Royal adds Icon, Carnival cancels, and HAL shares new voyages

With the intention to cruise higher today than before the pandemic, cruise lines are unveiling new ships and itineraries to meet the growing demand.

The latest cruise news from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America Line and Margaritaville at Sea offers a look at how cruise lines are expanding and charting new courses to attract new cruisers and keep veterans sailing.

Royal Caribbean also has another Oasis-class ship in its order book.

Image source: Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean orders fourth Icon class ship

A fourth Icon Class cruise ship is officially in the works for Royal Caribbean. The deal with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku also includes options to build a fifth and sixth Icon class vessel. The fourth ship in the “cruisezillas” line is due for delivery in 2027.

Icon of the Seas, flagship of the Icon class, launched in January 2024, departs from Miami. It took the title of “world’s largest cruise ship” from another Royal Caribbean ship, Wonder of the Seas. The first megaship of its kind offers thrills such as the largest water park at sea and has seven swimming pools, including the largest at sea.

Star of the Seas will set sail in August 2025 from Port Canaveral as the second Icon-class ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. It aims to draw families away from Orlando’s land-based attractions and towards the sea. Star of the Seas will be followed by a yet-to-be-named third Icon-class ship to be launched in 2026.

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Carnival Cruise Line adds new itineraries, cancels a sailing

Carnival Cruise Line has shared new itineraries for 2026 and 2027 for seven of its ships sailing from Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston and Baltimore.

Many of the new itineraries will feature Half Moon Cay, a private island destination that Carnival is soon to expand. Also on many of the itineraries is Celebration Key, the new private destination the cruise line is building on Grand Bahama Island.

In unfortunate Carnival Cruise Line news, cruisers who booked a Sept. 7 Southern Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral on Carnival Vista have been notified that their upcoming cruise has been canceled. The vessel is to undergo further repair work for an ongoing propulsion problem. The cruise line offered affected passengers a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit to be used on any sailing in the following year.

Related: Carnival Cruise Lines Makes Surprise Private Island Move

Holland America Line opens new bookings

Cruisers interested in exploring Alaska can check out a variety of 2026 itineraries now available for booking with Carnival’s Holland American Line. The cruise line has six ships in the region, and highlights of its Alaska voyages include guaranteed glacier viewing, wildlife sightings and destination-focused dining.

The Alaska cruise season runs from April to September 2026 and includes seven- to 28-day itineraries sailing round-trip from Seattle and Vancouver and between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska. New for 2026 is a 14-day Great Alaska Explorer cruise offered round-trip from Seattle via Vancouver.

Holland America Line has also introduced a new option for cruisers who want to experience longer Grand Voyages but don’t have the time available for a cruise longer than four months. The cruise line now offers multiple Grand Voyages segments, shorter itinerary options that sail between two key ports on the cruise line’s Grand World Voyage 2025 or 2025 Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole.

Six segments are available for the Grand World Voyage, ranging in duration from 20 to 55 days. For Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole, seven segments are available, from 33 to 100 days. Segment prices start at $169 per day, including all taxes and fees.

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Margaritaville at Sea is adding a new Bahamas itinerary

Jimmy Buffett’s cruise line is saying “cheers” to Nassau with a new four-night Bahamas itinerary for Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, sailing from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida. Available for five voyages in January and February 2025, the new Bahamas cruise includes a stopover in Freeport, Grand Bahama, in addition to Nassau.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise also offers a four-night Key West and Grand Bahama itinerary, as well as two- and three-night Grand Bahama cruises. Longer itineraries are available from Tampa, sailing to Key West, Mexico and the western Caribbean on the recently launched Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

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