by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Fri September 25, 2026
September was a big month for the cruise industry, with major deals, new ships, private-island developments and expansion into new markets making headlines. From Royal Caribbean Group’s $3 billion stake in Sandals Resorts to Explora Journeys venturing into river cruising, the month brought plenty of news across the industry. These were the biggest cruise news stories of September 2026.
Royal Caribbean Buys Stake in Sandals Resorts
This month, cruise giant Royal Caribbean Group and land-based luxury operator Sandals Resorts entered into a definitive agreement to form a joint venture, marking one of the most significant cross-category deals in modern travel industry history.
Under the terms of the deal, Royal Caribbean Group will acquire a 50% equity stake in Sandals Resorts International, including both the adult-focused Sandals Resorts and family-centric Beaches Resorts portfolios, for approximately $3 billion.
While many travel advisors see significant opportunities in bringing the two brands together, they also have questions about what could change—and what they might stand to lose.
“This is an earthquake shift for the travel industry with two highly successful and iconic brands having the opportunity to team up rather than compete,” says Stephen Scott, founder and chief executive officer of Travel Hub 365 and the Odyssey Travel App.
Sandals Resort Dunn's River, Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Photo Credit: Sandals)
Explora Journeys Is Getting Into River Cruising
Another brand is making the leap into river cruising. Explora Journeys announced this month that it has signed a letter of intent with Dutch shipbuilder Den Breejen Shipyard for the construction of its first luxury river ships.
More details will be announced in the future, including ship design, onboard experiences, delivery schedules and initial itineraries. The brand expects to open sales for its new river cruises in 2027.
Body of Endangered Fin Whale Found on Cruise Ship Bow in Alaska
For the second time this summer, a cruise ship pulled into an Alaska port with the body of an endangered fin whale on its bow. In September, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Joy arrived in Sitka, Alaska, with a 57.5-foot “freshly dead” adult male on its bow.
Experts with the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network used a tugboat to remove the dead whale from the vessel.
In June, a Royal Caribbean Group cruise ship arrived in Seward, Alaska, with the body of a pregnant fin whale on its bow.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Records Biggest Booking Day in Company History
Atlas Ocean Voyages celebrated a record booking milestone as demand for its luxury expedition cruises continues to grow. The cruise line recorded its strongest single-day booking performance in company history on August 31, driven by limited availability on Antarctica sailings in November, 2026, advance bookings for 2027 and growing interest in its forthcoming vessel, Atlas Adventurer.
“We are seeing guests respond to the evolution of our brand and to the experience we are delivering,” said James A. Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “At the same time, our travel advisor partners have been tremendous advocates for Atlas. Their confidence in our product, their support of our growth and their ability to introduce Atlas to the right luxury travelers have been instrumental in building this momentum.”
Royal Caribbean Names Godmother of Legend of the Seas
Royal Caribbean has selected retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson as the official godmother of Legend of the Seas. The nation's first female combatant commander and former leader of NORAD and NORTHCOM will bestow safekeeping upon the line's newest ship, its crew members and the millions of guests who board during a special Veterans Day naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 11.
"I am deeply honored to be named godmother of Legend of the Seas and take part in such a special tradition for Royal Caribbean alongside my family," Robinson, a 37-year Air Force veteran, said in a statement.
Norwegian Cruise Line Opens Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay
On September 4, Norwegian Cruise Line opened the new Great Tides Waterpark. The nearly six-acre waterpark is the latest addition to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 270-acre private island in the Bahamas.
“Families vacation together, but everyone enjoys time differently,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Great Tides Waterpark. “Some seek relaxation, others seek adventure. Our goal is to create experiences that offer something for everyone so no one has to compromise their perfect vacation. Great Tides Waterpark brings that vision to life in an extraordinary way.”
The cruise line has big plans beyond Great Tides Waterpark, including other potential developments at Great Stirrup Cay, multiple new ships and possible enhancements at Harvest Caye, its other private destination located in southern Belize.
“We never want to rest on our laurels, we always want to be innovative,” says Mark Kansley, chief experience officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We have a lot in development."
The centerpiece of the new Great Tides Waterpark is the 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower, which features eight waterslides (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
Scenic Group Unveils Long-Term Expansion in India
Scenic Group is expanding its luxury river cruise operations in India through a new partnership with Assam Bengal Navigation, with plans to have two Scenic ultra-luxury river ships operating in the country by 2029-30.
The partnership will give Scenic access to the Brahmaputra River, where future cruises will highlight the region’s landscapes, wildlife, cultural traditions and riverside communities. The program will complement Scenic’s planned Hooghly River cruises in West Bengal, which are scheduled to begin in 2027.
Scenic’s first India ship, Scenic Aura, is scheduled to begin sailing the Hooghly River in October 2027. The 44-guest ship will operate a 10-night Hooghly River itinerary through West Bengal as part of a broader 2027-28 program that also includes land journeys in India and Sri Lanka.
Royal Caribbean's Hero of the Seas Floats Out for the First Time
This month, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship reached a major construction milestone. Hero of the Seas floated out for the first time at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. Workers filled the ship’s dry dock with more than 90 million gallons of water overnight before moving Hero of the Seas to the outfitting pier, where construction will continue over the next year.Slated to debut in August 2027, Hero of the Seas will be the latest addition to Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, with eight neighborhoods, nine pools and 28 dining venues.
Zac Brown Named Godfather of Margaritaville at Sea’s New Beachcomber
Margaritaville at Sea has named three-time Grammy Award-winner Zac Brown as the official godfather of its newest ship, Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. Brown will christen the ship in Miami on January 9, 2027, and perform for guests as part of the vessel’s inaugural celebration.
Beachcomber will launch from PortMiami in January 2027 with more than 15 new venues, alongside several of Margaritaville at Sea’s existing concepts. The ship will sail four- to eight-night cruises to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean during its inaugural season.
In October 2027, Beachcomber is scheduled to reposition to Galveston, Texas, where it will offer cruises to destinations throughout Mexico and the Western Caribbean.
MSC World Asia Completes Final Sea Trials Ahead of December Debut
MSC World Asia is one step closer to joining the MSC Cruises fleet after successfully completing final sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of France.
The trials, which took place this month, tested the ship’s engines, maneuverability, fuel efficiency, safety systems, speed and stopping distances. The results confirmed the ship’s readiness as construction moves toward completion. MSC World Asia completed her first round of sea trials in July.
Uniworld Reveals Fleet Expansion and New Itineraries for 2028
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will debut three new ships—S.S. Helen, S.S. Helen and Mekong Mystique—along with eight new itineraries and a “Mystery Journey” featuring a surprise twist in 2028.
The S.S. Helen will sail the Danube, the S.S. Clara will join the Rhine fleet and the Mekong Mystique will expand Uniworld’s presence along the Mekong. New itineraries include the 30-day “Amsterdam to the Black Sea” sailing, the 25-day “Eastern Europe Exploration” itinerary, the 18-day “Danube East & West” voyage, the 15-day “Grand France Holiday,” the nine-day “Empires of the Lower Danube” journey, the eight-day “Dutch & Flemish Treasures” sailing, the eight-day “Rhone Winter Holiday” cruise and the eight-day “Moselle Holiday Markets” itinerary.
Viking Floats Out Second Hydrogen-Powered Ship
Marking a key milestone toward zero-emission cruising, Viking floated out its second hydrogen-powered ship—the 54,000-ton Viking Astrea—at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard in Italy this month. Scheduled for delivery to Viking in May 2027, the ship will sail the Mediterranean and Northern Europe during its inaugural season.
Viking Astrea (Photo Credit: Viking)
Royal Caribbean Celebrates Keel-Laying of Fifth Icon Class Ship
Royal Caribbean celebrated a major milestone in the construction of its fifth Icon Class ship with a keel-laying ceremony at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The ship is scheduled to debut in 2028 and will be the fifth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class. The cruise line has not yet revealed the ship’s name or details about its features, saying more information will be announced in the coming months.
Norwegian Cruise Line to Bring Whitney Houston Music to Norwegian Aura
Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled the entertainment lineup for its newest ship, Norwegian Aura, including a new production spotlighting the music of Whitney Houston.
“Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston” was developed in partnership with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music. The 45-minute show will feature live vocals, a live band, visual effects and performances that extend beyond the main stage of the ship’s three-story Aura Theatre & Club.
The production will feature Houston hits like “It’s Not Right, But It’s OK,” “I Will Always Love You” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).” Houston sold more than 220 million records worldwide and earned six Grammy Awards during her career.
The show is part of a broader entertainment lineup created for Norwegian Aura, which will debut in May 2027.
Victory Cruise Lines Expands Beyond Great Lakes With New Southeast Voyages
Victory Cruise Lines will expand into the Southeast in 2027, with three new roundtrip cruises from Jacksonville, Florida, aboard its 190-passenger ships. The 11-day voyages will sail in March, October and November aboard Victory I and Victory II, marking the cruise line’s first sailings in the region. The itineraries will visit destinations in coastal Georgia and South Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas.
The first sailing will depart March 31 aboard Victory I and run through April 10. Victory II will operate a second itinerary from October 28 to November 7, followed by a third sailing aboard Victory I from November 7 to 17.
Holland America Line Debuts New Enhancements at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Holland America Line has completed a series of upgrades at its private Bahamian destination, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, ahead of the island’s 30th anniversary in 2027.
The latest additions include a new food pavilion serving an island-inspired barbecue menu and a new Beach Club experience, which will give guests another option for dining and relaxing during their time ashore. Other improvements include upgraded cabanas, refreshed clamshells and daybeds, renovated bars and eateries, and four pickleball courts that were introduced last season.
The new Beach Club is set to welcome its first guests in October. Day passes will be available to book beginning in early October and will include priority tendering between the ship and the island, dedicated waiter service, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, beach accessories and specialty food and beverage offerings.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay has new pickleball courts (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)
Celebrity Cruises' First River Ship Touches Water for the First Time During Float Out
Celebrity Cruises’ first river cruise ship has completed its float out, marking a major construction milestone ahead of the launch of the line’s new river cruise operation in August 2027.
Celebrity Compass began the multi-day float out process at the Zwijnenburg shipyard in Rotterdam on September 9. After entering the water, the ship traveled approximately 50 miles along the river before arriving on September 12 at the TeamCo Shipyard in Heusden, where construction will continue.
The float-out marks the completion of the ship’s exterior construction and the first time Celebrity Compass has touched water. The ship will be the first vessel in Celebrity River Cruises, which will offer itineraries on some of Europe’s major rivers starting next year.
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