MSC Cruises is temporarily suspending new crew members from Kenya from boarding the company’s vessels.
The suspension is ongoing through October 31, 2026 and is likely due to the report of the country’s first Ebola death on October 6.
There are no reports yet of any impact to current onboard cruise operations or itineraries from MSC Cruises or any other cruise line.
MSC Cruises has temporarily halted Kenyan crew members from boarding its ships at least through October 31, 2026. This decision follows the first-ever imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola in Kenya, which resulted in the death of a Kenyan man who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for several years but traveled to Nairobi when ill.
The current outbreak began in the DRC in mid-May 2026, and as of October 13, 2026, the CDC reports that 9,000 cases are confirmed with 4,339 confirmed deaths, of which all but three deaths have been in the DRC.
According to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the man, who has not been identified, was isolated at The Nairobi Hospital but died on Monday, October 5. The confirmation of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus was made independently by both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) on October 6.
The Ministry of Health also notes that contact tracing related to the man’s movements has been strengthened and traveler screening has also been intensified at various points of entry into the country. At this time, no further cases of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus have been reported in Kenya.
Because of the outbreak in the DRC and the virulence of the disease, MSC Cruises is being extremely cautious with this action of halting the embarkation of crew members from Kenya.
Daily Nation notes that MSC Cruises employs hundreds of crew members from Kenya, though the cruise line has not disclosed how many are currently affected by the pause in bringing Kenyan crew members aboard ships.
“As a precautionary measure following recent public health developments in Kenya, MSC Cruises has decided to temporarily suspend the embarkation of Kenyan crew members until 31 October while the situation continues to be monitored and assessed,”the cruise line stated.
Workers have reportedly been assured that their employment status, current contracts, and future opportunities with MSC Cruises will not be impacted by the temporary suspension.
There has been no information released about Kenyan crew members who may be currently serving onboard MSC Cruises ships or if there may be any alternative plans for them if their contracts are scheduled to end this month.
While this is not the first outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, the CDC notes that it is the fastest-growing outbreak in history, with more than 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days of alerts first being raised.
In comparison, the most recent large outbreak of a different Ebola strain was in 2018, which took roughly 235 days to surpass 1,000 confirmed cases. Ultimately, the 2018 outbreak had 3,470 cases with 66% mortality.
Impact on Cruising
MSC Cruises has not made any changes to itineraries or onboard services with respect to the outbreak, but it is possible that some staffing shortages may occur in the next few weeks as the Kenyan crew member suspension continues.
Cruise Hive received the following statement from MSC Cruises:
“MSC Cruises issued a temporary notice on 7 October postponing the embarkation of crew members who are currently residing in Kenya. This measure was implemented in line with our public health protocols following reports of a potential public health concern. The temporary hold is currently planned to remain in place until 31 October, at which time the situation will be reassessed. The measure also applies to crew members who have visited Kenya during the preceding 21 days.”
No other cruise lines have yet made any announced changes to onboard staffing or operations. Furthermore, neither the Department of State (US) nor Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FDCO; UK) have issued high-level warnings about travel to Kenya.
The US Department of State lists Kenya as a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory, largely due to crime, kidnapping, civil unrest, and the lack of health care resources. In comparison, the DRC is listed as a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory with the Ebola outbreak cited as the primary concern.
The FCDO advises against all travel only to select parts of Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, noting the “highly active, evolving and geographically widespread” Ebola outbreak in the latter.
Princess Cruises has announced its 2028-2029 Americas program, with more than 250 departures.
Itineraries include Antarctica, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Pacific Coast.
The cruise line will return to the Amazon River for the first time since 2014, with itineraries including a 64-day Circle South America voyage.
Princess Cruises fans will have a plethora of destinations available to them around the Americas in 2028 and 2029. The Carnival-owned cruise line has announced its 2028-2029 Americas season, with more than 250 departures visiting ports across the Americas, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Antarctica.
“There is an incredible diversity found across the Americas, and our 2028–2029 season gives guests an extraordinary range of ways to experience it,”said Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer.
Cruises will sail to the Caribbean across 141 departures ranging from 5 to 17 days. Guests will embark from Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, San Juan, New York and Barbados visiting destinations including St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Cozumel, and private destinations such as Celebration Key, Isla Tropicale, and RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.
Itineraries visiting Mexico will depart from Los Angeles and San Francisco, featuring overnight Cabo San Lucas visits on some sailings. Additional ports of call include Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and La Paz.
Five ships will sail the Panama Canal: Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess, Ruby Princess, and Star Princess. Itineraries, including 8 full ocean-to-ocean transits, range from 16 to 20 days.
Meanwhile, Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess will offer 7- to 14-day Canada and New England itineraries. Several of these voyages feature an overnight in Quebec, and Îles de la Madeleine has been added as a new destination for the season.
Princess Cruises Americas Map
Cruises to Hawaii and the California Coast are offered from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver. Hawaii cruises will visit Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island, with extended stays in Honolulu on every sailing. California Coast itineraries will include San Diego, San Francisco and Victoria.
Princess Cruises Returns to the Amazon After 14 Years
Majestic Princess and Coral Princess will sail a total of 13 departures across 11 itineraries in the cruise line’s 2028-2029 South America season. Notably, this season includes the first Princess itineraries cruising the Amazon River in 14 years.
The last time the cruise line sailed the Amazon was in 2014 aboard Pacific Princess. Scenic cruising along the Amazon will now return with a port call in Santarém, Brazil on select 2028-2029 South America voyages.
A standout itinerary is a new 64-day Circle South America sailing. This voyage aboard Coral Princess will circumnavigate South America and combine Antarctica, the Amazon River, and the Panama Canal in one voyage.
Other notable itineraries include 17-day Antarctica and Patagonia voyages and 15-day Cape Horn and Glaciers of Patagonia cruises aboard Majestic Princess. These sailings will depart from Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Cruise Hive reported when the 3,560-guest ship made its Antarctica debut in 2026. It was then announced in March 2026 that Majestic Princess would return to Antarctica in its 2027-2028 South America season.
The announcement includes an early-booking offer running through February 16, 2027. The cruise line is offering up to $300 in instant savings, up to $300 in onboard credit, and $100 deposits.
A video released by the Hellenic Coast Guard shows the moments when a woman overboard from Odyssey of the Seas was recovered.
The rescue took place in the Ionian Sea at roughly 2 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, approximately 20 hours after she went overboard.
No update on the woman’s condition, other than treatment for hypothermia, has been released, nor have the circumstances of the overboard been disclosed.
The Hellenic Coast Guard has released video of the moments when the 44-year-old woman who went overboard from Odyssey of the Seas on Friday, October 9, 2026 was rescued at roughly 2 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, after 20 hours in the Ionian Sea.
The woman had first been spotted by the Madeira-flagged cargo vessel MSC Rossella III, which reported her position to the Hellenic Coast Guard. A Coast Guard boat then rescued the woman and transported her to the port of Katakolo, and she was then taken to a hospital in Pyrgos.
While the video is just 41 seconds long, it shows the woman come into the spotlight of the rescue boat while she was staying buoyant with an orange life ring.
An unconfirmed account on the original overboard Reddit post mentioned that the woman may have grabbed a life ring from the cruise ship as she went over the side, but this has not been verified. The size, color, and reflective markings on the life ring in the video do match those from Odyssey of the Seas, but that equipment is standard on many vessels.
A rope was tossed toward the woman to pull her to the rescue boat. The rope was too far away for her to grasp after the first toss, but was quickly tossed a second time and she was able to grab it.
The woman was conscious and appeared alert and calm at the time, but other than hospital treatment for hypothermia that Odyssey of the Seas’ captain shared with guests, few details about her condition have been released.
Cruise Hive has reached out to Royal Caribbean for an update following the rescue but has not yet received a response. An investigation into the circumstances of the overboard is being conducted by the Katakolo Port Authority.
Incident Impacted Cruise Ship’s Itinerary
Following the initial overboard, Odyssey of the Seas joined search and rescue efforts approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Zakynthos for roughly 14 hours before being released to continue its 7-night Greek Isles itinerary. The ship had departed Civitavecchia (Rome) on Sunday, October 4.
Because of the time engaged in search operations, the final port visit on the itinerary was cancelled. That visit was to have been to Naples, Italy from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 10.
The 4,198-guest ship finished its sailing without any further changes, arriving back in Civitavecchia on Sunday, October 11. There was no reported impact to the next sailing, another 7-night Greek Isles itinerary.
Rare But Happy Outcome
It is very unusual for anyone overboard from a cruise ship to be recovered alive, particularly after so many hours in the water.
Sadly, the most common outcome is for search operations to be suspended once local authorities and rescue personnel determine it is unlikely that an individual can be successfully recovered. In other cases, the individual is found deceased.
On rare occasions, however, overboard individuals have been found alive, even after extended time in the water.
In November 2022, a 28-year-old man was found alive in the Gulf of Mexico, nearly 20 hours after going overboard from Carnival Valor as the ship made its way from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cozumel, Mexico. The man, James Grimes, has no memory of how he went overboard from the 2,980-guest ship.
When a guest can be located quickly, as happened when a child went overboard from Disney Dream, the outcome is more positive. In that incident on June 29, 2025, the girl’s father jumped overboard after his daughter and both guests were safely rescued in roughly 30 minutes.
MAIB has released its report on the October 2025 death of a P&O crew member in an elevator accident, identifying multiple safety failures.
The investigation found that the incident followed inadequate planning and a failure to properly establish control of the elevator’s movement.
Carnival UK has implemented additional safety measures following the incident, and investigators have recommended a review of elevator door interlocks as a safety barrier.
Nearly a year after a crew member died in an elevator accident on P&O Cruises’ Arvia, the UK government has released new findings on the incident. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) released its report on October 8, 2026, identifying multiple safety failures.
As Arvia is a Bermuda-flagged vessel, the Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority had jurisdiction to investigate the accident. However, it allowed MAIB to conduct the investigation on its behalf.
The 185,600-gross-ton vessel had just kicked off its winter Caribbean season on a 14-night voyage to Barbados. Arvia departed from Southampton on October 24, 2025 and was only two days into the sailing when the incident occurred.
On October 26, while Arvia was at sea, Lixter Dave Visaya Mahinay, a 35-year-old Filipino electrical technician, was inspecting a passenger elevator following overnight repairs. After using the fixed ladder to gain access to the shaft, a previously stored call signal caused the elevator to move while he was still inside.
Mahinay was subsequently crushed between the elevator car and the side of the shaft, resulting in his death. The ship was then diverted to A Coruña, Spain, where his body was brought ashore.
Cruise Hive reported on MAIB’s interim findings when they were released in February 2026. The interim report detailed the incident, but did not identify the safety issues behind it.
The new October 2026 report gave more detail of the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. It further identified several safety issues that contributed to the accident, including inconsistent training and competence assurance.
One contributing factor highlighted in the report was ineffective communication and planning among the repair team. It reports that the team deviated from the maintenance plan outlined in the work permit and failed to agree on a method of work prior to beginning the inspection.
MAIB also found that proper control over the elevator’s movement had not been established before Mahinay entered the shaft. It also determined that the team was over-reliant on the elevator door interlocks as a safety barrier, which reset during the incident, allowing the elevator to respond to the stored call signal.
Changes Made Following the Accident
The October 8 report confirmed that Carnival UK, which operates P&O Cruises, has taken steps across its fleet to reinforce elevator maintenance procedures. The cruise operator has updated its training materials and expanded communication requirements.
Carnival UK has also implemented an interim requirement for all elevator maintenance personnel to have completed basic safety training within the last six months. This training is to be conducted by either the equipment manufacturer or a third party.
Further, it has introduced a competency verification process, requiring maintenance crew members to complete a post-training assessment. Additionally, the use of elevator fixed shaft ladders as an access point to the top of the elevator car has been prohibited.
MAIB has issued a recommendation that Carnival UK also conduct a review of the self-resetting elevator door interlocks as a safety barrier. This review is recommended to prevent another unintentional activation of the elevator during maintenance.
A swarm of bees was noted on the pool deck of Utopia of the Seas on Monday, October 12, 2026 while the ship was in Port Canaveral.
The swarm appears to have been safely removed and there was no reported delay to the ship’s departure on her 4-night sailing.
Bees are occasionally reported onboard ships or at ports of call, but cruise lines usually remove any problematic swarms quickly.
The pool deck was buzzing on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas on Monday, October 12, 2026, but not in a good way. As guests were boarding for their 4-night sailing to the Bahamas, a swarm of bees was being removed from underneath one of the shade umbrellas on the port side of Deck 15, near the waterslide exits.
Video of the eviction was posted to Reddit, showing an individual in beekeeping gear carefully using a vacuuming apparatus to remove the bees. It is not clear whether the individual is a crew member or may have been a hired contractor onboard the ship, as Utopia of the Seas was at Port Canaveral for voyage turnaround at the time.
According to Wildlife Works, it is not uncommon for bee swarms to be on the move in central Florida in fall. Because of the state’s warmer climate, swarms may happen later in the year than what would be typical in northern states. Bee swarms form when a colony gets too large and must split, a queen leaves the hive, or the colony is stressed.
Because fall swarming is more common for Africanized honey bees, a hybrid that can be more defensive, removal of the swarm on Utopia of the Seas was essential in case the bees may have stung guests.
There were no reports of guests boarding the Oasis-class ship being stung, as the colony was quickly removed. In fact, the unique situation generated some fun commentary about the ship and just why the bees may have been there.
“Ship has been renamed Uto-bee-a of the Seas,”one commenter quipped on the Reddit post.
Crew Members Deals With Bees on Royal Caribbean (Photo Credit: Evening_Ad5528)
Another speculated that, “The bees wanted to visit CocoCay!” which will be Utopia of the Seas’ second port of call on the 4-night Bahamas sailing. The ship will first visit Nassau on Tuesday, October 13, followed by Perfect Day CocoCay on Wednesday, October 14. After a day at sea, Utopia of the Seas will return to Port Canaveral on Friday, October 16.
There was no reported delay to the ship’s departure nor any impact on her itinerary. Royal Caribbean has not commented on the brief swarm encounter.
Not the First Bee Incident Onboard a Cruise Ship
The vacationing swarm onboard Utopia of the Seas is not the first bee swarm to have been noted onboard a cruise ship.
One commenter on Reddit said they experienced a similar incident onboard Oasis of the Seas during the summer, while Cruise Hive previously reported on a bee swarm onboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Valor in October 2024, while the ship was visiting Cozumel, Mexico.
Bees can also occasionally be a problem at ports of call, if there are swarms or colonies near popular tourist areas.
When Celebration Key opened in July 2025, a large number of bees were present near guest areas. Carnival Cruise Line worked diligently to mitigate the problem, making the destination safer for guests who might have bee-sting allergies.
Voyager of the Seas will be visiting Cabo San Lucas a second time instead of Puerto Vallarta on the current sailing due to the influence of Hurricane Simon.
This is the second itinerary change for the ship on the 8-night Mexican Riviera cruise that departed Los Angeles on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Royal Caribbean is providing non-refundable onboard credit to guests plus 20% discounts for shore excursions during the second Cabo San Lucas visit.
Guests onboard Voyager of the Seas are headed to Cabo San Lucas for the second time on the current 8-night cruise that set sail from Los Angeles, California on Thursday, October 8, 2026. While the 4,269-guest ship has already visited the port as planned on the Mexican Riviera itinerary, the second call will now serve as a replacement for the planned visit to Puerto Vallarta.
Royal Caribbean stated in a letter to guests,“Together with our meteorology team, we’ve continued to closely monitor the path of Hurricane Simon. Unfortunately, the forecast has deteriorated, and we’re unable to safely call on Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.”
Instead, the ship will now head back to Cabo San Lucas for a second full-day visit on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The ship’s first visit to the port at the tip of the Baja Peninsula was on Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Originally, Voyager of the Seas was to have visited Cabo San Lucas on Sunday, but the schedule was changed before embarkation due to the influence of Hurricane Rachel and then-Tropical Storm Simon.
That first itinerary change cancelled the ship’s planned visit to Catalina Island as well as Mazatlan, Mexico, and shifted the day visiting Cabo San Lucas.
This second change cancelling Puerto Vallarta, means the 8-night sailing will now only visit a single port destination, albeit twice during the same cruise.
“We’re very sorry for another last-minute change, and the overall impact the weather has had on your cruise – please know your safety remains our top priority,”Royal Caribbean said.
Compensation Offered
As a thanks for guests’ flexibility with so many changes to their cruise itinerary, Royal Caribbean is providing all guests a non-refundable onboard credit of $50 (USD) per stateroom for inside and oceanview staterooms, $100 for balcony staterooms, and $250 for suites. Additional (third and fourth) guests booked in the same staterooms will be provided an extra $25 per guest.
The cruise line is also offering 20% discounted pricing for shore excursions in Cabo San Lucas so guests can explore the destination even more than they may have during the first visit.
Guests can book shore excursions through the Royal Caribbean app or by visiting the Shore Excursions Desk on Deck 5, starboard side at the aft end of the Royal Promenade, next to the Guest Services Desk.
If guests had already booked shore excursions for Puerto Vallarta, those tours will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. Any remaining, refundable amounts at the end of the sailing will be reimbursed to the card on file.
Hurricane Simon
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) storm advisory on Monday afternoon, Hurricane Simon now has maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour.
The storm is currently located 210 miles south of Mazatlan (approximately 105 miles west-southwest of Puerto Vallarta), moving west-northwest at three mph, but is expected to move more toward the northwest on Monday evening and into early Tuesday. After that, a gradual turn to the northeast is expected.
Hurricane Simon
“On the forecast track, Simon is expected to be near Las Islas Marias tonight into Tuesday, and then approaching the west-central Mexico coastline on Wednesday into Thursday,”the advisory explained.
A hurricane watch is now in effect for a portion of the Pacific Coast of Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta. Previously, Hurricane Simon was a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds and Puerto Vallarta was under a hurricane warning, but the storm has weakened somewhat.
If Voyager of the Seas had continued her initially revised itinerary as planned, the ship would likely have been dangerously close to the storm as it passed west of Puerto Vallarta, and would have had to sail through the expected forecast track to head north back to Los Angeles.
By visiting Cabo San Lucas a second time instead, the ship should remain well away from the storm’s impact. There is no expected change to her return to California on Friday, October 16, for debarkation as planned.
Carnival Venezia’s funnel has been repainted, trading the distinctive Costa Cruises yellow for a traditional Carnival red, white, and blue scheme.
The paint job has sparked discussion online, with cruisers expressing mixed reactions to the change.
Despite online speculation, Carnival has not confirmed any additional changes to the vessel and continues to advertise its “Fun Italian Style” experience onboard.
One of the most visible traces of Carnival Venezia’s former life with Costa Cruises has been scrubbed away. The 135,225-gross-ton vessel’s funnel received a new paint job on October 9, 2026, following a repositioning from New York to Port Canaveral.
When the ship was first transferred to Carnival in 2023, it initially retained its yellow stack. Cruise Hive reported in 2023 on the ship’s new hull livery, which honored the ship’s Italian theming and history with Costa Cruises.
The funnel still retains its original straight funnel shape, rather than the whale-tail common on Carnival ships. However, the distinctive Costa yellow has been replaced with a traditional Carnival red, white, and blue color scheme.
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald shared an up-close look at the new paint job on his Facebook page on October 12. This sparked discussion from cruisers, with many expressing mixed opinions on the change.
Some cruisers disapproved of the change. One person, sharing the news on Reddit, lamented the clear sign that the ship would be staying with Carnival Cruise Line long-term, rather than returning to Costa.
“I wish Carnival had returned them to Costa Cruises instead, but it is what it is,”the Reddit user said.
Others felt more positively about the repaint, with one commenter on Heald’s post saying they “didn’t care for the yellow.” Several guests felt the change did not go far enough, requesting that the ship be outfitted with the traditional Carnival whale-tail funnel.
“Looks better but it still needs a whale tail,”said one commenter.
“When will she get her ‘wings’?!”said another.“Looking better though!”
Carnival Venezia Docked in Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Port Canaveral)
Many cruisers wondered if the change would also come to Carnival Venezia’s sister ship, Carnival Firenze, which was joined Carnival from Costa Cruises in 2024 and currently retains its yellow funnel. The cruise line has not confirmed whether Carnival Firenze will have its funnel repainted to match.
What Is Happening to “Fun Italian Style”?
Online discussions have fueled speculation that the change may indicate further changes coming to the ship’s identity. Some suggested that the vessel’s signature “Fun Italian Style” branding may be going away.
“The Carnival Fun Italian Style is no more,”said the Reddit user sharing the update.
While the repaint integrates Carnival Venezia’s identity more closely with the rest of the Carnival fleet, it is not necessarily indicative of any additional changes. Despite the speculation, Carnival Cruise Line has not confirmed any change to the ship’s Italian-themed onboard experience.
The “Carnival Fun Italian Style” branding is still visible on the ship’s hull, and the Italian-themed interiors and amenities remain. Further, the cruise line continues to advertise the trademarked branding on its website.
Following the repositioning and subsequent repaint, the 4,090-guest ship kicked off its 2026-27 winter season with an 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral on October 10, 2026. It is en route to visit Bonaire, Aruba, and Carnival’s Celebration Key before returning to Port Canaveral on October 18.
Carnival lets cruisers visit two Bahamian private destinations: RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.
RelaxAway Half Moon Cay is geared toward low-key, relaxing days in port.
Celebration Key feels more like a private resort.
Carnival Cruise Line has two different private destinations within the Bahamas that cruisers can enjoy during a Caribbean itinerary: RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key. RelaxAway is a private island on Little San Salvador that has recently undergone a major expansion, while Celebration Key was a purpose-built destination on Grand Bahama.
There are a few key differences between the two: how you get ashore, the overall experience, activities, dining, excursions, and overall scale.
One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but which will be best for you will depend on your expectations and preferred port day experiences.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect, so you can pick the best Carnival Cruise Line itinerary for your needs.
Carnival’s RelaxAway Half Moon Cay vs Celebration Key
RelaxAway Half Moon Cay
Celebration Key
Location
Little San Salvador
Grand Bahama
Type of destination
Private island
Exclusive cruise port/destination
Access
Ships can now dock at new pier
Ships dock at dedicated pier
Pier capacity
New 1,005-foot pier; designed to accommodate two ships
Four berths after 2026 expansion
Main draw
Half-moon-shaped white-sand beach
Lagoons, beach and extensive amenities
Pools/lagoon
No pool; natural ocean beach
Two freshwater lagoons
Family water attractions
Beach/water activities
Waterslides, Guppy Grotto, family lagoon
Adults-only option
No dedicated adults-only area
Pearl Cove Beach Club
Complimentary food
Buffet-style breakfast/lunch
One complimentary Island Eats meal at participating venues
Paid dining
Additional food/beverage options
Numerous full-service and specialty options
Excursions
Primarily island/beach/nature focused
On-site activities plus excursions around Grand Bahama
Overall atmosphere
Beach-focused, laid-back
Larger, activity- and amenity-focused
Getting to RelaxAway Half Moon Cay vs Celebration Key
In the past, it was notable that you would have to tender at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. While some cruisers are fine with this fact, other cruisers will avoid destinations where you have to tender, just due to the inconvenience.
Well, now, that’s no longer a worry.
Thanks to the new addition of a large pier, cruise line ships can dock, including the larger Carnival ships, with no worries, at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. It makes the entire experience for cruisers easier, faster and more enjoyable. And to make things even easier beyond that, the island has its own tram service that’s new as well, allowing for more convenient access to the entire private island.
In contrast, Celebration Key isn’t on its own island and is on Grand Bahama. It has a pier that originally opened in 2025, but that pier expanded further in 2026, so four ships can now hang out here all at the same time.
Basically, this all means that you can easily get to either of these two private destinations quickly and conveniently now, thanks to recent improvements.
However, Celebration Key is purpose-built to handle more passengers at one time, which means you are likely to run into more people here than you would at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.
Having visited both of these destinations, I find that the biggest overall difference is just the vibe.
RelaxAway Half Moon Cay is all about the natural setting and beach. You have the white sands and waters. There are plenty of amenities and your every need is taken care of, but, while you’re here, you really just want to enjoy being out on the beach.
In contrast, Celebration Key feels a little more built up. That’s certainly not a bad thing, but is something to consider. It feels more resort-y, if that makes sense. While you can definitely enjoy being on the beach and in the lagoon, your attention is definitely drawn away to all the other attractions that exist here.
Both RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key offer plenty to do. I was not bored for a single second in either destination.
At RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, you can enjoy a variety of water activities, from swimming to snorkeling to paddling. You can go on various tours (bike tours, horseback riding tours, etc.). You can just chill out in your cabana if you want to.
At Celebration Key, the offerings are a little more robust, because in addition to doing all these typical “beach” activities, you also have waterslides, sports courts and resort-style amenities like swim-up bars.
Again, this is all just going to depend on your family. What might’ve been best for my needs and fellow travelers may not exactly be ideal for your crew. Neither is going to be necessarily bad for traveling families, though.
RelaxAway is going to offer up a more classic beach experience, but then Celebration Key is going to offer a little more in the way of kid-focused fun. There’s the Starfish Lagoon and Guppy Grotto splash pad, for families specifically. There are sports courts.
As such, if you do want a family-friendly typical beach day, that’s relaxing and enjoyable for everyone, RelaxAway definitely delivers. Celebration Key, though, is going to keep everyone entertained every second of your day.
Adults-Only Spaces
Pearl Cove Beach Club, Celebration Key
Not everyone is traveling with a kiddo in tow, and I appreciate it when cruise lines offer adults-only amenities alongside their family-friendly programming.
At RelaxAway, unfortunately, there are no dedicated adults-only areas. That doesn’t mean that adults can’t enjoy RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. It definitely has a more low-key vibe than Celebration Key so it’s good for, as the name implies, relaxing — but you’re not going to find a space just set up for the adults alone.
At Celebration Key, there’s the Pearl Cove Beach Club, though, which is an adults-only space with its own beach, pool, dining and drinks.
When you’re on one of these private cruise line islands, make sure you have somewhere to eat, especially if you plan to spend as much time as possible off the ship.
On RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, you can enjoy a complimentary buffet, as well as other venues that were either added or upgraded in this year’s expansion. Options include the Orchid Beach Grill, Hibiscus Beach Grill, Luna Tide Beach Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack and Lil’ Tiki Bar.
On Celebration Key, there are literally 30-plus dining and drinking options. Island Eats rules apply, though. This means that cruisers get one complimentary meal at fast-casual eateries, and then 40% off entrees at select full-service restaurants.
So, yes, you can get a free meal no matter of which of the two destinations you’re visiting, but the overall offerings will differ in terms of scope.
Excursions
Half Moon Cay Stingray Adventure
Excursions are one of the big things that cruisers expect when docking at any destination, so what can you expect at RelaxAway vs Celebration Key, if you want to do more than just lie on the sands all day?
RelaxAway, given its lower-key vibe, does focus more on nature and water. Take a horseback tour, go snorkeling, see the stingrays, grab a bike and cycle around.
Celebration Key’s excursions, meanwhile, are a little more robust, given that the destination is located on Grand Bahama, giving cruisers access to activities beyond just Carnival Cruise Line’s little circle of influence. You can go out beyond the resort-style setting to see what’s offered throughout the rest of the island.
All that said, there’s really no need to book an excursion to have a great time. I didn’t and still enjoyed every second in both destinations.
As already mentioned, Celebration Key is designed to hold a large number of cruisers at once. Its infrastructure is built up to offer a resort-style setting. As such, crowds are more likely to be found here. There is also a free shuttle where you can hop on and off at multiple stops.
Then, again, RelaxAway is less busy and people are more spread out. You’re not going to notice crowds as much due to the overall setup. The cruise line also offers a free shuttle tram you can get on from the pier that has multiple stops.
Cruise lines are always making their offerings bigger and better for travelers, and this mission doesn’t just stop with the ships.
Half Moon Cay has undergone significant upgrades as of 2026. In the summer, the 1,005-foot pier opened, allowing for larger ships to dock and removing the need for tendering. Tram service was added to the island. New food pavilions and bars were also added to the experience. A new beach club is expected to arrive in fall 2026.
Celebration Key already had two berths, but in the summer of 2026, it added another two as part of a $100 million pier expansion. This allows for bigger ships to dock simultaneously and ups the destination’s daily capacity to more than 13,000 guests. It’s expected that the destination will welcome up to 4 million visitors each year by 2028.
More expansions for Celebration Key are expected in the years ahead.
So, if you’re still wondering if you should pick RelaxAway Half Moon Cay or Celebration Key, how do you come down on a firm decision as you’re booking your next Carnival Cruise Line Caribbean cruise?
I’d recommend that you ask yourself what it is that you truly want.
For a lower-key, beach-focused day, go for RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. After all, it’s in the name: relax. That’s what you’re going to be able to do here, and you do, of course, have amenities and excursions if you need something to add a little bit more to your day.
If, however, you want a lot more in terms of amenities, and enjoy a resort-style setting with ample opportunity to go-go-go, somewhere that everyone is going to stay entertained the entire day … well, Celebration Key is your place to go.
Guests booked on Norwegian Cruise Line sailings have reported receiving fraudulent emails containing real reservation details and requesting credit card verification.
The fake messages claim passengers must complete a security check before boarding, and include phony links to submit information.
Norwegian Cruise Line is investigating the reports and warning guests not to click suspicious links or provide personal or payment information.
Norwegian Cruise Line is warning guests about fraudulent emails that appear to contain genuine cruise reservation information. The messages have prompted concern among passengers and an investigation by the cruise line.
Passengers began reporting the suspicious emails on social media on October 10, 2026. The messages impersonate NCL and request that guests click links to complete security verification, confirm their payment cards, or finish check-in.
“To safeguard your booking and provide a smooth check-in, Norwegian Cruise Line requires a single security authentication for the card on file for your Norwegian Getaway reservation,”reads one of the fraudulent emails shared on Reddit.“This is a security measure, not a request for payment.”
Some of these emails warn that bookings could be cancelled if passengers don’t act promptly. The reported messages identify the guest’s actual name, ship, departure date, and booking number, adding to their credibility.
NCL Scam Email (Credit: u/jds2001)
One Norwegian Encore passenger reported on Reddit that a fraudulent email included their full booking details, including the amount paid. Another Reddit user booked on Norwegian Getaway reported receiving at least six suspicious emails, all with accurate booking and personal information.
While the details included in these emails may make them appear more genuine, they are phishing scams. Phishing is a cyberattack in which scammers impersonate a trusted person or organization in order to trick people into revealing sensitive information or handing over money.
Passengers have questioned how the current scammers obtained their information in the first place, with some speculating about a possible data breach. NCL, however, has not confirmed any explanation for how the scammers obtained accurate booking information.
Norwegian Cruise Line Responds to Fraudulent Emails
NCL has confirmed it is aware of the fraudulent emails and is investigating them. The cruise line has posted a notice on its website and sent a letter to travel advisors and says it will also share the warning with guests booked to depart on its cruises within the next 30 days.
“We are aware of reports of fraudulent emails falsely claiming to be from Norwegian Cruise Line being sent to guests and are actively investigating the matter,”the letter says.
The cruise line instructs guests not to click links, reply, supply any personal or payment information, and to check email addresses carefully. According to the letter, official emails from the cruise line will be sent from addresses ending in @ncl.com or @nclcorp.com.
In May 2025, Cruise Hive reported that Norwegian Cruise Line had warned guests of another phishing scam, executed via phone. Scammers posing as NCL representatives contacted a guest about flights for a large party, ultimately tricking her out of nearly $20,000 across two incidents.
Norwegian Cruise Line is not the only cruise operator to face phishing attacks. In February 2025, Virgin Voyages also warned guests about scam calls and fake offers seeking payment and personal information.
Even emails or phone calls appearing to originate from legitimate addresses should be treated cautiously. Sender information and phone numbers can be spoofed.
Links in suspicious emails should never be clicked on, nor should payment information be provided on a random phone call. Concerned passengers should always visit the cruise line’s official website, call the official customer service phone number, or contact their travel advisor to verify information.
