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Cruise Ship Crew Member Missing After Overboard in the Mediterranean

Melissa Mayntz
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Cruise Ship Crew Member Missing After Overboard in the Mediterranean

Key Aspects:

  • A crew member went overboard from Viking Star in the Aegean Sea in the late morning of Monday, October 27.
  • The cruise ship assisted search efforts but has been released by the Italian Coast Guard to resume her sailing.
  • The crew member’s identity has not been released at this time, but the cruise line is offering support.

Just days after an overboard incident from Norwegian Jewel near the Azores, another overboard incident has occurred, this time from Viking Star.

At 11:31 a.m. local time on Monday, October 27, a crew member was seen going overboard the 47,800-gross-ton ship in the Mediterranean Sea. At the time, Viking Star was in the southern Aegean Sea on a day at sea between visits to Crete and Sicily on a 7-night cruise.

“The ship’s emergency response was immediately activated, and an extensive search operation was launched, in coordination with the Italian Coast Guard,” a statement from the cruise line said.

Photos from the area show a smoke flare was dropped into the water to mark the position of the overboard, which can help a ship return to the precise location and can help guide other authorities in reaching the site. Several orange life rings were also tossed into the water.

Satellite tracking data shows that the ship circled the search area several times before resuming its voyage.

“The Italian Coast Guard has jurisdiction over the operation and is continuing the search. At 6:00 p.m. local time, the Italian Coast Guard released the ship from the search efforts; it will now proceed on its journey,” Viking explained.

It is common for local authorities and specially-equipped search-and-rescue vessels to take over search operations in these types of incidents.

While a cruise ship will remain in the area of an overboard to assist in search efforts as long as necessary, every ship also has a schedule that must be considered.

The safety of human life is obviously the most important consideration, but rescue craft are better suited to ongoing search efforts.

Viking Star‘s next port of call is Messina, Sicily, with an expected arrival of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28. There is no further disruption to the ship’s itinerary. She will continue on to Naples for a visit on Wednesday, October 29, and will reach Civitavecchia for debarkation on Thursday, October 30.

Onboard Viking Star are 925 guests and 471 crew members, according to the ship’s manifest. Viking Star can welcome as many as 930 guests, depending on the overall occupancy on any particular sailing.

Read Also: Are Cruises Safe? What You Really Need to Know

Viking Star Cruise Ship
Viking Star Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Amilat)

“We are deeply saddened by what has occurred. Our thoughts are with the family of our crew member, and we will continue to support them during this difficult time,” the cruise line said.

Viking Star operates in the Mediterranean year-round, offering itineraries that include Greece, Italy, and Spain as homeports and visiting iconic destinations such as Kusadasi, Santorini, Florence, Marseille, Dubrovnik, and more.

Sad Week for Cruise Ships

The past few days have been solemn for different cruise lines. In addition to this overboard incident from Viking Star, a crew member passed away on P&O Cruises’ Arvia just the day before on Sunday, October 26.

That death is attributed to an accident onboard the ship, but no further details have been released. Arvia is sailing her transatlantic crossing ahead of her winter Caribbean season, and the incident happened after the ship left Southampton on Friday, October 24 and was en route to Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

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In the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 21, an overboard alert was heard aboard Norwegian Jewel while the ship was sailing off Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The ship searched unsuccessfully for 10 hours before resuming course to Miami.

Norwegian Jewel had departed Barcelona on October 15 on a 12-night repositioning cruise to Florida. The ship will offer Caribbean, Bahamas, and Panama sailings from Miami through January, then will move to Tampa for a series of themed sailings in February before returning to Miami for another few cruises.

Royal Caribbean Ship Changes Course, But Not Due to Melissa

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Ship Changes Course, But Not Due to Melissa

Key Aspects:

  • Vision of the Seas will skip her visit to Sydney, Nova Scotia on Tuesday, October 28 due to bad weather.
  • High winds and waves are impacting the region, and the ship will instead overnight in Halifax.
  • The impacted sailing is the ship’s October 23 departure, but her return to Baltimore on November 1 is unaffected.

With many cruisers’ eyes focused on Jamaica and Hurricane Melissa, it’s important to remember that weather-related itinerary changes aren’t always due to hurricanes. In fact, such changes can happen anywhere when rough weather coincides with a cruise ship’s route.

This is exactly what’s happening to Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas. The 78,700-gross-ton ship is homeported from Baltimore, Maryland and departed on Thursday, October 23, 2025 for a 9-night Canada and New England itinerary.

The ship visited Boston on Saturday, October 25, followed by St. John on Sunday, October 26. After a day at sea, two more port visits are on the original itinerary:

Sydney, Nova Scotia on Tuesday, October 28 and Halifax on Wednesday, October 29. Vision of the Seas will be back in Baltimore on Saturday, November 1.

Unfortunately, a developing storm in the northwestern Atlantic is impacting the region and the ship will be unable to complete the itinerary as planned.

“We have been monitoring unfavorable weather conditions developing along our route toward Sydney, Nova Scotia,” a letter delivered to guests’ staterooms read. “As a result, we’ll have to skip our visit to Sydney, and now we’ll arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia a day early to enjoy an extra day in port.”

Vision of the Seas will now enjoy an overnight visit to Halifax, from 2 p.m. Monday afternoon through 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. After leaving Halifax, the ship will remain at sea as she makes her way back to Baltimore.

As is standard operating procedure when a port visit must be cancelled, all pre-paid shore tours booked through Royal Caribbean for the visit to Sydney will be returned as refundable onboard credit to guests’ SeaPass accounts.

Additional tours for Halifax can be booked at the Shore Excursions desk portside on Deck 5, just aft of the Casino Royale and near the Guest Services desk.

Canada and New England cruise itineraries are very popular in the autumn months for their spectacular fall foliage viewing. Vision of the Seas‘ current sailing is her last autumn itinerary for the season.

While the ship will still be sailing from Baltimore for another year, she will be offering Caribbean, Southeast Coast, and Bahamas itineraries through the winter season, with Bermuda itineraries in the spring and summer as well. Her next Canada departure is not until August 27, 2026.

Strong Winds and High Waves Forcing Change

The weather system currently affecting Vision of the Seas is generating strong winds and high waves near Sydney, on the eastern tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

According to Windy.com, winds in the region are currently 20-25 knots (23-29 miles per hour), which can create unstable conditions for a ship to enter challenging harbors or dock safely.

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

Winds are expected to strengthen into early Tuesday morning, just when Vision of the Seas would have been approaching the port.

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

The direction of the wind, an individual ship’s profile, and tidal impacts can all be part of a decision to reroute a cruise ship or cancel a port of call.

The safety of the ship, her guests, and all crew members is always the top priority for any cruise line. A smoother sailing away from harsh weather is not only safer, but is also more comfortable for a better cruise vacation experience.

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While guests may be understandably disappointed with the change, Royal Caribbean is doing everything possible to provide a fun and enjoyable cruise, and crew members will do all they can to ensure everyone aboard Vision of the Seas enjoys their sailing.

Hurricane Melissa Forces Cruise Itinerary Changes Across the Caribbean

Melissa Mayntz
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Hurricane Melissa Forces Cruise Itinerary Changes Across the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa has rapidly gained strength as she moves west across the Caribbean. Multiple cruise lines have adjusted their itineraries to stay away from the storm and keep their ships, guests, and crew members safe. Individual adjustments and port visits may vary based on ships’ operational needs and berth availability.

This list will be updated as additional itinerary adjustments are confirmed.

As of the 11 a.m., Monday update, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that Hurricane Melissa is a powerful Category 5 storm with winds reaching 165 miles per hour. She is projected to make landfall in Jamaica early on Tuesday, October 28, and continue northeast across Cuba and the eastern Bahamas.

Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa

MSC World America

The largest ship in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC World America has adjusted her October 25 itinerary to a Western Caribbean route instead of the Eastern Caribbean itinerary that was originally planned.

The ship will be visiting Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel during the weeklong cruise. The visit to MSC Ocean Cay is still planned for Friday, October 31 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Carnival Dream

Sailing from Galveston on a 14-night Eastern Caribbean route that departed on October 18, Carnival Dream is unable to make her last scheduled port visit, which was to have been Ocho Rios, Jamaica on Wednesday, October 29.

The ship will spend a day at sea instead and will follow a different route back to Texas on time while staying out of the storm’s path.

Rhapsody of the Seas

Rhapsody of the Seas left San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday, October 26 for a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise. The ship has cancelled her visit to St. Croix and moved her visit to St. Thomas to Tuesday instead of Monday.

A visit to La Romana in the Dominican Republic has been added for Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the remaining ports are unchanged.

Icon of the Seas

One of the largest cruise ships in the world, Icon of the Seas is sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary for her October 25 departure from Miami instead of the originally planned Eastern Caribbean cruise.

The ship will now be visiting Cozumel and Roatan, but the visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay at the end of the cruise is still a go for Friday, October 31.

Celebrity Beyond

The Edge-class Celebrity Beyond set sail on October 26 for what was to have been an Eastern Caribbean itinerary but will now be a Western Caribbean sailing instead.

The ship will be visiting Costa Maya, Belize, and Roatan before returning to Miami on schedule on Sunday, November 2.

Regal Princess

Regal Princess departed on her transatlantic cruise to move from Southampton to Galveston on September 28, and the end of her sailing is now impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

The ship’s final port visit was to have been Grand Cayman on Sunday, October 26, but that stop was cancelled and the ship instead enjoyed a day at sea. Her arrival in Galveston on Wednesday, October 29 is unchanged.

Disney Treasure

The newest member of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Treasure is also sailing to the Western Caribbean rather than her planned Eastern Caribbean cruise that left Port Canaveral on October 25.

The ship will only be visiting Cozumel on Tuesday, October 30, but will have two stops instead of one at Castaway Cay in the Bahamas to make up for the change.

Disney Wish

Disney Wish is also homeported from Port Canaveral but offers shorter itineraries than her new sister. The ship’s October 27 departure is a 4-night sailing to the Bahamas and both port visits are still on the itinerary, but now in the reverse order.

Disney Wish will visit Castaway Cay on Tuesday, October 28 and Nassau on Wednesday, October 29.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander

Margaritaville at Sea Islander was the first vessel to confirm storm-related itinerary changes. In fact, the ship shifted her October 19 schedule while Melissa was still a tropical storm.

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The planned visit to Cozumel remained unchanged, but the stops in Jamaica and Grand Cayman were swapped for Belize and Roatan. Margaritaville at Sea Islander returned to her Tampa homeport as planned on Sunday, October 26.

The ship’s next sailing is already planned to visit Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya.

Tragedy on P&O Cruises’ Newest Ship With Crew Member Death

Melissa Mayntz
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Tragedy on P&O Cruises’ Newest Ship With Crew Member Death

Key Aspects:

  • A crew member has passed away following an accident on Sunday, October 26 aboard P&O Cruises’ Arvia.
  • The nature of the accident has not been revealed but the cruise line has confirmed the death.
  • Arvia remains fully operational and on her way to the Canary Islands on her current sailing.

Guests onboard P&O Cruises’ newest and largest vessel, Arvia, may notice a subdued mood among crew members over the next few days. The cruise line has confirmed the death of a crew member following an accident that occurred on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

The crew member’s name, nationality, and position onboard have not been released in order to safeguard the privacy of family members and friends at such a troubling time, but P&O Cruises is taking steps to help.

“We can confirm the death of a crewmember following an accident on board Arvia yesterday,” a P&O Cruises spokesperson said in a statement provided to Cruise Hive. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends both on board and at home and we are providing every possible support to them.”

The 185,600-gross-ton cruise ship departed Southampton, UK on Friday, October 24 for a 14-night sailing to Barbados to begin the winter Caribbean season. There have not yet been any ports of call on the voyage, but Arvia is scheduled to enjoy a day in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Tuesday, October 28.

At the moment, that visit remains on schedule. Despite the somber circumstances, there is no anticipated change to the ship’s itinerary, which includes stops in St. Maarten (Tuesday, November 4), St. Kitts (Wednesday, November 5), and St. Lucia (Thursday, November 6) before arriving in Barbados on Friday, November 7.

Arvia can welcome as many as 6,685 guests and is also home to approximately 1,700 international crew members.

While the incident remains under investigation, the circumstances of the accident have not been revealed. This is standard procedure to ensure that all safety protocols are in place and being followed correctly, and that there is no foul play involved.

Depending on where the crew member worked, the accident could be industrial or mechanical in nature, as cruise ships are immense engineering constructs. It is also possible that the accident is simply a fluke, such as a slip-and-fall that might occur anywhere at any time.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?

There is no impact to onboard operations and the ship’s systems and safety are not impacted in any way.

Crew Deaths Are Rare, But Do Happen

While overboard incidents happen occasionally with crew members as well as guests, accidents onboard cruise ships are even more uncommon but still happen. This is true with any workplace, where a wide range of accidents can be dangerous to workers.

Onboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam in March 2024, for example, a steam leak in an engineering space unfortunately claimed the lives of two crew members. The ship was docked at Half Moon Cay at the time and was slightly delayed in leaving the private island.

P&O Arvia Cruise Ship
P&O Arvia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Nigel Jarvis)

In December 2015, a grisly death was reported aboard Carnival Ecstasy when an electrician was killed while working on an elevator repair.

Crew members are also not exempt from natural deaths, even while at work. In May 2025, Captain Michele Bartolomei of the Diamond Princess had a sudden medical emergency and passed away while the ship was spending an overnight call in Keelung, Taiwan.

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In April 2024, Captain James MacDonald of Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas was medically evacuated from the ship in Cozumel, Mexico following a severe heart attack. He sadly passed away two weeks later.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with all the crew members of Arvia at this sad time, as well as all the extended family of P&O Cruises.

Royal Caribbean Ship to Use New MSC Terminal in Miami

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Ship to Use New MSC Terminal in Miami

Key Aspects:

  • Freedom of the Seas will be docked at the MSC Cruises terminal in PortMiami for the ship’s October 27, 2025 departure.
  • The regular terminal for Freedom of the Seas is currently being demolished to make way for a new terminal project in its place.
  • The ship’s 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary is not impacted by the cruise port terminal change.

Any experienced cruisers who have ever driven to PortMiami know it can be confusing to arrive at the world’s busiest cruise port and not be sure of exactly where to go even on a good day. For guests boarding Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas on Monday, October 27, 2025, it will be even more confusing.

The cruise line reached out to booked guests to alert them to a terminal change for their sailing, noting that the switch was necessary.

“Our usual terminal is currently undergoing renovations, and in the meantime, we’re excited to be using the brand-new Terminal AA, courtesy of our friends at MSC,” the notification explained.

“Undergoing renovations” is a bit of an understatement, actually. Freedom of the Seas would normally dock at Terminal G on the western side of the port, but that terminal is currently being not just renovated, but completely demolished to make way for a new terminal.

Royal Caribbean also operates Terminal A, aptly nicknamed “The Crown of Miami” but that terminal will be unavailable for Freedom of the Seas on Monday, as the larger Oasis-class Wonder of the Seas will be using it.

To ensure guests find their way to Terminal AA, which is on the port’s eastern end, the notification provides careful instructions and cautions.

“This terminal has the feel of an airport concourse, so please be prepared for some walking as you make your way through,” the email advised. “There are multiple terminals at the port, so it’s important to follow the blue ‘AA’ signs along the road. These will guide you to the correct terminal.”

It’s especially important to note that guests will be passing Terminal A on their way to Terminal AA (seriously, why couldn’t it be named Terminal M for MSC Cruises? Virgin Voyages has Terminal V!). The two are actually adjacent but not connected.

The parking garage for Terminal AA will open at 11 a.m. Guests arriving early may find it difficult to find parking spaces until debarking guests have vacated the area.

Trust me, PortMiami’s traffic and parking is confusing enough at the best of times, do NOT arrive early thinking you’ll make it any easier.

In addition to Freedom of the Seas, five other cruise ships will be in port on Monday, October 27: Wonder of the Seas, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Jewel, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Conquest.

While the terminal change may be confusing, it will have no impact on Freedom of the Seas‘ 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary, with visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico before the ship returns on Friday, November 1.

About Terminal AA

The MSC Cruises terminal, Terminal AA, has only been open since April 5, 2025, when it debuted as the world’s largest cruise terminal. The 492,000-square-foot facility took three years to construct, and can welcome two ships simultaneously (three after further expansion in 2029).

Read Also: I Experienced Embarking at PortMiami’s New MSC Cruise Terminal

The project emphasizes MSC Group’s commitment to US cruising and specifically to PortMiami and Caribbean itineraries.

New MSC Cruise Terminal in Miami
New MSC Cruise Terminal in Miami

“Our new cruise terminal is the most advanced in the world, designed to offer a seamless experience for our guests before and after their cruise,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the company’s cruise division, when the terminal opened. “This proud moment reflects our unwavering commitment to Miami and its vibrant community.”

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Special attention was paid to ensure the terminal is energy efficient, including the use of sustainable materials in construction and providing shore power connectivity for docked cruise ships.

The adjacent six-level parking garage can accommodate 2,400 vehicles, and there is dedicated access for ride share and public transportation to drop off or pick up guests.

Celebrity Beyond Latest Ship to Shift Away From Hurricane Melissa

Melissa Mayntz
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Celebrity Beyond Latest Ship to Shift Away From Hurricane Melissa

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Beyond will be sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary for her October 26 departure instead of her planned Eastern Caribbean route to avoid Hurricane Melissa.
  • Several other ships have completely swapped itinerary plans to steer clear of the storm, while some vessels are adjusting individual ports.
  • Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 2 storm and expected to continue strengthening over the next couple of days until making landfall in Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa is rapidly intensifying as she slowly creeps toward Jamaica and more cruise ships are adjusting itineraries to steer clear of her projected path. Celebrity Beyond is the latest ship to confirm a complete itinerary change and will now enjoy a Western Caribbean rather than an Eastern Caribbean route.

The impacted cruise is the ship’s Sunday, October 26, 2025 departure from Miami, Florida. Originally, Celebrity Beyond was to have visited the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts on the 7-night sailing.

Now, however, guests have been notified that a new itinerary has been confirmed.

“To safely avoid the impacts from the storm, we have decided to switch our itinerary to the Western Caribbean instead of the Eastern Caribbean for this sailing,” the email notification read. “We sincerely apologize for this last-minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our trop priority.”

Now, Celebrity Beyond will be enjoying the following itinerary:

  • Sunday, October 26 – Depart Miami
  • Monday, October 27 – Day at sea
  • Tuesday, October 28 – Costa Maya, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (formerly Puerto Plata)
  • Wednesday, October 29 – Belize, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (formerly St. Thomas)
  • Thursday, October 30 – Roatan, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (formerly St. Kitts)
  • Friday, October 31 – Day at sea
  • Saturday, November 1 – Day at sea
  • Sunday, November 2 – Arrive Miami

All pre-paid shore excursions booked through Celebrity Cruises for the now-cancelled visits to Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts are being automatically cancelled. Guests will receive a refundable onboard credit for those charges, and any remaining amounts will be returned to the card on file after the end of the cruise.

While guests may be understandably disappointed to have the entire itinerary shifted in the opposite direction they had hoped for, Celebrity Beyond is not the first ship to completely swap her planned sailing due to Hurricane Melissa.

The massive Icon of the Seas notified guests that the ship’s October 25 departure would have the same shift, with the planned Eastern Caribbean cruise becoming a Western Caribbean itinerary that will visit Cozumel and Roatan, though the call to Perfect Day at CocoCay later in the week is still planned.

Disney Treasure has also swapped an Eastern Caribbean itinerary for a Western route, with an extra visit to Castaway Cay on her 7-night sailing departing Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 25.

Various other ships, including Disney Wish and Margaritaville at Sea Islander, have also adjusted their itineraries as needed to stay well away from Melissa’s strengthening wrath.

Hurricane Melissa NHC Update
Hurricane Melissa NHC Update (Image Credit: National Hurricane Center)

Hurricane Melissa Update

As expected, Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified on Saturday, October 25. In the morning she was still a tropical storm, but by the 8 p.m. EST update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), she was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour.

Positioned 130 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, Melissa is moving west at only three miles per hour. This slow movement in a very warm region of the Caribbean is helping the storm continue to strengthen.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to make a turn north early next week and to have a direct landfall on the island of Jamaica, likely as a Category 4 or possibly even a Category 5 hurricane.

“Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in Jamaica by tonight, with hurricane conditions expected by Sunday or Monday,” the Saturday night public NHC advisory reads.

Parts of Jamaica may receive up to 40 inches of rain, with flooding and landslides likely.

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On Friday, October 24, Jamaica’s prime minister, Dr. Andrew Holness, declared the entire nation a “threatened area” in order to mobilize emergency resources and prepare for the storm.

Additional cruises are likely to adjust their itineraries for next week as Melissa will move northeast and into the Greater Antilles, with impacts likely in the Turks & Caicos and possibly the Bahamas over the next several days.

Two Disney Ships Reroute to Avoid Hurricane Melissa

Catie Kovelman
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Two Disney Ships Reroute to Avoid Hurricane Melissa

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Treasure’s current Eastern Caribbean sailing will no longer be able to call to Tortola and St. Thomas due to Hurricane Melissa.
  • Instead, the young ship will be rerouted to Cozumel, Mexico, and will spend two days at Disney’s Castaway Cay instead of just one.
  • In a bit of a domino effect, Disney Wish will have to move up her planned visit to Castaway Cay and switch the order of the ports for her upcoming sailing on October 27, 2025.

As Tropical Storm (now Hurricane) Melissa continues to ramp up in the Caribbean Sea, two more cruise ships are getting out of dodge.

Disney Cruise Line has notified guests of Disney Treasure on embarkation day and guests of Disney Wish just days ahead of their upcoming voyage of revised itineraries.

On October 25, 2025, up to 4,000 cruisers embarked on Disney Treasure in Port Canaveral, Florida, for what was meant to be a 7-night Halloween sailing to the Eastern Caribbean.

The itinerary called for stops at Tortola, British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and a visit to Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) on Halloween. 

But because of the path of the storm, the planned stops to Tortola and St. Thomas will no longer be possible.

Instead, the Wish-class ship will sail to Cozumel, Mexico, on Tuesday, October 28.

The cruise line also added an extra stop in Castaway Cay on October 30, which was previously a sea day.

“We have been closely monitoring the storm’s forecasted track. Due to the possible impacts in the Caribbean, we have made the decision to change your itinerary,” Disney Cruise Line notified passengers.

“Instead of visiting Tortola and St. Thomas, you will now visit Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday and an additional Castaway Cay call on Thursday,” the update continued.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s (NOAA) 2 p.m. EST advisory on October 25, Hurricane Melissa is approximately 145 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 235 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The slow-moving storm is now reaching sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the end of the weekend.

Disney Wish Also Pivots

On October 27, 2025, Disney Wish will embark on a 4-night Halloween sailing to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral.

The first Wish-class ship was originally supposed to visit Nassau, Bahamas, on October 29, and Castaway Cay on October 30.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship
Disney Wish Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: EWY Media)

But due to weather related operational changes, the order in which the 4,000-guest ship will call to these ports has been rearranged.

This means she will now visit Castaway Cay on October 28 and Nassau on October 29.

“Due to operational needs and the potential impact of Tropical Storm Melissa, we will be changing the day your clients’ sailing visits Disney Castaway Cay,” DCL notified travel professionals.

Read Also: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

While Melissa’s path is still uncertain, NOAA’s forecasts predict that the powerful storm will begin to slowly turn north on Monday or Tuesday before heading toward Cuba and the Bahamas later next week.

Moving up and rearranging these port calls helps ensure that these visits can happen safely before conditions get too stormy, and also allows Disney Treasure to visit Castaway Cay on both October 30 and October 31.

The private island only has one dock and can only welcome one Disney ship at a time, so it would be impossible for both Disney Wish and Disney Treasure to visit at the same time on October 30.

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In a bit of a domino effect, Disney Wish’s visit to the exclusive destination was bumped up to October 28, when no ships were on the schedule, to accommodate Disney Treasure’s necessary itinerary change.

For passengers of both Disney ships, any pre-purchased shore excursions for impacted port calls will be automatically canceled and refunded.

Icon of the Seas Shifts Itinerary Due to Tropical Storm Melissa

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Icon of the Seas Shifts Itinerary Due to Tropical Storm Melissa

Key Aspects:

  • Icon of the Seas will sail a Western Caribbean route instead of her planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary on her October 25 departure due to Tropical Storm Melissa.
  • Additional ships with Eastern Caribbean itineraries as well as visits to Jamaica over the weekend and into next week may also be impacted.
  • The Prime Minister of Jamaica has declared the entire nation a “threatened area” ahead of what will likely be a major hurricane landfall directly over the island.

Royal Caribbean has notified guests just hours before embarkation for Icon of the Seas‘ October 25, 2025 departure from Miami that they will not be visiting the Eastern Caribbean as originally planned. Due to the presence and prospective forecast from Tropical Storm Melissa, the massive ship will head for the Western Caribbean instead.

“Our Captain, along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, has been tracking Tropical Storm Melissa that is expected to move through the area of our sailing,” the email notification reads.

“To safely avoid the impacts of the developing storm, we have decided to switch our itinerary to the Western Caribbean instead of the Eastern Caribbean for this sailing.”

The 7-night cruise from Miami had included St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay as planned port visits. Instead, the ship will now visit Cozumel and Roatan, though the visit to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas will still be on Friday, October 31, but with the ship arriving at 7 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.

Interestingly, this shift for Icon of the Seas is nearly identical to the shift her sister ship, Star of the Seas, had to make for Tropical Storm Imelda almost exactly one month ago.

All pre-paid shore excursions for St. Maarten and St. Thomas booked through Royal Caribbean will be automatically cancelled and refunded as onboard credit to guests’ ship accounts. If any funds remain at the end of the sailing, they will be reimbursed to the card on file.

In the meantime, guests can book tours for Cozumel and Roatan through the Royal Caribbean app or by visiting the Guest Services area on Deck 5 just aft of the Pearl.

At nearly 250,000 gross tons, the two Icon-class vessels are the largest cruise ships in the world. Because of their massive size, they may face unique difficulties with last-minute itinerary changes to ensure port facilities can adequately handle the up to 7,600 guests that may be aboard.

Safety is always the first priority for the cruise line, and Royal Caribbean will do everything necessary to keep the ship, guests, and crew members safe and as comfortable as possible no matter what the weather.

While Icon of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to confirm changes due to Tropical Storm Melissa, she undoubtedly won’t be the last. Any ships sailing near Jamaica through the weekend and early next week, as well as itineraries that include the Turks & Caicos or eastern Bahamas next week, may be impacted.

Within the Royal Caribbean fleet, this could include Adventure, Freedom, Harmony, and Rhapsody of the Seas, as well as other ships depending on their operational plans. Any guests booked on sailings in the region (for any cruise line) will want to stay in close contact with their cruise line for immediate updates as changes are confirmed.

Tropical Storm Melissa Saturday Morning Update
Tropical Storm Melissa Saturday Morning Update (Image Credit: National Hurricane Center)

Tropical Storm Melissa Update

As of the Saturday 8 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa remains a tropical storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 70 miles per hour, just four miles per hour below the threshold of an official hurricane.

The storm’s center is located 160 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica with a west-northwest movement of just one mile per hour. That slow speed is permitting the storm to gain strength, and it is expected she will become a hurricane on Saturday.

Jamaica is facing a direct landfall of what will likely be a major (Category 3-4) hurricane early next week. The island nation’s prime minister, Dr. Andrew Holness, declared the entire country a “threatened area” on Friday, October 24 as the storm approaches.

“This declaration empowers the Government to implement precautionary and protective measures to safeguard lives, property, and critical infrastructure,” the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

“By declaring Jamaica a threatened area, we are activating the legal tools to move resources quickly, safeguard critical services, and protect the most vulnerable,” Holness explained.

“This declaration enables the Government to act swiftly and decisively. I have directed all agencies to execute their preparedness plans, including shelter readiness and the pre-positioning of supplies and equipment.”

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Once the storm passes over Jamaica, Melissa is predicted to turn toward the northeast over eastern Cuba and head into the Greater Antilles. This will potentially impact more Eastern Caribbean or Bahamas cruises through the middle of next week.

Royal Caribbean Guest Offers Unique Solution for Slippery Pool Decks

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Guest Offers Unique Solution for Slippery Pool Decks

Key Aspects: 

  • Royal Caribbean guests are concerned that the pool decks are too slippery, leading to falls and potential injuries.
  • One guest suggested putting a sand and lacquer mixture down to make the pool areas less slippery, but this solution could actually damage the surface of the deck.
  • Royal Caribbean does use synthetic decking materials that are designed to be slip-resistant and fire-resistant, as is required by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

The top priority of every cruise line is to keep their passengers and crew members safe and happy.

However, one key slip hazard exists on virtually every cruise ship: The pool deck.

Some Royal Caribbean guests have noticed that they see other passengers slipping and sliding on every sailing, and are questioning why more can’t be done to mitigate this.

“Some clear lacquer and light sand mix would give at least some grit to the pool deck, which turns into a damn ice rink with a drop of water on it. I see multiple people fall every trip,” a current guest of an unspecified ship suggested on Reddit.

“Just happened right in front of me, once again. I get the fact that they want it smooth enough to walk on with bare feet and not shred people’s feet, but it seems like there could be a happy medium,” they wrote.

The guest’s proposed solution would (in theory) have a similar effect as putting sand down in snowy and icy conditions during the winter, which helps to provide traction.

However, this likely is not a good option as the abrasive nature of sand especially can scratch and wear down the surface of the pool deck or potentially clog drains.

That said, the cruiser was not alone in their observation. Others piped up to say they had fallen or witnessed other guests slipping as well.

“Especially the parts that aren’t level! Like, a little ramp turns straight into a slip’n’slide,” one person replied.

“I don’t know the answer but I agree. The pool deck is way too slick, especially in flip flops,” another agreed.

As one of the clumsiest people on the planet, I always recommend packing some grippy sandals that help with traction and stability.

I’ve also seen plenty of cruisers invest in water shoes with grippy bottoms, but those are not allowed in the pools or hot tubs to prevent contamination from dirt glass, or germs the shoes may be carrying.

Royal Caribbean Takes Precautions

That said, Royal Caribbean isn’t just letting its guests slip and slide willy-nilly.

Through a partnership with Bolidt Decking, Royal Caribbean primarily uses synthetic decking materials that are designed to be slip-resistant and fire-safe.

Believe it or not, decking materials actually have to meet certain durability, maintenance, and fire safety standards set by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Kids Pool on Oasis of the Seas
Kids Pool on Oasis of the Seas (Photo Credit: Solarisys)

The crew members onboard also take precautions to keep guests safe, such as mopping up particularly slippery spots and putting out wet floor signs.

They also enforce rules like “no running” and “no horseplay” on the Lido deck and in other areas onboard where more energetic cruisers could injure themselves or other guests.

But despite the safety efforts made by the cruise line, it’s not possible to prevent all slips – and not just on the Lido deck. 

Some guests have also complained recently that slippery floors sent them flailing in the Central park neighborhood of the Oasis-class and Icon-class ships.

For those that haven’t been lucky enough to embark on one of these vessels, the Central Park neighborhood has a mix of tiled and wood-like surfaces that are meant to mimic a real outdoor park on land.

“Central Park was so slippery! I was really surprised,” one former cruiser said.

“Yes! I slipped really bad leaving Park Cafe once and my bagel went flying, I was inconsolable,” another shared.

More From Cruise Hive

Even on other cruise lines, fall risks are a source of contention. Earlier this year, a Carnival guest made waves on social media for expressing concerns that their cabin’s shower would be too slippery.

No matter what cruise line you sail with next, the best advice I can give is to choose shoes with traction, take your time, and watch your step.

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