Cruise News Roundup - Travel Scouts with Jason

Story 1 — Cruise Ship Reportedly Targeted by Iran's Revolutionary Guard

Six cruise ships were stranded in the Middle East for several weeks due to regional tensions and inability to transit the Strait of Hormuz, held across three ports: Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai. All six vessels have since cleared the strait.

However, multiple sources — including Cruise Law News and security intelligence firm Vanguard Tech — report that at least one ship came under fire during the passage. The ships involved were the Mineshift 4, Mineshift 5, and MSC Uribia, sailing as a convoy off the coast of Oman. Iran's Revolutionary Guard reportedly threatened to destroy an empty cruise ship fleeing the Gulf, and a captain in the convoy reported a splash near the Mineshift 4. An official warning regarding the incident has been posted, lending credibility to the reports.

All ships passed through without injury or damage. All six vessels are set to resume normal cruise operations in May.

Story 2 — More Cruise Lines Cancel Tracy Arm Fjord Visits for Alaska Season

Following a major landslide last year that dumped millions of cubic feet of rock and debris into the water — triggering a tsunami inside the fjord — four additional cruise lines have canceled their Tracy Arm Fjord scenic day sailings for the entire Alaska season: MSC, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, and Windstar. This follows earlier cancellations by Holland America and Carnival.

Eight cruise lines still plan to sail Tracy Arm. National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions released a statement saying they are monitoring conditions but have no current plans to deviate. The Norwegian Bliss is the first major cruise ship scheduled to enter the fjord, arriving in roughly one week.

Story 3 — CLIA Data: Busiest and Slowest Quarters for Cruising

Data from the Cruise Line International Association covering 2023, 2024, and 2025 shows a consistent seasonal pattern in cruise passenger volume:

For travelers looking for lower prices, Q1 is consistently the best window to find bargains.

Story 4 — Passenger Removed from Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas

A passenger was ejected from a sailing of the Anthem of the Seas after assaulting another passenger at approximately 9:30 PM. When the ship arrived in port the following morning, police boarded to investigate. The individual was not arrested, but Royal Caribbean exercised their right to remove him from the sailing. The victim received onboard treatment for a minor nose injury. No details have been reported regarding what prompted the altercation.

Story 5 — Princess Cruises Orders Three New Ships

Princess Cruises has placed an order for three new vessels — the largest in the line's history — each capable of carrying 4,700 passengers. Delivery is scheduled for 2035, 2038, and 2039. The additions will bring Princess's fleet from 17 to 20 ships. However, by the time the final vessel arrives in 2039, nine of their current 17 ships will be between 30 and 41 years old, raising long-term fleet age concerns.

Story 6 — Holland America Announces Major Overhauls for Six Ships

Holland America, which has no new ships on order and hasn't launched a new vessel since 2021, has revealed a refurbishment strategy rather than new builds. Six ships from their Vista and Signature classes will undergo major overhauls including new staterooms, restaurants, and guest spaces. Their three newest ships (launched within the last decade) are not included. Their two oldest ships — the Rotterdam class, both approaching 30 years old — were not mentioned in the announcement.

Note from Jason: He and Kelly were just on the Zotterdam, one of the ships slated for upgrades, and said it already looks in good shape.

Story 7 — Two Passenger Deaths on Carnival Splendor Sailing

Both incidents occurred during a four-day voyage departing Sydney, Australia on April 15th.

The first involved a woman who died while snorkeling off Moreton Island along the Queensland coast. Witnesses reported challenging conditions in the area. Revival attempts on the beach were unsuccessful.

The second involved a male passenger who went overboard. The incident is believed to have been intentional, confirmed by the ship's security footage. He was traveling with family.

Carnival released a statement noting that all appropriate authorities had been alerted and that the ship's care team was supporting both families.

Story 8 — Two Sickness Outbreaks Reported on Cruise Ships

Two recent outbreaks bring the year's total to seven:

• Oceania Insignia — Concluded in Miami last week; cause of illness unknown
• Costa Toscana — Operating in the Mediterranean; voyage concluded last Thursday

For context, roughly 15 outbreaks had been reported by this same point in 2025. Sickness outbreaks on land and sea tend to decrease significantly through the warmer months, so the frequency is expected to drop going forward.

Story 9 — Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas Begins Sea Trials

Royal Caribbean's newest ship, the Legend of the Seas, has begun a 10-day sea trial covering more than 2,400 miles. Over 2,000 engineers and specialists are on board for testing. If trials pass as expected, the vessel returns to the shipyard for final construction. The Legend of the Seas is scheduled to debut in July 2026.