News
Carnival Returns to Light Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball for 2026
Carnival’s Times Square presence underscores how cruise brands are leaning on mass‑audience moments to stay top of mind as competition for vacation dollars intensifies.
Reporter
Jed Stafford
News
Carnival Sunshine Adds First-Ever Africa Calls in 2027 Europe Season
Carnival is leaning into experience-led cruising, pairing rare skywatching with fresh North African stops as lines compete to stand out in an increasingly crowded Mediterranean.
News
Former Costa Magica Begins Qingdao Refit Ahead of Tianjin Debut
The refit signals how China’s cruise revival is shifting beyond Shanghai as private operators redeploy secondhand ships to build year-round northern homeports and regional calls.
News
CDC Logs 22 Cruise Ship GI Outbreaks in 2025, Up From 2024
As cruise demand climbs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s public outbreak list is a key transparency tool, even as staffing cuts test oversight at sea.
News
Celebrity Eclipse Replaces Nassau With Perfect Day at CocoCay
The swap underscores how major cruise brands are leaning on private destinations to control crowds and shore experiences as busy ports like Nassau face growing competition.
News
PortMiami Invests $125M to Add Shore Power at Five Cruise Berths
PortMiami’s shore power buildout signals a wider shift as cruise lines electrify fleets and ports race to keep up, exposing how grid limits can slow clean-dock promises.
News
Blue Dream Cruises Suspends Guest Operations for Melody Upgrades
The unexpected pause underscores how thin margins can be for newer cruise brands in China, where shifting regional itineraries and soft demand can quickly force fleets into layup.
News
Astro Ocean's Piano Land Ends Malaysia Season, Returns to Hong Kong
The Malaysia stint shows Chinese cruise brands are pushing beyond domestic waters and tailoring ships to local tastes, raising the stakes for Southeast Asia’s homeports.
News
Norwegian Opens Great Stirrup Cay Pier, Ending Tender-Only Landings
The move underscores a broader race to control the guest experience on private islands, where dock-ready access helps cruise lines deliver more reliable calls despite rough seas.
News
Coral Adventurer Grounds on PNG Reef, Passengers Flown to Cairns
The grounding adds to fresh scrutiny of expedition cruising in reef-strewn Pacific waters, where remote routes and cross-border oversight can test safety systems.
News
Carnival Drops Conflict Islands Stop on Brisbane Cruises After Sale
The change highlights how South Pacific cruising relies on privately owned island access, where a shift in ownership can quickly redraw routes and reshape guest expectations.
News
Carnival Swaps to Ritual Zero Proof for 2026 Mocktail Program
Carnival’s revamped zero-proof bar lineup signals how cruising is leaning into the sober-curious market, treating alcohol-free drinks as premium menu stars rather than afterthoughts.