If Alaska, New Zealand, Europe, or a classic Caribbean getaway is on your travel wish list, this is a good week to pay attention.
Cruise lines are opening more future sailings, adding new routes, and rolling out limited-time cruise deals. And honestly? The best cabins do not wait around forever: especially when you are looking for a balcony, a specific date, or a convenient departure from a port like Seattle, San Diego, Miami, or Vancouver.
Here is today’s cruise news roundup, including what I think is worth watching before you finalize your next vacation package.
1. Holland America Opens Alaska 2028 Bookings
Holland America Line has opened its 2028 Alaska season, and there are several exciting changes for travelers who want more than a quick glance at the Inside Passage.
The big news is the reimagined Oosterdam, which will enter Alaska after becoming the first ship in Holland America’s fleet to receive its new Evolution transformation. That means upgraded spaces and a refreshed onboard experience while still keeping the relaxed, classic Holland America feel.
For Alaska fans, the itinerary news may be even more exciting.
New Nootka Sound Scenic Cruising
Holland America is adding Nootka Sound scenic cruising to select Great Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest itineraries.
Nootka Sound sits along the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island. Instead of simply sailing from one port to the next, guests can enjoy a scenic day surrounded by forested coastlines, quiet waters, and dramatic wilderness.
That is the kind of “wow moment” that makes Alaska cruises special. You do not always need to step ashore to have an unforgettable travel day.
New 11-Day San Diego to Vancouver Voyage
Holland America is also offering an 11-day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers voyage aboard Zaandam.
- Ship: Zaandam
- Departure: San Diego, California
- Arrival: Vancouver, British Columbia
- Dates: April 29–May 10, 2028
- Highlights: Klawock, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, and Inside Passage scenery
This is a great option if you like the idea of starting with sunshine in Southern California before heading north into Alaska’s glacier country.
It may also work well as part of a larger vacation package. You could add a San Diego hotel before sailing, arrange flights into California, and return home from Vancouver. That is exactly the kind of detail we help sort out at ITS Travel Services.
View the Holland America San Diego to Vancouver itinerary
2. Holland America’s Have It All Package Could Simplify Your Budget
Here is the thing about cruise pricing: the lowest advertised fare is not always the lowest total vacation cost.
Holland America’s Have It All package combines several popular extras into one package. Depending on the sailing and cruise length, it includes:
- Signature Beverage Package
- Specialty dining
- Shore excursion credit
- Surf Wi-Fi
For current package details, Holland America lists the price at $65 per person, per day, while some earlier departures may have different pricing.
The included benefits increase with longer cruises:
| Cruise length | Shore excursion credit | Specialty dining |
|---|---|---|
| 4–9 nights | Up to $100 per person | 1 night |
| 10–20 nights | Up to $200 per person | 2 nights |
| 21+ nights | Up to $300 per person | 3 nights |
The beverage package includes drinks valued at up to $12 each, with a daily limit of up to 15 beverages. It can include cocktails, wine, beer, specialty coffee, mocktails, and soda.
Pro Tip: Before adding any cruise package, estimate what you would actually use. If you enjoy a drink with dinner, want Wi-Fi, plan to take a glacier excursion, and like specialty restaurants, Have It All may make your vacation budget easier to manage. If you rarely drink or prefer free dining venues, the base fare may be a better fit.
And remember: package terms, prices, and eligible restaurants can change. We can compare the package against the exact sailing before you book.
Review Holland America’s Have It All package
3. Princess Plans to Double New Zealand Sailings for 2028/29
New Zealand is getting more attention from Princess Cruises.
Princess has announced plans to double its New Zealand itineraries beginning with the 2028/29 season. Current reporting indicates that the expansion could mean approximately 18 sailings, compared with about nine in the upcoming season.
That is good news if New Zealand is your jam but you have been frustrated by limited dates or higher pricing.
Potential ports and scenic highlights include:
- Auckland
- Tauranga
- Wellington
- Lyttelton
- Dunedin
- Picton
- Napier
- Timaru
- Scenic cruising through Fiordland National Park
More sailings usually mean more choices. You may have a better chance of finding the right departure date, cabin category, or length of trip.
The official Princess Australia and New Zealand cruise page already highlights a wide selection of 2027/28 itineraries. Details for the full 2028/29 deployment may continue to develop, so this is one destination I would not wait too long to research.
4. Princess Expands Northern Europe for 2027
If cooler weather, dramatic fjords, historic cities, and long daylight hours sound better than another hot beach vacation, Princess has expanded its 2027 Northern Europe program.
The program includes:
- 48 voyages
- 54 destinations
- 18 countries
- Options from approximately one week to an impressive 64-day European journey
Sailings may include ports such as:
- Oslo
- Reykjavik
- Copenhagen
- Stockholm
- Belfast
- Amsterdam
- Helsinki
- The Norwegian fjords
- Icelandic coastal towns
The program is designed so travelers can book a shorter cruise or combine voyages back-to-back for a longer European vacation.
This is where vacation planning becomes important. A cruise from Southampton may require flights, a hotel stay, transfers, and possibly travel protection. A sailing from Copenhagen or Reykjavik may work better for some travelers but cost more in airfare.
You can review Princess’ new cruise itineraries and its Europe cruise options, then let us help compare the full trip: not just the cruise fare.
5. Norwegian Labor Day Savings: The Important Dates
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Labor Day promotion includes two separate savings opportunities.
The Free 2nd Guest booking window ran from August 28 through August 31, 2026. Since today is September 1, that deadline has passed for new bookings. However, if you booked before the cutoff, review your reservation to make sure the promotion appears correctly.
The second offer runs through September 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern:
Up to $750 Off Per Stateroom
The offer applies to select sailings and categories from balcony staterooms and above. The discount depends on both cruise length and cabin category.
Examples listed in Norwegian’s terms include:
- Balcony cabins: up to $150 off on 10-plus-night sailings
- Club Balcony Suites: up to $200 off on 10-plus-night sailings
- Suites: up to $500 off on 10-plus-night sailings
- The Haven: up to $750 off on 10-plus-night sailings
Let me be straight with you: the “up to $750” amount is tied to the highest eligible categories. A standard balcony discount may be lower. That does not make the offer useless: it just means you should compare the actual final price for your cabin.
The offer can also be combined with Free at Sea on qualifying bookings, allowing guests to add benefits such as:
- Beverage options
- Specialty dining
- Wi-Fi
- Shore excursion credits
- Free third and fourth guests on select sailings
Check Norwegian’s official promotional terms
Myth-Busting: Are the “Best Cruise Deals 2026” Always Last-Minute?
Not necessarily.
Last minute travel deals can be useful when you are flexible about your ship, cabin, destination, and departure date. But waiting too long can backfire if you need:
- A balcony cabin
- Connecting rooms
- A holiday sailing
- A specific departure port
- A family-friendly room configuration
- Flights from Detroit Metro or another preferred airport
Early booking is often the better strategy for Alaska 2028, New Zealand, and popular Europe itineraries. You can secure the cabin you want and watch for price adjustments or added promotions when the fare rules allow it.
Pro Tip: Why Book With a Travel Agency for Cruises?
Big travel websites can show you hundreds of options, but they do not always explain the difference between a guarantee cabin, a package promotion, a refundable fare, or a ship that is a good match for your travel style.
At ITS Travel Services, we help you compare the full picture:
- Cruise fare and cabin location
- Flights and hotel stays
- Transfers and rental cars
- Shore excursions
- Beverage and dining packages
- Travel protection
- Promotion deadlines and terms
We are a local hometown cruise specialist based in Flushing, Michigan, and we work with travelers throughout the Flint area, Metro Detroit, and beyond. I remember when friends and family first started asking me, “What is the best cruise?” That is how this business grew.
You do not have to know the difference between every cruise line or ship. That is our job.
Ready to Explore Your Next Cruise?
Whether you are watching Alaska 2028, testing the waters with a short Caribbean cruise, dreaming about New Zealand, or comparing Europe sailings, now is a smart time to start.
Some deals end quickly, and popular cabins can disappear before the deadline arrives. But there is no pressure to book on the spot.
Explore our online booking tool or contact ITS Travel Services and tell us what kind of vacation sounds good to you. We will help you explore the options, compare the cruise packages, and find the trip that fits your plans.