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Carnival Loyalty Gift Not a Favorite – But Don’t Do This

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Loyalty Gift Not a Favorite – But Don’t Do This

Carnival Cruise Line offers generous perks to its most loyal guests through the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program, including exclusive gifts. Unfortunately, the most recent gift is not getting the best reviews, but the cruise line is urging guests not to express their frustration in a wasteful way.

The VIFP gifts are offered to Platinum and Diamond Level guests. To reach the Platinum level, travelers must accrue at least 75 points in the program, while Diamond level guests must reach 200 points.

Carnival Cruise Line guests receive one point for every night they’ve sailed with the line – 3 points for a 3-night cruise, 7 points for a 7-night cruise, and so forth.

The latest loyalty gift for these well-cruised passengers and top Carnival fans is a baseball cap that was introduced in October 2024. The blue canvas cap includes the iconic Carnival funnel embroidered on the side, as well as a VIFP patch on the front.

The cap received immediate criticism as more oriented toward male passengers or not useful for travelers who don’t wear baseball caps.

Now, that criticism has reached another level with reports of the caps being simple tossed in the trash. One cruiser reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, with the details.

“I hate to break your back bubble but the ball cap presents are a bust,” the commenter said. “Many of the Platinum and Diamond guests have been very disappointed with this decision. I have seen guests refuse them, throwing them away, or trying to give them away.”

Because guests must pick up their loyalty gifts at the Pixels photo gallery onboard each ship – they are no longer delivered to staterooms, a practice that ended with the COVID-19 pandemic – refusing the cap is easy and actually would reduce waste.

Giving the cap away is something many travelers may do, often offering the gift to a child or a new cruiser who would be excited to have such a unique souvenir whey they have not cruised enough to be at that loyalty level.

Throwing the baseball cap in the trash, however, is wasteful and a very poor gesture.

“I know the baseball cap is not our most popular gift. I accept that totally,” Heald acknowledged. “It makes me very sad to see that people are allegedly throwing them away. If you do not like it, surely there is someone else either on board to ship that you can hand it to, or perhaps give to somebody at home. Please don’t throw them away.”

Obviously, Carnival Cruise Line has no problem if Platinum and Diamond guests want to share their VIFP gift with others. This is not the first time, however, that a gift has been less than popular.

Other Carnival VIFP Gifts – Good and Bad

Other Platinum and Diamond VIFP gift offerings that have received poor reactions include a visor, a heavily logo-branded beach tote bag, and foam slap-style drink koozies.

Carnival Cruise Line Cap Loyalty Gift
Carnival Cruise Line Cap Loyalty Gift

While the baseball cap may not be the most popular option, many guests are enjoying it or sharing it with others. Furthermore, many travelers feel it is easier to simply not pick up the gift rather than be rude about what is, after all, a free gift.

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?

More popular gift options that Carnival has offered in the past include insulated tumblers, blankets, valet bags, and similar practical and useful items. The cruise line has also offered chess sets, journals, headphones, and a wide range of other items over the years.

Exactly which gifts are available depend on popularity, the numbers of VIFP cruisers eligible to pick up the gifts, manufacturing supply options, production costs, and other factors. When a new gift is introduced, it may take several weeks to roll out across the entire Carnival fleet depending on individual ship supplies.

Heald has mentioned many times that there are changes coming to the VIFP program, but has not offered any hints at what those changes may be or if the gifts may be impacted.

Do you receive any VIFP gifts when you cruise on Carnival? Which options have been your favorites, and which have you not bothered with? Share your experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!

More Late-Night Snacks Coming to Carnival Cruise Line

Melissa Mayntz
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More Late-Night Snacks Coming to Carnival Cruise Line

Food is an integral part of every cruise vacation, from poolside eats to elegant dining to snacks and treats in between. But what about some late-night nibbles after spending time in the casino, enjoying a production show, or strolling around the deck to enjoy the stars?

In response to guest feedback in recent months, Carnival Cruise Line is bringing back a greater selection of late-night snacks to the Lido Marketplace buffet, as well as improving service to shorten lines.

The lack of options due to the closure of each ship’s pizzeria and deli earlier in the evening, as well as long lines for what snacks are available, have been common complaints from cruisers.

Now, the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has announced new late-night menus and additional service stations to ensure all travelers can indulge in such snacks without difficulty.

“Over the years, many of you have written and spoken to me about food options and the wait time for pizza when you’re looking for a late-night snack,” Heald explained. “After talking with the Beards at the Mother Ship I can share that we’re expanding our late night eats.”

Heald notes that while the onboard pizzerias will still be closing, pizza service will move to the buffet line and pizzas will still be available. Furthermore, other foods will now be offered as well.

“You can find delicious pizza still, but also other options, like chicken tenders, hot dogs, sandwiches, cookies, and other desserts,” Heald said.

A variety of menus will be offered, likely changing on different nights or with different options on different ships depending on what ingredients are most available to the culinary team.

In July 2023, Carnival Cruise Line first implemented a Late Night Snack menu, but these new options further expand on those choices with more variety and rotating selections.

Options on the new menus include soups such as scotch broth, Manhattan clam chowder, chicken noodle soup, or chicken egg drop soup. Salads will also be offered, as well as a selection of sandwiches such as turkey & Swiss, steak & cheese, grilled cheese, Italian meatball subs, and more.

Desserts such as black forest cake, raspberry chocolate cake, mango cream cake, and both chocolate chip and sugar cookies are also on the late-night menu, as well as chips & salsa – a favorite requested by many guests.

Several vegetarian and gluten-free items are available on each late-night menu, though selections are sure to vary. Gluten-free pizza will also still be available by request.

Faster Service to Be Implemented

In addition to the lack of options previously available for late-night munchies, Carnival cruise guests have noted the long lines for service. This is especially true after later production shows or late-night comedy shows, when no other dining venues are open but larger crowds surge toward snacks.

Chocolate Cakes
Chocolate Cakes (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)

Heald has now confirmed that more service stations will now be available to ease those lines. Two buffet stations, rather than one, will offer the same menu items. This will allow guests to move through the line more quickly and enjoy their late-night snacks before morning.

Read Also: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options You’ll Want to Know (With Menus!)

“[There will be] more to choose from and less time waiting as there will be two areas open on Lido for you to enjoy this menu,” Heald said.

This will be a great relief to travelers who have noted wait times in excess of 20-30 minutes for late-night snacks with lines of 50+ guests, especially after shows when other venues have already closed.

Recent Carnival cruisers have reported that these new menu options and service style have already begun on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Venezia. It may, however, take several weeks for these changes to roll out across the entire Carnival fleet of 27 ships.

Are you a night owl who enjoys late-night snacks on a cruise? What are your go-to midnight nibbles? Share you favorites on the Cruise Hive boards!

Another Royal Caribbean Ship Impacted By Storm in the Atlantic

Melissa Mayntz
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Another Royal Caribbean Ship Impacted By Storm in the Atlantic

Just days after a scary list startled passengers aboard Explorer of the Seas and caused minor damage, multiple injuries, and a delay in the ship’s transatlantic crossing, another Royal Caribbean ship has encountered rough weather that required a sudden course correction.

Guests sailing aboard Odyssey of the Seas, also on her transatlantic crossing from Rome to New York, ran into the severe line of storms that required an abrupt shift in the ship’s course.

The ship’s captain made an intercom announcement to advise guests of the storm front and the possibility of a severe list. Passengers were asked to remain seated throughout the maneuver to be as safe as possible.

Various videos and photos shared from guests currently onboard the 167,704-gross-ton, Quantum Ultra class ship show “angry seas” with rough waves and high winds recorded at about 50-55 knots (57-63 miles per hour).

The most dramatic scenes show waves crashing completely over windows on Deck 3; a very unusual amount of roughness for any cruise ship. Other photos show broken bottles and toppled glassware in bars, as well as other general disarray in public spaces, including the ship’s retail areas.

At no time was Odyssey of the Seas‘ safety compromised, and the ship continued sailing through the stormy weather as smoothly as possible.

There have been no reports of injuries, though seasickness is to be expected in such turbulent weather.

Guests onboard made the most of the stormy day and the ship’s activities remained largely unaffected. While any activities for the outer decks – such as poolside contests – were cancelled for safety, additional indoor activities were planned.

Casino gambling, live music, amazing dining (grab a slice at Sorrento’s for me!) and all the other features of the phenomenal ship are available to travelers and offer great opportunities for unique memories of a very unique sailing.

The 14-night, one-way repositioning cruise departed Rome on Sunday, November 3 and made her way to Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, and Malaga in Spain as well as Funchal, Portugal before heading out across the open ocean.

The next stop will be Odyssey of the Seas‘ winter homeport when the ship arrives at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey on Sunday, November 17. The ship will offer 7-night roundtrip Bahamas cruises through April 2025, along with an Eastern Caribbean sailing and two Southern Caribbean itineraries in January, before returning to Rome (Civitavecchia) for the summer season.

Why So Many Storms Impacting Ships?

Cruise travelers who have taken either transatlantic or transpacific sailings readily understand that rougher weather is to be expected in the open ocean, though such severe storms are more the exception than the rule.

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

Nevertheless, late autumn can be especially turbulent in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean – just where Odyssey of the Seas is making her crossing – due to tropical systems that have moved north during the later part of the season.

No cruise line can predict what the weather will be when itineraries are planned years in advance. It is a fair bet, however, that later autumn sailings are more likely to encounter poor weather, just as Caribbean sailings in September are more likely to encounter hurricanes.

Odyssey of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: AlexKuznetsov / Shutterstock)

All cruise lines closely monitor weather patterns in all their sailing regions, communicating with individual ships and ports as needed for any warnings, adjustments, or cancellations.

Royal Caribbean’s own Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, offers online updates about severe weather systems impacting cruise operations. Onboard individual ships, the cruise director or captain would make announcements as needed, and any notifications of itinerary changes or adjustments are delivered to guests’ staterooms.

At the moment, there are no anticipated changes for Odyssey of the Seas and she should arrive in New Jersey as scheduled, ready to begin her Caribbean season and bring amazing thrills to all 4,198 travelers (double occupancy) that can board the ship at each sailing.

Bar Harbor Resident Requests Recount in Close Cruise Ship Vote

Lissa Poirot
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Bar Harbor Resident Requests Recount in Close Cruise Ship Vote

After Bar Harbor, Maine, residents narrowly voted to maintain the town’s strict limit on cruise ship arrivals, rejecting a proposal that would have raised the daily cap from 1,000 to 3,200 passengers, one local resident is rallying support for a recount.

The decision, made in the November 5, 2024, election, passed by a slim margin of just 63 votes, with 1,776 in favor of keeping the existing cap and 1,713 opposed.

The rejected proposal aimed to repeal the current cap, allowing the town council to set a new, more flexible limit. The plan had proposed a 3,200-passenger daily cap, monthly restrictions, and a series of “cruise-free” days to alleviate peak season pressure.

However, the town’s longstanding concern about the impact of high tourist volume from cruise ships led to a close vote against the proposed increase.

Amid the narrow outcome, local restaurateur Kevin DesVeaux has begun collecting signatures from registered voters to meet the requirement for a formal recount request.

“The vote on Question 4, the Chapter 50 cruise ship proposal, was a virtual tie and reflected strong citizen interested in this important issue,” DesVeaux told Bangor Daily News.

DesVeaux is now encouraging supporters to sign the petition at his West Street Café to ensure “voter intent for every ballot is considered.”

In order to recount the ballots, 100 registered voters must sign the petition by the end of the business day on November 20, 2024.

“We know how important it is to find the right solution,” DesVeaux said. “Once we have collected enough signatures, we will file this request with the town clerk.”

Millions of Dollars at Stake

The coastal town of Bar Harbor, the gateway to Acadia National Park, is a popular destination for cruise ships, with a season that runs from May to October.

In 2018, the town of just over 5,000 welcomed a record-breaking 154 cruise ship visits bringing over 222,000 passengers to its Mount Desert Island location. Although the pandemic paused cruise traffic to the town, by 2022, more than 150 ships had returned.

Growing local discontent resulted in the 2022 enactment of the 1,000-passenger daily limit, although the cap was partially waived through 2024 for ships that had scheduled calls before the law was changed.

Read Also: 10 Reasons Not to Stay on the Cruise Ship When in Port

Cruise Ships at Bar Harbor
Photo Credit: Danita Delimont / Shutterstock

Since 2022, the daily cap has faced challenges, including a federal lawsuit by the Association to Protect and Preserve Local Livelihoods (APPLL), which argued the restrictions harmed local businesses. However, a US District Court ruled in favor of the town earlier this year.

The rejected November 2024 proposal, backed by the town council, would have set a cap of 55,000 monthly arrivals in September and October, 20,000 for May through August, and 5,000 in early and late seasons, with additional “cruise-free” days for local relief.

Currently, several large-vessel ships have Bar Harbor on repeat itineraries for 2025, including Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Gem, with 2,376, 3,963, and 2,394 guests, respectively.

While Oceania Cruises’ Insignia will arrive with just 670 passengers, its Allura carries up to 1,200.

If the town keeps its cap, cruise lines may change their itineraries for more welcoming ports like Rockland and Portland to provide all guests the opportunity to disembark. 

Bar Harbor businesses stand to lose out on the millions of dollars cruise guests spend in port while the city will lose over a million in port and passenger fees.

Black Friday Sale Applies to These Just-Dropped NCL Sailings

Donna Tunney
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Black Friday Sale Applies to These Just-Dropped NCL Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line opened bookings on hundreds of new sailings in its 2026-27 fall/winter series and timed the event to coincide with its Black Friday Sale, which offers prospective guests half off all published sailings.

The fall/winter cruise schedule features 400 departures from 20 ports on ships calling at close to 100 destinations in 38 countries.

Notable deployments include the 3,100-guest Norwegian Prima making her seasonal debut in New Orleans, while the 4,000-guest Norwegian Breakaway will be based for the first time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Also, the 2,400-guest Norwegian Jade returns to Asia for the first time since the pandemic hit, and the 2,000-guest Norwegian Spirit will be based Down Under, sailing several voyages from Sydney, including some wine-focused itineraries.

“Offering our loyal guests more ways to have their own best vacation with more of what they love is central to our commitment,“ said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. 

“For added convenience, we will feature weekend turnarounds from ports across the US, including New Orleans, Miami, and Galveston, Texas, making it even easier for guests to set sail on their own schedule,” added Herrera.

The Black Friday Sale’s 50%-off promotion can be combined with the line’s new More At Sea value-added package that was rolled out in October 2024 and takes effect with cruises departing on and after January 1, 2025.

The package replaced the line’s previous Free At Sea program, and includes amenities and services such as a beverage package, specialty dining, WiFi access, a $50 shore excursion credit, and free airfare in some cases, among other benefits.

Norwegian Cruise Line will have a huge presence in the Caribbean during the fall/winter season of 2026-27, with 15 ships sailing from 10 ports.

Cruisers can embark from two Florida ports, Miami and Port Canaveral, along with two options in the Northeast, New York and Philadelphia, plus others, such as Galveston, on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Norwegian Luna, a 3,500-guest new-build slated to enter service in spring 2026, will sail Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from PortMiami.

New Orleans will be Norwegian Prima’s homeport for the first time, as she sails cruises to the Western Caribbean, calling at Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Roatan Island, Honduras. 

Norwegian Breakaway’s inaugural season at San Juan will feature Southern Caribbean itineraries with visits to Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; La Romana, Dominican Republic; Willemstad, Curacao; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

On the US West Coast, the 4,000-guest Norwegian Encore will sail Mexican Riviera voyages from Los Angeles, calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Asia, Australia Voyages Also on Roster for Norwegian Cruise Line

Guests looking for international experiences farther afield can choose from a variety of Asia voyages and cruises to Australia and New Zealand.

Read Also: Norwegian Cruise Line Haven – What You Need to Know

Norwegian Jade will sail Asia with 16 cruises between four homeports — Incheon, South Korea; Hong Kong; Singapore. Guests can embark at any of the four, or choose from two cruises roundtrip from Tokyo.

Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship
Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)

The ship will make maiden calls to Muara, Brunei Darussalam; Kaoshiung, Taiwan; Jeju Island, South Korea; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; and Coron, Philippines. Some voyages will overnight in Hong Kong and offer late departures from Osaka and Kanazawa, Japan, and Busan, South Korea.

In Australia, wine enthusiasts can book one of Norwegian Spirit’s wine regions and “Taster” cruises. Several sailings roundtrip from Sydney depart between Dec. 12, 2026, and Jan. 10, 2027, and visit Australia’s popular wine regions. 

Port calls include Hobart, Tasmania and Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and guests can enjoy overnight stays in Adelaide, South Australia and Melbourne, Victoria. The itineraries provide plenty of time for guests to explore well-known vineyards near each port of call, including in Barossa, Derwent, and Yarra.

Alaska Port Moves Closer to Daily Cap on Cruise Arrivals

Donna Tunney
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Alaska Port Moves Closer to Daily Cap on Cruise Arrivals

Sitka, a fast-growing cruise port on Alaska’s Inside Passage, is edging closer to establishing a daily limit of 7,000 cruise passengers as a way to gain control over cruise tourism’s impact on the destination’s local population and pristine environment.

The Sitka Assembly on November 12, 2024 approved a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the city’s privately-owned Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal that sets the cap on cruise guest arrivals.

The MOU is not a legal document or contract, and is considered a framework for reaching goals that were outlined in a set of recommendations by the city’s Tourism Task Force earlier this year.

The plan also designates Saturday as a “weekend quiet day,” when cruise ships with a lower berth capacity for more than 1,000 guests will not be allowed to dock or to tender passengers ashore.

Additionally, the MOU aims to curtail the length of the Sitka cruise season by prohibiting ships with a lower birth capacity of greater than 1,000 passengers from calling during April and October.

The vote by the assembly followed an earlier effort, in June 2024, by townspeople to limit daily cruise arrivals to 4,500 passengers, with an annual cap of 300,000. However, their plan was quashed a month later, when the Sitka municipal clerk denied their petition for a ballot initiative.

The Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal can accommodate two 1,000-foot neo-Panamax cruise ships simultaneously, with a total capacity of 8,000 guests.

The length limit enables mega-ships to dock but excludes some of the world’s largest ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class and Icon-class vessels, which exceed 1,100 feet.

The memorandum between the city and the dock owner also aims to improve communication between the two entities, with the sharing of information about ship schedules and notifications about any changes to schedules. Under the proposal, the MOU will be reviewed every five years.

When the MOU is finalized with the signature of the owner of Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, it would take effect immediately. However, the 2025 cruise season already is scheduled and port calls have been booked by individual cruise lines. The document calls for the entities to work together to reach some of the plan’s goals.

“Knowing that the 2025 cruise season has already been scheduled and put on sale by cruise companies, both the City and Borough of Sitka and Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal agree to review the schedule and coordinate in good faith to achieve the purposes, intentions, and expectations set forth in this MOU to the greatest extent possible,” the memorandum of understanding states.

Cruise Ships Docked in Sitka
Cruise Ships Docked in Sitka (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte)

Sitka Joins Other Ports Capping Cruise Arrivals

Sitka welcomed a record 585,000 cruise guests in 2023 and is expected to break that record when 2024 numbers are tallied. The destination is not alone in trying to curtail and control the growth of cruise tourism.

Read Also: Your Guide to the Best Alaska Cruise Ports

In Bar Harbor, Maine, residents voted on November 5, 2024, to maintain the town’s daily cap of 1,000 cruise guests. A question on the ballot asked voters to boost the number to 3,200 per day.

Under the failed proposal, the annual cap at the Maine port would have been set at 200,000 guest arrivals.

Alaska’s capital city and one of its largest ports, Juneau, also has set daily limits for cruise ship disembarkations. In an agreement signed in May 2024 with the Cruise Lines International Association, the city capped the number of cruise ship passengers to 16,000 per day, with a reduced limit of 12,000 on Saturdays.

Club Members Get Early Access to Disney Adventure Bookings

Melissa Mayntz
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Club Members Get Early Access to Disney Adventure Bookings

Guests of Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club will have exclusive early access to book sailings aboard the exciting new Disney Adventure as she prepares for her debut from Singapore.

The cruise line has now announced the booking dates available to different levels of their loyalty program, with the most loyal guests – those who have sailed with Disney Cruise Line the most – able to book several days before other members.

The highest level of Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club is the Pearl level, which was only introduced in early 2023. Those elite guests have completed at least 25 sailings with the cruise line.

Pearl Castaway Club Members can book their voyages aboard Disney Adventure as early as Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 8 a.m. Singapore time. In the US, this is Tuesday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

Different tiers of the loyalty club are able to book Disney Adventure cruises on successive days. The Platinum members (10-24 sailings) can book on December 5, while Gold members (5-9 sailings) can book on December 6. Silver club members (1-4 sailings) are the last loyalty members to have access to new booking opportunities on Monday, December 9.

For each new opening of bookings, travelers in Singapore can begin making their Disney Adventure reservations at 8 a.m. local time on the stated days. Travelers in the US must adjust their timing to 7 p.m. the evening before.

Worth Reading: Tiered Bookings for New Disney Cruise Ship to Open This Week

Bookings for the general public will open on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. This gives all loyalty members at least one full day to choose their preferred sailing, staterooms, and other reservation details.

It is common practice for a cruise line’s most loyal members to have early access to bookings as a perk for their dedication. This means that especially coveted sailings, such as maiden voyages, holiday cruises, or unique itineraries often fill up more quickly, with less availability for new cruisers.

Setting Sail Aboard Disney Adventure

Disney Adventure will set sail on her inaugural voyage on Sunday, December 15. That 3-night sailing – like all the ship’s sailings – does not have any ports of call, but gives travelers plenty of time to relax, unwind, and enjoy all the amazing features of the brand new ship.

Of course, a ship’s maiden voyage is always a special occasion filled with unique events, exclusive activities, and distinctive memorabilia.

Rates for the maiden voyage start at $1,564 (USD) for two guests in an inside stateroom, and go as high as $5,542 for the elite Concierge level stateroom.

Cabin on Disney Adventure
Cabin on Disney Adventure

Most of Disney Adventure‘s sailings are 3- and 4-night cruises, which can be amazing short getaways for travelers to immerse themselves in the onboard Disney magic.

Of special interest will be the ship’s December 22, 2025 and December 27, 2025 sailings, both of which are 5-night cruises and the longest the ship is currently offering. These longer itineraries start at $2,694 for an interior stateroom, $3,784 for an oceanview, $4,144 for a verandah balcony, and $9,724 for a Concierge suite.

Disney Adventure will be offering solely at-sea cruises, ensuring that everyone aboard has ample time to enjoy the ship’s features, amenities, and activities.

“Sailing on primarily three- and four-night voyages designed with only dedicated days at sea, the ship will include something for everyone,” said Sarah Fox, vice president and regional general manager, Southeast Asia, Disney Cruise Line.

More From Cruise Hive

The new 208,000-gross-ton ship will not disappoint, as the lavish appointments in guest staterooms will immerse travelers into Disney, Pixar, or Marvel stories and iconic storybook settings.

Public spaces will also include outstanding Disney details with elegance and distinction, offering something for everyone. The ship will include the longest rollercoaster at sea and other thrill rides, relaxing adults-only spaces, exclusively themed dining venues, and other outstanding Disney magic across seven themed areas.

Are you ready to book your next oceangoing adventure aboard Disney Adventure?

US Updates Travel Advisories for Caribbean Cruise Destinations

Catie Kovelman
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US Updates Travel Advisories for Caribbean Cruise Destinations

Some cruise guests sailing to the Caribbean might want to reconsider before getting off the ship in certain ports of call. 

This is because the US State Department has released new travel advisories for the Caribbean countries of Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines – which are an island chain that is part of St. Vincent – on November 12, 2024. 

However, these destinations aren’t dangerous because they are riddled with crime or dangerous residents, but rather because they are still navigating the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl in July of 2024 – which hit the region as a Category 4 storm. 

The current advisory for St. Vincent and the Grenadines is set at a Level 1, which means cruise guests should exercise normal precautions if they visit. 

The travel alert states that Canouan, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Union Island are in varying stages of hurricane recovery – meaning infrastructure may be damaged and there may be fewer tourism operations available, including hotels and transportation. 

The Level 1 travel advisory for Grenada was also set for the same reason – and speaks to the impact of Hurricane Beryl on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique specifically. 

“In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl damaged buildings on these islands. Restaurant and other food options were affected. Until repairs are complete, fewer hotels may be available. Internet service was severely impacted by the hurricane and may be unreliable or unavailable,” reads the travel advisory for Grenada. 

As these alerts are at the lowest level, it’s generally still considered safe for tourists to explore these Caribbean hot spots. However, the US government suggests contacting these destinations – or your cruise line – prior to visiting for the most updated information. 

That said, travel advisories do get more severe as they level up and range from a Level 1 (lowest) to Level 4 (highest and most dangerous).

Level 1, which is what applies to these Caribbean ports, means to “exercise normal precautions.” Level 2 says to “exercise increased caution”, Level 3 urges guests to “reconsider travel,” and Level 4 is the most significant, because it stands for “do not travel.”

All Eyes on Labadee, Haiti

Speaking of travel advisories, another Caribbean country is currently at a Level 4 travel advisory. 

Haiti, which is home to Royal Caribbean’s private destination on Labadee, has been categorized as “do not travel” by the US government since March of 2024. 

The elevated travel advisory remains in place and is due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited healthcare. 

Royal Caribbean did remove Labadee from all itineraries in March out of an abundance of caution and only recently started sailing back to the Haitian peninsula on October 8, 2024.  

That said, many in the cruise community are questioning if the family-friendly cruise line has returned to its exclusive destination too soon – especially as the local unrest seems to be intensifying. 

Read Also: Are Cruises Safe? What You Really Need to Know

As recently as Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the US Federal Aviation Administration joined the United Nations in suspending flights to Haiti after armed groups fired on three commercial aircrafts. 

On November 11, a plane from Spirit Airlines was hit by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince – the capital of Haiti – which resulted in a minor injury to one of the flight attendants. 

JetBlue and American Airlines have also reported being hit by gunfire after flying to Haiti’s main airport. 

Even so, Royal Caribbean is holding firm in its decision to return to Labadee – which is located about 125 miles away from Port-au-Prince – after its months-long hiatus.

“The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority. Our Global Security and Intelligence Team continuously monitors the situation in Haiti,” the cruise brand said in a statement to NBC. 

Since Labadee is in a fenced-off, guarded area away from the main population of Haiti, Royal Caribbean may still feel safe enough to bring guests to its private destination. 

That said, the cruise line is limiting its shore excursions to the more secure areas in the direct vicinity of the cruise port for the time being. 

Crown Princess Guests Informed About the Need for Extra Cleaning

Catie Kovelman
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Crown Princess Guests Informed About the Need for Extra Cleaning

In a surprising coincidence, not one, but two Princess cruise ships sailing through Australia have experienced gastrointestinal outbreaks in a very short time period.

The first outbreak occurred during Diamond Princess’s 21-night New Zealand-bound cruise, which disembarked on November 12, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia.

However, according to passengers currently onboard Crown Princess, the Carnival-owned brand is now in the middle of battling a second, unrelated gastrointestinal outbreak. 

In fact, up to 2,080 guests were strongly encouraged to disembark in Darwin, Australia, during the port call on November 14, 2024, to allow crew members to conduct a deep cleaning onboard. 

“To help control the spread of illness, we are conducting a comprehensive ship wide cleaning and disinfection program on Thursday 14th November 2024 during our stay in Darwin,” reads a letter from Princess that was delivered to all cruise cabins. 

“We strongly recommend you consider spending some time ashore exploring the beautiful port of Darwin whilst our teams diligently complete the disinfection operations,” the letter suggested.

The cruise line added that the cleaning process would begin mid-morning and take approximately two hours to complete – during which time some amenities onboard could be unavailable. 

Guests were also informed that the cleaning wouldn’t be limited just to public areas, but would also include all 1,545 guest staterooms. 

Passengers would be required to vacate their staterooms during the cleaning unless they had become sick and were in isolation. 

“If you are not planning to spend time ashore, please vacate your stateroom if requested to do so by one of our team members. Guests who are currently in isolation are not required to vacate their rooms and should remain in their staterooms,” continued the update. 

It’s unclear how many people onboard have fallen ill or what pathogen is making them sick, although norovirus is usually the cause of most gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships.

Multiple Princess Ships Take Action Against Illness 

If this story sounds familiar, it’s likely because a similar outbreak onboard Diamond Princess also came to light in early November – and both Diamond Princess and Crown Princess are currently sailing in Australian waters. 

In the case of Diamond Princess, guests were asked to leave the ship three times to allow for deep cleanings – twice in Melbourne, Australia, and once in Auckland, New Zealand. 

With the disturbance happening several times, guests onboard Diamond Princess were given a $50 onboard credit to make amends for each time they were asked to disembark – whereas no compensation has been announced regarding the outbreak on Crown Princess as of the time of publication.

Princess Cruises Ship
Princess Cruises Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)

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That said, the cleaning and outbreak have not caused any known delays for the 113,500-gross ton Crown Princess – which is currently sailing through Eastern Australia and operating six itineraries at once, which range in length from 15 nights to 28 nights. 

As she sails on, the approximately 1,200 crew members are following strict protocols to prevent any further spread of illness, and any subsequent delays that might follow a large outbreak. 

For example, sick guests have been told to isolate themselves in their cabins and anyone who suspects they may be falling ill have been instructed to return to their stateroom and contact the onboard medical team. 

“Please remember that if you develop any symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, return to your stateroom, and notify the medical staff by telephoning 911,” urged the letter from Princess. 

In these situations, it’s also common for the cruise lines to take extra precautions, such as by having crew members serve guests in the buffet (instead of self service) and cleaning high-touch surfaces more frequently. 

Current passengers have also reported seeing a higher number of other guests wearing masks around the ship and that they are taking their own preventive measures, such as washing their hands more often and carrying hand sanitizer.

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