Cruise News with the Travel Scouts

1. Disney Cruise Line Lawsuit — Bunk Bed Fall

Family suing Disney after child fell through a bunk bed railing gap on the Disney Wonder (Alaska sailing)
Child broke both wrists
Lawsuit alleges negligence — dangerous design, failure to warn
Incident occurred July 2024; lawsuit filed May of this year (~2-year delay, noted as unusual)
Family seeking jury trial, damages over $50,000 for pain and suffering

Applies to new bookings made on/after September 2
Final payment date: now 120 days prior to sailing (previously 90 days for sailings under 14 days). Reminders sent at 14 days and 7 days before deadline. Missing it = automatic cancellation
Deposit amounts: increasing, based on stateroom type and cruise length; most deposits now $125–$500 (up $50–$100 from previous requirements)
Cancellation fee schedule: penalty increases in 25% increments based on how close to sail date
- Cancel 120+ days out: lose only the deposit (mostly non-refundable)
- Refundable deposit option exists but usually costs more
- Big change: canceling within 60 days now = lose 100% (previously the 100% loss threshold was 30 days out on shorter sailings)

34-year-old man arrested at the Naples, Italy cruise terminal while boarding with family
Wanted on a warrant tied to a major drug trafficking investigation
Police report filed Monday evening; specific ship not named (Enchanted Princess and MSC World Europa were both in port that day)
High-profile arrest, getting significant coverage in Europe; investigation ongoing

Parent company of Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas
Q2: revenue up 5% year-over-year; occupancy over 100%
Forward bookings (next 12 months) softer than desired — leadership cited softer demand, possible short-term price decreases to fill cabins
Struggles concentrated in the Norwegian brand specifically; Oceania and Regent performing strong
Pricing strategy shift: lowest prices will be front-loaded at initial release for 2028+ bookings
Stated target audience: "premium families and seasoned cruisers"

Previous poll results — preferred cruise destinations (ranked):

New question posed to audience: Do you plan to cruise more, less, or about the same next year vs. this year?

HX Expeditions became the first commercial cruise line to visit Old Harbor (western Gulf of Alaska, unlike most lines that visit southeastern Alaska)
Return visit planned for 2027
HX Expeditions is the only line with dedicated Aleutian Islands cruises

Villa Vie (residential cruise line, launched 2024 with the Odyssey) has sold 85%+ of residences on that ship
Announcing a second ship: the Legacy
Staterooms will be ~50% larger than the Odyssey's; positioned as more premium
Not a new build — an acquisition; expected to enter service early 2029
Speculation: could be the Oceania Serena (Oceania announced Serena leaving their fleet in 2028; no buyer named yet, and timeline/size would fit)
Full Legacy announcement expected at Villa Vie's 2-year anniversary event, end of September

No cyclone formation expected in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific in the next week
Ongoing monitoring; updates to follow if conditions develop

Luxury line under Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings; 6 ships currently, 1 more debuting this year
Three newer ships going into dry dock (2027–2028): Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor, Seven Seas Grandeur
Each currently has 373 suites → will emerge with 344 (29 fewer)
Reason: entry-level veranda suites growing by 100+ sq ft each; new massive suites (600–900 sq ft) being added
Framed as Regent doubling down on ultra-luxury positioning while Norwegian brand struggles

Site prep began this week on Tampa's 4th cruise terminal (first new terminal build in 25+ years)
Existing 3 terminals at max capacity
New terminal expected to add 200 ship calls/year
Won't open until 2029
Five cruise lines currently based in Tampa: Carnival, Celebrity, Margaritaville at Sea, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean

Wonder of the Seas gangway fell into the sea while docked at Coco Cay (private island)
Ship began pulling away before gangway was retracted; forklift assisting slipped off, gangway dangled then fell into the ocean
No injuries reported; likely to prompt a safety standards review