Carnival Cruise Line will reposition Carnival Firenze from Long Beach, California, to Miami in early 2027 via a circumnavigation of South America.
The Italian-style ship will sail three Carnival Journeys voyages as she sails around Cape Horn and north to PortMiami for a seasonal deployment.
In summer 2027, Carnival Firenze will reposition to New York for a series of summer cruises that have not yet been detailed by the line.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze circumnavigated South America when she first joined the fleet in 2024, as the former Costa Cruises’ ship sailed from Europe to her North American homeport, Long Beach, California.
In 2027, she will do a reverse set of South America voyages, this time rounding Cape Horn and heading north, all the way to Miami, where she will homeport on a seasonal basis starting in early 2027.
It will be the first time that Carnival Firenze will be based on the US East Coast, offering her Carnival Fun Italian Style cruise experience on a series of Caribbean voyages. The East Coast trend will continue into summer 2027, when the ship deploys to New York for summer 2027.
Cruise watchers will recall that Costa Firenze became Carnival Firenze a year after Costa Venezia became Carnival Venezia, as both ships were transferred from Costa to sister brand Carnival, allowing Carnival to expand its fleet with Italian flair.
The decor aboard Carnival Firenze was inspired by the Italian city of Florence, while Carnival Venezia sported designs evocative of Venice. Both ships underwent renovations to create Carnival’s signature venues, but with an Italian twist — even Guy’s Burger Joint introduced an Italian-style burger.
Both ships accommodate 4,100 guests in double occupancy.
Carnival Firenze’s three upcoming South America voyages are all Carnival Journeys cruises, which are typically longer itineraries featuring less-visited destinations and offering special onboard activities.
“The South America journeys we’ve opened today truly stand out even among our already impressive lineup of Carnival Journeys cruises that combine our signature fun with spectacular longer itineraries,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
Let’s dive into these Carnival Journeys. The first is a 15-day segment that features the ship’s final departure from Long Beach. Set to depart on January 4, 2027, Carnival Firenze will call at ports in Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru before ending in Santiago, Chile.
Carnival Firenze Cruise Ship
Continuing south and rounding Cape Horn, the ship will then begin a 14-day cruise on January 19, 2027, sailing from Santiago to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The ship will cruise the Darwin Channel and through the Chilean Fjords before calling at Ushuaia and Puerto Madryn, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay.
The final leg is a 16-day sailing that departs Buenos Aires on February 2, 2027 and calls at several ports in Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro during Brazilian Carnival. The ship will visit Grenada, Martinique, and St. Maarten before concluding in her new homeport of Miami.
Winter Series From Miami Includes Carnival Journeys Voyages
A series of Caribbean cruises from 4 to 13 days aboard Carnival Firenze will follow her South America voyages, including 10- to 13-day Carnival Journeys voyages to the Southern Caribbean.
A 4-day Bahamas cruise, for instance, will visit the line’s two private destinations, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key, while 7-day itineraries will call at ports in Mexico, Honduras, Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the USVI.
The ship will remain in PortMiami through early May 2027, when she repositions to New York for summer cruises. Itineraries have not yet been revealed.
Carnival Venezia has been spending her summers in New York since she joined the fleet in 2023. Will Carnival Cruise Line have two ships sailing from the Big Apple in summer 2027? Stay tuned to Cruise Hive to find out.
Carnival Cruise Line is adding fresh, warm donuts as a breakfast specialty treat but with extra charges.
Four donuts plus beignets and churros are on the menu, ranging from $2-7 depending on the order.
The new menu is planned to be rolled out to all Carnival ships but with no timeline for its debut fleetwide.
Specialty dining is wildly popular aboard cruise ships, with restaurants offering elevated dinners from classic steakhouse venues to energetic hibachi experiences. But what about breakfast?
For most cruisers, a trip to the breakfast buffet (that’s where you’ll find me!) or a more relaxed breakfast or brunch in the dining room starts the typical morning. Carnival Cruise Line, however, has just announced a new option: donuts and beignets.
John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, teased about the tempting treat with a Facebook post.
“Coming to your cruise very soon,”he said, sharing the menu for the breakfast delights.
The menu includes four types of donuts, “Made to order & served warm!” Cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, Boston cream, and glazed are the options.
The “Light, fluffy, and featuring New Orleans flavor” beignets come with three dipping sauces: powdered sugar, strawberry sauce, and chocolate sauce.
The menu is rounded out by “Freshly fried golden churros rolled in cinnamon sugar.”
Guests can also opt for a “Breakfast Combo” of two donuts and four beignets. For the combo, guests choose which flavors and sauces they prefer.
There is a twist with these sweet treats, however. Unlike the included breakfast danishes, muffins, and croissants at the buffet or on the dining room menu, the donuts, beignets, and churros have an extra cost.
The donuts are two for $4 or five for $8, while the beignets are a very reasonable four for $3.50. Guests can enjoy five churros for $3 or double up with 10 churros for just $5. The breakfast combo of donuts and beignets is $7.
It is unknown whether or not a gratuity or service fee will be added to the menu prices as well. Typically, and 18-20% fee is added to these types of premium selections.
Carnival Cruise Line Breakfast Treats
While these prices are indeed very reasonable, the fact that there is an extra charge is not sitting well with all Carnival guests.
“Adding a simple food like doughnuts but charging for them is not a good look,”one guest commented.
“I understand specialty restaurants and even charging for some of the better steaks at dinner. But don’t start nickel and diming us at breakfast.”
“[You’re] telling me that I paid almost $3,000.00 for a cruise, and I have to pay extra for donuts?!”another guest exclaimed.“I don’t mind paying extra for steakhouse and drinks, but freakin donuts?!”
To be fair, beignets have always been a staple at the Emeril’s restaurants onboard Carnival’s Excel-class ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. In those locations, they have always been an extra charge.
Guests have also been able to order beignets at the Main Dining Room for breakfast, also with an extra cost.
I’ve enjoyed Emeril’s beignets several times, and the light, fluffy fried dough (warm but not greasy) is well worthwhile. I’m not as thrilled with the dipping sauces, but to each their own.
Heald did not indicate when the fresh donuts would be available fleetwide, but he did confirm they will be coming to all Carnival ships.
He is also going to follow up and see whether or not sugar-free options may be available in the coming weeks.
Not All Snacks Are Free
The coming-soon donuts are not the only small bites that come with an extra fee during Carnival cruises. If guests want popcorn to enjoy during the Seaside Theater movies, for example, they have to pay $4 for each small box.
Candy from the Cherry on Top store, chocolate-covered strawberries from room service, and deluxe pastries from the coffee bar also have extra charges.
Other cruise lines also charge for certain snacks, regardless of the time of day. Premium treats, such as exclusive gelato offerings or gourmet chocolates, often have a nominal charge.
Not all snacks have fees, however. On Carnival ships, guests can enjoy soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt from Swirls, slices of pizza, and all sorts of desserts from the Lido Marketplace buffet without any cost when the venues are open.
Perhaps if the donuts were more elaborate, the cost wouldn’t seem outrageous. I’d happily pay for a maple-glazed donut topped with crumbled bacon and brown sugar drizzle, but probably not for just a standard glazed or powdered sugar donut. How about you?
Margaritaville at Sea introduced 3-night getaway cruises from Florida’s Port of Palm Beach aboard the 1,680-guest Margaritaville Paradise.
The new weekend itineraries, called “Bahamas Duos,” will call at two popular ports in the Bahamas, Nassau and Freeport, Grand Bahama.
At the same time, the cruise line unveiled a Labor Day Flash Sale through September 8, 2025, offering 80% cruise fare discounts on the second, third, and fourth guests sharing a stateroom.
A quick getaway cruise featuring two port call destinations in the Bahamas is the latest offering from Margaritaville at Sea, the Jimmy Buffett-inspired cruise brand that evokes a laid-back Caribbean party vibe.
For the first time, a 3-night voyage aboard Margaritaville Paradise will operate from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida, visiting Nassau, Bahamas, and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.
While unveiling the new itinerary, the cruise line also announced a time-limited Labor Day Flash Sale that offers steep cruise fare discounts for the second, third, and fourth guests sharing the same stateroom.
First, let’s look closer at the new 3-night getaway sailing. The 1,680-guest Paradise will sail five departures of the “Bahamas Duos” cruise. All are weekend trips starting on Fridays and returning to Palm Beach on Monday mornings.
Departure dates are October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2025. The last departure happens on Halloween, but all of the ship’s cruises in October will feature the cruise line’s “Sail the Haunted Seas” Halloween theme.
“With these new 3-night itineraries, guests don’t have to choose between an off-the-beaten-path adventure or sun-soaked, white sand beaches – they can have both,” a statement from Margaritaville at Sea said.
Sister ship Margaritaville Islander will also sport the spooky theme as she sails September and October cruises from the Port of Tampa.
Onboard Paradise, costume parties and Halloween trivia contests will be part of the fun, and some venues will be transformed. For instance, the Hemisphere Dancer bar will become the Hemis-Fear Dancer bar.
Guests who move quickly to book one of the new “Bahamas Duos” cruises can take advantage of the Labor Day sale. Reservations booked between August 25, 2025 and September 8, 2025 are eligible for a whopping 80% discount off the fares for the second, third, and fourth guests sharing a cabin.
Paradise Cruise Ship (Photo Courtesy: Port of West Palm Beach)
Fares for inside staterooms start at $229 per person for all departures except the October 31, 2025 sailing; that one starts at $269. Prices rise based on stateroom and departure date selected, ranging from ocean-view cabins at $239 per person to suites that cost up to $699 per person.
Stateroom selection is free except for suites. The Labor Day sale is valid on all Paradise sailings through December 30, 2026 and on Islander cruises through April 24, 2027.
In addition to the new Bahamas cruises aboard Paradise, the ship sails 2-night “Nassau Getaway” cruises that call at Nassau and 2- and 3-night “Grand Bahama Getaway” voyages, both calling at Freeport.
Cruise Brand Set to Expand With Third Ship
Margaritaville at Sea’s two-ship fleet is soon to become a three-ship fleet, with the cruise line’s planned purchase of a third vessel from Costa Cruises. The ship, the 3,450-guest Costa Fortuna, will be renamed Margaritaville Beachcomber after the vessel joins the fleet in September 2026.
Both Paradise and Islander are former Costa Cruises’ ships — Costa Classica and Costa Atlantica, respectively.
Meanwhile, Margaritaville at Sea recently announced it is relaunching its two-tiered Paradise Pass, which rewards frequent cruisers with the opportunity to lock in prices on future cruises for an upfront price.
The Silver Pass is valid on 2- and 3-night cruises, while the Ultimate Gold Pass is for 4- to 7-night voyages.
Norwegian Aqua completed her first sailing from Manhattan to Bermuda, marking the start of a season of roundtrip cruises to the island through October.
Tri-state area passengers can enjoy one- or two-night overnight visits at the Royal Naval Dockyard.
The ship will reposition to Miami in early October for a winter season in the Caribbean.
It’s not often that cruisers in the tri-state area get to enjoy a brand-new ship for an entire season, with cruise lines often just making a one-time preview visit, but now they have something to celebrate.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest ship, Norwegian Aqua, has just completed her first of several voyages from Manhattan to Bermuda.
The ship, which made her maiden voyage in March 2025, will operate from New York through October 2025, offering roundtrip 5- and 7-night cruises to the Royal Naval Dockyard.
“We’re thrilled to have had Norwegian Aqua kick off her voyages from New York City this past week,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
He said New York is an important market to the company and that the cruise operator that also operates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises is “excited to showcase our newest ship” from the region.
“We look forward to our guests enjoying all the onboard experiences Norwegian Aqua has to offer with their loved ones before relaxing on the pink sandy beaches and dipping into the clear blue waters of Bermuda,” he added.
Not only do guests get to enjoy a new ship, but they also get to enjoy the cruise line’s newest features, including the Aqua Slidecoaster, the first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea, and Glow Court, a digital sports complex.
Norwegian Aqua’s first successful voyage from the city that never sleeps launched on August 22, 2025, and enjoyed an overnight call in Bermuda, arriving at 8 a.m. on August 24 and not departing again until 3 p.m. on August 25.
The second voyage kicks off later today, August 27, for another 5-day itinerary, now that the ship’s inaugural sailing has returned.
Longer 7-night options spend two nights in Bermuda for an even extended visit to the British island.
New Ship, New Fun
Norwegian Aqua’s Bermuda itineraries, designed to provide up to 3,571 passengers with more time ashore, also allow for plenty of time to experience the new ship and discover its amenities.
Families and groups will find a new Aqua Game Zone venue with arcade and virtual reality games, while adults can head to the expanded pool deck or the adults-only Vibe Beach Club retreat, complete with cabanas and hot tubs.
Entertainment onboard includes two major productions. “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” pats tribute to the late music icon with a theatrical experience, while “Elements: The World Expanded” builds on one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s most popular shows.
Guests can also choose from 17 dining venues and multiple nightlife options.
The last roundtrip sailing to Bermuda will conclude on October 4, 2025, and then the 156,300-gross-ton vessel will reposition to Miami to launch a winter program of Caribbean and Bahama cruises on October 7 through April 2026.
These itineraries range from 4 to 7 days and include calls at the cruise line’s private destination, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas, currently undergoing a multi-phase expansion.
The destination will debut a new multi-ship pier, a 28,000-square-foot heated pool, and a kids’ splash pad by late 2025. A waterpark is also scheduled to open in summer in 2026.
Norwegian Aqua will return to New York for passengers who miss this inaugural season, with further roundtrip sailings through October 2026.
An overboard situation from Disney Wish at around 8 p.m. on August 26, 2025, turned out to be a false alarm.
The Disney cruise ship turned around and launched a search and rescue mission.
Cruise Hive will update when more is known about the status of the rescue and any potential changes to the 4-night Bahamas itinerary.
UPDATE:
Since the original report, it has now been confirmed that the overboard was a false alarm. A full rescue operation was launched, including the ship’s rescue boats, following a sighting of a large piece of debris in the water. As a precaution, the ship’s captain initiated a mandatory count of all passengers and crew. Thankfully, everyone was accounted for.
ORIGINAL:
The second man overboard situation of the summer is currently unfolding for Disney Cruise Line.
Tonight, on August 26, 2025, the man overboard alarm has been sounded once again – this time onboard Disney Wish.
The 4,000-guest ship was en route from Nassau, Bahamas, to Castaway Cay (which is Disney’s original private island) when the man overboard announcement was made at approximately 8 p.m. ship time.
“Departed Nassau around 5:30 pm heading towards Castaway Cay. MOB called just before 8 pm. We have turned around. It is dark, so not much to see,”one guest reported.
“We’re on the Wish now, about an hour after leaving Nassau they sounded the man overboard alarm and started throwing life preservers over the port side and started turning around,” another current passenger verified.
This is still a developing situation, and it is currently unknown who went overboard and what circumstances may have led to their fall.
Cruise Hive has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment and will update our readers when more information is known.
The Search is On
The 1,555 crew members working onboard Disney Wish quickly launched emergency protocols, likely following a similar process as what unfolded onboard Disney Dream and allowed for the successful rescue of the father and daughter earlier this summer.
As reported by current passengers, life preservers were thrown overboard, presumably in the area where the person landed.
This helps the person stay afloat until the cruise ship can turn around and come back for them, and also can make them easier to find again.
Per witnesses, at least two rescue boats have been launched, while pictures show a spotlight scanning the water from overhead.
Disney Wish Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
“Two boats were launched, the smaller boat was just recovered with just the crew. The second boat, a life boat, is still in the water. Water is fairly smooth,” one guest updated just before 9 p.m. EST.
At around 9:45 p.m. EST, another passenger informed the cruising community that guests have been called to their muster stations for a headcount and likely to check if any witnesses may have useful information for the search.
“Update: they are calling a mandatory meeting at assembly stations to account for all guests on board,” the cruiser shared.
We can only hope that the person who went overboard will be found and rescued safely, and Disney Cruise Line is surely doing everything in its power to achieve that outcome.
Disney’s crew members will most likely continue searching until they find the missing person, or until first responders from the US Coast Guard take over.
At this time, it’s unclear how the remainder of the current 4-night Bahamas cruise, which embarked from Port Canaveral on August 25, may be impacted.
The second and final port call of the voyage is on Castaway Cay and is scheduled for tomorrow, August 27.
The DCL ship is only around 60 nautical miles from Castaway Cay, which is a pretty short distance for a cruise ship sailing at normal speeds, but all will depend on how long it takes for this unfortunate situation to resolve.
Repairs are now in progress for the Frightening Bolt waterslide onboard Icon of the Seas, from which a glass panel shattered while a guest was riding it earlier this month.
The acrylic glass panel is being replaced with the same solid tubing that is used on the rest of the attraction.
It’s unclear when the repaired slide will actually be back in business onboard Icon of the Seas, or when the identical slide onboard the newly launched Star of the Seas will open.
Few in the cruise community will ever forget the day that the Frightening Bolt waterslide broke open on Icon of the Seas, but Royal Caribbean is one step closer to putting the saga in the past.
While the man thankfully did not fall through the slide, which would have been bad, as Frightening Bolt is the tallest at waterslide at sea at 46 feet tall, he did receive significant skin lacerations.
For Royal Caribbean’s part, the cruise line offered the passenger prompt medical care and closed the attraction on both Icon of the Seas and the brand new Star of the Seas until a thorough investigation could be completed.
But while the cause of the break hasn’t been publicly released, a determination must have been made as current guests onboard the Icon-class flagship have noticed that repairs are now in progress.
Icon of the Seas Waterslide Repairs (Photo Credit: thugsbunny808)
Instead of installing a new acrylic glass panel, crew members appear to be replacing the broken part with a solid piece that is similar to the tubing that is used for the rest of the slide.
“It looks like the slide is currently being fixed. They are replacing the clear plexiglass with a solid piece,”one cruiser shared, along with pictures of a crane and a construction team at work.
“They’re replacing the broken clear section with a piece similar to the rest of the slide,” another current guest verified.
It’s unclear when the Frightening Bolt waterslide will finally reopen. Once repairs are completed, the slide still has to pass inspections and testing to ensure its safety.
Will Star of the Seas Get the Same Fix?
At this time, the identical attraction in the Category 6 Waterpark onboard Star of the Seas remains closed.
“Currently on star and it’s not operational as of yet. We dock tomorrow,”said one cruiser, who is onboard for the 4-night preview voyage that embarked on August 23.
Depending on what Royal Caribbean uncovered in the investigation, it’s possible that the brand new cruise ship will need to undergo the same fix.
“I assume Star will need the same acrylic section replaced on its trap door slide before that reopens,” one cruise fan theorized.
Icon of the Seas Waterslide Breaking Moment (Credit: @pendopopolis)
It’s unclear if the slide will reopen before the 5,610-guest mega-ship embarks on her official maiden voyage on August 31, 2025, in Port Canaveral.
Among the cruise community, the majority have been impressed by the quality of Royal Caribbean’s fix, and the speed at which repairs are being completed.
“This is no surprise to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if the thermal difference between fiberglass (normal slide construction) and acrylic (clear slide construction) contributed to the issue. This is a good fix,”one person reacted.
“Honestly, I expected this slide to be out of action for months. Amazed they’ve moved so fast,” another cruiser chimed in.
As the repairs are completed, safety will no doubt continue to be top of mind for the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean prides itself on often going above and beyond the standards that have been established by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the US Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA).
Extinction Rebellion activists blocked P&O Cruises’ Ventura from docking in Rotterdam on Sunday, August 24.
The ship was delayed for about 30 minutes before local police broke up the protest and arrested two protesters.
This is the group’s second protest in recent weeks, the earlier one being against Celebrity Eclipse in Amsterdam.
Protests against cruise ships aren’t a new phenomenon, whether with signs and billboards or, in the case of a recent protest in Rotterdam, kayaks and oars.
A small group of Extinction Rebellion activists staged a floating protest on the Maas River as P&O Cruises’ Ventura was visiting the second-largest city in the Netherlands.
Using canoes and kayaks, about 15 protestors attempted to stop the ship’s arrival on Sunday, August 24, 2025 by clogging the water near the pier. This prevented the ship from docking on schedule.
Police officers forced the protesters to move to accommodate the ship. Ultimately, two protesters were arrested, but it is not known what charges they may face.
Local media reports note that Ventura was only delayed for about 30 minutes. Overall, the “protest” did not have a significant impact on the ship’s visit or schedule.
Cruisegigant Ventura in Rotterdam geblokkeerd door dappere rebellen 🪧 Kijk live mee via xrtv.nl
The protesters offered a different view of what otherwise appears to be a failed effort, considering the ship did ultimately dock after only the briefest of delays.
“If politicians still don’t ban cruises… we’ll stop them ourselves!”Extinction Rebellion declared in a social media post.
“We blocked the Maas River so that the cruise ship couldn’t dock. Rebels also stood on the quayside to protest and proclaim our demand: Ban cruise ships and close the cruise terminal!”
It’s a bold statement from a very vocal group, but ultimately, has very little impact on the cruise line or port operations in Rotterdam.
Ventura visited Rotterdam as the only port of call on a 4-night sailing from Southampton that departed on Saturday, August 23. The ship is homeported year-round from the UK, offering a diverse selection of itineraries from 4-14 nights.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are both frequent calls for Ventura‘s short sailings, as they are a convenient distance for a quick getaway. Amsterdam is 300 miles from Southampton as the ship sails, while Rotterdam is just a bit further at 320 miles away.
In that incident, about 30 protestors formed a barrier and blocked the ship for about two hours. As Celebrity Eclipse was debarking in Amsterdam, the disruption was far more problematic.
Many different cruise lines visit both ports, including Holland America Line, AIDA Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, and more.
How Can Small Boats Block a Much Bigger Ship?
It seems completely silly that something as small as a meager flotilla of kayaks can stop a massive cruise ship.
After all, Ventura measures 116,017 gross tons and has a maximum passenger capacity of 3,597 guests. A typical 2-person kayak weighs just about 85 pounds and has a passenger capacity of, well, two.
Comparing the ship to the kayaks, it would take 1,799 kayaks to equal the cruise ship’s passenger capacity. In other words, a lot more than the 15 kayaks the “protestors” managed to line up.
Extinction Rebellion and Stop Croisières Block Cruise Ships in Marseille (Photo Credit: Stop Croisières)
In comparing overall size, it would take 220,000 kayaks to equal the cruise ship – a LOT more than 15.
Nevertheless, blocking the cruise ship can be an effective, if very short-term, strategy. The ship certainly will not simply sail over kayakers (that would be a much bigger news story).
Ultimately, however, it isn’t blocking an individual cruise ship that such protest groups want. Raising awareness of the controversy ships can cause with overcrowding, pollution, and other concerns can be a far more effective protest weapon.
If cruise ships are significantly delayed or ultimately cancel port visits due to even small protests, that can have a knock-on effect with unhappy guests, disrupted port operations, and schedule changes.
All of these factors might, in fact, cause cruise lines to reconsider whether or not they will continue to visit cities with frequent protests.
A glass panel on Deck 15 of Royal Caribbean’s brand new Star of the Seas suddenly shattered on the morning of August 26, 2025.
Crew members took appropriate actions to block off the area and no injuries have been reported.
The incident occurred during a preview sailing for the new ship, with her official maiden voyage quickly approaching on August 31, 2025.
The brand new Star of the Seas hasn’t yet set sail on her official maiden voyage, but there has already been some unwanted excitement onboard the second Icon-class ship.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. this morning, August 26, 2025, a glass panel on Deck 15 suddenly shattered, startling guests who were relaxing and tanning nearby.
The panel is one of many that run along the outside of the deck to form an aesthetic safety barrier.
A TikTok user, who goes by Asphalt Mafia on the platform, captured the aftermath of the incident on video as a crew member worked to block off the area.
The poster was one of up to 5,610 guests onboard for Star of the Seas’ second to last preview cruise, which is a 4-night sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas that embarked from Port Canaveral on August 23, 2025.
“Day three on Star Of The Seas while sitting on deck 15 I heard a pop. Like a tire popped. It was tempered glass that shattered,” the cruiser captioned the TikTok.
#shatteredwindowcruising#staroftheseasship#trending#glass#viral Day three on Star Of The Sea while sitting on deck 15 I heard a pop. Like a tire popped. It was tempered glass that shattered. It’s only 85 degrees and 1030 am est. is this a new phenomenon while cruising. Safety is priceless. Did Royal Carribean Order Faulty Glass.
The open area has now been blocked off with what looks like a white tarp and a crowd control barrier as a temporary solution.
There are thankfully no reports of any injuries to guests or crew members.
Hopefully, repairs can be completed ahead of the 248,663-gross ton vessel’s maiden voyage, which is a 7-night sailing to the Western Caribbean that embarks in just a few days on August 31.
Lots of Broken Glass
There is a common saying about “breaking the ice” when meeting someone new, but lately Royal Caribbean ships have been breaking the glass instead.
Indeed, there have been multiple incidents of glass breaking onboard Symphony of the Seas. The third incident of the year just unfolded earlier this month when atempered glass panel broke on Deck 16near the onboard zip line.
Thankfully, the panel cracked, but did not rain glass shards onto the busy Boardwalk area on Deck 6 below the panel.
Crew Member Checking Shattered Glass (Photo Credit: wild_n_free)
And at the beginning of June, a window in the Coastal Kitchen restaurant shattered, with passengers getting out of the way of the debris just in time thanks to crew member Nitin Kumar’s heroic efforts.
Icon of the Seas, which is Star of the Seas’ older sister, has also had some glass-related trouble of its own in the Category 6 Waterpark.
The attraction, which features the biggest drop at sea at 46 feet tall, has been closed onboard both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas until an investigation into what happened is completed.
In all of these situations, it’s unclear what caused the glass to break. It could be anything from incorrect installation, manufacturing defects, changing weather conditions, an unexpected impact, or something else entirely.
But what is clear is that Royal Caribbean always has the safety of its guests and crew members as the top priority, and the cruise line will do everything in its power to investigate the causes and make appropriate repairs.
Cruise directors can make anywhere from around $50,000 per year to over $80,000 per year, with a $67,651 median salary. However, how much one makes depends on quite a few factors, including level of expertise, the cruise line and location.
Here’s everything you need to know about how much you can make as a cruise director and how to become one.
According toSalary.com, cruise directors from the United States make a median salary of $67,651. Some, though, make much less than this, while others make much more. The bottom 10% base salary can hover at around $56,000 per year, while the top earners can make as much as $80,450 per year.
There are a lot of factors that influence how much cruise directors make.
How Cruise Director Salaries Differ According to Geography
Cruise directors make more when they’re based out of certain cities. According to Salary.com, directors in the following cities all make more than $75,000 per year, putting them above the median salary.
San Jose, California
San Francisco, California
Oakland, California
New York City, New York
Queens, New York
Parasmus, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey
Bergenfield, New Jersey
Stamford, Connecticut
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Not unsurprisingly, a lot of these top-paying cities both are situated near cruise hubs, and are also cities with high costs of living.
How Cruise Director Salaries Differ According to Cruise Line
According to Columbia, the cruise line you work with will impact your salary as well. The more luxurious the cruise line, the more likely that they’ll pay you more.
The university estimates that luxury cruise lines will pay salaries around $80,000–$120,000; mid-range cruise lines will pay salaries around $50,000–$90,000; and budget cruise lines will pay salaries around $40,000–$70,000.
How Cruise Director Salaries Differ According to Ship Size
Additionally, Columbia noted, cruise directors will often make more on larger ships.
Large and Small Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
This makes a lot of sense, as a cruise line’s biggest ships are often newer or flag ships that thousands of people will look forward to sailing on — so a cruise line will put a cruise director with a higher experience level at the helm. The large amount of experience required plus the high level of responsibility results in larger paychecks for cruise directors.
Columbia estimates that cruise directors on large ships make around $80,000–$120,000; cruise directors on mid-size ships make around $50,000–$90,000; and cruise directors on small ships make around $40,000–$70,000.
What Does a Cruise Director Do?
A cruise director is, in essence, the face of the cruise, or the face of fun, if you will. They’re interacting with guests and making sure they have the best possible time. This sounds like an easy job if you love cruising, but it’s actually a lot of hard work!
Cruise Director Jake (Photo Credit: Jake Miller)
On a day-to-day basis, cruise directors might:
Organize social events and activities
Manage staff related to social events and activities
Welcome guests to the ship
Provide guests with recommendations for what to do, both on the ship and in port
Ensure guests are behaving appropriately
Provide customer support to cruise guests when necessary
Provide support in the event of a cruise ship emergency
Make daily cruise ship announcements
Source and scheduling cruise ship entertainment
Host their own entertainment, such as game shows
Gather cruise passengers’ feedback and adjusting the experience accordingly
It’s also worth noting that a cruise director job isn’t one that you can just leave at the end of the day. Cruise directors are contracted to work on the ship for a certain amount of time — such as six months or so — and they often work all day long. As such, it’s important to have a true passion for the job.
Perks of Being a Cruise Director
There are many benefits to becoming a cruise director, starting with, obviously, the ability to spend every day, all day cruising around the globe, exploring different cultures.
However, for those who love to entertain, be around people and provide memorable moments for those around them, a role as a cruise director can be exceptionally fulfilling.
How to Become a Cruise Director
Pursue the Right Education
If you’re interested in becoming a cruise director, you’ll want to start with pursuing the right education, such as a degree in hospitality, communication, tourism, business administration or entertainment (like theater).
If you don’t have a degree in one of these fields, you may be able to make up for that with enough years’ relevant job experience.
Cruise Director on Royal Caribbean
It can also be very helpful to be fluent in a foreign language (or a few foreign languages!). Then, a cruise line could assign you to cruise routes that travel to countries wherein that language is spoken, making it easier for you to work with locals. Likewise, this skill can help you better accommodate international cruisers.
You may also want to pursue additional certifications, such as those offered by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This type of continual education can boost job prospects throughout the entirety of your career as a cruise director (resulting in a higher salary!).
Develop the Right Soft Skills
Beyond education, though, many cruise lines are also looking at applicants’ soft skills. Successful cruise directors are excellent communicators, leaders and problem solvers.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
They’re able to think on their feet, remain calm in a crisis and adapt as necessary. They also typically have very entertaining, funny and charming personalities.
Get Some Prior Job Experience
Most cruise directors do not go straight from getting a degree in hospitality to a cruise director role. Many start out in lower positions on a cruise ship and then work their way up, as cruise lines appreciate applicants with prior experience living and working on a cruise ship.
You might get a role as a cabin steward or activity director, for example, or a role as a cruise ship entertainer. Many Carnival Cruise Line cruise directors start out as a member of the Carnival Fun Squad before being promoted to cruise director status.
Examples of Real Life Cruise Director Backgrounds
Fleet Cruise Director, Lee Mason (Photo Credit: Lee Mason)
You can look at the resumes of prominent cruise directors working in the industry today, to see their career paths and what led them to becoming cruise directors. This will give you an idea of what you might need to similarly do.
For example, popular cruise director Leon Smith (who we’ll discuss more momentarily) has a degree in theater and music education, and held roles as a Chuck E. Cheese cast member and Nickelodeon resort activity host before becoming a cruise director.
Similarly, cruise director Lee Mason has a degree in musical theater, and held roles as an entertainment manager, performance host, radio presenter and assistant cruise director, before becoming a cruise director at Carnival Cruise Line.
Examples of Cruise Director Job Listings from Real Cruise Lines
At least three years in the entertainment industry
Cruise ship experience
On-mic experience
Experience managing budgets
At least three years of management experience (preferably)
Additionally, the cruise line notes it’s looking for cruise directors that are charming, engaging and able to train and mentor other staff.
On Princess Cruises, meanwhile, cruise director applicants are required to have at least five years of experience hosting events, activities, shows or theatrical performances.
MSC Virtuosa, Le Grand Theater
Princess Cruises likewise looks for applicants with charismatic, funny and lovable personalities. Applicants are also required to submit a head shot, as well as an unedited, unscripted video that includes a summary of the applicant’s life story, a recounting of a funny life moment, a welcome speech to cruise guests and other details that give hirers an idea of one’s stage presence.
At MSC Cruises, the cruise directors lead teams of hundreds of other individuals, so the cruise line is looking for applicants with leadership experience, as well as experience having worked with a cruise line, and in entertainment or presentation.
Applicants should all be knowledgeable of the cruising industry in general, and MSC Cruises likes cruise directors to be fluent in at least two European languages.
Career Path for Cruise Directors
While a cruise director job in general can seem like a great opportunity for someone who loves cruising, the opportunities don’t stop there. Once you become a cruise director, you have many more career paths ahead of you.
Fleet Cruise Director
Leon Smith Fleet Cruise Director Announced
For example, some cruise directors are promoted to what’s known as a fleet cruise director. A fleet cruise director is a leadership position overseeing other cruise directors for a cruise line. A cruise line can have multiple fleet cruise directors.
Often, cruise directors are awarded this role after they’ve spent many years with a cruise line and proven that they can deliver a superior cruiser experience, with every cruise.
For instance, in early 2025, Carnival Cruise Line promoted cruise director Leon Smith to fleet cruise director. Smith has been with Carnival Cruise Line since 2015 and is one of the line’s most beloved cruise directors with avid cruisers. He’s also worked on more than a dozen of the cruise line’s ships, as well as received many awards, such as Cruise Director of the Year.
Another opportunity for cruise directors? Many now take their effervescent personalities into the online realm, by posting about their journeys to social media, basically becoming influencers, which comes with its own career opportunities.
It’s nothing new for avid cruisers to quickly come to know who their favorite cruise directors are, and to specifically book cruises where that cruise director is in charge.
With so many cruise directors taking to social media in a broader way now, though, it gives cruisers yet another way to connect with these individuals vital to their cruising experience.
Popular cruise directors-turned-influencers include Christine Kesteloo, a former cruise director with 141k-plus followers on Instagram and 1 million-plus followers on TikTok, and who currently sails with her husband, who works as an engineer on Holland America ships.
There’s also John Heald, a UK-based senior cruise director for Carnival Cruise Line, who became a cruise director in 1990 and now has a following of more than 600k on Facebook.
Kyndall Fire, similarly, has 165k followers on Facebook, and currently works as a cruise director for Carnival Cruise Line, recently wrapping up a contract on Carnival Jubilee.
Other, more “micro” influencers include Carnival Cruise Line fleet cruise director Lee Mason, with 30k followers on Facebook; and Mark Walker, a Royal Caribbean cruise director with 53k followers on Facebook.
Is Becoming a Cruise Director Right for You?
So is becoming a cruise director right for you? It all depends on your career goals and whether or not you feel you have the right personality and mindset for this very unique role. It’s definitely not a job that’s for everyone, or even for everyone who loves cruising.
You’ll need to be comfortable staying at sea for months at a time, and love entertaining, being around lots of people and putting your cruisers’ needs first.
If, though, that sounds right up your alley, then becoming a cruise director can be an enjoyable career that comes with a very comfortable salary.
