The cruise ship Sapphire Princess was forced to change course during the current western Mediterranean voyage after a routine watch turned into a deeply distressing situation for everyone onboard.

Late in the afternoon on April 21, a crew member spotted an orange object drifting in the water and immediately raised the alarm. What was first believed to be a possible “man overboard” quickly escalated into a full response. The bridge team ordered the ship to turn around and investigate, with the object later identified as a lifejacket.

Princess Cruises has announced an order for three new Voyager-class cruise ships, marking a major expansion of its future fleet. The agreement with the Italian shipyard Fincantieri was formalized during the Seatrade Cruise Global event in Miami.

A new tattoo policy from Princess Cruises is already getting crew members talking onboard after it officially kicked in on April 2, 2026.

Based on a message shared with Crew Center, any visible tattoo bigger than 5x5 cm — including full sleeves — now has to be covered while working or in guest areas. Crew can use long-sleeve uniforms or special tattoo covers, which are now being sold onboard.

Ever wondered how modern cruise ships defend themselves in high-risk waters without firing a single shot? 

The answer might surprise you. It’s not missiles, armed guards, or Hollywood-style defenses — it’s sound.

A recent video shared by Princess Cruises security officer Aswini Sayooj has pulled back the curtain on one of the industry’s lesser-known safety tools: the LRAD 1000, or Long Range Acoustic Device often nicknamed the “sonic cannon.”

Princess Cruises is preparing for a significant shift in how crew performance is evaluated and developed onboard, as outlined in a recent message from Chief Human Resources Officer Luba Pelikhova.

In both an internal communication and a supporting video message, the company introduced updates to its “Performance Partnership” program — a system designed to guide how crew performance is assessed across the fleet.

Princess Cruises has issued a fleetwide reminder to crew members confirming that its updated tattoo policy will officially take effect on April 2, 2026, reinforcing rules that have already sparked discussion across the fleet.

In a recent internal communication sent to all shipboard teammates, the company reminded crew that multiple visible tattoos or full sleeve tattoos must be covered while on duty or in guest areas, using approved uniform options or tattoo sleeve coverings.

Princess Cruises has announced a series of organizational changes affecting stage staff positions across its fleet, according to an internal message sent to shipboard and shoreside teammates by the Vice President of Entertainment.

The company plans to restructure several roles within the Stage Staff team, as they continue refining how its entertainment departments are organized to align with future operational needs.

Princess Cruises is preparing to roll out a new onboard initiative known as “The Princess Purpose,” with launch events scheduled across three of its ships in April 2026, according to an internal communication sent to senior shipboard leadership.

Passengers and crew aboard Princess Cruises Regal Princess are heading back to Galveston with more than just vacation memories, they’re returning as part of a brand-new Guinness World Record.

On February 17, while the ship was in Cozumel, Mexico, guests and crew came together to break the record for the most margaritas sold in an eight-hour period. By the end of the challenge, an impressive 3,410 margaritas had been served, easily surpassing the previous record of 2,728. That’s an average of more than 426 margaritas per hour.

A routine harbor transfer turned into a brief emergency on February 10, when a harbor pilot fell into the ocean while attempting to board the Emerald Princess in rough seas off Kauai.