Here are the most important cruise developments published during the previous 24 hours, including a major Asia-Pacific deployment change from Royal Caribbean and the completion of Carnival Cruise Line’s first solar eclipse sailing.
Royal Caribbean Expands Australia and Asia Cruises for 2027-28
Royal Caribbean is expanding its 2027-28 presence in Australia and Asia, including a change that will send Ovation of the Seas to Brisbane instead of Los Angeles. Ovation will join Anthem of the Seas, sailing from Sydney, while Voyager of the Seas will operate from both Sydney and Brisbane before moving to Asia in early 2028.
Voyager will then sail from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo between January and April 2028, with itineraries visiting destinations in Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan. Navigator of the Seas is also being redeployed from the U.S. West Coast to Singapore, where it will begin year-round operations in October 2026. New Navigator and Ovation sailings are scheduled to open for reservations August 18, with Voyager itineraries following August 25.
Carnival Legend Completes Carnival’s First Solar Eclipse Cruise
Passengers aboard Carnival Legend experienced Carnival Cruise Line’s first dedicated total solar eclipse cruise on August 12. The 11-day Carnival Journeys sailing departed Dover on August 9, with the ship positioned at sea within the path of totality for the eclipse.
Carnival provided eclipse viewing glasses and scheduled special programming around the event. The voyage also includes ports in Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France.
The sailing is particularly notable for travelers interested in future eclipse cruises because Carnival already has three more planned for 2027. Carnival Firenze will offer a 16-day South America sailing positioned for the February 6 eclipse, while Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Miracle will operate European voyages timed around the August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse.
Several developments published during the past 24 hours could affect future cruise choices and upcoming travel plans. Today’s roundup covers Disney Cruise Line’s accelerated fleet growth, a weather-related Royal Caribbean delay in Asia, Viking’s largest ocean deployment to date and a major terminal expansion at Port Canaveral.
Disney Cruise Line Moves Fleet Expansion Ahead of Schedule
Disney Cruise Line plans to complete its current fleet expansion earlier than previously expected. The updated timeline was disclosed during The Walt Disney Company’s August 5 earnings call and reported on August 6.
Two next-generation Disney cruise ships are now expected to enter service in 2029, followed by another vessel in late 2030. This would bring the fleet to 13 ships one year earlier than Disney’s previous 2031 target. Disney Believe, the fourth ship in the Wish class, remains scheduled to debut in late 2027.
The accelerated schedule matters primarily to families considering future Disney cruises. A larger fleet should eventually give Disney more capacity to serve additional departure regions and itineraries, although specific homeports and routes for the unnamed ships have not been announced.
Typhoon Delays Spectrum of the Seas and Shortens Next Cruise
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas has been delayed from returning to Shanghai because of Typhoon Dolphin and the closure of the Baoshan cruise port.
The ship had been scheduled to arrive in Shanghai on August 8. Royal Caribbean extended the cruise currently underway while waiting for the port to reopen. The following sailing, an eight-night cruise to Japan, has also been affected and will operate as a shortened voyage because of the delayed turnaround.
Passengers booked on Spectrum of the Seas should rely on Royal Caribbean’s direct communications for updated arrival, boarding and itinerary information. The disruption is currently limited to the ship’s Shanghai operations, but changing storm conditions could lead to further adjustments.
Viking Opens Its Largest Ocean Cruise Deployment
Viking has opened bookings for its 2028–2029 ocean cruise season, adding more than 700 departures across 80 itineraries. The deployment will cover 301 ports in 84 countries and will include the new Viking Vega and Viking Leda.
Two newly announced itineraries are a 15-day Alaskan Fjords and the Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver to Whittier and a 16-day Mediterranean, Malta and North Africa voyage sailing round trip from Rome. Viking is also adding departures of its 15-day Japan Discovery itinerary from Tokyo.
The season includes cruises in Alaska, Asia, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Australia, New Zealand and the Panama Canal. Voyages range from eight-day itineraries to extended world cruises, giving travelers planning several years ahead a wider selection of dates and regions.
Port Canaveral Begins $95 Million Terminal 10 Expansion
Construction has started on a $95 million expansion and renovation of Cruise Terminal 10 at Port Canaveral. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2027.
The expanded terminal will cover more than 145,000 square feet, making it nearly 30 percent larger than the existing facility. It is being designed to handle cruise ships carrying up to 6,700 passengers. Planned improvements include larger security screening and luggage areas, additional elevators and escalators, updated signs, new heating and cooling systems and a redesigned glass-fronted terminal.
The project should eventually provide more space for embarkation and disembarkation on large ships. Travelers sailing before the work is finished may encounter construction activity around the terminal, although the port has not announced any passenger access changes connected to the project.
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.
Several noteworthy cruise developments were announced over the past 24 hours. Today's headlines include a major expansion of Holland America Line's European deployment, operational changes affecting some European river cruises due to low water levels, and progress on a new cruise terminal that will expand capacity at Port Tampa Bay.
Holland America Expands Its 2028 Europe Cruise Season
Holland America Line has opened bookings for its largest European deployment in years, with five ships scheduled to operate throughout the region during the 2028 season. The expanded program stretches from January through December and includes cruises throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Norway, the Canary Islands and the British Isles.
The deployment also marks the return of Nieuw Amsterdam to Europe for the first time in more than a decade. According to the cruise line, the season includes its highest number of visits to Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway in many years, giving travelers considerably more itinerary choices than previous seasons.
For travelers planning well in advance, the announcement provides access to a much broader selection of European sailings and departure dates than Holland America has previously offered.
Low Water Levels Affect Some European River Cruises
Phoenix Reisen has introduced flexible rebooking options for guests scheduled to sail on portions of the Danube, Rhine and Moselle rivers after unusually dry conditions lowered water levels across parts of Europe.
The company said passengers booked on affected departures through August 14 may change to another eligible sailing without paying a rebooking fee. Cruises have not been broadly canceled, and the line emphasized that itineraries will continue operating unless guests are contacted directly. Depending on river conditions, some sailings may require modified routes or transfers between ships.
River cruise travelers sailing over the next few weeks should continue watching for updates, as water levels can change quickly during extended periods of dry weather.
Port Tampa Bay Begins Work on Fourth Cruise Terminal
Port Tampa Bay has begun site preparation for a fourth cruise terminal, the port's first new cruise facility in more than 25 years.
Current work includes filling a former marine slip and preparing more than five acres for future construction. Additional infrastructure work is expected over the next several years, with the terminal currently projected to open in 2029.
Although the project will not affect current cruise operations, it represents a significant long-term expansion that will allow the port to accommodate additional cruise ships and support future growth.
Here are the most important cruise developments published during the past 24 hours. Today's news includes ship renovations, pricing changes, a river cruise disruption, fleet updates and new expedition itineraries that could affect future travelers.
Regent Plans Larger Suites Across Three Ships
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will significantly redesign three of its Explorer-class ships during scheduled dry docks beginning in late 2027. Seven Seas Splendor, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Grandeur will all receive larger entry-level suites while several entirely new suite categories will be introduced.
The renovations will increase the size of standard veranda suites from about 307 square feet to between 415 and 464 square feet. Guests can also expect larger balconies, walk-in closets and expanded bathrooms. Because of the larger accommodations, each ship's capacity will decrease from 373 suites to 344. Travelers planning luxury cruises after the renovations will have fewer cabins available but noticeably larger accommodations.
Sources: Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Seatrade Cruise News.
Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Its Long-Term Pricing Strategy
Norwegian Cruise Line is changing how it prices future cruises, with the goal of attracting more bookings earlier in the sales cycle instead of relying as heavily on discounts closer to sailing.
Company executives said some itineraries had previously been introduced at prices that were too high, slowing early demand. Under the new approach, Norwegian plans to launch cruises with more competitive pricing from the beginning and adjust fares gradually as ships fill. The strategy has already been introduced on selected 2027 sailings and newly released 2028 itineraries. For travelers who typically book well in advance, earlier pricing may become more attractive than under Norwegian's previous approach.
Passengers Evacuated After Viking River Ship Runs Aground
More than 180 passengers were evacuated from Viking Ullur after the river cruise ship ran aground on the Danube River near Vidin, Bulgaria. Bulgarian authorities said unusually low water levels left the vessel stranded on a sandbank while approaching port.
There were no reported injuries among the 186 passengers or 52 crew members. Passengers were transferred ashore by patrol boats before being transported to Bucharest to continue their travel plans. While this incident affected only one sailing, it highlights how low river levels across parts of Europe can disrupt river cruise operations. Travelers with upcoming Danube cruises may experience itinerary adjustments if water levels remain unusually low.
Oceania Sirena Will Leave the Fleet in 2028
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has agreed to sell Oceania Sirena, although the ship will remain in service with Oceania Cruises through its scheduled spring 2028 voyages.
After the sale closes, Oceania will charter the vessel back from its new owner until its final scheduled sailing. The buyer has not been announced. For guests already booked over the next two years, the sale is not expected to affect existing itineraries. However, travelers considering future Oceania cruises beyond spring 2028 should expect Sirena to disappear from the fleet.
Heritage Expeditions Expands Maiden Season for Heritage Discoverer
Heritage Expeditions has added seven more voyages to the inaugural full season of Heritage Discoverer, the expedition ship formerly known as Silver Explorer.
The expanded schedule includes cruises to Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland and Western Europe. Several of the new itineraries will operate during the 2027 and 2028 seasons, giving expedition travelers additional options in some of the world's most remote destinations. The announcement expands the ship's first full deployment following its transfer to Heritage Expeditions.
Here's a look at the most important cruise news published during the past 24 hours. Today's updates include new European itineraries, two itinerary changes affecting current sailings, and an operational pause for an Alaska expedition ship following repeated illness outbreaks.
Virgin Voyages Expands Into Scandinavia and the Baltic
Virgin Voyages has announced its first-ever season sailing to Scandinavia and the Baltic. Beginning in summer 2028, Valiant Lady will operate six voyages from Amsterdam featuring several new ports across Northern Europe.
The new deployment includes four new itineraries and visits to 22 ports, with 15 destinations that have never before appeared on a Virgin Voyages itinerary. One sailing will travel north of the Arctic Circle to Honningsvåg, Norway, while others include overnight stays in Stockholm and Lisbon. Bookings are scheduled to open in mid-August, giving travelers interested in Northern Europe another premium cruise option in 2028.
Royal Caribbean Removes Naples From Legend of the Seas Itinerary
Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas experienced a surprise itinerary change after the ship canceled its scheduled visit to Naples, Italy, while already en route to the port.
The ship altered course before arriving, and guests were informed that Naples would no longer be part of the sailing. No official explanation had been provided at the time the change was announced. While itinerary changes are uncommon, they can happen because of operational or port-related issues, reminding travelers that cruise schedules may occasionally change even after a voyage has begun.
Celebrity Beyond Adjusts Caribbean Itinerary for Maintenance
Celebrity Cruises has notified guests aboard Celebrity Beyond of itinerary adjustments resulting from maintenance that requires the ship to operate at a reduced speed.
The revised schedule delays the ship's arrival in Grand Cayman and replaces its planned Nassau visit with a stop in Bimini. Celebrity said the changes allow the cruise to remain on schedule while maintenance limitations are in effect. Guests with affected shore excursions will automatically receive revised arrangements or refunds where necessary.
Alaska Expedition Ship Pauses Sailings After Additional Illness Outbreak
Lindblad Expeditions has temporarily suspended passenger operations aboard National Geographic Sea Bird after another gastrointestinal illness outbreak during an Alaska voyage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight passengers and five crew members became ill during the ship's July 15 to 20 sailing. The latest incident follows several previous outbreaks aboard the vessel this season. Lindblad canceled three upcoming cruises so the ship can undergo additional sanitation procedures while affected guests are being offered refunds or alternative travel arrangements.
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