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Carnival Adjusting Itineraries After Islands Sold to New Owner

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Adjusting Itineraries After Islands Sold to New Owner

Key Aspects:

  • Six future Carnival Encounter sailings must be changed because one port has now been sold.
  • Papua New Guinea’s Conflict Islands will no longer welcome cruise guests under new ownership.
  • Carnival Cruise Line is seeking alternative destinations and will update the impacted cruises.

South Pacific itineraries sailing from Australia offer amazing opportunities to visit remote destinations that embody the untouched beauty of the tropics. The Conflict Islands in Papua New Guinea are one such destination.

Unfortunately, an unexpected change in ownership means those islands will be unavailable to cruise guests and multiple sailings of Carnival Encounter will now have itinerary changes.

“Carnival has been advised that Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea, has been sold to a new owner and will no longer be available for cruise ship visits,” a notification sent to travel agents and booked guests explained.

A total of six Carnival Encounter voyages are impacted and will no longer be able to visit the Conflict Islands as planned. This includes the following departure dates over more than two years:

  • June 9, 2026
  • August 19, 2026
  • April 19, 2027
  • August 18, 2027
  • April 18, 2028
  • June 14, 2028

These sailings are all 10-night roundtrip cruises from Brisbane. In addition to the Conflict Islands, other ports on the itineraries include Alotau, Kiriwina Island, and Rabaul. The Conflict Islands are the final port visit for each voyage.

While the other Papua New Guinea [PNG] ports are not affected by the ownership change, it is possible they may be rescheduled or cancelled as Carnival Cruise Line adjusts to new routes or offers other alternative ports.

“We are now actively evaluating the alternatives for PNG itineraries and will be in touch with guests in January 2026, once we have finalised plans,” the notification said.

Another option might be a longer stay in ports already planned, but Carnival Cruise Line will investigate all possible options before confirming changes.

In addition to the 108,865-gross-ton Carnival Adventure, Holland America Line’s Noordam and Zaandam have visits planned to the Conflict Islands in 2026 – on January 13 and February 7, respectively. Seabourn Pursuit is scheduled to call on May 12, 2026.

Several other ships are also scheduled for the destination in 2026, 2027, and 2028, including Westerdam, Coral Princess, Seabourn Quest, Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, and Grand Princess.

Other than Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, all the other lines scheduled to visit the Conflict Islands are part of Carnival Corporation & plc.

Whether or not other cruise lines must likewise cancel the port or adjust itineraries will depend on their own arrangements with the new owner.

Who Owns the Conflict Islands?

The Conflict Islands are an atoll with more than 15 small islands east of the main body of Papua New Guinea. While their name might indicate ownership disputes, the islands were actually named after the Royal Navy schooner HMS Conflict in 1880.

Nevertheless, there have been conflicts with the Conflict Islands in recent years. Previously owned by Australian businessman Ian Gowrie-Smith, the islands were up for sale in 2022.

Pacific Encounter Cruise Ship
Pacific Encounter Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ribeiroantonio)

According to the Sydney Morning Herald at that time, there were security concerns that islands might be sold to Chinese interests. This could have caused significant political and economic instability in the region.

That sale apparently fell through, but now the islands have transferred to new but as yet undisclosed ownership.

“The Conflict Islands, which are part of Papua New Guinea, have been sold to a new owner,” John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, said. “I didn’t know islands moved around like that.”

While the islands may remain under private ownership and unavailable to guests, there are other options as well. It is possible a resort may have purchased the location and could be planning a new destination for visitors, or even private entities such as television studios or research facilities could make such purchases.

Cruise lines may even make such purchases to develop private destinations, such as Royal Caribbean’s purchase of Costa Maya to construct Perfect Day Mexico.

In some cases, such agreements are not actual purchase contracts, but instead are long-term leases with the governments who retain ownership of the islands or destinations.

Itinerary Updates Planned

Regardless of who the new owner of the islands may be, cruises will be unable to visit for the foreseeable future.

“The new owners do not want the cruise ships there,” Heald confirmed in a daily video. “That’s very sad because I know it was a very popular area, but we are looking extremely hard now to provide you with an exciting itinerary and you’ll have that news in the early part of 2026.”

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There is no precise timeline for when the itinerary updates will be announced. Because the first impacted cruise is not for six months, however, there is plenty of time for Carnival Cruise Line to make alternative arrangements to offer outstanding destinations for guests to visit.

Guests booked on the impacted sailings should stay in close contact with Carnival to be sure they are updated as soon as changes are confirmed.

Cruise Dreams Shattered After Guests Turned Away for Documentation Slip

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Dreams Shattered After Guests Turned Away for Documentation Slip

Key Aspects:

  • A family is demanding compensation after being denied boarding for their Norwegian Cruise Line sailing.
  • Two members of the travel party, who are US permanent citizens, did not bring their green cards to the cruise port.
  • Green cards were required to sail and to re-enter the country at the end of their planned Bahamas cruise.

If there is one thing every cruiser must remember to do, it is to double-check what documentation is needed in order to embark on their sailing and triple-check that they bring it all with them.

Guests who fail to do so could be denied boarding, which is what happened to one family who recently attempted to embark on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship in Jacksonville, Florida.

It’s unclear which specific sailing that family had booked, but the ship that ended up being just out of reach for them was likely Norwegian Gem, as she is homeporting in Jacksonville through spring of 2026.

Per an angry Reddit post, the poster’s wife and parents were denied boarding at the cruise port because the parents – who are permanent US citizens – did not have their physical green cards with them.

“I bought my wife and in-laws tickets to the Bahamas leaving from Jacksonville and they drove down there yesterday (7 hour drive) but were refused entry on to the ship because my in-laws, who are permanent residents with passports and state IDs, did not have their physical green cards with them,” the frustrated spouse posted.

Read Also: Thousands Turned Away As Star Voyager Makes Last Minute Cruise Cancellation

“The reason given by the person refusing entry was that, quote: ‘when we come back through US Customs from the Bahamas, how are they going to get back into the country without their cards?’”, the Redditor continued.

The family is now seeking a refund or future cruise credit from Norwegian Cruise Line due to the inconvenience and embarrassment, which has thus far been denied.

Who is Really at Fault?

The family has tried to claim that they did not see anything stating that physical green cards were required, and that this information was not ever conveyed to them.

“When I purchased the tickets NCL did not ask to upload them, nor did they ever mention them when I registered her parents as non-US citizens during check out,” the Redditor complained.

But just because the family may not have immediately seen these instructions, it doesn’t mean the information wasn’t readily available.

Cruise Check In
NCL Cruise Check In (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock)

A quick search of Norwegian Cruise Line’s website makes it clear that physical green cards would have been required to sail, making it hard for the family to prove that they simply didn’t know better.

“US Alien Residents holding an Alien Resident Card (ARC), also known as a ‘Green Card’ must be in possession of the ARC in order to sail,” reads NCL’s publicly accessible travel documentation policy.

“US Alien Residents who do not have their ARC, as well as a valid passport from their country of citizenship, with them at check-in will be denied boarding,” the policy states.

Federal law also requires permanent residents (green card holders) to carry their green card with them at all times as proof of their status, and it must be presented to immigration officers upon leaving and entering the country.

Cruising to the Bahamas, of course, counts as leaving the country.

No Sympathy From the Cruise Community

Instead of advice on securing a refund, the Redditor received quite a bit of tough love in response to their post.

“It’s your responsibility to have the appropriate documents. Even a small amount of research ahead of time could have prevented this situation. It sucks and I’m sorry, this is definitely a ‘you’ problem,” one person said.

“OP could have read the NCL website or asked his travel agent. He needs to mark this up as a very expensive lesson learned,” another agreed.

More From Cruise Hive

At the end of the day, it is ultimately every cruise guest’s responsibility to verify what documentation is needed ahead of their sailing.

When in doubt, it is always okay to call the cruise line’s customer service department, where agents will be happy to walk you through the required documentation.

NCL Unveils Hundreds of Winter Voyages and Brings Back Free at Sea Plus

Calvin Musquez
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NCL Unveils Hundreds of Winter Voyages and Brings Back Free at Sea Plus

Bing Crosby dreamed of a white Christmas, but for those cruisers looking for a winter of sunshine, beaches, and open ocean, Norwegian Cruise Line has you covered.

The popular cruise line has unveiled deployments for the 2027/2028 winter season that are sure to bring holly jolly vibes on the high seas. Spanning from September 2027 to April 2028, this season brings exciting itineraries to cruisers all over the world.

And, for the first time, two of Norwegian’s newest ships, the 143,535 gross ton Norwegian Prima, and her sister ship, the 142,500 gross ton Norwegian Viva, will homeport from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

These voyages will sail to 144 destinations across 47 different countries.  They range from quick two-day weekend getaways to massive 22-day journeys for the most dedicated cruisers.

The cruise line is putting particular emphasis on Bahamas and Caribbean voyages, with a plethora of sailings going to popular destinations such as Freeport, Nassau, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Antigua.

Of course, what would a cruise be without a private island getaway?  

Norwegian Cruise Line’s private destinations, Harvest Caye and Great Stirrup Cay, will also feature in many of these Caribbean and Bahamas sailings.

By then, Great Stirrup Cay will have completed several massive upgrades, including a new pier and a brand new massive waterpark, announced earlier this year.

For cruisers sailing out of Los Angeles, Galveston, and New Orleans, you can look forward to journeys to Mexico, featuring popular ports like Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta.

Ships sailing from these ports include Norwegian Encore out of Los Angeles, Norwegian Escape out of Galveston, and Norwegian Getaway out of New Orleans.

Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship
Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)

Additionally, sailings to destinations across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia will be available for our friends to the east.  These sailings include destinations like Fremantle, Adelaide, Okinawa, Kobe, Ko Samui, and Coron.

Australia and New Zealand voyages sail on the 1,972-passenger Norwegian Spirit, while Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore offer sailings aboard the 2,352-passenger Norwegian Jade.

If you’re worried about feeling rushed, rest easy. To give guests ample time to explore each destination, the average port time is a leisurely 9.5 hours.

This exciting deployment will also include 71 late departures at 31 ports and 70 overnight stays.

NCL Remains Committed to Flexibility with Free at Sea Plus

A lot of cruisers prefer not to have their vacations prescribed too rigidly. Like ordering a sandwich at a deli, they like to carefully curate their trip, piece by piece.

With the diverse variety of offerings coming, running the gamut of length, destinations, and activities, Norwegian seems to understand this desire.

“We’re thrilled to unveil our new immersive winter season, giving travelers the ultimate freedom to create their own adventure,” said Harry Sommer, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 

“Whether it’s an exotic Asia voyage, a quick Bahamas escape or a sun-soaked Caribbean getaway, our itineraries are designed for flexibility and choice.”

Further demonstrating this commitment to freedom, Norwegian Cruise Line also unveiled a new upgrade to its Free at Sea program, Free at Sea Plus.  

This new upgrade gives cruisers exciting additional perks during their voyage, including unlimited streaming WiFi, wine, bottled water, and (for the caffeine lovers) unlimited Starbucks drinks.

Additionally, Free at Sea Plus provides guests with a massive 50% discount on additional specialty dining cover charges, as well as an unlimited open bar at Great Stirrup Cay.

More From Cruise Hive

The new program upgrade costs $49.99 per person, per day.  Not a bad deal for those who will take full advantage of the free drinks and discounts.

So, if you’re looking to ditch the frosty weather in favor of a tropical paradise in 2027, be sure to keep an eye on Norwegian Cruise Line’s offerings for a new kind of winter wonderland.

Carnival Guest Upset About Loss of Holiday Drink Tradition

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Guest Upset About Loss of Holiday Drink Tradition

Key Aspects:

  • One Carnival guest is upset that there is no eggnog available onboard their holiday cruise.
  • John Heald asked if other guests enjoy the seasonal beverage, with mixed results.
  • Guests can bring their own eggnog onboard if they abide by the cruise line’s beverage policy.

No matter what they may celebrate at this time of year, everyone has their own traditions for various festivities. This may include special foods, holiday pajamas, events, decorations, and of course, drinks to toast the season.

One Carnival cruise guest is frustrated that their family tradition is not available aboard Carnival Venezia, where a popular holiday beverage, eggnog, is absent. This is so disruptive to their Christmas plans that they reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador.

“Here on Venezia and no egg nog. It’s the xmas and Carnival has no egg nog. Egg nog is a xmas tradition in our family to be mixed with our dark rum,” the guest explained. “Thanks for taking one of our family xmas traditions away.”

Carnival Venezia is currently sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that departed Port Canaveral on Sunday, December 14, with visits to Celebration Key, Roatan, and Cozumel on the schedule.

But are the up to 5,260 guests onboard the ship really missing eggnog that much?

Heald responded to the guest’s frustration, but also opened up the discussion to other cruisers about this sometimes controversial holiday beverage.

“I hope that despite no noggs of egg that you are having a brilliant time,” he said. “Egg Nog – do you drink it?”

Eggnog Opinions Vary

More than 1,400 guests responded to Heald’s question in just a few hours, with varied opinions on whether or not the festive beverage ought to be served onboard.

While many guests enjoy the typically frothy drink, either with or without spirits, they don’t expect Carnival Cruise Line to uphold their personal holiday traditions.

Read Also: Christmas on a Cruise Ship – What to Expect

“Yes I love it, but do not expect Carnival to meet all my, or anyone else’s favorite drinks, or tradition. If it means that much, they should not cruise at that time,” one guest noted.

“Egg nog-gate: where people forget that not everyone likes the same holiday drinks! Carnival is not obligated to cater to everyone’s family traditions,” another guest quipped.

Carnival Venezia in New York
Carnival Venezia in New York (Photo Credit: Maksim Toome)

A very valid point one guest brought up is that there are several brands of eggnog and those who like the drink can be very loyal to their favorite, just as guests are very loyal in the Coke vs. Pepsi wars.

“It would be impossible for Carnival to provide one to make everyone happy,” they noted.

A number of guests do think it would be nice for Carnival to offer the seasonal beverage, with or without rum or bourbon, and it could be a fun addition to holiday menus.

While Carnival has some amazing treats on its Christmas holiday menu, no eggnog options are available, at least not this year. With enough feedback, maybe there could be an eggnog cheesecake or other decadent dessert added in future years!

Bring Your Own Eggnog Onboard

Another popular suggestion was that anyone who really wants eggnog could bring it aboard with them at embarkation.

Carnival’s liquor and beverage policy permits guests to bring along “a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12-ounces/354-ml each or less” of non-alcoholic beverages.

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Heald has also previously noted that guests can replenish their non-alcoholic drink supply at ports of call, so guests could also pick up a small carton of eggnog while visiting a port during their cruise.

Provided the guests’ eggnog was not already fortified with rum or other spirits, they could certainly bring along the festive drink. There is plenty of rum onboard for anyone who wants that enhancement as well!

Former Carnival Cruise Director Returning But Not How Guests Might Want

Melissa Mayntz
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Former Carnival Cruise Director Returning But Not How Guests Might Want

Key Aspects:

  • Chris “The Flying Scotsman” has announced he is bringing his show to Carnival Cruise Line.
  • Williams will be onboard two of Carnival Legend‘s European sailings in 2026.
  • The Flying Scotsman performs with other cruise lines as well and may have future Carnival bookings.

One of Carnival Cruise Line’s most popular former cruise directors, Chris “The Flying Scotsman” Williams, has announced a return to the Fun Ship Fleet, but not in the way some guests may wish.

Williams has been teasing about his big announcement in the past few days on his YouTube channel and Facebook page, finally letting fans know how he’s reconnecting with Carnival.

“Some big news, BIG news, but I have to break some hearts first of all,” he said. “I’m not coming back as a cruise director. I retired for a reason, I wanted to be home more with my family, I love being home now with my daughter and my wife.”

Over the past year, Williams has transitioned to be a fly-on entertainer on different cruise ships, bringing his distinctive act to audiences on different cruise lines.

“After nearly a year of waiting, it looks like I’m coming home,” Williams announced. “I’m going to be on the Legend.”

Williams has confirmed he will be performing on two sailings during Carnival Legend‘s European cruises this summer. While he won’t be onboard for the full cruise lengths, he will be joining the ship from June 7-10 and again from August 9-13.

“It’s been well over a year and a half that I’ve done my show on a Carnival ship. I’m so excited to be coming home, I’m so excited to be back on a Carnival ship. It’s gonna be wonderful,” Williams said. “Carnival Legend, I’m coming for you baby!”

He also hints that more Carnival Cruise Line bookings may be coming in the future, though no further dates or ships are yet confirmed.

Read Also: Carnival’s Fleet Cruise Director Role Explained

The Carnival family is eager to welcome Williams home and he got a shout-out from John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, on his upcoming shows.

“We’re so proud to welcome him back,” Heald said. “We’ve missed you and we are very exited that you will be on stage on our ships again.”

More Opportunities to See The Flying Scotsman

In addition to his upcoming sailings on Carnival ships, Williams also has shows in 2026 with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Ambassador Cruise Lines.

Worth Reading: Former Cruise Directors to Host Special Margaritaville at Sea Sailing

Williams will be onboard a 10-night sailing of Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral from January 10-20, 2026 during a Norwegian fjords itinerary roundtrip from Southampton.

Chris "The Flying Scotsman" Williams, Carnival Cruise Director
Chris “The Flying Scotsman” Williams, Carnival Cruise Director

With Ambassador, Williams will be on a longer sailing, the February 19, 2026 departure of Ambition for a 31-night Mediterranean cruise. Williams will only be onboard for part of the voyage, however, from February 25 to March 3 as the ship sails from Malaga to Civitavecchia.

Chris Williams and Carnival Cruise Line

Williams served with Carnival Cruise Line for 13 years. His first position was as an entertainment singer, then he became a Playlist Productions Performer and eventually a cruise director. His vibrant style, irreverent humor, and amiable personality made him a favorite among Carnival cruise guests.

In November 2023, Williams was promoted to Fleet Cruise Director, working to train and support onboard cruise directors on different Carnival ships.

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He only served in that position before retiring from Carnival Cruise Line in August 2024, shortly after his 40th birthday. That occasion gave him time to reflect on the choice between job and family, and while he loves both, it was important to shift his priority to his family.

“I really want to be there for my family,” he said about his retirement. “I really want to see my little girl growing up, I want to be at all the competitions that she does, I want to be at all her school days, I want to be at all her school evening reports. I want to do everything that a dad does.”

Of course, Williams is still a top-notch entertainer and is bringing smiles to guests from all over the world. With his return to Carnival Cruise Line in a new role, more guests will get to enjoy his energy and panache, which is so distinctive and fun.

Carnival Firenze to New York as Splendor Adds Asia Voyages

Donna Tunney
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Carnival Firenze to New York as Splendor Adds Asia Voyages

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line unveiled new 2027-28 itineraries for Carnival Splendor and Carnival Firenze.
  • Carnival Splendor will add cruises to Southeast Asia while Carnival Firenze deploys to New York.
  • The ships will together sail three Carnival Journeys voyages in 2027.

Carnival Cruise Line announced some major deployment plans for 2027-28, as Carnival Splendor sails four new itineraries in Australia and Southeast Asia, and Carnival Firenze replaces Carnival Venezia in New York.

The 3,000-guest Carnival Splendor, a Concordia-class ship that launched in 2007, is based year-round in Sydney, Australia, sailing 3- to 10-night voyages that typically include Australia destinations plus Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

In 2027-28, two getaway cruises, a 3-day cruise to nowhere and a 4-day sailing that calls at Moreton Island, will be offered from Sydney, along with two Carnival Journeys voyages in Southeast Asia.

The 4,126-guest Carnival Firenze, currently sailing year-round from Long Beach, California, will reposition to New York and replace sister ship Carnival Venezia as that vessel deploys to PortMiami. It will be Carnival Firenze’s Big Apple debut.

“Carnival Firenze, arriving in New York for the first time to replace Carnival Venezia, brings our Fun Italian Style to the market in a fresh way,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites – What Are the Options?

“Combined with Carnival Splendor’s exciting sailings that include visits to Singapore, these additions showcase how we continue to grow our lineup in meaningful ways,” added Duffy.

Carnival Journeys Cruises Visit Southeast Asia

Carnival Splendor will sail two Carnival Journeys voyages in summer 2027. Journeys cruises typically visit destinations along less-traveled routes and have enhanced onboard enrichment programs. 

The first is a 15-day cruise from Sydney to Singapore, departing on July 31, 2027. The sailing will call at Moreton Island, Airlie Beach, and Cairns, Australia; Lembar, Indonesia; and Benoa, Bali, before concluding in Singapore.

Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship
Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship

On September 1, 2027, Carnival Splendor reverses the route and sails from Singapore to Sydney, on a 16-day voyage that calls at the same ports plus one additional destination, Darwin, Australia.

Both cruises follow Carnival Splendor’s scheduled dry dock at a Southeast Asia shipyard.

Carnival Firenze to Make New York Debut

Carnival Firenze is set to reposition from the US West Coast to PortMiami in February 2027, when she will sail a short series of Caribbean cruises through late May 2027. From there, she will head to New York.

An 11-day Carnival Journeys cruise to the Southern Caribbean will depart on May 16, 2027 and call at Celebration Key, Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Thomas.

After arriving in New York on May 27, 2027, the ship will sail 4- and 5-day cruises to Bermuda and Canada. A 5-day Canada/New England voyage on August 19, 2027 features port calls to Portland, Maine, and Saint John, Canada.

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Also from New York, Carnival Firenze will sail a 7-day Bermuda cruise with two overnights in the destination, plus several 8-day Eastern Caribbean sailings. Port calls on those voyages include Celebration Key, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Carnival Firenze was most recently in the news thanks to a technology issue that delayed her departure from Long Beach by one full day, on December 15, 2025. The ship, formerly Costa Firenze, joined the Carnival fleet in 2024 when she was transferred from sister brand Costa Cruises.

After Lengthy Delay, Carnival Firenze Finally Begins Sailing

Donna Tunney
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After Lengthy Delay, Carnival Firenze Finally Begins Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze departed Long Beach nearly a full day late due to computer issues.
  • The ship’s itinerary was revised, with one of two port calls being cancelled.
  • Passengers received a $100 onboard credit, per stateroom, as compensation.

What a difference a day makes. Well, 21.5 hours, actually. 

That’s how long the departure of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze was delayed at her homeport of Long Beach, California, due to a massive computer failure on December 15, 2025.

The 4,232-guest ship sat at her berth in Long Beach until roughly 1:30 p.m. on December 16, 2025, following a technology glitch that temporarily lost guest information, including booking records and other data.

Originally scheduled to depart Long Beach at 3 p.m. on December 15, 2025, the 4-year-old ship was to sail a 6-night Mexican Riviera voyage calling at Cabo San Lucas for an overnight stay, then Ensenada, before returning to the California port.

Guests were informed of the issue during embarkation on December 15, 2025. At that time, the delay was expected to be just a few hours, but the tech issue persisted, forcing the ship to stay put for nearly a full day.

Revised Itinerary Leads to Compensation Credit

The computer problem was finally solved, and the ship began her Mexico itinerary, but not without substantial changes. First, a $100 onboard credit was issued to each stateroom as compensation for the lost day.

Also, while the ship will visit Cabo San Lucas as planned, the call to Ensenada was cancelled, leaving guests disappointed.

The original itinerary had the ship arriving at Cabo San Lucas on December 17, 2025, staying overnight, then calling at Ensenada on December 20, 2025.

Carnival Firenze Cruise Ship in Long Beach
Carnival Firenze Cruise Ship in Long Beach (Photo Credit: mikeledray)

A shipboard announcement during the delay informed guests that, if the delay continued into the evening, the ship would ultimately reverse the calls, visiting Ensenada first, on December 16, 2025, followed by Cabo San Lucas on December 18 and 19, 2025.

However, since the delay extended far beyond what ship officials imagined, Ensenada was removed from the schedule entirely.

Is $100 Onboard Credit Enough? Some Say No.

Guests aboard Carnival Firenze posted their frustrations on social media and garnered some sympathy from commenters.

“Depending on how much I actually paid for the cruise, I’d be pretty upset with that deal. I missed 1/5th of my five day cruise and 1/2 the ports? I’d want about 25% of what I paid,” posted one observer.

Another person had this advice for guests: “You aren’t missing anything by not stopping in Ensenada. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!”

A recent passenger offered this perspective: “Things happen and the ports are not guaranteed, it says so in the cruise contract. We missed two ports on our last cruise because of the hurricane and got nothing.”

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The 135,500-gross-ton Carnival Firenze operates 3- to 6-night cruises to Mexican Riviera ports year-round. Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada are ports of call on most itineraries, with some sailings also including Catalina Island.

The ship initially deployed to Long Beach in 2024, when she was transferred from Costa Cruises, a sister brand to Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia, also a former Costa ship, represent the cruise line’s Fun Italian-Style experience.

Pier Damage in Mexico Sends Norwegian Encore to Jamaica Instead

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Pier Damage in Mexico Sends Norwegian Encore to Jamaica Instead

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Encore is visiting Falmouth, Jamaica on Wednesday, December 17 instead of Cozumel.
  • The itinerary change is due to pier damage in Cozumel, but details have not been released.
  • The ship will also arrive at Grand Cayman earlier than planned, but there are no other changes.

It will be jerked chicken and reggae music instead of tacos and mariachi bands for guests onboard Norwegian Encore today, as the ship has skipped her visit to Cozumel, Mexico and docked instead in Falmouth, Jamaica.

The 169,100-gross-ton ship, the largest in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, departed Miami on Saturday, December 13. After a day at sea, she enjoyed a visit to Harvest Caye in Belize on Monday, December 15.

Following another day at sea, Wednesday was to have been a visit to Cozumel. Guests were informed on Tuesday evening that the Mexico visit would not be possible.

“Due to localized pier damage in Cozumel, Mexico, we have replaced the scheduled call with a visit to Falmouth, Jamaica,” the notification letter read. “Similar to Cozumel, Falmouth offers a lively Caribbean experience with access to beaches and popular shore excursions, but with a distinctly Jamaican cultural and historical focus.”

Norwegian Encore will be in Falmouth from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., one hour longer than the planned time in Cozumel, which was to have been from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will give guests even more time to enjoy this unexpected but vibrant destination.

Worth Reading: Norwegian Cruise Line Urges Passengers to Use a Passport for Mexico

All Cozumel shore tours booked through Norwegian Cruise Line are being automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. Tours for Falmouth are available for booking at the Shore Excursion Desk on Deck 6, midship.

Grand Cayman Also Adjusted

Following what was to have been Cozumel but is now Falmouth, Norwegian Encore will be visiting George Town, Grand Cayman on Thursday, December 18.

Because Falmouth is roughly 125 miles closer to Grand Cayman than Cozumel, the ship will now be extending her time in George Town. Instead of arriving at 10 a.m. as originally planned, the ship will dock at 8 a.m.

Norwegian Encore Cruise Ship
Norwegian Encore Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Khairil Azhar Junos)

The 6 p.m. departure time is unchanged from the original itinerary. The rest of the itinerary is also the same, including the day at sea on Friday, December 19 and the return to Miami by 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 20.

Because the departure time in Grand Cayman has not changed, shore tours should not be impacted. If any tours are adjusted for the earlier arrival, guests will be notified of the change.

What Happened in Cozumel?

The change in itinerary is entirely due to pier damage in Cozumel. There are no mechanical problems with Norwegian Encore, nor is weather a factor impacting the current itinerary.

Because Norwegian Encore is a larger vessel, measuring 1,094 feet long, the ship requires a longer pier to ensure safe docking and sufficient clearance.

Read Also: The Different Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Classes

The “localized pier damage” has not been explained, nor has any cause of the damage been confirmed. It is possible the damage may be the pier itself or to the dolphins that keep a ship from rubbing, mooring points necessary to tie off the ship, or other essential structures.

Multiple other vessels are visiting Cozumel as planned on Wednesday, including Icon of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Celebrity Eclipse, and three different Carnival ships.

Norwegian Encore is homeported from Miami, offering 7-night Caribbean itineraries through the winter season.

Most of her voyages do include Cozumel as a port of call, but it is unknown whether or not additional voyages will skip the destination.

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Any future itinerary changes will depend on the exact nature of the damage, how quickly it may be repaired, and what other ships are scheduled for docking in case berth assignments can be rearranged to accommodate Norwegian Encore.

Guests with sailings booked over the next few weeks will want to stay in close touch with Norwegian Cruise Line to be alerted to any changes as soon as possible.

Miami Breaks 1 Million Cruise Passengers in a Single Month

Melissa Mayntz
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Miami Breaks 1 Million Cruise Passengers in a Single Month

Key Aspects:

  • PortMiami welcomed more than one million cruise guests during November 2025.
  • This is the first time in the port’s history so many guests have passed through in a single month.
  • PortMiami is home to several of the world’s largest cruise ships from different cruise lines.

November 2025 was one-in-a-million for PortMiami, or more accurately, a-million-in-one with more than one million guests passing through the South Florida cruise port.

This is the first time in the history of the Cruise Capital of the World that seven-figures’ worth of cruise guests have moved through the various terminals within a single month.

“Last month was hard to beat!” PortMiami announced on X with celebratory emojis.

“For the first time in the seaport’s history, PortMiami surpassed 1 million passengers in a single month with a total of 1,007,325 passengers in November 2025.”

Worth Reading: Carnival Navigates Two Jam-Packed Days at PortMiami With 19 Ships in Port

While an incredible month, the record-breaking, history-making total comes just one month too late to help PortMiami retain the title of “World’s Busiest Cruise Port,” which Port Canaveral took over at the end of the fiscal year, which was the end of October.

Nevertheless, this outstanding number bodes well for PortMiami to perhaps regain that recognition for 2026.

Busiest Port Days in South Florida

With some of the world’s largest cruise ships homeporting in Miami, it’s no surprise that the popular port would reach the one-million milestone.

Homeported ships include these largest ships of their respective lines:

  • Icon of the Seas – Royal Caribbean (248,700 gross tons, 7,600 guests)
  • MSC World America – MSC Cruises (216,700 gross tons, 6,762 guests)
  • Carnival Celebration – Carnival Cruise Line (183,500 gross tons, 6,631 guests)
  • Norwegian Encore – Norwegian Cruise Line (169,120 gross tons, 4,000 guests)

Even if only smaller vessels happen to be visiting PortMiami on any given day, it’s not unusual for the port to host a half-dozen ships or more simultaneously. In November, the port welcomed at least six ships on 12 different days.

Cruise Ships at PortMiami
Cruise Ships at PortMiami (Photo Credit: PortMiami)

November 30 was particularly noteworthy, with 10 different cruise ships from seven different cruise lines in port: Symphony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Azamara Onward, Scarlet Lady, Norwegian Aqua, MSC Divina, Celebrity Beyond, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Celebration.

On that day, PortMiami welcomed 75,201 cruise guests, the most in a single day in the port’s history.

“We’re breaking records at PortMiami!” the port shared on Facebook. “On Sunday, November 30, 2025, PortMiami set a new daily passenger record with 75,201 passengers traveling through the Cruise Capital of the World. Cheers to more milestones.”

Of course, who knew that next milestone would be the total for just that month! Undoubtedly, even more milestones are on the way for the popular homeport.

Not All Cruise Guests Happy

While it’s amazing the PortMiami is able to handle so many cruise guests, not all travelers are feeling the love. Ongoing construction and roadway projects not only at the port but in adjacent downtown Miami can make getting to and from the cruise terminals a strategic nightmare.

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Some recent guests have reported traffic snarls that last 1-2 hours or longer, even when staying in hotels close to the cruise port.

Special events such as parades, concerts, art festivals, and marathons can further clog traffic in the port vicinity.

Guests with cruises booked from PortMiami should investigate if there are any events that might impact their departure or traffic when they return to Florida, and should always plan adequate time to reach their cruise terminal on time.

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