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Carnival Cruise Line Reveals Newest Loyalty Gift

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Reveals Newest Loyalty Gift

The most loyal guests of Carnival Cruise Line have a new gift that is rolling through the fleet and will make getting ready for their next cruise much easier – packing cubes.

The cubes are already available aboard the cruise line’s newest vessel, Carnival Jubilee, and will gradually become available through the end of February and into early March on all 27 ships.

The exact date of availability will depend on how many cruisers receive the gifts and what each ship’s individual supply of the previous gift may be. The most recent gift, a canvas baseball cap, was introduced in October 2024.

The new packing cube gift was revealed by Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, and was met with great enthusiasm by eager travelers.

“Here is the latest Diamond and Platinum gift. They are packing cubes,” Heald announced. “They will be on every ship in the coming weeks. Some ships will still continue with the baseball cap, but probably by the end of this month and the start of March it will be the packing cubes that will be across the fleet.”

The cubes are Carnival’s classic navy blue with a red zipper closure and the VIFP Club logo as an attached patch.

Packing cubes are lightweight zippered bags that help compartmentalize and organize one’s luggage, saving space and making packing easier.

Depending on the design style, they can also compress whatever is being packed and offer even more room for souvenirs or extra items – such as packing along some cruise ducks!

Guests immediately responded to the revelation with positive comments, highlighting the usefulness of the new gift.

“This is probably the best gift I’ve seen offered. I would be very happy with packing cubes.”

“Definitely a gift we can and will use! Fabulous!”

“Something I would use every trip, I love packing cubes.”

Because those who receive the gifts are already frequent travelers – Platinum and Diamond level cruisers in Carnival’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program – the packing cubes are sure to be popular and a welcome addition to future cruise preparation.

Receiving Loyalty Gifts

Travelers must be either Platinum or Diamond guests in the VIFP program to receive the gifts. Carnival Cruise Line awards travelers one point for every day they have sailed with the cruise line.

The Platinum level of loyalty begins at 75 points, while Diamond status is only achieved at 200 points – the equivalent of more than 28 7-night sailings.

To collect their gifts, guests must visit the Pixels Photo Gallery onboard their cruise ship. A list of eligible passengers is available and checked to ensure no one claims more gifts than they have earned through the loyalty program.

Carnival Cruise Line Loyalty Gift
Carnival Cruise Line Loyalty Gift

In addition to the packing cubes, Platinum and Diamond guests are also given loyalty pins that feature new designs each year. These pins are customized with individual ship names, making them highly sought after as cruise memento collectibles.

The packing cubes are not the first time Carnival Cruise Line has offered practical gifts that travelers might use on future cruises.

In the past, loyalty gifts have included valet bags, duffle bags, and small tote bags, all of which have been received with varying levels of enthusiasm. Packing cubes in a different design were also offered several years ago.

Carnival changes the loyalty gift offering every few months as a “thank you” for frequent travelers. Other gifts in the past have included Tervis tumblers, blankets, journals, headphones, hats, can koozies, and much more.

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?

Different gifts have been received with different levels of both gratitude and disdain. While no gift will appeal to every traveler, Heald encourages the gifts to be shared with non-Platinum or Diamond guests.

“I do hope that you enjoy them,” Heald said of the packing cubes. “If you don’t, well, hopefully somebody you give them to will.”

Some frequent cruisers will also give away the gifts not because they don’t enjoy them, but because they are able to cruise so often that they simply have collected many duplicate gifts.

They may then share the gifts with family members or friends, or even other cruisers onboard the ship – giving them a great souvenir and the ambition to join the upper levels of the VIFP club themselves.

Fire on Disney Treasure Cruise Ship Swiftly Dealt With

Lissa Poirot
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Fire on Disney Treasure Cruise Ship Swiftly Dealt With

Disney Cruise Line’s newest vessel, the 144,000-gross-ton, 4,000-passenger Disney Treasure, has been making headlines since before her maiden voyage on December 21, 2024.

But no one expected this one, a scary headline for any cruise guest to read.

While the world was tuned into the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025, a passenger aboard the ship shared news that there had been a small fire.

“Please bare [sic] with me on posts. We had a medical emergency onboard in the family, there was a small fire on board, and the earthquake in the Caribbean that people were frantic about. It’s been a long day,” posted the Admin of Disney Cruise Line Community page.

The post came after a 7.6-magntiude earthquake struck the Caribbean near the Cayman Islands the evening of February 8, hours after Disney Treasure departed on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral.

“Reporting in from The Treasure, we’re all here and still afloat,” shared another guest, providing more details. “When Captain Andy [McRonald] came on and rattled off the crew warning/instructions, I assumed medical emergency.”

However, the announcement had been a Code Red, with red indicating fire.

“The cruise director came on maybe an hour later while was doing Prima Notte at Palo and explained it was a small fire in one of the incinerators that the crew ably took care of,” the guest continued.

Other passengers confirmed the fire took place in an incinerator room and was quickly extinguished, with some making light of the location, posting, “A fire in an incinerator sounds like exactly what should be happening” and “small fires in the ‘incinerator’ would be, um, a pretty good spot for them.”

Disney Treasure is continuing on her voyage, unaffected by the incident with no operations compromised, and will arrive at her first call today, February 10, in Cozumel, Mexico. 

The full itinerary includes a call in George Town, Grand Cayman, on February 11, days after the National Weather Service warned the island – and then cleared it – of possible tsunami surges following the large earthquake that took place deep in the floor of the Caribbean Sea.

The warnings also extended to Jamaica and the Bahamas, where the cruise ship is also calling before its voyage ends in Port Canaveral, Florida, on February 15.

The islands have been on heightened alert due to potential aftershocks. Since the original seismic event, a multitude of smaller shocks have taken place off the coast of southern Puerto Rico, ranging from 2.8 to 3.1 magnitude.

Not Common, But Not Uncommon

This is not the first time a small fire has taken place on a new and highly publicized vessel. In June 2024, just five months after its maiden voyage, Royal Caribbean’s massive Icon of the Seas had a small incident.

The world’s largest ship at 248,663 gross tons and carrying up to 5,610 passengers had been docked in Costa Maya, Mexico, when the incident briefly knocked out power and caused a slight delay in departure.

Read Also: Secret Emergency Codes on Cruise Ships Only Crew Members Know

A spokesperson from the cruise line told CNN that minor fires are “not common, but also not uncommon.”

In fact, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream recently experienced a fire in the incinerator area in November 2024. That fire, however, forced passengers to evacuate the Vibe and Edge areas during an open house.

Fire at sea is a top concern for cruise ships. All cruise lines are readily prepared for emergencies like these with firefighting teams on standby 24 hours a day, fire extinguishers and sprinkler heads located throughout the ship, and smoke detectors installed in all staterooms.

Updates Revealed for Carnival Cruise Ship After Dry Dock

Melissa Mayntz
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Updates Revealed for Carnival Cruise Ship After Dry Dock

Carnival Sunshine is heading toward her new homeport of Norfolk, Virginia and she is looking fine! The ship is fresh from a two week dry dock in Marseille, France. During the refurbishment, she received a variety of refreshments guests will enjoy.

Dry dock operations include technical updates and maintenance so the ship continues to sail smoothly and function properly, while aesthetic updates ensure a fantastic experience for every guest.

During this dry dock, a variety of public spaces and amenities have been updated onboard Carnival Sunshine, as well as functional updates for guest staterooms.

“She looks magnificent having received complete refurbishment of the water park, ropes course, mini golf, jogging track & all open decks synthetic floor,” described John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador.

“New cardio machines [have been added] to the guest gym, making it one of the best in the fleet. Motion lights added to all guest cabins. Casino upgrades have been added with [a] new host desk on the promenade deck.”

To accompany these updates, Carnival Sunshine also received hull cleaning and repainting, as well as other refreshment so she truly does shine.

“This along with all the usual maintenance and upkeep of a dry dock means Carnival Sunshine looks absolutely fabulous,” Heald said.

While Carnival Sunshine did not offer one-way transatlantic cruises to and from dry dock, the ship is now on her way to Norfolk, Virginia to begin her new deployment.

Previously, the vessel was homeported from Charleston, South Carolina, but that cruise port has declined to renew its homeport agreement with Carnival Cruise Line. Future development of the cruise terminal may mean sailings return to Charleston in the years to come, but there are no longer any ships sailing from the city.

Sailing Aboard Carnival Sunshine

Instead, Carnival Sunshine will begin sailing from her new homeport of Norfolk, Virginia with her first departure on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. That inaugural sailing is a 5-night Bahamas itinerary with planned visits to Freeport and Bimini.

The ship will be offering primarily 6- and 8-night voyages to the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Eastern Caribbean, depending on departure date and cruise length. In the fall, select Canada and New England sailings are also on her schedule.

The refreshed Carnival Sunshine will be making appearances at top ports such as Amber Cove, Grand Turk, Princess Cays, King’s Wharf, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay.

On her September 28, 2025 departure, the ship will make her inaugural visit to the brand new Celebration Key, Carnival’s private destination currently under construction on Grand Bahama Island.

Carnival Sunshine Dry Dock in Marseille
Carnival Sunshine Dry Dock in Marseille (Photo Credit: James Love)

The 102,853-gross-ton Carnival Sunshine, formerly Carnival Destiny, can welcome 3,002 guests aboard and is also home to more than 1,100 international crew members.

Carnival Cruise Line has a regular schedule of dry dock operations to keep its fleet of 27 ships in peak condition. While some ships receive more extensive upgrades that may change venues or introduce completely new spaces onboard, others receive only general refreshment, depending on each vessel’s individual needs and schedule.

Carnival Sunshine was most recently in dry dock in late 2021, at which time she also received the brand new red-white-and-blue hull livery.

Her most significant update was in 2013, at which time the ship was Carnival Destiny. The $155 million (USD) upgrade at that time completely transformed the ship over a seven-week dry dock in Italy, adding new cabins, new restaurants, an extensive Serenity Deck, the SportSquare complex, and much more.

Read Also: Former Carnival Cruise Ships, Where Are They Now?

That dry dock was so massive that the ship was renamed and debuted as Carnival Sunshine. This was the beginning of the transformative Sunshine class of ships that would grow to include Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph) in 2019 and Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory) in 2021.

Carnival Cruise Line Clears Up Use of Unique Bills for Crew Tips

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Clears Up Use of Unique Bills for Crew Tips

Many cruisers enjoy acknowledging the hard work of crew members by offering extra cash tips. This can be done in many ways – a thank you at the end of the sailing, a daily tip, or even a fun arrangement of bills.

But what about the currency of the tips or the denominations of bills? While US currency is preferred and most useful on most Carnival cruise ships, some unique bills have caused rumors to circulate on social media.

Specifically, the use of $2 bills for tips has generated some misinformation among guests who want to say thanks to crew members. To clarify what is acceptable, one guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, about the bill denomination.

“My late mother loved two dollar bills. I inherited about $500 worth of them when she passed,” the guest explained. “I was told by people on the VIFP Facebook page that this was not allowed and the crew would not be able to use them or change them.”

To be clear, there is no official “VIFP Facebook page” affiliated with Carnival Cruise Line. There are, however, hundreds of fan pages for groups of travelers, specific sailings, individual ships, or just Carnival fans in general.

Because none of these pages are connected to the cruise line in an official capacity, information shared on them should always be verified before guests act on the advice.

Head did respond to the guest and offered some insight into the use of $2 bills for crew tips.

“The crew can definitely take them. The crew will definitely appreciate them and for some crew they consider a two dollar bill to be very lucky,” Heald said.

He also posted a poll about the use of the unique bills, which has since generated more than 22,300 votes. Roughly 13% of respondents (2,900 votes) say they have offered a $2 bill to a crew member as an extra gratuity.

Another 83% of guests (18,500 votes) agree they have offered cash tips, but haven’t done so with a $2 bill. Additional commenters added insights about offering the unique bill denominations to crew members.

“We always give $2 bills. 95% of the crew says ‘Oh lucky bills!!’ Some of them have never seen one before. But they absolutely love them!” said one guest.

“I specifically go to the bank before my cruise and get about $50 worth of $2. I’ve had the crew tell me before how special that was and that they were saving it,” another guest said.

The current design of the US $2 bill was first introduced in 1976. The bill features Thomas Jefferson (Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and third president of the US) on the front and a famous painting of the signing of the Declaration on the back.

$2 Bills as Cruise Tips

Because $2 bills are relatively rare in active circulation – when was the last time you received one? – they can be surprising and exciting for crew members to receive as a tip. To be clear, they are legal US tender and perfectly acceptable to be used as payment for any purchases.

Whether or not the bills are lucky varies in different cultures, but according to Is It Good Luck? they are generally associated with prosperity, good fortune, balance, and harmony.

US Two Dollar Bills
US $2 Dollar Bills (Photo Credit: Dennis Sylvester Hurd)

A $2 amount is a convenient offering as an extra gratuity for a bar tender or room service delivery, making $2 bills a fast and efficient way to thank crew members.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Gratuities – How Much and Why?

Many guests even use $2 bills as a thank you gesture to a wide variety of crew members, including those cleaning around the ship or working in other positions that might not normally receive part of any pre-paid gratuities.

Because the bills are the least-printed US currency, they are less common and more likely to spark interest and excitement when given and can be a wonderful gift to offer anyone who makes your cruise vacation more enjoyable.

Tsunami Threat Passes in Caribbean Following 7.6 Earthquake

Lissa Poirot
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0
Tsunami Threat Passes in Caribbean Following 7.6 Earthquake

The Caribbean region and visiting cruise ship passengers can breathe a sigh of relief following the lifting of tsunami advisories that were triggered by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake near the Cayman Islands on February 8.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service’s (NWS) confirmed that the tsunami threat had passed, with no significant surges reported and only minimal unusual currents possibly affecting some areas.

“With the latest modeling and information, the tsunami threat has passed,” shared the NWS. “There are no alerts posted for the United States of International Partners. The tsunami threat has passed.”

Despite the initial alarm, which reported possible surges of up to 10 feet, the earthquake and potential tsunami impact seem to have been less severe than feared. 

As of early February 9, the US Geological Survey had reports from just over 350 reports who claimed to have felt the quake. There have been no injuries or severe damages reported in connection with the event.

As the region returns to normalcy, cruise ships in the vicinity have also resumed their scheduled itineraries. 

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit, which was the closest passenger ship near the earthquake’s epicenter, remained on a call in George Town, Grand Cayman, five hours longer than planned but has since departed and is en route back to Fort Lauderdale.

The 2,218-guest vessel is enjoying two sea days before concluding a 7-day special entertainment voyage featuring American composer and trumpeter Chris Botti.

Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Grandeur, which had departed Costa Maya, Mexico, when the earthquake hit, is currently sailing in the same area as the 746-passenger ship sails to Falmouth, Jamaica, for a February 10, 2025, call. 

Jamaica, along with the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Haiti, Belize, Cuba, the US and British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, and Puerto Rico, were all put on high alert following the earthquake, which struck at 6:23 p.m. local time on February 8.

Complicating the response was the discovery that five of six Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys near the Cayman Islands were not operational.

Royal Caribbean’s Meteorologist Craig Setzer shared the news on X (formerly twitter), “Buoy 42409 in the central Gulf apparently recorded the ‘shaking’ as a series of deep-water waves passed, but not tsunami waves. The other buoys are reporting ‘NO DATA.’”

He said it appeared two of the non-reporting DARTs had drifted off their station but was not certain what happened to the additional three buoys, crucial for tsunami detection.

Aftershock Alert

While the tsunami warnings have been removed, those sailing in the area are not entirely off the hook as aftershocks following the earthquake are possible.

“We have no doubt that there will be aftershocks over the next couple of days,” Dani Coleman, director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands told the local Cayman Compass. “We ask the public to remain vigilant and keep abreast to all official channels.”

Cayman Islands earthquake
Cayman Islands earthquake (Photo Credit: US National Geological Survey)

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur in the same area following a large earthquake and are the way for the Earth to adjust to the settling following a seismic event.

It’s not uncommon for aftershocks to occur days to even weeks after a quake.

However, it is important to note that ships at sea are not impacted by quakes occurring deep beneath the surface and are equipped to manage rougher seas that may arise during seismic activity.

George Town’s tender port does not have any scheduled calls on February 9. Its next arrival is Independence of the Seas. The Royal Caribbean vessel carrying up to 4,375 guests will arrive on February 10.

Seven Seas Grandeur and Disney Cruise Line’s 4,000-passenger Disney Treasure are expected to arrive on February 11. The port authority of the Cayman Islands does not have any warnings in place ahead of the arrivals.

Tsunami Warnings Shake Caribbean Cruise Destinations Following Earthquake

Lissa Poirot
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0
Tsunami Warnings Shake Caribbean Cruise Destinations Following Earthquake

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that rattled the Caribbean near the Cayman Islands on Saturday evening, February 8, 2025, has led to multiple tsunami advisories across the region.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands shortly after the earthquake.

Alerts released at 7:35 p.m. EST warned of about surges of 1 to 3 feet for the Cayman Islands and a more severe 3 to 10 feet for Cuba.

“A tsunami warning is issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate widespread inundation is imminent, expected, or occurring,” says NOAA.

“Warnings alert the public that dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents is possible and may continue for several hours after initial arrival,” NOAA continued.

The earthquake, approximately 130 miles southwest of the Cayman Islands, had its epicenter pinpointed at roughly 17.8° N latitude and 82.5° W longitude.

As of press time, there have been no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the earthquake itself. Emergency services across the affected regions are on high alert.

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Summit was currently sailing closest to the epicenter, having spent 10 hours calling in George Town, Grand Cayman when the earthquake hit.

However, Cruise Hive’s ship tracker shows the vessel is still in port, with the Cayman Islands Port Authority saying the ship is not scheduled to depart until 11:30 p.m. The port is a tender port, meaning Celebrity Summit is not docked.

The 2,218-passenger vessel is on a special 7-night roundtrip Chris Botti voyage from Fort Lauderdale, scheduled to return to Port Everglades on February 11, and does not have any additional calls before the sailing concludes. Celebrity Cruises has not issued any travel alerts as of press time.

Read Also: Grand Cayman Cruise Port – Terminals, Tendering and Getting Around

South of Puerto Rico and west of the US Virgin Islands’ St. Croix, Costa Cruises’ 3,800-guest Costa Fascinosa wrapped up a call in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, when the earthquake hit and is slated to finish its 7-night cruise in La Romana, Dominican Republic on February 9.

Rhapsody of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean and hosting up to 2,416 passengers, is also currently in the waters near St. Croix, and scheduled to complete its 7-night Southern Caribbean itinerary in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on February 9.

A passenger on the ship posted on social media, “No announcements yet but we’re strongly rocking now.”

However, by 8:25 p.m., NOAA removed tsunami warnings for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, leaving warnings in affect for the Cayman Islands and Cuba. No additional ships are in any of the areas potentially at risk for a tsunami.

Are Passengers Safe During Earthquakes?

Many passengers took to social media, fearful the earthquake would affect upcoming calls and voyages. For vessels at sea, guests on cruise ships during an earthquake are generally safe as water absorbs seismic waves.

Cruise Ship in Grand Cayman, Caribbean
Cruise Ship in Grand Cayman, Caribbean (Photo Credit: eric laudonien)

Passengers should not feel the impact of the shocks as cruise ships are designed to handle various sea conditions and are not affected by earthquakes taking place beneath the ocean floor.

The biggest danger of tsunamis affect shores, where increased waves can cause flooding and damage structures like ports.

Tsunami waves can travel at speeds of over 300 miles per hour and could take several hours to travel from the sea to the coast. This could be why Celebrity Summit remains in port.

This is a developing story. Check back with Cruise Hive for further updates as the situation unfolds.

World’s Busiest Cruise Port Sets Busiest Record Ever

Melissa Mayntz
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World’s Busiest Cruise Port Sets Busiest Record Ever

PortMiami is the Cruise Capital of the World and has earned that title without dispute by hosting a record-breaking 10 cruise ships on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

No frequent cruise traveler will be surprised that PortMiami is busy, but just quite this busy is a shock – on a typical day 5-6 ships would still be considered quite heavy cruise traffic.

The 10 ships homeporting from PortMiami all at once include vessels from seven different cruise lines, setting sail on itineraries ranging from 5-27 nights. Together, the ships will be visiting more than 35 unique ports of call on the sailings they began on the same day.

The longest itinerary is for Holland America Line’s Zaandam, which is beginning a 27-night “Amazon Explorer” itinerary that will visit unique and exciting destinations such as St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Tobago, French Guiana, Barbados, and more.

Of special interest are several unique ports in Brazil as the 61,396-gross-ton ship makes her way up the Amazon River. Zaandam will return to Miami on Friday, March 7.

In addition to that longest cruise, the record-breaking fleet homeporting simultaneously from PortMiami includes:

  • Carnival Sunrise on a 5-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Freeport
  • Independence of the Seas on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman and Jamaica
  • Norwegian Escape on a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing to Great Stirrup Cay and Cozumel
  • Norwegian Gem on a 5-night Bahamas voyage to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay
  • Icon of the Seas on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Cococay
  • MSC Seascape on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing to Amber Cove, San Juan, and St. Thomas
  • Carnival Magic on an 8-night Southern Caribbean voyage to Aruba, Curacao, and Amber Cove
  • Scarlet Lady on an 8-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary to Amber Cove, San Juan, St. Croix, and Bimini
  • Oceania Sirena on a 10-night one-way voyage to Panama, including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica

When the passenger capacities of all 10 vessels are combined, nearly 68,000 cruise guests are transiting through the same port on the same day, both embarking and debarking.

“It is no surprise PortMiami and the cruise industry continue to break records,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

“PortMiami is the departure choice for all major cruise lines. As a destination, Miami-Dade is undoubtedly the center of world cruise tourism with incredible weather, culture, and unlimited options for exciting experiences.”

More New Ships to Come

In addition to such amazing homeporting capacity on a single day, PortMiami is also set to welcome seven new ships throughout 2025. While some are day visits, others will be new homeporting vessels.

Of special distinction on January 21 was the arrival of Queen Anne as part of her 112 Maiden World Voyage itinerary, a tremendous voyage circumnavigating the globe from Hamburg, Germany.

MSC World America will debut from Miami in April. The brand new ship will remain homeported from the Sunshine State year-round with alternating Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean voyages.

Cruise Ships in Miami, Florida
Cruise Ships in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: MikeDotta)

Also setting sail from Miami in April will be Norwegian Aqua, the third Prima-class ship and the first of the enhanced Prima-plus subclass.

Norwegian Aqua will only offer two sailings from Miami before homeporting first from Port Canaveral and then from New York, before returning to Miami to homeport for the winter season.

Wonder of the Seas will be leaving Port Canaveral and redeploying to PortMiami in August, bringing another Oasis-class experience to the South Florida homeport. She will offer 3- and 4-night Bahamas sailings for great short getaways.

Following her Alaska season in Seattle, Queen Elizabeth will homeport from Miami beginning on October, offering Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries until early April, when she will return to Seattle. She will return to South Florida again after the 2026 Alaska season.

Brilliant Lady will begin setting sail from PortMiami in October, offering a diverse selection of Caribbean itineraries ranging from 7-12 nights. In March 2026, she will depart for Los Angeles and then Seattle to enjoy the Alaska season.

Finally, Oceania Allura will bring even more luxury and diversity to PortMiami beginning in November with a broad Caribbean season visiting ports in the Bahamas, Mexico, Aruba, Martinique, Bermuda, and much more.

With so many options from PortMiami, it is no wonder that it’s a favorite homeport of cruise travelers who are always interested in trying new ships and visiting new destinations.

Celebrity Solstice Cruises Cancelled for Longer Dry Dock

Melissa Mayntz
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Celebrity Solstice Cruises Cancelled for Longer Dry Dock

Booking the first sailing of a ship, whether the debut of a brand new vessel or the first return to service cruise after a dry dock, can be a gamble for cruise travelers.

It is always possible a ship will be delayed or dry dock dates changed, either delaying or even cancelling planned sailings.

This is the case with two upcoming departures for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice. While the ship has been scheduled to enter dry dock in February 2026, the cruise line has announced that more extensive work is needed than initially believed, which now requires that two cruises be cancelled as the dry dock dates have changed.

“We have discovered that Celebrity Solstice requires additional servicing beyond planned repairs and maintenance, which extends her currently scheduled dry dock period,” the email notification explained. “To ensure that we meet our high standards, and due to availability at the shipyard, we must advance the dry dock schedule.”

To accommodate the new dry dock plan, the ship’s January 15 and January 27, 2026 sailings have now been cancelled.

These cancellations will permit the ship to enter dry dock slightly earlier than originally planned, offering adequate time for the repairs, maintenance, and other updates. The nature of the overall repair needs has not been disclosed.

Celebrity Cruises is offering several replacement sailing options for impacted travelers.

Elected options include the ship’s 12-night departure from Hong Kong on January 3, 2026, prior to the dry dock update, visiting Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as Bangkok and Ko Samui in Thailand. The voyage ends in Singapore.

Guests could also set sail on March 2, 2026 from Singapore to Hong Kong, or choose the return voyage from Hong Kong to Singapore on March 14, 2026. Both are after the dry dock dates, and these cruises are planned to visit the same ports as the January 3 departure.

If guests choose any of these three replacement options, they will have their original stateroom category price protected on the new cruise. If the new cruise is already a lower price, they will pay the lower fare.

Worth Reading: Celebrity Cruises Ship Gets Updated Venues and New Suites

If travelers have already paid in full for a now-cancelled cruise and a replacement sailing is a lower fare, they will receive a refund for the difference.

Furthermore, all guests who rebook on one of the three recommended sailings will receive $200-400 (USD) in onboard credit, depending on their class of stateroom.

If passengers prefer not to rebook on the alternative sailings, they can select any other Celebrity Cruises sailing as a replacement cruise, and any non-refundable deposit change fees will be waived.

Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock

This offer can be used for any Celebrity Cruises ship in any sailing region, and for any date currently available for booking.

Similarly, guests will still receive the onboard credit offer if they book any other sailing. Their staterooms, however, will not be price protected except for the three direct replacement sailing dates offered.

Full Refunds Available

If guests are unable to find a replacement sailing, whether on Celebrity Solstice or any other Celebrity Cruises ship, they can simply opt for a full refund of all money paid on their now-cancelled cruise fare.

This will be the default option if impacted guests do not reach out to Celebrity Cruises by Wednesday, March 5, 2025. If guests want to take the full refund, they do not need to take any action and their booking will be updated accordingly, though processing times may vary through different banking institutions.

Read Also: Who Owns Celebrity Cruises?

Guests who opt for a full refund will not receive any further compensation, discounts, or onboard credit related to their now-cancelled sailing.

Celebrity Solstice debuted in 2008. The 121,878-gross-ton ship, the lead vessel in the Solstice class, can welcome 2,852 guests onboard and is also home to more than 1,200 international team members.

Broken Stabilizers Alter Cruise Ship’s Antarctic Voyage

Lissa Poirot
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0
Broken Stabilizers Alter Cruise Ship’s Antarctic Voyage

The waters of the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica are renowned for being rough and challenging, particularly where the “Roaring Forties” and “Furious Fifties” latitudes send fierce winds from the west to the east.

In these waters, ship stabilizers, used to reduce the motion of the waves for passenger comfort and safety, are especially vital.

Which is why Seabourn Cruise Line’s loss of stabilizers on the Seabourn Venture has forced the vessel to scrap its upcoming 3-day visit to South Georgia.

“As the area around South Georgia often experiences heavy seas with large swells and with your comfort in mind, we have regretfully made the decision to alter our itinerary and will no longer call to South Georgia,” said Seabourn Cruise Line.

The company revealed Seabourn Venture’s stabilizers are not “operational” and that its Fleet Operations Center is planning a route for the smoothest sailing possible.

Set to embark from Ushuaia, Argentina, on February 11, 2025, after a flight from Buenos Aires on the 10th, the Antarctic expedition cruise was meant to sail for two days through the Drake Passage before arriving in Antarctica on February 14 for six days of its “Antarctic Experience.”

Two more days at sea would have the 23,000-gross-ton ship arriving in South Georgia on February 22, where Seabourn Venture would stay through February 24.

The ship was scheduled to spend two more days at sea before reaching the Falkland Islands on February 27.

Read Also: What is an Expedition Cruise?

Without working stabilizers, the vessel will now spend 10 days in Antarctica before sailing back through the Drake Passage and arriving in the Falkland Islands on February 25.

Instead of three days in the Falklands visiting West Point Island, Saunders Island, Port Stanley, and Isla Malvinas, Seabourn Venture has extended this route to six days.

Passengers will now also visit Carcass Island, New Island, and Steeple Jason.

The cruise line says the longer visits to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands allow the ship to “explore further than our planned itinerary, potentially exploring south past the Antarctic Circle,” in more sheltered and calm waters.

However, addressing the notoriously bad conditions of the Drake Passage, Seabourn warns of more changes to come. 

Seabourn Venture Expedition Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Seabourn

“We will manage the timing of crossing through the Drake Passage to take advantage of the most optimal weather windows. This may result in additional changes to your itinerary, including earlier or later timing for the crossings to and from Antarctica,” said the cruise line.

Passengers can expect to receive more updates from the ship’s captain directly while on board, as the voyage is truly becoming more expedition-style and requiring more flexibility.

Worth Reading: How Does a Cruise Ship Stabilizer Work?

“When we plan our expeditions, our goal is always to take guests to the destinations they expect to visit,” said Seabourn Cruise Line. “When changes are necessary, we share in your disappointment and deeply appreciate your understanding.”

The itinerary will pick up its original schedule and spend March 2 at sea before finalizing the voyage in Ushuaia on March 3, 2025.

Compensation Offered

Despite Seabourn Venture’s malfunctioning stabilizers, the 264-guest expedition ship is designed to sail in polar regions and is built to PC6 Polar Class standards.

To compensate for the changes, the cruise operator is offering each passenger sailing on Seabourn Venture’s affected voyage a $1,000 refundable onboard credit.

The credit can be used on kayak and submarine expeditions, spa treatments, and any onboard purchases.

Additionally, guests are being awarded a Future Cruise Credit worth 25 percent of their paid cruise.

That credit can be used for cruises as well as Flight Ease flights, pre- and post-cruise packages, taxes and fees, or travel insurance through SeabournShield.

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