Cruise Line Cuts, Price Hikes, and an Alaska Itinerary Change

What happens when cruise lines quietly change the rules after you’ve already booked? Let's talk about where cruise policies, loyalty perks, and onboard costs are headed. Norwegian reversed its change to the Great Stirrup Key drink package after major backlash, but the bigger lesson is how easily cruise lines can test cuts in the fine print. Melissa also looks at Norwegian’s loyalty match downgrade, Carnival’s new gratuity increase, the loss of Tracy Arm on Holland America’s 2026 Alaska sailings, a recent norovirus outbreak, and why cruise travel insurance still matters more than many travelers realize. If you want clearer cruise advice without the fluff, this update helps you think through what these changes mean before your next booking. **Travel Insurance for Cruisers** https://www.profmelissa.com/travelinsurance **CHAPTERS** (0:00) Which cruise changes matter most this week? (0:32) Why did Norwegian reverse the Great Stirrup Key drink package cut? (2:34) Is Norwegian’s new loyalty match already losing value? (5:02) Why was the new Tampa cruise terminal project blocked? (6:19) Why did Holland America drop Tracy Arm from 2026 Alaska sailings? (7:17) What does the latest cruise norovirus outbreak mean for travelers? (8:23) How much is Carnival raising gratuities and drink package costs? (9:41) Why does cruise medical evacuation coverage still matter so much? ----------------------------------------------- PODCAST Want this video in audio form? Stream my podcast: Spotify: https://profmel.com/spotify Apple: https://profmel.com/apple ----------------------------------------------- LINKS 🛳️ Get my Travel Insurance Guide for Cruisers: https://profmel.com/insurance 🛳️ Shop my favorite cruise outfits and essentials: https://profmel.com/shop 🛳️ Want to become a travel agent? https://www.profmelissa.com/travelagent 🛳️ Get my top recommended travel card: http://www.profmel.com/card 🛳️ Want to book a cruise or take a cruise with me? https://profmel.com/book 🛳️ Grab my FREE Cruise Packing List & Planner: https://profmel.com/subscribe 🛳️ Want to book my favorite private drivers? http://www.profmel.com/drivers ------------------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH ME TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@professormelissa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfMelissaCruises/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professormelissa ------------------------------------------------- Please note that sometimes, my posts contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission through purchases, but this does not affect you as a consumer or cost you more in any way. I appreciate your use of my links, as this helps support my channel. ♥️