Blog Page 129

Carnival Bringing Two New Ships to Texas in 2027

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Bringing Two New Ships to Texas in 2027

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Spirit, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Jubilee will homeport from Texas in 2027 and into 2028.
  • This will be the first time Carnival Spirit and Carnival Horizon have been homeported from Galveston.
  • Each ship is a different size and class, offering more Carnival cruising diversity than ever from the Lone Star State.

Carnival Cruise Line’s annual “dancing of the ships” redeployment news continues with a focus on the Lone Star State, where Carnival is the largest cruise operator.

With cruising from Texas continuing to grow in popularity, it is no surprise that Carnival will maintain four ships homeported from Galveston into 2027 and 2028. What is surprising is which ships will call Texas home in the new deployment.

While Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee will remain sailing from Galveston, two new ships will be joining them: Carnival Horizon and Carnival Spirit.

For both newcomers, it will be their first-ever time sailing from the Lone Star State. Both ships will offer a diverse schedule with both short and long sailings for guests to choose from.

“Galveston is one of our most popular homeports, and this new deployment continues our commitment to our Texas guests and the community by adding more variety than ever,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president.

Carnival Horizon

Carnival Horizon Docked in Miami
Carnival Horizon Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)

Carnival Horizon, currently homeported from Miami, will offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Texas, visiting top ports such as Cozumel and Progreso. The ship will sail more than 70 voyages from Galveston, with the first departing on May 19, 2027.

That first cruise is a unique 8-night sailing that will visit Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Isla Tropicale. Three fun days at sea will also give eager Texas cruisers plenty of time to be the first to enjoy all the ship offers.

On her shorter sailings, the 4-night cruises will only visit Cozumel. The 5-night sailings will include both Cozumel and Progreso for those fantastic Mexican vibes.

Carnival Spirit

Upgraded Carnival Spirit
Upgraded Carnival Spirit (Credit: Carnival)

The much-beloved Carnival Spirit will begin her Texas deployment from October 11, 2027 after spending the summer in Alaska with sailings from Seattle.

A special 16-night Carnival Journeys cruise will bring Carnival Spirit to Galveston via the Panama Canal. As part of that epic voyage that will set sail on September 25, 2027, the ship will visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Columbia.

Once in Galveston, the ship will offer 4-, 5-, 6-, and even 10-night sailings. The shorter cruises are all Western Caribbean itineraries, while the 11 different 10-night sailings Carnival Spirit has planned include both Eastern and Western Caribbean options.

Depending on the sailing date and cruise length, the ship will visit top ports such as Cozumel, Progreso, Belize, Amber Cove, Celebration Key, Grand Cayman, Isla Tropicale, and more.

Carnival Breeze

Carnival Breeze Cruise Ship
Photo Copyright: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive

While Carnival Breeze is already homeported year-round in Galveston, she will begin offering primarily 7-night sailings in May 2027 instead of her current 4- and 5-night voyages.

These week-long cruises will include both Eastern and Western Caribbean routes with ports like Key West, Belize, Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Nassau, depending on departure date.

Carnival Breeze will also offer an 8-night Western Caribbean cruise on December 18, 2027 and a 12-night Western Caribbean itinerary departing on January 3, 2028. Two 14-night sailings will depart on October 16, 2027 and January 29, 2028 with Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean itineraries, respectively.

Those longer and highly desirable sailings will visit ports such as San Juan, St. Kitts, and St. Croix on the Eastern itinerary and Antigua, St. Lucia, and Amber Cove on the Southern route.

Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship
Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: EWY Media)

The spectacular Carnival Jubilee will also remain in Galveston. The Texas-connected ship will offer both 6- and 8-night cruises from May 2027 through April 2028, including both Western Caribbean and Bahamas sailings.

The classic Western Caribbean itinerary will visit Cozumel and Isla Tropicale, while the Bahamas cruises will visit Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

These iconic ports of call bring all the best of cruise vacation fun to guests, and even more fun awaits onboard the Excel-class ship with her Texas-themed fun, including a tailgate party theme and exclusive shows.

Four Ships in Four Different Classes

Carnival Galveston Ships
Carnival Galveston Ships

What makes Carnival Cruise Line’s Galveston plans over the next few years even more outstanding is that each ship is in a different class, with different sizes and amenities.

More From Cruise Hive

“The four ships that will sail from Galveston in 2027/28 are each of their own unique class,” Duffy noted. “That means guests will have more choices as they personalize their future cruise vacations and choose the fun that’s right for them from Galveston.”

The classes for the ships are as follows:

  • Carnival Horizon – Vista Class – 133,600 gross tons – 3,934 guests – Don’t miss the great SkyRide views!
  • Carnival Spirit – Spirit Class – 85,920 gross tons – 2,124 guests – Enjoy the “secret garden” forward promenade!
  • Carnival Breeze – Dream Class – 128,100 gross tons – 3,690 guests – Relax in the expansive Thermal Suite!
  • Carnival Jubilee – Excel Class – 183,500 gross tons – 5,282 guests – Take a ride on the Bolt rollercoaster!

With so much Carnival fun coming to Galveston, all cruise fans are sure to enjoy spectacular sailings no matter what type of oceangoing vacation they may enjoy the most.

Highly Anticipated True Crime Cruise Mysteriously Cancelled

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Highly Anticipated True Crime Cruise Mysteriously Cancelled

Key Aspects: 

  • The “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise” that was scheduled to embark on Norwegian Joy on January 26, 2026, has been cancelled.
  • The reason behind the cancellation is a mystery, but the event organizers did confirm full refunds would be forthcoming.
  • As an alternative, guests might want to get onboard Virgin Voyages’ first-ever true crime cruise setting sail in October of 2025.

True crime fans who were looking forward to starting 2026 with some thrills on the high seas will need to look elsewhere to scratch that itch.

The “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise” that was supposed to be hosted onboard Norwegian Joy from January 26-30, 2026, has been cancelled for unspecified reasons.

“Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise has been canceled,” reads a statement on the Exhibit C Cruise event website.

“We greatly appreciate this community and the true crime fans that make Exhibit C so special. We hope to reimagine this experience at a later date,” the statement continued.

A specific cause behind the cancellation was not given, although it has not stopped guests from wondering what went wrong.

Leading theories relate to not selling enough cruise cabins or changes in business strategy for Wondery, which is the Amazon-owned podcast studio behind the Exhibit C brand.

“Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise has been canceled…I’m guessing poor ticket sales, but it looked good, it was going to be hosted by John Walsh,” one person guessed.

“Was this hosted by Wondery? I’m wondering if this is associated with the recent exodus of true crime podcasts from Wondery,” another cruise fan questioned.

Crime Cruise Details
Crime Cruise Details

This is in reference to three popular podcasts, “Morbid,” “Small Town Murder,” and “Crime in Sports,” that parted ways with Wondery earlier this summer.

No matter the reason, what’s done is done. Booked passengers can expect to receive a full refund to their original payment method within ten business days.

Alternative Onboard Experiences 

The now scrapped true crime cruise onboard Norwegian Joy certainly would have been a fun and thrilling experience.

The 4-night Bahamas sailing would have been hosted by the famous John and Callahan Walsh – the co-hosts of the long-running hit TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”

This is in addition to an impressive line-up of other famous podcasters and true crime personalities.

Guests would have had the opportunity to partake in a live murder mystery show and to learn about crime-solving tactics, investigation techniques, and forensic science.

Virgin Voyages True Crime Cruise
Virgin Voyages True Crime Cruise

Read Also: How to Make Each Cruise a Unique Experience

It’s worth noting that for guests who have already put the wheels in motion to board the 167,725-gross ton ship on January 26, their planning doesn’t have to be for nothing.

They can still get onboard the 3,776-guest ship for the very same dates. The Breakaway-class vessel is still operating the Miami-based itinerary, just without the true crime touch.

The sailing is currently available to the general public and you can book with Cruise Hive starting at just $349 (USD).

Alternatively, it is not too late to reserve your spot onboard Virgin Voyages’ first-ever true crime cruise, which will be embarking onboard Valiant Lady on October 10, 2025, in Miami – just in time for the Halloween season.

More From Cruise Hive

The 5-night voyage, which is being offered through a partnership with iHeartMedia, will sail to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Bimini Island, Bahamas.

The experience onboard has also been inspired by some of iHeartMedia’s most popular true crime podcasts, such as “Betrayal,” “Buried Bones,” and “Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know.”

Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Policy With New Drink Package

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Policy With New Drink Package

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival’s new Zero-Proof drink package cannot be substituted for the full CHEERS! option in the same stateroom.
  • The same restriction does not apply to the line’s non-alcoholic drink packages, which can be purchased individually.
  • Carnival Cruise Line still provides a range of free drink options or guests can bring their own favorite sodas onboard.

With the announcement of Carnival Cruise Line’s new CHEERS! Zero-Proof drink package, guests have eagerly hoped for a policy change they’ve requested for years.

Standard policy with Carnival’s all-inclusive CHEERS! alcoholic beverage package has been that if one guest in a stateroom purchases the deal, then all guests over the age of 21 in the same stateroom must also purchase the full CHEERS! package.

No exceptions have been made for drink preferences or even for medical exemptions for guests who cannot drink alcohol.

The logic has been that too many guests abused the CHEERS! package by sharing. Even having other guests purchase the Bottomless Bubbles soda package wouldn’t make up for that potential cost.

CHEERS! currently starts at $69.95 per person, per day, while Bottomless Bubbles starts at just $9.50 per person, per day – a $60.45 daily difference.

With the introduction of the mid-range Zero-Proof package at $29.99 per person per day, that gap is narrower and guests hoped it might be possible to split who in the stateroom buys which package.

“Carnival shouldn’t make everyone in the room 21 and older get the CHEERS! package. Not everyone drinks alcohol,” one guest noted recently. “The other party [could] get the Zero-Proof if they don’t drink alcohol.”

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has clarified that this will not be the case.

“I absolutely understand your point but we’re not going to change,” he responded. “We used to try to do this in years past it was abused beyond measure. It’s the only way we can control it.”

Many guests don’t realize that it isn’t just the 15 alcoholic drinks that are part of the CHEERS! package, but also sodas, mocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffees, and bottled water.

The non-alcoholic drinks are not tabulated and so could be shared and shared and shared amongst a whole family or group of friends if the program was not more strictly controlled.

Heald has also shared a more detailed FAQ about the new package, including the restriction about the full CHEERS! package.

“The rule where if one person purchases the full Cheers program everyone in the cabin aged 21 and over must purchase it too has not changed and still applies,” he said.

The good news, however, is that the reverse does not apply. Guests can purchase whichever non-alcoholic packages they wish, or none at all, even if other guests in the same stateroom do buy a package.

“Not everyone though has to buy the CHEERS! Zero-Proof option,” he confirmed.

Saving Money on Drinks

While the CHEERS! Zero-Proof package does give Carnival guests more options for onboard refreshment, it isn’t strictly necessary to buy any drink package at all.

Read Also: Should You Get a Cruise Line Drinks Package?

Sodas, water, coffee, and all alcoholic drinks are always available for individual prices. Such a-la-carte pricing can be better for guests who might only sample a drink or two each day and won’t make the most of the bigger packages.

Carnival Cruise Line Drinks
Carnival Cruise Ship Bar (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock)

For soda drinkers, it is necessary to drink at least 3-4 sodas every single day of a cruise to break even on the package pricing. If that isn’t how much soda one normally drinks, even that smaller package isn’t a deal.

Instead, guests can bring aboard a 12-pack of cans of their favorite soda at embarkation or at any port of call. This is also a great option for guests who might prefer Pepsi products (that’s me!) now that Carnival has switched to Coca-Cola products.

Of course, lemonade, iced tea, and filtered water are always available for free from drink stations at the Lido Marketplace. Additional juices – apple, orange, and (my favorite) orange-passionfruit-guava – are also available for free during breakfast hours, as is milk and coffee.

Fresh-squeezed juices or fruit juices, including pineapple, tomato, and grapefruit, are not free, a charge that Carnival implemented in April 2025.

More From Cruise Hive

Nevertheless, there are plenty of options to stay hydrated during a Carnival cruise, no matter what one’s budget might be or how much a guest is willing to spend.

One more favorite free drink? Don’t forget the hot cocoa from the Lido Marketplace – the perfect evening beverage while watching the waves go by!

Mobile, Alabama Cruise Parking: Everything You Need to Know

Emrys Thakkar
-
0
Mobile, Alabama Cruise Parking: Everything You Need to Know

The Alabama Cruise Terminal offers an on-site parking garage with 500 spaces to serve those who are cruising with Carnival from Mobile. However, other parking options do exist off-site. Here’s what you need to know about Mobile, Alabama cruise parking before embarkation day.

In This Article:

Official Mobile Alabama Cruise Parking 

Located near downtown Mobile, the Alabama Cruise Terminal has a 500-space parking deck attached to its lone, two-story, 66,000 square foot terminal. The garage’s address is 201 South Water Street, Mobile.

When driving to the Mobile cruise terminal, you’ll turn right onto Eslava Street, where someone will direct you into the garage. Before parking, another individual will unload your luggage and send it ahead of you, to the cruise ship.

Parking is $21 per day for standard vehicles, or $42 per day for RVs and campers, and $63 per day for buses. Standard parking spots are 8 feet, six inches tall; 8 feet, six inches wide; and 16 feet long.

The parking garage is locked except for embarkation and debarkation days, and is monitored by state of the art security measures. The multi-story garage features conveniently located handicapped parking, elevator banks, covered pickup and drop-off areas, and a pedestrian circulation tower, for greater ease of access.

Paying for Parking at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal

Official Mobile Parking Lot
Official Mobile Parking Lot (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)

You must pay for your cruise parking ahead of boarding your ship and you can easily reserve your parking spot on the Alabama Cruise Terminal website, in advance. You’ll need to have your license plate number at the ready when you do so.

If you don’t reserve your terminal parking and pay in advance for your cruise parking, you can park and pay when you get to the garage. Once there, you can pay via text by texting “P2603” to 754-227-2176 and following the prompts.

Payment kiosks are also next to the stairwell and elevators on each floor of the parking garage. Payment kiosks take both cash and card, though, cash must not be in bills larger than $50 and exact payments are required. 

You can also pay using the Premium Parking mobile app, which is the same third-party provider that the terminal uses for reserving and paying for parking ahead of time. 

Parking spaces are not reserved on an individual basis and, once you enter the garage, you’ll drive around until you find a spot. 

Off-Site Mobile Alabama Cruise Parking

Mobile Alabama Cruise Parking

If you don’t want to use the on-site parking option — maybe you want to shop around and try to find a better deal — you have a few options. 

However, you’ll notice that there aren’t quite as many off-site options as you might find in other cruise port cities, simply because the Mobile port isn’t as busy as others. (In fact, Mobile doesn’t even rank in the top 100 busiest cruise ports by passenger volume!)  

Additionally, the options below don’t offer shuttle service to the port, so you’ll be walking with your luggage if you go this route. 

Premium Parking

Mobile, Alabama Cruise Port
Mobile, Alabama Cruise Port (Photo Credit: nektofadeev)

When you go through the Mobile, Alabama Cruise Terminal website to book your parking, you’ll notice that it directs you to book through Premium Parking.

While the cruise terminal’s garage is the first option that pops up on Premium Parking, though, there are a lot of other options that the site will show you. 

As such, before you automatically book at that official garage, consider checking out the other options. 

As you browse, Premium Parking will show you the parking lot or garage’s location and price, as well as tell you how far you’ll walk to the cruise terminal from that off-site lot or garage.

You can also see lot and garage features, such as whether or not they can accommodate over-sized vehicles or if valet parking is available. 

Best Parking

Best Parking is another platform that will show you various off-site parking options near the terminal. Again, as you search, you’ll be able to see how far away the lot or garage is, as well as photos and pricing. You can view your options on a map and sort options by either distance from the port or cheapest prices. 

ParkWhiz

ParkWhiz is almost identical to Best Parking in terms of function and format (they’re both operated by the same parent company), but it’s still worth checking out both to see if you can find different parking options. 

Parking at the Mobile Regional Airport

Mobile Regional Airport
Mobile Regional Airport (Photo Credit: EQRoy)

While not a typical option for parking during a cruise, you might just park at the Mobile Regional Airport, whether or not you actually flew into the airport. 

Long-term parking is available at the airport at a rate of $10 per day, and the airport is 17 miles from the cruise terminal. You will have to find a way to and from the terminal, but you can easily use a rideshare service for this. 

Hotel Cruise Parking in Mobile

One option that a lot of cruisers like is hotel cruise parking. You book a stay at a nearby hotel, before your cruise and then leave your car at the hotel for the duration of that cruise.

I always advise new cruisers to plan to arrive in their port city the day before embarkation, unless they live within quick driving distance of the port.

This is because embarkation takes time, occurs in the morning and the ship won’t wait for you if you don’t show. As such, a flight delay or traffic problems can mean you miss your cruise.

Arriving the day in advance protects you from this — and so if you’re already staying the night before your cruise at a hotel, a hotel cruise parking package just makes sense. (Plus, if you arrive early enough, you can use the day before your cruise to check out the area attractions!)

Hotels Near Mobile Alabama Cruise Port

Numerous hotels in the Mobile area offer attractive cruise parking packages.

The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa offers not just parking throughout your entire cruise, but also shuttle service to and from the cruise terminal for up to five people.

The Holiday Inn Mobile West I-10 likewise provides transportation for up to four people to and from the cruise port, as well as free breakfast before you leave in the morning! RV parking is available, too.

The Mobile Fairfield Inn & Suites offers a park and cruise package with free parking and free transportation to and from the port, but rather than using a shuttle, guests will need to schedule their transit with a local taxi company. 

In short, if you want to park off-site, but also need shuttle service, you might prefer hotel cruise parking in Mobile versus picking a random off-site lot or garage. 

Note that The Admiral Hotel does offer complimentary parking during your cruise, but does not offer shuttle service to the port. 

How to Get to the Mobile Cruise Port

Mobile Cruise Port
Mobile Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Andriy Blokhin)

The Mobile cruise port is within easy driving distance of several major cities in the region, including New Orleans, Birmingham and Tallahassee.

For those flying into the area, Mobile does have a small airport, but if your home airport doesn’t offer flights into Mobile, you can also fly into nearby New Orleans or Pensacola, and then drive to Mobile.

When driving to the cruise port, into Mobile, you might take the following approaches:

From I-10 West

Continue over Mobile Bay Bridge and the George Wallace Tunnel. After one mile take Exit 25B Virginia Street. Turn left at the top of the exit ramp and follow signs to rejoin I-10 East.

Keep right and take Exit 26A Canal Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto Water Street. Drive two blocks and the garage and cruise terminal are on the right.

From I-10 East

If you’re already on I-10 East, keep right and Exit 26A Canal Street. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto Water Street. Drive two blocks and the garage and cruise terminal are on the right.

From US Hwy 90 (Government Blvd)

Follow Hwy 90 west. West of I-65, continue driving west for 4.6 miles, then turn right onto South Broad St. After 300 yards, head left onto Canal St. Stay on this road for one mile. Then turn right onto Eslava St and after half a mile you will arrive at the terminal and parking garage.

From I-65

Take I-65 south and join the I-10. Follow the I-10 east to Exit 26A Canal St. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Water St. In two blocks, you will arrive at the parking garage and cruise terminal.

Construction Starts on Royal Caribbean’s Next Giant of the Seas

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Construction Starts on Royal Caribbean’s Next Giant of the Seas

Key Aspects:

  • The keel was laid for the fourth Icon-class ship at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on Monday, September 8.
  • While the ship has not yet been named, she is scheduled to debut sometime in 2027.
  • Few details are known about the new ship but she will undoubtedly have a personality all her own.

Monday, September 8, 2025 is a momentous day for Royal Caribbean and the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland as it’s full speed ahead for the fourth and as-yet-unnamed Icon-class ship.

With a traditional keel laying ceremony, assembly of the immense ship has now begun and it won’t be long before the vessel begins to take shape.

“The first block of Icon 4 was lowered into the dry dock today!,” Meyer Turku announced. “As part of the ceremony, coins were placed under the first steel block to bring good fortune and protection to the vessel.”

The ceremony was attended not only by shipyard executives, but also by cruise line leadership and the team that will now be working for each step of the ship’s construction, as everyone eagerly celebrates the milestone.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was the third Icon class ship, Legend of the Seas, seen in an adjacent dock as the first block for her sister ship was laid.

The ceremonial coins will later be mounted aboard the completed ship as part of rich maritime traditions. Before that moment, however, a lot of work needs to be done to bring the ship together, which means a busy time at the shipyard.

“Icon 4 is a very significant ship for both the shipyard and the entire partner network. With this ship, Meyer Turku is further strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading cruise ship builders,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.

“Each luxury cruise ship of this size creates 13,000 person-years of employment, and we are constantly looking for new shipbuilders to join our team at various stages from design to implementation.”

Fourth Icon Class Ship Keel Laying
Fourth Icon Class Ship Keel Laying

It is not uncommon for newer ships in the same class to have various tweaks as designs are improved over their predecessors. This might be a new seating layout in a popular restaurant, expanded casino space, or behind-the-scenes improvements for ship operations.

In the case of this new ship, it is possible the Thrill Island waterpark might have some adjustments following the broken waterslide aboard Icon of the Seas.

The entire waterslide might be redesigned or removed, or it may be constructed with different materials to minimize any risk of a similar incident.

Naming the Fourth Icon Class Ship

Icon 4 is planned to enter service in 2027, but no homeport or itinerary options have yet been revealed. Even the ship’s name has not been confirmed.

While it’s traditional for a new ship class to be named after its first-ever ship, hence Icon class after Icon of the Seas, further names do seek to live up to the expectations and excitement of the class.

Star of the Seas, which just joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in August 2025, is certainly a star of the class and is already immensely popular with guests.

Sea trials for Star of the Seas
Star of the Seas sea trials (Photo Credit: Mediascope Productions)

The third Icon class ship, slated to debut in 2026, has been revealed as Legend of the Seas. The name not only continues the “iconic” character of names within the class, but also pays homage to a former Royal Caribbean vessel that retired in 2017.

Though Legend of the Seas is the first time Royal Caribbean has reused a ship name, it is possible that may be the start of a new ship-naming trend for the line.

More From Cruise Hive

In that case, what should the fourth Icon ship be named? Sovereign, Monarch, Splendour, Empress, and Majesty are all former Royal Caribbean ships with names that might suit the new vessel.

My personal vote would go to Sovereign of the Seas for the new ship to reign supreme. The original Sovereign of the Seas was the world’s largest cruise ship when she debuted in 1988, beginning the legacy that the new ship will undoubtedly continue nearly 40 years later.

Carnival Guest Demands Compensation After Ship Diverts for Emergency

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Guest Demands Compensation After Ship Diverts for Emergency

Key Aspects:

  • One recent Carnival guest demanded compensation due to a medical emergency that closed the ship’s casino.
  • No compensation was provided, but John Heald explained why different types of evacuations may be necessary.
  • A guest’s health and safety always takes a higher priority than convenience, fun, or profit onboard.

What is the cost of getting critical medical care? Not health insurance, hospital bills, or medication, but what about the convenience or inconvenience of emergency responses?

For one recent Carnival guest, receiving the care has undoubtedly been priceless, but for another, the inconvenience of their cruise experience was frustrating.

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, shared the second guest’s concerns and what appears to be a very inconsiderate reaction and demands to the emergency situation.

“Long story short, the guest was complaining that they didn’t receive any compensation, that they did not get anything because of what happened,” Heald explained.

“Now, this was a medical emergency onboard one of the ships. In this particular case, the captain returned the ship to the homeport, arriving around 11:30, midnight, somewhere around then. Now that of course meant that they had to close the shops and the casino early.”

Cruise guests are well aware that a ship’s gift shops and onboard casinos are not open unless the vessel is in international waters. This is part of how a cruise line abides by the restrictions and laws of the countries it visits, including where a vessel homeports.

Heald struggled to describe the guest’s, shall we say, less-than-polite reaction to the unexpected closure.

“The demands for compensation and the demands that they weren’t even able to get off the ship in Miami because customs hadn’t cleared the ship,” he explained, “there was absolutely no sympathy for the guest.”

The guest claims to have been on a previous cruise during which a medical helicopter evacuation had been necessary. When that type of situation occurs, the ship remains at sea and no closure is necessary.

There are many reasons why a helicopter rescue may not have been possible. A helicopter transport or appropriate flight crew may not have been immediately available, or poor weather could have meant such an operation was too great a risk.

It’s also possible that simply returning the ship to Miami was a faster option, depending on the overall situation.

Many times when ship diversions are necessary, it is because the guest is not medically stable enough for a sometimes harrowing helicopter evacuation.

Guests with extreme needs, such as a very delicate condition or of an exceptional size, may also not be able to use a helicopter evacuation.

When evacuations are necessary, the ship’s doctor consults with emergency personnel ashore to determine what is best to get the fastest, most necessary care for the guest.

“In this case, this lady is demanding compensation,” Heald said.

“I had to really hold myself back. … I did write to her and say we’re not allowed to open the casino and we have to close the gift shops when we’re back into Florida waters, legally, and you can’t get off the ship in Miami because the ship hasn’t been cleared by US Customs and Border Protection. We don’t give compensation for this.”

The ship in question was not identified, nor was the sailing date. Carnival Cruise Line currently has five ships homeported from Miami: Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Magic, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Horizon.

How Long Is Such an Inconvenience, and What Is It Worth?

Heald estimates it was no more than 4-5 hours that the onboard retail operations were impacted. This would include the time the ship was sailing back to the cruise terminal, docking, debarking the guest needing treatment, and returning to international waters.

“It’s four or five hours’ time in the casino and spending money in the gift shop,” he confirmed. “Is that too big a price to pay to save a human life?”

Carnival Horizon Docked in Miami
Carnival Horizon Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)

The guest did not appear to appreciate the answer and claimed they would not be sailing with Carnival Cruise Line again because no compensation was provided.

Read Also: 15 Most Annoying Things People Do on Cruises

“Do you really want to cruise with someone like that?” Heald asked his followers after describing the situation. “Whose value of human life is based on whether she gets a couple of hours extra in the casino?”

Many replies noted that the guest would certainly feel differently if it were herself or a friend or family member who required the emergency medical attention.

More From Cruise Hive

It’s true that the late hours, especially after the evening’s shows have ended, can be a very popular time in the casino.

Undoubtedly, Carnival Cruise Line values a single guest’s life above the income the line would have derived from those hours of gambling.

Illness Precautions Activated on Cruise Ship After Guests Fall Sick

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Illness Precautions Activated on Cruise Ship After Guests Fall Sick

Key Aspects:

  • An unidentified gastrointestinal illness outbreak has impacted the August 26, 2025 sailing of Silver Muse.
  • The cruise line implemented enhanced sanitation right away and urged guests to seek medical consultations.
  • The exact cause of the outbreak has not been determined, but there is no change to the ship’s next sailing.

Guests onboard a recent Silversea sailing of Silver Muse were asked to undertake greater sanitation precautions following multiple reports of gastrointestinal illness. The ship’s August 26, 2025, departure was affected by changes in onboard procedures.

While this did not have an overall impact on the ship’s 11-night itinerary, afflicted guests were asked to quarantine in their staterooms. Furthermore, rigorous cleaning protocols were initiated throughout the ship.

“During this sailing, some guests onboard have experienced gastrointestinal illness,” a letter delivered to guests’ staterooms noted. “In an abundance of caution, we have implemented enhanced sanitizing procedures onboard.”

The nature of those activities was not detailed. The cruise line did clarify that the procedures are recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other public health agencies.

The CDC outlines a variety of sanitation measures to prevent the spread of norovirus, one of the most common worldwide causes of gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Typical steps include:

  • Thorough handwashing with soap for at least 20 seconds after using the restroom and before eating.
  • Using hand sanitizer in conjunction with, but not as a substitute for, handwashing.
  • Proper food handling and sanitizing kitchen surfaces and food prep areas.
  • Enhanced laundry procedures with the hottest possible water and highest dryer settings.

The cruise line also urged guests to report any possible symptoms during the sailing.

“If you experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea – commonly associated with a gastrointestinal illness – at any time during your cruise, we request you contact the ships medical facility for a complimentary consultation and treatment,” the letter stated.

Guests who did report symptoms were not charged for their treatment. If guests needed to be briefly quarantined, refunds were processed for any missed shore excursions.

While no official cause of the illness has been disclosed, norovirus is the most common cause of such outbreaks on cruise ships.

Silver Muse has not reported any outbreak to the CDC, as the affected sailing was not in US waters at any point. This means that no such report is necessary, though local authorities in Greece may have been notified.

The August 26 sailing was a detailed exploration of the Greek Isles roundtrip from Athens that also included stops in Kusadasi and Istanbul in Turkey. Grecian ports included Santorini, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Volos, and Mykonos.

Silver Muse Silversea Cruises Ship
Silver Muse (Photo Credit: Silversea Cruises)

Though the cruise line has not disclosed exactly how many cases of illness were reported onboard Silver Muse nor precisely when they were reported, the ship can welcome 596 guests when fully booked. Also onboard are more than 400 international crew members.

Silver Muse has already departed on her next sailing, a 7-night Greek Isles trip. Enhanced sanitation may continue during this sailing as a further precaution against any recurrence.

Previous Illness Outbreaks in 2025

While this is the first significant outbreak aboard Silver Muse this year, it is not the first outbreak for Silversea guests. In February, an outbreak impacting 43 guests and crew members aboard Silver Ray was reported to the CDC.

In that situation, laboratory testing identified the cause as E. coli, which can easily contaminate food and water. In April 2024, an outbreak aboard Silver Nova was also identified as E. coli.

Of the 18 different outbreaks reported to the CDC so far in 2025, only five have not been caused by norovirus. In addition to the E. coli outbreak aboard Silver Ray, a ciguatera outbreak was reported aboard Sea Cloud Spirit in January.

More From Cruise Hive

Three other outbreaks in 2025 have unknown causes. These were aboard Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Sea Lion (April), Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam (January-April), and Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Explorer (April-May).

Undoubtedly, lab samples from Silver Muse will be tested to determine the cause of the outbreak. This will help improve sanitation measures and response actions to minimize further contamination and possible future illness outbreaks.

Carnival Cruise Line Provides Update on Showing NFL Games

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Carnival Cruise Line Provides Update on Showing NFL Games

Key Aspects: 

  • An NFL fan sent Carnival Ambassador John Heald an intense message insisting that the upcoming game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs would be broadcast on the big screen during their cruise.
  • While Heald confirmed that the cruise line has licensed the NFL for the current football season, he cannot guarantee that specific games will be broadcast onboard.
  • Many factors go into deciding which games are shown, such as how it fits into the entertainment schedule overall and where the cruise ship is sailing from.

Sports fans rejoice! As it has in previous years, Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that it has once again licensed the NFL 2025-2026 football season.

Games that are broadcast through NFL syndication, the Sunday Ticket, and ESPN networks will be available across Carnival’s fleet.

The season just began a few days ago on September 4, 2025, and will culminate with the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026 – which in past years, has been shown in bars and at the Seaside Theaters onboard.

But even with a sporty past, some cruise fans still needed reassurance that they’d be able to watch the most important games in style during their sailing.

“This is important, John Heald. Assurances are needed now,” a future guest wrote to Brand Ambassador John Heald in what he described as a “forceful” message.

Heald, who was reading the message in a video on his Facebook page, briefly paused to share that the guest had incorrectly spelled assurances with an “I” before continuing.

“Our group is sailing on September 27 on the Jubilee, and we are all huge NFL football fans. We need a promise that the Chiefs-Ravens game will be shown on the giant screen,” Heald read. 

The game the guest is referencing is between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs and is scheduled for September 28, 2025.

This is just one day after Carnival Jubilee embarks on a 7-night sailing to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, Texas.

“There are 18 of us in this group. The rest of the passengers will want this too…There will be lots of commotion if this request is not met,” the guest insisted.

The unidentified sports fan even went so far as to ask if they should speak to the captain after boarding the Excel-class ship to ensure that their demand is satisfied.

Carnival Cannot Guarantee Specific Games

Heald was hopefully able to provide some reassurance to the panicked sports fan by confirming that NFL games would be available onboard.

“Now, we are very happy to announce that this year we have licensed the football season, which starts, I’m told from my colleagues, officially on the 4th, that was yesterday, and ending with the Super Bowl, when we have a big, huge Super Bowl,” Heald confirmed.

“As in previous years, in addition to the games that are broadcast on ESPN networks, we are licensing the NFL syndication and Sunday Ticket. So that means that you should get a multitude of games,” he continued.

Read Also: From Shows to Games: 9 Cruise Entertainment Options

Carnival Cruise Ship Lido Deck
Carnival Cruise Ship Lido Deck (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

However, Carnival’s Ambassador could not give this eager future guest the 100% guarantee they were looking for.

A lot of factors come into play when the cruise line decides the schedule of which games are shown and where, such as the Fun Squad’s entertainment schedule and the cruise ship’s home port.

“You know, if we’re sailing from the New Orleans, the New Orleans 49ers games will be shown, or if we’re sailing from Texas, the Texan Cowboys…. but we can’t make any insurances or assurances as to what game is going to be shown,” Heald said, again referencing the guest’s typo.

The Seaside Theater, which is the large outdoor poolside theater, is also used for entertainment like “Dive-In Movies,” which usually take priority over broadcasting NFL games.

If a specific game is of the utmost importance to guests, they have the option to invest in a Wi-Fi package that includes streaming.

I purchased the “Value Plan” for my sailing on Carnival Radiance at the end of last year, and video streaming worked quite well.

More From Cruise Hive

While the game might not be shown on the big screen, cruisers would still be able to watch the action unfold in real time.

And in the future, perhaps they might think twice about booking a cruise during football season if the sport is their biggest priority.

Disney Cruise Ship Rerouting to Different Countries Due to Storm

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Disney Cruise Ship Rerouting to Different Countries Due to Storm

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Fantasy is completely rerouting and heading east instead of west to avoid poor weather in the UK.
  • Instead of her September 8 British Isles cruise, the ship will visit Norway and Belgium for the 7-night itinerary.
  • Safety is always the first consideration for itinerary changes, along with ensuring a good guest experience.

Poor weather can really wreak havoc on a cruise itinerary, cancelling ports, causing delays, or just putting a damper on destinations. For Disney Fantasy‘s next sailing, the entire itinerary and even the countries visited must be changed for smoother sailing.

Disney Cruise Line reached out to booked guests to alert them to the change two days prior to embarkation. The ship is currently homeported from Southampton, UK, and the planned itinerary was to have been a 7-night British Isles cruise.

Unfortunately, that itinerary along the west coast of the UK is no longer possible, and the ship will be unable to visit the planned ports in Ireland, England, and Scotland.

“The safety and well-being of our Guests and Crew Members is our highest priority,” the cruise line explained.

“Given the anticipated strong winds and adverse sea conditions, we must revise the itinerary and will be visiting Norway and Belgium instead, where conditions are forecasted to be more favorable.”

The newly revised itinerary for Disney Fantasy is as follows:

  • Monday, September 8 – Depart Southampton
  • Tuesday, September 9 – Day at sea
  • Wednesday, September 10 – Haugesund, Norway (previously Cobh, Ireland)
  • Thursday, September 11 – Olden, Norway (previously Liverpool, England)
  • Friday, September 12 – Stavanger, Norway (previously Glasgow, Scotland)
  • Saturday, September 13 – Day at sea
  • Sunday, September 14 – Zeebrugge, Belgium (previously Portland, England)
  • Monday, September 15 – Return to Southampton

The ship’s time of departure and return to Southampton is not affected, only the direction she will be setting sail and her port visits along the way.

The 129,750-gross-ton, Dream class Disney Fantasy can welcome 2,500 guests onboard at double occupancy or up to 4,000 guests when fully booked. Also onboard are more than 1,400 crew members to ensure everyone has a truly fantastic cruise vacation.

Worth Reading: Disney Adjusts Christmas Cruise to Enjoy Merrier Weather

The ship only has three sailings left from Southampton for the season. After her September 8, September 15, and September 22 sailings, Disney Fantasy will be entering dry dock for several weeks for refreshment.

On November 3, 2025, she will depart Southampton on a 13-night transatlantic cruise to Port Canaveral, calling on La Coruna and Vigo in Spain as well as Funchal, Portugal along the way.

From Port Canaveral, Disney Fantasy will offer primarily 4- and 5-night Bahamas cruises at least through September 2026.

It doesn’t take a hurricane or a tsunami to create weather conditions severe enough to alter a cruise ship’s itinerary.

Not only do cruise lines monitor for high winds and swells that can make the ship uncomfortable, but they must also take into consideration how safe it can be to dock without causing damage to the ship or port facilities.

Furthermore, if a harbor has rough swells or winds, it may be unsafe for guests to use tender boats or unstable gangways when visiting a port of call.

While simple rain will not stop a port visit, cruise lines are not unmindful of the type of port experience guests would like. Very heavy rains make for poor port visits, and can even cause cancellations of different shore tours.

Ultimately, all itinerary adjustments are made to provide the safest and best possible experience for guests.

More From Cruise Hive

“We appreciate your understanding regarding this necessary itinerary change,” Disney Cruise Line said. “We know this revised itinerary will provide you with an experience Guests have come to know and expect from Disney Cruise Line.”

While Disney Fantasy may not be visiting the ports guests had hoped for, she will still be sailing safely and giving guests an amazing cruise vacation to make lifelong memories.

1...128129130...601Page 129 of 601