Posts in category: Diplomacy

Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas just debuted in Europe, and it’s already turning heads. The vessel arrived in Barcelona, Spain today as part of its July 4 voyage from Civitavecchia, Italy.

Not only is it the biggest class of ship Royal Caribbean has built (along with Icon and Star of the Seas), but it’s also the biggest class of ship anyone has ever built.  It’s also just a tiny bit longer than the other Icon-class ship if we’re being technical.

And the irony of it all is that the vessel just arrived in Barcelona, a port city that has been trying to combat overtourism and curb cruise traffic for a few years now.

Barcelona Port Schedule

The ship arrived in port today, July 7, to join a busy schedule over the next week. The timing makes it stand out because Barcelona is seeing a few larger ships arriving back-to-back.

The lineup through July 13 includes cruise ships like Celebrity Equinox, MSC Seaview, Arvia, AIDAcosta, MSC World Europa, Celebrity Xcel, Valiant Lady, and MSC Grandiosa.

Despite Barcelona’s efforts to restrict cruise traffic, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its presence here.

On July 12, Harmony of the Seas, one of their slightly older Oasis-class ships, is also due in. Harmony carries about 5,500 passengers at double occupancy and over 6,000 at maximum capacity.

Today’s visitor, Legend of the Seas, can accommodate 5,610 passengers at double capacity with a max capacity of 7,600 passengers.

Having two of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships in the mix within a single week is a definite contrast to recent moves by the city.

Barcelona’s Push to Slow Down

Locals have been vocal for years about the issue of overtourism. The complaints are usually about rising rents, overcrowded public squares, strained public transit, and packed beaches.

Cruise passengers frequently become the main target of these frustrations. Because many are only in town for a few hours on a day excursion, they tend to spend less money locally compared to tourists who book hotel stays.

But keep in mind that the port city does get revenue just from port fees every time a ship visits, even if a single passenger never even gets off the ship.

In response to the overtourism complaints, city officials have taken a few steps:

• Plans to reduce total cruise berths, with proposals to drop from seven down to five, even while expecting millions of yearly visitors.
• Higher tourist taxes targeted heavily at short-stay cruise visitors who spend less than 12 hours ashore.
• A massive crackdown on short-term vacation rentals, aiming to eliminate thousands of listings by 2028 to ease the local housing market.
• Daily passenger and cruise ship limits during peak summer periods.

These policies came after some local protests over the last couple of years, with heavy demonstrations and public pushback against the cruise industry.

A Balancing Act

Even with stricter local rules, the mega-ships show no signs of stopping. Legend of the Seas is the largest ship that Barcelona has ever seen. 

The ship will visit Barcelona at least 15 more times during its season in the Mediterranean before heading to Port Everglades in Florida.

For cruisers, it’s a seamless way to experience Barcelona alongside other Mediterranean hotspots without heavy travel planning.  

My first visit to Barcelona was on a cruise ship and I fell in love with the city. I actually stayed in a hotel for a few days before the cruise so I could really experience and explore the historic aspects of the city.

Having the cruise port within a short distance from the downtown area makes cruise travel a wonderful way to soak in the sites.

But the city itself remains a balancing act to try to figure out how much tourism is too much.

While no major protests targeted today’s arrival of the Royal Caribbean ship, the debate is not going anywhere for now.

Local officials continue to push for sustainable tourism that protects residents, while cruise lines point to the jobs and economic revenue generated by these visits.

The arrival of Legend of the Seas just gives the whole debate a touch of irony.

In a cruise industry where the mega ships with giant water slides, go-kart tracks, and thrill rides get all of the attention, there’s a dedicated cruise audience wanting something simpler and something smaller.

After all, luxury isn’t measured by how many thousands of people you can fit on a ship. It’s measured by space, silence, and most of all…personalized attention.

That preference was made clear in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, where readers voted Crystal into the top spot as the world’s best midsize cruise line.

For many cruisers, once they “graduate” from mega ships to midsize cruise ships, it’s a gamechanger, and it’s hard to go back.

The Midsize Sweet Spot

So, what does “midsize” even mean?  Travel + Leisure defines the midsize category as ships carrying between 300 and 799 passengers.

For context, today’s largest mega-ships carry over 7,000 guests. A midsize ship fits into a sort of sweet spot.

They are large enough to offer multiple high-end dining venues, full-scale theater productions, and elegant spas, but still small enough to dock directly in smaller Mediterranean ports or navigate narrow waterways where massive ships simply cannot go.

The 1:1 Service Ratio

What really caught the attention of Travel + Leisure voters isn’t just the physical size of the fleet (which is just two with Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony) but the ratio of people on board.

Crystal famously offers a near 1:1 passenger-to-crew ratio. On any given sailing, roughly 540 to 650 crew members look after 600 to 740 guests.

In an industry where crew-to-passenger ratios have left fewer staff to take care of even more guests on larger cruise ships to cut costs, keeping a dedicated crew member for almost every passenger allows for prompt and customized service.

From personal butlers to service staff who remember your exact preferences by day two, this kind of service makes a huge impact on the cruise experience.

 “Everything We Do Begins with Our Guests”

While this award is a big deal for their current team, winning this category is actually nothing new for Crystal. They have been taking home this award for almost 30 years, going all the way back to when the awards first started in 1995.

After the latest 2026 results came out, Cristina Levis, the CEO of A&K Travel Group, pointed out that the win comes down to the people working on board:

“To be recognized by Travel + Leisure readers as the world’s best for a second consecutive year is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the passion, dedication and commitment of our exceptional crew and shoreside teams. Everything we do begins with our guests, and this award reflects the trust they place in Crystal to deliver truly unforgettable experiences. As we continue to invest in the future of the brand, including the arrival of Crystal Grace in 2028, we remain focused on offering the most exceptional travel at sea while staying true to the warmth, service and sophistication that define us.”

The Big Comeback

Just a few years ago, in early 2022, the brand’s former parent company went through a highly publicized bankruptcy. The future of the cruise line was really up in the air.

Then, Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group bought the name and the physical assets for $170 million.

They then poured millions more into a major revitalization project, downsizing the overall passenger capacity on the existing ships to create larger guest suites and other spaces.

The gamble paid off.  Crystal cruisers are some of the most loyal on the planet.

Major Upgrades

A huge reason Crystal received this award comes down to what they did with the ships after changing owners. Instead of just putting on a fresh coat of paint, they wrapped up major refurbishments that completely changed the layout of the vessels.

They actually knocked down walls to create fewer, but much larger, guest suites.

They also added things you normally don’t see on ships this size. For food, they brought in high-end options like Beefbar, Osteria d’Ovidio, and Umi Uma by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, which is the only Nobu restaurant on the ocean.

On top of that, they upgraded the wellness spaces at the Aurōra Spa and partnered with the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo to build the first-ever land-branded casino at sea. These additions gave travelers the luxury perks of a large ship without losing the quiet, uncrowded feel of a small one.

Looking Toward 2028

The midsize market does have some competition. But Crystal just recently opened bookings for its first brand-new ocean ship build in 25 years with Crystal Grace, scheduled to debut in 2028.

True to the honor of their latest award, the new 61,800-ton vessel will cap its guest capacity at just 650 passengers.

Holland America Line has announced their 2027-2028 Caribbean season that includes cruises with more time in port than any other cruise line.

For the 2027-2028 Caribbean season, Holland America Line will offer a total of 29 different itineraries across 47 departures. The cruises will visit 35 ports in 25 countries in the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. Some sailings will also visit the Panama Canal.

Shore excursions curated with The HISTORY Channel will be offered. The cruise line’s Global Fresh Fish Program, combined with Destination Dining, will bring the flavors of the Caribbean on board the ships.

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, will be an included port visit on nearly every sailing to the Caribbean.

A new beach club experience is being added to the island that includes waiter service, priority tendering, exclusive food and beverage options, and upgraded seating, along with indoor and outdoor spaces with ship views.

Other enhancements coming to the island are a refreshed Lobster Shack, expanded cabanas and villas, new shopping venues, and improved beach facilities that include pickleball.

Itineraries will range from shorter five-night sailings from Ft. Lauderdale to 12-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean. Eurodam, Rotterdam, Zuiderdam, Volendam and Oosterdam will all be based in Florida for the 2027-2028 Caribbean season.

A few months ago, Holland America Line announced a massive $500 million program to upgrade their cruise ships. The first ship that will get renovated, Oosterdam, will sail to the Caribbean for the 2027-2028 season.

The cruise ship will have new accommodations that include Solo Verandah staterooms with private balconies and dedicated workspace, as well as premium options such as Bridgeview Suites with panoramic ocean views and expanded living space, and Vista Suites debuting on the ship for the first time.

Oosterdam will offer longer cruises to the Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal.

Paul Grigsby, vice president, deployment and revenue planning for Holland America Line, gave the following statement:

“We’ve built this season to give guests more ways to experience the Caribbean, whether they are looking for a quick getaway or a longer journey that explores more of the region. With more Caribbean itineraries of nine days or longer than any other cruise line, guests have more time to explore each destination and relax at our private island and with signature experiences on board.”

Carnival Cruise Line was the very first cruise line to ever build a cruise ship (Carnival Destiny) that was over 100,000 gross tons in size. Carnival Destiny debuted 30 years ago and now sails as Carnival Sunshine.

Even though Carnival was first to build a cruise ship over 100,000 gross tons, they have yet to build a ship over 200,000 gross tons. So far, only Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line have ships in their fleet that size.

But that’s all about to change this month when Carnival Cruise Line cuts the first piece of steel for their first Project Ace ship. A few months ago, Christine Duffy, president of Carnival, said that the steel cutting would take place in July.

This morning, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald posted on his Facebook page that he was headed to Trieste, Italy, later this week to visit the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard. This is the shipyard that is building this new class of ships for Carnival Cruise Line.

He said he is planning on posting a “massive dollop of Facebook videos and Facebook Live” from the shipyard on Thursday and Friday.

Heald did not specify the reason for the visit to the shipyard, but it’s likely, although not confirmed, that it’s for the steel cutting for Project Ace. The shipyard is currently not building any other ships for Carnival Cruise Line.

What Is Project Ace?

Project Ace is a new class of cruise ships from Carnival Cruise Line and their first over 200,000 gross tons. Last reported, they would be in the vicinity of 230,000 gross tons.

Carnival has ordered three of these ships, and they will enter service in 2029, 2031, and 2033. They will have over 3,000 cabins and carry around 8,000 guests at full capacity.

Carnival has yet to reveal any details on these new cruise ships but has said that they will have new dining outlets, new entertainment, and reimagined outer deck amenities.

The new piers Carnival Cruise Line has built at their private destinations in The Bahamas will be able to accommodate these massive 230,000 gross ton ships.

The cruise line said that they will reveal the exterior of the ship when the first piece of steel is cut this month.

Cruise Fever will have all details on this new class of ships when they are announced by Carnival Cruise Line.

Solo cruising is a growing trend, and Holland America’s newly renovated ship will be keeping pace by adding 30 cabins just for lone cruisers to enjoy.

To make it even better, the reimagined 82,305 gross ton vessel will give solo cruisers some pretty amazing itineraries as soon as the ship is out of dry dock in 2027.

As part of a fleet-wide modernization program called “Evolution,” Holland America Line is upgrading its mid-sized Vista-class ships. 

The Evolution project brings popular venues and cabin layouts from their newest Pinnacle-class ships over to the rest of the fleet. It’s a modernization that some of the older ships could really use.

Oosterdam, the cruise line’s second Vista-class ship that has been in operation for 23 years, is getting a complete makeover. In addition to a bunch of other enhancements, the ship is getting 76 brand-new cabins, 30 of which will be solo cabins.

Today, Holland America just revealed where the ship will be sailing after this big renovation project:

Right after dry dock, the ship is heading straight for the sunny waters of the Caribbean and Central America for the winter 2027–2028 season.

30 Brand-New Reasons to Cruise Solo

Solo cabins on cruise ships have been a bit of a mixed bag in recent years. They are usually tucked away in the interior hallways of the lower decks with zero view of the ocean.

On some ships, they are just regular cabins that are sold as solo cabins on certain cruises.

Holland America surprised a lot of people in April when they announced the number of solo cabins they would be adding.

Oosterdam’s makeover adds 30 purpose-built Solo Verandah staterooms directly onto decks 8 and 11.

Instead of a cramped, dark room, single cruisers are getting a 200-square-foot personal retreat featuring:

• A private teak-lined balcony to enjoy morning coffee or evening sunsets
• A dedicated workspace for remote workers
• A modern layout complete with a glass-walled shower
• Full signature amenities without needing to pay a steep single supplement fee

In total, the ship is adding 76 brand-new staterooms by reconfiguring existing space on the ship.

This includes two 900-square-foot Bridgeview Suites that mirror the 180-degree view the captain gets from the bridge, 24 luxury Vista Suites, and a 1,550-square-foot Pinnacle Suite.

The cruise line also mentioned not wanting cruisers to feel crowded on their ships, so they chose not to pack too many staterooms into one small area.

Aside from the cabins, the ship is also getting the popular Grand Dutch Café for the first time, serving up Dutch-themed specialty coffees, beverages, and traditional snacks like bitterballen all day long near the atrium.

Where Ship Is Heading

The upgraded vessel is scheduled to debut its new look on December 11, 2027, out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

If you want to book a spot on this refreshed beauty (once bookings open), here is exactly where it will be sailing through March 2028:

The 12-Day Panama Canal Sailings

A major part of the winter schedule is a rotation of 12-day Panama Canal Discovery voyages.

These sailings will consist of a partial transit of the Panama Canal itself and scenic cruising inside Gatun Lake. The 12-day loops depart roundtrip from Port Everglades on a steady schedule throughout the winter, shared between Oosterdam and Volendam:

• December 11, 2027 (the first sailing)
• January 2, 2028
• January 23, 2028
• February 13, 2028
• March 5, 2028
• March 26, 2028

Along the way, the ship hits destinations like RelaxAway (Half Moon Cay), Cartagena (Colombia), Colón (Panama), Puerto Limón (Costa Rica), and Grand Cayman.

The 11-Day Southern Caribbean Holiday Itinerary

Departing December 22, 2027, this holiday cruise lets you celebrate Christmas and New Year’s at sea. The route stops at Grand Cayman, Colombia, and Half Moon Cay. The big highlights here are the extended, late-night stays in both Aruba and Curaçao.

The 10-to-11-Day Windward and Leeward Islands Itinerary

Departing on December 1, 2027, and select dates through the winter, this itinerary takes you deep into the lush, volcanic side of the Eastern Caribbean. The ship will visit ports like St. Maarten, Antigua, Martinique, St. Kitts, and San Juan, with the 11-day version adding a stop in Dominica.

The 9-to-11-Day ABC Islands Itinerary

Sailing on certain dates in January, February, and March 2028, these cruises hit the popular ABC Islands. You will spend your days visiting Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Depending on which exact sailing date you choose, the route includes bonus stops in Colombia or the Dominican Republic.

More From the 2027-2028 Caribbean Deployment

As part of today’s announcement, Holland America Line also announced a whole lineup for Caribbean itineraries for the season in 2027 and 2028, including quick 5-day island escapes, 28-day historic Pan Am Anniversary legendary sailings, and major upgrades to their private island paradise at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Fabled Voyages, a new cruise line that will allow you to bring your cats and dogs on board with you, has opened reservations for bookings.

Fabled Voyages is the latest residential cruise line wants to offer a ship that you can live on. They are currently offering introductory pricing on a new lifestyle that is centered around permanent ocean living. You can see a list of all cruise lines that offer residential living here.

Residents will continuously sail around the world, visiting Europe, the Mediterranean, North and South America, Asia, and beyond. Guests will be part of an exclusive community that values exploration, friendship, comfort, and convenience.

One of the most unique features being offered by Fabled Voyages is that qualified residents will be able to bring their cats and dogs on board the ship to live with them.

Planned amenities on the ship for four-legged friends include dedicated pet areas, walking spaces, grooming services, and access to veterinary care. This will ensure that residents never have to chose between their dream of living at sea and the loving companionship of their pets.

Fabled Voyages said that the cruise ship will have comfortable accommodations, dining, entertainment, wellness programs, and medical support.

The cruise line is offering 5/10/15 year and lifetime purchase options. Guests can also partner with friends and family with fractional ownership options.

Prices start as low as $100,000 with monthly fees ranging from $5,250 for solos to $9,100 for dual occupancy.

Madison Miller, Founder of Fabled Voyages, gave the following statement:

“We’ve been humbled by the enthusiasm from people around the world who are looking for this kind of lifestyle. Many of our future residents have spent years dreaming about traveling the world without constantly packing, unpacking or worrying about maintaining a traditional home. We want to give those individuals the opportunity to secure their place while our current pricing is still available

“So many have reached out to and said they wouldn’t consider living aboard if it meant leaving their pets behind. We’re building a community where families including the four-legged family members can experience the world together.”

The cruise line has yet to purchase a cruise ship but when they do, it will be called FV Horizon. They are looking at buying a ship that is 70,000 to 120,000 gross tons in size.

They expect the total number of guests on the ship to range from 1,000 to 2,400 residents. They said that full amenities and layouts will be determined with the community once the ship is selected.

More information on Fabled Voyages can be found on their website at FabledVoyages.com.

An AC failure in the middle of an intense heat wave in Europe has forced TUI River Cruises to cancel a Danube sailing. 146 passengers who had just boarded the ship that day were then sent to hotels before being flown home.

There’s never really an ideal time for the air conditioning to quit working. But when you first get on your river ship in Europe in the middle of a historic heat wave and it feels more like a sauna than a break from the heat… well, that’s not something you exactly plan for.

That is exactly what happened to over 100 passengers who flew to Budapest, expecting a 7-day “East Danube Delights” sailing aboard the 16-year-old river ship TUI Skyla.

But instead of a relaxing European getaway, they stepped into what some passengers actually did call “a sauna”.

With temperatures outside reaching over 39°C (roughly 102°F), the ship’s climate control system just couldn’t keep up.

Even though passengers had already boarded the ship and some had even unpacked their suitcases after they were told the AC was being worked on, they had to pack it back up and leave the ship early.

The cruise was officially cancelled, and the guests were sent to a hotel.

“Definitely not going on our cruise”

May Taylor, a passenger booked on the sailing, shared the drama in a TUI River Cruises Facebook group:

“Arrived in Budapest yesterday to go on TUI Skyla for 7 days. Advised by Cruise Director she has just found out that morning the air conditioning was broken but they were working on it. At 3pm we were advised our rooms were ready and some passengers unpacked. By 5pm we were off the boat with all our luggage to stay in hotel for the night – £30 voucher for dinner and drinks… It is around 39 degrees so it will be extremely hot on board… looks like we are definitely not going on our cruise.”

After spending the night in local hotels, guests were told they could return to the un-air-conditioned ship for lunch, while a meeting was scheduled for 5:00 PM to “let us know our destiny.”

Shortly after, Taylor updated the group with the final verdict: the cruise was officially canceled.

For their part, TUI River Cruises mentioned the historic weather as the main culprit behind the breakdown. In an official corporate statement, the cruise line said:

“We’re aware of a technical issue affecting the air conditioning on TUI Skyla following the extreme heat in Budapest, and we’re very sorry for the disruption this has caused to our customers’ holidays. The ship remains in Budapest, where specialist engineers are continuing to work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

Passengers were moved back to hotels while waiting for emergency flights home.

TUI provided a full refund, £100 per person in future cruise vouchers, and a £30 per person, per night allowance for dinner and drinks.

But for most on board, the compensation didn’t cover the frustration. And some mentioned that the ship had struggled with the same issues before.

Ongoing AC Issues This Summer

Past passengers with TUI began to comment on the Facebook post and they shared that TUI’s air conditioning systems have been fighting a losing battle against the European summer.

According to some guests, these cooling issues have been popping up across other Danube vessels, including Skyla, Isla, and Maya.

One passenger, Valerie Walker, said that AC issues had caused problems on her sailing just the week prior:

“I was on Skyla last week with no A/C in public areas and total failure in cabins on Sunday. We were moved to Ibis hotel for one night which was not at all nice. Both cruise directors Andre and Sophie were helping with the move so to be told they only just found out is false.”

Another cruiser reported that the ship was relying on temporary portable cooling units earlier in the season, probably to help compensate for the ship’s AC not being able to keep up with the unbearable heat hitting Europe right now.

“We were on Skyla at the end of May and there was air conditioning issues along with dangerous cabin water issues. We were told by the cruise director that the issues had only just happened and the portable air con units (that were not fit for purpose) were brought on the day we embarked..” the passenger stated.

When a ship’s AC struggles in normal weather, it’s annoying. When it happens in a 100-degree heat wave, it’s more of a safety issue.

Joan Craven took to Facebook to say what the conditions felt like inside:

“The ship is like a sweat box. TUI management should try spending a few hours on it.”

Bottom Line

River cruising during a peak European summer always comes with risks. Usually, you’re worrying about low water levels forcing you onto a tour bus (which actually happened to me once during a river cruise with Viking).

But keeping older river ships cool during an extended heat wave is a whole different beast.

Mechanical breakdowns happen to every cruise line. However, when a ship’s cooling system has been struggling for weeks, letting 146 passengers fly all the way to Budapest just to turn them right back around is understandably a frustrating experience.

I’m sure I wouldn’t be a happy camper myself. But this heatwave has been stronger and gone on longer than most expected. Even with the AC working 100% as it should, it might not be as comfortable as you would like in that cabin when it’s well over 100 degrees outside.

For any summer cruises in these hot zones, make sure you pack some portable fans, but above all, pack some patience.  You’re probably going to need it.