Blog Page 16

Berthing Conflicts Force Celebrity Summit to Drop Two Ports

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Berthing Conflicts Force Celebrity Summit to Drop Two Ports

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Cruises removed Key West from Celebrity Summit’s November 1, 2026, sailing, and replaced it with a port call in Cozumel, Mexico.
  • The ship has also removed Costa Maya, Mexico, from its November 22, 2026, voyage, replacing it with a stop in George Town, Grand Cayman.
  • November 8’s sailing has also been modified, but is keeping all original scheduled port calls.

For Celebrity Cruises passengers looking forward to strolling along Duval Street, visiting the Southernmost Point in the US, or sampling the food and drinks at Sloppy Joe’s, an itinerary update may come as disappointing news.

The cruise line has informed guests sailing aboard Celebrity Summit on November 1, 2026, that the ship’s planned call in Key West has been removed from the itinerary and replaced with a visit to Cozumel, Mexico.

“Due to berthing availability in Key West, Florida, we’ve replaced this stop with a visit to Cozumel from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Day 3,” Celebrity Cruises said in a letter sent to booked guests.

The revised schedule now calls for the 91,003-gross-ton Celebrity Summit to visit Cozumel on November 3, followed by Bimini on November 5, and Nassau on November 6 before returning to Tampa, Florida, on November 8.

The 7-night voyage, which had previously been marketed as a “Key West & Bahamas” cruise departing roundtrip from Tampa, now includes a sea day on November 4, replacing what had originally been the Key West port call.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and have no doubt your time with us will be nothing short of amazing,” the cruise line said.

Celebrity Summit Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Carlos Yudica / Shutterstock.com

Celebrity Cruises said guests who pre-purchased shore excursions through the cruise line for Key West will automatically receive refunds to their original form of payment. Passengers who booked shore excursions separately are advised to reach out for cancellations and refunds.

Read Also: Cozumel Cruise Port: Terminals, Piers, and Getting Around

Guests interested in booking activities in Cozumel will be able to browse available shore excursions through the Celebrity Cruises app and website. However, the company also warned that bookings may be temporarily unavailable for up to 10 business days while the itinerary updates are finalized.

Additional Celebrity Summit Itinerary Changes

The November 1 departure is not the only upcoming Celebrity Summit sailing to undergo changes. Celebrity Cruises has also notified guests booked on the ship’s November 8 and November 22, 2026, departures of itinerary adjustments affecting ports in Mexico, Belize, and the Cayman Islands.

For the November 8 sailing, the cruise line cited another berthing conflict as the reason for modifying the itinerary to “ensure your experience remains seamless and enjoyable.”

The 2,218-passenger ship’s sea day has now been moved up to November 10, with calls scheduled for Belize City on November 11, Cozumel on November 12, and Costa Maya, Mexico, on November 13.

Shore excursions booked through the cruise line are automatically being updated to align with the revised schedule, but passengers who booked their own activities are advised to reschedule to match the itinerary.

Celebrity Summit has also removed Costa Maya entirely from its November 22 departure after reviewing port operations at the Mexican destination.

More From Cruise Hive

To replace the cancelled stop, Celebrity Cruises added George Town, Grand Cayman, on November 27. The ship will spend the previous day at sea before arriving in the Cayman Islands from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

“While our itinerary has been adjusted, the incredible experience of your journey remains unchanged,” said the cruise line. “These updates allow us to uphold the integrity of our itinerary and ensure smooth operations.”

Guests who pre-purchased shore excursions in Costa maya will receive automatic refunds to their original form of payment. It will be opening shore excursions for George Town in the next 10 days.

Norwegian Sun Sailing Gets Late Adjustment Due to Propulsion Issues

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Norwegian Sun Sailing Gets Late Adjustment Due to Propulsion Issues

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Sun experienced a loss of propulsion during its current 9-night sailing from Denmark to Finland.
  • The NCL ship was forced to skip its visit to Stockholm, Sweden, on June 22, but did make its visit to Tallinn, Estonia, on June 23.
  • At this time, the technical difficulties are not expected to impact the following voyage, which embarks on June 24.

Norwegian Sun’s current 9-night Baltic sailing is ending on a low note due to technical difficulties impacting the ship’s propulsion.

Reports have surfaced on social media indicating that the planned visit to Nynashamn, Sweden, which provides access to Stockholm, was cancelled on June 22, 2026, due to propulsion issues.

“Currently on NCL Sun and will be missing our port call in Sweden today due to lack of propulsion. Trip had been going great until now. Weather is gorgeous here too which adds to the sting,” one of the up to 1,878 guests onboard posted on Reddit on June 22.

“Looking out the window now and it seems we are dead in the water as we make our way to Estonia,” the current guest continued.

The news was also confirmed by another current passenger on Facebook.

Prior to the cancelled call in Stockholm, the 78,309-gross ton vessel successfully visited Oslo, Norway; Warnemunde-Rostock, Germany; Gdynia-Gdansk, Poland; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Riga, Latvia.

According to cruise tracking data, the NCL ship was also able to make its final call on the itinerary as planned to Tallinn, Estonia, on June 23.

At the end of her visit, she departed on time at 8 p.m. As of the time of this writing, the cruise ship is sailing toward Helsinki, Finland, at speeds of 7 knots.

But while this seems slow, Helsinki is quite close to Tallinn with only around 40 nautical miles between the destinations. The ship should arrive in Helsinki on time for disembarkation on the morning of June 24.

Will the Next Itinerary Be Impacted?

At this time, there is no known impact to the next cruise, which is the reverse of the sailing the Sun-class flagship will have just completed.

The June 24 cruise will sail from Helsinki back to Copenhagen, Denmark, which is where the current June 15 voyage embarked, over the course of nine days.

Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)

At this time, there have been no public announcements indicating that itinerary changes will be necessary or that repairs will need to be completed in port before heading back out to sea. It’s also not known what caused the propulsion issues in the first place.

Sometimes the onboard engineers can fix the problem mid-voyage, while more complicated issues may require the ship to stay in port to finish the work.

Cruise Hive reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for more information about the situation, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Are Propulsion Problems Common?

Propulsion issues aren’t exactly common, but they do happen from time to time. With ships essentially operating 24/7, 365 days per year, sometimes onboard systems simply get out of whack.

But with several propulsion issues recently making the news, it can feel like this is a situation that is getting more common. 

For example, Cruise Hive has covered propulsion issues for Norwegian Bliss, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, and Holland America Line’s Zaandam in the past month alone.

“Is it just me or is ‘loss of propulsion’ becoming a more common issue? Or is this just something to be expected on older ships,” the Reddit user inquired.

It’s important to acknowledge that there are hundreds (if not thousands) of sailings that don’t become headlines because everything is operating normally.

And to Norwegian’s credit, the cruise company does its best to maintain its fleet. Even though Norwegian Sun is an older ship with a 2001 launch year, she visits dry dock routinely and was most recently refurbished in 2024.

In her decades at sea, the ship has only ever experienced propulsion or power issues in 2011 and 2023, so technical difficulties are clearly few and far between.

Brawl at PortMiami Terminal Lands 16 Carnival Guests on Do Not Sail List

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Brawl at PortMiami Terminal Lands 16 Carnival Guests on Do Not Sail List

Key Aspects:

  • 16 guests have been banned from Carnival Cruise Line following a huge brawl in the Port Miami terminal.
  • The incident happened during Carnival Conquest‘s debarkation on Monday, June 22 after a weekend Bahamas cruise.
  • No injuries, damage, or arrests were reported with the incident and individual identities have not been released.

Carnival Conquest‘s most recent sailing ended less than smoothly for some guests at PortMiami on Monday, June 22, 2026. When the 3-night weekend Bahamas cruise debarked, a massive brawl erupted in the customs area of the cruise terminal.

According to the Daily Mail, the incident began at roughly 8 a.m., shortly after debarkation began for the 2,980-guest ship.

A video shared widely online captured the violent incident. Both men and women were involved in the fight, throwing punches, pulling hair, wrestling, yelling, and more.

At several points, personal belongings and even luggage are seen flying through the air, and several participants appear to be barefoot. Queue lines were disconnected and knocked over during the brawl as well.

The ages and identities of those involved have not been confirmed, though one guest does appear particularly young and a voice is heard yelling in the background, “That’s a kid! That’s a kid!”

Security did intervene and was eventually able to break up the fight. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the disagreement was between two families, but it is unknown what exactly sparked the fight in the terminal.

“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of US Customs and Border Patrol. We are appreciative of law enforcement’s swift response and handling of the matter,” Carnival Cruise Line stated to the Daily Mail.

No serious injuries, arrests, or significant damage have been reported related to the incident.

Even while the fight was ongoing, other passengers are seen casually debarking the ship, steering their luggage past the brawlers and shaking their heads at the incident that is sure to put a damper on the end of what ought to have been a fun weekend getaway.

Carnival Cruise Line has not commented publicly on the fight nor revealed if any of the guests involved were cited for fighting or other unruly behavior during the cruise. The ship had departed Miami on Friday, June 19, and enjoyed a visit to the cruise line’s private destination in the Bahamas, Celebration Key, on Sunday.

There was no impact to Carnival Conquest‘s next cruise which departed later that afternoon. The 110,000-gross-ton ship, lead vessel in the Conquest class, is homeported year-round from Miami and typically offers 3- and 4-night Bahamas sailings, with occasional longer Southern Caribbean itineraries.

Fighting Can Have Lasting Consequences

Even though the fight did not occur directly onboard Carnival Conquest, passengers involved in the brawl are facing severe consequences.

Carnival did confirm that 16 individuals have now been placed on the “Do Not Sail List” and will be prohibited from future Carnival cruises.

Carnival Conquest Passengers
Carnival Conquest Passengers (Photo Credit: @onlyindade)

According to the cruise line’s ticket contract, section 9(j), any and all “disruptive behavior” will not be tolerated. A massive fight in the cruise terminal would certainly qualify as disruptive for debarking guests, port employees, and customs officers.

“Any Guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety, or well-being of other guests or crew will be detained onboard and/or disembarked at their own expense and will be prohibited from sailing with Carnival in the future,” the contract reads.

While the duration of a ban is not specified, Carnival could temporarily ban guests for just a few months or years, or the ban could be permanent and apply for the rest of a guest’s lifetime.

Major Incidents Becoming More Common

Unfortunately, this is not the first major brawl involving Carnival cruise guests. It isn’t even the first big fight in a cruise terminal.

Cruise Hive reported on a similar brawl in the Galveston cruise terminal in April 2025. In that incident, which also happened at debarkation, 24 guests from Carnival Jubilee were placed on the Do Not Sail list.

More recently, a brawl in the Nassau Cruise Port involved six Americans. While they were not confirmed as Carnival Cruise Line guests, they face more than $50,000 in fines for damage to a local police station, trying to escape police custody, and injuring officers.

Other large brawls have occurred on other cruise lines as well, such as a large fight in the pool at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, in August 2025.

As Heat Waves Soar, Carnival Reminds Guests of Cabin Fan Rules

Lissa Poirot
-
0
As Heat Waves Soar, Carnival Reminds Guests of Cabin Fan Rules

Key Aspects:

  • John Heald is reminding guests that Carnival Cruise Line allows portable fans on board.
  • The cruise line allows passengers to bring fans provided they do not exceed 12 inches in diameter.
  • Heald also clarified that the company does not routinely provide fans by request in staterooms.

As temperatures climb across popular cruise destinations, many Carnival Cruise Line guests are asking the same question before boarding: Can I bring a fan?

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed the topic in his July 22, 2026, Facebook post, reminding guests that portable electric fans are permitted on board, provided they meet the cruise line’s size restrictions.

The clarification comes as parts of Europe is experiencing one the most significant heat waves of the year, including rare red heat alerts in some areas.

In the United Kingdom, officials issued a rare red extreme heat warning covering London and much of southern England, warning of potential risks even for healthy individuals as temperatures approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heald said he has received an increasing number of questions about fans as some destinations deal with soaring temperatures. “The answer is yes we do and the fans must be no larger than 12” in diameter,” Heald wrote. 

The cruise line’s policy permits guests to bring portable electric fans aboard as long as they are no larger than 12 inches in diameter.

“Electrical devices, such as fans (no larger than 12″ in diameter) are allowed when used with proper caution,” states the official policy.

Although it does also state that if devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned on debarkation morning.

Carnival’s fan policy has remained largely unchanged for years but questions about the rule surface regularly during the summer months. Guests frequently discuss battery-operated fans, rechargeable fans, and small electric fans and what is permitted.

Fans are allowed, alongside other common personal electrical devices such as hair dryers, curling irons, and electric shavers.

Travel Fan
Travel Fan (Photo Credit: studio_24 / Shutterstock)

But Heald also used his platform to address a passenger misconception that fans may be provided by cabin attendants upon request.

“People have also written and said that their cabin attendant would not provide them with a fan,” he said. “It’s not that they refused but because we only provide fans for unforeseen circumstances or for medical reasons.”

Heald encouraged guests who believe they may need a fan during their cruise to pack one themselves rather than relying on the ship to supply one.

Keep Balcony Doors Closed

While some guests prefer sleeping with their balcony door open for fresh air and ocean breezes, Carnival Cruise Line repeatedly advises passengers to understand how the ship’s climate-control systems operate.

Modern cruise ships are designed with sensors that detect when a balcony door has opened. When triggered, the system temporarily shuts down to prevent energy waste and excess humidity.

More From Cruise Hive

Beyond cabin comfort, open balcony doors can create strong airflow when the stateroom door is opened into the hallway. This “wind tunnel effect” can cause doors to close unexpectedly and create noise disturbances.

Heald has also reminded guests that balcony doors should be secured properly so cabin cooling systems can operate as intended.

The topic has generated debate among cruisers for years, with some guests claiming that open balcony doors can affect neighboring staterooms. Heald discredited that myth in the past, confirming the system only impacts the cabin where the balcony door is open.

There’s a Reason Norwegian Bliss Is Reworking Every Stop on Its July 4 Cruise

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
There’s a Reason Norwegian Bliss Is Reworking Every Stop on Its July 4 Cruise

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Bliss continues to have propulsion difficulties that first appeared in late May, though repairs are ongoing.
  • Itinerary impacts include shortened port visits on every itinerary at least through the ship’s July 4, 2026 departure.
  • All ports are impacted, with the visit to Victoria becoming a technical stop and guests will not be able to debark.

Norwegian Bliss‘s July 4, 2026 departure from Seattle will be a bit less blissful for guests who enjoy lengthy port visits. On this 7-night Alaska sailing, the ship has to adjust every port visit for a total of six fewer hours in port.

Cruise Hive has already reported on the propulsion difficulties impacting the Breakaway Plus class ship, which began at the end of May 2026.

Because the work is continuing, it is necessary for additional sailings to adjust their itineraries to accommodate the ship’s reduced speed.

For the July 4 departure, this means time lost in every port visit and the effective loss of an entire port of call at the end of the cruise. An updated itinerary has been posted to Facebook by an impacted passenger.

Norwegian Bliss will still depart Seattle at 4 p.m. as planned and the first full day of the cruise is a day at sea. The arrival to Sitka on Monday, July 6, however, will now be at 11:30 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. Departure will still be at 6 p.m.

The ship will also arrive in Juneau on Tuesday, later than originally scheduled, at 7 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m.

The cruising through Endicott Arm to view Dawes Glacier is unchanged, but the next two ports are also shortened by 30 minutes each with earlier-than-planned departures. Norwegian Bliss will leave Icy Strait Point at 2:30 p.m. instead of 3 p.m., and likewise will leave Ketchikan at 12:45 p.m. instead of 1:15 p.m. For both ports, the ship will still arrive at 6 a.m.

Victoria, British Columbia, is the final stop on the itinerary. Originally, guests were to be able to enjoy the charming port from 8 p.m. until midnight. Now Norwegian Bliss will not arrive until 11 p.m. and the visit is just a short technical stop to comply with international regulations. Guests will not be permitted to debark in Victoria.

Norwegian Bliss in Seattle
Norwegian Bliss in Seattle (Photo Credit: lenic)

In total, guests are losing six hours of port visit time on the itinerary, with half of that time the now-sacrificed visit to Victoria. At the other ports, Sitka is the most dramatically impacted with the visit shortened by 90 minutes, but the 30-minute changes at the other ports should not significantly impact guests’ experiences.

The 4,002-guest Norwegian Bliss should arrive back to Seattle on schedule for debarkation at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 11.

Are Repairs Being Made?

Repairs were begun immediately once the propulsion difficulty appeared, though Norwegian Bliss has remained in service. No safety or navigational systems are affected and the vessel remains completely seaworthy.

All onboard operations, including entertainment, dining, hotel service, and the daily schedule of activities, are continuing as normal.

No details on the exact nature of the propulsion difficulty have been confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line. It is not uncommon for ships to develop these types of issues, which can often be corrected even while the ship is sailing. At times, extra work will be done during port visits when there is less stress on the engines.

More From Cruise Hive

Similar issues have appeared on other ships, including Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas at the end of May and Holland America Line’s Zaandam in June.

Norwegian Bliss has had similar itinerary adjustments on every cruise sailing since the trouble first appeared and it is likely that such adjustments may continue until the repairs are complete.

Guests booked on upcoming sailings will want to stay in close communication with the cruise line in case of adjustments to their vacation plans.

Nassau’s Cruise Boom Continues With New Single-Day Passenger Record

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Nassau’s Cruise Boom Continues With New Single-Day Passenger Record

Key Aspects:

  • More than 33,000 guests visited Nassau on Monday, June 8, which set a new single-day visitor record for the port.
  • The previous record was just over 30,000 guests in March 2025 and tourism to the port continues to grow.
  • Six ships from four different cruise lines were in port to help set the monumental record.

The cruise business is booming in the capital of the Bahamas as Nassau set a new single-day passenger record on Monday, June 8, 2026. On that one day, 33,254 cruise guests visited Nassau Cruise Port.

This surpasses the previous record set more than a year ago on March 11, 2025, with 30,538 guests. The 2,716-guest increase is roughly 8.9% higher than the earlier record. This significant rise in visitors demonstrates how the updated cruise port can efficiently welcome tens of thousands of guests in a single day yet still provide a great guest experience.

“This is a proud and meaningful achievement for Nassau Cruise Port and for The Bahamas,” said Mike Maura, Jr., CEO & Director of Nassau Cruise Port.

“The 33,000-passenger mark was an important benchmark for us, and reaching 33,254 guests in a single day reflects the strength of Nassau as a cruise destination, the confidence of our cruise line partners, and the dedication of the teams and stakeholders who support the visitor experience here.”

Maura goes on to give credit to the many parties involved in the cruise port’s success, including tour operators, retailers, transportation providers, businesses, and more.

Six cruise ships from four different lines were in port on the historic day: Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess, and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy.

Not Just About a Record

While the new record is certainly impressive, the total impact of cruise ships coming to Nassau is about the economic opportunities they bring with them to local communities.

“High-performing cruise days support retailers, restaurants, tour operators, transportation providers, attractions, artisans, entertainers, and a wide range of other Bahamian businesses that benefit from cruise passenger activity,” Maura said.

Cruise Ships Docked in Nassau
Cruise Ships Docked in Nassau (Photo Credit: Sven Hansche)

Cruise guests to Nassau book tours, visit restaurants, buy souvenirs, enjoy bars, rent snorkeling equipment, take horse carriage rides, get their hair braided, and enjoy a wide range of experiences at the cruise port and beyond.

Each of those experiences helps support the local economy. Even more important, guests who enjoy their time in Nassau recommend the destination to others, helping to continue the growth that makes Nassau one of the most popular cruise ports in the world.

Cruise Hive has regularly reported on the stunning growth of Nassau Cruise Port, including the 6.1 million guests the port welcomed in 2025.

So many visiting guests do want to be cautious, however, as increased crime, sexual assaults, and other safety concerns have led both the US Embassy and the US Department of State to recently issue warnings about activities in Nassau.

World’s Largest Ships Did Not Help Set Single-Day Record

Interestingly, while the six ships that set the new record are impressive, neither of the currently in-service Icon class ships were visiting Nassau that day. Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are the world’s largest cruise ships with a maximum capacity of 7,600 guests.

Both ships offer 7-night itineraries from Miami and Port Canaveral, respectively, but the vessels do not often visit Nassau. The ships do, however, go to Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, on every sailing.

More From Cruise Hive

Of the ships visiting Nassau on June 8, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are the largest with a maximum capacity of 5,484 guests each.

Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are also the largest ships in Carnival’s fleet, together welcoming as many as 10,656 guests.

Other large ships that regularly visit Nassau include Utopia of the Seas twice a week, Disney Wish, and Norwegian Getaway, among others.

Bus Operators Strike Forces Santorini to Cancel All Cruise Calls

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Bus Operators Strike Forces Santorini to Cancel All Cruise Calls

Key Aspects:

  • All cruise ships scheduled for Santorini on June 22, 2026, were cancelled after local bus operators launched a strike.
  • The dispute centers on the island’s new 70-30 passenger distribution system, which redirects some guests through Athinios Port.
  • Norwegian Pearl, Celebrity Ascent, MSC Sinfonia, and Star Flyer were affected by the shutdown.

Cruise passengers scheduled to visit the beautiful island of Santorini, Greece, on June 22, 2026, never made it ashore.

All cruise ship arrivals planned for Monday were cancelled after the island’s tourist bus operators launched a strike over a controversial new passenger transportation system.

The strike left cruise lines without the buses needed to move passengers around the island, forcing local authorities to cancel the day’s scheduled calls.

At the center of the dispute is Santorini’s new “70-30” passenger distribution plan, which was created by the Municipal Port Fund of Thira and took effect on June 15, 2026.

As previously reported by Cruise Hive, the plan was introduced to reduce congestion around Fira, where cruise passengers traditionally arrive by tender before taking the island’s cable car, walking path, or donkeys to the clifftop town.

Under the new system, approximately 70 percent of passengers continue to arrive through the traditional route serving Fira while 30 percent are directed through Athinios Port and transported around the island by bus.

Local officials have said the change is intended to spread visitors more evenly across the island and reduce long lines at the cable car station during busy cruise days.

Bus operators, however, argue the system was introduced without consultation and creates operational challenges for local transportation companies.

The Santorini Tourist Buses Association told Greek media, the new system is “unfair and dysfunctional without the implementation of [time slots] for the disembarkation of cruise passengers between Fira and Athinios.”

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

The association also cited the lack of suitable parking spaces for tourist buses, the absence of organized meeting points, and the lack of overall planning that would create serious problems in traffic and visitor service, saying the impact would “discredit the island.”

The strike quickly escalated into a disruption for cruise tourism. Although ships were still able to reach Santorini, authorities cancelled all cruise arrivals.

According to local media, business groups said the cancellations cost Santorini approximately 425,000 euros in lost revenue for the single day.

Cruise Ships Impacted by Shutdown

The cancellation affected multiple cruise ships that had planned calls in Santorini on June 22.

The largest vessel impacted was Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Ascent, carrying up to 3,260 passengers, which was scheduled to spend 15 hours in port as part of an 11-night Greece, Turkey, and Italy voyage sailing from Civitavecchia, Italy.

More From Cruise Hive

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,344-passenger Norwegian Pearl and MSC Cruises’ MSC Sinfonia, carrying nearly 2,000 guests, were also not allowed to disembark in Santorini. Both ships were meant to have full-day calls on the island during their Mediterranean voyages.

Whether bus operators will continue to strike or if local officials will revise the policy remains unclear. What is clear is that the dispute was enough to bring cruise operations on one of the Mediterranean’s busiest islands to a standstill.

P&O Cruises Toughens Alcohol Policy and Expands Conduct Rules

Lissa Poirot
-
0
P&O Cruises Toughens Alcohol Policy and Expands Conduct Rules

Key Aspects:

  • P&O Cruises will now confiscate and discard wine of Champagne exceeding its one-liter allowance.
  • The allowance remains unchanged for wine and Champagne, and spirits and other alcoholic beverages remain prohibited.
  • The alcohol policy comes alongside expanded guest conduct rules covering disruptive behavior.

Bringing too much wine onboard a P&O Cruises ship could now come with a costly consequence.

The cruise line has updated its alcohol policy, introducing a stricter rule for guests who exceed the line’s one-liter wine or Champagne allowance at embarkation.

Under the previous policy, passengers who brought more than the permitted one liter had the excess stored and returned at the end of the cruise. Under the revised policy, any wine or Champagne over that limit will be confiscated and discarded, with no compensation provided.

The allowance itself remains unchanged. Guests aged 18 and older (or 21 and older when sailing from US ports) may still bring up to one liter of wine of Champagne onboard when they embark for the first time. Spirits and other alcoholic beverages remain prohibited.

“Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America ports) and older may bring up to one litre of wine or Champagne on board when they embark the ship for the first time only. Wine or Champagne over the one-litre limit will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided,” said the cruise line.

The revised policy continues P&O Cruises’ focus on responsible drinking. Guests who appear intoxicated can be denied service, and the cruise line warns that offensive, unruly, dangerous, or violent behavior linked to alcohol consumption could result in serious consequences.

Any alcohol purchased ashore during a cruise must still be declared and handed over at the gangway, where it will be stored and returned before the end of the voyage. Alcohol purchased from onboard duty-free shops is also held until the cruise concludes.

While the confiscation rule may seem like a small change, it represents a tougher approach and removes what had effectively been a grace period for passengers breaking the rules.

Expanded Rules on Behavior

The alcohol update is just one part of a broader revision to P&O Cruises’ guest policies, which now contain more detail about passenger behavior and the consequences for breaking the rules.

Under the new guidelines, guests who become excessively intoxicated, harass others, create disturbances, or refuse crew instructions could face disciplinary action during their cruise.

P&O Cruises Ship
P&O Cruises Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Whether it’s a confrontation in a bar, shouting in a hallway after midnight, or behavior that leaves other guests feeling uncomfortable, P&O Cruises is making it clear that disruptive conduct will not be ignored. 

Said the cruise line, “At all times while on board and during shore experiences, guests are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner and with due regard to the health, safety and enjoyment of all other guests, crew and shore experience guides.”

P&O Cruises also reminded passengers that failure to comply could result in being sent home at their own cost.

The updated code specifically prohibits abusive, aggressive, threatening, intimidating, or discriminatory behavior. Harassment, bullying, offensive language, and unwanted physical contact are also among the actions that could result in intervention from crew members. 

The cruise line has also added new language addressing excessive noise, reminding guests that everyone onboard is entitled to enjoy their vacation without disruption.

More From Cruise Hive

The changes don’t stop with adults. Parents and guardians are also being put on notice. The updated rules make clear that adults are responsible for supervising children throughout the voyage and ensuring they follow ship rules and behave appropriately in public spaces. 

The code also reinforces the authority of crew members, stating that guests must comply with instructions and cooperate with any onboard safety or security investigations. 

Passengers who violate the policy could face consequences ranging from warnings and removal from activities to confinement in their cabin. In more serious cases, guests could be denied boarding, removed from the ship at their own expense, or prevented from sailing with the cruise line in the future.

Without a Pilot, Carnival Splendor Becomes an Unplanned Cruise to Nowhere

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Without a Pilot, Carnival Splendor Becomes an Unplanned Cruise to Nowhere

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Splendor will skip Moreton Island on Monday, June 22 because no marine pilot is available.
  • Guests were given $100 AUD per stateroom as compensation for missing the only port of call on the 4-night cruise.
  • No alternative ports are available and there are no other changes to the ship’s itinerary.

Guests aboard Carnival Splendor are not able to enjoy their only port of call on their 4-night getaway due to unusual circumstances with a necessary pilot.

The 113,600-gross-ton ship departed Sydney, Australia, as planned on Saturday, June 20, for the short getaway that was to have included a stop at Moreton Island in Queensland on Monday, June 22.

Unfortunately, that visit is no longer possible due to the unavailability of a pilot to help guide the 3,012-passenger ship into Moreton Bay. Guests were informed about the change with announcements over the public address system as well as a letter delivered to their staterooms.

“A marine pilot is required to be on board the ship as we enter and exit Moreton Bay to get to Moreton Island,” the letter explained. “Unfortunately, our pilotage provider has advised us that they will not be able to provide us with a pilot in time tomorrow, due to unexpected circumstances.”

Carnival Splendor was scheduled to visit the island from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The “unexpected circumstances” have not been explained, but could simply be a labor shortage, illness, or other personal situation that prevents the pilot from assisting the cruise ship at that time.

Marine pilots, also called maritime pilots or harbor pilots, are experts in their specific waterways and the unique hazards and challenges individual waterways may present. Moreton Bay, for example, has significant sandbanks and other obstacles that must be navigated very precisely, as well as heavy marine traffic to coordinate.

Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship
Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: denbaim)

Because no pilot is available to safely guide Carnival Splendor, the ship is unable to make the port visit and will instead enjoy a day at sea. Satellite tracking shows the ship did sail as far north as Moreton Island, but then turned to head south again without entering the bay. No alternative ports are feasible on the sailing.

There is no further change to the ship’s itinerary and she should arrive back to Sydney by 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24 as planned.

Compensation Offered

Missing a port visit can happen for a variety of reasons, such as weather, civil unrest, or mechanical difficulties with the ship.

In general, cruise lines do not offer compensation for itinerary changes that are out of their control, but the change with Carnival Splendor is unique because Moreton Island was the only port visit on the short cruise.

Because of that, guests are receiving a $100 (AUD, approximately $70 USD) credit per stateroom “as a gesture of appreciation” for understanding the unusual situation.

Any shore tours booked through Carnival Cruise Line for Moreton Island will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.

Those onboard credits can be used for drink purchases, retail therapy, spa treatments, specialty dining, photos, and other onboard purchases.

If guests have booked tours through independent operators, they would need to contact those operators directly for cancellation and refund options, if available.

Not the First Pilot Incident

Cruise Hive has occasionally reported when different issues with harbor pilots may disrupt cruise operations. This can happen occasionally with labor disputes or on very busy days when not enough pilots may be available to handle all the traffic at busier ports.

More From Cruise Hive

In February 2026, a harbor pilot fell into the ocean when attempting to board Emerald Princess for a visit to Kauai, Hawaii during exceptionally rough seas. While the pilot did not appear to be injured, the port visit was cancelled.

Cruise lines always consider the safety of crew members, guests, and the communities they visit when making any port cancellation decisions. This includes the safety of marine pilots and everyone who works at the port or harbor facilities.

1...151617...628Page 16 of 628