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Carnival Cruise Line Moves Up Departure Times on 93 More Sailings

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Moves Up Departure Times on 93 More Sailings

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is moving departures 30 minutes earlier for 93 sailings on two different ships in 2026 and 2027.
  • Carnival Liberty now has departures adjusted on 47 sailings, while 46 sailings on Carnival Splendor will depart earlier.
  • The ships are homeported from New Orleans, Louisiana and Sydney, Australia, respectively.

More notification letters have begun going out to guests booked on Carnival Liberty and Carnival Splendor, adjusting their cruise departure times to 30 minutes earlier than originally planned.

Cruise Hive has obtained letters for both ships and confirmed that, in total, 93 sailings have been moved to earlier departures, with sailing dates as soon as December 2026 and extending into November 2027.

These changes follow the recent adjustment of 153 sailings aboard Carnival Elation and Carnival Glory, bringing the total number of ship departures with earlier sailaway times to 246 different cruises.

Carnival Liberty Departure Adjustments

Every Carnival Liberty sailing from the ship’s January 3, 2027 departure through and including her November 20, 2027 departure has now been moved 30 minutes earlier and will depart New Orleans, Louisiana at 3 p.m. instead of 3:30 p.m. This gives 47 sailings a new sailaway time.

The 2,974-guest ship is offering mostly 7-night cruises during that time. Depending on the exact departure date, Carnival Liberty is scheduled to visit destinations such as Key West, Celebration Key, Nassau, Isla Tropicale, Belize, Cozumel, Montego Bay, and Grand Cayman.

Only two sailings impacted by the departure change are not weeklong cruises. The ship’s November 14, 2027 departure is a 6-night itinerary to Belize and Cozumel, while the November 20, 2027 departure is an 8-night cruise to Nassau; RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay; and Celebration Key.

Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship
Carnival Liberty Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: lazyllama)

Both of those sailings will also depart New Orleans at the earlier time, letting guests get into the cruising fun 30 minutes sooner than originally planned.

There is no change to any of the port visit times or when Carnival Liberty is expected back in New Orleans for any of the impacted sailings.

Carnival Splendor Departure Adjustments

Sailing from Sydney, 46 Carnival Splendor departures are now changed to a 3 p.m. departure instead of setting sail at 3:30 p.m. as originally planned. Adjusted to the new, earlier sailaway are the ship’s five departures in December 2026: December 8, 13, 17, 26, and 30.

Also setting sail earlier are the following 41 departures in 2027:

  • January 13, 27, 31
  • February 4, 13, 25, 28
  • March 9, 18, 22, 26
  • April 8, 11, 15, 22, 25, 29
  • May 13, 26
  • June 4, 7, 16, 20, 24, 27
  • July 1, 14, 18, 27
  • September 17, 20, 24, 27
  • October 1, 4, 8, 22, 31
  • November 16, 20, 23

The 3,012-guest Carnival Splendor is sailing a diverse offering of itineraries through these dates. Cruise lengths ranging from 4-15 nights, though the longer sailings are not impacted by this change and guests should double check their cruise departure date for the earlier sailaway time.

There are no departures for Carnival Splendor adjusted in August 2027 because the ship will be out of service and in dry dock at that time. Her last departure will leave Sydney on July 31 (still sailing at 3:30 p.m. for that cruise!) and is a 15-day one-way voyage to Singapore, visiting Moreton Island, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Lembar, and Benoa along the way.

Carnival Splendor returns to Sydney to begin departures again from September 17, and that first post dry-dock departure does have the earlier sailaway time.

As with Carnival Liberty, there are no other itinerary adjustments to ports of call, port visit times, or return to homeport times for Carnival Splendor at this time.

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Carnival Cruise Line has not offered more details about why so many sailings are having their homeport departures adjusted by 30 minutes, but such changes are not uncommon. Port operations, berth schedules, pilot availability, and other factors all impact exactly when cruise ships are able to set sail.

All guests on now-adjusted departures will want to be sure they arrive at the cruise terminal with adequate time for check-in before the final boarding time printed on their boarding passes. Guests who arrive late may be denied boarding and be unable to set sail.

MSC Poesia Guests Get Full Refund Plus 100% Cruise Credit After Cancelled Sailing

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Poesia Guests Get Full Refund Plus 100% Cruise Credit After Cancelled Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • All MSC Poesia guests will receive a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit for the now-cancelled November 1, 2026 sailing.
  • The ship has been unable to depart Miami due to an undisclosed “regulatory matter” and the cancellation was announced on Tuesday, November 3.
  • Free WiFi access is being provided and guests can submit claims for reimbursement for changed post-cruise travel plans.

Guests onboard MSC Poesia have now received letters outlining their options for compensation following the cancellation of the ship’s Sunday, November 1, 2026 sailing.

While guests were able to board the ship in PortMiami on Sunday for what was to have been an 11-night Southern and Western Caribbean itinerary, MSC Poesia did not depart at 5 p.m. that day as planned.

Instead, the ship was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard as an inspection was underway. While the nature of that inspection was not publicly disclosed, announcements made onboard confirmed it was not related to a health or safety issue.

Guests were finally informed just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3 that their sailing was unfortunately cancelled.

“Despite our team’s continuous effort to solve the regulatory matter that delayed our departure, we unfortunately have to cancel,” the captain announced to guests.

The nature of the “regulatory matter” was not disclosed and as of Tuesday night, Cruise Hive’s ship tracker shows MSC Poesia still docked in Miami.

Few further details were provided in the compensation letter, which has been posted on Facebook, but the “regulatory matter” was mentioned and the cruise line did express regret for the situation.

“We sincerely apologize for the limited information we were able to share throughout this process,” the letter began. “On Sunday evening prior to departure, a regulatory matter arose that required resolution and unfortunately, the resources necessary to address this matter have not been available in time to meet the sailing schedule.”

Refunds and Credits Offered to Guests

Following the morning announcement of the cancellation, which also confirmed guests could remain onboard the ship until noon on Thursday, November 5, letters began to be delivered to guests’ staterooms with complete compensation details.

First, all guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and eligible prepaid purchases, such as beverage packages, specialty dining, internet use, and shore tours booked through MSC Cruises. That refund will be returned to the original form of payment within 14 days.

All guests will also receive a future cruise credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid. That credit can be used on any MSC sailing but must be redeemed by “confirming a booking by November 2, 2027.”

Read Also: Who Owns MSC Cruises – Behind the Global Cruise Line

This means that not only are guests receiving a refund for the now-cancelled cruise, but they will also receive a significant credit that can be used toward another sailing in the future: in effect, double compensation.

Guest reactions to this offer have generally been positive.

“I would say that’s more than fair,” one commenter responded on Facebook. “Glad to see MSC takes care of their customers.”

“I think this is very reasonable from MSC,” another commenter added. “They have clearly tried to resolve it but with no success so this is more than reasonable.”

In the meantime, WiFi access has been made complimentary for all guests onboard the ship so they can adjust their post-cruise travel plans as needed.

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MSC Cruises will also reimburse eligible change fees and transportation charges, so long as the new arrangements are “in the same category of service, including the same destination as your originally booked journey.”

Reimbursement will also be provided for hotel accommodations if guests are unable to arrange return travel on the day they disembark MSC Poesia. All reimbursement claims must be submitted for review.

Villa Vie Odyssey Heads to Singapore After Lender Takes Possession

Melissa Mayntz
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Villa Vie Odyssey Heads to Singapore After Lender Takes Possession

Key Aspects:

  • Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey has departed Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and is now en route to Singapore.
  • The ship is now under the control of its lender rather than Villa Vie Residences, and its fate is still unconfirmed.
  • A plan from residents to purchase and operate the ship also failed when additional debt was disclosed.

Villa Vie Residences’ beleaguered ship, Odyssey, has departed Cambodia and is en route to Singapore, but not because of the residential cruise company’s directives. According to CBS News, the ship is now under the control of its creditor, effectively repossessed following the financial difficulties the company is facing.

The company reportedly sent a message to residents updating them on the situation, but maintaining an optimistic tone about what may be next for Odyssey.

“The lender has taken possession of the ship, but that does not mean the Odyssey’s future has been decided,” the company said. “No sale has been scheduled. We believe there is time to bring forward a viable plan and are working to do that.”

Cruise Hive reported on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 that the ship had abruptly ceased operations to be laid up in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. At that time, all remaining residents onboard the 24,344-gross ton ship were instructed to debark and were given just a day to collect their belongings and leave.

Now, Cruise Hive’s ship tracker confirms that Odyssey is on the move, showing Singapore as her destination. The ship is only moving at 7 knots (8 miles per hour), however, well below her maximum cruising speed of 17 knots (20 miles per hour).

In the months leading up to her operational pause, residents had reported the ship moving at slower speeds as a fuel conservation measure. Rising fuel costs were cited by the cruise line as part of the reason for the pause.

Odyssey Cruise Tracking
Odyssey Cruise Tracking

“We have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port,” the cruise line explained in a release on October 27. “Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses.“

Multiple unconfirmed sources have reportedly noted that the ship may now be auctioned off, though the company has not acknowledged that possibility.

“This is a 30- to 90-day process, and, during that process, we have time to get a restructure done,” said Mike Petterson, the company’s founder and executive chairman, to CBS News.

Residents Cannot Purchase the Ship

Another possible recovery plan has also failed as a group of 169 Odyssey residents did pledge to attempt to purchase the vessel, but that attempt has now been denied by the lender, Sagar Capital.

A letter from Sagar Capital posted to a Facebook page for the ship paints a dire picture and it may not be possible to reach another financial agreement to keep the ship operating.

“We were given access to Villa Vie’s records only last Saturday. Our review found substantially more debt than we had anticipated,” the letter noted.

Furthermore, the letter explained that a Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration could cost roughly $3 million for the first 60 days, prohibitively high for such a proceeding to move forward without unacceptable risk to the ship’s residents.

What Will Happen to Odyssey?

At the moment, there is no confirmed plan in place for Odyssey. While the ship is moving to Singapore, that may only be a temporary stop if the vessel is auctioned. There is no ship-breaking yard in Singapore, but any buyer would then move the ship to an appropriate facility for scrapping, if that is the eventual outcome.

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It is also possible the ship may be sold to another cruise line that could refurbish the vessel for further service. Odyssey first entered service in 1993 as Crown Dynasty for the now-defunct Crown Cruise Line, and has moved to multiple operators over the past 33 years, including Majesty Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

French Strike Forces MSC Preziosa to Cancel Le Havre Call

Calvin Musquez
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French Strike Forces MSC Preziosa to Cancel Le Havre Call

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Preziosa has cancelled its November 5, 2026, visit to Le Havre, France, because of an expected nationwide strike and protest action.
  • The ship will instead remain overnight in Zeebrugge, Belgium, extending its stay until 6:00 p.m. on November 5.
  • Guests with MSC-booked shore excursions in Le Havre will receive refunds to their onboard accounts.

Due to a planned nationwide strike and protest action, MSC Preziosa has cancelled an upcoming port call in Le Havre, France. Instead, the ship will extend its visit to Belgium.

The 4,345-guest vessel was originally planned to arrive in Le Havre on November 5, 2026, following a port call in Zeebrugge on November 4. With the strike expected to disrupt port operations and transport across France, however, the Le Havre call has been cancelled

The ship will instead stay overnight in Zeebrugge, departing at 6:00 p.m. on November 5 instead of 6:00 p.m. on November 4 as planned. Guests were alerted to the change in a notice signed by Captain Francesco Iacono on November 3, 2026.

“We would like to inform you of a change to our itinerary due to planned nationwide strike and protest action in France on Thursday, 5 November,” the notice reads. “…in the interest of providing a safe and comfortable guest experience, we have decided to cancel MSC Preziosa’s scheduled call to Le Havre on that day.”

MSC Preziosa
MSC Preziosa (Photo Credit: Stefan Lambauer)

Several overlapping itineraries are affected by the change, including embarkations from Le Havre, Southampton, Hamburg, and Amsterdam. Some guests were scheduled to embark on a seven-night sailing from Le Havre on November 5, though MSC has not publicly said how those guests will be accommodated.

Guests who booked excursions through MSC Cruises for Le Havre will be refunded to their onboard accounts. The cruise line encouraged guests to visit the Shore Excursions Desk onboard MSC Preziosa to book additional tours for Zeebrugge.

French Strike Threatens Cruise Operations

The national strike on November 5 was organized by a coalition of France’s major labor unions, known as an intersyndicale. It concerns wages, the cost of living, public services, and government budget proposals.

Multiple public services are expected to be impacted, including education, healthcare, and transportation. This could not only affect operations at the port of Le Havre, but also affect guests planning to travel inland.

An earlier strike on October 30 involved unions representing approximately 14,000 port workers, including 7,500 dockworkers, according to reports from French outlet Le Parisien. Those workers’ unions have also announced their intention to participate in the November 5 strike.

Recent strikes and protests in France have caused a number of other disruptions for cruise itineraries, as Cruise Hive previously reported. This cancellation follows another MSC Cruises itinerary disruption involving Le Havre.

MSC Virtuosa cancelled its October 30, 2026, visit to the French port due to another strike in which dockworkers participated. It also cancelled its call to La Rochelle due to poor weather.

Earlier that month, P&O Cruises cancelled a visit to Le Havre aboard Iona on October 18, 2026, redirecting to La Coruña. That cancellation concerned ongoing protests and civil unrest throughout France, separate from the planned November 5 strike.

Bomb Threat Holds Crown Iris in Greek Port for Hours

Melissa Mayntz
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Bomb Threat Holds Crown Iris in Greek Port for Hours

Key Aspects:

  • A bomb threat against Crown Iris delayed the ship’s departure from Syros, Greece, for several hours on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
  • Searches were carried out onboard by a bomb disposal team and a bomb detection dog, and a diver inspected the ship’s hull.
  • No suspicious materials were found during the searches, which took place the day after authorities banned a planned protest against the ship.

The Israeli-owned cruise ship Crown Iris was delayed in Syros, Greece, for several hours after her scheduled departure following a bomb threat against the vessel. Authorities were alerted to the threat and subsequently inspected the ship.

According to ekathimerini.com, a bomb disposal team from the Port Authority searched the ship but found no suspicious objects onboard. A bomb detection dog as well as a diver also assisted in the search, and the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Underwater Operations Unit is expected to conduct a second inspection before the ship will be cleared to depart the Greek port.

Crown Iris is finishing a 7-night sailing from Haifa, Israel that departed on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The Greek Islands cruise has already visited Kos, Piraeus, and Nafplio, and the visit to Syros is the last port on the round-trip itinerary.

The ship, operated by Mano Cruise, was to have been in port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but AIS tracking confirms the ship had not left Syros at press time, approximately 10 p.m. in Syros.

Local media reported that 940 passengers and 597 crew members are onboard the ship. According to the cruise line’s website, the full passenger capacity of Crown Iris is 2,000 guests, with a complement of 650 officers and crew members.

The bomb threat happened the day after protests against the ship’s visit to Syros were banned by local authorities. Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, November 2, 2026 that the Syros Anti-War Initiative had planned a demonstration on the Ermoupoli waterfront against the ship’s Tuesday visit. The protest was to have begun in the early morning, before Crown Iris arrived at 8 a.m.

The Hellenic Coast Guard issued a statement to local media noting that the waterfront demonstration location “posed a severe threat to public security due to the potential of serious crimes being committed, particularly against human lives, bodily integrity and property … and to the area’s social and economic activity.”

The protest was permitted to be held at an alternative location away from the waterfront, but there are no reports of whether it actually did move forward at an alternative site or if there were any violent incidents during the event.

Not the First Threat to the Ship

Crown Iris has been the subject of threats and protests several times over the past year. Both road and marine traffic restrictions were put in place during the ship’s October 14, 2026 visit to the Port of Argostoli as an extra precaution for the safety of the vessel.

Protests have been held against the ship at different Greek ports since mid-2025, including in Piraeus, Rhodes, and Crete. In June 2026, a 37-year-old Palestinian man was arrested in Crete for his suspected involvement in a possible attack plot against the ship, just days after a protest during the ship’s visit to Piraeus.

Crown Iris is the only cruise ship operated by Mano Cruise and is homeported year-round from Haifa, offering itineraries from 3-11 nights to Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, and other eastern Mediterranean destinations.

Celebrity Xcite Will Debut With Week-Long Caribbean Cruises From Miami

Calvin Musquez
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Celebrity Xcite Will Debut With Week-Long Caribbean Cruises From Miami

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for Celebrity Xcite’s inaugural season of seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami in 2028.
  • It will join nine other Celebrity vessels in the company’s largest Caribbean deployment yet.
  • The 2028/29 season will include the first three-night Edge Series sailings aboard Celebrity Beyond and expanded Southern Caribbean itineraries.

Celebrity Cruises has officially unveiled its 2028/29 Caribbean deployments, including the inaugural season for its upcoming flagship, Celebrity Xcite. The Edge Series ship will join nine other vessels in what the cruise line calls its most expansive Caribbean lineup yet.

Sailing from Miami, Celebrity Xcite will debut with seven-night Caribbean voyages. The roughly 3,200-guest ship will offer rotating itineraries visiting destinations in the Caribbean. 

Ports of call include St. Thomas, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and the Dominican Republic. 

“With the debut of Celebrity Xcite, and more Edge Series ships in the Caribbean than ever before, our 2028 and 2029 season gives guests more ways to experience the destinations they love,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Xcite is the sixth vessel in Celebrity’s Edge Series, which includes Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Beyond. The fifth Edge Series predecessor, Celebrity Xcel, entered service in November 2025.

Cruise Hive previously covered the ship’s October 2025 steel-cutting ceremony, which took place on the same day that Celebrity Cruises took delivery of Celebrity Xcel. While the ship’s maiden voyage has not been officially confirmed, the earliest sailings currently available to book depart in November 2028.

The cruise line opened bookings for the winter 2028/29 season on November 3, 2026. Summer 2028 bookings will open on December 9, 2026.

Edge Series Will Offer Its First Short Bahamas Sailings 

In addition to the debut of Celebrity Xcite, the cruise line will offer Caribbean and Bahamas sailings aboard nine other vessels. In a first for the Edge Series, Celebrity Beyond will offer short Bahamas getaways.

Nine three-night cruises to the region will be offered aboard the ship from Fort Lauderdale. These sailings will feature a day at sea, followed by a ten-hour call at Nassau.

Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship
Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Sail Away)

Longer eight- to 11-night sailings will also be offered aboard Celebrity Beyond. These cruises will visit St. Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua, with six Panama Canal voyages.

Celebrity Eclipse will join Celebrity Beyond in offering weekend getaways from Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries include Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, and Key West.

Other short Bahamas itineraries will be offered aboard Celebrity Summit, sailing four- and five-night voyages from Miami. Select sailings will visit Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Nassau, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Other Expanded Caribbean Offerings

Included in the 2028/29 lineup, the cruise line will sail its first full summer season in the Southern Caribbean in 2028. As part of these expanded offerings, Celebrity Silhouette will offer new eight- to 12-night summer sailings featuring destinations such as Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Grenada.

Then, beginning in October 2028, Silhouette will also offer seven-night cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with five port days on every sailing. Destinations include St. Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Reflection will continue offering year-round six- to eight-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. This will follow its planned March 2027 transformation with 13 new spaces.

Celebrity Ascent will also sail from Fort Lauderdale, offering nine- to 12-night sailings. These itineraries will visit destinations including Grand Cayman, Aruba, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Maarten, Barbados, Antigua, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Other fleet highlights include Celebrity Apex’s return to Port Canaveral for Caribbean itineraries and seven-night cruises from Tampa aboard Celebrity Constellation. Another Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcel, will offer six- and eight-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.

Six-night Western Caribbean itineraries aboard Celebrity Xcel will visit Mexico, Honduras, and Grand Cayman. Meanwhile, eight-night Southern Caribbean sailings include Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

MSC Cruises Cancels Poesia Voyage After Coast Guard Holds Ship in Miami

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Cruises Cancels Poesia Voyage After Coast Guard Holds Ship in Miami

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Poesia has had her current 11-night sailing cancelled following a two-day delay in Miami due to a U.S. Coast Guard inspection.
  • The ship was originally scheduled to depart on Sunday, November 1 at 5 p.m. but remained in port through Tuesday morning when the cancellation was announced.
  • No information about the nature of the inspection or any findings have been publicly confirmed.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia was scheduled to set sail from PortMiami on an 11-night Southern and Western Caribbean itinerary beginning Sunday, November 1, 2026, but the ship remained at the South Florida port with guests onboard as the cancellation was announced on Tuesday morning, November 3.

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) inspection delayed the vessel’s departure. The ship should have been at her first port of call, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

At just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, however, guests were informed their cruise was now cancelled.

“It is with very deep regret that I must inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel our cruise,” the ship’s captain announced over the ship’s public address system. “Despite our team’s continuous effort to solve the regulatory matter that delayed our departure, we unfortunately have to cancel.”

MSC Cruises stated to Cruise Hive:

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel the current sailing. We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our guests, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to their holiday.

Prior to departure, a regulatory matter arose that required resolution. Despite our efforts to address the matter, we were unable to resolve it in time for the sailing to proceed.”

Guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, and we are providing support to assist with their journey home.”

The captain went on to apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience, and confirmed that MSC Cruises would provide a full refund to guests along with a future cruise credit and additional compensation.

Full details about the compensation, debarkation, and next steps for guests would be delivered to guests’ staterooms later on Tuesday.

MSC Poesia Cruise Ship
MSC Poesia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Stop Kadras)

Guests are being permitted to remain onboard MSC Poesia until noon on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Furthermore, free WiFi is being provided to all guests so they could make travel arrangements if needed.

“We understand that this is not the outcome any of us had hoped for,” the captain said. “My crew and I share your disappointment and we are truly, truly, truly sorry that we have been unable to deliver the holiday experience you were so looking forward to. On behalf of everyone on Poesia, thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout this difficult situation.”

What Happened to MSC Poesia?

Passengers did board the ship on Sunday as planned, but MSC Poesia was unable to depart. According to CBS News Miami, Coast Guard Sector Miami had detained the ship for inspection to ensure compliance with U.S. regulations and international standards.

“The Coast Guard is tasked with verifying safe and secure commerce. It is the Captain of the Port’s priority to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel, and the environment,” the USCG said in a statement to CBS News.

No further details on the nature of the inspection have been publicly disclosed. This is not, however, a health inspection from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program, which is a different type of inspection from a different agency.

At 8:40 p.m. Monday, more than 27 hours after the ship had been scheduled to depart Miami, the ship’s captain provided an update to guests onboard, but it wasn’t what guests had hoped to hear.

“Regarding our departure from Miami, our team continues to work closely with the United States Coast Guard, and we remain hopeful that we will receive the necessary clearance to proceed with our voyage,” he said.

If clearance had been granted, a revised itinerary would have been provided for the remainder of the cruise. If guests preferred not to continue with the sailing, cancellation options would also be provided.

“If we are unable to depart tomorrow, we will unfortunately need to cancel the voyage,” the captain warned guests. “In that event, be assured MSC Cruises will provide a refund and additional compensation with full details and guidance on the next steps.”

Onboard entertainment, dining, and amenities remained available to guests during the delay.

The original itinerary for this 11-night sailing included port visits in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize before the 2,550-guest, Musica-class ship would have returned to Miami on Thursday, November 12.

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Depending on the outcome of the USCG inspection, additional sailings may also be impacted, though there is not yet any announcement about future cruises.

The ship’s next departure is a 10-night round-trip Eastern Caribbean itinerary planned to set sail from Miami on Thursday, November 12 with visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Carnival Moves Up Departure Times on 153 Sailings From Florida

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Carnival Moves Up Departure Times on 153 Sailings From Florida

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has moved departures 30 minutes earlier for upcoming sailings on Carnival Elation and Carnival Glory.
  • Carnival Elation has 77 sailings from Jacksonville adjusted, while Carnival Glory has 76 sailings from Port Canaveral adjusted.
  • Only the homeport departure times are changed and there are no additional adjustments to individual itineraries.

Guests on two Carnival ships, Carnival Elation and Carnival Glory, will get the fun started on their vacations slightly earlier, as Carnival Cruise Line is now notifying guests that the ships will set sail earlier than expected on a total of 153 planned departure dates.

In total, 77 sailings for Carnival Elation sailing from Jacksonville, Florida, are impacted, as well as 76 sailings for Carnival Glory departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

For all the impacted sailings, the ship will be departing 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled, now setting sail at 3:00 p.m. rather than 3:30 p.m.

The impacted sailings of Carnival Elation are all departures beginning December 3, 2026 through and including November 22, 2027. The 2,190-guest ship sails 4- and 5-night Bahamas itineraries from Jacksonville. Depending on the departure date and cruise length, the ship visits Nassau, Celebration Key, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Carnival Elation Letter
Carnival Elation Letter

Aboard Carnival Glory, the impacted sailings begin with the ship’s December 14, 2026 departure and include all voyages through the December 31, 2026 sailing. In 2027, cruises that will now be departing a half hour earlier are as follows: February 1 through and including April 26; May 15 through and including September 10; October 4 through and including October 15; and November 8 through and including November 26.

The 2,980-guest Carnival Glory offers 3- and 4-night Bahamas itineraries similar to the cruises aboard Carnival Elation, also with stops in Celebration Key, Nassau, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, depending on sailing date and cruise length.

In the advisories Carnival Cruise Line is now sending to booked guests, the cruise line reminds guests to be on time for their new departure.

“In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board no later than the final boarding time specified on the boarding pass,” the notification states.

Other than the earlier homeport departure, there are no changes to any of the impacted sailings’ port visits or homeport return.

Does Such a Small Change Matter to Guests?

While a 30-minute change may not seem significant to many travelers, guests driving to Jacksonville or Port Canaveral will want to be particularly aware of the earlier departure in case they had planned to arrive at the cruise terminal later in the afternoon.

The cruise line has previously confirmed that ship departures will not be delayed for guests who may be late, even when circumstances are out of the guests’ control. In August 2025, Cruise Hive reported on a family who missed their departure on Carnival Glory because of a traffic jam as they were traveling to Port Canaveral, even though the ship had not yet set sail.

Cruise lines do not set the deadlines on when terminals close before a ship’s departure. Federal manifest rules require cruise lines to close check-in well before a ship’s departure, so terminals stop processing guests before sailaway.

Carnival Cruise Line has not disclosed any specific reason for the earlier departures for either ship, nor why so many itineraries are now impacted.

Overall port operations and berth availability, local pilot schedules, and the presence of other marine traffic and ship arrivals and departures can all impact when cruise ships are able to set sail.

Carnival has made such mass adjustments previously for other ships sailing from different homeports. For example, in May 2026, a total of 92 different departures for Carnival Panorama from Long Beach were adjusted with departure time shifts, some port visit time changes, and even some later returns to California.

Virgin Voyages Pulls Resilient Lady Cruise for Full Ship Charter

Melissa Mayntz
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Virgin Voyages Pulls Resilient Lady Cruise for Full Ship Charter

Key Aspects:

  • The 4-night, April 28, 2027 sailing for Resilient Lady has been cancelled in favor of a full-ship charter.
  • Guests can rebook on select alternative sailings with price and promotion protection as well as onboard credit.
  • This is the second Virgin Voyages cruise to be ditched for a charter sailing in recent weeks.

Guests booked on the April 28, 2027 sailing of Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady have begun receiving notices that their sailing is now cancelled. While the voyage will still set sail, it is now a full ship charter and will not be operated as a regular guest sailing.

Cancellation emails were being sent out to booked guests beginning on Monday, November 2, 2026 and the sailing has been removed from the cruise line’s website.

The 4-night cruise is scheduled to depart PortMiami on Wednesday, April 28, 2027 at 4 p.m., with a full-day visit to Key West on Thursday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday is scheduled as a day at sea, and Saturday is a visit to Bimini from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Resilient Lady will return to Florida on Sunday, May 2, for debarkation.

This particular sailing is the ship’s last roundtrip sailing from Miami before her 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona. Resilient Lady will remain in Europe for the summer season and will return to Miami in early November.

Virgin Voyages has not publicly disclosed what company or organization has now booked the 2,770-guest ship. Charter cruises are frequently arranged for at-sea music festivals and other celebrations, as well as lifestyle groups, corporations, and similar groups.

Alternatives for Booked Guests

Guests who can no longer set sail onboard Resilient Lady are being offered three options, including two rebooking choices as well as the opportunity for a full refund.

The first option is to transfer to sister ship Valiant Lady for her May 6, 2027 departure. Also departing from Miami, that is the same 4-night sailing to the now-cancelled Resilient Lady itinerary, with calls to Key West and Bimini.

If guests prefer a different sailing, they can select from eligible 4- and 5-night cruises setting sail during April or May 2027, giving guests more options to choose a voyage close to their original schedule.

For both rebooking options, guests will receive onboard credit, which Virgin Voyages calls “Sailor Loot,” for adjusting their reservations. Guests in standard staterooms will receive $100 per stateroom, while guests in suites will receive $300 per suite.

Furthermore, all rebookings under these two options will be price protected for the original cruise fare as well as booking promotions. This allows guests to transfer their booking benefits to an alternative cruise without losing any bonuses or incentives from the now-cancelled sailing.

The third option is if guests do not wish to rebook, they can instead select a full refund with no fees or penalties.

Are Charter Cruises Frequent?

Though charter cruises do not frequently disrupt booked guests’ vacation plans, these types of shifts do occasionally happen. Just days ago, Cruise Hive reported that the October 30, 2027 cruise for Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady has also been booked for a private charter and is now cancelled for other guests.

Similar cancellations have been reported on many cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. The exact ships, homeports, and itineraries selected for full-ship charters vary for each group booking the ship and their expected needs.

The options that Virgin Voyages has provided for the now-cancelled Resilient Lady cruise are comparable to the choices most cruise lines provide under similar circumstances.

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