Stay on top of the major cruise developments with this week’s exciting edition of Cruise Hive’s Cruise News Update.
This recap features stories about Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship starting her sea trials, Royal Caribbean charging a no-show fee to guests who book a specialty restaurant reservation but never arrive, and Celebrity River Cruises revealing the first design details of its new ships.
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Missed Call to Nassau Angers Carnival Cruise Line Guest
Some cruise passengers take itinerary changes in stride, and others don’t.
One guest who recently sailed on a Carnival Cruise Line ship was infuriated by a port call change that brought guests to the line’s private destination, Celebration Key, rather than the originally planned Nassau, Bahamas.
He reached out to Brand Ambassador John Heald on social media, demanding to know why the switch was made and offering his own opinion.
Since the cruise line offered no explanation as to why the ship’s itinerary was changed, the angry guest charged that Carnival’s move was a money grab, hoping that guests would spend at the private destination.
The guest said he was entitled to a full refund, since he had chosen the voyage specifically for its scheduled port calls.
Not so fast, Heald responded, pointing the guest to the cruise line’s ticket contract, which states that the brand has the right to alter itineraries at any time and for any reason, and that no compensation is necessary when changes are made.
Disney Adventure Takes to the Ocean For Sea Trials
Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Adventure is nearing completion at her shipyard in Germany, and on September 1, 2025 began a set of required sea trials.
The ship, which will accommodate up to 6,000 guests when she enters service in December 2025, is the largest ever built for the cruise line.
Sea trials will test the ship’s major systems, including navigation, propulsion, and safety. Once completed, the ship will receive her final outfitting at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Wismar, Germany, before being delivered to Disney Cruise Line.
The 208,000-gross-ton Disney Adventure will serve the Asia market and be homeported in Singapore on a year-round basis. The ship will sail 3- to 5-night cruises to nowhere.
Disney Cruise Line bought the vessel, formerly called Global Dream, in 2022 from Genting Cruise Lines. The ship was partially constructed at that time and was sold when Genting’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong, went bankrupt.
Disney Cruise Line has since transformed the ship to include the iconic spaces and experiences that define the Disney brand.
Cruise Line Stands By Its No-Gambling Rule
One Carnival Cruise Line guest was recently reminded that no gambling of any kind is allowed outside the casinos on its ships, not even dice or card games where small amounts of money are wagered among friends.
It happened onboard a recent cruise, when a crew member approached a group of guests he saw betting with cash while playing the dice game Left Center Right. The crew member informed the group that they needed to stop playing the game.
One of the guests described the crew member’s reminder as very rude.
The guest complained to Brand Ambassador John Heald. Writing on his popular Facebook page, the cruiser told Heald that he and his friends were making small bets, topping out at $20 total.
However, under Carnival Cruise Line rules, even a bet of one cent is not permitted outside the casino.
Heald confirmed that no gambling is allowed in other spaces at all, ever. Dice and card games are not prohibited, only the cash wagers are.
Medical Evacuation Delays Ship on Bermuda Voyage
Sometimes a medical emergency can disrupt a cruise ship’s schedule, and one did just that onboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine early on September 1, 2025.
It was around 4:30 a.m. when a guest needed emergency medical treatment and had to be airlifted from the ship, which was sailing a 6-night Bermuda cruise roundtrip from Norfolk, Virginia.
The ship departed from Norfolk on August 31, 2025 and was due to arrive at Bermuda’s King’s Wharf on September 2, 2025. However, due to the delay caused by the US Coast Guard’s helicopter evacuation of the ill guest, the ship was not expected to arrive in Bermuda until September 3, 2025, guests reported.
Bermuda cruises typically feature an overnight stay. In this case, Carnival Sunshine was scheduled to provide the overnight, which it did, giving guests close to 30 hours in the destination before returning to Norfolk.
In addition to Bermuda cruises, the 3,000-guest ship also sails 6-night Bahamas cruises and 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyages from Norfolk.
Royal Caribbean Takes Hard Line on Dining No-Shows
Specialty dining venues are wildly popular across the cruise industry, with virtually every cruise line now offering multiple themed spaces serving global cuisines. However, space is limited and it can be hard to score a dining reservation.
Royal Caribbean is hoping to ease the situation by charging a fee to guests who book a reservation at a specialty venue but then don’t show up. The cruise line’s action indicates that no-shows are a growing problem.
The cruise line notified travel agents of its plan to charge no-shows in a recent communication.
The cruise line already charges cancellation fees, in some cases. On Royal Caribbean’s website, a specialty dining FAQ page states that specialty dining reservation cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the arrival time.
Cancellations within 24 hours of the reservation will incur at least a $25 per person fee, and no-shows will also be charged, although the no-show amount is not stated.
The specialty venues have different cancellation fees; top-of-the-line venues like Empire Supper Club and Chef’s Table, for instance, will charge a $50 per person fee.
Celebrity Reveals Design Plans For New River Ships
Celebrity River Cruises offered a glimpse into what its new river vessels will look like when the first two debut in 2027, and the designs reflect unique elements.
For one thing, the river brand revealed that its ships will have open decks — something not seen on traditional river vessels, and that the top decks of the new-builds will have an al fresco dining venue and infinity pool.
When parent brand Celebrity Cruises announced it was entering the river space in early 2025, it promised that the river ships would borrow some popular spaces from its Edge-class ocean ships. One of those spaces is called Magic Edge, which is inspired by the Magic Carpet venue found on the blue-water ships.
Like Magic Carpet, Magic Edge will be a cantilevered platform that will float above the water alongside the ships. On the river vessels, Magic Edge will serve as a dining venue.
The river cruise brand also announced the names of its first two ships, both of which will enter service in 2027: Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker. The two vessels will sail 7-night itineraries along the Rhine and Danube. Bookings are expected to open in 2026.
Carnival Adds New CHEERS! Zero Proof Package
Virtually every type of non-alcoholic beverage is included in a new zero-proof package that Carnival Cruise Line has started to offer on cruises departing on and after September 15, 2025.
The new drinks package, called CHEERS! Zero Proof, was created as a result of guest feedback, which indicated that many cruisers want a comprehensive package offering spirit-free beverages.
If purchased in advance of departure, the package costs $29.99 per person, per day. The price rises to $34.99 for guests who buy the plan onboard their ship.
On all of the line’s beverage packages, including this one, an 18% automatic gratuity is added to each drink purchase.
Beverages covered by the package include coffees and teas, mocktails, alcohol-free beer and wine, bottled water, soda, juices, smoothies, milkshakes and protein shakes, energy drinks, and frozen drinks.
Not covered by the plan are beverages sold in souvenir glasses, room service and mini-bar drinks, and drinks sold at a ship’s gangway in advance of shore excursions.
Carnival Cruise Line’s other beverage plans include Bottomless Bubbles, covering just soda and juices, and its CHEERS! all-inclusive alcoholic drink package.
More Cruise Headlines
Let’s keep going with more cruise news! Check out our coverage of a Cunard ship missing an Alaska port call due to the recent landslide near Tracy Arm, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze altering her itinerary to avoid a tropical storm brewing near the Mexican Riviera, and rough weather prompting an Ambassador Cruise Line ship to remain in a Norwegian port.
Also, a Holland America Line ship rescues two sailors from a sinking ship off the coast of Maine, and some guests are questioning whether Carnival Cruise Line’s adult-only Serenity space is really serene enough.
