Many cruisers want to show their appreciation to hard-working crew members with small gifts. Unfortunately, however, some crew members may not be receiving those gifts as intended if they aren’t offered in a way that can be accepted.
A common way to give gifts to cabin attendants (also known as stateroom stewards), for example, is to simply leave such items – drinks, candy, a hat, or other small gifts – in the cabin at the end of the cruise.
One guest has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s official Brand Ambassador, John Heald, to be sure those gifts can indeed be kept by the crew members. The answer is a surprising one.
“[On] our last cruise we left our extra drinks and told our room steward that we left them for him. After someone told me they are not allowed to keep things left in the room, that we would have had to give it to him not just left in the room. Is this true?”the guest asked.“If we leave snacks or drinks and tell them are they allowed to keep them?”
Heald’s assistant, Jacinta – who helps Heald respond to hundreds of daily questions and special requests – offered some insight into the gift-giving process.
“Indeed the right way to go about this is to hand it to them if you wish them to have it,”she said.
Neither Jacinta nor Heald offer further details about why crew members can’t keep items left behind, even if verbally told they can keep them by the guests.
It is possible, however, that the cruise line’s policy about such gifts overlaps with the lost-and-found policies. It is quite likely that the default is for any items left behind must be assumed to be lost and therefore not able for crew members to keep.
Even a verbal “We left this for you!” confirmation of the gift intention may not be sufficient for a crew member to keep an item, just in case that intent could be misinterpreted.
If guests want to offer crew members a special treat, it needs to be in the original, factory-sealed packaging. This is a safety measure in case of allergens that might be dangerous to crew members, as well as to ensure items have not been tampered with.
What Happens to Items Left Behind?
Heald has previously described the complex process when items are found left behind on a cruise ship. Those items must be sent to the cruise line’s Miami headquarters, where they are tagged and bagged according to ship and sailing date.
Then, shoreside team members attempt to match up items with lost-and-found reports filed by recent guests. If the items are confirmed, they are mailed back to the original owner.
If guests do want to offer a small gift to crew members – a dedicated cabin attendant, an energetic bartender, an enthusiastic Fun Squad member – handing the gift to them with a sincere “Thank You” is a great way to do it.
Carnival Cruise Line Crew Members (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Guests who do prefer to “leave an item behind” will want to attach a note or tag to the item with the crew member’s name to ensure they receive it and can keep it.
But what to give? Chocolate and similar treats are always favorites, and many crew members enjoy small trinkets from guests’ home cities – keychains, magnets, a hat, any sort of souvenir. These can be fun decorations for crew cabins, so long as they don’t take up much space!
Another fun option is to give crew members a special cruising duck. While the game can be controversial, many crew members enjoy looking for ducks and the silly figurines add a touch of joy to their cabins.
Of course, an extra gratuity is always a top choice for thanking any crew member who has made a guest’s cruise vacation more special and memorable. Offering a $2 bill as a thank you is a lucky and unique way to show gratitude and appreciation to team members.
Add Boston to the growing list of ports that are requiring cruise passengers to contribute revenue in the form of arrivals fees.
Starting in 2026, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) will charge each cruise arrival a $3 head tax, with the fee rising by $3 every year through 2030. By that time, the total arrivals fee will be $15 per person, according to local media reports.
The fee structure was approved by the authority on February 11, 2025 and will finance the lion’s share of a $105 million port improvement project at the city’s Flynn Cruiseport — a plan outlined in late 2024.
Among the initiatives included in the project is the installation of shore power infrastructure to enable cruise ships to plug into the shoreside power grid rather than keep their engines running while docked.
Massport estimates that close to 80 percent of the cruise ships that typically call at Boston can plug into shore power or use an alternative low-carbon technology.
With shore power connections installed at the port’s two main cruise ship berths, the port has stated it expects a 93% cut in nitrogen oxide, an 85% reduction in sulfur dioxide, and a 65% cut in carbon dioxide.
The connection infrastructure would make Boston the first port in New England to provide a shore power option. Other upgrades that will be funded using the cruise arrival fee include a new passenger boarding bridge, and an expanded reception and seating area.
Boston is a summer and fall season homeport for several cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
The lines typically sail Bermuda cruises as well as Canada/New England itineraries to Montreal and Quebec City, with port calls in Maine, Nova Scotia, and other destinations.
Among the largest ships slated to homeport in 2026 is Norwegian Cruise Line’s 4,500-guest Norwegian Breakaway. In 2025, two of the line’s smaller ships, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Gem, will offer sailings from Boston.
Other notable cruise ships calling at Boston in summer 2025 include Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, and the ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises’ ships Silver Dawn and Silver Shadow.
In addition to homeported vessels, the port welcomes some 160 cruise ship calls from 20 cruise lines. The port’s cruise operations translate to roughly $256 million in economic impact from the 480,000-plus cruise guests who visit each year.
Parking Fee Hikes Also Could Impact Cruise Guests
Along with the approved cruise arrivals fee, MassPort is considering raising parking rates at nearby Logan International Airport, which would likely impact cruise passengers flying to or from the city before and after their sailing.
Under the proposal, which has not been voted on, services such as Uber and Lyft would pay an increased flat fee of $7.50, up from $3.25. Taxi fees would rise to $5.50, from $2.25.
View of Boston Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia)
Boston has plenty of company in its quest to have cruise passengers help shoulder the cost of port infrastructure improvements and mitigate environmental concerns and lifestyle issues.
In Alaska, both Haines and Juneau charge cruise arrivals fees — $9 per person in Haines and $8 in Juneau. Juneau went even further, setting daily debarkation limits, as did Bar Harbor, Maine, in a bid to lessen the industry’s impact on local populations.
Internationally, the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos in 2025 implemented a €20 (approximately $22) fee on all cruise guests. The revenue will be used to mitigate the effects of cruise passengers on island infrastructure.
When Viking Cruises’ 378-passenger Viking Polaris arrives in port on April 4, 2025, it will kick off Port Halifax’s 2025 cruise season that will not end until AIDA Cruises’ 2,050-guest AIDAdiva departs on November 19, 2025.
At over seven months in length, the port will mark its longest season in its more than 250-year history.
Nearly 330,000 guests are set to call on the eastern Canadian port and its harbor town, surrounded by rolling hills, rocky shores, and numerous lakes.
Of the 188 scheduled calls to Port Halifax will be six inaugural visits, including the much-anticipated first North American port of call for Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, the 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady.
The new ship, wrapping up construction at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, is set to kick off her inaugural season in New York City on September 5, 2025, but not before calling in Halifax on August 31.
Also visiting the port for the first time will be Silversea Cruises’ Silver Dawn on May 24, Princess Cruises’ Majestic Princess on July 31, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Splendor on September 14, Oceania Cruises’ Allura on September 26, and French cruise line Le Champlain’s Ponant on October 17.
Halifax will also enjoy 52 multiple ship days during the season, with its peak months found in the summer months of June, July, and August.
On September 30, Norwegian Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Virgin Voyages, Holland America Line, and Swan Hellenic will all be in port together, bringing nearly 10,000 passengers to the shores of Canada on the port’s first five-ship day of the year.
Another five-ship day will feature vessels from Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line arriving on October 16.
Just five days later, on October 21, five more ships will call together from Crystal, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Silversea Cruises, Azamara, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Additionally, the port will welcome 13 tendering calls during its 2025 season.
“We’re pleased to share this year’s schedule, and we look forward to the return of cruise ships and cruise guests to the Halifax Seaport,”said Halifax Port Authority President and CEO Fulvio Fracassi.
“We know advance planning and preparations are important for our tourism partners, including the many local businesses like restaurants, stores, and attractions contributing to guest experiences,” Fracassi added.
“The cruise industry makes and important contribution to Nova Scotia’s tourism sector.”
Halifax is not only extending its season but also enhancing guest experiences and emphasizing sustainability. The port will continue to offer shore power connections and Environmental Shipping Index (ESI) rebates to visiting vessels, promoting environmentally friendly practices among its guests.
Earlier this week, Canada awarded $25 CAD million to the Halifax Port Authority for sustainable environmental infrastructure to refuel alternative fuel-powered vessels and establish a hydrogen production facility.
The 2025 season will also see upgrades that will include new digital signage, an enhanced public address system, better wayfinding, and the addition of new murals to enrich passenger experiences at the dockside.
Additionally, the port is installing water bottle filing stations and an interactive information booth at Pavilion 22 in partnership with Discover Halifax to promote exploration of the area.
For cruise fans who are interested in sailing to Alaska, Princess Cruises is one of the most popular brands to visit the Last Frontier state every summer.
But for prospective cruisers hoping to make the most of their voyage, there are questions regarding if splurging for the Princess Premier or Princess Plus packages are worth it – which come with an additional expense but make the sailing more all-inclusive once onboard.
“We are looking into a cruise to Alaska, but it’s been a few years since we’ve booked a cruise, and now it seems that every cruise line I look at has an ‘extra’ package for beverages, dining, etc. that is recommended,”one potential guest wrote on Reddit.
“On the Princess cruise I’m looking at, this adds $1,300 to our fare,” he added.“When is it worth it to buy?”
Unfortunately, this question does not have an answer that is one-size-fits-all – as it depends on what amenities each travel party intends to take advantage of while onboard.
In the best case scenario, the idea is that the daily fee – $60 per day per guest for the Princess Plus package and $90 per day per guest for the Princess Premier package – will ultimately cost less than purchasing other offerings a la carte.
These include Wi-Fi for up to 4 devices, unlimited premium drinks (such as bottled water, specialty coffee, juice, and some alcohol), unlimited meals at specialty restaurants onboard, reserved seating for production shows, and more.
The Princess Plus plan is a step down, but includes similar amenities, such as Wi-Fi for one device, a wide selection of non-alcoholic drinks, and two casual meals (while the Premier plan includes unlimited casual and specialty meals).
Both plans cover gratuities for the crew and waive the OceanNow fee – which means crew members will deliver drinks, snacks, and some essentials to guests wherever they are onboard for free.
Should You Splurge on an Alaskan Cruise?
While Princess’s extra packages certainly come with perks, they may not be worth it for guests who don’t plan to take advantage of the majority of what they include.
There will be some cases where it’s more cost effective to purchase some amenities or services individually as needed – and it is not mandatory to sign up for one of these packages.
The cruise fare for the Carnival-owned cruise line also automatically includes things like meals in the main dining rooms, many snacks, and entertainment – including the production shows (but without reserved seating).
But in the Reddit community where the prospective passenger posted his inquiry, the packages were generally seen as a good value – with some feeling like Princess’s plans include more than other cruise lines.
Princess Cruises’ Premier Package
They also appreciated not owing anything extra at the end of their cruises because everything was already paid for through the package.
“On most cruise lines I would say no. However, on Princess I usually buy the Plus. Unlike most other lines, the $60 a day covers a lot more than just drinks. After the gratuities, Wi-Fi, and a couple casual meals I break even with just my bottled water and specialty coffees,” one person replied.
“I feel like if you planned to get a Wi-Fi package and have a drink or two a day, Princess Plus is a no-brainer, especially since they hiked the a la carte Wi-Fi price to $25 a day…If you planned on eating at specialty restaurants then Premier also gets into no-brainer territory pretty fast,” another chimed in.
While the itineraries vary, they give guests the opportunity to explore five national parks in greater depth, such as Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Glacier Bay, along with embarking on a 7-night Alaska sailing.
Great Stirrup Cay is a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and located in the Bahamas. The island is exclusive to cruisers traveling on NCL ships in the Caribbean, and it offers plenty to do — from kayaking to snorkeling, zip lining to simply hanging out with a drink on the beach.
Here’s everything you can do and what to expect if you plan on cruising on an itinerary that travels to Great Stirrup Cay in the near future.
While exploring a new-to-you cruise port has its charms, I do think that there’s just something special about visiting a cruise line-exclusive destination.
All of the activities are coordinated by the cruise line, so there’s no risking it with third-party excursion providers. Everything is designed so you can have as much fun as possible. In some cases, you can enjoy on-shore activities without even paying extra.
As for Great Stirrup Cay, this 268-acre locale in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line in the 1970s. Originally, the island was a pirate’s hideaway, then a U.S. military post, and there’s even a historic lighthouse on the island, dating to the 1860s.
New Pier Redner at Great Stirrup Cay (Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
When Norwegian Cruise Line eventually developed the island, it was the first time that a cruise line had ever taken over an island and used it exclusively for its guests.
Over the years, Norwegian Cruise Line has made various refurbishments and enhancements to the island, such as a $1 million upgrade in the 1990s, and further additions in the 2010s.
Most recently, the cruise line said it would be building a new pier on the island, which would help negate the need for tendering upon arrival at the island.
As of early 2025, the two-ship pier is expected to be open by late 2025, which will allow NCL to double the number of guests on the island at one time, starting in 2026. That could mean that as many as 700,000 cruisers visit the island each year.
Beaches
Beach on Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Wynn Imaging)
There are three main beaches on the private island, giving you access to the crystal clear waters: Infinity Beach, Lighthouse Beach and Cabana Beach.
Infinity Beach and Lighthouse Beach both offer convenient locations close to other amenities such as bars, restaurants, the historic lighthouse and zip lining. The latter can accommodate hundreds of cruisers and, thus, can get a little bit crowded.
Meanwhile, the Cabana Beach, while on the small side, still offers a food truck and then cabanas for rent.
There are two types of cabanas you can rent: premium and classic cabanas. Premium cabanas are larger, suitable for up to eight people and come with furnishings such as sofas and water toys like floating mats, as well as bottled water. Classic cabanas are slightly smaller, suitable for six people, but with similar amenities.
Premium cabana rentals are $714 for an all-day rental. Classic cabana rentals are $659 for an all-day rental.
In addition to cabanas, you can also rent clam shells, which are exactly what they sound like: clam shell-shaped coverings that sit on the beach and provide shade without the unwieldiness of a beach umbrella. Clam shell rentals start at $50 for an all-day rental.
Dining and Bars
Dining at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Asif Islam)
You’ll be able to dine as much as you like on Great Stirrup Cay, as all of the dining is included in your cruise fare. Additionally, if you have a drinks package on your cruise ship, you’ll be able to use it on Great Stirrup Cay as well.
If you do not have a drinks package, your drink purchases will simply be charged to your account via your cruise card.)
Food options include Abaco Taco, for a handful of taco options, and Jumbey Beach Grill, which is a buffet with barbecue entrees and side dishes. There’s also a food truck on Cabana Beach, with sandwiches.
While past cruisers’ reviews of the build your own taco options aren’t that great, many say that the buffet’s barbecue is quite tasty.
That said, your overall dining options are a little limited, so if you have special dietary requirements or are particularly picky, you may want to eat before you leave the ship or after you get back to the ship.
As for bars, there are four to choose from, scattered across the island: Patron Bar, Betram’s Bar, Bacardi Bar and Lighthouse Beach Bar.
Activities
Passengers Enjoying Activities at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Victor Maschek)
You’ll find an array of activities on Great Stirrup Cay. However, before you begin planning your day, keep in mind that some are complimentary and you can just show up ahead of time and enjoy them, while others do require an extra fee and must be booked like any on-shore excursion at any port.
There’s a snorkel center on the island where you can rent equipment for snorkeling excursions. Snorkeling equipment runs about $15 for kids and $30 for adults.
Once you’ve rented your equipment, you can enjoy heading out to snorkeling spots like an underwater sculpture garden, where you can check out the coral reefs and swim among the marine life like stingrays and starfish.
If you’d prefer an excursion that keeps you above the water, you can sign up for a waverunner tour (from $175). Other excursions include kayaking (from $59) and stand up paddle boarding (from $43) trips, or a guided trip to a nearby island where you can swim with pigs (from $175).
There are multiple zip lines on the island (including the Seahawk zip line and Osprey traverse zip line), as well as ropes courses. To ride on the zip lines, you must be at least eight years old and you do have to weigh less than 250 pounds.
Depending on the zip line you choose, you could soar above nearly 3,000 feet of open air! There’s also a zip line that hangs from the replica lighthouse. One-hour zip line and ropes course experiences start at $87.
For a bit of retail therapy, take a trip to the island’s marketplace, where you can buy souvenirs and a few necessities, in case you forgot beachwear. There’s also a good selection of Bahamian crafts and local products.
If you want to shop a bit, bring some cash (dollars are good), as the locals selling at the marketplace will not accept credit cards.
Silver Cove
Silver Cove Villa Beach
Just like so many cruise ships now have special VIP areas where only suite guests are admitted and which usually offer private restaurants, sun decks and more, so does Great Stirrup Cay have a similar VIP area on the island: Silver Cove.
Silver Cove is only open to those who rent a private villa on the island. In addition to housing the villas, this portion of the island also features several beautiful outdoor spots to sunbathe or lounge, an infinity pool, a spa, two private beaches (Silver Cove Lagoon and Villa Beach), an upscale Silver Cove buffet and bar, and a separate bar.
Do note, that you don’t have to book a Silver Cove villa in order to use the spa. You can book a spa appointment without booking a villa, but that’s the only part of Silver Cove that you can access without that villa rental.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy a great day at the Silver Cove spa, though; after your treatment, check out the spa’s hot tubs’ stellar views of the ocean.
As for the villas themselves, you have a few different choices here. The largest option is a two-bedroom family villa that can accommodate up to 16 cruisers.
In addition to the two bedrooms, there are also two bathrooms, living and dining spaces, large outdoor living spaces, complimentary on-demand movies on the villa TV and in-villa food service.
The smallest villa option is the Ocean Villa, which can accommodate only six cruisers. While there aren’t any bedrooms in the villa (though, why would you need bedrooms anyway, when you’re only on the island for a day?), there is a living and dining space, and full private restroom.
Villa rentals range in cost, but start at around $650.
Good news, though — even if you didn’t book a Haven suite on your Norwegian Cruise Line ship, you can still get access to Silver Cove. Just because you’re not a so-called VIP on the ship doesn’t mean that you can’t be a VIP on land.
Tips for Visiting Great Stirrup Cay
Beach and Lighthouse on Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Nazar Skladanyi)
There are a few things you’ll want to remember when visiting Great Stirrup Cay, for the best experience possible, which I can let you know about:
For one, keep in mind that until the new two-ship pier is finished, you’ll need to tender to the private island. That means you’ll need to get to the tender ship, wait in line and then travel to the island on the small tender boats. Then, you’ll need to get back to the ship on the tender boats, which can also include a wait.
To avoid long wait times for the tender boats, you’ll want to both leave to get to the island early in the morning (or extra-late in the evening) and then plan to head back to the ship at least an hour or two before the ship’s departure time.
You’ll also want to get off the ship as early as possible, in order to snag a good spot on the beach, if you plan to spend most of your day beach-bumming.
I know, I know — getting up early is the last thing you want to do when you’re on a cruise ship, on vacation. However, believe me when I say that it’s well worth it to get that prime beach real estate.
Then, if you want to travel to Great Stirrup Cay, you’ll need to be sure that you book a cruise on one of the ships and itineraries that stop there.
Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Victor Maschek)
Currently, ships that travel to Great Stirrup Cay include Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Viva.
If you’ve decided that you want to enjoy any of the paid excursions or activities while on the island, make sure to stop by the excursion desk on the cruise ship ahead of your arrival, to book those activities.
When I go into port, I like to bring along a small backpack or tote bag packed with any need-to-have items, like sunscreen, water bottles, swim shoes, etc., depending on what I plan on doing while in that port.
This is still a good idea when you go to Great Stirrup Cay — but you’ll also want to keep in mind that, unlike as is the case on some cruise ship private islands, there are no lockers here.
That means if you’re taking an excursion and want to put your bag or some valuables away while you’re zip lining or scuba diving, you’re out of luck.
Lastly, there’s no WiFi on Great Stirrup Cay, so don’t expect to be able to immediately upload all of your selfies to your favorite social media platform.
You’ll need either an international data plan in order to have service, or you’ll simply need to wait until you’re back on the ship (if you have one of the ship’s WiFi packages) to access any online content.
More than 4.6 cruise passengers visited the island of Cozumel off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in 2024.
But passengers boarding Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady on February 23, 2025, won’t join the growing number of visitors.
The cruise line alerted its upcoming sailors that port congestion is forcing the 110,000-gross-ton vessel to find a new call during its 5-night “Riviera Maya” voyage.
Up to 2,770 guests will now visit Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands on February 25. And with the only other call on the roundtrip journey from Miami being the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas, they may need to rename the sailing.
“We wanted to let you know that we’ve had to make a port change to your voyage,”said Virgin Voyages to guests.
“Due to port congestion, we’re adjusting our itinerary and replacing Cozumel (Playa del Carmen) with Grand Turk in the beautiful Turks and Caicos.”
Passengers were not offered anything other than an apology from the cruise line, but many passengers on social media shared excitement in the change.
“I’ve been to Cozumel 3 times on a cruise so I’m actually VERY happy about this!” shared one passenger on Reddit.
“I was very excited to see this message this morning,” said another.
Despite one sailor being disappointed by the island’s lack of cenotes and submersible excursions, passengers considered the change an upgrade.
Not Such a Bad Alternative
Besides Valiant Lady, more than 166,000 passengers are scheduled to visit Cozumel on February 25, 2025, including Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Legend and Carnival Miracle and Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.
Three additional vessels from Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are also on the call sheet.
Cozumel Cruise Port, which decided to add a $5 fee per passenger to support the costs of managing such a large volume of visitors in 2025, operates the International Cruise Terminal, Punta Langosta, and Puerto Maya cruise terminals.
It can actually accommodate 10 cruise ships at one time but typically will not host more than eight vessels at once.
Grand Turk (Photo Credit: JTTucker)
Although Virgin Voyages’ arrival would fall within the port’s capabilities, the fact so many large ships will be in port on the same day could mean a less-than-pleasant experience for its passengers, all having to compete for limited tour operators available for excursions.
In Grand Turk, which will also welcome Carnival Cruise Line’s 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia when Valiant Lady arrives, sailors can expect a less crowded experience.
Instead of eight ships a day, the port typically sees just eight ships a week.
But that doesn’t mean the port isn’t up to par with Cozumel. In 2024, the port welcomed over 1 million cruise passengers and has already started 2025 strong, with more than 150,000 guests already gracing its shores.
The 13-acre Grand Turk Cruise Center is also a dedicated cruise center with a beach, lagoon-like swimming pool, duty-free shopping, restaurants, and a spa just steps from disembarkation. Here, cruisers will also find the Caribbean’s largest Margaritaville, featuring a swim-up bar.
The center is much like the Virgin Voyage’s private Beach Club at Bimini, which offers a lagoon-style swimming pool, beach, private cabanas, and free meals and snacks.
Following delays due to extra concerns about the ship’s safety and environmental risks, the SS United States is once again ready to begin her final journey.
The revised schedule has the ship taking her first steps away from Pier 82 since she docked in 1996 on Valentine’s Day – February 14, 2025.
The update comes from the SS United States Conservancy, which has worked hard to ensure the public is properly informed about the ship’s movements.
This permits fans to watch the ship sail away as she begins her slow and careful trip to Florida, where she will be converted into the world’s largest artificial coral reef.
“After completing additional due diligence involving further testing and safety protocols for the U.S. Coast Guard, Okaloosa County has again received approval to proceed with moving the SS United States from Pier 82 in South Philadelphia to a docking area in Mobile, Alabama,”the Conservancy confirmed.
The ship was originally scheduled to begin her trip on Thursday, February 6, before the need for additional information become apparent and the move was delayed.
Now, the ship is once more ready to get underway – just in time for the romance of a cruise vacation to merge with the most romantic day of the year.
“While still subject to last-minute changes or cancellations due to weather or other factors, the first phase of the operations to move America’s Flagship will begin on Friday, February 14th.”
The relocation of the 58,329-gross-ton, 990-foot ocean liner will be conducted in several phases. First, the ship will be moved laterally from Pier 82 to Pier 80, at which time she will undoubtedly undergo additional brief assessments.
This small but necessary movement is expected at roughly 2:47 p.m. on Friday, February 14, in conjunction with the local high tide. The tugboats will connect to the ship several hours prior to that maneuver.
The SS United States will then be towed down the Delaware River, passing several top vantage points for anyone interested in seeing her stately progress. That movement is now planned for 11:18 a.m. on Monday, February 17, when the river is at low tide to facilitate the ship’s passage beneath key bridges.
Bridge closures are being planned as the ship moves, ensuring the safety of motorists, spectators, and the crews moving the aged liner. Interested fans have several options for where to see the ship, including from the nearby IKEA parking lot and from public waterfront parks.
Moving the SS United States to Alabama
It will take approximately two weeks for the SS United States to move to Mobile, Alabama, where the refurbishment work will be completed so she will be safe to scuttle.
“Okaloosa’s contractors will be utilizing real-time route planning, which will adjust the ship’s course every 6-hours based on weather and currents,”the Conservancy explained.
The ship’s full course can be tracked online through Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s website. While the ship is on her way to Alabama, her final resting place will be off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
SS United States Ocean Liner (Photo Credit: KC Lindman)
The entire voyage will be made under tow, ensuring the ship remains stable along the way.
Once she reaches the shipyard in Mobile, the work necessary to prepare the ship for placement as an artificial reef will take approximately a year. The exact timing will depend on overall shipyard scheduling and whether or not additional difficulties may be encountered during the work.
The Conservancy will continue to be involved in the ship’s conversion to an artificial coral reef, and will help plan the land-based museum that will be nearby the ship’s final location.
That museum will contain artifacts, artwork, and relics from the ship and her long history, extending her legacy far into the future even while her hull rests beneath the waves.
Cruise travelers are generally eager to board their ship and settle in, getting their vacation started right away. A critical part of starting that vacation, however, is completing the mandatory safety briefing – the muster drill.
But is the muster drill cruisers know and love today – a quick stop at their muster station rather than the longer, mass drill of years past – really the safest option? Does a faster drill provide adequate information for travelers in the event of a real at-sea emergency?
The issue has been raised to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, with concerns about how prepared cruise passengers may really be if the drill becomes a real-life situation.
“I hate to be a buzz kill… I feel the old way was more detailed and informative. Going to get life jackets in your cabin and actually putting them on, and proceeding to your muster station and standing at your boat number is what really would happen if there was a true emergency,”one guest explained.
“Hearing the actual warning from the ships horn and everyone going thru the process at the same time is the feeling of what will actually go on during a true emergency.”
The guest goes on to suggest that even bringing down a lifeboat and having guests practice boarding could be a prudent step in the safety drill, noting that in a true emergency guests may not know what to do.
“Where is [the] ‘safety first’ concept?”the guest asked. “‘Getting it over with and starting my cruise’ could be the worst thought you ever had.”
It may seem like the updated, e-muster is only an abbreviated safety drill that doesn’t properly convey enough information in case of an emergency. Heald explains, however, that there is more safety preparation behind the scenes that guests aren’t aware of.
“The most important thing you need to know is this, while the actual guest lifeboat drill is shorter and more precise, the training for the crew has only increased,”he said.
“Every week there are crew drills. Each and every week there are specific areas such as firefighting, guest abandon ship practices, and so much more that the crew undertake each and every week, multiple times a week.”
Heald himself has been serving at sea for nearly 39 years and is personally experienced with just how safety procedures have been updated and refined throughout the years.
Yes, this means that individual travelers spend less time as part of a mass muster drill, but the overall attention to safety onboard has increased over the decades.
When Should Guests Complete the E-Muster?
Another guest chimes in on the other side of the discussion, believing that being “forced” to visit one’s muster station first detracts from that initial excitement of getting onboard.
“I do not get excited [to board the ship],”the guest said.“That is because of the enforced change you have made sending us to the muster station first!”
To be clear, Carnival Cruise Line does not “force” guests to their muster station as soon as they board.
While doing the safety briefing right away is strongly encouraged and crew members are available to help guests find their muster stations, guests can still choose to have lunch first, drop their luggage in their stateroom if they have those privileges, take a spa tour, or enjoy a welcome aboard drink.
“Standing in line, and then waiting around for a lifejacket demonstration is not an exciting way to start any cruise,”the guest continued.“Then you find out that if you don’t follow these rules your card gets suspended so that you cannot get any cocktail service.”
Carnival Cruise Ship Muster Drill (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)
Carnival Cruise Line’s policy is that a guest can only order two drinks before their onboard account will be “suspended” until they have completed their safety drill. This guest, however, would prefer a return to mass drill that was often scheduled for 3:30 or 4 p.m., just before the ship would set sail.
“Return to the previous way of doing the muster station drill. Yes it was longer but everybody was relaxed and we can do what we want as soon as we get on the ship [before the drill],”the guest requested.
Different commenters noted that the in-person drills take longer for everyone and could be very stressful, especially on hot days when guests were standing in the sun during the entire drill.
Other travelers note that during the in-person drill, it could be difficult to get a large crowd to fully quiet down as directed. This could make the drill take longer or else meant other guests couldn’t hear the safety instructions anyway.
With more than 4,000 comments on the guest’s post, very few (I couldn’t find a single one!) agree with the idea that the old muster drill is preferable.
Having experienced both myself, on multiple cruise lines, I have to say the new drill feels equally safe and informative, and it’s much nicer to get it finished in just a few minutes and say Bon Voyage!
World cruise aficionados have an exciting itinerary to consider from Costa Cruises in 2027, a 139-day voyage to 47 iconic destinations across the globe.
Costa Cruises, one of nine Carnival Corporation brands, has opened bookings for the sailing, which departs from Savona, Italy, on November 24, 2026 and concludes there on April 12, 2027.
The 2,260-guest Costa Deliziosa will operate the voyage, which will span three oceans and include visits to five continents. Some of the ship’s port calls will represent Costa Cruises’ maiden visits to the destinations.
Besides Savona, World Cruise guests have the option to depart from additional European ports, including Rome, on November 24, 2026, Marseille, France, on November 26, 2026, and Barcelona, Spain, on November 27, 2026.
Additionally, a 100-day segment is offered from San Francisco, which is among the US West Coast ports the ship will visit before she makes her way to the South Pacific.
“With the World Cruise 2027 we want to offer a truly unique and unforgettable experience, combining the exploration of iconic places with the proposal of exclusive destinations, some of which have never been touched before by our itineraries,” said Luigi Stefanelli, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Costa Cruises.
One of the new destinations Costa Deliziosa will visit is Half Moon Cay, the private island in the Bahamas owned by Carnival Corporation and used exclusively by its cruise brands.
The destination features white-sand beaches, multiple water adventures, private cabanas, dining venues, retail markets, waterfront bars, and more. By that time, there will also be a pier at the island, which could be an option for the ship.
During the voyage the ship will overnight at several key destinations, including New York, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, and Tokyo. In fact, Costa Deliziosa will be docked at the Port of Los Angeles for New Year’s Eve.
The overnight stay in the City of Angels will enable guests to experience a unique excursion featuring helicopter tours to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.
Added Stefanelli: “With this edition, we want to redefine and innovate the concept of travel around the world, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those who dream of an extraordinary adventure and the opportunity to discover the world with the quality and hospitality that distinguish Costa Cruises.”
Itinerary to Feature Iconic Destinations on 5 Continents
After sailing across the Western Mediterranean, Costa Deliziosa will make her transatlantic crossing, with her first port of call in North America being New York. The ship, which launched in 2009, will sail south to Half Moon Cay and other ports in the Caribbean before transiting the Panama Canal.
Photo Credit: Thirasia / Shutterstock
The Mexican Riviera is next on the ship’s itinerary, followed by the US West Coast cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. From there, guests will experience the Hawaiian Islands, Tahiti and other South Pacific destinations, and Australia and New Zealand.
Asia comes next, with calls to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and other exotic ports. Costa Deliziosa will sail across the Indian Ocean to the Maldives and then to South Africa, visiting Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elisabeth. The ship will then make her way north to the Canary Islands and sail eastward into the Mediterranean.
The per-person, double, cruise fare for the full World Cruise starts at €17,999 ($18,760 USD). Guests can choose from among four cabin and suite categories.
Amenities onboard Costa Deliziosa include seven pools and hot tubs, five dining venues, and a dozen bars and lounges. Broadway-style shows are offered in the ship’s theater, and guests can take advantage of an outdoor sports area and full fitness center.
