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Super Mario Named Royal Caribbean’s Top Cruiser

Lissa Poirot
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Super Mario Named Royal Caribbean’s Top Cruiser

Just over two months after embarking on his 1,000th cruise, and a cruise enthusiast so renowned on the high seas that he has his own Wikipedia page, was just crowned Royal Caribbean’s top cruiser.

The 72-year-old Mario Salcedo, based in the cruise line’s hometown of Miami, began sailing with Royal Caribbean in 2000 and has never looked back.

These days, Salcedo – aka “Super Mario” after then-Liberty of the Seas’ Captain Charles Teige bestowed the nickname on him in the early 2000s – is notorious for booking so many back-to-back sailings on various ships that it is reported he only lives in Miami for two weeks per year.

Working remotely in finance from the pool deck of whichever cruise he happens to be on any given day, Salcedo received the top honor from representatives of the cruise line on March 22, 2025.

A fan shared the moment on Reddit, where a photo showed Salcedo has racked up 12,001 points by sailing nearly 51 weeks per year, including his 1,000th voyage onboard Explorer of the Seas on January 5, 2025.

During that momentous cruise, the captain and crew outfitted Super Mario in a Royal Caribbean jacket, calling the man a “certified LEGEND.”

“I would love life like Mario. I envy him,” said a passenger. “I know he has found the perfect life.”

“Talk about living the dream,” another said.

Mario Salcedo aka Super Mario
Mario Salcedo aka Super Mario (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean)

Other passengers have been quick to share kudos on social media – although Salcedo isn’t online – with many sharing their interactions with him onboard and calling him “an all-around great guy.”

Seafarer’s Dedication

Actually, “Super Mario” has officially been dubbed the “Happiest Guy in the World” by the New York Times, which profiled the cruise aficionado in 2018. The same title was used in a short film about the cruise devotee.

But Salcedo’s love for cruising didn’t begin with Royal Caribbean. Hopping on sailings on various cruise lines from PortMiami beginning in 1994, a passion was ignited that kept him at sea on back-to-back sailings.

It was in January 2000, however, when Salcedo embarked on his very first Royal Caribbean cruise, joining the 137,267-gross-ton Voyager of the Seas. And that, as the saying goes, is history.

Read Also: Living on a Cruise Ship – What You Need to Know

Super Mario traditionally sticks to continuous voyages on his favorite ships, which, he jokes, is “Of the Seas,” meaning every one of the fleet’s 28 vessels.

With his 12,001 points, of course, Salcedo is a member of Royal Caribbean’s Pinnacle Club.

The highest tier in the Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program means he receives all the perks, including events with ship officers, priority everything, Wi-Fi, exclusive backstage tours, and access to Suite, Concierge, and Crown Lounges, among a host of other benefits.

It is estimated Salcedo spends more than $100,000 annually to ride the waves full-time, which, in the grand scheme of life’s expenses – mortgage, groceries, utilities, home and auto insurance, etc. – isn’t that unrealistic.

Salcedo uses his loyalty points from sailing, as well as his credit cards, to help fund his adventures and is notorious for choosing inside cabins to keep costs down.

Passenger Oversight Leads to Security Scare and Interrogation

Lissa Poirot
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Passenger Oversight Leads to Security Scare and Interrogation

What’s a cruise without a little adventure, right? Then again, for one unsuspecting couple, a recent voyage was a bit more exciting than they expected.

The cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Breeze took a sharp turn during a routine luggage inspection that quickly escalated into a security concern.

The passengers found their bags flagged due to a knife, innocuously packed and long forgotten in the depths of a zippered pocket.

“On our recent Breeze cruise, we received one of our two luggage pieces,” the passenger shared with John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador.

“We didn’t think much of it, but we checked back a couple of times and then our cabin steward knocked on our door and said our bag was being held for inspection.” 

Turned out, inside the bag was a dive knife previously packed from an earlier trip to Cancun, Mexico.

The passenger, sailing on Carnival Breeze from its homeport in Galveston, Texas, to Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico, said she made her way below decks to a room full of bags and was asked to identify the bag.

She said the Carnival Cruise Line crew made them feel like a criminal and “gave us no apology or anything for being treated this way.”

“Mistakes happen,” she continued, complaining that the cruise line ruined the first day of the cruise completely. “Just saying,” she said.

But instead of apologizing to the passenger for the treatment, Heald used the letter as a teaching moment.

“The reason I am posting this is to remind people to please check your bags completely before packing to make sure there is nothing there that should not be there,” Heald said.

And for good reason. All weapons are banned and passengers bringing a weapon on board could face legal issues.

 “All weapons and any items made, adapted, or intended for use as an offensive weapon, are not allowed,” Carnival Cruise Line specifically states.

This includes “sharp pointed weapons” and knives.

However, dive knives are permissible but, according to the cruise line, must be held in the custody of the Guest Services Manager or Chief Security Officer.

Cozumel Scuba Diving
Cozumel Scuba Diving

To bring a dive knife on board, the passenger needed to identify and submit it during embarkation. It would then be available during dive excursions through the cruise.

While it was inadvertently packed, Carnival Cruise Line’s confiscation of the bag was appropriate.

A Close Call

This isn’t the first time a passenger has discovered a banned item had been left mistakenly in a bag before boarding a cruise.

However, this story ends better than some.

Read Also: Carnival Breeze Passengers Fight While Waiting In-Line for Cheeseburgers

Last month, on February 26, 2025, a passenger sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was arrested in Aruba for possession of a revolver.

In April 2024, another Royal Caribbean guest was arrested in the Turks and Caicos for having bullets (without a firearm) in his luggage.

That mistake cost the passenger $9,000 in fines, not to mention five weeks in detainment due to the Turks & Caicos’s strict laws. The Aruba guest faces a minimum $3,000 fine.

The US also mandates no firearms or ammunition when sailing to the Caribbean, but dive knives, as the name implies, are items scuba divers often use when recreationally diving in the region.

Anyone wanting to pack a dive knife before traveling on a plane will need to pack it in checked luggage.

More From Cruise Hive

As for cruise ships? That depends on the cruise line and guests are advised to review their policies before sailing.

Some, like Royal Caribbean, have policies similar to Carnival Cruise Line and require dive knives to be checked in upon embarkation.

Others, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, do not allow dive knives, period.

Ship Delayed After Fatal Accident at Half Moon Cay

Melissa Mayntz
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Ship Delayed After Fatal Accident at Half Moon Cay

A sad and unfortunate incident at Half Moon Cay has claimed the life of a cruise guest after a jet ski accident at the private destination, delaying the ship’s departure and subsequent return to her homeport.

The fatal incident occurred on Saturday, March 22, 2025. According to Eyewitness News, the cruise guest was a British/Czechoslovakian woman, but no further details about her identity have been released.

The emergency alert was raised just after 1 p.m. and the police in Eleuthera responded to the call. Eleuthera is approximately 30 miles from Half Moon Cay, on a different island in the Bahamas.

No public police force is present on the private island, though medical personnel did respond immediately.

The initial investigation noted that the woman was riding a jet ski but lost control and collided with a rock. It is unknown whether she was the driver of the jet ski or a passenger on the small watercraft.

Some shore tours do offer both options, depending on available vehicles and the type of tour. Safety instruction is always provided before guests operate the jet skis.

Emergency personnel did render assistance but the woman sadly passed away.

A full investigation will undoubtedly be made to ensure all safety regulations, vehicle maintenance, and other regulatory guidelines were followed.

While the woman’s identity has not been released, the only ship visiting Half Moon Cay on Saturday, March 22 was Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam.

The ship was finishing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, having departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Half Moon Cay was the final port destination on the ship’s itinerary.

This is not the first time there have been difficulties with jet ski excursions. In December 2024, a Royal Caribbean cruise guest was injured on a jet ski excursion at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

A lawsuit regarding that incident was filed against the cruise line in February 2025 and is still pending.

Ship Now Delayed

Nieuw Amsterdam remained at Half Moon Cay for the initial investigation and to provide appropriate support to local authorities and the victim’s family members and traveling companions.

As a result, the ship is delayed returning to Port Everglades and both debarkation and embarkation for the next sailing will be much later than initially anticipated.

Incoming guests have been notified that embarkation for their voyage will begin at 2 p.m. All travelers must be check-in and aboard the ship by 5 p.m. Nieuw Amsterdam will leave Port Everglades at 7 p.m., just one hour later than originally scheduled.

Read Also: Boarding a Cruise Ship – All You Should Know

Depending on exactly when the ship arrives back in Fort Lauderdale, that schedule may be adjusted again.

The ship’s next cruise is a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that will also visit Half Moon Cay, as well as Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. At this time, there are no anticipated changes to that itinerary.

Jet Skis at Half Moon Cay (Photo Credit: Ramunas Bruzas / Shutterstock)
Jet Skis at Half Moon Cay (Photo Credit: Ramunas Bruzas / Shutterstock)

It is possible that any jet ski excursions for Half Moon Cay may be cancelled, depending on the findings of the investigation and whether or not the excursions could operate safely.

Guests already onboard Nieuw Amsterdam have likewise been told of the delay in arriving back to Fort Lauderdale. They have been urged to reschedule onward flights no earlier than 5 p.m. from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and no earlier than 7 p.m. from Miami International Airport.

Free internet access was provided for guests to make flight adjustments or contact their family or travel agent as needed.

If travelers booked through the cruise line’s Flight Ease program, their flights will be automatically rebooked and confirmed.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the guests and crew members aboard Nieuw Amsterdam at this sad and troubling time.

Incident Closes Port of Jacksonville, Carnival Ship Delayed

Melissa Mayntz
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Incident Closes Port of Jacksonville, Carnival Ship Delayed

Carnival Elation is not returning to the Port of Jacksonville as planned on Saturday, March 22, 2024, due to an incident on the St. Johns River that has temporarily closed the port.

Carnival Cruise Line has notified guests embarking on Saturday that their embarkation will be delayed. Travelers have been asked to shift their terminal arrival time three hours later than originally scheduled.

To be clear, there are no problems whatsoever with the cruise ship, and this delay is not weather-related. As soon as the US Coast Guard (USCG) has reopened the port, Carnival Elation will proceed to the cruise terminal.

The incident occurred Friday evening at approximately 8 p.m. when an 18-foot boat near the Dames Point Bridge – just east of the cruise terminal – capsized.

With several individuals from the boat reported missing, the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department (JFRD) immediately launched a search and rescue operation.

“An incident has occurred on St. Johns River and the Port of Jacksonville is currently closed as the United States Coast Guard is conducting a search and rescue operation in the area,” the notification sent to cruisers Saturday morning read.

“Consequently, Carnival Elation will be delayed returning to the cruise terminal affecting embarkation as a result.”

According to First Coast News, four people were immediately located still aboard the overturned boat when the emergency search began. Four others, including two children, remained missing.

In addition to JFRD, rescue crews and boats from the USCG, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Wildlife Commission joined in the search operation. One person was found to have passed away in close proximity to the bridge, but the search continued overnight for the three remaining individuals who were still missing.

No information about the identities of the boaters has been released, nor is it yet known why the boat capsized. A full investigation will undoubtedly be held.

Carnival Elation is returning from a 5-night Bahamas sailing that departed Jacksonville on St. Patrick’s Day. The ship is due to depart on another 5-night cruise today, with visits planned for Nassau and Half Moon Cay.

While there is no immediate confirmation of a change to the ship’s itinerary for her March 22 departure, if the delay and closure of the port is extensive, it is possible that adjustments may be necessary.

Guests Asked to Stay Away From Cruise Terminal

At this time, embarking guests have been asked to stay away from the cruise terminal until three hours later than their originally scheduled arrival windows.

“Carnival Elation is still awaiting clearance to proceed to the cruise terminal,” a text alert sent at 9:30 a.m. read. “Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final update with revised embarkation plans.”

Dames Point Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida
Dames Point Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo Credit: Terrance Scarborough / Shutterstock)

While waiting for the port to reopen, Carnival Elation held position approximately 30 minutes further east along the St. Johns River, on the other side of the Dames Point Bridge.

Read Also: Jacksonville Cruise Port – Terminals, Piers, and Transportation

Once the ship reaches the cruise terminal, however, it will take some time for guests onboard to be debarked, proceed through customs and immigration processing, and leave the terminal and parking area.

Until the ship has debarked, there will not be enough space or parking availability for incoming guests to be accommodated.

Guests were updated just before 10:30 a.m. with the revised embarkation plan. Meanwhile, onboard the Fantasy-class ship, crew members are already hard at work to ensure a smooth turnover once the ship docks and they will be ready to welcome everyone aboard for the next cruise vacation.

Two Mobile Carriers Will Now Offer Coverage on Cruises

Skyler Wolpert
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Two Mobile Carriers Will Now Offer Coverage on Cruises

From time to time, cruisers make the costly mistake of using their phone on a cruise ship without checking with their providers first to see if they have coverage. Until now, the answer was usually no.

While it is true that there are internet packages and other cellular at sea plans you can get, any time your phone is roaming or using data, expect an unwanted bill.

It seems like a no-brainer, but a recent passenger who was unaware was just slapped with $1,300 in fees from their mobile provider when returning from their cruise.

With more cruisers seeking coverage, AT&T and Verizon have announced that they are introducing new international calling plans that will be accessible on cruise ships.

The International Day Pass will be offered by AT&T — a plan that covers up to 400 different cruise ships in more than 200 international land destinations.

The pass will allow guests to use their phones just as they normally would for only $12 per device per day — and can add additional devices for only $6. 

To put into perspective why a pass like this is important, if a family of four was on a 5-night international cruise and used their phones without getting a plan, they could be charged up to $4,100 in fees by AT&T.

That family could pay 94% less by purchasing the new pass being offered by this carrier, spending just $240. 

AT&T allows for customers to pay in advance — but they can also set up the pass at any point during their cruise — though it will not retroactively cover any charges made prior to coverage.

Customers can set up coverage on both AT&T’s website and the myAT&T app, or can contact customer support.

Verizon’s new plan is more specifically catered to cruisers — as it will not be valid while at international ports. The idea is that they are providing coverage specifically when people are at sea. 

A big difference with this plan is that customers have to manually set up the Cruise Daily Pass — and it must be done prior to or during embarkation at the latest.

However, most passengers might see this extra bit of coverage as an unnecessary expense — especially if it cannot be used at the ports.

Wi-Fi and Other Alternatives

One of the most well-known tips in the cruising world is to never take your phone off of airplane mode while sailing internationally.

Of course, if you purchase a phone plan like the ones above that allow for cruise ship coverage, you can use it, but be aware of the maximum daily usage.

For example, Verizon’s new $20 plan includes unlimited data, talk, and text — but once you exceed 0.5 GB of data use a day it will switch you over to high-speed 3G connectivity for the remainder of the 24-hour period.

In those situations, something like streaming a show for just 30 minutes could use an entire day’s worth of data — which can then lead to additional fees.

But you could always go with what’s tried and true — nearly every cruise ship now offers multiple Wi-Fi packages, and usually at discounted rates when purchased in advance.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Wi-Fi – 5 Things to Know

Usually, this option relies on your phone being in airplane mode — but most modern phones can operate normally without cell signal and solely off of Wi-Fi.

Communication on Cruise Ship
Communication on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: CLS Digital Arts)

So, how do these new cellular plans compare to cruise ship packages? They may be less expensive depending on your sailing length and the number of devices to cover.

Carnival Cruise Line’s internet plans range from $18.70 to $23.80 per person per day — but also offers an $84.00 per day premium plan for up to four devices.

While Carnival does not mention the maximum data usage, all packages allow for the use of social and streaming platforms.

Royal Caribbean has its own Wi-Fi system called VOOM — which promises to be six times faster than any other cruise line’s internet offerings and costs $24.99 to $30.99 per device per day.

The one package available is the VOOM Surf + Stream Internet Package — allowing passengers to use their devices for social media, messaging services, and streaming content.

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s internet is provided by Starlink — which has over 8,000 satellites orbiting close to earth allowing for faster speeds in more locations, making Wi-Fi even more accessible for cruisers.

Since the ship’s Wi-Fi is in no way connected to mobile providers, there is nothing they can do to fight the charges if a passenger did not get coverage before using cellular data.

If you are concerned about getting fined for usage, make sure to work with your cellular provider directly to find out the best coverage options ahead of your cruise.

Or, you know, just keep your phone on airplane mode and enjoy your vacation! There is also another option, you could always try the special Cruise eSIM from GigSky.

Holland America Ship’s Transatlantic Voyage Gets Ditched

Catie Kovelman
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Holland America Ship’s Transatlantic Voyage Gets Ditched

Some Holland America cruise guests will be kicking off the weekend on a sour note after learning that their upcoming transatlantic cruise has been cancelled.

Indeed, booked passengers were informed that Nieuw Statendam’s one-way sailing from the Netherlands to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, scheduled for October 2026 has been cancelled – with no reason given for the abrupt change.

“Nieuw Statendam canceled for the 2026 transatlantic sailing October 31, 2026!,” one impacted cruiser shared.

“Just got an email from cruisesonly.com that my transatlantic cruise next year has been canceled! Extra OBC for changing to another sailing. No rhyme or reason mentioned as to why it was canceled…Might want to check your email,” they continued.

Notably, this voyage had two separate embarkation dates – both of which were cancelled. A longer 29-day sailing would have embarked from Rotterdam on October 17, with more passengers joining the ship during another visit to Rotterdam on October 31 for a 15-day voyage.

“HAL cancelled our cruise (Nieuw Statendam J665A 29-Day Northern Lights Cultural Crossing Collectors’ Voyage – Rotterdam to Fort Lauderdale October 17, 2026) yesterday and gave us a whole $50pp credit to rebook,” another cruiser posted.

Both of the voyages would have featured calls on Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium; Portsmouth, England; Cherbourg, France; Brest, France; and Falmouth, England.

The longer version also included calls throughout Norway on destinations like Alesund, Trondheim, Tromso, Gravdal, Alta, Andalsnes, and Bergen – as well as a day in Lerwick, Shetland Isles.

Interestingly, it seems like the transatlantic portion of the voyage was the sticking point – as other sailings that are supposed to be operated by the 2,666-guest ship in the same time frame have not been cancelled at this point.

For example, the 14-night sailing that was also scheduled to set sail on October 17, 2026 – which is a special Arctic Journey & Northern Lights Cruise that is part of a partnership with the History Channel – is so far going ahead as planned.

The Theories Abound

For the passengers who just learned that their sailing is cancelled, something that makes the news sting a little bit more is that Holland America didn’t give a clear reason as to why.

However, the cruise community has been having a field day brainstorming the possibilities.

For example, some thought the History Channel partnership was a charter sailing – meaning booked guests got the boot so the company could secure a full ship for their themed voyage.

While this does happen from time to time – with news breaking just this week of a 2026 sailing onboard Carnival Liberty getting cancelled in favor of a charter cruise – the History Channel partnership was never meant to be a charter situation.

Holland America Line Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock

If another group did do a charter, it likely wouldn’t be a full ship charter as the October 17 History Channel sailing remains unaffected – at least so far. The unique voyage is available to book as of the time of this writing.

Read Also: What Is a Transatlantic Cruise?

Some also theorized that the cruise line added a visit to dry dock for the 2018-launched vessel while she is still in Europe – as her last visit was to the Fincantieri Trieste Shipyard in Italy at the end of 2023.

“It almost sounds like a dry dock time frame, but who am I to guess,” one cruiser wondered.

As cruise ships are required to visit dry dock at least once every three to five years for routine maintenance and inspections, this wouldn’t be outside of the realm of possibility.

Further supporting this theory, there is a gap in the 99,902-gross ton vessel’s service for the entire month of November 2026 and most of December.

The first voyages available to book after the break are a simultaneous 7-night and 14-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruise that both embark from Fort Lauderdale on December 20, 2026.

Outbreak on Carnival-Owned Ship Prompts Extra Cleaning in Port

Melissa Mayntz
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Outbreak on Carnival-Owned Ship Prompts Extra Cleaning in Port

No cruise guest wants their vacation interrupted with an illness outbreak, but cruise lines do everything they can to contain such an outbreak when one does occur. This may include asking guests to leave their staterooms or completely leave the ship for extra cleaning and sanitizing.

This is now the case onboard Queen Mary 2, as multiple cases of gastrointestinal illness have been reported during the current cruise. To combat the outbreak, a mid-cruise deep cleaning has been scheduled.

The Cunard ship, which is owned by Carnival, is currently sailing a long 29-night roundtrip Eastern Caribbean voyage. This cruise departed Southampton, UK on Saturday, March 8, and has already visited New York, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Grenada.

Guests onboard have been informed of the outbreak and the extensive cleaning measures crew members will undertake at the next port of call, Barbados, on Saturday, March 22.

“During this voyage, a number of people have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. To further help control the spread, we are conducting a comprehensive shipwide cleaning and disinfection programme on Saturday, 22 March 2025, while we are in Barbados,” the notification letter read.

The cleaning will take place between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., during which time guests are encouraged to leave the ship and enjoy time ashore. As many guests will be enjoying shore excursions, this is a convenient time to plan such extensive cleaning.

If guests will not be going ashore, they are still being asked to make way for cleaning teams and leave their staterooms.

“If you are unable to leave the ship, please vacate your stateroom when requested and make yourself comfortable in one of the available areas such as Golden Lion Pub, Sir Samuel’s and Pavilion Pool,” the letter suggested.

Guests who do not need to leave their staterooms are those who the onboard medical team has advised that they should be isolated until they have recovered from their illness. In this case, they should remain comfortably in their staterooms.

Read Also: 10 Reasons Why Cruise Ships Are NOT Floating Petri Dishes

The exact number of cases reported onboard Queen Mary 2 has not been disclosed, but the ocean liner can welcome 2,695 guests and is also home to 1,200 international officers and crew members.

Queen Mary 2
Queen Mary 2 (Photo Credit: Stephan Backensfeld / Shutterstock)

Guests are being reminded to wash their hands frequently with warm water and soap, as well as to use hand sanitizer if handwashing stations are not available. Undoubtedly, other enhanced sanitation measures are already in place to mitigate any further spread of the illness.

This is not the first time cruise guests have been asked to leave a ship in order for a vessel to be deep cleaned. A similar situation occurred aboard Diamond Princess in November 2024, as well as aboard Sky Princess in January 2025.

Third Outbreak Onboard in Three Months

While the exact causative agent for this gastrointestinal illness has not yet been identified, it should be noted that this is the time of year when norovirus outbreaks are generally at their peak.

This is at least the third such outbreak onboard Queen Mary 2 since mid-December, and both prior outbreaks were confirmed as norovirus.

Furthermore, of ships reporting to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eight out of 10 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks reported so far in 2025 have been norovirus.

No Cunard Line ships have reported outbreaks to the CDC so far in 2025, but several other ships that are part of the Carnival Corporation & plc family have experienced outbreaks. This includes ships from both Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, the most recent of which has been aboard Rotterdam in mid-March.

Rotterdam also had an outbreak in mid-February. For both outbreaks combined, more than 250 guests and 20 crew members were impacted.

Royal Caribbean Cracks Down on Bluetooth Speakers

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Cracks Down on Bluetooth Speakers

A Perfect Day at CocoCay – Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas – can quickly turn imperfect when a guest’s personal speaker ruins the mood.

This is why Royal Caribbean has now banned personal and Bluetooth speakers from CocoCay. Some are wondering if this is the cruise line’s way of inching toward a total ban onboard and at other private destinations as well. 

“You’ll find music to set the soundtrack to your day playing throughout the island. But if you’d prefer to listen to your own selection of music, we ask that you please do so with personal headphones,” reads the Miami-based cruise line’s website.

This doesn’t mean that guests can’t listen to their own music or podcasts, but ensures that other visitors on the island don’t also have to hear it. 

Some are also wondering if the ban will extend to another private Royal Caribbean destination, Labadee, Haiti, after an inconsiderate family had their speaker confiscated by a lifeguard. 

“A large family comes down and sets up in the front row. Loads up the speaker and sets it to top volume. THEN they all head into the water as far as they could from their seats,” a cruiser, who visited Labadee recently, shared on Reddit.

A lifeguard came to investigate the noise, turned off the speaker, and took it back to the lifeguard stand – much to the ire of the family it belonged to. 

“Finally he grabbed it. Turned it off. And put it down. The guy of the group starts screaming at the top of his lungs from waaaay out in the deep end. The lifeguard smiles. Grabs the speaker and brings it to the life guard shack,” the poster continued.

“The guy swims back and is yelling at the lifeguard – who is just smiling at the guy. Finally the lifeguard says no speakers. He can get it back when he leaves. Or if he wants it back now he can have security make sure he gets it back on board. The guy picked security and the entire family left,” his tale concluded.

While speakers are not officially banned from Labadee as of the time of publication, this was a situation where the family was blatantly disrespecting the other guests – prompting the employee to act. 

Cruisers Encourage Widespread Ban

As of March 21, 2025, Bluetooth speakers are not on Royal Caribbean’s “prohibited items” list – although this doesn’t mean they won’t be added in the future.

It’s always important to check the current policies as your next sailing approaches, as these things are often in flux. 

That said, proper etiquette is to keep portable speakers at a low volume in public spaces or to only use them on your private balcony or in your cruise cabin – such as a source of white noise to help guests’ sleep at night. 

Even then, it’s important to be mindful of thin walls and other guests who may be trying to enjoy their own balconies.

Royal Caribbean Ships Docked in CocoCay
Royal Caribbean Ships Docked in CocoCay (Photo Credit: Aleksandr Dyskin)

But since showing this consideration for others has continued to prove difficult, Royal Caribbean fans don’t just welcome the ban on the island – but would be happy to see it expand to onboard the ships as well. 

“It is just irritating when someone is listening to their music in public. I would welcome this ban,” one cruiser said. 

“Please ban them everywhere. I have reached my limit with speakers being played constantly wherever I go. It wouldn’t be bad if they had any common sense as to the volume but they don’t,” another added. 

Cruise Hive Discussion Boards: Banned Wireless Speakers 

Similarly, many celebrated when Carnival Cruise Line decided to ban Bluetooth speakers in November of 2024. 

At the time, Carnival said the purpose of the ban was not only for the enjoyment of other passengers, but also for safety reasons. For example, it might be difficult to hear public announcements in an emergency situation if someone’s speaker is blasting. 

Anyone who tries to bring a Bluetooth speaker will see it confiscated and returned at the end of their voyage.

Princess Cruise Guests Brew Up Creative Ways to Have Better Coffee

Lissa Poirot
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Princess Cruise Guests Brew Up Creative Ways to Have Better Coffee

For many cruisers, a cup of coffee is more than just a morning ritual; it’s the fuel that kickstarts their day.

So, when Princess Cruises passengers realized the onboard coffee didn’t meet their personal brew standards, they turned to social media for help.

“Sailed Princess last year and loved the experience, but hated the coffee,” began one Reddit post. “Will be bringing my own onboard. Is this allowed, or would it get confiscated?”

While Princess Cruises and other cruise lines don’t have a problem with guests packing coffee, they do have an issue with anyone packing heat.

Recently, a guest sailing on Carnival Cruise Line, also owned by Carnival Corporation like Princess, had a coffee machine confiscated.

With fire a top concern for passenger vessels, cruise lines ban guests from bringing electrical appliances with heating elements due to safety rules. Princess Cruises specifically states coffee machines are a no-no.

On its banned list? “Items brought on board the vessel and not supplied by the Company containing any kind of heating element, such as but not limited to: immersion heaters, heating blankets, flat irons, water heaters, coffee machines with heating / hot plates, etc.” 

However, manual coffeemaking devices such as coffee presses are allowed.

Without any heating elements, coffee-loving guests say they are the perfect solution for enjoying the coffee they prefer when using a ship-provided kettle to boil water, which can be requested through a steward.

“I brought the Melitta pour-over – I think it’s, like, $7 at Walmart,” said one passenger.

“Black plastic thing you just stick a filer in, spoon in your coffee of choice, get a kettle on Day 1 from your steward, use boiling water, and voila, decent coffee,” he added.

Read Also: What You Should Never Do at the Cruise Ship Buffet

For a latte, the passenger recommends a handheld frother like an Aerolatte.

While there won’t be enough kettles for every cabin, a guest reminded the passenger, “They will give you boiling water at the coffee bar if your steward can’t get you a kettle for your room.” 

For those who prefer freshly ground coffee, a simple hand grinder does the trick for many passengers. These can be battery-powered or simply hand-turned so guests can bring the beans of their choice.

Onboard Free and Premium Coffee Options

Coffee is free aboard all Princess Cruises ships in the buffet, where coffee dispensers can be found, and in the main dining room.

While the coffee may not suit every palette, the cruise line also sells premium coffees at the 24-hour International Café, located on Deck 5 of most ships, and at the Lido Deck’s Coffee & Cones.

Here, the coffee is provided by LavAzza, an Italian coffee roaster that has been providing drinkers a morning or nighttime jolt since 1895.

Regal Princess Cruise Ship
Regal Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Nancy Pauwels / Shutterstock.com)

One passenger raved about the lattes at the International Café, saying, “The ‘plain’ coffee at the buffet was fine, but the latte was better. The guys running the espresso machines/making coffee at the IC every morning did a fantastic job.”

The cruise line also offers a coffee package that features LavAzza’s specialty or premium coffees, as well as tea, hot chocolate, frappes, milkshakes, fresh juices, and sodas.

Priced per person at $23.59 per day, including the 18 percent service charge, the Coffee & Soda package can only be purchased up to 3 days before embarkation or on embarkation day only.

The cruise line takes its per-person package seriously, and passengers can only order one drink at a time and just for themselves, so be sure not to share or take a risk of losing the package!

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