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Mein Schiff 3 Repairs Drag On as TUI Cancels Second Cruise

Melissa Mayntz
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Mein Schiff 3 Repairs Drag On as TUI Cancels Second Cruise

Key Aspects:

  • TUI Cruises has cancelled a second voyage for Mein Schiff 3 following the ship’s collision with two container ships in Bremerhaven on October 25, 2026.
  • The second cancelled sailing was a 14-night Norway cruise that had been planned to depart Germany on Saturday, November 14.
  • Mein Schiff 3 is expected to resume service for her planned November 28, 2026 departure, a 4-night sailing to Kiel.

TUI Cruises has provided an update on the condition of Mein Schiff 3 and her future sailings following the damage sustained when the cruise ship collided with two container ships in Bremerhaven, Germany on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

“Since Sunday, 1 November 2026, Mein Schiff 3 has been at the Lloyd shipyard in Bremerhaven. There, the damage sustained is being thoroughly assessed and the necessary repair work carried out,” the cruise line posted on its website on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

“It has become apparent that the work will take longer than anticipated. Consequently, the planned cruise of Mein Schiff 3 from 14 to 28 November 2026 will unfortunately not be able to take place.”

The now-cancelled 14-night cruise was to have been an “Enchanting Norway” voyage, roundtrip from Bremerhaven, with visits to Nordfjordeid, Narvik, Honningsvag, Tromso, and Alesund.

While booked guests will understandably be disappointed at the decision to cancel the sailing, TUI Cruises is clear that safety is the primary concern.

“The safety of our guests and our crew is always our top priority,” the cruise line explained. “We want to ensure that all necessary work is carried out thoroughly before Mein Schiff 3 resumes its cruise operations.”

While attempting to depart Bremerhaven in windy conditions on October 25, Mein Schiff 3 collided with two docked container ships. While the first collision with MSC Anne F was relatively minor, the second collision with MSC Victorine was a far more serious impact.

That collision damaged the cruise ship’s starboard bridge wing and destroyed several lifeboats and their associated operational cranes. Part of the cruise ship’s hull was also damaged, and a significant gash was opened on the container ship’s hull along with damage to the container guides.

Mein Schiff 3 Cargo Ship Collision
Mein Schiff 3 Cargo Ship Collision (Photo Credit: @CruiseOfficerAlex)

All vessel damage was reported as above the waterline and there were no injuries in the incident.

Following the collisions, Mein Schiff 3 returned to the dock to be assessed and was later moved so repair work could begin. TUI Cruises quickly cancelled the 20-night Canary Islands voyage the 99,526-gross ton ship was to have begun when leaving Bremerhaven on the evening of the collision.

What About Future Sailings?

The ship’s November 14, 2026 departure is only the second cruise to be cancelled as a result of the incident, but TUI Cruises is confident that Mein Schiff 3 will return to service for the following voyage.

“As things stand, Mein Schiff 3 is scheduled to resume regular service and its planned itinerary from 28 November 2026,” the cruise line confirmed.

On Saturday, November 28, the ship is scheduled to depart Bremerhaven for a 4-night, one-way sailing to Kiel, Germany, with a port visit in Oslo, Norway, along the way. The ship will then offer three 7-night sailings from Kiel, with the last of those week-long voyages debarking in Bremerhaven.

At this time, there are no changes to any of the upcoming itineraries once Mein Schiff 3 resumes service, but the cruise line has stated it will reach out to impacted guests and sales partners if any further changes are necessary.

The cruise line has not commented on local reports that an administrative offense investigation is now ongoing into the cruise ship’s captain and whether he may have breached his duty of care on the evening of the collision. Such investigations are standard procedure after this type of incident and if found derelict, the captain may face a fine.

Coast Guard Airlifts Norwegian Bliss Passenger Off North Carolina

Calvin Musquez
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Coast Guard Airlifts Norwegian Bliss Passenger Off North Carolina

Key Aspects:

  • The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated a passenger experiencing a medical emergency from Norwegian Bliss on November 2, 2026.
  • A helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City carried out the rescue approximately 32 miles off Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.
  • The passenger was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia and was reported to be in stable condition.

On November 2, 2026, a passenger aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss was airlifted from the ship by the U.S. Coast Guard. The evacuation took place off the coast of North Carolina after the passenger reportedly experienced a medical emergency.

The 4,004-guest ship was on an eight-night, round-trip Bahamas voyage from New York when the ship’s crew called for an emergency evacuation. An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, in northeastern North Carolina, was dispatched to the ship’s location. 

Norwegian Bliss was approximately 32 miles off Oregon Inlet, an opening through North Carolina’s Outer Banks in Dare County, when the aircrew arrived. Video shared by the Coast Guard shows the crew hoisting the passenger from the ship into the rescue helicopter.

The aircrew then transported the passenger to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, for treatment. The Coast Guard reported that the patient was in stable condition.

The name, age, gender, and nationality of the ill passenger have not been publicly released. The nature of their medical emergency has also not been confirmed.

Norwegian Bliss departed New York on November 1, 2026 and was on a sea day at the time of the evacuation. No change of course or other itinerary disruption as a result of the emergency has been reported.

Cruise ship tracking data confirms the ship docked in Port Canaveral for its scheduled port call on November 4. From there, the 168,028-gross-ton vessel will call at Great Stirrup Cay on November 5 and Nassau on November 6 before returning to New York on November 9, 2026.

Other Recent Airlifts From Cruise Ships

As Cruise Hive has previously covered, airlift operations are not unusual at sea and occur when a passenger needs medical care beyond what can be provided onboard. The evacuation from Norwegian Bliss is the latest in a series of recent Coast Guard rescues involving cruise ships. 

On October 26, 2026, an 81-year-old passenger was airlifted from Windstar’s Star Pride. Aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen met the ship around 150 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico, after the Coast Guard initially received the request when the ship was about 900 nautical miles offshore.

In September 2026, a crew member aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas required a similar rescue. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter, again from Air Station Borinquen, to airlift the 32-year-old suffering from abdominal pain, approximately 58 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

Law Firm Probes Villa Vie Over Cabin Sales After Odyssey Shutdown

Calvin Musquez
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Law Firm Probes Villa Vie Over Cabin Sales After Odyssey Shutdown

Key Aspects:

  • Migliaccio & Rathod LLP has opened an investigation into Villa Vie Residences over potential misrepresentations or omissions involving cabin purchases.
  • The inquiry follows Villa Vie Odyssey’s October 2026 suspension of operations in Cambodia, which left residents facing unexpected disruption and possible financial losses.
  • Attorneys are seeking information from cabin purchasers and deposit holders, including those who paid for accommodations aboard the planned Villa Vie Legacy.

A law firm is looking into potentially improper business practices by Villa Vie Residences. The firm is questioning whether purchasers of cabins aboard Villa Vie Odyssey were adequately informed about the company’s financial difficulties before committing substantial sums of money.

Migliaccio & Rathod LLP announced an investigation into the cruise line on November 2, 2026. The private law firm, based in Washington, D.C., specializes in class-action and consumer protection lawsuits.

This comes after Villa Vie suspended operations on October 27 and ordered residents off the ship the next day, bringing the “never-ending cruise” to an abrupt end. The sudden suspension left residents in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, facing uncertainty about their accommodations and future travel plans.

In its announcement, the firm lists five areas of concern for possible legal claims. These include consumer protection law violations, false or misleading advertising, fraudulent misrepresentation or omission, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.

The firm is looking to hear from customers who purchased or paid a deposit for a cabin aboard Villa Vie Odyssey or the planned Legacy and experienced financial losses or unexpected disruptions. The announcement includes a contact form for affected customers.

Villa Vie Residences marketed long-term cabin rentals and purchases aboard Odyssey. Cabins cost residents hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

The investigation by Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is preliminary and does not mean that Villa Vie Residences necessarily broke any laws. As of the time of writing, the firm has not announced a class-action lawsuit. 

Villa Vie’s Financial Troubles Deepen

Following the sudden end of Villa Vie Odyssey’s cruise on October 27, the company suspended operations and now plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The cruise line attributed the suspension to rising fuel costs, with monthly costs rising from $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000 per cabin in some Asian regions.

Villa VIe Odyssey Top View
Villa VIe Odyssey Top View

Migliaccio & Rathod LLP also launched a second investigation into emergency loans the cruise line requested from residents. According to the firm, Villa Vie Residences offered 12% to 24% interest rates on some resident loans and requested additional funds to cover fuel costs.

The law firm is looking into whether residents who provided this financial support will recover their money. It invited customers who loaned money or contributed additional funds to contact the firm.

The Cruise Line’s Future Remains Uncertain

On November 3, Cruise Hive reported that the vessel’s lender, Sagar Capital, had taken possession of the ship. This came after a failed attempt by 169 residents of Odyssey to purchase the vessel.

The lender rejected the residents’ proposal, saying that a review of Villa Vie’s records revealed substantially more debt than expected. Cruise ship tracking data confirms the ship is now on the move, having left Cambodia en route to Singapore.

Unconfirmed reports claim the ship may be auctioned off. However, the cruise line remains optimistic that financial restructuring efforts will prove successful.

“This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done,” said Mike Petterson, Villa Vie’s founder and executive chairman, to CBS News.

Villa Vie Residences had big plans for the future, with a second ship, Villa Vie Legacy, announced to enter service in early 2029. The company has not publicly confirmed any changes to those plans.

Carnival Cruise Line Moves Up Departure Times on 93 More Sailings

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Moves Up Departure Times on 93 More Sailings

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is moving departures 30 minutes earlier for 93 sailings on two different ships in 2026 and 2027.
  • Carnival Liberty now has departures adjusted on 47 sailings, while 46 sailings on Carnival Splendor will depart earlier.
  • The ships are homeported from New Orleans, Louisiana and Sydney, Australia, respectively.

More notification letters have begun going out to guests booked on Carnival Liberty and Carnival Splendor, adjusting their cruise departure times to 30 minutes earlier than originally planned.

Cruise Hive has obtained letters for both ships and confirmed that, in total, 93 sailings have been moved to earlier departures, with sailing dates as soon as December 2026 and extending into November 2027.

These changes follow the recent adjustment of 153 sailings aboard Carnival Elation and Carnival Glory, bringing the total number of ship departures with earlier sailaway times to 246 different cruises.

Carnival Liberty Departure Adjustments

Every Carnival Liberty sailing from the ship’s January 3, 2027 departure through and including her November 20, 2027 departure has now been moved 30 minutes earlier and will depart New Orleans, Louisiana at 3 p.m. instead of 3:30 p.m. This gives 47 sailings a new sailaway time.

The 2,974-guest ship is offering mostly 7-night cruises during that time. Depending on the exact departure date, Carnival Liberty is scheduled to visit destinations such as Key West, Celebration Key, Nassau, Isla Tropicale, Belize, Cozumel, Montego Bay, and Grand Cayman.

Only two sailings impacted by the departure change are not weeklong cruises. The ship’s November 14, 2027 departure is a 6-night itinerary to Belize and Cozumel, while the November 20, 2027 departure is an 8-night cruise to Nassau; RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay; and Celebration Key.

Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship
Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: lazyllama)

Both of those sailings will also depart New Orleans at the earlier time, letting guests get into the cruising fun 30 minutes sooner than originally planned.

There is no change to any of the port visit times or when Carnival Liberty is expected back in New Orleans for any of the impacted sailings.

Carnival Splendor Departure Adjustments

Sailing from Sydney, 46 Carnival Splendor departures are now changed to a 3 p.m. departure instead of setting sail at 3:30 p.m. as originally planned. Adjusted to the new, earlier sailaway are the ship’s five departures in December 2026: December 8, 13, 17, 26, and 30.

Also setting sail earlier are the following 41 departures in 2027:

  • January 13, 27, 31
  • February 4, 13, 25, 28
  • March 9, 18, 22, 26
  • April 8, 11, 15, 22, 25, 29
  • May 13, 26
  • June 4, 7, 16, 20, 24, 27
  • July 1, 14, 18, 27
  • September 17, 20, 24, 27
  • October 1, 4, 8, 22, 31
  • November 16, 20, 23

The 3,012-guest Carnival Splendor is sailing a diverse offering of itineraries through these dates. Cruise lengths ranging from 4-15 nights, though the longer sailings are not impacted by this change and guests should double check their cruise departure date for the earlier sailaway time.

There are no departures for Carnival Splendor adjusted in August 2027 because the ship will be out of service and in dry dock at that time. Her last departure will leave Sydney on July 31 (still sailing at 3:30 p.m. for that cruise!) and is a 15-day one-way voyage to Singapore, visiting Moreton Island, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Lembar, and Benoa along the way.

Carnival Splendor returns to Sydney to begin departures again from September 17, and that first post dry-dock departure does have the earlier sailaway time.

As with Carnival Liberty, there are no other itinerary adjustments to ports of call, port visit times, or return to homeport times for Carnival Splendor at this time.

More From Cruise Hive

Carnival Cruise Line has not offered more details about why so many sailings are having their homeport departures adjusted by 30 minutes, but such changes are not uncommon. Port operations, berth schedules, pilot availability, and other factors all impact exactly when cruise ships are able to set sail.

All guests on now-adjusted departures will want to be sure they arrive at the cruise terminal with adequate time for check-in before the final boarding time printed on their boarding passes. Guests who arrive late may be denied boarding and be unable to set sail.

MSC Poesia Guests Get Full Refund Plus 100% Cruise Credit After Cancelled Sailing

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Poesia Guests Get Full Refund Plus 100% Cruise Credit After Cancelled Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • All MSC Poesia guests will receive a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit for the now-cancelled November 1, 2026 sailing.
  • The ship has been unable to depart Miami due to an undisclosed “regulatory matter” and the cancellation was announced on Tuesday, November 3.
  • Free WiFi access is being provided and guests can submit claims for reimbursement for changed post-cruise travel plans.

Guests onboard MSC Poesia have now received letters outlining their options for compensation following the cancellation of the ship’s Sunday, November 1, 2026 sailing.

While guests were able to board the ship in PortMiami on Sunday for what was to have been an 11-night Southern and Western Caribbean itinerary, MSC Poesia did not depart at 5 p.m. that day as planned.

Instead, the ship was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard as an inspection was underway. While the nature of that inspection was not publicly disclosed, announcements made onboard confirmed it was not related to a health or safety issue.

Guests were finally informed just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3 that their sailing was unfortunately cancelled.

“Despite our team’s continuous effort to solve the regulatory matter that delayed our departure, we unfortunately have to cancel,” the captain announced to guests.

The nature of the “regulatory matter” was not disclosed and as of Tuesday night, Cruise Hive’s ship tracker shows MSC Poesia still docked in Miami.

Few further details were provided in the compensation letter, which has been posted on Facebook, but the “regulatory matter” was mentioned and the cruise line did express regret for the situation.

“We sincerely apologize for the limited information we were able to share throughout this process,” the letter began. “On Sunday evening prior to departure, a regulatory matter arose that required resolution and unfortunately, the resources necessary to address this matter have not been available in time to meet the sailing schedule.”

Refunds and Credits Offered to Guests

Following the morning announcement of the cancellation, which also confirmed guests could remain onboard the ship until noon on Thursday, November 5, letters began to be delivered to guests’ staterooms with complete compensation details.

First, all guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and eligible prepaid purchases, such as beverage packages, specialty dining, internet use, and shore tours booked through MSC Cruises. That refund will be returned to the original form of payment within 14 days.

All guests will also receive a future cruise credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid. That credit can be used on any MSC sailing but must be redeemed by “confirming a booking by November 2, 2027.”

Read Also: Who Owns MSC Cruises – Behind the Global Cruise Line

This means that not only are guests receiving a refund for the now-cancelled cruise, but they will also receive a significant credit that can be used toward another sailing in the future: in effect, double compensation.

Guest reactions to this offer have generally been positive.

“I would say that’s more than fair,” one commenter responded on Facebook. “Glad to see MSC takes care of their customers.”

“I think this is very reasonable from MSC,” another commenter added. “They have clearly tried to resolve it but with no success so this is more than reasonable.”

In the meantime, WiFi access has been made complimentary for all guests onboard the ship so they can adjust their post-cruise travel plans as needed.

More From Cruise Hive

MSC Cruises will also reimburse eligible change fees and transportation charges, so long as the new arrangements are “in the same category of service, including the same destination as your originally booked journey.”

Reimbursement will also be provided for hotel accommodations if guests are unable to arrange return travel on the day they disembark MSC Poesia. All reimbursement claims must be submitted for review.

Villa Vie Odyssey Heads to Singapore After Lender Takes Possession

Melissa Mayntz
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Villa Vie Odyssey Heads to Singapore After Lender Takes Possession

Key Aspects:

  • Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey has departed Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and is now en route to Singapore.
  • The ship is now under the control of its lender rather than Villa Vie Residences, and its fate is still unconfirmed.
  • A plan from residents to purchase and operate the ship also failed when additional debt was disclosed.

Villa Vie Residences’ beleaguered ship, Odyssey, has departed Cambodia and is en route to Singapore, but not because of the residential cruise company’s directives. According to CBS News, the ship is now under the control of its creditor, effectively repossessed following the financial difficulties the company is facing.

The company reportedly sent a message to residents updating them on the situation, but maintaining an optimistic tone about what may be next for Odyssey.

“The lender has taken possession of the ship, but that does not mean the Odyssey’s future has been decided,” the company said. “No sale has been scheduled. We believe there is time to bring forward a viable plan and are working to do that.”

Cruise Hive reported on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 that the ship had abruptly ceased operations to be laid up in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. At that time, all remaining residents onboard the 24,344-gross ton ship were instructed to debark and were given just a day to collect their belongings and leave.

Now, Cruise Hive’s ship tracker confirms that Odyssey is on the move, showing Singapore as her destination. The ship is only moving at 7 knots (8 miles per hour), however, well below her maximum cruising speed of 17 knots (20 miles per hour).

In the months leading up to her operational pause, residents had reported the ship moving at slower speeds as a fuel conservation measure. Rising fuel costs were cited by the cruise line as part of the reason for the pause.

Odyssey Cruise Tracking
Odyssey Cruise Tracking

“We have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port,” the cruise line explained in a release on October 27. “Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses.“

Multiple unconfirmed sources have reportedly noted that the ship may now be auctioned off, though the company has not acknowledged that possibility.

“This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done,” said Mike Petterson, the company’s founder and executive chairman, to CBS News.

Residents Cannot Purchase the Ship

Another possible recovery plan has also failed as a group of 169 Odyssey residents did pledge to attempt to purchase the vessel, but that attempt has now been denied by the lender, Sagar Capital.

A letter from Sagar Capital posted to a Facebook page for the ship paints a dire picture and it may not be possible to reach another financial agreement to keep the ship operating.

“We were given access to Villa Vie’s records only last Saturday. Our review found substantially more debt than we had anticipated,” the letter noted.

Furthermore, the letter explained that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration could cost roughly $3 million for the first 60 days, prohibitively high for such a proceeding to move forward without unacceptable risk to the ship’s residents.

What Will Happen to Odyssey?

At the moment, there is no confirmed plan in place for Odyssey. While the ship is moving to Singapore, that may only be a temporary stop if the vessel is auctioned. There is no ship-breaking yard in Singapore, but any buyer would then move the ship to an appropriate facility for scrapping, if that is the eventual outcome.

More From Cruise Hive

It is also possible the ship may be sold to another cruise line that could refurbish the vessel for further service. Odyssey first entered service in 1993 as Crown Dynasty for the now-defunct Crown Cruise Line, and has moved to multiple operators over the past 33 years, including Majesty Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

French Strike Forces MSC Preziosa to Cancel Le Havre Call

Calvin Musquez
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French Strike Forces MSC Preziosa to Cancel Le Havre Call

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Preziosa has cancelled its November 5, 2026, visit to Le Havre, France, because of an expected nationwide strike and protest action.
  • The ship will instead remain overnight in Zeebrugge, Belgium, extending its stay until 6:00 p.m. on November 5.
  • Guests with MSC-booked shore excursions in Le Havre will receive refunds to their onboard accounts.

Due to a planned nationwide strike and protest action, MSC Preziosa has cancelled an upcoming port call in Le Havre, France. Instead, the ship will extend its visit to Belgium.

The 4,345-guest vessel was originally planned to arrive in Le Havre on November 5, 2026, following a port call in Zeebrugge on November 4. With the strike expected to disrupt port operations and transport across France, however, the Le Havre call has been cancelled

The ship will instead stay overnight in Zeebrugge, departing at 6:00 p.m. on November 5 instead of 6:00 p.m. on November 4 as planned. Guests were alerted to the change in a notice signed by Captain Francesco Iacono on November 3, 2026.

“We would like to inform you of a change to our itinerary due to planned nationwide strike and protest action in France on Thursday, 5 November,” the notice reads. “…in the interest of providing a safe and comfortable guest experience, we have decided to cancel MSC Preziosa’s scheduled call to Le Havre on that day.”

MSC Preziosa
MSC Preziosa (Photo Credit: Stefan Lambauer)

Several overlapping itineraries are affected by the change, including embarkations from Le Havre, Southampton, Hamburg, and Amsterdam. Some guests were scheduled to embark on a seven-night sailing from Le Havre on November 5, though MSC has not publicly said how those guests will be accommodated.

Guests who booked excursions through MSC Cruises for Le Havre will be refunded to their onboard accounts. The cruise line encouraged guests to visit the Shore Excursions Desk onboard MSC Preziosa to book additional tours for Zeebrugge.

French Strike Threatens Cruise Operations

The national strike on November 5 was organized by a coalition of France’s major labor unions, known as an intersyndicale. It concerns wages, the cost of living, public services, and government budget proposals.

Multiple public services are expected to be impacted, including education, healthcare, and transportation. This could not only affect operations at the port of Le Havre, but also affect guests planning to travel inland.

An earlier strike on October 30 involved unions representing approximately 14,000 port workers, including 7,500 dockworkers, according to reports from French outlet Le Parisien. Those workers’ unions have also announced their intention to participate in the November 5 strike.

Recent strikes and protests in France have caused a number of other disruptions for cruise itineraries, as Cruise Hive previously reported. This cancellation follows another MSC Cruises itinerary disruption involving Le Havre.

MSC Virtuosa cancelled its October 30, 2026, visit to the French port due to another strike in which dockworkers participated. It also cancelled its call to La Rochelle due to poor weather.

Earlier that month, P&O Cruises cancelled a visit to Le Havre aboard Iona on October 18, 2026, redirecting to La Coruña. That cancellation concerned ongoing protests and civil unrest throughout France, separate from the planned November 5 strike.

Bomb Threat Holds Crown Iris in Greek Port for Hours

Melissa Mayntz
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Bomb Threat Holds Crown Iris in Greek Port for Hours

Key Aspects:

  • A bomb threat against Crown Iris delayed the ship’s departure from Syros, Greece, for several hours on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
  • Searches were carried out onboard by a bomb disposal team and a bomb detection dog, and a diver inspected the ship’s hull.
  • No suspicious materials were found during the searches, which took place the day after authorities banned a planned protest against the ship.

The Israeli-owned cruise ship Crown Iris was delayed in Syros, Greece, for several hours after her scheduled departure following a bomb threat against the vessel. Authorities were alerted to the threat and subsequently inspected the ship.

According to ekathimerini.com, a bomb disposal team from the Port Authority searched the ship but found no suspicious objects onboard. A bomb detection dog as well as a diver also assisted in the search, and the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Underwater Operations Unit is expected to conduct a second inspection before the ship will be cleared to depart the Greek port.

Crown Iris is finishing a 7-night sailing from Haifa, Israel that departed on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The Greek Islands cruise has already visited Kos, Piraeus, and Nafplio, and the visit to Syros is the last port on the round-trip itinerary.

The ship, operated by Mano Cruise, was to have been in port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but AIS tracking confirms the ship had not left Syros at press time, approximately 10 p.m. in Syros.

Local media reported that 940 passengers and 597 crew members are onboard the ship. According to the cruise line’s website, the full passenger capacity of Crown Iris is 2,000 guests, with a complement of 650 officers and crew members.

The bomb threat happened the day after protests against the ship’s visit to Syros were banned by local authorities. Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, November 2, 2026 that the Syros Anti-War Initiative had planned a demonstration on the Ermoupoli waterfront against the ship’s Tuesday visit. The protest was to have begun in the early morning, before Crown Iris arrived at 8 a.m.

The Hellenic Coast Guard issued a statement to local media noting that the waterfront demonstration location “posed a severe threat to public security due to the potential of serious crimes being committed, particularly against human lives, bodily integrity and property … and to the area’s social and economic activity.”

The protest was permitted to be held at an alternative location away from the waterfront, but there are no reports of whether it actually did move forward at an alternative site or if there were any violent incidents during the event.

Not the First Threat to the Ship

Crown Iris has been the subject of threats and protests several times over the past year. Both road and marine traffic restrictions were put in place during the ship’s October 14, 2026 visit to the Port of Argostoli as an extra precaution for the safety of the vessel.

Protests have been held against the ship at different Greek ports since mid-2025, including in Piraeus, Rhodes, and Crete. In June 2026, a 37-year-old Palestinian man was arrested in Crete for his suspected involvement in a possible attack plot against the ship, just days after a protest during the ship’s visit to Piraeus.

Crown Iris is the only cruise ship operated by Mano Cruise and is homeported year-round from Haifa, offering itineraries from 3-11 nights to Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, and other eastern Mediterranean destinations.

Celebrity Xcite Will Debut With Week-Long Caribbean Cruises From Miami

Calvin Musquez
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0
Celebrity Xcite Will Debut With Week-Long Caribbean Cruises From Miami

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for Celebrity Xcite’s inaugural season of seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami in 2028.
  • It will join nine other Celebrity vessels in the company’s largest Caribbean deployment yet.
  • The 2028/29 season will include the first three-night Edge Series sailings aboard Celebrity Beyond and expanded Southern Caribbean itineraries.

Celebrity Cruises has officially unveiled its 2028/29 Caribbean deployments, including the inaugural season for its upcoming flagship, Celebrity Xcite. The Edge Series ship will join nine other vessels in what the cruise line calls its most expansive Caribbean lineup yet.

Sailing from Miami, Celebrity Xcite will debut with seven-night Caribbean voyages. The roughly 3,200-guest ship will offer rotating itineraries visiting destinations in the Caribbean. 

Ports of call include St. Thomas, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and the Dominican Republic. 

“With the debut of Celebrity Xcite, and more Edge Series ships in the Caribbean than ever before, our 2028 and 2029 season gives guests more ways to experience the destinations they love,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Xcite is the sixth vessel in Celebrity’s Edge Series, which includes Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Beyond. The fifth Edge Series predecessor, Celebrity Xcel, entered service in November 2025.

Cruise Hive previously covered the ship’s October 2025 steel-cutting ceremony, which took place on the same day that Celebrity Cruises took delivery of Celebrity Xcel. While the ship’s maiden voyage has not been officially confirmed, the earliest sailings currently available to book depart in November 2028.

The cruise line opened bookings for the winter 2028/29 season on November 3, 2026. Summer 2028 bookings will open on December 9, 2026.

Edge Series Will Offer Its First Short Bahamas Sailings 

In addition to the debut of Celebrity Xcite, the cruise line will offer Caribbean and Bahamas sailings aboard nine other vessels. In a first for the Edge Series, Celebrity Beyond will offer short Bahamas getaways.

Nine three-night cruises to the region will be offered aboard the ship from Fort Lauderdale. These sailings will feature a day at sea, followed by a ten-hour call at Nassau.

Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship
Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Sail Away)

Longer eight- to 11-night sailings will also be offered aboard Celebrity Beyond. These cruises will visit St. Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua, with six Panama Canal voyages.

Celebrity Eclipse will join Celebrity Beyond in offering weekend getaways from Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries include Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, and Key West.

Other short Bahamas itineraries will be offered aboard Celebrity Summit, sailing four- and five-night voyages from Miami. Select sailings will visit Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Nassau, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Other Expanded Caribbean Offerings

Included in the 2028/29 lineup, the cruise line will sail its first full summer season in the Southern Caribbean in 2028. As part of these expanded offerings, Celebrity Silhouette will offer new eight- to 12-night summer sailings featuring destinations such as Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Grenada.

Then, beginning in October 2028, Silhouette will also offer seven-night cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with five port days on every sailing. Destinations include St. Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Reflection will continue offering year-round six- to eight-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. This will follow its planned March 2027 transformation with 13 new spaces.

Celebrity Ascent will also sail from Fort Lauderdale, offering nine- to 12-night sailings. These itineraries will visit destinations including Grand Cayman, Aruba, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Maarten, Barbados, Antigua, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Other fleet highlights include Celebrity Apex’s return to Port Canaveral for Caribbean itineraries and seven-night cruises from Tampa aboard Celebrity Constellation. Another Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcel, will offer six- and eight-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.

Six-night Western Caribbean itineraries aboard Celebrity Xcel will visit Mexico, Honduras, and Grand Cayman. Meanwhile, eight-night Southern Caribbean sailings include Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

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