With intent to cruise trending higher today than it was prior to the pandemic, cruise lines are unveiling new ships and itineraries to meet the swelling demand.
The latest cruise news from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America Line, and Margaritaville at Sea provides a look at how cruise lines are expanding and charting new courses to entice new cruisers and keep seasoned ones sailing.
Image source: Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean orders fourth Icon Class ship
A fourth Icon Class mega cruise ship is officially in the works for Royal Caribbean. The agreement inked with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku also includes options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship. The fourth ship in the line of “cruisezillas” is set to be delivered in 2027.
Icon of the Seas, the lead ship of the Icon Class, launched in January 2024 sails from Miami. It took the title of "the largest cruise ship in the world" from another Royal Caribbean ship, Wonder of the Seas. The first-of-its-kind megaship features next-level thrills like the largest water park at sea and has seven pools, including the largest one at sea.
Star of the Seas will set sail in August 2025 from Port Canaveral as the second Icon Class ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet. It aims to draw families away from land-based Orlando attractions and onto the sea. Star of the Seas will be followed by a yet-to-be-named third Icon Class ship that will launch in 2026.
Carnival Cruise Line adds new itineraries, cancels a sailing
Carnival Cruise Line shared new 2026 and 2027 itineraries for seven of its ships sailing from Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, and Baltimore.
Many of the new itineraries will feature Half Moon Cay, a private island destination that Carnival is soon to expand. Also featured on many of the itineraries is Celebration Key, the new private destination the cruise line is building on Grand Bahama Island.
In unfortunate Carnival Cruise Line news, cruisers who booked the Sept. 7 southern Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral on Carnival Vista received notice that their upcoming cruise was canceled. The ship needs to undergo additional repair work for an ongoing propulsion issue. The cruise line offered impacted passengers a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit to use on any sailing within the next year.
Related: Carnival Cruise Lines makes a surprise private island move
Holland America Line opens new bookings
Cruisers interested in exploring Alaska can check out a variety of 2026 itineraries now available to book with Carnival's Holland American Line. The cruise line has six ships in the region and highlights of its Alaska voyages include guaranteed glacier viewing, wildlife sightings, and destination-focused dining.
The Alaska cruise season runs from April through September 2026 and includes seven to 28-day itineraries sailing round trip from Seattle and Vancouver and between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska. New for 2026 is a 14-day Great Alaska Explorer cruise offered round trip from Seattle, in addition to Vancouver.
Holland America Line also introduced a new option for cruisers who want to experience its longer Grand Voyages but don’t have the time available for an over four-month-long cruise. The cruise line is now offering several Grand Voyages segments, shorter itinerary options that sail between two key ports of the cruise line’s 2025 Grand World Voyage or 2025 Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole.
Six segments are available for the Grand World Voyage, ranging from 20 to 55 days. For the Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole, seven segments are available ranging from 33 to 100 days. Segment prices start at $169 per day, including all taxes and fees.
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Margaritaville at Sea adds new Bahamas itinerary
Jimmy Buffett’s cruise line is saying “fins up” to Nassau with a new four-night Bahamas itinerary for the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise sailing from Port of Palm Beach, Florida. Available for five sailings in January and February 2025, the new Bahamas cruise includes a stop in Freeport, Grand Bahama in addition to Nassau.
The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise also offers a four-night Key West and Grand Bahama itinerary, as well as two- and three-night Grand Bahama cruises. Longer itineraries are available from Tampa sailing to Key West, Mexico, and the western Caribbean on the recently launched Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
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