Ambience is adjusting three port visits on her current Norway sailing to minimize the impact of Storm Floris.
No alternative ports are available to compensate for the cancellation, so the ship will spend extra time at sea.
Storm Floris is impacting the northern UK on Monday and will have its greatest impact on Norway on Tuesday.
Ambassador Cruise Line’s flagship Ambience has needed to shift her itinerary due to the influence of Storm Floris on the northern UK. This means one cancelled port, one shifted port day, and one extended port on the current 7-night sailing.
The 70,285-gross ton ship sailed from Tilbury on Sunday, August 3, on what was to have been a Norwegian fjord adventure. While Ambience will still be visiting Norway, her itinerary has now changed.
“Due to Storm Floris affecting the west coast of Norway, Ambience will now visit Bergen instead of Sandnes on 5 August, and will be extending her time in Alesund on 7 August,”the cruise line notified guests.
“Additionally, as no berths are available in Haugesund or Stavanger on 8 August, Ambience will sail home directly from Alesund to Tilbury.”
This means the ship’s itinerary has changed as follows:
Sunday, August 3 – Depart Tilbury
Monday, August 4 – Day at Sea
Tuesday, August 5 – Bergen (formerly Sandnes)
Wednesday, August 6 – Geiranger
Thursday, August 7 – Alesund (time extended)
Friday, August 8 – Day at Sea (formerly Bergen)
Saturday, August 9 – Day at Sea
Sunday, August 10 – Arrive Tilbury
While it may be disappointing to guests to have the itinerary so rearranged, safety is the most important concern. By sailing to Bergen earlier in the cruise, Ambience can better avoid the strongest winds and roughest waves generated by Storm Floris.
Ambience Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Kevin Shipp)
Ambience is not the only ship to be shifting course away from the severe storm and its very strong winds.
Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess is sailing a 12-night voyage around the UK and has had to cancel two port visits in Scotland in order to sail into more sheltered waters ahead of the storm. Regal Princess also moved another port call and was able to add an alternative port later in her cruise.
Undoubtedly, other ships on northern UK or Scandinavian itineraries will be keeping a close eye on Storm Floris and will make whatever itinerary adjustments are necessary to enjoy the smoothest sailings.
Storm Floris Moving East
The UK Met Office has continued issuing updates on Storm Floris as the rough weather impacts much of the UK on Monday and Tuesday.
On Monday, August 4, wind gusts of 50-70 miles per hour are expected across the region, with some gusts in coastal areas possibly reaching as high as 80-80 miles per hour.
On Tuesday, August 5, a yellow wind advisory is in effect for the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, just 210 miles west of Bergen, Norway.
Here is Storm Floris, an impressive deepening area of low pressure pushing over the UK 👇 pic.twitter.com/Q0Cnegm5pW
Similarly, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute has issued both orange and yellow wind warnings for the southern part of the country. Bergen is under a yellow warning, while Stavanger is under an orange warning.
“Early Tuesday strong wind gusts are expected from a southwesterly, later westerly direction, up to 30-35 m/s [67-78 mph]. The strongest wind is expected early Tuesday morning,”the warning notes.
Ambience was to have been visiting Sandnes, just eight miles south of Stavanger in the path of the strongest winds, on Tuesday. Now, the ship will be in Bergen in a more sheltered region with a lower wind advisory.
Whether it is hurricane season in the Caribbean, summer storms across the North Sea, or monsoons near Australia, poor weather can easily impact any cruise in any region.
Cruise lines keep close watch on all weather alerts that may impact their fleet and adjust itineraries as needed to ensure smooth, safe sailing.
Storm Floris is expected to impact much of the UK with high winds and rough waves on Monday, August 4.
Regal Princess has cancelled calls to Invergordon and Stornoway to stay ahead of the storm and reach more sheltered waters.
The ship’s visit to Glasgow has also been changed and a visit to Liverpool now added to the adjusted itinerary.
Guests often choose their cruise itinerary very carefully in order to visit their most desirable ports of call. It can be disappointing, then, when Mother Nature has other ideas and those ports must be skipped.
Regal Princess and her 4,250 guests will share a bit of disappointment over the next few days as the Royal-class ship must reroute on her current sailing. This is a necessary precaution as northern Scotland is in for rough weather, just as the ship was planned to be visiting.
“Storm Floris is approaching the north of Scotland bringing high winds and heavy seas along our scheduled route. As a result, and as the safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, we have made the necessary decision to cancel our calls to Invergordon on Monday, August 4 and to Stornoway on Tuesday, August 5,”a letter delivered to guests explained.
The ship is currently enjoying an iconic itinerary, a 12-night sailing around the UK roundtrip from Southampton. The cruise departed on Friday, August 1, and was able to call on its first port, Kirkwall, as planned.
Now, instead of Invergordon and Stornoway, the ship will spend Monday at sea and will enjoy a visit to Greenock (Glasgow) on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Regal Princess Cruise Ship In Southampton (Photo Credit: P.Cartwright)
“While we may still experience some rough seas, this will enable us to proceed ahead of Storm Floris and shelter in the Firth of Clyde and the Irish Sea, and avoid the worst of the weather to provide you with the most comfortable cruise,”the letter continued.
On Wednesday, August 6, the ship will be in Liverpool from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., a port that is now added to the itinerary to help compensate for the missed calls.
The rest of the itinerary remains unchanged as follows:
Thursday, August 7 – Belfast from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 8 – Day at Sea
Saturday, August 9 – Cobh (Cork) from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 10 – Day at Sea
Monday, August 11 – Portland from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 12 – Le Havre from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 13 – Arrive Southampton
Shore tours booked through Princess Cruises for the now-cancelled visits to Invergordon and Stornoway will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
Impact of Storm Floris
Storm Floris is the sixth named storm to impact the UK this season. The UK Met Office has issued wind warnings for most of the UK, including all of Scotland, for Monday, August 4, just when Regal Princess was to have been visiting Invergordon.
“Storm Floris will bring unseasonably strong and disruptive winds to much of Scotland during Monday,”the Met Office noted.
#StormFloris arrives during Monday morning, bringing unseasonably strong winds to the north of the UK ⚠️
Wind gusts up to 80-90 miles per hour could be recorded, and coastal areas are especially at risk for rougher weather that would make both docking and tendering all but impossible.
No other ships are scheduled for Invergordon until Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam visits on Wednesday, August 6. Likewise, no other vessels are planned for Stornoway until Oceania Vista on Saturday, August 9.
By those dates, the foul weather should have moved far from the region or else dissipated entirely. Naturally, all cruise lines will still be keeping a close eye on Storm Floris in case she has further impacts on other destinations.
Cruise ships nearly doubled the passenger capacity limit in Palma on Saturday, August 2.
Two separate loopholes could be interpreted that the limit was not exceeded.
No new agreement on guest limits has been determined for the city in 2027 and beyond.
Despite strict passenger agreement limits between the cruise industry and the city of Palma in Spain, this weekend has been a busy one with nearly double the number of passengers in port on a single day.
The city, however, seems disinclined to enforce the agreement. Despite some proposals in May 2024, there is no action being taken to renew the limitation agreement once it expires in 2026.
Four ships were docked in Palma on Saturday, August 2, 2025: AIDAcosma, Marella Voyager, Seabourn Ovation, and MSC Virtuosa.
Together, the four ships have a capacity of more than 15,500 guests. This is far above the established limit of no more than 8,000 guests per day.
Furthermore, both AIDAcosma and MSC Virtuosa can welcome more than 6,000 guests each, qualifying them as “megaships.” The agreement with Palma stipulates that no more than one megaship is permitted per day.
While the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) did agree that the limit had been exceeded, there is some disagreement about the overall spirit of the agreement.
First of all, both AIDAcosma and Marella Voyager homeport from Palma, and therefore their numbers might be considered differently from day visit guests.
Counting just Seabourn Ovation and MSC Virtuosa, the daily total was just over 6,900, well under the daily limit.
Furthermore, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that the daily average has recently been just over 4,000, another way the limit has not necessarily been breached.
The agreement was put in place in 2022 with the intent of ensuring sustainability and protecting local Palma residents from being overwhelmed. Palma has a population of more than 400,000, but areas near the port could easily be overcrowded with large ships in port.
Will More Guests Be Welcomed to Palma?
With the current agreement and guest limits set to expire in 2026, there has been no concerted attempt as yet to renew or renegotiate the terms. This means cruise lines could begin sending more and larger ships to the Spanish city in 2027.
In fact, many cruise lines are now finalizing itineraries for 2027 and opening bookings for eager travelers. It would be frustrating for guests to book a sailing to Palma only to have their itinerary changed at a later date.
Already in 2027, ships from TUI Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, MSC Cruises, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and others have calls in Palma scheduled.
Cruise lines do, however, reserve the right to alter itineraries and cancel ports of call for any reason, including berth availability, civil unrest, and other considerations.
If a new limit were to be approved, it is possible that dozens of itineraries might need adjustment. Part of the agreement would undoubtedly determine how port reservations may be prioritized, such as the length of a visit, ship size, and when the reservation was made.
Many different destinations from Europe to Alaska are implementing passenger caps and daily limits. Such regulations can be challenging, as they must balance local needs, tourism revenue, port scheduling, and more.
Furthermore, with more cruise lines building ever larger ships, strict limits can be problematic when trying to confirm engaging itineraries for the newest vessels.
It is still possible that Palma will draft a new agreement with limits imposed on ship visits in 2027 and beyond. As always, cruise guests should be flexible with their travel plans for specific ports of call.
A glacial lake outburst flood is expected in the coming days at Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau.
Excursions may be impacted as the flood is imminent, and trails near the glacier may be closed.
No cruise lines are currently changing itineraries or cancelling stops in Juneau.
Alaska can be a once-in-a-lifetime destination for any cruiser, and viewing glaciers is an iconic part of such a trip. The Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau is one of the most popular spots to have this awe-inspiring experience.
Cruise guests visiting Juneau over the next few weeks may not be able to get as close to the glacier as they would hope, however.
An impending glacial lake outburst is being carefully watched at Suicide Basin, the home of Mendenhall Glacier. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Forest Service, and the City of Juneau are working together to watch for the potential flood.
According to Travel Juneau, the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is expected within the next 2-3 weeks. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is preparing for what could be record-level flooding.
“In advance of any outburst, all lakeside trails and roads adjacent to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC) and the Mendenhall Campground will be closed and evacuated,”Travel Juneau verified.
“Excursions in the area will be cancelled and remain so until facilities and trails in the area are inspected, cleaned, and confirmed safe for use.”
Flooding can wash out trails, uproot trees, or lead to rockslides or mudslides that can cause even more damage.
The visitor center plans to remain open if possible, and the US Forest Service is also hoping to keep the popular Trail of Time open. That beginner-friendly trail is just under a mile long and conveniently located near the visitor center.
These adjustments, as well as the flooding itself, will undoubtedly impact cruise shore tours and guests’ independent plans to visit Mendenhall Glacier.
Because July and August are the peak time for Alaska cruises, dozens of ships and thousands of guests may be impacted if the flood occurs.
This includes sailings for Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and more.
To be clear, the Juneau cruise docks are not at risk, as they are roughly 10 miles southeast of the glacier. Nevertheless, cruise lines will stay alerted to any potential threat and will adjust shore excursions as needed.
No cruise lines are adjusting itineraries or visits to Juneau. Some visits could be disrupted right at the time any flooding occurs, but that decision will be made by the cruise lines as necessary.
Can the Flood Be Predicted?
As with any natural event, the exact timing of the GLOF will be up to Mother Nature. Suicide Basin has flooded annually since 2011, however, with record-level flooding on August 6, 2024.
When that ice dam burst, at least 100 homes and hundreds of vehicles were damaged as the Mendenhall River Valley flooded more than a foot higher than previous high tide records.
According to the National Weather Service, the basin is now 40 feet lower than it was in 2024, so any flooding may not be quite as catastrophic.
The overall impact can be difficult to predict, however, and depends on temperatures, rainfall levels, and other factors. Furthermore, the basin’s water levels continue to rise each day, putting more pressure on ice dams and raising the flood risk.
Guests with sailings to Juneau in the next few weeks should stay in contact with their cruise line for potential updates or changes to any pre-booked shore tours. If travelers have made independent tour arrangements, they should contact their tour operator for updates.
A new law in the Bahamas requires jet ski drivers to be at least 18 years old, affecting popular cruise excursions at destinations like Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines have updated their policies,restricting 16- and 17-year-olds from driving Wave Jets, even with parental consent.
The change follows multiple tourist injuries and a fatal accident, prompting Bahamian officials to review water sports regulations and safety enforcement.
Teens in the US may have the right to drive at age 16, but for those visiting the Bahamas, a new law requires drivers of jet skis to be 18 years or older.
The change was brought to the attention of recent guests of Royal Caribbean enjoying the “Wave Jet Driver and Passenger” excursion on the cruise line’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.
The recent shift in Bahamian law now raises the minimum age to operate jet skis to 18 years old.
“Due to a recent change in local government regulations in the Bahamas, the minimum age required to operate a Wave Jet is now 18 years old,”the cruise line stated in an email to passengers booked on the excursion.
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience this may cause and apologize for any disruptions to your plans,” the company continued.
The regulations affect teens ages 16 and 17 who were previously allowed to drive and manage their own jet skis, under the presence of a parent who signed liability forms.
Royal Caribbean reminded passengers that the new regulations do not prevent children under 18 from enjoying jet ski excursions, but that those 16 and 17 must now join as passengers with a driver over the age of 18, as is the case of children under 16.
The minimum age for children to ride as a passenger of a jet ski with Royal Caribbean remains 10 years old.
Although the alert came from Royal Caribbean, other cruise lines that often sail to the Bahamas have updated their policies for jet ski excursions, including Carnival Cruise Line, whose website now states 18 as the legal driving age at its own private destination, Half Moon Cay.
Jet Ski Crackdown
The updated age restriction follows a string of jet ski-related accidents that have raised concerns about water sports safety in the Bahamas.
Since August 2024, at least four American tourists have been hospitalized due to jet ski injuries, according to the US Embassy. Two of those cases were serious enough to require emergency medical evacuations to the US.
In March 2025, a passenger of Holland America Line suffered a fatal accident while jet skiing at Half Moon Cay.
Cruise Passengers on Jet Skis (Photo Credit: Gail Johnson)
The US government has advised visitors not to rent jet skis in the Bahamas.
In response, the Bahamian government began working with key tourism and transportation officials to address safety lapses and improve oversight of the water sports industry.
The effort included consultations with the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), the Ministry of Transport, the port department, police, and the Ministry of Tourism, according to local media.
Said Robert Sands, president of the BHTA, “We’ve been pressing for improved regulation in the water sports industry for a long time. Safety is the single biggest issue.”
He added that tourists want water sports but said “they must be offered in a way that is safe, professional, and maintains the country’s reputation.”
Additional proposed safety solutions include creating designated operating zones, requiring liability insurance, establishing formal identification for tour operators, and outlying disciplinary procedures for violations.
For years, water sports operators in the Bahamas have faced criticism for lax enforcement and inconsistent training.
In fact, the US State Department’s travel advisory specifically warns that some jet ski operators may lack safety certification and ignore poor weather conditions, which both increase the likelihood of accidents.
Fines of up to $1,500 will be delivered to any passenger that operates a jet ski in a restricted zone, under the influence of drugs or liquor, or without a life jacket.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that exemptions will no longer be granted for the “everyone must purchase” rule for the deluxe drink package.
The change is largely due to increased package sharing, which violates of the deluxe drink package guidelines.
The cruise line strengthened the policy and ceased personalized exemptions as of Friday, August 1, 2025.
It is always nice when cruisers can find a way to save a few dollars off onboard expenses, and saving on drinks is a great option. Royal Caribbean, however, has quietly firmed up a policy that used to save guests hundreds of dollars.
Recently, guests have noticed the change and social media rumors have been circulating as to whether or not it is official: no more personalized exceptions to the beverage package purchase rule.
The well-known “everyone must purchase” rule that has been in place for years. All guests of legal drinking age staying in the same stateroom are required to purchase the deluxe beverage package if one person buys it, regardless of individual drinking preferences.
Until now, however, there has been a personalized workaround for the purchasing requirement. Guests could call the cruise line’s customer service line and explain their situation, asking for an exemption.
Doing so could permit one person to buy the deluxe package while another guest would purchase either the “Royal Refreshment” package or the soda package instead.
These unofficial exemptions were never guaranteed but were well known as a secret that wasn’t really a secret.
This could amount to significant savings depending on the length of the cruise. The deluxe beverage package can run from roughly $50-$115 per day, depending on the exact sailing and cruise length. The Refreshment package is $30-45 per day, while the soda package is $10-20 per person per day.
For a couple on a 7-night cruise, two deluxe packages could run up to $1,610 for the week. If one person were able to buy just the refreshment package, however, that cost could be slashed to $1,120, a savings of $490.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that this will no longer be an option. Cruise Hive reached out directly to the cruise line on Saturday evening for details and learned the change is a recent one.
“Beginning August 1, Royal Caribbean will no longer be able to grant exceptions to our policy that both guests in a stateroom must purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package,”Royal Caribbean stated.
“This change allows us to ensure guests are consuming their beverage package responsibly. Over time, requests for exceptions have increased, and sharing of packages has continued, which led us to implement this policy change.”
There you have it, a prime example of some people’s poor behavior spoiling it for everyone. The policy was in place to prevent package sharing, and did permit some flexibility for those who have different drink preferences or medical issues that prohibit alcohol consumption.
Now, instead, there will be no exemptions and the firm policy will stand.
How Can You Still Save on Drinks?
To be fair, it isn’t necessary to buy a drink package at all. Depending on one’s beverage preferences and the amount of liquid refreshment desired, just purchasing drinks as needed can be a great savings.
Alternatively, purchasing any of the drink packages pre-cruise can lead to significant savings, with some flash sales as much as 50% off the regular price.
Furthermore, Royal Caribbean often features “drink of the day” specials and other savings options that don’t depend on packages.
“Guests are still able to purchase a la carte drinks and drink specials will still be widely available throughout the ship,”the cruise line said.
Plus, let’s not forget the free drinks. Basic coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are available, as well as different juices in the morning and lemonade, iced tea, and several fruit-infused waters throughout the day at onboard drink stations.
My favorite? The strawberry kiwi and the tropical mango tie for the top spot! No better drink on a sunny day at sea, without any cost at all.
Celebrity Constellation lost power for approximately two hours while sailing in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Italy.
At least partial power was restored but the ship remained adrift slightly longer before resuming at much slower speeds.
The next port of call is scheduled for Sunday, August 3 in Messina, but there is not yet confirmation of any itinerary adjustments following the power loss.
Celebrity Constellation has suffered a technical malfunction and spent two hours without power while drifting slowly off the coast of southern Italy, according to reports from guests onboard and tracking data online.
The ship set sail on an 11-night, one-way voyage from Ravenna to Rome on Monday, July 28, 2025. Following several port visits to Croatia and Montenegro, Saturday, August 2 was to have been a day at sea en route to Messina, Sicily for a visit from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Satellite tracking data now shows the vessel to have slowed significantly and drifted from her expected route. For several hours, the vessel was only moving at 1-2 knots, or approximately 1.1-2.3 miles per hour, far below the speed necessary to reach Messina. Her top cruising speed is 24 knots (27.6 mph).
As she drifted, Celebrity Constellation was positioned roughly 25 miles east-southeast of Crotone, Italy in the Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece.
Reports from guests onboard the Millennium class ship describe what appears to be a power failure with no lights, no air conditioning, toilets not flushing, and only cold food being served for dinner.
“One hour in and it’s HOT,”one guest noted.
The lack of air conditioning could be especially concerning as local temperatures are roughly 80 degrees. Without air circulation, interior areas of the ship, including staterooms, can quickly become stifling and uncomfortable.
Celebrity Constellation was only without power for about two hours, however, and the situation is not yet so dire. It is possible further power failures could occur as repairs are made.
What Happened to Cause the Malfunction?
There is no confirmation about how a power failure could have occurred. These types of incidents are often, though not always, precipitated by fires or electrical shorts in a ship’s engine room, though there are other potential causes of power loss.
Cruise ships are fully equipped to handle emergencies and unexpected technical issues. Celebrity Constellation undoubtedly remains in contact with the cruise line as well as authorities on land to update them on the situation.
Simultaneously, engineering teams would be assessing the vessel and initiating any emergency repairs to restore both backup power and main power to return the ship to full operation.
No further details are available at this time. The situation does not appear to be the same as has impacted Celebrity Beyond in recent weeks, as that is an engine issue that has only impacted sailing speed, not onboard operations.
The 90,940-gross ton Celebrity Constellation is one of the older ships in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, having debuted in 2002. She can welcome 2,184 guests aboard, and is also home to approximately 1,000 crew members.
Welcome to another edition of Cruise News Update, Cruise Hive’s exciting recap of our top stories. Highlights of this week’s coverage include the new waterpark Norwegian Cruise Line has planned for Great Stirrup Cay, the tsunami warning that caused a cruise ship to temporarily leave guests behind, and Royal Caribbean’s extension of cancelled visits to Labadee.
Make sure you stay well-informed by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, so the big cruise stories are delivered right to your inbox.
Cruise Guest Tumbles Over Infinity Pool Railing
Icon of the Seas The Hideaway Pool Fall
A scary video of a cruise guest tumbling over a poolside railing went viral on social media, but a tragic outcome was averted thanks to the presence of a second safety railing.
It happened in the Hideaway Pool area on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. A guest enjoying the infinity pool is seen reaching for something over the edge of the pool railing and then falling over the railing. Witnesses indicated he or she was reaching for sunglasses.
Thankfully, a walkway and second railing interrupted the guest’s fall. But the guest was not in a location where he or she could have fallen off the ship and into the ocean.
The blurry video appears to show a glass railing at the edge of the pool. It looks like the guest hit the second railing and landed between the two glass railings.
It was the second untoward incident that happened on that sailing of Icon of the Seas. Earlier in the cruise, a crew member jumped overboard and died. He apparently jumped after stabbing another crew member on the ship. That employee was treated for injuries.
Icon of the Seas is based at PortMiami and sails alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.
Agents from the FBI are handling a routine investigation of the death of a cruise passenger aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Dream on July 23, 2025.
The cruise line has stated that no criminal activity is suspected and that the FBI’s involvement was standard protocol.
Emergency alarms sounded sometime between 3 and 4 a.m., according to guests onboard the 3,646-guest ship, as the vessel sailed from Costa Maya, Mexico, to Belize City. The ship is based in Galveston and was sailing a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary.
The guest who died was identified as 48-year-old Euvelester Villarreal Jr of Rio Grande City, Texas. No cause of death was made public.
Guests who disembarked the ship in Galveston when the cruise ended on July 26, 2025 indicated they saw law enforcement officers boarding the ship. In fact, disembarkation was apparently delayed due to the investigation, but the ship’s next sailing, an 8-night Bahamas cruise, departed on schedule later that day.
The presence of the FBI sparked rumors on social media about the passenger’s death, but the investigation was standard operating procedure.
Massive Waterpark on Tap for Great Stirrup Cay
Great Stirrup Cay Great Tides Waterpark
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay, a private island in the Bahamas, will soon have a lot more to offer guests, including the 6-acre Great Tides Waterpark.
Opening in summer 2026, the park will offer 19 waterslides, an 800-foot lazy river that will feature an accelerated current, cliff-jumping experiences, and splash zones for children.
Great Stirrup Cay is situated on 270 acres, providing plenty of room for the line to expand guest amenities and services.
The multiple waterslides will be located at the 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower, and will offer racing slides and tube slides. Cliffside Cove will be home to 10- and 15-foot cliff-jumping experiences that represent an industry first.
Youngsters will enjoy the new 9,000-square-foot splash zone, where they can cool off under a tipping bucket and try out miniature slides, among other activities.
There are other enhancements coming soon to Great Stirrup Cay. In late 2025, several previously announced areas will come on line, including a heated pool, two swim-up bars, and the Vibe Shore Club, an adult-only area modeled on the line’s shipboard Vibe Beach Club.
Tsunami Warning Prompts Ship to Leave Guests Behind
Pride of America Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jose Gil)
It isn’t the kind of publicity a cruise line wants, but when a potential tsunami is headed toward your ship, it must be moved out of the way as quickly as possible.
That was the case with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, the ship that sails weekly cruises between the Hawaiian Islands.
When tsunami warnings were issued in Hawaii following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit eastern Russia on July 29, 2025, Pride of America was making her port call at Hilo, on the Big Island.
Her emergency departure to open seas, which is much safer for a cruise ship than remaining in a harbor, forced the ship to leave about 300 guests and crew members in port. (The ship accommodates 2,200 guests.)
It was a challenging time for those left behind, including family members who were separated by the events.
Many guests had been on shore excursions or exploring the destination on their own when the warning was sounded. Those who were on excursions organized by the cruise line were taken to an area school to wait it out.
After an overnight at the school, they were driven back to the harbor to reboard the ship, which had returned to Hilo early that morning.
Be Careful When Visiting Celebration Key
View of Celebration Key
There is plenty to celebrate at Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s newly opened private destination on Grand Bahamas Island, but an abundance of bees is not one of them.
Apparently, many cruise guests visiting the destination are getting stung by bees. And they are complaining to the cruise line, namely to brand ambassador John Heald via his popular Facebook page.
Heald has indicated that Carnival Cruise Line is aware of the bounty of bees and is taking steps to mitigate the problem. It’s likely that the destination’s many exotic flowers are partly to blame, as are the dining and bar venues — bees definitely love soda and other sugary drinks, for instance.
The cruise line has not revealed how it will deal with the problem, but efforts are likely to include physically moving bee nests to less populated areas of Celebration Key.
Meanwhile, Heald reminded cruisers that the destination has a first aid station at the north end of Lokono Cove, and that anyone needing medical attention can go there. The station keeps epinephrine on hand, which can be used in cases of severe allergic reactions.
Bug spray would probably help some, too.
Royal Caribbean Extends Cancelled Calls to Labadee
Royal Caribbean’s Labadee (Photo Credit: Chesser62)
Labadee, Haiti, is in the news again after Royal Caribbean announced that its ships will continue to avoid the port call through at least October 2025.
The cruise line operates a private destination in Labadee, roughly 125 miles from Port-au-Prince, the embattled capital city where civil unrest has been a problem in the last few years.
In fact, Haiti remains under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory from the US Department of State.
The ships with Caribbean itineraries now through October that no longer will visit the land-side resort are Adventure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean said the cancellations, totaling 23 sailings, were being made out of an abundance of caution, even though the Labadee destination has its own security system.
Alternative port calls will vary by ship and departure, but will include Nassau, Bahamas; George Town, Grand Cayman; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; and Costa Maya, Mexico, among others.
Guests booked on affected sailings will be contacted by the cruise line.
Carnival Warns of Roadwork, Detours Near PortMiami
Carnival Conquest in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
Headed to board your cruise ship at PortMiami through August 4, 2025? Lucky you! But look out for roadwork and detours along Biscayne Boulevard, the busy north-south artery that leads to the port from downtown Miami.
Carnival Cruise Line issued an alert to guests booked on several sailings during the first weekend in August, urging them to be aware of road restrictions, detours, and likely traffic delays.
Leave extra travel time, the line warned, to be sure to arrive at your specified time in the terminal. Guests who bought transfers from the cruise line, either from an airport, nearby hotel, or some other location, will be contacted by Carnival if the transfer is in any way affected.
The cruise line sent the alert to guests booked on Carnival Conquest’s 3-night Bahamas cruise departing on August 1 and her 4-night Bahamas cruise departing on August 4, 2025.
Also, Carnival Horizon’s 8-night Southern Caribbean departing on August 2, 2025; Carnival Celebration’s 6-night Eastern Caribbean and Carnival Magic’s 7-night Western Caribbean departures on August 3, 2025; and Carnival Sunrise’s 5-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing on August 4, 2025.
The cruise line’s ships depart from either Terminal D or E at PortMiami, which is the busiest in the US in terms of cruise passenger transits.
More Cruise Headlines
Let’s keep going with cruise news! Cruise Hive has many more cruise developments you will want to know about, such as the US government reissuing a travel advisory for Antarctica, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings posting record revenue for the second quarter of 2025, and Mexico cruise ports celebrating high arrival numbers for the first half of 2025.
An updated version of the Cruise Passenger Protection Act has been introduced to both US houses of Congress.
The 56-page bill covers a variety of safety, security, and guest rights issues related to crimes at sea.
Additional revisions and updates are likely as the bill continues to be examined before it becomes law.
With viral videos and dramatic streaming shows often showing a seedier side of cruise ships, travelers might be nervous to set sail without knowing what recourse they could have if something unsavory were to occur.
Two US legislators have now introduced the Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025 for legislative consideration. The 56-page bill covers a variety of measures to improve security, onboard safety, crime reporting, and guests’ rights.
Introduced by US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and US Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), the bill is aimed at the well-being of all passengers and provides peace of mind that their rights are preserved even at sea.
“Cruises should be a time of rest and relaxation – but a dream vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare if there are inadequate safety measures for travelers,”said Blumenthal.
“Cruises are billed as safe, family-friendly vacations – but when emergencies happen, passengers still lack the rights and protections they deserve,”Matsui added.
US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and US Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Provisions that are part of the Act include:
A 3-year minimum statue of limitations for travelers to file a lawsuit against a cruise line
Defining which types of complaints guests may register against a cruise line
Establishing a victim support services office to help impacted travelers
Directing that crime data, including overboard incidents, is more readily available
Guidelines for when and how crimes must be reported, including crime scene preservation
The bill will apply to any ship that “has overnight accommodates for 250 or more passengers” and “is on a voyage that embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States.”
This means that ships on transpacific or transatlantic cruises would still be obligated to abide by the law, even if they are on one-way journeys away from the US.
When Will the Bill Become a Law?
A great deal of editing, adjusting, and compromise is sure to be made on the bill as it moves through committees as part of the legislative process.
Still, it is a good effort to ensure that cruise guests retain their protections even after they set sail into international waters.
“The International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) strongly supports the newly reintroduced legislation in both chambers of Congress aimed at protecting the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of cruise ship passengers,”said Jamie Barnett, Laurie Dishman, and Georgia Ananias of ICV.
It can take years for legislation to go through multiple revisions before it is voted on and potentially approved. In fact, the bill introduced on August 1 is actually a revision of an earlier bill and refines and expands many key points of the document.
In some cases, legislation must be further amended as technology advances. A key point in the new bill is better clarification of overboard detection technology, which is continually being refined with advancements in facial recognition, artificial intelligence, and other aspects.
Cruise lines and other maritime officials will all be part of various committees to review the legislation, ensuring a thorough review of each amendment and addendum before the bill advances.
