Disney Wish will be moving to New York City for seven sailings beginning September 29, 2027.
The sailings range from 4-7 nights and include Bermuda and Canada itineraries.
The last departure from New York is on October 31, 2027 and is a one-way voyage to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Wishes do come true for Disney Cruise Line fans hoping to set sail from New York City and San Juan, as the cruise line will be moving the 4,000-guest Disney Wish to the Big Apple in late September 2027 for a short season before offering two departures from Puerto Rico.
Bookings became listed as “Coming Soon” on the cruise line’s website on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 and show Disney Wish offering seven departures from New York from September 29 to October 31.
The ship’s first departure is a 4-night Bermuda cruise to King’s Wharf, setting sail from New York on Wednesday, September 29, 2027.
Four sailings are 5-night voyages. On October 3, 2027, the ship is offering a Canada and New England itinerary with visits to Saint John, New Brunswick, as well as Boston, Massachusetts.
Two other 5-night voyages visit Bermuda for an extended stay in King’s Wharf. Those cruises set sail on October 14 and October 19. The fourth 5-night cruise is when the ship will leave New York.
A single 6-night cruise combines Bermuda and Canada with visits to King’s Wharf and Halifax. The sailing departs New York on October 8.
Disney Wish will be offering just one 7-night cruise from New York, departing on October 24, 2027. That weeklong voyage is a Canada cruise scheduled to visit Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island as well as both Sydney and Halifax in Nova Scotia before returning to the Big Apple.
The 4,000-guest Disney Wish will depart New York on Halloween (October 31) 2027 for a sailing to San Juan. The 5-night cruise will visit Bermuda before turning her bow south on the one-way trip.
The ship has just two departures from Puerto Rico. The first is a 7-night Southern Caribbean itinerary to Oranjestad, Aruba; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Roseau, Dominica; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten that sets sail on Friday, November 5, 2027.
Disney Wish Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
After that weeklong cruise, Disney Wish will depart San Juan on November 12 and sail through the Bahamas, visiting both Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point as well as Disney Castaway Cay before arriving back at her familiar homeport, Port Canaveral on Tuesday, November 16. That cruise is a 4-night sailing.
Once back in Florida, Disney Wish will resume offering 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises.
Great Wishes in New York
Disney Cruise Line has offered sailings from New York in the past, but this is the first time a Wish-class ship will offer multiple sailings from the city.
Disney Treasure, sister ship to Disney Wish, was christened in New York on November 19, 2024 in a brief ceremony highlighted by a coordinated drone performance, but did not remain in the Big Apple for sailings.
Most recently, Disney Dream offered a short season from New York with sailings from late September to early November 2023. The cruises were similar in length and itinerary schedule to those that are now coming from Disney Wish.
Cruise Hive reported on the speculated return to New York with Disney Cruise Line’s teaser announcement just one day before the new bookings became visible. While the cruise line often spins out announcements and new details over weeks or months, such as new ship reveals, this is one time when eager guests did not have to wait long to learn that wishes can come true.
While reservations are not yet open to be booked, Disney Cruise Line commonly permits guests who are members of the Castaway Club to access new bookings sooner than new guests.
Silver members can book one day before the general public, Gold members get a two-day advance window, Platinum members have three days, and the highest loyalty tier, Pearl members, can book new itineraries four days before the general public.
An MSC World America lifeguard was arrested in Miami following allegations involving a 17-year-old passenger.
The 38-year-old crew member faces a charge of unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor, with bond set at $7,500.
MSC Cruises says it contacted law enforcement after discovering the alleged conduct, assisted the passenger, and dismissed the crew member.
An MSC Cruises crew member has been arrested in Miami following allegations involving a teenage passenger onboard one of the cruise line’s ships. 38-year-old Rafael Cayetano Blanco was serving as a lifeguard aboard MSC World America when the encounters allegedly occurred.
The 216,638 gross-ton vessel had departed August 15, 2026 on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from PortMiami. The cruise visited Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Ocean Cay.
According to a report by NBC Miami, Blanco met a 17-year-old female passenger onboard on August 16 and exchanged numbers before meeting in his cabin that night.
The Guatemalan native allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the underage passenger twice: once that first night, and once more on August 19.
On August 22, MSC World America returned to PortMiami and Blanco was detained. Investigators say he subsequently admitted to the alleged sexual activity. He was then arrested by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Metro West Detention Center in Miami.
Miami-Dade Police
Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department booking records show the bond for Blanco is set at $7,500. He is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor, a second-degree felony under Florida Statute 794.05.
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He remains in jail on an immigration hold. The case is still pending with no court date yet released to the public. No attorney was listed in the booking records.
MSC Fires Crew Member and Issues Response
MSC Cruises says it dismissed Blanco from his position as a lifeguard. In a statement to NBC Miami, the cruise line detailed its response to the alleged incident.
“On discovery of a breach of conduct by a crew member and an alleged criminal act, we immediately contacted the relevant law enforcement authorities,” MSC Cruises told NBC Miami.“We fully supported the investigation and provided every assistance to the guest. The crew member concerned has been dismissed.”
MSC World America has been based out of PortMiami since entering service in April 2025. The vessel, designed with the North American market in mind, became the first World-class MSC ship to sail from the United States. Cruise Hive covered the ship’s arrival in Miami before her inaugural voyage in April 2025.
The ship operates alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from PortMiami. Western Caribbean cruises typically visit Mexico and Honduras, while Eastern Caribbean voyages call in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Both feature MSC Cruises’ private destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC World America departed on her next cruise from PortMiami on August 22 as scheduled. The 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas cruise is set to visit Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Ocean Cay before returning to PortMiami on August 29. The arrest does not appear to have affected this sailing.
Disney Cruise Line is teasing what may be new itinerary releases and homeports with a graphic of latitude coordinates.
The teaser was published on Facebook on Monday, August 24, 2026, stating that a big announcement would be coming “tomorrow.”
Clues in the graphic and the latitude coordinates indicate that New York may be part of the announcement.
Disney Cruise Line has dropped a teaser on Facebook that cruise guests are eager to decipher. On Monday, August 24, 2026, the cruise line posted a simple graphic with a series of latitude coordinates, but no context about precisely what announcement will be forthcoming.
“Let’s coordinate to meet back up tomorrow for a big announcement…”the post said.
The graphic is a set of Mickey ears with grid lines reminiscent of latitude and longitude lines on a globe, and the Disney Cruise Line logo is at the top with a DCL ship at the bottom.
The list of coordinates includes (with their corresponding homeport cities):
40° 46.3′ N (New York City, New York)
18° 27′ N (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
29° 18.2′ N (Galveston, Texas)
32° 43.3′ N (San Diego, California)
26° 5.4′ N (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
28° 24′ N (Port Canaveral, Florida)
Looking even more closely at the graphic, viewers with sharp eyes have noted an apple “constellation” on the left and a shape that appears to be the island of Bermuda or the country of Panama in the stars just to the right of the coordinate list.
Another shape passes through the DCL logo, and while faint, it could be Tinker Bell, perhaps spreading pixie dust on her way to a new destination. The indistinct central outline could also be a palm tree, indicating some tropical destination.
Disney Cruise Line Tease
The cruise line continues to tease with a follow-up comment: “Looks like the set is a little incomplete. What could this list be?”
Without corresponding longitude coordinates one cannot definitively place these latitude coordinates on a map. Several other homeports are also close to those latitude lines, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Tampa, depending on exactly how precise the measurements are and where the exact pier or cruise terminal coordinates may be measured.
As of publication, the teaser post has received more than 650 comments from eager guests hopeful for more hints or sharing their speculation.
What Announcement May Be Coming?
The only firm information Disney Cruise Line has shared at this time is that a further announcement will be made on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
This is the time of year when cruise lines typically release future itineraries and open new sailings for bookings. Because the latitude coordinates are likely indicating homeports, Disney Cruise Line may be preparing to announce new homeports, itineraries, or ship redeployments.
With the Disney Cruise Line fleet expanding rapidly over the next few years, including two smaller ships to debut in 2029, there are certainly options for the cruise line to expand to new homeports and destinations.
Currently, the active Disney fleet is homeported as follows:
Disney Magic – Vancouver, San Diego, Galveston
Disney Wonder – Vancouver, San Diego
Disney Dream – Southampton, Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, Port Canaveral
Disney Fantasy – Port Canaveral
Disney Wish – Port Canaveral, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Southampton
Disney Treasure – Port Canaveral
Disney Destiny – Fort Lauderdale
Disney Adventure – Singapore
It is worth noting the Disney Believe will be debuting in late 2027 but no homeport or itineraries have yet been announced. The forthcoming announcement could be just about that new ship’s deployment and sailings.
Clearly, the teaser latitude coordinates do not correspond to homeports outside of the mainland United States and Puerto Rico, but it is not unusual for cruise lines to release itineraries in single sailing regions at once, while holding other itineraries for a later release.
Of the teaser coordinates, only New York City is not currently a homeport for a Disney ship, though the cruise line has sailed from the homeport in the past. Disney Cruise Line’s official website now lists “Limited-Time Cruises from New York” as a destination option, noting itineraries to Bermuda and Canada, but the site does not yet connect to any live, available bookings.
At the moment, all Disney Cruise Line ships have published itineraries only through the end of August or late September 2027. This supports the idea that a new schedule of sailings for late 2027 and into 2028 is imminent.
Holland America Line is adding new bandstands beside the Lido Pools aboard Oosterdam and Zuiderdam.
These new venues will host live performers, sailaway entertainment, special events, and activities.
The additions are part of Holland America’s over $500 million Evolution program, which will overhaul six ships beginning with Oosterdam in 2027.
Holland America Line is expanding live entertainment aboard two ships. The 82,305 gross-ton vessels Oosterdam and Zuiderdam will receive permanent bandstands at their Lido Pools.
The new poolside venues will serve as dedicated performance spaces on the pool decks. Programming at the bandstands will range from solo performers to full live bands.
They will also serve as the central hub for various special events and celebrations, such as sailaway parties and the cruise line’s Orange Party. This party is a Dutch-themed celebration, usually held once per sailing, where guests dress in orange attire for a lively party with Dutch-inspired snacks and drinks.
“Over the past several years, we’ve been on a journey to expand and elevate our entertainment offerings across the fleet,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. “The new Lido Pool bandstands are another step in that effort.”
New Bandstand on Oosterdam and Zuiderdam (Render Credit: Holland America Line)
The Lido Pools on Oosterdam and Zuiderdam also feature retractable glass roofs. This feature will allow the venues to be utilized even in poor weather. Oosterdam will be the first ship to debut the new bandstand in fall 2027, following her Evolution transformation.
Post-transformation bookings are currently available for Oosterdam cruises beginning on December 2, 2027. Zuiderdam will debut later, with currently available post-renovation sailings starting April 2, 2028.
Holland America’s $500 Million Overhaul
The bandstands are part of the cruise line’s ambitious Holland America Evolution plan, the largest fleet update in the company’s history. Cruise Hive previously covered the refurbishment project when it was announced in April 2026.
This major overhaul will bring new spaces and experiences to six Vista and Signature-class vessels in the cruise line’s fleet. Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Westerdam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam, and Eurodam will all see updates over the course of this multi-year project. The renovations are expected to cost over $500 million.
Holland America’s Oosterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: lenic)
The bandstands are among several new venues and experiences planned for the ships. They will also feature additional new staterooms, expanded dining options, and some experiences being brought over from the newer Pinnacle-class ships.
Oosterdam and Zuiderdam Are Getting Other Major Changes
Holland America has not yet revealed all of the changes planned under the Evolution program. However, some additional details have been released regarding Oosterdam and Zuiderdam, the first two ships undergoing these transformations.
Cruise Hive previously covered updates to the planned renovation of Zuiderdam. The cruise line has now confirmed many of these upgrades will be coming to her Vista-class sister, Oosterdam, as well.
Both ships will receive the Grand Dutch Café, a counter-service venue offering Dutch snacks, breakfast items, and coffee. The dining venue was previously available only on Pinnacle-class ships, debuting on the 99,863 gross-ton Koningsdam.
A variety of new staterooms and suites will be added and expanded. Zuiderdam has been confirmed to receive one reimagined Pinnacle Suite, two new Bridgeview Suites, 14 enhanced Vista Suites, and 32 Solo Verandah rooms.
Many existing onboard spaces and venues will also be refreshed, though the cruise line has not provided additional details. The new bandstands represent a relatively small part of the $500 million project. However, they offer another look at how Holland America plans to update its older ships.
Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador is reminding guests that crew members cannot accept homemade food as gifts.
When crew members refuse such a gift, guests are urged not to remove gratuities but to understand they’re just following the rules.
Only pre-packaged, factory-sealed, unopened food and snack items may be brought onboard Carnival cruise ships.
Many cruise guests enjoy bringing small gifts as tokens of appreciation for the hard-working crew members onboard, knowing that they are away from their families, friends, and the comforts of home for months at a time.
One type of gift, however, cannot be accepted by Carnival Cruise Line crew members: homemade treats. While there’s nothing wrong with a great cookie, brownie, or other delicious treat, the cruise line has a firm policy that crew members cannot accept homemade food items.
Cruise Hive reported when that policy was first implemented in early 2023, but not all guests are aware of the restriction. Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, posted a reminder on Monday, August 24, 2026 about the policy to help minimize any hard feelings when crew members reject such a gift.
“Please do not be offended if a crewmember politely tells you they cannot take cookies that you have baked at home,”he said on Facebook.“While the sentiment is to be applauded, the crewmembers have been instructed not to take these. There are health and safety reasons for this.”
It can be challenging to confirm what ingredients may be in home-baked goodies. Potential allergens or dangerous substances may be present, and rather than risk problems, crew members simply cannot accept such items, no matter how well-intentioned the gift may be.
Heald describes a recent message he received from a woman currently onboard a Carnival cruise who was upset when a crew member would not accept the cookies she’d brought.
Carnival Cruise Line Crew (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
“I don’t want you to be upset if a crewmember says no. It’s embarrassing and hard for them to do, but they are protecting themselves as well as following our rules,”he said.
According to Heald, the woman was so upset at the interaction that she was considering removing gratuities from her onboard account. Heald often advocates for crew members and always wants guests to have a positive experience, but he also does not want guests to take their frustrations out on crew members who are only following the rules.
Crew members can accept unopened, factory-sealed items in the original packaging. While they may not be homemade treats, the gesture will certainly be appreciated by crew members who receive such goodies.
Can Guests Bring Homemade Cookies Onboard?
Carnival Cruise Line does not permit guests to bring homemade goodies onboard at all. It is unclear how the woman who contacted Heald recently had homemade treats to offer crew members.
The restriction is listed on Carnival’s prohibited items list, which specifically notes that “homemade foods” and “pre-cooked foods” are not permitted. All food items brought onboard must be pre-packaged, factory-sealed, and unopened.
Snacks can be brought onboard, and many guests do bring along their favorite chips, candy bars, or other snacks. It is especially popular to bring along a child’s favorite snacks, particularly for picky eaters who might have a meltdown if they’re hangry, or to bring snacks that may adhere to certain dietary needs such as allergies.
Similarly, snacks can be purchased in ports of call and brought onto the ship, but the same restrictions for pre-packaged, factory-sealed, and unopened items still apply.
Pelican Plunge on Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay in the Bahamas is temporarily closed for refurbishment.
The cruise line has not announced any reopening date for the floating platform and its two waterslides.
Because Castaway Cay does not have extensive waterslides, the closure will be disappointing to many guests.
Castaway Cay, one of Disney Cruise Line’s private destinations in the Bahamas, is a favorite port of call for many guests. There may be some disappointment in the coming weeks, however, as a popular feature of the island is now closed for refurbishment.
Guests visiting Castaway Cay are learning that Pelican Plunge is now closed, albeit temporarily, for refurbishment. Disney Cruise Line is reaching out to notify guests of the closure, but there is no indication when exactly it may reopen.
“While the Pelican Plunge water slide is closed over the coming weeks due to necessary refurbishments, there is lots to see and do!”the notification, which was shared on Facebook on Sunday, August 23, 2026, read.“The water play structure in the swimming lagoon and Spring-A-Leak are open for your enjoyment, as well as onboard water slides that may be available.”
There is no indication of exactly when Pelican Plunge was first closed, nor is there any exact date for it to reopen.
Disney Cruise Line has not disclosed the exact refurbishments necessary for Pelican Plunge. All waterslides, however, require regular maintenance to stay safely coated and comfortable for guests to ride.
The water pumps and other features also require regular maintenance, and it is possible the platform itself requires flooring work or other maintenance before guests will be able to use it again.
Photo By: Brian Hart (Creative Commons)
While Pelican Plunge is closed, a smaller play platform is available in the southern swimming lagoon, though it does not have the waterslides. Guests can also enjoy swimming in the clear water, and a variety of port adventures include snorkeling, banana boat rides, and other water sports and activities on Castaway Cay.
Different Disney Cruise Line ships have waterslides onboard, from the classic AquaDunk on Disney Magic to the exciting AquaMouse water coaster on Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.
What Is Pelican Plunge?
Pelican Plunge is a floating activity platform anchored off the northernmost of the island’s two family beaches. The jutting spur of the Heads Up bar curves around Pelican Plunge. The Pelican Point tram stop is the closest to Pelican Plunge.
The platform includes two twisting waterslides, one open and one enclosed. Other features on the platform include a water dump bucket, water guns to shoot at nearby targets, and whimsical nautical theming such as nets, buoys, barrels, a mouse-ears-shaped life ring, and of course, pelicans.
Guests must be at least 38″ tall to ride the Pelican Plunge slides. There is no pathway access to the floating platform, so guests must be able to swim out to the platform to access the waterslides. Both slides exit directly into the swimming lagoon.
Other private islands have more extensive waterslide sections. Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day CocoCay, for example, has 14 waterslides at Thrill Waterpark and the Great Tides Waterpark on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay has multiple slides, a rapid river, and cliff jumping.
Unlike the larger waterparks on other private islands that have sometimes expensive entrance fees, there is no charge to enjoy Pelican Plunge.
Disney Cruise Line’s private destinations do not have a large selection of waterslides, making Pelican Plunge even more popular and this temporary closure all the more disappointing for guests.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) boasts an array of ships within its fleet, including some of the most innovative and family-friendly cruise ships on the oceans today.
At the moment, there are 21 NCL ships in the fleet, with Norwegian Luna being the newest and Norwegian Spirit being the oldest. The fleet will expand even further when Norwegian Aura arrives in 2027.
So now you know which of NCL’s cruise ships are bigger than the rest and which are newer and which are older — but what else do you need to know before you book that cruise? Here are the need-to-know details on each ship, as well as a few fun facts.
We’ve listed the Norwegian Cruise Line ships by age, including the upcoming Norwegian Aura:
Norwegian Aura (2027)
Norwegian Aura Cruise Ship
The cruise line is elevating its Prima-class ships once again in 2027 with the arrival of Norwegian Aura, announced on January 15, 2026, and reported by Cruise Hive. The vessel will become the largest in the fleet at an impressive 168,000 gross tons, making it 10% larger than Norwegian Aqua and Luna. There will also be a total of 1,976 staterooms.
The ship will be the first to feature Ocean Heights, a new fun zone for guests to enjoy, and it will span from 18 to 21! The space includes NCL’s first -ever mat racing dual waterslides. The entire area will also be illuminated like an aura at night. The open spaces onboard will also be 20% more expensive than Norwegian Aqua and Luna.
Norwegian Aura will debut from Barcelona in Spain on May 21, 2027. The new ship will begin its inaugural season from Miami, Florida, in June 2027 and will offer seven-day Eastern Caribbean voyages through October 2027. Aura will shift to Western Caribbean sailings from winter 2027.
Will Arrive: May 2027
Gross Tonnage: 168,000
Length: 1,130 feet
Guest Capacity: 3,840
Shipyard: Fincantieri
Norwegian Luna (2026)
Norwegian Luna Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Currently the newest, Norwegian Luna became the second cruise ship built for the Prima Plus class and sister ship to Norwegian Aqua. The vessel features the thrilling Aqua Slidecoaster, a digital sports complex called Glow Court, and many of the features already found on other Prima-class ships. However, it no longer has a go-kart track. The ship will be based out of Miami and will sail the Caribbean.
Entered Service: March 2026
Gross Tonnage: 156,300
Guest Capacity: 3,571
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Aqua (2025)
Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
The brightly looking Norwegian Aqua is the third Prima-class cruise ship ordered by the cruise line. The ship is also 10% larger than earlier sister ships at an increased 156,300 gross tons and a passenger capacity of 3,571. The ship is the next generation of the class and also features the first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide.
I actually sailed on the newest ship in the fleet along with Cruise Hive staff member Paul Bartlett, you can see what he thought here.
Entered Service: April 2025
Gross Tonnage: 156,300
Guest Capacity: 3,571
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Viva (2023)
Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Robert McGillivray)
Debuted in 2023, Norwegian Viva was built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. The ship features some of the same amenities and world-first offerings that can currently be seen on Norwegian Prima, Viva’s Prima-class sister.
The ship brings more than 43,000 square feet of outdoor space, more than one infinity pool and a cool dining concept called the Indulge Food Hall, which encompasses nearly a dozen restaurants all in one dining experience.
Entered Service: August 2023
Gross Tonnage: 142,500
Guest Capacity: 3,215
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Prima (2022)
Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Studio Porto Sabbia)
Debuting in 2022 and kicking off the Prima class, Norwegian Prima was also built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. Guessed to cost the cruise line approximately $850 million to build, the ship features world-class accommodations, a wealth of suite options, and a bigger and better go-karting track, unlike anything cruisers have ever seen before.
Entered Service: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 143,535
Guest Capacity: 3,099
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Encore (2019)
Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Encore was the last Breakaway Plus ship. With nearly 30 different dining and drinking venues aboard the massive ship, as well as tons of family-friendly entertainment, cruisers certainly won’t be wanting for things to do, no matter where they sail.
Entered Service: 2019
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 169,116
Guest Capacity: 3,958
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Bliss (2018)
Photo Courtesy: Port of Seattle
Designed with improved energy efficiency in mind, so as to better meet Alaskan environmental regulations during Alaskan cruises, Norwegian Bliss was built by Meyer Werft in Germany.
The ship offers 20 decks and more than 2,200 cabins. Like other Breakaway Plus ships, Norwegian Bliss offers a wealth of dining options and entertainment spaces.
Entered Service: 2018
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 168,028
Guest Capacity: 4,010
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Joy (2017)
Photo Credit: Igor Grochev / Shutterstock.com
Another mammoth Breakaway Plus-class ship, Norwegian Joy, was likewise built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Delivered in 2017, the ship has sailed around both Asia and North America.
Despite being in the same class, Norwegian Joy does stand apart in a few ways, from sister ship and predecessor Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Joy, for example, has a lower guest capacity, but also more restaurants, a larger casino and more shopping options.
Entered Service: 2017
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 167,725
Guest Capacity: 3,776
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Escape (2015)
Photo Credit: Mia2you / Shutterstock.com
The first of the Breakaway Plus-class ships, Norwegian Escape was likewise built by Meyer Werft in Germany. When Norwegian Escape debuted, it featured the largest water park in the entire NCL fleet.
Entered Service: 2015
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 164,998
Guest Capacity: 4,218
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Getaway (2014)
Photo Credit: StockPhotosLV / Shutterstock
One of two Breakaway-class ships, Norwegian Getaway was built by Meyer Werft in Germany and, at the time of its debut, was the ninth-largest cruise ship in the world. It featured a range of new amenities specific to its class, such as restaurants helmed by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Grammy and magic-themed entertainment areas.
Entered Service: 2014
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 145,655
Guest Capacity: 3,903
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Breakaway (2013)
Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock
The first Breakaway-class ship, Norwegian Breakaway was actually named by the public, via a contest that NCL hosted in 2011. Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway shares many amenities with sister ship Norwegian Getaway, such as a Geoffrey Zakarian-designed restaurant.
Entered Service: 2013
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 145,655
Guest Capacity: 3,903
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Epic (2010)
Photo Credit: Vintagepix / Shutterstock
One of NCL’s stand-alone ships without a class, Norwegian Epic debuted in 2010 after being built at the STX France Cruise SA, Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. When built, the ship was the third-largest in the world.
Originally, the cruise ship was intended to have some sister ships, but a dispute with the builder caused the other two ships to be canceled, leaving Norwegian Epic alone.
Entered Service: 2010
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 155,873
Guest Capacity: 4,070
Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, France
Norwegian Gem (2007)
Image Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
The last Jewel-class ship, Norwegian Gem, was built in 2007 by Meyer Werft in Germany. Built at a cost of $700 million, the ship shares exterior features with Norwegian’s Dawn Class, though its interior and amenities are all Jewel-class.
Entered Service: 2007
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,530
Guest Capacity: 2,344
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Jade (2006)
Photo Credit: David Fowler / Shutterstock
Originally built by Meyer Werft in Germany as Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Jade received a rebranding in 2008 when Pride of Hawaii was removed from the Hawaiian market and redeployed.
Along with the name change, the ship also received new livery and extra features at that time, including the addition of a casino.
Entered Service: 2006
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,558
Guest Capacity: 2,352
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Pearl (2006)
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Norwegian Pearl
Launched in 2006, Norwegian Pearl was built by Meyer Werft in Germany. The ship has made appearances on a variety of television shows and documentaries and frequently hosts themed or special interest cruises.
Entered Service: 2006
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 93,530
Guest Capacity: 2,344
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Jewel (2005)
Photo Credit: GTS Productions / Shutterstock
The first Jewel-class ship, Norwegian Jewel, debuted in 2005 after being built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Similar to sister ship Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel has connections to several pop culture figures; the ship’s godmother is former First Lady Melania Trump and the ship appeared on an episode of The Apprentice.
Entered Service: 2005
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,502
Guest Capacity: 2,330
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Pride of America (2005)
Photo Credit: A. Michael Brown
Built partially in Mississippi and partially in Germany, Pride of America was part of an NCL effort to build and flag several cruise ships within the United States.
When inaugurated in 2005, the ship was the first new U.S.-flagged deep-water cruise ship in multiple decades. Because of its U.S. registration, the ship has no casino, a mostly U.S. crew and only sails around the United States.
Entered Service: 2005
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 80,439
Guest Capacity: 2,180
Shipyard: Lloyd Werft, Germany
Norwegian Dawn (2002)
Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship
Built by Meyer Werft in Germany (and originally built for Star Cruises), Norwegian Dawn was the first NCL cruise ship to feature hull art. Now, the cruise line is known for its colorful exteriors.
Entered Service: 2002
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 92,250
Guest Capacity: 2,290
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Star (2001)
Photo Credit: Galina Savina / Shutterstock
The first Dawn-class ship, Norwegian Star, like Norwegian Dawn, was built for Star Cruises before being transferred over to NCL. Norwegian Star was built by Meyer Werft in Germany.
Entered Service: 2001
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 91,740
Guest Capacity: 2,298
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Sun (2001)
Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO / Shutterstock.com
Built by Lloyd Werft in Germany, Norwegian Sun was the last Sun-class ship. She was launched in 2001 in a dual christening ceremony with sister ship Norwegian Star. In April 2025, the cruise line announced that Norwegian Sun would leave the fleet in 2026 for the Indian-based cruise line Cordelia Cruises.
Entered Service: 2001
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 78,309
Guest Capacity: 1,878
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Sky (1999)
Norwegian Sky Cruise Ship
Originally ordered by Costa Cruises, Norwegian Sky was built by Lloyd Werft in Germany. For a short time, Norwegian Sky, now a Sun-class ship, sailed as Pride of Aloha. The vessel will also depart the fleet for Cordelia Cruises in 2026.
Entered Service: 1999
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 77,104
Guest Capacity: 1,944
Shipyard: Lloyd Werft, Germany
Norwegian Spirit (1998)
Photo Courtesy: NCL
Built in 1998 for Star Cruises by Meyer Werft, Norwegian Spirit officially became a NCL vessel in 2004. Norwegian Spirit is one of the few NCL ships that do not fit into any particular Norwegian ship class.
Carnival Cruise Line is no longer offering an official Cruise Elegant evening on every short sailing.
On “select” 3- and 4-night cruises, the formal event is being replaced with a “White Hot Night” theme.
Professional photographers are still available with multiple backdrops regardless of the scheduled theme.
The opportunity to dress in one’s finest and have professional photos on formal night is a fun tradition for many cruise guests, but on shorter Carnival sailings, there are no longer as many chances to do so.
Guests onboard recent 3- and 4-night sailings have noticed the “Cruise Elegant” evening is missing from the daily schedule, replaced instead with White Hot Night.
This is a recent change in Carnival’s activities lineup and is reflected in the cruise line’s “What to Wear” FAQ.
“Select 5 days or shorter cruises will have one Cruise Elegant evening (short duration voyages not hosting a Cruise Elegant evening will host a White Hot Night),”the FAQ reads.
Previously, cruises 5 days or shorter (3- and 4-night sailings) had one Cruise Elegant evening, while longer cruises had two. On the new schedule, cruises 6 days and longer still have two Cruise Elegant evenings.
This change is confirmed from one guest who was on the August 17, 2026 departure of Carnival Glory. That 4-night cruise from Port Canaveral visited Nassau and Celebration Key in the Bahamas before returning to the Sunshine State on Friday, August 21.
“I just got off a four night Carnival Glory cruise this morning where Elegant Night was completely replaced by White [Hot] Night,”the guest posted on Reddit.“Apparently this is a new thing that is being implemented for most cruises less than five days long and elegant night is not going to be on these short cruises moving forward.”
The change, however, is only on “select” cruises, and some shorter sailings still have Cruise Elegant night. One guest on the August 15, 2026 departure of Carnival Freedom, also from Port Canaveral and visiting Nassau, commented on the same Reddit thread that there was a scheduled Cruise Elegant evening for that 3-night cruise.
Onboard activities on the White Hot Night also create confusion as to whether an elegant theme is still being used. The Carnival Glory guest said there were still plenty of photo backdrops for posed portraits, including glittering diamonds and other backdrops most often presented only on Cruise Elegant evenings.
Formal Night (Photo Credit: Zachary L. Gross)
In the main dining room restaurants, guests report the “American Feast” menu is still offered that night, whether it is themed Cruise Elegant or White Hot Night, though the offerings on the menu have been adjusted.
It is not uncommon for Carnival Cruise Line to tweak menus and introduce new items. While the title of “American Feast” has traditionally been the formal night menu, the menu changes as the cruise line scales back the formality of the evening may just be coincidental.
What Is White Hot Night?
White Hot Night is an easy theme night onboard many Carnival ships when guests are encouraged to dress in all white. This is not a new event, but it has never before replaced the traditional formal night.
Carnival suggests guests bring their “favorite, most fun… even quirkiest white clothing and matching accessories. Keep the theme going head to toe, if you can. We’re counting on you to help us heat up this amazing night of dancing, giveaways, fun and more!”
The highlight of White Hot Night is a dance party on the pool deck, often with Latin beats or other exciting tunes to keep guests dancing. If the weather does not permit an outdoor celebration, the dance party may be moved to the ship’s atrium.
Carnival’s website now notes that “the White Hot Night Party is offered on 6+ day sailings and select short cruises” but as recently as early June 2026, the description claimed “this party may be too hot for short cruises — it’s only available on 6+ day sailings.”
Not all guests in the Reddit conversation are happy with the change, considering that eating dinner while dressed all in white isn’t always a wise plan. Others don’t mind either way and will continue to wear formal attire as they please on any evening during their sailings.
Regardless of the theme, cruise ship photographers are available every evening and guests are welcome to pose for formal portraits or fun snaps as much as they wish no matter what they are wearing.
Recent rainfall has improved water levels on parts of Europe’s Danube and Rhine rivers, but cruise lines are warning guests of possible continued disruptions.
Emerald Cruises has already changed the ship assigned to an upcoming Danube cruise as conditions near Budapest and Bratislava remain uncertain.
Viking and Saga are also warning passengers of potential itinerary changes, including ship swaps and alternative river itineraries.
Recent rainfall is providing some relief from the low water levels on Europe’s rivers, but river cruise passengers aren’t out of the woods yet. Multiple cruise lines continue to warn guests that upcoming itineraries could be altered as they monitor changes.
Historic droughts in Europe have left sections of the Danube and Rhine rivers too shallow to pass through. As Cruise Hive recently reported, several river cruise lines, including Viking River Cruises, Saga River Cruises, and Uniworld River Cruises, have all made changes to recent and upcoming sailings.
Recent rainfall across parts of France, Germany, and Central Europe has helped improve conditions in some areas. This has eased restrictions on parts of the upper Danube. However, the rivers are not fully recovered.
The European Drought Observatory, run by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre, states that drought conditions “remain critical in most of Europe” as of early August. As the changing water levels remain uncertain, river cruise lines continue to monitor and update itineraries.
Emerald Swaps Ship Over Budapest–Bratislava Uncertainty
Passengers booked on Emerald Sky’s August 30, 2026 7-night Danube River cruise from Budapest received a notification from the cruise line. Emerald Cruises remains confident that the majority of the sailing will be unaffected by low water levels.
“Based on the current forecast, we anticipate being able to operate your cruise itinerary as planned from Bratislava through to Regensburg,” the notice sent to guests reads.
However, water levels on the first section of the voyage, between Budapest and Bratislava, are more uncertain. The cruise line is keeping a close eye on water levels as it assesses the potential for this section of the river to reopen.
As a precaution, guests on the sailing will now travel aboard Emerald Destiny instead of the originally scheduled Emerald Sky. Both vessels are similar in size and have an identical passenger capacity of 182 guests. The cruise line says it will provide further details closer to embarkation day.
Saga Promises Cruises Won’t Become Coach Tours
Meanwhile, Saga River Cruises issued an update on social media on August 18. The cruise line is also reviewing conditions and making itinerary adjustments on a cruise-by-cruise basis.
If conditions do not allow a scheduled itinerary to operate, Saga is offering alternatives. These alternatives include options exploring the Dutch Waterways, the Main, and navigable portions of the Danube.
River Danube, Budapest (Photo Credit: Civic Lens)
Saga promises that ships will continue sailing. The cruise line is assuring passengers that altered voyages will remain river cruises rather than being replaced by overland trips.
“We won’t turn your itinerary into a coach holiday; the ship will be sailing,”Saga said in the update.
Saga also plans to retain original flights where possible to avoid lengthy transfers. Affected passengers will be contacted directly by the cruise line with updates.
Viking Warns Rhine and Danube Sailings May Change
In an August 20 update, Viking River Cruises remained hopeful for improving conditions. The cruise line acknowledges, however, that some itinerary adjustments may still be necessary.
Viking’s operational teams continue to assess the situation. Affected passengers and travel advisors are being contacted before departure. The cruise line’s extensive fleet allows it to provide guests with a solution to impassable sections of rivers.
Viking operates identical sister ships in opposite directions. When a section becomes impassable, passengers can sometimes leave one ship, cross the affected area by land and board an identical vessel on the other side.
When conditions allow, Viking says it can implement these “ship swaps” to minimize disruption. Because the vessels are identical, Viking says guests can even transfer to the same stateroom on the replacement ship.
For now, the recent rainfall is encouraging, but conditions vary by location. With operators continuing to keep tabs on the Danube and Rhine, passengers sailing in the coming weeks may not know whether changes are necessary until relatively close to departure.
