Blog Page 320

Repairs Complete to World’s Largest Cruise Ship

Guests booked on the record-breaking Icon of the Seas will be relieved to learn the ship’s next sailing will move forward as planned following the ship being temporarily out of service for emergency repairs.

While the cruise line has been in touch with guests since the ship was pulled from service for the unexpected work, the update was rather vague, only promising “As we get closer, we’ll provide you with updates on our progress.”

Now, Royal Caribbean has reached out to booked guests to alert them to the conclusion of the repairs, confirming that the ship’s October 5, 2024 departure will set sail as scheduled following the cancellation of the September 28 sailing.

“Just a quick update regarding our upcoming sailing…” the notification said. “We were conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas and we’re happy to share that it’s complete!”

The cruise line has not shared the nature of the “unplanned maintenance,” but typically, a vessel is not removed from service for such work unless critical systems are impacted, such as propulsion or safety systems.

Nevertheless, the work has been successfully completed while the ship has been in Freeport – the closest shipyard capable of repairs – and she is scheduled to be back in Miami on Saturday.

“The ship is ready, our crew have missed our guests, and we are looking forward to resuming our normal itineraries as of our October 5, 2024 sailing,” the message concluded.

The upcoming cruise is a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing with visits planned for St. Kitts on Tuesday, St. Thomas on Wednesday, and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian destination, on Friday. At this time, there are no planned adjustments to the itinerary.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas Size Comparison – Facts and Stats

The 248,663-gross-ton ship can welcome 5,610 travelers at double occupancy, or up to 7,600 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. As the ship is specially designed for families and multi-generational travel, she often sails well above her double occupancy total, and all passengers are sure to be relieved that the next cruise will set sail as planned.

Not the First Problem for Icon of the Seas

Though Icon of the Seas has not even been in service for a year – the ship’s inaugural sailing set forth on January 27, 2024 – this “unplanned maintenance” is not the first technical problem the vessel has faced.

In May, the ship experienced a significant power loss that impacted propulsion, lighting, water pumps, elevators, and other systems. While the overall outage was not long, it did take several hours for full systems to be restored across the vessel.

Despite all the pre-inaugural testing, sea trials, and shakedowns, it is not unusual for new ships to have some small tweaks or minor incidents as they begin full passenger operations.

Icon of the Seas Docked in Miami, Florida
Icon of the Seas Docked in Miami, Florida

What is unusual, however, is for such problems to cause widespread and apparently serious technical problems as Icon of the Seas appears to have experienced. Of course, the completely new class of ship – and the largest ship in the world – can be presenting entirely new challenges to engineers as she settles into full-time service.

Some travelers have been concerned that Icon of the Seas‘ problem might mimic that experienced by Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista, which experienced propulsion problems in August, resulting in adjusted itineraries, missed port visits, and eventually, the ship being removed from service for repairs.

While Carnival Vista‘s most recent difficulties only cancelled a single sailing, the propulsion problems appear to be widespread and recurrent with the Vista-class ships. Some Royal Caribbean cruisers are worried that Icon of the Seas‘ sudden difficulties might be similar with that new class of ship.

Hopefully, the recent repairs have fully fixed any significant difficulties, and Icon of the Seas will be able to sail full speed ahead to bring amazing adventures to thousands of guests every week.

Next Icon-Class Ship Floats Out With Major Construction Milestone

The highly anticipated second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, is officially floating on her own hull following a celebratory construction milestone. This is a major event as a cruise ship comes to life, and signals the next phase of her development as she comes closer to her August 2025 debut.

The ship is being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in southern Finland, the same shipyard that built the first-in-class, world-record-breaking Icon of the Seas. Construction officially began 19 months ago with the ship’s steel-cutting in February 2023.

The entire float out for Star of the Seas took more than 35 hours as 92 million gallons of water was pumped into the construction dry dock. The doors were then opened and four tugboats moved the ginormous vessel – Star of the Seas will be roughly 250,800 gross tons when complete – approximately 1,000 feet to the outfitting pier.

Such a momentous occasion was attended by shipyard and cruise line executives, and featured a ceremonial cannon blast in honor of the workers who have assembled the tremendous ship’s hull.

Now, the vessel moves on to her interior work, the lengthy process that will truly bring the ship to life.

“Float out really marks the beginning of the next phase, where the fun really begins,” said Jennifer Goswami, Director of Product Development for Royal Caribbean. “This is when you’ll see the interior coming to life.”

The ship’s dining and entertainment venues, décor, artwork, and special features such as the AquaDome’s fountains, the waterpark, and much more will all be part of that next phase now that the hull is officially complete.

Star of the Seas Float Out
Star of the Seas Float Out

“We’re moving from an assembly stage, really heavy construction, to now the outfitting,” said Gianluca Corneli, Newbuild Hotel Director for Royal Caribbean. “We’re going to give the soul to Star of the Seas. It’s really an exciting time and it’s now the sprint to the finish line.”

Sailing on Star of the Seas

That finish line is almost a year away, but bookings have opened for the ship’s first sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida – though her very first sailing has already been cancelled due to an anticipated delivery delay.

“While we’re working hard on completing our newest Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, and after a review of the work that remains to be done, we’re unfortunately forced to delay the ship’s delivery date,” the cruise line said when that unfortunate announcement was made.

The new inaugural sailing is the ship’s August 31, 2025 departure.

Star of the Seas Float Out
Star of the Seas Float Out

Star of the Seas will offer 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries featuring top destinations cruisers love, including San Juan, St. Maarten, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and more.

Each cruise – both Eastern and Western – will also feature a visit to Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Like her sister ship, Icon of the Seas, the new vessel will have eight distinct “neighborhoods” each with its own vibe, from the family-friendly Surfside to the adrenaline-inducing Thrill Island. More than 40 restaurants and bars, 7 pools, 10 whirlpools, and more are all part of the amazing ship.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas Size Comparison – Facts and Stats

Yet she will be unique in her own way, offering exclusive options like a brand new “Back to the Future” production show.

One feature that Star of the Seas will share with her sister ship is a furry crew member that will bring smiles to crew members and guests alike. Onboard Icon of the Seas, Rover has been a big hit, and Sailor is the designated “Chief Dog Officer” for Star of the Seas.

West Coast Port Welcomes Launch of Mexico Cruise Season

0

The Port of San Diego, gateway to the Mexican Riviera, has officially kicked off its 2024-25 winter cruise season, with major cruise lines poised to homeport ships or visit on port calls.

Holland America Line, which typically homeports ships for winter season cruises to Mexico, will again deploy two ships from November 2024 to late April 2025. Other cruise brands sailing from San Diego or calling at the port include Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Viking Cruises.

Holland America, with two ships based at the facility, will offer the lion’s share of voyages to several popular destinations in Baja California and the Mexican Riviera. Kicking off the San Diego season on October 4, 2024, the line’s Nieuw Amsterdam will depart the port on a 16-day Panama Canal cruise that ends in Fort Lauderdale.

The voyage calls at Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Santa Cruz Huatulco, and Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Puntarenas, Costa Rico before transiting the Panama Canal. The ship will visit Aruba before ending at the Florida port.

“We love sailing from San Diego and are thrilled to kick off the 2024/2025 cruise season. Our guests will be able to explore the Pacific Coast, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Hawaii and even traverse the gems of the South Pacific,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. 

Bodensteiner noted that cruise guests bring substantial revenue to embarkation destinations. Holland America Line guests and crew will spend an estimated $378,000 each time one of its ships calls this season, adding some $11.3 million into the local economy.

In all, 75 voyages will be offered this season, bringing 265,000 cruise guests to the region through spring 2025.

We are thrilled to kick off our cruise season here in San Diego with our long-time homeport partner, Holland America,said Sid Voorakkara, commissioner of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners

Together, we will create unforgettable experiences for travelers while showcasing the beauty of San Diego Bay and its waterfront,added Voorakkara.

Starting in November 2024 and continuing through April 2025, Holland America Line will base the 2,650-guest Koningsdam and 1,432-guest Zaandam in San Diego, with both ships sailing 7- to 11-day voyages.

A 10-day “Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez” cruise, with several departure dates, calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, La Paz, and Loreto, on both ships, for example, while a 7-day “Baja Peninsula” cruise onboard Koningsdam visits Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Loreto.

In March 2025, a longer, 14-day “Mexican Riviera, Wine Country & Pacific Northwest” voyage is offered on Koningsdam. The March 22, 2025 departure calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, San Francisco, Astoria, Victoria, and Vancouver.

Holland America's Koningsdam
Holland America’s Koningsdam

In April 2025, Koningsdam deploys to Vancouver to operate a 21-day “Circle Hawaii Pacific Northwest” cruise just before launching her Alaska Inside Passage cruise series from that port for summer 2025.

Read Also: Your Guide to the Best Mazatlán Beaches

Cruises from San Diego continue through late April on Zaandam, which picks up the “Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez” itinerary that Koningsdam offered. On April 26, 2025, Zaandam also shifts to Vancouver, sailing an 11-day cruise to that destination from San Diego. Like Koningsdam, Zaandam will sail 7-day Inside Passage cruises in the Great Land starting in early May 2025.

Disney Wonder to Sail From San Diego in Early 2025

Disney Cruise Line will base one ship, the 2,713-guest Disney Wonder, at San Diego in early 2025. The ship in March, April, and May will operate 3-, 4-, and 7-night voyages to the Mexican Riviera. 

Port calls include Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada on the longer sailings. Shorter cruises visit Ensenada, and Catalina Island.

Viking Cruises will not homeport a ship in San Diego this season, however, two of its vessels will make inaugural calls to the port this season, Viking Neptune and Viking Sea.

Villa Vie Odyssey Finally Sets Sail on World Cruise After False Start

Passengers aboard the 3.5-year Villa Vie Odyssey residency voyage can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the ship has officially left port to begin its 147-country world cruise, ending a long saga of delays and paperwork issues.

The 24,344-gross-ton vessel carrying over 100 passengers (one guest was just removed on September 17, 2024, due to negative texts) initially attempted to set sail on October 1, 2024. Still, it was again delayed due to incomplete paperwork, keeping the ship anchored in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Frustrated passengers, who have been living in Ireland since Odyssey’s original sail date in May 2024 was delayed, couldn’t believe the false start and feared returning to Belfast instead of continuing to its first port of call, the Faroe Islands in Scotland.

It turns out, during the four months of delays, Villa Vie Odyssey’s paperwork for sailing in Norway, where it is scheduled to visit after Scotland, had expired.

Now, after a final inspection by Norway’s DNV, the ship’s class certificate has been extended until Christmas Day, allowing the vessel to continue its journey.

Villa Vie Odyssey CEO Mike Petterson shared the good news with passengers this morning, October 3. “We are not going to Belfast,” he said.

The ship is now headed to Hunterston, Scotland, for refueling and an overnight, with Petterson telling crew, he “doesn’t care where we go, just go – but not to Belfast.”

Passengers celebrated the long-awaited moment with a christening at sea as Petterson ceremoniously broke a bottle of champagne – though it took three tries to crack.

Odyssey’s Troubled Start and Future Plans

Since arriving in Belfast months ago, the Villa Vie Odyssey has been fraught with complications. Initially set to serve as a small, all-inclusive residency ship circumnavigating the globe with 425 port visits, the ship was held up by various technical and administrative setbacks.

These have included issues with the ship’s outfitting and delays in obtaining essential components and finalizing construction. Even after leaving dry dock, the ship was delayed further as it struggled to complete regulatory requirements and safety checks.

Guests, who invested heavily in the promise of an extended cruise experience with villas starting at $99,999 plus a monthly fee, were stranded in Belfast.

Villa Vie Odyssey
Villa Vie Odyssey (Credit: Villa Vie Residences)

For months, the cruise company paid the living expenses for passengers who eagerly awaited updates on when the ship would be ready to sail.

Read Also: Read Also: Retire on a Cruise Ship – Is It Really Worth It?

Now that the vessel is finally at sea, its itinerary, updated in mid-July, begins with destinations like Norway, Iceland, and Scandinavia. Originally scheduled to take place during the summer months, it is unsure if the residences will revise the schedule.

As of the last update, the ship will travel to Spain and Portugal after Scandinavia, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean and arriving first in Bermuda and then continuing to the Caribbean.

There, the ship is expected to visit the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. It will then continue to Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Colombia before island hopping across 16 different countries in the Caribbean.

While it’s fairly certain Villa Vie Odyssey, purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023, will have many itinerary changes in its future, guests are ecstatic to finally begin the journey of a lifetime.

Carnival Cruise Line to Add Celebration Key Feature Guests Want

Carnival cruise fans eager to visit Celebration Key when the new Bahamas destination opens in August 2025 will be glad to know the cruise line is listening to feedback and adding an important feature travelers want.

In response to guest inquiries and comments, new plans are being adjusted to add lockers to Celebration Key to allow visitors to securely store their belongings while they enjoy a day of fun.

The news comes from John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, following a less-than-polite comment from one of the followers on his popular Facebook page.

“Build lockers at Celebration Cay for for phones, cameras, and wallets,” the guest demanded. “This is crazy bad planning by Carnival. Put it right for Celebration [Key].”

Many additional comments did agree with the original poster with how helpful lockers could be, especially on the beach when travelers want to enjoy the beautiful blue waters of the Bahamas.

“Lockers would be nice. I worry about my money, phone, and other possessions laying unattended if I’m in the water.”

“I would definitely appreciate a locker so that my husband and I could swim together. We’re not comfortable leaving things like our eyeglasses, etc., on our chairs.”

“Lockers would be great. I spend the majority of my time in the water with my kid at these islands. Would love to be able to keep my valuables locked up!”

While lockers aren’t essential, it is obvious they would be a welcome addition for travelers. Other options include locking backpacks or other travel accessories to secure one’s belongings, or else ensuring that one member of a group stays with any valuables at all times.

Fortunately, Heald passed along the request to the Carnival Cruise Line “beards” for consideration, and the decision was a quick one.

“Yesterday it was requested that we install lockers at the lagoons on Celebration Key,” Heald explained. “The beards … read your comments so I was told last night that they would indeed install lockers there for those who need them.”

There are no further details about how many lockers would be made available or where they would be positioned, but they are sure to be a welcome option for guests who want to lock up valuable items as they enjoy all the great features the destination will offer.

Since the island destination is still under construction, it should be fairly easy to add several locker banks in different locations where they will be most useful, while still maintaining the gorgeous Bahamian look the cruise line wants.

About Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line first broke ground for the new destination on Grand Bahama Island in May 2022, and construction of the $200 million development has been underway ever since.

As the first destination being designed exclusively with Carnival guests in mind, Celebration Key is focused on offering a wide variety of amazingly fun experiences with something for everyone. Distinct portals will offer unique vibes, including an adults-only area, new specialty dining options, lagoons and beaches, a local retail marketplace, and more.

Celebration Key, Grand Bahama Island
Celebration Key, Grand Bahama Island

Read Also: Carnival Unveils Dining Options for New Private Destination Celebration Key

The entire destination is being designed to celebrate the Bahamas, with local artists engaged in design choices and other facets of the development.

Celebration Key is slated to welcome its first guests in August 2025, and a dozen ships from multiple homeports are now offering sailings ready for booking. More than 400 sailings are now available featuring Celebration Key, giving travelers plenty of options to explore this new and exciting destination.

Are you booked on a cruise to Celebration Key? What are you most looking forward to? Join in the conversation on the Cruise Hive boards!

Florida County Appears Ready to Buy Iconic SS United States

The future of the iconic ocean liner SS United States may be coming into focus after years of legal battles regarding overdue rent payments at the Philadelphia pier where the derelict ship is docked. 

The Okaloosa (Florida) County Board of County Commissioners announced on October 1, 2024 that it has approved a contingent contract to buy the ship and sink it off the coast of Destin-Fort Worth Beach where it will become an artificial reef. 

The county also would create a shoreside museum dedicated to the history of the ship. The Destin area is located in the Florida Panhandle, on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

County officials issued a conservative estimate of $10 million for the purchase, transport, and other actions required to turn the ship into an artificial reef. The offer is contingent on the outcome of a court-ordered mediation that began in late September.

The ship’s caretaker, SS United States Conservancy, has been battling in court with the landlord of Philadelphia’s Pier 82, Penn Warehousing & Distribution, over unpaid rent. The landlord in 2021 raised the rent at the pier to $1,700 per day, far more than the conservancy could pay.

The group has been trying to find another location for the ship, and has racked up unpaid back rent. It also had been working with Okaloosa County on a proposal to turn the ship into an artificial reef. 

U.S. District Court Senior Judge Anita B. Brody recently ruled that the conservancy and the landlord must engage in mediation to resolve the financial issues, and the mediation began around September 24, 2024.

It is not entirely clear how the purchase offer from the Florida county will impact the mediation process, but the contingent contract is the most formal option yet to emerge in the case.

Before the SS United States was retired in 1969, she held — and still holds — the transatlantic speed record.  The ship was designed by naval architect William Francis Gibbs and constructed in 1952. She was, at the time, the biggest passenger ship built. in the US.

The vessel is widely considered the pinnacle of American post-war maritime engineering and a soaring symbol of her namesake nation. The SS United States Conservancy has kept the famous ocean liner safely afloat since acquiring her in 2011,a statement from Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners said

“Once deployed off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, at nearly 1,000-feet long, the SS United States will be a home for a diverse range of marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the world,” the statement added. 

Artificial Reefs Are Big Business in Florida

Artificial reefs off the Florida Panhandle are big revenue makers, thanks to economic activity and job creation to build and maintain the reefs. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that for every dollar spent on artificial reefs in that area, the economic benefit of a reef system over its life span is $138.

Read Also: Discovering Abandoned Cruise Ships and Ocean Liners

The Destin-Fort Worth Beach area is known as the World’s Largest Artificial Reef, and is a haven for divers, recreational fishermen, and others.

SS United States Ocean Liner
SS United States Ocean Liner (Photo Credit: PTS Aerial Services)

The SS United States will be an exciting addition to the many artificial reefs and wrecks available in Destin-Fort Walton Beach for divers to explore while providing essential habitat for the fishery that our fleet is so dependent on,said Jennifer Adams, tourism director of Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Calling the SS United States a symbol of American pride and excellence, the conservancy believes the ship, as an artificial reef and with an accompanying shoreside museum, would become a world-class destination.

We are confident that the experienced and committed team in Okaloosa County fully appreciates the historic significance of the SS United States and our longstanding commitment to educating and exciting future generations about this unique expression of American maritime history and technological innovation,said Susan Gibbs, president of SS United States Conservancy.

The group originally intended to repurpose the aging ship as a mixed-use development, similar to the Queen Mary attraction in Long Beach, California. However, a court order that effectively evicted the ship from its Philadelphia pier, due to nonpayment of rent, pushed the group toward other solutions. An appeal of that order was denied in August 2024.

Carnival Updates Special Menu for its Most Loyal Guests

After just one sailing, all cruisers automatically become a member of Carnival’s “Very Important Fun Person” Club (VIFP) – which is the family friendly brand’s loyalty program. 

But coming back for more sailings comes with extra perks. The most loyal guests are the Diamond VIFP members – and those who reach this status have spent 200 or more cruise days on Carnival ships, earning them at least 200 points in Carnival’s loyalty system. 

One of these perks is that Diamond-level guests get to enjoy an exclusive lunch – usually hosted in the smaller of the main dining rooms – away from the crowds and riff-raff. 

But in order to keep things interesting for their most frequent cruisers, and to take advantage of what is available seasonally, Carnival updates the special Diamond menu every four months – and the brand has just released the new menu that will be served through the end of 2024. 

Jacinta, who assists Brand Ambassador John Heald, posted the latest rendition of the three course experience on Heald’s public Facebook page.

“Every four months we change the Diamond Lunch menu, and I would like to share the latest menu with you, which will be starting this coming weekend across all the ships, Jacina posted on October 2, 2024.

Diamond Lunch Menu
Diamond Lunch Menu

The exclusive lunch will start with a choice of three appetizers – including Caesar salad, prosciutto crudo, and famed Chef Emeril Lagasse’s Shrimp Bistro 1396. 

Next up is the main course – and guests can choose between ricotta ravioli, cioppino (fisherman’s stew with garlic bread), and filet mignon. 

Finally, the available desserts include chocolate hazelnut icebox pie with an Oreo crust, cantaloupe panna cotta, and fresh fruit paired with pineapple sorbet. 

If any elite loyalty members who opt in for the special lunch have any food allergies, they are encouraged to let their waiter know when they sit down for their meal. 

The Best Places to Eat Lunch

Of course, Diamond members do not have to take part in the exclusive meal each day of their sailing – and there are plenty of delicious dining venues onboard for all passengers to satitiate their mid-day cravings. 

Perhaps most popular is the Lido Marketplace, which is located on the Lido deck (pool deck) and can get quite busy during peak lunch hours. 

The dining venue – which doubles as a buffet and food hall with specialty stations – is an expansive space that has something for everyone. 

Just to name some examples, guests are likely to find a deli counter, burgers, a salad bar, BBQ, pizza, a pasta bar, an Asian station, and even a special spot where the chef prepares a surprise dish each day.

Carnival Cruise Line Dining Room
Carnival Cruise Line Dining Room (Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin / Shutterstock)

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

After lunch, seasoned Carnival veterans know that Swirls is the perfect spot for a mid-day treat, especially on a warmer sea day. 

The self-serve ice cream machine can be found on all 27 ships and is currently available daily between 11 a.m. and midnight. 

If the Lido deck is too busy or the buffet simply isn’t calling to you, guests can also order food delivery to their stateroom or to wherever they are onboard using the HUB app for a small fee – typically under $10 per entree. 

Similarly, every Carnival ship has its own unique assortment of specialty restaurants onboard, ranging from small bites and coffee to sushi, Chinese food, and specialty venues for chicken, burgers, Indian cuisine, grilling, and more. 

It definitely pays to do some research on your specific cruise ship before embarkation day to have an idea of what dining venues will be onboard – as well as which ones are included and which ones incur an extra cost.

Redditor Reminds Passengers to Be Courteous of Resting Guests

Carnival is the fun ship – and the party frequently continues late into the night.

But as guests return to their cabins after a night of celebration, they might not remember that other passengers may be trying to sleep in the staterooms around them. 

One recent Carnival passenger took to Reddit to vent about the noisy people returning to their cabins late at night and in the early morning hours. 

“I swear on this cruise it’s like everyone wants to have a conversation outside [their] cabins in front of other people’s doors and it’s like early in the morning or late at night,” complained the poster.

In the comments, fellow cruisers echoed the sentiment, saying that the noise was a symptom of entitlement, and oftentimes, a bit too much alcohol

“Main character syndrome accompanied by big mouths. People are genuinely oblivious to other people and that bunch usually talk super loud,” replied one person.

“Celebration was horrible about this last week. Entire groups of people just spread out across the width of main walkways talking,added another. 

I personally just returned from my first ever Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Radiance a couple days ago on Monday, September 30, 2024, and I can attest that the party continued in the hallways at all hours of the night. 

I can normally sleep through just about anything, but had yelling, hollering, and whooping guests waking me up several times throughout the night.

By the end of my cruise, I had invested in ear plugs – which I’ve never had to do on any of my previous sailings with other cruise lines. 

It also seemed like the walls and doors were thinner and less sound proofed than other ships I had previously sailed on – which other Redditors confirmed in their responses. 

“The walls and doors are paper thin when it comes to sound. It sucks at 3:00 am,” another Redditor wrote.

If it’s true that the walls are thinner, it becomes extra important to be considerate of other passengers, who may be trying to sleep.

Proper Etiquette Around Staterooms

In general, the respectful thing to do when leaving or returning to your stateroom – on any cruise ship, not just Carnival’s fleet – is to keep your voice low or whisper, especially in the late night or early morning.

During typical “quiet hours,” try to keep the party in specified areas of the ship where it’s okay to be loud – such as in cruise line hosted parties, on the Lido deck, or the Punchliner comedy club, where adult-shows are hosted as late as 11 or 11:30 p.m. 

On my sailing, the cruise director and Fun team hosted special late night parties, such as the White Hot Party, that lasted until after midnight in the ship’s main atrium – allowing guests to sing, dance, and party as long as they wanted without bothering others.

Hallway on Carnival Cruise Ship
Hallway on Carnival Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin)

Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise

But while guests may know the proper etiquette when in the cruise cabin areas, they might forget or get carried away in the fun – and it’s simply impossible to try to control the behavior of the potentially thousands of other guests onboard.

But what you can do about it is respectfully and politely ask people to keep their voices down – or contact guest services who will send security to address particularly rowdy passengers.

It’s also important to consider where you want to be located when you pick your cruise cabin if you’re particularly sensitive to noise.

While it’s common knowledge to try to avoid being directly above or below noisier parts of the ship, such as clubs and prime party spots, it may also be a good idea to pick a cabin at the end of a corridor where there may be less foot traffic. 

Worse case scenario, be like me and invest in air plugs to block out the sound and accept that other guests are just having a good time.

Yet More Itinerary Changes for Multiple Carnival Cruise Ships

Just one day following a series of 11 itinerary changes impacting five different ships, Carnival Cruise Line has released yet another batch of changes for six more ships and 13 itineraries.

While all the changes are relatively minor, so many changes in such a short period of time can be concerning to guests who book their cruise vacations based on specific destinations.

The ships impacted for this latest round of changes are Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, and the cruise line’s newest Excel-class ship, Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival Radiance Itinerary Changes

Two upcoming itineraries for the 102,232-gross-ton Carnival Radiance are now changed, both holiday cruises later this year. For the December 23 and December 30, 2024 sailings, the ship’s day of visit to Ensenada has been changed, though Carnival Radiance will still be visiting the port.

Both cruises are 4-night Baja Mexico sailings from Long Beach that will also be visiting Catalina Island. Changing the day of visiting Ensenada makes good sense, as on the December 23 departure, the ship was to have docked in Mexico on December 25, Christmas Day. Likewise, on the December 30 departure, the call to Ensenada was originally planned for January 1, 2025.

On those major holidays, it is likely that local businesses would be closed and there would not be as many tour options available for guests. By changing the date of the visit, travelers will have a more enjoyable time in Ensenada.

Carnival Sunshine Itinerary Changes

A total of seven sailings are now modified for the 103,881-gross-ton Carnival Sunshine while the ship is homeported from Norfolk, Virginia. Each impacted cruise is a 6-night voyage to Bermuda, and the changes are minor.

The only change to six sailings is a modified arrival time in Bermuda. This applies to the following departure dates in the summer and autumn of 2025: July 6, July 20, August 3, August 17, September 14, and October 12.

On the August 31, 2025 Bermuda sailing, Carnival Sunshine will have a modified departure time from Bermuda, though her arrival time will remain as originally published.

Carnival Spirit Itinerary Change

Carnival Spirit Docked in Mobile
Carnival Spirit Docked in Mobile

Just one cruise is changed for the 85,920-gross-ton Carnival Spirit. For the ship’s January 17, 2026 departure, Carnival Spirit will now be visiting Half Moon Cay rather than Amber Cove, and on a different day than originally scheduled.

Considering this is a 14-night Southern Caribbean itinerary with a total of seven ports of call, including the new Celebration Key, this is not a significant change for what is sure to be a memorable voyage.

Carnival Valor Itinerary Change

One 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary is now significantly changed for the 110,438-gross-ton Carnival Valor. The ship’s March 21, 2026 departure from New Orleans will now be visiting Progreso rather than Costa Maya, and the time in port has been adjusted.

The order of port visits has also been changed and Carnival Valor will visit Cozumel first during this cruise. The times to and from New Orleans are not impacted, however.

Carnival Liberty Itinerary Change

Also sailing from New Orleans, one itinerary for Carnival Valor’s sister ship, the 110,428-gross-ton Carnival Liberty, is also included in this round of changes, but not as dramatically.

The ship’s March 22, 2026 cruise is a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that will now reverse the order of visits to Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel, though all the ports of call are preserved. The time in Mahogany Bay is modified, but the ship will still be visiting the destination on Roatan Island.

Carnival Jubilee Itinerary Change

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship docked in Cozumel
Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship docked in Cozumel (Photo Credit: EWY Media)

Carnival Cruise Line’s current flagship, the 183,521-gross-ton Carnival Jubilee based in Galveston, has just one itinerary adjustment in this group of changes.

For the ship’s November 1, 2025 departure, the day of visiting Cozumel has been changed along with a slight time shift. Similarly, the port time for Mahogany Bay has also been slightly tweaked.

During the 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, the visit to Costa Maya remains unchanged. Likewise, there are no adjustments to and from Galveston.

Are More Changes Coming?

Over the past few weeks, Carnival Cruise Line has made similar minor adjustments to dozens of itineraries across the Fun Ship fleet. These include some port swaps (particularly around the cruise line’s private islands of Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay), along with time shifts and occasional cancellations.

This can be frustrating to travelers who may be planning a cruise vacation specifically for a certain destination (I always buy vanilla in Cozumel and would be upset to miss that port if my supply was running low!).

Experienced cruisers, however, know that all cruise lines have the right to adjust itineraries at any time and for any reason, even for last-minute changes while a sailing may already be underway.

No compensation is required and should not be expected, though pre-paid tours booked through the cruise line are refunded back to the original payment.

Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise

While Carnival Cruise Line has not indicated any specific reason for so many changes, these simple shifts are not too dramatic and most travelers will not necessarily mind the adjustments.

If such changes do cause enough tension that guests no longer want to set sail, the impacted voyages are far enough in the future that cancellations are still possible and travelers could pick a different cruise itinerary.