Diplomacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Red Room Shows

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

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

The Manor Shows

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A cruise ship will overnight in 17 ports of call on a unique cruise that will set sail from Miami in January 2028.

Silversea, a ultra-luxury cruise line from Royal Caribbean Group, has announced a 132-day cruise that will depart from Miami, Florida on January 5, 2028 and end in Nice, France.

This voyage on Silver Shadow will visit 58 ports in 29 countries with 17 of the ports being overnight calls. It will also have 59 sea days. All guests will enjoy personalized butler service and one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the industry.

The cruise will visit the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Middle East and end in Europe. There will be opportunities to visit over 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites during the four month cruise.

The cruise line will also have a series of curated events and optional overland tours so guests can make the most of their cruise.

The voyage will be broken up into the following nine segments:

• Anthem of the Tropics: Miami to Cartagena
• Reign of the Rainforest: Cartagena to Valparaiso
• Lands of Fire and Ice: Valparaiso to Buenos Aires
• Beat of the Tradition: Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro
• Sands of Time: Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town
• Nature in Verse: Cape Town to the Middle East
• Tales of Spice and Silk: 10 days exploring the Arabian Peninsula
• Ancient Realm: Africa and Arabia, from Luxor to Petra
• Echoes of the Empires: Off-the-beaten paths in the Mediterranean

A map of the 132-day world cruise on Silversea in 2028 can be seen below.

Cruise fares start at $74,900 per person and include the following amenities:

• Business class airfare
• Private transfers from your home to the airport
• Bon voyage reception and pre-cruise hotel
• Silver Shore Baggage Valet
• Unlimited premium WiFi
• One shore excursion in every port
• $500 in credit per person to spend on the ship
• Exclusive World Cruise events
• Special gifts
• Laundry service
• Medical service

Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea, gave the following statement:

“Our 2028 World Cruise, An Ode to the Moment, is designed to slow time, offering deeper exploration of each destination. With our unrivaled destination expertise, we guide guests to both iconic landmarks and hidden gems, ensuring they experience the world at its finest.

Exclusive events, special access, and optional overland tours create once-in-a-lifetime moments unique to Silversea’s World Cruises.”

This 132-day World Cruise from Silversea is now open for bookings. For more details, contact your preferred travel professional or visit Silverea.com.

The cruise departs from Miami, Florida on January 5, 2028 and ends in Nice, France on May 16, 2028.

A cruise ship that could remain at sea for an extra few days, Pacific Encounter, finds itself at the mercy of Cyclone Alfred, as passengers play a waiting game.  While, admittedly, there are worse places to be “stuck”, the significant delay in returning to port has caused some issues for travelers trying to get back home.

The ship, which is soon to be a part of Carnival’s fleet as Carnival Encounter, was supposed to dock in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday after a 4-day sailing.  But heavy wind and rain have battered the east coast of the country, shutting down the port and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of residents in the cyclone’s path.

Because of the tropical cyclone, P&O Australia had to cancel Pacific Encounter’s final voyage before transferring to Carnival Cruise Line.

Flooding has wreaked havoc on land, while the storm has also impacted cruise ship schedules.  Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas and Carnival Luminosa have both had to cancel sailings in addition to Pacific Encounter.

“I’ve Run Out of Money”

One New Zealander who is currently sailing on Pacific Encounter recently expressed frustration with the current condition of being stuck at sea.

Cody Hampson, a 20-year-old plumber, is facing a desperate situation, stranded on the P&O cruise ship and facing financial hardship and job insecurity after the storm forced a delay in the ship’s arrival at Brisbane’s port.

“To be honest I’ve run out of money, I don’t know if they’re going to refund me for my flight back home from Brisbane, I haven’t received confirmation for that. Yeah, so I’m a bit stuck,” Hampson said.

“I’m supposed to be starting back up on Wednesday at work and my boss sort of doesn’t understand that I’m stuck on a cruise ship.”

To make matters worse, Hampson said he does not have cruise travel insurance that would have offered some compensation for the situation.

He also stated that keeping in touch with his extended family has been difficult because of the poor Wi-Fi signal on the ship, which has also been impacted by the storm.

The ship’s delay in returning to port in Brisbane has caused a pile up of missing flights and postponed travel arrangements.

Hampson referred to the situation as “havoc”, as the delay in returning home has caused logistical issues for other passengers on board as well.

“There’s many many people that are missing flights, lots of people are running out of money, people have left kids at home and stuff that are sort of unable to be supervised any longer cause work is starting back up,” he stated. 

As Pacific Encounter waits for the all-clear to return to port, it’s not the only ship hoping for a swift arrival back on land.  Cruise ship tracking data shows Quantum of the Seas, Carnival Luminosa, and Crown Princess just off the coast.

I was hooked from my very first cruise cabin, an aft-facing balcony, and not just on that cabin category, but on cruising in general.

But if you want an aft-view balcony on a cruise ship that gives you that iconic wake view off the back of the ship, you will have to pay extra for it.

No matter what cruise ship you plan on booking, an aft balcony carries a premium cost.  In this article we will look at how much more it costs, why it costs more, and what you actually get for the extra money.

Not all aft balconies are created equal

The prices of an aft-facing extended balcony on a Royal Caribbean Oasis-class vessel will be well above regular balcony prices, and they are often sold out first.  After all, these balconies have the best seats in the house for the Aqua Theater shows that take place in the back of the ship.   This factor, on top of how large they are and the great views you get not only of the ocean but the Boardwalk, contributes to the higher premium cost.

How much more do aft-facing balconies cost?

After looking up cruise fares with nine major cruise lines for sailings in 2026, I found that the price difference between a standard balcony cabin and an aft balcony cabin can be as much as 15% to 30% higher.

In my analysis, I found that the price difference is more influenced by the ship itself than the itinerary or time of year.  Additionally, I had to look at cruises that were over a year from sail dates because aft-facing balconies sell out much quicker, and pricing was not available for last-minute cruises.

For some short 4- and 5-day cruises on Carnival cruise ships the price would be $180 to $250 more for the aft-view balcony.    As mentioned above, prices for aft balconies on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class vessels were much higher.

Related:  Cabins on cruise ships that should be avoided

More balcony space

If more square footage on your balcony is important to you, you will love aft balconies with the extended space.   It’s not uncommon to find full loungers on the balcony, as you have more space to completely sprawl out and enjoy the outside part of your cabin.

Regular balcony staterooms on the side of the ship are often fairly cramped, and there’s little to no legroom if you’re facing the ocean.   They often have regular chairs, and while some have a reclining feature you don’t have much room.

Every cruise ship is different and offers a different amount of space on these back-facing balconies, so the cost will vary based on this space as well.  Even different aft decks on the same ship will offer varying square footage for these cabins.

Read more: Cabin rules: 10 things you should never do in your cruise cabin

Limited number of aft balconies available

Pricing is also influenced by supply and demand.  Because there simply aren’t as many aft-facing verandas on a cruise ship, they can be sold at a higher price.  They are already highly sought after by regular cruisers who want more space and the other perks to go with it.

Take a ship like Carnival Horizon.  Out of the total of 880 balcony staterooms there are only 45 aft-facing balconies.  With this limited supply cruise lines know they can charge a bit extra, and they will still sell out.

More privacy

The added privacy is one of my favorite parts about aft balconies.  You have fewer neighbors along your corridor and the sound of the wake provides a white noise that drowns out any faint noises you might hear otherwise.

We’ve all been there.  You’re relaxing out on the balcony when you hear your neighbors next door on theirs, and you hear every part of their conversation.  The dull roar of the wake is both pleasant on the eyes and ears to provide that privacy.

But not every ship’s aft balconies are very private.  It really depends on the layout.  I’ve been on some balconies that literally looked immediately over the balcony beneath it.  So, if cruisers were hanging out on their balcony and I was looking out over mine, I’d practically be a part of their cruise as well.  That’s not ideal to me.

Still, you can often find more privacy with one of these cabins.  Just make sure you study the deck plans of your cruise ship before you book.  I always like to know what’s immediately around my stateroom (above, below, and on either side) to make sure it will be both quiet and private.

Slightly quieter

It’s quieter not only because of the sound of the ocean and wake, but it’s also further away from some of the busier areas of the ship.  This isn’t to say that every ship is quiet towards the aft part of the vessel.

If there’s a show or party in a lounge in that area of the ship it will refute this point.  But for the most part, I’ve found the aft part of cruise ship the quietest, especially since major shows will take place towards the front, Aqua Theater on Oasis-class ships excluded.

Great views

For me, there’s nothing more relaxing on a cruise ship than overlooking the ship’s wake.  At the end of a sea day, you can look out over the horizon and see exactly where your ship has been and how it has made any turns along the way.   It’s also symbolic of going on an adventure as you get further away from land.

You can often find marine life swimming along with the wake as well.  Dolphins especially like to swim in the wake of a ship as they can swim faster with less effort and can reach higher speeds.  Now that’s a visual from your aft balcony you will never forget.

Final Thoughts

If you have your heart set on booking an aft-facing balcony on a cruise ship you might have to book pretty far out in advance.  These state rooms sell out fast.  You should also be prepared to do a bit more walking.  Sure, you will be close to the buffet area on most cruise ships, but anything at the front of the ship will require walking the entire length of the vessel.  You will also feel more movement from the ocean when traveling at full speed.

Read more:  6 most coveted cabin locations on a cruise ship