NCL opens Norwegian Bella, the last Prima-class ship, for May 2028
NCL has named the final Prima-class ship Norwegian Bella and opened bookings. The 3,921-guest ship debuts in May 2028 with 7-night Mediterranean roundtrips from Barcelona. A 5-night Malta–Barcelona opener sails May 2, 2028.
For advisors, this is a new-ship inaugural season that is open for sale now. It is a reason to start early-booking and group-block conversations. Sister ship Norwegian Aura debuts in May 2027, so clients who want Prima-class can be offered a choice of years.
Virgin Voyages cancels Halloween 2027 sailing and splits the next one
Virgin Voyages has cancelled the Oct. 30, 2027 Brilliant Lady sailing from Los Angeles, which is being used for a private charter. The Nov. 6 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise becomes two separate cruises, one of 4 nights and one of 3 nights.
Advisors with clients on either sailing will need to rebook them. Affected guests are offered an alternative sailing with onboard credit, or a full refund. Contact those clients early, because Halloween-timed travel plans may be hard to replace.
Storm Austen pulls three ships into Southampton early
P&O's Arvia and MSC's Preziosa and Virtuosa are arriving at Southampton on the evening of Oct. 22, ahead of UK wind warnings for Friday, with gusts of 50–70 mph forecast.
MSC Preziosa now departs at 6 pm on Oct. 23, so guests must be at the terminal by 2 pm. Arvia's 14-night transatlantic and the Northern Europe sailings may change further. Advisors with clients on these ships should contact them now about embarkation timing and travel arrangements.
P&O skips Le Havre over French unrest and adds time in A Coruña
P&O's Iona skipped Le Havre on Oct. 18 because of protests and added an overnight in A Coruña. P&O cancelled and refunded shore excursions booked through the line for Le Havre.
Protests, curfews and travel alerts are continuing in France. Advisors with clients on Northern Europe or Paris-bound itineraries should watch for more port substitutions. They should also check excursion plans and pre-cruise Paris arrangements.
Royal Caribbean: gratuity rate is unchanged, and a fake notice is circulating
Royal Caribbean says no gratuity change is in effect. Its FAQ briefly showed a 20% automatic gratuity on drinks and dining. The company confirms the rate is still 18%. The FAQ now says these gratuities are optional and can be adjusted or removed.
Separately, a fake release claims daily gratuities can't be removed onboard. Expect client questions, and point clients to the corrected FAQ.
AAA forecasts a record 22.4M American cruisers in 2027
AAA projects 22.4 million Americans will cruise in 2027. That is 3.6% growth and the fifth straight record year.
- The Caribbean holds 71% share, and the Mediterranean rises to 6%.
- Sailings of 6 nights or fewer are growing.
- Miami and Port Canaveral gain share, while Fort Lauderdale slips to 5.3%.
Advisors can use these figures in 2027 booking-urgency conversations and short-cruise pitches.
MSC adds a two-story Grand Hamptons Villa to MSC World Atlantic
MSC is debuting the Grand Hamptons Villa on MSC World Atlantic, sailing from Port Canaveral from November 2027. It is MSC's first large-scale family suite. It spans two levels, covers 2,475 sq ft and sleeps eight.
Yacht Club perks include butler service, Premium Extra Drinks and unlimited specialty dining. For advisors, it is a high-ticket option for multigenerational groups on MSC's Caribbean program from Florida.