Top 5 Cruise News Stories for Sept 7, 2026

Royal Caribbean Cancels Alaska Cruise for Ship Repairs

A Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise went from a delayed departure to a complete cancellation this week after Serenade of the Seas was unable to complete repairs to a technical issue.

The seven-night cruise was originally scheduled to leave Vancouver on Sunday, August 30, but guests were first told the ship would depart two days late while the crew worked on the problem. Royal Caribbean planned a shortened itinerary with just Ketchikan and one Canadian port.

Some passengers had even begun boarding the ship Wednesday, September 2, hoping the cruise would still depart that evening. Instead, guests were later informed that the entire sailing was being canceled and everyone would need to leave the ship by midnight.

Royal Caribbean told passengers that despite the repair team's “around-the-clock efforts,” the issue could not be resolved in time for the ship to safely depart.

The cancellation means guests will receive a full refund, including taxes, fees, prepaid amenities and shore excursions. They will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of what they paid for the canceled cruise, valid for one year.

The cruise line is also offering up to $200 per guest for domestic flight changes or $400 for international flights, along with complimentary Wi-Fi while passengers make arrangements to get home.

It's certainly not the Alaska vacation anyone booked, especially for those who had already made it onto the ship. But when a technical issue affects a ship's ability to safely sail, canceling the cruise is ultimately the right decision.

Serenade of the Seas is currently scheduled to begin its next cruise on September 6, so now the big question is whether the repairs will be completed in time for that sailing.

How would you feel if you had already boarded your cruise, only to find out later that the entire sailing was canceled?

Carnival Breeze Hits Pier While Docking in Cozumel

Cruisers aboard Carnival Breeze got a little more excitement than they expected Monday morning when the ship made contact with the pier while docking in Cozumel, Mexico.

Carnival Breeze was maneuvering into its berth around 9 a.m. when the ship struck the corner of the pier. Photos and videos taken from nearby Carnival Jubilee show scrapes and what appears to be localized damage to the ship's starboard hull.

There were no reported injuries, and the ship was able to leave Cozumel as scheduled and continue its five-night Western Caribbean cruise. The pier was also inspected, with no significant damage reported.

The exact cause of the contact has not been confirmed. Weather conditions were reportedly calm at the time, and Carnival has not publicly provided details about what happened.

This isn't the first time we've experienced something like this ourselves. A couple of years ago, we were aboard Carnival Venezia in New York when the ship made contact with the pier. We didn't know exactly what had happened until we got off the ship, but we sure felt it when it happened!

For passengers, a ship hitting a pier can certainly be a startling experience. Fortunately, these ships are built to handle an incredible amount of force, and in this case, Carnival Breeze continued her voyage.

Have you ever been on a cruise ship when it hit a pier or had a hard docking? Did you feel it?

Norwegian Prima Guests Notified About Legionnaires’ Disease Testing

Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Prima are being notified that Norwegian Cruise Line is working with the CDC after three passengers who sailed on the ship in May and July 2026 were reported to have Legionnaires’ disease.

The important thing to understand is that there is currently no confirmed connection between those cases and contamination onboard the Norwegian Prima. Testing is underway, and guests have been notified as a precaution.

According to the notification sent to passengers, NCL is working with the CDC to investigate the three reported cases. The specific sailings involved have not been identified.

As part of the precautionary measures, some hot tubs have been closed while testing is conducted. That is particularly relevant because Legionella bacteria can live in complex water systems and can potentially be spread through water mist, including from hot tubs and showers.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia. People considered at higher risk include those age 50 and older, current or former smokers, people with chronic lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems.

One thing that may ease some concerns is that Legionnaires’ disease is not generally spread through person-to-person contact.

Norwegian Prima is currently sailing seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, so this is something passengers onboard and those preparing to sail will undoubtedly be watching closely.

For now, testing is the key word. There are reported cases involving previous passengers, but that does not mean the ship has been confirmed as the source.

Would a notification like this make you concerned about sailing, or would you feel comfortable knowing that testing and precautions were already underway?

Margaritaville at Sea Adds New Casino Players Club Benefits

If you like to spend some time in the casino while you're cruising, Margaritaville at Sea is giving its casino players more reasons to keep playing.

Starting October 1, 2026, the Margaritaville at Sea Casino Players Club is adding new benefits to its four-tier program: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Players earn Silver at 1,000 cumulative tier points, Gold at 7,500 and Platinum at 15,000. And if you're already a casino player with another cruise line or land-based casino, Margaritaville at Sea offers a Casino Offer Match Program, allowing qualified players to submit an existing casino offer and potentially receive benefits without starting from scratch.

The biggest changes are aimed at Gold and Platinum members. Gold players will receive a welcome gift and Basic Wi-Fi, while Platinum members get Premium Wi-Fi, a personal VIP host, complimentary laundry and room service, and an exclusive annual dinner and event.

But perhaps the most interesting Platinum perk is “Sail with Friends.” Platinum members can receive an additional oceanview stateroom for two guests, giving them the opportunity to bring friends or family along.

The program already offers perks such as onboard credits, complimentary fares for the player and up to three guests, and higher-level benefits including beverage and dining packages.

So if you're someone who likes to visit the casino during a cruise, Margaritaville at Sea is clearly trying to make its casino program about more than just gambling—it’s turning those points into vacation perks.

Do these kinds of casino perks make you more likely to play onboard, or do you prefer to keep your cruise spending out of the casino?

Royal Caribbean’s New Cruise Ship Dog Has a Name: Dolly!

Last week we told you that Royal Caribbean was asking cruisers to help name the newest member of its furry crew. Well, the votes are in—and we have a winner!

The next Chief Dog Officer for Hero of the Seas will officially be named Dolly.

Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley announced the name on September 2, saying the final results had been confirmed after the passenger vote. Interestingly, Dolly wasn't even one of the original seven finalists. Those names included Hero, Scout, Marina, Pearl, Coco, Coral and Sandy.

But cruise fans had other ideas.

After the recent passing of country music legend Dolly Parton, many fans flooded the comments suggesting that “Dolly” should be added to the list. Royal Caribbean listened, added the name to the finalists, and apparently the cruise community made its preference pretty clear.

While Royal Caribbean hasn't officially said the name is a tribute to Dolly Parton, it's certainly hard to miss the connection—and many fans are already suggesting that the new pup needs a rhinestone collar!

Dolly will become Royal Caribbean's fourth Chief Dog Officer, joining Rover aboard Icon of the Seas, Sailor aboard Star of the Seas and Skipper aboard Legend of the Seas.

She'll take up her new job when Hero of the Seas enters service in August 2027.

So there you have it. We went from wondering what Royal Caribbean would name its next ship dog to knowing exactly what to call her.

Welcome to the Royal Caribbean family, Dolly! 

And let's be honest… Dolly Pawton does have a pretty good ring to it!

What do you think of the name Dolly? Tell us in the comments.

We are Tim & Lori and are known as "The Cruising Together Couple"  

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