A group of residents last week staged a protest at Mahahual, Mexico, at the site of Royal Caribbean’s planned Perfect Day Mexico port project.

A small group of settler residents from the Nuevo Mahahual neighborhood blocked access to the port, demanding that the government and the cruise line improve roads and public services, such as public lighting, security, and garbage collection.

They also demanded their town is incorporated. They initially refused to disperse until a representative of the cruise line addressed them. The protest took place as three cruise ships docked at Mahahual Costa Maya port. 

Local NGO won injunction to temporarily halt construction

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect day Mexico port project is currently partly stalled after a Judge recently granted an injunction on behalf of a local NGO. DMAS (Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment) filed a legal challenge claiming lawmakers in Mahahual granted a change of land use for the Royal Caribbean project illegally. 

The group claimed this requires public consultation first. The government denies this, as the land use change only relates to a small percentage of the land earmarked for the project.

DMAS and the local protesters are not against the port project in principle but are fighting for transparency and respect for the environment.

“We are in favor of respecting the law, urban planning, and the community’s right to a healthy environment,” DMAS President Antonella Vázquez recently said. The group is alarmed at the possible negative impact on a protected mangrove area and water supply issues for the town.

Royal Caribbean has already said it is “not going to touch anything in the mangrove conservation area.” The cruise line plans a 80-hectare water park and other amenities beside the cruise ship pier and has earmarked 45 hectares of mangroves for conservation

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean has called in two independent environmental experts after Mexico’s federal environmental protection agency halted demolition work in one area due to “landfilling and compaction activities in a low-lying coastal jungle area with mangroves.”

The agency said the cruise line didn’t request federal clearance for this.

Manatee County officials in Florida say they are receiving threatening messages and harassment over a proposed cruise terminal project, with some employees’ children being targeted at school.

Courtney De Pol, the Deputy County Administrator, acknowledged that while officials want community input on the proposed cruise port near the Terra Ceia area, some residents have crossed the line.

“We appreciate all of the input that we have received and our county commissioners are taking them very seriously,” De Pol said. That being said, we are noticing that the public comments that we are receiving are becoming more aggressive.

The controversy stems from plans by SSA Marine and Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC to develop a privately funded cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

The county receives numerous messages and calls daily about the project. We have staff members who have children who are being harassed at school because of the cruise terminal,” De Pol said.

No Formal Application Filed Yet

The land in question is not currently zoned for a cruise terminal, and county commissioners would need to approve a zoning change before any development could proceed.

No formal application has been submitted. County officials say only preliminary conversations are happening at this stage.

Environmentalists have strongly opposed the development, citing concerns over protected mangrove forests and marine habitats in the Terra Ceia Bay area.

County Calls Harassment Unacceptable

According to media reports, County Administrator Charlie Bishop issued a statement condemning the harassment.

“No county employee should be harassed for performing their professional duties,” Bishop said. “No child should ever be targeted because of where their parent works.”

Bishop clarified that preliminary letters sent regarding economic development incentive programs do not constitute project approval or guarantee funding.

Any proposed project must go through the normal development review process, including public hearings before advisory boards and the Board of County Commissioners.

Supporters of the project say it would generate thousands of jobs and boost the local economy.

County officials say once they receive a formal application, they will review whether a cruise terminal is compatible with the area through a lengthy process.

Australian maritime investigators boarded Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Encounter in Darwin on Monday following whistleblower allegations about crew working conditions.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) launched the investigation after receiving reports from an anonymous crew member about wages as low as $2.50 per hour and unsafe living conditions.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says it has received hundreds of complaints about Carnival’s operations over the past six months.

As reported earlier this month, union organizer Shane Reside described conditions as “horrifying,” with galley stewards earning as little as $600 monthly while working over 10 hours daily for more than 30 consecutive days.

Water Access and Overcrowding Concerns

The whistleblower also reported that crew members must either drink poor-quality tank water or purchase bottled water at 70 cents per bottle.

While passengers and officers receive free drinking water, crew members face what the union calls a significant financial burden given their wages.

The Maritime Labour Convention, an international treaty setting minimum working and living standards for seafarers, requires that clean water must be provided free of charge on ships. The union says this requirement is not being met for crew on the Carnival Encounter.

Additional allegations include severely overcrowded living quarters leading to the rapid spread of skin diseases, and workers being required to perform duties while seriously ill.

Reside attempted to board the vessel in Sydney in December to investigate these claims but was denied access. The whistleblower requested anonymity, fearing job loss.

Company Response and Legal Questions

According to media reports, Carnival Encounter is one of three Carnival Cruise Line ships currently operating in Australian waters under cabotage regulations, which allow foreign-flagged vessels to operate domestic coastal routes.

The MUA claims the company uses regulatory loopholes to employ foreign crew members who fall outside Australian employment law protections.

MUA Northern Territory branch secretary Andy Burford said Carnival recruits workers from some of the world’s poorest economies while “generating billions of dollars in profit worldwide.”

“This is exactly what happens when you allow foreign-owned and controlled companies to sail the Australian coast, using Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers paying Australian fares, but who are completely immune from Australian law,” Burford said.

Reside indicated the union believes these conditions are “endemic across the Carnival Cruise fleet” rather than isolated to one vessel.

In a statement, Carnival said it has “nothing to hide” and welcomes AMSA oversight. The company noted that AMSA routinely conducts inspections to ensure compliance with international crew welfare requirements.

“We respect this process, and we hold our shipboard team members in the highest regard,” the statement read. “We welcome AMSA’s oversight as an important assurance mechanism for our crew and our operations.”

AMSA confirmed it investigates health and safety claims in line with the Maritime Labour Convention and will take action if breaches are found.

Holland America Line has released nearly three dozen new itineraries for the 2027-2028 season across Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal and the Pacific Coast.

The sailings run from October 2027 through April 2028 and depart from five North American homeports.

Four ships will operate the new season: Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Zaandam.

The itineraries will include longer port stays and being able to explore destinations, including extended time in Honolulu and expanded exploration of Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.

“Whether guests are chasing the sun in Hawaii or seeking the rugged, untouched beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest, this season truly has something for every type of cruiser,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment for Holland America Line.

Hawaii Sailings Feature Extended Honolulu Stays

The Hawaii program includes 17- and 18-day Circle Hawaii voyages aboard Koningsdam and Zaandam. All itineraries call at Nawiliwili, Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Hilo. Select sailings feature overnight or up to 40-hour stays in Honolulu.

The cruises include Holland America’s Hawaii Up Close cultural programming, covering topics from agriculture and local history to native arts and geology. Guests can also participate in stargazing, luaus and island-themed entertainment.

Panama Canal and Mexico Offerings Expand

Panama Canal itineraries range from 14 to 22 days and transit the Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks. Voyages include access to UNESCO World Heritage sites, Mayan archaeological sites and wildlife-rich rainforests across Central America.

Mexico sailings span from short five-day getaways to 12-day Baja Peninsula explorations. New itineraries highlight the Sea of Cortez with calls at Loreto, Pichilingue (La Paz) and Guaymas. The cruises feature Destination Dining and the line’s Global Fresh Fish Program showcasing regional cuisine.

Pacific Coast voyages range from one to seven days and include the return of the Great Bear Rainforest itinerary, sailing roundtrip from Vancouver in April 2028. That voyage calls at Ketchikan, Prince Rupert (overnight), Nanaimo and Victoria..

Disney Cruise Line has made history as Disney Adventure completed her transit of the Panama Canal this week, becoming the largest passenger vessel by both capacity and gross tonnage to ever pass through the waterway.

The milestone transit occurred as part of the ship’s repositioning voyage to Asia, where she will enter service later this year. The Panama Canal Authority has officially confirmed the record.

Breaking the Previous Record

Disney Adventure stretches about 1,120 feet long and is roughly 152 feet wide.

At 208,000 gross tons and carrying approximately 6,700 passengers, she surpasses the previous record holder, Norwegian Bliss, which transited the canal in May 2018.

Disney Adventure’s passage highlights the growing number of cruise ships capable of transiting the Neopanamax locks, which opened in 2016 to accommodate larger ships.

The Panama Canal Authority reports that more than 40 Neopanamax cruise ship transits are expected during 2025, including inaugural passages by AIDAdiva, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Ascent, and Star Seeker.

A New Chapter Begins for Disney Adventure

Disney Adventure’s path to this moment has been anything but straightforward.

Originally ordered by Dream Cruises as Global Dream, construction began at MV Werften in Wismar before Genting Hong Kong collapsed in early 2022, leaving the ship unfinished.

Disney Cruise Line acquired the incomplete hull, and Meyer Werft took over completion and redesign to Disney specifications.

After delivery in December, the ship departed Bremerhaven, Germany, crossed the Atlantic to the Bahamas for inspections, stopped at Port Canaveral, and now continues westward toward the Pacific.

Disney Adventure will homeport in Singapore, operating three- and four-night itineraries. This is Disney Cruise Line’s first permanent deployment in Asia.

The ship features seven themed zones drawing on Disney, Pixar, and Marvel properties. Notable features include Marvel Landing and the Ironcycle Test Run, an 820-foot roller coaster that Disney calls the longest at sea.

At 208,000 gross tons, Disney Adventure is the largest ship ever built for Disney Cruise Line.

The CDC is investigating a gastrointestinal illness outbreak aboard Regent Seven Seas Mariner that sickened 27 people during a three-week voyage from Miami to Honolulu.

According to the CDC, the outbreak affected 21 passengers and six crew members during the January 11 through February 1 sailing. The ship was carrying 631 passengers at the time, meaning roughly 3% of guests fell ill during the voyage.

Regent Seven Seas notified the CDC of the illnesses during the sailing. The agency has listed the cause as unknown, with laboratory testing still pending on stool samples collected from affected passengers.

What the Cruise Line Did

The luxury cruise line implemented several containment measures during the voyage. These included ramping up cleaning and disinfection procedures throughout the ship and isolating passengers and crew members who reported symptoms.

Regent followed the CDC’s outbreak response and sanitation protocols, according to the federal agency.

The Mariner had scheduled port calls in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and other destinations during the transpacific repositioning voyage.

Still Under Investigation

Federal health officials say identifying the source of outbreaks can take time. While norovirus is frequently associated with gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships, the virus is not always immediately confirmed through testing.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program tracks outbreaks when at least three percent of passengers or crew report symptoms and requires cruise lines to report gastrointestinal illnesses within 24 hours.

The CDC continues to emphasize frequent handwashing as a critical step in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal illness aboard ships.

This marks the second reported cruise ship illness outbreak in early 2026.

In January, Holland America Line experienced a confirmed norovirus outbreak that left nearly 90 passengers and crew members ill during a voyage running from late December through early January.