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CDC Confirms Outbreak Hits Over 80 People on Holland America’s Rotterdam

Melissa Mayntz
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CDC Confirms Outbreak Hits Over 80 People on Holland America’s Rotterdam

Key Aspects:

  • A norovirus outbreak has been confirmed aboard Rotterdam on the ship’s most recent sailing.
  • Embarkation for the January 9, 2026 departure was slightly delayed for extra sanitizing.
  • Extra cleaning measures are in place aboard the Pinnacle-class ship to help protect guests and crew.

A severe gastrointestinal illness outbreak has been reported aboard Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed as norovirus.

The outbreak occurred on the ship’s New Year’s sailing, a 12-night Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, December 28, 2025.

The report to the CDC indicates that 81 guests of the 2,593 travelers onboard (3.1%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, 8 of the ship’s 1,005 crew members (just under 1%) also reported similar symptoms.

Subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the outbreak to be norovirus, the most common cause of such symptoms on cruise ships worldwide.

This latest outbreak is the third norovirus outbreak aboard Rotterdam in the last 12 months. The first was reported in February 2025 and impacted a total of 185 guests and crew members. The second outbreak was somewhat smaller and just one month later, in March 2025, it impacted 93 guests and crew members.

Both earlier outbreaks were also confirmed as norovirus. Other Holland America Line ships have also had similar outbreaks in the past year, including two reports from Eurodam and one from Zuiderdam.

Embarkation Delayed

In order to fully sanitize the vessel ahead of her next sailing, guests planning to embark Rotterdam on Friday, January 9, 2026 were notified of a slight delay to embarkation.

This allows for extra deep cleaning before more guests board the ship, ensuring the most thorough possible sanitation measures.

Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship
Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)

Embarkation was delayed just a couple of hours. Rotterdam has already departed Port Everglades on her next itinerary, a 9-night Southern Caribbean “ABC” voyage with visits to Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, and Half Moon Cay.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Outbreaks Are on the Rise – Should Cruisers Worry?

Hopefully, the sanitation measures will have been effective and guests now onboard the Pinnacle-class ship will not be impacted by the unpleasant symptoms. Rotterdam can welcome 2,668 guests at double occupancy or up to 4,173 guests when fully booked.

Guests Report Conditions Onboard

Guests sailing during the impacted sailing shared their experiences on a Reddit thread, painting a much more graphic picture than the simple numbers reported to the CDC.

Coughing has been prominent onboard since early in the 12-night sailing, with gastrointestinal symptoms surfacing later in the cruise.

Roughly midway through the cruise, travelers noticed increased sanitation measures, including extra cleaning of public spaces and surfaces and stronger encouragement for hand-washing and using hand sanitizer.

Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship
Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)

By the last day or two of the sailing, there was no longer any self-service in the buffet and sickness bags were positioned around the ship.

“When the captain announced a gastrointestinal illness was going around I was pretty surprised given symptoms have seemed more respiratory,” one guest noted.

This might indicate there has been more than one illness onboard, but it is not uncommon for respiratory illnesses such as colds and flus to be more prominent during the winter months.

Some guests also noted slight changes to the entertainment lineup, such as adjustments to musical performances, which might indicate illness spreading among crew members.

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To be clear, the report to the CDC with the 89 confirmed norovirus cases is not claiming that 89 guests and crew members were sick simultaneously.

These reports are totals for the entire sailing, and because symptoms may resolve in just a few days, there could be significant gaps between early cases and late cases during the 12-night cruise.

Carnival Guest’s Complaint Over a Simple Straw Sparks Big Reactions

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Guest’s Complaint Over a Simple Straw Sparks Big Reactions

Key Aspects:

  • One Carnival cruise guest claims they won’t sail again until plastic straws are available.
  • Carnival Cruise Line discontinued plastic straws several years ago as an environmental measure.
  • Guests are able to bring their own reusable straws onboard for all their favorite cruise drinks.

It’s been several years since cruise lines began ditching single-use plastics, including straws, but is it time to reconsider what alternatives they use?

One recent Carnival Cruise Line guest feels that certain types of straws are literally the last straw and make-or-break their enjoyment of a cruise vacation.

They were so upset at what was offered for their beverage of choice that they reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, about their options.

“John are you aware that —– and —– have brought back plastic straws. Why does Carnival still have [these] god awful edible straws that fall apart. Paper straws are disgusting too,” the guest said.

While Heald redacted the names of cruise lines that have supposedly returned to using plastic straws, any such shift in policy from other lines has been quiet indeed, as none have noted such a change.

“I was on the Celebration and ordered a drink from the Guy Fieri pub,” the guest continued.

“I requested a straw with my Moscow Mule, and they would not give me one stating they were only for frozen drinks only. I have never had that happen on any other cruise line ever! I won’t be back until Carnival changes this outdated policy.”

The guest does not identify their exact sailing date, but the Excel-class Carnival Celebration offers 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings year-round from PortMiami.

To be clear, there is no “Guy Fieri Pub” onboard Carnival Celebration, though they might be referring to Guy’s Smokehouse Brewhouse on Deck 8 aft, in the Summer Landing zone, where craft beers are brewed onboard.

Nevertheless, it is true that straws are not offered with most drinks onboard, as Heald confirmed.

“Some years ago The Beards rightly decided that we had to do more to protect our oceans,” he explained. “One of the ways to do this was to stop serving plastic straws.”

“The fact that we put the environment before straws should either be applauded or at least, understood.”

Read Also: What Is the Carnival CHEERS! Package?

Heald goes on to sympathize with the guest, noting he doesn’t care for edible straws himself. He does not claim to be the most environmentally-minded individual, but the step is a necessary one.

“I can say that after working and for many months living on the seas for almost 40 years that we must do this, we must protect our oceans,” he said.

Edible Straws Not a Guest Favorite

Heald and this vocal Carnival guest are not the only ones who don’t care for the edible straws. In fact, Heald posted a “straw poll” asking for guests’ opinions.

Of more than 4,740 votes in just a few hours, 56% of responses (roughly 2,650 votes) do not like the edible straws.

“They don’t hold up in drinks. They end up falling apart, and you can’t touch them to stir your drink because they’re sticky,” one guest noted.

How quickly the straws get slimy or fall apart, impacts on drink tastes, and the amount of sugar in candy straws are all complaints about the unpopular straws.

Roughly 7% of voters (approximately 330 votes) do enjoy the edible straws, typically for the sweeter drinks or milkshakes where the sugary flavors can actually be a fun addition.

Can Guests Bring Their Own Straws?

Heald does note that guests are free to bring their own reusable straws onboard to use in any drinks they order, but with one request.

“You can bring your own straw, a stainless steel or reusable straw but please, not plastic,” he said. “We do not have a rule on bringing plastic straws on board but please try not to if you can.”

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Reusable straws are available in silicone, metal, and glass, with different sizes and designs for different types of drinks. Bent straws, collapsible travel-friendly styles, and even curly straws for whimsical sips are all options.

In the poll, 31% of cruise guests (roughly 1,470 votes) do claim to bring their own straws onboard. Do you?

US Raises Travel Advisory for Caribbean Cruise Island After New Concerns Emerge

Catie Kovelman
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US Raises Travel Advisory for Caribbean Cruise Island After New Concerns Emerge

Key Aspects:

  • The US government has raised Grenada’s travel advisory from a Level 1 to a Level 2.
  • The reason for the elevated status is crime within the Caribbean destination.
  • Guests who visit the island nation should exercise increased caution and stay aware of their surroundings.

The US Department of State is feeling a bit spicy toward the “Island of Spice,” a popular cruise destination in the Eastern Caribbean.

Due to crime, the US government has raised Grenada from a Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) travel advisory to a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) advisory on January 5, 2026.

“Violent crime can occur anywhere in Grenada. American citizens in Grenada have been victims of armed robbery, assault, burglary, and rape,” the advisory states.

“In some cases, American citizens have been killed. Police response times are not as fast as one may expect in the United States,” it continues.

In 2024, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) reported that the Caribbean nation had experienced a 1.6% increase in crime from the previous year.

However, the RGBF also celebrated a high solvency rate of 74.8% for all crimes reported in 2024, which they hoped to grow to reach 80% in 2025.

Crime statistics for 2025 have not been released publicly at this time.

Is Tension Between the US and Venezuela a Factor?

At only 90-100 miles away from Venezuela, there is a possibility that Grenada could be impacted by the rising tensions between the South American country and the US.

So far, no port calls have been skipped over the conflict. However, flights to and from Grenada were negatively impacted due to the US military attack on Venezuela on January 3, 2026.

Even though the travel advisory upgrade came just two days after this event, the tensions were not cited as a reason.

Cruise Ships Continue Sailing to Grenada

Hundreds of thousands of cruise guests visit Grenada every year, primarily calling at Port St. George’s on the Caribbean destination’s southwestern coast. At this time, there are no plans to slow this momentum.

But rest assured, the cruise lines will continue to monitor the safety of the port and will make adjustments if the need arises.

Grenada Cruise Port
Photo Courtesy: Grenada Gov

31 ship calls are still to come in the month of January alone, with major brands like Royal Caribbean, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, and Princess Cruises on the schedule.

Read Also: 11 Most Dangerous Cruise Ports You Should Be Extra Cautious About

Smaller luxury vessels will sometimes also stop at Carriacou, which is a tender port and the largest of Grenada’s sister islands – though this port doesn’t see nearly as much action.

Star Clippers’ 166-guest Star Clipper is expected to visit Carriacou twice in February and twice in March, which are the only remaining calls for this year on the schedule.

Should Passengers Worry?

If it ever gets too dangerous to visit a port, the cruise lines will make itinerary changes accordingly.

At least for the foreseeable future, the US State Department is simply advising guests who do visit the island to exercise increased caution and stay aware of their surroundings.

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In the grand scheme of things, a Level 2 advisory is only one step above the lowest risk. More concern is understandable for a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) advisory.

If you’re worried, booking a vetted tour or shore excursion through your cruise line is usually a good way to have fun and stay safe while in port.

Why Symphony of the Seas Won’t Stay in Nassau as Long as Planned

Melissa Mayntz
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Why Symphony of the Seas Won’t Stay in Nassau as Long as Planned

Key Aspects:

  • Symphony of the Seas will leave Nassau 90 minutes early on her February 15, 2026 sailing.
  • The change is to comply with speed restrictions that may be related to environmental concerns.
  • Booked guests have reported similar changes on multiple upcoming sailing dates.

Guests booked on Symphony of the Seas‘ February 15, 2026 sailing have learned they will not have quite as much time as originally planned in Nassau, capital of the Bahamas.

The notification email explained the change and how the itinerary of the 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise has been adjusted.

“As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process, we’ve modified our upcoming sailing. To maintain smooth sailing and comply with safe speed restrictions during our cruise, we’ve adjusted our departure time from Nassau, Bahamas on Day 7,” the email confirmed.

“We’ll now depart at 4:30 PM instead of 6 PM. Not to worry, the rest of the itinerary remains the same.”

Any shore tours booked through Royal Caribbean will be adjusted to the new port time if necessary. If the tours cannot be accommodated, they will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ original form of payment.

While the change is a minor one, it may impact any guests who might have hoped to enjoy options such as a sunset cruise or an early dinner in Nassau before returning to the ship.

If guests have arranged independent tours, they will need to contact their tour operators for adjustments or cancellations as necessary.

To be clear, the ship’s arrival in Nassau at 9 a.m. is also the same. The times for the rest of the sailing remain unchanged as follows:

  • Sunday, February 15 – Depart Miami at 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 18 – St. Maarten from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 18 – St. Thomas from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, February 22 – Arrive in Miami at 6 a.m.

The other days of the sailing (other than Saturday’s visit to Nassau) are days at sea, giving guests plenty of time to enjoy all the Oasis-class ship has to offer.

Symphony of the Seas can welcome 5,518 guests at double occupancy or up to 6,680 travelers when fully booked. The ship is also home to roughly 2,200 international crew members.

Why the Change?

While there was initially some speculation that Symphony of the Seas might be experiencing propulsion difficulties or other technical problems leading to a reduced sailing speed, this is not the case.

The notification email is clear that the change is to “comply with safe speed restrictions,” though it does not indicate what those restrictions may be.

Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas (Photo Credit: Tony DiLello)

Read Also: Symphony of the Seas vs. Titanic – A Giant Comparison

It is not unusual for seasonal speed restrictions to be related to migratory patterns and routes of marine wildlife, such as whales. Slower speeds permit the mammals to move out of the way more easily as ships approach, or ships could better see and move around groups of whales. There is no evidence whatsoever that there is any technical problem with Symphony of the Seas.

Multiple Sailings Impacted

If this is indeed a seasonal restriction, it is possible that additional sailings may have similar changes. Booked guests should stay in close contact with Royal Caribbean for updates to their itineraries if necessary.

Guests booked on sailings in December 2025 as well as into March 2026 have reported identical changes, though individual sailing dates have not been confirmed.

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Whether or not a single cruise will have such an itinerary change will depend on the preplanned times for Nassau and if an earlier departure is necessary to comply with the restrictions.

These types of simple itinerary adjustments are not uncommon, particularly as environmental restrictions or policies may be implemented long after a sailing is originally planned and offered for sale.

MSC Splendida Sends Early Warning to Guests as Conditions Shift

Catie Kovelman
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MSC Splendida Sends Early Warning to Guests as Conditions Shift

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Splendida warned its guests of rough weather conditions in the Mediterranean.
  • The forecast called for high swells and wind speeds up to 35 knots along the planned route.
  • Precautions were taken to ensure that everyone would remain safe onboard.

People often use the phrase “rock the boat” as a colloquialism about causing trouble, but current guests of MSC Splendida may be experiencing the literal meaning of this.

The MSC cruise ship is currently in the middle of a 7-night Mediterranean sailing that embarked in Barcelona, Spain, on January 3, and the final leg of the voyage has been a bit bumpy due to bad weather.

The ship was rocked by big swells and strong winds reaching above 35 knots (about 40 miles per hour) while sailing from Palermo (Sicily), Italy, to La Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia.

“To make your trip as comfortable as possible, we would like to inform you that we are potentially expecting some challenging weather conditions during our navigation from Palermo to La Goulette,” Captain Giuseppe Maresca wrote in a letter to guests.

“Forecasts indicate that we may find rough seas across the Western Mediterranean, with high swells and wind gusts potentially exceeding 35 knots,” Maresca continued.

The 3,900-guest ship visited Palermo on January 7, 2026, before stopping at La Goulette on January 8, 2026. No itinerary changes had to be made because of the weather.

As of the time of writing, cruise tracking data shows the Fantasia-class vessel sailing away from Tunisia in very rough seas with swells reaching 3.6 meters (about 11-12 feet) and near gale-force winds.

La Goulette was the final port call on the itinerary, with the ship due back in Barcelona on January 10.

Precautions Taken Onboard

Due to the less-than-ideal conditions, the approximately 1,370 crew members have taken preventive action to protect all onboard.

First, the crew members likely drained the pools, which is commonly done in inclement weather to prevent flooding and to enhance the stability of the 137,936-gross ton vessel.

MSC Splendida Cruise Ship
MSC Splendida Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)

“If the situation requires it, we may temporarily empty onboard pools until conditions improve. We will promptly inform you if we need to implement further measures for your safety,” the cruise line advised.

Read Also: Can a Rogue Wave Sink a Cruise Ship?

Out of an abundance of caution, guests were also encouraged to avoid the outer decks, exercise extra care while moving about the ship, and to use the handrails when available.

These simple actions can help prevent falls or injuries if the ship were to move unexpectedly.

No Real Danger

Modern cruise ships, including MSC Splendida, have been carefully designed to weather rough seas.

Not only did the onboard bridge team work closely with the MSC shoreside team to choose the safest and smoothest possible route, but these ships are equipped with highly effective stabilization systems.

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“Rest assured that MSC Splendida has been designed, built, and equipped to safely navigate rough sea conditions such as these,” the captain reassured guests.

“We have carefully planned a navigational route that avoids the worst of the weather system and have made technical adjustments to ensure your journey remains as comfortable as possible,” he continued.

But while there is and was no danger to current guests or crew members, letting everyone know what is going on helps keep guests calm and comfortable – especially among novice cruisers who might be startled by rough conditions.

P&O Cruises Says No Compensation After Britannia Breakdown

Lissa Poirot
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P&O Cruises Says No Compensation After Britannia Breakdown

Key Aspects:

  • P&O Cruises has confirmed that no refunds or compensation will be issued to passengers on a recent sailing aboard Britannia.
  • The cruise line has directed guests to seek reimbursement through travel insurance for missed port calls due to a technical failure.
  • The decision has sparked anger among passengers who demand P&O Cruises take responsibility.

Passengers who sailed on P&O Cruises Britannia during its holiday December 26, 2025, New Year’s Caribbean cruise are angry, and rightfully so.

The cruise line informed them that no refunds or compensation would be issued following significant itinerary changes tied to a technical failure, including an extended stay in Barbados and the cancellation of multiple ports of call.

In a letter addressed to guests and signed by P&O Cruises Guest Relations, the cruise line confirmed its position in writing, stating no refunds or compensation would be provided as a result of the amended itinerary.

The letter triggered an immediate backlash from affected guests, many of whom said they felt the cruise line failed to take responsibility for a situation they believed was within P&O Cruises’ control.

“So, P&O are not going to take any responsibility and give anything in compensation? First and last time I will use them,” said one passenger.

Another described the financial and emotional impact the cruise had on her family, saying they had spent £15k on the vacation and were, “Completely disgusted with P&O.”

The guest added that passengers deserve more transparency, saying they want a detailed explanation of the mechanical problems that led to the disruption, as well as a breakdown of what went wrong and why information from the crew was so limited.

In a separate onboard letter dated January 8, 2026, P&O Cruises acknowledged passenger frustration and apologized for the disruption, stating, “On behalf of all of us on Britannia and at P&O Cruise, we would like to apologize and thank you for your patience following the recent itinerary changes and the unexpected diversion to Barbados due to a technical issue.”

The letter emphasized that guests only missed two calls and had one replacement port, highlighting the extra time in Barbados meant more time to discover its vibrant culture, stunning beaches, and warm hospitality.

They advised passengers seeking reimbursement for missed ports should turn to their travel insurance providers.

“If you wish to make a claim with your travel insurance provider for the missed ports of call, please retain a copy of this letter for your records,” the cruise line advised.

P&O Britannia
P&O Britannia (Photo Credit: Photomarine)

This didn’t help the situation, with passengers questioning why they were being directed to travel insurance and noting the unexpected extra days at sea and homeport resulted in the vessel running out of food and beverage provisions, also affecting the experience.

“This should not be for our insurance to cover. It’s a failing from P&O to provide what was paid for,” said a guest, comparing the situation to airline refunds when flights are cancelled due to mechanical failure.

What Happened Aboard Britannia?

Britannia, carrying more than 3,600 passengers, set sail on a 16-night New Year’s Cruise from Bridgetown, Barbados, on December 26, 2025.

Although the cruise began in high spirits and with successful calls in Grenada and Curaçao, its December 31, 2025, stop in Aruba was scrapped due to forecasted high winds. Guests onboard spent the evening enjoying a sea day instead.

Read Also: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

But, the situation escalated when a technical issue emerged, requiring urgent repairs and prompting the ship to slowly return to Barbados, with one passenger saying the 143,000-gross-ton vessel was “limping back” to its homeport.

Britannia arrived in Barbados on January 3, 2026, and remained there until late January 5 for repairs, keeping guests in Bridgetown for three additional days.

The disruption led to the cancellation of visiting St. Lucia as well as Antigua, which was replaced with a call to Martinique on January 6.

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In total, Britannia spent six of 16 days in Barbados, five days at sea, and five days on other Caribbean islands.

At the same time, P&O Cruises was also dealing with the aftermath of a US military strike on Venezuela that forced Caribbean airspace to shut down for 24 hours. The closure forced the cruise line to reschedule or issue refunds to 5,000 fly-cruise guests sailing on Arvia.

Why Holland America’s 2026 Europe Cruises Are Selling Out Faster Than Ever

Donna Tunney
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Why Holland America’s 2026 Europe Cruises Are Selling Out Faster Than Ever

Key Aspects:

    Cruises in Europe, particularly Northern Europe, are proving to be a major boon in Holland America Line’s advance bookings for 2026.

    Demand for Europe voyages has risen by one-third and by a whopping 50% for the continent’s northern destinations compared to early January 2025.

    Guests appear to be embracing the line’s itineraries that feature longer times in port, more overnights in port, and explorations of some 175 UNESCO World Heritage sites across 35 countries in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, British Isles, and Northern Europe.

    Several voyages were curated in partnership with The History Channel, a collaboration that the cruise line rolled out in early 2025. The iconic television brand signed a three-year agreement with Holland America to help design itineraries and shore excursions that take full advantage of a destination’s historical landmarks and elements.

    In Northern Europe, for instance, some excursions that debuted in 2025 included hiking the Trondheim Heritage Trail in Trondheim, Norway, and the Walk With Huskies experience in Tromso.

    One History Channel voyage onboard Nieuw Statendam, the 13-day Fjords of Norway, for example, departs September 19, 2026 from Rotterdam. The Pinnacle-class ship that accommodates 2,666 guests will make eight port calls in Norway, including at Trondheim, Stavanger, and Oslo, before ending in Dover, England.

    History Channel itineraries are offered in other destinations, too, such as Oosterdam’s 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise departing from Rome on August 29, 2026. Port calls offering history-focused and cultural excursions include Portofino, Italy, Ajaccio, Corsica, Marseille, France, and Gibraltar, UK, before the cruise ends in Barcelona.

    Holland America Line Cruise Ship
    Holland America Line Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Maykova Galina)

    Oosterdam has a capacity for 1,964 guests in double occupancy and is a Vista-class ship.

    “With our Dutch roots and unmatched expertise in the region, guests know they’re traveling with the European cruise experts when they choose Holland America. These voyages will sell out and at the fast pace we are seeing this year, now is a good time for guests to secure their ideal cruise,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management for Holland America Line.

    The cruise line’s latest success story followed on the heels of another surge in bookings during its 2025 Black Friday weekend sale.

    Offered from November 28 to December 1, 2025, that promotion led to a nearly 20% jump in bookings — eclipsing an all-time record high back in 2023. Like the current Wave Season promotion, it featured reduced deposits, fare discounts, and other value-added benefits.

    Book By January 12 For Wave Season Deals

    Holland America Line’s announcement strongly suggests that travelers considering a summer voyage to Europe should book soon, noting that the cruise line’s Wave Season promotion — called Start Your Journey, is time-limited.

    It’s good advice, considering that the promotion is in effect only until January 12, 2026 and offers several valuable benefits. The Wave Season deal currently on offer includes reduced deposits of $25; up to 30% discounts on cruise fares; up to $500 in onboard credits; balcony cabin upgrades; and free fares for children, among other perks.

    Other notable itineraries Holland America Line is offering for summer 2026 include the 14-Day Wild British Isles sailing onboard Nieuw Statendam. The May 30, 2026 voyage sails roundtrip from Dover, England, and features an overnight in Glasgow, Scotland.

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    The full exploration of Great Britain includes port calls at Edinburgh and Kirkwall, Scotland; Lerwick, Shetland Isles; Portree, Isle of Skye; and Holyhead, Wales. Guests will also visit Greencastle and Cork, Ireland, and Amsterdam on this voyage.

    Sports-minded passengers will be glad to know that every match in the FIFA World Cup 26 competition will be broadcast across the Holland America Line fleet.

    ICE Burst Into His Cruise Stateroom at 6:45 AM — All Because of a Name

    Catie Kovelman
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    ICE Burst Into His Cruise Stateroom at 6:45 AM — All Because of a Name

    Key Aspects:

    • A Carnival guest was detained by ICE agents in Miami due to a misunderstanding.
    • The guest was flagged because he shared the same name as someone else who had multiple warrants.
    • He was released after spending about 90 minutes in a holding cell in PortMiami.

    One recent guest of Carnival Cruise Line ended a birthday cruise with a present nobody wants – getting wrongfully detained by agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

    Jose Martinez, who is a US Coast Guard Veteran and most definitely a US citizen, was onboard with his wife, Tamara Verhas, and several others to celebrate both his birthday and the birthday of a close friend.

    All was well until the ship returned to Miami, Florida, on the morning of January 5, 2026, to disembark a Caribbean cruise.

    It’s not clear which specific vessel Martinez had been sailing on, but three Carnival ships were in the busy port that day – including Carnival Conquest, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Sunrise.

    Read Also: Activists Protest Filipino Crew Deportations From Baltimore Cruise Ship

    It was then that a misunderstanding over mistaken identity led to a traumatic encounter with ICE agents for the Phoenix-based couple.

    ICE Storms Into Stateroom

    At approximately 6:45 a.m. on the morning of January 5, ICE agents suddenly burst into Martinez’s stateroom while the couple was still fast asleep.

    “[The door] burst open. Three men came in with flashlights shining them in our faces and giving us commands,” Martinez told 12 News.

    “They ordered me out of bed and put me against the wall, and handcuffed me. I had no idea what was going on. I was asking what this was about; it was a flurry of just confusion,” he recalled.

    Martinez tried to offer proof of identification, but per an interview with ABC 15 Arizona, these pleas fell on deaf ears.

    His wife also tried to film the incident to document the traumatic encounter, but her phone was taken. When the device was returned, the footage had been deleted.

    Martinez was ultimately removed from the cruise ship and detained in a holding cell in PortMiami.

    He was fingerprinted and questioned for about an hour and a half before agents finally let him go.

    What Went Wrong?

    Unfortunately for Martinez, this whole experience came about due to a case of mistaken identity.

    The veteran told ABC 15 Arizona that he had actually had previous run-ins with ICE before because his name is very common in the Hispanic community, but never in such a dramatic or traumatizing way.

    Per the couple, Martinez was mistaken for another person with the same name who had multiple warrants out for his arrest.

    Carnival Conquest in Miami, Florida
    Carnival Conquest in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)

    “From what I understand, all of this was based off my first and last name, a very common Hispanic name. They thought I was someone who had warrants for drug trafficking or some sort of offender,” Martinez said.

    After nearly two hours, he was returned to the cruise terminal. Martinez alleges that he did not even get a simple apology for the ordeal he had been wrongfully forced to endure.

    US Customs and Border Protection have not commented publicly on the situation.

    Carnival Cruise Line Responds

    The ICE agents most likely incorrectly flagged Martinez during a review of the cruise ship’s manifest as part of the standard customs process.

    The manifest contains a detailed record of all passengers and crew members onboard, including their birthdays and citizenship status.

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    The agents then would have coordinated with the cruise ship’s security team to gain access to their stateroom. Carnival complied with the requests of the authorities in their investigation.

    “We are aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection took a guest into custody as a person of interest. As this is a law‑enforcement matter, we defer all further questions to the appropriate authorities,” the cruise line said in a public statement.

    It’s unclear if the cruise line has reached out to Martinez and his wife following the detainment.

    Expedition Ship Breaks Free in Ushuaia and Slams Into Another During Windstorm

    Catie Kovelman
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    Expedition Ship Breaks Free in Ushuaia and Slams Into Another During Windstorm

    Key Aspects:

    • Two expedition ships collided in the Port of Ushuaia during a windstorm.
    • World Voyager broke free from its moorings and hit Viking Octantis.
    • Thankfully, no injuries were reported and the damage was minor.

    A scary incident occurred in Argentina’s Port of Ushuaia on Tuesday, January 6, 2025.

    According to local outlet El Diario del Fin del Mundo, two expedition ships collided while the port was battered by strong winds.

    The ships involved were Viking Expeditions’ Viking Octantis and Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Voyager.

    Wind speeds averaged at around 30 knots, but stronger gusts reached speeds of 40 knots (approximately 46 miles per hour), which is certainly strong enough to cause problems for smaller vessels.

    What Really Happened?

    The collision came after the 10,000-gross ton World Voyager broke free from its moorings due to the strong winds.

    Specifically, the nautical rope that is owned and used by the small 198-guest ship snapped.

    Video of the incident that was shared by Ushuaia 24 Noticias shows World Voyager hit the dock, before colliding with the 30,150-gross ton Viking Octantis.

    “The collision occurred between the expedition ship World Voyager and the Viking Octantis. As it transpired, the Voyager came loose from moorings during an intense windstorm, slammed into the dock and collided with the other cruise ship,” Ushuaia 24 Noticias captioned the video.

    Read Also: What Happens If The Cruise Ship Is In Bad Weather

    The approximately 125 crew members onboard World Voyager are credited with quickly taking evasive action to soften the impact, but with the high winds there was simply nothing they could do to fully prevent the accident.

    This also isn’t the first time something like this has happened, and it likely won’t be the last.

    In the past year, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge, and MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape have all broken free from their moorings due to inclement weather.

    How Bad is the Damage?

    Thankfully, no injuries have been reported for the passengers and crew members who may have been onboard the two expedition ships.

    The vessels themselves didn’t escape completely unscathed, but also did not suffer any major or structural damage that would make sailing unsafe. Both underwent thorough technical inspections following the collision.

    The brunt of the impact occurred well above the waterline for both vessels, which helped protect their seaworthiness. Per the local outlets, Viking Octantis only suffered minor damage to a rear railing on one of its outer decks.

    World Voyager received a crack in its bow, which is the ship’s front section, but the damage was not severe and the ship was not taking on water because of it.

    Both ships were able to set sail as planned on the evening of January 6, and per cruise tracking data, are currently cruising at normal speeds of 13 to 16 knots.

    Where are the Ships Going Now?

    With the collision now behind them, Viking Octantis embarked on an 11-night sailing to Antarctica via the Drake Passage – which is notorious for being one of the roughest bodies of water in the world.

    The 378-guest ship will visit the Antarctic Peninsula and Cape Horn (Chile) before returning to Ushuaia on January 17

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    World Voyager is similarly making her way through the Drake Passage as part of a 10-night expedition to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

    It’s also business as usual at the Port of Ushuaia, where Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox called as planned on January 7.

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