Luxury Cruising Editorial

Carnival Cruise Line is currently the second largest cruise line in the world with 27 ships in service. They will soon be adding two more cruise ships when they are moved over from a sister cruise line.

This will give Carnival 29 cruise ships in their fleet, the most they have ever had. What lies in store for Carnival after these news ships are added?

Next month in Miami, Carnival Cruise Line will host a special event for media and give seven updates about the future of the cruise line.

Here is a look at the different updates Carnival will announce that range from a new guest rewards program to their new mega ships that will debut in 2029.

4th Excel Class Ship

Carnival Cruise Line currently has three Excel class ships in their fleet, their current largest ships. They have two more on order that are scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028.

The 4th and currently unnamed Excel ship will soon open for bookings. So far, Carnival hasn’t given many details about this new ship but that will change in April. The cruise line said that they will give more details on the vessel.

New Mega Ships

Last year, Carnival placed an order for their largest ships yet, three 230,000 gross ton cruise ships. They will be similar in size to Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class.

The ships scheduled are to debut in 2029, 2031 and 2033. What do we know about these ships? That’s pretty much it.

However, Carnival said that they will talk more about these mega ships at the event in Miami.

Onboard Enhancements

Carnival Cruise Line continues to improve the offerings onboard their cruise ships and they said that new product and onboard enhancements are coming across their fleet.

Exclusive Destinations

Carnival Cruise Line is currently in the middle of major construction port projects in The Bahamas. This includes a new pier and port area at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and a completely new port being built on Grand Bahama Island called Celebration Cay.

Carnival said that they will announce “other exclusive destination plans” in Miami that are coming soon. What are they? We have no idea but we can’t wait to find out and share the news with you.

New Rewards Program

It’s no secret that Carnival Cruise Line’s rewards program isn’t that great compared to competitor cruise lines. However, that should change as they will be giving a preview of their new guest rewards program.

Deployment Plans

Carnival Cruise Line currently sails from more U.S. ports that any other cruise line. Carnival said that they are adding even more variety to itineraries and they will announce these new deployment plans in Miami.

Australia

Carnival Corporation is in the middle of dissolving their P&O Cruises Australia brand and two ships are being converted over to Carnival Fun Ships. They will be renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. 

With this expansion, Carnival Cruise Line is now the leading cruise operator in Australia. The cruise line said that they will give more details on this expansion next month.

Cruise Fever will be attending the event in Miami and we will publish all updates Carnival Cruise Line announces that day.

San Diego’s cruise industry is ready to make waves again, and the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 seasons are looking like a full-on comeback with at least seven ships offering regular sailings.

After some quieter years, the Port of San Diego is gearing up for a surge in sailings, with big names like Royal Caribbean and Holland America leading the charge.

Royal Caribbean is even giving a ship a homeport in San Diego for the first time in ages. Holland America Line is also a big part of the story with regular offerings on three ships from the port and some epic sailings as well, like a 35-day South Pacific odyssey and a variety of Panama Canal crossings.

So, what’s on deck? Here’s the lowdown on the cruise ships sailing out of San Diego over the next couple years

1. Koningsdam: Holland America’s Frequent Mexican Riviera and Pacific Explorer

Holland America Line’s Koningsdam is a regular in San Diego, offering trips to Mexico and the South Pacific. This ship provides a mix of short and long voyages.  

• Sail Dates: Primarily late 2026 to early 2027 for Mexican Riviera cruises, with select Hawaii/North America voyages in late 2025 and early 2027.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 4-Day West Coast: Visits Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, and Ensenada, Mexico.
  • 7-Day Mexican Riviera: Calls at Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Loreto, Mexico.
  • 14-Day Mexican Riviera: Roundtrip from San Diego, visiting Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan.
  • 35-Day South Pacific (February 13, 2027): Includes Kona, Maui, Honolulu, Kauai, Tabuaeran, Raiatea, Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava, and Nuku Hiva.

2. Nieuw Amsterdam: Diverse Itineraries from San Diego

Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam offers a variety of cruises from San Diego, ranging from short Mexican Riviera trips to extended Pacific voyages.  

• Sail Dates: Late 2025 through early 2026 for Mexican Riviera/Pacific voyages, returning late 2026 and April 2027.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 7-Day Mexican Riviera: Visits Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.
  • 14-Day Pacific Coast/Mexican Riviera: Includes Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and a two-day stop in San Francisco and Santa Barbara.
  • 17-18 Day Hawaii: Hawaiian island hopping.
  • 20-24 Day North America: Includes travel to or from Vancouver.
  • 35-Day South Pacific (February 14, 2026): Includes Maui, Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai, Kona, Tabuaeran, Raiatea, Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava, and Nuku Hiva.

3. Zaandam: Long Voyages to the South Pacific

Holland America Line’s Zaandam specializes in long cruises, focusing on the South Pacific.  

• Sail Dates: Late 2025 through 2026 for South Pacific voyages, with Mexican Riviera cruises in April 2025/2026, and the Grand Australia/New Zealand voyage in early 2026.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 35-Day South Pacific: Visits Kauai, Honolulu, Kona, Maui, Tabuaeran, Rangiroa, Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava, and Nuku Hiva.
  • 51-Day South Pacific: Includes Kona, Kauai, Honolulu, Maui, Hilo, Tabuaeran, Pago Pago, Apia, Suva, Lautoka, Dravuni Island, Savusavu, Nuku’alofa, Vava’u, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Moorea, Huahine, Tahiti, Rangiroa, Fakarava, and Nuku Hiva.
  • 93-Day Grand Australia & New Zealand (January 4, 2026): Includes Honolulu, Kona, Maui, Pago Pago, Apia, Savusavu, Suva, Lautoka, Lifou, Noumea, Vila, Guadalcanal, Rabaul, Alotau, Kiriwina Island, Kawanasausau Strait & Milne Bay, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, Broome, Exmouth, Perth, Albany, Adelaide, Penneshaw, Melbourne, Hobart, Port Arthur, Sydney, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Timaru, Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Nuku’alofa, Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Fakarava, and Nuku Hiva.

4. Serenade of the Seas: Coastal and Mexican Riviera Cruises

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas starts sailing from San Diego in early 2027, offering short coastal trips and longer Mexican Riviera cruises.  

• Sail Dates: Late 2026 through April 2027, mainly 7-day Mexican Riviera cruises with some West Coast trips.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 3- and 4-Day Quick Trips: Sailings to Ensenada and Catalina Island with the shorter 3-day sailings just visiting Ensenada.
  • 7-Day Mexican Riviera: Includes Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and Mazatlan, Mexico.

5. Disney Wonder: Family-Friendly West Coast and Riviera Trips

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder offers family cruises from San Diego, with short and longer trips to the West Coast and Mexico.  

• Sail Dates: Spring 2025 and 2026 for West Coast and Mexican Riviera cruises.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 3- and 4-Day Coastal: Visits Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.  
  • 7-Day Mexican Riviera: Includes Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

6. Norwegian Jade: Mexican Riviera Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jade is offering a number of sailings to residence of San Diego with 21 cruises currently on the schedule. From October 2025 through April 2026, the ship offers a variety of itineraries, primarily focusing on 7-day sailings.

• Sail Dates: October 2025 through April 2026, primarily 7-day Mexican Riviera cruises with some longer voyages.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 7-Day Mexican Riviera: Voyages exploring various ports along the Mexican Riviera.
  • Varied Itineraries: While there is an 8-day sailing in October 2025, Norwegian Jade also offers a 15-day one-way Panama Canal sailing from San Diego to Miami on February 12, 2026.

7. Norwegian Star: Winter Getaways from San Diego

Norwegian Star also offers a dedicated season of Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego, primarily during the winter months. The ship provides a consistent schedule of 7-day voyages.

• Sail Dates: Mid-December 2026 through March 2027, with weekly 7-day Mexican Riviera cruises.
• Key Itineraries:
  • 7-Day Mexican Riviera: Cruises focusing on ports along the Mexican Riviera.
  • Holiday Cruises: Includes special holiday sailings in late December.
  • Panama Canal Voyage: Features a 15-day sailing from San Diego to Miami on April 3, 2027.

 Beyond the Regulars: Other Ships Sailing from San Diego

While these ships are frequent visitors, San Diego’s port also hosts a range of other cruise lines and vessels. Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Insignia will cruise on epic journeys to the South West Pacific, while Princess Cruises’ Island Princess also features Mexican Riviera voyages.

Also, many ships utilize San Diego’s cruise port as a starting or ending point for Panama Canal transits, trans-Pacific voyages, and sailings to Tahiti with Silversea’s Silver Shadow.

Royal Caribbean has announced new cruises in Asia in 2026-2027 that include new itineraries they’ve never offered before.

Royal Caribbean’s latest deployment announcement includes cruises from Hong Kong and Shanghai that range from two- to nine-nights in length.

The sailings will visit some of the most popular destinations in Asia including Tokyo, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Okinawa, Nagoya and Hakodate in Japan; Busan and Jeju in South Korea; Da Nang and Hue in Vietnam; and more.

The cruise line will offer their first ever eight-night cruise to Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji and Nagoya.

Shorter cruises will offer visits to Busan, known for its hot springs, and Okinawa, dubbed the Hawaii of the East.

The variety of cruises stretch further across Asia, offering more ways to explore South Korea and Vietnam with both new and popular returning options.

The 2026-2027 season will also feature special holiday cruises, including Christmas and Thanksgiving getaways packed with themed entertainment, seasonal cuisine and unique holiday festivities.

In addition, Royal Caribbean is expanding their presence in Hong Kong with cruises that start in November 2026. The sailings range from new cruises to nowhere to voyages that visit Ishigaki and Okinawa, Japan.

Benjamin Bouldin, President, Royal Caribbean International China, gave the following statement:

“This is one of our most exciting lineups yet, with incredible new destinations and longer, more immersive itineraries. From vibrant cityscapes to breathtaking coastal escapes, these new adventures are designed for travelers looking to experience the best of Asia in a whole new way.”

Cruises will take place on Spectrum of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that was built specifically to sail in Asia.

The Quantum-ultra class ship features the North Star, Two70, SeaPlex, FlowRider and Ripcord by iFly.

Oceania Cruises, one of the world’s leading destination focused cruise lines, has announced an epic six month that will visit 100 ports in 46 countries on six continents in 2027.

This Around the World cruise will take place on Oceania Vista with bookings opening today.  The cruise ship will depart from Miami, Florida on January 6, 2027 and visit more than 150 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Prices start at $76,199 per person and include the following amenities:

• Choice of unlimited drinks or a generous shore excursion credit
• Unlimited Starlink WiFi
• All gratuities
• All specialty dining
• Free visa package
• Free luggage delivery
• Exclusive shoreside events

Guests will transit the Panama Canal, island-hop through the Pacific from Hawaii to Fiji and sail along Australia’s stunning coastline.

Oceania Vista will spend two months in Asia where guests will be able to visit Thailand’s golden temples, Hong Kong’s vibrant markets, and Japan’s cherry blossoms.

After exploring the modern cities of the Arabian Peninsula, the cruise ship will sail the Mediterranean from Greece and Italy to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond to France before concluding her global trek in London.

There are also two extra options that can make the cruise even longer or a shorter option. The Epic Global Adventure starts in New York and ends in Miami 244 days later. The shorter option is a 127-day cruise from Miami to Doha.

Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer, Oceania Cruises, gave the following statement about this new cruise:

“Our Around the World cruise is an incredible way to explore the world in style, elegance, and comfort, and we’re thrilled to offer this immersive journey in 2027 aboard Vista.

“Spanning six months at sea, this extraordinary voyage offers the rare opportunity to circumnavigate the globe while seamlessly connecting diverse continents, rich cultures, and authentic cuisines, creating an unforgettable experience for our guests.”

Oceania Vista is a 1,200 passenger cruise ship that offers the most spacious standard staterooms at sea at 291 square feet.

There is one chef for every 10 guests with half the crew dedicated to culinary experiences. The ship has 11 dining venues.

Oceania Vista also has one of the best crew-to-guest ratios at two crew members to every three guests.

A cruise passenger posted a warning on Reddit after booking a college spring break cruise without realizing it.  What was supposed to be a relaxing getaway at sea turned into a “total waste of $2,000”, according to the social media post.

Group cruises can be tricky. These sailings are often focused on a music style or theme, but they don’t usually rent the whole ship.  That’s because a full ship charter costs a lot more money.

Instead, group cruises book a bunch of cabins on a regular cruise. This means you might be on a “normal” cruise with a big, themed group. The problem is that cruise lines often don’t tell you about these groups when you book. So, you could end up on a cruise with a big party you didn’t expect.

This is exactly what happened to a pair of friends who booked a cruise on Celebrity Silhouette for a 45^th birthday celebration.

“My best friend and I are currently on the silhouette for our 45th birthdays. We had no idea this was a spring break destination. More than half the boat are spring breakers. The party vibes by the bars and pool are fine. But slamming doors, running up and down the halls, and room parties until 4am are not,” the frustrated passenger stated.

The post went on to say that even with an upgraded stateroom, the noise was just too much to get a good night’s sleep on this voyage.

“We complained but have offered no assistance. Reddit posts warned of some spring breakers but had no idea we were reliving MTv spring break 2001.” 

With a final warning to future cruisers, the passenger concluded by saying the trip was a waste of $2,000.

The surprised birthday cruiser’s experience triggered a big online conversation in the comments. Many people shared their own cruise stories and gave advice.

One person said, “Not to point out the obvious, but a 4 day cruise in March is going to be spring break. All 3-4 day cruises are party central.” Others agreed, with someone adding, “The Nightmare Warning was there at your first thought of booking a 4N cruise in mid-March.”

Even a crew member talked about how tough short cruises are. “As a crew member, I can also confirm that short cruises 5 days or less are the worst,” one said, explaining the “lot of work” for staff.

Many people felt sorry for the crew, with some saying they were sending “thoughts and prayers” to the room stewards.

While some passengers said their cruise was okay away from the pool, others had issues. One person was upset that “major venues” were closed for private parties while on a group cruise, saying, “We paid to access those too and there was no indication those amenities would not be available.”

Many people also suggested avoiding Caribbean cruises during spring break. “I avoid booking Caribbean cruises from late February through early April for this reason,” someone wrote.

Another person was surprised to see college students on Celebrity, saying, “I’m a little surprised that it’s happening on Celebrity of all cruise lines.”

The truth of the matter is that any shorter cruise that is somewhat affordable this time of year can involve an experience like this.

I’ve found myself on a few unplanned group cruises before, and after an unpleasant experience decided to do a lot more research on my cruise dates before clicking the book button.

Here are a few tips to avoid booking a large group cruise along with some other things you should know if this happens to you:

• Research Online: Search the cruise dates and ship name on search engines. Group cruises often have a website or Facebook group or some kind of online advertising.
• Check Theme Cruise Finders: Use websites like themecruisefinder.com to identify themed cruises that might coincide with your trip. Use specialized google searches to help narrow your search.  
• Ask Your Travel Agent: They might have insider knowledge about large groups on your cruise.
• Be Aware of Potential Disruptions: Large groups may reserve areas of the ship, cancel shows, or create excessive noise.
• Understand Cruise Line Secrecy: Cruise lines rarely disclose group cruise information to avoid deterring potential bookings.
• Short Cruises are more likely to have large groups: Especially during peak times.

Adults only cruise line Virgin Voyages has announced that their next new ship, Brilliant Lady, will have seven original production shows and showstopping entertainment.

Virgin said that the new shows were created after listening to feedback from travel agents and past guests. The cruise line also said that they are reimagining current shows to make them even better.

The new shows will take place in the Red Room and The Manor and are as follows.

Red Room Shows

Red Hot – This will be a high energy musical that will take you through Virgin Records’ most iconic hits from their 50-year legacy.

Out of Time – This time-traveling comedy show takes guests through history with Dr. Victoria Vortex’s time machine. It will include everything from music to fashion to acrobatic cavemen.

The Manor Shows

Up With a Twist – Set in the roaring 20s, this is the latest installment of Virgin’s Supper Club Series. Alongside a live band, vintage numbers from yesteryear and summer soundtrack favorites are given a modern twist with audience members even having a say in the show’s ending.

Murder in the Manor – Influenced by a 1980s murder mystery novel, this theater performance is a combination of mystery and incredible dancing. Guests will be tasked with helping Jane figure out who killed her rockstar twin sister.

Duets – A jazz duets showcase across many generations of music. It will feature Motown, classic rock and contemporary ballads.

Electric – An epic glow party that will be teeming with fluorescent accents, UV reactive ‘fits,’ neon face paint and even a jellyfish parade.

Disco Reimagined – A reimagined disco party that will be a 90 minute explosion of sequins, flared pants and acrobatics.

Virgin Voyages is also bringing back Duel Reality to their new flagship. It is a modern take on Romeo and Juliet and it was the first cruise ship production to go from sea to land.

Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages, gave the following statement:

“Brilliant Lady has so much in store for our Sailors and travel advisors. The new incredible additions to our entertainment is just the first reveal in a series of imaginative experiences we’re unveiling for our fourth and final ship.

“Our brand has come so far since our launch in ’21, and we’re grateful to our travel advisor community for being such an important part of our journey. Thanks to their valuable feedback, we’re constantly challenging ourselves to raise the bar by offering more entertainment and never-before-seen experiences.

“Not only will Brilliant’s entertainment take us to the next level, but it will also answer the areas where we needed to grow.”

Brilliant Lady will be the fourth cruise ship in Virgin’s adults only fleet.  The cruise ship will make its debut in September 2025.

After a series of cruises from New York, the ship will head to Miami and sail seven- to 12-night cruises to the Caribbean for the winter season.

Construction began on a new cruise port in the Dominican Republic last week that will allow cruise ships to dock on the southwest side of the country.

The $11.5 million (713 million DOP) project will create a pier and terminal for cruise ships in the Port of Barahona. Media outlets in the region reported on the start of construction for the new project.

The port will have 35 commercial spaces for shops, in addition to recreational spaces for bars and restaurants. Construction has begun on the pier that officials say is vital to the local economy.

The port will also have a security area, bathrooms, and areas designed to recreate the experience of making rum.

David Collado, the Minister of Tourism, gave the following statement about the new port:

“We are here leaving the work of the tourist pier started, a demanded and necessary work of this beautiful province of Barahona.”

He went on to say that the modern pier will increase tourist flow and economic activity in the area.

This will be the 8th cruise port in the Dominican Republic, although the only one that sees cruise ships on a daily basis is Puerto Plata/Amber Cove. Some of them only have a few calls each year by smaller, luxury cruise ships.

Right now, no cruise lines currently have ships scheduled to visit the Port of Barahona on future itineraries. However, that could change once the pier and port area are completed.

This is not the only new cruise port that is currently under construction in the Caribbean/Bahamas. 

Carnival Cruise Line is finishing up work on their new cruise port, Celebration Key, on Grand Bahama Island that will open this July. It will be visited exclusively by Carnival cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean is also building a new private destination for their ships. In 2027, Perfect Day Mexico is scheduled to open in the town where the Costa Maya cruise port is located. The cruise line has yet to release many details about this new project.

We do know that it will have a waterpark, swimming pools, dining spots, a beach and shopping.

Norwegian Cruise Line has added its 20th ship, Norwegian Aqua, to the fleet, as Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has completed the build and finalized the delivery.

The 3,500-passenger capacity vessel is the first Prima Plus class ship to be built for the cruise line, with another coming in 2026 (Norwegian Luna).  The new ship is 10% larger than the Prima-class vessels (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva) which are about 142,000 gross tons in volume. 

This new ship has a gross tonnage of 156,000 and is 1,056 feet long.

Norwegian Aqua’s inaugural voyage will be a transatlantic 7-day sailing out of Southampton that is scheduled to leave the English port on March 28 and will arrive in Boston on April 4, 2025.

Following this transatlantic sailing, the ship will transition to shorter itineraries. Specifically, Norwegian Aqua will offer short 5-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, featuring stops at Great Stirrup Cay and Bimini.

Then Norwegian Aqua will reposition to Port Canaveral. From this Florida port, it will embark on 7-night Caribbean cruises starting April 26th, 2025. These cruises will visit destinations such as Great Stirrup Cay, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and Tortola.

Later in the year, specifically in September 2025, the ship will reposition to New York City. From there, it will provide 7-night cruises to Bermuda, with extended stays in King’s Wharf.

Finally, as the winter season approaches, starting October 12th, 2025, the Prima-Plus ship will return to Miami. During this period, it will offer 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises that include familiar ports of call like Great Stirrup Cay, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and Tortola.

In addition to handing over Norwegian Aqua to Norwegian Cruise Line, Fincantieri will also be having a launching ceremony for Norwegian Luna, the next ship to be delivered to the cruise line.

The cruise line has shown a strong commitment to working with the Italian ship builder, as recently it was announced that Norwegian had ordered its largest ships on record.   Just last month, Fincantieri announced it had received an order from Norwegian for four new cruise ships that were around 226,000 in gross tonnage.  The size of these ships puts them among the largest in the world, competing with the megaships of Royal Caribbean.

Cruise passengers taking an Alaskan sailing could see a change in their future itineraries if a proposed change gets approved.  On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan hinted at a big change during a radio interview on 650-KENI: cruise ships could skip their usual Canadian port stops, which are actually required by law.

Right now, if you’re sailing from Seattle or San Francisco to Alaska, federal law—the Passenger Vessel Services Act—says your ship has to dock in Canada along the way, usually in places like Vancouver or Victoria.

It’s an old and antiquated rule (passed in 1886) that has annoyed cruise passengers for decades now, but Sullivan’s pushing to finally do away with it or at least make an exception.

Why? A brewing trade spat between Canada and the U.S. has America’s neighbor to the north threatening tolls on trucks heading to Alaska, and with costs rising, Alaska’s fighting to keep its tourism season afloat. For passengers, that could mean an Alaskan sailing that only stops at U.S. ports.

By bypassing Vancouver and Victoria ports in Canada, cruise ships out of Seattle could head directly to Alaska, the intended destination.  On the positive side, this would save time and travel costs for cruise lines as well.

And this wouldn’t be the first time an exception to the Passenger Vessels Act has been made.  It’s happened back in 2021, when COVID shut Canadian ports, the U.S. let ships bypass them, and passengers still got to visit America’s Last Frontier.

Jillian Simpson, president of the Alaska Travel Industry Association, calls it an “effective tool” that kept the season alive then and could again now. “It worked during the pandemic,” she said, “and it could help us dodge this economic mess.”

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Canadians make up about 10% of Alaska’s visitors, and many start their trips in Vancouver. Simpson’s already hearing from tour operators about cancellations and people afraid of rising tensions and costs.

“We’ve seen some drop-offs,” she admitted, “especially from Canadian passengers.” Meanwhile, early bookings for what was supposed to be a blockbuster summer are slowing down a little, with February numbers taking a hit.

For the average cruiser, this could go either way. Skipping Canada might mean lower fares or more time in Alaska—think extra days kayaking in Juneau or exploring Skagway. But it could mean some short term confusion and logistical juggling, with cruise lines trying to rethink routes and schedules.

And if Canada’s ports get cut out, those iconic stops could miss out and really take an economic hit. “Our biggest worry is how this uncertainty affects people still booking,” Simpson said. “They just want to know what they’re signing up for.”

So, as Alaska waits to see if Sullivan’s plan will be approved or not, passengers are left to wait as well.  One thing is for sure, opinions on this will be all over the map. 

About 1.68 million cruise passengers visited Alaska last year, and the region has become one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world.