Diplomacy

Royal Caribbean currently has 29 cruise ships in their fleet that carry more guests each year than every other cruise line.

Royal Caribbean also has the eight largest cruise ships in the world with many more being built over the next decade.

The cruise line now has six cruise ships either under construction or on order with options for an additional two. In addition, Royal Caribbean secured shipbuilding spots with Meyer Turku this past fall for in a deal that will run through 2036.

Here is a look at the six future Royal Caribbean ships, across three different classes, that are being built by Royal Caribbean.

Discovery Class

Last week, Royal Caribbean announced that they have officially placed an order for two Discovery class ships. The first will debut in 2029 with the second coming out in 2032.

They will be built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.

At this time, the cruise line has given very few details about this new class of ships. They did say that this new class would blend cutting-edge technology with immersive experiences in a way the travel industry hasn’t seen before.

Michael Bayley, President of Royal Caribbean, said that the Discovery class will deliver extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences in ways that we’ve never imagined.

In the past, Royal Caribbean has hinted that this new class may be smaller than the massive ships they have been building. However, we currently have no idea what the gross tonnage will be for the Discovery class.

Icon Class

The largest class of ships in the world at just under 250,000 gross tons, Royal Caribbean currently has two in service with three more either under construction or on order.

Legend of the Seas will debut on July 4, 2026, a seven-night cruise in the Mediterranean. After four months of offering cruises in Europe, the ship will head to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for the winter 2026-2027 season.

Once the ship is at Port Everglades, it will sail six- and eight-night cruises to the Caribbean with all sailings visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay. In the spring of 2027, the ship will head back to Europe.

Icon 4 is currently under construction and will debut in 2027. Royal Caribbean has yet to release the name, homeport, and itineraries for this new vessel.

The cruise line recently announced that the first piece of steel was cut for Icon 5. The ship is currently scheduled to debut in 2028.

Royal Caribbean also has options with Meyer Turku to build Icon 6 and 7. At the time of press, the cruise line has yet to exercise these options.

Oasis Class

The Oasis class ushered in the era of Mega ships with the debut of Oasis of the Seas more than 15 years ago. Royal Caribbean currently has six Oasis class ships in service with a seventh one debuting in 2028.

The name and homeport for Oasis 7 have yet to be revealed by Royal Caribbean.

List of Future Royal Caribbean ships:

• 2026 – Legend of the Seas
• 2027 – Icon 4
• 2028 – Oasis 7
• 2028 – Icon 5
• 2029 – Discovery 1
• 2032 – Discovery 2

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway wasn’t supposed to bring cruise passengers back to Manhattan until February 3, but severe weather off the U.S. East Coast forced the ship to return earlier today.

The 4,819-max capacity ship just finished a Caribbean sailing that was initially slated for 11 days.  Thanks to a “bomb cyclone” and very high winds, the ship has returned early for the safety of passengers and crew.

Itinerary Changes and Weather Impact

The ship left New York on January 23. To stay ahead of the storm system, NCL canceled a scheduled visit to St. Thomas on January 30.

After a visit to the port call in St. Maarten, Norwegian Breakaway began heading north toward the U.S. East Coast.

Cruise Industry News shared the letter sent to guests in which the cruise line explained:

“A large winter system moving through the eastern United States and the North Atlantic is affecting our ability to return to New York City on the original schedule and is making it challenging to maintain the speed needed for our planned turnaround.”

Conditions at Sea

Firsthand accounts from passengers on board showed just how intense the storm was. On the morning of February 2, instruments on the ship recorded peak wind speeds of 95 knots (approximately 109 mph) while passing the coast of Virginia.

A passenger took to Reddit to described the situation:

“Well, it is 4:54 in the morning and we cancelled our stop in St Thomas to rush back to NY 30 hours early to avoid the ‘bomb cyclone’. We are now off the coast of Virginia and we are apparently right in the middle of this thing. PS. 95 knts = 109 mph winds. It’s been a rough night.”

As the ship continued north, the weather had a definite impact on its speed back to New York. By 7:35 PM, the same passenger said:

“Captain announced we are going to be delayed getting into NY because we are only running on two generators. We have not gone over about 8.5 kts since this morning. We are fighting the wind so we are barely moving.”

Ice Issues in New York

The Breakaway-class ship reached New York on Monday, but it faced more delays when trying to enter the Manhattan Cruise Terminal due to ice.

Extremely low temperatures and ice buildup have been an issue around New York over the last several days as ice breakers have had to constantly break up the ice to make way for ships and smaller vessels.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been using several ice breaker vessels to keep the shipping lanes open around New York. According to some local reports, the ice has become thick enough to stop all NYC Ferry services.

Passenger Accommodations

Because the ship reached New York ahead of its official Tuesday morning return, NCL is offering overnight stays for guests that want to remain on board the ship through the original disembarkation date on Tuesday.

Passengers that want to leave early are able to do so as well. 

All shore excursions for the canceled port of call at St. Thomas were refunded to passengers’ onboard accounts.

Norwegian Breakaway is expected to begin its next scheduled sailing on February 3.

Just last week Cruise Fever reported that Carnival Sunshine also returned to its homeport earlier than originally scheduled.  In this case the cruise line decided to sail back to Norfolk, Virginia ahead of a major winter storm that was on its way.

Norwegian Cruise Line has officially confirmed that the Broadway hit Jersey Boys is concluding its run on Norwegian Bliss.

The change was highlighted by a social media post from a cruise passenger that shared a letter from NCL informing cruisers of the update. While the show has been a staple of Norwegian Bliss for years (since the ship’s debut in 2018), the cruise line is moving on to other entertainment options.

Message from the Cruise Line

In the letter sent to impacted passengers, NCL explained that the transition is part of an effort to refresh entertainment on board. The letter stated:

“As we prepare for this upcoming voyage, we want to share a quick update about our entertainment lineup. ‘Jersey Boys’ will be concluding its run in the Bliss Theater. “

The cruise line clarified that rather having another musical replace the popular show, they are moving toward a rotating collection of performers.

The notice explains that the theater will offer some of the following:

• Comedians
• Magicians
• Jugglers
• Specialty acts designed to offer “more variety” throughout the voyage.

Why the Change?

This move isn’t just happening on Norwegian Bliss. Over the last few years, Norwegian Cruise Line has been phasing out several of its Broadway productions like ‘SIX’, ‘Footloose’, and ‘Kinky Boots’.

The cruise line’s current strategy appears to focus on in-house productions.  By using a rotating cast there’s a little more flexibility to change entertainment without the massive overhead and licensing required for a Broadway production.  That being said, no official reason has been stated for the change.

What the Community is Saying

While some online comments reflected excitement for some new entertainment, many regular cruisers were disappointed in the cancellation of the show.

One NCL cruiser expressed frustration over the timing, stating that there seems to be a gap in the schedule which leaves some sailings right in the middle of an entertainment “void.”

Others pointed out the practical difficulties of the show itself, guessing that because the lead role of Frankie Valli is so notoriously difficult to cast, it may have simply become too difficult to maintain the production long-term.

One cruiser shared that they were particularly “bummed out” because they are sailing with a parent who is a huge fan of that era of music and will now miss out on the experience.

What’s Next?

The fan-favorite show ‘Choir of Man’ is set to take over the Bliss Theater starting in March 2026.

Until then, passengers sailing during the transition period should keep a close eye on the cruise line’s app and newsletter to see which specialty headliners will be taking the stage for their specific dates.

Norwegian Bliss is currently offering 7-day cruises out of San Pedro, California, visiting ports of call like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.

Cruise passengers on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish received word that a planned stop on the itinerary will not be happening after all.

Due to a developing weather system in The Bahamas, the cruise line has canceled the ship’s scheduled stop at Disney Castaway Cay this Sunday.

The weather has caused another cruise line to shift schedules just a day after Carnival Sunshine was forced to head back to Norfolk.  In Carnival’s case, the ship was trying to get back to homeport ahead of a severe winter storm that is set to slam the east coast of the U.S.

For Disney Wish, strong winds in The Bahamas are in the forecast, making it impossible to dock.

“Strong Winds and Adverse Sea Conditions”

The decision comes after the cruise line’s weather teams noticed a system predicted to bring “strong winds and adverse sea conditions” to the region.  Cruise ships are like huge sails in a strong wind, making it difficult to dock safely.

To keep everyone on board safe, the ship will skip the private island and spend extra time at its previous port of call.

In the letter delivered to staterooms, the cruise line stated:

“We will not be able to visit Disney Castaway Cay on Sunday. We will instead spend extra time in Nassau, on Saturday night and throughout the morning on Sunday…. The safety and well-being of our Guests and Crew Members is our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding regarding this necessary itinerary change.”

The Updated Itinerary

While Castaway Cay is now off the table for this trip, passengers will have more time to explore Nassau. The ship will now remain docked there overnight on Saturday and through Sunday morning.

The revised schedule is as follows:

• Friday: Port Canaveral, Florida
• Saturday: Nassau, The Bahamas
• Sunday: Nassau, The Bahamas (previously Disney Castaway Cay)
• Monday: Port Canaveral, Florida

Handling Port Adventures and Reservations

For those who had already booked excursions on Castaway Cay, there is no need to visit guest services for a refund. The letter states that any pre-reserved Port Adventures for the island “will automatically be removed from your onboard account.”

Passengers can book new excursions through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. The Port Adventures Desk will also be open to help any guests on board.

Utopia of the Seas Skips Private Island Too

Disney Wish is not the only cruise ship impacted by this storm system. Royal Caribbean has also canceled its scheduled stop for Utopia of the Seas at Perfect Day at CocoCay that was scheduled for this Sunday.

The Oasis-class vessel will also depart Nassau an hour earlier to try to get ahead of the storm before the heavy winds set in.

Royal Caribbean has announced that their first Discovery class cruise ship will debut in 2029, with a second one entering service in 2032.

The Discovery class is a brand new class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean. The ships will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.

This partnership builds on a legacy that began in 1985, when Chantiers de l’Atlantique constructed Royal Caribbean Group’s original Sovereign Class ships: Sovereign of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas.

The shipyard has continued to build ships for Royal Caribbean Group including Oasis Class, from game changing Harmony of the Seas, as well as Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series, and now, Royal Caribbean’s new Discovery Class.

The Discovery class is a brand new concept for Royal Caribbean that will blend cutting-edge technology with immersive experiences in a way the travel industry hasn’t seen before.

Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, gave the following statement:

“The Discovery Class represents our continued commitment to shaping the future of vacations. These ships will be a showcase of what’s possible when design meets purpose, ultimately bringing the world closer to our guests.

“Through our partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, we are leveraging France’s world‑class shipbuilding ecosystem and new technology to, once again, reimagine the industry for decades to come.”

Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean, added:

“The Discovery Class introduces a bold new concept that puts our guests at the center of it all. It will deliver extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences — from cutting edge design to immersive moments — every detail crafted to surprise and delight guests in ways they’ve never imagined, all while visiting truly breathtaking destinations around the world.”

Royal Caribbean has not yet released any more details on this new class of ships. Cruise Fever will have all details as they are announced by the cruise line.

Celebrity Cruises has announced that they have ordered an additional 10 river cruise ships and have opened for bookings river cruises in 2028.

These 10 new river ships will give Celebrity River Cruises a total of 20 vessels by 2031. The cruise line’s first river ship, Celebrity Compass, just had the piece of steel cut marking the start of construction on these new ships.

This new order will make Celebrity River Cruises one of the largest European river cruise operators.

River cruises in 2028 have opened for bookings. The cruise line’s inaugural season in 2027 sold out in just six minutes when they opened for bookings this past fall.

The 2028 season includes 163 sailings to over 50 destinations in Europe. This includes cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers.

Highlights of the 2028 Season

• Lower Danube: 6 new cruises that feature an overnight in Bucharest and passage through the Iron Gates gorge
• Dutch Tulip Season: Sailings in Holland to the Keukenhof Gardens, Kinderdijk’s 18th-century windmills and charming riverside towns 
• Expanded Christmas markets season: New cruises between Basel and Amsterdam with visits to Mainz, Strasbourg and Heidelberg
• 24 new ports

The cruise line will debut in 2027 with three ships, Celebrity Compass, Celebrity Seeker and Celebrity Wanderer. Celebrity Roamer and Celebrity Boundless will join the fleet in 2028.

Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Celebrity Cruises. gave the following statement:

“Guest demand for Celebrity River Cruises has exceeded our expectations, and expanding the fleet allows us to bring this highly anticipated experience to even more travelers.

“Whether guests already love the Celebrity experience or are discovering it for the first time, they now have new ways to enjoy it along some of Europe’s most iconic rivers. With Celebrity’s expansion into river, we’re strengthening our connected vacation ecosystem, offering more choice, more access, and more reasons for guests to stay with us — turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.”

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, added:

“Our inaugural 2027 Celebrity River Cruises season sold out in under six minutes – a testament to how much guests value the unmatched hospitality and service Celebrity delivers.

“To meet this extraordinary demand, we’re thrilled to open 2028 sailings featuring 80% more European destinations, five ships, and more than 160 itineraries. There are now more ways than ever to experience Europe’s rivers The Celebrity Way.”

Carnival Cruise Line has notified passengers on Carnival Sunshine that their cruise ship will be returning to Norfolk, Virginia sooner than originally planned.

Just as many states in the U.S. are getting back to normal after a massive winter storm swept through last weekend, another winter storm is impacting cruise ship operations along the northeast of the United States.

Carnival is trying to get ahead of the storm to make sure passengers stay safe.  A current 8-day Carnival Sunshine cruise is heading home a day early, and guests will have the option to continue their vacation on the ship as it sits in port or go home early.

Guest Advisory

A “guest advisory” sent to Sunshine guests stated that the vessel would be returning to Norfolk on Sunday, January 31 instead of February 1.

But this doesn’t mean that the next cruise will start any earlier, as passengers on the next cruise will still have their embarkation day on February 1^st.

A letter sent to guests stated, “Currently, there are no operational modifications for embarkation, but we will continue to monitor the weather and keep you updated if it becomes necessary to adjust our plans.”

Carnival also recommended that guests stay up to date by signing up to their text alert service by texting code CCL1 to CRUISE (278473).

For Passengers Currently on the Ship

Passengers currently on the Carnival Sunshine cruise will have the option to stay on board overnight until February 1, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires all guests to be processed when the ship arrives.

Guests will not need to carry off their luggage if they plan to remain on the ship, however, they just need to go through the terminal and then can circle right back around to hop on the ship.

Those who just want to go home will be able to do so as well, and Carnival has stated that they will arrange for those guests to leave the ship first.

A questionnaire form was sent to all passengers so they could inform the cruise line if they intended on staying on the ship or not.

Carnival also stated they would make the Internet Value Plan available so passengers could make travel arrangements while on board the ship.

A one-day pro-rated refund will be going to all impacted guests on this cruise.

The Storm

Forecasters are warning that this nor’easter could be a big one. Meteorologists expect the storm to bring blizzard conditions and damaging winds.  Heavy snow is forecast for much of the Northeast (especially for states like Virginia and North Carolina), with some areas that could have 70+ mph wind gusts.

Along with the snow, some frigid Arctic air will cause temperatures to drop well below freezing as well.

Social Media Reactions

Several users online warned that the storm would bring “20-foot waves” and “blizzard conditions” to the Norfolk area, with some local residents noting that the region “doesn’t do snow well.”

While some travelers were disappointed about missing port days, others were more cautious about the timing of the trip. “This is why I don’t cruise out of Virginia, DC, or New York in the winter,” shared one commenter.

Despite the frustration of a cruise cut short, others pointed out that the ship’s early return was a smart move for safety, with one passenger noting that being allowed to stay on the ship until Sunday would at least “save people a hotel fee.”

Carnival Sunshine is currently just off the coast of Florida, traveling at 17 knots, as it heads towards Norfolk.  Originally, the ship was scheduled to stop at Grand Turk today before those plans were changed.