If you love cruising, today’s news has a little bit of everything: an important hurricane-related itinerary change, a convenient new home port for fall travelers, exciting 2027 ship news, and several cruise deals worth checking before they disappear.
Here’s the thing: cruise promotions can change quickly. A fare you see today may be gone tomorrow, and the “best” deal is not always the lowest price on the screen.
That’s where smart vacation planning, and a little help from a travel agency for cruises, can make a real difference.
Cruise Deals at a Glance: September 21, 2026
Here are the quick takeaways:
- Princess Cruises: Ruby Princess adjusted its Hawaii itinerary because of Hurricane Lowell.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Jewel is sailing new fall Canada & New England itineraries from Philadelphia.
- Norwegian Aura: The new ship will debut in May 2027 with “Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston.”
- Princess Cruises 2027: The line announced six major operational changes and expanded itineraries.
- Alaska 2027: Star Princess is expected to become the largest ship ever to operate in Alaska.
- Celebrity Cruises: Up to 75% off the second guest plus instant savings on select sailings.
- Regent Seven Seas: Up to 45% off select 2026 and 2027 sailings.
- MSC Cruises: Select bookings made through September 30 may include drinks, Wi-Fi, and up to $500 in onboard credit.
- Disney Cruise Line: Special offers are available on select sailings through May 2027, including resident and military discounts.
Now let’s break it down.
Princess Cruises Adjusts Hawaii Sailing Because of Hurricane Lowell
Safety comes first. That’s the big message from Princess Cruises after Hurricane Lowell affected the Ruby Princess itinerary.
The 16-night roundtrip sailing from San Francisco was scheduled to visit Kauaʻi on September 22, 2026. Because of the storm’s impact, the Kauaʻi call was cancelled and replaced with an earlier arrival and overnight stay in Honolulu.
The rest of the itinerary is still expected to include:
- Kailua Kona
- Kahului
- Ensenada
This is frustrating if Kauaʻi was the port you were most excited about. I understand that feeling. You spend months imagining a particular beach, scenic drive, or shore excursion, and then the itinerary changes.
But cruise lines make these decisions to protect guests, crew members, and local communities. Ports are not fixed appointments carved in stone. Weather, harbor conditions, local infrastructure, and safety concerns can all affect a sailing.
As Cruise Industry News reported, Princess adjusted the Ruby Princess route to provide guests with additional time in Honolulu while keeping other scheduled ports in place.
Pro Tip: If your cruise itinerary changes, contact your travel advisor before booking replacement tours on your own. Your advisor can help you understand refunds, new port options, and whether an excursion still fits the revised schedule.
Norwegian Jewel Brings Fall Foliage Cruising to Philadelphia
Here’s one of the most exciting pieces of cruise news for travelers in the Mid-Atlantic: Norwegian Jewel is offering new fall sailings from Philadelphia.
From September 5 through October 7, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering 10- and 11-night Canada & New England itineraries between Philadelphia and Québec City.
That means you can enjoy fall scenery without first flying to a major cruise hub in Florida or New York.
Depending on the sailing, guests may visit destinations such as:
- Charlottetown
- Halifax
- Bar Harbor
- Boston
- Québec City
- Saguenay
- Portland
- Saint John
- Sydney
The itinerary is especially appealing for travelers who want colorful foliage, historic towns, seafood, maritime culture, and walkable ports.
And honestly? Leaving from Philadelphia can make the trip feel much easier. Instead of adding a flight, airport hotel, checked baggage, and possible weather delays, you may be able to drive to the port, spend a little time in Philadelphia, and board the ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line says the new Philadelphia program gives Mid-Atlantic travelers the opportunity to sail from closer to home. You can read the official Norwegian Jewel Philadelphia announcement.
For travelers from Flushing, Fenton, Grand Blanc, and throughout mid-Michigan, this may still be a longer drive than Detroit-area airports, but it can be worth comparing the total cost of driving versus flying to Florida.
My advice: If you’re testing the waters with Canada & New England cruising, compare the full vacation cost, not just the cruise fare. Include flights, hotels, parking, transportation, and meals before embarkation.
Norwegian Aura Will Bring Whitney Houston’s Music to Sea
Norwegian Cruise Line also announced the entertainment lineup for Norwegian Aura, debuting in May 2027.
The headlining production is “Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston.”
The show was developed with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music. It will feature live vocals, a live band, immersive staging, and beloved songs including:
- “I Will Always Love You”
- “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”
- “It’s Not Right, But It’s OK”
Norwegian Aura will also feature:
- ILLUMINOX: Infinite Wonder Unboxed, an illusion and acrobatics spectacular
- The Vinyl Republic, a live music collective performing throughout the ship
- LunaTique: Pop Circus, an adults-only late-night experience
The ship will debut with a Mediterranean sailing from Trieste to Barcelona, followed by a transatlantic crossing to Miami. From June through October 2027, Norwegian Aura is scheduled to sail seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, visiting destinations such as Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup Cay.
You can read the official Norwegian Aura entertainment announcement.
If you enjoy live music, new ships, and Caribbean vacation deals, Norwegian Aura could be a strong option to watch.
Princess Cruises Makes Big Changes for 2027
Princess Cruises has unveiled six notable operational and itinerary changes for the 2027 season.
The changes include:
- A record-setting Alaska deployment
- Expanded Japan itineraries
- More Europe and Northern Europe sailings
- Expanded Canada & New England options
- Changes to summer Caribbean deployment
- Updated booking, payment, and guest-operations procedures
One of the biggest changes is Princess’s increased focus on Alaska. Eight ships are expected to operate across numerous Alaska itineraries in 2027.
The headline ship is Star Princess, which is expected to become the largest cruise ship ever to operate in Alaska. That makes Alaska 2027 and 2028 planning especially interesting for travelers who want the scenery of the Inside Passage with a larger ship experience.
At the same time, Princess is shifting more summer capacity toward Europe, Northern Europe, Alaska, and Japan. Some travelers who normally look for Caribbean sailings may want to compare alternatives such as:
- Alaska cruises
- Luxury Mediterranean cruises
- Canada & New England itineraries
- Holland America sailings
- Longer Europe voyages
The Princess Cruises 2027 changes are a good reminder that early planning matters. Popular cabins, especially balconies and suites, can disappear long before the sailing date.
September Cruise Deals Worth Checking Now
September is often one of the best months to look for cruise deals. The summer family season is winding down, and cruise lines are working to fill ships for fall, winter, and 2027 departures.
Here are several current offers to discuss with your travel advisor.
Celebrity Cruises: Up to 75% Off the Second Guest
Celebrity Cruises is promoting up to 75% off the second guest’s fare, along with instant savings on select sailings.
Depending on the sailing and fare type, additional promotions may include:
- Savings for third and fourth guests
- Resident rates
- Senior rates
- Military savings
- Select onboard credit or bonus savings
You can review current offers on the Celebrity Cruises deals page.
The important detail? Promotions can have restrictions involving travel dates, cabin categories, fare types, and booking windows. A travel advisor can help you compare the actual value instead of chasing a large percentage.
Regent Seven Seas: Up to 45% Off Select Sailings
Regent Seven Seas is offering up to 45% off select 2026 and 2027 sailings.
This is worth a look if you are considering an all-inclusive luxury experience. Regent may appeal to travelers who want included dining, drinks, excursions, and a quieter onboard atmosphere.
Luxury fares can look higher at first glance, but the included items may change the overall value. That’s travel-agent-speak for: compare what you will actually pay after adding the extras.
MSC Cruises: Drinks, Wi-Fi, and Up to $500 Onboard Credit
MSC Cruises is offering a package on eligible bookings made through September 30, 2026, that may include:
- Drinks
- Wi-Fi
- Up to $500 in onboard credit
This can be a strong offer for travelers who know they will use those benefits. But always confirm exactly what the drink package includes, whether Wi-Fi applies to each guest, and whether the onboard credit has restrictions.
Disney Cruise Line: Offers Through May 2027
Disney Cruise Line has special offers on select sailings through May 2027.
Available discounts may include:
- Resident-specific rates
- Military discounts
- Select seasonal promotions
Disney cruises tend to attract families quickly, so waiting for the absolute lowest fare can sometimes mean losing your preferred cabin or sailing date.
Myth-Busting: Is Booking Through an Agency More Expensive?
Not necessarily.
Many travelers assume booking directly online is automatically cheaper. But cruise pricing is often controlled by the cruise line, while travel agencies may offer additional guidance, promotions, onboard credit, or booking support.
The myth: You must pay more for a travel advisor.
The reality: In many cases, the cruise line pays the agency commission. You can receive the cruise line’s promotion while also getting help with cabin selection, payments, travel insurance, flights, hotels, and changes.
At ITS Travel Services, we help travelers compare cruise fares and complete vacation packages. We can also help you coordinate flights, hotels, rental cars, shore excursions, and pre- or post-cruise stays.
I’ve seen how quickly a simple online booking can become stressful when a flight changes, a port is skipped, or a cabin turns out to be under a noisy public area. Having a real person to call can save time and frustration.
Plan Your Next Cruise with ITS Travel Services
Whether you are looking for the best cruise deals 2026, a fall foliage sailing from Philadelphia, a Caribbean escape, an Alaska 2027 adventure, or luxury Mediterranean cruises, now is a good time to start comparing options.
We are a local travel agency in Flushing, Michigan, serving travelers in Fenton, Grand Blanc, Genesee County, and throughout mid-Michigan.
You can contact ITS Travel Services to discuss your dates, budget, favorite cruise lines, and must-have experiences.
No pressure. No confusing sales pitch. Just a conversation about what kind of vacation sounds like your jam, and which cruise package can get you there with fewer headaches.