Blog Page 40

Cruise Ship Drops Cuba Port Visit Following UK Travel Warning

Melissa Mayntz
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Cruise Ship Drops Cuba Port Visit Following UK Travel Warning

Key Aspects:

  • Ambience is removing Havana from her 40-night Caribbean itinerary due to a UK travel advisory update.
  • The ship will instead replace the call with two new port visits, one to Guadeloupe and one to St. Kitts.
  • The visit to Guadeloupe will include an impromptu meetup with another ship in the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience will not be visiting Cuba on her current itinerary, the 40-night “Jewels of the Caribbean Sea” sailing that departed Tilbury, UK on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The news comes as the British ship has already reached the Caribbean, just days after the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued an advisory against all but essential travel to Cuba.

“We can confirm that Ambience will no longer proceed with its scheduled call to Havana, Cuba, on Monday 16 February 2026 during the 40-night Jewels of the Caribbean Sea itinerary,” the cruise line posted on social media. “The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is always our primary consideration.”

The warning was updated on Wednesday, February 11, just five days before the cruise ship was to have called on the capital of Cuba for a full-day visit from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The FCDO’s advisory is based on unreliable infrastructure and resources in Cuba that have resulted in extensive power outages and erosion of emergency services.

“These conditions significantly affect the ability of visitors to access reliable transport, medical care, communications, and basic services,” the advisory explains.

UK Cuba Travel Map Advisory
UK Cuba Travel Map Advisory

This could present difficulties should guests have any emergency while visiting Havana, as well as affect how the ship may be supplied in port. Power outages in Havana occur on a near daily basis, occasionally lasting 12 hours or longer.

The US Department of State has a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory for Cuba, citing both crime and unreliable electrical power as significant concerns. US law continues to prohibit tourist travel to Cuba.

Cruise Hive has previously noted the impact such travel advisories have on ship itineraries, such as calls to Labadee, Haiti being cancelled, or what guests should be aware of when visiting destinations in Mexico under elevated warning levels.

New Port Visits Added

Because Ambience will no longer be visiting Cuba, Ambassador Cruise Line has managed to add two new port visits to the ship’s immersive Caribbean itinerary. Now, Ambience will be visiting Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe on Saturday, February 14, followed by Basseterre, St. Kitts on Sunday, February 15.

As a special note, while the 70,285-gross-ton ship is in Guadeloupe for her unexpected Valentine’s Day visit, she will be joining another ship in the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet, Renaissance. Fleet meetup opportunities are always a unique and memorable occasion for guests.

Ambience Cruise Ship
Ambience Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis)

“We will be trying to get the ships photographed together,” the cruise line said. “We love a ship meet up!”

Without the call to Havana, on Monday, February 16, Ambience will spend the day at sea instead. This means that the following day, Tuesday, February 17, will also be a day at sea before the ship’s next port visit to Grand Cayman on Wednesday.

For the remaining three weeks of the cruise, Ambience has a wide range of stunning Caribbean ports to visit, including destinations in Jamaica, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and the Grenadines.

“The rest of the schedule will continue as planned,” the cruise line confirmed.

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The final port visit before the ship turns back toward the UK is scheduled to be Basseterre, St. Kitts on Saturday, February 28. Since Ambience will now be visiting that port two weeks earlier, it is unclear whether that visit may be cancelled or swapped for a different destination.

If it stays on the itinerary, guests will have the unique opportunity of visiting St. Kitts twice, enjoying a second chance to try another shore excursion or visit a favorite spot on the beautiful island.

Carnival Festivale Construction Update as Crew Cabins Completed

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Festivale Construction Update as Crew Cabins Completed

Key Aspects:

  • The manufacturing is now complete for all 949 crew cabins destined for installation aboard Carnival Festivale.
  • Construction of the pre-fab cabins took 25 weeks and work will now transition to guest staterooms.
  • In total, Carnival Festivale will be home to 3,585 crew and guest staterooms.

While her debut to welcome guests isn’t until May 2027, work is continuing on the construction of the fourth Excel Class ship for Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Festivale.

An exciting milestone was reached this week as the crew cabins have now been finished, and Meyer Werft and EMS PreCab have shared rare insights into the construction process. EMS PreCab specializes in cabins for cruise ships.

“After 25 weeks, we at EMS PreCab have successfully completed the production of the 949 crew cabins for the Carnival Festivale,” the company shared on Facebook.

The cabins are now waiting in the warehouse before their installation aboard the cruise ship, which Cruise Hive has previously reported is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. A look inside the crew cabins reveals ample storage, relaxing neutral wood color tones, and plenty of plugs in a charging station.

Carnival Festivale Crew Cabins
Carnival Festivale Crew Cabins (Photo Credit: EMS PreCab)

“We are very satisfied with the quality level of the Carnival series achieved so far,” said EMS PreCab.

An even more interesting look for cruise ship fans is the glimpse of the warehouse where the cabins are now awaiting installation aboard Carnival Festivale. Lengthy rows of cabins stacked three high nearly mimic how the halls of the ship will eventually come together.

The 182,800-gross-ton ship will eventually be home to more than 1,700 international crew members.

Passenger Cabins Up Next

But what about guest cabins? Now that the crew cabins have been completed, construction will begin on the guest staterooms.

“We are proud of our team, which has thus successfully completed the first major section of the project. With this conclusion, the serial production of the 2,636 passenger cabins begins seamlessly,” EMS PreCab confirmed.

While neither company has offered a detailed timeline for how and why different parts of a cruise ship are constructed in a particular order, it makes sense that crew cabins would be manufactured first.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites – What Are the Options?

Because crew cabins are on lower decks, they would naturally be installed in the hull of Carnival Festivale before any passenger staterooms are put in place.

Carnival Festivale
Carnival Festivale

Furthermore, crew cabins are far more likely to be uniform with fewer variations in layout and size. Guest staterooms, on the other hand, range from interior rooms to oceanviews to balconies to suites, with different sizes and interior features to consider.

This would make the guest staterooms somewhat more complex to manufacture. Starting with crew cabins would permit extra time for any redesign needs of guest staterooms before they are built.

According to Carnival’s website, Carnival Festivale will feature the most updated and innovative staterooms, including the popular Havana staterooms and suites with their island vibes as well as the Cloud 9 options that include exclusive spa amenities.

It is also likely that the new ship will feature more connected staterooms than ever before, an upgrade that Cruise Hive reported was made to the first Excel Class ship, Mardi Gras, during her fall 2025 dry dock.

The ship’s capacity is likely similar to her Excel Class sisters: 5,228 at double occupancy, and up to 6,631 guests if all berths are filled.

Carnival Festivale is scheduled to welcome her first guests on May 19, 2027 with a 4-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral, visiting both Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay.

The ship will remain homeported from the Space Coast at least through April 2028 offering 6- and 8-night Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean itineraries.

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Depending on the sailing date and cruise length, port visits also include Amber Cove, San Juan, St. Maarten, Bonaire, Aruba, Curacao, and St. Thomas.

Bookings are now open for Carnival Festivale‘s inaugural season, and guests can be sure all crew and guest staterooms will be installed well ahead of her debut!

First-Time Cruiser Outraged After Missing Luggage Never Gets Returned

Catie Kovelman
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First-Time Cruiser Outraged After Missing Luggage Never Gets Returned

Key Aspects:

  • A first-time cruiser’s suitcase went missing on embarkation day onboard Liberty of the Seas.
  • Despite repeatedly visiting guest services for help, the passenger was never reunited with their belongings.
  • The guest felt that Royal Caribbean didn’t do enough to help the situation and didn’t offer adequate compensation.

One passenger was forced to endure their sailing and return home without something very important: their suitcase.

The guest boarded Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas on February 6, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a weekend cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. However, their suitcase never made it to their stateroom, and neither did any of the belongings inside.

“My only luggage got either lost or stolen literally on the first day of boarding. I had all my belongings in this luggage and lost everything,”the first-time cruiser lamented on Reddit.

“I also had some significant cash as well in this bag,” they admitted.

The guest felt that their first cruise ever was ruined by the stress of not having access to their belongings and constantly going back and forth with guest services to try to find their bag, or at least replace the essentials.

But other than informing guest services and filling out the Lost and Found form online with Chargerback, there was not much the passenger could do other than cross their fingers.

How Did Royal Caribbean Respond?

Unfortunately, the guest was unsatisfied by how Royal Caribbean tried to help them resolve this situation.

First, the investigation into what happened was limited because the cameras in the corridor near the guest’s stateroom were allegedly out of order. This means that if another guest or crew member stole the bag in a crime of opportunity, the suspect wasn’t caught in the act on camera.

“I hate how Royal handled this situation and even head of security told me that the camera where our room was wasn’t working (Of course it wasn’t),” the guest said.

Read Also: 6 Ways to Protect Your Cruise Ship Luggage

Another guest who was onboard at the same time did chime in to say that they received a letter asking if they had received luggage that didn’t belong to them, which suggests crew members did try to look for the missing suitcase.

“I was also on the Liberty this weekend. We got cards on our doors asking to look for luggage that wasn’t ours on Day 2. I’m wondering if that was your stuff they were looking for,” they wrote in a reply.

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock)

It’s unclear if that letter was related to the original poster’s predicament, or if additional guests were also dealing with missing luggage.

While porters and crew members work hard to prevent these unfortunate situations, every sailing comes with thousands of suitcases to organize and deliver, and Cruise Hive has seen this process go wrong in many ways over the years.

For example, Royal Caribbean’s sister brand, Celebrity Cruises, went viral in 2024 after crew members accidentally dropped a woman’s bag overboard and sailed away without it.

Limited Compensation Offered

According to the passenger, Royal Caribbean offered to reimburse up to $300 for the lost suitcase and the items inside, which they felt was too low.

“Long story short, we filled out paper work and they’re saying $300 USD is the most they can do,” the recent guest complained.

Unfortunately for them, Royal Caribbean limits its liability for lost or damaged luggage to a minimum of $300 per guest.

The only exception to this would be if guests purchased Royal Caribbean Travel Protection, which covers up to $1,500 for bags that are lost, stolen, or damaged.

If the guest has their own independent travel insurance plan, they can also submit a claim there for additional compensation.

Could the Luggage Still be Found?

Now that the voyage has ended, the chances of finding the missing suitcase are low. Liberty of the Seas has already completed another getaway cruise to the Bahamas that lasted from February 9-13, and is now on a Valentine’s Day sailing.

Even so, stranger things have happened, so this guest could still get lucky.

For example, Cruise Hive covered the story of a woman who forgot her own suitcase in PortMiami, and Royal Caribbean found the luggage and shipped it to her house.

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Looking at Carnival Cruise Line, one family was reunited with their missing suitcase after it disappeared for weeks onboard Carnival Magic thanks to the tracking capabilities of a pair of Apple AirPods inside it.

If this guest’s luggage does miraculously surface, Royal Caribbean will likely mail it back to its owner as long as the passenger is willing to pay the shipping costs.

Carnival Encounter Passes Inspection After Claims of Misconduct

Catie Kovelman
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Carnival Encounter Passes Inspection After Claims of Misconduct

Key Aspects:

  • Australian authorities inspected Carnival Encounter after a whistleblower turned over hundreds of crew complaints.
  • After a thorough inspection, Carnival was cleared of any wrongdoing or misconduct toward crew members.
  • The ship is now on its way to Singapore, where it will undergo routine maintenance in dry dock.

After an unidentified crew member sounded the alarm, Carnival Encounter received a surprise visit from officials from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in Darwin, Australia, on February 9, 2026.

But after all the hullabaloo, Cruise Hive has learned that the inspection turned up absolutely no signs of labor deficiencies.

Per ABC News, Carnival said the AMSA “found no deficiencies during its inspection”, with “no follow-up action required.”

Carnival Cruise Line passed the inspection with flying colors and the Grand-class ship was allowed to continue operating normally.

What Were the Claims?

Cruise Hive previously reported that a whistleblower working onboard the 2,600-guest ship had contacted the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to turn in hundreds of worker complaints dating back to mid-2025.

The allegations included complaints about low pay, contagious skin diseases being spread among the crew, being forced to work while sick, and not having access to safe drinking water.

However, the inspection did not discover any crew areas that were below the standard of living requirements for working and living at sea.

Inspectors thoroughly check that crew quarters are safe, clean, and habitable. The full check-list to verify this is long, but this refers to things like checking that spaces are clean, dry, insulated, and free of vermin.

There must also be at least one set of sanitary facilities for every eight crew members, which must offer sufficient toilets, wash basins, and showers with both hot and cold water.

Carnival Embraces Oversight

For Carnival’s part, the cruise line previously stated that it had nothing to hide.

Now that it has been cleared by the AMSA’s inspection, the company reiterated that it welcomes the oversight and feedback.

“We respect this process, and we hold our shipboard team members in the highest regard,” a Carnival spokesperson said in a statement to ABC.

“We welcome AMSA’s oversight as an important assurance mechanism for our crew and our operations,” they added.

Similar to how the US Coast Guard and the CDC might conduct inspections on cruise ships in the US, the AMSA can and does randomly conduct inspections on Australian-based cruise ships for a variety of reasons.

These surprise inspections can be triggered by complaints, as was the case this time, or simply be done based on routine risk-based targeting. Cruise ships are eligible for routine inspections every six months.

Sailing Toward Upgrades

Carnival Encounter only just joined the fleet in March of 2025 as part of Carnival Corporation’s decision to close its P&O Cruises Australia brand.

However, the 108,865-gross ton ship has actually been in operation since 2002. Her career started with Princess Cruises, where she stayed until she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in late 2021.

While the ship underwent a dry dock stint to be rebranded to fit in with the Carnival brand in 2025, she is still due for some extra maintenance and upgrades. She is now on her way to get the necessary work done. The vessel is currently en route to Singapore via a 13-night repositioning cruise, where she will arrive on February 16, 2026.

More From Cruise Hive

This is where she will spend about two weeks in dry dock undergoing technical work and routine maintenance. Onboard enhancements are often made during this time as well, although Carnival hasn’t confirmed the specifics yet.

On March 5, 2026, the refreshed Carnival Encounter will reenter service with a 15-night, one-way sailing from Singapore back to her homeport in Brisbane, Australia.

Norwegian Encore Guests Alerted Due to Disease Investigation From Past Cruise

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Encore Guests Alerted Due to Disease Investigation From Past Cruise

Key Aspects:

  • Recent and current guests on Norwegian Encore are being alerted to two recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
  • The illness was diagnosed from two guests who sailed in December 2025, but the exact sailing date has not been disclosed.
  • All testing onboard Norwegian Encore has been negative and the CDC is monitoring ongoing precautionary testing.

Norwegian Cruise Line is alerting guests who have sailed aboard Norwegian Encore recently or who are currently onboard the ship about the potential for exposure to Legionnaires’ disease from a sailing in December 2025.

The cruise line is investigating the incident, which involves two passengers who were aboard Norwegian Encore at that time but were later diagnosed.

“In response to these cases, and as part of our routine health and safety measures, we are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and conducting Legionella testing onboard to support their standard investigation procedures,” the email read.

This includes testing different water sources onboard Norwegian Encore, as the disease can be harbored by stagnant water. Hot tubs, showers, and faucets are all being tested aboard the ship, but thus far all results have been negative for the Legionella bacteria. Testing is ongoing and being monitored by the CDC.

“At this time, it is not known whether the two past guests diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease were exposed through the ship’s water system or another source,” the notification clarified.

According to the CDC, Legionnaires’ disease is a severe type of pneumonia with symptoms such as coughing, fever, headaches, and muscle aches. Older individuals or those with chronic lung diseases or weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.

Norwegian Cruise Line is urging any guests currently aboard or who have recently sailed on Norwegian Encore to seek medical attention and Legionella testing immediately if they develop symptoms.

NCL Legionella Letter
NCL Legionella Letter

Norwegian Encore is homeported from Miami, offering 7-night Caribbean sailings with Saturday departures. The cruise line has not disclosed which sailing the two guests who developed the disease were on or even if they were on the same sailing.

Legionnaire’s disease has an incubation period of 2-14 days or longer. This means it is possible the two guests could have been infected either before or after their sailing(s).

The testing aboard Norwegian Encore is simply precautionary at this time to ensure there is no existing contamination. There have been no changes to the ship’s itineraries, and the 169,116-gross-ton, Breakaway Plus class ship has continued sailing without related delays or diversions.

Norwegian Encore can welcome 3,998 guests at double occupancy and is also home to 2,100 international crew members.

Past Cruise Ship Disease Disclosures

Contacting recent cruise guests when Legionnaires’ disease is detected is standard practice for cruise lines.

In January 2025, Cruise Hive reported that Royal Caribbean reached out to guests who had sailed aboard Symphony of the Seas with similar information and precautions, and again in May 2025 aboard the same ship.

This does not mean Symphony of the Seas was harboring the Legionella bacteria in any way, only that guests on two different sailings several months apart happened to be diagnosed with the disease.

The CDC confirms that Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person-to-person the way gastrointestinal diseases such as norovirus are. Instead, the bacteria is spread through contaminated water droplets.

Read Also: Think Cruise Ships Are Floating Petri Dishes? These 12 Facts Say Otherwise!

Nevertheless, Norwegian Cruise Line is urging guests to be cautious, particularly if they may be at greater risk of infection. NCL also notes that guests who may be especially vulnerable might even want to consider rescheduling their cruise vacation to a later time or a different ship.

Guests are also urged to use distilled water rather than tap water if they have a medical therapy device with a humidifier, such as a CPAP machine, just out of an abundance of caution.

Cruisers Can Watch Every 2026 World Cup Game Live on MSC Ships

Donna Tunney
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Cruisers Can Watch Every 2026 World Cup Game Live on MSC Ships

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Cruises will feature live broadcasts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches on all ships.
  • The tournament games are set for June 11 to July 19, 2026.
  • The cruise line will show the matches in lounges and other public venues.

Add MSC Cruises to the list of cruise lines that will offer guests the chance to view live broadcasts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches this summer. A total of 104 matches will be held between June 11 and July 19, 2026.

The line announced on February 12, 2026, that the matches will be shown in several public venues around its ships, including sports and casino bars, on giant LED screens on the pool decks, and in select lounges and theater spaces.

In a departure from other cruise lines’ plans, MSC Cruises’ statement does not indicate that the televisions in guest staterooms will show the matches. However, the cruise line will offer related programs tied to the World Cup, such as interactive games and quizzes, and other family-oriented activities.

The broadcasts will be provided fleetwide, offering a wide international audience for the popular tournament, as MSC Cruises’ ships sail global itineraries. This includes regions where football is especially popular, such as Europe and South America.

Guests sailing on the 2,550-guest MSC Poesia, for instance, during her 7-night Alaska cruise on June 22, 2026, will be able to view the games. The ship sails roundtrip from Seattle and calls at Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Juneau, Alaska, and Victoria, Canada.

All-Star Sports Bar, MSC World America
All-Star Sports Bar, MSC World America (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)

Other opportunities for watching the matches on an MSC Cruises’ ship include MSC Virtuosa’s 7-night voyage roundtrip from Southampton, England, on July 4. Passengers can enjoy the football games as the 4,842-guest ship travels to La Rochelle and Cherbourg, France, and Bilbao and La Coruna, Spain.

Read Also: Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?

Another option is to sail aboard the 2,550-guest MSC Orchestra’s 7-night Mediterranean cruise departing July 2, 2026, from Marseille, France. The itinerary, roundtrip from Genoa, Italy, features calls to Tarragona, Spain; and Livorno and Rome, Italy.

In the wildly popular soccer tournament, 48 national teams will compete in the event, which is being hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US; it is the first tri-nation World Cup championship.

Other Cruise Lines Will Also Show FIFA Matches

MSC Cruises’ World Cup announcement follows several others across the industry. Carnival Corporation was the first to confirm that some of its brands would showcase the matches after it reached an agreement with IMG, the sports agency that holds the rights to the broadcasts.

In December 2025, Carnival revealed that all of the matches would be shown via the Sport 24 Special Event Channels onboard ships operated by Princess Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Seabourn, and P&O Cruises. Guests will be able to enjoy the matches at public venues as well as in their cabins.

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Norwegian Cruise Line revealed in late January 2026 that it, too, had struck a deal to broadcast the matches. The line will take a broader approach, offering two channels that will feature the sport, since some matches will be held simultaneously.

Also, Norwegian’s plans include recording each match so that guests who are on shore excursions, or otherwise engaged, can view the game later, but within 24 hours of the match.

Royal Caribbean Reveals Name of Legend of the Seas Chief Dog Officer

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Reveals Name of Legend of the Seas Chief Dog Officer

Key Aspects:

  • Michael Bayley has announced Royal Caribbean’s third Chief Dog Officer’s name as Skipper.
  • The female golden retriever puppy was born in early February 2026.
  • Skipper will serve onboard Legend of the Seas and will join the vessel in Europe.

As the debut of Legend of the Seas gets closer, crew rosters are undoubtedly starting to be filled in. While the captain of the third Icon-class vessel has not yet been announced, the most important crew member has now been named – Chief Dog Officer Skipper.

The announcement of the golden retriever puppy’s name comes just a week after she was born and was shared by Royal Caribbean President and CEO, Michael Bayley.

“ChatGPT A.I. with my true loves! Rover, Sailor and baby Skipper!” he said, sharing an AI-generated snapshot of himself with all three dog officers.

“Thank you to all who suggested some wonderful names for our growing group of Chief Dog Officers. After an exhaustive process, our distinguished panel (me) chose Skipper.”

The image shows Legend of the Seas in the background, further confirmation that Skipper will serve onboard the ship, fulfilling all her best doggie duties to bring cheer and joy to crew members and guests alike.

When the puppy’s birth was announced, Bayley confirmed the dog is female and that she would join Legend of the Seas in Europe rather than waiting until the ship reaches the US.

Legend of the Seas, which is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Turku, Finland, is now scheduled to welcome her first guests on July 4, 2026 with a 7-night Mediterranean sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia). The weeklong cruise will visit Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Florence before returning to Rome on July 11.

Michael Bayley And Dogs Graphic
Michael Bayley And Dogs Graphic

The ship is staying in the Mediterranean into October, offering mostly 7-night sailings from Barcelona and Civitavecchia.

On October 25, Legend of the Seas will begin her first transatlantic cruise, a 13-night itinerary that will visit Alicante, Malaga, and Cadiz before turning toward the Sunshine State. On that sailing, Skipper will become the first Chief Dog Officer to complete a transatlantic crossing.

From her Florida homeport of Fort Lauderdale, the new ship will be sailing 6- and 8-night Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries, with visits to destinations such as Curacao, Aruba, Jamaica, Cabo Rojo, and of course, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Read Also: What Are Royal Caribbean’s Icon-Class Ships?

Along the way, the 250,800-gross-ton ship can welcome as many as 7,600 guests, with more than 2,300 crew members (and one four-legged officer!) to provide truly legendary service. Legend of the Seas will return to the Mediterranean in May 2027.

What Does a Chief Dog Officer Do?

While it isn’t clear if Skipper will be onboard for the ship’s July 4 departure, she is sure to bring great smiles aboard when she does officially join the crew.

The experiment of a canine crew member has been a rousing success, with both guests and crew enjoying the fun and photo-worthy moments with Rover, Sailor, and soon, Skipper.

The “Goodest Girls at Sea” also have their own official Instagram account where they share their adventures, including their excitement about their growing pack.

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A recent video shows both dogs frolicking and playing at Perfect Day at CocoCay with the caption “They just heard the next member of the Chief Dog Officer family was born.”

Doggie duties include photo ops with crew members and guests, patrolling the public areas of the ship, making friends with guests, checking in on bridge operations, and just generally being adorable.

Carnival Shuts Down Request to Charge for Prime Pool Loungers

Catie Kovelman
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Carnival Shuts Down Request to Charge for Prime Pool Loungers

Key Aspects:

  • A Carnival guest reached out to Brand Ambassador John Heald to ask if passengers could pay to reserve prime loungers.
  • Heald confirmed that Carnival has no plans to introduce a reservation system for pool loungers.
  • Instead, the focus is on mitigating chair hogging so that everyone can enjoy the loungers without stress.

As chair hogs continue to run rampant on Carnival cruise ships, one guest thought that they may have come up with a solution. Unfortunately, Brand Ambassador John Heald and most of the cruise community did not agree.

The unidentified guest suggested that the cruise line should start charging guests who would like to reserve premium lounge chairs on the pool deck. In their mind, this would be a win-win because cruisers can guarantee chair availability and the cruise line rakes in an even bigger profit.

“I would pay $20 a day to have two reserved lounge chairs in prime areas by the main pool on Carnival. I would not be the only one,” the cruiser wrote to Heald on his Facebook page.

“It could be another revenue stream for you guys. Obviously, few would want to prepay far in advance, but let me reserve two chairs one day in advance on the app and charge it to my folio, and I’d be content,” they continued.

The guest’s proposed system for making this work would be to allow guests to reserve a select number of chairs one day in advance on the HUB App, although they did not give any suggestions for how reservations could be enforced.

Carnival Will Not Begin Charging for Loungers

As interesting as this idea may sound, it will not come to pass on any Carnival ships.

“Before the Glitterknickers brigade and Mr. and Mrs. Cruise Influencer bait their clicks with ‘Heald says Carnival thinks about charging for chairs around the swimming pool’ I didn’t and we are not,” Heald replied.

“While I can never say for sure I doubt this would ever happen,” the brand ambassador added.

Carnival Cruise Line Lido Deck
Carnival Cruise Line Lido Deck (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

For the sake of conversation, Heald asked his followers if they would be interested in a paid reservation system for loungers and received more than 2,000 comments. Many felt that it would be a waste of money or wouldn’t be enforceable, potentially leading to conflicts between passengers.

Others argued that what constitutes a prime lounger is a matter of opinion. What one guest sees as the perfect seat could be subpar to another, leading to disappointment and frustration.

Focusing on Stopping Chair Hogs

In February of 2024, Carnival cracked down on chair hogging with a renewed vigor that still persists today.

A new system was implemented in which crew members watch for unused chairs that have been reserved, and remove items to allow other guests to use the loungers if the original cruiser does not return within 40 minutes.

“Our brilliant crew do a fabulous job in removing articles such as books, bags, clothes, towels and baby yaks from saved seats after a 40-minute period,” Heald noted.

Worth Reading: Man Passes Away in Pool on Marella Cruise in Italy

The idea behind this is that inconsiderate guests can’t simply reserve seats all day without using them. And with more loungers being reopened to other passengers, it shouldn’t be too hard to find somewhere to sit.

That said, guests who do have a strong preference about their lounging situation should try to make it up to the pool deck early to get a wider selection of options.

Do Other Cruise Lines Charge for Loungers?

Most of the other mainstream cruise lines do not allow guests to pay to reserve standard pool-side seating as a normal practice, but may charge for access to certain areas onboard.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line charges for access to the private adults-only “Vibe Beach Club,” which has its own dedicated loungers and hot tubs.

Additionally, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean sometimes charge for use of private cabanas or day beds, which are typically situated in adult-only areas or quieter sections away from the main pool.

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Carnival even has private cabana rentals on select ships in the Loft 19 retreat area, which is featured on the Excel-class vessels.

Passengers who are interested in a reservation like this can inquire directly with their cruise line to get the specifics of what is actually offered onboard their ship.

MSC Ship Skips Port a Second Time Due to Dangerous Weather

Catie Kovelman
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MSC Ship Skips Port a Second Time Due to Dangerous Weather

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Splendida has cancelled its call to La Goulette, Tunisia, on February 12, 2026, due to strong winds.

Guests onboard MSC Splendida are adjusting to a last-minute change of plans due to weather. The MSC ship, which is operating several 7-night Mediterranean sailings simultaneously, was due in La Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia, on February 12, 2026.

But due to strong winds, the 3,900-guest ship has preemptively cancelled its scheduled visit due to safety concerns.

Expected winds of up to 50 knots (around 57 miles per hour) will make docking unsafe and potentially uncomfortable for the guests and crew members currently onboard.

“This situation is due to reasons beyond our control. We thank you for your understanding,” MSC Cruises said in a letter to guests.

And if this situation sounds familiar, it’s probably because this very same cancellation was made just over one month ago. The planned visit to La Goulette on January 8, 2026, was also skipped due to strong winds that created hazardous conditions.

Guests Get an Early Sea Day

While the day won’t be spent as guests expected, they will still be treated to plenty of entertainment options and amenities.

Just to name a few examples, this ship features exciting activities like a Formula 1 simulator, virtual games in the Virtual World area, a 4D cinema, karaoke sessions, and four swimming pools.

MSC Splendida Cruise Ship
MSC Splendida Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Travel Faery)

Read Also: What Happens If The Cruise Ship Is In Bad Weather

Given the change of plans, the 1,370 crew members have revamped the programming to ensure guests still have a great day.

“We are modifying the activities planned for Thursday, offering you numerous entertainments, events, and experiences throughout the day,” the letter noted.

The full schedule of activities will be available in the MSC for Me app or in the MSC Daily Program, which is delivered to staterooms every evening.

Replacement Port Gets Added In

February 13, 2026, was originally supposed to be a sea day, but this date will now be used for a replacement port call. The 137,936-gross ton ship has added a visit to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for this Friday.

This should be a welcomed change, with the popular destination known for stunning sights like the Cathedral La Seu and the medieval Bellver Castle. Guests will be able to explore the destination from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. local time, which is a later departure time than the average port call.

This is likely possible because the Fantasia-class ship won’t have far to go to make her next stop. She is next due in Barcelona, Spain, on February 14, which is just over 100 nautical miles away.

New Shore Excursions Offered

Guests who prefer to see destinations with the structure of a cruise tour are in luck. MSC Cruises offers a selection of shore excursions that are already available to book.

“We offer a selection of tours to discover Mallorca. For guides on the destination and excursion details, scan the QR code available at the Shore Excursions desk or check MSC For Me,” MSC advised.

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Of course, any MSC shore excursions that were booked for La Goulette will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. These funds could easily be put toward new tours in Mallorca.

At this time, MSC is not providing additional compensation for the itinerary changes, but has expressed gratitude to guests for their flexibility and understanding.

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