A new Fleet Cruise Director is set to make his mark on future cruise directors for Carnival Cruise Line, as popular cruise director Leon Smith has announced his amazing new promotion just as the new year begins.

Smith has been with Carnival Cruise Line for almost a decade, having joined the fleet of cruise directors in October 2015. Now, he is moving up the ranks to Fleet Cruise Director and will bring his energy and fun to upcoming cruise directors in the new leadership position.

“#2025 is off to a fantastic start! New year, New position—I’m beyond thrilled to step into my new role as Fleet Cruise Director. Excited for this new chapter in my career,” Smith announced on his popular social media channels.

His announcement on January 2, 2025, was greeted with much enthusiasm from Carnival cruise guests as well as Smith’s colleagues at the cruise line, as hundreds of congratulatory messages flooded his accounts.

In just three hours of posting about his promotion, Smith’s Facebook message had received more than 750 comments and 1,600 positive reactions. On Instagram, he received more than 1,300 “likes” to the news.

Smith’s promotion follows the retirement of two fellow Fleet Cruise Directors in the past few months. Chris “The Flying Scotsman” Williams retired from the position in August 2024, just months after receiving the promotion.

The cruise line’s first Fleet Cruise Director, Mike Pack, then announced his own retirement from the job in November 2024. Pack had held the title since January 2022.

Smith has become well-known among Carnival cruise guests for his vibrant energy and enduring positivity as he’s served aboard various vessels. He has been the cruise director for Carnival Paradise, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Dream, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Glory, Carnival Vista and more – a total of more than a dozen ships in the fleet.

During his tenure as cruise director, Smith has received a variety of awards, including “Top Overall CD Service,” “Top Overall Fun Squad,” and “Cruise Director of the Year.”

He was slated to join Mardi Gras as cruise director in March 2025, though that assignment will likely now be reassigned to a different cruise director. At this time, no replacement has been confirmed, but Rainier Scholtz is serving aboard the ship during that time period and may simply take over the duties as a solo cruise director.

Current Fleet Cruise Directors

With two retirements in recent months and now Smith’s promotion to the Fleet Cruise Director position, Carnival Cruise Line has three active leaders in this pivotal role.

Chris “Donkey” Salazar joined the ranks of Fleet Cruise Directors in March 2023, the second person (following Mike Pack) in the role. Erin Weigand was also promoted to the leadership spot in February 2024.

The most recent promotion was Lee Mason, who was raised to Fleet Cruise Director in September 2024.

This makes Smith the fourth active Fleet Cruise Director. As the position is relatively new – just having been introduced in early 2022 – it is possible that Carnival Cruise Line is still determining how many Fleet Cruise Directors is optimum and what their overall duties and responsibilities need to be.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Director Schedule

At the moment, Fleet Cruise Directors help oversee the full crew of cruise directors on Carnival’s ships, offering training, encouragement, program development, and other support for the critical position. Cruise directors are the “face of fun” aboard each ship, leading the way for awesome entertainment and activities on every cruise.

While Fleet Cruise Directors do not serve lengthy contracts aboard individual vessels, they may travel between ships to support, train, or evaluate the onboard cruise directors or to cover contract gaps when necessary.

The beginning of a new year is a popular time for resolutions, goals, and objectives to meet over the next 12 months. While personal improvements are a frequent choice, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald has offered up a list of resolutions for guests to commit to when they set sail.

These resolutions cover some of the most popular topics and issues Heald has dealt with via guest comments, requests, and inquiries through his Facebook page in 2024. Hopefully, his suggestions will help travelers better enjoy all their sailings in 2025!

“I hope that this new year that many of you reading this will do the following for your new year’s resolution,” he explained, before listing out several resolution ideas.

“I will not try and get in an elevator until I have let everyone off first.”

Heald responded to a variety of elevator-related questions and comments throughout the year. From how to use the new smart elevators onboard certain ships to the etiquette of permitting mobility scooters on elevators and who should go first, these are common issues cruise travelers seem to have.

“I will not let what another guest is wearing affect the enjoyment of my cruise experience and the Fun I am having,” was Heald’s next suggestion.

Proper onboard attire, particularly in the Main Dining Room or on the cruise line’s designated “Elegant Evenings,” is a hot topic for many passengers. While some guests believe a stricter dress code should be mandated, others prefer a more casual look.

Other dress code issues Heald has helped guests with include whether or not pajamas should be permitted for breakfast on holiday sailings, if guests should feel free to wear robes around the ship, and wearing military uniforms for dinner.

Up next for Heald’s resolutions for cruise guests is a thought on simple courtesy, something that seems to be often missing in today’s society.

“I will perhaps say please or thank you if asking for something,” he suggested.

Heald responds to hundreds of questions and comments nearly every day through his Facebook page. It’s staggering how many people ask for favors – “something special” in their staterooms, rearranging dining assignments, etc. – without that common courtesy.

Please and thank you can go a long way in getting favors approved, whether asking Heald for assistance or onboard a Carnival cruise when speaking with one’s stateroom attendant, bartender, or other crew member.

Heald’s next resolution recommendation, in fact, deals directly with issues onboard during a cruise and how to get any problems fixed.

“I will, if I am not happy with something on board, tell someone while you are on the ship so that the crew can do what they do best and that is care and try to resolve the issue,” he urged.

Far too often, Heald hears about onboard problems after a sailing has ended, when it’s too late to help fix the issue and ensure the guest has a wonderful cruise.

No matter how small a problem may seem – excessive noise, stateroom bed configurations, needing a fan, food cooked improperly, and so forth – it is important to bring it to a crew member’s attention right away. They cannot help fix something they don’t know about.

Furthermore, if a guest does have a complaint and mentions it to Heald, his first action is to check with the ship to see whether or not the guest tried to resolve the issue onboard and what steps were taken.

Finally – Keep an Open Mind and a Smile!

Heald’s final resolution request is a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that many travelers could take to heart.

Read Also: Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Cruisers

“I will realize that John Heald’s humor is not for everyone. He may make some people laugh and for others he may be as funny as an overflowing toilet,” he said. “But if I don’t like something he writes, I will not get offended and write to the beards asking for him to be fired immediately.”

Too many people quickly overreact to innocent comments, without understanding jokes or attempts to lighten the mood.

Kindness and understanding go a very long way in our society today, and hopefully, all cruise travelers will take steps to enjoy their travels in 2025 with a smile!

Cruise passengers often get creative to ensure that everything they pack can be unpacked in pristine condition, but this isn’t always possible when clothing is crammed into luggage for a long trip to the ship.

Sprays such as wrinkle releasers are often lifesavers for formal wear, but not every type of spray is permitted onboard.

Or rather, the manner in which the spray is packaged can make a great deal of difference about whether or not it can be taken onto a cruise ship, as some guests have learned.

The issue has been brought to the attention of John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, with a unique question about such sprays.

“We are driving to the port so no TSA limits to deal with. I’d like to bring a full size spray aerosol cans (wrinkle releaser and Lysol spray),” the guest asked. “Was told on [a Facebook page] that that these are allowed on board? What is the right info?”

While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits travelers to only small sizes of bottles, cruise guests who drive to the ship’s homeport don’t have such limits. A full-size can of spray can be very useful, particularly for longer sailings when more clothing may need de-wrinkling.

Many guests also bring their own Lysol or other sanitizing sprays onboard for an extra cleanliness safeguard, using such sprays in their staterooms. Heald has noted, however, that aerosol cans of any size are not permitted onboard.

“While we do allow deodorant and hair products in aerosol form we do not allow flammable aerosols such as the ones you mentioned,” Heald confirmed.

Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited items list does specifically mention aerosol cans as well as flammable substances and hazardous chemicals as not permitted.

Aerosol cans containing “personal grooming products” are an exemption, however. Cruisers could therefore bring deodorants, hair spray, styling mousse, and similar products in aerosol cans.

Wrinkle releasers and sanitizing sprays, however, remain banned when packaged in aerosol cans. Aerosols are pressurized containers that use propellants to expel the contents, and those propellants may themselves be flammable. Furthermore, the pressurization of the canisters could be hazardous if they aren’t treated carefully.

Worth Reading: Do Cruise Ships Have Irons and Ironing Boards?

Heald does offer an alternative option that travelers are permitted to bring.

“If you wish to bring wipes instead of spray then that’s fine,” he mentioned.

Other commenters also noted that spritzer or pump bottles of both products are available. Because they are not pressurized and do not use potentially hazardous propellants, those full-sized bottles are permitted.

Carnival cruise ships do have self-service laundrettes, excluding the Excel-class ships. Guests could also use the irons within those rooms to eliminate any annoying clothes wrinkles. There’s also the option of using Carnival’s valet laundry services for a fee. We do have a full guide on laundry right here.

Choosing clothing with wrinkle-resistant fabrics, packing more lightly so clothing is not as firmly squished, and using steam in the showers onboard to help fabrics relax are other tactics for wrinkle-free clothing that don’t require packing extra chemicals along.

Why Some Common Items May Be Prohibited

It can be surprising to many cruisers what sorts of items are banned by cruise lines, but it is important to remember that such prohibitions are always done for safety.

For example, in November 2024, Carnival Cruise Line completely banned Bluetooth speakers. At first, this may seem to be as a courtesy to guests who don’t want to listen to others’ music, but it is actually a safety consideration in case onboard emergency announcements can’t be heard.

Read Also: What Can You Not Bring on a Cruise?

Even some obvious banned items can generate controversy. While no one would disagree about a ban on weapons, weapon-like toys aren’t permitted either, even when they may be holiday gifts. One family recently discovered this when the Nerf gun they bought for their son for Christmas was confiscated before a holiday cruise.

It should be noted that confiscated items are typically returned to travelers at the end of the sailing rather than being discarded, provided the items are not overall illegal in any way.

After slashing the discount on Carnival gift cards twice in just over a month, AARP has now announced that the cruise line has decided to discontinue the offering through them.

AARP, which is a non-profit that caters to and advocates for people over 50 years old, previously offered a 10% discount on Carnival Cruise Line gift cards – which dropped to 8% in November of 2024. 

In late December, that discount was again decreased from 8% to 5% off. While cruisers were annoyed by the change, they still saved at least a little bit of money by using the discounted gift cards to pay for their sailing or book onboard experiences and packages. 

But as of January 1, 2025, the Carnival gift cards will no longer be available for purchase in any capacity through AARP.

“Carnival Cruise Lines has decided to discontinue offering their gift cards through the AARP Rewards Program. We understand that this may be disappointing news, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We remain committed to providing you with valuable rewards and appreciate your understanding,” reads the AARP website.

Understandably, members of the cruise community were livid at the decision – expressing anger at both Carnival and AARP.

“Hearing from someone on the inside, this was a money grab for the Carnival beards and their decision to end it with AARP. Pure greed as shown by them lately on all fronts,” another person shared.

But while AARP (and many cruisers) have placed the blame on Carnival, it’s unclear how much of a role the Miami-based cruise line actually played in making the decision. 

When the discounts first began decreasing, Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald said that AARP functioned independently from Carnival. 

“I have received a large amount of bollockings this morning about a change to the percentage of something to do with the gift cards. This has nothing to do with the cruise line, this is all decided as all gift cards are by the people that distribute them,” he wrote on his Facebook page at the time.

We reached out to Carnival for a statement, and only received a brief response: “Effective Jan. 1, Carnival gift cards are no longer available for purchase through AARP.”

They did not provide any additional insight into why the AARP gift cards were discontinued.

How to Get Discounted Carnival Cruises

Unfortunately, it’s the way of the world for discounts to come and go. Although the AARP discount on Carnival gift cards has been around for a while, it was never meant to last forever. 

Even while available, AARP clearly displayed the caveat that the gift cards were a “limited time offer, while supplies last.” It’s unknown if the gift cards will ever be brought back in the future.

That said, AARP is continuing to offer discounted gift cards for other cruise lines and discounted cruise packages on Carnival-owned cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises and Holland America Line. 

Additionally, that doesn’t mean other discounts aren’t available – with most cruise lines offering promotions for different times of year and the major holidays.

As of the time of writing, for example, Carnival is offering 40% off cruise rates and reduced deposits on select cruises, including sailings bound for Celebration Key – which is the cruise line’s new private island destination in the Bahamas that is expected to open in July 2025. 

We are also now at the very beginning of Wave Season – which is essentially an extended Black Friday sale event for cruising. 

Peak Wave Season typically takes place in the first quarter of the year (January through March) – during which time the cruise lines offer deals, discounts, and extra perks to reward future guests for booking during what is usually a slower time for new bookings.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Gift Cards: What You Need to Know

For cruisers who would prefer to stock up on Carnival gift cards, they can still be purchased directly through the Carnival Website (but not at a discounted rate) – and are often found at regional and nationwide chains like Lowes, Office Max, Publix, Target, and Walmart. Other discount websites and cash back websites may also offer better rates.

It might also be worth keeping an eye on Costco and AAA – which have both sold discounts on gift cards for a variety of things in the past (not just for travel) and offer discounted cruise packages through their travel services. 

Similarly, reputable travel agents may have access to discounts and deals that the general public wouldn’t be able to use on their own.

It is no surprise to any cruise passenger that weapons of any sort are at the top of the list of every cruise line’s prohibited items list. What surprised one Carnival cruiser recently, however, is that even obvious toys are still prohibited and will be confiscated.

The issue was brought to the attention of John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador. The upset guest wrote to him via Facebook, sharing their frustration and disappointment over bringing a Star Wars toy.

“We were at Disney before we embarked on the [Carnival Christmas] cruise. We had bought my son a Star Wars Nerf gun for a Christmas surprise at Disney and they confiscated it from us at Security at the port,” the guest explained.

“We had to go over to a special table where they took it, gave us a claim slip and at the end of the cruise, when back at port we claimed it back. Christmas ruined. How can anyone at Carnival Cruises think this is real? How would you like to see your children have no gift to open from Santa on Christmas morning? Who makes these stupid rules?”

While it is true that toy Nerf guns do not resemble any actual, legitimate weaponry, Carnival Cruise Line has a zero tolerance policy for such items onboard.

What is interesting is that gun-like toys are not specifically mentioned on the cruise line’s prohibited items list. The list does note that replicas are not permitted, however: “firearms (including replicas, imitations and their components).” Toy guns would certainly fall under that classification.

Heald did respond to the guest’s concern, confirming the prohibition.

“Of course I understand the disappointment both as a father and as brand ambassador, I really do,” he said. “But it is listed in the prohibited items and this is a great reminder for anyone thinking of bring on a replica toy, sword, light saber, or a replica weapon of any kind that it will be confiscated.”

No Weapons Permitted – Even If They Aren’t Real

The original poster has not received much sympathy from other cruisers, who largely express the sentiment that “rules are rules” and it is well known that weapon-like items are not permitted onboard.

Many commenters also noted that the excitement of being on a Christmas cruise after a vacation at Disney World would be a great gift for any child. Furthermore, the child would have received the gift at the end of the cruise to enjoy at home.

Other experienced cruisers shared their own mishaps with replica weapons, such as wooden toy swords and decorative sword-shaped artwork purchased in port. In every case, the items were confiscated and held until the end of the cruise, at which time they were returned to guests.

Some guests also note that a Nerf gun, even though it is just a toy, could be very irritating to other travelers if it was used onboard. Such disruptions might very well “ruin Christmas” for others onboard the ship.

Furthermore, the balls or darts the toy shoots could easily go overboard, creating environmental contamination that is also against Carnival’s rules.

Read Also: What Can You Not Bring on a Cruise?

Another thought is that the family could well have faced more severe consequences if the child had tried to take the toy gun off the ship in a port of call.

Many ports of call have very strict laws on guns and ammunition, as one cruise traveler learned in April 2024 when he was arrested and jailed in Grand Turk for having ammunition in a backpack.