It’s the end of an era. After just about 42 years of service, the now-retired Celestyal Crystal is officially being scrapped.
It was an impressive career at sea – as most cruise ships only remain in service for about 30 years. But alas, all good things must come to an end.
The 1,200-guest ship has arrived at the famous Alang Shipbreaking Yard in India and has been beached to begin the dismantling process, which can take several months (or even over a year) to complete.
Though the 25,611-gross-ton vessel sailed under many names and brands over the course of her career – which first began in 1980 – her last real stint as a cruise ship was with Celestyal Cruises.
But once the small two-ship cruise line acquired the newer Celestyal Journeyfrom Holland America Line at the beginning of 2023, the decision was made to phase out the older vessel. Her final voyage for the Greek brand was in August of that year.
Since her retirement, the older ship has mostly been on an extended layup of nearly two years in the Eastern Mediterranean.
At some point earlier in 2025, reports show that she was sold to a smaller company, and per cruise tracking data, was renamed as Sun Bright. It’s unclear who the new owners were, as reports are mixed on if the company is Greek or located in the United Arab Emirates.
Either way, she sailed one final voyage in April of 2025 under her new name before being set for scrapping – with the decision likely made because of wear and tear due to her age and maintenance costs.
Celestyal Crystal will also be in good company at the scrapyard. SunStone Ships’ 40-year old Ocean Atlantic arrived for dismantling earlier in May, and Royal Caribbean’s former Song of America was beachedat the beginning of the year.
An Impressive – and Varied – History
Believe it or not, Celestyal Crystal was not first designed to be a cruise ship. When she first entered service in 1980, she did so as a cruise ferryknown as MS Viking Saga under Rederi Ab Sally.
Her main purpose was taking passengers between Stockholm, Sweden, and Helsinki and Turku in Finland rather than providing a luxury vacation experience onboard. To this day, she is still known as the first genuine ferry to operate in Finland.
But as early as 1986, Viking Saga became Sally Albatross (I) and was remodeled for use as a cruise ship at the Wärtsilä Helsinki New Shipyard – though a fire onboard inhibited construction and she wasn’t a full cruise ship on a technicality by the time she re-entered service.
Celestyal Cruises (Photo Credit: Toni Arsovski)
She primarily cruised around the Baltic Sea until she was sold to the Effoa and Johnson Line in 1987. This is when she was fully re-built as a cruise ship in Germany – complete with restaurants, night club, conference centers, and more.
Her early cruise days mostly went on without a hitch until January 1990, when a massive fire broke out while the ship was docked in the Finnboda Shipyard in Nacka, Sweden for another remodel to improve the cruising experience.
The ship burned extensively for three days because the automatic sprinkler system was turned off while undergoing her latest re-model and the fire hydrants nearby were discovered to be dry.
However, she underwent a massive reconstruction – in which she essentially rose from the ashes as a new and improved cruise ship with an increased capacity – and was renamed Sally Albatross (II).
Before winding up at Celestyal Cruises in 2011 (when the brand was still called Louis Cristal), she had many other names – including Leeward, SuperStar Taurus, Sija Opera, and Opera.
She even sailed under Norwegian Cruise Line for several years, which helped introduce her to international cruise traffic.
Even though ferries and cruise ships can look somewhat similar, they have very different purposes. While both carry passengers, a ferry is a purely utilitarian vessel that is designed to move people from one destination to another.
A cruise ship, on the other hand, is designed for leisure, so the journey itself is the primary focus. To help you avoid booking the wrong type of trip, I’ll break down the differences in ship design, function, and what the experience is like for passengers.
The most obvious difference between cruise ships and ferries is their respective sizes. While river cruise ships and smaller adventure cruise ships are the exception, when you compare the average cruise ship and the average ferry, the cruise ship will dwarf the ferry.
Cruise ships are almost like floating resorts, while even a large ferry is more like a floating version of a big public bus.
Passenger Capacity Differences
Photo Credit: GSPhotography / Shutterstock.com
Cruise ships tend to carry between 16 and over 7,000 passengers, depending on their size and intended itineraries.
On the other hand, ferries differ in passenger capacity depending on their route, with most having a capacity of around 300 people. That said, the largest ferry in the world can carry nearly 5,200 passengers and vehicles.
Regarding the number of crew members on either type of ship, cruise ships usually have a ratio of around 2.5 passengers for every crew member.
More luxurious cruise ships will have an even closer ratio, as the vast number of crew members is needed to ensure all guests receive a high level of service from the attentive staff.
Since ferries are designed less for luxury and more for basic transportation, the ratio of passengers to crew members is very different.
Even large ferries will have fewer than 50 crew members, with the smaller vessels operating with a crew of roughly 25 individuals. Again, rather than providing high levels of service, the crew is there more for the vessel’s safe operation.
Physical Size Differences
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas (Photo Credit: Just dance)
When you look at gross tonnage, average cruise ships weigh close to 100,000 GT, whereas a typical ferry sits around 15,000 GT. As I’ll explain in more detail, these differences become even more drastic when you look at the largest versions of either type of vessel.
Take Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which weighs 228,081 GT, has a maximum passenger capacity of 6,680, and a crew capacity of 2,200. A mega ship like this can carry more than 10 times the population of Gustavus, Alaska, which has a permanent population of 612.
When you compare that to a major passenger ferry, like Color Line’s Color Magic, which can carry nearly 2,500 passengers and comes in at 75,000 gross tons, you realize even at the upper end of the scale, cruise ships dwarf ferries.
Comparing the Largest Cruise Ship to the Largest Ferry
To help you visualize just how drastic the size difference can be, let’s look at the differences between the world’s largest cruise ship and the current largest passenger ferry.
The largest cruise ship in the world is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, while the largest passenger ferry is the MV Stena Hollandica Superferry.
Icon of the Seas is an enormous Icon-class cruise ship, while MV Stena Hollandica is a combined ferry and freight ship that transports people, passenger vehicles, and goods between England and the Netherlands.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how these two mega ships compare:
Metric
Icon of the Seas (Cruise Ship)
MV Stena Hollandica Superferry (Ferry)
Gross Tonnage
248,663
64,039
Maximum Passenger Capacity
7,600
1,200 passengers
Crew Capacity
2,350
85
Length
1,196.7 feet
790.3 feet
Height
159 feet
167.25 feet
Maiden Voyage
January 27th, 2024
June 8th, 2010
Typical Journey Duration
7 days
7 hours
Remember that huge passenger ferries like the MV Stena Hollandica Superferry are relatively rare and are only seen operating between high-traffic areas, like the waters separating Sweden and Norway.
On the other hand, most cruise ships are enormous, as they are designed to carry a high number of passengers and ensure those guests have their own private quarters and plenty of shared space to explore.
In other words, the largest cruise ships are much bigger than the largest ferries, and even average cruise ships are larger than the largest passenger ferries.
Purpose
Ferry and Cruise Ship Passing Each Other (Photo Credit: Kevin Shipp)
As you can see, cruise ships are much larger than ferries, but that is not by accident. The real reason for the drastic differences between the physical size of the two types of ships and the numbers of guests they can carry is simply down to the fact that ferries and cruise ships serve very different purposes.
Basically, the difference between the two types of ships can be summarized as practical transportation vs. leisure travel. To help you understand that key difference, I’ll provide a quick breakdown of the primary purpose of each type of ship, starting with the primary use for ferries.
The Purpose of Passenger Ferries
Passengers and vehicles on the Stena Hollandica ferry (Photo Credit: Ingrid Pakats)
Think of a ferry as more of a functional transportation service that moves people and their vehicles from one place to another.
In some ways, a passenger ferry acts like a moving bridge that connects two pieces of land separated by a body of water. These can connect parts of the same city, state, or country, like the Washington State Ferries (WSF), which runs 10 distinct routes that connect various terminals throughout the state.
Like public buses, these ships are owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation, and connect various terminals in places like Seattle to other destinations in the state, like Bainbridge Island.
The focus of ferry ships like these is to provide passengers with convenience and direct transportation, rather than focusing on luxury and providing a leisurely experience.
As you can probably guess, you tend to find ferries in places dotted with islands or where large rivers and fjords separate them. This explains why you find them in places like Alaska, BC in Western Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Greek Isles.
What Are Passenger Ferries Like?
Interior of Stena Line Ferry (Photo Credit: Tomasz Wozniak)
I’ve personally taken plenty of ferry trips. While they’re usually just something I use for shorter journeys where taking a flight would be unnecessary, I have taken some lengthier ferry trips—the longest being an overnight ferry from Hull in England to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
While you could pay extra for a small cabin, most people, myself included, simply passed the time in the main seating area.
The trip took roughly six hours, so it wasn’t the most exciting, but the ship did have a cafeteria, televisions, comfortable seats, washrooms, and the advantage of transporting my car in the vehicle hold down below.
This was hugely convenient, as I didn’t have to worry about renting a vehicle when I arrived and could explore everything the Netherlands and Belgium had to offer from the comfort of my own vehicle.
The Purpose of Cruise Ships
Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship Departing PortMiami (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Cruise ships focus more on enjoying the journey rather than just providing transportation from one point to another. They offer relaxation, entertainment, luxury, and exotic destination visits. In other words, the journey itself is the main focus.
Cruise ships can also deliver a wide range of different types of experiences. From short-duration cruises that allow their guests to have a relaxing getaway to 10-day-long voyages that visit numerous ports of call, there are cruise itineraries that match all preferences.
Since the primary focus is on delivering a positive experience for all passengers, most modern cruise ships are designed like a floating version of a hotel, resort, and theme park all wrapped into one.
With incredible amenities that can include water parks and Broadway-style theaters to luxury spas and gourmet restaurants, a cruise ship is designed to keep guests entertained for multiple days, regardless of their entertainment preferences.
What Are Cruise Ships Like?
Princess Cruises in Alaska (Photo Credit: WESLEY FOULDS)
At this point, I’ve taken almost more cruises than I can count. I can’t get enough of them because they combine all types of travel into one easy-to-book vacation.
You get thrilling amenities, the best food you’ll find anywhere, the opportunity to visit countless exciting destinations, and the opportunity to spoil yourself.
With that said, one of the most memorable cruises I’ve ever taken was one of the least indulgent. I booked a last-minute, affordable Alaska cruise package on a Princess Cruises ship called Royal Princess.
While the ship still had plenty to offer, I kept costs low by booking the cheapest cabin I could and tried to save as much money as possible by keeping my onboard spending to a minimum.
The cruise departed from Seattle and visited Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and several other Alaskan towns. Taking in the incredible scenery and the sense of isolation was the real show, even though I still enjoyed visiting the ship’s gyms, spas, and theatres and spoiling myself on a few occasions by checking out the more gourmet dining options.
Ferries certainly serve their purpose and can be practical, but the experience you get when traveling to exciting destinations in a floating resort really can’t be beat.
Trip Length and Schedules
Another significant way that ferries and cruise ships differ is in how frequently they are scheduled and how long the trips are.
Typical Ferry Trip Durations
Dover, England (Photo Credit: ALLYOU Grzegorz Wasowicz)
On one hand, ferries are designed to provide quick and frequent trips on fixed schedules. Think of a ferry as just another form of public transportation.
From one-way rides that last just 15 minutes and connect one side of a river to the other, to more elaborate overnight ferries that can take people and their vehicles from one country to another, the schedule for a ferry is predictable. Most have set departure and arrival times that repeat every single day.
While the duration of the trip can vary depending on where the ship is going, most ferries have fixed routes that run at set times throughout the day and week.
Here are just a few examples of route durations for different ferries:
Bellingham, WA to Juneau, AK
The Alaska Marine Highway System is an interconnected ferry system connecting 35 ports along Alaska’s Inside Passage. These ferries depart daily and run a 3,500-mile route, with the full route taking roughly 38 hours.
Stockholm, Sweden to Helsinki, Finland
The Viking Line Ferry System connects these two Scandinavian countries, allowing travelers to book low-cost transportation for themselves and their vehicles. Multiple ships ensure the route is traveled daily, and this overnight ferry takes roughly 16 hours to get from one destination to the other.
Dover, United Kingdom to Calais, France
P&O Ferries operates a cross-channel ferry that departs 15 times per day. The entire trip only takes 1.5 hours, with crossing times varying slightly during periods of severe weather.
Toronto Island Ferry System
For an example of how brief a ferry ride can be, the City of Toronto runs a ferry route from downtown Toronto, Canada, to Toronto Island Park, a small island just off the city’s coast. Ferry rides take roughly 20 minutes and operate almost like a city bus.
Typical Cruise Durations
Cruise Ships Docked in Nassau, Bahamas (Photo Credit: SNEHIT PHOTO)
Since cruise ships are designed to provide passengers with a multi-day vacation experience, itineraries usually range from three nights to two weeks. Most include port-of-call stops at several destinations along the route.
So, cruisers have an opportunity to depart and then reboard the same ship after spending time exploring a destination outside of their original embarkation or debarkation point.
Here are just a few examples of the types of cruise itineraries and durations that are out there.
Alaskan Cruises
Cruise Passengers in Juneau, Alaska (Photo Credit: Kenneth Sponsler)
Plenty of Alaska cruises travel along Alaska’s Inside Passage, with stops at ports of call like Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Seward. Most depart from Vancouver, British Columbia, or Seattle, Washington, and seven, ten, and even 14-night itineraries are common.
Mediterranean Cruises
For those looking to enjoy the old-world charm of Europe, 10-night cruises around the Mediterranean are incredibly popular. Some depart from Rome and visit Barcelona, Marseille, Cannes, Malta, and the Greek Islands.
Baltic Sea Cruises
Ten to 12-night cruises exploring the ports along the Baltic Sea are also popular for European cruisers. While itineraries vary, these voyages will have stops in Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Saint Petersburg.
Western Caribbean Cruises
Cruises in the Western Caribbean are incredibly popular, with most departing from Florida’s Port Canaveral or PortMiami. With so many different destinations, the ports of call vary, as well as the duration.
Visiting exciting destinations, like Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica, these cruises can run between four and 14 nights, depending on what you book.
Ship Design
Given that they’re designed for completely different purposes, let’s examine how that impacts their design.
Ferry Design
Brittany Ferry (Photo Credit: Martin Augustus)
Given their intended purpose, ferries are almost always designed to be practical and efficient. Their utilitarian design can include open-air car decks, ramps, wide openings for below-deck car storage, and even huge holds if they are designed to double as cargo vessels.
For short-duration ferries, the common areas feature basic seating, such as benches and rows of chairs. Some ferries provide vending machines, small cafés and snack bars, and restroom facilities.
For overnight ferries, like those that connect different countries or islands, passengers usually have the option to book private cabins for an additional fee, but these are very basic. Small beds, a tiny desk, and maybe a toilet and sink.
These larger ferries usually have cafeterias and basic entertainment options, like airplane-style TV screens and maybe a small gift shop.
Ferries also tend to be much smaller and more susceptible to wave movement, as they are not outfitted with the sophisticated stabilization technology found on cruise ships.
Cruise Ship Design
Icon of the Seas at Meyer Turku (Photo Credit: Meyer Turku)
Since cruise ships are designed more like floating resorts than utilitarian modes of transportation, they are true engineering marvels that feature a luxurious interior, themed shared spaces, nicely outfitted private staterooms and suites, open-air swimming pools, and plenty of other impressive amenities.
The most sophisticated cruise ships have multi-purpose live entertainment theaters, spas, gyms, numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos, and even more elaborate entertainment options, like go-kart tracks, waterslides, bowling alleys, and ice rinks. There really is no shortage of options for onboard activities on a modern cruise ship.
Accommodations vary depending on what you decide to book, but even the most basic interior cabins will be more comfortable than the private cabins found on overnight ferries. Suites and cabins with private balconies, even the private sections of cruise ships, are designed with comfort in mind.
Beyond the features that have to be incorporated into the design of a cruise ship, the ship itself also has to have an extremely durable hull, as they are designed to travel through rough waters and open seas.
Rather than focusing on speed and efficiency, the design ensures the ship provides guests with a stable and comfortable journey.
Onboard Experience
Interior of Ferry in Europe (Photo Credit: Ana del Castillo)
You’re probably getting the impression that ferries are bare bones, which is actually a pretty accurate description. They’re just designed to get passengers and sometimes their vehicles from point A to point B as efficiently as possible.
Since the main purpose of ferry travel is to deliver passengers to a set destination, the ships do not need to be overly elaborate, which actually helps keep fare costs down and the overall cost of building the ship down.
Still, you might find indoor and outdoor seating, restrooms, Wi-Fi (if you’re lucky), vending machines, and maybe a hot food café.
It’s pretty much the same for overnight ferries, but they’ll feature a cafeteria where you can purchase meals and the option to book a private cabin if you want somewhere to lie down and a degree of privacy.
The Cruise Experience
Cruise Ship Pool Deck (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
When you book a cruise, you’re paying for an incredible and varied onboard experience. Cruise lines compete with one another to outfit their ships with the most impressive amenities possible, but even a basic cruise ship will feature swimming pools, hot tubs, specialty dining venues, saunas, a casino, gyms, live entertainment, and more.
Plus, the onboard experience is only half the fun, as most itineraries feature stopovers called port of call visits, where passengers can explore a port and its surroundings or book shore excursions. Afterwards, you board the ship and get to enjoy the onboard facilities again.
Think of a ferry like taking a plane, where most of your entertainment options are designed to kill time. By contrast, cruise ships are massive entertainment venues designed to give all passengers their ideal vacation.
You must also remember that you will have to pay out of pocket for anything extra on a ferry, whereas cruise ships include meals at specific venues, access to pools and other amenities, and much more.
Accommodations
Photo Credit: Mikhail Markovskiy / Shutterstock
Not all ferries have private accommodations, but those designed for long-haul or overnight travel will have optional cabins. These usually consist of a small bed or bunk, a chair, and maybe a tiny restroom with a sink and toilet. An average cabin is generally around eight square feet, with some even smaller.
Cruise ships have private accommodations for all guests, with passenger capacity dictated by the number of beds the ship can provide. Guests can also book the type of accommodation that suits their needs and budget, with even basic interior cabins around 150 square feet.
Oceanview cabins and private balcony cabins take things further, with most providing around 200 to 300 square feet of private space, comfortable beds, and seating areas.
Then you get into private suites, which take luxury to the next level. Designs can vary drastically, but most feature plenty of floor space, comfortable beds, and plenty of high-end features.
When you get into the upper tiers of suite design, like Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Family Suite, you get crazy features, like jacuzzi tubs, table tennis, and even an in-suite slide!
Motion at Sea
Cruise Ship Sailing Rough Seas (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
If you’re susceptible to seasickness, you’ll want to pay attention here. Most ferries are designed to be purely functional, so less money is invested in providing a stable passenger experience. Since they also tend to operate near the shoreline, the waters can be rough.
In other words, you can expect to feel that signature side-to-side motion, especially if you are taking a ferry across rough waters, like the English Channel, or traveling on a day with bad weather.
By contrast, cruise ships are engineered to provide a smooth onboard experience for passengers. With stabilizer fins and a hull design that prioritizes stability, the motion is minimal.
Just think, almost all cruise ships are designed with open-air swimming pools, and, trust me, they aren’t wave pools; they look just like any swimming pool you’d find at a resort on shore.
Beyond ship design, the two types of ships also travel in different waters. Ferries stay close to land or travel across turbulent channels and rivers. Cruise ships travel in deep water, where the rolling effect is far less noticeable.
Cost
Docked Ferries (Photo Credit: Inga Fortuna)
By design, taking a ferry is meant to be a practical and economical way to travel. Prices vary by route and whether you bring a vehicle, but here are a few examples:
Taking a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island will cost just $10.35 per adult passenger, or $18.65 for one adult and a standard vehicle. For a ferry that connects two countries and takes almost two hours, prices are higher.
For example, going from Dover, England to Calais, France by cross-channel ferry will cost between $100 and $200 USD, depending on if you are traveling with a vehicle and your departure time.
Why Cruises Cost More
Promenade on MSC Virtuosa (Photo Credit: Sergey_Bogomyako)
Naturally, cruises tend to cost more than ferry journeys, as you’re paying for a longer journey and a far more luxurious experience. Prices vary, depending on the ship, the destinations, the length of the journey, and the time of year when you book, but here are some basic prices you can expect:
A seven-night Princess Cruises voyage from Seattle to Alaska can cost roughly $750 to $1,000 per person, with prices increasing depending on your accommodations and onboard spending. Ten-night Mediterranean cruises are a bit pricier, with most costing around $1,300 per adult.
Again, prices can also increase beyond basic fares, as you’ll have to pay daily gratuity fees, which can cost about $15 to $25 per day. Specialty dining venues, Wi-Fi access, shore excursions, and paid entertainment amenities can also increase the total cost of the journey.
Plus, you can purchase all-inclusive drinks packages, which allow you to pay a set daily fee for unlimited paid drinks and food.
Keep in mind that even a minimal cruise package will still cover your private accommodations, meals at included dining venues, and access to plenty of entertainment venues and amenities, like swimming pools, live shows, and more.
When you compare it to the fact that ferry fares include nothing more than your travel, you realize that cruises are more expensive, but you get a lot for your dollars.
Shall I see You on a Ferry or Cruise Ship?
Ferries and cruise ships are both designed to carry passengers, but how they do so is very different. This is mostly because the two types of ships are designed to serve very different purposes.
Where ferry travel is based on practical transportation from one place to another, cruise ships provide a luxurious vacation experience, with varied entertainment venues, comfortable accommodations, and delicious food.
Since they’re designed to serve completely different purposes, one isn’t necessarily better than the other, but I definitely know which type of journey I prefer!
That’s the message Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald had for a guest that complained about cabin temperatures aboard Carnival Jubilee, voted the Best New Shipwhen it debuted in 2023.
In a Facebook post on May 16, 2025, Heald responded to a passenger who said they had night sweats during their cruise because the thermostat wouldn’t drop below 69 degrees.
“We need the air conditioning cold,” the passenger wrote. “We were on the beautiful Carnival Jubilee, and it was not cold enough. We checked with the crew, and the cabin temperature was 69 degrees,” she wrote.
“We run our house between 60 and 65. Our cabin at 69 was far too hot,” she continued. “We are wanting to book the Jubilee again; we had a fabulous time. But we will not unless you can guarantee us it will be at the temperature that we want.”
Heald didn’t hold back.
“I like it cold, but 60 degrees is never going to happen,” he replied.
He also gave a candid warning, “I’m going to be honest. If you want it to be 60 degrees, don’t book. I don’t think you can book any ship where it will be 60 degrees.”
Heald used the video moment to warn upcoming passengers of warmer temperatures during the summer months and what to expect onboard.
“This is when the sea temperatures are at their highest,” he explained. “There will be times when public spaces are a little warm.”
He said many guests are caught off guard when boarding, especially on embarkation day.
“People sometimes panic on embarkation day. They walk on the ship and think, ‘It’s hot,’” Heald said.
Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jonathan C Wear)
Heald said that ships are more vulnerable to warmer indoor temperatures when docked and not yet underway because the ship isn’t in motion and many areas often closed to the elements are open, such as gangways and areas where the ship takes in luggage and supplies.
Vessels are oftentimes utilizing shore power, as well, which can have an effect of the capabilities of air conditioning.
“That’s why on embarkation day it might be a little hotter, but once those doors are closed and the ship is sailing, things will calm down,” Heald said.
Speak up on Board
The post led Heald to urge passengers who are uncomfortable while sailing with Carnival Cruise Line to speak to someone onboard rather than waiting until a cruise is over.
“Please don’t write to me afterwards and say it was too hot,” he pleaded. “Speak to someone, call guest services, tell your cabin attendant so the crew can do all they can to make it better for you during the cruise.”
Many longtime Carnival Cruise Line guests chimed in with support after Heald’s post, saying cabin temperatures had never been an issue on their sailings.
“After 14 cruises I can say we have never had a problem,” one passenger commented.
Others acknowledged that some areas of a ship can feel warmer during the day, despite setting the cabin thermostat as low as possible, which Heald said attendants automatically do for guests.
“60 is definitely way too cold, but I do feel at time it does get a little toasty,” one wrote. “I keep the curtains shut to help during the day. However, it would be nice to be able to get a fan.”
Unfortunately, Carnival Cruise Line, which may have a limited number of fans to dole out by request and more specifically for medical reasons, does not have enough fans to support all passengers.
Guests may pack fans smaller than 12 inches, as long as they are placed in carry-on luggage.
Just over a month after setting sail on its inaugural cruise on April 12, 2025, MSC Cruises’ MSC World America is adding two major entertainment productions to its lineup.
The cruise line confirmed that “Odyssey” and “Momentous” will debut on May 17, 2025, offering passengers fresh performances during a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary from PortMiami.
The new shows will be staged in the 215,863-gross-ton ship’s World Theatre, a 1,150-seat venue located at the forward of the ship.
“Odyssey,” produced by Anystage Creative, is a “dreamlike” acrobatic production loosely inspired by Homer’s ancient Greek epic of the same name.
The show promises to blend high-concept storytelling with physically demanding stunts.
Sharing the same stage will be “Momentous,” a large-scale illusion show created in collaboration with TwinsFX, the special effects team behind productions like “Back to the Future: The Musical,” TV series such as “Doctor Who,” and films like “Mission Impossible.”
The show will feature a rotating resident guest illusionist performing elaborate tricks and visual effects design specifically for the ship’s theater space.
“Delivering a diverse entertainment lineup for every type of holidaymaker is central to creating an unforgettable cruise experience,” said Steve Leaham, vice president of entertainment at MSC Cruises.
“MSC World America provides an incredible platform to push the boundaries of entertainment at sea, and we’re introducing some exciting new concepts and productions,” he added.
The new productions will premiere during the ship’s 7-night May 17, 2025, sailing to the Western Caribbean, which includes stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas.
Guests looking for the shows on MSC World America’s alternative7-night voyages to the Eastern Caribbean with calls in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as Ocean Cay, will catch them beginning May 24, 2025.
New Additions Join Existing Lineup
While Odyssey” and “Momentous” are new to audiences, MSC Cruises had announced in January 2025 that both productions would be joining MSC World America.
Their official debut comes over a month after the ship was delivered from Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France in March 2025 and welcomed preview guests to the christening sailing, with Hollywood royalty Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom at the helm.
Prior to these additions, MSC World America launched with a trio of high-profile stage shows, including “Dirty Dancing in Concert.”
Dirty Dancing MSC World America (Photo Credit: Dirty Dancing MSC World America)
The 1.5-hour production features a live band and performers singing songs from the 1960s as well as the blockbuster 1987 movie “Dirty Dancing.”
The show, held in the World Theatre, ends with a rousing crowd singalong and the film’s iconic dance lift. MSC Virtuosa will be adding the production to its lineup in July 2025.
“Hall of Fame,” also held in the World Theatre, is a concert-style performance produced by ONLYCHILD that showcases pop hits from various decades.
The show is part music retrospective and part theatrical experience, combining songs with visuals inspired by fashion and film.
In the Panorama Lounge in the ship’s aft, “Queen Symphonic” delivers a high-energy performance of Queen’s greatest hits.
The production features a live rock band, vocalists, dancers, acrobatics, and a digital 36-piece orchestra displayed across the venue’s panoramic screens.
It sounds like a jewel-heist mystery novel with a bad ending for the alleged perpetrators, who, in this case, are two elderly cruisers from Chile.
According to the Flying Squad of the Messina (Sicily) Police Headquarters and the Maritime Border Police Office of Messina, the couple, ages 77 and 87, are suspected of stealing an expensive ring from a local shopkeeper in the Sicilian town.
The senior cruisers allegedly made off with the ring on May 11, 2025, as their ship, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation, was docked in Messina for a port call.
Police say that the couple had asked the jewelry store clerk to let them try on the ring, and soon after, the two walked out of the shop with the ring, valued at about 1,000 euros ($1,100 USD).
The 2,170-guest Celebrity Constellation was roughly halfway through her 11-night “Best of Italy & Croatia” cruise from Ravenna to Rome, Italy, when the alleged theft happened.
But it wasn’t immediately noticed by the shopkeeper, and by the time the ring was found to be missing and the police notified, the ship had sailed on to the next port call, Naples.
Messina police alerted Naples authorities, and when the ship docked, police conducted a search of the couple’s belongings and discovered the missing ring was among their personal effects.
A statement from Messina police officials points out that the couple are presumed innocent, and that a trial will be held. It does not indicate whether the cruise ship guests are in police custody in Naples, were returned to Messina, or released on bail.
The case is still in preliminary stages, the police report states. There has been no statement about the incident from Celebrity Cruises, a brand of Royal Caribbean Group.
Messina Police
Messina is a popular call on Western Mediterranean cruises. Along with local shops and restaurants, the destination is known for the 12th-century Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, aka Messina Cathedral, and other historical and cultural landmarks.
Besides Messina and Naples, other port calls on the ship’s current voyage include Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Split, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Livorno, Italy.
Celebrity Constellation is the line’s fourth Millennium-class ship, which debuted in 2001. She is sailing 10- and 11-night cruises featuring calls in Italy and Croatia through October 2025, when the ship will reposition to Tampa, Florida, for the winter season.
Case Adds to Spate of Unusual Incidents in Recent Weeks
The unusual jewelry theft case follows a few other rare crime-related events that have happened on cruise ships in recent weeks.
On May 3, 2025, an altercation aboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuoso ended with the death of one guest and the arrest of another. The ship departed Southampton, England, for a weekend getaway cruise to Bruges, Belgium, and a few hours later a fight broke out between two men.
The cruise continued on its scheduled itinerary, and when the 4,800-guest ship returned to Southampton on May 5, 2025, a 57-year-old suspect was taken into custody.
Media reports have since indicated that a second suspect was arrested in connection with the death.
In mid-April, two female guests disembarking a ship at California’s Long Beach Cruise Port were allegedly found to have 700-plus cartons of illegally imported cigarettes in their luggage.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered the items. While tourists can enter the US with up to 200 cigarettes in their possession, a special permit is required to bring more than that into the country. The cruise guests did not have that permit.
The two suspects could be fined, or worse. The outcome of the case is not known.
Carnival Cruise Line to the rescue! The crew members onboard Carnival Paradise are heroes after rescuing five refugees from a small raft in the middle of a 6-night Western Caribbean voyage.
After visiting Key West, Florida, the previous day, the Fantasy-class vessel was making her way to Montego Bay, Jamaica, on May 14, 2025, when a small, makeshift craft was spotted in distress off the coast of Cuba.
It’s unclear what exactly went wrong for the group and how long they may have been stranded – but the raft-type boat was clearly too crowded to be operating safely.
Members of the 920-strong crew quickly sprung into action and boarded a lifeboatto rendezvous with the raft, which held approximately 15 refugees.
Five members of the stranded group were brought onboard the 2,124-guest ship, while the remaining ten stayed behind. The crew members still left the remaining men with food, water, and fuel and notified the US Coast Guard about the situation.
“The Carnival Paradise team rescued five people south of Cabo San Antonio, Cuba on Wednesday after the ship’s officers spotted a small boat in distress. The five people who requested rescue were part of a larger group on board the small boat,” a Carnival spokesperson told Cruise Hive in a statement.
“The other occupants did not wish to join the ship but were given food and water by the ship’s team. The United States Coast Guard was notified, and a transfer will be coordinated. After completing the rescue, Carnival Paradise continued to its scheduled destination, Montego Bay, Jamaica,” the statement continued.
As is standard protocol in these situations, the rescued people were provided with food, water, and medical attention.
While they will be provided with lodging and care, the refugees do not simply get to join the cruise for free.
Instead, they will be tended to until they can be safely transported back to their home country – with the transfer likely taking place at one of the upcoming ports of call or on the next turnaround day in Tampa, Florida, on May 18, 2025.
Cruise tracking data shows that Carnival Paradise arrived in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on time on May 15, 2025, and has one final call for this sailing at George Town Harbour, Grand Cayman, on May 16, 2025.
A History of Heroism
Even if cruise ships didn’t have a moral obligation to help distressed vessels they stumble upon at sea, Carnival Cruise Line would still be eager to offer aid – and has done so many times in the past.
As far back as 2019, Carnival Paradise specifically made headlines for stopping to aid a sailor who was stuck on a sinking boat about 13 miles north of Cozumel, Mexico.
In July of 2022, Carnival Paradise once again came to the aid of a small boat in distress while sailing off the coast of Cuba – which really gives the present rescue a sense of déjà vu.
Carnival Paradise Rescue (Credit: Richard Mariano)
Crew spotted at least 20 people drifting listlessly on an overcrowded rowboat – which appeared to have sustained some damage.
In this case, all of the refugees were brought onboard and offered food, water, and medical aid.
“In accordance with maritime law, we have taken them aboard our vessel and have notified all of the appropriate authorities,”the ship’s captain said at the time.
More recently, history repeated itself once again. In April of last year, the 1998-launched ship again stumbled upon 27 Cuban nationals who were adrift at sea and in need of assistance.
The bridge team noticed an overcrowded boat in distress while en route to Roatan, Honduras, during the first full day of a 5-night sailing.
Once again, all of the refugees were rescued and brought onboard without any impact to the voyage for paying passengers.
It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s happening inside the cruise ship?
This is exactly what passengers experienced earlier this week when the 110,000 gross-ton Carnival Conquest was hit by severe weather.
The 1,000-mile-long atmospheric river, which has brought downpours to numerous southern states and multiple tornado threats, moved towards Florida and the Bahamas earlier this week.
Miami actually broke its daily rainfall record after getting 4.35 inches of rain on May 12, surpassing the previous record set in 1943. Throughout the day, there were numerous flash floods that affected low-lying areas in Miami-Dade County.
Despite this, Carnival Conquestdeparted from Miami on May 12, making its way to Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay — however, this put the ship directly in the path of the bad weather.
Debbie Smith, a current guest on this vessel, uploaded a video showing the severity of the storm while onboard.
“We left our door open on the balcony last night, because this is what it did all night,” Smith said, sharing her excitement about the weather, adding,“This is crazy — a storm at sea, but I love it.”
According to her video, the storm had started the night before and had not shown any sign of letting up. In an initial update from Smith, she shared that there was water running everywhere inside the ship, and deck 9 had flooded.
You can take a look at the video here:
She later posted a photo of the flooding in one of the dining rooms, also sharing that her balcony was flooding, nearly reaching her room.
Additionally, all of the vents on the 9th floor had to be closed, and deck 7 also became flooded.
Other passengers shared their experience on the flooding on Carnival Conquest, saying that the crew quickly stepped in to clean up the flooding and that no major damages were reported.
There were no reported delays caused by the weather, allowing for the itinerary to go on as originally planned.
Carnival al Conquest Hit by Storm and Flooding (Credit: Debbie Smith)
The cruise line has yet to share more information, but it is likely that all outdoor activities were cancelled and the pool areas closed for the duration of the bad weather and flooding.
While the ship experienced the harsh weather while departing on Monday and while at sea on Tuesday, when it arrived in Half Moon Cay on Wednesday, May 14, it was finally sunny.
The rest of the itinerary included a stop in Nassau on May 15 before disembarking in Miami on May 16.
While Carnival Conquest is an older ship, having been built in 2002, it has not previously had issues with flooding. However, Florida and the Bahamas are notorious for their extreme storms, so flooding on cruise ships in this region is not unheard of.
The Bad Weather is to Blame Again
Carnival Conquest now joins a list of vessels that have had flooding issues recently as the result of some less-than-ideal East Coast storm systems.
In late March, the 5,362-passenger Carnival Celebrationwas departing from PortMiami when a storm forced it to delay.
After waiting for 30 minutes, the vessel began to exit the port only to be hit even harder by a downpour of rain, causing the sail away party to be cancelled and the pool areas to flood.
Heavy Rain Hits Carnival Celebration (Credit: @
deiylydosediaries)
Thankfully, most cruise lines are aware of the weather in this region and do their best to avoid it for the passenger’s comfort and safety.
Bad weather causing flooding is not unheard of on cruises, but it does not happen often.
It is, however, the rainy season in the Bahamas — and while not every ship will encounter storms as bad as the ones Carnival Conquest or Carnival Celebration hit, some are bound to encounter heavy rain.
You know what they say, when it rains, it pours, just hopeful not inside of the cruise ship you are on.
Princess Cruises fans who couldn’t wait to celebrate the cruise line’s 60th anniversary will have to wait a bit longer.
The cruise line has announced it is changing its 60th Anniversary celebration plans from December 2025 to March 2026.
Unfortunately, that means anyone booked for the party on the Royal Princess scheduled to depart Los Angeles, California, on December 6, 2025, will no longer get to enjoy the planned anniversary events during the 14-night cruise.
Instead, the festivities will be a feature of a 7-night Mexican Riviera voyage departing Los Angeles on March 7, 2026.
In a statement to booked guests, Princess Cruises said,“Please be advised that activities for the 60th Anniversary Cruise will no longer take place during your 14-day voyage on Royal Princess from December 6 – 20, 2025.”
“Instead, these activities will now take place on the 7-day roundtrip Mexican Riviera voyage out of Los Angeles from March 7 to March 14, 2026,” the statement continued.
The original December 2025 cruise was to feature performances by The Temptations and appearances by Jill Whelan, known for her role as “Vicki Stubing” on The Love Boat, which was filmed aboard Princess Cruises ships in the 1970s and 1980s.
It is expected that similar programming will be included in the shorter March 2026 sailing, though specifics have yet to be confirmed.
Passengers who wanted to celebrate the big 6-0 with the cruise line are being offered full refunds, including those with nonrefundable bookings.
Refunds will be processed to the original form of payment. Princess Cruises is also providing assistance to those wishing to rebook the new March sailing.
The March 7, 2026, 60th Anniversary Cruise will still sail aboard the 3,560-passenger, 142,229-gross-ton Royal Princess.
The ship will visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, of which were features of the original 14-night cruise.
However, guests will miss out on visits to Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, and Loreto, Mexico. The cruise line did not offer an explanation as to why the celebration was moved to 2026.
A Host of Delays
Princess Cruises, which launched in 1965, shared the news of its 60th Anniversary Cruise in January 2025, announcing a special commemorative sailing would retrace the cruise line’s original route from Los Angeles to Mexico.
The celebration was designed to honor the milestone with nods to the cruise line’s roots and its cultural legacy, including its ties to the iconic television series that helped bring cruising into the mainstream.
“This commemorative 60th Anniversary Cruise will not only pay tribute to our rich history but bring together the joy of cruise travel, music, and unforgettable moments,”said Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corporation.
Temptations Performing on Discovery Princess
The announcement was made aboard Discovery Princess, with The Temptations performing “My Girl,” the classic hit that became a No. 1 song in 1965.
Ahead of the anniversary, Princess Cruises will also celebrate the addition of its 17th ship, the brand-new Star Princess.
As the newest member of the fleet, the 4,300-passenger ship will debut in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2025 for an 11-night roundtrip sailing in the Mediterranean.
It will then reposition to Fort Lauderdale to spend a winter in the Caribbean.
The ship was originally scheduled to be delivered from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard in July 2025, but that was also delayed, forcing the cancellation of nine cruises.
As Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Explorerarrived in Vancouver, British Colombia, to begin a season in Alaska, some passengers on its repositioning journey across the Pacific Ocean were more relieved to be disembarking than expected.
Turns out that during the 750-passenger luxury vessel’s 18-night sailing from Tokyo to Vancouver, an outbreak occurred, affecting 22 of its 666 passengers and two members of its 545 crew.
The ship departed from Tokyo on April 26, 2025, with passengers beginning to fall ill to symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting in what the CDC is calling an official gastrointestinal outbreak.
A gastrointestinal illness is defined by symptoms of three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period and vomiting, along with one or more additional symptoms that include muscle ache, headache, abdominal cramping, or fever.
Although the CDC says the cause of the outbreak is unknown, it revealed norovirus is a likely cause.
When an outbreak occurs on a cruise, affected passengers and crew members are isolated and deep cleaning procedures begin.
But with the cruise ending, the bigger concern for the more intimate 54,000-gross-ton Regent Seven Seas Explorer is the subsequent voyage, the first of its first Alaska sailings.
The vessel underwent deep cleaning to prevent its next group of guests from contracting the highly contagious illness during the 7-night “Return to the Frontier” cruise from Vancouver to Whittier.
Norovirus can remain on surfaces for up to 2 weeks if not properly disinfected.
That voyage, which departed on May 14, 2025, is spending a full day at sea before reaching ports of call in Klawock, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, and Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, before arriving in Whittier, Alaska, on May 21, 2025.
Cruise Outbreaks on the Rise
According to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, this is the 17th gastrointestinal outbreak reported on a North America-based cruise ship in 2025, quickly nearing the 18 outbreaks that took place during 2024 in just the first five months of the year.
The last outbreak reported by the CDC was aboard Holland America Line’s Eurodam, which wasreported on April 28, 2025. That Norovirus-affected sailing took place on its April 12 to May 3, 2025, voyage.
While three outbreaks reported did not identify the cause of illness, 12 were the result of norovirus.
But outbreaks on Regent Seven Seas Cruises are rare. The Seven Seas Explorer has never had a previous incident, and the cruise line has only recorded seven outbreaks on any ship since the CDC began recording the data in 1994.
CDC Sign (Photo Credit: Tada Images)
The last such outbreak occurred aboard Seven Seas Mariner in 2018, where 38 of 652 passengers were sick.
