Following notification to guests on selected sailings of three Carnival cruise ships about a return to the traditional, in-person muster drill, Carnival Cruise Line has clarified the safety procedure and what guests can expect.
The concern comes after some confusion as to whether or not the impacted ships – Carnival Liberty, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Valor – were returning to in-person safety briefings permanently, and whether or not that change would roll out across the entire Carnival fleet.
Multiple guests have reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s official Brand Ambassador, asking for clarification.
“I just heard on … that some of the Carnival ships are going back to the original muster drill where everyone has to meet as a group,”one guest asked.“Is this true?”
“I’ve heard that Carnival ships will be randomly mustering the old way,”another guest explained.“I’ve heard that it won’t be on every voyage of every ship, and that Carnival is doing this so the crew can practice a real ‘muster / evacuation’ scenario. Is that correct?”
Heald responds to hundreds of guest concerns every week, including questions about safety, security, and other onboard procedures. For these questions, his response is absolutely clear that Carnival Cruise Line is not returning permanently to in-person safety drills.
“That is completely false,”he replied to the first commenter.“Every six months or thereabouts we have to have a full test on board ship, including sending the guests to their [muster stations].”
He further clarified the procedure when responding to the second guest, explaining the regulations that require this type of safety briefing.
“It’s once every six months approximately,”Heald confirmed.“Certainly no more than that, but it is something we need to do in order to comply [with] HESS regulations.”
The HESS regulations Heald refers to are the Health, Environmental, Safety & Security Committee’s regulations from Carnival Corporation.
These policies cover a wide range of programs and initiatives across all the cruise lines in the Carnival family and work to ensure compliance with the regulations of different regions where Carnival-owned ships sail.
Which Muster Drill Will My Cruise Have?
Guests with sailings booked on upcoming Carnival cruises are sure to wonder whether they will have the faster, easier e-muster safety briefing or the full drill with all guests assembled in-person at their muster stations.
Every ship in the Carnival fleet will be doing full, in-person safety briefings approximately once every six months, but which individual sailings will be doing this is not determined so far in advance. The drill times are chosen randomly, seemingly just a few days prior to embarkation, and guests are notified as needed.
Every cruise ship – for Carnival Cruise Line and every other cruise line as well – must hold a safety briefing prior to setting sail on every voyage.
Carnival Cruise Ship Muster Drill (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)
These briefings cover the emergency alert signals, location of the muster stations, how to put on a life jacket, the dangers of fire, and other critical safety information and procedures.
While the e-muster only takes a few minutes and can be done at the convenience of the guests anytime in the first few hours after embarkation, the in-person drill can take 20-30 minutes and is usually held shortly before sailaway.
Both drills not only inform passengers of safety procedures, they also ensure the crew is familiar with different safety provisions and how to react in various emergency situations. This preparation is critical in the case of an emergency, either while the ship is at sea or in port.
Carnival Cruise Line crew members not only participate in these drills, but also have a variety of other safety drills they practice regularly. This includes drills for medical emergencies, fire alarms, man overboard alerts, and more.
All cruise guests should cooperate fully with any drills and familiarize themselves with all safety information provided through their stateroom television, on the back of their stateroom door, or through the Carnival Hub app to be sure they are prepared in the unlikely event that an emergency occurs during their vacation.
The last thing anyone wants is for their cruise to come to an abrupt end that includes being led off the ship in handcuffs.
Unfortunately for one cruiser, this was their reality on a Royal Caribbean cruise they took in 2017. This ex-passenger took to Reddit to share their story — detailing the unfortunate events that eventually led to their arrest.
“A small amount of weed was in my stateroom and found by the steward,”said the poster. “I was held in a stateroom with a security guard until reaching Nassau, where I was escorted off the boat by Bahamian police.”
The incident unfolded when the passenger decided to purchase a drink package mid-sailing — only to be denied because something was wrong with their cruise card.
After being told to speak with guest services to resolve the issue, security came and confronted the guest about what they had found in the cabin.
The passenger initially decided to deny the accusation — despite having the prohibited substance on their person in their shoulder bag.
“I continued to deny it was mine, claiming I was with a lot of people with rooms all over and that any of the teens with us could have been in my room,” the poster confessed.
After failing to find the substance in the cabin, the security guards requested to search the bag the passenger was holding — and of course, that’s where it was hiding.
The head of security was called to the room for questioning — which led to the individual being placed in the brig, or cruise jail. The day after they were banned from the cruise line, and two Bahamian police officers escorted them off of the ship.
Royal Caribbean’s policy clearly states that all illegal drugs and illegal substances are strictly prohibited on all of their cruise ships, including marijuana. This passenger did directly violate this policy — so a ban and a subsequent arrest was not unwarranted.
Policies and Unruly Passengers
Cruise lines are no stranger to passengers not respecting their policies, which are all available online and can be accessed at any time.
A cruise passenger before the age of smartphones might have been able to play dumb about not knowing the policies — but they are quite literally accessible everywhere in 2025 and are usually listed on the cruise contract that is agreed to upon booking.
Depending on the violation, the guest may also be fined or warned rather than removed from the ship and handed over to the authorities.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship in Nassau, Bahamas (Photo Credit: TAH Media)
But while it is not a common occurrence, as more than 31 million people cruise every year and few ever cross this line, there have been several notable recent arrests of cruise passengers.
Most recently on February 26, 2025, Royal Caribbean had a passenger get arrested in Aruba for attempting to board Oasis of the Seas with arevolver in their possession — something also prohibited by the cruise line and clearly written out on their website.
He was found to be in possession of the weapon during a routine screening process, and was subsequently removed from the ship by local authorities and then arrested.
In January 2025, a Florida deputy wasbarred from boarding Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas after trying to smuggle narcotic pills onboard.
He did so by hiding them in a bag of Skittles and intended to sell them to other passengers — but his plans were thwarted by the Miami-Dade Police Force, and he was quickly fired from his job for good measure.
One day prior to that arrest, a cruise passenger was arrested in the Port of Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on fraud charges.
The Brasília resident used fake creditcardsto make extravagant purchases, gamble, and place bets in the ship’s casino — something he quickly got caught for after trying to register one too many fake cards.
Clearly, cruise lines do not play games when it comes to illegal activities. If you are thinking you will be the one to get away with it, think again — as a ban and an arrest could be in your future.
After three failed attempts, the voices behind Small Town SOUL will finally be putting their ordinance to limit cruise tourism in Sitka, Alaska, in front of voters. The special election will be held this spring.
The non-profit, which has been working to limit cruise tourism in Sitka in order to protect the quality of life within the small island community, learned that the most recent version of their petition had been approved by the city clerk on December 17, 2024.
In its fourth version, the proposal would cap the total number of cruise guest visitors at 4,500 per day and 300,000 per year — which cuts the current arrivals in half. Ships that exceed their authorized limit would be penalized with a fine.
It would also mandate that Sitka would be guaranteed at least one day a week without cruise ship calls – even during the peak Alaska season that runs from May to September.
That said, clerk approval was not the only hurdle Small Town SOUL needed to overcome.
Next, they had to collect at least 613 signatures on their petition from registered voters in a relatively short time period to hold a special election on the matter in Spring of 2025 – which is a benchmark the group has now exceeded.
The petition was certified on Thursday, March 13, 2025, and the special election must be held within 40 to 90 days of certification.
“So the 40- to 90-day clock starts as of yesterday. In order to have that special election according to the charter, 613 valid signatures were required, and they did get more than 613,” Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson told KCAW, a local news outlet, on March 14.
So far, May 30, 2025, has been assigned as the tentative date for the election, pending assembly approval. A special meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, where the assembly will discuss the approval of the ballot ordinance.
If it wins the vote, the ordinance would go into effect some time in 2026.
Are Cruise Limitations Really Necessary?
If you ask the organizers behind Small Town SOUL, who have been trying to get their ordinance approved since 2022, cruise ship limitations are necessary to preserve the quality of life in Sitka.
The group’s mission is to preserve Sitka’s rural designation and small town feeling and to eliminate “excessive cruise tourism,” which they see as something that goes hand in hand with protecting the community’s health, safety, and economy.
“We seek to improve safety, reduce nuisances, and protect the health and wellbeing of Sitka residents by reducing cruise-related overcrowding of people and vehicles on Sitka’s highways, streets, sidewalks, trails, waterways, and public places,” reads the Small Town SOUL website.
Cruise Ship pier in Sitka (Photo Credit: Artchemy Labs)
There is something to be said for the fact that Sitka only has a population of between 8,000 and 8,500 – with the number of residents easily matched or outnumbered when the maximum number of two large cruise ships are docked at once.
Sitka also wouldn’t be the first Alaskan city to enact a ban. In fact, it’s following in the footsteps of the popular Juneau, Alaska.
To mitigate overcrowding, Juneauhas already implemented an agreementthat limits the daily number of cruise ship calls to five per day and the number of daily passengers to a maximum of 16,000. On Saturdays, the number of cruise guests that can come ashore drops to 12,000.
That said, there are some who oppose the ordinance in Sitka because cruise tourism has fostered an economic boom through creating opportunities for new businesses and raising the city’s tax revenue.
A pro-tourism group, called Safeguard Sitka’s Future, formed and ran a “Decline to Sign” campaign while Small Town SOUL was gathering signatures – and likely will be working overtime against the ordinance as the special election nears.
While Disney Cruise Line may not be the largest overall cruise line in the world (not even by a long shot) and its ships can’t hold a candle to the largest ships on the seas, the line still has a lot to offer — and it’s growing by leaps and bounds.
Disney Cruise Line’s largest ship, Disney Adventure, at 208,000 gross tons (GT), is far larger than Disney Cruise Line’s smallest ship, Disney Magic, at approximately 83,000 gross tons.
So what can you expect on all the line’s ships, regardless of size?
Here are all the Disney cruise line ships by size, largest to smallest, so you can compare and contrast your options as you book your next cruise.
Unlike other vessels in the fleet that were specially ordered and constructed for the line, Disney Adventure was originally ordered by a now-bankrupt operator and then purchased by Disney at a steal. When it enters service, it will be the only cruise ship of its class, the Global class.
One of the first cruise ships to run on green methanol, the ship holds an impressive approximately 6,000 people, comparable to some of the largest cruise ships in the world, despite its lesser size (for example, the current largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas, holds 5,610 guests, but is 40,000 gross tons larger).
New line-first features on Disney Adventure include new attractions in a Marvel-themed “adventure zone,” including the longest rollercoaster at sea, dubbed the Ironcycle Test Run. New restaurants will be added to the lineup as well, specifically geared toward the cruise ship’s Asian market.
The ship will be split into seven “zones”: Disney Imagination Garden, Toy Story Place, San Fransokyo Street, Town Square, Wayfinder Bay, Disney Discovery Reef, and Marvel Landing. Disney Adventure will homeport in Singapore, where it will offer voyages for at least five years after starting in March 2026.
Gross Tonnage: 208,000 GT
Capacity: 6,000
Length: 1,122 feet
Disney Destiny
Disney Destiny Cruise Ship (Image Courtesy: Disney)
Another very new cruise ship, Disney Destiny is a part of the cruise line’s Wish class (sometimes also called the Triton class), which already includes sister ships Disney Treasure and Disney Wish.
All of the Wish-class ships are very comparable in size, with the same gross tons and passenger capacity, as well as about 1,250 cabins each.
Like Disney Adventure, Disney Destiny will also set sail for the first time in late 2025.
The ship boasts a Heroes and Villains theme and new features on this ship include a first-of-its-kind musical dining experience based on The Lion King. Going along with the theme, Disney Destiny offers heroes-inspired suites, as well as Incredibles-themed ocean-view rooms.
There’s also a unique-to-the-ship dining option called Edna A La Mode Sweets, in a nod to the Incredibles character. You’ll likewise find some villain-themed bars on this ship, with franchises and films featured including The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, 101 Dalmatians and Doctor Strange.
Gross Tonnage: 144,000
Capacity: 4,000
Length: 1,119 feet
Disney Treasure
Disney Treasure in Nassau (Photo Credit: Nassau Cruise Port)
The same size as Disney Wish, Disney Treasure was the second ship to debut in this new class, in 2024. With an adventure theme, Disney Treasure offers just over 1,250 staterooms.
New features that debuted on the ship include the Plaza de Coco dining experience inspired by the movie Coco; the Haunted Mansion bar that you’ll also find on Disney Destiny; a submarine-esque bar; and a Zootopia-inspired sweets shop.
The ship also features the Disney AquaMouse ride, aka the first Disney attraction at sea, designed in the same style as many of its theme park rides.
Gross Tonnage: 144,000 GT
Capacity: 4,000
Length: 1,119 feet
Disney Wish
Disney Wish Cruise Ship at Castaway Cay (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Disney Wish made a big impression when it debuted as the lead Wish-class ship in 2022. It was the first ship that the cruise line had introduced in about a decade, so long-time fans of the line could see a big difference in what all was offered on this ship.
Disney Wish introduced new, ocean-view rooms situated over the bridge, as well as a 2,000-square-foot suite in the ship’s forward funnel. The Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge offered a new adults-only space. The aforementioned AquaMouse “first Disney attraction at sea” ride debuted on Disney Wish.
New restaurants for the ship included dining experiences themed after the Marvel universe and Frozen franchise, as well as the classy 1923 restaurant that has a firm Art Deco vibe.
You can now find 1923 featured throughout the Wish class, even if the themed dining experiences on the other ships in this class may differ slightly.
Additionally, the ship brought new experiences for kids and adults alike, as well as tech-focused interactive games that families can play throughout their cruise, right from their smartphones.
Gross Tonnage: 144,000 GT
Capacity: 4,000
Length: 1,119 feet
Disney Fantasy
Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
While Disney Fantasy can hold about the same number of passengers and crew as the much newer Disney Wish, this ship is slightly smaller, by about 30,000 GT. It’s also a great deal older, by about a decade, debuting in 2012 (though Disney Fantasy did undergo a dry dock in 2017, for minor updates).
The second ship in the Dream class, Disney Fantasy offers 1,250 cabins and suites. There are three free main dining room options, plus five other free eateries, ranging from a buffet to an ice cream self-serve station, as well as six for-a-fee restaurants.
There’s also a good handful of bars and lounges for the adults, and two theaters and multiple pools. Unlike Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy does feature a slightly larger water park area.
Gross Tonnage: 129,690
Capacity: 4,000
Length: 1,115 feet
Disney Dream
Photo Credit: LD Media UK / Shutterstock
The first Dream-class ship in this class of two, Disney Dream began sailing its itineraries in 2011.
The same size as sister ship Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream did set a new standard for Disney Cruise Line (much like the Wish class has in more recent history). It was the first Disney ship to be launched in over a decade and it was 40% larger and two decks taller than the cruise line’s past ships.
Disney Dream introduced the AquaDuck water slides and coaster that’s now been rolled out to a handful of other ships in the fleet. It also introduced virtual portholes in staterooms. Both of these features were not only firsts for Disney, but also firsts for the cruise industry in general.
Disney Dream most recently completed a dry dock in 2024, bringing in some of the features from the new ships in the Wish class.
Changes include new amenities in the kids clubs, the addition of a funnel suite, an expanded concierge lounge and renovated spa. The dry dock also added a new restaurant, a Mexican-style cantina.
Gross Tonnage: 129,690
Capacity: 4,000
Length: 1,115 feet
Disney Wonder
Disney Wonder Cruise Ship in Melbourne (Photo Credit: Graham Drew Photography).
Disney Wonder debuted in 1999 as the second and last Magic-class ship. Due to its age, it’s not quite as decked out as some of the newer Disney ships, but it still offers lots to love (partially in thanks to some dry docks and refurbishments over its lifetime).
The ship has just under 900 cabins and suites spread out over 11 decks. While there’s no aqua coaster or adults-only infinity pool on this ship, there are still multiple pools, one water slide and all the Disney entertainment you could expect on a newer ship, just without the glitz and glam and a more intimate feel.
Gross Tonnage: 85,000
Guest Capacity: 1,750
Length: 964 ft.
Disney Magic
Photo Credit: RobertColquhoun / Shutterstock
The very first Disney cruise ship, Disney Magic is by no means large in the cruising world. It’s also one of the older ships you could choose to sail on, industry wide, having debuted in 1998. However, this ship, with its Art Deco style, in and out, still holds plenty of appeal.
With the ship’s first sailing, it introduced the idea of rotational dining to the cruise industry, a format that the cruise line still uses today. The 11-deck ship, with its just-shy-of-900 cabins, also offers two theaters, just a handful of restaurants and three pools.
The ship received some refurbishments in the late 2010s that refreshed the kids clubs and some dining venues, including adding a Tangled-themed restaurant.
Gross Tonnage: 83,000
Guest Capacity: 1,750
Length: 964 ft.
Disney Cruise Line’s Largest Ship
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship
Disney Cruise Line’s largest ship, Disney Adventure, can hold its own with the best of them. While it’s a pretty mid-tier ship as far as just size goes, when you look at some of the world’s biggest ships from cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, it’s still outfitted with a wealth of unique, in-demand features. It also takes a page from Royal Caribbean’s book, which adopts a “zone” ship layout.
So should you book a cruise on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Adventure? I’d say that, if you and your family are Disney fans, then absolutely. This ship isn’t so large that it’ll be overwhelming, as can be the case on mega ships.
However, it is large enough and new enough that it provides tons of cool amenities and activities that will keep your family busy for the entire cruise.
Do note, though, that, as is the case with all Disney ships, Disney Adventure is fully and thoroughly geared toward Disney fans. As such, the only reason you might not want to cruise on this ship is if you’re really not all that interested in all things Disney.
Disney Cruise Line’s Smallest Ship
Disney Magic Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
Disney Cruise Line’s smallest and oldest ship, Disney Magic, couldn’t be more different from Disney Adventure — but that’s okay! I do think sometimes older cruise ships get a bad rap and some cruisers could be a little more open-minded when it comes to smaller ships.
With Disney Magic, you’re getting a more old-school cruise experience. Not just the décor and hull art hearken back to a different time of cruising. The smaller size and fewer overall amenities and features do as well.
The result? You’ll have a lower-key, more relaxed cruise on a ship of this size, where you can focus on the simple things, like chilling by the pool or heading to the theater every evening, and all without battling massive crowds.
Meanwhile, all that Disney magic makes for an experience that every child will cherish, no matter the ship size or age.
The Ever-Changing Fleet
Disney Announcement Rendering (Concept Courtesy of Disney)
Much like so many other cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line continues to add to its fleet with bigger and better cruise ships. Disney expects to add at least five more ships to its fleet in the near future.
Two will be a part of the Wish class, and are estimated to be about 144,000 GT, which is in line with the rest of the class but smaller than Disney Adventure. These two ships should debut in 2027 and 2029. The remaining three will be part of a yet-to-be-announced class and will come out in 2029, 2030 and 2031.
One slip and fall can certainly ruin a perfectly good cruise. This is why Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, addressed a slippery question from a passenger.
The passenger, soon to embark on a Carnival Vista cruise with her mother, was concerned her mom would have trouble with the shower in their cabin.
She reached out to Heald, writing,“I am traveling next week on Vista with my mom and read reviews that the shower is slippy. [Does] Carnival not supply non-slip shower mats, or is this proof again that they are not on par with [deleted] Line?”
She wondered if passengers are expected to pack their own shower mats.
Heald, with his ever-present humor, took the time to respond and reminisced that when he first started with Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnivale ship many moons ago, his cabin was only outfitted with a sink.
“Ahhhh, the luxury of taking a shower,”he said.
Still, Heald was unsure whether the cruise line provides shower mats and asked former passengers to weigh in. Thousands, of course, did.
The general consensus, though, was that the showers onboard Carnival ships are not slippery, nor is falling a concern. Several passengers who considered themselves high-fall-risk guests said they have never had any trouble on multiple sailings.
“Honestly, most of the showers are so small that if I did slip, there isn’t enough room to fall,”wrote one guest, while another added,“You can’t fall far as the wall is right there on all sides to stop you!”
However, others did provide some actual advice, recommending that the passenger purchase a cheap non-slip mat that folds up easily and can be trashed at the end of the voyage. Others pointed out that many of the cabin showers feature a grab bar.
From Slippery Showers to Tiny Labels
However, bath mats weren’t the only concern for passengers reaching out to Heald, who was always eager to answer questions about sailing with Carnival Cruise Line.
Another wrote, “Thank you, Carnival, for making sure we have to have our glasses in the shower by putting the shower gel and shampoo in identical bottles and with writing in a size 4 font.”
While Heald joked “all cabins will have Batman shampoo and a conditioner Gordon,” he did point out that he thought the items are packaged in different colors to help.
Again, nearly 1,000 former passengers commented, agreeing the font size makes it tough but offering solutions from “look at the bottles with your glasses on and remember which is which” to “bring your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash so that way you know.”
(Photo Credit: noomcm)
With all the hoopla, Heald realized the issue warrants another look (pun intended).
“Despite the shampoo and shower gel on most of the ships being a different [color], I am going to see if we can get the font size increased on the labeling,” he said. “Hopefully, this will help others as well.”
With so much bathroom talk, Heald decided to poll passengers on what they bring from home.
Options included multiple-choice shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, or a shower sponge or loofa. Guests could choose all of the items or none, “because I know the ship provides them.”
Nearly 9,000 cruisers participated in the poll, adding their own two cents.
One joked that he doesn’t pack anything because “I need room in the suitcase for all my eye glasses so I can read the labels on the body wash and shampoo!”
Despite the levity, Heald expressed genuine concern for passengers, reflecting the cruise line’s commitment to their safety and comfort.
No one accepts a job expecting to get fired – especially when they live at their job like crew members who work onboard cruise ships do.
However, sometimes a crew member’s performance simply isn’t up to snuff or they break a strict rule – resulting in the termination of their contract. So, what happens next in this unfortunate scenario?
Contrary to some myths going around, the cruise lines will not throw their ex-employees overboard and most likely will not evict them at the next port of call – especially if the port is not located within their home country.
The cruise brands have a legal obligation to repatriate their employees, including those that are fired, when their service at sea has come to an end.
According to those who lived it, news of their termination came as an early knock on their cabin’s door when the ship arrived in its homeport to disembark current guests and embark a new set of passengers.
This turnaround day is also when crew members beginning and ending their contracts on normal terms would arrive or leave the ship.
“I work for cruise ships and what they do is when you are getting fired, the next turnaround port (where all the passengers leave) they will have security knock on your door at 5 am and tell you to pack up your stuff and you leave within a half an hour,”one crew member explained in response to a question on Reddit.
What makes this especially jarring is that the now-fired employee likely wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye to the friends they had made onboard. When you spend months living and working with these people, those friends can feel more like family.
“The cruise line wouldn’t tell you that you’re fired until that day. So you could be onboard for another seven days or more, working without knowing if you’re fired or not. They do this, because some people in the past would cause a big scene and a lot of problems,” they continued.
While there are obviously situations where immediate action would be taken – such as confining a crew member to their cabin or the brig until they could be removed from the ship – less serious offenders may be left in suspense, especially if they had already been given a warning.
Ex-crew members then offered conflicting reports on if they were provided with transportation home after they got the news – as some said they were escorted to their airport and others said they were left to figure out their own next steps.
Carnival Cruise Line Crew Members (Photo Credit: denbaim)
“I was fired from a cruise ship. In my case they simply told me that I would have a hearing with the Captain and staff captain when we got back to our home port, and they fired me that morning. I was escorted onto the plane in Miami and flown back to the UK which was my home country,” another former cruise employee shared.
Especially among those who disembarked for the final time in a country in which they were not a citizen or permanent resident, the cruise line did secure their transportation home – but some had to pay for the airfare because they did not fulfill the obligations of their contract.
Why Crew Members are Fired
As Lucy Southerton points out on her YouTube channel, Cruising as Crew, it can be both “easy and hard” to get fired from a cruise ship. It all comes down to the nature of the offense.
With nearly a decade of working on cruise ships under her belt, Southerton has seen it all over the years. In her experience, firing either comes after repeated warnings surrounding poor performance or in response to breaking a strict safety rule.
“So, like with most big companies nowadays, you don’t get fired after making one mistake. There’s a process that you go through,”she explained in a recent YouTube video.
For example, an employee who is consistently late or doesn’t complete their assigned tasks may receive warnings, which eventually leads to more severe punishments if the behavior isn’t fixed.
“You need to get three warnings before you get a disciplinary, and you need to get three disciplinaries before you have a hearing where they discuss whether they might fire you or not,” Southerton continued.
The exception to this rule is if a crew member is caught violating safety rules – such as getting caught with a blood alcohol level above 0.04%.
This is because crew members are required to be ready to act in the unlikely event of an emergency at all times, and can’t do so if they are too intoxicated. In this case, the cruise lines would likely take a zero tolerance approach.
Similarly, if a crew member is caught breaking the law, they will be fired and handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Most recently, a crew member working onboard Norwegian Encore was arrested in Alaska on May 6, 2024, after allegedly attacking other people onboard – and of course did not have a job to come back to after that.
Earlier in the year, a male stateroom attendant working onboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas was also fired and taken into custody for placing hidden camerasin several cruise cabins.
That said, criminal offenses by crew members are quite rare. Based on Southerton’s content, it seems like poor performance or overindulging in the crew bar are much more likely reasons for a career at sea to meet it’s abrupt end.
There are few more romantic venues to begin the next chapter of your relationship than a cruise ship – making ships an ideal place to propose. Indeed, the idyllic ports of call and the deep blue ocean make for a scenic backdrop to get down on one knee.
This is why one young 22-year-old man is planning to propose to his girlfriend of three years on their upcoming sailing onboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas– but first wanted to seek advice from experienced cruisers to make sure the moment is perfect.
“My idea is to do it at the formal dinner on the first night. Eat first so we don’t spoil our meal and then when dessert comes, have the waiter bring out the ring with the dessert and do it right there in front of hundreds of people. I am going to try to tip a photographer to be there and be ready,” he shared on Reddit.
The idea of proposing on the first night of the sailing is smart – especially because the man had already discussed marriage with his partner and knew she would say yes.
With Harmony of the Seas currently operating 6 to 8-night sailings throughout the Western Caribbean, this leaves around a week to celebrate their engagement before returning to reality – and an opportunity to enjoy romantic amenities onboardlike couples’ spa treatments and specialty fine dining.
The Oasis-class ship also offers the ability to book a private photography session in the onboard studio, around the ship, and even in ports of call.
This is a great option for capturing the proposal, but also to take engagement photos after the fact to use for social media and to put on save-the-dates or a wedding website later on.
“Does anyone else have any ideas at all?? I want to make this very very special, but I know no matter what she will love it. I will try talking to guest services to see if they have any special ideas in mind, but I just really want to make sure I do this right,”he continued.
As he asked for advice, the cruising community was happy to oblige. He received more than 100 comments with suggestions and considerations that actually changed his plan.
A Personal Proposal
The resounding sentiment among the cruise community was that a public proposal in the dining room was not the right approach – largely because it would put the fiancée on the spot.
While some people don’t mind being the center of attention – I certainly didn’t when my husband proposed at Disneyland – but having an audience can make others very uncomfortable.
The other argument was that the main dining room likely wouldn’t offer the nicest backdrops for photos compared to other venues onboard.
Harmony of the Seas Dining Room
“Would she want to be proposed to with hundreds of people around her? That seems rather daunting. I think going to a specialty restaurant would lead to better pictures and a more intimate setting. You can also consider doing it rather privately elsewhere on the ship,” one person weighed in.
“As for pictures of the event, I’m sure you can arrange for a photographer, but it won’t exactly be a pretty scene, with all the glasses on the table, chairs askew, other tables in the background, etc. Could you possibly book dinner in one of the specialty restaurants so you have a nicer, quieter place to propose?,” another suggested.
Others also cautioned against giving the ring to the waiter in the event it became lost or damaged in the hustle and bustle of the busy dining room and kitchen.
Ultimately, the thoughtful boyfriend decided to change his plan to take a more personal approach.
“You guys are awesome. Thank you for the ideas and advice. I think I’m gonna stray away from the dining idea, more personal seems the way to go. I just want it to be very special,”he said in an update.
And once she says “yes,” the couple can start dreaming about their upcoming wedding – and if they might want to say “I do” at sea as well. If they had the desire, they could get married onboardHarmony of the Seas, or another Royal Caribbean ship.
Every crew member on a cruise ship – from the guest services staff to baggage handlers, housekeepers, and pool attendants – works diligently seven days a week to ensure every guest has a great vacation.
How much should these hard-working crew members be tipped for the excellent service they provide? The answer isn’t always straightforward and often depends on what type of cruise experience you’ve had.
My Cruise Tipping Totals
In general, I’ve had fairly good cruise experiences and tip the customary amount in recognition of the service I’ve received. On most cruises, this means the automatic gratuity – usually from $16-25 per person, per day – which is divided between the housekeeping team and the dining team.
In elite areas, such as MSC Cruises’ MSC Yacht Club or Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Haven, higher gratuity rates include the butler or concierge who provide extra services and more personalized attention to every guest.
If extra care has been given, such as the anniversary cruise where my husband and I received a pair of beautiful towel swans and a heart in our stateroom to celebrate the special day, I offer an extra tip on top of the automatic gratuity. This might be $20-60 (for the entire cruise) for the stateroom attendant and a similar amount for the dining team.
Tips on Carnival Cruise Ship (Credit: John Heald)
For one-off services, such as a bartender or spa masseuse, the standard 18% gratuity is automatically added to the tab. But as with other crew members, if excellent service is given, an extra tip is also given.
For example, my husband wanted to try a beer flight at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Brewhouse onboard Carnival Celebration. One of the brews he wanted to try wasn’t customarily part of the pre-determined flight, but the bartender swapped it out anyway. That warranted an extra $3 tip.
Similarly, when we wanted to dance to a special song from the piano player at the Schooner Bar onboard Independence of the Seas, that request (and some excellent musical talent) earned a $2 tip.
It is important to note that everyone’s tipping experiences will be different on different cruises and different cruise lines. But how can you sort out who to tip how much?
Automatic Gratuities – Who Is Paid What?
Cruise Tipping (Photo Credit: Kamil Zajaczkowski)
First of all, most cruise lines have an automatic gratuity policy with tips added to guests’ onboard accounts. If you agree with those gratuities and don’t want to tip above those amounts – and you do not have to, so don’t let anyone guilt you into doing otherwise – you don’t have to tip another penny.
Automatic tips are processed without any input, and it’s very convenient. But who gets what tip, and when?
Both pre-paid and onboard automatic gratuities offer extra compensation to the same crew members, those who have the most personal connections to guests. This includes the dining team and the housekeeping team, both lead or head positions as well as 2-3 assistants on each team.
The total of the gratuities – which may also be called “service charges” or “crew appreciation” – does not change, whether they are paid before or during the cruise.
All passengers’ gratuities are lumped into a common pool and divided among the applicable crew members according to published rates. Despite rumors and “I heard from a friend whose cousin-twice-removed is a travel agent who took a cruise and talked to a crew member who said” lines of communication, crew members do not know in advance who pays for gratuities, who might adjust gratuities, and who pays tips in cash.
What differs is when these gratuities are paid, and guests have control over that timing.
Pre-Paid Gratuities – When Are They Paid?
Cruise Ships Docked at PortMiami (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
Pre-paid gratuities are included in the total of your cruise fare and will be paid off by your final payment date, long before you set sail. You have to select this option, as it is not generally the default choice.
While pre-paid gratuities do add an extra charge up front, they are convenient. You do not have to worry about extra tips once onboard the ship, and you don’t have to fret over higher-than-expected onboard charges.
This is a great option for easy travel budgeting. It is especially welcome if you might be concerned about whether or not your selected credit or debit card will have enough financial flexibility to cover all your onboard charges – drinks, souvenirs, shore tours, photos, etc.
Automatic Gratuities – Paid During the Cruise
Cruise Line App (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte)
If you do not select pre-payment for gratuities, the tips are added to your onboard account during your sailing. This may be done toward the end of the cruise or partway through the sailing. Some cruise lines may add each day’s gratuity individually, which can help you see how your account total changes throughout the cruise.
This is an easy way to pay tips onboard, but it can add up quickly for a longer cruise or larger family. Still, this is very convenient and a popular way to pay for tips without leaving anyone out.
Discretionary Gratuities – That Something Extra
Crew Tipping (Photo Credit: DC Studio)
Discretionary gratuities are extra tips you offer as-needed during the cruise, often in cash as services are rendered. This might be a thank you to a stateroom attendant, bartender, or casino dealer, over and above pre-paid or automatic tips. This is always up to you and you shouldn’t feel pressured to pay more.
Offering an extra cash tip is a great way to extend personal thanks to a hard-working crew member without visiting guest services or putting that money into the common tipping pool.
While different cruise lines may have different policies, Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that extra cash tips offered to individual crew members do stay with those crew members.
There are many other crew members who might deserve extra tips on your cruise, depending on what tasks they perform and how much their work enhances your cruise experience.
Housekeeping Tips
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
While the housekeeping team is part of the automatic tipping pool, these are some of the hardest working crew members onboard and there are many ways they might deserve a little something extra.
Lose a button off a dress shirt before formal night and ask the cabin attendant where to get a needle and thread? They might take care of the sewing themselves – that definitely warrants an extra tip.
Feeling a bit of seasickness and prefer to stay in your stateroom? That cabin attendant who brings you green apples and bottled water definitely deserves a bit of extra acknowledgement.
We’ve tipped extra to our stateroom attendant for such extra services, as well as for providing a daily ice bucket, cleaning up excess sand after a beach day, or that time when we wanted a recommendation about which onboard show to see.
Just as with the stateroom attendant, the dining team is part of the regular tipping pool. These servers, however, can do so much to make your mealtime experiences even more spectacular.
Have a picky eater in your family? That assistant waiter who has chicken tenders and fries ready to go and who brings chocolate chip cookies every evening for dessert would appreciate the extra tip for his efforts.
How about that bread service? If you love Royal Caribbean’s cheese rolls as much as I do, you’ll love a waiter who brings you extra to enjoy each evening (my waistline doesn’t love it quite as much, but I’m on vacation!). That special attention deserves an extra special tip.
And no cruise dinner is complete without a decadent dessert. Let your Carnival wait staff know just how you like your warm chocolate melting cake – for me, medium-melty with two scoops of vanilla ice cream – and they’ll be sure it arrives perfectly, every time. With that level of service, I make sure their extra tip arrives as well.
Room Service Tips
Dollar Bills for Carnival Crew Member Tips (Photo Credits: Cruise Hive & Dennis Sylvester Hurd)
The crew members who deliver room service orders are not part of the general tipping pool. A tip of $1-5 is customary depending on the size of the order and how quickly it may be delivered. A little extra generosity is also appreciated if they take away any empty dishes that may be in your stateroom already.
If room service has a delivery fee, check the receipt carefully to note whether or not that fee covers any gratuity.
Bartending Tips
Princess Cruises Bar (Photo Credit: steve estvanik)
It is not generally necessary to tip bartenders or baristas, as an extra 15-18 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar tabs even for just a single drink. A tip of $2-3 for great service, however, such as replacing a spilled drink or remembering that special morning latte order, is always welcome.
Casino Tips
Casino Crew on Cunard Line (Photo Credit: Lucy Daniels)
In the ship’s casino, dealers and croupiers are not part of the general tipping pool and no tips are required. It is customary, however, to offer a tip after a great winning streak, and the amount should be relative to one’s winnings.
If a server brings a free drink to a player while enjoying table games or slot machines, a $1-2 tip would be appreciated, but is not mandated.
Spa Service Tips
It is not necessary to tip spa personnel or fitness center staff, whether for free activities, such as a morning stretch class, or for paid services, like a hot stone massage.
A few extra dollars to recognize a job well done won’t be out of place, however, especially for individualized services such as hair styling or personal training.
Check receipts first, however, as these services may also have service charges or automatic gratuities already added to the totals.
Youth Staff Tips
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
Parents and grandparents who enjoy cruise vacations with their children and grandchildren do not typically need to tip youth counselors. If the children have special needs or preferences and the staff goes above and beyond to give these young cruisers a great time, however, an extra tip of $10-20 per child is appropriate for the duration of the cruise.
A few extra dollars’ tip for an evening babysitter is also acceptable, even if the service does require an extra charge.
These Aren’t Crew Members – But They Can Be Tipped Too!
Royal Caribbean Cruise Luggage (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
Some extra tips may be paid to staff who aren’t actually part of the cruise ship’s crew or the cruise line’s shoreside team, but who nevertheless offer invaluable services to passengers.
For example, luggage porters who handle heavy bags before and after the cruise are typically tipped $1-2 per bag for their assistance, or as much as $5 per bag for very large, heavy, or awkward luggage.
The drivers and guides for shore tours are also independently employed and may accept tips. In general, $3-5 per guest for a shorter 3-4 hour tour or up to $20-25 for a 6-8 hour excursion for the guide is a proper amount, with an extra $5-10 for the driver.
Do Not Tip These Crew Members – Ever!
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
The one group of people who should never be tipped on a cruise are the officers – these professionals are well-paid for their rank, and an extra gratuity could be seen as patronizing, insulting, or embarrassing. This includes the ship’s master (captain), engineers, hotel director, and even the cruise director.
Instead, a genuine word of thanks and praise for the vessel and her crew would be most welcome.
An exception is the maitre d’ of the dining room. If this officer granted a special favor, such as arranging for different seating or changing a dining time at short notice, a $10-20 tip is customary.
The exception to this exception can be if you visit the dining room on embarkation day at the stated time – usually a couple of hours in the afternoon – to ask about your table assignment. During that window, changes are common and no gratuity is necessary for a simple dining adjustment.
So, How Much Do You Tip – Total?
Carnival Cruise Line Tipping (Photo: John Heald)
So, how much do all these tips add up to for a cruise budget?
For me and my husband, when it is just the two of us sailing on a 7-night cruise, we budget $50 per day for both the automatic gratuities and extra tips.
This adds up to $350 for our cruise tipping budget, which doesn’t count any tips for shore tours. In total for such a sailing if we are visiting exciting ports of call, we would plan for $500 in tips.
Exactly how much you ought to budget for tips will depend on the length of the cruise, how many people are sailing, the type of stateroom you book, and what extra services you enjoy.
Everyone will tip a different amount, and while there are guidelines, there are no exact right answers that suit everyone. Enjoy your cruise, and be sure to thank those who make it even more enjoyable!
Disney Cruise Line is thinking long-term when it comes to Catalina Island, the destination off California’s coast that has emerged as a sought-after port call by guests.
The island’s only city, Avalon, has approved a five-year agreement giving the cruise line preferred access to anchorage areas. Avalon’s harbor has no docking facilities, and all cruise ships must tender guests to shore.
Under the pact approved by the Avalon City Council on March 4, 2025, Disney Cruise Line ships will enjoy preferred access on Tuesdays year-round and on Saturdays from mid-September to mid-May.
The agreement takes effect in 2027 and includes two options for five-year extensions, potentially giving Disney ships top access to anchorage sites for the following 15 years.
Disney Cruise Line ships have been including Catalina Island on their itineraries for the past few years. Disney Wonder made her maiden call to the island in 2022 and returned for a series of cruises in 2023. Disney Magic also called at the island in 2023. Both ships accommodate 2,700 guests.
In 2024 and 2025, Disney Wonder added Catalina Island as a call on her 3- and 4-night Baja Cruises, which sail from San Diego and also visit Ensenada, Mexico.
Disney Wonder will next call at the island on March 15 and 18, 2025 during Baja voyages, which continue into early May 2025 before the ship deploys to Vancouver, British Columbia for an Alaska cruise series.
Under the terms of the Avalon agreement, Disney Cruise Line guarantees it will deliver 120,000 cruise guests to the island each year. The cruise line also agreed to pay a $9 wharfage fee per passenger, an amount subject to a 2.5% increase in each year of the contract.
According to local media reports, the deal with Disney Cruise Line is not meant to increase the number of cruise ships calling at Catalina Island but rather to better manage visitors.
“This partnership makes sense because Disney shares our values and concerns as a city,” said David Maistros, city manager of Avalon.
“It strengthens our ability to offer a high-quality experience while securing financial stability,” Maistros added.
A Disney Cruise Line official noted that Avalon is a key destination in the cruise line’s strategy for growth.
More Cruise Lines Discover Allure of Catalina Island
Demand for cruise calls to Catalina Island has grown in recent years, evidenced by the number of maiden visits by a variety of major cruise lines.
In 2024, for instance, the island experienced a record number of maiden calls by five ships — Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojourn, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit; Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze; and Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas.
Cruise Ship at Avalon, Catalina Island (Photo Credit: cvalle)
Catalina Island is just 22 miles off the California coast. The nearest port is Long Beach, just south of Los Angeles. The island is about 85 miles from San Diego, the seasonal homeport for Disney Wonder in 2025.
The destination is known for its protected conservation areas and eight marine sanctuaries, providing visiting cruise ships with the ability to offer a wide variety of nature-focused shore excursions. One unique shore tour that Disney Cruise Line offers takes guests to view a herd of bison that lives in the island’s interior.
Other featured excursions include a falconry experience, beachside relaxation at the Descanso Beach Club, hiking, kayaking, and sailing tours, and seal cruises, among many others.
Besides Disney Wonder, other ships slated to call at Catalina Island in spring 2025 include Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Radiance and Carnival Firenze, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess, and Holland America Line’s Zaandam.
