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MSC Reveals 115-Night World Cruise Across 29 Countries

Donna Tunney
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MSC Reveals 115-Night World Cruise Across 29 Countries

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Magnifica will sail MSC Cruises’ world voyage in 2028.
  • The 115-night cruise will call at 40-plus ports in 29 countries.
  • New port destinations and multiple overnights in port are featured.

Imagine walking among the famous Moai statues on Easter Island or exploring the archaeological sites of Arica, Chile, also called the City of Eternal Spring. Cruisers can do both, and lots more, on MSC Cruises’ 2028 World Cruise.

The cruise line has opened bookings for the 115-night world voyage, which will be operated by MSC Magnifica and sail roundtrip from Barcelona on January 7, 2028. While officially beginning in the Spanish city, three other embarkation ports are offered, in Rome and Genoa, Italy, and Marseille, France, on January 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

Worth Reading: MSC Shares Details on Epic 121-Night World Cruise

Guests will visit more than 40 destinations in 29 countries, and enjoy immersive, overnight stays in seven ports.

The 2028 world voyage will be the fourth consecutive operated by the 2,550-guest, Musica-class ship. In January 2025, she sailed a 116-night cruise, in 2026, the ship offers a 131-night voyage, and in 2027, a 132-night cruise.

Here’s a Closer Look at the 2028 Itinerary

Sailing from the Mediterranean ports, MSC Magnifica will explore destinations across that region, plus the Caribbean, South Pacific, and onward from there to Asia and the Middle East.

Read Also: MSC Yacht Club: Is It Really Worth It?

Besides Easter Island and Arica, Chile, other destinations that are new to the MSC Cruises’ world voyage are Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Nuku’alofa , Tonga; Manta, Ecuador; Callao, Peru; Chan May, Vietnam; and Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Each of the new port calls features exotic cultural experiences, notable historic sites, architectural gems, and pristine beaches, among other attractions.

115-Night World Cruise Itinerary
115-Night World Cruise Itinerary

In Manta, Ecuador, for instance, guests can experience the region’s maritime history and explore Montecristi, the destination where the famous Panama hat was created. And in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, excursions are offered to Angkor Wat, the Hindu-Buddhist temple complex built in the 12th century.

MSC Magnifica’s itinerary includes a transit of the Panama Canal following two calls in the Caribbean, then south along South America’s western coast before heading west to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.

The ship will make several calls in Southeast Asia and continue on to the Middle East via Mumbai, India. Planned calls in the Middle East, which could be altered given the ongoing tensions there, include Dubai, UAE, Muscat, Oman, and Aqaba, Jordan.

A transit of the Suez Canal is also on the itinerary, although cruise ships have been avoiding the area in recent years.

MSC Yacht Club Experience Offered in 2027

MSC Magnifica is in the process of receiving a major update — the addition of the line’s private luxury area, MSC Yacht Club. The exclusive enclave offers dedicated dining and lounge venues, a pool deck, butler and concierge services, and other high-end perks.

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The full yacht club experience will debut on the ship in summer 2026, so the first world cruise that will feature the option is the 2027 sailing. In 2028, guests will have that choice, too.

However, even guests who book staterooms outside the luxury area will receive several valuable benefits during the world cruise. The cruise fare will include 15 shore excursions, a Dine & Drink beverage package, and a 30% discount on laundry services.

Why Pay $100K? Cruiser 3D-Prints the Royal Bling Cup Instead

Catie Kovelman
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Why Pay $100K? Cruiser 3D-Prints the Royal Bling Cup Instead

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean sells a $100,000 Royal Chalice onboard its Icon-class ships.
  • The purchase also comes with an automatic lifetime Deluxe Beverage Package.
  • A crafty cruiser 3D printed a much more affordable replica of the famous Royal Bling cup.

If you had a spare $100,000 laying around, what would you do with it?

For some cruise guests, the dream is to purchase Royal Caribbean’s Royal Chalice, or “Royal Bling Cup” as it’s often called.

But as most people do not just have that kind of cash at their disposal, one crafty cruise fan made his own replica of the pricey souvenir and shared the model with all who would like to do the same.

Using a 3D printer, the cruiser made a much more affordable replica of the Royal Chalice.

It’s not plated with solid gold and encrusted in genuine diamonds like the real deal, but the end result is still quite convincing.

“I bought the $100k Royal Bling Cup AMA!,” they joked on Reddit.

3D Printed Bling Cup
3D Printed Bling Cup (Credit: jse1988)

“I’m not THAT crazy, but one can dream! Now anyone can have one of their own! (with a 3D printer of course!),” they added.

But as a word of caution for those who may choose to print their own luxury cup, keep in mind that many 3D printing materials are not food or drink safe and might contain toxic chemicals.

This art project is likely more for show than actual use, but it certainly would be fun to look at and display.

Where to Find the Real Royal Chalice

The Royal Chalice really does cost a whopping $100,000 and can only be found in one specific store onboard the two Icon-class ships.

The original bling cup debuted on Icon of the Seas in 2024, where it can still be spotted in the Royal Bling store in the AquaDome neighborhood.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas AquaDome: Design, Features and Facts

It is usually protected in a glass case, akin to what one might see while looking at fine art or jewels in a museum.

The store, which is thus far exclusive to the Icon-class ships, also sells other Royal Caribbean branded jewelry and keepsakes.

The cup is now also sold in the Royal Bling store onboard the new Star of the Seas, which just debuted this summer.

It’s unclear at this time if the next Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, will also bring forth the next rendition of the Royal Bling Cup.

Lifetime Benefit Included

As an added bonus to help with the sticker shock, guests who choose to buy the Royal Chalice will also receive a lifetime Deluxe Beverage package.

This means that they automatically get to enjoy Royal Caribbean’s top-tier beverage package, which comes with unlimited drinks (including alcohol) onboard and at the brand’s private destinations, on all of their future sailings.

With enough time at sea, this perk might even turn the cup into a cost savings…eventually.

The Deluxe Beverage Package usually costs anywhere from $56 to $120 per person, per day.

This means that a guest would break even from a beverage package cost perspective after somewhere between 833 to 1,785 cruise days.

Has Anyone Ever Bought the Cup?

A few months after the Bling cup was unveiled onboard Icon of the Seas, an unidentified male guest did purchase it and was seen walking around the world’s largest cruise ship with it.

But what was most shocking to guests was that he was using the chalice as an actual cup rather than protecting it like a crown jewel.

“I’m currently on Icon and noticed the Royal Bling Cup at a cabana on Coco Cay and went to speak to the guy who was very friendly and mentioned what he intends to do with it after the cruise. It was a shock to see it being used as an actual CUP,” one witness shared at the time.

They also posted a picture of the bling cup being used on the beach, complete with its own straw and filled to the brim with a refreshing drink.

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“To me the big deal isn’t that someone is rich/stupid enough to buy it. The big deal is that he is leaving a $100k cup sitting on a table at a beach,” another shocked cruise fan reacted.

According to the guest who spoke to the cup’s lucky owner, the purchaser intended to auction it off for charity after his cruise.

But for the majority, the cup is simply above their pay grade. Many have said that they would rather invest their money in something more practical, such as a new house, a new car, or perhaps booking more cruises.

Multiple Royal Caribbean Sailings Scrapped Due to Redeployment

Catie Kovelman
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Multiple Royal Caribbean Sailings Scrapped Due to Redeployment

Key Aspects:

  • At least three sailings for Freedom of the Seas have been cancelled for the second half of 2026.
  • Royal Caribbean explained that the cancellations were related to a redeployment.
  • Impacted guests were given three options to move or cancel their reservation.

Thousands of Royal Caribbean guests received emails with some of the worst possible news a cruiser can get: Their sailings won’t be going ahead as planned.

Due to a redeployment, Freedom of the Seas will no longer be able to operate several Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.

“Due to a change in itinerary planning, and after exploring all our options, our October 26, 2026, Freedom of the Seas sailing has been redeployed,” Royal Caribbean wrote in one of its notification letters.

“The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologize for the inconvenience,” the cruise line continued.

Read Also: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

Royal Caribbean did not elaborate on what the new deployment specifically entails, but currently, the cruise line’s website and cruise tracking data have the 3,634-guest ship homeporting in Miami through at least April of 2027.

More likely than not, itineraries have been adjusted based on factors like port availability and/or to better align with demand from the cruising community.

Which Sailings are Impacted?

So far, it has been publicly confirmed that the 5-night Western Caribbean cruises that were scheduled to embark in Miami, Florida, on September 14, 2026, and October 26, 2026, have been impacted.

“My sailing also got cancelled Sept 14-19th from Miami. Just got an email today. Not happy,” one of the impacted passengers confirmed.

These sailings would have visited Cozumel, Mexico – the future home of Royal Beach Club Cozumel, which is opening in 2026 – and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas (Photo Credit: EQRoy / Shutterstock)

Next, the 4-night Bahamas sailing that would have set sail on September 10 has also been scrapped.

“Anyone else get an email today about their fall sailing being cancelled,” another impacted guest inquired.

“We were set to depart Sept 10 for our 10 year anniversary and had splurged on several ‘extras’ to treat ourselves. Now we have to rebook and likely won’t get the great early bird deals we had,” they lamented.

This short-but-sweet 4-night sailing would have called at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. These are the voyages that have been publicly cancelled, but it’s possible that more sailings have been or will be impacted.

Guests booked on the Freedom-class ship should keep an eye out for potential adjustments.

What Options Do Guests Have Now?

Of course, Royal Caribbean isn’t just leaving guests high and dry. The cruise line is offering three different options to make things right.

“Every aspect of your time with us should be enjoyable, so we’ve put together some alternative objects that we hope will work for you and those in your party,” Royal Caribbean stated.

The first option is to switch to a different October 2026 itinerary onboard Freedom of the Seas, at least for those who were on the cancelled October 26 sailing. Some guests from other nixed cruises report being offered voyages in August, too.

The three sailings, which depart from Miami on October 3, October 17, and October 31, are all 5-night sailings that will call to CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti, which is Royal Caribbean’s private resort.

Royal Caribbean has notably been avoiding Haiti for several months due to ongoing safety concerns, but there is hope to return in the new year.

If the recommended sailings don’t work, cruisers can also re-book on any other Royal Caribbean International cruise.

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The cruise line will waive any non-refundable deposit change fees, but guests will be responsible for any differences in pricing if the new voyage is more expensive.

Last but not least, guests are also allowed to cancel their booking with no penalty. They will receive a full refund for any paid portion of the cruise, including any non-refundable deposits and pre-paid amenities.

Carnival’s Celebration Key Welcomes One Millionth Guest in Just Five Months

Calvin Musquez
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Carnival’s Celebration Key Welcomes One Millionth Guest in Just Five Months

Key Aspects: 

  • Just five months after opening, Carnival’s Celebration Key welcomed its one-millionth guest.
  • The guest and his family received a special complimentary package to mark the occasion.
  • An expansion that could double the number of calls to Celebration Key is set to open in 2026.

On July 19, 2025, Carnival Vista brought 4,800 guests on the inaugural visit to the brand new Celebration Key.

The grand opening was a hit, with guests in attendance remarking upon the beauty and excitement of the island.

Five months later, on December 18th, Carnival Vista returned to the private destination on a 6-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral.

Amongst the guests onboard was Andrew Sexton of Knoxville Tennessee, who was sailing with his wife, three daughters, and extended family on their first ever cruise.

Unbeknownst to Sexton, he was about to mark a major milestone for Celebration Key: he was the one-millionth visitor. As he disembarked with his family, he was greeted with an unexpected, but fitting celebration.

Celebration Key One-Millionth Guest Milestone
Celebration Key One-Millionth Guest Milestone

A Junkanoo band played, Carnival crew danced, and Sexton’s daughters were fitted with special sashes.  Even Santa Claus showed up to get in on the fun.

Read Also: What Are All the Cruise Line Private Islands and Destinations?

Cruise Director, MarQ Anthony, personally met with the family to congratulate them on the special milestone.

Commemorating the event, the Sexton family was given a special package, which included a private cabana as well as free food and beverages for the day. Not bad for your first cruise.

Celebration Key’s Huge Success, and More to Come

Since opening, Celebration Key has been a major benefit not only to Carnival Cruise Line and the guests who enjoy it, but to the locals as well.

20 ships currently call upon the destination from 10 U.S. homeports, including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Jacksonville. To date, Celebration Key is the largest development project ever undertaken by Carnival Corporation, and the locals are reaping the benefits.

It has created more than 1,000 jobs for local Bahamian residents and partnered with 58 locally-owned companies.

“Both local residents who have benefited from the job creation and our guests have embraced Celebration Key from the very first day, and this milestone underscores an exciting chapter for us in The Bahamas,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

Construction of the destination also relied upon 96% local Bahamian labor, and that benefit continues with the ongoing construction of the phase 2 expansion.

This expansion is estimated to cost $100 million and is set to open in 2026. The project will feature an additional expanded pier that would allow up to four ships to dock at once.

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With double the visitations, including from the fleet’s largest Excel-class vessels, Celebration Key is full steam ahead on course to blow past its current one-million mark.

In fact, by 2028, Carnival Cruise Line expects four-million passengers to have visited Celebration Key, four times the recent milestone.

One wonders what sort of package the four-millionth guest will get.

Norwegian Cruise Ships Drop Curacao From Itineraries Amid Rising Tensions

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Cruise Ships Drop Curacao From Itineraries Amid Rising Tensions

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Epic has skipped Curacao and Norwegian Sky has removed the port from a January sailing.
  • No reason has been offered other than “naval exercises” and “updated port availability.”
  • Local news sources note that rising tensions between Venezuela and the US may be causing the changes.

Both Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Sky are skipping port visits to the popular southern Caribbean destination of Curacao. While Norwegian Epic has already skipped the tropical destination, at least one of Norwegian Sky‘s upcoming voyages is also impacted.

Norwegian Epic skipped her visit to Willemstad that had been planned for Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The ship is currently sailing a 7-night Caribbean voyage roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico that departed on Sunday, December 14.

Guests aboard that weeklong cruise reported on Reddit that the ship’s captain announced the reason for the change was “naval exercises,” and it was important for the ship to depart the area near Curacao. Instead, the ship would head for Barbados as an alternative port visit.

The captain’s announcement also indicated that all Norwegian Cruise Line ships would be skipping Curacao, but that has not yet been confirmed. Cruise Hive has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for clarification but has not yet heard back.

Satellite tracking does show the 155,873-gross-ton Norwegian Epic docked in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday, December 18. According to the current itinerary, that day was originally planned as a day at sea.

Norwegian Sky to Skip Curacao in January

Another Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Sky, has also updated future itinerary plans and removed Curacao from the ship’s January 5, 2026 departure.

“Due to updated port availability, we will no longer be visiting Willemstad, Curacao,” the notification letter sent to booked guests and travel agents stated.

There were no further details provided about why the ship would be skipping the popular port and no alternative destination has been added to the 9-night itinerary.

Mega Pier Cruise Terminal
Mega Pier Cruise Terminal (Photo Credit: Studio Barcelona)

Norwegian Sky will still be visiting Cabo Rojo, Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Tortola during the cruise.

Two other minor itinerary changes have also been confirmed. Norwegian Sky will set sail from her La Romana homeport at 4 p.m. rather than 5:30 as originally scheduled. She will also depart Tortola slightly later than planned, at 2:30 p.m. instead of 2:15 p.m.

The 77,104-gross-ton Norwegian Sky is one of the oldest and smallest ships in the NCL fleet, and her days are numbered.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced in April 2025 that Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun would be leaving the fleet in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Both ships have been sold to Cordelia Cruises and will continue to sail with that cruise line after updates and rebranding.

Why Is Curacao Cancelled?

While Norwegian Cruise Line has not yet given any further explanation about the port cancellations other than “naval exercises” and “updated port availability,” the reasons may be more complex.

The NL Times notes that rising tensions between the US and Venezuela, in light of drug trafficking operations and the presence of military aircraft in commercial airspace, could be behind the cancellations.

Willemstad is on the southern coast of Curacao and just 45 miles from mainland Venezuela. The island is not under Venezuelan control, however, but is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands along with Aruba and Bonaire.

While there is no immediate threat to any of the ABC islands, cruise lines may feel obligated to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their ships, guests, and crew members.

With the busy tourist season just beginning for the southern Caribbean, multiple cancellations and itinerary changes could have a significant economic impact on the region.

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At the moment, no other cruise lines appear to be canceling sailings to the region or adjusting itineraries to avoid Curacao.

In the next few weeks, ships from Royal Caribbean, AIDA Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Marella Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and more all have visits planned for Curacao.

Any guests booked on a southern Caribbean sailing with any line will want to keep in close contact with their cruise line in the coming months in case their voyages may be impacted by further changes.

Crown Bay Cruise Port Set for Major Redevelopment With Royal Caribbean

Donna Tunney
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Crown Bay Cruise Port Set for Major Redevelopment With Royal Caribbean

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean Group will help redevelop the Crown Bay cruise port on St. Thomas.
  • The project is a partnership with the local port authority and a cruise terminal developer.
  • The timeline for completion and cost of the plan were not revealed.

Royal Caribbean Group, parent company to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, apparently sees a big future at Crown Bay, one of two cruise ports on St. Thomas.

The company has signed a pact with the Virgin Islands Port Authority and Cruise Terminals International to redevelop Crown Bay, turning it from a small retail mall and welcome center into a tourist hub with cultural venues, commercial outlets, and recreational sites.

An announcement on December 18, 2025 detailed the signing of the agreement the day before, with plenty of VIPs on hand, including USVI Gov. Albert B. Bryan, Jr., Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach, and several cruise line and port officials.

The accord was signed at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay. However, details about the actual redevelopment are scarce. There was no timeline for the project, for instance, and no price tag.

Royal Caribbean Group has experience redeveloping ports. One of its most ambitious projects, where it worked in partnership with local authorities, was at Falmouth, Jamaica, which was developed into a spacious marketplace with local vendors, high-end luxury shops, eateries, and other commercial outlets in 2011.

Virgin Islands Port Authority & Royal Caribbean Group
Virgin Islands Port Authority & Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group also has invested in several private destinations, most notably Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas, the soon-to-open Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, and planned destinations at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Santorini, Greece.

Crown Bay on St. Thomas is particularly important to Royal Caribbean because the docks can accommodate the line’s Oasis-class vessels. The class includes Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. Another is expected to debut in 2028.

The Oasis-class ships are just shy of 1,200 feet long, a length not many Caribbean ports can accommodate.

Project Promises to Buoy Local Economy

Aside from its own needs, Royal Caribbean seems eager to upgrade the guest experience and help the local island economy.

“By providing elevated experiences for our guests while also paying respect to the local culture and delivering significant economic benefits to the community, we can collectively usher in a new future for US Virgin Islands,” said Melissa Morales, senior director of destination development for the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe at Royal Caribbean Group.

Port authority officials touted the project’s investment in the island, saying the redevelopment reflects the future of tourism in the USVI.

Read Also: IDEAL Eastern Caribbean Cruise Ports You Should Visit

The third partner in the deal, Cruise Terminals International (CTI), is an independent cruise terminal developer, 10% owned by Royal Caribbean Group. It is 90% owned by the London-based investment firm ICONInfrastructure.

Cost of the Project Is Not Yet Revealed

No investment figure was floated in the announcement, but a major undertaking to transform a port is an expensive proposition. In the case of the Falmouth Cruise Port in Jamaica, for example, Royal Caribbean invested about $170 million — nearly 15 years ago. 

However, that development included the construction of a two-ship berth, something that Crown Bay likely will not need. Also, presumably the local port authority and CTI will be investors, too.

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St. Thomas has two cruise ports. In addition to Crown Bay, the authority operates Havensight. It is already a vibrant, modern facility with commercial spaces and is closer to downtown Charlotte Amalie than Crown Bay.

Ships from scores of cruise lines call at St. Thomas, including the Royal Caribbean Group brands. In December 2025, for instance, Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas will call, as will Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel.

Princess Cruise Ship Returns to Singapore For Seasonal Voyages

Donna Tunney
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Princess Cruise Ship Returns to Singapore For Seasonal Voyages

Key Aspects:

  • Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess is sailing her inaugural fall 2025 seasonal cruise from Singapore.
  • The sailing is one of seven voyages the ship will operate across Southeast Asia.
  • In late February 2026, Diamond Princess will reposition to Japan.

Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has once again deployed to her seasonal homeport of Singapore and is about halfway through her first voyage, a 16-night cruise visiting destinations in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Gem-class ship, which accommodates 2,700 guests in double occupancy, is an annual visitor to Singapore, offering a series of Southeast Asia sailings before traditionally launching a Japan series in February.

In 2026, her repositioning to Yokohama (Tokyo) will begin on February 10, but first she will sail another six voyages roundtrip from Singapore.

Diamond Princess’s current itinerary features eight port calls, with just two remaining — Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on December 19 and 21, respectively, before returning to Singapore on December 23, 2025.

Worth Reading: Princess Cruises to Boost Seasonal Capacity in Singapore

Her holiday cruise, a 14-night “Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam” sailing that departs December 23, 2025, offers guests the chance to spend Christmas and New Year’s onboard the ship as she calls at popular destinations in each country, plus Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Cruises roundtrip from Singapore are of varying lengths and are offered into mid-February 2026, including the 10-night “Vietnam With Halong Bay,” departing on January 20, 2026. It will visit four destinations in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Halong Bay, and Da Nang.

Diamond Princess Cruise Ship
Diamond Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Franchesko Mirroni)

Diamond Princess will reposition to Yokohama at the conclusion of her February 10, 2026 voyage, a 14-night sailing that calls at Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Keelung, Taipei, and Osaka and Shimizu, Japan.

The ship will launch her Japan series with the 10-night “Japan Explorer” cruise departing on February 24, 2026. The voyage will enable cruisers to immerse themselves in Japanese culture while calling at seven of the country’s ports — Beppu, Hiroshima, Shimonoseki, Nagasaki, Aburatsu, Kochi, and Toba, plus Busan, South Korea.

Diamond Princess will offer a wide variety of Japan itineraries in 2026, ranging from 9 to 20 nights.

Other Princess Cruises’ ships will make calls in Singapore in 2026-27.  Crown Princess, for example, will call in May 2026 during her 114-night world cruise, and Royal Princess will make her maiden call to the destination on October 16, 2026 during a 9-night cruise roundtrip from Singapore.

Royal Princess will also operate a 13-night cruise roundtrip from Singapore on November 10, 2026.

New Eatery Offers Japanese Specialties

Diamond Princess was constructed in Japan and designed for the Japanese market; however, the cruise line continues to enhance the ship’s cultural offerings. 

In fall 2025, a new restaurant, Makoto Ocean, was added to Diamond Princess. The eatery debuted onboard the line’s newest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, and was created in partnership with celebrity Chef Makoto Okuwa, who is noted for his Edomae-style sushi.

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Onboard Diamond Princess, Makoto Ocean replaced the Kai Sushi venue. The new restaurant was also added to Sapphire Princess, a ship that will join Diamond Princess in the Japan market in 2027.

In August 2025, Princess Cruises announced it would double its capacity in Japan by adding Sapphire Princess to the region, joining Diamond Princess from March to December 2027. Also Japanese-built, Sapphire Princess is a sister ship to Diamond Princess.

The two ships together will sail 78 itineraries in 2027. Sapphire Princess will sail from Tokyo.

Carnival Adjusting Itineraries After Islands Sold to New Owner

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Adjusting Itineraries After Islands Sold to New Owner

Key Aspects:

  • Six future Carnival Encounter sailings must be changed because one port has now been sold.
  • Papua New Guinea’s Conflict Islands will no longer welcome cruise guests under new ownership.
  • Carnival Cruise Line is seeking alternative destinations and will update the impacted cruises.

South Pacific itineraries sailing from Australia offer amazing opportunities to visit remote destinations that embody the untouched beauty of the tropics. The Conflict Islands in Papua New Guinea are one such destination.

Unfortunately, an unexpected change in ownership means those islands will be unavailable to cruise guests and multiple sailings of Carnival Encounter will now have itinerary changes.

“Carnival has been advised that Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea, has been sold to a new owner and will no longer be available for cruise ship visits,” a notification sent to travel agents and booked guests explained.

A total of six Carnival Encounter voyages are impacted and will no longer be able to visit the Conflict Islands as planned. This includes the following departure dates over more than two years:

  • June 9, 2026
  • August 19, 2026
  • April 19, 2027
  • August 18, 2027
  • April 18, 2028
  • June 14, 2028

These sailings are all 10-night roundtrip cruises from Brisbane. In addition to the Conflict Islands, other ports on the itineraries include Alotau, Kiriwina Island, and Rabaul. The Conflict Islands are the final port visit for each voyage.

While the other Papua New Guinea [PNG] ports are not affected by the ownership change, it is possible they may be rescheduled or cancelled as Carnival Cruise Line adjusts to new routes or offers other alternative ports.

“We are now actively evaluating the alternatives for PNG itineraries and will be in touch with guests in January 2026, once we have finalised plans,” the notification said.

Another option might be a longer stay in ports already planned, but Carnival Cruise Line will investigate all possible options before confirming changes.

In addition to the 108,865-gross-ton Carnival Adventure, Holland America Line’s Noordam and Zaandam have visits planned to the Conflict Islands in 2026 – on January 13 and February 7, respectively. Seabourn Pursuit is scheduled to call on May 12, 2026.

Several other ships are also scheduled for the destination in 2026, 2027, and 2028, including Westerdam, Coral Princess, Seabourn Quest, Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, and Grand Princess.

Other than Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, all the other lines scheduled to visit the Conflict Islands are part of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Whether or not other cruise lines must likewise cancel the port or adjust itineraries will depend on their own arrangements with the new owner.

Who Owns the Conflict Islands?

The Conflict Islands are an atoll with more than 15 small islands east of the main body of Papua New Guinea. While their name might indicate ownership disputes, the islands were actually named after the Royal Navy schooner HMS Conflict in 1880.

Nevertheless, there have been conflicts with the Conflict Islands in recent years. Previously owned by Australian businessman Ian Gowrie-Smith, the islands were up for sale in 2022.

Pacific Encounter Cruise Ship
Pacific Encounter Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ribeiroantonio)

According to the Sydney Morning Herald at that time, there were security concerns that islands might be sold to Chinese interests. This could have caused significant political and economic instability in the region.

That sale apparently fell through, but now the islands have transferred to new but as yet undisclosed ownership.

“The Conflict Islands, which are part of Papua New Guinea, have been sold to a new owner,” John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, said. “I didn’t know islands moved around like that.”

While the islands may remain under private ownership and unavailable to guests, there are other options as well. It is possible a resort may have purchased the location and could be planning a new destination for visitors, or even private entities such as television studios or research facilities could make such purchases.

Cruise lines may even make such purchases to develop private destinations, such as Royal Caribbean’s purchase of Costa Maya to construct Perfect Day Mexico.

In some cases, such agreements are not actual purchase contracts, but instead are long-term leases with the governments who retain ownership of the islands or destinations.

Itinerary Updates Planned

Regardless of who the new owner of the islands may be, cruises will be unable to visit for the foreseeable future.

“The new owners do not want the cruise ships there,” Heald confirmed in a daily video. “That’s very sad because I know it was a very popular area, but we are looking extremely hard now to provide you with an exciting itinerary and you’ll have that news in the early part of 2026.”

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There is no precise timeline for when the itinerary updates will be announced. Because the first impacted cruise is not for six months, however, there is plenty of time for Carnival Cruise Line to make alternative arrangements to offer outstanding destinations for guests to visit.

Guests booked on the impacted sailings should stay in close contact with Carnival to be sure they are updated as soon as changes are confirmed.

Cruise Dreams Shattered After Guests Turned Away for Documentation Slip

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Dreams Shattered After Guests Turned Away for Documentation Slip

Key Aspects:

  • A family is demanding compensation after being denied boarding for their Norwegian Cruise Line sailing.
  • Two members of the travel party, who are US permanent citizens, did not bring their green cards to the cruise port.
  • Green cards were required to sail and to re-enter the country at the end of their planned Bahamas cruise.

If there is one thing every cruiser must remember to do, it is to double-check what documentation is needed in order to embark on their sailing and triple-check that they bring it all with them.

Guests who fail to do so could be denied boarding, which is what happened to one family who recently attempted to embark on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship in Jacksonville, Florida.

It’s unclear which specific sailing that family had booked, but the ship that ended up being just out of reach for them was likely Norwegian Gem, as she is homeporting in Jacksonville through spring of 2026.

Per an angry Reddit post, the poster’s wife and parents were denied boarding at the cruise port because the parents – who are permanent US citizens – did not have their physical green cards with them.

“I bought my wife and in-laws tickets to the Bahamas leaving from Jacksonville and they drove down there yesterday (7 hour drive) but were refused entry on to the ship because my in-laws, who are permanent residents with passports and state IDs, did not have their physical green cards with them,” the frustrated spouse posted.

“The reason given by the person refusing entry was that, quote: ‘when we come back through US Customs from the Bahamas, how are they going to get back into the country without their cards?’”, the Redditor continued.

Read Also: Do I Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise? – Full Guide

The family is now seeking a refund or future cruise credit from Norwegian Cruise Line due to the inconvenience and embarrassment, which has thus far been denied.

Who is Really at Fault?

The family has tried to claim that they did not see anything stating that physical green cards were required, and that this information was not ever conveyed to them.

“When I purchased the tickets NCL did not ask to upload them, nor did they ever mention them when I registered her parents as non-US citizens during check out,” the Redditor complained.

But just because the family may not have immediately seen these instructions, it doesn’t mean the information wasn’t readily available.

Cruise Check In
NCL Cruise Check In (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock)

A quick search of Norwegian Cruise Line’s website makes it clear that physical green cards would have been required to sail, making it hard for the family to prove that they simply didn’t know better.

“US Alien Residents holding an Alien Resident Card (ARC), also known as a ‘Green Card’ must be in possession of the ARC in order to sail,” reads NCL’s publicly accessible travel documentation policy.

“US Alien Residents who do not have their ARC, as well as a valid passport from their country of citizenship, with them at check-in will be denied boarding,” the policy states.

Federal law also requires permanent residents (green card holders) to carry their green card with them at all times as proof of their status, and it must be presented to immigration officers upon leaving and entering the country.

Cruising to the Bahamas, of course, counts as leaving the country.

No Sympathy From the Cruise Community

Instead of advice on securing a refund, the Redditor received quite a bit of tough love in response to their post.

“It’s your responsibility to have the appropriate documents. Even a small amount of research ahead of time could have prevented this situation. It sucks and I’m sorry, this is definitely a ‘you’ problem,” one person said.

“OP could have read the NCL website or asked his travel agent. He needs to mark this up as a very expensive lesson learned,” another agreed.

More From Cruise Hive

At the end of the day, it is ultimately every cruise guest’s responsibility to verify what documentation is needed ahead of their sailing.

When in doubt, it is always okay to call the cruise line’s customer service department, where agents will be happy to walk you through the required documentation.

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