Mardi Gras paused during a sea day to investigate drifting wreckage in case a rescue was necessary.
The incident happened on Sunday, November 23 in the eastern Bahamas.
Fortunately, no rescue was necessary and Mardi Gras continued on her way.
Even on what should be a routine day at sea, cruise ship officers and crew members remain alert to possible emergency situations. Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras demonstrated exactly that type of alertness and commitment to the safety of all at sea on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Mardi Gras left Port Canaveral on Saturday, November 22 for her 7-night Thanksgiving sailing, an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Sunday was to have been a smooth and calm day at sea, giving the up to 6,500 passengers onboard a chance to explore the Excel-class ship.
At approximately 11 a.m., however, the crew and officers were exploring something else: an abandoned and partially sunken boat in the eastern Bahamas.
Mardi Gras came across the wrecked craft approximately 85 miles north-northeast of Princess Cays. Different guests spotted the debris and alerted crew members, initiating the start of potential rescue operations.
The craft (hardly more than a broken-down raft) was low in the water with debris floating nearby, and the deck was obviously swamped and unseaworthy.
Guests onboard Mardi Grasshared on Facebook that there did not appear to be any possessions or materials onboard the craft, and no one was located in the immediate vicinity.
Satellite tracking data confirms that Mardi Gras paused in her route and slowly circled the wreckage, ensuring there was no one to rescue.
Even if there appears to be no one onboard what may obviously be wreckage, it is essential for a ship to investigate. The loss of some time on a sea day is a very small consequence when a life may be at stake.
Fortunately, in this case, there was no one around the wreckage and no need for further rescue efforts. Mardi Gras was able to continue on her route shortly thereafter, and there should be no delay to her arrival in Grand Turk on Monday, November 24.
What Happens When a Cruise Ship Finds Wreckage?
In addition to circling the craft to check for survivors, it is possible that Mardi Gras also contacted Bahamian authorities (as the nearest governing body) about the wreckage, alerting them to its position.
Authorities may be able to determine if the wreckage had been previously reported, or if there might be any missing persons reports in the vicinity that could connect to the craft.
Typically, when cruise ships rescue refugees, they report the position of the incident along with a description of the watercraft left behind. This information is provided to other vessels in the area so they are aware that the drifting boat, raft, or wreckage has already been investigated.
On occasion, however, wreckage may be spotted for the first time without anyone having been rescued. Exactly what happened to the craft and any occupants may never be known.
It is also possible that this wreckage was previously reported, but it may have become storm-tossed or drifted far enough from the original position that a new report is necessary.
Cruise ships take every such alert of refugees and drifting craft seriously, and stand ready to offer assistance if necessary.
An elderly passenger has died after jumping overboard from Disney Wonder during a one-way sailing from Australia to New Zealand.
Despite launching an hours-long search, the passenger was not found.
The cruise ship’s arrival in Auckland, New Zealand, on November 25 will now be pushed back to November 26.
One of Disney Wonder’s final cruises in Australia has experienced a tragedy.
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, November 22, 2025, a 73-year-old cruise passenger made the unfortunate decision to jump overboard.
“It is understood the man died after he jumped from a cruise liner into the waters in the Tasman Sea on Saturday, about 4.30 am,” a police spokeswoman confirmed.
Despite the best efforts of the captain and the approximately 950-person crew, the Australian guest was never found and is presumed deceased.
The 1999-launched cruise ship, which is in the middle of a 5-night sailing from Melbourne, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, turned around to search for the missing guest.
Cruise tracking data shows that the 1,750-guest ship spent approximately five hours searching the Tasman Sea in the vicinity of where the man fell.
In addition to searching the water, crew members were walking the decks and scanning the water with thermal imaging cameras.
These devices can often pick up the heat signature of a person in the water, even if they are not visible from the surface, though efforts were not successful in this case.
Sadly, the guest was not found, and the search was called off.
Disney Wonder Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: cpaulfell)
“The captain came on and updated the boat and basically stated that there was someone, a passenger had fallen overboard … (but) that they were unable to find them,”a guest named Mitch Talbot told 7 News Australia.
Cruise Hive reached out to Disney Cruise Line for a statement, but did not hear back in time for publication. We will update this article as more details become known.
Cruise Hive sends our heartfelt condolences to the guest and their loved ones.
The Impact on Passengers
Guests and crew members onboard were saddened by the tragedy and noted the solemn atmosphere onboard.
“It was quite sombre and it was just a bit eerie for the rest of the day. A lot of the staff kind of took some time,” Talbot added.
“We are currently on Wonder and heard the captain announce the search and rescue has been “suspended”. I understand why, but it’s just crazy to me that life goes back to normal for the rest of us amidst such a tragedy,” another current guest shared on Reddit.
This is not only an awful way to kick off the holiday season, but it’s a tragic way to bring Disney Wonder’s time in Australia to an end.
It’s unclear at this time how the late start will impact the planned port calls to Wellington, New Zealand, on November 27, and to Lyttelton-Christchurch, New Zealand, on November 28.
Guests who are booked on this sailing should keep an eye out for updates from Disney Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line has doubled the time required between drink purchases for the Cheers! alcoholic package.
Guests must now wait 10 minutes instead of just 5 between drink orders, including for soft drinks.
No official statement has been made about the reason for the change, but it could help reduce both overindulgence and illicit sharing.
Raising a toast, imbibing in a refreshment, or sharing a drink with newfound friends are all iconic activities on a cruise vacation, but Carnival Cruise Line is putting the brakes on some drinking indulgences.
Guests with the Cheers! all-inclusive drink package have noticed a change in recent days, confirmed by the published restrictions on how drinks may be ordered.
While Cheers! still includes all the same drinks and still has the 15-per-day limit, a key difference is now that there must be a 10-minute wait between orders from the same guest. Previously, the time delay was just five minutes.
“Only one drink at a time may be ordered, there is a 10-minute wait time between orders and sharing is not permitted. No double shots as that will be considered ordering two drinks at once.”
Comparison to archived versions of the same FAQ confirms the change from a 5-minute wait time as recently as early October 2025. Guests onboard Carnival ships, however, have only noticed the change in the past few days.
Does the Time Delay Really Impact the Vacation Vibes?
Given that no other terms of the Cheers! package have changed, some guests are wondering what it matters if it’s a 5-minute or 10-minute wait between orders.
Exactly how one indulges in beverages, however, is a matter of personal preference.
“I like to get a shot and a beer. It sucks having to order one and then sit around for 10 mins before I can order the other. The waiting period really puts a damper on my vacation mood,”said one poster on Reddit.
Several guests also note that ordering double shots, particularly in tropical cocktails with plenty of fruit juices, is common, but the restriction eliminates that option.
Drinks at Bar on Carnival Cruise Line Ship (Photo Credit: gary yim)
Furthermore, the restriction also applies to non-alcoholic drinks, such as if a guest wants to order a beer and a soda at the same time. In that case, the same prohibition would apply.
“I was on the Horizon two months ago and you could order a whiskey & coke for a drink, but if you tried to get a can of coke and a shot of whiskey, they made us wait 5 mins between orders. And now it’ll be 10 mins,”another poster noted.
The policy does seem to be inconsistently applied, however, as some recent guests note that they didn’t have any trouble ordering a cocktail and a soda simultaneously.
Why Restrict Times Between Drinks at All?
Speculation is high about why Carnival has increased the wait time between drinks, but there has been no official statement about the policy change.
Some guests believe the change may be an effort to curb excessive drinking and hopefully mitigate the risk of alcohol-fueled altercations. Others, however, note that even a 10-minute delay isn’t likely to impact major drinkers determined to hit their 15-drink maximum on the Cheers! package.
Another possibility – and far more likely – is an attempt to further curtail and sharing on the packages, with one person ordering drinks for multiple people.
Carnival Cruise Line does require all guests over the age of 21 to purchase the Cheers! package if they share a stateroom. That wouldn’t necessarily stop someone from sharing one of their package allotment with a family member or new friend in another stateroom, however.
Sharing drinks from the package has always been expressly forbidden, but to be fair, there is no patrol on the promenade asking who bought what drink for whom and where or when.
By extending the time between when drinks from Cheers! may be purchased, such sharing is far less likely and more guests will be firmly abiding by the terms of the package.
It’s time to dig into the week’s top cruise headlines from Cruise Hive, your go-to source for cruise and port call news and developments.
In our recap edition this week, we’ll tell you about a lifeboat that fell from a Carnival Cruise Line ship during an unmanned test, Princess Cruises streamlining its vacation insurance policies, and Royal Caribbean unveiling a Duckie Carousel onboard its new-build Legend of the Seas.
Get your daily cruise news fix by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, delivered to your inbox each morning.
Man Escapes Injury After Fall Into Nassau Harbor
A man walking near Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore while the ship was docked at the Port of Nassau took an unexpected dip in the harbor.
The unidentified male guest was not injured, and it was not clear whether he was a guest on the ship.
Cruise Passenger Fall, Norwegian Encore in Nassau (Credit: Shenique Miller – The Conversation)
Norwegian Encore was making an unscheduled call at Nassau when the incident happened on November 16, 2025. The ship was originally scheduled to call at Great Stirrup Cay that day, but heavy seas in the area caused a revision to the itinerary.
Videos posted on social media show the man holding onto a life ring in the water between the ship and the pier. It isn’t clear how he landed in the water — whether he was on the gangway and slipped, or fell from the pier.
Within minutes, crew members helped the guest onto the pier with a ladder. Norwegian Encore was sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that left PortMiami on November 15, 2025.
Compensation Offered as Cruise Ends 8 Hours Late
Propulsion problems on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon caused the ship to arrive back at her homeport, PortMiami, 8 hours later than scheduled on November 16, 2025. That meant plenty of travel headaches for guests booked on homeward-bound flights following debarkation.
Cruise line President Christine Duffy sent an email to every guest, apologizing for the delay and providing some compensation.
The ship had been sailing an 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise when it developed propulsion issues that caused sailing speeds to be lowered. Carnival Horizon had departed PortMiami on November 8, 2025.
Carnival Horizon Cruise (Photo Credit: Just dance)
The cruise line offered up to $200 per person to cover non-refundable air fare costs and/or change fees. Guests seeking reimbursement will have to send their cost receipts to the cruise line by email and wait a few weeks to receive payment.
Carnival Horizon’s next cruise, which departed on November 16, 2025, left PortMiami later than expected, so the cruise line provided pro-rated, one-day refunds of each guest’s cruise fare plus any packages they had purchased.
Court Filing Adds to Mystery in Teen’s Shipboard Death
A court filing appears to provide some new information in the case of an 18-year-old’s death on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon on November 7, 2025.
Anna Kepner was discovered dead in her cabin, hidden under the bed, during the ship’s 6-night Western Caribbean cruise that departed from PortMiami. An investigation is underway, and no cause of death has been revealed.
Carnival Horizon in Miami and Anna Kepner (Photo Credits: Ceri Breeze & anna.kepner16)
But in a legal motion filed on November 17, 2025, Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, sought to postpone a court hearing involving her ex-husband, apparently related to child custody, due to the likelihood that a criminal case would be filed against one of the family’s minor children.
It appears that those criminal charges could be tied to Kepner’s death. The name and age of the minor child — a step-sibling to Kepner, have not been disclosed, but the action taken by Hudson was based on information from FBI investigators.
Kepner, a Florida resident and cheerleader, was found in her stateroom by a cabin steward.
Cruise Line Issues Mobility Scooter Reminders
Carnival Cruise Line sent letters to guests booked on two upcoming voyages reminding them of the line’s mobility scooter rules.
Those who received the notices are sailing on Carnival Liberty’s 14-night sailing to Panama and the Caribbean from New Orleans, and Carnival Venezia’s 14-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral. Both cruises depart on November 30, 2025.
The cruise line has not revealed why guests booked only on these two departures were selected to receive the reminders.
Scooter on Cruise Ship and Carnival Venezia (Photo Credits: Catie Kovelman & Dennis MacDonald)
Carnival Cruise Line has several scooter regulations regarding size, storage, and general etiquette. Among them is, for instance, that scooters have to be under 21 inches wide to fit through the door of a standard cabin. Guests with wider scooters must book a fully accessible stateroom or rent a smaller scooter.
And for safety reasons, scooters are not allowed to be stored in hallways or left unattended anywhere on the ship. The cruise line’s reminder also urges guests to notify the line if they intend to bring a scooter onboard.
Those who do will be asked to fill out a mobility questionnaire, so that the line can make sure appropriate staterooms have been booked.
Lifeboat Falls From Ship During Unmanned Test
Imagine the surprise on the faces of Carnival Dream guests when one of the ship’s lifeboats broke loose from the vessel and went crashing into the water during a port call in Cozumel, Mexico.
That was the scene as the Carnival Cruise Line ship made her final port call on a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Galveston, Texas. The incident, in which no injuries were reported, happened on November 19, 2025.
It was Lifeboat 3, stored on the ship’s starboard side, that fell. Turns out that the crew was holding an unmanned test that involved lowering the vessel, a practice that is not uncommon while ships are docked at a port of call.
Damaged Carnival Dream Lifeboat (Photo Credits: Charles Miller)
Fortunately, the lifeboat did not damage Carnival Dream’s hull when it fell, but did sustain significant damage, including a big crack along the boat’s stern. That meant the lifeboat would be unusable during an actual emergency.
It raised questions about whether the 3,646-guest ship could sail without it, since all cruise ships are required to have enough lifeboats to accommodate everyone on board.
However, apparently there were enough lifeboats left on the ship to hold all souls, since Carnival Dream returned to Galveston on schedule and was due to operate her next sailing, an 8-night Bahamas cruise departing on November 21, 2025.
Princess Cruises Streamlines Insurance Plans
Princess Cruises’ guests will say goodbye to the line’s Standard Princess Vacation Protection (PVP) plan as of December 9, 2025. But all is not lost: the line will still offer its Platinum PVP, although it is a more expensive plan.
The Standard PVP is typically 9% of the cruise cost, while the Platinum version is 12%. Guests who are booked to sail and have already purchased the standard plan are unaffected, and the standard plan will continue to be offered through December 8, 2025.
Two Princess Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Wiktor Wojtas)
The cruise line’s goal is to simplify insurance choices and expand coverage. With Platinum PVP, guests receive an insurance policy that covers things like lost luggage, emergency evacuation, and trip delay costs, for instance, as well as a cancellation waiver.
The waiver enables guests to cancel a cruise for non-covered reasons, but is priced separately, starting at 10% of the cruise fare for voyages costing up to $5,000 per person.
Also being altered is the line’s At-Ease Waiver, which will be renamed Cancellation Protection. It enables guests to get a refund on items such as a cruisetour segment or a hotel accommodation booked as part of a Cruise Plus package.
Duckie Carousel to Debut on Legend of the Seas
The cruise industry’s cruising-duck phenomenon, whereby guests hide small rubber ducks around a ship for others to find, is reaching a new level onboard Royal Caribbean’s new-build, Legend of the Seas, due to launch in July 2026.
The third in the Icon class, Legend of the Seas will feature a “Duckie-Go-Round” carousel in the family-oriented Surfside neighborhood. Will it be for adults as well as children? Still unknown, but a rendering of the carousel shows brightly colored ducks wearing vacation-style clothing.
Legend of the Seas Surfside Duck Carousel
Royal Caribbean is inviting cruisers to help name the ducks. On social media, the line presented a pink duckie and asked people to vote for either Dolly, Sally, Polly, or Lulu. Dolly won out, with more than 50% of the votes.
Rides on the carousel will be free. This is not the first time that carousels have been added to Royal Caribbean ships as an entertainment feature. They debuted with the Oasis class, however, Legend of the Seas is the first to focus on ducks.
More Cruise Headlines
\Why stop now? Cruise Hive has plenty more news and features for you, including coverage of Norwegian Cruise Line adding an Elton John tribute show to one ship’s entertainment roster, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox getting delayed in Lisbon due to a port strike, and Carnival Cruise Line making its new non-alcoholic drinks package available for sale on voyages departing in early 2026.
A cause of death has been revealed for Anna Kepner, the teenager who died onboard Carnival Horizon earlier this month.
According to a source close to the investigation, Kepner died by asphyxiation resulting from a bar hold.
Charges have not officially been filed, but authorities are currently looking at Kepner’s step-sibling as a possible suspect.
New details have emerged regarding the tragic death of Anna Kepner, who was found deceased in her cruise cabin onboard Carnival Horizon on November 8, 2025.
The 18-year-old’s body was discovered by a cabin steward, who found her wrapped in a sheet and hidden by life jackets – leading many to believe the teen’s untimely death was not due to natural causes.
According to a report from ABC News, a source involved in the investigation has now confirmed that the teen’s cause of death is asphyxiation from a bar hold.
For context, a bar hold is a gruesome act that involves choking a victim by putting an arm across the neck and applying pressure.
The source that spoke to ABC also confirmed that investigators found two related bruises on the side of Kepner’s neck.
Additionally, preliminary information indicates that Kepner was not sexually assaulted and that there did not appear to be drugs or alcohol in her system.
However, the investigation is ongoing and autopsy and toxicology reports to officially confirm this information are still in progress.
Piecing Together Kepner’s Final Hours
While investigators wait for the final medical reports, they aren’t just sitting idly.
Instead, authorities are working on putting together a timeline of Kepner’s final hours to help bring her attacker to justice.
For example, they were able to determine that Kepner’s time of death was 11:17 a.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025.
This process also involves thoroughly reviewing hours of cruise ship surveillance footage.
Anna Kepner and Carnival Horizon (Credits: Sumerdita_Dphots & @fl.anna18
While the footage has not been officially released, the story so far seems to be that Kepner left dinner early the night before her body was found because she wasn’t feeling well.
The cheerleader was sharing her stateroom with her 16-year-old step-brother and another younger male sibling, both of whom were captured heading back to the cabin shortly after their sister.
But while the youngest sibling was captured leaving the room again and taking pictures around the ship that night, the 16-year-old step-brother did not re-emerge.
The alarm wasn’t sounded until the following morning when Kepner didn’t show up for breakfast, which led to the discovery of her body.
So far, the Florida teen’s 16-year-old stepbrother has been identified as a possible suspect.
Carnival Cruise Line Cabin (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Earlier this week, court filings surfaced that showed that Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, asked to delay a custody hearing because her child could face criminal charges.
In a subsequent court filing, the step-brother was identified only by the initials T.H. and is said to currently be under the care of a relative – not his parents – at an undisclosed location.
However, it’s unclear when or if charges against the minor will officially be levied.
Though the investigation is ongoing and will be for a while, this case seems to be related to issues within the family and other cruise passengers onboard Carnival Horizon were not in active danger.
Princess Cays covers approximately 40 acres and has over a half-mile of stunning shoreline and private beaches.
The resort itself is not overly large, and my mom and I were able to walk to the furthest end and back to the pier for the tenders in under 20 minutes.
Princess Cays, Bahamas (Photo Credit: GGAM)
For context, we are not exactly the fastest duo, as I am recovering from my second ankle surgery.
That said, there is a complimentary tram service to help guests, such as those with mobility issues, make their way around the property.
How to Access the Private Resort
First, guests have to book a sailing with a cruise line that is actually permitted to call to Princess Cays. The destination is meant for the exclusive use of Princess Cruises, as the name suggests.
That said, Carnival Cruise Line ships are also allowed to stop at the beachfront resort, as Carnival Corporation is the parent companyfor both brands and is the actual owner of the island destination.
It’s also important to note that Princess Cays is a tender port, which is something even I didn’t initially realize as a cruise aficionado. This means that guests are ferried between the ship and the shore.
Tender Area at Princess Cays (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
But while I often associate tender ports with stress and long lines, the crew members onboard Star Princess had the process down to a science.
At least during my sailing, guests retrieved a boarding group number when they were ready to go ashore.
When their boarding group was called, they could then proceed to the tenders to be ferried over to the island.
At least in my experience, the wait from picking up a number and being summoned to the tenders was essentially non-existent.
But when returning from the shore to the ship, I recommend arriving early to avoid longer lines that form closer to the all aboard time at the end of the day.
The tender ride itself is only around five minutes long. I waited longer for the crew members to fully load the tender than the ride itself actually took.
I was personally fond of a section of beach near the famous stingray statue and a sign that reads “Little Bay Beach” that stays shallow and is perfect for wading and enjoying the views of the ocean and the cruise ship.
There was live music being played by Bahamian musicians, but the volume never got too loud or obnoxious.
Upgrading the Relaxation
If I ever become rich, I am also definitely taking advantage of the bungalows available for rent.
The brightly colored bungalows are at the far end of the resort and are equipped with beach chairs and extra shade, which is perfect for families or guests looking for some extra comfort.
The adorable little houses are also equipped with amenities like air conditioning and a ceiling fan, which is great for escaping the intense Bahamian heat.
The bungalows currently start at $254.95 for four people, and a couple of additional guests can be added for an extra fee. However, this price is subject to change at any time.
Entertainment at Princess Cays
But while my favorite part of Princess Cays was the relaxation, there is still plenty to do at the island paradise for families and more active cruisers.
Princess Cruises offers over 25 different shore excursions and rental options to make the most of their private destination.
These excursions can be booked in advance on the Princess Cruises App or in your online account, or with the Shore Excursions desk during your sailing.
Some rentals may still be offered at designated rental huts found along the walking path on the island, but this is subject to availability.
For example, guests can rent snorkeling equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, and paddle wheelers. There is a pretty lagoon where kayak tours are offered.
Snorkel equipment and kayaks can be rented for as low as $19.95 per person, while Aqua Bikes, Paddle Wheelers, and Stand-Up Paddle Boards range from the mid $20 range to the mid $30 range to rent.
Alternatively, visitors can take part in Coastal and Wildlife tours, such as the popular Dune Buggy Heritage Adventure or a boat tour.
There are also banana boat rides for guests looking for water-filled thrills starting at $19.95 per person. I always loved those as a kid – especially when I got thrown off and splashed into the ocean!
Animal lovers may also enjoy the Stingray Beach encounter, which allows guests to interact with the fascinating sea creatures.
In addition to being able to take part in beachside fun, snorkeling, and at least some of the water sports, I also spotted a pool just for families with kids under the age of 12.
Kids Pool at Princess Cays (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
This pool is located across from the main beach area, about halfway down the island’s main walkway.
This gives families with younger kids who may not be as strong swimmers a safe and controlled environment to enjoy the water, with a lifeguard on duty.
The resort is also home to a sandy play area for kid,s where I spotted a sandy playground with things to climb on, giant games, and youth staff ready to play.
Dining at Princess Cays
Future guests will be glad to know that a BBQ lunch buffet is provided for free on the island.
There are two massive buffet areas, but as a word to the wise, they can get quite crowded during peak lunching hours so eat early if you can.
The menu features typical (but tasty) BBQ fare like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, salads, and desserts, so even picky eaters should still be satisfied.
Standard drinks like water, ice tea, and lemonade are also complimentary, but additional beverages or alcohol would need to be purchased at one of the four bars on the island.
The entrance to the craft market is somewhat hidden. It is behind a pink building near where you exit the ferries, and security has to let you out into the market.
The vendors within the resort are more easily accessible and can be found along the main walking path.
Forms of Payment
That said, keep in mind that many of the local vendors do not accept credit cards or charging to your Princess account, so you will need to bring some cash if you want to go on a shopping spree.
I did not know this, and had to leave what would have been my new favorite fedora behind in the Bahamas.
Conveniently, the official resort store does allow guests to charge to their onboard accounts using their Princess medallions.
What to Bring to the Island
If you’ll be visiting Princess Cays soon, make sure to bring plenty of sun protection, meaning sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, rash guards, and cover-ups.
I visited the island in November, and even then, the sun was very strong.
Stunning View With Star Princess Anchored in the Background (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)
The temperature at Princess Cays tends to range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s (in terms of Fahrenheit), but the heat and humidity can feel more intense than that.
Relatedly, I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to make sure you stay hydrated in the heat. You can fill it onboard for free before coming ashore.
Protect Your Feet
While I was perfectly content in my favorite beach sandals, keep in mind that some excursions require water shoes.
Certain sections of the beach can also be rocky, so this is another instance where water shoes would come in handy.
At the bare minimum, sandals are a must because the sand and surfaces get very hot.
Capturing Memories & Protecting Your Devices
Next, I recommend investing in a waterproof phone case so that you can keep your devices safe and with you to capture all your memories.
I personally feel safer keeping my phone with me so I don’t risk it getting lost or stolen.
That said, photographers from the cruise ship do come ashore and are walking around to take photographs for you. They captured some of my favorite photos from the trip on the island!
And if you really want to go the extra mile, I also saw some people invested in waterproof cases for their Princess medallions.
A Note on Beach Towels
At least for our visit, beach towels were provided as we exited the cruise ship, but we did not find additional complimentary towels once on the island.
But if you forget, beach towels are available for purchase in the main resort store.
We were also required to bring our towels back to the cruise ship with us. There were no towel drops on the island.
And though this may sound like a lot of stuff to bring for a beach day, there are lockers available for just $10 a day to store your things.
Would I Visit Princess Cays Again?
After spending a day in Princess Cays, I would absolutely return to the island paradise again.
It wasn’t quite as thrilling or adrenaline-filled as other private islands, such as Carnival’s Celebration Key or Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day destinations, but it was certainly beautiful and a great opportunity to de-stress.
Ultimately, your beach day is what you make of it. Guests looking to appreciate some natural Bahamian beauty and to relax would absolutely enjoy Princess Cays.
Check-in for Norwegian Dawn‘s December 7 sailing will be at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, not the cruise terminal.
Norwegian Cruise Line is providing complimentary shuttles from the hotel check-in to the pier for embarkation.
The ship’s 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary is not impacted by the check-in change, though the ship will leave later.
Arriving at the cruise terminal can be the very moment the excitement of a cruise vacation begins, but for guests setting sail on Norwegian Dawn on Sunday, December 7, 2025, that arrival is going to be a bit different.
Because that particular embarkation day is quite busy, Norwegian Cruise Line is making alternative arrangements for check-in that guests need to be aware of before they head toward the cruise terminal in Tampa, Florida, and end up in the wrong spot.
“Check-in and embarkation arrangements have changed due to updated port availability,”the email notification explains.“All guests will now complete check-in at the Hilton Tampa Downtown hotel before boarding the ship.”
The Hilton Tampa Downtown is at 211 N Tampa Street, just north of the convention center in the attractive downtown Riverwalk district. This is approximately a 1.5-mile walk from the cruise terminal.
Guests will not have to walk, however, as Norwegian Cruise Line is offering complimentary transfers from the hotel to the ship beginning at 6 p.m.
Check-in will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Because there will be no check-in at the cruise terminal, all guests must visit the Hilton to check-in before they can board Norwegian Dawn.
If guests have already pre-booked airport transfers to the port through Norwegian Cruise Line, they will be taken to the hotel for check-in instead.
The ship’s 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, with calls to Cozumel, Harvest Caye, Roatan, and Costa Maya, is not expected to be impacted.
Parking Congestion Expected
Parking in downtown Tampa can always be a challenge, but the high number of cruises for the holiday season mean extra difficulty.
“Port Tampa Bay parking garages are expected to be at full capacity. Guests planning to park at the port should reserve parking online in advance,”the cruise line urges.
Norwegian Dawn Vessel (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis)
The Hilton Tampa Downtown also offers overnight parking, as do several other hotels in the location. Guests could also consider shuttle service, ride shares, or taxis to reach the hotel rather than attempting to park their own vehicle.
In addition to the 92,250-gross-ton Norwegian Dawn and the 2,340 guests she can welcome, three other ships are also scheduled for Tampa on Sunday, December 7:
Margaritaville Islander (2,114 guests)
Celebrity Constellation (2,170 guests)
Carnival Miracle (2,124 guests)
Fortunately, when Norwegian Dawn returns on December 14, only Celebrity Constellation and Carnival Miracle will also be in port, easing the congestion somewhat.
Waiting to Board the Ship
With check-in beginning at 11 a.m. but transfers to the ship not starting until 6 p.m., how will guests spend those few hours before embarkation begins?
Luggage can be dropped off at the hotel, and there are different attractions and restaurants to enjoy nearby. The Florida Aquarium is adjacent to the cruise port, as well as the American Victory Maritime Museum.
Guests can also purchase day and pool passes from the hotel or find other fun in downtown Tampa, or take the Tico Line Streetcar to explore even further. Even better? The downtown part of the trolley line is free from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
Any guests who want to simply chill at the hotel following check-in (without a day pass or pool pass) are asked to arrive closer to 5 p.m. to avoid overcrowding at the hotel.
If guests prefer not to take the complimentary transfers, they can make their own way to the cruise terminal from 6-7 p.m. All guests (except those taking the NCL shuttle from the Hilton) must be at the pier no later than 7 p.m. Norwegian Dawn is expected to depart at 9 p.m.
Celebrity Equinox will not be leaving Lisbon on schedule due to a planned labor strike at the port.
Instead, the ship will remain in the city for two extra nights and her call to Tenerife is cancelled.
The remainder of the ship’s transatlantic cruise to South America is not impacted.
Lisbon is a beautiful city, rich with history, culture, art, and much more for visitors to explore. Guests boarding the 121,900-gross-ton Celebrity Equinox in that stunning city on Friday, November 21, 2025 will now have two extra nights to enjoy Lisbon, but not for any reason from Celebrity Cruises.
A labor strike from Port Authority Staff in Portugal is impacting all operations, including servicing cruise ships, and Celebrity Equinox will now remain docked until the early morning hours of Sunday, November 23.
Celebrity Cruises has reached out to her up to 2,850 guests booked on the November 21 sailing to alert them to the change, as well as how it will impact the overall itinerary.
“We want to keep you informed about an important update: a confirmed strike in Lisbon, Portugal – something outside of our control – is affecting our scheduled departure,”the email explained.
“We care about your time with us, and to ensure your experience remains exceptional, we have made some thoughtful adjustments to our itinerary.”
While Celebrity Equinox will remain docked in Lisbon until 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, guests will still be able to move on and off the ship to enjoy local attractions and amenities.
Because of the late departure from Lisbon, the ship will no longer be able to make her scheduled visit to Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday, November 23. That was to have been the first port visit on the 15-night transatlantic cruise to Buenos Aires, but instead, Celebrity Equinox will now be at sea on that day.
Any pre-booked shore excursions arranged through Celebrity Cruises for Tenerife will be automatically cancelled and refunded.
In the meantime, additional shore tours for Lisbon are being made available and can be booked via the Celebrity Cruises app, on the cruise line’s website, or at the Shore Excursions desk onboard on Deck 3.
Rest of the Itinerary Remains Intact
Despite the issues impacting Celebrity Equinox‘s departure from Lisbon, the rest of the repositioning sailing remains unaffected.
The ship will arrive in Brazil after seven days at sea with a visit to Salvador de Bahai on Sunday, November 30, followed by Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, December 2.
The last port visit on the itinerary is Montevideo, Uruguay on Friday, December 5, before Celebrity Equinox arrives in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday, December 6 for debarkation.
“Please know that we are closely monitoring the situation and working hand-in-hand with local authorities and partners to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible,”the email notes.“If there are any further updates to our itinerary, we will share them with you right away.”
How Is the Strike Impacting Cruises?
The strike affecting Celebrity Equinox is not confined to cruise ships or even just the Port of Lisbon. The labor dispute is between the government of Portugal and the National Union of Port Administration Workers of Portugal (SNTAP).
In general, pay and working conditions are the major points of contention. Several slowdowns of operations are part of the overall strike response.
According to global shipping company Beckchoice, port impacts will include longer waits for berthing or departures, slower handling of containers and supplies for reprovisioning, and similar disruptions.
Guests aboard Celebrity Equinox should know that the strike in no way impacts onboard services or operations beyond standard in-port procedures.
Other cruise ships that may be impacted by this weekend’s strike in Lisbon include Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience, P&O Cruises’ Ventura, Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Journey, and Fred Olsens’ Borealis.
Each cruise line will reach out to its impacted guests with updated information and changes in plans as needed.
Additional strike dates are planned for November 25-26; November 28-29, December 2-4, December 9, and December 12-13. Should the labor negotiations be successful, not all these dates may be affected, but if the dispute is further protracted, additional strike dates may be added.
Royal Caribbean has altered several Western Caribbean itineraries for Freedom of the Seas.
Instead of calling to Cozumel, Mexico, impacted voyages will visit Nassau, Bahamas.
The embarkations on February 2, 2026, February 16, 2026, and March 2, 2026, have been impacted thus far, but more changes could be coming.
Much to the chagrin of impacted passengers, Royal Caribbean has swapped out a key port for multiple itineraries that will be operated by Freedom of the Seas next year.
Instead of calling to Cozumel, Mexico, the impacted sailings will visit Nassau, Bahamas.
“As part of our ongoing itinerary planning process, we’ve modified our upcoming sailing. On Day 5, we’ll now visit Nassau, Bahamas, in the place of the previously scheduled stop on Day 4,”the letters from the cruise line read.
“We’re excited to bring you this refreshed experience and appreciate your understanding, as itinerary planning is an ongoing process that requires cruises to have a certain level of flexibility, modifications can occur at any time,” Royal Caribbean continued.
The change has been met with a fair amount of frustration, with many feeling disappointed that they wouldn’t get to explore somewhere new and/or because Nassau doesn’t exactly have the best reputation as a safe and fun cruise port.
In fact, it is actually one of the more dangerous cruise ports and is under a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” travel advisory by the US government.
No additional compensation has been provided to ease the blow, aside from automatic refunds for Cozumel shore excursions that were booked through the cruise line.
Which Itineraries are Impacted?
So far, Cruise Hive has obtained letters confirming that Freedom of the Seas’ embarkations on February 2, 2026, and March 2, 2026, have been impacted.
Guests booked on the February 16, 2026, sailing have also expressed outrage on social media over their cruise being altered in the same way.
“Feb 16 sailing was changed too. Absolute bs. Chose that one to avoid Nassau,” one future passenger posted.
“Our Feb 16 sailing also got changed from the same way. Very disappointed,” another confirmed.
All of these sailings are 5-night voyages to the Western Caribbean that are based in Miami, Florida.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship in the US Virgin Islands (Photo Credit: GagliardiPhotography / Shutterstock)
In addition to the now replaced stop in Cozumel, Mexico, these itineraries also call for visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. This call remains unaffected.
Moving forward, it’s also possible that more changes are coming for additional voyages.
Just to name a few voyages that are setting sail in the near vicinity of the affected sailings, this same itinerary is also being offered by the Freedom-class flagship on January 19, 2026, March 16, 2026, and March 30, 2026.
However, this itinerary is offered well into the summer months and beyond.
Guests booked on Cozumel-bound sailings should keep an eye out for potential updates from Royal Caribbean.
The Reason Behind the Change
Royal Caribbean did not explicitly confirm why the itinerary swap needed to be made, but did vaguely touch on possible causes for changes.
“Sometimes, these changes are the result of a weather impact or issue avoidance, speed restrictions, berth or scheduling conflicts, and agreements we have with the ports we visit,” Royal Caribbean explained.
“While these itinerary changes are occasionally necessary, please know they’re made thoughtfully, with your experience and enjoyment in mind,” the cruise line continued.
Among the cruising community, some are theorizing that the brand is trying to direct more guests to the brand new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island that is opening in Nassau on December 23, 2025.
“I’m pissed. Seems like they just want to make sales to their new Royal beach club since there’s not much else to do in Nassau,” one impacted passenger reacted.
“The last place I want to go is Nassau, especially after two seas days. Oh and they recommend that we visit their new beach club that costs $170 to get into,” another guest complained.
It’s also possible that Royal Caribbean needed to steer guests away from Cozumel to aid in the construction process for Royal Beach Club Cozumel, which is expected to debut at the end of 2026.
But as frustrating as itinerary changes may be, cruisers can rest assured that Royal Caribbean wouldn’t rock the boat unless it was absolutely necessary to do so.
