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Carnival Issues Traffic Alert for Carnival Sunshine Guests Boarding in Norfolk

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Issues Traffic Alert for Carnival Sunshine Guests Boarding in Norfolk

Key Aspects:

  • A popular wine festival and a road paving project will both impact travel to Norfolk for guests boarding Carnival Sunshine on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
  • Carnival has notified guests about potential traffic delays and noted that everyone must be onboard the ship by the final boarding time on their boarding passes.
  • There is no change to Carnival Sunshine‘s 4 p.m. departure time or the 8-night Canada itinerary.

Carnival Cruise Line guests setting sail aboard Carnival Sunshine on Saturday, October 17, 2026 will face a double whammy of traffic disruptions in Norfolk as they head to the cruise terminal for embarkation. The cruise line has sent out a traffic alert to make sure all guests are aware of the challenges and how best to ensure they do not miss the ship.

“Norfolk’s Wine Festival will occur on the day of your embarkation, resulting in street closures and heavier than normal traffic in some areas. Additionally, the eastbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (I-64 toward Norfolk) will be closed for scheduled roadwork,” the notification email explained.

The Town Point Virginia Fall Wine Festival is held at Town Point Park on Waterside Drive in downtown Norfolk, less than a quarter-mile east of the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center. The 2026 festival is on Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, and thousands of people generally attend the annual festival.

While the festival’s events, including wine tasting, live music, and shopping, run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, traffic is likely to pick up earlier in the morning as the event is set up and visitors begin to arrive. This is exactly when thousands of cruise guests will also be approaching the cruise port.

Further complicating downtown Norfolk traffic is the closure of the eastbound lanes of Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the section of I-64 leading from Hampton to the cruise port. This is typically the most direct route between Richmond International Airport and the cruise terminal, normally a roughly 90-minute drive.

Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk, Virginia
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk, Virginia (Credit: Nauticus)

The ongoing roadwork is a planned repaving project. According to the City of Norfolk, the work will begin at 9 p.m. Friday and continue through 5 a.m. Monday.

Road repaving in existing tunnels has been ongoing each weekend beginning October 2, with only one direction closed at a time. From October 16-19, the eastbound lanes toward Norfolk will be closed. This will especially impact cruise guests boarding Carnival Sunshine.

Carnival Cruise Line says signs will be directing guests toward the cruise terminal and law enforcement will be guiding traffic in some locations.

Guests are advised to allow ample time in their travel plans in case of potential delays, as well as to stay updated about local traffic conditions on embarkation day.

The cruise line does remind guests, however, that everyone must be onboard as planned, even with traffic delays.

“In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board according to the final boarding time specified on the boarding pass,” the email said.

Carnival Cruise Line has been clear in the past that ships will not delay departure for guests who may be stuck in traffic. Cruise Hive reported on one such incident in August 2025, when a family missed their cruise aboard Carnival Glory due to a traffic accident that caused delays as they were heading to Port Canaveral.

While the family was not involved in the accident, they were still responsible for arriving at the cruise terminal on time.

Carnival’s website is clear that the US Department of Homeland Security determines when a cruise line must submit a final manifest. The cruise line sets the final boarding time to accommodate that requirement.

“US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires Carnival Cruise Line to submit a final departure manifest with specific guest information at least 60 minutes prior to departure,” the website explains. “In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board by the Final Boarding time printed on the boarding pass or they will not be permitted to sail.”

The 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine is scheduled to depart Norfolk, Virginia at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17 for her 8-night Canada itinerary, with visits planned to Halifax, Charlottetown, and Sydney before returning to Norfolk on Sunday, October 25.

At this time, there is no change to the ship’s scheduled departure time or her overall itinerary, and no other cruise ships are scheduled for Norfolk this weekend.

Disney Cruise Line Ends Palo Prix Fixe Menu Fleetwide Starting October 22

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Cruise Line Ends Palo Prix Fixe Menu Fleetwide Starting October 22

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Cruise Line is removing the prix-fixe pricing at the Palo restaurants across the fleet beginning October 22, 2026.
  • Platinum and Pearl Castaway Club guests will now receive a $55 credit to use for à la carte items of their choice instead of the free prix-fixe dinner.
  • Brunch is not officially permitted as a substitution for the dinner credit but has been allowed in the past at the discretion of onboard Palo managers.

A guest favorite dining option on Disney Cruise Line is the adults-only Palo specialty restaurants, including Palo, Palo Steakhouse, and Palo Trattoria. These restaurants have traditionally offered a choice of a “prix-fixe” menu or a la carte pricing, with Platinum and Pearl members of the cruise line’s loyalty program, the Castaway Club, receiving a complimentary meal from the prix-fixe menu.

Beginning on Thursday, October 22, 2026, however, the prix-fixe menu will be discontinued, and the Palo restaurants will only offer à la carte pricing.

The benefit to Disney Cruise Line’s most loyal guests is not going away, however. Instead of the completely free meal (albeit limited to the prix-fixe selections), eligible guests will be provided a $55 per person credit for menu offerings of their choice.

Guests were notified of the change one week in advance, as the cruise line emailed eligible Castaway Club members with upcoming bookings of the change.

“Platinum and Pearl Castaway Club Members are invited to enjoy an evening at Palo, Palo Steakhouse or Palo Trattoria,” the email explained. “Beginning on October 22, 2026, these restaurants will transition away from the prix-fixe dinner menu to a selection of our Guest’s favorite items.”

The cost of the prix-fixe menu was $55, so the credit to use for à la carte menu items is an equivalent offering.

Guests who are staying in the same stateroom as a Platinum or Pearl Castaway Club member will also receive the $55 Palo credit, but as per the terms of the Castaway Club, the Platinum or Pearl member must be present at the dinner.

There is no indication that pricing on Palo’s a la carte menu offerings will be changing, or that the menu itself may be updated. The Italian-inspired restaurants offer classic favorites such as various salads, pizzas, and entrees like lamb ragu, grilled lobster with pappardelle pasta, soft potato gnocchi, osso buco, grilled steaks, and limoncello tart.

A la carte prices range from $6 for sides to as much as $80 for the most premium steak selection, a 28-ounce dry-aged prime Angus porterhouse.

Disney Cruise Line Palo
Disney Cruise Line Palo

Guest reaction to the change is mixed, with some eager for a greater variety on the menu.

“I don’t care for the prix fix, as it is too restrictive,” one guest commented on Facebook. “Lucked out on this one!”

The prix-fixe menu only offered guests a choice of two appetizers, two salads, four options for entrees, and two desserts, but the full menu is much more extensive.

Under the new à la carte pricing, if a Platinum or Pearl guest’s selections are greater than the $55 allotment, the guest will pay any amount exceeding that credit. Guests are still responsible for any beverage charges as well as gratuities.

Brunch No Longer Included

In the past, eligible guests were able to use their Palo benefit for brunch rather than dinner, an option many guests enjoyed as it still allowed them to enjoy all the rotational dining dinners during their cruise. That was never part of the official benefit, however, and was always at the discretion of the restaurant manager.

The notification email about the change is explicit that brunch is not part of the benefit.

“This exclusive benefit is limited to dinner only,” the email said. “As a reminder, brunch is not included in this offer.”

Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club Frequently Asked Questions also state that the benefit applies to dinner only, not brunch.

Fourth Consecutive Brilliant Lady Cruise Faces Possible Hurricane Disruption

Calvin Musquez
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0
Fourth Consecutive Brilliant Lady Cruise Faces Possible Hurricane Disruption

Key Aspects:

  • Virgin Voyages has warned guests booked on Brilliant Lady’s October 17, 2026 sailing that Hurricane Trudy could force itinerary changes.
  • An alternate route is being prepared for the ship’s planned 7-night Mexican Riviera itinerary, which is scheduled to visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.
  • Three consecutive sailings aboard the ship have already been affected by tropical storm systems.

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady is potentially facing an itinerary adjustment for the fourth time in a row. The cruise line issued a notice on October 14, 2026 warning guests that the path of then Tropical Storm Trudy may threaten the ship’s October 17 departure.

The 7-night Mexican Riviera itinerary is set to depart from Los Angeles and call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. It is set to return to Los Angeles on October 24.

However, the planned itinerary would bring the 2,770-guest ship near Baja California, close to the projected path of Hurricane Trudy, late on October 18 into the following morning. While an itinerary change has not been announced, the cruise line said in the notice that it is preparing an alternative route as a precaution.

“We’re currently tracking Tropical Storm Trudy’s path,” said the notice. “We’ve prepared an alternative itinerary in case we need to reroute.”

The cruise line emphasized that no decision regarding itinerary changes has been finalized yet, but promised an update on October 15. Virgin Voyages is also advising guests to pack extra layers and a light jacket, as the alternative itinerary could include destinations with cooler temperatures.

Hurricane Trudy
Hurricane Trudy

Hurricane Trudy developed quickly, first forming on Tuesday, October 13 as a tropical storm south of Acapulco. The storm rapidly progressed, intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane early on October 15. 

According to the National Hurricane Center, sustained winds have intensified to 90 mph with higher gusts. Trudy is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane by Friday, with sustained winds up to 130 mph, gusts up to 160 mph, and large swells affecting parts of Mexico’s Pacific coast. 

Storms Have Affected the Three Previous Sailings

If an itinerary change is confirmed, this will mark the fourth sailing of Brilliant Lady in a row to be impacted by tropical weather. Three previous itineraries, which departed from Los Angeles on September 26, October 3, and October 10, all saw major changes due to storms off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Like the upcoming October 17 departure, all three were similar 7-night sailings, scheduled to call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. The September 26, 2026 voyage saw all three ports replaced due to the development of Hurricane Polo.

The subsequent October 3, 2026 sailing was then impacted by residual swells from Hurricane Rachel. The swells created dangerous conditions approaching Cabo San Lucas, so the port call was replaced with Ensenada. 

Tropical Storm Simon developed on October 7 off Mexico’s southwestern coast, one day before Rachel weakened to a tropical storm on October 8. Cruise Hive reported that the two storms greatly impacted the planned itinerary for the October 10, 2026 departure of Brilliant Lady.

As on September 26, all three ports were cancelled. Cabo San Lucas was replaced with Santa Barbara in California, Mazatlan with San Diego, and the call in Puerto Vallarta was replaced with Ensenada. 

Brilliant Lady is scheduled for two more sailings from Los Angeles this year, a 5-night Baja Mexico Halloween cruise on October 24 and a 17-night repositioning cruise to Miami on October 29. With Hurricane Simon weakening, but Hurricane Trudy still active, it’s unknown what impact, if any, the storms will have on these final sailings.

Carnival Cruise Line to Pull Two Ships From Australian Market

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line to Pull Two Ships From Australian Market

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026 that Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will be removed from the Australian market.
  • The ships’ final departures from Australia will be in March 2028. Until that time, they will continue their already released itinerary schedules.
  • Two other ships homeported in Australia, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter, will remain Down Under, sailing from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively.

Australia is a highly desirable cruise destination for many eager travelers, but cruises Down Under are going to get a bit harder to come by after March 2028, when Carnival Cruise Line plans to remove two of its four vessels from the Australian market.

The cruise line announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026 that both Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will no longer be sailing from Australia after their final planned departures in March 2028.

Carnival Luminosa has sailed from Brisbane since 2022, first year-round and then seasonally since 2025. Right now, the ship’s final published sailing is her March 5, 2028 departure from Brisbane, a 4-night round-trip itinerary to Airlie Beach. Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed, however, that the ship’s last departure from Australia will leave Sydney on March 15, 2028, but the complete itinerary has not been announced.

Carnival Adventure, previously part of P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Adventure until the ship was transferred to Carnival Cruise Line in March 2025, will depart Sydney for the final time on March 20, 2028.

As with Carnival Luminosa, that final itinerary for Carnival Adventure has not yet been released. The last published sailing for the ship departs from Adelaide on March 10, 2028 and is a 4-night roundtrip voyage to Kangaroo Island.

Both ships will likely feature one-way Carnival Journeys voyages as they reposition to as-yet-unannounced new homeports.

The decision to remove two ships from the Australian market is a result of several factors, including government regulations about cruise ship operations, global competition in different markets, and overall itinerary planning and investment.

Carnival Cruise Line noted that Australia’s federal government recently extended the industry’s ability to sail between Australian ports through the end of 2028, but is continuing to develop a long-term cruise licensing arrangement.

“The extension is a welcome but interim step while the long-term operating framework for the Australian cruise sector is developed over the next two years,” said Peter Little, Carnival Cruise Line Country Manager.

“As the only cruise line with ships dedicated year-round to Australia, Carnival has greater exposure to changes in local market and operating conditions than cruise lines with a seasonal or more limited presence. We will continue to work constructively with the Federal Government as it develops the future arrangements for cruise ships operating in the Australian market.”

Carnival Adventure Cruise Ship
Carnival Adventure Cruise Ship

In the meantime, both Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter will remain homeported in Australia. At the moment, the ships are based from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively. There are no plans to remove those ships from the market, and their 2028-2029 itineraries will be released in the coming weeks.

Final Australia Sailings of Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure

For the next 18 months, guests still have the opportunity to take advantage of the itineraries planned for both Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure.

“Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure have both played an important role in our Australian story, and many guests have enjoyed sailing on them to destinations across the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. There is still plenty of time to experience everything these ships have to offer,” Little said.

The 2,260-guest Carnival Luminosa is currently on her way to Singapore with a one-way 14-night sailing from Tokyo that departed on Friday, October 9, part of her repositioning after finishing her summer season in North America.

Once in Singapore, the ship will undergo a dry dock refreshment from October 23 through November 29, before departing Singapore on November 30 to return to her Brisbane homeport.

More From Cruise Hive

Carnival Luminosa will remain in Australia with itineraries from 2-14 nights, before she leaves on April 6, 2027 for her summer season offering Mexican and Alaska itineraries from San Francisco. In November 2027, the ship returns to Brisbane to complete her service in Australia.

The larger 2,636-guest Carnival Adventure is scheduled for various Australia and New Zealand departure ports through March 2028, including Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Adelaide, with itineraries from 2-14 nights. The ship is also scheduled for a dry dock refreshment in Singapore in February 2027.

Vancouver Wraps Biggest Cruise Season Ever With Nearly 1.4 Million Guests

Calvin Musquez
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Vancouver Wraps Biggest Cruise Season Ever With Nearly 1.4 Million Guests

Key Aspects:

  • Vancouver’s cruise port has had its busiest season yet, with nearly 1.4 million passenger visits and 358 ship calls during its 2026 season.
  • Passenger visits increased approximately 18% over 2025, while cruise ship calls increased 19%.
  • Cruise tourism contributed more than C$1 billion to Vancouver’s economy, with many visitors extending their stays before or after sailing.

In the early hours of October 13, 2026, Norwegian Encore set sail from the Port of Vancouver on a 6-night Pacific Coast cruise. This departure marked the end of a record-breaking 2026 season for the Canadian port.

Vancouver was already anticipating a record season when Cruise Hive reported on the projected figures for the year in February 2026. The final numbers for the season ended up closely aligning with those projections. 

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has reported a nearly 20% surge in passenger and cruise ship visits at the Canada Place terminal throughout the year, compared to 2025. The port reported nearly 1.4 million passenger movements and 358 cruise ship calls between February and October.

This represents an 18% increase over the 1.2 million passenger visits in 2025. Cruise ship calls, meanwhile, increased 19% over the 300 cruise ship calls in 2025.

In addition to the increase in passengers and calls, the port also saw some new additions in 2026, with several ships making their first-ever visits to the port. These include Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Luminara, and Disney Magic.

Additionally, in 2026, Canada Place welcomed its biggest cruise ship yet. On September 27, Princess Cruises’ 177,882-gross-ton Star Princess docked in Vancouver, becoming the largest ship by tonnage ever to dock at the port.

Cruise Tourism Delivers Major Economic Benefits

Vancouver’s economy has reaped major benefits from this increase in cruise tourism. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority reports that cruise tourism contributed more than C$1 billion to the local economy throughout the season. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate another successful cruise season, with more than C$1 billion injected into the local economy as cruise lines and passengers increasingly make Vancouver a core part of their Alaska adventure,” said Jeff Scott, VP of Operations and Supply Chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

Cruise Ship Docked in Vancouver
Cruise Ship Docked in Vancouver (Photo Credit: Fotogro)

This economic boon is not purely from the cruises themselves. The most recent Cruise Passenger Survey, conducted by the Pacific Rim Cruise Association, found that the majority of passengers extend their stay in the city beyond their cruise.

According to the survey, 76% of cruise passengers spend additional time in Vancouver before or after their sailing, staying an average of 1.4 nights. Passengers each reportedly spend, on average, C$1,144 on local hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours and attractions.

Vancouver Continues Investing in Cruises

Officials at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority credit the increase in passenger movements, in part, to the port’s position as a gateway to Alaska. The port has also made strides in recent years towards advancing its cruise infrastructure.

In particular, the port cited its introduction of facial biometric scanning in 2024 as helping to move passengers through the terminal more quickly. It reports that the average embarkation time has shrunk to under 30 minutes since this technology was implemented.

The port is now looking forward to 2027, with further infrastructural advancements on the way. Work is set to begin in the coming months to expand shore power capacity, while new elevators at the terminal are being added to ease passenger navigation.

Roads Closed and Boats Banned as Israeli Cruise Ship Visits Kefalonia

Melissa Mayntz
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Roads Closed and Boats Banned as Israeli Cruise Ship Visits Kefalonia

Key Aspects:

  • Both marine traffic and road restrictions were in place for Crown Iris‘ visit to the Port of Argostoli (Kefalonia), Greece on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
  • Marine restrictions covered just longer than the time the ship was in port, but road restrictions began at 11 p.m. Tuesday evening before the ship arrived.
  • The Israel-based Crown Iris has been the focus of protests and even a potential threat of attack over the past year and the restrictions were an extra security measure.

To support Mano Cruise’s Crown Iris during her visit to the Port of Argostoli (Kefalonia) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, local authorities halted additional marine traffic within a 500-meter (1,640 feet) radius of the vessel as well as implemented traffic control measures on streets near the ship.

These protective measures were put in place by the Kefalonia Port Authority’s Port Police Department out of an abundance of caution for the 2,000-guest ship, which was sailing from Haifa, Israel on an 11-night Greece and Adriatic itinerary.

The marine restrictions were in place from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on October 14 and included both motorized and non-motorized watercraft, though ships of the Argostoli-Lixouri ferry line were exempt from the prohibition and able to continue their scheduled runs while Crown Iris was in port.

Restrictions to road access began earlier, at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13 and were not lifted until 8 p.m. on October 14, an hour after the ship departed.

Impacted roads stretched from the intersection of Ioannou Metaxas Avenue and Gerasimou Foka Street to Antoni Tritsi Street in front of the Palia Plaka restaurant, a distance of about 1,400 feet along the waterfront. Access to the cruise ship terminal is in the middle of that distance.

According to Kefalonia Focus and translated unofficially from the original Greek, the reasoning for the restrictions is, “due to emergency policing and order measures during the stay in our port of cruise ships of special interest.”

No other cruise ships were scheduled to be in port with Crown Iris and there were no reported threats or protests against the ship, her guests, or her crew members.

Why Were the Restrictions Necessary?

While no explicit threats were cited for why these protective measures are necessary for Crown Iris, there may be poor local sentiments against Israeli citizens and the restrictions could be necessary to ensure the safety of both guests and crew.

Crown Iris is visiting multiple ports in Greece during the current sailing, including Kalamata (Tuesday, October 13), Argostoli (Wednesday, October 14), Corfu (Sunday, October 18), Katakolon (Monday, October 19), and Chania (Tuesday, October 20).

Crown Iris
Crown Iris (Photo Credit: Mali Sokol)

Also on the itinerary is a visit to Brindisi, Italy on October 15; Dubrovnik, Croatia on October 16; and Kotor, Montenegro on October 17.

On previous visits to Greek ports, Crown Iris has drawn some pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Anadolu Agency reported that pro-Palestinian members of the Greek Union of Sailors (PENEN) and other groups protested the ship’s visit to Piraeus (Athens) on Friday, August 14, 2026, waving Palestinian flags and carrying signs and banners condemning genocide in Palestine.

Similar protests have been held against the ship since mid-2025 at different Greek ports, including Rhodes, Syros, and Crete. Furthermore, Parapolitika reported that a 37-year-old Palestinian man was arrested on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Crete as a suspect in a possible attack plot against Crown Iris.

Those prior events may have led to the restrictions for this specific visit, though no authorities have confirmed any connection between prior protests or threats and this week’s restrictions.

Crown Iris is homeported from Haifa, Israel, and offers itineraries ranging from 3-11 nights. Depending on departure date and sailing length, the ship visits ports not only in Greece, but also in Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Cyprus, and Malta.

The ship was originally constructed for Majesty Cruise Line and entered service in 1992. After that cruise line ceased operations in 1997, the ship was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line and, following an extensive refit and lengthening, sailed as Norwegian Majesty for several years. She changed hands multiple times to various lines before joining Mano Cruise in 2018.

Carnival Bundles Drinks, WiFi and Dining Into 4 New FunPacks

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Bundles Drinks, WiFi and Dining Into 4 New FunPacks

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival is introducing four FunPack bundles that include drink packages, WiFi access, and other benefits that can add up to significant savings for guests.
  • FunPacks are only available for pre-cruise purchases from October 13-30, 2026 for sailings departing from October 31, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
  • Terms and conditions vary for each FunPack and can make the packages less valuable for individual guests depending on which benefits they will use.

Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new bundle offer for guests to take advantage of: FunPacks. Four different bundle variations are available, designed to appeal to different vacation styles and therefore offer more savings flexibility to guests.

The four FunPacks are Kidstarter, Zero Proof, Social, and Epic, and each one includes different top add-ons for upcoming sailings.

“We’re excited to launch FunPacks, our largest collection of packages to date, making it easier for guests to bundle the experiences they enjoy the most and save money,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

The least expensive and exclusively available for guests ages 3-17 is the Kidstarter FunPack. For $25 per person, per day, the package includes the Bottomless Bubbles unlimited soda package, social WiFi internet access, 1,000 arcade tokens, a lanyard, and 50% off bulk candy purchases at the Cherry on Top retail shop onboard.

The Zero Proof FunPack is $50 per person, per day and includes the cruise line’s CHEERS! Zero Proof unlimited non-alcoholic beverage package that was first introduced in September 2025. Also part of the bundle is the Value WiFi internet access, one $50 shore excursion discount, and one $25 specialty dining discount.

For guests who love to be social, the Social FunPack includes an exclusive CHEERS! Social package that covers unlimited non-alcoholic drinks plus three alcoholic beverages per day, each valued up to $20.

Also part of the bundle is Premium WiFi access, one free shore excursion valued up to $100, one free specialty dining meal valued up to $55, 50% off eligible spa treatments, and 50% off eligible Dreams Studio photography packages. The Social FunPack is $60 per person, per day.

The Epic FunPack is the most expensive at $99 per person, per day, but also has the most benefits. Included is the full CHEERS! beverage package, Premium WiFi access, two free eligible shore excursions valued up to $100 each, two free eligible specialty dining meals valued up to $55 each, 50% off eligible spa treatments, 50% off eligible Dreams Studio packages, a bottle of sparkling wine, and one bag of wash-and-fold laundry service.

Only Available for a Limited Time and Other Conditions

The new FunPacks must be booked online from Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Friday, October 30, 2026 and are only for sailings departing from October 31, 2026 through December 31, 2027.

Carnival Cruise Line has not indicated whether this limited time window is just a test run to determine the popularity and feasibility of the bundles or if additional booking windows may be open in the future.

While the bundles are designed to save guests up to 35-55% off individual purchases of the included items, depending on sailing length and FunPack selection, guests should read the terms and conditions carefully for various caveats that can impact the overall value.

Carnival FunPack
Carnival FunPack

For example, the discussion of Stateroom and Guest Eligibility notes that, “If any guest age 21 or older (as of date of departure) purchases a FunPack, every guest age 21 or older in the same stateroom must purchase the same FunPack.”

This rule mirrors Carnival’s drink package policy and could make FunPacks much less of a value if not everyone in the same stateroom would take advantage of every benefit. The mandatory purchase does not apply to the Kidstarter FunPack, even if there are multiple children in the same stateroom.

For the shore excursion discounts in the Zero Proof FunPack, Faster to the Fun is excluded. Likewise, Bonsai Teppanyaki and The Chef’s Table are not eligible for the dining discount.

The Social and Epic FunPacks have additional restrictions. Faster to the Fun, Bonsai Teppanyaki, and The Chef’s Table are still excluded from discounts, and the up-to-$55 free specialty dining may not be applied to higher-priced dining with guests paying the difference. Only dining at or below the $55 limit is eligible, and if the cost is less than $55, the remaining value is forfeited.

For the free shore excursions up to $100 each, the value can be applied to higher-priced excursions and guests will pay the difference in price, but if the excursion is less than $100, the remaining value is forfeited.

More From Cruise Hive

Also, for the Social FunPack, any unused alcoholic beverage credits do not carry over to the next cruise day, and instead they are forfeited.

For all applicable packages, dining and shore excursion choices must be made before sailing, and any unused benefits are non-refundable.

Terms and conditions for any sales, promotions, and special offers are always subject to change, and guests will want to review the terms carefully if they are considering a FunPack purchase.

Royal Caribbean Sends 7 Ships To Europe For Its First All-Year Season

Calvin Musquez
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0
Royal Caribbean Sends 7 Ships To Europe For Its First All-Year Season

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has announced its first year-round European cruise season, beginning in 2028 aboard Rhapsody of the Seas.
  • Seven ships will operate European itineraries, with destinations throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Canary Islands.
  • The cruise line will open bookings for the 2028-29 season to the general public on October 15, 2026, following early access for Crown & Anchor Society members.

European cruise fans are getting a huge expansion of options from Royal Caribbean in 2028. The cruise line has announced it will offer year-round European sailings for the first time during its 2028-29 season.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the first part of Royal Caribbean’s 2028 European deployment would be released during the week of October 12. Today’s announcement follows through on that schedule.

Royal Caribbean will open general bookings for the new season on October 15, 2026. Crown & Anchor Society members are getting a head start, with bookings for the loyalty program members open now.

Rhapsody of the Seas will begin its deployment in May 2028, sailing from Piraeus, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Through October 2028, the 2,040-guest ship will offer 7-night itineraries featuring Turkey and Egypt, including overnight stays in Istanbul and Alexandria, or Greece. 

Some visits to Greece will include extended stops in Santorini as well as visits to Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Royal Beach Club Santorini. The cruise line’s first European beach club destination was previously announced in October 2025.

Then, in November, the ship will shift to 9- to 12-night cruises visiting the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece. Rhapsody of the Seas’ deployment also sees Royal Caribbean return to Heraklion, Greece and Cagliari, Italy for the first time after more than a decade.

Six Additional Ships to Sail Europe 

Six more ships from Royal Caribbean’s fleet will also cruise Europe during the season. Explorer of the Seas will offer 7-night sailings from Ravenna, visiting the Greek Isles and Croatia from May to October 2028. Select voyages aboard the 3,286-guest ship will also visit Kotor, Montenegro.

Freedom of the Seas will depart from Southampton from May to October with 3- to 9-night sailings. These voyages offer scenic cruising through the Norwegian fjords as well as visits to Copenhagen, Zeebrugge, Bilbao, Le Havre, and Lisbon.

Liberty of the Seas will offer 7- to 8-night cruises from Barcelona, Piraeus, and Civitavecchia. It will visit the Greek Isles, Marseille, Sicily, and Cagliari from May to October 2028. This marks the first time that the Freedom Class sisters, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will be in Europe at the same time.

Departing from Copenhagen and Stockholm from May to August 2028, Jewel of the Seas will sail 7- to 11-night itineraries. The 2,191-guest ship will visit destinations such as Helsinki, Visby, Gdynia (Gdansk), and Klaipeda.

Mariner of the Seas, meanwhile, will also depart from Barcelona and Piraeus, as well as Lisbon and Ravenna. The 3,344-guest ship will sail 7-night voyages visiting Palma de Mallorca, Porto, and Dubrovnik. 

Finally, the 4,198-guest Odyssey of the Seas will sail from Civitavecchia from April to October 2028. The ship will offer 7-night itineraries visiting the Greek Isles, Ephesus, and Mykonos.

Notably absent from the schedule are any Oasis Class ships or Legend of the Seas. Oasis Class vessels have been sailing in Europe for over a decade, while Legend of the Seas made its European debut in 2026 and is set to return in 2027.

It was previously announced that the first part of the 2028-29 European deployment would be released this week. However, Royal Caribbean has not confirmed if or when additional European deployments will be revealed.

Carnival Drink Package and WiFi Prices Will Change by Sailing From December 1

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Drink Package and WiFi Prices Will Change by Sailing From December 1

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line will introduce dynamic pricing for its drink packages and WiFi plans beginning on December 1, 2026.
  • No pricing details have been released for the new model, but the cruise line notes that prices will vary based on sailing length, itinerary, and season.
  • It is unclear whether dynamic pricing will be a permanent change or just a temporary test for these popular cruise add-ons.

Carnival cruise guests looking for the best deals for the most popular add-ons to their oceangoing getaways will want to shop carefully for beverage packages and WiFi plans. The cruise line has now announced a switch to dynamic pricing for those options beginning December 1, 2026.

The announcement comes as Carnival Cruise Line has introduced its new “FunPack” bundles of popular services, which include drink deals, WiFi plans, dining discounts, shore excursion credits, and other perks depending on the exact bundle purchased. The FunPacks are only available for a limited time and must be booked pre-cruise.

No confirmed pricing details for the new dynamic model have yet been released for Carnival’s CHEERS!, CHEERS! Zero Proof, or Bottomless Bubbles packages.

Ahead of the change, the CHEERS! alcoholic beverage package is $69.95 per person, per day when purchased pre-cruise, or $74.95 per person, per day when purchased onboard.

CHEERS! Zero Proof, which was introduced in September 2025, is the cruise line’s premium non-alcoholic beverage package covering sodas, standard juices, bottled water, premium coffees, smoothies, and more, and is currently priced at $29.99 per person, per day when purchased pre-cruise.

Bottomless Bubbles is the unlimited soda and juice package that is currently priced at $6.95 per child per day and $11.99 per adult per day.

A 20% service charge is added to CHEERS! and other beverage packages, which is likely to continue with the dynamic pricing model.

The cruise line also offers four different WiFi plans: Social, Value, Premium, and Premium Multi-Device. The exact services and access speeds vary for each plan.

WiFi pricing starts at $20.40 per person, per day for the Social plan; $23.80 per person, per day for the Value plan; $25.50 per person, per day for the Premium plan, and $90 per day for up to four devices on the Premium Multi-Device plan when purchased online before setting sail.

Carnival Cruise Line Online
Carnival Cruise Line Online (Photo Credit: Tigarto)

Onboard pricing is typically higher. Carnival’s WiFi package page notes that the savings average 15% compared to onboard purchases, though the Premium Multi-Device package can save up to 25% and is only available for online pre-purchases.

Carnival Cruise Line has not clarified if packages purchased before December 1 will be at the current rates, or if dynamic pricing will apply to all sailings departing after December 1.

How Dynamic Pricing Works

Dynamic pricing is common for sporting events, online retailers, airlines, hotels, and similar companies where supply and demand can vary. Every company has different algorithms to determine when prices should change and by how much they should fluctuate.

Carnival Cruise Line has not revealed what factors may influence the pricing for its drink packages and WiFi plans, but has only stated that, “Pricing will vary based on sailing length, itinerary and season.”

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This may mean higher per-day prices for the most popular sailing dates, such as holidays, or even on newer ships or special sailings, like longer Carnival Journeys itineraries, the adults-only SEA cruises, or unique itineraries like transatlantic cruises or Panama Canal transits.

The cruise line has not confirmed any reasoning behind the switch to dynamic pricing, nor whether the switch is permanent or will just be a test phase.

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