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Cruisers Pick Legend of the Seas as 2026’s Most Anticipated New Ship

Donna Tunney
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Cruisers Pick Legend of the Seas as 2026’s Most Anticipated New Ship

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas was voted Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship.
  • It was the third year in a row that a Royal Caribbean new-build was chosen for the honor.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Luna came in second place.

For the third consecutive year, a Royal Caribbean new-build was named Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship in the Cruise Hive Awards. 

Legend of the Seas, the line’s third Icon-class ship that will enter service in July 2026, has won the title in the 2025 competition with 35.3% of the total vote. The ship is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2026
Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2026

Sister ship, and first in the class, Icon of the Seas, won the title in 2023 ahead of her 2024 launch, and Star of the Seas, second in the class, took it in 2024, in advance of her debut in 2025.

The Icon-class ships have been wildly popular with cruisers, thanks in part to their enormous size — they weigh in at 250,800 gross tons and have capacity for 7,000 guests — as well as innovative public spaces and amenities.

Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship of 2025
Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship of 2025 (Data: Cruise Hive)

When she debuts in July 2026, Legend of the Seas will feature the well-received Surfside neighborhood designed especially for family fun, and the Category 6 Waterpark, the cruise industry’s largest waterpark at sea.

Like her sister ships, Legend of the Seas will offer AquaDome, a huge glass and steel structure that features a waterfall, along with dining venues and the AquaTheater, where synchronized swimming, diving shows, and acrobatic performances are held.

Legend of the Seas will wow guests with 28 dining options, including some new venues such as Royal Railway, a multi-course meal served in the setting of a simulated train journey in Asia and Europe, and the Hollywoodland Supper Club, a themed experience evoking the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Legend of the Seas Render
Legend of the Seas Render

When she debuts in summer 2026, Legend of the Seas will sail her 7-night inaugural cruise on July 11 roundtrip from Rome with port calls at Naples, Italy; Barcelona and Palma De Mallorca, Spain; and Marseille, France.

The ship will sail 7-night Western Mediterranean voyages through mid-October before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, where she will sail 6- and 8-night Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises.

Norwegian Luna Ranks Second in Awards Listing

Nine cruise ships due to launch in 2026 were included in the Most Anticipated category.

While Legend of the Seas earned a commanding 35% of the total votes in the 2025 Cruise Hive Awards, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Luna came in at a respectable second place with just shy of 20% — 19.4% to be exact.

Read Also: How Much Is a Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas?

When she debuts on March 10, 2026 in Rome, the 3,550-guest ship will become the newest Prima Plus-class ship in the fleet. Her maiden voyage will bring the ship to PortMiami, arriving on March 23, 2026 to begin a series of Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.

Norwegian Luna Render
Norwegian Luna Render

Disney Cruise Line’s 6,700-guest Disney Adventure garnered 16.5% of the vote to come in third. The ship, the largest in the fleet, will cater to the Asia market and be based in Singapore when she debuts on March 5, 2026.

MSC Cruises’ MSC World Asia received 12.8% of the vote for Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship. Due to launch in December 2026, the 6,758-guest ship will sail in the Mediterranean.

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The remaining five ships in the category included Explora Journeys’ Explora III, which tied with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Prestige at 4.1%; Viking’s Viking Mira, 4%; Viking’s Viking Libra, 2.6%; and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Flow, 1.1%

Voting in the  2025 Cruise Hive Awards opened on October 14, 2025 and closed on December 19, 2025. Readers were invited to vote for their favorite ships and amenities in a total of eight categories. No spam votes, or other suspicious votes of any kind were counted.

Norwegian Breakaway Makes New Year’s Day Itinerary Change

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Breakaway Makes New Year’s Day Itinerary Change

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Breakaway has updated its planned visit to Puerto Plata on New Year’s Day.
  • The ship will arrive and depart one hour early to accommodate rough weather on its return to New York.
  • As this is the final port call on the itinerary, no other destinations have been impacted.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway is starting the new year with an itinerary change.

The planned visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on January 1, 2026, has been adjusted due to developing weather conditions in the ship’s route back to Manhattan, New York.

“We would like to inform you of an amended schedule for our call to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic,” the cruise line wrote in a letter to the up to 3,903 guests onboard.

“Due to expected weather conditions and strong currents on our return to New York, the vessel must adjust the speed to ensure a safe and timely arrival. To accommodate this, we have modified the schedule and adjusted the time in port accordingly,” the update continued.

Read Also: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

This is the final port call of a 12-night holiday cruise to the Caribbean, which embarked in New York on December 23, 2025.

Though an itinerary change isn’t the most ideal way to end a cruise (or begin a new year), this also means that the other ports on the itinerary won’t be impacted by this adjustment.

During this voyage, the 145,655-gross ton vessel also called to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

What Actually Changed?

Rather than cancelling the visit to Puerto Plata or changing the date of the visit, Norwegian Cruise Line has simply adjusted the time in port.

The change is so minor, that it likely won’t even have much of an impact (if any) on many pre-booked tours or shore excursions.

Originally, the Breakaway-class vessel was scheduled to be in the port from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. local time. With the change, she will arrive an hour early at 6:30 a.m. and leave an hour early at 2 p.m.

Norwegian Breakaway Docked in Manhattan
Norwegian Breakaway Docked in Manhattan (Photo Credit: EWY Media)

The following two days will be sea days, allowing the ship to make her way back to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal to disembark on the morning of January 4, 2026.

The distance from Puerto Plata to Manhattan is somewhere between 1,400 and 1,600 nautical miles, depending on the route the captain decides to take.

How Bad is the Weather?

While phrases like “weather conditions and strong currents” can sound scary to novice cruisers, rest assured that modern cruise ships are well equipped to handle rough seas.

Norwegian Breakaway launched in 2013, but was just refurbished in dry dock earlier this year – meaning all her stabilization and navigational systems should be fine-tuned and in great shape.

The cruise lines often avoid rougher conditions out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all onboard, rather than concern that there is a significant risk to the vessel or its passengers.

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In this case, the poor weather will be at sea while the ship is sailing from Puerto Plata to Manhattan.

During the visit on January 1, Puerto Plata is actually supposed to be quite pleasant. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, highs near 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and rain showers starting later in the afternoon.

On January 4, cruise guests can expect to disembark on a chilly, but sunny, day. The high will be 33 degrees Fahrenheit, but no rain or snow is expected.

For both ports, winds will be low at an expected 5 to 10 miles per hour, which is nothing a cruise ship of this size can’t handle.

Over 100 People Got Sick on a Celebrity Cruise, the Cause Is Still a Mystery

Melissa Mayntz
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Over 100 People Got Sick on a Celebrity Cruise, the Cause Is Still a Mystery

Key Aspects:

  • 104 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported aboard Celebrity Eclipse’s Christmas sailing.
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps were the most common symptoms, but no causative agent has been confirmed.
  • Enhanced cleaning, isolating ill individuals, and other measures were immediately implemented.

A Christmas cruise can be an amazing getaway not only to enjoy all the amenities and relaxation of a typical cruise, but also to experience the magic of the holiday season in a unique and memorable way without all the seasonal stress.

For many guests aboard Celebrity Eclipse‘s Christmas Day cruise, however, the voyage has been memorable for all the wrong reasons. No one likes to be sick over vacation, and to be sick with a stomach bug on a holiday sailing is even worse.

The illness outbreak has been reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as it involved enough guests and crew members to cross the 3% mandatory reporting threshold.

A total of 95 guests out of the 3,042 onboard, along with 9 crew members of the 1,235 on the team, reported vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps during the ship’s December 20, 2025, sailing. This represents 3.1% of guests and just .7% of crew members reporting symptoms.

The 8-night cruise departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, December 20, for the Eastern Caribbean itinerary with visits to Antigua, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

The outbreak was reported to the CDC when the ship returned to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, December 28. No delays have been noted, and the 121,900-gross-ton, Solstice-class ship has already departed on her next sailing.

Read Also: Think Cruise Ships Are Floating Petri Dishes? These 12 Facts Say Otherwise

To be clear, the number of cases reported to the CDC is for the entire voyage. It is possible different guests were sick on different days, not necessarily that all 104 reported cases were at the same time.

Onboard Response to Celebrity Eclipse Outbreak

Once the illness was reported, crew members on Celebrity Eclipse immediately implemented various measures to minimize any further spread or ongoing contamination. This included:

  • Increased cleaning and disinfection, particularly for public areas
  • Collecting samples for testing to find a causative agent
  • Isolating any guests or crew members reporting related symptoms

While the exact causative agent for this particular outbreak has not yet been identified, most bacteria or viruses that cause these gastrointestinal symptoms are spread through direct contact and contaminated surfaces.

CDC Sign
Photo Credit: Katherine Welles / Shutterstock.com

Enhanced cleaning protocols can be very effective at controlling outbreaks of norovirus and similar illnesses. Guests can protect themselves by thoroughly washing their hands after using the restroom and before eating, and trying to avoid excessive touching of high-contact surfaces such as railings, door handles, buffet serving utensils, and elevator buttons.

Previous Outbreaks This Year

The current outbreak aboard Celebrity Eclipse is the first reported outbreak for a Celebrity Cruises ship in 2025, but the twenty-second outbreak across all cruise lines.

Most have been norovirus, though several outbreaks did not have a causative agent confirmed. One outbreak was determined to be E. coli, while another was confirmed as ciguatera.

The most recent previous outbreak was aboard AIDAdiva, with 114 guests and crew members succumbing to norovirus in late November and early December.

While there is a misconception that cruise ships can be floating petri dishes, the fact that hundreds of cruises have set sail in 2025 without any significant outbreaks disproves that idea.

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Furthermore, outbreaks can occur on ships from any line and vessels of any size. Throughout 2025, vessels from luxury lines like Silversea, Oceania Cruises, and Sea Cloud Cruises have had outbreaks, as have major mass-market lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line.

Before this outbreak on Celebrity Eclipse, the most recent Celebrity Cruises outbreak reported to the CDC was aboard Celebrity Summit in May 2024, when 78 guests and crew members were impacted by norovirus.

Quintana Roo’s Cruise Boom Breaks Records — But What’s Fueling It?

Lissa Poirot
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Quintana Roo’s Cruise Boom Breaks Records — But What’s Fueling It?

Key Aspects:

  • Quintana Roo recorded its strongest cruise tourism year in 2025, with more than 7.4 million cruise passengers.
  • The Mexican state saw 1,874 ship calls across its ports, with Cozumel receiving 4.62 million passengers and Costa Maya adding 2.8 million guests.
  • Officials are hoping new developments will help it set a new record in 2026.

Cruise ship horns may have been the soundtrack of Quintana Roo in 2025, and now the Mexican state’s governor has put numbers to the noise.

Governor Mara Lezama announced that the past year officially set a cruise tourism record, calling 2025 the strongest year the state has ever seen for passenger arrivals.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering mid-year data released in June showed Mexico as a whole welcoming approximately 5.6 million cruise visitors, up 8.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

That data showed Cozumel alone receiving about 2.4 million passengers during that span, signaling early that 2025 was on track for a strong close.

According to Lezama, and shared on her social media accounts, more than 7.4 million cruise passengers arrived across Quintana Roo in 2025, an increase she says puts the state at the top of the national rankings.

She also reported 1,874 cruise ship calls statewide, a figure that grew nearly 4 percent compared to the previous year.

“In 2025, we experienced the best year in the history of cruise tourism in Quintana Roo,” said Lezama. “More than 7.4 million cruise passengers and 1,874 vessels arrived at our ports, consolidating Cozumel and Costa Maya as leading destinations nationally and internationally.”

Costa Maya Cruise Port
Costa Maya Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Marvelous Adept)

The numbers break down clearly across the state’s two main ports. Cozumel ended the year with 4.62 million visitors and 1,300 ship calls, which is actually on par with 2024’s tallies at 4.623 million. However, Costa Maya brought in 2.8 million passengers and 574 cruise ship calls, illustrating a continued rise for the newer port and elevating the state’s numbers.

Read Also: Cozumel Cruise Port – Terminals, Piers and Getting Around

Lezama tied the year’s results to collective effort, saying “This achievement is the result of coordinated work between the government, the private sector, and international agencies, under a vision of orderly and sustainable development.”

Looking Ahead to 2026

As Quintana Roo celebrates its record year, Lezama is already turning her attention to 2026 and beyond. Officials in Cozumel are actively pursuing a record-breaking 5 million passengers to the island.

Cruise lines seem ready to support that goal and have already locked in itineraries that include regular visits to the state’s ports through the 2026-27 season.

Royal Caribbean’s lineup for 2026, for example, features a mix of vessels sailing from Florida and Gulf Coast homeports that include both Mexican ports on their Western Caribbean routes.

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One of the most highly anticipated attractions in 2026 will be the opening of the Royal Beach Club Cozumel, a new beach club operated by the cruise line that is slated to debut in late 2026. This destination will offer passengers dedicated beach space, pools, food and beverage options, and all-inclusive perks.

The cruise company is also building Perfect Day Mexico, which will transform part of Costa Maya into a sprawling private resort destination in 2027.

With these destinations in the works, Quintana Roo just may reach its goals. 

Sudden Passenger Evacuation on Costa Diadema Leads to Rare Mid-Route Diversion

Melissa Mayntz
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Sudden Passenger Evacuation on Costa Diadema Leads to Rare Mid-Route Diversion

Key Aspects:

  • A guest who may have meningitis was evacuated from Costa Diadema on Monday, December 29.
  • The ship diverted to Laguna, Brazil and used a lifeboat tender to bring the guest to shore for emergency care.
  • No details about the guest or their condition have been released.

A cruise guest suspected of having meningitis was evacuated from Costa Diadema on Monday, December 29, 2025 to receive more specialized care at a local hospital in Laguna, Brazil.

According to Agora Laguna, the cruise ship’s close approach to Laguna caught the attention of passersby on shore, even more so when one of the ship’s lifeboats was used as a tender for the evacuation.

While the ship was not positively identified, only Costa Diadema was in the vicinity on Monday. Satellite tracking confirms that the vessel diverted from her route to Laguna.

An ambulance met the tender and the guest was transported to Hospital de Caridade Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos for care and treatment.

No details about the guest’s overall condition have been released, as is standard procedure to protect their privacy at a very stressful time. Similarly, no other identifying details, such as age, gender, or nationality, have been confirmed.

Monday, December 29, was a day at sea for Costa Diadema as the ship traveled between Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The ship should still arrive in Buenos Aires for debarkation as planned on Wednesday, December 31.

The 7-night South American cruise departed Buenos Aires on Christmas Eve and visited Montevideo, Uruguay, as well as Itajai and Sao Paulo in Brazil. Departures are available from all ports in Brazil and Argentina, giving guests options for sailings of different lengths depending on their preferences, budget, and vacation plans.

The 132,500-gross-ton, Dream-class Costa Diadema is homeported in South America through April 2026, at which time she will move to Europe for a summer of northern European and Norwegian sailings and autumn in the Mediterranean.

The ship can welcome 3,724 guests at double occupancy or up to 4,927 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. Also onboard are more than 1,200 international crew members.

Costa Diadema is part of the Costa Cruises fleet, under the corporate umbrella of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Was the Medical Evacuation Necessary?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord.

It can have fungal, bacterial, parasitic, or viral causes, or could even be caused by injuries, drug reactions, or other diseases. Symptoms include fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea, confusion, and photophobia.

Costa Diadema Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: byvalet / Shutterstock.com

Meningitis can be a medical emergency and successful treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis of the precise cause, testing that a cruise ship medical center may not be able to confirm.

Furthermore, the specialized care necessary to treat meningitis may not be available onboard a ship.

Read Also: Think Cruise Ships Are Floating Petri Dishes? These 12 Facts Say Otherwise

Some forms of meningitis can be contagious depending on the cause of the inflammation. Undoubtedly, extra sanitation and other precautions are being taken onboard Costa Diadema to ensure there is no contamination or spread of the illness.

Other Reasons for Medical Evacuations

Medical evacuations are not uncommon on cruise ships, though they do not occur on every voyage.

Anytime a guest may need more specialized or critical care than a cruise ship could reasonably provide, a medical evacuation may be necessary. This could be due to a heart attack or stroke, a sudden inflammation like appendicitis, complications with an existing health condition, or even a severe injury.

If possible, the cruise ship will divert to the nearest possible port so the guest can be debarked, possibly with a tender, or else by the entire ship docking briefly.

If the ship is already close to a planned port of call, the vessel may speed up to arrive as soon as possible. This happened with Carnival Pride en route to Bermuda in September 2025, when a guest had a medical emergency and the ship arranged to arrive 15 hours early.

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Airlift evacuations are another possibility when guests need a faster response or it isn’t possible for the ship to divert to an appropriate port. The US Coast Guard often facilitates such airlifts, as do other authorities whenever necessary.

Regardless of how or why a guest (or crew member) may need a medical evacuation, Cruise Hive wishes them all the best for a smooth recovery.

Royal Caribbean Usurps Carnival as the Best Overall Cruise Line of 2025

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Usurps Carnival as the Best Overall Cruise Line of 2025

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has won the title of Best Overall Cruise Line of 2025.
  • This is the first time a brand besides Carnival Cruise Line has won this honor.
  • Carnival is now in a close second place behind the newly crowned victor.

Step aside, Carnival! There is a new “Best Overall Cruise Line” in town.

Royal Caribbean has been named the Best Overall Cruise Line of 2025, unseating Carnival Cruise Line from the top spot for the first time in the history of the Cruise Hive Awards.

But if it’s any consolation to Carnival, which came in second place, the competition was fierce.

Royal Caribbean won with 18.3% of the vote, which is only 1.1 points ahead of Carnival at 17.2%.

Best Cruise Line Award
Best Cruise Line Award

Third and fourth place is only separated by less than a percentage point (.2%), with the Royal Caribbean-owned Celebrity Cruises at 12.6% and MSC Cruises at 12.4%.

This is yet another feather in Royal Caribbean’s cap, as the brand has been sweeping the floor during this year’s Cruise Hive Awards. The brand has also won Best Cruise Line App of 2025 and Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 for Star of the Seas, the second Icon-class ship.

The title of Best New Cruise Ship previously went to the first Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas, in 2024.

All the results and past winners can be found here.

For context, public voting took place from October 14, 2025, until December 19, 2025, and responses were screened to ensure they were legitimate (not AI or bots).

Best Cruise Line of 2025 Chart
Best Cruise Line of 2025 Chart (Data: Cruise Hive)

Royal Caribbean Gets the Edge

For the past several years (including 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021), Royal Caribbean has come in second place to Carnival for top honors. But now the tables have been turned.

While Royal Caribbean sailings generally come with a higher price tag than more budget-friendly Carnival cruises, they also offer some of the most innovative experiences on the high seas.

There is entertainment onboard for everyone, such as high-caliber production shows and stunt shows in the AquaTheater on Oasis and Icon-class ships.

Royal Caribbean Ships Docked in CocoCay
Royal Caribbean Ships Docked in CocoCay (Photo Credit: Aleksandr Dyskin)

Across the fleet, cruisers will also find ice skating rinks, escape rooms, surf simulators, rock climbing, and the Category 6 Waterpark on the Icon-class vessels, which is the biggest waterpark at sea.

And of course, the family-friendly brand doesn’t just prioritize the onboard experience, but also offers the most in-demand itineraries.

Royal Caribbean currently sails to over 270 destinations across more than 60 countries, including bucket-list destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Alaska.

Innovating On Land

Royal Caribbean is on track to be operating a total of seven private destinations by 2028, which is an impressive accomplishment.

In addition to the existing Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and the private resort at Labadee, Haiti, the cruise line opened its brand new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau on December 23, 2025.

View of Perfect Day Mexico
View of Perfect Day Mexico

Royal Beach Club Cozumel is expected to open in 2026, while Perfect Day Mexico is coming to Costa Maya in 2027 – along with a record-breaking waterpark.

An additional beach club is coming to Greece (Santorini) in 2026, with plans also in the works to open a Royal Beach Club in Lelepa (Vanuatu) in 2027. This will make history as the first ever cruise line private island destination in the Southern Hemisphere.

Is Sentiment Changing Toward Carnival?

Considering Royal Caribbean’s lead over Carnival is narrow, the second-place cruise line shouldn’t be too worried just yet.

The lively “Fun Ship” vibes, no shortage of entertainment onboard, and affordability of many of these sailings make Carnival a popular brand for many.

However, the cruise line has met a lot of controversy this year – particularly regarding the announcement of the new Carnival Rewards Program, which goes into effect on September 1, 2026.

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The biggest point of contention has been that the new program is doing away with lifetime loyalty status, which left many long-time Carnival cruisers feeling abandoned and disrespected.

It’s possible that this shift in public sentiment was just enough to turn the tides in Royal Caribbean’s favor.

Why This Expedition Ship Still Can’t Be Freed Days After Running Aground

Melissa Mayntz
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Why This Expedition Ship Still Can’t Be Freed Days After Running Aground

Key Aspects:

  • Different efforts to free Coral Adventurer from a reef in Papua New Guinea have failed.

Despite multiple different efforts to free Coral Adventurer from the reef she grounded on in Papua New Guinea, the expedition cruise ship remains stuck days after first shuddering to a halt on Saturday, December 27.

Because there is no timeline for the ship to be successfully freed, guests onboard will now be flown back to Cairns on chartered flights while the authorities of Papua New Guinea have detained the vessel due to potential damage from the reef strike.

According to 7 News, Coral Adventurer has listed approximately six degrees to port following the grounding. This does not appear to be impacting operations on the vessel, but it could potentially create additional complications for refloating the ship.

First, the ship’s own engines were used in conjunction with tidal schedules to attempt to loosen and refloat the vessel.

“After an unsuccessful attempt to manoeuvre the ship off the reef using its propulsion at high tide on 27 December, the ship’s operator engaged a towage provider to assist with refloating it,” the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed.

Unfortunately, that towing operation was also unsuccessful and Coral Adventurer remains grounded as of Tuesday, December 30, the day the ship was to have debarked in Cairns at the end of the 12-night cruise.

The 80 guests onboard the stranded ship include passengers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Israel. The guests will now be evacuated with smaller boats to Lae, the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea, which is approximately 60 miles west of the ship’s location.

Coral Expeditions Cruise
Coral Expeditions Cruise

Read Also: What Is an Expedition Cruise?

From Lae, guests will be flown back to Cairns via chartered flights. No injuries have been reported and onboard operations have not been impacted.

Sky News Australia has also reported that Coral Adventurer is now detained by Papua New Guinean authorities, as the vessel may not be considered seaworthy following the grounding.

Further inspections and review of safety procedures will undoubtedly be necessary before Coral Adventure could resume sailing, though there is no indication of how long such inspections and reviews may take or when the ship may be freed.

How Did the Ship Run Aground?

Coral Adventurer is stuck at Dreghafen Point between Nussing Island and Kumbam Island, an area known for having trickier waters and higher reefs than many mariners may be accustomed to. In fact, local fishermen often avoid the area because of those dangers.

It is unknown why Coral Adventurer chose that exact route along the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea, but strong currents did contribute to the ship’s grounding.

The exact draft of the ship, her balance in the water, and the composition and shape of submerged reefs would all play a part in the severe mishap.

Expedition ships often venture into more remote regions than larger vessels, but at the same time they can also be more susceptible to strong winds, unusual currents, and other navigational hazards.

What Will Happen to Coral Adventurer?

At this time, it is unknown exactly what will happen to the troubled cruise ship. It will still be necessary to free the vessel, but exactly how and when that may be done will depend on whether or not any marine contamination is present, if the ship’s hull has been damaged, and what resources are available to assist.

Once freed, the ship will undoubtedly be rigorously inspected and go through various safety checks to be sure she is seaworthy. If necessary, repairs or modifications may be made to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

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Because Coral Expeditions, and specifically Coral Adventurer, has had such a difficult time in the past few months (the ship inadvertently left an elderly guest behind on Lizard Island, and she tragically died before she could be found), it is possible some hard decisions may be made about the ship’s future.

The 5,536-gross-ton ship was built in Vietnam in 2019 and is homeported from Cairns, offering unique and immersive expedition itineraries around Australia and the South Pacific.

Norfolk’s Cruise Surge Just Hit a Milestone — And 2026 Could Be Even Bigger

Lissa Poirot
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Norfolk’s Cruise Surge Just Hit a Milestone — And 2026 Could Be Even Bigger

Key Aspects:

  • Norfolk, Virginia, completed a nearly full year of uninterrupted weekly cruising in 2025 with 338,959 passenger visits.
  • The port reported a total of 47 ship calls from Carnival Cruise Line and an additional 15 port-of-call stops from other cruise operators.
  • The city is preparing for continued growth in 2026 with its first-ever full year of sailings from Carnival Sunshine.

Norfolk, Virginia, often called the “Mermaid City” due to its charming public-art installations centered around mermaids, celebrated a milestone moment on December 27, 2025, as the final cruise of 2025 sailed away from Half Moone Cruise Center.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine once again departed for the Bahamas from the cruise port, as it had for nearly every week of 2025 since February, completing nearly a year of continuous, weekly cruising from the port.

Since February 11, 2025, downtown Norfolk’s waterfront discovery center, Nauticus, received the 102,853-gross-ton Carnival Sunshine, moving roughly 3,002 cruise passengers onboard and off during each cruise.

That supported the port’s record total of 338,959 unique passenger visits in 2025, exceeding the port’s projections by nearly 40,000.

Nauticus logged 47 ship calls from Carnival Cruise Line overall, and another 15 port-of-call visits from other cruise lines, with nearly 100,000 crew members also passing through the city in 2025.

Nauticus Executive Director Stephen Kirkland said the momentum now sets the stage for long-term growth.

Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk, Virginia
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk, Virginia (Credit: Nauticus)

“2025 exceeded expectations and firmly established Norfolk as a dynamic cruise destination,” he said. “The goal now is to build on this success with strategic, prudent, growth.” 

The future of that growth includes ship changes and added cruise arrivals. Kirkland confirmed that Carnival Sunshine will not remain indefinitely, with weekly sailings expected to move to Carnival Freedom beginning in late 2027 as Sunshine heads to Texas.

That same year, Norwegian Cruise Line plans to add 20 call visits to Norfolk, projected to deliver nearly 50,000 additional passengers.

But first comes 2026, in which the port will have no paused cruise schedule through the winter for the first time. In fact, Carnival Sunshine will return to the port on January 4, kicking off what is slated to be a full calendar year of sailings.

Full Year of Cruises Scheduled

Norfolk’s 2026 cruise year begins immediately after the New Year holiday, when Carnival Sunshine returns from the Bahamas on January 4, and launches straight into its first new cruise of the year.

The vessel calls in Norfolk nearly every weekend or mid-week through December 2026. Between January and March, all arrivals at the port will be Carnival Sunshine sailings except for a two-day port call from Oceania Cruises’ 1,200-passenger Allura on March 25 and 26.

Read Also: Norfolk Cruise Port – Getting There, Parking, Terminals, and More

In April, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 744-guest Seven Seas Grandeur arrives for a port call on the 2nd, as Carnival Sunshine continues service every weekend. Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam, with up to 1,964 passengers, will also call on April 21 and 24.

The cruise line will also bring its 1,432-passenger Volendam to Norfolk on May 20, as Carnival Sunshine continues alternating Saturday and Sunday departures.

By June, Carnival Sunshine will begin increasing its frequency through the summer as Zuiderdam returns and the only vessel not owned by Carnival Corporation, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1, arrives September 25, carrying up to 2,894 guests.

Carnival Corporation-owned AIDAdiva, operated by AIDA Cruises, Ponant’s La’Austral, Mein Schiff 1, and Viking Ocean’s Viking Octantis all visit in October 2026 as Carnival Sunshine continues its service around them.

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While there will also be a single visit by Seabourn’s Ovation in November, the year closes with continued Carnival Sunshine arrivals through December, with a final seasonal sailing on December 26, 2026.

It will be the first uninterrupted calendar for Norfolk with weekly cruises across all 12 months

Star of the Seas Beats a Packed Field to Win Best New Cruise Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Star of the Seas Beats a Packed Field to Win Best New Cruise Ship

Key Aspects:

  • With 22.4% of the vote, Star of the Seas won Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 as voted by Cruise Hive readers.
  • MSC World America and Star Princess were second and third place, respectively.
  • Star of the Seas is following in the wake of Icon of the Seas‘ win for the same category in 2024.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is indeed a shining star for this year’s Cruise Hive Awards, as it has been chosen as Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 with 22.4% of the overall vote.

The competition was fierce, with MSC Cruises’ MSC World America coming in at a close second with 19.8% of the vote and another seagoing star, Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, in third place with 16.4% of the vote.

Cruise Hive readers cast their votes between October 14 and December 19, choosing which ship that first set sail anytime in 2025 would be worthy of the honor. Of course, only brand new ships that welcomed their first guests this calendar year were eligible.

Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 Award
Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 Award

Star of the Seas had an iconic reputation to live up to, as her sister ship Icon of the Seas won Best New Cruise Ship of 2024.

In previous years, Wonder of the Seas (2023), Carnival Celebration (2022), Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Panorama (2019), Carnival Horizon (2018), Norwegian Joy and MSC Seaside (tied in 2017), Harmony of the Seas (2016), and Anthem of the Seas (2015) have been the award recipients during their respective inaugural seasons.

This means that over the years, Royal Caribbean has taken the title 5 times, just edging out Carnival Cruise Line’s four wins. Both cruise lines offer excellent experiences for guests, with their new ships featuring outstanding amenities, attractions, dining, entertainment, and fun for all ages.

Interestingly, while Star of the Seas decisively won as Best New Cruise Ship of 2025, it was MSC Cruises’ MSC World America that was crowned Best Overall Cruise Ship – a category open to ships of any age.

Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 Chart
Best New Cruise Ship of 2025 Chart (Data: Cruise Hive)

A Star Is Born

As the second of the enormous Icon-class ships, Star of the Seas debuted in mid-August, making her win all the more impressive as she’s only been welcoming guests for four months.

Nevertheless, the 248,663-gross-ton ship has certainly wowed guests in that brief span with her eight world-class neighborhoods, the Thrill Island waterpark, the classic FlowRider surfing simulator, 18 unique bars and lounges, 27 dining options, the adrenaline-inducing Crown’s Edge course, and the eye-catching Pearl promenade showpiece.

Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Star of the Seas was shining bright from the moment she was delivered to Royal Caribbean on July 10, following her outstanding sea trials in June.

Star of the Seas Departing Port Canaveral
Star of the Seas Departing Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Port Canaveral)

With her construction finished ahead of schedule, Royal Caribbean was able to offer a series of four short “showcase” sailings aboard the new ship before she welcomed guests on her official maiden voyage that departed Port Canaveral on August 31, 2025.

The port hosted a wave out “sailabration” for the largest ship to ever homeport from the Space Coast on August 16, the first of those showcase sailings.

Read Also: Star of the Seas Size and Stats – How It Towers Over Other Cruise Ships

Star of the Seas offers 7-night Caribbean sailings with Sunday departures, alternating between Eastern and Western itineraries. Each sailing visits Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

Onboard, the ship can welcome 5,610 guests at double occupancy or up to 7,600 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. The ship is also home to more than 2,300 crew members eager to make each guest the star of their very best cruise vacation.

More Award-Worthy New Ships

While Star of the Seas certainly deserved the title of Best New Cruise Ship of 2025, other vessels had noteworthy showings in the voting as well.

Following MSC World America and Star Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua garnered 13.7% of the votes for fourth place, with Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel coming in fifth at 11.2%. Disney Destiny (5.8%), Brilliant Lady (4.6%), Viking Vesta (2.9%), Allura (2.7%), and Mein Schiff Relax (.4%) rounded out this year’s voting.

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Who may take the title in 2026? With Legend of the Seas debuting in July, it could be a three-peat for Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, or the honor may go to MSC World Asia, Disney Adventure, or any other ship set to take the oceans by storm next year.

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