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Alcohol Ban in the Bahamas: Cruise Passengers Angered

A short-notice alcohol ban in the Bahamas caused major dissatisfaction among cruise guests in mid-May 2026. The strict rules were implemented due to the national election day. However, the cruise line Royal Caribbean only informed its passengers about the upcoming dry stopover 48 hours before departure. This caused plenty of frustration on board. The exact same situation had already occurred during the early voting two weeks prior. Nevertheless, proactive communication from the company did not take place.

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May 11, 2026 at 1:01 PM

Hantavirus on Cruise Ship: Evacuation of the MV Hondius

An unprecedented evacuation operation is currently unfolding off the coast of Tenerife. The expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is anchored there. The reason is serious: a rare Andes Hantavirus outbreak has occurred on board. Three passengers have already lost their lives due to the infection. The pathogen is highly dangerous but, according to WHO experts, will not trigger a new pandemic, as it is far less contagious than, for example, the coronavirus.

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May 11, 2026 at 11:26 AM

Mein Schiff 1 Celebrates Its 8th Birthday: Event Cruises and New Routes

The Mein Schiff 1 is celebrating its eighth birthday today! Christened exactly eight years ago on May 11, 2018, during the Hamburg Port Anniversary, the cruise giant is appropriately spending this special day on the open ocean. Currently, the ship is sailing the western Mediterranean on the "Rock 'n' Sail 2026" cruise featuring Peter Maffay. This perfectly merges the ship's anniversary with a floating rock festival, creating an unforgettable holiday experience.

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May 11, 2026 at 11:05 AM

837th Hamburg Port Anniversary 2026: A Maritime Festival of Records and Traditions Meta-Title: Hamburg Port Anniversary 2026: Records & Ships

From May 8 to 10, 2026, Hamburg was in a state of positive emergency. The Hanseatic city celebrated its 837th Port Anniversary. Around 1.1 million people visited the largest port festival in the world. Under the fitting motto "We celebrate Hamburg's heart," guests experienced a unique blend of tradition, music, and maritime technology.

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May 11, 2026 at 6:56 AM

False Start in Singapore: Disney Adventure Evacuated After Power Failure

Shortly before the start of a four-day Asian cruise, the new Disney Adventure suffered a massive technical failure in Singapore. On May 7, 2026, the power went out, and shortly thereafter, the propulsion system failed completely. As a result, the cruise line had to cancel the trip the following day. Around 6,700 guests were safely and systematically evacuated from the ship and accommodated in luxury hotels in the city.

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May 11, 2026 at 6:12 AM

Hamburg Port Anniversary 2026: Spectacular Kick-off with Drones and Tall Ships

The 837th Hamburg Port Anniversary has kicked off brilliantly! In bright sunshine and pleasant temperatures around 22 degrees, countless visitors celebrated the world's largest port festival on its opening day. Around the Landungsbrücken and HafenCity, everything was focused on maritime enthusiasm, flanked by comprehensive security concepts that guaranteed a relaxed journey using public transport.

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May 9, 2026 at 3:07 PM

Cruise Boom 2026: How San Diego and San Antonio Are Redefining Port Success

The global cruise industry is currently experiencing a massive upswing. With a projected 37.2 million passengers in 2025 and enormous economic impacts, the demands on global ports are also rising. As geopolitical tensions increasingly burden traditional maritime trade routes, highly safe and stable regions in North and South America are moving into the focus of cruise lines. Two current examples from May 2026—San Diego in California and San Antonio in Chile—demonstrate how differently ports are responding to this growth.

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May 8, 2026 at 11:25 AM

837th Hamburg Port Anniversary: Opening, Ships & Traffic

The 837th Hamburg Port Anniversary is just around the corner. Today, Friday, May 8, 2026, the world's largest maritime festival will officially open at exactly 1:30 PM. At this moment, final preparations are underway. Until May 10, the Landungsbrücken and surrounding areas will then transform into a visitor magnet for around one million guests from home and abroad. Alongside the celebrations, however, the Hanseatic city is facing a massive stress test for its infrastructure and security network.

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May 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM

AIDAprima Zeitraffer - Einfahrt in den Hamburger Hafen am 28.04.2026

Am 28. April 2026 erreichte die AIDAprima den Hamburger Hafen. Dieses Video zeigt das Einlaufen des Kreuzfahrtschiffes am frühen Morgen im Zeitraffer. Nach einer Reise entlang der norwegischen Küste machte das Schiff am Cruise Center Steinwerder fest.

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May 8, 2026 at 9:21 AM

VIDEO: 360° AIDAprima Schiffs-Rundgang auf Deck 8

Herzlich willkommen an Bord der AIDAprima. In diesem 360-Grad-Video nehmen wir Sie mit auf einen informativen und sachlichen Rundgang über Deck 8. Entdecken Sie die vielfältigen Außen- und Innenbereiche dieses Decks ganz bequem von zu Hause aus.

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May 8, 2026 at 9:11 AM

AIDAprima in Dry Dock: Refit, New Routes & Mega Festivals 2026

AIDAprima is celebrating its tenth birthday on May 7, 2026, not on the ocean, but exceptionally in the dry dock of the Damen Shiprepair yard in Rotterdam. The routine ten-year class renewal is on the agenda. The hull will be cleaned and given a new silicone coating, which, together with the special air lubrication system (MALS), reduces water resistance and fuel consumption. The azipod propulsion systems and valves will also undergo intensive maintenance during this time.

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May 7, 2026 at 4:39 PM

MSC Preziosa: Itinerary Change for the Hamburg Port Anniversary 2026

MSC Cruises has canceled the planned prime-time port call of the MSC Preziosa for the 837th Hamburg Port Anniversary on May 9, 2026. Originally, the 333-meter-long ship was scheduled to dock at the Steinwerder terminal on Saturday evening between 5:00 PM and 11:55 PM to take part in the heavily promoted "Cruise Parade." Now, the cruise giant will arrive during the much quieter night hours at 12:01 AM on Sunday and stay at the quay until 5:00 PM. This route change ensures a significantly less stressful passenger handling process for everyone involved.

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May 7, 2026 at 4:36 PM

40 Years of Meyer Werft Cruise Ships: From the Homeric to an Eco-Friendly Future

On May 6, 2026, Meyer Werft celebrated a significant milestone: exactly 40 years ago, the traditional shipyard in Papenburg delivered its first cruise ship, the Homeric. What began in 1986 as a risky strategic move to stay competitive against Asian rivals evolved into a global success story. Early milestones, such as the Homeric’s spectacular side-launch or the later lengthening of the Westerdam, quickly established the yard's reputation as a technological powerhouse for highly complex passenger vessels.

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May 7, 2026 at 3:54 PM

Vasco Da Gama Defect: World Cruise Aborted and Schedule Chaos at Nicko Cruises

The prestigious world cruise of the Vasco Da Gama came to an abrupt end in Lisbon on April 25, 2026. The cause of the cancellation was a serious mechanical defect in the starboard controllable pitch propeller. Experts attribute the damage to the immense continuous strain caused by the geopolitically forced circumnavigation of Africa. As the Red Sea was impassable due to the security situation, the ship (built in 1993) had to cover thousands of additional nautical miles under maximum load, which ultimately overwhelmed the aging machinery.

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May 7, 2026 at 3:43 PM

Restart After Middle East Crisis: MSC Euribia Returns to Kiel

The cruise industry breathes a sigh of relief: After weeks of uncertainty, the MSC Euribia is finally on its way to the Baltic Sea and will resume regular operations from Kiel on May 16, 2026. The state-of-the-art ship was stuck in the Persian Gulf due to the geopolitical escalation in the Middle East—the so-called Iran War. Along with other members of the fleet, the ocean liner was unintentionally caught in the crossfire and had to completely suspend passenger operations.

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May 6, 2026 at 12:35 PM