Posts in category: Diplomacy

Viking has announced their latest epic world cruise that will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on December 21, 2028 and have overnight port stops in 16 cities.

The nearly five-month cruise will take place on Viking Vesta and visit 31 countries on six continents. It will include 62 guided tours and end in London on May 12, 2029.

After a stop in the Caribbean, the cruise ship will sail through the Panama Canal and visit Los Angeles before heading to Hawaii. From Hawaii, the cruise will continue on to the French Polynesia with stops in Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the Cook Islands.

Viking Vesta will then stop in five ports in New Zealand and six in Australia. From there, the ship heads to Asia with visits to Indonesia, Singapore, Sir Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Maldives.

The cruise will sail around Africa and stop at 12 countries along the way, this includes an overnight in Cape Town. South Africa.

The final stretch of the cruise will be visits to Portugal, Spain, and France before arriving in Greenwich, England 142 days later.

A map of this incredible cruise can be seen below.

Guests can also extend their cruise by adding on a 28-day extension that will visit 21 additional ports of call across Northern Europe and Scandinavia before ending in Stockholm.

The following is in included in cruise fares:

In addition, from now through May 31, 2026, Viking is offering North American travelers special savings on 2028-2029 World Cruises, including:

• Free business class airfare and transfers
• $4,000 per couple shore excursion credit
• $4,000 per couple shipboard credit for returning guests
• Complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package

While on board, Viking offers extensive cultural enrichment through onboard lectures and entertainment, including the Viking Resident Historian program.

Guests can immerse themselves in the world’s cultures during included excursions that provide unmatched insight into daily life and opportunities to connect with local culture, traditions and communities.

Torstein Hagen, Executive Chairman of Viking, gave the following statement about the cruise line’s World Cruises:

“Our approach has always been to focus on the destination. Our World Cruises are thoughtfully designed for curious travelers who have the time and desire to experience dozens of phenomenal destinations around the globe in one seamless journey.”

Prices for this 142-day World Cruise start at $65,999 per person, based on double occupancy. Every cabin on Viking’s ocean ships have a balcony.

Holland America Line will being offering year-round cruises in Europe starting in 2027-2028 when Nieuw Statendam remains in Europe year-round.

Dozens of cruises have been added to Nieuw Statendam’s schedule that will take the ship to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The new itineraries have added over 70 new port days in Europe each year. The new deployment also includes two new cruises on Zuiderdam in Europe.

Nieuw Statendam will offer holiday sailings in December 2027 that include both overnights and extended stays on every itinerary.

A 13-day Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas Markets: Stockholm cruise sails roundtrip from Rotterdam or Dover, calling at Kiel, the gateway to Hamburg’s well-known Christmas markets, as well as Tallinn and Copenhagen.

A second 15-day holiday sailing spans the Christmas season, featuring overnights in Hamburg and Copenhagen.

During the winter and spring season, the cruise ship will sail to the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. These cruises will visit Spain, France, Italy, Greece and the Canary Islands.

The itineraries will range from seven- to 24-days in length, and cruises can be combined for more expansive sailings.

Sailings highlight the Mediterranean in a season when the pace is slower, the atmosphere is more intimate and each destination offers a more authentic connection. 

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

“Europe continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for our guests, and as a cruise line with Dutch roots, it’s a region we know incredibly well.

“Expanding to year-round Europe allows us to showcase a completely different side of the destination—one that is quieter, more immersive and deeply seasonal. From the festive charm of Christmas markets to a cooler and more relaxed Mediterranean region, winter offers a more authentic way to experience Europe.”

If your packing list for a Disney cruise involves a healthy dose of cabin doorway decorations, you might need to double-check the rules.

Disney Cruise Line is rolling out a sweeping fleet-wide policy update effective June 3, 2026. While your cabin door magnets are perfectly safe, Disney is officially drawing the line at how far out into the hallway your decorations can go.

Here is exactly what is changing, what rules are simply being enforced a little harder, and what it all means for your upcoming sailing.

The New Rule on Disney’s Website

The biggest change arriving on the official Disney Cruise Line FAQ page targets just how far those decorations can extend.

Over the last few years, stateroom door decorating has been taken to another level.  I’m always amazed at some of the creativity that goes into making someone’s door really stand out.

It’s almost like its own onboard excursion just perusing hallways to see some of these decorations.

It has become common to see entire stretches of hallways, nearby corridor walls, and even ceilings covered in decorative curtains, blinking string lights, and pictures.

But starting next month, Disney is putting a stop to the hallway décor, or at least part of it. The updated guideline states:

“Decorations should only be placed on doors and are not permitted on corridor walls or ceilings.”

So I’m guessing the wall on the right is now off limits. (In addition to the magnets above and below the FEs) pic.twitter.com/Qi3PPV3OsN

— Jon Bisceglia 🐸 🇺🇸 (@dumbfrog) May 28, 2026

Existing Rules to Keep in Mind (With a $100 Fee)

While the hallway and ceiling ban is the only brand-new restriction hitting your decorations, there are several other rules to keep in mind.

If you violate these guidelines and cause permanent damage to ship property, Disney will now hold you financially responsible. According to the updated terms, guests who damage stateroom doors or trim will face a $100 fee per incident to cover the cost of repairs.

To keep your shipboard account free of any surprise charges, keep these existing rules in mind:

• Magnets only, no tape: Traditional magnets on your metal cabin door are still perfectly welcome. Just don’t use tape, command strips, or gel adhesives, as these frequently peel or damage the door’s paint finish.
• No over-the-door organizers: This is mostly for the bathroom doors inside the cabins, but over-the-door hanging organizers are entirely prohibited because the metal brackets scratch the door trim.
• Using fan-favorite “fish extenders” (the decorative metal fish or seahorse outside cabin doors) are still allowed.
• No sound and video: Out of courtesy to your hallway neighbors who are trying to sleep, your decorations cannot feature any video displays or sound elements.
• Wood finish reminder: If you book a Concierge stateroom on the Disney Dream or the Disney Fantasy, keep in mind that these specific doors feature a wood finish, meaning magnets will not stick to them anyway.

What Else is Changing Fleet-Wide?

Disney is using this update to clean up more than just the hallways. The policy update on May 28, 2026, included a few other notable changes to the general packing list:

• Carry-On Alcohol Reductions: The adult beverage carry-on allowance is dropping from two bottles down to one single bottle of wine or champagne (or one six-pack of beer) per person at initial embarkation.
• Port of Call Purchases: Any wine or beer purchased at your destination ports will now be held by ship security until the end of your cruise.
• Lower Corkage Fees: The shipboard corkage fee has dropped from $29 down to $20 per bottle.
• Photo Gear Limitations: Selfie sticks, camera extension poles, and oversized tripods have officially been added to the prohibited items list for safety and guest comfort.

The Implementation Schedule

According to Disney travel experts, the rules will go into effect on a staggered schedule as each ship begins its first voyage on or after June 3:

• June 3, 2026: Disney Fantasy
• June 4, 2026: Disney Adventure and Disney Magic
• June 5, 2026: Disney Wish
• June 6, 2026: Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny
• June 8, 2026: Disney Dream and Disney Wonder

Celebrity Cruises is adding new loyalty benefits for their Captain’s Club Members that will go into effect on June 11, 2026.

Celebrity Cruises is adding new perks to their loyalty program for their most frequent cruisers. The cruise line is adding new milestone benefits that will be awarded at specific point levels.

Here is a look at the new benefits, for both Elite Plus and Zenith, that Celebrity cruisers will begin to enjoy in two weeks.

New benefits at 1,500 points

Once a guest reaches 1,500 points, they will receive 480 minutes of free Premium Wi-Fi. This is twice the minutes Elite Plus members currently receive on each cruise.

They will also get 20% off specialty dining, and one complimentary photo from Celebrity’s on-board photographers, and a surprise in-room amenity on their milestone cruise

New benefits at 2,250 points

Once a Celebrity Cruiser reaches 2,250 points, they will receive 720 minutes of free Premium Wi-Fi. This is an increase from the 240 minutes Elite Plus members currently receive.

Also on every cruise, they will receive 25% off specialty dining, two complimentary photos from Celebrity’s on-board photographers, and a complimentary “Extend Your Stay” experiences on disembarkation day where available. Once on their milestone cruise, they will also receive a surprise in-room amenity.

New benefits at 3,000 points

Once a Celebrity cruiser reaches Zenith status, they will receive 35% off specialty dining, three complimentary photos from the cruise line’s on-board photographers, and a surprise in-room amenity on their milestone sailing.

Double Zenith

Celebrity Cruises has also added new benefits at 6,000 points. In addition to the 3,000 Benefits Plus perks, guests receive a complimentary lunch at a specialty dining venue on embarkation day of each sailing, a specialty dinner on any day of their milestone sailing, and champagne delivered to celebrate their loyalty achievement.

Triple Zenith

For the most loyal Celebrity cruisers, the top benefits will kick in when they reach 9,000 points. In addition to the 3,000 Benefits Plus perks, they will stay in a Sky Suite for their complimentary seven-night Bermuda or Caribbean sailing.

They will also receive a specialty lunch on any day of every sailing, one specialty dinner on any day of their milestone sailing, and a champagne delivered to celebrate their loyalty achievement.

Captain’s Club members will begin to enjoy these new perks on June 11, 2026.

The Port of Seattle Commission has just approved a long-term lease amendment with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), which will extend the company’s presence in Seattle through 2035.

The contract requires the brand’s cruise lines to bring a minimum of 325,000 paying passengers to the city every year for the next nine years.

This agreement helps secure an estimated $116 million in revenue for the Port over the next decade.

On top of that, if the partnership meets certain environmental targets, there is an option to extend the contract through 2045, bringing total revenues for the port up to $316 million.

What the Passenger Guarantee Means for Seattle

Seattle has had a colorful history when it comes to the cruise industry.  And while protests have attempted to thwart the city’s port plans, cruise ships are a big part of the area’s economy.

Much of Seattle’s tourism is seasonal. Visitor numbers change throughout the year, especially surrounding the busy Alaskan cruise season.

This contract changes that dynamic for Seattle by locking in a mandatory floor for downtown foot traffic.

To put the 325,000-passenger guarantee into perspective, it represents enough people to fill Seattle’s Lumen Field nearly five times over the course of the cruise season.

Because the contract specifically counts “revenue passengers,” this number only includes paying guests. The thousands of crew members who also step off the ships to buy food, use local transport, and shop downtown will add to that total.

For waterfront restaurants, local hotels, and transportation providers, this guarantee gives a little more financial security.

Operations at Pier 66

The agreement keeps NCLH’s homeport presence at the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, located directly on the downtown waterfront. For the 2026 season, NCLH will homeport four vessels here:

• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Joy
• Oceania Riviera

There are more than 70 ship calls scheduled for NCLH brands this season.

“The Port of Seattle’s cruise sector is a particularly bright spot in our business lines, with growing passenger numbers, revenues, and benefit for the community,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been an outstanding partner to the Port of Seattle for more than a quarter of a century, and I am pleased to support this new agreement today.”

Environmental Goals

But money isn’t the only important part of this agreement that matters. NCLH’s long-term future at Pier 66 depends on whether the cruise line meets strict environmental performance targets as well.

The extension options from 2036 to 2045 are not automatic and require sustainability progress.

Under the amended terms, NCLH will work with the Port on a demonstration project to test sustainable, non-fossil maritime fuels. The cruise line has also agreed to a goal of 100% zero-emission shoreside operations by 2030.

So, while Norwegian tries to maintain steady and consistent cruise passenger traffic in Seattle, the company will also be pairing that with sustainability projects to make sure the commitment with the port will last for many more years to come.

When Margaritaville at Sea’s next new cruise ship, Beachcomber, debuts in Miami, it will have a tattoo studio and all new St. Somewhere Spa & Salon.

Beachcomber will offer four- to eight-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami starting in early 2027. The ship will have the next iteration of the Permanent Reminder Tattoo Studio.

Permanent Reminder Tattoo Studio

Permanent Reminder Tattoo Studio on Beachcomber will have an expanded footprint and roster of world-class artists.

The studio, which is one of the most in-demand experiences at sea, will give guests the opportunity to create custom artwork inspired by a milestone, memory or simply the spirit of the trip itself.

It will be located adjacent to the ship’s all-new Polynesian Lounge, the design reflects the venue’s tiki-inspired atmosphere.

St. Somewhere Spa

St. Somewhere Spa & Salon will build on the cruise line’s signature spa experience with a refreshed design and a stronger connection to the water.

Treatment rooms are positioned for ocean views, while relaxation lounges and quiet spaces allow guests to settle in before or after their services.

The menu blends Margaritaville’s signatures including the “Lost Shaker of Salt Scrub” with new, Beachcomber-exclusive treatments and a range of other massages, facials and salon services.

Martha Brabham, Vice President of Design at Margaritaville at Sea, gave the following statement:

“Beachcomber is helping bring the next evolution of Margaritaville at Sea to life across every part of the guest journey, with wellness playing a central role.

“From the spa and salon to the fitness and tattoo studios, these venues are designed to feel welcoming, comfortable and connected to the energy of being at sea. Guests can spend the day slowing down, staying active or commemorating their trip in a way that’s uniquely personal.”

Beachcomber will be the third cruise ship in Margaritaville at Sea’s fleet when the ship debuts in early 2027.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the opening date for their massive new waterpark that is being built on their private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay will open on September 4, 2026 when Norwegian Luna visits the island during a seven-night cruise to the Caribbean.

Tickets for day passes to the waterpark will open for bookings on May 28, 2026. Guests will also be able to purchase private cabanas that accommodate up to six guests.

Great Tides Waterpark will be a six acre area that will have 19 waterslides and three all-new food trucks. At the center of the waterpark will be a 170-foot Tidal Tower featuring Breakwater Blasters.

Breakwater Blasters will be water coasters with downhill drops and uphill blasts as guests ride an inner tube. Whitewater Dash will have two body slides, and Rapid Mat Racers will have two mat slides and a selection of tube slides.

Additional highlights will include:

• Cliffside Cove, home to the industry’s first and highest cliff jumps
• The Great Slide, the Caribbean’s only four-person body slide
• Fearless Falls racing slides
• The hidden Grotto Bar tucked beneath the action for prime viewing

Younger guests will be able to splash through Splash Cay, a 9,000-square-foot zone that’s just for kids.

Adventure seekers can float along the Wandering River, an over 800-foot, high-energy take on the classic lazy river.

The waterpark builds on the recent transformation of Great Stirrup Cay, which includes the expansive Great Life Lagoon, featuring a beach-style entry pool, swim-up bars and plenty of space to relax with ocean views.

Guests can also elevate their day at the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, enjoy family-friendly offerings like Splash Harbor and explore the island with ease with the island’s latest tram system.

Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“Great Stirrup Cay continues to evolve as the premier private island destination in the Bahamas, and we’re excited to officially open Great Tides Waterpark on September 4, 2026.

“With the best activities for families and for every type of traveler—from high-energy slides to laid-back lagoon experiences—guests can purchase their day passes ahead and lock in an unforgettable day on the most spectacular private island in the Caribbean beginning tomorrow.”