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Carnival Pride returned to Baltimore on April 9 after a 22-day dry dock in Freeport, Grand Bahama, resuming the year-round service Baltimore cruisers have loved for nearly 16 years.
The ship first arrived in the city in April 2009 as Baltimore’s first year-round cruise ship, briefly relocated to Tampa in late 2014, and has called Baltimore home again since March 2015.
How the ship has changed over the years
The largest transformation came in 2015, when Carnival Pride received the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade. That overhaul added Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, WaterWorks, RedFrog Pub, and several other venues that are now staples across the Carnival fleet.
In 2019, the ship returned to the Grand Bahama shipyard for a refresh that brought new carpeting and tiling throughout public areas, a renovated and relocated arcade, and the addition of The Cove, a dedicated lounge space for teens.
The most recent major overhaul came in 2023, when the Pride spent nearly a month at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.
That dry dock brought the most visible changes yet, including new livery, the Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge, a venue honoring U.S. military service members that had already appeared on several other ships in the fleet.
David’s Steakhouse was rebranded as Fahrenheit 555, and in the process, the ship said goodbye to its longtime replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David, which had occupied the space since the ship’s debut in 2002.
The 2023 dry dock also added the Carnival Adventures shop, Dreams Photo Studio, an upgraded Cloud 9 Spa, Starlink internet, and a full repaint in Carnival’s red, white, and blue hull livery.
What’s new from the 2026 dry dock
The latest shipyard visit was more modest by comparison. The casino underwent a full refurbishment, with updated décor throughout the gaming floor, and the Effy Jewelry boutique in the retail area was refreshed.
With dry dock complete, Carnival Pride resumes its year-round Baltimore schedule, offering seven-day cruises to The Bahamas and Bermuda, along with select Carnival Journeys sailings to more far-flung destinations.
Itineraries also include stops at Celebration Key, Carnival’s newest private destination on Grand Bahama, which opened in July 2025.
Baltimore cruisers have more to look forward to beyond the Pride’s return. Starting in November 2027, Carnival Miracle will join Pride in Baltimore, marking the first time two Carnival ships will homeport simultaneously in the city.
The cruise ship of the future might sound more like a library than an engine room.
No rumble underfoot. No funnel overhead. No exhaust cutting across the view from your deck chair. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft unveiled a concept this week for a cruise ship that runs entirely on batteries and says it could carry nearly 2,000 passengers by 2031.
Called Project Vision, the concept was announced at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami. The ship would measure 275 meters (about 900 feet) long, carry 1,856 passengers, and weigh in at around 82,000 gross tons, comparable in size to ships sailed by Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America today.
What would be different onboard
Because the ship runs entirely on batteries, there are no main engines and no exhaust to manage. That eliminates the funnel that typically dominates a ship’s upper deck and the internal exhaust shaft that cuts through the interior.
Meyer Werft says that frees up prime sun deck real estate for unobstructed views that passengers rarely get on modern-day cruise ships.
The aqua park, rather than sitting exposed on an upper deck, would be fully enclosed at the stern and usable year-round regardless of weather.
And with no combustion engines running beneath your feet, passengers would experience significantly less noise and vibration throughout the ship.
Can it actually work?
The battery system would be supplied by Corvus Energy, a Norwegian company that has already equipped more than half of the world’s hybrid and fully electric seagoing vessels. Meyer Werft says the technology exists today, not in some distant future.
A fully charged ship could cover popular European itineraries such as Barcelona to Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. For longer crossings, including transatlantic voyages, the design can be built as a hybrid with small backup generators.
By 2030, roughly 100 European ports are expected to have the shoreside charging infrastructure needed to support electric cruise ships.
Meyer Werft isn’t the only one working on this
Norwegian coastal line Hurtigruten has its own zero-emission ship project, called Sea Zero, targeting a 2030 launch.
That vessel would cut energy consumption by 40 to 50% compared to today’s ships, running primarily on a 60 megawatt-hour battery system Electrive charged at ports along the Norwegian coast.
The design also incorporates three retractable, autonomous wing rigs that combine solar panels and wind sails, with Hurtigruten reaching 164 feet tall when fully extended.
The key difference is scale. The Hurtigruten concept is built for 500 passengers along a fixed coastal route, Robb Report not open-ocean cruising. Meyer Werft’s Vision targets the mainstream cruise market at more than four times that passenger capacity.
Still a concept
No cruise line has placed an order. Meyer Werft presents a new concept at Seatrade each year, and Project Vision joins a growing list of industry proposals for cleaner ships.
If a cruise line signs on this year, Meyer Werft says the first ship could be delivered in 2031.
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but the shipyard is making the case that the technology to build it already exists.
Meyer Werft has announced a concept study for what it says is the world’s first 100% battery-powered cruise ship, the 88,000-ton Vision. The ship will be 275 meters long and able to accommodate 1,856 passengers, with the battery system supplied by Corvus Energy. According to a press release, the battery system will be able to...
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A passenger aboard the Celebrity Beyond has been arrested and charged with video voyeurism after crew members discovered a hidden camera in a public bathroom aboard the ship during a Caribbean sailing.
Aerial view of Celebrity Beyond (Photo courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)
Robert Qi Peng, of Charlotte, North Carolina, is accused of concealing a pen fitted with a tiny video camera in a unisex bathroom.
Staff discovered the device hidden beneath discarded hand towels while cleaning the restroom, and the ship’s chief security officer then notified the FBI.
After docking at Crown Bay, St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands on April 1, FBI and Port Authority agents reviewed the pen camera’s memory card. The footage allegedly showed Peng positioning the device to record the toilet area.
Footage captured multiple passengers, including a child
(Screengrab via BHphotovideo)
The approximately 90-minute recording reportedly captured nine passengers using the bathroom.
When questioned by the FBI, Peng allegedly admitted to placing the camera and told investigators he had begun secretly recording as the ship left Miami.
Video found on his laptop showed multiple guests using the toilet, including at least one child. He also reportedly told investigators he possessed several other micro cameras.
Peng was removed from the ship, which continued the voyage without him. He appeared in U.S. District Court on April 2, where U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Alan Teague released him on a $1,000 bond.
As conditions of his release, Peng was ordered not to use any hidden recording devices and to continue seeking employment.
He faces one count of unlawful video voyeurism. If found guilty, he could face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
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Passengers aboard Sun Princess lost their port day in Corsica, France, on Tuesday after a fishermen’s strike shut down every commercial port on the island, making it impossible for the ship to dock.
(Photo via Robert Nadel)
A guest on Sun Princess emailed our Cruise News Today tip line to report the situation as it unfolded. The passenger said the ship was scheduled to dock in Ajaccio by 8 a.m. but was still sitting idle nearly two hours later.
The captain later announced that negotiations with the striking fishermen had broken down, and that if the ship attempted to dock, the fishermen would block it inside the port, preventing the ship from leaving.
“The small boats are the local fishermen who are blocking the area where we would need to dock,” the passenger wrote. “Corsica has been canceled.”
Island-wide shutdown
(Photo via Robert Nadel)
The blockade is not isolated to Ajaccio. French fishermen launched a coordinated action beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, positioning their boats across the entrances to all six of Corsica’s commercial ports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, Propriano, and Ile-Rousse.
Ferries and cargo vessels were also prevented from entering or departing.
The fishermen are protesting a sharp rise in fuel costs they say is threatening the viability of their operations. The French government announced in late March a partial fuel rebate for fishing vessels, but fishermen rejected that as insufficient and launched what French media are describing as an unlimited strike.
The action is part of a boycott involving fishermen across France’s Mediterranean coast, including the Occitanie and PACA regions.
What this means for passengers
(Photo via Princess Cruises)
Corsica was a newly added port for Sun Princess. Princess Cruises added Ajaccio to its seven-day Western Mediterranean itineraries starting with the April 4 departure, replacing Gibraltar on 16 sailings running through next October.
For passengers on this sailing, it was the only scheduled stop in France.
Passengers who booked Princess-sold shore excursions for Corsica will receive automatic refunds.
It is unclear how long the blockade will continue. French authorities have not announced intervention plans, and the fishermen’s union has indicated they will not lift the blockade until the government meets their demands.
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Thirty passengers were safely evacuated after a small cruise ship ran aground on a reef in Fiji over the weekend.
The MV Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, grounded near Monuriki Island on Saturday. The island is best known as the filming location for the 2000 Tom Hanks film “Cast Away.”
What caused the grounding
Blue Lagoon Cruises said in a statement that conditions were calm when the ship anchored in the area. A sudden squall then caused the anchor to drag, pushing the 182-foot vessel onto a nearby reef. No passengers were injured.
A ferry was brought alongside at first light Sunday, and all 30 passengers disembarked with their luggage and belongings. They were taken to Denarau Island.
Fuel removed, crew transferred
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji said in a statement on Monday that approximately 23,000 liters of fuel had been successfully removed from the vessel, reducing the risk of pollution to the surrounding marine environment. Oil spill response booms remain on site as a precaution.
The crew of the Fiji Princess was subsequently transferred to the line’s sister vessel, Cougar, and departed the area bound for Port Denarau.
A salvage operator from Australia has been on scene since Sunday. Further recovery efforts are on hold pending improved weather and sea conditions.
Investigation underway
Blue Lagoon Cruises said the investigation is in its early stages. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji did not respond to a media request for comment at the time of the initial report but issued its own update Monday confirming the fuel transfer had been completed.
A similar situation happened in December 2024 when a tender boat carrying about 30 passengers from Crown Princess ran aground near Australia’s Kangaroo Island after experiencing engine trouble.
Unlike the Fiji Princess, the vessel was a small tender boat rather than a full cruise ship, and no reef was involved.
All 30 passengers made it safely to shore, wading through thigh-high water before continuing with their excursions.
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Holland America Line has increased both its daily gratuity rate and its onboard service charge.
The daily crew appreciation fee is now $18 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins, up from $17. Suite guests will pay $20 per day, up from $19. Holland America last adjusted these rates in February 2024.
The one dollar increase breaks down to be a 5.9% increase for standard cabins ($17 to $18) and a 5.3% increase for suites ($19 to $20).
Service Charge Also Increases
In addition to the increasing the daily gratuity that is automatically charged, Holland America raised its service charge on onboard purchases from 18 to 20 percent. That charge applies automatically to beverages, specialty dining cover charges, a la carte menu items, bar retail purchases, and spa and salon services.
The move mirrors what Carnival and Princess have recently done. Princess Cruises raised its service charge from 18 to 20 percent earlier this year, and Carnival made the same move.
No doubt aware that this type of change is never well received by the cruising public, Holland America opted not to make a formal announcement or send a press release. Rather, word began spreading amongst cruisers after they noticed an update to the line’s website outlining the changes.
How the Daily Gratuity Works
The daily fee is automatically added to each guest’s onboard account and pooled with charges from across the fleet.
The cruise line’s website says, “Crew Appreciation is Holland America Line’s approach to gratuities, designed to recognize the many team members who support your journey, including those you see every day and those working behind the scenes.”
Guests can request an adjustment at Guest Services before their account is finalized prior to disembarkation.
How Holland America’s Rate Compares
For context, Princess Cruises currently charges $18 per day for standard cabins and $20 for suites, putting it on par with Holland America’s new rates.
Celebrity Cruises charges $18 per day for most cabin categories, rising to $19 for Concierge Class and AquaClass, and $23 for The Retreat suites. Carnival Cruise Line’s updated rates also took effect April 2.
For a seven-night cruise, two guests in a standard cabin will now pay $252 in crew appreciation charges, up from $238 at the previous rate.
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If you have a cruise booked, there’s a new line item you may want to watch for: a fuel surcharge.
(Photo courtesy of PortMiami)
With oil prices climbing sharply since the start of the Iran conflict in late February, cruise passengers are asking whether the major lines will start passing those costs along. Two Asian cruise brands already have, and industry experts say others could follow.
What’s driving the concern
Since the Iran conflict began on February 28, global oil prices have jumped more than 40%, with Brent crude topping $100 per barrel amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting by MarketWatch. That’s well above the trigger thresholds written into most cruise contracts.
Cruise fuel costs are significant. Carnival Corporation spent more than $1.8 billion on fuel in 2025 alone, and Royal Caribbean Group spent roughly $1.1 billion.
Two lines have already acted
(Photo courtesy of Resorts World Cruises)
StarCruises and Dream Cruises, both operated under Resorts World Cruises, notified passengers on March 17 of new fuel surcharges that took effect for bookings made on or after March 20.
StarCruises is adding HKD 200 per person per night, which works out to about $25 per guest per day. Dream Cruises is charging SGD 15 per person per day, or roughly $12, on Genting Dream sailings out of Singapore, Port Klang, and Malacca.
“Due to recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East, oil prices have increased significantly, leading to higher fuel and related costs,” the companies said in letters to passengers.
Closer to home, one U.S. cruise line is already charging passengers a fuel surcharge and has been for nearly two years. Margaritaville at Sea has collected a $15 per person per night fuel supplement on sailings aboard the Paradise since June 2024. The fee does not apply to the line’s newer ship, the Islander, which launched from Tampa in 2024.
What the major lines say now
For now, the three biggest cruise companies are holding the line. Norwegian Cruise Line said it does not expect “any immediate impact on ticket prices or the guest experience.” Carnival said it has “no plans to change our current pricing model.” Royal Caribbean did not respond to requests for comment from MarketWatch.
But the fine print in cruise contracts tells a different story. Norwegian reserves the right to impose a surcharge of up to $10 per passenger per day with no prior notice if West Texas Intermediate crude tops $65 a barrel.
Carnival’s contract allows up to $9 per person per day above a $70-per-barrel threshold. Oil is currently trading well above both levels. MSC Cruises has a cap as high as $12 per person per day under similar conditions.
Crucially, these surcharges can be applied even after a cruise has been paid in full.
The math adds up fast. A family of four on a seven-night sailing could see an extra $252 added to their bill under Carnival’s contract terms, or $280 under Norwegian’s policy, if either line chose to act.
Fuel Purchasing Strategies
Not all cruise lines are equally exposed to rising oil prices.
Royal Caribbean has hedged roughly 60% of its fuel needs for 2026, giving it a financial buffer against the current spike and helping explain why the line has said it will not impose surcharges.
Norwegian Cruise Line also uses fuel hedging strategies to lock in costs in advance.
Carnival Corporation is a different story. The company does not hedge fuel purchases at all, making it the most directly exposed of the three major cruise groups to oil price swings.
That vulnerability is already showing up on Carnival’s bottom line. When the company reported first quarter results, it cut its full-year earnings guidance, absorbing more than $500 million in adverse fuel cost impacts compared to earlier projections.
Maritime attorney Michael Winkleman, told MarketWatch that cruise contracts are written to give lines flexibility. The cruise contract is a powerful document entirely in favor of the cruise lines,” he said.
The last time cruise passengers actually paid fuel surcharges on a widespread basis was nearly 18 years ago, during the 2007-2008 oil price spike that pushed crude above $100 a barrel.
I have sailed every Holland America ship except the Zaandam. So when I tell you the Volendam surprised me, that means something.
Not because it is new. It is not. Not because it is packed with amenities. It is not that, either. The ship surprised me because in a landscape where bigger supposedly means better, the Volendam reminded me what cruising felt like before square footage became the primary selling point.
First Impressions
The Volendam is just under 800 feet long and carries 1,400 guests across nine decks, ten if you count the forward sun deck.
On embarkation, you find yourself on deck three, which opens into an atrium that is more an understated foyer than a grand entrance. If you are expecting the soaring multi-deck atriums found on newer ships, reset those expectations at the gangway.
Deck four handles guest services, deck five is the main artery connecting the casino to the Ocean Bar, and deck eight is the Lido.
Three decks cover almost everything you need, and you can walk the length of the ship in a couple of minutes. After navigating ships where you need a map just to find the main dining room, that simplicity was welcome.
The hallways are lined with framed photos of past Holland America ships. It is a small detail but a telling one: This is a line that knows its roots.
The Stateroom
My oceanview stateroom, cabin 1921, sat on the aft end of deck one. For a ship launched in 1999, last upgraded in 2024, it has held up well.
The bed was comfortable, the shower had a glass door instead of a curtain, and the water pressure was good with Elemis bath products in the shower and sink.
Storage was the real standout. Three large closets, multiple drawers, room under the bed for luggage, and additional drawers at the foot of each bed. These ships were designed for longer voyages and the storage reflects that.
No living out of a suitcase here!
The furnishings are worn the way an older ship’s furnishings should be: Lived in, not neglected. The TV ran smaller than what you’ll find on newer HAL ships, and there was a slight vibration at the stern during docking. At sea the cabin was quiet.
The natural light through the oceanview window was better than expected given how low in the ship’s structure it was located, giving you a mix of waterline and horizon that made for good sunrise and sunset photos.
If you are stepping off a Pinnacle-class ship (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, or Rotterdam), temper your expectations on the finishes.
Dining
Lido Market
I tended to do most breakfasts and lunches in the Lido Market, and it earned that loyalty quickly. The salad bar stood out because the staff builds it for you to order rather than serving yourself. I ordered it nearly every day. The seared tuna was consistently fresh, and I worked my way through the rest of the buffet offerings throughout the week. Lasagna, steak… I tried it all. And the late-night pizza was a major hit.
Then there was the bread pudding with vanilla sauce. I had three bowls one afternoon. I am not proud of it, but I’m not sorry either. If you sail the Volendam and skip the bread pudding, you have made a serious mistake.
Main Dining Room
The main dining room on the Volendam spans two decks, which gives it a sense of scale you would not expect on a ship this size. It is an elegant space and a reminder that Holland America has always taken dining seriously regardless of the ship.
I ate there twice during the segment. The french onion soup was a solid starter, the steak was cooked to order, and the lobster pretty decent.
Nothing blew me away but everything was done correctly, which is its own kind of consistency. What stood out more than the food was the service. The team checked in regularly, coming out specifically to ask if the steak was cooked to my liking.
Pinnacle Grill
The Pinnacle Grill is Holland America’s signature steakhouse and a fixture across the fleet. On the Volendam it sits on deck four and is worth the supplement for a special night. Because it does not have ocean views on this class of ship, windows instead look out onto deck four. But don’t worry, not a lot of people use deck four!
I ordered the steak with a side lobster and the size of the crustacean was almost embarrassing. It was nearly the size of a football! The server extracted it from the shell without being asked, which I appreciated more than I let on. That would have been a challenge!
But the real standout was the clothesline candied bacon. If you have sailed Holland America before you already know. If you have not, order it. I have been getting it for years across multiple HAL ships and it never misses the mark.
It is the kind of thing where you half-jokingly consider ordering it for dessert and then realize there is no reason not to.
Canaletto
Canaletto is Holland America’s Italian venue and it’s tucked within a section of lido buffet, which gives it a different feel than a standalone restaurant but works well in practice.
We went on the final night and the food came in waves. We started with antipasto for the table.
I followed with ordering the meatballs. The chicken parmesan came next and was a solid finish to the meal.
If I had one note it is that the portions are generous to the point where pacing yourself early matters. As with any Italian restaurant worth its salt, the meal was topped off with homemade tiramisu.
Dive In
The Dive In is Holland America’s poolside burger spot and a good option for that gap between lunch and dinner when you need something to munch on but you’re not ready to commit to a full-blown sit-down meal.
The lettuce wrap burger was the move. The lettuce replaces the bun entirely and it works better than it sounds. The hotdog was also genuinely good and worth ordering.
However, I’d skip the cheese fries, where the topping’s watery consistency gave a goopy pool collecting at the bottom of the box. Everything else on the menu made up for that (perhaps a sign I did not need to eat the fries!)
Pools and Lido Deck
Deck eight runs the length of the ship’s outdoor area and has two pool areas worth knowing about. The main Lido pool sits midship and is the social hub during sea days, with the Dive In nearby and plenty of lounge seating in the area.
The aft pool is a quieter alternative if you want the water without the crowd. On a ship of 1,400 guests neither pool ever felt overwhelmed, which is a luxury you do not always get at sea. There’s also a retractable dome over the lido pool that can close during inclement weather.
The Lido deck overall never the chaotic scene you find on larger ships during a sea day, which fit the overall tone of the Volendam perfectly.
The Crow’s Nest
If there is one space on the Volendam that deserves a special shout-out, it is the Crow’s Nest on deck nine forward. This was hands down my favorite spot on the ship.
With gorgeous 270-degree views from the front of the ship, you see nothing but water and horizon in every direction. During scenic cruising it is unmatched.
The space doubled as a trivia venue during the day, had a coffee bar and a full bar for the evenings, and was consistently quiet enough at night to get work done without feeling like you were hiding from the rest of the ship.
If you are a remote worker like myself, or just someone who appreciates a good view with a drink in hand without being out in the weather, find a spot early and make it yours. As an added bonus, the Starlink internet service seemed to be blazing up there!
Entertainment
There’s a very “something for everyone” feel when it comes to entertainment on the Volendam. The highlight of most evenings for me was the live band in the Ocean Bar on deck five, which played to a good-sized crowd until around midnight. The nearby Piano Bar served as a natural next stop when the Ocean Bar wound down for the night.
World Voyages and similar long cruises are different from your typical sailings in that there aren’t a lot of big, splashy, jukebox musicals. Although make no mistake, they are still there.
Instead, the World Stage theater hosted an ever-rotating variety of performers. During my time on board, there was electric violinist and a magician. This spot also played host to enrichment talks and other programming, especially on sea days.
Casino
What the smallish casino lacked in square footage it made up for in energy, especially late at night when the Ocean Bar crowd made their way over.
The table games like blackjack, roulette, and craps stayed busy throughout the segment and the slots had a good mix of machines. Newer games like Buffalo Gold, Dragon Link and Super Flaming Hot Pots were joined by classics like the one I can never resist: Wheel of Fortune (which also lets me down!).
I donated my fair share to the cause, which was promptly claimed by the woman next to me who hit $500 and $576 on back to back nights!
The spa, basketball and pickleball courts were also extremely popular on sea days.
The Crew
The crew is where Holland America has always separated itself from the competition, and the Volendam was no exception.
The ship is predominantly staffed by Filipino and Indonesian crew members who bring a level of warmth and genuine hospitality that is hard to replicate.
What stood out most was the small things. Crew members remembered your name after meeting you once. Remembered your order. The person polishing the staircases in the morning greeted you like a long-lost friend.
Who Is This Ship For?
As cruise ships get bigger, it can be increasingly difficult to feel connected to the sea or the people around you. Those looking for bells and whistles don’t mind, but others (like me) sometimes miss the low-key joy of quiet moments spent staring at the ocean while contemplating everything and nothing.
That latter group is who Volendam is meant for.
Those wanting Broadway shows and ziplines won’t find their needs met here. But folks who value conversation and community over bells and whistles will find themselves feeling right at home aboard Volendam.
The passengers ranged from their 30s to their 90s, and Holland America’s reputation as it’s only for old people did not hold up for a single day onboard. Some of these passengers ran circles around me in the heat of Southeast Asia. Not to mention kicking my butt in pickleball!
Book it for a segment and you will leave looking at longer voyages. That is probably the most honest thing I can tell you, and the highest compliment I could possibly pay this ship and her crew.
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