Cruise Lines

St. Maarten is tightening rules on aggressive tourist solicitation at its cruise port, aiming to protect visitor experience as the island enters its busiest months of the year.

Philipsburg welcomes more than 1.5 million cruise passengers annually, making tourism the backbone of the local economy. But recent complaints about visitors being harassed by pushy vendors have prompted officials to step in.

The Minister of Justice has issued a new decree enforcing public-order controls around the waterfront entry points. Under the rules, anyone who approaches cruise passengers without authorisation, disturbs the peace, or attempts to sell services unlicensed will face a fine of $190.

Prohibited activities include touting unlicensed excursions, bicycle or car rentals, hair braiding, massages, and repeatedly approaching visitors in hopes of securing business.

Authorities stress that the measures are aimed at unregulated operators rather than legitimate businesses holding permits.

Why Introduce Restrictions Now

With hurricane season over, the Caribbean has moved into peak cruise season.

The order will be active from 1st December 2025 through 30th April 2026, a period when dozens of cruise ships call each week from major lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

The restricted zones include the entrances to the Dr A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities and the access points leading to Captain Hodge Wharf and Walter Plantz Wharf along the Boardwalk.

Positive Response From Cruisers

The announcement, shared on the Government of Sint Maarten’s Facebook page on 4th December, has been widely supported by travellers.

“Good call! I have never wanted to go on a cruise ship holiday because I have witnessed from the shore how cruise passengers get ‘attacked’ by vendors the instant they step off the ship,” one commenter wrote.

Another added: “Great news, these people what they do is scare the tourists, I understand they want to work and be nice, but definitely is not the way to market or promote a business.”

St. Maarten is not alone in tightening controls around cruise terminals.

Nassau in The Bahamas has recently introduced fencing and controlled access points to reduce unwanted interactions. Within those secured areas, only approved vendors may operate, allowing visitors to browse, shop and relax without pressure.

With the new rules in place, St. Maarten hopes to provide a more welcoming arrival – and ensure that guests leave with memories of its beaches and hospitality rather than tense encounters at the pier.

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MSC Cruises has unveiled fresh details of MSC World Asia as the line marks 12 months until the flagship enters service in December 2026.

The World-class vessel, which will debut with week-long Mediterranean sailings, is being designed with subtle influences from Asian culture, art and landscapes.

Alongside features returning from sister ships, the line is introducing several new concepts that MSC says will shape the onboard experience.

Asia-Inspired Features

One of the most striking additions will be a stainless-steel dragon sculpture suspended 10 metres above the World Promenade and illuminated by thousands of LED lights.

Measuring 12 metres long and nine metres wide, it forms part of the ship’s visual focus on Asia-inspired design.

The ship will also incorporate a redesigned version of MSC’s signature dry slide attraction. Named The Spiral @ Tree of Life, the 81-metre slide will span 12 decks and take cues from Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.

New dining options include a pan-Asian street food venue with both indoor seating and an outdoor terrace, showcasing flavours from Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Families will see changes to the top-deck attractions, with The Harbour reimagined as an Asian-inspired outdoor family park featuring rides and a high ropes course.

A new venue called The Clubhouse will combine bumper cars, table games, basketball, roller skating and a LEGO zone, with programming that shifts throughout the day.

Elsewhere, the ship will feature MSC’s first all-American sports bar deployed in Europe, plus more than 40 bars, lounges and restaurants in total, including established brands such as Butcher’s Cut, Kaito and Hola! Tacos & Cantina.

Luxury Suite Options

MSC World Asia will offer the widest choice of MSC Yacht Club accommodations to date, including new Royal Duplex Suites for up to six guests. Across the ship, more than 20 cabin types will be available.

The ship will again be organised into seven distinct districts, each designed to provide different atmospheres ranging from family-focused to adults-only relaxation.

Wellbeing facilities will include the Aurea Spa, Zen pools at the aft, 13 whirlpools and a gym overlooking the sea, while entertainment will span multiple venues with live music, stage productions and continuous programming.

MSC World Asia is due to begin sailing seven-night Mediterranean itineraries on 4th December 2026, calling at ports including Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina and Valletta over the winter season, with Naples replacing Rome in summer 2027.

Prices currently begin at £693 per person for selected January 2027 departures.

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Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new price rise that will affect most guests onboard, increasing the automatic service charge applied to many onboard purchases.

The fee, long set at 18%, has been lifted to 20% without any major announcement from the line.

The new rate now appears throughout Carnival’s booking system and fine print for onboard spending, meaning many holidaymakers will pay slightly more for popular extras.

What The Increase Applies To

The 20% fee applies to a wide range of purchases, including:

• All drink packages, such as Cheers!, Bottomless Bubbles and Cheers! Zero Proof
• Individual bar drinks
• Speciality dining venues such as the steakhouse
• In-cabin party decorations
• Gifts and treats delivered to staterooms

While the change is only a two-percentage-point increase, the cumulative cost can soon add up for families who enjoy premium dining and refreshments.

How Quickly The Increase Adds Up

The increase in gratuity isn’t huge, but it will be noticeable for families.

A typical family of four, with adults on a Cheers! package and both children enjoying Bottomless Bubbles will now pay around $240 in gratuity fees across a week – an increase of around $20.

When you start adding in other onboard spends, such as any speciality dining or treats ordered to a stateroom, a family could be looking at around an extra $30 in charges. It’s not game-changing but it is something that cruisers will need to carefully budget for.

Why Now?

Carnival has not commented publicly on the change.

However, prices for drinks and dining across the wider cruise industry have been edging higher amid rising operating costs.

It is also more than a year since Carnival last increased its automatic gratuity rate, which typically rises every few years.

Speciality dining, bottled water, WiFi and Fast to the Fun priority access are all areas that could potentially see new price rises in the future.

The timing is noteworthy, coming as Carnival prepares to replace its long-standing loyalty scheme with the new Carnival Rewards programme in 2026.

Many regular guests have already criticised the change for favouring onboard spending over loyalty earned through sailing history.

Service charge increases at sea are nothing new, and Carnival is not alone in raising prices.

The key question now is whether guests will scale back bar spending or speciality dining as costs continue to creep up.

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Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess was forced to initiate a brief man-overboard response in Martinique after a man jumped into the water beside the ship on Saturday, 29th November 2025.

The Royal-class vessel was securely docked at the Caribbean island when the individual, who was not a passenger or crew member, reportedly bypassed security checks and entered a restricted area at the port.

He then leapt into the harbour directly alongside the 3,660-passenger ship.

Crew members immediately deployed a life ring and launched a rescue boat to retrieve the man, who was taken ashore and transferred to local police custody.

Princess Cruises confirmed that the incident did not involve anyone going overboard from the ship itself.

Witnesses reported that the man was handed over to authorities by around 10 am.

No motive has been made public, and officials have not said whether the individual may have been fleeing a separate police matter. Simply entering the secure zone without authorisation is itself an offence.

The rescue operation caused no delays to Enchanted Princess’ schedule. The ship is currently sailing a 12-night Southern Caribbean holiday itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale on 23rd November. The ship is due to return to Florida on 3rd December.

Similar Incidents Reported

While man-overboard alerts at sea typically signal a genuine emergency involving a guest or crew member, a small number of recent incidents have involved people entering the water from piers or port areas rather than cruise ships.

In June 2025, a person jumped off the pier in Juneau, Alaska in what appeared to be a social-media stunt.

The previous December, police in the Canary Islands intercepted a man attempting to swim from a pier to a docked ship.

Cruise guests have also occasionally slipped accidentally from piers while distracted, including during preview sailings of Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas in August 2025.

Authorities consistently warn that such behaviour is dangerous and can lead to injury, arrest, disembarkation and future bans from cruising.

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The theatrical spirit of Meat Loaf will once again take to the ocean waves in 2026, as Steve Steinman’s rock spectacular returns for a second high-octane sailing following its sell-out success last year.

Steinman’s 2024 cruise, built around his hit production Anything for Love – the Meat Loaf Story, became MSC Cruises’ biggest and fastest-selling independent booking in the line’s history.

More than 1,700 cabins were snapped up, prompting huge demand for a return to sea.

Now, an extended itinerary is confirmed. Anything For Love Cruise 2026 will depart Southampton on 5th September 2026 for a seven-night voyage aboard MSC Virtuosa, calling at La Rochelle, Bilbao, La Coruña and Cherbourg.

Exclusive Performances Only at Sea

Steinman has spent over 30 years performing tributes to Meat Loaf and the late Jim Steinman, touring theatres and arenas with a devoted fanbase who travel far and wide to see him. Onboard, cruisers can expect exclusive performances that will not be available on land.

His ten-piece band will return, along with fan favourites including “Everything They Said Was True”. The single, written by John Parr and Meat Loaf, was gifted to Steinman and became a number one rock hit.

Adding rock pedigree to the line-up is Kasim Sulton, the respected bassist, singer and producer who worked extensively with Meat Loaf and Todd Rundgren.

Sulton played bass on the original Bat Out of Hell album, sang on Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, toured the world with The Neverland Express and later served as Meat Loaf’s musical director.

How the Rock Cruise Concept Was Born

Not Just Travel consultant Vikki Coffey attended Vampires Rock and found herself sitting next to a superfan who had seen the show five times in eight weeks.

Having previously worked on cruise ships, Coffey instantly recognised the potential of taking Steinman’s loyal following to sea.

“It was obvious that Steve’s audience would cross the country without hesitation to see him perform,…

“Creating a unique cruise experience where that devoted community could gather for an exclusive show was the logical next step.”

A single message to Steinman set plans in motion. The first sailing sold out rapidly and fans leapt at the opportunity to book again. The 2026 cruise is already two-thirds full.

“When you’ve spent three decades building relationships with audiences, you understand the power of creating exclusive experiences for them,

“What Vikki and I have built with these cruises is something truly special. It’s not just about the performances, it’s about bringing our community together for an unforgettable week of rock music magic on the high seas.”

Steve Steinman

Book your place on the Anything For Love 2026 cruise here.

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Virgin Voyages is introducing a month-long season pass for Alaska in summer 2026, giving guests the chance to spend 30 days exploring the Last Frontier aboard Brilliant Lady on an adults-only basis.

The Alaska Summer Season Pass is marketed as a residency at sea rather than a traditional holiday, appealing to travellers who want a slower pace with plenty of scenery, wildlife and time to relax.

Prices begin at $26,000 for two guests sharing a Central Sea Terrace cabin.

“Alaska is one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth. Experiencing it aboard Brilliant Lady means you get the adventure without sacrificing comfort, style or that Virgin sense of discovery, and without a single child on board,”

Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu.

What the Pass Includes

The package offers daily drink credits, complimentary laundry for the entire 30 days, an upgraded Work From Sea WiFi package for those who need to stay connected, entry to the thermal spa, priority boarding and exclusive welcome events.

Guests also receive up to $250 per person to spend on shore excursions and a dedicated glacier excursion is included.

Virgin Voyages is also providing an Alaska gear bundle featuring binoculars, a jacket, a backpack, a reusable water bottle and a Canon G7X camera.

Brilliant Lady will operate mostly 7-night itineraries from Seattle to ports such as Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka.

Season pass guests will remain onboard between sailings while other travellers disembark and embark each week.

Travel Periods and Pricing

There are four 30-day options, with prices varying by date:

• 28th May to 23rd June: from $26,000 for two
• 23rd June to 23rd July: from $38,000 for two
• 30th July to 27th August: from $35,000 for two
• 27th August to 26th September: from $36,000 for two

All voyages operate round-trip from Seattle.

A Growing Line-Up of Long-Stay Offers

Virgin Voyages has previously trialled extended stays, including a European month-long season pass and an annual pass that allows unlimited sailings.

The 2026 version of the annual pass, which includes a stay on Richard Branson’s Necker Island, is priced at $199,000 per person.

As more travellers seek immersive, adults-only holidays with remote-working flexibility, Virgin Voyages appears keen to make long cruising stays a signature offering, with Alaska now joining the programme for those in search of a child-free summer adventure.

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A fresh wave of mechanical issues has disrupted voyages for several major cruise lines, with Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises all forced to delay arrivals, amend itineraries, or cancel sailings in the second half of November 2025.

The problems, centred largely around propulsion systems limiting ship speed, have affected thousands of guests on both sides of the Atlantic.

Queen Mary 2’s Repairs Trigger Knock-On Delays and Port Changes

Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 first encountered difficulty during a Northern Lights cruise earlier in November, when a technical defect in a propulsion pod forced the ship to divert to Bremerhaven rather than Hamburg for repairs.

The unexpected change also caused the cancellation of a short Southampton mini-cruise.

The ship did, however, manage to depart Southampton on 19th November for her scheduled transatlantic crossing to New York. Yet the earlier problems continued to ripple into subsequent voyages.

When Queen Mary 2 arrived in Brooklyn on 26th November, she was roughly an hour behind schedule, leading Cunard to instruct embarking guests to arrive two hours later than originally planned to ease congestion.

The Caribbean sailing that followed has also required itinerary changes.

The call to St Kitts on 4th December has been cancelled entirely, with the ship instead extending its visit to Barbados into an overnight stay from 2nd–3rd December.

The stop in St Lucia has been shifted to 4th December to accommodate the adjusted schedule.

Cunard has not explicitly confirmed that propulsion problems prompted the reshuffle, but the operational constraints align closely with the earlier defect.

Carnival Conquest Delayed by Overnight Mechanical Trouble

Carnival Cruise Line has faced its own round of propulsion issues. Shortly after Carnival Horizon suffered significant speed limitations in mid-November, guests aboard Carnival Conquest were informed on 20th November that the ship had developed a mechanical issue restricting its speed overnight.

As a result, Conquest arrived several hours late at Celebration Key on 20th November during a 4-night Bahamas cruise from Miami. Carnival shortened the port stay and issued $50 onboard credit per stateroom.

Although Conquest appears to have resumed normal operation on subsequent sailings, Carnival has not confirmed the root cause of the incident.

These disruptions follow earlier propulsion problems on the same vessel in January, when engine difficulties delayed its return to port.

MSC Meraviglia Adjusts Bahamas Itinerary Due to Speed Restrictions

MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia has likewise been affected, with planned maintenance reducing the ship’s speed ahead of its 30th November Bahamas cruise from New York.

Guests received notification on 24th November that key ports would be impacted:

• Port Canaveral arrival on 2nd December moved from 1 pm to 5:30 pm, with all excursions cancelled due to limited time ashore
• Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve arrival on 3rd December shifted from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., though the stay was extended to 8:30 p.m.
• Calls to Nassau and the scheduled return to New York on 7th December remain unchanged

Meraviglia has experienced similar propulsion-related issues previously, including an itinerary cancellation in May 2025 when divers carried out underwater repairs in Portland, Maine.

MSC is compensating guests with automatic refunds for cancelled excursions and $100 onboard credit per person (up to $200 per cabin).

A Common Thread: Ageing Propulsion Systems Across the Industry

While each situation differs, the clusters of issues highlight how ageing tonnage, high year-round utilisation, and complex propulsion technologies can converge to create operational challenges.

Queen Mary 2’s pod design has a long history of complications, Carnival’s Vista-class ships have had recurring propulsion limitations, and MSC Meraviglia required propeller blade replacement earlier in the year.

For guests, the recent wave of disruptions serves as a reminder that mechanical problems – though frustrating – are an unavoidable reality in the world of modern cruising.

Cruise lines continue to stress that safety remains the top priority, and flexibility is essential when unexpected repairs alter the best-laid travel plans.

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