Blog Page 26

Cruise Line Drops Birthday Cake and Cruisers Say the New Perk Is Worth It

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Line Drops Birthday Cake and Cruisers Say the New Perk Is Worth It

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line has revised its Happy Birthday Cabin Decoration package.
  • Instead of a six-inch cake, the package will now include a free frame and photograph.
  • If guests would still like to celebrate with a cake in their cabins, there are options available to purchase a half or full sheet cake.

A cruise vacation is a great way to celebrate a birthday, and some guests of Norwegian Cruise Line like to make their celebrations extra special by purchasing a party package.

Norwegian Cruise Line is happy to share that the Happy Birthday package has been revised as of March 26, 2026, to make the onboard celebrations extra special and to reduce food waste.

“We’re writing to share an update to your existing Happy Birthday Cabin Decoration Package, designed to make your special day even more memorable,” Norwegian Cruise Line wrote in a letter to guests who booked the package.

Previously, the package included birthday-themed cabin decorations, a celebration banner, and a six-inch cake. The revamped package has replaced the cake with a free Compass Collection frame and a free photograph to go in it (valued at $29.95).

While the reason behind the change has not been explained, it’s likely that many of the cakes were going to waste because guests didn’t eat all of it and they can be difficult to store in a tiny cabin.

Read Also: How to Make the Most of Your Cruise Without Overspending

“This package has been refreshed as part of our continued effort to elevate the way we celebrate life’s moments at sea. The previous version included birthday decor and a six inch cake,” the letter explained.

“Moving forward, the cake will be replaced with a photo keepsake so you can take home a memory that lasts long after the candles are blown out. It is a small shift designed to make your celebration feel more personal and more connected to your time onboard.”

Guests who are interested in booking the Happy Birthday package can do so by visiting Norwegian Cruise Line’s website. It currently costs $69 USD, and it is recommended to book at least three weeks ahead of embarkation.

Those who are not partaking in the sailing can also send the package to their cruising loved ones using their surnames, ship, and sailing dates.

How Does the Birthday Package Compare? 

When looking at some of the other major cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line’s old birthday package feels more in line with the rest of the industry.

Carnival Cruise Line, for example, offers its own birthday package for $73.14, which includes a 20% delivery fee. This comes with decorations, including multiple banners, as well as a cake that serves up to six people.

Small Birthday Cake for Cruise Passenger
Small Birthday Cake for Cruise Passenger (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)

Guests get to choose between vanilla cake with strawberry filling, chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling, or red velvet cake with cream cheese filling.

As another example, Royal Caribbean offers two separate birthday packages. Guests can have their stateroom decorated for just $39.99, or opt for a more inclusive celebratory package that includes decorations, cake, and strawberries for $69.99.

The keepsake photo makes NCL’s newly revamped package particularly unique.

Guests React to the New Birthday Package

Change is always controversial, and can be disappointing for guests who had their heart set on an experience going a certain way.

However, many cruisers are happy about this decision and look forward to exchanging their voucher for a free photograph, as each individual print typically costs between $20 to $30.

“We never ate the cake. Personally you’re better off getting a slice of cake at Garden Cafe. The picture is an upgrade,” one cruiser reacted on Facebook.

“We barely touched ours whenever we got them for celebrations. You are basically eating all over the cruise ship, and we were always stuffed. That cake was the last thing we wanted to spend our calories on,” said another.

However, disappointed guests aren’t just out of luck. Cruise Hive has confirmed that guests who really want to celebrate with a cake in their cabin can still do so.

The cruise line will deliver a standard chocolate or vanilla half sheet cake to guest staterooms for $124 or a standard full sheet cake for $169 to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or honeymoons.

NCL Confirms Major Great Stirrup Cay Upgrades and Drink Package Reversal for 2027

Catie Kovelman
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NCL Confirms Major Great Stirrup Cay Upgrades and Drink Package Reversal for 2027

Key Aspects:

  • The wave of enhancements for Great Stirrup Cay, including a new waterpark and pier, will be completed by the end of 2026.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line is now advising guests visiting the private island in 2027 on what they need to know to make the most of their visit.
  • This included clarifying information about the drink packages and the completion of the two-ship pier.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has invested at least $150 million into Great Stirrup Cay to improve the guest experience on the island, and by the end of 2026, all the new enhancements should officially be up and running.

The cruise line is now looking ahead to its 2027 sailings to make sure guests have all the proper information to make the most of their time at the private Bahamian destination.

“As we continue to refine and expand Great Stirrup Cay, our focus remains on ensuring every guest can fully enjoy all that the island has to offer…Your upcoming visit coincides with an exciting new chapter for our private island,” Norwegian Cruise Line wrote in a letter to future guests.

By the end of this year, NCL will have launched the 19-slide Great Tides Waterpark and finished its new two-ship pier, putting an end to tendering operations for good.

NCL Great Stirrup Cay Letter
NCL Great Stirrup Cay Letter

This is in addition to other recent enhancements, including improved dining and bar facilities and the addition of the Great Life Lagoon (a massive 1.4-acre pool) and the Vibe Shore Club (an adults-only spot with premium day beds and bar service).

Cruise Hive previously reported that 15 NCL ships would begin calling to the island in 2026 to take advantage of the new enhancements, including the newest additions to the fleet, such as Norwegian Luna (2026) and Norwegian Aqua (2025).15 ships are again on the roster for 2027.

Beverage Package Clarification

Last year, Norwegian Cruise Line received significant backlash after deciding to end the use of the “Free at Sea” drink package on the island.

But as of March 2026, travel professionals were notified that the controversial decision was put on an indefinite pause. Based on the letter to guests booked on 2027 sailings, it’s now clear that the “Free at Sea” drink package isn’t going anywhere.

Great Stirrup Cay Pool Area
Great Stirrup Cay Pool Area

“After receiving feedback from our guests and travel partners, guests with the Free at Sea or More at Sea beverage packages will continue to enjoy the same beverage package inclusions as they do on board. This means your beverage experience flows effortlessly from ship-to-shore,” NCL confirmed.

The Florida-based cruise line also clarified that the Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus packages can be purchased prior to setting sail and can be modified up to 24 hours in advance of embarkation day.

The packages can also be purchased during the first two days of the cruise, but onboard pricing is typically higher than buying in advance.

When Will the New Pier be Completed?

By the time guests arrive at Great Stirrup Cay in 2027, the brand-new two-ship pier will be complete and in its prime.

The pier has been a long time coming, with construction kicking off at the beginning of 2025, and is arguably one of the enhancements that guests are most excited about with the convenience it will bring to their visits.

“Our new two-ship pier, a significant enhancement designed to elevate arrival and improve access, will be in place for your visit, offering a smoother transition from ship-to-shore,” the cruise line stated.

More From Cruise Hive

Currently, the port is using a temporary pier to allow visiting ships to avoid tendering operations, which have a reputation for getting cancelled due to inclement weather.

However, the port will temporarily revert to tendering operations to allow for the completion of the permanent pier. The closure will begin on April 1 and is expected to last through July or August.

Royal Caribbean Guests Face Seven Time Changes on Transatlantic Crossing

Catie Kovelman
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0
Royal Caribbean Guests Face Seven Time Changes on Transatlantic Crossing

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas is currently operating a transatlantic crossing from Galveston to Barcelona.
  • Guests will experience seven different time changes during their sailing.
  • Each adjustment, most of which are in the afternoon, moves the ship time one hour ahead.

Adjusting to daylight saving time is hard enough twice a year, but current guests of Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas will have to survive seven different time changes in just over two weeks. It’s common for time changes on crossings, but it’s something not all guests expect, especially if it’s for the first time!

The Oasis-class ship embarked on a transatlantic crossing in Galveston, Texas, on March 16, 2026, and will arrive in Barcelona, Spain, on April 1, 2026. As the 6,780-guest ship sails closer to Europe, the clock will slowly inch forward.

All seven of the time changes move the ship time forward by one hour, so they hopefully won’t feel too disruptive to guests.

“As we travel eastward, our itinerary will include a total of seven time adjustments,” Royal Caribbean wrote to guests in a welcome letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.

“For six of these changes, clocks will move forward by one hour during the afternoon. The final adjustment will take place overnight, in alignment with Spain’s daylight-saving time change,” Royal Caribbean stated.

Many of the first six time changes, which were scheduled for sea days at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, have already occurred. Current guests have already jumped one hour ahead on March 18, March 20, March 21, March 23, and March 24.

The final 2 p.m. time change will take place on March 26. The one and only 2 a.m. change will be on March 29, shortly before the 227,000-gross ton vessel is scheduled to arrive in Malaga, Spain, at 8 a.m. local time.

Cruisers React to the Many Time Changes

Interestingly, the biggest complaint that guests had (and feelings of surprise) came from the fact that the time changes were mostly happening during the day instead of overnight.

“I hated how they did it in the middle of the day going across the Pacific. Overnight would be better,” one cruiser reacted on Facebook.

“Wow, skipping forward mid-day. Never saw that before. Interesting concept,” said another.

Harmony of the Seas Balconies
Harmony of the Seas Balconies (Photo Credit: mridulablog)

Others didn’t mind the timing of the shifts, and liked that it gives the hardworking crew members extra time to rest instead of less. For reference, approximately 2,100 crew members live and work onboard the Royal Caribbean ship.

“They do the time change in the middle of the day on eastbound transoceanic cruises for the crew. If they did it at night like they do for some Caribbean/Bermuda cruises, the crew would keep losing an hour of sleep. They would all be wiped out by the end,” one cruise fan explained.

A final subset was simply glad that they would be eased into Barcelona time instead of transitioning to the new time zone all at once. Spain is six hours ahead of Texas through March 29, when daylight saving ups that number to seven hours.

Staying On Time Matters

It’s important that passengers stay on the correct ship time in order to make the most of their cruise vacation and not miss out on activities and entertainment due to confusion.

If guests are operating an hour (or more) behind the ship, they could miss out on things like exciting activities, tasty dinners, or shows that they really wanted to see.

This is even more important while visiting cruise ports, as the all aboard time will be based on the ship time, which could be different from the port of call. It is ultimately up to guests to stay on schedule, and the ship will not wait for them if they are late.

Read Also: What Happens If You Miss Your Cruise Ship?

Additionally, shore excursions will leave without guests who do not arrive at the designated meeting spot timely. It is unfair to the punctual guests to wait for tardy passengers.

Just recently, Cruise Hive reported on a Carnival guest who missed their privately booked shore excursion because they got confused about the time onboard and the time on shore, and that’s a mistake that these Royal Caribbean guests won’t want to repeat.

Harmony of the Seas has already visited Nassau, Bahamas, and is yet to stop at Cadiz, Malaga, Cartagena, and Alicante in Spain. Guests will certainly want to make the most of their time in these popular destinations.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean has been and will continue to issue plenty of reminders about the time zones, including in the daily Cruise Compass newsletters, the Royal Caribbean App, and via letters left in guest staterooms.

Coast Guard Makes Urgent Same-Day Rescues From Two Carnival Ships

Donna Tunney
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Coast Guard Makes Urgent Same-Day Rescues From Two Carnival Ships

Key Aspects:

  • US Coast Guardsmen facilitated two medical evacuations from Carnival ships in one day.
  • The evacuations were from Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Valor on March 20, 2026.
  • Videos of both medevacs were posted on social media.

It was a busy day on March 20, 2026, for US Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, thanks to at-sea medical evacuations required from not one, but two, Carnival Cruise Line ships — Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Valor.

Both were captured on video by the Coast Guard and show the dramatic rescues, with one happening at night. The rescues were posted on Facebook.

“#bravozulu to our shipmates over at Air Station New Orleans on a job well done!” states the social media post from US Coast Guard Heartland. 

Carnival Jubilee was the first to call the Coast Guard for assistance during the afternoon, when a 53-year-old man had a medical emergency that called for more than the ship’s onboard medical team could provide.

The 5,374-guest ship, third in the line’s Excel class, was returning to her homeport at Galveston, Texas, when the emergency erupted. The ship was operating a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, and guests were enjoying a final sea day before arriving back at the Lone Star State.

As reported by Cruise Hive at the time, Carnival Jubilee altered her course in an effort to make the evacuation as smooth as possible for the Coast Guard. In fact, satellite tracking showed that the ship diverted significantly from her planned route.

Sometimes, weather and wave activity can play a role in how far a cruise ship might divert to facilitate a helicopter rescue. It is not known whether the ill man was a guest or crew member; the ship carries 1,735 crew members.

After contacting the New Orleans station, an MH-60 helicopter arrived and evacuated the man, who can be seen in the video being hoisted aboard the aircraft.

A Riveting Nighttime Evacuation From Carnival Valor

The second incident happened after dark that day, when a 27-year-old man needed to be evacuated from Carnival Valor.

Carnival Valor, a 2,980-guest ship, is based at New Orleans and departed the port on March 16 for a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise. Like Carnival Jubilee, the ship was spending a day at sea when the emergency happened.

Carnival Valor had called at Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico, earlier in the cruise. It is also not known whether the evacuated man was a guest or a crew member.

Although the evacuation happened after dark, viewers of the video can see the patient being hoisted onto the helicopter strapped into what appears to be a stretcher.

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In both cases, the evacuated men were taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans. Their medical conditions are unknown.

Medical evacuations are not uncommon, although they don’t happen frequently either. In an earlier case, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia experienced a medical emergency in September 2025.

The ship had just departed from New York and was about 30 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, when the Coast Guard was called to evacuate a guest. This was also a nighttime event, happening at around 10 p.m.

No details about the nature of the emergency were revealed. As was the case with Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Valor altered her route, turning back toward the coast so that the evacuation could happen as quickly as possible.

Cruise Ship Crew Member Arrested for Shoplifting During Port Canaveral Call

Donna Tunney
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Cruise Ship Crew Member Arrested for Shoplifting During Port Canaveral Call

Key Aspects:

  • A cruise ship crew member was arrested in Florida and then deported.
  • The arrest followed a charge of shoplifting while the worker was on shore leave.
  • Local and federal officials detained the employee at Port Canaveral.

In an unusual incident at Port Canaveral, a cruise ship crew member was arrested, detained, and then deported following a charge of shoplifting.

Deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) confirmed in a Facebook post on March 24, 2026, that a crew member, who was not identified, was found to be shoplifting while on shore during a port call.

Law enforcement did not specify which cruise ship the crew member worked on, but MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia was the only vessel calling at Port Canaveral that day, according to the port’s master cruise schedule. The ship accommodates 4,488 guests and typically has between 1,536 and 1,600 crew members on board.

Based in New York, MSC Meraviglia departed the Big Apple on a 7-night Bahamas cruise on March 22. Port Canaveral was the first port call on the itinerary. MSC Cruises has not issued a statement regarding the incident.

According to the sheriff’s office post, it contacted US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cape Canaveral while the employee was being detained.

Port Canaveral, Florida
Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)

When the local officials had completed processing the arrest, the suspect was turned over to CBP authorities, who issued an immigration detainer.

A detainer enables federal officials to take custody of a suspect. CBP officials then transported him to Orlando International Airport, where he was placed on a flight bound for his home country.

Read Also: What Are the Best Cruise Lines to Work For?

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a detainer to retrieve custody after BCSO was finished with the subject. He was then processed for removal from the U.S. and escorted to Orlando International Airport for his flight home,” Brevard County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media.

The crew member’s nationality is not known. The Orlando airport is located about an hour from Port Canaveral and serves as a major international hub.

Where Do Cruise Ship Crew Members Come From?

Foreign workers, including cruise ship crew members, typically arrive in US ports on a C1/D Seaman Visa. Across the cruise industry, the lion’s share of crew members hail from so-called low-opportunity labor markets.

The Milken Institute, which focuses on economic growth and job creation, notes that Filipinos account for nearly 30 percent of cruise workers. The rest hail mostly from India, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the former Soviet Republics.

In the Port Canaveral case, neither the sheriff’s office nor the CBP provided any details regarding the alleged shoplifting charge against the crew member. In fact, such charges are rare in the cruise industry.

Arrests of cruise ship employees are not commonplace, but they do happen from time to time. In May 2024, a crew member on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore was arrested after he allegedly attacked several people on the ship.

First, the 35-year-old was seen attempting to deploy a lifeboat. Members of the ship’s security team transported the worker to the vessel’s medical center, where he allegedly assaulted a security guard and a nurse.

In a more recent case, in January 2026, a cruise ship crew member was arrested at Germany’s Bremerhaven cruise terminal on charges of robbery and probation violation. The suspect had outstanding arrest warrants, which were discovered during the border check process.

Two Cruise Lines Introduce Fuel Surcharges, Could More Follow?

Catie Kovelman
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Two Cruise Lines Introduce Fuel Surcharges, Could More Follow?

Key Aspects:

  • The war on Iran has caused fuel prices to skyrocket, which is impacting the cruise industry.
  • One Asian cruise brand has already introduced fuel surcharges of up to $25 USD per guest, per day.
  • It would not be surprising if the mainstream cruise lines followed suit with their own surcharges or by increasing cruise fares.

The worsening conflict in the Middle East may have just made your future cruise more expensive.

Since the war with Iran began on February 28, 2026, oil prices have risen by over 35%. As an example, Global Brent crude oil prices have soared by nearly 40% to over $100 per barrel, driven by the ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz (which borders Iran). 

While cruise lines have made great efforts to create and integrate greener fuel alternatives, the industry still relies on heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil to power its ships.

The extra costs that cruise lines have to shell out for fuel aren’t just impacting the brands, but their guests as well.

Asian Cruise Lines Implement Fuel Surcharges

StarCruises and Dream Cruises, which are both owned by Resorts World Cruises, notified booked passengers on March 17, 2026, about new fuel surcharges.

The fees went into effect on March 20, 2026, for new bookings. All guests over the age of two will be required to pay surcharges, which will automatically be added to guests’ onboard accounts during their sailings.

“Due to recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East, oil prices have increased significantly, leading to higher fuel and related costs,” Dream Cruises and StarCruises announced in letters, which were obtained by Cruise Hive.

“As a result, a fuel surcharge will be introduced for new bookings made on or after 20 March 2026,” the letter continued.

Dream Cruises Open Deck
Photo Credit: ARTYOORAN / Shutterstock

Dream Cruises has implemented a change of SGD15 (or about $11.70 USD) per person, per day for all of Genting Dream’s departures. The 3,352-guest ship currently operates out of Singapore and Malaysia (Port Klang or Malacca).

Read Also: Cruise Ship Fuel Consumption – All the Details

StarCruises is imposing even heftier fees. Guests of the 1,944-passenger Star Voyager will have to shell out HKD 200 (about $25 USD) per guest, per night. The 77,441-gross ton ship is currently homeporting in Hong Kong.

Finally, sailing on the 1,854-guest Star Navigator, which currently operates out of Keelung (Taiwan), will come with a fee of NTD 600 (about $19 USD), per guest, per night.

The cruise brand will continue to review the surcharges as oil prices adjust and modify the cost to guests accordingly.

Are More Surcharges Coming?

When guests book their sailings and sign their cruise contract, the fine print almost always states that the cruise lines are allowed to implement fuel charges if necessary.

Although the cruise lines have rarely added surcharges historically, it does means that guests could end up being responsible for potentially hundreds of dollars in extra surcharges even after paying their balance in full.

For instance, Carnival reserves the right to charge up to $9.00 USD per person, per day, when the New York Mercantile Exchange Index (NYMEX) is greater than $70.00 USD per barrel of oil (and it’s currently at around $91.25 per barrel).

If the cruise line decided to implement these surcharges, a family of four could be looking at an added $252 for a week-long vacation.

As another example, Norwegian Cruise Line allows for a maximum daily surcharge of $10 per passenger, per day when fuel increases above $65 per barrel on the NYMEX. To put things in perspective, that’s an additional $280 for a family of four embarking on a week-long cruise.

MSC Cruises has one of the highest daily caps in the industry, with the ability to enact fees of up to $12 per person, per day when the NYMEX is above $65 per barrel. Again, looking at our hypothetical family of four, that is a whopping $336 for a week at sea.

As a final example, Royal Caribbean arguably has the least specific policy in the industry when it comes to fuel surcharges, with no published trigger charge or daily maximum.

More From Cruise Hive

Moving forward, it’s always a good idea for guests to review their specific cruise line’s policies so that they have an idea of what to expect and can be prepared in the event that surcharges are indeed levied.

Alternatively, the major brands may also opt to recoup costs by increasing the fares for new bookings rather than upsetting existing guests with unexpected fees. Cruise Hive will update on which way the industry trends.

Tragic Passenger Death on Royal Caribbean Cruise Prompts Investigation

Catie Kovelman
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Tragic Passenger Death on Royal Caribbean Cruise Prompts Investigation

Key Aspects:

  • A passenger unexpectedly died during Anthem of the Seas’ current New Zealand cruise.
  • New Zealand Police were immediately notified and began an investigation into the sudden death.
  • Unrelated, the ship also suffered a last-minute itinerary change due to poor weather.

Anthem’s of the Seas’ current sailing to New Zealand, which only just embarked in Sydney, Australia, on March 22, 2026, has had no shortage of bad luck.

Sadly, an unidentified passenger died suddenly while the Royal Caribbean ship was en route to Bay of Islands (Russell), which was the first port call on the 12-night itinerary and where the 4,180-guest ship arrived on the morning of March 25.

This was then followed by an unrelated itinerary change due to dangerous weather conditions (but we’ll get to that later).

New Zealand Police were alerted to the “sudden death” at approximately 1:45 a.m. on March 25, and officers were waiting for the 4,180-guest ship when she arrived at around 8 a.m. that morning. A death investigation was quickly launched.

“At around 1:45 a.m., Police were notified of a death on board the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship which was arriving from Sydney, Australia,” the New Zealand Police told PEOPLE.

The spokesperson for the police force also confirmed that the officers were “making enquiries into the person’s death on behalf of the coroner.”

Royal Caribbean also confirmed the death in a statement to Cruise Hive, and is cooperating with the investigation.

“We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests. We are supporting authorities in their investigation,” Royal Caribbean wrote in an email.

This is, of course, still a developing situation and Cruise Hive will share additional information about the circumstances if and when it becomes available.

Is Foul Play Suspected?

Especially in the wake of Anna Kepner’s homicide on Carnival Horizon last November, some may be suspicious about the circumstances behind this passenger’s death.

However, it’s important not to let rumors or speculation go too far, as no details about the untimely passing (beyond the fact that it happened) have been publicly released at this time.

Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: LD Media UK / Shutterstock

While foul play is possible, cruise guests do die from time to time due to natural causes. Ships even have onboard morgues to prepare for these unfortunate situations.

It’s also very common for the ship’s security team and local authorities to conduct an investigation and complete incident reports, even when the death is not considered suspicious.

An Unrelated Itinerary Change

Adding insult to injury, the 12-night voyage has also been slapped with a last-minute itinerary change. This was not related to the death, but rather due to inclement weather conditions.

Unfortunately, a deep subtropical low-pressure system is bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to much of New Zealand’s North Island.

The 168,666-gross ton ship was forced to skip its planned call to Tauranga, (Rotorua), which was scheduled for March 26. She instead went straight to Napier, where cruise tracking data confirms she arrived at around 10:30 a.m.

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She originally wasn’t supposed to arrive in the coastal city, which is located on the eastern coast of the North Island within the Hawke’s Bay region, until noon on March 27.

“Anthem of the Seas has missed Mount Maunganui, Tauranga today. She is currently on her way in to Napier and is due to dock at around 10:30am…This is due to bad weather,” one cruiser updated earlier in the morning.

It’s unclear how the rest of the itinerary, which features Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch), Dunedin (Port Chalmers), and Fiordland National Park, may also be impacted. The Quantum-class ship is due back in Sydney on April 3.

More Cruises Cancelled as Ships Remain Stranded at Persian Gulf Ports

Donna Tunney
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More Cruises Cancelled as Ships Remain Stranded at Persian Gulf Ports

Key Aspects:

  • Two cruise lines with ships stuck in Middle Eastern ports have cancelled additional sailings.
  • TUI Cruises will not operate voyages planned for March 29 and April 11.
  • Celestyal Cruises has also announced further cancellations for two ships.

Two cruise lines grappling with their inability to reposition ships away from the war-torn Middle East have been forced to cancel additional voyages.

Both TUI Cruises, which is half-owned by Royal Caribbean Group and TUI AG, and Celestyal Cruises, a boutique line based in Greece, are in the unenviable position of having ships stranded at Persian Gulf ports and unable to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

With no way to reposition their vessels into the Mediterranean, the cruise lines are notifying more booked guests that their planned vacations at sea will not happen. 

As reported in Cruise Hive, both cruise lines have been cancelling sailings piecemeal since early March, hoping that a solution will emerge that allows the ships to leave the area.

TUI Cruises’ Latest Changes

TUI Cruises confirmed on March 24, 2026, that Mein Schiff 4, stuck in Abu Dhabi, and Mein Schiff 5, in Doha, Qatar, remain unable to depart the area.

Mein Schiff 4’s planned departure on April 11, 2026, a 20-day cruise from Cape Town to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, has been cancelled. Guests booked to sail were to enjoy visits to Namibia, the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Barcelona, among other destinations.

This follows the cancellation of a March 22 voyage from Dubai, UAE, to Cape Town, South Africa. Port calls were scheduled for Muscat, Oman; Mahe Island, Seychelles; Mauritius Island; Reunion Island; and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Mein Schiff 5’s March 29 cruise is also cancelled. It was to sail from Cape Town on a 19-day cruise to Palma de Mallorca. Port calls included Namibia, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and Gibraltar. Other, earlier departures of both ships had been scrapped shortly after the war began.

TUI Cruise Ship in the Middle East
TUI Cruise Ship in the Middle East (Photo Credit: Ole Dor)

In its notice to guests, TUI Cruises requested that booked passengers avoid contacting the line directly, saying it will keep them updated.

“We kindly ask you to refrain from making individual enquiries about upcoming departures, as we are continuously assessing the situation and always make decisions based on current official recommendations,” said TUI Cruises in a statement to guests.

TUI Cruises, which caters to the German market, indicated that the decision follows travel and safety advice from the German Foreign Office. With some crew members remaining onboard the ships, the line noted that their safety is the top priority.

Celestyal Cruises Cancels More Sailings

Like TUI, Celestyal Cruises has two ships stranded: Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, and Celestyal Journey in Qatar.

The latest departure to be cancelled is Celestyal Discovery’s April 3, 2026, sailing, a 3-night Greek Islands getaway roundtrip from Athens. The latest announcement was issued on March 24.

Celestyal Discovery’s April 6 cruise has also been cancelled. That cruise was originally scheduled to depart on a 4-night sailing to the Greek islands, departing from Lavrion, Greece.

The cruise line has now also cancelled the April 4 departure out of Athens in Greece. This was scheduled to be a 14-night Mediterranean sailing, but also included a shorter 7-night segment ending on April 11.

“Guests booked on these departures will be offered the choice of a full refund or a future cruise credit to use against a future sailing. Affected guests are kindly asked to contact their original travel provider to discuss the available options and next steps,” a statement from Celestyal Cruises explained.

As with TUI Cruises, Celestyal had earlier nixed scheduled departures. Celestyal Discovery’s March 27 and March 30 cruises were cancelled, along with Celestyal Journey’s March 20 and March 23 voyages.

The situation in the Middle East remains unclear, with multiple cruise lines impacted. Cruise Hive will continue to ensure readers are kept updated.

Family Renews Call for Amy Alert as Amy Lynn Bradley Reaches 28 Years Missing

Donna Tunney
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Family Renews Call for Amy Alert as Amy Lynn Bradley Reaches 28 Years Missing

Key Aspects:

  • The family of missing cruise guest Amy Lynn Bradley is proposing an Amy Alert for cruise ships.
  • Amy Bradley went missing from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas in 1998.
  • An online petition to create the alert system is garnering thousands of signatures.

It was 28 years ago this week, on March 24, 1998, when cruise passenger Amy Lynn Bradley disappeared from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas as the ship made its way to Curacao.

The 23-year-old was never found, and now her bereaved family is using the tragic anniversary to call attention to the case, which has been well-documented over the years.

Issuing a challenge to the cruise industry in the form of a change.org petition, the family is asking that all cruise ships implement an immediate “Amy Alert” when someone is reported missing.

Similar to an Amber Alert, which galvanizes community and law enforcement efforts in certain child-abduction cases, an Amy Alert would function as an onboard emergency system. To date, the petition has garnered over 33,000 signatures.

Amy Bradley’s brother, Brad Bradley, noted the somber anniversary in a post on X.

“Amy disappeared 28 years ago today, yet it still feels like it was just yesterday somehow. We will continue to work hard and hold onto hope no matter how much time passes,” wrote Brad Bradley.  

“They say time heals all wounds, but they are wrong. We ask that you please come forward if you know something about what happened,” added Bradley.

Her disappearance in the early hours of March 24, 1998, followed an evening at the ship’s nightclub. Amy was traveling with her brother and her parents. The siblings returned to their cabin around 3:30 a.m., but when the family awoke at 6 a.m., she was not there.

A search ensued, involving the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard, and the ship’s crew members. However, passengers were allowed to debark the 1,996-guest ship while searches were ongoing.

The 7-night sailing had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Curacao was the second port call on the itinerary.

The nature of her vanishing prompted the procedures detailed in the Amy Alert. For example, guests were allowed to disembark the ship in Curacao while the search for the missing Amy was underway.

Some believe the young woman could have been spirited off the ship against her will when the ship docked at the Southern Caribbean island.

What the Amy Alert Petition Would Require

Currently, the petition notes, cruise ships do not require a ship-wide lockdown when someone is reported missing, nor do they have mandatory alert systems in place. Moreover, other passengers may not be immediately notified when a guest goes missing.

According to the petition, the Amy Alert is a six-pronged strategy geared to enable a full and complete search of a ship. It would require an alert to be issued via the cruise line’s app; the broadcasting of the missing guest’s photo on apps and televisions; and an immediate lockdown so that no one can debark the vessel.

Missing Amy Bradley
Missing Amy Bradley (Photo Credits: FBI & Dennis MacDonald)

Also, it requires a stem-to-stern search protocol, water searches if appropriate, and notification of the emergency to maritime officials and the Coast Guard.

In addition to the petition, Brad Bradley’s posts on X also direct interested viewers to a podcast about his sister’s disappearance on The Midnight Mystery Archive.

“If you’ve been waiting for a serious, evidence-first treatment of this case — this is it. Twelve episodes. It starts here,” posted Bradley.

Amy Bradley’s family has consistently worked to keep her case in the news, always seeking potential new leads in the case. In 2024, for instance, Cruise Hive reported that they highlighted what would be her 50th birthday, on May 12 of that year.

Her mysterious disappearance was the subject of a Netflix documentary, “Amy Bradley is Missing,” in July 2025 and quickly became the second-most-watched show on the network.

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