Diplomacy

Celestyal Cruises has added a new port in Greece that will bring guests to a lesser known, less touristed location.

The new port, Agios Nikolaus, in Crete replaces the cruise line’s previous stop in Heraklion. Celestyal Cruises made its first call to Agios Nikolaos this past week during Celestyal Journey’s seven-day Idyllic Greece cruise.

The cruise ship will visit the new port 21 more times this year until it moves out of the region in November.

To mark the occasion of the maiden port visit, representatives from the destination and local authorities were welcomed onboard by the ship’s Captain Angelos Vasilakos and crew.

Agios Nikolaos, whose name means Saint Nicholas in English, is located along the Cretan coast east of Herkalion and is the capital of the Lassithi region.

The resort town brings guests away from the more traditional Greek ports to a spot visited by only a handful of cruise ships so they can experience this beautiful resort town with its  landmark, Lake Voulismeni, historical sites and easy access to other areas in Crete.

The port is featured on Celestyal’s Idyllic Greece itinerary that sails from Athens and stops at Kusadasi, Rhodes, Agios Nikolaos, Santorini, Mykonos and Milos.

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said the following about this new port:

“Agios Nikolaos has a growing role as a cruise destination and is a fantastic addition to our ‘Idyllic Greece’ itinerary. It perfectly reflects the type of call our guests are increasingly looking for, combining iconic Mediterranean hotspots with rising star ports that offer a more authentic experience.

“Our 2026 summer season is built around delivering authentically Mediterranean experiences through immersive itineraries, warm hospitality and our signature premium casual approach to cruising. We’re proud to continue expanding our presence across the Greek Islands and showcasing destinations like Agios Nikolaos to an international audience.”

Prices for cruises that visit this new port start at $959 per person. All cruise fares include meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities.

Explora Journeys has opened for bookings their summer 2028 cruises on all six cruise ships. EXPLORA VI will debut in August 2028, marking the first time all six ships in the cruise line’s fleet are sailing at the same time.

Explora Journeys will visit 178 destinations in 27 countries during the summer of 2028. The cruises will visit Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Turkey and the Mediterranean.

Here is a look at where all six ships from Explora Journeys will sail to in 2028.

EXPLORA I

From April through October, the ship will visit six countries and 25 destinations in the Mediterranean from island constellations of the Aegean to the sculpted shores of the Adriatic.

Guests can uncover the Cyclades, the Dodecanese and the Turkish Coast, experiencing the nightlife of Mykonos with a late departure and the cultural vibrancy of Istanbul with an overnight stay.

EXPLORA II

Exploring the sun-drenched Western Mediterranean, North Africa and the French and Italian Rivieras, the ship will visit 36 destinations across Iberia and the Atlantic edge from April through October.

Itineraries range from the vibrant Balearic Islands to the lush landscapes of Madeira, featuring an overnight stay in Lisbon and late departures from eight ports that include:

EXPLORA III

EXPLORA III will return to Alaska from May through September, and visit 20 destinations across the USA and Canada.

Itineraries feature scenic sailings through the Inside Passage and the Gulf of Alaska, providing an unparalleled vantage point for the Hubbard Glacier alongside calls to Juneau, Skagway and smaller communities such as Wrangell and Klawock.

EXPLORA IV

From May through October, the ship will visit Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea, stopping at 51 destinations across 15 countries.

Guests can cycle along the historic canals of Amsterdam or stroll the royal parks of Stockholm during immersive overnight stays, while 11 maiden calls, including Runavík in the Faroe Islands and Djúpivogur in Iceland.

EXPLORA V

Between May and September, the ship will explore the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian fjords and the North Atlantic before reaching the volcanic coastlines of Iceland and Greenland.

The ship will then repositiong to the North American Eastern Seaboard for the autumn foliage, with overnights in New York City and Quebec City and late departures from Halifax and Boston.

EXPLORA VI

In August 2028, the newest ship in the fleet will sail its maiden journey from Rome to Barcelona. The ship will spend the next few months sailing to Sicily, Sardinia and the French Riviera.

In October and November, the ship heads into the Adriatic to discover the historic ports of Trogir and Dubrovnik and the UNESCO-protected Bay of Kotor.

Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, said the following:

“This new Journeys Collection is a true celebration of all that Explora Journeys stands for, fulfilling our long-held vision of six ships sailing the world’s oceans by 2028. By opening sales today, we are inviting our guests to secure their place in what will be a landmark year.

“The completion of our fleet allows us to offer even greater geographic breadth and deeper immersion into each region, providing our guests with an unparalleled choice of transformative ocean Journeys and an even richer expression of the Ocean State of Mind.”

A cabin steward named Jinky broke down in tears after being handed a $5,000 cash tip on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship. 

In one of the most heartwarming parts of the now viral video, the stateroom attendant’s first reaction (after verifying that this was actually real) was to share the tip with her other crew members.

Some of the hardest working people on a cruise ship are the crew who take care of the thousands of cabins on board. It’s a daily grind, and a constant one, but at least one stateroom attendant has been rewarded for her efforts.

The Surprise Tip

The video, which has been racking up views online, captures the moment the crew member was surprised with the biggest tip she has ever received.

Jinky had already finished cleaning the stateroom earlier in the shift, but around 3:00 PM, she noticed the “ready for housekeeping” blue light at the cabin door.

When she walked inside the cabin, she had no idea her day was about to get a whole lot brighter.

In what must have been an awkward moment for Jinky, the passenger asked what her highest tip has been.

When Jinky replied that her highest tip so far had been $300, the passenger then held out a stack of cash and said, “How’s $5,000?”.

The passenger, known as Bluffin Bob online, explained that he had just won big in the ship’s onboard casino.

But instead of pocketing all the cash, he decided to pass it on to the “underappreciated” crew that he mistakenly calls “maids” in the video. (But hey, it’s his first cruise so we’ll give him a pass)

Jinky’s reaction was shock. She broke down in tears, in disbelief at what was happening, even asking “It’s for real?” to make sure this wasn’t a cruel prank of some kind.

But what truly showed her selfless spirit was the fact that she instantly asked if she could share the cash with her partner and fellow crew members.

Tipping Policy with Virgin Voyages

The cruise line famously bundles its standard service gratuities directly into the cruise fare to support the crew, explicitly telling passengers on its website in the FAQ section:

“Once your service gratuity is covered, that’s it. We keep things refreshingly simple: there’s no need to tip for drinks, dining, or spa treatments during your voyage.”

Because passengers are told they don’t need to reach for their wallets for day-to-day service, an extra cash drop like this is a pleasant surprise, especially this amount.

A Norwegian Cruise Line ship failed its most recent health inspection that was carried out by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.

Norwegian Dawn scored an 84 on its recent inspection in Tampa, Florida, the first time ever that the cruise ship has failed a surprise health inspection. The vessel has scored a perfect 100 eight times over the past 23 years.

The inspection took place on March 29, but the results were just recently posted to the CDC’s website. It usually takes 4-8 weeks after an inspection for results to be posted.

Norwegian Dawn’s Inspection

The report listed 49 deficiencies that were discovered during the inspection. They ranged from refrigerators having temperatures too high to black mold-like debris in galleys.

Areas of the ship that had a deficiency included:

• Deck 5 – Crew mess
• Deck 5 – Officer mess
• Deck 14- Bimini Bar & Grill
• Deck 12 – Garden Cafe
• Deck 6- Aqua juice station
• Deck 13 – Cagney’s Steakhouse
• Deck 6 – Room service galley
• Deck 12 – Topsiders Bar & Grill

Norwegian Cruise Line sent a 34-page corrective action statement to the CDC outlining what they did to fix all 49 deficiencies.

Health Inspections

Contrary to many false reports, the CDC is still carrying out health inspections on cruise ships in the United States.

Cruise ships that sail to or from the U.S. are subject to two unannounced health inspections every year. Scores of 85 and below are considered to have failed their inspection.

There have been 79 cruise ship inspections so far in 2026, and Norwegian Dawn is the lone ship to fail. 21 ships have earned a perfect 100 so far this year.

To receive a perfect 100, the ship must receive perfect marks on all 44 items on the Vessel Sanitation Program’s checklist.

During the inspections, all major areas of the ship are inspected, including medical facilities, portable water systems, swimming pools and hot tubs, galleys and dining rooms, child activity centers, hotel accommodations, ventilation systems, and common areas of the vessel.

Cruise lines pay for the inspections based on the size of the ship. Prices range from $8,073 for smaller vessels to $64,584 for ships over 180,000 gross tons in size.

Norwegian Dawn has repositioned to Europe for the summer cruise season. The ship will return to the U.S. on November 15, 2026, when it will begin sailing four- and five-night cruises out of Jacksonville to The Bahamas and Key West.

Despite recent security challenges and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Israel’s main cruise port has announced a major milestone today.

The Haifa Port Company officially inaugurated its new, high-tech cruise terminal which will double the capacity of the cruise port, allowing two ships to dock at one time.

And the opening comes just in time for the start of the 2026 cruise season.

$5.5 Million Investment

The new terminal was built with an investment of over NIS 16 million (about $5.5 million USD). The facility has been designed to meet the highest international standards and is similar to the efficiency of modern global airports.

The biggest upgrade is the terminal’s ability to handle two large cruise ships at once, allowing for a passenger capacity of about one million people annually.

See Video of New Terminal

How big can these ships be? 

Some of the largest ships to utilize the Haifa cruise port have been Costa Toscana and AIDAcosma, which can each carry about 6,600 passengers in their 185,000 gross ton frames.

The much smaller Crown Iris (2,000 passengers), is a regular visitor at the port, offering frequent 2- to 7-night sailings to Cyprus and the Greek Isles that depart almost every Sunday and Thursday.

What Travelers Can Expect

Passengers arriving for the 2026 season will find a 5,500-square-meter complex, featuring:

• A “Ship-Style” Atmosphere: The walls are decorated with porthole-style windows displaying famous global sites, with the regularly seen colors of blue-and-white.
• A 600-square-meter duty-free shop, a 1,000-square-meter check-in area, and a streamlined border control complex with 28 service stands.
• Accessibility: The terminal includes dedicated desks for people with disabilities and signage in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

Norwegian Cruise Line Interest in Haifa?

There is a lot of talk about when the big international cruise lines will return to Haifa. Specifically, the travel site Israstar has been reporting on potential interest from Norwegian Cruise Line.

According to their report, NCL’s Vice President Kevin Buboltz shared that the company hopes to return to Haifa once regional conditions stabilize. He mentioned the launch of their newest ship, Norwegian Luna, as a preview of the high-end entertainment and experience they eventually want to bring back to the Israeli cruise market.

While Luna is currently making its debut in the Caribbean, it’s the type of “mega-ship” Haifa is now ready and equipped to handle.

NCL has historically offered a Haifa-to-Istanbul route for some ships, and this new terminal is exactly what’s needed to make those high-capacity itineraries run smoothly.

While no specific itineraries or ships sailing out of the port have been announced yet, we’re keeping a close eye on any developments.

Holland America Line has confirmed multiple stops in Haifa this fall, with Oosterdam scheduled for October 8 and Volendam arriving on October 29

Cruise Tourism in Israel

The Port of Haifa is playing the long game. Captain Sumit Chauhan, President of the Port of Haifa, said that the project is about more than just buildings:

“The Haifa Port Company and its owners are committed to continuing to promote cruise tourism in Israel, especially during a challenging security period. This investment reflects our optimism about the future and the belief that cruise tourism will connect Israel to the world.”

The goal is to make the port a “must-stop” hub in the Eastern Mediterranean again. Zohar Rom, the port’s VP of Cruises, said that they are ready for a major comeback.

“We are preparing for the return and growth of the cruise industry after several complex years,” Rom said. “The new terminal will allow for the reception of two large ships at the same time and a significant upgrade of the passenger experience. We expect international companies to resume operations from Israel after the war period.”

With a million-passenger capacity and a new high-tech terminal, Haifa is ready for the big ships whenever they are ready to return.

MSC Cruises has added new grab-and-go good options on MSC Seashore during a recent dry dock. The cruise ship is now back at Port Canaveral sailing cruises to the Caribbean.

Two new complimentary grab-and-go food concepts are now open on the ship. The Chicken Man and Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs are located in some of the ship’s most popular spots.

The Chicken Man

The Chicken Man is a new addition to main pool deck on the ship. It offers walk-up service and a themed, shaded seating area on deck 18. The restaurant serves chicken tenders and a variety of chicken sandwiches alongside a selection of delicious dip options.

Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs

Red Cactus BBQ & Ribs is a walk-up option near the aft infinity pool on deck 8. It has a shaded seated area of its own, and is open for breakfast and lunch.

For breakfast, options include a barbecue burrito, pulled pork hash, eggs, country grits and biscuits.

At lunch, guests can choose from dishes like pulled pork, barbecue chicken, beef brisket, pork ribs and sausage, along with classic barbecue sides like burnt end mac and cheese, baked beans and buttermilk coleslaw. Banana pudding and a cookie pecan butter pie are available for dessert.

Bernhard Stacher, Senior Vice President Shipboard Hospitality Operations at MSC Cruises, said the following:

“We are proud to offer our guests a variety of dining options, from elegant main restaurants to international dining concepts and convenient buffet experiences, with MSC Cruises catering to every taste and temptation through unique and authentic gastronomic experiences.

“The introduction of these new grab-and-go options aboard MSC Seashore further reflects our commitment to continuously enhancing the guest experience.

“Our guests consistently tell us they value having a wide choice of dining available, so we are focused on delivering greater convenience and flexibility, making it easier than ever to experience carefully designed and meticulously crafted local favorites while making the most of the ship’s pools and the Caribbean’s endless sun.”

MSC Seashore is sailing three-, four-, and seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and The Bahamas from Port Canaveral. All cruises visit the cruise line’s private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

After sailing for 35 years, a beloved cruise ship has sailed its final voyage. The 422-passenger cruise ship entered service in 1990 offering unforgettable experiences on a wide variety of itineraries.

MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES said goodbye to Nippon Maru this past weekend when the ship sailed its final voyage after 35 years in service with the cruise line. Over 600,000 guests had sailed on the ship on more than 2,000 cruises.

The cruise ship visited over 400 ports around the world in its history, and it became the first Japanese ship to sail to the Baltic Sea.

Over the course of 35 years, Nippon Maru sailed nearly 3 million miles, equivalent to approximately 133 cruises around the world.

A commemorative retirement ceremony was held at Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, where approximately 7,300 guests, crew members, partners and longtime supporters gathered throughout the day to celebrate the ship’s remarkable legacy and witness its emotional final homecoming.

Tsunemichi Mukai, president of MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES, gave the following statement:

“Nippon Maru has been much more than a cruise ship — it has been a symbol of connection, discovery and heartfelt hospitality for generations of guests.

“We are deeply grateful to the guests, crew members, port communities and partners who supported Nippon Maru throughout this extraordinary 35-year journey. While we say goodbye to this cherished vessel, her spirit and traditions will continue to live on through the future of MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES.”

On the morning of May 10, Nippon Maru arrived at Osanbashi in Yokohama for the final time at approximately 9 a.m., greeted by cheering supporters and emotional well-wishers waving farewell to the crew gathered on deck.

In a symbolic moment, Nippon Maru was docked alongside MITSUI OCEAN FUJI, representing both the proud history and bright future of the cruise line.

Following the arrival, a retirement ceremony hosted by the Port of Yokohama honored the ship’s enduring contributions to Japanese cruising and tourism.