Some VIFP benefits are removed for Carnival Radiance‘s January 10 sailing and Carnival Venezia‘s January 11 sailing.
Both impacted cruises are 14-night Carnival Journeys voyages, to Hawaii and the Panama Canal, respectively.
It is not unusual for Carnival Cruise Line to remove benefits from longer or more unique sailings.
Guests on two upcoming Carnival sailings have been notified that the most coveted Diamond and Platinum benefits will not be available. This has become typical of Carnival Cruise Line in the past few years and is a strong indication of why the loyalty program must change.
The two impacted sailings are:
Carnival Radiance – January 10, 2026 – 14-night Hawaii sailing from Long Beach
Carnival Venezia – January 11, 2026 – 14-night Panama Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral
Both of these 2-week itineraries are more immersive Carnival Journeys cruises. These sailings are very popular with experienced guests as they offer more unique ports of call that aren’t always available on more common itineraries.
Nevertheless, when there are hundreds of Diamond and Platinum cruisers on a voyage, it is impossible for Carnival Cruise Line to adequately offer certain loyalty benefits.
“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide [some] benefits,”the notification email confirmed.
For both of these cruises, the following benefits are now cancelled:
Priority embarkation and debarkation, both at the homeport and all ports of call
Early stateroom access, including dropping off bags even if leaving the stateroom
Priority luggage delivery to staterooms on embarkation day
Guaranteed main dining room seating requests for Diamond guests
Furthermore, the priority line at the Guest Services desk, as well as priority Guest Services phone assistance, may also be unavailable on either ship during these cruises. That determination may fluctuate for busier times at the Guest Services desk throughout each sailing.
“These operational changes are consistent with other voyages where we have a very large number of Diamond and Platinum guests,”the email notification explained.“We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for your understanding.”
To be clear, there are no itinerary changes or other adjustments for either sailing.
Carnival Radiance is still planned to enjoy some Aloha State hospitality in Kahului, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, and Hilo (along with Ensenada), while Carnival Venezia will enjoy the modern wonder that is the Panama Canal, along with visits to Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.
What Benefits Remain?
While the loss of these very popular benefits will be disappointing to some guests, there are still great perks that remain for both cruises, including:
Complimentary bottles of water
Collectible VIFP pins as well as program gifts
Complimentary wash-and-fold laundry (5 bags for Platinum, unlimited for Diamond)
Carnival has frequently cancelled high-level loyalty benefits on a variety of cruises, and not always the 10-night or longer Journeys voyages or more unusual itineraries.
Benefits are also often removed from transatlantic cruises, repositioning voyages, and limited offer itineraries such as sailings to Greenland.
Changes Not Unexpected
Guests commenting on Reddit are not surprised by the change, but not necessarily pleased with it either.
“This is why they are changing the loyalty program. There are just too many of us. It sucks, but it makes sense. This seems to be the case on any cruise that is either longer than 7-8 days and/or some sort of specialty cruise,”one guest commented.
What is frustrating to some guests is that, in the past few months, since it was announced that guests with Diamond VIFP status would keep that loyalty level for life, Carnival continues to promote and encourage guests to reach a level the cruise line cannot adequately serve.
“Offer a service based on a rewards program that you must qualify for,”one guest noted.“Deny that service because too many of you qualified for it.”
Many previous Carnival guests have been receiving frequent offers for deeply discounted sailings that will count twice or even three times for loyalty points, helping them quickly “chase Diamond” before the VIFP program ends on August 31, 2026.
Quantum of the Seas will be late returning to Los Angeles, and embarkation for the next cruise is delayed.
The 2-night sailing will still visit Ensenada and has even extended the port time as a bonus.
The delay is due to an emergency medical evacuation several hours after the ship departed Cabo San Lucas.
Guests boarding a rare 2-night sailing on Quantum of the Seas will be getting an even shorter cruise than anticipated due to a medical emergency that occurred near the end of the previous voyage.
Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests on the January 5, 2026 departure to alert them to the change in embarkation in Los Angeles as well as an adjustment to the planned port visit to Ensenada, Mexico.
“Due to a delay in our previous sailing, Quantum of the Seas will be arriving to the pier later than originally planned, and the terminal will be closed until 3:30 PM,”the email notification explained.
“Please note that the parking lot will be closed until 3:00 PM and incoming guests will not be able to park until our current guests have departed.”
Cruise terminal arrival appointments are now pushed back 4.5 hours. The earliest guests, those who chose the 11:00 a.m. arrival time, should now plan on arriving at the terminal at 3:30 p.m. The latest appointments, 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., should arrive at 6:30 p.m.
All guests must be checked in onboard the ship no later than 7 p.m.
The 2-night cruise is a rarity for Quantum of the Seas. These types of very short sailings are occasionally necessary as a ship shifts departure dates for a holiday period or when changing deployments.
The 168,700-gross-ton ship, lead vessel in the Quantum class, is homeported from Los Angeles through September 2026, offering Mexican Riviera sailings from 3-7 nights long to Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and occasionally Catalina, depending on departure date and cruise length.
Quantum of the Seas will spend the Australian summer sailing from Brisbane before returning to the Northern Hemisphere for Summer 2027 sailing from Seattle for the Alaska season.
The ship can welcome 4,180 guests onboard at double occupancy, and is also home to roughly 1,500 international crew members.
Itinerary Adjustment for the Better
Following the delayed departure from Los Angeles, the itinerary has been adjusted with extra port time for guests to enjoy.
“While we’ll be departing from Los Angeles later than originally planned, this will not affect our arrival time in Ensenada,”Royal Caribbean confirmed.“As a bonus, our departure from Ensenada will now be 6:00 PM instead of 4:00 PM, giving you even more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!”
Quantum of the Seas is scheduled to arrive in Ensenada at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, January 6.
Quantum of the Seas at Cabo San Lucas (Photo Credit: A. Viduetsky)
The ship is still able to keep that arrival time because Ensenada is only a short distance across the border into Mexico. Overall, the sailing distance from Los Angeles to Ensenada is just 170 miles.
This extra time will give guests the opportunity to enjoy an early dinner in Ensenada, a longer shopping trip, or even an extra shore excursion if they are so inclined.
Why the Delay?
While Royal Caribbean has not released information about why Quantum of the Seas has been delayed in returning to Los Angeles, guests onboard are aware of the change.
“Currently on [Quantum of the Seas] and wanted to give you a heads up as to why we so late. Yesterday after leaving Cabo, someone got critically ill,”the guest explained.
“We were 5 [hours] out and had to turn back. We got back to Cabo at 9:10 p.m. and off loaded the person. We were back sailing at 9:45 p.m.”
The current sailing that is returning to Los Angeles on Monday, January 5 is a 6-night New Year’s itinerary that had an extended visit in Cabo San Lucas from January 1-3. The ship originally departed Los Angeles on December 30.
“Captain is really trying hard to make up time. There just isn’t enough time to do it,”the guest said.“Captain told us today that we should expect to dock at noon to 12:30. 1st luggage will not be off ship until 1:30 at the earliest.”
Unlike how close Ensenada is to Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas is at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, nearly 1,000 miles from the southern California homeport.
No official details about the medical evacuation have been released, which helps protect the guest’s privacy at a very stressful and troubling time.
Cruise Hives wishes all the best to the ill guest and hopes everyone onboard Quantum of the Seas still has a remarkable, if abbreviated, cruise for the ship’s first sailing of 2026.
Norwegian Epic pushes back its San Juan departure from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
It is due to a temporary airspace closure caused by tensions between the US and Venezuela.
The rest of Norwegian Epic’s itinerary remains unchanged.
It’s been a chaotic weekend of flight cancellations and delays for cruisers following the US attack on Venezuela, which resulted in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closing airspace in Puerto Rico and impacting travel across the Caribbean.
The 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, is among several cruise ships affected. The cruise line has informed booked guests that the vessel will not be departing as scheduled.
The ship’s January 4, 7-night Caribbean cruise from San Juan was originally scheduled to depart at approximately 7:30 PM, but has now been moved to 10:00 PM.
“In light of the recent airspace closure and reopening in Puerto Rico that may have impacted some travel plans, we’ve adjusted Norwegian Epic’s departure today, January 4, 2026, to 10:00 PM local time. Wishing you smooth travels and we look forward to welcoming you aboard very soon. Your Epic adventure awaits!” NCL said in a message to passengers.
At this time, the cruise line has not adjusted Norwegian Epic’s itinerary. The vessel is still scheduled to call at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on January 5, St Johns in Antigua on January 6, Bridgetown in Barbados on January 7, St. Lucia on January 7, St. Maarten on January 8, and the final port of call at St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
The 155,873 gross ton ship is still scheduled to return to San Juan as planned on January 11, 2026. Well before then, the flight situation should be back to normal with no further impact on cruises.
Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico has already issued an update with a news conference held on January 3. The airport plans to reopen at 1:00 AM on Sunday. However, the federal government could still extend the closure.
More Cruise Ships Impacted Out of San Juan
Norwegian Epic is not the only vessel affected by the airspace closure. Virgin Voyage’s Valiant Lady has been one of the most impacted ships, with the cruise line even deciding to replace two ports that are near Venezuela.
The cruise line had already issued a notice to guests on January 3 regarding the flight situation, stating that “All Sailors must disembark by 10:30 a.m. as originally scheduled.“
Valiant Lady (Photo Credit: Just dance)
In a follow-up, Virgin Voyages also decided to make an itinerary adjustment, replacing the call to Aruba on January 5 with a call to Bridgetown, Barbados. Also, replacing the call to Curacao with St. Lucia on January 6. The rest of the voyage is unchanged.
Grand Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, also experienced a departure delay and an itinerary change. The vessel is remaining in San Juan until Monday, January 5, 6:00 PM.
With the original departure being on January 4, it means the cruise is cut short and the cancellation of St. Thomas on January 5. However, the 2,610-passenger ship will add a call to St Kitts to make up for it on January 6.
There have also been impacts for Royal Caribbean passengers, with Jewel of the Seas delaying its January 3 departure from San Juan from the scheduled 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Cruise Hive will continue to keep cruisers informed on all the latest developments that are impacting cruises. You can also have your say over on the Cruise Hive Boards.
Princess Cruises is delaying Grand Princess’ departure from San Juan to allow additional time for passengers affected by flight cancellations.
The delay has the ship spending the night in Puerto Rico, then proceeding directly to St. Kitts.
Affected guests will miss a call in St. Thomas and receive a prorated refund.
What was supposed to be a Sunday night departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has turned into an unexpected overnight stay, as Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess delays sailing amid regional flight cancellations.
Princess Cruises said the decision was made to allow additional time for passengers whose flights to Puerto Rico were cancelled on January 3, 2025, after the Federal Aviation Administration shut down US airline operations.
The disruptions took place across the Caribbean following US military attacks in Venezuela, leaving thousands of travelers unable to arrive or depart.
In a notice to guests, the cruise line said the 107,517-gross-ton ship would remain docked in San Juan, intentionally giving affected passengers a chance to reach the ship once flights resume.
“Due to airspace closures over Puerto Rico, Grand Princess will extend her departure from San Juan until Monday, January 5th, at 6 p.m.,” the cruise line said.
The 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing was originally scheduled to depart San Juan on the evening of January 4. Guests who are already in San Juan or who can arrive on January 4 are still welcome to embark as planned, with the ship remaining in port overnight.
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Brave Behind the Lenz)
The change will affect the ship’s itinerary, no longer calling on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands on January 5. Instead, the vessel will proceed directly to Basseterre, St. Kitts, for its scheduled visit on January 6.
As compensation, Princess Cruises will provide up to 2,610 guests a prorated refund equivalent to one day of their cruise fare, including taxes, fees, and any Princess Plus or Premier packages purchased for that day.
Passengers still unable to reach San Juan in time to embark on January 5 because of travel delays are instructed to contact Princess Cruises’ En Route Assistance Team for further guidance.
Flight Shutdowns Force Adjustments
Port officials stress that cruise operations in San Juan are continuing, despite the aviation disruptions. San Juan Cruise Port said all cruises scheduled to call at its piers on January 3 and 4 are still operating as planned.
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady returned from holiday cruises on January 3, 2026, but disembarking passengers were unable to catch flights home, while some arriving passengers were unable to make embarkation for subsequent cruises.
Both cruise lines proceeded with the subsequent voyages, as scheduled, with Valiant Lady altering its itinerary to skip calls in Aruba and Curaçao due to the close proximity to Venezuela’s coastline. Instead, the vessel will visit Barbados and St. Lucia.
San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport says the earliest reopening will take place at 1 a.m. on January 4, but could change as military operations continue.
Grand Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma were all scheduled to depart on January 4, with Princess Cruises postponing departure.
Virgin Voyages rerouted Valiant Lady’s 7-night Caribbean sailing, replacing planned stops in Aruba and Curaçao.
The January 3, 2026, voyage will now visit Barbados and St. Lucia instead.
The change comes amidst travel disruptions across the Caribbean following an attack on Venezuela by the US government.
After a surprise US military attack in Venezuela disrupted travel across parts of the Caribbean, Virgin Voyages has announced its Valiant Lady will be skipping scheduled visits to nearby Aruba and Curaçao.
The cruise line shared the update with guests on January 3, 2026, citing the evolving situation in the region and coordination with government officials as the reasons for the change.
The decision affects the 7-night sailing of the 2,770-guest Valiant Lady, which departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 8 p.m. local time on January 3.
Originally scheduled to make its first call in Oranjestad, Aruba, on January 5, followed by Willemstad, Curaçao, on January 6, the ship will now call on Bridgetown, Barbados, and Castries, St. Lucia, respectively.
“Due to the evolving situation in Venezuela, we have made some careful adjustments to our route in the best interest of our sailors and crew,”said Virgin Voyages in a statement.
“Safety is always our top priority, and after close coordination with government officials, we are confident that this is the right decision to make your time at sea peaceful, safe, and filled with amazing moments.”
Oranjestad lies about 220 nautical miles from Caracas, Venezuela, with Willemstad even closer at about 150 nautical miles, prompting the cruise line to reassess the calls.
The remaining ports on the itinerary will proceed as planned, with stops in St. John’s, Antigua, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, unchanged on January 8 and 9, respectively, before the voyage returns to San Juan on January 10.
Guests who had prebooked shore excursions in Aruba or Curaçao will not need to take any action as the cruise line is automatically cancelling and refunding those bookings to the original form of payment.
New shore excursions for Barbados and St. Lucia are expected to be added to the Virgin Voyages app, allowing guests to plan ahead once those options become available.
Valiant Lady in St. Lucia (Photo Credit: Lissa Poirot)
Both island destinations are popular among cruisers for offering a mix of beaches, cultural sites, and outdoor activities.
Bridgetown, for example, is renowned for its historic waterfront and rum distilleries while St. Lucia is best known for its mountainous landscape, including the Pitons, along with waterfalls, rainforests, and volcanic hot springs.
Attack Ripples into Cruises
The rerouting comes amid broader travel disruptions following the US military attack, which prompted heightened security concerns across the Caribbean.
In the hours following the early-morning attack, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limited US airline operations in the region, leading to widespread flight cancellations, especially at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, which has suspended flights until at least 1 a.m. on January 4, 2026.
The cancellations left some cruise passengers unable to arrive in San Juan ahead of Valiant Lady’s departure.
Virgin Voyages acknowledged the disruption and said guests unable to embark because of the flight shutdowns will not be penalized. The cruise line is offering affected passengers a full voyage credit that can be used toward a future Virgin Voyages sailing.
Officials at Richard Branson’s adult-only cruise line are continuing to monitor the evolving situation and will be sharing any updates directly with guests if conditions change.
A federal appeals court blocked Hawaii from enforcing a new climate-related tax on cruise ship passengers.
The tax would have imposed an 11 percent levy on prorated cruise fares, with counties authorized to raise the total to 14 percent.
State officials say the pause is temporary, while Cruise Lines International Association will continue to challenge the tax.
Cruise passengers sailing to Hawaii won’t see a new climate-related tax on their fares, at least for now.
On New Year’s Eve, a two-judge panel from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals blocked Hawaii from enforcing a new tax on cruise ship passengers that was scheduled to begin January 1, 2026.
The decision grants an injunction while the case works its way through the appeals process, temporarily stopping the state from collecting the tax from cruise lines and their guests.
“Accordingly, and until further notice, the Department of Taxation will refrain from enforcing Act 96 as it relates and applies to cruise ships,”said Gary S. Suganuma, director of taxation for the State of Hawaii.
The challenge was brought by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which sued the state, arguing the new tax, Act 96, violates the US Constitution by effectively charging cruise ships for entering Hawaii ports. Cruise Lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, had already started informing booked guests of the new fee.
CLIA also argued that the “green fee” would raise cruise fares for passengers sailing to the islands.
Hawaii’s proposed tax is part of a broader law aimed at generating new revenue across the island state to address climate-related issues. While most of the law focuses on increasing taxes on hotel rooms and vacation rentals, it also introduced a new charge on cruise passengers.
The law would impose an 11 percent tax on gross fares paid by cruise ship passengers, prorated based on the number of days a vessel spends in Hawaiian ports.
It also allows counties in Hawaii to add an additional surcharge of up to 3 percent, potentially bringing the total tax to 14 percent of prorated cruise fares.
Cruise Port Area in Hawaii (Photo Credit: Theodore Trimmer)
While the December 31, 2025, ruling pauses the enforcement of the cruise-related portion of the law, Hawaiian officials note the injunction is just temporary.
In a statement to local news outlets, Toni Schwartz, a spokesperson for the Hawaiian attorney general’s office, said, “We remain confident that Act 96 is lawful and will be vindicated when the appeal is heard on the merits.”
Governor Josh Green signed the bill into law with the goal of making visitors help pay for environmental challenges, such as shoreline erosion, wildfire prevention, and damage linked to climate change.
Most of the law focuses on increasing taxes on hotel rooms and vacation rentals, but, for the first time, it also applied a tax to cruise ship passengers.
State officials estimate the law could raise close to $100 million a year once fully implemented.
CLIA has also pointed to the economic role cruise tourism plays in Hawaii, saying it brings nearly $1 billion to the state each year while supporting thousands of jobs tied to ports, transportation, tours, and local businesses.
Cruise ships make hundreds of port calls annually across the islands, including stops in Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai.
The group says it will continue challenging the law in court while still working with Hawaii officials on tourism and sustainability issues.
Although a federal district judge initially upheld Act 96 on December 23, 2025, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals stepped in on December 31, blocking enforcement while the appeals process continues.
The FAA temporarily restricted US flights, including Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean.
It’s due to the US military attack in Venezuela that took place on January 3.
Cruise passengers were unable to fly home, while others on suspended flights missed embarkation.
Cruise passengers traveling across the Caribbean woke up to widespread disruption on Jan. 3, 2026, after a US military attack in Venezuela led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to restrict airspace over Puerto Rico, prompting widespread flight cancellations by US airlines.
Cruise passengers returning from Caribbean holiday cruises, expecting to disembark and return to the US, as well as others looking forward to arriving in the islands to embark on the first vacation of the new year, received flight cancellation notices.
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, in particular, confirmed the disruption in an official announcement, citing a security order issued by the FAA, temporarily restricting airspace for 24 hours.
The airport is expected to remain closed until at least 1 a.m. on January 4, 2026.
Virgin Voyages Issues Advisory
Virgin Voyages issued an advisory to its guests disembarking in San Juan, confirming that US airline flights were impacted and outlining required procedures.
“Local port authorities have advised that the airspace over Puerto Rico is temporarily closed for all US airlines due to military activity in Venezuela,” the cruise line said in a statement.“This is impacting flights operated by US airlines flying into and out of San Juan.”
“US Customs and Border Protection requires the ship to be cleared. Disembarkation times remain unchanged. All Sailors must disembark by 10:30 a.m. as originally schedule,” the notice continued.
Valiant Lady (Photo Credit: Lissa Poirot)
Despite the flight disruptions, the cruise line said disembarkation procedures could not be delayed. However, the cruise line confirmed an itinerary change to avoid calls at Curaçao and Aruba on its January 3 cruise.
The notice to guests said:
“Due to the evolving situation in Venezuela, we have made some careful adjustments to our route in the best interest of our sailors and crew. Safety is always our top priority, and after close coordination with government officials, we are confident that this is the right decision to make your time at sea peaceful, safe and filled with amazing moments.“
Passengers were instructed to proceed to the airport as planned and to work directly with their airline for flight-specific updates, as airlines are responsible for accounting for all travelers and sharing rebooking options.
“While airport operations continue, flight activity is currently impacted, and some flights may be delayed or cancelled, particularly those involving US-registered aircraft, due to an active NOTAM affecting Caribbean airspace,” the airport said in a statement.
Other airports affected include those in the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Antigua, Grenada, and St. Lucia.
Cruise Passengers Left Scrambling
The disruption created challenges not only for passengers ending cruises in San Juan and beyond, but also for those scheduled to arrive for new sailings.
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, carrying up to 2,191 passengers, and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady, with up to 2,770 guests, both arrived in San Juan on January 3 to complete a voyage and relaunch on a subsequent cruise.
Virgin Voyages acknowledged that some passengers would be unable to reach ships in time for the next embarkation due to cancelled or suspended flights. It said those not able to reach Valiant Lady before her 8 p.m. departure would receive compensation.
“Any Sailor unable to embark due to this situation will receive a full voyage credit to use on a future Virgin Voyages sailing,” the cruise line said.
San Juan Cruise Port
Although San Juan’s airport is shut down until 1 a.m. on January 4, the reopening time is subject to further evaluation and could impact others attempting to arrive in Puerto Rico for January 4 departures.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, and Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas are each set to return to San Juan on January 4 with guests both eager to get home and to embark on the next voyage.
Grand Princess, which is also based out of San Juan, is, in fact,delaying its departure from the Caribbean port until Monday, January 6, at 6:00 PM, giving stranded passengers more time to get to the ship. However, that has resulted in an itinerary with the cancellation of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
“On our way to airport this morning in Indiana and flight was cancelled. Southwest Airlines is saying Puerto Rico is on lockdown. Can’t get a hold of Princess Cruises,” said one distraught passenger.
Guests sailing with Virgin Voyages also received notification of excursion cancellations in Aruba and Curaçao, which are located within 220 nautical miles from Venezuela’s border. The calls were scheduled for January 5 and 6, respectively, and the cruise line has not revealed if ships will be repositioned to new ports as an alternative.
Brilliance of the Seas also has Aruba and Curaçao on its itinerary, with a January 8 and 9 arrivals, respectively.
Undoubtedly, cruise lines will be paying very close attention to further military action that may affect the safety of crew and passengers.
Cruise guests are advised to check directly with airlines and cruise lines, although cruise lines are reporting higher-than-normal call volumes and to remain patient during this disruption.
Carnival Cruise Line will be returning to the old safety briefing format for an upcoming sailing onboard Carnival Miracle.
Meanwhile, guests of Carnival Radiance and Carnival Firenze have been warned of limited parking at the Long Beach Cruise Port.
Finally, future passengers of Carnival Venezia are being reminded about the policies for sailing with mobility scooters.
Safety briefings, parking, and scooters, oh my!
Carnival Cruise Line is diving into the new year with updates and reminders for several January sailings, including parking advisories, the scooter storage policy, and a revised safety briefing.
Carnival Miracle Returns to Old Safety Briefings
Carnival Miracle’s January 4, 2026, sailing, which is a 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean embarking in Tampa, will return to the old safety briefing format for this one specific voyage.
Ever since cruising resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic, Carnival has primarily used a self-mustering process through the HUB App to complete the mandatory safety briefing process on embarkation day.
But occasionally, certain sailings are randomly selected to undergo the traditional group muster drills from years past.
“Shortly before departure, a full safety drill will take place on your upcoming sailing. This is a mandatory procedure, and all guests will be required to participate in this brief but essential exercise,” Carnival wrote in a heads-up to passengers.
“Ship-wide announcements will provide guidance on the process, which will include collective gathering at your assigned muster station to familiarize yourself with the necessary steps to take in the unlikely event of an emergency,”the letter continued.
While the e-muster process is generally faster (and the preferred method), it’s still important to occasionally revisit the old process as part of the cruise line’s ongoing commitment to safety and ensuring crew members are fully trained.
Another Parking Warning in Long Beach
The parking struggles are continuing in Long Beach, California, where Carnival Radiance and Carnival Firenze both currently homeport.
Guests of Carnival Radiance’s January 5 sailing and Carnival Firenze’s January 8 cruise have been warned of limited parking at the port, and are strongly encouraged to make other transportation arrangements.
The on-site parking structure has 1,450 spaces, which is simply not enough for the thousands of passengers drawn to the port by these ships.
Carnival Radiance Docked in Long Beach (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz)
Because of this, soon-to-be guests have been advised that they may be directed to overflow parking at a nearby offsite facility if they have to drive and park at the port.
“The parking facility at the cruise terminal has very limited capacity. Please make plans to use alternate transportation that does not require parking,” Carnival advised.
“If driving (and parking at the port) is your only option, please be prepared to be directed to park at an offsite location operated by the City of Long Beach (not the pier),” the cruise line added.
Offsite parking will cost $20 per day, which is slightly less than the $23 charged per day by the onsite structure.
Directions and information about accessing the overflow parking will be given to guests when they arrive at the main cruise port on embarkation day.
Carnival Venezia Guests Reminded of Scooter Storage Policies
The behavior of scooter users onboard is always a source of controversy, and lately Carnival has been cracking down on enforcing its policies for mobility scooter storage.
This is to ensure the safety of all onboard, but also to prevent unpleasant surprises on embarkation day.
Guests of Carnival Venezia’s January 11 sailing, which is a 14-night sailing to the Caribbean and Panama embarking in Port Canaveral, received a reminder letter with the current policy.
Carnival Venezia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Sumerdita_Dphots)
“The safety of everyone on board is our priority. As stated in the terms and conditions of the Ticket Contract, due to safety considerations, mobility devices (including strollers) cannot be stored in corridors or public areas,”the letter reads, in part.
Mobility devices cannot be left unattended, and when used in public areas, cannot obstruct emergency exits or fire and safety equipment.
In order to safely stay in a standard stateroom, mobility scooters must also be 21” or less in width. Guests with a wider scooter or parties with multiple scooters must purchase a fully accessible stateroom.
Scooter sizes will be checked during the embarkation process, and those that do not safely fit will not be allowed onboard.
Welcome to 2026 and this week’s recap of the major cruise developments, all covered by Cruise Hive. Highlights in this edition include stories about the first cruise ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay’s brand new pier, Port Canaveral again winning the title of Best US Cruise Homeport, and how one teenager learned a life lesson onboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship.
Stay up to date on the major cruise news stories with Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, a must-read for industry insiders. Sign up here and have the news delivered to your inbox each morning.
First Cruise Ship Docks at Great Stirrup Cay
The new pier at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay, a private island destination in the Bahamas, officially welcomed its first cruise ship, Norwegian Getaway.
The 4,000-guest ship docked on December 28, 2025, making it the first of many that will no longer have to tender guests ashore. Ships operated by sister brands Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will also have use of the pier, which can accommodate two ships simultaneously.
Norwegian Getaway is First to Dock at Great Stirrup Cay on December 28, 2025 (Photo Credit: Katie Lowe)
Another Norwegian ship, Norwegian Gem, called at the island on December 28, but that ship continued using tender boats. The cruise line has not explained why the second ship couldn’t use the pier, but it is likely because some operational kinks were still being worked out.
The construction of the two-ship pier began a year ago and is part of an overall enhancement of the destination.
Calling the upgrades a transformational investment in Great Stirrup Cay, parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also added the 28,000-square-foot Great Life Lagoon, the adult-only Vibe Shore Club, and Hammock Bay, featuring — you guessed it, dozens of hammocks where guests can relax.
Still to come, in summer 2026, is the opening of the Great Tides Waterpark, with 19 thrill rides, play spaces for kids, a cliff-jumping experience, and a lazy river.
Mom Saves Child Who Fell Into Harbor at Private Island
A mother’s instinct immediately came into play when her 4-year-old child fell off the cruise ship pier and into the water at Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key on December 21, 2025.
The two were guests aboard the 2,984-guest Carnival Sunrise, which had docked for the day at the private destination on Grand Bahama Island. Apparently, the two were walking to or from the ship when the incident happened.
It isn’t clear how the child ended up in the water near the 101,509-gross-ton ship, but that didn’t matter to Mom, who jumped right in and got hold of the youngster.
Mom and Baby Rescued From Between Cruise Ship and Pier (Credit: @chelspiers)
Ship’s crew members also sprang into action, racing to the scene, throwing life rings into the harbor, and positioning a ladder so that the two could climb out of the water. The activity was videotaped by a guest onboard Carnival Conquest, which was docked next to Carnival Sunrise.
Neither appeared to be injured when they emerged from the water. Fellow cruisers who had gathered at the scene applauded their safe return to dry land. Posted on social media, the video went viral, with more than 1.4 million views and 3,400 comments.
The ship was sailing a 4-night Bahamas cruise from PortMiami.
Expedition Ship Grounds on Reef in South Pacific
Cruise ships rarely become grounded, but that’s what happened to Coral Adventurer, a 120-guest ship that got stuck on a reef in Papua New Guinea on December 27, 2025.
The ship is based in Cairns, Australia, and after several unsuccessful attempts to free the vessel using tugboats, her 80 guests were evacuated on smaller watercraft to Lae, Papua New Guinea, and then returned by air charter to Australia. No injuries to guests or crew were reported.
Coral Adventurer Ship (Credit: Coral Expeditions)
It isn’t clear how the ship became grounded, but she was listing six degrees to port while stuck on the reef. The location of the ship was at Dreghafen Point, a region known for higher reefs and strong currents — apparently even local fishermen sometimes avoid the area.
Finally, on December 30, 2025, a larger tug was able to free the ship. The incident is under investigation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Coral Adventurer is an expedition ship owned by Coral Expeditions. The ship sails to destinations in Australia, the South Pacific, and the Asia-Pacific region.
More than 100 Become Ill on Celebrity Cruises’ Ship
A holiday cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse turned out to be a big disappointment for dozens of guests and several crew members who were victims of a gastrointestinal bug.
In all, 104 cases of the illness were confirmed — 95 passengers and nine crew members, with symptoms that included vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The illnesses were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as required, but no definitive cause has been identified.
Cruise ships must notify the CDC when 3% or more of the people onboard experience an illness. In this case, 3.1% of guests and .7 of the crew were affected.
The ship was sailing an 8-night voyage that departed on December 20, 2025 from Port Everglades. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary featured calls at Antigua, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
Sanitizing efforts and the isolation of the ill guests and crew were immediately implemented and, undoubtedly, an intense disinfection process was implemented before Celebrity Eclipse departed on her next cruise.
Typically, stomach bugs are spread through direct contact with contaminated surfaces. It’s always best to frequently wash hands and to avoid touching surfaces in public areas.
Another Feather in Port Canaveral’s Cap
Cruisers just love sailing from Port Canaveral, the Central Florida port that’s close to the state’s popular theme parks and serves as a homeport for several of the industry’s top cruise brands.
How do we know? Port Canaveral was voted Best US Cruise Homeport in the 2025 Cruise Hive Awards — for the sixth consecutive year!
Port Canaveral has, at least for now, overtaken PortMiami as the World’s Busiest Cruise Port, welcoming over 8.6 million guests in 2025. In the Cruise Hive Awards results, Port Canaveral garnered 27.3% of the votes, far more than PortMiami’s 17.2%.
Cruise Ships in Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: blue.iris)
Aside from its proximity to the theme parks in Orlando, Port Canaveral also is nearby the Kennedy Space Center, the Brevard Zoo, and other regional attractions.
Cruise brands operating from the port include Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
The port is known for its convenient parking options and timely embarkation systems, such as facial recognition technology, which speeds up the process for guests eager to begin their at-sea vacations.
MSC World America Named ‘Best Overall’ Cruise Ship
MSC Cruises’ MSC World America entered service in April 2025 and can already claim a badge of honor: The 6,700-guest ship was voted Best Overall Cruise Ship in the 2025 Cruise Hive Awards.
The award category is a competitive one, where readers write-in their vote rather than choose from a list. MSC World America received 4.8% of the vote, a respectable percentage compared to the second-place vote-getter, Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, which earned 2.8%.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua came in a close third, with 2.5%.
MSC World America Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)
The 16-deck ship is the largest in the MSC Cruises’ fleet, weighing 216,638 gross tons. With 19 stateroom and suite categories and 2,626 total cabins, there’s an accommodation for every budget.
It was the first time that an MSC Cruises’ ship won the category. The cruise line last won one of the Cruise Hive Awards in 2017, when MSC Seaside shared the Best New Cruise Ship title with Norwegian Joy.
Teen Learns a Lesson Aboard Carnival Dream
A teenager who recently sailed aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Dream learned his lesson the hard way after he participated in damaging an arcade game — an action that cost his family several hundred dollars.
Also, the 14-year-old’s parents took away his phone and grounded him for at least a month.
The incident unfolded one night when his parents were asleep in their cabin. The youngster made some new friends on the ship and ended up in the ship’s arcade, where one of the boys tipped a machine in an effort to obtain the coins inside.
Carnival Cruise Line Getting Strict
The parents who grounded their child posted about the event on social media, presumably as a warning to others.
Under Carnival Cruise Line’s Code of Conduct, no illegal activity or disruptive behavior will be tolerated. In this case, the ship’s security team discovered the teenagers involved and notified their parents.
The teen’s father posted on Reddit that the family had to pay a $500 code of conduct fine and one-third of the cost to repair the arcade game, bringing the total expense to $763.58. No criminal charges were filed, and the family is not banned from sailing with the line again.
More Cruise Headlines
Why stop now? Let’s keep going with even more news from Cruise Hive, including coverage of St. Maarten launching its 2026 cruise season, Mexico’s Quintana Roo marking its strongest cruise-tourism year ever, and weather conditions prompting a Norwegian Cruise Line ship to miss a call to the Dominican Republic on New Year’s Day.
