Cruise news — page 3

The latest cruise news: new ships and refits, loyalty program changes, itinerary updates, deals, and the stories behind your next sailing.

Latest story October 21, 2026

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October 2026

Cruise lines
Cruising solo on Carnival Cruise Line: no single cabins, but the easiest ships in the world to make friends on
Carnival charges solo guests a supplement on a standard cabin. What it gives back is a short, cheap, loud vacation where nobody stays a stranger for long.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Solo cruising with Azamara: long port days, late nights ashore and a supplement worth shopping for
Azamara has no solo cabins and charges double by default. Pick the right sailing and the 700-guest ships become a very good way to travel alone.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Avalon Waterways waives the single supplement on most of Europe. Here is what solo cruisers get for it
No solo cabins, but a Panorama Suite to yourself at the per-person fare on most European departures. A solo traveler's guide to Avalon Waterways.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Aurora Expeditions and the solo traveler: ten cabins, no supplement, and a kayak with your name on it
The Australian polar line sets aside ten solo cabins on every sailing with no single supplement. Here is how to use them and what the trip is like alone.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Going to Antarctica alone on Atlas Ocean Voyages: what the small yachts offer solo travelers
Atlas has no solo cabins and a supplement that starts at 150 percent. The 200-guest ships and inclusive fares still make a strong case for sailing alone.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
A-ROSA for solo travelers: no single cabins, but surcharges that start at 20 percent
The German river line sells short Rhine and Danube cruises with a low solo surcharge. Here is how to find them and what the ships feel like alone.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Solo cruising on American Cruise Lines: a single cabin on every ship, and a bill to match
The American small-ship line gives solo travelers their own staterooms, open dining and a nightly cocktail hour. The trade-off is the fare.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Why Ambassador Cruise Line has become a favorite for solo cruisers from UK ports
Dozens of single cabins per ship, hosted solo socials and no flight to catch. A look at what traveling alone with Ambassador is really like.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Solo on the river with AmaWaterways: single staterooms, waived supplements and tables for five
A river ship with 150 guests is a gentle place to travel alone. AmaWaterways adds single cabins on four ships and a steady stream of solo deals.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Cruising solo with AIDA Cruises: single cabins, the 70 percent rule and where to meet people
AIDA has real single cabins on its two biggest ships and a surcharge everywhere else. Here is how a solo traveler makes the German club ships work.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Itineraries
Three Ships, One Harbor: Fred. Olsen's Fleet Fiesta Returns to the Canaries This December
Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral meet in Las Palmas on December 1, 2026, for a day of celebrations and a fireworks sailaway. Three cruises are built around it.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Fred. Olsen Listened to Its Guests, Bundled the Extras, and Posted Its Best Satisfaction Scores Ever
Drinks with meals, tips and port fees went into the fare in January 2026. By August all three ships had record guest scores and 2027 bookings were up 40%.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Itineraries
Jungle to Ice: Fred. Olsen's 87-Night Amazon and Antarctica Voyage Broke the Company's Sales Record in a Day
Borealis sails from Southampton on January 5, 2028, up the Amazon to Manaus and on to Antarctic waters, with no flights. Bookings set a company record on day one.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Itineraries
Ambience Was the Only Mainstream Cruise Ship to Call at Havana This Year. Here's Why That Matters
A 40-night Caribbean loop from the Thames, a 13-hour day in Havana and a 1991 ship that keeps winning repeat guests. Inside Ambassador's long-voyage formula.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
From Tilbury to Bremerhaven: How Ambassador Is Becoming a Truly European Cruise Line
Ambassador bought Oceania's Sirena for a new German brand and renamed its French arm. By 2028 the British line sails for three markets in three languages.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Ambassador Cruise Line Just Had Its Biggest Launch Day Ever, and Repeat Guests Drove It
Launch-day revenue for the 2026-27 season rose 59% and more than half the bookings came from past guests. Here is what the no-fly British line is doing right.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Ships
Official MSC World Atlantic specifications and interactive deck plan
MSC World Atlantic
Oct 16, 2026By MSC Cruises
Ships
Official MSC World Asia specifications and interactive deck plan
MSC World Asia
Oct 16, 2026By MSC Cruises
Cruise lines
Princess Plus to Premier: a seven-night couple needs to justify a $490 upgrade
At Princess's current advertised pre-cruise rates, the gap between Plus and Premier is $35 per person per day. For two guests on a seven-night sailing, that is $490. I would start with that total before deciding that the higher package is only a small daily step up.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Ships
Beachcomber is a new Margaritaville ship, not a newly built ship: what to check
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will be new to the line, but the ship itself began life as Costa Fortuna. I would use that distinction to ask better booking questions, rather than assume either that a refit fixes everything or that an older hull cannot offer a good holiday.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Ports
After Carnival Spirit’s delay, rethink the flight you book after a cruise
The recent Carnival Spirit delay is a useful reminder that a ship's scheduled return is not the time you will be standing at an airport gate. I would build the flight home around the cruise line's guidance and the full transfer, with extra margin where the cost of…
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Itineraries
Celestyal Discovery in winter: plan a city cruise, not a summer beach week
Celestyal Discovery's winter western Mediterranean program makes most sense to me as a trip for cities, food and time ashore. I would pack and plan for that experience rather than expect a summer beach holiday at a lower price.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Cruise lines
Windstar or a larger Caribbean ship: compare the port day before the fare
A small ship and a large resort-style ship can sell the same region while offering very different holidays. I would compare the port days and onboard routine before deciding whether Windstar's higher fare is worth paying.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh
Itineraries
Swan Hellenic SETI cruises: book for the science, then check the night-sky conditions
A scientist sailing with an expedition cruise can be a compelling reason to choose a departure. I would book Swan Hellenic's SETI series for the talks and conversations, then treat any stargazing as dependent on the route and conditions.
Oct 16, 2026By Patrick Karsh