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🚢 This week on The Wake Report!

A lot is happening in the cruise industry, and a few stories caught my attention:

Royal Caribbean: Bookings for 2027 are strong, with travelers booking at higher rates.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Q3 earnings are up, but the company still has some financial challenges to work through.

Philadelphia: NCL is bringing cruising back to Philly, with Norwegian Pearl arriving in November.

Carnival: A new sticker on Sail & Sign cards lets everyone know you've prepaid your gratuities. I'm not sure this is a good idea. Shouldn't that be a personal decision?

Which story gets your attention? And what do you think about Carnival's new gratuity stickers?

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

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⚓ THE WAKE REPORT: 3 cruise updates to know this week!

🚦 PortMiami is changing how it manages cruise traffic. With 81 days expected to have seven to 10 ships in port during the 2026–27 season, knowing which entrance to use matters!

Terminals AA, A, B, C and D use the PortMiami Tunnel. Terminals E, F, G, J and V use the PortMiami Bridge.

I wrote more about the PortMiami traffic plan in my blog post.

👉 Read my PortMiami blog post: blog.grabyourbagstravel.com/portmiami-traffic-upda…

🌴 Princess is expanding its Sanctuary Collection to five more Royal Class ships, bringing private spaces, exclusive dining and premium amenities to more guests. Bookings begin rolling out across the fleet starting today on Royal Princess.

🏡 MSC World Atlantic has revealed its Grand Hamptons Villa. This two-story accommodation offers more than 2,475 square feet for up to eight guests, with a private cinema, kids' suite, whirlpool terrace and butler service. The ship is scheduled to debut from Port Canaveral in November 2027.

Want to see what else is coming? Watch my video about the new cruise ships arriving in 2027:

👉 https://youtu.be/EEAtEUrm31w?si=dTgwv...

💬 Question: When choosing your next cruise, what matters most to you — the destination, the ship itself, or the onboard experience?

Happy Cruising! 🚢

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

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⚓ THE WAKE REPORT: Are cruise prices changing the way you book?

This week's cruise news has one thing in common: your vacation budget.

💰 Caribbean fares are under pressure. The Financial Times reports that the average starting price for an inside cabin on a 5–7 night January Caribbean cruise fell to $748, compared with $846 a year earlier. More ships competing for passengers is helping push prices down — but not every sailing will be a deal.

🍹 Carnival adds two more adults-only SEA Cruises. The Carnival Paradise sails from Tampa on February 12, 2027, and the Carnival Horizon departs Galveston on May 13, 2027. Both are six-night Western Caribbean cruises for guests 21 and older, with a focus on casino access and adult activities. Bookings for these added sailings are open through October 16.

📶 Carnival's new FunPacks are more than just bundles. The packages combine selected extras like drinks, Wi-Fi, dining and excursions, with Carnival advertising savings of 35%–55% compared with buying the included items separately.

The bigger news? Starting December 1, Carnival will introduce dynamic pricing for drink packages and Wi-Fi plans, with prices varying by sailing length, itinerary and season.

It's another development in the growing trend toward variable pricing for cruise extras. If you're comparing cruises, remember to look beyond the cabin fare and consider the cost of the extras you actually want.

What's your biggest cruise-budget priority: the lowest fare, drinks, or Wi-Fi? Tell me in the comments!

Happy Cruising! 🚢

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

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⚓ WEEKLY CRUISE NEWS: What Cruisers Should Know

Four cruise developments caught my attention this week!

🚢 TWO ships are changing cruise brands in 2029. Cunard’s Queen Anne will join P&O Cruises after her 2028–29 World Voyage, while P&O’s Arcadia will transfer to Holland America Line. Queen Anne will be redesigned, and Holland America will grow to 12 ships.

💰 Caribbean cruise fares are softening. The Financial Times reports that the average starting price for an inside cabin on a 5–7-night January cruise is down to $748 from $846 a year ago. More capacity is contributing to the competition—but individual fares still vary considerably by ship and sailing date.

✨ Disney Treasure is testing wristbands. Guests on the October 10 sailing will trial wearable wristbands instead of the usual Key to the World cards. It’s a limited test, not a confirmed fleetwide change.

🌺 Carnival Corporation supports Hawaii hurricane recovery. Carnival Corporation and three of its cruise brands—Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises—have contributed a combined $25,000 to Direct Relief.

My takeaway: Cruise lines are constantly adjusting their fleets, technology and pricing. For cruisers, the important thing is understanding what these changes actually mean when it’s time to choose a vacation.

👇 Which story would you like to know more about? The changing cruise fares, Disney’s wristband test, or the ship transfers?

Happy Cruising! 🚢

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

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Would you pay $2,499 for an unlimited cruise membership? 🌴🚢

Margaritaville at Sea has rolled out its 2027 Annual Cruise Membership, and it's an interesting idea for frequent cruisers.

For $2,499 to start, two adults can sail repeatedly through December 2027, including up to 7-night getaways with access to Paradise, Islander and the new Beachcomber.

But there are still taxes, port fees, gratuities and other expenses plus availability restrictions and blackout dates.

So I'm wondering:

At what point does an unlimited cruise membership actually save you money?

Would you buy one?

YES / NO / SHOW ME THE MATH 👇

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

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🇯🇵 Could Japan be becoming easier to visit by cruise?

Celebrity Cruises is expanding its Japan itineraries for 2028. Celebrity Solstice will sail a full Japan season from April through October.

At the same time, construction has started on a new cruise terminal in Naha, Okinawa. Royal Caribbean Group and MSC Cruises are partnering on the project, which is expected to open in March 2028.

I can't help but wonder if these developments are part of a larger trend. More ships and better infrastructure could mean more opportunities to see Japan by cruise.

Japan is definitely on my bucket list. 🚢🇯🇵

Would you cruise Japan?

1 month ago | [YT] | 1

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What cruise itinerary would you book in a heartbeat?

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

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🚢 The Wake Report- THIS WEEK IN CRUISE NEWS

There’s quite a bit happening around the cruise industry this week, so here are the stories I think cruisers should know about:

🌴 Royal Caribbean + Sandals: Royal Caribbean Group has agreed to invest about $3 billion for a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Nothing changes for existing bookings right now, but I’ll be following this closely to see what—if anything—eventually develops between the cruise and resort sides.

🌪️ Weather is changing itineraries: Hurricane Polo has already forced changes to Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas Mexican Riviera sailing, while a powerful nor’easter in the Atlantic has caused major changes to all of the cruise itineraries in the northeast.

🍹 Azamara Experience More: Three new package levels—$59, $79 and $99 per person, per day—bundle different combinations of Wi-Fi, beverages, dining, shore-excursion credits and other extras. And remember: guests sharing a stateroom must purchase the same tier.

🏝️ Holland America: RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is getting a new Beach Club, food pavilion, upgraded cabanas, refreshed bars and more. The Beach Club will be an additional-cost option, while the new food pavilion will be complimentary.

🏗️ MSC + Meyer Werft: Reports say MSC is in talks to acquire the German government's controlling stake in Meyer Werft. Important: this is still a reported negotiation, not a completed acquisition.

🚢 Explora goes to the rivers: Explora Journeys has signed a letter of intent to build its first luxury river ships, with sales expected to begin in 2027.

Of all of these, the Royal Caribbean/Sandals deal is the one I’ll be watching most closely. The announcement is big—but the more interesting question is what this could eventually mean for cruisers.

What story are YOU watching? 👇

Happy Cruising!

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

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🚨BREAKING NEWS
Royal Caribbean Group just announced a $3billion partnership with Sandals Resorts. Here's what we know - and, perhaps more importantly, what we don't know yet.

Tell us your thoughts!
I will make a Wake Report video when I can digest this and see how it truly affects cruisers.
blog.grabyourbagstravel.com/royal-caribbean-buys-5…

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

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What's one cruise expense you think is absolutely worth paying for?

1 month ago | [YT] | 0