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Guests Informed of an Itinerary Change for Disney Treasure

Melissa Mayntz
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Guests Informed of an Itinerary Change for Disney Treasure

Guests booked aboard one upcoming sailing of the brand new Disney Treasure have been informed of an itinerary change. Fortunately, the change is a port flip-flop and the sailing is more than a year away, giving guests plenty of time to adjust their travel plans and expectations if necessary.

Disney Cruise Line has reached out to booked guests for the May 23, 2026 departure of Disney Treasure with the itinerary adjustment news.

“The itinerary for your cruise has recently been modified by swapping the days the ship will visit Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands,” the email explained.

To be clear, the ship will still be visiting both ports of call as part of her 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing, only the days of each port visit have been changed.

The original itinerary, departing from Port Canaveral, called for the first two full days to be days at sea, followed by the visit first to Tortola, then to St. Thomas.

Another day at sea followed, then a visit to Disney Cruise Line’s private island destination in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. The cruise ends back at Port Canaveral on May 30, 2026.

Now, Disney Treasure will still spend Sunday and Monday at sea after her embarkation and departure on Saturday, May 23. The ship will visit St. Thomas first on May 26, followed by Tortola on May 27. The last day at sea and the visit to Castaway Cay remain unchanged.

There are also no changes to the ship’s planned times of departure or return to Port Canaveral.

Disney Treasure is homeported year-round from Florida’s Space Coast, offering alternating 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Wish-class ship just debuted in December 2024, and can welcome 4,000 guests aboard on each sailing.

No Explanation Offered for Disney Treasure Itinerary Change

Disney Cruise Line has not given any explanation for why Disney Treasure is swapping the order of port visits for this one cruise, but there could be several reasons.

Most likely is the idea of port congestion, depending on how many other ships are planned for either destination on the originally planned days.

While port schedules can and do change, especially more than a year before scheduled visits, Disney Treasure was the only ship on the schedule for Tortola on the original date of May 26. The following day, which is now when Disney Treasure will be in port, Norwegian Luna is also scheduled for Tortola.

More likely is the schedule in St. Thomas is too crowded for Disney Cruise Line to offer the outstanding experience that guests expect.

Disney Treasure Cruise Ship
Disney Treasure Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: MartinLueke)

On the day Disney Treasure was originally scheduled for the US Virgin Islands – Wednesday, May 27 – four other cruise ships were also planned to be in port.

Among them are some of the largest ships in the world, including Royal Caribbean’s second Icon-class vessel, Star of the Seas, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class Carnival Celebration. Regal Princess and Celebrity Beyond are also scheduled for St. Thomas on May 27, 2026.

By moving Disney Treasure‘s visit to the day before – May 26 – only Norwegian Luna will also be in port.

This will ensure a much less crowded port with greater tour variety for visiting guests, permitting Disney Treasure travelers to have a much more pleasant experience in the popular and peaceful destination.

Read Also: How Much Is a Disney Cruise in 2025? We Did All the Checking!

Other factors could also be under consideration, such as planned pier construction, renovations, or maintenance, harbor dredging, or the availability of port personnel and local tour operators on the different days.

While all cruise lines strive to maintain their original itineraries whenever possible, a simple adjustment like this one can make a great difference for guests’ cruise experience.

If travelers do not like the new itinerary, there is still plenty of time to switch to a different sailing or cancel their cruise altogether if preferred.

Alaska Port to Lift Sales Tax Exemption on Visiting Cruise Ships

Donna Tunney
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Alaska Port to Lift Sales Tax Exemption on Visiting Cruise Ships

Ketchikan, a thriving cruise port on Alaska’s southeast coast, will soon begin collecting a sales tax on items sold onboard cruise ships while the vessels are docked in the harbor.

The popular port in 2003 exempted cruise ships from having to fork over the 2.5% local tax, but on February 24, 2025, the Ketchikan Borough Assembly voted to rescind the exemption.

The new policy puts Ketchikan in line with other Alaska cruise ports that currently charge a sales tax, such as Juneau, Sitka, and Skagway.

By voting to approve the ordinance that reverses the 20-plus-year-old policy, the city expects to collect up to $300,000 per year from the sales tax.

Having the exemption in place meant that guests who bought goods from local, onshore merchants were paying a local sales tax, but those who purchased items on their ship did not. The reinstatement of the tax levels the playing field, supporters say.

The tax, which takes effect on April 1, 2025, officially suspends the exemption.

“Ordinance 2060 amends KGBC 4.50.230 (Exemptions) by removing subsection (y) which provides exemption [on] sales of goods which are transported into the borough on a cruise ship, which do not leave the cruise ship, and where the entire transaction, both payment and delivery, takes place on board a cruise ship,” states the Ketchikan Borough Assembly meeting agenda.

Back in 2003, when the exemption was approved, Ketchikan received about 800,000 cruise passengers per year. In 2024, the number was 1.5 million, meaning that implementing the sales tax is today a more lucrative undertaking.

Ketchikan’s sales tax rate of 2.5% is lower than that of others along the Alaskan coast. In Juneau, for instance, the sales tax collected from onboard purchases is 5% and there is an additional 3% tax on alcoholic beverages, the meeting agenda noted.

Some cruise lines that do not wish to be in competition with shoreside businesses or that do not choose to collect a local tax shut down their retail shops and restaurants while docked. Local merchants generally applaud such action, since it means cruisers will more likely buy food, souvenirs, and other goods from them.

The idea to reinstate the onboard sales tax came to light in January 2025, when the municipal Cooperative Relations Committee reviewed a staff report calling for the repeal of the 2003 policy. The report formed the basis of the ordinance that was just approved.

Cruise Ships Docked in Ketchikan, Alaska
Cruise Ships Docked in Ketchikan, Alaska (Photo Credit: mhgstan / Shutterstock)

Sales Tax Revenue Will Join Passenger Wharfage Fee

The return of the cruise ship sales tax collection will add to Ketchikan’s cruise-tourism revenue stream, which already includes a cruise arrival head tax.

Read Also: What’s the Best Cruise Line for Alaska?

Since 2021, the local government has charged an arrivals tax, which it calls a “passenger wharfage fee.” The charge originally was $9 per passenger on any cruise ship that docks at a city-owned or leased dock. The fee was raised to $11 per guest in 2024, and on April 1, 2025 it will rise again to $13.

Passengers who arrive in Ketchikan via tender, from ships anchored offshore, were charged a $6 fee when the policy was implemented in 2021. That fee was raised to $8 per guest in 2024, and on April 1, 2025, it rises to $10 per guest.

Other Alaska cruise destinations levy arrivals fees, too. Juneau charges $8 per guest, for example, while Haines charges $9.

Ketchikan is included on virtually all Alaska cruises. It is best known for hosting the Totem Heritage Center, which celebrates the artistry of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian native peoples. 

The destination is also considered the salmon capital of the world since salmon spawn in Ketchikan Creek, which runs through the city.

Carnival Cruise Passenger Says Experience Ruined After Coffee Confiscation

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Passenger Says Experience Ruined After Coffee Confiscation

A cup of coffee on a private balcony is a great way to start any day on a cruise vacation, but travelers can’t always have their java just how they’d like it.

Specifically, cruisers cannot bring their own coffee pot or coffee maker with them aboard, as these items – with their independent heating elements – are on Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited item list.

One frequent Carnival cruiser is upset at that ban, and reached out to the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, about how their loyalty privileges ought to provide an extra in-room convenience.

“We had our Mr. Coffee confiscated on our Radiance journey cruise John. This ruined the experience we had been looking forward to for many months,” they explained.

“As Diamond cruisers we should a) have the right to bring a coffee pot with us. b) have a coffee maker in our room. I was told by someone we met at the [Chef’s Table] dinner that they always have their portable French press and that it gets thru security just fine. I would like an explanation to this John.”

Carnival Radiance is homeported from Long Beach, California. While the guest does not specify exactly which cruise they were on that was “ruined,” the only Carnival Journeys cruise the ship has sailed recently is a 14-night Hawaii voyage that departed on February 9 and returned to California on February 23.

Heald responded to their comment, confirming the ban of the coffee pot.

“Thank you so much for writing and thank you for your loyalty,” he noted. “Well I checked on Uncle Google and our website and Mr. Coffee cannot be brought on board just as Madam Le French Press cannot be brought on the ship either.”

Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited items list does specifically note that coffee machines are not permitted onboard:

“Electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element, such as irons, clothes steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines, hot plates, toasters, heating pads, humidifier, etc.”

Heald does not address the guest’s obvious sense of entitlement that “as Diamond cruisers we should have the right” though that comment did cause many other guests to react.

Many agree that anyone who has cruised with Carnival so frequently as to reach that top loyalty level ought to already be familiar with the rules and what items are banned.

Diamond status in the cruise line’s “Very Important Fun Person” (VIFP) loyalty program is only reached when a guest has sailed with Carnival for a minimum of 200 days.

What About Room Service Coffee?

The disgruntled Diamond guest also has harsh words for the cruise line’s room service coffee.

“We know room service will deliver a coffee pot in the room at 6am. It was either lukewarm, too strong or watered down,” they said. “Never got a decent morning [cup].”

Heald does offer suggestions for if guests get room service coffee that isn’t quite what they’d hoped for to start their morning.

Carnival Room Service
Carnival Room Service (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

“If you do not think the coffee from room service is adequate please call 8000 for another pot and aske them to make it stronger or hotter and as always our crew will do their very best for you,” he said.

Guests who do not want to wait for room service coffee can also get free coffee from the Lido Marketplace buffet or pay for specialty coffees from the Java Blue Cafe.

On Carnival Radiance, the Java Blue Cafe is on Atlantic Deck (Deck 4), midship on the starboard side, across from the Pixels photo gallery in the Atrium.

Coffee from the Java Blue Cafe is also included in the Cheers! beverage package, for guests who have purchased that add-on.

Read Also: What Is the Carnival Cheers! Package?

Guest reactions to the free Lido Marketplace coffee are mixed, with some travelers finding it a fine way to start the day, while others feel the quality isn’t what they’d prefer.

Carnival cruise guests can always bring along their own creamer or coffee packets to enjoy their preferred brand or flavors, so long as the items are in the original, sealed packaging.

Will Federal Layoffs at Alaskan Glacier Disrupt Cruise Tours?

Lissa Poirot
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Will Federal Layoffs at Alaskan Glacier Disrupt Cruise Tours?

Cruise passengers arriving in Juneau, Alaska, this summer may encounter limited services at one of the city’s most popular excursions following sweeping federal layoffs under the Trump administration affecting the National Park Service and the US Forest Service.

The cuts, which began under Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), eliminated roles of more than 2,000 US Forest Service and 1,000 National Park Service employees across the United States.

According to Alaskan media, as of February 21, 2025, the cuts have severely reduced staff at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC).

KTOO, based in Juneau, reported three-quarter of the staff were laid off while others report just one or two employees remain, leaving upcoming guests wondering about visitor access.

A social media post attributed to Travel Juneau, the city’s convention and visitors bureau – yet not shared on its official website – says it is unclear if the MGVC “will be open to the public, or how traffic and other visitor services will be managed.”

The Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (MGVC), which typically welcomes around 700,000 visitors annually – many from cruise ships – relies on US Forest Service rangers to provide information, respond to medical issues, and maintain trail and wildlife safety.

The post, shared across numerous social media platforms, urges cruise passengers to contact members of Congress to oppose the cuts.

“Experiencing the Mendenhall Glacier is a top activity for many Juneau visitors,” it said.

“If it’s on your must-do list, as well as accessing other federal lands and national parks during your Alaska trip, Travel Juneau urges you to contact your federal delegation (senators and representatives) as soon as possible about reinstating critical funding to the US Forest Service.”

While the post raises even more concern, nearby tour operators say the federal cuts will not impact cruise excursions.

Another unattributed post making the rounds on social media says, “Don’t worry – your glacier tours are still happening!”

“While these cuts impact the staffing and operations of the Visitor Center and Bookstore, they do not affect the Mendenhall Glacier tours themselves,” says the update shared on February 26, 2025. 

“The guided tours to Mendenhall Glacier, including those operated by local vendors, are run by seasonal employees who are still scheduled to work as usual. This means that even if the Visitor Center itself has limited hours or services, the tours will still be operating.”

However, none of the updates appear on Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center’s website or social media pages, leading to even more confusion as to what will happen this summer.

Cruise Ship Docked in Juneau, Alaska
Cruise Ship Docked in Juneau, Alaska (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Uncertainty Ahead of April Season Start

With 1.6 million cruise passengers expected to visit Juneau during the 2025 summer sailing season, a possible park closure could mean thousands will not have an opportunity to view Mendenhall Glacier.

Located just 12 miles from Juneau, within the Tongass National Forest, it is considered one of the easiest glaciers to reach in the US.

The forest requires guests to have a pass to access the visitor’s center and pavilion, restrooms, and the Photo Point Trail, which provides guests with the best views of the glacier.

However, the forest is actually free to visit and does not require permits or passes to explore other trails, including the East Glacier Trail, the Nugget Falls Trail, and the Trail of Time. It also does not require guides.

Juneau’s 2025 cruise season will launch on April 14 with the arrival of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss, bringing up to 4,004 passengers to port. It will be followed by Carnival Cruise Line’s 2,124-guest Carnival Spirit on April 18.

Cruise lines and tour operators will be monitoring updates from the National Forest Service and will make adjustments, if needed.

Brilliance of the Seas Rescues Stranded Overloaded Craft

Melissa Mayntz
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Brilliance of the Seas Rescues Stranded Overloaded Craft

Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas took on nearly a dozen unexpected guests on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 with a rescue at sea.

The cruise ship was enjoying a day at sea en route to Progreso, Mexico when a small, overloaded craft was spotted waving white materials – including a bucket – and signaling distress.

The frantic signal was spotted by crew members aboard Brilliance of the Seas, and the ship immediately responded to the summons by slowing and turning to offer assistance.

The ship’s pilot boat was dispatched to rendezvous with the stranded craft, and upon investigation, it was decided to bring the refugees aboard the cruise ship.

Reports differ as to whether 10 or 11 refugees were aboard, but all were accounted for and safe thanks to the quick thinking and timely actions of the ship’s crew.

The refugees appeared to include both men and women, and were brought off their makeshift craft by the pilot boat in two trips.

Worth Reading: Cruise Ship Guests Spot Fishermen Stranded in the Sea

The cruise ship’s captain did confirm that everyone was safely rescued from the smaller craft and that they were all in good condition.

Brilliance of the Seas is currently sailing a 7-night itinerary from New Orleans, Louisiana. The ship departed the Big Easy on Saturday, February 22 and had already visited Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

While Wednesday was a day at sea, Brilliance of the Seas is scheduled to visit Progreso on Thursday before spending another day at sea on Friday and returning to New Orleans on Saturday, March 1.

The rescue occurred east of the tip of the Yucatan peninsula, northeast of Cancun. Despite the slight delay for the humanitarian operation, there is no expected change to the ship’s itinerary or her Progreso port visit.

What Will Happen to the Refugees?

As is standard procedure whenever a cruise ship assists a refugee craft, the safety of everyone aboard is the first priority.

After being brought onboard the cruise ship, the refugees would have been given any medical care necessary for their immediate needs, as well as provided with food and water.

The ship’s security would be closely supervising the refugees, and while they are not considered prisoners or detainees in any way, they are also not permitted in most public areas of the cruise ship. Instead, they’d be looked after in a secure crew area.

Depending on the exact jurisdiction of the region where the rescue occurred, local authorities would be notified of the incident. This will permit the now-unmanned craft to be recorded and recovered if necessary, or else listed on available registries so it does not pose a hazard to other boats and marine traffic.

Read Also: What Happens If You Jump Off a Cruise Ship?

The refugees will be turned over to local authorities as soon as possible. This might be via a rendezvous with an official boat, or else at the next port of call if possible. Then, they will be subject to the local procedures for such incidents. Typically, this includes being repatriated to their place of origin.

Brilliance of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas

Cruise ships do not ask about politics, paperwork, criminal records, immigration status, or any other issues when performing such rescues. Above all, the safety of those impacted is always the foremost concern.

This is not the first time Brilliance of the Seas has been involved with refugee rescue operations.

The ship’s most notable incident was in 2016, when 18 Cuban refugees were rescued from a raft that had been stranded at sea for more than three weeks. Sadly, nine additional refugees perished before the cruise ship found the raft.

More From Cruise Hive

The 90,090-gross-ton, Radiance-class ship can welcome 2,142 guests aboard at double occupancy, or up to 2,543 travelers when fully booked. Brilliance of the Seas is currently homeported from New Orleans, offering 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries through the end of March.

In early April, the ship will sail a 14-night one-way trip from Miami to Barcelona. That transatlantic cruise is on her way to a scheduled dry dock, after which she will spend the summer in the Greek Isles with sailings from Athens.

In the fall, Brilliance of the Seas will homeport from Boston and then move to San Juan for the winter Caribbean season.

Crown Princess Tilts Due to Heavy Winds, Minor Damage

Skyler Wolpert
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Crown Princess Tilts Due to Heavy Winds, Minor Damage

If there was a cruise ship equivalent of having an earthquake, it would be listing or tilting. While it is rare, unpredictable weather can cause ships to move in a way they are not supposed to but are built to withstand.

Unfortunately, this can cause damage and even injure passengers — and that is exactly what happened on Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess on February 24th, 2025.

As the ship entered Milford Sound in New Zealand, it listed causing panic throughout the ship as objects went flying. Some passengers said they were told to go to their cabins, but others were not.

Water from one of the pools on the lido deck flooded a dining area, but the crew worked quickly to clean it up. Items from onboard shops and galleries fell off of shelves, some breaking when they hit the floor.

Many passengers on this ship have taken to social media to report that they did not hear sirens, and no announcements were made suggesting that passengers should return to their cabins.

Princess Cruises confirmed that a total of 13 guests and three crew members had minor injuries. It’s also reported that the captain announced that the ship listed 14°.

Princess Cruises said in a statement to Cruise Hive, “On February 25, while in Fiordland, New Zealand, Crown Princess encountered strong winds during a course change, causing the ship to briefly tilt beyond its usual movement before stabilizing. Our crew responded quickly to correct the situation, and at no point was the safety of the ship compromised.“

“Additionally, a small amount of water from the Lido Deck pool briefly entered the Horizons food court, but the area was quickly cleaned and reopened. There was no structural damage to the ship,” the cruise line added.

No structural damage was reported and the ship has already resumed the cruise as planned.

The 3,080-passenger Crown Princess is currently on a 14-day round-trip cruise out of Sydney, Australia — making stops all around New Zealand.

The ship’s very first stop after a few days at sea was Fjordland National Park. When entering the Milford Sound area, the ship was hit by strong winds, which led to its listing.

Minor Damage on Crown Princess After Tilting
Minor Damage on Crown Princess After Tilting (Credit: Kerry Burchett)

Milford Sound in New Zealand is known for being one of the rainiest places on earth — averaging 182 days of rain each year. The weather is often unpleasant and unpredictable, making it difficult for any vessel to navigate this fjord.

However, the risk is usually worth the reward as this area has stunning waterfalls and rainforests — truly showcasing New Zealand’s natural beauty.

The 113,561 gross ton Crown Princess headed out of Fjordland National Park to Dunedin on February 25, thankfully avoiding another tilt. The rest of its itinerary includes stops in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Bay of Islands, and Auckland.

Tilting is rare, but it can happen at any time — still it poses little risk to passenger safety.

How Common are Tilts?

Tilting or listing is quite uncommon — though not unheard of. It is usually caused by extreme and severe weather — but unlike the incident on the Crown Princess, it typically occurs on the open ocean.

On November 7, 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas was hit by a squall — which is a sudden gust of intense wind or a localized storm. Similarly, only minor injuries were reported, and no changes were made to the itinerary.

Crown Princess itself has quite the history when it comes to tilting. This ship launched in 2006, and on July 18 after being in service for just about a month, it had a severe tilting incident.

The vessel was just off the coast of Port Canaveral, Florida, when the automatic steering system initiated a turn to port. The second officer made the mistake of disengaging the automatic steering — which caused the ship to tilt about 24°.

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas (Photo Credit: Yan AMC)

Read Also: Can a Cruise Ship Tip Over? – All You Need to Know

This mistake caused 14 serious injuries and an additional 284 minor injuries to passengers and crew — plus there was considerable damage done to the at-the-time new ship.

Now, close to 20 years in service, a lesser accident has occurred — this time due to weather instead of a technical error.

Cruise ships tilting in fjords is not common, but fjords have unpredictable weather and narrow navigation channels.

Ships stabilizers actually reduce up to 90% of tilting. Tilting-related injuries occur on <0.01% of cruises — and of that small percentage, the majority are minor injuries such as bruises or sprains.

Some of the passengers currently on the Crown Princess that were on lower decks did not even realize the tilting was occurring — likely because their cabin was close to the stabilizers.

You can breathe easy though, as cruise ships are extremely safe — plus the crew is trained to keep passengers safe above all else.

Anthem of the Seas Embarkation Delayed Due to Terminal Renovations

Melissa Mayntz
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Anthem of the Seas Embarkation Delayed Due to Terminal Renovations

Guests boarding Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas will not be starting their cruise vacation as early as they may have hoped for one upcoming sailing. The cruise line has reached out to guests booked on the ship’s March 4, 2025 departure date to let them know of a slight delay.

The impacted sailing is a 3-night roundtrip getaway from Singapore to Penang, Malaysia. While the single port of call on the voyage is not impacted and will still be on Wednesday, March 5, from 2-11 p.m. as scheduled, Anthem of the Seas will not begin embarkation as early as planned.

Royal Caribbean has notified guests of the change, along with a revised schedule for embarkation day.

“Before you head to the terminal, we have an important update to share with you. Anthem of the Seas will be sharing the terminal with another large ship. Additionally, a portion of the terminal is currently undergoing renovations, so space is limited,” the email explained.

“To ensure a smooth boarding process, please arrive one (1) hour later than your selected arrival time.”

For all original arrival times from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., guests will be expected to arrive exactly one hour later than their previous appointment. This means that 11 a.m. appointments should arrive at noon, 1 p.m. appointments should arrive at 2 p.m., and so forth.

All 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. appointments will arrive at 2:30 p.m. The later afternoon arrival times are generally less popular, which is why they can all be accommodated at once on the revised schedule.

Guests are advised that if they arrive at their original time, which they would have selected when checking in for their cruise, they will be turned away and need to return at the new, later arrival windows.

All guests must be checked in at the cruise terminal and onboard Anthem of the Seas by 3 p.m. for the ship’s planned departure. No itinerary changes are anticipated at this time.

Why the Embarkation Delay?

Anthem of the Seas is docking at Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre, which is easily capable of accommodating the 168,666-gross-ton, Quantum-class vessel.

What the terminal can’t quite manage, however, is two large vessels at once. On March 4, Resorts World Cruises’ Genting Dream will also be docked. The 150,695-gross-ton vessel will be homeporting from Singapore and offering a variety of short sailings to Thailand and Malaysia, depending on the sailing date.

While Genting Dream is currently part of Resorts World Cruises, the brand is being transitioned into Dream Cruises following pandemic-related difficulties that plagued the ship and its parent company.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas in Asia
Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas in Asia (Photo Credit: CeltStudio)

When combining Anthem of the Seas and Genting Dream, as many as 16,500 debarking and embarking cruise passengers may be using the Marina Bay Cruise Centre that day. This does not include crew members moving to and from the ship as well as supplies, contractors, and terminal employees.

By slightly delaying embarkation for Anthem of the Seas, the cruise terminal employees can better manage passengers for both vessels for smooth and hassle-free processing.

Read Also: What Are the Different Royal Caribbean Ship Classes?

Furthermore, staggering the ships a bit more can help minimize any traffic snarls or parking difficulties, as there will be more time for debarking guests to leave the terminal area entirely before new guests arrive.

Because Genting Dream will be homeporting from Singapore for several months, it is possible that additional Anthem of the Seas sailings may have similar embarkation changes.

The Royal Caribbean ship is sailing from Singapore through the end of April, at which time she will reposition to Seattle, Washington for the Alaska sailing season. In October, Anthem of the Seas will move to Sydney for the Australian summer season, and she will return to Alaska in 2026.

At this time, Anthem of the Seas is not scheduled to return to Singapore for any currently available sailings over the next two years, but it is possible she may be deployed there again in the future.

Even More Royal Caribbean Ships Will Sail Short Cruises

Lissa Poirot
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Even More Royal Caribbean Ships Will Sail Short Cruises

Royal Caribbean is rolling out an expanded lineup of short cruises for the 2026-27 season that features 11 ships sailing 2- to 5-night itineraries from ports in Florida and Texas.

The new lineup includes four of the cruise line’s Oasis-class ships, Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas, sailing to the Bahamas and the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

The voyages also include calls in Royal Caribbean’s exclusive destinations, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti.

The cruise line also confirmed that its Royal Beach Club Collection will be available as part of select short cruises. This includes the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, opening in the Bahamas in December 2025, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel, set to debut in Mexico in 2026.

Royal Caribbean’s 2026-27 itineraries feature three year-round schedules from Florida. The 236,860-gross-ton, 5,668-passenger Utopia of the Seas, which debuted in July 2024, will continue to operate as a weekend getaway vessel with 3- and 4-night trips to CocoCay and Nassau from Port Canaveral.

In Miami, where the cruise line is headquartered, Wonder of the Seas, carrying up to 5,734 guests, and Freedom of the Seas, accommodating up to 3,634 passengers, will provide 3-, 4-, and 5-night voyages from PortMiami.

Like the weekend options on Utopia of the Seas, the 3- and 4- night cruises on the 236,857-gross-ton Wonder of the Seas will sail to CocoCay and Nassau, while the longer options on the 156,271-gross-ton Freedom of the Seas will include options to visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Labadee, or Bimini in the Bahamas.

Summer and Winter Itineraries

Beyond the year-round short cruises, Royal Caribbean detailed its plans to sail from Galveston, Texas, and Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the 2026 summer months.

In Texas, the 138,863-gross-ton, 4,252-passenger Mariner of the Seas will take guests to the Western Caribbean on 4- and 5-night adventures that include calls in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

Also visiting the Mexican ports will be the 78,491-gross-ton Rhapsody of the Seas, carrying up to 2,416 passengers on 4- and 5-night sailings from Tampa.

Meanwhile, more chances to sail to the Bahamas and CocoCay will be provided on the 74,140-gross-ton Grandeur of the Seas. Sailing from Fort Lauderdale on 3- and 4-night itineraries for up to 2,446 guests, the vessel will call in Key West during its longer cruises.

Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia)

Even more cruise itineraries to the Caribbean and Mexico will be available in winter 2026-27, with two ships home-based in Port Canaveral. 

Here, the 137,308-gross-ton Explorer of the Seas will take up to 3,286 passengers on 4-night Eastern Caribbean and 5-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, providing guests a chance to visit CocoCay or Royal Beach Club Cozumel.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

Shorter and longer sailings will take place on the 226,963-gross-ton Harmony of the Seas. Its journeys from Port Canaveral, for up to 5,479 guests, will be 2-, 4-, 5-, and 7-night escapes and include calls in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands, and Falmouth, Jamaica.

For sailors looking to winter in Mexico, up to 3,634 passengers will be welcome aboard the 154,407-gross-ton Liberty of the Seas as it sails 4- and 5-night itineraries to the Western Caribbean. The voyages include Costa Maya, Cozumel, and the Royal Beach Club Cozumel.

Additionally, the 78,340-gross-ton Vision of the Seas and the 226,838-gross-ton Oasis of the Seas will cruise to the Bahamas from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, respectively, in the winter of 2026-27.

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members have early access to these bookings before general sales open on February 27, 2025.

Carnival Brand Ambassador Announces 2026 FFS Cruise

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Brand Ambassador Announces 2026 FFS Cruise

Just days after the conclusion of his “For Fun’s Sake” (FFS) 2025 cruise aboard Carnival Magic, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has announced his themed 2026 sailing.

The next FFS cruise will be aboard Carnival Spirit‘s May 5, 2026 departure – a 7-night roundtrip Alaska sailing from Seattle, Washington.

“For my 2026 FFS #8 Cruise I have decided after much contemplation to host a very special cruise to Alaska on Carnival Spirit,” Heald announced through his Facebook page. “Yes, I know some will be disappointed it is not perhaps a cruise that sails closer to home and that it is a different time of year than usual but I know this will be a very special adventure indeed.”

Heald’s FFS cruises are not full-ship charter sailings, but instead are special events held aboard existing sailings. Guests interested in joining in the FFS fun must first be booked on the selected cruise and then purchase registration as an FFS guest.

FFS registration will open on May 5, 2025, exactly one year before the ship’s departure date. Any guests booked on the sailing will have the opportunity to register for the extra fun, but spaces are sure to fill up quickly.

“Cabins are limited and so if you wish to join me for a massive dollop of Fun please book as soon as you can,” Heald urged.

The 2026 FFS cruise will be visiting the top ports of call in the Last Frontier. While the first day of the sailing is a day at sea, the second day will be iconic scenic cruising along Tracy Arm Fjord where guests will be able to see wildlife, ice, and panoramic Alaskan beauty. FFS guests will have a special opportunity on that amazing day.

“We will have a private viewing deck during the transit through Tracy Arm Fjord with some special food and lashings of hot soup,” Heald said. “That’s just one thing I am planning.”

The next few days will be exciting visits to Skagway (don’t miss out on visiting the Klondike Doughboy for their famous fry bread!), Juneau, and Ketchikan. The final port of call is an evening visit to Victoria, British Columbia, before Carnival Spirit returns to Seattle on May 12.

The 85,920-gross-ton Carnival Spirit can welcome 2,124 guests – significantly smaller than the 3,690 guests aboard Carnival Magic and the most recent FFS cruise. This may mean fewer spaces available for the exclusive event, and they are sure to sell out quickly.

What to Expect on an FFS Cruise

Heald is one of the most well-known and colorful characters in the cruise industry, always going above and beyond to ensure Carnival cruise guests have amazing vacations.

He has a tremendous social media following with nearly 600,000 Facebook followers and answers hundreds of questions about all things Carnival every week.

Read Also: What Is the Best Time of Year to Cruise Alaska?

John Heald
John Heald

His incomparable British wit and self-deprecating humor charm many guests, and his FFS cruises have become wildly popular. In fact, the open spaces for these sailings – often available for 500-800 guests – can fill up and sell out within minutes.

Onboard an FFS cruise, guests have unique opportunities for meet-and-greets, photo and autograph sessions, question and answer panels, behind-the-scenes tours, cocktail parties, themed activities, and much more.

Registered guests are also treated to exclusive swag and gifts that become fabulous mementos of the unique sailing.

“It is going to be a cruise full of fun, comradery, surprises and of course all to the backdrop of incomparable Alaska,” Heald said.

Past FFS cruises have typically sailed in the Caribbean. Heald tries to choose different itineraries for each annual cruise, offering greater variety for interested guests and giving all fans the chance to enjoy the cruise with an extra dollop of fun and camaraderie.

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