If you have been waiting for the right time to book a cruise, this week brings a few dates worth circling.
Princess Cruises has a package price increase coming. Holland America has a strong $99 deposit opportunity for select 2027 sailings. Weather has shifted several Mexican Riviera itineraries. Disney is preparing a major ship reveal. And Norwegian continues to refine its value-packed Free at Sea options.
Here’s the thing: cruise news is not just fun to read. The right update can help you save money, choose a better cabin, or avoid a stressful surprise later.
Let’s break down what matters most as of Friday, October 2, 2026.
The biggest booking opportunity: Holland America’s $99 deposit
Select 2027 Alaska and Europe cruises are the ones to watch
If you are dreaming about an Alaska cruise or a European sailing next year, Holland America’s current offer deserves your attention.
From October 1 through November 2, 2026, Holland America is offering $99 per-person deposits on select 2027 Alaska and Europe cruises and cruisetours.
That offer is paired with the Have It All Early Booking Bonus, which includes benefits such as:
- Shore excursion credit
- Specialty dining
- Prepaid crew appreciation
- Elite beverage package upgrade
- Premium Wi-Fi
In plain English, this is a chance to start a 2027 trip with less money due upfront while also receiving several popular cruise inclusions.
You can review Holland America’s Europe cruise options and eligible offer details, but availability and terms can vary by sailing, cabin category, and itinerary.
Why I would not wait too long
The deadline is November 2, but the better cabins may be gone well before then.
This is especially true for popular Alaska itineraries, cruisetours that combine rail or land travel with the cruise, and European sailings with convenient departure dates.
Pro Tip: A low deposit does not automatically mean every part of the vacation is inexpensive. We always compare the cruise fare, flights, pre-cruise hotel, transfers, insurance, and included benefits together. That is how you find the real value, not just the lowest number on the first screen.
Princess package prices rise on October 13-but sailing date is the key
The deadline is not your booking date
Princess Cruises is increasing the daily price of its Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages by $5 per person, per day for sailings departing on or after October 13, 2026.
The new pre-cruise rates are:
- Princess Plus: $70 per person, per day
- Princess Premier: $105 per person, per day
If purchased onboard, the rates are:
- Princess Plus: $75 per person, per day
- Princess Premier: $110 per person, per day
Sun Princess and Star Princess carry an additional $5 per person, per day premium on top of those rates.
And this is the part many travelers miss: the increase applies according to the sailing date, not the date you make the booking.
So, if you book today but your cruise departs in 2027, the new package pricing applies. If you are sailing before October 13, the earlier pricing rules may apply.
That makes this a useful detail for anyone comparing late-2026 sailings with 2027 departures. You can browse Princess cruise options here, but I recommend checking the package price attached to your exact reservation before assuming the advertised fare includes everything you want.
Princess also adds an AI planning tool
Princess launched an AI cruise-planning app integrated with ChatGPT on September 28, 2026.
That can be a handy way to explore destinations, compare ideas, and get inspired. I like technology when it helps you narrow down the possibilities.
But let me be straight with you: an AI tool does not replace the booking legwork.
A real agent still helps verify cabin availability, package terms, deposits, flights, transfers, insurance, and what happens if the itinerary changes. Those details are where a trip can either feel smooth or turn into a headache.
Hurricane Rachel is reshaping Mexican Riviera itineraries
Calm reminder: rerouting is what cruise lines are supposed to do
Back-to-back Pacific hurricanes, Polo followed by Rachel, have led cruise lines to adjust Mexican Riviera and Baja routes.
Reported changes include:
- Carnival Panorama: Dropped La Paz and Cabo San Lucas and added a second Ensenada call before returning to Long Beach.
- Carnival Miracle: Canceled its October 1 Cabo San Lucas call.
- Grand Princess: Canceled its October 2 Cabo San Lucas call.
- Queen Elizabeth: Canceled an October 1 Cabo San Lucas call.
- Coral Princess: Canceled its Puerto Vallarta stop.
- Virgin Voyages: Prepared an alternative itinerary for Brilliant Lady’s October 3 sailing.
I know this can be disappointing. If Cabo or Puerto Vallarta was the port you were most excited about, a schedule change can feel like a real letdown.
But itinerary changes are normal during storm activity. Cruise lines monitor wind, waves, port conditions, and the ship’s safest route. They may replace a port with another call, add a sea day, or adjust the order of stops. Guests are kept informed, and compensation or onboard adjustments may apply depending on the circumstances and the cruise line’s policy.
This is also exactly the kind of cruise news a travel agent tracks for you.
If something changes while you are preparing to travel, we can help you understand the update instead of leaving you to sort through a dozen confusing posts online.
My own first cruise experience taught me this lesson. During a Carnival sailing, weather closed one of our planned ports. The ship adjusted the itinerary, added another destination, and the crew kept everyone entertained. It was not the day we expected, but it was still a good vacation.
Disney Believe reveal is coming October 7
Families planning Disney vacation packages should mark the calendar
Disney Cruise Line is hosting a livestream on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The event is expected to reveal details about the upcoming Disney Believe, including:
- Homeport
- Itineraries
- New venues
- Onboard entertainment
Disney says the livestream will be available through Disney Parks social channels, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. You can also read Disney’s official Disney Believe announcement.
This is a great date for families who are considering Disney vacation packages or hoping to combine a Disney cruise with theme park time.
Here’s my advice: watch the reveal for inspiration, but do not feel pressured to book before you know the complete pricing and sailing details. Once the itineraries are public, we can compare the ship, cabin types, flights, hotels, and park additions together.
Norwegian Free at Sea: is the Plus upgrade worth it?
Norwegian Cruise Line’s current Free at Sea package includes several popular benefits, including:
- 150 minutes of Wi-Fi per guest, regardless of sailing length
- Specialty dining benefits
- Beverage benefits
- Shore excursion benefits
Norwegian also offers the optional Free at Sea Plus upgrade for $49.99 per person, per day.
The upgrade includes:
- Unlimited streaming Wi-Fi
- Premium beverages
- Extra specialty dining benefits
Whether it is worth it depends on how you vacation. If you mainly use your phone for occasional messages, the standard package may be enough. If you plan to stream, work remotely, upload videos, or enjoy premium drinks and additional specialty meals, Plus may make more sense.
Norwegian Luna, which entered service in March 2026, is sailing in the Caribbean. The ship shifts from Eastern Caribbean routes to Western Caribbean routes in November 2026, which gives travelers another option when comparing current Caribbean vacation deals.
You can review the current Norwegian Free at Sea details, but always check the terms attached to your specific sailing.
Two new ships to keep on your radar
The new-ship pipeline is still busy.
- MSC World Atlantic has floated out in France and is scheduled for Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral beginning in November 2027.
- Carnival Festivale is being outfitted in Germany ahead of its planned May 2027 debut from Port Canaveral.
If you prefer newer ships, these are worth adding to your future vacation list. New vessels often bring updated cabins, fresh entertainment concepts, and new dining choices.
What I’d do with this news this week
Here is my practical checklist:
- If you want Princess Plus or Princess Premier, review your exact sailing and package pricing before the October 13 change takes effect.
- If you are considering a 2027 Alaska cruise or Europe cruisetour, investigate Holland America’s $99 deposit offer before November 2.
- If Disney is your family’s jam, watch the Disney Believe reveal on October 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- If you are booked in the Mexican Riviera, monitor your cruise line’s app, email, and official itinerary updates. Rerouting is a safety decision, not a sign that your vacation is falling apart.
- Compare the entire trip, including flights, hotels, transfers, insurance, and excursions, not just the cruise fare.
And honestly? This is where working with a local travel agency for cruises can save you time and stress. At ITS Travel Services, we are based in Flushing, Michigan, and we help travelers sort through cruise fares, vacation packages, cabin choices, flights, hotels, and changing cruise-line promotions.
We are not a faceless booking page. You can learn more about our story or contact ITS Travel Services when you are ready.
Whether you are comparing the best cruise deals 2026 has to offer, looking at luxury Mediterranean cruises, or simply testing the waters with a short Caribbean sailing, you do not have to have every detail figured out today.
Send us a message, call 810-247-6455, or email Travel@ITSTravelServices.com. No pressure, just start a conversation, and we’ll help you see what fits.