You can expect to pay at least $284 for a seven-day cruise in 2026. This figure is based on research comparing the cheapest cruise rates from seven major cruise lines, on cruises to five major destinations. However, there’s a lot at play when it comes to cruise prices, including destination, cruise line, accommodations and even cruise ship. Here’s what you need to know as you book your 2026 … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Celebrity Beyond will be sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary for her October 26 departure instead of her planned Eastern Caribbean route to avoid Hurricane Melissa. Several other ships have completely swapped itinerary plans to steer clear of the storm, while some vessels are adjusting individual ports. Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 2 storm and expected to … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Disney Treasure’s current Eastern Caribbean sailing will no longer be able to call to Tortola and St. Thomas due to Tropical Storm Melissa. Instead, the young ship will be rerouted to Cozumel, Mexico, and will spend two days at Disney’s Castaway Cay instead of just one. In a bit of a domino effect, Disney Wish will have to move up her planned visit to Castaway Cay and switch … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Icon of the Seas will sail a Western Caribbean route instead of her planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary on her October 25 departure due to Tropical Storm Melissa. Additional ships with Eastern Caribbean itineraries as well as visits to Jamaica over the weekend and into next week may also be impacted. The Prime Minister of Jamaica has declared the entire nation a “threatened … [Read more...]

Key Aspects:  Royal Caribbean guests are concerned that the pool decks are too slippery, leading to falls and potential injuries. One guest suggested putting a sand and lacquer mixture down to make the pool areas less slippery, but this solution could actually damage the surface of the deck. Royal Caribbean does use synthetic decking materials that are designed to be slip-resistant … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line is alerting guests on Hawaii cruises in 2026 and beyond of the new Transient Accommodations Tax that levies an additional 14% on their cruise fare. While the cruise line is part of the legal challenges to the new tax, it may be some time before any court cases are resolved and in the meantime the tax goes into effect from January 1, 2026. Booked guests … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: A man received a prison term of 3 years and 10 months after admitting he intentionally suffocated a woman with a pillow. The assault took place on an unidentified cruise in April 2025. The victim survived the attack and is credited with assisting police in their investigation. Cruise ships are meant to be a space for relaxation and escape. A violent incident during an … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Margaritaville at Sea is removing the traditional cruise buffet and replacing it with a market-style dining hub on its new Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. The new High Tide Market with feature five distinct venues serving freshly prepared dishes ranging from barbeque and salads to pizza and desserts. Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will also introduce several … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean guests are getting more and more frustrated at chair hogs taking over poolside loungers and prime seating in the Solarium and other areas. Frustrations were high onboard a recent Ovation of the Seas sailing from Tokyo to Singapore, but that isn’t the only cruise where chair hogs have been a problem. Royal Caribbean’s official policy is that guests cannot … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, celebrated her maiden call to St. Kitts and Nevis on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The ship was originally scheduled to call at St. Kitts during a cruise that departed Port Canaveral on September 28, 2025, but Tropical Storm Imelda prompted the cruise line to revise that itinerary away from the Eastern Caribbean. Star … [Read more...]

Key Aspects:  Virgin Voyages’ is renaming its Caribbean itineraries in an effort to simplify the cruise booking process and make it easier to understand what different sailings entail. Three itineraries have new names as of October 23, 2025, and 14 more itineraries will have new titles before the end of the year. Some cruise fans are not happy about the change and think that it’s … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: While Tropical Storm Melissa is growing in strength, there are no confirmed itinerary changes for Carnival cruise ships at this time. Carnival Cruise Line is urging booked guests to opt in for text updates to stay informed if any changes are necessary. Melissa will likely strengthen into a major hurricane in the coming days and could impact several Carnival ships in the … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic diverted to rescue 67 migrants on an overcrowded sailboat in the Mediterranean Sea. The rescue occurred early into an 11-night sailing to the Greek Isles and Italy, which embarked in Rome one day prior on October 21, 2025. As a result of the rescue, the first port on the itinerary, which was in Santorini, had to be … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: A new Oasis-class ship has officially begun construction with the first steel cut on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The seventh ship in the famed class is being constructed at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. Passengers will have to wait until the vessel’s projected 2028 delivery to set sail. Royal Caribbean has begun construction on its … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Celebrity Cruises welcomed Celebrity Xcel, the fifth ship in the line’s popular Edge class, during a handover event at France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The cruise line also announced the name of its sixth ship in the class, Celebrity Xcite, as that vessel’s steel-cutting ceremony was held at the French yard the same day. Celebrity … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Oceania Insignia has reported a norovirus outbreak on its current 11-night Canada and New England cruise. Seventy-four passengers and one crew member are experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. This marks the 20th gastrointestinal outbreak of 2025, according to the CDC’s reporting system. A fall foliage cruise along the Canadian and New England coastline has taken … [Read more...]

Key Aspects:  A 77-year-old man from Tennessee was detained for attempting to board a cruise ship with a gun in his backpack. The prohibited item, which the man claims to have forgotten about, was found during the security screening process at the Porto Corsini Cruise Terminal in Ravenna, Italy. Authorities seized the weapon and the man was deported without getting to set … [Read more...]

Key Aspects:  Margaritaville at Sea Islander is among the first cruise ships to be rerouted to avoid Tropical Storm Melissa. The calls to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman, have been replaced with Belize City, Belize, and Roatan, Honduras. The tropical storm is already reaching sustained winds of up to 50 miles per hour, and is expected to strengthen into a category … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Royal Caribbean will once again have four ships in Alaska for 2027: Anthem, Quantum, Serenade, and Voyager of the Seas. While all four ships will offer 7-night sailings, they have unique itineraries and departures are available from Seattle, Vancouver, and Seward. Pre- and post-cruise tours can be added to both Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas sailings for even … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Would seeing someone else wear jeans during a formal night in the Main Dining Room ruin an entire cruise? One Carnival guest thinks so. The guest not only thinks jeans are inappropriate on formal night, but suggests they ought to be completely banned from Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival’s official dress code stresses a casual but family-friendly atmosphere and elegant dress … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: The Port of Seattle closed out its Alaska season with a record 1.9 million revenue passengers transiting the facility in 2025. With 298 ship calls reported, cruise tourism generated $1.2 billion in regional economic benefits. The port also reached an environmental milestone, with 65% of all homeporting ships connecting to shore power. With its cruise tourism data for … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Carnival Valor will become the first Conquest-class ship to homeport in Mobile, Alabama, beginning year-round cruises in May 2027. The ship’s itineraries will range from 6 to 8 days, visiting RelaxAway (formerly Half Moon Cay) and Celebration Key in the Bahamas. Carnival Glory and Carnival Conquest will homeport in Port Canaveral and Miami, … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: During a celebratory cruise to the Mediterranean, a 61-year-old British woman sadly died in her cruise cabin. She was discovered unresponsive in her stateroom on the night of October 18, when the ship was anchored in Cannes, France. There is no suspicion of foul play, with a heart attack suspected as her cause of death. One family’s celebratory Mediterranean voyage has … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: With the departure of Coral Princess, the 2025 Vancouver cruise season officially came to an end on October 21, 2025. Cruising has provided the region with a much needed financial boost amidst global economic conflict. Looking ahead, the port anticipates another successful season in 2026. It was a cool, cloudy afternoon on the Canadian coast, but officials at the … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: A Carnival Cruise Line loyalty hoax is growing more popular through social media, offering a “lifetime tier” with highly coveted benefits. The way to get this lifetime Carnival status? Guests have to donate “just one” kidney to a non-existent research initiative. This is not the first hoax Carnival has had to deal with recently, as scams and pranks can seem very realistic … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line has altered several itineraries through the end of the year for Norwegian Getaway and at least one cruise for Norwegian Pearl. The new itineraries replace ports like Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay to prioritize calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Impacted guests have expressed outrage at the late adjustments to their cruise vacations. Norwegian … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Okaloosa County commissioners have approved funding for a comprehensive video production that will document the SS United States’ final voyage and reefing. WMV Productions and Gannet Creative House will capture onboard, aerial, and underwater footage of the ship’s tow-out and placement on the seafloor. The agreement calls for a live-streamed broadcast and a documentary so … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Norwegian Jewel entered search and rescue mode after a person went overboard in the early morning hours on October 21, 2025. The 93,502-gross-ton vessel circled for more than 10 hours approximately 188 miles off the Azores with crew members and nearby cargo ships assisting in the search. Despite extensive efforts, the search was unsuccessful and the ship has since … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Holland America Line has unveiled the “Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage,” featuring an itinerary inspired by Pan Am’s Great Circle Route of decades past. The 28-day cruise will sail roundtrip from PortMiami on October 30, 2027, calling at 18 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Pan Am’s “flying boats” pioneered the concept of island-hopping … [Read more...]

Key Aspects: Carnival Cruise Line does not permit full face masks to be worn onboard the ship for Halloween, other than during the costume parade event. The mask restrictions are important for onboard security and guests will be asked to remove full face masks by the security team or other crew members. Other costume guidelines include no weapons (real or fake), no nudity or profanity, … [Read more...]