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P&O Cruises Changes 3 Ports on Iona Cruise as French Unrest Grows

Melissa Mayntz
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P&O Cruises Changes 3 Ports on Iona Cruise as French Unrest Grows

Key Aspects:

  • Iona will skip a planned stop in Le Havre, France on Sunday, October 18, 2026 due to civil unrest across the nation.
  • The ship’s modified itinerary moves the call to Vigo a day earlier than planned and adds more time in A Coruña for an overnight stay.
  • There is no change to the rest of the 7-night itinerary and Iona will still call in Bilbao-Getxo on Thursday, October 22 as scheduled.

Paris is a top destination for travelers worldwide, and for cruisers, that means a visit to Le Havre, the cruise port nearest to the City of Light. For guests boarding P&O Cruises’ Iona in Southampton, UK on Saturday, October 17, 2026, however, that visit will not be possible and two other port visits on the ship’s itinerary have also been revised as a result.

Guests were notified of the change prior to embarkation, including what other shifts were made in the schedule for the 7-night Spain and France sailing.

“Due to ongoing protests and civil unrest in France, Iona will no longer visit Le Havre on 18 October,” the email notification explained. “Instead, you’ll now enjoy an overnight stay in La Coruna on 20 and 21 October, giving you more time to explore the city and enjoy everything the destination has to offer at your own pace.”

The visit to Le Havre was to have been a full-day stop and was the only port visit scheduled for France on the two-country itinerary. Now, the voyage will only be visiting ports in Spain, and with a revised schedule.

Following the departure from Southampton on Saturday, Sunday will now be a day at sea and Iona will call on Vigo, Spain on Monday, October 19 instead of Tuesday as originally planned. A Coruña was to have been only a day visit on Wednesday, October 21, but the ship will now arrive on Tuesday and remain in port overnight and into Wednesday.

The remainder of the itinerary, including the stop in Bilbao-Getxo on Thursday, October 22, is unaffected and the 184,089-gross-ton ship will return to Southampton as planned for debarkation on Saturday, October 24.

P&O Cruises confirms in the email notification that any shore experiences booked through the cruise line for Le Havre will be cancelled and refunded. If guests have tours for Vigo or A Coruña that are impacted by the schedule changes, those tours will be adjusted if necessary. Guests will be contacted by the Shore Experiences team if there are other concerns.

What Civil Unrest Is Impacting Iona?

The civil unrest in France is related in part to government budget and service cuts amidst rising cost-of-living expenses, rising fuel costs, and frustrations with the quality of student education and resources available in classrooms.

According to Le Monde, more than 600 demonstrations were planned for Saturday, October 17, 2026. Although Iona was not scheduled to arrive until Sunday, any protests that grow more violent than expected could still make the situation dangerous for cruise guests the next day.

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Previous protest actions have included demonstrations and rallies, traffic disruptions, fires, and occasional violent altercations with police and other authorities, some of which have raised questions of police brutality. Police have arrested thousands of protesters in recent weeks.

Because some of the protests were planned to block key roads and infrastructure, disruptions for guests visiting Le Havre who hoped to venture to Paris for the day could also be impacted. The capital of France is a 2.5-hour drive from the cruise port and is a common destination for full-day excursions.

Royal Caribbean Ship Skips Bermuda for Canada, Guests Can’t Get Off the Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Ship Skips Bermuda for Canada, Guests Can’t Get Off the Ship

Key Aspects:

  • Vision of the Seas will not be visiting Bermuda on her October 17, 2026 sailing due to poor offshore weather, including strong winds.
  • Instead, the ship is rerouting to Saint John, New Brunswick, for an overnight call, but guests will not be permitted to disembark the ship in port.
  • Royal Caribbean is offering non-refundable credit for the change, with amounts varying depending on the type of stateroom booked.

Any cruiser knows that poor weather can dramatically alter vacation plans, and guests boarding Vision of the Seas in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, October 17, 2026 will not be getting the Bermuda vacation they had hoped. Due to poor weather, the ship is being rerouted to Canada instead, with an extra twist that many will not be happy about.

Royal Caribbean notified guests of the last-minute change late on Friday, October 16, the day before embarkation for the 5-night sailing.

“Along with our meteorology team, we’ve been closely monitoring inclement weather impacting the Bermuda area for our October 17, 2026, Vision of the Seas sailing. The weather’s impact makes it hard to provide you with a safe and comfortable journey to Bermuda,” the email explained.

“So, after exploring all of our options, we’ve decided to sail to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, for an overnight stay instead.”

Okay, ship happens. This would not be the first cruise to be rerouted to a completely alternative destination during unpredictable fall weather.

In fact, during the strong nor’easter that impacted much of the US Atlantic coast in late September 2026, multiple cruise ships drastically altered their itineraries to avoid the roughest weather or had delays related to the storm.

At that time, the 2,050-guest Vision of the Seas was scheduled for a 9-night Canada and New England itinerary but instead rerouted to Florida and the Bahamas.

Now, however, the reroute to Saint John, New Brunswick comes with an additional restriction for guests on the October 17 sailing.

“Guests will not be able to disembark while in port,” the email notification said.

The updated itinerary shared in the email notification confirms that Saint John will be the only port of call on the 5-night cruise, from 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19 until 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20.

Since guests cannot go ashore, the sailing is effectively a cruise to nowhere.

Royal Caribbean notes that “our onboard team is ready to make your experience with us an enjoyable one.” It is likely, however, that port restrictions would mean that retail operations and the Casino Royale on Deck 5 will not be available during the overnight visit.

In such situations, cruise lines often arrange additional entertainment, such as extra trivia challenges, more comedy shows, or whatever options they can provide on such short notice.

Compensation Offered

Guests will be receiving onboard credit as compensation for the dramatic change, which Royal Caribbean describes as a “thank you for your continued loyalty and to help make up for the inconvenience.”

The amount of the non-refundable credit varies depending on the type of stateroom guests booked. Both inside and outside staterooms will receive $75 (USD), while balcony staterooms will receive $150. Suites will receive $200.

Credit amounts are per stateroom, not per guest. If a third, fourth, or additional guest is booked in the same stateroom, the credit is raised by $25 per person after the first two guests.

If guests had pre-purchased any shore excursions through Royal Caribbean for the visit to Bermuda, those tours will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. Any amount that remains unused at the end of the sailing will be refunded to the credit card associated with the applicable account.

What Bad Weather Is Pending?

The imminent bad weather causing this adjustment for Vision of the Seas is offshore in the mid-Atlantic waters, between 100 and 250 nautical miles offshore, directly on the route to Bermuda.

A storm warning for the strong cold front has been issued by the National Weather Service, noting that winds will begin at 15-25 knots (17-29 miles per hour), then rise to 30-40 knots (35-46 mph) on Saturday and as high as 50 knots (57 mph) on Saturday night. Swells may be as high as 13-22 feet.

The warning continues for several days with winds from 30-45 knots (35-52 mph) as late as Wednesday night and swells from 12-24 feet throughout the warning period.

Brilliant Lady Rerouted Again as Hurricane Trudy Forces Fourth Straight Itinerary Change

Calvin Musquez
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Brilliant Lady Rerouted Again as Hurricane Trudy Forces Fourth Straight Itinerary Change

Key Aspects:

  • Virgin Voyages has confirmed a complete reroute of Brilliant Lady’s October 17, 2026 Mexican Riviera sailing due to Hurricane Trudy.
  • Guests will visit San Francisco, San Diego, and Ensenada instead of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, with Virgin excursions automatically refunded as onboard credit.
  • This officially marks the fourth consecutive Brilliant Lady sailing disrupted by tropical weather.

Just one day before departure, the October 17, 2026 sailing of Brilliant Lady has been completely rerouted. Virgin Voyages posted a notice on October 16, confirming that the three originally scheduled ports have been cancelled and replaced due to the projected path of Hurricane Trudy.

As Cruise Hive detailed in its October 15 coverage, the latest sailing had already been facing the possibility of disruption before Virgin Voyages confirmed the revised itinerary. The cruise line issued a notice on October 14, warning guests that the storm may impact the ship’s route.

The 7-night sailing was originally scheduled to visit Cabo San Lucas on October 19, Mazatlan on October 20, and Puerto Vallarta on October 21 before returning to Los Angeles on October 24. However, the hurricane’s strengthening and projected path have made it necessary to replace those ports.

Hurricane Trudy, which is currently around 200 miles southwest of Acapulco, briefly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane on October 16 before weakening to a Category 1 later in the day. According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is projected to move further north near Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta in the coming days.

“Following the guidance of the National Hurricane Center, heading south could put the ship on the stronger, more dangerous side of the storm,” said the cruise line’s notice. “That’s too much of a safety risk and a gamble we’re not willing to take.”

Instead, Brilliant Lady will visit San Francisco on October 19, followed by San Diego on October 21, and Ensenada on October 22. The scheduled return to Los Angeles on October 24 remains unchanged.

Hurricane Trudy Track
Hurricane Trudy Track

What Passengers Need to Know

In its October 16 notice, Virgin Voyages reiterated the advice from its previous warning to guests to pack warmer clothing. The replacement California ports are expected to experience much cooler temperatures than the original Mexican ports, particularly during mornings and evenings.

Guests who booked shore excursions through Virgin Voyages for the cancelled ports will be automatically refunded as credit to their onboard folio. The cruise line did not confirm whether any unused credit will be refunded to the guests’ original payment method.

For excursions not booked through Virgin, the cruise line recommends contacting the third-party operator directly. Shore excursions for the replacement ports will be made available to guests once onboard, through the cruise line’s app. 

Storms Disrupt Fourth Sailing in a Row

With this itinerary change, the October 17 cruise officially becomes the fourth consecutive Brilliant Lady sailing to be impacted by tropical weather. Three previous sailings also saw major itinerary adjustments due to Hurricanes Polo and Rachel as well as Tropical Storm Simon.

Like the October 17 sailing, the September 26 and October 10 voyages both replaced Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta with alternative ports in California and Mexico. The September 26 sailing saw the same swaps, replacing the ports with San Francisco, San Diego, and Ensenada due to Hurricane Polo.

Due to Tropical Storms Rachel and Simon at the time, the October 10 voyage replaced the ports with Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada. The October 3 sailing, meanwhile, substituted Ensenada for Cabo San Lucas due to residual swells from Hurricane Rachel.

Norwegian Bliss Cancels Acapulco Call as Hurricane Trudy Strengthens

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Bliss Cancels Acapulco Call as Hurricane Trudy Strengthens

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Bliss is unable to visit Acapulco as planned on Saturday, October 17, due to Hurricane Trudy.
  • Instead, the ship will spend the day at sea. There are no other itinerary changes at this time.
  • Hurricane Trudy is currently a Category 3 storm and additional strengthening is expected through Saturday.

Unfortunately for guests aboard the 19-night repositioning sailing of Norwegian Bliss that departed Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the ship must skip its planned call to Acapulco, Mexico on Saturday, October 17. Because of the position of Hurricane Trudy, the ship must steer clear of the region and will be unable to visit the port.

Guests were informed of the itinerary change onboard once the decision to cancel the port call was confirmed.

“Due to the projected path of Hurricane Trudy, we have made the decision to adjust our route to maintain a safe distance from the storm and avoid unfavorable weather conditions,” the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained. “As a result, we will unfortunately be unable to visit Acapulco, Mexico on October 17, 2026, as scheduled.”

No alternative port is available and the 4,004-guest Norwegian Bliss will instead spend Saturday as a day at sea. Because the ship has a planned transit of the Panama Canal on Saturday, October 24, it is essential that there be no significant delays that might disrupt that transit schedule.

Norwegian Bliss Itinerary Change Letter
Norwegian Bliss Itinerary Change Letter (Photo Credit: Mike Kaskel)

The letter acknowledges that this proactive itinerary change may be disappointing, but the safety and comfort of everyone aboard is the top priority.

There are no further confirmed changes to the ship’s itinerary. Norwegian Bliss already visited Cabo San Lucas on Thursday, October 15, and has additional port visits scheduled for Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Jamaica, and Florida before arriving in New York City on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

If guests had booked shore excursions through Norwegian Cruise Line for Acapulco, those tours will be automatically cancelled and refunds added to guests’ onboard accounts. Guests can also visit the Shore Excursion Desk on Deck 6 if they have questions or wish to book tours for other port destinations.

Hurricane Trudy Update

Hurricane Trudy
Hurricane Trudy

According to the Friday morning update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the center of Hurricane Trudy is located 235 miles southwest of Acapulco and is moving north-northwest at five miles per hour. The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, making it a major Category 3 hurricane.

“Strengthening is expected through Saturday, and Trudy is forecast to remain a major hurricane when it makes its closest approach to Mexico,” the public advisory notes. “On the forecast track, the center of Trudy will approach the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico on Saturday and pass near the coast Saturday night into Sunday.”

On her original schedule, Norwegian Bliss was scheduled to be in Acapulco from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 17.

Both hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings are now in effect for portions of the Mexican coast, though not including Acapulco. Nevertheless, Norwegian Bliss would need to sail right through the expected storm track and close to the tropical storm force wind field to reach the port.

AIS tracking confirms that the ship has already moved much further out to sea than the originally planned coastal route, which will keep her far from the storm.

At this time, there are no other expected changes to the itinerary, but weather-related adjustments are always possible on any cruise sailing.

PortMiami Rolls Out New Plan to Tackle Cruise Day Traffic Jams

Calvin Musquez
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PortMiami Rolls Out New Plan to Tackle Cruise Day Traffic Jams

Key Aspects:

  • PortMiami is introducing new traffic management measures to streamline passenger movements ahead of its 2026-2027 cruise season.
  • The port plans to improve communication with passengers, directing them to use specific entrances and arrive only at their assigned embarkation time.
  • A complimentary airport shuttle for Carnival Celebration guests on select days begins in October 2026.

PortMiami is taking steps to streamline passenger movements at its terminals ahead of its busy 2026-2027 cruise season. On October 16, 2026, Miami-Dade County announced several new and expanded traffic management measures that are being introduced at the Florida port.

Miami is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, often fighting for the top spot with Port Canaveral, and is expecting another busy season in the coming year. During the upcoming high season, PortMiami expects 81 days on which seven to 10 cruise ships will call at the port.

Working closely with cruise lines and transportation services, the port aims to better communicate with passengers regarding arrival time rules and terminal directions. As part of this initiative, the port will produce informational videos for passengers to aid in their planning.

The port has not revealed when these videos, titled “Arrive at Your Embarkation Time” and “Choosing the Right Entrance,” will be released. Once available, however, they will be shared on social media by partners, stakeholders, and the port itself.

PortMiami Cruise Ships Aerial
PortMiami Cruise Ships Aerial

Through these videos and other communications, passengers will be reminded to arrive only at their scheduled embarkation time. They will also be provided with detailed directions outlining the most direct path to their respective cruise terminals.

Those passengers embarking from Cruise Terminals AA, A, B, C, or D will be directed to enter via the PortMiami Tunnel. Meanwhile, the PortMiami Bridge is the recommended access route for Cruise Terminals E, F, G, J, and V.

Additional Free Airport Shuttles and Traffic Technology Will Be Introduced

Additionally, PortMiami is introducing new programs to improve transportation at the port and manage traffic congestion. One such program will provide complimentary shuttle transfers to Miami International Airport to some Carnival guests.

This pilot program, launching in October 2026, will be offered to passengers sailing aboard Carnival Celebration on select dates. The port already has a similar program with Royal Caribbean, offering Icon of the Seas guests complimentary airport shuttle transfers, which will continue.

The port is also working with software developer GridMatrix to implement AI-powered traffic monitoring solutions around the port. The technology is intended to assist in predicting traffic bottlenecks and implementing data-based solutions to congestion issues.

On particularly busy days, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and City of Miami Police Department personnel will be deployed to assist in traffic management. The port identified Biscayne Boulevard and surrounding areas of downtown Miami as areas where this assistance will be utilized. 

Record Port Traffic Creates Challenges in Miami

PortMiami’s passenger traffic has reached record levels in recent years. In September 2026, the port welcomed its 10-millionth cruise passenger of the fiscal year, surpassing its previous annual record before the fiscal year had even ended.

“As the world’s busiest cruise port, we recognize the responsibility that comes with welcoming millions of guests each year,” said PortMiami Director and CEO Jonathan Daniels.

Navigating PortMiami on busy days can often present challenges, as Cruise Hive has highlighted in the past. For example, in March 2026, heavy passenger traffic along with construction near the port prompted Carnival Cruise Line to issue warnings to passengers.

Daniels continued, “These improvements help us reduce congestion, enhance safety and strengthen the overall journey from curb to cruise.”

Cruise passengers are not the only source of traffic at PortMiami, as it is also one of the busiest cargo ports in the U.S. As part of its congestion-reduction efforts, the port will continue utilizing designated cargo roadways to help ease pressure on downtown and nearby highways, like I-395, during busy cruise days.

Carnival Issues Traffic Alert for Carnival Sunshine Guests Boarding in Norfolk

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Issues Traffic Alert for Carnival Sunshine Guests Boarding in Norfolk

Key Aspects:

  • A popular wine festival and a road paving project will both impact travel to Norfolk for guests boarding Carnival Sunshine on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
  • Carnival has notified guests about potential traffic delays and noted that everyone must be onboard the ship by the final boarding time on their boarding passes.
  • There is no change to Carnival Sunshine‘s 4 p.m. departure time or the 8-night Canada itinerary.

Carnival Cruise Line guests setting sail aboard Carnival Sunshine on Saturday, October 17, 2026 will face a double whammy of traffic disruptions in Norfolk as they head to the cruise terminal for embarkation. The cruise line has sent out a traffic alert to make sure all guests are aware of the challenges and how best to ensure they do not miss the ship.

“Norfolk’s Wine Festival will occur on the day of your embarkation, resulting in street closures and heavier than normal traffic in some areas. Additionally, the eastbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (I-64 toward Norfolk) will be closed for scheduled roadwork,” the notification email explained.

The Town Point Virginia Fall Wine Festival is held at Town Point Park on Waterside Drive in downtown Norfolk, less than a quarter-mile east of the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center. The 2026 festival is on Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, and thousands of people generally attend the annual festival.

While the festival’s events, including wine tasting, live music, and shopping, run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, traffic is likely to pick up earlier in the morning as the event is set up and visitors begin to arrive. This is exactly when thousands of cruise guests will also be approaching the cruise port.

Further complicating downtown Norfolk traffic is the closure of the eastbound lanes of Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the section of I-64 leading from Hampton to the cruise port. This is typically the most direct route between Richmond International Airport and the cruise terminal, normally a roughly 90-minute drive.

Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk, Virginia
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk, Virginia (Credit: Nauticus)

The ongoing roadwork is a planned repaving project. According to the City of Norfolk, the work will begin at 9 p.m. Friday and continue through 5 a.m. Monday.

Road repaving in existing tunnels has been ongoing each weekend beginning October 2, with only one direction closed at a time. From October 16-19, the eastbound lanes toward Norfolk will be closed. This will especially impact cruise guests boarding Carnival Sunshine.

Carnival Cruise Line says signs will be directing guests toward the cruise terminal and law enforcement will be guiding traffic in some locations.

Guests are advised to allow ample time in their travel plans in case of potential delays, as well as to stay updated about local traffic conditions on embarkation day.

The cruise line does remind guests, however, that everyone must be onboard as planned, even with traffic delays.

“In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board according to the final boarding time specified on the boarding pass,” the email said.

Carnival Cruise Line has been clear in the past that ships will not delay departure for guests who may be stuck in traffic. Cruise Hive reported on one such incident in August 2025, when a family missed their cruise aboard Carnival Glory due to a traffic accident that caused delays as they were heading to Port Canaveral.

While the family was not involved in the accident, they were still responsible for arriving at the cruise terminal on time.

Carnival’s website is clear that the US Department of Homeland Security determines when a cruise line must submit a final manifest. The cruise line sets the final boarding time to accommodate that requirement.

“US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires Carnival Cruise Line to submit a final departure manifest with specific guest information at least 60 minutes prior to departure,” the website explains. “In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board by the Final Boarding time printed on the boarding pass or they will not be permitted to sail.”

The 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine is scheduled to depart Norfolk, Virginia at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17 for her 8-night Canada itinerary, with visits planned to Halifax, Charlottetown, and Sydney before returning to Norfolk on Sunday, October 25.

At this time, there is no change to the ship’s scheduled departure time or her overall itinerary, and no other cruise ships are scheduled for Norfolk this weekend.

Disney Cruise Line Ends Palo Prix Fixe Menu Fleetwide Starting October 22

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Cruise Line Ends Palo Prix Fixe Menu Fleetwide Starting October 22

Key Aspects:

  • Disney Cruise Line is removing the prix-fixe pricing at the Palo restaurants across the fleet beginning October 22, 2026.
  • Platinum and Pearl Castaway Club guests will now receive a $55 credit to use for à la carte items of their choice instead of the free prix-fixe dinner.
  • Brunch is not officially permitted as a substitution for the dinner credit but has been allowed in the past at the discretion of onboard Palo managers.

A guest favorite dining option on Disney Cruise Line is the adults-only Palo specialty restaurants, including Palo, Palo Steakhouse, and Palo Trattoria. These restaurants have traditionally offered a choice of a “prix-fixe” menu or a la carte pricing, with Platinum and Pearl members of the cruise line’s loyalty program, the Castaway Club, receiving a complimentary meal from the prix-fixe menu.

Beginning on Thursday, October 22, 2026, however, the prix-fixe menu will be discontinued, and the Palo restaurants will only offer à la carte pricing.

The benefit to Disney Cruise Line’s most loyal guests is not going away, however. Instead of the completely free meal (albeit limited to the prix-fixe selections), eligible guests will be provided a $55 per person credit for menu offerings of their choice.

Guests were notified of the change one week in advance, as the cruise line emailed eligible Castaway Club members with upcoming bookings of the change.

“Platinum and Pearl Castaway Club Members are invited to enjoy an evening at Palo, Palo Steakhouse or Palo Trattoria,” the email explained. “Beginning on October 22, 2026, these restaurants will transition away from the prix-fixe dinner menu to a selection of our Guest’s favorite items.”

The cost of the prix-fixe menu was $55, so the credit to use for à la carte menu items is an equivalent offering.

Guests who are staying in the same stateroom as a Platinum or Pearl Castaway Club member will also receive the $55 Palo credit, but as per the terms of the Castaway Club, the Platinum or Pearl member must be present at the dinner.

There is no indication that pricing on Palo’s a la carte menu offerings will be changing, or that the menu itself may be updated. The Italian-inspired restaurants offer classic favorites such as various salads, pizzas, and entrees like lamb ragu, grilled lobster with pappardelle pasta, soft potato gnocchi, osso buco, grilled steaks, and limoncello tart.

A la carte prices range from $6 for sides to as much as $80 for the most premium steak selection, a 28-ounce dry-aged prime Angus porterhouse.

Disney Cruise Line Palo
Disney Cruise Line Palo

Guest reaction to the change is mixed, with some eager for a greater variety on the menu.

“I don’t care for the prix fix, as it is too restrictive,” one guest commented on Facebook. “Lucked out on this one!”

The prix-fixe menu only offered guests a choice of two appetizers, two salads, four options for entrees, and two desserts, but the full menu is much more extensive.

Under the new à la carte pricing, if a Platinum or Pearl guest’s selections are greater than the $55 allotment, the guest will pay any amount exceeding that credit. Guests are still responsible for any beverage charges as well as gratuities.

Brunch No Longer Included

In the past, eligible guests were able to use their Palo benefit for brunch rather than dinner, an option many guests enjoyed as it still allowed them to enjoy all the rotational dining dinners during their cruise. That was never part of the official benefit, however, and was always at the discretion of the restaurant manager.

The notification email about the change is explicit that brunch is not part of the benefit.

“This exclusive benefit is limited to dinner only,” the email said. “As a reminder, brunch is not included in this offer.”

Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club Frequently Asked Questions also state that the benefit applies to dinner only, not brunch.

Fourth Consecutive Brilliant Lady Cruise Faces Possible Hurricane Disruption

Calvin Musquez
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Fourth Consecutive Brilliant Lady Cruise Faces Possible Hurricane Disruption

Key Aspects:

  • Virgin Voyages has warned guests booked on Brilliant Lady’s October 17, 2026 sailing that Hurricane Trudy could force itinerary changes.
  • An alternate route is being prepared for the ship’s planned 7-night Mexican Riviera itinerary, which is scheduled to visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.
  • Three consecutive sailings aboard the ship have already been affected by tropical storm systems.

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady is potentially facing an itinerary adjustment for the fourth time in a row. The cruise line issued a notice on October 14, 2026 warning guests that the path of then Tropical Storm Trudy may threaten the ship’s October 17 departure.

The 7-night Mexican Riviera itinerary is set to depart from Los Angeles and call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. It is set to return to Los Angeles on October 24.

However, the planned itinerary would bring the 2,770-guest ship near Baja California, close to the projected path of Hurricane Trudy, late on October 18 into the following morning. While an itinerary change has not been announced, the cruise line said in the notice that it is preparing an alternative route as a precaution.

“We’re currently tracking Tropical Storm Trudy’s path,” said the notice. “We’ve prepared an alternative itinerary in case we need to reroute.”

The cruise line emphasized that no decision regarding itinerary changes has been finalized yet, but promised an update on October 15. Virgin Voyages is also advising guests to pack extra layers and a light jacket, as the alternative itinerary could include destinations with cooler temperatures.

Hurricane Trudy
Hurricane Trudy

Hurricane Trudy developed quickly, first forming on Tuesday, October 13 as a tropical storm south of Acapulco. The storm rapidly progressed, intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane early on October 15. 

According to the National Hurricane Center, sustained winds have intensified to 90 mph with higher gusts. Trudy is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane by Friday, with sustained winds up to 130 mph, gusts up to 160 mph, and large swells affecting parts of Mexico’s Pacific coast. 

Storms Have Affected the Three Previous Sailings

If an itinerary change is confirmed, this will mark the fourth sailing of Brilliant Lady in a row to be impacted by tropical weather. Three previous itineraries, which departed from Los Angeles on September 26, October 3, and October 10, all saw major changes due to storms off Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Like the upcoming October 17 departure, all three were similar 7-night sailings, scheduled to call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. The September 26, 2026 voyage saw all three ports replaced due to the development of Hurricane Polo.

The subsequent October 3, 2026 sailing was then impacted by residual swells from Hurricane Rachel. The swells created dangerous conditions approaching Cabo San Lucas, so the port call was replaced with Ensenada. 

Tropical Storm Simon developed on October 7 off Mexico’s southwestern coast, one day before Rachel weakened to a tropical storm on October 8. Cruise Hive reported that the two storms greatly impacted the planned itinerary for the October 10, 2026 departure of Brilliant Lady.

As on September 26, all three ports were cancelled. Cabo San Lucas was replaced with Santa Barbara in California, Mazatlan with San Diego, and the call in Puerto Vallarta was replaced with Ensenada. 

Brilliant Lady is scheduled for two more sailings from Los Angeles this year, a 5-night Baja Mexico Halloween cruise on October 24 and a 17-night repositioning cruise to Miami on October 29. With Hurricane Simon weakening, but Hurricane Trudy still active, it’s unknown what impact, if any, the storms will have on these final sailings.

Carnival Cruise Line to Pull Two Ships From Australian Market

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line to Pull Two Ships From Australian Market

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026 that Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will be removed from the Australian market.
  • The ships’ final departures from Australia will be in March 2028. Until that time, they will continue their already released itinerary schedules.
  • Two other ships homeported in Australia, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter, will remain Down Under, sailing from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively.

Australia is a highly desirable cruise destination for many eager travelers, but cruises Down Under are going to get a bit harder to come by after March 2028, when Carnival Cruise Line plans to remove two of its four vessels from the Australian market.

The cruise line announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026 that both Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure will no longer be sailing from Australia after their final planned departures in March 2028.

Carnival Luminosa has sailed from Brisbane since 2022, first year-round and then seasonally since 2025. Right now, the ship’s final published sailing is her March 5, 2028 departure from Brisbane, a 4-night round-trip itinerary to Airlie Beach. Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed, however, that the ship’s last departure from Australia will leave Sydney on March 15, 2028, but the complete itinerary has not been announced.

Carnival Adventure, previously part of P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Adventure until the ship was transferred to Carnival Cruise Line in March 2025, will depart Sydney for the final time on March 20, 2028.

As with Carnival Luminosa, that final itinerary for Carnival Adventure has not yet been released. The last published sailing for the ship departs from Adelaide on March 10, 2028 and is a 4-night roundtrip voyage to Kangaroo Island.

Both ships will likely feature one-way Carnival Journeys voyages as they reposition to as-yet-unannounced new homeports.

The decision to remove two ships from the Australian market is a result of several factors, including government regulations about cruise ship operations, global competition in different markets, and overall itinerary planning and investment.

Carnival Cruise Line noted that Australia’s federal government recently extended the industry’s ability to sail between Australian ports through the end of 2028, but is continuing to develop a long-term cruise licensing arrangement.

“The extension is a welcome but interim step while the long-term operating framework for the Australian cruise sector is developed over the next two years,” said Peter Little, Carnival Cruise Line Country Manager.

“As the only cruise line with ships dedicated year-round to Australia, Carnival has greater exposure to changes in local market and operating conditions than cruise lines with a seasonal or more limited presence. We will continue to work constructively with the Federal Government as it develops the future arrangements for cruise ships operating in the Australian market.”

Carnival Adventure Cruise Ship
Carnival Adventure Cruise Ship

In the meantime, both Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter will remain homeported in Australia. At the moment, the ships are based from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively. There are no plans to remove those ships from the market, and their 2028-2029 itineraries will be released in the coming weeks.

Final Australia Sailings of Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure

For the next 18 months, guests still have the opportunity to take advantage of the itineraries planned for both Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure.

“Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure have both played an important role in our Australian story, and many guests have enjoyed sailing on them to destinations across the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. There is still plenty of time to experience everything these ships have to offer,” Little said.

The 2,260-guest Carnival Luminosa is currently on her way to Singapore with a one-way 14-night sailing from Tokyo that departed on Friday, October 9, part of her repositioning after finishing her summer season in North America.

Once in Singapore, the ship will undergo a dry dock refreshment from October 23 through November 29, before departing Singapore on November 30 to return to her Brisbane homeport.

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Carnival Luminosa will remain in Australia with itineraries from 2-14 nights, before she leaves on April 6, 2027 for her summer season offering Mexican and Alaska itineraries from San Francisco. In November 2027, the ship returns to Brisbane to complete her service in Australia.

The larger 2,636-guest Carnival Adventure is scheduled for various Australia and New Zealand departure ports through March 2028, including Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Adelaide, with itineraries from 2-14 nights. The ship is also scheduled for a dry dock refreshment in Singapore in February 2027.

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