connect to digital meetings, or stream their favorite shows.
Prices Higher Than Other Cruise Lines
The internet costs aboard Disney ships are significantly higher than most other cruise lines.
Onboard Carnival cruise ships, for example, internet pricing ranges from $20-35 per device, per day depending on the speed of the service, which plan a guest chooses, and whether they purchase the package pre-cruise or after boarding.
Disney Treasure Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: MartinLueke)
Many cruise lines have varied pricing on different ships or itineraries, but general costs range from $19-40 per device, per day. Overall costs will vary based on speed, length of service, and number of devices.
Now that Disney Cruise Line has increased internet pricing, it is possible that other cruise lines will follow suit.
Is Internet Necessary on Disney Cruise Ships?
It should be noted that internet access or wi-fi plans are not necessary to connect to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to stay updated about onboard events, restaurant menus, and other information.
Furthermore, it is entirely possible – even relaxing! – to take a Disney cruise without internet access, and many guests prefer to unplug during their oceangoing vacation.
Completely disconnecting isn’t always possible for every traveler, however. For guests who just want to check email or touch base on social media, perhaps to keep up with family and friends at home, the basic “Stay Connected” internet package is sufficient and can be the best bargain.
This package permits access to popular social media sites, including Instagram and Facebook, as well as short-form videos like Snapchat and TikTok. It is suitable for basic internet browsing as well as making audio or video calls.
For streaming favorite television shows or movies, however, the higher-priced streaming package is necessary for the additional bandwidth. This would permit smooth access to YouTube, Spotify, and other podcasts and video game services.
Guests should note, however, that there is an extensive library of Disney television shows and movies available on demand (and free!) in every stateroom. If that’s the “streaming” you want to do on a Disney cruise vacation, no internet package is necessary!
A sudden squall disrupted Noordam‘s tender operations at Kiriwina Island on Wednesday, January 14.
Several hundred guests were temporarily stranded ashore and tenders were left bobbing in severe swells.
No injuries were reported and tendering resumed after the squall passed and it was safe to bring the small boats alongside.
Tendering can be a fun ride from ship to shore at ports without a cruise ship dock, but a sudden squall made the small boats much less fun for guests aboard Holland America Line’s Noordam on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
The incident happened midway through the ship’s 42-night one-way Sydney to Auckland journey that departed Australia on December 21, 2025. The squall suddenly appeared at Kiriwina Island in Papua New Guinea, a tender port the ship was visiting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The weather had been calm enough for tendering operations to begin as planned, but the squall brought winds up to 40 knots (46 miles per hour) to the immediate area.
According to Paul and Carole Love To Travel, who were onboard Noordam at the time, chairs were flying across the ship’s deck and the tenders currently heading between the ship and the island were forced to wait out the vicious weather.
“As it was unsafe for the tenders to come alongside the ship, 700 passengers were stranded on the island and some passengers already in tenders were bobbing around for up to 90 minutes,”the couple described.
Video of the incident shows the small tender boats bobbing aggressively in the wind and rain, with the cloth over the boats’ entrances whipping about with the gusts. At times, the boats’ bows are splashing in and out of the aggressive swells.
The situation was certainly frightening and uncomfortable for guests who were on the tender boats, though no injuries were reported. There was some minor damage to the tenders, but nothing significant and the boats were in no way compromised.
Furthermore, the “stranded” passengers were only temporarily unable to leave the island, waiting for the squall to pass before tendering operations could resume. Some food and water were shuttled to the island in the meantime, for everyone to remain as comfortable as possible.
Onboard Noordam, the captain made several announcements to keep guests apprised of the situation and how operations were being handled.
Once the squall passed, all guests were brought back to the ship safely and without incident, and Noordam was able to complete her visit.
Are Tender Boats Safe?
While the dramatic video may make it seem as though the situation was dangerous, the small boats are equipped to handle such conditions and are engineered not to capsize or sink even if they take on water.
Because local communities cannot offer shuttle service to a ship as large as Noordam with her 1,916 guests, the ship’s own lifeboats are used as tenders in such remote destinations.
Each tender boat can hold at least 200 guests, but it is unclear whether or not they were fully loaded when the squall hit.
Holland America Tender Boat (Photo Credit: EA Given)
Every tender is crewed by experienced seamen who can handle such rough conditions if necessary. All of the small boats are also equipped with life jackets and other emergency gear.
Naturally, such a rough time in the tenders would not be pleasant, and it’s possible that multiple guests experienced seasickness and other discomfort during the squall.
Several guests have reported that crew members did a fantastic job in such extraordinary circumstances.
“This really does show the skill and experience of the tender pilots to be able to ride this out and keep everyone safe if not comfortable,”one guest noted.
“The crew handled the situation very well,”another commented.
Noordam Continues Voyage
Despite the brief squall that made the visit to Kiriwina Island far more memorable than anticipated, Noordam was able to continue on her lengthy cruise.
The 82,500-gross-ton ship has already visited many outstanding ports in Australia after departing Sydney, including Burnie, Adelaide, Port Arthur, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Following several ports in Papua New Guinea, Noordam is visiting the Solomon Island, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and several ports in New Zealand before debarkation in Auckland on February 1.
Hopefully, the ship and all her tenders will have smooth sailing for the rest of her voyage!
P&O Cruises is offering a Future Cruise Credit to passengers that sailed Britannia on December 26, 2025.
The credit is worth 25 perfect of their cruise fare and valid for sailings through December 31, 2027.
The offer follows an earlier announcement that no compensation would be given.
The drama keeps unfolding for P&O Cruises’ Britannia passengers from the holiday December 26, 2025, sailing. A week after the sailing ended in Barbados on January 9, 2026, guests are finally getting a compensation notice.
Passengers have received notice from the cruise line offering a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) worth 25 percent of the cruise fare, a shift from P&O Cruises’ earlier stance that no refunds or compensation would be issued for the itinerary disruption that took place during the 14-night sailing.
P&O Cruises is offering the FCC as a “gesture of goodwill” in recognition of the issues experienced.
“Thank you for choosing to sail with us on Britannia in the Caribbean. We recognize, however, that your holiday was not the experience you were expecting, nor was it the one we would wish for you, or the standard we set for ourselves,”began the letter from P&O Cruises.
It continued, “The issues that affected your cruise fell short of our usual high standards, and for that we are very sorry.”
The company then awarded guests the FCC, available from January 20, 2026. Bookings must be made by December 31, 2026, and passengers must sail by December 31, 2027.
The cruise line also said it is determined to make the next experience everything guests could hope for.
The offer lands after frustrated passengers spent days posting and sharing earlier correspondence that pointed them toward travel insurance, rather than P&O Cruises, if they wanted reimbursement for missed ports.
P&O Britannia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: P.Cartwright)
In an onboard letter dated January 8, 2026, the cruise line apologized for itinerary changes due to a technical issue, but also told guests to keep the letter for their records if they planned to file an insurance claim and said no compensation would be provided.
The back and forth has fueled confusion and anger among passengers who argue the disruption stems from a mechanical issue and should have been better managed.
What Went Wrong on P&O Britannia?
Britannia sailed from Bridgetown, Barbados, on December 26 for a New Year’s Caribbean voyage with more than 3,600 passengers onboard.
Early calls included Grenada and Curaçao, but then the cruise began to unravel, beginning with passenger accounts of a power outage in Curaçao.
A December 31 call in Aruba was next scrapped due to high winds. Shortly after, guests were informed the ship would skip St. Lucia and head directly back to Barbados due to technical issues, cutting short plans that originally included two days in Castries.
The 143,000-gross-ton vessel arrived in Barbados on January 3 and remained there through the evening of January 5 for repairs, adding multiple days in port. At this time, passengers began to complain about onboard shortages, especially drinks, after the unexpected extra sea days and extended stays.
Once Britannia was able to return to sea, the ship cancelled a planned call in Antigua and replaced it with Martinique on January 6 as the ship worked to resume its schedule.
For some guests, the problems didn’t end with the cruise on January 9. A winter storm in the UK disrupted the cruise line’s fly-cruise flights, delaying Britannia passengers trying to get home by roughly 24 hours.
In spite of the new FCC being offered, some guests are still not happy and are demanding a cash alternative, vowing never to sail with P&O Cruises again.
