Welcome aboard the latest Weekly Helm Report, where this week’s cruise news is anything but smooth sailing. Carnival stirs the waters with a new loyalty overhaul, while several ships—Epic, Edge, Seascape, and Westerdam—break free from their moorings thanks to wild weather. Virgin Voyages leans into AI-driven mermaids (yes, really), Disney trims deposits, and Margaritaville at Sea raises a toast to one year of Islander sailings. From stormy surprises to sunny celebrations, we’ve charted the biggest cruise headlines so you don’t have to. Let’s set sail.