Blog Page 20

Royal Caribbean Guests Warned Toilets Will Be Out of Action

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Guests Warned Toilets Will Be Out of Action

Key Aspects:

  • Toilets in affected areas of Oasis of the Seas will be unable to flush during two 2-hour intervals on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
  • The ship’s vacuum system, which is necessary for flushing operations, must be temporarily shut off for essential maintenance.
  • Oasis of the Seas will be docked in Nassau, Bahamas, at the time of the shutdown, so fewer guests should be impacted.

Guests onboard Oasis of the Seas have received an unusual notification letter about a critical onboard system that will not be available for several hours on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Due to plumbing maintenance, the toilets onboard will not be operational for two separate 2-hour periods.

Oasis of the Seas departed New York City on her current 7-night Perfect Day Bahamas cruise on Sunday, September 27, albeit later than originally planned due to delays related to the nor’easter impacting the region. The ship skipped her planned visit to Port Canaveral on Tuesday, September 29, but will still be visiting Nassau on September 30 and Perfect Day CocoCay on October 1.

The letter delivered to guests’ staterooms on Tuesday (and shared on Facebook) explained the plumbing maintenance that would be taking place while the ship is in Nassau.

“To ensure our plumbing system continues to operate at the highest standard, our team will be performing essential maintenance that requires temporarily shutting off the ship’s vacuum system,” the letter explained. “During this time, toilets will not be operational.”

The work is scheduled for two periods, from 10 a.m. to noon and then again from 1-3 p.m., both on Wednesday, September 30.

“Our team will be working diligently to ensure everything is fully restored and functioning properly by 3:00 PM, allowing you to continue enjoying your vacation without interruption,” the letter reassured guests.

Because Oasis of the Seas is scheduled to be in port from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (changed from the original time of 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. due to the storm-adjusted itinerary), these two non-flushable windows are both when more guests ought to be off the ship, therefore minimizing how much impact this temporary toilet shutdown may have.

Oasis of the Seas Plumbing Letter
Oasis of the Seas Plumbing Letter

The letter does not specify whether the entire ship will be impacted by the shutdown, and guests onboard the ship have commented on Facebook that the letter was only received on select decks.

Some guests on Decks 11 and 12 have received letters, but others on Decks 6, 9, 10, and 14 have not. Some letters may not yet be delivered.

Not the First Toilet Shutdown for Oasis of the Seas

Interestingly, this is not the first time in recent months that Oasis of the Seas has temporarily shut down the vacuum system, disabling the onboard toilets.

Cruise Hive reported an identical maintenance letter on July 29, 2026, with the exact same time windows for the shutdown, also while the 5,602-guest ship was docked in Nassau.

Because Royal Caribbean has not detailed the exact type of “essential maintenance” necessary for either shutdown, it is unknown whether it is the same problem in September as the ship experienced in July, or if there may be completely different difficulties.

Read Also: How Do Cruise Ships Get Rid of Human Waste?

Cruise ship toilet systems can be finicky and signage in every restroom, including individual staterooms, reminds guests not to flush anything other than human waste and the provided toilet paper.

Cleansing wipes, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and other materials can quickly clog the toilet system and cause backups, often impacting multiple adjacent staterooms and necessitating emergency repairs before the toilets can flush properly again.

Federal Operation Removes Dozens of Cruise Ship Crew Members in Boston

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Federal Operation Removes Dozens of Cruise Ship Crew Members in Boston

Key Aspects:

  • A total of 87 cruise ship crew members have been removed from ships at the Port of Boston since mid-August 2026 for association with child sexual exploitation or abuse materials.
  • The removals have been part of Operation Tidal Wave, which also removed crew members from ships in San Diego in April and San Juan in June and July.
  • No cruise ship operational changes or delays have been associated with Operation Tidal Wave or the removal of crew members.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in a joint operation with Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, has removed 87 cruise ship crew members from various vessels at the Port of Boston since mid-August 2026.

The ongoing operation, titled “Operation Tidal Wave,” is targeting crimes involving child sexual exploitation materials (CSEM) and child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). This includes the possession, use, procurement, production, or distribution of these types of materials, all of which is strictly prohibited.

Phase 1 in San Diego in April 2026, which included “administrative enforcement actions” against 27 crew members from six different ships, including Disney Magic.

Phase 2 was in San Juan during June and July, with 14 crew members removed and one reportedly accepting federal prosecution.

In mid-August, 11 crew members from two ships, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway and Holland America Line’s Volendam, were removed at the Port of Boston.

CBP confirmed that six additional crew members were removed from Norwegian Breakaway on Sunday, September 20 and admitted to the offense during later interviews. On that date, the 3,903-guest ship had just completed a 7-night Canada and New England cruise and was beginning another similar 7-night itinerary.

Removals in the past six weeks have involved a total of 87 cruise ship crew members. No identifying information about the individuals has been disclosed other than they are not US citizens.

In this type of case, the individuals allegedly involved in CSEM and CSAM would be processed for removal from the US under Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for crimes involving “moral turpitude.”

“The success of Operation Tidal Wave reflects the unwavering dedication of our officers and partners to protect the most vulnerable,” said Julio Caravia, Acting Director of Field Operations. “Let the removal of these 87 be a message to others: we will not accept this exploitation and CBP will not stop identifying and arresting the individuals who participate in it.”

Cruise Arrests and Boston Cruise Ships
Cruise Arrests and Boston Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: CBP & Wangkun Jia)

Under federal law, non-US citizens involved with CSEM or CSAM may face criminal prosecution, removal of conditional landing, and a 10-year ban on being readmitted to the US. Individual cruise lines may have additional penalties against removed crew members, such as employment termination and a ban on future employment.

Which Cruise Ships Have Been Involved?

No details have been confirmed about the exact cruise ships that have had crew members removed in the past few weeks, only that the operation has been “consistent throughout the summer” in the Boston area, with 87 crew members removed since mid-August.

From mid-August through the end of September, ships from various cruise lines have been homeported at Boston or visited as a port of call, including Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Norwegian Cruise Line, AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Princess Cruises, and Cunard Line, among others.

Similarly, authorities have not specified how many crew members have been removed from any individual ship or if any ship has had multiple crew members removed at different times.

No operational changes or delays have been reported for any cruise ship involved in Operation Tidal Wave.

The nature of the materials collected that have led to the removal of these crew members has also not been disclosed, though prior removals have included comprehensive searches of crew members’ living quarters, including electronic devices.

More From Cruise Hive

Operation Tidal Wave uses intelligence to identify and initiate enforcement actions against crew members who are determined to be associated with illicit CSE/CSA materials.

The operation is planned to continue at the Area Port of Boston through the end of the fiscal year. US Customs and Border Protection, as an agency of the federal government, operates its fiscal year from October 1 through September 30.

It is unclear whether the operation may move to a different region or cruise homeport and continue in the new fiscal year.

Steaming Water Floods Hallway on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas

Calvin Musquez
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0
Steaming Water Floods Hallway on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas

Key Aspects:

  • A suspected broken line aboard Harmony of the Seas sent water pooling through a passenger corridor shortly before 7:00 a.m. on September 29.
  • One passenger who filmed the incident believes only two staterooms were actually flooded and praised Royal Caribbean crew members for responding quickly.
  • Less than two hours later, affected carpeting had been removed and drying equipment was already being used as cleanup continued.

On a cruise, many guests enjoy soaking their feet, but for guests aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, this activity happened not at the pool, but in the hallway. Following a suspected broken line, water began pooling through a carpeted hallway on the 226,963-gross-ton ship.

One guest shared a video of the incident on Facebook, saying the incident occurred shortly before 7:00  a.m. on September 29, 2026. The video shows water flowing like a river down a section of the carpeted hallway, past some staterooms, including hers.

“That’s a first for me in 92 cruises!” said the passenger. “There’s a busted line on Harmony of the Seas. This isn’t a common occurrence, and the crew is handling it really well.”

According to the guest, the water was hot enough to steam up her phone as she recorded the flooding. However, the passenger did not report any burns or injuries as a result.

The guest believes that only two staterooms were flooded during the incident. She further commended the ship’s crew for their quick handling of the situation.

In a follow-up, shared around two hours after the initial video, the guest posted an image of the now water-free hallway, looking into a stateroom, where a crew member can be seen at work. The carpet inside the stateroom had already been pulled up, while crew members had deployed drying fans.

Flooding on Harmony of the Seas
Flooding on Harmony of the Seas (Credit: Kendra the Cruising farmer)

“Less than two hours after the flooding on Harmony of the Seas, the carpet has already been pulled up in the affected room,” said the guest.

It is not yet clear what caused the line to fail or exactly what type of line was affected. Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on the incident, and no alteration to the ship’s itinerary has been announced.

Incident Occurred Ahead of Cozumel Call

The incident occurred on the fourth day of a five-night Western Caribbean cruise. The 5,697-guest ship departed Port Canaveral on September 26, 2026, and called at the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day CocoCay, on the 27th. 

Based on the ship’s itinerary, the incident occurred shortly before the ship’s scheduled arrival in Cozumel, Mexico, for the final call of the cruise. Harmony of the Seas is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on October 1, 2026.

Burst Pipes Are a Recurring Problem at Sea

In spite of the guest’s assertion that such incidents are uncommon, this is far from the first time a burst pipe has caused problems on Royal Caribbean sailings. In July 2026, Cruise Hive reported on another viral video showing a room flooded by an apparent burst pipe on another Oasis-class vessel, Allure of the Seas.

A month later, in August, video surfaced of yet another water leak situation that had developed aboard Quantum of the Seas. As a result of another suspected burst pipe, water flooded down a stairwell near the Royal Esplanade, creating an impromptu waterfall.

These issues are not exclusive to Royal Caribbean, however. Cruise Hive has also reported similar incidents on other cruise lines, including Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, and P&O Cruises.

In May 2026, Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess got its own unexpected water feature on Decks 4 and 5, following a burst pipe. Additionally, MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaview experienced a burst pipe in January 2026, and guests on P&O Cruises’ Azura found their cabin flooded in January 2025.

Carnival Festivale Reaches Construction Milestone as Ship Floats on Water

Calvin Musquez
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Carnival Festivale Reaches Construction Milestone as Ship Floats on Water

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Festivale has officially floated on water at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany for the very first time.
  • In May 2027, the ship will debut with a 15-day transatlantic voyage from Southampton before beginning year-round cruises from Port Canaveral.
  • The 182,015-gross-ton vessel is Carnival’s fourth Excel-class ship following Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship has officially hit the water for the first time, marking one of the most significant milestones in the construction of Carnival Festivale before the big float-out from the construction hall.

The cruise line shared a video of the milestone on Facebook, showing the vessel floating up at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. To be clear, this is not the official float-out ceremony.

“Another exciting milestone for Carnival Festivale! She’s officially in the water and one step closer to her maiden voyage,” Carnival wrote.

The floating marks a turning point in the Excel-class ship’s construction that began on April 8, 2025, with a steel-cutting ceremony. This was followed by the ship’s keel-laying four months later in August 2025. 

In March 2026, the ship’s construction reached another major milestone when its engines were officially installed. Cruise Hive most recently reported on the vessel’s construction progress in August 2026, when work included the installation of its azimuth thruster pods.

While the 182,015 gross ton ship is now afloat, work aboard Carnival Festivale is far from complete. Construction will now progress through its next phases ahead of the ship’s 2027 debut.

https://youtube.com/shorts/hs8vp3I9Prg

Attention will increasingly turn to outfitting the vessel’s interior spaces and completing its onboard systems ahead of testing. Eventually, the ship will head to sea for a series of sea trials, during which its navigation, propulsion, maneuverability, and other systems will be put through their paces before delivery to Carnival Cruise Line.

Festivale Moves Closer to 2027 Debut

Carnival is expected to take delivery of the vessel in spring 2027, though the specific delivery date has not been announced. The ship will welcome its first guests on May 2, 2027, with a 15-day transatlantic maiden voyage to Port Canaveral.

This voyage will depart from Southampton and call at La Coruña, Vigo, Madeira/Funchal, Tenerife, and Grand Turk. It will arrive in Port Canaveral on May 16, 2027, where it will begin year-round Florida deployment, operating primarily six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises.

A traditional naming ceremony is expected sometime after the ship’s debut. However, there has been no official announcement of the ceremony’s date nor of who the ship’s godparent may be.

What Can Guests Expect Aboard?

At 1,133 feet in length with capacity for 5,356 guests at double occupancy, Carnival Festivale will become one of Carnival’s largest ships to date. It is the fourth Excel-class vessel, joining Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. 

Following Carnival Festivale, a fifth Excel-class ship, Carnival Tropicale, is also under construction at Meyer Werft. Tropicale shares many of the features coming to Festivale and is slated to debut in 2028.

Festivale will introduce several features not found aboard its three Excel-class sister ships. Among the most prominent is Sunsation Point, a family-focused outdoor area spanning three decks.

The area will include WaterWorks Ultra, which Carnival has described as its largest water park at sea. Six waterslides will be featured, including two family raft slides that can accommodate multiple guests at once. The ship will also introduce new music-themed spaces and expanded accommodations designed for families.

Mom Arrested After Cruise, Accused of Leaving Four Kids Home Alone

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Mom Arrested After Cruise, Accused of Leaving Four Kids Home Alone

Key Aspects:

  • A 29-year-old woman, Nathalie Belizaire, allegedly left her four young children home alone while she went on a Carnival Conquest cruise that departed on Friday, September 25, 2026.
  • The father of one of the children, a 2-month-old infant, grew concerned about the children’s well-being and discovered they were home alone without any adult supervision.
  • Authorities arrested Belizaire at PortMiami when the ship returned on Monday morning, September 28, on four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.

Many parents enjoy a kid-free cruise getaway now and then, but before doing so, they typically make arrangements for the safety and care of their children with grandparents or other relatives or friends.

One woman, Nathalie Belizaire, did not do that, but instead set sail while allegedly leaving her four children home alone while she enjoyed a 3-night sailing onboard Carnival Conquest.

According to Local10 News, the 29-year-old Belizaire left her four minor children alone but had told the father of her two-month-old child that the youngsters would be in the care of their great-grandmother.

The man had seen a social media post from Belizaire featuring the cruise. He went to Belizaire’s apartment on Saturday night, September 26, to check on the children but only heard a television and young voices, without any apparent adult presence.

He called 911 and first responders were able to force their way into the apartment, where police said all four children were found without adult supervision, hiding together in the bathroom.

One of the children is just two months old, and another is two years old. The ages of the other two children have not been disclosed, and no further details about where they are now have been released.

According to NBC Miami, Belizaire was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when Carnival Conquest returned to PortMiami on Monday, September 28, 2026, and was later handed over to the North Miami Beach Police Department. She faces four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.

The 2,980-guest cruise ship had departed PortMiami on Friday, September 25 for the 3-night Bahamas sailing, with a visit to Carnival Cruise Line’s private island destination, Celebration Key, on Sunday, September 27.

Carnival Conquest Docked in Miami, Florida
Carnival Conquest Docked in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Colinmthompson)

Belizaire is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami with her bond amount yet to be set.

According to Online Sunshine, the charges Belizaire now faces are a third-degree felony under Florida Statute 827.03. If convicted, she may face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each of the four counts she can be charged with.

Not the First Similar Case

This is not the first time a parent has left their children unattended to take a cruise. Cruise Hive reported on a similar incident in April 2024, when 29-year-old Lakesha Woods Williams left her two children, ages 8 and 6, home alone while she went on a cruise.

Concerned neighbors reported the incident after seeing the Houston woman leave her apartment with luggage but failing to return for her children, which prompted a welfare check by local authorities.

Going on cruises does not exempt guests from local laws, and there are regular arrests at cruise ports when individuals either attempt to set sail or return from a cruise. Authorities can catch violations such as failure to pay child support, credit card fraud, identity theft, and other outstanding warrants when they check guests’ identities for cruise travel.

More From Cruise Hive

Cruise lines cooperate fully with authorities but generally do not comment publicly on such arrests. There is no report of Belizaire having any difficulties onboard Carnival Conquest.

There were also no reports of any delays to Carnival Conquest, which departed on her next sailing, another 3-night itinerary to Celebration Key, the same day Belizaire was arrested.

Princess Cruises Hikes Package Prices and Shakes Up WiFi Plans

Calvin Musquez
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0
Princess Cruises Hikes Package Prices and Shakes Up WiFi Plans

Key Aspects:

  • Princess Cruises is increasing the daily prices of Princess Plus and Princess Premier by $5 for voyages departing October 13, 2026 onward.
  • Standalone WiFi pricing will also change, with Princess introducing a two-device option and adjusting its one-device rates.
  • The standalone four-device WiFi plan will be discontinued, although four-device access will remain included with Princess Premier.

Princess Cruises passengers will soon pay more for two of the popular bundled packages. The cruise line is increasing prices for Princess Plus and Princess Premier by $5 per person, per day.

These cruise package bundles include drink packages, casual dining, room service, WiFi, crew appreciation, and more. Princess Premier also includes unlimited specialty dining and drinks, shore excursion credits, reserved theater seating, and professional photos.

Princess Plus will increase from $65 per day to $70 per day if purchased pre-cruise. If purchased onboard, the price will rise from $70 per day to $75 per day. Meanwhile, Princess Premier will increase from $100 per day to $105 per day if purchased pre-cruise. The onboard purchase price rises from $105 per day to $110 per day.

Prices for Plus and Premier were already $5 higher aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess. Those prices are also expected to increase to $75 pre-cruise and $80 onboard per day for Plus and $110 pre-cruise and $115 onboard per day for Premier.

This adjustment in package prices may sound familiar to avid Princess cruisers. Cruise Hive reported on the last increase in July 2025, when Premier rose by $10 and Plus by $5.

“We periodically review our offerings to ensure they continue to provide meaningful benefits while reflecting changes in our operating environment,” Carmen Roig, Senior Vice President, North America Sales and Trade Marketing for Princess Cruises, wrote in a letter to travel advisors.

“We believe both packages offer strong value.”

Enchanted Princess Cruise Ship
Enchanted Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Princess Cruises has not announced any changes to the benefits included in these packages. One important detail in the letter to travel advisors is that the crew appreciation included in these packages still goes directly to the crew.

The price increase will go into effect for voyages departing on or after October 13, 2026. The first U.S. sailing to be affected by this increase will be a sold-out 10-night Mexican Riviera sailing aboard the 3,080-guest Ruby Princess departing October 13 from San Francisco.

WiFi Options Also Changing

The bundled packages aren’t the only thing changing on October 13. Princess is also restructuring its standalone WiFi options, eliminating one, adding another, and adjusting prices.

Princess offers several WiFi package options, operating under its MedallionNet network. This service utilizes SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet to provide high-speed connectivity at sea.

The biggest change coming is the discontinuation of Princess’s standalone four-device WiFi package. While four-device connectivity itself isn’t disappearing entirely, it will remain available only as a benefit of Princess Premier.

Instead, Princess is introducing a new two-device package. This will be priced at $39.99 per day if purchased pre-cruise or $47.99 per day if purchased onboard for the full voyage. The package can also be purchased onboard for a single day, if cruisers only need temporary connectivity. That option is priced at $55.99.

More From Cruise Hive

Additionally, the pricing of the one-device WiFi plan is also being adjusted. That package will now cost $27.99 per day if purchased pre-cruise, $33.99 per day if purchased onboard for the duration of the cruise, and $39.99 for a single day.

These changes leave cruisers with fewer standalone options for connecting multiple devices. Guests who need connectivity for more than two devices will have to rely on the four-device access included with Princess Premier, while those purchasing WiFi separately will be limited to the one and two-device plans.

Royal Caribbean Cancellation Penalties Are Changing Next Month

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Cancellation Penalties Are Changing Next Month

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean is simplifying its cancellation penalty structure for new deployment bookings and will roll out the changes to all new bookings from October 11, 2026.
  • The cruise length tiers for cancellation are being adjusted to 1-4 nights, 5-9 nights, and 10 nights or longer instead of the current structure of 1-4 nights, 5-14 nights, and 15 nights or longer.
  • Part of the simplification is removing the 25% cancellation penalty for all sailings that previously had it, but it has not been confirmed whether the remaining existing cancellation windows will be adjusted.

Royal Caribbean has notified its travel partners of an impending update to the cruise line’s cancellation penalty schedule that will begin on October 11, 2026.

The notification email was sent to travel partners on Monday, September 28, 2026 and notes that the penalty structure is being refined for more consistency and ease of understanding.

“We’re simplifying our North America cancellation penalty structure by consolidating sailing length categories and streamlining penalty tiers,” the email explained.

Currently, Royal Caribbean’s cancellation policy tiers are broken into sailings from 1-4 nights, 5-14 nights, and 15 nights or longer. Under the new policy, the categories will now be 1-4 nights, 5-9 nights, and 10 nights or longer. This means guests on 10-14-night cruises will now be subject to the highest policy tier, rather than the middle tier.

Furthermore, the 25% penalty window is being eliminated for all sailing lengths. While this smaller penalty for earlier cancellation has not been available to sailings of 1-4 nights, it has applied to 5-14 night cruises when cancellation is made 89-75 days prior to embarkation, as well as 15 nights or longer sailings if cancellation was made 119-75 days before embarkation.

Royal Caribbean has not yet disclosed whether the remaining cancellation days-before-sailing tiers will be adjusted or if the percentage of the cruise fare that is the cancellation fee will be changed.

Under the existing policy, the cancellation charge changes based on the length of a cruise and when guests cancel their reservation.

For sailings of 1-4 nights, there is no fee (except for nonrefundable deposits) if guests cancel 75 days or more before sailing. If guests cancel from 74-61 days before sailing, the fee is 50% of the cruise price, while it is 75% of the cruise price if guests cancel from 60-31 days before sailing. At 30 days or less before sailing, there is no refund.

If guests are booked on longer sailings, the only change to the cancellation timeline is the 25% penalty tier, which is from 89-75 days or 119-75 days before embarkation based on cruise length. This is the tier that is being eliminated from October 11, 2026.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas in Miami
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in Miami (Photo Credit: JMT Photography and Media)

Also starting on October 11 is a more rigorous, consistent application of the third and fourth guest cancellation penalties. Royal Caribbean notes that while the policy for those penalties is not changing, the penalties will no longer be waived on an individual basis.

“Moving forward, the system will calculate and apply the appropriate penalty percentage to the canceled guest’s cruise fare based on the booking’s penalty status at the time of cancellation,” the email explained.

Which Sailings Are Impacted?

While most new bookings will still be under the current penalty structure until October 11, Royal Caribbean has clarified that new Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal and transpacific bookings for the 2028-2029 deployment season will be subject to the new structure immediately.

Read Also: When Is the Best Time to Go on a Cruise for Each Region?

“All new Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, and Transpacific 2028 sailings opening tomorrow, September 29, 2026, will be subject to this new cancellation penalty structure,” the email confirmed.

“Effective October 11, 2026, these updates will apply across all new and existing deployment[s].”

Cruise Hive previously reported that Royal Caribbean will begin releasing new itineraries from the week of September 28 covering Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean with additional sailing region deployment plans yet to be announced.

The email does note that this adjustment to the penalty structure so far only applies to North America sailings. Penalties for European cruises or voyages in other parts of the world may vary and could be subject to their own changes in the future.

Tributes Pour In for Longtime Carnival Cruise Line Captain

Calvin Musquez
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0
Tributes Pour In for Longtime Carnival Cruise Line Captain

Key Aspects:

  • Longtime Carnival Cruise Line Captain Francesco “Ciccio” La Farina died on September 26 following a battle with cancer.
  • La Farina’s friend, Jorge Solano, announced his passing on social media.
  • Former colleagues and crew members are remembering La Farina as a humble and respected captain.

On September 26, 2026, longtime Carnival Cruise Line Captain Francesco “Ciccio” La Farina died, following a battle with cancer. His passing was announced on Facebook by friend Jorge Solano, prompting an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and cruisers.

“Last night, September 26, at 10:15 PM, Captain Francesco La Farina ‘Ciccio’ La Farina took his final voyage to Heaven,” Solano said. “You will remain in our hearts, our memories, and our prayers. Fair winds and following seas, Captain.”

La Farina’s LinkedIn profile lists maritime roles dating back to 1999. He spent years commanding Carnival cruise ships, including Carnival Freedom and Carnival Magic. Cruise Hive reported in 2024 that Carnival Magic, with La Farina at the helm, faced difficulties in Ocho Rios after strong winds caused the ship to hit the pier.

The ship had to briefly depart the pier, with some guests still ashore, delaying the voyage overnight. No injuries were reported, and the ship’s services remained operational while La Farina kept guests updated on the situation.

According to a post by Linda Spanky Warhaftig on Facebook, Carnival stepped up for the captain as he battled cancer. While she said she could not get into details, she assured well-wishers that the company provided much-appreciated assistance during that difficult period.

“As a corporation they didn’t have any obligation, to do all the things they did or take the actions for Francesco,” she said. “It was impressive what Carnival did and the amount of assistance they provided.”

Captain Francesco LaFarina (Ciccio)
Captain Francesco LaFarina (Ciccio)

While details of the captain’s battle with cancer are sparse, according to Jorge Solano, he fought bravely until the end. Solano said that La Farina was surrounded by family in his final moments. 

Colleagues and Cruisers Remember Captain La Farina

As news spread of La Farina’s passing, friends, colleagues, and Carnival cruisers flooded social media with tributes and remembrances. Former colleague Trevor Nugent recalled working alongside La Farina during multiple stages of his career, including while he served as Safety Officer, Staff Captain and Captain.

“Very great man very humble and respectful,” Nugent wrote, adding that La Farina would be “surely missed.”

One former colleague similarly remembered La Farina as “absolutely amazing to work with and sail with”. A cruiser described him as “one of my favorite captains in the fleet.”

Other former crew members focused on how La Farina treated those working under him. One wrote in Spanish that she would always remember the captain and how he cared for his crew.

Former crew member Suri Asih shared a photo of La Farina alongside a brief tribute. Asih expressed that she was proud to have once been a member of his crew.

Linda Spanky Warhaftig also remembered La Farina as a captain who enjoyed walking around his ship and interacting with guests, helping make him a familiar presence beyond the bridge. She expressed to cruisers just how much La Farina enjoyed his role with Carnival.

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“Most of all know this – Francesco ADORED all of you! He truly loved walking his ship and interacting with his guests,” Warhaftig said. “He genuinely loved mostly everything about being a ship Captain.”

The many tributes shared following La Farina’s passing reflect the impact he had on both the crew members who worked alongside him and the guests who sailed under his command. Cruise Hive extends its deepest condolences to La Farina’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those who knew him.

More Than 100 Men Unknowingly Wear Matching Shirts on Star of the Seas

Melissa Mayntz
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0
More Than 100 Men Unknowingly Wear Matching Shirts on Star of the Seas

Key Aspects:

  • Photos of a coordinated shirt prank are circulating on social media after more than 100 men fell for the fun on Star of the Seas.
  • The shirt meetup was on Caribbean night during the ship’s June 14, 2026 sailing and involved identical red Hawaiian shirts.
  • Such pranks are arranged all in good fun over social media but don’t usually have quite so many participants.

More than 100 men fell for a spectacular prank onboard Star of the Seas during the ship’s June 14, 2026 sailing with a coordinating look they won’t soon forget. Photos of the event resurfaced recently and have quickly gone viral.

Theme nights are common on cruise ships, and many guests enjoy planning their attire to match the theme, whether it’s white night, an 80s party, or in the case of the pranksters, Caribbean night.

Wives, girlfriends, family members, and traveling companions planned the prank with matching tropical shirts. After all, tropical button-down shirts are a common cruise choice and the natural option for a coordinated prank without raising suspicion.

The red Hawaiian-style shirt featured a sunset pattern with islands, waves, and palm trees. The design is a popular one, and it’s not unusual on a cruise ship that can welcome 5,610 guests at double occupancy (up to 7,600 when all berths are filled!) for one or two or even more passengers to have the same fashion style.

But how likely is it for more than 100 guests to wear the same shirt on the same night? Quite likely indeed, when the fashion fun is coordinated by pranksters.

According to the Instagram account loyal.to.royal, the idea was proposed in a Facebook group and quickly turned into a larger-than-life prank for one of the world’s largest cruise ships.

The group was set to meet near The Pearl at 7 p.m. on Caribbean night. While the first few men to arrive might not have noticed the coordination, the intention quickly became clear as more and more (and more!) men arrived with the exact same shirt.

“I’ve been victimized, violated. I might as well just turn in my man card right now,” one guest said in a video shared on Facebook as he was approaching the group and realized the prank. Female laughter can be heard in the video’s background.

Star of the Seas Same Shirt Prank
Star of the Seas Same Shirt Prank (Photo Credit: Katelyn Gensler)

Once all participants arrived at The Pearl, a group photo commemorated the event. Men of all ages are happily smiling for the snapshot, and a few women joined in on the shenanigans as well. The photo has garnered more than 18,000 likes on Instagram.

“This was fun!” one woman commented on Facebook. “It was great to be on the Promenade and my husband and a few other reacting to each other until they realized what was happening!”

Star of the Seas was sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that departed Port Canaveral on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The ship visited Perfect Day CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts before returning to the Sunshine State on Sunday, June 21.

Prank Not Unheard Of

The prank of coordinating bright and distinctive shirts is not a new one, but it’s not often that such a large group pulls off the event with such a positive response.

Some guests are inspired by the success of the red Hawaiian shirts and will be arranging their own variations on upcoming cruises.

“We’re doing this with blue Hawaiian shirts,” one guest commented.

The key to a successful dress-up prank is that the shirts (or other attire choice) must be appropriate to the cruise so they don’t raise suspicion, and ideally, the clothing should be easily available in a wide range of sizes to encourage more participation.

More From Cruise Hive

Coordinating the prank through social media is ideal, but it’s important to lock down the exact day and time of the group meet-up and prank reveal so everyone can join in.

“Did this on our last cruise,” one guest noted. “However they switched the day and meet time so not everyone saw the post.”

Not all guests purchase WiFi packages or stay connected once onboard, so any last-minute changes can derail the spectacular scale of such a prank.

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