Are you caught up on the entire main cruise information occasions from the previous week? You can be if you happen to learn on. This week’s Cruise Information Replace from Cruise Hive has the most recent developments from Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Mexico.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels 35 Extra Voyages
Many friends booked on Norwegian Cruise Line ships acquired disappointing information about cancelled sailings. It was the most recent in a spate of cancellations that has impacted ships throughout the fleet in latest weeks.
The most recent spherical of cancellations — 35 in all — impacts Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, and Norwegian Pleasure. Visitors will obtain a full refund and a ten% low cost on a future voyage within the type of a future cruise credit score.
On Norwegian Bliss, 9 cruises have been nixed: November 30, December 5, 20 and 27, 2025; and January 3 and 10, February 1 and 16, and March 3, 2026.
Norwegian Breakaway has 10 cruises cancelled between January 6 and February 6, 2026.
Norwegian Encore has 7 cancelled sailings between November 29, 2025 and January 16, 2026.
Norwegian Pleasure has 9 voyages cancelled, together with November 29; December 13, 20, and 27; January 17; February 21 and 26; March 3; and April 11.
The cruise line, which simply weeks in the past cancelled 38 cruises on three different ships, provided no clarification for the adjustments apart from citing fleet redeployments.
Main Water Leak Impacts Oasis-Class Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Attract of the Seas is scheduled for a dry dock overhaul in February 2025, and maybe it could actually’t come too quickly.
The ship skilled a main pipe leak throughout a 3-night Bahamas cruise that departed PortMiami on December 6, 2024, inflicting vital flooding to an unknown variety of staterooms and corridors.
Some friends posted images of flooded hallways onboard the 5,500-guest ship, which is 15 years previous. It was the cruise line’s second Oasis-class ship, and entered service in 2009.
Social media movies additionally confirmed water pouring from ceilings and overhead lights, forcing many friends to be assigned to new cabins. The flood didn’t impression the ship’s itinerary, and she or he continued on to Nassau, Bahamas, and to Good Day at CocoCay, the road’s non-public island vacation spot, as deliberate.
Attract of the Seas had been slated for dry dock renovations in 2020, however that was delayed. Beginning in February 2025 the ship will bear a two-month-long refit.
Mexico Postpones Charging Cruise Visitors a Payment
The cruise business could have extra time to attempt to persuade Mexico that its proposed $42 price charged to cruise passengers calling on the nation’s ports is a nasty thought. The nation’s non-resident price has been in place for years however was not charged to cruise arrivals.
The Mexican authorities shocked the cruise business when it accepted increasing the price to cruise friends beginning in January 2025. Following a backlash from cruise traces, authorities officers agreed to delay implementation till July 1, 2025.
The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Affiliation (FCCA) believes the tax will trigger a 15 p.c drop in cruise calls, since cruise traces will change some itineraries to keep away from Mexico. The price would whole $168 for a household of 4 cruising collectively and visiting even one Mexico vacation spot.
Cruise passengers have been exempt from paying the price as a result of they have been “in transit” vacationers, however new laws removes the exemption. With 10 million cruise friends anticipated to name at Mexico ports in 2025, the price would elevate vital income for the nation.
The FCCA plans to work with Mexico towards an answer.
Small Fireplace Is Confirmed on MSC Seashore
One factor you don’t need to see or scent on a cruise ship is smoke, however that’s precisely what friends onboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore skilled on the primary evening of their voyage from Port Canaveral.
It was the night of December 8, 2024 when some friends took to social media to submit stories of smoke on the 170,412-gross-ton ship. One submit on Reddit got here from a cruiser who heard two loud bangs after which a scorching sound, adopted by smoke that smelled like {an electrical} hearth.
Different posts cited a scarcity of energy to elevators and said that web entry was restricted. MSC Cruises confirmed {that a} small hearth had erupted within the emergency generator room however was shortly handled. No accidents have been reported.
The fireplace didn’t trigger any itinerary change to the 7-night voyage, and the ship sailed as deliberate to her first port name, the road’s non-public Ocean Cay resort within the Bahamas.
Any wanted repairs have been made whereas the ship was visiting Ocean Cay, and the vessel is constant on her technique to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, earlier than returning to Port Canaveral on December 15, 2024.
New Title, Upgrades for Half Moon Cay Personal Retreat
Half Moon Cay, the non-public island vacation spot within the Bahamas utilized by sister traces Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line, was renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and is ready to obtain a number of new enhancements.
The brand new identify is supposed to level up the island’s calming affect and pure sights.
Plans name for the addition of two welcome areas, a seaside membership, enhanced eating venues, a tram service, and lounge areas with non-public cabanas that may be rented for the day.
The redo of the retreat got here after an announcement in summer season 2024 confirming {that a} new pier can be constructed, massive sufficient to allow Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class ships to name. These embody Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
Beginning with 2026 itineraries, ships from each cruise traces will start calling on the upgraded vacation spot. The primary of the Excel-class ships to go to is prone to be Carnival Jubilee. The ship is slated to sail from Galveston, Texas, on an 8-night Bahamas cruise on September 19, 2026.
The itinerary reveals ports of name at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in addition to Celebration Key, one other non-public vacation spot set to open in summer season 2025 on Grand Bahama Island.
Confiscation of Confetti Confounds Carnival Visitor
Confetti cannons, these get together gadgets you pull the highest off of to launch a stream of confetti, is likely to be the following product added to Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited listing.
A visitor on a latest Carnival Breeze crusing wrote to model ambassador John Heald and complained that confetti cannons introduced onboard by her daughter to be a part of a gender reveal get together have been confiscated by employees.
She needed to know why. Heald, responding to the question on his fashionable Fb web page, famous that the merchandise just isn’t formally on the road’s prohibited listing.
Nevertheless, for the reason that friends have been utilizing the cannons at an outside house, employees doubtless confiscated them as a result of any confetti that went overboard into the ocean might put the road at odds with environmental guidelines.
There are laws relating to the discharge of things that might contaminate the ocean or marine life. Heald indicated he would comply with up with cruise line executives to have the cannons added to the prohibited gadgets listing.
Carnival Cruise Line not too long ago expanded that listing to incorporate Bluetooth audio system, as a result of they might signify a security menace. If audio system are enjoying loudly, friends and crew may not be capable to hear security bulletins remodeled a ship’s public deal with system.
First Royal Seaside Membership to Open in December 2025
Royal Caribbean friends will be capable to expertise the road’s Royal Seaside Membership Paradise Island beginning in December 2025. The cruise line introduced the deliberate opening and revealed extra particulars concerning the vacation spot’s facilities.
Visitor crusing on itineraries that decision on the non-public, resort-style retreat can begin reserving their day passes in spring 2025, though the price of the go has not but been disclosed.
Highlights of the seaside membership embody the world’s largest swim-up bar, and a brand new, 2-story Final Household Cabana loaded with bells and whistles corresponding to a water slide and frozen drink maker.
The Royal Seaside Membership Paradise Island, located a brief water taxi experience away from the cruise terminals on the Port of Nassau, could have three distinct zones: Household Seaside, Chill Seaside, and Social gathering Cove.
The household cabana can be positioned within the Household Seaside space, together with a pool and video games for teenagers. At Chill Seaside, friends will discover a quieter ambiance with a pool and beachfront sunbathing areas.
Social gathering Cove can be the place the motion is, that includes a celebration vibe, a DJ spinning music, and the massive swim-up bar.
Moreover the spacious household cabana, different cabanas can be obtainable to hire. No rental charges have been introduced but however are anticipated quickly.
Extra Cruise Headlines
Cruise Hive has way more protection about cruise business information you received’t need to miss. Try our protection on St. Lucia receiving a record-high quantity of cruise ships in at some point; MSC Cruises capping drink packages at 15 drinks per day; a small yacht crashing right into a mega-ship within the Bahamas; Oceania Cruises rolling out a New 12 months sale; and a Greek island celebrating a record-breaking cruise season.
