Diplomacy

Carnival Cruise Line already offers more cruises out of Maryland than any other cruise line, and now the company has agreed to a five-year extension with the Port of Baltimore.

The agreement goes into effect on the first of January of next year and will include an option for an additional five years.

Carnival has been sailing out of the Maryland cruise port for two decades and currently offers 117 sailings from November 2024 until April of 2027.

These cruises range from 7 to 14-nights on Carnival Pride, a Spirit-class ship that was launched in 2001 and can accommodate just over 2,000 passengers.

These sailings take passengers to destinations like the Bahamas and Caribbean in addition to Canada and the Panama Canal on longer sailings.

2023 was a banner year for the Baltimore cruise port, with over 400,000 passengers passing through the terminal.

“We’re truly proud of our long history of sailing from Baltimore, and grateful for the strong partnership with the port and its great city and state, as we get ready to commemorate 20 years of service here in October,” stated Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.

“We’re looking forward to building on our partnership over the next five years and couldn’t be happier to continue providing cruise vacations from Baltimore.”

The cruise port was hit hard by the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.  During a two-month period of time all cruise traffic to Baltimore was diverted to Norfolk, Virginia.

Despite the bridge collapse, Baltimore will have roughly 378,000 passengers use the port in 2024, and that number is expected to be exceeded in 2025.

Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Jonathan Daniels stated the importance of the relationship with Carnival and the ease of access the port offers to passengers.

“We’re very happy to continue our relationship with Carnival for at least another five years. Our cruise terminal’s unique location right off Interstate 95 and within minutes of Interstate 70 allows for easy access from several eastern and midwestern states. Many people also choose to come a day before or stay a day after their cruise to enjoy all there is to offer in our city and region,” Daniels stated.

The cruise industry alone provides about 400 jobs to residents of Baltimore, and according to news reports, about $1 million of revenue is generated per cruise.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas also sails out of Baltimore and is scheduled to do so at least until April of 2026.

14 cruise lines have new ocean ships debuting in 2025 and more people are projected to take a cruise next year than in any other year in history.

If you’re looking to sail on the best new ships, here are the seven hottest new cruise ships debuting in 2025.

MSC World America

The number one hottest new cruise ship for 2025 on the list, MSC World America will be MSC Cruises’ largest ship sailing from the U.S.

The cruise ship will homeport at PortMiami and sail from the largest cruise terminal in North America. The terminal is currently under construction and scheduled to open for the ship’s debut.

This will be the second World class ship from MSC and it will be the first cruise ship outside of Royal Caribbean to be over 200,000 gross tons in size sailing from the U.S.

MSC World America will have 18 bars and lounges, a Chiffhanger thrill ride, a massive waterpark, and an 11 story slide.

The MSC Sportplex will have bumper cars, basketball, pickleball, hoverboards, drone relay races, Zorb ball sessions and more.

The LEGO themed kids club on the ship will be over 10,000 square feet in size.

MSC World America will sail week long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami. All cruises will visit the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC World America will sail her maiden voyage on April 12, 2025. (View Prices on MSC World America)

Disney Adventure

Disney Adventure will be Disney Cruise Line’s first ship over 200,000 gross tons in size. They purchased the ship when it was around 70% completed after the former owner went bankrupt.

Disney has spent the last two years completing the ship and turning it into the ultimate Disney cruise ship. It will have the following seven themed areas:

• Disney Imagination Garden
• Disney Discovery Reef
• San Fransokyo Street
• Wayfinder Bay
• Town Square
• Marvel Landing
• Toy Story Place

An Ironman themed roller coaster will be on the top deck, the longest roller coaster at sea. Other rides and a waterpark will adorn the top deck and children will can enjoy the interactive splash pads.

Disney Adventure, a 6,700 passenger cruise ship, will offer three-and four-night cruises from Singapore with no port visits. But since the ship will have so much to offer, you really don’t need port visits on these short cruises.

Star of the Seas

Star of the Seas will be the second Icon class ship from Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest class of ships.

The ship will have more than 40 dining and drink venues. Star of the Seas will be divided up into eight neighborhoods including one just for families with small children.

A massive waterpark with six waterslides will be located on the top deck and it’s promising to deliver a cruise vacation like no other.

The ship will have an ice skating rink, the AquaDome for incredible entertainment, an adults-only chill spot called The Hideaway, and Central Park with more than 30,000 live trees and plants.

Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral on seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. All cruises will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s insanely popular private island. (View Prices on Star of the Seas)

Star Princess

The second Sphere class ship from Princess Cruises, Star Princess will debut in the fall of 2025. After a handful of cruises in Europe, the ship will head to Port Everglades for the winter Caribbean season.

Once in Florida, the ship will sail week-long cruises that alternate between visiting the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Star Princess will be similar to Sun Princess but with several enhancements to make this class of ship even better. A few improvements are a sports court on the top deck, a separate non-smoking casino and expanded dining venues.

Spellbound by Magic Castle, a unique magic venue that’s a real memory maker, will also be on Star Princess. It’s one of the most unique experiences that you can have on a cruise ship. 

Viking Vesta

Viking Vesta will be Viking’s 12th ocean cruise ship when the vessel debuts in July 2025. While the ship will be nearly identical to Viking’s current fleet, it will be slighter larger and have 34 more cabins carrying a total of 998 guests.

The ship will sail her inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The following is included in all cruise fares on Viking Vesta:

• All dining including specialty restaurants
• WiFi
• One shore excursion in every port
• Specialty coffees/tea
• Drinks during lunch and dinner
• Thermal Suite

Since Viking first ocean ship debuted in 2015, they consistently been named the Best Ocean Cruise Line by numerous travel publications.

Brilliant Lady

The long awaited debut for Virgin Voyages’ fourth cruise ship is coming to an end when Brilliant Lady finally sets sail on September 5, 2025.

This is the second adults-only cruise ship on our list and the following is included in all cruise fares:

• WiFi
• All dining
• Daily gratuities
• Basic beverages like soda and tea
• Group fitness classes

Brilliant Lady will debut in New York City before heading to Miami for cruises to the Caribbean.

Oceania Allura

Oceania Cruises’ next new cruise ship, Allura, will debut in July 2025. It will be the second in its class and standard cabins will be 291 square feet in size, larger than what you find on most cruise ships.

There will be one chef for every 10 passengers and 50% of the crew members are dedicated to culinary experiences. It’s promising to be the ultimate ship for foodies.

It will have five specialty restaurants, all of which are included in cruise fares.

Allura will have a new onboard Crêperie, serving freshly made-to-order crêpes and waffles, as well as sundaes in the afternoon.

Allura will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean before arriving in New York City in the fall of 2025.

Here’s a bonus eighth ship since it’s scheduled to be delivered in 2025, but not enter service until early 2026.

Four Seasons I

Four Seasons is the latest luxury hotel brand to venture into the cruise business.

Four Seasons’ first ship, Four Season I, is scheduled to be completed in late 2025 and debut in January 2026. This all-suite ship is promising to set a new standard of luxury as it will have 50% more living space per passenger than any other cruise ship.

One of the most unique features of the ship will be the 10,000 square foot suite located in the ship’s funnel. It will also have floor-to-ceiling wraparound curved glass windows and have three bedrooms.

Four Seasons I will have modular walls to allow for almost unlimited connection options between suites.

The ship will have a crew to guest ratio of 1:1.

During the yacht’s inaugural season, it will visit 130 destinations in 30 countries.

Two MSC cruise ships, MSC Divina and MSC Seaside, are back in Miami for the 2024/2025 winter season. This gives MSC Cruises a total of three ships sailing from PortMiami.

MSC Seascape is joined by MSC Divina and MSC Seaside in offering cruises three- to 10-nights long to the Caribbean and Bahamas from the Cruise Capital of the World.

All cruises on these three ships from Miami will visit the cruise line’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC Seaside is sailing seven-night cruises that depart every Sunday. The sailings to the Eastern Caribbean visit Ocean Cay, San Juan, and Puerto Plata. Cruises to the Western Caribbean stop at Cozumel, Costa Maya, Ocean Cay, and either Roatan or Belize City.

MSC Divina is sailing short cruises to The Bahamas. The three-night weekend cruises will depart every Friday and visit Nassau and Ocean Cay. The four-night cruises leave on Monday and add one in sea day. The ship will also sail a few longer 10- and 14-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean.

MSC Seascape will depart every Saturday on seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The ship will visit ports in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic.

Lynn Torrent, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, MSC Cruises USA, gave the following statement about the cruise line’s sailings from Miami:

“MSC Divina, MSC Seascape, and MSC Seaside are not only fan favorites but also highly competitive ships in the U.S. market. With three exceptional ships and an expanded selection of itineraries in Miami, we are providing guests with more opportunities than ever to explore the Caribbean in unparalleled style.

“Whether they are first-time cruisers or loyal MSC fans, there is a perfect voyage for every traveler, ensuring an unforgettable journey tailored to every preference.”

Neil Palomba, Executive Vice President of Operations, MSC Cruises USA, added:

“This season introduces a new level of European style, cutting-edge design, and unrivaled service to the U.S. market. All three ships feature extraordinary dining, top-tier entertainment, and immersive experiences tailored to each guest’s unique preferences, regardless of the cruise length.

“For both the quick getaway and the extended vacation, or something in between, we ensure an unsurpassed experience from the moment guests step on board.”

The topic of having pets on a cruise ship always brings out a variety of opinions and preferences. 

While some cruise passengers have openly stated how much they would love to bring their pet on a cruise vacation, others feel it would cause more problems and headaches.

Since cruise lines have to make sure everyone has a great time on their vacation at sea, most have disallowed any pets on board.

But one cruise line is making an exception.  Margaritaville at Sea is hosting a special cruise in which dogs are invited on board as passengers.

The November 2025 sailing will be run by Cruise Tails and Expedia Cruises of West Orlando. 

Sailing out of Tampa, up to 250 dogs are expected to be on the cruise ship Margaritaville at Sea Islander, formerly a Costa Cruises vessel which was launched in 1999.

Dog Activities on Sailing

The dog-friendly cruise will include all kinds of activities for dog lovers.  These will include:

• Dog shows
• Training sessions
• Costume contests
• Pet parades
• Dog massages
• Dog grooming
• Splash stations

In order to be approved for the sailing, all cruise passengers with pets must be approved by the Cruise Tails team.  Requirements like up-to-date vaccinations and a veterinarian note stating the dog is healthy will have to be met before going on the sailing.

And if these canine’s aren’t getting pampered enough, each family will be assigned a “Pet Butler” to ensure the health and well-being of all dogs on board.

Balconies will have “relief stations” for dog’s to do their business, and these areas will be maintained throughout the cruise.

Not every space on the cruise ship will be dog-accessible, however.  Areas like the casino, pool decks, restaurants and dining areas, and the spa will be off-limits to dogs.

There will be a waiting list for this cruise, and a date for open bookings has not yet been released.

Dogs on Cruise Ships

This is not the first time dogs have been allowed on a cruise ship.   Just last May Carnival allowed at least 40 service dogs on board Carnival Celebration to help with 40 blind guests who were dependent on these animals.

But these were service dogs and not pets, making the November Margaritaville at Sea sailing a first for the cruise industry.

Also, Royal Caribbean introduced “Rover” to the world when unveiling it’s Icon-class Icon of the Seas.  Rover is a golden retriever that stays on the ship and delights children and adults alike as the “chief dog officer”, a sort of mascot for the cruise ship. 

Cunard also allows dogs and cats on board for some transatlantic sailings.  As long as the pets are in good health and there is enough kennel space for the animals (24 or so), pet-owners can use this service while crossing the Atlantic

Black Friday 2024 is just around the corner and cruise lines have begun to give us a first look at the cruise deals they will be offering for Thanksgiving weekend.

Since some of these deals are too good to pass up, we wanted to give you a sneak peek at what cruise lines are offering for Black Friday 2024.

While some cruise lines don’t announce their deals until the very last minute, a few have given us a first look on what they are offering. Here is a look at those deals.

Black Friday Cruise Deals

MSC Cruises – MSC Cruises continues to grow their presence in the U.S. and their Black Friday cruise deals are good on all 23 ships in their fleet.  MSC is offering up to 35% off cruise fares, free drinks and WiFi, and up to $400 to spend once you are on the ship. View Best Prices on MSC

Norwegian Cruise Line – NCL is offering 50% off all published voyages that is combinable with the cruise line’s More at Sea. More at Sea includes unlimited open bar, free specialty dining, enhanced WiFi, shore excursion credits, and 3rd and 4th guests in a cabin cruise free. View Best Prices on NCL

Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity is offering up to 75% off the second guest in a cabin on non-refundable fares and 50% off the second guests on refundable fares.  In addition, the cruise line will add in up to $500 in extra savings per cabin. View Best Prices on Celebrity

Virgin Voyages – The only adults only cruise line on the list, Virgin is offering 80% off the second guest in a cabin. In addition, you will receive up to $300 in free drinks on your cruise. View Best Prices on Virgin

Princess Cruises – Deals will be announced the week of Thanksgiving.

Royal Caribbean – The world’s largest cruise line launched a Black Friday Preview Sale has buy one, get the second guest 60% off. The third and fourth guest in cabin are 30% off. Also included is up to $750 in instant savings and kids sail free. View Best Prices on Royal Caribbean

Costa Cruises – Costa is offering cruise fares on their two flagships that start at $499 per person for a seven night cruise. This is good for select cruises in 2024 and 2025. View Best Prices on Costa

Azamara – One of the biggest Black Friday deals, Azamara is offering a discount up to $4,000 on select cruises in 2025. This offer is combinable with the cruise line’s current $750 onboard credit deal.  View Best Prices on Azamara

Silversea Cruises – Ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea is offering a “Sale Away” deal for Black Friday on more than 200 cruises. This includes savings up to $6,000 and reduced deposits of just 15%. View Best Prices on Silversea

Hurtigruten – The leader in expedition cruises is offering up to 50% off select sailings and 25% off Signature departures.

Oceania Cruises – Oceania is one of the world’s leading destination focused cruise lines and they are offering their best Black Friday sale ever. Their deals include up to a four-category stateroom upgrade and extra perks like free drink packages for a total savings of up to $5,500. View Best Prices on Oceania

Margaritaville at Sea – Margaritaville is offering cruises to The Bahamas at $99 for two people. They are also offering 60% off both of their ships and you will receive up to $300 in spend on the ship. The third and fourth guests in cabin sail free.

Cruise Fever will continue to monitor Black Friday cruise deals from all cruise lines and will update this article as more are announced.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced over 400 new cruises to the Caribbean today that will set sail in 2026-2027 on 15 of their ships.

NCL’s 2026-2027 season to the Caribbean will sail from homeports all around the country on 15 cruise ships. This includes Norwegian’s newest ships, Norwegian Prima, Viva, Aqua and Luna.

Cruises will sail from Miami, Port Canaveral, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Galveston and San Juan.

Highlights of NCL’s 2026/2027 Cruises

Norwegian Prima will make her debut in New Orleans offering cruises to Mexico and Honduras.

Norwegian Viva will return to Galveston while Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna return to PortMiami. All cruises will visit one of NCL’s private destinations in Belize or The Bahamas.

Norwegian Breakaway will sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico for the first time starting on November 15, 2026. The ship will offer seven-day Southern Caribbean cruises visiting Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; La Romana, Dominican Republic; Willemstad, Curacao; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Norwegian Jewel will sail from Philadelphia from April 2026 through September 2026. Norwegian will be the only cruise line to sail from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex in fall-winter 2026/27.

Norwegian Pearl will be the second NCL ship to sail from Philadelphia starting on November 14, 2026.

Norwegian Encore will offer cruises from Los Angeles and sail seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera with ports stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

Norwegian Joy will sail to The Bahamas for the first time offering three- and four-night cruises from Miami.

Norwegian Getaway will homeport at both Miami and Port Canaveral sailing three- to five-day cruises to The Bahamas.

David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, gave the following statement about these new sailings:

“Offering our loyal guests more ways to have their own best vacation with more of what they love is central to our commitment.

“With our new fall-winter 2026/27 itineraries, we’re thrilled to provide them with even more voyage options, destinations, and ships to choose from, including our newest cutting-edge vessels, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna.

“For added convenience, we will feature weekend turnarounds from ports across the U.S., including New Orleans, Miami, and Galveston, Texas, making it even easier for guests to set sail on their own schedule.

“The upcoming holiday season is the perfect time to start planning while getting the most value from your vacation.”

Royal Caribbean is planning to continue sailing to its private destination in Labadee, Haiti even after reports of recent unrest in other parts of the country.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned all flights to Haiti after a Spirit Airlines airplane was shot at while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince on Monday.   A flight attendant was injured in the gunfire.

Other reports of aircraft being riddled with bullets prompted a temporary shutdown of the airport as well.

During the 30-day ban, the FAA is not permitting any planes to fly under 10,000 feet over Haiti.

Royal Caribbean has 9 more scheduled visits to Labadee in November and 18 more planned in December of this year.

Labadee, Haiti

But the 250-acre private area is quite separate from the rest of the country that is facing civil unrest and is 128 miles from the capital city.

The cruise port area is surrounded by fencing and barriers and is patrolled by a security team that utilizes security systems and measures to keep cruise passengers safe.

The cruise line continues to keep on eye on the developments in the region, though, telling NBC, “The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority. Our Global Security and Intelligence Team continuously monitors the situation in Haiti.”

Impact on Shore Excursions

While cruise passengers will continue to see Labadee on their itineraries, there are some changes Royal Caribbean has had to make. 

Some shore excursions are no longer available in Haiti.   Several tours and boat rides off the coast of Haiti are being suspended for now as the cruise line tries to keep its guests safe.

Passengers have stated that some excursions like snorkeling, fishing, and any activity that went too far from the cruise port were cancelled.

Impacted guests have been notified of these changes and have been refunded for shore excursions that were already booked.

A letter sent to passengers stated, “As we return to visiting Labadee, we’re phasing the rollout of some of our tours and temporarily adjusting our tour offerings. As a result, we’ve cancelled your excursion and issued a full refund to your original form of payment.”

Unrest in Haiti

Several commercial flights were targeted by armed groups at the nation’s largest airport this week, but unrest and violence have been an ongoing issue for several years now.

Political instability and a difficult economic situation have led to gang violence that caused Royal Caribbean to stop sailing to the area back in March of 2024. 

It was just in October that the cruise line decided to come back to the country, having confidence in the security of the private destination of Labadee.

Cruise Lines to Haiti

Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to call on Labadee right now.  Celebrity Cruises, owned by the same parent company, has removed Haiti from all sailings in the near future. 

Some 2025 sailings for Celebrity still have Labadee, Haiti listed as a port of call, but the company is still monitoring the situation as well.

A cruise line is simplifying their cruise fares into one and they will begin to include free WiFi and basic drinks during meals.

Starting with all new bookings on December 11, 2024 (for cruises that depart from March 21, 2025 and on), Celestyal Cruises will offer just one cruise fare, Celestyal One. Not only will this simplify the booking process and on board experience, but basic WiFi will also be complimentary.

Celestyal One will include the following:

• Complimentary WiFi for all guests
• All port fees and crew gratuities
• Unlimited sodas in main restaurants during meals
• Unlimited filter coffee, tea, water and juice stations from 6:00 am until 10:00 pm each day
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus extra snacks from Greek Deli and Pizza Oven
• On board activities and entertainment

The free essential WiFi will allow guests to browse the web, send emails, and use texting and messaging apps.

Guests will also have options to upgrade their WiFi to allow for streaming or to make video calls.

In addition to the one new cruise fare, the cruise line will also debut Celestyal Pay, a dedicated food and drink tab.

It will be similar to what Virgin Voyages currently offers in that you can prepurchase a bar tab and receive an extra bonus that ranges from 15-25% for free drinks.

Because of this new bar tab, Celestyal Cruises will no longer have drink packages.

Guests who book a premium cabin, a balcony or above, will receive the following free perks:

The cruise line also said in a conference call earlier today that they are also planning to debut an onboard app in the next year.

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said the following about these new changes for the cruise line:

“We’re passionate about high value – whether it’s value for time, money or experience. So, we’re thrilled to be introducing our new ‘Celestyal One’ fare structure and ‘CelestyalPay’ as a direct response to feedback from our guests and travel agent partners.

“Our new simplified approach offers enhanced inclusions, more choice, more flexibility and out-of-this-world value.

“From complimentary essential WiFi, unlimited sodas, and crew gratuities to an expanded range of locally inspired dining options, we’re making sure guests have everything they need to enjoy their time onboard with ease and convenience.”