Carnival Cruise Line will base Carnival Venezia at PortMiami from May 2027 to April 2028, in a move that cuts out her traditional summer season deployment to New York.
Carnival Venezia will sail 6- and 8-day Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises from the South Florida port.
The cruise line opened 2028-28 bookings for Carnival Venezia, along with Carnival Magic, also based at PortMiami, and Carnival Vista, which homeports at Port Canaveral.
Carnival Venezia, one of Carnival Cruise Line’s “Fun Italian Style” ships, has spent summers based in New York since joining the fleet in 2023, but that will change in 2027, when the vessel deploys to PortMiami.
The cruise line announced the change on October 1, 2025, the same day it opened bookings for the ship’s PortMiami voyages, which will operate from May 2027 to April 2028.
The line also opened sales on 2027-28 sailings aboard Carnival Magic and Carnival Vista, which are homeported year-round at PortMiami and Port Canaveral, respectively.
“Carnival Venezia moving to Miami creates even more choice for our guests with longer itineraries to the most popular Caribbean destinations and adds a new flavor of fun with our ‘Italian Style’ experiences,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“With Carnival Magic and Carnival Vista continuing to build on their strong popularity, the wide variety of sailings we’re opening today speaks to our commitment to guests who want convenient getaways from Florida,” Duffy added.
The 4,000-guest Carnival Venezia will sail 6- and 8-day Caribbean cruises. Six-day Western Caribbean ports of call include Celebration Key, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman, for example, while 8-day Southern Caribbean voyages will feature Amber Cove plus ports in Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba.
Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze were both transferred from Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises brand to Carnival Cruise Line in 2023 and 2024, respectively. They had operated under the names Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze for the brand, which caters to the Italian market.
Carnival Venezia in St. Kitts (Photo Credit: SKNIS)
Both ships were renovated to include Carnival Cruise Line’s signature venues but maintained their Italy-inspired designs — Venezia modeled on the city of Venice and Firenze on Florence.
Cruisers from PortMiami who sail aboard Carnival Venezia will enjoy brand favorites such as the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge. The ship also features the Cloud 9 Spa along with entertainment spaces that include Carnival’s popular WaterWorks park.
Carnival Magic and Carnival Vista Maintain Current Deployments
Carnival Cruise Line will continue the deployments of Carnival Magic at PortMiami and Carnival Vista at Port Canaveral in 2027-28.
The 3,690-guest Carnival Magic will sail 6- and 8-day voyages to the Western, Eastern, and Southern Caribbean. The Dream-class ship entered service in 2011.
Carnival Magic’s 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruises will visit RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, a private island destination, and ports in Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and the US Virgin Islands, for instance.
The ship is home to guest favorites, such as Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Cucina del Capitano, and the RedFrog Pub.
From Port Canaveral, Carnival Vista, which was the first in the line’s Vista class and launched in 2015, will offer itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. A 6-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary features Amber Cove, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Celebration Key.
Among Carnival Vista’s thrilling experiences is the SkyRide, a pedal-powered bike attached to a track 150 feet above sea level. The ship also has the popular WaterWorks park.
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has had a second itinerary change related to Humberto and Imelda, both of which are currently Category 1 hurricanes.
Thanks to Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas is essentially operating a cruise to (almost) nowhere.
When the Oasis-class ship embarked in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on September 28, 2025, she was supposed to be setting sail on a 7-night voyage to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island.
Thus, the original Bahamas itinerary was replaced with an overnight call in Sydney, Nova Scotia (September 30 to October 1) and a call to Halifax, Nova Scotia (October 3).
But due to a pier mix-up and the duel hurricanes bringing dangerous maritime conditions to the US East Coast and Canada’s East Coast, the call to Sydney will now also have to be cancelled.
“As previously announced by our Captain, during the itinerary planning for this cruise we secured approval to dock at a pier in Sydney, Nova Scotia,”Royal Caribbean wrote to the up to 5,518-guests onboard.
“However, after further coordination with the pilots who guide ships into port, the Port of Sydney reassigned our ship to a different pier that our marine experts and safety team deemed unsafe for a ship of this class,” the letter continued.
At 1,184 feet long and 228,081 gross tons, Symphony of the Seas would have been the largest cruise ship to ever dock in Sydney.
As winds and big swells can already make docking unsafe, the change in pier assignments may have simply been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Our teams have explored every available option, including working closely with our industry partners, to find a safe and viable alternative,”Royal Caribbean stated.
“With your vacation experience and safety in mind, none of the options met the standards to ensure your safety and comfort while onboard with us,” the cruise line explained.
The only port call remaining on the itinerary now is Halifax, dropping from three cruise ports to just one.
Compensation Increased
Although Royal Caribbean cannot control the weather, the cruise line already compensated guests for the last-minute change the first time the itinerary was altered as a gesture of goodwill.
Guests were provided with non-refundable onboard credits based on their stateroom category at a double occupancy rate, as well as a future cruise credit in the amount of one day’s worth of the cruise fare.
Inside cabins received a $75 credit, outside and balcony staterooms received a $100 credit, and suites got a $200 credit.
Symphony of the Seas Departing Cape Liberty (Photo Credit: ARK NEYMAN)
In light of the second itinerary change, the future cruise credit will now be improved to be worth two days of the cruise fare that guests paid instead of just one.
Additionally, any Royal Caribbean excursions booked for all of the cancelled ports of call – now including Sydney – will be automatically cancelled and refunded as onboard credits.
At the end of the sailing, any unused onboard credits from the reimbursed tours will be refunded to the original form of payment.
And personally, I wouldn’t need any compensation to be grateful to the cruise line for keeping me and all onboard safe and comfortable.
Hurricane Humberto has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm (from a Category 4) by the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) as of the evening of September 30, but is still dangerous with winds reaching 80 miles per hour.
Meanwhile, Imelda has been upgraded from a tropical storm to a full fledged Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 85 miles per hour.
Both storms will produce dangerous marine conditions and potentially lethal rip currents along the US East Coast and parts of Canada’s East Coast over the next several days.
Nine Carnival ships have now made adjustments for the rough weather now impacting the Bahamas.
The cruise line continues to actively monitor the storms for any further changes to the fleet.
All guests should be understanding of changes that are made with safety as the first priority, as well as consideration for guests’ comfort in rough waters.
At the moment, nine Carnival cruise ships are being impacted by either Hurricane Imelda or Hurricane Humberto. Both are developing storms in the Atlantic.
Carnival Elation has become the ninth ship in the fleet to be impacted by the Atlantic hurricanes. The five-night September 29 sailing out of Jacksonville, Florida, is no longer heading to Princess Cays in the Bahamas on October 1. That will be a call to Nassau instead. The rest of the itinerary is as normal.
Carnival Venezia (Updated)
Carnival Venezia in New York (Photo Credit: Stephen Tomasulo)
October 1 Sailing
Carnival Cruise Line has now updated booked guests for Carnival Venezia’s October Bermuda sailing out of New York. The ship will still depart as normal, but will no longer be visiting Bermuda.
The vessel will instead be sailing to Canada, with a call to Saint John on October 3, and a call to Halifax on October 4, both ports based in New Brunswick.
September 22 Sailing
The Carnival Fun, Italian Style Carnival Venezia has skipped the last port visit on her 9-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary in order to head back to her New York homeport right away.
The ship departed on the sailing on Monday, September 22, 2025 and has already visited St. Thomas and San Juan on Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27. Sunday, September 28, was to have been a visit to Grand Turk, but the ship has instead turned her bow north to head back to the Big Apple.
To offer guests onboard just a little more time to enjoy port visits, however, the ship did remain in San Juan, Puerto Rico for two extra hours on Saturday, departing at 5 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. as previously planned.
Skipping Grand Turk will permit Carnival Venezia to remain well ahead of the rough weather, though her arrival time in New York on Tuesday
Carnival Magic’s September 28 eight-night sailing has been forced to make an itinerary change due to Hurricane Imelda. The vessel will no longer be making its scheduled call to the cruise line’s private island of Half Moon Cay on September 29.
The visit to Half Moon Cay has been rescheduled for October 4. Carnival Magic is still expected to return to Miami as normal on October 6.
Carnival Vista (Updated)
Carnival Vista in Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)
Carnival Vista is also being impacted by Hurricane Imelda, with its call to Half Moon Cay on September 30 being cancelled. The vessel is adding a port visit to Grand Turk on September 30 instead.
The visit to Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic will take place on October 1. The call to Celebration Key has also been moved to October 3. The six-night eastern Caribbean voyage will return to Port Canaveral on October 6 as normal.
Carnival Freedom is doing the switch around with ports during its September 27 five-night voyage out of Port Canaveral.
The ship is now calling at Nassau on September 29 and the company’s private destination of Princess Cays on September 30. There is no further impact, and the ship will return home on October 2.
Carnival Glory has had a further update to its September 29 sailing out of Port Canaveral. With Celebration Key being cancelled on September 30, the ship is instead spending a full day at sea. A call to Nassau, in the Bahamas, is planned for October 1. A return home is still expected as normal on October 3.
Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Sunrise (Photo Credit: Just dance)
On Carnival Sunrise‘s Thursday, September 25 departure, the first port of call was shifted to ensure a safer experience for guests.
That first call on the 4-night Bahamas sailing was a visit to Half Moon Cay, which is a tender port requiring smaller shuttles to bring guests to shore for a beautiful beach day. By moving the visit to Friday, September 26, instead of Saturday, September 27, the ship was better able to facilitate safe tendering.
Saturday was instead spent as a day at sea, and Carnival Sunrise is still scheduled to visit Celebration Key on Sunday, September 28, before returning to Miami on Monday, September 29.
Carnival Pride
Carnival Pride in Bermuda (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
Carnival Pride is homeported from Baltimore, Maryland and the next cruise is a 7-night Bahamas itinerary with calls to Half Moon Cay, Nassau, and Celebration Key. However, the storm development and positioning has made it too hazardous for the ship to proceed south to the Bahamas.
Instead, Carnival Pride will now sail north with a day in Portland, Maine from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1 and a visit to Saint John, New Brunswick from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 2.
The remaining four full days of the itinerary, two before the ports and two after, will all be days at sea. The ship’s time of departure from and return to Baltimore are not impacted.
Due to the dramatic change of itinerary and cruise experience, Carnival is offering “a gesture of our appreciation for your understanding” with two options.
If guests do set sail, they will receive a $300 (USD) onboard credit per stateroom, plus a 25% future cruise credit. Guests who prefer not to head for colder climates will receive a 25% future cruise credit, though the remaining 75% of their cruise fare will be forfeit.
It should be noted that since the cruise is still setting sail, albeit to a completely different destination, Carnival is not under any obligation to provide compensation.
This gesture is in acknowledgment that the experience of visiting Maine and Canada is far different than the originally planned trip to the Bahamas.
Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98)
Carnival Sunshine is homeported from Norfolk, Virginia and her September 28 departure was originally planned as a 6-night Bahamas itinerary to Celebration Key, Nassau, and Bimini.
Just as with Carnival Pride, however, the position and intensity of the storm has made that itinerary too dangerous.
Instead, Carnival Sunshine will now head north with an overnight call in Saint John, New Brunswick, from noon on Tuesday, September 30 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1.
That will be the only port visit for the vessel, with the rest of the days spent at sea staying well away from the rough weather. The departure and arrival times for Norfolk have not changed.
Carnival Cruise Line is providing the same compensation as for guests sailing on Carnival Pride: a $300 onboard credit per stateroom plus a 25% future cruise credit for guests who do set sail. Guests who opt not to sail will receive the future cruise credit but forfeit the remaining 75% of their cruise fare.
“Despite the modified itinerary, we hope you will choose to sail knowing we are providing the best alternative itinerary given the circumstances,”the notification emails said, with a reminder to pack warmer clothes.
It is also possible that other Carnival ships may yet be impacted by the storms. All booked guests setting sail in the region in the next few days should stay alert for potential changes.
If an agreement is not reached, the US government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025.
Essential security and port employees will continue to report to work, which means US cruise ports will remain open and operational.
However, there is a possibility for delays within airports and cruise ports, as well as from passport services during this time.
As of the afternoon on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, members of Congress remain at an impasse on how to fund the US government.
If an agreement cannot be reached by midnight, a government shutdown will go into effect on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m.
Should this looming shutdown come to pass, most federal agencies would pause non-essential work and thousands of government employees would be placed on furlough or required to work essential roles without pay.
But while the US Travel Association estimatesthat the country’s travel sector could lose $1 billion for every week the government remains shuttered, the cruise industry will likely be among the least affected.
There is no telling how long the government shutdown would last, but the longest closure in US history occurred in 2018 during President Trump’s first term. It lasted for 35 days.
The biggest impact will likely be at the federally operated attractions that many cruise passengers like to visit, such as national parks and some museums, which would close their doors during the shutdown.
Federal employees, including TSA agents, Customs and Border Control agents, and port employees, are considered essential, so they will still be required to report to work as usual.
However, these employees will be working without pay and will have to wait for the government to reopen to receive back pay.
Additionally, hiring and training is expected to be put on pause during this time, which may lead to staffing shortages and/or additional strain on these workers.
“As far as the impact on cruises, essential federal personnel – including the US Coast Guard, TSA, and CBP agents – will continue to report to work, so core port and security functions will remain in place,”Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) told USA TODAY in an email.
The cruise lines are obviously not run by the government, so all will be business as usual at their headquarters and onboard their ships.
Cruise Ports Will Remain Open, But Delays Are Possible
As the employees who are essential to cruising will still be working, cruise ports throughout North America will be up and running.
The Port of Seattle, as one example, issued a statement confirming that they would remain open during the shutdown.
“Our facilities will remain operational during any shutdown, but many of our federal partners will be working without pay,” said Port of Seattle Commission Vice President Ryan Calkins.
“We hope those traveling through our gateways will join us in thanking our federal workers for their ongoing professionalism during this time. The Port will do all we can to support them in the case of a shutdown.”
Vehicles Near Cruise Pier in Seattle (Photo Credit: SeaRick1)
For all US cruise ports, guests should continue to follow the instructions provided to them by their respective cruise lines as far as when to arrive at the cruise port on embarkation day.
While delays are possible during this time, showing up early to account for them can actually hurt efficiency instead of help.
TSA agents, Federal Aviation Administration employees, and Customs and Border Protection agents will also still be working in airports.
The usual guidelines of arriving at the airport two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights still applies during the shutdown.
However, there is a possibility for delays and/or staffing shortages related to the shutdown.
If I’m traveling by air, I always plan to arrive at my cruise port’s city at least one day early to account for potential delays or issues with my flight.
Additionally, passport services will also still be available, but it’s important to note that there could be delays here as well – so future cruisers who need a passport should plan accordingly.
Norwegian Cruise Line is swapping the deployment plans for Gem and Dawn in late 2026 and into 2027, with all sailings cancelled as the new plans are confirmed.
Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Joy are also cancelling several sailings in late 2026, but new, longer itineraries will be available for booking soon.
Port availability is cited as the reason for some of the cancellations, but there can be many reasons for changes in cruise ship deployments.
Just days after a similar move from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to booked guests and travel agents to alert them to ship swaps and cancelled sailings in late 2026 and into 2027.
Four ships are involved in the redeployment shuffling and latest cancellations:
Norwegian Gem
Norwegian Dawn
Norwegian Getaway
Norwegian Joy
The first two vessels, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Dawn, will now be swapping homeports. Norwegian Gem will no longer be sailing from Jacksonville, Florida in November 2026, but instead will homeport from Tampa.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Dawn will move to Jacksonville rather than Tampa.
This will slightly reduce the guest capacity in Jacksonville, as Norwegian Dawn is smaller than Norwegian Gem and can accommodate 54 fewer travelers at double occupancy.
All sailings during the impacted swap period are now cancelled for both ships. This includes all previously planned Norwegian Dawn sailings from November 1, 2026 to and including the March 28, 2027 departure. Likewise, Norwegian Gem‘s cruises from November 1, 2026 and April 4, 2027 are also cancelled.
New itineraries for both ships will be available for booking soon, but exact details have not yet been released.
Fewer cruises are now cancelled for Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Joy, and for a completely different reason. Both ships will remain homeported as planned from Port Canaveral and PortMiami, respectively, but select short cruises can no longer be offered.
The impacted sailings for Norwegian Getaway are the ship’s November 16, 20, and 25 departures, as well as the December 14 and December 18 cruises, all in 2026. These are now cancelled.
For Norwegian Joy, the December 18, 21, 24, and 28 departure dates in 2026 are also cancelled.
The cruise line has cited “port availability” as the primary reason for these few cancellations. On short sailings, ships can be quite limited in which ports they can reach and offer a suitable visit for guests.
Instead, Norwegian Cruise Line is planning longer, more immersive sailings for both ships covering those time periods. Those itineraries will be released and available for booking soon, offering eager guests more unique options during the peak holiday sailing season.
Guests on impacted sailings are being offered some future cruise credit as compensation for their disappointment. Fortunately, since the first of the now-cancelled cruises is more than a year away, booked guests have plenty of time to adjust their travel plans and opt for a different cruise.
Why Do Cruise Lines Swap Ships and Cancel Sailings?
New ships entering the fleet, port improvement plans, and sharing ports with other cruise lines are all part of the scheduling challenges when planning itineraries years in advance.
Cruise lines do attempt to make the best plans possible when itineraries are first released. Many different factors can impact future schedules, however.
For example, new plans to redevelop a private destination or begin visiting a brand new port might open up new options for a ship, or could temporarily close a destination.
Guest feedback on port experiences and booking rates for different itineraries might also impact a cruise line’s plans as they seek to maximize guest experiences along with company profits.
In some cases, changed plans might not even be up to the cruise line. A port might plan new developments that could change berth availability, or dramatically increased taxes (like starting January 1, 2026 in Hawaii) might cause cruise lines to reconsider their planned itineraries.
Regardless of the reason, guests aboard any of the impacted Norwegian ships are sure to have a fantastic time on whichever cruise vacation they choose.
Carnival Venezia‘s next sailing is planned as a 5-night Bermuda itinerary, but the double impact of Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda may change that plan.
Carnival Cruise Line is proactively alerting guests that their itinerary may be changed to Canadian destinations so they can be properly packed and prepared.
The cruise line will provide an additional update before the October 1, 2025 departure on the 5-night Bermuda-but-maybe-Canada itinerary.
Carnival Cruise Line is being very proactive at keeping guests informed about their upcoming cruise aboard Carnival Venezia.
While there have been plenty of changes for ongoing itineraries due to both Hurricane Humberto and Hurricane Imelda, the next sailing of Carnival Venezia should miss those disruptions. Or will it?
The cruise line emailed guests with an update on Tuesday, the day before their Wednesday, October 1, 2025 embarkation date. That cruise is scheduled as a 5-night Bermuda itinerary visiting Kings Wharf for an extended overnight from 9 a.m. on Friday, October 3 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 4.
The distance sailing to Bermuda from New York and the lack of alternative port options means the cruise line has to be very alert to any possible weather impacts for the sailing.
“Our Fleet Operations Center is actively monitoring Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda in the mid-Atlantic. Both storms are forecasted to impact Bermuda over the next few days,”the email explained.
“Although our visit is set for the coming weekend and the storms would likely have passed the island by then, they are expected to generate large waves that would be moving toward the east coast of the U.S. – conditions that could, very likely, make our voyage from New York to the island a rough and uncomfortable journey.”
The cruise line also notes that a full post-storm assessment must be completed before any cruise ship would be permitted to dock in Bermuda.
It is possible that damage to the pier, harbor, or other facilities could delay the port from reopening in time for Carnival Venezia‘s visit.
“There is a possibility that we may revise the itinerary and head north to Canada instead,”the email continued.“So, to help you prepare, we encourage you to pack warm clothing and other necessary supplies that would help you to take full advantage of shore time in Canada.”
Those other “necessary supplies” might include rain ponchos or more comfortable sneakers for hiking on rocky terrain, rather than the swim shoes and beach bags that would be more useful in Bermuda.
No decision has yet been made about which direction Carnival Venezia will definitely be heading when she departs the Big Apple on October 1, but Carnival Cruise Line will provide another update on Tuesday evening.
Hurricane Updates
As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has upgraded Imelda to an official Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour.
While the storm is currently positioned more than 700 miles west-southwest of Bermuda, the forecast track is predicting a direct impact on Wednesday evening.
Hurricane Imelda
“Imelda is expected bring damaging hurricane-force-winds to Bermuda when it passed near or over that island by Wednesday afternoon or evening. A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for Bermuda,”the latest storm discussion notes.
This will follow less than 24 hours after the impact of Hurricane Humberto, which now has maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour as the storm moves north of Bermuda. While Humberto is not going to make landfall on the island, the winds, rain, and waves will still be felt.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the people of Bermuda as they brace for this double threat.
Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Star Princess, will be christened in Fort Lauderdale on November 6, 2025 by celebrity couple Matthew and Camila McConaughey.
The ship will initially debut in Barcelona in October 2025, and sail two voyages in Europe before making her way across the Atlantic to Florida.
Star Princess will be based seasonally at Port Everglades, sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.
Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife, entrepreneur Camila McConaughey, were tapped to serve as godparents to Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Star Princess, when the new-build makes her US debut in November 2025.
The two will oversee the 4,300-guest ship’s christening ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on November 6, 2025, one day before her inaugural cruise from the South Florida port.
Princess Cruises took delivery of Star Princess on September 26, 2025 from Fincantieri’s Monfalcone, Italy, shipyard. The 177,882-gross-ton ship will sail two voyages from Barcelona — the first on October 4, 2025, before crossing the Atlantic to her seasonal homeport at Port Everglades.
“We are delighted to have Camila and Matthew McConaughey serve as the godparents of Star Princess,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises.
“With their signature warmth and spirit, Camila and Matthew embody the values that define Princess, and we are delighted to welcome them into our family in such a meaningful way,” added Antorcha.
Matthew McConaughey is well known not only for his acting abilities — he won an Academy Award for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club” — but for his philanthropy supporting the education and health of children.
The celebrity couple also founded Pantalones Organic Tequila, which is included in Princess Cruises’ Love Line Premium Liquors collection and sold throughout the fleet.
“With Princess, it’s not just a vacation — it’s time well spent, families and friends coming together, meeting new folks, and making memories. This ship’s got that spirit built right in, and we’re proud to be part of her story from the beginning,” said Camila and Matthew McConaughey.
Matthew McConaughey and Camila McConaughey
Princess Cruises has not yet revealed any additional details about the christening ceremony, but it is certain to be a gala event with live music performances, among other festive activities.
The McConaugheys join a long list of celebrities who have served as godmothers and godfathers to cruise ships. In April 2025, actor Drew Barrymore christened MSC Cruises’ MSC World America in a ceremony at Port Miami.
Others who have served as godparents for various cruise ships include Oprah Winfrey, Audrey Hepburn, Helen Mirren, Whoopi Goldberg, and even Queen Elizabeth II.
Maiden Voyage From Florida to Call at Princess Cays
Following the naming ceremony, Star Princess will sail her maiden voyage from North America, a 3-night cruise to Princess Cays, Bahamas. After that she will begin a series of 7- and 14-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.
Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Princess Cays; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, while Western Caribbean itineraries will feature Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico.
Star Princess’s seasonal deployment to Fort Lauderdale will continue through mid-April 2026, when she will reposition to Seattle and operate 7-night Inside Passage voyages to Alaska through the summer season, ultimately returning to the Florida port in fall 2026.
The ship, second in the line’s Sphere class and a sister ship to Sun Princess, which launched in 2024, offers guests 30 dining and bar venues, and 32 cabin categories.
Notable public spaces in The Dome, a spacious pool area that doubles as an entertainment space, the Princess Arena theater, and the 3-story Piazza atrium that is the centerpiece of the ship.
Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its Family Express lunch menu options across the fleet, with four ships already fully offering the new menu at the Lido Marketplace.
Despite its name, the menu does include more sophisticated dishes as well as simpler fare to suit an entire family’s taste and everyone is welcome to try it.
Guest reaction is very positive to the new menu, but there are requests for gluten-free options as well as expanding the menu into the evening dinner hours.
With so much to do onboard a Carnival cruise, every minute can count. This is especially true for families with younger children who may be so eager to rejoin their friends in the youth programs that they become fussy and impatient, especially at meals with unfamiliar dishes.
Carnival Cruise Line is making it easier for families to refuel with their new Family Express menu for lunches at the Lido Marketplace buffet. The new menu is confirmed aboard the following ships:
Carnival Celebration
Carnival Horizon
Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Vista
Guests have also reported the menu onboard other vessels, including Carnival Pride, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Glory, among others. The full implementation may not yet be available fleet-wide, but it is coming soon.
“We are gradually implementing ship-to-ship,”confirmed John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador.
Full, daily implementation of the menu may take some time as different options are tested and buffet lines are set up with appropriate signage and stations.
In the meantime, more ships may introduce the Family Express menu on a limited bases as part of ongoing menu updates.
A key aspect of the Family Express menu is that it is all in one place, from the pasta and salads to entrees and desserts. This makes it simpler to collect a full meal with no need to move through a longer buffet line or visit multiple serving stations.
Guests are pleased with the new offering, noting that it’s very helpful for lunch but also wishing it could be expanded to dinnertime.
“I loved these on my last three cruises, I just wish they would do them in the evening, too,”one guest commented.
Furthermore, it isn’t just families who appreciate the faster and simpler options on the menu.
“As a picky eater, I loved this. Yes, I’m a grown adult and yes I like ‘kid’ food as I have food issues and stomach issues so this was great for my situation!”one guest explained.
Heald has also noted that any guests can enjoy the Family Express buffet. There is no need to be accompanied by a young cruiser to take advantage of the great choices and convenience.
“Yes, adults can graze here too,”he said.
What Is the Family Express Menu?
The new menu features more kid-friendly favorites but still includes tastes for Mom and Dad. Located in a designated section of the buffet line, this is a fast and easy option for families to dine together and be able to get right back to the day’s fun.
For example, each Family Express menu includes a “Pasta of the Day” selection, such as rigatoni meatball pasta or classic mac and cheese. Guests can also request plain spaghetti with alfredo or pomodorini marinara sauce.
Carnival Family Express Lunch Menu
Salads such as carrot and raisin, rainbow pasta, and Tex Mex bean salad are often offered, and daily soups include selections like chicken pot pie soup and minestrone.
Entrees range from savory pork ribs, chicken mirabela, and vegetable spring rolls to salmon croquettes and chicken burgers with honey mustard sauce.
If these selections sound too fancy for picky eaters, never fear. The Family Express menu also includes everyday favorites such as hot dogs, chicken nuggets, crinkle fries, corn dogs, buttered broccoli, and chicken tenders, perfect options for guests with simpler tastes, no matter what their age.
Desserts include quick treats like strawberry Jell-o, sugar sprinkle cookies, and other grab-and-go sweets.
The menu does include both vegetarian and gluten-free options, though some guests have noted that gluten-free entrees are scarce.
Hopefully, Carnival Cruise Line will continue to listen to guest feedback and expand the menu to offer great tastes for all families’ dining preferences and needs.
Thanks to Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda, Norwegian Escape’s current 12-night sailing is no longer a journey to the Caribbean.
Instead, the NCL ship will sail to better weather in New England and Bermuda.
Guests have been compensated with a 20% future cruise credit and all shore excursions booked through the cruise line will be automatically refunded.
Norwegian Escape’s 12-night sailing to the Caribbean has abruptly turned into a voyage to New England and Bermuda due to poor weather conditions.
The sailing in question embarked in New York on Monday, September 29, 2025.
The 4,218-guest ship is the latest to join a growing list of cruise ships from brands like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line that have already altered course to steer clear of Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda.
Both storm systems are currently just a few hundred miles apart from each other in the Atlantic Basin.
In order to avoid the worst of the weather, Norwegian Cruise Line has had to rework the entire itinerary for its Breakaway-Plus class ship. Every single port call has been replaced.
“While we always aim for calm seas and bright skies, Mother Nature sometimes has other plans,”Norwegian Cruise Line wrote to impacted guests.
“Due to weather conditions caused by Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda, we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to adjust our itinerary.”
Originally, the 2015-launched ship was supposed to visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; Castries, St. Lucia; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Instead, she will now begin the voyage by visiting destinations within the New England region, including Boston, Massachusetts, and Maine’s Portland and Eastport.
The 164,998-gross ton ship will then proceed to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda for an overnight stay that lasts from October 6 to October 8.
It’s kind of an interesting replacement, as usually Bermuda is the port that gets replaced due to inclement weather.
As much as they would like to, cruise lines cannot control the weather. But what they can control is keeping everyone onboard safe and comfortable.
“We understand that this change may be disappointing, especially for those who were looking forward to experiencing the Caribbean,” NCL’s letter sympathised.
“While the weather is beyond our control, please rest assured that your safety, along with that of our crew and ship, will always remain our top priority.”
It’s tracking northwest at speeds of 13 miles per hour, and is expected to pass Bermuda by Wednesday, October 1 – several days before Norwegian Escape will arrive.
Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship in New York (Photo Credit: quiggyt4)
Tropical Storm Imelda isn’t quite as intense, but is still dangerous with wind speeds reaching 60 miles per hour and has the potential to strengthen into a hurricane.
Imelda will also pass near Bermuda toward the middle of the week.
Additionally, Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for portions of the northwestern Bahamas because of Imelda, including for popular cruise destinations like Eleuthera, the Abaco Islands, and Grand Bahama Island.
Understandably, cruise ships do not want to get caught in the heavy rains, winds, and big swells that come with these storms.
Even though NCL is doing its duty by avoiding the worst of the weather, the cruise line is still providing guests with a 20% Future Cruise Credit to show appreciation for passengers’ understanding and flexibility.
This credit will be available starting on October 1, 2025, and can be applied to any Norwegian Cruise Line sailing that embarks on or before December 31, 2026.
Additionally, all shore excursions that were booked through NCL will be automatically cancelled and refunded without passengers needing to lift a finger.
