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.

These ships, each nearly 230,000 gross registered tons, will be designed and constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and are scheduled for delivery in the summers of 2029, 2031, and 2033.

This order is part of Carnival Cruise Line’s broader expansion strategy. Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation placed its first new-build orders in five years for two additional Excel-class ships, which will join the fleet in 2027 and 2028.

This is in addition to the previously announced message that Carnival is transferring five vessels from its sister brands to Carnival Cruise Line between 2023 (Costa Cruises) and March 2025 (P&O Cruises Australia) to increase guest capacity.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, emphasized the importance of Carnival Cruise Line to the company’s growth strategy. “We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line,” said Weinstein.

Details on New Carnival Cruise Ships

The new ships, featuring over 3,000 guest staterooms and a total capacity of nearly 8,000 guests, will be the largest in Carnival Corporation’s fleet.

The vessels will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and equipped with advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies. Design details and itineraries for the new ships will be announced in the future.

Currently set at €7 per day for less than 12 hours, the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, hinted at a substantial hike during a recent interview.

‘Substantial’ Increase Planned

This cruise tax hike aims to address the impact of mass tourism in Barcelona and will need approval from the Catalan regional government. With potential changes on the horizon, cruise travelers may see higher fees when visiting this vibrant Spanish city.

A critic of the cruise industry, Collboni sees it as another measure to “tackle the consequences of mass tourism” in Barcelona. The city has commissioned studies to evaluate how much the tax increase should be.

Along with the Spanish island of Mallorca, Barcelona has been at the forefront of anti-tourism protests. A recent demonstration of several thousand marches occurred in Catalan city, with protestors spraying tourists with water pistols.

CLIA Responds to Growing Opposition to Cruise Ships

This has alarmed the European arm of the Cruise Lines International Association. Director Marie-Caroline Laurent said cruise lines may soon have to make itinerary changes to skip ports like Barcelona.

Mayor Jaume Collboni recently said the city is at breaking point regarding cruise ship capacity, however CLIA responded by claiming cruise ship guests only make up about 4% of Barcelona’s total tourist numbers.

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. 

Anti-Cruise Sentiment Growing Across Spain

The cruise industry is on the firing line as over-tourism protests grow in size and frequency. Spain has seen major demonstrations in Barcelona and the Balearic and Canary Islands. In Palma de Mallorca, there have been beach blockades and demonstrations outside hotels, protesting overtourism in general.

In Barcelona, cruise guests were reportedly sprayed with water pistols while demonstrators wielded “tourists go home” placards.

Protests have also occurred in Scandinavia and France, while Venice and Amsterdam have already limited the cruise ship visits. The Greek Prime Minister recently announced tentative plans to cap cruise ship calls on the popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos.

Protesters Have Targeted Cruisers

“There will be some consideration of adapting the itineraries if we feel that all passengers will not be well-treated,” Laurent added.

Barcelona city officials say the city is almost at breaking point for cruise ship visits, although CLIA points out that cruise guests account for only 4% of total visitors to the city. Barcelona’s resentment of spiraling visitor numbers extends far beyond day-tripping cruisers.

Along with crowded streets and congestion, the main issue is the vast number of short-term rentals catering to tourists, causing a major shortage of affordable housing for residents. 

NZ Cruise Ship Traffic on the Decline Partly Due To Costs

Cruise Lines International Association Australasia warns this would severely impact New Zealand’s standing as a cruise destination. The New Zealand Cruise Association forecasts a 22% decline in cruise ship visitors for the 2024/25 season, even without this extra cost. The trade groups say margins are already extremely thin for New Zealand cruises.

Furthermore, they say that, with a December 1 start, cruise lines are on the hook for the costs applicable to guests who have already booked and paid for their cruise. CLIA claims the country is already one of the most expensive to operate in.

New Zealand Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd says the fee hike could cost cruise lines an estimated NZ$2 million extra for the 2024/25 season.

Trade Groups Demand Talks with Government Officials

Both the CLIA and the NZCA are pushing for a “more constructive process” where cruise lines have a voice and can highlight the economic impact of cruising, especially in New Zealand’s more remote ports of call.

The trade groups plan to discuss cruise lines’ grievances with the New Zealand Customs Service and government officials. Currently, the border processing fee per cruise ship passenger is NZ$11.48, and it is set to rise to $21.54 in December. There is also a per-passenger biosecurity levy of NZ$10.58 payable.

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.