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Thousands of cruise travelers hit with abrupt vacation plan changes: ‘Apologize for the inconvenience’

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Royal Caribbean has scrapped the itineraries for 20 upcoming voyages, impacting thousands of passengers.

“Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements and broader fleet considerations,” the cruise line said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“As part of this process, we’ve made the decision to redeploy Freedom of the Seas to Southampton in 2027,” it also said.

MAJOR CRUISE LINE CANCELS PLANNED SAILINGS, UPENDING VACATIONS: ‘DEFINITELY A DISAPPOINTMENT”

“Guests and travel partners are being contacted directly with details about their sailings and available options,” it added.

Booked passengers reportedly received the news via email, according to the Royal Caribbean Blog, which is not affiliated with the cruise line.

The letter notified passengers that voyages aboard Freedom of the Seas that were set to depart from May through September 2027 would not travel to the planned destinations.

The deployment affects 5-night cruises to the Dominican Republic and Perfect Day at CocoCay, 4-night Bahamian getaways and 9-night voyages with stops in Aruba and Curaçao. 

MIDDLE EAST CRUISE NIGHTMARE DEEPENS AS IRAN AIRSTRIKES LEAVE PASSENGERS STRANDED

The Royal Caribbean blog said that booked passengers received an emailed letter that said, “As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process — which sometimes requires flexibility due to scheduling, port agreements, or operational needs, Freedom of the Seas will be redeployed for our summer 2027 season.”

The note reportedly went on, “As a result, your Sept. 18, 2027, sailing has been redeployed. We know how much effort goes into planning your vacation and apologize for the inconvenience. We’ve put together some alternative options that we hope will work for you and those in your party.”

Booked guests were reportedly offered a move to a new 4-night Perfect Day at CocoCay & Bahamas cruise onboard Wonder of the Seas departing on Sept. 20, 2027, round trip from Miami, Florida.

If travelers choose not to travel on the new date and aboard the alternate vessel, they will reportedly receive a full refund of the cruise fare they’ve already paid, as well as any prepaid amenities, according to the Royal Caribbean blog.

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Freedom of the Seas premiered in 2006 as the largest passenger ship in the world. 

It underwent a major $116 million transformation in 2020, adding modern amenities including water slides, a Caribbean-themed pool deck and revamped kids’ and teens’ spaces, according to Travel Weekly.

Royal Caribbean’s change to its Freedom of the Seas lineup is the latest shakeup in the cruise industry. 

Last week, Carnival Cruise Line canceled 11 sailings on its Carnival Firenze ship, all scheduled for fall 2026.

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“Due to changes to itinerary plans, we have canceled sailings aboard Carnival Firenze scheduled between Oct. 12, 2026, and Nov. 16, 2026,” Carnival said in a shared statement with Fox News Digital, as previously reported.

News about the Carnival cancellations was shared by the company with its booked guests.

In recent months, many cruise lines have been thrown into chaos after the killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” and most recently due to the Iran conflict.

Safety concerns rattled cruise passengers after the U.S. government issued security warnings for Mexico Feb. 22. 

Puerto Vallarta was of particular concern to cruise ship operators.

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Additionally, thousands of passengers were on ships in Doha and Dubai during the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Cruise lines have been facing the volatility in oil prices during the industry’s busiest booking period, known as the “wave season,” which runs between January and March. 

These cruises tend to run during the third quarter and have a disproportionately large contribution to cruise operators’ incomes, according to Lizzie Dove, an analyst at Goldman Sachs.

Dove noted that the oil shock could affect Americans’ bookings to Europe, particularly for higher-priced transatlantic trips.

Eric Revell of FOX Business contributed reporting.

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Senator’s resurfaced comment on who Democrats care about the ‘most’ sparks online outrage: ‘He really said it’

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A resurfaced post by Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy discussing the people Democrats “care about most” is sparking social media outrage from conservatives, making the case it points to their priorities in the current fight on Department of Homeland Security funding. 

In the clip, posted on Monday night by the conservative influencer account End Wokeness, MSNBC host Chris Hayes asked Murphy in 2024 about negotiations between Democrats and Republicans happening at the time about a border security bill. Hayes pressed Murphy on why Democrats were pushing to get funding for Ukraine instead of pushing for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, as the party had done in the past.

“Well, I mean, Chris, that’s been a failed play for 20 years,” Murphy replied. “So you are right that that has been the Democratic strategy for 30 years, maybe, and it has failed to deliver for the people we care about most, the undocumented Americans that are in this country.”

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Conservatives quickly picked up on the clip and argued it’s emblematic of why Democrats haven’t been motivated to end the DHS shutdown that they voted for in February in opposition to ICE, even as concerns about national security during the war with Iran linger. 

“This has absolutely proven to be true and never more than this week,” GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno posted on X. “Senate Democrats have allowed 260,000 American workers to be used as political pawns so that they could protect criminal aliens that invaded our nation. Sick stuff.”

“Treachery,” Tesla and Space X CEO Elon Musk posted on X.

LIZ PEEK: VOTERS TELL CONGRESS ‘DO YOUR JOB’ AND END THE DHS SHOWDOWN

“He really said it,” Fox News contributor Guy Benson posted on X.

“And this guy is going to run for President…,” former White House press secretary and Fox News contributor Ari Fleischer posted on X.

“Bookmarked for later this year!” White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair posted on X.

“He accidentally said the truth out loud,” GOP Congressman Derrick Van Orden posted on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to Murphy’s office for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Hannah Panreck contributed to this report

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CNN, MS NOW avoid covering Loyola student Sheridan Gorman murdered by illegal immigrant in Chicago

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Viewers of CNN and MS NOW are being kept in the dark about the illegal immigrant accused of murdering 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Sunday that the suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, is “a Venezuelan criminal illegal alien” who was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol and released into the country under the Biden administration in 2023. Medina-Medina was released again one month later after being arrested for shoplifting.

CNN and MS NOW have ignored the story through Monday night, according to network transcripts via Grabien Media, as well as their website search results.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH KILLING LOYOLA STUDENT RELEASED UNDER BIDEN, DHS SAYS

Representatives for CNN and MS NOW did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital‘s requests for comment.

On Thursday morning, Gorman was shot in the back while walking along Chicago’s lakefront with a group of friends, who all attempted to flee after the suspect came towards them with a gun. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The story is reminiscent of the 2024 murder of Laken Riley at the hands of an illegal immigrant. At the time, the legacy press was frequently scolded by conservatives for downplaying or ignoring the killer’s immigration status. 

The liberal networks appear to be following a similar script, this time failing to mention a senseless murder altogether. 

President Donald Trump has called the murder of Gorman “devastating.” But anyone who relies on CNN or MS NOW for information would have no idea. 

The Chicago Police Department formally charged Medina-Medina on Sunday with murder in the shooting of Gorman. 

GOV PRITZKER IGNORED MY LETTER — AFTER HIS SANCTUARY POLICIES KILLED MY DAUGHTER

In a statement, the department said Medina-Medina was currently facing six felony charges: one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault involving the discharge of a firearm, and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, the department said.

A police source also told Fox News Digital that the shooting Thursday was an apparent ambush, with the gunman reportedly wearing a mask or face covering. The suspect is believed to have been living in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood

Investigators have since recovered a gun believed to be connected to the killing, sources said, and are awaiting the results of a gunshot residue test. 

The suspect is being treated for tuberculosis and is expected to appear at a detention hearing on Friday via teleconference. 

DHS HONORS ILLINOIS WOMAN WHOSE CORPSE WAS ALLEGEDLY ABUSED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FREED UNDER SANCTUARY LAWS

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, widely seen as a 2028 Democratic hopeful, issued a delayed response Monday afternoon after Gorman’s murder began dominating headlines in Chicago. But he took a moment to swipe at the Trump administration, which he accused of “politicizing” her death. 

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman. Violent crime has no place in our streets, and we expect the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Trump Administration needs to stop politicizing heinous tragedies and instead focus on real solutions, like reinstating federal funds to prevent violence that support our public safety efforts,” Pritzker said.

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Barry Manilow reveals how routine doctor visit for hip pain uncovered hidden cancer diagnosis

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What Barry Manilow thought was a minor health issue turned into a major wake-up call when doctors discovered early-stage lung cancer

The legendary performer, 82, revealed that what began as minor discomfort ultimately led to a stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis — discovered only because of a doctor’s instinct to look deeper.

In November, Manilow visited his doctor, complaining of hip pain. His doctor ordered an MRI of his pelvis, then, after hearing about two recent bouts of bronchitis, decided to scan his lungs, too. 

BARRY MANILOW OPENS UP ABOUT ‘AGONY’ OF LUNG CANCER SURGERY RECOVERY: ‘I AM GETTING STRONGER’

“If he hadn’t done that, man … He saved my life, because there’s no symptoms for what I had. I could go on, nothing hurt — but they found the dot in my lung,” Manilow told People. “They called me and said, ‘Could be cancer.’ That’s a bad word. ‘Not me. F— you. I can’t have cancer.’”

Further testing confirmed the diagnosis.

The timeline moved fast. Within four weeks, Manilow was in surgery, undergoing a lobectomy to remove part of his lung. What followed was a brutal recovery, including seven days in the ICU.

“I don’t remember it, thank goodness, because it was a nightmare,” Manilow says. “I’m one of the lucky ones; I don’t have to have chemo, radiation and all that stuff.”

He first revealed the diagnosis in December 2025, stunning fans.

Now, he’s speaking more candidly about what it means to survive something you never saw coming.

“You just don’t even think about [how fragile life is]. And suddenly, you have lung cancer. But I’m still here. I’m not all here; there’s part of me that isn’t here — they took out a part of me, and now I’ve got to figure out, ‘What do I do?’” he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Manilow for comment.

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The “Copacabana” singer is now cancer-free – and back on the charts.

BARRY MANILOW CANCELS UPCOMING TOUR DATES DUE TO CONTINUING HEALTH ISSUES

In a recent video message, Manilow delivered a positive message to his fans and shared a major health milestone.

“Hi everyone, Barry Manilow here. Well, looks like I made it, and I look fabulous, right?” he said, smiling.

“You know, with everything that’s going on in the world, I wanted to check in and share some good news. In fact, it’s great news.”

His latest single, “Once Before I Go,” topped Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, prompting him to joke, “How do you like that? I’m 100 years old with a top 10 single on the pop charts. Like my grandmother once said, next thing you know, they’ll be walking on the moon.”

Manilow is gearing up for his 33rd studio album, “What a Time,” slated to release in June.

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Last year, the legendary singer’s health scare derailed his tour and forced him off the stage. In February, Manilow admitted he wasn’t ready to return to the stage at the time. “Just got home from visiting the surgeon. Very depressing visit,” he shared.

Even with intense effort, he explained his body wasn’t cooperating.

“I told him that I have been using the treadmill three times a day (I have), but that I still couldn’t sing more than three songs in a row before I had to stop,” he said.

“The doctor said that my body had been through hell and that it needed time to heal. So, I’m going back to healing.”

Manilow rose to fame writing iconic jingles like McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today” and creating chart-topping classics like “Copacabana,” cementing himself as one of the most successful pop artists of the 1970s and 1980s.

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