If a cruise has been on your mind, today is a good day to look.

Royal Caribbean has a major promotion ending tomorrow, October 5, 2026. Holland America Line just opened bookings for a promising 2028 Canada & New England season. Norwegian Cruise Line updated an upcoming West Coast itinerary, Princess is offering family savings for 2027 planning, and several new ships are now afloat.

And honestly? Cruise deals can move quickly. Fares change daily, popular cabins disappear, and the “best” offer depends on your dates, cabin, number of travelers, and what you want included.

Here’s the latest cruise news and the deals worth watching today.

Royal Caribbean’s Biggest Deadline: 60% Off the Second Guest + Kids Sail Free

This is the most time-sensitive offer in today’s roundup.

Royal Caribbean’s current promotion offers 60% off the second guest’s cruise fare when two guests share the same stateroom. The promotion also includes Kids Sail Free on select sailings for eligible children age 12 and younger.

The booking deadline is October 5, 2026. Tomorrow.

The promotion applies to qualifying new bookings at prevailing rates. As always, select sailings, blackout dates, cabin categories, and availability restrictions apply.

What the Royal Caribbean promotion may include

• 60% off the second guest’s cruise fare
• Kids Sail Free on qualifying sailings of three nights or longer
• Additional instant savings on qualifying Caribbean and West Coast cruises
• The Caribbean and West Coast instant-savings offer runs through October 12, 2026
• Taxes, fees, port expenses, and other charges still apply
• Prices and offers can change without notice

Royal Caribbean’s official promotion terms explain that the second guest must be in the same stateroom as the first full-fare guest. Children sailing free still pay applicable taxes, fees, and port expenses.

My advice? If you are even considering a Royal Caribbean family cruise, do not wait until tomorrow night. Let us check the sailing, cabin category, and actual total before the promotion closes.

Holland America Opens 2028 Canada & New England Bookings (Fall Foliage Without a Long-Haul Flight)

Holland America Line opened bookings on October 1 for its 2028 Canada & New England season, and this is a great option for travelers who want beautiful scenery, historic ports, and a more relaxed cruise experience.

The season runs from May through October 2028 aboard Volendam and Zuiderdam.

There are 27 sailings ranging from seven to 14 days, along with longer Collectors’ Voyages for travelers who want to combine itineraries.

Departure ports include

• Montréal
• Québec City
• Boston
• New York
• Fort Lauderdale

Holland America is leaning heavily into Montréal, offering more Montréal departures than any other cruise line. That is big news for anyone who wants to experience the French influence of Montréal and Québec City, Atlantic Canada’s coastal towns, and the fall colors of New England without flying across the ocean.

The season includes itineraries featuring Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island, Saint John, Portland, Québec City, Saguenay, and Newfoundland.

There are also longer calls in places such as Québec City, Charlottetown, and Saint John, giving you more time ashore instead of rushing back to the ship.

Why this could be a great fit

• Fall foliage cruises in September and October
• Scenic Canadian coastlines and New England harbors
• Departures from Montréal or Québec City
• No long-haul flight required for many North American travelers
• Smaller, destination-focused ships
• Longer Collectors’ Voyages for serious explorers

Holland America’s official 2028 Canada & New England announcement includes specific examples, including a September 30, 2028 Montréal-to-New York sailing and a May 27 Montréal roundtrip.

If you are thinking about 2028 travel, this is the sort of inventory worth looking at early. The best cabin locations and most convenient dates do not always wait for a last-minute travel deals shopper.

Zaandam’s South Pacific Change Is a Reminder About Real-World Itineraries

Holland America’s Zaandam is scheduled for a 35-day South Pacific voyage departing October 15, 2026. The sailing will no longer call at Tabuaeran, also known as Fanning Island, because the ship needs operating-speed adjustments.

The itinerary will also reorder the Raiatea and Bora Bora visits to November 3 and 4.

Guests on that sailing are receiving a $100 non-refundable shipboard credit.

It is disappointing when a favorite port changes, especially on a long voyage. I understand that completely. But it is also a good reminder that cruise itineraries are plans, not guarantees. Weather, port availability, operating requirements, and local conditions can all create changes.

Pro Tip: Book with a travel agency when the itinerary matters. A travel advisor can help you understand what changed, check any available compensation, review travel insurance, and explain your options. You do not have to sort through cruise-line emails alone.

Norwegian Encore Trades Astoria for an Overnight in San Francisco

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore repositioning cruise departing October 12, 2026, will no longer visit Astoria, Oregon.

Instead, the ship will have an extended overnight stay in San Francisco.

The updated sailing is expected to include:

• Vancouver departure
• Victoria, British Columbia
• An overnight in San Francisco
• Los Angeles arrival

The ship is expected to arrive in San Francisco on October 15 and remain until October 16. That gives travelers more time to enjoy dinner, evening views, and a full morning in the city.

NCL is also advertising 50% off cruise fares on select sailings, with terms and restrictions applying. A separate free-second-guest and up-to-$750-off stateroom promotion is scheduled to end October 5, so today is the time to verify eligibility.

You can read the itinerary-change reporting from Cruise Hive, but always confirm the final itinerary directly on your booking.

One more bit of NCL news: Norwegian Escape is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral in mid-November 2026 after drydock. That should help bring more fall Caribbean inventory back into the market.

Three New Ships Are Now Afloat

New cruise ships are moving from construction halls into the water, and future travelers have plenty to look forward to.

Carnival Festivale

Carnival Festivale, an Excel-class ship, has floated out at Meyer Werft. The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2027 and is expected to debut from Port Canaveral.

This will be a big family-focused addition, with Carnival’s signature entertainment, water attractions, dining, and resort-style spaces.

MSC World Atlantic

MSC World Atlantic has also floated out at Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The LNG-fuelled ship is planned as MSC Cruises’ next U.S. flagship, with a 2027 Caribbean debut.

LNG is travel-agent-speak for a cleaner fuel system that can help reduce certain emissions compared with traditional marine fuels. It does not make a ship impact-free, but it is part of the industry’s push toward newer propulsion technology.

Celebrity Compass

Celebrity Cruises’ first river ship, Celebrity Compass, is now afloat ahead of its planned August 2027 debut.

Celebrity’s move into river cruising gives travelers another way to enjoy Europe’s rivers with a more polished, destination-focused style. If luxury Mediterranean cruises are your jam, river cruising may be worth testing as a different kind of European vacation.

Princess Cruises Offers Savings for 2027 Europe Planning

Princess Cruises currently has a promotion offering up to $600 in instant savings for the first two guests, plus free fares for third and fourth guests on select voyages.

The booking window runs through November 5, 2026, using promo code 2GH.

Princess is also promoting a limited-time up-to-40%-off offer on select sailings. Fares are showing from different amounts depending on the ship, itinerary, cabin type, and travel dates, so compare the complete trip rather than just the headline discount.

Princess deal details to know

• Up to $600 in instant savings for guests one and two
• Free fares for guests three and four on eligible sailings
• Promo code 2GH
• Booking deadline: November 5, 2026
• Separate select-sailing offers of up to 40% off
• Taxes, fees, and port expenses may still apply to additional guests

Princess Plus and Princess Premier bundles can also add value by combining items such as drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and other onboard benefits. Sometimes the package is a better value than purchasing everything separately. Sometimes it is not.

That is where a comparison matters.

Princess is already encouraging guests to plan ahead for 2027 Europe and Mediterranean-style sailings, and I agree. If you have your heart set on a certain month, port, or balcony cabin, waiting for a last-second bargain may not work in your favor.

Myth-Busting: “60% Off” Does Not Mean 60% Off Your Whole Vacation

Let me be straight with you: percentage discounts are useful, but they are not the entire price.

A promotion may apply only to the cruise fare for one guest. You may still pay taxes, port expenses, gratuities, airfare, hotel stays, transfers, travel insurance, specialty dining, drink packages, and shore excursions.

Look at the real value

• Is the discount applied to the cabin you actually want?
• Are taxes and fees included in the displayed fare?
• Do children still pay taxes and port expenses?
• Is Wi-Fi included?
• Are drinks and gratuities included?
• Does the fare have cancellation restrictions?
• Would a slightly higher fare include better perks?

The best cruise deals 2026 are not always the lowest number on a big travel website. The best deal is the vacation that fits your budget, comfort level, and expectations.

We can also help with hotels, flights, rental cars, custom vacation packages, Caribbean vacation deals, Disney vacation packages, and more.

Planning From Flushing, Detroit, or the Flint Area? Let’s Talk

I know how easy it is to open ten browser tabs and start comparing cruises at 11 p.m. I have been there. The problem is that big travel websites show you numbers. They do not always explain the cabin location, promotion rules, itinerary changes, or what happens when something goes sideways.

At ITS Travel Services, we help travelers from Flushing, Flint, Grand Blanc, Fenton, Detroit, and throughout mid-Michigan make sense of the options.

If you are watching Royal Caribbean’s October 5 deadline, Holland America’s 2028 Canada season, Princess’ 2027 Europe offers, or Norwegian’s fall Caribbean inventory, we are happy to check what is available today.

Call 810-247-6455, email Travel@ITSTravelServices.com, or visit our Contact Us page.

No pressure and no hard sell. Just tell us what kind of trip sounds good, and we’ll help you start sorting through the possibilities.