Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is enticing travelers with a limited-time offer of free drinks on more than 100 voyages throughout 2024 and 2025. The promotion includes itineraries ranging from 5 to 22 nights on the line’s three ships—Bolette, Borealis, and Balmoral. Destinations include the Mediterranean, Azores, Norwegian fjords, and the Scottish islands.

Disney Cruise Line is set to debut its newest ship, the Disney Destiny, in November 2025. The ship's inaugural season will feature a series of four- and five-day cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale, with stops in the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.

The maiden voyage of the Disney Destiny is scheduled for November 20, 2025, embarking on a four-day cruise. This exclusive trip will visit Disney’s private islands, Castaway Cay and the newly developed Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

As the 2024 Alaska cruise season draws to a close, Sitka, one of the most popular cruise destinations in the region, is grappling with a significant technology crisis. On Thursday, August 29, 2024, at around 11:25 a.m. local time, the city experienced a widespread internet and cell service outage. This disruption, caused by a break in an underwater fiber optic cable located 30 miles off Sitka's coast, is expected to last approximately two weeks.

Celestyal Cruises has announced the cancellation of several upcoming itineraries due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea region. The affected cruises include two 14-night repositioning voyages aboard the Celestyal Journey, initially scheduled for departure on October 26, 2024, and March 8, 2025. These itineraries, titled "Ancient Athens to Dazzling Doha" and "Dazzling Doha to Ancient Athens," were set to visit destinations such as Ephesus in Turkey, multiple ports in Egypt, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Carnival Cruise Line has permanently banned several passengers following a late-night brawl aboard the *Carnival Paradise*. The altercation took place in the ship's buffet area on June 6, involving 10 to 15 passengers. Security officers intervened, restoring order amidst the chaotic scene. As a result, the involved individuals face fines and lifetime bans for breaching Carnival's stringent Code of Conduct, which enforces a zero-tolerance stance on disruptive behavior. The incident occurred as the ship was on its return journey to Tampa from a five-night Caribbean cruise.

Windstar Cruises has announced the launch of its newest ship, Star Seeker, set to commence operations in December 2025. The 224-passenger vessel will embark on Alaska cruises from May to August 2026, covering routes between Juneau, Seward, and Vancouver. Following its Alaskan itinerary, Star Seeker will offer 10-day cruises in Japan, traveling between Tokyo and Osaka from late August through November 2026.

Disney Cruise Line introduced its new private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, on Friday. Located on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas, Lookout Cay offers a unique experience infused with Bahamian culture.

The design and entertainment at Lookout Cay are inspired by the vibrant Junkanoo festival, a traditional Bahamian parade featuring colorful costumes and rhythmic music. Disney characters at the destination will be adorned in Junkanoo-style attire, adding to the cultural immersion.

Following a record-breaking year, the number of cruise visitors to Alaska is expected to remain stable this summer. Industry members believe this could enhance the experience for both tourists and locals.

According to Renee Limoge Reeve, vice president of government and community relations for CLIA Alaska, the steady numbers are beneficial. "It gives communities time to decide how to manage cruise traffic and tour operators the ability to refine their operations," Reeve said. She added that flat growth will help businesses expand their tour operations or excursion availability.

Cruisers with loyalty status on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea Cruises can now apply that status level across all three lines, thanks to a new initiative by Royal Caribbean Group. The company, which owns the three brands, is introducing a Loyal Status Match program to encourage travelers to stay within its family of brands.

"We want to make sure that if you're going to go on a vacation experience, that it stays within our family of brands, and that you don't need to go outside of our family," stated Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.