Posts in category: Diplomacy

The world’s fastest growing ocean cruise line, Viking, celebrated the float out of its second hydrogen-powered cruise ship that will debut next spring.

Viking Astrea reached a major construction milestone when the ship was floated out at Fincantieri’s Ancona Shipyard in Italy.

A ceremonial cord was cut, signaling water to flow and fill the dry dock. It will take two days to fill the dry dock and float the ship to the outfitting pier.

The hydrogen-powered cruise ship will now move to the final stage of construction, the ship’s outfitting, where the inside of the ship will be completed. Viking Astrea will debut in May 2027 and sail its inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The ship will be 54,300 gross tons in size, have 499 cabins, and carry up to 998 guests. Viking Astrea will be nearly identical to the rest of Viking’s ocean ships.

Viking Astrea will have a propulsion system based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells. This hybrid propulsion system will make her capable of navigating and operating with zero emissions, which would allow her to access even the most environmentally sensitive areas

Enabled by Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), Fincantieri’s subsidiary specializing in advanced fuel cell technology, the ship’s state-of-the-art propulsion system will be capable of producing up to six megawatts of power.

Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking, gave the following statement:

“The float out of the Viking Astrea represents another important milestone for Viking. From the beginning, we have sought thoughtful ways to design more efficient ships, and the Viking Astrea is an important step forward in that ongoing effort.”

Viking’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship that’s capable of operating at zero emissions, Viking Libra, is scheduled to be completed in November 2026.

Viking currently has a fleet of 13 ocean cruise ships in service. Once Viking Astrea joins the fleet next spring, the cruise line will add another five ocean ships that will be built by the end of 2030.

Bookings are now open for Carnival Cruise Line’s final Excel-class ship that is set to sail from Galveston, Texas, in 2028.

Carnival’s Excel-class ships have been a big hit for the cruise line, ever since the first ship in the class, Mardi Gras, came out in 2020.

Carnival Tropicale, the final ship in the class, is officially on the schedule, and she is set to debut in the Lone Star State and join another Excel ship that has already been sailing out of Galveston, Carnival Jubilee.

These ships can accommodate 5,228 passengers at double capacity and 6,631 at max capacity. So, that’s a lot of Texas residents who can sail out of the local port for the cruise line.

Here are the new sailings just opened up on Tropicale:

The name Carnival Tropicale isn’t actually new to the fleet. Back in 1982, Carnival launched the original Tropicale, and it was the very first ship purpose-built for Carnival rather than converted from an older ocean vessel.

She was around 36,600 gross tons and carried about 1,000 passengers. Fast forward to today, and this new mega-ship will come in over 183,000 gross tons and carry more than five times the passengers.

Galveston is really on the move lately, attracting larger ships and building newer terminals.

And Carnival’s commitment to Galveston has been growing too. Carnival was actually the first cruise line to operate year-round sailings out of Galveston way back in 2000 with Celebration.

To celebrate a new ship coming to Texas, Carnival is even painting the iconic Star of Texas right onto the bow, just like on Jubilee.

Over in Papenburg, Germany, where the ship is being built at MEYER WERFT shipyard, the team hosted a western-themed party with custom cowboy hard hats and Texas barbecue to celebrate the occasion.

What’s New on Tropicale?

Galveston cruisers will get to experience some new features on Carnival Tropicale, including the addition of Sunsation Point, which is a multi-deck hub with Carnival WaterWorks Ultra (complete with six waterslides), alongside a Route 66-themed mini-golf course called Fairway 66, and a arcade called The Vault Retrocade.

For foodies, Carnival is debuting The Next Course concept lineup, which includes Uku Lei Lei (Hawaiian-Asian fusion) and Fetaccine (a Greek and Italian combo), right alongside Emeril Lagasse’s popular Emeril’s Coastal Seafood.

When she arrives in April 2028, Carnival Tropicale will run 4- to 8-day Caribbean itineraries, visiting ports like Cozumel, Nassau, Progreso, Celebration Key, RelaxAway, and Isla Tropicale.

Check out the newly opened sailings on Carnival Tropicale on Carnival’s website here.

For the second time in two months, Royal Caribbean has brought back double points on new cruises booked between now and September 21, 2026.

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line, and for the next two weeks, you can earn double loyalty points on select cruises through the end of April 2027.

This promotion from Royal Caribbean is valid for new bookings made by September 21, 2026, on cruises that are nine nights or less and depart from October 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. You can view the best prices on Royal Caribbean cruises here.

Crown & Anchor Society members can receive double points on up to two cruises booked during this promotion. Members who booked two cruises under a previous promotion may book up to two additional eligible cruises under this offer.

If a guest books more than two cruises during this time, double points will be awarded to the two cruises with the earliest departure dates.

If a guest sails solo and pays full fare, they will receive one additional set of loyalty points for traveling solo, in addition to double points.

Solo travelers paying full fare in a suite will receive two additional sets of loyalty points, in addition to the triple points earned on the cruise, for a total of 5x loyalty points.

Double points are combinable with various promotions the cruise line is currently offering, including BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and Free 3rd & 4th Guests, as well as promotional OBCs and Next Cruise offers.

One important thing to note is that this double Points offer is not applicable to the Best Price Guarantee. The offer will be removed from the booking if a guest applies a fare change or changes the ship or sail date of the booking; other changes to the booking may also result in removal of the offer.

For complete terms and conditions of this double points offer from Royal Caribbean, contact your preferred travel professional or visit RoyalCaribbean.com.

Travel agents can be lifesavers in certain situations. But they are human too, and it pays to verify a few details if you want to make sure your vacation goes according to plan.

In this case, a Disney cruise reservation was canceled because one of the most important parts of the booking process was mishandled.

A Silver Castaway Club member and family were all set for the only 7-night Canada cruise currently scheduled out of New York on Disney Cruise Line. The ship: Disney Wish.

They worked with their usual Disney travel agent and locked in two guaranteed family veranda cabins.

The booking process was a bit chaotic, but the agent confirmed the rooms were secured last week. The cruiser, who posted the entire ordeal on Reddit, handed over a credit card for the deposit and thought everything was taken care of.

Then came the call.

“This morning, I received a call from her informing me that she failed to send our deposit on to DCL, so both rooms had been canceled. Apparently, she’d set a calendar reminder for the wrong date. Of course, as you all know, that voyage is entirely sold out now (except for the Tower Suite, which now shows a $60k price tag for the week).”

The person posting this story said they had received an invoice, submitted the card (which was never charged), and had confirmation the agent received it.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that we did everything right… and through a clerical error on the part of the person who gets paid to help us with these things, now we are SOL.”

The agent apologized and promised to keep trying, but sailings like this sell out fast and are even harder to book if too much time after the final payment date has already passed.

From years of booking my own cruises through many cruise line websites, this is exactly the kind of mistake that should never happen and is completely preventable.

Once an agent confirms rooms are held and takes payment information, the deposit needs to go through that same day, ideally right then and there on the Disney travel agent portal or over the phone with DCL.

Sure, it’s easy to say in hindsight, but holds expire and cabins get booked fast on popular sailings that are only offered one time.

Setting a calendar reminder for the wrong date is the sort of mistake that separates a reliable agent from one who ends up just creating more stress.

The Internet Reacted Exactly How You’d Expect

The post on social media quickly racked up hundreds of comments (now over 300) in just the first 24 hours, and the consensus was pretty clear that this was a completely avoidable mistake.

Many were surprised the deposit wasn’t processed the same day the credit card info was provided.

“Granted I’m not a TA and I am aware TA have multiple customers, but I would think that as soon as you gave your TA your credit card info to make the deposits on the rooms, the TA should have started the transaction that day instead of scheduling for a different day to do it.”

Another comment stated: “Why in the world did the TA not make the deposit immediately upon receiving the credit card number? I don’t understand waiting to do so.”

A former travel agent gave some practical advice that many others shared as well: agents should charge the card directly on the Disney site or over the phone with DCL so the charge comes from Disney, then immediately send the confirmation number.

Without that confirmation number, assume you don’t have a reservation.

In my experience, the moment you walk away from a booking without a confirmation number (or email) from the cruise line, you don’t actually have a booking. Good agents know this and treat the deposit like the most important step of the entire process.

Plenty of people shared that this kind of error is why they stopped using agents for Disney Cruises (or most cruises) altogether.

“TAs come downvote me – but no one needs a TA for DCL. A 5 years old could log on and book a cruise if you gave them a credit card, it’s that easy.”

Others went further: “I’ll go a step further and say that no one needs a TA for most trips. It is so easy to research and book vacation destinations now with the internet… I personally would never put my vacation in someone else’s hands.”

One cruiser who’s done 22 sailings (nine with Disney) and helps family book theirs put it this way: “My travel agent could make a mistake like the one OP experienced, but I won’t. Or if I do, at least I can live with the knowledge it was my own dumb fault.”

It’s true that cruise lines have made it easier than ever for guests to book their own cruises and manage their own sailings.

Disney Cruise Line is one of the easiest major cruise lines to book yourself. For straightforward family veranda bookings like this, the value an average agent adds is pretty much limited to onboard credit or the convenience of not having to click the buttons yourself.

That being said, this is not an anti-travel-agent rambling. Especially for complicated bookings with many cabins reserved, a travel agent can save you a ton of headaches and catch things you might miss (a good one that is).

One former agent admitted the anxiety of making exactly this kind of mistake used to keep them up at night. Their advice? Keep watching the sailing.

People cancel, especially closer to final payment. Cabins can and do pop back up.

Bottom Line

Mistakes happen. Travel agents are human, and popular sailings move fast.  I know, this isn’t earth shattering information here.

But when the entire point of using a professional is reliability on the most important details, a missed deposit on a sold-out cruise is a tough one to justify.

But who knows, maybe this can be a lesson for someone else. After all, I’d rather learn from someone else’s mistakes than my own.

The key takeaway is to get that confirmation number right after payment info has been sent over. Assume you don’t have a cruise booked until this happens.

Two weeks ago, Cruise Fever reported that the board of trustees at the Port of Galveston voted to approve Margaritaville at Sea to sail from the port sometime in 2027.

Today, the cruise line announced that its next new ship, Beachcomber, will offer four- to seven-night cruises from Galveston to the Western Caribbean and The Bahamas beginning October 2027.

The cruise ship will offer one of the widest ranges of cruises from Texas. The new itineraries are now open for bookings with cruise visits to the following ports:

• Aruba
• Key West
• Curaçao
• Grand Cayman
• Montego Bay
• Belize
• Progreso
• Roatán
• Cozumel
• Grand Bahama Island
• Veracruz, Mexico

Beachcomber will bring more than 15 new experiences to cruises from Texas, including 5 o’Clock Somewhere, Hemisphere Dancer, Cheeseburger in Paradise, License to Chill and more.

Texas is known for its country music, and Beachcomber will bring a little extra star power to the Gulf. Same Boat, the world’s first artist-designed live music venue on the water, was created in collaboration with three-time GRAMMY Award winner Zac Brown to capture the energy and atmosphere of a Zac Brown Band show at sea.

The artist-curated venue will pair live performances with elevated cocktails in a space inspired by Brown’s musical influences and signature style, giving Texas guests a place to grab a drink, catch a show, and settle in for a night of great live music.

Same Boat will also feature a specially curated roster of top-tier talent uniquely selected for the Texas market.

Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea, gave the following statement:

“Texas knows how to have a good time, so bringing Margaritaville at Sea to Galveston feels like a natural fit. With Beachcomber, we’re giving guests an incredible ship and more choices for where their vacation can take them, including places they simply can’t reach on other cruises from Galveston. It’s a chance to see more, go farther and make every getaway a little different, all while experiencing the Margaritaville lifestyle at sea.”

When MSC Cruises’ newest ship, MSC World Asia, debuts later this year, it will have more than 40 bars, lounges, and restaurants, including five brand-new immersive bar concepts.

MSC World Asia will be the third World class ship from MSC Cruises, the largest class in their growing fleet. It will feature a total of 13 new experiences and reimagined spaces when it debuts in December 2026.

One of the brand-new bar concepts on the cruise ship is a Soda Bar designed for families and friends to come together. Here is a look at the new bars, lounges and cafés coming to MSC World Asia.

Clubhouse and Soda Bar

Clubhouse & Soda Bar will be Colorful, playful, and inspired by the nostalgia of the 1980s and 1990s. At the Soda Bar, guests can put their own spin on the latest non-alcoholic drink trend by creating personalized “sodas,” choosing a soda base and adding cream, tasty flavored syrups, and toppings.

The space will change depending on what time it is. By day, guests can enjoy MSC Cruises-themed games, interactive digital tables and challenges, while younger guests and families can explore the LEGO area, and The Court offers bumper cars and activities for all ages.

As evening falls, the space evolves into a lively social hub with a variety of cocktails and mocktails available to suit guests of all ages.

Sky Box Bar

The Sky Box Bar will be located in the Luna Park Arena and will offer an intimate and sophisticated space to enjoy premium drinks and unique cocktails. It will draw inspiration of the imaginative world of early 20th-century Futurism, the cocktail menu will reimagine timeless favorites with a contemporary touch.

Guests can watch bartenders bring their creations to life through moments of mixology theatre, adding an element of surprise and discovery to every drink.

With premium spirits, refined cocktails and attentive service, the Sky Box Bar will create an atmosphere of effortless elegance – the perfect place for a pre-show aperitif before the excitement of Luna Park Arena or a stylish late-night drink to soak up the atmosphere of the venue.

The Terraces Bar & Lounge

The Terraces Bar & Lounge will capture the effortless charm of the Italian aperitivo in a relaxed yet refined setting, with panoramic sea views providing the perfect backdrop.

Guests will be able to savor classic cocktails including Negroni and Aperol Spritz, alongside a curated selection of spritzes, wines, and prosecco, complemented by traditional bites such as focaccia and olives.

The lounge will have live music and will be the perfect spot to watch the sun set each evening.

Coral Cove Bar

Located within Coral Cove Pool, Coral Cove Bar is inspired by the beauty of a Philippine coral reef and offers a relaxed poolside retreat where guests can enjoy a selection of classic drinks. The space will provide guests with a welcoming atmosphere to unwind and socialize throughout the day.

Pan Asian Bar

Overlooking the Promenade, this bar and lounge forms part of the flagship’s new Pan Asian Street Food restaurant, one of three venues within the concept inspired by Southeast Asian street food.

The bar will offer Southeast Asian-inspired special cocktails and beverages, including Jasmine Mojitos, Rose and Strawberry Daiquiris, and Matcha Coladas. Guests can also enjoy a variety of beers from throughout Asia, as well as a specially crafted at-sea drought beer called “Oceanic Asian” with an oriental note.

MSC World Asia will debut on December 4, 2026, a seven-night cruise in the Mediterranean.

This past spring, Holland America Line announced its largest fleet upgrade ever, a $500 million project called Holland America Evolution that will upgrade and add new features to six cruise ships.

Oosterdam was the first ship to receive these upgrades in late 2027. Now, Holland America Line has canceled a few cruises to move the project up by five weeks.

The cruise line said that they are moving the project forward due to strong demand for cruises on upgraded cruise ships. Because of this, the following sailings are canceled:

• September 11, 2027
• September 21, 2027
• October 2, 2027
• December 2, 2027
• December 9, 2027

Guests who were booked on one of the canceled cruises will be contacted about rebooking options.

Oosterdam will now return to service with new features on October 31, 2027, a 10-day cruise from Rome to Trieste, Italy. Guests aboard the sailing will be among the first to experience the reimagined ship while visiting destinations in Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.

An additional four new cruises have been added to Oosterdam’s schedule. They are an 11-day Mediterranean voyage from Trieste to Piraeus (Athens), Greece, departing November 10, 2027; a seven-day Mediterranean cruise from Piraeus to Barcelona, Spain, departing November 21, 2027; a 13-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leaving November 28, 2027; and an 11-day Caribbean cruise sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, departing on December 11, 2027.

Guests booked on what were previously the inaugural cruise and first transatlantic cruise in December 2027 will have the opportunity to move to the corresponding new cruises and remain among the first guests to sail on the post-Evolution Oosterdam. These new sailings will open for bookings early next month.

Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, gave the following statement:

“We’re very happy with the unprecedented response we’ve received to Holland America Evolution, and we’re thrilled we can move up Oosterdam’s dry dock to meet guest demand.

“Starting earlier allows us to create five additional cruises on the newly reimagined ship. Guests will have more opportunities to enjoy all of the enhancements coming to Oosterdam, from new stateroom and suite categories to the Grand Dutch Café and redesigned Ocean Bar. We’re excited to welcome guests aboard as Oosterdam begins this new chapter and to give them the opportunity to be among the first to experience her transformation.”

Princess Cruises is inviting its top guests to enter a contest for a chance to win a ride aboard the cruise line’s float in the 2027 Rose Parade.

Princess Cruises is inviting Captain’s Circle Elite members to “Share Your Princess Story” for a chance to ride on Princess’ floral float in the 138th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2027.

Four winners will be selected to receive a trip for two and the opportunity to “sail” down Colorado Boulevard on Princess’ float; entries are open now through September 22, 2026.

How to Enter

To enter, eligible Captain’s Circle Elite members can submit a 300- to 500-word essay that celebrates the unforgettable memories, meaningful connections, and extraordinary destinations that have made Princess part of their story.

The entry form, official rules, prize description, and eligibility details are available at www.princessshareyourstory.com, and terms and conditions apply.

The contest is open to residents of the 50 United States and Canada, excluding Quebec. You must also be at least 18 years old and have completed 150 days on Princess ships or 15 cruises as of the start of the contest.

The winners will be selected on October 6, 2026, and receive a trip for two to Pasadena, including the winner riding aboard Princess’ float in the Rose Parade.

This will be the second consecutive year that Princess Cruises has had a float in the Rose Parade. The 2027 float will have the theme “Welcome”. It will reflect the discovery, connection, and sense of belonging that comes with exploring the world.

The float will be approximately 55 feet long and 22 feet high and feature more than 320,000 flowers, seeds, bark, leaves, and other natural materials. It will showcase areas of the world visited by Princess cruise ships, including Alaska, Japan, Australia, and Europe.

Marie Lee, Princess Cruises Chief Marketing Officer, gave the following statement:

“Princess guests have been at the heart of our story for more than 60 years, and many have shared incredible moments with us across decades of travel. As we celebrate the Rose Parade theme of ‘Welcome,’ we can’t think of a more meaningful way to bring it to life than by inviting some of our most loyal guests to share the Princess stories they treasure most – and welcoming four of them aboard our float on New Year’s Day.”

Seabourn, one of eight cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation, has announced a new 30-day cruise from Miami in 2028 that will sail up the Amazon River.

Seabourn Quest will depart from PortMiami on November 18, 2028, and return on December 18, 2028. The cruise ship will visit 15 destinations in seven countries and will be part of the cruise line’s Ruby Jubilee year celebrating its 40th anniversary.

This 30-day Amazon Explorer: Rivers & Rainforests itinerary will visit culturally rich destinations in northern South America along with a trip up the Amazon.

The new cruise follows a thoughtfully designed route from the Caribbean into the Amazon River, offering guests opportunities to experience vibrant cultures, remote communities and the changing landscapes that have captivated explorers and travelers for generations.

Highlights of the cruise include:

• Amazon River scenic cruising
• Manaus, Brazil
• Santarém, Brazil
• Boca da Valeria, Brazil
• Paritins, Brazil
• Devil’s Island, French Guiana
• Gustavia, Saint Barthelemy

After leaving Miami, the ship will visit the Caribbean before entering the Amazon River. A highlight of the trip will be an overnight stay in the gateway of the Amazon, Manaus, a historic city surrounded by rainforest.

Stops at Santarém, Boca da Valeria and Parintins will offer opportunities for guests to experience the landscapes, cultures and traditions shaped by one of the world’s great waterways.

The cruise ship will visit Devil’s Island in French Guiana, known for its dramatic history and remote setting, as well as make calls in the Caribbean, including Saint Barthelemy, Trinidad, and Grenada.

Prices for this 30-day Amazon cruise start at $13,499 per person for an ocean view cabin, $17,999 for a balcony, $31,499 for a Penthouse Suite, and $37,799 for Owner’s Suite and above.

The cruise will kick off a season of extended travel on Seabourn Quest. Following the 30-day trip to the Amazon, the ship will sail two 10-day Caribbean cruises before departing on an epic 138-day cruise around the world.

Mark Tamis, President of Seabourn, gave the following statement about this new cruise:

“The Amazon is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations, offering a sense of exploration unlike anywhere else in the world. Seabourn Quest will take guests into the heart of the Amazon to discover its extraordinary landscapes, cultures and traditions, while delivering the personalized service, thoughtfully curated experiences and intimate atmosphere that define Seabourn.”