It’s so easy to keep up with what’s happening in the world of cruising.
Just read Cruise Hive’s weekly news recap. In this week’s edition, some of our top highlights include a story about a bride-to-be who incurred a lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line after smuggling liquor onboard, and design details about Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, Beachcomber. And don’t miss our coverage of higher parking fees now being charged at Port Canaveral.
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Smuggled Liquor Leads to Lifetime Ban on Carnival
Here’s a tip: If you’re doing something onboard a cruise ship that you know is prohibited, don’t post a video of the activity on TikTok.
But it’s too late for one woman to take that advice, and as a result, she now has a lifetime ban on cruising with Carnival Cruise Line. It happened during a recent bachelorette celebration for Maddie (@madisonwest2000), when the woman, age unknown, sneaked alcohol onboard her ship.
After posting about it on TikTok, some viewers tagged the cruise line, and soon after, Carnival Cruise Line security arrived at her stateroom. She had apparently smuggled the liquor onboard via some feminine hygiene products.
Maddie was not the first to get caught smuggling alcohol onto a ship, but she received the same penalty — a lifetime ban from cruising with the line again.
She has since petitioned Carnival Cruise Line to rescind the ban, but we’re not optimistic. Meanwhile, online comments were not sympathetic, with most suggesting that she got what she deserved.
Like other cruise lines, Carnival does allow limited alcoholic beverages to be brought legally onboard. The brand’s policy states that a guest can board their ship with one 750-ml bottle of sealed wine or champagne in their carry-on luggage.
Venues Revealed Aboard New Legend of the Seas
When Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas debuts in July 2026, the 250,800-gross-ton ship will offer experiences geared toward family fun, including the new stage show “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
The cruise line revealed some of what the new ship, which is third in the Icon class, will offer in entertainment, activities, and dining. Among the exciting aspects are Absolute Zero, the biggest ice skating venue at sea, and the Category 6 waterpark, with six thrilling waterslides.
The ship’s AquaTheater will feature aquatic shows with high divers, dancers, and aerialists, while Crown’s Edge will challenge guests with a ropes course and zip line 154 feet above the water line.
The ship will have seven pools, 10 hot tubs, and for youngsters, Splashaway Bay. Dining venues will include Royal Railway-Legend Station, where a five-course menu will feature international cuisine.
Legend of the Seas, with a capacity for 7,000 guests, is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She will spend her maiden season in Europe before deploying to Port Everglades and sailing a variety of Caribbean cruises.
With These Luggage Issues, Guests Are on Their Own
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald took up two unique issues resulting from guest complaints posted on his popular Facebook page, both having to do with luggage issues, and neither of which the cruise line can address.
One guest arrived at his departure port with a piece of damaged luggage; apparently, it was mishandled at an airport and suffered a big crack. The guest was disappointed that staff onboard Carnival Panorama were unable or unwilling to wrap his suitcase in plastic to prevent further damage.
Heald agreed to ask the ship’s repair shop to look at the damaged luggage to see if there was something to be done, but no, he told the guest, we will not wrap your suitcase.
In another issue, a guest complained that the cruise line does not provide luggage storage outside the cabin. This guest claimed that there is not sufficient space inside a stateroom to store suitcases and that other cruise lines do offer a storage option.
But in fact, virtually all staterooms do provide enough space under beds or in closets to store luggage. If some cruise lines offer to store luggage elsewhere, the practice is likely limited to the ultra-luxury brands.
Parking at Port Canaveral Just Got More Expensive
For the first time in eight years, Port Canaveral has raised its on-site parking rate by $3 per day, from $17 to $20.
The new rates took effect on October 1, 2025 and are meant to help offset ambitious expansion projects and maintain existing infrastructure. The fee hike is expected to raise some $12.8 million in additional revenue.
For cruise guests who need to park a vehicle or RV, it translates to an extra $21 for a 7-night cruise, and the fee must be paid upon arrival at the parking lot. Other popular ports in Florida have similar or higher fees. At PortMiami, for instance, parking rates range from $20 to $35 per day.
Port Canaveral is the second-busiest, behind PortMiami, in terms of cruise arrivals, and has six cruise terminals. Some 9 million cruise guests are expected to transit Port Canaveral in 2026.
Long-term development plans include new terminal facilities, upgraded cruise berths, more parking, and improved security systems. The last parking fee hike was in 2017, when rates were raised by $1 per day.
Beachcomber to Offer Massive 5 o’Clock Somewhere
The Jimmy Buffet-inspired Margaritaville at Sea cruise brand took the wraps off of its newest ship’s design to reveal the world’s largest 5 o’Clock Somewhere venue.
The vessel, Margaritaville Beachcomber, will begin sailing under her new name in early 2027 following a major renovation. The 2,702-guest ship will be purchased from Costa Cruises in 2026, and currently sails as Costa Fortuna.
The 5 o’Clock Somewhere venue will be the heart of the ship, and will be located on four decks at the aft of the 102,587-gross-ton vessel. The spacious venue will feature a pool, dining and bar venues, and an entertainment space with live music.
Eateries slated to be offered in the space include the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar and the Mexican Cutie Cantina. The Daiquiri Shack will entice guests to try a frozen cocktail while adult-only cabanas offer a luxury experience with ocean views and a dedicated bar.
Beachcomber will homeport in Miami, and join two ships currently sailing for the brand: Margaritaville Paradise, based in Palm Beach, and Margaritaville Islander, homeported at Tampa.
Cruise Line Narrows Adult-Only Sailings on Two Ships
P&O Cruises will soon welcome families aboard some voyages of its Aurora and Arcadia ships, which have both been traditionally reserved for guests 18 and older.
All of the affected cruises sail roundtrip from Southampton, UK, in 2026 and 2027. A total of 12 voyages aboard the 1,874-guest Aurora and 8 aboard the 2,094-guest Arcadia are affected. P&O Cruises said the change resulted from guest feedback.
It means that guests already booked on these sailings — thinking they would vacation without children onboard, will now likely have kids as fellow cruisers.
Knowing this could be an issue for some travelers, the cruise line will allow booked guests to swap cruises to an adult-only voyage without any penalty before December 1, 2025.
The itineraries that will accept children onboard vary from 3- and 4-night getaways to longer cruises of up to 24 nights.
Aurora’s first family cruise will be a 4-night getaway to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, departing December 11, 2026. For Arcadia, her first family voyage will be a 16-night Spain, Portugal, and Canary Islands holiday cruise departing on December 21, 2026.
Drink Package to be Pulled From Private Island
Cruise ship guests who buy drink packages have become accustomed to using the pre-paid plans on private island destinations owned by cruise lines, but that will no longer be the case on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay.
Beginning March 1, 2026, the cruise line’s More at Sea drink plan will not extend to the island visits, although a new drink package designed for the destination will be offered starting in January 2026.
No details about the new package have been revealed yet, but are expected soon. Great Stirrup Cay does provide free beverages, including water, iced tea, and juice, but the More at Sea plan, offering unlimited open bar for guests over 21, will not be valid on the island.
More From Cruise Hive
The cruise line attributed the policy change to its plan to transform the island experience. Indeed, the line has big plans for improvements to Great Stirrup Cay, including the addition of a two-ship pier and the 6-acre Great Tides Waterpark, each debuting in late 2025 and summer 2026, respectively.
Comments on social media about the change in the More at Sea drink plan were mostly negative, with some calling the new policy a money grab and an example of a cruise line nickel and diming its guests.
More Cruise Headlines
Let’s keep going with even more news from Cruise Hive, including Carnival Cruise Line announcing its holiday decorating schedule, MSC Cruises opening bookings for its Alaska 2027 season, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship arriving at PortMiami for the winter season.
Also, Norwegian Cruise Line is adding limits to room service orders, and Princess Cruises’ new ship, Star Princess, began her inaugural voyage.
