It can be great to get away for a long weekend, but can it be even greater to take advantage of an enticing offer to move your vacation plans?
Select guests booked on the July 5, 2025 departure of Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas are needing to make such a decision, as the cruise line has now reached out with rebooking offers for the 5-night Bermuda cruise.
“We are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel plans,”the email inquired.“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.”
The options include moving the sailing to select August, September, or October cruises still aboard Liberty of the Seas, or select sailings aboard Symphony of the Seas.
If guests do choose to rebook on the offered sailings, they will receive a 100% refund for their original booking, as well as be moved to the new cruise date.
Hello? Full refund and you STILL get to go on another cruise? You can bet I’d make every effort to be flexible for that kind of offer, particularly since one of the alternative sailings is a 9-night Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean itinerary that is nearly double the length of the original booking.
Other options for rebooking include identical 5-night Bermuda itineraries as well as 7-night Bahamas cruises. All available departures are still from New Jersey.
Granted, not everyone who receives this tempting offer would be able to make the change, depending on their work requirements or other commitments, such as whether or not the original booking is during a pre-planned vacation or special occasion.
Some guests, in fact, are worried that this might be an overbooking situation and they could be left at the embarkation port if they don’t take advantage of the offer.
“The ship must be overbooked. We have already had a cabin number assigned. I am now concerned that we’re going to get to the port and they tell us we can’t board as it’s overbooked. Am I overthinking it?”the original poster asked on Reddit.
Other commenters were quick to respond, however, noting that the notification email specifically called out the idea that if plans are “set in stone” then there’s no need to worry.
Even if the ship does happen to be overbooked, the offer is such a spectacular one that there’s little doubt other cruisers would take advantage of it and change their plans, freeing up space for guests who aren’t able to be flexible.
Why Do Cruise Ships Overbook?
Of course it is in a cruise line’s best interest to always sail with ships full to capacity, but why would they take the chance of overbooking altogether?
After years of offering oceangoing vacations, cruise lines are well aware that some percentage of travelers will always cancel at the last minute, leaving some staterooms unsold.
While it may seem like a gamble to sell more staterooms than are available onboard, most of the time, it works out well for the cruise line.
On the rare occasion when no one may have cancelled and the departure date is fast approaching, the line can offer these types of special deals to entice some travelers to move to another sailing.
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock)
This gives the cruise line flexibility with how to fulfill guaranteed cabin rates, as they can shuffle guests around without difficulty in the days before embarkation.
Such offers have often been made in previous years on other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Most of the time, these offers are successful at clearing out any overbooking issues, but onboard Quantum of the Seas in November 2023, some guests were left behind without any available staterooms.
Hopefully, the current offers for Liberty of the Seas are impressive enough that everyone will be happy, whether they stay on the same cruise or take advantage of these very special circumstances.
Just days after popular streaming service Netflix debuted an episode of its disaster-oriented series Trainwreck covering the infamous “Poop Cruise” aboard Carnival Triumph, a new show will highlight another scary cruise experience.
The upcoming three-part true crime documentary miniseries “Amy Bradley Is Missing” will offer an in-depth look at the young woman’s disappearance from Rhapsody of the Seas in March 1998 and the nearly 30 years of investigative efforts that have so far come up empty.
The show will premiere on Netflix on July 16, 2025, exploring different leads, sightings, and efforts to find Amy Lynn Bradley, who was 23 when she vanished from a family cruise. Today, she would be 51, but her fate remains unknown.
Bradley was enjoying a 7-night Caribbean sailing in March 1998 with her parents when she disappeared. The ship had departed Puerto Rico and was planning to visit Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.
In the early morning hours of March 24, however, Bradley vanished seemingly without a trace. She and her younger brother, Brad, had visited the ship’s nightclub and gotten back to their stateroom at about 3:30 a.m.
By 6 a.m. when the family was getting up to get ready for breakfast before their day in Curacao, she was gone.
Search efforts aboard what was then one of the newest Royal Caribbean ships were immediately initiated, but Amy was not located and guests were permitted to debark in Curacao. Local authorities were contacted and search efforts continued, in case she had gone overboard.
No evidence of her disappearance was ever found, either on the ship or in the water, and only a polo shirt and a pair of sandals remained.
The new documentary will feature interviews with FBI investigators, eyewitnesses aboard Rhapsody of the Seas, and the Bradley family through the years as search efforts have continued.
Unconfirmed sightings of Amy in the Caribbean – from a taxi driver in Curacao, in a store restroom in Barbados, and even in a brothel – have all been explored over the years.
These sightings and other unusual theories about her disappearance will also be discussed in the Netflix special in the hopes that new insights might lead to even more discoveries that could help solve this mystery.
This is not the first time new efforts have been used to attempt to locate Amy or determine what happened to her on what was supposed to have been a happy family vacation celebrating her college graduation.
In 2017, computer-aged photos of Amy were released to try and help find her, but it is difficult to determine what so much time and decades of life experiences would do to a person’s physical appearance.
Amy Lynn Bradley (Credit: FBI)
In June 2024, just after her 50th birthday on May 12, 2024, interest was again renewed to try and find Amy, but no new evidence surfaced.
While officially Amy was declared legally deceased on March 24, 2010 – twelve years after her disappearance – the family has not given up hope.
Her case remains active with the FBI, and a reward of up to $25,000 is available for information that will solve her disappearance.
Cruises Popular on Television
While Amy’s case has been featured in a number of shows, including America’s Most Wanted in May 1999 and Disappeared in 2018, hers isn’t the only cruise-related event to be showcased in different broadcasts.
Of course, the recent release of the “Poop Cruise” episode of Trainwreck has been highlighted, but not all cruise-related shows are negative.
Carnival Triumph During “Poop Cruise” (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Of course, fun bits of cruise vacations have been seen in episodes of innumerable shows, including the hit comedy Everybody Loves Raymond, British comedy Keeping Up Appearances, and even The Simpsons.
And no one can forget such popular cruise-centric options as The Love Boat, Mighty Cruise Ships, The Suite Life on Deck, and movies like the incomparable Titanic, Poseidon, and Speed 2: Cruise Control.
Ideally, and as is the case most of the time, cruisers should be law-abiding citizens who aren’t actively committing crimes while onboard.
But if you’re going to commit a crime, taking and sending photos that document your misdeeds isn’t exactly the smartest decision. However, this is exactly what Lucy Roberts did.
The Swanland, UK, resident had been the manager of a luxury jewelry shop called Daniella Draper Beverly until just before her sailing.
During her tenure at the fine jewelry establishment, the 39-year-old’s colleagues noticed that she had a suspicious habit of taking the merchandise with her when she left work, allegedly to sort stock from the comfort of her own home.
After about a year, Roberts resigned from the company and embarked on a cruiseon an unidentified ship.
But according to the police reports, approximately £14,895 (or $20,463 USD) went with her.
Roberts sent photos of herself clad in the stolen jewels and gems to her colleagues, thinking they wouldn’t recognize the pieces.
Of course, staff flagged the photos to management because they suspected that Roberts had not purchased them. The police were then contacted and a warrant for her arrest was issued.
“Roberts arrogantly posed on social media and sent pictures boasting to her ex-colleagues about the great time she was having on holiday, not thinking they would realise what she had been doing,”said Sgt. Krista Wilkinson, a detective with the Humberside Police Force, in a statement.
The stolen jewelry that came on the cruise were found with Roberts when she was arrested in London’s Heathrow Airport following disembarkation.
A search of her bedroom at home revealed an additional 269 stolen jewelry items worth around £107,965 (or $148,327 USD).
“From her bedroom 269 items worth a total value of £107,965 were recovered and when arrested at the airport, Roberts was wearing approximately £1,015 of stolen items, as well 22 item £13,880 worth of jewelry was located in her suitcase,” Sgt. Wilkinson continued.
Police estimate that she stole an estimated £124,675 (or $171,267) in jewelry and cash when all was said and done.
Jewelry Thieves on the High Seas
With the evidence stacked against her, Roberts entered a guilty plea when she appeared at the Grimsby Crown Court, where she was charged with theft by an employee.
Roberts had also completed several fraudulent return transactions and lied while conducting stock counts in an attempt to get away with her crime, which likely also factored into the consequences.
She was ultimately sentenced to 28 months in jail and she has begun serving her time.
“I am pleased she is now behind bars and I hope it will give her ample time to think about the crime she committed and how it has impacted not only the company, but the colleagues who considered her a friend and who were betrayed by her in such a trusted role,”Sgt. Wilkinson concluded.
Lucy Roberts (Photo Credit: Humberside Police)
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time this year that cruisers have gotten in trouble for a jewelry heist.
In May, an elderly couple sailing onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation was accused of allegedly stealing an expensive ringfrom a local shop in the Sicilian town of Messina.
Police say that the couple had asked to try on the ring, which was valued at around $1,100 USD, before walking out of the store with it.
By the time the clerk noticed the piece was missing, the ship was already sailing on to its next port of call, which was Naples, Italy.
The couple was searched by police upon arrival in Naples and the ring was indeed found in their possession. However, their case has not yet gone to trial, and they are presumed innocent for now.
Dozens of cruise guests who were hoping for a pleasant day in Ketchikan, Alaska, did not get the experience they were hoping for.
On June 26, 2025, a school bus carrying 46 cruise passengers was involved in a serious collision with an SUV while driving on the Tongass Highway, causing the highway to close for around half an hour.
“The bus was traveling southbound when it collided with an SUV, which then struck a power pole,”the City of Ketchikan said in a press release.
Images from the crash show that the SUV came to rest against the pole with its hood smashed, while the school bus was run off the main road and into a ditch.
It’s unclear what caused the accident or which driver may be at fault, but an investigation is currently underway.
First responders hurried to the scene of the accident to assess the two drivers and the dozens of cruisers.
While ideally there would be no injuries at all, only two cruise guests and the driver of the SUV needed to be transferred to the hospital when it could have been much worse. No fatalities have been reported.
After being checked out by EMTs and paramedics, the cruise guests who were given a clean bill of health were transported back to their cruise ship by a new bus.
SUV Involved in Ketchikan Bus Crash (Photo Credit: Ketchikan Fire Department)
“The school bus was carrying 46 cruise passengers and a single driver when the accident occurred. The passengers and drivers were examined by EMTs and paramedics from the responding fire departments,”the city statement said.
“After being examined and cleared medically, 44 cruise passengers were transported back to their ship at Ward Cove via bus,” it continued.
Per cruise tracking data, Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss, and Holland America Line’s Eurodamall arrived in the port early that morning.
Sapphire Princess and Koningsdam also were present, but did not sail into the port until after the accident had already occurred.
Is History Repeating Itself?
Almost a year ago, there was another major tour bus accident that took place in Skagway, Alaska, on September 6, 2024.
As the accident occurred in a remote area around 35 miles outside of Skagway, rescue was made more difficult by the distance and because cell service is virtually non-existent.
In fact, two other tour buses actually arrived at the scene and rendered aid before first responders could get there.
Cruise Visitors in Skagway, Alaska (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
When all was said and done, a total of 12 passengers were injured and were transported to local hospitals for appropriate treatment. The driver also received care and was expected to recover.
If you’re thinking about booking a cruise ship tour, don’t let these accidents scare you.
When you consider the fact that hundreds to thousands of tours take place every year without a hitch, it’s easy to see that accidents like these are quite rare.
In the unlikely event that an accident does occur, booking your excursion through the cruise line does come with some extra protections.
Most notably, the cruise lines will do everything in their power to wait for delayed passengers who are participating in one of their tours, while late comers from independent tours may be left behind.
If an emergency takes place on a tour sold by the cruise company, there is no doubt that the cruise line will be immediately notified and that every effort will be made to assist guests in the aftermath.
But more likely than not, your cruise tour will run normally and you’ll return to the port with a new appreciation for the destination you just explored.
A UK film crew is putting the finishing touches on a new television series that promises to take viewers behind the scenes onboard two Holland America Line ships as they sail three voyages in various parts of the world.
The “Secrets of Supercruisers” project is a partnership between Crackit TV, an independent production studio based in Manchester, England, and the UK’s Channel 4, a public service broadcaster.
Filmed aboard Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, both Pinnacle-class ships that accommodate 2,600 guests in double occupancy, the 8-part series details the onboard and shoreside experiences guests enjoy while sailing in the Caribbean, South America, North Africa, and the Canary Islands.
The name of the series might imply that the show focuses on guests who spend all or most of their time living on cruise ships, but that is not the case. Rather, the ships themselves are the “supercruisers.”
They are also labeled as luxury cruise ships, although in industry parlance, Holland America Line is a premium line, not a luxury line.
It isn’t just the guest experience that is highlighted in the hour-long episodes but also the hard work of crew members as they strive to deliver first-rate service to passengers.
“Crackit TV have brilliantly captured the life and activities on board a supercruiser. The series will take viewers on a journey to some of the world’s most beautiful places but also giving them insight into all the hard work it takes to deliver the holiday of a lifetime to thousands of guests,” said Deborah Dunnett, Commissioning Editor at Channel 4.
It was not revealed when the series, which is scheduled to air sometime in summer 2025, was filmed since Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam are currently sailing British Isles and Northern Europe itineraries.
Nieuw Statendam, which launched in 2017, is operating cruises of varying lengths roundtrip from Dover, England, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. Rotterdam, which entered service in 2020, is sailing 7- and 14-night cruises roundtrip from Rotterdam and between Rotterdam and Reykjavik, Iceland.
Along with the onboard experience, the series showcases some of the land tours and activities guests were offered, such as horseback riding in the Bahamas and rum tasting in the Dominican Republic, for instance.
Secrets of Supercruisers
“If you think you know cruising, then prepare to be dazzled by the next-level experiences these sensational supercruises have to offer,” said Elaine Hackett, CEO of Crackit TV.
Channel 4 is accessible to viewers in the UK and Ireland. Cruise enthusiasts in other parts of the world might be able to watch the show if it is streamed on the channel’s website, Channel4.com, or if it becomes available on other streaming platforms.
Cruise Films Can Be a Help — or a Hindrance
There is no shortage of TV shows focused on cruising. On YouTube alone, viewers can watch hundreds of cruise ship-based films and videos that depict life onboard, including reviews by amateur travel influencers and professional industry journalists.
Sometimes a cruise film brings unwelcome publicity. Most recently, Netflix aired its unflattering documentary, “The Poop Cruise,” which is one episode in the network’s “Trainwreck” anthology.
The film recounts the aftermath of an engine room fire aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Triumph in 2013, when the ship lost power and drifted for days in the Gulf of Mexico. Without power, toilets didn’t work and the sailing became known as “The Poop Cruise.”
Following the airing of the film on June 24, 2025, Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement noting that it has invested millions in fire protection and suppression systems since the unfortunate voyage. Also, since then, the name of the ship was changed to Carnival Sunrise.
For some cruise lines, having social media influencers onboard their ships can be a good thing. Take Royal Caribbean as an example. It operated the Ultimate World Cruise aboard Serenade of the Seas in 2023-24, which was chronicled by multiple guests on TikTok and attracted huge numbers of viewers.
When they promise an expedition cruise, Silversea delivers.
But what started as a remote island excursion on June 26, 2025, turned unexpectedly tense for dozens of Silversea cruise guests when a fast-moving tide stranded a group off the northern coast of Western Australia on Thursday.
About 70 passengers and 10 guides from the cruise line’s 254-passenger Silver Cloud expedition ship were caught off guard while exploring Adele Island, roughly 60 miles north of the mainland.
The group was taking part in a guided zodiac boat tour when shifting tides grounded several vessels and left guests knee-deep in water, unable to return to the ship.
According to one passenger, who shared details of the mishap on social media, the incident escalated quickly.
“What started as a fabulous trip across to Adele Island ended with all 100 odd passengers and staff getting caught by the rapid tide going out and stranding us on the wrong side of the deeper part of the water to get our zodiacs back to the ship,” he shared.
With the zodiacs stranded in shallow water, those passengers were forced to wade through roughly 547 yards – more than five football fields – across coral beds to reach deeper water.
There, they were met by other zodiacs dispatched from Silver Cloud to complete the rescue.
Most of the group was brought back aboard the ship by sunset, where the medical crew treated guests for minor scrapes and twisted ankles.
At around 8 p.m. local time, the ship’s captain announced that 10 passengers and some crew were still waiting for the tide to turn and could not yet be retrieved.
At press time, nearly 4 hours later, Cruise Hive’s Ship Tracker indicated the vessel was still maneuvering near Adele Island, awaiting high tide. Tide forecasts reported that a second high tide of the day would occur by 11:59 p.m. local time, bringing the water levels up by more than 20 feet.
The forecasts also show that a low tide occurred at 5:48 p.m. local time, with water levels dipping to -0.62 feet, raising questions about how expedition timing and tidal movements were assessed.
Silversea’s Silver Cloud passengers wade through low tide after being stranded on Adele Island. (Photo Credit: Mark David Reid)
Thankfully, weather reports indicate 80-degree highs and 74-degree lows, but zodiacs are not equipped with food and beverages to sustain stranded passengers for that duration.
Several guests described the scene as chaotic, with photos shared by passengers showing the group walking through knee- to thigh-deep water, assisted by Silversea crew.
Although some passengers maintained a sense of humor about the ordeal, joking that it was an expedition cruise, others noted it was unusual for Silversea’s experienced expedition team to be caught off guard by environmental conditions.
Silversea has not yet released an official statement about the incident.
Sailing the Kimberley
The 16,800-gross-ton Silver Cloud, which features 20 zodiacs used almost daily, is on a 10-day, round-trip voyage from Darwin, Australia.
Known for its polar voyages, the luxury cruise line’s Kimberley Coast expedition cruises visit islands only available by sea. It calls “the Kimberley” a “wild and remote region,” the size of France, and “untouched by humans other than the ancient Indigenous engravings you’ll find on the walls of the caves.”
The vessel visited the Ashmore Islands via zodiacs on June 25, 2025, without incident, and is now stuck in Adele Island.
The delayed voyage will continue to the Buccaneer Archipelago on June 27, Yawajaba-Montgomery Island, Jar Island, and more remote islands along Australia’s Western coast before returning to Darwin on July 2.
It’s no secret that Virgin Voyages, Sir Richard Branson’s adults-only cruise line, has taken the cruise world by storm.
Indeed, the cruise line has grown tremendously since Scarlet Lady officially brought Virgin Voyages to the high seas in August of 2021. Valiant Lady sailed her maiden voyage in March 2022, with Resilient Lady officially launching in May 2023.
Since then, the company has quickly expanded to offer more ports of call and itineraries lasting from a few days to a couple of weeks across its fleet of three Lady Ships.
With Brilliant Lady now poised to join the fleet in September of this year, and the brand experiencing skyrocketing bookings throughout the first half of 2025, I got the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu about the cruise line’s growth and secrets to success as he looks forward to the future.
Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu
The 2,762-guest Brilliant Lady’s arrival is particularly exciting, because for the first time, Virgin Voyages will have a ship that homeports out of Los Angelesfor a portion of the year.
From Los Angeles, she will offer a mix of 6-night “California (and Mexico) Dreamin'” itineraries, 7-night “Hollywood Sunsets & Mexican Horizons” sailings, and 8-night “LA Lights & Vancouver Vistas” voyages.
However, her first LA-based sailing will be a 5-night “MerMaiden” voyage to Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada, Mexico, embarking on April 7, 2026.
She will spend the rest of her time in New York (sailing to Bermuda and Canada), Miami (cruising the Caribbean), and Seattle (voyaging to Alaska).
Homeporting in Los Angeles is possible for the first time because the new addition is the first ship in the fleet that is Panama Canal compliant, and the brand is looking forward to maintaining a deployment on the West Coast for the foreseeable future.
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: UrAvgPhoto)
“I think the product will resonate really well in LA. People in LA love great food, they love entertainment, they love great design. These ships are designed to feel like a boutique hotel on the ocean so I think it will be a great fit with what people are used to in LA.”Saverimuttu told me.
He went on to discuss how the relaxed vibe onboard, with no set dining times or strict dress codes, is a natural fit with the more relaxed nature of the Los Angeles community, too.
“I believe the Brilliant Lady is one of the newest ships to call into LA, which I think is exciting because the LA cruise market is a wonderful market.”
“It’s a great market but it’s a market that typically doesn’t have plus products sailing directly out of LA. So, we’ve decided to give the people a Virgin option but also a brand new ship option as well,” he continued.
Speaking of the experience onboard, Virgin Voyages continually works to enhance the entertainment and dining experience onboard. Saverimuttu had me salivating as he told me about plans to evolve the dining experiences with new and ever-changing menus across the fleet.
Virgin Voyages Party (Photo Credit: AVOXY)
“We actually built our ships purposefully around the food experience, because let’s face it, when we travel nowadays, the first thing we think about is where we’re gonna eat,”Saverimuttu observed.
“We don’t have any big dining halls on our ships. Our biggest restaurants have 200 seats. We don’t have any big buffets onboard our ships. And what this allows us to do is to create dedicated kitchens and dedicate executive chefs to every one of our restaurants,” he added.
This also means that all food is made to order, which helps ensure quality and prevent excess food waste.
With frequent repeat clientele, the cruise line changes up the menu each night in The Galley so that there is always something new to try, while the menus in the other six signature restaurants are fixed.
Brilliant Lady will feature Rojo by Razzle Dazzle as one example, which will be a Spanish-inspired restaurant that will tantalize the taste buds. The menu will feature a Spanish-American twist, with Sailors able to order cuisine a la carte that will be served in a casual and relaxed atmosphere.
Rojo by Razzle Dazzle (Photo Credit: Virgin Voyages)
The 110,000-gross ton ship will also have its own Pink Agave restaurant, which elevates the experience after dark by turning into a salsa club after 10 p.m.
More menu updates fleet-wide will also be coming soon, and there will almost certainly be ongoing evolution for the brand and the experience onboard as a whole, too.
The Secret to Success
Virgin Voyages launched in record time in the wake of an industry-halting pandemic and is holding its own against major players in the cruise world who have been around for decades. So, what is driving their success?
First, Virgin Voyages has identified a niche in the market by offering adults-only cruises at an affordable price. This makes their sailings more accessible to a younger crowd, whereas other adults-only cruise lines tend to veer further into luxury territory with a higher price point.
Passengers on Resilient Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: JTTucker)
“We built the bespoke kid-free experience and it’s the number one reason people book us,” Saverimuttu said.“People are realizing that there hasn’t been a kid free travel option in cruising around this price point.”
Virgin Voyage sailings tend to cost around $250 to $300 per night depending on the itinerary but are mostly all inclusive. Essential drinks (waters, sodas, juices, tea, and drip coffee) and basic Wi-Fi are free once you’re onboard.
There are also no charges for specialty dining like you might find on other brands, though a few “Treat Yourself” items like a tomahawk steak and boss am are available for an extra special experience.
This brings up the next facet to the brand’s success, which is that the leadership keeps Sailor feedback in mind and looks to eliminate the elements (like onboard expenses) that annoy their customers.
“Sometimes we can be a bit more forward thinking and say this is the right thing to do, so it just makes sense for us to do it,” Saverimuttu explained.
“The idea of including still and sparkling water. Again, it’s just the right thing to do,” he gave as an example. “Including Wi-Fi, it’s just the right thing to do.”
Last but not least, Virgin Voyages appreciates the efforts of the crew that work day-in and day-out to give guests the best possible experience onboard.
For example, Virgin Voyages re-branded its special Celebration Voyages– in which Sir Richard Branson and company leadership are onboard for special activations – into Red Hot sailings.
But while the experience has been improved for guests, Saverimuttu said that the crew are also celebrated during these special voyages.
“Really what they are is a way to celebrate our crew, who do such a fantastic job for all our Sailors,” the CEO stated.
“Behind the scenes, we actually take a moment to celebrate all of our crew, make sure they know how much we value them as part of the Virgin family, and acknowledge how hard they work and how special they are to us. For me, any Virgin celebration wouldn’t be a celebration if we weren’t celebrating our crew.”
According to reports from crew members who became influencers, such as Lucy Southerton from Cruising As Crew, Virgin Voyages is known to provide more flexible and desirable conditions for the crew members while they are working onboard.
I asked Saverimuttu what was coming next for the cruise line, and for now, the focus is on perfecting Brilliant Lady and preparing for her launch.
But with a unique niche and a people-forward mindset steering the ship (literally and figuratively), the future will undoubtedly continue to be bright for Virgin Voyages.
From its newest ship, the MS Rotterdam, which first set sail in 2021, to its oldest ship, the MS Volendam, built in the 1990s, Holland America Line is known for its adults-focused, mid-size ships and robust history.
Originally founded as a shipping company and transatlantic passenger service provider in the 1800s, Holland America operates just 11 cruise ships today.
Holland America’s ships are spread out over four classes: the Pinnacle, Signature, Vista, and Rotterdam classes, with the Pinnacle class being the newest and the Rotterdam class being the oldest.
Here are all of the Holland America ships listed by age, newest to oldest, and everything you need to know about them as you plan your next cruise.
MS Rotterdam (2021)
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
While not exactly the newest cruise ship in the world, MS Rotterdam, which launched in 2021, is still relatively new within the industry, and it’s also the largest ship in the entire Holland America fleet. In fact, the Pinnacle-class ships are about 25% larger than the next-largest ships in the fleet.
That said, by modern cruise ship standards, MS Rotterdam is not very large. Weighing in at under 100,000 gross tonnage, this ship is well under half the size of major cruise ships from lines like Royal Caribbean.
While this means that guests will not find dozens of restaurants on the ship, or a massive waterpark, some cruisers do prefer this smaller style of cruise ship. With only a few thousand passengers aboard, you can avoid some of the crowding that comes on big cruise ships, and enjoy an overall more intimate vibe.
The ship is the third ship in the Pinnacle class and the seventh to bear its name. It currently serves as the line’s flagship as well.
Entered Service: 2021
Ship Class: Pinnacle
Gross Tonnage: 99,863
Passenger Capacity: 2,650
MS Nieuw Statendam (2018)
Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock
The MS Nieuw Statendam is the second Pinnacle-class ship, entering service in 2018. Like MS Rotterdam, the ship was named after multiple previous Holland America Line ships that also took this name throughout history.
The preceding Statendam was built in 1993 and operated until 2015, before being given to P&O Cruises Australia.
This ship is very similar to its sister ships, not just in size but also in amenities and offerings. It features the same dining venues as the MS Rotterdam, for example.
Entered Service: 2018
Ship Class: Pinnacle
Gross Tonnage: 99,863
Passenger Capacity: 2,650
MS Koningsdam (2016)
Holland America Koningsdam (Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line)
Debuting in 2016 as the first ship in the then-new Pinnacle class, MS Koningsdam was a landmark achievement for Holland America, as the largest and most modern of its ships to date and the first ship to debut for the line in more than half a decade.
If you’re looking for a more contemporary cruise ship, you’ll definitely want to book a cruise on one of the three Pinnacle-class ships. Not only are they the most luxurious and “new” feeling, but they also offer the most options. For example, MS Koningsdam offers more than a dozen dining options, while older ships like the Volendam come with just eight.
Entered Service: 2016
Ship Class: Pinnacle
Gross Tonnage: 99,863
Passenger Capacity: 2,650
MS Nieuw Amsterdam (2010)
Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock
Built in 2010, MS Nieuw Amsterdam is the fourth and final Signature-class vessel. While 2010 may not seem like all that long ago, this ship is now a teenager and, accordingly, Holland America Line refurbished the ship in 2023.
One cool feature that you’ll find on this ship that you won’t find on any other in the cruise line’s fleet? The Morimoto by Sea restaurant — and not just the pop-up dining event that you’ll find on some other ships, but the full, real deal restaurant made possible via a partnership with celebrity Chef Masahuru Morimoto.
Entered Service: 2010
Ship Class: Signature
Gross Tonnage: 86,273
Passenger Capacity: 2,106
MS Eurodam (2008)
Holland America Eurodam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Holland America Eurodam Cruise Ship)
Also in the Signature class, the MS Eurodam is very similar in size to its sister ship. MS Eurodam and MS Nieuw Amsterdam are actually the only two ships within their class. The Signature class was built based on the prior, older and larger Vista class ships’ designs, but just a little larger.
MS Eurodam was refurbished in 2018.
Entered Service: 2008
Ship Class: Signature
Gross Tonnage: 86,7273
Passenger Capacity: 2,104
MS Noordam (2006)
Holland America Noordam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: twabian)
The newest Vista-class ship, the MS Noordam is smaller than any other ship on this list thus far. It holds just under 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Still, despite its small size, this ship offers up all the basic amenities you’d want in a cruise ship. There are six dining options, five bars and lounges, six entertainment options, a kids club, casino and pickleball facilities.
On that note, did you know that Holland America Line is the official cruise line of the Professional Pickleball Association? As such, you’ll find pickleball offered on all its ships.
MS Noordam was refurbished in 2019.
Entered Service: 2006
Ship Class: Vista
Gross Tonnage: 82,318
Passenger Capacity: 1,972
MS Westerdam (2004)
Westerdam in Alaska (Photo Credit: Effy Jewelry)
Now more than two decades old, MS Westerdam, though in the same Vista class as MS Noordam, is just slightly smaller than its newer sister ship — though not to any degree that the average cruiser would probably recognize it.
For example, MS Westerdam actually has more dining options than MS Noordam, despite the size difference, as well as more bars and lounges.
MS Westerdam has the Tamarind Asian restaurant and Morimoto by Sea pop-up experience, whereas MS Noordam does not, and MS Westerdam has one extra bar: the Gallery Bar.
Entered Service: 2004
Ship Class: Vista
Gross Tonnage: 82,305
Passenger Capacity: 1,916
MS Oosterdam (2003)
Holland America Line Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Atakan Divitlioglu / Shutterstock)
Refurbished in 2018 to the tune of $300 million, MS Oosterdam is very similar to MS Westerdam. The two are identical in gross tonnage and passenger capacity, with double the capacity.
However, MS Oosterdam does not feature the Tamarind Asian restaurant that can be found on MS Westerdam. Additionally, MS Oosterdam features the High Score! family game room that’s not on MS Westerdam. Most other amenities and venues are the same, though.
Entered Service: 2003
Ship Class: Vista
Gross Tonnage: 82,305
Passenger Capacity: 1,916
MS Zuiderdam (2002)
Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam (Photo Credit: NAN728)
The very first Vista-class ship, MS Zuiderdam was refurbished in 2017. At the time of launch, the ship and the overall Vista class received attention for its extensive use of glass throughout.
Expect lots of ocean-view rooms — about 85% of cabins are ocean view or balcony staterooms), as well as its extensive art collections on each ship (a feature you’ll see throughout the broader Holland America fleet.
Entered Service: 2002
Ship Class: Vista
Gross Tonnage: 82,305
Passenger Capacity: 1,916
MS Zaandam (2000)
Holland America Zaandam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird / Shutterstock)
Two year earlier, MS Zaandam entered service as a member of the Rotterdam class, or R-class. Not only is it now one of the two oldest ships in the entire Holland America Line fleet, but it’s also one of the two smallest. This ship fits fewer than 1,500 passengers at double occupancy.
Originally, the Rotterdam class had two other ships, named Rotterdam and Amsterdam, but these ships have since been retired by Holland America Line.
Rotterdam was sold to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in 2020 and now operates as MS Bolette. Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen Cruises in the same 2020 deal and now operates as the Borealis.
Entered Service: 2000
Ship Class: Rotterdam
Gross Tonnage: 61,396
Passenger Capacity: 1,432
MS Volendam (1999)
Holland America Line Volendam (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia)
Lastly, MS Volendam is officially both Holland America Line’s oldest and smallest cruise ship. Though it can hold the same number of passengers as sister ship MS Zaandam, it’s just slightly smaller in terms of gross tonnage. If you’re comparing MS Volendam to the brand-new Rotterdam, the size difference is a near 40%.
The ship offers eight dining options, five bars and lounges, three entertainment options, and amenities such as a casino, kids club, pickleball facilities, pool, shopping, fitness center, and spa.
Entered Service: 1999
Ship Class: Rotterdam
Gross Tonnage: 61,214
Passenger Capacity: 1,432
Does Holland America Have Any New Ships on the Way?
Holland America Line has no new-build vessels on the way, but parent company Carnival Corporation announced on October 6, 2026, that the 83,781-gross-ton Arcadia from P&O Cruises will transfer to the fleet. This Holland America fleet will increase to 12 ships in 2029.
Instead, recent developments from the line, which is owned by Carnival Corporation, have included offering new itineraries to destinations such as the Arctic Circle and Northern Europe, as well as planning 2027 solar eclipse cruises.
There is a little less Disney magic on the horizon for Disney Magic with the cancellation of the ship’s April 19, 2026 sailing. Guests have been notified that a dry dock schedule change is necessary, so the 4-night cruise must be cancelled.
The impacted sailing was to have been a one-way coastal trip from San Diego to Vancouver (no ports of call!) that would bring the ship into position for the 2026 Alaska season.
Booked travelers will automatically receive a full refund of any monies paid – for the cruise fare, gratuities, etc. – back to the original form of payment. In addition, Disney Cruise Line is offering a 20% cruise fare discount for a future cruise to entice guests to rebook on another sailing.
The rebooked cruise does not need to be aboard Disney Magic, and the discount could also be applied to an existing booking if preferred. The discount will expire on June 26, 2027 – a two-year window that is fairly standard with Disney Cruise Line placeholder reservations and similar credits.
Prior to moving to Vancouver, Disney Magic will be homeported from Galveston for Western Caribbean sailings. In mid-March, she was to have entered dry dock before heading to the West Coast refreshed and updated for cruising in Alaska.
At this time, no further changes to Disney Magic‘s scheduled sailings have been noted and the Alaska season should not be affected.
The ship is the oldest in Disney Cruise Line’s growing fleet, having first debuted in July 1998. She has undergone planned dry docks every few years, and continues to delight guests on every cruise.
I myself sailed on Disney Magic in June 2025 and was remarkably impressed with the ship’s spectacular condition.
While I did notice one small ceiling leak in one stairwell – not the same as the recent leaks in the main atrium – it’s astonishing how lovely the cruise line’s oldest vessel is, and she’s sure to be even more magical after her dry dock update.
Why Do Dry Dock Schedules Change?
The reasoning for Disney Magic‘s shipyard schedule change has not been disclosed, but dry dock schedules do occasionally shift for a variety of reasons.
Scheduling conflicts, labor disputes, and supply chain issues are just a few reasons why a shipyard may be unable to maintain a tentative schedule that was set years earlier.
Disney Magic Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)
Nor are these issues confined to Disney Cruise Line. Just two days ago, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty was forced to move between European shipyards to complete dry dock work already in progress.
The ship moved from the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain to the Chantier shipyard in Marseille, France to complete her refreshment. This has caused one cruise cancellation, but should not impact further sailings.
Fortunately for guests booked on the now-cancelled Disney Magic cruise, they have more than a year to rebook on a different sailing in the Disney Cruise Line fleet so they don’t have to miss out on any magical fun.
