Author Archives: Spacejunkie2

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About Spacejunkie2

I love all things Cruise and add that to my hobby Photography I'm in dreamland, I'm an exTravel agency owner with the inside contacts, so I will try to keep you updated in all things travel related with a side serving of images and other maritime stories.

Cruise Lines Leverage Drydocks to Add Capacity to Existing Ships

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Cruise Lines Leverage Drydocks to Add Capacity to Existing Ships

Cruise lines continue to add a significant number of staterooms to existing ships during routine drydocks, as highlighted in the new 2026 Drydock Report from Cruise Industry News.

The additional capacity generally fills in under utilized public areas, with revenue that flows right to the bottom line.

Among upcoming programs, the 2016-built Ovation of the Seas will see the addition of 40 new staterooms, which will take over space currently occupied by various public areas.

Also included in the company’s modernization effort, the Harmony of the Seas is set to enter drydock in April for a refit that will include the creation of 91 additional staterooms.

A third ship is also getting a significant capacity increase with 68 new staterooms: the Liberty of the Seas.

Silversea’s Silver Muse saw a seven percent increase in 2025.

After entering drydock in November, the 2017-built vessel returned to service with 18 smaller staterooms replacing its original larger suites.

Norwegian Cruise Line continued to expand its ships’ capacities in 2025 by adding 26 additional staterooms to the Norwegian Bliss. The increase followed similar projects carried out onboard the Norwegian Joy and the Norwegian Encore in 2024.

A second ship, the Pride of America, saw the addition of 26 new staterooms during a drydock on the West Coast in May.

Other key capacity addition projects:

  • Celestyal Discovery – 47 new staterooms
  • Carnival Miracle – 5 new staterooms
  • Holland America’s Zuiderdam – 11 new staterooms
  • Norwegian Epic – 8 new staterooms

Caribbean Cruise Capacity Up Over 10% for 2026

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Caribbean Cruise Capacity Up Over 10% for 2026

The Caribbean will have over 40 percent of cruise market share worldwide in 2026, according to the upcoming 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

CIN data shows that more than 200 ships will sail in the region, with capacity up over 10 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Larger brands, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC and Norwegian, will account for 75 percent of the capacity in the Caribbean this year.

Pushing up the numbers are large new ships, which are set to enter service for some of these brands over the course of 2026.

Norwegian will add a new ship to its Caribbean lineup in the second quarter, with the debut of the new Norwegian Luna.

Currently under construction in Italy, the 3,571-passenger vessel is set to offer weeklong cruises departing from PortMiami.

In November, Royal Caribbean is also introducing the next largest ship in the world, the Legend of the Seas.

As the third vessel in the company’s Icon-class series, the 5,610-guest ship will offer a seasonal deployment out of Fort Lauderdale.

The Caribbean is also welcoming new ships from a series of upscale and niche brands, such as Explora Journeys.

After an inaugural season in Northern Europe, the 922-guest ship will spend the 2026-27 season offering a series of cruises between San Juan and Miami.

Other luxury ships arriving in the region this year include the Seven Seas Prestige, the Four Seasons I, and Orient Express’ Corinthian.

2026 will also mark the first full year of service for megaships that entered service in 2025.

The lineup includes MSC’s World America, which debuted last April, Norwegian’s Aqua, which also debuted in April, and Royal Caribbean’s Star, which entered service in August.

After kicking off its maiden season in November 2025, the Disney Destiny will also offer its first year-round schedule in Port Everglades

Carnival Extends Zero Proof Package to All 2026 Sailings

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Carnival Extends Zero Proof Package to All 2026 Sailings

Carnival Cruise Line is extending its Cheers! Zero Proof package to all sailings set to depart in 2026, according to Brand Ambassador John Heald.

In a social media update, he said that the option is now available for booking online via the company’s website and app.

“We did open the Cheers! Zero Proof program for 2026,” Heald said, noting that the package is a “fabulous” option for guests.

“It is worth every penny. For a seven-day cruise, it costs, with gratuities and everything included, just over $200,” he added.

Heald explained that the package includes unlimited milkshakes, sodas and non-alcoholic beverages, such as non-alcoholic beers and spirits, frozen virgin cocktails and special coffee drinks.

“From the hundreds of comments I received overnight, I can say that a lot of guests are going to take immediate advantage of that,” he added.

“I don’t drink, so I can understand why it is so popular,” he continued, noting that Cheers! Zero Proof offers non-drinking guests an opportunity to have a package similar to Carnival’s traditional Cheers! and enjoy a wide array of non-alcoholic beverages.

Heald also noted that while the package is available for cruises sailing from Australia, it does not include special coffees for sailings in the region.

While passengers can take advantage of an unlimited number of beverages per cruise, drinks must be ordered with a ten-minute interval.

“This is one of the ways that we control the program; it’s the fair way for us to control it,” Heald explained.

Described as a bundle that offers a variety of premium, alcohol-free refreshment options, Cheers! Zero Proof was introduced by Carnival in September 2025.

The package was first available for sailings departing through last December. Heald later said that Carnival was expected to extend the offering for more cruises in 2026.