Let Cruise Hive keep you informed about all of the big cruise developments each week.
In this week’s recap of the major headlines, our coverage includes a construction milestone for Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship, Norwegian Cruise Line adding a no-show fee for those who don’t arrive for their specialty dining reservation, and a true-crime theme cruise getting mysteriously cancelled.
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Guest Complains of Casino Closure During Emergency
A Carnival Cruise Line guest complained he received no compensation for an inconvenience he experienced when his cruise ship returned to its homeport due to a medical emergency onboard.
The inconvenience was the closure of the casino — ships routinely close their casinos and retail shops while in port due to local laws, and this disgruntled passenger wants to be compensated.
The guest reached out to brand ambassador John Heald on his Facebook page, expressing his displeasure at the early closure of the casino.
It is not clear which ship the emergency occurred on, but the vessel made a return to PortMiami around 11:30 p.m., which is prime time for casino activities. The line has multiple ships based at the Florida port, including Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Magic, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Horizon.
Heald explained that the cruise line does not provide any compensation in cases like this. Many medical evacuations are carried out at sea, using Coast Guard helicopters. In this case, the decision was made to turn the ship around and head back to PortMiami.
Keel-Laying Ceremony Held for Fourth Icon-Class Ship
She doesn’t have a name yet, but Icon 4, the fourth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, reached a construction milestone at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on September 8, 2025.
The ship’s keel was laid, and as is tradition, coins to bring good fortune and protection to the vessel were placed under the first steel block. Shipyard and cruise line officials were on hand to celebrate the event.
A short distance away at the same shipyard, the third ship in the class, Legend of the Seas, is under construction.
Two Icon-class ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, are already operating and have proven popular with guests. The Icon-class vessels are true mega-ships, with capacity for 7,600 guests with all berths occupied. This is in addition to roughly 2,300 crew members.
Icon 4 is due to enter service in 2027. Before that, Legend of the Seas will debut in 2026. In fact, that ship was recently floated out of her construction bay, which means her hull touched water for the first time, and now the outfitting phase of construction can begin.
Carnival Confirms No Sharing of Alcoholic Drinks Plan
Carnival Cruise Line took steps to clarify rules surrounding its all-inclusive CHEERS! alcoholic beverage package. If one person in a stateroom buys the package, anyone else sharing that stateroom who is over age 21 must also buy it.
Some confusion erupted after the line introduced its new CHEERS! Zero-Proof drink package, which provides for many non-alcoholic beverages.
Guests wondered whether the requirement tied to the alcoholic beverage package would now be relaxed — could one person in the cabin buy the alcoholic plan and another occupant buy the non-alcoholic plan, and share them?
The answer is no, according to brand ambassador John Heald. The sharing of the alcoholic beverage plan is not allowed, he said, and the line has not changed its policy.
However, he pointed out that not all cabin occupants must buy the non-alcoholic plan just because one person buys it. Basically, it’s the alcoholic drinks package that guests are not permitted to share.
The alcoholic beverages plan costs $69.95 per person, per day, while the new zero-proof plan costs $29.99. A third plan, Bottomless Bubbles soda package, costs $9.50.
Two Ships New to Galveston to Set Sail in 2027-28
Carnival Cruise Line will homeport four ships in Galveston, Texas in 2027 and 2028, and two of the ships are new to the destination.
Homeporting for the first time in the Gulf Coast port will be Carnival Spirit and Carnival Horizon, joining Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee.
Galveston is one of the cruise line’s most popular homeports, and the addition of the two vessels will offer more variety to guests.
Carnival Horizon will sail 70-plus seasonal cruises from the Lone Star State beginning on May 19, 2027. The 4,000-guest ship will offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries with port calls to destinations such as Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.
The 2,100-guest Carnival Spirit will sail seasonal cruises from Galveston starting on October 11, 2027, operating 4- to 10-night sailings to Eastern and Western Caribbean ports.
Carnival Spirit will arrive in Galveston following a 16-night Carnival Journeys cruise that will transit the Panama Canal and visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Columbia. The sailing departs from Seattle on September 25, 2027.
True Crime-Themed Cruise Unexpectedly Cancelled
Cruisers who were looking forward to sailing on a true crime-themed cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Joy in early 2026 were disappointed to learn it has been cancelled.
The sailing, which was not a full-ship charter, was to feature the “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise” experience. The 4-night Bahamas cruise from PortMiami is scheduled to call at Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay.
The theme cruise was to be hosted by John Walsh, creator of the hit TV show “America’s Most Wanted.” Activities slated for the cruise included a live murder mystery show, and educational elements tied to forensic science, investigations, and crime-solving practices.
Booked guests suggested that perhaps sales were slow. All guests will be refunded. However, they can rebook the sailing if they wish. The ship has plenty to entertain — it just won’t have the true crime component.
Those still seeking a true crime experience have another option: Virgin Voyages is hosting its first true-crime cruise on Valiant Lady in October. The 5-night sailing, also from PortMiami, departs on October 10, 2025 and will visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Bimini Island, Bahamas.
Another Line Adds Specialty Dining No-Show Fee
Norwegian Cruise Line became the second brand in a week to announce a crackdown on specialty dining reservation no-shows.
A $10 per-person fee will be charged to those who book a table at a specialty restaurant and then don’t show up. The penalty will be implemented if guests do not cancel or change their reservation at least two hours before the specific time originally booked.
The decision reflects the line’s desire to enable more guests to experience specialty dining venues, which typically have limited space. Popular venues on Norwegian ships include Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro, Q Texas Smokehouse, Teppanyaki, and Los Lobos, among others.
The policy was quietly enacted without a cruise line announcement. Royal Caribbean recently added a no-show fee on its ships, too.
Royal Caribbean did not reveal the amount of its fee. Guests sailing with that line are exempt from the fee if they have a dining package or are booked in a Star Class suite.
Gambling Debt Prompts Man to Jump Ship in San Juan
A gambling debt seems to be the reason why a cruise passenger jumped overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas at the conclusion of a weeklong Caribbean voyage.
It was around 9:15 a.m. on September 7, 2025 when Jey González-Díaz plunged into the harbor in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an effort to avoid having to pay $16,710.24 he apparently gambled away in the ship’s casino.
The ship was in the process of disembarking guests at the end of the cruise. A passing jet skier picked up González-Díaz and took him to shore. About an hour later, US Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended him a short distance away.
Local media reported that he was found with $14,600 in cash and five different identities, among other items. The suspect was charged with failing to report the entry of more than $10,000 that was obtained outside the United States.
Authorities also determined that González-Díaz boarded the cruise ship under his brother’s name.
Will Rhapsody of the Seas’ casino ever recoup the money González-Díaz lost? It’s probably unlikely. Meanwhile, González-Díaz was released on bail.
More Cruise Headlines
Cruise Hive has many more important cruise stories for you to check out, including Holland America Line unveiling its 2027 Canada/New England voyages, a new study detailing how younger cruisers are changing the demographics of the industry, and Disney Cruise Line delaying the launch of the new Disney Adventure by three months.
Also, Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship will enter service with two cruise directors instead of the traditional one, and Carnival Cruise Line confirms its ships will broadcast National Football League games this season.
