Posts in category: Diplomacy

Costa Cruises, one of eight cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation, has kicked off an early Labor Day Sale on cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Canary Islands.

This latest sale from Costa Cruises offers free balcony upgrades for the price of ocean-view cabins if you book by September 13, 2026.

This offer is good on week-long sailings that depart from August 2026 through April 2027.

Featured itineraries are offered across six ships, including flagships Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda, as well as Costa Deliziosa, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, and Costa Pacifica.

300 different sailings on Costa Cruises are included in this sale, including the following itineraries:

• Costa Toscana departs roundtrip from Barcelona, Spain, to the western Mediterranean, visiting Palma, Spain; Palermo, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Savona, Italy; and Marseille, France.
• Costa Smeralda departs roundtrip from Barcelona, visiting Cagliari, Palermo, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Savona, Italy; and Marseille.
• Costa Favolosa departs roundtrip from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and calls at St. John’s, Antigua; Fort-de-France, Martinique; Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Philipsburg, St. Martin.
• Costa Fascinosa sails roundtrip from La Romana, Dominican Republic, and calls at Catalina Island, Samaná and Puerto Plata, all in the Dominican Republic; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; and Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
• Costa Smeralda explores the Canary Islands, cruising roundtrip from Las Palmas or Santa Cruz de la Palma, with calls at Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Funchal.

Priscilla Reyes, head of sales for Costa Cruises North America, gave the following statement:

“Our Labor Day Sale delivers an elevated vacation at an exceptional value. Guests have the opportunity to experience Costa’s signature Italian-style cruising on itineraries that span some of our most popular regions. The Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Canary Islands are fantastic off-season destinations, offering ideal temperatures and less crowds, making now the perfect time to take advantage of Costa’s Labor Day Sale savings.”

This sale is open to residents of North America. For complete terms and details of Costa’s Labor Day Sale, contact your preferred travel advisor, visit CostaCruises.com, or call reservations at 800-462-6782.

Costa Cruises is an Italian-based cruise line, and they have been sailing for more than 75 years. They currently have nine ships in their fleet, offering cruises to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the United Arab Emirates.

Four months ago, Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line, announced a new optional fee that will allow some guests who booked a guaranteed stateroom to receive their cabin assignment quicker than ever.

This new Early Assign program from Royal Caribbean officially kicked off yesterday for guests in eligible guarantee categories with available inventory.

What Is Early Assign?

Early Assign is a new Royal Caribbean program that only affects guests who book guaranteed staterooms. The cruise line said this new program will deliver added convenience and confidence as guests prepare for their cruise.

Guaranteed cabins are the cheapest in each category of staterooms where guests are not allowed to choose their exact stateroom.

Cruise lines normally give guests who book this cheaper fare their cabin assignment a few days before the cruise.

Now, Royal Caribbean will allow guests to choose their cabin up to 85 days before their cruise for a one-time $30 fee. This will allow them to stay in cabins that are in more desirable locations on the ship.

Early Assign will be offered to eligible bookings during the following pre-sailing windows:

• Cruises three to five nights: 25-70 days prior to the sailing
• Cruises six nights and longer: 45-85 days prior to the sailing

How Does Early Assign Work?

How does Early Assign work? Guests booked in guaranteed cabins will receive communication from Royal Caribbean when Early Assign opens for their booking. If a cruiser decides to pay the one-time $30 fee, their stateroom assignment will be instantly confirmed as soon as payment is made.

The $30 is a flat rate per cabin and is not charged to every guest staying in it.

One of the really nice features about Early Assign is that a guest can change their stateroom, as long as they move to another cabin within the same category, subject to availability.

This program is currently only available for U.S. FIT bookings in select guarantee cabins. Group bookings, individual-to-group transfers, and casino bookings are not eligible.

Eligible guarantee categories include WS, XB, XQ, XN, NQ, YO, YQ, ZI, and ZQ.

The $30 Early Assign fee is non-refundable, even if a stateroom change cannot be accommodated. Also, if a cruise booking is canceled, the Early Assign fee is forfeited and not refunded, regardless of cancellation timing.

From small cruise ports with one ship to bustling port cities where an 8-ship day is commonplace, I’ve sailed from all kinds of homeports around the world.

And while some might think of a port city as just a starting point for their journey, the general vibe on board the ship is very much influenced by that departure port itself.

I’ve seen it firsthand. The contrast between sailing out of Seattle on an Alaskan voyage and a quick 3-day from PortMiami couldn’t be more different in terms of the crowd and experience on the ship.

Likewise, a past sailing out of Charleston, SC (no longer in service for Carnival) had a very different crowd and demographic as opposed to a sailing I did out of Port Everglades.

A recent Reddit thread asked about crowd differences from port cities and highlighted what I think is a very interesting point when booking a cruise. The social media post asked if the crowd on a cruise varied by cruise port.

The answer from the cruise community was a resounding yes, with examples of how different a cruise can feel based on the point of departure.

Smaller Regional Ports Have that Local Vibe

For ports in places like Mobile, Jacksonville, Norfolk, and even Philadelphia (now that NCL is sailing from there again), most cruisers will drive to the port. This means more “locals” on board.

After all, most of these smaller ports are very convenient for the local population and they are used as an alternative to having to book a flight to the busier ports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

But even larger ports can have that local vibe.

One cruiser’s comment in the thread stated that a recent cruise out of Galveston had a very local feel to it, saying that they “never saw so many people drinking Dr. Pepper before.”

A cruise out of New York City can be full of locals just wanting to get a break from the snow without having to book a flight to Florida.

One cruiser put it this way: “I cruised from Miami at the beginning of the year and we met a number of New Yorkers on board (NYC is my home port) all trying to escape the cold. NYC gets people from all over the world because NYC itself is a major destination, as are Miami and Orlando (Port Canaveral). People fit in land & cruise vacations in one visit.”

Another regular cruiser said they often sail from Jacksonville and find people from surrounding states on board.

“Lots of people who drove in from GA, Ala, SC, NC, and Tenn. Lots of working people and people with public service jobs: plumbers, teachers, cops, EMTs, etc,” the cruiser stated.

Larger Ports Are More Diverse

Ports like PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades get visitors from all over the country and all over the world. But they also offer everything from short 3-day sailings to much longer durations.

In my experience, the duration of a cruise has a bigger impact on the crowd on board than the port itself in these cases.

But these ports also get more out-of-state travelers as they have so many offerings and options. And if you want a nice cruise to The Bahamas or Caribbean, starting in Florida is your best bet.

Not everyone was thrilled with the cruise crowd out of Miami though. One traveler commented that crowds on PortMiami sailings were “raucous” and “rude”. That has not been my experience, but again, shorter 3- and 4-day sailings can definitely have more of a party atmosphere.

The California Factor

While California doesn’t have the monstrous and super busy cruise ports of Florida, the state does offer a few options for those on the Western half of the state that don’t want to cross the entire nation just to take a cruise.

And for this reason, many who sail from LA or Long Beach are California residents themselves.

One commenter said “LA seems to have mostly local California’s. The demographic is younger. The food tends to be healthier, less fried, more fruit/salad.”

Takeaway

Departure ports are often chosen simply based on convenience and cost to get there. And while the length of the cruise and destinations involved play a much bigger role in the exact cruise crowd on board, the departing city definitely plays a role. If you’ve only sailed out of major ports in Florida and Texas, I encourage you to try a regional port like New Orleans or Baltimore.

You won’t have as many options and you won’t be sailing on the world’s largest or newest ship, but it might save you the cost of a flight and give you more time to enjoy the local population both on and off the ship.

Princess Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028 sailing to Alaska that includes 185 departures on eight ships and 14 unique itineraries.

Princess will offer its most expansive season to Alaska in 2028. Many of the cruises can be combined with land cruisetours that visit Princess Wilderness Lodge near Alaska’s most celebrated national parks.

The lodges include Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Highlights of Princess’ 2028 Alaska Season

• 185 cruises across 14 unique itineraries
• Cruises range from four to 16 days long
• Eight ships sailing in the region
• 16 different ports visited
• Scenic cruising at Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, and Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier
• 86 visits to Glacier Bay National Park
• More Ashore late-evening calls

The eight Princess cruise ships that will sail to Alaska in 2028 are Star Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Royal Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess, and Ruby Princess.

Voyage of the Glaciers is one of the standout itineraries Princess will offer. These one-way cruises between Vancouver and Whittier can be combined with land-based cruisetours and showcase some of the state’s most spectacular scenery, including visits to iconic ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.

Several of the itineraries also feature two glacier-viewing experiences, while others allow guests to visit up to four national parks on one trip.

Princess will sail cruises to Alaska in 2028 from the following ports: Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Lodges

The cruise line’s signature Wilderness Lodges, including Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, provide exceptional accommodations in the heart of Alaska. They give guests unparalleled access to wildlife, the coveted opportunity to catch a glimpse of snowcapped Denali (North America’s tallest mountain), and breathtaking landscapes.

Another one of Princess’ lodges is the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, situated on the banks of the turquoise Kenai River. This lodge offers a secluded wilderness retreat surrounded by Alaska’s dramatic mountain landscapes and forested valleys.

Authentic Alaska

The Alaska experience on Princess Cruises extends well beyond the destination itself. Through the North to Alaska onboard program, guests enjoy authentic culinary experiences, engaging cultural presentations and destination-inspired entertainment that celebrate Alaska’s rich history, traditions and natural beauty.

Guest favorites from the past include Puppies in the Piazza, Cook My Catch, Tales from the Deadliest Catch, Native Alaska cultural presentations, the Glacier Bay National Park Junior Ranger program and educational experiences at Princess Wilderness Lodges.

Guests can also discover Alaska through immersive Local Connections shore excursions, including whale watching in Juneau, historic White Pass Railway adventures in Skagway, exclusive lumberjack experiences in Ketchikan, helicopter glacier landings near Denali and wildlife cruises through Kenai Fjords National Park.

Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer, gave the following statement:

“Alaska is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations, and Princess has spent nearly 60 years helping guests experience it in a way few others can. Our 2028 season brings together glacier-filled voyages, unforgettable wildlife and cultural experiences, Princess Wilderness Lodges and Rail, along with seamless cruisetours that take guests deeper into the Great Land – creating a complete Alaska vacation.”

These newly announced cruises to Alaska in 2028 are now open for bookings.

Manila is one step closer to the construction phase of a new cruise port project that will finally allow more ships to sail to the Philippines.

The cruise port in Manila, Philippines, has welcomed ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line in the past. But those visits have been few and far between.

The reason? Manila doesn’t have a dedicated terminal built for modern cruise ships.

Vessels have historically had to use the city’s busy industrial cargo port at Pier 15, where larger ships put a real strain on the port’s infrastructure.

Past Visitors to Manila

When big ships do visit, they make headlines, and they also highlight the current limitations of the port.

Back in June 2018, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas made history as the largest cruise ship to ever call at any Filipino port. Carrying nearly 5,000 passengers and over 1,500 crew members, the Quantum-class vessel proved the demand was real.

But it also showed how difficult it was to process that many guests through a working cargo pier. The port just wasn’t built for this kind of passenger traffic.

Mainstream lines have visited Manila occasionally since then, but mostly as special stops or repositioning routes.

Here are a few times mainstream cruise lines have stopped by Manila:

• Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Panorama made history on October 18, 2024, when the 4,000-passenger vessel made the brand’s first-ever visit to Manila during a 25-day transpacific voyage.
• Norwegian Cruise Line: NCL brought Norwegian Jewel to Manila in November 2023 for a full turnaround sailing, though disembarkation logistics through the commercial port caused a few traffic bottlenecks.
• Royal Caribbean: Returned in March 2024 with Serenade of the Seas during its Ultimate World Cruise that made all those headlines on TikTok and Facebook. At 90,000 gross tons, it was roughly half the size of Ovation.

The $84 Million Solution

In a few years we could see a lot more ships visiting Manila.  Plans are moving forward on a 5 billion Philippine peso (around $84 million USD) dedicated cruise hub capable of hosting up to four cruise ships at once.

The project will move cruise operations completely out of the commercial cargo area and over to Entertainment City at the end of Aseana Avenue.

The site sits right next to major resort complexes like Solaire and Okada Manila, and it is located roughly 10 minutes from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Early plans for the new hub include:

• Four Berths: Space designed to dock four large cruise ships simultaneously.
• Deeper Waterways: A designated navigational channel spanning 1 kilometer wide and 15 kilometers long to accommodate larger ship drafts safely.
• An Integrated Waterfront Hub: Modeled after facilities like Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal, pairing passenger halls with dining, retail, and entertainment spaces.

Becoming a True Homeport

The main goal of the new facility is converting Manila into a major regional homeport where cruises will start and end. That would be huge both for the city and for cruise passengers wanting more unique sailings out of Asia, giving Singapore a run for its money.

Speaking to The Philippine Star, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago highlighted why the location is critical for cruise lines:

“The site is nearer the airport, and what we want to do is when the project is finished, we want to market Manila as a home port for cruise ships. Tourists can fly to Manila to hop on a cruise trip, and they can also fly out of Manila if the cruise trip ends here,” Santiago told The STAR back in May.

The PPA is finalizing a 25-year lease agreement with the Philippine Reclamation Authority for the property, with groundbreaking targeted for late 2026.

According to reporting from CruiseMapper, the PPA will oversee initial development before partnering with private port operators for daily management.

Once operational, the hub should finally give mega-ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and NCL a home in the Philippines and hopefully open up new itineraries for the region.

Celebrity Cruises announced its ocean deployment for 2028-2029 that includes new ports, a return to old favorites, and coordinated overnight stays in Egypt.

For the first time, four Edge class ships will sail in Europe, and the cruise line will sail to Alaska, Asia, Australia, New England, and South America.

Celebrity Cruises will offer more sailings to bucket list destinations, and add new restaurants and poolside dining options on Celebrity Beyond.

Highlights of these newly announced sailings include:

• Overnight visits to Egypt on Celebrity Infinity.
• Celebrity Cruises’ first-ever visit to Galway, Ireland, on Celebrity Apex’s new British Isles itineraries, plus a return to Bari, Italy, for the first time in more than a decade on Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Infinity.
• Round-trip Hawaii sailings from Los Angeles, and Celebrity Equinox’s first Alaska season.
• The first full Japan season for the Solstice Series with 2028 sailings on the renewed Celebrity Solstice.
• An extended South America season and a return to Antarctica on Celebrity Equinox.

Sailings to Europe

Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Apex will be the four Edge class ships based in Europe.

For cruises in the Mediterranean, Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Eclipse offer seven- to 11-night sailings to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey.

On Celebrity Constellation, guests will be able to enjoy the best of Italy and Croatia on 10- and 11-night sailings, including Celebrity Cruises’ first visit to Bari, Italy, since 2014.

Celebrity Infinity will sail year-round in Europe and offer the cruise line’s first sailings to Egypt since 2023. The cruises to Egypt will feature an overnight stop in Alexandria.

Alaska

Three Celebrity ships will sail to Alaska in 2028. Celebrity Edge will return to the 48th state for a fifth season while Celebrity Equinox visits Alaska for the first time. The ship will sail one-way, seven-night cruises from Vancouver and Seward.

Celebrity Millennium will sail roundtrip, week-long cruises from Vancouver.

Warm Weather Cruises

For warmer cruises, Celebrity will offer new round-trip sailings to Hawaii from Los Angeles on Celebrity Equinox.

Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice return to Australia and New Zealand.

With 23 sailings departing from Sydney and Auckland, guests can choose from Australia and New Zealand itineraries ranging from four-night escapes to 14-night journeys on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice.

South Pacific sailings on Celebrity Solstice take guests to destinations like Tauranga, New Zealand; Lifou, Loyalty Islands; and Mystery Island, Vanuatu.

Other Regions

Celebrity Cruises will also offer cruises to Japan, Asia, South America, and Antarctica in 2028 and 2029.

Celebrity Solstice will sail a full season in Japan for the first time from April to October 2028. There will be 17 visits to Okinawa on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium.

Overnight visits in Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand; Benoa, Bali, Indonesia; Hanoi, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; and Penang, Malaysia will take place on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium.

Celebrity Equinox will offer 12- to 16-night cruises in South America and Antarctica.

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, gave the following statement about this new deployment:

“We’re delighted to give our guests more ways than ever to experience the world’s most extraordinary destinations in 2028 and 2029. From the breathtaking fjords of Norway to the untouched beauty of Antarctica, these itineraries offer endless opportunities to explore, pairing immersive destinations with the elevated hospitality and unforgettable moments that define The Celebrity Way.”

Celebrity Cruises gave the following dates for when these new cruises will open for bookings:

• On sale now: Summer 2028 Japan
• August 25, 2026: Europe, Bermuda, Canada, and New England
• September 1, 2026: Alaska, Hawaii, and South America
• September 29, 2026: Australia and Winter 2028/29 Asia
• Coming soon: Caribbean and 2029 Galapagos

Looking for the cheapest time to cruise during the year? If you’re like me, you want to go on as many cruises as possible, as often as possible. If you try to book a cruise during peak season, you might face some major sticker shock.

Some of the cheapest times of year to cruise are late winter and early fall. There are caveats that go with that, so let’s dive in and find what time of year will save you the most money on a cruise vacation.

Here are some tips for booking a cruise vacation for as little money as possible. And it’s all done simply by choosing the right time of year. Can’t beat that, right?

Rule of Thumb for Cheapest Times to Cruise

While we believe that there are no bad times to take a cruise, certain weeks of the year are often cheaper than others. A good rule of thumb is that prices are likely to be higher around any holidays or when kids are out of school. That’s just how it is.

So basically, the most convenient times of year to cruise are also the most expensive. Do you want to save money? Go against the flow.

Book your vacation while everyone else is busy working or in school. It’ll make your vacation photos that much sweeter when you come back to show all your friends how awesome your cruise getaway was as well.

What causes prices to change from week to week? It is all based on supply and demand. While some weeks (especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve) are notorious for having high rates due to an increase in demand, the following weeks are generally the cheapest times to take a cruise.

It is worth noting that any week can have high prices if a specific sailing is selling well, even if it is during a week listed below. But if you’re asking, “When is the cheapest time to cruise?” you’ve come to the right place.

Cheapest Weeks of the Year to Cruise

• 2nd week of January through early February – Great rates can often be found right after the extremely popular Christmas through New Year’s Eve season.
• Last week of February – Prices are often higher for Valentine’s Day week; who doesn’t want a Love Boat cruise? However, prices tend to drop after Valentine’s Day until Spring Break.
• Early May – After the popular Spring Break weeks, there tends to be a slight lull in early May before kids get out of school for summer. Once Memorial Day comes around, prices will go up.
• September after Labor Day – With kids back in school and hurricane season in full swing, great rates can normally be found from the week after Labor Day through October.
• First two weeks of December – Sandwiched between the popular cruise weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the first two weeks of December will often have great rates.
  

What’s our recommendation for finding the cheapest time to cruise? Book early and take advantage of price drops, guaranteeing that not only will you get the best selection of staterooms, but also the best price.

Up until final payment, just about every cruise line will allow you to move to the lower price if the price of your cabin drops. Carnival Cruise Line even has a fare that guarantees you the best price up until a few days before the cruise.

Chart Showing Cheapest Cruise Weeks

This chart shows the average price of a 7-day to 14-day cruise throughout 2026.  The price is for the cost of a cabin per day for two passengers and includes some extra costs like gratuities.

Use this chart more as a visual than a concrete unit of measurement for the specific costs of cruising during these times. 

Notice the price spikes during December’s busy holiday season, followed by the sharp decrease in pricing early into January. This chart is a great way to see the cheapest cruise months at a glance.

Leading into spring, there are some price increases for cruises as people get ready for spring break. However, these prices are still lower than the dramatic increase during the peak cruise season of June and July.

My Favorite Time to Book Caribbean Cruises

I love booking cruises in September because it’s typically still warm and you can find rock bottom deals. Even though there is the threat of cruising during hurricane season, if you are flexible, you will be fine.

Your ship may have to change its itinerary because of an incoming storm, but pack your sense of adventure, and you will be glad you got such a great deal.

Cheapest Time to Cruise Hawaii

The same rule applies for cruises to and around Hawaii. Book during the slowest time, which is typically from November to February, and you will save the most money. This is also the rainy season for Hawaii, so expect to see a few rain showers on your trip. During holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, you will see a spike in prices, as some travelers want to book their vacations during time already off from work.

Some like to cruise Hawaii between December and April because this is when humpback whales can be seen in these waters.

Between mid-April and mid-June, there is often a lull in travelers to Hawaii, so cruise costs can take a small dip during these times as well.

Cheapest Time to Cruise Alaska

Remember that cruises to Alaska have a relatively short window of time. The cheapest cruises to Alaska will often take place at the beginning of the cruise season (May) and at the end of the season (September).

These times are also more vulnerable to inclement weather, and some tours or ports may be canceled. So in order to save a few bucks, some flexibility is required.

Cheapest Cruise to Mexico

The most inexpensive times to cruise to Mexico will be very similar to Caribbean cruises. The holidays of Christmas and Easter can be particularly busy for travelers in Mexico, and costs will reflect this, with both higher cruise costs and flights.

The end of July through November can be some of the best times to book a cruise to Mexico in terms of pricing. But also remember the end of summer will also be unbearably hot at times in this part of the world, and hurricane season will be in full swing.

If the cost of a cruise is more important than the ideal temperature and meteorological implications, go for it.

In our article on 7 Tips for Scoring the Best Deal on a Cruise, we mention that cruising during the off-season is one of the best ways to stay within your budget. Using the information above, you can find the cheapest time to cruise to The Bahamas or the Caribbean in general.

What Cruise Lines Offer the Cheapest Rates?

Looking to cruise for as little money as possible? Some of the most popular cruise lines that offer great deals on cruises are Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean is on the higher end of that spectrum but offers great value for the price.

MSC Cruises often offers mind-boggling deals as they grow their presence in the U.S. market.

For the absolute lowest price on a short three-day cruise, it’s hard to beat the price of Margaritaville at Sea, with rates often as low as $149.

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company with eight lines and over 90 ships, has announced that it not only achieved a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), but also did so five years ahead of schedule.

Carnival originally had a 2030 timeline for reducing GHG by 20%. They have updated their goals to have a 25% reduction in emissions by 2029.

The efficiency work behind that milestone is also showing up on the bottom line with fuel-efficiency gains on track to save the company roughly $650 million in 2026 alone versus 2019 levels.

So how did Carnival do it with over 90 cruise ships across eight different cruise lines?

They did it through fleet transformation, operational efficiencies, and investments in energy-efficient and low-GHG technologies.

A significant contributor has been its fleet transformation strategy, introducing LNG-powered and more energy-efficient ships while removing its less-efficient ships from the fleet.

Carnival cut its carbon emission intensity through a range of operational refinements and technology investments, from smart itinerary routing, strategic destination development, robotic hull cleaning and more.

• Smart routing: Advanced voyage optimization, weather routing and itinerary planning tools find the most fuel-efficient path between ports with no trade-off in guest experience.
• Strategic destination development: Exclusive destinations like its new Celebration Key in The Bahamas enable more efficient itineraries and sailing patterns while leveling up the guest experience.
• Clean hulls: Robotic hull inspection and cleaning reduce drag and improve performance, lowering fuel use fleetwide.

Together they help squeeze greater efficiency out of every cruise while still delivering award-winning guest experiences on its vessels.

Carnival Corporation also uses a range of low-carbon technologies across its fleet. This includes LNG propulsion, shore power, biofuels and battery energy storage, because no single solution alone can deliver net-zero ship operations.

Operational enhancements, including smart itinerary planning and voyage optimization tools, help identify the most fuel-efficient routes and sailing patterns.

Carnival Corporation is also integrating technologies that reduce energy demand, improve hydrodynamic performance and capture energy that would otherwise be wasted.

These efforts range from Power Saver Packs that reduce HVAC and lighting loads to waste heat recovery systems and Air Lubrication Systems that help ships move more efficiently through the water. 

The company’s progress, detailed in its newly published 2025 Sustainability Report, is driven by a comprehensive decarbonization strategy focused on operational improvements, energy efficiency investments and low-GHG power generation.

Together, these efforts have delivered sustained emissions reductions over nearly two decades. Since 2008, Carnival has reduced its GHG emissions intensity by 44%, meaning emissions associated with each guest sailing have been cut roughly in half during that period.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, gave the following statement:

“Achieving our 2030 GHG reduction goal five years early is a significant milestone that reflects years of disciplined investment, innovation and operational focus across our global fleet.

“But we’re not treating it as a finish line. Our new 2029 target ensures we’re continuing to improve every part of the equation, from using less fuel to advancing the tools, technologies and infrastructure that will help us lower emissions even further over time. That’s good for the planet, good for our business, and gives us real confidence in the road ahead.”

Carnival Corporation has seven new cruise ships entering service by 2033 that are 20%+ more efficient than their current fleet.

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, Disney Destiny, earned its first perfect health score, according to a report just posted by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).

Although the surprise health inspection took place in June, the results were just published on the CDC’s website.

Disney Destiny debuted in November 2025, and this was the second time that the ship was inspected. The vessel earned a 96 during its first inspection in December 2025.

This was the fifth perfect health score earned by a Disney cruise ship this year. Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, and Disney Treasure have also aced their health inspections in 2026.

Every ship in Disney’s fleet has scored at least a 98 during their unannounced health inspections this year.

About Cruise Health Inspections

All cruise ships that sail to or from a U.S. port are subject to two announced health inspections each year that are carried out by the VSP.

Cruise lines pay for the inspections based on the size of the ship, and one to five inspectors board the ship to make sure it is meeting health standards.

The inspectors evaluate eight different areas of each ship that range from medical centers to food and water on board.

The eight main areas that are inspected are:

• Medical Center – Documents are reviewed regarding sickness on board, and staff is interviewed to ensure they are well trained.
• Drinking water – Water samples are taken and checked for the correct chlorine and pH levels.
• Galleys and dining rooms – Everything from food storage to dishwashers to employees’ health and personal hygiene is checked.
• Swimming pools and hot tubs – Water samples are taken to ensure halogen and pH levels are correct.
• Housekeeping – Housekeeping manager is interviewed to ensure they are well informed about disinfection and measures to prevent the spread of sickness and disease.
• Pest and insect management – Ensure that pest and insect management procedures are in place.
• Child activity centers – They make sure toys are clean, and they are properly equipped with hand washing stations, toilets, and a place for diaper changing.
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) – Units are inspected to ensure water is not collecting inside the units and that they are clean.

The inspections usually take six to eight hours and are random and unannounced.

The number of inspectors varies depending on ship size. Inspectors see if conditions on the ship comply with the public health standards found in current VSP guidance.

Cruise ships that sail outside of the U.S. for an extended time may not be inspected twice a year. However, they are normally inspected when they return to a U.S. port.

Fees cruise lines pay for the inspections range from $8,073 for small ships, under 30,000 gross tons, to $64,584 for mega ships over 180,000 gross tons in size.

Disney Cruise Line has historically done well during health inspections conducted by the VSP. Over the past three and a half years, they have not had a ship score under 95 during them. A 100 is the highest score a ship can get and anything under an 86 is considered a failing score.