Cruise News Roundup - 11 Big Updates
Presented by Jason with the Travel Scouts
Safety & Crime
Robbery in Antigua Results in Conviction A criminal has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after violently robbing an elderly cruise passenger on a popular street in St. John's, Antigua on November 29th. The suspect snatched her fanny pack, breaking the strap and knocking her to the ground — stealing her passport, cell phone, and cash. He was captured two days later and sentenced this week.
Passenger Dies After Going Overboard in Italy A 50-year-old passenger on the Costa Smeralda tragically died after going over a railing at approximately 98 feet while the ship was docked in Civitavecchia, Italy — the port typically used for Rome visits. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Costa's statement indicated the guest, of German nationality, jumped voluntarily onto the wharf. Our thoughts are with the family.
Cruise Line News
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Names New CEO John Chitsey has been appointed as the new President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas. Chitsey previously served as CEO of Subway and Burger King, and brings significant cruise industry experience, having served on NCL Holdings' board of directors from 2013 to 2022 before being reappointed as an independent director last year.
Royal Caribbean Restricts Smart Glasses Onboard Following MSC Cruises' outright ban in December, Royal Caribbean has updated their prohibited items list to restrict smart glass use in specific areas including public restrooms, youth program areas, medical areas, and the casino. Guests with prescription smart glasses are advised to bring a non-smart-enabled backup pair.
Celebrity Excel Earns First-Ever Forbes Five-Star Rating at Sea The restaurant La Vogue aboard the Celebrity Excel has become the first restaurant at sea to earn a Forbes Travel Guide five-star rating. A total of 12 cruise ship restaurants across various ships were recognized in this evaluation cycle.
Norwegian Encore — Legionnaires' Disease Alert Passengers who sailed on the Norwegian Encore in December are being notified of possible exposure to Legionnaires' disease after two guests from that sailing were diagnosed. No water contamination has been found so far. Former guests should watch for symptoms including fever, cough, and muscle aches.
Disney Cruise Line Opens Summer 2027 Bookings Disney Cruise Line is opening their summer 2027 season. Loyalty Club members can book starting February 16th, with general public access beginning February 23rd. Highlights include the Disney Wish sailing in Europe for the first time and two ships operating Alaska itineraries. Disney currently has eight ships in their fleet.
Royal Caribbean's Newest Chief Dog Officer Named "Skipper" The golden retriever mascot for the upcoming Legend of the Seas has been named Skipper. Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships each have a "Chief Dog Officer" onboard. The Legend of the Seas is set to launch in July 2025.
Travel & Airfare
Top Spring Break International Destinations by State Based on online search data, here are the six most-searched international spring travel destinations across U.S. states:
- Cancun, Mexico — #1 in 13 states
- Greece — #1 in 8 states
- Belize — #1 in 5 states
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — #1 in 4 states
- Iceland — #1 in 3 states (tied)
- Peru — #1 in 3 states (tied)
The full list by state is available in the video description.
Airfare Is Down Compared to Last Year Good news for cruisers who fly to their embarkation ports. Current airfare is trending lower than 2025 pricing across the board — domestic flights are down 3.5%, international flights are down 7.1% on average, and flights to major destinations like Paris, Rome, and Tokyo are down 12–13%.
Southwest Airlines Adding Starlink Wi-Fi Southwest Airlines is upgrading their onboard internet to Starlink's low-earth orbit satellite system — the fastest option available for airlines and cruise ships. Internet remains free for loyalty program members (free to join), with full fleet rollout expected by the end of this year.