Posts in category: Diplomacy

On most mainstream cruise lines, art galleries and art auctions are a staple of the onboard experience. In fact, the first art auction I attended was on a cruise ship.

While you rarely just stumble into an active art auction by accident (unless you’re just wandering around the promenade looking for something to do), you definitely cannot miss the reminders.

From flyers left in your stateroom to highlights in the daily itinerary planner, cruise lines like to promote these events. And attending them can be a really fun way to spend a sea day, especially when they throw in a complimentary beverage or even a chance to win something.

But a recent call on The Ramsey Show is getting a lot of attention, and it’s serving as a warning to impulse buyers or cruisers who might not have done their homework before bidding up on cruise ship art.

A caller named Jack dialed into the show to speak with financial experts Dave Ramsey and George Kamel. Jack then shared the shocking amount his widowed mother spent on cruise ship art after just a handful of cruises.

According to Jack, after his father passed away, his mother took a series of six to seven cruises.

While onboard, she started buying art like it was on clearance. By the time Jack and his brother realized what was happening, she had spent a staggering $1.1 million on cruise ship art.

From Frugal to “So Much Cruise Ship Art”

What made whole thing a head-scratcher was the fact that the widow was usually extremely tight with her finances.

Jack told Ramsey that she had always been a very frugal person.  She was the type who would literally “use the same tea bag twice.”

But the grief of losing her husband proved to be a possible trigger for this buying spree.

Because she hid the bulk of the art in her garage at first, Jack and his family had no idea how much money was put into the art at first.

Eventually, the art collection grew so big that it spilled over into the living areas.

“You can’t get into her house. There’s so much cruise ship art in the bedrooms and everything,” Jack said.

The Resale Market

The real issue comes down to what happens after the cruise ends. Now that their mother has stopped buying, Jack and his brother have been trying to liquidate the art collection through traditional land-based auctions to get some of her money back.

The result? According to Jack, they are only recouping 10 to 20 cents on the dollar, although it wasn’t clear exactly where the sons were trying to sell the art.

It’s important to note that the estimated appraisal values you hear on a cruise ship do not automatically reflect what the art is worth on the open market. You should buy an art piece because you just really like it and not because you’re trying to flip it.

Onboard purchases can have some retail markups, buyer’s premiums, and shipping fees. After all, you still have to get the paintings home.

But when you try to resell those pieces later, finding a collector willing to pay what you paid on the ship can be prove to be challenging.

As Dave Ramsey summarized to Jack: “This was her wicked weird way of grieving.”

Dave Ramsey’s Advice to the Family

Ramsey recommended that Jack bypass retail options and get in touch directly with the cruise line’s public relations or corporate customer service team.

He said to explain that the cruise line (which was not mentioned) may have inadvertently taken advantage of  the widow. Because the cruise line has ongoing art auctions across its entire fleet, he said they could take the inventory back, put it back on the ships, and resell it to future passengers.

“If my company had done this accidentally, we would probably consider at least at some percentage, 50% or something, taking the inventory back in and trying to help the lady out,” Ramsey stated.

Bottom Line

I love cruise ships, and I love the onboard activities that make cruising so much fun. Plenty of cruisers walk away from these auctions with beautiful pieces they absolutely love and proudly display on their walls for a lifetime.

I’ve also met some really great people working at the art galleries on a cruise ship, and they’re usually very helpful in teaching you a few things about an artist or particular piece.

But this story is a good reminder for the cruise community. Buy art because you genuinely love looking at it and want it in your home. Maybe it’s not the best financial investment.  And even if it is, you should at least be aware of what you’re buying.

And if you have an older or grieving loved one heading out on a cruise, it might be worth having a gentle conversation about keeping tabs on the vacation budget before they head up the gangway.

A few months ago, Holland America Line announced a $500 million plan to upgrade six of their cruise ships. Now, the cruise line is spending $70 million to add major enhancements to their Denali Lodge in Alaska.

While some of the enhancements are already completed, they will all be done in time for the opening of the 2027 Cruisetour season.

The enhancements not only include new dining options but also new guest buildings that will replace older structures. Here is a look at the new upgrades coming to Holland America Line’s Denali Lodge.

Several projects have already been completed that include an enhanced riverside interpretive trail with new scenic viewpoints and improved on-site wayfinding throughout the property.

Both the Cottonwood and Canyon Lodge received public space renovations and upgrades.

A new coffee shop, Outpost Coffee + Provisions, is a convenience concept for guests on the go.

Karstens Public House, the largest dining venue on the property, received expanded seating. In addition, the food and beverage menus at different dining venues were revamped under the guidance of Culinary Ambassador Ethan Stowell. There is now a greater emphasis on locally inspired cuisine from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

New Culinary Offerings

• Outpost Coffee + Provisions: Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwiches, Bison Chili, Reindeer Sausage with Beecher’s Cheddar, Smoked Salmon Dip and the Spritz Hour serving three different Spritz cocktails
• Karstens Public House: Alaskan Halibut Fish & Chips, Smoked Salmon and Spinach Omelet, Grilled Sockeye Salmon BLT, Fried Cod Fish Tacos, and Fresh Alaskan Salmon and Halibut
• Canyon Ridge Grill’s: Dungeness Crab Cakes, Alder Smoked Salmon Chowder, Seared Weathervane Scallops, Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, King Crab Legs, Fresh Alaskan Salmon and Halibut

Projects to be Completed

There are still three major projects that will be completed in time for the 2027 season. Construction on two new guest buildings will not only replace older structures, but also add an additional 72 rooms.

The exterior and interior of the Main Lodge will receive a refresh and redesign.

Grizzly Grind, the main coffee shop at the lodge, will receive a full renovation.

In 2027, Holland America Line will offer a series of 19 Cruisetour options from May to September, ranging from nine to 17 nights.

The itineraries combine three- to seven-night Alaska cruises with an overland journey to Denali National Park and Canada’s Yukon Territory. Every Cruisetour visits the park and includes a one- to three-night stay at Holland America Denali Lodge.

Next year also marks Holland America Line’s 80th anniversary of exploring Alaska.

Royal Caribbean sent out emails to some guests who are booked on an upcoming cruise from Miami asking for volunteers to move to a different sailing.

While airlines are well known to overbook flights due to no shows, cruise lines from time to time also find themselves in a situation where they need to have guests move to a different sailing.

Some guests who are booked on the July 2, 2026 sailing on Freedom of the Seas out of Miami were notified about compensation offers if they had flexible travel plans. The cruise line gave them the option of keeping their cruise or choosing from two generous offers.

So what were the offers that they were given?

Offer 1

The first offer was to move to a different departure date in a few weeks on the same ship and itinerary. In exchange, Royal Caribbean would give them a full refund of their cruise fare, excluding taxes and amenities.

They can sail in a similar stateroom category or choose a lower category booking for a $300 non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom.

Royal Caribbean would also reimburse for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses.

If a guest used a Future Cruise Credit to book their cruise, they will refund any new funds paid above the certificate amount and issue a new certificate.

Offer 2

The second offer was to cancel the booking and not only receive a full refund but also a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of what they paid. The refund would be returned to the original form of payment within two weeks.

Royal Caribbean would also reimburse guests for any non-refundable travel expenses such as flights and hotels.

The Future Cruise Credit will be good for one year on any Royal Caribbean sailing.

If a guest used a Future Cruise Credit to book their cruise, they will refund any new funds paid above the certificate amount and issue a new certificate.

The two offers are first come, first served and were subject to availability. Royal Caribbean said that if a guest put in for one of the two offers, they would hear back by July 1, 2026. If not, then they would take the sailing in their original cabin on July 2.

The four-day sailing that departs on July 2, 2026, on Freedom of the Seas from Miami has port stops in CocoCay and then in Nassau on July 4, 2026.

Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship is not debuting in a U.S. cruise port. This time, Europe will get first dibs at the latest 7,600 max passenger vessel.

The very first sailing for the cruise line’s third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, will enjoy her first official cruise on July 4, 2026.

This is a slight departure from Icon of the Seas, and Star of the Seas, which launched their cruising careers from Port Miami and Port Canaveral respectively.

Now Europe gets a first look at the new reigning champ of the title “Largest cruise ship in the world” (just technically by a few inches) as Legend of the Seas kicks off her first revenue cruise out of Civitavecchia, Italy.

Initial Itineraries and European Debut

Starting Saturday, the ship will spend its maiden summer season offering weeklong 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.

These itineraries will consist of rotating departures out of two primary homeports: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, and Barcelona, Spain.

Passengers will be able to visit European ports of call like Marseille, France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and La Spezia, Italy.

What Makes Legend of the Seas Different?

For the most part, the ship is a carbon copy of her sister ships in terms of structure.  It features the same massive size, the eight signature neighborhoods, and the giant glass AquaDome structure sitting on the front of the ship.

It’s still missing that front-of-the-ship solarium that Oasis-class ships have made so popular, but the amazing shows in the AquaDome can help make up for that.

However, Royal Caribbean added some really cool, unique twists to this third sister to give it its own personality.

Entertainment Lineup

The headlining shows onboard are custom-made for this new ship. The main theater features a brand-new show of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while the arena will be presenting America’s Got Talent LIVE with magicians, acrobats, musicians and more.

Over in the AquaDome, the high-energy, diving and water venue debuts a high-energy production titled Shockwave, and the Absolute Zero ice rink features a new show called Fusion.

Another major highlight is the Royal Railway Legend Station, making it the first time this high-tech, virtual train experience is appearing on an Icon-class ship. Using digital screens for windows and realistic motion effects, the venue simulates a luxury 13th-century rail car. While onboard, you are treated to a five-course dinner that traces Marco Polo’s historic journey along the Silk Route with a live conductor guiding the story.

The Hollywoodland Supper Club

Every Icon-class ship has a unique high-end specialty dining concept that combines with a distinct era of live music.

Following the jazz style vibes of the Empire Supper Club on Icon and the classic Chicago style of the Lincoln Park Supper Club on Star, Legend of the Seas introduces the Hollywoodland Supper Club.

This multi-course dining venue promises to offer a sophisticated dinner menu alongside live entertainment themed entirely around the glamour of classic cinema.

A New Record Holder

While it shares an identical 248,663 gross ton interior volume and maximum passenger capacity with its sister ships (on paper), minor changes from construction at the shipyard make Legend of the Seas technically the longest ship in the fleet by a matter of inches.

Measuring 364.84 meters (1,197 feet), it officially beats out Star and Icon to hold the mathematical crown of the largest cruise ship ever built.

When to Expect the Ship in Fort Lauderdale

American cruisers hoping to experience the new mega-ship closer to home will not have to wait until next year. Once the European summer season wraps up in late October, Legend of the Seas will embark on a 13-night transatlantic crossing from Barcelona directly to Florida.

The ship is scheduled to arrive at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale by mid-November 2026.

From there, it will begin its regular winter deployment, operating a mix of 6-night Western Caribbean and 8-night Southern Caribbean itineraries, with every single sailing featuring a stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

During the first half of 2026, cruise ship illness outbreaks have dropped 70% compared to 2025, and ships scoring perfect 100 health scores have nearly doubled.

Illness Outbreaks

During the first half of 2026, there have been five outbreaks of gastrointestinal (GI) illness on cruise ships; three were from norovirus and two from E. coli.

This is down from 17 outbreaks that occurred during the first half of 2025, 12 of which were from norovirus. 

All cruise ships that sail from or visit a U.S. cruise port are under the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program’s jurisdiction. Every one of these ships must report to the VSP if 2% or more of passengers or crew members have symptoms of a GI illness. If the number crosses 3%, it is officially labeled as an outbreak and listed on the CDC’s website.

Since it is based on a percentage, small ships will report an outbreak even if only a handful of passengers report being ill. In the last outbreak, 9 passengers and three crewmembers on National Geographic Sea Bird reported being ill. It was labeled an outbreak since there were only 66 guests on the ship and 24 crewmembers onboard.

If an outbreak occurs, the ship will report its cleaning and disinfection procedures to the CDC. Those who are ill are isolated, and stool specimens are collected for testing.

The VSP will conduct a field response for an environmental assessment and outbreak investigation to assist the ship in controlling the outbreak.

Perfect 100 Health Scores

During the first half of 2025, a total of 15 cruise ships received a perfect 100 health score during surprise inspections. So far in 2026, there have been a total of 29 ships acing their inspections.

What makes this year even more impressive is that most inspections from May and June have yet to be listed on the CDC’s website. It can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks after an inspection for the results to be listed.

12 cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Virgin Voyages, Disney Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises have all had ships score a perfect 100 this year. Royal Caribbean and Carnival, the two largest cruise lines, each have had five ships receive a 100.

All cruise ships that sail out of or visit a U.S. cruise port are subject to two unannounced health inspections that are carried out by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.

Cruise lines pay for the inspections based on the size of the ship, and any score that’s 85 or below is considered a failing score. If a ship fails its inspection, it will be reinspected soon after to make sure corrective actions have been taken.

During the inspections, the following eight areas of ships are inspected:

• Medical Centers – Medical documents are reviewed, and staff and crew members are interviewed
• Drinking Water – Water samples are collected to ensure drinking water is safe
• Galleys and Dining Rooms – Food is checked to make sure it is stored properly with equipment being checked to make sure they are well maintained and in good working order
• Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs – Water samples are collected to ensure halogen and pH levels are correct
• Housekeeping – The housekeeping manager is interviewed about prevention and management procedures
• Pest and Insect Management – Ensure the staff is well informed on how to manage pests on a ship
• Child Activity Centers – Make sure toys are clean and staff are informed on what to do if a child is sick
• HVAC – Air conditioning/heating units are inspected to make sure they are clean and water is not collecting inside them

The inspectors also go through logs to ensure the ship is following VSP standards.

All numbers and stats in this article came directly from the CDC’s website.

Margaritaville at Sea just reached a big milestone, and one lucky family from Tennessee walked away with the ultimate embarkation day surprise.

While boarding Margaritaville at Sea Islander at Port Tampa Bay, Richard Frazier Jr. was stopped by terminal staff.

But he wasn’t in trouble. He was just about to receive one very happy surprise.

Frazier, an assistant police chief from Tennessee, was officially named the one millionth passenger to sail with the cruise line.

The man was traveling with his wife and two children, was brought onstage during a special celebration in the ship’s atrium.

The cruise line shared their excitement in a Facebook video post, stating:

“One million guests. Countless unforgettable memories. Today, we had the honor of welcoming our 1,000,000th guest aboard Margaritaville at Sea, the Frazier family! What started as a vacation became a milestone celebration we’ll all remember.”

“To the Frazier family: thank you for being part of this historic moment. And to every guest who’s sailed with us, thank you for helping us reach one million reasons to celebrate.”

The Big Milestone Surprise

To celebrate the one millionth guest milestone, the cruise line pulled out all the stops for the Frazier family:

• A Free Future Cruise: The family was honored onstage and awarded a completely free future cruise certificate.
• Stateroom VIP Goodies: The cruise line surprised them with special perks and “goodies” delivered directly to their cabin to celebrate during their current sailing.
• Captain’s Welcome: The family got to meet the ship’s captain for an official celebratory photo before the ship set sail.

The surprise is an awesome nod to the brand’s core community. Margaritaville at Sea is incredibly popular among first responders, military, and law enforcement officers due to their massive “Heroes Sail Free” program, which offers free fares to verified heroes throughout the year.

Rapid Growth for the “Island State of Mind” Line

Hitting the one million passenger mark is a huge win for Margaritaville at Sea, which only has two ships in the fleet with a third coming in early 2027.

But shorter 3- and 4-night sailings help to get more passengers introduced to the cruise line, and it has seen rapid growth and success over the last several years.

The milestone lines up with the two-year anniversary of the cruise line launching its Tampa operations with the Islander.

The cruise line currently operates two ships: the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise out of Port Palm Beach, and the Margaritaville at Sea Islander out of Tampa.

The fleet is expanding even further, with a third ship, the Beachcomber, scheduled to start sailing out of Port Miami in January 2027.

Congratulations to Assistant Chief Frazier and his family from all of us at Cruise Fever.

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering compensation to passengers currently sailing on the 25-year-old ship, Norwegian Sun.

The ship will be skipping it’s call in Sweden today, and two more ports will have to be missed due to issues on the vessel.

The 1,976-passenger vessel is currently on a 9-day Northern Europe sailing from Helsinki to Copenhagen, but throughout the cruise, the ship has been plagued by propulsion issues.

The cruise just began on June 24, but the problems with the ship have led to at least three canceled ports in Sweden, Lithuania, and Poland.

Reduced Speed and Letter from NCL

On June 25, 2026, guests on board received a letter from the cruise line. The ship is experiencing a technical glitch that requires it to operate at a reduced speed.

According to tracking data with CruiseMapper, the ship has struggled to push past 14 knots.

While NCL was made sure to clarify that the issue does not affect the safety of anyone on board, it has dramatically changed the intended schedule for passengers.

Because the ship is moving so slowly, it simply cannot make it to all its destinations on time.

I should note that passengers on the previous week’s sailing reported a similar loss of propulsion that forced them to skip Stockholm as well.

The Canceled and Altered Ports

To keep the cruise moving, NCL had to downsize the itinerary. That’s never a fun thing for passengers to hear, but since the cruise had already begun, there was really no other option for the crew operating the ship.

Here are the exact ports the ship will miss that were originally planned:

• Nynäshamn (Stockholm), Sweden: Completely canceled (Replaced with a Day at Sea).
• Klaipėda, Lithuania: Completely canceled (Replaced with a Day at Sea).
• Gdynia, Poland: Completely canceled (Replaced with a stop in Rønne, Denmark).

The Full Revised Schedule

• Day 1 (June 21): Helsinki, Finland: Departed at 4:00 PM as planned.
• Day 2 (June 22): Tallinn, Estonia: Visited from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Day 3 (June 23): Nynäshamn (Stockholm), Sweden: Canceled (Day at Sea).
• Day 4 (June 24): Riga, Latvia: Visited from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
• Day 5 (June 25): Klaipėda, Lithuania: Canceled (Day at Sea).
• Day 6 (June 26): Gdynia, Poland: Canceled (Replaced with Rønne, Denmark from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM).
• Day 7 (June 27): Warnemünde, Germany: Schedule adjusted to an extended port stay (7:30 AM to 11:00 PM).
• Day 8 (June 28): Kiel, Germany: Schedule shortened due to a later arrival and earlier departure (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
• Day 9 (June 29): Copenhagen, Denmark: Delayed morning arrival (10:30 AM), followed by the scheduled overnight stay.
• Day 10 (June 30): Copenhagen, Denmark: Disembarkation at 6:00 AM as planned.

Passengers Take to Social Media to Vent

When you pay for a cruise because of the itinerary and that itinerary gets chopped up like this, it makes sense that it would lead to some bad sentiment.

Passengers took to Reddit and Facebook to vent about the situation. One user was upset the cruise was even allowed to begin.

“They knew there was a problem, and they still put 1900 passengers on the ship.” They one passenger said.  “Just very disappointing to spend all this time and money just to sit in a floating hotel without being told NCL had changed the itinerary.”

Another cruiser added a bit of reality to the situation, saying “Failures happen on ships, especially ones that have almost no downtime… Disappointing sure, but that is cruising sometimes and ports can and will get cancelled.”

Apparently, the OP did have travel insurance and it’s important to note that many cruise travel insurance policies will cover canceled ports.  Not every company offers it and it’s usually an add-on for port changes.

Experienced cruisers noted that unlike newer ships with swiveling “azipod” systems, the 25-year-old Norwegian Sun relies on traditional propellers and rudders. While this means it has plenty of backup steering capacity to remain perfectly safe, it can’t magically make up for a problematic engine, or whatever the specific issues are.

What is NCL Offering?

Although some initial complaints about the skipped ports stated that NCL did nothing to help passengers, the cruise line did in fact offer several forms of compensation.

To help make up the extra unintended sea days, NCL is handing out the following compensation:

• Onboard Credit: Each stateroom gets $100 in nonrefundable onboard credit (split as $50 each for the first two guests).
• Future Discounts: Every guest gets a 25% Future Cruise Credit to use on a booking within the next year.
• Excursion Refunds: Any shore excursions booked directly through NCL for the canceled ports are automatically being refunded to passengers’ accounts.

Some people online are also reminding everyone that the “fine print” of cruise contracts allows cruise lines to change itineraries for any reason. And in this case, it’s not a fun reason but a necessary one.

If you are booked on a future sailing on Norwegian Sun later this summer, you’ll definitely want to keep a close eye on your email inbox. If NCL can’t fix this propulsion problem during its turnarounds, more schedule changes might be in the future.