More than 100 people have fallen ill aboard AIDA Cruises ship AIDAdiva.

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a norovirus outbreak on the ship, with six crew members and 95 guests reported sick.

Enhanced Cleaning with Ill Guests in Isolation

The outbreak was reported a week ago during the ship’s 133-day world cruise. The CDC says the main symptoms have been diarrhea and vomiting.

MORE: The Truth and Lies of Norovirus

The cruise line has implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitation efforts and isolated all ill passengers and crew. The cruise line is cooperating fully with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).

“The VSP is remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the ship’s outbreak response and all sanitation procedures,” the CDC said in a statement.

AIDAdiva departed from Hamburg, Germany nearly a month ago, and is calling at ports in the UK, US, Mexico, Japan and South Africa.

The outbreak was reported during port calls in the US, in New York City and Miami. The voyage ends in Hamburg in March 2025. The ship is carrying just over 2,000 guests.

Cruise Line Says the Rate of Infection Is Dropping 

“Seasonal illness peaks between November and April and the AIDAdiva report reflects infection patterns on land,” the cruise line said. “We have added more hygiene protocols onboard, and cases are already going down.”

The federal health agency has recorded 21 cruise ship illness outbreaks so far this year with 16 of them confirmed as norovirus as the causative agent. There were a total of 18 cruise ship outbreaks in 2024.

Norovirus is infectious and can spread through direct contact and contaminated food, water and unclean surfaces.

The CDC’s “Tips for Healthy Cruising” guidance encourages guests to wash their hands often and especially after using the toilet and before eating.

The family of a man who died during a Royal Caribbean cruise last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the cruise line. Michael Virgil, 35, became agitated and was tackled by ship security staff. He died a short time later.

Cause of Death Report Cities Homicide

It has now been revealed that the cause of death was attributed to homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report. The family is now suing the cruise line. The suit alleges Virgil was served at least 33 alcoholic drinks as part of his all-inclusive “Deluxe Beverage” package.

When he was apprehended by security, he was pepper sprayed several times, physically restrained and then injected with a sedative.

The ME’s report cites mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication as factors in the death. Virgil was on a four-day cruise out of Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico.

The complaint alleges staff continued serving alcohol after he became visibly intoxicated. Fiancée Connie Aguilar alleges in the suit that Royal Caribbean was negligent in the improper alcohol service and for the actions of its security and medical staff.

“Royal Caribbean fully understands and expects that alcohol overconsumption by passengers will result in the diminution of their inhibitions, motor skills and good judgment,” the lawsuit stated.

“Royal Caribbean expects this will foster the general party atmosphere that Royal Caribbean desires and promotes aboard its vessels, and which in turn enhances other revenue-producing shipboard activities such as gambling and the purchase of more alcohol.”

Following the incident, the FBI said it opened an investigation into the circumstances leading up to Virgil’s death but hasn’t shared any further details since.

In response to the lawsuit filing, Royal Caribbean said: “We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting any further.”

This lawsuit, alleging negligence in alcohol service and security response, follows a similar incident earlier this year when the family of a drowning victim sued a cruise line for negligence. That suit alleged the cruise line failed to properly inform guests of dangerous riptides and a lack of lifeguards at a popular beach port of call.

Carnival Cruise Line is bringing full holiday cheer to Celebration Key this season, marking the first time the cruise line’s exclusive Grand Bahama destination is celebrating the holidays since opening earlier this year.

Holiday Décor Transforms the Island

The island has been transformed into a festive tropical wonderland with holiday installations throughout the property. Paradise Plaza features larger-than-life stacked gift boxes, while Lokono Cove showcases a 20-foot Celebration Key–themed tree.

Santa’s Village at Starfish Lagoon includes an eight-foot sand sculpture tree crafted in tropical style, maintaining the destination’s island aesthetic while embracing holiday traditions.

Family-Friendly Holiday Activities

For families, Santa will be making special appearances for photos throughout the season, and the popular Junkanoo parade has received a holiday costume update to complement the festive atmosphere.

The Christmas experience extends beyond the island itself, guests sailing during the holiday season will find themed activities, seasonal menus, and special entertainment both at Celebration Key and throughout their cruise, blending Carnival’s signature fun atmosphere with traditional holiday elements.

Carnival Cruise Line is giving passengers more time to maximize their loyalty status before transitioning to its new Carnival Rewards program, pushing the launch date from early 2026 to September 1, 2026.

Extra Time to Earn Status

The cruise line announced the delay in a letter to VIFP Club members, explaining that all cruise activity through August 31, 2026 will now count toward final VIFP status. This means summer 2026 cruises will help determine starting status in the new program.

“We’ve been listening to your feedback about our upcoming Carnival Rewards program,” wrote Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.

The move likely came from pushback from Carnival guests, many of them saying the new program is ‘a slap in the face.’

Benefits Remain Unchanged

Carnival is keeping the benefits announced when the program was first revealed.

Diamond guests retain lifetime status, while Platinum guests receive a 10,000-star boost every two years to help maintain their tier.

How the Two-Year Cycle Works

The new program operates on a calendar-year schedule with two-year status periods. When Carnival Rewards launches on September 1, 2026, passengers’ starting status will match their VIFP status as of August 31, 2026, and will remain valid through December 31, 2028.

This first cycle gives everyone four extra months to earn status. After that, earning periods run January 1 through December 31 every two years.

Stars Determine Status, Points Buy Rewards

The dual-currency system separates status qualification from redemption value. Passengers earn three stars per dollar spent on cruise fare and onboard purchases, with stars resetting every two years to determine tier level.

Points work differently; they’re spent on rewards like drinks, shore excursions, photos, and even cruise fare. Passengers earn 3 points per dollar on Carnival purchases, with 100 points equaling approximately $1 in value depending on demand.

Points never expire as long as passengers earn or redeem at least once every three years.

Credit Card Accelerates Earnings

The new Carnival Rewards Mastercard, launching in September 2026, accelerates both currencies. Cardholders can earn between four stars and six points per dollar on Carnival purchases, plus bonus earnings at grocery stores and restaurants.

Current Fun Points cardholders will see their balances automatically convert to Carnival Rewards Points.

Milestones Transition to Days Sailed

The current milestone program ends August 31, 2026, with all earned awards remaining valid through August 31, 2030. The new system ties milestones to total days sailed rather than the number of cruises, with special recognition delivered during the cruise where passengers hit each milestone.

Diamond guests under Carnival’s current VIFP loyalty program will receive lifetime status under Carnival Rewards.

A P&O Cruises ship was forced to delay its departure at the UK’s largest cruise port due to thousands of bananas plunging into the sea.

The 5,200-guest P&O Iona was scheduled to depart the Port of Southampton Saturday evening but had to stay overnight due to a nearby cargo ship mishap.

Sixteen containers aboard cargo ship Baltic Klipper came loose and fell into the sea just a few miles from Southampton. Many of the containers were filled with bananas, a few were empty and one was carrying avocados.  

It happened in the Solent – a narrow channel of water between Southampton and the offshore Isle of Wight and is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the UK. The Coast Guard issued a warning to all shipping on Saturday while it managed the salvage of the containers. It deployed search boats and aircraft to locate the containers.

“HM Coastguard is closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant authorities, including the vessel’s owners, who are responsible for recovering the containers,” the Coast Guard said.

“Broadcasts are being sent to warn local shipping and Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team is on patrol.”

According to media reports, bananas began washing up on shore by Sunday morning and later in the day, five containers were located washed up east of Southampton.

Cruise Ship Expected to Complete Sailing Without Any Further Disruption

Iona was eventually given the all-clear to depart from Southampton late on Sunday – a delay of more than 24 hours. P&O Cruises says the delay won’t impact any of its scheduled port calls.

The ship is on a two-week sailing to the Canary Islands. It’s first port stop is on December 10 in Madeira. It is also due to call at Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Cádiz, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal.

The passenger disruption follows a similar incident earlier this year, when a mechanical problem caused the Carnival Horizon to delay its departure, resulting in passengers losing their first day of sailing.

Port Canaveral has officially earned recognition as the world’s busiest cruise port, processing 8.6 million passenger movements during fiscal year 2025.

The achievement marks a 13 percent increase over the previous year and represents the highest passenger volume in the port’s history.

Record-Breaking Passenger Volume Reflects Port Growth

The milestone underscores Port Canaveral’s dominance in the North American cruise market, where it serves as homeport for 18 vessels across seven major cruise brands.

The port currently supports over 1,000 sailings annually, solidifying its position as a critical hub for cruise operators seeking reliable, high-capacity infrastructure.

“This distinction reflects our commitment to providing a quality experience and supporting our cruise partners’ business growth,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral’s CEO, in a statement.

$912 Million Investment Plan Drives Future Capacity

The achievement arrives as Port Canaveral advances its Port Canaveral Advantage initiative, a $912 million, five-year capital improvement program designed to expand capacity and modernize operations. The project includes expansion of two existing cruise terminals, development of a seventh new terminal campus, additional parking facilities, and deployment of new technology aimed at streamlining the boarding process and passenger convenience.

Why This Matters for Travel Advisors

For travel advisors, Port Canaveral’s continued investment in infrastructure matters significantly. The port’s geographic position as a drive-to market, with approximately 75 percent of passengers driving from within the southeast, offers advantages over fly-to homeports.

Easy terminal access, ample adjacent parking, and Central Florida’s centralized location make it an attractive option for cruise passengers seeking easy cruise embarkation.

Industry Recognition and Modern Facilities

As cruise demand continues to grow, Port Canaveral’s infrastructure investments position it to maintain its market leadership while accommodating projected future growth in passenger sailings from the Central Florida region.

Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess arrived at Port Canaveral over the weekend to launch a winter season of Caribbean and Bahamas sailings, marking the newest and largest Princess ship to homeport in Central Florida.

New Ship Brings Expanded Capacity to Port Canaveral

The 3,660-passenger Sky Princess builds on the success of Princess’s inaugural Port Canaveral schedule, which debuted last year aboard Caribbean Princess.

Both ships will operate from the port in 2026, giving passengers expanded options for Caribbean cruising from Central Florida.

Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray spotlighted the partnership’s value. “Sky Princess is a great addition to the lineup of cruise options from Central Florida,” he said.

Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer, noted that passengers appreciate the convenience of sailing from the Space Coast, particularly given that approximately 75 percent of cruisers drive to the port.

Sailing Schedule and Itineraries

Sky Princess sails weekly cruises from Port Canaveral.

Sunday departures offer eight-day voyages to Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and San Juan. Monday departures feature six-day cruises to Grand Turk, Nassau, and Freeport.

What’s Onboard Sky Princess

Part of Princess Cruises’ Royal-Class fleet, the 141,000-ton Sky Princess debuted in 2019 and carries 1,830 staterooms, including more than 400 suites.

The ship features Sky Suites that accommodate up to five passengers and some of Princess’s largest balconies at sea.

Dining options include specialty venues like The Crown Grille steakhouse, The Catch by Rudi seafood eatery, and Sabatini’s Italian restaurant.

Port Canaveral’s Growing Cruise Fleet

In 2015, Port Canaveral ranked as the world’s busiest cruise port.

With both Sky Princess and Caribbean Princess now operating from Port Canaveral, Princess Cruises solidifies its presence at the Space Coast port and offers passengers more flexible scheduling for winter Caribbean sailings.

Philadelphia is getting its first cruise terminal.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced the groundbreaking of the PhilaPort Cruise Terminal, a new 16-acre facility in Tinicum Township that will begin welcoming cruise passengers in April 2026, timed to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary celebration.

What Passengers Need to Know

The new terminal will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s exclusive homeport in Philadelphia, with an initial commitment of 41 sailings per year through at least 2033.

Passengers will have convenient access to the facility, located adjacent to Philadelphia International Airport. The terminal is being developed through a partnership between PhilaPort, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Energy Transfer Marketing and Terminals.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings operates three cruise brands—Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises—all of which are expected to offer sailings from Philadelphia.

The press release mentions sailings to Bermuda and other destinations, though specific itineraries have not yet been detailed.

Why Philadelphia Now?

The timing is significant. Philadelphia’s 2026 debut as a cruise homeport coincides with the city’s role as a centerpiece in America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The city’s maritime heritage and proximity to popular cruise destinations make it an attractive alternative to other Northeast homeports.

PhilaPort Executive Director Jeff Theobald called the partnership “a unique opportunity,” stressing the work required to coordinate the project among multiple stakeholders.

Daniel Farkas, Executive Vice President at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, described Philadelphia as “our newest homeport” and a “strategic milestone” for the company’s expansion plans.

Economic Impact and Next Steps

PhilaPort projects the cruise terminal will generate 2,185 direct and indirect jobs and approximately $300 million in annual economic output for the Commonwealth.

Construction schedules, project milestones, and terminal amenities will be announced as development progresses.

The new terminal positions Philadelphia as a convenient gateway for East Coast cruise travel, offering an alternative to established New York, New Jersey and Baltimore homeports.