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Jamaica Welcomes First Cruise Guests Since Hurricane Melissa

Catie Kovelman
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Jamaica Welcomes First Cruise Guests Since Hurricane Melissa

Key Aspects:

  • Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam became the first cruise ship to bring guests back to Jamaica since Hurricane Melissa.
  • MSC Cruises’ MSC Divina called later in the same day, and Carnival Cruise Line has also announced plans to return soon.
  • This is a good sign that Jamaica’s recovery efforts are going well and that the Caribbean country will be able to fully reopen by its goal date of December 15.

Jamaica has officially welcomed its first cruise guests after being ravaged by Hurricane Melissa at the end of October, marking an important milestone in the island nation’s recovery efforts.

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam arrived in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at 8 a.m. local time on the morning of Tuesday, November 11, 2025, making this the first ship to call since the Category 5 storm decimated the country.

The stop was included as part of a 14-night Caribbean sailing that embarked in Miami, Florida, on November 1, 2025.

“We are honored to return to Ocho Rios and deeply grateful for the collaboration with the port, local community and tour operators,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line.

“The decision was made with care and respect, knowing that tourism is vital to Jamaica’s recovery and future. Our guests are excited to bring much-needed support to the local economy,” Bodensteiner added.

Read Also: Jamaica Cruise Ports: Full List and Overview

The lead ship of Holland America’s Vista class is capable of carrying 1,988 guests, all of which bring a much needed economic boost. Jamaica’s economy relies heavily on tourism.

Additionally, the 2002-launched ship brought 1,700 boxes that were packed to the brim with relief supplies, such as food, water, bedding, clothing, and mattresses.

The donations were dropped off Reynold’s Pier before passengers were permitted to disembark for the day at the Turtle Bay Pier.

“On behalf of the people of St. Ann, and also representing Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett today, I want to sincerely thank Holland America Line for this incredibly timely donation of 20 pallets of food items and water to our tourism corridor,” said Hon. Matthew Samuda, Member of Parliament of Northeast St. Ann, Jamaica.

“It also sends a clear message: cruise partners aren’t just coming to enjoy Jamaica, they are standing with us in recovery. Every ship that returns to Ocho Rios strengthens jobs, protects livelihoods and helps our community bounce back stronger, and we value this kind of real, practical partnership.”

Adding to the cruise line’s generosity, dozens of Holland America Line volunteers participated in a beach cleanup in Seville, near Ocho Rios, during the port call.

And later this week, guests and crew will take part in the On Deck for a Cause 5K Walk to continue raising money to support the Hurricane Melissa relief fund.

More Ships Begin to Return

Jamaica has set a goal to resume all tourism operations by December 15, 2025.

With this goal now just over a month away, more cruise lines have begun to plan their returns to the Caribbean nation.

In fact, two hours after Zuiderdam arrived in Ocho Rios, MSC Cruises’ MSC Divina docked in the port.

Carnival Horizon Supplies for Jamaica
Carnival Horizon Supplies for Jamaica

The call was included as part of a 14-night Caribbean sailing that embarked in Miami, Florida, on November 6, 2025.

Similarly, Carnival Cruise Line has also announced that Carnival Paradise will be the first ship in its fleet to return to Jamaica. 

The Fantasy-class cruise ship will call on Ocho Rios on November 13 as part of a 6-night Western Caribbean sailing that embarked in Tampa, Florida, on November 10, 2025.

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She was originally supposed to visit Jamaica’s Montego Bay that day – which is the country’s second largest cruise port – but Ocho Rios is further along in its recovery efforts and more equipped to welcome guests.

Over the past couple weeks, cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have also been stopping at Jamaica to drop off donations and supplies to aid in recovery efforts without including the destination as a standard port call.

Increased Laundry Price Spotted on Royal Caribbean Ships

Melissa Mayntz
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Increased Laundry Price Spotted on Royal Caribbean Ships

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has increased the price of wash and fold laundry services onboard its ships.
  • The $5 increase is the first price hike for the service in at least five years.
  • The change was implemented from Monday, November 10, 2025, but online pre-cruise specials are still possible.

Laundry can be a controversial subject for cruise travelers. Some guests enjoy using onboard laundry rooms or valet services in order to pack less or travel home without dirty clothes, while others prefer not to have strangers handling their clothing and potentially damaging delicate fabrics.

What all guests can agree on, however, is the frustration of increasing costs for various onboard services. On Royal Caribbean ships, that will now include a higher price for laundry.

Guests onboard Oasis of the Seas have noticed an increase in the popular “Wash and Fold Laundry Special” for cleaning up one’s laundry before heading for home. Some guests have also spotted the new price on the Odyssey of the Seas.

As of Monday, November 10, 2025, the cost for a bag of laundry is now $39.99. This is $5 higher than the previous price of $34.99, a 14% increase.

The Wash and Fold service price applies to whatever items guests are able to place securely in the provided bag. While these paper bags are not generously sized, they can still hold small and easily washed items.

“Fit as many socks, shorts, t-shirts, swimwear and pajamas as you can into the bag provided and leave it for your stateroom attendant,” the special offer explains.

Guests are asked to provide an itemized list of the included clothing to be sure there are no mix-ups or missing items. The laundry is returned, cleaned, and folded within 24 hours.

Anyone interested in the service should note that “laundry is not responsible for color alteration or faults in the material.” Because of this disclaimer, guests should reconsider using the service for delicate items such as eveningwear or anything with embellishments, lace, or easily snagged fabrics.

Items that do not fit in the wash and fold bag or that require special treatment, such as dry cleaning or steaming, are priced individually. Those prices range from $2 for socks or a t-shirt to as high as $15 for an evening gown.

Those prices, however, may also be increasing as all laundry services are adjusted.

New Laundry Price
New Laundry Price (Photo Credit: Allexus White)

It should be noted that there are no self-service laundry rooms onboard Royal Caribbean ships. The cruise line cites “safety concerns” and notes that in-room irons are also not available.

Read Also: Hand Washing Clothes on Cruise Ships – The Ultimate Guide

Furthermore, guests may not bring aboard any steamers or irons onboard to perform their own in-stateroom laundering, as they are prohibited items and will be confiscated.

Why the Price Increase Now?

As of this writing, the lower price is still listed in the cruise line’s laundry FAQ, but this may simply mean the website hasn’t yet been updated for the very recent change. Another possibility is that the higher cost may be a test aboard limited ships or sailings before being changed fleetwide.

Prices of all services and packages are always subject to change. This laundry charge has been the same for years; however, the $34.99 price per bag dates back to at least mid-2020.

With the rising costs of detergent and labor, not to mention the increasing popularity of laundry services, it’s not surprising that this price increase has now been implemented.

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Royal Caribbean guests interested in the very best laundry deal (who still don’t want to take dirty laundry home from a cruise vacation) should keep an eye on pre-cruise sales. Occasionally, laundry services can be discounted 30-40% with limited-time prepaid wash and fold specials.

Of course, one can always take their dirty clothes home again to do laundry themselves, but where are the vacation vibes in that?

Celebrity Cruises Unveils 2027-28 Itineraries Covering 131 Destinations

Lissa Poirot
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Celebrity Cruises Unveils 2027-28 Itineraries Covering 131 Destinations

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Cruises is significantly expanding its global footprint, offering sailings to 131 destinations in 42 countries in 2027-2028.
  • The deployment features new and extended experiences, including 123 longer port stays of over 10 hours.
  • Eight ships will operate from four Florida homeports: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and Tampa.

Celebrity Cruises, which recently debuted its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, with a preview cruise on November 9, 2025, is amping up its presence with more destinations, more countries, and more US homeports scheduled for the 2027-2028 season.

The cruise line just revealed its next deployment, which will cover 131 destinations in 42 countries, including Celebrity Xcel returning to the Caribbean for a third season and Celebrity Solstice operating a second Asian season following a refurbishment.

“Guests can discover something new in every corner of the world, as Celebrity Cruises unveils its 2027 and 2028 itineraries in the Caribbean, Asia, and South America,” the company stated.

Caribbean sailings went on sale today, November 11, 2025, with Asia and South America bookings opening December 10, 2025.

The itineraries feature several firsts for the line, including Celebrity Cruises’ first dedicated Grand Turk itineraries and four transits through the Panama Canal aboard Celebrity Ascent.

In the Caribbean, eight Celebrity Cruises ships will operate from four Florida ports — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and Tampa — with Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Xcel, and Celebrity Reflection taking passengers on year-round journeys as short as 3 nights and extending up to 14 nights.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium will sail to 49 destinations across seven countries in Asia, including Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. 

The company also highlighted 123 chances in Asia to remain in port more than 10 hours, so passengers have extended time to explore cities, with overnight stays scheduled in Bangkok, Bali, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Phuket.

Celebrity Cruises will operate two ships in Asia in 2027-28.
Celebrity Cruises will operate two ships in Asia in 2027-28. (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)

In South America, Celebrity Equinox will sail 14-night itineraries to 17 destinations across seven countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. The routes will offer access to landmarks like the Chilean Fjords, Cape Horn, and Tierra del Fuego National Park.

The season will run from November 27 through February 2028.

Wider Reach From Florida

The upcoming 2027-28 lineup marks one of Celebrity Cruises’ largest deployments from Florida, with eight ships connecting guests to 65 Caribbean destinations.

From Miami, Celebrity Beyond will operate year-round 7-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with stops in the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) and at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean Group’s private island in the Bahamas.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay: Full Guide

Celebrity Xcel will also sail from South Florida for its third Caribbean season, offering alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean routes with calls at Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts.

Celebrity Cruises 2027-28 Deployment: Celebrity Xcel
Celebrity Cruises 2027-28 Deployment: Celebrity Xcel (Photo Credit: Celebrity Cruises)

From Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Ascent will sail 10- to 14-night Southern Caribbean itineraries, including four Panama Canal transits and calls in Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

The refurnished Celebrity Silhouette will also be in Fort Lauderdale, offering 6- and 8-night sailings that include Jamaica, Mexico, and the ABC Islands, while Celebrity Eclipse journeys with a range of 9- to 12-night sailings.

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Leading the charge from the Orlando area will be Celebrity Apex, with 7 7-night itineraries to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean, including Key West, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman.

On the Gulf Coast, Celebrity Constellation will depart from Tampa on 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries that include Key West, Cozumel, and Costa Maya, Mexico.

Royal Caribbean Ship Ditches Port in Favor of Dominican Republic

Donna Tunney
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Royal Caribbean Ship Ditches Port in Favor of Dominican Republic

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas notified guests that the itinerary of her November 16, 2025 departure has been modified.
  • The ship will visit the Dominican Republic on Day 7 of the voyage, rather than St. Lucia on Day 6.
  • The itinerary’s at-sea day was also shifted, from the final day of the cruise to Day 6.

Guests booked to sail aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas on her November 16, 2025 departure are no doubt already dreaming about their Southern Caribbean vacation, but it turns out there is one scheduled port call they will not experience.

The cruise line has notified passengers that the ship’s itinerary has been altered, with one port, Castries, St. Lucia, being removed in favor of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

No reason was given for the change; it could be due to a number of issues, including port congestion, although just one other ship, Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, is slated to call at Castries on the same day — November 21, 2025.

Brilliance of the Seas’ 7-night Southern Caribbean voyage sails roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process, we’ve modified our upcoming sailing. On Day 7 we’ll now visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, in place of the previously scheduled stop on Day 6,” states Royal Caribbean’s notice to booked guests.

“Sometimes these changes are the result of a weather impact or issue avoidance, speed restrictions, berth or scheduling conflicts, and agreements we have with the ports we visit,” the statement continues.

Guests who booked shore excursions on St. Lucia through the cruise line will be automatically refunded. Also refunded will be any port tax surplus that the revision creates, although the statement does not indicate what that might be.

Under Brilliance of the Seas’ original itinerary, the Radiance-class ship would call at St. Thomas, USVI on November 17, 2025, followed by Tortola, BVI on November 18, 2025, St. Kitts on November 19, 2025, Antigua on November 20, 2025 and St. Lucia on November 21, 2025. The final day of the cruise was to be an at-sea day.

Brilliance of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas

The revised itinerary shows a call to the Dominican Republic on November 22, 2025 — the last full day of the cruise, with the at-sea day moved back to Day 6 of the trip.

Read Also: IDEAL Eastern Caribbean Cruise Ports You Should Visit

The cruise line’s notice to guests acknowledged that some passengers will not be happy about the itinerary change, and apologized for the inconvenience.

Plenty of Adventure Awaits Guests in Puerto Plata

Brilliance of the Seas’ call to Puerto Plata is slated from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. While the port visit is not a full day, there will still be time to enjoy an excursion.

Some of Royal Caribbean’s guided shore tours at Puerto Plata include visits to the famous Damajagua Waterfalls, featuring swimming in the pools created by the cascading waterfalls. 

Also, tours of Ocean World Adventure Park offers guests the chance to swim with dolphins, snorkel, and attend educational exhibits focused on marine conservation.

Other excursions include zip lining adventures and explorations of the island’s Fortaleza San Felipe, a 16th-century fortress.

The Brilliance of the Seas is slated to visit St. Lucia several more times during winter 2025. The next scheduled call is on December 2, 2025.

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The 2,543-guest ship will remain homeported at San Juan through late April 2026, when she repositions to the Western Mediterranean for the spring and summer seasons.

The ship, which launched in 2001, will sail 7-night itineraries with multiple departure ports in Europe, including Rome and Ravenna, Italy, Barcelona, and Athens, and will also sail roundtrip voyages from Athens.

50 Cruise Passengers Pulled From Ocean After Excursion Boat Sinks

Melissa Mayntz
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50 Cruise Passengers Pulled From Ocean After Excursion Boat Sinks

Key Aspects:

  • A catamaran sank in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, November 9, and more than 50 cruise guests were rescued.
  • Guests were from TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1, and the port visit to Samana was a last-minute itinerary addition.
  • No major injuries were reported, and local authorities are investigating the incident.

What should have been a fun excursion in Samana Bay in the northeastern Dominican Republic quickly turned to horror on Sunday, November 9, 2025, when a tour catamaran sank and more than 50 cruise guests were rescued.

The 40-foot catamaran, Boca de Yuma, sank in just minutes after an “internal failure” led to the vessel rapidly taking on water.

Safety procedures were immediately implemented, including the use of life vests, as guests entered the water. The Navy of the Dominican Republic responded to the emergency right away, staying in communication with the foundering vessel and dispatching rescue craft.

In a statement provided to People, TUI Cruises confirmed the incident.

“An excursion catamaran operated by an external provider sank on November 9, 2025, during a shore excursion,” the cruise line stated. “All guests are safe and were returned to Mein Schiff 1 immediately after the rescue.”

Video and photos of the incident on social media show life rings in the water and guests spread over a relatively large area, while just one corner of the catamaran remained above the surface.

“The vessel had sailed from Embat Pier and was on an excursion with passengers from the cruise Mein Schiff 1 on board,” a statement from the navy explained. “Before the emergency call, the Navy proceeded to provide communication support, logistical support and operational assistance so that the company’s vessels, owner of the damaged catamaran, would transit people and drive them to port.”

No major injuries have been reported and all guests, as well as the crew members of the catamaran, were safely recovered.

The catamaran had been on a sightseeing tour, not any sort of snorkeling or diving expedition. Many guests, therefore, were not dressed for swimming and certainly weren’t expecting such a traumatic turn of events.

The weather was relatively calm at the time of the incident, though video footage does show some choppy water. This may or may not have contributed to the catamaran taking on water, but was certainly not severe enough to completely precipitate the sinking.

Sinking Catamaran Boat
Sinking Catamaran Boat (Credit: Dominican Navy)

“According to the information currently available, there was a collision with an object in the water. The captain of the excursion boat immediately contacted other boats in the vicinity and requested assistance,” TUI Cruises noted.

Authorities from the Port of Samana, as well as the Dominican Republic Navy, are investigating the incident.

“The Dominican Republic Navy collaborates with local authorities to determine responsibilities and take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future,” the Dominican Navy stated.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Lifeboats – Are There Enough and What You Might Not Know

TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1 had departed La Romana two days earlier, on Friday, November 7, for a 14-night itinerary. The first two ports of call were to have been Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, but those were cancelled due to the damage from Hurricane Melissa.

Instead, the ship improvised a new stop in the Dominican Republic, at Samana on the northeastern coast.

Mein Schiff 1 Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock

The 111,500-gross-ton cruise ship has now continued on her way, heading for Cozumel and Costa Maya. Other port visits on the itinerary include Belize, Roatan, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, before the ship returns to La Romana on Friday, November 21.

All guests involved in the incident have been offered care from the cruise line, and all elected to continue with their cruise vacation.

Not the First Shore Excursion Sinking

While this type of incident can be shocking, it isn’t the first time that a shore excursion craft has foundered, leaving cruise guests in the water.

In March 2025, strong winds caused a small excursion boat to overturn in Cartagena, Colombia, with 38 guests aboard. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries, and all guests safely returned to their cruise ship, AIDAbella.

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In November 2023, a much more tragic incident occurred in the Bahamas when a double-decker tour boat sank while en route to Blue Lagoon Island near Nassau. Rough water and strong waves contributed to that accident, and one cruise guest died.

Following that tragedy, many cruise lines cancelled tours to Blue Lagoon Island until the investigation was complete and safety measures were verified.

Royal Caribbean Shifts Bahamas Itineraries Due to Cold Front

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Shifts Bahamas Itineraries Due to Cold Front

Key Aspects:

  • Multiple Royal Caribbean ships are shifting their itineraries due to rough weather in the Bahamas in the next few days.
  • Port swaps, moving around sea days, and cancelling port visits are all typical adjustments as needed.
  • All ships are being kept safe and will return to their homeports as planned without delays.

A cold front heading south is having an impact in unexpected regions – namely, the Bahamas. While the tropical region won’t see temperatures plummet quite as much as the low 30s expected in the Sunshine State, high winds and rough seas are causing multiple cruise itinerary changes.

Several Royal Caribbean ships have now shifted the days of their port visits to steer clear of the worst weather that could make docking a challenge. Such changes are always made with safety as the top priority and with guests’ best interests in mind.

Where necessary, shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean will be changed to the new port visit days automatically, or cancelled and fully refunded if necessary.

Radiance of the Seas

Sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Radiance of the Seas is moving the day planned to visit Nassau on the November 10, 2025 departure.

The 4-night itinerary will still visit the capital of the Bahamas, but now on Thursday, November 13, rather than Tuesday, November 11 as originally planned. Tuesday will now be a day at sea instead. The visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Wednesday, November 12 is unchanged.

The 90,090-gross-ton ship will still return to Fort Lauderdale as planned on Friday, November 14.

Wonder of the Seas

The November 10 departure of Wonder of the Seas is also a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas, but both the day in Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay have now been changed.

The days are swapped, and the Oasis-class ship will visit Nassau first on Wednesday, November 12, followed by CocoCay on Thursday, November 13.

Tuesday, November 11, will now be a day at sea rather than CocoCay as initially planned. On Tuesday, wind speeds at CocoCay are expected to reach 22-25 knots (25-29 miles per hour) when Wonder of the Seas would have been docking.

Docked Wonder of the Seas
Docked Wonder of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

Read Also: What Are the Different Oasis-Class Cruise Ships?

This would be a potentially unsafe situation for the cruise ship, as well as make the pier unsafe for guests to walk across with crashing waves and slick surfaces.

Wonder of the Seas will return to Miami as planned on Friday, November 14.

Freedom of the Seas

The itinerary for Freedom of the Seas‘ 5-night cruise leaving Miami on November 10 has been completely changed. The ship was originally scheduled to visit CocoCay and Cozumel, but now both of those ports have been cancelled.

Instead, Freedom of the Seas will visit the Dominican Republic twice with visits to both Taino Bay (Wednesday, November 12) and Amber Cove (Thursday, November 13). The ship will return to her South Florida homeport as planned on Saturday, November 15.

Utopia of the Seas

The 4-night sailing of Utopia of the Seas that departed Port Canaveral on Monday, November 10, has also caused the ship to swap the planned day at sea with the visit to Nassau, as Cruise Hive previously reported. This is a similar change to Radiance of the Seas and for the same reasons, to avoid the strongest winds and roughest waves.

Utopia of the Seas Cruise Ship
Utopia of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)

The Oasis-class ship will return to Port Canaveral with no further delays on Friday, November 14.

These Are NOT Hurricane Changes

Given that it’s still technically hurricane season until November 30, it isn’t unreasonable to think this many ship changes might be related to a tropical system developing.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), however, there is no tropical activity currently causing any concern, and “tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 7 days.”

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This just confirms that rough weather can impact cruise sailings at any time, in any sailing region.

Cruise guests should always remain flexible with their vacation expectations. While cruise lines will do their best to deliver the planned itineraries, weather-related changes are outside their control and the safety of the ship, guests, and crew members is more important than any individual port visit.

Progress Spotted at First Royal Caribbean Beach Club

Melissa Mayntz
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Progress Spotted at First Royal Caribbean Beach Club

Key Aspects:

  • New photos of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island show great progress just weeks ahead of its December opening.
  • Some guests are concerned at the work that remains to be done, but construction has not been delayed.
  • The club should be open to its first guests on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

Great progress has been made at Royal Caribbean’s upcoming Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas, as colorful architecture is taking shape and one of the signature pools is now filled with water.

The update comes from Marc Walker, cruise director of Utopia of the Seas. With that Oasis-class ship’s “Ultimate Weekend” short sailings, Walker is in Nassau twice a week and can certainly see every step of progress on the new club.

“Wow this is speeding along. If you zoom in the pool now has water! 6 weeks to go,” Walker said the last time the ship was in port, on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

Utopia of the Seas visits Nassau on every voyage, typically on Saturdays for the 3-night weekend cruises that depart on Fridays and again on Tuesdays during the 4-night getaways that leave Port Canaveral every Monday.

While Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is not a destination like Perfect Day at CocoCay or other private islands, it will be an exclusive club option guests can enjoy whenever a ship visits Nassau.

Construction on the club has been ongoing for more than 18 months after the initial groundbreaking in April 2024. Prior to the start of construction, the narrow spit on the west end of Paradise Island had several abandoned, dilapidated homes that had never recovered from previous hurricane damage.

Now, eager guests can witness day-to-day changes in construction as cabanas are taking shape, bright colors appear on buildings, and beautiful palm trees are planted to ensure the best tropical ambience.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is scheduled to open on December 23, 2025 – what a holiday gift for eager cruisers! The first ships to have the opportunity to offer visits to guests will be Utopia of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas that day.

Nassau Beach Club Progress
Nassau Beach Club Progress (Photo Credit: Marc Walker)

Up next will be Wonder of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas on Christmas Eve, followed by Odyssey of the Seas on Christmas Day.

Read Also: Is 3 Nights Enough Time on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas?

Day passes to the club range from $110 for young cruisers ages 4-12 to as high as $170 for adult guests who want the full drink package included. Royal Caribbean’s shipboard drink packages do not include the Royal Paradise Beach Club.

Prices are subject to change, of course, and may be adjusted on high occupancy days, holiday periods, or peak cruising season.

Will the Club Be Ready in Just Six Weeks?

Some guests looking over the club site from their cruise ships docked in Nassau may be concerned at the apparent progress.

With the projected opening just six weeks away, there is still scaffolding, bare ground, heavy construction equipment, and what appears to be a great deal of work left to accomplish.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Bahamas
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Bahamas

Walkways are not yet in place, the landscaping is far from finished, and some buildings appear to have just been started.

“[On] Utopia in Nassau right now,” a guest shared on Reddit the same day of Walker’s eager post. “I see the beach club and it looks like a disaster. Looks like more than a month of work remaining.”

To be fair, there IS more than a month before the club is expected to be open. Other guests did note that leveling out the landscaping and planting can be done quickly.

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“I’m in construction, this is easily done. 4-5 weeks is decent amounts of time,” another commenter added. “They’re building huts. Pools are done. All the electrical, plumbing done by this point. Put a couple of palm trees in and call it a day.”

It is possible that if anything happens to delay construction, the club may have a soft opening with some features unavailable in December. This might impact activities for guests or the overall capacity of the club until it is fully completed.

At this time, however, there appears to be no delay and the countdown to the most exclusive club in Nassau is underway.

Giant Wave Crashes Onto Pier Sweeping Cruise Ship Visitors Away

Lissa Poirot
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Giant Wave Crashes Onto Pier Sweeping Cruise Ship Visitors Away

Key Aspects:

  • A massive wave struck a pier in Tenerife on November 8, 2025, killing a Dutch cruise passenger.
  • Several other visitors suffered injuries and were transferred to the hospital.
  • Authorities are investigating why the pier lacked barriers or warnings during a red coastal alert.

A shore excursion for cruise passengers visiting Tenerife turned tragic on Saturday, November 8, 2025, when a massive wave slammed into a pier in Puerto de la Cruz, sending a group of tourists into the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the victims, a Dutch woman, died after suffering cardiac arrest during the incident that affected at least 10 guests from a cruise ship docked earlier that day, as well as locals.

A spokesperson for the coastal safety platform Canarias, 1,500 km of Coastline, Sebastian Quintana, said, no one was swimming but all simply observing the sea.

Officials confirmed that the victims had arrived that morning on a cruise ship at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and were touring the island when the wave hit. The region was under a red alert for coastal phenomena, with waves reaching up to 15 feet in height.

Wave Hitting and After
Wave Hitting and After

Despite the warnings, the pier area where the group stood reportedly had no visible cordon or safety tape at the time, and the woman, swept into the sea, was rescued but died before reaching the hospital.

Additionally, six French tourists were swept away by a wave on Playa del Roque de Las Bodegas, with emergency teams rescuing the visitors.

One woman was airlifted to the hospital with moderate injuries, and four additional people were taken by ambulance. The tourists had reportedly ignored a warning beacon.

Read Also: 11 Most Dangerous Cruise Ports You Should Be Extra Cautious About

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident on the pier to determine whether proper safety measures were in place and whether local alerts were adequately communicated to visiting tour groups.

In total, three people passed away and 15 were injured in just five hours in what Quintana called, “the most tragic day.”

Tenerife rescue after wave sweeps visitors into the sea
Tenerife rescue after wave sweeps visitors into the sea (Photo Credit: Square profile picture 112 Canary Islands)

No further details have been released about the woman who succumbed to her injuries or which ship passengers were sailing with but both Silversea’s Silver Dawn and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 were docked in Tenerife on November 8.

Silver Dawn had been sailing a 24-night sailing from Southampton, England, to Lisbon, Portugal, and Mein Schiff 3 was on a 21-night roundtrip voyage from Bremerhaven, Germany.

Worth Reading: Cruise Ship Damaged by Rogue Wave Plans Return to Service

P&O Cruises’ Azura is currently homeporting in Tenerife and returned to port on November 7 with passengers and was awaiting to depart on a subsequent 14-night cruise on November 8.

Coastal Safety Under Scrutiny

The tragedy has raised renewed concern about coastal safety and warning enforcement across the Canary Islands, particularly as they remain a hub for international cruise traffic.

In 2024, more than 4 million cruise passengers visited Spain’s Cruise Atlantic Islands, which includes the Canary Islands.

Tenerife regularly experiences strong surf and “mar de fondo,” swells that can generate unexpectedly large waves even in calm weather.

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Officials routinely advise locals and visitors to stay clear of piers, breakwaters, and rocky promenades during high-wave alerts. However, the area where the cruise passengers were standing was reportedly accessible and unguarded, despite the formal warning being in effect.

Incidents like this are not rare in the Canary Islands. Canarias 1,500 km de Costa reported 54 drowning deaths in the Canary Islands between January and October 2025, when strong wave warnings had been released.

Tributes Pour In for Florida Teen Who Died Aboard Carnival Cruise Ship

Emrys Thakkar
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Tributes Pour In for Florida Teen Who Died Aboard Carnival Cruise Ship

Key Aspects:

  • The deceased guest onboard Carnival Horizon over the weekend has been identified as 18-year-old Anna Kepner.
  • Kepner was a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida with strong ties to the community.
  • The investigation into Kepner’s death is ongoing and no cause of death has yet been confirmed.

While few details have yet been confirmed about the deceased passenger aboard Carnival Horizon‘s recent sailing, family members have come forward to identify their lost loved one as Anna Kepner.

The 18-year-old high school senior was from Titusville, Florida, where she attended Temple Christian School, a private, faith-based school founded in 1994.

According to local news, Talk of Titusville, Kepner was slated to graduate in May and had just completed testing to join the US military before the family cruise vacation.

Kepner was found unresponsive aboard the Vista-class Carnival Horizon during the ship’s November 2, 2025 sailing, a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary that included a relief supply stop (but not a port visit) in Jamaica.

Following a medical emergency alert to Deck 8 near the end of the sailing, she was confirmed as deceased before the ship returned to Miami.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was alerted to the incident and has begun investigating Kepner’s death. Carnival Cruise Line is cooperating in every way with the investigation.

Anna Kepner
Anna Kepner (Instagram: @anna.kepner16)

Because the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not released any details about Kepner’s cause of death or if there are any leads about the incident. It may be some time before the investigation is complete.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?

There has been no delay to Carnival Horizon, and the ship began its next cruise, an 8-night Southern Caribbean “ABC” voyage on Saturday, November 8.

Teen Remembered by School and Community

Kepner is described by her school administrators as a “bright, kind-hearted young woman whose presence brought warmth and energy into the classroom.” She was high-achieving and had plans for her future that have now been abruptly cut short.

She had previously attended Titusville High School, but transferred to Temple Christian School over the summer for her senior year. She was a varsity cheerleader, had earned both her boater’s license and scuba certification, and worked at a local aquarium supply store.

“She was always smiling,” her employer said in a Facebook post. “There won’t be a single day that goes by that we don’t think of her and remember all the good times we shared.”

Gentle, curious, kind, sweet, selfless, compassionate, and caring are other attributes ascribed to Kepner, who was honored on Monday morning at Temple Christian School with tributes on her car in the senior students’ parking area.

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Flowers, toys, and balloons show off Kepner’s bright spirit and the love of her classmates and teachers.

“I want to thank everyone that came out this morning for Anna and her family. The parking lot was full of so many that knew and loved her,” commented Andrea Stoner, the school’s administrator.

Temple Christian School is providing support to any students with counseling services. Carnival Cruise Line is likewise supporting the family as the investigation continues.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with Kepner’s family, friends, and classmates at this very difficult time.

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