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Untouched Bed Sparks Search for Missing Marella Voyager Guest

Melissa Mayntz
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Untouched Bed Sparks Search for Missing Marella Voyager Guest

Key Aspects:

  • A 72-year-old British woman is missing from Marella Voyager during the ship’s transatlantic crossing from Malaga to Barbados.
  • The woman was last seen late on Monday afternoon, November 9, but has not been confirmed as overboard from the cruise ship.
  • A guest headcount was conducted onboard and security footage is being reviewed for further clues about the woman’s disappearance.

An urgent onboard search is underway for a 72-year-old female guest believed missing from Marella Voyager. The Daily Mail reports the British woman was last seen late Monday afternoon, November 9, and may have fallen overboard.

The alarm was raised when a stateroom attendant noticed Tuesday evening that the woman’s bed had not been slept in on Monday night. At that time, multiple requests were made onboard for a female guest to report to the ship’s reception desk. An immediate headcount at assigned muster stations was organized in an attempt to locate the woman, but was unsuccessful.

The ship’s captain announced on Wednesday evening, November 11, that the woman was still considered missing.

Security footage is being reviewed in the hopes that a further clue to the woman’s disappearance may be revealed. The woman’s identity has not been released.

Because the exact time of the woman’s disappearance is not yet known, Marella Voyager has not initiated a search at sea. According to an alert issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center in Norfolk, Virginia, the ship had traveled 477 nautical miles (549 miles) from its location when the woman was last seen by the time the alarm was raised and could not return over such a large distance.

When an overboard is not confirmed, search efforts would need to cover an extremely broad area, which is not always a practical situation. Any vessels near the area where the woman was last seen are urged to stay watchful.

Marella Voyager Cruise Ship
Marella Voyager Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Lykourgos06)

Marella Voyager is on an 11-night repositioning transatlantic cruise from Malaga to Barbados, where she will spend the winter offering Caribbean itineraries before returning to Europe in May 2027. The ship departed on Wednesday, November 4, and is currently en route to Antigua. There have been no port visits since the ship left Malaga.

Cruise Hive has reached out to Marella Cruises (which is owned by TUI Group) as well as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for statements but has not heard back as of press time.

Storms Have Made for a Rough Voyage

Marella Voyager has had a rough start to this particular crossing. Poor weather at the beginning of the sailing caused significant seasickness onboard for both guests and crew members, though the weather has since cleared as the ship has sailed west.

It is not believed that weather is a factor in the woman’s disappearance, which TUI Cruises stated to the Daily Mail.

Guests onboard the ship have also reported one ambulance evacuation before the ship ever departed Malaga, as well as two medical evacuations via helicopter.

The 1,912-guest ship is scheduled to arrive in Antigua for a port visit on Friday, November 13, followed by a visit to Dominica on Saturday, November 14, before debarkation in Barbados on Sunday, November 15.

This is a developing story and will be updated if further information is confirmed.

Injured Passenger Airlifted From Cruise Ship Near Charleston

Calvin Musquez
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Injured Passenger Airlifted From Cruise Ship Near Charleston

Key Aspects:

  • A Coast Guard helicopter crew evacuated a 71-year-old cruise passenger approximately 76 miles off Charleston, South Carolina, on November 4, 2026.
  • The passenger suffered a head injury and was transported to the Medical University of South Carolina in stable condition.
  • Ship tracking evidence and video footage point to AIDAdiva as the vessel involved, although the Coast Guard has not identified the ship.

On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard airlifted a 71-year-old man from a cruise ship. The rescue took place as the cruise ship was sailing off the coast of South Carolina.

Southeast District watchstanders received the medevac request after the man reportedly suffered a head injury. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah responded and met the ship approximately 76 miles offshore from Charleston.

Video shared by the U.S. Coast Guard shows the rescue in progress. The cruise passenger was hoisted into the helicopter and subsequently transferred to the Medical University of South Carolina for further treatment.

The Coast Guard reported that the man reached the hospital in stable condition. His identity and the circumstances that led to his injury were not disclosed.

This medevac came just days after another cruise airlift operation off the coast of the Carolinas. As Cruise Hive previously reported, a Norwegian Bliss passenger was airlifted on November 2, 2026, following a medical emergency.

Airlift operations occur when a cruise passenger requires medical care beyond what can be provided onboard the ship. When such emergencies happen in and around U.S. waters, the U.S. Coast Guard is often called to carry out the operation.

What Ship Was the Man Airlifted From?

While the Coast Guard did not identify the cruise ship in its report, evidence points to AIDA Cruises’ AIDAdiva. The distinctive livery and upper-deck layout in the Coast Guard’s video appear consistent with the 69,203-gross-ton vessel.

Cruise ship tracking data also shows AIDAdiva made a sharp turn towards Charleston on November 4. Published itineraries show the vessel departed from New York on November 2, 2026, for a 20-night Caribbean voyage.

AIDAdiva Faced an Itinerary Disruption on the Same Day

AIDAdiva was originally scheduled to visit Hamilton, Bermuda, on November 4. However, that call was cancelled, and the ship instead headed toward Port Canaveral, reportedly to avoid a developing tropical system.

The change from Hamilton to Port Canaveral was already underway when the Coast Guard medevac occurred. Historical tracking data shows the ship resumed its course towards Port Canaveral at around 3:30 p.m. the same day. AIDA Cruises has not publicly confirmed any major itinerary disruptions as a result of the airlift.

More From Cruise Hive

AIDAdiva docked at Port Canaveral on November 5 and remained there until November 6. It then arrived in Miami on November 7, as originally scheduled, and stayed overnight before departing on November 8.

The ship’s published itinerary includes subsequent calls at Carnival’s Celebration Key on November 9 and Nassau on November 10. As of November 11, AIDAdiva was sailing toward Grand Turk, where it is scheduled to arrive on November 12.

MSC Seaview Hit Again as Spanish Strike Blocks Second Port

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Seaview Hit Again as Spanish Strike Blocks Second Port

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Seaview has cancelled her planned visit to Tarragona, Spain on Thursday, November 12 due to service disruptions at the port.
  • Instead, the ship will be able to call at Barcelona as an alternative destination that day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The ship already cancelled a visit to Ibiza on the same sailing, but visited Cagliari instead.

An ongoing strike continues to impact MSC Seaview, with the ship now cancelling the planned call to Tarragona on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Guests have been notified of the change, with the cruise line expressing thanks for guests’ understanding of the last-minute adjustment.

“We regret to inform you that, due to the strike still under way at the Port of Tarragona, which has blocked its entrance, we will not be able to make the call scheduled for Thursday, 12 November,” the notification explained (translated from Italian).

“We are fully aware that this is a further change to your cruise, and we understand the disappointment that may come from the changes your plans have undergone. We are sincerely sorry for the impact that the various changes made during this cruise may have had on your holiday.”

Because the Tarragona visit is now cancelled, all shore excursions booked through MSC Cruises for that port will be automatically refunded as credit to guests’ onboard accounts.

Guests will not be without a port visit on Thursday, however, as MSC Seaview will instead be visiting Barcelona as an alternative port of call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests can choose from a selection of shore excursions for Barcelona through the MSC for Me app or at the Excursions Office midship on Deck 6.

Second Port Change for the Same Cruise

Cruise Hive previously reported that MSC Seaview has already had changes during the 7-night sailing. The 4,132-guest ship had to remove the planned Wednesday, November 11 call to Ibiza due to the same strike.

MSC Seaview Cruise Ship
MSC Seaview Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Andrea Izzotti)

Instead, the ship visited Cagliari, Sardinia on Tuesday, November 10, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., which had originally been planned as a day at sea. Cruise Hive’s ship tracker confirms that MSC Seaview is spending Wednesday at sea, now en route to Barcelona.

With the Ibiza cancellation, guests were also notified of shortened visits to Palermo on November 9 and Tarragona, which has now been cancelled outright.

Strike Involves Multiple Parties

Originally, the planned nationwide strike organized by several Spanish unions was intended to run for 24 hours from midnight to midnight on Wednesday, November 11. Disruptions to public services and transportation were expected to be widespread.

The strike is a protest over housing costs and the rising cost of living, and was scheduled less than three weeks before a national election that could significantly shift power in the country.

According to La Vanguardia, the T-750 highway is closed in both directions in select areas of Tarragona, along with multiple other roadway closures and disruptions.

A Tarragona metalworkers’ walkout actually began on Monday, November 9, and has contributed to the port blockade now impacting MSC Seaview.

Port Tarragona posted a notice on its website on Wednesday noting that only minimum service levels are currently available, and “demonstrations arising from the strike may cause disruptions to port and logistics operations throughout the day.”

While the nationwide strike is not planned to continue to Thursday, November 12 when MSC Seaview had planned to visit Tarragona, local walkouts and protests may continue to impact the city. MSC Cruises is being proactive to ensure a good port experience for guests should the disruption continue longer than expected.

Royal Caribbean Shifts Navigator of the Seas Port and Sail Time in Japan

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Shifts Navigator of the Seas Port and Sail Time in Japan

Key Aspects:

  • Two one-way cruises on Navigator of the Seas are switching which homeport the ship will use in Tokyo, Japan.
  • Debarkation for the ship’s February 13, 2027 sailing is impacted, as well as embarkation for the February 25, 2027 sailing.
  • Instead of the Yokohama (Tokyo) terminal, the ship will use the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal that day due to port availability.

Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests booked on two upcoming sailings of Navigator of the Seas to alert them to a homeport change. The impacted cruises are the ship’s one-way voyages between Singapore and Japan, the first departing Singapore on Saturday, February 13, 2027. The very next sailing is the return trip, departing Tokyo on Thursday, February 25, and is also impacted.

Guests on the February 13 departure have been alerted that they will now arrive at a different port than originally scheduled when they reach Tokyo.

“Due to port availability and to enhance your experience, we’ll now arrive in Tokyo, Japan on debarkation day in place of Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan,” the email confirmed. “We will still arrive at 5:30 AM as planned.”

While both cruise ports are in the same metropolitan area, they are technically in different cities and roughly 20 miles apart.

The Tokyo International Cruise Terminal is further north and closer to the downtown area of Tokyo, in the Aomi part of the city. The Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal is further south and in the city of Yokohama, in the Tsurumi Ward. Driving time between the two ports is approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Because Navigator of the Seas will be debarking at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on Thursday, February 25, guests likewise boarding the ship that day also need to be aware of the port change and have received their own notifications.

“Due to port availability to ensure a seamless boarding day, embarkation will now take place in Tokyo, Japan instead of Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan,” the email to guests on the February 25 departure explained.

Navigator of the Seas Letter
Navigator of the Seas Letter

Guests on the sailing from Tokyo to Singapore also need to be aware of a time change, as Navigator of the Seas will now set sail from Tokyo at 4:30 p.m. Originally, the ship was scheduled to depart at 5 p.m.

There are no other changes to the itinerary schedule for either sailing. The 3,368-guest ship will still visit Hong Kong, Taipei, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima on her trip to Japan, as well as Nagoya, Osaka, Okinawa, Ishigaki, and Hong Kong on her return to Singapore.

Why Is the Ship Changing Ports?

Royal Caribbean has not offered specific details for why Navigator of the Seas will be using Tokyo rather than Tokyo (Yokohama) as the Japanese homeport for these sailings, only that the change is “due to port availability” on February 25, 2027.

On that day, there are no other cruise ships currently scheduled for the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal, but it is possible that port construction, harbor dredging, or docking needs other than cruise ships are impacting the port’s availability at that time.

Navigator of the Seas will also be the only cruise ship at the Tokyo port on February 25, so guests will not have additional congestion or terminal crowding that could be caused if there were multiple ships in port.

This is not the first time a cruise ship has had to change ports for embarkation or debarkation on different sailings.

Cruise Hive reported in April 2026 that the new Norwegian Aura, which will debut with her May 2, 2027 voyage, shifted from Barcelona, Spain to Tarragona for her May 28, 2027 debarkation and subsequent embarkation due to port availability.

Likewise, for the August 10, 2026 departure of Brilliance of the Seas, the ship had to embark in Trieste, Italy rather than Ravenna due to construction delays.

Such homeport switches are not common and fortunately, guests looking forward to sailing onboard Navigator of the Seas have several months to adjust to the change.

Carnival Reveals Full 2026 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu for Cruise Guests

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Reveals Full 2026 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu for Cruise Guests

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has revealed the 2026 Thanksgiving holiday dinner menu that will be served onboard at main restaurants on Thursday, November 26.
  • A wide range of appetizers, entrees, and desserts are being offered, with seasonal flavors such as pumpkin, cranberry, pomegranate, and pecan.
  • Specialty dining restaurants do not feature the special menu, but the Lido Marketplace buffet may have some similar items on Thanksgiving.

With Thanksgiving approaching, many people may be stressing about defrosting the turkey, who will bring the pie, where everyone will sit, and whether that one family member will say anything inappropriate, but Carnival Cruise Line guests can look forward to a delicious holiday meal with no stress on the menu.

John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, revealed the special Thanksgiving menu that will be served in the main dining restaurants in a Facebook post on Monday, November 9, 2026. The one-day-only menu will be offered on Thursday, November 26, but it is unclear whether the menu will be offered on ships not departing from U.S. homeports.

Carnival Encounter is sailing from Brisbane, Carnival Adventure is sailing from Sydney, and Carnival Luminosa is sailing from Singapore and their menus may differ. Menus in specialty restaurants do not change for the holiday, but the Lido Marketplace buffet generally offers some seasonal choices similar to the special menu.

The Thanksgiving menu was developed by Carnival’s Executive Head Chef Roshan and his culinary team, and features appetizers, entrees, and desserts with seasonal favorites.

Carnival Thanksgiving Menu
Carnival Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving Appetizers

The featured appetizers are warm baked brie with a spiced pear, cranberry, fig, and pecan crumble or a creamy pumpkin soup with bacon, creme fraiche, and toasted pepitas.

Guests who prefer more classic appetizers can also enjoy braised beef and crispy polenta with a red wine jus, a crab cake with a Cajun remoulade and fruit relish, deviled eggs with candied bacon and herb aioli, smoked duck breast with spiced apple chutney and raspberry puree, or a meatball and tortellini soup with shaved Pecorino.

For a lighter appetizer, a special holiday salad features cherry tomatoes, peaches, pickled vegetables, and an orange-herb dressing.

Also on the appetizer menu are two tried-and-true Carnival classics: shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad.

Seasonal Entrees

For Carnival guests who enjoy turkey as the main course on Thanksgiving Day, the holiday roast turkey entree with sage and herb stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, gravy, and cranberry sauce is sure to be a hit.

As an alternative but still festive option, maple-glazed pork tenderloin with creamed Brussels sprouts, apple compote, and sweet potato gratin is available, while the spinach and ricotta ravioli with sun-dried tomato cream sauce is a less traditional but still delicious choice.

Also available as entrees for Thanksgiving dinner are an herb-stuffed lamb roulade with roasted potatoes and rosemary jus, pan-seared Chilean sea bass with pea risotto and lemon butter sauce, and grilled filet mignon with black truffle jus and fingerling potatoes.

Lighter entree options include jumbo shrimp with lemon-herb orzo and grilled seasonal vegetables, a crispy lentil and mushroom cake with pumpkin puree and sauteed spinach, and the featured Indian vegetarian dish with grilled cottage cheese, flatbread, biryani, lentils, and okra stew.

Guests can also choose from the Steakhouse Selection menu that is offered at all Carnival main dining restaurants, including lobster tail, grilled lamb chops, a 14-ounce New York strip steak, or a Wagyu cheeseburger, as well as several other options. Extra fees do apply to the Steakhouse Selection menu.

With so many delicious options, guests should also note that Carnival charges a $5 fee for any additional entree after the first two for a single guest ($7 on Australia-based ships), a change that was implemented in November 2022. Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises have since followed suit with similar fees for additional dining entrees.

Holiday Desserts

It wouldn’t be a holiday without decadent desserts, and Carnival’s Thanksgiving menu doesn’t disappoint. While the maple pot de creme with caramelized pecans and cinnamon-honey tuile is the featured dessert, the swirled pumpkin pie cheesecake with spiced crisp vanilla anglaise and the caramel apple cobbler with butter pecan ice cream are also excellent choices.

Guests can, of course, still order the iconic Carnival melting chocolate cake, the savory cheese plate, fresh tropical fruit, or their choice of various ice creams and sherbets. The mile-high gelato pie is also available for an extra $6 charge.

MSC Seascape Murder Suspect Told FBI He “Snapped” During Cabin Argument

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Seascape Murder Suspect Told FBI He “Snapped” During Cabin Argument

Key Aspects:

  • Jason Watford has been federally charged with the murder of a female victim onboard MSC Seascape.
  • Details of the crime, including that Watford allegedly strangled the victim during an argument, have been released in a federal affidavit filed on Monday, November 9.
  • The investigation included a review of the ship’s security footage, eyewitness accounts from crew members, and an interview with Watford.

Just one day after MSC Seascape returned to Galveston for a suspected homicide onboard, further details about the incident have been released in an affidavit initially filed on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Cruise Hive has already reported that 48-year-old Jason Watford was arrested at the Port of Galveston in connection with the suspected homicide. Now, Fox News has made the full federal affidavit available and the details of the incident are shocking.

The affidavit was filed on Tuesday by FBI Task Force Officer Thomas Plew in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division. Plew investigated the crime scene and coordinated with other law enforcement officers to determine what happened onboard the 5,877-guest cruise ship.

MSC Cruises security personnel contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation at approximately 11 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, reporting a suspected homicide on MSC Seascape, just hours after the ship had departed Galveston. But how did that suspicion come to be?

Security footage onboard the ship, as well as eyewitness accounts from crew members and an interview with the suspect, established the timeline of the tragic incident.

During the evening, Watford and the still-unidentified female victim began arguing while eating at a restaurant onboard the cruise ship. The restaurant is not specified, and MSC Seascape has more than a dozen different dining venues, including main restaurants, specialty dining restaurants, and snack bars.

Watford returned to their stateroom at 7:46 p.m. (as verified by security camera footage), and the victim returned to the same room at 8:11 p.m. Watford has said the argument continued inside the stateroom.

Jason Watford
Jason Watford

At approximately 9:02 p.m., the stateroom attendant knocked on the door to deliver towels. At that time, the attendant noticed what appeared to be blood on Watford’s hands and pants, as well as the woman lying face down and motionless on the floor.

The stateroom attendant notified ship’s security, and several additional crew members arrived at 9:13 p.m. Watford exited the room a couple of minutes later, wearing different clothing than he had been observed wearing just 15 minutes earlier, and sat on the hallway floor while scrolling on his smartphone.

Further security officers were called, and Watford was subsequently detained.

MSC Seascape returned to the Port of Galveston at roughly 5:30 a.m. on Monday and docked at Pier 16. FBI personnel boarded the ship to conduct their investigation. Watford was then arrested and removed from the ship.

Following the conclusion of the onboard investigation, MSC Seascape departed Galveston to resume her 7-night itinerary. Guests onboard have reported on Reddit that there is no change to the port visits and the ship is still expected to visit Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.

Cruise Hive’s ship tracker shows MSC Seascape en route to Mexico as planned, with an estimated time of arrival at roughly 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive at Costa Maya by 8 a.m., but the diversion back to Galveston may require that port visit to be shortened; however, no itinerary changes have been officially confirmed.

What Happened in the Stateroom?

Watford’s post-Miranda interview provided further details about the incident. During the time he and the victim were in the stateroom, Watford said the argument continued and he struck the victim multiple times, accounting for the blood that had been observed on his hands and pants.

Later in the argument, Watford said the escalating fight caused him to “snap.” At that point, he choked the victim with both hands and then with his right arm wrapped around her neck for at approximately 4-5 minutes before releasing his hold. The victim remained motionless on the floor after being released, and Watford did not contact either ship security or medical personnel.

“Based on my review of CCTV footage, the post-Miranda statements made by Subject, corroborating statements provided by MSC personnel, and the inspection of the body of Victim 1 by FBI personnel, I submit there is probable cause to believe that Subject committed Murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1111,” Plew’s affidavit concludes.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, notes that if convicted, Watford faces up to life in prison and a possible fine up to $250,000. He made his initial court appearance in Galveston at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Murders on cruise ships are rare but catch attention when what is supposed to have been a fun vacation becomes a tragic event.

The most famous of such incidents in recent years is the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner in her stateroom onboard Carnival Horizon in November 2025. Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been charged with the crime, with the trial date set for January 2027.

Norwegian Spirit Drops Fiji Island Stop and Trims Four South Pacific Port Calls

Calvin Musquez
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Norwegian Spirit Drops Fiji Island Stop and Trims Four South Pacific Port Calls

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line has revised the itinerary for Norwegian Spirit’s South Pacific voyage departing November 17, 2026.
  • The ship will replace Dravuni, Fiji, with an overnight visit to Lautoka, while shortening several other port calls.
  • Affected shore excursions will be automatically refunded or adjusted by NCL.

Norwegian Cruise Line has revised the itinerary for an upcoming South Pacific sailing aboard Norwegian Spirit. The 13-night cruise has had one port call removed and four others shortened.

The ship departs from Papeete, Tahiti, on November 17, 2026, and was scheduled to visit Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Rarotonga, Pago Pago, Apia, Suva, and Dravuni. It was set to arrive and disembark passengers in Lautoka on November 30.

NCL informed guests and travel partners of the changes in a notice. The cruise line asked travel partners to ensure guests received the information.

“We’re excited to welcome you aboard Norwegian Spirit for your upcoming cruise departing November 17, 2026,” the notice reads. “As part of our commitment to delivering a seamless experience, we’ve made a few adjustments to the itinerary.”

The most significant change is the cancellation of the scheduled visit to Dravuni, Fiji. The 1,972-passenger ship was originally supposed to call at the island on November 29, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Instead, the sailing will arrive at its final destination of Lautoka a day early at 12:00 p.m. on November 29. The ship will stay overnight at the Fiji port before passengers disembark as planned the following morning.

Four Other Port Calls Shortened

Additionally, calls in the French Polynesian ports of Moorea, Bora Bora, and Raiatea have all been shortened, as well as the call in Suva, Fiji. The ship will arrive in Moorea on November 18 an hour later than planned, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m.

Norwegian Spirit will depart Bora Bora two hours early on November 19 and Raiatea three hours early on November 20. The November 28 call in Suva, Fiji, will also see a two-hour reduction, departing at 5:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m.

In its notice, NCL said the adjustments were made to support the overall operation of the voyage. However, the cruise line did not provide a specific operational reason for the changes.

Norwegian Spirit Letter
Norwegian Spirit Letter

The November 17 departure is the final sailing of Norwegian Spirit’s 2026 South Pacific deployment, which Cruise Hive outlined in August 2024. The ship will then sail a 12-night repositioning cruise on November 30 from Lautoka to Sydney, which is also scheduled to call in Dravuni.

From there, the ship begins Australia and New Zealand itineraries from Sydney and Auckland. Norwegian Spirit will resume South Pacific itineraries in May 2027.

Shore Excursions Will Be Refunded or Adjusted

The four shortened calls amount to eight total hours of lost time in scheduled ports. Norwegian Cruise Line said that shore excursion adjustments for the altered ports would be handled automatically.

Excursions for Dravuni will be cancelled and refunded to the guests’ original payment method. Meanwhile, tours for the four shortened ports will be adjusted to the new port times where possible or cancelled and refunded as well.

While guests will miss the planned visit to Dravuni, the extended stay in Lautoka will provide additional opportunities to explore Fiji’s second-largest city. NCL highlighted the broader selection of shore excursions available in Lautoka in its notice, along with more time to experience the local culture and surrounding attractions.

Up-Close Photos Show Massive New Bow Crest Painted on Carnival Festivale

Melissa Mayntz
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Up-Close Photos Show Massive New Bow Crest Painted on Carnival Festivale

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Festivale now has the new “Sea to Shining Sea” bow crest on her hull as construction on the fourth Excel-class ship continues.
  • Photos of the crest that was first introduced in May 2026 illustrate its size, giving Carnival cruise fans an unusual perspective to appreciate.
  • The new crest is being rolled out to all but two ships in the fleet, as Carnival Jubilee features the Star of Texas crest, as will the upcoming Carnival Tropicale.

Carnival Festivale is still six months from her debut in Port Canaveral, but Carnival Cruise Line’s fourth Excel-class ship has received a distinctive touch that makes her more recognizable as a future Fun Ship. On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the cruise line revealed that Carnival Festivale has officially received her Sea to Shining Sea bow crest.

The announcement was made with a Facebook post that offers a unique perspective of the new crest with an up-close view. Precisely positioned on the ship’s blue bow, the white crest is an embossed feature rather than just painted on the hull.

The crest features the same design that was introduced with Carnival Legend and Carnival Magic during their side-by-side dry dock updates in May 2026.

An outer double circle border features the words “From Sea to Shining Sea” with a 5-pointed star on each side, and the word Carnival at the bottom of the circle. All words are in the familiar Carnival Cruise Line font. Inside the crest is a stylized whale tail funnel, the iconic logo all Carnival cruise fans can recognize, atop three gently rolling waves.

“With the debut of this new crest, we’re reinforcing what guests have long known: Carnival is proud to be America’s Cruise Line,” Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line’s president, said when the crest design was first revealed.

“We sail coast to coast and connect with millions of guests every year, and this crest reflects the reach of our brand across the U.S. – from the communities we visit to the memories we help create at sea.”

Carnival Festivale Bow Crest Close Up
Carnival Festivale Bow Crest Close Up (Credit: Carnival)

The view of the new crest on Carnival Festivale gives guests a unique insight into the overall size of the ornament as well as just how huge the bow of a 182,015-gross ton ship really is.

One photo shows a shipyard worker carefully painting the white part of the crest, using a construction lift to reach the feature and applying paint with a small roller. Yet the worker is dwarfed by the design, and the capital “C” in “Carnival” is larger than the worker’s head.

Carnival Cruise Line has not released any official measurements on the crest, but in comparison to the worker, it is easily 10 feet or more in diameter, making it a stunning and highly visible adornment to the Carnival fleet.

Carnival Festivale Bow Crest
Carnival Festivale Bow Crest (Photo Credit: Carnival)

Steel was cut for Carnival Festivale on April 8, 2025, and construction continues at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Her maiden voyage is a 15-night transatlantic crossing from Southampton on May 2, 2027, followed by her first Port Canaveral sailing, a 4-night Bahamas cruise, on May 19.

Not All Ships Will Have the Same Crest

The “Sea to Shining Sea” crest is being rolled out to most of the Carnival fleet. For most ships, the crest is being added as part of planned dry dock refurbishments.

Carnival Freedom, for example, was in dry dock in September 2026 and not only got her new whale tail funnel to replace the straight funnel that she had been sailing with since her previous whale tail was damaged by fire in March 2024, but also received the new bow crest at that time.

New build ships will debut with the crest already in place on the bow, as the latest update for Carnival Festivale confirms.

Two ships, however, will not have the same crest as the rest of the fleet. When Carnival Jubilee debuted in December 2023, she was the first to feature any type of bow crest, but it was not the “Sea to Shining Sea” design.

Instead, the Texas-based ship features a Star of Texas crest, which was first revealed when the ship was floated out in July 2023. That design emphasizes the ship’s connection to the Lone Star State and her year-round Galveston homeport.

Carnival Cruise Line also announced in April 2026 that the upcoming Carnival Tropicale would likewise have the Texas Star bow crest and be homeported year-round from Galveston.

MSC World America Will Leave Miami 90 Minutes Earlier Than Planned

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC World America Will Leave Miami 90 Minutes Earlier Than Planned

Key Aspects:

  • MSC World America will be setting sail earlier than originally scheduled from PortMiami for her Saturday, November 14 departure.
  • The ship was planned to depart at 6 p.m., but booked guests have now received email notifications moving the departure time to 4:30 p.m.
  • There are no confirmed changes to the ship’s 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary other than the earlier sailaway time.

Getting to the cruise port on embarkation day can be stressful, and unfortunately for guests setting sail on one of MSC Cruises’ newest vessels, MSC World America, the stress is going to be even higher on Saturday, November 14, 2026, as the ship departs from PortMiami.

Booked guests have now received email notifications that the ship’s departure from South Florida will be an hour and a half earlier than planned, which could significantly impact when guests travel to the cruise terminal.

“Due to operational reasons, the scheduled departure from Miami, Florida has been updated to 4:30 PM EST,” the email, which has been posted to Facebook, confirmed. “To ensure a smooth embarkation, we kindly ask you to arrive at your assigned check-in time shown on your latest e-ticket. Doors will close promptly at 3:30 PM EST.”

Originally, MSC World America was scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. With the ship having a capacity of 6,764 guests, it may be challenging to have embarkation tightened to a smaller time frame.

Even more challenging is the fact that six other ships are also departing PortMiami that same day: Icon of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Scarlet Lady, Norwegian Luna, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Magic.

When all seven vessels are combined, as many as 60,000 guests or more may be moving through PortMiami in just a few hours, from morning debarkations to afternoon embarkations.

With downtown construction and road closures, as well as construction at PortMiami and other traffic for cargo operations, guests boarding MSC World America could see significant traffic congestion.

While guests boarding earlier in the day will not be as impacted, the change in the ship’s sailaway could affect those who choose to avoid the early chaos and longer lines and instead board later in the afternoon.

MSC World America in Miami
MSC World America in Miami

All guests will want to be sure they have adequate time to reach the cruise terminal before the doors are closed. After that point, guests will not be permitted to board the ship, even if MSC World America has not departed.

Other than the departure time change, there have been no announcements about any change for the ship’s 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary. MSC World America is still scheduled to visit Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Ocean Cay, with no changes to the port visit days or times.

Why Is Sailaway Moved Earlier?

MSC Cruises has not disclosed why the ship’s sailaway time has been moved 90 minutes earlier, only that “operational reasons” require the updated departure time.

As one of the world’s busiest cruise ports, port operations in Miami can include pilot availability, terminal staffing, berth availability, cargo and supply processing, and other marine traffic, among other factors.

Cruise lines frequently adjust schedules, including homeport departures, as necessary to comply with port operations. In recent weeks, Cruise Hive has reported more than 300 sailaway time changes for Carnival Cruise Line, impacting six different ships at five different homeports.

No Carnival ships homeported in Miami have had sailaway time changes in this latest round of adjustments, but additional changes may yet be announced. Carnival Celebration, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Firenze (from February 2027), Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Sunrise are all homeported from PortMiami during the 2026-2027 winter sailing season.

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