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Royal Caribbean Offers Perks to Guests Willing to Skip Overbooked Alaska Cruise

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Offers Perks to Guests Willing to Skip Overbooked Alaska Cruise

Key Aspects:

  • Voyager of the Seas’ next Alaska sailing, which embarks on June 19, 2026, is overbooked.
  • Royal Caribbean is hoping some guests will be willing to make a last-minute change to their travel plans in exchange for some generous perks.
  • Guests who volunteer to pivot may not hear if they were selected until one day before embarkation in Seattle.

Cruises to Alaska are always in high demand, but Royal Caribbean is learning the hard way what happens when a sailing becomes too popular.

Voyager of the Seas’ June 19, 2026, departure was oversold and the cruise line is now scrambling to tempt some guests to make last-minute changes to their travel plans.

The 7-night sailing features many of Alaska’s biggest highlights, including Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm Fjord, and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Royal Caribbean sent out its request to guests on June 12, 2026, exactly one week before embarkation in Seattle, Washington.

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

Adding another layer to this last-minute predicament, those who volunteer to reschedule might not hear if their offer is accepted until as late as June 18, one day before departure.

One cruiser inquired on Reddit: “Our plans are flexible a week out. But a couple days might be an issue. It eventually says if you haven’t heard from us BY JUNE 18th you are on your original travel plan. That’s the day before lol. Surely they’ll tell us before?”

Especially as many avid cruisers like to travel to their departure port early to allow time for potential delays, Royal Caribbean is certainly cutting things close.

What Options Do Guests Have?

If passengers are unable to change their travel plans at this late hour, there is no requirement to do so. They can simply mark the email as “read” and move on.

But if guests can be flexible, Royal Caribbean hopes they will volunteer to switch to a different Alaska itinerary. Volunteering will come with a complete refund of their cruise fare plus a 50% future cruise credit to put toward a new voyage.

These guests would also be booked in the same or a similar stateroom category and would be reimbursed for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses.

If passengers are married to specifically sailing onboard the 3,602-guest Voyager of the Seas, one option is to wait for her 7-night Alaska cruises that embark in Seattle on September 18 or September 25, 2026.

Alternatively, they could switch to Anthem of the Seas’ August 24 itinerary, which is a 7-night sailing from Seattle to Ketchikan, Sitka, Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier, Juneau, and Victoria.

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

The Quantum-class ship also has room on its subsequent August 31 sailing, which will visit Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria over the course of seven days.

As another option, another possible itinerary will be operated by Ovation of the Seas and will depart from Royal Caribbean’s brand new cruise terminal in Seward, Alaska, on August 28.

This is another 7-night cruise that will sail one-way from Seward to Vancouver, calling at Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, and Icy Strait Point along the way.

If none of these options sound good, passengers can also opt to cancel in exchange for a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit to put toward any Royal Caribbean sailing they want.

Will More Sailings Be Overbooked?

While nothing is certain, this isn’t the first overbooked Royal Caribbean sailing that Cruise Hive has covered, and it likely will not be the last.

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 is perishable revenue and some guests always do drop out.

Experts analyze historical data to pinpoint how many cabins the cruise line can safely sell for each voyage, but sometimes the estimates don’t get it exactly right.

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The Alaska cruise season also tends to be particularly busy. Not only is Alaska one of the most sought after cruise destinations in the US, but the season overlaps with summer break when kids are out of school and families like to go on vacation.

All that said, cruisers shouldn’t be worried about their sailing being oversold. Typically, there are many passengers who will happily snatch up the compensation to adjust their plans so that remaining guests get the onboard experience they want and expect.

Royal Caribbean Guests Asked to Delay Arrival as Cruise Ship Returns Late

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Guests Asked to Delay Arrival as Cruise Ship Returns Late

Key Aspects:

  • Mariner of the Seas is slightly delayed back to Galveston on Saturday, June 13, due to a medical evacuation and diversion.
  • Guests with the first two terminal arrival times for the next sailing should push back their arrival by 30 minutes.
  • The ship’s next 5-night itinerary will set sail on time and there is no impact on port visits.

Due to a medical evacuation at the end of her current sailing, Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas is now slightly delayed returning to her homeport. This means embarkation for the next cruise must be pushed back a bit to accommodate the ship’s later-than-expected arrival back in Galveston, Texas on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

Guests booked on the next cruise have received notifications of the brief delay, though only the earliest boarding times have been impacted.

“Due to a medical evacuation on its previous sailing, Mariner of the Seas will be delayed in returning to the terminal,” the notification explained. “As a result, boarding will now begin at 11:00 AM.”

Guests who selected a 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. arrival time to the cruise terminal when they checked in are being asked to delay their arrival by 30 minutes. This means guests who had planned on arriving at 10:30 a.m. should now arrive at 11 a.m., and guests who had selected the 11 a.m. arrival time should wait until 11:30 a.m.

All other guests can arrive at their planned time with no delay. There is no change to the ship’s planned 3 p.m. departure from Galveston, and all guests should be onboard no later than 2:30 p.m.

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

The 3,114-guest Mariner of the Seas is returning from a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing that departed on Monday, June 8, with visits to Costa Maya and Cozumel. The next cruise, departing on Saturday, June 13, is an identical 5-night itinerary. The slight delay will not impact that itinerary.

Satellite tracking confirms that the 140,000-gross-ton Voyager class ship did divert significantly from her typical route, returning from Cozumel to Galveston.

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Passengers currently on the ship have noted that a young girl had to be medically evacuated via helicopter to New Orleans for emergency surgery. These details have not been confirmed by Royal Caribbean, and no further information about the evacuation has been released. This is standard practice to protect the privacy of those involved in such evacuations.

Cruise Hive is grateful for the dedication of emergency personnel who facilitate such evacuations to ensure the safety of everyone at sea whenever assistance is necessary.

Police Issue Cruise Port Traffic Warning as World Cup Festival Hits Miami

Melissa Mayntz
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Police Issue Cruise Port Traffic Warning as World Cup Festival Hits Miami

Key Aspects:

  • The Miami Police Department and Bayfront Park are warning travelers about traffic congestion in Miami on Saturday, June 13.
  • Eight cruise ships are in port that day with as many as 63,000 cruise guests transiting through PortMiami.
  • Cruise lines are not responsible if guests miss embarkation because of traffic delays or congestion.

Cruise guests returning to or departing from PortMiami on Saturday, June 13 need to be aware of potential traffic congestion and delays as they approach the downtown cruise terminals. The Miami Police Department has shared advisories through social media, urging travelers to plan ahead to avoid the worst of the traffic problems.

“A large number of cruise ships are scheduled to arrive on Sunday, June 13th, causing traffic delays near the Port of Miami and surrounding roadways,” the department’s Facebook post noted. “Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.”

Frequent cruise guests are aware that traffic in and out of PortMiami can be challenging, especially on busy ship days. Ongoing terminal construction is also impacting cruise traffic and parking.

On Saturday, June 13, a whopping eight ships will be in port, including two of the world’s largest cruise ships: Icon of the Seas and MSC World America. Just those two ships combined host more than 14,000 guests per sailing.

The six other ships also in port on Saturday are Freedom of the Seas, Seven Seas Mariner, Resilient Lady, Norwegian Luna, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Magic.

Miami Police Notice
Miami Police Notice

All together, including guests returning from sailings as well as those departing on cruises, as many as 63,000 cruise guests may be transiting through PortMiami on Saturday in just a few hours. This does not count crew members boarding or leaving ships, supplies being delivered to vessels, or port employee traffic.

The Miami Police Department’s traffic advisory notes that the busiest hours will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., exactly when most guests are either leaving their ships or eager to get onboard.

World Cup Festivities Near the Cruise Port

Further complicating traffic congestion heading to and from the cruise port will be the FIFA Fan Festival Miami celebrating the 2026 World Cup.

The free festival runs from Saturday, July 13 through Sunday, July 5, with various events to celebrate soccer matches, fan appreciation, Miami’s diverse cultures, and much more, including concerts and live broadcast match watch parties.

FIFA Festival Miami
FIFA Festival Miami

Soccer fans heading to the festival are also advised to plan ahead with extra travel time due to expected traffic in the area. The festival is being held at Bayfront Park on Biscayne Boulevard, at the west end of Port Boulevard that leads to PortMiami’s cruise terminals.

On Saturday, the festival kicks off at 2 p.m., but gates will open early, and traffic congestion is expected throughout the day.

Ships Will Not Be Delayed

Cruise Hive has regularly reported on local events impacting cruise port traffic, especially in homeports where cruise terminals are in downtown areas such as Miami, Tampa, and Norfolk.

Local parades, 5k and marathon races, music festivals, and other events can bring heavy traffic to the downtown areas along with road closures and detours.

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Traffic difficulties can be very frustrating for guests, but cruise lines have also been clear that ships will not be delayed in their departure times and all guests must be onboard before the all aboard time or they will not be permitted to set sail.

These types of issues are outside the cruise line’s control and no refunds or other compensation are generally offered if travelers miss their ship because of traffic problems or travel delays.

TUI Cruises Adds Massive New Ship to Its Growing Fleet

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

Key Aspects:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mein Schiff Flow Sailings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Aspects:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Few Details Released

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carnival Cruise Ship Changes Celebration Key Port Times on 50 Sailings

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

Key Aspects:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why the Changes?

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

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

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

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

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

Drunk Cruise Captain Caught at Police Checkpoint in Belgium

Catie Kovelman
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Drunk Cruise Captain Caught at Police Checkpoint in Belgium

Key Aspects:

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

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

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

Read Also: Wild Cruise Stories That Actually Happened

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

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

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

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

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

Which Cruise Ship Was It?

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

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

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

Albert Canal
Albert Canal (Photo Credit: Werner Lerooy)

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

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

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

No Tolerance For Intoxication

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Aspects

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

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

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

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

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

Uku Lei Lei
Uku Lei Lei

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

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

Le Bistro Musicale
Le Bistro Musicale

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

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

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

Fetaccine
Fetaccine

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

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

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

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

Fleetwide Dining Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Aspects:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zaandam’s Revised Itinerary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Impacted Guests Compensated

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

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

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

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

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

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