Norwegian Getaway is remaining overnight in New York instead of departing on Sunday, October 12, as planned.
Pilotage services have been temporarily suspended due to the nor’easter impacting the region and the ship cannot navigate safely out of the harbor.
Because of the departure delay, the visits to Newport, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts have been cancelled.
As a strong nor’easter continues to pound the east coast of the US from Delaware to Maine, another cruise ship has had to change plans and remain in its homeport longer than expected. Guests aboard Norwegian Getaway received the news as they boarded the ship in New York on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Embarkation proceeded as planned, but the 145,655-gross-ton vessel is unable to depart on schedule for her 7-night sailing, which is having a knock-on effect and also cancelling ports of call.
“A Nor’easter is forecasted to impact the region beginning Sunday afternoon, bringing strong winds and rough seas,”the letter delivered to boarding guests read.“In anticipation of these conditions, and as a precautionary measure, local authorities have suspended pilotage services in New York, a necessary step to ensure safe navigation in and out of the port.”
This means Norwegian Getaway is unable to leave on Sunday evening as originally planned. Instead, the ship is remaining overnight in the Big Apple. The plan is for departure on Monday, October 13, though the time of that departure has not yet been confirmed and will depend on when pilot services can safely resume.
Because of the necessary delay, the ship will be unable to make her planned visits to Newport, Rhode Island on Monday, October 13 or Boston, Massachusetts on Tuesday, October 14.
Instead, Monday will now be departure day, and Tuesday will be spent at sea as the ship makes her way toward Bar Harbor, Maine.
Any excursions booked through Norwegian Cruise Line for either Newport or Boston will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
The visits to Bar Harbor on Wednesday, October 15 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well as Saint John, Canada from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 are unchanged at this time. Similarly, the visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia on Friday, October 17 is not impacted.
The last day of the sailing is a day at sea, and Norwegian Getaway should return to New York on Sunday, October 19 as planned.
Norwegian Getaway in New York (Photo Credit: Steve Heap)
While guests may be disappointed at the change, the safety of the ship and everyone aboard is always the first priority. As soon as it is safe to do so, Norwegian Getaway will be on her way and guests are sure to have a fabulous vacation.
In the meantime, all onboard operations are fully functional, including dining, entertainment, and other activities. While options on the outer decks may be limited due to bad weather, guests can still find plenty to enjoy.
Other Ships Impacted
Norwegian Getaway is not the only ship impacted by the strong storms making their way up the US East Coast.
Because of that, her October 12 sailing will be departing on October 13 instead, but the ship will still be able to visit Bermuda as planned on what will now be a 5-night sailing instead of a 6-night cruise.
Hopefully, guests aboard all three ships will still enjoy memorable and safe cruise vacations, even if the itineraries may not be exactly what they had hoped.
A powerful nor’easter is impacting New Jersey, where Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas was due to set sail on a 7-night Bahamas Voyage on October 12, 2025.
Because of current conditions, the port has temporarily closed and the ship will be stuck in New Jersey until the stormy weather passes.
Itinerary changes have not been confirmed at this time, but they are likely coming soon.
It’s no secret that stormy weather can be unpredictable, and Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has had to change plans a second time to avoid a powerful nor’easter that is impacting the US East Coast.
The voyage in question is the Oasis-class ship’s 7-night sailing to the Bahamas that embarked in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on October 12, 2025.
The plan was to depart at approximately 1 or 1:30 p.m. EST, instead of 3:00 p.m. EST.
But now that embarkation day is here, it’s no longer safe to try to out-sail the storm and the Port of New York and New Jersey has temporarily closed until the storm passes early next week.
For context, Cape Liberty is located in Bayonne, New Jersey, which sits within the New York Harbor on the Upper New York Bay.
New Jersey was placed under a state of emergency on the night of October 11 due to the weather, with flooding and wind advisories in effect for both New Jersey and New York through at least the evening of Monday, October 13.
New York was also placed under a state of emergency that will be in effect from 12 p.m. EST on October 12 through 8 p.m. EST on October 13.
“Flood & Wind advisory in effect from today 12 noon to Mon 10/13 6PM. The region is forecasted to experience sustained winds of 15-25MPH with 35-50MPH gusts,”Port of NY & NJ posted on X.
Several inches of rain are still expected to fall in the next day or two, and stronger gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour have already been reported.
Ship Likely Stuck in Port Until Tuesday
As seen on cruise tracking data, the Royal Caribbean ship did briefly leave the pier to make way for a container ship, but she has since re-docked.
“It is now official, staying in port overnight per a ship announcement,”one current guest shared on Facebook. “Leaving dock briefly to make room for a container ship but then returning to the dock.”
Previous email communications from the cruise line to current passengers also make it clear that Symphony of the Seas will not leave the port until it is safe to do so.
“Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, we will continue to monitor the ocean storm system and only depart once we deem it is safe to do so,”Royal Caribbean wrote.
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas Docked at Cape Liberty (Photo Credit: Brian Logan Photography)
Although the cruise line hasn’t announced itinerary changes just yet, they are likely coming.
The Port of New York and New Jersey isn’t expected to reopen until the morning of Tuesday, October 14, 2025, which coincides with when the 5,518-guest ship was supposed to make her first port call of the sailing in Port Canaveral, Florida.
“The Sandy Hook Pilots are not currently operating due to a temporary closure of the Port of New York and New Jersey until 11:00 AM on October 14, 2025,”a current passenger confirmed.
Port Canaveral will almost definitely have to be skipped, but there may still be hope for the other two ports on the itinerary.
As things currently stand, Symphony of the Seas is expected in Nassau, Bahamas, on October 15, and Perfect Day at CocoCay on October 16.
Additional cruise ships that are currently in New York Harbor, including MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia and NCL’s Norwegian Getaway, may also be similarly impacted by the weather-related closure.
Meanwhile, cruise tracking data shows that TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1 and American Cruise Lines’ ACL American Glory, which were due to arrive in New York tomorrow on October 13, have also arrived in the port early.
Cruise Hive will continue to keep you updated as more details are known.
For many cruisers, the primary reason they book specific sailings is because of the exciting destinations they will get to visit. But what happens when a port of call gets cancelled?
These are the most common reasons why a port call may get scrapped, as well as what a cancellation means for your cruise vacation and for your wallet.
The cruise lines never want to disappoint guests by removing a destination they may have been looking forward to, but sometimes external factors leave them with no other options.
Usually, cancellations are the result of matters of safety, port availability, unexpected maintenance needs, and/or Mother Nature’s refusal to cooperate.
Safety
The safety of the vessel and all guests and crew members onboard is always the top priority for the cruise lines.
With this in mind, ports of call that could potentially put guests in danger may be removed from itineraries, if only out of an abundance of caution.
Royal Caribbean’s Labadee Destination (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)
For example, Royal Caribbean has famously cancelled more than six months of visits to its private resort at Labadee, Haiti, due to ongoing unrest in Haiti’s capital – which is more than 100 miles away.
While cruise ships are well equipped to handle rough seas, docking during windy conditions and heavy rain can be dangerous because it increases the risk of collision with port infrastructure or other ships that may be in the harbor.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships in Developing Storm (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Tendering during poor weather conditions is even more dangerous, as guests must be able to safely transfer to and from smaller vessels (which are much more impacted by wind and big swells than the larger cruise ship).
Natural Disasters
Less commonly, a natural disaster like an earthquake or landslide may force a cruise ship to alter course.
These unfortunate events may cause damage to port infrastructure, making docking impossible.
Landslide in Port Vila following 7.3-magnitude earthquake. (Photo Credit: Dan McGarry)
Alternatively, damage within the town or city itself may make it impractical, or even dangerous, to welcome an influx of cruise guests.
This is a category that can apply to both cruise ports and to cruise ships.
The cruise ports have to maintain their infrastructure to make sure everything remains safe and functional, and may schedule routine maintenance after a cruise line has already released its itineraries for the years ahead, which can lead to scheduling conflicts.
On the other hand, there are situations where a pier or other infrastructure is damaged unexpectedly by a cruise ship or weather and has to turn vessels away until repairs can be made.
As this was the only pier in San Juan that could accommodate larger mega-ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, many port calls had to be cancelled during the months-long closure.
On the cruise ship side of things, unexpected technical problems, such as propulsion issues, may limit the vessel’s speed.
Speed limitations may make it impossible to reach a planned destination timely, which subsequently leads to a cancellation.
Alternatively, a cruise ship that experiences an unexpected issue may remain stuck at a previous destination, and will have to cancel port calls that come later to allow time for repairs to be completed.
Port Congestion & Pier Reassignments
The cruise lines often plan and release itineraries years in advance, and things can sometimes change as embarkation day approaches.
Sometimes, this results in overbookings, excessive port traffic, or pier reassignments that makes it unsafe or impractical for a cruise ship to make its planned visit.
Port Accessibility Challenges
Sometimes, there is simply an obstacle in the way that makes it impossible for the cruise ship to reach the dock.
For example, a build up of sediment can make water levels too shallow to navigate a certain area. This is what barred Princess Cruises’ Island Princess from visiting Puerto Chiapas, Mexico, in September 2025.
Carnival Pride Sailing Under the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Photo Credit: Larry Syverson / Flickr)
Less commonly, environmental protestors in Europe have successfully prevented some cruise ships from docking by blocking their path with smaller vessels, or even people.
Changes to the Financial Situation
Some port of call cancellations can also be financially motivated. If a port has recently increased taxes and fees on cruise ships, the cruise line may opt to skip the port.
The other two options are usually not very appealing, especially if the fees were increased by a significant amount. The alternatives are for the cruise line to eat the financial loss or pass the fees onto their passengers.
It’s also worth noting that cruise lines are allowed to charge booked passengers for new port fees that go into effect after they reserved their sailing, even after they’ve already paid in full.
Onboard Emergencies
While the goal is for everyone onboard to stay safe, happy, and healthy for the duration of their sailing, sometimes medical emergencies occur and a guest will need to be evacuated to receive urgent treatment.
This could mean that the cruise ship has to deviate from its course to drop the guest off at the nearest port.
Alternatively, the ship may need to pause or relocate to rendezvous with first responders for an airlift at sea.
Overboard Icon of the Seas Crew Member
And in rare man overboard situations, the cruise line is required to stop and search for the missing person until they are found or until authorities arrive to take over search and rescue efforts.
Depending on how long the cruise ship is delayed or how far out of its way the vessel must travel, port calls may be delayed or cancelled.
Illness Outbreaks
In extreme situations, a port may turn a cruise ship away if there is an illness outbreak onboard that poses an imminent threat to public health.
Outbreaks are monitored on a case-by-case basis, and more often than not, passengers are still allowed to disembark and explore (with perhaps some extra precautions in place).
When Do Cruise Lines Decide to Cancel?
Cancelling a port call is not a decision that the cruise ports make lightly. It comes with a lot of thought and impacted guests are notified as soon as possible.
If a cruise line is made aware of factors like port accessibility or port congestion in advance, they may notify guests of the change, potentially weeks to months ahead of their voyage.
Navigation Systems (Photo Credit: Alexey Seafarer / Shutterstock)
This gives cruisers the opportunity to adjust shore excursions or potentially change their plans if the new itinerary isn’t satisfactory.
But many times, the decision to cancel or replace a port call isn’t made until the very last minute, after every possible option to still visit is explored.
In these cases, passengers may not learn of the change until they are onboard and just a few hours away from when they were due to arrive at the destination.
Once a cruise line has made the decision to cancel a port call, they have three alternatives to explore.
The first option, which is usually the most desirable, is to replace the scrapped destination with a new port of call.
But in order for this to work, the cruise line must find another desirable port that has availability and fits in with the rest of the itinerary.
Radiance of the Seas in Alaska (Photo Credit: Just dance)
The next option is to simply spend another day at sea, allowing guests more time to explore the ship and take advantage of the entertainment and amenities onboard.
In rare cases, the cruise line may opt to shorten the sailing, but this would only happen if there is something else going on (i.e., emergency maintenance or weather related) that would make it unsafe to complete the full voyage.
What Happens to Port Fees?
Port fees are fees and taxes that are levied on cruise ship passengers when they visit ports of call during their sailing.
The cruise lines typically collect port fees as part of the cruise fare, and then pay them on behalf of their passengers.
Carnival Ships in Cozumel (Photo Credit: B.D.S. Media)
In the event that a port call gets cancelled and isn’t replaced with a new stop, port fees are typically refunded automatically, either in the form of an onboard credit or to guests’ original form of payment.
If the cancelled port is replaced with a new destination, guests usually are not charged additional port fees. Their original payment would roll over to the new port and any excess would be refunded.
What Happens to Shore Excursions?
If a cancellation occurs, shore excursions for that destinationthat were booked through the cruise line will be automatically cancelled and refunded.
If the port call has been replaced with a different destination, the cruise line will usually roll out new tours for passengers to book.
However, the cruise lines are not responsible for land tours that are booked through independent vendors. Guests would be subject to the outside company’s cancellation and refund policies.
One of the standard terms in these contracts is that the cruise lines have a right to change the itinerary as circumstances require without providing compensation to passengers.
Cruise Passengers on Royal Caribbean Ship (Photo Credit: steve estvanik)
However, many cruise lines may occasionally offer some compensation, such as onboard credits or a future cruise credit, as a gesture of goodwill.
Final Thoughts: How to Respond to Itinerary Changes
While the cruise lines always do their best to honor and maintain the original itineraries, it’s important to keep in mind that no itinerary is guaranteed.
While an itinerary change can be disappointing, there is no reason that the cruise vacation can’t still be every bit as fun and memorable as guests hoped for and expected.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, do your best to roll with the punches and find the joy in the opportunities that are available to you during your cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that Carnival Sunshine will only be delayed by a single day due to the nor’easter impacting Norfolk.
The ship will now set sail on a 5-night cruise to Bermuda instead of the original 6-night itinerary, but the port visit is preserved as scheduled.
Guests are receiving a one-day prorated refund of their cruise fare and per-day packages, as well as a $100 per stateroom onboard credit.
Following a tense night of uncertainty about the itinerary for Carnival Sunshine, guests awaiting their now-delayed cruise have received the welcome news that they will still be visiting Bermuda as planned.
The former Carnival Destiny and one of the oldest ships in the Carnival fleet has been delayed returning to Norfolk, Virginia, due to the nor’easter impacting the US East Coast.
On Sunday afternoon, just as the ship would have been preparing for departure, Windy.com shows winds as high as 33-34 knots (38-40 miles per hour) at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, with even higher gusts.
Despite the rough weather on what was to have been embarkation day, however, Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the sailing will go ahead just one day late.
“We’re pleased to confirm that Carnival Sunshine will dock in Norfolk tomorrow morning, Monday, October 13,”the email notification reads.
Guests are advised to arrive at the cruise terminal at the same times they initially chose when checking in for the sailing, albeit on Monday instead of Sunday.
While of course, it is disappointing that the 6-night sailing will now be a 5-night voyage instead, the notification did have more good news.
“Aside from the adjusted departure date, the remainder of the itinerary, including the scheduled visit to Bermuda, remains unchanged,”the email said.
Carnival Sunshine is due to visit Bermuda for the last time this year with an overnight call from 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15 through 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 16.
To make up for the shortened sailing, all guests will be receiving a one day, prorated refund of their cruise fare as well as a one-day refund of any pre-purchased packages, such as the Cheers! drink package or Wi-Fi options.
Guests are also going to receive a $100 (USD) onboard credit per stateroom.
How Can the Ship Still Get to Bermuda?
Before it was confirmed that Carnival Sunshine would, in fact, be able to depart on the shortened sailing on Monday, there was uncertainty about whether or not the visit to Bermuda would still be possible.
Bermuda is roughly 735 miles from Norfolk. When compared to Carnival Sunshine‘s top speed of 21 knots (24 miles per hour), the ship would need a minimum of 31 hours to sail between the ports, along with extra time for docking maneuvers and slower speeds required in the harbors.
Fortunately, the ship has 41 hours from her estimated time of departure from Norfolk until she is scheduled to arrive in Bermuda. This gives the vessel plenty of time to make the journey with no adjustment to the time spent in port.
Cruise ships routinely reduce sailing speed on days at sea. This will reduce relative wind speeds on the outer decks and permit a more enjoyable experience for lounging by the pool, enjoying whirlpools, or joining in deck parties or games.
These lower planned speeds also provide a buffer for unexpected diversions, such as rough weather, medical evacuations, or refugee rescues. When such things happen, the ship has a plentiful margin to make up the loss of time without sacrificing time in port.
While Carnival Sunshine may now need to sail faster than anticipated on her way to Bermuda, at least she will still be able to make the trip safely and guests onboard will be able to enjoy their full visit to the British territory.
Carnival Sunshine will be delayed at least a full day in returning to Norfolk, Virginia, due to the nor’easter impacting the US East Coast.
This will subsequently shorten the next cruise and guests are being advised to wait for further details to be provided on Sunday, October 12.
The next sailing will now not be departing until at least October 13, depending on when the port is able to reopen and the ship can return.
Carnival Sunshine is not seeing a lot of sunshine as she sails back to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of her 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that initially departed on Saturday, October 4.
Unfortunately, due to bad weather as she approaches her homeport, the ship is going to be delayed and the next voyage shortened accordingly.
“Carnival Sunshine is experiencing strong winds and high seas as it sails back to Norfolk. Further, weather forecasts indicate that unfavorable conditions will continue into the evening both at sea and over the Chesapeake Bay area – the waterway leading into the port,”the notice sent to embarking guests read.
The nor’easter brewing along the Atlantic seaboard has already impacted Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which moved up her Sunday embarkation in New Jersey in the hopes of leaving ahead of the storm.
Norfolk, however, is 300 miles south-southeast of Cape Liberty, making that Virginia homeport much closer to the poor weather.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with our partners and local authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard. Given the current conditions, the channel into Norfolk is expected to be closed overnight,”the email continued.
“This, coupled with the unfavorable weather that is impacting the ship’s journey, makes it clear that the ship will not be able to dock until sometime Monday morning.”
Guests onboard Carnival Sunshine have been assured that all possible steps will be taken to keep them safe, as the ship is currently adjusting her heading to steer clear of the roughest weather. Outer decks have been closed as a precaution.
High winds and significant swells are to be expected, and guests onboard should be cautious when moving around the ship.
Once further details are confirmed, Carnival Cruise Line will assist guests with adjusting their post-cruise plans and making other necessary arrangements for their delayed arrival.
In the meantime, all onboard operations are proceeding as normal and there is no impact to the ship’s entertainment, dining, or other functions. Additional activities will certainly be added to the daily schedule so guests can continue to have fun during the unexpected extra day.
Next Cruise to Be Shortened
The exact time that Carnival Sunshine will be able to dock on Monday, October 13 is not yet confirmed. Scheduling will depend on when the rough weather passes sufficiently for the port to reopen, as well as any necessary safety inspections before port operations can resume.
Once cleared, the cruise ship will be able to proceed to the cruise terminal. There must still be sufficient time for customs and immigration clearance, however, as well as for previous guests to debark before incoming guests can board the ship.
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98)
“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received confirmation from us on when your cruise will operate,”Carnival is alerting guests.
A further update on the revised cruise and embarkation plans will be provided by 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, just when embarkation was to have finished and Carnival Sunshine would set sail on her next voyage.
The ship’s October 12 (now October 13) departure is for a 6-night cruise to Bermuda. The sailing is actually Carnival Sunshine‘s last trip to Bermuda for 2025.
While the cruise line will take every possible step to preserve that visit, if Carnival Sunshine is delayed too drastically, it is possible she may be unable to head for Bermuda and an alternative itinerary may be arranged.
Further details are sure to be provided once the weather lightens and the ship’s docking plans are confirmed.
Carnival Legend spent Saturday, October 11 in Acapulco as an unplanned visit after losing a visit to Cabo San Lucas to Hurricane Priscilla.
This visit is the first time a Carnival ship has visited Acapulco in more than 15 years, but the team pulled together to offer great options to guests.
Carnival Legend is already planning a return to Acapulco on a 2027 Carnival Journeys sailing as she moves from Tampa to Seattle ahead of the Alaska season.
Any longer, more immersive Carnival Journeys cruise can be a legendary vacation. Guests onboard Carnival Legend, however, are making Carnival Cruise Line history on their 16-night sailing between San Francisco and Galveston with an unplanned, surprise visit to Acapulco, Mexico.
The cruise line hasn’t visited the iconic Mexican destination since 2010, and in fact, Carnival Legend wasn’t scheduled to visit Acapulco on this sailing.
Hurricane Priscilla had other ideas, however. Carnival Legend departed San Francisco on Monday, October 6, 2025, just as the storm was at its most intense off the coast of the Mexican Riviera.
Guests were notified on Wednesday, October 8, that their planned visit to Cabo San Lucas would not be possible.
“The port is now closed and is expected to remain closed tomorrow,”the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained.“Further, rough seas in the Cabo area would hinder our ability to operate water shuttles to take you between the ship and shore.”
At that time, the revised itinerary simply had an extra day at sea on the way to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for the planned visit on Tuesday, October 14.
This would have given Carnival Legend a total of seven full days in a row at sea before making any port visit.
With multiple rough weather systems in the region Carnival Legend has needed to sail on this voyage, however, it was possible additional changes might be necessary.
“Safety for everyone on board is a priority and, as we head south, we will be taking a course that will help us avoid the most unfavorable conditions,”the letter confirmed.“None-the-less, as we sail, we may periodically experience some strong winds and choppy seas.”
That revision was about to be revised, however. On Thursday, October 9, just when guests should have been enjoying Cabo San Lucas, they received notification of yet another change from the ship’s master, Captain Mark Harlow.
“We are making good time with sailing, and I’m pleased to inform you that we have been able to secure a visit to Acapulco, Mexico for Saturday, October 11,”the next letter read.
The 85,900-gross-ton, Spirit class ship was able to schedule a visit from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the same length of time that the ship would have spent in Cabo San Lucas.
Before arriving in Acapulco, the Carnival Adventures team put together a number of options for eager guests.
Even with the last-minute change of plans, the team secured city tours, cliff diving shows, beach resort visits, a botanical garden visit with a lagoon cruise, a chance to release a baby sea turtle into the ocean, snorkeling, and more.
Guests were also welcome to explore the area on their own, and were advised to follow common sense safety precautions as is prudent in any port of call.
The rest of Carnival Legend‘s sailing is not yet impacted by any further changes.
The ship should still visit Costa Rica, transit the Panama Canal, and visit both Colombia and Grand Cayman before arriving in Texas on Wednesday, October 22.
A Historic Visit – With More to Come
While this surprise visit to Acapulco is the first time Carnival Cruise Line has called on the city in 15 years, there are already plans to return.
In 2027, a 16-night repositioning cruise from Tampa to Seattle will also visit Acapulco, also operated by Carnival Legend. On that itinerary departing Florida on April 4, 2027, however, the visit is planned.
That epic sailing was just announced in July 2025 as part of Carnival Cruise Line’s “dancing of the ships” itinerary reveals for 2027. Carnival Legend will be spending the 2027 summer in Alaska, and that Carnival Journeys cruise will take her to the Last Frontier.
While Carnival Cruise Line does not visit Acapulco regularly, the destination is offered through other cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises all have select sailings that include Acapulco in the next few months.
The Algerian Naval Forces responded to a call for a medical evacuation onboard Sky Princess on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The guest in need of the urgent rescue was a 77-year-old British national who was suffering from a serious medical condition.
The airlift went smoothly and there was no impact to the two itineraries that the Princess ship is operating simultaneously.
For one Princess Cruises’ guest, their voyage onboard Sky Princess has come to an abrupt conclusion.
The guest, who has only been identified as a 77-year-old British national, suddenly required urgent hospitalization while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean near Algeria.
The cruiser’s condition has not been disclosed, but the Princess medical team would have evaluated the guest and deemed their situation too serious to be managed onboard before calling for a medical evacuation.
When the distress call was received at approximately 10:40 a.m. local time on October 8, 2025, the Royal-class cruise ship was positioned approximately 35 nautical miles north of Algeria’s Cap de Fer.
For context, this would place the vessel in the Skikda Province maritime zone, which stretches approximately 80 miles from El Marsa in the east to Oued Z’hour in the west along the Mediterranean coastline.
The National Coast Guard Service immediately sprang into action to rescue the ailing patient.
The Algerian Naval Forces quickly sent an AS-14 search and rescue helicopter from the 560th Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron to rendezvous with the 3,660-guest ship.
The rescue was aided by coordination efforts made by the regional surveillance and rescue center in Jijel, Algeria.
Thankfully, the airlift went smoothly and the passenger was successfully transferred to the El Hadjar Hospital in Annaba, where they were admitted. Their prognosis has been kept private.
Cruise Hive is sending our thoughts and prayers to the disembarked passenger and their loved ones for the best possible outcome and a speedy recovery.
No Impact to the Itinerary
Sky Princess is nearing the end of a 31-night round-trip Mediterranean itinerary that embarked in Southampton, UK, on September 13, 2025.
An additional round of cruisers also embarked in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 27, for a 17-night sailing to Southampton.
Luckily, the evacuated passenger would have been able to enjoy the majority of the scheduled port calls, which included top-tier destinations throughout Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Malta.
Adding to the good fortune, we can confirm that there was no impact to the remaining two ports on the itinerary for the remaining guests because of the medical evacuation.
This is lucky, as rescues can sometimes lead to delayed or cancelled port calls. Just last month, for example,Carnival Sunshine arrived late in Bermuda after an early morning rescue.
According to cruise tracking data, the 141,000-gross ton vessel was not delayed long by waiting for the helicopter and did not go off course in order to meet the first responders.
She also had a full sea day in between the rescue and her next port call to help make up any lost time.
The first of the final calls was to Cadiz, Spain, where Sky Princess arrived on time on October 10, 2025. The final stop will be in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 11.
The 2019-launched vessel will then spend two more days at sea before returning to Southampton on the morning of October 14.
Disembarkation for the current voyage, and embarkation for the following cruise – which is a 5-night sailing to Hamburg, Germany – will proceed as normal.
It’s so easy to keep up with what’s happening in the world of cruising.
Just read Cruise Hive’s weekly news recap. In this week’s edition, some of our top highlights include a story about a bride-to-be who incurred a lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line after smuggling liquor onboard, and design details about Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, Beachcomber. And don’t miss our coverage of higher parking fees now being charged at Port Canaveral.
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Smuggled Liquor Leads to Lifetime Ban on Carnival
Banned from Carnival (Credit: @madisonwest2000)
Here’s a tip: If you’re doing something onboard a cruise ship that you know is prohibited, don’t post a video of the activity on TikTok.
But it’s too late for one woman to take that advice, and as a result, she now has a lifetime ban on cruising with Carnival Cruise Line. It happened during a recent bachelorette celebration for Maddie (@madisonwest2000), when the woman, age unknown, sneaked alcohol onboard her ship.
After posting about it on TikTok, some viewers tagged the cruise line, and soon after, Carnival Cruise Line security arrived at her stateroom. She had apparently smuggled the liquor onboard via some feminine hygiene products.
Maddie was not the first to get caught smuggling alcohol onto a ship, but she received the same penalty — a lifetime ban from cruising with the line again.
She has since petitioned Carnival Cruise Line to rescind the ban, but we’re not optimistic. Meanwhile, online comments were not sympathetic, with most suggesting that she got what she deserved.
Like other cruise lines, Carnival does allow limited alcoholic beverages to be brought legally onboard. The brand’s policy states that a guest can board their ship with one 750-ml bottle of sealed wine or champagne in their carry-on luggage.
Venues Revealed Aboard New Legend of the Seas
Legend of the Seas Render
When Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas debuts in July 2026, the 250,800-gross-ton ship will offer experiences geared toward family fun, including the new stage show “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
The cruise line revealed some of what the new ship, which is third in the Icon class, will offer in entertainment, activities, and dining. Among the exciting aspects are Absolute Zero, the biggest ice skating venue at sea, and the Category 6 waterpark, with six thrilling waterslides.
The ship’s AquaTheater will feature aquatic shows with high divers, dancers, and aerialists, while Crown’s Edge will challenge guests with a ropes course and zip line 154 feet above the water line.
The ship will have seven pools, 10 hot tubs, and for youngsters, Splashaway Bay. Dining venues will include Royal Railway-Legend Station, where a five-course menu will feature international cuisine.
Legend of the Seas, with a capacity for 7,000 guests, is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She will spend her maiden season in Europe before deploying to Port Everglades and sailing a variety of Caribbean cruises.
With These Luggage Issues, Guests Are on Their Own
Carnival Cruise Line Luggage (Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto)
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald took up two unique issues resulting from guest complaints posted on his popular Facebook page, both having to do with luggage issues, and neither of which the cruise line can address.
One guest arrived at his departure port with a piece of damaged luggage; apparently, it was mishandled at an airport and suffered a big crack. The guest was disappointed that staff onboard Carnival Panorama were unable or unwilling to wrap his suitcase in plastic to prevent further damage.
Heald agreed to ask the ship’s repair shop to look at the damaged luggage to see if there was something to be done, but no, he told the guest, we will not wrap your suitcase.
In another issue, a guest complained that the cruise line does not provide luggage storage outside the cabin. This guest claimed that there is not sufficient space inside a stateroom to store suitcases and that other cruise lines do offer a storage option.
But in fact, virtually all staterooms do provide enough space under beds or in closets to store luggage. If some cruise lines offer to store luggage elsewhere, the practice is likely limited to the ultra-luxury brands.
Parking at Port Canaveral Just Got More Expensive
Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
The new rates took effect on October 1, 2025 and are meant to help offset ambitious expansion projects and maintain existing infrastructure. The fee hike is expected to raise some $12.8 million in additional revenue.
For cruise guests who need to park a vehicle or RV, it translates to an extra $21 for a 7-night cruise, and the fee must be paid upon arrival at the parking lot. Other popular ports in Florida have similar or higher fees. At PortMiami, for instance, parking rates range from $20 to $35 per day.
Port Canaveral is the second-busiest, behind PortMiami, in terms of cruise arrivals, and has six cruise terminals. Some 9 million cruise guests are expected to transit Port Canaveral in 2026.
Long-term development plans include new terminal facilities, upgraded cruise berths, more parking, and improved security systems. The last parking fee hike was in 2017, when rates were raised by $1 per day.
Beachcomber to Offer Massive 5 o’Clock Somewhere
Beachcomber Clock
The Jimmy Buffet-inspired Margaritaville at Sea cruise brand took the wraps off of its newest ship’s design to reveal the world’s largest 5 o’Clock Somewhere venue.
The vessel, Margaritaville Beachcomber, will begin sailing under her new name in early 2027 following a major renovation. The 2,702-guest ship will be purchased from Costa Cruises in 2026, and currently sails as Costa Fortuna.
The 5 o’Clock Somewhere venue will be the heart of the ship, and will be located on four decks at the aft of the 102,587-gross-ton vessel. The spacious venue will feature a pool, dining and bar venues, and an entertainment space with live music.
Eateries slated to be offered in the space include the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar and the Mexican Cutie Cantina. The Daiquiri Shack will entice guests to try a frozen cocktail while adult-only cabanas offer a luxury experience with ocean views and a dedicated bar.
Beachcomber will homeport in Miami, and join two ships currently sailing for the brand: Margaritaville Paradise, based in Palm Beach, and Margaritaville Islander, homeported at Tampa.
Cruise Line Narrows Adult-Only Sailings on Two Ships
P&O Cruises’ Arcadia sails from Southampton. (Photo Credit: Peter Titmuss)
P&O Cruises will soon welcome families aboard some voyages of its Aurora and Arcadia ships, which have both been traditionally reserved for guests 18 and older.
All of the affected cruises sail roundtrip from Southampton, UK, in 2026 and 2027. A total of 12 voyages aboard the 1,874-guest Aurora and 8 aboard the 2,094-guest Arcadia are affected. P&O Cruises said the change resulted from guest feedback.
It means that guests already booked on these sailings — thinking they would vacation without children onboard, will now likely have kids as fellow cruisers.
Knowing this could be an issue for some travelers, the cruise line will allow booked guests to swap cruises to an adult-only voyage without any penalty before December 1, 2025.
The itineraries that will accept children onboard vary from 3- and 4-night getaways to longer cruises of up to 24 nights.
Aurora’s first family cruise will be a 4-night getaway to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, departing December 11, 2026. For Arcadia, her first family voyage will be a 16-night Spain, Portugal, and Canary Islands holiday cruise departing on December 21, 2026.
Drink Package to be Pulled From Private Island
Great Stirrup Cay and Drinks (Photo Credits: Paul Bartlett & Dennis MacDonald)
Cruise ship guests who buy drink packages have become accustomed to using the pre-paid plans on private island destinations owned by cruise lines, but that will no longer be the case on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay.
Beginning March 1, 2026, the cruise line’s More at Sea drink plan will not extend to the island visits, although a new drink package designed for the destination will be offered starting in January 2026.
No details about the new package have been revealed yet, but are expected soon. Great Stirrup Cay does provide free beverages, including water, iced tea, and juice, but the More at Sea plan, offering unlimited open bar for guests over 21, will not be valid on the island.
The cruise line attributed the policy change to its plan to transform the island experience. Indeed, the line has big plans for improvements to Great Stirrup Cay, including the addition of a two-ship pier and the 6-acre Great Tides Waterpark, each debuting in late 2025 and summer 2026, respectively.
Comments on social media about the change in the More at Sea drink plan were mostly negative, with some calling the new policy a money grab and an example of a cruise line nickel and diming its guests.
More Cruise Headlines
Let’s keep going with even more news from Cruise Hive, including Carnival Cruise Line announcing its holiday decorating schedule, MSC Cruises opening bookings for its Alaska 2027 season, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship arriving at PortMiami for the winter season.
The day before embarkation, guests on Norwegian Escape‘s October 11, 2025 repositioning cruise have been informed of dramatic itinerary changes.
The ship will now visit two fewer ports of call and the time on shore has been slashed by 40% because the ship needs to sail at a slower speed.
Despite brewing storm systems, poor weather is not a factor in these changes, but may have additional impacts on the sailing.
A repositioning cruise, when a ship changes homeports, can be a great cruise opportunity, often a longer sailing and visiting more ports of call.
Guests boarding Norwegian Escape on Saturday, October 11, for the ship’s move from New York to New Orleans were hoping for exactly that type of experience for the 14-night sailing.
While the cruise will still be two weeks long, guests have now been notified that much of the itinerary has changed. The ship will still be moving from the Big Apple to the Big Easy, but along the way, every port visit except one has now been changed.
“Due to a required adjustment that slightly reduces our sailing speed (don’t worry, everything’s smooth and safe onboard!), we’ll be swapping our calls to San Juan, Puerto Rico and George Town, Cayman Islands for an extra beautiful day at sea and a stop at the beach-lover’s paradise of Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic,”the email notification said.
To be clear, this means that three ports are now dropped from the itinerary, with just one alternative port added instead. Furthermore, the times in other ports have also been adjusted.
Norwegian Escape’s new itinerary is as follows:
Saturday, October 11 – Depart New York City
Sunday, October 12 – At sea
Monday, October 13 – At sea
Tuesday, October 14 – At sea (previously Puerto Plata)
Wednesday, October 15 – Puerto Plata (previously San Juan)
Thursday, October 16 – St Thomas (time changed with nearly two hours less)
Friday, October 17 – At sea
Saturday, October 18 – Willemstad, Curacao
Sunday, October 19 – Oranjestad, Aruba (time changed with two hours less)
Monday, October 20 – Cabo Rojo (previously at sea)
Tuesday, October 21 – Falmouth, Jamaica (time changed with two hours less)
Wednesday, October 22 – At sea (previously Grand Cayman)
Thursday, October 23 – Cozumel, Mexico (time changed with one hour more)
Friday, October 24 – At sea
Saturday, October 25 – Arrive New Orleans
In total, the ship will now visit six ports of call, instead of the eight ports on the original itinerary. What is interesting is that the email goes on with a seemingly outrageous claim.
“We have modified the timing of many port visits to provide you with as much time in each port as possible,”it reads.
That language would seem to indicate more time in fewer ports, but the revised itinerary shows just the opposite.
When added together, guests will get to enjoy just 45.75 hours in all the ports combined, instead of the originally planned 76 hours. This is a loss of 40% of the planned port time.
Norwegian Escape in New York (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz / Shutterstock)
Nevertheless, the ship is safe and her onboard operations are not impacted, though Norwegian Cruise Line has not offered any explanation for why the slower sailing speed is necessary.
Is Bad Weather a Factor?
Some guests are speculating that poor weather along the east coast of the US may be a factor in changing the ship’s itinerary.
Neither system, however, should have a strong impact on Norwegian Escape. The ship is leaving before the worst of the nor’easter weather will begin, and according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Jerry will be well out of the way by the time Norwegian Escape gets anywhere close to her easternmost destinations.
Of course, poor weather can impact any cruise itinerary at any time, anywhere in the world. With a 2-week sailing, it is possible that Norwegian Escape may have further adjustments for regional conditions as needed.
Guests will be informed of such changes as soon as possible, but safety will always be the foremost priority no matter where the ship sails or which ports she visits.
