Four more Carnival Cruise Line sailings will be removing perks for elite loyalty club members.
Too many Platinum guests will be onboard to make certain perks practical, although Diamond guests don’t seem to be affected this time.
Benefits like priority embarkation and disembarkation and early stateroom access are going away.
Carnival Cruise Line rewards the highest tiers of its current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program with special privileges during their sailings.
These include benefits like priority embarkation and debarkation, free early stateroom access, welcome treats, special pins and souvenirs, and more.
But more and more often, Carnival has had to revoke privilegesdue to a high number of Diamond and/or Platinum passengers – and it’s happening once again to four more voyages.
In this case, the Platinum guests in the second-highest tier appear to be to blame, while the top-tier Diamond guests seem to be able to keep their regular benefits.
When too many of these elite guests are booked on a specific sailing, it simply becomes impossible to offer all of the usual perks.
This predicament is the main catalyst behind the rollout of Carnival’s controversial new Carnival Rewards Program later this year, as the cruise line wants to be able to better reward its most loyal passengers.
Which Sailings are Impacted?
Unsurprisingly, the impacted cruises are mostly Carnival Journeys sailings, which are nine days or longer. Historically, these longer vacations have attracted larger numbers of VIFP elites.
The first impacted sailing is a 13-day voyage to the Southern Caribbean onboard Carnival Conquest, which embarks in Miami, Florida, on January 17, 2026.
This is sort of a double whammy, as these special adults-only voyages have also quickly earned a reputation for attracting elite VIFP guests as well as members of the Carnival Players Club.
Carnival Miracle’s January 17 cruise to the Caribbean and Panama has also been similarly impacted. At 8 nights long, it is just one day shy of being considered a Carnival Journeys sailing.
Next up is Carnival Spirit. The Spirit-class flagship’s 14-night sailing to the Southern Caribbean that will embark in Mobile, Alabama, on January 17 is the voyage that will lose its perks.
Last but not least is Carnival Dream’s January 18 departure, which is a 14-night sailing to the Eastern Caribbean based out of Galveston, Texas.
Which Benefits are Going Away?
Making this case somewhat unusual, Diamond guests are not mentioned in the letter, which suggests these cruisers may get to keep all of their normal perks.
The letter from Carnival reads: “Due to the high number of Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide the following benefits.”
“These operational changes are consistent with other voyages where we have a very large number of Platinum guests. We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for understanding,”the notice continued.
So, what perks are guests actually missing out on during these upcoming sailings?
First, priority embarkation and disembarkation – including at ports of call – will not be possible.
Next, early stateroom access to drop off luggage will not be permitted. Platinum guests will have to wait until cabins become available at around 1:30 p.m. on embarkation day, like everyone else. Priority luggage delivery won’t be available for checked bags either.
Last but not least, the normal priority line and priority phone assistance for guest services may also not be available or only be offered on a very limited basis.
But on the bright side, perks like complimentary beverages, welcome treats (upon request), and free laundry services aren’t going anywhere.
It’s been a hectic news week for the cruise industry, and Cruise Hive has it all covered for you.
In this week’s top-story round-up, we’re highlighting Oceania Cruises’ decision to switch to an adult-only policy, the travel chaos that erupted in the Caribbean after the Venezuela military attack, and the arrest of a travel agent who allegedly scammed a group of cruisers out of more than $35,000.
The US government’s January 3, 2026, military attack on Venezuela caused plenty of travel headaches for many cruise guests on their way to or from Caribbean destinations, since airspace was temporarily restricted in some areas.
Virgin Voyages was among the first cruise lines to issue an advisory to guests disembarking on January 3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of the places where airspace was impacted. Guests would have to cope with flight disruptions at the island’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport following debarkation from Valiant Lady.
The 2,770-guest ship homeports at San Juan. Her next cruise, departing later that day, was altered to avoid port calls at Curacao and Aruba, which are just 40 and 18 miles from Venezuela, respectively.
Valiant Lady and USS Gerald R Ford Aircraft Carrier (Credits: Frame Craft 8 & Roque Ramajo Polo)
Also based at San Juan, cruisers headed to or from Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas encountered similar problems, since the 2,100-guest ship was also disembarking and embarking guests on January 3.
As frustrating as those conditions were, they were not as chaotic as others. Some 5,000 guests booked on P&O Cruises’ fly-cruise packages from the UK to Barbados had to completely redo their travel plans.
Three aircraft carrying guests to the line’s Arvia, based in Barbados, turned around in mid-air and returned to the UK due to restricted air spaces in the Caribbean.
Those passengers were scheduled to embark the 5,200-guest ship on January 3. Guests due to disembark the ship and head back to the UK instead remained onboard, while new transportation plans were arranged for the next day.
Carnival Cruise Line Alerts Guests to Key Changes
It’s important to read all alerts and notices that cruise lines send out to booked guests, since they impart key information designed to keep everything running smoothly before and during a voyage.
Carnival Cruise Line issued three such advisories for upcoming sailings in January. Guests booked on Carnival Miracle’s January 4, 2026, sailing, a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Tampa, learned that they must attend an in-person safety briefing before the ship departs.
The cruise line typically uses a self-mustering safety drill through its app, but for an unknown reason, reverted to the old format, whereby all guests must don their life vests and gather at their muster stations for a safety briefing.
Carnival Firenze Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Pedro H C Carvalho)
In another advisory, the line reminded guests about rules surrounding the use and storage of mobility scooters. Guests sailing on Carnival Venezia’s January 11, 2026, Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral were sent a letter detailing that the devices cannot obstruct emergency exits, for instance, nor can they be left unattended, among other rules.
And finally, guests booked on Carnival Radiance’s January 5, 2026, sailing and Carnival Firenze’s January 8, 2026, cruise from Long Beach, California, were alerted to a parking issue at the port.
The two ships together can accommodate about 6,200 guests, and the on-site parking facility at Long Beach has capacity for just 1,450 vehicles. Passengers arriving by car will likely be diverted to an off-site parking lot, so guests should be prepared for that and leave extra time to arrive at the cruise terminal.
Alleged Travel Scam Leaves Cruisers Disappointed
A New York-based travel agent suspected of bilking clients out of thousands of dollars was arrested by Nassau County police.
Tavia Thomas, who operated Destiny Travel in East Meadow, New York, stands accused of five counts of grand larceny and three counts of scheme to defraud. Among the alleged victims is a group of nine people who booked a Royal Caribbean cruise through the agency.
Royal Caribbean Ship and Tavia Thomas (Credits: MuhammadChoeroni & LongIsland)
The group, which was to sail from Bayonne, New Jersey, in July 2024, said they paid Thomas $35,753.98 for the cruise, but on arriving at the port found out that their bookings were fraudulent and, therefore, were null and void.
The disappointed cruisers were not the only people allegedly scammed by Thomas, age 47. Authorities say she received $5,000 from a couple booking a destination wedding at a resort, but the reservation was never made. She also allegedly took more than $10,000 to book a family vacation to the Dominican Republic, another trip that was never actually processed.
Police cited other cases of suspected fraud against customers in their January 6, 2026, announcement of her arrest.
Cabin Changes Revealed on Legend of the Seas
Some cruise guests booked on Royal Caribbean’s new-build Legend of the Seas have learned they will not be staying in the cabin category they originally booked.
The ship, under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and due to launch on July 11, 2026, offers more than 20 cabin categories. For an unexplained reason, some staterooms have been “recategorized,” meaning that some guests are getting new cabin assignments.
The ship’s inaugural cruise is a 7-night Western Mediterranean sailing roundtrip from Rome. Some passengers received a notice from the line explaining that they have been reassigned.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas
For instance, in one case, guests who booked a Surfside Family View Balcony are getting a free upgrade to an Ocean View Balcony. The Surfside stateroom is interior facing, while the ocean view faces outward.
Both can sleep up to four guests, but the ocean view stateroom is slightly larger, at 205 square feet versus 196 in the Surfside cabin.
Some guests welcomed the change, but others didn’t. For example, a group that specifically chose a set of staterooms nearby each other — with some in connecting cabins, are not so pleased that they won’t be as close together as planned.
Oceania Cruises Shifts to Adult-Only Policy
The industry’s adult-only cruise line niche just got considerably bigger, now that Oceania Cruises is accepting reservations from guests 18 and older.
The upmarket line joins Virgin Voyages and Viking Cruises in the no-kids market, bringing its eight ships (with four new-builds on the way) into the fold.
Starting with bookings made on and after January 7, 2026, Oceania no longer accepts reservations for anyone under 18. All existing bookings made before that date are not affected by the new policy.
Oceania Allura Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Oceania Cruises)
Oceania Cruises pointed to feedback from past guests and travel advisors, and its own research, as reasons for the change.
The brand, which appears to be taking steps toward the luxury market, was never known as a child-friendly line, as it offered no dedicated spaces or programs for children, although up to now, they were welcomed onboard.
Oceania Cruises operates smaller ships, accommodating between 700 and 1,200 guests. Its new-build Sonata, debuting in 2027, will be the largest, with capacity for 1,460 guests.
Getaway Cruise Experiences a Major Delay
A 2-night getaway sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas experienced a significant delay in embarkation on January 5, 2026, due to the ship’s late arrival back to Los Angeles that day.
The ship sails Mexican Riviera cruises, but this sailing had just one port call scheduled, in Ensenada, Mexico. Booked guests were alerted that the cruise terminal and parking lot would be closed until 3:30 p.m. on embarkation day, so guest arrival appointments were pushed back by 4.5 hours.
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas (Photo Credit: DLeng)
The reason was tied to the ship’s previous cruise, which was delayed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, after a guest needed to be evacuated due to a medical emergency, according to passengers’ social media posts. As a result, the ship’s arrival in Los Angeles was far later than planned.
The parking situation was impacted since the disembarking guests had not yet returned to the port.
Once the ship got on her way, the time in Ensenada was lengthened by two hours, giving guests more time in the destination. Quantum of the Seas arrived in Ensenada at 8 a.m. on January 6, 2026, and remained until 6 p.m., rather than the originally planned 4 p.m.
Hawaii Cruise Tax Halted As CLIA Appeal Continues
Hawaii’s so-called “green fee,” a tax on cruise ship guests calling at the state’s port, did not take effect as planned on January 1, 2026.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary injunction on December 31, 2025, blocking the new law that would have added an 11% tax on gross cruise fares. The tax was to be prorated based on the number of days a cruise ship spends docked at the Hawaiian Islands ports.
Cruise Passengers on Hawaii Cruise (Photo Credit: Melissa Herzog)
Act 96, its official name, taxes cruise lines, hotel rooms, and vacation rentals, and is also known as the transient accommodations tax. The act is estimated to raise $100 million per year to address environmental and climate-related issues.
Besides the 11% tax by the state, individual counties in Hawaii could implement another 3%.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) sued the state, leading to the Court of Appeals ruling. The injunction, while temporary, enables CLIA’s appeal of the law to continue.
More Cruise Headlines
Ready for even more news and features? Cruise Hive invites you to check out our coverage of Princess Cruises expanding its roster of 2027 Northern Europe voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line opening new attractions at Great Stirrup Cay, and Royal Caribbean breaking ground on its new cruise terminal at PortMiami.
Also, find out why an MSC Cruises’ ship arrived 10 hours late to her port call in Brazil, and why Holland America Line is experiencing a booking surge in 2026 Europe voyages.
The Bahamas has announced a new cruise port to be built on Mayaguana.
The tiny island is 350 miles southeast of Nassau, halfway between Florida and Puerto Rico.
The new port will be built in three phases, but no timeline is yet confirmed for completion.
The Government of the Bahamas has announced intentions to develop a brand new cruise port in the island nation, but far from the most familiar destinations cruise guests know.
The Office of the Prime Minister announced on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 that they intend to develop the new port on Mayaguana, the easternmost of the Bahamian islands, through a public-private partnership.
The project will serve not only the cruise industry, but will also work as a cargo port for ships heading for the Panama Canal.
Because Mayaguana is close to international shipping lanes, it is a natural location for such a facility and the new port would provide an economic boost to the often overlooked region of the southeastern Bahamas.
The project is to be jointly owned by the Government of The Bahamas, the Mayaguana Island Development Fund, and Global Lead Consultant Group Limited, with development in three phases:
Phase 1 – Temporary facilities to support construction and a deep water port
Phase 2 – Cruise ship terminal
Phase 3 – Deep water enhancements, larger terminal, and landside support facilities
While this announcement comes as a welcome look forward to a new cruise destination in the Bahamas, there is not yet any timeline for when the new cruise port may open.
Before construction can even begin, there need to be appropriate environmental assessments, stakeholder collaborations, regulatory approvals, design development, and more.
Where Is Mayaguana?
Mayaguana is the southeasternmost island of the Bahamas archipelago, approximately 350 miles southeast of Nassau.
This puts the small island halfway between Miami and Puerto Rico, an ideal location for a port for Eastern Caribbean itineraries.
Mayaguana Island, Bahamas (Photo Credit: zelvan)
The new port could also be a great alternative destination when poor weather may impact Nassau or the Bahamian private islands, all of which are located closer to the Bahamian capital or Freeport, which is even further north.
Mayaguana is just 110 square miles, with a 2010 census report of a population under 300 residents. The new port project is expected to create roughly 2,000 jobs from conception until the new port opens, and undoubtedly even more jobs will be created as cruise ships begin to visit.
What Might the Cruise Port Include?
While further details about the new port will be announced as they are confirmed in the months to come, there are some aspects of the project that may seem obvious.
It would be advantageous for the new cruise port to be built to accommodate larger ships, such as both Royal Caribbean’s Icon and Oasis classes, Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel class, and MSC Cruises’ World class.
This would ensure flexibility to bring in ships with the greatest economic impact, as well as provide plenty of space to work with smaller vessels.
Environmental flexibility will also be essential, potentially including shore power hookups as well as LNG-fueling capacity to service the needs of different vessels as environmental regulations change in the years to come.
Cruise guests will certainly be interested in a variety of tour options, particularly those that focus on the natural beauty and culture of the Bahamas. Snorkeling, wildlife interactions, and water sports are always popular, as are pristine beaches and authentic experiences.
A local shopping and artisan retail space will undoubtedly be included, as well as dining options.
At the moment, time will tell what will be developed for the new cruise port, but stay tuned to Cruise Hive for all the details as they are confirmed in the months and years ahead.
Royal Caribbean is reportedly preparing to order a brand new class of ships.
Many speculate this could be the long-awaited “Discovery” Class.
The new class could open the door to many new, exotic itineraries.
According to a rumor reported by a French media outlet, Le Marin, Royal Caribbean is quietly preparing to order a brand new class of ships from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.
No official announcement has been made as of yet, but the order is reportedly expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. Le Marin further reports that preliminary work on the new vessels may have already begun at Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Located in Saint-Nazaire, France, the shipyard has a long-standing relationship with Royal Caribbean, dating back to 1987 with the launch of Sovereign of the Seas.
At the time, this was the largest cruise ship ever constructed, a feat the collaborators repeated recently in 2024 with the 236,473 gross ton Utopia of the Seas.
When it came to their even larger Icon Class ships, though, Royal Caribbean did not return to Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Taking the record for the largest cruise ships in the world, Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and 2026’s most anticipated new ship, Legend of the Seas were built instead at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany.
As Royal Caribbean returns to the French shipyard, however, more mega-ships may not be on the menu.
What We Know About the Discovery Class So Far
Many speculate that this order could be for the long-awaited, mid-sized “Discovery” Class of ships.
Whispers of the new class have circulated since 2023, when President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley, mentioned that the cruise line was considering a smaller class of ships.
Additional information came in September 2025, when the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley, confirmed the project was still in development.
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas
“We’ve been working a lot on the Discovery Class… it takes a lot of work to design a ship,”said Bayley. “We can’t make any announcements now, but I’m hopeful that in the coming months we will be able to make an announcement on that class.”
While exact details are not yet available, the design of the Discovery Class is expected to be smaller than recent ships.
Why would Royal Caribbean want smaller ships, you ask?
Many more exotic itineraries, such as the Panama Canal, are currently not an option for Royal Caribbean’s larger vessels. As such, the new class of smaller ships will have much better maneuverability, allowing for a wider range of routes and port options.
“It’ll go through the Panama Canal, which we think will be a real positive because it’ll be able to go to Alaska in the summer, and it can get back into the Caribbean,” said Bayley.
Don’t think that Royal Caribbean is giving up on mega ships, though.
The cruise line is investing heavily in big ships, breaking ground January 8 on a brand new terminal at PortMiami to accommodate the largest vessels in its fleet.
The Discovery Class is also expected to replace some of the cruise line’s oldest operating ships, such as Vision and Radiance Class vessels. The oldest and smallest of these ships, the 2,446-passenger Grandeur of the Seas, has been in service for nearly 30 years, since 1996.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what comes next.
A norovirus outbreak has been confirmed aboard Rotterdam on the ship’s most recent sailing.
Embarkation for the January 9, 2026 departure was slightly delayed for extra sanitizing.
Extra cleaning measures are in place aboard the Pinnacle-class ship to help protect guests and crew.
A severe gastrointestinal illness outbreak has been reported aboard Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed as norovirus.
The outbreak occurred on the ship’s New Year’s sailing, a 12-night Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The report to the CDC indicates that 81 guests of the 2,593 travelers onboard (3.1%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, 8 of the ship’s 1,005 crew members (just under 1%) also reported similar symptoms.
Subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the outbreak to be norovirus, the most common cause of such symptoms on cruise ships worldwide.
This latest outbreak is the third norovirus outbreak aboard Rotterdam in the last 12 months. The first was reported in February 2025 and impacted a total of 185 guests and crew members. The second outbreak was somewhat smaller and just one month later, in March 2025, it impacted 93 guests and crew members.
Both earlier outbreaks were also confirmed as norovirus. Other Holland America Line ships have also had similar outbreaks in the past year, including two reports from Eurodam and one from Zuiderdam.
Embarkation Delayed
In order to fully sanitize the vessel ahead of her next sailing, guests planning to embark Rotterdam on Friday, January 9, 2026 were notified of a slight delay to embarkation.
This allows for extra deep cleaning before more guests board the ship, ensuring the most thorough possible sanitation measures.
Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)
Embarkation was delayed just a couple of hours. Rotterdam has already departed Port Everglades on her next itinerary, a 9-night Southern Caribbean “ABC” voyage with visits to Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, and Half Moon Cay.
Hopefully, the sanitation measures will have been effective and guests now onboard the Pinnacle-class ship will not be impacted by the unpleasant symptoms. Rotterdam can welcome 2,668 guests at double occupancy or up to 4,173 guests when fully booked.
Coughing has been prominent onboard since early in the 12-night sailing, with gastrointestinal symptoms surfacing later in the cruise.
Roughly midway through the cruise, travelers noticed increased sanitation measures, including extra cleaning of public spaces and surfaces and stronger encouragement for hand-washing and using hand sanitizer.
Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)
By the last day or two of the sailing, there was no longer any self-service in the buffet and sickness bags were positioned around the ship.
“When the captain announced a gastrointestinal illness was going around I was pretty surprised given symptoms have seemed more respiratory,”one guest noted.
This might indicate there has been more than one illness onboard, but it is not uncommon for respiratory illnesses such as colds and flus to be more prominent during the winter months.
Some guests also noted slight changes to the entertainment lineup, such as adjustments to musical performances, which might indicate illness spreading among crew members.
To be clear, the report to the CDC with the 89 confirmed norovirus cases is not claiming that 89 guests and crew members were sick simultaneously.
These reports are totals for the entire sailing, and because symptoms may resolve in just a few days, there could be significant gaps between early cases and late cases during the 12-night cruise.
One Carnival cruise guest claims they won’t sail again until plastic straws are available.
Carnival Cruise Line discontinued plastic straws several years ago as an environmental measure.
Guests are able to bring their own reusable straws onboard for all their favorite cruise drinks.
It’s been several years since cruise lines began ditching single-use plastics, including straws, but is it time to reconsider what alternatives they use?
One recent Carnival Cruise Line guest feels that certain types of straws are literally the last straw and make-or-break their enjoyment of a cruise vacation.
They were so upset at what was offered for their beverage of choice that they reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, about their options.
“John are you aware that —– and —– have brought back plastic straws. Why does Carnival still have [these] god awful edible straws that fall apart. Paper straws are disgusting too,”the guest said.
While Heald redacted the names of cruise lines that have supposedly returned to using plastic straws, any such shift in policy from other lines has been quiet indeed, as none have noted such a change.
“I was on the Celebration and ordered a drink from the Guy Fieri pub,”the guest continued.
“I requested a straw with my Moscow Mule, and they would not give me one stating they were only for frozen drinks only. I have never had that happen on any other cruise line ever! I won’t be back until Carnival changes this outdated policy.”
The guest does not identify their exact sailing date, but the Excel-classCarnival Celebration offers 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings year-round from PortMiami.
To be clear, there is no “Guy Fieri Pub” onboard Carnival Celebration, though they might be referring to Guy’s Smokehouse Brewhouse on Deck 8 aft, in the Summer Landing zone, where craft beers are brewed onboard.
Nevertheless, it is true that straws are not offered with most drinks onboard, as Heald confirmed.
“Some years ago The Beards rightly decided that we had to do more to protect our oceans,”he explained.“One of the ways to do this was to stop serving plastic straws.”
“The fact that we put the environment before straws should either be applauded or at least, understood.”
Heald goes on to sympathize with the guest, noting he doesn’t care for edible straws himself. He does not claim to be the most environmentally-minded individual, but the step is a necessary one.
“I can say that after working and for many months living on the seas for almost 40 years that we must do this, we must protect our oceans,”he said.
Edible Straws Not a Guest Favorite
Heald and this vocal Carnival guest are not the only ones who don’t care for the edible straws. In fact, Heald posted a “straw poll” asking for guests’ opinions.
Of more than 4,740 votes in just a few hours, 56% of responses (roughly 2,650 votes) do not like the edible straws.
“They don’t hold up in drinks. They end up falling apart, and you can’t touch them to stir your drink because they’re sticky,”one guest noted.
How quickly the straws get slimy or fall apart, impacts on drink tastes, and the amount of sugar in candy straws are all complaints about the unpopular straws.
Roughly 7% of voters (approximately 330 votes) do enjoy the edible straws, typically for the sweeter drinks or milkshakes where the sugary flavors can actually be a fun addition.
Can Guests Bring Their Own Straws?
Heald does note that guests are free to bring their own reusable straws onboard to use in any drinks they order, but with one request.
“You can bring your own straw, a stainless steel or reusable straw but please, not plastic,”he said.“We do not have a rule on bringing plastic straws on board but please try not to if you can.”
Reusable straws are available in silicone, metal, and glass, with different sizes and designs for different types of drinks. Bent straws, collapsible travel-friendly styles, and even curly straws for whimsical sips are all options.
In the poll, 31% of cruise guests (roughly 1,470 votes) do claim to bring their own straws onboard. Do you?
The US government has raised Grenada’s travel advisory from a Level 1 to a Level 2.
The reason for the elevated status is crime within the Caribbean destination.
Guests who visit the island nation should exercise increased caution and stay aware of their surroundings.
The US Department of State is feeling a bit spicy toward the “Island of Spice,” a popular cruise destination in the Eastern Caribbean.
Due to crime, the US government has raised Grenada from a Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) travel advisory to a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) advisory on January 5, 2026.
“Violent crime can occur anywhere in Grenada. American citizens in Grenada have been victims of armed robbery, assault, burglary, and rape,”the advisory states.
“In some cases, American citizens have been killed. Police response times are not as fast as one may expect in the United States,”it continues.
However, the RGBF also celebrated a high solvency rate of 74.8% for all crimes reported in 2024, which they hoped to grow to reach 80% in 2025.
Crime statistics for 2025 have not been released publicly at this time.
Is Tension Between the US and Venezuela a Factor?
At only 90-100 miles away from Venezuela, there is a possibility that Grenada could be impacted by the rising tensions between the South American country and the US.
So far, no port calls have been skipped over the conflict. However, flights to and from Grenadawere negatively impacted due to the US military attack on Venezuela on January 3, 2026.
Even though the travel advisory upgrade came just two days after this event, the tensions were not cited as a reason.
Cruise Ships Continue Sailing to Grenada
Hundreds of thousands of cruise guests visit Grenada every year, primarily calling at Port St. George’s on the Caribbean destination’s southwestern coast. At this time, there are no plans to slow this momentum.
But rest assured, the cruise lines will continue to monitor the safety of the port and will make adjustments if the need arises.
Photo Courtesy: Grenada Gov
31 ship calls are still to come in the month of January alone, with major brands like Royal Caribbean, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, and Princess Cruises on the schedule.
Smaller luxury vessels will sometimes also stop at Carriacou, which is a tender port and the largest of Grenada’s sister islands – though this port doesn’t see nearly as much action.
Star Clippers’ 166-guest Star Clipper is expected to visit Carriacou twice in February and twice in March, which are the only remaining calls for this year on the schedule.
Should Passengers Worry?
If it ever gets too dangerous to visit a port, the cruise lines will make itinerary changes accordingly.
At least for the foreseeable future, the US State Department is simply advising guests who do visit the island to exercise increased caution and stay aware of their surroundings.
In the grand scheme of things, a Level 2 advisory is only one step above the lowest risk. More concern is understandable for a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) advisory.
If you’re worried, booking a vetted tour or shore excursion through your cruise line is usually a good way to have fun and stay safe while in port.
Symphony of the Seas will leave Nassau 90 minutes early on her February 15, 2026 sailing.
The change is to comply with speed restrictions that may be related to environmental concerns.
Booked guests have reported similar changes on multiple upcoming sailing dates.
Guests booked on Symphony of the Seas‘ February 15, 2026 sailing have learned they will not have quite as much time as originally planned in Nassau, capital of the Bahamas.
The notification email explained the change and how the itinerary of the 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise has been adjusted.
“As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process, we’ve modified our upcoming sailing. To maintain smooth sailing and comply with safe speed restrictions during our cruise, we’ve adjusted our departure time from Nassau, Bahamas on Day 7,”the email confirmed.
“We’ll now depart at 4:30 PM instead of 6 PM. Not to worry, the rest of the itinerary remains the same.”
Any shore tours booked through Royal Caribbean will be adjusted to the new port time if necessary. If the tours cannot be accommodated, they will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ original form of payment.
While the change is a minor one, it may impact any guests who might have hoped to enjoy options such as a sunset cruise or an early dinner in Nassau before returning to the ship.
If guests have arranged independent tours, they will need to contact their tour operators for adjustments or cancellations as necessary.
To be clear, the ship’s arrival in Nassau at 9 a.m. is also the same. The times for the rest of the sailing remain unchanged as follows:
Sunday, February 15 – Depart Miami at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, February 18 – St. Maarten from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, February 18 – St. Thomas from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, February 22 – Arrive in Miami at 6 a.m.
The other days of the sailing (other than Saturday’s visit to Nassau) are days at sea, giving guests plenty of time to enjoy all the Oasis-class ship has to offer.
Symphony of the Seas can welcome 5,518 guests at double occupancy or up to 6,680 travelers when fully booked. The ship is also home to roughly 2,200 international crew members.
Why the Change?
While there was initially some speculation that Symphony of the Seas might be experiencing propulsion difficulties or other technical problems leading to a reduced sailing speed, this is not the case.
The notification email is clear that the change is to “comply with safe speed restrictions,” though it does not indicate what those restrictions may be.
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas (Photo Credit: Tony DiLello)
It is not unusual for seasonal speed restrictions to be related to migratory patterns and routes of marine wildlife, such as whales. Slower speeds permit the mammals to move out of the way more easily as ships approach, or ships could better see and move around groups of whales. There is no evidence whatsoever that there is any technical problem with Symphony of the Seas.
Multiple Sailings Impacted
If this is indeed a seasonal restriction, it is possible that additional sailings may have similar changes. Booked guests should stay in close contact with Royal Caribbean for updates to their itineraries if necessary.
Guests booked on sailings in December 2025 as well as into March 2026 have reported identical changes, though individual sailing dates have not been confirmed.
Whether or not a single cruise will have such an itinerary change will depend on the preplanned times for Nassau and if an earlier departure is necessary to comply with the restrictions.
These types of simple itinerary adjustments are not uncommon, particularly as environmental restrictions or policies may be implemented long after a sailing is originally planned and offered for sale.
MSC Splendida warned its guests of rough weather conditions in the Mediterranean.
The forecast called for high swells and wind speeds up to 35 knots along the planned route.
Precautions were taken to ensure that everyone would remain safe onboard.
People often use the phrase “rock the boat” as a colloquialism about causing trouble, but current guests of MSC Splendida may be experiencing the literal meaning of this.
The MSC cruise ship is currently in the middle of a 7-night Mediterranean sailing that embarked in Barcelona, Spain, on January 3, and the final leg of the voyage has been a bit bumpy due to bad weather.
The ship was rocked by big swells and strong winds reaching above 35 knots (about 40 miles per hour) while sailing from Palermo (Sicily), Italy, to La Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia.
“To make your trip as comfortable as possible, we would like to inform you that we are potentially expecting some challenging weather conditions during our navigation from Palermo to La Goulette,”Captain Giuseppe Maresca wrote in a letter to guests.
“Forecasts indicate that we may find rough seas across the Western Mediterranean, with high swells and wind gusts potentially exceeding 35 knots,” Maresca continued.
The 3,900-guest ship visited Palermo on January 7, 2026, before stopping at La Goulette on January 8, 2026. No itinerary changes had to be made because of the weather.
As of the time of writing, cruise tracking data shows the Fantasia-class vessel sailing away from Tunisia in very rough seas with swells reaching 3.6 meters (about 11-12 feet) and near gale-force winds.
La Goulette was the final port call on the itinerary, with the ship due back in Barcelona on January 10.
Precautions Taken Onboard
Due to the less-than-ideal conditions, the approximately 1,370 crew members have taken preventive action to protect all onboard.
First, the crew members likely drained the pools, which is commonly done in inclement weather to prevent flooding and to enhance the stability of the 137,936-gross ton vessel.
“If the situation requires it, we may temporarily empty onboard pools until conditions improve. We will promptly inform you if we need to implement further measures for your safety,”the cruise line advised.
Out of an abundance of caution, guests were also encouraged to avoid the outer decks, exercise extra care while moving about the ship, and to use the handrails when available.
These simple actions can help prevent falls or injuries if the ship were to move unexpectedly.
No Real Danger
Modern cruise ships, including MSC Splendida, have been carefully designed to weather rough seas.
Not only did the onboard bridge team work closely with the MSC shoreside team to choose the safest and smoothest possible route, but these ships are equipped with highly effective stabilization systems.
“Rest assured that MSC Splendida has been designed, built, and equipped to safely navigate rough sea conditions such as these,”the captain reassured guests.
“We have carefully planned a navigational route that avoids the worst of the weather system and have made technical adjustments to ensure your journey remains as comfortable as possible,” he continued.
But while there is and was no danger to current guests or crew members, letting everyone know what is going on helps keep guests calm and comfortable – especially among novice cruisers who might be startled by rough conditions.
