As we sail into October, the cruise industry continues to feel both headwinds and tailwinds. From health incidents to large-scale cancellations, from green fuel ambitions to new ship launches, last week produced a mix of cautionary signals and optimism. Here’s a look back at the top stories shaping the decks and docks.
Health Alert: Norovirus Outbreak on Serenade of the Seas
One of the most concerning headlines: over 70 people onboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas fell ill in a gastrointestinal outbreak attributed to norovirus. According to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, the outbreak occurred during a 13-night voyage that departed San Diego on September 19 and ended October 2, involving roughly 1,874 passengers.
The cruise line swiftly responded by isolating sick guests, collecting stool samples, and intensifying sanitization protocols. However, this is not an isolated event: in 2025, 19 gastrointestinal illness incidents have been reported to the CDC across cruise ships, 14 of which were linked to norovirus. Given the close quarters onboard ships, norovirus continues to be a perennial risk, and this outbreak serves as a harsh reminder for cruise operators and travelers alike to maintain rigorous health monitoring, reporting, and hygiene standards.
Norwegian Cancels Over 55 Sailings, Redeploys Ships
In a dramatic move, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced the cancellation of more than 55 sailings across four ships: Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Joy. These cancellations will impact voyages scheduled between late 2026 and early 2027.
The root causes? NCL cites port availability constraints, shifting operational needs, and an overall fleet redeployment. Gem and Dawn will swap homeports (Gem to Tampa, Dawn to Jacksonville), and new itineraries emphasizing more stops at NCL’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, are expected. NCL has assured affected customers full refunds and a 10% future cruise credit as compensation.
This shakeup sends a warning to travelers and agents: even well-known lines are not immune to supply-chain and port scheduling pressures. Booking far ahead now carries higher exposure to schedule volatility than in past years.
Itinerary Disruptions Due to Tropical Systems
Costa, Carnival, and some Royal Caribbean sailings were disrupted last week by tropical weather systems tracking through the mid-Atlantic. Eight Carnival Cruise Line vessels adjusted itineraries: for example, Carnival Venezia canceled a Grand Turk call and added a longer stay in San Juan; Carnival Glory skipped a port entirely and substituted a day at sea. Other ships (Sunshine, Pride, Vista, Freedom, Magic, and more) reworked port calls or dates to maintain schedule integrity and ensure safe passage.
These disruptions are a reminder that weather remains one of the biggest “wildcards” in cruise operations — and in the age of more volatile storm systems, companies must remain nimble in communications and contingency planning.
Sustainability Surge: Alternative Fuels Dominate 2026 Newbuilds
One of the more hopeful signals came from newbuild data: 65% of cruise ships slated for delivery in 2026 will be capable of operating on alternative fuels beyond traditional marine fuel. Of the 14 new vessels scheduled, nine are expected to run on fuels such as LNG or other cleaner options.
That includes Royal Caribbean’s upcoming Legend of the Seas, its third Icon-class ship, which will be LNG-powered. Other ships in the “green” pipeline include TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Flow, MSC’s World Asia, the Explora III, and Disney’s delayed but methanol-ready Disney Adventure. Even more ambitiously, Viking is planning a hydrogen-capable cruise ship, Viking Libra, for late 2026.
Some caveats: While optimism is rising, the market for alternative-fuelled vessel orders has cooled in 2025 overall (down about 48% year-over-year), as shipbuilders and operators adopt a more cautious “wait and see” stance until regulations and fuel supply ecosystems stabilize. Still, the headline is clear: sustainability is no longer niche — it’s the new baseline expectation for future fleets.
AIDA Cruises Double-Downs on Bio-LNG & Shore Power
Amid the broader push toward clean propulsion, AIDA Cruises (part of Carnival Corporation) reported significant progress in bio-fuel adoption and shore power upgrades. In 2025’s first half, the line consumed over 3,300 metric tons of bio-LNG (certified via ISCC) at ports like Hamburg, Kiel, and Zeebrugge. At the same time, AIDA is expanding shore power connectivity — giving ships the ability to shut down fossil-fuel generators while docked.
Dirk Inger, the company’s public affairs leader, noted that while bio-fuels are promising, their limited supply and higher cost mean they can’t serve as the sole pathway to regulatory compliance in the long run. Still, what AIDA is doing is a concrete, scaled step toward cleaner operations, and it may become a model for other major lines looking to transition gradually.
New Ships & Deployments: MSC in Texas, Princess LNG, and More
In new ship-and-deployment news:
MSC Cruises is launching MSC Seascape from Galveston, Texas starting November 9, bringing the brand into the Gulf Coast market. The ship’s onboard dining and beverage offerings will combine Texas/Gulf-inspired menus with global culinary standards.
Princess Cruises recently received its second dual-fuel LNG-capable vessel from Fincantieri, reinforcing its commitment to a cleaner future fleet.
Back in newbuild order news, Fincantieri reversed earlier plans: two newbuild slots originally for Marella Cruises are now being reassigned to TUI Cruises, meaning TUI will receive higher-capacity new ships in 2030 and 2032. For Marella, this means it’s stepping back from building new vessels of its own and likely repositioning within the broader TUI / Royal Caribbean family network.
These deployments underscore how cruise lines are constantly rebalancing where new capacity is added — often in response to demand, regulation, or strategic repositioning.
Strong Earnings, Weak Stock Reaction: Carnival Corp.
In a bit of a paradox, Carnival Corporation reported exceptionally strong Q3 2025 earnings: revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) beat estimates, and advanced bookings for 2026 are matching record 2025 levels. Carnival raised its full-year guidance to $2.14 EPS, up from $1.97, and projected Q4 earnings of $0.23 per share.
Yet despite this solid performance, its stock fell roughly 4–4.6% following the report, perhaps due to profit-taking or investor concerns about yield pressure. This dynamic underlines that, in cruise investing, strong fundamentals don’t always translate into stock momentum — especially when much of the optimism is already priced in.
Final Thoughts & What to Watch Next
Last week’s news reflects a cruise industry at a crossroads: confronting legacy risks like disease outbreaks and schedule instability, while simultaneously pushing aggressively toward green propulsion and fleet modernization.
For readers of PortSideLeft, here are a few threads to track going forward:
- Will norovirus or other health outbreaks escalate again this season — and how effectively will lines handle them?
- Will NCL’s sweeping cancellations become a more common tool in cruise companies’ operational toolkits?
- As 2026 approaches, how many of the promised alternative-fuel newbuilds will actually be delivered on time and perform reliably?
- How quickly can bio-LNG, hydrogen, or other zero-carbon options scale from experimental to standard?
- How will the stock market respond to future earnings when much of the “upside” may already be baked in?