Blog Page 10

Carnival Opens 144 New Cruises From California for 2028-2029

Calvin Musquez
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Carnival Opens 144 New Cruises From California for 2028-2029

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has opened new West Coast sailings from Long Beach for its 2028-2029 season.
  • Baja Mexico cruises ranging from 4 to 4 nights will be offered aboard Carnival Radiance, plus a special 5-night Christmas sailing in December 2028.
  • Meanwhile, Carnival Panorama will operate longer 6- to 8-night Mexican Riviera itineraries.

Carnival Cruise Line is looking ahead to 2028 and 2029. The cruise line has opened a new slate of West Coast cruises aboard Carnival Radiance and Carnival Panorama from California.

The new cruises run from May 2028 to April 2029. They will sail from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, continuing the cruise line’s short Baja Mexico getaways and longer Mexican Riviera voyages.

Carnival Radiance offers 3-night getaways, visiting Ensenada, Mexico, along with 4-night Ensenada voyages also visiting Catalina Island. The ship will also sail a special 5-night holiday cruise departing from Long Beach on December 21, 2028. This sailing will visit Catalina Island, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada.

The 101,509 gross-ton Carnival Radiance is one of the oldest ships in Carnival’s fleet. The Sunshine-class vessel first entered service as Carnival Victory in 2000, before an extensive transformation in 2021, when she also adopted her new name.

Meanwhile, the larger Vista-class Carnival Panorama will sail 6-night cruises featuring two days in Cabo San Lucas along with visits to Ensenada. Longer 8-night sailings aboard the 133,500 gross-ton ship will extend the Mexican Riviera experience with visits to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. 

Carnival Radiance Docked in Long Beach
Carnival Radiance Docked in Long Beach (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz)

These cruises are now available for booking. Cruise Hive counted 144 available sailings across the newly opened schedule aboard Radiance and Panorama. Together, the two ships will offer West Coast cruisers a mix of options from quick getaways to week-long vacations.

Carnival Maintains A Strong Presence In Long Beach

Carnival describes Long Beach as a key homeport for the brand, carrying more guests from the California port than any other cruise line.

The cruise line has offered sailings from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal since it first opened in 2003. The first ship to sail from the port was the former Carnival Ecstasy, which retired in 2022.

Carnival Radiance and Carnival Panorama are already familiar sights in Southern California, with both vessels currently sailing from the Port of Long Beach. However, Carnival’s lineup at the port is undergoing some changes before the newly announced 2028-2029 season begins.

Notably absent from this lineup is Carnival Firenze, which joined the Long Beach fleet in 2024. The 4,126-passenger vessel is scheduled to leave California in early 2027. She will reposition to the East Coast by way of a series of South America cruises before beginning a spring season from Miami and a Summer 2027 debut in New York.

Long Beach will also temporarily welcome another Carnival ship before the newly announced season begins. The 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend is scheduled to sail from the port from October 2027 through April 2028, offering 6- to 14-night itineraries to Hawaii and Mexico.

Once Legend’s seasonal deployment concludes, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance will continue Carnival’s year-round Long Beach program. The newly released schedule confirms both ships will remain in Southern California through at least April 2029.

Carnival Guests Watch as Cruise Ship Rescues Man Stranded at Sea

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Guests Watch as Cruise Ship Rescues Man Stranded at Sea

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Conquest responded to a distress call relayed from rescue authorities regarding a sailboat on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
  • The cruise ship was having a sea day on the way to Grenada at the time and was able to bring the one stranded individual aboard.
  • There was no delay for Carnival Conquest to arrive in Grenada on Thursday as planned.

Carnival Conquest took a slight detour on her current sailing to assist a sailboat in distress on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The 2,980-guest ship was enjoying a day at sea when the cruise ship received the request for assistance.

Guests onboard posted about the incident on Facebook, noting that the ship’s captain made announcements over the public address system to keep guests informed of the search and rescue mission.

“When we arrived on scene, we found a sailboat with a single passenger that appeared to be very happy to see us,” the original poster noted.

Video of the incident that was posted separately shows the small sailboat bobbing significantly as the cruise ship approached. All sails were stowed on the small craft, and while not confirmed, it is possible the sailboat had lost steering capability and the sails were stowed for safety.

The cruise ship came alongside the smaller boat and the single occupant was brought onboard Carnival Conquest. As per standard procedure for such rescues, the cruise ship would have recorded the location of the now-abandoned sailboat so other vessels in the area are aware of its presence and that it has been abandoned.

Onboard Carnival Conquest, the rescued individual would be provided with food and medical care as needed. They will not have free access to the public spaces on the ship and most likely would be debarked at the next port of call.

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the incident in the following statement sent to Cruise Hive:

“Carnival Conquest rescued a mariner from a disabled sailing vessel on August 26 while sailing to Grenada. After receiving a distress relay from rescue authorities, the Conquest diverted to the vessel’s location and safely brought the sole occupant aboard. The individual remains in the care of the ship’s team as Carnival Conquest proceeds to St. George’s, Grenada, as scheduled.”

This is all typical procedure for such at-sea rescues, regardless of the circumstances or why an individual finds themselves in distress at sea, whether their vessel has become disabled, they may have run out of supplies, or they are adrift in a less-than-seaworthy craft.

All cruise ships are required to respond to distress and emergency calls to render assistance if possible under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Carnival Conquest Sailboat Rescue
Carnival Conquest Sailboat Rescue (Photo Credit: PositiveFox8075)

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, acknowledged the rescue and commended the actions of the crew.

“The Fun was paused for many yesterday as they watched the Captain and crew who came to the rescue of a boat in difficulty. Another shining example of how our ships will always do their best to help those in peril on the sea,” he said on Facebook.

Where Was the Sailboat Found?

The encounter happened while Carnival Conquest was en route to Grenada. The ship departed Miami, Florida on Friday, August 21, 2026 for the 14-day sailing, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Croix, Dominica, Antigua, and other ports on the itinerary before she will return to the Sunshine State on Friday, September 4.

Of special note is that this is one of the cruise line’s SEA voyages: Sailings Exclusively for Adults. These are invitation-only cruises not available for the general public to book, but eligible guests ages 21 and up receive email invitations when such sailings are available.

Despite the slight diversion, Carnival Conquest‘s visit to Grenada has not been impacted and satellite tracking confirms the ship is in port on Thursday, August 27 as planned.

Carnival Firenze Passenger Rushed Ashore in Long Beach Evacuation

Calvin Musquez
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Carnival Firenze Passenger Rushed Ashore in Long Beach Evacuation

Key Aspects:

  • A critically ill passenger was transferred from Carnival Firenze to first responders near Long Beach, California, on August 25, 2026.
  • Long Beach Fire Department safety crews brought the passenger ashore before transporting them to a local hospital.
  • The medical emergency altered the ship’s 4-night itinerary, with visits to Catalina Island and Ensenada rescheduled for the following two days.

A 4-night Baja Mexico cruise aboard Carnival Firenze was disrupted by an urgent medical crisis early on the morning of August 25, 2026. The 135,156 gross-ton ship had departed the previous evening from the Port of Long Beach in California. 

The vessel was heading towards her first scheduled stop at Catalina Island off the California coast when an unidentified passenger became seriously ill. The crew called for assistance, and Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded at approximately 7:00 am.

“While sailing to Catalina Island, California, Carnival Firenze’s medical team immediately responded and provided care to a guest experiencing a medical emergency,” Carnival said in a statement to KTLA News.

Fire Department Marine Safety crews met the ship near the Long Beach Sea Buoy. They then coordinated with the ship’s crew to transfer the passenger to a lifeguard rescue boat.

Photos and video shared on Instagram by the Long Beach Fire Department show the response vessel alongside Carnival Firenze as the transfer took place. From there, the passenger was brought to shore, where the Long Beach Fire Department transported them to a local hospital.

LBFD described the passenger as “critically ill,” though the exact nature of the illness has not been released. There has also been no word on the passenger’s current condition. We at Cruise Hive wish them a speedy recovery.

Medical Emergency Forces Itinerary Adjustment

The ship was originally set to visit Catalina Island on August 25 and Ensenada on August 26, followed by a sea day before returning to Long Beach on August 28. However, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that, due to the emergency, the itinerary had to be adjusted.

Carnival Firenze Evacuation
Carnival Firenze Evacuation (Photo Credit: LBFD)

Neither of the cruise’s scheduled ports was cancelled, however. Instead, Carnival shifted both calls by one day, allowing the voyage to retain its planned destinations while accommodating the emergency.

The visit to Catalina took place on August 26, while the visit to Ensenada took the place of the previously scheduled sea day on August 27. The scheduled return to Long Beach on August 28 does not appear to have been impacted.

Carnival Firenze’s Long Beach Run Ends In 2027

Originally Costa Firenze before entering Carnival’s service in 2024, Carnival Firenze offers 3- to 7-night cruises to Mexico from the Port of Long Beach. The ship has been based in Southern California since joining the Carnival fleet.

She has sailed year-round from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal alongside other Carnival vessels, such as Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance. Carnival Firenze will remain based in Long Beach through early 2027 before relocating to the East Coast with a series of South America voyages.

Carnival Cruise Line Reservations System Going Down Again for 18 Hours

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Reservations System Going Down Again for 18 Hours

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line’s reservations system will be down for maintenance beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
  • During the planned outage, guests and travel advisors cannot make new bookings or service existing reservations.
  • The outage is expected to end by 12 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, but previous outages have lasted longer than planned.

Carnival Cruise Line has sent yet another notification to travel advisors that its reservations system and website tools will be temporarily dark for 18 hours, making new bookings, payments, reservation management, and other online services unavailable.

“In efforts to better support you and help you plan in advance, please be advised our reservation systems will be undergoing maintenance and will be temporarily unavailable,” the email notification explained.

This downtime will be from 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026 through 12 p.m. on Sunday, August 30. Both times are in Eastern time, which coincides with Carnival Cruise Line’s headquarters in Miami, Florida.

It isn’t only travel advisors who will be affected by this outage, however. The email also notes that “guest-facing tools” such as online check-in, Fun Shops, and payments will not be available on the cruise line’s website. This means guests who manage their own bookings without a travel advisor will also not be able to access their reservations during the down time.

Similarly, the cruise line’s Contact Center will not be able to assist during the outage, as the reservations system will also be unavailable to them. Therefore, calling in to try and make a booking or payment will not be possible during that time.

Guests and anyone interested in researching a cruise will still be able to browse through Carnival’s website during the outage period, and information such as cruise ship deck plans and the cruise line’s frequently asked questions (FAQ) will remain available.

Why So Many Website Outages?

While it is necessary for data-intensive websites to have occasional downtime for a technical team to implement updates, improve security, and take other steps to improve efficiency and create a better user experience, Carnival Cruise Line has had several of these planned maintenance periods in recent months.

Typically, such outages would only be once or twice a year. Already in 2026, however, this is the third such outage. Cruise Hive reported the first 18-hour outage in May, and another was just on August 16 from 4 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Carnival Cruise Line Site
Carnival Cruise Line Site (Photo Credit: agustin.photo)

Carnival has offered no explanation for the increased frequency of downtime for the reservations system, but does acknowledge it can be frustrating.

“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding,” the email notes.

Fortunately, these outages have been scheduled for periods when the website is typically less busy in order to minimize the inconvenience as much as possible.

Unfortunately, outages don’t always go smoothly. During the May 2026 planned outage, new glitches appeared in the reservations system that seemed to create ultra-low fares for new bookings. As soon as the erroneous fares were noticed, the too-good-to-be-true deals were cancelled and Carnival Cruise Line offered onboard credit as a gesture of appreciation for guests’ patience.

A similar situation occurred during planned website maintenance in December 2024, when the outage period extended far longer than expected and guests discovered failed logins, missing personal information, and website freezes hours after the outage was supposed to have finished.

The notification email for the upcoming August 29-30 update does note that the “targeted downtime completion” is 12 p.m. on Sunday. Because this is only a target and not a definitive endpoint, it is possible the outage may extend into Sunday afternoon or evening if updates and maintenance take longer than anticipated.

Greenland Asks Cruise Lines to Stay Out of Its Fjords

Calvin Musquez
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Greenland Asks Cruise Lines to Stay Out of Its Fjords

Key Aspects:

  • Greenland’s government is asking cruise lines to avoid or limit sailing in certain fjord areas when possible.
  • The voluntary recommendation follows concerns from residents about wildlife, noise, natural areas, recreation, hunting, and fishing.
  • More formal restrictions are being developed under Greenland’s Tourism Act and will identify areas open to cruise tourism and areas where sailing will be restricted.

Greenland’s government is asking cruise ships to reduce their presence in some of the country’s fjords. This comes as concerns grow about the impact of cruise tourism on local communities and wildlife.

In a statement released on August 11, 2026, Greenland’s government says it has received concerns from locals who feel cruise traffic in certain areas places a burden on communities and the natural environment.

Concerns cited by the government include effects on wildlife, noise, and preserving natural and recreational areas. In response, the government is asking cruise lines to avoid or limit sailing in fjord areas wherever possible.

“The purpose of the recommendation is to limit the impact on vulnerable natural areas and wildlife,” stated Greenland’s Ministry of Trade and Mineral Resources (translated from Dutch), “and to meet the wishes of the local population to preserve the areas’ recreational values and opportunities for hunting and fishing.”

Greenland’s remote geography already creates unique challenges for cruise ships visiting the country. Cruise Hive previously reported that Carnival Pride guests were warned that sea ice could potentially impact a 14-night Greenland voyage in May 2025.

For the time being, this plea remains a recommendation rather than a legal restriction and does not prohibit cruise ships from entering the country’s fjords. More formal restrictions may be on the way, however.

Cruise Ship Visiting Greenland
Cruise Ship Visiting Greenland

Greenland’s government is in the process of developing zoning restrictions under the Tourism Act. Those rules will identify which areas should remain open to cruise tourism and which should be subject to restrictions.

Local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders are involved in developing these restrictions. These new zoning regulations will take effect following public consultation.

Tourism Is Increasingly Important to Greenland

Despite its concerns, Greenland’s government is not trying to discourage cruise tourism altogether. On the contrary, it explicitly welcomed the growing interest in Greenland as a tourist destination, acknowledging the cruise industry’s importance to that development.

“The Greenland Government views positively the growing interest in Greenland as a travel destination and recognizes that cruise tourism contributes significantly to the development of the tourism industry,” said Greenland’s Ministry of Trade and Mineral Resources (translated from Dutch).

Greenland has become a regular destination on longer Arctic and North Atlantic cruise itineraries. Ships like the 91,740 gross-ton Norwegian Star regularly include Greenland ports on their itineraries, when weather permits.

According to Visit Greenland’s 2025 Tourism Statistics report, the number of annual tourist visitors has increased roughly 74% since 2022. Cruise passenger numbers, however, dipped slightly between 2024 and 2025, falling 1.3%.

The government went on to explain that the objective of the recommendation is to find an appropriate balance between commercial interests and protecting Greenland’s natural and cultural values. The eventual zoning restrictions could provide a clearer picture of where ships will face formal limits in the future.

Royal Caribbean Asks Voyager of the Seas Guests to Give Up Alaska Cruise

Calvin Musquez
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Royal Caribbean Asks Voyager of the Seas Guests to Give Up Alaska Cruise

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean is seeking volunteers to give up their bookings on Voyager of the Seas’ September 4, 2026 Alaska cruise.
  • Guests can move to select 2027 Alaska sailings with a 100% cruise fare refund and $200 onboard credit, or cancel for a full refund plus a 150% future cruise credit.
  • Guests must apply by September 1, 2026. Those who do not participate will remain booked on the September 4 sailing.

Royal Caribbean is seeking volunteers willing to change their plans ahead of an upcoming sailing aboard Voyager of the Seas. The 137,276 gross-ton ship is set to embark on a 7-night Alaska cruise from Seattle on September 4, 2026.

The sailing will visit Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria along with scenic cruising through Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier before returning to Seattle on September 11. Some guests booked on that sailing received an email offering incentives for changing their booking.

“We are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements,” the email reads. “If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as ‘Read’, and gear up for your upcoming adventure – although, there are some pretty sweet options below.”

Guests are being offered two alternative options for the September 4 sailing. The first is to transfer to one of three similar 7-night Voyager of the Seas Alaska sailings from Seattle in 2027.

Two sailings, departing on August 27 and September 3, 2027, feature the same destinations listed for the September 4, 2026 sailing, including Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, and Victoria. The third alternative sailing, departing September 10, 2027, visits Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and Victoria.

As for the incentives, guests who choose to accept this offer will also receive a 100% refund of cruise fare paid, excluding taxes and amenities.

Additionally, guests will get $200 in non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom as well as reimbursement for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses, including hotels and flights.

Effectively, selected guests who transfer would receive a free replacement cruise, along with the onboard credit. The tradeoff is that all three replacement options depart nearly a year later.

Guests Can Also Cancel For Future Cruise Credit

Alternatively, guests can choose to cancel the cruise entirely. If they choose this option, guests will receive a 100% refund of their current booking as well as reimbursement for non-refundable travel expenses. 

In addition to these refunds, guests will also receive a future cruise credit of 150% of the cruise fare paid. This credit can be applied to any Royal Caribbean sailing departing by September 4, 2027.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: DLeng)

As the future cruise credit allows guests to book an earlier (and potentially more expensive) sailing than the transfer option, the cancellation offer may be more tempting to some guests. Royal Caribbean specifies that these offers are limited and not guaranteed to all interested parties.

Guests have until September 1 to apply for the offers. Royal Caribbean says successful applicants will be contacted by phone or email. Anyone who hasn’t heard from the cruise line by September 2 remains booked in their existing stateroom.

Crucially, the offers are completely voluntary. Guests who aren’t interested don’t need to take any action and will remain booked in their existing stateroom.

Voyager of the Seas Has Faced Similar Situations Recently

While the cruise line did not specify a reason for the request, similar offers are typically used when a sailing has more bookings than available accommodations. Overselling is standard practice in the travel industry and occurs when travel companies anticipate that some customers will cancel before departure.

As recently as June 2026, Cruise Hive reported that the cruise line had contacted guests booked on a June 19 sailing aboard the very same ship. Guests were similarly offered incentives to transfer or cancel, including a full fare refund and future cruise credit.

Just a week after that offer was sent, guests booked on the ship’s July 17 sailing received a similar offer. Once again, the cruise line offered future cruise credit and refunds to tempt guests to change or cancel.

The September 4 offer marks yet another instance this summer of Royal Caribbean seeking volunteers to change bookings aboard Voyager of the Seas. However, the cruise line has not confirmed whether the upcoming sailing has been oversold.

Carnival Changes Itineraries for 11 Sailings on Four Ships

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Changes Itineraries for 11 Sailings on Four Ships

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has notified booked guests about 11 itinerary updates across four different ships in the fleet.
  • The changes are relatively minor with port swaps or changing the day or time of individual port visits.
  • The impacted ships are Carnival Spirit, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Elation with sailings from November 2026 to April 2028.

It seems time again for Carnival Cruise Line to shake up itineraries, with mass email notices going out to guests on multiple ships about scheduling tweaks for nearly a dozen sailings. Four different ships are impacted in this set of changes, with cruises setting sail as soon as November 8, 2026 and as far away as April 17, 2028.

Carnival Spirit is the first ship impacted. Her Sunday, November 8, 2026 departure from Mobile will no longer be visiting Princess Cays but will instead visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay on that 6-night cruise.

The 2,124-guest ship will still be visiting Celebration Key as planned, and the visit to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay will be at the same date and time as originally planned for Princess Cays: Wednesday, November 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Both Carnival Legend and Carnival Elation also have just one itinerary adjusted.

For the 2,124-guest Carnival Legend (sister ship to Carnival Spirit), the December 13, 2026 departure is impacted. That 6-night sailing from Tampa is now swapping the days to visit Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, but no other changes are made to the itinerary.

Likewise, the 2,190-guest Carnival Elation is also swapping the days to visit Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay for the April 15, 2028 sailing from Jacksonville. Those are the only two ports of call on the 5-night sailing.

Multiple Changes for Carnival Conquest

Eight different cruises have minor changes for 2,980-guest Carnival Conquest, with cruise dates across three different years. The impacted sailings are the following departure dates from Miami:

  • 2026 – November 16
  • 2027 – January 25, February 15, April 12
  • 2028 – February 7, March 27, April 3, April 17

For all sailings except the March 27, 2028 cruise, the only adjustments are changing the day of visiting RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and slightly adjusting the times in port.

The March 27, 2028 sailing is completely reversing the order of port visits for that 4-night Bahamas cruise. Now, Carnival Conquest will visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay first on the itinerary and will visit Celebration Key second.

Carnival Conquest Docked in Miami, Florida
Carnival Conquest Docked in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Colinmthompson)

The time in port for RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay has also been adjusted to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rather than 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as originally planned.

Carnival Cruise Line has noted that impacted shore excursions on any of these adjusted itineraries will be automatically adjusted based on the new port visit days and times as needed.

In the case of Carnival Spirit‘s port swap from Princess Cays to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, excursions for Princess Cays will be cancelled and refunded back to the original form of payment.

Why Are There Multiple Itinerary Adjustments?

The email notices to guests have only stated that itineraries are adjusted without giving any further details on why multiple schedules are being tweaked.

It is not uncommon, however, for cruise lines to make minor adjustments to sailings as overall deployments and schedules for the fleet are refined.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on similar mass updates across multiple ships or multiple itineraries, such as changes to itineraries for Carnival Elation and Carnival Radiance, or the 46 sailings updated on Carnival Sunshine for departure time changes.

This type of shuffling is especially true for cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line, all of which are owned by Carnival Corporation.

For example, both Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, while Carnival and Princess Cruises both visit Princess Cays. These schedule adjustments may be necessary to provide the best possible guest experience by avoiding overcrowding or compensating for berth availability at the private destinations.

As Carnival Festivale (2027) and Carnival Tropicale (2028) join the Carnival fleet, as well as with Princess Cruises beginning calls to Celebration Key in November 2026, port scheduling at that exclusive destination may also become more challenging.

Carnival Cruise Line Testing Later Hours for Favorite Dining Venue

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Testing Later Hours for Favorite Dining Venue

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is testing keeping Guy’s Burger Joint open later hours aboard Carnival Conquest.
  • Brand ambassador John Heald confirmed that Carnival Conquest was chosen for the later hours because of its shorter sailings.
  • Because of great responses, Heald said the cruise line is looking into extending the venue’s hours on other ships.

Guests sailing aboard Carnival Conquest recently have noticed more opportunities to enjoy Guy’s Burger Joint far past the typical 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. closing on most vessels. Following inquiries from guests happy to get a burger later in the evening, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has confirmed testing for the venue’s later hours.

“A while back we started testing something new on Carnival Conquest by keeping Guy’s Burger Joint open later into the evening,” he confirmed in a Facebook post. “The response has been fantastic. People have really enjoyed being able to grab one of Guy’s burgers for dinner, and because of that we’re looking at whether this might work on other ships in the future as well.”

Heald notes that Carnival Conquest was chosen for testing the later hours because the ship is on shorter itineraries. These sailings tend to be more casual and guests often prefer to grab a quick bite rather than spend longer times in the Main Dining Room for a more extensive meal.

There is no confirmation of what the later closing time for Guy’s Burger Joint may be or whether it will keep later hours every day. Some guests responding to Heald’s post note they have been on Carnival Conquest recently, but the venue was still closed at 6 p.m.

The 2,974-guest Carnival Conquest is homeported year-round from Miami, Florida, offering 3- and 4-night sailings to the Bahamas. On the 3-night cruises, the ship visits Carnival’s private destination on Grand Bahama Island, Celebration Key.

On the 4-night cruises, the ship goes to both Celebration Key and another private destination. That second port of call might be either RelaxAway (Half Moon Cay) or Princess Cays, depending on the sailing date. All three destinations are owned by Carnival Corporation.

Guy's Burger Joint on Carnival
Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival (Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line)

While the short cruises do make up the bulk of Carnival Conquest‘s schedule, she does offer limited longer sailings. On November 2, 2026 as well as January 11, 2027, she is departing on 11-night cruises.

Read Also: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options You’ll Want to Know

The November cruise is a Southern Caribbean itinerary that includes the famed “ABC” islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao while the January sailing is also a Southern Caribbean route that features stops in Grenada and Barbados, both rarities for Carnival itineraries.

Main Dining Options Not Changing But More Snacks Available Later

While Guy’s Burger Joint is indeed open later on Carnival Conquest at least on some days, Heald is clear that this extension does not impact service hours at the main dining rooms, the Renoir Restaurant and Monet Restaurant, respectively midship and aft on Decks 3 and 4.

“This is in addition to, not instead of, the Main [Dining] Room,” he said. “The Main [Dining] Room remains a special part of the Carnival vacation experience.”

In addition to the later hours for Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Conquest, several ships are also bringing a new later snack aboard: customizable nacho bowls from the BlueIguana Cantina. Cruise Hive reported on that new later snack option in late July, and the offering is being rolled out fleetwide.

More From Cruise Hive

Typically, BlueIguana Cantina closes at 2:30 p.m. For the nacho bowls, the venue reopens at 3 p.m. on days at sea and 4 p.m. on days in port to offer the free snack until 6 p.m.

While not yet available on every Carnival ship (though Heald has confirmed the rollout), the nacho bowls are also available on Carnival Conquest, giving guests on that ship yet another great option later in the day even as they plan for a late-evening Guy’s burger.

Margaritaville at Sea To Bring Weekly Caribbean Cruises To Texas

Calvin Musquez
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Margaritaville at Sea To Bring Weekly Caribbean Cruises To Texas

Key Aspects:

  • Margaritaville at Sea will begin sailing from Galveston, Texas in October 2027, becoming the port’s seventh cruise line.
  • Weekly Friday departures will operate from Cruise Terminal 28, with itineraries visiting the Caribbean and Central America.
  • The cruise line has not yet revealed which ship will be based in Galveston, with an announcement planned for September.

Margaritaville at Sea is expanding beyond Florida and will begin sailing from the Port of Galveston in October 2027. In a unanimous vote, the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees approved an agreement with the cruise line on August 25, 2026.

The cruise line will offer weekly sailings from the Port of Galveston, departing Fridays from Cruise Terminal 28. Cruises from the Texas port will visit destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.

The agreement with Margaritaville has an initial one-year term, with the option to renew for two additional five-year terms. Though specific itineraries sailing from Galveston have not yet been announced, the cruise line says they will feature both new ports for the brand as well as familiar favorites.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring Margaritaville at Sea to Galveston for the first time,” said Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea. “Galveston is an important and growing cruise gateway, and this agreement represents another significant step in the continued expansion of our brand.”

Galveston Cruise Terminals Aerial View
Galveston Cruise Terminals Aerial View (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)

The cruise line has also not revealed which ship will homeport in Galveston. Margaritaville at Sea currently operates two ships: the 52,926 gross-ton Paradise and the 85,619 gross-ton Islander. A third ship, Beachcomber, will debut from PortMiami in January 2027 after an extensive transformation of the former Costa Fortuna.

The new Galveston announcement does not identify whether any of Margaritaville’s existing deployments will change when Texas service begins. The ship and itinerary details will be unveiled at a special event at the Port of Galveston in September.

Galveston’s Cruise Industry Continues to Grow

Margaritaville at Sea’s arrival continues a period of rapid expansion for Galveston’s cruise industry. The Texas port currently ranks as the fourth busiest cruise port in the United States. It forecasts 446 sailings and a record 3.9 million passenger movements in 2026.

With this agreement, Margaritaville will become the seventh cruise line to serve Galveston. It joins Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Princess Cruises at the Texas port.

MSC Cruises reported strong demand from Texas after its first six months there. This followed the arrival of MSC Seascape as well as the opening of Terminal 16 in November 2025.

The addition of Margaritaville comes as Galveston considers even further expansion. Cruise Hive reported in July that the port is studying the feasibility of constructing a fifth cruise terminal between Terminals 10 and 16 as part of its updated 20-Year Strategic Master Plan.

Margaritaville at Sea’s arrival will add another option to that growing market. Texas cruisers will have to wait until September, however, to learn which ship will call Galveston home.

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