Blog Page 14

Sun Princess Avoids Packed Greek Port and Heads to Italy

Melissa Mayntz
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Sun Princess Avoids Packed Greek Port and Heads to Italy

Key Aspects:

  • Sun Princess had cancelled her August 26 visit to Corfu due to port congestion.
  • A visit to Taranto, Italy is now added to the itinerary on that date as an alternative destination for the 7-night cruise.
  • No other itinerary changes have been announced at this time for the cruise departing Piraeus on August 22.

Europe is filled with fascinating history and rich cultures, and many cruise guests deliberately choose Mediterranean itineraries to explore areas they may not have seen before.

For guests on one upcoming sailing of Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, however, their explorations will be different than they may have expected from the originally scheduled itinerary.

Princess Cruises has reached out to guests booked on the ship’s August 22, 2026 departure from Piraeus (Athens), Greece to alert them to an itinerary change to a completely different country on the 7-night cruise.

“Please be advised that due to cruise ship congestion, Sun Princess will no longer call to Corfu, Greece, on Wednesday, August 26, and will instead call to Taranto, Italy on the same date,” the notification confirmed.

Corfu was to have been the third port visit for the itinerary following stops in Santorini and Montenegro. The one-way itinerary also includes a visit to Sicily before Sun Princess will arrive in Barcelona on August 29.

Any tours guests have already booked through Princess Cruises for their visit to Corfu will be automatically cancelled and refunded back to the original form of payment. New tour options for Taranto will be available online well before the ship sets sail.

At this time, no other itinerary changes for the sailing have been announced and guests should be able to enjoy all their other port visits as planned.

Will Corfu Really Be Overcrowded?

August 26 is certainly planned to be a busy day in Corfu, with a total of seven ships scheduled for the port. Along with Sun Princess, the visiting vessels include Viking Star, both Norwegian Pearl and Gem, Mein Schiff 4, and both MSC Armonia and Fantasia.

Altogether, the seven ships may be bringing more than 17,500 guests to Corfu. Of those guests, the 175,500-gross ton, Sphere class Star Princess can host more than 4,300 guests, roughly 25% of the total who may be visiting the island that day.

Sun Princess
Sun Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: GEORGE STAMATIS)

When a port is overcrowded, there may be fewer tour opportunities available for guests and local retailers, restaurants, and attractions can become overwhelmed. This can lead to a much less pleasant visit for everyone.

Because Star Princess is the largest ship scheduled on August 26, she is also the easiest one to cancel to have the greatest impact on the expected congestion and create a better experience for other guests.

This will naturally be disappointing news to guests who had looked forward to visiting the stunning island, but Taranto also offers a rich history and centuries of culture to explore.

Not the First Congestion Itinerary Change

Cruise Hive has previously reported on similar itinerary changes where port congestion is cited as the explanation.

In August 2025, Celebrity Ascent had to shorten a visit to Santorini by three hours due to port congestion, and earlier that year, Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady had to cancel a visit to Cozumel because of the number of ships visiting at the same time.

It isn’t always a cruise ship’s guest capacity that may cause port congestion and impact itinerary options. At ports where tender boats are necessary, too many ships can slow those water shuttle operations and make visiting the port impractical. Similarly, a lack of available pilots might cause an itinerary change, as it did for Carnival Splendor recently in Australia.

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Port operations such as pier maintenance, repairs, or dredging operations can also create a different type of congestion that might result in port cancellations.

Cruise lines do try to find an alternative port to visit whenever possible. Fortunately for Sun Princess, Taranto is less than 200 miles from Corfu and can easily accommodate one of the two largest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet.

Disney Cruise Line Alerts Guests to Planned System Outage

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Cruise Line Alerts Guests to Planned System Outage

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Cruise Line’s website will be down for a full 24 hours from 4 a.m. on July 9 until 4 a.m. on July 10.
  • The outage is for planned website maintenance and not due to any unexpected technical glitches.
  • Online check-ins, tour or onboard activity bookings, payments, and other features will be unavailable during the outage.

Disney Cruise Line guests have nothing to fear when the cruise line’s website goes down for a full 24 hours in the coming days. The outage is for planned maintenance and Disney Cruise Line has posted a notice to ensure guests are aware of the maintenance period.

The notification is posted as “Important Information” at the top of the cruise line’s website (which, ironically, will be down at the time of the maintenance).

“Beginning at 4:00 AM (EDT) on Thursday, July 9, 2026, through 4:00 AM (EDT) on Friday, July 10, 2026, a planned maintenance will be performed on the Disney Cruise Line reservation system,” the notice confirms.

This means for a full 24 hours, Disney Cruise Line’s reservation system will be unavailable for tasks such as online check-in, arranging cruise activities, booking Port Adventures, or making deposits or final payments.

If guests do have payments due for an upcoming Disney cruise, they do not need to worry.

“Guests with deposits or final payments due during this period will have until Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10:00 PM (EDT) to make their payment,” the notice explains.

The notice is also being sent to booked guests through the Disney Cruise Line app if they have downloaded it to their mobile device.

It is likely that an inactive, explanatory page will be available during the website outage as another reminder to guests about the planned maintenance. This way, anyone who does visit the website during the outage will be aware of the situation rather than encounter unknown errors or other technical difficulties.

Will Cruise Ships Be Impacted by the Shutdown?

The outage should not impact guests embarking on Disney ships that day, as the reservation system is generally separate from cruise terminal check-in. Some slowdowns may be possible, however.

Disney Magic is embarking for a 7-night Alaska sailing in Vancouver that day, while Disney Destiny is embarking in Fort Lauderdale for a 4-night Bahamas itinerary.

Disney Cruise Ships
Disney Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

The line’s newest ship, Disney Adventure, is also setting sail for a 4-night cruise from Singapore, but due to time zone differences 10,000 miles from the Eastern time zone, the ship will already be embarked and just setting sail as the website outage begins.

Furthermore, ship operations should also be unaffected and guests onboard the Disney fleet should not notice any technical problems related to the website during their sailing.

Why Is the System Going Down?

While Disney Cruise Line has not given any details on the “planned maintenance” that requires the website shutdown, it is not uncommon for full site updates to be easier to manage if the website is taken offline temporarily.

Deactivating the website for a few hours, or in this case a full day, can also ensure there are no inadvertent glitches that might cause overbookings, inaccurate information, unrealistic pricing, or other difficulties that would be more challenging to mitigate after the fact.

Read Also: How Much Is a Disney Cruise in 2026? I Did All the Checking!

This may be a time for Disney Cruise Line to update new ship deployments and release future itineraries, as that is often done during the summer months.

Website maintenance can also refresh graphics, remove known bugs or glitches, purge old or inactive pages, and otherwise help the site operate more efficiently.

Other cruise lines also take down their websites for regular maintenance. In early May, Cruise Hive reported on a planned maintenance outage for Carnival Cruise Line, which lasted 18 hours as the booking system was updated.

Guest information is not at risk during such outages nor are existing bookings typically impacted in any way. While Disney Cruise Line’s outage is longer than most, this only means the cruise line can do a thorough job with updates as well as check for any glitches before reopening the site for everyone to use.

Carnival Doubles Ship Capacity at Celebration Key With New Pier

Lissa Poirot
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Carnival Doubles Ship Capacity at Celebration Key With New Pier

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Corporation has doubled Celebration Key’s docking capacity from two ships to four with a new pier extension.
  • The expansion will allow more than 13,000 guests a day and add roughly 700,000 annual visitors.
  • Princess Cruises and AIDA Cruises will begin calling at the destination in fall 2026.

Celebration Key hasn’t even celebrated its first birthday, and Carnival Corporation is already making room for more visitors.

Less than a year after opening its newest exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island in July 2025, the company has completed Phase 2, adding two new berths that double the number of ships Celebration Key can accommodate at one time.

The new pier extension brings the total to four and allowing more than 13,000 guests to visit in a single day. The project was completed ahead of schedule and is expected to add about 200 ship calls and 700,000 guest visits each year.

“Celebration Key is one of the centerpieces of our Paradise Collection – a bold destination built to redefine what a Caribbean vacation can feel like,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

The expansion comes as Celebration Key continues to see strong demand from Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, with the destination already serving as a regular stop for 20 ships sailing from 10 US homeports. Beginning in September 2026, three- and four-ship days will become routine.

The additional capacity will also give the company more flexibility as other Carnival Corporation brands prepare to begin visiting later this year.

Weinstein says that finishing the pier extension ahead of schedule “gives us a real jump on meeting the extraordinary demand we’re seeing and allows us to bring even more guests to this unique Bahamian paradise sooner than expected.”

Celebration Key, Bahamas
Celebration Key, Bahamas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

The completion of the project was also welcomed by Bahamian officials, who said the investment will continue to drive tourism and employment on Grand Bahama.

“Celebration Key’s expansion reflects continued confidence in Grand Bahama and in The Bahamas as a leading tourism destination,” said Glenys Hanna Martin, the Bahamas’ minister of tourism.

She added that the government’s priority is ensuring investments like Celebration Key create opportunities for local businesses, expand employment, and deliver lasting economic benefits.

Celebration Key to Welcome More Lines

The expanded pier won’t just allow Celebration Key to handle more Carnival Cruise Line ships. It also paves the way for the destination to welcome other Carnival Corporation brands for the first time.

Later this year, both Princess Cruises and AIDA Cruises will begin calling at Celebration Key, expanding the exclusive destination beyond Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. 

Princess Cruises will be the first of the two brands to arrive. The newly launched 177,800-gross-ton Star Princess is scheduled to visit Celebration Key on November 1, 2026, during a roundtrip Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.

Caribbean Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, and Sun Princess will also utilize the expanded piers, bringing passengers from Port Canaveral near Orlando and more from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

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Just over a week later, AIDA Cruises will make its debut at the destination when AIDAdiva arrives on November 9, 2026, during a Caribbean sailing from New York City. AIDAluna will also be arriving from New York City on November 16.

By the time Celebration Key marks its first anniversary on July 19, 2026, the cruise company expects the destination to have welcomed about 2.5 million guests. With the expanded pier now complete, that figure is projected to reach roughly 3.5 million during its second year.

Tempting Offers for Yet Another Oversold Sailing on Royal Caribbean Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Tempting Offers for Yet Another Oversold Sailing on Royal Caribbean Ship

Key Aspects:

  • Another Voyager of the Seas Alaska cruise is overbooked and offering eye-popping options for guests to change their plans.
  • The impacted cruise is the ship’s July 17 sailing from Seattle, another 7-night roundtrip itinerary.
  • Guests who accept the limited-time offer will receive a full fare refund plus a transfer to another cruise or an FCC.

Summer is a busy sailing season and Alaska is one of the most sought-after summer cruise destinations, as guests aboard yet another sailing on Voyager of the Seas are now finding out.

Just a week after one overbooked sailing for the Royal Caribbean ship received outstanding offers for travelers with flexible plans, another departure date has similar tempting offers to coax guests to adjust their sailing date.

The impacted cruise is Voyager of the Seas‘ July 17, 2026 sailing. The 7-night cruise is roundtrip from Seattle, visiting top destinations in Alaska, including Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, with plenty of scenic glacier cruising along the way.

Now, however, select guests have received offers to rebook or cancel their cruise with some extreme benefits if they choose either of those options.

“We are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements,” the email inquiry explained. “If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as “Read”, and gear up for your upcoming adventure – although, there are some pretty sweet options.”

Guests can choose to transfer to another 7-night Alaska cruise on a different sailing date later in the season. The available options are Serenade of the Seas on September 13 roundtrip from Vancouver; Anthem of the Seas roundtrip from Seattle on either September 14 or 21; or still aboard Voyager of the Seas roundtrip from Seattle on either September 18 or 25.

Each of the alternative itineraries is slightly different in terms of destinations, port orders, and exactly when the scenic glacier cruising will take place. All of the sailings, however, do offer amazing experiences in the Last Frontier.

If guests choose one of the alternative sailings (here’s where the “pretty sweet” part of the deal comes in), they will receive a 100% refund of the cruise fare for the July 17 sailing they will no longer be on, a complimentary transfer of their booking to the alternative sailing, and reimbursement for any pre-purchased, non-refundable travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and shuttles.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

Let’s read that again: a full fare refund and you still get to go on a weeklong Alaska cruise, just a slightly different one than originally selected.

Guests will still be responsible for port fees, taxes, gratuities, add-on packages, and other incidental expenses for the replacement cruise, but nevertheless, it is quite a deal.

Second Option Still Includes a Free Cruise

If none of the alternative sailing dates work for guests, they have a second option that is still definitely sweet.

Guests may completely cancel their July 17 booking for a 100% refund, which will be processed back to the original form of payment. Royal Caribbean will also reimburse guests for non-refundable travel expenses associated with the cancellation.

In addition, guests will also receive a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) for the value of the cancelled cruise fare, which can then be used on any future Royal Caribbean voyage that sets sail by July 17, 2027.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Alaska Cruise Ships – Which One Should You Choose?

Any cruise can be booked with the FCC. It does not need to be aboard Voyager of the Seas, does not need to be in Alaska, and doesn’t even need to be a comparable 7-night sailing.

As with any time Royal Caribbean makes these types of overbooking offers, the offer is subject to availability.

Voyager of the Seas Not the Only Ship Overbooked

While this is the second time in just a few weeks that Voyager of the Seas has confirmed overbooking offers, it is not the only Royal Caribbean ship overwhelmed by the popularity of Alaska sailings.

Cruise Hive reported just yesterday that Serenade of the Seas‘ July 19 sailing is also overbooked and guests are receiving equally tempting rebooking and cancellation offers.

At 138,194-gross tons and with a double occupancy passenger capacity of 3,114 guests, Voyager of the Seas is significantly larger than Serenade of the Seas, which comes in at 90,090 gross tons and 2,146 guests.

Nevertheless, both ships are sure to tempt enough guests to take advantage of the very generous offers, permitting the vessels to sail at full capacity and everyone to enjoy a great cruise vacation.

Carnival Pride Marks America’s 250th With a Giant 40-Foot Hat

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Pride Marks America’s 250th With a Giant 40-Foot Hat

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Pride hosted a special America 250 homeport celebration on Sunday, June 28 to kick off patriotic festivities.
  • A 40-foot-tall Uncle Sam hat, a special military tribute, and a celebratory cake were all part of the event.
  • Similar celebrations will also be held in Long Beach, Tampa, and Jacksonville, leading up to the 250th anniversary of the US.

As the 2,124-guest Carnival Pride was home in Baltimore on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Carnival Cruise Line hosted a patriotic celebration to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States with local partners, veterans, business leaders, and government officials.

The event is the first of a series that the cruise line has planned for various homeports in the days leading up to July 4th.

This celebration included a 40-foot-tall inflatable Uncle Sam hat on the top deck during the ship’s embarkation, along with a historic color guard to kick off the celebration.

“As America’s cruise line, we’re proud to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in our homeport cities,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president. “We’re bringing people together to honor our nation, celebrate the local community and thank those who protect our freedom.”

Part of today’s festivities included a dedicated military and first responder tribute. Following the national anthem, all military members and veterans in attendance received a specially designed, limited-edition America250 challenge coin. A festive cake (perfect for America’s birthday!) was also part of the event.

Of course, since Carnival Cruise Line has to include fun in every celebration, the Cat in the Hat was also part of the event. His patriotic attire matched both the honor and the fun of the event.

Carnival Pride departed Baltimore at 4:30 p.m. for a 7-night sailing to the Bahamas with visits planned for Nassau, Princess Cays, and Celebration Key. The ship will be at sea on July 4th as she makes her way back to Baltimore for debarkation the next day.

Carnival Pride America250 Event
Carnival Pride America250 Event

Other Homeports Will Also Celebrate

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed there will be similar homeport celebrations for other ships in the Carnival fleet.

One (or possibly more) of the celebrations will be held in Long Beach, home of Carnival Firenze, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Panorama. The three vessels are not homeported on the same days, however, and it is unknown whether one, two, or all three ships will feature celebrations.

Tampa, home of Carnival Paradise, will also host an America’s Birthday celebration. The Fantasy-class ship will be homeported on Thursday, July 2, but the exact date for the festivities has not been released.

Jacksonville will also host one of the special celebrations while Carnival Elation is in port. The closest departure for the ship before July 4th is also Thursday, July 2, but the event may be on a different day.

Celebrations Onboard and at Sea

Cruise Hive has previously reported on Carnival’s onboard plans for celebrating America 250, including festive Red, White, and Blue deck parties, themed activities, and ship meetups on both the east and west coasts for fireworks shows.

Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald, also shared a special patriotic-themed menu that will be served onboard on July 4th. From “Patriotic Red, White & Blue Spinach Salad” to barbecue chicken to “The Great American Apple Pie” served with vanilla ice cream, there are sure to be treats for every taste.

Carnival Cruise Line is a programming partner for America 250, offering “a focus on educating, engaging, and uniting Americans,” something cruise travel has always done.

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At this time, no other cruise line appears on the list of various official sponsors and partnerships, but other cruise lines are certainly leaning into the festivities.

MSC Cruises, for example, has already announced special cocktails, activities, and other star-spangled fun for all its ships sailing from US homeports.

Carnival Cruise Line Shifts Departure Times for 46 Sailings

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Shifts Departure Times for 46 Sailings

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Sunshine will be departing Norfolk, Virginia, 30 minutes earlier on 46 upcoming sailings.
  • Impacted cruises start as early as July 12, 2026 and run through May 10, 2027.
  • The now-adjusted cruises include all but one of the ship’s remaining departures from Virginia.

As many as 170,000 or more guests setting sail on Carnival Sunshine will be starting their vacations earlier than expected, as Carnival Cruise Line has now adjusted the departure time for 46 of the ship’s sailings from Norfolk, Virginia.

The 102,853-gross-ton ship will now be leaving Norfolk at 4 p.m. rather than 4:30 p.m. as originally scheduled. While this is not a significant difference, it can matter for any travelers who may have been planning later arrival times to the cruise port.

Cruise Hive has previously reported how Carnival Cruise Line will not refund or reimburse guests should they miss the all-aboard time at embarkation. Knowing that time is now 30 minutes earlier will be necessary for guests to plan their travel to the Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center accordingly.

Adjusted cruises are all sailings beginning July 12, 2026 through and including the November 14, 2026 departure, as well as all cruises from the November 28, 2026 departure through and including the May 10, 2027 sailing.

Only the November 22, 2026 sailing will still be departing at 4:30 p.m. as originally planned.

Carnival Sunshine is offering a diverse mix of Bahamas and Bermuda cruises from the Old Dominion State ranging from 4-8 nights depending on destination and departure date. Select sailings in the fall are Canada cruises for fall foliage viewing, and there are also a couple of longer Eastern Caribbean cruises on the ship’s schedule.

The impacted sailings include all but one of Carnival Sunshine’s remaining departures from Norfolk before she moves to Europe for the summer 2027 season. After her summer in the Mediterranean, she will be homeported from Galveston, Texas. In May 2027, after Carnival Sunshine departs, Carnival Freedom will take her place in Norfolk.

Carnival Sunshine Cruise
Carnival Sunshine Cruise (Photo Credit: Artha sant)

Carnival Sunshine can welcome 3,002 guests per sailing, or up to 3,758 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. This means as many as 172,868 guests could be impacted by these adjusted sailings, though this is unlikely.

While Carnival Cruise Line has reported great booking growth in 2026 and all of these cruises are likely to sell out (or close to), they are not yet completely booked so far in advance.

Departure Changes Becoming Commonplace

Carnival Cruise Line has regularly shifted dozens of ship departures at different homeports. Recently, Cruise Hive has reported on changes for nearly 100 sailings on Carnival Panorama out of Long Beach, many of which include departure changes.

These types of changes are just minor tweaks to operational procedures and have no impact on onboard activities. Unless guests are otherwise notified, there are also no port changes to the impacted sailings.

While the cruise line does not clarify exactly why so many sailings are now adjusted, there could be many reasons such as port maintenance, berthing schedules, and pilot availability.

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The implementation of more efficient facial recognition technology for processing both incoming and outgoing guests through customs can also make embarkation much smoother and faster, permitting an earlier ship departure.

Because the change is not a significant one, booked guests should have no trouble adjusting their travel plans to accommodate the minor change to their embarkation day.

Norwegian Sun’s Troubled Cruise Sees Another Port Dropped for Repairs

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Sun’s Troubled Cruise Sees Another Port Dropped for Repairs

Key Aspects:

  • Another change has been made to Norwegian Sun‘s current sailing, dropping a visit to Kiel.
  • The ship will head to Copenhagen for a more extended stay to facilitate propulsion system repairs.
  • Guests are being given a 25% refund of their cruise fare to compensate for yet another dramatic change.

Guests aboard Norwegian Sun are not sailing the cruise they’d originally booked, and the plans keep changing for worse with another port visit dropped and an even earlier arrival to Copenhagen for what will now be two overnight stays before debarkation.

The 78,309-gross-ton ship originally departed Helsinki, Finland on Wednesday, June 24 for a 9-night sailing that was to have enjoyed visits to Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany before arriving in Denmark on July 3.

Cruise Hive has already reported how, less than 24 hours after boarding, guests were informed of propulsion issues and significant itinerary changes.

The visits to Sweden, Lithuania, and Poland were dropped, while another port visit in Denmark was added, and the timing in both German ports was adjusted. Now, a letter obtained by Cruise Hive has confirmed that the second German port (Kiel on July 1) has also been dropped from the itinerary, and Norwegian Sun will head straight to Copenhagen.

Originally, the ship was to have arrived in Copenhagen at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 2 for an overnight stay before debarkation on July 3. Now, the ship will arrive in Denmark’s capital city at 7 p.m. on July 1 and will remain docked until the planned debarkation.

This will give the up to 2,400 guests (maximum occupancy) more than ample time to explore the city, but some travelers may feel let down due to the extended stay when onboard facilities may be closed due to local regulations.

Compensation Offered

Norwegian Cruise Line has upped the compensation for guests on the dramatically adjusted cruise. After the initial changes, the cruise line offered a $100 onboard credit and a 25% future cruise credit toward another sailing.

Now, a one-quarter refund for the current sailing is also being provided to all guests.

“As a further gesture of appreciation for your understanding, we will now also provide a 25% refund of the voyage fare paid for this cruise,” the cruise line confirmed.

Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock)

The refund will be processed back to the original form of payment and should be processed within 7-10 business days after the cruise ends. Actual processing times may vary for guests’ different financial institutions.

Shore tours booked through Norwegian Cruise Line for the now-cancelled visit to Kiel will also be automatically cancelled and credited to guests’ onboard accounts to enjoy during the sailing if they so wish.

Repairs Are Underway

While these latest changes are certainly frustrating for guests who are getting a much different vacation experience than they had hoped, there is good news.

“Our technical teams have identified the required repair solution,” the cruise line confirmed.

Because the needed repairs have now been clarified, it is hoped that the extra time in Copenhagen will permit full repairs so the ship’s next sailing will not be impacted.

Norwegian Sun‘s July 3 departure is supposed to be a 9-night one-way trip from Copenhagen to Helsinki, stopping in Norway, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, and Estonia along the way. At this time, there is no notice of any changes to that itinerary.

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Satellite tracking confirms the ship is currently sailing at 11 knots (approximately 12-13 miles per hour), having departed from Riga, Latvia, where she spent Saturday, June 27. The vessel is heading to Ronne, Denmark, but will not arrive until Monday.

The ship’s maximum speed is 23 knots (26 miles per hour). At a reduced speed, some repairs may be possible that will help ensure Norwegian Sun can set sail on her next cruise at the appropriate speeds to reach all her destinations.

Norwegian Cruise Ship Drops Aruba Port Call Due to Availability Issues

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Cruise Ship Drops Aruba Port Call Due to Availability Issues

Key Aspect: 

  • Norwegian Prima has had to adjust its January 31, 2027, itinerary due to changes in port availability.
  • Instead of visiting Oranjestad, Aruba, the NCL ship will sail to Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
  • The remainder of the 7-night Caribbean itinerary remains unchanged.

We’re only halfway through 2026, but Norwegian Prima already knows that she will be adjusting her final itinerary in January of 2027.

The voyage in question is a 7-night Caribbean sailing that embarks in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 31, 2027.

Due to port availability, the Prima-class flagship will no longer be able to visit Oranjestad, Aruba, as planned on February 3, 2027.

“As part of our commitment to delivering a seamless and enriching experience, we’ve made an itinerary adjustment due to newly updated port availability,” Norwegian Cruise Line wrote in a letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.

“While we coordinate closely with port authorities to confirm every detail well in advance, operational conditions can change, and at times we’re informed that space is no longer available,” the cruise line explained.

Norwegian Cruise Line did not confirm what these operational changes entailed, but it could be anything from port congestion to planned construction or maintenance.

Oranjestad is currently undergoing a massive, multi-year revitalization and restoration project, which could potentially impact port operations and/or shore excursions during certain phases.

New Port Added to the Itinerary

Guests of the 3,195-guest ship will still get to enjoy four Caribbean port calls during their voyage, as Philipsburg, St. Maarten has been added to the itinerary as a replacement port.

Wednesday, February 3, which should have been the date of the visit to Oranjestad, will become a sea day. Thursday, February 4, which was originally a sea day, will now be dedicated to exploring Philipsburg, St. Maarten from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Norwegian Prima in Europe
Norwegian Prima in Europe (Photo Credit: Mareks Perkons)

“Our planned call to Oranjestad, Aruba, will no longer be part of this voyage. In its place, we’re delighted to introduce Phillipsburg, St. Maarten, where colorful waterfronts, beautiful beaches, and vibrant island culture await,” NCL confirmed.

The rest of the itinerary, which includes Willemstad, Curacao; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands; remains unchanged.

Norwegian Prima won’t attempt to return to Oranjestad again for more than a month, with the 143,535-gross ton vessel’s next planned visit after February 3 scheduled for March 11, 2027.

Will Compensation Be Provided?

At this time, Norwegian Cruise Line has not publicly offered compensation to make amends for the changed itinerary, nor is the cruise company required to do so. Upon booking, guests agree to a cruise contract that allows the company to make itinerary changes for a variety of reasons without having to compensate guests.

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The exception to this is that any NCL shore excursions that were already booked for Aruba would be automatically cancelled and refunded.

If guests cannot get past this change, NCL cruises can typically be cancelled with no penalty as long as the cancellation is made more than 119 days before departure. As of the time of this writing, guests have 219 days before embarkation.

Royal Caribbean Dangles Free Cruise to Ease Overbooked Alaska Voyage

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Dangles Free Cruise to Ease Overbooked Alaska Voyage

Key Aspects:

  • Serenade of the Seas’ July 19, 2026, sailing to Alaska has been overbooked.
  • Royal Caribbean is now tempting guests to change their travel plans in exchange for some generous perks.
  • The cruise lines will sometimes overbook sailings to account for cancellations, but sometimes certain voyages are just too popular.

Royal Caribbean is attempting to convince guests to change their travel plans after overbooking a sailing, which is becoming a bit of a theme for the 2026 Alaska season.

The most recent overbooking snafu impacted Voyager of the Seas’ June 19, 2026, sailing, and now Serenade of the Seas’ July 19, 2026, voyage is in the hot seat.

This will be a 7-night, round-trip sailing from Vancouver, Canada, that visits Sitka, Endicott Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

“Ahead of our Serenade of the Seas July 19, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements,” Royal Caribbean wrote in a letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.

Royal Caribbean is providing some pretty incredible offers to tempt guests to change their travel plans, though receiving this letter does not mean passengers are required to volunteer.

Guests who can’t or don’t want to alter their plans can mark the email as “read” and enjoy their upcoming cruise, content with the knowledge that more than enough people will likely jump at these perks.

Passengers who volunteer to change their plans will have to wait to see if Royal Caribbean accepts their offer. If the cruise line does not accept, their current vacation plans won’t be changed.

Tempting Opportunities for Cruisers

The first option guests have is to switch to a slightly less popular Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise embarking this summer. 

In exchange for switching, guests will get a 100% refund of their cruise fare paid (so, a free cruise) plus a 50% future cruise credit to put toward a new sailing.

Guests will also be re-booked in the same or a similar stateroom category as their original reservation and will be reimbursed for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses.

Royal Caribbean selected five Alaska sailings for guests to choose from, starting with Ovation of the Seas’ 7-night sailing that will embark in Vancouver on July 24, 2026.

After visiting Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Hubbard Glacier, the one-way cruise will disembark at the brand new cruise terminal in Seward, Alaska.

Two of the selected sailings would get guests back onboard the 2,143-passenger Serenade of the Seas. They would just have to be willing to wait for the 7-night sailings embarking in Vancouver on September 6 and September 13.

Alternatively, Anthem of the Seas has room for more guests on its 7-night sailing that departs from Seattle, Washington, on September 7. This itinerary features stops in Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria.

Serenade of the Seas Cruise Ship
Serenade of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

Last but not least, guests can try to pivot to Voyager of the Seas’ 7-night sailing that begins in Seattle on September 18. This end-of-the-season sailing will feature Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and Victoria.

If none of these sailings sound good but guests still want to volunteer, they can also offer to cancel their booking entirely in exchange for a 100% refund and a 100% future cruise credit to book any Royal Caribbean sailing they want.

Why Does Royal Caribbean Overbook Sailings?

This is the second Royal Caribbean sailing of the current Alaska season to become overbooked (at least that Cruise Hive has covered), and it likely won’t be the last.

On social media, guests remembered these offers floating around in previous years as well.

“This happened for some on our Alaskan Cruise on Anthem of the Seas last summer. Apparently pretty common, especially on Alaskan cruises. Some people are easily able to change, so they get their cruise free,” one cruiser said.

In order to maximize revenue and counteract last-minute cancellations and no-shows, it’s standard practice for cruise lines to book beyond 100% capacity. An empty cabin leads to lost revenue.

More From Cruise Hive

Experts analyze historical data to estimate how many cabins the cruise line can safely sell for each voyage, but this can be difficult to pinpoint exactly.

It’s also easy to see why the July 19 departure would be popular. Not only is this sailing taking place during the peak Alaska season, but it’s also positioned in the middle of summer break when it’s easier for families to take vacations.

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