A violent storm packing hurricane-force winds slammed into the popular Croatian port of Split on the morning of July 8, causing widespread damage, flooding, and maritime chaos.

Winds reaching over 140 km/h (87 mph) swept through the city shortly after 9 AM local time, toppling trees, damaging infrastructure, and knocking out power in several areas. The storm, part of a fast-developing mesoscale convective system, unleashed torrential rain and hail, triggering sirens and sending residents and tourists scrambling for cover.

The cruise ship Celebrity Infinity is stranded in the Turkish port of Kuşadası following a power failure caused by an apparent small electrical fire.
Celebrity Infinity was scheduled to depart Kuşadası on July 7 and sail to Mykonos, Greece, the following day. Instead, the ship has been docked for at least two days, with ongoing technical issues delaying departure until at least the evening of July 9.

A power outage struck the ship while it was docked, leaving cabins without air conditioning or lighting and halting food service.

Royal Caribbean has released the first episode of its new behind-the-scenes series Engineering the Experience, offering a look at the immense engineering and creativity behind building a modern cruise ship. Titled How Is a Cruise Ship Built?, the episode features the line’s newest vessel, Utopia of the Seas, as the star example.

The MS Astoria, one of the world’s oldest cruise ships, has arrived in Ghent, Belgium, to be dismantled after 77 years of service. Purchased for just €200,000 by recycling firm Galloo, the ship was towed from Rotterdam where it had been laid up since 2020 marking the end of a remarkable maritime legacy.

Crew members aboard the Norwegian Prima received seven days of free basic internet access following persistent complaints about extremely slow connection speeds. Despite the ship being equipped with high-speed Starlink, many crew reported being unable to access even basic messaging apps, raising frustrations among those who rely on internet access to stay connected with family. While the complimentary internet package was seen as a small step forward, crew members remain hopeful that the root of the issue will be addressed and resolved as soon as possible.

Crew Center received a message from Azamara Onward crew member who wishes to remain anonymous. The message sheds light on the situation onboard following a recent outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness. While health and safety remain a top priority for all seafarers, the crew member voices frustration describing it as an unjustified and demoralizing decision: a full ban on crew going ashore during a tender port visit.

This is the letter we received from the crew member:

The Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice-Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area, has come under fire after what many are calling a staged publicity stunt during the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas off the coast of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

A suspected foreign spy arrested in Crete last week has triggered alarm within Greek intelligence after investigators uncovered thousands of surveillance photos, among them, detailed images of cruise ships in Chania docked at Port Souda. Authorities are now probing whether the vessels, carrying thousands of tourists, were potential reconnaissance targets in a broader suspected terrorist plot.

Three French men were sentenced on Monday by a court in Genoa for their involvement in the rape of a 19-year-old Italian student aboard an MSC cruise ship last year. The Genoa tribunal handed 10-year prison terms to two of the men, while the third received a 5-year and 4-month sentence. All three had been accused of participating in the sexual assault of the student on the cruise ship MSC Seaside during the night between May 17 and 18, 2024, as the ship sailed off the coast of Genoa.

Viking Ocean Cruises celebrated the christening of its newest ocean-going vessel, the Viking Vesta, in Split, Croatia. The ceremony comes as the cruise line marks its 10th anniversary in the cruise business, reinforcing its reputation for delivering elegant, small-ship experiences.