A recent guest of Rhapsody of the Seas, named Jey González-Díaz, jumped overboard during disembarkation in Puerto Rico.
Allegedly, the suspect pulled the dangerous stunt to avoid paying the cruise line over $16,000 in debt that he had racked up in the casino.
Making matters worse, González-Díaz stole his brother’s identity in order to embark on the Southern Caribbean sailing.
A cruise guest is in a sea of trouble after intentionally jumping overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas in an attempt to avoid paying off his hefty gambling debt.
Jey González-Díaz embarked on the Vision-class ship for a 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing on August 31, 2025, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
During his voyage, the cruiser racked up $16,710.24 in gambling debt in the casino, which he allegedly thought he could avoid paying back to Royal Caribbean by jumping off the cruise ship.
At approximately 9:15 a.m. local time on the morning of September 7, 2025, the suspect leaped into the ocean while the normal disembarkation process was underway at Pier 4 in Puerto Rico.
Surveillance video shows that González-Díaz was picked up by a passing jet ski rider and taken back to shore. The cruiser, however, did not get far.
His leap of faith was quickly reported by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to agents with the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
But shortly before HSI agents arrived at the cruise port at approximately 10:30 a.m., CBP officers apprehended Gonzalez-Diaz near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building at around 9:45 a.m.
According to local outlet Wapa.TV, the suspect was found with $14,600 in cash, a handbag, two cell phones, and five different identities.
The legal complaint notes that Gonzalez-Diaz told authorities in Spanish that he intentionally jumped overboard because “he did not want to report the currency on his possession because he thought he was going to be taxed duties for bring in the currency.”
Cruiser Jumps From Rhapsody of the Seas in San Juan (Credit: Federal Prosecutor’s Office)
The US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico has now accused him of failing to report the entry of an amount of money over $10,000 that was obtained outside the United States, which is a serious federal crime.
He has been released on bail until the case goes through the court process.
Are More Consequences Coming?
Attempting to avoid a more than $16,000 debt is a serious crime, but it’s not the only wrongdoing that Gonzalez-Diaz committed.
Not only did he have five different IDs on his person for five different identities, but Gonzalez-Diaz actually boarded the Royal Caribbean ship under a fake name. His boarding pass shows the name “Jeremy Diaz.”
This identity actually belongs to Jeremy Omar González Díaz, the cruiser’s brother, who has been incarcerated in Puerto Rico’s Guaynabo Federal Detention Center since January of this year.
While Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on the matter, the former guest is almost certainly banned from the cruise line and its sister brands for life.
Aside from the financial deception, Royal Caribbean has a zero tolerance policy for dangerous behavior like intentionally jumping off a cruise ship.
Carnival and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream have teamed up to release a “sunscreen” flavored ice cream.
The real flavor is described as coconut with a hint of salt and sounds perfect for a cruise vacation.
While not available to the public, the ice cream might be made available onboard Carnival ships.
Ice cream and sunscreen: two things you need on any cruise vacation. But do you really need them together? Carnival Cruise Line thinks so, and they’ve joined forces with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to create a first-ever sunscreen-flavored ice cream.
Yeah, you read that right. I had to read it twice too, but it’s not a typo or mistake, and since it’s September, it’s not good timing for an April Fool’s joke.
“In protest of summer ending, we’ve decided to eat our sunscreen!”Carnival Cruise Line announced.“In partnership with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream we’ve created the first ever sunscreen ice cream.”
The fun flavor is legit, bringing together the best of summer flavors in a one-of-a-kind treat described as “coconut with a dash of salt.” This combination would certainly evoke a tropical destination and a hint of sea spray, perfect for summer getaway vibes.
“It’ll remind you of lounging on Lido with every scoop,”Carnival said in response to curious fan inquiries.
Other guesses for the flavor include banana, raspberry, and lemon, all bright and summery tastes. Could a whole line of cruise-themed flavors be in the works?
“If mixing ice cream and sunscreen is wrong then we don’t want to be right. It’s still summer over here with us and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream,”the cruise line posted on Instagram.
Ingredients for the admittedly unconventionally-named ice cream do sound decadent: coconut cream, milk, cane sugar, cocoa butter, natural flavors, vanilla extract, and sea salt.
Packaging for the unique flavor also plays homage to Carnival Cruise Line and summer with the classic red, white, and blue shades along with Carnival’s iconic whale tail logo.
Of course, the Van Leeuwen name is in that company’s elegant font, and the ice cream is packaged in pints.
The limited edition flavor is not available for public sale at this time. It is being offered to social media influencers and reactions are quickly going viral, with Carnival fans eager for their own taste.
“I’ve always said sunscreen smells good enough to eat,”one guest commented.“I’d crush this.”
I don’t think I’m smelling the right sunscreen, though I wouldn’t mind a strong SPF with ice cream scents.
Will Carnival Guests Be Able to Try This New Ice Cream?
Many guests have asked if the new flavor might be available onboard Carnival ships, and the answer isn’t quite an outright no.
“If the buzz is big enough, a limited-time run of the flavor could be on the horizon,”the announcement noted.
Could that be a hint that the curious new ice cream could be coming to Carnival Horizon? Currently homeported year-round from Miami, the ship offers both Southern and Western Caribbean sailings: exactly the itinerary where coconut and salt-kissed flavors would be perfect.
New Carnival Ice Cream
Whenever a guest asks if the flavor is available, the cruise line is also informally asking if guests would try it. Responses are resoundingly positive, with many guests eager for a taste.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream began in 2008 and has a history of high quality ingredients, including Ceylon cinnamon and vanilla from Papua New Guinea. While classic flavors such as dulce de leche and strawberry are staples, the company also has a wide range of more unusual tastes.
“Lovely Day for a Guinness” is another limited edition flavor, with Guinness beer flavored ice cream mixed with chocolate chunks. “Buttermilk Berry Cornbread” and “Earl Grey Tea” are two other unique flavors currently available.
Previous unexpected collaborations have included “Hidden Valley Ranch” along with “Kraft Macaroni and Cheese” and even “Pizza” ice cream. To be honest, Sunscreen flavor isn’t sounding too bad.
The chain currently has more than 70 “scoop shops” and the ice cream is widely available at top grocery stores, even if it’s not (yet!) on the Lido deck.
Norwegian Cruise Line is implementing a $10 per person no-show fee for specialty dining reservations.
The fee will not apply if guests cancel or update their reservation at least two hours before the booked time.
Reservations will only be held for 15 minutes, after which they will be released and the fee will apply.
With specialty dining growing more and more popular on all cruise lines and restaurant reservations filling up earlier and earlier, another cruise line is implementing a penalty for guests who don’t show up.
Norwegian Cruise Line is now charging a $10 per person fee if guests do not cancel or update a dining reservation before their meal.
“In order to allow more guests the opportunity to dine in specialty restaurants, a $10 per person fee will be charged if a scheduled reservation is not canceled or updated at least two hours prior to the scheduled time,”the policy reads.
Most of the cruise line’s specialty restaurants do have wait lists. By requiring booked guests to cancel at least two hours before their reserved time, there is enough time to contact guests on that evening’s wait list to offer them the space. Walk-in guests, however, are not typically accommodated.
While this may not fill in all tables throughout the evening, it can at least help ensure as many guests as possible can enjoy the unique and elevated dining in different onboard restaurants.
NCL’s specialty dining includes the classic Cagney’s Steakhouse, the elegant French Le Bistro, Mexican fare at Los Lobos, and much more.
There has been no official announcement of the new policy from Norwegian Cruise Line. Guests onboard various ships have noticed the change, however, and it is being printed in the ships’ newsletters, the Freestyle Daily.
Dining reservations can be cancelled through the Norwegian Cruise Line app, by calling the cruise line (prior to embarkation), or while onboard, either at the dining reservations desk or the Guest Services desk.
As recently as mid-July, the fee was not yet in place. This change, however, follows a similar move by Royal Caribbean, which announced a restaurant no-show fee just a week ago.
The reservation holding time of 15 minutes is not impacted by the new fee.
“We can only hold dinner reservations for 15 minutes,”the policy states.“After 15 minutes, the unclaimed reservation will be released.”
Positive Reaction to the New Fee
While most new dining-related fees on cruise ships are met with harsh criticism (remember Celebrity Cruises’ cookiegate?), this no-show fee is being welcomed by many guests.
“So many groups have reservations scattered across their party and the evening. This is a great improvement, hopefully cutting down on the Chair Hogs of reservations,”one guest commented.
Norwegian Cruise Line Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Being a “chair hog” is considered a cardinal sin among frequent cruisers, and it doesn’t just apply to poolside loungers. Seats at shows and entertainment venues and now, specialty restaurants are just as egregious to cruise etiquette.
This does not mean that guests can’t change their cruise dining plans, however. Because many travelers book their vacations months or even years in advance, they may also plan out specialty dining reservations far ahead of their sailing date.
Dining plans and preferences can change, however. A storm might dramatically change an itinerary, and that specialty restaurant reservation might now conflict with a full-day shore tour.
Guests might also develop different food preferences or sensitivities between when they booked and when they set sail, necessitating a change in dining plans.
The new fee will simply provide an incentive for guests to let the restaurant know they will not be attending at their scheduled reservation time so other travelers can enjoy the opportunity.
A new survey identifies several compelling trends in cruise vacations, including increased enthusiasm in the vacation option among Millennials and Gen Z.
The report reveals that the affordability of shorter itineraries attracts younger generations, since it allows them to vacation more frequently.
More than half of respondents point to the opportunity to visit a private island as an influencer of their choice of cruise line.
What do Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen X have in common? They are all showing heightened interest in cruising, indicating that the vacation-at-sea option is no longer the realm of the Boomer, a new study has found.
The narrowing of age gaps among cruise guests is just one of several key findings in the trend report “View from the Cabin: The Trends Shaping the Modern Cruise Experience,” released on September 9, 2025 by the loyalty technology provider arrivia.
Almost half of the 4,500 people surveyed for the report said they have already cruised, and nearly 30% plan to cruise again within the next two years.
Drilling down into the numbers, the report found that 36% of Millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996, plan to cruise in the next two years, the highest percentage among the three groups.
While Gen X and Boomers are still the most frequent cruisers overall, the younger generations are catching up.
The study appears to confirm data found in Cruise Lines International Association’s 2025 State of the Industry Report, which shows the average age of a cruise guest is 46.5, and adds that 36% of all cruisers are now under age 40.
Other trends that emerged in the study include the desire for shorter itineraries, and again, Millennials and Gen Z are leading the way. Overall, 18% of respondents said they are drawn to 2- to 4-day sailings versus 5- to 7-day voyages.
Millennials and Gen Z members pointed to the affordability of a shorter getaway because it enables them to vacation more often. There were loyalty elements tied to these findings as well, with 15% of active-cruiser respondents saying they would switch cruise brands to book shorter cruises.
Cruise lines are answering the call for shorter voyages. Royal Caribbean, for instance, has had eight ships sailing 3- to 5-night cruises from ports in Florida, Texas, and California during the last two years.
The loyalty tech provider that published the trends report, arrivia, handles loyalty programs in various industries, including airline, car rental, and hotel, and for cruise lines affiliated with its partner Westgate Cruise & Travel Collection.
“Cruise is no longer just an add-on in the loyalty mix,” said Jeff Zotara, Chief Marketing Officer at arrivia.
“It delivers high-value, repeatable experiences that travelers are actively seeking. When integrated effectively, cruise can become a cornerstone of growth and a true loyalty differentiator,” added Zotara.
Private Island Destinations a Big Draw For All Age Groups
A cruise line’s ability to offer a private island experience is also a big incentive for cruisers, regardless of their ages.
A commanding 55% of those surveyed said that the opportunity to visit a private island influences their choice of cruise line, and one in four said they would alter their cruise selection in order to be able to visit a private island.
Celebration Key, Bahamas
Private islands are extremely popular among cruise travelers, and cruise lines are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to create new destinations and upgrade and improve existing ones.
One example is Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key. Located on Grand Bahama Island, the destination, which opened in July 2025, cost about $500 million to build.
Other notable trends uncovered in the report include the abundance of multi-generational groups who choose cruise vacations. About 25% of Boomers who cruise do so with their adult children, and about 20% of Gen Z members who cruise do so with their parents.
River cruising was also highlighted in the report, which found that 63% of respondents are interested in that niche market.
In a historic move, Celebrity Cruises has named two inaugural cruise directors for the upcoming Celebrity Xcel instead of just one person.
The debut of a new cruise ship is always invigorating, but the upcoming launch of Celebrity Xcel is so exciting that there will be two cruise directors onboard.
Shawna Hachey and Luigi Del Mar will be the winning combination leading the fun when the fifth Edge-class shipenters service in mid-November.
“Big news! Shawna & Luigi are making history as Celebrity Xcel’s first-ever dual Cruise Directors,” Celebrity Cruises posted on social media on September 8, 2025.
“This dynamic duo is ready to bring all their experience to sea this November. Who’s excited to see them in action?”
Indeed, the cruise directors have no shortage when it comes to experience and have each lived and worked onboard Celebrity Cruises ships for more than a decade.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Hachey was hired by the cruise line just over 16 years ago.
She served as a cruise director from May 2018 until January of 2025, when she transitioned to a new role as a traveling cruise director.
Meanwhile, Del Mar has worked for the Royal Caribbean-owned brand for just over 12 years, nine of which were spent as a cruise director.
As the faces of the cruise ship, the two will have their work cut out for them – but they are surely up to the challenge.
The pressure is on as it is up to them to make sure the entertainment onboard is top notch as the 3,260-guest ship makes her first impression on the cruising world in just a few short months.
Cruise Guests Celebrate the Announcement
The cruise community has been in a flurry of excitement since Hachey and Del Mar were named as dual cruise directors.
Those that have been lucky enough to sail with either or both members of this perfect pair have confirmed that they are truly the best of the best.
“We are in for a treat. We have sailed with both of them and they are both phenomenal,”said one former passenger.
“Sailed with Shawna. She’s fabulous. Somehow she manages to be everywhere all at once,” another past guest gushed.
“Wow, excellent duo! I love Luigi’s energy, an excellent cruise director,” another chimed in.
Announcements like these only heighten the anticipation for the 141,420-gross ton vessel to arrive.
But rest assured, construction crews are making good progress at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The new-build was already successfully floated out from the shipyard in January, and is expected to undergo her sea trials in October.
In fact, the building process has gone so smoothly that an extra 4-night preview voyageto Cozumel, Mexico, was slotted in ahead of the maiden voyage – embarking from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 9, 2025.
The official maiden voyage, which is a 5-night sailing to Bimini Island, Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico, will set sail from Fort Lauderdale on November 18, 2025.
And of course, Hachey and Del Mar will be eagerly waiting to welcome Celebrity Xcel’s first guests on her inaugural sailings and as she begins her career sailing throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Carnival Spirit, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Jubilee will homeport from Texas in 2027 and into 2028.
This will be the first time Carnival Spirit and Carnival Horizon have been homeported from Galveston.
Each ship is a different size and class, offering more Carnival cruising diversity than ever from the Lone Star State.
Carnival Cruise Line’s annual “dancing of the ships” redeployment news continues with a focus on the Lone Star State, where Carnival is the largest cruise operator.
With cruising from Texas continuing to grow in popularity, it is no surprise that Carnival will maintain four ships homeported from Galveston into 2027 and 2028. What is surprising is which ships will call Texas home in the new deployment.
While Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee will remain sailing from Galveston, two new ships will be joining them: Carnival Horizon and Carnival Spirit.
For both newcomers, it will be their first-ever time sailing from the Lone Star State. Both ships will offer a diverse schedule with both short and long sailings for guests to choose from.
“Galveston is one of our most popular homeports, and this new deployment continues our commitment to our Texas guests and the community by adding more variety than ever,”said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president.
Carnival Horizon
Carnival Horizon Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Carnival Horizon, currently homeported from Miami, will offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Texas, visiting top ports such as Cozumel and Progreso. The ship will sail more than 70 voyages from Galveston, with the first departing on May 19, 2027.
That first cruise is a unique 8-night sailing that will visit Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Isla Tropicale. Three fun days at sea will also give eager Texas cruisers plenty of time to be the first to enjoy all the ship offers.
On her shorter sailings, the 4-night cruises will only visit Cozumel. The 5-night sailings will include both Cozumel and Progreso for those fantastic Mexican vibes.
Carnival Spirit
Upgraded Carnival Spirit (Credit: Carnival)
The much-beloved Carnival Spirit will begin her Texas deployment from October 11, 2027 after spending the summer in Alaska with sailings from Seattle.
A special 16-night Carnival Journeys cruise will bring Carnival Spirit to Galveston via the Panama Canal. As part of that epic voyage that will set sail on September 25, 2027, the ship will visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Columbia.
Once in Galveston, the ship will offer 4-, 5-, 6-, and even 10-night sailings. The shorter cruises are all Western Caribbean itineraries, while the 11 different 10-night sailings Carnival Spirit has planned include both Eastern and Western Caribbean options.
Depending on the sailing date and cruise length, the ship will visit top ports such as Cozumel, Progreso, Belize, Amber Cove, Celebration Key, Grand Cayman, Isla Tropicale, and more.
Carnival Breeze
Photo Copyright: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive
While Carnival Breeze is already homeported year-round in Galveston, she will begin offering primarily 7-night sailings in May 2027 instead of her current 4- and 5-night voyages.
These week-long cruises will include both Eastern and Western Caribbean routes with ports like Key West, Belize, Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Nassau, depending on departure date.
Carnival Breeze will also offer an 8-night Western Caribbean cruise on December 18, 2027 and a 12-night Western Caribbean itinerary departing on January 3, 2028. Two 14-night sailings will depart on October 16, 2027 and January 29, 2028 with Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean itineraries, respectively.
Those longer and highly desirable sailings will visit ports such as San Juan, St. Kitts, and St. Croix on the Eastern itinerary and Antigua, St. Lucia, and Amber Cove on the Southern route.
The spectacular Carnival Jubilee will also remain in Galveston. The Texas-connected ship will offer both 6- and 8-night cruises from May 2027 through April 2028, including both Western Caribbean and Bahamas sailings.
The classic Western Caribbean itinerary will visit Cozumel and Isla Tropicale, while the Bahamas cruises will visit Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.
These iconic ports of call bring all the best of cruise vacation fun to guests, and even more fun awaits onboard the Excel-class ship with her Texas-themed fun, including a tailgate party theme and exclusive shows.
Four Ships in Four Different Classes
Carnival Galveston Ships
What makes Carnival Cruise Line’s Galveston plans over the next few years even more outstanding is that each ship is in a different class, with different sizes and amenities.
“The four ships that will sail from Galveston in 2027/28 are each of their own unique class,”Duffy noted.“That means guests will have more choices as they personalize their future cruise vacations and choose the fun that’s right for them from Galveston.”
The classes for the ships are as follows:
Carnival Horizon – Vista Class – 133,600 gross tons – 3,934 guests – Don’t miss the great SkyRide views!
Carnival Spirit – Spirit Class – 85,920 gross tons – 2,124 guests – Enjoy the “secret garden” forward promenade!
Carnival Breeze – Dream Class – 128,100 gross tons – 3,690 guests – Relax in the expansive Thermal Suite!
Carnival Jubilee – Excel Class – 183,500 gross tons – 5,282 guests – Take a ride on the Bolt rollercoaster!
With so much Carnival fun coming to Galveston, all cruise fans are sure to enjoy spectacular sailings no matter what type of oceangoing vacation they may enjoy the most.
The “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise” that was scheduled to embark on Norwegian Joy on January 26, 2026, has been cancelled.
The reason behind the cancellation is a mystery, but the event organizers did confirm full refunds would be forthcoming.
As an alternative, guests might want to get onboard Virgin Voyages’ first-ever true crime cruise setting sail in October of 2025.
True crime fans who were looking forward to starting 2026 with some thrills on the high seas will need to look elsewhere to scratch that itch.
The “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise” that was supposed to be hosted onboard Norwegian Joy from January 26-30, 2026, has been cancelled for unspecified reasons.
“Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise has been canceled,”reads a statement on the Exhibit C Cruise event website.
“We greatly appreciate this community and the true crime fans that make Exhibit C so special. We hope to reimagine this experience at a later date,” the statement continued.
A specific cause behind the cancellation was not given, although it has not stopped guests from wondering what went wrong.
Leading theories relate to not selling enough cruise cabins or changes in business strategy for Wondery, which is the Amazon-owned podcast studio behind the Exhibit C brand.
“Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise has been canceled…I’m guessing poor ticket sales, but it looked good, it was going to be hosted by John Walsh,” one person guessed.
“Was this hosted by Wondery? I’m wondering if this is associated with the recent exodus of true crime podcasts from Wondery,” another cruise fan questioned.
Crime Cruise Details
This is in reference to three popular podcasts, “Morbid,” “Small Town Murder,” and “Crime in Sports,” that parted ways with Wondery earlier this summer.
No matter the reason, what’s done is done. Booked passengers can expect to receive a full refund to their original payment method within ten business days.
Alternative Onboard Experiences
The now scrapped true crime cruise onboard Norwegian Joy certainly would have been a fun and thrilling experience.
The 4-night Bahamas sailing would have been hosted by the famous John and Callahan Walsh – the co-hosts of the long-running hit TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”
This is in addition to an impressive line-up of other famous podcasters and true crime personalities.
Guests would have had the opportunity to partake in a live murder mystery show and to learn about crime-solving tactics, investigation techniques, and forensic science.
It’s worth noting that for guests who have already put the wheels in motion to board the 167,725-gross ton ship on January 26, their planning doesn’t have to be for nothing.
They can still get onboard the 3,776-guest ship for the very same dates. The Breakaway-class vessel is still operating the Miami-based itinerary, just without the true crime touch.
Alternatively, it is not too late to reserve your spot onboard Virgin Voyages’ first-ever true crime cruise, which will be embarking onboard Valiant Lady on October 10, 2025, in Miami – just in time for the Halloween season.
The 5-night voyage, which is being offered through a partnership with iHeartMedia, will sail to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Bimini Island, Bahamas.
The experience onboard has also been inspired by some of iHeartMedia’s most popular true crime podcasts, such as “Betrayal,” “Buried Bones,” and “Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know.”
Carnival’s new Zero-Proof drink package cannot be substituted for the full CHEERS! option in the same stateroom.
The same restriction does not apply to the line’s non-alcoholic drink packages, which can be purchased individually.
Carnival Cruise Line still provides a range of free drink options or guests can bring their own favorite sodas onboard.
With the announcement of Carnival Cruise Line’s new CHEERS! Zero-Proof drink package, guests have eagerly hoped for a policy change they’ve requested for years.
Standard policy with Carnival’s all-inclusive CHEERS! alcoholic beverage package has been that if one guest in a stateroom purchases the deal, then all guests over the age of 21 in the same stateroom must also purchase the full CHEERS! package.
No exceptions have been made for drink preferences or even for medical exemptions for guests who cannot drink alcohol.
The logic has been that too many guests abused the CHEERS! package by sharing. Even having other guests purchase the Bottomless Bubbles soda package wouldn’t make up for that potential cost.
CHEERS! currently starts at $69.95 per person, per day, while Bottomless Bubbles starts at just $9.50 per person, per day – a $60.45 daily difference.
With the introduction of the mid-range Zero-Proof package at $29.99 per person per day, that gap is narrower and guests hoped it might be possible to split who in the stateroom buys which package.
“Carnival shouldn’t make everyone in the room 21 and older get the CHEERS! package. Not everyone drinks alcohol,”one guest noted recently.“The other party [could] get the Zero-Proof if they don’t drink alcohol.”
Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has clarified that this will not be the case.
“I absolutely understand your point but we’re not going to change,”he responded.“We used to try to do this in years past it was abused beyond measure. It’s the only way we can control it.”
Many guests don’t realize that it isn’t just the 15 alcoholic drinks that are part of the CHEERS! package, but also sodas, mocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, and bottled water.
The non-alcoholic drinks are not tabulated and so could be shared and shared and shared amongst a whole family or group of friends if the program was not more strictly controlled.
“The rule where if one person purchases the full Cheers program everyone in the cabin aged 21 and over must purchase it too has not changed and still applies,”he said.
The good news, however, is that the reverse does not apply. Guests can purchase whichever non-alcoholic packages they wish, or none at all, even if other guests in the same stateroom do buy a package.
“Not everyone though has to buy the CHEERS! Zero-Proof option,”he confirmed.
Saving Money on Drinks
While the CHEERS! Zero-Proof package does give Carnival guests more options for onboard refreshment, it isn’t strictly necessary to buy any drink package at all.
Sodas, water, coffee, and all alcoholic drinks are always available for individual prices. Such a-la-carte pricing can be better for guests who might only sample a drink or two each day and won’t make the most of the bigger packages.
For soda drinkers, it is necessary to drink at least 3-4 sodas every single day of a cruise to break even on the package pricing. If that isn’t how much soda one normally drinks, even that smaller package isn’t a deal.
Instead, guests can bring aboard a 12-pack of cans of their favorite soda at embarkation or at any port of call. This is also a great option for guests who might prefer Pepsi products (that’s me!) now that Carnival has switched to Coca-Cola products.
Of course, lemonade, iced tea, and filtered water are always available for free from drink stations at the Lido Marketplace. Additional juices – apple, orange, and (my favorite) orange-passionfruit-guava – are also available for free during breakfast hours, as is milk and coffee.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of options to stay hydrated during a Carnival cruise, no matter what one’s budget might be or how much a guest is willing to spend.
One more favorite free drink? Don’t forget the hot cocoa from the Lido Marketplace – the perfect evening beverage while watching the waves go by!
The Alabama Cruise Terminal offers an on-site parking garage with 500 spaces to serve those who are cruising with Carnival from Mobile. However, other parking options do exist off-site. Here’s what you need to know about Mobile, Alabama cruise parking before embarkation day.
Located near downtown Mobile, the Alabama Cruise Terminal has a 500-space parking deck attached to its lone, two-story, 66,000 square foot terminal. The garage’s address is 201 South Water Street, Mobile.
When driving to the Mobile cruise terminal, you’ll turn right onto Eslava Street, where someone will direct you into the garage. Before parking, another individual will unload your luggage and send it ahead of you, to the cruise ship.
Parking is $21 per day for standard vehicles, or $42 per day for RVs and campers, and $63 per day for buses. Standard parking spots are 8 feet, six inches tall; 8 feet, six inches wide; and 16 feet long.
The parking garage is locked except for embarkation and debarkation days, and is monitored by state of the art security measures. The multi-story garage features conveniently located handicapped parking, elevator banks, covered pickup and drop-off areas, and a pedestrian circulation tower, for greater ease of access.
Paying for Parking at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal
Official Mobile Parking Lot (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
You must pay for your cruise parking ahead of boarding your ship and you can easily reserve your parking spot on the Alabama Cruise Terminal website, in advance. You’ll need to have your license plate number at the ready when you do so.
If you don’t reserve your terminal parking and pay in advance for your cruise parking, you can park and pay when you get to the garage. Once there, you can pay via text by texting “P2603” to 754-227-2176 and following the prompts.
Payment kiosks are also next to the stairwell and elevators on each floor of the parking garage. Payment kiosks take both cash and card, though, cash must not be in bills larger than $50 and exact payments are required.
You can also pay using the Premium Parking mobile app, which is the same third-party provider that the terminal uses for reserving and paying for parking ahead of time.
Parking spaces are not reserved on an individual basis and, once you enter the garage, you’ll drive around until you find a spot.
Off-Site Mobile Alabama Cruise Parking
If you don’t want to use the on-site parking option — maybe you want to shop around and try to find a better deal — you have a few options.
However, you’ll notice that there aren’t quite as many off-site options as you might find in other cruise port cities, simply because the Mobile port isn’t as busy as others. (In fact, Mobile doesn’t even rank in the top 100 busiest cruise ports by passenger volume!)
Additionally, the options below don’t offer shuttle service to the port, so you’ll be walking with your luggage if you go this route.
Premium Parking
Mobile, Alabama Cruise Port (Photo Credit: nektofadeev)
When you go through the Mobile, Alabama Cruise Terminal website to book your parking, you’ll notice that it directs you to book through Premium Parking.
While the cruise terminal’s garage is the first option that pops up on Premium Parking, though, there are a lot of other options that the site will show you.
As such, before you automatically book at that official garage, consider checking out the other options.
As you browse, Premium Parking will show you the parking lot or garage’s location and price, as well as tell you how far you’ll walk to the cruise terminal from that off-site lot or garage.
You can also see lot and garage features, such as whether or not they can accommodate over-sized vehicles or if valet parking is available.
Best Parking
Best Parking is another platform that will show you various off-site parking options near the terminal. Again, as you search, you’ll be able to see how far away the lot or garage is, as well as photos and pricing. You can view your options on a map and sort options by either distance from the port or cheapest prices.
ParkWhiz
ParkWhiz is almost identical to Best Parking in terms of function and format (they’re both operated by the same parent company), but it’s still worth checking out both to see if you can find different parking options.
Parking at the Mobile Regional Airport
Mobile Regional Airport (Photo Credit: EQRoy)
While not a typical option for parking during a cruise, you might just park at theMobile Regional Airport, whether or not you actually flew into the airport.
Long-term parking is available at the airport at a rate of $10 per day, and the airport is 17 miles from the cruise terminal. You will have to find a way to and from the terminal, but you can easily use a rideshare service for this.
Hotel Cruise Parking in Mobile
One option that a lot of cruisers like is hotel cruise parking. You book a stay at a nearby hotel, before your cruise and then leave your car at the hotel for the duration of that cruise.
I always advise new cruisers to plan to arrive in their port city the day before embarkation, unless they live within quick driving distance of the port.
This is because embarkation takes time, occurs in the morning and the ship won’t wait for you if you don’t show. As such, a flight delay or traffic problems can mean you miss your cruise.
Arriving the day in advance protects you from this — and so if you’re already staying the night before your cruise at a hotel, a hotel cruise parking package just makes sense. (Plus, if you arrive early enough, you can use the day before your cruise to check out the area attractions!)
Numerous hotels in the Mobile area offer attractive cruise parking packages.
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa offers not just parking throughout your entire cruise, but also shuttle service to and from the cruise terminal for up to five people.
The Holiday Inn Mobile West I-10 likewise provides transportation for up to four people to and from the cruise port, as well as free breakfast before you leave in the morning! RV parking is available, too.
The Mobile Fairfield Inn & Suites offers a park and cruise package with free parking and free transportation to and from the port, but rather than using a shuttle, guests will need to schedule their transit with a local taxi company.
In short, if you want to park off-site, but also need shuttle service, you might prefer hotel cruise parking in Mobile versus picking a random off-site lot or garage.
Note that The Admiral Hotel does offer complimentary parking during your cruise, but does not offer shuttle service to the port.
How to Get to the Mobile Cruise Port
Mobile Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Andriy Blokhin)
The Mobile cruise port is within easy driving distance of several major cities in the region, including New Orleans, Birmingham and Tallahassee.
For those flying into the area, Mobile does have a small airport, but if your home airport doesn’t offer flights into Mobile, you can also fly into nearby New Orleans or Pensacola, and then drive to Mobile.
When driving to the cruise port, into Mobile, you might take the following approaches:
From I-10 West
Continue over Mobile Bay Bridge and the George Wallace Tunnel. After one mile take Exit 25B Virginia Street. Turn left at the top of the exit ramp and follow signs to rejoin I-10 East.
Keep right and take Exit 26A Canal Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto Water Street. Drive two blocks and the garage and cruise terminal are on the right.
From I-10 East
If you’re already on I-10 East, keep right and Exit 26A Canal Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto Water Street. Drive two blocks and the garage and cruise terminal are on the right.
From US Hwy 90 (Government Blvd)
Follow Hwy 90 west. West of I-65, continue driving west for 4.6 miles, then turn right onto South Broad St. After 300 yards, head left onto Canal St. Stay on this road for one mile. Then turn right onto Eslava St and after half a mile you will arrive at the terminal and parking garage.
From I-65
Take I-65 south and join the I-10. Follow the I-10 east to Exit 26A Canal St. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Water St. In two blocks, you will arrive at the parking garage and cruise terminal.
