Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of March 20, 2026!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed this week, including a look into who owns Princess Cruises and a major cruise line that suddenly canceled over two dozen planned sailings.
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Major cruise line cancels planned sailings, upending vacations: "This is so frustrating"
Royal Caribbean has canceled more than two dozen sailings on its Freedom of the Seas ship — all scheduled for summer 2027.
"As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process - which sometimes requires flexibility due to scheduling, port agreements, or operational needs, Freedom of the Seas will be redeployed for our Summer 2027 season," Royal Caribbean said in an email sent to booked guests.
"We know how much effort goes into planning your vacation and apologize for the inconvenience," the cruise line continued in the emailed statement.
Read more: Major cruise line cancels planned sailings, upending vacations: "This is so frustrating"
6 best hidden gems to order in Carnival’s Main Dining Room
Carnival's main dining room is a staple across its fleet. While favorites like strip steak and the famous melting cake are always crowd-pleasers, some lesser-known menu items deserve a spot on your must-try list.
The dining room has a rotating nightly menu, meaning that you'll have plenty of chances to discover new dishes — if you know where to look. Sometimes, an appetizer, entrée, or dessert that seems underrated might end up being one of the best things you eat on board!
Here's a list of 6 hidden gems you shouldn't miss on your next Carnival cruise. The best part? Every single one is included, so you can expand your palate without shelling out extra money.
Read more: 6 best hidden gems to order in Carnival’s Main Dining Room
Cruise line drops all visits to popular Alaska glacier this year
The 2026 Alaska cruise season is right around the corner. However, one cruise line informed passengers that all excursions in one popular port were canceled due to "operational considerations."
Guests sailing with Holland America Line this summer were notified via email that all excursions to the Tracy Arm Fjord have been removed from the 2026 schedule.
"Our tour operator has advised [that] the Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer in Juneau, AK has been modified due to operational considerations," the email reads.
Read more: Cruise line drops all visits to popular Alaska glacier this year
Norwegian sued over cruise passenger's injury after guest slipped on pool deck
A Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) passenger filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit after sustaining a serious injury while aboard the Norwegian Escape ship.
According to the complaint, Donka Kennedy, of Illinois, alleges that she suffered a "serious left femur fracture after slipping on a dangerous substance" while walking toward the buffet in January 2025. Kennedy required surgery to repair the fracture, which has led to ongoing physical and financial hardships.
Consequently, she's seeking compensation for the surgical expenses and disability that have resulted in her inability to lead a normal life, including mental anguish, disfigurement, lost wages, and the loss of future earning capacity.
Read more: Norwegian sued over cruise passenger's injury after guest slipped on pool deck
Who owns Princess Cruises?
Princess Cruises' popularity skyrocketed in part due to the "The Love Boat" sitcom that aired in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the cruise line is known for its upscale ships and world-class itineraries, sailing to destinations like Asia, the South Pacific, Alaska, South America, and beyond.
Although not as well-known as some other cruise lines, Princess has built a strong reputation for above-average service, quality dining, and immersive programming.
However, did you know that Princess is actually owned by the world's largest cruise operator? That's right — while Princess' fleet comprises just 17 ships, they're actually part of a corporation with over 90 vessels operating worldwide.
Read more: Who owns Princess Cruises?
6 things I always do at the cruise ship buffet to have a better meal
Cruise ship buffets are popular for a reason. They’re quick, convenient, and offer options to please almost every passenger onboard.
Yet Jenna often sees cruisers doing things wrong at the buffet that negatively affect their meal. Luckily, it’s easy to learn the ins and outs of the cruise ship buffet. After eating hundreds of meals on dozens of ships, she has learned the most useful strategies to make the most of the buffet's offerings.
These are the six things you should always do at a cruise ship buffet to have a better meal.
Read more: 6 things I always do at the cruise ship buffet to have a better meal
Florida Governor signs bill that kills chances of building new Tampa cruise port for bigger ships
Tampa won't see a mega Carnival or Royal Caribbean ship anytime soon.
Hopes of the Tampa Bay area welcoming bigger cruise ships seemed possible for a while after one company proposed turning an undeveloped tract of land next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge into a terminal.
However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that blocked the proposed cruise port in Manatee County near Tampa on Thursday, March 19.
Read more: Florida Governor signs bill that kills chances of building new Tampa cruise port for bigger ships
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
