Longtime Carnival Cruise Line Captain Francesco “Ciccio” La Farina died on September 26 following a battle with cancer.
La Farina’s friend, Jorge Solano, announced his passing on social media.
Former colleagues and crew members are remembering La Farina as a humble and respected captain.
On September 26, 2026, longtime Carnival Cruise Line Captain Francesco “Ciccio” La Farina died, following a battle with cancer. His passing was announced on Facebook by friend Jorge Solano, prompting an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and cruisers.
“Last night, September 26, at 10:15 PM, Captain Francesco La Farina ‘Ciccio’ La Farina took his final voyage to Heaven,”Solano said.“You will remain in our hearts, our memories, and our prayers. Fair winds and following seas, Captain.”
La Farina’s LinkedIn profile lists maritime roles dating back to 1999. He spent years commanding Carnival cruise ships, including Carnival Freedom and Carnival Magic. Cruise Hive reported in 2024 that Carnival Magic, with La Farina at the helm, faced difficulties in Ocho Rios after strong winds caused the ship to hit the pier.
The ship had to briefly depart the pier, with some guests still ashore, delaying the voyage overnight. No injuries were reported, and the ship’s services remained operational while La Farina kept guests updated on the situation.
According to a post by Linda Spanky Warhaftig on Facebook, Carnival stepped up for the captain as he battled cancer. While she said she could not get into details, she assured well-wishers that the company provided much-appreciated assistance during that difficult period.
“As a corporation they didn’t have any obligation, to do all the things they did or take the actions for Francesco,”she said. “It was impressive what Carnival did and the amount of assistance they provided.”
Captain Francesco LaFarina (Ciccio)
While details of the captain’s battle with cancer are sparse, according to Jorge Solano, he fought bravely until the end. Solano said that La Farina was surrounded by family in his final moments.
Colleagues and Cruisers Remember Captain La Farina
As news spread of La Farina’s passing, friends, colleagues, and Carnival cruisers flooded social media with tributes and remembrances. Former colleague Trevor Nugent recalled working alongside La Farina during multiple stages of his career, including while he served as Safety Officer, Staff Captain and Captain.
“Very great man very humble and respectful,”Nugent wrote, adding that La Farina would be “surely missed.”
One former colleague similarly remembered La Farina as “absolutely amazing to work with and sail with”. A cruiser described him as “one of my favorite captains in the fleet.”
Other former crew members focused on how La Farina treated those working under him. One wrote in Spanish that she would always remember the captain and how he cared for his crew.
Former crew member Suri Asih shared a photo of La Farina alongside a brief tribute. Asih expressed that she was proud to have once been a member of his crew.
Linda Spanky Warhaftig also remembered La Farina as a captain who enjoyed walking around his ship and interacting with guests, helping make him a familiar presence beyond the bridge. She expressed to cruisers just how much La Farina enjoyed his role with Carnival.
“Most of all know this – Francesco ADORED all of you! He truly loved walking his ship and interacting with his guests,”Warhaftig said. “He genuinely loved mostly everything about being a ship Captain.”
The many tributes shared following La Farina’s passing reflect the impact he had on both the crew members who worked alongside him and the guests who sailed under his command. Cruise Hive extends its deepest condolences to La Farina’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those who knew him.
Photos of a coordinated shirt prank are circulating on social media after more than 100 men fell for the fun on Star of the Seas.
The shirt meetup was on Caribbean night during the ship’s June 14, 2026 sailing and involved identical red Hawaiian shirts.
Such pranks are arranged all in good fun over social media but don’t usually have quite so many participants.
More than 100 men fell for a spectacular prank onboard Star of the Seas during the ship’s June 14, 2026 sailing with a coordinating look they won’t soon forget. Photos of the event resurfaced recently and have quickly gone viral.
Theme nights are common on cruise ships, and many guests enjoy planning their attire to match the theme, whether it’s white night, an 80s party, or in the case of the pranksters, Caribbean night.
Wives, girlfriends, family members, and traveling companions planned the prank with matching tropical shirts. After all, tropical button-down shirts are a common cruise choice and the natural option for a coordinated prank without raising suspicion.
The red Hawaiian-style shirt featured a sunset pattern with islands, waves, and palm trees. The design is a popular one, and it’s not unusual on a cruise ship that can welcome 5,610 guests at double occupancy (up to 7,600 when all berths are filled!) for one or two or even more passengers to have the same fashion style.
But how likely is it for more than 100 guests to wear the same shirt on the same night? Quite likely indeed, when the fashion fun is coordinated by pranksters.
According to the Instagram account loyal.to.royal, the idea was proposed in a Facebook group and quickly turned into a larger-than-life prank for one of the world’s largest cruise ships.
The group was set to meet near The Pearl at 7 p.m. on Caribbean night. While the first few men to arrive might not have noticed the coordination, the intention quickly became clear as more and more (and more!) men arrived with the exact same shirt.
“I’ve been victimized, violated. I might as well just turn in my man card right now,” one guest said in a video shared on Facebook as he was approaching the group and realized the prank. Female laughter can be heard in the video’s background.
Star of the Seas Same Shirt Prank (Photo Credit: Katelyn Gensler)
Once all participants arrived at The Pearl, a group photo commemorated the event. Men of all ages are happily smiling for the snapshot, and a few women joined in on the shenanigans as well. The photo has garnered more than 18,000 likes on Instagram.
“This was fun!” one woman commented on Facebook. “It was great to be on the Promenade and my husband and a few other reacting to each other until they realized what was happening!”
Star of the Seas was sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that departed Port Canaveral on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The ship visited Perfect Day CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts before returning to the Sunshine State on Sunday, June 21.
Prank Not Unheard Of
The prank of coordinating bright and distinctive shirts is not a new one, but it’s not often that such a large group pulls off the event with such a positive response.
Some guests are inspired by the success of the red Hawaiian shirts and will be arranging their own variations on upcoming cruises.
“We’re doing this with blue Hawaiian shirts,”one guest commented.
The key to a successful dress-up prank is that the shirts (or other attire choice) must be appropriate to the cruise so they don’t raise suspicion, and ideally, the clothing should be easily available in a wide range of sizes to encourage more participation.
Coordinating the prank through social media is ideal, but it’s important to lock down the exact day and time of the group meet-up and prank reveal so everyone can join in.
“Did this on our last cruise,”one guest noted.“However they switched the day and meet time so not everyone saw the post.”
Not all guests purchase WiFi packages or stay connected once onboard, so any last-minute changes can derail the spectacular scale of such a prank.
Carnival Spirit‘s September 23 itinerary to Hawaii is rearranged to minimize the impact guests will feel from Hurricane Nolo over the coming days.
The ship will still visit all the planned ports of call but in a different order than originally scheduled. The time in each port is not changed.
Hurricane Nolo is currently a Category 3 storm but is not expected to make landfall on the main Hawaiian Islands, though swells and gusty winds will be felt.
While a lot of weather news is focused on the nor’easter now impacting multiple ships on the US Atlantic coast and the strength of Hurricane Polo near Baja, Hurricane Nolo is forecast to impact Hawaii in the coming days. For guests on the current sailing of Carnival Spirit, that storm is causing an itinerary shuffle for every Hawaiian port the ship will visit.
Carnival Spirit departed Seattle on Wednesday, September 23 for a 15-night roundtrip cruise to the Aloha State, but guests onboard have now been informed that their original itinerary is not possible. Fortunately, they will still visit all the planned destinations in Hawaii, just not in the order that had been scheduled.
One of those guests provided the notification letter to Cruise Hive, which described the changes and how guests can stay updated.
“Based on the storm’s forecasted track, we have adjusted our itinerary to prioritize the safety and comfort of everyone on board while also helping to provide the best possible experience in port,”the letter explained.“While we still expect to visit all scheduled ports, the sequence of our calls has changed.”
Carnival Spirit was going to visit Honolulu first, followed by Nawiliwili, Kahului, and Hilo. Now, the letter explains that the port order will be Hilo first, followed by Kahului, Honolulu, and Nawiliwili.
This puts the 2,124-guest ship at the easternmost Hawaiian destination on the itinerary first. Hurricane Nolo is forecast to have the greatest impact on the remote northwestern, largely uninhabited part of the state’s island chain where a hurricane watch is already in effect.
For context, Hilo is 212 miles southeast of Honolulu. At the moment, no hurricane watches or warnings are in effect for the Big Island of Hawaii or for any of Carnival Spirit‘s port destinations, but changing the order of the itinerary is a precautionary measure to avoid rough sailing.
Because the storm could also bring rain and rough harbor conditions to Hawaii, keeping further from the storm’s track helps ensure better port conditions for guests to enjoy their time visiting each destination.
The letter does note that the time in each port is unchanged. Carnival Spirit will be visiting Hilo from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29; Kahului on Wednesday, September 30 from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Honolulu on Thursday, October 1 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Nawiliwili on Friday, October 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Any Carnival shore excursions guests have purchased will be moved to the appropriate day. If tours can no longer be accommodated, guests will be notified separately.
The ship’s last port of call, a quick stop in Victoria, British Columbia on Wednesday, October 7 from 8-11:59 p.m., is not impacted, nor is there any change to the ship’s return to Seattle for debarkation on Thursday, October 8.
Guests are urged to tune in to the “Good to Know Channel” on their stateroom televisions to stay updated if there are any further changes to the itinerary.
Hurricane Nolo Update
Hurricane Nolo Update
According to the 11 a.m. HST (5 p.m. ET) update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Nolo is located 365 miles south-southwest of Honolulu and is moving west at 12 miles per hour. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour and is currently a Category 3 storm but is expected to continue strengthening.
“A turn toward the northwest is expected by tonight, with this general motion continuing through Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands but will approach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in a couple of days,”the advisory discussion reads.
Gusty winds and swells are expected on the east- and south-facing shores of the main Hawaiian Islands over the next few days as Carnival Spirit is visiting. By shuffling the port order, Carnival Cruise Line is minimizing how much of those weather effects guests will feel as they enjoy their time in Hawaii.
A series of low-pressure systems has combined into a massive nor’easter, prompting multiple cruise ships to adjust departure times, sailing routes, and itineraries involving Canadian Atlantic and eastern US homeports and ports of call to avoid the worst weather and ensure smooth, safe sailing for guests and crew.
As of September 26 at 22:02 PM EST, nine cruise ships currently have confirmed itinerary changes:
Valiant Lady becomes the first ship in the fleet to be impacted by the Nor’easter storm. Virgin Voyages has told guests the ship won’t dock at the end of its September 19 sailing until 4:00 PM in New York and that disembarkation won’t begin until 5:00 PM at the earliest.
This means guests booked on the September 27 sailing will begin embarkation from 8:00 PM to midnight, with further embarkation the following day, September 28, from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Valiant Lady plans to depart at noon that day on a revised itinerary, which now includes only one day in Bermuda from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Guests on the September 27 sailing are being offered $200 in non-refundable Sailor Loot (basically onboard credit), along with $200 Future Cruise Credit.
Oasis of the Seas (September 27 Cruise)
Royal Caribbean announced itinerary changes for the Oasis of the Seas September 27 sailing out of Cape Liberty in New Jersey. After the September 20 cruise arrived late due to a nor’easter, guests were informed that embarkation will now begin at 8:00 PM.
It also means the September 27 sailing has an adjusted itinerary, with the originally scheduled call to Port Canaveral, Florida, on September 29 canceled. Oasis of the Seas will instead be sailing a day at sea, and there will be an earlier arrival in Nassau on September 30 at 7:30 AM, with a departure at 5:30 PM.
Oasis of the Seas (September 20 Cruise)
The September 20 sailing for Oasis of the Seas has become another cruise ship impacted by the powerful nor’easter storm on the U.S. East Coast. The cruise line sent a letter to guests on September 26 stating they would return home to New Jersey late:
“As announced by our Captain, due to unfavorable weather conditions in and around the New York area and port operations, we’ll be delayed arriving to Cape Liberty, New Jersey. We’ll now be arriving tomorrow, Sunday, September 27, at approximately 4:00 PM. The debarkation process will begin at 4:30 PM,” the letter stated.
Carnival Pride (September 27 Cruise)
Carnival Cruise Line sent out an advisory to guests booked on Carnival Pride’s September 27 cruises out of Baltimore, Maryland. The ship is arriving back in the homeport much later in the afternoon than originally scheduled. As a result, the cruise line is working on revising embarkation times. Further updates to come.
Norwegian Escape (September 26 Cruise)
With cruise operations being halted in New York due to the nor’easter storm, Norwegian Escape’s September 26 cruise has been delayed. The vessel will remain docked overnight and is now expected to depart Sunday, September 27 at 10:00 AM.
Independence of the Seas (September 26 Cruise)
Independence of the Seas becomes the second Royal Caribbean ship confirmed to have an itinerary change. The ship’s September 26 sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, will have an adjusted plan.
Because of the Nor’easter, the vessel has been unable to depart as scheduled and is staying overnight in New Jersey, with a new departure planned for September 27. The ship will also no longer spend a planned overnight in Bermuda and will stay only one day, Tuesday, September 29.
Carnival Sunshine (September 27 Cruise)
Carnival Sunshine Ship (Photo Credit: Amonarch)
Carnival Sunshine has become the latest cruise ship impacted by the huge Nor’easter storm off the US East Coast. Carnival Cruise Line sent out a notice to guests booked on the September 27 sailing out of Norfolk, Virginia.
The vessel has been forced to divert further out to sea to calmer waters away from any nor’easter impact. As a result, Carnival Sunshine won’t be able to arrive back home on time for the September 27 cruise, and it means that the voyage will now be pushed back by one day, with a new departure planned from Norfolk on September 28.
The revised September 27 sailing will be a 5-night itinerary, and the planned call to Bimini on September 29 has been cancelled. The call to Nassau will remain on September 30, but the time has changed to 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Norwegian Escape (September 19 Cruise)
Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship in New York (Photo Credit: quiggyt4)
Norwegian Escape departed New York on a 7-night Canada and New England itinerary on Saturday, September 19, 2026, long before the nor’easter was impacting the region. The ship’s last port of call and return to New York, however, has now been adjusted.
The 4,266-guest ship’s original itinerary included a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 24. Because of the rough weather, however, that visit was shortened so the ship could return to New York earlier.
“Due to forecasted weather conditions associated with a developing nor’easter expected to impact the northeastern United States and Canadian Atlantic coast, Norwegian Escape will depart Halifax earlier than originally scheduled today,”guests were informed by letters on Thursday morning.
“Based on the latest forecasts and to allow the ship to safely navigate the region ahead of the storm’s expected strongest conditions, this adjustment is necessary to support our planned arrival into New York City.”
Norwegian Escape departed Halifax several hours early and should arrive in New York late Friday evening, well ahead of the original arrival time of 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. The ship will remain docked through the night and guests will debark as planned on Saturday morning.
Friday was originally planned as a leisurely day at sea as the ship made her way back to the Big Apple. Since Norwegian Escape will not arrive in New York until late, however, the experience for guests onboard will not be much different than a typical sea day, other than a great opportunity to view the nighttime New York City skyline as the ship arrives late Friday evening.
Carnival Venezia (September 20 & 24 Cruises)
Carnival Venezia in New York (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz)
Carnival Venezia has also changed her current cruise plans to avoid the worst of the storm’s weather. The 4,090-guest ship departed New York on Sunday, September 20, for a 4-night Bermuda sailing. On the first full day of the cruise, however, guests were informed that the time in Bermuda would be shortened and the ship would change her return route back to New York.
“I must say thank you to the guests on board now who have a delayed debarkation in New York this morning because the Captain slowed the ship to make it more comfortable for them in the bad weather,” Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador John Heald explained in a Facebook poston Thursday morning, September 24.
This also pushed back embarkation for the ship’s next sailing, a 5-night Bermuda itinerary that was to have included an overnight visit. Due to the delayed departure from New York and rerouting to avoid stormy conditions on the way to Bermuda, however, the September 24 cruise will now arrive in Bermuda at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 27, rather than 9 a.m. on Saturday as originally planned.
Vision of the Seas (September 24 Cruise)
Vision of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)
Royal Caribbean’s 2,050-guest Vision of the Seas rerouted completely to avoid the storm. Sailing from Baltimore, the ship was to have departed on Thursday, September 24, 2026 for a 9-night Canada and New England itinerary.
Instead, the ship remained overnight in Baltimore on Thursday and will not depart until 3 p.m. on Friday, September 25. From there, she will be sailing south to spend the time in Florida and the Bahamas, with port visits to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Grand Bahama Island before returning to Maryland on Saturday, October 3.
Embarkation for the sailing was also delayed and the cruise terminal did not open until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Due to government restrictions, guests were not permitted to debark the ship to enjoy the city once they had embarked.
“Going ashore will not be permissible per the CBP [US Customs and Border Protection],”the cruise line explained in an email notification.
Other Ships to Watch
While only four cruise ships have confirmed itinerary changes at this time, other ships in the Northeast may also see adjustments over the next few days.
This could include Crystal Symphony (Friday), Queen Mary 2 (Saturday), and Valiant Lady (Sunday) in New York.
Silversea’s Silver Wind (Saturday) and Norwegian Breakaway (Sunday) are scheduled for Boston, and Celebrity Silhouette (Sunday) is expected in Portland, Maine.
Norwegian Jewel is scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 26 and could be affected depending on how far the storm’s impact may reach.
Any cruise guests sailing in the Northeast over the next few days should stay in close contact with their cruise line for updates and adjustments as any change in plans is confirmed.
Oasis of the Seas will be skipping her port visit to Florida but arriving in Nassau three hours earlier on her September 27, 2026 sailing.
The previous cruise is delayed 10 hours returning to New Jersey due to the nor’easter, so these changes to the next cruise are not unexpected.
Guests will receive pro-rated refunds as onboard credit for one day of any package purchases as well as pre-booked tours for the now-cancelled visit to Port Canaveral.
Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests with updated embarkation instructions and details on how their cruise has been impacted for her Sunday, September 27, 2026 sailing.
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions in and around the New York area impacting port operations, our prior Oasis of the Seas sailing will be delayed in returning to the terminal,”the email confirmed.“As a result, the boarding process will not begin until 8:00 PM.”
Originally, cruise terminal arrival times for the 7-night cruise started as early as 10 a.m. on Sunday. Now, the earliest arrival time is 8 p.m. and the latest arrival time will be 10:30 p.m. Despite the lateness of the embarkation, Royal Caribbean is firm that guests should stick to the new schedule.
“Guests who arrive early will be turned away, potentially in uncomfortable weather, and asked to return at their scheduled time,”the email stated.
If guests have booked transfers from the airport to the cruise terminal, those arrangements will be adjusted to the ship’s new schedule and will now depart the airport at 8 p.m.
All guests must be checked in and onboard Oasis of the Seas no later than 11:30 p.m. The ship will likely depart shortly after embarkation has been completed.
Itinerary Adjusted for Late Departure
Originally, the 5,606-guest ship was to have set sail from Cape Liberty at 3 p.m. Because of the significant delay, Oasis of the Seas is unable to complete her Bahamas and Perfect Day itinerary as previously scheduled.
“We’ll now skip our visit to Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, on Tuesday, September 29 and instead enjoy a Sea Day,”the email confirmed.“We’ll also now be arriving at Nassau, Bahamas earlier at 7:30 AM and depart at 5:30 PM.”
Oasis of the Seas Docked at Cape Liberty (Photo Credit: quiggyt4)
Oasis of the Seas was to have visited Port Canaveral from 12:30-7:00 p.m., but that is no longer possible. The ship was not originally scheduled to arrive in Nassau until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, but the earlier arrival now gives guests three extra hours to explore the capital of the Bahamas.
The ship’s departure from Nassau was always scheduled for 5:30 p.m., so that remains unchanged, along with the visit to Perfect Day CocoCay on Thursday, October 1, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Royal Caribbean has noted that any pre-paid shore excursions guests have booked through the cruise line for Port Canaveral will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ accounts as onboard credit.
Guests will also receive a pro-rated, one-day refund for any pre-purchased packages, including beverage, Wifi, and Ultimate Dining packages. That will also be added to guests’ onboard accounts.
While guests are understandably disappointed at the delay and the loss of a port visit and the disruption to the first evening’s onboard activities, safety is always the first priority for any cruise line.
Oasis of the Seas is expected to return to New Jersey on time at the end of the sailing on Sunday, October 4. There is no anticipated impact to the next sailing, also a 7-night Perfect Day Bahamas cruise.
Oasis of the Seas is now delayed by 10 hours returning to Cape Liberty due to the nor’easter along the Atlantic coast.
The ship is finishing a 7-night Bahamas itinerary and the delay is also expected to impact embarkation for the next sailing.
Royal Caribbean is offering reimbursement for travel change fees and hotel accommodations if necessary.
The powerful nor’easter impacting the US Atlantic coast has continued affecting cruise ship operations. Now, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas will be delayed 10 hours in her return to Cape Liberty, New Jersey at the end of a 7-night Bahamas cruise that departed the New York area on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Guests onboard the ship received the notification through public address announcements and letters delivered to their staterooms on Saturday, September 26, confirming the delay.
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions in and around the New York area and port operations, we’ll be delayed arriving to Cape Liberty, New Jersey,”the letter confirmed.“We’ll now be arriving tomorrow, Sunday, September 27, at approximately 4:00 pm. The debarkation process will begin at 4:30 pm.”
Oasis of the Seas was scheduled to arrive at Cape Liberty at approximately 6 a.m. With the 5,606-guest ship now expected 10 hours late, debarkation will be challenging to ensure so many guests can smoothly vacate the vessel before the next group of guests can begin boarding. Royal Caribbean is urging all guests to stick to their debarkation instructions for an easier process.
Because of the delay, many guests may need to change their post-cruise travel plans. The cruise line is providing a voucher for 60 minutes of internet use per stateroom through the Royal Caribbean app for those guests who do not have an internet package. Guests can also receive contact Guest Services from their staterooms if they prefer to make phone calls from the ship.
If guests have purchased airfare through the cruise line, those flights will be automatically adjusted to the ship’s new arrival and confirmation details will be emailed to individual guests.
Guests who have arranged independent airfare will need to contact their airline directly, and Royal Caribbean is recommending new flights departing no earlier than 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
Oasis of the Seas Nor’easter Letter
The cruise line will reimburse air and other transportation change fees up to $200 (USD) per person for domestic flights and $400 per person for international flights. Reimbursement of up to $200 per cruise ship stateroom for hotel accommodations will also be available if guests are unable to book flights that depart on Sunday, September 27.
While the next sailing onboard Oasis of the Seas will also now be delayed for embarkation, those details have not yet been disclosed. The ship’s September 27 departure is another weeklong Bahamas cruise with calls scheduled for Port Canaveral, Florida as well as Nassau and Perfect Day CocoCay.
Any adjustment to that itinerary will be communicated to guests as soon as arrangements are confirmed.
Three Royal Caribbean Ships Now Impacted by Nor’easter
Oasis of the Seas is the third Royal Caribbean ship with confirmed changes due to the nor’easter, which is impacting ships and port operations from Virginia to Canada to Bermuda.
Independence of the Seas was scheduled to depart Cape Liberty, New Jersey on Saturday, September 26 for a 5-night getaway with an overnight stay in Bermuda. The ship will now remain in New Jersey until Sunday and the visit to Bermuda will be shortened.
Vision of the Seas was originally scheduled for a 9-night Canada and New England itinerary departing Baltimore on Thursday, September 24. Instead, the ship remained in Baltimore overnight, and when she left on Friday, she turned south for a completely different Bahamas itinerary to avoid the storm.
In addition to Royal Caribbean ships, vessels from Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line also have confirmed itinerary changes, reroutings, and delays, while additional ships from Cunard, Virgin Voyages, Silversea, Celebrity Cruises, and more may yet be impacted.
Carnival Sunshine will skip the visit to Bimini and has moved the time in Nassau to later on Wednesday, September 30, for her now-modified itinerary for the September 27 (now 28) departure.
The ship is delayed in returning to Norfolk due to the nor’easter impacting the Atlantic coast and will not arrive until Monday, September 28.
These itinerary changes are necessary due to the delayed departure, and the ship will now use the shorter self-mustering safety briefing.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed the modified itinerary plans for Carnival Sunshine‘s September 27, 2026 sailing that will now be departing a day late, on Monday, September 28, due to the nor’easter influence impacting multiple ships along the US Atlantic coast.
The 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine is currently returning to her Norfolk, Virginia homeport from an 8-night Canada itinerary that departed Saturday, September 19. Because of the rough weather, the cruise line has already confirmed that the ship altered course and slowed to provide a safer, more comfortable experience for guests and crew members.
This has delayed Carnival Sunshine‘s return by a full day. The next cruise will now operate as a 5-night Bahamas itinerary departing on Monday, September 28 instead of the original 6-night schedule that was to have departed on Sunday.
Guests have been informed of the necessary itinerary modifications to accommodate the delayed departure.
“Because we are sailing a day later than planned, we will not be able to visit Bimini and the call on Nassau will now be from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday, September 30,”the email notification confirmed.
Carnival Sunshine was already scheduled to visit Nassau on Wednesday, but her original port time was 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk (Photo Credit: Eli Wilson / Shutterstock)
If guests had pre-booked tours for Nassau through Carnival Cruise Line, the email notes that those tours will be adjusted to the revised schedule. If any tours cannot be changed, they will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. Carnival shore excursions for the now-cancelled visit to Bimini will also be cancelled and refunded.
There is no change for the ship’s visit to Celebration Key from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, and she is expected to return to Norfolk on schedule on Saturday, October 3.
Compensation for the Shorter Cruise
Carnival Cruise Line is compensating guests for the now-shorter sailing with a one-day, pro-rated refund of their cruise fare that will be returned to the original form of payment.
In addition, there is also a one-day, pro-rated refund of any applicable amenity packages, such as beverage packages and WiFi access, as well as pre-paid gratuities.
The email notes that refunds for amenities and gratuities will be posted to guests’ onboard accounts by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 29.
Embarkation at the Same Time But Safety Drill Changed
Guests have been advised that their arrival time appointments will not change, only the day of embarkation has changed.
“Please plan to arrive at the cruise terminal during your originally selected Terminal Arrival Appointment timeframe,”the email said.“All guests must be on board by 3:00 PM, as the ship will depart shortly after embarkation is complete.”
As a small silver lining, Carnival Sunshine will no longer have the full, in-person muster drill that had originally been announced for Sunday’s embarkation. Instead, the self-mustering process will be used on Monday, though all guests must still complete that check-in at their muster station before the ship can depart.
With Hurricane Polo gaining strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast, cruise lines are making sure their cruise ships stay far away from any impact and keep guests safe. As of September 26, four cruise ships have confirmed itinerary adjustments, but more could be on the way as the storm develops.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) 8:00 AM Advisory 24, Polo has maximum sustained winds of 155 MPH and is located 480 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It’s moving west-northwest at 9 mph and remains a very powerful hurricane.
Carnival Panorama (September 26 Sailing)
The only Carnival ship impacted by the powerful Hurricane Polo as of now is the Carnival Panorama. The ship’s September 26 sailing out of Long Beach in California has cancelled its calls to Puerto Vallarta on September 29 and Mazatlan on September 30.
Ensenada has now been added to the itinerary with a call on September 28 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Vista-class Carnival ship will still be making calls to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas as normal.
Grand Princess (September 25 Sailing)
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Macklin Holloway)
The 2,610-passenger Grand Princess is the latest Princess vessel to be impacted by Hurricane Polo, which is churning off the west coast of Mexico. Princess Cruises sent out an itinerary change notice to booked guests for the September 25 sailing out of Los Angeles, California.
The cruise line stated in its notice, “Please be advised we are closely monitoring Hurricane Polo as it moves along the coast of Mexico. With the safety of our guests and crew as our highest priority, we have made amendments to your upcoming Grand Princess voyage to keep us well out of the path of the storm and provide you with the most comfortable cruise.“
Grand Princess has cancelled its scheduled calls to La Paz on September 29, Guaymas on September 30, and Puerto Vallarta on October 2. Instead, the ship is offering a new overnight call to San Diego that will arrive on September 26 and depart on September 27, instead of an originally scheduled sea day. The ship has also added a call to Mazatlan in Mexico on October 1.
Booked guests do have the option to cancel their planned cruise and can receive a full 100% refund of their fare. Those who are sticking with the ship and still moving ahead with their cruise are getting $100 in onboard credit from Princess Cruises.
Navigator of the Seas (September 25 Sailing)
Navigator of the Seas in Ensenada (Photo Credit: MuhammadChoeron)
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to respond to the powerful hurricane, informing guests of an itinerary change in a notice sent on September 23. The voyage impacted is the September 25 sailing out of Los Angeles, California.
Navigator of the Seas has cancelled its planned stop in Ensenada, Mexico, on September 26, which will now be a sea day, and its call at Cabo San Lucas on September 28. Instead, the 3,386-passenger vessel has shifted its call at Mazatlan to September 28 and has added a new call at Puerto Vallarta on September 29.
Royal Caribbean stated to guests in the notice it sent out, “We’re sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our top priority. Please know being onboard is one of the safest places to be because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather.“
The cruise line is ensuring that any shore excursions booked through them for Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas are refunded to the SeaPass account as onboard credit.
Brilliant Lady (September 26 Sailing)
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Lux Blue)
It’s also been confirmed by guests booked on the Brilliant Lady September 26 sailing out of Los Angeles that it has been adjusted.
Virgin Voyages has cancelled the call to Cabo San Lucas on September 28, the call to Mazatlan on September 29, and Puerto Vallarta on September 30.
Instead, Brilliant Lady is staying closer to home, with a call to San Francisco on September 28, San Diego on September 30, and then the final call in Ensenada, Mexico, on October 2. This means Ensenada is now the only Mexican port on the itinerary. The ship will then return to LA as normal on October 3.
Cruise Ships to Watch
Cruise Hive is watching for further confirmed itinerary changes for other ships sailing the region, including Carnival Miracle’s repositioning September 26 sailing out of Seattle, Queen Elizabeth’s September 24 sailing out of Seattle, and Coral Princess’ September 23 Panama sailing out of Vancouver.
Celebrity Cruises has removed the complimentary afternoon canapés from Concierge Class benefits, effective for all sailings departing after September 21, 2026.
As a replacement benefit, Concierge Class guests will no longer be charged the $9.95 room service fee, but the 20% gratuity charge still applies.
Guest reactions to the change are positive, noting food safety and canapé quality as problems with the original amenity offering.
Celebrity Cruises’ Concierge Class is an elevated stateroom option for guests who want that extra special treatment on their cruise vacation, with perks and amenities that can make the experience really stand out.
Booked guests have now noticed, however, that one benefit is no longer being offered, but the substitution appears to be a very welcome change.
Effective for sailings departing after Monday, September 21, 2026, Concierge Class guests will no longer receive the “Daily delectable delights” afternoon canapés delivered to their stateroom. These small bites often included fruit, cheese, shrimp, sushi, hummus, charcuterie, desserts, and other options that crew members were able to personalize to guests’ preferences.
Instead, Concierge Class guests will now have complimentary room service with the standard delivery fee waived, as well as two complimentary bottles of water delivered to their stateroom on embarkation day.
Celebrity Cruises currently charges a $9.95 fee for room service orders along with a 20% gratuity. The flat fee was expanded to all hours and raised from a $4.95 late-night fee on December 30, 2022 and is per order, but will no longer apply to Concierge Class staterooms. Guests do still have to pay the gratuity fee.
The cruise line did not make any public announcement for the cancellation of the afternoon canapés, but the change is noted on the updated list of Concierge Class benefits.
Celebrity Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
Other benefits, including the exclusive Welcome Aboard lunch, personalized concierge service, and upgraded stateroom features, are unchanged.
These types of benefits are generally subject to availability and may be adjusted at any time. It is not unusual for a cruise line to tweak select amenities based on guest feedback and operational needs.
Guests React to Disappearance of the Canapés
Often when a benefit is removed, there may be complaints and pushback from guests who will miss the amenity. On a popular Reddit thread “To honor the loss of concierge canapes,” however, the overwhelming reaction is approval.
“It was hit and miss for sure,”one guest noted about the canapé quality, a sentiment echoed by several others who used terms such as “garbage,” “slovenly mess,” and “a kid’s school cafeteria snack” to describe the offerings.
Some Concierge Class guests treated the nibbles as another form of surprise entertainment rather than a sumptuous snack.
“They were always delightfully horrific. We were always tickled to go back and see what jiggly lukewarm concoction awaited us,”one commenter posted.
“It really was a form of entertainment!”another replied.
Food safety was a concern many guests expressed, as the canapes would be delivered even if guests were not present at the time. Some items ought to have been chilled or refrigerated, but if guests did not return to their staterooms for several hours, the canapes might not have been safe to eat after being left at room temperature for that time.
This may have led to significant food waste from uneaten canapes. Cruise lines are often considering menu and service changes to reduce food waste, which can lead to cost savings for the line.
With the switch to room service, Concierge Class guests can now order items they are sure to like at a time they prefer, which should be a tastier option with less waste.
