Posts in category: Diplomacy

If you’re planning on taking a cruise with Viking next year, you might want to lock in those dates pretty soon.

The luxury cruise operator just reported its second-quarter earnings on August 19, 2026, and not only did the company beat Wall Street’s expectations, but they also announced that 53% of capacity for 2027 is already booked.

Viking has been a public company now for a little over two years, starting on May 1, 2024. Even at that time the cruise line couldn’t build ships fast enough. The fan base is so strong that these ships fill up just as fast as the company can crank them out.

There are 90 river ships, 13 ocean vessels, and 2 expedition ships in the fleet. And despite Viking’s constant building of new ships, the company has managed to fill them up at a remarkable pace.

The cruise line plans to increase its operating capacity by 15% in 2027 by building more river and ocean vessels.

But still, demand seems to be outpacing supply.

Advance ticket sales for the 2027 season have already reached $4.7 billion, which is a 21% jump compared to the same point during the prior booking cycle.

With 2027 over halfway booked already, 2026 capacity is pretty much gone.

According to the earnings report, for the current 2026 travel season, Viking is sitting at 96% capacity sold.

What Is Driving the Rapid Sell-Outs?

After sailing with Viking several times, I can tell you that the product is not only top-notch, but it’s also very predictable.

And that’s a good thing. Consistency is a theme with Viking, and it keeps customers coming back. You always know what to expect, and no matter which ship you sail on, it’s a very similar experience (apart from the destinations of course).

Here are a few factors helping Viking fill all of these ships.

• Strong Loyalty Base: Roughly half of Viking guests are repeat customers. These experienced travelers know that popular itineraries and the best stateroom locations book up years in advance, so they reserve early. It’s kind of a FOMO thing perhaps.
• High-Demand for Off-Ship Products: Apart from traditional river and ocean cruises, land extension packages (such as pre- and post-cruise stays) continue to grow in popularity, with about 40% of guests adding them to their trips.
• Sustained Pricing Power: Travelers are willing to pay a premium for guaranteed spots. Advance booking rates per passenger for 2027 are up 10% year-over-year.

The Numbers in the Earnings Report

VIKING HOLDINGS $VIK Q2’26 EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS

🔹 Revenue: $2.2B (Est. $2.14B) 🟢; +16.5% YoY
🔹 Adj. EPS: $1.31 (Est. $1.26) 🟢; +32% YoY
🔹 Adj. EBITDA: $748.4M (Est. $723M) 🟢; +18.2% YoY
🔹 Net Income: $587.7M (Est. $562M) 🟢; +34% YoY

Other Q2 Metrics:
🔹 Net Yield: $645;… pic.twitter.com/dAhpu4Pmeh

— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 19, 2026

Total revenue climbed 16.5% year-over-year to $2.19 billion, easily beating Wall Street’s expectations.

Net income hit $587.7 million, while adjusted earnings per share jumped over 32% to $1.31.

Adjusted EBITDA also went up 18.2% to $748.4 million. With $4 billion in cash on hand and net leverage sitting at a healthy 1.2x, the company is rolling into the second half of 2026 with some serious strength behind it.

When Norwegian Cruise Line’s next new ship, Norwegian Aura, debuts in 2027, it will have new complimentary and paid dining options, a new era of wellness at sea, and refreshed public spaces.

Norwegian Aura will have 22 food and beverage options spanning over 10 distinct cuisines. This includes the transformation of a traditional main dining room and the cruise line’s first specialty restaurant dedicated to Indian cuisine.

Dining

The Panorama Room will be a completely reimagined complimentary restaurant that transforms traditional main dining through immersive visual technology.

It will be located on Deck 6 and feature expansive LED displays, multi-channel audio, synchronized lighting, and dynamic visuals that evolve throughout the day and evening. The restaurant will transport guests through ever-changing landscapes, artwork, and scenic environments as they dine.

Hudson’s, the signature main dining room, will offer 270-degree ocean views in an elevated new design.

Tamara will be NCL’s first specialty restaurant dedicated to Indian cuisine that was inspired by the popularity of the Indian offerings at Indulge Food Hall. It will feature authentic flavors with dishes like Short-Rib Dosa, a crisp rice-lentil crepe with tomato sambar, fenugreek and coconut chutney; Lamb Biryani, with basmati rice, warm spices and caramelized onions; and a Green Papaya Salad, tossed tableside with pomegranate, tamarind, peanuts, jaggery and chili.

Norwegian is also reconfiguring and adding more seats to many of their popular restaurants, including Le Bistro, Sukhothai, Palomar, Onda by Scarpetta, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Hauki, and Nama.

Surfside Cafe will now span both sides of the cruise ship and Indulge Food Hall will feature nine globally inspired stations.

Wellness

The Mandara Spa will span two decks on the ship and have the industry’s most expansive Thermal Suite. The Thermal Suite will have 15 wellness amenities, including 11 new experiences.

The Sensory Rain Pool will be the first of its kind at sea. This 360-degree experience will transform calm waters into a tropical rainfall that ends in a dramatic thunderstorm.

The Blue Glow Suite will be a gentle blue light experience that encourages relaxation.

The Thermal Suite will also have a Foot Spa, Waterfall Experience, Snow Cave, Reflection Pool, Hot and Cold Plunge experiences, Salt Room, Meditation Lounge, Aromatic Steam Room, Finnish Sauna, Charcoal Sauna, and a Zen Lounge.

Public Spaces

Norwegian Aura will feature refreshed interiors and expanded layouts. This includes a larger Penrose Bar & Atrium and redesigned bars and lounges that create open and inviting environments.

Overlooking the pool on Deck 18, the Daybreak Bar will feature beautiful, vibrant colors and will be the perfect spot to enjoy a day at sea in the heart of the action.

The updates are designed to make it easier for guests to find their favorite spot, meet up with friends, and enjoy the ship’s lively atmosphere from day to night.

Ocean Heights

This ultimate hub for fun, action, and relaxation is for the entire family. The activity zone will feature an 82-foot Aura Ropes Course, a multi-level obstacle course, and the Aura Midway.

Aura Midway will have carnival-style games and a nine-hole mini golf course.

Norwegian Cruise Line is also adding their first overhanging cabanas overlooking Vibe Beach Club.

Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“Norwegian Aura is all about giving guests more of what they love, with spaces and experiences that make vacation feel even easier. From Tamara, our new Indian specialty restaurant, which expands the already guest-favorite eatery in Indulge to an elevated culinary offering; to The Panorama Room’s immersive dining experience and our most expansive Thermal Suite to date, every addition has been purposefully designed to give guests more freedom, choice and opportunities to relax, recharge and enjoy their vacation their way, without compromise.”

Norwegian Aura will be the largest ship in NCL’s fleet when it debuts on May 21, 2027. After a seven-day maiden voyage in the Mediterranean, the ship will cross the Atlantic and head to Miami.

Once at the Cruise Capital of the World, PortMiami, Norwegian Aura will sail week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean through 2028.

Disney Cruise Line recently revealed that three brand-new cruise ships will be coming in 2029 and 2030.  This will be a whole new class for the cruise line.  

Now, a rendering of the new ship has been dropped during a D23 event in Anaheim, California.

The new ships, slated to begin arrival in 2029, will be smaller than the recent Wish-class (144,00 GT) and slightly larger than the smallest class in the fleet, Magic-class (84,000 GT).

The ships, candidly recognized as ships 11, 12, and 13 for the cruise line, will be 100,000 gross ton vessels, capable of accommodating around 3,000 guests.

Finding the “Sweet Spot” in Size

It looks like Disney is looking for a middle ground in terms of size for this next batch of ships. Not only can smaller ships have access to more ports, but not every cruiser is a fan of the “bigger is better” concept.

• Capacity: Roughly 3,000 passengers. That places them right between the classic 2,713-passenger Disney Wonder and the 4,000-passenger Disney Wish.
• Tonnage: About 100,000 gross tons, which is about 20% larger than the Magic-class, but much smaller than the 208,000 GT Disney Adventure.

Why build smaller?

As Senior Creative Director Claire Weiss explained during the showcase, placing these ships “right in the middle of our classic ships and our newer ones” gives Disney “some amazing opportunities to visit new places and reach brand new audiences we haven’t before.”

This basically means ships of this size can access harbors which might be shallower and inaccessible with a 150,000 GT ship.

So, I would expect some unique itineraries with these new ships, which will even offer the ability to visit some historic European ports.

Design Features and a Few Hints

While Disney is keeping specific vessel names, themes, and itineraries locked away for now, the initial teaser trailer revealed a few architectural details:

• Ocean-Focused Views: The renderings feature a large midship wall of ocean-facing windows spanning what looks like three decks. It will be interesting to see how this space is used.
• Classic Silhouette: Expect the signature black-and-gold hull, twin red funnels, and streamlined styling that match the iconic Disney ocean liner aesthetic.
• Efficiency: From previous press releases from the cruise line and shipyard we also know a bit about the build itself. Built in partnership with Meyer Werft in Germany, the ships will feature hybrid battery systems, shore-power plug-in capabilities, and the flexibility to operate on green fuels like renewable methanol or hydrotreated vegetable oil.

Fan Reaction

The Disney post on Instagram seemed to really resonate with Disney Cruise Line fans, as commenters asked about itineraries and wondered where the ships would be homeported.

Many fans used the comment section to ask Disney to bring back popular structural features from the older Magic and Dream-class vessels rather than repeating the controversial flow of the Wish class.

• “Please let this new class of ships take their design and layout cues from the original 4 ships of the Magic and Dream Classes and not the Wish Class. Those original ships were just so much better laid out when it comes to adult areas and entertainment options.”
• “Please please PLEASE let this class have a proper full promenade that actually goes all the way around without needing stairs. And an actual adult district.”
• “Please tell us that was a nod to the walking track coming back!?!?”

Because the smaller footprint opens up new destination possabilities, fans wasted no time pitching their favorite departure cities and regions for the 2029-2030 rollout.

• “Love the combination of Magic and Wish, hope we see one in Alaska/west coast and New York for Canadian and Bermuda sailings.”
• “Still waiting for San Diego to get a new ship.”
• “If these are able to sail to Alaska, I will freak!”
• “PLEASE give us a ship in Galveston FULL TIME!”

While details on interior spaces remain under lock and key for now, the general consensus is clear that cruisers want the midsize fleet to blend modern tech with the ocean-liner charm of Disney’s earliest ships.

But Disney fans don’t have to wait too long for a new ship to arrive. Disney Believe is scheduled to debut in 2027. The 140,000-ton vessel is a Wish-class ship, and we’re still waiting to hear where the ship will homeport when it arrives.

With two of these midsize ships slated to be delivered in 2029 and a third following in 2030, Disney Cruise Line is going to have a fleet of 13 ships in total in just four more years.

For the third straight time, a cruise ship received the lowest possible passing score during a recent health inspection conducted by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).

The ship was cited for rusted utensils in the kitchen, improper food storage, and missing logs regarding illness on board the ship.

National Geographic Sea Lion, operated by Lindblad Expeditions, scored an 86 during a health inspection where results were just posted to the CDC’s website.

The CDC considers inspection scores of 85 or lower as not satisfactory and results in a failing score.

The VSP found a total of 42 deficiencies during the inspection on the 62-passenger cruise ship. This was the ship’s first inspection since 2016 and 2017, when it also barely passed with an 86 during those two inspections.

Multiple deficiencies were found related to various technical areas across the cruise ship. For example, the 24-hour acute gastroenteritis (AGE) report was submitted more than 36 hours prior to the ship’s expected arrival in Sitka, Alaska.

An AGE-symptomatic crew member did not report their symptoms in a timely manner and was released from isolation and assigned nonfood-handling duties after only 24 hours of isolation.

Multiple four-hour manual halogen residual and pH checks were missing on several days of potable water production within the last month. The ship did not have the ability to measure the pH of the hypochlorous acid produced by the onboard generator.

Related: Dirtiest Cruise Ships in 2026 Based on the CDC’s Health Inspections

Deficiencies

In the kitchen, sanitized vegetable peelers had rust on them. They were thrown away during the inspection.

In the main deck galley, clean dishes were stored in a drawer soiled inside with dried lettuce.

Refrigeration temperatures were too high, forcing the staff to throw away 50 containers of daily products.

Frozen fish were stored under the open stairwell in the freezer, which could allow debris from shoes to fall onto the food below.

Inspectors also found wrapped fish stored directly on the stairs in the freezer.

The ship was cited for not having proper notes in the Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) surveillance log. Also, a food employee with AGE symptoms was released from isolation 24 hours after their last symptom, instead of the required 48 hours.

Inspectors also noted that Legionella sampling of the potable water system was not conducted every six months. Also, the four-hour manual halogen residual and pH checks were missing on several days of potable water production logs.

And as with most inspections, there were also several extremely minor deficiencies pointed out by the inspectors. This includes things like a screw loose in the dishwasher to more than one day’s dust behind an espresso machine.

All cruise ships that sail to or from a U.S. port are subject to at least two surprise health inspections each year.

About the Ship

The cruise line has the following description listed for the cruise ship:

“Accommodating just 62 Guests in 31 outside cabins, the National Geographic Sea Lion is large enough to operate in remote environments in comfort, yet small enough to enter ports and inlets inaccessible to bigger ships. The ship carries sea kayaks and a fleet of expedition landing crafts, providing easy access to coastlines and other places of interest.

“All cabins have windows and are comfortably furnished with lower berths, private bathrooms, reading lights, and individual climate control. The National Geographic Sea Lion is authorized to operate in the Tongass National Forest under a Forest Service Special Use Permit.”

The storm has officially passed. That’s the good news.

But Hurricane Lala caused quite a bit of damage across Hawaii after the Category 1 hurricane swept through the islands.

The storm caused all kinds of logistic issues for two Norwegian Cruise Line ships in the area as well.  Lala forced port closures, delayed ship turnarounds, and pushed back embarkation times for thousands of NCL passengers.

Over 180,000 Hawaiian residents were left without electricity, and about 100 homes were damaged or destroyed, according to news reports.

As the storm made its closest approach, the U.S. Coast Guard instituted Port Condition Zulu for Honolulu Harbor, basically closing Oahu’s main maritime hub to commercial traffic until safety inspections could be completed.

Now that Honolulu Harbor has reopened, here is where things stand with both Pride of America and Norwegian Spirit.

Pride of America Completes Delayed Turnaround

Pride of America, NCL’s year-round Hawaii flagship, spent the worst of the storm out at sea after offering passengers the choice to disembark early in Honolulu on Friday or stay aboard the vessel with some extra onboard credit.

Once Honolulu Harbor officially cleared on Sunday afternoon, August 16, the ship docked and passengers were able to get off, just a day later than originally planned.

To make up for the lost time, NCL modified the upcoming itinerary, including a shortened call at Kahului, Maui.

Norwegian Spirit Disembarkation and Next Embarkation Pushed to Monday

For Norwegian Spirit, which was concluding a 16-night transpacific cruise from Vancouver, the wait lasted a bit longer.

After skipping scheduled Big Island stops in Hilo and Kona to stay ahead of the weather, Spirit was originally scheduled to end its voyage in Honolulu on Sunday, August 16.

But because the harbor was backlogged because of all the extra traffic trying to come in, there wasn’t enough space to dock.

Disembarkation for Norwegian Spirit had to be pushed back to Monday, August 17.

As a result, embarkation for Norwegian Spirit’s next 16-night sailing back to Vancouver was also delayed by a day.

Don’t feel too bad for the passengers though, as they got an extra night on the ship while waiting for the gangway to open.

NCL Statement

In a statement provided to Seatrade Cruise News, an NCL spokesperson confirmed the delay and wished the best for the impacted Hawaiians:

“We appreciate our guests for their patience and flexibility over the last few days, as we navigated multiple logistical challenges due to the aftermath of the storm. We also hope for a speedy recovery for the communities in Hawaii that were impacted.”

A couple of cruisers are in some hot water after getting into a fight after being told to “quiet down”.  In the course of events, a 9-year-old child was struck while inside the cruise ship cabin with two other people.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office pointed out the charges as Sheriff Wayne Ivey once again took to Facebook to describe the onboard incident in his own colorful way.

This isn’t the first time Sheriff Ivery has posted on social media about arrests at Port Canaveral.

You might recall when we covered another incident where six cruise passengers were arrested at Port Canaveral in a single day. In that case it wasn’t for a fight, but after routine checks caught outstanding warrants and probation violations, including one passenger wanted on murder charges.

Now, the Sheriff’s Office is back with a fresh installment of “The Chronicles of Cruising,” and according to him it’s a prime example of what happens when alcohol and zero common sense go hand in hand.

According to the post on social media, the entire ordeal started when passengers Gannon Jacox and his girlfriend, Brooklyn Hicks, were arguing loudly in the stateroom hallway after having a few too many drinks.

The post doesn’t specify how late it was or if nearby cruisers were trying to sleep, but apparently, some other cruisers not far away asked them to keep the noise down so they could sleep.

Instead of calling it a night, Hicks went over to confront them. Jacox made matters worse by pulling out his cell phone to film the altercation while encouraging Hicks to start a fight.

According to the sheriff’s post, the couple then forced their way directly into the guests’ stateroom, where a family, including a 9-year-old child, was inside.

A physical fight broke out inside the cabin. Jacox hit all three people in the room, including the child, while Hicks was wildly swinging punches.

By the end of the brawl, Jacox was left with a severe eye injury, which authorities noted came either from the victims defending themselves or from “friendly fire” courtesy of his girlfriend’s wild swings.

Fortunately, none of the victims suffered serious physical injuries.

When the ship (we’re not sure which vessel) docked at Port Canaveral, deputies were waiting to take the couple straight to jail. Sheriff Ivey held nothing back on Facebook when describing the fallout:

“Ok folks it’s time for another edition of “The Chronicles of Cruising” Brevard County style!!” Sheriff Ivey posted. “So what’s the moral of the story…if you can’t hold your liquor, then you definitely shouldn’t be out in public causing a scene like this and injuring random people including a child!! And if that memo is not clear enough for you then you might want to stay your butt out of Brevard County!!“

Jacox was charged with Burglary With A Battery and Child Abuse Without Great Bodily Harm. Hicks was charged with Burglary With Battery and Battery-Touch/Strike.

Instead of finishing their cruise vacation, the couple is spending time at what Sheriff Ivey calls “Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge,” complete with “close quarter sleeping arrangements, communal showers, no drink packages and of course no excursions!!”

While the details about what cruise ship was involved have not been given in this case, this kind of behavior typically results in a lifetime ban from the cruise line.