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Overbooked Royal Caribbean Cruise Entices Guests to Change Plans

Donna Tunney
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Overbooked Royal Caribbean Cruise Entices Guests to Change Plans

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas offered guests several lucrative deals to either cancel their overbooked sailing, transfer their booking, or give up their balcony cabins, with all options featuring refunds of the cruise fares paid.
  • One option called for guests to instead sail aboard a slightly shorter Serenade of the Seas voyage along a similar route, which included a Panama Canal transit.
  • The cruise line attempted to entice guests to swap their balcony cabins for ocean view or inside accommodations.

Another instance of an overbooked Royal Caribbean cruise has resulted in some very tantalizing offers designed to persuade booked guests to either swap the sailing for another cruise or give up their balcony cabin on the affected ship.

The situation unfolded for travelers set to sail onboard Radiance of the Seas’ 16-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale, departing on October 4, 2025.

Port calls on the voyage feature Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Colon, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia;  and George Town, Grand Cayman.

In a notice to booked guests, Royal Caribbean presented four options in an effort to free up staterooms.

Three of the offers involved a full refund of the cruise fare paid, plus other perks, while the fourth option invited guests to cancel their reservation and receive not only a full refund but also a future cruise credit equal to 200% of the cruise fare paid.

In that case, the cruise line would reimburse guests for all non-refundable flights or hotel bookings that guests had already paid for.

Let’s drill down into the other three offers, which allowed booked guests to sail on their intended voyage in a lower category accommodation or switch to a similar cruise.

In the first option, Royal Caribbean offered guests the ability to switch their cruise to a slightly shorter Panama Canal cruise onboard the 2,578-guest Serenade of the Seas. The 13-night sailing departs from San Diego on September 19, 2025 and concludes in Miami rather than Fort Lauderdale.

Port calls are limited to just four destinations: Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Colombia. However, the line would fund the full 100% of the cruise fare paid and add on a $300 onboard credit.

Royal Caribbean also would reimburse guests for already-purchased air and hotel expenses that are non-refundable.

Two more options enabled guests to remain booked on the 2,466-guest Radiance of the Seas, but in lower category cabins.

Radiance of the Seas at the Vancouver Cruise Terminal
Radiance of the Seas at the Vancouver Cruise Terminal (Photo Credit: Ric Jacyno / Shutterstock)

One option asks guests booked in balcony cabins to switch to an ocean view cabin and receive a 100% cruise fare refund, meaning that these guests can enjoy a free cruise, not counting any dining or drinks packages, shore excursions, or other onboard expenses.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks: Is It Worth Upgrading?

The final option offers the same 100% cruise fare refund and added in a $300 onboard credit to those who agreed to swap their balcony cabin for an inside stateroom.

Guests Who Took No Action Remained Booked to Sail as Planned

The cruise line’s notice to guests made clear that those who wished to keep their original reservation could do so — it simply made these gestures to those who had flexible travel dates or who were willing to swap staterooms in order to sail free and enjoy some onboard spending money.

Royal Caribbean gave guests until September 12, 2025 to apply for one of the special offers. Those who did not contact the line by September 16, 2025 remained booked in their original stateroom for the October 4, 2025 sailing aboard Radiance of the Seas.

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Royal Caribbean, in recent months, has experienced a few overbooked situations and has offered similar deals to booked guests.

It happened on a Navigator of the Seas cruise to Mexico from Los Angeles in June 2025, as well as on an Allure of the Seas voyage in May 2025, when that ship was sailing from Rome.

Three Earlier Sailings Added for Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

Melissa Mayntz
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Three Earlier Sailings Added for Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

Key Aspects:

  • The third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, will debut three weeks earlier than originally scheduled, as construction is smoother and faster than expected.
  • Three new 7-night voyages have been added to the ship’s inaugural season. Guests already booked on her maiden voyage have the first chance to change their travel plans.
  • The ship’s older sister, Star of the Seas, also debuted earlier than expected with preview sailings ahead of what had been expected to be her inaugural cruise.

Guests eager to take a legendary cruise vacation aboard the forthcoming Legend of the Seas will now have earlier opportunities than expected. Work on the vessel is going full steam ahead, and Royal Caribbean has announced that the ship will debut sooner than originally planned.

“The ship is progressing ahead of schedule,” the cruise line confirmed. “As a result of this early completion, we’ve added three (3) new sailings to our inaugural season showcase departing on 11, 18 & 25 July 2026.”

Legend of the Seas will begin her inaugural season in the Mediterranean. Now, the ship’s official inaugural sailing will be her July 11, 2026 departure. The 7-night cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) will be visiting Naples, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Marseille.

A letter has been sent to guests booked on the ship’s original inaugural sailing, previously planned to depart on August 2, 2026. Because inaugural sailings can be so special, already booked guests get first crack at the new, earlier sailings.

Because inaugural cruises can be spectacular, filled with special events, commemorations, and souvenir swag, Royal Caribbean is making an offer to those guests already booked on the previous inaugural sailing.

“Understanding that some guests may value being the first onboard, and others look forward to celebrating the inaugural voyage – we want to give you the first choice and the flexibility to switch sailings, add an additional sailing, or stay on your currently booked sailing,” the cruise line explained.

If guests booked in suites do want to move to an earlier sailing, they can do so with complete price protection if moving to the July 11, 2026 departure. That offer is only valid until September 24, 2025, however.

If suite guests prefer to move to either the July 18 or July 25 departures, their transfer will be at the prevailing rate for the new sailings and subject to stateroom availability.

Similarly, guests booked in other stateroom categories (interior, oceanview, or balcony cabins) can also transfer at the prevailing cruise fare rate.

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

This can be a great opportunity for travelers to meet the new Legend of the Seas and all her new features earlier than expected, though not everyone will be able to change their vacation plans.

The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, the same shipyard that constructed her sister ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

She was floated out on August 29, a major construction milestone that signifies the completion of her hull and the beginning of her interior and exterior outfitting.

Is Cruise Ship Construction Often Faster or Slower Than Expected?

While cruise lines try to plan for a ship’s debut as accurately as possible, it is not unusual for changes to inaugural sailing dates to occur.

Read Also: How Much Is a Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas?

While the second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, was under construction, her progress was also faster than expected and a total of four earlier “showcase” sailings were eventually added to her inaugural schedule.

This meant the ship welcomed her first guests on August 16, 2025. Before that, the ship hosted media personnel and social media influencers for shorter preview cruises. This is typical when a new ship debuts.

Since Legend of the Seas‘ debut is still 10 months away, it is possible that even more showcase sailings or changes to the inaugural sailing may be made as her construction continues.

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Eager guests will have to stay tuned for any such announcements or schedule changes, as new sailings are sure to fill up quickly with travelers eager to welcome the new and soon-to-be legendary ship.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Oldest Ship – Where Will She Go?

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Carnival Cruise Line’s Oldest Ship – Where Will She Go?

Key Aspects:

  • With the news that Carnival Freedom will be moving to Norfolk, Virginia, cruise fans are concerned about the fate of Carnival Sunshine.
  • The oldest ship in the fleet will be 31 when her current deployment ends, the same age as Carnival Ecstasy was when she retired.
  • John Heald has assured anxious guests that Carnival Sunshine is not about to retire, but official plans have not yet been announced.

With Carnival Cruise Line sharing critical deployment plans with their annual “dancing of the ships” announcements over the last few weeks, many cruisers’ eyes are turning to the oldest ship in the fleet and where she might be going.

The vessel in question is the brilliant Carnival Sunshine, formerly Carnival Destiny. The ship originally launched in 1996, making her the oldest hull to still be sailing as a Fun Ship.

Granted, in 2013, the vessel was so massively updated and renovated that she became Carnival Sunshine, complete with a formal renaming ceremony. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old ship is still a favorite for many guests.

But where will she be going? Currently homeported from Norfolk, Virginia, the news was released this week that Carnival Freedom will be moving to the Old Dominion state. Where will that leave Carnival Sunshine?

Anxious guests have reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, hoping for good news about the ship.

“Is the Sunshine retiring once the Freedom comes to Norfolk?” one guest asked on behalf of a group. “Sincerely, very noisy and impatient Sunshine lovers.”

“I know you can’t reveal other ships just yet but please tell me Sunshine is not being retired in 2027,” another guest asked. “I know she will be 31 but you can’t tell it onboard. Carnival has done [an] amazing job keeping up the ship.”

The concern is a justified one. While Carnival Sunshine has confirmed itineraries through April 2027, no plans have yet been announced for her deployment further in the future.

Fortunately, Heald did note that Carnival Sunshine is not leaving the fleet and will still be around to provide great vacations to the 3,002 guests she can welcome aboard for each sailing.

“I’ll be telling you about the ship next week but she will still be with us, still bringing the fun, and I will be here to share anything with you as soon as I can,” Heald confirmed.

When Do Cruise Ships Retire?

There is some debate over whether or not Carnival Sunshine is actually the oldest ship in the fleet. While she did originally debut in 1996, her extensive refit in 2013 may have made her “younger” than her actual calendar age.

Meanwhile, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, the only two remaining Fantasy-class ships, both debuted in 1998. Neither vessel has had such an extensive update and renovation that they’ve been renamed and re-classified, so they may show their operational age just a bit more.

Carnival Cruise Line has not retired a ship since Carnival Ecstasy left the fleet in October 2022. The ship was sold for scrap when she was 31 years old.

Interestingly, Carnival Sunshine will be 31 years old when her current sailing schedule ends in 2027. Does this mean the end is near for the beloved vessel?

While Heald is reassuring guests that Carnival Sunshine is not about to be retired, this wouldn’t be the first time that his assurances weren’t entirely accurate.

For years, the brand ambassador has been telling guests that there were no plans for an intermediate, non-alcoholic drink package. Yet recently, the cruise line unveiled the CHEERS! Zero-Proof package.

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Granted, times do change and Heald may not be privy to every operational decision from Carnival Corporation & plc. When the news is ready to release, he will share it with his more than 640,000 social media fans.

Hopefully, those details will be coming soon, and it won’t be time for a final sunset aboard Carnival Sunshine.

Downpour Dampens Experience in Celebration Key for Carnival Guests

Catie Kovelman
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Downpour Dampens Experience in Celebration Key for Carnival Guests

Key Aspects: 

  • A heavy thunderstorm drenched Carnival’s Celebration Key on September 17, 2025, and one guest captured the massive storm on video. 
  • The thunderstorm will continue into September 18, with more rain on the horizon through early next week.
  • Bad weather is always a risk when cruising during hurricane season, but guests with the right mindset can still make the most of their visit to the new private destination. 

A day in paradise at Carnival’s Celebration Key has turned into a wet mess for cruise guests who visited the newly opened destination on September 17, 2025. 

A video taken by a current Carnival guest that appears to have been filmed from the Captain’s Galley Food Hall in Starfish Lagoon shows the rain coming down in heavy sheets. 

As the rain pours down, the cruiser pans over a shallow layer of water that covers the ground, which likely posed quite the slip hazard. 

It’s not clear which cruise ship the videographer is sailing with, as both Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom were docked at the exclusive resort during the storm. 

“Big time storm in Celebration Key today 9/17/2025,” the passenger captioned the clip. 

The dining area is nearly deserted and not a soul can be seen swimming in the nearby lagoon.

Only a small number of passengers, perhaps just a dozen or so, can be seen taking shelter under the awnings near the closed food pick-up counters while a few crew members work to cover what looks like cash registers with protective tarps.

In the comments section, the video poster said that the storm was so big that power had been inconsistent on the island. 

“This one was a big one; power has been off and on…” he wrote. 

But on the bright side, at least it’s a warm rain as the temperature (Fahrenheit) in the Grand Bahama destination tends to be in the high 70s and 80s during this time of year. 

More Cruise Ships Could Be Impacted

Unfortunately, it’s possible that more cruise ships could be impacted by the stormy weather.

Just like on September 17, the forecast calls for heavy thunderstorms on September 18 – when Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation are expected to visit.

Light rain is expected on Friday, September 19, through Sunday, September 21, during which time five ship calls are scheduled.

Monday and Tuesday of next week (September 22-23) will also experience scattered thunderstorms with a chance of lightning.

Cruise tracking data shows that Carnival Elation will visit Celebration Key on Monday, with Carnival Dream arriving and Carnival Freedom returning on Tuesday.

The forecast does not call for sunny skies until Wednesday, September 23.

Cruise Ships Docked at Celebration Key
Cruise Ships Docked at Celebration Key

Although rain can be disappointing, bad weather is a risk that cruisers take when they decide to set sail during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 annually.

The season is usually at its peak from mid-August through the end of September.

In addition to hurricanes, the risk of rain showers and thunderstorms like these is also heightened during this time.

“Ugggg. Same thing happened to us a few weeks ago! So disappointing! Can’t wait to go back though,” one guest, who recently visited Celebration Key, shared.

“It was bad. Lighting strikes and thunder like I have never heard before. Umbrellas flying everywhere because of the wind lol. It was nuts,” she continued.

If cruising during hurricane season, guests can always opt to stay on the ship during bad weather.

They can also make financially prudent decisions by skipping add-ons like cabana rentals, which start at $599.99 for a small cabana for six and are not very pleasant in a downpour.

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Carnival may refund the rental in particularly severe weather, but there is no guarantee.

Finally, it all comes down to attitude. Guests with a positive mindset can still enjoy a rainy day in Celebration Key as long as they are willing to make the most of it.

Cruise Passenger Dies on Steep Hiking Trail in Alaska

Melissa Mayntz
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Cruise Passenger Dies on Steep Hiking Trail in Alaska

Key Aspects:

  • Two male cruise guests fell from a popular hiking trail near Juneau on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
  • One man was rescued with minor injuries, but the other man fell further and tragically died from the fall.
  • Four cruise ships were visiting Juneau on Tuesday, but which ship the men were sailing on has not been confirmed.

A cruise guest has tragically died following a fall from a popular hiking trail in Juneau. The incident happened on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

The guest and his hiking companion were located after 8 p.m. once Alaska State Troopers were notified of the need for a search and rescue operation. The two men had been hiking the Mount Roberts trail above downtown Juneau.

The men reportedly slipped from the trail and slid down the steep mountainside. Juneau Mountain Rescue managed to reach and retrieve one of the men, who only had minor injuries.

The second man, identified as 32-year-old Britain Pool of Texas, had slid further down the mountainside. Drones and other resources were used to locate him, but he was unfortunately deceased as a result of his injuries.

Further details of the second man, including his identity, have not been revealed. Both men were reportedly cruise passengers, but the exact ship has not been confirmed. Pool’s next of kin have been notified.

Four cruise ships were visiting Juneau on Tuesday. Viking Venus was in port as part of a 25-night north Pacific crossing itinerary, while Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore were both visiting on 7-night sailings.

Caribbean Princess was also visiting Juneau as part of a 10-night cruise.

All four ships have continued their itineraries, albeit Caribbean Princess has altered her schedule somewhat due to foul weather.

Undoubtedly, support services are being made available to any traveling companions or family members Pool may have been sailing with, no matter which ship he was aboard. Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic accident.

Second Cruise Guest Hiking Death in 2025

The Mount Roberts trail is a switchback hike popular for its spectacular views. The trail is also considered quite difficult due to the elevation gain of more than 3,800 feet along its 4.5 mile length. It is recommended that visitors plan 7-8 hours if they hope to hike the entire trail.

Slick mud, the potential for mudslides, uneven terrain, and steep mountainsides are just a few of the hazards along the trail, which is also renowned for wildlife viewing opportunities.

Shockingly, this is the second time this cruise season that a guest has perished while hiking scenic trails near Juneau. In early July, 62-year-old Marites Buenafe from Kentucky was hiking and fell from the trail.

High Above Cruise Ships in Juneau, Alaska
High Above Cruise Ships in Juneau, Alaska (Photo Credit: The Hungarian Sailor)

A multi-day search-and-rescue operation was initiated, but sadly, her body was found approximately 1,700 feet below the trail she’d planned to hike.

Multiple trails are located in the same area, with different lengths and difficulty ratings. Recent weather conditions and individual hikers’ expertise can all contribute to how dangerous any one trail may be.

It can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cruise to Alaska, and the vacation can be even more memorable with a one-of-a-kind hike for phenomenal views.

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Hikers should be careful to have emergency provisions even for just a short hike, however. This should absolutely include a beacon light or other equipment that can help rescuers quickly locate anyone who may fall or get disoriented.

The trails are available to all visitors, however, and no certification or documentation of one’s hiking expertise is necessary. The hiking experience of any cruise guests involved with incidents this year is not known.

P&O Cancels Both Short and Long Cruises for Different Reasons

Melissa Mayntz
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0
P&O Cancels Both Short and Long Cruises for Different Reasons

Key Aspects:

  • P&O Cruises has cancelled a 4-night cruise on Ventura and a 14-night sailing on Arvia, much to the disappointment of booked guests.
  • The shorter cruise is cancelled for extra time needed in dry dock for a planned refurbishment, while the longer cruise is likely an operational change.
  • Guests are being offered onboard credit for the inconvenience of losing their vacation plans, and all cancelled bookings will receive full refunds.

Guests booked on two very different upcoming sailings for P&O Cruises Arvia and Ventura are being notified that their cruises have been cancelled, but for very different reasons.

According to the Southern Daily Echo, first up is the cancellation of Ventura. The ship’s February 23, 2026 departure is affected.

This 4-night Amsterdam sailing roundtrip from Southampton was to have been Ventura‘s first sailing after a dry dock refreshment in early February 2026. The cruise line may have determined that extra time is needed to complete the updating.

Fortunately, the sailing is still more than five months away, giving guests plenty of time to change their travel plans or opt for a different booking if they prefer.

The following sailing, a 35-night “Grand Caribbean and USA Adventure” that departs on February 27, 2026 is not impacted.

A much longer sailing is now cancelled for Arvia, but it is also much further away. The ship’s April 11, 2027 departure is now cancelled.

Also roundtrip from Southampton, that cruise was planned as a 14-night Mediterranean voyage that would have included stops in Cadiz, Barcelona, Toulon, La Spezia, Rome, and Alicante.

Instead, Arvia will be offering two 7-night sailings in the same timeframe. The first will be a Norwegian fjords sailing, while the second will be a Spain and France voyage. Both will be available for booking from Thursday, September 18, 2025.

With this cancellation more than a year and a half in advance, guests have ample time to find another lengthy cruise that might suit their vacation plans.

Arvia is offering similar 14-night cruises departing on May 9, June 6, June 20, July 4, July 18, August 15, and September 12 all in 2027, as well as numerous 2-week cruises in 2026 from different homeports.

Guests on the impacted sailings, whether booked on Ventura or Arvia, will receive full refunds. As an incentive for rebooking, guests on Ventura will receive a £25 (approximately $34 USD) onboard credit for a future sailing, while guests on the longer Arvia cruise will receive a £50 ($68 USD) onboard credit.

Why Such Random Cancellations?

No cruise line wants to cancel already published sailings and disappoint, frustrate, or even anger booked guests. In some cases, however, cancellations are unavoidable.

With Ventura‘s dry dock schedule, for example, the cancellation of the February 23, 2026 cruise is likely not something the cruise line can control.

Shipyard schedules can be very cramped, which can lead to planning challenges if labor shortages or supply chain issues impact the precisely scheduled work.

P&O Ventura
P&O Ventura (Photo Credit: K I Photography)

Read Also: The 13 Worst Types of People You’ll Meet on Every Cruise

The slight change in dry dock schedule might not even be related to Ventura. A ship undergoing work before her might need more time, which would delay when Ventura can be accommodated by a day or two and therefore cancel the sailing.

Arvia‘s cancellation is more likely an operational change. It is possible that sales for that April 11, 2027 two-week cruise have been less than expected, while there is a greater demand for week-long sailings.

Another possibility is that ports for that voyage are no longer able to accommodate the 185,600-gross-ton ship, the largest ever built for P&O Cruises. This might be due to pier dredging, dock maintenance, or other local events that might temporarily restrict ships.

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Whatever the reason, guests onboard the impacted sailings are sure to be frustrated by the loss of their vacation plans. Hopefully, they will find suitable ways to rebook and take advantage of the onboard credit offer.

Carnival Expands Sailings With Hawaii Season and Norfolk Deployment

Donna Tunney
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0
Carnival Expands Sailings With Hawaii Season and Norfolk Deployment

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line continued to reveal its 2027-28 deployments, announcing a major expansion of its Hawaii program from Long Beach, California.
  • Carnival Legend will offer 10 voyages to the Hawaiian Islands between October 2027 and March 2028, along with some Mexico cruises.
  • In Norfolk, the newer Carnival Freedom will replace Carnival Sunshine, sailing cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda.

Carnival Cruise Line has opened for sale a slew of new voyages from East and West Coast ports in 2027-28, including its first full season of cruises to Hawaii.

The updated roster details the new deployment of Carnival Legend to Long Beach, California, and Carnival Freedom to Norfolk, Virginia, and the continued homeporting of Carnival Pride in Baltimore, Maryland.

The most noteworthy change is undoubtedly Carnival Legend’s assignment to Long Beach, where the ship will offer a full six months of cruises to the Hawaiian Islands from October 2027 to March 2028.

All of the Hawaii voyages are 14 days and are Carnival Journeys cruises, which are typically longer itineraries featuring less-visited destinations and offering special onboard activities.

Port calls will feature Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Hilo, and Kona, Hawaii, and Ensenada, Mexico. Ten seasonal sailings will be offered, which is nearly double what the line is sailing through the 2026-27 season.

The 88,500-gross-ton Carnival Legend accommodates about 2,100 guests in double occupancy.  The 101,509-gross-ton Carnival Radiance is currently deployed to Long Beach year-round, but sails just one 14-night cruise to Hawaii each month between November and April.

Carnival Legend will also offer 6- and 8-day Mexican Riviera cruises during the Long Beach deployment, with visits to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Ensenada, Mexico.

The cruise line has not yet announced its plans for Carnival Radiance, once Carnival Legend arrives on the scene.

Heading to the East Coast, Carnival Freedom will leave Port Canaveral for Norfolk in May 2027, replacing Carnival Sunshine.

There is little difference in guest capacity between the two ships, but the 2,980-guest Carnival Freedom is a much newer vessel, having launched in 2006 versus the 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny), which entered service in 1996.

Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk (Photo Credit: Carnival)

Carnival Freedom will kick off her Norfolk season with a 15-day Carnival Journeys cruise to the Southern Caribbean, with calls to Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.

Her roster of cruises includes 6-day Bahamas and Bermuda sailings, plus 8-day Eastern Caribbean voyages.

“This update to our 2027/28 [line-up] represents important pieces of our strategy to deliver more fun experiences that only Carnival can offer. With fun on the move, we’re creating new options – a newer ship for Norfolk and a new series dedicated to Hawaii sailings from Long Beach are both great examples of that,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Cruise Line to Maintain Status Quo in Baltimore

In Baltimore, meanwhile, no major changes are planned, as the 2,134-guest Carnival Pride will continue to sail year-round to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, and seasonally to Bermuda.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites: What Are the Options?

Seven-day Bahamas sailings feature the line’s new private destination, Celebration Key, along with Nassau, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, or Princess Cays.

A series of Carnival Journeys cruises, with a choice of 9-, 12-, and 14-day voyages, will visit destinations such as Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Tortola, and Martinique.

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The newly opened sailings from Long Beach, Norfolk, and Baltimore are the latest itinerary announcements from Carnival Cruise Line in recent weeks as it continues to nail down its 2027-28 deployments.

The most recent disclosure revealed that the line will assign two ships to Galveston that have never previously sailed from that port. Carnival Spirit and Carnival Horizon will make their maiden deployments to the Texas port, joining Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival Platinum Cruiser Furious Over ‘Priority’ Debarkation Policy

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Carnival Platinum Cruiser Furious Over ‘Priority’ Debarkation Policy

Key Aspects:

  • A Platinum Carnival cruiser has complained that self-assist guests are permitted to debark before their priority debarkation benefit.
  • The cruise line has explained why self-assist debarkation is essential for efficiency and how the priority benefit applies.
  • Priority guests are still the first off even if they self-assist their own luggage, despite some confusion about how the perk works.

With Carnival Cruise Line’s new Carnival Rewards program and loyalty changes very much in cruise news lately, it’s no surprise that travelers are examining different perks.

One guest is upset at a particular perk and claims it isn’t a perk at all because of how Carnival implements the benefit.

So frustrated is the guest that they reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, and not very politely.

The guest notes that they are Platinum, one of the higher level members of the cruise line’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program. So am I, for what it matters (it doesn’t – for me or for them).

They have sailed recently aboard Carnival Vista, which is homeported year-round from Port Canaveral, offering 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries. Their problem, however, isn’t with anything onboard the ship, but with leaving the ship.

“We are supposed to get off the ship before the rest of the passengers who are not [Platinum],” the guest said.

“Our routine is I put our luggage out the night before and let Carnival handle it. Then on debarkation morning, we go to the MDR for breakfast as soon as the doors open. Why has Carnival started to let those schlepping their own bags off before platinum and diamonds? This is not then priority is it, Mr. Butterball?”

By putting their luggage out for the crew to handle for debarkation, this guest is clearly not self-assisting as they leave the ship. Furthermore, by attending the Main Dining Room breakfast, they’re also not interested in debarking as soon as possible.

That’s fine, of course, everyone has different preferences for debarkation morning. I prefer to debark right away and am, in fact, “schlepping” my own bags off.

What this “priority” guest appears to want is for the entire ship to wait until they have enjoyed their breakfast and feel ready to make their way off the ship.

Despite the very rude “Mr. Butterball” directed toward John Heald, he still responded to their concerns.

“Our VIFP guests do have priority and are the first guests to leave the ship who the night before had placed their bags outside of their cabin door,” he confirmed.

Read Also: How Long Does It Take to Get Off a Cruise Ship?

This does not mean Platinum and Diamond guests are actually the first to debark, however. They are simply the first to have their luggage handled by crew members and organized in the cruise terminal for a smooth departure.

“We must allow those who have taken self assist, carrying all their own bags, to leave the ship. There are two basic reasons for this,” Heald explained.

“1 – We do not have storage space on the ship to keep overnight every suitcase and bag from every guest. 2 – It helps guests, including Diamond and Platinum, to leave the ship as early as possible to make a flight, etc.”

Carnival Cruise Passengers With Luggage
Carnival Cruise Passengers With Luggage (Photo Credit: denbaim)

To be clear, even self-assist guests are subdivided into priority and non-priority departures. Diamond and Platinum guests who will be carrying all their own bags have a special location to wait for debarkation, and they are escorted off the ship as soon as customs has cleared the vessel.

This is not the first time Heald has addressed the same issue, but one more point must be made.

This is not a new policy, though the guest claims Carnival has “started” it. In fact, this order of debarkation priorities has been in place for years. If they really are Platinum, the guest ought to be aware of this.

Why Can’t Priority Debarkation Be Honored?

While this guest claims that their priority debarkation perk is not being honored, the order of debarkation and permitting self-assist guests off the ship first is essential.

Carnival Vista, for example, has a double occupancy of 3,934 guests. This could mean 8,000 or more bags that need to be moved off the ship.

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If crew members had to move every single bag, debarkation would take significantly longer. Instead, self-assist guests are leaving the ship, moving through customs, and exiting the cruise terminal and parking lots even while crew members are sorting and organizing bags for regular debarkation.

The longer debarkation takes, the later embarkation for the next sailing must be. This would have a knock-on effect for when the ship could depart its homeport or how early it must return at the end of the cruise.

Celebrity Cruises Puts an End to Two Premium Perks

Catie Kovelman
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Celebrity Cruises Puts an End to Two Premium Perks

Key Aspects: 

  • Celebrity Cruises offers a Premium Access Pass, which can be purchased to receive extra benefits onboard.
  • But two of these benefits, which are a special embarkation day lunch and reserved theater seating, are going away in 2026 due to capacity reasons.
  • Luckily, the Premium Access Pass still offers many other benefits that make it a great value.

Several cruise lines offer special add-on packages that can improve the experience onboard.

For example, Princess Cruises offers Premier and Plus packages, Royal Caribbean has The Key Program, and Celebrity Cruises is known for the Premium Access Pass.

But two key Premium Access Pass perks are going away on Celebrity cruise ships, which will certainly be disappointing to some future guests.

Pass purchasers will be saying goodbye to an exclusive lunch just for these VIPs on embarkation day and reserved theater seating for performances.

These two specific perks will be phased out due to capability limitations. The cruise line has traditionally limited the number of Premium Access Passes that could be sold on each sailing so that these perks could be offered.

However, they want more guests to be able to take advantage of the many other benefits in the very near future.

“…The reserved theatre seating and special embarkation day lunch are no longer available…” The Royal Caribbean-owned cruise line confirmed in a statement, in part.

Guests will have some time to get used to the news, as this change will not go into effect until August 1, 2026.

Premium Access Pass Still Offers Great Value

While losing perks can be disappointing, future cruisers who choose to purchase the Premium Access Pass will still be getting a lot of bang for their buck.

The package will continue to include valuable perks like premium Wi-Fi for two devices, early access to cruise terminals, and express luggage service in the cruise terminal during the disembarkation process.

When it comes to refreshments, unlimited complimentary room service and the Celebrity Premium Drink package is also included in the add-on.

This top-tier drink package includes all the lower-tier Classic Drink Package items as well as specialty coffees and teas, alcoholic beverages, Coca-Cola products, and bottled water.

Celebrity Cruises Deck
Celebrity Cruises Deck (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)

Additionally, these VIP guests get priority luggage delivery to their staterooms following embarkation and priority departure from the ship at tender ports.

“Premium Access guests still enjoy a variety of exciting perks, including premium wifi for two devices, unlimited complimentary room service, priority luggage delivery to stateroom…”

“…priority departure from ship to shore in ports that require tender service, express luggage service in the terminal when debarking, and premium drinks package,” the cruise line confirmed.

Worth Reading: Celebrity Cruises to Permit Kids in Adults-Only Space Onboard

The price of the Premium Access Pass varies by sailing, but tends to run between $15 to $40 per person, per day.

This means that the all-inclusive experience costs anywhere from $105 per person to $280 per person for a week-long voyage – which really isn’t bad considering all the perks.

However, keep in mind that the package must be purchased for all guests staying in the same cruise cabin who are over the age of six.

But while this all-or-nothing policy often gets pushback, you would likely be buying individual drink and/or Wi-Fi packages for these cruisers anyway – and it’s usually more expensive to make these purchases separately.

The premium Wi-Fi package that is included in the Access Pass for two devices costs $35 per individual device, per day.

More From Cruise Hive

The drink packages start at around $45 per person, per day for the Non-Alcoholic Classic Package, which is already more than the average cost of the Premium Access Pass. 

Meanwhile, the Premium Drink Package averages around $105 to $130 per person, per day.

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