As the fourth busiest cruise port in the United States, things can sometimes get rather chaotic at the Port of Galveston. 

Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse – and the unusual – when a cruise shuttle contract worker was injured on the job on the morning of December 30, 2024. 

The accident occurred just before 9 a.m. CST while the contract employee was unloading luggage in a parking lot for cruise guests using Galveston’s shuttle service.

A second shuttle arrived and collided with the luggage handler’s shuttle, hitting the 25-year-old worker in the process. It’s not clear what caused the crash, but port police are investigating the incident. 

“A cruise shuttle contract worker was injured in a vehicle/pedestrian accident at 8:51 a.m. Monday at Port of Galveston Parking Lot A, 3200 Harborside Drive,” reads a report on the Galveston Wharves website. 

“According to Port of Galveston police reports, the accident victim was unloading luggage from the shuttle when a second shuttle pulled up from the rear and collided with the first shuttle, hitting the man,” continues the incident report. 

The luggage handler was promptly taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch Emergency Room for treatment. His condition is unclear and his identity has been kept confidential to protect the victim’s privacy.

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Thankfully, no one else was injured in the collision – including guests of Carnival Breeze, which was the only cruise ship to dock in the port that morning. 

The accident occurred in Parking Lot A – which is one of four Galveston Cruise Port economy parking lots (along with Lots B, C, and D) that use a park-and-ride shuttle bus to transport guests to and from their cars and the two cruise piers.

The shuttle service itself is free for cruise guests – unless they would like to tip for good driving or for assistance with their luggage.

However, guests do need to pre-reserve their parking space in advance and will need to pay a fee based on how many days their car remains parked. For economy lots like Parking Lot A, the daily rate is currently $20 per day. 

Another Car Crash in Galveston

Somewhat strangely given the timing, another automobile/pedestrian accident actually unfolded in the port just about a year before Monday’s incident – taking place on December 2, 2023, at Cruise Terminal 28. 

During a seemingly routine disembarkation process from Carnival Dream, a family of six was struck by a car that accidentally crashed through a metal barrier – with the driver allegedly accelerating when they meant to reverse.

Four of the unidentified family members were directly hit and had to be taken to the hospital, with two admitted for overnight observation. 

While it’s surely not the way the family wanted to conclude their 6-night Western Caribbean Cruise, everyone involved was expected to make a full recovery. 

While security measures are in place to keep everyone safe – which are led by the Port of Galveston Police Department – sometimes accidents do still occur in the never-ending rush of activity. 

The Port of Galveston has been experiencing a period of growth – with nearly 1.5 million cruise passengers embarking on 354 sailings from the Texas port in 2023. 

But as of December 6, Galveston exceeded 1.5 million passengers for 2024 – meaning another record-breaking year has just concluded. 

Of course, millions of cruise passengers means that thousands of people – many of whom are likely unfamiliar with the port – may be navigating the 840-acre facility by car and by foot at any given time. 

The roads can get particularly crowded when guests are trying to leave after disembarking and while others are arriving to embark on their sailings at the same time – especially when multiple ships are docked.

Lately, the port has had a lot of “three ship” days with three cruise ships in the port at once – but there has been the occasional “four ship” day here and there.

With more and more awareness of terrorist acts, gang activity, and dangerous situations worldwide, cruise travelers can be understandably aware of and concerned about the potential risks of visiting certain cruise ports.

This is especially true when the US Department of State issues travel advisories urging caution or even suggests that travelers completely reconsider or avoid traveling to certain destinations. Cruise ships, however, continue to call on ports in those countries, but why?

Carnival Cruise Line has responded to the concern and offered tips for guests to enjoy port destinations safely and comfortably.

The issue was raised to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s official Brand Ambassador, in a recent Facebook post. Heald regularly answers questions about ports of call and related issues such as itinerary changes and shore excursions.

“I saw a travel advisory for the Mexican Riviera ports yesterday. We’re leaving on the Panorama on the 11th – have you heard anything about whether we should get off the ship?” the guest asked.

Carnival Panorama is homeported from Long Beach, California and offers 6-, 7-, and 8-night Mexican Riviera itineraries. The ship’s January 11, 2025 departure is an 8-night voyage visiting Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, before returning to California on Sunday, January 19.

As of January 3 – just over a week before the ship’s departure – all four ports of call are in Mexican states with some type of warning from the US Department of State. The warnings, however, vary at different ports and don’t all include regions cruise travelers would typically visit.

“Please don’t worry, these are sadly quite normal for parts of Mexico these days,” Heald responded. “We would never take you anywhere that is not safe.”

It is true that cruise lines will occasionally cancel port visits if certain regions are considered unsafe. In mid-2022, for example, both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean cancelled visits to Ensenada, Mexico due to escalating cartel violence.

Similarly, Royal Caribbean paused all visits to its private destination of Labadee, Haiti for several months following a dramatic increase in violence in that country. Carnival Cruise Line does not offer calls to Haiti.

Heald does note that cautious cruisers will always be mindful of their surroundings and exercise proper precautions when in any port of call.

“We always advise you to please stay in the tourist areas and take an excursion from the ship,” he said. “But absolutely you will be able to go into port and enjoy this fabulous place.”

This is sound advice for any sort of tourist visit. In the most popular tourist areas, police presence is typically higher and the region is considered safer than if guests ventured further from the port.

Shore excursions may travel some distance from the port, but cruise lines regularly investigate the companies they recommend for shore tours to ensure all proper safety precautions are being taken.

Is It Dangerous to Cruise to Mexico?

Cruisers with itineraries visiting Mexico are right to be concerned, as there are many travel warnings in place for different states in the nation.

Cabo San Lucas and La Paz are both in Baja California Sur, which has a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” warning due to widespread crime. There are no other explicit warnings for the state.

Puerto Vallarta is in Jalisco, which has a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” warning. This is because of violent crime and kidnapping, which is most prevalent in Guadalajara – 120 miles east of Puerto Vallarta. There are no specific restrictions or warnings related to Puerto Vallarta.

Mazatlan, which is in Sinaloa, has the most worrisome travel warning at “Level 4: Do Not Travel.” The US Department of State warns that violet crime is widespread and “criminal organizations are based in and operating in Sinaloa.”

Read Also: Are Cruises Safe? What You Really Need to Know

Most notably, there are direct restrictions on travel for US government employees in Mazatlan. The Zona Dorada (Golden Zone – the top tourist region of the city) and historic town center are the only two areas of Mazatlan where US government employees may visit.

Only two states – Campeche and Yucatan – are listed as “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions” with no restrictions. It should be noted that Mexico’s most popular cruise ports, Cozumel and Costa Maya – are both in Yucatan.

At this time, no cruise lines have made any itinerary adjustments or port cancellations based on travel advisories, but they do take such warnings into consideration.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has once again firmly noted that any type of gambling onboard Carnival cruise ships is not permitted outside the casino. This comes after another inquiry about the popular game, Left-Center-Right, which is often played for a cash pot.

Heald’s clarification is in response to an inquiry from an upcoming guest who will be sailing aboard Carnival Radiance on the ship’s February 9, 2025 departure, a 14-night Carnival Journeys Hawaii cruise from Long Beach.

“LRC is the most popular card game after poker for Americans aged 50 plus. You answered [another guest’s] question saying Carnival would not allow this to be played and enjoyed,” the guest explained. “I played LRC on [another cruise line] with 10-12 people for money [and was] provided a private room. Where is the actual harm in this?”

The idea that LRC (or LCR) is the “most popular card game after poker” is a bit of a stretch, considering it is a dice and chips game and does not feature cards in any way.

Nevertheless, the game is often played using pennies, quarters, or even dollars in place of chips. Another variation is for every player to contribute to a central pot and the winning player gets all the cash.

When playing the game with cash – no matter what the denomination – this is most definitely a form of gambling, which Carnival Cruise Line does not permit.

“We actually had a discussion on this subject some time ago and to clarify, we do not allow gambling outside of the casino in any way, shape, or form,” Heald confirmed. “There are very [strict] rules about this.”

To be clear, the game itself is not banned, and guests are welcome to play LCR as much as they like, so long as no cash or betting is in any way involved.

“You can play for fun or mini Twix bars but not money,” Heald said. “Thank you for your understanding.”

As Heald suggested, variations on the game may be playing just for fun and bragging rights, or using other non-cash alternatives such as candies. On a cruise, travelers could even use cruising ducks as prizes!

Carnival Cruise Line has addressed this issue previously, with the same response and rules. In April 2024, Heald responded to a large group game for money being played on the Lido Deck of Carnival Luminosa.

“Gambling with dice or cards for money organized by a group leader is not allowed,” Heald said at that time. “It is really truly that simple.“

Why Can’t Cruise Guests Play for Money?

It isn’t the fun gameplay that Carnival Cruise Line won’t permit, it is the exchange of money for such play that is prohibited. The cruise line must abide by all local gambling and betting laws in the countries it visits, and there are also different laws that govern how the ships themselves offer gambling.

Bets and wagers do not have to be made in order for a game to be considered gambling.

Any play that involves a cash prize, no matter how big or small, is considered gambling. This is true no matter whether the money is exchanged during the play action or as a prize at the conclusion of a game.

Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise

It should be noted that prohibiting the gambling aspect of the game is not a for-profit motive on the part of Carnival Cruise Line. It is simply a legality issue of the definition of gambling and what is and is not permitted outside the ship’s casino.

Heald even noted that tables can be set aside for card playing and other games on the upper level of the main dining room. This ensures that guests can enjoy games of their choice without taking up space in the Lido Marketplace when other passengers need room for dining.

“The ship will have tables in the upper level of the dining room for card players so space is not taken away for those wishing to eat there,” Heald explained.

Guests can also find other quiet places for board games, card games, puzzles, crafts, and other fun. Some Carnival ships still have libraries and those can also be great choices for enjoying games with other travelers.

Empty lounges are also a popular choice (if they aren’t being used for meetings or needed to set up for other activities), and seating along the ship’s promenade is a great option.

In 1984, Carnival became the first cruise line to launch a national television advertising campaign. As part of that campaign, Kathie Lee Gifford famously sang “Ain’t We Got Fun” while promoting the original “Fun Ships.”

Not only is Gifford’s performance still considered iconic decades later, but that commercial was groundbreaking for the cruise industry and really helped to establish Gifford as a TV personality.

But through a collaboration with the Miami-based cruise line, Hallmark Star Jonathan Bennett paid tribute to the singer-songwriter and American TV host in a modern remake of Gifford’s famous commercial. 

The new video is a scene-by-scene recreation of the original advertisement – with Bennett using the same or similar choreography, singing his own cover of “Ain’t We Got Fun,” and wearing almost the same costumes as Gifford (but using a modern man’s wardrobe). 

The video, which was posted jointly on Carnival and Bennett’s Instagram pages on January 2, 2025, received over 10,000 likes in just the first several hours – with viewers seeing it as the perfect way to kick off a new year of fun. 

“This is exactly what I needed to see on January 2! Well done and thank you!” one Instagram user wrote. 

“Wow even the wardrobes match! Well done,” another person commented, along with a clapping hands emoji. 

Some liked the commercial so much, they even asked for more recreations of Carnival’s most famous advertisements from the past. 

“Next up, “If They Could See Me Now” commercial, please,” author Chad Beguelin replied, referencing another one of Gifford’s commercials that was filmed onboard the original MS Celebration.

Watch Bennett’s Version of the “Ain’t We Got Fun” Commercial Below: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carnival Cruise Line (@carnival)

But while this video was meant to honor Gifford and her extensive connection to Carnival, Bennett is also important to the family friendly cruise line. 

Not only is the American Actor the godfather of Carnival Firenze, which entered service in April of 2024, but he and his husband, actor and singer Jaymes Vaughan, take an annual Carnival Cruise to celebrate their anniversary.

Kathie Lee Gifford’s Extensive History With Carnival

The former Today show host has had a more than 30 year relationship with Carnival Cruise Line – during which time she has served many roles on behalf of the brand. 

In addition to starring in multiple famous TV commercials, Gifford effectively acted as a full-fledged Carnival spokesperson in the 1980s and 1990s. 

She also served as the original Godmother to two early Carnival ships that are no longer sailing: the original Celebration (in service from 1987-2008) and Carnival Ecstasy (1991-2022).

While Gifford hasn’t served as Godmother again, she has continued to play a role in milestones for Carnival’s ships. For example, she participated in the naming ceremony of the transformed Carnival Sunrise on May 23, 2019. 

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

But more recently, Gifford got to pass on the family tradition of being Godmother to a Carnival ship to her daughter, actress Cassidy Gifford. 

The American celebrity got the honor of personally asking her daughter to become the godmother to Carnival Celebration, which launched at the end of 2022. 

She also returned to Carnival as a business-savvy owner of GIFFT Wines – which Carnival ships began carrying in 2015. She launched the brand through a partnership with Scheid Family Wines – which is one of the largest vineyard owners in Monterey County, California. 

A decade later, GIFFT wines are still served across Carnival’s fleet in the main dining rooms and at most (if not all) bars. They can also be ordered as part of the Cheers! Drink Package or purchased through the “Cruise the Vineyards” Wine Package.

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.