To avoid Hurricane Erin’s projected path, cruise lines have shifted ports of call for several ships. Now a Category 4 hurricane, Erin is heading northward from the Caribbean. At press time, the dangerous storm wasn’t projected to hit the U.S. coastline directly. Instead, most weather models show it veering to the northeast toward Bermuda. That said, conditions could change, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center has now issued warnings for life-threatening surf and rip currents along the Eastern Seaboard.
For the August 14, 2025, departure of Royal Caribbean International‘s Vision of the Seas, the cruise line scrapped an overnight Bermuda call, according to the Royal Caribbean Blog. Instead, the ship spent an extra day at sea and called at Port Canaveral, Florida, giving guests the opportunity to visit Orlando’s attractions. Guests also had more time ashore in Nassau, the Bahamas. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine also did not call at Bermuda as planned this past weekend. Instead, the itinerary took guests to two destinations in the Bahamas. Other lines too adjusted ports, among them Disney Cruise Line. Disney Treasure’s eastern Caribbean itinerary was replaced with western Caribbean calls at Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica.
On August 15, two Carnival Cruise Line guests drowned in separate incidents while enjoying water activities ashore at the new Celebrity Key, the line’s Bahamian private-island-style destination. One was sailing on Mardi Gras, the other on Carnival Elation. Both were Americans in their 70s who were traveling with their families. One drowned while snorkeling at a beach, and the other at a pool/lagoon, according to Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the cruise line. Carnival’s lifeguards and emergency personnel responded immediately to both situations, but sadly both guests passed away.
In Juneau, Alaska, glacial flooding at the Mendenhall Glacier resulted in property damage for some local residents before the situation began to improve mid-week, according to MSN. For cruise guests visiting during scheduled port calls, Mendenhall shore excursions were canceled or rerouted. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is donating $50,000 to the Juneau Community Foundation to help affected residents impacted by the flooding.
New Ships, New Journeys
(Photo by Susan J. Young.)
Iconic singer Diana Ross was expected to christen Royal Caribbean International’s new, 5,610-passenger Star of the Seas as the ship’s godmother. But last week she unexpectedly bowed out. So, on Friday, the cruise line named Kellie Gerardi, a social media influencer who previously soared in a Virgin Galactic suborbital commercial space flight, as the ship’s new godmother. She’ll christen the ship on August 20, 2025, at Port Canaveral.
Travel Agent Central just returned from a three-night Star of the Seas preview cruise, so we’ll have insight here about that ship this week. One takeaway from an onboard Common Ground session with travel advisors is the expected timing on the line’s new reservation platform. Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said the company is “on the journey” of changing to the new platform, but it’s not a light switch kind of situation. The plan is to begin to launch it in mid-year 2026 on Silversea. Then, potentially at the end of 2026 but likely in 2027, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises will be added onto the platform one sailing at a time.
Carnival Cruise Line marked the keel laying of its music-themed Festivale, and recently opened reservations for that new ship. On the river cruise front, A&K Sanctuary will launch the Nile Seray in Egypt in 2026. Princess Cruises announced that its new Star Princess has completed sea trials ahead of its October debut. Separately, Princess outlined its 2027 Alaska season and also said that it’s adding Makoto Ocean Sushi on Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess for sailings starting this fall.
Viking announced its new 2027-2028 World Cruise itineraries – the headliner 144-day World Cruise will sail from Port Everglades, Florida, through the Panama Canal to French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Africa and Europe, before ending in London, U.K. Plus, Viking will also offer one bit shorter and two longer World Cruise options.
Seabourn has introduced its new 2027-2028 ocean and expedition itineraries, while A&K is partnering with sister brand Crystal on new cultural voyages. Coral Expeditions unveiled its international expeditions for 2026-2027. Swan Hellenic has introduced its first ever Asia Pacific cultural expedition cruises. Also, Ponant will partner with Club des Chefs des Chefs (CCC), a renowned gastronomic society, for a foodie-focused 2027 expedition voyage on Le Commandant Charcot.
COMO Hotels and Resorts has announced the return of its exclusive “COMO Journey: Into the Arctic” expedition. Two polar journeys in partnership with Natural World Safaris are scheduled for May and September 2026. Guests will sail on the seven-suite Polarfront, a former Norwegian weather ship transformed into a boutique Arctic expedition vessel.
More Cruise News
After three years of sailing down under, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) announced on both its Facebook and Instagram accounts last week that it’s exiting the Australia and New Zealand markets, according to Cruise Fever.
“It’s a fond farewell for now,” said the posts, urging potential guests to make unforgettable memories during DCL’s last season in Australian and New Zealand waters between October 2025 and February 2026.
Atlas Ocean Voyages will begin offering Concierge Collection Junior Suites next spring. Three existing stateroom categories will debut under a new Junior Suite designation that includes Concierge Collection amenities. The change will occur effective April 2, 2026. on World Navigator, April 18, 2026, on World Voyager, and May 9, 2026, on World Traveller.
Variety Cruises has unveiled last minute offers, and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has a new promotion for its bilingual expedition cruises; both English and German are the official languages spoken aboard. On the shopping front, Oceania Cruises and sister brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises have announced a new retail partnership with Diamonds International.
Azamara appointed Lisa Kauffman as chief marketing officer, while Silversea announced the appointment of Gianluca Sparacino as its new global head of food and beverage.
Finally, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and its loyal past guests are getting ready to say goodbye to Seven Seas Navigator, which is leaving the fleet in fall 2026. The ultra-luxury line announced a farewell season of three voyages from August through October 2026. The ship, which has been sailing for Regent Seven Seas since 1999, will then begin its next chapter with Crescent Seas.
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