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Cruise Line Creates Nostalgic Voyage Based on Classic Flights

Donna Tunney
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Cruise Line Creates Nostalgic Voyage Based on Classic Flights

Key Aspects:

  • Holland America Line has unveiled the “Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage,” featuring an itinerary inspired by Pan Am’s Great Circle Route of decades past.
  • The 28-day cruise will sail roundtrip from PortMiami on October 30, 2027, calling at 18 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
  • Pan Am’s “flying boats” pioneered the concept of island-hopping across the Caribbean in the mid-20th century, which cruise ships now do.

Airline enthusiasts know all about Pan Am’s Clipper ships — aircraft that came to prominence nearly a century ago with their ability to land on water. Now, Holland America Line is set to re-create that golden age of travel in a new way.

The cruise line has designed a 28-day voyage inspired by popular routes operated by Pan Am’s so-called “flying boats,” featuring 18 popular cruise port destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

The sailing aboard Zuiderdam will operate roundtrip from PortMiami on October 30, 2027, and is modeled on Pan Am’s former Great Circle Route.

The 1,964-guest ship will call at Nassau and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; while Caribbean ports will include those in the Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico; USVI; Antigua and Barbuda; Saint Lucia; and Trinidad and Tobago, among others.

In Colombia, the ship will visit Santa Marta and Cartagena, along with Colon, Panama, and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. Belize City and Cozumel round out the port calls before the ship returns to Florida.

“Pan Am and Holland America Line both helped pioneer modern travel—Pan Am in the skies and Holland America Line at sea,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment for Holland America Line. “This collaboration is a tribute to the golden age of travel and humanity’s enduring drive to explore.”

Pan Am, officially known as Pan American World Airways, was founded in 1927 and reached its heyday in the 1960s. It ceased operations in 1991 but is in the process of being resurrected as a scheduled air carrier by brand owner Pan American Global Holdings.

Read Also: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?

Holland America’s 2027 cruise, the “Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage,” will visit nine destinations that were originally part of the airline’s Great Circle Route. These include Nassau; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Colon, Panama; Progreso, Mexico; and Miami.

Great Circle Route Cruise Itinerary
Great Circle Route Cruise Itinerary (Image Credit: Holland America Line)

At its peak, Pan Am’s clipper ships pioneered travel across the Caribbean in the 1950s and 1960s, with the ability to land in sheltered harbors since many islands did not yet have airports. Typically, guests stayed in island hotels overnight before going on to the next island on the plane’s itinerary.

Special Cruise Is a Nod to 250th Anniversary of US

The partnership between the cruise line and Pan Am is one element of Holland America’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US. Other highlights include a special voyage from Boston on July 4, 2026.

“As a cruise line with more than 150 years of history sailing, we have a deep appreciation for brands that helped shape the American story,” said Kacy Cole, chief marketing officer for Holland America Line.

Holland America is itself a brand that helped to shape the American story. In October 2022 the cruise line celebrated its 150th anniversary by recreating a transatlantic crossing between Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and New York.

The 12-night cruise aboard Rotterdam VII retraced the route of the line’s 1827 crossing, with calls in France and England.

Themed cruises are abundant across the industry. Many offer celebrations of music and culture, plus special events such as eclipses. Indeed, many cruise lines position their ships for ideal viewings of eclipses.

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Princess Cruises, for instance, invites cruisers to join Sky Princess in Europe for the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The ship will be positioned off the coast of northern Spain in the path of totality for the 2-minute, 18-second eclipse.

Meanwhile, MSC Cruises will mark the arrival of MSC Seascape in Galveston, Texas, in November 2025 with special onboard activities tied to Texas music, culture, and traditions. The ship, which will homeport seasonally in Texas, will feature a house band offering country music, line dancing events, and a Texas-themed sailaway party.

Carnival Remains Firm on Halloween Mask Policy

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Remains Firm on Halloween Mask Policy

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line does not permit full face masks to be worn onboard the ship for Halloween, other than during the costume parade event.
  • The mask restrictions are important for onboard security and guests will be asked to remove full face masks by the security team or other crew members.
  • Other costume guidelines include no weapons (real or fake), no nudity or profanity, or anything too sexy. All costumes should be family-friendly.

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays and many people go all-out with elaborate decorations, boneyards, spooky treats, and crazy costumes.

Cruise lines are no different, and Carnival Cruise Line offers a range of fun Halloween activities and events for guests sailing during the spooky season. Not all Halloween fun is always welcome onboard, however, and the cruise line remains firm on their mask policy.

The line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, reminded guests of the mask policy in his morning video on October 21, 2025, with the holiday just 10 days away. While Carnival’s ships have been offering Halloween happenings all month long, the mask policy remains firm.

“I just want to reiterate something,” Heald commented. “Full face costume masks. We have a little problem on Carnival Sunshine at the moment, I’m sure they’re not the only ones. They were refusing to remove the masks – they were wearing their costumes pretty much all day. … For security reasons, remember, you cannot wear these.”

Heald goes on to describe that costumes can indeed be worn all day, but full face masks are only permitted at select events.

“Now you can wear it for the costume parade. So when the parade starts, you can put your mask on,” he explained. “But wearing a full face mask around the ship, to dinner, is just not allowed for security reasons. I’m sure you understand.”

Read Also: The Most Haunted Cruise Ships and Spooky Venues Onboard

Guests must remove such masks if they are asked to do so by a security member or any other Carnival crew member.

Since facial recognition technology is used for security checks around the ship, especially when getting on or off the vessel in ports of call or during embarkation and debarkation, it makes sense that full face masks would not be permitted.

It is also essential that onboard closed circuit video be able to record appropriately in case of emergencies or other incidents, which is why full face masks cannot be casually worn around the ship.

Carnival Cruise Line Halloween Sailing
Carnival Cruise Line Halloween Sailing (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

While Heald does not identify the guests involved on Carnival Sunshine, the ship is currently sailing an 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that departed Norfolk, Virginia on October 18, 2025.

The ship departed the Old Dominion State roughly eight hours later than expected following a delayed arrival due to rough weather at the end of her previous sailing, a 6-night Bermuda itinerary that was itself delayed to a 5-night cruise.

With such a tense beginning, it’s no surprise that guests onboard would want to cut loose and celebrate a bit onboard, but security restrictions must still be followed.

More Halloween Fun on Carnival Ships

Carnival Cruise Line offers a range of themed activities for their “Frightfully Fun Halloween” sailings all through October.

“Just so we’re clear, our ships probably aren’t haunted… but every sailing does come complete with fun Halloween extras!” the website describes.

Guidelines for guests’ costumes include no weapons, whether real or fake, so leave the pirate swords at home. Costumes may not be too “sexy” either real or implied, and may not show too much skin. No obscene words or images are permitted either, in keeping with the cruise line’s family-friendly nature.

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The guidelines also do mention masks, noting that “No costume masks, or other costume face coverings, are allowed either.”

Costume contests for individuals and groups, themed parties and trivia, horror movies on the Lido Deck, photo ops, and of course trick-or-treating are all part of the fun. If guests are lucky, they might even spot the 12-foot tall Patch the Pumpkin Pirate on select ships.

Disney Destiny Begins Transatlantic Crossing to Florida Homeport

Catie Kovelman
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Disney Destiny Begins Transatlantic Crossing to Florida Homeport

Key Aspects: 

  • Disney Destiny is officially on her way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will be her first and only homeport for the next few years. 
  • During her transatlantic crossing, the new ship will traverse over 5,000 nautical miles. 
  • She will also stop at her first ever port of call, which will be in Funchal, Portugal. 

In another major milestone, Disney Destiny is officially on her way to her first homeport to launch her career at sea. 

After making the complex journey down the Ems River to leave Germany’s Meyer Werft Shipyard in September, the 4,000-guest ship took up a temporary residence in Eemshaven, Netherlands, while finishing touches were completed. 

This is where she was formally delivered to Disney Cruise Line on October 15, 2025, after passing her sea trials with flying colors. 

And now, it’s time for the young Disney ship to embark on the next leg on her journey to launch. 

On October 20, 2025, the newest Wish-class cruise ship embarked on a 13-night transatlantic crossing from Eemshaven to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will be her first and only homeport through at least May of 2027. 

Over the course of two weeks, the new build will navigate more than 5,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean. 

She will also make her first ever port call in Funchal, Portugal, on October 25, 2025. 

“The Disney Destiny is officially en route to Fort Lauderdale,” Disney Cruise Line announced. 

“Over the next two weeks, the Disney Destiny will sail more than 5,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean to its future year-round homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, making a brief stop along the way at its first port of call in Funchal, Portugal,” the cruise line continued. 

The 144,000-gross ton vessel is also expected to stop in Port Canaveral, Florida, on November 2, 2025, before sailing the rest of the way to her homeport.

The date for her arrival in Port Everglades and her eventual naming ceremony have not been announced just yet. 

Getting Ready to Launch 

As Disney Destiny makes her way to Florida, the up to 1,555 crew members onboard are making sure everything on the ship is functional and ready to go. 

This is also a chance for crew members to get their bearings, and to train newer employees before paying passengers are onboard.

“Throughout the crossing, cast and crew onboard will make final preparations to ensure the Disney Destiny is in shipshape for its arrival in Florida in early November and its upcoming maiden voyage on November 20,” DCL said. 

Disney Destiny officers and Hero Minnie
Disney Destiny officers and Hero Minnie (Photo Credit: Disney Cruise Line)

While there will be short preview events for VIPs and members of the media, Disney Destiny’s first revenue sailing won’t be until November 20, 2025, when she embarks on her maiden voyage. 

Read Also: How Much Is a Disney Cruise? I Did All the Checking!

This inaugural voyage will be a 4-night sailing to both of Disney’s private Islands in the Bahamas, which are Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. 

For at least the next few years, the young ship will spend her days operating 5- to 7-night sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. 

Once Disney Destiny officially makes her debut, DCL can then set its sights on continuing to grow the fleet.

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Disney Adventure, the biggest Disney ship and the first to be built for the Asian market, will be next to launch on March 10, 2026. 

Her original maiden voyage was scheduled for December 15, 2025, but it was pushed back to next year due to an unexpected delay. 

Meanwhile, the fourth Wish-class ship, which will be the sister of Disney Destiny, is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard. 

The unnamed vessel is expected to be delivered in 2027. 

Record 21.7 Million Americans to Set Sail in 2026

Melissa Mayntz
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Record 21.7 Million Americans to Set Sail in 2026

Key Aspects:

  • US cruisers will be setting sail in record numbers in 2026, with an estimated 21.7 million American guests taking cruises next year.
  • The Caribbean is by far the top destination, but Alaska and the Mediterranean also remain popular.
  • Interesting statistics highlight the ages of cruisers, which homeports are most popular, and other key factors in cruise industry growth.

Cruising is hot hot hot, as anyone who’s trying to book a last-minute cruise (or not even that last minute) understands when they start to wonder why so many sailings are sold out months in advance.

According to AAA – The Auto Club Group, 2026 is expected to have record numbers of American cruising, with 21.7 million people setting sail. This up 4.5% from the 20.7 million projection for 2025, and up more than 52% from 2019’s pre-pandemic numbers.

The higher numbers, which have grown steadily higher every year since the restart, are attributed to several factors:

  • Strong consumer demand as more and more people discover cruising and set sail multiple times.
  • Expanded and updated itineraries, particularly to new destinations or iconic favorites.
  • Increased capacity across cruise ship fleets with larger and larger ships debuting from different homeports.

Of special note are projections on who, exactly is cruising, what types of ships they prefer, when they set sail, and where they prefer to visit.

“Cruising is surging, with travelers booking more voyages and exploring new destinations in record numbers,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA. “From quick Caribbean escapes to bucket-list Alaskan adventures, the excitement is undeniable. With more ships, expanded itineraries, and rising demand, cruising continues to be the go-to vacation for unforgettable experiences at sea.”

According to the report, 65% of adult US cruisers are over age 55, while 27% are ages 35-54, and just 7% are ages 18-34. Furthermore, nearly half are traveling as couples, while 20% cruise with children and 7% are solo travelers.

Larger ships are most popular in the most desirable cruising destinations, including the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and northern Europe. Smaller ships are deployed in Alaska as well as Europe, with expedition voyages especially popular in the Last Frontier and luxury ships dominating in the Mediterranean.

Of course, cruise fans know that there are great sailings to be found year-round, but seasons do vary in different regions. The most obvious is in Alaska, where most cruises are only offered from April through October.

The Caribbean is the opposite, with the busiest months November through March – though there are always great Caribbean itineraries available.

In 2026, 72% of American guests will choose Caribbean itineraries, in part due to more available homeports along with shorter and more convenient itineraries.

In a surprising contrast, just 7% of American cruisers will set sail in Alaska. This is due to several factors, including the shorter sailing season, fewer and smaller ships offering Alaskan itineraries, and higher costs for visiting the region.

Holland America in Alaska
Holland America in Alaska (Photo Credit: Paul Brady Photography)

For US homeports, Miami is expected to hold the top title for popularity with 10.2% of American guests, while Port Canaveral is a close second with 8.8%. Fort Lauderdale is in third place (5.6%) followed by Galveston (4.1%) and Seattle (2.2%).

For Americans sailing from non-US homeports, Barcelona is the top choice with an expected 3.9% of travelers, followed very closely by Southampton (3.4%) and Rome/Civitavecchia (3.3%). Marseille (2.6%) and Singapore (2.2%) round out the list.

Will the Growth Continue?

Has cruising reached peak popularity or will it continue to rise? With 90% of US guests rating their cruise vacations as either good or very good and 91% being repeat cruisers, undoubtedly setting sail will continue to be the vacation of choice for millions of travelers.

More From Cruise Hive

Multiple cruise lines are noting continued popularity for bookings into 2026, 2027 and beyond, with most cruises selling out before departure.

New cruise ships, such as the upcoming Carnival Festivale, Legend of the Seas, Norwegian Luna, and Disney Adventure, tempt passengers to return over and over to experience new features and fun.

Meanwhile, new private destinations such as Perfect Day Mexico tempt guests with future itineraries as well.

How many cruises do you have booked for 2026 and beyond? I’m at two for now, with more to come!

Mother’s Photo Mishap Led to Child Overboard on Disney Ship

Catie Kovelman
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Mother’s Photo Mishap Led to Child Overboard on Disney Ship

Key Aspects:

  • The investigation into how a 5-year-old girl managed to fall overboard from Disney Dream at the end of June is now complete.
  • Official legal documents show that the mother had instructed her daughter to pose for a picture in an open porthole, which she believed was closed.
  • No charges will be pressed against the mother and the case is closed, but all families can still learn from her mistake.

A man overboard incident is always scary, but the stakes are particularly high when the person who has fallen overboard is a child.

Few will soon forget that this is exactly what happened onboard Disney Dream on the morning of June 29, 2025, during a 4-night Bahamas sailing.

The 5-year-old girl fell 50-feet into the ocean from Deck 4 of the Disney Cruise Line ship. Less than a minute later, the girl’s father had jumped overboard to save her. Thankfully, the duo was rescued in less than an hour.

An investigation into what led to the child’s accidental fall has been underway, and thanks to a police report from Florida’s Broward County Sheriff’s Office, we now know more about what happened.

Early rumors blamed the child’s father for allegedly holding the girl on the ship’s railing for a picture or claimed that she had been climbing the railing and slipped. But neither of these theories are true.

What really happened on that fateful day is that the child’s mother had encouraged her daughter to pose for a picture in front of an open porthole. Per the authorities, she did not realize that the porthole was open.

“[The mom] assumed the porthole had a window or plexiglass, and she thought that [her daughter] would be caught by the glass, but instead, she kept falling,” the police report stated.

Both the mother and the father spoke with police, and their stories match surveillance footage, in which the mom can be seen walking on Deck 4 before directing the little girl to the porthole.

Disney Cruise Line has not commented publicly on the findings of the investigation.

At the time, the cruise line confirmed the man overboard situation and commended the crew members for their heroic rescue of the dad and daughter.

Mother Will Not Be Charged

The mother did put her child in a dangerous situation, and for a time, criminal charges were considered.

“Upon looking at the window myself, as a prudent person, I immediately saw that the window was open to the air, and did not have a covering,” Detective Christopher Favitta, who investigated the scene in person, wrote in his portion of the report.

“This act, facilitated by [the mother] placed the child in a life-threatening situation. As a result, the child fell from the ship and into the water, in an avoidable accident,” he continued.

Dad Saves Overboard Daughter From Disney Dream
Dad Saves Overboard Daughter From Disney Dream (Credit: Janice Martin-Asuque)

But while the mother’s decision was not smart, it ultimately wasn’t enough to warrant charges.

“While the defendant’s conduct is arguably negligent and irresponsible, it does not rise the egregious level of conduct necessary to establish criminal culpable negligence,” Assistant State Attorney Melissa Kelly confirmed in the report.

The case is now closed, and the family can move on with their lives.

Read Also: What Happens If You Jump Off a Cruise Ship?

Thankfully, the story did have a happy ending – and all cruising families can learn from the mother’s mistake so that it doesn’t happen again.

Keeping kids away from openings and preventing them from climbing on railings can mean the difference between life and death, as the majority of people who fall overboard do sadly perish or are lost at sea.

According to a report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 212 people went overboard from 2009 to 2019.

Only 48 were found alive, which equates to a successful rescue rate of approximately 22%.

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In this case, both the father and daughter were immediately tended to by Disney’s onboard medical team after being rescued and were expected to fully recover, if they haven’t already.

The child escaped with mild hypothermia and minor lactic acidosis, while her father was hospitalized with hypothermia, lactic acidosis, and two spinal fractures.

Carnival Will No Longer Accept Donations for Onboard Charity Auctions

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Will No Longer Accept Donations for Onboard Charity Auctions

Key Aspects:

  • Guests are no longer permitted to donate items to auction off at the Groove for St. Jude charity fundraisers onboard Carnival ships.
  • The change in policy has been at the request of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Carnival Cruise Line will honor it.
  • The Groove fundraisers are not ending and Carnival Cruise Line remains committed to strong support of the children’s charity.

Carnival Cruise Line is a long-time charitable partner for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The cruise line first began offering support in various ways since 2010, and in 2024, announced the ambitious goal to raise a total of $50 million by 2030.

One guest-led way of raising funds for the charity is no longer permitted, however. A recent policy change means guests can no longer donate items to be auctioned off during impromptu fundraisers on individual cruises.

A guest eager to donate to such an auction was recently turned down, and reached out to John Heald to see why that generosity is no longer welcome.

“Are you aware that they are no longer auctioning things at Groove for St Jude?” the guest asked. “I asked you about this and specially made 2 big crochet ducks to auction on [Carnival Firenze and Carnival Radiance] only to be told in the evening after I sent them to the cruise director via a Fun Squad member earlier in the day… no more auctioning. It was very disappointing.”

Groove for St. Jude is the fundraising dance party held onboard every Carnival cruise. Guests donate to join the event and receive t-shirts or other souvenirs as thanks for their participation. On some sailings, grooving can raise thousands of dollars for St. Jude.

In recent years, guests have often donated unique items to be auctioned as part of the event. Bedazzled, crocheted, or other unique ducks (part of the cruising ducks phenomenon) are popular and can help raise extra money for the charity.

Unfortunately, this will no longer be possible, but it isn’t Carnival Cruise Line’s decision.

“Yes, indeed this was something that we were requested not to do by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” Heald confirmed. “This was their decision and we of course respect it.”

Heald apologized to the guest and thanked them for the time generously spent making the crocheted ducks, but the rule change is a very recent one and there was no way to inform the guest before their back-to-back sailings.

Carnival Firenze
Carnival Firenze (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez / Shutterstock)

The dates of the guest’s recent cruises aboard were not disclosed, but both ships are currently homeported from Long Beach, California.

Worth Reading: Art Auction Bait and Switch Leaves Royal Caribbean Guests Upset

Carnival Firenze is offering 4-, 5-, and 6-night sailings to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera, while Carnival Radiance is sailing 3-, 4-, and 5-night cruises also to Baja Mexico, as well as regular 14-night sailings to Hawaii.

Other St. Jude Fundraisers

There has been no reason given about why St. Jude has requested that the onboard auctions no longer be held. It is not uncommon, however, for organizations to want to ensure their connections are carefully curated to follow their mission statement and policies.

Furthermore, unauthorized items may seem to indicate endorsements from the charity, which is something that must be carefully regulated.

In addition to the Groove for St. Jude onboard events, Carnival Cruise Line has often held other, more unique fundraisers.

For example, in October 2024, Christine Duffy, the cruise line’s president, did a special tandem skydive over Tampa Bay and raised more than $85,000. That fundraiser was not for St. Jude, however, but was for the Gary Sinise Foundation in conjunction with special efforts to support first responders after hurricane impacts.

Individual cruise directors occasionally host wacky fundraisers along with the Groove for St. Jude parties, such as in August 2025 when Marq Anthony squeezed into the smallest possible shirt size after a $2,000 donation onboard Carnival Vista.

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Popular cruise director Alex Siegler has done several unique challenges for St. Jude. In January 2025, he went clean-shaven for the first time in more than a decade after successful fundraising aboard Carnival Spirit, then followed it up just a few weeks later with chest waxing (now that’s dedication!). Those two challenges raised more than $12,000 for St. Jude.

While guest donations will no longer be accepted for onboard auctions, it is unknown whether cruise directors will be able to continue such crazy antics or if other fundraiser methods might be introduced.

Temporary Traffic Changes for Port of Galveston Road Construction

Lissa Poirot
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Temporary Traffic Changes for Port of Galveston Road Construction

Key Aspects:

  • Port of Galveston will be rerouting street traffic through December 5, 2025, due to road construction.
  • All passenger vehicles for Terminal 25, used by Carnival Cruise Line, must enter and exit on 23rd Street.
  • Cruise traffic for Terminal 28, which serves Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival, will be rerouted to 33rd Street.

Cruise passengers departing from Galveston, Texas, this fall will need to follow new routes to reach two of the port’s busiest terminals.

The Port of Galveston is temporarily rerouting traffic flow to Terminals 25 and 28 through December 5, 2025, due to ongoing road construction near the cruise complex.

At Terminal 25, used by Carnival Cruise Line, all passenger vehicles will enter and exit via 23rd Street. At Terminal 28, which serves Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line, all cruise traffic will use 33rd Street for pickups and drop-offs.

Passengers are encouraged to park in official Port of Galveston lots and to take port shuttles to their assigned terminal to help alleviate roadside delays and congestion.

“Cruise passengers may also receive details from their cruise line before their sailing date,” representatives at the port stated.

The new routes will affect thousands of passengers sailing to the Western Caribbean aboard nine ships currently homeported in Galveston.

These include Disney Cruise Line’s 2,713-guest Disney Magic, operating 4-night roundtrip cruises to Progreso, Mexico, and Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, which sails 7-night voyages to Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Honduras.

Galveston traffic route
Galveston traffic route (Rendering: Galveston Wharves)

Carnival Cruises, Port of Galveston’s largest cruise operator, recently marked its 25th anniversary sailing from Galveston.

The celebration aboard 5,374-passenger Carnival Jubilee’s on October 18, 2025, highlighted the cruise line’s growth and long-standing partnership with the city.

Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, and Carnival Legend also run regular Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston to Mexico and Honduras.

Passengers booked on Royal Caribbean should not feel the strain as much as the line operates from its dedicated Terminal 10, which debuted in November 2022.

Both the 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas and the 3,344-passenger Mariner of the Seas continue 7- and 4-night Caribbean sailings, respectively, through the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Galveston’s newest cruise facility, Terminal 16, is on track to open in November 2025.

The fourth terminal will welcome MSC Cruises’ 5,877-guest MSC Seascape for its inaugural sailing to the Western Caribbean on November 16, marking the cruise line’s official debut from the Lone Star State. 

Port Growth and Record Passenger Volumes

The traffic changes come as the Port of Galveston experiences record growth and mounting infrastructure demands.

In 2024, the port logged a record 3.4 million passenger movements across its terminals and projected more than 400 sailings in 2025. By the end of 2026, the Port of Galveston anticipates welcoming 2 million passengers.

Its newest 165,000-square-foot terminal, a $151-million project, anchors the expansion alongside a $55-million parking garage to support drive-to cruisers using Galveston’s prime Gulf of Mexico location.

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The parking facility follows recommendations from a traffic-flow study that called for onsite parking, dedicated curb lanes for embarkation and debarkation, and a separate truck entrances.

The temporary reroutes for Terminals 25 and 28 are part of those long-term plans. While traffic is expected to return to normal patterns in early December, guests should stay alert for further changes in case of construction delays.

Carnival Cruise Line Explains Gratuity Distribution Yet Again

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Explains Gratuity Distribution Yet Again

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador John Heald has once again attempted to explain that, in fact, crew members receive all tips offered to them, with no impact to their base salary.
  • The controversy has gained attention recently due to “influencers” spreading incorrect information without real knowledge of the cruise line’s employee payment policies.
  • Many different gratuity controversies continue to circulate online covering a wide range of topics about how, when, and who to tip.

Gratuities are a controversial topic among cruisers, whether it is a discussion of who should receive them, how they are paid, what the current rate may be, or if they should be mandatory or discretionary.

One issue that frequently resurfaces through social media groups and so-called “influencers” is exactly how cruise lines calculate crew members’ salaries in comparison to tips.

A concerned guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, for clarification about the sometimes confusing connection between a crew member’s base salary and any gratuities they receive.

“[This person] is a cruise influencer with over 100,000 followers! She states that the money we tip the crew is used to pay them in addition to their normal pay as part of their base pay. Can you come clean on this?” the guest asks.

What this influencer seems to be claiming is that any gratuities a crew member receives are actually deducted from their “base pay” to keep the overall pay at a “normal” rate. For example, say a crew member’s salary is $400 per week, but they receive $150 per week in gratuities.

The claim is that Carnival would actually only pay the crew member $250, and the $150 in gratuities is added to reach that $400 salary. This would mean that the tips guests so generously offer are not actually over-and-above for excellent service, but are just being used as part of crew members’ base pay.

Heald left no question that this is not the case.

“As you are the 50th plus person to ask me this in the last few days I thought it was time for me to post the answer to save anyone else wasted time in asking me,” he noted. “THIS IS NOT CORRECT. IT IS FALSE INFORMATION.”

Read Also: How Much Should You Tip Crew Members?

Heald goes on to note that some “influencers” can be very good a what they do, but others are not so good. It’s always best for guests to go straight to the source for information, whether that is browsing the official website or speaking to a cruise line representative.

“Let me categorically deny that we do as they suggest,” he responded to further comments on the tipping confusion. “Gratuities that are given to the crew are kept by the crew and not by the company to support any salaries. That may happen on other cruise lines, but not with us.”

Cash Tipping on Carnival Cruise Line
Cash Tipping on Carnival Cruise Line

To be clear, Heald is not confirming how any other lines may manage gratuities, service charges, or tips. Payment and payroll operations are confidential for all cruise lines, and policies may be adapted as times change or when tax laws, or payment options shift.

“All I can say is that we are very grateful to every single guest who takes the time to give a gratuity to our crew,” he said. “Tipping is a very personal subject and at the end of the day people have to do what they think is best.”

At the moment, Carnival Cruise Line service gratuities are assessed at $16 per person, per day for most stateroom types. Guests staying in suites, which are larger rooms with more customized service, are assessed at $18 per person, per day. Carnival has not increased gratuity rates since April 2023.

More Tipping Controversies

Carnival Cruise Line has addressed a wide range of tipping controversies in the past.

Just days ago, the ever-touchy subject of whether guests should continue to have the discretion to adjust or remove automatic gratuities sparked heated debate and even a poll.

More From Cruise Hive

Another hot topic is how different guests might actually offer extra gratuities to staff members, and whether or not “cutesy” trends of how to display the cash one gives are appropriate or just tasteless.

Who receives tips, tipping porters at the cruise terminal, and whether to offer cash or increase the auto-gratuities on one’s shipboard account are all questions that are regularly discussed, with strong opinions on both sides.

Another Carnival Ship Cancels Sailing for Extended Dry Dock

Melissa Mayntz
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Another Carnival Ship Cancels Sailing for Extended Dry Dock

Key Aspects:

  • The January 15, 2026 sailing of Carnival Elation from Jacksonville has been cancelled.
  • The cruise line alerted guests of the need for a longer time in dry dock, necessitating the cancellation of the last cruise before the ship is out of service.
  • Guests may rebook with fare protection on a comparable sailing and will receive a $50 per person onboard credit as incentive for booking a new cruise.

Guests booked on Carnival Elation for the last sailing before the 27-year-old ship enters dry dock in January 2026 will need to change their vacation plans.

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests to alert them that the dry dock will need a bit more time than anticipated, and the ship’s January 15, 2026 sailing from Jacksonville, Florida has been cancelled.

The impacted cruise was to have been a 4-night Bahamas trip with visits to Celebration Key and Nassau. Following that cruise, Carnival Elation is scheduled to enter dry dock and will not resume service until February 9, 2026.

Guests are being offered the opportunity to rebook their sailing with some incentives, or else a full refund, including pre-purchased packages and tours as well as non-refundable deposits, will be provided.

“We have a variety of alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of fun,” the email said.

If guests rebook on a “comparable sailing, in similar accommodations” their original cruise fare rate will be protected. The email does not specify if that new cruise must also be aboard Carnival Elation or the only other Fantasy-class ship in the fleet, Carnival Paradise, or if any 4-night Carnival sailing will be acceptable.

If guests do rebook, they will receive a $50 (USD) per person onboard credit for their new sailing, up to $100 per stateroom.

Carnival Cruise Line is also offering reimbursement of up to $200 per person for non-refundable air expenses or change fees. Guests must submit receipts and other documentation to qualify for that reimbursement if needed.

Carnival Elation is scheduled to return to service from February 9, 2026. That first sailing back is not comparable to the cancelled cruise, as it is a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. After that special voyage, however, Carnival Elation will resume her schedule of 4- and 5-night Bahamas itineraries at least through spring 2028.

Carnival Elation Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

At this time, there has been no notice of any impact to the February 9 departure and no changes to that itinerary following the ship’s refreshment.

Why Is More Dry Dock Time Needed?

Carnival gives no exact explanation for the extension of the dry dock window, only that “we have had to extend Carnival Elation’s 2026 dry dock period.”

This could simply be due to shipyard schedules in order to maximize the efficiency of when different ships are serviced. Labor shortages or supply chain issues could also impact the dry dock schedule.

It is also possible that additional work may need to be done on one of Carnival Cruise Line’s oldest ships, greater than what was initially presumed.

There have been no technical problems with the ship’s operation in recent weeks, and no systems or onboard activities have been compromised. It is not uncommon, however, for cruise ships – especially older vessels like Carnival Elation – to require technical work to comply with updated environmental and safety regulations.

This is not the first Carnival ship to have dry dock scheduling changes in recent months. In July 2025, the cruise line alerted guests that five sailings aboard Carnival Breeze had to be cancelled for a dry dock schedule change. Those cruises were in early 2027.

Twice, different cruises have had to be cancelled for Carnival Conquest to adjust to dry dock schedule changes, impacting a total of 11 different sailing dates in early 2026.

Because shipyard schedules can fluctuate for reasons far outside a cruise line’s control, any guests who book sailings right before or after a dry dock should be flexible with their travel plans in case changes are necessary.

More From Cruise Hive

The exact changes in store for Carnival Elation have not yet been announced. The ship’s most recent major dry dock was in 2020 at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, which included adding the Alchemy Bar, the JavaBlue Cafe, and Bonsai Sushi Express to the onboard venues.

In 2023, a brief dry dock included general refreshment and aesthetic upgrades, including new carpeting and hull cleaning, as well as the new red, white, and, blue hull livery.

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