Whales, Clean Ships, and MSC’s Next Giant

NOAA Fisheries is assessing the death of an endangered fin whale found on the bow of Norwegian Joy as the ship approached Sitka, Alaska, on Sept. 17, delaying the port call by about three hours. It is the second time since June that a cruise ship has arrived at an Alaska port with a dead fin whale on its bow. We also cover the seven Royal Caribbean ships, from Grandeur of the Seas to Icon of the Seas, that earned perfect 100-point scores in 2026 CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspections, and what those scores do and don't tell you. Then a look at the 2026-27 newbuild pipeline, led by MSC World Asia, which will be named in Le Havre on Nov. 28 before its Dec. 4 debut from Barcelona, alongside the hydrogen-powered Viking Libra and Regent's Seven Seas Prestige.