Mexico has officially banned the marketing, importation, and sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes.
Cruisers who bring these devices ashore may be seen as illegally importing these products.
Penalties for violations could include confiscation, detainment, hefty fines, and even jail time.
If you’re cruising to Mexico, you may want to leave your vaping device at home. As of January 17, 2026, a new law banning the importation, sale, and distribution of vapes and e-cigarettes has gone into effect.
This comes after legal reforms regarding this matter were passed by Mexico’s Senate in December 2025.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo published a constitutional reform to the General Health law in the Official Gazette of the Federation on January 16, 2026, noting that the decree would be effective the following day.
“The law will penalize all activities related to electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and other analogous electronic systems or devices specified by law, as well as the production, distribution, and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl, and other unauthorized synthetic drugs,”the amendment states.
This builds upon a smoking banthat was implemented in 2023, which prohibits smoking and vaping in all enclosed public places, as well as beaches, parks, and public transportation.
What This Means for Cruisers
If a cruise guest were to bring a vape or e-cigarette ashore during a port call, even for personal use, they could still be in violation of Mexico’s new law.
The issue is that when cruisers go through the Mexican customs process to enter the country with their vapes, they have technically just illegally imported the product.
Cruise Pier in Cozumel, Mexico (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
“As of January 16, 2026, Mexico is enforcing a nationwide ban on the importation and sale of vapes and e-cigarettes,” Margaritaville at Sea has advised guests booked on Mexico-bound sailings.
“While private possession within the country may still be legal, the key issue for travelers is entering Mexico through customs—including airports and cruise ports,”the cruise line continued.
The ban also applies to all types of vapes, including disposables, refillable models, pods, and even non-nicotine devices.
Possible Penalties For Lawbreakers
If guests are caught, they could see their devices confiscated, face hefty fines of up to $12,500, and/or detainment. The crime is also punishable by up to eight years in prison.
Some cruise fans have already reported that their vapes were confiscated when they attempted to bring them into the country.
“I was stopped at the airport and lost my vape. Was worth a try but did not work out for me. Not gonna try it on my December Panorama cruise with 4 Mexican ports,” one Carnival cruiser shared on social media.
Others did say that they have managed to sneak their vapes into Mexican ports, but doing so is a big risk.
Can Guests Still Vape on Cruise Ships?
For the most part, passengers should still be able to have their vapes onboard cruises to Mexico as long as they don’t bring the devices ashore.
While every cruise line has slightly different policies, guests generally are allowed to smoke and vape in designated areas during their sailings.
Usually, only regular tobacco-based vapes are permitted and guests must still be of legal age (21 in the US) in order to use them onboard. However, it’s always important to confirm the policies for your specific sailing with the cruise line directly.
Mariner of the Seas‘ Galveston embarkation is delayed on Monday, January 19 due to a cruise terminal power outage.
The cause of the outage has not been announced, but undoubtedly, work is progressing to restore power.
The ship will likely be delayed leaving for her next 5-night cruise and guests will be notified if the itinerary is adjusted.
Guests boarding Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas were surprised to find an embarkation delay for their voyage setting sail from Galveston, Texas on Monday, January 19, 2026.
While this is the season for fog that can cause significant cruise ship delays in the Lone Star State, the weather in Galveston on Monday was fair and balmy.
Furthermore, there are no technical or operational problems with Mariner of the Seas that contributed to the delay.
Instead, the problems have been with the cruise terminal itself, where a significant power outage hampered operations and caused hefty delays both for guests debarking the Voyager-class vessel as well as incoming guests.
While Royal Caribbean has not released an official statement for the delay, guests on the ship, as well as those arriving to board today, have been alerted to the difficulty and given rough guidance for the change.
“The terminal is out of power, boarding times rescheduled by 2 hours,”one incoming guest shared on Reddit.“If your scheduled arrival is 1p, arrive at 3p. Happy sailing!”
At this time, no definitive cause for the power outage has been confirmed. Guests have noted that equipment inside the cruise terminal is not functioning, including escalators, and it is taking longer than typical to process guests through customs and security.
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
“It’s in darkness. We had to bump our luggage down 4 flights of stairs,”one guest noted on Facebook.
While the situation is undoubtedly frustrating for everyone involved, cruise terminal staff are undoubtedly working to resolve the outage as quickly as possible. Depending on the cause, this may require service and maintenance professionals or other assistance before power can be restored.
Will the Next Sailing Be Delayed?
Mariner of the Seas is just finishing a 4-night sailing that departed on Thursday, January 15 and visited Cozumel, Mexico. Though the ship returned on schedule, the power outage delays are certainly having a knock-on effect for guests with post-cruise travel plans such as flights to catch.
The ship is due to begin a 5-night sailing with calls to both Costa Maya and Cozumel. The original schedule calls for Mariner of the Seas to depart Galveston at roughly 3 p.m., though with the delay, it is likely the ship will be leaving later then initially planned.
Because the itinerary includes a full day at sea before arriving in Costa Maya on Wednesday, January 21, there is certainly time to make up for the delay if it is not too extensive.
Royal Caribbean’s Galveston Cruise Terminal
Many cruise ships sail at slower speeds during sea days to provide a less windy and more comfortable experience for guests on the open decks. Overnight, the ship will then increase speed on the way to the next port of call.
This gives Mariner of the Seas a margin for delay, though how much of a margin will depend on exactly when the ship is able to leave Galveston.
If necessary, the port visits may be shortened or one port might even be cancelled if the ship would be unable to reach Mexico in time for a suitable visit. This does not seem likely, but it is something embarking guests should keep in mind.
Guests will be updated about any itinerary changes as soon as plans are confirmed.
Mariner of the Seas can welcome 3,114 guests onboard for each sailing. The ship is homeported from Galveston through October 2026, at which time she will move to New Orleans for the winter before deploying to Southampton in May 2027.
Are Any Other Ships Impacted?
Mariner of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship docked in Galveston on Monday, but Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Legend is also back at her Texas homeport for the day.
There have been no reports that Carnival Legend is impacted in any way, as the power outage may be just at the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal.
The next Royal Caribbean ship due to dock in Galveston is when Mariner of the Seas returns on Saturday, January 24. Hopefully, full power will be restored long before the ship is ready for her next debarkation.
Here is Royal Caribbean’s cruise director schedule for 2026-2027.
Many fan favorite cruise directors remain on the schedule, but everyone on the list is talented and well-respected.
These cruise directors are responsible for being the face of the fun and for organizing entertainment behind the scenes.
Cruise directors are not only the leaders of the fun onboard, but many have become cruise-world celebrities.
The 2026-2027 cruise director schedule for Royal Caribbean is available, and guests can use this as a tool to book sailings that coincide with their favorite cruise directors’ contracts.
Keep in mind that this schedule can shift and dates could be adjusted as new information comes to light, so remember to be flexible if the cruise director assignment changes for your sailing.
Adventure of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Jan 31 – TBA
John Blair
Allure of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
TBA – 19 Jul, 2026
John Grantham
Anthem of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
TBA
Kat Falcon
10 May, 2026 – TBA
Steve Kinsley
Brilliance of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Unknown – 01 Feb, 2026
Eric Rodas
1 Feb – 12 Apr, 2026
Adam Donaldson
3 Aug – 05 Oct, 2026
Adam Donaldson
Enchantment of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
TBA
Kim Scott
Explorer of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Unknown – Mar 2026
Jerry Salgado
Mar – Jul 2026
Chris Gruby
Freedom of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
16 Feb, 2026 – TBA
Dennis Charles
TBA
Susan Adams
Grandeur of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
TBA
Talita Leoni
Harmony of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
09 Nov, 2025 – TBA
Katie Knowles
Icon of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
10 Jan – 21 Mar, 2026
Cory Rogers
08 May – 19 Sep, 2026
Cory Rogers
21 Nov, 2026 – 13 Mar, 2027
Cory Rogers
30 Sep – 10 Oct, 2026
Mark Walker
Independence of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
10 Sep, 2025 – TBA
Susan Adams
26 May – Oct 1, 2026
Tornado Tanya
26 Sep, 2026 – 29 Nov, 2026
Brian Leavitt
29 Nov, 2026 – 28 Mar, 2027
Tornado Tanya
Jewel of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
24 Jan, 2026 – Ended
Michele Scarpato
TBA – May 2026
Bern Fernandes
May 2026 – TBA
Eric Lopez
Legend of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Summer 2026 – TBA
Mercedes Lafuente
Fall 2026 – TBA
Gemma Hugo
Liberty of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
9 Feb, 2026 – TBA
Mark Rous
TBA
Clo O’Conner
Mariner of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
15 Jan – 30 May, 2026
Daniel Gilham
May 2026 – 3 Aug, 2026
Lauren Armstrong
03 Aug – 27 Nov, 2026
Daniel Gilham
Navigator of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
12 Dec, 2025 – Ended
Mark Rous
6 Feb – 9 Mar, 2026
Kelly Leuch
17 April, 206 – TBA
Mey Lau
Oasis of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
TBA
Katie Knowles
Odyssey of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
16 Nov, 2025 – 15 Mar, 2026
Steve Knisley
15 Mar, 2026 – TBA
Eric Rodas
31 May – 6 Sep, 2026
Elvis Pinto
Ovation of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
24 Nov, 2025 – 02 Feb, 2026
Mike Hunnerup
02 Feb, 2026 – 29 May, 2026
Ricky Matthews
22 May, 2026 – 07 Aug, 2026
Brian Leavitt
07 Aug, 2026 – 11 Dec, 2026
Ricky Matthews
30 Nov, 2026 – 16 Feb, 2027
Brian Leavitt
Quantum of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Unknown – 16 Jan, 2026
Bal Gabor
16 Jan, 2026 – TBA
Tami Salto
TBA
Kelly Leuch
Radiance of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Unknown – TBA
Adam Donaldson
20 Jan – 6 Mar, 2026
Brian Leavitt
9 Mar, 2026 – TBA
Joff Eaton
27 Mar – 20 April, 2026
Elvis Pinto
22 Apr, 2026 – TBA
TT Alkan
Rhapsody of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
Until Early May, 2026
Sheenagh Walker
2 May, 2026 – TBA
Renato Arana
Serenade of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
24 Jan, 2026 – TBA
Arturo Encalada
Oct 2026 – Jan 2027
Chris Gruby
Spectrum of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
28 Jan, 2026 – TBA
Bonnie Bai
Star of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
12 Oct, 2025 – TBA
Chris Brown
25 Jan, 2026 – TBA
Dan Whitney
10 May, 2026 – TBA
Chris Brown
Symphony of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
9 Nov, 2025 – Mar 2026
Jamie Fentiman
Mid-May – Mid Sep, 2026
Jamie Fentiman
10 Sep, 2026 – TBA
Elvis Pinto
26 Nov, 2026 – Mar 2027
Jamie Fentiman
Utopia of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
3 Oct, 2025 – 30 Jan, 2026
Marc Walker
Jan 2026 – Feb 2026
James Robinson
1 May, 2026 – 17 Aug, 2026
Marc Walker
19 Oct, 2026 – 08 Feb, 2027
Marc Walker
Vision of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
9 Oct, 2025 – 24 Jan, 2026
Dominic Richard
24 Jan, 2026 – TBA
Bill Brunkhorst
14 May, 2026 – TBA
Bern Fernandes
Voyager of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
27 Oct, 2025 – 13 Mar, 2026
Tornado Tanya
13 Mar, 2026 – TBA
Mike Hunnerup
Wonder of the Seas
Dates
Cruise Director
28 Nov, 2025 – Ended
Katy McCullagh
27 Mar, 2026 – TBA
Michelle Oliveira
What Do Royal Caribbean Cruise Directors Do?
As is the case with all the major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean cruise directors are the chief social officers. This means they are responsible for being the face of the onboard entertainment while also organizing the fun from behind the scenes.
They are typically onboard for four to six months at a time, after which they usually get around two months off to recover from going non-stop in these high-energy roles.
Sharing Information
Royal Caribbean cruise directors are a key part of the guest experience from the moment they step onboard. Cruise directors are responsible for making announcements to keep guests onboard informed about what is happening.
Evening Event on Royal Caribbean (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
They also often appear on ship TV channels in filmed updates to give general announcements for the day and port information.
On embarkation day, they welcome guests onboard and shift into a safety role by making sure passengers know when and how to complete mandatory muster drills. During debarkation day, they provide instructions on where to go and offer the final farewell.
Hosting Entertainment
In addition to conveying information, cruise directors welcome guests to production shows and host their own entertainment and game shows, such as “Love & Marriage,” “Battle of the Sexes,” “Majority Rules,” and “Family Feud.”
During milestone moments for the cruise line, such as the unveiling of a new ship, top cruise directors will often be tapped to host events like naming ceremonies.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Directors (Photo Credit: BingBong Entertainment)
For example, Cruise Director Mike Szwajkowski played an integral role in the christening of Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s second Icon-class ship.
They also host important social gatherings, including themed parties and meet & greets with the captain.
Offstage, cruise directors mingle with guests and make sure they are enjoying their vacations. As they go, they collect guest feedback and make adjustments to the entertainment offerings accordingly.
Behind-the-Scenes Leadership
When cruise directors step out of the spotlight to crew-only areas or to their cabin, they don’t just get to relax. They are either using this time to plan or to get ready for the next event.
They are responsible for scheduling and organizing the fun, which means assigning other members of their team to lead events and scheduling activities.
Additionally, it is their job to help train newer members of the guest entertainment team and facilitate their growth.
They may also assist the shoreside teams in sourcing new entertainment, such as comedy acts or live musicians, and may liaise with talent or watch auditions.
The cruise director also helps make the performance schedule for entertainment around the ship, such as musicians who perform in bars and lounges.
Taking the Fun Online
Many cruise directors have become celebrities within the cruise world, and have developed quite a following on social media.
As an example, Marc Walker currently has just over 62,000 followers on his Facebook page, BingBong Entertainment. He is the current cruise director for Utopia of the Seas.
This means that in addition to everything they are doing to manage the entertainment onboard, these cruise directors are also making time to create content and engage with cruise lovers on social media.
Putting energy into building up their public image is important because it helps get guests excited about sailing with Royal Caribbean and with these cruise directors.
A 27-year-old man was found deceased onboard Ovation of the Seas in Singapore on Monday, January 19.
Foul play is not suspected in the incident, but no official cause of death has yet been released.
Debarkation was delayed for several hours while authorities assessed the situation, but the ship has set sail again.
The end of a cruise vacation can be a sad occasion, but nothing is sadder than when an individual passes away during a sailing.
A 27-year-old man passed away onboard Ovation of the Seas as the ship was reaching the end of its 3-night itinerary to Penang Island in Malaysia. The cruise had initially departed on January 16, and Penang Island was the only port of call.
According to The Straits Times, the man was found unresponsive onboard the ship after arrival at the Marina Bay Cruise Terminal in Singapore. He was pronounced deceased by the ship’s doctor on the morning of Monday, January 19, 2026. The emergency call to the Singaporean police was made at approximately 6:35 a.m.
While Ovation of the Seas was not confirmed as the vessel on which the death occurred, no other cruise ships were docked in Singapore that day.
Preliminary results of the investigation do not indicate foul play, but no cause of death has yet been announced. Further investigation will likely include interviews, review of security footage, and other steps to determine what caused the man’s death.
It has not been released whether or not the man was one of the more than 4,180 cruise guests onboard the Quantum-class ship or if he may have been one of the crew members. Furthermore, his identity has not been released, as is customary to protect the privacy of family members and friends.
Photo Credit: Justin Tiang
Guests onboard the ship did report to the news site Mothership that an emergency announcement was made before 6 a.m., calling a response team to a guest cabin. The cabin was later seen to be blocked off and padlocked.
While the code used in the emergency was not revealed, “Alpha” would generally indicate a medical emergency, while “Sierra” would signify the need for a stretcher for a medical emergency. “Operation Rising Star” could confirm a death.
Cruise Hive has reached out to Royal Caribbean for a statement about the incident, but has not yet heard back.
Debarkation Delayed
Due to the incident, debarkation in Singapore was delayed for roughly three hours. This would be the time necessary for the emergency response team to resolve the situation, authorities to board the ship to begin their investigation, and any precautions to be taken to mitigate rumors or confusion surrounding the incident.
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)
There is no word whether or not Ovation of the Seas may be delayed on her next itinerary, another 3-night sailing to Penang Island that will return to Singapore on Thursday, January 22.
The 168,666-gross-ton ship has already departed Singapore for that sailing and appears to be on schedule for her port visit on Tuesday, January 20.
Disturbing Similarities
If this incident did occur in a guest stateroom, it may be disturbingly similar to the shocking death of Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old woman who was found deceased onboard Carnival Horizon on November 8, 2025.
Kepner’s death was confirmed to be manual strangulation and there is no doubt that foul play was involved in that case, though the FBI investigation is still ongoing.
Deaths do occur on cruise ships for a variety of reasons, including medical incidents, accidents, and violent altercations. The ship does have an onboard medical team as well as a medical center equipped to handle most issues and injuries, as well as a morgue if need be.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased man as well as the crew members onboard Ovation of the Seas who will still strive to provide an exceptional vacation experience to everyone onboard despite such challenging circumstances.
Norwegian Prima broke free of her mooring lines while docked in Port Canaveral on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Sudden wind gusts up to 48 miles per hour contributed to the stress that snapped the ropes holding the ship.
No injuries were reported in the incident and the ship’s 7-night Caribbean itinerary should not be impacted.
Norwegian Prima is having a rough start to her January 18, 2026 departure from Port Canaveral. Hours before the ship’s scheduled departure, while guests were embarking, sudden wind gusts broke the ship’s mooring lines and she drifted away from the dock briefly.
The incident happened at roughly 2 p.m. on Sunday. Throughout the morning, winds had been relatively steady at 5-7 miles per hour, but just after 9 a.m., winds began to rise to 15-20 miles per hour as a cold front passed through the region.
Just before 2 p.m., sudden gusts were recorded as high as 48 mph, and even steady winds were noted as high as 30-35 mph.
The lines securing the 143,535-gross-ton ship to the pier were quickly stretched beyond their load-bearing capacity and snapped, causing the ship to drift slightly away from the dock.
Video posted of the incident shows the lines breaking, as well as two tugboats in position to move the cruise ship back to the dock and hold her in place safely while new lines can be attached.
Norwegian Prima Breaks From Moorings (Photo Credit: Jodie Romain)
Guests onboard heard “Code Echo” called over the ship’s public address system. This is a standard emergency code used to alert crew members to high winds impacting ship operations, including when a vessel may begin to drift.
At no time was Norwegian Prima completely loose or in danger, and no damages or injuries have been reported from the incident.
“Things seem to be good now, but that was a fun start before we actually get started!”said one guest on Reddit about the situation.
While Norwegian Prima was quickly brought back under control and safely secured, there were brief interruptions to the embarkation process and luggage delivery operations until the situation was resolved.
Itinerary Not Impacted
Norwegian Prima was docked at Cruise Terminal 5 at the west end of Port Canaveral on Sunday. While the lines breaking caused a slight disruption to operations at the time, the cruise ship was still expected to depart as planned at 6 p.m.
The itinerary is a 7-night Caribbean voyage, with calls to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico before the ship returns to central Florida on Sunday, January 25.
Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Studio Porto Sabbia)
At this time, there is no expected adjustment to the itinerary and despite the brief interlude of strong winds, Norwegian Prima should have fairly smooth sailing for her voyage.
The ship remains homeported from Port Canaveral through mid-November, offering a variety of Caribbean itineraries. In November, she will reposition to San Juan for different sailings, including Eastern Caribbean routes and visits to Barbados.
In April 2027, Norwegian Prima will head to Europe for the summer season before returning to San Juan that autumn.
Not the First Line Breaks for Norwegian Prima
This incident is not the first time Norwegian Prima has broken free from mooring lines. In fact, this is the third time such an incident has happened with the first ship in the innovative Prima class.
In July 2023, Norwegian Primabroke free of her moorings while docked in Zeebrugge, Belgium for a port visit. In that incident, both her forward and aft gangways were dragged into the water, but no one was injured. Guests were held ashore briefly while new gangways were attached after the ship was brought back into a secure position.
The ship broke free from her moorings a second time during embarkation in Galveston in January 2024. Just as with today’s incident, strong wind gusts broke the lines and the ship was briefly loose at the dock before being firmly resecured.
It may seem concerning that this is the third time the lines have snapped for Norwegian Prima in her relatively short service life, as the ship only began sailing in September 2022.
At 20 decks high (16 of those decks accessible to passengers), Norwegian Prima has a proportionally tall profile that can be particularly susceptible to high winds. It is important to note, however, that the ship has enjoy many incident-free sailings and that any cruise ship could be subject to unusual conditions that cause lines to snap.
It is a credit to the crew members as well as the fast actions of port workers at all three locations that none of these incidents led to any injuries and Norwegian Prima was able to safely set sail as planned.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) boasts an array of ships within its fleet, including some of the most innovative and family-friendly cruise ships on the oceans today.
At the moment, there are 20 NCL ships in the fleet, with Norwegian Aqua being the newest and Norwegian Spirit being the oldest. The fleet will expand even further when Norwegian Luna arrives in 2026 and Norwegian Aura in 2027.
So now you know which of NCL’s cruise ships are bigger than the rest and which are newer and which are older — but what else do you need to know before you book that cruise? Here are the need-to-know details on each ship, as well as a few fun facts.
We’ve listed the Norwegian Cruise Line ships by age, including the upcoming Norwegian Luna and Norwegian Aura:
Norwegian Aura (2027)
Norwegian Aura Cruise Ship
Norwegian Cruise Line is elevating its Prima-class ships once again in 2027 with the arrival of Norwegian Aura, announced on January 15, 2026, and reported by Cruise Hive. The vessel will become the largest in the fleet at an impressive 168,000 gross tons, making it 10% larger than Norwegian Aqua and Luna. There will also be a total of 1,976 staterooms.
The ship will be the first to feature Ocean Heights, a new fun zone for guests to enjoy, and it will span from 18 to 21! The space includes NCL’s first -ever mat racing dual waterslides. The entire area will also be illuminated like an aura at night. The open spaces onboard will also be 20% more expensive than Norwegian Aqua and Luna.
Norwegian Aura will debut from Barcelona in Spain on May 21, 2027. The new ship will begin its inaugural season from Miami, Florida, in June 2027 and will offer seven-day Eastern Caribbean voyages through October 2027. Aura will shift to Western Caribbean sailings from winter 2027.
Will Arrive: May 2027
Gross Tonnage: 168,000
Length: 1,130 feet
Guest Capacity: 3,840
Shipyard: Fincantieri
Norwegian Luna (2026)
Norwegian Luna Cruise Ship
Norwegian Luna will become the second cruise ship built for the Prima Plus class and sister ship to Norwegian Aqua. The vessel will feature the thrilling Aqua Slidecoaster, a digital sports complex called Glow Court, and many of the features already found on other Prima-class ships. However, there will no longer be any go-kart track. The ship will be based out of Miami and will sail the Caribbean.
Will Arrive: March 2026
Gross Tonnage: 156,300
Guest Capacity: 3,571
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Aqua (2025)
Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Aqua is the third Prima-class cruise ship ordered by the cruise line. The ship is also 10% larger than earlier sister ships at an increased 156,300 gross tons and a passenger capacity of 3,571. The ship is the next generation of the class and also features the first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide.
I actually sailed on the newest ship in the fleet along with Cruise Hive staff member Paul Bartlett, you can see what he thought here.
Entered Service: April 2025
Gross Tonnage: 156,300
Guest Capacity: 3,571
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Viva (2023)
Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Robert McGillivray)
Debuted in 2023, Norwegian Viva was built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. The ship features some of the same amenities and world-first offerings that can currently be seen on Norwegian Prima, Viva’s Prima-class sister.
The ship brings more than 43,000 square feet of outdoor space, more than one infinity pool and a cool dining concept called the Indulge Food Hall, which encompasses nearly a dozen restaurants all in one dining experience.
Entered Service: August 2023
Gross Tonnage: 142,500
Guest Capacity: 3,215
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Prima (2022)
Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Studio Porto Sabbia)
Debuting in 2022 and kicking off the Prima class, Norwegian Prima was also built at the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. Guessed to cost the cruise line approximately $850 million to build, the ship features world-class accommodations, a wealth of suite options, and a bigger and better go-karting track, unlike anything cruisers have ever seen before.
Entered Service: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 143,535
Guest Capacity: 3,099
Shipyard: Marghera, Fincantieri
Norwegian Encore (2019)
Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Encore was the last Breakaway Plus ship. With nearly 30 different dining and drinking venues aboard the massive ship, as well as tons of family-friendly entertainment, cruisers certainly won’t be wanting for things to do, no matter where they sail.
Entered Service: 2019
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 169,116
Guest Capacity: 3,958
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Bliss (2018)
Photo Courtesy: Port of Seattle
Designed with improved energy efficiency in mind, so as to better meet Alaskan environmental regulations during Alaskan cruises, Norwegian Bliss was built by Meyer Werft in Germany.
The ship offers 20 decks and more than 2,200 cabins. Like other Breakaway Plus ships, Norwegian Bliss offers a wealth of dining options and entertainment spaces.
Entered Service: 2018
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 168,028
Guest Capacity: 4,010
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Joy (2017)
Photo Credit: Igor Grochev / Shutterstock.com
Another mammoth Breakaway Plus-class ship, Norwegian Joy, was likewise built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Delivered in 2017, the ship has sailed around both Asia and North America.
Despite being in the same class, Norwegian Joy does stand apart in a few ways, from sister ship and predecessor Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Joy, for example, has a lower guest capacity, but also more restaurants, a larger casino and more shopping options.
Entered Service: 2017
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 167,725
Guest Capacity: 3,776
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Escape (2015)
Photo Credit: Mia2you / Shutterstock.com
The first of the Breakaway Plus-class ships, Norwegian Escape was likewise built by Meyer Werft in Germany. When Norwegian Escape debuted, it featured the largest water park in the entire NCL fleet.
Entered Service: 2015
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 164,998
Guest Capacity: 4,218
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Getaway (2014)
Photo Credit: StockPhotosLV / Shutterstock
One of two Breakaway-class ships, Norwegian Getaway was built by Meyer Werft in Germany and, at the time of its debut, was the ninth-largest cruise ship in the world. It featured a range of new amenities specific to its class, such as restaurants helmed by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Grammy and magic-themed entertainment areas.
Entered Service: 2014
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 145,655
Guest Capacity: 3,903
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Breakaway (2013)
Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock
The first Breakaway-class ship, Norwegian Breakaway was actually named by the public, via a contest that NCL hosted in 2011. Built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway shares many amenities with sister ship Norwegian Getaway, such as a Geoffrey Zakarian-designed restaurant.
Entered Service: 2013
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 145,655
Guest Capacity: 3,903
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Epic (2010)
Photo Credit: Vintagepix / Shutterstock
One of NCL’s stand-alone ships without a class, Norwegian Epic debuted in 2010 after being built at the STX France Cruise SA, Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. When built, the ship was the third-largest in the world.
Originally, the cruise ship was intended to have some sister ships, but a dispute with the builder caused the other two ships to be canceled, leaving Norwegian Epic alone.
Entered Service: 2010
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 155,873
Guest Capacity: 4,070
Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique, France
Norwegian Gem (2007)
Image Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
The last Jewel-class ship, Norwegian Gem, was built in 2007 by Meyer Werft in Germany. Built at a cost of $700 million, the ship shares exterior features with Norwegian’s Dawn Class, though its interior and amenities are all Jewel-class.
Entered Service: 2007
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,530
Guest Capacity: 2,344
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Jade (2006)
Photo Credit: David Fowler / Shutterstock
Originally built by Meyer Werft in Germany as Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Jade received a rebranding in 2008 when Pride of Hawaii was removed from the Hawaiian market and redeployed.
Along with the name change, the ship also received new livery and extra features at that time, including the addition of a casino.
Entered Service: 2006
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,558
Guest Capacity: 2,352
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Pearl (2006)
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Norwegian Pearl
Launched in 2006, Norwegian Pearl was built by Meyer Werft in Germany. The ship has made appearances on a variety of television shows and documentaries and frequently hosts themed or special interest cruises.
Entered Service: 2006
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 93,530
Guest Capacity: 2,344
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Jewel (2005)
Photo Credit: GTS Productions / Shutterstock
The first Jewel-class ship, Norwegian Jewel, debuted in 2005 after being built by Meyer Werft in Germany. Similar to sister ship Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel has connections to several pop culture figures; the ship’s godmother is former First Lady Melania Trump and the ship appeared on an episode of The Apprentice.
Entered Service: 2005
Refurbished: 2022
Gross Tonnage: 93,502
Guest Capacity: 2,330
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Pride of America (2005)
Photo Credit: A. Michael Brown
Built partially in Mississippi and partially in Germany, Pride of America was part of an NCL effort to build and flag several cruise ships within the United States.
When inaugurated in 2005, the ship was the first new U.S.-flagged deep-water cruise ship in multiple decades. Because of its U.S. registration, the ship has no casino, a mostly U.S. crew and only sails around the United States.
Entered Service: 2005
Refurbished: 2025
Gross Tonnage: 80,439
Guest Capacity: 2,180
Shipyard: Lloyd Werft, Germany
Norwegian Dawn (2002)
Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship
Built by Meyer Werft in Germany (and originally built for Star Cruises), Norwegian Dawn was the first NCL cruise ship to feature hull art. Now, the cruise line is known for its colorful exteriors.
Entered Service: 2002
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 92,250
Guest Capacity: 2,290
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Star (2001)
Photo Credit: Galina Savina / Shutterstock
The first Dawn-class ship, Norwegian Star, like Norwegian Dawn, was built for Star Cruises before being transferred over to NCL. Norwegian Star was built by Meyer Werft in Germany.
Entered Service: 2001
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 91,740
Guest Capacity: 2,298
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Sun (2001)
Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO / Shutterstock.com
Built by Lloyd Werft in Germany, Norwegian Sun was the last Sun-class ship. She was launched in 2001 in a dual christening ceremony with sister ship Norwegian Star. In April 2025, the cruise line announced that Norwegian Sun would leave the fleet in 2026 for the Indian-based cruise line Cordelia Cruises.
Entered Service: 2001
Refurbished: 2021
Gross Tonnage: 78,309
Guest Capacity: 1,878
Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Norwegian Sky (1999)
Norwegian Sky Cruise Ship
Originally ordered by Costa Cruises, Norwegian Sky was built by Lloyd Werft in Germany. For a short time, Norwegian Sky, now a Sun-class ship, sailed as Pride of Aloha. The vessel will also depart the fleet for Cordelia Cruises in 2026.
Entered Service: 1999
Refurbished: 2024
Gross Tonnage: 77,104
Guest Capacity: 1,944
Shipyard: Lloyd Werft, Germany
Norwegian Spirit (1998)
Photo Courtesy: NCL
Built in 1998 for Star Cruises by Meyer Werft, Norwegian Spirit officially became a NCL vessel in 2004. Norwegian Spirit is one of the few NCL ships that do not fit into any particular Norwegian ship class.
Freedom of the Seas will be using the MSC Cruises’ terminal at PortMiami for the January 19, 2026 departure.
The alternative terminal use comes just days after the construction on the new Terminal G has begun.
Guests are advised to prepare for walking as the MSC Cruises terminal is the largest in the world.
Guests boarding Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas on Monday, January 19 in PortMiami will feel like they’re setting sail with MSC Cruises – because they kind of are.
With the demolition of the old Terminal G to make way for the construction of a new and updated cruise terminal, there is no designated Royal Caribbean terminal available for Freedom of the Seas to use for Monday’s departure. The cruise line has reached out to booked guests to alert them to the alternative plans.
“Our usual terminal is currently undergoing renovations, and in the meantime, we’re excited to be using the brand-new Terminal AA, courtesy of our friends at MSC,”the email notification confirmed.
The email does alert guests that the MSC Cruises terminal “has the feel of an airport concourse” and to be prepared for extensive walking.
In fact, Terminal AA, which opened in April 2025, is the world’s largest cruise terminal at 492,678 square feet, with four levels capable of welcoming three cruise ships simultaneously.
Guests are reminded to follow the port signage for Terminal AA, noting that they will be driving by Royal Caribbean’s Terminal A along the way.
“That is not your terminal – do not stop there,”the email urges.“You’re sailing from Terminal AA for this sailing, so stay in the proper lane and follow the signs accordingly.”
Guests will also utilize the parking facilities for Terminal AA, which will open for arriving guests at 11 a.m. Prior to that time, embarking guests will not be able to enter the parking area as it is necessary for debarking guests to exit first.
Royal Caribbean signage will be in place to guide guests to the proper embarkation point for Freedom of the Seas as they head off on their 5-night voyage to the Bahamas, with visits to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Who’s Using Terminal A?
In addition to the now incapacitated Terminal G, Terminal A at PortMiami is also a Royal Caribbean terminal. In fact, it’s not altogether that old, having just opened in late 2018.
At the time, Terminal A was the largest cruise terminal in the US and was designed to accommodate two Oasis-class ships. It is one Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, that will be using the facilities on Monday, January 19.
While Freedom of the Seas is smaller as the lead ship in the Freedom class, ongoing renovations and updates at Terminal A make it less practical to host two ships for the time being.
Royal Caribbean PortMiami Terminal (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
There are no changes to Freedom of the Seas‘ departure plans or overall itinerary. The ship offers 4- and 5-night sailings from Miami year-round, visiting destinations such as Nassau, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Grand Turk, Jamaica, and other ports depending on sailing date and cruise length.
Occasional 9-night sailings are also offered to Southern Caribbean destinations, including Curacao, Aruba, and Cabo Rojo. Nearly every Freedom of the Seas sailing also visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Coming Up at Terminal G
Just over a week ago, ground was broken on what will become the new Terminal G at the western end of PortMiami’s main channel, next to the Virgin Voyages terminal.
Demolition of the existing Cruise Terminal G began in July 2025, at which time a bit of berth juggling has become necessary to accommodate all planned cruise ships at the busy cruise port.
The new terminal will be more environmentally updated with silver LEED certification and will be sized to accommodate the Icon-class ships and up to 7,000 guests.
A multi-level parking garage and a transportation hub for buses, ride shares, and shuttles is also part of the new terminal development.
No confirmed opening date has yet been announced for Cruise Terminal G, but it is expected to welcome its first guests in late 2027. Ships from the entire Royal Caribbean Group – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea – will utilize the new terminal.
Undoubtedly, Royal Caribbean will be amenable to generously “sharing” the new terminal with other cruise lines if necessary, just as MSC Cruises’ generosity has helped out Royal Caribbean ships.
Cruise Hive now has a Cruise Drinks Package Calculator tool.
This feature allows guests to see if they are saving or losing money on cruise ship drink packages.
The calculator compares the cost of what guests expect to drink daily against the daily price of cruise ship drink packages.
Many of the major cruise lines offer drink packages to their guests, where passengers essentially pay for their drinks in advance in order to save money onboard. But are guests really saving money?
Cruise Hive now has a feature that will calculate if passengers are actually saving money or losing money when they invest in drink packages based on their specific needs. It’s called the Cruise Drinks Package Calculator, and you can check it out here.
Saving Guests’ Money
The cruise lines encourage guests to invest in drink packages in advance by saying that they will save money onboard.
However, that is not true for every passenger. It ultimately comes down to the needs of the specific guest and what package they are interested in purchasing.
For example, guests who love to indulge at the bar and enjoy specialty coffees and teas daily may benefit from a premium or deluxe package rather than purchasing à la carte onboard.
Cruise Hive’s Drink Package Calculator
However, people who consume less or no alcohol and forgo specialty drinks and soft drinks might find that they actually save money purchasing their refreshments as they go.
Cruise Hive’s Cruise Drinks Package Calculator lets guests compare the cost of their average daily drinking habits with cruise drink packages to see if they are actually making a worthy investment.
Guests are given an accurate idea of how the drink package falls into their budget rather than simply guessing, which helps them make better decisions for their vacations and their wallets.
How To Use the Calculator
The first step is to access the tool, which can be found on the Cruise Hive website under the “Cruise Tools” tab.
Then, all you have to do is select your cruise line, set the gratuity percentage (if applicable), and choose your package tier.
Next, you will be prompted to enter the number of different types of drinks you consume each day on average, including waters, coffee, soda, cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits.
Cruise Hive’s Drink Package Calculator
Your average daily bar spend will automatically be calculated and compared to the total daily package cost. A box will appear at the bottom of the screen that shows the specific amount you would be saving or losing by purchasing the package.
If you would like to reference your results later, you can also have them emailed to your inbox by entering your name and email address at the bottom of the page.
Cruise Hive’s Drink Package Calculator Result
At the moment, this feature is available for Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Holland America Line.
But make sure to stay tuned, as more helpful features and additional cruise lines will be added in the future.
Drink Packages Can Be Confusing
Every cruise line handles drink packages a little bit differently, which can lead to confusion about what is included and who needs to purchase packages.
Many passengers end up purchasing packages without fully understanding them because they’ve been told it’s the right thing to do by the cruise line and other cruise fans.
For example, brands like Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean sell drink packages on a per-person basis.
However, many don’t realize right off the bat that all adults staying in the same cruise cabin are typically required to purchase a package once one person does to prevent sharing. In other words, it’s an all-or-nothing situation.
Additionally, some cruise lines include gratuity for the crew as part of the package’s purchase price, which is what Princess Cruises does for the Premier and Plus packages.
Other brands, like Norwegian Cruise Line, tack on a gratuity and service fee of 20% to their drink packages.
With these details changing from brand to brand, it’s certainly a lot of information to keep straight. Hopefully, this calculator can make your cruise planning easier.
This week’s edition of Cruise Hive’s news update is chock full of developments across the industry. Stay on top of it all by reading our coverage of Norwegian Cruise Line unveiling a rebranding campaign, Royal Caribbean cancelling all calls to Labadee through 2026, and an unlucky cruise guest missing his ship after arriving at the wrong departure port.
Get your daily cruise news fix by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, delivered to your inbox each morning.
Guest Embarrassed After His Items Are Confiscated
A Carnival Cruise Line guest was shocked to learn that security officials confiscated his Leatherman multi-tool and laser pen/flashlight, items that he had packed in a suitcase and routinely brought on his cruise vacations.
Sailing aboard a recent Carnival Spirit cruise, crew members had delivered only two of the three pieces of luggage the guest and a companion were sailing with. Curious, the guest went to a crew area where luggage is sorted and asked about his missing suitcase.
After finding it, the bag was scanned and some items were identified as suspicious. The guest was asked to open the bag, and the offending items were found and confiscated.
The guest posted on brand ambassador John Heald’s Facebook page, informing him of the incident he described as embarrassing and degrading. While Heald offered no specific advice to the guest, he did ask others to comment on items they’ve had confiscated.
Plenty of people responded, telling Heald about various items they’ve had taken from them, such as travel fans, flashlights, an electric toothbrush, and hair curlers, among others.
Norwegian Cruise Line Reveals Major Rebranding
“It’s Different Out Here.” That’s the marketing tagline of Norwegian Cruise Line’s new brand identity, a theme that was used by the line back in the 1990s.
The campaign, which also features a new color on the line’s logo — black instead of the former blue, will have promotional materials with the phrases “Out Here, the Memories Make Themselves,” “A Vacation Shouldn’t Be Able to Tell Time,” and “Restore Your Factory Settings.”
Norwegian Cruise Line Logo (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
The national marketing campaign was introduced on Facebook, Instagram and X, and features a “For All Maritime” television commercial that references the concepts of flexibility and guest choice rather than strict rules.
The rebranding comes at a pivotal time for Norwegian Cruise Line, which has taken bold steps in recent years. The addition of its Prima-Plus class of ships brings larger vessels into the fleet — Norwegian Aqua debuted in April 2025, Norwegian Luna is due out in April 2026, and Norwegian Aura will enter service in May 2027.
Also, the line has invested in a major $150 million overhaul of Stirrup Cay, its private island in the Bahamas, where a new pier was added to accommodate two ships at a time, enhancements were made to the pool and other areas, and the new Great Tides Waterpark is set to open in summer 2026.
MSC Poesia Cancels 10-Night Sailing in February
With less than a month to go before setting sail, guests booked on an MSC Cruises’ ship found out they won’t be cruising after all.
The cruise line has cancelled MSC Poesia’s February 13, 2026 voyage from Southampton, UK, to Valletta, Malta. The 10-night trip was to call at Lisbon, Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, and Rome.
MSC Poesia Open Deck (Photo Credit: Ana del Castillo)
MSC Cruises cited operational reasons for the cancellation, however, since the ship had a scheduled dry dock coming up at the Palumbo Shipyard in Malta, it is likely the change is tied to that project.
Affected guests on the cancelled voyage are receiving a full refund and a Future Cruise Credit equal to 50% of the cruise fare they paid. The credit is valid on any future MSC Cruises voyage.
The 2,550-guest ship is slated to have the line’s MSC Yacht Club, two dining venues, and a lounge added during the dry dock. The ship currently has no cruises scheduled between February 13 and April 6, 2026.
Guest Misses Cruise After Arriving at Wrong Port
Port Canaveral. Port Everglades. What’s in a name?
One cruiser found out the hard way when he mixed up his departure port, arrived at the wrong one, and missed out on his Caribbean voyage.
Sharing his sad story on social media as a warning to others, the guest explained that he was booked to sail on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral. But he mistakenly thought Port Canaveral was in Fort Lauderdale.
Port Canaveral is in Central Florida, about a three-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale, where Port Everglades is located, in South Florida.
Utopia of the Seas Arriving at Nassau Cruise Port
It was the January 12, 2026 departure of Utopia of the Seas, a 4-night cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Realizing his error, the guest asked Royal Caribbean whether he could join the ship in Nassau if he flew there at his own expense.
But the line said that would not be possible. The guest’s request, it said, was denied by port authorities.
Since it was already noon when the guest realized his mistake, there was not enough time to travel to Port Canaveral to make the ship’s 4 p.m. departure.
For this guest, it turned out to be a better-luck-next-time situation.
Labadee Pulled From Itineraries Through 2026
Acting out of an abundance of caution, Royal Caribbean ships will not call at Labadee, Haiti, through 2026, the line confirmed.
Labadee is the cruise line’s private destination in the north of the island, about 85 miles from Port-au-Prince, where gangs have essentially taken over.
While Royal Caribbean began cancelling visits to Labadee in 2023, when the government all but collapsed, it had planned to include calls to the destination on several ships this year.
Royal Caribbean’s Labadee Cruise Port, Haiti (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
For example, Freedom of the Seas was set to call there on an itinerary departing May 2, 2026, and Adventure of the Seas was to visit during a cruise departing on September 12, 2026. Those port calls are now nixed, with replacement calls slated for Nassau and Grand Turk, respectively.
Star of the Seas will add a sea day instead of visiting Labadee or another destination on the ship’s May 3, 2026 departure. In all, the itineraries of more than a dozen Royal Caribbean ships are impacted.
Guests are being notified by email about the changes to their cruise itineraries.
While Labadee has its own security system, the US Department of State has a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory in place for the entire island of Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, potential terrorist activity, and other concerns.
New-Build Norwegian Aura Will Homeport in Miami
Chalk up another big win for PortMiami. Norwegian Cruise Line revealed that Norwegian Aura, its fifth Prima-class ship, will deploy to the South Florida port when she debuts in May 2027.
At 169,000 gross tons and with capacity for 3,840 guests in double occupancy, Norwegian Aura will be the largest in the fleet. Under construction at a Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the ship will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from PortMiami.
Featured port calls on the ship’s itineraries include Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, plus the private destinations Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye.
Norwegian Aura
Bookings have opened for sale. Norwegian Aura is the line’s third Prima-Plus-class ship, joining Norwegian Luna, launching in April 2026, and Norwegian Aqua, which entered service in April 2025.
Norwegian Aura will offer 1,976 staterooms and will feature 30% more suites than the other Prima vessels.
Her maiden voyage, a 7-night Mediterranean cruise from Trieste to Barcelona, departs on May 21, 2027, and calls at Malta, Salerno, and Rome. A 14-night transatlantic cruise follows, as the ship makes her way to PortMiami in mid-June 2027.
Points Choice Loyalty Plan Is Officially Unveiled
Speculation about Royal Caribbean Group’s new Points Choice loyalty program has been rampant for months on social media, following the cruise line’s hints in October 2025 that a new, better plan was on the way.
On January 15, 2025, the cruise line officially announced details of the new system, which takes effect with cruise departures on and after January 30, 2026.
Points Choice will allow guests sailing on the company’s three brands — Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, to apply their loyalty points to any of the three lines.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in Miami (Photo Credit: JMT Photography and Media)
It means that rewards can be assigned to Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, or Silversea’s Venetian Society, no matter where the points were earned.
An exchange table shows guests what their per-night points will earn based on cruise length and cabin category. For instance, guests booking Sunset, Owner, Aqua-Theater, or Oceanview Panoramic suites would earn two points per night in Crown & Anchor Society, eight points per night in Captain’s Club, or one point per night in Venetian Society.
Guests must request the transfer of points via a form available on the line’s app or web site before their sailing or up to 14 days after their cruise.
More Cruise Headlines
There are many more news and feature stories you won’t want to miss on Cruise Hive, including one MSC Cruises’ ship nixing a port call due to rough weather near Sicily, and another experiencing a burst pipe that flooded staterooms.
Also, Carnival Cruise Line opens bookings on 2027-28 West Coast sailings, and the Port of Galveston receives $8 million in grants. Finally, find out what Wave Season is all about and how it can save you money on your next cruise vacation.
