Posts in category: Diplomacy

The World Health Organization has just officially declared the hantavirus outbreak over, confirming what the mainstream media refused to admit from day one.

When the first reports started circulating back in early May about severe respiratory cases on the 170-passenger ship MV Hondius, the headlines were incredibly scary.

Hantavirus. Three deaths. A dozen or more people infected. And passengers trapped on a small Dutch-owned vessel.

Passengers and crew from multiple countries had to be quarantined or isolated after an expedition cruise that visited remote areas in Antarctica and South Georgia.

It sounded serious, and it was serious.

A Tragic and Contained Incident

Let’s not sugarcoat it. Losing three people to this is heartbreaking. Hantavirus is no joke. 

It can hit hard and fast, especially in vulnerable individuals. My heart goes out to the families affected. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to know a loved-one was on that ship and all you could do was wait.

After dozens of cruises since my first one in 2009, I’ve seen how quickly a medical situation at sea can feel isolating and scary for everyone involved. Although, I’ve never seen it on a ship this size with a virus so dangerous.

Ships do an incredible job with their medical teams, but when a rare virus like the Andes hantavirus enters the picture, it’s understandable that passengers, crew, and health authorities took it extremely seriously.

Outbreak Declared Over

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared this outbreak over. No new cases tied to the ship, monitoring periods completed, and the situation contained.

In a press conference in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement:

“Today, the last person who had been in contact with someone exposed to hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius completed quarantine, tested negative and returned home.”

Over 650 people had been monitored throughout the incident. These were individuals who may have come into contact with those exposed to the virus. But now, they are all free and clear.

That’s the good news that didn’t quite get the same screaming headlines as the initial scare.

But it’s also the news many of us both hoped for and expected.

After the initial outbreak, there were reports coming from major news outlets that this would be a sort of Covid 2.0.

But it was deadlier.  Cruise ships were the last place you would want to be. After all, this was a “cruise ship” virus wasn’t it?

Not quite.

The Media’s Covid-Era Playbook

Here’s where I have a real problem, though, and why I’m writing this as someone who lives and breathes cruising.

From day one, too much of the media coverage treated this like Covid but on steroids. You had headlines implying cruise ships were floating death traps again, with a virus deadlier and more mysterious than what we dealt with in 2020.

“Cruise ship outbreak” became the go-to phrase, as if this was happening on every megaship leaving PortMiami, Port Canaveral, or Port Everglades.

That’s just not the reality.

This was an expedition cruise on a smaller ship, the MV Hondius, operating in remote southern waters where rodent exposure is a known risk factor for hantavirus.

Investigations pointed toward possible contact in Ushuaia or other places, not the typical buffet lines, crowded elevators, or air handling systems that got blamed for everything during the early pandemic days.

Andes virus has unique transmission aspects, but it didn’t turn the entire cruise industry into ground zero for a new global threat.

It stayed linked to that specific voyage and those specific circumstances. As tragic as they were, these circumstances were not a threat to a global cruise industry.

But of course, headlines that make cruise ships look like death-traps get more views.

The Reality of Health at Sea

I’ve sailed through norovirus outbreaks, watched ships handle medical evacuations smoothly, and experienced how modern cruise lines work with health authorities.

Cruise Fever staff were on the last ship at sea when Covid first hit and we were on some of the first ships that started sailing again when things opened up.

I’ve also found that most cruise ships are much cleaner and have better health protocols than 98% of the restaurants and hotels around me.

In many of these land-based resorts or hotels transparency is lower and response times slower.

(Not long ago I wrote a piece comparing cruise ships with land-based resorts in terms of health and cleanliness if you care to give it a read here.)

Cruise ships have advanced medical facilities, trained staff, and strict cleaning protocols that have only improved in recent years.

Illness outbreaks on cruises have dropped 70%, and perfect health scores from inspectors have doubled in 2026.

Yet the minute “cruise ship” gets attached to a story, some outlets can’t resist framing it as a disaster waiting to happen for anyone who dares to vacation at sea.

It’s the same playbook we saw before.

One incident gets amplified into “the cruise industry is in crisis again,” while thousands of happy sailings that week barely rate a mention.

Why We Keep Sailing

Look, cruising isn’t zero-risk. No form of travel is. You can pick up something at an airport, a resort, or even walking around a big city.

But after all these years and all these sailings, I keep coming back because the experience consistently delivers value, service, and just plain joy that’s hard to match anywhere else.

The crew on these ships work incredibly hard, and the vast majority of passengers return home healthier and happier (and often already planning their next one).

The hantavirus outbreak on the Hondius was a tragic but contained event. We’re thankful that the WHO has officially called it “over”.

Now that the panic-induced headlines have also subsided, it might be a good time for me to plan another cruise. See you out there at sea.

An Italian cruise ship captain was arrested in Greece after an incident at the docks on Tuesday. High winds caused the ship’s mooring lines to snap, causing a 56-year-old passenger to slip from the gangway and straight into the harbor.

You might wonder why sometimes a port of call is canceled due to strong winds. And it’s stories like this that make cruise lines a little more cautious when it comes to sudden weather changes, even if it is also a disappointment to passengers to hear a port of call has been scrapped.

According to local news reports this incident happened on Tuesday evening, June 30, 2026, at the cruise port in Corfu Greece. Powerful gusts slammed into a Bahamas-flagged vessel.

The exact name of the ship has not been reported just yet, although we do know Norwegian Viva was scheduled to visit Corfu on June 30, along with three other ships. Norwegian Viva and Marella Explorer 2 were the only ships to dock, however, and the Norwegian ship is a Bahama-flagged vessel.

The wind was strong enough to break the heavy mooring lines securing the ship to the pier. And as the ship suddenly drifted away from the dock, the gangway began to tilt.

A 56-year-old tourist from New Zealand happened to be walking across the gangway at that exact moment. She lost her footing and fell into the open water.

Fortunately, the ship’s crew and port personnel reacted instantly, and they managed to pull her out of the harbor quickly.

She was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance, where she was treated for minor injuries and shock.

Shortly after the incident, port authorities arrested the ship’s Italian captain who coincidently is also 56 years old.

So why was he arrested?

Under Greek maritime law (specifically, the Hellenic Penal Code), the commanding officer is ultimately responsible for passenger safety during boarding, and he now faces formal charges of endangering passengers.

The accident happened right in the international shipping section of the port during peak hours. Corfu’s historic old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a very popular spot for cruisers.

Thankfully, no other passengers or crew members were hurt, and the crew quickly brought the ship back under control and secured it to the dock.

Local officials have launched a full investigation, digging into the weather data, the ship’s mooring procedures, and whether proper safety nets were active at the gangway.

In the days since the accident, cruise traffic in Corfu has already returned to normal, with a full schedule of ships continuing their regular Greek island and Adriatic runs. Today, three ships are visiting the port: Viking Vesta, Queen Victoria, and Enchanted Princess.

Charleston, SC has had a somewhat tense relationship with the cruise industry over the last decade or two. But for local residents who wanted to take a cruise vacation, Union Pier was the perfect launch point.

Even after cruise ships stopped using the terminal as an embarkation port, ships were still supposed to dock at Union Pier for quick visits here and there. Now, even those plans have been changed.

Yesterday, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel became the very last ship to ever dock at the terminal.

This decision has caught a lot of cruisers off guard. While we already knew Charleston’s days as a homeport were numbered after Carnival decided to pull its ship out and not renew their contract, the plan was always for the city to keep hosting day-visit ports of call well into 2026 and 2027.

Instead, the timeline got pushed up fast, and the port is shutting its doors to cruise ships ahead of schedule.

The $250 Million Deal That Sped Things Up

The reason Norwegian Jewel became the last ship to use the port comes down to a real estate deal. The South Carolina State Ports Authority has officially handed over the 65-acre waterfront property to Beemok, the family office of local billionaire Ben Navarro.

The old terminal buildings, fences, and industrial docks are all being torn down. The city is turning the space into a brand-new neighborhood with parks, housing, and shops.

Getting rid of the cruise ships permanently was a big part of making that deal happen.

The change is happening so fast that even Oceania Vista, which was supposed to stop at Union Pier on July 4, has already been shifted away to another dock nearby at the Coumbus Street Terminal.

What This Means for Future Charleston Cruises

If you have a cruise booked later this year or next year that stops in Charleston, your trip isn’t canceled, but your day in port is going to look a little different.

This won’t impact very many cruisers though. Besides Oceania Vista, there isn’t another ship on the schedule until October with Scenic Eclipse and Viking Octanis.  In November things pick up a little more with at least 10 visits from American Cruise Line ships in addition to Sapphire Princess.

Most American Cruise Line ships are smaller, with anywhere from 90 to 180 passengers on board. Comparatively, Norwegian Jewel which just visited Union Pier for the last time, carries around 2,400 passengers.

Ships Still Going to Charleston, But a Different Terminal

Moving forward, visiting cruise ships are being sent to an alternative commercial dock, the Columbus Street Terminal.

While Columbus Street is only about a mile and a half up the road, it changes a few things for passengers:

• No More Easy Walk-Offs: Union Pier was awesome because you could step off the ship and immediately walk right into the Historic City Market and the French Quarter.
• An Industrial Setup: Columbus Street is a busy cargo and shipping hub surrounded by train tracks and major roads. You can’t just walk out of the gate and into town. If your ship docks there, you are definitely going to need to grab a 5-to-10-minute shuttle, taxi, or Uber to get down to the historic spots.

Charleston is still a great city to visit, but the days of walking straight off a cruise ship right into downtown are officially over.

According to the developers, the change is all about shifting the city’s focus.

“The end of Union Pier’s cruise ship era coincides with the city taking a new approach to tourism that will better balance the visitor experience with residents’ quality of life,” Navarro’s Beemok group of companies said in a news release.

On Friday morning, residents of Seward, Alaska will gather for a memorial and procession dedicated to the endangered fin whale that was brought into port on the bow of Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas on June 19, 2026.

The 61-foot whale was seen on the bow of the 5,000-passenger ship as it pulled into Seward, and an investigation quickly began to see if the whale was killed by the ship or already dead.

Initial reports seemed to indicate that the fin whale was relatively healthy and also pregnant when the ship made contact with it.

Concerned citizens of Seward plan to meet for the memorial on the morning of Friday, July 3, which is the day Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas returns to the Seward cruise terminal.

There’s probably no coincidence in the timing of the procession that is planned to last one hour.

Ovation of the Seas is scheduled to arrive in Seward around 5:00 PM to conclude a 7-day one-way sailing from Vancouver, Canada. The ship will then depart Seward the same day to reverse the same itinerary back to Vancouver.

“It’s Crushed Me and Our Small Town”

Local water taxi captain and Seward resident Jamie Lyons shared the impact the event has had on the community of around 3,000 residents:

“It’s crushed me and our small town to have this majestic pregnant fin whale carried in dead on the bow of a mega-cruise ship. With the opening of the new cruise ship terminal, I’m deeply concerned that without speed limits, we’re going to see more ships hitting our whales.”

Lyons went on to advocate for a cap on how fast cruise ships can travel in certain areas around Alaska.

“We’re gathering to honor and mourn the loss of this beautiful creature, and to call on the cruise industry to immediately put a speed limit of 10 knots or less in place in sensitive whale areas across Alaska. People come from around the world to experience our great whales, and the cruise industry needs to do their part to keep them safe,” Lyons stated.

Early Reports on the Strike

A team of marine biologists and veterinarians from NOAA Fisheries and the Alaska SeaLife Center conducted an immediate necropsy on a nearby beach after the incident.

According to preliminary reports from NOAA, the initial findings showed severe blunt force trauma to the whale’s jaw, spine, and ribs.

Biologists said the whale was in good nutritional condition and appeared to be “freshly dead.” The investigation also revealed the whale was pregnant.

While these initial findings look like a collision with a moving vessel, federal officials are still saying that the official cause of death is still not final.

Further laboratory testing could take several months

Speed Limits

The whole ordeal has restarted a conversation about speed limits for cruise ships in certain waters of Alaska.

Seward residents and groups like the Center for Biological Diversity are using the memorial to call for a mandatory speed limit of 10 knots or less for large vessels in areas with known whale activity.

Some are pointing to data that shows slower speeds reduce the likelihood of a large marine creature being killed by a strike.

But there’s always two sides to these debates. Cruise lines have to balance itinerary schedules with wildlife safety as well.

And it should be noted that cruise ships do have other methods in place to try to reduce these things from happening. Cruise ships that operate around Alaska have specialized bridge lookouts, they track whale migratory data and they do follow slow-down guidelines in specific zones.

Royal Caribbean Group stated they are deeply saddened by the incident, reported it to federal authorities immediately, and are cooperating with NOAA as they await the final investigation results.

Memorial Details

The public memorial and procession are planned as a peaceful walk around the town.

• When: Friday, July 3, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM
• Where: Gathering begins at the Harbor North Parking Lot (corner of Port Ave and Z-Float Road).
• The Route: Participants will walk along the sidewalks in a loop around town.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, one of the finest ultra-luxury cruise lines in the world, has announced their first-named sports deck that will be on their next new ship, Seven Seas Prestige.

Sports Deck

The Solara Sports Deck will be located on deck 14 of the cruise ship and offer a competition size padel and pickleball court, and an expansive 18-hole putting green.

The sports deck will also have the cruise line’s first sunrise and sunset yoga area and digital gaming system featuring side-by-side Conductr Supercharged Shuffleboard units.

At the aft of the ship, a sheltered social pavilion will allow guests to gather for casual tournaments at the digital shuffleboard tables, or enjoy relaxed games of mini-bowling, chess, baggo, and covered ping pong.

The sports deck will be open 24/7.

Pool Deck

The Solara Pool Deck on Seven Seas Prestige will have ample sun loungers and a two-tiered sunbed concept inspired by the successful design structures on the Explorer-Class ships. It will have a 48ft x 29ft pool and two whirlpool spas.

The pool deck will also offer the upscale Solara Pool Grill restaurant with artisanal pizzeria, and Solara Pool Bar providing premium beverages as part of the cruise line’s all-inclusive offering.

Wesley D’Silva, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, gave the following statement:

“Seven Seas Prestige will raise the bar for the ultra-luxury travel experience, and the Solara Sports Deck is a testament to how we are rethinking every inch of our new ship class.

“Our guests value a seamless blend of active wellness and refined leisure. By partnering with world-class architects, we’ve created a sleek outdoor environment that is as beautiful as it is functional, allowing our guests to unwind or play against the backdrop of the world’s most iconic horizons.”

Matt Fyvie at SMC Design, added:

“When designing Seven Seas Prestige’s Solara Sports Deck and Solara Pool Deck, our goal was to bridge the gap between outdoor fitness and boutique hotel elegance.”

Seven Seas Prestige is the first in an all new class of ships from Regent Seven Seas Cruises. It will sail its maiden voyage in December 2026.

Four Seasons Yachts, a new ultra-luxury cruise line, is adding two new private island experiences in the Caribbean when they begin sailing in the region later this year.

The new experiences include a Beach Day at Prickly Pear in Anguilla and access to the highly exclusive Yacht Club at Norman’s Cay in The Bahamas.

Prickly Pear is a pristine, uninhabited private island within the Anguillan archipelago. It is defined by unspoiled white-sand beaches, crystalline waters, and an authentic Caribbean landscape. No other cruise ships this size visit this island.

Guests arrive to this secluded paradise via a dedicated tender pier and boardwalk. A beach outfitted with loungers, umbrellas, and attentive service awaits guests at this unique port. A Caribbean barbecue luncheon anchors the experience, while a tiki bar and DJ programming create an energetic yet relaxed atmosphere.

The Yacht Club at Norman’s Cay offers guests access to one of the region’s most exclusive yachting destinations. It’s a small island of a few hundred acres at the northern end of the Exuma chain.

Upon arrival, guests will be offered a full day of access with no fixed programming, allowing guests to enter the day at their leisure.

The Yacht Club at the summit, with 360-degree views across Exuma Sound, serves as the social heart of the island experience. Guests will be able to enjoy signature cocktails, curated plates, and music that moves from an easy morning tempo to a vibrant golden-hour close.

These two signature ports will be featured on select sailings on Four Season I during its inaugural Caribbean season.

Ben Trodd, CEO of Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings Ltd., Joint Owner and Operator of Four Seasons Yachts, gave the following statement:

“It’s been an incredible start to our inaugural Mediterranean season and we’re excited to bring Four Seasons I to the Caribbean and The Bahamas this winter, regions that have long represented the pinnacle of yachting.

“As we looked at how to shape the experience for our guests, it was important that we create moments that capture the spirit of the destination while offering a level of access difficult to achieve through traditional travel. These new experiences are an exciting example of that vision coming to life.”

You never expect something like this on a quiet river cruise through France.

Early on June 29, 2026, a fire broke out on CroisiEurope’s river ship MS Botticelli while the vessel sat docked in Honfleur, Normandy.

It appears to be a kitchen fire as the blaze started in the galley around 3:30 AM, filling sections of the ship with thick smoke and moving fast enough that the crew had to execute an immediate emergency evacuation.

Midnight Evacuation

A total of 132 passengers and 31 crew members were on board. So, 163 people were forced off the ship in the middle of the night.

Thankfully, every single person got off safely, with zero casualties or injuries reported.

Passengers woke up to smoke and alarms before being ushered off the vessel by the crew. The international guest list included travelers from France, Belgium (including roughly 40 Belgian nationals), Spain, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Germany.

Local authorities and emergency services also reacted quickly. Passengers were first brought to Honfleur’s Poudreux community hall, where teams provided water, support, and meals.

From there, they were moved into regional hotels while CroisiEurope arranged their trips back home.

The cruise line confirmed they are working to repatriate everyone as quickly as possible.

Video of Cruise Fire

The video below was audo-dubbed for English speakers as a French news station originally reported on the story. Still, it gives a sense of the fire and what it was like for passengers.

The Emergency Response

The crew clearly did a great job following emergency procedures and keeping things under control. The local mayor praised the crew’s professionalism and said that their quick actions helped prevent a tragedy.

The emergency response itself was pretty huge. More than 70 emergency responders and firefighters, including two specialized teams trained specifically to tackle ship fires, showed up at the scene.

First responders battled the fire and heavy smoke well into the morning, officially bringing the blaze under control around 8:00 AM local time.

Looking Ahead for the Ship

MS Botticelli is a longtime favorite on the Seine. Built in 2004 and fully renovated in 2016, the 360-foot vessel carries up to 145 guests on routes between Paris, Rouen, and Honfleur.

Early reports suggest the galley area took the worst of the damage and suffered extensive impacts from the fire.

Official investigations have been launched by local authorities to determine the exact cause of the ignition.

In the meantime, we will need to wait for the full damage assessment before knowing how long the vessel might be out of service.  But it looks like it might be a while.

CroisiEurope put out the following statement about the incident:

“We also extend our sincerest thanks to the emergency services, the City of Honfleur, the Prefecture, UNASS, the French Red Cross and everyone mobilized on site for their prompt response and invaluable support.”

Bottom Line

Any cruise ship captain will tell you that fires are the biggest concern for any vessel on the water. But unlike ocean cruise ships, river ships are always very close to land and in this case that made it a lot easier for the vessel to evacuate everyone quickly.

River ships also have a lot fewer passengers and crew which made it possible to get everyone onto land in a relatively short period of time.

A restaurant manager on the cruise ship Carnival Celebration received Carnival Cruise Line’s “Hero” award after saving an 11-month-old child from “almost certain death” during a recent June sailing.

The hard-working crew on a cruise ship don’t get enough credit for their dedication in making sure our cruise vacations go as smoothly as possible. It’s a hard life with long months at sea.

But for one small child, a crew member’s fast thinking saved her life, even though the rescuer was technically not even on duty.

Millić Šarović, a restaurant manager from Montenegro working on the Carnival Celebration, is being celebrated after he saved an 11-month-old baby girl who was choking on a grape.

The incident happened while the ship was sailing toward PortMiami. Šarović had just finished his shift and sat down to eat in one of the ship’s dining venues when another crew member ran over in a panic.

Šarović is from Montenegro and recently was interviewed by a local news outlet in his country called Bar Info.

“I sat down to eat dinner when a worker came in all upset and said something terrible was happening. I ran and saw a crowd surrounding a little girl who was showing no signs of life,” Šarović stated during the recent interview.

The baby had choked on a grape and was unconscious, turning blue.

While people nearby were trying to help, they had been unable to clear her airway. Šarović stepped in immediately to put his emergency training into practice.

He took the infant into his arms to perform a choking rescue technique designed for babies.

A Father’s Instinct

“I instinctively jumped in because no one was applying the correct maneuver,” he said. “I took her even though I didn’t know if she was alive. It was a huge responsibility, but my parental instinct was stronger.”

As the child’s parents watched in tears, Šarović kept trying to remove the obstruction. He worked on the baby for about a minute before the block finally cleared.

“Maybe it lasted only a minute, but to me it felt much longer,” Šarović said. “Then she vomited the grape she had swallowed and started breathing again. I just sat down afterward. I was completely overwhelmed.“

The ship’s medical staff arrived afterward and confirmed that the baby had recovered. The staff also gave credit to Šarović’s quick action with saving her life.  

And as you can imagine, the parents were emotional and very grateful.

The Cruise Line Honors a Hero

Carnival Cruise Line later honored Šarović with its “Hero” award during an onboard ceremony. The distinction is reserved for employees who go above and beyond to display exceptional courage and professionalism in extraordinary situations.

This was not the first time Šarović’s had received some kind of recognition from Carnival either. Last year, Carnival named him the company’s Best Leader for his commitment to leadership and the support he provides to fellow crew members.

But he said that this latest honor stands out as the highlight of his career.

“There have been many recognitions in my career, both professionally and personally, but receiving the ‘Hero’ award after saving an 11-month-old girl from almost certain death on board is the greatest achievement of my career,” Šarović said.

Stories like this don’t get enough attention, so I’m very happy to be able to brag on this crew member with well-deserved praise.

Thanks to his fast actions and training, a family got to continue their cruise with their baby safe and sound. What would have been a painful memory and a tragic loss is instead a story of heroism.

No official statement from Carnival has been made about this story, even though some outlets have reported “made up” quotes from the cruise line. I will be sure to add any official statements if we receive one.