Cruises can be fun, relaxing, stressful, and sometimes even crazy! But hey, what is life without a bit of chaos?
One passenger took to Reddit seeking out the craziest stories and experiences fellow cruisers have witnessed, and let’s just say the responses did not disappoint.
The original poster shared their own first, detailing a very serious fight between a couple that was not stopped by other guests or crew in one of the ship’s elevators.
Stories about intoxicated guests flooded the comments of this post, becoming a common theme among the truly crazy experiences.
“Some drunk went crazy on a Disney Cruise. Security chased him around the ship till they took him down by spraying him with a fire hose on the pool deck,”said the comment, sharing the innovative way the crew de-escalated the intoxicated passenger.
This guest was removed from the Disney Cruise Line ship at the next port, which is the reality for those who fail to follow the cruise line’s policies.
“We watched a very drunk woman take her bra off and climb the flag pole on the back of the ship to attach her bra to the end,”another person replied.
This commenter added that this passenger was later removed from the former SS Norway, but her bra remained on the back of the ship for the rest of the voyage. That is one flag you do not see often!
Another passenger shared that while cruising around the Pacific Ocean, there was a woman who went to guest services and requested a cab while the ship was at sea.
While the crew always tries their best to fulfill guests’ requests, this was one that could not be fufilled for obvious reasons.
While many of the other replies continued to share about unruly passengers, one commenter replied with a truly unique story when a kid got to live out every chocolate lover’s dream.
“This was back when I was a kid in the early 90s,” the cruiser commented, adding, “I watched a kid give ALL the way in to his intrusive thoughts and go completely ham on the chocolate fountain.”
The story does not end there, as the four-year-old covered fully in chocolate proceeded to get it all over the tables, walls, floors, and even on the waiters trying to stop him.
After a few tables were left overturned and an ice sculpture took a fatal fall, the toddler was finally stopped — until moments later, he wriggled loose and went right back for more chocolate.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock
Who could blame him for wanting another turn at the dessert station?
As fun as it sounds, there are rules set in place by all cruise lines that help to maintain the safety and well-being of passengers, and sadly a dip in the chocolate fountain is frowned upon.
While things such as chocolate fountains have largely been phased out by cruise lines, drink packages continue to be extremely popular despite some passengers using them unwisely.
Passengers Continue to Cause Chaos
If it was not clear by how every story above mentioned intoxicated passengers’ poor behavior ended with them being removed from the ship, cruise lines have and still do take these situations seriously.
In May of 2024, a passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas simply got up from his lounger to use the restroom when another guest who was intoxicated came and sat in his spot while his belongings were still there.
Eventually, after a bit of a struggle, this individual was removed by security. This story was shared on Reddit, and one commenter shared how they witnessed another inebriated passenger urinate on their lounge chair to avoid losing their spot.
While all cruise lines have some sort of regulations in place to try to prevent passengers from being over served, many have drink packagesthat can be used 15 times a day.
Of course, these can be used for things such as soda or coffee, but do not be fooled — it is not a challenge.
Instead, try to be a little bit more like the chocolate fountain kiddo and seek out fun new experiences while onboard, just maybe avoid covering yourself in the dessert if possible!
Anyone who’s ever been on a Carnival cruise knows that staterooms can be tiny, and the bathrooms even tinier. But what about one critical accessory inside those bathrooms – are the towels large enough?
One guest doesn’t think so, and has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, with their bigger-than-the-towels frustrations.
Their complaints aren’t just about size, however, but also about quality. Are the towels in Carnival staterooms truly so terrible? For this guest, they claim the towels are the only thing they hated about their cruise ship cabin.
“They are by far worse than even the towels used in any cheap motel,”the guest claimed.“I thought Carnival had accidentally stocked us with the bath mat towels for soaking up the water at the base of the shower.”
The “bath mat towels” are typically rolled on the floor next to the shower or stocked on the shelf below the sink in the bathroom. They are a sturdier material, often scratchier and not as fluffy as a typical bath towel, and they are much smaller in overall size – similar to the size of a welcome mat.
“You would think that after getting washed every day, they would soften up a bit. But no, these towels are so stiff and rough that they stand up on their own,”the guest complained.
The only Carnival cruise towels I’ve ever seen stand up on their own are carefully rolled, twisted, and folded into the famous towel animals. My favorite is the dinosaur, but the elephant, dog, monkey, rabbit, and others are also classic towel friends.
Of course, some guests have had exceptionally talented cabin stewards who craft full-size human figures, often laying on the couch, the bed, or positioned strategically in that extra-small bathroom. I’ve never seen one standing, however.
The guest goes on to note that the size of the towels is also inadequate for their specific needs.
“They are also not large enough for big people,”the guest explained.“I am a proud 400-pound man. You will relate to this, John. The towels Carnival gives us are not big enough for big people. Cutbacks to towels are being noticed. Do better, Carnival!”
While Heald reserves his comments on the guest’s size – and their comments on his own appearance – for a joke, he does suggest that anyone who isn’t happy with their stateroom towels can ask for replacements.
Carnival Cruise Line Towels (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of comment before,”Heald noted.“If you get a brand new towel it doesn’t maybe dry as well as one that’s been used before, but if you don’t like it, speak to your cabin steward, your cabin attendant, and he or she will take care of it immediately and give you different towels.”
Asking one’s cabin attendant or stopping by the Guest Services desk is a fast and easy way to correct many minor (and not so minor) concerns to get back to the cruising fun as soon as possible.
An Easy Towel Fix
Other guests quickly weighed in (pun definitely intended) on the poster’s towel-sized problems. The most common – and reasonable – solution is to simply use the pool towels, which are significantly larger than the bathroom towels.
These towels are free to use, and the stateroom steward will happily replace used ones every day, the same as with the bathroom towels.
Guests can also simply ask for extra towels, which is a common solution for individuals who might prefer to shower multiple times a day or who need extra towels for long hair, for example.
Of course, guests can also choose to pack along their own towels to use onboard. Some travelers choose to do this if they are especially sensitive to detergents, for example.
Other guests had even more creative solutions. My favorite?
“After the wife and I shower (not together of course) we like to stand naked at the front most point of the ship and air dry,”one guest suggested.“Similar to a scene from the Titanic.”
Cruise Hive’s weekly update is the best way to stay on top of all the big developments impacting the global cruise community. This week, we’re writing about Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises.
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Disney Adventure Floats Out of Construction Bay
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship Floats Out
Disney Cruise Line marked a major milestone in the construction of its biggest ship to date, the 6,000-guest Disney Adventure, with the float-out of the massive vessel at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Wismar, Germany.
The 208,000-gross-ton ship touched water for the first time on April 19, 2025, signaling the completion of her hull. Now, the interior and exterior work continues as the ship prepares to enter service in December 2025.
Disney celebrities Captain Minnie and Captain Mickey attended the big event, as did cruise line officials and local dignitaries. Fireworks added to the celebratory mood as the ship moved out of her construction bay and into Wismar Harbor.
Still to come are sea trials, likely to be held in late summer or fall, and the final addition of onboard experiences such as waterslides and a roller coaster, among other thrilling activities.
The ship will cater to the Asia market when she launches later this year. Based in Singapore, Disney Adventure will offer 3- to 5-night getaway cruises to nowhere, meaning that voyages do not call at any ports.
It’s fun to have something to nosh on as you peruse a restaurant menu and sip a drink, and in lots of cruise ship dining rooms, this means a basket of fresh bread.
But it seems that Carnival Cruise Line has quietly altered its bread offerings, from providing the traditional basket of carb-rich delights to a serving of just two slices of bread per person.
That was the source of a guest’s complaint to cruise line brand ambassador John Heald, who interacts with cruisers on his popular Facebook page. Why, the guest wanted to know, is the cruise line now stingy with bread?
Heald assured the worried cruiser that there is no limit on bread, and all one has to do is request more from the wait staff and it will be served.
No official explanation was offered, but it seems likely that preventing the wasting of food might be at the core of the change. So feel free to ask for as much as you wish while sailing on a Carnival Cruise Line ship.
Chair Hogs Find No Sympathy From This Cruise Line
Norwegian Epic Open Deck (Photo Credit: Aleksandr Dyskin)
Chair hogging is no longer tolerated on Norwegian Cruise Line ships, where crew are now monitoring so-called “saved” chairs and removing personal items from them if the guest doesn’t occupy the chair within an hour of saving it.
The industry-wide practice of leaving a towel or personal item on a lounge chair in a prime poolside location and then disappearing for hours at a time has been a problem on cruise ships for years. Guests think that they can claim a chair but not use it until some time later, and that’s not fair to others.
On Norwegian Escape recently, guests noticed that crew were putting markers on saved chairs and then, after one hour, removing the personal items that had been left, thereby making the chair available to others.
The new policy is not designed to punish someone who leaves their personal items on a chair while visiting a restroom, or cooling off in the pool, or grabbing a cold drink from a nearby bar.
Rather, it is meant to discourage those who leave a claimed chair unattended for more than an hour. It’s hard to argue with that!
Oosterdam Debuts With Upgrades Following Dry Dock
Holland America’s Oosterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: lenic)
New and refreshed spaces have emerged aboard Holland America Line’s Oosterdam following a dry dock renovation, and now the ship is set to begin her exciting summer season in the Mediterranean.
The spa onboard the 1,964-guest ship received several key upgrades aimed at tempting guests to spend time and money on various wellness activities.
Inside the popular Greenhouse Spa & Salon, the Thermal Suite was improved to include a new steam room, and now there’s a couple’s massage room and a new sauna.
Some staterooms were upgraded with new bathrooms and balcony furniture, and improvements were made to entertainment spaces, including the Rolling Stone Lounge, which has new furnishings and lighting.
Other public spaces were spruced up, too, such as the Sea View pool, now featuring new teak wood decks and hot tubs, and the casino, which was expanded.
Oosterdam will sail her first Europe cruise from Barcelona on May 3, 2025, and offer a full slate of summer itineraries of varying lengths. In November 2025, the ship will reposition to South America and begin a winter series of voyages that include Antarctica.
Guests Get One Day’s Notice of Cruise Cancellation
Imagine finding out that your cruise is cancelled — the day before departure. That was the case with P&O Cruises’ Aurora, which was due to sail a 3-night voyage from Southampton, UK, to Zeebrugge, Belgium, on April 21, 2025.
On April 20, 2025, booked guests received the bad news. The 25-year-old ship, which accommodates 1,950 guests, is in dry dock in Rotterdam undergoing maintenance, and apparently, some undisclosed repair could not be completed in time to operate the cruise.
The cancellation was announced on Easter Sunday, when it was likely that at least some booked guests were not glued to their phones and reading email, which is how the notice was issued.
In fact, the cruise line’s email noted that guests would be unable to contact the line since the office was closed for the Easter holiday. All guests will receive refunds of their cruise fare and any shore tours that were booked through the cruise line.
P&O Cruises also is giving each guest a future cruise credit valued at 20% of the cruise fare they paid. The credit can be used on any of the line’s voyages booked by April 20, 2027.
Disney Cruise Line Tests Expansion of Onboard App
Open Deck of Disney Wish (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Disney Cruise Line is testing an expansion of its Navigator app for guests who download the app to their mobile devices.
The test was offered to guests sailing on the April 21, 2025 departure of Disney Wish, which sailed a 4-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral.
Using the app’s added experiences, parents could handle tasks such as registering their children for the line’s Oceaneer Club and signing up for the ship’s cake-decorating competition, for example.
Also, reservations for the AquaMouse water coaster could be made via the app, along with some Disney character meet-and-greet events.
Guests who wanted to participate in the test were told to download the latest version of Navigator, link their stateroom using the ship’s WiFi guest network, and register via the app’s “Onboard Fun” function.
Cruisers could try out the new app with or without having purchased an internet plan. It isn’t clear whether the expanded use of the app will become permanent and be offered fleetwide.
Guests who do not use their mobile devices onboard a Disney Cruise Line ship have no access to the Navigator app, which could put them at a disadvantage when it comes to signing up for activities.
Pullman Beds Not Always the Best Choice For Families
Discovery Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte)
There can be drawbacks to squeezing four people into one cruise ship stateroom, especially when the cabin has two Pullman beds that drop down from the ceiling.
One family sailing aboard Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess found that out the hard way, when their cabin steward broke the news that both Pullman beds would be accessible only at night.
This meant that the family of four — parents and two kids, had to share the remaining two single beds for nap times during the day, making for an uncomfortable rest. The beds had to remain closed, the steward said, for safety reasons.
However, the family, who shared their experience on social media, received comments from other cruisers who also booked cabins with Pullman beds on the same ship, and said they were made accessible all day long.
Others responded to the frustrated guests that there are more options, such as booking a room with a pull-out couch for the youngsters instead, or springing for two cabins rather than one.
More Cruise Headlines
Those were the top stories of the week, but Cruise Hive has many more cruise news stories you should know about. Check out our coverage of MSC Cruises cancelling a 2026 voyage due to a dry dock schedule; Holland America Line adding two grand voyages in 2027; Celebrity Cruises’ new-build entering service earlier than expected; another viral outbreak impacting a cruise ship, this time a Viking Cruises’ vessel; and Port Canaveral breaking yet another cruise record.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself staring up at a cruise ship and wondering, “Just how big is that thing?” With the average cruise ship coming in at over 1,000 feet in length and weighing roughly 120,000 gross tons, these gigantic floating cities will always make you feel tiny, no matter how many times you see them.
Let’s take a look at the size of an average–and the world’s largest–cruise ship, and see how they measure up to some familiar landmarks to help you grasp the magnitude of a modern cruise ship.
When we talk about measuring the size of a cruise ship, we’re not just referring to its length or width. Proper maritime measurements also factor in the height and gross tonnage, which gives a much more accurate depiction of the actual size of a vessel.
Here is a quick breakdown of the main measurements that are used to define the overall size of a cruise ship:
Length Overall (LOA)
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Length overall, or LOA, is the maximum distance from the bow (front) of the ship, all the way to the furthest reaching point of its stern (back). Your average cruise ship measures about 1,000 feet in length, but some larger ships measure almost 1,200 feet!
Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships are the world’s largest class of cruise ships. Icon of the Seas measures a staggering 1,196.7 feet, while Utopia of the Seas, an Oasis-class ship, measures 1,188 feet in length.
Width (Beam)
Aft of MSC World America (Credit: MSC Cruises)
The vessel’s widest point is the part used to describe its width. When discussing a modern cruise ship’s size, the width usually comes between 122 and 213 feet, with 135 feet being the average for most vessels.
It is important to measure the absolute widest point of the ship, as this determines how capable the ship will be of navigating narrow ports and fitting through key canals like the Panama Canal. A cruise ship’s width is also important for its overall stability. A wider beam can help balance the ship and prevent it from tipping over.
Height
Starboard Side of Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Edwin Muller Photography)
Height may sound pretty self-explanatory, but with ship measurements, you also include the portion of the ship that sits below the water. This means measuring the vertical depth from the ship’s highest point right down to the lowest point of the keel.
For ships that are 20+ decks tall, this can be over 240 feet high. Height is important for knowing a cruise ship’s bridge clearance, which can be critical for those traveling along river routes with overhanging bridges and other obstacles.
Gross Tonnage (GT)
Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Jonathan C Wear)
Gross tonnage, usually listed as GT, is probably the most important measurement when defining a cruise ship’s actual size. Not only is it the most common figure quoted when assessing the size of these mega-ships, but it also provides a really accurate image of size by factoring in length, height, and width.
Often confused with weight, gross tonnage is a measure of a ship’s overall internal volume. This is why the gross tonnage of some ships can be a bit confusing, as two ships can have the same GT but different weights.
For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has a gross tonnage of approximately 248,663 GT, making it one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Gross tonnage provides a full picture of a ship’s internal volume, encompassing everything inside, including cabins, entertainment venues, dining areas, and more. It is used to determine capacity restrictions, port fees, and more.
Measurements of the Current Biggest Cruise Ships
To give you an idea of how these measurements actually play out in the real world, here is a quick comparison of some of the current biggest cruise ships from the top cruise lines:
Cruise Line
Large Cruise Ships
Gross Tonnage
Length
Maximum Passenger Capacity
Royal Caribbean
Icon of the Seas
248,663 GT
1,196.7 feet
7,600
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Jubilee
183,521 GT
1,130 feet
6,631
MSC Cruises
MSC World Europa
215,863 GT
1,094 feet
6,762
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Encore
169,116 GT
1,094 feet
4,004
Costa Cruises
Costa Smeralda
185,010 GT
1,106 feet
6,554
P&O Cruises
P&O Arvia
184,700 GT
1,130 feet
5,200
Keep in mind that the above chart only highlights each individual cruise line’s biggest ship right now. Some cruise lines, particularly Royal Caribbean, have multiple ships that would rank in the current top 10 list.
This list will also grow and change as cruise lines add new ships to their fleets. For example, we already know that Royal Caribbean International plans to launch at least three new Icon-class cruise ships that will also eclipse the Icon of the Seas in both length and gross tonnage.
How Big Is the World’s Largest Cruise Ship?
Star of the Seas LNG fueling (Photo Credit: Mediascope Productions)
As of right now, the world’s largest cruise ship is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the first in the Icon class. As of early 2025, they are not only the largest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, they stand as the largest cruise ships ever built.
Royal Caribbean International has already announced plans to have at least four Icon-class ships in their fleet, with Star of the Seas set to join her sister ship in August of 2025.
Once she sets sail, she will eclipse the gross tonnage of the Icon of the Seas. Like her older sister, Star of the Seas will be outfitted with luxurious amenities, casinos, and other top-tier entertainment venues.
For now, Icon of the Seas retains the title of the world’s largest. This behemoth measures just shy of 1,200 feet in length and stands 20 passenger decks tall.
With a gross tonnage of 248,663, it can accommodate a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, bringing its full onboard capacity to nearly 10,000 people.
It’s almost impossible to appreciatethe scale of the Icon of the Seas until you explore her for yourself. The entire Icon-class are true modern engineering marvels that act almost like floating cities, resorts, and theme parks all wrapped into one!
Royal Caribbean’s Icon class represents a significant leap forward in cruise ship size, surpassing Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, two Oasis-class ships that each previously held the title of the world’s largest.
As you have probably guessed, passenger capacity varies widely from one cruise ship to the next. Today, the average cruise ship has a passenger capacity of around 3,000 passengers, with about 1,200 crew members supporting each ship’s operations.
To give you an idea of how passenger capacities have changed over time, the Titanic, an ocean liner that was once considered to be the pinnacle of maritime engineering, had a passenger capacity of about 2,435 guests, which is less than half the size of today’s larger ships.
We’ve already established that Icon of the Seas is the largest ship, so it is no surprise it can also carry the highest number of passengers. With double occupancy, it can carry 5,610 passengers, but at maximum capacity, that number bumps up to 7,600 passengers, which is more than double the average capacity for a modern cruise ship.
The smallest ships in the cruise industry, usually operated by more niche cruise lines that offer intimate voyages to more remote areas, can carry as few as 200 guests. The current smallest cruise ship, Celebrity Xploration, now owned by Lindblad Expeditions, only carries 16 guests in just eight passenger cabins.
While this may make you wonder why it is even classed as a cruise ship, its tiny size and low passenger capacity allow it to visit remote areas that have strict visitor limitations and visa requirements, like the Galapagos Islands, which are entirely off-limits to larger cruise ships and their thousands of passengers.
How Big a Cruise Ship Is Compared to…
I personally find it easier to appreciate the scale of an average modern cruise ship when you compare it to the size of other ships and objects to put things into perspective. Here are just a few size comparisons I found that helped me wrap my head around the size of these gargantuan vessels.
Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft Carrier and Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Martin of Sweden)
The biggest modern cruise ships, like the Icon class ships, are evenlonger than aircraft carriers. With Nimitz-class aircraft carriers coming in at shy of 1,100 feet in length, they’re almost 100 feet shorter than the world’s largest cruise ships. Just think about that: ships designed with built-in runways are still shorter than the biggest cruise ships!
Famous Landmarks
A large cruise ship is comparable to a skyscraper, with the largest being comparable to theChrysler Building if you laid the iconic New York City building on its side.
On the other hand, if you stood a ship like Icon of the Seas upright, it would be even taller than the height of the Eiffel Tower, which comes in at 1,083 feet.
Football Fields
If the idea of craning your neck upwards and picturing a skyscraper on its side is difficult, let’s imagine something a little easier. At just under 1,200 feet, the current longest cruise ships are equivalent to about three football fields if they were laid end to end.
Just think, we are only talking about the length here. Plenty of cruise ship giants have over 15 decks, so you’re talking about three football fields multiplied by 6 to 20 layers. No wonder cruise ship designers can pack in so many fun amenities and accommodations into these floating giants!
Animals and Human Beings
Photo Credit: FWC Florida Fish and Wildlife
The blue whale is the world’s largest animal, but even they’re dwarfed by the size of your average cruise ship. At 110 feet, it would take almost 11 blue whales lined up nose to tail to equal the length of the largest cruise ships.
If you go even smaller, the world’s largest land animal, the African bush elephant, measures about 22 feet from head to tail. With the average cruise ship measuring about 1,000 feet, you’d need to line up more than 45 adult African bush elephants to eclipse that length. Talk about a circus!
Now, with the average adult male human measuring 5’7”, you would need to have 175 average adults lying head to toe to equal the length of an average cruise ship. Get the idea? These vessels are enormous!
How Large Can Cruise Ships Realistically Get?
Large MSC Cruises Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird)
One thing that nobody can deny about the cruise industry is the fact that it constantly pushes boundaries and reinvents itself. If you had a time machine and showed someone from 100 years ago a photograph of a modern cruise ship, they’d probably think you were a sorcerer. So, how big can these ships realistically get?
Norwegian Cruise Line has already placed orders with Fincantieri for next-generation LNG-powered vessels. MSC Cruises will expand its fleet in 2025 and 2027 with two larger ships, the MSC World Europa and MSC World America.
Plus, we’ve already talked about how the Icon of the Seas is about to be eclipsed by the next three ships in the Icon class by about 100 feet, so the title of the world’s largest is set to change hands soon.
With all that said, there are limitations on how big these ships can get. For starters, port infrastructure and harbor depth tend to limit the practical size of cruise ships.
PortMiami is currently the largest and busiest cruise ship port, but even the port’s biggest cruise ship berth at Terminal A was only designed to handle Icon-class ships or smaller.
If even the biggest ports in the world can’t accommodate a cruise ship, it limits the types of itineraries the ship can offer.
Cruise Ships in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: MikeDotta)
Then, there are also environmental concerns, as propelling an enormously heavy cruise ship through rough seas involves burning an incredible amount of fuel.
While modern giants like Icon of the Seas, Costa Smeralda, and MSC World Americause liquefied natural gas (LNG), which helps reduce emissions, fuel consumption is still a consideration when drafting designs for even larger ships.
Beyond engineering limitations, there are also concerns about the overall passenger experience. Sure, breaking records is exciting, and plenty of people want to travel on the biggest ships with the greatest number and variety of amenities, but there are also a lot of passengers who prefer a more intimate experience with fewer crowds.
So, when designing new ships, cruise lines also have to consider market forces. After all, what is the point of spending over $2 billion to build record-breaking cruise ships that might not appeal to a significant section of the market?
With all of that said, the current biggest cruise ships have nearly doubled the size of the biggest ships from before the year 2000, so it is always difficult to predict what the cruise industry will cook up next.
If cruise ships continue to grow at the same rate that they have since the turn of the millennium, we could theoretically see cruise ships that measure 345,000 GT by the year 2050!
See You Onboard, If You Can Find Me!
Norwegian Encore Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just Dance)
From their mind-blowing physical scale to their ability to carry thousands of guests and crew, modern cruise ships are true engineering models. They are regularly compared to floating resorts, but even that comparison does not really communicate their scale.
After all, even the biggest and best resorts can’t accommodate up to 7,000 guests at a time while also providing those guests with water parks, movie theaters, ice rinks, 20 different restaurants, rock climbing walls, and more.
While the scale of these ships can almost feel intimidating, they aren’t just enormous; they’re incredibly well thought out. Passenger safety, comfort, and enjoyment are always central to the design, making it easy for guests to navigate the interiors without getting lost or confused.
Whether sailing through the Caribbean and the Bahamas on one of the cruise industry’s mega-ships or enjoying a quiet voyage on a boutique vessel, exploring a cruise ship and getting the most out of the amenities they are outfitted with is one of the best parts of any cruise vacation.
As industry leaders like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC Cruises continue to innovate, who knows just how enormous the next generation of cruise ships will become? I know I’m excited to find out what the cruise industry cooks up next!
The 2025 cruise season has opened at the Port of Montreal, and all signs point to a banner year, with cruise passenger arrivals expected to surpass the previous year.
Port officials launched the season with a celebratory event as the first ship of the year, Victory Cruise Lines’ Victory I, arrived on April 25, 2025. The 200-guest ship sails the Great Lakes and will make four calls at Montreal this season.
During the initial visit, the port presented a commemorative plaque to John Waggoner, owner of Victory Cruise Lines, at a ceremony attended by Julie Gascon, president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, and Victory I Captain Geir Lilleeng.
Cruise watchers might recall that Victory I formerly operated as Ocean Voyager for American Queen Voyages, and was sold to Waggoner in 2023. Victory Cruise Line ships ply the Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes.
Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, is a featured port on Eastern Canada voyages, and in 2025 will welcome 21 ships from 13 cruise lines, bringing a predicted 58,000 cruise guests to the city.
Several luxury and up-market ships will make their maiden calls to the Port of Montreal, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Splendor; Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow; and Oceania Cruises’ Allura.
Some cruise lines deploy multiple ships on the popular Canada/New England itineraries offered in summer and fall. Among them is Holland America Line, which deploys Zuiderdam and Volendam on Eastern Canadian voyages.
Canada/New England voyages typically feature Montreal and/or Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and US ports such as Portland, Maine, and Boston.
Other cruise lines that will regularly call at Montreal include Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride, Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Ovation, Viking Cruises’ Viking Mars, Azamara’s Azamara Journey, and Crystal’s Crystal Symphony.
The Port of Montreal has been growing in cruise tourism in recent years. Both 2023 and 2024 proved to be robust cruise seasons for Montreal. In 2024, cruise arrivals topped 50,000 passengers, and generated some $25 million in economic benefits.
Port of Montreal
“The Port of Montreal is proud to launch a new cruise season that manifests the vitality of our city and its appeal to cruise lines and travellers from around the world,” said Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal.
“Beyond the tourism aspect, cruises generate significant economic benefits for the local and regional community. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase our river, our expertise and our hospitality,” added Gascon.
Growing Port Embraces Sustainable Policies
The Port of Montreal has taken steps to boost its environmental protection policies, and in 2023 revealed a five-year investment plan that will provide about $335 million in sustainable infrastructure development.
With the goal of becoming a net-zero carbon facility by 2050, the port operates a shoreside power system that cruise ships can hook into. In 2024, 12 cruise ships connected to the local power grid, enabling them to turn off engines while docked.
Using shoreside power prevented about 580 tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted into the air.
The port’s cruise terminal is located inside the Grand Quay, a building that, since early 2024, has been 100% powered by renewable energy. The Grand Quay also houses the Port of Montreal Tower, the Port Centre, and the Pavilion, a public entertainment space.
Traveling to the cruise port for embarkation can be nerve-wracking, especially in an unfamiliar area with unknown traffic patterns, road closures, and congestion.
These problems are going to be even worse for guests setting sail from Galveston, Texas from Friday, April 25 through Monday, April 28, due to new detours and traffic restrictions from ongoing roadwork.
Carnival Cruise Line has sent notices to guests booked aboard Carnival Breeze, Carnival Jubilee, and Carnival Dream for this weekend’s departures, so they can plan adequate time to reach the cruise terminal.
“Our partners in Galveston have informed us about roadwork that will be taking place along the southbound lanes of I-45 (from 9:00 PM, Friday, April 25, through 5:00 AM, Monday, April 28),”the notification explained.“Consequently, there will be detours and traffic restrictions in certain areas.”
While the exact timing of the construction is well after Friday’s debarkation and embarkation, and should end well before Monday’s cruise travelers arrive, setup for the work and any subsequent congestion may extend past those hours.
Interstate 45 (I-45) is the main highway leading from Dallas and Houston to Galveston. It is a critical route not only for cruise travelers who fly into Houston, but also those who may live in the metro area and are planning to drive to the cruise terminal.
Typically, the drive between George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and the Galveston cruise terminal is approximately 90 minutes with average traffic.
With road closures, detours, and only single lanes available, however, that drive could be significantly longer.
“Since this could impact your commute to the cruise terminal, we encourage you to include ample travel time to ensure prompt arrival within your pre-selected Terminal Arrival Appointment,”the notification urges.
Guests who are driving themselves to the cruise terminal should leave earlier than they may have anticipated, while those who have arranged ride shares or other transportation may want to adjust their pickup times accordingly.
Any travelers who have booked airport transfers through Carnival Cruise Line will want to stay in close contact with the cruise line in case there are adjustments to their transfer schedule.
To be clear, there are no delays for any of the Carnival ships departing Galveston this weekend. All guests must be onboard by the published final boarding times for their respective sailings.
Galveston Cruise Terminal 25
This is not the first time road work has impacted cruise travelers heading for Galveston. A complete reconstruction and widening of I-45 began in late 2019 and is expected to be completed in mid-2028.
Carnival Cruise Line does try to notify guests whenever extensive closures are planned, but all cruisers setting sail from the Lone Star State over the next three years should be prepared for potential traffic difficulties.
Sailing From Galveston – Impacted Ships
Carnival Breeze is departing Saturday, April 26, on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise with visits planned to Progreso and Cozumel.
Carnival Jubilee is also leaving Saturday on a 7-night sailing that will visit Isla Tropicale in Honduras as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel.
Finally, Carnival Dream will be leaving Sunday, April 27, on a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary to Costa Maya, Belize, and Cozumel.
No itinerary changes have been noted for any of the ships, though ports of call are always dependent on weather conditions.
In addition to the three Carnival cruise ships, Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas is departing Galveston on Saturday, but without guests aboard as she changes homeports from Galveston to Fort Lauderdale.
Harmony of the Seas is setting sail on Sunday on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing, followed on Monday, April 28 by Mariner of the Seas on a 5-night cruise.
Guests aboard those ships should also take note of the potential traffic difficulties and plan their trip to the cruise port accordingly.
Being a cruise director can seem like the most amazing job in the world – always smiling, sailing around the world, leading the fun, living the best life, right?
While this is all true, one of Carnival Cruise Line’s newest cruise directors is offering great insights into the hard work, dedication, and flexibility necessary to gain that amazing title.
Gabby Gamboa was promoted to a full cruise director earlier this month, following years of effort. She shared her accomplishment and what it required with her social media followers on Facebook and Instagram, excited to make the official announcement.
“Did someone say… FULLY PROMOTED!”she said.“After 3.5 years of blood, sweat and a whooooole lot of tears I am so grateful to announce that I have officially been promoted as a full time Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line!”
Texas native Gamboa has worked as a Fun Squad member aboard six different Carnival ships, including two inaugural start ups – a rare and exciting opportunity for any crew member. In her time with Carnival Cruise Line, she has visited 34 countries and undoubtedly shared smiles and fun with countless guests.
She has also covered four ships in the past year as acting cruise director, but has now returned to Carnival Jubilee as a fully promoted, full-fledged cruise director.
“I cannot be more grateful for every leader I have had the honor of working with that saw my potential and helped me get to where I am, by giving me that push and helping me to see how far I really can go,”Gamboa acknowledged.
Many of those leaders chimed in on Gamboa’s announcement to wish her well as she sets sail on this new chapter in her Carnival Cruise Line career.
“Congratulations! Not surprised in the least but the most proud,”said fellow cruise director Kyndall Fire.“Can’t wait to see what is in store for you in the years to come!”
Many guests and fans of Gamboa’s infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy also spoke fondly of their sailing adventures with her, including hopes for more voyages in the future.
From Guest to Cruise Director
Gamboa has reflected that her amazing experiences with Carnival Cruise Line started not when she signed on her first contract, but in February 2020 when she sailed on Carnival Vista as a guest.
She loved the experience so much, including the great energy and attitudes of the cruise directors, that she made the goal the become one herself – a goal she has now realized!
Gamboa’s younger brother Jayden, who has Down Syndrome, has also been a huge source of inspiration to her in helping her achieve her goals. She fiercely calls him her right hand, her best friend, and her sunshine.
“When I am on stage and able to have my family there and I see him looking up at me from the audience with a smile and shine in his eye I know I’m making him proud,”she explained.
“I just want to show him it doesn’t matter where we come from or how different anyone is, anything is possible. I do everything I do. I am who I am, for Jayden.”
With Gamboa’s infectious smile, energy, and enthusiasm, she is surely an inspiration for many travelers who have the privilege to sail with her across the Carnival fleet.
So what’s next for the new cruise director? Making sure others can also realize their Carnival dreams!
“To my amazing teams that I’ve had the honor of caring for and working with this past year, thank you for helping me grow as a leader. Supporting you all while you spread your wings and reach for your goals has shown me why I love this position I am in,”she said.
Gamboa will be aboard Carnival Jubilee through May 17. Her next contract assignment has not yet been confirmed but should be posted soon.
The easiest way for a cruise to become stressful is when fellow passengers decide to break the rules that are in place so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience.
One of these rules that is broken all too often is none other than chair hogging — and yes, it is a real problem.
In March 2025, TikToker Jess of @jesstravel7posted a video about her experience with fellow passengers “reserving” lounge chairs at one of the pools on Royal Caribbean’s 5,668-passenger Utopia of the Seas.
This style of “reserving” the lounge chairs is when guests simply leave towels on them with the hopes they will remain empty until they return — of course, at an unknown time.
Jess posted the first of two videos about the experience on the Oasis-class ship to her 10.1k followers on March 1, 2025.
“This is what you call entitlement on a cruise ship, saving all these pool chairs, do not do this,” Jess says at the beginning of the video, showing a row of empty chairs.
She goes on to add, “If you are not here, do not save the seats. People are looking for seats, this is called entitlement.”
Jess’ newfound audience was quick to support her in the comments, saying that it would be fair for passengers looking for chairs to simply move the towels if someone was not using them.
“The people defending this are the same people who don’t put their shopping carts back,”commented one viewer.
“I’m entitled to remove the towels and take a seat,” added another.
Others chimed in that it was poor management on behalf of the crew to allow such behavior to happen without any repercussions.
The video has amassed 3.2 million views since being posted, and Jess provided a follow-up video on March 13, 2025.
When Does the Crew Step in to Stop Rule-Breaking Guests?
The second video, which now has 4.3 million views, shows the crew on the 236,680 gross ton Utopia of the Seas removing the towels an hour after Jess had initially been looking for a place to sit.
This TikToker clarified that it would be perfectly acceptable to leave a towel on the lounge chairs if you were in or around the pool area, but attempting to save the spot for several hours while even out on excursions was not ok.
Responses to this video were more mixed, but only because other Royal Caribbean passengers felt like their experiences with the same issue were handled in very different ways than what was shown on Jess’ cruise.
Replying to @Greg_Peña I don’t care if you’re in the pool getting something to eat or having a cocktail at the bar but going on a four hour excursion and expecting your chairs to be there is rude. #royalcaribbean#cruisetok#cruisetips#cruises#utopiaoftheseas
“I’m glad they are doing something about it. We went last May and I asked for help and they told me they couldn’t move people’s things… hours of empty chairs reserved with towels,”replied one person, sharing their less-than-ideal experience.
“Was on Royal Caribbean last week. They don’t play with people saving pool chairs for hrs! And believe me, they are constantly watching,”commented another, sharing how the crew took the issue seriously.
The second video ends with a photo of an upset passenger whose towels did get taken, a reality that should not be so unexpected if she decided to blatantly disregard the rules.
The cruise line’s policy on the use of pool deck chairs is clearly outlined on their website — they are only supposed to be available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved.
Utopia of the Seas Size
“If a pool chair is left unattended for more than 30 minutes with no signs of any guests returning, our crew will remove any belongings and place them in the lost and found,”states the Royal Caribbean policy.
However, the enforcement of this policy has been questioned repeatedly, as many cruisers have not witnessed the crew carrying it out consistently.
In response to their Reddit post about the experience, fellow cruisers were quick to point out the cruise line’s shortcomings with the enforcement of their own policy, as they often let guests leave their belongings for several hours.
While guests like Jess eventually got a chair because the crew decided to step in and remove the towels from chairs that were not being used, passengers should not have to wait so long because others decided to be inconsiderate.
After all, this is not a theme park — it is a pool deck. People should be allowed to sit without waiting an obscene amount of time!
Celebrity Cruises has been working on its fifth Edge Class series ship, and it is setting sail ahead of schedule!
The 3,260-passenger Celebrity Xcel is currently still under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
However, things are moving ahead of schedule, and now there will be an additional four-night Celebrity Xcel Preview Cruise available for interested passengers.
While the vessel was already set to debut in November 2025, the inaugural cruise was originally set for November 18, 2025. This new itinerary being offered is a 4-night cruise that departs out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 9, 2025.
Celebrity Cruises sent out a communicationstating,“Our teams have been working diligently on building our new ship, and the completion is now earlier than we recently anticipated.”
This letter was also sent out to travel agents to inform those who had booked the later cruise of this new opportunity.
Seeing that some passengers were hoping to be the very first to sail on the all-new vessel, the communication from the cruise line that was shared on social media said that any guests seeking to switch to the earlier cruise were welcome to do so.
With the information provided, Celebrity outlined that if guests were seeking to switch to the earlier cruise that reservations were limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Since the November 18 sailing is one night longer, passengers swapping their bookings to the earlier one can expect refunds if warranted.
It was also encouraged that if cruisers booked for the now later cruise were interested in joining for both voyages, they would still receive priority booking over the general public.
“We understand that for some guests, it’s important to be the first onboard, and we wanted to give you an exclusive opportunity to be the first to join us for our new sailing, or have the option of switching,” the cruise line added.
Those guests who booked the first cruise currently have priority in booking the new cruise, a nice gesture from Celebrity since some passengers might not feel like it is the inaugural sailing.
Celebrity Xcel Cruise Ship
The November 18 voyage will still go on as planned as Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural sailingand will call on Bimini, Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico.
Those seeking to update their booking can do so directly through the cruise line — and it is yet to be known when the booking for the November 9 cruise will open to the rest of the public.
Regardless, both voyages on the 141,420 gross-ton Celebrity Xcel will feature some all-new experiences not available yet on the rest of the Celebrity Cruises fleet.
Not the Only New Cruise Ship Arriving Earlier Than Expected
Celebrity Xcel is not the only ship ahead of schedule this year, as Royal Caribbean’s 5,610-passenger Star of the Seas is also being completed early.
Similar to the communication sent out by Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean emailed passengers already booked on the new Icon class ship’s “showcase sailings” with the opportunity to either add a new reservation or switch their booking to the earlier cruise.
The two original “showcase sailings” were set for August 23 and August 27, but the newly added one is set for August 20, 2025, and is a three-night Perfect Day Cruise out of Port Canaveral.
Guests had one week from the announcement made on March 18, 2025, to update their sailing option before it became open to the public for booking.
When cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean decide to give priority to passengers who have already booked these once-in-a-lifetime experiences, they are proving just how important their guests are to them.
Cruisers can expect to see Celebrity’s sixth Edge-class ship around 2028, which has already been officially ordered by the cruise line.
