Diplomacy

Celebrity Cruises canceled today’s sailing on Celebrity Infinity after the previous cruise was cut short due to power and technical issues on the ship.

Celebrity Infinity was scheduled to sail an 11-night cruise from Piraeus (Athens), Greece today. The sailing to the Greek Isles and Turkey has been canceled.

The cruise ship returned to Piraeus early from its previous sailing after it lost power in the Mediterranean. Guests on the shortened cruise received a one day refund of their cruise fare that was given in the form of refundable onboard credit, a $100 credit for incidentals, and up $200/$400 for any air change fees.

Guests who were booked on today’s sailing will receive a 100% refund of their cruise fare and a 100% future cruise credit for the amount that they paid for their sailing.

Celebrity Cruises sent out a letter to guests who were booked on today’s sailing that said the following:

“Dear Guest,

“We want to share an important update regarding our upcoming sailing on Celebrity Infinity.

“During the previous voyage, the ship experienced a technical issue and while experts have been working diligently, we need additional assessments and repairs. After carefully considering all options, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the February 16, 2026, sailing. We sincerely apologize for this unexpected change and disruption this causes to your travel plans.

“While we can’t give you back the time you invested in your vacation, we are committed to ensuring you feel fully supported as you adjust your plans.”

The letter went on to give the compensation that guests would be receiving due to the canceled voyage.

This is not the first time that Celebrity Cruises has had power issues on Infinity due to technical problems. Last July, the ship spent extra time in Turkey after it lost power due to a small electrical fire.

Teresa Lathem, a passenger on the previous cruise, posted the following about the ship’s power outage.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings just announced today that the company has entered an agreement for three new cruise ship builds, one for each of its brands.

With today’s announcement, NCLH now has 17 ships scheduled for delivery over the next 10 years.

New Ships on Order

Norwegian is adding one ship for each of these brands under its umbrella: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Here are the three new ships that were just announced:

• Norwegian Cruise Line: A large “New Class” vessel (5,000+ guests).
• Oceania Cruises: A “Sonata Class” vessel (1,390 guests).
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises: A “Prestige Class” luxury vessel (822 guests).

According to a press release from the company all three vessels will be built at Fincantieri’s shipyards in Italy.

Brand new CEO, John W. Chidsey, said that the agreement helps solidify the company’s long-term growth.

“Together with Fincantieri, a trusted partner for decades, we continue to advance a disciplined approach to fleet growth that builds on the strength of our brands, defines the future of cruising and elevates the guest experience for years to come,” Chidsey stated.

Chidsey just recently took the helm at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings last week.

List of all 17 Ships on Order with NCLH

Here is the full list of the 17 ships on order through 2037 for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

2026 Deliveries

• Norwegian Luna: NCL’s next major vessel coming in April. 156,000 gross tons with room for 3,565 passengers.
• Seven Seas Prestige: Regent’s first ship in its new class arriving near the end of the year. 77,000 gross tons with 822 berths.

2027–2029 Deliveries

• 2027 Norwegian Aura: A larger NCL ship at 170,000 gross tons and 3,880 passenger capacity.
• 2027 Oceania Sonata: The first of a new class for Oceania Cruises. 86,000 gross tons with 1,390 berths.
• 2028 Next-Gen Prima Class: A “Methanol-Ready” Prima Class ship.  170,000 tons and 3,880 berths.
• 2029 Oceania Arietta: A sister ship to Sonata at 86,000 gross tons and 1,390-guest capacity.

2030–2034 Ships on Order

• 2030 NCL New Class 1: The first of NCL’s next-generation ships at 227,000 gross tons and 5,000 berths.
• 2030 Seven Seas Prestige Class 2: The second luxury vessel in this series for Regent.  77,000 gross tons and 822 berths.
• 2032 Oceania Sonata Class 3: A third vessel for Oceania.  86,000 tons and 1,390 berths.
• 2032 NCL New Class 2: The second 5,000-guest mega-ship for Norwegian.
• 2033 Seven Seas Prestige Class 3: A third ultra-luxury ship for Regent.
• 2034 NCL New Class 3: The third 5,000-guest mega-ship for Norwegian.

2035–2037 Deliveries

• 2035 Oceania Sonata Class 4: A fourth sister ship for Oceania.
• 2036 NCL New Class 4: The fourth mega-ship in NCL’s 5,000-guest class.
• 2036 Seven Seas Prestige Class 4: The fourth ship currently planned for Regent. 822 passengers.
• 2037 NCL New Class 5: The final mega ship in the new class currently on order for Norwegian. 5,000 guests.
• 2037 Oceania Sonata Class 5: The final planned vessel for Oceania’s mid-sized ships.

Valentine’s Day is always special  on Carnival and the cruise line will celebrate the largest vow renewal at sea today.

The vow renewals will be virtually officiated by the one and only Shaquille O’Neal, Carnival Cruise Line’s Chief Fun officer.

Over 1,000 married couples are expected to participate in the vow renewals across the Carnival fleet. They will gather on the Lido Deck on 28 ships to reaffirm their love.

The symbolic ceremonies are complete with a champagne toast, celebratory cake and other surprises to mark the occasion.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“A big congratulations to all the couples who are sharing such a meaningful part of their lives with us. Whether guests are renewing their vows or just creating new memories together, we’re honored to be part of the celebrations that make their time at sea so special.”

Last year, nearly 1,500 additional couples participated in Carnival’s wedding program. This includes weddings, engagements and personalized vow renewals.

Norwegian Cruise Line quietly rolled out an updated dress code policy with the biggest changes affecting guests that book one of their specialty dining options.

Cruise lines update dress codes for meals from time to time to improve the experience on their ships. Norwegian is the latest cruise line to make a few minor changes to what guests are allowed to wear.

So what changes did Norwegian make? Here is a look at NCL’s new restaurant dress code.

Attire with offensive language/images are not permitted at any time.

For daytime outlets, 24 hour food outlets, the Food Hall, Haven Restaurant & VIP, shirts (and cover-ups) and footwear are required.

For evening Main Dining Rooms and specialty restaurants, the following is not permitted:

• Tank tops
• Hoodies
• Robes
• Jeans with holes or excessively revealing tears
• Caps/Hats

In addition, guests dining at Palomer, Onda, Cagney’s Le Bistro and the Haven are not permitted to wear flip flops or shorts.

Carnival Cruise Line is offering two new bundles that turn regular sailings on their ships into nearly all-inclusive ones.

For the next five days, Carnival Cruise Line is offering “Bundle Savings You’ll Love” where you can choose one of two special packages when you book a cruise.

The two packages offered are “Upgrade Your Fun” and “Sip & Surf”. Here’s what’s included in both deals.

Carnival’s “Upgrade Your Fun” includes up to $500 in onboard credit and 25% off select onboard experiences. This includes shore excursions, premium WiFi, CHEERS! Beverage Program and spa treatments (embarkation and port days).

The $500 in onboard credit can be used before your cruise or after your board the ship. To receive the 25% discount, onboard experiences must be purchased by March 31, 2026.

The second, “Sip & Surf”, includes the CHEERS! Beverage Package, premium WiFi and two-for-one cruise deposits.

Both deals run through February 16, 2026 and you can check the best prices on Carnival cruises here.

This offer is available on select three- to five-day cruises from April 15 2026 to December 31, 2026 and select six- to eight-day sailings from May 15, 2026 – December 31, 2026.

For complete terms and details of this new sale from Carnival Cruise Line, contact your preferred travel professional or visit Carnival.com.

This offer is good for new bookings only.

Bookings opened this week on an epic 128-day cruise that will set sail in 2029 and visit 63 unique destinations all around the world.

Explora Journeys, a luxury all-inclusive cruise line, announced their “Endless Worlds” cruise that will depart in 2029 on Explora I.

The cruise ship will depart from Dubai on January 6, 2029 and end in Barcelona 128 days later on May 14, 2029.

The cruise will be broken up into the following seven segments:

• Dubai to Singapore (20 nights)
• Singapore to Sydney (23 nights)
• Sydney to Auckland (14 nights)
• Auckland to Tahiti (17 nights)
• Tahiti to Valparaiso (14 nights)
• Valparaiso to Miami (21 nights)
• Miami to Barcelona (20 nights)

The seven segments will form one long continuous journey and visit 63 ports. 44 of the ports will be maiden stops for the cruise line and 12 will have an overnight stay, giving guests more time in the most iconic cities around the word.

The following is included in all cruise fares:

• International Business Class flights
• Unlimited premium beverages
• Premium WiFi
• Weekly laundry
• Nine culinary experiences
• One-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Dubai
• Private door-to-door transfers & luggage service
• Visa & travel document assistance
• Up to 1,000 USD/EUR Journey Experience Credit per person
• Curated Destination Experiences Three exclusive celebratory events ashore
• Curated onboard experience, including Ocean Wellness Retreats and Restorative Experiences
• View Prices on Explora Journeys

Cruisers will have the option of ending their cruise in Miami, New York City or Barcelona.

Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, gave the following statement about this epic cruise:

“Endless Worlds is an invitation to experience the world as one uninterrupted story — a Journey that unfolds gradually, gracefully and with an emphasis on continuity.

“In opening sales, we are inviting our guests to secure their place on a rare voyage designed around the true luxury of time. Each Journey option reflects the signature values of Explora Journeys: unhurried discovery, cultural curiosity, intuitive service and a profound connection to the sea.

“Whether it’s the spiritual tranquility found in a Balinese temple or the vast theatre of the open ocean, we are providing a sanctuary from which to witness the world in its most authentic form.”

In what officials are calling a deliberate act, a 50-year-old German cruise passenger died last week after falling from the vessel Costa Smeralda while it was docked at Pier 12 in the Port of Civitavecchia.

Italian news sources, including RomaToday and TRC Giornale, reported that the incident happened around 2:00 p.m. on February 6, and the passenger plummeted from a height of about 30 meters (98 feet).

Emergency responders, including firefighters, were already on the scene from an unrelated incident that took place earlier at the Bonifazi station.

These responders were in the process of working on a helicopter landing to evacuate a different passenger who had gotten sick on board the ship.

But right after the man’s fall, onboard medical staff and emergency crew tried to resuscitate the man.  A doctor on the scene pronounced him dead shortly after.

The port police and Coast Guard conducted an investigation and classified the incident as a “voluntary gesture”, meaning the fall was likely deliberate.

Costa Cruises confirmed the death of the passenger and gave their sympathies to the family.

“It is with deep sadness that we confirm the death of a guest of German nationality that occurred today in the port of Civitavecchia. According to an initial reconstruction, the guest jumped voluntarily onto the wharf while the ship was in port for normal operations. The crew intervened immediately, activating all emergency procedures”, the cruise line said in a translated statement.

Costa Cruises is an Italian cruise line under the umbrella of Carnival Corp & plc.  Costa Smeralda is one of two Excellence-class ships with the cruise line.   It was built in 2019 and is the second largest ship to operate with Costa Cruises.

The vessel can accommodate 6,554 passengers at max capacity and 5,224 at double-capacity.

The ship was cleared to depart for its next scheduled stop in Palma de Mallorca by 8:30 PM that evening.