Blog Page 134

Royal Caribbean Guests Shifted as Cruise Ships Switch Deployments

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Royal Caribbean Guests Shifted as Cruise Ships Switch Deployments

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean announced that Grandeur of the Seas will move to Cartagena, Colombia, and Colon, Panama, for 2026-27.
  • Jewel of the Seas will take over Tampa and Fort Lauderdale itineraries in 2026-27.
  • Passengers will automatically be transferred with price protection and comparable staterooms.

Royal Caribbean is shaking up its 2026-2027 schedule by switching the deployments of Grandeur of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.

The move means Grandeur of the Seas and its 1,992 guests will now sail from Cartagena, Colombia, and Colon, Panama, while the 1,097-passenger Jewel of the Seas will take over itineraries from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“Our original plan for Grandeur of the Seas was to offer a Summer 2026-2027 season with sailings departing from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale beginning May 2, 2026, through April 17, 2027. Instead, Grandeur of the Seas will offer sailings from Cartagena, Colombia, and Colon, Panama,” the cruise line said in a letter to booked passengers.

Guests scheduled to sail with Grandeur of the Seas received the notification, which revealed their reservations will automatically be shifted to Jewel of the Seas.

The notice said passengers will be assigned to a comparable stateroom, with the original price protected. If the new fare is lower, Royal Caribbean will refund the difference.

The cruise line is also giving guests who are unhappy with the ship the option to rebook any other sailing across the fleet without non-refundable deposit change fees.

The shuffle ensures that Florida continues to have a Royal Caribbean ship offering Tampa and Fort Lauderdale itineraries, while also continuing deployment in Colombia and Panama.

Passengers moved to Jewel of the Seas repositioning voyage from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale on May 1, 2026, will also receive three additional cruising days, at no additional cost.

That journey will include visits to St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua, St. Maarten, and Grand Bahama Island.

Ship Swap Details

Currently, Grandeur of the Seas is operating in Florida, sailing 7-night roundtrip voyages from Tampa to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas.

The ship was scheduled to reposition to Fort Lauderdale in May 2026 to offer 3- and 4-night getaway cruises to the Bahamas and the cruise line’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

It was also repositioning to Tampa in October 2026 to return to a schedule of 4- to 8-night cruises to the Western Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas (Photo Credit: Studio Porto Sabbia)

Jewel of the Seas is currently sailing 3- and 4-night getaway cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas and Key West, Florida.

The vessel will begin homeporting in San Juan at the start of 2026 and was scheduled to begin cruising from Cartagena and Colon in May 2026 to offer Southern Caribbean cruises to Aruba and Curacao.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

Many guests have commented that the shift from Grandeur of the Seas to Jewel of the Seas is an upgrade to those embarking on cruises from Florida.

The 73,817-gross-ton Grandeur of the Seas, which launched in 1996, is one of Royal Caribbean’s older ships, while the 90,090-gross-ton Jewel of the Seas launched in 2004.

The vessels are two different classes: Vision and Radiance, respectfully, with the 13-deck Jewel of the Seas offering more dining and entertainment options than the 12-deck Grandeur of the Seas.

Cruise Guests Charged With Using Fraudulent Gift Cards to Pay For Sailing

Donna Tunney
-
0
Cruise Guests Charged With Using Fraudulent Gift Cards to Pay For Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • Two cruise guests were charged with using fraudulent gift cards to book a cruise aboard Carnival Sunrise. A third suspect, who did not cruise, also faces charges.
  • US Customs and Border Protection agents arrested the two cruisers when Carnival Sunrise returned to her base at PortMiami on August 18, 2025.
  • There were no impacts to the ship’s debarkation, and the vessel departed on schedule for her next Caribbean voyage.

Lots of cruisers use gift cards to book cruises and make onboard purchases, but two Carnival Cruise Line guests who used gift cards allegedly acquired by fraudulent means are in legal trouble.

The guests, Rogerio da Cunha Fernandes, 45, and Aida Parada la Paz, 43, had sailed aboard Carnival Sunrise on a 4-night Bahamas cruise that departed from PortMiami on August 14, 2025.

Upon returning to the port on August 18, 2025, both were arrested by US Customs and Border Protection agents.

According to local media reports, the two guests were charged with buying gift cards using an altered Bolivian bank card. A third suspect faces charges as well, although she did not sail on the ship.

Fernandes and La Paz allegedly booked their Carnival Sunrise cruise on July 26, 2025 using gift cards fraudulently purchased at a Winn-Dixie retail store.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office stated that some 230 fraudulent sales or purchases were made by at least one of the three suspects. The third suspect, Beatriz Paz-Roca, 66, was arrested the same day as Fernandes and La Paz, at a Winn-Dixie in nearby Doral, Florida.

Worth Reading: Carnival Cruise Line Decides to Stop Offering Gift Cards Through AARP

All three were charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. Police said that Fernandes and La Paz fraudulently received $18,000 from the gift card conspiracy, while Paz-Roca received about $12,000.

Federal agents boarded the ship and searched Fernandes and La Paz when Carnival Sunrise returned to PortMiami, and reported they found the Bolivian bank card and other fraudulently purchased gift cards.

Police said they knew the two were onboard the Carnival ship thanks to a social media posting apparently made by one of the suspects. All three suspects share a residence in Miami.

Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Sunrise (Photo Credit: Just dance)

Fernandes, who hails from Brazil, and La Paz, a Bolivian national, were held on a $10,000 bond and an immigration hold, while Paz-Roca, also from Bolivia, was held on the same bond but was not subject to an immigration hold.

Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise

Carnival Sunrise, meanwhile, debarked her guests as usual on August 18, 2025 and departed on her next voyage, a 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.

The 4-night sailing on which Fernandes and La Paz sailed had called at Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key, both private island destinations operated by Carnival Corporation.

Cruise fares for the short voyage start at about $344 per person for an inside cabin, rising to about $900 per person for suite accommodations.

How Common Is Credit Card Fraud on Cruise Ships?

Credit card-related fraud is not a common problem on cruise ships, but it does occur from time to time. In August 2024, four guests aboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Magnifica on a sailing from PortMiami were arrested when the ship returned to port.

They had allegedly used fraudulent credit cards in the ship’s casino, attempting to cash out large sums of money.

In another case, in 2023, a cruise guest aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was arrested as that ship returned to PortMiami and charged with paying for the family vacation with stolen credit cards.

Carnival Sunrise is the former Carnival Triumph. The 3,000-guest ship entered service in 1999. Cruise-watchers will remember Carnival Triumph as the location of the so-called Poop Cruise of 2013, when an engine fire knocked out power and the ship drifted for days.

More From Cruise Hive

The unfortunate event left thousands of guests without air conditioning, working bathrooms, and other necessities, and was recently featured in the Netflix anthology called “Trainwreck.”

In 2019, Carnival Triumph received a major renovation and a new name — Carnival Sunrise.

Carnival Panorama Hit by Sudden Storm, Ship Tilts in Gulf of California

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Panorama Hit by Sudden Storm, Ship Tilts in Gulf of California

Key Aspects:

  • A sudden storm sent Carnival Panorama into a dramatic tilt in the Gulf of California on Wednesday, August 20.
  • Damage occurred all over the ship, including broken glass, tipped displays, and flooding.
  • No major injuries have been reported and Carnival Panorama is not delayed on her Mexican Riviera itinerary.

While all eyes may be on Hurricane Erin as she passes between the US East Coast and Bermuda, it was on the West Coast that one cruise ship experienced a frightening storm-related list on Wednesday evening.

Carnival Panorama unexpectedly encountered a severe storm while sailing in the Gulf of California between Mazatlan and La Paz. The ship is on an 8-night Mexican Riviera itinerary that departed from Long Beach, California on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Guests onboard at the rocky moment report a sudden tilt with gusty winds and rain at roughly 8:15 p.m., just as the second dinner seating was getting underway.

“On board – Captain announced it was 60 mph wind gust that caused the ship listing,” one guest reported.

“It lasted about 30 seconds, we turned around to go around the storm,” another guest confirmed.

Pictures and videos shared on social media show a variety of damage around the ship, including broken glass in the main dining room and bars and tipped displays in the retail shops.

@queens_roost

We just finished our appetizer… we got stuck in the eye of tonight’s #gulfofcalifornia huge tropical storm. It was wild and absolutley gorgous! Between Mazatlan and La Paz There were medics called so I hope everyone is ok. @Carnival Panorama @carnival #cruise #travel #storm #weather

♬ original sound – Queens Roost

Water leaks and minor flooding were seen in some areas, and the ship’s pool and spas were partially drained due to the angle of the tilt.

Carnival Cruise Line also confirmed the incident with Cruise Hive, as well as how elevator operation was impacted.

“Along with some broken glass, water entered the main lobby and some elevator banks, rendering some elevators inoperable,” the cruise line described.

“The incident was over quickly and as the captain maneuvered the ship to calmer seas, the Panorama crew quickly turned their attention to assisting guests and clean up.”

One of the show performances was abruptly stopped as the ship tilted, a safety precaution for the performers.

Fortunately, no major injuries were reported though nine people did report to the ship’s medical center for treatment.

“There are no serious injuries and all are stable, but two guests will be referred to the hospital for additional evaluation when the ship arrives in La Paz today (Thursday),” Carnival said.

Crew members jumped into action immediately to clean up the debris and resume normal operations.

Minor Damage on Carnival Panorama
Minor Damage on Carnival Panorama (Photos Credit: Dee Lis)

While such an incident can be incredibly scary in the moment, cruise ships can actually tilt quite a significant degree without danger. The captain responded quickly to put the ship on a safer course from the sudden storm and ensure the safety and comfort of everyone aboard.

Carnival Panorama is continuing on her sailing with no notable delay. Thursday, August 21, is the ship’s day to visit La Paz, followed by a full day in Cabo San Lucas on Friday, August 22, before returning to California on Sunday, August 24.

To be clear, though some elevators are still undergoing repairs, none of the ship’s other systems are impacted and everything is operating normally.

The ship is homeported from Long Beach year-round, offering both 6- and 8-night Mexican Riviera sailings at least through April 2027.

Carnival panorama During Sudden Storm
Carnival panorama During Sudden Storm (Credits: Angel Ramirez & Dee Lis)

Is Rough Weather Really Unexpected?

Considering that weather forecasts have been tracking Hurricane Erin for more than a week, how can such a strong storm suddenly surprise Carnival Panorama?

Mazatlan and La Paz are only 250 miles apart. To sail between them, a cruise ship must pass across the mouth of the Gulf of California.

Unlike larger, well-developed storms that may be seen days in advance, strong thunderstorms can quickly spring up and impact the area without much warning.

Read Also: Can a Rogue Wave Sink a Cruise Ship?

Depending on the ship’s angle of sailing, her profile, and the direction of the wind, tilts and rough seas are not necessarily avoidable.

Fortunately, these types of storms are also relatively short-lived and can dissipate quickly as their fast and furious energy runs out.

While it may be scary for those onboard, cruise ship crews are well-trained to handle any weather situation in the safest way possible.

Every cruise ship is also built to withstand far rougher situations than even a sudden storm. The center of mass, stabilizers, and navigational gear all help support the vessel to be sure it stays righted and afloat.

Furthermore, every ship in the Carnival fleet is in constant contact with the Fleet Operations Center in Miami for all weather updates. Sometimes, however, sudden storms simply can’t be avoided.

A similar incident happened to Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas on November 7, 2024, while the ship was making a transatlantic sailing from Barcelona to Miami.

While such incidents are expected in notorious rough waters such as the infamous Drake Passage near Antarctica, rough waters can strike any cruise ship anywhere in the world.

Princess Cruises Ship Changes Itinerary Following Overboard Crew Member

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Princess Cruises Ship Changes Itinerary Following Overboard Crew Member

Key Aspects:

  • Sun Princess is continuing to cooperate with Turkish authorities following an overboard incident late Wednesday night.
  • The ship is extending her visit to Istanbul, but the port stop in Mykonos has unfortunately been cancelled.
  • Sun Princess will be able to return to Athens as scheduled for debarkation on Saturday, August 23, as planned.

Following the overboard incident that began in the late night hours of Wednesday, August 20, Sun Princess has altered her current itinerary to continue coordinating with local authorities.

Guests onboard have been updated about the situation, including what resources are available to them and how the end of their 7-night sailing will be impacted.

First, the cruise line confirmed that the overboard individual was a crew member. To protect their privacy, the individual’s name and position aboard the Sphere-class ship have not been disclosed.

As soon as the overboard alert was issued on Wednesday night, the ship initiated search operations with local maritime authorities for several hours, which unfortunately have not been successful.

“Despite these extensive efforts, the crew member has not been located,” the cruise line confirmed. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of our team members during this difficult time.”

The Princess Family Assistance team is providing support to the crew member’s family and specially trained counselors are now onboard Sun Princess for crew members. Guests are also invited to speak with the counselors if they have a need to do so.

Because the incident is ongoing, Sun Princess has had to change her itinerary.

“Due to this extraordinary circumstance, we were directed to proceed to an anchorage position off Tekrdag to continue coordination with local authorities and support the operation,” the cruise line explained.

“We unfortunately will cancel our call to Mykonos on Friday, August 22, and extend our call to Istanbul.”

The ship was originally scheduled to be in Istanbul from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 21. Instead, Sun Princess docked at approximately 2 p.m. and guests will need to be back aboard the ship no later than 11:30 p.m.

Mykonos was to have been the last port visit, scheduled for 12-9 p.m. on Friday, August 22. Due to the extended time in Istanbul, however, Sun Princess will be unable to make that port as planned.

Sun Princess Overboard
Sun Princess Overboard (Credits: Foreign-Pear-2323 & Capt. Kyrylo)

Read Also: What Happens If You Jump Off a Cruise Ship?

All pre-booked Princess Cruises tours for Mykonos are being automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ shipboard accounts.

In Istanbul, select half-day tours are still able to continue, but with updated meeting times. All other tours have been cancelled and refunded.

The ship’s return to Athens for debarkation on Saturday, August 23 is not expected to be impacted.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts continue to be with the guests and crew members aboard Sun Princess at this difficult time.

Sailing Aboard Sun Princess

The 175,000-gross-ton ship is the largest in the Princess Cruises fleet, able to welcome 4,300 guests aboard for each sailing. Also onboard are approximately 1,600 international crew members.

Sun Princess is also the newest Princess Cruises ship, at least until her sister ship, Star Princess, debuts in October 2025.

This is the first reported overboard incident from the vessel. Very few details have been confirmed at this time as the investigation is ongoing. Sun Princess is undoubtedly cooperating with local authorities in every way.

Following the ship’s return to Athens, she will continue to offer Mediterranean itineraries from Rome, Athens, and Barcelona as departure points.

On November 1, the ship will set sail on a 15-night transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, her winter homeport for both Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.

In March 2026, Sun Princess will return to the Mediterranean for another extensive season, visiting iconic European destinations in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and more.

Hurricane Erin Causes Second Change for Royal Caribbean Ship

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Hurricane Erin Causes Second Change for Royal Caribbean Ship

Key Aspects:

  • For the second sailing in a row, Liberty of the Seas will not be able to call on King’s Wharf (Royal Naval Dockyard) in Bermuda due to Hurricane Erin.
  • The next sailing, which embarks on August 21 in New Jersey, will instead extend its port call on Philipsburg, St. Maarten, where conditions are safer.
  • Hurricane Erin is still a raging Category 2 storm and is officially alongside the US East Coast.

It isn’t over yet! Hurricane Erin still isn’t done wreaking havoc for itineraries operated by Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.

The current voyage, which was a 5-night sailing to Bermuda that embarked on August 16, had to instead sail to Canada at the last minute to avoid the Category 2 hurricane.

But the next sailing that embarks tomorrow, August 21, 2025, will still not be able to visit Bermuda because of unsafe conditions.

“While the storm is not expected to directly impact our location, its projected path will pass near our itinerary, generating significantly larger waves ahead of its track,”  Royal Caribbean updated the up to 4,960 booked guests.

“To ensure safe navigation and to provide a more comfortable experience for everyone on board, we’ll now enjoy a Sea Day instead of visiting Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda,” the letter continued.

The sailing in question is a 9-night voyage based out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey, that was supposed to visit Bermuda and the Eastern Caribbean.

King’s Wharf, Bermuda, which is now scrapped, would have been the first call of the trip on August 23.

To help make up for the necessary change, the call on Philipsburg, St. Maarten, on August 25 has been extended from a half day to a full day.

“We’ll now arrive in Philipsburg, St. Maarten at 10:00 AM instead of 2:00 PM, and depart at 7:00 PM instead of 8:00 PM,” Royal Caribbean confirmed.

The next call on San Juan, Puerto Rico, that is planned for August 26 is so far unaffected.

Labadee, Haiti, which was originally the final stop on the itinerary, will also be skipped as Royal Caribbean has temporarily paused sailing to their private destination until November due to unrest.

Hurricane Erin Arrives on East Coast

Although Erin won’t make landfill, simply passing by the US East Coast is enough to bring dangerous weather conditions to the states that border the Atlantic Ocean.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s (NOAA) evening update on August 20, 2025, Erin was about 245 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with sustained winds of 110 miles per hour – keeping the hurricane at the top of the Category 2 classification.

North Carolina is currently under a state of emergency until the storm passes, while portions of the Outer Banks have been evacuated in anticipation of deadly storm surges and waves that could reach over 20 feet tall.

Hurricane Erin, Advisory 39
Hurricane Erin, Advisory 39

“Storm surge flooding and tropical storm conditions are expected in the North Carolina Outer Banks through Thursday,” reads NOAA’s latest advisory.

“The storm surge will be accompanied by large waves, leading to significant beach erosion and overwash, making some roads impassable.” 

Read Also: Complete List of Cruise Ship Changes Due to Hurricane Erin

As the week goes on, Erin will continue to run parallel to the East Coast. She will pass by Virginia next on August 21, before heading in the direction of New York and the New England region.

“Tropical storm conditions are expected on Thursday along the Virginia coast,” NOAA advised.

“Wind gusts to tropical storm force are likely along portions of the remainder of the US Mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts Thursday through early Friday.”

Although Erin has technically already passed Bermuda, which is around 650 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, this location is still at risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Late-Night Buffet Turns Ugly Between Cruise Passengers Over Chicken Tenders

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Late-Night Buffet Turns Ugly Between Cruise Passengers Over Chicken Tenders

Key Aspects: 

  • A late-night fight that involved a group of young cruisers broke in the buffet onboard a Carnival cruise ship.
  • The cause of the fight hasn’t been confirmed, but witnesses are saying that the violence was triggered by chicken tenders.
  • Carnival has a strict no tolerance policy against fighting, and participants may have earned themselves hefty fines and lifetime bans.

Being “hangry” is no joke. I am personally guilty of making some rather biting comments while hungry. Then again, who hasn’t?

But for some unruly Carnival passengers, strong feelings about some late-night chicken tenders might have been enough to resort to violence.

A large brawl broke out among a group of younger cruisers at around 2 a.m. in the Lido Marketplace, which usually offers late-night bites until the wee hours of the morning.

Video of the incident, which was captured by fellow passenger Mike Terra, is now making the rounds on social media. Cruise Hive has decided not to include the video.

The shocking footage shows guests shouting, punching, and tackling each other as the occasional cellphone and shoe go flying.

A woman can be heard asking, “Where the f— is security?” as one security team member tries to break up the fight and another speaks into his walkie-talkie and rushes out of the camera’s view.

Terra then turns the camera on himself to say, “Over chicken tenders is crazy.”

What exactly happened with the chicken fingers is unclear. Someone might have snagged the last piece in front of the wrong person or tried to hog the snack for themselves.

Carnival Cruise Brawl
Carnival Cruise Brawl (Credit: @mikeisterra)

In an interview with the Daily Mail UK, Terra did clarify that there was more to the fight than just fried chicken, “but that is really the basics.”

Carnival Cruise Line has not yet commented publicly on the situation. It’s also currently unclear exactly when and onboard which ship the altercation occurred.

Carnival Cracks Down on Misbehavior

Carnival has a zero-tolerance stance for fighting and violence, and even if the consequences haven’t been shared publicly at this time, they were certainly severe.

The misbehaving guests likely received a lifetime ban from Carnival and could have been fined $500 for violating the code of conduct.

“All guests must acknowledge and commit to our code of conduct during the check-in process, and any violation may result in a fine of $500, possible stateroom confinement and removal from the ship,” reads Carnival’s policy.

Those involved could have also been sent to the brig, or the onboard jail, or confined to their staterooms until they could be disembarked, with no refund provided for the loss of privileges onboard.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Jails – Here’s the Truth

Passengers Throwing Chairs on Carnival Sunrise
Passengers Throwing Chairs on Carnival Sunrise (Credit: Priscilla Nivia Delgado)

Carnival also began the busy summer season by reinforcing its policies on curfews, smoking, noise, and illegal drug use onboard with the “Have Fun. Be Safe” guidelines.

Under these policies, guests under the age of 17 cannot be out in public areas after 1 a.m. unless they are supervised by an adult over the age of 21. It doesn’t seem like any of the guests who participated in this brawl were under 17 though.

Additionally, all forms of marijuana and illegal narcotics are strictly prohibited. Guests who try to bring them onboard will be placed under arrest and banned.

But despite efforts to crack down on bad behavior, this isn’t the first brawl to break out among Carnival guests this summer.

Earlier in August, a large brawl with at least a dozen participants broke out just outside the terminal doors at California’s Long Beach Cruise Port.

In June, guests of Carnival Sunrise were banned for throwing both punches and chairs in a fight that broke out on the lido deck near the Pizzeria.

Also in June, another late-night fight broke out at the buffet onboard Carnival Paradise following a tense verbal altercation. All participants were again banned.

Star of the Seas Officially Named at Dazzling Naming Ceremony

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Star of the Seas Officially Named at Dazzling Naming Ceremony

Key Aspects:

  • Star of the Seas was officially named in an evening ceremony at Port Canaveral on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
  • Cruise line executives, Chief Dog Officer Sailor, and godmother Kellie Gerardi were just some of the stars onboard.
  • More than 1,300 Royal Caribbean fans tuned in to the livestream to watch the ceremony as it officially “launched” the ship.

It was a night for the stars at Port Canaveral as the world’s newest Icon-class ship was officially christened on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

The star-studded event was also livestreamed on social media so Royal Caribbean fans around the world could be a part of the momentous occasion.

Cruise ship naming ceremonies are filled with tradition, and tonight was no different.

The “godmother procession” began the event at 7:30 p.m. as the City of Mt. Dora Pipe Band brought in the evening’s special guests.

Cruise line stars in attendance included the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, Jason Liberty, along with Star of the Seas’ godmother, Kellie Gerardi, and Royal Caribbean president Michael Bayley.

Speakers blessed the ship, thanked those responsible for bringing her to life, and brought recognition to everyone who is part of the vessel. More than 27 million man-hours have been necessary to bring Star of the Seas to her naming ceremony.

Bayley and Liberty both thanked those behind the scenes who make the cruise line such a success. This included more than 100 Pinnacle members in the audience for the ship’s official naming.

Pinnacle is the highest level of Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program. To reach that level, guests must accrue at least 700 points with the cruise line.

Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral
Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

Bayley also noted that the crew members onboard the ship are the true “stars of the show.”

A very special crew member was recognized, Melton Baxter, one of the ship’s bread and pastry chefs (thank you for those wonderful cheese rolls!). He has been with the cruise line for more than 38 years, since February 1987.

A new crew member was also highlighted, Chief Dog Officer Sailor, who received her official three officer stripes earlier in the day. She walked by guests, stopping for pets and mugging for the cameras in the front row.

Both a rabbi and a pastor offered traditional blessings, including thoughts for the ship’s safe passage and wondrous journeys guided by the stars above.

“May she shine like a star and sail in peace across the waters of the world,” Rabbi Melissa Stolman said.

Live performances from musicians, divers, and aerialists were also part of the special occasion.

Finally, Gerardi officially “launched” the ship. A star-shaped button triggered the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the bow as star-shaped confetti rained down on attendees to conclude the event.

Star of the Seas Naming Ceremony
Star of the Seas Naming Ceremony

The livestream included a “ready to launch” intro sequence with fun remarks from key departments onboard, including the popular washy-washy team at the Windjammer Cafe and the headline roles of Dr. Brown and Marty McFly from “Back to the Future: The Musical.”

“Today is the day. Star of the Seas to Port Canaveral, we are ready to launch,” Captain Rob Hempstead announced for the recorded intro.

The ceremony was held in the ship’s AquaDome, a signature neighborhood space on the Icon-class ships.

More than 1,300 Royal Caribbean fans tuned in to the livestream video, spreading the joy of the occasion far beyond just the lucky attendees at Port Canaveral.

Up Next for Star of the Seas

While the past few weeks have been filled with celebratory milestones for Star of the Seas, her rise to the heavens is not yet finished.

The ship has already made headlines with her stellar performance in her sea trials and her early delivery to Royal Caribbean. She still has three more short “showcase” sailings before her official maiden voyage departs on August 31.

Star of the Seas will be offering 7-night cruises with both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean routes. Each voyage will also include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island.

Worth Checking: Check Cruise Prices for Star of the Seas

She will be making inaugural port visits and will undoubtedly be offering “first” experiences to guests for weeks, even months to come.

May Star of the Seas have smooth sailings as she sets forth on what hopefully will be a long and amazing time to shine.

Sun Princess Launches Emergency Response, Overboard Situation Confirmed

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Sun Princess Launches Emergency Response, Overboard Situation Confirmed

Key Aspects:

  • An unidentified passenger has gone overboard and is currently missing from Sun Princess.
  • The ship has doubled back to aid in search and rescue efforts, which are currently underway.
  • No impact to the itinerary has been announced at this point, but changes could be possible depending on when the Sphere-class vessel resumes her journey.

For the first time since entering service at the beginning of 2024, Sun Princess is dealing with a man overboard crisis.

In the late-night hours of Wednesday, August 20, 2025, an unidentified person went overboard as the first Sphere-class vessel was sailing through the Dardanelles Strait on her way to Istanbul, Turkey.

She is operating a 14-night sailing from Barcelona, Spain, to Athens, Greece, that embarked on August 9, 2025.

The man overboard announcement was made onboard at around 11 p.m. local time and cruise tracking data shows that the 4,300-guest ship doubled back to the presumed location of the incident around the same time.

It is currently floating not far off the coast of Cinarli Koyu Beach on the Marmara Adasi Island in Turkey as crew members helped search the water in tender boats.

Current passengers have reported that at least five Turkish rescue boats had also responded to the scene by the early morning hours on August 21.

Cruise Hive reached out to Princess Cruises for a statement and received the following response:

“Princess Cruises can confirm that a person has been reported to have gone overboard on Sun Princess this evening on route to Istanbul. Our ship’s emergency response team immediately initiated search and rescue procedures, which are actively underway at this time.”

“We are working in coordination with local maritime authorities to support the operation.The safety and well-being of our guests and crew remains our highest priority. We will provide further information as it becomes available.”

This is a developing situation and search and rescue efforts are still underway. Cruise Hive will continue to update as more details come to light. 

Will the Cruiser Be Okay? 

At this time, it’s too early to tell if the person who went overboard will be okay, as they thus far have not been found. It’s not even known at this stage if they are a guest or a crew member.

The circumstances behind the overboard, such as how far they fell and if they have any pre-existing health conditions, are also unclear – but do play a role in how likely a successful rescue will be.

Of course, local authorities and the highly trained crew members working onboard Sun Princess will do everything they can to bring the passenger back onboard safe and sound.

Sun Princess Cruise Ship
Sun Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: GEORGE STAMATIS)

Read Also: What Happens If You Jump Off a Cruise Ship?

The 177,882-gross ton vessel will likely remain in the area to aid in the search and rescue efforts until emergency responders give them the all clear to resume their voyage.

As every situation is unique, it’s unclear when local rescue authorities will release the Princess cruise ship.

At this point, no itinerary changes have been announced. However, the ship is due in Istanbul, Turkey, at 7 a.m. local time – which is just over five hours away as of the time of publication.

She is also scheduled to call on Mykonos, Greece, on August 22, before disembarking in Athens on August 23.

Carnival Provides Update on Ships Now Serving Coke Products

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Provides Update on Ships Now Serving Coke Products

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed which ships are already serving Coca-Cola products following the company’s switch from Pepsi products.
  • To date, half the Carnival fleet has already converted to Coke products. The remainder of the fleet will be serving Coke no later than the week after Labor Day.
  • All guests can continue to bring a 12-pack of their favorite soda onboard at embarkation and can replenish their supply at each port of call.

Coca-Cola fans are eagerly awaiting their favorite soft drinks on Carnival cruise ships, but which ships are still serving Pepsi and which have completed the switch to Coke?

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, gets asked every day about upcoming sailings and what brand of soda will be available onboard for different departure dates.

To ease the thirst for Coca-Cola, Heald has confirmed the list of ships that are already fully converted to a certain fizzy beverage.

“A lot of you keep asking me about the ships that already have changed from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products,” Heald said.

To date, the following Carnival cruise ships have already begun serving Coke products:

  • Carnival Breeze
  • Carnival Celebration
  • Carnival Conquest
  • Carnival Dream
  • Carnival Elation
  • Carnival Horizon
  • Carnival Liberty
  • Carnival Luminosa
  • Carnival Magic
  • Carnival Paradise
  • Carnival Radiance
  • Carnival Sunrise
  • Carnival Panorama
  • Carnival Valor

This means that as of mid-August, half of the Carnival fleet has now fully converted to Coca-Cola brands.

“If you’re on a ship that is not mentioned there, we expect all the ships to be done by the week after Labor Day,” Heald noted.

Labor Day is Monday, September 1. By September 8, then, all Carnival ships should be serving Coca-Cola products.

Heald goes on to note that, following guest feedback and requests, Dr. Pepper is also being added to the soda menu, but only from select homeports.

At the moment, Dr. Pepper is available for Carnival ships sailing from Galveston, New Orleans, and Mobile.

Carnival Cola
Carnival Cola (Photo Credit: Carnival & Myllac)

From Texas, this means that Carnival Dream, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Jubilee are now offering Dr. Pepper, while from Louisiana, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Valor have the popular beverage.

While no Carnival ships are currently homeported from Alabama, Carnival Spirit will return to Mobile following her season in Alaska. Guests will be able to toast that return with a cool Dr. Pepper.

Why So Long to Switch Brands?

Carnival first announced the soda switchover in late June. It takes time, however, for adequate supplies to be provided to each vessel as well as for already purchased Pepsi products to be used up enough for a more efficient brand change.

In addition to just being sure the correct soda is onboard, any branded signage or equipment would also need to be switched out.

Soda machines would also need thorough cleaning and sanitizing to eliminate any residual taste from Pepsi products that might linger. Undoubtedly, such cleaning happens regularly, but it can be a challenge to ensure simultaneous cleaning of all equipment onboard a ship in every bar, kitchen, and restaurant.

Read Also: What Is the Carnival Cheers! Drink Package?

Heald goes on to remind guests, especially Pepsi lovers like myself, that everyone can bring a 12-pack of their favorite soft drink onboard at embarkation. Additional 12-packs can also be brought onboard at any port of call.

This ensures that no matter what guests prefer to drink, they can still toast their cruise vacation with their favorite fizzy drink, whether it is Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up, or any other soda.

1...133134135...596Page 134 of 596