Blog Page 3

Three Royal Caribbean Ships Reach Homeports After Long Repositioning Voyages

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Three Royal Caribbean Ships Reach Homeports After Long Repositioning Voyages

Key Aspects:

  • Three Royal Caribbean ships have arrived at their summer homeports in recent days to start diverse sailings in different regions.
  • Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas are now homeporting from Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, for the summer season.
  • Navigator of the Seas has arrived in Singapore for her first season in Asia and will remain homeported there until October 2027.

It’s been a busy few days for the Royal Caribbean fleet as three ships completed repositioning sailings to their new homeports, bringing diverse itineraries and onboard fun to three major cities on two different continents.

Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas have returned to their Australian homeports of Brisbane and Sydney, respectively, while Navigator of the Seas has arrived in Singapore for her debut season in Asia.

Quantum of the Seas in Brisbane

The 4,180-guest Quantum of the Seas arrived in Brisbane on Thursday, October 22, 2026, following a 26-night transpacific cruise from Los Angeles. The ship is homeported from Australia for the Down Under summer, and during the 2026-2027 season she is offering 28 different sailings ranging from 3- to 9-night options.

“We’re excited to bring our award-winning Quantum of the Seas back to Brisbane, giving more Queensland families the unforgettable Royal Caribbean holiday experiences they know and love,” said Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean.

“With more short getaways and weekend departures, this season makes it easier than ever to escape, whether it’s a quick weekend away with friends or a longer adventure with the whole family.”

Depending on the cruise length, departure date, and general itinerary, Quantum of the Seas will be visiting destinations such as Airlie Beach, Cairns, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu.

On April 11, 2027, the ship will depart Australia to head for Seattle and the Alaska sailing season, after which she will be homeported from Singapore at least until March 2028.

Anthem of the Seas in Sydney

Sister ship to Quantum of the Seas, the 4,180-guest Anthem of the Seas has likewise returned to Australia as she arrived in Sydney on Friday, October 30, 2026. Her journey back to Australia was a 2-voyage process with a 10-night sailing from Vancouver to Honolulu, followed by a 19-night sailing from Honolulu to Sydney.

Now, Anthem of the Seas is offering an Australian summer season of 21 sailings, from 3- to 9-night itineraries across the South Pacific and select 12-night sailings to New Zealand.

Anthem of the Seas in Sydney
Anthem of the Seas in Sydney (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Australia and New Zealand)

“Following an incredible debut Down Under, we’re excited to bring back the award-winning Anthem of the Seas to Sydney for our most action-packed summer yet,” said Smith. “With a variety of short weekenders and South Pacific holidays plus New Zealand adventures, families can holiday in their own way, all with the ease of only having to unpack once.”

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Sends 7 Ships to Europe for Its First All-Year Season

Anthem of the Seas is scheduled to return to North America in May 2027 to offer both northbound and southbound Alaska sailings, from Vancouver and Seward, respectively. In October 2027 she will make her way back to Sydney.

Navigator of the Seas in Singapore

The 3,368-guest Navigator of the Seas arrived in Singapore on Thursday, October 29, 2026, debuting in the Asian market and ready to offer sailings to Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam, depending on cruise length and sailing date.

“Navigator of the Seas’ arrival in Singapore marks a game-changing moment for Royal Caribbean, making it easier for vacationers to discover more of Asia from one convenient homeport,” said Ben Bouldin, President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia, Royal Caribbean.

“With a range of short getaways and longer journeys to destinations across the region, Navigator gives vacationers greater flexibility in how they experience Asia.”

Sailings on Navigator of the Seas range from 2 to 12 nights, and the ship will remain in Singapore through October 2027. Originally, the ship was scheduled to return to Los Angeles in May 2027, but Royal Caribbean announced in August 2026 that the transpacific cruise to California was cancelled and the ship would remain in Singapore for a longer deployment.

On Friday, October 15, 2027, Navigator of the Seas will depart Singapore on a 12-night voyage to Tokyo, followed by a 17-night sailing from Tokyo to Los Angeles, where she will be homeported for sailings to Mexico.

Carnival Warns Scooter Users They Could Be Denied Boarding

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Warns Scooter Users They Could Be Denied Boarding

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival has sent scooter storage policy reminders to guests for the November 8, 2026 sailing of Carnival Radiance.
  • Guests are being reminded that scooters must be stored inside staterooms, not in corridors or public areas.
  • Other policies covered in the email include scooter size limits and what happens to a scooter if guests debark early.

Carnival Cruise Line is continuing to remind guests about the importance of mobility equipment fitting properly in guests’ staterooms with pre-cruise emails about the scooter storage policy.

While the policy has not changed, these proactive reminders ensure guests are aware of the policy and there will be no confusion about how scooters are evaluated at boarding and what the onboard expectations may be.

Guests setting sail onboard the November 8, 2026 sailing of Carnival Radiance have received the emails. That particular sailing is a 14-night Carnival Journeys Hawaii voyage from Long Beach, but the policies are not exclusive only to longer cruises.

The emails were sent roughly two weeks prior to embarkation. This gives guests time to make alternative arrangements for mobility equipment if necessary.

“This message is intended only for those traveling with a scooter. If you will not be traveling with one, you may disregard this advisory. Otherwise, please read this message in its entirety as we have an important reminder regarding our mandatory policy for safe scooter storage on board,” the email begins.

Policies guests must be aware of are that scooters must be stored in staterooms, not in hallways or public areas. If guests will have more than one scooter in the same stateroom, they must book a fully accessible room, and guests must also book a fully accessible room if their scooter measures wider than 21 inches.

Carnival Scooter Letter
Carnival Scooter Letter

“Guests will be required to have their scooters sized at check-in to ensure they fit in reserved staterooms. Scooters that do not fit will not be allowed on board,” the email notes.

“Should a guest be unable to make alternate arrangements to rent a smaller scooter or travel without one, boarding will be denied, and no compensation will be provided.”

Guests are reminded that they need to submit an online registration form for their scooter. The Mobility Devices Form is available on Carnival’s website and includes questions about the type of device, the guest’s mobility level, the power source for the device, and the type of stateroom the guest has booked.

Cruise Terminal Scooter Sign
Cruise Terminal Scooter Sign (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

Mobility scooters have been a source of contention onboard Carnival ships for years, including proper elevator etiquette and safe driving.

In September 2025, one guest who used a mobility scooter during a Carnival cruise to Belize complained that crew members would not carry their scooter onto a tender boat while they were sitting in it. Carnival brand ambassador John Heald responded that crew can carry a scooter, but not with a guest seated on it.

What Happens If a Guest Leaves Their Scooter Behind?

An interesting inclusion in the email is a note about if guests leave the ship early and what happens to their scooter under those circumstances.

“Guests who disembark the ship early without their mobility device are responsible for arranging and paying for the return shipment of their scooter or mobility device,” the email explains.

While not stated explicitly, this policy likely refers to what will happen if a guest is medically evacuated from the cruise ship. When a guest is airlifted by emergency personnel, they do not carry along luggage, mobility devices, or large personal belongings.

The same policy about leaving the ship early would also likely apply if guests were to be late back to Carnival Radiance at a port of call and miss the ship.

Regent Quietly Delays Seven Seas Prestige, Cancels Maiden Voyage

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Regent Quietly Delays Seven Seas Prestige, Cancels Maiden Voyage

Key Aspects:

  • The inaugural sailing of Seven Seas Prestige has been delayed and the original maiden voyage departing on December 13, 2026 has been cancelled.
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises has not made an official announcement of the cancellation, but the first voyage available for booking now departs on December 28, 2026, from Miami.
  • The ultra-luxury ship is the first in a new class for the line and will be the largest vessel ever built for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has quietly delayed the launch of the upcoming Seven Seas Prestige, the first ship in a new class for the luxury line. The delay was mentioned in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ Third Quarter 2026 financial report, in reference to the fourth quarter outlook.

“The outlook reflects a modestly improved underlying Net Yield performance, offset by an unfavorable mix impact due to the delayed delivery of Seven Seas Prestige to late December and the cancellation of select voyages on Seven Seas Voyager transiting the Suez Canal,” the report reads.

The new ship was originally scheduled to welcome her first guests on December 13, 2026 in Barcelona for a 14-night transatlantic sailing to Miami, Florida, stopping at Malaga, Funchal, and San Juan along the way.

Guests on social media have mentioned the cancellation of that sailing, which apparently happened in late September.

While the cruise line has not made a formal announcement about the delay, the first voyage for the ship now listed on the website is the December 28, 2026 departure from Miami, an 11-night western Caribbean itinerary with visits to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.

This sailing aligns with the financial report’s claim that the ship’s delivery has been delayed to “late December” and was always planned as the ship’s second sailing.

It is possible that additional sailings may be impacted, as “delivery” from a shipyard generally takes place a few weeks before a new ship begins sailing with guests. After delivery but before guests embark is when the ship takes on crew members, moves to her new homeport, and is supplied for sailings.

If indeed Seven Seas Prestige will not be technically delivered from the shipyard to the cruise line until late December, further cancellations may be necessary as the ship is prepared to enter guest service, but there has been no confirmation of any additional cancellations at this time.

Seven Seas Prestige
Seven Seas Prestige (Rendering: Regent Seven Seas)

Seven Seas Prestige is scheduled to offer a diverse first year, with sailings departing not only from Miami, but also Los Angeles, Panama City, San Juan, New York, Barcelona, Southampton, Lisbon, Ravenna, Civitavecchia, Trieste, and Piraeus over her first 12 months in service.

This will bring the ship’s unique luxury to a broad range of markets and sailing regions, introducing the new class to many potential guests before additional sister ships in the same class enter service in 2030, 2033, and 2036.

Seven Seas Prestige Under Final Construction Stages

At the moment, the 818-guest Seven Seas Prestige is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. The vessel was floated out for the first time nearly a year ago, on November 27, 2025, at that time moving on to interior finishing and final construction stages.

This includes the design and construction of the largest-ever suite in the line’s history, the two-level Skyview Regent Suite, at 8,794 square feet and having a wraparound balcony, a stone stairway, an in-suite elevator, private gym, sauna, and other ultra-luxe features. The per-night cost for the Skyview Regent Suite starts at $25,000.

The new ship is the first time a new class of vessel has been designed for Regent Seven Seas Cruises in 10 years. At 76,550 gross tons, the 12-deck ship is designed to have one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry, with lavish details throughout for the ultimate in all-inclusive luxury.

Free valet laundry service, Starlink WiFi access, 11 dining venues, a sweeping atrium, a competition-sized pickleball court, the fleet’s largest Serene Spa & Wellness space, a culinary arts kitchen, and all-included shore excursions are just a few of the details guests can look forward to aboard Seven Seas Prestige.

Carnival Luminosa Will Homeport in Baltimore After Australia Exit

Calvin Musquez
-
0
Carnival Luminosa Will Homeport in Baltimore After Australia Exit

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for its 2028/29 Baltimore cruises, featuring Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Miracle.
  • In November 2028, Carnival Luminosa will make its Baltimore debut following a dry dock, after leaving the Australian market earlier that year.
  • The two ships will offer cruises ranging from six to 14 days, visiting 22 destinations across the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada and the Caribbean.

Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled and opened bookings for its 2028/29 Baltimore schedule, bringing one ship to the Maryland port for the first time. Carnival Luminosa will make its Baltimore debut in November 2028.

The 92,720-gross-ton vessel was previously announced to be leaving the Australian market in March 2028, along with Carnival Adventure. Carnival Luminosa will undergo a dry dock to refresh and enhance the ship before sailing to Baltimore.

In a previous announcement covered by Cruise Hive, it was revealed that Carnival Luminosa will reposition to Los Angeles following its March 2028 departure from Australia. Carnival has not said where the dry dock will take place prior to the Baltimore move.

After arriving in Baltimore, Carnival Luminosa will offer 7- to 14-day voyages from the port through April 2029, visiting the Bahamas and the Caribbean.  Many of these itineraries feature stops at Carnival’s private destinations, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.

Shorter 7- and 8-day cruises will focus on the Bahamas, while 9-day sailings feature the Eastern Caribbean. For guests looking for a longer voyage, the ship will also offer 12- and 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises to the Southern Caribbean, stopping in destinations such as Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten.

Carnival Miracle Continues Baltimore Sailings

In Baltimore, Carnival Luminosa will join Carnival Miracle, which will relocate to the port in November 2027. The newly opened sailings aboard the 2,124-guest ship run from September 2028 to April 2029

The ship will operate 6- to 14-day cruises visiting the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean as well as two Canada and New England sailings. Caribbean offerings include 9-day Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting destinations such as San Juan, Amber Cove, and St. Thomas.

Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship
Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: denbaim)

Longer 12- to 14-day Carnival Journeys voyages will explore the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Ports of call for these cruises include Antigua, Bonaire, and Tortola.

The two 8-day Canada and New England itineraries will depart September 9 and September 23, 2028. Those voyages will visit destinations such as Portland, Halifax, and Saint John.

What is Happening to Carnival Pride?

Notably absent from Carnival’s announcement is Carnival Pride. The 2,134-guest ship has a long history with Baltimore, having first offered year-round cruises from the port in 2009.

While the ship has homeported elsewhere over the years, it has sailed consistently from Baltimore since 2024, after some sailings moved to Norfolk following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Carnival’s booking page lists available sailings aboard Carnival Pride from the port through April 2028, but no further sailings are listed.

Carnival Pride’s absence from the 2028/29 schedule raises questions over whether a redeployment may be in store for the vessel. However, the cruise line has not announced a redeployment for the Spirit-class ship.

Island Princess Departure Delayed After Guest Found Unresponsive

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Island Princess Departure Delayed After Guest Found Unresponsive

Key Aspects:

  • A 69-year-old male American guest passed away due to natural causes on Island Princess on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
  • He was found shortly before the ship arrived in Souda, Greece, and Island Princess departed about 30 minutes late.
  • There has been no indication of foul play in the guest’s death and the cruise ship has continued her scheduled itinerary.

It was a sad day aboard Princess Cruises’ Island Princess on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as a guest was found unresponsive in his stateroom and confirmed to have died shortly before the ship arrived in Souda, Greece.

According to the Greek news media Parakritika, the 69-year-old male passenger died from natural causes and was found unconscious in his stateroom by his wife. No specific cause of death has been released, nor is there any indication of foul play.

Other than his American nationality, no further information has been disclosed about the guest’s identity. This is standard practice to safeguard the privacy of the guest, as well as the privacy of their family members, friends, and traveling companions at such a distressing time.

Because of legal necessities for the guest’s body to remain on the ship for transport back to the U.S., Island Princess was delayed in her departure from the port.

Island Princess Cruise Ship
Island Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Andres Felipe Perez)

The call to Souda is one of the last on the ship’s current sailing. The 25-night one-way transatlantic cruise departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, October 6. Island Princess has already visited destinations in Bermuda, the Azores, Spain, France, and Italy.

The call to Souda was the first of three port stops planned for Greece before the ship arrives in Piraeus on Saturday, October 31 for debarkation. Following Souda, Island Princess is scheduled to visit Santorini and Mykonos.

Why Was Island Princess Delayed?

Because the 2,210-guest cruise ship is foreign-flagged (the ship is flagged in Bermuda), specific procedures had to be followed for the guest’s body to be transported out of Greece, and approvals were needed from the relevant Hellenic authorities.

Transporting human remains, whether a body or cremated ashes, can be a complicated process both for the country being left and the country where the remains are being imported.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is necessary to notify consular personnel, obtain export clearance documents as well as import documents, arrange appropriate packaging, and complete other necessary documentation to bring a body into the U.S.

AIS tracking data shows Island Princess departed Souda at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, about 30 minutes behind her scheduled 8 p.m. departure. Tracking does show the ship calling on Santorini as scheduled on Thursday, October 29. Souda and Santorini are roughly 100 miles apart, and the ship was planned to be in Santorini from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues? Find Out What Happens

It is not common for a guest to pass away during a cruise vacation, but such sad situations do happen. Cruise ships are equipped with medical facilities and do have onboard morgues for use when needed.

Cruise Hive has reached out to Princess Cruises about the incident but has not yet received a response at press time, and our thoughts are with the guest’s family members and friends at this difficult time.

Carnival Breeze and Jubilee Guests Warned of Galveston Construction Delays

Calvin Musquez
-
0
Carnival Breeze and Jubilee Guests Warned of Galveston Construction Delays

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival has warned guests on three Galveston departures this week about construction-related lane closures along Harborside Drive.
  • The advisory affects Carnival Breeze departures on October 29 and November 2, and Carnival Jubilee on October 31, 2026.
  • Passengers have been given specific parking and drop-off instructions to avoid unnecessary delays in reaching Cruise Terminal 25.

Lane closures due to construction along Harborside Drive are complicating embarkations for three Carnival cruises out of Galveston. On October 27, 2026, the cruise line issued an advisory to guests booked on the sailings with instructions for navigating to Cruise Terminal 25. 

The advisory affects guests on two sailings of Carnival Breeze, departing October 29, 2026 and November 2, 2026. The October 29 departure is a 4-night sailing visiting Cozumel, while the November 2 cruise is a 5-night voyage visiting Cozumel and Progreso.

One sailing aboard Carnival Jubilee is also affected. The 5,362-guest ship will depart from Galveston October 31, 2026 for an 8-night voyage visiting Nassau, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, and Celebration Key.

“You will be embarking at Cruise Terminal 25 (CT25), and construction is underway along sections of Harborside Drive (the main road by the cruise terminal). Consequently, there will be lane closures,” the notice reads.

The notice advises guests to check traffic conditions on the day of embarkation to adjust their routes to the terminal. It further explains that traffic signs and personnel will be on-site to direct traffic amid the closures. 

For guests parking a vehicle at Lots A and B, a complimentary shuttle to Cruise Terminal 25 is provided by the Port of Galveston. This shuttle is not available for guests parking in the Express Lot next to Terminal 28 or the SMP Garage across the street from Terminal 25.

Guests parking at the Express Lot have been advised to enter on the west side via 33rd Street instead of approaching from Harborside Drive. The cruise line did not specify a recommended route for the SMP Garage, though the entrances are usually accessible via 24th or 25th Street if guests wish to avoid Harborside.

If guests are being dropped off at Terminal 25, they are advised to tell their driver to enter the terminal drop-off area via 22nd Street and exit via 23rd. There will also be no vehicular access to Terminal 25 from Terminal 28, so guests planning to take a shortcut through the neighboring terminal will need to use the correct route instead.

Carnival Galveston Letter
Carnival Galveston Letter

Despite the complications for guests navigating to the port, Carnival has not announced any changes to the scheduled departure times for the three sailings. Guests were advised to adhere to their scheduled arrival appointments and be onboard by the final boarding time on their boarding passes.

As Cruise Hive has covered in the past, guests are responsible for their own arrival punctuality, not the cruise line. Carnival has previously emphasized that it would not issue compensation or refunds to guests who are late to their cruise due to traffic problems.

Galveston Construction Has Disrupted Cruises Before

The construction along Harborside Drive and resulting road closures have been ongoing for some time. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began work in earnest on a mobility and road rehabilitation project in May 2026, while the earliest road closures began in fall 2025.

At the same time, a separate port improvement project is constructing an internal roadway to redirect cruise traffic away from Harborside in order to alleviate congestion around the port. For now, the work is adding to congestion and Carnival has already issued several similar traffic notices to guests.

In May 2026, the cruise line issued a similar traffic advisory to guests sailing on Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee. More recently, guests booked on Carnival Dream’s September 5, 2026 cruise were redirected to Terminal 28 instead of 25 due to road closures from the project.

The road rehabilitation project was originally supposed to finish over the summer, but faced a number of delays. TxDOT now expects work to finish sometime in early November, though the internal roadway and other port improvements will roll out in phases into and beyond 2027.

Carnival Now Marks Sail & Sign Cards of Guests Who Prepay Gratuities

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Now Marks Sail & Sign Cards of Guests Who Prepay Gratuities

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is adding a sticker to guests’ Sail & Sign cards to indicate if gratuities have been pre-paid before sailing.
  • The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has confirmed the stickers, but no further details are yet available.
  • Carnival’s gratuity FAQ no longer mentions that guests can adjust gratuities, but it also doesn’t deny that ability.

Carnival Cruise Line has introduced new personalization to guests’ Sail & Sign cards that is creating strong reactions among cruisers. The cruise line has confirmed that “Crew love” stickers are being put on guests’ cards if the gratuities for that sailing have been pre-paid.

The stickers appeared in a TikTok video posted on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 that has quickly gone viral with more than 43,000 views in a single day. The 10-second video shows the poster’s card from the October 18, 2026 sailing of Carnival Panorama, a 6-night Mexican Riviera itinerary from Long Beach.

The card pictured is the vertical, redesigned card that was introduced with the new Carnival Rewards program on September 1, 2026, which has “Carnival Days Sailed” and the total number of cruise days for the individual guest printed on the lower right corner.

In the upper right-hand corner of the card is a light blue, circular sticker that says, “Crew love” and “I pre-paid my gratuities” surrounded by hearts, polka dots, and a dark blue border.

The idea of publicly displaying such a statement has seemed so unbelievable to even the most dedicated Carnival Cruise Line fans that many quickly questioned whether the sticker was real or if the image was AI-generated and a fake rumor.

John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, has reportedly responded to guests asking about the sticker’s authenticity and confirmed it is real.

“Thank you, yes that is correct and we have only just started this,” Heald said in an email reply to one guest.

He did explain that he would “put some things together” to share with his nearly 700,000 Facebook followers, but did not give a specific date when he might share additional information.

In the meantime, the stickers aren’t the only thanks Carnival is offering guests who have pre-paid their gratuities.

The TikTok video also shows a card left in the stateroom thanking the guest. The same colorful “Crew love” emblem is at the top of the card.

“On behalf of our entire team, thank you for pre-paying your gratuities. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps recognize the many team members who work together to make your cruise vacation fun, memorable, and enjoyable,” the card reads. “Thank you for choosing Carnival, and we trust that you’re having a wonderful cruise filled with fun, relaxation, and unforgettable moments!”

Carnival Cruise Line also released a statement about the stickers, clarifying that they are part of a larger pilot program of guest recognition and crew appreciation that is being evaluated as feedback is submitted.

“The Carnival gratuity program is an important way guests recognize our hardworking team members and ensure that gratuities are shared among both guest-facing and behind-the-scenes crew who make great vacations possible. Our team members provide great service to every guest,” the statement reads.

“The ‘Crew Love’ stickers and thank-you notes are simply a way to let our crew know that a guest has prepaid their gratuities, while giving those guests a little recognition for their generosity. This is one component of a broader pilot, and we’re listening to feedback as we evaluate it.”

Strong Reactions to Gratuity Stickers

Regardless of what cruise guests may personally think of gratuities and whether or not to pre-pay, the stickers are prompting strong reactions.

While some guests do approve of the sticker addition, many others feel it is in poor taste and would prefer not to have it.

Some commenters have expressed genuine concern that guests who display the pre-paid sticker may receive a different level of service from crew members, while others simply prefer to pay their gratuities another way rather than pre-pay.

“Some of us don’t Pre-pay because we don’t feel the need to give Carnival our money a year in advance when we book the cruise and no service has been provided to us yet,” one guest explained on a Facebook post.

Many commenters also noted that this feels like shaming guests who don’t pre-pay gratuities but who may pay in cash or simply pay the automatic gratuities once they’re added to each guest’s individual account during a sailing, even though those guests are still paying gratuities.

Carnival Cruise Line’s official service gratuity policy explains the gratuity policies and amounts (currently $17 per person, per day for standard staterooms and $19 per person, per day for suites), but does not mention stickers.

Cruise Hive has noticed, however, that Carnival Cruise Line’s gratuities page has been recently updated, with some significant changes.

According to the Wayback Machine, as recently as August 26, 2026, the service gratuities FAQ noted guests were able to adjust gratuities if they desired.

“At the discretion of the guest, gratuities may be adjusted after they have been posted on the guest’s account, while on board,” the archived FAQ reads.

That line has been removed from the current page on Carnival’s website, and there is no longer any mention of guests having the discretion to adjust gratuities. The gratuities may either be pre-paid or will be added automatically to guests’ accounts during their cruise.

To be clear, there is also no mention that guests cannot adjust gratuities if they wish, there is just no longer any mention at all of adjustments.

A hoax letter was recently circulating through social media claiming that Royal Caribbean would no longer permit guests to adjust gratuities onboard, but that was debunked. Royal Caribbean did have a minor error on its gratuities FAQ that was quickly corrected.

MSC Opera Guests Get Cancellation Texts Just One Day Before Sailing

Calvin Musquez
-
0
MSC Opera Guests Get Cancellation Texts Just One Day Before Sailing

Key Aspects:

  • Guests booked on MSC Opera received last-minute cancellation notices on October 28, ahead of scheduled embarkations in Italy.
  • MSC cited technical reasons, though it did not specify whether it was related to the ship’s current dry dock.
  • The cruise line promised refunds and expense reimbursement to affected passengers, while other guests reported their embarkation was moved to Livorno on October 31.

Cruise guests booked on MSC Opera were surprised when they received text messages informing them that their cruise had been cancelled. The messages were sent to guests on October 28, 2026, just one day before the earliest embarkation.

“We are very sorry to inform you that, due to technical reasons, we had to cancel your cruise,” the text reads.

The 2,658-guest vessel was scheduled to depart from Civitavecchia, Italy on October 29. Several overlapping itineraries were offered, including shorter Mediterranean cruises and longer transatlantic voyages, with additional embarkation opportunities at ports such as Genoa and Livorno.

MSC Opera has been undergoing a dry dock operation in Valletta since earlier in October. As of the time of writing, cruise ship tracking data shows the vessel still docked in the Malta port.

MSC Cruises has not confirmed exactly what technical problems led to the cancellation. However, the timing points to a repair related to its dry dock.

These text messages prompted confusion from booked passengers, with some questioning whether they were a phishing attempt. Cruise phishing scams have become more common in recent years, as Cruise Hive has covered. That said, some passengers reported to have confirmed the cancellation directly with MSC Cruises.

MSC Text Message
MSC Text Message

As of the time of writing, the Port of Civitavecchia has not updated its port schedule to reflect the cancellation. The October 29 departures have since been removed from MSC’s website.

The cruise line’s notice said that guests would receive a full refund for the cancelled cruise. The notice also promised reimbursement for travel and accommodation expenses. 

Some Guests Told to Embark in Livorno Instead

Not every guest reported receiving the cancellation message. Some guests, discussing the notice on Facebook, reported that they were told their sailing was not completely cancelled, but that embarkation was moved to Livorno on October 31.

“I got a message that it was postponed until October 31 and leaving from Livorno,” said one guest.

“I am already in Genoa. It doesn’t say it is totally cancelled,” said another guest. “My email says my embarkation is Livorno and to report to terminal as normal Oct 30 and get a free hotel and bus to Livorno on Oct 31 with obc [onboard credit].”

Livorno was already the scheduled port of call for MSC Opera on that day. While the guests did not specify the lengths of their sailings in their comments, it is possible that bookings are being handled differently depending on their length.

MSC Has Cancelled Cruises for Technical Issues Before

MSC Cruises has not confirmed exactly what technical problems led to the cancellation, though the timing points to a repair related to its dry dock. However, the cruise line has had similar last-minute cancellations due to technical problems in the past.

In April 2025, MSC Sinfonia passengers also received a text message the evening before departure informing them that their cruise had been cancelled because of technical issues. Following that cancellation, reports began to circulate that the ship had encountered a malfunction affecting its speed.

Guests booked on a May 2025 sailing aboard MSC Meraviglia, meanwhile, had slightly more notice. Their cruise was cancelled in mid-April, just over three weeks before embarkation, with the cruise line citing mechanical issues affecting the ship’s speed.

Barcelona Port Protest Disrupts 13,000 Cruise Guests Across Four Ships

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Barcelona Port Protest Disrupts 13,000 Cruise Guests Across Four Ships

Key Aspects:

  • A protest and fire barricade blocked cruise terminal access in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday, October 28, while four ships were in port.
  • Odyssey of the Seas, Mein Schiff 7, and AIDAmar were on day visits, while Norwegian Escape was embarking guests.
  • No injuries were reported due to the protest, and none of the ships were significantly delayed in departing the city.

Guests on four cruise ships visiting Barcelona on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 were faced with transportation difficulties when port workers blocked access to the cruise terminal with protests and fire barricades.

According to Crónica Global, the protest blocked access to the Moll Adossat, which includes the cruise ship terminals. The protest happened just as thousands of cruise ship passengers were moving back and forth between their ships and tours or independent exploration of Barcelona.

The four ships in port at the time were Odyssey of the Seas, Mein Schiff 7, AIDAmar, and Norwegian Escape. There are no reports that any of the ships were in any danger during the protests, only that access to the cruise terminals was temporarily blocked.

Odyssey of the Seas is sailing a 14-night transatlantic cruise that departed Civitavecchia on Sunday, October 25 and is bound for Cape Liberty, New Jersey. Mein Schiff 7 is homeported from Palma de Mallorca and is on a 7-night sailing that began on Thursday, October 22, and AIDAmar is likewise homeported from Palma de Mallorca and on a 7-night sailing that departed on Sunday, October 25.

Norwegian Escape was homeporting from Barcelona on Wednesday, departing on a 16-night transatlantic sailing to Port Canaveral, Florida. This is the ship’s first cruise following a two-week dry dock refreshment in Marseille, France so there were no debarking guests, only guests arriving to set sail.

While no vehicles could access the terminals during the protest, video posted online shows cruise guests walking along the roadway between the terminals and the city centre. Depending on exactly where each ship was docked, that walk was as much as two miles each way.

The protest was not directly related to the cruise ships or tourism, but was over a bonus dispute in response to financial disparities, which port workers believe to be a violation of a collective bargaining agreement.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Spain and Andorra issued a countrywide alert about protests for Wednesday, cautioning U.S. citizens to avoid demonstrations and be aware of their surroundings, noting that increased security presence was likely in demonstration areas and escalations into violence might be possible.

Cruise Guests Unhappy at Delays

Together, the four cruise ships brought upwards of 13,000 guests to the city, but the protest made their visits less than pleasant.

“A protest by the port crew early this morning has blocked the bridge’s vehicular entrance to the cruise terminal so no vehicles were allowed to go in or out,” one guest on Odyssey of the Seas described on Facebook. “We [had] to wait until the protest was over just before noon before disembarking the ship to go into town.”

This is not the first time guests aboard Odyssey of the Seas have been impacted by recent protests. Cruise Hive reported earlier that guests were warned about protests in Naples on the ship’s previous sailing, and urged to be cautious if they were exploring the Italian city independently.

While guests visiting Barcelona as a port of call were inconvenienced by the protest, the situation was more unsettling for guests boarding Norwegian Escape.

“Barcelona, what a stressful situation! Our way to the port is blocked by protesters, and we’re just trying to get to our cruise ship!” one guest wrote on Facebook. “We came here to enjoy our trip, not to be stuck on the road worrying about missing our cruise.”

The guest goes on to state they respect everyone’s right to protest, but the experience made them all the more willing to leave Barcelona in their wake.

Cruise lines have been clear in the past that guests are responsible for reaching the cruise terminal on time for departure and a ship will not wait for guests who are delayed by circumstances outside of the cruise line’s control.

The protest ended well before any of the ships were scheduled to depart and there have been no reports of guests missing their ships due to the disruption.

1234...621Page 3 of 621