Blog Page 28

TUI Cruises Adds Massive New Ship to Its Growing Fleet

Lissa Poirot
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TUI Cruises Adds Massive New Ship to Its Growing Fleet

Key Aspects:

  • TUI Cruises took delivery of Mein Schiff Flow on June 12, 2026.
  • The approximately 160,000 gross ton ship will welcome its first guests on a 3-night preview cruise from Trieste, Italy, on June 14.
  • It is the ninth ship in the cruise line’s fleet and the second vessel in the new InTUItion class.

Less than 16 months after welcoming its first InTUItion-class vessel, TUI Cruises has taken delivery of another new ship. Mein Schiff Flow was officially handed over on June 12, 2026, becoming the ninth vessel in the line’s fleet.

The ship was delivered during a ceremony at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in northeastern Italy, where executives from both companies joined local officials to mark the occasion.

Among those in attendance were TUI Cruises CEO Wybcke Meier; Fincantieri Chairman Biagio Mazzotta; Fincantieri CEO and Managing Director Pierroberto Folgiero; Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the shipbuilder’s Merchant Ships Division; and Cristiano Bazzara, director of the Monfalcone shipyard.

Mein Schiff Flow is the second ship in TUI Cruises’ new InTUItion class, following the delivery of sister ship Mein Schiff Relax in February 2026. At approximately 160,000 gross tons and with a capacity for about 4,000 passengers, the vessel is among the largest in the fleet.

“With the delivery of Mein Schiff Flow, we celebrate a new milestone in our collaboration with TUI Cruises and reaffirm the strategic role of the Monfalcone shipyard as a center of excellence in global shipbuilding,” said Folgiero.

He said the vessel showcases Italian shipbuilding expertise and reflects efforts to prepare for future generations of cruise ships capable of operating with lower-emission fuels.

According to Fincantieri, Mein Schiff Flow is capable of operating on liquified natural gas (LNG) and can also utilize lower-emission alternatives such as bio-LNG and e-LNG as those fuels become more widely available.

Mein Schiff Flow
Mein Schiff Flow Captain Jan Gustaf Raurawaara and Cristiano Bazzara, director of the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard. (Photo Credit: Fincantieri)

The ship is equipped with shore power connections, allowing it to draw electricity while docked in ports that offer the infrastructure, as well as catalytic converters that meet Euro 6 standards, and a system designed to recover energy from onboard operations.

The delivery comes as TUI Cruises continues to invest heavily in the InTUItion class. In September 2025, the cruise line and Fincantieri signed a contract for two additional sister ships, which are scheduled for delivery in 2031 and 2032.

Mein Schiff Flow Sailings

With the delivery complete, Mein Schiff Flow is preparing to welcome its first passengers.

In a social media post announcing the handover, TUI Cruises said the vessel officially joined the fleet and would welcome the first guests just two days after delivery.

That first sailing is a 3-night preview cruise departing June 14, 2026, from Trieste, Italy, and returning to Trieste on July 17, 2026.

The ship is then scheduled to begin an 8-night christening voyage from Trieste to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, which will be its home base for the summer season. That sailing departs from Trieste on June 18 and calls in Koper, Slovenia, returns to Trieste, then calls in Palermo, Sicily, before arriving in Spain on June 25.

Mein Schiff Flow kicks off her Mediterranean season immediately after, visiting ports in Civitavecchia for Rome; Ajaccio, Corsica; and Marseille, France, on roundtrip sailings. Some voyages will swap Ajaccio for La Spezia, Italy.

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On September 13, 2026, Mein Schiff Flow begins a back-to-back 11-night Iberian Peninsula route, visiting Barcelona, Cartagena, Malaga, and Cadiz, Spain, as well as Tangier, Morocco, and Lisbon, Portugal.

The fall will have the vessel in several locations, including Northern Europe itineraries from Hamburg, Germany.

Royal Caribbean’s Seventh Oasis Ship Just Hit a Big Milestone

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean’s Seventh Oasis Ship Just Hit a Big Milestone

Key Aspects:

  • The keel has been laid for the seventh Oasis-class ship at the Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyard in France.
  • Construction is expected to take two years and the ship will debut in 2028, but few other details have been confirmed.
  • Oasis 7 was first announced in February 2024 and steel was cut for the ship in October 2025.

It’s a momentous week for the Royal Caribbean fleet as just one day after the cruise line has taken delivery of the next Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, assembly construction has now begun on the seventh Oasis-class ship.

The as-yet-unnamed ship is being built at the Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire in western France (Legend of the Seas was built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland). Construction is expected to take roughly two years for the 236,900-gross-ton vessel, which is scheduled to debut in 2028.

Royal Caribbean executives, shipyard officials, and other VIPs, as well as construction crew members, attended the keel-laying ceremony on Thursday, June 11, 2026. This marks the beginning of the ship’s physical assembly as blocks will now be put into place to bring the ship to life.

Part of the keel-laying ceremony includes sealing freshly minted euro and dollar coins in a tub below the first steel block, a maritime tradition to wish good fortune to the ship, her crew, and everyone who may sail on her in years to come.

“The first block of Oasis 7 has been set in the dry dock by the TGP, in the presence of Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique teams — as Oasis 7’s assembly officially begins,” the shipyard shared on Facebook. “A milestone moment. Congratulations to all teams involved!”

7th Oasis Class Keel Ceremony
7th Oasis Class Keel Ceremony

For now, Oasis 7 is only known as B35, but her name is expected to be revealed soon as excitement builds for the next ship in Royal Caribbean’s revolutionary Oasis class.

Steel was first cut for the ship on October 23, 2025 when the blocks began to be built. Now, however, the ship will begin to take shape as those blocks are assembled in precise order to create the more than 15 decks, 20+ dining venues, tremendous Aquatheater space, signature neighborhoods, and other features distinctive of the class.

Few Details Released

Royal Caribbean has not yet released any details on the new ship, though she will undoubtedly follow the popular design of her six sister ships in the class: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder, and Utopia of the Seas.

While each ship has its own personality and unique features, many fan favorites exist on all the ships in the class, including the classic Royal Promenade, the fun-loving Boardwalk neighborhood, and the elegant Central Park with its thousands of live plants and trees.

Read Also: Why I Never Got Off in Port on Utopia of the Seas

It was a surprise when the cruise line announced that a seventh Oasis-class ship was to be built, as most cruise ship classes have fewer vessels. When Cruise Hive shared the announcement in February 2024, the next class of ships was already underway with Icon of the Seas sailing and Star of the Seas under construction.

The expansion of the Oasis class does indicate the immense popularity of these ships and their great appeal to all types of cruise travelers.

Oasis 7 will be a sister ship to Utopia of the Seas, the first in the class to be purposefully designed to offer short 3- and 4-night cruises. While just three nights might not seem like enough time on one of these massive ships, the activities and entertainment don’t stop and the ship has a remarkable following of fans and repeat cruisers (this writer included).

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It’s not really so surprising, then, that Royal Caribbean would follow that now tried-and-true formula for a great cruise vacation. Oasis 7 is already being described as offering “bold new adventures, standout dining, immersive entertainment and experiences designed for every type of vacationer.”

More details about the ship, from her name to her homeport to her itineraries, will be released in the months to come.

Carnival Cruise Ship Changes Celebration Key Port Times on 50 Sailings

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Ship Changes Celebration Key Port Times on 50 Sailings

Key Aspects:

  • All of Carnival Elation‘s 4-night Bahamas cruises will be visiting Celebration Key earlier than planned.
  • Guests will enjoy the same amount of time in the private port destination, just shifted earlier in the day.
  • A total of 50 sailing departure dates are impacted by this adjustment and guests are receiving email notifications.

Celebration Key in the Bahamas opened in July 2025 and is rapidly becoming a favorite port for many Carnival cruisers, but guests sailing aboard Carnival Elation over the next two years need to be aware of changed times for their visits to the private destination.

Carnival Cruise Line has emailed notifications to guests booked on 50 different Carnival Elation sailings to notify them that “port times for Celebration Key have been adjusted.”

Impacted sailings range from the June 18, 2026 departure and continue through the April 6, 2028 departure.

For example, on the 4-night July 30, 2026 departure, Carnival Elation was originally scheduled to visit Celebration Key from 2:30-8:30 p.m. The revised schedule has the ship in port from 12-6 p.m.

This is the same length of time to enjoy Celebration Key only moved earlier in the day.

The exact same change has been made to other dates that Cruise Hive has been able to verify, including the November 5, 2026 and June 3, 2027 sailings. Other sailings may still be updated on Carnival’s website, as it can take up to 24 hours for itinerary changes to be reflected on the website.

It is possible that select sailings may have different port time changes depending on the operational needs of individual voyages.

In total, 50 cruises are impacted by these changes, though all are the ship’s 4-night voyages. These include the following cruise departure dates:

  • 2026: June 18; July 2, 16, 30; August 13, 27; September 10, 24; October 8, 22; November 5, 19, 29; December 3, 17, 26
  • 2027: January 14, 28; February 11, 25; March 11, 25; April 8, 22; May 6, 20; June 3, 17; July 1, 15, 29; August 12, 26; September 9, 23; October 7, 21; November 4, 18, 28; December 2, 16, 26, 30
  • 2028: January 13; February 10, 24; March 9, 23; April 6
Carnival Elation Letter
Carnival Elation Letter

Every single one of Carnival Elation‘s 4-night departures through mid-April 2028 is impacted. There are no sailing dates released past that point for the 71,909-gross-ton ship at this time.

According to the email, no other sailing dates are adjusted and the up to 2,190 guests onboard the ship will still enjoy Celebration Key at the times scheduled for the 5-night itineraries.

Why the Changes?

There has been no further information released about why so many Carnival Elation sailings have adjusted times to Celebration Key, but these types of mass changes are not unusual.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on mass changes in times for port visits, homeport departures, and other itinerary refinements aboard other Carnival ships. Most recently, nearly 100 cruises were adjusted for Carnival Panorama sailing from Long Beach, California.

Carnival Elation sails year-round from Jacksonville, Florida, offering different Bahamas itineraries. The 4-night sailings visit Celebration Key as well as Nassau, with just one day at sea on the schedule.

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The ship’s 5-night sailings also visit Celebration Key but typically go to Princess Cays or RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay as well, depending on departure date.

Cruise lines regularly refine itineraries based on guest feedback, port schedules, and route adjustments. This particular shift to bring guests to Celebration Key earlier on the 4-night cruises gives guests prime time to enjoy the destination but still have a full, active schedule of onboard activities in the evening.

Drunk Cruise Captain Caught at Police Checkpoint in Belgium

Catie Kovelman
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Drunk Cruise Captain Caught at Police Checkpoint in Belgium

Key Aspects:

  • The Belgian and Dutch authorities discovered a drunk captain of a river cruise ship at a checkpoint in Belgium.
  • The captain was removed from his duties onboard and his license was suspended.
  • For most cruise lines, intoxication is grounds for immediate termination because it can lead to safety risks.

Everyone’s heard of drinking and driving (and why you shouldn’t do it), but operating a cruise ship while intoxicated is much more unusual.

However, a drunk captain of a river cruise ship was caught red-handed at a police checkpoint near the Albert Canal in Belgium. The operation was conducted through a partnership between Belgian and Dutch authorities.

Read Also: Wild Cruise Stories That Actually Happened

Officers inspected nine commercial ships and one river cruise ship through the operation, during which the overindulgent captain was discovered. He tested over the legal limit for Belgium, which is 0.5 g/l in the blood or 0.22 mg/l of exhaled breath.

For professionals (e.g., operators of heavy goods vehicles), the limit drops to 0.2 g/l in the blood or 0.09 mg/l of exhaled breath.

“In total, 9 vessels and 1 river cruise ship were inspected. All active crew members took a breathalyzer test,” The Belgium Police confirmed in a Facebook post, which has been translated to English.

“The skipper of a river cruise ship carrying 106 passengers tested positive for alcohol. His boating license was immediately revoked,” the post continued.

The unidentified captain was relieved of his post and another sober officer took over on his behalf. His license was suspended and he will most likely be slapped with a fine from the Flemish Waterway authorities.

Which Cruise Ship Was It?

At this time, it’s unclear when exactly the checkpoint was operating and the cruise ship in question was only publicly identified as traveling from Antwerp, Belgium, to Maastricht in the Netherlands.

Cruise Hive also learned that the vessel is Swiss-owned, and that 106 passengers were onboard.

According to cruise tracking data for the beginning of June, Switzerland-based cruise lines like Scylla VIVA Cruises have been in the area, but its ship, VIVA Inspire, sailed from Antwerp to Utrecht instead of Maastricht.

Albert Canal
Albert Canal (Photo Credit: Werner Lerooy)

There is more of a possibility that the captain was working for Viking River Cruises, which is one of the biggest river cruise operators in Belgium, though this has not been confirmed.

Viking Kvasir sailed from Antwerp on June 5 to Maastricht on June 6 as part of a 9-night sailing to Amsterdam and has a capacity for a maximum of 190 guests (but it’s totally possible that only 106 were onboard).

Viking River Cruises is also headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, which is where the 5,000-gross ton vessel is also registered.

No Tolerance For Intoxication

An intoxicated captain is certainly a surprise, as the ship captain is the highest authority on both river and ocean cruise ships and is supposed to set the standard that other crew members follow. In addition to facing legal penalties, the captain almost certainly lost his job.

For the mainstream cruise lines, a strict blood alcohol limit of 0.04% is usually enforced, which equates to consuming one standard drink for the average person. Typically, crew members are also not allowed to drink alcohol within several hours of going on shift.

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If a crew member is caught violating this rule, it is considered cause for immediate termination as it poses a safety risk.

Crew members must be able to respond appropriately and efficiently in the event of an emergency, which they cannot do while intoxicated.

Being too drunk while steering the ship also takes this to a whole other level of danger, though thankfully, no injuries or collisions were reported in this situation.

Carnival Reveals New Restaurants, Bars, and Menus Coming Across the Fleet

Lissa Poirot
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0
Carnival Reveals New Restaurants, Bars, and Menus Coming Across the Fleet

Key Aspects

  • Carnival Cruise Line is introducing The Next Course with new restaurants, bars, menu updates, and dining concepts across the fleet.
  • Several new venues are coming to Carnival Festivale, debuting in May 2027, and Carnival Tropicale in 2028.
  • Fleetwide dining changes are also planned with refreshed menus, expanding grab-and-go, and enhanced venues.

Food has always been an important part of the cruise experience, and Carnival Cruise Line is planning to whet your whistle even more in the years to come with a significant expansion of its onboard dining offerings.

The cruise line announced on June 11, 2026, a culinary initiative called “The Next Course,” which will introduce new restaurants, bars, menu updates, and dining concepts across the fleet beginning with Carnival Festivale, scheduled to enter service in May 2027.

Many of the most significant additions will debut aboard the new Excel-class ship, currently under construction at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, as well as the next-gen ship, Carnival Tropicale, which will arrive in 2028.

Among the headline additions is Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, a new specialty restaurant featuring a menu developed by Carnival Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse.

Uku Lei Lei
Uku Lei Lei

Carnival is also introducing Uku Lei Lei, focused on Hawaiian specialties and Asian-inspired dishes, and Fetaccine, a Mediterranean venue combining Italian and Greek flavors.

Carnival Festivale will also be home to Le Bistro Musicale, a French restaurant that combines classic French cuisine with live music in a Paris-inspired setting. The venue will be exclusive to the ship.

Le Bistro Musicale
Le Bistro Musicale

Several new bar concepts are also planned. The Spark will feature live performances alongside cocktails inspired by popular songs, while Mix will allow guests to customize drinks by combining different ingredients and flavors. Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar will serve specialty coffees and cocktails throughout the day.

Beyond the entirely new venues, Carnival is introducing several additional dining concepts. Sunsation Point BBQ will serve smoked meats and barbecue favorites in the ship’s new family activity zone and remain open into the evening.

Far East Eats will replace ChiBang! and feature dishes inspired by cuisines from across Asia, while La Cucina Italiana will eventually replace Cucina del Capitano on future newbuilds with a menu centered on regional Italian cuisine.

Fetaccine
Fetaccine

Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president, said the changes are intended to reflect evolving guest preferences while maintaining familiar favorites.

Read Also: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options You’ll Want to Know (With Menus!)

“Our guests love great food and we are always looking for ways to evolve and enhance our dining experience,” Duffy said. “The Next Course is about building on what guests already enjoy while introducing new options and flavors across the fleet.”

Carnival also announced a new Chef’s Table experience for Carnival Festivale. The multi-course dining event will take place in a dedicated venue and feature rotating menus developed by Carnival chefs.

Fleetwide Dining Updates

While much of the attention is focused on the new restaurants coming to Carnival Festivale, the fourth Excel-class vessel that will be based in Port Canaveral, Florida, many of the changes announced by the cruise line will affect guests sailing across the fleet.

One of the most noticeable differences may come in the Main Dining Room, where new breakfast, brunch, and dinner selections will be introduced. Carnival Cruise Line is also working to make dining more flexible with a new Express Dining option that will allow guests to finish meals more quickly instead of committing to a multi-course experience.

Families will also see more kid-focused options. The company says Lido Marketplace will receive a new family menu featuring daily selections geared toward younger travelers, while BlueIguana Cantina will begin offering rotating specials intended to add more variety.

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The cruise line will simultaneously expand its casual and grab-and-go offerings, and new pop-up food venues will be arriving across the fleet. On Excel-class vessels, those temporary offerings will include breakfast-focused concepts and dessert stations.

Not all of the changes center on food itself. Carnival Cruise Line is also investing in expanded mobile ordering capabilities for coffee and other grab-and-go-purchases to reduce wait times.

Holland America’s Zaandam Sees Second Sailing Impacted by Propulsion Repairs

Catie Kovelman
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Holland America’s Zaandam Sees Second Sailing Impacted by Propulsion Repairs

Key Aspects:

  • Repairs are wrapping up for Zaandam in Vancouver after the ship faced major propulsion issues.
  • Because of the delayed start, the June 10 sailing has been significantly altered.
  • Holland America Line compensated passengers with a 50% refund and a future cruise credit.

After propulsion issues derailed Zaandam’s June 3 voyage and delayed the subsequent June 10 sailing, the Holland America Line ship is gearing up to return to Alaska.

With repairs nearly complete, the cruise line estimated that the 61,396-gross ton vessel would depart from Vancouver, Canada, shortly after midnight on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

“Thank you for your patience while we have managed the repairs to our propulsion system,” Holland America Line wrote in a letter on June 10, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.

“We currently estimate departure from Vancouver shortly after midnight on Thursday, June 11,” the cruise line updated.

But as of the time of this writing at 11 a.m. PDT on June 11, cruise tracking data shows that the ship is still docked in Vancouver.

This means that there may have been another propulsion-related delay or perhaps the cruise line meant to say that departure would be overnight on June 11, going into the early morning of Friday, June 12.

Either way, this is a significant delay from when the 1,432-guest ship was supposed to depart Vancouver at 4 p.m. on June 10. At this point, itinerary changes were simply inevitable.

Zaandam’s Revised Itinerary

Originally, Zaandam was supposed to operate a 7-night sailing to Alaska that included Endicott Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.

But as things stand now, the only port to remain on the revised itinerary is Ketchikan. The calls to Juneau, Skagway, and the scenic cruising in Endicott Arm and Glacier Bay have been cancelled.

“Your revised Alaska sailing includes a visit to Wrangell, Alaska on Sunday, June 14, known for its quiet charm and rich history. Our call to Ketchikan remains on Monday, June 15,” Holland America Line confirmed.

“We will also conduct scenic cruising when available, and will return to Vancouver as scheduled on Wednesday, June 17,” the cruise line added.

Holland America Zaandam
Holland America Zaandam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird)

The new itinerary includes scenic cruising of British Columbia’s coast on June 13, Wrangell, Alaska, on June 14, Ketchikan on June 15, and scenic cruising in Alaska’s famous Inside Passage on June 16.

The 2000-launched ship will then return to Vancouver for debarkation on June 17, as was originally planned.

Impacted Guests Compensated

Because of the extended delay and the dramatic itinerary changes, Holland America Line will be compensating guests for the disruption to their vacation.

Passengers will receive a 50% refund of their cruise fare, as well as a future cruise credit that is equal to 65% of their cruise fare to put toward a new Holland America Line sailing.

This is in line with what guests of the derailed June 3 sailing received. Cruise Hive reported that the previous round of passengers were also given a 50% refund and a 50% future cruise credit based on the amount of their cruise fare.

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As is standard in these types of situations, all Holland America shore excursions that were booked for Juneau and Skagway will be automatically cancelled and refunded. New tours will be made available for Wrangell shortly.

This should hopefully be the second and final voyage to be impacted by Zaandam’s propulsion issues, with the Rotterdam-class ship scheduled to continue operating 7-night Alaska itineraries through September 2026.

More Rhapsody of the Seas Sailings Become Port-Every-Day Cruises in 2026

Lissa Poirot
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0
More Rhapsody of the Seas Sailings Become Port-Every-Day Cruises in 2026

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean added La Romana, Dominican Republic, to the July 18, 2026 Rhapsody of the Seas sailing.
  • Guests will visit an extra destination but lose the itinerary’s only sea day.
  • The cruise line’s website shows the July 4, 2026, sailing also added La Romana.

Royal Caribbean has expanded two more Rhapsody of the Seas itineraries for 2026, continuing a trend that is turning several Southern Caribbean sailings into cruises with no sea days at all.

The cruise line has added a stop in La Romana, Dominican Republic, to both its July 4 and July 18, 2026 departures from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Located on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, the port serves as a gateway to attractions including Saona Island, Bayahibe beaches, and the Casa de Campo resort area.

The changes replace what had previously been a scheduled sea day on each sailing, creating itineraries with a port call scheduled every day of the voyage.

Guests booked on the July 18 departure were notified of the adjustment in an email from Royal Caribbean, which cited final port arrangements and operational details as the reason for the update.

“As a result of a recent review, your July 18, 2026, sailing has been updated with an additional port to explore!” the notification from Royal Caribbean said. “To enhance your experience, we’ve added a new port of call! We’ll now visit La Romana, Dominican Republic on Day 7 instead of a sea day.”

According to the revised schedule, Rhapsody of the Seas will arrive in La Romana at 9:00 a.m. and depart at 5:00 p.m., giving guests eight hours ashore before the ship returns to San Juan the following day.

The July 18 sailing already included visits to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Frederiksted, St. Croix; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; and Roseau, Dominica.

Royal Caribbean’s website also reflects a similar update for the July 4 departure. That sailing includes calls in Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; and Frederiksted, St. Croix, before the newly added stop in La Romana.

MSC Seaside and Rhapsody of the Seas
MSC Seaside and Rhapsody of the Seas (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)

In both cases, the cruise line expanded the itinerary without removing any existing destinations for the vessel carrying up to 4,198 guests at double capacity.

Royal Caribbean told guests that the revised itineraries would be updated in the cruise line’s My Royal Cruise app, allowing guests to book excursions for the new port call.

It also apologized for any inconvenience the change may have caused.

July 4 Sailing Also Changed

The July 4 and 18 sailings are a growing number of Rhapsody of the Seas voyages to receive an additional port call in La Romana.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the 78,878-gross-ton ship added La Romana to both the April 25 and May 2, 2026, departures from San Juan. Those changes similarly converted a scheduled sea day into an additional port visit, creating itineraries with daily stops throughout the voyage.

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While the added port call gives guests another destination to explore, it eliminates the sea day, which typically provides passengers with time to enjoy onboard amenities, relax by the pool, dine in specialty restaurants, and take a break from daily port visits.

With the July 4 and July 18 departures now revised, the cruise line may be intentionally expanding Southern Caribbean sailings and prioritizing destination-focused itineraries aboard the Vision-class ship.

Royal Caribbean’s New Seward Cruise Terminal Finally Opens

Catie Kovelman
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0
Royal Caribbean’s New Seward Cruise Terminal Finally Opens

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean and its partners are celebrating the grand opening of the Dale R. and Carol Ann Lindsey Alaska Railroad Terminal in Seward.
  • The new facility is now the biggest and most innovative cruise terminal in Alaska.
  • Ovation of the Seas is homeporting in Seward for the first time and is the first Royal Caribbean ship to take advantage of the new facilities.

After years in the making and a last-minute delay, Royal Caribbean’s new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Seward, Alaska, has finally opened its doors to the cruise industry.

The opening of the Dale R. and Carol Ann Lindsey Alaska Railroad Terminal, which is the largest and most innovative cruise terminal in Alaska, was commemorated on June 10, 2026.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the culmination of nearly a decade of efforts to unlock this world-class travel destination, bringing long-term economic opportunities to Seward and beyond,” said Josh Carroll, senior vice president, Deployment, Destination Development and Port Operations, at Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean teamed up with The Alaska Railroad, The Seward Company, and Turnagain Marine Construction to complete the project, with these companies coming together to celebrate the terminal’s official opening.

A ribbon ceremony was held to commemorate the port’s next chapter, with the family of Dale and Carol Ann Lindsey (who the facility is named for) present to cut the ribbon and to celebrate their relatives’ impact on Seward.

“The journey to open the Dale R. and Carol Ann Lindsey Alaska Railroad Terminal as a portal to premier travel destinations would not have been possible without our supporting partners, government official stakeholders, and the local community,” Carroll added.

It cost around $137 million to build the new cruise terminal, which was financed via revenue bonds from the Alaska Railroad Corporation.

Royal Caribbean will pay off the bonds over the next 30 years via a usage agreement, which guarantees that the cruise line will bring a minimum of 140,000 guests to Seward annually during the Alaska cruise season.

Seward Positioned as Premier Cruise Destination

Royal Caribbean, and its partners, don’t make such a massive investment lightly. They pursued the new terminal because they saw potential for Seward to become a premier cruise destination and homeport in Alaska.

The new and improved terminal replaced aging dock facilities that date back to the mid-1960s, with Royal Caribbean getting the greenlight to bring the new facility and its double-berth floating pier to life in 2024.

Seward is now home to the largest and most innovative cruise terminal in Alaska. It’s designed to promote the efficient flow of passengers throughout the facility and during passenger processing while embarking and debarking.

New Seward Cruise Port
New Seward Cruise Port

Digging into the nitty-gritty, the terminal has 41,500 square feet of enclosed space and 27,000 square feet of open space on the outside for transfers and handling luggage.

“We know how important the terminal is not just to Seward, but to communities across Southcentral and Interior Alaska as these cross-gulf cruise guests take the opportunity to explore Alaska by land as well,” said Bill O’Leary, President and CEO of the Alaska Railroad and the owner and operator of the Seward passenger dock and terminal.

As an additional upgrade, Seward’s new pier now also has shore power capabilities, which is a greener fuel alternative for cruise lines to power their ships while docked.

This puts Seward on par with ports like Juneau, which is also actively putting the pieces in place to adopt and prioritize shore power.

Which Cruise Ships Call to Seward?

Typically, Seward welcomes 190,000 to 220,000 cruise guests annually, which is a number local authorities hope will only grow.

Royal Caribbean kicked off the 2026 homeporting operations by sending the 168,666-gross ton Ovation of the Seas to homeport in Seward for the first time.

After delays related to ongoing construction forced the ship to pivot, the Quantum-class ship will now spend the rest of the season sailing back and forth between Seward and Vancouver.

Additionally, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit and multiple ships from Silversea Cruises will homeport in Seward this year.  For context, these companies are also owned by Royal Caribbean Group.

Other major cruise lines, including Princess Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Windstar Cruises, and American Cruise Lines, will also get a chance to try out the new facilities before the season concludes.

Ongoing Propulsion Repairs Delay Next Voyage For Zaandam

Catie Kovelman
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0
Ongoing Propulsion Repairs Delay Next Voyage For Zaandam

Key Aspects:

  • Zaandam is still dealing with the propulsion issue that surfaced during her previous Alaska sailing.
  • The next cruise will be delayed by at least one day to accommodate the repairs.
  • Holland America Line will issue a revised itinerary for the June 10 departure.

The technical troubles are continuing for Holland America Line’s Zaandam, with both the June 3 voyage and the subsequent June 10 sailing now derailed by propulsion issues.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the 61,396-gross ton ship was forced to extend its call in Juneau on June 5, 2026, into an overnight visit due to emergency repairs on the ship’s propulsion system.

The ship then had to head straight back to its homeport, Vancouver, Canada, for additional repairs. Unfortunately, the calls to Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan had to be skipped.

Zaandam’s speed was limited by the propulsion issues, and per cruise tracking data, she didn’t actually arrive in Vancouver until the evening of Tuesday, June 9.

With more time needed for repairs, Holland America Line has also now been forced to delay the June 10, 2026, departure.

Next Sailing Delayed By Repairs

According to an update issued by the cruise line on June 9, the 1,432-guest ship will remain in Vancouver for an extra night instead of setting sail at 4 p.m. on June 10.

It’s unclear what time she will be ready to go on June 11, or if an additional delay may still be in the cards.

But on the bright side, guests will be able to be onboard while repairs are in progress, so they won’t need to scramble to find somewhere to stay for their extra night in Vancouver.

“Zaandam experienced a technical issue with her port-side propulsion system…To conduct repairs, we will remain in the Port of Vancouver for the first night of your cruise,” Holland America Line stated.

“You will be able to board Zaandam as scheduled Wednesday, enjoying the amenities on board as well as exploring the Vancouver area if you desire,” the update continued.

Zaandam in Vancouver
Zaandam in Vancouver (Photo Credit: Macklin Holloway)

During the delay, all of the normal onboard amenities will be available for guests to enjoy, aside from the ship’s casino and shops (which can only be opened at sea).

Details about compensation to make up for the inconvenience are also forthcoming.

Next Itinerary Remains Uncertain

Just like the previous cruise, the 7-night sailing to Alaska was supposed to visit Endicott Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.

But because of the delayed start, the itinerary will definitely be adjusted. Holland America was waiting to verify the scope of the repairs and check for ongoing impacts to speed before confirming a new itinerary. Cruise Hive has already confirmed that the call to Juneau on June 12 is already cancelled.

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“We regret the delay will require us to amend your trip and likely not operate the full itinerary as originally planned. We hope to know more, including a revised port schedule, after the ship arrives in Vancouver Tuesday night,” the cruise line wrote.

Itinerary adjustments will also depend on port availability, which can be challenging given it’s now the peak Alaska season. Cruise Hive will continue to monitor for additional updates and will share if and when more information becomes available.

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