Blog Page 65

Cruisers Overwhelmingly Choose Perfect Day at CocoCay as Best Private Island

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Cruisers Overwhelmingly Choose Perfect Day at CocoCay as Best Private Island

Key Aspects:

  • Perfect Day at CocoCay was voted the Best Cruise Line Private Island/Destination of 2025 by Cruise Hive readers.
  • Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island took 32.0% of the votes, well above the second-place destination.
  • The island includes thrills, chills, and everything in between for the ultimate private destination.

Looking for the best private island experience for your next cruise? Cruise Hive readers overwhelmingly recommend Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay and have chosen the Bahamian hotspot as the winner for Best Cruise Line Private Island/Destination of 2025 in the annual Cruise Hive Awards.

The island’s victory is an overwhelming one, with 32.0% of the votes, well above the second and third place destinations.

This is not a new accolade for the highly-rated private island, as Perfect Day at CocoCay has won the honor for the past four years, making this year’s honor the fifth time in a row the Royal Caribbean destination has been voted the best.

Best Private Island and Destination Award
Best Private Island and Destination Award

In fact, Perfect Day at CocoCay has rated this top honor in every year the category has been part of the Cruise Hive Awards: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025.

Why Perfect Day at CocoCay Is the Perfect Private Island

Perfect Day at CocoCay truly offers something for everyone, no matter what type of experience they want most.

Thrill seekers? You can’t do better than Thrill Waterpark with its 14 adrenaline-inducing waterslides. At 135 feet tall, Daredevil’s Peak is the tallest slide in the Caribbean, or guests can race in the Dueling Demons drop slides. An immense wave pool and a range of different slide types round out the thrills.

Guests who want to stay dry but still feel the thrill can try out the zip line or soar above it all on the Up, Up and Away hot air balloon.

The littles will love Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon, both outstanding water-tastic play structures for younger cruisers. Conveniently located near the arrivals plaza, these kid-friendly options are sure to be perfectly fun.

Cruise Ships Docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay
Cruise Ships Docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay (Photo Credit: Rexjaymes)

Prefer to soak up the vibes? Oasis Lagoon is the place to be. As the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean with unique coves and plenty of lounge seating, including in-water loungers, it’s an amazing option for all ages to get their splash on.

For more exclusive, private experiences, guests can opt for the Coco Beach Club or the adults-only Hideaway Beach. While both do have extra admission fees, they offer distinctive fun ideal for that perfect beach day.

Chill Island, Harbor Beach, and South Beach all offer great options to enjoy, from beach volleyball, ping pong, and bocce ball to private cabanas, oversized hammocks, and more.

Read Also: What Are All the Cruise Line Private Islands and Destinations?

When it’s time to refuel, guests can enjoy two barbecue buffet locations or three Snack Shacks, all of which are complimentary. From burgers and tacos to fried chicken sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, and other deliciousness, there are plenty of food options to enjoy on CocoCay. Don’t miss the fresh, hot funnel cakes dusted with powdered sugar!

With so much on offer, not to mention the free beach towel use, plentiful beach loungers and shade umbrellas, tram service down the pier, live music, and more, it’s not surprising that Perfect Day at CocoCay continues to be voted the top private island destination.

Other Private Islands and Destinations Guests Love

While Perfect Day at CocoCay is the clear favorite for Cruise Hive’s readers, MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay Marine Reserve proved a strong second with 19.9% of the vote.

A surprising third place is Carnival Cruise Line’s new Celebration Key with 13.7% of the vote. Considering Celebration Key only welcomed its first guests on July 19, the new destination has certainly made a positive impression. Of course, it has already welcomed one million guests, so its popularity is sure to continue growing in future years.

Best Cruise Line Island and Destination
Best Cruise Line Island and Destination Chart (Data: Cruise Hive)

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay and Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay (also visited by Carnival Cruise Line) were a close fourth and fifth place at 7.8% and 7.4% of votes, respectively, followed by Princess Cruises’ Princess Cays at 6.4% and Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay at 6.2%.

Both Harvest Caye in Belize (Norwegian Cruise Line) and Labadee in Haiti (Royal Caribbean) were lower in the voting at 3.2% and 2.8%, which is not surprising. Harvest Caye is not a common port on many itineraries, and Labadee has been closed to cruise guests for months due to civil unrest in Haiti.

More From Cruise Hive

Finally, Disney Cruise Line’s new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas garnered just .8% of the overall votes. This is a surprisingly low turnout, but the destination only opened in June 2024 and is less frequently visited than Castaway Cay.

The annual Cruise Hive Awards were open for voting from October 14 through December 19. Votes were carefully reviewed, and no bots or spam votes were included in the winning totals.

Port Canaveral Just Made Debarkation Easier at Terminal 6

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Port Canaveral Just Made Debarkation Easier at Terminal 6

Key Aspects:

  • Port Canaveral has opened a new debarkation ramp in Cruise Terminal 6.
  • The ADA-compliant ramp offers smoother debarkation for all guests, particularly those with luggage or strollers.
  • Other upgrades include emergency features, lighting, and HVAC modifications in the terminal.

Debarkation has gotten a bit smoother for guests returning to Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 6 with the opening this week of the terminal’s new ramp.

Inside the terminal leading from the ship to the first floor baggage hall and US Customs and Immigration checkpoint, the ADA-compliant ramp is part of a $2.5 million investment in the port’s efficiency and superior guest experiences.

“The new ramp provides a convenient, safe and efficient means for disembarking passengers to retrieve their luggage from the first floor baggage hall following their cruise from the world’s busiest cruise port,” Port Canaveral announced on Facebook. “Stay tuned for future enhancements to our cruise terminals!”

In addition to the ramp, upgrades to Cruise Terminal 6 include new lighting, HVAC modifications, security cameras, and emergency equipment.

The concrete ramp is smooth for rolling luggage or guests who need mobility aids such as wheelchairs or scooters, with a gradual, intermittent slope for easy control and steady progress. Wide enough for several guests to walk side-by-side, it ensures a smoother, faster debarkation for all travelers.

Port Canaveral Terminal 6 Ramp
Port Canaveral Terminal 6 Ramp

As it descends, the ramp turns back on itself several times but with more graduated turns rather than immediate hairpins, further ensuring good accessibility.

Read Also: Port Canaveral Cruise Port – Piers, Terminals, and Getting Around

Guests from Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom were the first to use the new ramp this week. The 110,556-gross-ton, Conquest-class ship typically docks at Cruise Terminal 6 on the north side of the port’s West Turning Basin.

Other ships that will take full advantage of the new ramp for guests in the coming weeks include Norwegian Joy, Carnival Vista, Sky Princess, and MSC Seashore.

Guests React to New Ramp

Guest responses to the new cruise terminal debarkation upgrade have been very positive, even though the ramp barely has any footprints on it yet.

“I love the ramps! Wish all terminals had them!” one guest exclaimed.

“It was so nice got off boat Wednesday [December 24],” another guest noted.

Many guests noted that the large ramp is much easier for debarking with one’s luggage rather than wrestling with it on escalators, downstairs, or in crowded elevators.

View of the Entire Port
View of the Entire Port (Photo Credit: Port Canaveral)

The broad, gradual ramp is also a great benefit for families with young children in strollers, as well as for scooters or wheelchairs, so there is less waiting for elevators.

The ramp is also a great benefit for port efficiency as guest capacity continues to rise at the popular homeport. Port Canaveral just recently claimed the title of World’s Busiest Cruise Port with more than 8.6 million guest movements in 2025, just ahead of PortMiami’s 8.5 million guest movements.

Port Canaveral Upgrades Continue to Impress

With improvements such as the new Cruise Terminal 6 ramp, Port Canaveral continues to showcase its commitment to the best possible guest experience with both convenience and efficiency.

That experience is definitely getting noticed by frequent cruisers, who voted Port Canaveral as the Best US Cruise Homeport for 2025, the sixth straight year the central Florida homeport has received the honor.

More From Cruise Hive

With 27.3% of the overall vote, Port Canaveral far exceeded the second place contender, PortMiami, with 17.2% of the vote. In fact, all five top spots were taken by Florida homeports, with Port Tampa Bay in third place (10.9%), Port Everglades in fourth place (10.1%), and Port West Palm Beach in fifth place (9.5%).

Because Port Canaveral works diligently to improve the guest experience and remain convenient for all travelers, it is sure to remain a popular homeport for both Florida cruisers and thousands of guests who fly to the Sunshine State to set sail.

Port Canaveral Sails to Sixth Year as Best US Cruise Homeport

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Port Canaveral Sails to Sixth Year as Best US Cruise Homeport

Key Aspects:

  • Readers have chosen Port Canaveral as the Best US Cruise Homeport for the sixth consecutive year.
  • The central Florida homeport dominated with 27.3% of the vote total.
  • Florida homeports took all five top spots in this year’s Cruise Hive Awards.

For the sixth year in a row, Port Canaveral has dominated the Cruise Hive Awards for Best US Cruise Homeport to hold firm to the title as a favorite among cruisers.

The central Florida homeport is now the World’s Busiest Cruise Port, having welcomed more than 8.6 million guests in 2025, edging out PortMiami for that illustrious title. It’s no wonder then that the port would also be favored as the Best US Cruise Homeport!

Best US Cruise Homeport Award
Best US Cruise Homeport Award

Of all the votes cast from mid-October through mid-December, Port Canaveral secured 27.3% of the total, generously exceeding PortMiami’s 17.2%.

With the next three top homeports all in Florida, it’s a winning day indeed for the Sunshine State. Port Tampa Bay took 10.9% of the vote, followed closely by Port Everglades with 10.1% and Port West Palm Beach with 9.5% of readers’ votes.

Best US Cruise Homeport
Best US Cruise Homeport (Data: Cruise Hive)

Across the US, cruisers overwhelmingly prefer to set sail from Florida with a combined 75% of the votes for the state’s homeports.

Port Canaveral is conveniently located less than an hour east of Orlando, making it an attractive homeport for fly-in guests who want to visit the central Florida theme parks – Disney, Universal, Sea World – as part of a longer vacation.

Furthermore, with Kennedy Space Center, the Brevard Zoo, and the world-famous Cocoa Beach nearby, there are plenty of attractions and fun to bring guests close to Port Canaveral before and after their sailing.

The diversity of cruise lines and ships at Port Canaveral is also attractive to frequent cruisers. More than 1,000 sailings set off from Port Canaveral each year, with ships from all the following lines based from central Florida:

  • Royal Caribbean
  • Disney Cruise Line
  • Carnival Cruise Line
  • Celebrity Cruises
  • MSC Cruises
  • Princess Cruises
  • Norwegian Cruise Line

This range of cruise lines gives travelers an amazing selection of voyages from Port Canaveral, from fun weekend Bahamas getaways to weeklong cruises to both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean destinations.

Port Canaveral, Florida
Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)

For longer sailings, guests can enjoy coveted Southern Caribbean “ABC” itineraries to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, as well as select Panama Canal voyages or even one-way transatlantic cruises to and from Europe.

Of course, arranging back-to-back sailings is another convenient option, and with the multiple side-to-side possibilities from Port Canaveral, eager cruisers can customize their dream cruise vacation.

The Port Canaveral Experience

It’s more than just cruise diversity that brings guests to a favorite homeport. While some cruisers opt for the most conveniently close homeport, the smoothness of parking, check-in, and even debarkation are all factors in just how popular a port may be.

Port Canaveral excels at the cruise experience, with easy-to-read signage directing drivers to their respective cruise terminals and ample parking ensuring a smooth arrival and departure. Plenty of bus lanes and drop-off areas are available as well for guests arriving via shuttles, ride shares, or taxis.

Once at the terminal, guests sailing from Port Canaveral enjoy updated and efficient embarkation or debarkation, complete with facial recognition processing that speeds up customs and gets cruisers on their way without delays.

Read Also: Port Canaveral Cruise Port – Piers, Terminals, and Getting Around

But Port Canaveral isn’t stopping there. Thoughtful, forward-facing investments and development projects keep the port at the forefront of technology and innovation, ensuring an updated and ever-adapting experience for millions of cruise guests each year.

While Florida’s five homeports dominated this year’s voting, other popular cruise homeports certainly have their fans.

Port of Galveston has 5.4% of the votes, a great testament to the growing popularity of cruising from the Lone Star State. New Yorkers prefer the Manhattan Cruise Terminal with 4.0% of the votes, while anyone who loves Alaska cruising can’t do better than the Port of Seattle, with 3.0% of the votes.

Baltimore Cruise Port (2.2%) and Cape Liberty in New Jersey (1.9%) round out the options, with all other US cruise homeports totaling a combined 8.6%. That includes Mobile, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, New Orleans, Norfolk, Jacksonville, and other less common homeports.

More From Cruise Hive

Of course, there are no “bad” homeports when you’re able to set sail on a cruise vacation, but Port Canaveral’s honors are well-deserved!

Will you be setting sail from Port Canaveral this year? Share your plans and your homeport experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival’s Roller Coaster Takes the Crown as Best Ship Feature

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival’s Roller Coaster Takes the Crown as Best Ship Feature

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival’s Bolt Roller Coaster has been voted the Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025.
  • The Ultimate Sea Coaster has won the top honor for five consecutive years.
  • Bolt is found on all three of Carnival’s Excel-class ships but will not be built on future vessels.

The votes are in and it’s official: Carnival Cruise Line’s Bolt Roller Coaster is the Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025!

Chosen from a select list of highly popular onboard features, Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster took the top honors with 22.9% of votes agreeing that the thrilling ride is a must-do for avid cruisers.

This is the fifth consecutive year Bolt has received this cruiser-driven recognition. The very first Bolt roller coaster debuted aboard Mardi Gras when the ship debuted in 2021, making this distinctive honor even more prestigious: Bolt has been selected as the best cruise ship feature for every year it has been thrilling guests.

Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025, Cruise Hive Awards
Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025, Cruise Hive Awards

The ride was first announced in 2018 and built by German manufacturer Maurer Rides. While land-based roller coasters are far more spectacular, the stats on Bolt are by no means paltry, considering the challenges of building a roller coaster on a cruise ship.

  • Length: 721 feet
  • Height Above Sea Level: 187
  • Acceleration: 1.2 Gs
  • Guest Capacity: 190 riders per hour

The first-ever rollercoaster at sea, Bolt has been a hit for guests on all three of Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class ships: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

The track curves and dips for 430-degrees around each ship’s signature whale tail funnel, offering riders outstanding views of the surrounding ocean. Riders control the top speed of the electrically-powered ride and a boost option can deliver exciting extra thrills with a twist of the driver’s grip.

Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025 Chart
Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025 Chart (Data: Cruise Hive)

Two floater hills on the ship’s starboard side provide a bit of airtime, especially for guests who appreciate the top speed experience.

As a matter of interest, Carnival Cruise Line has already announced that the two new Excel-class ships currently under construction, Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, will not feature their own Bolt rides. Instead, the new ships will have a much more massive waterpark: Carnival WaterWorks Ultra.

Are You Ready to Ride Bolt?

While the onboard roller coaster is certainly popular with Carnival cruise guests, it isn’t necessarily the best feature for everyone to try.

Guests must be at least 52″ tall to ride Bolt, and the ride cannot accommodate anyone taller than 77″ (6’5″). The ride’s weight limit is 300 pounds per person and no more than 440 pounds per ride vehicle when two riders join the fun together.

Read Also: What’s It Like to Ride the First Roller Coaster at Sea? I’ve Done It!

BOLT Roller Coaster on Carnival Cruise Ship
BOLT Roller Coaster on Carnival Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Mulevich)

Children under age 12 must be paired with a rider age 15 or older. Older riders can ride solo or with a friend, though solo rides may be limited when wait times are lengthy.

Bolt does have an extra fee and operating hours can vary depending on other ship activities, port or maintenance schedules, and weather conditions.

While Bolt took the top prize for 2025, other popular ship features certainly have their fans.

Celebrity Cruises’ Magic Carpet, the transformational space found aboard the Edge-class ships, took second place with 18.6% of the votes, followed very closely by MSC Cruises’ Cliffhanger, the exhilarating swing on the brand new MSC World America, with 18.2%.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Aqua Slidecoaster from Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna came in fourth at 16.7%, with Royal Caribbean’s Crown’s Edge adrenaline-inducing ropes course at 16.5%.

Disney Cruise Line’s AquaMouse rounded out the selections with just 7% of the votes.

Voting for the annual Cruise Hive awards began October 14, 2025 and ran through December 19, with readers able to cast their votes in eight categories. No spam, bot, or other suspicious votes were included in the final totals to choose the winners.

Carnival Jubilee’s New Year Cruise Hit by Last-Minute Embarkation Change

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Jubilee’s New Year Cruise Hit by Last-Minute Embarkation Change

Key Aspects:

  • There will be a slight delay to Carnival Jubilee‘s December 27 embarkation schedule.
  • Refueling operations and USCG regulations require the delay, but the itinerary is not changed.
  • Guests should heed their revised arrival times so they are not turned away at the terminal.

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on the December 27, 2025 departure of Carnival Jubilee to let them know about embarkation time changes in Galveston.

There are no changes to the 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, but guests will be embarking the ship somewhat later than expected due to essential refueling operations.

“The entire Carnival Jubilee team is looking forward to ringing in the new year with you, but ahead of that we have an update that requires your attention and full cooperation,” the notification email explained.

“As directed by the United States Coast Guard, refueling operations on Saturday, December 27, must begin before we can start embarkation.”

Carnival Jubilee is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which requires specialized refueling procedures.

For safety and security, guests may not be embarking the ship until the connections are in place for refueling. This will cause a bit of a delay in embarkation times, but guests will not need to wait until refueling is complete before boarding the ship.

As soon as regulations permit, embarkation will begin and there are no overall changes to the cruise terminal check-in or embarkation process.

Guests are advised, however, that they will not be able to be accommodated ahead of their revised embarkation timeframe. If guests arrive early, they will be asked to return at the later designated time.

Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Texas
Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Texas (Photo Credit: NAN728)

“All guests must be on board by 3:45 PM,” the email noted.

This means Carnival Jubilee will be departing slightly later than her originally planned 3:30 p.m. departure time, but the delay will not significantly impact the overall itinerary.

The current flagship of the Carnival fleet, Carnival Jubilee can welcome 5,228 guests at double occupancy or up to 6,631 guests when fully booked. Also onboard are roughly 1,700 international crew members, representing more than 50 nations from around the globe.

Always a Balance With Port Operations

While no detailed explanation other than “refueling operations” has been given for the slight change to Carnival Jubilee‘s schedule on December 27, it isn’t unusual for port operations to impact the exact timing of embarkation and debarkation.

Not only does refueling impact a cruise ship’s timing, but the availability of harbor pilots, loading and unloading crews, check-in staff, customs officials, and other personnel can affect the ship’s schedule, as can planned inspections or other unexpected disruptions.

Read Also: Why You Should Always Opt In to Carnival Cruise Line Text Alerts

There are no technical or mechanical issues reported with Carnival Jubilee and she should set sail as planned without difficulty for guests to enjoy their New Year’s cruise.

New Year’s Cruise Unchanged

Carnival Jubilee will depart Galveston, Texas on Saturday, December 27 and the next day is a full day at sea. This will give the 183,500-gross-ton, Excel-class ship plenty of time to make up for the slight departure delay the day before.

The ship is scheduled to spend Monday, December 29 visiting Cozumel followed by Tuesday, December 30 in Costa Maya.

New Year’s Eve will be in Roatan, Honduras, though Carnival Jubilee is scheduled to depart at 5 p.m. well ahead of the evening’s festivities to ring in 2026.

More From Cruise Hive

Among those special activities is a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner with special selections in the ship’s Main Dining Rooms, including lobster and shrimp bisque, maple-clove spiced baked ham, and a pina colada cheesecake.

Carnival Jubilee, along with all ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, will also offer a free champagne toast at midnight as guests and crew members join together to ring in the new year with a phenomenal deck party and sounding the ship’s horn after the new year countdown.

Hawaii’s Cruise Tax Is Moving Forward — But the Fight Isn’t Over

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Hawaii’s Cruise Tax Is Moving Forward — But the Fight Isn’t Over

Key Aspects:

  • A federal judge has denied efforts to stop Hawaii’s new cruise tax from going into effect.
  • The “green tax” will impose an 11% tax on cruise fares, in addition to a 3% TAT tax.
  • Cruise Lines International Association and its fellow plaintiffs plan to appeal the decision.

The cruise lines and local tourism operators are not getting the Christmas present they were hoping for – at least not in Hawaii.

On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, US District Judge Jill A. Otake officially denied a request to stop Hawaii’s first-ever cruise ship tax from going into effect on January 1, 2026.

The new law, which was first passed in May, imposes an 11% tax on cruise fares, prorated for the days that vessels call at Hawaiian ports. This is in addition to a 3% transient accommodations tax (TAT).

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) joined forces with several local plaintiffs, including two tour companies that serve cruise ships, to try to block the tax from going into effect.

In a lawsuit filed on August 27, 2025, CLIA and its comrades alleged that the new tax unfairly targeted cruise ships and violated the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Per the court ruling, the tax will go into effect on January 1.

The Purpose of the Tax

Hawaii isn’t proposing this tax just to be mean to cruise lines and their passengers, but rather to address the threats of climate change in the Aloha state.

The purpose of this “green tax” is to ensure all visitors – including cruise ships and their passengers – help with the state’s hefty conservation costs to protect the natural beauty and wildlife on the islands.

Cruise Ship Docked in Honolulu, Hawaii
Cruise Ship Docked in Honolulu, Hawaii (Photo Credit: Nate Hovee)

“We must protect and preserve Hawaiʻi’s natural resources and safeguard the health of our residents. Visitors who benefit from our island’s resources have a shared responsibility to help preserve them,” Governor Josh Green said.

“The Green Fee ensures that the resources needed to protect Hawaiʻi are available for future generations,” he continued.

The new tax is estimated to rake in around $100 million annually, which will be put toward sustainability and other environmental efforts.

But while this benefits Hawaii, it puts a greater financial strain on cruise lines and their passengers and will likely lead to rising costs for Hawaii-bound sailings.

Brands like Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line have already begun warning passengers of the new tax and passing on the extra fees to them.

Despite this week’s ruling, CLIA isn’t ready to accept defeat just yet. CLIA and its fellow plaintiffs plan to appeal the court’s decision.

“Cruise tourism generates nearly $1 billion in total economic impact for Hawaii and supports thousands of local jobs, and we remain focused on ensuring that success continues on a lawful, sustainable foundation,” CLIA spokesperson Jim McCarthy said in a statement.

Hawaii, meanwhile, has vowed to continue to defend the law.

“The Department of the Attorney General is very pleased with today’s decision. The vast majority of the cruise industry’s claims were dismissed,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez.

“While the litigation is not over, we are confident in the legality of this law and will continue to vigorously defend it on behalf of the people of Hawaiʻi,” she continued.

More From Cruise Hive

The plaintiffs have also requested an injunction pending an appeal that would at least delay the tax from going into effect until the legal battle is over.

It’s unclear what the judge will decide on this matter, but CLIA and its partners have requested a decision on the requested delay by Saturday, December 27.

Coast Guard Rushes to Cruise Ship Emergency — Here’s What Happened

Donna Tunney
-
0
Coast Guard Rushes to Cruise Ship Emergency — Here’s What Happened

Key Aspects:

  • The US Coast Guard evacuated a passenger sailing on Pacific World.
  • The guest was suffering from septic shock, a life-threatening condition.
  • The ship was sailing off the coast of Kauai at the time.

Just nine days into a 107-day Global Voyage, a guest onboard Pacific World was evacuated from the ship as it sailed near Kauai, Hawaii.

Pacific World is owned by Peace Boat, a Japan-based line that operates education- and cultural-focused world cruises roundtrip from Yokohama.

The ship’s captain called the US Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu at about 8:40 p.m. on December 21, 2025, asking for the medical evacuation of a 61-year-old woman suffering from septic shock.

The 2,010-guest ship was sailing roughly 90 miles from Kauai, en route to an overnight port call in Honolulu on December 24 and 25, 2025.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes sepsis as the body’s extreme response to an infection. The life-threatening condition can result from any infection.

It is not clear how the passenger developed sepsis, but her illness was so serious that onboard medical staff determined treatment could not wait until the ship docked in Honolulu.

The Coast Guard dispatched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, on the island of Oahu, evacuated the passenger, and transported her to Honolulu’s Queen’s Medical Center. The guest was said to be in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard report.

Pacific World Sails Culture-Focused Voyages

Pacific World departed on her global journey from Yokohama on December 15, 2025. Honolulu was the first port of call, followed by several South Pacific destinations. The ship will reach Easter Island on January 9, 2026, and circumnavigate South America to Rio de Janeiro before continuing on to Africa.

Destinations on the itinerary include South Africa and Madagascar before the ship returns to East Asia and, eventually, Yokohama, on March 31, 2026.

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

The ship is the former Sun Princess, owned and operated by Princess Cruises. Built in 1995, the ship was sold to Peace Boat in 2020 and renamed Pacific World.

Pacific World’s voyages are focused on education and culture, offering itineraries that visit World Heritage sites and provide onboard enrichment programs such as guest educators and lecturers, and culture-inspired events.

The ship has departures of 105- to 109-day world cruises scheduled through November 2027, all originating in Japan.

When the Coast Guard Comes to the Rescue

While medical evacuations are not common on cruise ships, they do happen from time to time across the globe.

A recent emergency situation developed on December 11, 2025 onboard Celebrity Cruises’ 2,910-guest Celebrity Apex. 

The ship was sailing near Arecibo, Puerto Rico, during an Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral when an emergency call was placed to the US Coast Guard. A 65-year-old guest with multiple serious medical problems needed evacuation to a hospital.

In that case, an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, in Puerto Rico, responded and handled the rescue.

More From Cruise Hive

Sometimes the Coast Guard is called upon to assist in challenging conditions. In July 2025, a 71-year-old female guest needed to be airlifted from Carnival Legend as the ship sailed about 120 miles off the coast of Oregon — while a tsunami warning was in effect.

Emergency crews from Air Station Astoria, in Warrenton, Oregon, responded and evacuated the guest from the 2,124-guest ship.

Cruisers React as Tensions Grow in the Southern Caribbean

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Cruisers React as Tensions Grow in the Southern Caribbean

Key Aspects:

  • As tensions rise between the US and Venezuela, cruisers are wondering how their sailings could be affected.
  • So far, at least two voyages from Norwegian Cruise Line have been changed as a result of the conflict.
  • Some also worry that more nearby cruise destinations, such as Trinidad and Aruba, could also be impacted.

As tensions between the US and Venezuela rise, cruisers are speculating about the potential fallout for the cruise industry – particularly in regards to Curacao.

The Southern Caribbean destination is only about 40 miles north of Venezuela, and has already been impacted by military activity.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic already had to skip her visit to Willemstad, Curacao, on December 17, 2025, due to “naval exercises” that required the 4,070-guest ship to steer clear of the area.

Norwegian Sky’s January 5th Caribbean sailing will also be skipping Willemstad due to “updated port availability.”

Between the fact that approximately 600,000 passengers visit Curacao annually – and that it is now the peak Caribbean cruise season – future guests can’t help but wonder how their itineraries could also be impacted.

In addition to Norwegian Cruise Line, popular brands like Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean (among others) are currently active in Curacao’s capital.

Are More Changes Coming?

The question on everyone’s minds isn’t so much about safety, but rather if their Curacao-bound sailings will be able to go ahead as planned.

Even with the US on the verge of possible war with nearby Venezuela, Curacao is under the lowest possible US travel advisory, which is “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.”

Cruisers on upcoming sailings early in the new year have taken to social media to try to gauge how likely they are to encounter itinerary changes.

The Aircraft-carrier USS Gerald R Ford
The Aircraft-carrier USS Gerald R Ford (Photo Credit: Roque Ramajo Polo)

“Hey all, booked on a 12-day princess on 1/16. (Yes I like cruising with old people because I can just chill) and we are set to go to Aruba, Curacao, and Trinidad, all very close to Venezuela what are the odds these ports will be cut or replaced,” one soon-to-be-passenger inquired on Reddit.

“I was wondering about this too. I have a cruise booked on the Horizon in about 6 weeks and was wondering what itinerary changes may happen. I understand if it needs to change but I hope it doesn’t change to the Bahamas!” another chimed in.

At the moment, many cruise lines appear to be taking a “wait and see” approach.

The cruise lines try not to disrupt itineraries unless absolutely necessary, and may not receive updated information about military operations impacting the port until the last minute.

Read Also: Aircraft Carrier vs Cruise Ship – Giant Size Comparison

And though there is currently no active threat to cruise ships, the cruise lines are carefully monitoring the situation to ensure any future visits are safe.

Could More Caribbean Ports Be Affected?

Some future cruisers are also worried that more destinations that often wind up on Caribbean itineraries may also be impacted.

Many also have concerns about Aruba and Trinidad, which are even closer to Venezuela than Curacao.

Aruba is only around 18 miles north of Venezuela, and is so close that it’s possible to see the Venezuelan mainland from Aruba on a clear day. Trinidad is even closer at only seven miles away.

More From Cruise Hive

“I am going on cruise next year in the Caribbean and am concerned with all the chaos that has been happening if it will even be safe. Some of the islands like Aruba, Curacao are very close. Also an embargo was placed on Venezuela by the US as well,” another person expressed on Reddit.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future. But rest assured that any itinerary changes that may be made as a result of the conflict will be done to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all onboard.

Warm Christmas Ahead? Carnival Shares Holiday Weather Outlook

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Warm Christmas Ahead? Carnival Shares Holiday Weather Outlook

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival’s Amy Sweezey shared the holiday weather forecast that cruisers have been waiting for.
  • Christmas Day should bring sunny and warm weather across the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
  • No matter where cruisers are celebrating, it will surely be a wonderful holiday.

Carnival cruisers who are dreaming of spending Christmas in paradise will be getting their wish.

Carnival Weather Contributor Amy Sweezey has shared the Christmas Day weather forecast for several cruise destinations in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

From the new Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island to Grand Turk in the Caribbean, Santa is delivering on warm weather and sunny skies.

Celebration Key

There is no better place to celebrate Christmas than Celebration Key in the Bahamas, and that is where Carnival Glory and Carnival Freedom will be on December 25.

Making the occasion extra special, this is also the first Christmas to be celebrated at the private destination, which officially opened on July 19, 2025.

Read Also: Christmas on a Cruise Ship: What To Expect

According to Sweezey, skies will be blue and temperatures will reach into the upper 70s.

“We’ll start in Grand Bahama, where both Carnival Freedom and Carnival Glory guests will enjoy the very first Christmas at Carnival Celebration Key,” Sweezey said.

“Temperatures in the upper 70s will be perfect for snorkeling or relaxing on the sand,” she continued.

The island destination has been decorated for Christmas with themed trees, oversized gift boxes, and sand sculptures.

Extra lucky cruisers might even spot Santa Claus in Starfish Lagoon, fresh off his Christmas Eve flight to deliver presents all around the world.

Nassau, Bahamas

Four different Carnival cruise ships will be spending Christmas in the capital of the Bahamas, about 150 nautical miles away from Celebration Key.

These vessels include Carnival Pride, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Conquest, and Mardi Gras.

“Just to the south in Nassau, it will be a busy day with Carnival Conquest, Liberty, Pride and Mardi Gras all in port,” Sweezey added.

“Expect just a few passing clouds and temperatures in the upper 70s, ideal for beach time or exploring downtown,” she forecasted.

Despite some moments of cloudiness, Christmas Day should mostly be sunny and perfect for water-filled fun and shore excursions.

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Grand Turk may be about 400 miles away from Nassau, but skies will still be sunny and blue there, too.

The 5,374-guest Carnival Celebration will visit Grand Turk on Christmas Day, where passengers can enjoy temperatures up to 80 degrees and what will surely be a very welcomed breeze.

Cozumel, Mexico

Guests onboard Carnival Paradise will be saying “Feliz Navidad,” as they’ll be spending a warm Christmas in Cozumel, Mexico.

Temperatures will peak in the lower 80s, with passing clouds helping to provide occasional coverage from the sun.

St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie), US Virgin Islands

Conditions in St. Thomas will be similarly beautiful for guests of Carnival Venezia, which will be calling to the Eastern Caribbean destination on Christmas Day.

It will be a sunny day here, too, with highs in the low to mid-80s. Hopefully these guests made sure to pack plenty of sunscreen!

Progreso (Yucatán), Mexico

Last but not least, Carnival Valor will celebrate the holiday in Progreso, which is part of the broader Mayan Riviera region.

The up to 2,980 guests onboard will enjoy a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures reaching into the lower 80s along the coast.

Merry Christmas!

No matter where cruisers are spending Christmas – whether it’s at sea, a different cruise port, or at home – it’s sure to be a wonderful holiday.

Cruise Hive wishes all of our readers a very happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

1...646566...601Page 65 of 601