Cruise News This Week: Carnival Elegant Night Changes, Princess Fees, Adults-Only Cruises and Alaska Cabin Tips
If you’re planning a cruise, this week’s news includes several changes that could affect what you pack, what you pay, the type of cruise you book, and even how you choose your cabin.
Carnival is changing expectations around Cruise Elegant Night on some short sailings. Princess Cruises has increased the cost of having your Medallion shipped to your home. Carnival is experimenting with select adults-only cruises. Holland America is investing more than $500 million in ship upgrades, and Margaritaville at Sea is preparing to expand to Galveston.
Plus, this week’s Grab Your Bags Travel cruise tip tackles a question many Alaska cruisers ask: Should you book the port or starboard side of the ship?
🎥 Watch this week’s episode of The Wake Report below for my full commentary and take on these stories. Then keep reading for the details, cruise planning tips and what these changes could mean for your next vacation.
5 Cruise Changes This Week That Could Affect Your Wallet & Your Plans
Carnival Is Changing Elegant Night on Some Short Cruises
If you’re taking a short Carnival cruise, you may want to check your itinerary before deciding what goes into your suitcase.
Carnival is no longer guaranteeing a traditional Cruise Elegant evening on every short sailing. Select cruises of five days or fewer may have one Cruise Elegant evening, while some short cruises may instead feature a White Hot Night.
That distinction could make a difference when you’re packing.
For years, many cruisers could make assumptions based on the length of their sailing. A short cruise might mean packing one dressier outfit for formal night. But now, depending on the specific sailing, that assumption may not always apply.
Carnival’s longer cruises of six nights or more continue to have two Cruise Elegant evenings.
What should you pack for a short Carnival cruise?
The most important takeaway is simple:
Check your specific sailing before you pack.
Carnival is using the word “select,” meaning this is not necessarily a change affecting every three-, four- or five-night cruise.
If your sailing includes White Hot Night, that may be the evening to bring an all-white outfit instead of traditional formalwear.
My cruise planning takeaway
This is another reminder that cruise traditions can vary by ship and sailing. Don’t automatically pack based on what happened on your last cruise.
Before you leave home, check your itinerary and onboard schedule so you’re packing for your cruise, not someone else’s.
Princess Cruises Raises the Medallion Shipping Fee
Princess Cruises passengers who want their Medallion shipped to their home will now pay a little more.
The U.S. home-delivery fee is now $22, up from $20.
While a couple of dollars may not sound like much, this is actually the second increase in 2026. The fee previously increased from $10 to $20 earlier in the year.
Do you have to pay to have your Princess Medallion shipped?
No.
Passengers can still pick up their Medallion at the cruise terminal for free.
That means the $22 fee is optional.
For some cruisers, receiving the Medallion before leaving home may be worth the convenience. But if you’d rather avoid another pre-cruise expense, you can simply pick it up when you arrive at the terminal.
A Princess Medallion shipping tip for couples and families
The shipping fee applies to the order rather than necessarily being charged separately for every Medallion going to the same address.
Before selecting home delivery, look carefully at your order and shipping options.
Sometimes saving money on a cruise isn’t about finding a cheaper fare. It’s about noticing the smaller charges you don’t actually need to pay.
Carnival Is Testing Adults-Only SEA Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line is experimenting with something that may surprise cruisers who think of the brand primarily as a family vacation.
The cruise line is offering select SEA cruises — Sailings Exclusively for Adults.
These are 21-and-over sailings designed specifically for adult passengers.
But Carnival isn’t simply removing children from an otherwise typical sailing.
According to the concept outlined for these cruises, SEA sailings include expanded casino access, themed parties, elevated dining and programming designed specifically for adults.
What happened with Carnival Firenze?
Some of the newest SEA cruises are connected to schedule changes involving Carnival Firenze.
Carnival canceled 11 previously scheduled cruises between October 12 and November 16, 2026, and replaced part of that schedule with four adults-only SEA cruises.
These cruises are scheduled between October 12 and November 20 and are designed around an adult-focused experience.
Carnival has stated that these are special select sailings. The cruise line is not becoming an adults-only cruise line.
But it raises an interesting question for cruise fans.
Is there a market for adults-only Carnival cruises?
Carnival has built its identity around fun, entertainment and family cruising.
But there are also adults who enjoy Carnival’s energy and value without necessarily wanting a vacation surrounded by children.
That could include couples, groups of friends, empty nesters and adults who want a lively cruise experience without the family-focused atmosphere.
If these experimental sailings perform well, it will be interesting to see whether Carnival expands the concept.
Would you book an adults-only Carnival cruise?
Watch the video above for my full thoughts — and let me know in the comments whether this is something you’d like to see Carnival offer more often.
Holland America Is Investing More Than $500 Million in Ship Upgrades
Holland America Line is in the middle of a major investment program called Holland America Evolution.
The project represents more than $500 million in investments involving six Vista- and Signature-class ships.
And some of the changes could make cruisers take another look at ships they may have previously considered “older.”
Oosterdam and Zuiderdam are getting new pool deck entertainment spaces
Oosterdam and Zuiderdam are scheduled to receive permanent bandstands at their Lido Pools.
These spaces are being designed for live music, sailaway events, celebrations and Holland America’s Orange Party.
The first new bandstand is expected to debut on Oosterdam following its transformation in fall 2027.
The Evolution program also includes additional updates to staterooms, suites, dining venues and other onboard spaces.
Should you book an older cruise ship?
This is a great example of why I don’t think cruisers should automatically assume the newest ship is always the best choice.
If you’ve sailed one of these ships before, the version you remember may not be the version you’ll find after its transformation.
A refurbished ship can offer a very different experience from the one you sailed years earlier.
So before automatically paying more for the newest ship in a fleet, take a look at what is happening with the older ships.
Sometimes the ship getting the biggest makeover may be worth another look.
Margaritaville at Sea Is Expanding to Galveston
Cruisers in Texas and the surrounding region will soon have another option.
Margaritaville at Sea is expected to begin weekly sailings from the Port of Galveston in October 2027.
The expansion will give cruisers another option for Caribbean and Central American vacations from one of the growing cruise homeports in the United States.
At this point, the cruise line has not announced which ship will be based in Galveston or the exact itineraries.
Those details are expected to be announced in September.
The expansion will make Margaritaville at Sea the seventh cruise line serving Galveston.
Why more cruise lines in Galveston could be good for cruisers
More cruise lines operating from the same port generally means more choices for travelers.
For cruisers who live within driving distance of Galveston, additional competition can mean:
- More ships to choose from
- More cruise styles and experiences
- More itinerary options
- More opportunities to compare prices
- More convenient alternatives to flying to Florida
If Galveston is a convenient homeport for you, this is definitely an expansion worth watching as more details are announced.
Which Side of an Alaska Cruise Ship Is Best: Port or Starboard?
This week’s Grab Your Bags Travel cruise tip focuses on one of the most common Alaska cruise questions:
Should you book a port-side or starboard-side cabin?
My answer may not be the one you’re hoping for.
There is no universally correct answer.
And if you’re taking a round-trip Inside Passage cruise that includes Glacier Bay, I believe there are other cabin factors that may be more important than obsessing over which side of the ship you choose.
My Alaska cruise experience
On my Alaska cruise, I chose a port-side cabin and loved it.
But if I’m being honest, the biggest advantages for me weren’t simply that I was on the port side.
I had a balcony — actually, a mini-suite on Princess — and my cabin was in a location that made it easy to get outside.
We were only a couple of decks below the pool deck and conveniently located near the stairs.
That mattered.
When you’re sailing through Alaska and something spectacular is happening outside, you don’t always want to wait for an elevator.
Being able to quickly leave the cabin and get outside can be just as important as which side of the ship your cabin is located on.
Is port or starboard better for a round-trip Alaska cruise?
For a round-trip Inside Passage itinerary, there is generally no side that guarantees the best views for the entire cruise.
You’re traveling in one direction and then returning in the other direction.
In destinations such as Glacier Bay, the ship may also maneuver so passengers on both sides have opportunities to enjoy the scenery.
I selected the port side because of the way our sailing entered Glacier Bay, and it worked beautifully for us.
Traditionally, when you enter Glacier Bay in the early morning hours, the ship enters from the port side. So we were able to enjoy views from our balcony while having breakfast delivered to the cabin before later heading upstairs for even more panoramic scenery.
And yes — the weather was terrible.
It was still breathtaking.
My advice for a round-trip Alaska cruise
If you’re choosing between port and starboard on a round-trip Inside Passage sailing with Glacier Bay, I would prioritize these factors first:
- A balcony, if it fits your budget
- A cabin location that makes getting outside convenient
- Your preferred deck and proximity to areas you’ll use
- The overall cabin value
- Port versus starboard
A great balcony cabin on either side may be more valuable than paying a premium simply because someone says one side is always better.
Which Side Is Best for a One-Way Alaska Cruise?
The decision can become more relevant on a one-way Alaska itinerary.
Generally speaking:
- Northbound cruises: Starboard may offer more land-facing views.
- Southbound cruises: Port may offer more mainland-facing views.
But don’t let cabin-side advice make you crazy.
Alaska is spectacular from both sides of the ship.
Some of the best moments won’t happen because you selected the “perfect” balcony.
You’ll hear an announcement.
Someone will spot wildlife.
Passengers will start moving outside.
And suddenly everyone is looking in the same direction hoping to see a whale.
My Alaska cruise cabin recommendation
For a round-trip Inside Passage cruise with Glacier Bay, I would personally choose:
A great balcony cabin in a convenient location over paying extra simply because one side of the ship is supposed to be better.
The scenery is all around you.
And one of the best parts of an Alaska cruise is getting outside and experiencing it.
Watch the Full Wake Report
🎥 Want my full commentary on these stories? Watch this week’s episode of The Wake Report at the top of this post.
The Wake Report is Grab Your Bags Travel’s weekly look at cruise news, cruise changes and cruise planning topics that could affect what you pay, pack, board or book.
Now I want to hear from you:
Would you miss Elegant Night on a short Carnival cruise, or would you happily leave the formal clothes at home?
And if you’ve cruised Alaska:
Did you care whether you were on the port or starboard side of the ship? What worked best for you?
Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
Until next time…
Happy Cruising!