Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of April 9, 2026!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed this week, including another cruise line that pulled the plug on visits to a popular Alaska fjord and a ship that hit a coral reef in the South Pacific.
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Another cruise line pulls the plug on visits to Tracy Arm Fjord in 2026
Less than one month after Holland America Line initially canceled all visits to Tracy Arm Fjord in 2026, another cruise line is following suit.
On April 7, 2026, Royal Caribbean notified passengers via email that all visits to the Tracy Arm Fjord have been canceled this year because of "ongoing navigation safety concerns."
"Due to a recent landslide and ongoing navigation safety concerns, we'll no longer be able to cruise through Tracy Arm Fjord (Sawyer Glacier), Alaska. Instead, you'll enjoy breathtaking scenic cruising through Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier," the email reads.
Read more: Another cruise line pulls the plug on visits to Tracy Arm Fjord in 2026
After 11 Royal Caribbean cruises, I finally tried Carnival — here’s what I liked and disliked
Although Carnival is one of the most well-known cruise lines at sea, it wasn't until Elizabeth was in her mid-20s that she finally decided to sail on a "FUN" ship to see how the experience compared to the familiar atmosphere aboard Royal Caribbean.
Before her cruise on the Carnival Celebration ship, she based her knowledge of the line on preconceived notions, expecting party-centric vibes, fewer high-quality production shows, and mediocre food.
After hearing stellar reviews about Carnival's Excel Class ships, she caved in and booked a sailing for herself, curious to see whether Carnival would match or exceed her expectations.
Read more: After 11 Royal Caribbean cruises, I finally tried Carnival — here’s what I liked and disliked
Cruise Ship Stranded in Middle East, Start of European Season Canceled
MSC Cruises' MSC Euribia is stuck in the Middle East amid the ongoing war in Iran and can't kickstart her European season as scheduled.
The 184,000 gross-ton vessel was supposed to depart Kiel, Germany, on May 2, 2026, on a 7-night voyage to Denmark and Norway. However, MSC canceled the ship's first European cruise of the season since the vessel is stuck in Dubai.
"Due to the current situation in the Middle East, the MSC Euribia was unable to depart the region as scheduled, resulting in a delay in its repositioning to Northern Europe," reads the cancelation email shared via Reddit.
Read more: Cruise Ship Stranded in Middle East, Start of European Season Canceled
Another cruise line suddenly raises the daily gratuity charges
Another cruise line is suddenly increasing gratuities for passengers.
Effective June 1, 2026, Holland America Line (HAL) will raise the daily gratuity rate by $1 per day, bringing the new rate for standard cabins to $18.00 per person, up from $17.00, and suites to $20.00 per person, up from $19.00.
If you have already booked your sailing, you can prepay your gratuities to lock in the lower rate and save money. If you wait until you're onboard and are cruising after June 1, you will be subject to the new higher rate.
Read more: Another cruise line suddenly raises the daily gratuity charges
Cruise Ship Hits Coral Reef Off Island Where "Cast Away" Was Filmed, Passengers Evacuated
A small cruise ship hit a reef near an uninhabited Fiji island over the weekend, the same island that was once the setting for "Cast Away," starring Tom Hanks.
The ship, the MV Fiji Princess, ran aground near Monuriki Island on Saturday and suffered serious damage to its rear left side, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) said in a statement posted to social media.
The vessel was carrying 30 passengers and 31 crew members at the time of the incident. Thankfully, nobody sustained any injuries, and everyone was safely disembarked and taken to Denarau Island.
Read more: Cruise Ship Hits Coral Reef Off Island Where "Cast Away" Was Filmed, Passengers Evacuated
Princess Cruises Fleet Overview (2026)
Princess Cruises broke into the cruise industry in 1965 with the debut of the Princess Patricia, the original Princess Cruises Love Boat. Since then, they’ve welcomed over 35 other ships to their fleet and have become one of the leading premium cruise lines at sea.
Today, however, Princess operates a fleet of 17 ships in four different classes — Coral, Grand, Royal, and Sphere — that sail all over the world, from the Caribbean to Japan, Alaska, Europe, and even Antarctica. They pride themselves on carrying "more than a million passengers each year to more worldwide destinations than any other major line."
If you want to learn more about the fleet, check out our guide to help you become familiar with all the Princess Cruises ships at sea.
Read more: Princess Cruises Fleet Overview (2026)
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.
