An 83-year-old American woman was killed and her 84-year-old husband critically injured when a reversing excursion bus struck them at the Port of Livorno.
The couple had just returned from a shore excursion and were walking back toward their cruise ship when the accident occurred.
Italian authorities are investigating to determine how the collision happened.
Livorno, Italy, is one of Italy’s most popular cruise ports. A jumping off point for reaching Florence, Tuscan villages, and Pisa’s leaning tower, passengers often board shuttle buses to whisk them off to see sites in one of Italy’s most beautiful regions.
But one recent call turned tragic when a reversing shuttle bus struck a couple of American passengers, killing the woman and critically injuring her husband.
According to Italian reports, the victims, aged 83 and 84, had just disembarked after a city excursion and were returning to their cruise ship when the accident occurred.
Authorities say the shuttle bus was maneuvering in the port area on August 12, 2025, when it backed into the couple, likely within the driver’s blind spot.
Witnesses reported, “He had not noticed their presence until he heard a noise and the screams.”
Both passengers were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, the woman died shortly after arrival. Her husband remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The identities of the couple have not been released, although one source suggests the couple were guests aboard Cunard’s Queen Victoria.
According to ship trackers, the 2,061-guest ship was in Livorno on August 12 during a 21-night Adriatic and Western Mediterranean voyage that had departed from Trieste, Italy, on July 28, 2025.
The ship had explored Croatia, Malta, France, Sardinia, and numerous ports in Italy before the accident occurred and ended its journey in Barcelona earlier this morning, August 18.
Cunard’s Queen Victoria (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaside has made Livorno a homeport for its 7-night Mediterranean cruises, but was in Barcelona on the day the incident occurred.
Local police are said to be conducting interviews, reviewing surveillance footage, and gathering evidence in a continuing investigation.
Rising Traffic and Growing Risks
The Port of Livorno is one of Italy’s largest ports. In 2024, it welcomed more than 860,000 cruise passengers – a 23.2 percent increase over 2023.
Besides being a main port of call, its location as a homeport has quintupled its homeport traffic to nearly 54,000.
Forecasts for 2025 suggest continued strong performance, with Livorno expected to see a 25.4 percent increase in cruise passengers and more than a 30 percent rise in ship calls.
Port of Livorno (Photo Credit: Rosamar
Although the port is busy, accidents – especially those involving cruise passengers – are extremely rare.
Still, accidents do happen. Barcelona also had its own dangerous bus crash in March 2025. Fifty-three people were injured when a cruise passenger bus and a bus carrying students collided near the Sagrada Familia.
A similar incident occurred in 2024’s late summer Alaska season when a cruise bus overturned while carrying 24 passengers. Twelve passengers were hurt; none of them fatally.
The unidentified Livorno bus driver, described as an experienced operator, reportedly appeared shaken, having just assisted the woman with her walker before the accident in the busy pedestrian zone took place.
Cruise Hive extends its deepest condolences to the victims’ family.
Norwegian Aqua will skip Bermuda and sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, to avoid Hurricane Erin.
Guests will receive a $100 onboard credit per stateroom and a 20% Future Cruise Credit.
All Bermuda shore excursions have automatically been cancelled and refunded to passenger accounts.
When Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, departs on its 4-night voyage today, August 18, 2025, its surprised guests won’t be sailing to the beautiful pink beaches of Bermuda.
Instead, passengers have been told they will be heading north to Saint John, New Brunswick, in Canada.
“To steer clear of Hurricane Erin and the forecasted rough weather, we’ve made the decision to adjust our route to keep everyone safe and sound,” the cruise line said in a letter to passengers.
The cruise’s only call on its 4-night roundtrip voyage was meant to be Kings Wharf in Bermuda on August 20. However, with Hurricane Erin, a Category 4 hurricane at press time, heading north, the ship’s sailing route would have it passing right into the storm’s projected path.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Erin will be off of Florida’s southeastern coast on August 19; its northern coast, Georgia, and South Carolina on August 20; and the Mid-Atlantic Coast on August 21.
By traveling to Saint John, the 156,300-gross-ton Norwegian Aqua will keep guests away from stormy seas and able to enjoy a more relaxed call from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Maybe.)
Despite the “exciting” news that passengers will now get to take in the beauty of the Bay of Fundy, Norwegian Cruise Line added a worrisome disclaimer:
“Once we arrive, the Captain and Harbor Master will carefully review conditions to determine if we can remain docked or if we will need to depart shortly after clearance,” the cruise line revealed.
Passengers, unfortunately, won’t be notified until arrival in Saint John.
To compensate for the itinerary change, Norwegian Cruise Line is automatically adding a $100 non-refundable credit per stateroom ($50 per guest for up to two).
It is also offering a 20 percent Future Cruise Credit to be applied to a sailing through December 31, 2026.
All shore excursions in Bermuda were also automatically cancelled and refunded to passenger accounts, with bookings open for excursions in Saint John available at Norwegian Aqua’s Deck 7 Shore Excursion Desk.
Guests will be back in New York on August 22, just as the storm is scheduled to arrive in the northeast.
An Unpredictable Storm
Norwegian Aqua is not the only cruise ship rerouting in an effort to stay away from Hurricane Erin. The storm, which developed off the Western Coast of Africa on August 11, 2025, rapidly gained strength and became a hurricane by time it reached the Caribbean on August 15.
Within 25 hours, the storm became one of the fastest-progressing hurricanes, reaching Category 5 status with winds of 160 miles per hour by August 16.
Although the storm has been downgraded to a Category 4, it’s carrying wind speeds of 130 miles per hour and is just north of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The storm’s projected path does not have it directly hitting any coast towns in the US or Canada, but weather can be unpredictable.
Traveling at 13 miles per hour, the good news is that cruise ships are faster than hurricanes and can maneuver out of its path should it surprise forecasters again.
MSC World America has cancelled its calls to Puerto Plata and San Juan, replacing them with Costa Maya and Cozumel to avoid Hurricane Erin.
Erin intensified from a tropical storm on August 11 to a Category 5 hurricane by August 16, with peak winds of 160 miles per hour.
The storm’s location, currently north of the Turks and Caicos, prompted MSC Cruises to reroute for passenger safety.
One of the first hurricanes of the Caribbean season is moving fast, and with it, passengers aboard MSC World America are seeing their cruise take a different turn.
MSC Cruises’ newest ship, sailing her very first season ever, departed on August 16, 2025, from Miami with her bow originally pointed toward the Dominican Republic’s Amber Cove for an August 18 9 a.m. arrival.
However, with Erin officially becoming a Category 5 hurricane, guests have learned they will be missing the Dominican Republic and San Juan, Puerto Rico, calls in favor of calmer seas away from the storm.
“Due to Hurricane Erin (Category 5) and adverse weather forecasts, your cruise itinerary requires immediate adjustment,” read a post onboard the 6,762-passenger vessel.
The revised sailing schedule turned August 18 into a sea day, which will be followed by Costa Maya, Mexico, on August 19 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and nearby Cozumel on August 20 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Both ports are located along Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, well away from Hurricane Erin’s projected storm path.
Guests on board seemed to take the news in stride, with many noting that safety comes first when navigating storms of this scale.
This itinerary shift allows the ship to still enjoy two Caribbean port days before the voyage sails to the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay MSC Ocean Reserve, and back to Miami on August 23.
Due to the changes, passengers who booked excursions through MSC Cruises were reimbursed for automatically cancelled bookings and were given an opportunity to book excursions in their new ports of call.
Passengers who booked private excursions were left to manage their own cancellations and refunds.
Storm Alters Caribbean Plan
Passengers onboard MSC World America, which made her grand debut in Miami on April 9, 2025, with Gloria Estefan performing, an exciting drone show, and godmother Drew Barrymore on deck, should not be too surprised the ship’s journey has been diverted.
Hurricane Erin became a tropical storm on August 11, 2025, off the west coast of Africa. By time the storm arrived across the Atlantic, it had strengthened. A day before MSC World America’s 7-day voyage began, it was classified as a Category 1 hurricane.
However, Erin quickly surged from Category 1 to Category 5 in just over 24 hours, shocking weather forecasters and maritime workers. Other cruise lines had to scramble to adjust their own itineraries, such as that of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure.
Hurricane Erin, Advisory 29
By August 16, as passengers were boarding the 215,863-gross-ton ship in Miami, Erin reached peak intensity with sustained winds up to 160 miles per hour.
As of press time on August 18, Erin was downgraded to a Category 4 storm located just north of Grand Turk Island, moving northwest at 13 miles per hour.
Forecast models show the storm will pass east of the Bahamas before traveling northward and remaining offshore of the US East Coast, bringing with it plenty of rain and wind.
By sailing to the western Caribbean, MSC World America will be able to give guests a sun-soaked sailing.
The Royal Bahamas Police on Grand Bahama has issued a release about the pair of drownings. It is important note that these were separate, unrelated incidents.
Official investigations are standard procedure and seek to determine if all proper safety protocols were followed.
The first incident occurred just before noon when a 79-year-old male guest was found unresponsive while snorkeling at the beach.
“A lifeguard assisted him from the water, and CPR was administered, but to no avail,”the report clarified.
The second incident was just after 2:30 p.m. when a 74-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the island’s large freshwater pool, which Carnival Cruise Line calls a “lagoon.”
Again, the woman was assisted from the water and CPR was performed, but without success.
Both guests have been reported as American citizens. Carnival Cruise Line previously confirmed that one guest from each ship at Celebration Key that day, Mardi Gras and Carnival Elation.
“One guest was sailing with family on Mardi Gras and one guest was sailing with family on Carnival Elation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families and our Care Team is providing assistance,”Carnival Cruise Line stated.
Mardi Gras was in port from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Carnival Elation was in port from 2-8 p.m.
There has been much social media speculation about the exact causes of death for each guest, such as a heart attack or an aneurysm. To be clear, these are unconfirmed speculations, as final investigations have not yet been completed.
Celebration Key, Bahamas
“An autopsy will be performed on both victims to assist with determining the exact cause of death,”the police report reads.“The investigation continues in both matters.”
Medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, and aneurysms can impact guests in different ways. Because both guests were in the water, any emergency could immediately impact breathing and muscle activity, resulting in drowning.
Further details about the individuals, including names and other identifying information, are unlikely to be released in order to protect their privacy as well as the privacy of their family members and traveling parties.
Both Mardi Gras and Carnival Elation have continued on their itineraries, a 6-night Eastern Caribbean cruise and a 4-night Bahamas sailing, respectively.
Is Celebration Key or Carnival Cruise Line at Fault?
Emergency medical incidents can happen absolutely everywhere, from theme parks and sporting events to concerts, at the grocery store, at home, or yes, even on cruise ships or their private islands.
Carnival Cruise Line’s lifeguards and emergency personnel reacted to each incident immediately, implementing appropriate responses and lifesaving measures. It is a sad outcome that such responses were unable to save either guest.
This is not the first time cruise guests have passed while enjoying port visits. Similar incidents have happened at MSC Cruises’ MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, at Mystery Island in Vanuatu, and on the Greek island of Milos, among others.
Each incident is a tragic event for the families involved, as well as a sad and troubling day for other cruise guests and crew members.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with everyone impacted by such incidents, wherever and whenever they happen. Cruise vacations should always be fun and filled with good memories, not tragic endings.
MSC Magnifica‘s 118-night 2026 World Cruise will now avoid the Red Sea region, which means the last segment will change and the Suez Canal transit will not be possible.
The revised itinerary is not yet available, but the cruise line will communicate the full route to booked guests as soon as possible.
If guests choose not to sail based on the final itinerary, MSC Cruises will permit full refunds within a short time after the updated route is disclosed.
A world cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime event for many cruise enthusiasts, with amazing opportunities for ports of call that simply aren’t available on conventional itineraries.
Guests booked on MSC Magnifica‘s 2026 World Cruise, however, are now learning that some ports as well as a very unique sailing experience will not be possible.
MSC Cruises has reached out to travelers about the change, even though an alternative itinerary is not yet confirmed. Nevertheless, the cruise line is actively working on an updated schedule.
“Due to ongoing geopolitical instability in the Red Sea region, and following a comprehensive assessment with our Security Team and external partners, we have made the difficult decision to adjust the planned itinerary to avoid transiting through the affected areas,”the notification read.
“This decision was made with your safety, comfort, and peace of mind as our highest priorities.”
This means the last leg of the cruise visiting ports of call such as Khasab, Oman and Aqaba, Jordan will not be possible, nor will MSC Magnifica be transiting the Suez Canal.
The 118-night World Cruise will officially begin from Genoa, Italy on January 5. MSC Magnifica was not planned to be in the impacted region until roughly mid-April.
It is also possible that some of the Mediterranean ports at the end of the sailing will also change, such as Iraklion, Greece and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, which were planned for April 30 and May 2, respectively.
MSC Magnifica should conclude her World Cruise on May 2, 2026 as she returns to Genoa.
At this time, it is not known exactly which ports must be removed from the World Cruise itinerary, nor what precise route or destinations will be added to the schedule.
It is also possible that the return to Genoa might be impacted, though that would have a knock-on effect on MSC Magnifica‘s next cruises in the Mediterranean. This will be something the cruise line works to avoid as the updated itinerary is coordinated.
In order to avoid multiple changes and potentially confusing updates, MSC Cruises is opting to fully finalize the entire last part of the cruise before sharing the changes with guests.
“We understand that not having the revised itinerary immediately available may cause concern,”MSC Cruises acknowledged.“We are in the final stages of confirming the updated route and expect to share full details with you by August 31, 2025, once all port calls are validated by local authorities.”
Undoubtedly, the ship will now be sailing around Africa, which could mean port visits in Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, Morocco, and other culturally rich and stunning destinations.
Also in 2024, Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise aboard Serenade of the Seas had to bypass the Red Sea region. As that change happened mid-cruise, guests onboard had the option to vote for their preferred African itinerary.
What If Guests Don’t Want to Set Sail?
While a World Cruise is an immersive experience and a stunning sailing regardless of exact destinations, some travelers may prefer to cancel their plans.
This could be if the port visits in the Middle East or transiting the Suez Canal may have been the bucket-list experiences those guests were most excited about.
MSC Cruises is giving booked guests the opportunity to evaluate their options and will honor requests for full refunds if preferred.
“In light of this change, we are offering you the option to cancel your booking free of charge and receive a full refund should you choose not to proceed,”the cruise line noted.
“This option will remain available for a limited period after the final itinerary is shared, giving you time to fully consider your plans.”
Because of its exclusivity, full payment for the World Cruise is due 120 days prior to departure. For 2026, this means that full and final payment is due no later than September 7, 2025.
Guests may not learn the complete itinerary until just a few days before that deadline, however. It is possible MSC Cruises may extend the deadline to offer slightly more time to consider the changes yet still be able to cancel for a full refund.
Any extension for the final payment date for the 2026 World Cruise will undoubtedly depend on exactly when the full itinerary is confirmed.
MSC Cruises will reach out to guests as soon as possible so they have ample time to take the changes into consideration.
P&O Cruises is currently owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, but that wasn’t always the case. The British cruise line boasts a rich history and, in fact, P&O Cruises is one of the oldest operating cruise lines in the world.
Here’s what you need to know about the cruise line, how it differs from P&O Ferries, and the fate of P&O Cruises Australia.
P&O Cruises is a Southampton, England-based cruise line that currently operates seven ships, sailing to more than 300 destinations across the globe. The majority of the family-friendly cruise line’s ships sail out of Southampton, and P&O is the largest cruise line in Great Britain.
The History of P&O Cruises
Peninsula & Oriental Vessel
The Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company was originally primarily a shipping company. They traveled from Britain to the European mainland, as well as to Australia, beginning in 1852, when the company landed a contract to take mail to the colony.
However, in the 1840s, the company set sail from London to the Mediterranean, offering passengers the company’s very first leisure sailing.
The growth of the company’s leisure sailing division — which soon gained its own name, P&O Cruises — was slow, though.
The cruise line didn’t even commission its first new-build ship until 1995, at which point it revamped its ships to offer the modern dining, entertainment and amenities cruisers were beginning to expect.
Still, in 1974, The Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company had purchased Princess Cruises, and, so, in 2000, when The Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company de-merged its cruising operations, P&O Princess International was formed.
In 2003, P&O Princess International would come together with Carnival to form Carnival Corporation & plc. Meanwhile, The Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company was overtaken by Dubai Ports World in the mid-2000s.
Who Owns P&O Cruises Today?
Carnival UK Headquarters (Photo Credit: Simon Vayro)
P&O’s parent company is currently Carnival Corporation & plc.
Along with P&O Cruises, the business decision brought a range of other cruise line brands beneath the Carnival Corporation & plc umbrella, too, including Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.
By that point in time, Carnival Corporation had already acquired majority or complete stakes in other lines such as Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and Holland America Line.
There are various well-seasoned individuals at the helm of P&O Cruises, who’ve shaped the cruise line’s legacy into what it is today, including Paul Ludlow, who acts as the president of both P&O Cruises and Carnival UK.
Ludlow has worked with P&O Cruises for more than 20 years, in sales and leadership roles. Over the course of his career, he’s two LNG-powered, Excel-class ships to the cruise line.
He also established Princess Cruises in the United Kingdom, making the country the cruise line’s second-largest market after the United States.
Ludlow took the role over in 2023, from Sture Myrmell. Myrmell was the Carnival UK president from 2021 to 2023, but was previously the president of P&O Australia and Carnival Australia. Following his departure from P&O Cruises and Carnival UK, Myrmell went on to take a role as COO at Journey Beyond in 2024.
P&O Cruises does not have its own CEO. Instead, Paul Ludlow’s boss, Josh Weinstein fills the role of CEO overseeing all of Carnival plc.
Weinstein has more than two decades of experience within the company, including as treasurer, president and COO, before becoming CEO in 2022, where he used his expertise to assist the cruise lines in bouncing back from the industry-halting Covid-19 pandemic.
Before Weinstein, Arnold Donald was the CEO for the corporation, a role he held for nine years. After Weinstein took over, Donald became the corporation’s vice chair.
Prior to acting as Carnival Corp’s CEO, Donald was a highly successful businessman, with experience in the agrochemical space. In fact, Donald had already retired, resting on his laurels (he’d purchased a basketball team and everything!) — but then he was called to become the very first Black CEO of a major cruise company.
Much as was the case when Weinstein took the role, Donald came onto the scene during a time of industry uncertainty, shortly after the Costa Concordia sinking, but Donald managed to increase the Carnival Corp’s profitability, diversity, sustainability and more.
Before Donald, Micky Arison filled the CEO spot between 1979 and 2013. Arison is responsible for taking the company public on the NYSE in New York, as well as expanding the corporation’s bevy of cruise lines until Carnival Cruise Line transformed into Carnival Corporation & plc.
Micky Arison’s father, Ted Arison, founded Carnival in 1972.
The Confusion Between P&O Ferries and P&O Cruises
P&O Ferry in Dover (Photo Credit: Mystic Stock Photography)
P&O Ferries and P&O Cruises were once both beneath the Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company umbrella.
However, The Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company retained P&O Ferries even after P&O Cruises spun off to Carnival Corp. As such, when Dubai Ports World (DP World) took over The Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, it gained P&O Ferries.
P&O Ferries is still in operation and provides ferry service between the UK and France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland. However, the two are currently completely separate functioning companies.
Unfortunately, this isn’t common knowledge and it’s resulted in some PR snafus. For example, in 2022, P&O Ferries came under fire for its sudden laying off of nearly a thousand employees.
In response, angry consumers called for P&O boycotts — but they didn’t realize that P&O Ferries and P&O Cruises were two separate entities, leading some to say that we should boycott P&O Cruises, too.
As a result, P&O Cruises had to make an official statement that they were not connected to the ferry company whatsoever.
Are P&O Cruises Australia and P&O Cruises the Same Thing?
P&O Australia was the Australian branch of the original P&O Cruises, launching in 1932 with an inaugural cruise from Sydney.
The branch’s ships served various other functions beyond leisure cruising over the decades, including transporting expats from the UK to Australia, as well as serving in wartime. However, by the 1980s, P&O Cruises established permanent cruise ship service in Australia.
When P&O Cruises merged with Carnival Corp, P&O Cruises Australia went along with the deal, but in June 2024, Carnival Corp announced that it would be phasing out the P&O Cruises Australia brand.
Carnival Sunshine has changed its itinerary to skip Bermuda and will visit the Bahamas instead, remaining well away from Hurricane Erin.
Carnival Cruise Line continues to monitor the storm closely and will alert guests on other ships if itinerary adjustments are necessary.
Vision of the Seas and Disney Treasure have likewise confirmed changes to remain away from the Category 4 storm.
Guests boarding Carnival Sunshine on Sunday, August 17, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia will not be taking the Bermuda cruise they expected.
Instead, the ship will be heading to the Bahamas to steer clear of Hurricane Erin, which has quickly strengthened to a Category 4 storm.
Carnival Cruise Line reached out to guests to alert them to the change. Now, the ship will visit both Celebration Key and Nassau instead.
“The team at our Fleet Operations Center in Miami is working with the captains on our ships to monitor Hurricane Erin,”the cruise line explained.
“Due to the storm’s forecasted path, Carnival Sunshine has canceled its Bermuda calls on August 20 and 21. The ship will instead visit Celebration Key on August 19 and Nassau on August 20 before returning to Norfolk as scheduled on August 23.”
Any pre-booked shore tours for Bermuda should be automatically cancelled and refunded. Tour options for Celebration Key and Nassau will be available through the Carnival Hub app as well as onboard at the Carnival Adventures Desk on Deck 3 (Lobby Deck), portside near the Sunshine Atrium.
To be clear, there is no change in the ship’s departure from Norfolk on Sunday nor her return at the end of the 6-night cruise.
Safety is always the top consideration and Carnival Cruise Line will continue monitoring Hurricane Erin for possible impacts to different ships in the coming days.
“Safety is our priority, and we will continue to track the storm, factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and local port authorities to provide timely updates,”the cruise line emphasized.
“Guests on upcoming sailings are encouraged to opt in to text alerts during check-in and monitor their email for potential updates from Carnival.”
Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) is homeported from Norfolk year-round offering 6- and 8-night sailings to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Eastern Caribbean. The ship can welcome 3,000 passengers aboard and is also home to more than 1,100 crew members.
Hurricane Erin Update
Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified overnight on Friday and throughout Saturday. As of the 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, she is a major Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour.
This is just shy of the 157 mph designation for a Category 5 hurricane.
Currently located 150 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the storm is moving west at 15 mph. She is expected to begin a northwest turn on Sunday, then steer even further north early next week.
Hurricane Erin, Advisory 22A
“The center of Erin is expected to move just north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Sunday, and pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas Sunday night and Monday,”the forecast discussion reads.
Hurricane-force winds are being felt as far as 30 miles from the storm’s eye, while tropical storm winds extend up to 185 miles.
This means that even far from the storm, the impact of strong winds and waves is likely to disrupt cruise ships and port operations.
Carnival Sunshine is now the third ship to confirm itinerary changes to stay well away from Hurricane Erin. Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas sailing from Baltimore adjusted her itinerary several days ago to avoid Bermuda.
Star of the Seas has departed on her first guest sailing, a 4-night showcase cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Port Canaveral hosted a celebratory wave-out event to send the ship off with fun and flair.
The new ship is offering four short showcase cruises before beginning 7-night sailings from August 31.
A new star has risen for Royal Caribbean as the massive 5,610-passenger Star of the Seas welcomed her first official guests on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
While the world’s largest cruise ship, along with Icon of the Seas, has already sailed short previews for travel agents and influencers, her first revenue guests are now onboard.
Port Canaveral hosted a wave out “sailabration” for the largest cruise ship ever to homeport from the Space Coast on Saturday afternoon. The port has done similar events for previous major new cruise ships too, such as Wonder of the Seas.
Local food trucks, a DJ, a bubble machine, games, and representatives from both Port Canaveral and Royal Caribbean were all part of the event held at Jetty Park on the south side of the port.
Another special guest, a DeLorean car inspired by Star of the Seas‘ exclusive “Back to the Future: The Musical” show was also on hand.
Hundreds of people gathered to see the ship off with cheers and the traditional fire brigade escort from Canaveral Fire Rescue. After a slight delay (reportedly a medical emergency), the second Icon-class ship departed just before 5:30 p.m.
Star of the Seas Departing Port Canaveral
Visitors weren’t bored as they waited, however, as it was a busy day for Port Canaveral. Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras and Carnival Freedom, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas, and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure also departed on various sailings.
Star of the Seas was the fourth ship to depart, leaving only Carnival Freedom to close out the busy afternoon.
In total, more than 23,000 cruise guests set sail from Port Canaveral on this historic day in the port’s history.
Guests Now Enjoying Star of the Seas
Star of the Seas‘ first cruise is a 4-night “showcase cruise” to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Sunday, August 17. Monday and Tuesday will be days at sea and the ship will return to Port Canaveral on Wednesday, August 20.
August 20 will also be the new ship’s official naming ceremony, a maritime tradition to bless new vessels and wish for safe voyages for all aboard.
The 248,700-gross-ton ship will be christened by astronaut, author, and social media personality Kellie Gerardi, who was named honorary godmother less than a week before the ceremony.
Motown superstar Diana Ross had been revealed as Star of the Seas‘ godmother in June, but unexpectedly withdrew from the honor a week before the naming.
Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral
In total, Star of the Seas will be sailing four short showcase cruises (one 3-night sailing and three 4-night sailings) before beginning her 7-night cruises from August 31.
These shorter sailings were gradually added to the ship’s overall schedule because her construction was completed ahead of schedule, allowing her to be delivered to Royal Caribbean earlier than expected.
The new ship is offering both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean voyages, depending on sailing date.
Her Eastern Caribbean itineraries will visit ports such as St. Thomas, San Juan, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten, while the Western Caribbean routes go to Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.
Every sailing, both east and west, also visits Perfect Day at CocoCay, ensuring that all guests get the true star treatment at Royal Caribbean’s private island.
Virgin Voyages’ fleet may only consist of four Lady ships, but we’re still taking a deep dive into each vessel by age. Let’s take a look at how the small but mighty cruise line has grown from launching with one ship in 2021 to operating four modern vessels in under five years.
Virgin Voyages ships aren’t just cruise ships. Instead, they are all Lady ships, which is a play on the term “your ladyship” that is used in Britain (where founder Sir Richard Branson is from).
The soon-to-be four sister ships are all very similar, with each vessel coming in at 110,000-gross tons with room for 2,770 guests onboard.
They are all 912 feet long and have 17 decks, 13 of which are accessible by guests (or Sailors) for seemingly limitless entertainment, dance parties, high-quality dining, relaxation, and more.
Though the differences between these ships are few and far between, the biggest variation between these ships are the itineraries they operate and how long they’ve been in service.
Each ship also has its own unique mermaid design on the hull, despite all featuring the same sleek superyacht-inspired design and the red, white, and gray color scheme.
Inside, guests may also notice slightly different shops and design elements in the Roundabout, which is the cruise line’s term for the main atrium.
Before we get deeper into the nitty-gritty details, here’s a quick table listing all the ships by age for easy reference:
The Fleet
Launch Year
Gross Tons
Guest Capacity
Brilliant Lady
2025
110,000
2,770
Resilient Lady
2023
110,000
2,770
Valiant Lady
2022
110,000
2,770
Scarlet Lady
2021
110,000
2,770
Brilliant Lady (2025)
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: UrAvgPhoto)
The vessel is the newest in the fleet right now. She was built at the same Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy, as her predecessors, with final outfitting taking place in Palermo, Italy.
It’s been a long wait, as she was originally supposed to debut in 2023, but supply chain and staffing challenges led to extended delays.
Her official maiden voyage will be a 5-night sailing to King’s Wharf, Bermuda, which sets sail in New York on September 5, 2025.
As the first ship in the fleet to be Panama Canal compliant, Brilliant Lady is able to sail to new ports of call her older sisters cannot access.
She will make history for the Virgin Group during her inaugural season as the first ship in the Virgin fleet to homeport in Los Angeles and will bring the cruise line to Alaska (out of Seattle) for the very first time.
Adding to the anticipation, she will feature a new version of the famous Razzle Dazzle Restaurant, called Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, which will serve gourmet cuisine with a Spanish-America twist.
It will also bring back the beloved Pink Agave restaurant, which transforms into a salsa dance club at night.
Finally, the new addition will debut with seven new original and energetic productions onboard, such as “Red Hot,” “Out of Time,” and “Murder in the Manor.”
Entered Service: 2025
Ship Class: Lady Ship
Gross Tonnage: 110,000
Passenger Capacity: 2,770
Resilient Lady (2023)
Resilient Lady in Greece (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
Construction began on the third Lady ship, Resilient Lady, in 2017 – the same year as Scarlet Lady. She was also constructed by Fincantieri’s shipyard in Genoa, Italy.
Resilient Lady’s name was announced on International Women’s Day in 2021 to celebrate the resilience and strength of women as the world was bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
She ultimately become the third Virgin ship to launch when she embarked on a 7-night “MerMaiden voyage” in Athens, Greece, on May 14, 2023. She currently sails to Greece, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.
Notably, her cruise cabins are known for feeling more Mediterranean and organic than her sister ships, butthe staterooms are essentially the same as far as functionality is concerned.
Entered Service: 2023
Ship Class: Lady Ship
Gross Tonnage: 110,000
Passenger Capacity: 2,770
Valiant Lady (2022)
Valiant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird)
Less than a year after Scarlet Lady entered service, Virgin Voyageswas ready to introduce the cruise world to Valiant Lady.
Construction began in the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy, in 2018, and as with her older sister, Valiant Lady was also delayed by the pandemic.
In 2024, she also underwent a “glow up,” in which several Sea Terrace cabins on Deck 11 were reconfigured into 24 “Seriously Suite” RockStar Quarters to keep up with the high demand for these room types.
These accommodations are particularly coveted because they include access to Richard’s Rooftop, which is an exclusive area onboard for RockStar and Mega RockStar suite guests that has its own lounging, hot tubs, and bar.
These accommodations and more can be enjoyed on itineraries that visit popular ports of call in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Europe.
Entered Service: 2021
Ship Class: Lady Ship
Gross Tonnage: 110,000
Passenger Capacity: 2,770
Honorable Mention: Virgin Voyages’ Private Beach Club (2020)
While a private resort isn’t a cruise ship, it’s worth calling out that Virgin Voyages opened the exclusive Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas in 2020.
If the pandemic hadn’t happened, the beach club’s opening would have coincided with Scarlet Lady’s launch.
This allows the adults-only cruise line to be competitive with bigger players in the cruise industry, such as Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, that now boast multiple private destinations.
The 4.5-acre resort features multiple pools (including a 6,200-square-foot lagoon-style pool), a bar, a gourmet restaurant, and plenty of beach-friendly activities. Even Wi-Fi is included.
Will the Virgin Voyages Fleet Keep Growing?
At this time, no additional ships have been ordered by the cruise line.
At the same time, the brand has also been focused on improving the onboard experience across its existing fleet, such as by continuing to evolve the onboard entertainment and dining experiences.
