Princess Cruises will add Barbados as a seasonal homeport in 2027-28.
The cruises are geared to the UK market and can include an airfare component.
Crown Princess and Emerald Princess will sail 6- to 9-night voyages.
Cruisers hailing from the UK will have more choices for Southern Caribbean voyages in 2027 and 2028, thanks to Princess Cruises’ decision to add Barbados as a homeport for two ships.
Princess Cruises announced on March 3, 2026, that two ships already slated for seasonal service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, also will embark guests in Barbados for 6- to 9-night sailings.
Crown Princess will offer roundtrip Barbados cruises from January through March 2027, while Emerald Princess will feature the option from November 2027 through March 2028. All sailings from Barbados will call at San Juan.
Direct flights from major UK hubs can be booked through Princess Cruises’ Plane Sailing program, or independently by guests. Together, the two ships will sail 30-plus voyages to 15 destinations; most cruises will be 7 nights and can be combined into 14-night vacations.
“This expansion to include Barbados departures adds even greater variety in the highly sought‑after Southern Caribbean and provides greater convenience to our guests travelling from the UK,” said Eithne Williamson, UK, Ireland and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) vice president at Princess Cruises.
“Our Southern Caribbean itineraries include a mix of standout islands and hidden gems, from the lush scenery of St. Lucia to the calm beauty of Tortola, all paired with the exceptional service that Princess is renowned for,” Williamson added.
Here’s What Cruisers Can Expect to Pay
Crown Princess and Emerald Princess, both Crown-class ships that entered service in 2006 and 2007, respectively, each accommodate 3,080 guests and 1,200 crew members. The sister ships, both at 113,561 gross tons, offer different port calls on most cruises.
Crown Princess’ sailing on January 15, 2027, for instance, calls at San Juan, St. Maarten, Martinique, Grenada, and St. Lucia. Emerald Princess’ departure on November 26, 2027, will visit San Juan, Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, and Grenada.
A sample cruise fare, without airfare, on Crown Princess is £699 ($933 USD) per person for an inside cabin on a 7-night voyage. Holiday week voyages are higher.
For example, a 7-night Christmas and New Year cruise aboard Emerald Princess begins at £759 ($1,013 USD) per person for an inside cabin. The voyages opened for bookings on March 5, 2026.
Multiple Flight Options Offered to Barbados From Britain
Barbados is growing in popularity as a seasonal homeport for UK and European cruise lines. For UK residents headed to the Caribbean, direct flights to Barbados are offered from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham airports.
While Princess Cruises does not offer fly-cruise packages from the UK, guests can book their airfare through its Plane Sailing plan (called EZair outside the UK). One major advantage to doing so is the plan’s late-arrival protection.
It provides 24/7 assistance in the event of flight cancellations or delays. The protection policy covers flight changes to the destination or the next available port of call.
P&O Cruises, a Carnival Corporation brand that caters to the UK market, operates fly-cruise packages from major UK cities to Barbados in partnership with three airlines. In fall and winter 2026-27, the line will base the 3,647-guest Britannia and 5,200-guest Arvia on the island, offering embarkation there and in Antigua.
MSC Cruises also embraces Barbados as a sought-after destination and offers fly-cruise packages from Europe. The 2,658-guest MSC Opera and the 5,079-guest MSC Seaviewwill embark guests at the destination in winter 2026-27.
Royal Caribbean has notified some guests that they would temporarily lose access to their booking due to a stateroom occupancy error.
Guests booked on Independence of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Anthem of the Seas have all received similar updates.
Confused passengers can rest assured that their accommodations will not change, and Royal Caribbean is just updating its system.
Many guests strategically select their cruise cabins based on their specific needs and desires. Therefore, getting an email stating that something may be wrong with your reserved cabin can be alarming.
One future guest of Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas received a letter informing them that their stateroom occupancy was incorrect and would be fixed by the cruise line, leading to concern.
While changes are being made, they would also lose access to their booking on Royal Caribbean’s app and website.
“After an accommodations review, we’ve found that the occupancy for your stateroom is showing incorrectly,”the letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive, briefly explained.
The guest took to Reddit to ask if anyone else had received a similar notice and to inquire about what it might mean. Many worried that their stateroom assignment or category would change to something they didn’t want.
Multiple Sailings Impacted
The Redditor received the letter for Independence of the Seas’ November 8, 2026, sailing, which is a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise. The 3,858-guest ship will visit Falmouth, Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, during this voyage.
Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
However, this future guest was not the only one to receive a notification like this. Guests booked to sail on Allure of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas said that they had gotten similar messages, although they didn’t share specific dates.
One future passenger even said they had received the same notice for another one of Independence of the Seas’ Caribbean sailings in December 2026.
No Cause for Concern
Despite plenty of confusion and worry, guests can rest assured that their selected cabins are not actually changing.
Some guests were worried that this was a similar situation to more significant changes recently issued by the upcoming Legend of the Seas, in which guests were assigned to new staterooms due to a categorization issue.
Guests were upset because they were switched to rooms they felt were less preferable and/or separated from their travel party, which is not the case here. This was simply just a complicated way for Royal Caribbean to say that it needed to make some internal updates.
“Rest assured, no changes are being made to your stateroom location, and all your amenities will remain the same,” Royal Caribbean confirmed in the letter.
As the updates are being made, guests may lose access to their reservations for one week, but this does not mean that their booking has been changed or cancelled.
“While we conduct this update in our system, your booking will be unavailable to access on the app and website for about one (1) week from today,” Royal Caribbean advised.
Passengers will be notified once the update is complete, and everything should be set and ready long before embarkation day.
Carnival Ambassador John Heald reminded guests that they are not allowed to move their beds to their balconies.
Doing so creates safety hazards and can damage furniture and bedding.
As an alternative, guests are allowed to sleep with their balcony doors open for fresh air and ocean ambiance.
Just because you saw something on the internet doesn’t mean that you should try it at home – or on your next Carnival cruise.
A TikTok of a cruise guest dragging their bedding onto their cabin’s private balcony is making the rounds on social media. While the passenger was not sailing with Carnival, the cruise line is still nipping this trend in the bud before it can take hold.
“Can I once again cover the absolutely bonkers act of moving, dragging your mattress onto the balcony,” Heald began a Facebook post on March 3, 2026.
“I see that someone has done this again and it’s all over TiT Tock.. It was NOT on one of our ships and I hope that nobody ever tries to do this when they cruise with us,” Head said.
This action is definitely not allowed, and Heald joked that any guests caught moving their bedding to their balcony would be forced to “work the rest of the cruise as a state room assistant making beds and cleaning cabins.”
More realistically, guests would receive a warning or consequences in line with violating Carnival’s Code of Conduct, which can include a fine of up to $500 for bad behavior.
While relocating your bed or bedding may seem cute or aesthetic for your social media reel, it actually poses significant safety concerns, such as blocking exit routes, creating a fall hazard, and violating hygiene standards.
It also inevitably leads to more work for crew members when guests fail to put their room back how they found it. Bedding or furniture that is put outside when it is not meant to be may also need a deeper clean or to be replaced entirely.
How Common is This Trend?
Heald did not specify which specific TikTok he was referencing, but there are plenty of viral videos out there of guests relocating their beds and bedding.
The guest received a lot of criticism from the cruise community because the stunt was a life threatening risk given the below freezing temperatures.
Passenger With Bed on Balcony (Credit: @cartelmarcel)
More recently, Cruise Hive reported on a passenger who moved their entire bed onto the balcony of a Royal Caribbean ship in 2025. Unlike the Antarctica-bound guest, this woman moved her entire mattress and base onto her balcony.
Carnival guests haven’t been caught in the act of relocating their bedroom in the recent past, but one guest did get caught trying to sneak lounge chairs from the Lido deck to their stateroom in October of 2025.
Heald Offers Permitted Alternative
If guests want to fall asleep amidst the fresh air and ocean sounds, they are allowed to snooze with their balcony door open. They just can’t move their beds onto their balconies.
“If you want to sleep in the night air then you can sleep with your balcony door open, that is absolutely fine to do,” Heald confirmed.
However, the trade-off is that sleeping with the cabin door open will shut off the air conditioning in that stateroom – though guests wouldn’t have air conditioning anyway if they were choosing to sleep outside.
It’s also important to be aware that you might wake up in the morning side-by-side with another ship or visible from land.
Carnival guests have complained in the past about being caught in various states of undress because they didn’t think about how they may be visible to others when their ship docked at a port the next morning.
Alternatively, consider booking an interior cabin where the temptation to relocate your bedding won’t exist and there is no chance of accidental indecent exposures.
Royal Caribbean has modified multiple 6-night Western Caribbean itineraries for the upcoming Legend of the Seas.
Instead of calling at Falmouth, Jamaica, the newest Icon-class vessel will visit Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico.
The November 22 and December 6 voyages have definitely been changed.
Royal Caribbean has been making final tweaks ahead of Legend of the Seas’ debut in July 2026, which means altering some itineraries.
During its inaugural season in the Caribbean, the next Icon-class ship will be operating 6-night Western Caribbean sailings that were supposed to call at Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Bahamas, and Falmouth in Jamaica. However, Falmouth, Jamaica, has been removed from several of these itineraries and replaced with Cozumel, Mexico.
“As we plan our upcoming adventure together, we have an update to our itinerary,”Royal Caribbean notified booked passengers.
“To make your time with us as enjoyable as possible, we’ll now be visiting Cozumel, Mexico, instead of Falmouth, Jamaica. We’ll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM,” the update continued.
Legend of the Seas will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 7, 2026, and will embark on the first of these 6-night sailings on November 22, 2026.
So far, Cruise Hive has been able to confirm that the November 22 and December 6 voyages have been impacted, but more itinerary changes may also be coming.
This itinerary will be offered routinely until April of 2027, which is when the 5,610-guest ship will reposition to Europe to spend the summer and fall in the Mediterranean.
At this time, there are also no known changes to the 8-night Southern Caribbean sailings that the 250,800-gross ton ship will operate in between the 6-night voyages.
Costa Maya Added to the Itinerary
Originally, the soon-to-debut ship was only supposed to visit CocoCay and Falmouth, Jamaica, with the latter being followed by multiple sea days. But under the revised itinerary, the day after Cozumel, Mexico, will now be spent in Costa Maya, Mexico.
“Additionally, the next day, instead of a Sea Day we’ll enjoy a full day in Costa Maya, Mexico from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM,”Royal Caribbean confirmed.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas
The cruise line did not provide a reason behind the port swaps – or the newly added destination – but it is worth acknowledging that Royal Caribbean became the official owner of the Port of Mahahual (Costa Maya) in July of 2025.
Costa Maya will also be home to the future 200+ acre Perfect Day Mexico, which is expected to open in late 2027.
Especially as Perfect Day construction has been delayed due to hiccups related to environmental concerns and a potential negative impact on local businesses, some have theorized that Royal Caribbean is trying to bring more revenue to the destination to help its cause.
Cruise Guests Welcome the Change
While port swaps and cancellations are usually met with disappointment, many cruisers are actually happy about this change of plans.
On social media, future guests felt that Cozumel and Costa Maya were more desirable destinations than Falmouth and didn’t mind dropping a sea day.
“Another island instead of a sea day – sounds like a win to me,”one guest reacted on Reddit.
“I have always heard of Falmouth, Jamaica, as being the worst port in the Caribbean, so this seems like a win,” another chimed in.
Admittedly, Falmouth, Jamaica, is also still undergoing long-term repairs and infrastructure enhancements following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in late 2025. However, the cruise port is open and operating normally.
If guests are deeply upset by this change, they still have time to cancel their sailing. Royal Caribbean’s 5-14 night sailings can be cancelled with no charge (aside from non-refundable deposits) up to 90 days ahead of embarkation.
Additionally, guests have the option to switch to a different Royal Caribbean sailing as long as they do so at least 90 days before their scheduled departure. However, a change fee (usually $100 per person) may be required.
Royal Caribbean has committed to a multi-year program to protect southern Quintana Roo from sargassum.
Sargassum seaweed blooms can have a devastating impact on the local environment as well as tourism.
The program will clean up far beyond just Perfect Day Mexico and can have a great impact on local communities.
A perfect beach day isn’t so perfect when the sand and water are clogged with sargassum, a type of brown algae that can bloom out of control and result in fish kills, noxious smells, and fouled water. Tangles of sargassum can ensnare sea turtles and other marine life, damage boat propellers, and cause other problems along coastlines and for coastal communities.
Royal Caribbean has now pledged to a multi-year sargassum protection and removal plan along the coast of Mahahual, Quintana Roo, the location of their upcoming private destination, Perfect Day Mexico.
The program is being established with local residents, businesses, environmentalists, and the Mexican Navy to follow sustainable mitigation strategies to control and clean up sargassum.
“Clean and thriving shorelines are essential to the people of Mahahual,”said Ari Adler, President of Royal Caribbean Mexico.
“The community told us protecting this coastline is a top priority, and we’re acting on that commitment—deploying new equipment, strengthening barriers, and working hand-in-hand with local partners and the state of Quintana Roo to keep these beaches clean.”
Naturally, this will make the destination all the more attractive to cruise travelers as well. Beach days, snorkeling, and other watersports are top activities for many cruisers visiting Mexico.
Sargassum in Play del Carmen, Mexico (Photo Credit: H Sauchuk)
Furthermore, a clean and healthy beach and coastline ecosystem is essential to the local community for fishing tours, beachside retailers, snorkel guides, and more, as well as local quality of life.
“The protection of coastal ecosystems is a priority for the State Government. We appreciate any collaborative efforts that benefit our territory and its population,”said Óscar Rébora, Secretary of Ecology and Environment of Quintana Roo.
While the exact details of the sargassum management plan are still being refined, it will include a number of different short- and long-term strategies such as:
New anchors for nets to control seaweed spread
Seaweed skimming equipment to prevent blooms from reaching shore
Beach cleanup events to keep top beaches clear
A long-term mitigation effort will focus on an automated collection process that should collect the seaweed with a low-noise, low-impact system that minimizes any disturbances to sand, coral, and marine life. The sargassum could then be composted, turning it into a more valuable resource.
These various efforts will be put into place not only near Perfect Day Mexico, but all along the southern coast of Quintana Roo. The Mexican state stretches from the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula south to Belize.
Mahahual is located in the southern part of the state, approximately 120 miles south of the popular island of Cozumel.
Environmental Measures Not New
This is not the first time Royal Caribbean has engaged in significant environmental efforts. Parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s SEA the Future initiative focuses on sustainability in cruise vacations, with connections to local communities and promoting innovation and unique solutions.
Multiple design initiatives onboard Royal Caribbean Group vessels include more efficient energy usage, innovative hull design and special paint that improves efficiency, extensive recycling operations, connections to shore power where available, and more.
Cruise Hive has previously reported on some less-than-enthusiastic local responses to Perfect Day Mexico, including an extensive petition urging greater caution and environmental awareness of the project. In January 2026, a local judge suspended work on the development pending further environmental assessments of its potential impact.
Hopefully, this new commitment to ensuring clean beaches and coastal waters not just near Perfect Day Mexico but throughout the local region will help ease some reservations about the project and it will be able to continue on schedule.
MSC Cruises is working with Emirates, Etihad Airways, and other regional airlines to secure return flights for guests after cancelling its remaining Dubai sailings.
Airlines have told the cruise line that passengers will be prioritized based on their original flight departure dates as limited seats become available.
The cruise line is exploring charter flights to help stranded cruise passengers return home.
Passengers whose cruise vacations were disrupted by escalating tensions in the Middle East are now waiting for flights home as MSC Cruises works with airlines and governments to organize their return.
The cruise line said it is coordinating with major regional carriers, including Emirates and Etihad Airways, to secure seats for guests whose sailings were cancelled after the company suspended remaining cruises from Dubai.
“MSC Cruises is working continuously with airline partners in the region, particularly Emirates and Etihad Airways, to identify and secure return flights for our guests,” MSC Cruises said in a statement.
The cruise line is asking airline partners to prioritize cruise passengers, but flights are currently being assigned based on travelers’ original departure dates.
“We are requesting priority for our guests from our partners. At present, airlines operating flights have indicated that they will follow an order of priority based on the original flight date,” the company said.
Because of limited airline capacity, MSC Cruises is also exploring charter flights from several airports in the region to speed up the process. It says it is currently reviewing options from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Muscat in order to get stranded passengers home.
The cruise line added that it is also coordinating with diplomatic officials to assist travelers, including local authorities, embassies and foreign offices.
MSC Euribia in the Middle East (Photo Credit: Creativity lover)
In the meantime, MSC Cruises said passengers currently onboard remain safe and are being kept informed while plans are finalized.
“The situation on board remains calm. We are providing guests with regular updates on the situation,” it said. “They have full access to all onboard services and facilities, and we continue to provide a high standard of care, comfort, and support.”
The cruise line had been operating sailings in the region aboard MSC Euribia, a 183,500-gross-ton Meraviglia-Plus-class ship capable of carrying 6,327 passengers.
The vessel was based in Dubai for 7-night Arabian Gulf cruises that typically included stops in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar, and Sir Bani Yas Island in the Arabian Gulf.
MSC Euribia arrived in Dubai on February 27, 2026, after completing a 7-night sailing, but was instructed to remain in port rather than departing on February 28 for its next call in Doha, which had been scheduled for March 1. Local authorities had already closed the port, forcing the ship to suspend its itinerary.
Soon afterward, the cruise line began cancelling departures one by one, as reported first by Cruise Hive. MSC Cruises then cancelled the remainder of the winter program entirely.
That decision eliminated three additional 7-night sailings scheduled to depart March 14, March 21, and March 28, 2026, including all shorter segments that would have allowed passengers to embark in Doha or Abu Dhabi.
Guests booked on those sailings are being offered full refunds for the cruise fare, while passengers currently in the region must wait for flights or other transportation home.
MSC Cruises is not the only cruise operator affected. Other ships from multiple cruise lines have also been forced to remain in ports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, with thousands of passengers unable to continue their itineraries while regional airspace closures complicate travel arrangements.
For now, MSC Cruises says its priority is helping guests return home safely while monitoring the evolving situation in the region.
Celestyal Cruises has cancelled the remainder of the Arabian season for Celestyal Journey.
Four departures are impacted and booked guests can choose full refunds or future cruise credits.
Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery must both make their way to Athens to begin their Mediterranean seasons soon.
Not unexpectedly, another cruise line has now cancelled the remainder of its scheduled season sailing Middle East cruises. The announcement comes from the luxury boutique line Celestyal Cruises concerning Celestyal Journey.
“Considering the current geopolitical situation in the region, we have taken the decision to cancel the following scheduled departures on Celestyal Journey,”the cruise line announced on Facebook.
The cancellation impacts the ship’s March 7 and 14 departures from Doha, Qatar, as well as the March 9 and 16 departures from Dubai, UAE.
The now-cancelled voyages were to have been 7-night “Desert Days” sailings visiting not only Doha and Dubai, but also Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain.
The four cancelled departures are the only remaining sailings for the ship’s 2025-2026 Arabian season, which began in November. The safety of guests and crew is always the cruise line’s focus and this adjustment is necessary to safeguard everyone’s wellbeing.
Celestyal Journey Ship in Greece (Photo Credit: Michelangelo DeSantis)
Guests booked on the now-cancelled Celestyal Cruises sailings will have the option to receive a full refund or a future cruise credit that could be used on an alternate sailing.
The 55,800-gross-ton Celestyal Journey was formerly Ryndam with Holland America Line. The ship was sold in 2015 and passed through several smaller cruise lines before joining Celestyal Cruises in 2023. After an extensive $21 million (USD) renovation, the ship launched with luxury service in smaller, more exclusive markets.
Celestyal Journey can welcome 1,258 guests aboard and is staffed with roughly 600 international crew members.
Where Will Celestyal Journey Go?
Celestyal Journey currently spends winters in the Middle East offering intimate Arabian voyages, while she spends summers in the Mediterranean with Adriatic and Greek Island itineraries. With the cancellation of her remaining Middle East voyages this year, the ship will move on to the Mediterranean.
“Subject to operational conditions, Celestyal Journey and sister ship Celestyal Discovery will reposition to Athens to begin their scheduled programme in the Mediterranean,”the cruise line confirmed.
Celestyal Journey is scheduled for her first Greek cruise of the year with her April 4 departure from Athens. That 7-night “Heavenly Adriatic” voyage will visit different ports in Greece as well as Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Bari, Italy.
Meanwhile, Celestyal Discovery is currently in Abu Dhabi. Her last Middle East voyage of the season was to have departed on March 2, but the ship has remained docked and is currently unable to debark guests, considering the unpredictable situation in the region.
As yet, no announcement has been released about how any guests remaining onboard Celesytal Discovery will travel on to their post-cruise destination. The ship is scheduled to begin her Mediterranean season from Athens on March 20.
Both ships will need to pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz to exit the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf) in order to make their way to Athens. If the situation proves too dangerous, it is possible the vessels may be delayed.
Hopefully, tensions in the region will subside soon and both Celestyal Cruises ships will be able to begin their Mediterranean seasons on time and resume their seasonal Middle East deployments later this year.
Disney Cruise Line christened its newest ship, Disney Adventure, in Singapore on March 4, 2026.
American actor and star of Disney movies, Robert Downey Jr., served as godfather.
The ship will sail cruises to nowhere from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
Disney Cruise Line’s newest and largest ship, Disney Adventure, was christened in Singapore during an entertainment extravaganza that featured American actor and Disney Legend, Robert Downey Jr., as godfather.
The March 4, 2026, ceremony brought Disney’s characters, music, movies, and stories to life inside the ship’s Walt Disney Theatre. Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse made appearances, along with other celebrities, as recording artist Dami Im and Filipino singer Jed Madela performed classic Disney, Marvel, and Pixar favorites.
Downey, who was named the ship’s godfather on February 23, 2026, is an iconic Marvel character himself. He played Iron Man in Disney’s three movies of the same name, plus the Avengers films, “Captain America: Civil War,” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
He was named a Disney Legend in 2019. Taking to the stage during the gala event, Downey congratulated the efforts of the cruise ship’s designers.
Disney Adventure Discovery Reef
“I’ve had the privilege of getting to know the team at Walt Disney Imagineering, and I can tell you Adventure is the perfect name for what they’ve created,” said Robert Downey Jr., godfather of Disney Adventure.
“Being the Godparent of this majestic vessel is an honor, and I have some serious duties to perform, so let’s make it official, shall we?” added Downey.
The 6,000-guest Disney Adventure is the cruise line’s first to be homeported in Asia and the first to target a specific international market. In an agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board, the ship will be based in the destination for at least the next five years.
The 208,000-gross-ton and 1,122-foot-long Disney Adventurearrived in Singapore on March 3, 2026, and was welcomed with a water cannon salute and a fireworks display.
Disney Adventure Arrives in Singapore (Photo Credit: Steven Diaz)
Operating from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Disney Adventure will sail 3- and 4-night cruises to nowhere, enabling guests to become immersed in the ship’s many delights.
Several of Disney’s top executives were on hand to mark the christening:
“As our first ship to homeport in Asia, the Disney Adventure represents a new chapter for Disney Cruise Line and will introduce Disney to audiences who may be experiencing our magic for the very first time,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences and incoming Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company.
As the naming ceremony’s festivities came to a close, attendees were treated to a shower of confetti as Disney characters sang “Let’s Set Sail,” the cruise line’s signature sailaway song.
Disney Adventure’s maiden voyage is scheduled for March 10, 2026. She is the line’s eighth ship in the fleet.
A Challenging Past Meets a Bright Future
Disney Adventure began life as Global Dream, owned by Genting Cruise Lines. That company went bankrupt in 2022, leaving the vessel partially constructed. Disney Cruise Line bought the vessel later that year and finished its construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The ship was refitted to meet the Disney line’s specifications and renamed. The ship is the line’s only vessel in its Global class.
Construction of the ship had its challenges. Disney Adventure was originally slated to enter service on December 15, 2025, but was postponed by three months, causing several voyages to be cancelled. Booked guests were refunded and offered reservation transfers to the new launch date.
Onboard the new ship, guests will move between Disney Adventure’s seven themed zones — Disney Imagination Garden, Disney Discovery Reef, Toy Story Place, Marvel Landing, Wayfinder Bay, San Fransokyo Street, and Town Square.
Along with the cruise line’s first roller coaster at sea and other thrill rides, the ship will feature superhero-themed activities. The Marvel Style Studio, for instance, is a high-end salon where kids and adults can be transformed into their favorite superhero, such as Iron Man, Spider-Man, or Captain America.
A total of six cruise ships remain stuck in the Middle East, which has turned into a war zone following the joint US and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, 2026. The situation has only escalated, with Iran retaliating violently.
Vessels cannot sail to safer waters without entering the Strait of Hormuz, which is dangerously close to Iran and is currently closed to shipping.
Current guests also remain stuck onboard as attacks on airports and airspace closures make flying home impossible, through the impacted cruise lines are working to secure safe transport to get them home.
These are the latest updates for the impacted cruise ships as of March 3, 2026, and Cruise Hive will continue to share more information as it becomes available.
MSC Cruises
MSC Euribia remains hunkered down in Dubai, where it was originally only scheduled to visit from February 27 to 28.
While the cruise line initially took a wait-and-see approach to the conflict, it has now cancelled all remaining sailings from Dubai.
This includes the 7-night sailings scheduled to embark on March 7, March 14, March 21, and March 28, as well as shorter segments from Doha and Abu Dhabi that would have been operated within those voyages.
The cancelled itineraries would have visited Kalifa Bin Salman, Bahrain; Sir Bani Yas Island, a private island destination in the UAE; as well as Doha and Abu Dhabi.
“Following the sudden security events that began this Saturday in the Middle East, we must cancel your upcoming cruise,”the cruise line said in a letter to booked guests, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.“Your safety and wellbeing are always our highest priority.”
At this time, it’s unclear when the 6,327-guest ship will be able to safely leave Dubai or when and how the passengers that remain onboard will be helped home.
The 183,500-gross ton ship is expected to resume normal operations with her upcoming Europe season, which begins on May 2 in Kiel, Germany.
TUI Cruises
This cruise line has not one, but two ships that have been impacted by the attacks on Iran.
When the conflict escalated, Mein Schiff 4 was in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Mein Schiff 5 was in Doha, Qatar, which is where they remain. Both ships should have been operating multiple Middle Eastern itineraries simultaneously.
As of March 3, 2026, the cruise line has issued more cancellations and an update on how passengers will go home.
Given the escalating situation, TUI has now cancelled the March 3, March 8, and March 9 sailings for Mein Schiff 4, which had preciously scrapped its March 1 and March 2 departures.
Similarly, Mein Schiff 5 has now cancelled its March 5 sailing, which is in addition to the cancellation of its February 28 departure.
It also doesn’t help that current guests still need a way to be safely disembarked before crew members can even think about welcoming new passengers onboard.
The need to disembark current guests is being felt with increased urgency following a scare in Abu Dhabi on March 1, when a missile crashed in Port Zayed near the 2,506-guest ship.
To the relief of all involved, TUI has begun arranging flights home for the thousands of impacted passengers, which will be a slow process given very limited flight availability.
As a first step, some passengers from Mein Schiff 4 are being transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, where the Dubai International Airport has resumed operations at an extremely limited capacity.
A family hotline has also been established for loved ones on land to inquire about their relatives and to receive real-time updates.
Celestyal Cruises
Similar to MSC Cruises, Celestyal Cruises is taking a wait-and-see approach for its ships based in the Persian Gulf.
The cruise line has decided that Celestyal Journey will stay put in Doha and Celestyal Discovery will hunker down in Dubai for at least 24 hours while the powers that be figure out the safest next steps.
“We are closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East in coordination with the relevant authorities…Both ships will remain in port for 24 hours while the situation is assessed,” Celestyal Cruises stated.
Guests with upcoming embarkations have also been told to look out for communication regarding potential delays and cancellations.
The 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey had embarkations for 7-night sailings scheduled for February 28 and March 2, which are not possible.
Celestyal Discovery, which has a capacity of 1,360 passengers, was supposed to begin a 7-night sailing in Dubai on February 28 and a 4-night sailing from Abu Dhabi on March 2. These sailings have, understandably, been cancelled.
As of March 1, the initial 24 hours in port has expanded to a full week, at least for Celestyal Journey. However, guests may choose to disembark sooner if they feel they can do so safely.
“Celestyal Journey will remain alongside in Doha until March 7. Subject to operating conditions, we then plan to resume our scheduled Desert Days itinerary,” Celestyal Cruises shared on social media.
“Guests currently onboard may choose to remain on Journey until March 7 or disembark in Doha in the interim.”
A timeline has not yet been determined for Celestyal Discovery, and guests are still not permitted to disembark.
“Celestyal Discovery is currently alongside in Dubai. At present, in line with instructions from local authorities, we are unable to disembark guests,”the cruise line added.
Assistance will be provided to all impacted guests, and cruisers on cancelled sailings will receive full refunds or a future cruise credit to reschedule.
Aroya Cruises
Aroya Cruises is a smaller, Arabian cruise brand that currently operates one vessel, Aroya Manara, out of Abu Dhabi, Doha Qatar, and Dubai.
While the cruise line has not issued any official itinerary changes or cancellations just yet, guests have been warned that updates may be coming very soon.
AROYA Cruises
“The safety of our guests is our absolute priority…We will keep you informed of any further updates or changes,”the cruise line said in a social media post.
As of the time of publication, cruise tracking data shows the 3,362-guest ship hunkered down in Dubai with MSC Euribia and Celestyal Discovery.
Saga Cruises
The small-ship cruise line does not currently have any vessels stuck in the Middle East, but still issued its own pledge to safety to reassure guests.
The boutique brand does occasionally operate cruises and tours that include Jordan, which is still too close to the conflict for comfort and will be skipped.
“Further to the disruption in the Middle East, we would like to reassure you that the safety and wellbeing of our customers if of paramount importance,”Saga Cruises said in a March 3 update.
“All our holidays are operating as normal with the exception of Jordan, which has been changed to all but essential travel as per revised FCDO Foreign Office advice,” the update noted.
Guests who were supposed to visit Jordan will be contacted to discuss their travel arrangements, starting with the soonest departure date and working down the list.
More Updates to Come
The situation in the Middle East is still very tense and uncertain, and more changes and cancellations are likely to come for cruise ships deployed to this region.
Guests who are currently onboard impacted ships or are planning to embark soon should follow the instructions of the relevant authorities and look out for updates from their cruise line.
Cruise Hive will continue to keep our readers informed as more information becomes known, and we are wishing everyone who has been impacted by safety in their travels.
