Royal Caribbean has revised its plans to send the newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, to the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz for final outfitting work, citing concerns over an escalating metalworkers’ strike that has already disrupted cruise operations in the region.
Instead of a two-week stay, Star of the Seas will now spend just three days in Cádiz, from July 24 to July 26, 2025.
Cruise passengers often dream of smooth sailings and stress-free vacation. But for some, the journey to board the ship is anything but relaxing. The anxiety of delayed flights, long transfer lines, and looming departure times can take a serious emotional and even physical toll especially when the risk of missing the ship becomes all too real.
Avolta presented its next-generation shopping experience aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua.
The new vessel features retail offering with eight duty-free boutiques alongside dedicated areas for fashion, eyewear, timepieces, and pre-owned luxury goods.
Ambassador Cruise Line expanded its longstanding partnership with retail specialist Harding+ by awarding the company the full onboard retail contract for the cruise ship Renaissance, the newly refurbished vessel acquired by Ambassador’s January 2025 merger with Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC).
A violent storm packing hurricane-force winds slammed into the popular Croatian port of Split on the morning of July 8, causing widespread damage, flooding, and maritime chaos.
Winds reaching over 140 km/h (87 mph) swept through the city shortly after 9 AM local time, toppling trees, damaging infrastructure, and knocking out power in several areas. The storm, part of a fast-developing mesoscale convective system, unleashed torrential rain and hail, triggering sirens and sending residents and tourists scrambling for cover.
The cruise ship Celebrity Infinity is stranded in the Turkish port of Kuşadası following a power failure caused by an apparent small electrical fire.
Celebrity Infinity was scheduled to depart Kuşadası on July 7 and sail to Mykonos, Greece, the following day. Instead, the ship has been docked for at least two days, with ongoing technical issues delaying departure until at least the evening of July 9.
A power outage struck the ship while it was docked, leaving cabins without air conditioning or lighting and halting food service.
Royal Caribbean has released the first episode of its new behind-the-scenes series Engineering the Experience, offering a look at the immense engineering and creativity behind building a modern cruise ship. Titled How Is a Cruise Ship Built?, the episode features the line’s newest vessel, Utopia of the Seas, as the star example.
The MS Astoria, one of the world’s oldest cruise ships, has arrived in Ghent, Belgium, to be dismantled after 77 years of service. Purchased for just €200,000 by recycling firm Galloo, the ship was towed from Rotterdam where it had been laid up since 2020 marking the end of a remarkable maritime legacy.
Crew members aboard the Norwegian Prima received seven days of free basic internet access following persistent complaints about extremely slow connection speeds. Despite the ship being equipped with high-speed Starlink, many crew reported being unable to access even basic messaging apps, raising frustrations among those who rely on internet access to stay connected with family. While the complimentary internet package was seen as a small step forward, crew members remain hopeful that the root of the issue will be addressed and resolved as soon as possible.
Crew Center received a message from Azamara Onward crew member who wishes to remain anonymous. The message sheds light on the situation onboard following a recent outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness. While health and safety remain a top priority for all seafarers, the crew member voices frustration describing it as an unjustified and demoralizing decision: a full ban on crew going ashore during a tender port visit.
This is the letter we received from the crew member:
