Cruise News Roundup - June 4, 2026
Ahoy, cruisers! Welcome back to The Cruise Boys® blog, your go-to source for everything happening on the high seas.
The cruise industry never sleeps, and the last few weeks have been packed with massive itinerary shake-ups, unprecedented port protests, and some surprising policy changes from our favorite lines. Whether you're booked for this summer or planning your 2027 escape, here is the latest cruise news you need to know.
🇬🇷 Santorini's Sudden Port Pivot
If you are sailing the Mediterranean this summer, brace for some logistical changes. Santorini officially approved a new rule funneling up to 70% of cruise passengers through Fira Bay instead of the main Athinios Port.
The goal is to manage the intense summer crowds, but it’s already ruffling feathers. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) CEO Bud Darr slammed the sudden operational shift as "unacceptable," warning that concentrating visitors in already-crowded areas could lead to dangerously long waits for the famous cable cars. If Santorini is on your itinerary, plan your excursions early and expect delays getting ashore.
🛑 Protests Disrupt Costa Maya Excursions
Over in Mexico, passengers docking at Costa Maya recently found themselves stranded onboard or stuck at the port terminal. Workers in Mahahual blocked the main access road to the cruise port to protest for profit-sharing payments.
Ships like Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas were caught in the crossfire, with widespread excursion cancellations. While protests are usually resolved quickly, it’s a good reminder from The Cruise Boys: always have a backup plan (or just enjoy a quiet pool deck) when port plans go sideways.
☀️ Princess Drops Summer Caribbean for 2027
Looking ahead, Princess Cruises is making a major deployment shift. The line just published its 2027 itineraries, revealing that they will completely pull out of the Caribbean for the summer of 2027.
Between April and October 2027, Princess will move all of its ships to other regions (likely doubling down on Alaska and Europe). If you were hoping to sail the Caribbean on a Medallion-class ship next summer, you'll need to look at winter/spring dates or check out other lines.
🚢 Queen Mary 2 is Getting Bigger (Sort Of)
Cunard’s iconic Queen Mary 2 is heading for a major drydock in late March 2027, and deck plans reveal she’ll be adding 30 new staterooms.
The refurb will add 18 new Princess Grill Suites and several inside cabins, squeezing them into areas currently occupied by a sun deck, a bookstore, and the Concierge Lounge. Adding cabins to older ships is a major trend right now as lines look to maximize revenue, but it does mean slightly less public space.
What do you think of these updates? Are you worried about the crowds in Santorini, or bummed about Princess leaving the Caribbean for the summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and as always, keep your bow pointed toward the horizon!
— The Cruise Boys®