A cruise can be a fantastic vacation and a great way to relax – but what about when some guests’ behavior makes it harder and harder for other travelers to find their best way to relax?
While every frequent cruiser will have their own pet peeves about other passengers, one behavior stands out above all others as inconsiderate – chair hogging.
Fortunately, Norwegian Cruise Line crew members have recently been noticed taking firm steps to curtail such behavior.
A so-called “chair hog” is a guest who stakes their claim for a prime piece of poolside real estate but then abandons that space for hours, expecting their makeshift “reservation” – often a towel, book, piece of fruit, or other simple item – to keep their spot safe indefinitely.
These top spots are often comfy loungers with the perfect ratio of sun-to-shade throughout the day. The best lounge chairs are typically positioned close enough to the pool or hot tub for easy access but far enough from busy walkways to still be quiet and relaxing.
It can be infuriating for a cruise traveler to want to enjoy some time in the sun only to be thwarted by a long line of such reserved chairs. Furthermore, it isn’t uncommon for some guests to set alarms and get up early to pick out their spot, even though they may not use it until much later in the day.
Now, Norwegian Cruise Line is enforcing their policy against hogging chairs, and crew members are removing towels and personal effects so other guests can take advantage of the prime seats.
Guests who have recently sailed aboard Norwegian Escape from PortMiami reported such enforcement. Crew members began marking reserved chairs with stickers at approximately 10 a.m.
If the chairs were not occupied an hour later, the crew members began removing items so other guests could take advantage of the space.
It can be challenging for guests who want to use poolside chairs to find available seats, and with how volatile personalities can be, it may not be wise to remove items and risk a confrontation.
Most cruise guests are understanding of short absences from prime seating – to visit the restroom, take a dip in the pool, grab a drink, whip down a waterslide, etc. Lengthy absences, however, must be curtailed so other guests have the chance to use the chairs as well.
Some guests have begun suggesting the possibility of a dedicated chair booking system with deck chairs numbered to ensure compliance with reservation rules.
Guests could “book” a chair for a certain period of time, but then be required to vacate it when that time is up – even if they only just arrived a few minutes earlier.
Some cruise lines do offer more luxurious seating, such as on-deck casitas or cabanas, for reservations – and hefty fees.
Depending on the cruise line, the sailing region, whether it is a sea day or a port day, and any other included services, the fee could be several hundred dollars for a full-day reservation.
These reservations are often out of the budget of many cruise guests, and there are only a few available onboard any individual ship.
Until a new, more effective system may be devised, cruise guests will need to be vigilant about using deck space and permitting others an equal chance to enjoy the sun.
Aboard Norwegian cruise ships, choosing staterooms inside the exclusive Haven or at least opting for a private balcony can ensure a guest at least some deck space to enjoy without pressure from chair hogs.
The day before boarding a cruise ship can be an exciting and nerve-wracking one. Last-minute packing and other chores as well as traveling to the embarkation port, dropping off a pet with a sitter, and making sure one’s documentation is in order are all critical tasks in the hours before embarkation.
Guests right in the middle of those last hours of preparation for P&O Cruises Aurora received unexpected and devastating news just as they were getting ready to embark, however.
“We are very sorry to advise you that following a delay to Aurora’s refit, we need to cancel Aurora’s R505 cruise from Southampton to Zeebrugge tomorrow, 21st April,”the unexpected email communication read.
So surprising was the email that guests were left scrambling, wondering whether or not the message was sent in error or perhaps was poorly-timed spam.
Even worse, the message was sent on Easter Sunday, when many travelers may have been enjoying time with family rather than staying tuned in to last-minute emails.
Furthermore, those guests who did receive the notice promptly had difficulty reaching call centers and customer service lines on the holiday.
“If you booked with us directly and wish to talk to us please note because of the Easter break our Contact Centre is closed on Easter Sunday,”the email explained.
Aurora has been undergoing maintenance in a dry dock in Rotterdam, though neither the type of work nor the reason for the delay has been disclosed at this time.
As of this writing, more than three hours past when Aurora was to have already departed Southampton on the 3-night sailing, the ship remains docked in Rotterdam.
All booked guests are receiving a full refund of all monies paid to P&O Cruises, including any shore tours booked through the cruise line. Furthermore, all guests will receive a future cruise credit worth 20% of their now-cancelled cruise.
“You will be able to use this Future Cruise Credit on any future booking booked prior to 20th April 2027,”the cancellation notice read.
This does give impacted guests a generous window for rebooking a new vacation. Many travelers are understandably upset, however, that at least some of that window wasn’t earlier – so they could have known about the cancellation more than mere hours before boarding the ship.
Aurora is the oldest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet, so it is understandable that her maintenance needs may be more extensive than other vessels. Nevertheless, it is likely the delay was known earlier but there is no explanation for the breakdown in communication to guests.
The 76,152-gross ton ship can welcome 1,878 guests at double occupancy, or as many as 1,950 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. Also onboard are 850 international crew members.
Following her maintenance updates, Aurora is scheduled to remain homeported from Southampton year-round, offering a diverse schedule of cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Scandinavia, Iceland, the Western Mediterranean, around the British Isles, and even the Caribbean.
What is more rare, however, are shorter itineraries. Guests who want to book a similar 3-night sailing aboard the refreshed ship only have two such departures remaining in 2025: July 7 and August 30. Both of those sailings are going to Guernsey Island, however, rather than Zeebrugge.
Shipyard Schedules Often Unpredictable
Cruisers always take a chance if they book a ship’s first sailing following a stay at a shipyard, whether it is a vessel’s maiden voyage or following a dry dock or other maintenance visit.
Labor shortages, supply chain issues, emergency repairs, equipment failures, or even something as simple as poor weather can impact the very tight schedule at a shipyard. This can quickly cause a knock-on effect for any planned updates or renovations for multiple vessels.
Other cruise lines have been similarly impacted by shipyard changes in recent weeks. For example, both Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magic have recently cancelled multiple sailings due to dry dock scheduling changes.
P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line are both owned by the same parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, but the scheduling changes are not related.
There is no word yet about whether or not Aurora will be ready to welcome guests for her next cruise, a 12-night Norwegian fjords cruise departing Southampton on Thursday, April 24.
Guests booked on that next sailing should stay in close contact with the cruise line or their travel agent so they receive any updates as soon as they may be confirmed.
It’s official! One of the most anticipated new cruise ships of 2025 – MSC Cruises’ MSC World America – has officially entered service as of April 12, 2025, with the embarkation of her maiden voyage.
But before those first paying passengers were welcomed onboard, my husband and I were invited onboard for a 3-day preview sailing following the official naming ceremony in Miami, Florida, on April 9, 2025.
After Actress Drew Barrymore officially christened the World-class ship, we set off on an unforgettable mini cruise to MSC’s private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay: MSC Marine Reserve. Along the way, we got the full run of the 6,762-guest ship at well under her maximum capacity.
While we ultimately enjoyed our time onboard – and felt honored to be a small part of cruise history – I’m going to spill everything I thought about MSC Cruises’ new addition: The pros and the cons.
The Size
Aerial View of MSC World America Arriving in Miami, Florida
It’s no secret that MSC World America is one of the biggest ships currently sailing the high seas. Coming in at 215,863-gross tons and with room for nearly 7,000 guests onboard (not counting the 2,138 crew members), this ship is not much smaller than the world’s largest Icon of the Seas.
Prior to this, the biggest ships I had ever sailed on were Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, which has a maximum capacity of 4,000 guests, and Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, which can accommodate up to 3,560 per sailing.
As such, I expected to be overwhelmed by the size of MSC World America. And while I was in awe of how truly massive she was, I wasn’t uncomfortable.
It’s a joke among my friends and family that I am quite directionally challenged and can get lost in a circular parking lot (which really has happened), but I was able to navigate the ship on my own by the end of the first night.
Between the MSC for Me App, which contains a map of the ship and can provide directions to your intended destination, and maps outside of every elevator bay, I had little trouble navigating.
I will say that three days was really only enough time to scratch the surface of everything this state-of-the-art vessel offers – but as she is solely operating seven and 14-day Caribbean itineraries through at least mid-2027, her guests will have a more suitable amount of time to explore.
The Crew
Crew on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
I’ve been on many cruises, and while the crew is always friendly, the people making MSC World America operate smoothly were truly some of the kindest I have ever met.
There was definitely an air of excitement with this being the first voyage carrying “guests,” but everyone we met was eager to assist, say hello or strike up a conversation, and had a big smile on their face.
Our room steward, whose name I so wish I had caught, was truly one of the best I had ever had. Our cabin was spotless and comfortable between two daily cleanings, but he also went above and beyond to assist us.
For example, I am recovering from an ankle injury that requires me to use a cane. When he saw me carrying my own luggage to our stateroom on embarkation day, our cabin steward instantly dropped what he was doing to offer me assistance without me asking.
The Cruise Cabins
MSC World America Balcony Stateroom (Credit: Calvin Musquez / Cruise HIve)
Speaking of room stewards, I suppose I should talk a bit about our accommodations – which was a very nice balcony stateroom on Deck 11.
Our cabin was an ocean-view room, but some guests may also choose to select staterooms looking into the Promenade in the interior of the ship – which could be fun for people watching purposes or to watch the entertainment that goes through, such as the kid-friendly Lego parade (more on that later).
As we typically only invest in interior cabins since my husband and I don’t usually spend much time in our cruise cabins, having our own balcony to listen to the ocean was a nice change of pace.
The room itself was clean, the bed was firm but soft, there was a bit more closet space than I was expecting, and similarly, the bathroom had a bit more room than I have experienced in the past.
That said, not everyone had quite the same experience, as other passengers told us that one or both of their daily cleaning services were occasionally missed – likely as a result of some kinks that still needed to be worked out ahead of the maiden voyage.
You can take a look at a video tour of the cabin I was actually in:
The only real complaint we had – if you could call it that – was that we could hear the music from parties taking place on the pool deck (Deck 18) into the early hours of the morning. This was surprising to me as we were all the way down on Deck 11, but as I always pack ear plugs for emergencies, it didn’t take away from our beauty sleep.
As kind of a funny moment, there was a glitch near the end of the sailing where music was randomly playing through the speaker in our cabin – as well as several others. When we called guest services after hours of unexplained music, they already knew of the issue and were working on it.
It took several hours to resolve, but the surprise serenade did conclude well before bed time. We wrote it off as one of those inevitable learning curves that usually come when a ship first enters service.
I will also say that we could feel the movement of the ship fairly significantly in our cabin – which was located towardthe aft (or back) of the ship. Considering her size, I wasn’t expecting to feel much motion at all – as bigger ships do tend to be less rocky – but I think the location of our cabin lent itself to feeling it more.
This means that for people prone to seasickness, you’ll still want to choose the location of your cabin strategicallyfor your own comfort – ideally in a cabin that is located midship and lower, where the motion should be felt the least.
The Dining
Dishes at the Hexagon Restaurant (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
This was my first cruise onboard an MSC cruise ship, so I truly had no idea of what to expect when it came to the dining.
A friend of mine told me that the food on MSC cruise ships had a reputation for not always being the best. After the first day on our sailing, I didn’t believe them.
Our lunch in the Il Mercato buffet after embarking was delicious, and our dinner in the Hexagon restaurant – I had surf and turf with perfectly cooked filet mignon – was out of this world.
But as the sailing went on, I started to see what our friend meant. The food was either hit or miss. When it was good, it was great. For example, we couldn’t get enough of the gelato from the Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe on Deck 6.
The mixed drinks were also quite refreshing, and I say that as someone who has never really developed a taste for alcoholic beverages.
However, choosing items at both buffets – Il Mercato and La Brasserie – felt a little like Russian roulette for my taste buds. We encountered a lot of stale and overcooked food by day two, including pancakes and waffles that were hard as rocks.
We found the Luna Park Pizza & Burger on Deck 6 to be decent, but nothing special. The garlic bread was pretty good, but the pizza and burgers were just average. It was, however, a good option to get some variety from the buffets and was easy to get into during peak dinner hours.
Luna Park Pizza & Burger on Deck 6 (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
I suspect the way to truly indulge onboard is to invest in specialty dining reservations, such as at Eataly at Sea, Paxos Greek Restaurant, and Kaito Teppanyaki & Kaito Sushi Bar. While we didn’t get to try all of these venues ourselves, we heard nothing but rave reviews from other guests who did.
With only three days onboard, there was just no way for us to get to all 19 restaurants and the nearly 20 additional bars and lounges to try them all.
Relaxing by the Pool
Botanic Garden Pool (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
MSC World America has a grand total of 20 pools and Whirlpool Jacuzzis onboard – each with a different vibe. For example, the Zen Area is adults-only and feels serene and calm, while the La Plage pool had more of an upbeat, party atmosphere.
Our personal favorite swimming area, however, was the Botanic Garden Pool. True to its name, ocean views were combined with greenery that created a unique, but peaceful atmosphere.
Several of the Jacuzzis were also semi-private thanks to hut-like contraptions that went over them that seemed to be made of a mix of rope and greenery. I liked those whirlpools best because I felt like I was in my own mini oasis and got a break from the crowds.
Main Pool Area on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
Another pro for the Botanic Garden Pool is that it is not in the direct sun – especially in the later afternoon – based on where it is located on the ship and how you sort of have to enter a different “pool room” to get to it. In other words, it gets shade the soonest.
While I am fully aware sunscreen exists, both my husband and I are champion sun burners, so we appreciated this option.
The Thrills
Cliffhanger on MSC World America (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
Located on Deck 21 in the Harbour zone, thrill seekers will find plenty to get their blood pumping – such as the Cliffhanger swings, the 11-story Jaw Drop slide, and the Adventure Trail ropes and zip lining course.
I waslucky enough to ride the Cliffhanger ride twice– which holds brave cruisers 160 feet over the ocean (or MSC Ocean Cay in my case) and swings back and forth. The attraction felt perfectly safe, but did get my heart beating faster thanks to my fear of heights.
But all anxieties aside, the view from the Cliffhanger swings is out of this world. Phones and cameras were not allowed on the swings for obvious safety reasons, but I wish I could have documented the picture-perfect view to share with all of you!
You can take a look at the Cliffhanger ride in action right here:
We did not try the ropes course or Jaw Drop– which drops you into the slide through the mouth of a shark – due to fears of aggravating my existing ankle injury. In my husband’s case, the enclosed nature of the themed slide was too much for his claustrophobia.
We did, however, watch many smiling people come out the other end of the slide in the Promenade on Deck 8 – and everyone seemed to enjoy the ride.
But before you rush to these attractions, keep in mind that you will first need to check in with a crew member at the bright orange kiosk (you can’t miss it!) near the entrance to the Cliffhanger on Deck 21 to sign a waiver.
Jaw Drop Ride (Photos Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
Activities like the Cliffhanger, Adventure Trail, and Jaw Drop may need advance reservations during busier sailings and time periods, and Cliffhanger requires an extra payment of $5 per ride, according the crew members I spoke with. The other attractions are included in the price of your cruise fare.
As booking and ride requirements are always subject to change, make sure to check with the cruise line closer to your sailing or crew members once you get onboard for the most up-to-date information.
Performances and Entertainment
Dirty Dancing Show on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
I don’t know about you, but my favorite way to end a busy day of cruising is by watching a show. I love getting to sit back and relax while enjoying the entertainment.
While onboard, we were lucky enough to see two previews of the “Dirty Dancing” Film-to-Concert experienceand the “Hall of Fame” concert in the main stage venue, known as the World Theatre.
The “Dirty Dancing” concert is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a high energy stage adaptation with dancers and singers performing alongside a screening of the film – although for the previews, we didn’t see the film screening portion.
The “Hall of Fame” concert is essentially a love letter to the best singers and musical artists of all time and is full of high energy dancing and nostalgia. In all cases, the vocalists were excellent and we enjoyed the performances.
My personal favorite show, however, was Queen Symphonic in the Panorama Lounge, which featured music from the legendary Queen rock band and was a huge spectacle with flying guitarists (yes, you read that right) and aerial acrobats.
Queen Symphonic in the Panorama Lounge (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
But for those who get overstimulated or have sensitive hearing, this production is quite loud – so definitely plan accordingly with ear protection or sit this one out if the volume might be too much for you. Our ears were ringing for a while after it ended.
As a word of caution, any guests traveling with seizure disorders or who are sensitive to strobe lights should also speak to ushers prior to attending mainstage shows and the performances in the Panorama lounge.
Multiple performances included flashing lights – which were enough to make our heads hurt for a minute without pre-existing conditions – and we did not hear or see any warnings before show time.
Smaller Scale Entertainment and Pleasant Surprises
Formula 1 racing simulator (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
There was also smaller scale entertainment to be discovered throughout the ship, such as dueling pianos and comedians in the Loft and musicians performing in lounges.
While we saw some of these scheduled performances listed in the MSC App, many were just pleasant surprises that we found while exploring the ship. On more than one occasion, we found ourselves relaxing in the lounges with a drink as we took in the tunes.
We also stumbled upon an arcade on Deck 19 across from the kid’s clubs that is home to a fun Formula 1 racing simulator and classic arcade games. We certainly enjoyed our fair share of air hockey and ski ball there!
LEGO Parade on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
The only entertainment we saw as a bit lackluster was the Lego Parade – which would still be a cute activity for kids. The few children around us looked like they were absolutely enthralled.
We were just expecting an actual parade through the Promenade on Deck 8 because of the name, but it was actually a lot of Lego characters standing around, posing for pictures, and occasionally doing somewhat awkward dances.
Crowding Could Be an Issue
Promenade on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
While I left the sailing with a few negatives, I couldn’t help but think that I wouldn’t want to sail on MSC World America during peak times when she would be at her most crowded.
Though the ship is designed to hold nearly 7,000 guests, I couldn’t help wondering how it would feel when she was at capacity. Particularly in peak season, I would anticipate long linesand the need to arrive quite early for shows and performances – which was already true on our sailing to get good seats.
There are several performances of the same show so everyone can get a chance to enjoy, but getting into the show at the time you want most might be a challenge if you don’t arrive early – as neither the Panorama Lounge nor the World Theatre have enough seats for everyone at once.
The Loft – which is a hot spot for entertainment, comedy, and drinks – is also smaller than I expected. Even on our sailing, we had trouble finding a seat to watch the comedians perform – with many standing at the back, packed in like sardines.
The Loft (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
When we did eventually get a table, an older woman approached me and asked me to give it to her. I politely explained that I got there first and that I couldn’t stand for a long time due to my ankle – I had my cane visible and with me – and she called me some choice names (that I can’t repeat here) before storming off.
Considering her anger when the cruise ship wasn’t crowded, I was left wondering how tensions might flare when she’s closer to capacity.
It’s also worth noting that even during reserved media only events, there were still long lines for attractions like the famous Cliffhanger and Jaw Drop slide. We had to wait upwards of 30 minutes to experience the adrenaline-filled swings.
The Pros and Cons of High Tech
LED Display Along the Promenade (Photo Credit: Caite Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
As a new-build in our modern age of technology, MSC World America is probably the most innovative ship I’ve ever sailed on.
For example, we were able to easily communicate with the housekeeping team using light switches. All we had to do to show when we wanted to be left alone or we were ready for our cabin to be cleaned was to flip a switch in our cabin. Depending on which switch we hit, a light would shine above our door indicating our needs.
The elevators also helped to regulate potential crowds and chaos in the sense that you pre-select your deck prior to boarding the elevator. Once you select your deck, you would be assigned to one of many elevators in the bay – which were all identified by individual letters.
No buttons were pressed once inside, and the way the system assigned guests to elevators seemed to prevent overcrowding – at least in our limited experience.
Elevator Buttons on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
That said, I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if something went wrong with the system – such as if an elevator got stuck with guests inside. After all, technology is only effective when it’s working correctly and relying too heavily on it has always made me nervous in general.
But for the most part, everything did work well onboard. The only time we really had a problem was when the facial recognition technology went down in MSC’s new Miami cruise terminal during disembarkation – and our issue was more with the newly opened terminal than the ship itself.
Checking In at the MSC Terminal (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
While the brand new, state-of-the-art facility made embarkation a breeze, the systems going down led to extremely long lines and it felt like it took forever to make our way off the ship and through customs. In actuality, it took us a little over an hour as patrons who chose to take our own luggage off the ship.
I also noticed a bit of a learning curve with the technology for some guests. Most notably, I watched quite a few people struggle with the auto-sensing doors which could be found around the ship, such as around bathrooms.
In order to use the doors, all you have to do is touch or swipe your hand over a button – but it would take more than two hands to count the amount of people I saw trying to open the doors manually or struggling to find the sensors, which were usually really obvious.
Would I Sail on MSC World America Again?
Catie Kovelman and Calvin Musquez on MSC World America
Absolutely. Not only would I sail on MSC World America, but I would be interested in trying out more of the MSC fleet.
But because of my concerns about overcrowding, I would most likely book a voyage outside of peak travel seasons – such as around the holidays or summer break – and might consider investing in the MSC Yacht Club experience.
The MSC Yacht Club is like its own mini ship within the bigger ship that includes private lounges and pools, as well as perks like reserved seating to performances – which would alleviate a lot of my concerns about crowds in the future.
If you are interested in trying MSC World America in her inaugural season, bookings can be made online or over the phone through MSC directly or by using a reputable travel agent.
Just two weeks after significant layoffs at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports of illness outbreaks on cruise ships continue to be disclosed.
The most recent outbreak has been aboard Viking Polaris, currently sailing an 11-night spring Canadian itinerary from Toronto to New York. The Easter sailing departed Toronto on Saturday, April 12, 2025 and is scheduled to arrive in the Big Apple on Wednesday, April 23.
According to the CDC, 28 of the 355 guests onboard the expedition ship – nearly 8% of passengers – have reported gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and diarrhea.
Additionally, four of the ship’s 260 crew members (1.5%) have likewise reported similar symptoms.
Cruise ships are required to report any outbreak to the CDC when at least 3% of either guests or crew members (not the two combined) exhibit these types of highly communicable symptoms.
To be clear, the reports of the illness are cumulative throughout the voyage. Of the total 32 individuals seeking medical treatment, they may have been ill at different times during the past nine days, not necessarily all at once.
Meanwhile, crew members aboard Viking Polaris have already taken several mitigation measures to restrict any possible spread of the illness.
This includes increased cleaning and sanitation, isolating both passengers and crew members who report symptoms, and testing to determine the exact cause of the outbreak. The causative agent has not yet been confirmed.
Of the 12 previous outbreaks reported so far in 2025, 10 have already been confirmed as norovirus. One was E. coli, and one was ciguatera, a bacteria found in contaminated tropical reef fish such as grouper and sea bass.
With the CDC being restructured as part of federal government reorganization and waste reduction, staff involved with the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) have been impacted.
The release of the report from Viking Polaris may help ease fears that outbreaks might be missed, hidden, or downplayed. Instead, they are continuing to be reported, which gives travelers the ability to stay updated about conditions on any ship they may be booked on in the future.
Norovirus on the Rise
Viking Polaris is not the first ship in the Viking fleet to have reported an illness outbreak in 2025. In early January, Viking Mars reported a norovirus outbreak that impacted 62 out of 887 guests (7.2%), as well as nine out of 465 crew members (1.9%).
Additional outbreaks have been reported from all types of cruise lines, including luxury lines like Seabourn and Silversea to mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line.
CDC Facility (Photo Credit: Tada Images)
Savvy cruise passengers who watch outbreaks carefully have noted that norovirus in particular is on the rise in 2025, with 10 outbreaks in less than four months.
For comparison, 15 norovirus outbreaks were reported for all of 2024 (none aboard Viking ships), while 13 were reported throughout 2023.
Of course, the outbreak that will be of most concern to any cruise guest is one that occurs onboard their ship during their cruise, no matter what line they enjoy most or when they set sail.
Proper, thorough handwashing with hot water and soap is the most effective defense against contracting – or spreading – norovirus. Cruisers should always wash their hands before enjoying a meal, as well as after using the restroom and otherwise throughout the day.
Food, food, and more food – it’s a cornerstone of any cruise vacation. From all-you-can-eat buffets to fine dining restaurants to pizza, ice cream, burgers, salad bars, holiday menus, and more, no cruise passenger will ever go hungry.
Or will they? Some guests on Carnival cruise ships have noticed an apparent stinginess with one popular dinner item and are demanding that even more food be given.
The guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s official brand ambassador, John Heald, with their concerns, albeit not in the politest way they could have made their request.
“I know this will seem petty to some of your cult John but my grandkids, aged 7 and 12, love to eat bread before dinner,”the guest began.
While Carnival Cruise Line does have some very enthusiastic fans, choosing the word “cult” might indicate the guest’s frame of mind with their request. As they go on, it can seem petty indeed – their word, not mine.
“We are now on the Carnival [ship]. Tonight at dinner we were only given two small pieces of bread,”the guest explained.
“Compared to what other cruise companies we have been with this is unsatisfactory for [my grandkids] and not just them I would bet. Put the bread basket back or tell the servers to stop with the stinginess! Give more bread.”
I would never, however, consider the cruise line stingy with the bread. At the Lido Marketplace buffet, you can simply take all the bread you’d like, and Heald confirms that the same policy applies in the Main Dining Room.
“Let me clarify that bread is not limited but rather unlimited,”he said.“Ask and it shall be given and last night I made sure that without asking the family are served many pieces of bread.”
Oh, I wish I’d been in the dining room to see just how “many pieces of bread” were served to the family. I’d have made certain they got at least 20, just for fun, but that’s my sense of humor.
Do You Enjoy Bread on a Carnival Cruise?
Heald goes on to note how curious it is that having bread before a meal is viewed differently at one’s home compared to while on a cruise vacation.
“If I was to eat a basket of bread before my meal at home it would be considered weird, reckless, and possibly bonkers but on a cruise it is considered normal, healthy and dare I say even chic,”he commented.
Many other commenters – those cult members who love Carnival cruises and are among Heald’s more than 600,000 Facebook followers – chimed in with their thoughts on bread as well.
The overwhelming consensus is that it is very easy to ask for more bread, not just in the Main Dining Room but at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse or other specialty restaurants as well.
Carnival Magic Dining Room
Guests can ask for multiple pieces right when bread is offered after they are seated, though full baskets of bread are no longer automatically provided.
This is a subtle change that has been implemented in recent months, as previously guests in the Main Dining Room received a wire basket with 4-6 pieces of bread (larger or multiple baskets for larger groups).
Each basket would have the classic baguettes, as well as other selections such as sunflower rolls, sourdough, or cranberry ciabatta rolls. Now, single pieces are offered, though the choices change each evening.
While there has been no official statement about the change from bread baskets to individual slices, food waste and the impact on profits is always a concern aboard cruise ships.
Can one roll cause that much of a profit difference? Imagine the entire Carnival fleet – 29 ships around the world, with a capacity of more than 90,000 guests every single day just at double occupancy.
If just one guest out of every 10 threw away one uneaten roll, that would be more than 60,000 rolls discarded in a single week, or more than 3.2 million rolls wasted in one year.
No matter what your personal preference for how many rolls you enjoy at dinner that’s a lot of bread – both carbs and cash.
Princess Cruises may be known for a few stand-out features — great service, excellent dining, etc. — but the line is not known for having ships that are particularly large.
That said, there’s a big difference between cruising on Princess Cruises’ largest ships — Star Princess and Sun Princess — and cruising on its smallest ship, Coral Princess. Here’s what you can expect on all the Princess ships, with the entire fleet listed by size, largest to smallest.
Star Princess isn’t just Princess Cruises’ largest ship (or, at least it’s tied for largest ship). It’s also the cruise line’s newest ship, debuting in 2025.
In addition to having a greater number of venues and staterooms, cruisers who’ve been on some of the line’s earlier ships will also notice overall larger dining venues and a larger casino on Star Princess.
Just like sister ship Sun Princess, Star Princessfeatures the first geodesic dome at sea, known simply as The Dome. The ship features just over 2,150 staterooms and, in addition to carrying thousands of passengers, also carries over 1,500 crew members.
Gross tonnage: 175,500
Passenger capacity: 4,310
Length: 1,133 feet
Width: 158 feet
Sun Princess
Sun Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Eric Glenn)
Debuting just slightly earlier than sister ship Star Princess, Sun Princess is the lead ship in the Sphere Class, Princess Cruises’ newest class of ships. The ship, along with Star Princess, represents the biggest vessels in the cruise line’s fleet.
Just how big is Sun Princess? Well, in addition to tying with Star Princess in measurement by gross tons, the ship also offers 30 restaurants and bars, five pools and more than 5,000 square feet of shopping. Across the shopping area, there are more than 25 brands that are appearing on a cruise ship for the very first time.
Gross tonnage: 175,500
Passenger capacity: 4,310
Length: 1,132 feet
Width: 139 feet
Discovery Princess
Discovery Princess at Sea (Photo Credit: Princess Cruises)
Before the Sphere Class introduced the largest ships in Princess Cruises’ fleet, Discovery Princess held the title of largest ship for the line. The Royal-class ship features 19 decks, just over 1,800 staterooms, 20 restaurants and bars, four pools and 10 hot tubs. The ship is manned by just over 1,300 crew members.
Next up in Princess Cruises’ ships by size are another two tie-holding ships, in the Royal Class. Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess are sister ships and are both just slightly smaller than Discovery Princess — though by gross tonnage, not passenger capacity.
Enchanted Princessoffers 1,800 staterooms and is manned by just under 1,350 crew members.
As mentioned, Royal-class ship Sky Princess is identical in size to sister ship Enchanted Princess. This means she’s very nearly the size of Discovery Princess, only off by a few thousand GT.
That smaller size means fewer of some features, like hot tubs, but it doesn’t mean Sky Princess didn’t still offer lots to love when the ship debuted in 2019. At the time, it boasted some of the largest balconies at sea.
The slow downward creep in ship size continues with Majestic Princess, which is just a few thousand gross tons smaller than Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess. This smaller size results in being able to handle just about a hundred fewer passengers, with overall fewer staterooms.
Majestic Princess, though, stands out in more ways than mere size. It was also specifically constructed for the Chinese market. This means that the ship features different entertainment venues, restaurants and bars than what you’d find on the other Royal-class ships.
Gross tonnage: 143,700
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Length: 1,082 feet
Width: 126 feet
Regal Princess
Regal Princess Cruise Ship in the Caribbean (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Regal Princess and Royal Princess are both tied in size next, at slightly smaller than Majestic Princess in gross tonnage, while still able to handle the same passenger capacity. Don’t think that just because these two ships are tied for size, though, that they’re identical.
Princess Cruises changed up a few things with Regal Princess, the second Royal-class ship, by adding an aft pool and promenade deck to the ship, whereas Royal Princess has neither of these features.
Gross tonnage: 142,229
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Length: 1,082 feet
Width: 126 feet
Royal Princess
Photo Credit: Ruth Peterkin / Shutterstock
Lead ship of its class, when Royal Princess debuted, the ship was about a good 30,000 GT larger than all of the Princess Cruises ships to come before it. As such, the ship had space for lots of new features, including new restaurants and bars, private cabanas and the SeaWalk, an over-water glass floor walkway.
With nearly 2,000 cabins to hold its 3,500-plus cruisers, the ship carries a crew of about 1,350 crew members — not dissimilar to some of the larger, newer ships that came after.
Gross tonnage: 142,229
Passenger capacity: 3,560
Length: 1,083 feet
Width: 126 feet
Sapphire Princess
Sapphire Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wojciech Wrzesien)
Next up, Sapphire Princess debuted about a decade earlier than Royal Princess, and the Gem-class ship is about 30,000 GT smaller.
The ship offers 18 decks, about 1,300 staterooms and five main dining rooms. It’s also has received a handful of dry docks over its lifetime, which have added other new features, like mini suites, that the ship did not have when it entered service in 2004.
Diamond Princess also entered service in 2004, alongside Sapphire Princess. The two ships tie for size, as far as gross tonnage and length are concerned, but Diamond Princess can carry just about a hundred more cruisers.
Diamond Princess, though, stands apart from its sister ships by being developed specifically for the Japanese cruising market. As such, the ship features certain restaurants and entertainment options that other ships in its class do not.
Gross tonnage: 115,875
Passenger capacity: 2,710
Length: 952 feet
Width: 123 feet
Ruby Princess
Photo Credit: evgenii mitroshin / Shutterstock
Next are three slightly older ships that all tie for size. The entire Crown Class — Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and Crown Princess — are all the same size and all just a tad smaller than Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess (by gross tonnage, not passenger capacity).
While they still manage to offer the main cruising venues and amenities that modern travelers expect from cruise ships, they only have around 1,500 staterooms. They can hold about 3,000 passengers.
Very similar to its sister ships, Emerald Princess offers just around 1,500 staterooms to its 3,000-plus passengers. There are three main dining rooms on the ship, as well as a nice selection of additional restaurants, bars and lounges.
The ship additionally features all the public and entertainment venues you’d expect from a ship of this size, including a casino, sports deck, kids clubs, fitness center and the Lotus spa. There are four pools and seven hot tubs.
Crown Princess is much the same. With its 3,000-plus passengers and crew of 1,200 members, it stretches over 19 decks. There are 1,545 staterooms, the majority of which are exterior staterooms, mostly balcony rooms.
There are three main dining rooms and much of the same amenities that you’ll find on Emerald Princess. In addition to the four main pools and seven hot tubs, though, there is also a splash pool.
Gross tonnage: 113,561
Passenger capacity: 3,090
Length: 952 feet
Width: 118 feet
Caribbean Princess
Caribbean Princess in Port Canaveral (Photo Courtesy: Port Canaveral)
When Caribbean Princess debuted in 2004, it was Princess Cruises’ largest ship by passenger capacity to date and it held that title for years, until Royal Princess took that crown just about a decade later.
That said, Caribbean Princess still features more decks than any of the other Grand class ships, which is something that no new cruise ship can take away.
Gross tonnage: 112,894
Passenger capacity: 3,140
Length: 952 feet
Width: 118 feet
Grand Princess
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Brave Behind the Lenz)
For many cruise lines, the oldest ship in the fleet is usually the smallest, but that’s not the case with Princess Cruises. Instead, Grand Princess, the oldest ship for the cruise line at just under three decades old, is only the third-smallest ship in the Princess fleet.
While this ship is considered mid-size by today’s standards, in the late 1990s, when it debuted, it was considered very large, with some of the best features in the industry.
While that’s no longer the case, the ship has still managed to remain somewhat modern, with regular dry docks adding new features and enhancements, such as new eateries, lounges, kids clubs and more.
Gross tonnage: 107,517
Passenger capacity: 2,610
Length: 949 feet
Width: 118 feet
Island Princess
Island Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
One of two Coral Class cruise ships, Island Princess ducks down beneath 100,000 GT. The ship holds just over 2,000 passengers, and thanks to the ship’s sleek design, it can pass through the Panama Canal. The ship has 16 decks and about a thousand staterooms, two main dining rooms, three pools and a handful of other venues.
The very smallest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet, Coral Princess is about a thousand GT smaller than sister ship Island Princess. However, that said, it does have more staterooms than Island Princess, by about 500 extra.
Gross tonnage: 91,621
Passenger capacity: 2,000
Length: 964 feet
Width: 106 feet
What’s Different Between the Larger and Smaller Princess Cruise Ships?
There are vast differences between the largest and smallest Princess Cruises’ ships.
The largest ships in the Princess Cruises fleet are the Sphere-class ships: Sun Princessand Star Princess, which debuted in 2024 and 2025, respectively. These ships both measure in at 175,500 GT, with capacity to hold more than 4,000 passengers.
Princess Cruises boasts that Sun Princess, and Star Princess with it, is the most impressive and luxurious of its fleet to date. The stand-out feature is, of course, the feature for which the class is named, The Dome, the geodesic, first-of-its-kind structure that sits atop the ship.
Latest Construction Photos of Star Princess (Credit: Princess Cruises)
The ship offers 30 restaurant and bar concepts, a VIP ship-within-a-ship area for exclusive amenities open only to guests, five pools, nine hot tubs, first-at-sea retailers and a huge range of other entertainment and public spaces.
In contrast, the smallest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet is Coral Princess. It’s just over 90,000 GT, and can only hold about 2,000 passengers over 1,545 staterooms, plus less than a thousand crew members.
As such, it’s just about half the size of the Sphere-class ships. But does that mean that Coral Princess is half the fun? Not necessarily!
Coral Princess is an ideal fit for those who want a more intimate and low-key cruising experience, wherein they’re not bogged down with near-endless options and crowds. The ship has just two main dining rooms, plus 10 other dining options; five bars and lounges; a theater; four pools; and five hot tubs.
The Ever-Changing Fleet
Princess Cruises seems to be steadily growing the fleet, and these ships are, for the most part, larger and larger with each new one to debut.
As mentioned, the newest and largest ships in the fleet are Sun Princess and Star Princess, of the Sphere Class. While further ships are definitely expected, a third Sphere-class ship has yet to be announced, though it’s safe to assume it will be at least as big as Star Princess, if not larger.
Cell phones can be controversial on cruise lines. One group of guests prefers to unplug and enjoy sailing away from the daily demands of technology, while the other group enjoys the convenience of cruise line app features.
Disney Cruise Line is beginning limited tests that may make it harder to be part of the unplugged group – at least if you want to enjoy all the different features and amenities of your Disney cruise.
Guests booked aboard the April 21, 2025 departure of Disney Wish have received notification that they will be able to use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for some scheduling and registration.
“We often try new ways to surprise and delight our Guests, including the features we are currently testing during your sailing,”the notification read.
Activities that will be testing in-app registration on the 4-night Bahamas cruise include choosing a time to finalize Oceaneer Club registration as well as the Disney Magic Decorate-Off cake decorating challenge, riding the AquaMouse water coaster, and select character meet-and-greets.
However, not all guests may be delighted by the need to register through the app.
To do so, of course, guests will need to have a mobile device and have downloaded the latest version of the app prior to boarding Disney Wish. Once guests are ready to board the ship, they need to link their stateroom via the DCL-GUEST Wi-Fi network onboard, and then register through “Onboard Fun.”
This is a limited test only and other activities will not require digital reservations. The language of the notification, however, does seem to indicate that in-app registration might be required for some events.
“Activities will also be scheduled for other times that do not require a reservation (subject to availability),”the instructions read, which could mean that select activities will require such pre-registration.
Wi-fi connectivity on all cruise lines can occasionally be glitchy, which might make required in-app registration challenging.
While travelers do not need to purchase internet packages to use the app, if there are connection problems, guests who do not have an onboard wi-fi plan could be at a distinct disadvantage to enjoy some activities.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the same activities might be available without pre-registration. For example, there are many character meet-and-greets onboard Disney ships – but sometimes one particular character or princess might only appear once or twice.
If those specific appearances require registration, guests who aren’t able to do so could miss out on a memorable opportunity.
More Cruise Lines Considering Onboard Reservations
It has long been common for cruise lines to require reservations for extra-pay experiences onboard, such as specialty dining meals, spa treatments, or individual photo portrait sessions.
One of the distinct appeals of a laid-back cruise vacation, however, is the ability to pick-and-choose from a variety activities without having to stick to a very strict schedule.
But as ships get larger and routinely carry 4,000 or more passengers – as Disney Wish can – it can become necessary to have some way to manage crowds, and reservations are one option.
Arendelle Dining Room, Disney Wish (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Royal Caribbean, for example, has been using reservations for its phenomenal onboard entertainment for years, including the AquaTheater shows and ice skating shows, among others.
Some cruise lines also use reservations for comedy performances, specialty performers, and music cover bands.
Not all cruise lines are eager to embrace reservations, however. Carnival Cruise Line recently addressed the issue of reservations for shows, which was firmly rebuffed by the cruise line’s fans.
One extra consideration that might apply to Disney Cruise Line guests is the age and expectations of travelers.
While most adults enjoying a cruise will shrug it off if they aren’t able to get into a show or try an experience because it may be filled up, young guests on a magical cruise might be more apt to throw a temper tantrum if they miss their favorite Disney princess.
A reservation system could help guarantee Disney guests exactly the experiences they value most, as well as help travelers plan alternative activities if they miss out on some opportunities.
The best way to describe most cruise cabins is tiny, but efficient. Indeed, the cruise lines have figured out how to fit full families into small staterooms that are often less than 300 or 400 square feet.
One way that Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess makes the most of the space in her standard staterooms is by offering Pullman beds – which can come down from the ceiling or walls to accommodate four guests in one cabin.
Families or groups who need to accommodate a fourth person can use this option to do so, while travel parties with less people may not even know the hidden bed is there.
It’s also often a more cost effective option to stay in a standard stateroom with a Pullman than to invest in a bigger suite.
But one family who recently sailed aboard the 2022-launched Discovery Princess was disappointed to learn that the Pullman bed wouldn’t be accessible during the day – but instead would be brought down and made up by the cabin steward during the nightly turndown service.
“There are four of us — we knew the Pullman situation, were totally fine with the beds coming from the ceiling, the subpar quality, etc. all fine with that,”one recent cruiser shared.
“However, on day one, we were notified by our steward that he would NOT keep the Pullman beds down during the day. Absolutely refused. So when the four of us — two adults and two kids (ages 12 and 9) come into the room after a long day and need a rest prior to dinner, we’re squishing the four of us onto two twin beds,” they continued.
The room steward allegedly cited safety concerns as the reason behind the policy, which could be understandable if the bed restricts movement in the cabin in the unlikely event of an emergencyor if it might get jolted while sailing through unusually rough waters.
But ultimately, the family said this made them “miserable” and they wish they had known about the policy before booking their cabin.
That said, it’s possible that this family’s experience was a fluke or the stateroom attendant was misinformed – as other recent guests of Discovery Princess and other Princess ships reported that they were allowed to keep their Pullman bed down for the duration of the sailing.
Cruise Accommodations Can be Confusing
While this family intentionally selected their stateroom to accommodate two parents and two children, the vast selections of cruise cabin categories and configurations to choose from is a common source of confusion – particularly for larger groups.
It’s always important to pay close attention to the details when selecting your cruise cabin to make sure you’re choosing the right set-up for you and your travel companions.
Indeed, as this family of four was lamenting their Pullman problem, another foursome was struggling to comprehend how their group could even fit in one cabin before booking their own Princess Cruise, or a sailing on Holland America Line, which is a sister-brand.
Pullman Beds
“When they say a room sleeps up to 4 but it just has 1 queen size bed or 2 twins that turn into 1 queen, are they just assuming the other 2 people are kids and that all 4 fit in 1 queen size bed? Do they assume everyone is the family from Willy Wonka? Am I missing something?”, the future guest inquired.
Other members of the cruise community were kind enough to advise the guest on options related to trundle beds, bunk beds, couch beds, and of course, Pullman beds. However, most advised splurging for two rooms if only for the convenience of having a second bathroom.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line, which sails under the same parent company that owns Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, has also made headlines for confusion regarding stateroom configurations in the past.
In this case, Carnival guests are able to indicate if they would like the beds in their stateroom to be together or separated during the online check-in process. But some guests have run into trouble where theirbed requests are not followed.
But thankfully, that is an easy mistake for the room stewards to resolve. Just remember to alert them to the issue with kindness, as sometimes things do get missed with potentially thousands of staterooms to manage onboard.
It’s a momentous day for Disney Cruise Line and cruising in Asia as Disney Adventure has officially floated out from the construction hall at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Wismar, Germany on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
This is a major milestone in bringing the ship to life, as it demonstrates the official completion of her hull and now the vessel is ready for both on-deck exterior work as well as getting underway on interior details.
Both Captain Minnie and Captain Mickey were on hand to watch their ship set forth – they are the two characters already revealed for the ship’s stern sculpture and will be iconic figures on every sailing.
Also on hand were the city’s mayor, Thomas Beyer, and State Premier Manuela Schwesig to welcome the ship to her next phase of construction.
Beyer told local news NDR.de that the day was a “day of pride” for the city, which has been enjoying “ship fever” as Disney Adventure‘s progress continues. Just days ago, the construction doors were opened, permitting the first views of the ship’s bow as she prepared to leave the bay.
Of course, in true Disney fashion, celebratory fireworks also accompanied the ship’s movement, blasting from the roof above the door as Disney Adventure began to slowly move forward out of the construction bay.
Overall, the event took roughly 90 minutes from bow to stern, having begun at about 9 a.m. with preparations for tugs to move the ship. During that time, Disney Adventure did not go far, only having moved outside the bay and alongside a nearby pier to continue her construction.
What’s Next for Disney Adventure
While the float-out is a grand and exciting milestone, Disney Adventure is far from being ready to head for the open water.
The hull may be complete, but the upper, outer decks of the ship are largely unrecognizable. At the moment, the ship’s iconic red funnels are not yet in place, nor are other pieces of critical equipment, including radar gear and communications antennas.
All the features guests will love, including waterslides and the first-ever roller coaster for the cruise line, Ironcycle Test Run, as well as other thrill rides, will now be installed as well.
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship Floats Out
Once the ship’s critical systems are complete, she will move into her sea trials. These will take place in the Baltic Sea, likely sometime in the summer months. Exact dates have not yet been announced.
Sea trials test all of a cruise ship’s new systems, including navigation, propulsion, braking, emergency responses, and more. These maneuvers ensure the ship is operationally sound and capable of any action that may be necessary.
Typically, each round of sea trials lasts several days, and it is not unusual for a ship to have two rounds of these tests as further adjustments may be made.
Following that critical step, the interior details of the ship will be completed, and she will be officially handed over to Disney Cruise Line several weeks prior to her debut.
Then will come a frantic period as the very final touches are added to the vessel and she is supplied for sailing. During those weeks, crew members will begin to arrive and learn the ship and her eccentricities.
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship
Finally, Disney Adventure will get underway for her homeport of Singapore, where she will undoubtedly be greeted with great fanfare and excited celebrations.
The 208,000-gross ton ship – the largest ever built for Disney Cruise Line – will set sail on her maiden voyage on December 15, 2025, a 3-night sailing that will surely be filled both great adventures and Disney magic.
Disney Adventure will be offering 3- and 4-night cruises to nowhere as she homeports from the Lion City. The ship itself is an incredible destination, with seven themed zones to immerse guests in their favorite Disney worlds.
