Carnival Dream will remain longer in Nassau on Christmas Eve due to maintenance.
Guests onboard Carnival Dream will have a bit more time to enjoy Christmas Eve in Nassau, as the ship will now be remaining in port for three extra hours on that day.
“Wednesday, December 24, our engineers will be conducting maintenance work that will take some time to complete,”the captain notified guests.“As a result, we have made an adjustment and our departure from Nassau is now expected to be around 7:00 p.m.”
The ship was originally expected to be in port from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The arrival time has not changed, but now the all-aboard time will be 6:30 p.m.
This later departure gives guests an amazing opportunity to experience Nassau’s holiday decorations after dark, or even visit the unique Christmas Carnival at Fort Charlotte, just over a mile east of the cruise terminal. Other holiday displays and special events are sure to be happening that day as well.
If necessary, shore excursions purchased through Carnival Cruise Line will be adjusted and guests will be notified if their tours are impacted.
Carnival Dream departed Galveston, Texas on Friday, December 19 for the 8-night holiday Bahamas sailing. The ship will be visiting three ports in the Bahamas – Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.
Following the now-extended stay in Nassau, the ship will have two full days at sea as she returns to the Lone Star State for debarkation on Saturday, December 27. This will provide plenty of time for slight speed adjustments to ensure there is no delay for Carnival Dream to reach Galveston as planned.
The 128,250-gross-ton Carnival Dream offers both Western Caribbean and Bahamas sailings from Texas, welcoming as many as 3,646 guests onboard for each voyage.
Onboard Amenities to Remain Closed
The slight delay in leaving Nassau does mean that some onboard amenities cannot be opened, which might impact guests’ enjoyment of Christmas Eve onboard.
“While we are docked in Nassau, the casino and shops will remain closed, but all other onboard activities and entertainment will continue as planned,”the letter confirmed.
It is standard procedure for the casino and onboard retail shops to remain closed while cruise ships are docked in Nassau. This is to comply with the regulations of the Bahamas, as well as most other ports of call, and applies to all cruise ships, not just Carnival Cruise Line.
This does not impact bars or specialty restaurants, however, and all dining and entertainment will be available to guests.
Because it is Christmas Eve, this means guests will be treated to special shows and other festive fun, and on Christmas Day, they will be able to feast on the cruise line’s special Christmas Gala Dinner.
Nature of Maintenance Not Disclosed
Carnival Cruise Line has not offered any further details about the nature of the maintenance that requires Carnival Dream to remain docked for a few extra hours in Nassau.
The maintenance could be related to the ship’s propulsion system, which typically requires the ship to be docked for any technical work.
Two Carnival ships have had propulsion-related mechanical issues in the past few weeks. Both Carnival Horizon and Carnival Conquest had difficulties that required itinerary adjustments in November 2025.
There has been no such announcement of difficulties with Carnival Dream, and the maintenance may just be routine work that cannot be completed during the typical port visit.
Celebrity Equinox snapped her lines and drifted in Buenos Aires on Saturday, December 20.
The incident happened during embarkation for a 14-night sailing and guests were delayed 2-3 hours.
The ship remained overnight in Buenos Aires but departed on Sunday morning.
Celebrity Equinox‘s 14-night New Year’s cruise is off to a rocky start as the ship broke its mooring lines and drifted slightly. According to a post on Reddit, the cruise ship rubbed alongside a refueling tanker before colliding with a nearby pier.
The incident happened while the ship was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as guests were embarking for that day’s departure.
At the time, Weather Underground notes that wind speeds suddenly increased to 20-25 miles per hour, with gusts measured as high as 37 miles per hour. Throughout the morning, winds had been no more than 10 miles per hour, though the weather had been stormy with ongoing rain.
Scratch on Side of Celebrity Equinox (Credit: Chauncemeister)
With the lines broken, Celebrity Equinox‘s bow swung out and away from the pier, causing the aft of the ship to contact the pier. The embarkation gangway broke loose from the pier and dropped into the water, but remained attached to the ship with the loose end submerged in the water.
“The gangway went off the pier and was hanging against the ship partially submerged. Crazy situation,”one guest noted.
As the bow swung around, the ship also contacted the pier on the other side. A refueling vessel’s bow also appeared to scrape along Celebrity Equinox‘s hull, leaving a long scratch that guests shared through social media posts.
Fortunately, the ship did not remain adrift for long. According to passengers onboard, tugboats were quickly dispatched to bring the 121,878-gross-ton, Solstice-class cruise ship back into docking alignment.
Celebrity Equinox Hits Pier After Moorings Break (Credits: The Cruise Vibe & David Fish)
As the incident happened during embarkation, boarding was naturally delayed for 2-3 hours. Guests were accommodated in the cruise terminal as the ship was resecured and a new gangway put into place.
No injuries to guests, crew members, or port personnel were reported.
Celebrity Equinox can welcome 2,850 guests aboard and is also home to more than 1,200 international crew members.
Departure Delayed
Because of the delay in embarkation and to ensure the safety and seaworthiness of the vessel, Celebrity Equinox did not leave Buenos Aires as scheduled on Saturday evening.
Instead, the ship remained docked overnight. Satellite tracking confirmed the ship ultimately departed before 11 a.m. local time on Sunday. Guests onboard report that the first port visit, to Montevideo, Uruguay, is also delayed but not cancelled.
Celebrity Equinox was to have been in Montevideo from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 21. Buenos Aires and Montevideo are just 125 miles apart across the Rio de la Plata estuary.
Celebrity Equinox Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
There are no further confirmed changes to the ship’s Patagonia and Antarctica itinerary, which includes visits to the Falkland Islands, Cape Horn, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Puerto Madryn, and Punta del Este.
While this particular voyage does not cross the infamous Drake Passage, it is sure to be a memorable one for guests nonetheless.
The ship will return to Buenos Aires on January 3, 2026 and she remains homeported from the capital of Argentina through March 2026.
At that point, she will return to Europe to homeport from Barcelona and Civitavecchia for the summer in the Mediterranean, before returning to South America in December 2026.
Mooring Line Incidents Not Rare
While uncommon, it is not unheard of for cruise ships to break their mooring lines, particularly during blustery wind conditions when sudden gusts can put too much strain on the already tense ropes.
Furthermore, such incidents are not unique to Buenos Aires and can happen wherever strong winds might occur.
As with Celebrity Equinox, MSC Seascape‘s gangway dropped into the water and both embarkation and debarkation were temporarily halted until the ship could be resecured.
Similarly, MSC Sinfonia broke free of her mooring lines in early January 2024 when gale force winds impacted the ship in Syracuse, Italy. Fortunately, the vessel was out of service at the time for maintenance and no guest operations were therefore impacted.
In August 2023, Queen Mary 2 broke free of her moorings in Civitavecchia with both forward and aft gangways collapsing, and in July 2023, Norwegian Prima snapped her lines in Zeebrugge, Belgium with the gangways also falling into the water.
It is very fortunate that no injuries were reported from any of these incidents. Crew members overseeing embarkation and debarkation watch weather conditions very carefully and will halt guest movements if there appear to be any safety risks.
Carnival Cruise Line has shared the Christmas Dinner menu for crew members.
A global variety of dishes is offered, as well as classic and familiar favorites.
Guests are happy the crew has so many options and wouldn’t mind trying a few themselves.
Food is a tremendous part of holiday celebrations in many different cultures and countries. Carnival Cruise Line tries to honor the most delicious holiday traditions with gala menus for special occasions, but what about crew members onboard?
Carnival Cruise Line crew members have dedicated dining rooms not open to guests. These crew mess halls have to cater to global tastes and widely varied diets, including on the holidays.
“I also thought it would be nice to share the Christmas menu for the crew,”said John Heald, Carnival’s brand ambassador.“It is designed by a fabulous executive Chef Roshan to include all the different tastes that come [with] having 50 or more national represented on board.”
The incredibly diverse Team Dining Christmas Dinner includes dishes from many different countries and regions, including Thailand, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Indonesia, Poland, Colombia, and more.
Carnival Crew Christmas Menu
Crew members may start their delicious dining with a “Charcutier Platter” with cured meats, cheeses, and other gourmet nibbles; som tam with dried shrimp and green papaya; festive seafood soup in a warm tomato wine broth; or a mimosa salad with cheese, eggs, tuna, and mayonnaise.
For entrees, just a few of the amazing selections include sea bass roasted with herbs, olive oil, and lemon as well as beef stew slow cooked in a peanut sauce or a crispy pork sauteed with chili. Other options include a goat curry in a spiced broth, traditional cheese pierogi, and roast beef tenderloin.
Carnival Crew Member Christmas Dinner Menu
Crew members may also enjoy the traditional tom turkey carving station accompanied with stuffing, gravy, and cranberry relish.
A make-your-own salad bar is available, as well as pizza with a customizable selection of toppings.
Side dishes that can be ordered along with the entrees include simmered lentils with aromatic spices, traditional African maize meal, steamed vegetables, white rice, French fries, and mashed potatoes.
The crew menu also includes “Always Available” selections. Even on holidays, crew members can enjoy veggie burgers, hot dogs, or a grilled chicken breast.
Of course, no holiday meal is complete without dessert. On the crew menu are treats such as warm toffee pudding, gingerbread financier, and a deconstructed cheesecake. A selection of ice cream as well as fresh fruits are also available.
For guests curious about the different dishes or new crew members who may be unfamiliar with so many diverse options, the crew menu is clearly labeled for options that are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, contain pork or nuts, or are extra spicy.
This will help crew members be sure their dietary preferences are met while allowing them to enjoy a wide range of dishes from different cultures and countries.
Guests React to Crew Menu
Many guests were surprised (and pleased!) at the diversity of Carnival’s crew holiday menu, noting that the cruise line does a great job at offering dishes from different parts of the world.
“I’m very happy to see the chefs make such an effort to bring such a wide variety for the crew that’s away from home,”one guest said.
“Catering to all crew nationalities, thumbs up!”another added.
More experienced guests reminisced that the menu brought back memories of their own world travels, and even requested that Carnival considering adding some of these dishes to guests’ menus as special options, particularly on longer and more immersive Journeys cruises.
One guest was especially happy to see the crew menu as the holiday approaches.
“It’s my daughter’s first Christmas as crew, I don’t need to worry she is missing out after seeing this choice,”the guest commented.
Crew Meals Not Quite as Leisurely
While Carnival’s crew members will enjoy the special treats offered on the holiday dinner menu, they won’t have quite as much time to indulge in the deliciousness as guests onboard.
After all, crew members do work seven days a week on different shifts and rotations to ensure everyone aboard has a phenomenal vacation, regardless of whether it is a holiday or not.
“While you will all be enjoying a leisurely Christmas dinner, our crew will be walking down I-95 to the crew or staff or officers mess to enjoy this food but perhaps not in such a leisurely way as they have to get back to serving and entertaining you,”Heald said.
While it can be difficult to be far from family and friends at this time of year, crew members form their own bonds as the Carnival family and find their own ways to celebrate on board, happy to share wonderful experiences together and bring happiness and cheer to every guest.
A cruiser onboard Koningsdam has been dealing with a malfunctioning toilet for at least half of their voyage.
Despite attempts at repairs, the toilet wouldn’t flush for at least six of their 11 mornings onboard.
Malfunctioning toilets aren’t common onboard, but these situations do occur from time to time for a variety of reasons.
One cruise guest has been having a rather crappy time (pun intended) during their sailing onboard Holland America Line’s Koningsdam.
For reference, the 2,650-guest ship is currently operating two 11-night and 18-night Caribbean sailings simultaneously, both of which embarked from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 9, 2025.
Unfortunately for this guest, their cabin’s private bathroom has been experiencing an issue where the toilet will not flush in the mornings – despite multiple attempts to fix it.
This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a problem with the vacuum system, a blockage fromguests flushing things they shouldn’t, or a faulty sensor/button on the toilet.
“We are currently in the middle of a 11 day cruise on the Koningsdam. We have had a persistent problem with the toilet in our veranda room #11009. Every morning but one, the toilet will not flush,”the frustrated guest shared on Reddit.
The post was made on December 14, which would have been the sixth day of the sailing if you count embarkation day.
“Every time, we call guest services or our cabin attendant and report it and they send someone to “fix” it. It is getting very old, very quickly. In order to “fix” it, they have to flush it several times which is loud and annoying,” the passenger continued.
After six mornings of no flushing, the guests were hoping for advice on how to receive compensation and potentially a new stateroom for the inconvenience.
Moving Up the Ladder
These guests already did the right thing by going to guest services to resolve their issue while onboard.
Too often, guests wait until they are home to voice their concerns, when it’s too late for crew members to try to make things right.
As many cruise fans in the comments suggested, the passengers moved up the chain to seek help from the hotel director, who is in charge of overseeing departments like guest services, housekeeping, and stateroom operations.
Cabin Toilet on a Cruise (Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock)
“We talked to Katarina, the hotel manager and she has apologized profusely and understands how upsetting this can be on a vacation,” the guest wrote in an update.
“She told us that there was a cabin on the same deck opening up and we can move to it if the problem persists. She seems to think that it will be fixed this time,” they continued.
What happened next is a mystery. The guest left off by saying they would wait to see if the latest repair held before deciding what to do next and has yet to return with another update.
Are Broken Toilets Common?
Koningsdam is not known for flooding or broken toilets, and is still a fairly young ship at only about 9-years-old.
Even so, some guests have noticed similar issues while sailing onboard the 99,863-gross ton ship.
“I’ll be darned! I didn’t really think anything of it at the time, but my wife and I were on the Koningsdam a few weeks ago and there were two or three mornings when the toilet wouldn’t flush,”one recent guest responded to the post.
“We were always able to get it to flush again within 15 to 30 minutes; so it never became a big issue. Nonetheless, the unsettling thought of possibly having to call maintenance to fix your unflushed toilet was just that: unsettling,” they continued.
But as frustrating as this situation is, keep in mind that cruise ships are fully operational 365 days a year with rare exceptions (such as dry dock).
Despite constant maintenance and upkeep from the diligent crew members, things can still break or end up out of whack.
Many times, the issue is actually caused by misbehaving guests who are flushing products that don’t belong in the toilet.
Carnival Cruise Line, which is owned by the same parent company as Holland America Line, has struggled to prevent guests from flushing wet wipes – which can easily cause clogs and backups. And that’s just one example!
Pleas are rapidly spreading across social media for any information about a guest missing from AIDAluna as her family and friends seek to find her. The female guest is a Chinese citizen last seen on Friday, December 12, 2025, when the ship was visiting Marseille, France.
The woman, Qin Dong, boarded AIDAluna on December 10 in Palma de Mallorca for a 5-night Mediterranean cruise visiting Marseille, Palamos, and Barcelona. The ship returned to Palma de Mallorca on Monday, December 15, but Dong was no longer aboard.
Cruise officials have confirmed that she did board the ship in Palma de Mallorca shortly before noon, and never officially disembarked from the ship thereafter.
Thursday, December 11 was a day at sea, and the 69,200-gross-ton ship arrived in Marseille at roughly 8 a.m. on Friday, December 12.
Onboard records indicate that Dong did not officially disembark the ship in Marseille, but friends were texting her at nearly 8 p.m., two hours after the ship departed Marseille.
“Mrs. Dong has not officially disembarked from the ship since 10 December, as verified,”AIDA Cruises confirmed.
Therefore, Dong was not left behind in the popular French Riviera port, but appears to have gone missing while onboard the ship that evening.
No Overboard Alert Noted
Onboard records have indicated that Dong only had a single drink charged to her account while onboard AIDAluna, and that was simply an orange juice and not an alcoholic beverage.
It is unknown whether or not Dong may have gone overboard the vessel, but there are no reports of any emergency alerts or search operations.
Friends and family members have been using social media to try and locate Dong and seek out any additional information of her whereabouts, whether anyone saw or interacted with her in any way, particularly near the Marseille port area.
“Even the smallest clue or memory could be crucial!”the social media pleas have read.
Missing AIDAluna Cruise Passenger
Three nations are now involved in the case. French authorities have been alerted because Dong went missing while in France, Chinese authorities have been notified because of her citizenship, and German authorities have begun a case because AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line and Dong was living in Germany.
While Dong does have a Chinese passport, she is a German resident and was cruising solo aboard AIDAluna.
There has been no reported delay or adjustment to AIDAluna‘s itinerary and the ship continued on as planned. The Sphinx-class ship can welcome 2,100 guests per sailing and is also home to approximately 600 crew members.
AIDAluna is currently homeported from Palma de Mallorca, offering itineraries through the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, depending on departure date.
Recent Missing Guests Not Actually Missing
Dong is not the first woman to have vanished from a cruise ship in recent months.
In November 2025, Amy Evans disappeared while on a shore tour in St. Maarten from Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, while in September 2025, Jessica Collins disappeared in Bonaire while cruising aboard Carnival Horizon.
Both women failed to return to the ship after debarking, but were later located. No foul play appears to have been involved in either case, but the women did not wish to be contacted. Their reasons for departing their respective ships without notice have not been disclosed.
While there are some similarities to these other recent cases without emergency overboard operations, there is one crucial difference.
For both Evans and Collins, no family members or friends appeared to come forward immediately or urgently seeking to find them, whereas there is a strong search effort to locate Dong.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with those worried family members and friends and hopes that Dong is safely located.
Disney Destiny has received an itinerary change for her upcoming Christmas cruise.
No port calls will be skipped, but a visit to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point has been moved due to weather.
Guests will now get to spend Christmas Day at DCL’s newest private island instead of at sea.
Hurricane season may be over, but that doesn’t mean that the Bahamas can’t experience poor weather.
Unfortunately, some inclement weather will impact Disney Destiny’s very first Christmas at sea.
Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship will be embarking on a 5-night sailing to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, on December 21, 2025.
But due to the weather forecast, the itinerary has been adjusted.
“We have been closely monitoring an approaching weather system that will present challenging wind and sea conditions in The Bahamas early this coming week,” Disney Cruise Line wrote to booked guests.
Although cruise ships like the newest Wish-class vessel are perfectly capable of handling rough seas, docking can become difficult or impossible in windy conditions.
It’s also safer and more comfortable for all onboard to stay where the skies are blue and seas are calm.
How Did the Itinerary Change?
Thankfully, the up to 4,000 guests booked on this holiday cruise won’t be skipping any ports. They will simply be delaying the second and final port call for their sailing.
The itinerary only calls to Disney’s private islands in the Bahamas, which are Castaway Cay and the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Originally, the Disney ship would have visited Castaway Cay on Monday, December 22, and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Tuesday, December 23.
Disney Destiny Arrives in Port Canaveral
But because of the weather, Tuesday will become a sea day and the 144,000-gross ton ship will call to Disney Lookout Cay on Christmas Day instead – and what a way to celebrate the holiday!
“Given the anticipated strong winds and adverse sea conditions, we have revised the itinerary and will visit Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Thursday, instead of Tuesday as originally scheduled,”Disney confirmed.
The 25th was originally supposed to be a sea day, which means the call to Castaway Cay can be left untouched and there are no other ports to impact.
Should Guests be Worried About the Weather?
While phrasing like “strong winds and adverse sea conditions” can sound scary, guests and crew members will be perfectly safe onboard.
Not only is the young ship equipped to handle rough seas, but the captain and his bridge team are constantly tracking weather patterns to chart the smoothest possible course.
Additionally, Disney is likely shifting the itinerary out of an abundance of caution.
This is not an out-of-season hurricane, and the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) does not even have any reports of minor storm activity on its website for this time period.
Local weather reports for South Eleuthera – where Disney Lookout Cay is located – do call for evening rain showers on the night of December 22 and winds of up to 30 miles per hour the following morning.
These winds would be strong enough to make docking risky, but ultimately pose no real danger to a large vessel at sea.
Assuming the forecast stays the same, guests can expect low winds and partly cloudy skies when they finally arrive at the private destination on Christmas morning.
Did you miss any of the big cruise news stories this week? No worries, Cruise Hive has you covered with our weekly recap. Some of the top developments we covered this week included the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Royal Caribbean’s new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, a four-ship order from MSC Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line detailing its 2026 adult-only cruises.
Stay up to date on the major cruise news stories with Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, a must-read for industry insiders. Sign up here and have the news delivered to your inbox each morning.
Guest Rants About Lack of Netflix on Carnival Ship
Some cruisers unplug during their holiday-at-sea and spend time outdoors in nature rather than watching a screen, like a TV, phone or iPad. But not everyone.
One Carnival Cruise Line guest who is booked to sail on Carnival Panorama’s holiday voyage to the Mexican Riviera is angry that he won’t be able to watch the final episodes of the Netflix hit “Stranger Things,” since the ship doesn’t offer access to that network.
The 8-night cruise begins on December 20 and continues to December 28, 2025. The next four episodes of season five will debut on Christmas Day, and the two-hour series finale will be shown on New Year’s Eve.
Carnival Cabin and Netflix (Credits: Tigarto & Cruise Hive)
The guest reached out to cruise line brand ambassador John Heald on his Facebook page, fuming about the situation and claiming that the line was ruining Christmas.
Heald had a good answer: While the ship does not provide access to Netflix, the guest can buy a Premium Internet plan just for Christmas Day and stream the show on their phone or iPad. Or, he noted, the cruiser can wait until he returns home to view the episodes.
MSC Cruises Orders Ships For New Frontier Class
MSC Cruises isn’t letting any grass grow under its feet. The cruise line, which currently has several World-class ships in the construction pipeline, announced it has ordered four more ships that will form another class, called New Frontier.
All of the new-builds will be constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany. The announcement came on December 15, 2025 at an event in Berlin.
The order includes options for two additional ships, bringing the total of the new class to as many as six.
Under Construction MSC Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Emrys Thakkar / Cruise Hive)
The new ships will be roughly 180,000 gross tons — not as large as the World-class vessels, which are around 216,000 gross tons. The New Frontier ships will have capacity for about 5,400 guests, about the same as Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class, for comparison’s sake.
MSC Cruises noted that the new class will feature next-generation environmental technologies, helping the line reach its net-zero 2050 commitment. The new-builds will begin to enter service in 2030.
Disney Adventure Officially Joins Disney Fleet
It’s the largest ship in the fleet and now it has been delivered to Disney Cruise Line. We’re talking about Disney Adventure, of course, which will operate roundtrip from Singapore for at least the next five years.
Set to begin sailing in March 2026, the ship can accommodate up to 6,700 guests at full capacity. Her deployment to Singapore represents the cruise line’s first major commitment to the Asia market.
Apparently, the cruise line believes there are scores of Disney fans in and around Singapore, since all of the 3- and 4-night getaway voyages are cruises to nowhere — the ship is the star of the show.
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship
Disney Adventure offers seven themed areas: Disney Imagination Garden, Disney Discovery Reef, San Fransokyo Street, Wayfinder Bay, Town Square, Marvel Landing, and Toy Story Place. The ship has 20-plus dining venues and lounges, and a wide range of cabin categories.
Set to deploy to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Disney Adventure began life as Global Dream, a ship ordered by Dream Cruises before its parent firm, Genting Hong Kong, failed in 2022.
Disney Cruise Line bought the partially built vessel and completed her construction at a Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
Carnival Cruise Line Details More Adult-Only Sailings
Carnival Cruise Line’s adult-only cruises, which were introduced in mid-2025, apparently are a big hit. The line has revealed details for 2026 SEA voyages — Sailings Exclusively for Adults, that include some transatlantic repositioning cruises.
These are ideal for the SEA experience, since transatlantics don’t typically attract many families with kids anyway. But there are others, too.
For instance, Carnival Paradise will sail a SEA voyage from Tampa, Florida, on April 13, 2026, with calls to Key West, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Montego Bay, and Grand Cayman.
Carnival Dream Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: NAN728)
The transatlantic crossings are Carnival Dream’s cruise leaving from Galveston on February 16, 2026, and Carnival Glory’s March 10, 2026 cruise from Port Canaveral. Both are 15-night sailings that conclude in Barcelona.
All of the 2026 SEA cruises are expected to be in high demand. Guests can sign up for email alerts as new voyages are added to the line-up. SEA cruises are offered to passengers aged 21 and older.
Ship Leaves Port a Day Late Due to IT Glitch
Departure day for Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze on December 15, 2025, turned out to be a frustrating one for guests and crew, thanks to a massive computer meltdown that caused the ship to remain in port for a full day.
It happened as guests were embarking the ship at Long Beach, California, for a 6-night Mexican Riviera cruise. Somehow, the technology glitch caused all booking information and other key data to be temporarily lost.
Carnival Firenze Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)
The IT problem eventually was fixed, and Carnival Firenze, one of the line’s two Fun Italian-Style ships, finally left port around 1:30 p.m. on December 16, 2025. The delay caused the itinerary to be revised, with the cancellation of a port call at Ensenada.
The 4,232-guest ship was to call there after spending an overnight at Cabo San Lucas. In the end, the ship only visited Cabo for the overnight call, then returned to Long Beach. Each stateroom received a $100 onboard credit to ease guests’ disappointment.
Some guests criticized the line in social media posts, but some commenters noted that they weren’t missing much in Ensenada anyway.
First Royal Beach Club Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
As promised, Royal Caribbean Group held ribbon-cutting ceremonies at its Royal Beach Club Paradise Island on December 13, 2025, and will begin to welcome cruise guests to the Bahamas destination on December 23, 2025.
More than 100 local government officials, Royal Caribbean Group representatives, and other VIPs attended the event. Construction began in April 2024, with input and collaboration with Bahamian artists and other local people.
Royal Beach Club Ribbon Cutting (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean)
The 17-acre exclusive destination just minutes from the Port of Nassau offers a shoreside experience featuring two beaches, three restaurants, multiple pools, a massive swim-up bar, private cabanas, and live music entertainment.
It will, however, cost you, as admission for kids and adults is not included in the cruise fare. Day passes start at about $170 per adult and rise to $250-plus, based on the amenities the guest chooses. Daybeds and cabana rentals cost extra.
Children under age 3 pay no admission.
Radiance of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas will call at Nassau on opening day, so passengers on those ships will be the first to officially visit the destination.
‘Flying Scotsman’ Returning to Cruise Industry
Back in August 2024, Chris “The Flying Scotsman” Williams announced his retirement from Carnival Cruise Line, where he served as a cruise director and then a fleet cruise director. Plenty of folks were sad to hear he was leaving, since he was a longtime favorite onboard various ships.
But now, he’s coming back — not as a cruise director but as a musical entertainer. Williams recently began mentioning his plans on his YouTube channel and Facebook page, saying that, while he loves spending more time with his family, he is now a fly-on entertainer for various cruise lines, including Carnival.
Former Cruise Director Return (Credits: Darryl Brooks & Chris Williams)
He will, for instance, join Carnival Legend’s cruises in June and August, as the ship sails in Europe. He is definitely booked for June 7 to 10 and August 9 to 13, 2026, and there may be more performances coming.
Williams is not limiting himself to Carnival Cruise Line ships. He will also perform on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral in January 2026, and will appear on Ambassador Cruise Lines as well.
So, welcome back to “The Flying Scotsman!”
More Cruise Headlines
OK, you’re all caught up with the top stories, but let’s keep going with even more cruise news, such as Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva launching cruises from Galveston, Texas, Royal Caribbean Group joining a redevelopment plan for a St. Thomas cruise port, and MSC Cruises’ unveiling its 2028 World Cruise.
The “Love Boat” is a popular TV series from the late 1970s that put cruising on the map, and helped to establish Princess Cruises as one of the most popular brands in the industry.
At the center of the story was none other than Cruise Director Julie McCoy, played by the famous Cynthia Lauren Tewes, who is loved both for her endless charm and for showing what it really means to be a cruise director.
So, who is Julie McCoy and the incredible actress behind her character?
Julie McCoy, played by Cynthia Lauren Tewes, became famous for being “your cruise director” on “The Love Boat.”
As real cruise directors do today, her character was in charge of making sure fictional cruise guests had a great time onboard, organizing activities, and helping with their romantic and personal challenges.
Her character was known for her charm and for being consistently bright and enthusiastic, especially with her opening “good morning!” messages to new passengers.
She is also remembered for her own drama-filled romantic storylines, such as her romance with Gopher Smith and her doomed engagement to Dr. Tony Selkirk (played by Anthony Andrews).
Her wedding to Dr. Selkirk was celebrated in a famous two-part episode called “The Expedition / Julie’s Wedding.”
Fast Facts About Cynthia Lauren Tewes
The actress has a strong relationship with Princess Cruises, and is one of the godparents for Regal Princess.
Why is Cynthia Lauren Tewes so Famous?
Portraying Julie McCoy is really what propelled Tewes into stardom, though she has also appeared in dozens of other movies, series, and even video games.
Tewes earned a prestigious Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role on “The Love Boat” in 1982, which helped solidify her standing as a respected Hollywood star.
Lauren Tewes (Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins)
On a more personal level, Tewes is also known for her battle with cocaine addiction, which led to her replacement on “The Love Boat” in 1984.
She later overcame her addiction, restoring her public image to one of success and inspiration.
She did get to reprise the role she made famous as a guest in a “Love Boat” episode in 1985, and was back as the beloved cruise director in the television films in the 1986-87 season.
Where is Tewes Today?
Born in 1953 in Trafford, Pennsylvania, Tewes is currently 72-years-old.
Though her career has slowed down a bit now that she is in her golden years, Tewes is still active between her endeavors in Hollywood and making public appearances.
She most recently appeared in a movie called “Potato Dreams of America” in 2021 and as a podcast guest on an episode of “Hollywood and Beyond with Steven Brittingham” in 2025.
An Ongoing Relationship with Princess Cruises
Speaking of public appearances, Tewes has continued to maintain a strong relationship with Princess Cruises as both the series and the brand celebrate exciting milestones over the years.
The partnership has lasted for decades, going back to when Tewes reunited with her fellow cast members in 1997 for the naming ceremony and christening of Dawn Princessin Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
MacLeod, Grandy, Lange, Koppel, and Whelan were also present for the occasion, which was the first time the cast had reunited in more than a decade.
In 2014, Tewes joined her co-stars once again to become the godparents of Regal Princess, which was formally named on November 5, 2014, in Fincantieri, Italy.
The Love Boat Cast (Photo Credit: Joe Seer)
Tewes joined her cast members in smashing 50 champagne bottles in a simultaneous celebration of the new ship’s debut and Princess Cruises’ 50th anniversary.
In 2018, the actress was also present as Princess Cruises and the original cast of the “The Love Boat” were presented with a Hollywood Walk of Fame honorary star plaque in recognition of their contributions to the history of television and support for the preservation of the Walk of Fame.
Most recently, Tewes joined several of her cast members for a “Love Boat Celebration” sailing out of Galveston, Texas, in November 2025.
Cindy Tewes and Charo join The Love Boat-themed cruise. (Photo Credit: Princess Cruises)
The themed, 7-night voyage embarked on Regal Princess on November 16, 2025, and called to Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras.
Princess Cruises has offered “Love Boat” sailings before that feature the cast, including in 2024, so it’s quite possible that there will be future opportunities to meet “your cruise director” onboard as well.
What is “The Love Boat?”
The “Love Boat” is a comedy-drama series that first premiered on ABC on September 24, 1977, and ran until May 24, 1986.
The series also got four TV movie installments – one of which aired after the series ended – and four additional specials.
It also got a spin-off series in 1998, titled “Love Boat: The Next Wave” that lasted for two seasons on the UPN network.
Photo Courtesy: Princess Cruises
The show was oriented around the ship’s captain, Merrill Stubing (played by Gavin MacLeod), key crew members (including Julie McCoy, Your Cruise Director), and the guests as they embarked on romantic, humorous, and dramatic escapades.
Other familiar faces included Bernie Kopell (ship doctor Adam “Doc” Bricker), Jill Whelan (the captain’s daughter, Vicki Stubing), Fred Grandy (Purser Burl “Gopher” Smith), and Ted Lange (ship bartender).
Why Does “The Love Boat” Matter?
The “Love Boat” series has been viewed by millions of fans and was one of the highest-rated prime-time television shows in the US during its heyday.
It is currently in worldwide syndication and has been translated into 29 different languages so that viewers around the world can continue to enjoy it today.
And not only is the show very beloved, but it helped to put cruising on the map and made Princess Cruises a household name.
In honor of how the brand got its start, Princess cruise ships are all referred to as “the love boats” and the ship horn plays the iconic “Love Boat” theme song.
The show was set onboard a fictional ship called MS Pacific Princess, and was primarily filmed on Princess Cruises’ original Pacific Princess and Island Princess.
The pilot, however, was shot on the original Sun Princess in Mexico, as was the spin-off series in 1998.
Other Princess ships occasionally got to cameo as the show introduced viewers at home to cruise destinations around the world, such as Australia, China, and Greece.
Carnival Cruise Line does not permit guests to decorate stateroom doors with light strands.
Unfortunately, the policy is not enforced consistently and many guests use lights anyway.
Not all guests appreciate door decorations but proper materials are not prohibited.
Many cruise guests enjoy decorating their stateroom doors, whether to simply celebrate their vacation, to note a special occasion, or to make their room easier to find in a long corridor of similar doors.
During the holidays, door decorations can be even more elaborate, but Carnival Cruise Line does not permit one very common festive accent: holiday lights.
“Our cabin had the battery lights on around our doorway REMOVED. I was told by the cabin cleaner that they are not allowed. I asked to speak to THE HOTEL MANAGER but have not had a RESPONSE,”the irate guest explained.
While Heald does not reveal which ship the guests are sailing on, the policy is the same fleetwide.
“Yes, that is correct, we do not allow them on the doors or in the cabins for safety reasons,”he explained.“You can of course decorate the doors for Christmas and bring a small tree for your room, both of which I think is wonderful to see people do.”
Holiday lights are not explicitly listed on Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited items list, though some items could be interpreted as including holiday lights.
“Electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element” and “lasers and laser pointers” are both prohibited. Depending on the design of different holiday light strands, they could certainly generate heat or function as lasers or beacons.
“No string lights of any kind are allowed,”the policy says.
There is no detailed explanation for the restriction, but there are very few manufacturing regulations on light strands. The gauge of wire, power sources, and insulation can vary, and it is possible that such strands could present a fire hazard depending on how they are hung, attached, or powered.
Cruise lines take the risk of fire very seriously and these items will not receive any exemptions, even during the festive season when they are very popular as decorations.
Unfortunately, it is clear that not all Carnival crew members actively enforce the restriction on holiday lights. Multiple guests commented that they use small light strands, even posting photos of their illuminated stateroom doors, and the decorations were not removed.
Are Door Decorations Out of Control?
Not all cruise guests enjoy or appreciate holiday door decorations. Another guest also contacted Heald with their displeasure because they disagreed with others’ festive spirit.
“Why does Carnival allow [passengers] to decorate their doors at xmas with tacky decorations that people feel everyone else wants to see. It’s really getting out of hand,”the guest explained.
“People used to limit themselves to something small on their door but now we see stuff strewn along the hallways on the walls and over the door frame. It is a selfish act.”
Cruise Cabin Door Decorations (Photo Credits: Catie Kovelman & KellyGman)
It’s true that some guests get very festive indeed, creating entire scenes or arches all around their door or into the hallway. This is common when guests may be traveling together in adjacent staterooms and combine their door decorations into a coordinated display.
Carnival’s door decoration policy does theoretically limit the placement of such decorations.
“Decorations may only be placed on the stateroom door and not the surrounding frame, walls, or railings,”the policy reads.
Multiple guests also show that this is not strictly enforced, sharing photos of elaborate setups with extra signs, stockings, magnets, garland, and more on the walls near their doors.
Most Guests Don’t Mind Decorations
Heald goes on to ask whether guests enjoy seeing holiday door decorations or not, or if they feel the decorations ought to be banned entirely.
The majority of guests either happily decorate their own doors, enjoy others’ decorations, or at least don’t mind how others choose to enjoy their vacation.
“It’s not for me, but I’m happy for others who enjoy it. Who am I to rain on other people’s parade?”one guest said.“Here’s a thought… if you don’t want to see others enjoying a bit of festive cheer, perhaps don’t cruise during the festive season.”
One guest suggests that Carnival Cruise Line offer clear guidelines for holiday door decorations.
“Would a battery-powered 6-foot-tall Santa skeleton with battery-powered red eyes and a motion sensor moving waving hand be allowed on the door?”they asked.
Perhaps that might be just a bit more festive spirit than most cruise guests would enjoy!
