The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at California’s Long Beach Cruise Port discovered 749 cartons of cigarettes hidden within 10 pieces of luggage.
Per the CPB website, vacationers can only bring 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars back into the US after traveling abroad – so these cruise guests far exceeded the limit.
Larger quantities of cigarettes are not considered for personal use, but rather for commercial use, and requires a special importer permit from the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Even though the passengers had the corresponding purchase receipts available, they were unable to produce the required permits to import the large quantity of tobacco products to the United States.
Additionally, tobacco product labels must all fall under the approved FDA standards, including warning and accurate product descriptions – and it’s unclear if these met this requirement or not.
Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said,“The importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives.”
“Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price,”Daviesadded, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Between the ten pieces of luggage, authorities discovered 43 cartons of Marlboro Silvers, 58 cartons of Newport regulars, 112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold, and 326 cartons of Newport 100s cigarettes.
The amount of individual cigarettes was estimated to be about 150,000, with the average cost of a single one being $0.40 in the United States.
At the low end, it was estimated that each of the cartons would sell for about $80 in California — meaning the total value of all of the cigarettes was just shy of $59,920.
Every single one of the 749 cartons was immediately seized, and under the supervision of the CBP, will be destroyed.
The Crime and the Consequences
CBP has thus far kept the identity of the offending cruisers confidential, and did not say if any additional consequences were levied for their actions. In addition to seizing the cigarettes, the passengers could also be subjected to fines, or even jail time.
Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, spoke about how these types of schemes are usually meant to rake in a big profit without paying taxes. But in doing so, innocent consumers are put at risk.
“Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import,” Bell added.
However, the guests did consent to being searched during the disembarkation process, so there’s a chance they may have received leniency in exchange for their cooperation.
CBP Confiscate Cigarettes from Cruise Passengers at Long Beach (Credit: CBP)
According to cruise tracking data, the only cruise ship in Long Beach on the day of the seizure was the 4,126-guest Carnival Firenze– which had just returned from a 5-night sailing to Mexico. However, this has not been confirmed.
Since guests have to go through security screenings before re-boarding while in port, it’s also interesting that the ship security team did not flag the large amount of cigarettes the duo was bringing onboard – unless perhaps the women were bringing the items on in smaller waves throughout the day.
Smoking is allowed onboard Carnival’s fleet in designated locations, so smaller amounts of cigarettes likely wouldn’t ring too many alarm bells.
There’s also a possibility that the guests were buying the cigarettes onboard in increments throughout their sailing, and therefore wouldn’t have had to go through security with them.
But normally, the crew members selling the cartons would be advising guests on the allowance upon returning to the US. Some cruise lines also impose limits on how many cartons can be sold onboard in a single transaction.
That being said, Carnival can still issue a lifetime ban for the two cruisers in light of this information – even though they were technically caught in the cruise terminal after their voyage had ended.
Just last month, afight broke out in the luggage hall of the Galveston Cruise Port in Texas during disembarkation. All 24 of the Carnival passengers involved were immediately placed on the Do Not Sail list for their actions.
Take this as a warning — people who work at cruise ports have seen it all and will find it all. If you are thinking about doing something illegal, do not do it or be ready to pay the price.
Guests eager for a new and exciting port destination to visit in Mexico now have some fantastic fun to look forward to, as Royal Caribbean has revealed the first concepts for Perfect Day Mexico, slated to open in fall 2027. The cruise line also revealed Lelepa in Vanuatu and the Cozumel Beach Club.
First, let’s get started with Perfect Day Mexico! Never-before-seen features will be the highlights of the new destination near Costa Maya, creating a one-of-a-kind experience with something for all ages.
And you thought Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas was outstanding? Just wait until you see what the cruise line has in store for its new Mexican headliner destination.
“Perfect Day Mexico is bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date,”said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean.“This destination will be the ultimate vacation for families, and we cannot wait to welcome adventurers from around the world to Mexico for an experience only Royal Caribbean can provide.”
View of Perfect Day Mexico
The new destination covers more than 200 acres on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, divided into seven themed neighborhoods with something for everyone.
Up first is Fiesta Plaza, the colorful and energetic arrival area right in the heart of the action to welcome guests to Perfect Day Mexico. The world’s largest sombrero will crown the Tipsy Sombrero Bar, where guests can indulge margaritas, cervezas, and other tropical drinks.
Anyone who has visited Perfect Day at CocoCay is familiar with the Thrill Waterpark. At Perfect Day Mexico, the Loco Waterpark will feature more than 30 waterslides across five slide towers, including the tallest waterslides anywhere in North and South America.
Perfect Day Mexico, Loco Waterpark and Jaguar’s Peak
The most visually startling is the 170-foot-tall Jaguar’s Peak that includes two dueling slides. Other slides in the park will include the longest coaster waterslide in the world, the tallest family raft slide, hydrolaunch slides, and the world’s first sombrero slide, plus other smaller slides (but with equally impressive thrills).
For guests who want a bit of a slower pace, Splash Cove will feature the longest lazy river in the world – up to an hour to float along! – with an optional crazy side more daring visitors can tackle with rapids, spins, and other surprises.
Along the way, three swim-up-bars provide refreshment stops, while splash zones give guests not on the river the chance to make extra thrills along the route.
Costa Beach Club on Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico
For the youngest visitors, the Splashaway Bay water play complex will be the largest such feature Royal Caribbean has ever built, with ample seating for parents and nearby cabanas available as well.
There will be no lack of any sort of water fun with the more than 10 pools at the destination, including a massive 100,000-square-foot pool. Together, all the pools span the area of more than four football fields!
Several exclusive areas will be spread throughout Perfect Day Mexico, including the adults-only El Hideaway with a zero-entry pool, swim-up bar, live music, and in-pool DJ. For the ultimate party atmosphere, guests will want to consider the Ultimate Party Cabana that can host up to 20 guests!
El Hideaway is the signature adults-only neighborhood on Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico
The Costa Beach Club will provide an even more elevated experience with a heated infinity pool and white sand beaches for the very best of relaxation and private vibes. Private cabanas will also be available for rent with dedicated service and their own pool to ensure quiet, exclusive relaxation.
Almost two miles of white sand beaches will be featured at Chill Beach, with loungers, umbrellas, and towels for use so guests can relax the day away for the perfect beach getaway.
Throughout Perfect Day Mexico, regionally-inspired dining includes everything from casual eateries to sit down restaurants, most of which will be complimentary for guests. A total of 24 bars are spaced throughout the destination as well, ensuring that no one is far from a cool sip of their favorite drink.
“At Royal Caribbean, our ambition is bigger than ever, and so is our lineup of amazing experiences we are designing, all centered on our guests,”said Kara Wallace, chief marketing officer for Royal Caribbean.
“Vacationers trust us to help them make every moment a memory, which is why we are changing the game with unforgettable experiences at Perfect Day Mexico and beyond.”
What Is Beyond Perfect Day Mexico?
Royal Caribbean’s Cozumel Beach Club
It isn’t just cruises to Mexico that are getting the Royal (Caribbean) treatment. Two new Royal Beach Club destinations are also in development.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be the first of its kind in the Bahamas, situated conveniently near to the Nassau cruise terminal. Slated to open in December 2025, the destination will offer the world’s largest swim-up bar, the Floating Flamingo, as well as locally-inspired eateries, Bahamian art, and live music.
Royal Beach Club Cozumel is also in development and scheduled to open in 2026. Outstanding beaches, a locally-inspired street market, fresh dining, and more will be part of that new option for cruise travelers.
Royal Caribbean’s Lelepa
To go even further afield, Royal Caribbean is developing Lelepa in the South Pacific, a Vanuatuan island east of Australia. This will be the first-ever exclusive, private cruise destination in the Southern Hemisphere and is sure to feature local flair and inspiration for guests to explore.
While exact itineraries and sailings for each destination have not yet been confirmed, stay tuned to Cruise Hive for more details as they are released, and get ready to book your perfect Royal Caribbean cruise vacation!
A good night’s sleep is important on a cruise, or else you might not have the energy to enjoy everything the ship or the port destinations have to offer.
Bed size (king or twin?), mattress comfort (firm or soft?), cabin temperature (warm or cool?), and other factors can make a difference to just how good any guest sleeps. But what about the actual orientation of the bed?
One prospective guest has messaged John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, to see if is possible to learn which way a bed faces in order to ensure comfort and less seasickness.
“My life partner and I are no strangers to cruising. We are both at the top loyalty level with [another cruise line]. We want to be on the Carnival Venezia,”the guest explained.“I was told by our travel agent that they could not guarantee that our balcony cabin will have the bed facing in the same direction the ship will be moving.”
The guest notes that they are hoping to book the ship’s October 6, 2025 departure, a 12-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from New York with visits to the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and Tortola.
With six days at sea and of course every night spent sailing, good sleep and comfort is certainly important.
“You need to understand that [bed orientation] can make a difference for someone that can get seasick. We want our cabin to have our bed by the balcony and so we can sleep while going the same way as the Venezia,”the guest said.“Can you guarantee this before we book the room?”
While it is possible that the bed’s orientation could have a small impact on seasickness, it is important to note that how a ship might roll or pitch on any individual voyage can vary tremendously.
The ship’s speed, any prevailing winds that push the vessel, wave action, regional storms, and other factors all contribute to how much motion might be felt.
Furthermore, exactly where a stateroom is located – on a top deck or lower down, toward the ends of the ship or in the center – also determines how much motion a guest feels.
Plus, the guest’s question is somewhat unclear. They want to “sleep while going the same way as the Venezia” – but what does this mean? Should their head be facing the direction of motion, or their feet?
Ultimately, however, the answer is the same. It isn’t possible to “guarantee” how a bed is oriented before booking a cabin (or even afterward for that matter).
“I do understand. I have to say though that having been working at sea for so many years I don’t think I have ever [felt] the direction of travel on a cruise ship,”Heald responded.
“And it is hard, I think, to guarantee this as the construction of the ship means that cabin configurations are going to different from cabin to cabin and from deck to deck.”
In some staterooms, the bed might be next to a window or balcony doors, while in others, the bed is closer to the bathroom. The bed might be oriented with the head toward the ship’s bow, or toward the aft, or even situated cross-wise in the room depending on the type of stateroom (this is more common with interior cabins).
Heald does suggest the guest have their travel agent contact him about the exact stateroom numbers they may be considering. He will try to find out how the bed is oriented, but he can’t guarantee it.
What If the Bed Points the Wrong Way?
Guests who might be sensitive to which way their bed is oriented in comparison with the ship’s motion do have some options.
First, if it’s a simple head-to-foot switch, it’s easy enough to change how the bedding is tucked in for an instant 180-degree move. This might not be ideal with respect to watching television or using the bedside tables, but it’s a fast and effective solution.
If the bed is oriented perpendicular to the length of the ship, it might be possible to ask the stateroom attendant if it can be moved 90 degrees. Depending on the overall dimensions of the room and how furnishings may be affixed to the walls or the floor, this could be possible.
Trying other tactics to get a good night’s sleep, such as stretching, blocking unnecessary light, keeping the room cool, or using a small travel fan can also help guests enjoy a restful night, regardless of where the bed is pointing.
Every cruise passenger knows how essential it is to have the proper documentation and paperwork for setting sail.
While this could be as simple as a driver’s license and birth certificate for a cruise from a US homeport, sailing in Europe has more paperwork challenges guests need to be aware of or they risk being denied embarkation.
Cruise lines take extra steps to notify, alert, and inform guests about documentation requirements. It never fails, however, that some travelers don’t pay attention and are frustrated at the inevitable consequences.
Such paperwork snarls have occurred this week for guests hoping to board the newly refreshed Carnival Miracle in Lisbon, Portugal for the ship’s move to Dover, UK as she begins her European summer season.
Because of documentation changes in recent months for entry into the United Kingdom, all guests are required to have an electronic travel authorization (ETA) visa. Despite multiple notifications from Carnival Cruise Line, however, many guests failed to get that visa.
“We had a lot of people who arrived at embarkation of the Carnival Miracle for their cruise from Portugal to Dover, UK without the correct visa,”John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, noted.“There were some guests who took responsibility for this and some who did not and of course blamed Carnival.”
Heald notes that details about required paperwork, including the ETA, are clearly listed on the cruise line’s website. Furthermore, all booked guests were emailed reminders about the requirement prior to sailing.
“Despite there being advice clearly on our website and this is despite emails being sent from our Chief Communications Officer Chris and his team reminding guests about the visa … it was still our fault,”he said.
Because this was Carnival Miracle‘s first post-dry dock sailing, Carnival Cruise Line executives were on hand to welcome guests and extend good wishes for the sailing.
Instead of a happy beginning to the cruise, however, they were treated to juvenile and irresponsible behavior.
“As told to me by Carnival beards who were there for this first cruise [guests] shouted, screamed, and threw all their toys out of their stroller at the embarkation staff and the team behind the guest services desk,”Heald described.
This type of behavior is never acceptable, particularly when directed at crew members who do not have any control over the situation.
Heald does invite any guests to express their frustrations to him, but not to take those feelings out on the crew.
“If you want to shout at someone shout at me please, use CAPS if you want and I will as always be here to listen and to help. However shouting and screaming at the staff and crew is really uncalled for,”he said.
What Paperwork Is Now Required?
The new visa requirement for cruising to the UK went into effect from January 8, 2025. This means that all cruisers, except those who have passports from the UK or Ireland, must obtain the visa before setting sail.
Because it can take up to three days for the visa to be approved, guests who fail to get the paperwork sorted in advance risk not being permitted to board Carnival Miracle on her British Isles, northern Europe, Scandinavia, or Iceland itineraries through mid-August.
To be clear, the visa requirements apply to cruise guests of all ages, including toddlers and infants.
Carnival Cruise Ship Docked in Dover, UK (Credit: Port of Dover)
The requirement also applies to flying into the UK and so may also impact guests planning to arrive several days before embarkation to explore before their sailing.
Heald also noted that guests booked on Carnival Legend in 2026 will require a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) visa.
While this does not apply for 2025, it is important for travelers to be aware of the upcoming requirement, including for Carnival Legend‘s May 24, 2026 14-night transatlantic cruise from Miami to Dover.
“Seeing Europe, the UK and all of these incredible places is something everyone should consider,”Heald said.“I might just see you there – don’t forget your visa.”
Cruise guests are always responsible for obtaining the correct documentation for their travels. This can vary from country to country, and requirements may be changed or updated between when a guest books their cruise and they actually set sail.
If guests fail to arrive at the cruise terminal with the correct paperwork, they may be denied embarkation and there is no compensation or refund provided.
For the first time, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas will spend a winter season based at the Port of Singapore, sailing weekend getaway cruises and longer voyages from October 2026 to February 2027.
The Voyager-class ship accommodates 3,400 guests in double occupancy, and its deployment to the Far East port reflects a shift for the cruise line to a lower capacity ship than in previous years.
Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas just completed the 2024-25 winter season from Singapore and Ovation of the Seas will deploy to the port for the 2025-26 season — both ships have capacity for 4,100 guests.
In fact, the cruise line’s guest capacity at Singapore has been drawing down since Quantum of the Seas, accommodating up to 4,900, was deployed there in 2022.
Like other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet that homeported in Singapore, Navigator of the Seas will cater largely to the Asia market. As the lion’s share of sailings will be 3- and 4-night cruises, it’s unlikely that North Americans will be among the ship’s guests from Singapore.
Three-night cruises will feature one port call, to Penang, Malaysia, while 4-night itineraries will call at Penang and Phuket, Thailand. Five-night sailings add a visit to Langkawi, Malaysia.
Longer, 10-night voyages visit Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, Vietnam; Bangkok, Thailand, and Langkawi. The ship will overnight in Bangkok.
“With Navigator of the Seas, we are bringing an adventure-packed holiday experience tailored to Asian travelers, especially families and large groups,” said Chad Grospe, vice president and managing director, APAC, Royal Caribbean International.
“From thrilling activities to world-class entertainment and dining, there’s something for everyone from every generation to enjoy together,” added Grospe.
Longer Voyages Feature Overnight Stay in Bangkok
The destinations on Navigator of the Seas’ itineraries from Singapore are sure to appeal to cruisers of all ages.
Langkawi is known for its beaches and rainforests, Penang for its colonial architecture and street food culture, and Phuket for its stunning coastline and vibrant nightlife.
The overnight port call at Bangkok will provide plenty of time for guests to explore the city’s famous Grand Palace and its Buddhist temples, including Wat Arun and Wat Pho.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)
Onboard Navigator of the Seas, guests can indulge in 11 dining venues, including the specialty venues Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, Izumi, Chef’s Table, Hooked Seafood, and Johnny Rockets Express.
More than a dozen bars and lounges will tempt guests to try out their favorite exotic drinks at such venues as Schooner Bar, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, The Lime and Coconut, Viking Crown Lounge, Diamond Club, English Pub, Suite Lounge, Solarium Bar, and The Bamboo Room.
Adventure seekers can experience the “Perfect Storm Waterslides” — Blaster and Riptide, while entertainment venues will offer original stage productions and ice skating performances.
Other fun activities on the ship include the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock climbing wall, the Royal Escape Room, and a glow-in-the-dark laser tag game.
Navigator of the Seas is currently homeported at Los Angeles and sailing 4- to 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises. The ship is scheduled to remain at the West Coast port through September 2026, when she will reposition to Singapore.
In the past few years, it has become commonplace for the most loyal of Carnival cruise guests to lose some of their most coveted loyalty benefits on unique cruises and longer sailings.
Such is now the case with the recently refreshed Carnival Miracle on her first departure from Dover, UK. Booked guests have now received a benefits update notification alerting them to the loss of multiple benefits for the 12-night cruise.
The sailing, a Carnival Journeys cruise, is the ship’s first departure during her summer homeporting from Dover. The Iceland and British Isles itinerary includes calls to outstanding ports such as Belfast, Seydisfjordur, Reykjavik, Kirkwall, and more.
Unfortunately, some of the most desirable Platinum and Diamond Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) benefits will not be available.
“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide priority embarkation or debarkation (including at any of the ports of call),”the email stated.
These priority guests are still welcome to drop off their carry-on bags as soon as they board (but not to remain in their staterooms!), but the priority embarkation and debarkation are not the only benefits they are losing.
“Related to Diamond guests, due to capacity limitations, we cannot guarantee main dining room seating requests for dinner,”the email continued.
It is common for hundreds of high-tier priority guests to be aboard Carnival Journeys itineraries, especially such unique options. For example, while Carnival Miracle will be homeporting from Dover through early August, the ship is only offering two of these Iceland cruises over the next three months.
“These operational changes are consistent with other cruises where we have a very large number of Diamond and Platinum guests,”the email noted.“We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for your understanding.”
Different sailings that have lost high-level VIFP benefits include seasonal sailings to Greenland, the occasional cruise from Long Beach to Hawaii, Panama Canal transits, and transatlantic cruises, among others.
Other benefits, such as complimentary wash-and-fold laundry, welcome treats, logo gifts, reunion parties, and the collectible VIFP pins remain intact.
Will the Benefits Be Removed Entirely?
It is almost comically frustrating that the very benefits many loyal cruisers enjoy the most are those to be removed for the sailings most attractive to those loyal guests.
That frustration may be nearly at an end, however. John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, recently announced that changes to the VIFP program are underway.
2025 Carnival Cruise Line Loyalty Pins
While no details have yet been announced, the changes are planned to be confirmed this summer. Full implementation of the new program is likely in January 2026.
Speculation has been high that new tiers may be introduced to the program, but it is anyone’s guess as to how they could be structured or what benefits may apply to which new tiers.
It is possible that some of these oft-removed benefits might become more restricted in the new program. For example, priority embarkation and debarkation might apply only to shorter cruises and be removed entirely from longer sailings.
It is also possible that the benefits might be moved to higher tiers, so fewer guests would qualify for each perk and the benefits could be kept intact even on the most popular cruises.
Of course, as cruise vacations continue to be phenomenally popular even more guests will reach higher loyalty levels, and these same problems might resurface again in a few years.
Not every cruise is perfect, but first impressions are everything.
For one pair of seasoned cruisers, their first experience on Carnival Cruise Line was less than ideal when they entered an unexpectedly filthy cabin. That being said, the way the cruise line handled the situation left the passengers impressed.
In the initial Facebook post, the guests shared multiple photos of the dirty conditions, accompanied by a short novel of grievances after boarding the 88,500 gross ton Carnival Miracle.
“We always said Carnival probably wasn’t for us — and sadly, our first ever Carnival cruise is proving us absolutely right,”the post begins, outlining the horrible experience.
The pair then went on to explain how they were aware of the ‘ghastly’ decor on the ship and even expected it to be busy, but were shocked by how dirty it was.
This was not the first thing to go wrong, as the embarkation process in Lisbon took three hours, and there was no communication or apology from Carnival about the delay.
The current itinerary Carnival Miracle is on is a 7-night one-way cruise that departed on May 11 from Lisbon, making stops in La Coruna and Bilbao in Spain, as well as Medoc and Paris, France, before arriving in Dover, England, on May 18.
When the passengers arrived at cabin 5165, they opened the door only to find that the clean room they were expecting was anything but that.
“Pubic hairs on the bedside table, what looks like semen stains on the luggage mat, mould and bacteria in the soap dish, food smudged into the plug socket, sticky and stained surfaces, and what appears to be urine and faeces under the toilet seat,” the guests shared in their post.
They did point out that Carnival Miracle did just come off of an extensive drydock in Cádiz, and they simply could not understand where the cruise line actually made improvements.
In their 100 cruises, these guests had never experienced a ship that was so run down and were just hoping to make it through their cruise without any issues.
The Facebook post sharing the story has hundreds of comments, and the overall feedback was mixed.
Most people said that rather than post online, the passengers should speak to the appropriate crew members to resolve the situation.
In a lengthy update from these guests, they said that they were grateful for the support but were appalled by how many people thought the story was fake. However, they took the advice of fellow cruisers and reached out to the crew for help.
“Yesterday, the Housekeeping Manager, Guest Services Manager, and Hotel Director all came to inspect the cabin themselves,”they shared in the update, adding, “they took full ownership and acknowledged that what we experienced was a severe failing on their part, and must never happen again.”
Upgraded Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship
After assessing the room, the crew promised to improve their internal protocols to ensure nothing like this happened again.
This follow-up post also mentioned the professionalism of the hotel director Duncan, who, in his 40 years of working on cruises, said he had never seen a cabin so dirty.
The passengers have since been moved to a nicer (aka cleaner) stateroom and have received a full refund for the cruise.
Rather than being upset, these first time Carnival cruisers were thrilled with the way the cruise line handeded the situation, saying,“We appreciate Carnival’s honesty and accountability in this situation.”
With multiple crew members agreeing that the state of the cabin was unacceptable, it is clear that there will be a plan in place to prevent this in the future.
While these passengers’ experience with Carnival Cruise Line got off to a rocky start, they are looking forward to enjoying the rest of their cruise and are grateful the situation was solved so quickly.
Good things come in threes and on Margaritaville at Sea cruise line’s third anniversary, May 14, 2025, it has announced it is introducing a third ship to its roster in 2026.
Parrothead cruisers first got to eat cheeseburgers in paradise aboardthe aptly named Margaritaville at Sea Paradise when the Jimmy Buffett-branded, island-themed ship launched the cruise line in 2022.
Just two years later, passengers were able to waste away again on Margaritaville at Sea Islander when it debuted in June 2024 to provide one more way to sail to the islands.
Now there’s another reason to find that shaker of salt as the cruise line will bring its biggest vessel to date to the Caribbean seas in 2026.
“Over the last three years, we have been incredibly focused on building Margaritaville at Sea by delivering more of what our guests love – a uniquely laid-back island attitude with award-winning hospitality,”said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea.
“With the acquisition of our third ship in three years, we are proud to once again invite guests to step into the Margaritaville state of mind on the open ocean,” he continued.
Although the cruise line has not yet confirmed an exact debut date or name for the new ship, it has revealed the new addition is actually the 102,500-gross-ton Costa Fortuna, currently sailing under Costa Cruises.
Costa Fortuna, which was constructed in the early 2000s, accommodates 3,450 passengers at double capacity in more than 1,340 staterooms. The 13-passenger deck vessel features a large multi-deck atrium and expansive outdoor decks.
While the ship will remain under Costa Cruises flag until late 2025, Margaritaville at Sea plans to reimagine the ship with its own branding and décor, updating public spaces to reflect the cruise line’s casual, tropical theme.
“We’re thrilled to once again expand the experience of our brand on the water and share the cruise line’s signature experiences and amenities with even more guests,”said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville.
The unnamed vessel is expected to enter dry dock at an undisclosed shipyard by the end of the 2026. Costa Cruises had recently disclosed Costa Fortuna was scheduled to be transferred to a new owner in September 2026.
Fleet Built from Costa Ships
The new Margaritaville at Sea ship follows in the wake of its sister ships as former vessels of Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival Corporation.
The 52,926-gross-ton Margaritaville at Sea Paradise was originally Costa Cruises’ Costa Classica, which was built in 1991 and sold to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in 2018 before Margaritaville entered the cruise space and took over operations.
The larger 85,619-gross-ton Margaritaville at Sea Islander was also a Costa Cruises’ vessel. Built in 2000, the former Costa Atlantica sailed in Asia as a Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) passenger ship.
Costa Fortuna Cruise Ship
That vessel drydocked for four months at Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, Ireland, where updates to staterooms and public areas were completed, along with the addition of new features like the LandShark Bar at Sea.
Margaritaville at Sea currently homeports its Islander in Tampa, sailing to destinations along the Gulf of Mexico, including Key West, Florida, and Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico, on 4- and 5-night adventures.
Paradise sails out of Palm Beach, Florida, on 2- and 3-night journeys to Nassau, Bahamas, and longer cruises to Key West and Freeport, Bahamas.
It is likely the third ship will offer similar sailings from a Florida port, with the cruise line hinting a new homeport will be revealed ahead of her 2026 launch.
The Haven is Norwegian Cruise Line’s version of the ever-popular, luxury, VIP ship-within-a-ship concept: a place where cruisers can pay extra and enjoy more amenities and less-crowded spaces away from the hubbub of the greater ship.
Over recent years, more and more cruise lines have been introducing such spaces. However, as mentioned, sailing in a Haven stateroom or suite is going to cost you more — a lot more.
The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line is a small area at the top of the ship that usually consists of a variety of staterooms and suites that have access to certain spaces that the general cruising population does not.
These spaces may differ according to ship, but can include a sun deck, small pool, restaurant, lounge, etc. Guests staying in The Haven also enjoy a wealth of amenities that other cruisers elsewhere on the ship do not enjoy.
Special Haven Spaces
The Haven Sun Deck
There are three main “extra” spaces that Haven guests have exclusive access to: The Haven Lounge, The Haven Restaurant and The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck.
The Haven Lounge is a quieter, indoors spot that serves drinks.
The Haven Restaurant offers exclusive menus that you won’t find elsewhere throughout the ship. It’s considered a complimentary restaurant, included in your cruise fare, in addition to the other complimentary dining options found elsewhere on the ship, such as the main dining room.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (note that dinner service is not available on Jewel-class ships).
The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck offer both a private pool and hot tub, and only cruisers ages 16 and up can access part of the sundeck, making it a nice, adults-only area for quieter sunbathing.
Attendants man the sundeck throughout the afternoon on sea days, to bring you drinks, snacks and cold towels. Depending on the ship, there may also be an outdoor Haven bar.
Haven Staterooms
The Haven Owner’s Suite
There are a range of Haven staterooms and suites to choose from, from the very extravagant to the more modest but still spacious accommodations.
The three-bedroom Garden Villa is possibly the most posh of them all. In addition to the three bedrooms, villas also offers four bathrooms, multiple outdoor terraces, a private hot tub and up to 6,694 square feet.
A deluxe Haven’s Owners Suite will be slightly smaller, but still very luxurious, with one or two bedrooms, separate living and dining rooms and extra-large bathrooms and a private balcony. Owner’s Suites are similar, but overall just a tad smaller.
A 2-bedroom family villa provides spaces to come together and socialize, but also a master bedroom set apart from a separate bedroom for the kids. The kids have their own television and bathroom, and the adults do as well, with a king-sized bed, and large bathroom with a soaking tub and double vanity.
A forward-facing, aft-facing or courtyard penthouse will offer just enough space for two, but the experience is still high-end. These penthouses provide a private and large balcony, and extra touches such as walk-in closets, wet bar areas, a double sofa bed, sitting area or dining areas, depending on the specific stateroom.
Deluxe suites focus on in-stateroom relaxation, with king-sized beds, oversized waterfall showers, and in-suite hot tubs.
The Haven spa suite is very similar to spa suites elsewhere across the ship, in that you get access to spa amenities included in your cruise fare, and you’ll have wellness-focused amenities in your suite, too, such as those found in the deluxe suites.
Extra Perks for Guests of The Haven
The Haven Access Area on Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Emrys Thakkar / Cruise Hive)
The benefits of staying in The Haven begin before you even board the ship. When you arrive at port, you’ll be expedited through security and taken to a special area to wait to board.
These cruise terminal areas for Haven guests often offer some light snacks so you can wait in comfort. When it’s time to board, you’re personally escorted onto the ship. You’ll likewise receive a personal escort at every port you stop at during your cruise.
Haven guests enjoy access to exclusive concierge services to help book dining, entertainment and shore excursions. You do receive priority reservations. 24-hour butler service is available every day.
In-suite Haven amenities range from nightly treats delivered to your door to in-room fresh fruit bowls that are regularly replenished to free in-room movies and plush bathrobes and slippers.
Depending on the room you stay in, you may get additional extras, such as a bottle of welcome Champagne and stocked bars.
Which Norwegian Cruise Line Ships Have The Haven?
The Haven on Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Emrys Thakkar / Cruise Hive)
There’s no need to stay on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships in order to enjoy a stay in The Haven. This space is featured on a good number of ships, included a few older ships that have been remodeled in recent years.
Norwegian Cruise Line ships with The Haven include:
Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Getaway
Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Encore
Norwegian Escape
Norwegian Gem
Norwegian Jade
Norwegian Pearl
Norwegian Prima
Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Dawn
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Jewel
Norwegian Viva
Norwegian Aqua
Norwegian Luna
Keep in mind, though, that while all of these ships have a Haven, not all Havens across all ships are the same.
For example, of the above staterooms described, not every single one is available on every single ship. Not every Haven features a restaurant, lounge and deck and pool, either. Some may have just a deck and lounge, for instance.
The Haven is best on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships, those in the Prima Class. Prima-class ships include Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Aqua.
All of these ships have debuted within the last several years and, in fact, Norwegian Aqua debuted just earlier in 2025 and I, as mentioned, had the pleasure of checking out this space for myself when joining the ship for one of its first sailings.
Norwegian Aqua (Photo Credit: Just dance)
So what makes The Haven ultimately better on the Prima Class?
For one, The Haven’s location on the ship makes a big difference. On Prima-class ships, The Haven is situated at the back of the ship. This means that the sundeck receives less wind, and that it offers an infinity pool that overlooks the water, breathtaking views and two decks of space.
Additionally, Prima-class ships feature their own elevators for Haven guests, meaning that the Haven suites and staterooms feel a little more like their own, set-apart area than they might on other ships in the fleet.
These elevators come with their own key cards, so The Haven is 100%, totally and entirely set apart from all other cruisers. The other spaces are also larger on the ships, such as the restaurant.
Of course, there’s also just the fact that The Haven on these ships is newer, with the Prima Class’s more upscale and modern feel.
Is Booking The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line Worth It or Not? What to Consider
To decide whether or not booking The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line is worth it, you’ll want to consider a few key factors.
How Much Will It Cost You?
Image Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
So how much can you expect to pay for all of this Haven goodness? In general, you can expect to pay at least twice what you’d pay, for a similar stateroom or suite category outside of The Haven.
In some cases, depending on the ship and the suite chosen, you could pay up to 10 times what it would cost to sail elsewhere in the ship.
Let’s take a look at some examples:
For a 7-day, May 2025 Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Aqua, the per-person price before any discounts for an inside stateroom is $3,737. The per-person price before any discounts for a Haven stateroom on the same cruise is $16,177.
For a 7-day, May 2025 Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Bliss, the per-person price before any discounts for an inside stateroom is $1,744. The per-person price before any discounts for a Haven stateroom on the same cruise is $8,424.
For a 7-day, November 2025 Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Gem, the per-person price before any discounts for an inside stateroom is $1,508. The per-person price before any discounts for a Haven stateroom on the same cruise is $7,848.
In short, you’re going to reliably pay multiple thousands of dollars per person to cruise in The Haven.
For some, this is perfectly fine and they’re willing to splash out on a splurge-worthy vacation. For others, they look to cruising for their vacations because of its cost-saving opportunities. Budget travelers will, as such, probably want to avoid The Haven.
What Ship are You Sailing on?
The Haven Sundeck and Infinity Pool
As mentioned, The Haven can really differ from ship to ship. Do you really want to spend thousands of dollars per person for a cruise, just to get on your ship and find that the older Haven space doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as The Haven on a Prima-class ship?
As such, unless you really, really value the basic amenities that come with staying in The Haven, you might want to hold off on booking a Haven stateroom or suite until you can sail on one of the cruise line’s newer ships.
How Much Time Do You Plan on Spending in The Haven?
Cruise Passenger With NCL Haven Slippers (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)
Of course, you also need to think about how much you’ll actually use The Haven’s VIP amenities and spaces. This requires thinking about your cruise habits overall.
If you’re the type of cruiser who likes to, first and foremost, kick back and relax during your cruise, and if you spend a lot of time on the sun deck or by the pool, and little time in port or exploring ship features like the casino, waterparks or theaters, by all means, you may prefer The Haven.
Likewise, if you don’t like all the noise and crowds that can come with larger, family-friendly ships like those in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, then you may value the relative tranquility and privacy that The Haven provides.
If, though, you’re the type of cruiser to spend very little time on the ship on port days, and if you can’t wait to explore all the various restaurants, bars and more that a mega ship like Norwegian Aqua offers, then you may be wasting your money on The Haven. If you’re never going to be there, what are you really paying for?
Is Booking The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line Worth It or Not? The Verdict
So should you book The Haven for your next cruise? I can’t make that decision for you. I know that there’s a lot to love about The Haven, especially on newer ships like Norwegian Aqua, and I greatly enjoy all the little luxuries that staying in The Haven can offer.
However, I also know that it’s not a good fit for everyone, including sometimes myself when I’m on a cruise where I’m really excited to experience the entirety of the ship and the various ports of call, rather than just one small part of a ship.
Only you can decide if The Haven is right for your next cruise. Considering the various factors presented above, though, you should be able to make a smart decision that will leave you satisfied with your future cruise.
