Mooring News 10/16 & 17/2026

Oct 17

11 min read

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Mooring News. I’m Sheryl with Cruise Sea-kers.

Today, we have a significant change for Carnival cruisers in Australia, an earlier opportunity to sail aboard Norwegian’s newest ship, and some interesting reasons to start thinking about your next big trip.

We also have a look at the people behind our vacations, including a travel blogger who became a ship’s godmother—and an update on Bukangi, the shark so many people are hoping will find her way back to the sea.

Some announcements arrived today. Others came earlier this week, and I’ll make those dates clear as we go.

(Pause — Carnival’s Australia departures)

Let’s start with Carnival, because this announcement changes the choices available to travelers planning an Australian cruise.

On October 15, Carnival confirmed that Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will leave Australia in March 2028.

Luminosa’s final departure from Sydney is scheduled for March 15. Adventure will depart Sydney on March 20 and will not return to Australia as previously planned.

Carnival Splendor will continue sailing year-round from Sydney, and Carnival Encounter will remain year-round in Brisbane. Carnival says their 2028–29 program will be released in the coming weeks.

(Source: Carnival’s October 15 deployment announcement. )

For travelers, the consequence is a smaller selection of Carnival ships sailing locally after those departures.

It does not mean Carnival is leaving Australia entirely, and these ships are not disappearing tomorrow. There are still sailings before March 2028.

Carnival points to long-term fleet planning and the importance of predictable, competitive operating conditions.

What we cannot tell you is that prices will definitely rise, or exactly how every future itinerary will change. Those details require actual schedules and fares.

If one of these ships is part of your Australia plans, the ship name and sailing date deserve a closer look.

(Pause — Norwegian Aura)

Now, an announcement for people who enjoy being among the first aboard a new ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line has added two earlier Mediterranean voyages for Norwegian Aura, its newest and largest ship.

Bookings opened October 9.

(Pronunciation: Trieste — tree-EST. Piraeus — pie-REE-us.)

The first added sailing departs May 2, 2027, on a 10-day voyage from Trieste, Italy, to Athens, using the port of Piraeus.

The second departs May 12 on a nine-day voyage from Athens back to Trieste.

NCL says these additions follow the ship’s anticipated early delivery.

(Source: Norwegian Cruise Line’s announcement of the two added inaugural voyages. )

Here’s why that matters.

The previously announced debut sailing was May 21. If you selected that departure because you wanted to be on the ship’s first passenger voyage, the schedule has changed around that distinction.

(Source: Norwegian’s original Aura announcement. )

For everyone else, it creates two additional opportunities to experience Aura in Europe before its Caribbean season.

When comparing them, look beyond the attraction of a brand-new ship. These are different lengths and different starting and ending ports. Flights, transfers and time ashore are all part of the vacation you are actually buying.

(Pause — Princess returns to the Amazon)

Princess has announced more than 250 departures for its 2028–29 Americas season, but the detail that caught my attention is its return to the Amazon.

(Pronunciation: Santarém — san-tah-RENG.)

This will be Princess’s first Amazon River cruising since 2014, with scenic cruising and a call at Santarém, Brazil.

Coral Princess will also offer a new 64-day Circle South America voyage combining Antarctica, the Amazon and the Panama Canal.

That is an unusually varied itinerary to experience while keeping the same cabin as your home base.

There are more manageable choices, too.

(Pronunciation: Îles de la Madeleine — eel duh lah mad-LEN.)

The program includes the return of roundtrip Hawaii cruises from Vancouver, plus a new Canada and New England stop at Îles de la Madeleine, known for red sandstone cliffs and Acadian culture.

The season is already on sale.

(Source: Princess Cruises’ October 13 Americas announcement. )

The useful question is what kind of travel experience you want. A new destination, an overnight stay or a convenient departure port can matter more than the total number of sailings in a press release.

And when you see Antarctica or the Amazon in an itinerary, read what happens there. Scenic cruising, a port visit and an expedition landing are different experiences.

(Pause — Royal Caribbean’s year-round Europe program)

Royal Caribbean is also giving travelers more reasons to look beyond the usual summer-in-Europe calendar.

In an October 14 announcement, the line outlined a year-round European program for 2028–29, with seven ships across the broader season.

Rhapsody of the Seas will offer European cruising throughout the year, including summer itineraries with overnight stays in Egypt and winter voyages to the Canary Islands.

The wider program includes destinations in Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Northern Europe, with a return to Copenhagen and Stockholm.

(Source: Royal Caribbean’s October 14 Europe announcement. )

For people who cannot—or simply prefer not to—travel during summer, that expands the possibilities.

But “Europe year-round” does not mean the same itinerary and experience every month. Winter routes, daylight, weather and the activities you want ashore all belong in the planning conversation.

The advantage is having more seasons to choose from, so you can match the trip to your interests and schedule.

(Pause — Seabourn’s Egypt return)

Seabourn’s October 14 announcement also puts the focus on time ashore.

Its 2029 summer ocean collection includes a return to Egypt after more than five years, with select voyages staying overnight in Alexandria.

That provides an opportunity to plan visits to Cairo and the pyramids within a longer port call.

(Pronunciation: Bothnia — BOTH-nee-uh.)

The collection also introduces a seven-day itinerary exploring the Gulf of Bothnia, between Sweden and Finland, alongside new Northern European ports.

Seabourn Encore will return to Alaska with an expedition team and optional Zodiac and kayak excursions.

(Source: Seabourn’s October 14 summer ocean voyages announcement. )

The overnight stays are worth paying attention to.

A destination name alone doesn’t tell you how much you will experience. Arrival and departure times determine whether you have a brief introduction, a full day of exploring or an opportunity to stay ashore into the evening.

For anyone comparing itineraries, the hours in port deserve a place beside the price and the ship.

(Pause — Azamara’s world-cruise options)

Now, if your idea of a worthwhile trip involves several months away, Azamara has opened bookings for two shorter versions of its 2029 world cruise.

And “shorter” is definitely relative here.

The 179-night voyage sails from San Diego to London. The 139-night option begins in Sydney and ends in Copenhagen.

Those two choices opened October 14. The full 195-night voyage, from San Diego to Copenhagen, opened for booking in September.

The 179-night option includes 52 late departures and 16 overnight stays. The 139-night itinerary includes 43 late departures and 11 overnights.

Those figures belong to their individual routes, so we shouldn’t treat all three voyages as interchangeable.

(Source: Azamara’s 2029 World Cruise Collection announcement. )

The appeal is having different ways to undertake a lengthy journey, depending on where you want to begin, where you want to finish and how long you can be away.

Late departures and overnights also change the rhythm of a cruise. They can make room for dinner ashore, an evening performance or more time to explore without watching the clock quite so closely.

(Pause — Holland America’s Bar 1873)

(Pronunciation: Oosterdam — OH-ster-dam. Read “Rotterdam V” as “Rotterdam Five.”)

Holland America has several stories this week, beginning with a new venue announced today.

Bar 1873 is planned for Oosterdam as part of the ship’s Evolution transformation.

The timing matters: the announcement is today, but the new experience is scheduled for October 2027.

The two-story atrium venue draws on Holland America’s history, with Oosterdam’s design inspired by Queen Juliana’s 1958 christening of Rotterdam V. A redesigned Crow’s Nest is also part of the upcoming changes.

(Source: Holland America’s Bar 1873 announcement and Evolution blog. )

For people who already enjoy Oosterdam, this is something to consider when choosing a future sailing.

For anyone booking sooner, it’s a reminder to check the date attached to a beautiful rendering. An announced improvement may still be a year away from welcoming guests.

The interesting part of this design is the connection to the line’s own maritime history. Holland America is giving passengers a place to spend time that also tells a story about the ships and people who came before.

(Pause — Holidays aboard Holland America)

Much closer on the calendar, Holland America has detailed its festivities for the 2026 holiday season.

Plans include seasonal decorations, tree lightings, carol singing, holiday movies, crew performances and family activities.

Depending on the holiday sailing, dining events include Thanksgiving dinner, Breakfast with Santa, a Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes and Nutcracker Tea.

New this year is a Magnolia Gingerbread Cake in the Dining Room, extending the line’s partnership with Magnolia Bakery.

Shipboard culinary teams will also create gingerbread villages, with each ship developing its own design.

(Source: Cruise Industry News’ October 16 holiday-programming report. )

That last detail gives a little personality to the festivities. The people creating the display help make each ship’s celebration its own.

For families considering a holiday cruise, the appeal is being together while someone else handles much of the cooking and preparation.

Just make sure the sailing actually covers the holiday and activities you want. A December departure doesn’t automatically include Christmas Day.

(Pause — Pan Am anniversary voyage)

(Pronunciation: Zuiderdam — ZYE-der-dam.)

There is also an interesting Holland America voyage for anyone who loves aviation history.

The line released new experience details on October 9 for its Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage.

This is a 28-day roundtrip cruise from Miami aboard Zuiderdam, departing October 30, 2027.

It will follow portions of Pan Am’s historic routes through the Caribbean and Central America, with aviation-history presentations, Pan Am-inspired dining, a Clipper Club experience and themed excursions.

Scheduled speakers include Willie Aames, whom some viewers will remember from Eight Is Enough and Charles in Charge.

Also participating is Linda Freire, a former Pan Am flight attendant and co-founder of the Pan Am Museum Foundation.

Her firsthand experience gives this an interesting human connection to an airline many people remember fondly.

(Source: Holland America’s October 9 Pan Am voyage announcement. )

A themed voyage like this is worth considering when the subject itself is part of what you enjoy. The onboard program becomes an important part of the trip, alongside the destinations.

(Pause — Vancouver’s record cruise season)

Vancouver has reported its busiest cruise season ever.

According to the port authority, approximately 1.4 million passenger visits and 358 cruise calls passed through Canada Place between February and October.

Those are ship calls, meaning visits to the port—not 358 different ships.

Close to 575,000 passengers moved through the terminal during July and August alone.

There is an encouraging operational detail, too: the port reports that the passenger journey from terminal arrival to embarkation averaged about 30 minutes, and 87 percent of ships departed early or on time.

An average is not a promise for your particular sailing, but it gives us something more useful than a passenger record by itself.

It tells us how the terminal says it handled that activity.

Vancouver is also looking ahead. Its preliminary 2027 schedule lists 383 calls, although plans remain subject to change.

(Source: Cruise Industry News’ October 16 Vancouver report. )

For your own trip, follow your assigned arrival time and allow room in your plans for transportation and travel delays. A smooth terminal experience is much easier to enjoy when you aren’t racing to reach it.

(Pause — How cruising is changing)

(Pronunciation: TUI — TOO-ee. Mein Schiff — mine shiff.)

Over in Europe, TUI Cruises—the company behind the German-market Mein Schiff ships—is working on ways to use less fuel and reduce emissions.

Two of its newest ships have been using bio-LNG, a liquid fuel made from organic waste. The company is also developing software to help crews track energy use and spot opportunities to save fuel.

The challenge is getting enough alternative fuel to the ports where ships need it, at an affordable price.

It’s one example of how cruising is changing behind the scenes. Building a ship that can use a different fuel only helps if you can actually fill the tank.

(Sources: Mein Schiff’s emissions information and Cruise Industry News’ October 16 report. )

(Pause — Crew spotlight)

(Pronunciation: Leopoldo Flores — leh-oh-POHL-doh FLOH-res.)

Now let’s talk about someone whose work you may have enjoyed without ever knowing his name.

Leopoldo Flores is a senior sound technician with Marella Cruises.

In a profile published October 15, he described helping deliver up to 12 production shows during a typical 14-night cruise.

His work starts well before the audience arrives: equipment checks, technical rehearsals and preparation for that evening’s performances.

During a show, he balances the singers, backing tracks, live band and sound effects in real time.

One of the most demanding periods comes when a new cast joins and the team must prepare as many as 12 shows in a short timeframe.

That requires coordination across the performers and technical departments.

(Source: Cruise Industry News’ October 15 profile of Leopoldo Flores. )

I like this story because it gives us a person to picture behind something we often take for granted.

When a performance feels effortless from your seat, there may be a considerable amount of work happening beyond your view.

The next time you applaud a shipboard production, some of that applause belongs to the people at the sound desk and behind the scenes.

(Pause — Bukangi update)

Before our final story, a quick update on Bukangi, the shark in Busan, South Korea.

Mongabay’s report today says she remains in the canal, with authorities monitoring her before deciding whether to try another rescue operation.

We do not have a confirmed successful release to report.

South Korea’s fisheries institute identified her as a female dusky shark, approximately 10 feet long, updating earlier descriptions of her species.

She has attracted nearly 1.4 million spectators since September, and her image has appeared on merchandise and even soju bottles.

That popularity has brought attention, but her welfare remains the central concern.

The article also explores warming seas and changing marine habitats. Scientists explain that shifting water temperatures can affect prey and the sharks that follow them.

They caution, however, that they cannot establish climate change as the reason this particular shark entered the canal. Currents, tides, prey and the waterway itself also need investigation.

For now, it’s a continuing story, and we’re still hoping for a safe outcome.

(Source: Mongabay’s October 16 Bukangi report. )

(Pause — Viking’s ship godparents)

Let’s finish with the people behind Viking’s latest ship naming.

Viking celebrated seven new river ships on October 15, honoring travel advisor partners as their ceremonial godparents.

(Source: Viking’s October 15 naming announcement. )

One of them was Carol Porter, co-owner of The Roaming Boomers.

Carol and her husband began with a travel blog. Over time, it developed into a Scottsdale-based agency specializing in luxury cruises.

Yesterday, she became godmother of Viking Haki.

When PAX asked about her reaction to being selected, she said, “Oh, I cried. My husband cried.”

That little detail tells you what the honor meant to them.

Another honoree, Vancouver-born Ealeen Wong, entered the travel industry in 2019, just before the pandemic changed it so dramatically.

She wore red and white to represent Canada as she became godmother of Viking Rota.

(Source: PAX’s October 16 reporting from the naming ceremony. )

Behind the new ships, itineraries and announcements are people building careers, helping travelers and sometimes finding themselves somewhere they never expected.

That’s a good place to leave things today.

(Pause — Closing)

I’m Sheryl with Cruise Sea-kers, and this has been Mooring News.

Thanks for spending part of your day with me. If one of these voyages caught your attention, we can look at the details together and see whether it fits the trip you want to take.

Until next time, I'll be haze gray and underway.

And if you’ve ever considered owning your own cruise ship, the former Majesty of the Seas is being advertised for sale.

The asking price? Forty million dollars.

(Pause)

Pocket change.

Of course, that’s before you fill the fuel tanks and hire the crew.(Sources — for Rob and the published episode; do not read aloud.)

Cruise Seakers Blog

Mooring News 10/16 & 17/2026

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