Cell phones can be controversial on cruise lines. One group of guests prefers to unplug and enjoy sailing away from the daily demands of technology, while the other group enjoys the convenience of cruise line app features.
Disney Cruise Line is beginning limited tests that may make it harder to be part of the unplugged group – at least if you want to enjoy all the different features and amenities of your Disney cruise.
Guests booked aboard the April 21, 2025 departure of Disney Wish have received notification that they will be able to use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for some scheduling and registration.
“We often try new ways to surprise and delight our Guests, including the features we are currently testing during your sailing,”the notification read.
Activities that will be testing in-app registration on the 4-night Bahamas cruise include choosing a time to finalize Oceaneer Club registration as well as the Disney Magic Decorate-Off cake decorating challenge, riding the AquaMouse water coaster, and select character meet-and-greets.
However, not all guests may be delighted by the need to register through the app.
To do so, of course, guests will need to have a mobile device and have downloaded the latest version of the app prior to boarding Disney Wish. Once guests are ready to board the ship, they need to link their stateroom via the DCL-GUEST Wi-Fi network onboard, and then register through “Onboard Fun.”
This is a limited test only and other activities will not require digital reservations. The language of the notification, however, does seem to indicate that in-app registration might be required for some events.
“Activities will also be scheduled for other times that do not require a reservation (subject to availability),”the instructions read, which could mean that select activities will require such pre-registration.
Wi-fi connectivity on all cruise lines can occasionally be glitchy, which might make required in-app registration challenging.
While travelers do not need to purchase internet packages to use the app, if there are connection problems, guests who do not have an onboard wi-fi plan could be at a distinct disadvantage to enjoy some activities.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the same activities might be available without pre-registration. For example, there are many character meet-and-greets onboard Disney ships – but sometimes one particular character or princess might only appear once or twice.
If those specific appearances require registration, guests who aren’t able to do so could miss out on a memorable opportunity.
More Cruise Lines Considering Onboard Reservations
It has long been common for cruise lines to require reservations for extra-pay experiences onboard, such as specialty dining meals, spa treatments, or individual photo portrait sessions.
One of the distinct appeals of a laid-back cruise vacation, however, is the ability to pick-and-choose from a variety activities without having to stick to a very strict schedule.
But as ships get larger and routinely carry 4,000 or more passengers – as Disney Wish can – it can become necessary to have some way to manage crowds, and reservations are one option.
Arendelle Dining Room, Disney Wish (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Royal Caribbean, for example, has been using reservations for its phenomenal onboard entertainment for years, including the AquaTheater shows and ice skating shows, among others.
Some cruise lines also use reservations for comedy performances, specialty performers, and music cover bands.
Not all cruise lines are eager to embrace reservations, however. Carnival Cruise Line recently addressed the issue of reservations for shows, which was firmly rebuffed by the cruise line’s fans.
One extra consideration that might apply to Disney Cruise Line guests is the age and expectations of travelers.
While most adults enjoying a cruise will shrug it off if they aren’t able to get into a show or try an experience because it may be filled up, young guests on a magical cruise might be more apt to throw a temper tantrum if they miss their favorite Disney princess.
A reservation system could help guarantee Disney guests exactly the experiences they value most, as well as help travelers plan alternative activities if they miss out on some opportunities.
The best way to describe most cruise cabins is tiny, but efficient. Indeed, the cruise lines have figured out how to fit full families into small staterooms that are often less than 300 or 400 square feet.
One way that Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess makes the most of the space in her standard staterooms is by offering Pullman beds – which can come down from the ceiling or walls to accommodate four guests in one cabin.
Families or groups who need to accommodate a fourth person can use this option to do so, while travel parties with less people may not even know the hidden bed is there.
It’s also often a more cost effective option to stay in a standard stateroom with a Pullman than to invest in a bigger suite.
But one family who recently sailed aboard the 2022-launched Discovery Princess was disappointed to learn that the Pullman bed wouldn’t be accessible during the day – but instead would be brought down and made up by the cabin steward during the nightly turndown service.
“There are four of us — we knew the Pullman situation, were totally fine with the beds coming from the ceiling, the subpar quality, etc. all fine with that,”one recent cruiser shared.
“However, on day one, we were notified by our steward that he would NOT keep the Pullman beds down during the day. Absolutely refused. So when the four of us — two adults and two kids (ages 12 and 9) come into the room after a long day and need a rest prior to dinner, we’re squishing the four of us onto two twin beds,” they continued.
The room steward allegedly cited safety concerns as the reason behind the policy, which could be understandable if the bed restricts movement in the cabin in the unlikely event of an emergencyor if it might get jolted while sailing through unusually rough waters.
But ultimately, the family said this made them “miserable” and they wish they had known about the policy before booking their cabin.
That said, it’s possible that this family’s experience was a fluke or the stateroom attendant was misinformed – as other recent guests of Discovery Princess and other Princess ships reported that they were allowed to keep their Pullman bed down for the duration of the sailing.
Cruise Accommodations Can be Confusing
While this family intentionally selected their stateroom to accommodate two parents and two children, the vast selections of cruise cabin categories and configurations to choose from is a common source of confusion – particularly for larger groups.
It’s always important to pay close attention to the details when selecting your cruise cabin to make sure you’re choosing the right set-up for you and your travel companions.
Indeed, as this family of four was lamenting their Pullman problem, another foursome was struggling to comprehend how their group could even fit in one cabin before booking their own Princess Cruise, or a sailing on Holland America Line, which is a sister-brand.
Pullman Beds
“When they say a room sleeps up to 4 but it just has 1 queen size bed or 2 twins that turn into 1 queen, are they just assuming the other 2 people are kids and that all 4 fit in 1 queen size bed? Do they assume everyone is the family from Willy Wonka? Am I missing something?”, the future guest inquired.
Other members of the cruise community were kind enough to advise the guest on options related to trundle beds, bunk beds, couch beds, and of course, Pullman beds. However, most advised splurging for two rooms if only for the convenience of having a second bathroom.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line, which sails under the same parent company that owns Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, has also made headlines for confusion regarding stateroom configurations in the past.
In this case, Carnival guests are able to indicate if they would like the beds in their stateroom to be together or separated during the online check-in process. But some guests have run into trouble where theirbed requests are not followed.
But thankfully, that is an easy mistake for the room stewards to resolve. Just remember to alert them to the issue with kindness, as sometimes things do get missed with potentially thousands of staterooms to manage onboard.
It’s a momentous day for Disney Cruise Line and cruising in Asia as Disney Adventure has officially floated out from the construction hall at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Wismar, Germany on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
This is a major milestone in bringing the ship to life, as it demonstrates the official completion of her hull and now the vessel is ready for both on-deck exterior work as well as getting underway on interior details.
Both Captain Minnie and Captain Mickey were on hand to watch their ship set forth – they are the two characters already revealed for the ship’s stern sculpture and will be iconic figures on every sailing.
Also on hand were the city’s mayor, Thomas Beyer, and State Premier Manuela Schwesig to welcome the ship to her next phase of construction.
Beyer told local news NDR.de that the day was a “day of pride” for the city, which has been enjoying “ship fever” as Disney Adventure‘s progress continues. Just days ago, the construction doors were opened, permitting the first views of the ship’s bow as she prepared to leave the bay.
Of course, in true Disney fashion, celebratory fireworks also accompanied the ship’s movement, blasting from the roof above the door as Disney Adventure began to slowly move forward out of the construction bay.
Overall, the event took roughly 90 minutes from bow to stern, having begun at about 9 a.m. with preparations for tugs to move the ship. During that time, Disney Adventure did not go far, only having moved outside the bay and alongside a nearby pier to continue her construction.
What’s Next for Disney Adventure
While the float-out is a grand and exciting milestone, Disney Adventure is far from being ready to head for the open water.
The hull may be complete, but the upper, outer decks of the ship are largely unrecognizable. At the moment, the ship’s iconic red funnels are not yet in place, nor are other pieces of critical equipment, including radar gear and communications antennas.
All the features guests will love, including waterslides and the first-ever roller coaster for the cruise line, Ironcycle Test Run, as well as other thrill rides, will now be installed as well.
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship Floats Out
Once the ship’s critical systems are complete, she will move into her sea trials. These will take place in the Baltic Sea, likely sometime in the summer months. Exact dates have not yet been announced.
Sea trials test all of a cruise ship’s new systems, including navigation, propulsion, braking, emergency responses, and more. These maneuvers ensure the ship is operationally sound and capable of any action that may be necessary.
Typically, each round of sea trials lasts several days, and it is not unusual for a ship to have two rounds of these tests as further adjustments may be made.
Following that critical step, the interior details of the ship will be completed, and she will be officially handed over to Disney Cruise Line several weeks prior to her debut.
Then will come a frantic period as the very final touches are added to the vessel and she is supplied for sailing. During those weeks, crew members will begin to arrive and learn the ship and her eccentricities.
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship
Finally, Disney Adventure will get underway for her homeport of Singapore, where she will undoubtedly be greeted with great fanfare and excited celebrations.
The 208,000-gross ton ship – the largest ever built for Disney Cruise Line – will set sail on her maiden voyage on December 15, 2025, a 3-night sailing that will surely be filled both great adventures and Disney magic.
Disney Adventure will be offering 3- and 4-night cruises to nowhere as she homeports from the Lion City. The ship itself is an incredible destination, with seven themed zones to immerse guests in their favorite Disney worlds.
It’s been another hectic week for cruise news and now it’s time for Cruise Hive’s weekly recap of the major developments. This week we’re writing about Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Princess Cruises.
Make sure you stay well informed by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, so the big cruise stories are delivered right to your inbox.
Frustrated Cruisers Complain of Magnet Thefts
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas and Cruise Corridor (Photo Credits: vbertiany & Royal Caribbean)
Attaching decorative magnets to stateroom doors is a fun way to personalize a cruise guest’s space, and the practice has been a growing trend for some time. But lately, it has taken a dark turn, as the theft of magnets appears to be on the rise.
Some frustrated guests have taken to social media to warn others that their magnets might well be stolen by unscrupulous cruisers.
Most recently, a situation unfolded on Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, when several guests’ magnets were removed from their doors — they’d had them custom-made to celebrate the birthday of one of their party, and all were stolen.
On another Royal Caribbean ship, Odyssey of the Seas, one guest recently reported that multiple “Do Not Disturb” magnets were stolen from various doors.
Ships operated by other cruise lines have experienced the same bad behavior, with incidents reported on vessels operated by Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and others.
Victims of magnet theft can alert the ship’s crew, but it’s unlikely anything can be done to retrieve the items.
Royal Caribbean Suspends Port Calls at Labadee
Oasis of the Seas Docked in Labadee, Haiti (Photo Credit: Mary Baratto)
Labadee, Haiti, is in the news again, as Royal Caribbean has reinstated its suspension of port calls to the private destination.
The cruise line cancelled calls for several months in 2024 due to civil unrest and gang violence in the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, which is roughly 100 miles from the Royal Caribbean destination. Calls resumed in October 2024, but are now nixed until further notice.
The cancellation impacts itineraries of several Royal Caribbean ships, including Voyager of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas, all of which are currently sailing Caribbean voyages. Other ships in the line’s fleet are likely to be affected in the coming months if the suspension continues.
Replacement port call destinations include Nassau, Bahamas, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Labadee is a gated, 260-acre resort-style destination with its own security team in place. With a water park, adventure activities like jet-skiing and para-sailing, multiple beaches, and cultural attractions, it is beloved by cruisers and a major port call for Royal Caribbean.
Due to security issues, the US State Department has a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory in place for Haiti.
Youngster Falls Into Water at CocoCay Pier
Child Falls Between Pier and Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Henry Yeany)
It was a case of tragedy narrowly averted at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas, when a child fell into the water at the pier where Symphony of the Seas was docked.
Guests were visiting the popular destination while two ships, Symphony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, were docked at their piers. A guest onboard Oasis of the Seas apparently saw a young child fall into the water.
The child’s mother was nearby and the youngster was quickly plucked from the water. The two appeared to be heading back to the ship after visiting the destination when the youngster got too close to the edge of the pier and fell in.
No other information was provided, and Royal Caribbean had no comment about how the child was rescued or whether he or she suffered any injury as a result of the fall.
Symphony of the Seas is sailing a 7-night cruise from PortMiami that departed on April 13, 2025. CocoCay was the first port call on her itinerary. Other calls are St. Thomas and St. Maarten. The itinerary was not impacted by the incident.
The lesson for parents is: Keep a close watch on kids.
Great Stirrup Cay Poised to Offer New Experiences
Great Stirrup Cay Pier
Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ private island destination in the Bahamas, will soon offer an adults-only Vibe Beach Club and Horizon Park, a lawn games area, as part of a major upgrade plan.
Vibe Beach Club already exists on several Norwegian Cruise Line ships, and the concept is being expanded to the private island. It’s a secluded, luxury-level sun deck with pools, food and beverage services, lounge chairs, and private cabanas.
Horizon Park is a multi-use recreation area for games as well as relaxation and sunbathing. It also is being adapted from an onboard experience. Both the Vibe Beach Club and Horizon Park are expected to debut later in 2025.
Great Stirrup Cay also now features a new welcome center and a tram service for exploring the destination. A new splash pad for youngsters and a heated pool with swim-up bar for adults add to the fun experiences guests can enjoy.
Earlier upgrades to the destination provided a new pier where cruise ships can dock, removing the previous need for tender boats to transport guests ashore.
Burst Pipe Disrupts Evening Activities on Sky Princess
Flooding on Sky Princess (Photo Credit: @wallisthomastravels)
Passengers sailing aboard Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess in the Western Mediterranean heard the words no cruise guest ever wants to hear over the public address system: Proceed to your assigned muster station.
The April 8, 20215 directive came after a major water pipe burst as the ship sailed between Bilbao, Spain, and Le Verdon, France, during her 21-night “Mediterranean, Spain & France Medley” voyage roundtrip from Southampton.
Apparently, a burst pipe on Deck 7 caused water in the ship’s Sky Pool to enter the main atrium.
Some guests posted videos on social media, showing water pooling near a staircase and crew members trying to mop the water with towels. The announcement to proceed to muster stations was made because Decks 5, 6, and 7 needed to be cleared of all passengers so that restoration work could begin.
But there was never a need to evacuate the ship, as such an announcement might imply. It was an inconvenience, however, since the notification came at 10:45 p.m., when many guests had already turned in for the night.
The water damage was cleaned up by the next morning, and no injuries were reported.
Hawaii’s Proposed Taxes Annoy Cruise Industry
Pride of America Docked in Hawaii (Photo Credit: Lost Mountain Studio)
Hawaii is looking to increase the tax revenue it gets from cruise tourism, and some in the industry are not happy about it.
The state Legislature passed measures to enact a head tax of $20 per person, per port, and to apply the existing Transient Accommodations Tax to cruise cabins. Currently, that tax is charged only on short-term rentals on land.
Both laws have an effective date of January 1, 2027, however, much remains to be done before any implementation. First, both bills are in conference committee and could be altered during negotiations, and second, the governor needs to sign the final bills. Cruise industry advocates, including lawyers for Norwegian Cruise Line, are already busy lobbying against the laws.
Norwegian Cruise Line operates the only inter-island itinerary in the Hawaiian Islands aboard Pride of America. Since the ship is US-flagged, she is able to sail directly between US ports. All foreign-flagged ships are prohibited from doing so.
Enacting either, or both, taxes would substantially impact the cost of cruises onboard Pride of America. The cruise line is said to have threatened to sue the state over the taxes or withdraw the ship entirely from the region. So stay tuned.
Royal Caribbean Ship’s Outbreak Spawns Two Lawsuits
Radiance of the Seas in Alaska (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Two cruise guests who became ill from a Salmonella outbreak on Royal Caribbean’s 2,100-guest Radiance of the Seas in September 2024 are suing the line, charging negligence and breach of duties.
The two were sailing an Alaska cruise roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia, when the bacterial outbreak hit. They weren’t the only ones — the ship reported that 8.29% of the shipboard population was affected.
Separate lawsuits were filed with the British Columbia Supreme Court in March of 2025 by Tierny Patterson and Nicole Singh, who are seeking restitution for financial damages and compensation for pain and suffering.
Patterson said she endured diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, and fever, and was not diagnosed until she visited a doctor in Vancouver after the cruise ended. Singh, meanwhile, said she was made to isolate in her cabin. She claims the ship’s medical staff was not properly trained or equipped.
The lawsuits are pending. Royal Caribbean has not commented on the charges.
More Cruise Headlines
Cruise Hive has even more cruise news stories you won’t want to miss, so check out our coverage about Cozumel setting a first-quarter record in cruise arrivals; Princess Cruises launching its 56th season in Alaska; Holland America Line enhancing its sailaway festivities; strong winds forcing a Royal Caribbean ship to miss a port call; and Disney Cruise Line revealing more exciting details about the new-build Disney Destiny.
Every cruise line has its own vibe that loyal guests love. On Carnival Cruise Line, that’s a fun party vibe with singing, dancing, and laughter – even in the Main Dining Room at dinnertime.
The tradition of “Showtime” in the main restaurants has been a mainstay on Carnival ships for decades. In my earlier days of cruising, these singing-and-dancing shows were reserved for just a couple of nights, but today they are fun events at every dinner seating.
Not all guests, however, appreciate the enthusiasm, and some would rather the performances be eliminated altogether.
One such guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, with a suggestion for how to preserve the tradition – sort of – while still giving other guests a quieter dinner experience.
“If there was an option from Carnival line to have one of the main dining halls a place with no lurid dancing, music, and all the unnecessary posturing then that’s where I would be eating,”the guest explained.“I bet all the money in my pockets that it would be the busier of the two dining halls.”
I wouldn’t particularly call the dancing servers “lurid,” to be honest – I’ve seen far worse from guests by the pool after a couple days with the Cheers! drink package.
To be fair, however, a quieter dining room without the potential disruption and delay from a performance might be welcome after a busy day in port.
Heald did not respond to the guest’s comment directly, but he did offer their suggestion as a poll for his fans to vote.
Not surprisingly, just 2% of the more than 44,000 votes cast – approximately 900 – agree with the original poster and would prefer a Main Dining Room without the performance.
In comparison, a full 30% of voters – roughly 13,500 votes – prefer the fun entertainment.
“I would be in the dining room, full of fun and watching the waiters have fun, dancing, and enjoying the parade,”the poll noted.
The parade is one of my fondest Carnival dinner memories, when hundreds of guests and servers joined together in the longest conga line at sea. I’ve also been known to join in with the “Macarena,” though I leave the “Chicken Dance” and “YMCA” to others.
That’s the beauty of the fun on a Carnival cruise – you can join in when you wish or choose not to, and no one minds.
Should Showtime Be Cancelled Altogether?
While this latest discussion of the mealtime fun doesn’t suggest removing the performances altogether, only offering up one dining room without the show, this is not the first time Heald has faced controversy over the tradition.
“It’s time for these infantile announcements and so named shows to be cancelled,”the guest urged.
Carnival Dining Room Showtime
Heald offered that suggestion up for a vote as well, with just 4% agreeing that the tradition ought to end. A total of 30% of votes wanted the performances to remain.
Of course, if Carnival guests want a quieter dinner, there are other options. Specialty dining restaurants, such as the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, do not have such performances.
Similarly, no showtime silliness is found in the Lido Marketplace buffet. For the ultimate in a quiet meal, guests could opt for room service or bring some buffet food back to their stateroom to enjoy (just remember to put your used dishes out in the hall).
Another possibility is to use the “My Time Dining” reservation system and choose to dine either quite early or quite late, when you might miss out on the performances.
Bundled packages on cruise ships can be a definite money saver for passengers, but starting May 1, 2025, those who wait to book one on a Princess Cruises sailing will save less than those who purchase them before the cruise.
The cruise line’s Princess Premier and Princess Plus bundles will be $5 more per day, per person for guests who purchase after boarding, and is effective fleetwide.
Under the new pricing structure, Princess Plus will cost $65 per day, while Princess Premier will jump to $95 per day, if added onboard.
The price increase won’t affect anyone purchasing the packages ahead of embarkation; Princess Plus will remain $60 per day per guest, and Princess Premier will still be $90 per day per guest.
“Guests who purchase a cruise bundle onboard will now pay $5 more per day,”Princess Cruises shared in a notice to travel advisors.
While passengers can book both options on the ship through the second day of a voyage, this is the first time Princess Cruises is raising the price for those who wait.
For a guest sailing a two-week cruise, the penalty alone could mean a potential cost difference of $70 per person.
“If you wait to get it, like me, on embarkation day to use the [on board credit], you will be out of luck,” shared one guest.
The change adds another incentive for cruisers to lock in their bundles before sailing. Passengers who book the packages in advance will avoid the new pricing altogether and still receive the same amenities.
The packages bundle Wi-Fi, beverages, dining, and room service, fitness classes, photos, and theater seating, with the cheaper Princess Plus touted as a $93 per-day savings and Princess Premier saving passengers $220 per day.
Princess Packages
Princess Cruises’ bundled packages – Princess Plus and Princess Premier – offer guests the option to save on their onboard experience by combining popular amenities into a flat-rate daily charge.
While the price of the Premier package silently increased from $80 per day on August 15, 2024, the new hike doesn’t affect what either package includes today.
Princess Plus includes the Plus Beverage Package, covering drinks up to $15 each, a single-device Wi-Fi plan, daily crew appreciation (gratuities), and two premium desserts per day.
Dining on Island Princess (Photo Credit: Brian Logan Photography)
It also provides two fitness classes per voyage and unlimited use of the ship’s juice bar.
Guests opting for Princess Premier receive everything in the Plus package, along with a range of upgrades. This option raises the drink limit to $20 per beverage and adds on additional top-shelf spirits, wine, and cocktails.
Wi-Fi access is also expanded to four devices per guest, and passengers receive two specialty dining meals per sailing.
Photo credits – up to three prints or digital downloads – are included, along with unlimited premium desserts and fitness classes.
The package also has reserved seating in the Princess Theater and a Medallion accessory to complement the line’s wearable technology system.
Premier guests also get entry into Princess Prizes, a program offering the chance to win onboard credits, shore excursions, and even free cruises.
Both packages can be added until 11:59 p.m. the day of departure to lock in the lower pre-cruise rates, but after embarkation, they must be purchased by the second day of the voyage.
Even if passengers wait to buy the packages, they only apply for the remainder of the cruise, and they, as well as earlier onboard purchases, cannot be refunded.
There’s nothing quite like celebrating New Year’s Eve on a cruise ship, with hundreds or thousands of guests gathered on the deck to count down at midnight as the ship sounds its horn at the stroke of 12.
But what if your highly-anticipated New Year’s cruise had its itinerary completely swapped? Guests booked to ring in 2026 aboard Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess are facing exactly that.
Originally, the ship’s December 28, 2025 departure from Port Canaveral was to have been an 8-night Western Caribbean itinerary visiting Cozumel (December 30) and Costa Maya (December 31) in Mexico, Belize City in Belize (January 1), and Roatan Island (January 2) in Honduras.
Now, however, guests have been informed that due to “changes in our deployment program” the ship will instead be sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
Sky Princess will now be visiting Grand Turk on Tuesday, December 30; San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday, January 1; Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on Friday, January 2; and Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, on Sunday, January 4 before returning to Port Canaveral on Monday, January 5.
There is no change to the overall cruise fare, and all promotions and reservations for specialty dining and spa appointments remain the same. If for some reason such reservations cannot be preserved, they will be automatically cancelled and fully refunded.
All guests onboard are also being given a $25 per person onboard credit as acknowledgement of the change.
Some guests will understandably be disappointed in the extensive itinerary swap. I personally prefer Western Caribbean itineraries instead of Eastern Caribbean, though Amber Cove is a lovely destination (try the Sky Bar for the best views to toast your cruise vacation!).
Many guests, however, do prefer Eastern Caribbean destinations as somewhat less crowded, with greater natural beauty. This can certainly lead to a more positive cruise experience.
What may be more upsetting, however, is that since port days have changed, some carefully chosen dining reservations and other onboard appointments may no longer be possible.
Fortunately, since the sailing is still eight months away, guests do have time to rearrange their onboard plans as well as book new excursions to enjoy the Eastern Caribbean ports of call now on their itinerary.
Can Cruise Lines Completely Change Itineraries?
Even novice cruisers understand that itineraries planned out more than a year in advance might need to change due to poor weather, civil disturbances, or other unforeseen factors.
It can be startling, however, when a cruise line changes a complete itinerary to all new destinations with no explanation other than deployment changes. Shouldn’t such deployments be known at the time itineraries are advertised?
Princess Cruises’ Passage Contract is the agreement all guests enter into when they book a cruise with the line, and all terms and conditions apply at all times.
Sky Princess Docked in Fort Lauderdale (Photo Credit: Drew Rawcliffe)
This includes section 8, which outlines the cruise line’s right to deviate from the planned itinerary for a wide range of reasons.
“Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice … deviate from the scheduled ports of call, route, and timetable,”the contract reads.
It should also be noted that Section 2(ii) of the contract, Guest’s Obligations, specially states that guests must “familiarize [themselves] with the terms of the Passage Contract.”
Whether guests actually do read the contract or not, they are still bound by its guidelines.
These are standard clauses in the contracts of many different cruise lines. While keeping the originally planned itineraries is always preferable, changes are sometimes necessary to ensure safe, comfortable cruising for everyone aboard, as well as a smooth, profitable sailing for the cruise line.
One day after replacing one key port for four itineraries to be operated by Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line is at it again with upcoming sailings for Mardi Gras and Carnival Venezia.
For context, Amber Cove is a 25-acre private destination that is owned and operated by Carnival.
But now, more itineraries have been altered to replace Grand Turk with a visit to Amber Cove – including Mardi Gras’ 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing that is due to embark from Port Canaveral, Florida, on June 7, 2025.
“Replaced Grand Turk with a visit to Amber Cove and adjusted time in port,” Carnival’s update reads.
The other two port calls on the itinerary – Oranjestad, Aruba, and Willemstad, Curacao – remain unaffected. And as of the time of publication, this is the only itinerary for the 6,500-passenger ship to be altered in this way.
Meanwhile, three sailings coming up for Carnival Venezia have been impacted, and they are scheduled to embark on May 11, 2025; May 26, 2025; and June 9, 2025.
The first sailing on May 11 is an 11-night, one-way repositioning cruise that will begin in Port Canaveral and end in the Vista-class cruise ship’s new homeport in New York.
As with Mardi Gras, the only change is that the 4,090-guest ship will call on Amber Cove instead of Grand Turk at the beginning of the sailing.
The following two New York-based sailings are a bit more complicated – as the dates and times for the other port calls have also been adjusted, in addition to replacing Grand Turk with Amber Cove.
Carnival did not specify the changes in this update, but the correct times and dates will be reflected on Carnival’s website within 24 hours.
“Replaced Grand Turk with a visit to Amber Cove and adjusted days and/or times for all destinations,” reads the brief notification.
The May 26 sailing is a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that is slated to call on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The later June 9 voyage features a 9-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that also includes St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Compensation Provided, But Not Clarity
As a show of good faith, Carnival is compensating passengers with changed itineraries onboard Mardi Gras and Carnival Venezia with a credit of $50 per stateroom to be used onboard.
“We recognize that this is an unexpected change to our original plans, and, in appreciation for your understanding, we are posting a US$50, per stateroom, onboard credit to your Sail & Sign account,” Carnival continued.
The funds can be put toward things like alcoholic drinks, onboard attractions that aren’t included in the cruise fare, spa treatments, and specialty dining.
But what many guests really want to know is the reason behind the change – which so far has not been given.
As Amber Cove is a private destination that is used exclusively by Carnival and its sister brands, some in the cruise community have expressed suspicions of the true motivations behind the revised itineraries.
Others suspected that it might have to do with the Level 2 Travel Advisorythat the Caribbean port has been under since March of 2025, which encourages guests to exercise increased caution while visiting due to safety concerns.
That said, while cruise lines always put safety first, this seems like an unlikely cause as other voyages on Carnival’s impacted ships – and ships from other cruise lines – are still expected to continue calling on the port.
Ultimately, no reason was given for the change, but it’s not uncommon for cruise lines to continue to optimize itineraries until the very last minute for reasons related to weather, fuel efficiency, guest experience, and port congestion, just to name a few.
Thousands of future Carnival Cruise Line guests just received the email no cruiser wants to have pop up in their inbox: Their upcoming voyages have been cancelled.
Indeed, multiple sailings in 2026 between Carnival Horizon and Carnival Magichave been cancelled because the cruise line needed to reschedule their visits to dry dock.
As annoying as it may be, cruise ships are required to visit dry dock at least once every three to five years for routine maintenance and inspections, as well as scheduled refurbishments to improve the experience onboard.
“We have rescheduled Carnival Horizon’s spring 2026 dry dock and, as a result, have cancelled the Transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Miami,” Carnival notified guests.
Impacted passengers were given the option to book a comparable sailing instead at the same rate as the now scrapped voyage – and will also be given onboard credits of $50 USD per person or $100 per stateroom as compensation for the inconvenience.
“We have a variety of alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of fun. Our team is ready to discuss options and rebook you on another voyage right away,” the update continued.
And of course, guests who do not want to rebook will automatically receive a full refund of the cruise fare and any pre-purchased items after May 1, 2025.
Carnival Magic’s Rescheduled Dry Dock
With passengers of Carnival Horizon likely reeling from the cancellation of one voyage, many more will be rocked by the knowledge that Carnival Magic will be out of service for just over a month.
Due to her own rescheduled visit to dry dock, the Dream-class ship will not be operating any voyages between April 18, 2026, and May 24, 2026.
The specific sailings have already been removed from cruise tracking data and the Carnival website, but she would have been alternating between 6-8 night Eastern Caribbean cruises and 8-night Southern Caribbean itineraries during this time period.
Carnival Magic Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: NAN728)
“We have had to reschedule Carnival Magic’s dry dock to the spring of 2026 and we’re sorry to inform you that your cruise has been cancelled,” guests were informed.
“We sincerely apologize for this change and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to having you sail with us,” Carnival said.
These guests were offered the same compensation options as the cancelled passengers hoping to sail aboard Carnival Horizon.
They could either rebook a comparable cruise at the same rate and receive the up to $100 in onboard credits, or do nothing and wait for a full refund to process after May 1, 2025.
“If you don’t wish to reschedule, there is no need to call us. A full refund of your cruise fare and any pre-purchased items will be issued to your original form of payment after (May 1, 2025)…Refunds could take up to three weeks to process through your bank,”Carnival clarified.
Although it’s never fun to learn the vacation you’re looking forward to is cancelled, guests at least have a year or more of notice to figure out alternate plans.
