Cruise News 2026: Royal Caribbean’s $30 Cabin Fee, Disney’s New Ships & 2028 Cruises
Cruise news 2026 is getting interesting. Royal Caribbean has introduced a new option for guarantee cabin bookings, Disney Cruise Line is continuing its major expansion, 2028 cruise itineraries are beginning to appear, and Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed more details about Norwegian Aura.
And there’s a bigger theme connecting all of these stories:
Cruise lines are giving travelers more choices — but knowing when to book and understanding exactly what you’re paying for is becoming more important than ever.
In this week’s episode of The Wake Report, I break down the cruise news that caught my attention, explain what it means for cruisers, and share my GYB Tip of the Week about when to book your next cruise.
▶️ [WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF THE WAKE REPORT HERE]
🚢 Royal Caribbean Will Now Charge $30 to Find Out Your Cabin Earlier
This is the story that immediately caught my attention.
Royal Caribbean has introduced Early Assign, a new optional program for certain guests who have booked a guarantee stateroom.
If you’re not familiar with guarantee cabins, here’s the basic idea:
Instead of selecting your exact cabin when you book, you purchase a specific stateroom category — such as a balcony guarantee — and allow the cruise line to assign your actual cabin later.
The potential advantage?
You may be able to get a lower fare.
The tradeoff?
You give up some control over exactly where your cabin will be located.
Now Royal Caribbean is giving eligible guests another choice.
For $30 per stateroom, you can use Early Assign to receive your stateroom assignment sooner.
But there’s an important distinction:
You’re paying for certainty sooner — not necessarily a better cabin.
The $30 fee does not guarantee a particular deck, location, view or cabin attributes.
And there are specific eligibility requirements and booking windows.
So is Early Assign worth the $30?
That’s where it gets interesting.
In the video, I explain how Royal Caribbean’s Early Assign program works, who can use it, when it’s offered, what happens after you’re assigned a cabin, and — most importantly — whether I think paying the $30 makes sense.
▶️ Watch the video above to hear my full take on Royal Caribbean Early Assign.
And I want to know what you think:
Would you pay $30 to know your Royal Caribbean cabin sooner, or would you save the money and roll the dice?
🏰 Disney Cruise Line Is Getting Bigger
Disney Cruise Line continues to make some major moves as it expands its fleet and the destinations it can reach.
One of the announcements at D23 this past weekend that caught my attention is the continued growth of Disney cruises from San Diego.
Disney is also sending the Disney Wish to Europe, while the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are returning to Alaska.
But perhaps the most interesting part of Disney’s expansion is what’s coming after that.
A New Disney Ship Class Is Coming
Disney has announced an entirely new class of cruise ships beginning in 2029.
And this isn’t simply another giant Disney cruise ship.
The new class is intended to occupy a sweet spot between Disney’s smaller Magic-class ships and its newer, larger ships.
Why does that matter?
Because ship size can determine where a cruise line can realistically sail.
A smaller ship can potentially provide Disney Cruise Line with more flexibility to visit destinations that aren’t as practical for some of its larger vessels.
And that could eventually mean new Disney cruise destinations and new Disney cruise itineraries.
That’s the part I’m most interested in watching.
Where will Disney take these new ships?
🌎 2028 Cruise Itineraries Are Starting to Open
If you’re looking at a cruise in 2028, you might be thinking:
“That’s still a long way away.”
But cruise lines are already beginning to release more 2028 itineraries.
Princess has released its 2028 Alaska cruise itineraries, while Celebrity Cruises has announced a significant 2028 and 2029 deployment.
And this isn’t just about the Caribbean.
Celebrity’s upcoming itineraries include destinations such as:
- Alaska
- Europe
- Japan
- Hawaii
- Australia and New Zealand
- South America
- Antarctica
For travelers planning a bucket-list cruise, this is something worth paying attention to.
Because there’s a difference between getting the lowest possible cruise fare and getting the cruise you actually want.
If you have your heart set on a particular Alaska cabin, cruisetour, itinerary, sailing date or suite, waiting indefinitely for the perfect price could mean giving up some of your choices.
So when should you book a cruise?
That’s exactly what I discuss in this week’s GYB Tip of the Week.
I explain why I don’t believe there is one magic answer to the question, “When is the cheapest time to book a cruise?”
Instead, there are other factors you should consider — including cabin availability, itinerary availability, final payment dates and cruise line repricing policies.
▶️ Watch the full Wake Report for my cruise booking advice, especially if you’re considering Alaska.
🛳️ Norwegian Aura: More Details Revealed
Norwegian Cruise Line has also released more information about Norwegian Aura, which is scheduled to debut in 2027.
And there’s a lot going on aboard this ship.
One of the biggest additions is an expansive new Thermal Suite, featuring 15 wellness experiences.
Among the features is a Sensory Rain Pool designed to transition through different weather experiences, along with additional thermal and relaxation areas.
Norwegian Aura will also introduce Tamara, NCL’s first specialty restaurant dedicated to Indian cuisine.
Another new concept is The Panorama Room, which will use large LED displays, audio, lighting and visual effects to create an immersive dining environment.
And that’s just the beginning.
Aura will also feature redesigned restaurants and lounges, family activities, Ocean Heights and additional spaces designed around relaxation and entertainment.
If you’re an NCL fan, there’s a lot to look forward to.
💰 And There’s a CruiseNext Promotion to Know About
There’s also a timely opportunity for Norwegian Cruise Line guests who already have CruiseNext certificates.
A limited-time CruiseNext Triple Up promotion allows eligible guests with three CruiseNext certificates to apply them toward a new balcony or higher reservation, subject to the promotion’s requirements.
If you already have CruiseNext certificates sitting in your account, this is definitely something worth investigating before the promotion ends.
But don’t wait until the last minute. Offer ends August 25, 2026.
Promotions like this have eligibility requirements, booking deadlines and restrictions.
That’s another reason I always recommend looking at the rules behind the cruise fare or promotion, rather than simply looking at the advertised price.
🧳 GYB Tip of the Week: When Should You Book Your Cruise?
This week’s cruise news actually leads into one of the most important cruise-planning questions I get:
When is the best time to book a cruise?
My answer might surprise you.
There is no crystal ball that can tell us exactly when a cruise fare will hit its absolute lowest price.
Instead, I recommend thinking about what you want to get out of the booking.
Are you looking for:
- The cheapest possible fare?
- A specific cabin?
- A particular balcony location?
- Connecting cabins?
- A suite?
- A specific sailing date?
- A particular Alaska cruisetour?
- A bucket-list itinerary?
Those priorities can change the answer.
And there’s another important consideration:
Know the cruise line’s repricing policy.
Some cruise lines may allow you to take advantage of a lower fare before final payment, while other fares and promotions have different restrictions.
Some promotions may be available only to new bookings.
So don’t assume you can simply cancel your existing reservation and rebook at the new price.
Read the rules attached to the fare you’re booking.
That may be just as important as the price itself.
💬 What Do You Think?
Let’s start with the question that got this week’s Wake Report going:
Would you pay $30 to find out your Royal Caribbean guarantee cabin early?
Or would you rather save the money and let Royal Caribbean surprise you?
And if you’re planning a 2027 or 2028 cruise, what’s on your radar?
Alaska?
Europe?
The Caribbean?
A bucket-list destination?
Let me know in the comments on the video — I read them and love hearing what other cruisers are planning.
Planning Your Next Cruise?
I’m Angela with Grab Your Bags Travel, and I help travelers navigate cruise lines, ships, itineraries, cabins and the many decisions that go into planning a cruise vacation.
If you’re considering a cruise and want help figuring out which cruise, ship, itinerary or cabin is right for you, I’d be happy to help.
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