Blog Page 177

Engine Issues Cause Third Valiant Lady Itinerary Change in a Month

Skyler Wolpert
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Engine Issues Cause Third Valiant Lady Itinerary Change in a Month

For the third time this month, Virgin Voyages has had to notify booked guests just days ahead of their upcoming voyage on Valiant Lady of some important itinerary changes due to ongoing engine maintenance.

In an email sent to passengers, the cruise line informed them that the upcoming June 20 voyage would no longer be visiting the Dominican Republic and instead would be stopping in Turks and Caicos.

Beyond that, the arrival time at the only other stop in Bimini was also changed slightly.

“We have made an itinerary update to your Sailor(s) upcoming Dominican Daze voyage, sailing on June 20, 2025,” the email notification read. “Due to engine maintenance, they will now visit Grand Turk, instead of Puerto Plata on Day 3.”

“Your Sailor’s visit to The Beach Club at Bimini, Bahamas will also now arrive at 8 AM (instead of 9 AM),” the email continued.

The communication also included a copy of the original and new itinerary for passengers to review, with the updates being highlighted clearly in red.

Initially, the itinerary included a stop in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 22, 2025.

Instead, 110,000 gross-ton Valiant Lady will call on Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos the same day from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., arriving and departing two hours earlier than the original stop in Puerto Plata.

Also changed was the arrival time in Bimini, which was moved up just an hour, but the departure time remains the same, being 7 p.m..

While this will give passengers an extra hour to explore the destination, it also will allow for extra time for the vessel to be worked on.

The cruise line also let guests know that if they had already booked excursions in Puerto Plata through Virgin Voyages, they would be automatically refunded.

Additionally, new excursions for the stop in Grand Turk would be available to book starting on June 18, 2025.

While the change is rather last minute, being made just three days prior to embarkation, most booked guests so far are seem to not be bothered by the situation.

“I figured this was coming. They’ve been having problems all month, definitely works for me though,” one passenger commented.

“Just got this email. Works for me too!” another added.

Others questioned what engine maintenance had to do with the itinerary, which is entirely reasonable to ask given the short notice of the schedule update.

Read Also: 10 Well-Known Western Caribbean Cruise Ports You Should Visit

While it is true that itinerary changes are not uncommon, they are usually a result of factors like bad weather or berthing issues — not engine issues.

Unfortunately, this is becoming a common occurance for Valiant Lady, which has already had to change two other sailings this month because of its engine not working properly.

Valiant Lady’s Neverending Engine Issues

As one booked guest pointed out already, Valiant Lady has become no stranger to itinerary changes happening as a result of engine issues.

Just last week, passengers were notified just three days ahead of their June 15 sailing aboard Valiant Lady of — you guessed it — itinerary changes due to engine maintenance!

The 5-night Mayan Sol voyage was originally set to visit Costa Maya in Mexico on day 3, but instead called on Cozumel.

Beyond just a location change, this stop was also lengthened by three hours, likely to allow the crew extra time to work on the engine.

Also impacted by engine issues was the June 6 Dominican Daze voyage, which had the exact same itinerary change as the June 20 sailing, including the switch from Puerto Plata to Grand Turk and the moved-up arrival time in Bimini.

Two other Valiant Lady sailings also had itinerary shifts due to maintenance back in January of 2025 — but so far, June has beat this record, seeing three itineraries change due to engine maintenance, which is practically unheard of.

With most of these changes being announced just two or three days ahead of embarkation, there have not been any other announcements about other upcoming sailings being affected.

That being said, if you are booked on any of Valiant Lady’s upcoming voyages, definitely keep an eye on your email for any potential updates.

Hundreds of Young Tourists Evacuated by Cruise Ship From Israel

Melissa Mayntz
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Hundreds of Young Tourists Evacuated by Cruise Ship From Israel

For Jewish young adults, the opportunity to visit Israel and see the land of their history and heritage is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel that began on Friday, June 13, 2025, that opportunity has quickly turned frightening.

Thanks to the compassionate intervention of a Mano Maritime cruise ship, Crown Iris, roughly 1,500 young adults have been safely evacuated in a cooperative venture that will bring them safely home.

According to the Independent, the youth – between the ages of 18 and 26 – were on a “heritage trip” with Birthright Israel, a not-for-profit organization that provides free 10-day trips to Jewish youth.

Crown Iris was quickly secured to use for the evacuation of the youth from Ashdod Port, south of Tel Aviv, to Cyprus, under escort by the Israeli navy.

“All participants are safe, currently located near secure zones and shelters, and are being closely cared for by the operational teams and staff on the ground,” Birthright Israel confirmed before the evacuation.

“We remain in constant contact with Israeli security authorities and are taking every necessary precaution to prioritize participant safety and well-being.”

Crown Iris arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday, June 17, without incident during the 13-hour trip. Florida governor Ron DeSantis has chartered four planes to further evacuate the US participants to Tampa, Florida. From there, they will more easily be able to return home.

“This was a complex and emotional operation, carried out under immense pressure, and we are proud to have brought 1,500 young adults safely to Cyprus. Our team continues to work around the clock to secure solutions for the remaining participants still in Israel,” said Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel.

While 1,500 young adults have now been safely evacuated, there are still nearly 1,300 trip participants still in Israel as tensions continue.

Crown Iris debuted in 1992 as Royal Majesty for the now-defunct Majesty Cruise Line. Cruise enthusiasts might better remember the ship as Norwegian Majesty with Norwegian Cruise Line from 1997-2009.

The ship has remained in service in the years since, moving to different cruise lines through a variety of transactions. The vessel was acquired by Mano Maritime in 2018.

Cruise Ships and Humanitarian Operations

This is not the first time that cruise ships have been pressed into service for humanitarian missions. While most cruise passengers are aware that ships will rescue refugees at sea, larger operations are not uncommon.

In May 2024, Carnival Splendor answered a call for help to bring a stranded group home to Australia from Vanuatu when air operations ceased to the island amid political unrest.

P&O Cruises Australia had engaged in a similar rescue sailing for young Australian Rotary members and their chaperones stranded on a volunteer mission in Vanuatu just days earlier.

Ashdod Port
Ashdod Port (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)

In February 2023, Gemini of Miray Cruises served as a temporary refugee shelter following a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey.

In April 2022, Holland America Line’s Volendam offered temporary housing to Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands for several months. At that time, the vessel was still out of service as part of the pandemic industry shutdown.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Lifeboats – Are There Enough and What You Might Not Know!

It doesn’t always have to be a large group or a global situation for cruise lines to offer assistance, however.

In May 2022, a family was stranded in Aruba when their autistic son had a sensory episode and was denied boarding on their return flight to the United States.

Carnival Cruise Line stepped in for the unfortunate and troubling situation, and brought two members of the family home on Carnival Horizon during the ship’s scheduled A-B-C cruise. The rest of the family had been able to fly home earlier.

Guest Upset at Tour Cancellation – Did Carnival Drop the Ball?

Melissa Mayntz
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Guest Upset at Tour Cancellation – Did Carnival Drop the Ball?

Most cruise travelers understand that some unfortunate circumstances are well outside a cruise line’s control. How a cruise line reacts to those circumstances, however, can make a big difference about how happy – or unhappy – guests may be about necessary changes.

One recent guest is upset at how Carnival Cruise Line appears to have handled a simple shore tour cancellation, and she really does have a point.

The guest reached out to the cruise line’s official brand ambassador, John Heald, with her concerns and frustrations.

“I just returned home from a cruise on the Horizon to the ABC Islands. While I enjoyed the cruise, I’m very disappointed with what happened during our visit to Curacao,” she began.

“We booked an excursion for 1:30 [p.m.] so we figured it safe to stay close so we wouldn’t be late. We exited the ship at 11:40 to explore the port. At 1:15 we made our way to the meeting point.”

So far, so good. This shows a responsible guest booking a Carnival-approved shore tour, but still using time in port for independent exploration at a very desirable destination.

When heading back to the pier for that tour, however, is when things started to look odd.

“No one came to meet us. I asked a Carnival rep what was going on and was told they must be running late,” the guest continued. “We waited and waited. I then asked another Carnival rep and she told me to ask someone with excursions.”

Okay, starting not to look so good. Shore tours are generally quite prompt at their different meeting spots, or at least several early bird guests would be arriving well before the designated time.

Unfortunately, the guest was to learn bad news about their highly anticipated tour.

“I finally tracked down someone from excursions and she simply said the activity was canceled due to choppy waters. I understand the cancellation but NO ONE told me!” the guest exclaimed.

It is good that the guest is understanding that choppy waters – a weather-related factor well outside the cruise line’s control – caused the cancellation, but why wasn’t anyone on hand at the meeting point to alert booked guests that their tour couldn’t move forward?

“I was later told they tried to call my room at 11:10 a.m. (right after we left),” the guest said. “I was told that Carnival doesn’t have a way to message guest through the app or cell phones etc. Carnival should have SOMEONE on deck or at least a sign to make sure guests know if excursions are canceled.”

Heald did respond to the guest, noting that he would have to check with the excursions desk to learn what the guest reported onboard Carnival Horizon at the time.

The cruise in question was the ship’s May 24, 2025 sailing from Miami, which first visited Aruba and Bonaire before arriving in Curacao on Thursday, May 29.

The guest does note that they enjoyed their cruise, but remained disappointed at the missed opportunities in Curacao.

Should Carnival Have Done More?

While calling guests’ staterooms to alert them to a tour cancellation is a great first step, it isn’t always going to be effective. Depending on the time, the guest may have been enjoying breakfast, joining in an onboard activity, or out exploring the port independently, as this guest was.

It would have been simple for an easel board or other sign to have been placed at the meeting point for the tour, or at least near the ship’s gangway so travelers would be alerted to excursion cancellations as soon as they arrived at the meeting spot.

Of course, it is possible a sign was available earlier in the day, but the guest may have missed the notification.

Cruise Terminal in Curacao
Cruise Terminal in Curacao (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

The suggestion that messaging through the app or cell phones could be used is a good one, but might not be practical depending on connectivity and individual phone settings.

For example, many cruise travelers (myself included) keep their phones in airplane mode or even turned off in ports of call to avoid any possibility of expensive out-of-area fees.

Just recently, however, Carnival Cruise Line began making shore tour bookings a fully digital process linked to the Carnival Hub app. The system is not yet fully rolled out, but is suggested to be beneficial to guests.

“Our new ticketless platform prioritizes convenience for our guests and equips our tour operator partners with better tools, making the shore excursion experience more seamless, efficient and enjoyable,” said Sam Ackrill, vice president of shore excursions for Carnival Cruise Line.

“Eliminating the need for physical tickets and streamlining the process of checking in for shore excursions will be a great benefit, but the real-time functionality that’s built into our platform will give tour operators more opportunities and guests more choices.”

Perhaps some of that functionality could be tweaked to permit instant push notifications of cancellations or other changes to tours, so guests can remain fully informed and updated about their shore plans.

Cruising in the UK Is More Than a Trip—It’s a Major Economic Driver

Lissa Poirot
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Cruising in the UK Is More Than a Trip—It’s a Major Economic Driver

Taking a cruise might be the holiday of a lifetime for many passengers, but for the UK, it’s big business, according to a new report.

An independent June 2025 report by WPI Economics, commissioned by Carnival Corporation, says the company’s cruise activity in the UK has a far-reaching impact.

The findings show that cruising in the UK contributes well beyond the port, from job creation to tourism.

The report, titled More than the Trip of a Lifetime, reveals that each time one of Carnival Corporation’s largest ships “turns around” in Southampton – meaning passengers disembark and new guests begin their cruise – the local economy gains between £1.9 and £2.5 million.

Across all “turnaround” (homeports) in the UK, the annual benefit reaches £505 million.

“As this report demonstrates, Carnival’s UK-based and global portfolio of brands make a significant impact to the economy,” said Paul Ludlow, president, Carnival UK and P&O Cruises.

Carnival UK, headquartered in Southampton, which expects to break cruise passenger records again in 2025, operates P&O Cruises and Cunard. It is the largest private sector employer in the city.

In 2024, the company made 700 UK port calls and supported nearly 1,900 jobs, including 1,650 full-time roles based in Southampton alone.

The report also highlights a ripple effect beyond the docks. International passengers who visit the UK contribute £147 million annually in future tourism spend, returning for land-based trips after experiencing the country by sea.

“I believe it is crucial for policymakers to recognize the value that cruise provides and the potential for this to grow sustainably in the years ahead,” said Ludlow.

Behind the Numbers

While Southampton is the company’s home base, Carnival’s reach spans far beyond the South Coast.

The report identifies consistent port spending in destinations such as Dover, Liverpool. Edinburgh, Invergordon, Greenock, and Belfast. This spending totaled £54 million annually, with £28 million of that spent in Scotland alone.

Each UK port call averages £280,000 in local visitor spend, according to the findings.

And that economic activity isn’t limited to passengers, either.

Carnival UK’s operations support nearly 2,000 seafarers and inject significant spending into the domestic supply chain. In fact, 90 percent of its £200 million in hotel goods spending stays within the UK, according to the report.

Read Also: What Cruise Lines Does Carnival Own? List of Carnival Corporation Brands

Travel agents also benefit, receiving over £112 million in annual commissions across Carnival Corporation’s portfolio of brands, which also includes AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

Key Findings
Key Findings

Currently, Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess, Regal Princess, and Sky Princess; P&O Cruises’ Arcadia, Arvia, Aurora, Britannia, Iona, and Ventura; and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Anne are homeporting in Southampton for the summer 2025.

Other impacts are harder to quantify beyond economics, but the WPI Economics review noted that since 2007, Carnival UK has raised £3 million for The King’s Trust. It also hit £1 million in donations to the Teenage Cancer Trust in 2025.

The company also funds a performing arts academy in Southampton that draws thousands of entertainers annually for rehearsals and training.

WPI Economics also calls attention to Carnival Corporation’s role in supporting port infrastructure and workforce development, urging stronger collaboration with the UK government.

Carnival UK has homeports in Southampton, Malta, Tenerife, and Barbados, and a six-month seasonal homeport operation in Malta is now being studied for similar regional impacts.

It is estimated that its ship, Azura, which spends 29 weeks in Valletta, Malta, with 3,500 passengers and 1,200 crew, brought in £188,000 on hotels and £120,000 on transfers in 2022, not including taxes, port fees, and the supply chain.

While the report only reviewed Carnival Corporation, Southampton also serves as a homeport to ships within Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Silversea, which are adding to the economy.

Norwegian Launches ‘Last-Minute’ Summer Sale, Discount Offers

Donna Tunney
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Norwegian Launches ‘Last-Minute’ Summer Sale, Discount Offers

Now that schools are out, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is getting in on the summer action with would-be cruisers with some enticing deals for last-minute summer trips.

Among the incentives are fare sales providing up to $1,000 discounts on all itineraries and enhanced savings of up to $2,000 for guests booking its More at Sea package, which bundles drinks, dining, and excursion deals.

NCL is also reaching out to educators with a valuable 25% savings on Alaska and Europe cruises under its NCL Teacher Cruise Discount program, which typically offers a 5% fare cut. The new discount is valid on sailings with departures through September 30, 2025.

Moreover, Norwegian Cruise Line is featuring special resident rates that take 20% off the cruise fare on select itineraries for guests hailing from Florida, Louisiana, Texas, California, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

For millions of prospective cruisers, these discounts and fare reductions can lead to substantial savings.

“Now is the best time of year to go somewhere new and create unforgettable memories in incredible destinations with the people we love most,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. 

“My own family recently got back from a Caribbean cruise and that quality time together means everything. This summer, Norwegian is all about giving guests even MORE value,” added Herrera.

Norwegian Cruise Line is particularly shining a light on its Alaska cruises, suggesting that a “coolcation” is just the ticket for the hot summer temps that are just around the corner.

In fact, it cited findings from the 2025 Virtuoso Luxe Report, which found that 76% of travel advisors say their clients are looking for vacation destinations with cooler weather.  

Alaska may be the perfect place for cooling off; in Juneau, the state capital and a port call on virtually every Alaska cruise, high temperatures in July — the height of the region’s cruise season — average just 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

Norwegian Cruise Line in Alaska
Norwegian Cruise Line in Alaska (Photo Credit: Just dance)

Norwegian Cruise Line has four ships sailing Alaska — Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Bliss, all operating roundtrip from Seattle, and Norwegian Jade, sailing between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Whittier, Alaska.

Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss sail 7-night itineraries calling at Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia, while Norwegian Joy operates 9- and 10-night cruises that add visits to Sitka and Icy Strait Point, Alaska.

Norwegian Jade is sailing 11-, 12-, and 14-day cruise-tours that combine a cruise with inland tours to destinations such as Denali and Fairbanks, but these are not specifically listed as eligible for the summer savings plans.

Europe Voyages Feature Northern and Southern Destinations

Norwegian Cruise Line’s summer savings offers apply to Europe sailings in summer 2025, including itineraries that span the region from Iceland to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean plus Scandinavia.

Read Also: Norwegian Cruise Ships By Size (Biggest to Smallest)

Norwegian Prima, for example, is operating 10- and 11-day cruises to Northern Europe with port calls at destinations including Norway and Belgium. 

Her summer series features voyages between Southampton, UK, and Reykjavik, Iceland, with calls at Isafjord and Akureyri, Iceland; Alesund and Bergen, Norway; Amsterdam; and Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium.

Warmer destinations are featured on Norwegian Viva’s itineraries, offering 7- to 9-day cruises to the Greek Isles. Other ships deployed to Europe in summer 2025 include Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic, which was recently renovated to include an expanded Vibe Beach Club, an adult-only venue.

Residential World Cruise Postponed Due to Canadian Booking Fallout

Donna Tunney
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Residential World Cruise Postponed Due to Canadian Booking Fallout

A new residential cruise line has postponed its first around-the-world voyage, leaving an unknown number of booked guests scrambling to change their lifestyle plans just five weeks before they were to embark on a 29-month adventure.

The news, announced by Victoria Cruises Line on June 16, 2025, confirmed that the 1,350-guest Victoria Majestic will not sail from Port Everglades as planned on July 26, 2025, due to a low occupancy level.

Apparently, booking cancellations from an undisclosed number of Canadian passengers are responsible for the voyage being nixed, and the cruise line pointed to issues between Canada and the US as the reason why.

In a statement posted on its website, Victoria Cruises Line, which is based in Hungary, explained that the decision to cancel was not an easy one.

“As a responsible operator, we had set a minimum occupancy threshold of 80% to ensure the quality, stability, and sustainability of life on board. By the end of April, we were very close to meeting this target,” the cruise line’s notice stated. 

“However, recent political and economic tensions between the United States and Canada have led to an unexpected wave of cancellations from several Canadian residents, making the current occupancy level (430 cabins) insufficient for a viable launch,” it added.

It seems to indicate that the Canadians who cancelled did so to avoid traveling to the embarkation port in Florida.

“In light of these developments, we have no choice but to postpone the start of our journey. The new departure date will be announced soon, and we will personally notify all affected residents,” Victoria Cruises Line stated.

The line’s statement indicates that booked guests will receive some kind of compensation from the line, apparently in addition to refunds of rental fees already paid, and that details would be sent directly to passengers.

Ship’s Departure Date Had Been Previously Postponed

Victoria Majestic formerly operated as Veendam for Holland America Line, which sold the vessel in 2020. It is not the first delay of the ship’s maiden residential world cruise under its present owner. 

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost to Live On a Cruise Ship?

When Victoria Cruises Line introduced itself to the cruise industry in 2023 as a cabin-for-rent operation, it had set a May 2023 world cruise launch. 

That was later pushed back to September 2023 and then, eventually, rescheduled for September 2025 and finally, the latest launch date, July 26, 2025.

Veendam Cruise Ship
Veendam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: EQRoy)

The brand offered rental rates based on accommodation chosen, with monthly rental fees that started at $2,399 with a minimum six-month rental contract. The world cruise was to last 886 days — roughly 2.5 years, with 703 days in ports around the globe and 183 days at sea.

Victoria Cruises Line is one of just a few residential cruise lines that have cropped up in recent years. The most well-known is probably Villa Vie Residences, which operates Villa Vie Odyssey, a ship that also experienced a series of delays.

Operating continuous 3.5-year world cruises, the ship departed Belfast, Northern Ireland, in October 2024 following months of postponements tied to engine problems and other operational issues.

Another line, Miray Cruises, introduced a residential option aboard its ship, Lara, in 2023 but soon cancelled the project. The line, based in Turkey, currently sails 3- and 4-day Mediterranean cruises.

How to Book a Cruise on Cruise Hive and Why You Should

Catie Kovelman
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How to Book a Cruise on Cruise Hive and Why You Should

Earlier this year, Cruise Hive launched the ability for our readers to book their cruise vacations with us. Now, we can keep you up to date on all things cruise news while also helping you plan and prepare for your own voyages.

Here is everything you need to know about booking a cruise through Cruise Hive – including how you can score major discounts – and why you should think of us when it’s time to plan your next cruise vacation.

In This Article:

How to Book Your Cruise Through Cruise Hive

Booking your cruise through Cruise Hive is an easy online process. All you have to do to get started is visit CruiseHive.com and select “Book a Cruise” at the top of your screen. 

If you’re using your mobile device, the “Book a Cruise” option will be found by opening the drop down menu on the top right hand side of your screen.

However, if you’d prefer to speak to a human, you may call one of our trusted representatives at +1 877-243-3635, who are available to take your call until midnight EST on weekdays and until 6pm EST on weekends. 

Representatives aren’t just available to help you book your cruise, but also to help manage existing reservations for both individual and group sailings. 

Searching For Your Next Cruise

Bookings Cruise Finder
Bookings Cruise Finder

If you’re just starting to research your next vacation, perhaps you will find inspiration by perusing our Cruise Deals page.

But if you already have a specific cruise line or destination in mind, our handy dandy filters will help narrow down your search.  

You can filter by desired destinations, sailing dates, cruise length, cruise line, departure ports, and even specific ships.

Additionally, you can also search for ocean cruises or river cruises specifically – as well as for stand-alone cruises or cruises that are paired with a land tour. 

If you need help deciding between specific cruise lines or ships, simply select a booking and scroll to the bottom of the page to see that we’ve done the research for you. 

You will be able to toggle between options to see an overview of the ship’s amenities, customer reviews from past cruisers, deck plans, key cruise line policies, photos, other itineraries offered by the same ship, and valuable information about stateroom categories.

Finding Bonuses and Incentives

Booking Bonus
Booking Bonus

When booking a cruise, it’s also important to consider the type of experience you are looking to have onboard – and how certain bonuses or incentives will enhance your cruise vacation while also saving some money.

In order to find these bonuses and incentives, simply scroll down on the main cruise booking page, click on “Rules” on the left-hand side of your screen. But if you’re looking on your phone, the “Rules” will be located under “Filter Your Search” at the top of your screen.

A drop-down menu will appear with dozens of possible offers – including things like complimentary beverage packages, Wi-Fi packages, onboard credits, free specialty dining, and cruise-line specific perks.

Once you select your desired perk from the menu, the list of cruises will automatically re-populate with (usually discounted) itineraries that include the additional promotion.

You can also see what perks have been thrown into a specific itinerary by hovering over the icons in the “Bonus” category while scrolling through itineraries on the main results page.

Time to Book

Disney Destiny Booking
Disney Destiny Booking

Once you’ve decided on your specific sailing, here is how you can actually book your cruise through Cruise Hive.

I’ve been fantasizing about sailing on Disney Cruise Line’s upcoming Disney Destiny – so let’s pretend I’m booking a 4-night Bahamas Cruise on the new vessel.

After filtering the search to just show Disney Destiny cruises, I would select my desired sailing from the list.

Once I hit select, I am prompted to enter the number of guests, the ages of the guests, my email, my location, and check any special rates that might be applicable to me. Once all the information is inputted, I can click “select my room type.”

Select Cabin Type
Select Cabin Type

You will first be prompted to select your cabin type – I selected a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom for now – before moving onto the next page to choose your specific cabin.

You are then able to select your ideal stateroom while reviewing an interactive deck map to make sure you choose the right cruise cabin for your travel party.

Deck Plan, Choose Cabin Number
Deck Plan, Choose Cabin Number

Alternatively, you can also skip this step and book what’s called a guaranteed cabin – which means the cruise line will assign you a cabin in your chosen category (or a better one) based on availability closer to embarkation day.

Finally, you will be taken to a check-out page – where you will enter the rest of the information about your travel party, indicate your dining preferences, and input your credit card number.

Cruise Purchase Page
Cruise Purchase Page

You will be able to choose between paying a cruise deposit, paying the total balance, or starting an affordable monthly payment plan with as little as $0 down at the time of booking.

And it’s as simple as that! The whole booking process can take as little as just five to ten minutes.

Why Book Through Cruise Hive? 

Though we know there are many places you can book your next cruise vacation – from directly with the cruise lines to travel agents – here is how booking through Cruise Hive can benefit you.

Save Money With Cruise Hive

Carnival Firenze Rate
Carnival Firenze Rate

We know how hard you work for your money – and we want to help you get the most bang for your buck the next time you cruise. 

This is why Cruise Hive offers discounts on many can’t miss sailings across the hottest brands – including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and more.

We are constantly updating our Cruise Deals page with the best opportunities, but just to offer a couple examples:

As of the time of publication, we are currently offering a 5-night Mexican Riviera Cruise from Long Beach, California, onboard Carnival Firenze, starting at just $228 (or $45.60 per night).

On Carnival’s website, the same exact cruise is listed at a starting price of $349 for an interior cabin – and only goes up from there.

As Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations, let’s take a look at discounted sailing onboard NCL’s Norwegian Jade based out of Whittier, Alaska, as another example.

Norwegian Jade Rate
Norwegian Jade Rate

Our Cruise Hive pricing starts at $479 for a week-long voyage in September – which evens out to $68.43 per night. The same itinerary starts at $549 on Norwegian Cruise Line’s website, but has been listed for as much as $660.

The deals extend to all kinds of voyages to suit every type of budget and traveler – with more savings to be found on mini getaways and longer weeks-long sailings throughout the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Europe, and more.

Disclaimer: All rates and prices were when we published this article. Rates, prices, and offers are subject to change.

You Won’t Miss Out on the Perks of Booking Direct

Special Rates Area
Special Rates Area

Booking with Cruise Hive doesn’t mean you have to miss out on benefits you might receive by booking with the cruise line – such as loyalty credits for being a repeat customer or limited-time promotions. 

Instead, all you have to do is click “check for special rates” – which will cause a drop down menu to appear where you can check options that may apply to you to receive additional discounts. 

For example, you will be able to link your existing passenger ID number or type in a promotion code if you check those boxes. 

Final Thoughts

While we continue to remain committed to covering cruise news, we are always looking for ways to be a better resource for cruise fans – and introducing a cruise booking service was the right next step in our evolution. 

We can’t wait to help you plan your next vacation as we broaden our service to the cruise community.

Celebrity Edge Breaks Loose in Alaska Port Due to Sudden Wind Squall

Catie Kovelman
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Celebrity Edge Breaks Loose in Alaska Port Due to Sudden Wind Squall

A cruise port at maximum capacity and a stormy day is exactly the time when port authorities and cruise lines cross their fingers that nothing will go wrong. But in Juneau, Alaska, these were the perfect ingredients to cause chaos.

On the afternoon of June 16, 2025, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge broke free from her mooring lines – likely as a result of inclement weather. Video taken by witnesses shows heavy rain and wind.

“Ship broke away from [mooring] and supposedly slammed back into the dock. No communications from Celebrity whatsoever,” a current passenger reported.

“Celebrity has an app but is not posting any communications. The bus driver to take us back to the ship has been giving us some updates,” the passenger continued.

However, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson stated to Cruise Hive, “The ship drifted from the pier due to a sudden wind squall. Our Captain maneuvered the ship back to the dock where passengers and crew boarded to resume the scheduled itinerary.” 

Worth Reading: Three Cruise Ships Cancel Port in Alaska Due to High Winds

The cruise line was likely focused on managing the situation and making announcements for the guests already onboard before updating the app – as the stormy weather and a ship becoming unexpectedly adrift is very precarious. Thankfully, there were no injuries and no damage.

Four other cruise ships were also docked nearby Celebrity Edge – which could have collided with one of the other vessels – as well as a smaller ship with a capacity for only 62 guests called National Geographic Sea Lion.

Cruise Ships Caught in Sudden Storm in Alaska
Cruise Ships Caught in Sudden Storm in Alaska (Credit: The Undead Kennedy)

The other cruise ships in Juneau included Holland America’s Eurodam and Koningsdam, Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa.

In fact, video footage shows Carnival Luminosa backing up before cruise tracking data shows that the vessel was supposed to depart – which suggests that the Spirit-class ship was trying to get out of the way to avoid a possible crash.

“There was a huge extreme wind storm with hail that came in. We were on the ship next to it as it drifted towards us,” another cruiser stated without specifying their ship.

The crew members onboard were likely doing their best to keep control of Celebrity Edge, but the rough waters and wind can make navigating the port much more risky than normal – especially as they may have had to wait to figure out a contingency plan before re-docking.

Getting Back on Track

By the late afternoon, the up to 2,908 guests onboard were notified of a plan to re-dock the ship for the remainder of the port call.

“I’m on the ship. They are going to redock on the port side. First, they need to remove the snapped ropes from the water. That is what has been reported over the announcements,” said one passenger who was onboard when the cruise ship went adrift.

As this update came at around 4:20 p.m. local time and cruise tracking data shows that the Celebrity ship is expected to be in Juneau at 10 p.m., there is likely plenty of time to re-secure the vessel and allow guests to board and still make a timely departure.

The remainder of the 7-night Alaska itinerary – which embarked from Seattle, Washington, on June 13, 2025, and still has calls to make in Skagway and Victoria, B.C. – is thus far unaffected.

Worth Reading: Coast Guard Investigates Cruise Ship’s Mishap at Port of Juneau

Cruisers who will also be sailing on Celebrity Edge in the near future also likely do not have to worry about having the same experience – as snapping mooring lines are relatively uncommon even though it has happened to multiple ships this year.

Recently, the gangway collapsed on Holland America Line’s Westerdam in Ketchikan, Alaska, when the mooring lines broke on May 30, 2025 – though thankfully, no guests or crew were injured.

Once again, the culprit was high winds – with the Alaskan port experiencing strong wind gusts of 30 to 70 miles per hour that day.

Within the same couple of days, NCL’s Norwegian Epic and MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape experienced their own mooring line failures in other parts of the world – with all incidents coming as a result of extreme wind.

But all that said, these ships have operated thousands of sailings where their mooring lines have done their job perfectly – making these incidents one-off events.

Carnival Replaces Nostalgic Venue With Smaller, Modern Option

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Replaces Nostalgic Venue With Smaller, Modern Option

Every cruise traveler has their own way to really relax on their vacation, from karaoke with their besties to sunbathing on the beach to late-night casino action.

In recent years, however, Carnival Cruise Line has done away with one type of relaxation onboard, much to the chagrin of travelers who want to get away far beyond their cruise ship.

In late 2023, the cruise line confirmed that onboard libraries were being removed from older ships during dry dock visits. Guests had already noted that newer ships, such as Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee never had libraries at all.

Now, however, travelers have noted that a form of library is actually returning to ships and being incorporated into a smaller but easily accessible format.

“My husband and I are cruising on the Miracle right now, and we’re very happy with the changes made during dry dock. I was especially grateful to learn that there is a mini library on board in the game room,” one guest commented. “It’s [just] a cabinet for a book exchange, but I was very happy to see this.”

Worth Reading: Carnival Cruise Line Not Planning to Order Smaller Ships

Carnival Miracle is spending her summer in northern Europe, offering 9- and 12-night British Isles, Scandinavia, Baltic, and Iceland itineraries from Dover through mid-August. She’ll close out the summer season with Greek Isles sailings from Rome from late August through early November.

Before beginning her European season, however, Carnival Miracle underwent an extensive update at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

Along with a new Seaside Theater for Dive-In Movies, the ship received other upgrades such as nightclub, bar, and casino updates, refreshment to the popular Chef’s Table, and cosmetic updates throughout.

The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, acknowledged the loss of the library but noted that the smaller versions are suitable to these changing times of different reading formats.

“We haven’t put them in [on all ships] and yet these mobile libraries definitely help just a little bit,” Heald said. “On a personal level I’m sad to see them go, they have been a cruising tradition, but times have changed and now people are bringing 50 or more books on their Kindle or phone.”

Carnival Cruise Ship Library
Carnival Cruise Ship Library

Carnival Miracle‘s original Raven Library was located on the port side of the Atlantic Deck (Deck 3), forward. That space is now the new location of the Warehouse Arcade.

The game room the guest is referring to, actually the Joker Card Room, is on the starboard side of the Promenade Deck (Deck 2), forward. The space is smaller but contains some quiet seating, board games, and a cabinet of books for guests to exchange.

How Else Have Cruises Changed?

The loss of the larger onboard libraries is not the only way that Carnival Cruise Line’s ships have changed over the years.

New specialty dining options are continually being added and activity schedules are revamped to enhance offerings that today’s cruise travelers want.

For example, in the past couple of years, Carnival has ended the once popular Hairy Chest Contest and other Lido Deck games that are no longer considered as family-friendly for today’s cruisers.

Years ago, no one would have ever thought of such innovations onboard as the Bolt roller coaster, more dedicated non-smoking casinos, or even simple but practical touches like multi-purpose lamps with different charging ports.

I love a good book on a cruise, and I’m one of the old-school types who doesn’t have a tablet or read books electronically (paper pages for me!). Yet I always bring my own books and never have relied on the ship’s library for reading material.

Instead, I welcome the dedicated game room and the chance to make more memories with family and friends onboard – exactly what a cruise vacation is all about.

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