Just hours after attending a muster drill for the first night of an 18-night voyage to Canada and Greenland, passengers aboard Island Princess were rushing to their muster stations due to a fire.
The 92,822-gross-ton Princess Cruises vessel had departed from New York City at 4 p.m. on July 14, 2025, and less than 12 hours later experienced an emergency.
The fire was reported around 6 a.m. Nova Scotia time, and according to guests, an alert was sounded.
The captain announced shortly afterward that it was “contained and under control,” though firefighting efforts were still underway at the time to ensure there was nothing missed.
Just after 7 a.m., the captain returned with the “all clear.”
“It took about an hour to put it out,” said the guest. “No reports of any injured crew members or passengers.”
The incident appears to have occurred on Deck 12 in the galley that serves the ship’s Lido area, which serves a casual buffet.
“Lido smelled of smoke and had limited food available as of 30 minutes ago, but no other disruptions,” came the early reports.
No official statement has been issued by Princess Cruises as of press time on July 15, 2025, but onboard communication has confirmed the emergency has passed and the ship is continuing safely on its voyage.
Island Princess is scheduled to arrive at its first call, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 16. The ship will also visit nearby Sydney, Nova Scotia, and St. Johns, Newfoundland, before crossing the Labrador Sea to Greenland.
Up to 2,210 passengers will then enjoy stops in four Greenlandic ports – Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, Paamiut, and Nuuk – before returning to New York on August 1, 2025.
Swift Response Praised
While fires on cruise ships are rare, they are considered one of the most serious emergencies that can occur at sea. When a fire occurs, it must be handled immediately to prevent smoke or flames from spreading.
Every major cruise line, including Princess Cruises, maintains a trained firefighting team onboard. These crew members are part of the ship’s safety operations and are trained to contain and put out fires.
Passengers with life jackets make their way to muster stations aboard Island Princess. (Video Still: Christina Wandell)
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires ships to have stringent fire safety regulations in place, including fire-resistant materials, automated detection and suppression systems throughout the ship, and clearly marked escape routes.
In the case of Island Princess, the fire was located in a galley, a known high-risk area due to cooking, grease, and electrical connections.
Passengers praised the crew’s quick response, albeit a scary moment.
Said one passenger, “Good reactions by the crew and captain.” He added he was an ex-aircraft carrier sailor and that fires occurred onboard a couple of times a week.
“I know it’s not as common on cruise ships, but a good crew and quick reaction time can usually take care of business,” he said.
In addition to the fire, another guest shared that Island Princess also had a medical emergency in the middle of the night.
“Last night, around 2 to 3 am, there was a medical evacuation via helicopter and this morning around 6 am, there was a fire on deck 12, which was just put out,” he said. “Things have been exciting thus far on my first Princess cruise!”
Cruise Hive is seeking comment about the fire from Princess Cruises and will post further updates, if needed.
Many people opt to book their cruise vacations through a travel agent because the travel professional will handle all the planning and organizing on their behalf.
Especially for first-time cruisers who are nervous about the process, having an expert to guide them as they plan their vacation can be the path of least resistance.
But what happens if you lose access to your travel agent before you set sail? One Carnival cruise guest is finding out the hard way after their travel agent actually died.
“All was fine, confirmed booking confirmation through carnival, email receipts, etc. But as I made my final lump sum payment through her provided payment link 7/3 I received a receipt of payment via email. But no charge to my card,”the future guest explained on Reddit.
“With the holiday upcoming I assumed it was that, about a week went by and still no charge on my account for the balance. So I reach out to the travel agent via email and phone and unlike before I received no response,” they continued.
Unfortunately, the guest didn’t realize that there was an issue until they reached their final payment, although it’s not clear when the deadline was.
If the final payment deadline is missed, Carnival Cruise Line may cancel the person’s cruise and retain the deposit, which can happen automatically and without warning.
The reason behind the agent’s mysterious disappearance, after she had previously been appropriately communicative, was unfortunately a tragic one.
“A few days later I received a text from the travel agents phone number saying she had passed from terminal cancer,”the cruiser said.
The Redditor, who had booked the sailing to celebrate their cousin’s 30th birthday, seemed to not be aware that their agent was sick in the first place.
Their cousin actually used the same agent and had recommended her in the first place, but is now likely in a similar bind.
Whoever sent the message did not advise on next steps and didn’t give an alternate point of contact, leaving the guest scratching their head on what to do next.
Options Moving Forward
When passengers retain a travel agent, they become the point of contact between their guests and the cruise line.
So, while guests with travel agents can still call the cruise line for help, the customer service representatives will often direct them back to their private travel professionals.
Even so, this cruiser’s initial instinct to call the cruise line directly for help was correct. And although it came with some extra hassle, it does appear Carnival was able to help.
Perhaps more importantly, the cruise line is now aware of the circumstances, which may give the future passenger more time to ensure their final payment is made.
Carnival Glory Cruise Ship int he Bahamas (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
“I was on hold for about an hour and half and they still couldn’t fix it totally during the call,”the guest shared.
“They made notes and are going to have everything swapped from her over to me so I can have control over my booking through the website and hub app.”
In order to access cruise bookings through the Hub App or online, guests need to be able to provide their booking number, their last name, their birthday, the ship name, and the sail date.
The confused cruiser could also check to see if his travel agent had been part of a bigger travel company, who could potentially transfer the booking to a new agent or help transfer everything to the client.
Although the guest identified the professional as a “small time travel agent,” it’s very possible that she was still working under a larger parent company.
It’s also sometimes possible to transfer bookings to a new agent at a different company entirely, but many cruise lines do not allow these transfers after the final payment due date has passed.
Personally, I have always felt most comfortable booking sailings directly through the cruise lines or through larger travel agencies so that I stay in control of my reservation or know that someone will always be there to assist.
A recent Carnival Cruise Line guest had a rather gross question that has made me question if I can ever go swimming on a cruise ship ever again.
After observing their fellow passengers spending hours in the pools, the Carnival Magic guest couldn’t help but wonder if his fellow cruisers were considerate enough to get out to use the bathroom.
Of course, this is a question that can apply to any ship, resort, waterpark, or public facilities on land that have pools. This cruiser just happened to have recentlysailed on a Carnival ship.
They inquired on Reddit: “Many people seemed to stay in pool for hours at a time. Most of those people had drinks delivered to them for hours. Almost none of them seemed to get out of pool. Are these people just peeing in the pools all day long?”
They continued: “I only put my feet in once and decided not to again. At least I observed them draining and cleaning pools nightly. Are people that ignorant and don’t care?”
The idea of urinating in pools isn’t just gross, but it actually can be dangerous
While urine itself is sterile, other contaminants like sweat and microscopic fecal matter that can make people sick may come out with the stream (for lack of better terms).
As a mini chemistry lesson, chlorine and urine can also react to formirritating chemicals called chloramines, which lessen the amount of chlorine available to destroy germs and can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
Unfortunately for my sanity, the cruise community largely felt that at least some of their fellow passengers were almost definitely peeing in the pool.
“Simple answer…yes.I rarely go in the pools anyway due to the crowding. I guarantee my 4 year old used the bathroom more times on that pool deck than probably more than half the adults there. And there was never a line…”one cruiser replied.
“Same as any public pool, swim at your own discretion lol,” another joked.
Others had more faith in their fellow passengers and noted that not all bladders are created equal, meaning some people might be able to stay in the water for a long time without a bathroom break.
How Carnival Keeps Passengers Safe
None of the cruise lines – Carnival included – just let passengers turn the pools into their personal toilets willy-nilly.
While there isn’t really a way to detect urine in the water, guests who are caught in the act are removed and disciplined.
She was swiftly dealt with by onboard security and crew members promptly cleaned up her mess.
Carnival Cruise Ship Lido Pool (Photo Credit: Michelangelo DeSantis)
If a “Code Brown” happens, meaning someone has pooped in the pool, the pool is immediately shut down for draining and enhanced sanitation.
To try to avoid this, Carnival has a strict policy in which children in diapers and/or children who are not potty trained are not allowed in the pools.
Additionally, Carnival is required to follow strict water treatment and sanitation standards that have been established by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
This includes treating the pool water and jacuzzis with chlorine to disinfect the water and consistently monitoring the chemical levels and pH of the water.
Finally, Carnival’s policy strongly urges guests to follow hygienic guidelines when swimming, including showering before entering the water and sitting out when experiencing stomach upset or fever.
With 1.7 million cruise guests sailing to Juneau, Alaska, every summer, the Juneau Assembly has identified a way to increase the city’s revenue.
The local government is moving forward with a proposal for a new seasonal tax that would be put in place from April through September annually, which coincides with the peak cruise season.
During those months, the sales tax would be hiked up to 7.5%. For the remainder of the year (October to March), the tax would then drop to 3.5%.
For context, the sales tax is currently set at a flat 5% year-round, so this would be a fairly significant change.
If the proposal makes it to the ballot and is passed, lawmakers have suggested an implementation date of January 1, 2026.
The proposal is ultimately meant to try to balance the overwhelming impacts of cruise tourism on the local community during the high season with the opportunity for economic gain that could be put back into maintaining and improving Juneau.
“In what is an increasingly seasonal economy, it makes sense to capture maximum yield when you have all these folks in town,” Assembly Member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs told KTOO.
Assembly Member Neil Steininger has also previously stated that the plan would ultimately lower the cost of living for the more than 31,000 people who reside in Juneau.
This also wouldn’t be the first time a system of this nature has been implemented in Alaska, as other popular cruise ports like Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway all use a seasonal sales tax system.
The city of Ketchikan has a sales tax rate of 8% from April to September, which drops to 5.5% between October and March.
Sitka’s seasonal tax increase is more moderate, with taxes set at 6% from April 1 to September 30 and 5% for the rest of the year.
Finally, Skagway has a sales tax of 5% for these same peak months, which decreases to 3% from October to March.
Later in July, the finance committee will hear public comment on the proposal before making the final decision on if it should be added to the ballot for the 2025 municipal election in October.
How Will Seasonal Taxes Impact Cruisers?
Many people, between cruisers and locals, may not be happy with this news.
Since a partial exception was revoked in 2022, the cruise lines have been on the hook for sales tax in Juneau, Alaska, for transactions occurring within the Gastineau Channel.
This is a key waterway in southeastern Alaska that separates the mainland from Douglas Island near Juneau, and many cruise ships do use this channel to reach the Juneau Cruise Port.
If the cruise lines have to pay greater sales tax, they may then pass the expense onto their passengers through increased prices on new reservations.
Additionally, this means that shore excursions, shopping for souvenirs, and even buying food or drinks while visiting the port would become a bit more expensive for passengers.
All that said, future guests shouldn’t worry too much about the seasonal tax, as we won’t know if it will pass for several months.
The proposal may also be revised or might not pass at all depending on the public reception, which hasn’t been entirely positive.
Some locals expressed that they felt they were being penalized for an over abundance of cruise tourism.
It’s worth noting that there is currently a daily limit of five large cruise ships in the port, with the number of passengers capped at 16,000 on Sundays though Fridays and 12,000 on Saturdays.
“It will lower the cost of living during the winter. In the summer it screws us over if we have to buy anything,”one resident said.
“Why not just up the docking fees for the cruise ships and not burden the people who live here,” another questioned.
Others who rely on tourism for their livelihoods felt that this was an “anti-tourist” push that went a step too far.
On July 14, 2025, MSC Cruises announced a new lineup of itineraries for their ships homeporting in the United States during the summer of 2027.
The cruise line has been focused on deploying its most innovative ships at ports in the US, including the newest ship in the fleet, MSC World America.
“Travelers will have access to a range of North American sailings during our summer 2027 season, with a variety of options ranging from tropical getaways to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, to scenic itineraries through Alaska,”shared Lynn Torrent, the President of MSC Cruises North America.
First, both MSC World America and MSC Seaside will be homeporting in Miami, where guests will get to experience the cruise line’s state-of-the-art PortMiami terminal.
The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes stops in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas.
On the other hand, the Western Caribbean itinerary on this ship includes stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras, and Ocean Cay.
As mentioned above, also in Miami will be the 153,516-gross-ton MSC Seaside, which will be doing 3- and 4-night sailings departing on Fridays and Mondays.
These shorter voyages make only two stops, which are both in the Bahamas, including Nassau and Ocean Cay.
In neighboring Port Canaveral, MSC Grandiosaand MSC Seashore will have a similar cadence to the ships sailing out of Miami.
MSC Grandiosa features 7-night sailing departing on Saturdays all summer, with alternating itineraries between the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
The Eastern Caribbean sailings visit Nassau, Ocean Cay, and Puerto Plata — while the Western Caribbean one visits Nassau, Ocean Cay, Cozumel, and Costa Maya.
MSC Seashore will be having 3- and 4-night itineraries embarking every Thursday and Sunday, which will call on Nassau and Ocean Cay.
The only shipsailing out of Galveston during the summer in 2027 will be MSC Seascape, which is offering 7-night itineraries visiting Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.
Cruisers looking to sail out of the Pacific Northwest will be able to do so on MSC Poesia, which will be homeporting in Seattle and cruising to Alaska.
While theitineraries for the Alaskan cruises are still being finalized, it is not unlikely that they will be all that different from MSC Poesia‘s2026 summer sailings out of Seattle.
Beginning in May 2026, this vessel will offer 7-night itineraries that call on Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and the Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska, as well as Victoria, Canada.
It is not a guarantee that the summer 2027 sailings will be the same as the ones in summer 2026, but it is not unlikely that cruisers will see a lot of these popular Alaskan ports on the final itinerary.
Truly, MSC Cruises is bringing some of its best and biggest ships to be deployed in what will likely be a very busy summer season in 2027.
Is There a Possible Addition to the 2027 Summer Sailings?
Currently, MSC World America’s sister ship, MSC World Atlantic, is under construction and set to begin voyages year-round out of Port Canaveral in February of 2027.
Unlike MSC World Asia, which is set to launch in 2026, bookings for MSC World Atlantic are still unavailable. It is known at least that the itineraries will highlight the Caribbean.
However, if the vessel does launch as planned in 2027, it will more than likely join the summer sailing lineup alongside MSC Grandiosaand MSC Seashore in Port Canaveral.
Cruisers eager to get on the world-class ship during its first-ever summer season should keep an eye out for when bookings become available, which will hopefully be soon.
Though the full scope of the summer 2027 sailings is not quite available yet, there are already more than enough options to choose from if you are ready to book!
After more than a decade of rumors, it looks like the Titanic may set sail again.
Or more accurately, a modern-day replica of the famed RMS Titanic, once called the unsinkable ship before its ill-fated meeting with an iceberg in 1912.
Titanic II, the project of Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer, is officially on the books to set sail from Southampton, England, in June 2027, nearly 115 years after the original liner did the same.
“We are very pleased to announce that after unforeseen global delays, we have re-engaged with partners to bring the dream of Titanic II to life,” said Palmer in a statement.
The announcement was confirmed by Blue Star Line, the company Palmer oversees, that is managing the project.
The new vessel plans to recreate the iconic Titanic’s appearance, from its grand interiors to class-based accommodations that millions have grown to recognize following James Cameron’s recreation of the ship for his blockbuster movie.
However, this new vessel will meet modern safety standards, including an extra deck solely dedicated to lifeboats and improved visibility from the bow of the ship.
Palmer announced his dreams to recreate the Titanic (with a happy ending) back in 2012. Construction was originally set to begin in 2014, but the project has faced multiple delays, including financial setbacks and the pandemic.
Although Palmer visited Harland & Wolff, the original builders of the first Titanic, the shipyard has not been contracted to build the new version.
Now Blue Star Lines says it will set sail in 2027, despite lacking a shipbuilder. In fact, Blue Star Line is seeking proposals from shipbuilders who may be interested in taking on this lofty endeavor.
While the announcement is clear that Palmer fully expects Titanic II to set sail in 2027, bookings are not yet available.
A Tale of Two Titanics
RMS Titanic, built for the White Star Line, was one of the largest and most luxurious passenger liners of all time. Launched in 1912, she measured roughly 883 feet in length.
Designed with 16 watertight compartments and a double bottom, Titanic was considered nearly unsinkable, but carried only 20 lifeboats, even though her capacity was over 3,500.
Titanic 2 Third-Class Cabin (Rendering: Blue Star Line)
Setting sail from Southampton on April 10, 1912, she struck an iceberg four days later and sank, leading to the loss of around 1,500 lives and remaining one of the worst maritime tragedies in history.
Titanic II seeks to resurrect the same iconic look and feel. The ship will maintain a nine-deck, near-883-foot profile with classical exteriors. But it will be 56,000 gross tons instead of the original’s 46,329 gross tons.
Under the hull, engineering modifications include a welded structure versus the original’s riveted plates, a wider beam, reduced draft, and stabilizers for smoother sailing. Notably, the vessel will use diesel-electric propulsion, replacing the coal-fired boilers and steam engines.
Four funnels will remain, with only one functioning and the others a creative way to house staircases and ventilation systems.
Onboard amenities will mirror Titanic’s Edwardian grandeur, including a grand staircase, period-style first-class dining rooms, Turkish baths, and recreation decks that some say may even include games reminiscent of the original voyage.
Passenger capacity for the modern ship is expected to be about 2,435 guests in 835 cabins, supported by nearly 900 crew members. (The original ship could hold more than 3,500 passengers and crew but sailed that fateful journey with about 2,224 total.)
Meanwhile, modern navigation, advanced radar, and communication systems will also be integrated throughout the ship.
I recently had the honor of interviewing Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu about the cruise line’s impressive growth as the brand looks forward to welcoming its fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, in September 2025.
But with the fleet of Lady ships about to grow, I couldn’t help but reflect back on how the adults-only cruise line got its start in the competitive cruise industry.
I went on a deep dive into who owns Virgin Voyages, how it was founded, and how its cruise ships offer their “sailors” a one-of-a-kind cruising experience.
Virgin Voyages’ Sir Richard Branson (Photo Courtesy: Virgin Voyages)
English Business Magnate Sir Richard Branson is the famous founder of the cruise line, but he didn’t do it alone.
Instead, the cruise line was officially born on December 4, 2014, through a collaboration between the Virgin Group (which Sir Branson owns) and Bain Capital.
Ownership of Virgin Voyages still falls under the Virgin Group and Bain Capital today.
The idea to add a cruise line to the Virgin Group, which also owns the Virgin Atlantic airline and a total of eight Virgin Hotels between the UK and the US, was first conceived in 2011.
Current CEO Saverimuttu, who was a Virgin Group Executive at the time, and Tom McAlpin, who was CEO of a private residential cruise ship named MS The World, get credit for conceptualizing the idea.
Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu
Saverimuttu then brought Bain Capital into the fold, who helped conduct market research to prove that there would be space on the world’s oceans for an adults-only cruising experience.
Over the course of three years, the men raised $700 million from Bain Capital, which became the lead investor in the brand, as well as more than $1 billion from private investors and institutions.
When Did the Cruise Line Launch?
The Fleet
Launch
Gross Tons
Guest Capacity
Current Homeports
Scarlet Lady
October 6, 2021
110,000
2,770
Miami, Barcelona, Athens
Valiant Lady
March 18, 2022
110,000
2,770
Miami, San Juan, New York
Resilient Lady
May 14, 2023
110,000
2,770
Miami, Athens, San Juan
Brilliant Lady
September 5, 2025
110,000
2,770
Miami, Seattle, LA
On June 23, 2015, Virgin Voyages announced that it had signed an agreement with the popular Italian shipyard, Fincantieri, to construct its first three Lady ships. Fincantieri is commended as the largest shipbuilder in Europe.
The plan was to deliver three ships back-to-back, all of which would be 110,000 gross tons with a capacity for around 2,800 passengers plus 1,150-1,160 crew members.
The mid-sized ships were initially expected to launch in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Of course, this had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down cruising operations for months and slowed construction.
Scarlet Lady came first. Though she was supposed to enter service on April 1, 2020, her maiden voyage did not embark from her homeport of Miami, Florida, until October 6, 2021.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady (Photo Credit: EQRoy)
Up next was Valiant Lady. Even with pandemic-related construction delays, including floating out two months behind schedule, she officially launched on March 18, 2022, with a 3-night maiden voyage from Portsmouth, England.
Resilient Lady came the following year, with her inaugural voyage setting sail on May 14, 2023, from Athens, Greece.
Launching three cruise ships in less than two years (and in the wake of a pandemic) is a hugely impressive feat, but the cruise line wasn’t done.
Just over two years since this accomplishment, Brilliant Lady will be launching in September of 2025.
No additional new builds have been announced for after Brilliant Lady, but my recent conversation with Saverimuttu showed that the cruise line has no plans of slowing its forward momentum.
How Has Leadership Changed?
Photo Courtesy: Virgin Voyages
Sir Richard Branson remains involved in guiding the cruise line as its owner and founder.
He is known to join select special event sailings, such as the celebratory “Red Hot” voyages, and to personally take part in surprise giveaways.
The most noticeable change within Virgin Voyages’ leadership structure has been with who has filled the role of CEO and President.
Tom McAlpin first filled the role and was appointed when the cruise line was first established in 2014. He stepped down from the head of the companyin 2023, but is still involved as the current chairman.
The CEO role then went to Saverimuttu, who had previously acted as the Chief Commercial Officer from the Virgin Group and as President and Chief Experience Officer.
Filling a Niche in the Cruise Market
Passengers on Resilient Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: JTTucker)
A major factor behind Virgin’s success, which I spoke about at length with Saverimuttu, is that the cruise line will only ever be an adults-only brand. This means guests must be above 18 years old to sail.
Virgin Voyages offers these adults-only cruising experiences at a more affordable price point than other luxury adults-only brands, with mostly inclusive sailings averaging at $250 to $300 per night.
Because kids are never and will never be allowed onboard, the cruise line was able to craft an experience specifically for adults in ways that other major brands like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line can’t.
For example, balcony cabins feature their own hammocks for relaxing, which wouldn’t be safe with kids around.
Spaces that might normally be used for family friendly entertainment have also been dedicated to cultivating the ultimate culinary experiences for more mature palettes.
Image Courtesy: Virgin Voyages
Instead of using traditional buffets, the eateries on Virgin’s ships are a bit more intimate and have their own dedicated kitchens.
Everything is made to order by teams led by Michelin-star chefs, which ensures quality and lessens food waste.
The vibe is also a lot more casual, with no strict dress codes and no set dining times, so guests can relax, party, and eat at their leisure.
For guests looking to stay active, there are of course a variety of options from themed parties for dancing to a variety of included group fitness classes.
All in all, the experience onboard is a lot like visiting an innovative boutique hotel, which has helped the brand stand out from its competitors.
Virgin Voyages’ Net Worth
Virgin Voyages Funnel (Photo Credit: George Wirt)
Determining the exact net worth of the brand is difficult because it’s a private company, but estimates from 2023 suggested it was around $3.8 billion at the time (and I wouldn’t be surprised if the number has grown).
Virgin Voyages has a robust sales presence in the US and Europe, including throughout Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands.
In 2022, the company also secured a $550 million investment from BlackRock, an investment management and financial services company, that helped pave the way for the brand’s continued growth.
At the beginning of this year, Virgin Voyages experienced record-breaking bookings and revenue during the 2025 Wave Season, with bookings up 34 percent year-over-year and revenue climbing by 45 percent.
Where is Virgin Voyages Headquartered?
Photo By: Robin Hill/IA Interior Architects
Virgin Voyages’ is currently headquartered in Plantation, Florida, which is only about 37 minutes away from the Cruise Capital of the World (Miami).
If you are interested in experiencing Virgin Voyages’ niche onboard experience for yourself, bookings can be made by visiting the cruise line’s website or calling the cruise line.
You can also book through Cruise Hive with our new booking feature, which often comes with significant discounts.
The cruise line offers a variety of itineraries to destinations through the Caribbean and the Bahamas, Europe, and even Australia, so there should be a sailing that checks off bucket list destinations for everyone.
Once Brilliant Lady enters service, the cruise line will begin offering cruises from Los Angeles and to Alaska (from Seattle) for the first time in its history.
I know I will certainly be trying to get onboard when Brilliant Lady is in my hometown of Los Angeles, and I’ll hope to see many of our readers there!
In today’s digital age, it’s still a surprise that cruise lines print tickets for shore excursions, but Celebrity Cruises is changing its procedures.
Guests setting sail to the Bahamas recently on Celebrity Reflection received a letter from the cruise line touting a “subtle but meaningful update.”
In the letter, Celebrity Cruises announced that the ship’s Shore Excursions have transitioned to a fully digital format, so passengers will no longer need printed tickets.
“All your shore excursion details will now be conveniently accessible through the Celebrity Cruises app on your mobile device,” the Shore Excursions Team said, reminding passengers to stay connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi to access the app.
This shift means the Sea Pass card, used for room access and onboard purchases, will now double as the verification needed for excursions.
“There’s no need to worry if you don’t receive a physical ticket. Your Sea Pass card will serve as your key,” said the team.
Instead of a ticket, passengers can scan their Sea Pass at designated meeting points to allow excursion staff to confirm bookings and participation.
Celebrity Cruises, like other cruise lines under Royal Caribbean International’s umbrella, has been gradually digitizing more of its onboard processes.
While the letter did not say if this digital movement is fleetwide, it most likely is the direction the cruising line is taking, following on the heels of Carnival Cruise Line’s May 2025 announcement that it would be forgoing paper shore excursion tickets and move to digital check-ins.
Passengers on that cruise line use their Sail & Sign card and the Carnival HUB app for shore excursions.
Cruising in the Digital Age
The shift to digital shore excursion tickets aboard Celebrity Reflection is just a blip in a larger movement to improve efficiency when sailing.
Embarkation, for example, used to be more tedious, involving printed boarding passes and long lines. Now, it’s becoming more streamlined through mobile apps and digital IDs.
Most cruise lines allow guests to check in ahead of time using their apps, uploading necessary documents, questionnaires, and security photos before even arriving at the terminal.
On embarkation day, guests simply show a barcode or QR code on their phones for scanning. For cruise lines like MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean, facial recognitionis being used at select ports to speed up identity verification.
Once onboard, apps become central to the cruise experience. Guests can unlock stateroom doors, track luggage, and see real-time updates on onboard events and activities.
Dining reservations, show tickets, spa appointments, and even kids club check-ins are also more likely to be handled digitally. In fact, many ships offer interactive maps and push notifications, so passengers know when activities begin or if a venue is reaching capacity.
Digital wallets linked to passenger accounts have also replaced the need to carry cash or credit cards. Room keys or wearable tech like Disney Cruise Line’s DisneyBand or Royal Caribbean’s WOW Band act as a contactless payment tool.
Disembarkation is also getting a digital upgrade. Some cruise lines now assign departure groups via the app, allowing guests to track their place in line and avoid waiting in crowded lounges.
Even custom declarations, once filled out by hand, can now be submitted electronically in advance in many ports.
And for those without smartphones, many ships still provide in-room TV and kiosks displaying much of what is available on the app.
Now if only we could find a way to stay digital but keep adding stamps to our passport books for the coolness factor.
While losing a ship to dry dock in the heat of summer vacation time tested the patience of Carnival Cruise Line guests sailing out of New Orleans, the wait is finally over – and was well worth it!
The 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Liberty is back in action out of New Orleans, bringing exciting new features and a refreshed look after a major dry dock.
The ship resumed week-long sailings to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean on July 13, 2025, taking up to 2,974 happy passengers back to sea.
The ship now includes the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, a venue designed to recognize US military personnel and their families. First introduced on Carnival Panorama, the addition makes the popular bar available on 15 ships in the fleet.
Also joining in the fun is a new WaterWorks aqua park featuring updated waterslides, including the spiraling AquaTunnel and the long, winding Twister slide.
The ship’s mini golf course, located on the Sun Deck, was also redesigned, while the onboard Arcade on the Promenade Deck received new gaming stations and entertainment options for younger guests.
Families will find improvements across Camp Ocean and Club O2, the cruise line’s dedicated spaces for kids and teens, while adults looking to relax can do so in the new Cloud9 Spa.
The completely overhauled spa space features new décor, updated beauty stations, modern steam rooms, upgrades to the adjacent fitness center, and a new Elemis Boutique.
Speaking of boutiques, retail areas aboard Carnival Liberty were also reorganized with refreshed FUN Shop displays and a new High Spirits liquor store.
The ship’s casino also got a facelift with a new layout and additional slot machines and gaming tables.
Even guest services got an overhaul with updated photo services, a Dream Studio for personalized sessions, and the addition of a Carnival Adventures desk to provide passengers with a centralized location to learn about and book excursions.
Carnival Cruise Line also made accessibility improvements, expanding accessible pathways and enhancing ADA features in several public spaces and staterooms.
Dry Dock Hiccups
Carnival Liberty’s seven-week drydock began on May 17, 2025, but the refurbishment didn’t go entirely as planned.
Midway through the scheduled work at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, a labor stoppage forced Carnival Cruise Line to abruptly shift the ship to a different facility.
The strike, which involved thousands of metalworkers, disrupted multiple shipyard operations and, as a result, the cruise line was forced to cancel the ship’s planned July 6 cruise from New Orleans.
Carnival Liberty Heading to Marseille Dry Dock (Photo Credit: Barcos Por Cadiz)
Carnival Liberty was transferred to the Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard in France, where refurbishment was finished. (The cruise line has since filed a lawsuit against Navantia for the disruption.)
Her first sailing post-refurbishment is a Western Caribbean itinerary. After departing Port NOLA on July 13, the ship will call in Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning on July 20, 2025.
The following week, the vessel will sail a Bahamian route that includes its first visit to Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination.
That itinerary also features calls in Key West, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas.
Carnival Cruise Line has more in store across its fleet with Carnival Mardi Gras set to begin dry dock September 27 to October 15, 2025, followed by Carnival Conquest in January 2026.
