Now, Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed the new sailings and homeports for both vessels, with options that will be very exciting for cruisers.
New Homeport for Norwegian Breakaway
A total of 21 sailings for Norwegian Breakaway were cancelled. This is the ship’s entire season from San Juan, Puerto Rico, covering departures from November 8, 2026 through and including the March 28, 2027 sailing.
Now, the ship will be setting sail from the Big Easy, offering colorful 7-night itineraries for guests to enjoy.
“Norwegian Breakaway will sail from New Orleans offering Norwegian Prima’s original Western Caribbean cruises,”a letter to guests confirmed.
“Yes, your original itinerary will still be available from New Orleans, but now on Norwegian Breakaway!”
These new bookings will be available for reservations from Friday, August 8, 2025.
Guests who had been booked aboard Norwegian Prima sailing from New Orleans will receive a full refund for their now-cancelled sailing, but they will not be automatically rebooked on Norwegian Breakaway.
They will, however, also receive a 10% future cruise credit that can be used as a discount on a new booking, including Norwegian Breakaway‘s season from New Orleans.
The credit can also be used on any other Norwegian Cruise Line ship from any homeport in any sailing region through December 31, 2027.
The 145,655-gross ton Norwegian Breakaway can welcome 3,963 guests at double occupancy, more than 860 extra guests than Norwegian Prima.
While the ship is older, the larger vessel and bigger capacity offers spectacular opportunities for cruisers from New Orleans.
Now, over the entire season, Norwegian Breakaway will spend sailing from Louisiana, she will be able to welcome more than 17,000 extra guests aboard, which is above the capacity Norwegian Prima could accommodate.
New Homeport for Norwegian Prima
As Norwegian Breakaway takes over her fleetmate’s sailings from New Orleans, Norwegian Prima will likewise take over the Southern Caribbean sailings that had been planned for Norwegian Breakaway from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“Your original itinerary will still be available from San Juan, Puerto Rico, but now on one of NCL’s newest, next generation ships, Norwegian Prima!”the cruise line confirmed.
As with the cancellations for Norwegian Breakaway, booked guests are receiving full refunds as well as 10% future cruise credits for the 20 sailings now cancelled for Norwegian Prima.
While the ship has a smaller capacity of just 3,099 guests, moving Norwegian Prima to San Juan brings a new and updated cruise experience to Puerto Rico, offering guests all the updates of the new class with outstanding Southern Caribbean sailings to Aruba, Curacao, the US Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia, and more.
Personally, I was hoping the cruise line would extend Norwegian Prima‘s stay at Port Canaveral, where she will be homeported from November 2, 2025 through November 8, 2026.
We’re excited to sail on her, but already have plans for her sister ship, Norwegian Aqua, later this month, and we haven’t yet booked for summer 2025. Maybe a spring break cruise!
It isn’t unusual for cruise lines to occasionally rearrange which ships are deployed where based on booking trends, itinerary schedules, and guest feedback.
Undoubtedly, the swapping of Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima will draw attention from eager cruisers and both ships will offer fantastic vacations from their new homeports.
Every cruise traveler daydreams about their upcoming sailing, hoping for an amazing vacation with beautiful weather, delicious food, outstanding entertainment, spectacular service, and more.
Unfortunately, even a seemingly perfect cruise can have bad experiences, but that doesn’t mean the cruise line is at fault.
One recent Carnival cruiser disagrees and believes the cruise line should have a greater responsibility for guest safety – for something absolutely outside of Carnival Cruise Line’s control.
“I got a extreme sunburn with a big sort of blister starting (not really a blister so far but it is thicker then my normal skin, rippled, but same color as my skin) on my right leg and hurts when I touch it,”the guest explained.
The guest notes that they did go to the ship’s Medical Center, but they disagreed with the charge for treatment. They do not clarify, however, whether they accepted that treatment or not.
“I was on the Serenity area for the day when I got this sunburn,”they continued.“There was no water spritzer bottles to cool the skin. There were no places to buy sunblock. Carnival’s refusal to help me is wrong. There was not any warnings or signs.”
There’s no denying that sunburn can be very painful and can certainly put a damper on one’s vacation experience.
Furthermore, if one isn’t accustomed to summer rays, a severe sunburn can happen more quickly than expected. While the guest doesn’t indicate where their ship was sailing, such burns can happen anywhere the sun is strong – from Alaska to the Caribbean to Antarctica.
But is Carnival Cruise Line responsible? Is the cruise line doing enough to let passengers know that sitting out in the sun might – surprise! – result in a sunburn?
Heald responded, but not in the way the guest might have wished.
“I truly feel so very sorry for this chap. Anyone who has had sunburn and sported blisters as big as Steakhouse dinner plate deserves some sympathy,”he acknowledged.
“I can only hope that this [guest] has now learnt two valuable lessons — 1) always apply sunscreen when on your cruise and 2) when things go wrong it isn’t always Carnival Cruise Line who is to blame.”
Was Carnival Responsible for the Sunburn?
Let’s go a bit further. The guest claims that “water spritzer bottles to cool the skin” would have been helpful, but sunburn isn’t actually caused by heat.
There is no evidence that misting water on exposed skin can have an impact on a sunburn, though it can help you stay more comfortable in the hot sun.
That might actually have the opposite effect, however. If you’re more comfortable basking in the hot sun, you would be more likely to stay in the sun longer, increasing the risk of a bad sunburn.
Next, the guest claimed that “There were no places to buy sunblock.” This might be true directly on the adults-only Serenity Deck, but different types of sunblock are indeed available onboard in the Fun Shops. The price might be high and it might not be one’s preferred brand, but it is in fact there.
Passengers on Cruise Ship Deck (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
The guest also asserts that Carnival refused to help with their burn. They contradict that assertion, however, by noting they went to the medical center and were offered treatment – they just didn’t want to pay for that treatment.
Finally, the guest claims there were no warnings or signage, presumably about the dangers of sun exposure and need for sunscreen.
Really? You need to be told that? Undoubtedly, many other guests nearby would have been applying sunblock, and it’s certainly no secret that excessive sun exposure can result in painful burns.
Furthermore, I have seen notes in the Fun Times newsletter urging guests to wear sunscreen, and have heard cruise directors including such warnings in their morning announcements. This may not be consistent on different sailings or ships, but it does happen.
This guest’s comments would be similar to complaining that Carnival doesn’t have signs in every stairwell that falling down stairs can result in injuries. Well, duh.
The original poster did not receive sympathy from other guests who noted there are many ways to prevent sunburn.
Putting a towel over one’s legs, seeking shade, or even just realizing “wow, it’s really hot, maybe I should get out of the sun” are all obvious answers.
Some guests also note that there are not usually sunblock or sunburn warnings posted at lakes, beaches, or pools, so why should Carnival Cruise Line be responsible?
We just crossed the halfway point for 2025 and already Cunard’s 2027 launch is off to a fast start.
The cruise line reported a 55 percent increase in nights booked during the first week of its 2027 program release compared to the same period last year.
And much of that momentum comes from both the UK and North American markets, where bookings rose nearly 50 percent and more than 100 percent, respectively.
“We’re delighted with the response to our 2027 launch,”said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard.
“It’s wonderful to see so many guests choosing to sail with us, and the rise in bookings show just how much people continue to value the Cunard experience,” she added.
Cunard says interest in its top-tier accommodations has been particularly notable, with bookings for its Queens Grill and Princess Grill suites more than 100 percent over last year’s launch period. These premium accommodations include butler service, access to private dining, and space that reaches over 2,000 square feet.
Said McAllister, the bookings “tell us that more guests are seeking the space, service, and thoughtful details that make our luxury Grills suites so special.”
Transatlantic crossings aboard the 148,528-gross-ton Queen Mary 2 also continue to be one of the 185-year-old line’s most popular offerings.
This isn’t the first time Cunard has reported record-breaking bookings either. By June 2024, the cruise line broke its booking records after launching its newest ship, the Queen Anne in May. The 2,996-guest vessel, which set sail from Liverpool, helped spur renewed interest in the cruise line.
By December of 2024, the company, which is owned by Carnival Corporation, again bested its booking record by 23 percent.
To capitalize on the momentum, Cunard unveiled themed cruises around cuisine, entertainment, and the celebration of the cruise line’s anniversary in June 2025. That voyage departed Southampton on June 24 and is ending in New York City on July 8.
An Exciting Lineup
Cunard introduced its 2027 itineraries at the beginning of June 2025 with a lineup featuring 195 new voyages across its four-ship fleet. Collectively, the ships will visit 115 ports in 32 countries between April 2027 and January 2028.
The itineraries include visits to 93 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including iconic destinations like the Historic Centre of Florence, the Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia), and the ancient ruins of Ephesus (Turkey).
In addition, 18 overnight port calls and late-evening departures are also featured on the schedule to offer extended time in port for guests looking to explore more on land.
Queen Anne Ship (Photo Credit: Martin Augustus)
Also a highlight? The return to homeport cruising from Cunard’s Southampton, England, base. For the first time since 2018, three of Cunard’s ships will sail roundtrip from the UK, which increases Southampton departure capacity by 54 percent year over year.
The 2027 itineraries also include several maiden calls and lesser-known ports. For instance, the 113,000-gross-ton Queen Anne, will visit La Rochelle, France, and Sorrento, Italy, for the first time.
Meanwhile, The 90,900-gross-ton Queen Elizabeth will offer an extended European season to its 2,081 passengers, with 65 sailings that include 22 ports not visited in more than 15 years and maiden calls in Trieste, Italy, and Calvi, France.
Queen Victoria, which is slightly smaller at 90,000 gross tons and managing 2,061 guests, will be taking guests to Iceland’s Grundarfjordur, marking Cunard’s first return since 2009. It will also make its inaugural call to Latvia’s capital of Riga.
Finally, Queen Mary 2 will continue to bring nearly 2,700 passengers on its signature crossing sailings and celebrate major moments like the Fourth of July in Boston and Christmas in the Caribbean.
If you’re an avid cruiser, then you’re probably a member of at least one cruise line loyalty program. However, if you cruise with a handful of different lines, did you know that some cruise lines offer loyalty status matching?
That means, if you have a top-tier status with one cruise line, you could enjoy the same status and all the perks that come with it, on another cruise line, without working your way up from that other line’s loyalty program introductory tier.
Yes! MSC Cruises status matches quite generously. If you have a high ranking in just about any other travel brand’s loyalty program, chances are likely that you can status match the next time you sail with MSC Cruises.
The cruise line’s status match program is applicable to literally dozens of other loyalty programs, including hotel programs, airline programs and more.
So, for example, I currently enjoy perks like booking discounts, gifts, and free Wi-Fi when I fly with certain airlines and stay at certain hotel chains. With status matching, I can get similar perks with MSC Cruises.
What Cruise Lines Does MSC Cruises Status Match With?
For cruising specifically, you can get an MSC Voyagers Club status match if you’re already enrolled in a loyalty program with one of the following other cruise lines:
Aida Cruise Line
Azamara Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
P&O Cruises
Ponant
Princess Cruises
Regent Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea
How Do I Apply for the MSC Cruises Status Match Program?
MSC World Europa in Barcelona (Photo Credit: Lara-SH)
In order to get your matched tier, all you have to do is fill out a short online application. You’ll have to provide your contact info and other loyalty program membership information, including a photo of your loyalty card.
From there, MSC Cruises will take a look at your loyalty status and place you in a comparable tier within the Voyagers Club.
A pro tip? MSC Cruises very much rewards your loyalty to other travel brands by giving you a Voyagers Club status that will match your status elsewhere as closely as possible.
As such, when you pick the other loyalty program that you want MSC Cruises to match, pick the program in which you currently have the highest status.
For example, if you have a mid-tier status with another cruise line, but the highest possible status with, say, Marriott, you’d want to ask MSC Cruises to status match you according to your Marriott status. Forget the other cruise line.
Keep in mind, also, that you can only status match one time in your life. If you’re about to reach a particularly noteworthy status within one of your travel loyalty programs, you might want to hold off on status matching until you’ve achieved that higher tier. You might just get a better Voyagers Club tier as a result.
Want to get a guess at what status you might get on MSC Cruises, based on your status elsewhere? Check out this official conversion table. It’s slightly outdated but still should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Does Virgin Voyages Status Match?
Resilient Lady (Photo Credit: JTTucker / Shutterstock)
Yes, relatively new cruise line Virgin Voyages does offer status matching, so you can increase your status within the line’s Sailing Club, based on your status elsewhere.
However, the list of eligible loyalty programs isn’t quite as long as that of MSC Cruises’. You won’t find a bunch of hotel or airline loyalty programs on the list.
Still, if you have a certain status within another cruise line loyalty program, chances are good that you can get a comparable status with Virgin Voyages.
What Cruise Lines Does Virgin Voyages Status Match With?
Eligible cruise line loyalty programs for status matching with Virgin Voyages include:
Azamara Circle
Carnival VIFP (or very important fun person) Club
Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club
Disney Castaway
Holland America Line Mariner Society
Norwegian Cruise Line Latitude Rewards program
Oceania Club
P&O Peninsular Club
Princess Captain’s Circle
Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society
Windstar Yacht Club
So, as you can see, your options aren’t as plentiful as they are with MSC Cruises, but Virgin Voyages will match with a few lines that MSC Cruises will not, such as the Windstar Yacht Club.
There is, though, one caveat. For some of the above cruise lines that Virgin Voyages status matches with, the cruise line will not match with every single status tier.
For example, while Virgin Voyages will status match with the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, Virgin Voyages will only status match you if you have Crown & Anchor Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club status. If you have Gold, Platinum or Emerald status, you’re out of luck.
In order to apply for a status match, you do need a voyage on Virgin Voyages currently booked. You also cannot apply for status match if it’s less than a week until your sailing.
The short online application just requires your contact info and a photo of your eligible loyalty program membership card.
Also, it’s worth noting that Virgin Voyages says it will status match “for a limited time.” This may mean that the offering isn’t here to stay. If you’ve been putting off filling out the status match application, you may want to do it now.
Does Royal Caribbean Group Status Match?
Yes! All Royal Caribbean Group cruise lines status match, but only with one another.
Royal Caribbean Group owns three cruise line brands:
Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Cruises
Silversea
As such, if you have a loyalty status with one of these three lines, you can get a comparable status with the other two.
What Status Will I Get When Status Matching with Royal Caribbean Group Brands?
Royal Caribbean Loyalty Program Across Brands
Gold members within Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society get Classic status in the Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and 1 VS Day within Silversea’s Venetian Society.
If you have Platinum status or Emerald status in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Select status in the Captain’s Club and 100 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
If you have Diamond status in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Elite status in the Captain’s Club and 250 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
If you have Diamond Plus in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Elite Plus in the Captain’s Club and 350 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
Lastly, if you have the highest tier, Pinnacle Club status, in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Zenith status in the Captain’s Club and 500 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
Of course, all of the above applies in reverse as well, so you can get the same onboard benefits and onboard services, no matter which Royal Caribbean Group cruise line you sail with. You can always expect a similar current level of benefits.
How Do I Apply for a Royal Caribbean Group Status Match?
In order to qualify for the loyalty status match program, you do have to actively enroll in each of the loyalty programs (or at least in the two you want to status match).
If you’re already a member of the programs, then you’ll automatically receive an email telling you that your status has been matched.
Does Explora Journeys Status Match?
Explora Journeys Cruise Ship
Yes, Explora Journeys Explora Club Members can status match with a handful of other cruise lines. As an MSC Cruises’ sister brand, Explora Journeys’ status matching policy is rather generous, too.
However, as a luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys primarily status matches with other luxury cruise lines.
What Cruise Lines Does Explora Journeys Status Match With?
Explora Journeys will offer you a comparable Explora Club status to whatever status you currently hold with the following cruise lines:
Seabourn
Regent Seven Seas
Silversea
Crystal Cruises
Ponant
Seadream Yacht Club
Scenic Luxury Cruises
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Oceania Cruises
Beyond these luxury cruise lines, though, Explora Journeys will also status match you if you’ve earned status within sister brand MSC Cruises’ Voyagers Club.
To see what status you’ll get within the Explora Club, based on your current cruise line loyalty status level, check out the official conversion chart.
How Do I Apply for a Explora Journeys Status Match?
When you create your Explora Club membership, you’ll be able to tick a box saying that you’d like to request status match. If you already have a membership created, you can request a status match within the Explora Experience Centre or My Explora profile.
You’ll have to provide proof of your loyalty status and you can only request one status match, ever. Status match requests are processed within about 10 business day.
Why You Should Status Match Before Your Next Cruise
Multiple Cruise Ships Docked in Nassau, Bahamas (Photo Credit: Sven Hansche)
There are so many reasons why you should status match before your next cruise, but you absolutely should run, not walk, to do so if you have an existing, highly elevated status with any loyalty program.
Signing up for a status match is free, easy and can only lead to good things (like onboard perks, onboard discounts, freebies and more).
Why would I not want to enjoy benefits very similar to those that I get on Norwegian Cruise Line, when I sail on Virgin Voyages? Or similar perks that I love on Carnival Cruise Line, when I cruise with MSC Cruises?
It’s just an easy way that I can make every cruising experience as great as possible, without the need to build up loyalty over time, with cruise lines that are new or relatively new to me.
However, above and beyond all this, consider the recent move that Carnival Cruise Line pulled. Carnival Cruise Line recently announced that it would be revamping its loyalty program and, in the process, it would be eliminating lifetime loyalty statuses.
However, those cruisers who are losing their status, can status match with MSC Cruises, for example, right now, and get a similar status with MSC Cruises for life (so long as you cruise once every three years).
So, not only will taking the minimal time necessary to status match ensure you get some great perks across a larger number of cruise lines, but it’ll also ensure that you can keep a higher status on at least one line, if one of your other loyalty programs shakes things up.
The world’s oldest cruise ship has reached the end of her storied history as Astoria has reached the scrapyard, where she will be broken after 77 years of service.
The 15,614-gross ton ship’s last journey has been a relatively short one, as she has been laid up in Rotterdam following the closing of Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2020 – yet one more ship that fell victim to the pandemic.
On June 17, 2025, Astoria was finally sold at auction for €200,000 (approximately $235,600 USD) to the recycling company Galloo. She is now set to be scrapped in Ghent, Belgium.
Her final journey, then, was just over 100 miles – following a lifetime of thousands upon thousands of seagoing miles over the decades. She left Rotterdam on Thursday, July 3, and arrived in Ghent the next day.
Some fans and maritime aficionados were on hand at various points in her passage to bear witness to her final journey, but all in all, Astoria has quietly ended a life that had some not so quiet highlights over her more than seven decades of service.
The ship will now be broken, with vital components removed and materials sorted for appropriate reuse and recycling.
A Stunning History
Originally built in 1948 as Stockholm for Swedish America Line with a capacity to welcome 390 guests, the ocean liner we now know as Astoria has served various cruise lines under various names and for various purposes, including:
As Volkerfreundschaft with an East German cruise line, she passed safely through the US blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, bringing guests to Havana to refuel and resupply.
As Fridtjof Nansen, with a Panamanian company, she was used as a barracks ship for asylum seekers in Oslo, Norway in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
As Athena for Classic International Cruises, the ship was attacked by pirates in December 2008 but staved off unwanted boarding with high-pressure water cannons.
Perhaps her most infamous – and yet simultaneously heroic – moment was on July 25, 1956, when Stockholm was sailing in heavy fog off the coast of Nantucket. At roughly 11:10 p.m., she collided with the luxury liner Andrea Dorea.
Andrea Dorea capsized and ultimately sank, with half of her lifeboats rendered unusable in the collision due to listing. Despite the extensive damage to her own bow, Stockholm remained at the site of the collision to aid Andrea Dorea, ultimately rescuing 572 passengers and crew.
Stockholm then sailed to New York without assistance and was rebuilt in three months. Her captain was found not guilty following an inquiry, as Andrea Doria‘s captain did not follow standard procedures that might have avoided the collision.
Interestingly, it wasn’t until September 2020 that Stockholm‘s bow and anchors were finally discovered and confirmed near the final resting place of Andrea Doria.
Just three months later, Astoria (formerly Stockholm) was laid up and would never greet guests again.
photo Credit: Peter Titmuss / Shutterstock
Could the Old Ship Have Found New Life?
Following the global cruise shutdown, it was hoped that Astoria would once again be sold and perhaps converted for use as a hotel ship or floating maritime museum.
Despite several promising plans, however, no firm action ever materialized and the ship remained empty and unused for more than four years.
As many ocean liner lovers have discovered in recent months with the disposition of the SS United States – now being prepped to be scuttled as the world’s largest artificial coral reef – it can be excruciatingly expensive to retrofit an old ship to modern safety, operational, and environmental standards.
It is a sad end to the ship’s long life, but Stockholm–Astoria will never be forgotten.
Everyone’s talking about how the second Icon-class cruise ship, Star of the Seas, is about to enter service at the end of August.
But the third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, is well on her way to beginning her own career at sea and has just met a major construction milestone at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland.
When the flagship Icon of the Seas debuted in 2024, she entered service with a first-of-its-kind AquaDome, which is a gigantic and revolutionary glass domethat is located at the ship’s bow.
As of July 5, 2025, the 7,600-guest Legend of the Seas has her very own AquaDome after construction crews carefully (and successfully) lifted it into place.
“The AquaDome is a single-piece glass and steel structure located at the bow of the ship, offering wide panoramic views for guests onboard. It is the largest steel and glass structure ever lifted onto a ship in one piece,”The Meyer Turku Shipyard said in a statement.
The shipyard continued: “Lifting and installing a structure of this size and complexity required extensive planning, seamless collaboration, and precise execution from the Meyer Turku team and partners. A big thank you to everyone involved in making it happen!”
After celebrating this major construction accomplishment, the ship building team will be right back to work to make sure the 250,800-gross ton ship is ready to debut in summer of 2026.
Her inaugural voyage is supposed to be a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise that sails round-trip from Barcelona, Spain, and embarks on August 2, 2026.
But though she has come a long way since her steel cutting in January 2024, she still has to meet accomplishments like floating out of dry dock, which is when she floats on water for the first time, and eventually passing her sea trials.
Once she floats out, crews will likely turn to perfecting the interior of the cruise ship in a wet dock and completing important tasks like installing and decorating the 2,805 staterooms.
How Big is the AquaDome?
With Legend of the Seas expected to join her two older sisters as the largest cruise ships in the world, building the AquaDome is a triumph of engineering in its own right.
For the past eight months, the massive glass dome has been built alongside the cruise ship, which helps make the construction process more efficient.
Over those months, the 12 modules that make up the dome were carefully built out with 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels.
AquaDome Installation on Legend of the Seas at Meyer Turku
Now that the dome itself is completed, the final measurements come in at an awe-inspiring 82 feet tall and 164 feet tall. It weighs a staggering 367 tons.
Now that the AquaDome is attached to the mega-ship, crews can start finishing the interior of the “neighborhood,” which will offer 220-degree ocean views, a 55-foot-tall waterfall, and be a hub for nightlife.
It will also be home to the AquaTheater, where guests can enjoy adrenalin-inducing stunt shows, and several bars, lounges, and restaurants.
While many details about the new-build haven’t been released yet, she is expected to continue to improve upon her older sisters with further tweaks and upgrades – which will likely apply to the AquaDome’s offerings as well.
After an initial season in Europe, Royal Caribbean’s next additionwill be based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering 6-night Western Caribbean itineraries and 8-night Southern Caribbean itineraries year-round.
I, for one, will be very eager to pay her a visit and see everything she has to offer in person once she is closer to me in the US.
Sailing through the glacier-studded waters of Alaska is a bucket-list experience for many cruisers, and visiting different ports of call to learn about native cultures and enjoy the fabulous scenery, wildlife, and frontier lifestyle makes for an amazing cruise vacation.
Guests aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas June 29, 2025 sailing, however, are getting a bit more cruising and one less port visit due to a technical issue that has meant the ship is skipping Icy Strait Point.
Letters were delivered to staterooms onboard following intercom announcements this week that alerted guests to the change for their July 3 port visit.
“As previously announced by our Captain, we’ve had to cancel our visit to Icy Strait Point, due to speed restrictions from a technical issue onboard,”the letter explained.“We’ll now enjoy a Sea Day instead and proceed directly to Ketchikan.”
The nature of the “technical issue” was not disclosed, but no safety systems were impacted nor were there any disruptions to guest services onboard the 22-year-old ship.
“Rest assured, our ship can safely sail in these kinds of situations at reduced speeds while we work to expedite the repair process,”the letter continued.
To ease the disappointment and frustration at losing a port of call, Royal Caribbean is providing an onboard credit equal to one day of the cruise fare to each guest’s onboard account. This amount will vary based on individual cruise fares.
Furthermore, any guests who had pre-booked shore excursions through the cruise line for Icy Strait Point will have those tours automatically cancelled and refunded as onboard credit. If guests have credit left at the end of the sailing, the remaining amount will be returned to their credit card on file.
Serenade of the Seas set sail from Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday, June 30, 2025. Her sailing has now been:
Sunday – Departure from Vancouver
Monday – Day at Sea
Tuesday – Sitka, Alaska
Wednesday – Juneau, Alaska
Thursday – Day at Sea (formerly Icy Strait Point)
Friday – Ketchikan, Alaska
Saturday – Day at Sea
Sunday – Debarkation in Vancouver
At the moment, there is no indication that the ship’s next sailing will be similarly impacted. If repairs were not able to be completed, however, it is possible that the next cruise – another 7-night Inside Passage sailing – could have similar adjustments.
That cruise is not scheduled for Icy Strait Point but instead includes Prince Rupert on the itinerary, but port adjustments might still be made if necessary.
More Adjustments for Serenade of the Seas
This is not the first time Serenade of the Seas‘ Alaska season has been disrupted. In early June, multiple itineraries for the ship were changed, adjusting times in Ketchikan and dropping a day of scenic cruising.
There was no explanation given for the changed itineraries, but they were just minor adjustments with no indication of mechanical trouble at the time.
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
“We have discovered that Serenade of the Seas requires additional servicing beyond planned repairs and maintenance, which extends her currently scheduled dry dock period,”the notification for that change read.
The nature of the “additional servicing” was not clarified, and “availability at the shipyard” was cited as part of the reason for the cruise cancellation and extended dry dock.
While there is no confirmed connection between the extra time in dry dock, the earlier adjusted Alaska itineraries, and the change for the current sailing, so many impacts to a single ship could be troubling.
Guests booked on upcoming sailings aboard Serenade of the Seas will want to stay in close contact with Royal Caribbean in case of additional changes.
The ship will be homeported from Vancouver through mid-September, at which time she will reposition to South America to offer Southern Caribbean sailings from Cartagena and Colon. In May 2026, Serenade of the Seas will return to Vancouver for the 2026 Alaska season.
Stay in-the-know about the cruise industry’s most important developments with Cruise Hive’s weekly news recap. Highlights this week include the fees that Royal Caribbean will charge guests to visit its new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, and how one cruise line is implementing the new cruise-tourism tax in Greece.
Make sure you stay well informed by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, so the big cruise stories are delivered right to your inbox.
Another Glass-Shattering Incident on Symphony of the Seas
Shattered Glass on Symphony of the Seas (Photo Credits: Jenn Yazzetti & Just dance)
For the second time in a month, a big piece of glass shattered onboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in either case.
In the latest event, on June 29, 2025, it was a tempered glass canopy above the Solarium that shattered. The adults-only retreat area features lounge chairs offering great ocean views, and some guests were enjoying the scene from chairs nearby the canopy.
Symphony of the Seas was about to dock at Port Canaveral when the incident happened. The ship, which was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and entered service in 2017, is homeported at Cape Liberty, New Jersey.
Port Canaveral was the first port call on a 7-night Bahamas cruise that departed on June 27, 2025.
An earlier accident involving a glass window happened on June 8, 2025, also as the ship was nearing Port Canaveral. In that event, a glass panel at the ship’s Coastal Kitchen restaurant shattered onto the deck below.
Luckily, a crew member noticed the glass breaking and quickly alerted guests who were lounging on the lower deck. They were able to move away from the area seconds before the glass rained down.
The crew member was later given an award for his quick thinking.
Carnival Cruise Line Ditches PepsiCo For Coca-Cola
Carnival Cola (Photo Credit: Carnival & Myllac)
Carnival Cruise Line guests who prefer Pepsi to Coca-Cola will have to bring their own, after the line announced it will no longer stock the Pepsi soda brand.
Besides Pepsi soda, other PepsiCo products that will no longer be found on Carnival ships include Mountain Dew, Gatorade, and Sierra Mist.
PepsiCo has been the preferred beverage partner for Carnival Cruise Line since 2020, and the line offered no reason for the switch.
The swap will take effect on ships operating in North America in summer 2025, presumably as Pepsi supplies run out onboard the line’s ships. Vessels based in Europe will make the switch as they are seasonally repositioned to North American ports.
Guests sailing on all Carnival Cruise Line ships are allowed to carry aboard an unopened 12-pack of cans containing their favorite beverage, so Pepsi lovers can still get their fix.
However, there are other brands besides Coca-Cola that Carnival ships stock, including Sprite, Fanta, and Powerade, among others.
Honduras Appears to Go on Offensive Against Measles
Cruise Ship Docked in Mahogany Bay, Roatan (Photo Credit: denbaim)
It appears as though Honduras might require proof of a measles vaccine or a negative measles test before tourists are allowed to enter the country, including those arriving by cruise ship.
However, it is not clear that cruise guests will be included in the new rules, which were disclosed by the US Embassy in Honduras on June 28, 2025.
Cruise ships calling at Honduras visit Roatan, an island off the coast, so it is possible that passengers could be exempt from the measles regulations.
John Heald, brand ambassador for Carnival Cruise Line, posted on his popular Facebook page that, so far, there is no measles vaccine or test requirement for cruise passengers. As with other rules subject to change, cruise lines will issue alerts or notifications to guests if there is any change.
An abrupt revision of entry rules, especially one that would require cruise guests to provide medical proof of a vaccine or test results, could be enough to prompt cruise lines to alter itineraries and avoid a destination, at least temporarily. So stay tuned.
Guests Suing P&O Cruises Over Stomach Bugs
P&O Ventura in Southampton (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
A large group of former passengers who sailed aboard a P&O Cruises ship is suing the cruise line’s parent company, Carnival UK, after viral stomach bugs impacted their vacations.
The illnesses all happened onboard the 3,200-guest Ventura, a Grand-class ship that entered service in 2008 and is homeported at Southampton, UK.
One British family, who sailed on a Spain and France cruise in May 2025, said their trip was ruined when all three members became ill.
Another British couple, who sailed to the Canary Islands in May 2025, were so ill with severe vomiting, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms that they never left the ship at all. The law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing the former guests.
Another firm, Hudgell Solicitors, is suing on behalf of 115 people who sailed on the ship in spring 2024, all of whom suffered from a stomach bug. All of the court cases are pending.
Ventura is not the only P&O Cruises’ ship that has had viral outbreaks. The 5,000-guest Iona experienced a viral event that affected about 50 passengers and crew members in February 2025.
Cruise Line Reveals Prices For Beach Club in Bahamas
Render Courtesy: Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean will soon open its much-anticipated Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, just offshore from Nassau, Bahamas, and has revealed what it will cost guests to spend the day there.
While prices will fluctuate based on the date of a ship’s visit and other factors, the base rates disclosed by the line include an all-inclusive option at $169.99 per person. That rate is for adults 21 and older, and covers a day pass with unlimited specialty dining and all beverages.
Those who choose a day pass with only non-alcoholic beverages and no specialty dining will pay $129.99 for guests 13 and up, and $109.99 for kids 4 to 12. Children age 3 and younger pay no fee. (The beach club will have three complimentary dining venues.)
Day passes include the use of a lounge chair, umbrella, towel, locker, WiFi access, and ferry transfers to and from the island. Guests looking for a luxury experience can rent private cabanas, some of which come with a water slide and dedicated staff.
Day passes at Royal Beach Club can be packaged with admission to up-charge areas at Perfect Day at CocoCay, another private destination. A package deal can be a money-saver for guests looking to experience the highlights of both areas.
The new club on Paradise Island is set to open in December 2025.
Cruise Line Details Payment Plan For New Greek Tax
With six ships scheduled to make port calls at Greek islands in summer 2025, MSC Cruises is reminding booked guests that the country is implementing a new tourism tax on cruise arrivals.
The tax takes effect on July 21, 2025 and is expected to raise about $60 million (USD) each year for port infrastructure and over-tourism mitigation.
MSC Cruises has notified guests that the new tax will be paid by the cruise line and then charged to each cruiser’s onboard account. Any passenger who does not debark the ship in a Greek port will have the charge automatically refunded.
During peak season, June 1 to September 30, the per person tax for those going ashore in Santorini or Mykonos will be €20 ($23.61 USD). Less popular ports will carry a tax of €5 ($5.90 USD).
The tax amount drops in the shoulder season, to €12 ($14.17 USD) per person to visit Mykonos and Santorini and €3 ($3.54 USD) at other ports. In winter, the off season, the tax is further lowered to €4 ($4.72 USD) in Mykonos and Santorini, and €1 ($1.18 USD) elsewhere.
MSC Cruises’ ships sailing in the Greek Islands during summer 2025 include MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Opera, MSC Fantasia, and MSC Divina.
Carnival Guests Cry Foul at Cost of Floatation Device
It could be argued that there are few activities as relaxing as floating with a foam noodle in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. But that simple enjoyment carried a price tag of $19.99 for the use of a noodle at Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination set to open on July 19, 2025.
Guests are already balking at the price, considering that a foam noodle typically costs $2, maybe $3 apiece at local and national retailers. So Carnival Cruise Line has lowered the fee by nearly half — to $10.99. That’s just for using the noodle for a day; guests do not get to keep the floatation device.
Some cruisers took to social media to criticize the cost, with one saying that the cruise line had lost its mind. Others vowed to bring along their own noodle. (They can be smooshed fairly easily into a suitcase.)
But will that be allowed? The cruise line has a list of items banned from the onboard pool areas, including floatation devices, which would seem to include noodles. However, they are not specifically prohibited from being used at ports of call.
Expect to hear more about this issue once Celebration Key opens up.
More Cruise Headlines
Get even more cruise coverage from Cruise Hive with stories about Royal Caribbean promoting the concept of cruise-ship-based astrocartography; Holland America Line planning a special sailing to mark the 250th birthday of the US; and cruise ships steering clear of a hurricane in the Pacific.
Also, some cruisers giving a thumbs-down to pet-friendly voyages, and a little girl and her father making headlines after a mishap on a Disney Cruise Line ship.
Crew members onboard the luxury ship Azamara Onward are facing a makeshift quarantine following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness during the current sailing.
Because of the outbreak, crew members will not be permitted to debark when the ship visits Saint Tropez on the French Riviera on Saturday, July 5, 2025. The port is a tender port, requiring small boats to ferry guests and crew members to the dock, but crew will not be allowed on tenders with guests.
“Sadly, based on our current OPRP status, crew will not be allowed to ride in tenders with guests tomorrow,”an email from the cruise line’s human resources department confirmed.
OPRP stands for “operational prerequisite program” and refers to food safety procedures and minimizing the risk of cross-contamination.
In this context, it confirms that the ship is operating under enhanced safety and sanitation protocols to ensure there is no further spread of the gastrointestinal illness. Such bugs, commonly norovirus, are often spread through contaminated surfaces.
Crew members onboard the vessel have noted that fewer than 10 guests have been isolated due to symptoms of illness, which typically include vomiting and diarrhea.
Azamara Onward can carry up to 826 guests, and while she may not be fully booked for her current 10-night sailing, the number of isolated guests represents less than 1.5% of passengers.
There is no confirmation about whether or not any of the ship’s crew members have reported illness symptoms. If not, then the number of those ill aboard the vessel is closer to three-quarters of a percent.
Health and safety is of course a top priority for the cruise line and crew members, but the full ban on crew members prohibiting them from going ashore may seem extreme.
This is a step the cruise line feels is necessary to minimize contact between guests and crew, and therefore minimizing any further spread or contagion.
Crew members, however, work very diligently seven days a week, often for long and strenuous shifts. The few hours they may be able to spend ashore on port days are a welcome and even necessary respite from their duties.
Furthermore, the break helps keep up crew morale and ensure the very best of service for all guests.
Is Crew Isolation Necessary?
Could other steps have been taken instead of prohibiting the crew from going ashore in what almost feels like a punitive measure?
Ideas such as a separate tender for crew members, sanitizing the tender boats between trips, or even requiring crew members to wear masks and gloves might have been effective.
Other options might have included restricting exactly when crew members could come and go to the ship so they weren’t mingling with guests on the dock, or only prohibiting crew members who had already reported symptoms.
Azamara Onward in Lisahally Foyle Port in Northern Ireland (Photo Credit: Fort Foyle)
Azamara Onward – with her roughly 370 crew members – is currently sailing a 10-night one-way voyage from Barcelona to Nice. The ship departed Spain on Friday, June 27, and has called at various ports already, including Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Marseille.
The vessel will arrive in Nice on Monday, July 7. At the moment, there is no indication that she will be delayed or that there might be any delayed embarkation for her next cruise to permit extra sanitizing and cleaning, though such measures wouldn’t be unheard of.
Azamara Onward‘s next sailing is an 8-night cruise from Nice to Civitavecchia (Rome). She will remain in the Mediterranean on a diverse schedule 7-12 night sailings through early November, at which time she will head to Florida to offer a short series of Eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami.
