Here are the most important cruise developments reported during the past 24 hours. Today's updates include higher onboard gratuities on Celebrity Cruises, a major European deployment from Holland America Line, the debut of a new luxury cruise ship, and an itinerary change affecting a future Royal Caribbean sailing.
Celebrity Cruises Increases Daily Gratuities
Celebrity Cruises has increased its automatic daily gratuities by $1.50 per guest across all stateroom categories. The updated rates took effect on July 29 and apply to guests who have not already prepaid their gratuities.
The new daily amounts are $19.50 for Inside, Ocean View and Veranda staterooms, $20.50 for Concierge Class and AquaClass, and $24.50 for guests staying in The Retreat. Celebrity has confirmed that guests with existing bookings may still prepay gratuities at their original rate before their sailing if they do so before the applicable deadline. For travelers planning upcoming cruises, this change increases the overall onboard cost, particularly for longer voyages or families traveling together.
Holland America Opens Bookings for Its 2028 Europe Season
Holland America Line has opened reservations for its 2028 Europe cruise season, giving travelers an early opportunity to secure sailings throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Norway, the Canary Islands and beyond.
Five ships are scheduled to sail in Europe during the season, with itineraries ranging from one-week cruises to extended voyages lasting more than a month. Several cruises feature overnight stays and longer port visits, while Nieuw Amsterdam is scheduled to return to Europe for the first time in more than ten years.
For travelers planning well in advance, the new deployment provides a broader selection of itineraries and sailing dates across many of Europe's most popular cruise regions.
Explora III Begins Its Maiden Voyage
Explora Journeys' newest ship, Explora III, has officially entered service with its inaugural cruise departing from Barcelona.
The luxury vessel's first seven-night itinerary visits Spain, Portugal and Morocco before arriving in Lisbon. After completing its inaugural Mediterranean voyages, the ship will continue to Northern Europe before later repositioning to North America and the Caribbean for its first winter season.
Explora III is the third ship in the cruise line's fleet and the first powered by liquefied natural gas, marking another step in the company's ongoing fleet expansion.
Royal Caribbean Changes One 2027 Caribbean Itinerary
Royal Caribbean has updated the itinerary for Grandeur of the Seas' January 23, 2027 Southern Caribbean sailing.
The cruise will no longer visit Kralendijk, Bonaire. Instead, the ship is now scheduled to call at Santa Marta, Colombia. Guests who booked shore excursions through Royal Caribbean for Bonaire will receive automatic refunds, and new excursions for Santa Marta are being added.
Passengers already booked on the sailing may want to review the updated itinerary, particularly if Bonaire was one of the primary reasons they selected the cruise.