For passengers booked on Allure of the Seas’ April 24, 2025, sailing whose bags aren’t fully packed just yet, Royal Caribbean is offering a chance to rethink plans, without losing money.
In a message sent to guests set to sail the 7-night roundtrip Western Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome), the cruise line offered three ways to change course – literally.
The options include transferring to a different sailing, downgrading their cabins, or cancelling altogether in exchange for a full refund and a future cruise credit.
It’s a cruise equivalent to airport staff requesting volunteers to give up their seats on oversold flights, and it’s purposely hard to resist.
“We are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements,” began the letter to passengers from Royal Caribbean.
“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 below,” it continued.
For anyone interested in transferring to either another 7-night option on the 5,484-passenger Allure of the Seas on May 18, 2025, from Barcelona, or May 29, 2025, from Rome, guests will receive a 100 percent refund of the original cruise fare and enjoy the later sailing for free.
The May 29 option is identical to the April 24 cruise and visits Naples and La Spezia, Italy; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Marseille, France. The Barcelona choice calls in Rome.
The option also extends to a May 25, 2025, voyage from Rome on the 4,198-guest Odyssey of the Seas to the Greek Isles. The itinerary includes calls in Santorini and Mykonos, Greece; Naples, Italy; and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey.
Royal Caribbean is also providing a fee-free cancellation to anyone who feels like taking the offer, skipping the April 24 journey.
If they do, they will receive a free cruise in the future via a 100 percent Future Cruise Credit along with a full refund for the missed getaway.
“We’ll also reimburse you for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses (e.g. hotel, flight) you have incurred,” enticed the cruise line.
That offer extends to those who postpone their voyage as well.
More Incentives for Those Who Say No
The crowded Western Mediterranean cruise aboard the newly refurbished Allure of the Seasisn’t fully sold out, however, as Royal Caribbean’s third option is a downgrade.
Guests currently booked in Balcony staterooms can elect to move to an interior room, which means sailing from Rome on April 24 in a “cozy” cabin without a view.
However, the cruise line sweetened the deal by refunding passengers 100 percent of the fare and letting them sail for free.
Allure of the Seas Docked in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
In addition, affected guests aboard the 225,282-gross-ton ship will receive $300 per stateroom in onboard credits to use while sailing.
This isn’t a first for Royal Caribbean. Like airlines, the cruise line often oversells its sailings due to last-minute cancellations and changes that often occur.
But sometimes, every passenger is accounted for and ready to embark on a voyage, leaving the cruise line scrambling to accommodate everyone.
Allure of the Seas has been through this beforein its 2023 season in the Caribbean, sending an alert to guests a week before a May 14, 2023, departure and a day before an April 30, 2023, voyage.
Wonder of the Seas was so popular during its late 2022 and early 2023 season that it oversold three cruises and had to ask passengers to reschedule or cancel.
Thanks to a (suit)case of mistaken identity, a recent Disney Cruise Line guest had a less-than-magical end to their voyage when their suitcase went missing during disembarkation.
As many cruisers do, a recent guest of Disney Fantasy opted to use DCL’s luggage services during disembarkation.
This means that she left her bags outside her cabin door on the final night of the sailing to be collected by the room stewards – with the expectation that they would be waiting for her in Florida’s Port Canaveral, where the 4,000-passenger vessel is currently homeporting.
But while she was able to reunite with three of her four bags in the luggage area as planned, the fourth was decidedly missing.
“Please double check that you have YOUR bags when you leave the luggage hall. I disembarked the Fantasy earlier this week and in the luggage hall easily found 3 of 4 bags all sitting together. My fourth bag was no where to be seen,”she shared in a pseudo public service announcement on Reddit.
Between the exhaustion after a fun-filled vacation and the chaotic nature of a cruise terminal – with those passing through often in a rush to catch a flight or make it to their next destination – sometimes mistakes do happen.
Sometimes suitcases can also look quite similar – with duplicates from popular brands often present – making it easier for distracted and tired passengers to make mistakes.
“I’m assuming good intent in that it was just an accident. But my bag was far fuller than the other bag, and the other bag had a distinctive clip on it. It was pretty clearly not the [same] bag,”the recent cruiser continued. “I had a garish ribbon on it in a very distinctive color, as well as a separate luggage tag.”
Unfortunately, there are times when more malicious members of the cruise community do try to steal other passengers’ bags intentionally – with the most recent example of this unfolding onboard Carnival Magic.
In this case, the family’s lost suitcase was located after weeks of Apple tracking data showing that it was still onboard the ship. It was eventually found in the cabin of a back-to-back guest who allegedly “liked my bag so she took it.”
But on this occasion, this woman’s experience seems to be the result of a genuine accident – especially because the person who took the suitcase is already making an effort to return it.
A (Hopefully) Happy Ending
With thousands of people navigating the cruise terminal and the suitcase potentially already gone by the time its absence was noticed, there was not much that Disney’s crew members or the port staff could do at the time.
The only option was for the cruiser to fill out a lost and found form, cross her fingers, and hope for the best as she began to make her way home.
But thankfully, the guest didn’t have to wait in nervous suspense for very long – as her bag had been located before her flight home even took off.
“I got a call from Disney hours later as I was boarding my flight stating that the person who took my bag is not at home, but they plan to send FedEx to pick it up and ship it back to me this week,” she said.
Now she’ll be waiting to see if her bag makes it home in one piece and with all her belongings, but did note that she is protected for this kind of loss by her trip insurance.
Cruise Ship Luggage
The guest also confirmed that she did not put any critical documentsor valuables in the missing bag, but would be disappointed if some of the “clothes, pixie dust gifts and souvenirs” were not returned.”
While luggage faux pas aren’t super common, avoiding them entirely is often unavoidable just from the somewhat chaotic nature of traveling.
And as a fellow Redditor replied in the comments:“Don’t underestimate people’s stupidity or their ability to make obvious mistakes. Something like an obvious ribbon to you may not be enough to someone paying half attention.“
Thebest way to protect your luggage is to keep it with you at all times – such as by opting for self assisted disembarkation where you leave your cruise ship with your own bags.
But if that’s not possible, try to pick a distinctive suitcase or decorate it with recognizable luggage tags or stickers that will make it easier to identify, and take pictures of your bags to show crew members or port agents in the event something does go missing.
These days it is also highly recommended to put a tracker, such as an Apple AirTag, inside of your suitcase to make it easier to hunt down in the event that it does pull a mysterious disappearing act.
A cruise can be a fantastic vacation and a great way to relax – but what about when some guests’ behavior makes it harder and harder for other travelers to find their best way to relax?
While every frequent cruiser will have their own pet peeves about other passengers, one behavior stands out above all others as inconsiderate – chair hogging.
Fortunately, Norwegian Cruise Line crew members have recently been noticed taking firm steps to curtail such behavior.
A so-called “chair hog” is a guest who stakes their claim for a prime piece of poolside real estate but then abandons that space for hours, expecting their makeshift “reservation” – often a towel, book, piece of fruit, or other simple item – to keep their spot safe indefinitely.
These top spots are often comfy loungers with the perfect ratio of sun-to-shade throughout the day. The best lounge chairs are typically positioned close enough to the pool or hot tub for easy access but far enough from busy walkways to still be quiet and relaxing.
It can be infuriating for a cruise traveler to want to enjoy some time in the sun only to be thwarted by a long line of such reserved chairs. Furthermore, it isn’t uncommon for some guests to set alarms and get up early to pick out their spot, even though they may not use it until much later in the day.
Now, Norwegian Cruise Line is enforcing their policy against hogging chairs, and crew members are removing towels and personal effects so other guests can take advantage of the prime seats.
Guests who have recently sailed aboard Norwegian Escape from PortMiami reported such enforcement. Crew members began marking reserved chairs with stickers at approximately 10 a.m.
If the chairs were not occupied an hour later, the crew members began removing items so other guests could take advantage of the space.
It can be challenging for guests who want to use poolside chairs to find available seats, and with how volatile personalities can be, it may not be wise to remove items and risk a confrontation.
Most cruise guests are understanding of short absences from prime seating – to visit the restroom, take a dip in the pool, grab a drink, whip down a waterslide, etc. Lengthy absences, however, must be curtailed so other guests have the chance to use the chairs as well.
Some guests have begun suggesting the possibility of a dedicated chair booking system with deck chairs numbered to ensure compliance with reservation rules.
Guests could “book” a chair for a certain period of time, but then be required to vacate it when that time is up – even if they only just arrived a few minutes earlier.
Some cruise lines do offer more luxurious seating, such as on-deck casitas or cabanas, for reservations – and hefty fees.
Depending on the cruise line, the sailing region, whether it is a sea day or a port day, and any other included services, the fee could be several hundred dollars for a full-day reservation.
These reservations are often out of the budget of many cruise guests, and there are only a few available onboard any individual ship.
Until a new, more effective system may be devised, cruise guests will need to be vigilant about using deck space and permitting others an equal chance to enjoy the sun.
Aboard Norwegian cruise ships, choosing staterooms inside the exclusive Haven or at least opting for a private balcony can ensure a guest at least some deck space to enjoy without pressure from chair hogs.
The day before boarding a cruise ship can be an exciting and nerve-wracking one. Last-minute packing and other chores as well as traveling to the embarkation port, dropping off a pet with a sitter, and making sure one’s documentation is in order are all critical tasks in the hours before embarkation.
Guests right in the middle of those last hours of preparation for P&O Cruises Aurora received unexpected and devastating news just as they were getting ready to embark, however.
“We are very sorry to advise you that following a delay to Aurora’s refit, we need to cancel Aurora’s R505 cruise from Southampton to Zeebrugge tomorrow, 21st April,”the unexpected email communication read.
So surprising was the email that guests were left scrambling, wondering whether or not the message was sent in error or perhaps was poorly-timed spam.
Even worse, the message was sent on Easter Sunday, when many travelers may have been enjoying time with family rather than staying tuned in to last-minute emails.
Furthermore, those guests who did receive the notice promptly had difficulty reaching call centers and customer service lines on the holiday.
“If you booked with us directly and wish to talk to us please note because of the Easter break our Contact Centre is closed on Easter Sunday,”the email explained.
Aurora has been undergoing maintenance in a dry dock in Rotterdam, though neither the type of work nor the reason for the delay has been disclosed at this time.
As of this writing, more than three hours past when Aurora was to have already departed Southampton on the 3-night sailing, the ship remains docked in Rotterdam.
All booked guests are receiving a full refund of all monies paid to P&O Cruises, including any shore tours booked through the cruise line. Furthermore, all guests will receive a future cruise credit worth 20% of their now-cancelled cruise.
“You will be able to use this Future Cruise Credit on any future booking booked prior to 20th April 2027,”the cancellation notice read.
This does give impacted guests a generous window for rebooking a new vacation. Many travelers are understandably upset, however, that at least some of that window wasn’t earlier – so they could have known about the cancellation more than mere hours before boarding the ship.
Aurora is the oldest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet, so it is understandable that her maintenance needs may be more extensive than other vessels. Nevertheless, it is likely the delay was known earlier but there is no explanation for the breakdown in communication to guests.
The 76,152-gross ton ship can welcome 1,878 guests at double occupancy, or as many as 1,950 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. Also onboard are 850 international crew members.
Following her maintenance updates, Aurora is scheduled to remain homeported from Southampton year-round, offering a diverse schedule of cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Scandinavia, Iceland, the Western Mediterranean, around the British Isles, and even the Caribbean.
What is more rare, however, are shorter itineraries. Guests who want to book a similar 3-night sailing aboard the refreshed ship only have two such departures remaining in 2025: July 7 and August 30. Both of those sailings are going to Guernsey Island, however, rather than Zeebrugge.
Shipyard Schedules Often Unpredictable
Cruisers always take a chance if they book a ship’s first sailing following a stay at a shipyard, whether it is a vessel’s maiden voyage or following a dry dock or other maintenance visit.
Labor shortages, supply chain issues, emergency repairs, equipment failures, or even something as simple as poor weather can impact the very tight schedule at a shipyard. This can quickly cause a knock-on effect for any planned updates or renovations for multiple vessels.
Other cruise lines have been similarly impacted by shipyard changes in recent weeks. For example, both Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magic have recently cancelled multiple sailings due to dry dock scheduling changes.
P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line are both owned by the same parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, but the scheduling changes are not related.
There is no word yet about whether or not Aurora will be ready to welcome guests for her next cruise, a 12-night Norwegian fjords cruise departing Southampton on Thursday, April 24.
Guests booked on that next sailing should stay in close contact with the cruise line or their travel agent so they receive any updates as soon as they may be confirmed.
It’s official! One of the most anticipated new cruise ships of 2025 – MSC Cruises’ MSC World America – has officially entered service as of April 12, 2025, with the embarkation of her maiden voyage.
But before those first paying passengers were welcomed onboard, my husband and I were invited onboard for a 3-day preview sailing following the official naming ceremony in Miami, Florida, on April 9, 2025.
After Actress Drew Barrymore officially christened the World-class ship, we set off on an unforgettable mini cruise to MSC’s private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay: MSC Marine Reserve. Along the way, we got the full run of the 6,762-guest ship at well under her maximum capacity.
While we ultimately enjoyed our time onboard – and felt honored to be a small part of cruise history – I’m going to spill everything I thought about MSC Cruises’ new addition: The pros and the cons.
The Size
Aerial View of MSC World America Arriving in Miami, Florida
It’s no secret that MSC World America is one of the biggest ships currently sailing the high seas. Coming in at 215,863-gross tons and with room for nearly 7,000 guests onboard (not counting the 2,138 crew members), this ship is not much smaller than the world’s largest Icon of the Seas.
Prior to this, the biggest ships I had ever sailed on were Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, which has a maximum capacity of 4,000 guests, and Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, which can accommodate up to 3,560 per sailing.
As such, I expected to be overwhelmed by the size of MSC World America. And while I was in awe of how truly massive she was, I wasn’t uncomfortable.
It’s a joke among my friends and family that I am quite directionally challenged and can get lost in a circular parking lot (which really has happened), but I was able to navigate the ship on my own by the end of the first night.
Between the MSC for Me App, which contains a map of the ship and can provide directions to your intended destination, and maps outside of every elevator bay, I had little trouble navigating.
I will say that three days was really only enough time to scratch the surface of everything this state-of-the-art vessel offers – but as she is solely operating seven and 14-day Caribbean itineraries through at least mid-2027, her guests will have a more suitable amount of time to explore.
The Crew
Crew on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
I’ve been on many cruises, and while the crew is always friendly, the people making MSC World America operate smoothly were truly some of the kindest I have ever met.
There was definitely an air of excitement with this being the first voyage carrying “guests,” but everyone we met was eager to assist, say hello or strike up a conversation, and had a big smile on their face.
Our room steward, whose name I so wish I had caught, was truly one of the best I had ever had. Our cabin was spotless and comfortable between two daily cleanings, but he also went above and beyond to assist us.
For example, I am recovering from an ankle injury that requires me to use a cane. When he saw me carrying my own luggage to our stateroom on embarkation day, our cabin steward instantly dropped what he was doing to offer me assistance without me asking.
The Cruise Cabins
MSC World America Balcony Stateroom (Credit: Calvin Musquez / Cruise HIve)
Speaking of room stewards, I suppose I should talk a bit about our accommodations – which was a very nice balcony stateroom on Deck 11.
Our cabin was an ocean-view room, but some guests may also choose to select staterooms looking into the Promenade in the interior of the ship – which could be fun for people watching purposes or to watch the entertainment that goes through, such as the kid-friendly Lego parade (more on that later).
As we typically only invest in interior cabins since my husband and I don’t usually spend much time in our cruise cabins, having our own balcony to listen to the ocean was a nice change of pace.
The room itself was clean, the bed was firm but soft, there was a bit more closet space than I was expecting, and similarly, the bathroom had a bit more room than I have experienced in the past.
That said, not everyone had quite the same experience, as other passengers told us that one or both of their daily cleaning services were occasionally missed – likely as a result of some kinks that still needed to be worked out ahead of the maiden voyage.
You can take a look at a video tour of the cabin I was actually in:
The only real complaint we had – if you could call it that – was that we could hear the music from parties taking place on the pool deck (Deck 18) into the early hours of the morning. This was surprising to me as we were all the way down on Deck 11, but as I always pack ear plugs for emergencies, it didn’t take away from our beauty sleep.
As kind of a funny moment, there was a glitch near the end of the sailing where music was randomly playing through the speaker in our cabin – as well as several others. When we called guest services after hours of unexplained music, they already knew of the issue and were working on it.
It took several hours to resolve, but the surprise serenade did conclude well before bed time. We wrote it off as one of those inevitable learning curves that usually come when a ship first enters service.
I will also say that we could feel the movement of the ship fairly significantly in our cabin – which was located towardthe aft (or back) of the ship. Considering her size, I wasn’t expecting to feel much motion at all – as bigger ships do tend to be less rocky – but I think the location of our cabin lent itself to feeling it more.
This means that for people prone to seasickness, you’ll still want to choose the location of your cabin strategicallyfor your own comfort – ideally in a cabin that is located midship and lower, where the motion should be felt the least.
The Dining
Dishes at the Hexagon Restaurant (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
This was my first cruise onboard an MSC cruise ship, so I truly had no idea of what to expect when it came to the dining.
A friend of mine told me that the food on MSC cruise ships had a reputation for not always being the best. After the first day on our sailing, I didn’t believe them.
Our lunch in the Il Mercato buffet after embarking was delicious, and our dinner in the Hexagon restaurant – I had surf and turf with perfectly cooked filet mignon – was out of this world.
But as the sailing went on, I started to see what our friend meant. The food was either hit or miss. When it was good, it was great. For example, we couldn’t get enough of the gelato from the Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe on Deck 6.
The mixed drinks were also quite refreshing, and I say that as someone who has never really developed a taste for alcoholic beverages.
However, choosing items at both buffets – Il Mercato and La Brasserie – felt a little like Russian roulette for my taste buds. We encountered a lot of stale and overcooked food by day two, including pancakes and waffles that were hard as rocks.
We found the Luna Park Pizza & Burger on Deck 6 to be decent, but nothing special. The garlic bread was pretty good, but the pizza and burgers were just average. It was, however, a good option to get some variety from the buffets and was easy to get into during peak dinner hours.
Luna Park Pizza & Burger on Deck 6 (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
I suspect the way to truly indulge onboard is to invest in specialty dining reservations, such as at Eataly at Sea, Paxos Greek Restaurant, and Kaito Teppanyaki & Kaito Sushi Bar. While we didn’t get to try all of these venues ourselves, we heard nothing but rave reviews from other guests who did.
With only three days onboard, there was just no way for us to get to all 19 restaurants and the nearly 20 additional bars and lounges to try them all.
Relaxing by the Pool
Botanic Garden Pool (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
MSC World America has a grand total of 20 pools and Whirlpool Jacuzzis onboard – each with a different vibe. For example, the Zen Area is adults-only and feels serene and calm, while the La Plage pool had more of an upbeat, party atmosphere.
Our personal favorite swimming area, however, was the Botanic Garden Pool. True to its name, ocean views were combined with greenery that created a unique, but peaceful atmosphere.
Several of the Jacuzzis were also semi-private thanks to hut-like contraptions that went over them that seemed to be made of a mix of rope and greenery. I liked those whirlpools best because I felt like I was in my own mini oasis and got a break from the crowds.
Main Pool Area on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
Another pro for the Botanic Garden Pool is that it is not in the direct sun – especially in the later afternoon – based on where it is located on the ship and how you sort of have to enter a different “pool room” to get to it. In other words, it gets shade the soonest.
While I am fully aware sunscreen exists, both my husband and I are champion sun burners, so we appreciated this option.
The Thrills
Cliffhanger on MSC World America (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
Located on Deck 21 in the Harbour zone, thrill seekers will find plenty to get their blood pumping – such as the Cliffhanger swings, the 11-story Jaw Drop slide, and the Adventure Trail ropes and zip lining course.
I waslucky enough to ride the Cliffhanger ride twice– which holds brave cruisers 160 feet over the ocean (or MSC Ocean Cay in my case) and swings back and forth. The attraction felt perfectly safe, but did get my heart beating faster thanks to my fear of heights.
But all anxieties aside, the view from the Cliffhanger swings is out of this world. Phones and cameras were not allowed on the swings for obvious safety reasons, but I wish I could have documented the picture-perfect view to share with all of you!
You can take a look at the Cliffhanger ride in action right here:
We did not try the ropes course or Jaw Drop– which drops you into the slide through the mouth of a shark – due to fears of aggravating my existing ankle injury. In my husband’s case, the enclosed nature of the themed slide was too much for his claustrophobia.
We did, however, watch many smiling people come out the other end of the slide in the Promenade on Deck 8 – and everyone seemed to enjoy the ride.
But before you rush to these attractions, keep in mind that you will first need to check in with a crew member at the bright orange kiosk (you can’t miss it!) near the entrance to the Cliffhanger on Deck 21 to sign a waiver.
Jaw Drop Ride (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
Activities like the Cliffhanger, Adventure Trail, and Jaw Drop may need advance reservations during busier sailings and time periods, and Cliffhanger requires an extra payment of $5 per ride, according the crew members I spoke with. The other attractions are included in the price of your cruise fare.
As booking and ride requirements are always subject to change, make sure to check with the cruise line closer to your sailing or crew members once you get onboard for the most up-to-date information.
Performances and Entertainment
Dirty Dancing Show on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
I don’t know about you, but my favorite way to end a busy day of cruising is by watching a show. I love getting to sit back and relax while enjoying the entertainment.
While onboard, we were lucky enough to see two previews of the “Dirty Dancing” Film-to-Concert experienceand the “Hall of Fame” concert in the main stage venue, known as the World Theatre.
The “Dirty Dancing” concert is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a high energy stage adaptation with dancers and singers performing alongside a screening of the film – although for the previews, we didn’t see the film screening portion.
The “Hall of Fame” concert is essentially a love letter to the best singers and musical artists of all time and is full of high energy dancing and nostalgia. In all cases, the vocalists were excellent and we enjoyed the performances.
My personal favorite show, however, was Queen Symphonic in the Panorama Lounge, which featured music from the legendary Queen rock band and was a huge spectacle with flying guitarists (yes, you read that right) and aerial acrobats.
Queen Symphonic in the Panorama Lounge (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
But for those who get overstimulated or have sensitive hearing, this production is quite loud – so definitely plan accordingly with ear protection or sit this one out if the volume might be too much for you. Our ears were ringing for a while after it ended.
As a word of caution, any guests traveling with seizure disorders or who are sensitive to strobe lights should also speak to ushers prior to attending mainstage shows and the performances in the Panorama lounge.
Multiple performances included flashing lights – which were enough to make our heads hurt for a minute without pre-existing conditions – and we did not hear or see any warnings before show time.
Smaller Scale Entertainment and Pleasant Surprises
Formula 1 racing simulator (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
There was also smaller scale entertainment to be discovered throughout the ship, such as dueling pianos and comedians in the Loft and musicians performing in lounges.
While we saw some of these scheduled performances listed in the MSC App, many were just pleasant surprises that we found while exploring the ship. On more than one occasion, we found ourselves relaxing in the lounges with a drink as we took in the tunes.
We also stumbled upon an arcade on Deck 19 across from the kid’s clubs that is home to a fun Formula 1 racing simulator and classic arcade games. We certainly enjoyed our fair share of air hockey and ski ball there!
LEGO Parade on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
The only entertainment we saw as a bit lackluster was the Lego Parade – which would still be a cute activity for kids. The few children around us looked like they were absolutely enthralled.
We were just expecting an actual parade through the Promenade on Deck 8 because of the name, but it was actually a lot of Lego characters standing around, posing for pictures, and occasionally doing somewhat awkward dances.
Crowding Could Be an Issue
Promenade on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
While I left the sailing with a few negatives, I couldn’t help but think that I wouldn’t want to sail on MSC World America during peak times when she would be at her most crowded.
Though the ship is designed to hold nearly 7,000 guests, I couldn’t help wondering how it would feel when she was at capacity. Particularly in peak season, I would anticipate long linesand the need to arrive quite early for shows and performances – which was already true on our sailing to get good seats.
There are several performances of the same show so everyone can get a chance to enjoy, but getting into the show at the time you want most might be a challenge if you don’t arrive early – as neither the Panorama Lounge nor the World Theatre have enough seats for everyone at once.
The Loft – which is a hot spot for entertainment, comedy, and drinks – is also smaller than I expected. Even on our sailing, we had trouble finding a seat to watch the comedians perform – with many standing at the back, packed in like sardines.
The Loft (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
When we did eventually get a table, an older woman approached me and asked me to give it to her. I politely explained that I got there first and that I couldn’t stand for a long time due to my ankle – I had my cane visible and with me – and she called me some choice names (that I can’t repeat here) before storming off.
Considering her anger when the cruise ship wasn’t crowded, I was left wondering how tensions might flare when she’s closer to capacity.
It’s also worth noting that even during reserved media only events, there were still long lines for attractions like the famous Cliffhanger and Jaw Drop slide. We had to wait upwards of 30 minutes to experience the adrenaline-filled swings.
The Pros and Cons of High Tech
LED Display Along the Promenade (Photo Credit: Caite Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
As a new-build in our modern age of technology, MSC World America is probably the most innovative ship I’ve ever sailed on.
For example, we were able to easily communicate with the housekeeping team using light switches. All we had to do to show when we wanted to be left alone or we were ready for our cabin to be cleaned was to flip a switch in our cabin. Depending on which switch we hit, a light would shine above our door indicating our needs.
The elevators also helped to regulate potential crowds and chaos in the sense that you pre-select your deck prior to boarding the elevator. Once you select your deck, you would be assigned to one of many elevators in the bay – which were all identified by individual letters.
No buttons were pressed once inside, and the way the system assigned guests to elevators seemed to prevent overcrowding – at least in our limited experience.
Elevator Buttons on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
That said, I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if something went wrong with the system – such as if an elevator got stuck with guests inside. After all, technology is only effective when it’s working correctly and relying too heavily on it has always made me nervous in general.
But for the most part, everything did work well onboard. The only time we really had a problem was when the facial recognition technology went down in MSC’s new Miami cruise terminal during disembarkation – and our issue was more with the newly opened terminal than the ship itself.
Checking In at the MSC Terminal (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
While the brand new, state-of-the-art facility made embarkation a breeze, the systems going down led to extremely long lines and it felt like it took forever to make our way off the ship and through customs. In actuality, it took us a little over an hour as patrons who chose to take our own luggage off the ship.
I also noticed a bit of a learning curve with the technology for some guests. Most notably, I watched quite a few people struggle with the auto-sensing doors which could be found around the ship, such as around bathrooms.
In order to use the doors, all you have to do is touch or swipe your hand over a button – but it would take more than two hands to count the amount of people I saw trying to open the doors manually or struggling to find the sensors, which were usually really obvious.
Would I Sail on MSC World America Again?
Catie Kovelman and Calvin Musquez on MSC World America
Absolutely. Not only would I sail on MSC World America, but I would be interested in trying out more of the MSC fleet.
But because of my concerns about overcrowding, I would most likely book a voyage outside of peak travel seasons – such as around the holidays or summer break – and might consider investing in the MSC Yacht Club experience.
The MSC Yacht Club is like its own mini ship within the bigger ship that includes private lounges and pools, as well as perks like reserved seating to performances – which would alleviate a lot of my concerns about crowds in the future.
If you are interested in trying MSC World America in her inaugural season, bookings can be made online or over the phone through MSC directly or by using a reputable travel agent.
Just two weeks after significant layoffs at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports of illness outbreaks on cruise ships continue to be disclosed.
The most recent outbreak has been aboard Viking Polaris, currently sailing an 11-night spring Canadian itinerary from Toronto to New York. The Easter sailing departed Toronto on Saturday, April 12, 2025 and is scheduled to arrive in the Big Apple on Wednesday, April 23.
According to the CDC, 28 of the 355 guests onboard the expedition ship – nearly 8% of passengers – have reported gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and diarrhea.
Additionally, four of the ship’s 260 crew members (1.5%) have likewise reported similar symptoms.
Cruise ships are required to report any outbreak to the CDC when at least 3% of either guests or crew members (not the two combined) exhibit these types of highly communicable symptoms.
To be clear, the reports of the illness are cumulative throughout the voyage. Of the total 32 individuals seeking medical treatment, they may have been ill at different times during the past nine days, not necessarily all at once.
Meanwhile, crew members aboard Viking Polaris have already taken several mitigation measures to restrict any possible spread of the illness.
This includes increased cleaning and sanitation, isolating both passengers and crew members who report symptoms, and testing to determine the exact cause of the outbreak. The causative agent has not yet been confirmed.
Of the 12 previous outbreaks reported so far in 2025, 10 have already been confirmed as norovirus. One was E. coli, and one was ciguatera, a bacteria found in contaminated tropical reef fish such as grouper and sea bass.
With the CDC being restructured as part of federal government reorganization and waste reduction, staff involved with the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) have been impacted.
The release of the report from Viking Polaris may help ease fears that outbreaks might be missed, hidden, or downplayed. Instead, they are continuing to be reported, which gives travelers the ability to stay updated about conditions on any ship they may be booked on in the future.
Norovirus on the Rise
Viking Polaris is not the first ship in the Viking fleet to have reported an illness outbreak in 2025. In early January, Viking Mars reported a norovirus outbreak that impacted 62 out of 887 guests (7.2%), as well as nine out of 465 crew members (1.9%).
Additional outbreaks have been reported from all types of cruise lines, including luxury lines like Seabourn and Silversea to mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line.
CDC Facility (Photo Credit: Tada Images)
Savvy cruise passengers who watch outbreaks carefully have noted that norovirus in particular is on the rise in 2025, with 10 outbreaks in less than four months.
For comparison, 15 norovirus outbreaks were reported for all of 2024 (none aboard Viking ships), while 13 were reported throughout 2023.
Of course, the outbreak that will be of most concern to any cruise guest is one that occurs onboard their ship during their cruise, no matter what line they enjoy most or when they set sail.
Proper, thorough handwashing with hot water and soap is the most effective defense against contracting – or spreading – norovirus. Cruisers should always wash their hands before enjoying a meal, as well as after using the restroom and otherwise throughout the day.
Food, food, and more food – it’s a cornerstone of any cruise vacation. From all-you-can-eat buffets to fine dining restaurants to pizza, ice cream, burgers, salad bars, holiday menus, and more, no cruise passenger will ever go hungry.
Or will they? Some guests on Carnival cruise ships have noticed an apparent stinginess with one popular dinner item and are demanding that even more food be given.
The guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s official brand ambassador, John Heald, with their concerns, albeit not in the politest way they could have made their request.
“I know this will seem petty to some of your cult John but my grandkids, aged 7 and 12, love to eat bread before dinner,”the guest began.
While Carnival Cruise Line does have some very enthusiastic fans, choosing the word “cult” might indicate the guest’s frame of mind with their request. As they go on, it can seem petty indeed – their word, not mine.
“We are now on the Carnival [ship]. Tonight at dinner we were only given two small pieces of bread,”the guest explained.
“Compared to what other cruise companies we have been with this is unsatisfactory for [my grandkids] and not just them I would bet. Put the bread basket back or tell the servers to stop with the stinginess! Give more bread.”
I would never, however, consider the cruise line stingy with the bread. At the Lido Marketplace buffet, you can simply take all the bread you’d like, and Heald confirms that the same policy applies in the Main Dining Room.
“Let me clarify that bread is not limited but rather unlimited,”he said.“Ask and it shall be given and last night I made sure that without asking the family are served many pieces of bread.”
Oh, I wish I’d been in the dining room to see just how “many pieces of bread” were served to the family. I’d have made certain they got at least 20, just for fun, but that’s my sense of humor.
Do You Enjoy Bread on a Carnival Cruise?
Heald goes on to note how curious it is that having bread before a meal is viewed differently at one’s home compared to while on a cruise vacation.
“If I was to eat a basket of bread before my meal at home it would be considered weird, reckless, and possibly bonkers but on a cruise it is considered normal, healthy and dare I say even chic,”he commented.
Many other commenters – those cult members who love Carnival cruises and are among Heald’s more than 600,000 Facebook followers – chimed in with their thoughts on bread as well.
The overwhelming consensus is that it is very easy to ask for more bread, not just in the Main Dining Room but at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse or other specialty restaurants as well.
Carnival Magic Dining Room
Guests can ask for multiple pieces right when bread is offered after they are seated, though full baskets of bread are no longer automatically provided.
This is a subtle change that has been implemented in recent months, as previously guests in the Main Dining Room received a wire basket with 4-6 pieces of bread (larger or multiple baskets for larger groups).
Each basket would have the classic baguettes, as well as other selections such as sunflower rolls, sourdough, or cranberry ciabatta rolls. Now, single pieces are offered, though the choices change each evening.
While there has been no official statement about the change from bread baskets to individual slices, food waste and the impact on profits is always a concern aboard cruise ships.
Can one roll cause that much of a profit difference? Imagine the entire Carnival fleet – 29 ships around the world, with a capacity of more than 90,000 guests every single day just at double occupancy.
If just one guest out of every 10 threw away one uneaten roll, that would be more than 60,000 rolls discarded in a single week, or more than 3.2 million rolls wasted in one year.
No matter what your personal preference for how many rolls you enjoy at dinner that’s a lot of bread – both carbs and cash.
As one of the most popular and largest cruise lines in the world, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers a bevy of ships for cruisers to book — including its brand-new ship, Norwegian Aqua, which I had the pleasure of recently sailing.
However, as is the case with all cruise lines, as NCL’s fleet has welcomed new ships, some of its older ships have fallen out of favor, and it hasn’t quite made sense to keep operating them.
Norwegian Cruise Line has nearly 20 such ships that have been retired, some as recently as 2025. Here’s what’s happened to them.
Sunward
Sunward (Photo Credit: Raymond L. Blazevic)
Before there was Norwegian Cruise Line, that we know and love today, there was Norwegian Caribbean Line. Founded in 1966, the line’s very first ship wasn’t actually purpose-built as a cruise ship. Instead, it was originally a ferry!
The Sunward (not to be confused by similarly named ships to come) worked as a car ferry between the United Kingdom and Spain before the cruise line took it over, taking Sunward from Europe to the Caribbean, where it would sail from Miami to the Bahamas, to great success.
The Sunward could carry just over 500 passengers and it was hardly a luxury ship. It had two cabin decks, two decks with public spaces and two decks with outdoor spaces and a lounge. The one luxury that did make it stand out? Air conditioning — an amenity not found on some other cruise ships of the day.
However, the Sunward was not to stay long under the Norwegian Caribbean Line umbrella. Sunward was booted from the fleet in 1973.
The ship went back to Europe, and then the Middle East, serving as a ferry, hotel and cruise ship in its next lives, under various new names. The ship finally met its fate after nearly 40 years at sea, being sold for scrap in Bangladesh in 2004.
Starward
Starward (Credit: Robert J. Fluegel)
As Norwegian Caribbean Line saw greater and greater success, it decided to order some purpose-built cruise ships for its own use. Starward was the first of these, built in 1968.
However, in a unique nod to Sunward’s past, Starward could also carry cars, just like a ferry — though the car-carrying spaces within the ship were converted into public spaces and cabins for passengers after a time.
Starward remained in the fleet for much longer than Sunward, though, until 1995, when the ship was sold. Over its life, the ship changed hands multiple times.
It sailed for Festival Cruises, Louis Cruise Lines and others (including the U.S. government as an evacuation ship in 2006), until it was eventually sold for scrap in 2018.
Skyward
Skyward (Photo Credit: Rich Turnwald)
Skyward was very similar to Starward, also being ordered as a purpose-built ship for Norwegian Caribbean Line after the line saw its increase in bookings after launching Sunward.
It likewise featured that car-carrying space that was later converted. Additionally, both ships were about 80% larger than Sunward and capable of carrying around 750 passengers.
These earlier ships were known as the White Fleet, because, at the time, NCL’s ships were all white on the hull, rather than sporting the colorful hull art the line is known for today. As a fleet, the ships served very short sailings from Miami.
However, while Norwegian Cruise Line was seeing a good degree of success with these earlier ships, the line was not without its issues.
On Skyward in particular, the line faced a series of illnesses due to serving infected water on the ship, and, in 1979, a fire broke out on the ship.
After leaving NCL in 1991, Skyward served multiple purposes, as a cruise ship and casino ship, for a handful of different owners, its last being New Century Cruise Line. In 2021, the ship was sold for scrap in India.
Southward
Southward (Photo Credit: Rich Turnwald)
Between Skyward and Southward, there was supposed to be another ship, Seaward, but this 1970s ship never saw the light of day, at least not as a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.
Seaward’s builder went under, the hull was sold to P&O and the ship that was intended to be Seaward eventually became Spirit of London.
Regardless, Southward was the next ship for Norwegian Caribbean Line and would eventually be the next ship to leave the line’s fleet.
Southward departed from earlier ships Starward and Skyward by being the first ship in the fleet to have none of those ferry-esque car-carrying capabilities.
The Southward was built in 1971 and is actually partially to credit for Norwegian Caribbean Line changing its name to Norwegian Cruise Line.
When Southward moved from the Caribbean to offering similarly short itineraries out of Los Angeles, the cruise line couldn’t very well call itself “Caribbean” anymore, and so it became Norwegian Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line relieved itself of Southward in 1994 and the ship changed hands several times before eventually becoming scrap in 2013.
Sunward II
Sunward II (Photo Credit: Rich Turnwald)
Next up was the Sunward II, acquired in 1977 after the original Sunward I’s retirement from the fleet. Sunward II was not purpose-built for Norwegian Cruise Line. Instead, the cruise line purchased the Cunard Adventurer from Cunard, and transformed it into Sunward II.
The ship remained in the fleet until 1991, after which it was sold to Epirotiki Lines, for Greek Isle cruises. The ship changed hands a few more times before eventually being scrapped in India, in 2014.
Norway
SS Norway (Photo Credit: Thorsten Pohl)
Very similarly, the Norway was not built for Norwegian Cruise Line at all — but that didn’t stop the ship from making waves when it first debuted under the NCL banner in 1980.
Norway was significantly, significantly larger than the cruise line’s prior ships. In its past life, the Norway was known as the France. Already on the older side, the ship had been out of service for a few years before Norwegian Cruise Line purchased it.
However, the France had set records already over its life, as one of the largest ships in the industry, as well as the longest ship ever built and the second-fastest passenger ship to offer transatlantic cruises. It took about $80 million to turn the France into the Norway.
There was just one issue. The new Norway was too large to visit the Caribbean ports of call that Norwegian Cruise Line was accustomed to visiting.
As such, the cruise line began using tendering ships known as the Little Norway I and the Little Norway II to get passengers from the Norway to shore. (Interested in these unique ships? You can actually see them if you have to tender at Great Stirrup Cay.)
Over Norway’s life, it received several upgrades in order to retain its status as one of the most impressive in the biz. The ship received luxury staterooms and private veranda cabins, and new public spaces, for example. The ship would sail all over the world, before it was eventually retired from the NCL fleet in 2003.
The ship was sold for scrap, but the process of actually turning the ship into scrap was a long one, as the ship’s large volume of asbestos required careful handling.
Seaward/Norwegian Sea
Norwegian Sea Docked in Roatan
Remember how there was supposed to be a Seaward ship that debuted for Norwegian Cruise Line in the 1970s, but that ship never materialized and the hull was given over to P&O?
Well, finally, in the 1980s, Norwegian Cruise Line got another crack at this ship. By the time Seaward debuted, the ship was the first new-build ship for the cruise line in nearly two decades.
Seaward was built in Turku, Finland, and cost $120 million at the time. It could hold 1,534 passengers and measured in at around 42,000 GT. The ship offered a range of cruises and, by the mid-1990s, represented about 20% of Norwegian Cruise Line’s capacity, given the ship’s size.
Seaward was renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997 and, eventually, was transferred over to Star Cruises in 2005, at which point the ship became SuperStar Libra.
SuperStar Libra was heavily overhauled to meet the expectations of the Asian cruising market and began cruising out of India. In 2018, the ship became a hotel ship, and then it was finally moved to Turkey to be turned into scrap in 2022.
Westward
Black Watch (formerly Westward)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s parent company bought the Royal Viking cruise line in the 1980s and, in 1991, two of the line’s ships were transferred over to the NCL brand: Westward and Sunward (yes, yet another ship named Sunward). However, neither of these ships would remain in the fleet very long.
Westward was already pretty old when it joined the fleet, having been built in the early 1970s, and sailing for Royal Viking for nearly 20 years. As Westward, the ship offered itineraries between New York City and Bermuda.
However, after just a handful of years, the ship moved to Royal Cruise Line, where it was renamed Star Odyssey, but only lasted a handful of years here, too, before moving on to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The ship became the Black Watch, sailed for a while longer, then was sold as a hotel ship in 2020, then beached for scrapping in 2022.
Yes, there were already two other Norwegian Cruise Line ships that were named Sunward, but, at the time of this Sunward’s sailing, the other two were out of commission.
The latest Sunward was, like Westward, acquired from Royal Viking Line. The ship had already been sailing for quite some time and would only sail for NCL for a very brief period, about a year.
Over its lifetime, the ship would have more than 10 different operators, finally being sold for scrap in 2021.
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Star (Photo Credit: Aah-Yeah)
Norwegian Star is kind of an outlier, as it didn’t really sail for the Norwegian Cruise Line that we know of now.
Instead, this ship, like Sunward and Westward, was originally a Royal Viking Line ship and, when it was turned over to Norwegian Cruise Line, it became a member of a small fleet (so small that this was the only ship!) known as the Norwegian Capricorn Line.
The Norwegian Capricorn Line had the same owners as Norwegian Cruise Line, but it was technically a separate cruise line meant to offer cruises to the Australian market. Unfortunately, the Norwegian Capricorn Line didn’t last long. In 2001, the ship was given to Star Cruises.
Since then, the ship has changed hands multiple times and was a hotel ship at one point. The ship was scrapped in 2021.
Dreamward/Norwegian Dream
Norwegian Dream Cruise Ship
Built in 1992, Dreamward — later renamed Norwegian Dream — didn’t really compete with the other cruise ships of its age, in terms of size.
However, it was a nimble little ship. Measuring in at around 40,000 gross tons, it was just a fraction of the size of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships today, but it was actually built with the intention that it could be, if needed, lengthened and expanded.
In 1998, the ship was resized and renamed Norwegian Dream. However, this expansion did not ensure Norwegian Dream’s standing in the fleet for very long. Just six years later, the ship was turned over to Star Cruises.
While Star Cruises had plans to sell the ship multiple times over the years, those deals never materialized, and the ship remained in Star Cruises’ possession, undergoing some expansive refurbishments along the way, until the ship was finally sold for scrap in 2022.
Windward/Norwegian Wind
Norwegian Wind in Alaska (Photo Credit: Gillfoto)
Sister ship to Dreamward, Windward was built in 1993 and likewise was able to be lengthened and expanded if needed. This occurred in 1998 as well, and the ship received its new name: Norwegian Wind.
However, Norwegian Wind’s story was much the same as Norwegian Dream’s tale. The ship was transferred over to Star Cruises in 2007 and became SuperStar Aquarius. It also was sold for scrap in 2022.
Leeward
Leeward (Photo Credit: Aah-Yeah)
In the 1990s, beyond building a few new ships, Norwegian Cruise Line also continued its pattern of acquiring older ships and repurposing them for its own use. As somewhat of a throwback to its origins, the cruise line acquired another ferry in 1995.
The Leeward was built in 1980 and did serve as a partial ferry for six years, before becoming a full cruise ship in 1986, then operated by the now-defunct Sally Cruise. The ship led a dramatic life for a while, suffering fires, partial sinkings and an array of rebuilds.
As mentioned, Norwegian Cruise Line put its stamp on the ship in 1995, renaming it Leeward, but the ship only remained in the fleet for five years, before it went on to join Star Cruises.
Following this stint, the ship changed hands several other times. It most recently operated as Celestyal Crystal for Celsystal Cruises, until 2023.
In April 2025, the ship was sold to a UAE buyer. While final plans for the ship have not been announced, it’s expected the ship will resume cruising or be repurposed into a hotel ship.
Norwegian Crown
Norwegian Crown (Photo Credit: Doug Letterman)
In 1996, Norwegian Cruise Line moved another ship over from the previously purchased Royal Cruise Line (NCL had purchased the entire line in the late 1980s — don’t confuse Royal Cruise Line with Royal Viking Line!) to the NCL fleet. The prior Crown Odyssey, built in the 1980s, became Norwegian Crown.
This ship was traded back and forth between fleets several times. In 2000, NCL passed it over to Orient Lines, which it had also purchased, and the ship became Crown Odyssey again. Then, in 2003, the ship went back to being a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, retaking the Norwegian Crown name.
Finally, the ship was sold in 2006 to Fred. Olsen Cruises, at which point the ship was renamed Balmoral, and, today, the ship still offers itineraries. It’s currently the smallest ship in the Fred. Olsen Cruises fleet.
Norwegian Dynasty
Norwegian Dynasty (Photo Credit: MeRyan)
In 1997, Norwegian Cruise Line purchased Majesty Cruise Line and gained two ships in the process. Norwegian Dynasty was originally Crown Dynasty, operated by Cunard Line, before being operated by Majesty Cruise Line under the name Crown Majesty.
Norwegian Cruise Line only operated Norwegian Dynasty, a very small ship at only about 25,000 GT, for two years, before eventually selling the ship to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
The ship operated under the line for nearly two decades, until it was sold to Villa Vie Residences. The ship offers long-term, residential-style cruises, with cruisers sailing for more than three years at a time. As of early 2025, cruisers are still actively living on the ship.
Norwegian Majesty
Norwegian Majesty (Photo Credit: K0NFUZIUS)
Also once a Majesty Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Cruise Line gained this ship as well in the line’s acquisition.
Norwegian Cruise Line expanded the ship, lengthening her, and renamed her Norwegian Majesty, but only kept her for less than a decade before transferring her to Star Cruises.
The ship was sold to Louis Cruise Lines in 2008 and then eventually to Mano Cruise, in 2018. The ship currently goes by the name Crown Iris.
Norwegian Sun
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship in Jacksonville (Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO)
After Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Cruise Line more or less slowed its continual revolving door of ships, while also slowing its acquisition of other, older ships, instead focusing on its own new-builds.
This has resulted in the modern Norwegian Cruise Line fleet that we see today. Since Norwegian Majesty’s retirement, we’ve not seen any other ships leave the fleet until announcements were made in 2025 — starting with the announcement regarding the retirement of Norwegian Sun.
This Sun-class ship originally launched in 2001. It’s long been one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s smaller and more modest ships, so it’s no surprise that the cruise line decided to transfer her over to Cordelia Cruises, in a joint transfer along with Norwegian Sky.
While the announcement was made in 2025, the transfers are scheduled for 2026 and 2027, for Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun, respectively.
Don’t worry, though. While some cruisers may have been out of sorts at the thought that their previously scheduled cruises on these two ships were canceled, Norwegian Cruise Line is replacing the ships with bigger and newer ships to come over the next few years.
Before its retirement was announced in March 2025, Norwegian Sky was not the oldest or smallest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet (that title is held by Norwegian Spirit, which is still in operation).
However, the cruise line still felt that Norwegian Sky was a better choice to leave the fleet than its sister ship.
Norwegian Sky itself has an interesting history, as it was originally destined to become a Costa Cruises ship, but then, during the ship’s construction at Lloyd Werft in Germany, the ship became Norwegian Sky, launching in 1999. Over the ship’s lifetime, it’s also served as the Pride of Aloha.
The ship was rumored to be sold or transferred, to either Star Cruises or Pullmantur Cruises at various points in time, but those changes never materialized.
Now, though, Norwegian Sky finally will have a new life under a new name and new cruise line. The ship is being transferred to Cordelia Cruises, which serves the Indian cruise market.
While the ship is small by Norwegian Cruise Line’s standards, the ship is a big get for Cordelia Cruises, expanding the line’s capacity significantly.
Princess Cruises may be known for a few stand-out features — great service, excellent dining, etc. — but the line is not known for having ships that are particularly large.
That said, there’s a big difference between cruising on Princess Cruises’ largest ships — Star Princess and Sun Princess — and cruising on its smallest ship, Coral Princess. Here’s what you can expect on all the Princess ships, with the entire fleet listed by size, largest to smallest.
Star Princess isn’t just Princess Cruises’ largest ship (or, at least it’s tied for largest ship). It’s also the cruise line’s newest ship, debuting in 2025.
In addition to having a greater number of venues and staterooms, cruisers who’ve been on some of the line’s earlier ships will also notice overall larger dining venues and a larger casino on Star Princess.
Just like sister ship Sun Princess, Star Princessfeatures the first geodesic dome at sea, known simply as The Dome. The ship features just over 2,150 staterooms and, in addition to carrying thousands of passengers, also carries over 1,500 crew members.
Gross tonnage: 175,500
Passenger capacity: 4,310
Length: 1,133 feet
Width: 158 feet
Sun Princess
Sun Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Eric Glenn)
Debuting just slightly earlier than sister ship Star Princess, Sun Princess is the lead ship in the Sphere Class, Princess Cruises’ newest class of ships. The ship, along with Star Princess, represents the biggest vessels in the cruise line’s fleet.
Just how big is Sun Princess? Well, in addition to tying with Star Princess in measurement by gross tons, the ship also offers 30 restaurants and bars, five pools and more than 5,000 square feet of shopping. Across the shopping area, there are more than 25 brands that are appearing on a cruise ship for the very first time.
Gross tonnage: 175,500
Passenger capacity: 4,310
Length: 1,132 feet
Width: 139 feet
Discovery Princess
Discovery Princess at Sea (Photo Credit: Princess Cruises)
Before the Sphere Class introduced the largest ships in Princess Cruises’ fleet, Discovery Princess held the title of largest ship for the line. The Royal-class ship features 19 decks, just over 1,800 staterooms, 20 restaurants and bars, four pools and 10 hot tubs. The ship is manned by just over 1,300 crew members.
Next up in Princess Cruises’ ships by size are another two tie-holding ships, in the Royal Class. Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess are sister ships and are both just slightly smaller than Discovery Princess — though by gross tonnage, not passenger capacity.
Enchanted Princessoffers 1,800 staterooms and is manned by just under 1,350 crew members.
As mentioned, Royal-class ship Sky Princess is identical in size to sister ship Enchanted Princess. This means she’s very nearly the size of Discovery Princess, only off by a few thousand GT.
That smaller size means fewer of some features, like hot tubs, but it doesn’t mean Sky Princess didn’t still offer lots to love when the ship debuted in 2019. At the time, it boasted some of the largest balconies at sea.
The slow downward creep in ship size continues with Majestic Princess, which is just a few thousand gross tons smaller than Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess. This smaller size results in being able to handle just about a hundred fewer passengers, with overall fewer staterooms.
Majestic Princess, though, stands out in more ways than mere size. It was also specifically constructed for the Chinese market. This means that the ship features different entertainment venues, restaurants and bars than what you’d find on the other Royal-class ships.
Gross tonnage: 143,700
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Length: 1,082 feet
Width: 126 feet
Regal Princess
Regal Princess Cruise Ship in the Caribbean (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Regal Princess and Royal Princess are both tied in size next, at slightly smaller than Majestic Princess in gross tonnage, while still able to handle the same passenger capacity. Don’t think that just because these two ships are tied for size, though, that they’re identical.
Princess Cruises changed up a few things with Regal Princess, the second Royal-class ship, by adding an aft pool and promenade deck to the ship, whereas Royal Princess has neither of these features.
Gross tonnage: 142,229
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Length: 1,082 feet
Width: 126 feet
Royal Princess
Photo Credit: Ruth Peterkin / Shutterstock
Lead ship of its class, when Royal Princess debuted, the ship was about a good 30,000 GT larger than all of the Princess Cruises ships to come before it. As such, the ship had space for lots of new features, including new restaurants and bars, private cabanas and the SeaWalk, an over-water glass floor walkway.
With nearly 2,000 cabins to hold its 3,500-plus cruisers, the ship carries a crew of about 1,350 crew members — not dissimilar to some of the larger, newer ships that came after.
Gross tonnage: 142,229
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Length: 1,083 feet
Width: 126 feet
Sapphire Princess
Sapphire Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wojciech Wrzesien)
Next up, Sapphire Princess debuted about a decade earlier than Royal Princess, and the Gem-class ship is about 30,000 GT smaller.
The ship offers 18 decks, about 1,300 staterooms and five main dining rooms. It’s also has received a handful of dry docks over its lifetime, which have added other new features, like mini suites, that the ship did not have when it entered service in 2004.
Diamond Princess also entered service in 2004, alongside Sapphire Princess. The two ships tie for size, as far as gross tonnage and length are concerned, but Diamond Princess can carry just about a hundred more cruisers.
Diamond Princess, though, stands apart from its sister ships by being developed specifically for the Japanese cruising market. As such, the ship features certain restaurants and entertainment options that other ships in its class do not.
Gross tonnage: 115,875
Passenger capacity: 2,710
Length: 952 feet
Width: 123 feet
Ruby Princess
Photo Credit: evgenii mitroshin / Shutterstock
Next are three slightly older ships that all tie for size. The entire Crown Class — Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and Crown Princess — are all the same size and all just a tad smaller than Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess (by gross tonnage, not passenger capacity).
While they still manage to offer the main cruising venues and amenities that modern travelers expect from cruise ships, they only have around 1,500 staterooms. They can hold about 3,000 passengers.
Very similar to its sister ships, Emerald Princess offers just around 1,500 staterooms to its 3,000-plus passengers. There are three main dining rooms on the ship, as well as a nice selection of additional restaurants, bars and lounges.
The ship additionally features all the public and entertainment venues you’d expect from a ship of this size, including a casino, sports deck, kids clubs, fitness center and the Lotus spa. There are four pools and seven hot tubs.
Crown Princess is much the same. With its 3,000-plus passengers and crew of 1,200 members, it stretches over 19 decks. There are 1,545 staterooms, the majority of which are exterior staterooms, mostly balcony rooms.
There are three main dining rooms and much of the same amenities that you’ll find on Emerald Princess. In addition to the four main pools and seven hot tubs, though, there is also a splash pool.
Gross tonnage: 113,561
Passenger capacity: 3,090
Length: 952 feet
Width: 118 feet
Caribbean Princess
Caribbean Princess in Port Canaveral (Photo Courtesy: Port Canaveral)
When Caribbean Princess debuted in 2004, it was Princess Cruises’ largest ship by passenger capacity to date and it held that title for years, until Royal Princess took that crown just about a decade later.
That said, Caribbean Princess still features more decks than any of the other Grand class ships, which is something that no new cruise ship can take away.
Gross tonnage: 112,894
Passenger capacity: 3,140
Length: 952 feet
Width: 118 feet
Grand Princess
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Brave Behind the Lenz)
For many cruise lines, the oldest ship in the fleet is usually the smallest, but that’s not the case with Princess Cruises. Instead, Grand Princess, the oldest ship for the cruise line at just under three decades old, is only the third-smallest ship in the Princess fleet.
While this ship is considered mid-size by today’s standards, in the late 1990s, when it debuted, it was considered very large, with some of the best features in the industry.
While that’s no longer the case, the ship has still managed to remain somewhat modern, with regular dry docks adding new features and enhancements, such as new eateries, lounges, kids clubs and more.
Gross tonnage: 107,517
Passenger capacity: 2,610
Length: 949 feet
Width: 118 feet
Island Princess
Island Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
One of two Coral Class cruise ships, Island Princess ducks down beneath 100,000 GT. The ship holds just over 2,000 passengers, and thanks to the ship’s sleek design, it can pass through the Panama Canal. The ship has 16 decks and about a thousand staterooms, two main dining rooms, three pools and a handful of other venues.
The very smallest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, Coral Princess is about a thousand GT smaller than sister ship Island Princess. However, that said, it does have more staterooms than Island Princess, by about 500 extra.
Gross tonnage: 91,621
Passenger capacity: 2,000
Length: 964 feet
Width: 106 feet
What’s Different Between the Larger and Smaller Princess Cruise Ships?
There are vast differences between the largest and smallest Princess Cruises’ ships.
The largest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet are the Sphere-class ships: Sun Princessand Star Princess, which debuted in 2024 and 2025, respectively. These ships both measure in at 175,500 GT, with capacity to hold more than 4,000 passengers.
Princess Cruises boasts that Sun Princess, and Star Princess with it, is the most impressive and luxurious of its fleet to date. The stand-out feature is, of course, the feature for which the class is named, The Dome, the geodesic, first-of-its-kind structure that sits atop the ship.
Latest Construction Photos of Star Princess (Credit: Princess Cruises)
The ship offers 30 restaurant and bar concepts, a VIP ship-within-a-ship area for exclusive amenities open only to guests, five pools, nine hot tubs, first-at-sea retailers and a huge range of other entertainment and public spaces.
In contrast, the smallest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet is Coral Princess. It’s just over 90,000 GT, and can only hold about 2,000 passengers over 1,545 staterooms, plus less than a thousand crew members.
As such, it’s just about half the size of the Sphere-class ships. But does that mean that Coral Princess is half the fun? Not necessarily!
Coral Princess is an ideal fit for those who want a more intimate and low-key cruising experience, wherein they’re not bogged down with near-endless options and crowds. The ship has just two main dining rooms, plus 10 other dining options; five bars and lounges; a theater; four pools; and five hot tubs.
The Ever-Changing Fleet
Princess Cruises seems to be steadily growing the fleet, and these ships are, for the most part, larger and larger with each new one to debut.
As mentioned, the newest and largest ships in the fleet are Sun Princess and Star Princess, of the Sphere Class. While further ships are definitely expected, a third Sphere-class ship has yet to be announced, though it’s safe to assume it will be at least as big as Star Princess, if not larger.
