A fifth cruise ship dock for downtown Juneau, Alaska is quietly moving forward. According to Huna Totem Corp., the Alaska Native corporation overseeing it, work will start on the development next year.

Dock will be ready for 2028 Alaska season

The Juneau Assembly signed a tidelands lease for the development last week. Susan Bell with Huna Totem Corp. confirmed work on the project will start in summer 2027, to make it ready for the 2028 Alaska cruise season.

“There’s still a lot of detailed engineering and design that needs to happen, and we needed to be sure that we do this sequentially,” she said. “Signing the lease allows us to have confidence in moving forward with securing steel, securing the float that is needed for the dock.”

The new dock will be one element in a larger waterfront development called Aak’w Landing, which has an overall budget of about $150 million.

Approved in principle by the Juneau planning commission back in 2023, it will feature a culture and science center, underground parking and various dining and retail concessions. It will also include a boardwalk and green space for events and outdoor concerts, according to the company’s latest renderings, along with Alaska Native art educational resources.

There is strong local support for the development, although general public sentiment remains mixed over the impacts of added cruise ship capacity.

Huna Totem says the project would disperse cruise passenger traffic in the downtown Juneau area and help reduce road congestion, but opponents contend it could actually make congestion worse.

Huna Totem is committed to giving the public a voice to raise any concerns, Bell added. “This was built on years of input, and I think Huna Totem will continue making sure that we’re continuing that dialog and getting people’s input,” she said.

The company plans to present its plans in detail at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon next month.

MSC Cruises is doubling down on the Bahamas with plans for its first dedicated beach club. The cruise line confirmed a deal with the Bahamas government for part of the site of the iconic Grand Lucayan Resort in Grand Bahama.

MSC aims to develop the 20-acre site which is currently The Reef Village area. Neither the cruise line nor local officials have disclosed what amenities the MSC Beach Club will feature. It will be available to MSC and Explora Journeys guests.

“This agreement represents a defining moment for Grand Bahama and the future of our island,” said Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis. The redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Resort has long been a national priority, and this step forward speaks to our commitment to restoring Grand Bahama as a leading tourism destination.

Two cruise beach club facilities being developed at the Grand Lucayan Resort

It won’t be the only beach club destination for cruisers at the site. Alongside MSC Beach Club, Ancient Waters Cruise Resort will be locally operated and accessible to various other cruise lines’ passengers.

The 56-acre beachfront Grand Lucayan Resort and 160-acre Reef Golf Course is now owned by Concord Wilshire Capital, which is overseeing a huge resort redevelopment.

“Together, the MSC Beach Club and the Ancient Waters Cruise Resort are projected to welcome more than one million guests annually,” Concord Wilshire President Nate Sirang said. “Combined with the activation of the Mega Marina and Casino Resort, this development will generate substantial economic activity.”

MSC’s new beach club plans are in addition to its already announced $450 million investment to upgrade the Freeport, Grand Bahama cruise port facility. The goal is to expand ship capacity and improve guest services.

Additionally, further upgrades are coming to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve which will add more recreational activities, restaurants, bars and cabanas, as well as an exclusive adult-only retreat area.

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.

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

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.

According to CruiseMapper, the Celebrity Beyond‘s week-long itinerary included stops in the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts before returning to PortMiami on Easter Sunday.

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.

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.