June is almost here, with May bringing warm weather and an abundance of exciting news from the cruise industry, which is only making us look forward to those glorious summer months more. If you’re wondering what you might have missed this month, Iglu Cruise is here to help with the May edition of Iglu Cruise News. Below, you’ll find some of the most interesting announcements from cruise lines this month, alongside a little about what the Iglu Cruise creative team has been working on.
With so much to talk about, let’s dive into May’s Iglu Cruise News!
A monthly round-up of the biggest cruise news
Several ships enjoy upgrades and enhancements as pre-Summer drydocks continue
Shipyards around the world have been busy this month, with a number of major cruise lines confirming that their ships have undergone refurbishments and improvements ahead of an exciting summer of sailing to some of the world’s most stunning destinations.
Earlier this month, Cadiz hosted Harmony of the Seas, the next Royal Caribbean cruise ship to enjoy enhancements as part of the Royal Amplified initiative. Much like other previously amplified Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Harmony of the Seas now features popular venues like The Lime & Coconut, El Loco Fresh, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, and Samba Grill, alongside over 100 new staterooms and refurbishments throughout. The ship’s hull is now also sporting a refreshed livery, highlighting the extensive nature of the improvements.
Meanwhile, Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady is also enjoying some improvements with a scheduled drydock in Palermo. The ship’s first major refurbishment since construction in 2021, Valiant Lady will enjoy a wealth of minor updates and enhancements alongside the introduction of Ariya, a new Indian restaurant with a dedicated bar and an interior inspired by a traditional jewellery box. Adding a new traditional chai tea service to Valiant Lady’s already excellent offerings, this is certain to be a hit with guests.
At the same time, Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Voyager underwent an extensive drydock in Marseille. During this, the ultra-luxury ship enjoyed significant improvements to the suites onboard, along with complete redesigns of the Signature, Grand, Voyager, and Seven Seas suites. Popular venues like the Pool Grill, Prime 7, and Chartreuse were also refreshed alongside the introduction of the Epicurean Enrichment Studio: a destination-inspired culinary programme that invites you to explore the world around you through the finest foods. With every element of this extensive refurbishment considered to enrich guests, you won’t want to miss an upcoming adventure aboard the luxurious Seven Seas Voyager.
On top of all that, this month also saw Carnival Cruise Line confirm that both Carnival Legend and Carnival Magic are undergoing drydocks in Grand Bahama’s shipyard, and Norwegian Cruise Line confirm drydocks for both Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem. During these drydocks, both Carnival Cruise Line ships underwent significant refurbishments and major modernisation, with Carnival Magic also debuting a new mini golf course. Meanwhile, both Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem saw Norwegian Cruise Line’s ever-popular Vibe Beach Club introduced, an adults-only sun deck space, alongside important maintenance and refreshments elsewhere.
That’s not all, though: Hurtigruten’s MS Midnatsol also underwent a significant refit in May; during this, alongside shipwide renovations, it introduced Arran and Røst, two new dining spots. Complementing a refreshed Flora, the ship’s main dining room, upgraded staterooms, improvements to the wellness facilities onboard, and repainted decks, Midnatsol’s upcoming cruises are certainly going to be worth looking forward to.
Silversea Cruises’ elegant Silver Spirit also recently completed an extensive drydock in May, adding to the impressive list of refurbished cruise ships setting sail as we head into the summer season. Enhancing your onboard experience and refreshing social spaces, a major highlight of this upgrade is the introduction of Silversea Cruises’ S.A.L.T. programme, which aims to deepen your connection to the destinations on your itinerary through refined, immersive culinary experiences. The pool deck and Venetian Lounge have also undergone significant improvements, making upcoming adventures even more enjoyable.
Grand opening of Great Stirrup Cay’s impressive Great Tides Waterpark revealed
This month, Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that the Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas, will be open to guests from September 2026.
Boasting a remarkable 19 waterslides, an impressive lazy river, and a spacious splashzone for children, Great Tides Waterpark is a staggering improvement to the impressive offering already available to Norwegian Cruise Line guests docking at Great Stirrup Cay. You’ll also find high cliff jumps, a four-person body slide, and the Rapid Mat Racers among the exciting experiences you can take advantage of when you visit. If, though, you’re looking for something a little more laid back, you’ll also find that the Great Tides Waterpark is home to several vibrant bar areas and poolside spots featuring ample sun loungers to unwind on.
With the exciting opening planned to take place during Norwegian Luna’s Caribbean cruise from Miami in late August, there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to future Caribbean-bound cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line unveils fresh look for incredible Isla Tropicale
Earlier this month, Carnival Cruise Line announced an exciting improvement to its Honduras-based private island destination, Isla Tropicale. Formerly known as Mahogany Bay, this stunning addition to Carnival Cruise Line’s Central American cruises will now feature a brand new pool area, which includes a family-friendly splash zone, a sizeable swim-up bar, and plenty of sun loungers to unwind on.
Isla Tropicale also offers easy access to a wealth of local retail outlets and artisan kiosks, several restaurants and bars serving fresh local food and refreshments, and even a scenic chairlift, perfect for admiring the area from a unique perspective.
With berths for two ships, expect ample opportunity to spend some time in this spectacular destination when you cruise Central America with Carnival Cruise Line.
For those after even more cruise industry news, here are a few more highlights from May you may have missed:
- Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojourn has completed its final sailing for the luxury cruise line, now being handed over to Japanese cruise line Mitsui Ocean Cruises.
- Riviera Travel has confirmed that Riviera Rhapsody is set to join the river cruise line’s illustrious Radiance Class fleet from April 2028, starting with a sailing along Dutch waterways before a summer of sailing along the Rhine.
- Marella Cruises is cutting down on single-use plastics with the introduction of reusable coffee cups fleetwide; placed in every cabin, these cups can be replaced with clean ones at the coffee shops onboard, a fantastic initiative that aims to eliminate well over a million single-use plastic cups in 2026 alone.
- MSC Cruises has introduced an AI-powered travel assistant, MSC Concierge, this month. Offering guests 24/7 service, this is available in over 90 languages and aims to improve access to booking systems and additional services fleetwide.
- MSC Cruises, however, has also raised service charges for ships sailing in North America; now, anyone over the age of two in a standard stateroom will be charged $17 per person, per day, with suite-level guests expected to pay an additional $23 per person, per day.
- May also saw Azamara Cruises debut two new shows on Azamara Journey: Rendezvous in Paris, and Cinemaphobic. With the former, a cabaret show featuring music from Moulin Rouge and Édith Piaf, and the latter, which combines classical Hollywood with contemporary pop, these new entertainment options promise to be an incredible addition to everything already available.
- Crystal Serenity is also set to host a music-focused wellness retreat in October, with new immersive experiences and expert-led wellness sessions throughout. You can find out more about that sailing right here: Portugal & Morocco Explorer from Lisbon (6 nights)
Earlier this month, Mexican authorities rejected Royal Caribbean’s plans to develop Perfect Day Mexico, a blow to the cruise line. Citing environmental concerns, Perfect Day Mexico was expected to be even bigger than Perfect Day at CocoCay, featuring a waterpark boasting over 30 waterslides, several swimming pools, multiple bars, and more.
Special Feature - No Berth for Boredom, by Eleanor H Werthyn
Are you looking for a light read to get you in the cruise mood ahead of your next getaway? Well, we just might have the perfect book for you!
Earlier this month, Iglu Cruise News reader Eleanor H Werthyn kindly sent us a copy of her debut novel: No Berth For Boredom. An intriguing travel novel that follows several interesting characters as they embark on The Helen of Troy, a fictional luxury cruise ship, from Southampton, No Berth for Boredom is an entertaining read full of shocks and surprises.
Easy to pick up and dive into, it’s clear to see that this is written by someone with a wealth of experience aboard cruise ships; throughout, Werthyn pays particular detail to the goings on aboard cruise ships, while sprinkling in interesting interactions and unexpected events throughout. Its multi-protagonist format gives you a variety of perspectives, and will undoubtedly help every type of traveller see themselves in the novel – from Emmy, a pragmatic solo traveller, to Delilah and Nonnie, a mother-daughter duo doing their best to enjoy their cruise despite their usual disagreements on how to spend their time, and Lavender, perhaps the most unlucky cruise guest out there.
We won’t say too much more about No Berth For Boredom, as we don’t want to spoil anything for those of you interested in uncovering all the twists and turns yourself, but we would like to thank Eleanor H Werthyn for thoughtfully (and certainly unexpectedly) sending us a copy of her debut novel. We definitely look forward to seeing the next one on bookshop shelves in the future!
Iglu Cruise Insider - Our top posts in May
Much like the cruise lines have been busy refurbishing ships and preparing for an exciting summer full of sun-soaked sailings and unforgettable adventures, May has been a busy month for the creative team behind Iglu Cruise Insider. Below, you’ll find a selection of the latest blog posts from the team, including inspiring explorations into unique travel experiences, the hottest deals for your next big cruise escape, and more!
- Best Cruises in 2028
- The best walking destinations for adventurous travellers
- Five Underrated Travel Destinations for Summer 2026
- Holland America Evolution: Oosterdam first ship to undergo remarkable refurbishments
- River cruising: The best ultra-luxury river cruise lines
Be sure to keep an eye on Iglu Cruise Insider for even more exciting articles and blog posts throughout June and beyond.
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