Diplomacy

After more than 10 years, Philadelphia is going to have a major cruise ship port again.   Construction on the brand-new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal has officially begun, and the 16-acre site is scheduled to start welcoming Norwegian Cruise Line passengers in April 2026.

Norwegian’s Ship Coming to Philly

Norwegian Cruise Line’s first Jewel-class ship will be coming to Philadelphia for an initial April 16 sailing in 2026.  The 2,376-passenger vessel, Norwegian Jewel, which was built in 2005, will offer 7-day round-trip itineraries out of the port all through the summer. 

The ship will offer Philadelphia residents sailings to Bermuda, with overnights in King’s Wharf and another port visit in Charleston, SC. 

There is also a 9-day sailing scheduled for the ship on August 27 which will allow guests to enjoy 3 days in Bermuda.

In November 2026 Jewel will then move to PortMiami before crossing the Atlantic in the Spring of 2027.

The New Terminal

There is a 7-year berthing agreement between the port and cruise line with an initial commitment of 41 sailings per year.

Norwegian Cruise Line is leading construction efforts on the land side of things while the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) handles the water side of the operation.

The new terminal will be right near Philadelphia’s international airport, making transportation even easier for cruise guests who fly into the city. 

The port estimates the new terminal will create about 2,185 jobs and roughly $300 in annual revenue throughout the area.

2026 is going to be a busy year for the “City of Brotherly Love” as well, since the opening of the new cruise terminal will also coincide with the county’s 250^th birthday celebration.

President of NCL, David J. Herrera, said this about Norwegian Jewel coming to the city: “We remain committed to our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us. We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.”

Seven years ago, a new cruise line launched that was promising to sell cabins/condos on a cruise ship that you can live in starting at just $155,000.

Storylines was originally going to buy three older cruise ships and convert them into ships that you can live on.

A year later, the cruise line moved in a new direction and announced a brand new ship that they were going to build that would be unlike any other at sea. A launch date was set for 2023 and prices went up to ranging from $352,000 to $8 million per cabin.

In 2021, Storylines said that construction would begin on this new ship in 2022, after delays from the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be built at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia.

In early 2022, the shipyard filed for provisional bankruptcy due to banking sanctions against Russian institutions.

The block was lifted in 2023 and the shipyard moved away from bankruptcy. However, construction on Storylines’ ship, MV Narrative, never began. The launch date continued to get pushed back and the last date the cruise line gave was December 2026.

The cruise line continued to promote and sell cabins on the ship. Several future owners who bought cabins on the ship canceled and asked for refunds due to delays in building the vessel. Many of them posted online about delays in receiving their refunds.

Others have canceled and bought a cabin on Crescent Seas, a new luxury cruise line launching next year that will also have ships you can live on.

Fast forward to today, December 2025. The phone number for Storylines has been disconnected. Cruise Fever attempted to call the number listed on their website and received the following message:

“You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. Please check the number and try your call again.”

Posts on Storylines’ social media accounts have been fewer and fewer. On their recent Thanksgiving Facebook post, one user commented, “Where did Storylines go? All numbers disconnected, trying to get my money deposit back.”

While the cruise line’s website is still up, it looks like Storylines will join the likes of Blue World Voyages and others who have tried to launch a ship that you can live on, but were never able to set sail.

It’s Cyber Monday, and it feels like every company on the planet is sending out emails and blasting their discounts and specials across every app and square inch of screen space.

And it’s no different for cruise lines.  You can check out the latest cruise deals for Cyber Monday here.

But a certain ad campaign from Carnival has been catching people by surprise. 

If you’ve watched TV or seen any online videos lately, you’ve probably done a double-take at the Carnival Cruise Line commercial.  “Is that Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec?”  you might have asked.   

The beloved character, known for his woodworking skills, hatred of paying taxes, and love for eating red meat, began showing up in Carnival ads in mid-November.

And here’s why Carnival hiring the world’s most serious-minded woodworker is a pretty savvy move the company hopes will turn into future cruise passengers.

It’s Not Nick Offerman After All. It Really Is Ron Swanson

Here’s the weird truth about these commercials.  Nick Offerman is the actor who played Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation.  But Carnival didn’t hire “Nick” perse.  They wanted Swanson.

They even brought in Offerman’s writing team from Parks and Recreation to co-write the ads.  Keep in mind that this show ran for 7 seasons (ending in 2015) and was very successful in its own right.

So, when fans of the show see these commercials, they connect right away with the character they watched and rewatched.

That’s why the humor lands so perfectly. It’s not a generic celebrity plug. It feels like an extended and interesting side-story where Ron Swanson is forced to acknowledge the existence of fun.  

When his character breaks down and escapes to the deck of a cruise ship in the ads, it’s more like a snippet from an 8^th season of the show than an advertisement.

The commercials are like sketches from a creative team that knows the character and exactly how he would react in certain situations.

The “Anti-Fun” Guy Sells Fun

The whole campaign is called “Find Your Fun Again,” and it’s built on the idea that Americans are burnt out, stuck on their phones, and generally miserable.

Now, who is the last person you’d expect to lead a campaign about easy, adventurous, organized fun? Exactly. Nick Offerman—cough, cough, I mean Ron Swanson.

The ads literally start with Offerman smashing his phone because the digital noise is too much. His escape isn’t to a remote cabin. But it is to a Carnival cruise.

The message is clear and compelling.  If the guy who gives advice on building your own canoe thinks a cruise is a great way to detox and get out, then maybe it really is the answer to “what should we do for a vacation this year?”.

And of course, these commercials carry the same humor we expect from Ron Swanson, with witty lines like “heights are afraid of me.”.

They’re Changing Who They Talk To

Carnival knows their history. They’ve had high-energy spokespeople like Shaq, and they are well-known for being the “Fun Ship.” But those things can also come with a certain stereotype.

Hiring Offerman is a savvy way to talk to people who might be a little cynical about cruising.  It’s going after the ones who think it’s too cheesy, too loud, or too commercial.

Carnival is banking on the fact that when you see Ron Swanson enjoying a buffet, the irony is so perfect, you can’t help but pay attention.  And you’ll probably laugh a little too.

The genius of ads like this are that they are very shareable.  When a company gets people who watch their commercials to want to show their friends what “Swanson” was doing on a cruise ship, they get free eyeballs.

“We believe Nick Offerman is the best person to be our ‘unlikely hero of fun.’ His signature blend of wry humor and credibility is the perfect way to deliver our message,” said Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, chief marketing officer of Carnival Cruise Line. “Nick’s personal mission, which aims to get kids off their screens and start creating projects, aligns with our vision of encouraging people to get out, reconnect and find their fun again, with Carnival.”

Adult-only areas are supposed to be just that.  And it’s nothing against kids.  It’s just that on a cruise ship, nothing is more annoying to passengers who want some peace and quiet than parents who ignore the rules and let their kids “roam wild”.

A recent Thanksgiving cruise led to frustration for one passenger after a child was allowed into what was supposed to be the adult-only spa area. 

In a social media post entitled “No Kids must not mean MY kid!”, a cruiser came to Reddit to vent about a situation in which another passenger brought a child “somewhere between 5 and 7 years old” into the spa.

This irked the passenger who had paid an extra $600 for access to the adults only spa for herself and her husband for the week. She noticed the presumed father, who was “lying on a lounger sleeping (or just ignoring the kid),” while the child was restless: “jumping and squirming around.”

The child was clearly bored in an area meant for quiet relaxation.

This kind of situation is a common frustration for cruisers, although more cruise lines are trying to crack down on the problem of parents ignoring signs and rules for their children.

As one commenter pointed out, “No kids’ isn’t a suggestion, it’s literally the rule. Paying extra for peace and quiet isn’t a flex, it’s a right.”

When parents ignore that rule, they are taking away the experience other people paid for.

Deflecting Responsibility

Thankfully, the staff on the ship noticed the child and weren’t going to let the rules get bent any longer. A spa attendant “nicely and quietly explained that the spa was for adults only and to please take the child out.”

The mother then showed up and said to her child: “Oh, honey, THEY don’t want you in here, so now we all have to leave.”

Cruisers React to the Situation

It was a line that definitely fired up the comments on Reddit, as the post quickly racked up over 130 comments in just a few hours.

The online reaction focused on how quickly the parent shifted the blame. Instead of saying, “We made a mistake,” she made the child the reason for their removal. One comment stated that the mother “said it to put the responsibility on the spa attendant and not the idiot father that brought the child.”

Many felt this was unfair to the child. As one user wrote, “That poor kid… Not being wanted is a different level of hurt than just about everything else.”

A Lack of Options Was Not the Problem

What makes the parent’s actions especially unforgivable to some is the number of child-friendly alternatives available on the ship. While the exact ship or cruise line was not named, the original poster noted the ship was “extremely child friendly and had an arcade, a ‘kid’s zone’, TWO water slides and bumper cars?!”

The parents ignored many better, age-appropriate choices, or even using the cruise ship’s kid’s program for a while.  One interesting comment stated it well: “Kids don’t ruin everything, adults doing nothing while ignoring their kid do.”

It was also mentioned that the parents did not need to make a group exit. “Both parents were present – one could have taken the kid and left while the other got their spa time in, then trade off,” one comment reacted.   

What About the Money?

Beyond the noise and ruined peace, other cruisers pointed out the extra money that was paid for the thermal suite access. One said it plainly: “Hey lady. I paid $600 to enjoy my day without your child bothering me. Please take your child from the adult only area. Or pay me back the $600 you are wasting on me.”

Cruise lines that charge extra for thermal suite access only allow so many people to access it throughout the week.  Once that allotted number is sold, you can’t get in.  And for those who do have access it’s all about utilizing that time wisely.

Some comments pointed out that the “It’s for the kids!” mantra is often used to excuse bad behavior, referencing parents who tell their children “to help themselves to buffets they haven’t paid for, [or] sending your kids unsupervised to the pool so you can scroll your phone in peace…”

Bottom Line

Some of today’s cruise ships are huge.  They can accommodate thousands of passengers at one time, with some having a max capacity of over 7,000.  Whenever you have that many people on one ship, you are bound to have some bad apples.  But as long as cruise lines are enforcing the rules equally, it helps to make sure everyone can have the vacation they’ve been dreaming of. 

The key here is this: Don’t be the passenger that ends up messing up someone else’s vacation just because you think you’re the exception to the rule. The golden rule still applies.

If you missed out on cruise deals that cruise lines offered for Black Friday, you’re in luck. Most cruise lines are either continuing their deals or offering new ones for Cyber Monday.

Here’s a rundown of what each cruise line is offering for Cyber Monday 2025. The deals are separated by mainstream, luxury and boutique lines.

Mainstream Cruise Lines

Princess Cruises is offering up to $800 in instant savings and up to 50% off cruise fares. Deposits are marked down to 50% and the third and fourth guest in a cabin cruise for free.

Celebrity Cruises is offering 75% off the second guest for non-refundable deposits and 50% off the second guest for refundable deposits. The third, fourth and fifth guest can cruise for free on select sailings through May 2028.

Royal Caribbean is offering up to $1,000 in instant savings, up to 50% cruise extras (drink packages, WiFi specialty dining etc.), and the third and fourth guests sail for free.

MSC Cruises is offering cruises from $199 per person, up to $1,000 in onboard credit, and kids cruise for free.

Holland America Line has cruise fares marked down by as much as 30%, free prepaid crew appreciation (daily tips), 50% reduced deposits, and the free or reduced third and fourth guests in a cabin.

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering 50% off all cruise fares, free beverage packages, free WiFi, free shore excursion credits, and more.

Margaritaville at Sea is offering savings of up to $950, free cabin upgrades, guests sail free, and up to 50% off drinks and WiFi.

Luxury Cruise Lines

Silversea is offering savings up to $10,000 per suite on expedition voyages and up to $6,000 per suite on classic cruises.

Cunard has sailings as low as $899 per person, up to 40% off cruise fares, up to $300 in onboard credit to spend on the ship, and deposits reduced by 50% on 145 sailings.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering up to 40% off sailings with a shipboard credit of $500 per suite.

Crystal is offering $500 in onboard credit to spend as you wish once on the ship.

Oceania Cruises is offering up to 50% off on over 170 sailings.

Azamara is offering up to $4,000 off select cruises plus up to $500 in onboard credit to spend on the ship.

Boutique Cruise Lines

Celestyal has savings up to 70% off on 113 cruises to Greece and the Arabian Gulf that depart from December 2025 through October 2027. Their deal also includes an extension of the cruise line’s CelestyalPay offer, with guests receiving a 25% bonus on all credit added before departure.

Unforgettable Croatia is offering no single supplements for all single cabin bookings on MV Memories.

Hurtigruten is offering up to 50% off cruises to Norway.

Some cruise lines will wait until Monday to announce their Cyber Monday deals. We will update this article as more lines release what they are offering for Cyber Monday.

2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the cruise industry with over a dozen new ocean ships making their debut.

However, since not all cruise ships are created equal, here’s our top seven hottest new cruise ships for 2026.

Disney Adventure

Disney Adventure just might be the most anticipated new ship debuting in 2026. The ship will be the largest in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet and their first over 200,000 gross tons in size.

The ship has been under construction for around seven years. It was originally going to be named Global Dream and sail with Genting until the cruise line went bankrupt. Disney bought the half completed cruise ship and has spent the last several years completing the vessel and turning it into the ultimate Disney cruise ship.

Disney Adventure will have the longest roller coaster at sea, an Ironman themed ride on the top deck of the ship. Other rides in the Adventure Zone include Pym Quantum Racers and Groot Galaxy Spin.

Toy Story Place will be the ship’s waterpark that will have several pools, hot tubs, water slides, and interactive splash pads.

They will be part of the ship’s seven themed areas with Disney Imagination Garden being the central hub of the ship.

Disney Adventure is currently scheduled to debut on March 5, 2026. The ship will sail short three- and four-day cruises out to sea and homeport in Singapore.

Norwegian Luna

Norwegian Luna will be NCL’s second Prima Plus class ship and debut on March 10, 2026.

Norwegian Luna will be 156,300 gross tons in size and be 1,056 feet long. The ship will carry 3,550 guests at double capacity which is a 10% increase from Prima class ships.

Features on the cruise ship include:

• Ocean Boulevard, 46,000 square foot outdoor walkway
• Beach Vibe Club, adults only open-air lounge
• Infinity Beach offering ocean views
• Aqua Slidecoaster, a first-of-its-kind hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide
• Glow Court, a digital sports complex
• The Drop, a 10-story free-fall slide
• Dual waterslides
• Stadium, an outdoor space for complimentary activities

Norwegian Cruise Line just announced that the ship will have a dedicated show to the world’s most iconic showman, Elton John.

After a repositioning cruise to Miami, the ship will sail seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Four Seasons I

The most luxurious new vessel debuting in 2026 will be the new yacht, Four Seasons I. The vessel is promising to set a new standard for luxury at sea.

It will have 95 residential-style suites and a guest/passenger ratio of 1:1.

At a cost to build of $4.2 million per suite, no expense is being spared in terms of the remarkable custom design. Four Seasons I will offer nearly 50 percent more living space per guest than currently available, offering ultimate privacy, flexibility and spaciousness in an all-suite nautical residential setting.

On marina days, the full prowess of Four Seasons I comes into play, offering guests direct access to the sea.

The ship will have access to areas that larger ships cannot visit.

Legend of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s third Icon class ship, Legend of the Seas, will debut in July 2026. It will be the largest cruise ship in the world and offer thrilling entertainment.

Highlights of the ship will include Surfside, a dedicated neighborhood for families with small children, Category 6 waterpark with six waterslides, and the AquaDome that will have some of the most incredible entertainment at sea.

Legend of the Seas will have 28 dining options and 17 bars and lounges.

The cruise ship will have legendary entertainment offerings that include the Broadway hit Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.

Legend of the Seas will debut by offering cruises in the Mediterranean before arriving in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in the fall of 2026.

Once at Port Everglades, the ship will sail seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

MSC World Asia

MSC World Asia, the third world class ship from MSC Cruises, will debut on December 4, 2026. She will spend her inaugural season offering cruises in the Western Mediterranean. Port stops include Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina and Valletta.

At 205,000 gross tons, it will be one of the largest non-Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the world.

MSC World Asia will feature subtle design elements that reflect Asia’s rich culture, art and beautiful landscapes.

The cruise ship will retain the signature plumb bow rising vertically from the waterline and the iconic Y-shaped aft that opens onto the impressive outdoor promenade, hallmarks of MSC Cruises’ World Class ships.

Regent Seven Seas Prestige

Seven Seas Prestige will usher in a new legacy for the World’s Most Luxurious Fleet.

Built by Fincantieri, the 77,000-ton ship is 40% larger than previous ships yet accommodates just 10% more guests, hosting 822 guests with 630 crew.

All-balcony suites span 12 categories, including four new designs such as the two-level Skyview Suites and the 8,794 sq. ft Skyview Regent Suite.

Regent Seven Seas Prestige will have the largest, all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruise ships suite in history. The Skyview Regent Suite will start at $25,000 per night and deliver an all-inclusive experience that is truly Unrivaled at Sea.

Seven Seas Prestige will debut on December 13, 2026 and will sail from both Miami and Los Angeles for the winter 

Viking Mira/Viking Libra

Viking, the world’s fastest growing ocean cruise line, has two more nearly identical cruise ships debuting in 2026. Viking Mira will debut on June 5, 2026 and Viking Libra on December 3, 2026.

Both adults-only ships will be 54,300 gross tons and carry 998 guests in 449 cabins.

Viking Libra will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of operating with zero emissions. It will have a propulsion system based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells.

Both cruise ships will make their debut in Europe.