Cruise News 2026: Top U.S. Ports & Destinations
1. Overboard Incident on Norwegian Cruise Ship
- Time: Early morning, approximately 2:00 AM
- Ship: Norwegian Jewel
- Status: Ship began searching the area (confirmed via ship tracker)
- Announcement: Passengers confirmed announcement was made onboard
- Statement: Norwegian has not issued an official statement as of recording time
2. Port of Galveston Traffic Advisory
- Dates: Now through December 5
- Affected Terminals: 25 and 28
- Cruise Lines Impacted: Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises
- Reason: Scheduled road construction
- Recommendation: Park at Port of Galveston Cruise Parking and take shuttles to terminals
3. U.S. Ocean Cruise Statistics (AAA Data)
Projected Growth
- 2026 Forecast: 21.7 million Americans expected to cruise (another record year)
- Trend: Continuous record-breaking years (except 2020-2022 due to pandemic)
Customer Satisfaction
- 90% rate experience as very good or good
- 91% choose to cruise again
Cruise Demographics
- 50% - Couples
- 20% - Families with kids
- 7% - Solo travelers
- 23% - Groups (family, friends, or shared interest groups)
Popular Destinations
- 72% - Caribbean
- 7% - Alaska
- 5% - Mediterranean
- 16% - Other regions
Top 10 U.S. Embarkation/Debarkation Ports
- Miami
- Port Canaveral
- Fort Lauderdale
- Galveston
- Barcelona, Spain
- Southampton, England
- Civitavecchia, Italy
- Marseille, France
- Seattle
- Singapore
4. Royal Caribbean 2026 Changes
Ship Overhauls
- Harmony of the Seas
- Liberty of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
New Ship Launch
- Ship: Legend of the Seas (third Icon-class ship)
- Launch Date: July 11, 2026
New Beach Club
- Location: Cozumel, Mexico
- Opening: Second half of 2026 (exact date TBD)
New Home Port
- Location: San Diego, California (first time for Royal Caribbean)
- Ship: Serenade of the Seas
5. Holland America Line Asia Season 2027-2028
- Special Feature: Overnight stays in six sought-after destinations
- New Ports: Three brand-new ports of call
- Typical Duration: 14-day voyages
- Starting Price: ~$1,900 per person (~$135 per person per day)
6. Safety Incident: Teens Climbing Balcony Railing
- Ship: Wonder of the Seas
- Platform: Video surfaced on TikTok
- Location: Ship was sailing at the time
- Home Port: Miami (3-4 night sailings year-round)
- Status of Passengers: Unknown
7. Weather Alert: Tropical Storm Melissa
Current Status
- Location: Central Caribbean Sea, 300 miles south of Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Wind Speed: 45 mph sustained winds
- Movement: West at 14 mph (slowing down)
- Forecast: Expected to reach hurricane intensity by weekend
Watches and Warnings
- Hurricane Watch: Southern peninsula of Haiti (border with Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince)
- Tropical Storm Watch: Jamaica
Cruise Impact
- Affected Areas: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Eastern Cuba, Jamaica
- Jamaica Ports: Five cruise ports potentially affected
- Expected Action: Cruise lines likely to reroute ships
- Timeline: Wind impacts possible beginning Thursday
8. Disney Dream Investigation Concluded
- Incident: 5-year-old girl fell from railing
- Date: June (year not specified)
- Ship: Disney Dream
- Investigating Agency: Broward County Sheriff's Office
- Outcome:
- Investigator recommended criminal neglect charges against mother
- State's attorney's office reviewed case
- Decision: No prosecution
- Father's Status: Required medical attention upon return to ship
Source: Jason with The Travel Scouts