Luxury Cruising Editorial

This past weekend, Carnival Cruise Line opened their new private resort in The Bahamas, Celebration Key.

Cruise Fever was there on opening day to see what this new port was all about. You can read about what I thought here.

Our photo post on Facebook of Celebration Key has received over 1,600 comments so far. While the overwhelming majority of them have been positive, many cruisers do not understand why Carnival limits guests to just one free meal and why they can’t use their ship’s beverage package (CHEERS!).

For many cruise line private islands, most of the food is unlimited and you can use your ship’s beverage packages while enjoying the island.

So why does Carnival Cruise Line limit guests in these two areas? It comes down to one simple fact, they do not run the food and beverage outlets at Celebration Key.

Let me explain in further detail. When you visit CocoCay for instance, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas, all food and drinks come from the ship. When you go to a bar to order a drink, you are served by a crew member from one of the ships in port that day. The island is an extension of the ship.

Celebration Key is located on the largest island in The Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island. Here, businesses run all the bars and food outlets. No food or beverages come from the ship, but from local businesses here.

A Carnival representative said that if they offered unlimited food, the port would not be sustainable since they don’t control that aspect of it.

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, posted on his Facebook page today saying that 1,500 local Bahamians work at the port. When you go to a bar to order a drink, you are not served by a crew member from the ship. You are served by a local Bahamian. The same is true with all food outlets.

He also talked about how the port is a private destination, not an out island. It is similar to ports like Isla Tropicale (formerly known as Mahogany Bay), private ports built by Carnival Corporation but they are not an extension of the ship.

At Isla Tropicale or Amber Cove, you have to pay extra for all food and drinks at the port. Celebration Key is just like that with one exception, Carnival is actually giving you one free meal or you can get a 25% discount at one of the premium dining establishments.

While I completely understand that many do not like how food and beverages are treated here, I hope this helps you understand why it’s this way at Celebration Key.

MSC Cruises is adding new entertainment to MSC World Asia, their third World class ship that will debut in December 2026.  The cruise line is also making three exciting changes that include a brand new venue and new designs for Luna Park and The Harbour.

Here is a look at the different entertainment offerings that will be on MSC World Asia.

What’s New

The Clubhouse will be a retro-inspired place where families can play together. It will have everything from basketball, bumper cars, and roller skating to a LEGO Family Zone.

Luna Park and The Harbour will be redesigned but yet have returning favorites that guests love.

Luna Park, a two-deck multi-purpose entertainment venue, will lost game shows, parties and themed events. The main arena space is wrapped in immersive digital displays, ceiling projections, and dynamic lighting and sound.

It will host daily youth activities and act as the ship’s main nightclub venue in the evenings, with curated DJ sets and party experiences running well past midnight.

The Harbour returns to MSC World Asia with an Asian-inspired redesign and it will have the longest dry slide at sea at 266.7 feet. Cliffhanger, a swing that takes guests 164 over the ocean, will be part of the expansive outdoor park.

Entertainment Offerings

Entertainment will take place in the Panoroma Lounge, World Theatre and the World Promenade.

The Panoroma Lounge offers offers panoramic sea views with live music and a dance floor. In the evening, cabaret-style entertainment takes place in a laid back atmosphere.

The World Theatre will host spectacular stage shows that range from musicals to acrobatic shows to concerts. There will be multiple seatings each night to accommodate all schedules guests may have.

The open-air boardwalk, World Promenade, will feature lights shows, live music and the LEGO Parade. There will also be several dining and drink venues here.

MSC World Asia will feature over 40 bars, lounges and restaurants that include six specialty dining options.

There will be over 20 different types of staterooms for guests to choose from that range from inside cabins to the MSC Yacht Club, a ship-within-a-ship concept.

Other features on MSC World Asia include:

• Seven swimming pools
• 13 hot tubs
• Dedicated Doremi kids club
• Waterpark
• Video arcades
• Expansive Aurea Spa

MSC World Asia is scheduled to debut in December 2026 and will sail its inaugural season in Europe offering seven-night cruises.

The ship is currently scheduled to remain in Europe at least through the summer of 2027.

Celestyal Cruises has added a new itinerary for December that will allow guests to attend the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Guests will have the option to choose between seven or five nights with both options including tickets to the F1 race and practice sessions.

The cruise will take place on Celestyal Journey, a 1,260 passenger ship. The two options that guests will have are as follows.

A seven-night “Sail & Stay” that starts on December 4, 2025. It will include the following:

• Two night stay at a four-star hotel in Abu Dhabi
• Tickets to the first and second practice sessions, qualifying and race day
• Five-night cruise that stops in Dubai (overnight) and Sir Bani Yas Island.

The seven-night “Sail & Stay” starts at $2,138 per guest.

The second option is a five-night cruise that departs on December 6, 2025. It will include:

• Tickets to the third practice session, qualifying and race day
• Five-night cruise that stops in Dubai (overnight) and Sir Bani Yas Island.

This shorter option starts at $1,418 per guest.

All cruise fares include scheduled track transfers, a cocktail reception on embarkation day, a private beachside party at Sir Bani Yas, all meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities.

In addition to tickets to watch the action, Formula 1 driver, entrepreneur, author and broadcaster David Coulthard will be onboard as a guest speaker to discuss the race weekend. He will be joined by UK sports broadcaster and commentator, Laura Winter.

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said the following about this new itinerary:

“We’re thrilled to have David and Laura returning to Celestyal to help us deliver another unmissable experience in the Arabian Gulf.

“This new itinerary is a once-in-a-lifetime voyage combining the high-octane thrills and prestige of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with an immersive cruise experience. It’s the ideal curtain raiser to our Arabian Gulf season, and perfect for guests who crave adventure and cultural immersion – all provided at out-of-this-world value.”

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced over 500 new sailings for the spring and summer of 2027 on 20 ships from nearly 30 homeports.

These new cruises will set sail between April and October 2027 and visit more than 150 unique ports around the world in 59 countries. This includes 170 overnight ports in places like Istanbul, Reykjavik and Bermuda.

Almost every cruise to the Caribbean and Bahamas will visit one of Norwegian’s private destinations, Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye.

Great Stirrup Cay, a private island in The Bahamas, is currently being expanded with a pier under construction so ships will no longer have to tender. The pier is expected to open in late 2025 and will be able to accommodate multiple ships at the same time.

Other additions to the island include a tram system, an oversized heated pool, and extensions to the adult-only retreat and family-friendly Horizon Park.

Eight NCL cruise ships will visit the Caribbean and Bahamas in 2027 including Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Luna. Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape.

Cruises will also be offered from Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

Eight ships will sail in Europe with most cruises being seven-nights in length. Port-intensive itineraries will be offered that spend 90% of their time in port with an average stay of 11 hours.

Cruises to Europe will depart from 10 different homeports. Overnight and late night port visits will take place in:

• Istanbul, Turkey
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Hamburg, Germany
• Santorini, Greece
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Ibiza, Spain

Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva will offer nine- and 11-night cruises across Europe.

NCL’s midsized ships will also sail in the region visiting lesser known ports that mega-ships are unable to stop at.

Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy will all offer cruises to Alaska. All cruises will be seven-nights in length except for some Norwegian Joy sailings that will be nine- and 10-nights long.

Beginning May 10, 2027 through September 20, 2027, Norwegian Jade will sail a series of seven-day open-jaw sailings between Vancouver, British Columbia and Whittier, Alaska and feature iconic scenic cruising along Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay on each voyage. Guests will also able to immerse themselves even more in the Last Frontier by adding an NCL Cruisetour to their reservation so they can explore Denali National Park.

Norwegian Spirit will remain in the Pacific through December 2027 offering cruises to Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia and Hawaii.

David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, gave the following statement about these new sailings:

“We’re proud to be the cruise line of choice for travelers who want MORE out of their vacation – MORE freedom, MORE destinations and MORE unforgettable experiences.

“Our spring and summer 2027 deployment clearly brings our promise to life, offering something for everyone. Whether guests are hopping between European cities nearly every day, taking in Alaska’s natural beauty from ships custom-built to bring the outdoors in, or kicking back on the beach with family and friends at one of our two resort-style destinations, there’s no shortage of ways to relax, explore, and create unforgettable memories.

“I’m especially excited about the all-new experiences coming to Great Stirrup Cay, our private island in the Bahamas, that will truly provide guests with a variety of options —it’s all about giving guests MORE of what they love.”

Norway’s battle against overtourism has been in the spotlight over the last few years.  But one cruise line is offering up a different kind of approach that still allows cruisers to see quaint destinations while directly benefiting the local communities they visit.

What kind of benefit?  NOK 250 or $23 per passenger is paid to the village, allowing these locations to pocket over $11,000, since the cruise line’s ships only carry around 500 guests.

The cruise line is Hurtigruten, a Norwegian cruise company known for its small, agile ships and focus on sustainability.  Its goal in this new endeavor is to provide a more authentic interaction with these Norwegian villages.  Along with a monetary incentive, these visits will also offer a more “welcomed” experience for both visitors and locals.

And of course, it helps that Hurtigruten has been sailing these waters for a very long time, having traveled along Norwegian coastlines for over 130 years.

What About Those Port Fees?

Traditionally, cruise ships pay a variety of fees when they dock – including wharfage, pilotage, security, and passenger taxes.

These payments typically go to port authorities and government bodies, supporting large-scale infrastructure and general public services.

So, sure, while these fees paid by passengers pay for essential port operations, these funds often don’t directly benefit the small businesses and individual residents within the visited towns.

This new “Open Village” program by Hurtigruten fundamentally changes that.

It involves a direct payment of approximately $23 USD per traveler to the participating villages: Bessaker, Træna, and Sæbø.

This means each village can potentially earn up to €10,600 (roughly $11,448 USD) per ship visit during the summer season. This model makes sure that tourism revenue goes straight to the heart of the community.

Big Help for Small Villages

For these tiny Norwegian communities, with combined populations under a thousand, this direct funding is proving to be an economic lifeline.

Knut Johan Monkan, from Coastal Host Bessaker, emphasized the impact:

“In a village of just 170 people, 12 businesses benefit directly, from activity providers to artists, bakers and local producers. Without this initiative, places like FABrikken, our new restaurant, and Stokkøy Bakeri, named Norway’s best bakery in 2023, would not have managed to keep going. The ripple effects are wide-reaching, and Hurtigruten’s presence is essential to creating a sustainable, living village and district.”

This revenue allows local business to thrive, while also putting a greater spotlight on unique experiences and cultures.  It’s really a win-win for both the villages and the passengers, that get to see something beyond the “touristy brochure”.

Beyond the Crowds

With European cruise destinations like Spain and Greece limiting cruise tourism and general tourism overall, this program is offering another solution.

Norway is indeed dealing with the challenges of overtourism in hotspots such as the Lofoten Islands and Tromsø.

The “Open Village” program focuses on “slow” and “mindful” travel with smaller ships, carrying up to 500 passengers to visit these quaint locations.

This allows tourists to be more spread out on top of allowing them to engage with local communities instead of just breezing through them on a tour bus.

Odd Tore Skildheim, head of product development for the cruise line, gave the idea beyond this concept:

“These villages, with a combined population of fewer than 1,000, are not just points on a map. Through our ‘Open Village’ concept, there is no cost to our guests. Our aim is for guests to feel truly welcomed and for locals to feel genuinely supported.” He further highlighted that the program would lead to “more genuine connections while travelling.”

Getting the Real Deal and Not a Tourist Trap

Passengers on these “Open Village” cruises are offered truly immersive activities like woodcarving, festive village parades, live music, and exploring historic sites like ancient farms and rock carvings.

Travelers can also learn about local traditions, hear personal stories, and enjoy some homemade coffee, cake, and traditional Norwegian meat soup.

In Træna, one of Norway’s oldest fishing communities, passengers can take a self-guided tour. And Sæbø offers live church concerts and insights into the region’s history at its Avalanche Centre.

Partnering with Local Communities

By directly investing in the communities they visit, cruise lines can actually partner with these local villages and not just transport more tourists.

The “Open Village” model reflects a growing demand from travelers for experiences that are not only enjoyable but also contribute positively to the places they explore.   After all, nothing ruins an experience like seeing picket signs against tourism when you’re a tourist in a city. 

This approach seeks to introduce a welcome mat over a protest, and time will tell how effective it is.

Virgin Voyages Launches True Crime Voyage

Virgin Voyages is setting the stage for something unforgettable and First Mates are front and centre. The award-winning, kid-free cruise line is teaming up with iHeartMedia, the No. 1 audio company in the U.S., to launch the True Crime Voyage, a five-night Caribbean sailing that transforms podcast fandom into a fully immersive, at-sea experience. Departing Oct. 10 from Miami, this limited-edition sailing isn’t just buzz-worthy – it’s strategically designed for trade success.

Virgin Voyages’ travel advisors – known affectionately as First Mates – are equipped with an experience that hits every sales sweet spot. Themed, time-bound, culturally relevant and ripe for group bookings, the True Crime Voyage offers a fresh hook for new-to-cruise clients and a premium experience fans are actively seeking out. As with all Virgin Voyages’ itineraries, First Mates benefit from competitive commissions, attractive group incentives, no non-commissionable fares (NCFs), and a guest experience that’s never diluted by surprise fees or upcharges.

“We’ve tapped into a massive fandom and paired it with our uniquely elevated product,” said Nathan Rosenberg, Chief Marketing Officer and head of sales at Virgin Voyages. “This gives First Mates something different to sell with an experience built on passion, pop culture and premium value. The demand is already there; now advisors can be the ones to bring it to life.” 

Sailing on Valiant Lady to Puerto Plata and Virgin’s exclusive Beach Club at Bimini, the voyage is built around some of iHeartMedia’s most captivating true crime podcast titles, including Betrayal, Buried Bones and Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know. Throughout the journey, Sailors can anticipate live podcast recordings of their favorite shows, behind-the-scenes “How to Podcast” workshops, exclusive meet-and-greets with top hosts, special giveaways and themed cocktails and bites inspired by infamous cases. 

For First Mates, the appeal extends well beyond the theme. Virgin Voyages’ always-included pricing model covers more than 20 eateries, gratuities, Wi-Fi, group fitness classes and essential beverages, making it easier for advisors to close the sale. There’s also no upsell fatigue for travelers and no NCF deductions cutting into advisor earnings. 

“This exclusive, one-time-only itinerary is the kind of product that drives new conversations and bookings,” Rosenberg added. “We’re giving First Mates a reason to reach out, reengage past clients or tap into niche groups. It’s exciting, bookable and profitable.” 

This True Crime Voyage marks the start of a bold new evolution in Virgin Voyages’ immersive experience platform, one that brings the cultural conversations, trends and fandoms shaping pop culture to sea. Building on Virgin’s signature approach to storytelling and connection, the sailing introduces a new way to fuse entertainment, access and travel through a growing lineup of genre-driven voyages that celebrate what today’s Sailors are most passionate about, from true crime and comedy to wellness, music, food and beyond. 

Trade partners can access sales tools and marketing assets now at FirstMates.com, Virgin Voyages’ dedicated advisor portal.

“We designed the True Crime Voyage to tap into something people are already passionate about,” Rosenberg said. “But we built it to make selling simple, profitable and fun because that’s what First Mates deserve.”

SeaDream Yacht Club Launches 2028 Caribbean Voyages

More Virgin Islands, more beach parties, more roundtrips, and more unique Bahamas yachting voyages. These are SeaDream Yacht Club’s spring 2028 Caribbean voyages.

SeaDream Yacht Club has announced its spring 2028 Caribbean season, offering 32 new voyages between January and April aboard the newly upgraded mega-yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II.

Each itinerary is curated to showcase the Caribbean’s most intimate and exclusive destinations, featuring pristine beaches, yachting-only harbours, and overnight stays.

With one crew member for every guest, SeaDream Yacht Club offers unparalleled service and all-inclusive experiences such as watersports directly from the yachts and unique culinary experiences at the highest rated restaurant at sea.

All 32 voyages include pristine beaches and yachting-only destinations with overnight stays.

Bahamas Returns – And More St. Barths

“We continue to listen to our guests, and their desire is clear. They want more of the Virgin Islands, more time ashore, and the freedom to explore at their own pace,” said Andreas Brynestad of SeaDream Yacht Club.

“This new season is our answer to that. It is the Caribbean as only SeaDream can show it,” said Brynestad.

or 2028, SeaDream Yacht Club’s immensely popular Bahamas yachting voyages returns for the fourth consecutive year.

With departures directly from Palm Beach, Florida, the 7-day voyages explore the Bahamas’ most stunning destinations – powdery white-sand beaches, deserted cays, local culture, national parks, some of Caribbean’s best snorkeling spots, and exclusive golf resorts.

“We go where the bigger ships can’t. Our yachts offer a different way to experience the Caribbean – intimate, flexible, and deeply personal. It’s yachting, not cruising. And that difference matters more than ever,” said Brynestad.

Highlights of SeaDream Yacht Club’s 2028 Caribbean season include:

More U.S. and British Virgin Islands

Frequent calls on Jost van Dyke, Norman Island, Prickly Pear, Leverick Bay, Culebra, Vieques, and other secluded harbors inaccessible to bigger ships.

More round-trip voyages

The majority of voyages are designed as round-trips. With convenient departures from San Juan, St. Thomas, or Palm Beach, guests not only start their yachting experiences in the heart of the Caribbean – they can also enjoy simpler flight arrangements and seamless embarkation.

Extended overnight stays in St. Barths

Nearly every voyage includes full days and an overnight stay in chic St. Barths, giving guests ample time to fully enjoy the island’s celebrated dining, shopping, beaches, and nightlife.

Full Moon Parties at Trellis Bay

Four voyages align with the iconic Full Moon Party at Trellis Bay on Beef Island. This monthly celebration of local music, fire dancers, and Caribbean cuisine is accessible only to yachts, and a not-to-miss SeaDream Caribbean experience.

Yachting Land Adventures

SeaDream’s signature Yachting Land Adventures includes access to exclusive golf courses, guided snorkeling adventures, and an evening visit to the spectacular Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

New Exclusive Destinations

In 2028, SeaDream will call on Port St. Charles, Barbados, for the first time, adding a day of leisure at this luxury marina resort. SeaDream will also visit St. Pierre, Martinique for the first time.

Longer Southern Caribbean Voyages

Four new 10- and 11-day voyages reach islands farther south, offering deeper cultural immersion and exclusive experiences such as an evening Dinner Beach Party at Carambola Beach Club in St. Kitts.

All voyages include SeaDream’s signature Champagne & Caviar Splash® beach party, where chilled champagne and caviar are served in the surf, followed by a lavish beach barbeque.

Guests also enjoy complimentary use of SeaDream’s Marina and water-sports equipment, including jet skis, paddle-boards, and the first and only water slides in the cruise industry to take you from ship to sea.