MSC Cruises is expanding its new AI-powered MSC Concierge across its entire fleet after a large-scale trial generated more than one million guest messages and achieved a 93 percent satisfaction rating.
The virtual assistant, built into the MSC for Me app, is designed to help passengers access onboard services and information through a 24-hour chat feature available on their own phone or tablet.
More than 170,000 guests tested the system during the pilot phase before MSC Cruises decided to complete a fleetwide rollout by the end of May 2026.
The cruise line says the AI concierge can communicate in more than 90 languages and is capable of handling a wide range of requests. Guests can book specialty dining, reserve spa treatments, arrange shore excursions, check onboard spending, browse entertainment schedules and ask general questions without visiting guest services desks.
MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said the technology is intended to work alongside crew members rather than replace them.
“We are dedicated to offering our guests the ultimate holiday experience across every touchpoint of their cruise. Combining the latest technology with the warm hospitality of our crew, we are enabling guests to personalise their journey like never before, to create an experience which is truly theirs.”
One of the biggest advantages for passengers is that the service works through the ship’s internal Wi-Fi network without requiring the purchase of an internet package. Guests simply connect to the ship’s hotspot and use the MSC for Me app or scan onboard QR codes to start chatting with the assistant.
The system is also linked directly to each guest’s booking details, meaning it can tailor responses based on cabin category, drinks packages and other included services.
MSC Cruises said the service is already available on most ships, including MSC World Europa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia and MSC World America, with the remaining vessels expected to go live before the end of the month.
Could This Succeed Where Zoe Failed?
The launch of MSC Concierge is likely to draw comparisons with Zoe, MSC Cruises’ previous attempt at an onboard digital assistant.
Introduced several years ago on Meraviglia-class ships, Zoe was a voice-controlled device placed inside passenger cabins. Guests could ask simple questions, request information and control some cabin functions through spoken commands.
In practice, however, Zoe struggled with accuracy, speech recognition and limited functionality. Many passengers complained the assistant misunderstood requests or failed to answer basic questions, particularly when dealing with different accents or background noise.
Reviews were often negative, and many guests simply stopped using the devices altogether.
Unlike Zoe, the new MSC Concierge is entirely app-based and powered by modern conversational AI technology. Rather than relying on voice recognition inside cabins, guests communicate through text chat, which is generally far more reliable and easier for multilingual support.
The new system has also been trained using thousands of previous guest interactions, allowing it to provide more detailed and personalised responses.
MSC has not confirmed whether all Zoe devices have now been removed from cabins across the fleet. Some ships still appear to have the hardware installed, although the devices have largely disappeared from MSC marketing in recent years as the company shifted focus towards mobile-based services.
Growing Use Of AI On Cruise Ships
MSC Cruises is also expanding its use of AI beyond digital guest services. The cruise line recently revealed plans for a huge new family entertainment zone on its upcoming ships that will combine theme park-style attractions with interactive AI-powered experiences.
MSC World Asia, MSC Luna Park Arena
MSC says the new concepts will use artificial intelligence to create more personalised and immersive activities for families and younger guests, showing how the company is increasingly investing in AI technology across multiple areas of the onboard experience rather than limiting it to customer service alone.
MSC Cruises is not the only cruise line investing heavily in artificial intelligence and digital guest services.
Cruise operators are increasingly using AI tools to reduce waiting times, improve onboard communication and handle routine guest requests more efficiently.
For crew members, systems like MSC Concierge could help reduce the number of repetitive questions handled at guest services desks, allowing staff to spend more time assisting passengers with more complex issues.
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A cruise director has been awarded around €130,000 after court ruled that the company unlawfully kept him on temporary contracts for 18 years despite using him as a long-term employee.
The Bari Labour Court ruled that the former Costa Cruises cruise director, from Taranto, should be treated as a permanent employee after working on Costa Cruises ships from 2003 to 2021. During that time, he was reportedly employed under 51 separate contracts.
According to the Italian newspaper ANSA, the court found that the company had relied on his work for years while continuing to use fixed-term contracts, rather than recognising him as a permanent member of staff.
Judge Agnese Angiuli partially accepted the worker’s appeal, which was supported by lawyers Fabrizio Del Vecchio and Antonello Schinaia. The court ordered that he be rehired and paid around €130,000, plus interest. The sum was calculated using his final salary and years of service.
Why The Ruling Matters To Cruise Crew
Short-term contracts are standard across much of the cruise industry. Most crew members are hired for a set period at sea before taking leave and later returning under a new contract.
For many hotel, catering and housekeeping staff, contracts typically last between four and ten months, often followed by several weeks off before the next assignment. Senior positions such as captains, hotel directors and cruise directors usually work shorter rotations, often around three to four months at a time.
This rotating system is a normal part of cruise ship operations. Unlike land-based jobs, ships need crew to regularly rotate on and off throughout the year, meaning fixed-term contracts are widely used across the industry.
The issue in this case was not simply the use of temporary contracts. The court found that the cruise director’s employment had effectively become continuous after 51 contracts over 18 years. In practice, the role no longer appeared temporary, despite still being structured through repeated short-term agreements.
Are Cruise Directors Usually Permanent?
Cruise directors are not usually “permanent” employees in the same way as office workers on land. Even highly experienced cruise directors who stay with the same company for years normally work in scheduled rotations, with each period on board covered by a separate contract or assignment.
There are permanent-style jobs within the cruise industry, but these are more common ashore in areas such as management, sales, marketing, finance and port operations.
At sea, even senior officers and entertainment staff often work under rotational systems. Some may have long-term employment relationships with a cruise line, but still alternate between periods on board and leave at home.
That distinction is important because maritime employment works differently from most land-based industries. Courts may accept that rotating contracts are necessary for ship operations, but they can also examine whether repeated fixed-term agreements are being used fairly or simply to avoid granting the protections linked to permanent employment.
Why This Case Was Different
This ruling is unlikely to be easy for most crew members to copy.
Costa Cruises says its current fleet flies the Italian flag, and the company has long been closely linked to Italy. That gave this case a stronger connection to Italian and European labour rules.
Many other large cruise ships are registered in countries such as the Bahamas, Panama, Bermuda, Malta or Liberia. In maritime law, the ship’s flag state is very important because it helps decide which national rules apply on board.
The Maritime Labour Convention sets minimum rights for seafarers, including written employment agreements, wages, rest hours, leave, repatriation and complaint procedures, but enforcement is largely tied to flag states and port state checks.
This is why crew on American-owned cruise lines are not automatically covered by US employment law. A cruise company may be listed, based or managed in the United States, but its ships are often registered elsewhere. That can make claims about unfair dismissal, permanent status or local labour protections much harder.
Will This Lead To More Permanent Cruise Jobs?
The ruling may encourage some long-serving crew to look more closely at their own contracts, especially in Europe. It may also push cruise lines and hiring agencies to be more careful when using repeated fixed-term agreements for the same worker over many years.
But it is unlikely to end temporary contracts at sea.
Short contracts remain the standard model for cruise ship work. Ships need crew to rotate because life on board is intense, with long working days and weeks away from home. The Maritime Labour Convention also treats seafaring as a special type of work, with its own employment agreements and protections.
The bigger risk for cruise lines is not the use of short contracts by itself. It is the repeated use of short contracts for the same person, in the same role, over many years, where the work appears to be permanent in all but name.
For cruise workers, the message is more limited but still important. This case shows that repeated temporary contracts can be challenged in the right legal setting. However, the result depends heavily on the worker’s nationality, the ship’s flag, the employer named in the contract, the country where the case is brought, and whether local labour law has a strong enough connection to the job.
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Holland America Line’s “Around the World in 11 Ways” campaign includes an online contest launching on the heels of Holland America Evolution, a multiyear investment to thoughtfully reimagine six ships and serving as the largest fleet update in the line’s 153-year history.
Evolution will deliver a comprehensive bow-to-stern revitalization brought first to Oosterdam, followed by the cruise line’s remaining Signature Class and Vista Class ships. The investment allows Holland America Line to introduce experiences and venues that are new to the fleet, add Pinnacle Class favorites like Grand Dutch Café, and create new stateroom categories designed for the way people travel today, all while preserving the perfectly sized ship experience that defines the brand.
To commemorate this pivotal period in Holland America Line’s history, with an emphasis on both nostalgic experiences and forward momentum, the cruise line is seeking to hear from globetrotters and guests about what excites them about travel and why they want to see the world with Holland America Line.
Around the World in 11 Ways Contest
“Around the World in 11 Ways” represents a year-long celebration of the cruise line’s 11 ships, designed to bring Holland America’s fleet transformation to life over time. The contest follows the release yesterday of new cruises on Oosterdam, the first voyages following the ship’s renovation.
With 11 ships, 11 winners, and unlimited stories to tell, “Around the World in 11 Ways” celebrates the different ways to see the world, as each Holland America Line ship offers a distinct experience and evokes memorable guest stories.
How to enter:
Participants can visit here from May 6 through Aug. 30, 2026. They can answer with a short written or video entry: “Why do you want to see the world with Holland America, and which ship would you want to cruise on to get there?”
Judging will begin mid-September, and 11 winners (one per ship) will be selected. The winners will be spotlighted monthly from September 2026 through 2027. One Grand Prize winner will be awarded a stateroom on Oosterdam’s inaugural cruise following its Evolution enhancements. Ten runners-up will win a cruise on the remaining 10 ships in the fleet.
With experiential travel continuing to surge, Holland America Line is excited to hear why travelers want to explore the world.
Modern cruise ships are so enormous that your brain almost struggles to process their size properly. You can stand beside one in port and still not fully realise just how huge it is.
The first time I boarded a big cruise ship, I genuinely got lost for days. Finding my cabin was hard enough. Working out which side was port and which was starboard. Even harder.
And today’s newest ships make those older ships look tiny.
Some are taller than skyscrapers, longer than several football pitches and carry more people than many small towns. But the really surprising part isn’t just their size… it’s how they actually manage to float in the first place.
The Size of an Average Cruise Ship
Cruise ships are measured in terms of gross tonnage (GT), which is a measurement of the internal volume of a ship. The average cruise ship has a gross tonnage of 120,000 GT.
But how long is a cruise ship? Well, an average-sized cruise ship is 1,000 feet long – the same length as three football fields or ten blue whales. The average cruise ship carries around 3,000 guests and has 15 decks.
However, cruise ships come in all different sizes, ranging from small yacht-style cruise ships carrying fewer than 100 guests, to huge mega-ships that can accommodate over 7,000 guests plus more than 2,000 crew members.
The World’s Biggest Cruise Ship
The biggest cruise ship in the world is Icon of the Seas, with a gross tonnage (internal volume) of 248,663 GT. The ship is 1,198 feet long and can carry 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members.
The longest cruise ship in the world is Icon of the Seas, but before Icon, it wasn’t Wonder – it was actually Harmony of the Seas. This ship is four inches longer than Wonder of the Seas, with a length of 1188.1 feet compared to 1187.8 feet.
It’s really hard to find the weight of a cruise ship, because so many people think that the gross tonnage is the weight. It’s not – it’s a measure of volume only, and doesn’t tell you how much the ship actually weighs in deadweight tons.
Also, the ships tend to be a bit big to fit on a set of scales! I’ve seen estimates that put the Oasis-class ships for Royal Caribbean at around 600,000 tons or 600,000,000 kilograms, but these aren’t backed by evidence, so I don’t know how accurate they are.
The Height of a Cruise Ship
The average cruise ship tends to be around 200 feet tall, though there are some that are closer to 250 feet tall. The height of a cruise ship depends on the number of decks that it has – average ships have around 15 passenger decks, but some can have as many as 20.
How to Compare the Sizes of Cruise Ships
Cruise ships are usually measured in terms of length, internal volume (gross tonnage) and passenger capacity.
Most medium- and large-sized cruise ships are of a similar length. The difference between mega-ships and their medium-sized cousins comes in terms of width, height and internal volume.
The largest cruise ships are wider and have more decks than smaller-sized ships. This adds more weight, as does the addition of more swimming pools, hot tubs and other weighty facilities.
Passenger capacity is a good way to compare cruise ships. However, it’s important to consider that there are two different measures of passenger capacity for a ship: double occupancy and maximum occupancy. For a ship to sail at maximum occupancy, every bed would need to be filled in every stateroom. In reality, this very rarely happens as sofa beds and extra bunk beds, which come down from the ceiling, aren’t always used.
How Many People Fit on a Cruise Ship
The most people that can fit on a cruise ship is around 9,950 people. The largest cruise ship in the world in terms of maximum passenger capacity is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
This ship has a maximum passenger capacity of 7,600 as well as a crew capacity of 2,350. [Source]
The Growing Size of Cruise Ships
Cruise ships have been getting larger all the time, with a demand for mega cruise ships coming from cruisers championing the notion that ‘bigger is better’.
Of course, cruise ships will always be limited in terms of size by the ports that they visit. Some ports can only handle ships of a certain size because the dock is only so big, the water is only so deep and the port itself only has the staff and facilities to handle so many passengers at one time.
Contracts are signed on the build of new cruise ships years in advance of their completion, so we can spot whether the trend is for cruise ships to get larger or smaller.
It can be tricky to understand exactly how big a cruise ship is without seeing it with your own eyes. How big is 1,000 feet in real life? To help you visualise the size of cruise ships, I’ve made comparisons between average cruise ships and other large things.
For these cruise ship size comparisons, I’ve used 1,000 feet as the average length of a large cruise ship.
The Size of a Whale Compared to a Cruise Ship
Cruise ships are at least ten times larger than whales. The average cruise ship is 1,000 feet long, whereas the largest blue whales are no more than 100 feet long. Some whales are very small, such as the dwarf sperm whale, which is just nine feet long.
The Size of an Aircraft Carrier Compared to a Cruise Ship
Aircraft carriers and cruise ships are roughly the same size. The largest aircraft carrier at sea, the Gerald R Ford Class aircraft carrier, has a length of 1,106 feet, only slightly smaller than the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, which is 1,198 feet long.
The Size of a Container Ship Compared to a Cruise Ship
Most container ships are of a similar size to large cruise ships. However, the largest container ships in the world are longer than cruise ships. Container ships can be up to 400 meters in length – around 10% longer than the biggest cruise ships.
The gross tonnage (volume) of container ships versus cruise ships is roughly equivalent. However, the world’s biggest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has a gross tonnage of approximately 80,000 GT, greater than the largest container vessels. The largest cruise ships also have a greater beam (width).
Whereas the largest container ships operate with around 25 crew members, cruise ships like Icon of the Seas have up to 2,350 crew on board to look after the guests.
The photo below shows a 400-meter-long container ship, one of the biggest in the world. It was taken by my port pilot friend, John. You can read what it’s like to be a ship’s pilot here.
The biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas, is three times longer than an American football field. Smaller expedition yachts or river cruise ships are more similar in size to a football field, with a length of around 300 feet.
Football (soccer) pitches, in comparison, vary in size from 100 yards to 130 yards.
The Size of Noah’s Ark Compared to a Cruise Ship
Noah’s Ark was much smaller than most modern cruise ships. It would have been similar in size to Silversea’s luxury expedition cruise Silver Cloud, which carries around 250 guests. The average cruise ship carries around 3,000 guests.
According to the Bible (Genesis 6:15), the dimensions of Noah’s Ark were: 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width and 30 cubits in height.
A cubit is an ancient measurement of length that is based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger. This makes the exact length of a cubit uncertain, but it is most likely to be around 20 inches.
Based on the information in the Bible, we can estimate that Noah’s Ark would have been about 510 feet long and 50 feet tall. This means that Noah’s Ark was around half the length and one-quarter of the height of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, which is 1,198 feet long.
The Size of Titanic Compared to a Modern Cruise Ship
The average modern cruise ship is two and a half times bigger than the Titanic, which was 882 feet long with a gross tonnage of 46,428 GT and space for 2,435 guests. The average cruise ship is 1,000 feet long with a gross tonnage of 120,000 GT and space for 3,000 guests.
By today’s standards, the Titanic would have been a medium-sized ship. Her dimensions and capacity are not dissimilar to some luxury cruise ships still sailing today.
The following table compares the size of Titanic to Regent Seven Seas’ ship Seven Seas Mariner:
As we’ve learned, cruise ships are pretty massive. But what about the parts that make up the cruise ship? Let’s find out how big they are…
The Size of a Cruise Ship Propeller
The largest propellers on cruise ships are about 20 feet tall. Known as azipods, each ship has three of these huge propellers to propel the ship and manoeuvre it in port.
Get a close-up look at Royal Caribbean ships’ propellers in this video:
A large cruise ship that’s between 900 and 1,100 feet in length can store 1-2 million gallons of fuel in its fuel tanks. Smaller cruise ships will carry significantly less, with yacht-style cruise ships carrying about 200,000 gallons. [Source]
The newest cruise ships use liquefied natural gas (LNG) rather than diesel. LNG is a relatively new fuel source for cruise ships and is used to power the latest ships, such as P&O Cruises’ Iona, Costa Smeralda and others.
LNG has a lower fuel density than diesel, so a vessel using LNG needs to have twice as much tank space available. LNG-powered cruise ships store fuel across three tanks. Two of the tanks are 115 feet long and 26 feet in diameter, the other is 91 feet long with a diameter of 16 feet.
Both diesel and LNG-powered cruise ships are able to sail for up to two weeks without refuelling.
The Size of the Engine on a Cruise Ship
The engine room on a cruise ship is three to five decks high. Most cruise ships have four engines, each of which is around 25 meters long and around 17 meters high. The largest cruise ships have six of these engines.
The different parts of the engine are divided into separate water-tight compartments, one for the main engines and another for the heating and air-conditioning system. This is for safety reasons. If a penetration to the hull or fire happens, multiple compartments help contain the damage.
If you’d like to see what it looks like inside a cruise ship engine room, take a look at this fascinating video:
Cruiser ship anchors are usually 10 to 20 feet high and weigh around 30,000 pounds (13,600 KG). The anchor chain is around 1,400 feet long and each individual link weighs over 100 pounds.
Most cruise ships have two anchors. Anchor designs vary, as do the weights and dimensions, which are carefully calculated for each ship.
Queen Elizabeth 2 had two forward anchors, one of which is displayed as a landmark in the ship’s homeport of Southampton. The anchor is 4.3m (14ft) high, 2.7m (9ft) wide and weighs 13 tonnes.
This video shows Legend of the Seas dropping her anchor:
Most cruise ships have standard inside cabins that are between 150 and 185 square feet and standard balcony cabins that are between 170 and 220 square feet. Cruise ship cabins are generally the size of a small hotel room with enough room for a queen-size bed, wardrobe, bathroom and a small desk or vanity area.
Each ship will have many different cabin types, ranging from single inside cabins to huge suites.
Luxury cruise ships often have much larger suites than regular cruise ships. The Regent Suite on board Regent Seven Seas Splendour is the largest suite at sea and measures 4,443 square feet. This is over four times the size of the average UK home.
This video shows what an inside cabin is like on a cruise ship and how it can accommodate a family of four.
I hope that this article will help you understand how big a cruise ship is. I do believe, however, that until you step on board for yourself, the sheer scale of a cruise ship is quite a difficult thing to comprehend.
Celebrity Cruises has 15 stunning ships in its fleet, but they’re far from all the same. Some feel like floating luxury resorts packed with cutting-edge design. Others are smaller, quieter and much more traditional.
And while many cruisers focus on the destinations, choosing the wrong ship class can completely change your holiday experience.
Celebrity divides its fleet into four distinct classes:
Edge Series
Solstice Series
Millennium Series
Galapagos Series
From the game-changing Magic Carpet to smaller ships that can reach ports the mega-ships can’t, there’s a lot most people don’t realise until after they’ve booked.
Celebrity Edge Class Ships
The Celebrity Edge Series was first launched in 2018 and consists of four ships – Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent.
These ships have a guest capacity of around 3,385 passengers. They are 1,073 ft long with a beam of 128 ft.
They have a gross tonnage of between 129,500 and 140,600 gross tonnes, with the two newest ships being slightly larger than the older ones.
Celebrity Edge
The first Edge-class ship, Celebrity Edge, caused quite a stir when she made her debut in December 2018.
This revolutionary cruise ship can accommodate up to 3,385 guests. With a gross tonnage of 129,500 and a length of 1,073 ft, this ship is sure to leave a lasting impression. As Celebrity ships are refurbished at least every five years, Celebrity Edge underwent its first renovation in October 2023.
Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Apex made history as the first-ever ship to have a virtual delivery on March 27th 2020. Due to the shutdown, this ship was handed over via a video conference call.
This ship boasts the same impressive guest capacity and gross tonnage as Celebrity Edge and has a similar length and beam.
Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Beyond made its inaugural voyage in April 2022 and is sure to take your breath away.
With a guest capacity of 3,836 and a gross tonnage of 140,600, the third Edge-class ship features expanded open-air spaces and Starlink internet service.
The fourth ship in the Edge series, Celebrity Ascent, is similar to Celebrity Beyond.
One key difference, however, is that the ship is co-captained by twins! Twin brothers Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis take the helm as this ship sails the Caribbean.
Celebrity Ascent launched in late 2023.
Celebrity Xcel
The fifth ship in the Edge series, Celebrity Xcel, takes everything guests loved about Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent and adds even more immersive entertainment, dining and outdoor spaces.
One standout feature is The Bazaar, a brand-new multi-use venue designed to transform throughout the day with destination-inspired food, live music and interactive experiences linked to the regions the ship is visiting.
Celebrity Xcel launched in late 2025 and sails Caribbean itineraries from Florida. She has a capacity of 3,260 passengers and a gross tonnage of 140,600.
A New Ship for the Edge Class
The sixth ship in the Edge series, Celebrity Xcite, is set to launch in 2028. While full details haven’t been revealed yet, it’s expected to build on the design of Celebrity Xcel with even more immersive entertainment, dining and destination-inspired experiences.
Celebrity has described the ship as being “designed to excite every sense”, hinting that it could push the Edge Series concept even further.
Solstice Class Ships
Before the Edge Class ships came the Solstice Class; these five ships were launched between 2008 and 2012.
Ships in the Celebrity Solstice Series have guest capacities of between 3,148 and 3,480 passengers. So most of them are slightly smaller than the Edge series ships, but not by a lot.
The Solstice class ships each have a length of 1,041 ft, a beam of 121 ft, and a gross tonnage of 122,000 to 126,000.
Celebrity Solstice
Inaugurated in November 2008, this ship has a guest capacity of 3,148 and a gross tonnage of 122,000.
Celebrity Solstice underwent a major refurbishment in early 2026 as part of Celebrity’s new $250 million Solstice-class modernisation programme.
The 45-day dry dock added new venues including Sunset Park, Boulevard Lounge, Fine Cut Steakhouse and Trattoria Rossa, alongside upgraded cabins and refreshed public spaces.
Celebrity Equinox
Launched in August 2009, Celebrity Equinox is virtually identical, also having a guest capacity of 3,148 and a gross tonnage of 122,000.
She last underwent a renovation in April 2024.
Celebrity Eclipse
Inaugurated in April 2010, this ship has a guest capacity of 3,148 and a gross tonnage of 122,000. She was last renovated in March 2021 as part of a fleetwide modernisation known as ‘The Celebrity Revolution’.
Celebrity Silhouette
Celebrity Silhouette often sails from the UK, making her a popular choice for UK cruisers.
Cruising since July 2011, Celebrity Silhouette has a guest capacity of 3,324 and a gross tonnage of 122,400. It measures 1,041 feet in length and 121 feet in beam.
The ship underwent its last renovation in November 2024.
Celebrity Reflection
Inaugurated in October 2012, this ship has a guest capacity of 3,480 and a gross tonnage of 126,000. It was last renovated in October 2022.
Millennium Class Ships
The Celebrity Millennium Series is made up of four ships. These were all launched in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Each has a guest capacity of between 2,559 and 2,599 passengers.
The ships are 965 ft long and have a beam of 105 ft. They have a gross tonnage of 91,000 and have undergone various renovations to keep them looking fresh as part of ‘The Celebrity Revolution’ project.
Celebrity Millennium
Launched in July 2000, the aptly-named Celebrity Millennium was the first in its class and marked the start of something special for Celebrity Cruises.
The ship has a guest capacity of 2,593 and a gross tonnage of 91,000. She measures 965 feet in length and 105 feet in beam.
The ship underwent its last renovation in November 2024.
Celebrity Infinity
Inaugurated in May 2001, this ship has the same guest capacity and gross tonnage as Celebrity Millennium. It was last renovated in January 2024, before undergoing a further dry dock and refurbishment in early 2026 ahead of its return to service in Europe.
Celebrity Summit
Inaugurated in October 2001, the Celebrity Summit ship has a gross tonnage of 91,000 and can accommodate 2,599 guests.
The ship was last renovated in March 2019 and is set to be renovated again in January 2025.
Celebrity Constellation
The final ship of the Millennium Series, Celebrity Constellation was launched in May 2002.
This ship has a guest capacity of 2,559 and a gross tonnage of 91,000. She was last renovated in April 2024.
Galapagos Ships
The Celebrity Galapagos Series previously included three ships – Celebrity Xpedition, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Flora.
However, Celebrity Xpedition and Celebrity Xploration sailed their final voyages with Celebrity Cruises in December 2024. Both ships were sold to Lindblad Expeditions and have since been renamed National Geographic Gemini and National Geographic Delfina, respectively.
Celebrity Flora
Celebrity Flora was launched in 2019 with accommodation for 100 guests.
The Galapagos series was designed as a small, luxury expedition-style series to operate in the Galapagos Islands – one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations.
While still being considered a small ship, Flora is much larger than the previous Galapagos ships were, with a gross tonnage of 5,749GT.
Celebrity Flora offers a unique way to explore the Galapagos, with itineraries that include visits to some of the islands’ most famous sites and activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, and wildlife viewing walks led by naturalist guides.
With a focus on sustainable tourism, Celebrity Cruises is committed to preserving the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos and educating passengers about the importance of conservation efforts.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has cut its 2026 profit forecast after warning that higher fuel costs, weaker demand and earlier booking problems are putting pressure on the business.
The company, which owns Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, now expects adjusted earnings of $1.45 to $1.79 per share for the year. Its previous forecast was $2.38 per share.
The downgrade is significant because Norwegian’s first quarter was not weak overall. Revenue rose 10% year on year to $2.33 billion, while GAAP net income reached $104.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to $533 million, which was ahead of the company’s guidance.
However, the cruise group said the outlook for the rest of 2026 has become more difficult because of disruption in the Middle East, higher fuel prices and softer demand, especially for Europe cruises during the summer season.
Reuters reported that Norwegian’s shares fell around 7% in morning trading after the announcement.
Why Norwegian Has Cut Its Forecast
Norwegian said it is facing several problems at the same time.
The first is fuel. Cruise ships use large amounts of fuel, so changes in oil prices can have a major impact on profits.
The company reported fuel expense of $169 million in the first quarter. It now expects fuel to cost $782 per metric ton for the full year, net of hedges, based on spot prices from 28th April 2026. Reuters reported that this was up from a previous expectation of $670 per metric ton.
Norwegian has protected itself from some fuel price rises. As of 31st March 2026, it had hedged around 51% of its expected 2026 fuel use. It had also hedged around 28% of its expected 2027 fuel use.
But that still leaves a large part of its fuel needs exposed to market prices. The company said a 10% change in fuel prices, net of hedges, would affect full-year adjusted earnings per share by around $0.08.
This matters because the Middle East conflict has pushed up oil prices and created uncertainty around global energy supply. Reuters reported that oil prices rose above $100 a barrel after US and Israeli strikes on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Bookings Were Already Behind Target
Fuel is not the only issue.
Norwegian said it entered 2026 behind its targeted booking curve. In simple terms, that means the company did not have as many future bookings as it wanted at that point in the year.
The company also pointed to “execution missteps”. It said it remains below its “optimal booking range” and that softer demand linked to geopolitical uncertainty has made it harder to close the gap.
This is important because cruise lines rely heavily on advance bookings. Strong early bookings give a cruise company more control over pricing. Weak bookings can make it harder to hold fares, especially if demand later becomes uncertain.
Norwegian said recent events linked to the Middle East conflict have affected bookings across all three of its brands. The company said the impact was especially noticeable in Europe during the summer season.
That creates a particular challenge for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings because Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are premium and luxury brands. Those brands often sell longer, higher-value itineraries, including Europe sailings.
What The Latest Figures Show
Norwegian’s first-quarter figures show a company that is growing, but not as strongly as investors expected.
Revenue rose to $2.33 billion, up from $2.13 billion a year earlier. But Reuters said this was slightly below what analysts expected.
The company carried 861,060 passengers during the quarter, compared with 669,099 in early 2025.
Ships also sailed fuller than last year, with occupancy reaching 103.8%, up from 101.5%. (Cruise occupancy can go above 100% because some cabins have more than two guests.)
Norwegian reported adjusted earnings of $0.23 per share for the quarter. That was better than analysts expected, helped by cost savings across the business. Even so, investors focused more on the weaker outlook for the rest of 2026.
Norwegian now expects full-year adjusted EBITDA of $2.48 billion to $2.64 billion, down from its earlier forecast of $2.95 billion.
The company also warned that the amount of money it makes from its cruises is expected to fall by around 3% to just 5% this year.
Cost Savings Are Already Under Way
Norwegian has started a cost-saving programme worth around $125 million in expected annual run-rate savings.
These savings are focused on SG&A costs. That stands for selling, general and administrative expenses, which mainly cover corporate and shoreside business costs rather than direct ship operating costs.
Reuters reported that a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said the company was making some role and position adjustments within its shoreside organisation.
The company recorded $12.2 million in restructuring costs in the first quarter. Its first-quarter filing said these costs included severance and other fees linked to certain employee terminations.
Executives also said on a post-earnings call that annual salary and benefits costs would reduce by 15% for 2026.
Chief executive John Chidsey said: “During the quarter, we acted with urgency to simplify, optimize, and streamline the organization, including executing SG&A savings initiatives totaling $125 million in expected run rate savings.”
He added: “These are long-term structural actions that we believe will help offset near-term pressures and position the business for stronger performance over time.”
Chief financial officer Mark Kempa said: “During the quarter we delivered better-than-expected cost performance across the business.”
He also said the company now expects full-year adjusted net cruise cost excluding fuel to be approximately flat to last year.
Leadership Change Adds To The Reset
The forecast cut comes during a period of change at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Former chief executive Harry Sommer stepped down earlier this year and was replaced by John Chidsey, who previously led Subway, Burger King, Avis and Budget Rent A Car in the United States.
The company also appointed five new independent directors, effective 31st March 2026.
How Royal Caribbean And Carnival Compare
Norwegian is not the only cruise company facing higher fuel costs.
Royal Caribbean has also cut its 2026 profit forecast because of fuel costs. Reuters reported that Royal Caribbean lowered its adjusted profit forecast to $17.10 to $17.50 per share, down from $17.70 to $18.10.
Royal Caribbean said it was 59% hedged for the remainder of 2026 at below-market rates. Reuters also reported that Mediterranean bookings had recovered after about a month of disruption linked to the Iran war.
Carnival has also cut its annual profit forecast because of higher fuel costs. Reuters reported that Carnival expected more than $500 million in higher fuel expenses, partly offset by operational gains from higher yields and lower non-fuel costs.
There is an important difference between the three companies.
Carnival is especially exposed to sudden fuel price moves because it is the only major US cruise operator that does not usually hedge fuel. Royal Caribbean has been affected by fuel prices, but its booking position appears stronger.
Norwegian’s problem is more complex because it was already behind its targeted booking curve before the latest Middle East disruption made demand softer and fuel more expensive.
Debt Also Matters For Norwegian
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is also carrying a large debt burden.
As of 31st March 2026, the company had total debt of $15.2 billion.
That makes cost control more important because high debt means higher interest costs and less room for error.
Norwegian expects net interest expense of around $695 million for the full year 2026.
The company also has major investment commitments. It expects newbuild and growth capital expenditure of around $2.9 billion in 2026 and around $2.9 billion again in 2027, before falling to around $1.8 billion in 2028.
These figures include spending on new ships, private island developments and other growth projects.
Norwegian Is Still Growing
Despite the weaker profit forecast, Norwegian is not pulling back from long-term growth.
The company recently took delivery of Norwegian Luna, its latest new ship for Norwegian Cruise Line.
Norwegian Luna includes family attractions such as the Aqua Slidecoaster, Moon Climber and mini-golf, as well as adult-focused entertainment including LunaTique.
Oceania Cruises has also announced a major transformation of Oceania Marina during a dry dock planned for October 2026. Every stateroom is due to be redesigned, with upgrades also planned for public spaces.
Oceania has also announced Oceania Aurelia, a refurbished and reimagined ship currently sailing as Oceania Nautica. It is expected to debut in late 2027 as a small-ship luxury product for extended global travel.
Across its three brands, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings operates 35 ships and offers itineraries to around 700 destinations worldwide. The company says it expects to add 16 more ships through 2037.
What This Could Mean For Cruisers
Norwegian has not announced guest service cuts, cruise cancellations or onboard reductions as part of this financial update.
That is an important point.
The cutbacks announced so far are mainly corporate cost savings and shoreside role adjustments. They are not the same as cutting food, entertainment or service on ships.
However, passengers may still see the effects of Norwegian becoming more focused on efficiency.
The company is likely to pay close attention to which itineraries are performing well, how cruises are priced and how much passengers spend before and during their sailing.
Weak demand on some routes could lead to more promotions, while stronger routes may hold firmer pricing.
It is also possible that Norwegian will become more selective about future deployment, especially if Europe demand remains under pressure.
For now, ships are still sailing, occupancy remains above 100%, and the company is still taking delivery of new vessels.
The bigger message is that Norwegian is trying to reset expectations for 2026. Higher fuel prices, Middle East uncertainty, weaker Europe demand and earlier booking mistakes have combined to create a tougher year than the company originally expected.
For cruisers, the most likely near-term impact is not cancelled holidays or immediate service cuts. It is a cruise line becoming more careful about costs, pricing and where it places its ships.
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Loyalty status on cruise lines usually sounds more exciting than it really is.
Priority boarding. A free coffee. Maybe a discount in the gift shop if you’re lucky.
So when Royal Caribbean International calls its first loyalty tier “Gold”, you’d be forgiven for expecting something pretty impressive.
But here’s the strange thing: Royal Caribbean Gold status is both underwhelming and surprisingly useful at the same time. Some of the perks feel pretty minor… while others can actually save you money or make your cruise noticeably easier.
How to Become a Royal Caribbean Gold Member
To become a Royal Caribbean Gold Member, you need to enrol in the Crown & Anchor Society programme and then take any Royal Caribbean cruise lasting three nights or more. The gold level is the lowest tier in the loyalty programme.
Unfortunately, you shouldn’t get too excited by being a Royal Caribbean Gold status. While “gold” might make it sound like a top tier, it’s actually the entry level for the Crown & Anchor Society.
This is what I mean when I say it’s not actually that good. Gold sounds top-tier but there’s no bronze or silver. Anyone who’s completed a Royal Caribbean cruise is a Gold member.
To become a member of the Crown & Anchor Society, you need to sign up to an account with Royal Caribbean and then, on the Account section of the website, click on the Crown & Anchor section and press the button to enrol.
You’ll then be assigned a membership number, and if you’ve already cruised with Royal Caribbean (and have those bookings linked to your online account), you’ll automatically jump to the correct tier, which could be Gold.
If you’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean before but didn’t have those bookings linked to your online account with Royal Caribbean, you can call the cruise line and ask them to add the points to your account.
When you first enrol, and before you’ve cruised, you’re not quite a member of the Gold tier. You need to reach the number of points to meet Gold status, but don’t worry – it’s really easy.
The Points Needed for Gold
To be a Gold Member with Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, you need three cruise points. To achieve these points, you can either cruise for three nights in a regular stateroom or two nights in a suite.
It’s important to note that you only qualify for the next tier in the Crown & Anchor Society when you complete your cruise. So if you’re on a 7-night cruise, you won’t become Gold status after three nights – you’ll have to wait until the cruise is over, and then you’ll be at Gold level for your next cruise.
You earn one cruise point for every night you spend on a Royal Caribbean ship in a regular Interior, Ocean View, or Balcony Stateroom. You get double points for staying in a Suite.
Royal Caribbean and it’s sister brand Celebrity Cruises offer reciprocal loyalty status matching through the Royal Caribbean Group loyalty programme.
That means your Gold status can unlock basic-level perks when sailing with Celebrity Cruises and vice versa.
Royal Caribbean Gold Benefits
So right at the start, I said Gold surprised me because it was good and not-so-good. The not-so-good is just because Gold sounds better than it is.
But the good is that, for an entry-level loyalty programme, you actually get quite a lot of perks!
Don’t get me wrong, none of these will blow you away, but if you took advantage of all of them then you would definitely feel like you’d got a lot of value from the programme.
Here’s a full list of all the benefits you get as a Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society Gold member:
1. Drinks Discount Coupons
Whenever you cruise with Royal Caribbean as a Gold tier member, you’ll be given four coupons to use during the cruise. Two of these are for any glass of wine, beer or soda, while the other two can be used in Johnny Rockets towards a milkshake.
The coupons are all good for 50% off, so you can get a decent saving on those drinks (if you’ve not already bought a drinks package for your cruise).
2. More Drink Discounts
As well as the coupon discounts, which have limited uses, you also get a one-time 10% discount on any glass of wine, beer or soda that you purchase. The discount will be applied as the drink is charged to your account.
You also get 25% off any coffee drinks you buy, except for in Starbucks – those will always be full price, regardless of what level you are in the Crown & Anchor Society.
These are discounts you only get once per sailing.
3. Private Departure Lounge Access
At most embarkation ports, Crown & Anchor Society guests are invited into a private departure lounge where they can wait to board the ship and enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast of pastries, juices and coffee.
Remember though that this is open to all Gold level members and above, which is likely to be a majority of the people on the ship – only people on their first Royal Caribbean cruise can’t access the lounge. So while a free breakfast is a nice bonus, don’t expect the lounge to be particularly quiet.
It also isn’t available at every port – and the terms and conditions don’t state which ports it is available in. So you’ll need to wait until you get your boarding information sent to you to see if you get this perk.
4. WiFi Package Discounts
If you wait to buy your VOOM WiFi internet package onboard the ship, you’ll save 10% as a Gold-level member. This can’t be combined with any other VOOM offers though, and you might be able to grab other discounts before you sail.
Usually, the discounts you get before sailing are bigger than 10%, but keep an eye on the Cruise Planner app. The best time to buy might be before you board, though if you have a last-minute change of heart then getting 10% off during the cruise is something, at least.
Every Crown & Anchor Society member gets a FreePlay credit for the casino on the ship. It’s never huge, and at Gold level it’s $2. Still, you never know what a $2 spin on a slot machine could win you.
Here’s how to claim your free credit:
Log into your casino account using the card machine in the casino and your SeaPass
Click on ‘PERSONAL BANKER’, then ‘TRANSFER TO GAME’ and then ‘PROMO$’
You’ll see the free credit there, so transfer it to your account and then use it on the slot machines included in the offer
Understandably, you can’t cash out the FreePlay credit, you need to use it. But you can cash out any winnings.
You’ll also get a bingo perk too – whenever you buy a bingo package, you’ll get one free jackpot card, slightly increasing your chances of winning.
6. Discounts on Royal Caribbean Products
There’s always a selection of stores on a Royal Caribbean ship selling various items, but one thing you’ll find will be a range of Royal Caribbean-branded products – when you really want to show off your loyalty to the cruise line.
And as a Gold member, you get 10% off any of these products, provided you spend at least $25.
7. Spa Discounts
Gold-tier members get discounts on most spa services booked onboard their cruise – again, it’s 10% off. The only exceptions are medi-spa services, which aren’t discounted at all.
8. Member Newsletter
All Crown & Anchor Society members get an exclusive newsletter sent to them, which includes details of upcoming ships, sales that are starting soon and more.
9. Access to Exclusive Rates
Guests also get access to exclusive rates through the Crown and Anchor Society for future cruises. Don’t expect stunning discounts – again, remember that anybody who has cruised with Royal Caribbean before is eligible for gold-tier status, so it’s not like the cruises are discounted by 50% or anything ridiculous.
But you can still get some good offers, that the general public won’t have access to.
10. Loyalty Match
Ever since the Royal Caribbean Group updated its loyalty match scheme in June 2024, guests at the Gold tier of the Crown and Anchor Society can also enjoy benefits on Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, the sister brands of Royal Caribbean.
You’d still be at their basic levels – Classic on Celebrity Cruises, or with 1 VS Day on Silversea, but it does mean you can enjoy a few extra small perks when cruising on any of the three cruise lines in the same group.
Youth Member Benefits
Under-18s who cruise with Royal Caribbean can be enrolled in the Crown & Anchor Society. They then build up their own cruise points, but in the background – instead, they will be treated as the same membership tier as their parents until their 18th birthday.
So, if you’ve been cruising before you’ve had kids, your child will benefit from boosted perks until they hit 18, at which point they’ll revert back to the correct tier for them based on their own cruise points.
While you are in the Gold tier, these are the perks your children can enjoy:
1. Ice Cream Discount
Kids can get 50% off ice cream at the parlour on their Royal Caribbean ship. That’s a pretty good saving, and while free ice cream is available elsewhere, you can’t beat the flavours (and toppings) available in the parlour.
2. WiFi Package Discounts
Young members get the same WiFi discount as their parents, so at the Gold level that’s 10% off. You can get higher discounts as you climb the tiers of the C&A Society.
3. Buy-One-Get-One-Free Movie Rentals
If you want a cosy night in your stateroom, you have the option of renting a movie on the TV. Kids who are Gold members can get a second movie for half-price when they rent a movie, good for either a double feature night or keeping them busy for two nights of your cruise.
4. Arcade Cashback
Whenever kids in the Crown & Anchor Society play in the arcades, they can get cashback which is deducted from your onboard account at the end of your cruise.
You’ll get $5 back for every $15 spent in arcade credits, or $25 back for every $50 they spend in arcade credits – so really, if they get $50 to spend in the arcade, it’s only going to cost you $25.
Gold Choice Explained
Gold Choice with Royal Caribbean is actually a combination of two different statuses. The ‘Gold’ refers to your status in the Crown & Anchor Society loyalty programme, while ‘Choice’ is your status in the Club Royale casino loyalty programme.
The Club Royale programme is completely separate, and you move up the tiers by playing casino games. Choice is the entry-level tier, so anyone who’s been on a single Royal Caribbean cruise tends to be ranked Gold Choice unless they spend a LOT in the casino on that first cruise.
Pre-Gold Status on Royal Caribbean
If you have Pre-Gold status on Royal Caribbean, it just means that you’ve signed up to the Crown & Anchor Society but you haven’t yet got the 3 cruise points needed to reach Gold status. It basically means you’ve signed up but never taken a Royal Caribbean cruise.
As soon as you’ve got that first cruise in the books, you’ll move onto the proper Crown & Anchor Society tiers, starting at Gold.
When you’re Pre-Gold, you won’t get any perks on your cruise, but at least you’ll be earning the points you need to start climbing up the tiers.
No Extra Free Drinks with Gold Status Membership
Gold Crown & Anchor Society members don’t get any free drinks beyond the usual free drinks given to all guests (juices, teas and coffees at breakfast etc). Gold members do get 10% off glasses of wine, beer and soda on the ship, along with some single-use coupons for 50% off.
You only start getting free drinks when you reach Diamond status, which requires 80 points in the programme.
What Comes After Gold on Royal Caribbean
The next tier above Gold with Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society is Platinum, which needs 30 cruise points – the same as spending 30 nights on a Royal Caribbean ship, or 15 nights if you book suites.
After that, you’ll reach Emerald status at 55 points, then Diamond at 80 points, and then Diamond Plus at 175 points. There is one higher tier, which is Pinnacle Club, but that requires a massive 700 points.
Royal Caribbean Gold vs Platinum
When you upgrade to Platinum from Gold in the Crown & Anchor Society, you get a few additional benefits, along with some improvements on the existing benefits.
Here’s a look at the two status tiers compared:
Benefit
Gold Level
Platinum Level
50% off coupons for wine, beer & soda
2 per cruise
2 per cruise
50% off coupons for Johnny Rockets milkshakes
2 per cruise
2 per cruise
Access to private departure lounge
YES
YES
Discount on wine, beer and soda
10%
10%
Discount on coffee beverages (excluding Starbucks)
25%
50%
Discount on VOOM internet
10%
15%
Exclusive Top Tier event on 5+ night sailings
–
YES
Casino Royale FreePlay
$2
$4
Free Jackpot cards with Bingo packages
1 card
3 cards
Robes to use on the cruise
–
YES
$5 off $25 dry-clean or pressing
–
YES
Discount on $34.99 laundry bags
–
$5
20% off a single photo, photo package or photobook
–
YES
Discount on Royal Caribbean branded products
10%
10%
Discount on spa treatments
10%
15%
Newsletter & exclusive rates
YES
YES
Discount on Balcony & Suite Staterooms
–
YES
Loyalty Match with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club
YES
YES
Youth Benefits
YES
YES
Final Word
Royal Caribbean Gold status sounds far more exclusive than it really is.
But for an entry-level loyalty tier, the perks are actually pretty decent. A few drinks discounts, WiFi savings, casino freebies and loyalty-match benefits can add up surprisingly quickly.
And considering you only need one cruise to reach Gold, it’s an easy way to start unlocking extra perks on future sailings.
A transatlantic cruise sounds wonderfully romantic. Endless ocean views, peaceful sea days and time to properly switch off.
But when I booked one with nine sea days and two kids in tow, I started to wonder if it would actually be everything we hoped for.
Would the sea be rough? Would we get bored? And what do you even do on a cruise with almost no ports?
After crossing the Atlantic on Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, I can honestly say the experience surprised me in ways I didn’t expect.
Why I Booked A Transatlantic Cruise
I’d wanted to cruise with Holland America Line again for a while, but as it’s a premium cruise line, I needed to find something that worked with our budget.
That’s when I noticed something interesting. The transatlantic sailing was significantly cheaper than many of their other cruises.
The timing also lined up perfectly with the kids’ school holidays. Then I spotted a Kids Sail Free offer too, which made the deal even more tempting. Holland America Line kindly offered me an extra discount in exchange for posting content during the cruise and that sealed it.
We opted for Holland America’s Have It All package, which includes drinks, WiFi, speciality dining and shore excursions. This made the trip even better value for money.
Still, I couldn’t help wondering if this bargain cruise was too good to be true.
The Big Question: Would Nine Sea Days Be Too Much?
Most cruises stop somewhere almost every day. This one didn’t.
Aside from a single port stop in Bermuda, the itinerary was essentially nine straight days at sea while crossing the Atlantic.
The kids naturally had questions about sailing through the Bermuda Triangle. They imagined a mysterious triangle-shaped hole in the ocean where ships disappear forever.
We watched a few YouTube videos together about what the Bermuda Triangle actually is and how cruises pass through it safely all the time. That quickly put their minds at ease.
Mine took a little longer.
Would the Atlantic be rough? Would the weather be miserable? Would we run out of things to do? Would the kids get cabin fever?
Nine sea days felt very different from our usual port-heavy cruises.
First Impressions
Stepping onto Nieuw Statendam felt like coming home.
I had such fond memories from my solo cruise to Iceland on this ship last year and I was genuinely excited to be back onboard.
The atmosphere immediately felt warm and welcoming. I quickly remembered how much I loved the food, the friendly crew and all the little touches that make Holland America cruises feel so special.
The Weather Wasn’t Exactly On Our Side
The first couple of days were exactly what I dreamed of. Bright sunshine. Calm seas. Plenty of time spent out on deck enjoying the ocean views while sipping cocktails.
Then the weather changed.
Not dramatically. It just became a bit grey.
For much of the crossing it hovered around 15 to 20°C, with cloudy skies and occasional rain. It felt more like British spring weather than a tropical cruise.
What surprised me most, though, was how calm the Atlantic actually was.
I’d imagined huge waves and dramatic storms, but most of the time the ship simply had a gentle sway. The crossing felt far more peaceful than I expected.
Cruising With Kids On Holland America
One thing I was particularly curious about was how this cruise would work with children.
Holland America isn’t typically known as a family-focused cruise line, and on this sailing there were very few children onboard.
In the kids club there were just five children, including my two. We also saw a couple of toddlers and a couple of teens, and that was it for kids on the whole ship!
Because there were so few children, the kids club operated slightly differently. You needed to book a slot the day before to secure a place. But once they were in there, my kids absolutely loved it.
Another funny thing about sailing west across time zones is that the days become 23 hours long. Every other day, the clocks go forward an hour.
That meant the kids found it harder and harder to wake up in the morning, and some days they slept much later than usual. But once they were awake, there was always something to do..
What Do You Actually Do On Nine Sea Days?
This was the question everyone asked before the cruise. And the surprising thing is that the days somehow went incredibly fast.
The daily schedule wasn’t packed with activities like on some cruise lines, but there was always enough to fill the day.
We spent our time:
Swimming in the indoor pool
Going to the gym
Playing board games
Playing deck games like suffboard and cornhole
Watching movies in the cabin or by the pool
Reading books from the library
The kids also loved High Score, the ship’s free arcade. It’s technically the teen club, but during certain hours it opens to all ages. We spent quite a bit of time there playing pinball, air hockey, table football and video games.
I also relaxed the rules on screen time slightly during this cruise.
Normally the kids barely touch their iPads onboard, but with WiFi included they occasionally watched videos or played games in the cabin. And honestly, after so many sea days, I didn’t feel too guilty about it.
The Atmosphere Onboard
The atmosphere on this cruise was incredibly relaxed.
Most passengers were American or Dutch and many were retired. Everyone seemed friendly and in no rush to be anywhere.
When you spend that many consecutive days at sea, something interesting happens.
You start recognising people around the ship.
You see the same faces at breakfast. You bump into the same people at trivia quizzes and in the lifts. It creates a calm, sociable atmosphere that feels very different from busy cruises where everyone disappears into ports each day.
Food, Drinks And Life Onboard
I’d been slightly worried about how fresh everything would stay after so many days without restocking supplies, but somehow the salads stayed perfectly crisp the entire time. They must have some kind of magical cruise ship refrigeration system.
The Have It All package also made a huge difference to the overall experience.
Having drinks included means you can order cocktails, wine or speciality coffees without constantly thinking about the cost. Over nine sea days, that definitely adds up.
We also loved the speciality dining restaurants, especially Tamarind, which serves incredible Asian fusion food.
Did We Get Cabin Fever?
Before the cruise, this was my biggest concern. But surprisingly… It never happened.
Between the gym, kids club, restaurants, games, movies and simply wandering around the ship, the days always felt comfortably full without feeling exhausting.
And before we knew it, we were already approaching the UK.
Who Would Enjoy A Transatlantic Cruise?
A transatlantic cruise isn’t for everyone, and that’s part of its appeal. It’s perfect for people who genuinely enjoy sea days, slow mornings and simply watching the ocean drift by. If you love reading, relaxing and having nowhere particular to be, it can feel wonderfully peaceful.
However, if you mainly cruise for the ports or prefer constant high-energy entertainment, this style of sailing may feel a little too quiet.
I also think choosing the right ship makes a huge difference. Features like the indoor pool, gym and family spaces helped keep the experience enjoyable for all of us.
My Final Verdict
So was the transatlantic cruise a mistake?
Not at all. In fact, we absolutely loved it.
The slower pace, calm atmosphere and feeling of completely disconnecting from normal life made this cruise feel very different from any other itinerary we’ve done.
And while nine sea days sounded daunting at first…
It ended up being one of the most relaxing cruises I’ve ever taken.
I also have a video of this cruise, take a look here…
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A 44-year-old Iowa woman has been charged after deputies said she punched a teenage girl in the face while aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship sailing from Miami.
Jennifer Frost surrendered to authorities in Miami-Dade on Monday over the alleged incident, which investigators say took place aboard the Carnival Sunrise on 19th March 2026.
According to an arrest report, the alleged assault happened inside the ship’s Lido restaurant area while the 17-year-old victim was on holiday with her family.
Investigators said the teenager told deputies that Frost appeared intoxicated and began inserting herself into conversations between the girl and her group while they were waiting in line.
The teen reportedly tried to ignore Frost, who eventually walked away from the group.
Teen Reportedly Suffered Broken Nose
Authorities said the situation escalated a short time later when Frost allegedly approached the teenager again and suddenly punched her in the face.
The victim told investigators she suffered heavy bleeding from her nose and significant pain after the blow. Prosecutors later stated during a court hearing that the 17-year-old suffered a broken nose.
According to deputies, witnesses followed Frost after the incident and alerted onboard security officers, who detained her.
The arrest report stated that ship security body camera footage captured Frost admitting she punched the girl and allegedly “expressed satisfaction with her actions.”
Cruise Returned To Miami Before Arrest
The incident happened while the ship was sailing on a Caribbean voyage before returning to PortMiami on 21st March 2026.
Deputies said Frost left the vessel before contacting law enforcement after the ship arrived back in Miami.
She later surrendered alongside her attorney and was booked into Miami-Dade’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on an aggravated battery charge.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, a judge set Frost’s bond at $2,500.
The incident is the latest example of violent behaviour making headlines aboard cruise ships in recent years. While serious assaults at sea remain relatively uncommon compared with the millions of passengers who cruise each year, cruise lines continue to face growing scrutiny over onboard security and alcohol-related incidents.
How Crime Is Dealt With At Sea
Cruise ships are required to report serious crimes to authorities, and incidents at sea are typically investigated based on where the ship is registered, where it is sailing, and which country’s citizens are involved.
Most major cruise lines also have their own onboard security teams, including surveillance systems and trained officers who can detain passengers when necessary.
While cruise ships do not have traditional “jails,” many vessels do have secure holding rooms, often referred to as brigs, where disruptive or dangerous passengers can be confined until the ship reaches port and local law enforcement takes over.
Serious offences can ultimately lead to arrests, prosecutions and even prison sentences once suspects return to shore.
Carnival Cruise Line has warned loyal passengers they must actively enrol in its upcoming Carnival Rewards programme or risk losing their existing VIFP Club status when the new system launches later this year.
The cruise line confirmed that all current VIFP Club members will receive a personalised email with instructions on how to transfer their loyalty information before the new programme begins on 1st September 2026.
Guests who do not complete the enrolment process by 31st August 2026 may lose their current status level, past sailing history and associated benefits.
Carnival said the requirement is linked to privacy regulations and that guests must personally complete the process themselves.
“Due to privacy laws, your client’s current status progress and benefits from the VIFP Club program will carry over only by opting in and enrolling in Carnival Rewards prior to when the new program launches,” the company explained in a message sent to travel advisors.
Each enrolment email is tied to an individual guest account and cannot be transferred or completed by another person. That includes travel advisors, who are not permitted to accept terms or enrol clients on their behalf.
Some Carnival guests have already started sharing warnings on social media after receiving the email notifications, encouraging other cruisers not to ignore the message.
One passenger posted online that the email is genuine and advised guests they can also sign into their Carnival account directly to complete the process without waiting for the message to arrive.
New Loyalty Programme Continues To Divide Opinion
The enrolment issue is the latest complication surrounding Carnival Rewards, which has faced criticism since it was first announced in 2025.
Under the existing VIFP Club programme, passengers earn status based on the total number of cruise days sailed with Carnival, with status levels lasting for life.
The new Carnival Rewards system will instead focus on passenger spending.
Guests will earn rewards through cruise fares, onboard purchases, shore excursions, spa treatments, speciality dining and casino play. Carnival is also linking the programme to a co-branded credit card, allowing members to earn rewards through everyday spending away from the ships.
How Carnival Rewards Will Work
Carnival Rewards will introduce two separate systems: points and status stars.
Points will act as a redeemable currency that guests can use towards future cruises, onboard spending and other travel-related purchases. Carnival said these points will carry a fixed redemption value.
Status stars will determine a passenger’s loyalty tier. Unlike the current VIFP structure, stars will be based on spending levels and will reset on a rolling two-year cycle.
That change has become one of the biggest concerns among loyal Carnival passengers, particularly those who spent years building lifetime status under the existing programme.
The cruise line has not yet confirmed whether additional reminders will be sent before the enrolment deadline, but guests are being encouraged to complete the opt-in process well before the end of August.
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