Blog Page 56

Two Norwegian Prima Cruises Just Gained Extra Ports

Melissa Mayntz
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Two Norwegian Prima Cruises Just Gained Extra Ports

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Prima will visit more ports than expected on two upcoming sailings without losing any already scheduled destinations.
  • The October 9 and November 20 sailings in 2027 are both impacted.
  • Other minor tweaks are made to the October 9 sailing, but no further changes are needed for the November 20 cruise.

Some cruise guests enjoy days at sea, others prefer port-heavy itineraries with more destinations to explore. Port lovers setting sail on Norwegian Prima on two select sailings in 2027 will be happy to learn that their cruises will now be visiting an extra destination without losing a previously planned port.

The impacted sailings are the ship’s October 9, 2027 and November 20, 2027 sailings. Interestingly, these cruises are in two dramatically different regions, but “recently confirmed port availability” has made it possible for the extra destinations to be added.

“While we work closely with port authorities to finalize each itinerary well in advance, opportunities occasionally arise to further enhance a voyage,” the cruise line explained in notifications sent to booked guests.

In each case, the added port is not replacing another destination but instead is replacing a day at sea. For the earlier sailing, there is more of a change to the overall itinerary that guests should be aware of.

Changes to Northern European Cruise

Norwegian Prima‘s October 9, 2027 cruise is an 11-night one-way trip between Helsinki, Finland and Southampton, UK.

Originally, the sailing was to visit a single port each in Estonia, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, and France.

Another country has been added to the itinerary with a call to Zeebrugge, Belgium. To accommodate the addition, there is some minor shakeup of the last few days of the schedule.

Norwegian Cruise Line in Southampton, UK
Norwegian Cruise Line in Southampton, UK (Photo Credit: Skyshark Media)

The ship was to have visited Amsterdam, Netherlands on Sunday, October 17 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. That visit is being trimmed by just 30 minutes and Norwegian Prima will now depart at 5:30 p.m.

Monday, October 18 was to have been the visit to Le Havre, France, but that will now be the day Norwegian Prima is in Belgium from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The call to France has been moved to Tuesday, October 19 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. On the original schedule, the ship was to have been in port for 13 hours (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.), but the new visit date is even longer with 15 hours in port. Tuesday was previously planned as a day at sea.

There is no change to the 3,099-guest ship’s other port visits. Likewise, her departure from Helsinki and her arrival to Southampton are unchanged. Only one day at sea remains on the itinerary, on Saturday, October 16, as the ship moves from Copenhagen to Amsterdam.

Added Port to Caribbean Cruise

Another port has been added to a separate Norwegian Prima sailing departing San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 20, 2027.

That 7-night Caribbean itinerary will now visit Castries, St. Lucia from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23. This was originally a day at sea between the planned visits to Basseterre, St. Kitts and Bridgetown, Barbados.

Neither of those ports are impacted by this change, and there are no other port adjustments on this itinerary.

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On this particular cruise, Norwegian Prima will have no full days at sea, but each day will be visiting another amazing port, including Tortola, Philipsburg, and St. Thomas as already scheduled.

Guests are never obligated to get off the ship at every port of call. If they prefer to stay aboard and explore all the 143,535-gross-ton vessel has to offer, they can certainly do so. Some onboard operations, such as retail stores and the casino, may be closed while in port due to local regulations, but there are always activities and other fun to enjoy.

Carnival Finally Reveals What Loyal Cruisers Get From Milestones

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Finally Reveals What Loyal Cruisers Get From Milestones

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has announced more details about Milestone recognition in the new Carnival Rewards program.
  • Guests will receive special gifts, commemorative coins, and onboard credit at higher Milestone levels.
  • Milestones, stars, and points are all different parts of the new program with different uses.

With the new Carnival Rewards program just two months away, Carnival Cruise Line has released more details about the Milestone recognition program and how guests’ enduring loyalty will be recognized.

Milestones are part of the overall rewards program, but separate from the spend-based stars and points system where different loyalty levels are recognized and guests can redeem benefits.

Days sailed will determine Milestone rewards and they come with personalized recognition that increases the more guests sail with Carnival.

“Every day you sail with us counts toward Milestones recognition,” the cruise line confirmed in an email to guests. “More Milestones, more fun. Achieving new levels of recognition has never been easier.”

To reach Milestone levels, only the number of days sailed with Carnival matters. The overall number of cruises, length of sailings, amount of spending, or type of stateroom booked does not impact accumulating Milestone days.

What Are the Milestone Rewards?

Guests will receive their first Milestone rewards when they reach 50 days sailed with Carnival. For that recognition, guests will receive an additional 5,000 Carnival Rewards points that can be redeemed for benefits of their choice.

Points can be redeemed toward cruise deposits or fares, pre-cruise purchases, or onboard spending. While exact amounts vary, sample point values include 1,357 points for a 6-pack of soda, 2,400 points for a Bonsai Teppanyaki dinner, or 3,000 points for a thermal suite day pass.

The only other recognition at that first level is a “special” Sail & Sign card, though no details have been released about what that card may look like in comparison to the standard cards.

Cruise Hive has already reported on the redesign of the Sail & Sign cards, which includes a new vertical orientation and personalization with the number of nights a guest has sailed.

Once guests reach the 100-day Milestone, they receive an additional 10,000 Carnival Rewards points, the special Sail & Sign card, a commemorative coin, and two other as-yet-undefined benefits.

Carnival Milestones
Carnival Milestones

The first is “onboard recognition” and the second is a Milestones onboard credit. Neither of these perks have been clearly defined and may vary on different sailings, stateroom categories, or other factors.

The same benefits will be awarded to guests for every successive 100 days they sail: 200, 300, and 400.

At 500 days, the benefits increase again. Guests who reach that elite level of more than 16 solid months on Carnival ships will receive all the previous benefits of the 100 level, plus a commemorative award and a commemorative gift.

Both of those special items will be shipped directly to guests’ homes. This will be repeated again at 600, 700, 800, and every successive 100 days sailed with Carnival.

What Is the Difference Between Stars, Points, and Milestones?

There has been a great deal of confusion about the new Carnival Rewards program since it was first announced in June 2025. In the past year, the cruise line has done some tweaking and clarifying about different parts of the program, and this latest update on Milestones is another explanation.

But how do the different facets of the program compare? While there are undoubtedly still more details that haven’t been announced, the simplest explanation is:

  • Stars – These determine your overall reward status level: Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond
  • Points – These can be redeemed for various benefits regardless of status level
  • Milestones – One-time recognition rewards for accumulating a set number of days sailed with Carnival

Both stars and points are based on spending, either through Carnival Cruise Line or the affiliated Mastercard, which can include everyday (non-cruise) purchases. Stars and points also expire after pre-determined time periods.

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As one-time rewards, Milestones do not expire and can be accumulated over a much longer time period. Since the program is still new, there may yet be additional changes as it goes live and gets feedback from guests who begin actively using their rewards.

Quick-Thinking Carnival Crew Member Saves Infant Choking on Grape

Lissa Poirot
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Quick-Thinking Carnival Crew Member Saves Infant Choking on Grape

Key Aspects:

  • A Carnival Celebration crew member saved an 11-month-old girl who was choking.
  • Restaurant manager Millić Šarović received Carnival Cruise Line’s internal “Hero” award for the rescue.
  • Šarović was previously named one of the cruise line’s top leaders.

For one Carnival Cruise Line crew member, what started as a routine dinner break turned into a race to save a baby’s life.

Millić Šarović, a restaurant manager aboard Carnival Celebration, is being recognized after rescuing an 11-month-old girl who stopped breathing after choking on a grape during a recent voyage.

The off-duty crew member received the cruise line’s internal “Hero” award following the incident, which occurred as the ship was sailing toward Miami, according to local media reports in Montenegro, where Šarović resides.

Šarović had just finished his shift and sat down to eat in one of the 183,521-gross-ton ship’s 17 dining venues when another crew member rushed over and told him something was terribly wrong.

He ran toward a crowd that had gathered around the infant, who appeared unconscious and was showing no signs of life.

“I had sat down to have dinner when a crew member came over, very upset,” Šarović told local media. “I ran over and saw a crowd of people surrounding a little girl. She was clearly unconscious, and I saw they were hitting her from behind, on the back, so I assumed she was choking.”

Šarović instinctively jumped in, noticing no one was using the Heimlich maneuver.

Milic Sarovic receives Hero award
Milic Sarovic receives Hero award. (Photo Credit: Millić Šarović)

“I took her, even though I didn’t know if she was alive, and I risked a lot because if she had died in my arms, it would have destroyed my career and my life. But the parent in me took over,” he said.

It took the heroic crew member about a minute before he got a response from the little girl, who eventually expelled the grape she had swallowed and started breathing again. The ship’s doctor eventually arrived on the scene and confirmed the baby was all right.

No details have been released about the infant passenger following the rescue.

A True Hero

Although Carnival Cruise Line has its own onboard medical centers staffed by doctors and nurses, crew members are often the first to respond when emergencies happen in public areas.

That was the case aboard the 5,362-passenger Carnival Celebration, which is currently homeporting in Miami to offer Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages that feature the cruise line’s new private destination, Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island.

The rescue earned Šarović, one of 1,735 crew members sailing on Carnival Celebration, the “Hero” award, which recognizes employees who take extraordinary action.

“Millić Šarović is being recognized for living the Carnival Values and bringing them to life for our guests and fellow team members,” stated Carnival Cruise Line.

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The recognition followed another company honor he received last year, when Carnival Cruise Line named him one of its top leaders, according to local media reports. But Šarović says saving the girl “is the greatest achievement of my career.”

Outside his career at sea, the Carnival team member is known in his hometown of Bar, Montenegro, where he previously co-owned Dublin Pub and performed as a musician. He continues to lead the rock band 9 while working as one of the senior restaurant managers aboard Carnival Celebration.

Royal Caribbean’s Next Icon Mega Ship Adds Huge Glass Structure

Lissa Poirot
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Royal Caribbean’s Next Icon Mega Ship Adds Huge Glass Structure

Key Aspects:

  • Meyer Turku shipyard has installed the massive AquaDome on Royal Caribbean’s Hero of the Seas.
  • At 82 feet high and 164 feet wide, it is the largest single-piece glass and steel structure ever lifted on a ship.
  • The AquaDome is one of the signature features of every Icon-class ship in the cruise line’s fleet.

One of the most recognizable features of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class has officially taken shape on the line’s newest ship. 

Workers at the Meyer Turku shipyard successfully lifted the massive AquaDome onto the 248,663-gross-ton Hero of the Seas on June 28, 2026, marking another milestone in the construction of the fourth Icon-class vessel.

Standing 82 feet tall and stretching 164 feet wide, the shipyard says the AquaDome is the largest single-piece glass and steel structure ever lifted onto a cruise ship.

The operation required careful planning and ideal weather conditions to safely maneuver the enormous structure into place. While the overall operation lasted about 24 hours, the actual lift was completed in just a few hours.

“This was already the fourth AquaDome lift,” said Elvis Kulovac, foreman of factory logistics at Meyer Turku. “The entire operation went exceptionally well in terms of both timing and schedule.”

He said the conditions were perfect. “Virtually no wind, which is crucial for a lift of this scale,” he added.

The AquaDome is far more than an architectural centerpiece. Located at the front of the ship, the enclosed venue serves multiple purposes throughout the cruise. 

Hero of the Seas Dome Installation
Hero of the Seas Dome Installation (Photo Credit: Meyer Turku)

During the day, guests can relax in lounges and restaurants while enjoying panoramic sea views through its towering glass panels. At night, the space transforms into the AquaTheater, where divers, aerialists, and robotic technology combine for one of Royal Caribbean’s signature entertainment experiences.

The massive structure has become one of the defining design elements of the Icon Class, first introduced aboard Icon of the Seas and later installed on Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. All four AquaDomes have been installed at the Meyer Turku shipyard. 

What’s Next for Hero of the Seas

The AquaDome installation follows several other major construction moments for Hero of the Seas. Earlier milestones included the installation of the Royal Caribbean Pearl structure and the ship’s keel laying in September 2025, when the first steel block was lowered into the building dock at Meyer Turku.

Construction has continued at a steady pace since then, with workers assembling the vessel’s neighborhoods, technical systems, and public spaces as the ship continues to take shape inside the building dock.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas AquaDome: Design, Features and Facts

While installing the AquaDome is one of the shipyard’s most visible construction milestones, significant work remains before Hero of the Seas is ready to welcome guests. Once the vessel leaves the building dock, crews will continue outfitting the ship before sea trials and delivery in 2027.

Hero of the Seas is expected to debut in August 2027 as the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Icon Class.

Like her sister ships, the LNG-powered vessel will feature eight neighborhoods, seven swimming pools, a waterpark, Surfside neighborhood for young families, and accommodations for 5,654 guests at double capacity.

With the massive glass structure now in place, Hero of the Seas is beginning to take on the unmistakable silhouette that has come to define Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class.

Sun Princess Avoids Packed Greek Port and Heads to Italy

Melissa Mayntz
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Sun Princess Avoids Packed Greek Port and Heads to Italy

Key Aspects:

  • Sun Princess had cancelled her August 26 visit to Corfu due to port congestion.
  • A visit to Taranto, Italy is now added to the itinerary on that date as an alternative destination for the 7-night cruise.
  • No other itinerary changes have been announced at this time for the cruise departing Piraeus on August 22.

Europe is filled with fascinating history and rich cultures, and many cruise guests deliberately choose Mediterranean itineraries to explore areas they may not have seen before.

For guests on one upcoming sailing of Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, however, their explorations will be different than they may have expected from the originally scheduled itinerary.

Princess Cruises has reached out to guests booked on the ship’s August 22, 2026 departure from Piraeus (Athens), Greece to alert them to an itinerary change to a completely different country on the 7-night cruise.

“Please be advised that due to cruise ship congestion, Sun Princess will no longer call to Corfu, Greece, on Wednesday, August 26, and will instead call to Taranto, Italy on the same date,” the notification confirmed.

Corfu was to have been the third port visit for the itinerary following stops in Santorini and Montenegro. The one-way itinerary also includes a visit to Sicily before Sun Princess will arrive in Barcelona on August 29.

Any tours guests have already booked through Princess Cruises for their visit to Corfu will be automatically cancelled and refunded back to the original form of payment. New tour options for Taranto will be available online well before the ship sets sail.

At this time, no other itinerary changes for the sailing have been announced and guests should be able to enjoy all their other port visits as planned.

Will Corfu Really Be Overcrowded?

August 26 is certainly planned to be a busy day in Corfu, with a total of seven ships scheduled for the port. Along with Sun Princess, the visiting vessels include Viking Star, both Norwegian Pearl and Gem, Mein Schiff 4, and both MSC Armonia and Fantasia.

Altogether, the seven ships may be bringing more than 17,500 guests to Corfu. Of those guests, the 175,500-gross ton, Sphere class Star Princess can host more than 4,300 guests, roughly 25% of the total who may be visiting the island that day.

Sun Princess
Sun Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: GEORGE STAMATIS)

When a port is overcrowded, there may be fewer tour opportunities available for guests and local retailers, restaurants, and attractions can become overwhelmed. This can lead to a much less pleasant visit for everyone.

Because Star Princess is the largest ship scheduled on August 26, she is also the easiest one to cancel to have the greatest impact on the expected congestion and create a better experience for other guests.

This will naturally be disappointing news to guests who had looked forward to visiting the stunning island, but Taranto also offers a rich history and centuries of culture to explore.

Not the First Congestion Itinerary Change

Cruise Hive has previously reported on similar itinerary changes where port congestion is cited as the explanation.

In August 2025, Celebrity Ascent had to shorten a visit to Santorini by three hours due to port congestion, and earlier that year, Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady had to cancel a visit to Cozumel because of the number of ships visiting at the same time.

It isn’t always a cruise ship’s guest capacity that may cause port congestion and impact itinerary options. At ports where tender boats are necessary, too many ships can slow those water shuttle operations and make visiting the port impractical. Similarly, a lack of available pilots might cause an itinerary change, as it did for Carnival Splendor recently in Australia.

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Port operations such as pier maintenance, repairs, or dredging operations can also create a different type of congestion that might result in port cancellations.

Cruise lines do try to find an alternative port to visit whenever possible. Fortunately for Sun Princess, Taranto is less than 200 miles from Corfu and can easily accommodate one of the two largest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet.

Disney Cruise Line Alerts Guests to Planned System Outage

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Cruise Line Alerts Guests to Planned System Outage

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Cruise Line’s website will be down for a full 24 hours from 4 a.m. on July 9 until 4 a.m. on July 10.
  • The outage is for planned website maintenance and not due to any unexpected technical glitches.
  • Online check-ins, tour or onboard activity bookings, payments, and other features will be unavailable during the outage.

Disney Cruise Line guests have nothing to fear when the cruise line’s website goes down for a full 24 hours in the coming days. The outage is for planned maintenance and Disney Cruise Line has posted a notice to ensure guests are aware of the maintenance period.

The notification is posted as “Important Information” at the top of the cruise line’s website (which, ironically, will be down at the time of the maintenance).

“Beginning at 4:00 AM (EDT) on Thursday, July 9, 2026, through 4:00 AM (EDT) on Friday, July 10, 2026, a planned maintenance will be performed on the Disney Cruise Line reservation system,” the notice confirms.

This means for a full 24 hours, Disney Cruise Line’s reservation system will be unavailable for tasks such as online check-in, arranging cruise activities, booking Port Adventures, or making deposits or final payments.

If guests do have payments due for an upcoming Disney cruise, they do not need to worry.

“Guests with deposits or final payments due during this period will have until Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10:00 PM (EDT) to make their payment,” the notice explains.

The notice is also being sent to booked guests through the Disney Cruise Line app if they have downloaded it to their mobile device.

It is likely that an inactive, explanatory page will be available during the website outage as another reminder to guests about the planned maintenance. This way, anyone who does visit the website during the outage will be aware of the situation rather than encounter unknown errors or other technical difficulties.

Will Cruise Ships Be Impacted by the Shutdown?

The outage should not impact guests embarking on Disney ships that day, as the reservation system is generally separate from cruise terminal check-in. Some slowdowns may be possible, however.

Disney Magic is embarking for a 7-night Alaska sailing in Vancouver that day, while Disney Destiny is embarking in Fort Lauderdale for a 4-night Bahamas itinerary.

Disney Cruise Ships
Disney Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

The line’s newest ship, Disney Adventure, is also setting sail for a 4-night cruise from Singapore, but due to time zone differences 10,000 miles from the Eastern time zone, the ship will already be embarked and just setting sail as the website outage begins.

Furthermore, ship operations should also be unaffected and guests onboard the Disney fleet should not notice any technical problems related to the website during their sailing.

Why Is the System Going Down?

While Disney Cruise Line has not given any details on the “planned maintenance” that requires the website shutdown, it is not uncommon for full site updates to be easier to manage if the website is taken offline temporarily.

Deactivating the website for a few hours, or in this case a full day, can also ensure there are no inadvertent glitches that might cause overbookings, inaccurate information, unrealistic pricing, or other difficulties that would be more challenging to mitigate after the fact.

Worth Reading: Carnival Alerts Guests to Miami Marathon Disruption on Weekend Cruises

This may be a time for Disney Cruise Line to update new ship deployments and release future itineraries, as that is often done during the summer months.

Website maintenance can also refresh graphics, remove known bugs or glitches, purge old or inactive pages, and otherwise help the site operate more efficiently.

Other cruise lines also take down their websites for regular maintenance. In early May, Cruise Hive reported on a planned maintenance outage for Carnival Cruise Line, which lasted 18 hours as the booking system was updated.

Guest information is not at risk during such outages nor are existing bookings typically impacted in any way. While Disney Cruise Line’s outage is longer than most, this only means the cruise line can do a thorough job with updates as well as check for any glitches before reopening the site for everyone to use.

Carnival Doubles Ship Capacity at Celebration Key With New Pier

Lissa Poirot
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Carnival Doubles Ship Capacity at Celebration Key With New Pier

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Corporation has doubled Celebration Key’s docking capacity from two ships to four with a new pier extension.
  • The expansion will allow more than 13,000 guests a day and add roughly 700,000 annual visitors.
  • Princess Cruises and AIDA Cruises will begin calling at the destination in fall 2026.

Celebration Key hasn’t even celebrated its first birthday, and Carnival Corporation is already making room for more visitors.

Less than a year after opening its newest exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island in July 2025, the company has completed Phase 2, adding two new berths that double the number of ships Celebration Key can accommodate at one time.

The new pier extension brings the total to four and allowing more than 13,000 guests to visit in a single day. The project was completed ahead of schedule and is expected to add about 200 ship calls and 700,000 guest visits each year.

“Celebration Key is one of the centerpieces of our Paradise Collection – a bold destination built to redefine what a Caribbean vacation can feel like,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

The expansion comes as Celebration Key continues to see strong demand from Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, with the destination already serving as a regular stop for 20 ships sailing from 10 US homeports. Beginning in September 2026, three- and four-ship days will become routine.

The additional capacity will also give the company more flexibility as other Carnival Corporation brands prepare to begin visiting later this year.

Weinstein says that finishing the pier extension ahead of schedule “gives us a real jump on meeting the extraordinary demand we’re seeing and allows us to bring even more guests to this unique Bahamian paradise sooner than expected.”

Celebration Key, Bahamas
Celebration Key, Bahamas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

The completion of the project was also welcomed by Bahamian officials, who said the investment will continue to drive tourism and employment on Grand Bahama.

“Celebration Key’s expansion reflects continued confidence in Grand Bahama and in The Bahamas as a leading tourism destination,” said Glenys Hanna Martin, the Bahamas’ minister of tourism.

She added that the government’s priority is ensuring investments like Celebration Key create opportunities for local businesses, expand employment, and deliver lasting economic benefits.

Celebration Key to Welcome More Lines

The expanded pier won’t just allow Celebration Key to handle more Carnival Cruise Line ships. It also paves the way for the destination to welcome other Carnival Corporation brands for the first time.

Later this year, both Princess Cruises and AIDA Cruises will begin calling at Celebration Key, expanding the exclusive destination beyond Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. 

Princess Cruises will be the first of the two brands to arrive. The newly launched 177,800-gross-ton Star Princess is scheduled to visit Celebration Key on November 1, 2026, during a roundtrip Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.

Caribbean Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, and Sun Princess will also utilize the expanded piers, bringing passengers from Port Canaveral near Orlando and more from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

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Just over a week later, AIDA Cruises will make its debut at the destination when AIDAdiva arrives on November 9, 2026, during a Caribbean sailing from New York City. AIDAluna will also be arriving from New York City on November 16.

By the time Celebration Key marks its first anniversary on July 19, 2026, the cruise company expects the destination to have welcomed about 2.5 million guests. With the expanded pier now complete, that figure is projected to reach roughly 3.5 million during its second year.

Tempting Offers for Yet Another Oversold Sailing on Royal Caribbean Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Tempting Offers for Yet Another Oversold Sailing on Royal Caribbean Ship

Key Aspects:

  • Another Voyager of the Seas Alaska cruise is overbooked and offering eye-popping options for guests to change their plans.
  • The impacted cruise is the ship’s July 17 sailing from Seattle, another 7-night roundtrip itinerary.
  • Guests who accept the limited-time offer will receive a full fare refund plus a transfer to another cruise or an FCC.

Summer is a busy sailing season and Alaska is one of the most sought-after summer cruise destinations, as guests aboard yet another sailing on Voyager of the Seas are now finding out.

Just a week after one overbooked sailing for the Royal Caribbean ship received outstanding offers for travelers with flexible plans, another departure date has similar tempting offers to coax guests to adjust their sailing date.

The impacted cruise is Voyager of the Seas‘ July 17, 2026 sailing. The 7-night cruise is roundtrip from Seattle, visiting top destinations in Alaska, including Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, with plenty of scenic glacier cruising along the way.

Now, however, select guests have received offers to rebook or cancel their cruise with some extreme benefits if they choose either of those options.

“We are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements,” the email inquiry explained. “If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as “Read”, and gear up for your upcoming adventure – although, there are some pretty sweet options.”

Guests can choose to transfer to another 7-night Alaska cruise on a different sailing date later in the season. The available options are Serenade of the Seas on September 13 roundtrip from Vancouver; Anthem of the Seas roundtrip from Seattle on either September 14 or 21; or still aboard Voyager of the Seas roundtrip from Seattle on either September 18 or 25.

Each of the alternative itineraries is slightly different in terms of destinations, port orders, and exactly when the scenic glacier cruising will take place. All of the sailings, however, do offer amazing experiences in the Last Frontier.

If guests choose one of the alternative sailings (here’s where the “pretty sweet” part of the deal comes in), they will receive a 100% refund of the cruise fare for the July 17 sailing they will no longer be on, a complimentary transfer of their booking to the alternative sailing, and reimbursement for any pre-purchased, non-refundable travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and shuttles.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

Let’s read that again: a full fare refund and you still get to go on a weeklong Alaska cruise, just a slightly different one than originally selected.

Guests will still be responsible for port fees, taxes, gratuities, add-on packages, and other incidental expenses for the replacement cruise, but nevertheless, it is quite a deal.

Second Option Still Includes a Free Cruise

If none of the alternative sailing dates work for guests, they have a second option that is still definitely sweet.

Guests may completely cancel their July 17 booking for a 100% refund, which will be processed back to the original form of payment. Royal Caribbean will also reimburse guests for non-refundable travel expenses associated with the cancellation.

In addition, guests will also receive a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) for the value of the cancelled cruise fare, which can then be used on any future Royal Caribbean voyage that sets sail by July 17, 2027.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Alaska Cruise Ships – Which One Should You Choose?

Any cruise can be booked with the FCC. It does not need to be aboard Voyager of the Seas, does not need to be in Alaska, and doesn’t even need to be a comparable 7-night sailing.

As with any time Royal Caribbean makes these types of overbooking offers, the offer is subject to availability.

Voyager of the Seas Not the Only Ship Overbooked

While this is the second time in just a few weeks that Voyager of the Seas has confirmed overbooking offers, it is not the only Royal Caribbean ship overwhelmed by the popularity of Alaska sailings.

Cruise Hive reported just yesterday that Serenade of the Seas‘ July 19 sailing is also overbooked and guests are receiving equally tempting rebooking and cancellation offers.

At 138,194-gross tons and with a double occupancy passenger capacity of 3,114 guests, Voyager of the Seas is significantly larger than Serenade of the Seas, which comes in at 90,090 gross tons and 2,146 guests.

Nevertheless, both ships are sure to tempt enough guests to take advantage of the very generous offers, permitting the vessels to sail at full capacity and everyone to enjoy a great cruise vacation.

Carnival Pride Marks America’s 250th With a Giant 40-Foot Hat

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Pride Marks America’s 250th With a Giant 40-Foot Hat

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Pride hosted a special America 250 homeport celebration on Sunday, June 28 to kick off patriotic festivities.
  • A 40-foot-tall Uncle Sam hat, a special military tribute, and a celebratory cake were all part of the event.
  • Similar celebrations will also be held in Long Beach, Tampa, and Jacksonville, leading up to the 250th anniversary of the US.

As the 2,124-guest Carnival Pride was home in Baltimore on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Carnival Cruise Line hosted a patriotic celebration to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States with local partners, veterans, business leaders, and government officials.

The event is the first of a series that the cruise line has planned for various homeports in the days leading up to July 4th.

This celebration included a 40-foot-tall inflatable Uncle Sam hat on the top deck during the ship’s embarkation, along with a historic color guard to kick off the celebration.

“As America’s cruise line, we’re proud to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in our homeport cities,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president. “We’re bringing people together to honor our nation, celebrate the local community and thank those who protect our freedom.”

Part of today’s festivities included a dedicated military and first responder tribute. Following the national anthem, all military members and veterans in attendance received a specially designed, limited-edition America250 challenge coin. A festive cake (perfect for America’s birthday!) was also part of the event.

Of course, since Carnival Cruise Line has to include fun in every celebration, the Cat in the Hat was also part of the event. His patriotic attire matched both the honor and the fun of the event.

Carnival Pride departed Baltimore at 4:30 p.m. for a 7-night sailing to the Bahamas with visits planned for Nassau, Princess Cays, and Celebration Key. The ship will be at sea on July 4th as she makes her way back to Baltimore for debarkation the next day.

Carnival Pride America250 Event
Carnival Pride America250 Event

Other Homeports Will Also Celebrate

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed there will be similar homeport celebrations for other ships in the Carnival fleet.

One (or possibly more) of the celebrations will be held in Long Beach, home of Carnival Firenze, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Panorama. The three vessels are not homeported on the same days, however, and it is unknown whether one, two, or all three ships will feature celebrations.

Tampa, home of Carnival Paradise, will also host an America’s Birthday celebration. The Fantasy-class ship will be homeported on Thursday, July 2, but the exact date for the festivities has not been released.

Jacksonville will also host one of the special celebrations while Carnival Elation is in port. The closest departure for the ship before July 4th is also Thursday, July 2, but the event may be on a different day.

Celebrations Onboard and at Sea

Cruise Hive has previously reported on Carnival’s onboard plans for celebrating America 250, including festive Red, White, and Blue deck parties, themed activities, and ship meetups on both the east and west coasts for fireworks shows.

Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald, also shared a special patriotic-themed menu that will be served onboard on July 4th. From “Patriotic Red, White & Blue Spinach Salad” to barbecue chicken to “The Great American Apple Pie” served with vanilla ice cream, there are sure to be treats for every taste.

Carnival Cruise Line is a programming partner for America 250, offering “a focus on educating, engaging, and uniting Americans,” something cruise travel has always done.

More From Cruise Hive

At this time, no other cruise line appears on the list of various official sponsors and partnerships, but other cruise lines are certainly leaning into the festivities.

MSC Cruises, for example, has already announced special cocktails, activities, and other star-spangled fun for all its ships sailing from US homeports.

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