Celebrity has been calling these upgrades “ReNewed,” with $250 million pledged to renovate their 5 Solstice Class ships. These would be significant overhauls that really change the ship.

But now it seems that they’re using the term a bit more liberally. Tucked away in a press release last week, Celebrity mentioned they’ll be “renewing” the Celebrity Beyond, a ship that will be just 5 years old. Let’s look into the changes and see if it’s worthy of the term “ReNewed.”

Celebrity Pool Club

The first change is a transformation of the Resort Deck/main pool area on Deck 14. This change will most likely just be aesthetic. It’ll be transformed into the new Celebrity Pool Club concept that debuted on the Celebrity Xcel. Think more vibrant-looking with pops of orange and more of a “pool club” feel.

Orange Peel Bar & Grille

As part of this transformation, the Pool Bar and Mast Grill will also be transformed. These spaces will get a makeover and become the Orange Peel Bar and Orange Peel Grille. Again, expect lots of oranges, although according to the AI renders, it appears more subtle than the pool deck.

The Orange Peel Grille’s full menu hasn’t been released, but in the press release for the version on Celebrity Reflection, they said they’ll be serving smashburgers, a change from the burgers they currently offer.

Tacos del Sol

Another new addition is an included fast-casual food place called Tacos del Sol. The restaurant will feature a build-your-own taco stand with a range of options. The location of this venue hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Bora Replaces Rooftop Garden Grill

Another change that’s brought over from the Celebrity Xcel is Bora, the al fresco Mediterranean concept. This venue will replace the Rooftop Garden Grill on Deck 15. Known for its sea day brunch with bottomless, customizable Bloody Mary bar and sharing plates for dinner, this restaurant has proven very popular so far.

ReNewed Beyond Will Debut in November 2026

The transformation will happen during the routine 5-year dry dock between Nov. 1 and 18, 2026. Once done, it’ll sail Caribbean cruises out of Florida until 2028, when it returns to Europe for cruises to Norway, Iceland, and Scandinavia.

My Take: More of a Minor Makeover Than a Renewal

Celebrity is really watering down the term “renewal” with the Beyond. They’ve tried to show that a “renewed” ship means it is significantly transformed into the latest and greatest. But in the case of Beyond, most of the changes are just minor makeovers. Swapping out restaurants is pretty common on dry docks, and while we love an additional grab-and-go food option, it’s hardly headline-making (Celebrity must agree; this transformation didn’t even get its own press release). But that’s not saying it’s bad. The Beyond is so new, it doesn’t really need a transformation. But since it’s in dry dock, it makes sense to make some tweaks.

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Heald was once again promoting this fall’s adults-only SEA cruises aboard Carnival Firenze, announcing that Carnival had extended the opportunity for guests to book the sailings through August 30.

The SEA cruises, which stands for Sailings Exclusively for Adults, are special 21+ sailings with no children onboard. Carnival promotes them as having more casino access, special themed parties, elevated dining, and entertainment geared toward adults.

On the surface, extending a booking promotion is nothing unusual. Cruise lines do it all the time. But Carnival has extended access to these particular cruises several times, and the first sailing is now less than two months away.

So, we decided to take a closer look at how well the SEA cruises are actually selling.

Carnival Firenze SEA Sailing Is About 96% Sold Out

The first of the new adults-only sailings aboard Carnival Firenze departs Long Beach on October 12, 2026. It is a 7-day Mexican Riviera itinerary visiting Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada before returning to Long Beach.

When we checked Carnival’s booking website, there were 79 staterooms still available to select on the October 12 sailing. Carnival Firenze has roughly 2,116 staterooms, which would mean approximately 96.3% of the ship’s cabins are already booked.

That certainly does not sound bad. In fact, most cruise lines would probably be very happy to have a ship more than 96% sold with less than two months to go.

But Carnival has been filling many of its regular cruises even more aggressively, so we wanted something to compare it to.

One important caveat is that this is not an exact measurement of Carnival’s actual occupancy. Cruise lines can hold inventory, offer guarantee cabins that are assigned later, and change which individual cabins appear during the booking process. This is simply a snapshot based on the number of staterooms Carnival was showing as available to select at the time we checked.

A Comparable Carnival Panorama Sailing Is About 99% Sold Out

For comparison, we looked at Carnival Panorama, which also sails year-round from Long Beach. While the ships are not identical, but they are relatively close in size as the Firenze is a modified Vista Class ship.

More importantly, Carnival Panorama has an 8-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing October 10, just two days before the first Carnival Firenze SEA sailing.

That sailing visits Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas. It is one day longer than the SEA sailing and has a somewhat different itinerary, so it is not a perfect apples-to-apples comparison. But it gives us a good idea of demand for a regular Carnival cruise leaving from the same homeport at almost exactly the same time.

When we checked Carnival’s website, there were only 16 staterooms left to select aboard Carnival Panorama. The ship has 2,004 guest staterooms, meaning roughly 99.2% of its cabins were no longer available to select.

So while both cruises are nearly full, the regular Carnival Panorama sailing appears to be closer to selling out than Carnival’s special adults-only cruise. While a few percentage points doesn’t seem significant, when looking at cabin numbers, there are 5 times more cabins available on the adult-only sailing than the standard sailing.

Carnival Keeps Extending Access to the SEA Cruises

The other interesting part is how many times Carnival has reopened or extended access to these sailings.

SEA cruises were originally designed as invite-only sailings, with Carnival specifically marketing them to casino guests. Carnival’s Players Club still lists SEA cruises among the private invitations available to casino players. But Carnival appears to have been trying to widen the audience for the Carnival Firenze cruises for months.

In April, Carnival opened the sailings beyond their original targeted audience, allowing interested guests to request access and book by April 30.

Then, in June, Heald announced that the SEA cruises were once again “open for everyone,” with bookings available through June 30.

That was not the end of it. Carnival promoted another booking window through July 17, then extended it through July 31. In August, another promotion appeared encouraging guests to reserve a sailing between August 1 and August 17.

August 17 came and went, and now Carnival has extended bookings again, this time through August 30.

At this point, what started as an exclusive invite-only cruise has been made available to a much wider audience through a succession of booking windows.

Are Carnival’s SEA Cruises Not as Popular as Expected?

So does this mean Carnival is having trouble selling its adults-only cruises? While they’re not sailing empty ships, it seems demand for these fall sailings is not as strong as regular sailings. If Carnival was satisfied with the number of bookings it already had, there would be little reason to continually reopen access to a product that was originally supposed to be exclusive.

What’s odd is that Carnival’s adults-only sailings on social media has been huge. Whenever we post about SEA cruises, we see plenty of comments from people saying they would love to sail Carnival without kids onboard.

But saying you want an adults-only Carnival cruise and actually booking one are two different things.

There are some potential reasons for that. These Carnival Firenze sailings were added relatively late after Carnival canceled 11 previously scheduled cruises on the ship and replaced them with four longer adults-only itineraries. Carnival only confirmed the new SEA cruises in April, giving guests a much shorter booking window than a normal Carnival sailing that may have been available for more than a year.

The booking process also adds friction. Even when Carnival opens the cruises to a broader audience, guests cannot simply search for them alongside every other cruise and book normally. The sailings remain part of an invite-based program, and guests have had to request access to the offers.

For a product built around exclusivity, Carnival certainly seems increasingly interested in getting more people onboard.

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Today, Norwegian revealed even more about the ship, including new details on its restaurants, bars, and spa. And from what we’re seeing, it looks like the cruise line has learned some lessons from the earlier Prima Class ships and is putting all that extra space to good use.

A Full-Size Buffet Finally

One of the biggest criticisms of the Prima Class is that the ships have some of the most undersized buffets in the fleet, and you can feel it when sailing. On the previous 4 ships, the buffet is on the pool deck and takes up only the port side of the ship, while the other side is used for two specialty restaurants. While the two specialty dining areas can be used for seating for breakfast and lunch, it doesn’t fix the problem. It’s even more egregious when you look at the design of Palomar on Norwegian Prima. It was designed to be a buffet but later switched to specialty dining.

On Norwegian Aura, they finally fix that. Surfside Cafe will now take up both sides of the ship on Deck 17.

Le Bistro Moves to the Penrose Atrium

The specialty French restaurant, Le Bistro, will move to the second level of the Penrose Atrium, where Starbucks is located on the previous Prima Class ships. The new space will take advantage of the beautiful glass windows along the Penrose Atrium and will sport a deep navy color palette. The large hanging chandeliers have been replaced with simpler models, which is not surprising, as the chandeliers were among the extravagant, needless expenses that leadership was criticized for by the Elliott Group.

Starbucks will move across the way on the same level.

Sukhothai Moves to Le Bistro Location

With Le Bistro in a new location, Sukhothai moves from the pool deck level to Deck 7 across from Hudson’s (formerly Le Bistro on Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna). The new location gives the space a whole new feel since it loses the panoramic windows above. Instead, Sukhothai on Norwegian Aura has a darker and moodier tone with lots of muted greens and purples and accent lighting.

Commodore Room Becomes The Panorama Room

The Commodore Room has always been a bit overlooked when it comes to included dining. As one of the two main dining options onboard Prima Class ships, it’s always been overshadowed by the exceptional design of Hudson’s. The Commodore Room always felt like more of an afterthought in terms of design and actual execution.

On Norwegian Aura, it’ll be reimagined as The Panorama Room. The space has expansive LED displays, multi-channel audio, and synchronized lighting that will transform the space as guests dine. While no rendering was provided, it will help make the space more dynamic since it can’t feature the panoramic windows of Hudson’s, and the porthole windows can only let in so much light.

Palomar Takes Onda’s Location, Which Moves Central

Palomar has been a very popular Mediterranean specialty restaurant since it first debuted on Norwegian Prima. Now, because the buffet is being expanded, it’s moving down to Deck 8 where Onda by Scarpetta used to be.

Onda by Scarpetta, a specialty Italian concept that has beautiful architecture on the other ships, will stay on Deck 8 but move to an internal location used for retail on other ships. The new location will allow additional seating, according to Norwegian, along with a whole new design aesthetic.

New Indian Concept Replaces Los Lobos

Norwegian Aura will see the debut of its first specialty Indian restaurant for dinner, Tamara. Norwegian said the concept came about because of the popularity of the Indian food stalls in the Indulge Food Hall. The new restaurant will have an open-view kitchen that highlights the tandoor ovens that will be used in many of the dishes. You’ll be able to sample dishes like Short-Rib Dosa, Lamb Biryani, and Green Papaya Salad with pomegranate, tamarind, peanuts, jaggery, and chili.

It takes over the space used by Los Lobos on previous ships. Los Lobos will no longer be a specialty restaurant but one of the food hall concepts in Indulge (similar to how Q is a restaurant on other ships, but a food hall stall on Prima Class).

Expanded Spa with New Features

The popular Mandara Spa will return with its two-story design on Norwegian Aura, but it will feature several new experiences.

The Thermal Suite will have 15 wellness amenities, including 11 new experiences. Norwegian said they’re all built around “contrast therapy,” where guests will move between warm and cool spaces, water features, and quiet loungers.

The Sensory Rain Pool will be a first of its kind at sea. The 360-degree experience starts with calm water, which can then transform into a tropical rainstorm or tropical rainfall using lighting and sound effects.

The Blue Glow Suite will help guests relax with a gentle blue light experience designed to encourage relaxation and promote energy. The spa will also have a new dedicated Foot Spa, Snow Cave, and Reflection Pool. It’ll also feature a “Waterfall Experience,” where you can let the water pour over you.

Returning experiences will include the Salt Room, Meditation Lounge, Aromatic Steam Room, Finnish Sauna, Charcoal Sauna, and Zen Lounge.

Belvedere Bar Swaps Places

Norwegian seems to have struggled to find a location for the Belvedere Bar on its Prima Class ships. On the first two, it was on Deck 6 next to the Commodore Room. On Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, it was moved to the upper level of the Penrose Atrium on Deck 8.

The Belvedere Bar will return on Norwegian Aura, but it will move to the opposite side of the ship on Deck 8, swapping places with a retail space.

Larger Penrose Bar & Atrium

The Penrose Bar & Atrium has always been undersized for use as a main atrium bar. On Norwegian Aura, they’re doubling the available seating. They’re also adding a dedicated stage for daily entertainment.

Goodbye Syd Norman’s

Based on the deck plans on Norwegian’s site, it looks like Syd Norman’s may not be on the ship. The space on Deck 7 is now called Off Key. Norwegian hasn’t released any more information about this venue yet, although entertainment is typically a separate announcement.

Areas with Refreshed Designs

With Norwegian Aura, Norwegian is giving all the spaces a bit of a refresh. The following locations will remain in the same place but have an updated look and design.

Cagney’s

Nama

Metropolitan

The Local

Swirl Wine Bar

Hasuki

Whiskey Bar

Indulge Food Hall

New Top Deck Attractions

As we reported previously, Norwegian Aura will also have a completely redesigned top deck experience. With a new adventure park, a relocated Vibe Beach Club, and upgraded pool options, Norwegian Aura has evolved significantly from the first ships in the class.

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Catalina Sugar Beach Will Open in November 2026

The new destination will be called Catalina Sugar Beach and is scheduled to open in November 2026. It is not a completely new development, but a significant renovation and expansion of an existing beach area on Catalina Island.

The project is being developed through a partnership between CTL Maritime and Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, a luxury resort located near La Romana. Catalina Island is designated as a Natural Monument under Dominican law, meaning the projects must follow local environmental regulations to help preserve the island’s natural beauty.

You won’t find a massive water park, towering slides, or zip lines here. The whole point of Catalina Sugar Beach is to offer what MSC calls a “premium Caribbean beach experience.” Guests will find turquoise water, pristine white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and palm trees, with the new facilities designed to make a day at the beach more comfortable without overwhelming the island’s natural setting.

Catalina Sugar Beach will include:

• An open-air beach pavilion buffet offering international dishes and local specialties
• A shaded outdoor dining area overlooking the water
• Two bars, including an open-air palapa bar
• A water sports center with equipment available to rent
• Daybeds and cabanas available to rent
• Upgraded changing rooms, showers, and restrooms
• A walking path through the island’s natural landscape

The pathway will wind through the island to a scenic viewpoint, with educational signs along the way highlighting some of its different tree species. Elevated clearings will also offer views of the beach and surrounding landscape.

There are still some important questions that MSC has not answered. We do not yet know exactly what will be included for cruise passengers or what additional costs guests should expect once they arrive. MSC has confirmed that cabanas, daybeds, and water sports equipment will cost extra, but it has not said whether the buffet will be complimentary or whether its onboard drink packages will work at the two bars.

Guests will also be able to book shore excursions to take advantage of the surrounding area. Options will include snorkeling, catamaran trips, boat excursions to Saona Island, and visits to the Cave of Wonders and Altos de Chavón.

MSC Opera Will Visit on Every Sailing

For now, the main ship scheduled to visit Catalina Sugar Beach is MSC Opera. Beginning in November 2026, the ship will sail year-round from La Romana. Every sailing of the MSC Opera will include a visit to Catalina Sugar Beach.

However, the destination will not be exclusive to MSC Opera or even MSC Cruises. Guests sailing with MSC Group’s luxury brand, Explora Journeys, will visit on select Caribbean itineraries, and guests staying at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas will also have access. MSC’s original announcement in April also said the destination would be open to passengers from other cruise lines and private clients.

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Now, an updated delivery timeline released alongside Disney’s third-quarter earnings results shows the company accelerating those plans even further. Disney expects to debut two ships from the new class in 2029, along with a new Wish-class ship built for the Japanese market. The third ship from the new class is now scheduled to arrive in 2030.

Disney’s Aggressive Delivery Schedule

Introducing a new cruise ship every year is an aggressive strategy that few cruise lines attempt. However, Disney Cruise Line is taking that expansion even further in 2029.

The cruise line expects three ships to debut that year, something no other major cruise line has attempted in recent memory.

The first ship from Disney’s new class is expected to debut sometime in 2029. Disney will also introduce a new Wish-class ship designed specifically for the Japanese market through its partnership with Oriental Land Co., Ltd. The second ship from the new class is then scheduled to debut later in 2029.

About Disney’s New Ship Class

Disney has not revealed many details about the new class of ships yet. However, the vessels are expected to measure approximately 100,000 gross tons and accommodate 3,000 guests.

That makes them significantly smaller than the Wish class. In terms of size, they will fall between Disney’s two older ship classes, the Magic class and Dream class.

The ships are rumored to be known internally as the Meridian class, although that name could change before their official debut. The Wish class, for example, was internally referred to as the Triton class during development.

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We have seen tons of renderings, but now, just one month before the official opening, we are getting our first look at what it actually looks like.

What Is Great Tides Waterpark?

Great Tides Waterpark will be the second cruise-owned private waterpark in North America, with the first being Thrill Waterpark at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, which can be seen directly from the island.

The 6-acre waterpark is located on the northern side of Great Stirrup Cay, opposite the new pier and heated pool. Admission costs extra and is dynamically priced, meaning it will vary by sailing. However, we have seen prices ranging from $79 to $99.

The park will officially open on September 4, 2026, but it is currently open for previews. Norwegian will have an extensive influencer campaign covering the waterpark over the next couple of weeks, so expect to see plenty of TikToks and Reels about the new destination. Since we are not influencers, we were not invited.

Great Tides Waterpark’s Photos Do the Renderings Justice

When cruise lines release preliminary renderings of new ships or destinations, you can never tell whether the final product will live up to the hype. However, based on these photos, Norwegian has certainly delivered.

The waterpark has a different feel from similar parks, which are usually bold, colorful, and loud. The muted color palette and natural rock formations give this waterpark a much more premium feel, in line with the “premium family” market Norwegian Cruise Line is now targeting, according to its investor calls.

The waterpark has a total of 19 slides, a lazy river, a huge kids’ splash zone, and the tallest slide tower in the area.

• Tidal Tower, a 170-foot slide tower
  • Breakaway Blasters, water coasters with downhill drops and uphill blasts
  • Whitewater Dash, two body slides
  • Rapid Mat Racers, featuring headfirst racing
  • Two inner tube Nautilus slides

• An 828-foot-long “dynamic” river with multimedia effects and a swim-up bar

• A 9,000-square-foot kids’ splash zone with nine slides and an oversized tipping bucket
  • For guests with younger children, a smaller complimentary kids’ splash park is located near the heated pool outside the waterpark.

• Cliff-jumping areas

Food at the Waterpark

Great Tides Waterpark will also offer some unique dining options for the island, provided you are willing to pay even more.

Low Tide Smoke serves barbecue favorites such as St. Louis BBQ Riblets, BBQ Pork Nachos, and Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower.

Catch of the Day offers “premium cold-water seafood,” with dishes such as Crispy Shrimp Rolls, Golden Fried Shrimp Baskets, and Chilled Seafood Rolls.

Tidal Treats is the go-to place for handcrafted desserts such as the Strawberry Red Velvet Sundae and Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Sundae, served in a bubble waffle bowl.

Guests will also have access to the complimentary buffet-style food.

Drinks at the Waterpark

Guests with a Free at Sea Unlimited Beverage Package or Free at Sea Plus package will still be able to use it at Great Stirrup Cay, allowing them to grab a drink without paying extra.

Norwegian originally planned to remove drinks at Great Stirrup Cay from its beverage packages, but it reversed that decision following public backlash and delays in completing the new pier.

Guests will have two places to grab drinks inside Great Tides Waterpark. The Grotto Bar is located underneath the cliff-jumping area, allowing guests to watch people attempt the 10- and 15-foot drops while enjoying a beverage.

There is also Floataway Bar, located in the middle of the lazy river, so guests can grab a drink without even leaving the water.

Cabanas Are Also Available

Great Tides Waterpark will also have private cabanas available for rental. Each private cabana can accommodate up to six people and includes admission to the waterpark.

Comparing Norwegian and Royal Caribbean’s Waterparks

It is hard to talk about Norwegian’s new waterpark without comparing it with Royal Caribbean’s Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay, especially since you can literally see one while standing in the other.

Norwegian’s overall waterpark footprint is smaller, covering nearly 6 acres compared with Royal Caribbean’s 9 acres. However, Norwegian has more slides, with 19 compared with 14 at Thrill Waterpark.

Norwegian’s slide tower also takes the crown, pun intended, from Royal Caribbean. The 170-foot Tidal Tower is taller than Royal Caribbean’s Daredevil’s Peak, which stands at 135 feet.

There are a few other differences. While Royal Caribbean’s Thrill Waterpark has a wave pool, Norwegian instead has an 828-foot-long dynamic river.

Great Tides Waterpark also has the highest cliff-jumping platforms in the Caribbean, where guests can attempt 10- and 15-foot plunges. The area also features eight children’s slides in the splash zone, while Royal Caribbean’s Thrill Waterpark does not focus as heavily on younger children. Instead, Royal Caribbean offers two complimentary kids’ splash areas elsewhere on the island.

The big question will be whether Great Tides Waterpark feels like a worthwhile add-on once guests are already on Great Stirrup Cay. However, on paper, Norwegian is clearly trying to go head-to-head with Royal Caribbean’s Thrill Waterpark, and in a few areas, it may even have the edge.

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Zac Brown Band celebrated its record-setting 15th sold-out show at Fenway Park by giving all 37,000-plus fans in attendance a complimentary Margaritaville at Sea cruise for two.

The surprise came during the band’s August 2 concert at the historic Boston ballpark.

“Tonight, we’re going to do something that even Jimmy (Buffett) would say is crazy,” Zac Brown told the crowd. “I’m buying every single person here a cruise for two people on the boat.”

“Every single person here gets a cruise for themselves and a loved one to go on the boat,” he continued as the crowd cheered. “This is the biggest giveaway in history, ladies and gentlemen, right here tonight at Fenway Park!”

Fans were instructed to text a number displayed during the concert and had until 11:59 p.m. that night to submit their claims and secure their eligibility for the offer.

More than 37,000 people attended the sold-out performance. According to reporting from The Boston Globe, the total value of the giveaway approached $40 million.

Several reports have described it as the largest gifting event in live entertainment history. It makes Oprah Winfrey’s famous “You get a car!” giveaway look like peanuts by comparison. That television moment was valued at around $7.6 million, while the Fenway Park cruise giveaway reportedly approached $40 million.

Celebrating 15 Sold-Out Fenway Shows

The massive giveaway marked a significant milestone for Zac Brown Band.

Sunday’s performance was the group’s 15th consecutive sold-out concert at Fenway Park, extending its record for the most sold-out performances by any musical act at the venue. The concert was part of Zac Brown Band’s 27-show Love & Fear Tour, which is presented by Margaritaville at Sea and runs from July through November 2026.

The Fenway giveaway was unexpected and quite larger than the promotion originally announced for the tour. At every other stop, four fans are being selected to receive cruises for two aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s upcoming ship, Beachcomber. Those prizes include a guaranteed interior stateroom for two on an eligible sailing through September 30, 2027, although taxes, fees, port expenses, transportation, onboard purchases, and other charges are not included.

The complete redemption terms for the special Fenway Park offer have not yet been publicly detailed, including which ships and sailing dates will be available.

From “Same Boat” to a New Cruise Ship Venue

The announcement came immediately before Zac Brown Band performed “Same Boat,” making the timing particularly fitting. The band originally released the song in 2021 before recording a new version with Jimmy Buffett for the deluxe edition of its album The Comeback in 2022.

“Same Boat” is also the name of a new live-performance venue being developed for Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, Beachcomber. Created in collaboration with Zac Brown, the cruise line calls it the first artist-designed live music venue at sea. Brown helped Create the venue’s artwork, design, music programming, and overall atmosphere, with the space intended to combine the feel of a Zac Brown Band performance with Margaritaville’s island-inspired style.

Beachcomber is scheduled to begin sailing from Miami in January 2027.

Zac Brown Band Will Perform During Three-Ship Gathering

Zac Brown Band’s partnership with Margaritaville at Sea doesn’t stop there. On January 28, 2027, Margaritaville at Sea plans to bring all three of its ships together in Nassau, Bahamas, for the first complete gathering of the cruise line’s fleet.

Guests sailing aboard Paradise, Islander, and Beachcomber will be able to attend an exclusive Zac Brown Band concert at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre.

Between the new Same Boat venue, the fleet-wide concert, and the cruise giveaways throughout the Love & Fear Tour, Zac Brown Band has become a major part of Margaritaville at Sea’s efforts to promote its newest ship.

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Those developments have brought a number of changes to the company. During today’s Q2 earnings call, Norwegian shared one of its biggest new initiatives: changing how it prices cruises. Ultimately, the goal is to get more guests to book earlier instead of waiting for a last-minute deal.

Norwegian Wants Guests to Book Earlier

During the earnings call, the cruise line admitted that it had been keeping prices too high when some sailings first went on sale. That hurt early bookings and sometimes forced Norwegian to offer last-minute deals to fill the ship closer to departure.

“During the quarter, we began making changes to the way we sell cruises at NCL,” said John Chidsey, CEO of NLCH. “As we evaluated our prior approach, it became clear that in certain areas we were holding price too high, too far out, which limited early demand generation and left us more exposed to close-in discounting.”

Basically, Norwegian is acknowledging that its old pricing strategy may have taught guests to wait until the last minute for the best deal.

Norwegian is moving to what it calls a “base-loading methodology.” That is a very corporate way of saying the cruise line plans to offer more competitive prices earlier, get more cabins booked, and then hold prices more firmly as the sailing gets closer.

“We are now moving toward a base-loading methodology, which establishes more competitive pricing earlier in the booking curve to build demand sooner and support stronger close-in yields,” Chidsey said.

Under the old approach, Norwegian would start a sailing at a higher price and wait to see how guests responded. If bookings were weaker than expected, the cruise line might eventually have to lower fares or offer more aggressive promotions closer to the departure date.

That creates a pretty obvious problem. Once regular Norwegian guests see that prices often get better later, they have less reason to book early.

The new strategy is intended to change that pattern. Norwegian wants to start with a price that brings in more bookings earlier so it does not have as many cabins left to fill at the last minute.

It’s Not About Discounting

Ultimately, prices may be more competitive with other cruise lines farther out, but Norwegian was very clear that it is not moving to a discount pricing strategy.

“This is not about discounting the product,” the company said. “It is about managing the full booking curve more effectively, building a healthier book position earlier, maintaining better price integrity as we move closer to sailing, and being more strategic about our promotional activity.”

Norwegian still plans to target the “premium family” market rather than budget cruisers.

The Changes Are Already Happening

The cruise line said the pricing changes are already happening on a sailing-by-sailing basis.

“As part of this shift, we have taken pricing initiatives on select sailings in 2027 and opened 2028 sailings,” the company said. “The greatest opportunity is on sailings farther out in the booking window, particularly later in 2027, where we have more time to shape the curve.”

Because the changes are being made sailing by sailing, there will not be one simple rule that applies to every Norwegian cruise. Prices will still depend on how popular the ship, itinerary, date, and cabin category are.

A holiday sailing that is selling quickly may keep increasing in price, while a less popular cruise could still need a better promotion. Norwegian is not saying last-minute deals will completely disappear, but it clearly wants to rely on them less often.

All new 2028 cruises and future sailings will use the new method from the start.

Norwegian Has to Convince Guests That Waiting Will Not Pay Off

The harder part may not be changing the prices. It may be convincing guests that the prices really will not go lower.

During the earnings call, an analyst pointed out that Norwegian cruisers may be used to waiting for a better deal. That is not surprising after years of promotions and prices that could drop closer to departure.

Cruise lines also make this harder on themselves with constant sales. One promotion ends, another starts, and the offer often looks very similar. Guests quickly learn that the countdown clock does not always mean much.

Norwegian now wants those same guests to believe that booking earlier will be the smarter move.

“In the coming weeks, we will introduce interim creative that more directly speaks to premium families, highlights the breadth of the NCL experience, and includes a clear call to action,” the company said. “The goal is straightforward: communicate more clearly why NCL is different, why that difference matters to our target guest, why now is the right time to book.”

That last part is key. Norwegian is not just trying to sell guests on the cruise. It is trying to convince them that now is the right time to book it.

For guests looking at Norwegian cruises in late 2027 or 2028, it may be worth watching prices more closely when the sailing first becomes available. Norwegian is clearly trying to make early pricing more attractive and reduce the chance of a better deal appearing closer to departure.

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But that has not stopped cruise lines from constantly increasing these fees. Carnival, Princess, Margaritaville at Sea, and MSC have already done it this year. Now, it is Celebrity’s turn.

Update 7/30/2026: emails are going out to travel partners now clarifying that they guests still prepay at the lower rate up to 48 hours before as long as the cruise was booked by the deadline.

Daily Gratuities Increase Starting July 29

In a letter sent to impacted guests and travel agents, Celebrity announced the change. The cruise line is increasing daily gratuities by an average of 8%.

The fees are charged per person, per day, and the amount varies depending on the type of cabin.

Celebrity’s website explains how these fees are allocated:

“Consistent with standard hospitality practice, gratuities collected are pooled and applied toward the compensation of onboard crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams, and others who work to enhance the overall cruise experience.”

These fees can be prepaid or paid once onboard, but the amount is the same either way.

The letter mentions that guests can prepay at the current amount, but it appears to give today, the day the notice was sent, as the deadline.

It is the first time Celebrity has increased gratuities since July 2023.

My Take: Gratuities Just Keep Increasing

Overall, the increase is relatively nominal, totaling $21 per cabin for a 7-day cruise for two people. However, as the amounts continue to creep up with each increase, daily gratuities are becoming a significant expense.

On my 4-night cruise aboard Celebrity Reflection, daily gratuities represented 8% of the total cruise cost.

The timing is also ironic. Celebrity Cruises’ parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, just held its second-quarter earnings call, where it announced a quarterly profit of $1.13 billion while highlighting strong demand and stating that customers are paying record prices.

No one disputes that the crew deserves to be paid well for the work they do. However, gratuities have essentially become a hidden fee that allows cruise lines to advertise a lower upfront fare while shifting part of the cost of compensating employees directly to guests.

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The short season includes six new itineraries visiting Scandinavia, the Baltics, the Norwegian fjords, and ports above the Arctic Circle. Every sailing will include at least one destination Virgin Voyages has never visited before.

A Short but Varied Northern Europe Season

The season begins with a 10-night cruise from Barcelona to Amsterdam on July 9, 2028, followed by four round-trip Amsterdam sailings and a final return cruise to Barcelona. Bookings open August 14, 2026.

What’s notable about the four round-trip sailings from Amsterdam is that they’re all different from one another. There is a Baltic cruise with an overnight in Stockholm, a dedicated Norwegian fjords sailing, a shorter city-focused itinerary with late stays, and an 11-night cruise that crosses the Arctic Circle.

Not only does that give guests more options based on what’s important to them, but it also means they can book consecutive, back-to-back cruises for completely different experiences.

Scandinavia and Stockholm Overnight

The first Amsterdam sailing departs July 19 for 12 nights.

Valiant Lady will visit Oslo, Copenhagen, Gdańsk, Stockholm, Warnemünde, and Aarhus. The ship will stay overnight in Stockholm, giving guests a full evening in the city and part of a second day.

The overnight is the most interesting part of this itinerary. Stockholm is the type of destination that is difficult to appreciate during a standard cruise call, especially when ships leave in the late afternoon.

Virgin Voyages is also promoting Warnemünde as an opportunity to visit Berlin, although the city is roughly 2 hours away by train. Unfortunately, long transportation times are a hallmark of many European cruises. Even with that drawback, this is probably the strongest itinerary for guests who want to see the major cities of Scandinavia and the Baltics in one sailing.

Norwegian Fjords

The July 31 departure is a 7-night Norwegian fjords cruise visiting Molde, Nordfjordeid, Flåm, and Bergen.

This sailing is nature-focused, allowing guests to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the majestic Norwegian fjords. It skips cities such as Oslo and Copenhagen completely, keeping the focus on the fjords and smaller Norwegian ports.

For guests who have already visited Scandinavia’s capitals, this may be one of the most appealing cruises of the season.

Flåm is one of the best-known fjord ports in Norway, while Nordfjordeid and Molde give the itinerary some variety beyond the usual stops. Bergen is the largest city on the route, but it still fits naturally into a fjord-focused sailing.

Scandinavia and Hamburg

A second 7-night cruise departs August 7, visiting Oslo, Copenhagen, and Hamburg.

There are only three ports, but both Copenhagen and Hamburg will receive extended stays. Valiant Lady is scheduled to remain in Copenhagen until 11 p.m. and Hamburg until nearly midnight.

Late stays should work well for Virgin Voyages, since the cruise line already puts more emphasis on nightlife, food, and entertainment than many of its competitors. Spending an evening ashore in Copenhagen or Hamburg makes more sense for the brand than squeezing in another short daytime port call.

Arctic Circle and Norwegian Fjords

Virgin Voyages says the highlight of the season is an 11-night Arctic Circle sailing departing August 14. Valiant Lady will visit Bergen, Tromsø, Honningsvåg, Trondheim, Åndalsnes, and Olden.

During this sailing, the ship will also cross the Arctic Circle, with Virgin Voyages planning a crossing ceremony and midnight sun deck party. If you think a Caribbean “Scarlet Night” is crazy, imagine the experience under the midnight sun.

Virgin Voyages Brings Back Its Summer Season Pass

Virgin Voyages will also sell a Summer Season Pass covering all four round-trip Amsterdam cruises.

The package includes 37 nights aboard Valiant Lady from July 19 through August 25 in a Central Sea Terrace cabin for two guests.

It also includes $15 per guest, per night in drink credit, upgraded WiFi, laundry service, priority boarding, one thermal suite visit per cruise, and one shore excursion worth up to $250 per guest on each sailing.

Season Pass guests will also receive an additional Arctic Circle excursion, a private Champagne breakfast, and reserved viewing space for the Arctic crossing ceremony.

Pricing will be announced when bookings open on August 14. A $100 refundable deposit can be used to hold the package, although double occupancy and full payment will be required.

The Season Pass will likely get attention, but the itineraries themselves are the bigger story.

My Take: Amazing Destinations, but Can Valiant Lady Work in Colder Climates?

Last year, I sailed on a Norwegian fjords cruise aboard Celebrity Apex, and it was one of my favorite cruise destinations ever. The landscapes are awe-inspiring, the people are friendly, and the air is fresh and clean. It’s something I hope more people get to experience, and now it’s even easier with Virgin’s addition. It also provides a kid-free option.

But Virgin Voyages built its reputation in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, where outdoor spaces are a major part of the onboard experience. The pool deck, The Dock, and many of the ship’s lounging areas work best when the weather is warm, and guests are comfortable spending time outside.

That’s not always the case in Northern Europe. Sailings can be cold and rainy, making many of the outdoor spaces unusable.

Virgin Voyages is getting its first real experience with colder-weather cruising aboard Brilliant Lady this season with its Alaska debut. During those sailings, the cruise line has moved “Scarlet Night” indoors and focused on unique food and experiences from the region. While it seems to have been relatively well received by many guests, some people still mention that the ship feels noticeably more crowded in Alaska because everyone is stuck indoors.

That said, Norwegian has sailed Norwegian Prima in Northern Europe for several seasons. The ship is built on a similar platform, with extensive outdoor spaces and no enclosed pools. The Northern European weather apparently can’t be too much of an issue.

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