Cruise guests are always looking for the best deals and ways to get special perks for their upcoming sailings in order to make the most of their oceangoing vacation.

One supposed “hack” to get special privileges, however, is only a scam – and one that Carnival Cruise Line is wise to.

The scam centers around Carnival’s exclusive Havana Retreat, the ship-in-a-ship concept that includes Cuban-inspired staterooms and exclusive spaces for the use of Havana guests.

Guests booked in Havana staterooms are issued silicone wristbands that permit them access into the exclusive spaces. The colorful “Havana Experience” wristbands are an easy way for crew members to check that only permitted guests are allowed into that coveted part of the ship.

John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, has noted that some less-than-scrupulous guests may sell the wristbands on online auction sites. Upcoming guests who purchase them, however, do not get Havana privileges and instead are just scammed out of their payment without any perks.

But how does Carnival know whether the wristbands are legitimate or not? Heald has explained.

“Some very naughty people have been selling their Havana wristbands on Eeeeeeee Bay and other auction sites. These bands are checked by the staff working in the Havana area,” Heald explained.

“Someone silly decided to buy two of these and tried to wear them to get into the Havana area on one of the ships. They were denied and I am sure were embarrassed because the wristband was the wrong color.”

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites – What Are the Options?

Havana wristbands come in various colors, including brown, green, yellow, blue, red, and white. What inexperienced guests may not realize, however, is the colors aren’t just decorative.

“We used to have just two colors for these cabins,” Heald said. “[Now], we have different colors. They are changed at random each cruise.”

Guests who purchased the used wristbands were denied entrance to the Havana area. While Heald noted that they were likely embarrassed by the incident, he doesn’t elaborate if there were any other consequences for trying to circumvent the cruise line’s rules.

A quick perusal of online auction sites does show some Havana wristbands for sale, with prices ranging from just a few dollars to $30 and higher.

Depending on the seller, some are described as used or collectible only, but there is no mention that the wristbands do not guarantee Havana benefits on upcoming Carnival cruises.

Worth Reading: Carnival Guest Warns Others After Being Targeted by Scam

Auction sites are not responsible for the truthfulness of individual listings, as that information is up to the seller to disclose. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with previous Havana guests selling the wristbands as unique souvenirs, so long as they are not being dishonest and claiming that buyers will receive the benefits.

In addition to the wristbands, Carnival crew members may ask to see guests’ Sail & Sign cards to verify their Havana status, just to ensure the exclusive area remains exclusive.

Is The Havana Worthwhile?

The exclusive Havana area is only available on select Carnival cruise ships. At this time, the premium area is found on Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama, as well as all three of the cruise line’s Excel-class ships – Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

The Havana features old-time Cuban-inspired decor with a relaxed tropical vibe. Each stateroom – and there are different types available to book, from interiors to balconies to suites – has a branded robes and towels for guests to use.

Guests booked in The Havana also have exclusive access to their own pool or hot tub area (depending on the ship), and plenty of sun-drenched lounging space – without the massive crowds in public areas.

The Havana Bar is also available exclusively for booked guests to use. Previously, that venue was open to all guests during the evening hours, but that policy was changed in recent years and now is only available for Havana guests.

All guests booked in Havana staterooms must be age 12 or older, which makes the area even more desirable to guests who prefer quieter, more adult-oriented spaces.

Have you stayed in The Havana? Share your experiences and tips on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival Cruise Line is notoriously family-friendly, but passengers were recently alerted to a change that will transform one voyage into an adults-only journey.

Guests booked on Carnival Magic’s November 1, 2025, sailing received notice that the voyage will now be a Casino Event cruise, part of its Carnival Players Club program.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Players Club is a casino loyalty program that features perks and rewards based on casino play. 

These include free drinks, stateroom upgrades, discounted or even free cruises, and invitations to exclusive events like Casino Event Cruises like the one Carnival Magic is now taking.

These event cruises may include larger casino tournaments and special giveaways. They also require all of up to 3,690 passengers to meet the age minimum of 21 years.

The notice, sent on May 20, 2025, by Colleen Oliverio, VP of guest services, stated, “We have made an operational change for this voyage, designating it as a special Casino Event cruise, dedicated to offering our playing enthusiasts thrilling and unique experiences.”

The change doesn’t impact pricing or perks for those already booked, but guests who were planning to sail with children are now unable to join unless they revise their reservation.

The cruise line did not indicate whether rebooking support or compensation would be provided for passengers unable to cruise.

The notice also said the 7-night cruise, which sails from PortMiami to the Eastern Caribbean to call in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Carnival Cruise Line’s private Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, will “still feature most of our brand-specific offerings.”

It did not specify which offerings may be changed or eliminated, but it’s safe to say the kids’ programing, such as Camp Ocean, Club O2 and Circle C, won’t be necessary.

Guests Weigh in on Change

Of course, without more detail, guests began to speculate about the now Casino cruise. One passenger questioned if it’s a test run. “Seeing how much money it will make over a regular cruise.” 

Another suggested that “if an adults-only cruise sells out quickly, this won’t be the last.”

While some were excited – “I’ve been waiting for an adults Carnival cruise!” – others criticized the planning behind the change.

“Seems like a lack of planning on Carnival’s side. Probably a lot of disappointed customers,” suggested one guest.

Read Also: What Cruise Activities Are Popular for Kids?

But the change is more likely due to the rescheduling of Carnival Magic’s dry dock. The cruise line had blocked some time in October and November for the 130,000-gross-ton ship’s dry dock but recently rescheduled it to spring 2026, meaning the ship would be available to sail after all.

Unfortunately, while new itineraries were added, that rescheduling forced the cruise line to cancel cruises scheduled in April and May 2026.

However, in spite of the uniqueness of an adults-only voyage, Carnival Cruise Line – and others – reserve the right to change and cancel its cruises at any time. Sometimes, a change is the result of a cruise transforming into a chartered event.

Because cruise itineraries are scheduled 2 or even 3 years in advance, it’s difficult to make changes like dry docking or charter voyages without having to reconfigure passengers.

In these cases, cruise lines, including Carnival, do their best to rebook passengers on similar journeys and will most likely offer assistance and financial incentives like Future Cruise Credits to passengers who may no longer be able to sail on November 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, anyone 21 years and older will certainly be discovering some additional activities and entertainment not originally aligned with the Carnival Magic’s traditional itinerary. 

Traveling with mobility challenges can be difficult, but cruise lines do make every attempt to ensure all guests are welcome and accommodated as much as reasonably possible. But what is and isn’t possible?

One Carnival Cruise Line guest has reached out to John Heald, the line’s official brand ambassador who handles hundreds of requests, questions, and complaints each week, with their mobility experience and disappointment.

“There needs to be more care for your mobility scooter users. I was on the Valor last week for the [transatlantic cruise]. We had some bad weather one night. I tried to get through the corridor to my cabin,” the guest explained.

Carnival Valor just recently completed the transatlantic cruise from New Orleans to Barcelona ahead of her dry dock renovation in Cadiz, Spain.

She will return to service with her June 11 departure, a return transatlantic sailing back to New Orleans from Barcelona, visiting Malaga, Cadiz, and Punta Delgada along the way.

It’s unclear, however, what the ship’s itinerary or route has to do with the guest’s concerns, as bad weather can happen anywhere, on any cruise length, in any sailing region. From the guest’s continued explanation, it seems the weather was the cause of their difficulties.

“There were people not using the hand rails. They were just slowly weaving down the corridor oblivious that they were holding me up,” the guest said. “I know they knew I was trying to get past. I was too polite to say anything. It is another example, John, of how Carnival must try to do more for mobility scooter users.”

The guest offers no suggestions for what, exactly, Carnival Cruise Line should try to do. It seems like they might be expecting a right-of-way for mobility scooters, or that the cruise line should have a policy that scooters are always permitted to pass at any speed.

Other commenters did chime in with suggestions and thoughts on the confusing scenario.

Many noted that because the guest chose not to say anything such as “excuse me” or “could I pass, please?” they didn’t take any responsibility themselves, but instead expect the cruise line to manage even such minor inconveniences as a crowded corridor.

To be clear, the original poster did not indicate there was any need for them to rush to their stateroom, nor how much extra time it took them to move down the corridor.

Other guests felt the scooter user ought to have more consideration for travelers who don’t have a stable scooter to move about on in rough seas, and simply should be patient.

One commenter rightly noted that if they had to rush to give more space to a scooter, they might fall themselves and then it could be even longer before the hallway might be clear!

How Carnival Helps Guests With Mobility Scooters

Carnival Cruise Line actually does a great deal to ensure that guests who require mobility scooters, wheelchairs, rollators, or other assistance devices can still enjoy their cruise.

While it is true that there are limitations on the scooter size and style that can be permitted onboard the ship, this is due to safety regulations for the scooter to fit into the cabin and not block doorways or emergency access.

With ongoing dry dock updates, the cruise line is adding more accessibility features – including fully-accessible cabins – to many ships, giving even more selection to travelers who use scooters.

Heald is always willing to assist guests with dining room seating requests so they can feel comfortable using a scooter, whether they need a table assignment near a door or prefer a different location so they can maneuver their scooter more easily.

Most Carnival cruise ships also have some handicap-accessible seating in the main show lounge, with space available for scooters to be accommodated. Similarly, the onboard casinos can create scooter-friendly tables or machine space as needed.

One thing guests using mobility scooters cannot do is park their scooters overnight in hallways or public spaces. This is a violation of onboard safety procedures and guests need to be able to move their scooters into their staterooms.

There is one often-requested accommodation that just isn’t possible. Heald often receives requests for a dedicated elevator for scooter users, or alternatively, for a crew member to be manning elevator banks in order to ensure that scooters are permitted to board elevators first.

These requests are simply not possible to meet, given the necessary manpower that would be necessary to ensure success.

As for a corridor being blocked by weaving guests? Heald has the perfect response.

“If this couple had been ‘weaving down the corridor’ I would have said, ‘Get a loom,'” he suggested.