Alice Beck Darrow’s late husband was injured at Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the bullet he took is now in the hands of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial museum.
The elderly guest arrived in Pearl Harbor as a guest aboard Holland America Line’s Westerdam, on a 28-day Alaska and Hawaii voyage.
The cruise is part of the line’s collaboration with the TV brand The History Channel, which highlights the historical elements of global destinations.
More than 1 million people visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial on the Hawaiian island of Oahu each year, but on September 18, 2025, a guest sailing aboard a Holland America Line ship delivered a very unusual gift to the museum.
Alice Beck Darrow, age 106, is a guest on the line’s Westerdam as the ship sails a 28-night “Legendary Glaciers & Volcanoes With History Channel” cruise roundtrip from Seattle.
It was she who gifted the unique item to the memorial museum — a bullet that was extracted from her husband, now deceased, who sustained his injury during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Beck Darrow is a repeat guest on Holland America Line ships, and on this voyage, which departed on August 31, 2025, she and her daughter and son-in-law are traveling together.
But the cruise isn’t just for fun and relaxation: Beck Darrow was on a mission to donate the bullet as a sign of resilience and love.
And a love story it truly is. The tale unfolds on December 7, 1941, as Dean Darrow, a fire control-man serving aboard the USS West Virginia in Pearl Harbor, sustains what appear to be minor injuries from the surprise attack by the Japanese.
But his injuries turn out to be much more severe than originally thought, and months later, a bullet is found lodged in his heart muscle. The soldier is sent for surgery at Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, California, where he meets Alice Beck, a US Navy nurse.
Before his surgery, Darrow asks the nurse to go out with him, if he survives. She agrees, and in 1942, the two are married. The bullet was saved, and now, more than eight decades later, the bullet will be on display at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Museum.
“I’ve held onto this bullet for so long because it meant everything to us,” said Alice Beck Darrow.
“But I know it belongs in a place where others can understand what it represents—not just for Dean and me, but for all who served and sacrificed,” added Beck Darrow.
Holland America Line welcomed the part its ship was destined to play in the Darrow story.
“It is an incredible honor to have Alice aboard. Her story is one of courage, love, and legacy, and we’re humbled to play even a small role in helping her complete this journey,” said Captain Vincent Smit, master of the Westerdam.
Voyage Is a Collaboration With The History Channel
Westerdam Captain Smit gave Beck Darrow a signed ship model as a gift. Her voyage, in fact, was one of the line’s cruises operated in partnership with The History Channel.
Holland America Line, one of Carnival Corporation’s brands, in February 2025 announced a collaboration with the TV brand to offer curated itineraries and excursions that highlight notable historic aspects of destinations the voyages visit.
Alice Beck Darrow in Pearl Harbor
It is not clear whether Beck Darrow’s presence on the ship is coincidental to The History Channel’s affiliation or was planned.
The elderly guest had sailed on previous cruises with Holland America Line in Europe, but long-haul flights have become difficult for the centenarian. Apparently hailing from the Seattle area, the Legendary Glaciers & Volcanoes cruise was a good fit, with no flights required.
Prior to calling at Honolulu, on Oahu, the ship visited Vancouver, British Columbia; several ports in Alaska; and Kauai, Hawaii. After Honolulu, the ship made two calls on the Big Island of Hawaii and will conclude in Seattle on September 28, 2025.
Westerdam’s next sailing is a repositioning cruise to Yokohama, Japan, where she will offer a seasonal roster of voyages to ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Virgin Voyages is introducing three new fare tiers – Base, Essential, and Premium – with different levels of Wi-Fi, dining reservations, and flexibility.
The new system makes pricing clearer by listing gratuities as a separate line item, with options to pre-pay or settle onboard.
Suite guests now have earlier access to dining reservations, while all existing inclusions and benefits remain unchanged.
Booking a Virgin Voyages cruise is about to get easier. The adults-only cruise line has announced a new fare system called VoyageFair Choices that will launch on October 7, 2026, offering guests three different pricing tiers and a clearer breakdown of costs.
Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages, made the announcement on September 22, 2026, in a press conference attended by Cruise Hive.
“We’ve never been afraid to do things first,” said Saverimuttu, pointing out that Virgin Voyages was the first to go kids-free, the first to eliminate the main dining hall, the first to eliminate the buffet, and the first to eliminate a formal dress code in cruising at its price point.
Now, Saverimuttu said the cruise line is the first to bring a tiered fare model to the industry, giving passengers more control over how they book.
The three new options – Base, Essential, and Premium – offer different levels of Wi-Fi access, dining reservations, and booking flexibility, much akin to airline and hotel bookings.
Saverimuttu said the new structure was developed in response to feedback from passengers and travel advisors who wanted simpler pricing and more options and that the rollout isn’t about “gimmicks or fine print.”
The changes also extend to suite passengers with RockStar and Mega RockStar travelers now able to book dining reservations 120 days in advance.
New board member and senior advisor John Lovell echoed Saverimuttu’s excitement and said the cruise line is attempting to open up a premium experience while providing options for “value seekers.”
What This Means for Passengers
Under the new VoyageFair Choices, Base fares will be the lowest-priced option. They include Basic Wi-Fi for one device (meaning social media and messaging), a 15-day dining reservation window, and no changes to names, cabins, or voyage dates.
Essential fares are closest to Virgin’s current pricing model. They provide Classic Wi-Fi for one device (which upgrades to browsing and audio calls), a 45-day dining reservation window, and flexibility to adjust dates using a Future Voyage Credit.
This option also allows name changes for additional guests on the booking.
The top-tier, Premium, fares add more benefits. These include Premium Wi-Fi for two devices (which allows for streaming and video capabilities), a 60-day dining reservation window, a Bar Tab drinks credit of $15 per person, per day, and priority booking support before sailing.
For suites, the primary adjustment is earlier dining access. Existing benefits like priority boarding, Richard’s Rooftop access, stocked in-room bars, and concierge service remain unchanged.
The new model also changes how gratuities are displayed.
Service charges, previously bundled into fares, will now appear as a separate line item. Travelers can choose to pre-pay at a rate of $20 per person per night or settle the balance onboard at $22 per person, per night.
Saverimuttu and Lovell also emphasized that all fares will continue to include Virgin Voyage’s standard offerings and that the new booking tiers do not change any benefits of loyalty tiers.
A guest aboard Independence of the Seas has been offended by women storing their SeaPass cards in their bras.
This led to a viral discussion of various other storage options as well as how dirty a card would really be if it was so stored.
Many other women have admitted to doing the same, but there are also alternatives that can be even more practical and useful.
The long-standing debate over whether or not to wear a lanyard to carry one’s cruise card is getting a bit more intimate these days. Specifically, one alternative to lanyards is raising eyebrows onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas.
A guest shared their thoughts on Reddit, noting what they feel is a disgusting practice of storing one’s SeaPass card, shall we say, close to their heart.
“Twice I’ve seen ladies reaching into their blouses to locate their SeaPass which was stashed in their bras,”the guest described. “This is frankly disgusting for the crew members and for everyone who has them touch their drinks glasses afterwards. Please just buy a lanyard.”
Independence of the Seas is currently homeported from Southampton, offering a diverse range of summer European sailings.
At the time the post was made, the Freedom-class ship was sailing a 3-night weekend getaway to Zeebrugge, Belgium. Shorter weekend cruises are notorious for being more of a party atmosphere with fewer inhibitions.
Granted, I’m not sure I could become so uninhibited as to go rooting for my SeaPass card in garments unknown, but some women have more storage space than others.
There’s also a crew member element to this, where guests will give the card to a crew member to purchase a drink, or even buy something at the onboard store. If you notice a crew member is hesitant to touch the card, that could be a reason. Often, they will just grab the number.
The original poster did not provide further details about just how the women had stored their cards, given that slipping a card under a strap would be radically different than tucking it, well, you get the idea.
It is also possible the women were wearing swimsuits at the time, though the options for where to stash one’s card would be about the same.
As for the hygiene aspect, some guests pointed out that not everyone washes their hands with the preferred frequency or attention to detail after using the restroom.
“Because skin anywhere on your body is different and less clean than your hands?”one commenter noted.
“I’m pretty sure the hands have more germs and filth on them than the chest does,”another agreed.
It was further noted that if someone tucks their lanyard inside a shirt so it isn’t immediately visible or bouncing around, the card could still get sweaty and would still require extraction to use.
The practical limitations of women’s fashion also came into the discussion.
“If I had a pocket it would go in there,”one commenter said.“The issue is women’s clothing not made with pockets and cruise lines not providing a lanyard. Until then, God’s pocket (aka my bra) reigns supreme.”
Where Else Can a SeaPass Card Be Stored?
In just three days, the Reddit thread has more than 380 comments, many of which discuss various storage alternatives for one’s ship card.
The idea of wrist bands or medallions was a popular choice for many readers, while others noted that there are, in fact, bras with pockets. (There’s something for every cruiser’s wish list!)
While not everyone enjoys wearing a lanyard, other options are crossbody bags, those small stick-on pockets for the back of a phone, or even belt bags.
One commenter finally had the best idea of all when they noted, “I’d suggest not staring at other peoples…” well, let’s stick with “Nature’s purse” as several people described it.
In my many years as an avid cruiser, I’ve been lucky enough to step aboard cruise ships from both Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line.
My first Princess cruise was many years ago, when I was just a kid, but I was most recently onboard Regal Princess for a British Isles sailing in 2023, and even on the new Star Princess.
Even more recently, I hosted my bachelorette party onboard Carnival Radiance in 2024.
With these cruise vacations in mind, I compared the differences between the two cruise lines so you can pick the right brand for you and your travel group – and read until the end to discover my personal favorite!
Princess Cruises vs Carnival Cruise Line Statistics
These cruise lines exist under the same parent company, which is Carnival Corporation, but the experience onboard is very different. Even the composition and size of their fleets vary.
With the debut of the new Star Princess set for November of 2025, there are now 17 ships in the Princess Cruises fleet.
These vessels fall into four main classes: Sphere (the newest class that started with Sun Princess in 2024), Royal, Grand, and Coral.
But Carnival Cruise Line has this beat with 29 ships in service, with five more new additions coming between 2027 and 2033.
These ships are divided between ten classes, which is more than double the number in the Princess fleet. These classes are Excel, Vista, Dream, Sunshine, Conquest, Spirit, Fantasy, Venice, Adventure, and Splendor.
The new ships arriving in 2027 and 2028, Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, will be part of the newer Excel class.
Carnival’s ships also tend to have a higher guest capacity than Princess’s vessels, so guests will have to think about what ship size is right for them.
Carnival Cruise Line was founded in 1972 in Miami, Florida, which is the “Cruise Capital of the World.”
The Vibe Onboard
The atmosphere onboard is probably the biggest determining factor when trying to decide if a cruise line will offer the experience you are looking for or not.
The Atmosphere on Princess Cruise Ships
In my experience, Princess Cruises seems to attract a more upscale, older crowd of cruisers who are looking for a relaxing and luxurious cruise vacation.
Most of the passengers I met were older than me (I am in my late 20s), and I didn’t see too many kids.
Princess Cruises Open Deck (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
Whenever I board a Princess ship, I’m always impressed by the elegance in the interior design onboard. I don’t feel like I’m in the central hub of a cruise ship, but rather a luxury mansion or a five star hotel.
Princess ships are known for their lighter color palettes and marble work, and always let in plenty of sunshine.
The Atmosphere on Carnival Cruise Ships
Meanwhile, the atrium on Carnival ships often do feature impressive artwork and chandeliers. But especially on the older ships in the fleet, the decor feels more Las Vegas or 80s-inspired with lots of bright lights.
The brand, however, attracts more families and cruisers looking to party on a quick getaway.
In general, the atmosphere is much more lively and the party feel was evident from the moment I stepped onboard.
Carnival Cruise Ship Deck (Photo Credit: denbaim)
The Carnival ships I’ve been on had bars in their atriums, whereas the Princess vessels I’ve sailed with had more upscale, quiet lounges.
I have not had this issue with Princess ships, most of which do have casinos that allow smoking in designated areas.
Food & Dining
Both cruise lines offer fixed-time dining and anytime dining options, room service to your current location (through Carnival’s Hub App and Princess’s medallions), and a variety of specialty dining and quick service options.
While there is no shortage of food and dining from either brand, I personally enjoyed the dining experience more from Princess.
When I’m on vacation, I like to live large. I try to make reservations at as many specialty restaurants as I possibly can, and I really loved the variety of options and the flavors onboard Princess cruise ships.
Meanwhile, I’ve had a lot of bad luck in the main dining rooms onboard Carnival Cruise Line.
When I was most recently onboard Carnival Radiance, my friends and I found the portion sizes to be small and the food to be flavorless – and even the soft serve ice cream was somehow both crunchy and too liquified at the same time.
We ended up only eating at the specialty dining restaurants – and we loved the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Cucina Del Capitano – because we couldn’t stomach the food in the main dining room.
While Princess turned up the heat when it came to the variety of specialty dining onboard, Carnival thrived more in the small snacks and casual dining department.
We did like the burgers from Guy’s Burger Joint, and enjoyed ordering room service snacks like chicken fingers and pizza directly to our lounge chairs on the Serenity Deck.
The Thrills
Most Princess cruise ships have at least two or three swimming pools and plenty of Jacuzzis, but these vessels are designed to prioritize relaxation. You likely won’t be able to find any waterslides or thrill rides.
Sun Princess, which launched in 2024, was meant to debut an area called Park19 that would have had waterslides, a ropes course, and a roller glider – but it never opened due to safety reasons.
Carnival BOLT Roller Coaster (Photo Credit: Camera walk)
Carnival Cruise Line is where the thrills are at, often making it a better choice for families with energetic children.
In addition to waterslides, select Fun Ships feature attractions like the SkyRide bike experience (on Vista-class ships), the SkyZone Trampoline park (on Carnival Panorama), and the BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster (on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee).
The Entertainment
Both cruise brands offer production shows, along with entertainment like trivia and popular game shows like “Love and Marriage,” which is usually hosted by the cruise director.
It’s also not uncommon to find comedy or magic acts onboard ships from either brand, and comedy is always a given in Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Clubs.
While both brands offer concert and variety-show type productions from talented mainstage casts, some Princess ships take theater to the next level through a partnership with Stephen Schwartz, the writer and composer of famous musicals like “Wicked,” “Pippin” and “Godspell.”
Carnival Cruise Ship Theater Lounge (Photo Credit: gary yim)
Select ships have a made-for-Princess theater show that Schwartz helped create, and as a theater buff, I am obsessed.
Carnival ships take a more family friendly approach, and feature a variety of Dr. Seuss entertainment at sea for kids, including story times in the main theaters, movie screenings, and a costume parade.
And on the topic of families, Carnival has a more involved kids’ club program and a teens only spa, called ZSPA, onboard select ships.
But Princess Cruises does have three kids’ clubs for smaller kids, tweens, and teens, which I personally attended and loved as a child many years ago – mainly because I loved the kind “counselors” who supervised us.
The Cruise Cabins
Both cruise lines offer a wide variety of cruise cabin types to choose from, ranging from basic interior staterooms to luxury suites.
In my experience, ships from both brands offered staterooms that were spacious enough and comfortable enough to fit my needs.
The biggest difference I noticed between the cruise lines is that the Princess cabins were cleaner and more sound proof.
On embarkation day for my Carnival Radiance sailing last year, we walked into our cruise cabin to find a stranger’s smelly, dirty sock on one of our beds, and had repeated issues with our toilet not functioning correctly.
Meanwhile, I didn’t hear as much from the outside world inside my Princess cabins, and certainly did not find any dirty socks (at least that didn’t belong to me).
The Cost
One important factor to consider is if a cruise line fits into your budget, and cruise fares vary based on time of year, the cruise ship, when you are booking, and the itinerary.
That said, Carnival does have a reputation for being more budget-friendly, especially for shorter voyages.
Carnival’s cruise fare includes the main dining room and the Lido Marketplace Buffet onboard, as well as most of the alternative restaurants on each ship (i.e., Guy’s Burger Joint and the BlueIguana Cantina).
Two Princess Cruises Ships (Photo Credit: meunierd)
Princess Cruises are a bit more expensive, but are still in line with industry averages and sales are offered all the time.
Their pricing includes about one-third to one-half of the restaurants onboard, including the main dining rooms, depending on the ship.
The cheapest Mediterranean sailing I could find from Princess Cruises started at $1,449 per person.
Meanwhile, Mediterranean sailings from Carnival that were the same or similar lengths averaged $1,074 dollars – which is a $375 difference.
Working Add-Ons Into the Budget
Keep in mind that the cruise fare also isn’t your only expense. Guests also need to factor in the costs for add-ons, like drink and Wi-Fi packages.
Carnival Packages
Carnival’s Cheers! drink package is very popular and costs $69.95 per person, per day, while the new Cheers! Zero Proof package costs $29.99 per person, per day.
Carnival’s Wi-Fi packages range from $18.70 per person, per day, for the most basic package to $84 per day for up to four devices with Premium Wi-Fi.
Carnival Cruise Line Zero Proof Drink Package
Gratuities for the hard-working crew members are also paid separately at guests’ discretion, or can be pre-paid at a daily rate of $16 per person for standard cruise cabins or $18 per person for suite guests.
Princess Packages
Meanwhile, Princess Cruises offers convenient inclusive packages that are of particularly good value for what is included in the price.
Princess Premier costs $100 to $105 per person, per day, and includes unlimited drinks, unlimited casual specialty meals, unlimited formal specialty dining, Wi-Fi for multiple devices, gratuities, reserved theater seating, and more.
Princess Cruises Drinks Package
Princess Plus costs $65 to $70 per person, per day, and also includes Wi-Fi for one device, 15 drinks per day, gratuities for the crew, and casual dining.
I personally prefer these all-inclusive packages for convenience because you really only need to make one purchase (aside from actually booking your cruise) and your onboard experience is set and ready to go.
The Itineraries
Both Princess Cruises and Carnival sail all over the world. And though deployments can (and do) change all the time, this is how things currently stand.
Princess is famous for offering one of the largest Alaska dockets in the cruise industry from ports like Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
In addition to Alaska, the cruise line sails to destinations along the US Pacific Coast, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Hawaii. Japan has long been an important market for the cruise line, as well, with ships such as the Diamond Princess.
Sailings throughout Europe and the Mediterranean are offered for about 75% of the year.
Carnival, meanwhile, has a stronger North American presence, sailing regularly from 16 separate cruise ports in the US and homeporting year-round in Galveston, New Orleans, Port Canaveral, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Mobile.
While the Fun Ships do operate some European, Alaska, and Hawaiian itineraries, the brand is more concentrated on destinations throughout Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
Carnival also operates four ships in Australia, including Carnival Splendor, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Encounter, and Carnival Adventure.
Which Cruise Line Would I Choose?
You may have been able to guess by now, that between the two brands, Princess Cruises is my personal favorite.
As a childless adult who prefers a more low-key atmosphere, loves fine dining, and doesn’t have the energy for partying, Princess Cruises is simply a better fit for me.
However, someone looking to let loose into the wee hours of the morning or thrill-seeking families may prefer the Carnival experience – and that’s great, too.
Every cruiser and travel group is different, and both Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises have incredible amenities and entertainment to offer.
Deciding which one is right for you really comes down to the type of cruise experience you personally want.
Carnival Pride arrived in Bermuda more than 15 hours early due to a medical emergency with a guest onboard.
The ship’s shops and casino operations were closed early to comply with local laws as the vessel arrived in Bermuda.
Guests were cleared to go ashore after the medical debark was complete and the ship will remain in Bermuda until her originally scheduled departure.
Guests aboard Carnival Pride have arrived in Bermuda earlier than expected for their 7-night sailing. While the ship departed on time from Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday, September 21, 2025, a medical emergency onboard required faster sailing speeds for the ship to ensure the guest could receive appropriate care.
Originally scheduled to arrive at King’s Wharf at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, September 24, the ship instead arrived on the evening of Tuesday, September 23.
“One of our fellow guests is experiencing a medical emergency, and we are now heading towards Bermuda for an early arrival,”the notification letter delivered to guests explained.
The nature of the emergency, including the guest’s name, has not been released in order to safeguard their privacy and the privacy of their traveling party.
Carnival Pride arrived at the British territory at roughly 6:30 p.m., more than 15 hours before her original itinerary.
Signed by Captain Isidoro Renda, the letter also explained other necessary timing procedures due to the medical emergency and the early arrival in Bermuda.
“After the medical debark is complete, guests will be cleared to go ashore,”the captain announced.
This meant that guests could enjoy an extra evening ashore in Bermuda if they wished. Due to the docking, however, the onboard shops and casino were required to shut down at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening.
All cruise lines must follow the gambling and retail operation restrictions of their port countries. It is standard procedure in most ports of call that onboard shops and casinos be closed while the ship is docked.
Hopefully, no one was so distraught at the loss of a few hours’ of shopping and gambling as to complain and demand compensation. Exactly that happened aboard Carnival Horizon earlier this month.
Fortunately, the early arrival to Bermuda is not going to impact Carnival Pride‘s itinerary any further. The captain confirmed that the ship will remain in port until her originally scheduled departure at noon on Friday, September 26. The all-aboard time remains at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
While no additional shore excursions were able to be offered through Carnival Cruise Line for Tuesday evening, all pre-planned tours would still go ahead on Wednesday and Thursday as scheduled.
Medical Emergencies Always Take Priority
It is not unusual for a cruise ship to divert in order to facilitate a medical evacuation. While the onboard medical centers are well-equipped, they cannot always provide the best specialized care that may be needed in a life-threatening emergency.
Carnival Pride Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
When necessary, guests will be medically debarked at the nearest suitable port of call. If a ship has just departed, as with Carnival Horizon, returning to the homeport may be a good option.
Sometimes guests may need to be medically debarked at foreign ports of call, depending on the cruise itinerary, or long-distance airlifts might be possible depending on what resources are available.
While the cruise line always wants to be sure guests enjoy their cruise vacations, the safety of everyone aboard is the first and foremost concern. When this means extra measures are necessary to provide emergency care, those measures will always be taken.
A guest is wondering if Carnival Cruise Line offers refunds or compensation for bad weather and rainy days.
The answer is a resounding no, and nor does any other line offer compensation for poor weather during a cruise vacation.
Even compensation related to hurricanes is not actually due to weather, but only applies if a cruise is cancelled or shortened.
Every cruise guest hopes their sailing is filled with the perfect temperature, brilliant blue skies, just the right amount of sunshine, and smooth seas. Naturally, cruise lines also want to deliver on that idyllic vacation experience.
But what if that doesn’t happen, and instead a sailing is filled with gray clouds, rain, rough water, and general dreariness? Has the cruise line failed in its vacation obligations and are guests due compensation for their unfulfilled expectations?
John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, responded to a guest’s inquiry about that type of expectation, agreeing with and even praising rival cruise line Royal Caribbean.
“In today’s travel section of my area newspaper, there is a question being asked about refunds for a 5-night cruise that encountered rain every day,”the guest explained.“The writer … took a 12-year-old son on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, it rained every day of her cruise and a port was even cancelled due to the weather.”
The exact ship, sailing date, and itinerary of the impacted sailing is not disclosed, but poor weather can happen on any cruise at any time, anywhere in the world.
“Thinking that the cruise lines were supposed to avoid bad weather by going somewhere else instead of just sailing in a rainstorm for four days the writer is asking what refund or credit she is due,”the commenter continued.
“Royal Caribbean is not going to compensate. Does Carnival Cruise Line compensate for rainy days and if so how much?”
Heald normally redacts the names of other cruise lines from comments and complaints, steadfastly refusing to promote any false assumptions, rumors, or criticisms.
For this very entitled expectation, however, he offered praise and stands with the same policy.
“In this case, we are all in this together,”he said.“I’m glad that Royal Caribbean in this case didn’t give any money to Mrs. Glitterknickers.”
“We would not give anything either. We’re not going to give you cruise compensation because it rained for four days.”
Heald does note that if a shore excursion had to be cancelled because of bad weather, of course a refund would be provided for the tour a guest didn’t get to take.
Heavy Rain Hits Carnival Celebration (Credit: @
deiylydosediaries)
Nevertheless, simple bad weather is not going to be a cause for any guest to receive a refund of any kind.
“If any cruise line did compensate for rainy days, it would set a precedent of people who are extremely disappointed and expect money back,”he noted.
For example, what about the guest who feels the day might be too hot and uncomfortably humid? Or the guest who gets a sunburn and feels the cruise line is responsible? What if there are too many clouds or too few clouds?
But Guests Get Compensated for Hurricane Changes!
Some cruisers might automatically believe that if their sailing is changed for a hurricane, they receive compensation. So what would be the difference for a simple rainy day?
In fact, no cruise line offers refunds or onboard credit for port and itinerary changes related to hurricanes or tropical storms. These decisions are made for the safety of the ship and everyone aboard, and no compensation is offered.
Only in extreme situations might some compensation be available. For example, if a cruise line has to completely cancel a sailing due to an impending storm, of course, guests will receive refunds.
Similarly, if a cruise is shortened because the homeport is closed and the previous voyage cannot return on time, guests are compensated for the time lost out of their vacation. This has nothing to do with the quality of the weather, however.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras called at Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the first time as she sailed a transatlantic cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona.
The ship, which launched in 2021, will enter dry dock for a scheduled three-week maintenance upgrade at a Spanish shipyard.
Mardi Gras is slated to emerge from dry dock and depart from Barcelona on October 16, 2025, returning to Florida on October 30, 2025.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, the first in the line’s celebrated Excel class, received a warm welcome at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, where she called for the first time on September 22, 2025.
The 180,800-gross-ton ship, which can accommodate 5,282 guests in double occupancy, spent the day docked at the Tenerife Cruise Terminal, a space operated by parent company Carnival Corporation.
In true maritime tradition, port officials and the ship’s captain, Alessandro Lemmi, exchanged ceremonial plaques in a gesture of friendship.
Mardi Gras and her captain welcomed Luz Marina Espiau, head of the Commercial and Business Development Division of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and other local representatives aboard the ship for the exchange.
At the time of her visit, Mardi Gras had 4,848 guests and 1,791 crew members onboard. The ship’s visit was the second of four port calls she will make during her 14-night transatlantic crossing from Port Canaveral to Barcelona.
The ship left the Central Florida port on September 13, 2025, bound for a European shipyard where the 4-year-old vessel will undergo her first scheduled dry dock upgrade. Cruise ships typically go into dry dock for a refresh and basic maintenance every three to five years.
Since embarking guests in Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras first called at Celebration Key, Carnival’s new private destination on Grand Bahama Island. Following her call to Tenerife, the ship continued to Cadiz and Malaga, and will end in Barcelona on September 27, 2025.
Mardi Gras became the first ship to call at Santa Cruz de Tenerife during the 2025-26 season, and in the coming year, 21 cruise ships will make their inaugural visits to the six port facilities in the Canary Islands operated by the regional port authority.
The Canary Islands ports are often visited by ships making transatlantic crossings on fall and spring repositioning cruises, world cruises, and deployments like Mardi Gras’ — on the way to European shipyards.
Among cruise ships that will call at Tenerife in fall 2025 are Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4, MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa, and Costa Cruises’ Costa Fortuna, for example.
Ship Will Sail Reverse Itinerary Following Dry Dock
Following her dry dock refit, Mardi Gras is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral, where she is based year-round.
Set to depart from Barcelona on October 16, 2025, the ship will sail a reverse 14-night crossing back to Florida, calling at Malaga and Cadiz, Spain, Tenerife, and Celebration Key, and ending in Port Canaveral on October 30, 2025.
In a slight itinerary change announced in September 2024, Carnival Cruise Line advised guests booked on the return crossing, and several other Mardi Gras itineraries, that the return to Port Canaveral would be at 8 a.m. on debarkation day rather than the usual 7 a.m.
Once back in Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras will resume her 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruise schedule.
Eastern Caribbean voyages call at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Nassau and Celebration Key, Bahamas. Western Caribbean itineraries feature Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and Celebration Key.
Mardi Gras introduced several new and exciting features when she debuted four years ago, including the popular BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the motorcycle-style thrill ride that takes guests 187 feet above the ocean.
MSC Poesia will add a Yacht Club with 63 suites, a private restaurant, a lounge, and a sundeck.
MSC Cruises is giving MSC Poesia one of the most extensive upgrades in the cruise line’s history, adding its luxury “ship-within-a-ship” concept, the MSC Yacht Club.
The cruise line announced the upcoming renovations that will also include new dining, wellness, and fitness venues for the ship that originally debuted in 2008.
MSC Poesia’s new-and-improved look will debut during the 92,627-gross-ton vessel’s first season in Alaska in 2026.
“MSC Poesia’s Alaska cruises will offer MSC Cruises’ signature blend of European style with American comfort while sailing through the breathtaking channels of the region,” the cruise line said in its announcement.
The upgrade will introduce 63 Yacht Club suites across five categories. At the top end, the Royal Suite will accommodate up to six guests and comes with a private whirlpool, a sweeping 840-square-foot terrace, and an outdoor shower with uninterrupted ocean views.
Families will also find connected suites and a two-room Grand Suite designed with extra space and a large balcony.
Standard Yacht Club balcony suites and a limited number of interior options round out the offering, each outfitted with marble-finished bathroom, embroidered linens, a Nespresso coffee machine, and a complimentary minibar.
Guests booked in the Yacht Club will also have access to a private restaurant, the Top Sail Lounge on the foredeck with floor-to-ceiling windows and evening entertainment, and a secluded sundeck with cabanas, whirlpools, and a bar and grill.
All Yacht Club guests will also have 24-hour butler and concierge service.
MSC Yacht Club Restaurant (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)
Other additions to the 3,223-passenger ship will benefit all guests. MSC Poesia will welcome the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, already a staple on many of MSC Cruises vessels; a reimagined Kaito Sushi Bar; and a new All-Stars Sports Bar, which debuted in 2025 aboard MSC World America.
The Aurea Spa will also be refreshed during the renovations, updating thermal areas and relaxation rooms, while the fitness center will be enhanced with expanded ocean-facing workout spaces and new Technogym equipment.
Dry Dock Ahead
Although the cruise line did not reveal where or when dry dock would take place, MSC Poesia concludes a 10-night sailing from Southampton, UK, to La Valletta, Malta, on February 23, 2026, and doesn’t have a new voyage until April.
MSC Poesia last visited Valletta for routine maintenance and inspections at the Palumbo shipyard in December 2023.
Her next scheduled voyage is a 35-night repositioning cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) on April 6, 2026. That sailing through the Panama Canal arrives in Seattle on May 11, where MSC Poesia will homeport for the Alaska season.
Guests sailing on the frequent 7-night roundtrip journeys to the Last Frontier will visit Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm, and Juneau, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia.
After the Alaska season, MSC Poesia will reposition to Miami for winter 2026-27. The ship will sail roundtrip itineraries to the Caribbean and Central America.
Itineraries offered by the new Celebrity River Cruises brand will open for sale on September 25, 2025, offering cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers in 2027.
An earlier promotion, Priority Booking Access, indicated high demand for the river product, with the early access offer selling out in minutes on the day it became available.
The line’s first two ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, will eventually be part of a 10-ship fleet operated by the river brand.
Demand is soaring for voyages aboard the first two ships, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, in the new Celebrity River Cruises brand, an offshoot of blue-water line Celebrity Cruises.
The river cruise brand will open all remaining inventory on 33 voyages on the Rhine and Danube in 2027 on September 25, 2025, following a Priority Booking Access offer that began on September 3, 2025.
Under that limited offer, guests were invited to place a refundable $500 deposit that could be converted into a reservation once bookings opened on the roster of 7-night sailings.
“We are thrilled to open the remaining inventory on 2027 Celebrity River Cruises sailings, following Priority Booking Access selling out earlier this month in just six minutes,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.
“The response to the innovative design and unmatched experience Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker will deliver has been overwhelmingly positive,” added Hodges Bethge.
Celebrity River Cruises, a unit of Royal Caribbean Group, which also owns Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Silversea Cruises, ultimately will have a 10-ship fleet.
The ships will initially operate 7-night voyages on the two rivers. Cruises will sail between Vienna and Budapest, and from Budapest to Nuremberg for the Christmas market season in late 2027.
Also, Rhine itineraries will take guests to destinations such as Basel, Switzerland, Strasbourg, France, and Amsterdam.
Detailed itineraries will be available on the line’s website on the day bookings officially open.
The river brand was unveiled in January 2025, after feedback from Celebrity Cruises’ guests revealed that roughly half of them had taken or plan to take a river cruise.
Indeed, the river cruise market has grown at a robust annual rate of between 10% and 15% during the past 10 years, according to Cruise Lines International Association.
The niche market offers small ships, typically topping out at 220 guests, providing an intimate atmosphere and a mostly adult demographic. Also, river ships generally experience calm waters compared to sailing on the open ocean.
Ships’ Design Will Feature Edge-Class Inspirations
Celebrity River Cruises’ ships are poised to set new design standards in the river cruise space, including, for example, open decks, which are currently not seen on river vessels except for the top deck.
Some venues planned for the river ships are inspired by Celebrity Cruises’ popular Edge-class ocean ships, including the cantilevered Magic Carpet space. On the river vessels, a similar cantilevered “dining pod” will be called Magic Edge.
Celebrity Cruises River Ship
The top decks of the river ships will feature an alfresco dining venue and a plunge pool, and guests will have a choice of eight restaurants and bars. This is a big departure from traditional river vessels, which typically have just one main dining room and lounge.
Another pioneering service for the river cruise market is all-day dining, also not found on other river lines. Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker will offer five stateroom categories.
The new river cruise line will mirror existing river brands when it comes to inclusive amenities and services, as its cruise fares will include all meals and drinks, WiFi access, and a shore excursion in each port call.
Itineraries of the Celebrity ships will offer pre- and post-cruise land stays in Prague and Budapest.
