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Water Surges From Pool as Carnival Ship Suddenly Lists in Mississippi River

Catie Kovelman
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Water Surges From Pool as Carnival Ship Suddenly Lists in Mississippi River

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Valor briefly listed while transiting the Mississippi River in the early morning hours of August 17, 2026.
  • According to passengers, a cargo ship had lost power and was stuck in the dark, forcing the cruise ship to make a hard right turn when it was finally spotted.
  • There is no damage to the Carnival ship and no serious injuries were reported.

Guests sailing onboard Carnival Valor experienced a fright on the final night of a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise.

In the early morning hours of August 17, 2026, the 110,000-gross ton ship listed, scaring passengers. At the time, the 2,980-guest ship was transiting the Mississippi River on its way back to the Port of New Orleans for disembarkation later that morning.

According to guests who were onboard, the ship made a sudden, hard right turn to avoid a cargo ship that was stuck in the river without power. They said the ship listed, or dramatically tilted, on its starboard (right) side in the process of avoiding a collision.

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the incident in a statement to Cruise Hive, but did not comment on the presence of a powerless cargo ship.

“On August 17, Carnival Valor experienced a brief listing while transiting the Mississippi River. Vessel movements of this nature can occur during normal navigation, and the circumstances are being reviewed,” the cruise line wrote.

Carnival Valor Listing
Carnival Valor Listing (Photo Credit: Michael Bell)

One of the passengers onboard also captured the situation in a video, which he posted on Facebook. In the short clip, water from the pool can be seen flooding onto the deck as some guests shouted exclamations in the background.

“This happened last night on Carnival Valor. The captain had to make a hard right turn because a cargo ship lost power and it was sitting there in the dark. He saw it at the last second. It felt like the ship was gonna tip over,” the guest captioned the video.

While it surely seemed scary at the moment, cruise ships are designed for stability and it’s very unlikely that Carnival Valor would actually tip over.

Carnival Valor Resumes Normal Operations

The Carnival ship was quickly righted and has resumed normal operations. There was no damage to the cruise ship and no serious injuries were reported. Medical assistance was provided to a small number of guests who requested it.

“As a result of the movement, water from a swimming pool washed onto a portion of the open deck. Our crew responded immediately, and medical assistance was offered and provided to a few guests who requested it,” Carnival noted in the statement that was sent to Cruise Hive.

“The ship continued operating normally, and the safety and well-being of our guests remains our highest priority,” the cruise line continued.

Carnival did not indicate if the crew members assisted the cargo ship out of the darkened waterway or called for help on its behalf.

Under the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) Convention, all ships must stop to aid other persons that are in distress at sea unless they are cleared to leave by the party in distress or a requisitioned vessel’s master.

According to cruise tracking data, Carnival Valor arrived in New Orleans on time at 8 a.m. CDT and departed on time for its next sailing, a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise, at 3:30 p.m.

Cruise Ship Has Now Scraped Through Three Health Inspections in a Row

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Ship Has Now Scraped Through Three Health Inspections in a Row

Key Aspects:

  • National Geographic Sea Lion earned the lowest passing score in its most recent inspection from the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
  • 44 violations were identified during the inspection, including improper food storage and sanitation practices.
  • This is the third time in a row that the cruise ship has barely passed a health and safety inspection.

Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Sea Lion barely scraped by in its most recent inspection from the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) on June 21, 2026.

For the third time in a row, the 62-guest ship has scored an 86, which is the minimum passing score. An 85 or below is a failing score.

Prior to June 2026, the most recent inspections conducted by the CDC were on July 6, 2019, and May 6, 2018, with the small ship scoring an 86 both times.

For reference, the CDC inspects cruise ships that carry at least 13 passengers and operate foreign itineraries with port calls in the US. Ships that meet this criteria are subject to surprise inspections twice per year.

The 630-gross ton ship is currently operating Alaska-bound itineraries, and will be conducting river cruises around the Pacific Northwest later this year.

However, the expedition vessel spends much of its time exploring international destinations in Central America and Baja. It would not be under the CDC’s jurisdiction while operating purely international itineraries, which explains the gap in inspections.

What Did The VSP Find?

According to the official inspection report, the VSP found 44 violations onboard the cruise ship. Lindblad Expeditions is required to submit a corrective action report, though this has not been published publicly yet.

Several of the violations pose a direct risk to passenger and crew safety, such as improper food storage and sanitation practices.

For example, approximately 50 containers of dairy products were thrown out during the inspection because the refrigerator temperature was too high at 42-49°F. The temperature should not have been able to reach above 41°F.

Frozen fish was also found stored on the stairs of the freezer. The steps were constructed of open metal grating, which could allow debris or dirt on crew members’ shoes to fall onto the food below.

CDC Sign
CDC Sign (Photo Credit: Tada Images)

Next, two cardboard boxes of frozen meats were stored directly on the deck underneath the freezer shelves. To protect food from contamination, the meats should be stored in a clean, dry location and placed at least six inches above the deck.

From a sanitation perspective, clean dishes in the main galley area were found in a drawer that had been soiled inside with dried lettuce. Additionally, vegetable peelers had rust on them and had to be thrown away during the inspection.

There were also several problems with dishwashers, including a hood-type dishwash machine that had a broken spray arm and a hood-type dishwash machine that could not reach a final sanitizing rinse temperature of 160°F.

Discrepancies in the AGE Report

The AGE Report is an acute gastroenteritis surveillance report managed by the VSP, which is important for tracking and mitigating gastrointestinal outbreaks.

Unfortunately, the CDC inspection found multiple discrepancies on National Geographic Sea Lion’s AGE reports.

First, the report is supposed to be submitted to US cruise ports 24 to 36 hours prior to arrival for the initial 24-hour report, but was submitted to Sitka, Alaska, more than 36 hours before arrival.

There was also an incident where a crew member had close contact with a gastrointestinal case, but their 24 and 48-hour interviews were not documented as they should have been.

Additionally, a symptomatic crew member did not report their symptoms timely and was not isolated for the full 24 to 48 hours after their symptoms had completely resolved. They went back to work too soon in a non-food handling role.

Relatedly, Legionella sampling of the potable water system was not conducted every six months, which is a new requirement for the 2025 Environmental Public Health Standards.

National Geographic Sea Lion might also not be the only ship of concern within the fleet. Cruise Hive also recently reported that another Lindblad Expeditions ship, National Geographic Sea Bird, experienced four gastrointestinal outbreaks this year.

Lindblad Expeditions has not publicly commented on the inspection findings, but is required to make the appropriate corrections.

Port of Honolulu Reopens and Cruise Ships Resume Adjusted Schedules

Melissa Mayntz
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Port of Honolulu Reopens and Cruise Ships Resume Adjusted Schedules

Key Aspects:

  • The Port of Honolulu has reopened following the passage of Hurricane (now Tropical Storm) Lala, and cruise operations are resuming.
  • Pride of America debarked and embarked passengers late Sunday evening, August 16. Norwegian Spirit will do the same on Monday, August 17.
  • Itinerary changes may be forthcoming for both ships if necessary, but no port of call adjustments are yet confirmed.

Guests onboard two Norwegian Cruise Line ships and those waiting for their delayed sailings were pleased to learn Sunday that the Port of Honolulu was inspected and safely reopened, allowing the two cruise ships to resume homeport operations.

While both ships are delayed, the reopening of the port ensures there should be no more significant changes and cruise vacations are ready to go.

Pride of America is the first cruise ship to enter Honolulu Harbor following the impact of Hurricane Lala (which was downgraded to a tropical storm after passing the Aloha State), though more than a full day later than originally planned before the storm.

Guests on the ship’s August 15, 2026 departure received the reopening notification Sunday afternoon (August 16), advising them to head to the port for embarkation.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this weekend’s weather-related delays. We are pleased to share that we have received the all-clear to begin embarkation, and check-in at Honolulu Harbor is now open through 9:00 p.m. local time,” the text notification confirmed.

Embarkation, though late, was able to move ahead and Pride of America departed shortly thereafter late on Sunday, August 16. Guests will be notified of changes to their now 6-night itinerary once those changes are confirmed.

Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know

Had the ship been able to depart on Saturday, August 15 as planned, she would have arrived in Kahului, Maui on Sunday morning, August 16, for an extended visit through 6 p.m. on Monday, August 17. Clearly that visit needs to be adjusted, but it is unknown whether the remaining ports on the schedule will also be impacted.

Pride of America
Pride of America
(Photo Credit: Jose Gil)

“We are currently finalizing itinerary details and will communicate as soon as it becomes available,” the cruise line texted.

The 2,180-guest Pride of America is homeported in Honolulu and operates 7-night interisland cruises year-round. In addition to Kahului, she is scheduled to visit Hilo, Kona, and Nawiliwili over the next few days before returning to Honolulu on Saturday, August 22.

Norwegian Spirit on the Way to Honolulu

The second impacted ship, Norwegian Spirit, is also now able to head back to Honolulu for debarkation after her storm-extended cruise. Originally, the ship was to have ended her 15-night voyage from Vancouver in Honolulu on Sunday, August 16.

Cruise Hive already reported on her delay to Monday, August 17. Guests have been asked to keep their same embarkation window time slot that they had selected for Sunday, but to move their embarkation to Monday instead.

Norwegian Spirit waited out the storm at sea, but did visit Honolulu early and permitted guests to debark if they wished to do so before leaving ahead of the storm. While some guests took advantage of that opportunity, others chose to remain onboard for the extra time until the storm passed.

Satellite tracking now confirms that the 1,972-guest Norwegian Spirit is less than 10 miles south of Honolulu but heading toward the port at roughly 11 knots (12.5 mph) as of 5 a.m. local time.

Norwegian Cruise Line has not yet confirmed any updated itinerary for the ship’s next cruise. Originally planned to embark in Honolulu on Sunday, August 16, the schedule includes visits to both Hawaiian and Alaskan ports during the 15-night sailing as the ship makes her way back to Vancouver.

Two Cruise Guests Arrested After Storming Another Guest’s Cabin

Melissa Mayntz
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Two Cruise Guests Arrested After Storming Another Guest’s Cabin

Key Aspects:

  • Two cruise guests were arrested at Port Canaveral on Saturday, August 15, 2026 following a violent altercation onboard.
  • Both felony and misdemeanor charges have been filed after storming another cabin onboard a cruise ship.
  • The cruise ship has not been identified, but vessels from Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line were in port.

Two cruise guests didn’t head home after their sailing ended at Port Canaveral as they may have planned following a violent altercation onboard that included allegedly hitting a child. The guests were instead arrested and are now booked into the Brevard County Jail.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey shared the incident on Facebook, describing what led to the two guests’ arrest and emphasizing that breaking the law is not tolerated in Brevard County.

The alleged suspects, 29-year-old Gannon Jacox and 28-year-old Brooklyn Hicks, were apparently arguing onboard an undisclosed cruise ship when they were asked to quiet down by another guest. That request seemed to infuriate Hicks, who then confronted the victims while Jacox filmed the altercation on his cell phone.

Apparently, Jacox also verbally encouraged Hicks to beat up the other guests.

“The suspects then pushed their way into the victim’s room, which included a 9-year-old child that was inside the room,” Ivey described. “As a fight ensued Jacox ends up hitting all 3 people (including the child) and Hicks was just swinging, hoping one would land.”

Ivy notes that no injuries to the victims were reported in the incident, but Jacox did suffer an injury to his right eye, which is apparent in his jail booking photo.

While Ivey did not disclose where onboard the incident occurred, he noted that alcohol appeared to be a contributing factor in the encounter. It is unknown whether the verbal argument began in a public area and then continued in a stateroom, or if it may have begun in a stateroom corridor.

Both Jacox and Hicks were arrested and booked into the Brevard County Jail on Saturday, August 15, 2026. According to the inmate booking details, Hicks was booked at 1:41 p.m., while Jacox was booked at 7:55 p.m.

Hicks was booked on two charges, a felony burglary with battery and a misdemeanor battery – touch/strike, with a total bond of $ 6,000. Jacox was booked on three felony charges, including two burglary with assault and one child abuse without great bodily harm, as well as a misdemeanor battery – touch/strike. His bonds total $31,000 for the four charges.

Brooklyn Hicks and Gannon Jacox
Brooklyn Hicks and Gannon Jacox

Both alleged perpetrators remain in custody in the Brevard County Jail, which Ivey calls “a very expensive shore excursion to Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge.”

“Hopefully they enjoy their extended stay at their unplanned destination with close quarter sleeping arrangements, communal showers, no drink packages and of course no excursions!” he quipped.

Ivey is well-known for his sharp sense of humor in calling out criminals and their actions on social media, raising awareness of laws and their consequences.

Which Cruise Ship Did This Happen Aboard?

Ivey did not confirm which cruise ship the alleged incident took place aboard, but four vessels were in Port Canaveral on Saturday, August 15 when Hicks and Jacox were arrested.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Jails – Here’s the Truth

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas was returning from an 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise, while Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure had just finished a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary.

Two Carnival cruise ships were in port: Mardi Gras after a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing, and Carnival Freedom following a 5-night Bahamas itinerary.

All four ships departed Port Canaveral that evening as scheduled, with no apparent delays following the arrest.

Cruise Hive has reported on other homeport arrests, including just one month ago on July 17, 2026 when six different guests were arrested at Port Canaveral for different violations and outstanding warrants.

Cruise lines do not generally comment on such cases but will typically cooperate fully with local authorities for arrests and investigations. If incidents happen onboard, cruise lines may also enact their own penalties, including fines or bans from future sailings.

Two Norwegian Cruise Ships Left Waiting After Hurricane Closes Honolulu Port

Melissa Mayntz
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Two Norwegian Cruise Ships Left Waiting After Hurricane Closes Honolulu Port

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Spirit‘s return to Honolulu for debarkation and subsequent embarkation is delayed until Monday, August 17, 2026.
  • The Port of Honolulu remains closed as of press time, which is also impacting the Pride of America ship.
  • Berth availability is impacting when the cruise ship will be able to return and new guests can embark to begin their vacation.

With rough water still impacting Honolulu, Hawaii, following the passage of now Tropical Storm Lala (downgraded from a hurricane), Norwegian Cruise Line has delayed the return of Norwegian Spirit until Monday, August 17. Pride of America, also operated by NCL, awaits the reopening of the Honolulu cruise port.

The cruise line has texted guests booked on the ship’s August 16 departure to alert them to the confirmed delay and how their embarkation will be impacted.

“Delayed Embarkation Update: Hurricane Lala brought strong winds and challenging conditions to Hawaii. While Honolulu Harbor is expected to begin supporting vessel operations upon a successful inspection by the United States Coast Guard [USCG] later this afternoon, berth availability will be limited,” the text notification explained.

As of 1:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, the USCG Port Status website lists Honolulu Harbor still as closed under Port Condition Zulu. Once the port is inspected and reopened, vessels can begin to return.

Another text message from Norwegian Cruise Line, this one sent to guests booked on Pride of America who were supposed to embark on Saturday, August 15, confirmed that a USCG inspection was scheduled for 2 p.m. local time.

Inspections are essential to assess any potential debris or damage following a storm, as well as to check the integrity of docks, channels, and equipment so ships can safely use the facilities.

Following the inspection and port reopening, berth schedules must be rearranged to accommodate all necessary traffic. For the 2,018-guest Norwegian Spirit and the 2,186-guest Pride of America, that now means delaying Norwegian Spirit until Monday, August 17, and Pride of America does not yet have a confirmed day or time.

Guests waiting to embark the next Norwegian Spirit cruise are being advised to use the same check-in arrival window they originally selected for Sunday, August 16, but instead move the date to Monday. More detailed emails are being sent with further instructions.

For Pride of America, guests are being asked to continue waiting for further instructions as details are confirmed.

“We appreciate your continued patience and flexibility as we work through this evolving situation and will keep you informed as new information becomes available,” text messages to guests for both ships said.

Pride of America Cruise Ship
Pride of America Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jose Gil)

The cruise line noted that they will provide additional information by 3 p.m. local time, which would likely be after the USCG inspection has been completed and docking plans can be confirmed.

In the meantime, satellite tracking shows Norwegian Spirit due south of Honolulu and heading toward the port city at 10 knots (11-12 miles per hour). The ship stayed clear of the storm’s direct path and safely out at sea to avoid the worst effects of Hurricane Lala.

How Will the Next Cruise Be Affected?

Norwegian Spirit‘s next sailing is a 16-night, one-way voyage from Honolulu to Vancouver, with stops at both Hawaiian and Alaskan destinations along the way.

The delayed embarkation will be frustrating and disappointing to guests eager to start their cruise vacation, but any further itinerary impact is not yet known.

It may be possible for Norwegian Spirit to speed enough to recover the time on the cruise so port visits could be preserved, or a port or two may need to be cancelled in order for the ship to arrive in Vancouver on Tuesday, September 1 as planned.

More From Cruise Hive

Any itinerary adjustments in Hawaii will need to be coordinated with ports that could still be recovering from the storm and have the same berth availability challenges as Honolulu.

Cruise Hive has already reported on the storm’s impact to Norwegian Spirit as well as Pride of America. While this latest update may not be the news guests had hoped for, any confirmed update is certain to be reassuring.

Norwegian Spirit Guests in Limbo as Tropical Storm Rages in Hawaii

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Spirit Guests in Limbo as Tropical Storm Rages in Hawaii

Key Aspects:

  • The Honolulu Cruise Port remains closed as Tropical Storm Lala brings heavy wind and rain to the Hawaiian Islands.
  • It’s unclear when Honolulu will reopen to cruise traffic, but Norwegian Spirit will remain at sea until it does.
  • Disembarkation for the current sailing on August 16 and embarkation for the following voyage have been delayed indefinitely.

Thousands of NCL guests have been left with more questions than answers as Tropical Storm Lala drenches the Hawaiian islands.

Current guests were supposed to disembark from Norwegian Spirit in Honolulu on August 16, 2026, while a new round of guests was supposed to board the ship for a 16-night, one-way sailing to Vancouver, Canada.

But with Tropical Storm Lala still bringing dangerously heavy rain and strong winds to the Hawaiian Islands, the 1,972-guest ship is stuck at sea, riding out the storm in deeper waters until it is given clearance to return to Honolulu.

“At this time, we do not have any new information to share. Ongoing tropical storm conditions continue to affect the area, and as a result, the Port of Honolulu remains closed,” Norwegian Cruise Line wrote in a letter to guests on August 15, which has been shared on Reddit.

“We understand that your travel plans have been impacted, and we appreciate your patience and understanding. Please be assured that our team remains in close contact with port officials and is actively monitoring the situation,” the letter continued.

As of 6 a.m. HST, cruise tracking data shows that the ship is positioned off the coast of Hilo and sailing in the direction of Honolulu, in rough seas with 2.9-meter swells (about 9.5 feet).

Norwegian Cruise Line promised to provide an update by 8 a.m. HST on August 16, even if there is still no news to share.

Cruise Hive previously reported that the 75,904-gross ton ship made an early arrival in Honolulu because of the coming storm, but the ship had to go back out to sea when the port closed.

Similarly, NCL’s Pride Of America also made a beeline to Honolulu because of Tropical Storm Lala. This ship was supposed to return to Honolulu on August 16 to debark its current sailing one day late, but could potentially be delayed further if the port is unable to reopen.

Tropical Storm Lala
Tropical Storm Lala

Ports Remain Shuttered As Storm Rages

According to the National Hurricane Center (NOAA), Tropical Storm Lala has been downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane but is still bringing near hurricane-force gusts, heavy rain, and massive waves to the islands.

“Strong wind gusts are expected to continue across the Big Island of Hawaii this morning, particularly over areas of higher terrain. Across portions of the smaller islands, tropical-storm-force winds accompanied by gusts to near hurricane strength will persist through today,” NOAA wrote in its 5 a.m. HST update on August 16.

“Large and dangerous waves are expected to persist across portions of the Hawaiian islands today…The heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion,” the update continued.

At this time, Tropical Storm Lala is positioned about 140 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and about 75 miles south of Honolulu. It is moving northwest at speeds of 14 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are reaching 70 miles per hour.

The US Coast Guard has closed all of Hawaii’s ports for the time being, with each port listed at Condition Zulu. This is an emergency alert that means gale-force winds are expected to arrive within 12 hours.

For safety reasons, the ports cannot reopen until ships can safely navigate without excessive risk to port infrastructure and to the vessels themselves.

Disney Believe Breaks a Fleet Tradition in New Design Reveal

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Believe Breaks a Fleet Tradition in New Design Reveal

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Cruise Line revealed the bow, stern, and Grand Hall characters for the upcoming Disney Believe on August 15, 2026.
  • Tinker Bell, Toy Story, and Moana are all featured prominently, but a change in font on the ship’s stern has some Disney fans upset.
  • No further details of homeport or itineraries have yet been announced for the ship, which will debut in late 2027.

More than a year before her anticipated late 2027 debut, new details have been released about key features of Disney Cruise Line’s fourth Wish-class ship, Disney Believe.

The cruise line announced the ship’s bow artwork, Grand Hall character theme, and the aft hull sculptures on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

From bow to stern, Disney Believe will embody her name with iconic characters that believe in magic and in themselves, starting with a hand-painted filigree of Tinker Bell as the ship’s embossed bow artwork.

From Walt Disney Animation Studios’ classic 1953 “Peter Pan,” the fairy will take center stage, but the delicate artwork also includes silhouettes of other characters, including Wendy, Michael, John, Captain Hook, Smee, and of course, Peter Pan.

Moving to the Grand Hall, a bronze cast statue of the independent heroine-princess Moana will be the centerpiece, with her friends Pua and Heihei at her side. In the just-released artist concept rendering, Moana is gazing off toward far horizons with a fierce and powerful stance, ready to brave every adventure.

Believe Atrium Statue
Believe Atrium Statue

The rest of the Grand Hall includes details to coordinate with the statue, such as wave detail along the walls and a subtle water pattern in the carpeting. Polynesian touches can also be seen throughout the design.

On the ship’s stern, favorite characters from the “Toy Story” franchise will offer whimsical fun for all guests. Woody and Buzz Lightyear are up to crazy antics, appearing to be putting the finishing touches on the ship’s name with oversized yellow crayons.

“This ship celebrates belief in magic, family, the power of nature, and belief in yourself,” said Claire Weiss, Portfolio Executive Creative Director of Walt Disney Imagineering. “And all the stories we tell onboard will be tied together by the core Disney notion of believing in something fantastical.”

One Detail Upsetting Guests

Not all guests believe in the just-revealed designs, however. One key aspect of the stern, in fact, is causing some discontent among avid Disney Cruise Line fans.

Instead of the classic swirly font used on all other ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Believe‘s name will be emblazoned in a thick block font with slightly angled lettering familiar from the “Toy Story” franchise.

This certainly ties in with the stern sculptural characters, but it is a departure from the font consistency across the other eight ships in the fleet and is receiving mixed reviews.

Some fans appreciate the additional nod to what is undoubtedly one of the company’s most successful franchises, but others would prefer all the ships to carry the same font that links them together.

“As part of the fleet as a whole I’m not a fan of the font, but as a stand alone ship I think it’s sweet and a nice homage to Toy Story,” one guest posted on Facebook.

Another guest noted that with just one ship having a different font than the rest of the fleet, it looks like a mistake or oversight. Other guests don’t like that the three words on the stern: Disney, Believe, and Nassau for the ship’s registry, are all in different fonts, which can look jumbled.

More to Come on Disney Believe

While this most recent reveal is certainly generating Buzz (Lightyear) about the ship, there is a great deal more to learn about 4,000-guest Disney Believe before her debut.

The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Steel was cut to begin the ship’s physical construction just over a year ago, on August 8, 2025, and Cruise Hive reported the ship’s new name announcement just a few months ago, in March 2026.

Overall, the ship’s theme is “promise and possibilities,” and that certainly fits with the choices of artwork and sculptures throughout the ship, as Tinker Bell, Moana, and Toy Story all explore those themes in unique and magical ways.

Additional Disney favorites will also be present onboard, including Frozen, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto, though exactly how the different movies and characters will be incorporated has not been revealed.

More From Cruise Hive

No homeport or itineraries have yet been announced for Disney Believe, but that information will certainly be forthcoming as excitement grows for the new ship and guests are eager to set sail for their own possibilities.

A full reveal for the ship, which should include those details, is set to be livestreamed on October 7, 2026.

Cruise Guest Sues Royal Caribbean Over Falling Bathroom Panel

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Guest Sues Royal Caribbean Over Falling Bathroom Panel

Key Aspects:

  • A cruise guest was injured when an access panel fell on her head while she was using the bathroom onboard Harmony of the Seas.
  • The passenger has accused Royal Caribbean of three counts of negligence in a new lawsuit.
  • Her legal team is demanding a jury trial and is seeking more than $75,000 in damages for medical bills and pain and suffering.

LeAnn Carpenter, a cruise passenger from Texas, allegedly suffered a traumatic brain injury and injuries to her spinal cord in an accident in one of Harmony of the Seas’ bathrooms on May 14, 2025, during a 7-night sailing based out of Port Canaveral. She is now suing Royal Caribbean on grounds of negligence.

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on August 11, 2026, one day before the deadline.

Royal Caribbean’s ticket contract requires injured passengers to submit a written notice of a claim within six months of the incident and file a lawsuit within one year of the date of the injury, but the cruise company extended the contractual filing deadline to August 12, 2026, in this case. 

According to the lawsuit, the cruiser stopped to use a passenger bathroom before watching a performance in the Royal Theater, which is when her vacation took a turn for the worse.

While the guest was using the bathroom, an access panel that was located behind the toilet allegedly dislodged without warning and fell toward Carpenter. The object struck the cruise guest in the head with enough force that she fell to the floor.

According to Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, which is the firm that is representing Carpenter, the panel should have been safely closed and secured to the wall.

For context, the panel provided access to plumbing and utilities behind the toilet and was subject to inspection, access, service, repair, and maintenance by crew members.

Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on this situation, but Cruise Hive will issue an update should a statement be made.

Immediate Medical Attention Provided

To Royal Caribbean’s credit, the cruise line did provide Carpenter with prompt medical attention.

As is common with traumatic brain injuries, Carpenter experienced an immediate altered sense of awareness and memory loss following the incident.

She was quickly taken to the onboard medical center in a wheelchair, where she was evaluated by a shipboard physician, observed by healthcare providers, and given IV therapy.

Harmony of the Seas Balconies
Harmony of the Seas Balconies (Photo Credit: mridulablog)

The physician then sent the guest ashore in Cozumel, Mexico, to get CT imaging of her head and/or skull done at Cozumel International Hospital. It’s unclear if she was medically evacuated or if Cozumel was simply the next port call on the itinerary.

Carpenter has continued to endure ongoing evaluations, testing, and treatment at home, including physical therapy and diagnostic imaging.

Ultimately, the passenger says that she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and associated cognitive and psychological symptoms, including memory impairment, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a fear of driving.

Allegedly, she also sustained unspecified spinal injuries, which resulted in pain and symptoms requiring further medical evaluation and treatment.

Royal Caribbean Accused of Negligence

Even though Royal Caribbean offered prompt medical care, Carpenter and her legal team are still holding the cruise line accountable because they believe that this accident never should have happened.

The lawsuit accuses Royal Caribbean of three counts of negligence, including failure to remedy, failure to warn, and vicarious liability.

Essentially, the claim argues that a crew member either opened the panel to conduct maintenance and didn’t re-secure it properly or that the panel was broken, which was an issue that should have been caught and fixed before an injury occurred.

Since the danger was concealed behind the panel, there was no way that Carpenter would have known or seen that the panel wasn’t secured prior to using the toilet. Additionally, the suit claims that Carpenter was not warned that the panel could unexpectedly fall.

Finally, the lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean is vicariously liable under the General Maritime Law for negligence shown by employees or representatives of the cruise line who handled the dislodged panel.

More From Cruise Hive

Carpenter and her legal team have demanded a jury trial and are seeking over $75,000 in damages, which is the federal diversity threshold. No trial date has been set at this time.

As of the time of this writing, Harmony of the Seas is operating normally with no reported closures to passenger restrooms. The 226,963-gross ton vessel is currently hosting itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Port Changes on Margaritaville Ship Could Disrupt Guest Plans

Melissa Mayntz
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Port Changes on Margaritaville Ship Could Disrupt Guest Plans

Key Aspects:

  • Margaritaville at Sea Islander has swapped two port days for her September 5, 2026 departure from Port Tampa Bay.
  • The ship will still be visiting all the planned destinations, but the days and times for Aruba and Curacao have been changed.
  • The other two ports on the itinerary, Grand Cayman and Jamaica, are not impacted, and there are no homeport time changes.

Itinerary changes can happen to any sailing, and depending on the nature of the change, it can be frustrating for guests who have already made plans for their port visits. For guests onboard an upcoming 10-night sailing of Margaritaville at Sea Islander, what may seem to be relatively minor changes could be more disruptive than anticipated.

The impacted sailing is the ship’s September 5, 2026 departure from Port Tampa Bay. While the cruise will still visit all the planned ports of call, guests are now being notified by email that the order and times are changed for two out of the four destinations.

Originally, the itinerary was as follows:

  • Saturday, September 5 – Embarkation at Port Tampa Bay
  • Sunday – Day at Sea
  • Monday – George Town, Grand Cayman from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday – Day at Sea
  • Wednesday – Willemstad, Curacao from noon to 11 p.m.
  • Thursday – Oranjestad, Aruba from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Friday – Day at Sea
  • Saturday – Ocho Rios, Jamaica from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Sunday – Day at Sea
  • Monday – Day at Sea
  • Tuesday, September 15 – Debarkation at Port Tampa Bay

While most of the itinerary is the same, the days in Curacao and Aruba have been swapped. The 2,114-guest Margaritaville at Sea Islander will now visit Aruba on Wednesday, September 9 followed by Curacao on Thursday, September 10.

Change May Be More Disruptive Due to Time Adjustments

The change in days can certainly be disruptive to guests who may have planned shore tours or other activities in port. While cruise lines will typically change any pre-booked tours booked through the line automatically (or cancel and refund them if necessary), not all independent tour operators may accommodate the change. Guests will need to reach out to their tour operators for options.

It is a change in visit times, however, that may be even more upsetting to some guests.

In Aruba, rather than visiting from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the ship will now be docked from 2-11 p.m. Meanwhile in Curacao, instead of being docked from noon to 11 p.m., the ship will be visiting from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Overall, these time changes are a one-hour loss of overall port time in each port, but it isn’t the shortened visit that may be most upsetting.

Guests who may have preferred early morning activities in Aruba, such as enjoying the beach, hiking, or more active tours when the temperature is cooler, will now have to wait until the late afternoon for their time ashore.

Similarly, guests who had hoped to enjoy the later hours in Curacao, perhaps for dinner or nightlife, will now have to head back to the ship much earlier to avoid missing the vessel’s departure.

No other port visits or times on the itinerary are impacted, nor is the ship’s departure from or return to Port Tampa Bay adjusted.

More From Cruise Hive

Margaritaville at Sea Islander, formerly Costa Atlantica before she joined Margaritaville at Sea in 2024, is homeported year-round from Tampa, offering diverse itineraries from 4-10 nights. Cruise Hive previously reported on her arrival to the Sunshine State, which more than doubled the guest capacity of the unique cruise line.

In addition to Grand Cayman, Curacao, and Aruba, depending on the sailing date and cruise length, the ship visits ports such as Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico; Key West, Florida; Belize City, Belize; and New Orleans, Louisiana.

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