Any parent knows that childcare is important to think about when cruising with children, especially if the onboard kids’ club may run out of space.
In P&O Cruises’ own words on their website, “pre-registration is essential” for kids under 12 who would like to visit The Reef kids’ club. However, pre-securing spots will now come with an extra charge for the biggest ship in the fleet.
An email was sent to future guests of Iona informing them that slots could be booked individually at a cost of £4.95 (or $6.74 USD) for the daytime sessions and £8.95 (or $12.19 USD) for evening sessions.
While this might not sound like a lot, the costs can quickly add up for families with multiple children who intend to visit the kids’ club several times.
“We’re pleased to let you know that you can now book The Reef children’s club on My P&O Cruises for a small fee before your holiday. This new service is being introduced first on Iona holidays, including yours,”the cruise line wrote.
Guests can still reserve spaces for free once they are onboard the 5,200-guest ship, but availability is not guaranteed and will function on a first come, first served basis.
The cruise line wrote:“Booking ahead gives you peace of mind that youngsters have their spot in the club. And it means you’ve reserved some time exclusively for you – perhaps for peaceful spa treatments or romantic meals?”
“With the convenience of booking ahead, you’re free to shape your holiday moments however you like,”the letter continued.
It’s unclear when or if the pre-booking charges will roll out to the other family friendly ships in the fleet, which include Arvia, Britannia, Ventura, and Azura. Aurora and Arcadia are adults-only cruise ships, so the new policy does not apply to them.
It’s also important to note that the change only applies to The Reef, which is meant for kids under 12.
The H20 Children’s Club and The Scene, which are meant for teens 13 to 17, still do not require advance reservations.
New Fees Met With Backlash
Some parents don’t mind paying a little extra for peace of mind as they plan their onboard activities. Others, however, are not be happy about having to shell out some extra cash.
One cruiser shared:“Just another cash grab and even less availability once you are on board. I booked a cruise with included kids clubs, not included ‘handful of spaces you won’t get clubs.'”
“Really disappointed in this, it cuts the free available spaces in half or maybe even more! So for those of us who don’t want to or can’t pay more, we are potentially loosing out on a kids club space, which when we booked was part of the fare,” another agreed.
This also isn’t the first time the cruise line has introduced fees for The Reef. In May of 2024, P&O Cruises implemented a cancellation fee for the Reef for reservations that were cancelled within 24 hours of the booked play session and higher fees for no-shows.
Scubas, as part of The Reef on P&O Cruises
“A cancellation charge of £5 [$6.36 USD] will be applied to your on board account for a session cancelled less than 24 hours before the session start time and a charge of £10 [$12.73 USD] for a session which is not attended,”the cruise line announced at the time.
While some parents appreciated the firm stance, others were frustrated by the lack of flexibility. It’s true that kids can be unpredictable, especially when their routine is changed by traveling, and may throw tantrums or be too tired to play.
As the news has spread of the reservation fees, some have also pointed out that other family friendly cruise lines take a more relaxed stance to their clubs.
For example, Disney Cruise Line only requires reservations and a small fee for using the “It’s a Small World” nursery because this venue offers specialized care for toddlers between 6 months and 3 years old.
Royal Caribbean only charges hourly fees for the nursery and late-night babysitting after 10 p.m. – but the clubs onboard for kids aged 3 and older are free of charge and don’t require reservations.
Carnival Cruise Line currently operates similarly, but as P&O Cruises is owned by the Carnival parent brand, some are wondering if the fees might eventually pop up on Carnival ships.
It’s been over a decade since Carnival Triumph set sail on the infamous “poop cruise” in 2013, but a new documentary on Netflix has put the “crappy” event back in the public eye.
The eight episode documentary anthology, called “Trainweck,” releases a new episode every Tuesday about crazy events that have caused media frenzies in the past.
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, “The Poop Cruise” episode dropped– reminding the cruise community of an event both Carnival’s PR team and the guests onboard would probably like to forget.
If you weren’t aware of the event, the “poop cruise” refers to a 4-night sailing to Cozumel, Mexico, in which an engine fire caused a ship-wide power outage.
Over 4,000 people were stranded at sea in the warm Gulf of Mexico for several days without working toilets, which is how the notorious voyage got its name.
But as consumers flock to Netflix to watch the 55-minute documentary about the incident, Carnival wants to make sure their voice is heard, too.
With this in mind, Carnival issued a statement to explain how the cruise line has learned from the disaster and has taken measures to make sure it never happens again.
“The Carnival Triumph incident over 12 years ago was a teachable moment for the entire cruise industry,”the statement began, which Brand Ambassador John Heald read in a video on his Facebook page.
“A thorough investigation following the incident revealed a design vulnerability which was corrected and led Carnival Cruise Line to invest more than $500 million across our entire fleet in comprehensive fire prevention and suppression, improved redundancy, and enhanced management systems, all in support of our commitment to robust safety standards,”the statement continued.
Carnival then went on to express their pride at the fact that over 53 million guests have sailed on their ships and “enjoyed safe and memorable vacations” since 2013.
Today, Carnival Triumph is still cruising, but under a new name. In 2019, she was renamed Carnival Sunrise after undergoing a massive $200 million refurbishment.
Directly after the incident in February of 2013, the ship remained out of service for approximately four months. During this time, the cruise line spent over $100 million to make her seaworthy again.
Should You Watch The Documentary?
The “Poop Cruise” documentary is likely to be viewed by millions of people and I will admit that I was among the first wave of watchers.
If you are debating if you should watch the documentary, let me just say that it had me laughing, crying, and cringing over the course of the hour. However, it is also not for the faint of heart.
At the end of the day, the passengers and crew members who lived this nightmare went through something that was extremely challenging, and often disgusting, with overflowing toilets, flooding sewage, and no air conditioning.
Carnival Triumph During “Poop Cruise” (Photo Credit: Netflix)
There is some use of foul language, and for lack of better terms, gross visuals that may not be suitable for all viewers. That said, I still found it really interesting to see the events unfold through the people who lived it.
I was particularly intrigued by how resourceful the guests were throughout the situation, such as by pouring sodaon their life jacketsto activate the flashing light when they needed to go inside while the power was out.
I also liked that the documentary delivers a balanced approach, featuring interviews from multiple cruise guests, the cruise director at the time (Jen Baxter), other crew members, lawyers, members of the media, and Carnival’s PR team.
One key theme that surprised me as I watched was how the 1,090 crew members onboard were really the unsung heroes during the situation, which is not something I saw come through much in the media coverage at the time.
Throughout the documentary, I could see how the crew members were trying to keep guests at ease and make them as comfortable as possible despite their own worries and discomfort.
And when the ship finally made it to Mobile, Alabama, after being stranded for around four days, the guests were still thanking the crew members for going above and beyond their line of duty.
Spending time in port is a great part of any cruise vacation, but it can be tough to thoroughly enjoy a new destination’s culture and vibrancy in just a few short hours.
Guests aboard the upcoming June 28, 2025 departure of Carnival Vista, however, will have longer than expected to explore Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. Carnival Cruise Line has notified travelers that their expected time in port is now being extended.
“We have made an adjustment to your itinerary to facilitate scheduled maintenance which can only be performed while the ship is in port,”the email read.“Consequently, we’ve extended our time in Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and will now be visiting from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.”
The ship’s original time in port was to have been three hours shorter, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The date of the visit – Thursday, July 3 – is not impacted.
Furthermore, the ship’s next port visit – Grand Turk from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 4 – is also unaffected.
The sailing is an 8-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, roundtrip from Port Canaveral. Prior to visiting Amber Cove, the ship is also scheduled to visit St. Thomas and San Juan.
The extra time may be welcome to many guests, as it can give them the opportunity to enjoy a later shore tour or take time to spend some evening hours in port for a unique and memorable cruise vacation.
This does mean, however, that the ship’s casino and onboard shops will not be open as early as planned on that port day, as they must remain closed until the ship departs. All other onboard activities, including dining and entertainment, will go ahead as scheduled.
Why Does Carnival Vista Need More Time in Port?
The nature of the “scheduled maintenance” has not been disclosed, but could be related to some of Carnival Vista‘s technical systems or other operations that are not possible to be done while the vessel would be underway.
There is no indication that any of the ship’s critical systems are in any way compromised, nor should there be any disruption to the onboard experience guests will enjoy during their sailing.
Guests familiar with the ship’s history may be understandably concerned, however, as Carnival Vista has had propulsion difficulties with the Azipod drive system several times since she first entered service in May 2016.
Carnival Vista Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
Given that this issue has been recurring almost exactly every three years, superstitious cruisers might wonder if Carnival Vista is due for another episode of propulsion problems.
This could be especially concerning because if the upcoming maintenance truly was pre-planned, why does the schedule need to be adjusted, and why wasn’t the appropriate time already planned in port?
Similar issues have impacted both sister Vista-class ships: Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon. Depending on the severity of the issues, itineraries have been chanced, ports dropped, and cruises outright cancelled for emergency repairs.
While there is no indication that the extremely minor change for Carnival Vista‘s upcoming itinerary is related to the previous issues or in fact in any way connected to the propulsion system, it will certainly be something for concerned guests to watch in the coming weeks.
Carnival Vista is homeported from Port Canaveral year-round, offering a mix of 6- and 8-night Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean itineraries.
Depending on the sailing date and cruise length, the ship visits top destinations such as Bonaire, Aruba, Curacao, Grand Turk, San Juan, and more, as well as private islands like Half Moon Cay and soon, Celebration Key.
Virgin Voyages is the latest brand in Sir Richard Branson’s global conglomerate to sign on with Nuvei, a Montreal-based payment processor that will power the cruise line’s Sailor app.
Like virtually all cruise lines, Virgin Voyages enables guests to download a free app they can use to pay for services and products.
The new agreement with Nuvei, announced on June 25, 2025, expands a partnership that already exists at other Virgin Group brands, including the airline Virgin Atlantic and the tour operator Virgin Holidays.
Invisible to guest users, the payment processing system allows cruisers to book and pay for shore excursions, spa treatments, and bar tabs, for instance, serving as the backbone of the so-called digital wallets that cruisers have become accustomed to using.
“Partnering with Nuvei brings one of the world’s top payment providers into our corner,“ said Michael Litwin, vice president and controller at Virgin Voyages.
“Their tech gives us the confidence to deliver smooth, secure transactions — whether Sailors are booking a Shore Thing, toasting with a glass of bubbly, or dining at Gunbae. It’s fast, seamless, and helps keep the Virgin Voyages experience as effortless as it should be,” Litwin added.
Besides the Virgin brands, Nuvei works with other travel and hospitality companies such as Radisson Hotel Group and Lastminute.com, and provides payment solutions to additional industries like video and online gaming, financial services, and retail.
“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Virgin to yet another of its iconic brands,” said Phil Fayer, chair and CEO of Nuvei.
“Whether it’s reserving a sunset catamaran tour or topping up a Bar Tab, we’re proud to power the payment moments that make a Virgin Voyages trip unforgettable,” added Fayer.
All cruise lines that offer guest apps contract with a back-end payment provider. Apps customized for cruise lines were introduced to the industry roughly a decade ago and have been steadily improved over the years.
Carnival Cruise Line’s app is the popular Carnival Hub, Princess Cruises’ is the well-known Princess Medallion app, and Holland America Line offers Navigator, for example.
Cruise Line’s Fourth Ship to Debut in September 2025
Virgin Voyages currently operates three cruise ships, each accommodating 2,700 guests: Scarlet Lady, which debuted in 2021, and Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady, both launched in 2022.
A fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, is under construction at a Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and set to enter service in September 2025. She will, presumably, also use the Nuvei-powered app.
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: BreizhAtao)
Her maiden cruise — make that her “MerMaiden” cruise, in Virgin Voyages speak, is set for September 5, 2025, a 5-night Bermuda sailing from New York. After sailing several Bermuda and Canada/New England voyages, Brilliant Lady will reposition to PortMiami for her inaugural winter season in the Caribbean.
The new-build will sail 7- to 12-night cruises to destinations that include Turks & Caicos, Antigua, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica.
When it launched in 2021, Virgin Voyages introduced new concepts in cruising that set it apart from other lines. Its ships have no main dining rooms, for instance, and instead offer a series of themed restaurants that are all included in the cruise fare.
The adult-only line also provides more amenities covered by the base cruise fare, such as WiFi, crew gratuities, and wellness programs.
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.
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, today, Holland America operates just 11 cruise ships.
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 ships on this list thus far. It only 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 cruisers 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 at double 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.
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?
No, as of the summer of 2025, Holland America Line has not announced any new ships coming down the pipeline.
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.
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.
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.
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.
