Royal Caribbean dropped some major news this week. They’re building another Icon-class ship for delivery in 2027. The new vessel will be the fourth in this class, joining Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and the unnamed third ship coming in 2025.
Icon ships are massive floating cities with everything from surf simulators to multiple pools to Broadway-style shows. For travelers, this means more availability on Royal Caribbean’s newest and most amenity-packed ships. It also means the cruise line is betting big on mega-ship demand continuing through the rest of the decade.
Norwegian Cruise Line made headlines by extending their free specialty dining promotion through early 2024. Passengers booking select sailings can now get free meals at specialty restaurants that normally cost extra. The catch is you still need to book one of their higher-tier fare categories to qualify.
This is Norwegian’s way of adding perceived value without actually lowering prices. For travelers, it means you might get more bang for your buck if you were already planning to book a balcony cabin or suite. Just remember that “free” specialty dining was already factored into those higher fare prices somehow.
The Port of Barcelona announced they’re limiting cruise ship calls starting in 2024. They’re capping the number of cruise passengers per day to reduce overtourism. Several other Mediterranean ports are considering similar measures.
This trend toward port restrictions isn’t going away. Popular destinations are pushing back against cruise crowds. For travelers, expect fewer last-minute itinerary options and potentially higher prices for cruises to the most popular ports. Planning further ahead will become even more important.
The cruise industry keeps evolving whether we want it to or not. If you want help sorting through what these changes mean for your next cruise, that is literally what we do.
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