On Sunday, November 18, NCL cruise ship Norwegian Jade experienced major technical problems while in the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The vessel will not be able to continue the scheduled 10 days Caribbean cruise and all passengers will get a full refund. The captain has announced that due to mechanical issues all passengers will have to disembark and fly home by Tuesday. Norwegian Cruise Line will take care of the costs of airfare, and is providing a future cruise credit to all who are onboard.

Spanish media are reporting that on November 15, police in the port of La Coruna arrested three cruise ship passengers who were smuggling 17 kilos of cocaine.

Greek authorities arrested a Turkish family at the Port of Katakolon (Olympia), who was sailing on a cruise ship with fake passports.

A International military force of warships, fighter jets, and elite counterterrorism units will guard the delegates during the APEC Summit held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Due to a shortage of hotel accommodations PNG government has chartered 3 cruise ships to be used as floating hotels guarded by a force of 4,000 international military personnel.

Police in Aruba is investigating a fatal incident that occurred onboard the Royal Princess while the cruise ship was sailing from Willemstad to Oranjestad. According to reports by Cruise Law News a female passenger was pushed or fell from the lido and fell several decks on the top of a lifeboat at around 4 am.

Gran Canaria Police arrested a 32-year-old British national onboard Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas while the cruise ship was docked in Las Palmas, reports the Spanish newspaper La Provincia.

Carnival Corporation announced today the signing of a joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), leading to a new cruise line named “CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited”. The new China-based cruise operator will start sailing with two cruise ships currently operated by Costa Cruises. Costa Atlantica, 85.861 tons and 2,210 total passengers ship, will be transferred to the new cruise company by the end of 2019.

A 40-year-old crew member suffering from heart attack symptoms was evacuated by the Italian Air Force late Friday night. The request for emergency medical evacuation was sent by the captain of the cruise ship Artania at around 9 pm while the vessel was sailing from Cagliari to Naples, about 80 nautical miles south from the Sardinian coast.

With over 50 thousand useful reports gathered along the Italian coastline and the involvement of over 600 teachers and 5,700 students of 156 Secondary schools, Costa Crociere Foundation is supporting one of the largest citizen science project.

In a video statement, Richard Branson announced that Virgin Voyages first cruise ship, Scarlet Lady, will include Havana, Cuba as a port-of-call during the inaugural season in 2020.