Cruise Safety, St. Thomas, and Alaska Plans

Greek authorities are investigating the death of a 62-year-old British woman who died in her cabin aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged cruise ship near Santorini on July 26; the Port Authority of Thira has opened an investigation and an autopsy was ordered at the Forensic Medical Service of Piraeus. In St. Thomas, dredging of the cruise harbor at Havensight begins in September 2026 under contractor Orion Marine Construction, with completion expected by mid-2027 — work that WICO President and CEO Joseph Boschulte says will finally let the largest Oasis-class ships call safely, as the territory projects 362 calls and roughly 1.2 million passengers in fiscal 2027. And Princess Cruises has opened sales for its 2028 Alaska season, with 185 departures across 14 itineraries on eight ships, 86 scheduled scenic-cruising visits to Glacier Bay National Park, and cruise-tour options anchored by five wilderness lodges and the Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service.