Cruise & Ferry
Airlines often oversell flights. Do cruise lines do the same?
Airlines notoriously oversell flights, expecting a certain number of no-shows, but they aren’t the only travel companies with that practice.
Cruise lines also sometimes overbook sailings, meaning passengers could be bumped from their cruise or even denied boarding. While the U.S. government doesn’t regulate cruise line cancellation policies like airlines, that doesn’t mean guests will be left empty-handed.
“While overbooking in the cruise industry is rare, if the cruise line does send an offer to rebook it is very common for them to provide a list of options available for guests who are willing to either cancel or cancel and rebook,” Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, told USA TODAY.
Here’s what to know.
Do cruise lines oversell cruises?
Yes. The practice is relatively unusual, though Kuther said it has become increasingly common.
“If a guest is a no-show, they are in penalty, so the cruise line is not losing the fare, so I can’t understand taking the chance on overbooking just to sail full,” she said in an email.
What are your options if you’re bumped from a cruise?
Kuther said guests who get bumped have “quite a few options” for rebooking. Passengers can typically choose any other sailing of the same length, no matter the price.
“With that, the guest will usually be refunded the amount of the cruise they are missing, as well as no cost for the rebooked cruise, so basically, they are sailing free,” she said. “Cruise lines will also offer a certain amount of money to offset (the) cost of changing air and hotel reservations.”
Cruise lines may also give guests a cabin upgrade for the trouble, if they’re available. “In these cases, flexible travelers can actually make out quite well,” Kuther added.
Even if passengers opt not to reschedule right away, they will likely get a full refund and a future cruise credit to put toward another sailing. She has also seen guests booked in guarantee staterooms – which ensure a certain cabin category but not a specific room – receive offers to switch to a lower category if theirs turns out not to be available as the voyage approaches, in exchange for a refund “above and beyond the difference in price” and onboard credit.
Guaranteed rooms may be assigned months in advance or as little as 48 hours before departure.
Will travel insurance cover you if you’re bumped from a cruise?
While travel insurance can offer many other benefits, being bumped from an oversold cruise typically isn’t covered under trip cancellation or interruption coverage, according to Meghan Walch, Director of Product at InsureMyTrip.
“If the cruise line overbooks, it would likely be their responsibility to reimburse the traveler and make them whole,” she said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yes, cruises oversell too. Here’s what happens if you get booted.
Villa Vie Residences is set to make its debut in Asia and the Far East in August, as the Odyssey crosses the Pacific for the first time.
The residential ship is currently cruising to Hakodate, following the completion of its Alaska program in late July.
Following 11 days at sea, the 650-guest ship is set to arrive at the Japanese port on August 7, 2025.
The Odyssey then kicks off a series of visits to destinations in Japan and South Korea, including Sendai, Shizuoka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Jeju.
Highlights of this segment of the itinerary include a four-day visit to Yokohama, from which guests will be able to visit Tokyo, as well as a three-day visit to Kobe, which serves as a getaway to Osaka and Kyoto.
After sailing to Amami, Ishigaki, and Naha, the Odyssey completes its schedule in Japan in early September.
The ship then heads south for visits to destinations in Taiwan and the Philippines, including Keelung, Anping, Subic Bay, Manila, Boracay Island and Puerto Princesa.
Continuing its deployment in Asia, the vessel is scheduled to visit ports in Guam, Micronesia, Palau, Indonesia, Australia, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea through December.
The itinerary also features visits to Wallis and Futuna, Samoa, American Samoa and French Polynesia before the end of the year.
The Odyssey will continue to sail in the South Pacific in early 2026, visiting additional destinations in Australia, as well as New Caledonia, Tonga, the Cook Islands and more.
Villa Vie recently celebrated another milestone after sailing to its 100th port since launching service in late 2024.
According to the company, the breakthrough was reached during a visit to the port of Icy Strait Point in Alaska.
Before arriving in Asia, the Villa Vie Odyssey visited destinations in Africa, the Atlantic, the Caribbean, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The ship then sailed to Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera, in addition to the U.S. West Coast and Alaska before repositioning to the Far East.
Cruise & Ferry
Important feature found on cruise ships you’ve probably never noticed | Cruise flags explained
Holidaying on a cruise ship is unique. There are certain traditions, rules and processes which come with sailing.
Many of them are age-old and formed from superstitions.
Others follow strict procedures for safety.
READ MORE: How to cruise to Antarctica – without spending tens of thousands of dollars
Cruisers have to get used to jargon when on board. There are also secret codes used for announcements passengers might hear on board.
But there’s a hidden detail flying above cruise ship decks you may not have noticed- the flags.
READ MORE: ‘Soulful and seriously special’: Cruising the Mekong with Scenic
Cruise ships always fly the individual flag of their nation of registration.
They also fly the flag of the place they are sailing, changing them as they arrive in a new port. They probably also fly their cruise line’s logo flag.
READ MORE: Little-known rule about alcohol on cruise ships
How cruise ships communicate
But ships also use other flags to communicate at sea.
These flags are also used as part of the International Code of Signals. And they all have different meanings.
We were shown the different flags neatly stored on a visit to the bridge on cruise ship, Crown Princess.
Marine Rescue NSW says the 26 square flags represent the letters of the alphabet. They feature five colours: red, blue, yellow, black and white.
Specific flags let other vessels know things.
For example Alpha, which is blue and white, means diver down; keep clear.
W, or Whiskey which is squares of red, white and blue, indicates required medical assistance.
A yellow flag, known as Quebec, indicates the vessel is “healthy” and requires free passage.
Flags can also be used in combinations, which means they then have other meanings.
Sometimes a whole string of the different flags are used as decoration, flying above the decks like bunting.
Sound and radio signals are also used by ships to communicate. A ships horn, for example, is one such thing and the number of blasts means different things.
Three blasts means the ship is reversing. Five means there is an emergency.
It’s also used as a fog horn when visibility is bad so other vessels know it’s there.
Another cruise ship tradition explained
Another tradition is for ships to be christened.
Maritime historian Chris Frame told 9Travel that the smashing of the Champagne on the hull is believed to have been begun by Queen Victoria, when she named naval ships.
Frame says “it’s a traditional ritual steeped in superstition from a historical perspective, that today is undertaken largely for media and public relations purposes.”
Royals and celebrities are named as ‘godparents’ with actress Hannah Waddingham TV host Drew Barrymore along recent A-listers to be given the honour.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of sailing rules passengers may not know about.
Shaking hands with the captain may seem courteous and respectful, but is banned on many vessels.
In several countries, particularly parts of Africa and the Caribbean, camouflage-patterned clothing is reserved for military personnel.
Plus many regions have strict agricultural controls to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases.
The first ship to take passengers on a cruise from Australia, rather than transporting them from one place to another, was P&O ship Strathaird.
Originally a mail ship that sailed for the first time in 1931, it was mainly used to transport ‘ten pound poms’ between England and Australia.
But on December 23, 1932, it set off Australia’s first cruise from Sydney to Brisbane and Norfolk Island with 1,100 passengers for five days.
AIDA and Costa have cancelled their Middle East plans for 2025-26, opting to leave ships in Europe instead.
With the two Carnival Corporation brands changing plans, it leaves three key operators left with programs in the Arabian Gulf for 2025-26: Celestyal, MSC and TUI.
In addition is Aroya Cruises, which is currently planning to operate in the Red Sea and previously made plans to debut in the Arabian Gulf as well.
Cruise Industry News looks at the plans for the companies that were initially set to operate in the region during the upcoming winter season.
AIDA Cruises
Ship: AIDAprima
Timeframe: November 2025 to March 2026
Homeports: Doha (Qatar); Abu Dhabi and Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Status: Cancelled on July 11, 2025
AIDA was the first cruise line to cancel its planned operations in the Middle East for the 2025-26 winter season. In a statement issued in early July, the company said that the decision aimed at providing guests with “reliable clarity” as early as possible.
Aroya Cruises
Ship: Aroya
Timeframe: September 2025 to January 2026
Homeport: Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)
Status: Confirmed
Aroya Cruises is currently planning to offer itineraries in the Red Sea after completing its first season in the Mediterranean.
Sailing from the company’s homeport in Jeddah, the Aroya is scheduled to offer itineraries to destinations in Saudi Arabia and Egypt between late September 2025 and early January 2026.
In an interview with Cruise Industry News earlier this year, the company also expressed interest in operating in the Arabian Gulf starting in the second quarter of 2026. Deployment for that timeframe, however, is still to be announced.
Celestyal
Ships: Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery
Timeframe: December 2025 to March 2026
Homeports: Doha (Qatar); Abu Dhabi and Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Status: Confirmed
Celestyal plans to double its operation in the Middle East, with the Celestyal Discovery joining the Celestyal Journey for itineraries departing from Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. According to the company’s website, the sailings in the region are scheduled to start in December.
Costa Cruises
Ship: Costa Toscana
Timeframe: December 2025 to February 2026
Homeports: Doha (Qatar); Abu Dhabi and Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Status: Cancelled on July 25, 2025
Costa Cruises announced the cancellation of its 2025-26 season in the Middle East in late July. Due to what it called a fluid situation in the region, the company has opted to redeploy the Costa Toscana in the Mediterranean during the upcoming winter.
MSC Cruises
Ship: MSC Euribia
Timeframe: November 2025 to March 2026
Homeports: Doha (Qatar); Abu Dhabi and Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Status: Confirmed
MSC Cruises is currently planning to operate in the Middle East during the upcoming winter season, with the MSC Euribia offering itineraries from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. According to the company’s website, the LNG-powered vessel is set to remain in the region between November 2025 and March 2026.
TUI Cruises
Ships: Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5
Timeframe: November 2025 to March 2026
Homeports: Doha (Qatar); and Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Status: Confirmed
TUI is planning a two-ship season in the Middle East, with the Mein Schiff 4 and the Mein Schiff 5 sailing in the region between November 2025 and March 2026. The two vessels are expected to offer itineraries departing from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
-
Brand Stories2 weeks agoBloom Hotels: A Modern Vision of Hospitality Redefining Travel
-
Brand Stories1 week agoCheQin.ai sets a new standard for hotel booking with its AI capabilities: empowering travellers to bargain, choose the best, and book with clarity.
-
Destinations & Things To Do2 weeks agoUntouched Destinations: Stunning Hidden Gems You Must Visit
-
Destinations & Things To Do1 week agoThis Hidden Beach in India Glows at Night-But Only in One Secret Season
-
AI in Travel2 weeks agoAI Travel Revolution: Must-Have Guide to the Best Experience
-
Brand Stories1 month agoVoice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Brand Stories3 weeks agoHow Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Asia Travel Pulse1 month agoLooking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
AI in Travel1 month ago‘Will AI take my job?’ A trip to a Beijing fortune-telling bar to see what lies ahead | China
-
Brand Stories2 weeks agoContactless Hospitality: Why Remote Management Technology Is Key to Seamless Guest Experiences
You must be logged in to post a comment Login