Posts in category: Diplomacy

The last time a cruise ship sailed from Philadelphia was in 2011. Today, for the first time in 15 years, passengers are returning to the port.

More than 2,300 passengers are now back from their 7-day sailing that left the port on April 16, 2026.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel pulled into PhilaPort around 5:30 AM Thursday.

Normally, the worst day for a cruiser is disembarkation day, so it’s no cause for celebration.  But for the “City of Brotherly Love”, it means the first passengers have returned from a successful Bermuda sailing and cruising is back!  It also means that the next group of cruisers are ready to begin their sailing today.

The 93,502 gross ton ship spent two days at Kings Wharf, Bermuda before spending a day in Charleston, SC and heading back home.

From now until the end of August, Norwegian Jewel will be offering weekly 7-day Bermuda cruises that all make a stop in historic Charleston. 

Contrary to common belief, yes, the cruise port in Charleston is still being used, just not as a starting point for cruises after the Carnival contract expired.

Philadelphia’s first cruise ship in 20 years returns to port https://t.co/kaRt5fCYsK

— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) April 23, 2026

While the return of cruising is a big win for the city’s economy, the first 2,300 passengers experienced the “growing pains” of a port still in transition.

As Cruise Fever previously reported, construction delays at the main terminal meant that passengers actually had to check in at a nearby Clarion Hotel rather than at the port itself.

On social media, passengers said that the logistics remained a bit “makeshift” as the city works to get the permanent facilities online. One Facebook user described the final steps of their journey, noting they had the option of “going back to the Clarion or get on a bus from the pier to the airport.”

Despite a port that’s still in progress, the sentiment among travelers remained positive.

After 15 years of waiting, the convenience of sailing from the Delaware River outweighed the lack of a finished terminal.

As one traveler shared on Facebook upon their return: “It’s been a week on this beautiful old ship Norwegian Jewel.“

You might think that only brand-new, state-of-the-art, fresh-out-of-the-shipyard cruise ships ace their CDC health scores. But there’s one ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet that has earned multiple perfect 100s in just the last few years.

While doing some research on the sanitation scores on cruise ships over recent years, one ship really stood out.

I looked at 5 years’ worth of VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program) numbers, which involved 723 inspections.  While several cruise ships scored a perfect 100 during that time, Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, had done it three times just since 2023.   

This Radiance-class vessel launched back in 2004. At 22 years old in 2026, it’s one of the older ships still regularly sailing for Royal Caribbean.

But the team on board this 2,100-passenger ship are dialed in.

There’s a pattern here.  These are the recent scores for the ship’s CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspections:

• January 17, 2026: 99
• September 12, 2025: 100
• April 29, 2025: 97
• September 28, 2024: 100
• April 5, 2024: 97
• September 14, 2023: 100
• November 19, 2022: 97

Three perfect scores in roughly two years is impressive for any ship. For a vessel that’s been around for more than two decades? It stands out even more.

A Legacy of Cleanliness

This made me dig back even further than just five years.  I looked at every score the ship has received since it came into service in 2004. 

The results? Not only did the ship score a perfect 100 during its first year, but it had racked up 14 perfect scores in a total of 37 inspections.

The average health score for Jewel of the Seas is 97.24 during its lifetime.

That doesn’t happen by accident. And more work than most cruise passengers can even imagine goes into having that kind of track record.

What Does a Perfect 100 Actually Mean?

The CDC’s VSP inspections are unannounced and happen when the ship is in a U.S. port, which is usually about twice a year.

Inspectors board and spend several hours going over the vessel with a fine-tooth comb. The ship starts with 100 points, and every major issue cost points.

Inspectors check everything that could affect passenger and crew health.

The eight main areas they look at include:

• Medical facilities
• Potable (drinking) water systems
• Recreational water facilities (pools and hot tubs)
• Galleys, food preparation, and dining areas
• Child activity centers
• Cabins and housekeeping
• Ventilation systems and common areas
• Pest control and general sanitation

If you’re a cruise nerd like me, maybe you have read some of the health reports.  They make me feel like a complete slob after seeing how many details are taken into account.

Even a fly in an area it isn’t supposed to be can draw the ire of an inspector. 

They’re not just looking for obvious dirt. They check food storage temperatures, handwashing stations, chemical concentrations in dishwashers, proper labeling of items, backflow prevention on water lines, chlorine levels in the pools, and even documentation logs.

The details matter.

A faded handwashing sign might draw a comment (I just read this in a health inspection report yesterday).

A refrigerator that’s a degree too warm or a missing label on a cleaning bottle, can lead to some scratching on a clipboard.

These aren’t usually major health hazards on their own, but they show whether the crew is staying on top of every detail, every single day.

When Jewel scored 100 three times in a few years, it meant the inspectors found nothing noteworthy.

How Does an Older Ship Pull This Off?

Jewel of the Seas isn’t brand new with all the latest equipment. Older ships can have more wear on plumbing, galleys, and other systems, which makes consistent perfection harder.

What has helped the ship stay so clean?

• Routine maintenance: Jewel went into dry dock in May 2024 in Brest, France, for technical work (azipods, thrusters, stabilizers), hull painting, and general upkeep. Royal has kept up with these refreshes over the years, even if it hasn’t had one of the big “Amplified” overhauls some sisters received.
• Crew habits and training: A perfect score doesn’t happen because of one person. It takes the whole team.  The galley staff, housekeeping, food and beverage, and deck crew are the real heroes of the story.  It’s day in and day out. Proper handwashing, temperature logging, sanitizing schedules, and pest control all have to be second nature.
• Leadership continuity: Captain rotations happen on all ships, but here’s who was in command during the recent perfect inspections (based on available rotation info):
  • September 14, 2023: Captain Trond Holm (he started his contract in August 2023 and was aboard for that Greenland sailing period).
  • September 28, 2024: Captain Michael Lindberg (handling late summer/early fall sailings).
  • September 12, 2025: Captain Michael Lindberg (still on rotation for the short Bahamas itinerary).

Standards stayed high even with different captains.  Cleanliness looks like it’s part of the culture on Jewel.

Royal Caribbean as a cruise line also deserves some credit. They’ve had several ships hit 100 in recent years, including two of the oldest ships in the fleet: Enchantment of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas.

Other Ships with More than Two 100s in Last 5 Years

For perspective, other ships that scored multiple 100s recently are much younger.  These ships all scored two or more perfect scores in the last half-decade.

• Oceania Vista: 3 years old (4 perfect scores)
• Explora I: 3 years old (3 perfect scores)
• Disney Wish: 4 years old (3 perfect scores)
• Disney Fantasy: 14 years old  (3 perfect scores with one 98)
• Norwegian Bliss: 8 years old (3 perfect scores)

I should note that Oceania Vista has ONLY scored perfect 100s.  It’s like that student in 10^th grade that just doesn’t know what it’s like to have a point taken off a test. Except, it’s annoying in high school and it’s impressive in this case.

Why Newer Isn’t Always “Cleaner”

I say “cleaner” in quotes because some of the deductions on the VSP scorecard are for details more related to organization than cleanliness.

Newer ships start with fresher systems, but those systems take time to learn.  If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship’s very first sailing, you know there are always a few hiccups along the way. 

There are always growing pains with a new ship, especially if it’s an entirely new class of ship.  So, sometimes points are taken off for issues that are easily fixed later on.

That being said, brand-new ships have definitely scored perfect 100s as well.

What This Means for Cruisers

At the end of the day, no ship is immune to occasional issues, and outbreaks can still happen despite high scores.

Good hand hygiene from passengers helps too.  Yes, we have a role to play in the sanitation game as well, even if you’re still trying to get that “washy washy” song out of your head.

I love sailing on older ships.  After taking a cruise on Enchantment of the Seas a while ago I was reminded of the charm and refined simplicity of an older ship.

Jewel of the Seas proves that a well-maintained 22-year-old ship can deliver cleanliness results.  A big round of applause to the crew of the ship, working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure you have an amazing vacation.

If you book guarantee cabins on cruises to save money, Royal Caribbean is introducing a new way where you get your cabin assignment quicker than before.

Guarantee cabins are the cheapest cabins in each category on cruise ships. They are a great way to saving money, although you can’t choose the exact cabin location like you can with other cruise fares.

Cruise lines assign you an exact cabin, usually just days before your cruise, in the category you booked. You have no control over which deck or the location of your stateroom around the ship.

Royal Caribbean’s Early Assign

Royal Caribbean has introduced a new program called Early Assign. Early Assign has a $30 fee, per cabin, and allows you to receive your cabin assignment much faster than usual.

One of the great perks of Early Assign is that you can switch to another open cabin in your category if there is availability. If Royal Caribbean assigns your cabin right under the pool deck or in another noisy part of the ship, you can move to a different location for no additional cost, as long as it’s in the same category.

Travel agents can contact Trade Support & Service at 800-327-6700 to assist their clients with an early room assignment through Early Assign.

How Does Early Assign Work?

Early Assign is an optional paid program available at final payment. The program is currently only available to U.S. bookings during specific pre-sailing windows.

The stateroom assignment is confirmed immediately after you make the $30 payment, per cabin. This gives you as much time as possible to move to any other empty cabins in your category that are in a better location.

The program is good on eligible GTY categories including WS, XB, XQ, XN, NQ, YO, YQ, ZI, and ZQ. You can not use the program with casino fares.

For cruises six nights or longer, the offer window is 50–80 days before sailing. For sailings five nights or fewer, the offer window is 30–60 days before sailing.

The $30 payment for Early Assign is non-refundable, regardless of cancellation.

Princess Cruises currently has 17 cruise ships in service.  The premium cruise line is owned by Carnival Corporation and was highlighted in the hit TV show The Love Boat which first aired in 1976.

Listed below is every cruise ship with Princess Cruises in order from newest to oldest.  This list will be updated as new ships are added to the fleet.  So, feel free to bookmark this page to stay up to date on the newest ships.

Future Princess Cruise Ships:

Princess Cruises announced an entirely new class in April, 2026. A 183,000 gross ton ship in Voyager Class is scheduled to be delivered in 2035, with two more ships in the class in 2038 and 2039.

These ships will hold about 4,700 passengers.

Below is the complete list of current Princess ships from newest to oldest.

Star Princess (2025)

Star Princess is the second Sphere-class vessel with Princess, and the ship entered service in 2025 with a maiden voyage in October.  This is the 3rd ship to have this name in the cruise line’s history.  The ship’s gross tonnage is around 177,882 and the vessel can accommodate about 4,300 guests.

Sun Princess (2024)

Sun Princess is the cruise line’s first Sphere class ship debuting in February 2024. It is the largest class of ships in Princess’ fleet at more than 175,000 gross tons and can carry 4,300 passengers. It is the first Princess cruise ship to be powered by LNG.

Discovery Princess (2022)

This ship enjoyed her maiden voyage in March of 2022 out of Los Angeles.  The 6th Royal class vessel is 1,080 feet long with a gross tonnage of 145,000 and a capacity of 3,660 passengers.

Enchanted Princess (2021)

The fifth Royal Class ship with the cruise line, Enchanted Princess had its maiden voyage in November of 2021.  The vessel is 1,082 feet long with a gross tonnage of 145,281.

Sky Princess (2019)

Sky Princess is the 4th Royal-class ship with the cruise line and is the 2nd ship to sail under this name in Princess Cruise Line’s history.    The 145,281 ton ship is 1,080 feet long and has a double capacity of 3,660 passengers.

Majestic Princess (2017)

Majestic Princess debuted as the third Royal Class ship in 2017.  The 143,000 ton ship is one foot longer than Royal Princess at 1,083 feet.  The cruise ship was originally built to sail around China but now sails to Alaska in the summer and from Australia during the winter months.

Regal Princess (2014)

The 2nd Royal Class ship with Princess, Regal Princess is a 139,000 ton vessel which was launched in 2014.  The ship has a guest capacity of 3,560.  Read a review of Regal Princess here.

Royal Princess (2013)

When first launched in 2013, Royal Princess was the largest ship in the fleet.  The 142,229 ton ship was the first Royal Class ship with the line and is able to carry 3,600 passengers.  See our Royal Princess review and video tour.

Ruby Princess (2008)

Before the arrival of Royal Princess, Ruby Princess was the largest ship in the fleet.  Debuting in 2008, Ruby Princess is a 113,561 ton ship and is part of the Grand class.  Passenger capacity is 3,080.  See our Ruby Princess review here.

Emerald Princess (2007)

Emerald Princess debuted in 2007 as a 113,561 ton ship.  With a capacity of 3,114, the ship was refurbished in 2015.

Crown Princess (2006)

Debuting in 2006, Crown Princess is a 113,000 ton ship in the Crown Class that has a capacity of 3,080 guests.

Diamond Princess (2004)

Formerly a Gem Class ship in 2004 when it was launched, Diamond Princess is a 115,875 ton Grand Class ship that has a guest capacity of 2,670.

Caribbean Princess (2004)

As a modified Grand Class cruise ship Caribbean Princess is marginally larger than other ships in her class.  The 113,00 ton ship was launched in 2004 and has a capacity of 3,142 guests.  See our impressions of Caribbean Princess here.

Sapphire Princess (2004)

Sapphire Princess is a Crown Class cruise ship which debuted in 2004.  The 113,000 ton ship has a capacity of 3,080.

Island Princess (2003)

Island Princess is a Coral Class ship and the sister ship of Coral Princess.  The 91,627 ton ship was launched in 2003 and has a guest capacity of 2,214.

Coral Princess (2002)

Having debuted in 2002, Coral Princess is a 91,627 ton ship with a capacity of 1,970.  This is the sister ship to Island Princess.

Grand Princess (1998)

At the time Grand Princess was built in 1998 she was the most expensive and largest cruise ship in the world.  The Grand class ship is a 107,517 ton ship with a capacity of 3,100.

View Prices on Cruises on Princess

Note: This article was updated in March 2024.

When Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, Oceania Sonata, debuts in the summer of 2027, it will have the most exclusive fine dining restaurant at sea.

La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France will debut on Oceania Sonata and it will be the only restaurant at sea launched with the prestigious approval of the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.

Maîtres Cuisiniers de France is an internationally revered institution dedicated to preserving and advancing the heritage of French gastronomy.

The reservation-only dining experience will welcome just 18 guests and embrace classic French techniques and innovative pairings.

La Table will have a rotating menu that will showcase an array of meticulously crafted dishes, created in close collaboration with a selection of invited Master Chefs of France from across the globe. The dishes include:

• Granny Smith apple and langoustine tartlets
• Escargot‑stuffed Dover sole topped with rosace vegetables and a white wine sauce
• Spider crab potato roll crowned with Sturia Oscietra caviar

Chefs Quaretti and Barale will continually refine and evolve the menu onboard the ship. This will ensure that it will always be an ever-changing celebration of French culinary excellence.

The philosophy of Oceania Cruises has always been to serve The Finest Cuisine at Sea and this new restaurant will continue with that legacy.

La Table will also host Oceania Cruises’ acclaimed Dom Pérignon Experience, featuring a six-course tasting menu paired with three exceptional Champagne vintages.

Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, gave the following statement:

“At Oceania Cruises, our dedication to cuisine is rooted in continual refinement and respect for tradition, a philosophy mirrored by the storied Maîtres Cuisiniers de France organization. Through La Table, Chefs Quaretti and Barale bring this extraordinary and industry-leading collaboration to life. It will be a true celebration of culinary heritage, mastery and modern luxury, in ways which are both meaningful and unmistakably Oceania Cruises.”

Jean-Louis Dumonet, President of the USA and Canada delegation of the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France, added:

“La Table represents a natural evolution of the rich culinary tradition long associated with luxury ocean travel. Through our collaboration with Oceania Cruises and its culinary leaders Chefs Eric Barale and Alexis Quaretti, we’ve brought this heritage to life with authenticity, craftsmanship and deep respect for French gastronomy.

“La Table reflects our shared commitment to creating refined, memorable dining experiences where culinary artistry is central to the voyage.”

Carnival Cruise Line is tightening a policy on how cruisers carry their gear around private islands and elsewhere as collapsible wagons come into focus.

For cruising families, a beach day is made a lot easier when a collapsible wagon can carry all of the essentials. 

On a private island or other port of call a family might carry everything from snorkel gear, sandcastle tools, sunscreen, towels, snacks, and whatever else that comes with spending a full day at the beach (especially with kids).

But apparently, some of these wagons were causing an issue and the cruise line wants to get ahead of it.

Carnival has just updated its policy on those popular collapsible wagons to make the rules clearer.

Yesterday (April 20) we noticed that a new line has been added to Carnival’s “ban list” page:

“Wagons must be collapsed during embarkation and debarkation and may not be used on board (where allowed, wagons may be used in ports other than Carnival’s private destinations).”

What the New Rule Actually Means

Wagons are still permitted on board Carnival ships, but with these restrictions and limitations:

• They must be fully collapsed (folded flat) when you’re getting on or off the ship during embarkation, debarkation, or any port call.
• They cannot be rolled or used anywhere on the ship, so no wheeling them through hallways, elevators, or public areas. This makes sense as they can clog up those spaces.
• They can only be used in regular (non-private) ports if the ports allow. At Carnival’s private destinations, including Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay / RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, and Grand Turk, wagons are not allowed to be used.

The bigger news in this change is that these wagons are now banned at Carnival’s private islands and destinations. 

More than likely, the change is driven by practical concerns.  Rolling wagons through crowded hallways, elevators, and gangways can create tripping hazards and just cause human traffic jams that no one wants on a cruise.

For tendering ports these wagons can cause issues as well.

Practical Tips for Families

If you’re sailing with Carnival soon and were planning to bring a wagon:

• Collapse it completely for boarding and any time you’re moving on/off the ship.
• Store it in your cabin when not in use (don’t leave it in hallways).
• For private island days, consider lighter alternatives like backpack coolers, rolling duffel bags with shoulder straps, or maybe a few small tote bags.
• You can also use the ship-provided beach items or rent gear directly at the private destinations when available.

Carnival hasn’t issued a formal press release about this tweak.  It’s the kind of quiet policy clarification they often make to the help section of their website.

If you’re booked on a 2026 sailing, it’s worth double-checking the latest version of their “Items that cannot be taken off the ship” page before you pack.

Cruise Fever is constantly checking the “prohibited items” page for multiple cruise lines.  Often changes are made to these pages without fanfare or press releases, but it’s important for cruisers to know of any updates to the rules.

A Princess Cruises ship safely left the Japanese port of Hakodate on Monday, April 20, 2026, just before a major earthquake triggered tsunami warnings along parts of Japan’s northern coast.

The 2,000-passenger Coral Princess was in Hakodate as part of its scheduled North Pacific crossing from Japan to Alaska.

According to a passenger’s Facebook post shared during the event, “The Coral Princess left the Port of Hakodate about 30 minutes before this afternoon’s earthquake hit the region. We did not feel it at sea and we are in waters deep enough that a tsunami is not a worry for our ship. All safe here!”

The magnitude 7.5–7.6 earthquake struck off Japan’s northeast coast around 4:53 p.m. local time. Japan’s Meteorological Agency quickly issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas including Hokkaido (where Hakodate is located), Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi.

Officials warned of possible waves up to 9 feet in some spots. The warnings were later downgraded and fully lifted after only minor sea-level changes that were between half a foot and over 2 feet.

Thankfully, early reports detail only a handful of injuries and some minor damage due to swaying buildings and objects.  No major tsunami damage took place.

Cruise ships typically will move to deeper waters during tsunami warnings because the waves lose energy far from shore. This precautionary step keeps passengers and crew safe.

Silver Nova

A second cruise ship, Silver Nova from Silversea Cruises, was also in Hakodate that day on its published schedule (arriving around 8 AM and originally set to depart by 6 PM JST).

It left the port very close to its planned time and is now heading to its next stop at Miyako-Iwate on Japan’s east coast.  So far, there is no word on any impact on the itinerary.

From there, Silver Nova will continue its Japan-to-Alaska repositioning cruise.

Coral Princess to Alaska

Coral Princess arrived in Hakodate on time Monday morning and departed roughly on scheduled late-afternoon.

With the ship now well out at sea, it is continuing its itinerary without delay. Its next major destination is Whittier, Alaska, with an estimated arrival on April 28.

The Princess Cruises ship will then take passengers through Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, plus calls at popular Alaska ports such as Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan.

This North Pacific Crossing from Japan to Alaska is the final Asia-to-North America leg of the ship’s larger 131-day Circle Pacific voyage.  This long itinerary began on January 5, 2026, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is scheduled to end in Los Angeles in mid-May.

Just two days after safely guiding his 6,300-passenger cruise ship through the Strait of Hormuz, Captain Lauro Maresca shared a powerful message on Facebook.

As Cruise Fever reported over the weekend, all six cruise ships that had been waiting to exit the Persian Gulf for weeks were finally able to do so during a cautious cease-fire.

Even as some of the ships were still transiting the strait, reports were surfacing of Iran firing on other cargo vessels, making for an even more intense crossing for the captains of these giant cruise ships.

In a deeply personal post (translated from the original Italian), the captain of MSC Euribia reflected on the April 18 transit not just as a professional challenge, but as a profound inner experience that pushed him beyond the limits of skill alone.

Here is what he wrote:

“There is a boundary inside of me that I don’t see, but that I recognize every time I reach it. That’s where my skills end. And for years I thought there was the limit. On the contrary, no. That’s where my faith begins.

Yesterday, crossing Hormuz, I was not just a commander following procedures and reading instruments. I was a man in front of something bigger than myself. I felt the weight of responsibility, the thin tension, the presence of fear. But it didn’t stop me.

Because at that moment I clearly understood that my abilities and my faith are not two separate things. They work together. My abilities keep me stable, they keep me in control, they keep me going. My faith, on the other hand, carries me over, even when control is no longer enough.

The fear was there. But he was no longer in front of me. He was beside me, almost behind me, like something that didn’t matter to me anymore. And as I progressed, I felt that I wasn’t just doing my job. I was crossing that border inside me too. The one where I stop relying on only what I know how to do… & I’m really starting to trust. And every time I get there, I understand it’s not the end. It’s a passage. From there I become more than I thought I was.”

As we reported here on Cruise Fever in “Europe Cruise Season Back on Track,” MSC Euribia had been held in Dubai for weeks after regional tensions led to the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ship departed Dubai on April 17 with a small crew on board and successfully completed the transit the next day.

MSC Cruises confirmed the safe passage, carried out in close coordination with maritime authorities.

The vessel is now on its way to Northern Europe and is expected to arrive in time to restart her summer program as planned.

The reinstated sailings include the May 16 departure from Kiel, Germany, and the May 17 sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, along with all Northern Europe itineraries that are to follow.

Guests whose cruises were affected earlier have been offered the chance to transfer their bookings to these new dates.

Euribia was among a small group of cruise ships (including vessels from TUI Cruises, Celestyal, and Aroya) that made the same careful crossing.

Captain Maresca’s social media post has struck a chord with many in the cruise community because it revealed something the news headlines didn’t offer: the human side of it.  It’s hard to even imagine what that moment was like.

As a Cruise Fever writer, just refreshing the tracking data websites constantly over the weekend to see the status of these ships was stressful enough.  To actually be on the ship is another matter altogether.

With the ship now safely out of the Gulf and heading toward calmer waters, it’s welcome news for passengers eager to enjoy her Baltic and North Sea itineraries this summer.