Royal Caribbean Confirms 5th Icon Class, More Ship Builds Agreed in Major Deal
- Royal Caribbean confirmed an order for Icon 5, scheduled for delivery in 2028.
- The cruise line also extended its partnership with Meyer Turku shipyard through 2036.
- The announcement hinted at a possible new class of ship beyond Icon.
Read the full story at CruiseHive here.
Thieves Drive Off With 17 Cars from Cruise Terminal Lot
- A total of 17 cars were stolen from a supposedly secure parking facility that services the Southampton cruise terminals on September 9 and 10.
- The facility parks vehicles in a locked warehouse and it is unclear how such a massive theft of so many cars could have occurred.
- Multiple cruise lines and guests on different ships are likely impacted by the large-scale theft.
Read the full story at CruiseHive here.
Strange Place to Stash a Cruise Card Offends Other Guests
- A guest aboard Independence of the Seas has been offended by women storing their SeaPass cards in their bras.
- This led to a viral discussion of various other storage options as well as how dirty a card would really be if it was so stored.
- Many other women have admitted to doing the same, but there are also alternatives that can be even more practical and useful.
Read the full story at CruiseHive here.
Virgin Voyages Shakes Up Cruise Pricing With New Tiered Fares
- Virgin Voyages is introducing three new fare tiers – Base, Essential, and Premium – with different levels of Wi-Fi, dining reservations, and flexibility.
- The new system makes pricing clearer by listing gratuities as a separate line item, with options to pre-pay or settle onboard.
- Suite guests now have earlier access to dining reservations, while all existing inclusions and benefits remain unchanged.
Read the full story at CruiseHive here.
Celebrity Opens Remaining River Cruises After Early Access Sold Out in Six Minutes
- Itineraries offered by the new Celebrity River Cruises brand will open for sale on September 25, 2025, offering cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers in 2027.
- An earlier promotion, Priority Booking Access, indicated high demand for the river product, with the early access offer selling out in minutes on the day it became available.
- The line’s first two ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, will eventually be part of a 10-ship fleet operated by the river brand.
Read the full story at CruiseHive here.
Carnival Cruise Line Calls Out Duck Prank, Asks Guests to Stop
- Prank ducks hidden aboard Carnival ships promising a free drink are false and will not be honored by bartenders or wait staff.
- While Carnival Cruise Line does not ban cruising ducks, it is possible that such bad faith “jokes” could lead to a ban if they get out of control.
- The bedazzled Effy ducks that were used for prize giveaways were from the jewelry retailer and not from the cruise line.
Read the full story at CruiseHive here.
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