As Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas sailed near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas on Thursday, a 28-year-old female crew member was stabbed multiple times by a male crew member who fled and jumped overboard. After being pulled from the water into RCI's small rescue boat, the man was unresponsive. He was subsequently pronounced dead by the ship's medical team. The woman received medical treatment on board and is in stable condition. No passengers were involved. On Friday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) issued this press statement as the investigation continues.
Celebrity Beyond's July 20, 2025, voyage was canceled due to a propulsion issue, but repairs have been completed in a Bahamian shipyard. After returning to PortMiami, the ship sailed Sunday on a seven-night western Caribbean voyage. That said, Celebrity Cruises made a few itinerary adjustments, so the ship is sailing a bit slower than normal on this first post-repair voyage, likely a precaution, according to Cruise Hive.
Itinerary Action
On the itinerary front, Norwegian Cruise Lines unveiled more than 500 voyages for spring and summer 2027, while Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Panorama will offer new Mexican Riviera sailings in 2027. SeaDream Yacht Club has announced 2028 Caribbean voyages. Among the highlights are more roundtrips from Palm Beach, FL, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2028, SeaDream will also call for the first time at Port St. Charles, Barbados, and Saint-Pierre, Martinique.
Citing fluid regional conditions, Costa Cruises canceled its 2025-26 winter season in the Middle East. According to Cruise Industry News, Costa Toscana will instead stay in the Mediterranean, sailing week-long and longer sailings to southern Europe and northern Africa. Itineraries are expected soon.
More Cruise News
Starting in 2027, Forbes Travel Guide, an independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, ocean cruises and ocean cruise restaurants, will begin rating river cruises, a cruise industry first. Separately, Ensemble has welcomed Riverside Luxury Cruises, a European river line, as a preferred partner.
Oceania Cruises has introduced a new Gerard Bertrand food-and-wine-pairing lunch on its recently launched Oceania Allura. The exclusive signature experience will also debut on Oceania Vista in September 2025 and on Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera by 2026.
MSC Cruises unveiled new entertainment venues planned for the new MSC World Asia, which launches in late 2026. Cunard will introduce new shore experiences for Queen Elizabeth’s maiden season from Miami, starting October 16, 2025. Thirty-two excursions will unfold within 12 destinations including Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Explora Journeys will return to Monaco for the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco in 2026.
Slowcations Trend
This month, Azamara announced that "slowcations" are trending strongly. But that doesn't mean simply relaxing and doing little else on a cruise. Instead, it's the opposite. Consumers desire to head out for more than a week — often nine to 17 days or so. They wish more time to explore ashore in a deeper way as well. So, Azamara has created many itineraries that offer extended port days and overnight stays.
Plus, the line continues to see strong demand for its Country Intensive journeys. For example, one 11-night "Italy Intensive: Bologna, Sicily and Amalfi" itinerary departs Venice, Italy on May 16, 2027. Azamara Onward will call at the Italian ports of Bologna (Ravenna), Ancona, Taranto, Crotone, Syracuse, Trapani, Amalfi and Sorrento before the journey ends in Civitavecchia (Rome). In addition, the ship will call at Kotor, Montenegro.
Executive Appointments
Crescent Seas new concept offering private, ultra-luxury residences at sea, has appointed Thatcher Brown as CEO, effective August 1, while Atlas Ocean Voyages has announced a series of strategic new appointments to its sales and guest services team. Kristian Anderson, Atlas' executive vice president of global sales, has welcomed Kelly Popovski, Richard Whitaker, Logan Steele, Juan Lopez and Pedro Jaimot.
Carnival Corporation announced that Vicky Rey, vice president of government affairs for Latin America, has been appointed to the Champions 12.3 coalition. That’s a global group of leaders dedicated to advancing Target 12.3 of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce food waste and cut food loss in half by 2030.
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