blog - Page 43 of 610

What is the Best Norwegian Cruise Ship for Alaska?

Norwegian Cruise Line Advice

-

Mar 10, 2026

What is the Best Norwegian Cruise Ship for Alaska?

Norwegian Cruise Line currently sends five of its ships on Alaska cruises — Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Spirit — and the best of the bunch is going to depend on what kind of experience you’re hoping for and what matters most to you when cruising.

Overall, while yes, the brand may not have a long legacy of offering Alaskan cruises (that honor would have to go to Princess Cruises or Holland America), Norwegian Cruise Line is an absolutely excellent pick if you’re taking a cruise vacation to Alaska with the family, including kids and teens. All the ships are packed with family-friendly amenities and activities.

So how do you pick? I’m breaking down everything you need to know about each ship so you can make the best choice for your upcoming getaway.

Ship Overview

Ship	Homeport(s)	Glacier Access	Best For
Norwegian Bliss	Seattle	Glacier Bay	Big‑ship amenities
Norwegian Encore	Seattle	Glacier Bay	Modern, activity‑heavy cruising
Norwegian Jade	Vancouver, Whittier	Hubbard Glacier, Inside Passage	Smaller‑ship comfort
Norwegian Joy	Seattle	Glacier Bay	Feature‑rich without crowds
Norwegian Spirit	Honolulu, Vancouver	Varies by itinerary	Intimate, unique routes

Norwegian Bliss

Originally built in 2018 and weighing in with a gross tonnage of 168,028 GT and a double occupancy of just over 4,000 people, Norwegian Bliss offers a lot to love.

For years, the ship has offered highlights such as a go-kart track on the top deck, a double-loop waterslide that hangs out over the ocean, and the ritzy VIP Haven area.

Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship in Seattle — Photo Credit: lenic

However, things got even better in early 2025, when the vessel underwent some massive refurbishments that made it all the more ideal for an Alaskan cruise.

The dry dock introduced a new outdoor venue, Horizon Park, with lawn games and loungers, and the first immersive theater at sea. In The Haven, Premiere Owner’s Suites were upgraded to offer three bedrooms. A new seafood restaurant, Palomar, was likewise added.

What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Bliss

Expect an upgraded, top-tier cruise experience with plenty to do at all hours. This ship is packed to the gills with amenities and fun, as well as spots to catch amazing views of the Last Frontier as it passes by.

You’ll find awesome views in the Observation Lounge, where you can enjoy 180-degree scenery without braving the cold. However, do note that on glacier days, this venue is packed, packed, packed, and you’ll have better luck outdoors. To escape the crowds, head outside to the Waterfront oceanfront promenade, or even Vibe Beach Club.

Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

If you’re lucky enough to be staying in The Haven, you’ll also enjoy good views in The Haven Restaurant. Otherwise, the District Brew House is a nice pick, if you snag a window seat.

Of course, if you have a balcony stateroom, you can enjoy the views in private, too. Just note that this ship isn’t going to give you an intimate experience and there can be, as alluded, crowds.

If you want a quiet, low-key Alaskan cruise, you might want to consider one of the other ships or another cruise line altogether. Additionally, for full disclosure, you may find some of the Norwegian Cruise Line-offered excursions to be a little on the pricier side.

Norwegian Bliss Alaska Deployments

Norwegian Bliss sails itineraries ranging from seven to 11 nights, with fares starting at under $100 per night. All of the itineraries depart from Seattle, with round-trip sailings visiting the oh-so-popular Glacier Bay, as well as favorites like Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and more.

Norwegian Bliss Pros & Cons in Alaska

Pros	Cons
Lots to do on the ship	A bigger ship with crowds
Recently updated	Ship-sold shore excursions can be pricey
Plenty of spots for great views, both indoors and out

Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Encore is fairly similar to Norwegian Bliss. It was built in 2019, and measures 169,116 GT, with a double occupancy just under 4,000 people.

It likewise offers highlight amenities and features such as the top deck go-kart track, the Waterfront promenade, the Observation Lounge, and adrenaline-pumping waterslides for the thrill-seekers. Families will enjoy the indoor entertainment options such as VR games.

Norwegian Encore in Alaska (Photo Credit: EWY Media / Shutterstock)

Norwegian Encore underwent its last refurbishment in late 2024. The changes decreased the size of the Observation Lounge, added more staterooms, increased the sizes of suites in The Haven, and added the Spice H20 adults-only outdoor space with its hot tubs, pool and bar. Seafood restaurant Palomar was also added.

What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Encore

This ship will give you a modern cruise experience with loads to do and plenty of options around every corner, from booking your stateroom to picking where you’ll eat to deciding how to stay entertained when you’re not in port.

Norwegian Encore Docked in Alaska (Photo Credit: EWY Media)

Speaking of being in port, though, a lot of cruisers do find that Norwegian Encore doesn’t really stop long enough in each destination.

Snag those great views in the Observation Lounge (though, again, you’re going to run into crowds), as well as on the promenade and in Spice H20. Since Alaska doesn’t typically offer pool-friendly weather, you’ll be able to easily get yourself a seat on the pool deck.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Deployments

With fares starting at around $111 per night, Norwegian Encore sails all of its Alaska itineraries from Seattle, with itineraries lasting anywhere from seven to 12 nights.

Keep in mind that some of these longer itineraries are actually NCL Cruisetours and have you on land for further exploration at the start or end of a trip — you’re not on the ship all 12 nights. Stops include Ketchikan, Victoria, Glacier Bay, Skagway and more.

Norwegian Encore Pros & Cons in Alaska

Pros	Cons
Big modern ship	Bigger ships come with crowds
Lots of amenities and options	You’ll likely compete with other cruisers for restaurant reservations, show seat availability and views

Norwegian Jade

Compared to the first two ships on this list, Norwegian Jade is much older and much smaller. Built in 2006, the ship weighs less than 100,000 GT and holds just about 2,400 passengers at double occupancy.

Don’t worry, though — while this ship may be far from its infancy, it’s receiving new life as of late. A major three-week dry dock refurbishment in spring 2026, ahead of the ship’s Alaska cruising season, brings some nice changes.

Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Vadim Volodin)

The cruise line is adding the adults-only Vibe Beach Club to Deck 14 and Deck 7 gets a Starbucks, for example. Otherwise, the ship will receive a general refresh to keep things spiffy.

What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Jade

If you’ve been avoiding one of the larger ships that Norwegian Cruise Line sends to Alaska, because you really do think that they’re just going to be too big, too crowded and too overwhelming for your liking … well, then, Norwegian Jade may just be your perfect fit!

Think about it — Norwegian Jade can only fit about half the number of passengers that are routinely on Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Encore. That’s a big difference.

As such, you’ll enjoy a more low-key, mid-sized ship experience, which ultimately makes for better scenic cruising and easier getting off and on the ship during port days.

Yes, the ship is older and refurbishments can only do so much, but if you’re planning to spend the large majority of your time actually enjoying Alaska rather than the cruise ship, you’ll be just fine.

Norwegian Jade Alaska Deployments

You’ll find a ton of Norwegian Jade Alaska itineraries on offer, with the majority being 10 to 13-night cruises (again, though, note that some of these are Alaska Cruisetours, so keep that in mind as you’re booking).

Cruises depart from both Vancouver and Whittier. This can be a pro or con, depending on who you ask.

Some American cruisers like the convenience of cruising directly from Seattle, on a round-trip cruise. Others, meanwhile, would prefer to get started right away in Alaska, and then take a one-way cruise to Vancouver, even if it comes with the added travel hassle of starting and ending your cruise in different ports.

Which is the best option is up to you. Stops include the Hubbard Glacier, Icy Straight Point, Inside Passage and others. Fares start at under $80 per night.

Norwegian Jade Pros & Cons in Alaska

Pros	Cons
Smaller, more intimate ship	No deployments from Seattle
More affordable cruise fares	Older ship, despite renovations

Norwegian Joy

Norwegian Joy isn’t quite as big as Norwegian Bliss, but it’s definitely not as small and compact as Norwegian Jade.

Built in 2017, it weighs in at 167,725 GT and can hold around 3,800 cruisers. It boasts the features that many have come to expect from Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer ships, such as a go-kart track, the Waterfront Promenade, and the Galaxy Pavilion.

Norwegian Joy in Alaska — Photo Credit: EB Adventure Photography

Norwegian Joy underwent a dry dock in 2024. These changes redesigned suites in The Haven and expanded both the spa and Vibe Beach Club.

What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Joy

This Breakaway Plus-class ship provides plenty to do and enjoy, even if it’s not the largest in the fleet. For example, it has more than 20 bars and lounges and more than a dozen restaurants.

However, despite the ship’s size and guest capacity, many report that it doesn’t feel all that crowded, even if you’re sailing on a full Alaskan cruise. As such, if you’re really tempted by all those features on Norwegian Bliss, but the crowds are scaring you off, consider Norwegian Joy.

For views, bundle up and take a stroll along the outdoor promenade. It’s a quarter-mile long, so you should be able to find some room.

Norwegian Joy Alaska Deployments

You’ll find nine and 10-night itineraries offered on Norwegian Joy, with fares starting at around $90 per night. All itineraries leave from Seattle, and all are round-trip. Popular stops include Sitka, Skagway, Glacier Bay and others.

Norwegian Joy Pros & Cons in Alaska

Pros	Cons
The ship doesn’t feel overly crowded	Cruisers report a lot of onboard upselling
Tons of amenities, food, and beverage options	Not a ton of itinerary options or a wide range of departure ports

Norwegian Spirit

The final ship out of the five that Norwegian Cruise Line sends to Alaska is also the oldest. Built in 1998, Norwegian Spirit is modestly sized, at 75,904 GT, with a double occupancy of 2,018 cruisers. Norwegian Spirit received a massive $100 million overhaul in 2020.

After the dry dock, the ship boasted 14 new venues, more staterooms and an expanded spa (doubled in size!). New venues included an extra main dining room, multiple new bars and other dining options, and Spice H20 (which took the place of the children’s waterpark that was there previously).

As such, if you sailed on this ship a long time ago, like before 2020, then your past opinions of the vessel may no longer hold true.

What to Expect During an Alaskan Cruise on Norwegian Spirit

Even with the refurbishments, though, there’s only so much that a cruise line can do with a small ship like this. They can’t really magically add waterslides or go-karts. You can only fit in so many restaurants and bars.

As such, during an Alaskan cruise, you’re not going to find quite so much to do on this ship. However, if you’re not worried about spending time on the ship, and want to focus on an authentic Alaska experience, you’ll likely not be bothered at all.

Additionally, the smaller size makes for a more intimate cruising experience with fewer crowds and a calmer environment.

Norwegian Spirit Alaska Deployments

Norwegian Cruise Line offers some very unique routes on Norwegian Spirit — 16-night cruises that combine time spent in the tropics and time spent in Alaska. You could visit Honolulu, Kahului Maui, Nawiliwili Kauai, and then head on over to Sitka, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

Oh, and then? The ship turns right back around for Alaska-to-Hawaii itineraries. Cruises start at around $85 per night.

Norwegian Spirit Pros & Cons in Alaska

Pros	Cons
Recent massive updates	The ship is still more than 26 years old
Calmer, more intimate environment	Limited itineraries

Cruise Line Halts Sailings as Both Ships Remain Immobilized by Iran Conflict

Cruise News

Donna Tunney

-

Mar 10, 2026

0

Cruise Line Halts Sailings as Both Ships Remain Immobilized by Iran Conflict

Key Aspects:

Celestyal Cruises has cancelled the next two sailings of Celestyal Discovery, due to the Iran war.
The line’s two ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, are in Dubai and Doha, respectively.
Both ships were operating Arabian Gulf itineraries when the conflict began.

As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to escalate, engulfing the Middle East in chaos, another cruise line, Celestyal Cruises, has cancelled two future voyages.

The boutique line’s two ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, are stuck at the Arabian Gulf ports of Dubai, UAE, and Doha, Qatar, respectively. Like other cruise brands, Celestyal has been unable to move its ships away from the conflict, which began on February 28, 2026.

In a Facebook post on March 9, 2026, the cruise line confirmed that it has cancelled Celestyal Discovery’s next two cruises, a 3-night and 4-night sailing, both scheduled to sail roundtrip from Athens on March 20 and March 23, respectively.

“Given the current situation we have taken the decision to cancel the March 20 (3-night Iconic Aegean) and March 23 (4-night Iconic Aegean) sailings operated by Celestyal Discovery, while we finalize operational arrangements for the ship’s repositioning to the Mediterranean ahead of the summer season,” Celestyal Cruises said in its post.

Guests were being offered full refunds or future cruise credits. The cruise line has not yet announced any cancellations of Celestyal Journey’s upcoming itineraries. Both ships are set to begin their summer series of Mediterranean cruises from Athens.

First Priority: Transporting Guests Home

The cruise line’s priority in recent days has been the safe disembarkation of guests who were onboard the two vessels when the military conflict began. Celestyal Cruises confirmed that all guests had debarked from Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, and the line was working to disembark guests from Celestyal Journey.

According to the post, the disembarkation from that ship was estimated to be completed sometime on March 10, 2026. Celestyal Discovery accommodates 1,360 guests, and Celestyal Journey has a capacity for 1,260.

Celestyal Journey Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Michelangelo DeSantis)

“We continue to follow developments closely and remain focused on resuming our planned programme as soon as possible. We sincerely thank our guests and valued partners for their patience and understanding,” the cruise line wrote.

Celestyal Discovery’s next scheduled voyage, a 3-night Greek Islands cruise, is set to depart March 27, 2026, while Celestyal Journey’s next cruise is a 7-night Adriatic voyage departing on April 4, 2026. Both are to sail roundtrip from Athens.

Celestyal Cruises bought Celestyal Discovery in 2023 from AIDA Cruises, where the ship operated as AIDAaura. Celestyal Journey was acquired the same year from Seajets. The ship had previously sailed in the Holland America Line and P&O Australia Cruises fleets.

Next Priority: Getting Cruise Ships to Safer Ports

Following the disembarkation of all guests, the cruise line will join other cruise brands in another challenge — attempting to safely sail its ships away from the region.

As reported in Cruise Hive, several cruise ships have been stranded in the Middle East, unable to sail to safe destinations without transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which is at least temporarily closed to shipping.

Among the cruise lines that found their ships in harm’s way as the conflict unfolded was MSC Cruises. The brand’s MSC Euribia was operating its winter season cruises from Dubai when the war began.

The line has since cancelled three 7-night voyages that were to depart on March 14, 21, and 28, 2026. Guests had the choice of embarking on the ship in either Doha or Abu Dhabi. The mega-ship has the capacity to carry 6,300 guests with all berths full. MSC Cruises also had to debark guests from the ship while it was docked in Dubai, and arrange to fly passengers home.

Most recently, Aroya Cruises, a small cruise line based in Saudi Arabia, announced it would cancel all scheduled sailings of its one ship, Aroya, from Arabian Gulf ports for the rest of the 2026 season.

Carnival Introduces Fleetwide Express Dining to Cut Dinner Times to Under an Hour

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Mar 10, 2026

0

Carnival Introduces Fleetwide Express Dining to Cut Dinner Times to Under an Hour

Key Aspects:

Carnival Cruise Line is now rolling out a dinner Express Dining service across the fleet.
The program will be available onboard all Carnival ships by the end of May.
Express Dining menus are slightly abbreviated but do not sacrifice quality or deliciousness.

With so much to do onboard a cruise ship, guests are eager not to miss out on anything from activities to entertainment to delicious dining. When meals can take 90 minutes or longer, however, some cruise guests have found themselves forced to miss out on one thing or another.

Now, Carnival Cruise Line is working to remedy those schedule conflicts with the rollout of its new Express Dining option in the Main Dining Rooms.

Express Dining aims to offer the same delicious dining as the regular menu, but with “slightly abbreviated” options and in a shorter timeframe to suit today’s guests.

“Our guests continue to tell us they value greater flexibility in how they spend their time on board, and Express Dining was designed with that in mind,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“Our pilot program generated positive feedback from our guests. With this in mind, we are excited to expand Express Dining to offer them the same high quality dishes and attentive service our dining rooms are known for, while giving guests the ability to use more of their time to enjoy all the other onboard fun.”

Express Dining is designed to offer the full, multi-course meal experience in under 60 minutes. This would give guests plenty of time to enjoy evening events, such as signature production shows, dance parties, photo sessions, live music, spa appointments, and more.

The program is already available on 15 ships and is now being rolled out across the entire Carnival fleet. Full implementation across all 29 ships is expected to be complete by the end of May.

In the meantime, guests aboard the following ships can already enjoy Express Dining:

Breeze
Celebration
Conquest
Dream
Firenze
Freedom
Glory
Horizon
Jubilee
Mardi Gras
Panorama
Radiance
Sunrise
Venezia
Vista

Guests interested in the Express Dining option can let their serving team know. If guests have Your Time Dining, they can opt in to the new program via the Hub App.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on the Family Express lunch Carnival Cruise Line has offered at the Lido Marketplace buffet. The lunch program was first offered onboard Carnival Vista.

Carnival Cruise Ship Dining Room (Photo Credit: Benson Truong / Shutterstock)

Following great success and popularity, the program was expanded fleetwide in September 2025, with guests eager to see the option during dinner hours. Now, the new Express Dining program does just that.

Of course, guests can still opt for the full dining experience if they prefer a more leisurely meal, as no one is being forced into the faster service. The option is strictly by guests’ choice, ensuring flexibility for their dining preferences and evening plans.

Some Limitations Still Apply to Express Dining

There are limitations to the new shorter meal service, however. The Express Dining option will have a less extensive menu than the full seating options, though Carnival Cruise Line has not yet offered any direct comparison between menus on the same night.

This is not unexpected, as some dishes require more intensive preparation that may not be possible for a shorter seating time.

All food is prepared-to-order, ensuring the freshest and most delicious dishes for guests to enjoy. By carefully curating the menu options for Express Dining, Carnival Cruise Line ensures guests still have the same quality cuisine no matter which dining option they select.

Top favorites such as filet mignon and grilled lamb chops will still be offered with Express Dining, along with other easy-to-plate, tried-and-true favorites for appetizers, entrees, and desserts. So long as the cruise line’s famous warm chocolate melting cake is still on the menu, I’m good!

The new program is also only available for parties of six or fewer guests. Larger groups cannot be accommodated in the shorter time frame, likely due to the complexity of ensuring multiple dishes with different preparation times are ready to serve simultaneously.

Special dietary requests, such as allergies, will still be accommodated with Express Dining, ensuring the program is available to all guests regardless of their dietary needs.

New Legislation to Hinder Proposed Tampa Cruise Port is Approved

Port News

Catie Kovelman

-

Mar 10, 2026

0

New Legislation to Hinder Proposed Tampa Cruise Port is Approved

Key Aspects:

Florida has passed Senate Bill 302, which will hinder plans for a new cruise port in Tampa.
The new legislation protects the waters surrounding the proposed site, which could block necessary dredging and construction.
Public opposition also continues to grow, with a petition against the port nearing 20,000 signatures.

Another hurdle is blocking the proposed new cruise port in Tampa Bay, Florida, and may put a stop to the project before it even really begins.

Private developers have been considering building a new multi-berth port on the 328 acres of land known as the Knott-Cowen tract in Manatee County, which would enable larger mega-ships to operate out of Tampa for the first time ever.

These plans would also necessitate the purchase of Rattlesnake Key, which is a 710-acre island adjacent to the proposed site.

While a new port and larger ships would bring a great source of revenue to Tampa, Cruise Hive has seen plenty of opposition against this proposal due to environmental concerns.

A bill aimed at protecting the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, which surrounds the proposed site of the potential port, has officially been approved and would hinder the construction process if plans move ahead.

“It is one of the most pristine areas in our state, and we don’t need mega cruise ships in this area,” Republican Representative Will Robinson said in support of the legislation.

“Your bill will do a great-great deal to stop that from occurring in one of the most important environmental areas in our state…it’s a wonderful bill, and maybe one of the more important environmental bills that we vote on this session,” Robinson continued.

The bill passed with a unanimous vote of 109 to 0 on March 9, 2026. It will now go to the desk of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Assuming the governor signs off (as is expected), the bill will go into effect on July 1, 2026.

What the Legislation Does

The Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve is a 2,000 acre park that encompasses mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater habitats, and mangrove forests. It also has a focus on marine protection and restoring natural tidal circulation.

In order to build a new cruise port and all the supporting infrastructure, a significant amount of dredging and digging would need to take place, which could harm marine wildlife and habitats. For context, cruise ships need at least 25 to 50 feet of water beneath them in order to dock safely.

The Knott Cowen tract of land is the site of a proposed cruise port near Tampa.

Under the newly approved Senate Bill 302, dredging is only permitted under very specific conditions, such as improving human health by getting rid of stagnant waters or promoting environmental restoration projects.

Any dredging that is completed must be done in a way that does not negatively impact the water quality or harm the marine habitats within the nature preserve.

Speaking to this, the bill calls upon the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish clear and specific statewide standards for coastal protection methods by 2027.

These restrictions won’t necessarily make it impossible for the new cruise port to get approved, but it will be significantly more difficult to adhere to the requirements.

Anti-Port Petition Nears 20,000 Signatures

It’s not just lawmakers who are against the new cruise port, but also general members of the public and the cruise community.

A Change.org position that is trying to stop the proposed cruise port has grown to 19,350 signatures as of March 9, 2026. When Cruise Hive first checked the petition in January, it had just surpassed 6,000 signatures.

In addition to the land in Manatee County, locals and lawmakers want Rattlesnake Key to remain undeveloped.

“The Rattlesnake Key should not be mitigation land. It should be preserved forever,” George Smith, a Manatee County resident, told ABC 7 News.

It’s unclear how the developers of the possible cruise port will proceed, given the growing opposition and the now-approved legislation.

When the bill was first proposed, a spokesperson for the landowners indicated that they were still in a research and fact-finding stage and would consider all factors when deciding if the project would go forward.

The developers have not commented publicly regarding their plans since the bill was approved, but Cruise Hive will share updates as they become available.

Princess Cruises Just Raised Its Service Charge and Here’s What’s Changing

Princess Cruises News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Mar 9, 2026

0

Princess Cruises Just Raised Its Service Charge and Here’s What’s Changing

Key Aspects:

Princess Cruises is raising onboard food and beverage service charges from 18% to 20%.
The change is being implemented fleetwide in early March 2026, though not on the same day for every ship.
The service charge increase follows the recent Medallion shipping increase as well.

Princess Cruises is quietly raising a non-refundable, non-optional service charge on frequent onboard purchases. This is not a change in the “crew appreciation” gratuities, but nevertheless is an extra charge guests will want to be aware of.

The service charge is now 20% that is “automatically added to optional purchases of drinks, dining room and specialty dining, private group functions, and other elected products, services or amenities provided to guests that are not included in the cruise fare,” according to the Princess Cruises website.

This is a food and beverage charge only and does not apply to retail purchases in the onboard shops. It is unclear whether the extra charge applies to bottles of alcohol purchased onboard to take home at the end of the cruise.

Guests onboard Princess Cruises ships have received letters in recent days noting the change, an increase from the previous 18% service charge.

The change is being made fleetwide as ships turn around to their next voyages. The charge is not increasing mid-sailing for guests already onboard, but it will no doubt be adjusted for the next cruise.

The website, however, is clear that if guests have pre-paid for such charges as part of an all-inclusive package, they will not be hit with any additional increase.

“No additional amount will be added to your onboard account for the Crew Appreciation or for those Service Charges covered by such package,” the website notes.

Cruise Hive previously reported about a similar increase from 18% to 20% for Carnival Cruise Line, which was implemented in December 2025.

Star Princess Open Deck (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)

Both Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line are owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, which also owns several other cruise lines. At the moment, the service charge for Holland America Line remains at 18% and just 15% on Cunard, but rates are subject to change at any time.

The increase in service charges for Princess Cruises comes at the same time the cruise line has increased the shipping charge for Medallions by $10 for each address.

It must be noted that service charges and gratuities are separate. While the daily “crew appreciation” gratuity on Princess Cruises can be adjusted at guests’ discretion, there is no flexibility with service charges and the fees are mandatory.

Cruise Planner: Cruise Drinks Package Calculator

The current gratuity rate aboard Princess ships is $18 per person, per day for most stateroom types; $19 per person, per day for mini suites, cabanas, and Reserve Collection staterooms; and $20 per person, per day for suites.

More Extra Charges on Other Cruise Lines

In addition to these changes, other cruise lines are likewise imposing more charges on guests.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has a $45 per person fee for an exclusive show onboard the new Norwegian Luna, while Royal Caribbean is now charging $5 for guests to get a cup for the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines with the all-inclusive drink packages (the cup is still included with the soda package).

It is not the overall use of fees that is upsetting many cruise guests, but rather the constant changing and quiet increases for more and more products and services.

“Seems every week there’s something lost, nothing gained and something costs more. By the time my cruise date appears it’s going to be unaffordable anyway,” one guest noted on Facebook.

It’s true that a 2% increase, even on a $15 drink, is just an extra thirty cents, but those small costs can add up quickly when they are applied to many different purchases onboard and further added to gratuities and other charges.

P&O Cruises Pushes Final Payment Deadline to 120 Days

P&O Cruises News

Lissa Poirot

-

Mar 9, 2026

0

P&O Cruises Pushes Final Payment Deadline to 120 Days

Key Aspects:

P&O Cruises will require the final payment 120 days before departure for new bookings.
The affected sailings begin December 1, 2026, and onward.
Existing reservations and bookings remain under the current 90-day payment policy.

Planning a cruise with P&O Cruises more than a year out will soon come with a new timeline for paying the bill.

The cruise line is giving itself an extra month to collect final payments on future voyages, introducing a new 120-day balance deadline for certain bookings.

The change will apply to new bookings made from March 10, 2026, for cruises sailing from December 1, 2026, onward.

“From tomorrow, 10 March, our balance due date will change to 120 days before departure on new bookings for all cruises sailing from 1 December 2026,” the cruise line shared with travel partners.

This change doesn’t affect existing bookings, however. Nor will passengers booking from March 10, 2026, for departures up to and including November 30, 2026.

“For your customers booked before 10 March, 2026, nothing will change. Their final balance will still be due 90 days before departure with current booking conditions,” said P&O Cruises.

Until now, final payment has typically been due 90 days before departure, but the earlier payment deadline helps the cruise line secure revenue earlier and reduce last-minute cancellations.

Moving the final payment window to 120 days also gives cruise operators additional time to resell cabins if guests cancel closer to sailing.

How Final Payment Timelines Vary

The new policy at P&O Cruises brings the line closer to payment structures already used by other brands within its parent company.

P&O Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation, which manages Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard Line, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises.

Each brand sets its own payment policies, but several already require final payment earlier than the traditional 90-day window used by traditional cruise lines.

P&O Cruises Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

For example, Princess Cruises typically requires final payment 90 days before departure for most sailings, but longer voyages such as world cruise segments and itineraries of more than 14 days require payment at 120 days.

Holland America Line follows a similar structure, with many standard cruises due at 90 days but longer sailings and Grand Voyages requiring earlier payment.

Cunard and Seabourn, the company’s luxury and premium brands, frequently require final payment 120 days before sailing, with some longer itineraries requiring payment at 150 days before departure. Outside the Carnival portfolio, other major cruise lines have adopted similar timelines.

Royal Caribbean generally requires final payment 90 days before departure but shifted in 2023, as reported by Cruise Hive. The line requires 120 days for longer voyages, such as sailings lasting 15 nights or more.

It drops final payment deadlines to 75 days if the sailings are less than 5 nights.

Disney Cruise Line also commonly uses a 120-day final payment deadline for cruises longer than 5 nights, but uses a 90-day schedule for shorter sailings.

Meanwhile, Virgin Voyages adopted a 120-day payment schedule as its standard policy when it launched in 2021.

Norwegian Cruise Line also requires the final payment four months before sailing. According to the line’s payment schedule, balances are due 120 days before departure for cruises of any length.

Passengers booking December 2026 voyages with P&O Cruises will be the first to experience the new payment structure, with Arcadia, Ventura, Arvia, Azura, Iona, Aurora, and Britannia all offering sailings that month.

The ships predominantly sail from Southampton, UK, with fly-cruise offerings from the Canary Islands, Barbados, Antigua, and Malaga, Spain, in December 2026.

Port Canaveral Hits Major Construction Milestone on Massive New Parking Garage

Port News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Mar 9, 2026

0

Port Canaveral Hits Major Construction Milestone on Massive New Parking Garage

Key Aspects:

Port Canaveral has begun vertical construction on a new parking garage at Cruise Terminal 6.
The new garage will add more than 3,500 parking spaces to the busy homeport.
Estimated completion of the new garage is expected to be in fall 2026.

Every cruise guest who has driven to one of the world’s busiest cruise ports is familiar with how crazy it can be to find a parking space. Guests driving to Port Canaveral, however, will soon find some relief to the chaos.

A new 3,532-space, 13-story parking garage is currently under construction at Terminal 6, the northeastern cruise terminal used by multiple lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Guests from Terminal 5, home of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, will also use the parking garage.

Vertical construction on the new structure has begun with the lowering of a 600-square-foot, 36.7-ton pre-cast concrete wall section. Now that the first section is in place, the rest of the parking garage will continue to rise above the port.

“Port Canaveral is not only the world’s busiest cruise port, but also one of the nation’s most convenient and easily accessible. Our focus on customers is essential to delivering a high-quality guest experience,” said Captain John W. Murray, Port Canaveral CEO.

“This new parking garage is an investment in our commitment to making Port Canaveral the best it can be for our valued cruise partners and their guests.”

Construction of the new garage is part of the Port Canaveral Advantage improvement program. In addition to the garage, the nearly $1 billion plan includes further enhancements to the port, including an expansion of both Cruise Terminal 5 and Cruise Terminal 10.

Cruise Hive had already reported on other recent enhancements to Port Canaveral. For example, in December 2025 a new, ADA-compliant debarkation ramp opened in Cruise Terminal 6.

Parking at Port Canaveral

Once the new garage is complete, the port will offer nearly 17,500 parking spaces. This includes spaces in eight different garages as well as surface lots at different cruise terminals.

An exact date for the garage’s completion has not been announced. It is expected to open to cruise passengers this fall, ahead of the busy holiday cruise season.

The cost for parking in the new garage has not been announced. Port Canaveral raised its parking rates in October 2025, the first rate increase since 2017. Parking now costs $20 per day plus tax, and guests must pay for both embarkation and debarkation days. The same rate will likely apply to the new garage.

Approximately 80 percent of guests sailing from Port Canaveral drive to the cruise port, while the remaining 20% arrive via shuttles, ride shares, or drop-offs.

The new garage will span more than 1.2 million square feet and will feature eight extra-large elevators that can accommodate multiple passengers and their luggage. Two-lane vehicle ramps will ensure smooth traffic flow through the structure.

Furthermore, the new garage will also be connected to the west garage at Cruise Terminal 6 by both vehicle bridges and a pedestrian bridge. This will provide guests easy access to Cruise Terminal 5 as well.

At the moment, Port Canaveral – which has won the honor of “Best US Cruise Homeport” for six consecutive years in the Cruise Hive Awards – is home to 18 cruise ships from seven different lines. Some of the world’s newest and biggest ships set sail from the Space Coast, including Star of the Seas, Disney Wish, Norwegian Prima, and Mardi Gras.

More than 1,000 sailings per year depart from Port Canaveral, ranging from weekend getaways to week-long vacations to longer, more immersive itineraries.

Royal Caribbean Guest Asks Thousands to Change Clothes for Granddaughter’s Wedding

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Mar 9, 2026

0

Royal Caribbean Guest Asks Thousands to Change Clothes for Granddaughter’s Wedding

Key Aspects:

One guest wants thousands of cruisers to change White Night because of her granddaughter’s wedding.
She is not getting the response she might have hoped for and could have sabotaged her own intent.
Cruise ship entitlement requests can quickly get out of control with unreasonable demands.

All cruise guests are familiar with onboard entitlement, from the infamous chair hogs to saving seats for theater shows to chaotic buffet lines. While cruise lines do try to minimize poor behavior, there are times when a guest’s entitlement is so far overboard it’s simply astonishing.

Guests who will board Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas are in for a dose of such entitlement for the ship’s March 21, 2026 departure from Fort Lauderdale, an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary to Aruba, Curacao, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

On that particular cruise, one pair of guests will be enjoying a very special day as they get married. On such a happy occasion, every bride wants to feel special, but just how special is reasonable on a cruise?

The bride’s grandmother, who will be sailing with the family to celebrate the union, has a flagrantly ridiculous request for everyone aboard.

“Hey fellow cruisers! Just a heads up about Day 3 of the cruise,” the grandmother said in a conversation now posted on Reddit’s Entitled Reviews. “It’s my granddaughter’s wedding day AND it’s scheduled as a ‘White Night’ theme for dinner.”

Royal Caribbean’s White Night is a popular party theme when guests are encouraged to wear white if they wish, though it’s not a strict dress code requirement. Some guests do indeed go all out with brilliant white attire, while others wear whatever they wish.

This grandmother, however, has other ideas on how the evening theme will affect her granddaughter’s wedding day.

“We’re worried this might take away from the special day, so if you’re planning to rock the white outfit, maybe save it for another night?” she requested. “Let’s make this wedding celebration unforgettable!”

She’s right about one thing – the wedding is already unforgettable with the grandmother’s request that the ship’s up to 6,699 guests change their attire plans for someone they’ve never met, for a wedding they’re not invited to attend.

The grandmother seems to have also reached out to Royal Caribbean to request a change to White Night, because she elaborates that the cruise line “is now aware of this conflict and will consider it for future cruises.”

The Bride During Cruise Wedding (Photo Credit: Severina Chavez Lynch)

Of course, that is the type of response a cruise line might give to any request to make the guest feel heard. It is unlikely there will be any future consideration of changing activity lineups to accommodate individual guests.

Royal Caribbean does offer three different wedding packages, including at at sea option, one for embarkation day so non-sailing guests can participate, and one for up to 10 guests onboard. Each package also has customizable options, but none include dress code changes for the entire ship.

In this situation, it is not clear which wedding package is planned other than it will not be on embarkation day.

How Do Other Guests Feel About Changing White Night for a Wedding?

The grandmother is not getting the enthusiastic response she might have wanted, with guests willing to change their attire plans to accommodate a stranger’s wedding day.

In fact, she could have actually sabotaged her own good intentions as many guests are noting they might do just the opposite.

“I would go out of my way to buy a bunch of cheap used wedding dresses that everyone in my group could wear that day/night,” one guest noted. “P.S. My group is all guys.”

That would make for amazing wedding photos, and it would definitely be unforgettable.

Other guests pointed out that crew members occasionally wear white, would that be problematic for the wedding as well? What about guests going to and from the spa in white robes, would that be inconsiderate?

It should be noted that there is no response from the bride herself, only the grandmother’s concerns. The bride may not even be aware of the conversation or that her grandmother made such an entitled request to Royal Caribbean.

Cruise Hive has regularly reported on such crazy entitlement, such as one Carnival guest who wanted all hand dryers removed from the public restrooms on their ship because of a child’s noise sensitivity, and another who expects free umbrellas when its rainy in ports of call.

All cruise lines do try to accommodate reasonable requests as much as possible. What unreasonable requests have you heard of? Share your cruise entitlement stories on the Cruise Hive boards!

Yet Another Carnival Cruise Drops Loyalty Perks, But What’s Left?

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Mar 8, 2026

0

Key Aspects:

Platinum VIFP benefits have been removed from Carnival Miracle‘s March 14, 2026 sailing.
Guests will no longer get several priority benefits, but the perks seem to be preserved for Diamond level guests.
Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP program will end on August 31, 2026 and Carnival Rewards begins September 1.

Just a few days before sailing, guests eager to board Carnival Miracle for an 8-night Caribbean and Panama voyage have learned that some of the most popular loyalty perks will not be available.

The impacted cruise is the ship’s March 14, 2026 departure from Tampa, with visits to Costa Rica, Panama, and Grand Cayman.

Cruise Hive has frequently reported on the loss of certain Diamond and Platinum perks from Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP program. This often happens on longer Carnival Journeys cruises that attract more experienced guests, but can happen on any sailing.

On this particular voyage, it appears that only the Platinum perks are impacted.

“Due to the high number of Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide the following benefits,” the letter confirmed.

On the list is the highly sought after priority embarkation and debarkation, early stateroom access to drop off luggage, and priority luggage delivery on embarkation day. None of those benefits will be permitted on this sailing.

The letter also notes that the cruise line “may not be able” to offer the priority Guest Services access, either in person on Deck 2 or via telephone.

“These operational changes are consistent with other voyages where we have a very large number of Platinum guests,” the letter explained. “We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for your understanding.”

It does seem that any Diamond level cruisers onboard this particular sailing will still have those benefits.

To achieve the Platinum level in the VIFP club, guests need to have sailed with Carnival Cruise Line for at least 75 nights. To reach Diamond level, guests must have sailed with the line for a minimum of 200 nights.

Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock)

Carnival Cruise Line has been heavily promoting 2x and 3x VIFP point offers for select bookings to help guests achieve higher levels before the program ends. This has led to many cruisers “chasing Diamond” in an attempt to reach that coveted level before August 31, when the new Carnival Rewards program will begin.

If guests are Diamond on that date, they will retain their Diamond status level for life, rather than needing to re-earn benefits in every two-year period.

This convoluted switchover and the enticement of “forever Diamond” may very well be contributing to the much higher number of Platinum guests onboard Carnival Miracle for this cruise, as well as on other cruises where benefits must be removed due to overwhelming VIFP numbers.

The 85,942-gross-ton Carnival Miracle can welcome 2,124 guests at double occupancy or up to 2,680 guests when fully booked.

What Platinum Benefits Remain?

While certain benefits are removed from the sailing, there are still perks that all Platinum guests will be able to enjoy onboard Carnival Miracle.

On Reddit, many guests impacted by the change on this or similar sailings are noting they’ll still have a good time with great benefits.

“I got the same letter [for a different cruise], but I still got to use the priority security line, free laundry perk, platinum diamond party, the free gift, my bottle of water and a plate of delicious cookies,” one guest described.

Other benefits that should still be available to Platinum guests for this sailing include a free drink, their collectible VIFP pin, priority reservations for spa treatments, and priority reservations at both the Main Dining Room as well as specialty restaurants.

The changeover from the VIFP program to Carnival Rewards has been a controversial one, and Carnival Cruise Line is still refining details about the new program and what it will offer.