MSC Cruises’ MSC Magnifica has entered dry dock in Malta, where MSC Yacht Club will be installed.
A second ship, MSC Poesia, will also have the yacht club added in February 2026.
MSC Cruises is taking steps to attract more luxury-seeking guests with the addition of its exclusive MSC Yacht Club aboard MSC Magnifica.
The 2,250-guest Musica-class ship has entered dry dock at a shipyard in Malta, where the club’s luxury accommodations, dining venues, and other private areas are being added.
The prestigious ship-within-a-ship area will feature 63 suites, the Butcher’s Cut and Kaito Sushi Bar restaurants, an upgraded MSC Aurea Spa, a fitness center, and other recreational spaces.
MSC Yacht Club debuted in 2008 onboard MSC Fantasia and is currently offered on 15 ships in the MSC Cruises fleet. In addition to MSC Magnifica, a second Musica-class ship, MSC Poesia, will receive the yacht club during her dry dock refit in February 2026.
Also, the exclusive area will be available on the new-build MSC World Asia, now under construction and due to launch in 2026.
“These upgrades highlight our commitment to offering guests the best possible experience and facilities across our fleet. By introducing our MSC Yacht Club to these ships – along with new restaurants, gyms, and wellness spaces – we are giving guests more exclusivity and choice than ever before,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.
While MSC Magnifica will emerge from dry dock in December 2025, the complete Yacht Club experience will not be offered until summer 2026, when the ship begins sailing Northern Europe itineraries.
In June 2026, MSC Magnifica will sail a series of 7-, 8-, and 14-night cruises with embarkation offered from a variety of ports, including Warnemunde, Germany; Oslo, Norway; Stockholm, Sweden; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
MSC Magnifica Yacht Club (Credits: MSC & F de Jesus)
The ship’s first sailing following dry dock is set for December 12, 2025. Through the remainder of 2025, the ship will operate 8-night Mediterranean cruises before departing on a 130-night World Cruise on January 4, 2026, roundtrip from Rome.
MSC Magnifica will also operate a 2027 World Cruise, a 121-night voyage roundtrip from Rome that will offer the full MSC Yacht Club experience to guests.
MSC Poesia to Receive 69 Yacht Club Suites
The cruise line had announced in May 2025 that both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia would receive the yacht club upgrades during their next dry docks. In fact, these renovations represent the most ambitious upgrades since the ships entered service.
MSC Poesia launched in 2008. Her upcoming refit will add 69 yacht club suites and the line’s All-Stars Sports Bar. The 2,250-guest ship will receive the same yacht club dining venues and spa upgrades as MSC Magnifica.
The vessel’s dry dock dates appear to be between February 24, 2026 and April 5, 2026.
The ship will have the full MSC Yacht Club experience available in time for her Alaska debut in May 2026. MSC Poesia will deploy to Seattle and sail 7-night cruises that visit Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm, and Juneau, plus Victoria, British Columbia through mid-September 2026.
Both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia are undergoing their refits at the Palumbo Malta Shipyard under the direction of the MSC Cruises’ Technical Department.
Carnival Corporation and key partners have donated $1 million to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.
Donations are being made through Direct Relief to provide medical supplies in the coming weeks.
Cruise guests can donate through Direct Relief or other organizations to help the island nation’s recovery.
Just hours after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a devastating Category 5 storm, the strongest in the island nation’s history, Carnival Cruise Line and other partners have already pledged a $1,000,000 donation to help the region recover.
The news comes from the Miami Heat, the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc. Together, the companies are committed to supporting Jamaica with their donation to Direct Relief.
“We’re sending thoughts of comfort and strength to our friends in Jamaica, whose warmth and hospitality have created unforgettable experiences for so many of our guests and crew,”said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.
“Our connection to Jamaica runs deep, and we need to support its communities now more than ever. Donating to Direct Relief will help fund vital assistance to individuals and families whose lives have been upended by this devastating storm.”
Direct Relief is a humanitarian nonprofit that will provide medical supplies such as first aid kits, antibiotics, over the country products, insulin, and other essential items to Jamaica.
The organization has already prepped 100 field medic packs for first responders in Jamaica and shared its full medical inventory with the nation’s Ministry of Health to offer additional supplies as needed.
The donation from Carnival Corporation and partners will help support continued recovery efforts for the people of Jamaica who have, for many years, shown so much kindness and hospitality to cruise guests.
“Direct Relief is deeply grateful for the generosity of the Miami HEAT, the Micky & Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, and Carnival Corporation,”said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief.
“It will put medicines, supplies and clinical support into the hands of local health workers right away—delivering immediate relief today and strengthening the capacity of health systems to recover and withstand future storms.”
Direct Relief’s staff based in the Caribbean are also offering support to health organizations in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, plus coordinating with the Pan American Health Organization to ensure medical needs are met and medication supplies are available to all in need.
Cruise guests eager to help can also contribute to the efforts by donating to Direct Relief. While it may be challenging to match the generosity of a million-dollar donation, every dollar raised will help ensure critical supplies reach the areas most impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
Direct Relief has provided hurricane response relief to other devastating storms, including Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The organization also supports other relief efforts worldwide, including after wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and other natural disasters.
Helping Jamaica Recover
It’s only been 24 hours since Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica and the storm’s full impact is not yet known. Unfortunately, AI-generated images and videos are quickly spreading online, offering false information that is not confirmed.
Cruise guests who want to help the country recover can donate through Direct Relief or through Jamaica’s Office of the Prime Minister. Other relief organizations may also be offering special fundraising drives to support Jamaica at this difficult time.
Cruise Ships in Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Photo Credit: AlvinMina)
It is still unknown when Jamaica’s cruise ports may reopen and visits will resume to the island. The Port Authority of Jamaica will carefully assess each port when it is safe to do so and will make announcements on reopening.
Carnival Horizon is scheduled to visit Ocho Rios on Tuesday, November 4, part of the ship’s November 2 departure from Miami, a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary. That itinerary has not been changed, but adjustments may be forthcoming if necessary.
As cruise visits resume, guests can directly support the island’s recovery by spending a bit extra during their time in port. This could mean enjoying lunch at a restaurant, choosing a few extra souvenirs, or opting for a shore tour with generous tips to the driver and tour guide.
It is also important to be understanding that experiences ashore in Jamaica may be limited or different than expected for some time, but the island is resilient and will be ready to welcome cruise visitors as soon as possible.
Carnival Cruise Line will homeport four different ships in Australia and New Zealand in 2027-2028.
Homeports include Auckland, Melbourne, and Adelaide seasonally plus Sydney and Brisbane year-round.
Carnival Adventure, Encounter, Luminosa, and Splendor will all offer different itineraries and destinations.
Australia can be a dream cruise destination not only for Aussies eager for a vacation, but for travelers worldwide who want to explore Down Under with the ease and convenience of a cruise ship. Now, eager cruisers are getting even more options in Australia.
Carnival Cruise Line will be offering more cruises than ever before in Australia with the 2027-2028 season featuring four ships and five different homeports in Australia and New Zealand.
This includes the first time ever ships will be homeported from Adelaide and Auckland, offering unique and immersive itineraries all travelers can enjoy. In total, more than 200 sailings will be offered, visiting a total of 39 unique destinations.
“Carnival is sailing from five homeports in Australia and New Zealand in 2027/28 and we remain the only global cruise line committed to sailing in this region year-round,”said Peter Little, Carnival Corporation & plc Country Manager.
“Carnival Cruise Line has answered the call from our interstate and New Zealand guests who’ve been asking for more opportunities to book a convenient and great value cruise holiday, and we’re delighted to be offering voyages from Adelaide, Melbourne and Auckland as well as our traditional ports of Sydney and Brisbane.”
When all itineraries are combined, the four ships – Carnival Adventure, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Encounter, and Carnival Luminosa – will be able to welcome more than half a million guests to Australian and New Zealand adventures during their various deployments.
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure will offer the most diverse options for cruise guests, homeporting from four different cities in different seasons.
Auckland – Guests can enjoy 4-, 9-, and 10-night sailings from the largest city in New Zealand, visiting destinations such as Norfolk Island, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia from May-July 2027.
Melbourne – At the end of January 2028, Carnival Adventure will homeport from Melbourne for a month with a total of eight sailings ranging from 2-4 nights, the ideal quick getaways for relaxing fun.
Adelaide – The ship will spend just three weeks sailing from Adelaide with five total departures from 2-5 nights. These short breaks will offer great exploration of the South Australia coast.
Sydney – Carnival Adventure will begin service from Sydney in March 2028, joining Carnival Splendor to offer a distinctly different experience for eager cruise guests from the most populous city in Australia.
The 108,865-gross-ton ship can welcome 2,600 guests per sailing and is sure to be popular for back-to-back cruises with such diverse offerings.
Carnival Splendor
The 113,600-gross-ton Carnival Splendor (with her, ahem, shall we say “vibrant” pink polka dot decor) will continue sailing year-round from Sydney with a diverse selection of itineraries.
Guests can choose sailings from 3-10 nights, whether they are interested in quick getaways or longer, more laid-back voyages. Depending on the departure date, popular ports of call include Eden, Tasmania, Moreton Island, Noumea, Port Vila, Mystery Island, and more.
Of special interest will be the unique Melbourne Cup cruise to celebrate the 3,200-meter thoroughbred horse race, one of the most popular spectator events in Australia.
Other unique sailings aboard Carnival Splendor include a 12-night and a 14-night Fiji voyage, the latter of which has a fun “Mutiny on the Bounty” theme.
The largest Carnival ship based in Australia, Carnival Splendor can welcome 3,012 guests on every sailing.
Carnival Encounter
Sailing year-round from Brisbane, Carnival Encounter also offers a diverse mix of itinerary options. Shorter 3- and 4-night sailings are either cruise-to-nowhere getaways or may visit Airlie Beach for a bit of vacation vibe.
Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter sail side by side (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
Longer sailings include 6- and 7-night itineraries to the Great Barrier Reef, as well as 8- and 9-night offerings with different calls in the South Pacific. Even longer 10- and 14-night cruises will reach Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Of special note is a brand new 9-night Tasmania itinerary that will feature visits to Hobart, Port Arthur, and Eden, along with scenic cruising in Great Oyster Bay.
Sister ship to Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter can also welcome 2,600 guests on every cruise.
Carnival Luminosa
The unique Carnival Luminosa will sail seasonally from Brisbane in the summer (after spending the winter seasons much further north for the Alaskan summer), splitting the itinerary options with Carnival Encounter. This will give guests even more choices for their cruise experience from the capital of Queensland.
And don’t miss the epic sailings as the ship moves between Alaska and Australia – immense voyages that are once-in-a-lifetime adventures for any cruise fanatic! These 22- and 23-night transpacific cruises are not to be missed.
The 92,720-gross-ton ship can welcome 2,260 guests on every voyage.
A group of Samoan crew members working onboard MSC Splendida saved 19 migrants from drowning.
The heroic rescue occurred on October 26, 2025, off the coast of Mallorca, Spain.
The crew members were praised for their life-saving actions.
In addition to offering epic Mediterranean sailings, MSC Cruises can add saving lives to its repertoire.
On October 26, 2025, a group of Samoan crew members working onboard MSC Splendida came to the rescue of 19 migrants in distress while sailing off the coast of Mallorca, Spain.
Specifically, cruise tracking data shows that the rescue took place approximately 20 nautical miles off Cabrera in the Balearic Islands, which is not far off Mallorca’s southern coast.
The 3,900-passenger ship responded to a distress call, and upon arrival, found several of the refugees in an overcrowded boat in choppy seas. Some had already fallen into the open ocean and were struggling to stay afloat.
Once the cruise ship arrived, a ladder was lowered into the water for the distressed refugees to climb aboard.
Thankfully, all 19 of the refugees, who hailed from the Maghreb region of North Africa, were saved and tended to by the MSC crew members.
While the group primarily consisted of men, one refugee was a woman and two were small children (a 3-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy).
The dramatic rescue only took 31 minutes to complete, which is particularly impressive considering the rough ocean conditions.
The rescue unfolded on the final day of a 4-night Mediterranean sailing to Marseille, France, and Genoa, Italy, and the Fantasia-class shipwas on its way back to Barcelona, Spain, for disembarkation on October 27, 2025.
All port calls had been completed at this point, and there was no negative impact to disembarkation the following morning.
A Happy Ending & Well Deserved Praise
While crew members train for at sea rescues, the ability to stay calm, take decisive action, and move efficiently during an emergency is something to be commended.
Willie Roy, Sanele Tuilagi, Apineru Urima, Eikomene Tagaloa, Eferona Matafeo, John Mark Tauiliili, Pale Tafaeono, Toe Junior Togatuki, Faamotu Puleitu, Faafili Tauailoto, Patelesio Ioane Tafunai, Avau Pulepule, Sosiua Junior Folasa, and Matureo Lualua Tautu were acknowledged by name for their life-saving efforts.
“Samoa Shipping Services (SSS), acting as the crew agent for MSC, extends its formal recognition to the commendable efforts of these individuals,”SSS shared on social media.
“SSS is immensely proud to support and recognize our Samoan seafarers recruited for MSC, who consistently demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication at sea,” the agency added.
The crew members were also invited to a special dinner in the Captain’s Lounge, which was hosted by MSC Captain Giuseppe Maresca and Safety Officer Antonio Bovento, to personally thank them for their heroic response.
The refugees, who thankfully did not drown, were handed over to the appropriate authorities in Barcelona when MSC Splendida returned to its homeport on October 27, 2025.
This is standard practice for cruise ship rescues. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires vessels to help other sailors in distress and provide any food, water, or medical care they may need.
Once they are no longer in immediate danger, the cruise lines make every effort to disembark their unexpected passengers and turn them over to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.
The migrants were put in the care of social services, which will help the migrants pursue appropriate next steps – whether that is seeking asylum or making their way to their next destination.
Carnival Cruise Line appears to be increasing the price of all its internet packages.
No official notification of the price increase has yet been sent to booked guests.
At sea internet prices have increased dramatically in just five years, but service has also improved.
Carnival Cruise Line is quietly increasing prices for all its internet packages. While the detailed pricing has not been officially announced, Cruise Hive has carefully researched the options and noted the price differences, as well as reached out to Carnival Cruise Line directly for details.
The different plans offer different levels of connectivity. On the Social Plan, guests can easily access social media and airline websites, but no email, video, or streaming, and no web browsing. The Value Plan has a slightly faster connection speed and can support email and browsing.
Current Logged Out Plans on Carnival Site
The Premium Plan is up to three times faster than the Social or Value options and supports streaming, video chats, and other online activities. The Premium Multi-Device Plan is the same, but bundled for up to four devices and perfect for a family or group traveling together.
Obviously, with different levels of service, there would be different prices. Just one month ago, however, the Social plan was $15.30, the Value Plan was $19.55, the Premium Plan was $21.25, and the Multi-Device Plan was $75.00.
The new pricing is increases of 22% (Social), 13% (Value), 12% (Premium), and 12% (Multi-Device).
This may not be the only price change, however. Guests with cruises booked in 2026 are already noting even HIGHER pricing on internet access.
For a Carnival Freedom 5-night sailing in March 2026, for example, the pricing is:
Social Plan – $20.40
Value Plan – $23.80
Premium Plan – $25.50
Premium Multi-Device Plan – $84.00
These prices are even higher than the currently published rates by 9% (Social), 8% (Value), and 7% (Premium), with no change for the multi-device plan. The website does note that prices “start” at the published rates.
Logged In Plans for Carnival Freedom
It is possible that rates are adjusted for more popular sailings or on larger ships where internet access is in higher demand. The months of March and April are notorious as Spring Break sailing months, and therefore might command higher prices.
This could also be an indication that finalized price changes for all sailings might be coming soon, however, whether or not the cruise line issues an official notification of the increase.
Previous Price Increases
Cruise lines regularly increase pricing on add-on packages, and it’s no surprise that internet access has become increasingly popular over the years.
The price changes, however, are quite extreme and can come as a shock to anyone who may not cruise frequently. Just five years ago, in October 2025, for example, Carnival’s published internet prices were:
Social Plan – $6.80
Value Plan – $10.20
Premium Plan – $13.60
When compared to today’s rates, the internet plans have increased astronomically. In five years, the Social Plan has increased 175%, the Value Plan is up 117%, and the Premium Plan is up 75%. In 2020, Carnival Cruise Line did not offer the multi-device plan, which was only introduced in late 2024.
Of course, internet service at sea has also improved in that time. In May 2024, Carnival Cruise Line completed the two-year rollout of Starlink internet access onboard, improving connectivity reliability and speed.
Booked guests interested in internet access during their upcoming Carnival sailings may want to pre-purchase Wi-Fi packages right away to lock in the lowest possible rates.
Could this be a sign of even more increases to come? Pricing on gratuities, drink packages, and other popular add-ons might also be increasing soon and budget-savvy guests should stay alert for possible changes.
Now, with Points Choice, members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity’s Captain’s Club, or Silversea’s Venetian Society will be able to apply their points to any of the sister brands’ loyalty programs.
Additionally, points earned during voyages on sister lines will continue to contribute to your existing loyalty status.
That means a Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society member will be able to apply the points they earned on Royal Caribbean sailings directly towards a voyage on one of Silversea Cruises’ vessels, even if they’ve never taken a Silversea cruise before.
The change gives loyal cruisers additional flexibility in how they apply their points, and makes it easier than ever to explore other cruise lines’ ships and itineraries for the first time.
Points Choice will launch in early 2026, and more details will be revealed leading up to the debut.
This latest move reinforces Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to guest experience and excellence in customer service.
Will This Lead to More Carnival Cruisers Jumping Ship?
While Royal Caribbean Group’s loyalty program changes have been widely well-received by cruisers, Carnival is still in damage control mode over its own loyalty program.
Announced in June, the new Carnival Rewards program, which will replace the current VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program in 2026, was met with severe backlash from loyal guests.
The program gives loyalty status an expiration date of two years, doing away with lifetime status and requiring many long-time cruisers to start from scratch.
Points Choice
Also ruffling Carnival cruisers’ sails was the change in how points are earned. Rather than points being accrued based on the number of days sailing, the new program would allot points based on money spent onboard.
These pay-to-play changes, along with the removal of VIFP Club Parties, logo gifts, and VIFP pins for Gold tier members, left many feeling used and abandoned.
While Carnival has since made some tweaks to this plan in an attempt to address guest concerns, many feel it’s too little, too late and have expressed plans to jump ship to other cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean seems to be a popular choice for those leaving Carnival on the horizon, and one can’t help but wonder if all these loyalty boosts from Royal Caribbean Group are in response.
Whether it’s the group’s intentions or not, the new Points Choice program is bound to make Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea much more tempting for former Carnival loyalists as well as brand new cruisers.
The JAXPORT Cruise Terminal offers secure, easily bookable cruise parking just a short walk away from the terminal itself, and at a reasonable rate.
However, other parking options are available in the vicinity if you’d like to shop around and try to get the best deal possible. Here’s what you need to know about Jacksonville cruise parking before your trip.
As far as cruise terminals go, the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal (located at 9810 August Drive) is on the smaller side, only offering cruises from Carnival Cruise Line and only four and five-day cruises to the Bahamas.
However, just because the terminal is small, that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to think about your parking in advance of your embarkation day, just like you would when cruising out of a much larger port.
The lit and fenced parking lot is right on JAXPORT property and just steps away from the cruise terminal. The parking lot is monitored by security personnel 24 hours per day.
Cruise Ship Docked in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo Credit: Ramunas Bruzas)
Parking is $17 per day, which works out to $68 for a four-day cruise or $85 for a five-day cruise. If you have an oversized vehicle that will basically need two parking spots all on its own, you’ll pay double this, so $34 per day, or $136 for a four-day cruise or $170 for a 5-day cruise.
Passengers don’t have to reserve their parking at the terminal in advance, but doing so can make a trip more convenient. Do note that if you do wait to pay for parking until your arrival, the lot only accepts payments via major credit card.
Disabled parking spots are available. Free parking is available to those with a Florida disabled veterans plate, Florida toll exemption decal or those driving a vehicle modified for a disability (such as with a ramp) with a disability parking placard.
Address: 9810 August Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Distance to port: Onsite
Shuttle service: No
Cost: From $17 per day
Tel: (904) 357-3006
Off-Site Jacksonville Cruise Parking
While parking right at the terminal building is incredibly easy and pretty affordable, too, you may want to shop around for other options. If that’s the case, consider the following providers.
The Parking Mall
The Parking Mall claims that it can guarantee the cheapest parking space with no hidden fees. The parking lot is fully enclosed, lit and offers 24-hour video monitoring.
Additionally, this lot provides a continuous shuttle service for no extra fee (and, while you wait for the shuttle to come back around, the team will even give you a free beverage). If you need vehicle or luggage assistance, it is provided upon request as well.
Carnival Ship Docked at Jacksonville Cruise Port (Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO)
Parking is sold in multi-night packages, including three-night, four-night, five-night, six-night, seven-night, eight-night and 12-night packages.
The three-night package starts at $35, and across the packages, the rate works out to approximately $12 per day — so you’d definitely save money at The Parking Mall versus the actual cruise ship terminal. The only downside is that you aren’t parking right on-site, though the shuttle service helps make up for that.
Address: 3372 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Distance to port: 0.8 miles
Shuttle service: Yes
Cost: From approximately $12 per day, depending on package
Tel: (904) 274-2244
Wally Park
Technically, Wally Park’s Jacksonville cruise parking is considered airport parking first and foremost, but there’s absolutely no reason why you wouldn’t be able to use their parking facilities while you’re cruising!
You can find rates from Wally Park starting at $7.77, if you’re willing to sign up for the parking provider’s loyalty program (which might be worth it for you if you cruise often — even if you don’t cruise from Jacksonville all that much, Wally Park also has outposts in Los Angeles, Seattle and San Diego, other cities popular with cruisers).
Jacksonville Skyline (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
The covered parking lot is open all the time, and you can make your contactless reservation right on the website or mobile.
Unfortunately, though, the lot’s shuttle service only takes you to the Jacksonville International Airport, not the cruise port. So, you’ll need to find your own way to make the nearly 10-mile trek to the port. Luckily, it’s not difficult to find a rideshare service or a taxi service in Jacksonville.
Similarly, Park EZ Fly & Ride is a paved parking lot near the Jacksonville airport that you could book if you don’t mind getting your own transport, actually to the port.
Two parking options are offered — valet parking and oversized vehicle parking. Valet parking starts at $6 per day, while oversized vehicle parking starts at $12 per day. All parking is uncovered.
Directions for Jacksonville Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Kristi Blokhin)
You can also search for different parking options ahead of your cruise by using platforms that compile all of the area options into one spot.
CruiseParking.com does this and, while you’ll see options on the site already discussed, such as The Parking Mall, you may also come across a few other parking spots up for grabs.
For example, the platform will allow you to book parking at several area hotels. While these types of spots won’t come with shuttle service and very likely not any security, you may want to still check them out as you compare and contrast rates.
Hotel Cruise Parking in Jacksonville
One other option that I like to recommend is parking at a hotel for the duration of your cruise by booking a hotel cruise parking package. These packages let you park at the hotel for the duration of your cruise, while also allowing you to spend the night before your cruise at the hotel.
Why would you want to do that? Well, it’s always a good idea, if you’re flying, to fly into your cruise port city the day before embarkation. Embarkation occurs in the morning and the ship waits for no one.
Holiday Inn Express, Jacksonville
If you’re delayed for any reason, you could find that getting to the port is either extremely stressful or impossible. So, fly in the day before. Sleep at a nearby hotel. Make embarkation day as easy and seamless as possible.
Several hotels in the Jacksonville area offer these types of packages.
Additionally, while you’ll need to call to inquire, the Jacksonville tourism board notes that the following hotels offer cruise and park packages, some with shuttle service:
Courtyard by Marriott I-295 East Beltway
Hampton Inn Jacksonville East
TownePlace Suites Jacksonville Airport
Tru by Hilton Jacksonville Airport I-95
WoodSpring Suites Jacksonville East 295 Cruise Port
How to Get to the Jacksonville Cruise Port
If you’re driving to the Jacksonville cruise port and not staying in a hotel, here’s how to get there.
From I-95 South
Take Exit 362A – I-295 South and continue for approx. six miles
Turn right onto Zoo Parkway and cross New Berlin Road
Turn left on August Drive into the cruise terminal entrance
Final Thoughts
While you may not have as many parking options at the JAXPORT cruise terminal as you would at a larger cruise port, you do still have several lots to pick from, on-site and off-site, all at reasonable prices.
Again, though, I’d recommend that, if you’re flying into Jacksonville or driving in from a long distance, you arrive the day ahead of your embarkation — at which point booking a hotel room that offers a cruise and park package may make the most sense for your travel budget.
A guest was found deceased on Lizard Island after being accidentally left behind by a Coral Expeditions ship.
The female guest had been hiking but separated from her group to rest and failed to return to the ship.
The cause of death has not been confirmed, but her body was located more than 150 feet from the trail.
It’s been a sad week for cruise guests with yet another death now reported, this time from a Coral Expeditions ship sailing near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia.
According to 7 News, the 81-year-old female guest was hiking with other passengers on Lizard Island on Saturday, October 25.
The group was climbing Cook’s Look. The popular hike follows the famed path of Captain James Cook and offers stunning panoramic views from the peak. The elderly woman, whose name has not been released, stopped hiking only partway up the peak, however, and needed to rest.
The hike is a challenging one, and it isn’t unusual for hikers to overestimate their abilities and not be able to complete the entire route. The rest of the group reportedly continued the climb and eventually returned to their cruise ship.
What no one realized, however, was that the woman had not returned to the vessel. She was a solo traveler, and her absence was not noticed for several hours. She was officially reported missing on Saturday, October 25.
Search operations were initiated as soon as the woman could not be located. Both land and sea assets were used to try and find her, as well as air support. The search continued for several hours.
The woman’s body was located approximately 165 feet off the trail where she had been hiking.
“Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island,”confirmed Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions.
“While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family.”
The exact ship the woman was sailing aboard has not been disclosed. Coral Expeditions has just three ships: Coral Adventurer, Coral Discoverer, and Coral Geographer.
While Coral Geographer is currently sailing near Japan, both Coral Adventurer and Coral Discoverer are in the region near Lizard Island. As part of the Great Barrier Reef, the area is renowned for spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving.
The intimate ships of the Coral Expeditions fleet can welcome just 70-120 guests and offer immersive itineraries to out-of-the-way destinations that larger vessels are often unable to visit.
Lizard Island
No further details about the woman, including her identity or her condition when she was located, have been released. This will help safeguard the privacy of her family members and friends at this very troubling time.
Coral Expeditions remains in contact with the family as the investigation is ongoing.
“The Coral team have been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process,”said Fifield.
Other Recent Hiking Mishaps
This is not the first time this year that a cruise guest has gotten into fatal difficulty on a hike while visiting a port of call.
In two separate incidents, two cruise guests died in Juneau, Alaska, while hiking on popular trails known for challenging conditions.
The first guest was hiking by themselves on July 1, 2025. A multi-day search operation was launched when the 62-year-old woman did not return to Norwegian Bliss and her body was located 1,700 feet below Gold Ridge Trail, where she had planned to hike.
The second incident occurred on September 16, 2025 when two male hikers fell from the Mount Roberts Trail in the same region. One hiker only sustained minor injuries, but the other slid further down the mountainside and died from his injuries.
Royal Caribbean Group has unveiled exciting plans for Royal Beach Club Santorini, its first shoreside destination in Europe. Set to open in summer 2026, the club will welcome guests sailing on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises voyages.
The beach club experience will be combined with sightseeing options to the Greek island’s landmarks and cultural sites, creating the “Ultimate Santorini Day,” a nod to Royal Caribbean’s extremely popular Perfect Day at CocoCay experience that debuted in 2019 in the Bahamas.
Santorini is the latest in Royal Caribbean’s series of planned land-based destinations meant to enhance the cruise experience. Several Royal Beach Clubs are already in the works, with the first, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas, slated to open in December 2025.
In addition to Santorini, the company in 2026 will open the Southernmost Hotel on Earth — The Cormorant at 55 South in Chile, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico. Perfect Day Mexico, in Costa Maya, will open in 2027 followed by Royal Beach Club Lelepa (Vanuatu), in 2028.
Royal Caribbean also operates a private destination in Labadee, Haiti, although it remains closed due to civil unrest on the island.
“Expanding our Royal Beach Club Collection to include Santorini – one of the world’s most popular and beautiful locations – is a bold step forward in growing our vacation portfolio from two to eight by 2028, giving guests more ways to have unforgettable experiences with us,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
“We’re thrilled to connect guests with Santorini’s gems – from its iconic villages to the Aegean Sea’s famous beach club culture – creating a balanced, authentic island experience,” Liberty added.
Royal Caribbean’s announcement does not indicate what the cost will be to visit Royal Beach Club Santorini, if any, or to book the Ultimate Day Santorini island sightseeing tour.
It does state, however, that the Ultimate Day Santorini experience will have three starting points on the island, which the company believes will ease tourist congestion in the destination as guests will fan out from various locations.
Santorini has become overrun by cruise passengers in the post-pandemic years, with as many as 17,000 arriving in a single day.
Royal Caribbean Santorini Beach Club
Roughly 1.3 million cruise guests typically arrive each year on upward of 800 cruise ships that call at the island, which is famed for its turquoise waters, white-washed buildings, and iconic cultural sites.
In fact, Santorini and nearby Mykonos in 2025 began charging cruise guests an arrivals fee to help manage the flow of tourists and address infrastructure and environmental impacts that high numbers of visitors cause.
In high season, the cost is €20 (approximately $22), with lower fees charged in the shoulder and low seasons.
Multiple Ships Will Call at Santorini As Beach Club Opens
While Royal Caribbean Group has not yet disclosed the specific location or an opening date for Royal Beach Club Santorini, those details are expected soon, and guests can choose from a variety of sailings that will call at the destination.
Several Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises’ ships will visit Santorini in summer 2026, including Explorer of the Seas, sailing roundtrip from Ravenna on multiple dates, and Odyssey of the Seas, which will be based in Rome and offering Eastern Mediterranean voyages.
A 7-night “Greece & Adriatic Cruise” departing on August 22, 2026 aboard Explorer of the Seas calls at Athens, Santorini, and Split, Croatia, for instance.
With Celebrity Cruises, guests can book a “Greece, Malta & Turkey Cruise” aboard its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, on dates in July and August 2026. The voyages, from Barcelona to Athens, call at Valletta, Malta, Santorini, and Kusadasi, Turkey.
Celebrity Ascent will also be based in the Mediterranean, sailing cruises round-trip from Rome that feature calls to Santorini.
