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Celebrity Couple to Serve as Godparents to Star Princess

Donna Tunney
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Celebrity Couple to Serve as Godparents to Star Princess

Key Aspects:

  • Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Star Princess, will be christened in Fort Lauderdale on November 6, 2025 by celebrity couple Matthew and Camila McConaughey.
  • The ship will initially debut in Barcelona in October 2025, and sail two voyages in Europe before making her way across the Atlantic to Florida.
  • Star Princess will be based seasonally at Port Everglades, sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.

Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife, entrepreneur Camila McConaughey, were tapped to serve as godparents to Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Star Princess, when the new-build makes her US debut in November 2025.

The two will oversee the 4,300-guest ship’s christening ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on November 6, 2025, one day before her inaugural cruise from the South Florida port.

Princess Cruises took delivery of Star Princess on September 26, 2025 from Fincantieri’s Monfalcone, Italy, shipyard. The 177,882-gross-ton ship will sail two voyages from Barcelona — the first on October 4, 2025, before crossing the Atlantic to her seasonal homeport at Port Everglades.

“We are delighted to have Camila and Matthew McConaughey serve as the godparents of Star Princess,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises. 

“With their signature warmth and spirit, Camila and Matthew embody the values that define Princess, and we are delighted to welcome them into our family in such a meaningful way,” added Antorcha.

Matthew McConaughey is well known not only for his acting abilities — he won an Academy Award for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club” — but for his philanthropy supporting the education and health of children. 

The celebrity couple also founded Pantalones Organic Tequila, which is included in Princess Cruises’ Love Line Premium Liquors collection and sold throughout the fleet.

“With Princess, it’s not just a vacation — it’s time well spent, families and friends coming together, meeting new folks, and making memories. This ship’s got that spirit built right in, and we’re proud to be part of her story from the beginning,” said Camila and Matthew McConaughey.

Matthew McConaughey and Camila McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey and Camila McConaughey

Princess Cruises has not yet revealed any additional details about the christening ceremony, but it is certain to be a gala event with live music performances, among other festive activities.

The McConaugheys join a long list of celebrities who have served as godmothers and godfathers to cruise ships. In April 2025, actor Drew Barrymore christened MSC Cruises’ MSC World America in a ceremony at Port Miami.

Others who have served as godparents for various cruise ships include Oprah Winfrey, Audrey Hepburn, Helen Mirren, Whoopi Goldberg, and even Queen Elizabeth II.

Maiden Voyage From Florida to Call at Princess Cays

Following the naming ceremony, Star Princess will sail her maiden voyage from North America, a 3-night cruise to Princess Cays, Bahamas. After that she will begin a series of 7- and 14-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.

Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Princess Cays; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, while Western Caribbean itineraries will feature Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico.

Star Princess’s seasonal deployment to Fort Lauderdale will continue through mid-April 2026, when she will reposition to Seattle and operate 7-night Inside Passage voyages to Alaska through the summer season, ultimately returning to the Florida port in fall 2026.

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The ship, second in the line’s Sphere class and a sister ship to Sun Princess, which launched in 2024, offers guests 30 dining and bar venues, and 32 cabin categories. 

Notable public spaces in The Dome, a spacious pool area that doubles as an entertainment space, the Princess Arena theater, and the 3-story Piazza atrium that is the centerpiece of the ship.

Carnival Cruise Line Expanding New Lunch Option for Families

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Expanding New Lunch Option for Families

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its Family Express lunch menu options across the fleet, with four ships already fully offering the new menu at the Lido Marketplace.
  • Despite its name, the menu does include more sophisticated dishes as well as simpler fare to suit an entire family’s taste and everyone is welcome to try it.
  • Guest reaction is very positive to the new menu, but there are requests for gluten-free options as well as expanding the menu into the evening dinner hours.

With so much to do onboard a Carnival cruise, every minute can count. This is especially true for families with younger children who may be so eager to rejoin their friends in the youth programs that they become fussy and impatient, especially at meals with unfamiliar dishes.

Carnival Cruise Line is making it easier for families to refuel with their new Family Express menu for lunches at the Lido Marketplace buffet. The new menu is confirmed aboard the following ships:

  • Carnival Celebration
  • Carnival Horizon
  • Carnival Jubilee
  • Carnival Vista

Guests have also reported the menu onboard other vessels, including Carnival Pride, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Glory, among others. The full implementation may not yet be available fleet-wide, but it is coming soon.

“We are gradually implementing ship-to-ship,” confirmed John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador.

Full, daily implementation of the menu may take some time as different options are tested and buffet lines are set up with appropriate signage and stations.

In the meantime, more ships may introduce the Family Express menu on a limited bases as part of ongoing menu updates.

A key aspect of the Family Express menu is that it is all in one place, from the pasta and salads to entrees and desserts. This makes it simpler to collect a full meal with no need to move through a longer buffet line or visit multiple serving stations.

Guests are pleased with the new offering, noting that it’s very helpful for lunch but also wishing it could be expanded to dinnertime.

“I loved these on my last three cruises, I just wish they would do them in the evening, too,” one guest commented.

Furthermore, it isn’t just families who appreciate the faster and simpler options on the menu.

“As a picky eater, I loved this. Yes, I’m a grown adult and yes I like ‘kid’ food as I have food issues and stomach issues so this was great for my situation!” one guest explained.

Heald has also noted that any guests can enjoy the Family Express buffet. There is no need to be accompanied by a young cruiser to take advantage of the great choices and convenience.

“Yes, adults can graze here too,” he said.

What Is the Family Express Menu?

The new menu features more kid-friendly favorites but still includes tastes for Mom and Dad. Located in a designated section of the buffet line, this is a fast and easy option for families to dine together and be able to get right back to the day’s fun.

For example, each Family Express menu includes a “Pasta of the Day” selection, such as rigatoni meatball pasta or classic mac and cheese. Guests can also request plain spaghetti with alfredo or pomodorini marinara sauce.

Carnival Family Express Lunch Menu
Carnival Family Express Lunch Menu

Salads such as carrot and raisin, rainbow pasta, and Tex Mex bean salad are often offered, and daily soups include selections like chicken pot pie soup and minestrone.

Entrees range from savory pork ribs, chicken mirabela, and vegetable spring rolls to salmon croquettes and chicken burgers with honey mustard sauce.

If these selections sound too fancy for picky eaters, never fear. The Family Express menu also includes everyday favorites such as hot dogs, chicken nuggets, crinkle fries, corn dogs, buttered broccoli, and chicken tenders, perfect options for guests with simpler tastes, no matter what their age.

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Desserts include quick treats like strawberry Jell-o, sugar sprinkle cookies, and other grab-and-go sweets.

The menu does include both vegetarian and gluten-free options, though some guests have noted that gluten-free entrees are scarce.

Hopefully, Carnival Cruise Line will continue to listen to guest feedback and expand the menu to offer great tastes for all families’ dining preferences and needs.

Norwegian Escape Pivots to Avoid Stormy Weather in the Atlantic

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Escape Pivots to Avoid Stormy Weather in the Atlantic

Key Aspects: 

  • Thanks to Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda, Norwegian Escape’s current 12-night sailing is no longer a journey to the Caribbean.
  • Instead, the NCL ship will sail to better weather in New England and Bermuda.
  • Guests have been compensated with a 20% future cruise credit and all shore excursions booked through the cruise line will be automatically refunded.

Norwegian Escape’s 12-night sailing to the Caribbean has abruptly turned into a voyage to New England and Bermuda due to poor weather conditions.

The sailing in question embarked in New York on Monday, September 29, 2025.

The 4,218-guest ship is the latest to join a growing list of cruise ships from brands like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line that have already altered course to steer clear of Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda.

Both storm systems are currently just a few hundred miles apart from each other in the Atlantic Basin.

In order to avoid the worst of the weather, Norwegian Cruise Line has had to rework the entire itinerary for its Breakaway-Plus class ship. Every single port call has been replaced.

“While we always aim for calm seas and bright skies, Mother Nature sometimes has other plans,” Norwegian Cruise Line wrote to impacted guests.

“Due to weather conditions caused by Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda, we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to adjust our itinerary.”

Originally, the 2015-launched ship was supposed to visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; Castries, St. Lucia; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Instead, she will now begin the voyage by visiting destinations within the New England region, including Boston, Massachusetts, and Maine’s Portland and Eastport.

The 164,998-gross ton ship will then proceed to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda for an overnight stay that lasts from October 6 to October 8.

It’s kind of an interesting replacement, as usually Bermuda is the port that gets replaced due to inclement weather.

When Hurricane Erin was wreaking havoc toward the end of August, several ships had to skip Bermuda due to the intense storm.

Weather & Compensation 

As much as they would like to, cruise lines cannot control the weather. But what they can control is keeping everyone onboard safe and comfortable.

“We understand that this change may be disappointing, especially for those who were looking forward to experiencing the Caribbean,” NCL’s letter sympathised.

“While the weather is beyond our control, please rest assured that your safety, along with that of our crew and ship, will always remain our top priority.”

According to the National Hurricane Center (NOAA), Hurricane Humberto is currently a category 4 storm system with wind speeds reaching 140 miles per hour.

It’s tracking northwest at speeds of 13 miles per hour, and is expected to pass Bermuda by Wednesday, October 1 – several days before Norwegian Escape will arrive.

Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship in New York
Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship in New York (Photo Credit: quiggyt4)

Tropical Storm Imelda isn’t quite as intense, but is still dangerous with wind speeds reaching 60 miles per hour and has the potential to strengthen into a hurricane.

Read Also: Can a Rogue Wave Sink a Cruise Ship?

Imelda will also pass near Bermuda toward the middle of the week.

Additionally, Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for portions of the northwestern Bahamas because of Imelda, including for popular cruise destinations like Eleuthera, the Abaco Islands, and Grand Bahama Island.

Understandably, cruise ships do not want to get caught in the heavy rains, winds, and big swells that come with these storms.

Even though NCL is doing its duty by avoiding the worst of the weather, the cruise line is still providing guests with a 20% Future Cruise Credit to show appreciation for passengers’ understanding and flexibility.

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This credit will be available starting on October 1, 2025, and can be applied to any Norwegian Cruise Line sailing that embarks on or before December 31, 2026.

Additionally, all shore excursions that were booked through NCL will be automatically cancelled and refunded without passengers needing to lift a finger.

Cruise Guest Penalized After Failing to Declare $23,000 in Cash

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Guest Penalized After Failing to Declare $23,000 in Cash

Key Aspects: 

  • A cruise guest from India ran into an issue in Saint John, New Brunswick, after failing to declare that they were sailing with just over $23,000 in cash.
  • While Canada does not limit the amount of cash visitors can travel with, any amount greater than C$10,000 must be declared while going through the customs process.
  • The cruiser had to pay a fine of over $1,000 for their mistake.

One cruise guest made a very costly mistake while visiting Saint John, New Brunswick, in Canada, on September 3, 2025.

The passenger, who has only been identified as a citizen of India, failed to report that they were cruising with $23,260 USD in cash, which is well above Canada’s C$10,000 limit.

The funds were identified when CBSA agents boarded the cruise ship as part of the standard customs process at the cruise port.

Canada does not actually have a maximum set for the amount of money that can be brought into the country, but any amount of $10,000 or higher must be reported to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) while going through customs.

“CBSA officers in #SaintJohn #NB seized US$23K in undeclared cash from a traveller arriving on a cruise ship,” the CBSA posted on social media.

“The traveller paid a penalty in order to have the funds returned. Entering Canada with CAN$10K or more? Remember to declare it,” the post continued.

While the cruise ship the guest was sailing on has not been explicitly confirmed, cruise tracking data shows that Enchanted Princess was the only ship in the port that day.

The Princess cruise ship would have been in the middle of a 7-night sailing to destinations throughout New England in the US and Canada.

Notably, the US has the same rule where cash amounts over $10,000 must be reported upon leaving or entering the country – but there are no reports of this passenger having additional issues stateside.

Passenger Gets Fined 

Because the cruise guest did not declare their big chunk of change, they were subject to a fine that ranges between 5% and 50% of the total cash amount.

As this cruiser’s funds did not appear to be connected to anything illegal (and the lack of reporting may have been a genuine mistake), they were hit with the lowest 5% penalty.

Worth Reading: Cruise Ship Penalized for Sailing Into Protected Waters

This means that they had to shell out C$1,600 to get the remainder of their funds back and continue on with their cruise.

Even if the guest’s actions were made by complete accident, Canadian authorities still have to enforce their policies. Extreme cases can result in much bigger fines, or even jail time.

“Reporting currency is an important part of helping the Government of Canada fight money laundering, organized crime, and terrorist financing,” CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer said about the matter.

Read Also: 12 Smart Tricks to Stop Wasting Money on Cruises

Saint John, New Brunswick, is one of 12 cruise ports in Canada where first arrival customs checks take place.

This means that customs and border control officers check passengers directly onboard their cruise ships before allowing them to go ashore – and all passengers must clear customs even if they have no plans of disembarking.

This is when the cruise guest should have declared their funds, which they could have done by filling out the Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report.

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This form can usually be obtained onboard cruise ships in advance, but can also be completed while going through customs.

When in doubt, never be afraid to respectfully ask questions of the guest services team in advance or the officers during the customs process – you might avoid a hefty fine!

Over 70 Guests Fall Ill in Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Ship

Catie Kovelman
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Over 70 Guests Fall Ill in Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Ship

Key Aspects:

  • Serenade of the Seas has reported a gastrointestinal outbreak to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program for its current voyage, which set sail in San Diego on September 19, 2025.
  • The causative agent, which is norovirus, has made 71 passengers and one crew member sick.
  • Increased cleaning and sanitation measures have been taken to prevent the spread of illness and there is no reported impact to the itinerary.

Serenade of the Seas’ current voyage through the Panama Canal has unfortunately been plagued by a gastrointestinal outbreak.

The 13-night one-way sailing embarked from San Diego, California, on September 19, 2025, and is due to conclude in Miami, Florida, on October 2, 2025.

As is often the case, the highly contagious norovirus has been confirmed as the culprit. It’s the Royal Caribbean ship’s first norovirus outbreak since 2006.

According to the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) that is run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 71 of the guests currently onboard have become sick, which equates to 3.79% of the current capacity.

The Radiance-class ship can accommodate 2,143 guests at double occupancy, but only 1,874 cruisers are onboard for this sailing.

Meanwhile, only one member of the 883-person crew has reported symptoms.

Of course, preventative measures have been taken onboard to prevent further spread of illness, and the VSP continues to monitor the situation.

Actions included isolating the ill passengers and crew members, implementing enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures, and collecting and testing stool specimens to confirm the causative agent.

Additionally, current guests can also take precautions to protect themselves, such as thorough and frequent handwashing and by making sure they get enough sleep.

There has been no reported impact to the itinerary because of the outbreak, which made its final port call of the trip on Cartagena, Colombia, on September 29.

How Common are Outbreaks? 

While it may feel like there is always news of new outbreaks popping up on cruise ships, this is not necessarily the case.

A record-breaking 37.7 million cruisers are expected to set sail before 2025 is through, and only a very small percentage will fall ill during a mid-voyage outbreak.

Looking at this in a different context, cruise ships must report outbreaks to the CDC when 3% or more of the population onboard becomes sick.

Out of the thousands of cruises that embark each year, only 18 outbreaks were reported in 2024 and 14 outbreaks in 2023.

CDC Sign
CDC Sign

With the latest outbreak onboard Serenade of the Seas, this brings the total number of reported outbreaks from 18 to 19 for 2025.

Two other Royal Caribbean ships have experienced their own norovirus outbreaks this year, which unfolded onboard Radiance of the Seas in February and Navigator of the Seas in July.

Royal Caribbean also owns Silversea Cruises. This smaller, luxury brand also experienced a gastrointestinal outbreak onboard Silver Ray in January, which was linked to E.coli.

More recently, Silver Muse and Silver Dawn notified guests of gastrointestinal illness onboard in September out of an abundance of caution and consideration for their passengers.

However, these situations were not reported as outbreaks to the CDC, indicating that less than 3% of the onboard population became sick.

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But while outbreaks are sometimes inevitable, future cruise guests shouldn’t be too worried.

While there is always a risk when sailing with large groups of people, the actual number of reported outbreaks are few and far between.

Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues Unstable Overcrowded Raft

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues Unstable Overcrowded Raft

Key Aspects:

  • Enchantment of the Seas rescued a raft overcrowded with refugees on the evening of Sunday, September 28, 2025.
  • The rescue happened near the coast of Mexico as the cruise ship was sailing an alternative itinerary due to rough weather in the Bahamas.
  • Refugee rescues near Mexico and Cuba are not uncommon and saving life always takes precedence over schedule considerations.

There are some extra guests onboard Enchantment of the Seas‘ current sailing, thanks to an evening rescue of an overcrowded and unstable raft as the cruise ship made her way to Mexico.

Enchantment of the Seas departed Tampa, Florida on Saturday, September 27, 2025 for what was to have been a 5-night Bahamas and Perfect Day sailing.

The developing tropical systems in the eastern Caribbean and Bahamas (now Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda) had other ideas, however. To avoid the rough weather, Enchantment of the Seas was re-routed to Mexico for visits to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

That dramatic itinerary change was a fortuitous stroke of luck for a raft full of refugees who were struggling to stay afloat.

On Sunday, September 28, Enchantment of the Seas came across the makeshift craft just after sunset. The raft included a short mast and oars but no significant sides or other structures. At least 8-9 refugees appeared to be aboard according to photos shared online.

A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said, “Our crew identified individuals in distress in international waters, provided medical care to those who were rescued and worked closely with the Mexican Coast Guard.”

Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues More Than 70 Refugees Overnight

The individuals aboard the raft used lights to signal to the cruise ship, which immediately responded with humanitarian rescue efforts.

A lifeboat was launched to reach the raft. Guests currently aboard Enchantment of the Seas have noted that the refugees were brought aboard the cruise ship.

Enchantment of the Seas Rescue
Enchantment of the Seas Rescue (Photo Credit: Jeffrey Walker)

This is a standard humanitarian measure to safeguard life when a refugee craft is not safe or properly equipped.

At the time, Enchantment of the Seas was in the waters between Cuba and Mexico. Refugee rescues are not uncommon in this area, but it is unclear which nation the stranded refugees may have originated from.

The cruise ship continued on its way and is spending Monday in Costa Maya as scheduled on the revised itinerary. There should be no further disruption to the ship’s schedule, including returning to Tampa on Thursday, October 2.

What Happens Next?

To be clear, while refugees are always welcomed onboard cruise ships as a lifesaving measure, they do not have the same vacation experience as guests.

Regardless of where refugees came from or their reasons for setting sail in unsafe craft, they will be provided with food, water, and medical care as needed. In most cases, they are not permitted in guest areas of a ship and are under security guard at all times.

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Their home country will be notified of their recovery, along with the authorities in the area where they were found. Depending on the country and the individual circumstances, they will be released to authorities as soon as possible, and processed according to that country’s laws.

This may include being returned to their home country or other legal measures as necessary.

Marella Loses Out as Newbuilds Reassigned to TUI Cruises

Lissa Poirot
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Marella Loses Out as Newbuilds Reassigned to TUI Cruises

Key Aspects

  • Fincantieri will build two new cruise ships for TUI Cruises instead of Marella Cruises, reversing an earlier plan announced in March 2025.
  • The ships will each be about 160,000 gross tons and use dual-fuel engines capable of running on liquefied natural gas.
  • TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Group, will take delivery of the ships in 2031 and 2032.

Earlier this year, Marella Cruises, a UK-based cruise line fully owned by TUI Group, made headlines with news it would receive its first-ever newbuilds from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. But that plan has now changed.

The order has been reassigned to TUI Cruises, a separate brand that operates under a joint venture between TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Group.

The two companies announced today that they have finalized a contract with Fincantieri for the design and construction of two large new cruise ships. The order replaces the March 2025 agreement that had originally been signed for Marella Cruises.

The new ships will join TUI Cruises’ growing InTUItion class, which already includes Mein Schiff Relax. The two sister ships are scheduled for delivery in 2031 and 2032.

At approximately 160,000 gross tons, the ships will feature dual-fuel engines capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

While the specific financial terms of the order were not released, Fincantieri confirmed the contract value is higher than the amount foreseen in the original Marella agreement.

Fierroberto Folgiero, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri, said, “We are delighted to expand our partnership with the TUI Cruises brand, further enhancing our relationship both with TUI and Royal Caribbean.”

For Marella Cruises, the news means the British line will continue operating its fleet of refurbished, second-hand vessels while TUI Cruises secures the new tonnage.

A Boost for TUI Cruises

The decision to shift the order away from Marella Cruises puts the focus on TUI Cruises, the brand launched in 2008 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.

It serves the German-speaking market in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, competing most directly with AIDA Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corporation.

Read Also: 11 Most Dangerous Cruise Ports You Should Be Extra Cautious About

The cruise line has steadily grown its fleet in recent years. Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2, each just over 111,000 gross tons, kicked off the expansion in 2018, with Mein Schiff 3 through 6 following at a slightly smaller tonnage.

Mein Schiff Relax
Mein Schiff Relax (Photo Credit: TUI Cruises)

The cruise line’s original Mein Schiff 1, originally a Celebrity Cruises’ vessel, was transferred to Marella Cruises and currently sails as Marella Explorer.

In June 2024, Mein Schiff 7 was delivered by Meyer Turku shipyard, matching 1 and 2’s tonnage and capacity. It was the first new ship constructed for TUI Cruises since 2019.

But this year, the ships began making way for even more passengers. Mein Schiff Relax, debuting in March 2025 as the first InTUItion vessel, is 160,000 gross tons and can hold 4,100 passengers – the largest in TUI Cruises’ fleet.

    The vessel is currently homeported in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, offering 8-night roundtrip voyages to Sardinia, Sicily, Naples, and Rome.

    Mein Schiff Flow is scheduled to be received in July 2026 at the same size and will also operate its first season from Palma de Mallorca, with now the sister InTUIton class ships arriving from Fincantieri in 2031 and 2032.

    NCL, Oceania, and Regent Guests Can Now Share Loyalty Status Across Fleets

    Melissa Mayntz
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    NCL, Oceania, and Regent Guests Can Now Share Loyalty Status Across Fleets

    Key Aspects:

    • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will now match loyalty status across all three of its cruise brands, giving guests even more travel options and benefits.
    • Requests for matching must be submitted before setting sail and status matching will be determined on a cruise-by-cruise basis.
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is the second major cruise company to offer a loyalty match between lines, following Royal Caribbean Group’s similar program.

    At a time when cruise line loyalty and status has become a hot button topic, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has announced its new Loyalty Status Honoring Program across all three of its cruise brands beginning October 15, 2025.

    This will include the Latitudes Rewards of Norwegian Cruise Line, the Oceania Club of Oceania Cruises, and the Seven Seas Society of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

    “We want our guests to feel rewarded whenever they choose to sail within our family of award-winning cruise brands,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

    “With the new Loyalty Status Honoring Program, our guests can experience more of what makes each brand special, while still enjoying the loyalty recognition they’ve worked hard to achieve.”

    The new integration of all three programs will apply for all sailings departing on or after Wednesday, October 15, 2025 and will apply on all 34 ships in the combined fleets.

    On a cruise-by-cruise basis, guests will have their loyalty tier honored at the closest corresponding tier on each brand. The intent is to encourage “brand exploration” by recognizing guests across the different lines.

    In effect, guests will gain loyalty in each different cruise line, no matter which one they set sail with.

    In this way, if guests feel they want a different experience or if one cruise line may no longer fit their vacation preferences, they can choose a different line and still enjoy loyalty benefits without “starting over” as novice members.

    Guests will have to submit requests for their loyalty status from one brand to be honored on another. If guests have loyalty on more than one brand, the match will be made to the highest status a guest has earned. Requests must be submitted at least 10 days before the sailing date.

    It is unclear if guests can request the honored status for multiple sailings with a different cruise line, though this may be clarified as the program commences and requests are processed.

    Norwegian Cruise Brands Loyalty
    Norwegian Cruise Brands Loyalty

    Some benefits are excluded from the NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program, such as personalized gifts, cabin upgrades, and free cruises. Similarly, charter cruises are not eligible for status honoring. Benefits are subject to change at any time.

    Frequent cruisers who have sailed with multiple cruise lines should be aware that this honoring program is only between cruise lines owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises.

    The program does not match the status from other cruise lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, or Virgin Voyages.

    Why Status Match Matters

    With Carnival Cruise Line’s recent shakeup as it sunsets the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program and replaces it with the new Carnival Rewards program, it has become clear to all cruise lines just how much frequent cruisers value loyalty.

    Loyal cruisers are, of course, aware that benefits do change over time. Some perks are discontinued because they may no longer be popular or practical, or new loyalty tiers are added as programs continue to grow.

    Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
    Norwegian Cruise Line Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)

    By matching status across its brands, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is demonstrating that it values its guests but also recognizes that their cruising preferences may also change over time.

    This is similar to the loyalty status match that Royal Caribbean Group announced in mid-2024, which has permitted their “loyal to Royal” guests to enjoy benefits on Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises as well.

    There is no similar program between lines in the Carnival Corporation & plc family, which would include not only Carnival Cruise Line but also Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, and more.

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    Carnival has stated multiple times that the products offered by the different lines, as well as the vast differences in experiences and pricing between them, makes such a program impossible.

    Sediment Build-Up Forces Cruise Ship to Make Port Changes

    Catie Kovelman
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    Sediment Build-Up Forces Cruise Ship to Make Port Changes

    Key Aspects: 

    • Island Princess will no longer be visiting Puerto Chiapas, Mexico, on September 30, 2025.
    • The cruise ship will not be able to safely access the port due to a build-up of sediment that has made the channel into the harbor too shallow.
    • Instead, guests will spend the day in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.

    Island Princess, which is currently in the middle of a Panama Canal cruise, has had a last-minute change of itinerary.

    Due to sediment build-up that has made water levels too shallow to traverse the area safely, the Coral-class ship will be unable to call on Puerto Chiapas, Mexico, as planned on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

    “We recently have been notified by Puerto Chiapas Port Authority of some details that I’d like to bring to your attention,” Captain Vincenzo Lubrano Lobianco wrote to the up to 2,210 guests onboard.

    “Sediment has built up on the bottom of the channel, creating water depths that are too shallow for us to safely navigate,” his letter continued.

    With this in mind, Tuesday’s port call has been replaced with a day in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, which is only about 200 miles south of the original destination.

    While Puerto Chiapas is not part of the Panama Canal itself, it sits in Southern Mexico and serves as a point of entry to the region.

    To access the port, cruise ships must still navigate a main channel that leads into the harbor from the Pacific Ocean.

    “As a result of this silting, we have made some necessary changes to our scheduled itinerary,” the Captain explained.

    “We will no longer call to Puerto Chiapas, Mexico, on Tuesday September 30 and will instead call to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the same date.”

    At just 92,822 gross tons and a length of 964 feet, Island Princess is one of the smallest ships in the Princess fleet.

    Her smaller size is what enables her to navigate the narrow sections of the Panama Canal and surrounding destinations, but even smaller vessels need a minimum of 25 to 50 feet of water beneath them to sail and dock safely.

    One More Tweak to the Itinerary 

    Luckily, the majority of the 18-night one-way sailing has gone off without a hitch.

    The 2003-launched vessel embarked from New York on September 18, 2025, and has already visited most of the ports on her itinerary – stopping at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; Aruba, Costa Rica, and Panama City, Panama, along the way.

    She has two more ports of call left before the voyage disembarks in Los Angeles, California, on October 6, 2025 – the first of which has also been tweaked slightly.

    Island Princess Cruise Ship
    Island Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: hydebrink)

    The cruise ship will arrive one hour later than expected in Huatulco on the Mexican Riviera on October 1, 2025, as Puerto Quetzal is a bit further away than Puerto Chiapas would have been.

    “Additonally, we will amend our call to Huatulco, Mexico from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 1, rather than 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM,” the Captain’s letter confirmed.

    The final port call of the trip on Puerto Vallarta on October 3, 2025, remains unaffected.

    More From Cruise Hive

    While an hour delay likely won’t impact the experience or shore excursions in Huatulco much, Princess Cruises has confirmed that any tours of excursions that were booked for Puerto Chiapas through the cruise line will be automatically refunded.

    New shore excursions for Puerto Quetzal are already available for booking in the Princess Cruises app or by visiting the Shore Excursions Desk onboard.

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