For the first time, a ship in TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff fleet will offer an adults-only voyage, designed to provide guests ages 18 and up with pure relaxation as it crosses the vast Indian Ocean over the course of 23 days.
Mein Schiff 6, a 2,534-guest ship that entered service in 2017, will operate the cruise that departs from Cape Town, South Africa on November 17, 2025 and concludes in Singapore on December 10, 2025.
Adding to the atmosphere of tranquility, mental coach Eva Wellner will be onboard the ship, offering workshops and advice to guests around the topics of nutrition, sports, and holistic living.
With several consecutive days at sea, the cruise is intended for those looking to retreat and recuperate. One of the public spaces onboard Mein Schiff 6 where guests can unwind is the Spa & Meer.
It features multiple saunas, including Finnish, salt, and herbal, plus a zen garden, a mud bath experience, a sundeck where open-air massages can be enjoyed, and spa balcony cabins offering direct access to the facilities.
After departing Cape Town, the ship will call at Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Saint-Denis, Reunion; and Port Louis, Mauritius. After Port Louis visit, the ship spends five full days at sea before reaching Colombo, Sri Lanka on December 2, 2025.
Other destinations to be visited as the ship continues to Singapore include Hambantota, Sri Lanka; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Aside from many relaxation opportunities, Mein Schiff 6 has several dining venues where guests can partake in global cuisine.
These include Hanami, serving Far Eastern dishes, Osteria, offering Italian cuisine, and two main dining rooms — Atlantik Klassik and Atlantik Mediterran, where breakfasts and lunches are served buffet style and dinners are a grand five-course affair.
Cruise fares for Mein Schiff’s adults-only retreat voyage start at 2,229 euros ($2,421 USD) for an inside stateroom.
Is TUI Cruises Testing the Adults-Only Market?
TUI Cruises’ announcement of the upcoming adults-only cruise did not provide any reason for offering its first age-limited sailing, but it could be due to guest feedback or industry trends that indicate a growing demand for more voyages without youngsters. It also could be a pilot program to gauge interest in the niche market.
Less than a handful of cruise lines operate as adult-only vacations. Viking, Virgin Voyages, and Saga Cruises each have adults-only policies. On Viking and Virgin Voyages ships, passengers must be 18 or older, while Saga Cruises accepts bookings only from guests ages 50 and up.
TUI Cruises in Cape Town
TUI Cruises operates seven ships in the Mein Schiff fleet, with the newest — Mein Schiff 7, having entered service in June 2024. The cruise line has two 4,000-guest vessels under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
Mein Schiff Relax is due to launch in spring 2025 while Mein Schiff Flow will debut in 2026. Both are inTUItion-class ships.
Other ships in the Mein Schiff fleet also are hosting just-announced themed cruises in late 2025, including the “Mein Schiff Film Festival at Sea,” onboard Mein Schiff 4 in October 2025, and a culinary-focused cruise, “Logbook of Aromas – The Spice Route,” aboard Mein Schiff 5 in December 2025, among others.
TUI Cruises had earlier confirmed it would host a series of music-themed sailings in 2025. A 7-night ABBA tribute cruise is set for October 17, 2025 onboard Mein Schiff 5 as the ship sails the Greek Islands.
Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, TUI Cruises is a joint venture of TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group, with each owning a 50% stake in the line.
With Carnival Luminosa now two days overdue to return to her homeport of Brisbane, Australia due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, some concerns have been raised about whether or not the ship has adequate supplies onboard.
Because cruise ships return to their homeports on a regular schedule, the concern is an understandable one. Guests onboard have reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, to ask about the situation.
“I had people asking me yesterday if there was enough food on board,”he commented.“The best way I can answer that is tomorrow every guest will be provided with a fishing rod.”
Heald is well known for his bold sense of humor and quite obviously, guests will not need to fish for their meals. Some great seafood entrees are sure to be offered in the Main Dining Room, however, or guests could stop by Bonsai Sushi Express midship on Deck 2, just forward of the casino.
“Seriously, please don’t worry,”Heald continued.“The beards plan for this on every ship with extra food and provisions although this being a ship full of Australians and knowing how much they love to have Fun in any situation, there may be one or two ummmm, beverage items that may be running low.”
While not all guests may appreciate the jokes, it is important to note that Carnival Luminosa is in no danger and the ship is being kept well away from the strongest storm impact.
Not all guests are happy with the situation, however, and some are making demands and offering thoughts that aren’t necessarily appropriate.
“One lady [was] demanding that we give everyone ‘a free cruise for being stuck at sea’ and she went on to say that this was ‘the cruise from hell,'”Heald noted.
Such exaggeration can be frustrating and does not help either guests or crew members.
“These words are used now and then and of course it isn’t a cruise from hell,”Heald explained.“Being late back into port because of weather is not ‘hell,’ it is saving your life, it is making sure we don’t sail you into a sodding cyclone. A ‘cruise from hell’ is not a cruise where everything works, where the crew work hard to bring you brilliant service, unlimited food, entertainment joy and fun.”
Carnival Luminosa is fully operational and despite some rough weather, no onboard systems – safety, navigation, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc. – have been compromised in any way.
Fortunately, not all guests agree with the original poster and many passengers are indeed having a good time on their unexpectedly extended vacation.
“Spirits are high on Luminosa!”one current guest replied.“We’re in good hands with Captain Vittorio and CD Zack!”
When Will Carnival Luminosa Return Home?
The current sailing of Carnival Luminosa was to have been an 11-night Fiji and South Pacific getaway that first departed on Sunday, February 23 and was to have returned on Thursday, March 6.
Due to the track and intensity of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, however, the ship has remained at sea and the next cruise has been cancelled. That sailing was to have been a 3-night getaway from March 6-9.
Carnival Luminosa (Photo Credit: litttree)
Further monitoring of the storm has indicated that Carnival Luminosa may not be able to return to Brisbane earlier than Monday, March 10. This means the next sailing – a 4-night sailing to Airlie Beach – may be shortened or otherwise adjusted.
Guests booked on the next cruise will be kept updated if any changes are necessary, though no such adjustments have yet been confirmed.
Exactly when the cruise ship can safely return to her seasonal homeport will depend on the storm’s speed and track, as well as any damage that may need to be cleaned up or repaired at the port.
Post-storm safety assessments must be completed before the port will be reopened and Carnival Luminosa can dock once again.
The ship’s summer in Australia is drawing to a close, as Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to depart on a one-way transpacific cruise on April 3. The 28-night itinerary includes ports in Japan and Alaska before Carnival Luminosa arrives in Seattle, Washington on May 1 to begin her Alaska season.
Thanks to its strategic location on the US East Coast, the Baltimore Cruise Porthas become a favorite for many – especially because this venue offers a calmer experience than the busier Florida cruise ports that accommodate millions of passengers annually.
However, one big name will be notably absent from Baltimore, Maryland, by the end of 2026 – and that is Royal Caribbean.
The cruise line recently posted its deployment schedule that covers winter of 2026 through 2027, and none of the more than 20 ships in the fleetwill be operating sailings from or homeporting in the port – which welcomes more than 440,000 cruise guests annually.
For the past several years, Vision of the Seas has homeported in Baltimore year-round, which makes this change rather surprising.
Indeed, she has been a staple at the port, from which she operates 5 to 9-night cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and throughout Canada and New England during the fall season.
As a more modestly sized ship at 78,340-gross tons and 915-feet long, she is able to fit under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the recently damaged Francis Scott Key Bridgethat are too low for taller and newer ships to sail under.
But after one final 5-night sailing to Bermuda that embarks from Baltimore on October 17, 2026 – the Vision-class cruise ship will relocate to a new homeport: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida.
From Florida, the 2,514-guest vessel will embark on shorter 3 to 4-night sailings to the Bahamas – which fits with Royal Caribbean’s recent announcement that more of its ships would start offering “getaway” sailings in the 2026-2027 season.
However, her departure means that no Royal Caribbean ship will be homeporting in Baltimore for the first time in years.
The other ships in the fleet that could potentially fit under the bridges in Baltimore have already been deployed to Tampa, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; San Diego, California; and Cartagena, Colombia or Colon, Panama.
Is Cruise Tourism Leaving Baltimore?
Especially for cruisers who live on the East Coast, the information regarding Royal Caribbean’s latest deployment plans was met with disappointment.
“They need more small ships. Baltimore is so convenient and has such an easy terminal to get through,”one cruise fan commented on the news.
“This sucks! Baltimore is always sold out! Everyone on the East Coast can drive,”a second added.
“What a disgrace. I live in Maryland and love going out of the Port of Baltimore. Guess we will sail Carnival and maybe NCL will move a ship here. Shame on you Royal!,”a third cruiser chimed in.
Ultimately, Royal Caribbean has to consider its fleet as a whole and business strategywhen sorting out deployments and likely came to the decision that relocating Vision of the Seas is the right move for now.
Vision of the Seas in Baltimore (Photo Credit: Cruise Maryland)
However, this doesn’t mean that the cruise line won’t resume homeporting operations in Baltimore in the future – potentially even with a different ship that will offer a new experience for locals.
The brand could also potentially send its smaller ships for one-off sailings or include the port in one-way voyages – so East Coasters would really only need to fly one way.
But while Royal Caribbean is planning its exit – at least for now – another cruise line has been increasing its presence in the port.
Carnival Cruise Line has indeed expanded its operations in Baltimore and has made a formal commitment to sail from the cruise port for at least five more years.
While Carnival has offered sailings from the Old Line State for 20 years, it’s worth noting that Carnival Pride is currently offering year-round sailings from Baltimore – making her the first of Carnival’s fleet to do so.
The Spirit-class vessel will continue to offer a variety of 5 to 14-night sailings to destinations throughout the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda from the port through at least the spring of 2027.
After receiving some misinformation, an avid cyclist rushed over to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald to complain – with a similar energy as the Wicked Witch riding her bike to Dorothy’s house in “The Wizard of Oz.”
Allegedly, the future passenger reached out to guest services because they wanted information about bringing their bicycles onboard for their next sailing – and didn’t like (or fully understand) the answer he received.
“Why with all of the beautiful ports that Carnival visits, I’m sure I’m not the first one to think, ‘Wow, it would be really nice to bike around the island.’ Yet Carnival says NO!!,” the guest wrote to Heald on his public Facebook page.
“I am in my 40s, my wife also and we love to ride bikes when on vacation. Why is a Carnival vacation the only place where this idea is slammed shut?! That is what happened when I called the service number and spoke to the very rude ———,”the angry cruiser continued.
The enraged cyclist even went so far as to insult guests who use mobility scooters – claiming most don’t really need them – and insisting that if the scooters are allowed onboard that bikes should be, too.
But here’s the kicker: After raging at the cruise personality, Heald revealed that bikes are actually allowed onboard – as long as they fit within certain limitations.
“Bikes can be brought on board but they must be folding bicycles with wheels less than 20″ and are allowed only to be used in port. Meaning, you can’t ride them on the ship or across the Lido deck to get to the buffet line quicker,”Heald clarified.
“Regular bikes are not allowed. There are safety and operational reasons why and so I am going to say “no” respectfully to you sir and I really hope you will not think of me rude by doing so,” Heald continued.
The smaller, foldable bikes are likely only permitted because they can be stored within the limited space available in the cruise cabins – while larger bikes would be too cumbersome.
More likely than not, the “passionate” guest either didn’t understand the policy or was upset that his standard bicycle was not allowed.
Opportunities to Cycle With Carnival
Even if this guest doesn’t own a foldable bicycle that fits within Carnival’s parameters, that doesn’t mean he can’t rent a bicycle or take a shore excursion that involves biking while in port.
While offerings vary depending on the location, the family friendly cruise line does offer biking excursions in several destinations.
There is a shorter island bike tour that costs $24.99 per person and a slightly longer tour that combines biking and hiking for $39.99 per person.
Bicycle in Port (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Just to name a few more examples, guests sailing to destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Ensenada, Mexico; and Freeport, Bahamas; can all book bike tours directly through the cruise line.
Additionally, cruisers are not limited to shore excursions offered by the cruise line if they can find what they want through another reputable tour company. It’s possible that Carnival might not offer bike rentals or tours in one port, but another company does.
If this cruiser feels the need to put the pedal to the metal onboard, he might also want to look into the cruise ships that feature the innovative SkyRide.
The first-of-its-kind attraction invites guests to “cycle” on an 800-foot long track that is suspended more than 100 feet above the ocean. Depending on how hard guests pedal, the ride can reach speeds of up to 18 miles per hour.
SkyRide is included in the cost of the cruise fare and can currently be found onboard Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama.
It’s official! On Thursday, March 6, 2025, Governor Mike Dunleavy of Alaska signed the legislation for House Bill 65 (HB65)— the final step in giving the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) up to $135 million in revenue bonds.
This money will be used to fund the construction of a new passenger dock and terminal facility in Seward, Alaska — something that is urgently needed.
ARRC’s revenue bonds will not be using any state money to finance this dock — and is instead being secured by a 30-year agreement with an anchor tenant.
In this case the anchor tenant is Royal Caribbean Group, which guarantees that the revamped port will see a minimum of 140,000 visitors annually — though it will be available to other cruise lines as well.
To finance the new port, cruise fares will be supplemented with improvement fees, which will enable passengers to cover the bond debt repayment over time. The amount per passenger has not yet been announced.
“This bill demonstrates how state government can spur economic development and growth with no impact to state finances,”said Governor Dunleavy, adding, “The new cruise ship dock in Seward will maintain Alaska’s status as one of the world’s premier tourism destinations.”
ARRC’s current Seward passenger dock and terminal facility is 60 years old and in need of replacing. After a study in 2023, it was found that the port was deteriorating and heading for complete structural failure.
Even so, Seward remains a popular cruise port that saw 205,000 passengers in 2024 — and is now set to be demolished in the fall of 2025 so that the new dock can be built and installed ahead of the summer 2026 cruise season.
The all-new floating barge dock will be a double-berth pier — sitting at 748-ft long and 100-ft wide, with the ability to accommodate Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class cruise ships that can host up to 4,100 passengers per sailing.
ARRC will be the owners and operators of the facility – which has been dubbed the “Port of Tomorrow.”
“We’re excited to advance this needed project with the strong support of the Governor, the Legislature and the City of Seward,”added Bill O’Leary, President & CEO of the Alaska Railroad.
Seeing that Seward is in need of a new cruise ship terminal and dock, the state has been working quickly to get this project approved.
Seward’s Port History and Future
The original port has been crucial to Seward’s economy — as this city and its port supplies the needs of many cities in western Alaska.
But even when the weather isn’t optimal for cruising, the new facilities will still offer storage and event space, making it extremely versatile.
With over 100 cruise ships visiting during a typical season — up from just 64 in 2015 — the existing infrastructure is rapidly decaying and spurred the Alaska House of Representatives to work to raise the bond limit.
Rendering of Royal Caribbean ship docked in Seward (Photo Credit: The Seward Company)
The journey to replace the aging port began in March 2024, when the project’s cost was announced at $137 million. But initially, the Alaska Railroad Company had authorized only $60 million in bonds, falling short of the required amount.
Beyond Seward, the popular port of Juneau has faced its own issues related to overcrowding — and is now planning on building its own new facilities that are set to open in 2027 on Douglas Island with funding from Goldbelt, Inc. and Royal Caribbean Group.
Cruise tourism has been booming in Alaska, with the state growing from 878,000 cruise passengers in 2010 to 1.719 million cruise passengers in 2024.
As the state rushes to improve its cruise infrastructure, it makes way for even more cruisers to boost the economy, further solidifying Alaska’s position as a premier tourist destination.
You’ve booked your cruise and are looking forward to an amazing vacation on the high seas. However, keep in mind that, beyond your cruise fare, there’s likely more you’ll need to pay for during your trip, such as specialty dining, drinks, shore excursions, etc.
Luckily, there are a few easy ways you can save money before you cruise. From traveling light to DIYing your shore excursions, here are my 10 top recommendations for saving your cash for the cruise experiences that matter.
1. Think About the Best (cheapest!) Way to Get to the Cruise Port
If you don’t live in a major cruise port city like Miami, then you’ll likely be traveling to the port before you embark. If you’re coming from more than a few hours’ drive away, you’ll likely automatically assume you’ll fly to the city, to save time.
Or if you’re trying to save money, you might think you’ll just drive to the port, even if it’s a lengthy trip, so you can avoid pricey airfare.
However, hold up a second. There are multiple factors to consider.
One, driving to a port isn’t always as cheap as it seems. You’ll need to pay to park your car somewhere while you cruise. Additionally, there’s the energy cost you’ll pay when driving a long distance to port.
I always feel a little worse for wear after driving more than a few hours in one go, and that’s not the energy you want to bring to your first day at sea.
Two, flying to the port city isn’t always as convenient as you think. I always (and always advise other cruisers to do the same) arrive in the port city the day before embarkation, if I’m flying. This is because you can never know when a flight might be delayed or cancelled altogether.
If you’re flying in on embarkation day, you could easily miss the ship at the airline’s whim. However, this safe choice comes with an added cost. You’ll need a hotel room for the night.
Is it Better to Fly or Drive to the Cruise Port?
Driving to the Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Mounir Taha)
So how do you decide the best option for you? It’ll take a little detective work.
Look at drive times to the port, as well as parking fees. Cruise Hive publishes parking guides for a range of popular cruise terminals, complete with pricing, so you can find the most affordable option, whether that’s parking at the cruise terminal itself or with a third-party parking provider.
Then, look at airfare, as well as hotel rates near the port. Ideally, find a hotel that offers cruising packages that include shuttle service to the port, to save you extra cash that you’d otherwise spend on a rideshare.
Depending on where you live, there may also be another option: the train. Florida’s Brightline, for example, connects Miami and Orlando, which could potentially take you from your home elsewhere in Florida, or from an airport in Florida, to the port in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral.
Similarly, if you’re going to the Manhattan cruise terminal, you can take Amtrak and NJ Transit trains from parts of Upstate New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to get as close to the port as possible, and then take a rideshare the remaining few miles.
Whichever option ends up being cheapest, that’s the route you want to go.
2. Pack Light and Pack Smart
Carnival Cruise Passengers With Luggage (Photo Credit: denbaim)
If you’re flying to the cruise port, one very easy way to save a little cash is to not check extra baggage. If you’re flying with a major airline like American Airlines, Delta or United Airlines, you can easily rack up hundreds of dollars in checked baggage fees, if you’re traveling as a family.
So, pack light with just a carry on. Believe me — I’ve packed for week-long cruises with just a carry on and it is definitely do-able, if you make a few smart decisions.
Bring outfits that you can wear multiple times or layers that you can remove or add for different looks on different days. Only bring one swimsuit. Don’t pack excess toiletries that you don’t need, as you’ll already have some in your stateroom.
Though make sure that if it’s an item you do need and that the cruise line doesn’t include for free, that you pack it. Buying extra toiletries like deodorant or toothpaste on the ship can be very costly!
3. Avoid Excess Prep Ahead of Your Cruise
Cruise Planning
I find it a little strange how some first-time cruisers think they need to show up on the cruise ship looking fit, tan and like they spend every day on the beach. We all know you don’t. We’re all vacationing to get away from a colder climate or our ho-hum daily mundane existences. We’re all in the same (pardon the pun) boat.
As such, don’t spend your extra money before the cruise on a membership at the tanning salon or the gym. If you fear that you’ll be extra pale as you lie out in the Caribbean sun, don’t worry. Plenty of your fellow cruisers are the same. Slather on the sunscreen and soak up the rays without fear.
If you do want to lose a few pre-cruise pounds, do so at home. There are so many free ways to exercise and cut back on the calories without spending your precious vacation funds before you even leave home.
4. Book Certain Items Before the Cruise Leaves
Cruise Line App (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte)
As soon as you book your cruise, you need to ensure that you’re signed up to receive all of the cruise line’s promotional emails. While this can feel like a pain at first, keeping an eye on those emails can help you find good deals on purchases that’ll cost you more later.
Typically, cruise lines offer discounts on shore excursions, beverage packages, dining packages and more, if you buy them well before your embarkation date.
For example, if you purchase the Carnival Cruise Line Cheers! beverage package before your cruise, the price starts at $82.54 per person per day. If you wait to purchase the package until after the cruise leaves, you’ll pay an increased fee of $88.44 per person per day.
5. Research Your Itinerary’s Ports of Call in Advance
NCL Cruise Ship in Port (Photo Credit: yun jung chao)
While we’re on the topic of booking shore excursions, don’t just book a shore excursion with the cruise line because you think you’re getting a good deal.
Instead, thoroughly research your port of call and see if you could possibly book excursions with a third party and save, or simply explore on your own. In many instances, you don’t need a guide to take you around to popular restaurants, shops or museums. You can go all on your own, saving your money.
For example, Carnival Cruise Line offers shore excursions during stops in Iceland that take you from the cruise port in Reykjavik to the nearby Blue Lagoon in Keflavik. The shore excursion costs $275 per person aged 13 and up for transportation and entry to the famous lagoon.
However, if you just go to the lagoon on your own, you’ll pay just $71 for a ticket, and then, the lagoon also offers round-trip transportation between Reykjavik and the lagoon, for about $63. That means, if you go on your own, you could keep your costs at about $130 per person, rather than $275 per person — that’s less than half!
This is exactly the kind of thing you’d want to book in advance, before your cruise, to save some money during your cruise.
On Holland America, as an example, the internet packages start at $36 per day, and that’s just for a basic package that doesn’t include streaming video or audio. For those features, you’ll have to upgrade to a package that’s $46 per day. For a week-long cruise, that puts your WiFi costs at over $300.
As such, consider doing whatever you can ahead of your cruise, to be sure that you can easily go “off the grid.”
Tell your work colleagues that you’ll really be unable to answer or even check emails, even if that’s the norm for you while on vacation otherwise. Give the pet sitter an emergency contact that’s someone local, like a friend or family member.
Let those friends and family members know you may only be reachable while you’re in port (and give them a copy of your itinerary, so they know when you’re in port).
These efforts can help you avoid the need for a pricey WiFi package. Plus, you get the added benefit of truly unplugging, for ultimate relaxation.
7. Pick Up a Few Extra Items Before Embarkation
Cruise Ships Docked in Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
Save money on cruise ship booze by bringing your own. Many cruise lines will allow you to bring small amounts of alcohol on board, which can negate the need to buy a beverage package before your cruise or spend as much money on alcohol at the ship’s bars.
Royal Caribbean, for one, allows passengers to bring a single, sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne on board, on embarkation day.
Of course, if you’re saving money for your cruise by flying with a carry-on bag, you won’t be able to bring the wine or champagne from home, so plan to pick it up in your port city before you board. Each adult of drinking age in your party can bring their own bottle.
8. Sign Up for a Travel Credit Card
Photo Courtesy: Carnival
Travel credit cards are a great way to earn freebies, so long as you pay off the credit card at the end of each month rather than letting debt accrue. Which travel credit card you sign up for will depend on where you’d like to save money.
If you sign up for a travel rewards credit card with, say, United Airlines, you’ll receive special perks as you spend money on the card over the course of each month, like miles you can redeem to save money on your next flight to a cruise port city.
You’ll also get free checked bags, which could help you save money if you absolutely must bring a larger piece of luggage with you, on your cruise.
If you plan to cruise fairly regularly, though, you might sign up for a cruise line-specific credit card. Even if you’ve already booked your next cruise, going ahead and signing up for the line’s card can come with cash-saving benefits.
For example, the Carnival World MasterCard will give you $300 of onboard credit for your cruise, if you spend $1,000 on your card in the first 90 days.
Spending that amount is totally possible if you put your daily costs on the card, from gas to groceries to even rent. Then, you can use the onboard credit to pay for dining, drinks, spa treatments and more.
Plus, most travel credit cards eliminate foreign transaction fees, saving you even more money while you’re in port, as those foreign transaction fees can really add up.
9. Invest in Travel Insurance
Cruise Pier in St. Maarten (Photo Credit: Gareth Janzen)
While travel insurance isn’t always a necessity, there are some times that I think it’s a worthwhile consideration. While, yes, it is an upfront cost, it can really help you save money when the worst happens.
Let’s say you booked your Caribbean cruise during the height of hurricane season. Sure, you got a great deal on the fare…but what if a hurricane does indeed cancel your cruise?
While some cruise lines may give you a full refund depending on the exact situation, others may just give you a partial refund or credit to use for a future cruise.
Additionally, if you have any health concerns, even mild ones, and you end up needing medical care while you’re in port, that travel insurance is a must to avoid pricey international medical bills.
Travel insurance can cost as little as 4% of your trip’s total cost, so weigh the pros and cons, and see if it’s right for you.
Last, but certainly not least, if you’re still looking for ways to make your cruise more affordable so you can spend money where you like — such as at the spa, on specialty dining or even just at the casino — follow some good common sense.
See what ways you can cut back on the little things leading up to your cruise, whether that’s canceling Netflix for a few months or avoiding DoorDash for a while.
If it feels like too much of a sacrifice, just think about it in terms of what you’ll get on your cruise, for each thing you give up before your cruise. If you easily spend $150 on DoorDash per week, that’s a luxurious spa treatment you could be having during your vacation.
As Cyclone Alfred bears down on Queensland, passengers aboard a P&O Cruises Australia ship have learned their 4-night voyage has been extended.
The 108,865-gross-ton Pacific Encounter, which departed from Brisbane, Australia, on March 4, 2025, is currently calling in Airlie Beach, Australia, on March 6, and was expected back to its home port on March 8.
Instead, a category 2 tropical cyclone has forced the closure of the Port of Brisbane.
“The shipping channel remains closed for inbound vessels, under the direction from Maritime Safety Queenland’s (MSQ) Regional Harbour Master,”said the port.
The storm, with sustained winds of up to 102 miles per hour, is heading directly for Queensland’s capital city, situated on the Sunshine Coast.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a category 2 system, continues to move slowly towards the southeast #Qld coast
It is expected to cross the coast late Friday evening or early Saturday, most likely close to Moreton Bay between Noosa & Coolangatta
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 6, 2025
As a result, a warning has been issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology(BOM) for Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales. This includes Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, and Ballina, but not Grafton.
The bureau says the storm could reach landfall early on Saturday, March 8, just when Pacific Encounter was scheduled to return with up to 2,600 passengers.
Because the ship cannot return home, guests scheduled to depart on March 8’s subsequent 7-night “Pacific Island Hopper” voyage received word from the cruise line that “it will therefore no longer be possible to visit the Pacific Islands.”
“We are continuing to monitor Cyclone Alfred and are in close contact with the Port of Brisbane in preparation for your Pacific Encounter cruise,”said P&O Cruises in a letter to passengers.
“The cyclone has slowed and is now expected to make landfall some time on Saturday morning and the port will be closed, preventing us from sailing as scheduled,” the letter continued.
P&O Cruises told its guests it will continue to provide more updates on March 8.
Cyclone Disrupts Port of Brisbane Operations
For would-be guests of Pacific Encounter’s possibly cancelled March 8 voyage, Cyclone Alfred’s presence means missing out on visits to Noumea and Lifou, New Caledonia, and Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo.
While the island visits may not be in the cards, the cruise ship could adjust its sailing schedule and provide guests with another option, albeit it a shorter voyage than expected.
The cruise line is waiting to see what damage Cyclone Alfred may have on ports, depending on its intensity.
Photo Credit: James Morgan Photographic Consultancy
The BOM is currently warning of heavy rainfall, flash floods, dangerous and abnormally high storm tides, and damaging and destructive wind gusts, which is why the port has closed. Should Alfred intensify, winds can reach speeds of more than 157 miles per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred formed off the coast of Queensland on February 23, 2025, and, although it stalled, continues to cause disruptions to cruises in the region.
Carnival Cruise Line’s 2,260-passenger Carnival Luminosa was also supposed to return home to Brisbane on March 8.
Instead, guests have been informed not to expect to arrive back at port until March 9, possibly March 10, also affecting the subsequent voyage.
The weather has also stopped Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas from returning to Brisbane until March 10, three days after it was supposed to arrive.
The change forced the cruise line to cancel its following 3-day mini cruise.
Also affected by the port’s closure are Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun and Cunard’s Queen Anne, which just arrived in Australia in late February.
In what appears to be the potential collapse of a popular UK vacation planning site, thousands of would-be cruise passengers have found themselves without bookings on Carnival Corporation ships.
The cruise giant, citing alleged breach of contract, has terminated all existing bookings made through Jetline Holidays. The move affects passengers on Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, and Cunard, leaving many in a state of limbo.
“We recognize how disappointing this news will be for affected guests and express our sincere apologies for the disruption caused,”said Carnival Corporation in a group release.
The announcement comes as a shock to many, particularly as details of the breach remain undisclosed, prompting concerns about future bookings and financial impacts on customers.
Carnival Corporation has instructed those with cancelled bookings to reach out directly to Jetline Holidays for resolution.
However, affected customers are reporting difficulties in contacting Jetline following the news.
Steven Roberts, the North London-based Jetline Holidays director, said the company “Is trying to deal with various issues.”
“Hopefully, we will have an update on what is going on very shortly,” he told a local outlet. “As soon as we have something, we will put it out there.”
But the issue extends beyond Carnival Corporation.
A Jetline Holidays customer shared on social media that her mother had received a phone call from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) “informing her that Jetline had gone into administration.”
The person said her mother had paid the full balance to Jetline Holidays six weeks ago, but that NCL only received £100 from the booking company.
In order to keep the cruise, NCL informed the passenger that the remaining £965.38 must be paid within 48 hours. The mother and daughter also claim they cannot reach anyone at Jetline Holidays, and the company’s social media pages have prohibited comments.
Jetline Atol Protection Ends, Impacting Thousands
Jetline Holidays, one of many names under the Jetline Travel Ltd. brand, has been in operations for over 20 years.
Offering many flight and hotel deals, its cruise division also works with Celebrity Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages, as well as several luxury cruise lines.
Those include Azamara Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, and Star Clippers. As a tour operator, the company held an ATOL (Air Travel Operator’s Licence) for up to 4,750 passengers.
That “means that all of the travel arrangements we sell are protected in case of financial failure,”according to Jetline Holidays.
However, the company ceased trading as an ATOL holder as of March 6, 2025, per the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This affects all of the company’s additional operating names, including Jetline Cruise, Jetline Cruises, and Cruise & More.
Unfortunately, it states that “bookings sold as accommodation, non-flight packages, and cruise-only bookings, which do not include a flight element, are not protected by the Atol scheme.”
This means any cruise booking made through any of the company’s websites may now be cancelled. In addition, the CAA has warned anyone with a flight-inclusive package that they may find parts of the package invalid.
“Other services [outside of flights] have not been paid to the local suppliers and you will be required to re-arrange and pay for these services again,” the CAA stated.
The CAA says it is currently working with Jetline Holidays and will update its website with instructions for Atol-protected bookings when available.
Any passenger with a cruise booking through Jetline is advised to contact their cruise line to confirm their booking exists and all fees have been paid.
This is a developing story. Come back to Cruise Hive for further updates.
Carnival Glory is having an inglorious cruise indeed as every port of call on the current 4-night Bahamas itinerary has been cancelled. With no ability to schedule alternative ports, the ship has ended up at sea for the entire sailing.
The 110,000-gross-ton, Conquest class ship departed Port Canaveral, Florida on Monday, March 3, 2025 in anticipation of a fun Bahamas getaway.
Unfortunately, poor weather had other ideas and the ship has been unable to make either of her two planned ports of call – Nassau on Tuesday, March 4 and Princess Cays on Wednesday, March 5.
High winds and heavy swells in Nassau early in the week meant the ship could not safely navigate to the docks for that port visit. Princess Cays, on the other hand, is a tender port that requires the use of smaller boats to shuttle guests between the larger cruise ship and the docks.
With heavy swells remaining in the area on Wednesday, it was not safe or advisable for tender boats to be used. The gangways would have been too unstable, and the short boat ride between the ship and the docks would have been very unpleasant even for guests with the strongest seagoing stomachs.
The ship’s captain as well as Carnival Cruise Line fleet headquarters attempted to arrange for a visit to Freeport on Thursday. As Carnival Glory approached the port however, it became clear that the weather conditions were still too rough for safe docking, and the ship turned back out to sea.
Because Carnival Glory is due to return to Port Canaveral on Friday, March 7, there will be no other port attempts and no substitute or alternative ports are possible.
Instead, the entire sailing has become a cruise to nowhere with travelers enjoying every day of the voyage at sea.
Guest Reaction Onboard
Well, maybe “enjoying” is too strong a word – at least for some travelers.
Some guests currently aboard Carnival Gloryreport on Reddit a lot of upset travelers and long lines at the Guest Services desk on Deck 3 (Lobby Deck).
“All three ports being canceled seems to have EVERYONE fuming on our side of the boat,”one poster commented.“Neighbors and people walking around me angry and heading to guest services to demand refunds.”
While it is understandable that guests would be upset at missing every port visit on the sailing, Carnival Cruise Line does reserve the right to cancel or change any voyage at any time for any reason, as outlined in Section 8(d) of the Cruise Ticket Contract.
Carnival Glory Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: eric laudonien)
“Carnival may change the duration and/or itinerary of the cruise at any time,”the contract reads.
This includes the ability to “omit or change any or all port calls … with or without notice, for any reason whatsoever” including poor weather and general safety.
An unstable ship, excessively windy or slippery docks, and the risks of pier damage or damage to the ship itself, certain qualifies as a safety concern.
Furthermore, while some cruise lines do occasionally offer some onboard credit or other compensation in the case of multiple port changes, Carnival Cruise Line is not obligated to do so.
“Carnival shall have no liability for any compensation or other damages in such circumstances for any change in itinerary [or] ports of call,”the contract continues.
When bad weather disrupts a cruise and cancels ports of call, the onboard team tries to add extra activities, games, and contests to the daily schedule so there is something fun for everyone to do.
Guests onboard Carnival Glory should check the Carnival Hub app and listen to onboard announcements to learn what extra fun is being offered throughout the day, as new activities will be offered as soon as they can be arranged.
At this time, there are no expected changes to the ship’s return to Port Canaveral for debarkation on Friday, and there should be no impact to Carnival Glory‘s next sailing.
