Blog Page 16

A Big Redeployment Twist Shakes Up Mariner of the Seas Plans

Calvin Musquez
-
0
A Big Redeployment Twist Shakes Up Mariner of the Seas Plans

Key Aspects:

  • A redeployment has cancelled Mariner of the Seas sailings in 2027.
  • Guests received a letter informing them of the change and outlining options.
  • It comes as Royal Caribbean is moving Freedom of the Seas to sail from the UK instead.

Thousands of Royal Caribbean cruisers just had their plans shaken up as two 2027 sailings aboard Mariner of the Seas have been cancelled due to a new summer redeployment.

Earlier this month, the larger 3,926-passenger Freedom of the Seas’ 2027 deployment was moved to Southampton, cancelling over 20 Caribbean and South American cruises in the process.

And it now looks like we have a clear picture of what’s happening with the slightly smaller 3,344-passenger Mariner of the Seas, now moving away from the UK for that time.

Affected Mariner of the Seas passengers received a letter informing them of the redeployment.

“As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process—which sometimes requires flexibility due to scheduling, port agreements, or operational needs, Mariner of the Seas will be redeployed for our Summer 2027 season,” the letter reads.

“As a result, your… sailing has been redeployed. We know how much effort goes into planning your vacation and apologize for the inconvenience.”

The first affected itinerary is a 15-night transatlantic sailing departing on April 24, 2027 from New Orleans, Louisiana. This cruise was to stop at Grand Bahama Island, Ponta Delgada, Vigo in Spain, and Paris (Le Havre) before docking in Southampton in the UK on May 9, 2027.

The second itinerary was a 17-night transatlantic cruise departing October 18, 2027, from Southampton, hitting La Coruna, Vigo, Lisbon, Madeira, and Nassau before docking in New Orleans.

The redeployment moves the 139,863 gross ton ship out of Southampton, swapping in the slightly larger Freedom of the Seas in its place.

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Redeployments are common, and can be caused by any number of factors, from overbooked ports to unforeseen shifts in supply and demand. In December 2025, Cruise Hive reported a similar redeployment for three Freedom of the Seas sailings in the second half of 2026.

Royal Caribbean has not yet released details of this Mariner of the Seas redeployment, but it will be interesting to see what new itineraries come. While the original cancelled itineraries were still listed on the Royal Caribbean website as of April 1, 2026, they were unavailable to book.

What Options Do Affected Guests Have?

Affected passengers have a few options to resolve the change. They can automatically move to a comparable cruise departing on the same date, cancel for a full refund, or re-book any other Royal Caribbean sailing with no additional fees. 

However, if they choose to rebook on another cruise that’s more expensive than the original, guests must pay the difference.

If guests request a cancellation and refund, only the cash amount paid will be refunded. Crown and Anchor Society loyalty points and future cruise credit will be returned in their original form and won’t be paid out in cash.

Guests who opt to automatically move to another comparable sailing do not have to do anything on their end.  

The April cruise will be automatically moved onto a new 17-night Mariner of the Seas cruise departing April 24 from New Orleans, stopping in Miami, Casablanca, Tangier, Seville, and Malaga, disembarking in Barcelona.

An altogether different experience from the original sailing, featuring none of the original ports and even disembarking in a different country.

More From Cruise Hive

The October cruise, meanwhile, will be switched to a 12-night Freedom of the Seas sailing leaving Southampton on October 18. This cruise features some of the same stops as the original Mariner of the Seas sailing, such as La Coruna and Vigo, but swaps Lisbon, Madeira, and Nassau for Ponta Delgada and disembarks in Miami instead of New Orleans.

Guests who choose to be automatically moved to these sailings will only be charged their original fare or prorated to the lower fare and be placed in either the same stateroom or a comparable one.

Passengers choosing to rebook or refund must inform Royal Caribbean of their decision by April 14, 2026.

Disney Cruise Line Modifies Splash Pad After Toddler Suffers Serious Injury

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Disney Cruise Line Modifies Splash Pad After Toddler Suffers Serious Injury

Key Aspects:

  • A toddler broke his femur while playing in the Nemo’s Reef Splash Pad onboard Disney Dream.
  • The family recently returned to the Disney ship to find that the play area had been modified to make it safer.
  • It’s unclear if the changes were or will be carried over to Disney Fantasy, which has an identical splash pad.

Disney Cruise Line is learning from an unfortunate accident to improve the safety onboard for its youngest guests.

In September of 2025, Courtney Livingston (@courtneylivin) had to end her family’s sailing onboard Disney Dream early because her young son was injured while playing in the Nemo’s Reef Splash Pad on Deck 11.

The “Finding Nemo”-themed play area, which is found on both Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, is meant for toddlers and small children under the age of four.

Read Also: What Is the Best Cruise Line for Families?

During what seemed like a normal play session, the toddler fell from a coral fixture, breaking his femur. X-rays confirmed the injury, which required immediate medical attention.

Nemo's Reef Update
Nemo’s Reef Update (Photo Credit: @courtneylivin)

The family was medically evacuated in Nassau, Bahamas, so that the young child could receive prompt treatment. DCL graciously gifted the family a free sailing so that they could have a vacation do-over once the boy healed.

Disney has also now modified the splash pad to try to make sure no other family has to cut their cruise vacation short for this reason.

Changes Made For the Better

The Instagram-using mom posted a reel on March 30, 2026, showing that the family had made it back onboard the 129,690-gross ton Disney Dream and had been having a much better experience the second time around.

It’s not clear which specific voyage the family was onboard for, but the 4,000-guest ship is currently operating 3- to 5-night sailings to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The family also returned to the scene of the accident, where Livingston was happy to discover that the cruise line had modified the splash pad for safety.

“After my son fell and broke his leg on the Finding Nemo Splash Pad on the Disney Dream, they made it safer! Yay for change!” she captioned an Instagram reel, which has been viewed more than 7,000 times in just three days.

Specifically, the mother noticed that the coral fixture her son fell from had been removed and new, softer flooring had been installed.

Previously, there were four large stool-like coral pieces under the picture of Squirt (the baby turtle from “Finding Nemo”), near the far end of the play area.

At this time, nothing has replaced the removed features, and Cruise Hive has not yet learned if anything will be added in their place later. It’s also unclear when and if similar tweaks may be made for the splash pad on Disney Fantasy.

Disney may also be considering related updates to the splash pads on its other ships, including Dory’s Reef on Disney Wonder, Nephew’s Splash Zone on Disney Magic, and the Toy Story Splash Zone on the Wish-class ships.

Safety Rules in Place

Even with the new changes, parent supervision is still an extremely important part of child safety onboard Disney’s ships.

Disney’s policy clearly states that parents are required to supervise their children while using the splash pad at all times. In fact, adult supervision is required for all guests under the age of 16 while enjoying the pools or hot tubs.

As the pool deck can get rather crowded, parents are also encouraged to pay close attention to their kids and to prevent rougher play. Running, jumping, and diving is also prohibited.

Not the Only Safety-Forward Change

In addition to modifying the splash pad, Disney Dream has also added new railings and plexiglass to portholes after a 5-year-old girl fell through an open porthole in June of 2025.

At the time, Cruise Hive reported that the child was posing for a picture in the open window, which her mother mistakenly thought was sealed with clear glass.

Thankfully, the child, and her father who jumped in to rescue her, were both okay.

This is just another example of how Disney learns from past events to make the cruising experience safer for everyone.

Passengers Face Tent Check-In as Boston Cruise Terminal Undergoes Upgrades

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Passengers Face Tent Check-In as Boston Cruise Terminal Undergoes Upgrades

Key Aspects:

  • Cruise passengers sailing from Flynn Cruiseport Boston were alerted that check-in will begin under a tent outside the terminal.
  • The cruise port is undergoing massive renovations, with construction affecting space within the terminal.
  • Guests are being told to arrive only at their assigned boarding time due to limited indoor space.

Embarkation in Boston will look a little different for passengers used to cruising from massive cruise terminals.

Guests departing from Flynn Cruiseport Boston are being told to prepare for a temporary check-in setup outside the terminal building as ongoing construction limits the facility’s indoor space.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), which is kicking off Boston’s cruise season on April 14, 2026, has begun alerting its passengers that boarding will start in a covered tent positioned outside the terminal before passengers move inside to complete security screenings and the boarding process.

The adjustments are due to the cruise terminal’s major modernization project. Although the port remains open, construction has reduced the amount of indoor space available for embarkation procedures.

NCL warns that arriving outside an assigned boarding window may lead to delays or extended waits for guests.

“Because space at the terminal is limited and there is no designated indoor waiting area, arriving outside your assigned time can result in delays or extended waiting,” the cruise line said in a letter to passengers.

It said pre-selected arrival times will be strictly enforced, “to support a steady flow and a more comfortable experience for everyone.”

Guests have also been reminded to print luggage tags before arriving at the pier, as tags are not mailed and must be downloaded through cruise documents or NCL’s mobile app.

“Thank you for helping us create a smooth and stress-free start to your journey,” said NCL, which also said its team will be ready to assist passengers throughout embarkation.

Boston Cruise Port
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock

This isn’t the only port not ready for NCL, as reported by Cruise Hive. Philadelphia’s new cruise terminal, which began construction in late 2025, is not ready for Norwegian Jewel’s first April sailings.

Passengers in Philadelphia will also undergo embarkation in a temporary structure.

$100M Upgrade Underway

The temporary embarkation setup comes as Flynn Cruiseport Boston continues a $100-million renovation project that began in November 2025.

The cruise terminal, located in Boston’s Seaport District and formerly known as the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, is expected to remain under construction through 2029.

Plans for the project include a new passenger hold room designed to accommodate about 1,000 people, expanded security screening areas, and a new boarding bridge intended to improve the embarkation process once the work is complete.

Structural improvements to the pier are also planned to help support larger ships visiting Boston during the cruise season.

The port is also installing shore power infrastructure that will allow cruise ships to plug into the local electrical grid while docked, enabling them to turn off diesel engines and reduce emissions in the city.

Boston has become an increasingly important seasonal homeport for cruise lines operating Bermuda, Canada, and New England itineraries.

Read Also: Boston Cruise Port – Getting There, Piers, Terminals and More

This includes Norwegian Breakaway, NCL’s 145,655-gross-ton ship that will offer 5- and 7-night roundtrip voyages to Bermuda as it homeports in Boston beginning April 14. In May, the sailings extend to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Holland America Line will also operate out of Boston beginning May 9, 2026. Providing 7- and 14-night cruises to Quebec City, Canada, the 82,305-gross-ton Zuiderdam will visit ports in Nova Scotia, Maine, and Prince Edward Island.

In June, Holland America Line’s Volendam will join Zuiderdam on similar routes.

Viking Oceans will arrive in July with Viking Neptune and Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal Cruises, and Windstar join the lineup for fall voyages from Boston.

Carnival Forced to Clarify Two Major April Fool’s Hoaxes Stirring Up Guests

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Forced to Clarify Two Major April Fool’s Hoaxes Stirring Up Guests

Key Aspects:

  • Two April Fool’s Day jokes have confused Carnival Cruise Line guests about whether they are real or not.
  • Brand ambassador John Heald has firmly debunked both rumors, one about ducks and one about loyalty.
  • Heald continues to use familiar jokes when communicating with guests, but without confusing them as true announcements.

Carnival Cruise Line is well known for fun and the line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, often uses humor and jokes as he assists guests, answers questions, and tells stories.

What isn’t quite so funny today, however, are the many April Fool’s Day pranks circulating online that Heald is having to debunk as concerned guests reach out about whether or not the rumors are true.

Two specific pranks have quickly spread and caught guests’ attention. The first appears to be an official letter, even with Carnival Cruise Line letterhead and the company’s Miami, Florida headquarters address.

The letter addresses a very popular guest-led cruise vacation activity: cruising ducks.

“At Carnival Cruise Line, we are comitted [sic] to providing a fun, safe, and environmentally responsible vacation experience for all of our guests. As part of our ongoing efforts to protect the oceans and destinations we visit, we continually review onboard activities and traditions,” the letter explains.

“After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that the popular activity of hiding and finding cruise ducks aboard our ships will no longer be permitted, effective immediately.”

Carnival Cruise Ducks April Fools Letter
Carnival Cruise Ducks April Fools Letter

The letter acknowledges the fun many guests enjoy with ducks, but notes that “unintended environmental impacts” are harmful to marine habitats and ports of call.

The letter also mentions sustainability, a key issue for all cruise lines, which lends legitimacy to the explanation.

Signed by Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, the letter does look official! If concerned guests read just a bit further down the page, however, the last line clearly says “April Fools!” Different images of the letter might easily remove that last line, making it appear to be a very official notice from the cruise line.

Nevertheless, several guests have reached out to Heald asking about ducks and whether or not the letter is true.

“No, this is completely not true. Somebody posted this for the April 1 thing. Hide the ducks, we love it,” Heald responded.

Carnival Cruise Line has long supported the cruising ducks phenomenon. Cruise Hive has even noted the introduction of “Ducky” as a new, unofficial crew member onboard Carnival ships and the perfect companion for selfies on select sailings.

A Much More Serious Rumor

A second rumor has also been heavily circulating on April Fool’s Day, one that isn’t so funny to many guests. Posted as an online “FYI” from various sources, this joke concerns the upcoming changes to Carnival Cruise Line’s loyalty program as it transitions from the VIFP program to the spend-based Carnival Rewards program.

“Carnival Reversing Course on New Rewards Program!” the so-called announcement begins. “Carnival will be announcing it will be pausing and rolling back the new rewards program, opting to return to the traditional VIFP structure based on days sailed.”

Carnival Rewards Loyalty Program
Carnival Rewards Loyalty Program (Credits: Carnival & Melissa Mayntz)

The post claims Heald would be posting details “tomorrow” and that “early reports” note the decision follows guest feedback and seeks to honor the commitment of longtime cruisers. It even hints that a hybrid program might be in the works.

Read Also: Which Cruise Line Match Loyalty Programs?

Heald directly debunked this rumor in no uncertain terms.

“I am not going to spend any more time answering this question because so many have been falling for this April [fool] post,” he said.

The Carnival Rewards program was first announced in June 2025 following years of hints that the loyalty program needed a refresh. While there have been adjustments since the program was first revealed, there has been no indication that it might be completely rolled back.

While these rumors may be harmless pranks, the level of authenticity in crafting them can make the pranks confusing. Fortunately, Heald is able to keep control of the worst rumors, but he isn’t without a sense of humor himself.

In fact, Heald did make one April Fool’s announcement today for Carnival Cruise Line’s newest homeport – Cleveland.

As frequent mentions of Cleveland have been part of Heald’s humor for years, the crazy announcement brought smiles to many of his 668,000 followers who aren’t going to be fooled into booking a sailing from the Ohio city anytime soon.

Former Cruise Directors to Host Special Margaritaville at Sea Sailing

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Former Cruise Directors to Host Special Margaritaville at Sea Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • Three popular former Carnival cruise directors will be hosts for a “Legends at Sea” themed group cruise in May 2027.
  • The unique event will be aboard Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, a new ship coming to the line in January 2027.
  • Matt Mitcham, Steven Schwartz, and Jonathan “Cookie” Adams are the scheduled hosts.

Carnival Cruise Directors are known as the “face of fun” for their individual vessels and many of them have vibrant personalities and electric charisma to not only engage guests, but also to motivate their team and make each cruise an outstanding experience.

Three of the most popular faces of fun are now returning, only they aren’t going to Carnival Cruise Line.

The new but growing boutique line, Margaritaville at Sea, has announced the “Legends at Sea 2027” cruise coming in May 2027 that will welcome three former Carnival cruise director hosts for a week of outstanding fun and tropical vibes.

Hosting the first-of-its-kind group sailing will be Matt Mitcham, Steven Schwartz, and Jonathan “Cookie” Adams. Together, the three former Carnival CDs have more than 30 years of oceangoing fun to bring to the unique cruise event.

The themed sailing will be aboard Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, departing Miami on May 15, 2027 for a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary with calls to Key West, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Nassau.

To be clear, this is not a full-ship charter but rather is a themed group cruise booked through the High Seas Cruise Co, an Orlando-based travel company. Margaritaville at Sea provides the ship but is not responsible for the group programming.

Onboard, guests can expect a welcome cocktail party, hosted shows, meet-and-greet events, and a variety of activities, including “fan-favorite events” from “the icons who defined the golden era of cruising.”

On the schedule are such great classic events as the always popular (and just a bit racy) Love & Marriage show and the wild (and even racier) Quest. New experiences are also being developed exclusively for this unique cruise, ensuring more surprises with every wave.

Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber Cruise Ship
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber Cruise Ship

Of course, guests will also get to enjoy everything the upcoming Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will offer. Cruise Hive has previously reported on the ship’s amazing features, such as the world’s largest 5 o’Clock Somewhere space, the License to Chill Pool Deck, and the Daiquiri Shack with exclusive frozen cocktails.

Currently sailing as Costa Fortuna through mid-September, the ship will go through an extensive refurbishment and tropical retheming before joining Margaritaville at Sea in January 2027.

The 102,700-gross-ton Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will be able to welcome 2,702 guests at double occupancy or as many as 3,470 when fully booked.

About the Hosts

All three hosts for the “Legends at Sea” sailing have extensive Carnival cruise director experience.

Matt Mitcham served with the line from June 2007 until he retired in 2021. He began his cruise career as a social host and eventually moved up to assistant cruise director in 2009, then a full cruise director in 2011.

Mitcham served aboard numerous ships during his years with the line, including Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista, receiving awards for his excellent service aboard both ships.

Mardi Gras Family Feud Live
Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Steven Schwartz joined Carnival Cruise Line in August 2015 as part of the entertainment staff and remained with the line until November 2021. He was also first an assistant cruise director before becoming a full cruise director.

During his time with Carnival, Schwartz hosted a number of unique events and special sailings. He won various leadership awards and served aboard multiple ships including Carnival Paradise, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Vista, and Carnival Fantasy.

Jonathan Adams, better known as “Cookie” or “Cookie Monster” first set sail with Carnival in August 2014 and stayed at sea until November 2023, bringing his inimitable personality and flair to thousands of guests each week.

During his tenure with the line, Adams led the fun aboard Carnival Horizon, Carnival Glory, Carnival Legend, Carnival Imagination, and Carnival Vista, among others.

More From Cruise Hive

Combined, the three former CDs have a tremendous social media following of more than 226,000 fans, many of whom are sure to be excited about the upcoming cruise and the reunion of such popular faces.

Additional hosts for the themed sailing may be announced as the departure date draws closer and further details of onboard events are refined.

Carnival Miracle Drops Popular Greek Port for Multiple Sailings

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Carnival Miracle Drops Popular Greek Port for Multiple Sailings

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Miracle has received an itinerary change for its October 16 and October 26 departures in 2027.
  • Both sailings will now call at Souda (Chania), in Crete, Greece, instead of Santorini, Greece.
  • The ship’s only other 10-night sailing to Greece in 2027, which embarks on September 28, is unchanged.

Carnival Miracle will only offer three 10-night sailings to Greece, Turkey, and Italy in 2027, and two of these sailings just got a major itinerary change.

The impacted departures on October 16, 2027, and October 26, 2027, will both replace Santorini, Greece, with visits to Souda (Chania) in Crete, Greece.

At this time, the first of these sailings, which sets sail on September 28, 2027, remains unaffected.

Read Also: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

And thankfully, the remaining stops on the affected sailings remain in place. After embarking in Rome, guests will still get to visit Kusadasi, Turkey; Mykonos, Athens, and Katakolon in Greece, and Naples, Italy.

The only other change, which is more minor, is that the timing of the visit to Kusadasi will be adjusted to accommodate the change in plans. Instead of being the next port after Santorini, it will follow the day in Souda.

It already takes a cruise ship around 10 to 14 hours to cover the approximately 122 nautical miles from Santorini to Kusadasi, and Souda is around 300-350 nautical miles away from the Turkish destination.

“We have made slight adjustments to your itinerary. Santorini has been replaced with a visit to Souda (Chania) – Crete, Greece, and port times have been modified for both Souda and Kusadasi,” Carnival wrote in a letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.

The new times will be updated on Carnival’s website and in the Carnival Hub App within 24 hours.

Any pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions for Santorini will also be automatically cancelled and refunded, with new tours for Souda becoming available soon.

Are Cruise Ship Limits to Blame?

Carnival Cruise Line did not specify why Santorini was removed from the two itineraries, but this could be done for a variety of reasons. However, one theory does come to mind first.

The first possibility is port availability and cruise ship limitations. While there is technically room for four to six large ships to conduct tender operations in Santorini at once, Greece imposed a daily cap of 8,000 cruise passengers per day in 2025 to mitigate overtourism.

For context, Carnival Miracle can already carry up to 2,124 guests. And while the ship was not meant to be alone during its scrapped visits, the total number of cruise passengers in the port should have been under the cap.

The October 16 sailing would have included a call to Santorini on October 19, when Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas is also on the schedule.

Cruise Ships Calling at Santorini, Greece
Cruise Ships Calling at Santorini, Greece (Photo Credit: Ole Dor)

With a maximum capacity of 5,510 passengers onboard the Quantum-class ship, the combined passenger total for the two vessels would come in just below the daily cap.

During the October 26 sailing, the 130,000-gross ton Carnival Miracle would have been joined by two other ships during the now-cancelled visit on October 29.

These would include the 2,604-guest Celebrity Infinity and the 638-guest Seabourn Ovation, which would again bring in a combined daily passenger total that is below the limit.

That said, it’s possible that these totals are close enough to the daily cap to receive pushback, or that planned maintenance or other activities within the port is temporarily limiting cruise operations more than normal.

Other Factors at Play

Port availability is not the only reason a cruise line would swap a scheduled visit. In the case of Santorini, the cost to visit the Greek island might also be a factor.

Starting last summer, Greece has been enforcing a seasonal cruise passenger tax of €12 to €20 (about $13 to $23) for all guests who visit Santorini.

More likely than not, Carnival would pass this fee onto its guests rather than eating the cost, but extra fees are never desirable either way.

Some cruise fans also wondered if the change was related to an “earthquake swarm” that impacted Santorini in early 2025. The quakes raised some concerns about Santorini’s carrying capacity and the potential risk of being a volcanic island.

But while the region remains tectonically active, seismic activity has returned to normal levels, and there is no indication that a volcanic eruption is imminent as of the time of this writing.

If information is made public that confirms the reason behind the itinerary change, Cruise Hive will issue an update.

Carnival Sets the Record Straight on Guy’s Burger Joint Hours

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Sets the Record Straight on Guy’s Burger Joint Hours

Key Aspects:

  • An online “influencer” has called out Guy’s Burger Joint for its short hours.
  • John Heald has addressed their concerns, including costs, crew staffing, and extra charges for burgers.
  • At this time, there are no changes planned for Guy’s Burger Joint onboard Carnival ships.

If you know, you know – there’s nothing like a Guy’s Burger on a Carnival cruise ship, hot from the grill and dripping with SMC (super melty cheese, for those who don’t quite know yet). You make your way to the toppings bar to layer up with caramelized onions, shredded lettuce, pickles, and your other fixins of choice, ready for that first bite.

But if you really know, you know you can’t enjoy your favorite burger later in the evening. In fact, Guy’s Burger Joint onboard Carnival’s ships is typically open just from 12-6:30 p.m., though exact hours may vary from ship to ship.

One cruise “influencer” has claimed to have the answer to why Carnival Cruise Line keeps the venue’s hours so short.

“She pretty much wrote that the reason that we don’t have Guy’s Burgers open through the night is to save money,” John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, said. “And some people asked me to explain why we don’t have Guy’s Burgers open longer.”

This is not the first time Cruise Hive has reported on Guy’s Burger Joint hours and what goes on at the popular venue. Now, however, Heald has offered more behind-the-burgers insights.

In today’s cruise operations, crew members must keep very strict hours to comply with labor laws. In years past, work shifts may have seemed more flexible, but today’s crew members clock in and out digitally and all work hours are precisely recorded.

The time crew members are working at Guy’s Burgers must include not only the actual open hours for the venue, but also prep time before opening as well as cleanup and sanitization after the venue closes.

Carnival Cruise Guy's Burger
Carnival Cruise Guy’s Burger (Photo Credit: Allie_Vog)

“They start the day, the morning preparing food, probably start around 9 o’clock, getting everything ready to serve anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 burgers, depending on the day and the ship,” Heald explained.

Heald notes that crew members do have breaks throughout their shifts, but the hours are still regulated and must be adhered to very strictly.

Why Not Add More Crew Members?

The “influencer” then addresses overall staffing, suggesting that Carnival Cruise Line should add more crew members in order to keep Guy’s Burger Joint open later.

While this would work for a land-based restaurant, it’s not quite so easy to add staff on a cruise ship.

“Every department has a budget, every department wants more people, every department will tell the Beards back at the Mother Ship that we need more crew,” Heald said. “Here’s the thing, we can only put the number of crew on each ship that we have beds for on board. On every ship, every cruise, pretty much every crew bed is taken.”

More beds can’t simply be added to a cruise ship. Occupancy limits, lifeboat capacities, crew services, and other factors are all part of staffing on ships.

If more crew members are needed for Guy’s Burger, where should other staffing potentially be cut? Fewer cabin attendants, bartenders, or performers? What about cutting staff at guest services, in the Fun Shops, or in the casino?

While every guest has their own preferences – I myself would enjoy Guy’s Burgers being open later, and as I don’t spend much time in the casino, that staff isn’t as useful to my personal vacation experience – Carnival Cruise Line needs to balance their staffing needs to serve all guests, not just what one guest might want.

Read Also: Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line – Menu, Which Ships, Details

Finally, the influencer notes that another cruise line has a burger place open later than Guy’s Burger Joint.

Heald does not name the cruise line (just as he does not name the influencer), and he firmly notes that every cruise line is different. He also comments that the specific cruise line the influencer mentions charges extra for burgers, as they are not included in the cruise fare.

I’ll keep my free Guy’s Burgers, thanks, and I’ll just remember to enjoy them a little earlier in the day.

Cruisers Can Now Earn Points Across All Royal Caribbean Brands With New Credit Cards

Calvin Musquez
-
0
Cruisers Can Now Earn Points Across All Royal Caribbean Brands With New Credit Cards

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean Group and Bank of America announced two new rewards credit card options.
  • The new cards offer rewards points on everyday purchases towards all three brands.
  • This is just the latest in a recent trend of Royal Caribbean Group expanding its loyalty programs.

Cruises are about to get a whole new exciting way to earn rewards points across three major brands. Royal Caribbean Group announced they’ve partnered with Bank of America to bring two new credit card options to cruisers.

Credit cards offering rewards for cruise lines are nothing new. Cruisers have options like the Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard and Carnival World Mastercard to earn points with other prominent cruise lines. 

But, with this new offering, Royal Caribbean Group is stepping up the game with one unique feature.

In an industry first, these tri-branded cards will allow cruisers to earn points on everyday purchases applicable to all three of the company’s brands: Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises.

That means that every time you buy groceries, gas, or anything else, you’ll also be contributing to your next vacation, with a choice of nearly 60 ships, including the just announced Hero of the Seas.

The new offerings are the Royal ONE Visa Signature and Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature cards, which offer several enticing perks for frequent cruisers.

The base level Royal ONE card offers 3X points on purchases with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, 2X points on every day purchases like grocery, gas, and EV charging, and 1X point on all other purchases. This card also grants you priority boarding for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?

Those who want to earn more points even more quickly may be interested in the Royal ONE Plus card. This card offers 4X points on Royal Caribbean Group purchases, plus 2X points on airfare, hotels, and dining (in addition to the grocery, gas, and EV charging of the Royal ONE card).

Royal One
Royal One

It also comes with additional perks, including priority suite boarding with all three brands and priority luggage handling with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

Both cards come with Visa Signature travel protections and no foreign transaction fees. While the Plus card comes with a yearly price tag of $99, the base-level Royal One card has no annual fee.

Royal Caribbean Group’s Recent Loyalty Shake-Ups

These new credit card options build upon previous efforts by Royal Caribbean Group to expand its loyalty programs and make it easier for cruisers to earn and apply their points.

The first change came in May 2024, when the company announced their Status Match Program. An industry-shaking first, this allowed members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, and/or Silversea’s Venetian Society to apply their existing loyalty tier level to any of the other brands under the RCG umbrella.

This was expanded in October 2205 with the announcement of Points Choice. In January 2026, Cruise Hive reported details of the new program, which allows cruisers to apply their loyalty points across the three brands as well.

As other cruise lines have been carefully attempting to scale back perks and rewards (much to the chagrin of customers) Royal Caribbean Group seems to remain dedicated to expanding the scope and simplifying the use of their programs. 

Koningsdam Returns From Dry Dock With New Cabins and Venue Updates

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Koningsdam Returns From Dry Dock With New Cabins and Venue Updates

Key Aspects:

  • Koningsdam has returned to service after a 2-week dry dock in the Bahamas.
  • Work included adding new cabins and upgrades to increase the ship’s capacity for families and groups.
  • Entertainment venues, dining rooms, the casino, public spaces, and the fitness center have also received glow-ups.

Guests boarding Holland America Line’s Koningsdam this week are stepping onto a ship that just emerged from a two-week dry dock with a number of new staterooms and refreshed public spaces.

The Pinnacle-class ship completed the refurbishment in the Bahamas and returned to service on March 29, 2026.

The work focused on adding new accommodations for families traveling together and updating several onboard entertainment venues.

One of the most noticeable changes is the addition of five new ocean-view staterooms designed to accommodate up to four guests. Each cabin features two lower beds that convert into a queen bed along with a sofa bed.

Four of the new rooms are also configured as connecting cabins, giving larger groups and families additional options when booking.

The cruise line also modified 22 existing Vista Suites by adding sofa beds. That change increases the number of suites able to accommodate more than two passengers.

Entertainment areas were also reconfigured during the dry dock. The section connecting two of the ship’s live music venues, Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Lounge, was redesigned with additional seating and a more open layout so passengers can move easily between the performances that take place each evening.

The cruise line said the redesign was meant to improve how guests interact with the entertainment district.

“The refreshed layout creates a more open, connected environment where guests can gather and enjoy live music throughout the evening,” Holland America Line said in its announcement.

Read Also: Holland America Alaska Cruise Ships – Which One to Choose?

Other work carried out during the shipyard stay included updates and an expansion to the casino, refreshed retail space in the Effy jewelry boutique, new equipment in the fitness center, and new carpeting installed across stateroom corridors and several public areas.

Holland America Line’s Koningsdam received updates to its casino during dry dock. (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)

Dining venues also received a touch-up, with Pinnacle Grill, Sel de Mer, and Club Orange converting fixed table arrangements into a more adaptable space to make it easier to accommodate larger groups.

Ship Prepares for Alaska

The 99,863-gross-ton Koningsdam completed its first dry dock in three years at the Grand Bahama shipyard in Freeport. The work included standard maintenance to the ship’s operational equipment.

Following the upgrades, the ship departed on March 29 from Fort Lauderdale for a 12-night Caribbean cruise to Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts, and the cruise line’s private island, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

It’s the ship’s final itinerary in the region before it repositions to the West Coast beginning April 10, 2026. Sailing through the Panama Canal to San Diego, Koningsdam will arrive at its homeport of Vancouver on May 2, 2026.

Once repositioned, Koningsdam will begin its Alaska deployment for the summer cruise season.

The ship will operate 7-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyages from Vancouver, which includes Endicott Arm, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.

1...151617...604Page 16 of 604