Under the new system, users must specify their date of birth, vessel name, sail date, booking number, and surname. The changes were implemented over the weekend, adding another layer of security that prevents unauthorized access. 

Though the cruise line hasn’t officially announced the update or explained why it was rolled out, it could be due to previous cases of fraudulent activity in its website’s Manage Your Booking section.

Last May, a passenger from Kentucky, Tiffany Banks, learned that her $12,000 booking had been suddenly canceled when she checked on her cruise via the website. At first, Banks thought the problem was at Carnival’s end. 

Since she couldn’t resolve the issue with the cruise line’s customer service department, she posted a TikTok video that eventually went viral. Netizens sided with Banks, many of them encouraging TikTok to file legal action.

However, another video surfaced in the following days that explained what happened. According to Kelly Thompson, a TikTok user following the story, another user fraudulently gained access to Banks’ booking after Banks posted a photograph of a personal document from the cruise line.

Thompson narrated, “At some point, she posted a picture of her boarding pass online, and some person took her booking number, created a fake profile on Carnival, added their booking number to their account, and then canceled her $15,000 cruise.”

Carnival later offered Banks $10,404 in future credits. Banks is still waiting for a refund.

Cybersecurity experts agree that human error is the leading cause of data breaches. Examples include weak passwords, phishing attempts, unsecured devices, missing security patches, and in Banks’ case, the improper handling of sensitive data.

The first group of passengers impacted were those who left for July 14 to 20 on a roundtrip Caribbean voyage; due to technical issues, the ship returned to Port Canaveral on the 21st instead.

Meanwhile, the second group of guests set to embark on the 20th had their sailing delayed by one day and left on the 21st.

Norwegian Jade departed shortly before midnight on July 21, removing Tortola, Virgin Islands, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, from its updated itinerary. The new itinerary is calling to Puerta Plata, Nassau, and the private island Great Stirrup Cay.

NCL’s Compensation for Impacted Cruise Guests

NCL offered the following concessions to affected guests:

• Ten percent fare reduction for future cruises from August 7, 2024, to December 31, 2025
• For guests who booked flights through NCL, alternate arrangements through the reservations team and one-night complimentary hotel accommodation if they are unable to leave until the 22nd
• Maximum reimbursement of $300 per guest for travel fees and penalties not covered by travel insurance
• Prorated refunds for guests with shorter sailings 
• Up to $100 onboard credits per stateroom 

Norwegian Jade re-entered service last March following a three-week dry dock and extensive renovations.

The three activities were supposed to be the major highlights of Park 19, the new Sphere-class vessel’s recreational area. Princess Cruises’ announcement comes almost five months after Sun Princess entered service. When the ship began sailing last February 28, the company said these attractions remained unavailable to the public due to “additional safety checks.”

Though the facilities are already installed, the cruise line did not mention why they will never open nor how it plans to reuse the designated spaces. It also did not say if these facilities will be available on the sister ship currently under construction, the Star Princess.

What experiences are we missing?

The heavily marketed Rollglider, Seabreeze, combines an aerial roller coaster with a zip line. Passengers would have been suspended from an overhead track that lasted 60 to 90 seconds, enjoying a ride that could supposedly go up to 11 miles an hour. It would have been the first ride at sea if it pushed through.

Meanwhile, the Coastal Climb was meant to be a climbing structure that spans decks 19 and 20. Passengers would have traversed obstacles as they made their way to the ship’s highest open area. An adrenaline-pumping slide would then allow them to return to the bottom quickly.

Finally, the Ropes Course is a physically demanding obstacle course that would have tested guests’ strength, stamina, and balance.

What’s left?

The deck plan on Princess Cruises’ website has been updated to show a jogging track, replacing Park 19. In addition, the area still features Infinite Horizon (a view deck with leaning tilt walls), a hammock area, the Splash Zone, and a recreational court, all of which opened when the vessel entered service.

Despite the announcement, Sun Princess boasts new amenities like The Dome, the fleet’s largest casino, and a two-story spa. 

The kicker: they booked the cruise excursion through the cruise line. So how did this happen?

The Oklahoma City family disembarked the vessel with their six children and Cailyn’s 68-year-old mother to attend a lumberjack show in Ketchikan.

When the show ended, they were not allowed to board any waiting tour buses even though they had tickets. They were instead advised to wait for the next one. 

According to the Gaults, local tour personnel weren’t checking tickets and allowed cruise passengers from other sailings to occupy their seats.

Unfortunately, no other buses came, and the family had to find another way back. By the time they returned to the port, their vessel had already left.

A “Nightmare” and almost $9,000 in Fines

During the next few days, the family sought a way home. This involved finding last-minute accommodations, booking trips to several cities, spending nights at the airport, and enduring canceled flights. Since not all their passports were transferred from the ship, catching up with Encore in Canada wasn’t an option. 

In addition to unplanned travel expenses, NCL charged their credit cards for nearly $9,000. The company later sent them a notice regarding a $971 per head fine for violating the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA).

The law upheld by the US Customs and Border Protection states, “Any passenger who unexpectedly disembarks the ship at a US port of call, i.e., Alaska, due to any reason…may be charged by the cruise company supplying the transportation.”

Norwegian Cruise Line Responds

In a statement to 2 News Oklahoma, NCL acknowledged that the Gaults’ predicament was “due to a misstep by a local tour operator.”

It claimed it tried and failed to contact the family before the vessel left Ketchikan. It also mentioned that it requested the local port to assist the family with lodgings and flight arrangements.

Nine ships will take passengers to Alaska, New England, Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

Visit New England, Canada, and Bermuda

From April 16 to October 17, 2026, Norwegian Jewel will home port in Philadelphia, offering seven- to nine-day cruises to Bermuda from the Southport Marine Terminal Complex. 

It will sail to Bermuda for the first time from April 16 to August 27, 2026. The vessel will then embark on 10-—and 11-day New England and Canada cruises with alternating embarkations in Québec and Philadelphia. Points of interest include Boston, Bar Harbor in Maine, Halifax, Charlottetown, and Saguenay in Canada.

Norwegian Breakaway will offer seven-day turnaround cruises from Boston to Bermuda from April 19 to November 2026. From late August to mid-October, the 2013-built ship will head to Canada and New England for seven-day sailings. 

Norwegian Aqua will host its second Bermuda season with five—and seven-day cruises from New York that spend the night at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda.

Sail from Miami to the Bahamas 

NCL is meeting the demand for shorter getaways by offering nearly 40 three- and four-night-long voyages onboard Norwegian Getaway. These sailings will call on Nassau and NCL’s exclusive resort in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

Island hopping in the Caribbean 

NCL’s Norwegian Prima will visit the Eastern and Western Caribbean islands for seven days. It will call on Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; George Town, Cayman Islands; and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Up to 10 days in Alaska

Passengers who want to experience Alaska can choose from longer nine- and 10-day voyages from Seattle onboard Norwegian Joy. Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore will offer shorter seven-day Alaska cruises from the same home port.

Norwegian Jade will travel for weeks between Vancouver, British Columbia, and the new NCL home port in Whittier, Alaska.

NCL’s 2026 Alaska cruising season runs from late April to October. According to NCL, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Encore have been specially built for the Last Frontier with their selection of onboard activities.

Touted by the cruise line as a “blowout summer party,” the naming event hosted over 4,000 guests. Disc jockeys Rev Run and DJ Ruckus were at the turntables while the vessel’s godmother, Trainor, serenaded the audience with “All That Bass” at Utopia’s Aqua Theater.

Royal Caribbean’s sixth Oasis-class ship was designed to offer short and activity-packed cruises. It officially enters service on Friday, July 19 with a series of 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday itineraries to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

The 236,860-ton vessel boasts 22 restaurants, 13 bars, and lounges, two casinos, five pools, a line-up of parties, the longest dry slide at sea, eight themed neighborhoods, over 2,800 staterooms, and other amenities. 

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley described the onboard experience, saying, “Every day on Utopia will feel like the weekend. The unmatched energy and ways to make memories—between the pools, thrills, and more and our award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay—will bring friends and families together on a short getaway like never before.”

“This epic party, the vacation of celebrations, is just getting started,”  he announced.

The company eventually agreed to provide her with additional onboard credits, new luggage, complimentary spa services, and more.

Dropped into The Ocean but Never Reported

A TikTok user with the handle “throughlindseyslens” shared the first video on July 5. Lindsey narrated how she boarded the vessel with her family and noticed that everyone’s baggage had been delivered except for hers.

While she waited for her bag, she received a call from the Port of Amsterdam, the port they had just left.

The representative informed her that there were no tags indicating where it was headed, only her tag that contained her contact information.

Realizing what it meant, Lyndsey told viewers, “No one reported that it was gone. If someone hadn’t found it floating in the ocean, I wouldn’t have even known that it was gone.”

The Colorado-based photographer became emotional as she contemplated what she lost: two weeks’ worth of clothes, her photography equipment, her medications and supplements, toiletries, and family jewelry.

Getting the Cruise Line to Take Notice

Lindsey’s biggest challenge was getting Celebrity to realize what happened and take responsibility for it. Though she spoke to several crew members, many didn’t believe her. They only provided $400 in onboard credits, a t-shirt, roll-on deodorant, toothpaste, two laundry vouchers, and a toothbrush. 

The young woman was dissatisfied with the few items she had been given and the lack of support. Through social media, Lindsey asked the vessel’s management, “Why is your mistake my emergency? Because it shouldn’t be.” 

On July 9, Celebrity received the confirmation it was looking for from Amsterdam’s port authorities. “My bag has been confirmed to be in Amsterdam. It did have water damage. It did go into the ocean. At this point, I’ve just accepted that nothing can be salvaged,” she said in an update.

By July 10, the cruise line’s Director of Guest Relations and Hotel Director had sat down with Lindsey. In addition to the few toiletries she had been given, Lindsey was offered:

• $1,000 in onboard credits (can be encashed)
• New Luggage
• A free massage and facial
• Two complimentary meals in the specialty dining room
• A Wi-Fi upgrade with free Starlink calls
• A complimentary shore excursion

The cruise line also replaced some of her medications.

Lyndsey’s update on July 13 was simple yet eloquent. Her post showed a picture of her missing luggage with the caption, “She has arrived.“

Travel Insurance Covers Damaged and Lost Luggage

Lost and damaged luggage are among the many areas covered by travel insurance. Even if the cruise line agrees to compensate a passenger, an insurance policy offers peace of mind. It can reimburse the cash value of the luggage and its contents, pay for luggage repair, or cover the replacement cost by filing a claim and providing receipts.

Find out what to expect, from refreshed kid-friendly venues to a new suite, a redesigned spa, and more.

WEB (Worldwide Engineering Brigade)

WEB, a space described as a “state-of-the-art lab” by Disney Parks Blog, offers tech-powered simulations, the opportunity to design suits for Marvel superheroes, and special appearances from the Avengers. The new addition can be found in the Oceaneer Club.

Edge

Edge, located on Deck 5, was designed for children aged 11 to 14. Its refurbishments include an outdoor deck, games, and a ball pit. Disney Cruise Line (DCL) also added a club lounge and dance floor for parties.

Dream Tower Suite

Disney Dream‘s forward funnel is now the Dream Tower Suite. The two-story ultra-luxurious accommodations celebrate “Fantasia,” particularly its whimsical number “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”

Its art deco-inspired design features gilded embellishments, a celestial look and feel, an elaborate chandelier, and a carpet that depicts flowing water.

Bigger Concierge Lounge

The Hercules-inspired concierge lounge has been expanded. It pays tribute to the classic Disney film while giving off Mount Olympus vibes. Occupants can look forward to light details, rich colors, and hints of gold.

Renovated Senses Spa

Senses Spa has been renovated with new treatment rooms. Meanwhile, Mexican fare will be conveniently located on Deck 11, offering spa patrons easy access to burritos, tacos, and food bowls.

When the Dream-class vessel repositions in Fort Lauderdale, it will sail from the recently remodeled cruise terminal.

Disney Dream will sail to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, allowing passengers to experience the cruise line’s newest exclusive resort in the Bahamas. Disney’s cruise destination on Eleuthera Island opened last June to mixed reviews.

If it is voted into law, vessels carrying 250 passengers and more will be prohibited from docking every Saturday and on the fourth of July when the city hosts its annual parade. 

The new policy was approved for voting this week and will be on the ballot unless Juneau’s Assembly implements a comparable measure by August 15. However, according to the Associated Press, this is unlikely.

Hart, who spearheaded the initiative, amassed over 2,300 signatures from local citizens.

Already Approved: 12,000 and 16,000 Daily Limits

Ship-free Saturdays isn’t the only proposal that cruise operators will have to deal with. Last month, the city agreed to introduce passenger limits with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Beginning in 2026, Juneau will impose a 16,000 daily maximum on lower berths (the number of passenger beds on a vessel) and a lower threshold of 12,000 on Saturdays. 

The signed agreement also includes provisions for annual meetings, allowing the city to continuously evaluate passenger volumes, cruise ship schedules, and community goals.

In 2023, Juneau’s annual visitors increased 33% from 1.2 million in 2022 to 1.6 million in 2023. During the peak season, the city has been known to host over 21,000 cruise ship visitors in one day.

As we reported yesterday, local police found him safe on Saturday, July 6. That evening, he was reunited with his mother and grandmother.

Brown vanished on Thursday, July 4. He was last seen leaving the Caribbean Princess as it was docked at Rostock-Warnemünde, a town approximately 150 miles north of Berlin, Germany. According to police, Brown and his grandmother argued, prompting the teenager to leave the vessel.

After discovering his absence, Brown’s family reportedly feared that Brown had been “lured” from the dock. 

Brown remained missing for three days. He was finally found unharmed last Saturday in Brandenburg at around 10 p.m. His location,120 miles from the port, was identified using public CCTV footage and cell phone pinging. Police also distributed copies of Aydin’s photo.

Local authorities mentioned that he was with a 19-year-old and agreed to meet when he was located. They added, “There is no evidence of a criminal offense.”

Brown’s cousin, Amy Kopischke, helped spread the word on social media and asked the online community for help. Upon learning that he had been found, she wrote, “Thank you to everyone praying for his safe return to our family!! He was found safe!! And will be returned to his family this evening!!”

Princess Cruises thanked local officials. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to German authorities for their swift response and exceptional efforts in locating Aydin after he disembarked in Warnemunde last Thursday morning,” its statement reads.

In April, an elderly passenger with dementia also vanished and remains missing.