Blog Page 21

Royal Caribbean Adjusts Dozens of Alaska Cruises to Avoid Landslide Risk

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Adjusts Dozens of Alaska Cruises to Avoid Landslide Risk

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has now cancelled scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord for 2026.
  • Carnival, Holland America Line, and Virgin Voyages have all made similar itinerary adjustments.
  • The cancellations are due to a massive landslide in the Alaskan fjord in August 2025.

Just as the Alaska sailing season gets underway, a fourth cruise line has now abruptly changed dozens of sailings to remove Tracy Arm Fjord due to “a recent landslide and ongoing navigation safety concerns.” Royal Caribbean has joined the growing list of cruise lines that won’t be visiting Tracy Arm Fjord in 2026.

Instead, impacted itineraries will sail through Endicott Arm to view the magnificent Dawes Glacier. The two passages are just 20 miles apart in southeast Alaska, but that provides enough distance for cruise ships to be safer in the dramatic landscape.

Itineraries for Serenade of the Seas as well as Voyager of the Seas are being adjusted. While the other ports on each individual sailing are not changed, some adjustments are necessary to accommodate the shift in scenic cruising. Booked passengers have started sharing their letters online.

Serenade of the Seas will reposition to Vancouver in early May, and her first impacted Alaska itinerary is the May 24 departure. Not all of the ship’s seasonal voyages include Tracy Arm Fjord, but 16 itineraries do have the fjord on the schedule.

Voyager of the Seas will begin sailing from Seattle on May 8 after she arrives from Brisbane, but her first impacted itinerary is the May 15 departure. A total of 15 of her sailings have been scheduled to include Tracy Arm Fjord and all may be affected.

Pre-paid shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean will be automatically adjusted for new port arrival and departure times if possible. If any tours cannot be shifted adequately, they will be cancelled and fully refunded to the original form of payment.

Guests who may have made independent tour arrangements will want to reconfirm plans and times with their tour operator to be sure their Alaskan adventures are still possible.

Tracy Arm and South Sawyer Glacier landslide location. (Photo Credit: US Geological Survey)

Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Alaska Cruise Ships – Which One Should You Choose?

Cruise Hive has previously reported that Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Virgin Voyages have already made similar adjustments for their Alaskan sailings through 2026.

At this time, ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Seabourn, Windstar Cruises, and several smaller lines are still scheduled for Tracy Arm Fjord visits this year, but additional cancellations may be forthcoming.

Why Not Sail in Tracy Arm Fjord?

The caution regarding sailings in Tracy Arm Fjord stems from a landslide on August 10, 2025. That landslide caused a localized tsunami and dislodged significant debris, estimated to be as much as 100 million cubic meters, into the fjord.

That debris can make ship navigation unsafe, and there remains the potential for additional landslides.

No cruise ships were inside Tracy Arm Fjord at the time of the August 10 landslide, which occurred at roughly 5:30 a.m. Tsunami waves stretched more than 35 miles past the landslide. According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, the event was the largest landslide recorded in the region in the past decade.

With so many other amazing scenic vistas in different fjords in Alaska, it does not make sense to continue sailing in Tracy Arm Fjord when more stable alternatives are available. To be clear, the destination has always been just a scenic cruising day and guests do not actually disembark their ships.

More From Cruise Hive

Guests on the dozens of sailings from different cruise lines that will now be visiting Endicott Arm instead will still enjoy the phenomenal views and iconic wildlife renowned in Alaska.

Endicott Arm is slightly further south than Tracy Arm Fjord, and both scenic cruising spots are popular on different Alaskan itineraries.

Princess Cruises Adjusting Some Juneau Visits to Tender Operations

Melissa Mayntz
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Princess Cruises Adjusting Some Juneau Visits to Tender Operations

Key Aspects:

  • Grand Princess will be tendering instead of docking in Juneau, Alaska on May 27.
  • The ship’s time in port is unchanged and will still be from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Other itineraries may also be impacted and guests should stay in contact with the cruise line for notifications.

With the Alaska cruise season just getting underway, Princess Cruises is advising guests on select itineraries that they will be unable to dock at the pier when visiting Juneau. Instead, certain ships will be using water shuttles to ferry guests ashore, which can cause some delays and limitations.

For example, guests onboard Grand Princess for the ship’s May 23, 2026 departure from Whittier have received notice that they will be using tenders.

“Due to operational considerations, Grand Princess will now be at anchor in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday, May 27, rather than alongside,” the email notification explained. “A ship-to-shore water shuttle service will be available to enable you to go ashore.”

To use a water shuttle, guests must be able to board the small boat without crew assistance. This might include a few stairs or crossing a moving ramp, depending on which small boats are used and the conditions at the time.

Mobility scooters may not be able to be accommodated on every water shuttle, and large strollers can also be difficult to manage.

The time Grand Princess is visiting Juneau on this sailing is not changed and the ship will be at anchor from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Guests should note, however, that it will take longer to debark and reboard the ship using water shuttles.

Read Also: Princess Cruise Ships in Alaska – Which One to Choose?

Typically, guests who book shore excursions through the cruise line will be the first ferried off the ship in the applicable port of call, and tour operators are made aware of any delays due to tendering.

On Wednesday, May 27, there are five ships scheduled to visit Juneau. In addition to Grand Princess, Ruby Princess and Star Princess will also be in port, as well as Holland America Line’s Westerdam and Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas.

Grand Princess Cruise Ship
Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Macklin Holloway)

In total, the five ships will be bringing nearly 15,000 guests to visit Alaska’s capital that day. In comparison, Juneau’s regular population is roughly 32,000 residents.

There is one additional change to Grand Princess‘s itinerary on this particular sailing. The ship will arrive in Skagway 90 minutes earlier than planned, at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, rather than at 7 a.m. as originally scheduled. The 8:30 p.m. departure is not changed.

Why Is Grand Princess Tendering?

There is no explanation for why, of all five ships, Grand Princess will be the vessel tendering on May 27. She is not the smallest ship in Juneau that day, but she will be the first arriving with an anticipated arrival at 6-6:30 a.m.

The other ships are arriving from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be departing from 9-10 p.m. Grand Princess, on the other hand, is departing much earlier at 4 p.m.

Other factors that might determine which ship on a particular port’s schedule will be tendering can include what water shuttle facilities are available, what types of berths are available at which piers, and whether there is any pier construction or maintenance planned.

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It is possible that other ships may also be tendering throughout the season, particularly on days when Juneau is particularly busy. On Sunday, May 31, for example, there will be eight cruise ships in port.

At times, it will undoubtedly be necessary for different ships to use water shuttles instead of docking in order for all guests to enjoy Juneau.

Each cruise line will undoubtedly notify impacted guests about tendering operations as soon as possible to let them prepare for their cruise vacation and expectations for visiting the city.

Sun Princess Turns Away After Fishermen Block Port Access

Lissa Poirot
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Sun Princess Turns Away After Fishermen Block Port Access

Key Aspects:

  • Sun Princess was forced to abandon its Corsican call after protests disrupted the ship’s arrival.
  • Fishermen blocked harbor access while protesting rising fuel prices.
  • All but one port on the island remains shut as of press time.

What should have been a routine day of arrivals and departures on the Mediterranean island of Corsica instead turned into a logistical headache for hundreds of passengers when protests halted ferry and cruise traffic.

Fishermen protesting rising fuel prices blocked access to several Corsican ports on April 7, 2026, preventing ferries and cruise ships from docking and leaving tourists stranded on the island or at sea.

Princess Cruise Line’s 4,300-passenger Sun Princess was one of the affected ships unable to arrive to Port Ajaccio due to the blockade.

A passenger on board said the Captain attempted to negotiate with the fisherman and was told they could enter but would not be allowed to leave, eventually forcing Sun Princess to abandon the port stop.

Instead, the ship continued its 7-night voyage from Barcelona and is making its way to its Genoa, Italy, call. It will also visit La Spezia for an overnight visit before concluding in Civitavecchia (Rome) on April 11.

Hopefully, the vessel will be allowed to stop in Corsica on its return voyage, scheduled for April 28.

The demonstrations are part of a growing movement by maritime workers who say soaring diesel costs from Middle East tensions are threatening their livelihoods.

Passengers hoping to leave Corsica or arrive by ferry and cruise ship faced cancellations and long delays as the blockade unfolded, beginning at 6 a.m. Some cruise and ferry routes were suspended while authorities assessed the situation.

Fishing Boats Blocking Sun princess
Fishing Boats Blocking Sun Princess (Photo Credit: Neil Rutt)

The disruptions come at the start of the island’s busy travel period, when ferries regularly connect Corsica to mainland France and Italy and serve as a key gateway for tourists exploring the Mediterranean.

AIDA Cruises, a sister cruise line to Princess Cruises under the Carnival Corporation umbrella, also features Corsica’s Port Ajaccio on its current season, with AIDAcosma’s April 8 arrival in question.

Corsica Ports at Center of Protest

Corsica, the mountainous French island in the Mediterranean Sea between mainland France and Italy, is one of the region’s most-visited cruise and ferry destinations. Its ports, including Ajaccio, Bastia, and Porto-Vecchio, serve as a major gateway between the island and mainland Europe.

Ferries connect to Corsica to cities such as Marseille, Toulon, and Nice in France and to Italian ports, including Livorno and Genoa. Cruise ships frequently include the island on Western Mediterranean itineraries.

Cruise Boards: Best Cruises to Take out of Europe as a First Timer

Both Sun Princess and AIDAcosma have multiple calls to Ajaccio scheduled in April, along with Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Marina, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Splendor, Marella Cruises’ Explorer 2, Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest, and Saga Cruises’s Spirit of Discovery.

It is unclear how long the fisherman plan to block the port or if local authorities will be able to regain control. The protests could broaden beyond the fishing industry, with the Corsican agricultural union saying farmers are facing similar pressure.

Fisherman and agricultural groups are warning they may expand demonstrations, potentially forcing further cruise itinerary changes and cancellations.

Driving up fuel costs is the volatility in global fuel markets tied to the recent tensions in the Middle East, which already forced cruise lines to abruptly end seasons early and reroute vessels from the region.

Cruise Guest Sues Celebrity Cruises After Tripping Over Misplaced Speaker

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Guest Sues Celebrity Cruises After Tripping Over Misplaced Speaker

Key Aspects:

  • A former guest of Celebrity Reflection tripped on a speaker while dancing and is suing the cruise line.
  • She feels that the cruise line was negligent because crew members put the speaker in a dangerous location.
  • Celebrity Cruises adheres to strict safety standards, which includes guidance for preventing trip and fall hazards.

One former passenger of Celebrity Reflection felt a lot less like dancing after her sailing ended in an injury.

On January 14, 2025, a Florida resident named Jeannette Beres was enjoying the entertainment in the grand foyer (or atrium) on Deck 3 of the 125,366-gross ton vessel when she tripped over a speaker that was left on the dance floor.

The grand foyer is a popular spot for evening dancing, and the space frequently hosts performances from instrumentalists, jazz trios, and vocalists to set the mood. It’s also home to events like the popular ABBA dance party.

While attempting to get her groove on, Beres tripped and fell on a speaker that she claims was left in the center of the dance floor by Celebrity crew members, in the way of where guests were supposed to walk and dance.

The cruiser suffered a fractured foot in the incident, as well as additional injuries to her body and other extremities. She filed a lawsuit against Celebrity to seek compensation for pain, suffering, and related financial losses on March 26, 2026.

Celebrity Cruises Accused of Negligence

Beres’ is raising multiple counts of negligence against the cruise line, including negligent maintenance, negligent failure to inspect, and negligent failure to warn.

Her legal team argues that the cruise line failed to keep the dance floor in a reasonably safe condition and failed to conduct proper inspections that would have flagged what they feel is a hazardously placed speaker.

Additionally, Beres claims that the crew members did not provide signage, floor markings, or verbal warnings to make sure passengers were aware of the speaker.

Of course, there are always two sides to every story and Celebrity Cruises has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. If a public statement is made, Cruise Hive will issue an update.

Celebrity Reflection in Fort Lauderdale
Celebrity Reflection in Fort Lauderdale (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)

While cruise companies can be liable for failing to maintain safe, dry, and unobstructed dance floors, it has to be proven that this was indeed the case. No security footage of the incident or pictures of the dance floor have been publicly released to help confirm the circumstances.

It’s also worth noting that Celebrity Cruises carefully follows safety standards outlined by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which includes guidelines for slip and trip hazard reductions.

There may also be an assumption risk to consider, where Beres voluntarily assumed the inherent risks of dancing on a moving cruise ship in a potentially crowded environment.

Despite the legal battles, guests are still happily dancing onboard Celebrity Reflection as the 3,046-guest ship operates 3- to 4-night sailings to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Beres is not alone in wanting someone to take responsibility after a cruise ship fall. This is actually a fairly common lawsuit that the cruise lines are forced to address.

For example, Royal Caribbean, which is a sister-brand to Celebrity Cruises, was slapped with three lawsuits from guests who fell during their sailings at the end of March.

Earlier this year, Cruise Hive also reported on a slip and fall lawsuit that was filed against Princess Cruises. In this case, the passenger slipped on ribbons in one of the dining rooms onboard Ruby Princess.

Ultimately, only time will tell if the cruise lines will be found liable in these accidents or if the allegations of negligence will be thrown out for good.

Norwegian Cruise Line Settles Lawsuit Over Bermuda Drowning Death

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Cruise Line Settles Lawsuit Over Bermuda Drowning Death

Key Aspects:

  • Over two years after a father drowned during an NCL shore excursion, the legal battle is finally coming to a close.
  • The family claimed that the cruise line did not properly warn guests about the risks associated with the Bermuda-based tour.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line agreed to settle with only days to go before the trial would have begun.

An unfortunate legal battle between Norwegian Cruise Line and the Shin family is finally coming to a close.

Hyon Duk Shin, his wife, their two sons, and Shin’s mother were all sailing together onboard the 145,655-gross ton Norwegian Getaway, when Shin died during a shore excursion in Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay on March 27, 2024.

The father was snorkeling with his young boys, who were just 7 and 9-years-old at the time, when he noticed a girl drifting away from the beach due to a strong rip current. Shin rescued the child, before becoming overpowered by the current and drowning.

Cruise Hive reported that the Shin family filed a lawsuit accusing Norwegian Cruise Line of negligence on March 25, 2025, nearly one year after the father’s untimely passing.

The filing claimed that NCL did not warn guests of the dangerous currents, that there were not enough lifeguards supervising the excursion, and that the cruise line did not disclose previous drowning deaths in the area.

Norwegian Cruise Line Agrees to Settle

Just two days before a bench trial was due to begin on April 6, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Shin family agreed to settle the lawsuit outside of the courtroom.

The details of the settlement are not publicly available, but it will take approximately 45 days for the proper paperwork to be filed and for a stipulation of dismissal to be filed with prejudice, which means the plaintiff cannot refile the same lawsuit ever again.

Shin’s relatives claimed that the cruise line should have been aware of the drowning risk at Horseshoe Bay due to previous incidents at the famous pink-sand beach.

NCL, on the other hand, argued that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently prove that the cruise line had notice of the risk to swimmers.

According to the cruise line’s request for summary judgment, which was denied in March 2026, NCL stated that it did not have a duty to warn of “the dangers associated with open bodies of water because they are open and obvious as a matter of law.”

For context, Norwegian Cruise Line would have filed the summary judgement in the hopes of deciding the case without a trial, which is a time consuming and costly undertaking.

However, US District Judge Cecilia Altonaga denied the motion because there was no clear-cut answer on whether NCL had advance notice of the dangerous conditions at the beach.

The judge cited other incidents with swimmers at the beach and pointed out that the captain’s log for Norwegian Getaway indicated that strong winds were present in the port at the time of Shin’s death, which could have caused rip currents.

Horseshoe Bay Beach, Hamilton, Bermuda
Horseshoe Bay Beach, Hamilton, Bermuda (Photo Credit: Deron Levy / Shutterstock)

“NCL acknowledges it owed its passengers a ‘duty to warn of known dangers in places where passengers are invited or reasonably expected to visit,” Judge Altonaga said in her denial.

“Because plaintiffs were invited to or could be expected to visit the beach, NCL had a duty to warn its passengers of known dangers there,” she continued.

Ultimately, settling likely became the best way for the cruise line to concede without spending even more money on things like expert witness costs, court fees, and other legal expenses.

Bermuda Shore Excursion Still For Sale

Believe it or not, the shore excursion booked by the Shin family is still available to other guests. Called the “Horseshoe Bay Beach Transfer,” the 4-hour experience costs $59.99 for adults and $49.99 for kids.

Despite the lawsuit, the tour page on NCL’s website still lists the tour as an “easy” activity and does not note any warnings about dangerous currents or drowning risk.

But elsewhere on its website, Norwegian Cruise Line states that tours are operated by independent providers and the cruise line is not responsible for any injuries, losses, or damages while guests are participating.

“NCL makes arrangements for Guests for Shore Excursions solely for the convenience of the Guest; NCL does not act on behalf of or supervise the parties or persons who own, furnish, or operate such excursions, and the same are provided by independent contractors,” the cruise line wrote.

“NCL assumes no responsibility for, nor guarantees the performance of, any such excursion provider, and Guests acknowledge that NCL shall not be liable for losses or injuries arising from the acts or omissions of such provider,” the brand continued.

The 3,903-guest Norwegian Getaway has moved on from Bermuda and is currently operating round-trip sailings to the Bahamas from Miami.

However, Norwegian Aqua, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Jewel are currently sailing to Bermuda, where guests can still visit Horseshoe Bay Beach.

Holland America Guests to Face Higher Daily Gratuities and Service Charges

Melissa Mayntz
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Holland America Guests to Face Higher Daily Gratuities and Service Charges

Key Aspects:

  • Holland America Line is increasing gratuities and service charges for all sailings after June 1, 2026.
  • Gratuities will go up $1 per person, per day, while service charges will be 20% instead of 18%.
  • The increase follows similar increases on Carnival Cruise Line, a sister line to Holland America Line.

Guests enjoying the great service that Holland America Line provides on every cruise will be paying a bit more in gratuities this summer. Booked guests have noted that pre-paid gratuity options have quietly been increased $1 per day for all guests.

This makes the new “crew appreciation” rates $18 (USD) per person, per day for most staterooms and $20 per person, per day for all suites. This is only a small increase from the previous rates, but small increases can add up in guest budgets.

The increase was not firmly announced but has been noticed on existing bookings as guests seek to pre-pay for gratuities for their upcoming sailings.

Travel agents have confirmed the change will be implemented for sailings departing on or after June 1, 2026. While these charges are added to guests’ onboard accounts for convenience, they remain at the discretion of guests and can be adjusted if desired.

Similarly, the onboard service fees for restaurants and beverages are increasing as well, from 18% to 20% of the various charges. These service charges are not considered gratuities and cannot be adjusted or removed.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on a similar increase for Carnival Cruise Line gratuities that took effect on April 2. On that line, the increase was also $1 per person, per day for all stateroom types.

Both cruise lines are part of the Carnival Corporation & plc family, but they are operated independently and with different policies and budgets.

How Other Cruise Lines Compare

The revised gratuity rates are comparable to those of other cruise lines in the industry. Royal Caribbean is slightly higher at $18.50 per person, per day, while Norwegian Cruise Line is higher still at $20 per person, per day.

Margaritaville at Sea also recently raised gratuities to $22 per person, per day, among the highest rates in the industry. That cruise line’s policy is that gratuities cannot be adjusted or removed.

It is not unusual for gratuity increases to come in waves across multiple cruise lines. Once one line establishes such an increase, other lines typically follow within a few weeks or months.

Holland America Ship Funnels
Holland America Ship Funnels (Photo Credit: Luis Ayerves Photography)

These types of fees are subject to change at any time, and when they are increased, it is usually only by a dollar or two per person, per day.

Read Also: How Much Should You Tip Crew Members?

Cruise Hive regularly reports on gratuity increases, as guests need to plan appropriately for such costs in their cruise vacation and travelers on a tighter budget might not be expecting the increase. A family of four on a 7-night Holland America Line sailing in a balcony stateroom, for example, will pay $476 in gratuities at the end of May. At the beginning of June, that will increase to $504.

Who Gets Tips on Holland America Line?

Tipping culture and exactly how cruise lines break down which gratuities go to whom can be confusing. While most cruise guests expect their gratuities to go to their stateroom steward and dining team, there are other personnel who benefit from the crew appreciation payments.

Holland America Line describes their policy as the crew appreciation being “pooled to support team members across the ship who contribute to your experience, including roles you see every day, and those working quietly in the background.”

Guests are always welcome to add extra cash gratuities for crew members who make their experiences extra special or who might perform extra services. Crew members keep those extra tips and are always grateful for the acknowledgment.

Carnival Guests Flooded With Dozens of Identical Emails in Sudden System Glitch

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Guests Flooded With Dozens of Identical Emails in Sudden System Glitch

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival guests have been flooded with dozens of identical promotional emails in just a few minutes.
  • The emails appear to be linked to the new Carnival Millions digital lottery or other casino offers.
  • Carnival Cruise Line has not acknowledged the email glitch, but it does appear to be resolved.

Every guest who has enjoyed a cruise vacation will suddenly find new offers and promotions in their email inbox, enticing them to make future bookings or add packages to existing reservations.

Carnival cruise guests, however, have recently found their inboxes filled with not just one or two messages from the cruise line, but dozens sent within just a few minutes.

The email flood seems to have been a tech glitch that filled select email inboxes with “Your Shot at Millions” emails. Some guests report as many as 30-50 emails sent nearly simultaneously.

At first, it may seem the emails were an April Fool’s Day prank, though it would be highly unusual for a cruise line to potentially alienate loyal guests with so much spam in such a short period. Furthermore, some guests received the mass of emails on April 2 or April 3, not just on April 1.

Cruise Hive previously reported on April Fool’s Day pranks such as rolling back the loyalty program and banning cruise ducks. Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, quickly debunked those rumors.

This email glitch, however, does appear to have been a legitimate technology issue. Not all Carnival Cruise Line guests have been inundated with the emails, however, so it may be limited to guests who have certain preferences with the cruise line or else who are eligible for certain special offers, such as through the casino.

It is also possible that the email is connected to the new instant digital lottery the cruise line launched in late March. The fleetwide “Carnival Millions” lottery gives guests the chance to win jackpots up to $1 million through the Carnival Hub app and daily drawings.

Carnival Email Glitch
Carnival Email Glitch (Credit: Ernestine McMurtrey)

Most guests are magnanimous about the glitch, noting that technology issues do occasionally happen. Jokes about having a “one in a million shot” at being a lucky email recipient are getting plenty of laughs.

Carnival Cruise Line has not directly acknowledged the glitch, but the flood of emails seems to have ebbed. Guests are now only receiving typical promotional offers and reminder emails.

Carnival Tech Issues Do Happen

This is not the first time Carnival Cruise Line has had tech issues impacting guests. Occasional website issues happen when updates may not be compatible with users’ devices, and everyone experiences email glitches now and then.

In early February 2026, massive technology disruptions caused severe fleetwide problems for the cruise line. The widespread outages impacted not only guests using Carnival’s website, but also affected onboard internet access, delayed embarkation and debarkation on multiple ships, slowed onboard retail and casino operations, and much more.

In fact, Carnival Cruise Line’s president, Christine Duffy, issued an apology letter over the disruptions. Impacted guests received refunds for WiFi packages they weren’t able to use.

There is no indication that the recent email flood is at all related to the earlier tech concerns, nor have any ship or website operations been impacted.

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It is possible that the email problems might trigger some automatic spam responses from email filters, depending on the email program individual guests use.

Guests booked on upcoming Carnival cruises should check their email folders and settings to be sure they don’t miss any legitimate and informative emails, such as payment or documentation reminders, itinerary changes, or embarkation delays.

Cruise Ship Left Stuck Near the Iconic Cast Away Movie Island

Lissa Poirot
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Cruise Ship Left Stuck Near the Iconic Cast Away Movie Island

Key Aspects:

  • The small cruise ship Fiji Princess ran aground on a coral reef near Monuriki Island in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands.
  • About 30 passengers and 17 crew members were safely transferred to Port Denarau with no reported injuries.
  • Authorities and salvage crews are removing fuel, assessing damage, and planning for the ship’s recovery from the reef.

A small cruise ship sailing through Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands ran aground on a coral reef over the weekend, forcing the evacuation of all passengers and prompting an emergency response to protect the surrounding marine environment.

The vessel, the Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, struck a reef near Monuriki Island in the early hours of April 4, 2026, while on a 7-day itinerary in the region.

The island is widely known as the filming location for the 2000 movie “Cast Away,” starring Tom Hanks.

Thirty passengers and roughly 30 crew members were on board when the incident occurred during an overnight visit. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were evacuated the following morning after a fast ferry arrived alongside the ship.

The cruise line said the ship had anchored in calm conditions but was pushed toward the reef by sudden severe weather.

“Whilst it is very early in the investigation, conditions upon the ship anchoring in the area were calm, and it appears a severe squall cause the ship’s anchor to drag towards a nearby reef where the ship became grounded,” Blue Lagoon Cruises said in a statement to local media.

Guests and 17 non-essential crew members were taken ashore with their luggage and transported back to Port Denarau on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

Authorities say the ship suffered damage to its rear section and steering area after the grounding. The vessel also experienced engine failure and began taking on water following the impact.

Fiji Princess
Fiji Princess (Photo Credit: Blue Lagoon Cruises)

“Initial checks confirmed that the vessel has suffered serious damage to its rear left side, including the area where the steering equipment is located,” said the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji in a statement. “Part of the vessel underneath has also been damaged.”

Further investigation has been delayed due to rough seas and strong waves, with the Fiji Meteorological Service reporting heavy rain, strong winds, and flash flooding in the islands due to nearby Tropical Cyclone Vaianu.

Salvage Crews Work to Prevent Pollution

While all passengers were safely evacuated, Fiji Princess remains stuck on the reef as authorities and salvage teams assess how to refloat or recover the vessel.

A major concern for authorities has been the approximately 5,300 gallons of diesel fuel onboard the vessel, which could pose an environmental risk if released into the surrounding reef system.

At the time of inspection by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, no damage to the fuel tanks was uncovered.

To reduce the risk of a spill, crews began removing pumpable fuel and other oils from the ship as a precaution. By April 6, 2026, officials said much of the fuel had been transferred off the vessel.

Salvage operations are being coordinated between Blue Lagoon Cruises, the Fiji Navy, and maritime safety officials. A marine recovery specialist from Australia also arrived on site to oversee the recovery process and determine the next steps for stabilizing the ship and removing it from the reef.

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However, rough sea conditions are holding up the process, with the Maritime Safety Authority saying it is not safe or effective to put equipment into the water at this time.

Some crew members have remained nearby to assist with savage efforts and are temporarily staying aboard the vessel’s sister ship while work continues.

Monuriki Island lies about 45 kilometers west of Nadi and is a part of the Mamanuca Islands chain, an area known for coral reefs, lagoons, and tourism. 

Valiant Lady Makes Rare Charleston Stop as Repositioning Takes Dramatic Turn

Melissa Mayntz
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Valiant Lady Makes Rare Charleston Stop as Repositioning Takes Dramatic Turn

Key Aspects:

  • Valiant Lady made her inaugural visit to Charleston on April 3 as she headed for New York.
  • The ship is the largest by gross tonnage to ever call on the South Carolina port.
  • Valiant Lady‘s next sailing is also unique with a dramatic itinerary change from Bermuda to Canada.

Virgin Voyages ships often have very diverse deployments, moving between homeports with limited departures to bring the unique adults-only vibe to cruisers all over the world.

As she moves from the Caribbean to Europe, Valiant Lady has been making some very interesting port visits, both as part of unique itineraries and as a result of weather-related changes.

On the ship’s 9-night sailing from San Juan to New York that departed on March 28, for example, she visited Charleston, South Carolina for the first time. Valiant Lady enjoyed the port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, giving guests plenty of time to experience the southern city’s charm.

Cruise Hive has previously reported that Charleston is no longer a cruise homeport, but the city still welcomes various vessels for day visits from major cruise lines.

While Valiant Lady is the first major ship to visit South Carolina this month, other ships with calls planned to Charleston in the coming weeks include Seven Seas Grandeur, Vision of the Seas, and Norwegian Jewel.

Valiant Lady will also be back to Charleston on Thursday, April 23, as part of a “Bermuda Beauty to East Coast Elegance” sailing that is her last roundtrip departure from New York before she heads across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean for the summer.

Valiant Lady Cruise Ship
Valiant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Imaxe Press)

As a matter of interest, at 110,000 gross tons, Valiant Lady is the largest ship (by gross tonnage) to visit Charleston. She is not the largest by passenger capacity, however.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine was homeported in Charleston for years. At just under 104,000 gross tons, Carnival Sunshine is a smaller ship, but she carries as many as 3,002 guests. Valiant Lady, on the other hand, welcomes just 2,770 guests per sailing.

Next Valiant Lady Cruise Also Unique

While repositioning sailings often feature unique port visits, Valiant Lady‘s next cruise will also be more unique than originally intended.

Cruise Hive has already reported that the lady ship will be unable to visit Bermuda as planned due to poor weather. Instead, the ship is heading to Canada and will be visiting Saint John, New Brunswick.

The shift will be quite a dramatic change for guests who had been planning for tropical temperatures for their 5-night sailing, but now might have a chance of snow when they visit Canada.

Because of cool weather, the cruise season in Saint John doesn’t typically start until the summer months. In 2026, Carnival Venezia was to have been the first ship to visit when she arrives on Saturday, June 20, as part of a 5-night sailing from New York.

Instead, Valiant Lady will beat Carnival Venezia by more than two months. The Virgin Voyages ship will also be back to Saint John later in the season as part of an 8-night fall foliage sailing that departs New York on September 19, her first Big Apple departure after she returns from her summer in Europe.

During the summer, traffic is slow in Saint John with just three visits from Holland America Line, one from Norwegian Cruise Line, one from Royal Caribbean, and the Carnival Venezia visit.

More From Cruise Hive

In the autumn, however, the maritime port will see many more visits from travelers eager to see the brilliant fall foliage and enjoy the great temperatures and beauty of the region. Ships from Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, MSC Cruises, and more will join the lineup.

The September 23 visit of Valiant Lady will be Virgin Voyages’ only other call on the port this year, provided there are no further weather-related shifts or unexpected visits, which is always a possibility.

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