Blog Page 32

Carnival Ship Can’t Reach Australian Port Due to Shallow Waters

Calvin Musquez
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Carnival Ship Can’t Reach Australian Port Due to Shallow Waters

Key Aspects:

  • A September 5 sailing on Carnival Encounter will no longer visit Cairns due to shallow channel depths.
  • Airlie Beach will move forward a day to September 8 in place of Cairns, with a newly added Townsville call on September 9.
  • The ship will return to Brisbane one hour later than scheduled and Cairns shore excursions will be automatically refunded.

Just four days before departure, Carnival Cruise Line has informed guests of a change to their upcoming itinerary aboard Carnival Encounter. The recently enhanced 2,600-passenger vessel is set to depart from Brisbane, Australia on September 5, 2026 for a 6-night Great Barrier Reef cruise.

The sailing was originally set to visit Willis Island on September 7, Cairns on September 8, and Airlie Beach on September 9 before returning to Brisbane on September 11. However, in a notice sent to guests on September 1, 2026, the cruise line adjusted those plans due to shallow channel depths heading into Cairns.

“Current channel depths have reduced and are now too shallow to allow for the safe passage of our ship to Cairns Cruise Terminal, and the issue will not be fixed before our planned visit,” the notice reads. “The safety of our guests is our top priority, so our scheduled visit to Cairns can no longer proceed.”

The cancellation of the cruise’s visit to Cairns led to a reshuffling of the itinerary and a last-minute replacement port. Instead of calling at Cairns on September 8, Carnival Encounter will move its previously scheduled Airlie Beach visit forward by one day.

The 108,865 gross-ton ship will then make a newly added stop at Townsville on September 9. Additionally, guests will face a one-hour delay returning to Brisbane, with the ship now scheduled to arrive at 8:00 a.m. on September 11 instead of 7:00 a.m.

The scheduled visit to Willis Island on September 7 remains unchanged. Guests will be able to book new excursions for Townsville once onboard via the Carnival HUB app or in-person at the Carnival Adventures Desk.

Carnival Encounter in Dry Dock
Carnival Encounter in Dry Dock

Carnival assured guests that all prepaid shore excursions in Cairns will be automatically refunded. Further, the cruise line provided no indication of compensation for any post-cruise travel arrangements that may need to be adjusted in light of the one-hour delay.

Carnival did not provide an explanation for the reduced channel depths, nor a timeframe for when the issue is expected to be resolved. However, if conditions remain unsafe, future visits to the port could be impacted.

Carnival Encounter Scheduled to Return to Cairns

Carnival Encounter is based year-round in Brisbane, offering a variety of itineraries, including 6- and 7-night Great Barrier Reef cruises. Cruise Hive previously reported that these sailings will continue into 2027 and 2028 as part of Carnival’s expanded Australia and New Zealand lineup. 

Some of these sailings are scheduled to call at Cairns. The cancelled call on September 8 will be followed by another scheduled visit for Carnival Encounter on a similar 7-night itinerary sailing from Brisbane on September 26.

More From Cruise Hive

The ship is scheduled to visit Airlie Beach on September 28 followed by an overnight call in Cairns beginning September 29. She will then visit Willis Island on October 1 before returning to Brisbane on October 3. The cruise line has not announced any changes to this upcoming itinerary.

MSC Cruises Warns Guests of Earlier Sailaway on Popular Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Cruises Warns Guests of Earlier Sailaway on Popular Ship

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Seashore will be leaving Port Canaveral 30 minutes earlier than scheduled on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
  • The cruise line has alerted guests to the change and everyone must arrive at the terminal for check-in no later than 2:30 p.m.
  • No other changes to the ship’s 7-night Western Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary have been announced at this time.

Guests setting sail on MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore will get the party started a little earlier than expected for the ship’s Sunday, September 6, 2026 departure. The cruise line has sent notifications to booked guests to alert them to a change in embarkation time and when the ship’s doors will close as the vessel prepares to set sail from Port Canaveral.

“Due to operational reasons, the scheduled departure from Port Canaveral, Florida has been updated to 4:30 PM EST,” the email stated. “To ensure a smooth embarkation, we kindly ask you to arrive at your assigned check-in time shown on your latest e-ticket, and no later than 2:30 PM EST.”

The 5,632-guest MSC Seashore is setting sail on a 7-night Western Caribbean and Bahamas sailing on September 6. Port visits are planned to Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.

Originally, the ship was scheduled to depart Port Canaveral at 5 p.m. Moving the departure 30 minutes earlier may impact travelers who were planning to board later in the afternoon and could be especially challenging for anyone arriving on later flights.

The email notes that “doors will close promptly at 3:30 PM EST.” It is standard procedure that once a cruise ship’s doors close, no late guests are permitted to board, even if the ship may still be loading supplies, cargo, or luggage at that time.

Read Also: What Happens If You Miss Your Cruise Ship?

Only the ship’s departure time from Port Canaveral has been changed and no changes to any other parts of the 7-night itinerary have been announced.

Why the Change?

MSC Cruises has not given any further information about why MSC Seashore will now be leaving Port Canaveral earlier than originally scheduled.

Five homeported ships are in Port Canaveral on Sunday, September 6. According to the port’s schedule, in addition to MSC Seashore, Disney Fantasy, Norwegian Prima, Caribbean Princess, and Star of the Seas are all scheduled that day, with departure times ranging from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Both MSC Seashore and Star of the Seas will be departing at 4:30 p.m. MSC Seashore is planned for Cruise Terminal 10 on the port’s west end, while Star of the Seas will be using Cruise Terminal 1, in the center of the port.

Port Canaveral is a very active commercial port as well as servicing other operations, including fishing vessels, the recovery of rocket boosters from SpaceX launches, and local boating traffic.

It is possible that other operations have now required the cruise ship departure schedule to shift slightly. Pilot availability and refueling operations could also be factors in the change.

Cruise Hive has reported when other cruise lines have also shifted embarkation schedules and ship departure times. For example, in November 2024, Carnival Cruise Line adjusted nearly 200 cruises with earlier departure times on two different ships.

On August 17, 2025, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas moved up her embarkation at Cape Liberty by one hour due to military exercises.

Guests should always plan for plenty of time to reach their cruise terminal on time on embarkation day. It would be incredibly disappointing to arrive at the terminal only to see the gangway pulled back and the ship departing on its next cruise without you.

Fortunately, such a situation can be avoided by being aware of departure time changes and adjusting one’s travel schedule accordingly.

Carnival Breeze Scrapes Pier While Docking in Cozumel

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Breeze Scrapes Pier While Docking in Cozumel

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Breeze hit and scraped along the corner of the pier in Cozumel while docking on Monday morning, August 31, 2026.
  • Video and photos posted online show scraped paint damage on the ship’s starboard hull, but no injuries have been reported.
  • The ship departed Cozumel as planned and appears to be continuing her 5-night sailing without changes.

It’s never a good day when a cruise ship hits something, and Carnival Breeze had a bad day in Cozumel, Mexico on Monday, August 31, 2026.

While docking at the popular Mexican port, the 3,690-guest ship impacted the corner of the pier. Carnival Breeze was working to dock at the same pier as Carnival Jubilee. It’s common for two ships to use the same dock in adjacent berths, and there was no contact between the vessels.

Video and photos of the incident have been posted on social media and show what appears to be significant scrapes and paint chipped away on Carnival Breeze‘s starboard hull, well above the waterline and between two sets of access doors.

On the video, Carnival Breeze appeared to be coming in to the berth at quite a significant angle, which could have made it challenging for a pilot or other officers to note the exact distance from the pier. No cause for the impact has yet been confirmed.

On one video posted on Facebook, a significant “bong” sound can be heard at the 25-second mark just as the ship contacts the dock.

Cruise Hive has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line about the incident but did not hear back as of publication.

Guests who are currently onboard the Dream-class vessel reported on Reddit that they did not feel any impact or other issues when it happened. No injuries have been reported in relation to the incident.

Carnival Breeze was docking in Cozumel at approximately 9 a.m., with plans to stay in port until 5 p.m. AIS tracking shows the ship departed Cozumel on schedule.

Carnival Breeze Scraping Pier in Cozumel
Carnival Breeze Scraping Pier in Cozumel (Photo Credit: KJ-890)

Cozumel was the first port visit on Carnival Breeze‘s current sailing, a 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary that set sail from Galveston, Texas on Saturday, August 29.

The ship spent Sunday at sea on the way to Mexico, and following Monday’s visit to Cozumel, is scheduled to visit Progreso on Tuesday, September 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After another day at sea, the vessel will arrive back in the Lone Star State on Thursday, September 3.

No pier damage has yet been reported or confirmed, and it is unknown whether or not other ships’ schedules in Cozumel may be affected.

Not the First Dock vs. Ship Incident

While such incidents are rare, it is not unheard of for a ship to “contact” a pier. Depending on the sea and weather conditions, local currents, wave swells, and wind gusts can play a factor in just how close a ship may come to a dock, pier, or mooring dolphin. These impacts can happen at any port.

On September 5, 2025, Miray Cruises’ MV Gemini was docking in Piraeus, Greece when the ship contacted the pier and suffered significant damage.

The Dream-class Carnival Magic faced bad weather in Ocho Rios, Jamaica and hit the pier on February 6, 2024.

Similarly, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas crashed into the dock in Falmouth, Jamaica on May 26, 2022, an incident that was determined to be pilot error.

Norwegian Escape collided with a pier in Civitavecchia, Italy in December 2020, and Carnival Horizon hit Pier 90 in Manhattan, New York in August 2018 while Disney Dream impacted the pier in Nassau, Bahamas in September 2017.

In such incidents, the ship’s engineers would carefully inspect the vessel to ensure the hull is not compromised and the ship is safe to operate.

Carnival Unveils First Look at New Carnival Rewards Loyalty Pins

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Unveils First Look at New Carnival Rewards Loyalty Pins

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has revealed the dated, ship-specific designs for the Carnival Rewards Diamond and Platinum pins.
  • Guests at those status levels can pick up the appropriate pin from the onboard photo gallery for sailings beginning September 1, 2026 and later.
  • Pins for Gold status guests have been discontinued with the Carnival Rewards program.

Loyal cruise guests love to collect items that document their cruise history, whether those are onboard identification cards, photos for a gallery wall, holiday ornaments, or in the case of Carnival Cruise Line, loyalty pins.

The dated, ship-specific pins have been popular Carnival souvenirs throughout the now-ending Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program, with each pin showcasing the ship name, year of the sailing, and a unique annual design. Subtle differences in coloration and style differentiated the loyalty level of the pins, whether Gold, Platinum, or Diamond.

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has now revealed the design for the loyalty pins under the Carnival Rewards program that begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

“Here are the images of the Carnival Rewards Platinum and Diamond ship specific pins which can be collected from the photo gallery on cruises that start from September 1 onward,” Heald confirmed in a Facebook post on Monday, August 31.

The designs for both circular pins are very similar. An image of the applicable Carnival cruise ship is centered in the circle, with “Carnival Rewards” and the iconic Carnival cruise ship whale tail funnel logo at the top.

The pin’s year is at the bottom of the design, a key feature many guests want to note their cruise history rather than a generic, undated design that would not highlight when guests enjoyed different ships.

For Platinum guests, the framing of the pin is silver and has red, gold, and platinum dots in graduated sizes in the upper left quadrant to denote the status level. “Platinum” is also written along the upper border of the pin.

Carnival Commemorative Pin
Carnival Commemorative Pin

Diamond pins are slightly different with red, gold, platinum, and diamond dots in the upper left quadrant. The diamond dot is largest and has a faceted look but it is unclear whether it may actually be a gemstone or just a brighter white metal. “Diamond” is written along the pin’s upper border, the same as with the Platinum design.

Carnival Cruise Line has typically released new pin designs every year with different stylized elements and a unique overall look. It is unknown whether the new Carnival Rewards pins will also have different designs from year-to-year.

Who Gets the Pins?

The commemorative pins are available to Platinum and Diamond level guests, though pins for the Gold loyalty level have been discontinued.

To collect their pins, guests will need to visit the Pixels Photo Gallery onboard during their sailing. A list of Diamond and Platinum guests is available there and guests’ names are checked off as they claim the appropriate pins.

The need to visit Pixels to claim the commemorative pins has been the practice since 2021 when cruises restarted after the industry-wide pandemic suspension. Previously, pins were left in guests’ staterooms, but the change was implemented to minimize how many individuals come-and-go into staterooms.

Read Also: The Biggest Shakeup in Carnival’s Loyalty History Starts Tomorrow

By having guests collect their pins, the gifts are not discarded or lost if guests prefer not to keep them, which can also be better inventory management.

Cruise Hive has reported when the pins do run out and guests are not able to collect them, however. This may happen toward the end of the year when supplies become more limited.

In January 2026, shipping delays with new pins for the year caused many guests to miss out on the collectible. John Heald confirmed during those delays that guests could contact customer service after their sailings to request pins to be mailed to them if they were unable to get them onboard.

The Biggest Shakeup in Carnival’s Loyalty History Starts Tomorrow

Melissa Mayntz
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The Biggest Shakeup in Carnival’s Loyalty History Starts Tomorrow

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Rewards program begins Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
  • Guests need to be aware of stars, points, and milestone rewards as they move forward with the new spend-based program.
  • Glitches have been reported in the days before the new program launches following a planned website outage.

Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Rewards program is scheduled to begin Tuesday, September 1, 2026. This major loyalty revamp has been controversial since it was first announced in June 2025, and new details and updates have continued to be introduced. Originally, the program was to begin on June 1, 2026, but was delayed to September 1 as details were ironed out.

Guests have through Monday, August 31, 2026 to opt-in to the new program. If they choose not to do so, their loyalty and days sailed will not carry over from the VIFP program to the Carnival Rewards program.

Now that the program is about to begin, what should Carnival Cruise Line fans expect? Cruise Hive has followed the program and its details from the beginning.

Status Under Carnival Rewards

The biggest change in the new Carnival Rewards program compared to the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program is that guests will no longer earn lifetime loyalty based on number of days sailed with Carnival Cruise Line. Instead, guests will earn status through spend-based “stars” when making eligible Carnival purchases.

Those stars will expire every two years, and guests will need to re-earn their status. The exception is for guests who have Diamond-level VIFP status, which the cruise line announced in September 2025 would remain as a lifetime status in Carnival Rewards.

Whatever VIFP status guests have earned by August 31, 2026 will be their Carnival Rewards status through December 2028, the first “earning period” in the new program. In January 2029, their status will be updated to whatever they have earned by that time.

Guests who are Platinum in Carnival Rewards will receive an automatic 10,000 stars boost so they begin the next earning period as Gold rather than Red (the lowest level).

Carnival Cruise Line has clarified to Cruise Hive that the 10,000-star boost will apply in perpetuity for legacy Platinum guests at the start of each new two-year earning cycle after December 2028.

Benefits With Carnival Rewards Status

Guests at every Carnival Rewards level receive benefits. All guests receive one complimentary 1.5L bottle of water, while Gold-level guests will receive one complimentary beverage on cruises of 5 days and longer.

Platinum-level guests will receive two complimentary beverages, limited complimentary wash-and-fold laundry services, and select priority and preferred access to online check-in, embarkation, debarkation, and onboard services, including dining times.

Carnival Rewards Tiers and Perks
Carnival Rewards Tiers and Perks

Diamond remains the program’s highest level and those guests receive additional (though no longer unlimited) wash-and-fold laundry and guaranteed main dining time selections, as well as retail concierge services and a special event invitation from the Captain.

Platinum and Diamond guests will also receive an exclusive, ship-specific and dated collectible pin for every sailing. These pins have been a popular feature of the VIFP program and many long-time guests wear them on vests, hats, or bags to showcase their cruise history.

What will not be continuing with the Carnival Rewards program are the Platinum and Diamond VIFP parties onboard select sailings, VIFP-branded loyalty gifts, welcome treats, free stateroom upgrades, and several other benefits.

Earning and Redeeming Points

Guests will also earn points for all Carnival-based purchases and when using the Carnival Rewards Mastercard, if they have qualified for one. Those points can then be redeemed for onboard perks or even used during booking, such as applying them toward a deposit or a cruise fare payment.

Shore excursions, spa treatments, drink packages, specialty dining, and onboard shopping can all use redeemed points. This lets guests choose exactly what benefits they want to enjoy from the points they have earned.

There is no minimum number of points necessary to begin redemption, which makes the program even more flexible regardless of how often a guest sails with Carnival Cruise Line.

Milestone Rewards Continue

On July 1, 2026, just two months before the program’s launch, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that milestones will now be tied to the number of days guests have sailed.

Previously, milestones were based on the overall number of cruises a guest sailed, regardless of cruise length.

From September 1, guests will receive milestone recognition when they reach 50, 100, and every 100 days thereafter sailed with Carnival Cruise Line.

That recognition includes a points bonus, special commemorative coin, onboard credit, and other benefits depending on the milestone level achieved.

The cruise discount, onboard credit, and free cruise associated with milestones under the VIFP program have been discontinued.

Glitches Reported Ahead of Launch

As the last few days to opt-in to the Carnival Rewards program have passed, multiple guests have reported problems with the system and inconsistent details when comparing their previous VIFP status and their new stars and points under Carnival Rewards.

Carnival Cruise Line’s website, including the Carnival Rewards website, had a planned 18-hour outage from 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 29 through 12 p.m. on Sunday, August 30.

Updates and maintenance to the system may have contributed to the glitches guests are now seeing, though hopefully those issues will quickly be resolved as the new program launches.

Norwegian Prima Guests Notified of Hot Tub Closures and Onboard Testing

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Prima Guests Notified of Hot Tub Closures and Onboard Testing

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line is alerting guests to three recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease involving guests who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima in May and July 2026.
  • All testing for the Legionella bacteria onboard has been negative thus far and the cruise line is working with the CDC.
  • It is not known whether the guests contracted the disease onboard the ship or from a different source unrelated to their cruises.

Guests setting sail on Norwegian Prima have been receiving notifications of a possible connection to Legionnaires’ disease. While the notification letter is clear that there is no confirmed connection to any contamination onboard, testing is ongoing and guests should be aware of the potential risk.

“We are reaching out to you to inform you that Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding three reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease involving passengers who sailed on the Norwegian Prima in May and July 2026,” the notification, which has been shared on Reddit, explained.

The exact dates of the sailings with guests infected with Legionnaires’ disease have not been identified. The 3,099-guest ship is currently homeported from Port Canaveral, offering 7-night Caribbean sailings with both eastern and western itineraries.

The notification letter received by multiple guests goes on to explain Legionnaires’ disease as “a serious type of pneumonia” and later notes that those most vulnerable to the disease are 50 years of age or older, anyone with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems, and those who are current or former smokers.

What will matter most to guests is that the illness is not spread through direct contact from person-to-person. The Legionella bacteria, however, can live in complicated water systems and be spread through mist from fixtures like hot tubs and showers.

Norwegian Cruise Line is working with the CDC to test possible contaminated areas onboard:

“As a precaution, all public hot tubs and private balcony heated whirlpools will remain closed and will reopen only after sampling has been completed and any necessary remediation measures have been carried out in accordance with CDC guidelines,” the notification said.

Norwegian Cruise Line Hot Tub
Norwegian Cruise Line Hot Tub (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)

The cruise line has already tested devices and fixtures that use water, including faucets, hot tubs, and showers. All test results onboard Norwegian Prima have been negative.

It is not known whether the three guests who did test positive for Legionnaires’ disease contracted the illness while onboard the ship or from another source.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the illness typically develop 2-14 days after initial exposure, but it could be longer before an individual has noticeable signs of the disease. Because the incubation window can be so long, guests diagnosed after a cruise may have been exposed on board or even long before their cruise began.

Norwegian Cruise Line Legionnaires' Letter
Norwegian Cruise Line Legionnaires’ Letter (Credit: famemonsta)

Treatment of the disease involves antibiotics and often hospital care. Anyone showing possible symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, or headaches should seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis.

Other than the closures of whirlpools, hot tubs, and similar facilities until testing is complete, there are no illness-related operational changes onboard Norwegian Prima at this time.

Legionnaires’ Not Unheard of on Cruise Ships

This is not the first time possible connections to Legionnaires’ disease have been reported on cruise ships.

Cruise Hive has covered similar instances onboard other Norwegian Cruise Line ships. In February 2026, guests were notified about two cases reported onboard Norwegian Encore from sailings in December 2025, and in November 2025, guests on Norwegian Epic were warned about possible exposure as well.

Royal Caribbean has also shared similar warnings to guests when necessary, including cases connected to Symphony of the Seas in January 2025 from sailings in October and December 2024. Celebrity Cruises warned guests after two cases were connected to Celebrity Ascent in January 2024.

Such notices are sent out of an abundance of caution to alert guests to the possibility of increased risk so travelers can take whatever precautions they feel are best, including avoiding hot tub use or staying alert to potential symptoms during and after their cruises.

Helicopter Scrambled to Carnival Cruise Ship in the English Channel

Melissa Mayntz
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Helicopter Scrambled to Carnival Cruise Ship in the English Channel

Key Aspects:

  • An HM Coastguard helicopter airlifted a guest from Carnival Legend on the morning of Saturday, August 29, 2026.
  • The ship was traveling in the English Channel at the time of the medical emergency and diverted slightly to meet the helicopter.
  • No delay has been reported for Carnival Legend returning to Dover for debarkation on Sunday, August 30, as planned.

Carnival Legend had a brief diversion during her trip through the English Channel as a medical evacuation took place on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

According to Plymouth+, the emergency happened during the morning, when an HM Coastguard helicopter was scrambled to manage the evacuation. The HM Coastguard released a statement on the incident:

“At 9:40 a.m. today (29 August), HM Coastguard’s assistance was requested for the medical evacuation of a passenger on board a vessel around eight (8) nautical miles south of Lizard Point, Cornwall,” the statement confirmed. “An HM Coastguard helicopter was sent and the person was handed over to the Ambulance Service at Newquay.”

Satellite tracking confirms the cruise ship diverted slightly from her course to move closer to the coast and meet the helicopter. This is a typical response to ensure such evacuations can happen as quickly as possible.

No further details have been released about the incident. While the statement does confirm that the evacuated individual was a guest onboard the ship, the individual’s age or the nature of the medical emergency has not been released.

This is not uncommon for such incidents, as cruise lines take great care to protect the privacy of the individual, their family members, and any traveling companions at such a very stressful time.

Carnival Legend in the Bahamas
Carnival Legend in the Bahamas (Photo Credit: Luciavonu)

Carnival Legend was traveling between the Isle of Man and Dover, with Saturday being a full day at sea to make the roughly 670-mile trip.

The 2,124-guest ship is currently on a 10-night British Isles itinerary that departed Dover on Thursday, August 20, 2026 and has enjoyed visits to Cork, Holyhead, Dublin, Liverpool, Greenock (Glasgow), Belfast, and the Isle of Man.

At this time, there appears to be no delay with the ship’s return to Dover for debarkation on the morning of Sunday, August 30, as planned.

Medical Evacuations Not Uncommon

While no cruise guest wants to debark their ship via helicopter rather than getting off along the gangway at the end of the sailing, medical evacuations are not uncommon.

Cruise ships are equipped with medical centers and have doctors and nurses onboard, but if a guest’s or crew member’s condition requires advanced intervention, a medical evacuation will be requested.

This may be done via helicopter or rescue boat, depending on sea conditions, how close a ship may be to shore, and where adequate medical facilities exist. If a ship is close to an adequate port, however, the vessel may divert and dock briefly to evacuate the guest to an ambulance.

Cruise Hive has reported a wide range of such evacuations, including from other ships in the Carnival fleet. On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, a guest was evacuated from Carnival Firenze in Long Beach by a rescue boat, while on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, a woman was airlifted from Carnival Luminosa near northern California.

Extensive medical details are not usually released for such incidents, but guests and crew members have been evacuated from cruise ships due to stroke-like symptoms, early pregnancy complications, appendicitis, and other emergencies.

The rescue crews and emergency personnel that coordinate and carry out such evacuations do so in many types of weather conditions, including harrowing storms, rough seas, and strong winds, all to safeguard the lives of those requiring emergency assistance.

Cruise Hive’s good thoughts are with the individual evacuated from Carnival Legend and all guests and crew members are grateful for the emergency personnel willing and able to manage such rescue operations whenever and wherever they may be needed.

Norwegian Cruise Line Quietly Updates Popular Dining Perk

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Cruise Line Quietly Updates Popular Dining Perk

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded the specialty dining offer of its Free at Sea package to include all guests in one stateroom.
  • Previously, the package pricing for discounted dining at specialty restaurants only applied to the first two guests.
  • All cruises booked on or after August 26, 2026 will have the new specialty dining bundle availability for all guests.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Free at Sea” package is a bundle deal that allows guests to add the most popular extras to their cruise booking at very reduced rates. Now, one of those add-ons can apply to extra guests, making it easier for families and groups to take advantage of the savings.

Specialty dining is one of the most popular parts of the bundle, but the savings have only applied to the first and second guests in each stateroom.

The cruise line has now updated the terms and conditions for the package to apply to larger groups. Guests who are booking the Free at Sea package have noticed the update, which has been shared on Facebook.

“For all new bookings made on or after August 26, 2026, Specialty Dining will be available to guests 3-8,” the update notes.

This means families or groups traveling together in the same stateroom can all take advantage of the savings. Before the update, additional guests had to pay full price for meals in the specialty restaurants, even when dining with their traveling companions from the same stateroom.

Guest Reactions: Great for Groups

While the update will not have much impact on guests who travel solo or as couples or pairs, larger groups are thrilled with the change, as it now opens new dining possibilities for their entire party.

“That’s great news. We’ve thought about booking the Garden Villa or one of the 3-[bedroom] Haven cabins on the Prima-class ships but one of the holdups was that specialty dining didn’t extend to other adults in the cabin, which made no sense at all for those big cabins,” one guest commented.

Dining on Norwegian Luna
Dining on Norwegian Luna (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

If the extra guests (numbers 3-8 on the same reservation) are children, the policy gets a little more complicated. Children ages 2-12 aren’t charged the package price for specialty dining pre-cruise, and they can dine off the complimentary children’s menu without difficulty. If the child chooses a regular menu item from the specialty restaurant, however, the specialty dining package fee will be charged.

If a child is 13 years or older, the specialty dining package fees apply.

Are the Savings That Great?

While some package bundles can be confusing, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea really is a significant savings for guests who enjoy specialty dining.

When the package is purchased, it offers a select number of meals at a dramatically reduced rate. On sailings of 2-4 nights, guests get one specialty dining meal for just $20 per person (gratuities included). If purchased onboard, that meal would be $72.

The number of meals included in the package varies by sailing length. For cruises from 5-6 nights, two meals are included, and three meals are included for cruises from 7-8 nights. Sailings of 9+ nights get four specialty dining meals per guest at the package pricing. Each meal has the same $20 cover charge under the package pricing.

Additional specialty dining meals must be purchased at the prevailing rate, even if guests have the Free at Sea package.

Other items bundled in the Free at Sea package include an unlimited open bar, WiFi access, and shore excursion credits. Exact terms and conditions, as well as pricing, are subject to change.

Royal Caribbean Removes a Word From Its Most Popular Destination

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Removes a Word From Its Most Popular Destination

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has dropped the “at” in the name of its private Bahamian destination, now Perfect Day CocoCay.
  • The preposition has been removed from marketing materials, the cruise line’s website, and the booking engine.
  • No explanation has been offered for the change, but it does align better with the names of other Royal Caribbean private destinations.

Royal Caribbean guests will no longer have a Perfect Day at CocoCay, but they will still enjoy Perfect Day CocoCay as a top destination in the Bahamas.

Read that again: Royal Caribbean has dropped the “at” from the private island’s official name and now it is simply “Perfect Day CocoCay” rather than “Perfect Day at CocoCay.”

The cruise line confirmed the stylistic change with a short video posted on social media showcasing one of the performers who welcomes guests to the destination.

Filmed on the pier with the “CocoCay” sign in the background, the funny video has the performer in a pirate costume enthusiastically welcoming guests with the phrase “Welcome to a Perfect Day at CocoCay!” but each time she says “at” her voice is bleeped out with a brief ship’s horn sound and her mouth is covered with an ice cream cone emoji.

A narrator’s voice comments, “Wait, you can’t say that!” and “Try again!” when she includes the “at” in her phrase, but her third try is simply, “Welcome to Perfect Day CocoCay!” with a winning chime sound.

Perfect Day at CocoCay
Perfect Day at CocoCay (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

“Say goodbye to the ‘at’ in Perfect Day at CocoCay – from now on, it’s Perfect Day CocoCay,” the video is captioned. “A different name, with the same award-winning island experience you know and love.”

The video was posted on Thursday, August 27, 2026, and already has nearly 60,000 views on Facebook and more than 2,200 likes on Instagram, where Royal Caribbean notes “The ‘at’ in Perfect Day CocoCay has left the chat.”

Why Drop the Preposition?

In addition to the video, the “at” has been dropped across Royal Caribbean’s website and in marketing materials as well as the online booking engine and on reservation invoices. This change also applies to sister line Celebrity Cruises’ website and materials, as Celebrity Cruises began visiting the destination in April 2024.

But why would Royal Caribbean drop the preposition “at” in the name of their private Bahamian destination? While the cruise line has not confirmed any official logic behind the switch, “Perfect Day CocoCay” does align better with the names of other private destinations Royal Caribbean has around the world, which the cruise line calls “Ultimate Destinations by Royal Caribbean.”

Every beach club experience, for example, is named “Royal Beach Club: [Location]” such as “Royal Beach Club: Paradise Island” in the Bahamas and “Royal Beach Club: Santorini” in Greece.

While the project was rejected by the Mexican government and will not be built as originally designed, the planned destination that was to have been near Costa Maya, Mexico would have been named “Perfect Day Mexico” not “Perfect Day at Mexico” or “Perfect Day in Mexico.”

This would have created a second “Perfect Day” location to continue the branding theme, and Royal Caribbean may yet develop future “Perfect Day” destinations.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day CocoCay – Full Guide

As of August 26, 2026, only one destination lacks the “Perfect Day” or “Royal Beach Club” name, and that is the cruise line’s private destination of Labadee, Haiti, which is described as an “Exclusive Destination.”

Due to violence and civil unrest in the nation, no Royal Caribbean ship has visited Labadee since March 2024, when increasing problems were punctuated by jail breaks, escalating gang activity, and ultimately the widespread government collapse.

Cruise Hive reported in mid-July 2026 that the cancellations have been extended at least through June 2027. When possible, alternative port visits are being arranged for the more than 60 future itineraries impacted by the cancellation extension.

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