Posts in category: Diplomacy

It’s not even October and PortMiami has already blown past its own annual record for the number of cruise passengers to walk through its doors in a single year.

Today, the South Florida port proudly announced a milestone of processing its 10 millionth cruise passenger for Fiscal Year 2026.

The 10 million mark was actually reached on September 14, 2026, with roughly two weeks still remaining before the end of the port’s fiscal year on September 30.

“10 MILLION PASSENGERS AND COUNTING!” PortMiami posted on social media, adding:

“This marks the highest annual passenger volume in PortMiami’s history and further solidifies the port’s position as the Cruise Capital of the World ®.”

The previous record for the port was 8,564,225 passengers in a single fiscal year.

That earlier total itself represented a 4% jump over the year before. Hitting 10 million with this much time still left shows just how strong demand has been this season.

PortMiami has welcomed some of the industry’s biggest ships from major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Sea, MSC World America, and Carnival Celebration.

These three ships alone can accommodate over 16,000 passengers on a sailing at double capacity.

On a rare 10-ship day, the port can handle over 75,000 passengers moving off and onto ships in a single 12-hour window.

🎉10 MILLION PASSENGERS AND COUNTING! 🚢

PortMiami is celebrating another incredible milestone – on September 14, 2026, PortMiami welcomed its 10 millionth cruise passenger!

This marks the highest annual passenger volume in PortMiami’s history and further solidifies the port’s… pic.twitter.com/xelOSLv6Vj

— PortMiami (@PortMiami) September 21, 2026

New Terminals

New and expanded terminals have helped the port keep up too. MSC Cruises’ Terminal AA, which opened in 2025, is the world’s largest cruise terminal by size. The 492,000-square-foot facility can process up to 36,000 passengers a day and berth three full-sized ships at once.

While Royal Caribbean currently operates Icon of the Seas out of its newly built flagship Terminal A, the port is already getting ready for more massive ships.

Construction is underway on a new Terminal G for Royal Caribbean Group, designed to handle large Icon-class ships as well.

PortMiami’s Impact on Local Economy

PortMiami contributes more than $61 billion annually to the local and state economy and supports over 340,000 jobs. Many of those cruisers also spend extra time in Greater Miami and Miami Beach before or after their cruises, helping hotels, restaurants, and all the other local attractions.

The port is not slowing down any time soon. More ships are coming, more terminals are being built, and hopefully the traffic issue will be able to be solved as well as the city looks at better options to improve flow.

After all, with up to 10 cruise ships using the port in one day, managing traffic flow is a huge undertaking.

Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava mentioned the local economy in a statement about the milestone:

“Breaking the 10 million passenger threshold is a testament to PortMiami’s unwavering dedication to service, sustainability and economic vitality. This extraordinary milestone underscores our port’s role as a global gateway and a driver of job creation, tourism and local business growth.”

Well, this could get awkward. If recent reports are true, the company that owns the fastest-growing cruise line in the world is now looking to control one of the biggest shipbuilding companies in the world.

And it’s the same shipyard that builds ships for their biggest competitors.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, MSC Group (which owns MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys) is in preliminary talks to acquire the controlling 80% stake in Germany’s well-known Meyer Werft shipyard.

Yes, this is the same Meyer Werft currently building the next wave of ships for Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

How We Got Here

The 2020 pandemic shutdowns wreaked havoc on the cruise industry. With a dried-up pipeline and delayed orders, shipyards struggled to stay afloat.

So, in 2024, the German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony stepped in with a huge rescue package to save the 230-year-old yard at Meyer Werft. It was €400 million in equity plus €2.6 billion in loan guarantees.

They now hold that controlling stake and want at least their €400 million back. They also want employment guarantees for the workers in Papenburg and Rostock.

An Interesting Possibility

If MSC successfully buys out the government’s stake, a single cruise corporation would own and control one of the few shipyards in the world capable of building mega-ships.

This is the same shipyard that built Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships, Disney’s Wish-class ships, and NCL’s Breakaway-class ships, in addition to many other well-known vessels currently sailing around the world.

While this is still just a gloried rumor at this point and we don’t know exactly what the ramifications of an 80% stake would entail for MSC, it’s still a very interesting possibility that I didn’t see coming.

A major cruise line potentially owning the shipyard that builds ships for its biggest direct competitors. I don’t even know what those meetings about future ship builds would look like.

A quick but important clarification: this deal would only cover the German yards (Papenburg and Rostock). It does not include Meyer Turku in Finland, where Royal Caribbean is building its Icon-class vessels.

What’s Currently on the Order Book for Meyer Werft

Meyer Werft is stacked right now. Here are the major cruise projects that are under construction or scheduled:

• Disney Cruise Line: Currently building Disney Believe (140,000 GT), plus four more next-gen Disney ships ordered through 2031. The yard just did a major gigablock float out for Believe last week.
• Carnival Cruise Line: Two 180,000 GT LNG Excel-class ships: Carnival Festivale (2027) and Carnival Tropicale (2028).
• MSC Cruises: Their own massive “New Frontier” class includes four 180,000 GT ships ordered with options for two more, deliveries planned 2030–2035.
• Viking: River cruise vessels under construction at the Rostock site.

So yes… MSC would theoretically be overseeing construction of Disney and Carnival’s next ships while building their own. That is, if this actually happens.

Whether MSC ultimately is able and willing to make this acquisition still remains to be seen.

These are still early, preliminary talks. But the fact that they’re even happening has to be starting some interesting conversations in cruise industry circles.

With four ships already on order with Meyer Werft, you would think the cruise company would find ways to prioritize its own ship building needs. And at the pace MSC Cruises is growing, that could turn into a massive strategy going forward.

Interestingly, MSC Cruises has never had a ship built by the shipyard just yet. The New Frontier class will be the first.

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, a male passenger jumped from the Carnival Panorama while the ship was sailing off the coast of Mexico.

Passengers on board were first startled by an announcement for everyone to return to their cabins for a head count. Someone was missing. Later, CCTV footage confirmed that the missing person had jumped from the 4,000-guest vessel.

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the details to several news outlets, including TMZ:

“Carnival Cruise Line confirmed Saturday that a male guest aboard Carnival Panorama jumped overboard while the ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Long Beach, California.”

The cruise line stated that after being notified a guest was missing, the crew reviewed CCTV footage and alerted both the U.S. and Mexico Coast Guards.

“Carnival is providing support to the family who was traveling with the guest, and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.”

The 133,500-gross-ton ship was on the final full day of a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise that had departed Long Beach, California, on September 13.

It left Puerto Vallarta on September 17 and was traveling north along Mexico’s Baja California peninsula when the incident occurred.

How Events Unfolded

A family member searched for the man and asked guest services to page him around 10:30 AM.  Ship announcements seeking the missing passenger began about 11:00 AM.

Guests were later told to return to their staterooms for a headcount. One passenger, Misty Hernandez, shared on Facebook that she was on her first cruise and found the situation unsettling, noting that the ship had turned around and was heading back toward Puerto Vallarta.

According to passenger accounts and tracking data from The Cruise Globe, the ship started to turn around and reversed course around 2:00 PM Pacific Time to search the surrounding waters.

The ship then resumed its northbound route to Long Beach at about 4:30 PM.

Tracking data showed the turn taking place almost 200 miles south of Ensenada.

Status and Response

As of September 20, 2026, the passenger’s identity has not been released.

Carnival continues offering support to the relatives who were traveling with the guest.

We at Cruise Fever also offer our condolences and prayers for the family during this time.

Mitsui Ocean Cruises celebrated dual milestones this week when they officially named their second luxury cruise ship, Mitsui Ocean Sakura. Not only was the ship named in a ceremony three days ago, but the vessel will depart on its maiden voyage with the cruise line today.

Held at the Ocean Stage onboard Mitsui Ocean Sakura at the Yokohama Hammerhead cruise terminal, the naming ceremony honored the people behind the ship, with crew members and employees collectively serving as namers.

Captain Ninomiya also reflected on Mitsui’s long maritime history, including a lineage of passenger ships that have connected Japan with destinations around the world, including Argentina Maru and the Brazil Maru, which connected Japan and South America; the first Nippon Maru and Sakura Maru-Shin Sakura Maru during Japan’s high-growth period; and, since the Heisei era, Fuji Maru and Nippon Maru, and most recently introduced Mitsui Ocean Fiji.

The ship will depart at 5 pm today from Yokohama Pier. Prior to departure, the City of Yokohama will host a ceremony onboard to celebrate the ship’s launch, including a traditional plaque exchange between the ship and Yokohama Port.

The 32,477-ton, 458-guest Mitsui Ocean Sakura is an intimate, all-suite luxury ship. At 650 feet long, her compact size allows access to a diverse range of ports throughout Japan, including smaller destinations and ports located within easy reach of city centers.

As a Japanese-registered ship, Mitsui Ocean Sakura will initially focus on short- and medium-length domestic voyages.

The ship is scheduled to operate 29 cruises during her first three months through December 2026, including one- to three-night Autumn Scenic, Christmas and New Year cruises.

A total of 61 cruises have been announced through September 2027, offering travelers a variety of opportunities to explore destinations throughout Japan.

Guests who sail on the ship will enjoy an inclusive onboard experience featuring accommodations, dining, more than 200 alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment, Wi-Fi, select onboard activities, and half-day shore excursions in most ports.

Mitsui Ocean Sakura joins Mitsui Ocean Fiji, expanding the Japan-based luxury cruise line to a two-ship fleet.

Tsunemichi Mukai, President of Mitsui Ocean Cruises, gave the following statement:

“Mitsui Ocean Sakura carries on the legacy of our cruise business while embarking on a new era. With thoughtful time spent onboard, the scenery and culture encountered in ports of call, and the connections made along the way, we hope to provide special experiences that remain with our guests throughout their lives. We will continue moving forward as a Japanese cruise brand that shares beautiful Japanese cruising with the world. Together with Mitsui Ocean Fiji, we will do our utmost to make Mitsui Ocean Sakura a ship loved by many guests.”

Royal Caribbean has announced that retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson will serve as the official godmother of Legend of the Seas.

Legend of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest and 3rd Icon class ship. The vessel will be officially christened and named during a ceremony on November 11, 2026, at Port Everglades.

Gen. Lori J. Robinson has spent her career breaking barriers as the nation’s first female combatant commander and former leader of NORAD and NORTHCOM, inspiring generations through her example.

As godmother, she will join a longstanding maritime tradition of bestowing safekeeping upon the ship, its crew, and the millions of passengers who will make memories on the cruise ship for years to come.

Gen. Lori J. Robinson, godmother of Legend of the Seas, gave the following statement:

“I am deeply honored to be named godmother of Legend of the Seas and take part in such a special tradition for Royal Caribbean alongside my family. Throughout my career, I have seen the importance of bringing people together in pursuit of a shared purpose, and Legend creates those same connections for families and loved ones. Having the ship’s naming ceremony on Veterans Day makes this especially meaningful to me, and I look forward to recognizing the generations of men and women who have served.”

Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean, added:

“Gen. Lori J. Robinson embodies courage, determination, and a spirit of service that make her a legend in her own right and a remarkable godmother for Legend of the Seas. We are honored to celebrate her incredible legacy as a 37-year Air Force commander who has defied all limits, along with the countless stories of military service across our Royal Caribbean family, from the crew who create unforgettable vacations to the guests who sail with us from around the world.”

Legend of the Seas made its debut in July and has been offering cruises in Europe. In early November, the ship will cross the Atlantic and head to Port Everglades for the winter Caribbean season.

Once the ship is in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, it will sail six- and eight-night cruises to the Western and Southern Caribbean. Every single sailing will also visit Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day CocoCay.

A letter sent to guests on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas explained that due to two passengers needing “urgent medical attention,” the ship would be delayed in its return to Cape Liberty.

The vessel returned to a port it had just left in Nassau, Bahamas, to bring the critically ill guests onto shore and is now heading back to its homeport, about eight hours behind schedule.

The health and welfare of a sick passenger will always take precedence, but due to the delays, the first port of call for Oasis of the Seas’s next sailing has been canceled.

A 2:00 AM U-turn

Just after 2:00 AM on September 18, 2026, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas began making a U-turn in the Bahamas due to a medical emergency on board.

The cruise ship was only 120 miles from Nassau when the medical team determined that heading to the hospital back in Nassau was the best option for the guest, who according to reports on Facebook, was an elderly woman.

But on the way, another guest (reportedly a 7-year-old child) also became critically ill, making a double medical evacuation necessary.

Facebook page creator, Cruise with 5L, is currently on Oasis of the Seas and recorded a video about the announcement and events of the ship:

Medevac Logistics in Open Water

A screenshot from ship-tracking platform CruiseGlobe shows the vessel making a sharp turn off the coast of Great Abaco.

Online discussions among cruise fans questioned why a Coast Guard or military helicopter airlift wasn’t utilized instead.

But there are a lot of extra complications thrown into the equation with open-water medevacs. Whatever the specific reasons, the team on Oasis of the Seas determined that making a direct port detour to Nassau the safest and most effective solution for both patients.

Arrival in Bayonne Delayed

After completing the emergency debarkations, Oasis of the Seas departed Nassau shortly before 1:00 PM on Friday, September 18, with the captain running all available engines at full power (around 21 knots) toward New Jersey.

Originally scheduled to dock early Sunday morning, the ship is now expected to arrive at Cape Liberty around 2:00 PM. The letter sent to guests stated that debarkation would begin around 2:30 PM, if everything goes according to plan.

Royal Caribbean has asked departing guests to strictly adhere to their assigned departure groups to make sure the customs process runs smoothly.

Compensation

To help passengers impacted by the delay, Royal Caribbean is stepping in with several accommodations so guests can make further transportation arrangements:

• Complimentary Internet: Staterooms without an active Wi-Fi package are receiving a free 60-minute internet voucher via the Royal Caribbean app.
• Free Phone Access: Guests can dial 0 from their cabin phones to reach the ship’s Operator for outgoing calls to airlines, hotels, or family members.
• Automatic Flight Handling: Travelers who booked airfare through the “Flights by Royal” program will have their schedules adjusted automatically, with updates sent via email.
• Flight Change Fee Reimbursements: For independently booked travel, Royal Caribbean recommends rescheduling flights for no earlier than 6:00 PM. The cruise line is covering air change fees up to $200 USD per person for domestic travel and $400 USD for international travel.

Next Sailing: Port Canceled

The late arrival at Cape Liberty has created a trickle down effect for guests boarding the next 7-night Bahamas sailing.

Royal Caribbean sent notices to incoming passengers informing them that terminal check-in times have been pushed back by seven to eight hours, with boarding windows now running into the evening.

All guests must be onboard by 9:30 PM. Early arrivals are being turned away to prevent gridlock issues at the port terminal.

Because of the late departure out of Bayonne, Royal Caribbean was forced to alter the upcoming itinerary.

The scheduled port call at Port Canaveral on Tuesday, September 22, has been officially canceled.

That day will now be spent at sea, with the ship sailing directly to Perfect Day CocoCay.

To make up for the canceled port call, shore excursions booked through the cruise line are being automatically refunded, and affected cabins on the upcoming sailing are receiving onboard credits ranging from $100 to $200 depending on stateroom category.

The current health status of the two ill passengers has not been revealed, but we at Cruise Fever hope and pray for a speedy recovery. And we’re thankful that Royal Caribbean took swift action to get these two guests the medical attention they needed.

The conflict with Iran this year changed a lot of cruise plans in the Middle East. Almost every major cruise line pulled out of the region and has no scheduled date for coming back.

But one 3,362-passenger ship from a new cruise line just sailed through the Suez Canal on Thursday (September 17) and has no plans of giving up on these waters.

Cruise lines like MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line canceled sailings or moved ships so they could skip the Red Sea and Suez Canal completely. Letters sent to impacted guests cited safety concerns and uncertainty made them decide it just wasn’t worth the risk.

In fact, many ships opted to go the long way, sailing around the southern tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

Despite a flood of cancellations from every other major cruise line, one is still sailing those waters with guests onboard: Aroya Cruises.

Aroya is Saudi Arabia’s first major cruise line. It was launched by Cruise Saudi as part of the country’s Vision 2030 plan to grow tourism.

The cruise line focuses on Arabian hospitality and is aimed mainly at Saudi and Gulf travelers, though it does welcome international guests as well.

Its only ship is the Aroya, a 150,000-gross-ton vessel that can carry almost 5,000 people with both crew (1,600) and passengers combined.

It was built in 2017 as the World Dream for Dream Cruises, bought by the Saudis, and fully refurbished with an Arabian theme before entering service in late 2024. Jeddah is now its main homeport.

Cruise Cancellations from Other Cruise Lines

We’ve covered a bunch of the cancellations as they happened this year. Celestyal had to cancel sailings while its ships were stuck. Explora Journeys canceled its whole Middle East winter season for 2026/27 and sent the ship to Europe instead.

Norwegian canceled the final farewell cruise on Norwegian Sky that was supposed to go through the Suez and Red Sea. AIDA and Costa dropped their full Middle East seasons. MSC Cruises and TUI made big changes and canceled sailings too.

A lot of this goes back to what happened earlier this year. In late February things got worse and the Strait of Hormuz basically closed for many ships. Six cruise ships got stuck inside the Persian Gulf for almost 50 days: MSC Euribia, Celestyal Discovery, Celestyal Journey, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5, and Aroya.

Passengers eventually got home. The ships and a small crew just waited.

In mid-April a short window opened, and the ships finally left. We tracked it live (you can read the full update here: Update: All Six Cruise Ships Now Clear or Transiting Strait of Hormuz).

One by one they made it through the strait. Most headed to Europe and the Mediterranean and stayed clear of the Red Sea after that.

Why Aroya is Staying

Aroya is still sailing the Red Sea for a simple reason: that is what the cruise line was built to do. This is home.

And with most sailings traveling right along their own country’s shoreline there is a measure of security there.

After it was the last of the six ships to clear the Strait of Hormuz, Aroya went straight to Jeddah and started short Red Sea cruises with passengers again in mid-May.

Those are mostly 3- to 5-night cruises calling at places like Sharm El Sheikh, Aqaba, and Yanbu. Later it ran a full Mediterranean season from Istanbul that included Suez Canal trips with guests.

Right now, it’s sailing through the Suez again with passengers on its way back to the Red Sea for more Jeddah cruises. The next sailing through the Suez Canal is currently scheduled for June 2027, when the ship will offer 7-night cruises out of Istanbul again.

As a Saudi-backed line, the Red Sea and Jeddah are central to its whole purpose. International cruise lines can easily move their ships to the Caribbean or Mediterranean. Aroya’s mission is tied to the Red Sea, so they aren’t going anywhere.

Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo does commercial for Aroya Cruises

One of Costa Cruises’ ships is being used as a floating hotel for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Costa Serena will host 4,000 athletes and officials at the Kinjo Pier, Port of Nagoya.

The cruise ship arrived in Nagoya, Japan on September 15, 2026, and is being transformed from a vacation ship to a vessel to help athletes as they compete over the next couple of weeks. The ship will remain docked at the port through October 6, 2026.

Dining hours on the ship will revolve around training and competition schedules. Menus are also being changed to meet the nutritional requirements of athletes. This includes dietary needs and athletes having access to meals at the right time.

The ship’s fitness areas were expanded and re-equipped specifically for the games, with additional dedicated training zones created on board so that delegations can maintain their preparation routines without leaving the vessel.

Pools, thermal areas and quiet zones were repurposed as recovery space, and cabins were configured to protect rest between sessions.

Dedicated shuttles will take athletes from the ship to competition venues to help cut travel time and allow for more training and rest.

Cabins on the cruise ship are allocated by sport and not national delegation. A total of 18 disciplines, including judo and gymnastics, will be together on board.

A multilingual guest service desk will be available on Costa Serena 24 hours a day.

Francesco Muglia, chief commercial officer and senior vice president of Costa Cruises, gave the following statement:

“Costa knows how to do this. Across our fleet we look after thousands of people every single day of the year. The difference here is who we are looking after. An athlete competing tomorrow morning needs the right meal at the right hour, a place to train, a way to recover and a quiet cabin. That is what we built, and we would be delighted to show it to anyone who wants to come and see it.”

Francesco Raffa, Asia region director for Costa Cruises, added,

“Costa Serena is the first cruise ship used as a floating hotel for a major event in Japan, and this project demonstrates the flexibility and value a cruise ship can bring to large-scale events. By combining accommodation, dining, training, recovery and social spaces in one integrated facility, a cruise ship provides substantial temporary capacity without the need for new permanent construction, while creating a distinctive experience for thousands of participants. We are proud to contribute to this model and to be part of an event that can inspire new approaches to hosting major international events.”

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the entertainment lineup for Norwegian Aura, their next new ship that is scheduled to debut in May 2027.

Norwegian Aura will feature a collection of original entertainment that will be highlighted by “Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston”. This new production will celebrate the six-time Grammy Award winner with her music coming to life through a contemporary concert experience created exclusively for NCL.

The 45-minute show will take place in the three-story Aura Theatre & Club and will include live vocals, a live band, stunning visuals, and performances.

The cruise ship’s entertainment will also feature a mix of immersive theater, live music, and late-night entertainment.

“ILLUMINOX: Infinite Wonder Unboxed” will combine grand-scale illusions, acrobatics, original music, and visual effects in a fast-paced theatrical production.

Music comes alive aboard Norwegian Aura with “The Vinyl Republic,” the cruise line’s newest live music collective inspired by the legacy of vinyl records.

“The Vinyl Republic” will also add live music throughout the cruise ship, from the atrium to Improv at Sea.

A returning favorite will also be featured on Norwegian Aura. “LunaTique: Pop Circus” will expand its adults-only blend of cabaret, circus artistry, and immersive nightlife in the Aura Theatre & Club. The show originally debuted on sister ship, Norwegian Luna.

Each cruise on the ship will kick off with “Aura FIRST NIGHT”, a welcome show that introduces all of the entertainment that will be featured on the voyage.

Bryan White, vice president of entertainment production at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., gave the following statement:

“Every new ship is an opportunity for Norwegian Cruise Line to push the boundaries of what entertainment at sea can be, and with ‘Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston,’ we’re building on the incredible momentum we’ve seen from our Vegas residency-inspired productions celebrating some of music’s most iconic artists.

“Following the success of our Prince and Elton John productions on Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, respectively, this new show reimagines Whitney’s legendary catalog through contemporary arrangements, dynamic storytelling, stunning visuals and powerful live performances. Together with original experiences like ‘ILLUMINOX’ and ‘The Vinyl Republic,’ we’ve created a collection of entertainment that transforms every venue into a destination and every evening into something unforgettable.”

Pat Houston, executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, added:

“We are thrilled to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line to present ‘Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston’ for the debut of the Norwegian Aura in May 2027. Whitney enjoyed cruises. Her fans and supporters will have a nostalgic experience enjoying the extraordinary artistry and live music of Whitney Houston, performed by worldclass musicians while sailing on the high seas.”

Norwegian Aura will debut in May 2027. After a brief season in the Mediterranean, the cruise ship will head to the Cruise Capital of the World, PortMiami.

Once the ship is in Miami, it will sail seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. All sailings to the Eastern Caribbean will visit NCL’s private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. Sailings to the Western Caribbean will stop at the cruise line’s private port in Belize, Harvest Caye.