Blog Page 154

Congress Targets Cruise Ship Crime and Guest Rights in New Bill

Melissa Mayntz
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Congress Targets Cruise Ship Crime and Guest Rights in New Bill

Key Aspects:

  • 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)
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.

Read Also: Netflix Show Reignites Fears of Disappearing From Cruise Ships

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.

New Seasonal Greek Tax Now Impacting Royal Caribbean Guests

Melissa Mayntz
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New Seasonal Greek Tax Now Impacting Royal Caribbean Guests

Key Aspects:

  • A new tax on visitors to Greece, including cruise guests, began on Friday, August 1, 2025.
  • Tax rates will vary depending on destination and visit dates, with higher fees during peak periods.
  • Royal Caribbean will refund fees if guests stay onboard and do not debark in Greek ports of call.

Beginning August 1, 2025 sailing to the iconic Greek Isles has become a few dollars more expensive for Royal Caribbean guests. This is due to a new seasonal tax now in effect for the popular Mediterranean destination.

The tax was announced in 2024 but has only just begun to be implemented. The new tax rates change depending on when and where guests visit.

The cruise line has reached out to guests with bookings that include different ports in Greece to alert them to the change.

“Beginning with sailings that depart on August 1, 2025, a seasonal cruise tax will be implemented about various ports in Greece,” the email explained, “including iconic destinations like Mykonos and Santorini.”

All Greek ports are now implementing the tax. While Mykonos and Santorini are by far the most popular destinations in the Hellenic Republic, other destinations include Athens, Crete, and Rhodes.

The cost of the fee does vary depending on where guests visit and the date they enjoy the port of call. This is an effort to further ease tourism crowding during peak periods and at the most popular destinations.

The fee breaks down as follows:

  • Peak Season – June 1 through September 30: €20 for Santorini and Mykonos; €5 for other ports
  • Shoulder Season – April 1 to May 31 and October 1-31: €12 for Santorini and Mykonos; €3 for other ports
  • Off Season – November 1 through March 31: €4 for Santorini and Mykonos; €1 for other ports

It isn’t immediately clear how fees will be calculated for cruises that visit multiple Greek ports on the same sailing. Because the rates vary by destination, however, it is likely that each port will have a different fee assessed and they will be added together for multiple port visits.

Currency exchange rates will naturally fluctuate, but as of August 1, this means US cruise guests to Santorini and Mykonos will pay approximately $23.10 (USD) in peak season; $13.85 in the shoulder season, or $4.61 in the off season.

If guests booked their Greek Islands sailing after September 20, 2024, the new fee has already been incorporated in the taxes and fees at the time of booking. If guests booked their sailing earlier, the appropriate fee will be charged to their onboard account.

Cruise Ships Visiting Santorini, Greece
Cruise Ships Visiting Santorini, Greece (Photo Credit: Ella Fogel)

However, Royal Caribbean has noted that if guests do not disembark during Greek port visits, they will not be charged the fee.

“If you choose to stay onboard and not go ashore in these Greek ports, we will automatically credit your SeaPass account for the applicable amount towards the end of our sailing,” the notification explained.

It should be noted that these taxes are not being implemented by Royal Caribbean, but rather by Greece. This means guests on other cruise lines will also be impacted, though each cruise line may collect the fees in a different way.

For example, MSC Cruises recently alerted its booked guests about the new fee and how it will be collected.

What Will the New Fees Be Used For?

The new fees on cruise guests are not intended as punitive measures, but are instead earmarked for environmental and conservation measures.

“This initiative supports sustainable tourism and helps preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of these beloved destinations,” Royal Caribbean explained.

The phenomenal beaches, striking architecture, ancient temples, and other attractions of Greece that bring in the most tourism are also some that can be most damaged by too many visitors.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Age Limits – What You Need to Know

While exact plans have not been revealed, the new tax can provide funding for protective and restoration efforts, as well as improving local infrastructure to minimize crowding and ensure a pleasant and memorable visit for everyone.

Greece is not the first popular cruise location to implement these types of taxes, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Lisbon, Portugal began such a tax in January 2024, Hawaii has passed its first-ever tax on cruise ships, and tourist taxes are even being considered in Alaska, just to name a few.

Royal Caribbean Marks Historic 100 Million Guest Achievement

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Marks Historic 100 Million Guest Achievement

Key Aspects: 

  • Royal Caribbean marked a major milestone by officially welcoming 100 million cruise guests.
  • The occasion was marked with a surprise celebration onboard Icon of the Seas, in which a family was honored with special upgrades and a free cruise.
  • Royal Caribbean’s history of growth and breaking records will only continue with Star of the Seas and the brand’s upcoming shoreside destinations.

When we talk about the cruise guests in terms of numbers, we’re often thinking about how many passengers visited a specific port of call. 

But this time, Royal Caribbean is stealing the spotlight to celebrate that the popular cruise line has now welcomed 100 million guests after over 50 years in the cruise industry.

The celebration kicked off with a big surprise for the Duquette family, who became the 100 millionth guests when they stepped onboard Icon of the Seas for a 7-night Caribbean vacation.

The Parkland, Florida, residents were stunned to find themselves at the center of a celebration in the Royal Promenade in which they were given special upgrades, a $1,000 onboard credit, and a free cruise onboard Utopia of the Seas.

For context, Utopia of the Seas is the most recent addition to the Oasis-class ships, launching in 2024 like Icon of the Seas. She currently operates 3-4 night sailings to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral.

The Duquette family, Royal Caribbean 100 Million Guests
The Duquette family, Royal Caribbean 100 Million Guests

As the family was honored, excited crew members came running with balloons spelling out 100M and threw colorful confetti.

However, the celebration isn’t just about honoring one lucky family. The winners are a symbol of all the fun-filled memories the cruise line wants to make with the next 100 million guests.

With this in mind, Royal Caribbean is also running a special promotion where guests can save up to $100 on all Royal Caribbean vacations embarking in the US on bookings made through August 5, 2025.

Onwards and Upwards

Today, Royal Caribbean is one of the major leaders in the cruise world. But to put things into perspective, it’s important to look back at how far the brand has come since it was founded in 1968.

Now 57 years ago, the cruise line was born in Norway thanks to the efforts of three Norwegian shipping companies: Anders Wilhelmsen & Company, I.M. Skaugen & Company, and Gotaas Larsen.

Just about two years later in 1970, the company launched the now-retired Song of Norway, and the growth only continued from there.

Today, the RCL fleet consists of 29 cruise ships that sail to over 300 bucket-list destinations around the world.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest (1996-2025)

Royal Caribbean 100 Million Guests
Royal Caribbean 100 Million Guests

Along the way, Royal Caribbean has broken all kinds of records on its ships and at its private islands to become one of the most innovative brands on the high seas.

To state the obvious, Icon of the Seas has made waves as the largest cruise ship in the world at 248,663 gross tons and a maximum occupancy of 7,600 passengers.

This giant of the ocean broke several other records, including being home to the largest waterpark at sea with the tallest water slide at sea.

The famed AquaDome, meanwhile, is covered by the largest glass dome ever added to a cruise ship and also houses the world’s largest AquaTheater.

Of course, these are only a few examples of the many records the cruise line has broken.

More innovations are on the horizon with the next Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, set to debut at the end of this month.

Perfect Day Mexico is also coming in fall 2027, and just as the original Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas broke records with its waterslides, so will the new waterslides and long lazy river at the new addition on Costa Maya.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will also open in Nassau by the end of this year, with Royal Beach Club Cozumel launching in Mexico and Lelepa in the South Pacific by the end of 2027.

Carnival’s Costa Brand Pulls Out of Middle East Due to Fluid Situation

Donna Tunney
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Carnival’s Costa Brand Pulls Out of Middle East Due to Fluid Situation

Key Aspects

  • Costa Toscana was set to operate a series of winter voyages from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
  • The Excellence-class ship will instead remain in the Mediterranean.
  • Cost Cruises attributed the decision to unpredictable conditions in the region.

Faced with ongoing geopolitical challenges in the Middle East, Costa Cruises has revamped the deployment of Costa Toscana, which was to sail a series of voyages from the United Arab Emirates and Dubai during winter 2025-26.

Instead, the ship will remain in the Mediterranean for the season. Costa Toscana, with a capacity for 5,300 guests in double occupancy and 6,500 with all berths occupied, currently sails the Western Mediterranean with embarkation from multiple ports.

“Due to the currently fluid situation in the Middle East, which remains unpredictable for the foreseeable future, Costa wants to provide its guests with reliable clarity on their vacation plans for the upcoming winter season as early as possible,” the cruise line stated.

The cruise series was to include 7-night sailings roundtrip from Abu Dhabi, UAE, calling at Dubai, UAE; Muscat, Oman; and Doha, Qatar. Seven-night voyages roundtrip from Doha were to call at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Muscat.

Worth Reading: Costa Cruises Cancels All Asia Homeport Cruises

Additionally, the ship’s fall 2025 and spring 2026 repositioning cruises to and from the Middle East homeports also are cancelled. The cruise line has contacted all booked guests on the impacted cruises to advise them of the change and offer alternative options.

Costa Toscana, an Excellence-class ship that launched in 2021, was scheduled to remain in the Mediterranean until mid-November 2025, before deploying to the Middle East.

Under the updated schedule, the ship will continue to sail the Mediterranean, however, the cruise line has not revealed or opened for sale any of those cruises yet.

Costa Toscana Cruise Ship
Costa Toscana Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: GEORGE STAMATIS)

The ship is currently operating 3-, 6-, and 7-night voyages roundtrip from multiple embarkation ports. Her 7-night sailing from Barcelona on August 26, 2025, for example, calls at Ibiza, Spain; Palermo, Sicily; Rome and Savona, Italy; and Marseille, France.

A shorter 3-night getaway from Barcelona to Palermo on September 9, 2025, calls at Ibiza, while a 6-night cruise from Rome on September 6, 2025 takes guests to Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, and Ibiza.

Costa Cruises indicated that Costa Toscana’s updated fall-winter schedule would be released soon.

Canary Islands, Caribbean Are Options For Winter Cruising

Meanwhile, the cruise line, a Carnival Corporation brand, reminded prospective guests that starting in December 2025, Costa Fortuna will offer a series of Canary Islands voyages from Barcelona, Marseille, and Savona, and roundtrip from Tenerife and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.

Prospective cruisers looking to explore the Caribbean can sail on the line’s Costa Fascinosa or Costa Pacifica, both offered with Costa’s “fly&cruise” package that combines air and cruise fares.

A 7-day voyage aboard Costa Fascinosa offers embarkation from Martinique, Guadeloupe, or Santo Domingo, and calls at destinations including Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Dominican Republic.

Costa Pacifica offers several longer itineraries. A 15-day cruise roundtrip from La Romana, Dominican Republic, calls at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Barbados; Guadeloupe; Saint Kitts and Nevis; British Virgin Islands; and Grand Turk.

The decision to cancel Middle East cruises was not the first for Costa Toscana. As tensions in the Red Sea emerged in early 2024, the ship’s 19-night repositioning cruise from Dubai to Italy was cancelled just six weeks before departure.

More From Cruise Hive

The regional unrest, which stemmed from conflicts involving Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeted maritime traffic and caused multiple cruise lines to cancel cruises or reroute itineraries away from the Red Sea.

Costa Toscana made her inaugural call to Dubai in late 2022 and remained in the region that winter, cruising between Oman, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar.

Cruise Guest Questions Policy That Makes Carrying Bags More Difficult

Melissa Mayntz
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Cruise Guest Questions Policy That Makes Carrying Bags More Difficult

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line does not permit collapsible wagons to be used at embarkation or debarkation, even in ports of call.
  • Similarly, they may not be used onboard ships due to safety constraints and damage to the decks and architecture.
  • Guests can bring such wagons aboard but must carry (not wheel) them off for use only in ports.

Are you a chronic overpacker? Do you feel better bringing all your luggage onboard with you on a cruise? It can be challenging if you have a lot of carry on items, but a small, collapsible wagon could make it easier to lug bags around.

Unfortunately, wagons are not permitted on Carnival cruise ships at the times when they might be most useful. This includes embarkation and debarkation, as well as when going to and from the ship at ports of call.

One guest has reached out to the cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, to better understand the reasoning and why wagons can’t be used onboard.

“We used to take a small folding wagon to check in and walk around the ship until we could access our rooms. We don’t carry a ton on, but some things you have to carry on (like soda, medicines, etc.). It ends up being more than I can carry,” the guest explained.

A wagon could make it much easier to bring multiple bags up the sometimes lengthy gangways and onto the ship. This could be especially true for any guest who also brings aboard their preferred soft drinks or who might also have small children.

“Our last cruise, I saw that we can no longer use wagons,” the guest noted. “Are we able to take wagons through the check in process and onto the ship? It would make boarding so much easier on this body of mine.”

The answer Heald offered, however, is not one the guest might have wanted.

“I’m so sorry to tell you that these are now strictly not allowed,” he said.

This is not a new policy, as collapsible wagons have been listed on Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited items list since at least 2021. They aren’t actually 100% prohibited, however.

“They [can] be used in port but not carried or dragged around the ship,” Heald confirmed.

Wagons are listed under the “Items for Port Use Only” portion of the prohibited items list. This means guests may bring them aboard the ship, but may only use them while off the vessel at different destinations.

This policy further clarifies that wagons cannot be rolled on or off the ship either at the beginning or end of a cruise or while visiting ports of call.

“For the safety of our guests, the wagon cannot be rolled onto/off the ship during embarkation and debarkation and cannot be rolled off/onto the ship while in port,” the policy outlines.

Other cruise lines, such as MSC Cruises, have similar restrictions on wagons.

Why Aren’t Wagons Allowed on Carnival Ships?

Heald further explained why wagons aren’t permitted, and it goes beyond just safety.

“They have been damaging the decks and some of the architecture as well as causing problems in other ways as well,” he said.

Different wagons use different materials for wheels. Some materials may scratch, scuff, or leave debris on the different flooring and deck materials onboard ships, especially after busy, sandy beach days.

Travel Wagon
Travel Wagon (Photo Credits: msg919)

Furthermore, if the wagons are carelessly bumped or crashed into corners, poles, railings, or doorways, that could create even more damage.

Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise

Heald does not offer details about what other problems wagons might cause. Depending on their use, however, wagons could easily take up excess space in already crowded elevators, injure other guests with bumps or squashed toes, or cause difficulties if they are “parked” in corridors.

So how can guests bring their essential items when they board the ship, if there is just a bit too much to tote?

The self-assist luggage option is always available and does not have size restrictions. Guests can (and I have!) bring aboard larger rolling bags, so long as they can manage the bags without help from crew members.

Canadian Port Replaced for Multiple Liberty of the Seas Sailings

Catie Kovelman
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Canadian Port Replaced for Multiple Liberty of the Seas Sailings

Key Aspects: 

  • Royal Caribbean has replaced the port of Sydney, Nova Scotia, with an extended visit to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, for at least two cruises.
  • The impacted cruises are both 9-night sailings that embark from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on September 18 and October 2 in 2025. 
  • The reason for the switch is unconfirmed, but many wonder if it has to do with the breakdown of the free shuttle service in Sydney. 

Many future passengers of Liberty of the Seas who were looking forward to exploring Sydney, Canada, won’t get the chance to experience the Nova Scotia destination after all.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship will soon be operating a handful of 9-night sailings to different destinations around New England and throughout Canada, coinciding with the famously beautiful fall season.

But for the voyages due to embark from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on September 18, 2025, and October 2, 2025, the 3,634-guest vessel will no longer sail to Sydney as planned.

Instead, the day-long visits to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, that were already on the itinerary will be extended into overnight calls.

“We’re on the October 2nd sailing and were notified today that Sydney has been cancelled. Now overnighting in St John…..so this might happen to you all also,” one booked guest confirmed.

“It also happened on our sailing on Sept 18th. Our group of six are bummed,” another guest added.

Liberty of the Seas will still be visiting Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; and Halifax, Nova Scotia, on these voyages, as was called for on the original itinerary.

The Freedom-class cruise ship is also supposed to operate two more similar 9-night voyages to Canada that embark on September 4, 2025, and October 16, 2025, for which no changes have been announced publicly at this time.

But given the other changes, passengers booked on these voyages will want to keep an eye out for possible communications from Royal Caribbean.

Cruisers Want Answers 

While itinerary changes can be disappointing, part of cruising is that the cruise lines may switch up ports of call for pretty much any reason.

This is usually a term that passengers agree to in their cruise contract when they first book their sailings.

But while Royal Caribbean fans understand that change is sometimes inevitable, many wished that they knew the reason behind this one. The cruise line apologized for the inconvenience, but did not provide its rationale.

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock)

“Why don’t they give us a reason for the change to the itinerary?  I mean we are more than two months out from the cruise,” one passenger inquired.

“I will enjoy the cruise either way but it would be nice if they had the courtesy to let us know why they had to change the port,” another echoed.

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

Though unconfirmed, the leading theory in this case is that the change has to do with the breakdown of the free shuttle service that transports passengers from Sydney’s second berth to the main terminal when more than one ship is present.

The second berth is rather far from the main Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion terminal, making transportation a necessity.

“My daughter did some research and it seems the transportation bus is non operating and they have used the school bus for July and August but since school will be in session after that….maybe no transportation,” one passenger guessed.

“Some ships apparently had to hire private taxi and shuttle services and it was very slow so I think this led to them preemptively canceling the port as there’s no timetable for resolution,” another cruiser theorized.

According to cruise tracking data, a second cruise ship is scheduled to be in the port at the same time as Liberty of the Seas would have been for the September 18 and October 2 sailings.

Interestingly, she is the only ship scheduled during her planned visits for the voyages that so far remain unchanged.

Protestors Delay Celebrity Cruise Ship Homeporting in Amsterdam

Catie Kovelman
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Protestors Delay Celebrity Cruise Ship Homeporting in Amsterdam

Key Aspects: 

  • The Extinction Rebellion group has staged another anti-cruise protest, this time blocking Celebrity Eclipse from docking in Amsterdam on July 27, 2025.
  • During the protest, around 30 environmental activists blocked the 2,850-guest ship from entering the harbor by forming a barrier with smaller boats and inflatables.
  • The stand off lasted for about two hours, delaying disembarkation from a now-concluded 11-night cruise.

The Amsterdam cruise terminal in the Netherlands welcomed over 1.1 million passengers last year, but an activist group called Extinction Rebellion would prefer that this number dropped to zero immediately.

The environmental organization vehemently opposes cruise tourism, which they believe should not be allowed to continue due to ship-caused pollution and the potential negative environmental impact on coastal communities.

Approximately 30 members came out in full force in Amsterdam on the morning of July 27, 2025, to block Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse from docking at what has been her homeport since the end of April.

Ominous pictures show the protestors surrounding the bow of the cruise ship just as the dawn is breaking, getting way too close to the significantly larger vessel for comfort.

“Dabbling in boats, canoes and inflatable animals, 30 rebels again took action against the cruise industry. This time we stopped the cruise ship the Celebrity Eclipse (2,850 passengers and 1,200 crew members) from docking at the Passengers Terminal Amsterdam,” the group posted on their social media.

“We protest with this blockade against the harmful influence of cruise ships on humans, nature and the climate,” the post continued.

The group has caused cruise ships to delay arrivals and skip port calls entirely in Europe before by blocking the entrance to harbors, with members sometimes even using their own bodies to block critical access locks.

This time, activists gathered starting at around 4:30 a.m. in canoes, inflatables, and other small water crafts to form a barrier well before the Solstice-class vessel arrived closer to 6 a.m.

Once the ship arrived, which was carrying thousands of guests who needed to disembark from an 11-night sailing to Iceland and Ireland, a two-hour stand off ensued until the protestors could be removed.

Law enforcement did eventually intervene to break up the protest, with five activists arrested on charges of assault, obstructing the cruise ship, and refusing to provide identification when asked.

At least two of the individuals who were taken into custody have already been released.

Some of the protestors have also alleged that police boats collided with their inflatable vessels, but this has not been confirmed and no injuries have been reported.

Celebrity Eclipse was able to dock safely and is already in the middle of a 7-night sailing to the Norwegian Fjords that set sail at around 5 p.m. the very same day.

Protesting With Renewed Passion

Unfortunately, the conflict between the cruise industry and Extinction Rebellion does not seem to be going away anytime soon. If anything, tensions are actually increasing.

“Cruise ships are floating environmental disasters. They should not be allowed in Dutch waters. We demand strict and binding national and international environmental standards and regulations, as well as strict enforcement and sanctions policy,” Extinction Rebellion posted.

“We will continue with actions like this until this harmful tourist industry is banned from Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands,” the group asserted.

That said, this stance may be a bit harsh as the cruise lines have made a real effort to be carbon neutral by 2050 (or sooner) and have been prioritizing sustainability in recent years.

Protesters Block Celebrity Eclipse
Protesters Block Celebrity Eclipse (Photo Credit: Extinction Rebellion NL)

For example, many cruise lines have updated their fleets to be able to connect to shore power, which is a greener fuel alternative, and have built new ships to have this capability from the start.

Of course, Extinction Rebellion’s efforts do have a negative impact on cruise operations, which is what the group wants.

Top brands like Royal Caribbean (the sister brand to Celebrity Cruises), Disney Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Ambassador Cruise Line have all been forced to pivot due to the group’s actions in 2024.

The delays and skipped port calls that this group has caused leads to unhappy passengers and significant expenditures when the cruise lines have to refund shore excursions or compensate guests.

The passengers onboard, meanwhile, may be forced to skip tours they paid for or miss flights or other pre-booked transportation if disembarkation is significantly delayed.

More From Cruise Hive

On the shore side, tour providers are forced to quickly adjust, especially if guides and buses are already waiting at the port, and perhaps lose out on significant income, impacting their livelihoods.

The protestors are risking their own safety as well. At 121,878-gross tons and 1,041 feet long, Celebrity Eclipse is a large ship that is certainly capable of damaging or sinking the activists’ vessels.

Multiple Celebrity Beyond Cruises Adjusted for Ongoing Speed Issues

Melissa Mayntz
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Multiple Celebrity Beyond Cruises Adjusted for Ongoing Speed Issues

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Beyond‘s sailings in August, September, and October 2025 are being adjusted to accommodate a lowered speed.
  • Port visits are being preserved, but most itineraries are swapping port days or adjusting times in port to compensate.
  • At this time, no additional sailings are cancelled for the vessel, but further adjustments are always possible.

Things may not be quite back up to speed for Celebrity Beyond following her recent engine repair. Guests booked on multiple upcoming sailings have received itinerary change notifications, all citing the same technical concern for the adjustments.

The ship sailed at “a lowered speed” for her first itinerary back from emergency repairs in Freeport, Bahamas. That itinerary departed on Sunday, July 27, 2025.

At the time, it may have seemed that the lowered speed was part of the testing process or a “breaking in” period for repairs, just to ensure the ship was able to function at peak performance.

Now, however, several other cruises have had similar adjustments, including the following departure dates:

  • August 3, 24, 31
  • September 14, 28
  • October 5, 12, 19

To be clear, these are only the adjusted sailings that Cruise Hive has confirmed. With changes impacting so many itineraries already, it is likely that additional voyages may also have similar changes.

Guests booked on Celebrity Beyond in the coming months will want to stay in close contact with Celebrity Cruises in case of additional itinerary adjustments or more drastic changes or cancellations.

For each impacted sailing, the notification email has used identical language to break the news that the ship has to put on the brakes.

“Due to a reduced sailing speed, we’ve made a few adjustments to ensure our voyage remains smooth, comfortable, and above all, safe,” the emails read.

Homeported from Miami, Celebrity Beyond offers 7-night sailings on both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean routes. How individual cruises are adjusted depends on the sailing date, route, and what alternative ports or adjustments may be possible.

Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Skyshark Media / Shutterstock

For example, the ship’s August 24 departure is a Western Caribbean voyage to Bimini, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. That itinerary has now been adjusted as follows:

  • Sunday, August 24 – Depart Miami
  • Monday, August 25 – Bimini, Bahamas; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (formerly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, August 26 – Day at Sea
  • Wednesday, August 27 – Falmouth, Jamaica; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (formerly Cozumel)
  • Thursday, August 28 – George Town, Grand Cayman; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (formerly 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • Friday, August 29 – Cozumel, Mexico; 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (formerly Falmouth)
  • Saturday, August 30 – Day at Sea
  • Sunday, August 31 – Arrive Miami

These changes are typical of the shifts being done to other itineraries, including altered times in port and swapping port visit days.

Whenever possible, the overall number of port visits are being preserved, but further adjustments are always possible.

On each impacted sailing, any pre-purchased Celebrity Cruises shore tours are being adjusted in accordance with the schedule changes as needed.

Wasn’t Celebrity Beyond Just Fixed?

The 141,420-gross ton, Edge-class Celebrity Beyond first developed a “technical issue” that required slower sailing speeds on her July 13 sailing.

At that time, the ship was delayed in her return to Miami, and her July 20 departure was subsequently cancelled for emergency repairs.

Theoretically, those repairs were completed in Freeport, Bahamas and the ship returned to service for her July 27 departure. So why are so many upcoming cruises continuing to be adjusted, and should guests be concerned?

Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship
Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

First, the ship would not have welcomed guests if she was not seaworthy or if any safety systems were compromised. Likewise, there have been no reports of any difficulties with her onboard systems, such as restaurants, entertainment, hotel operations, etc.

Read Also: Who Owns Celebrity Cruises?

It is possible that the reduced sailing speed is simply precautionary to prevent additional difficulties.

Full repairs to return to the ship’s top speeds may not be possible until a more extensive dry dock. At this time, a preliminary dry dock appears scheduled for the ship in early November 2026.

If these issues persist or worsen, however, it may be necessary for another emergency dry dock to be arranged so more repairs can be made.

Coast Guard Evacuates Woman From Carnival Ship During Tsunami Warning

Melissa Mayntz
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Coast Guard Evacuates Woman From Carnival Ship During Tsunami Warning

Key Aspects:

  • A 71-year-old woman was evacuated from Carnival Legend 120 miles off the Oregon coast during the tsunami warning.
  • Emergency crews from Air Station Astoria responded to the emergency situation flawlessly with an efficient airlift.
  • Coast Guard crews are highly trained to respond to a wide range of emergencies, assisting cruise ships when medical needs arise.

It can be hard to predict any type of emergency, much less multiple emergencies at the same time. Yet U.S. Coast Guard crews are ready, willing, and able to respond to multiple events simultaneously whenever needed.

Such a multi-tiered situation arose late Tuesday evening, July 29, aboard Carnival Legend during a day at sea at the end of a 10-night Alaska sailing.

The ship was 120 miles west of Grays Harbor, Washington, sailing from British Columbia to San Francisco, when a 71-year-old woman experienced a cardiac emergency onboard.

The emergency call was put out from the vessel at 6 p.m. and picked up by the Coast Guard Northwest District Command Center. Emergency crews from Air Station Astoria were immediately alerted to assist.

The rescue team aboard the MH-60 helicopter arrived at the ship at 8:39 p.m. and successfully hoisted the guest from the ship’s deck.

They were able to transport her safely to Air Station Astoria where she was transferred to emergency medical services.

You can watch the released footage of the airlift below:

To safeguard the guest’s privacy as well as that of her traveling companions, her name has not been released. There have been no further updates on her condition.

What further complicated this rescue, however, was what happened as the helicopter was making its way toward the cruise ship: the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near Russia, triggering tsunami warnings around the Pacific.

The estimated arrival time of the tsunami wave to the Oregon coast was roughly 11-11:30 p.m. This meant the USCG crew was also on the lookout for potentially dangerous waves while they conducted the delicate rescue operation.

“While carrying out a critical long-range medical evacuation from a cruise ship, Coast Guard Northwest District units also stood ready to respond to the threat of a distant tsunami,” said Commander Neal Corbin, commanding officer of Air Station Astoria.

“Their ability to answer both calls at once is a powerful testament to the Service’s unwavering dedication to saving lives and protecting the maritime community.”

Despite what could have been very challenging circumstances for the long-distance evacuation during a tsunami alert, the rescue went smoothly and Carnival Legend continued to San Francisco without difficulty.

Read Also: Who Owns Carnival Cruise Line?

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the evacuated guest and her loved ones in the hopes that she has a full recovery and is able to enjoy many future cruises.

Challenging Evacuations Under Many Different Circumstances

Any medical evacuation from a cruise ship can be harrowing. The USCG crew must coordinate the operation with the moving cruise ship on an unsteady ocean surface, yet with perfect precision for a safe, smooth outcome.

Poor weather, strong swells, low visibility, distance from land, or especially delicate medical circumstances can all cause added difficulty.

In November 2024, for example, rough weather complicated a rescue from Carnival Vista while the ship was near Puerto Rico.

Carnival Legend Airlift
Carnival Legend Airlift (Credit: US Coast Guard)

US Coast Guard evacuation crews, however, are highly trained and focused on their work with intense concentration that enables them to react quickly to even the most challenging situation.

Furthermore, rescue crews may be called upon to react with the same skill and precision over and over.

This was the case in May 2023 when Air Station San Diego performed three separate rescues in a 24-hour-period from three different cruise ships.

Cruise guests everywhere are undoubtedly grateful for the dedication and service of these specialized crews. While we hope never to use their services, if we do need them, they never fail to perform.

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