The number of Carnival Cruise Line itinerary revisions on 2025 and 2026 voyages continues to grow, with a newly announced spate of changes impacting 21 cruises on eight ships.
In notices to booked guests on December 5, 2024, the cruise line detailed a series of route changes, port replacements, and altered time in ports on the nearly two dozen voyages.
Most of the affected cruises are a year or more away, giving cruisers time to make changes if they wish, but some are just months away.
In all cases, any affected shore excursions pre-purchased through the cruise line will be automatically refunded or adjusted, as needed, and land tours for any new ports will be offered for booking before embarkation day.
Carnival Celebration
Four 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises sailing roundtrip from PortMiami on the 5,362-guest Carnival Celebration are impacted. The order of port visits was revised, but detailed changes were not revealed on the ship’s March 23, 2025 and November 16, 2025 cruises.
The sailings will call at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Nassau, Bahamas.
On the ship’s December 28, 2025 and February 22, 2026 cruises, a call at San Juan, Puerto Rico, was replaced with Amber Cove. Other port calls are to Celebration Key, and St. Thomas.
Carnival Sunshine
Three 6-night Bahamas sailings on the 3,758-guest Carnival Sunshine, based in Norfolk, Virginia, are affected. The ship’s November 9 and 15, 2025 cruises will call at Half Moon Cay rather than Bimini. These itineraries also will have a revised order of port calls and altered port times.
The ship’s December 13, 2025 voyage will visit Princess Cays instead of Bimini, and there are modified port times and days in Nassau and Princess Cays.
Carnival Vista
The 3,934-guest Carnival Vista has one itinerary change on her November 15, 2025 departure from Port Canaveral. The 6-night Eastern Caribbean cruise will call at Grand Turk rather than Half Moon Cay. Other calls will be made to Celebration Key and Amber Cove.
Carnival Magic, with a capacity for 3,690 guests, has three impacted cruises, all 8-night Eastern Caribbean sailings roundtrip from PortMiami.
Her November 21, 2025 and February 21, 2026 cruises will visit St. Croix instead of St. Thomas, while the November 29, 2025 sailing will call at Princess Cays rather than Half Moon Cay.
Carnival Sunrise
The 2,984-guest Carnival Sunrise will replace a call to Half Moon Cay with Princess Cays on her December 4 and 13, 2025 and February 26, 2026 Bahamas cruises. Additionally, the December 13, 2025 voyage has adjusted days and times in port.
Carnival Spirit
The 2,610-guest Carnival Spirit has an adjusted departure time from her homeport of Mobile, Alabama on January 18, 2025. The 12-night Southern Caribbean voyage will depart at 5 p.m. instead of the originally planned 4 pm.
The cruise calls at popular destinations such as Curacao, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman. A second cruise, a 6-night Bahamas sailing departing on February 22, 2026, will visit Nassau instead of Bimini. The ship will also visit Celebration Key.
Carnival Pride
Carnival Pride in Baltimore (Photo Credit: Joe Andrucyk, Bill Mc Allen / Flickr)
Guests sailing on the 2,680-guest Carnival Pride’s 14-night Greenland and Canada cruise, roundtrip from Baltimore on August 17, 2025, will see port times and the order of port visits altered.
The cruise will call at adventurous destinations, including Nanortalik and Qaqortoq, Greenland; St. Anthony and Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Carnival Firenze
Carnival Firenze, the 4,090-guest Fun Italian Style ship, has four cruises impacted by revisions. All are 4-night Baja Mexico cruises that operate roundtrip from Los Angeles. The departures on March 1 and 15, 2026 and April 2 and 12, 2026 all will remove Catalina Island from their itineraries and instead feature a second visit to Ensenada.
Catalina Island and Ensenada are the only two calls on the original itinerary. Port times have also been altered for these sailings.
Carnival Cruise Line in recent weeks, has announced large numbers of revised itineraries. In October 2024, the line confirmed that 22 voyages on 10 ships with departures in 2025 and 2026 were being altered with a variety of route changes and modified port times.
Holiday meals are always filled with delicious treats and once-a-year dishes, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Christmas Gala Dinner is no different.
The special holiday menu includes a variety of seasonal dishes that evoke traditional tastes and elevated favorites, as well as classic Carnival dishes for those who have different preferences.
For appetizers, the special featured Christmas starter is a luxurious baked brie with cranberry-pecan crumble and fig and olive crostini. Other options include a short rib and yam croquette with pear and mustard relish and a pimento aioli, deviled eggs with candied bacon, and a roasted pumpkin soup with brown butter and thyme.
If cruisers prefer more classic appetizers, both the BLT wedge salad and the Caesar salad will be available, as well as shrimp cocktail and other options.
Three special Christmas entrees are on offer for the dinner menu, starting with the classic holiday roasted tom turkey with sage stuffing, sweet potato casserole, giblet gravy, and cranberry relish.
If passengers had their fill of turkey on the Thanksgiving menu (whether they set sail with Carnival or enjoyed the holiday at home), they can opt for honey glazed ham with herbed potatoes, roasted carrots, asparagus, candied pineapple, and raisin sauce.
A delicious vegetarian entree is also available – cauliflower and gruyere cheese souffle, served with asparagus and mushroom beurre blanc, Brussels sprouts, and glazed pecans.
Of course, Carnival’s classic entrees are tasty enough for any holiday meal as well, and several favorite options are part of the Christmas Gala Dinner menu.
Oven-baked salmon with lemon risotto and skillet vegetables, ricotta ravioli with aged parmesan, grilled black tiger jumbo shrimp with fava bean and pea stew, and flame-grilled striploin steak with green beans almondine are just a few of the available entrees.
As with every night on a Carnival ship, guests can also order the popular Steakhouse Selections – broiled filet mignon, grilled lamb chops, a New York strip steak, or surf & turf with a lobster tail – for the standard $23 surcharge. An 18% gratuity service charge is also added to all Steakhouse Selection orders.
Desserts are the crown jewels of the holiday season, and Carnival’s Christmas menu does not disappoint. The featured dessert is a stunning eggnog cheesecake, served with raspberry cremeux, spiced cream, and mint “snow” for nostalgic effect.
Several other desserts also feature outstanding seasonal tastes. The classic bourbon pecan pie is garnished with creme Chantilly and whiskey caviar, while the buche de noel is a low-calorie option without any added sugar, featuring coffee anglaise and honey oat crumble.
Carnival Cruise Line Christmas Dinner Menu
Of course, guests will still be able to finish their holiday meal with the iconic Carnival chocolate melting cake, fresh tropical fruit, or the savory cheese plate. And as it’s Christmas, why not order more than one dessert? There’s no reason to have just one – it’s the holidays!
Travelers should also know that if they have food allergies or sensitivities, different menu items can be prepared in a way that is safe and still seasonally delicious.
“We would be able to prepare everything that you need without you having to worry about your allergies,”John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, confirmed.“We are always ready to do that.”
Guests should inform their dining room team about any allergies on the first night of the cruise, and they will make notes to ensure a delicious dining experience without any complications. In the case of more severe dietary concerns, contacting the special needs team before sailing will help prevent mishaps.
More Christmas Treats Onboard
While the Christmas Gala Dinner menu will be the highlight of seasonal dining for many cruisers, there are sure to be other treats available as well.
Many of the same dishes will be offered at the Lido Marketplace buffet for guests who prefer a more casual, at-your-leisure dining experience.
Additional cookies, cakes, and other treats with seasonal flavors will also be on offer. Of course, guests can also take advantage of all the other food available onboard, including Guy’s Burger Joint and other free dining venues.
For late night snacks, the new expanded Lido buffet service includes pizza, sandwiches, soups, and more. Guests will never lack delicious options on a Carnival cruise!
There used to be a lower daily rate that had been charged on longer sailings (six nights or more), but the change eliminates this discount.
The same day, it also came to light that Carnival has increased the cost of its Wi-Fi packages by a minimum of 12% over previous pricing – regardless of if guests purchase their internet service in advance or once onboard.
The Social Wi-Fi plan, which includes access to social media websites and apps, originally cost $15.30 per day when purchased in advance and $18 per day onboard. But now, the cost has risen to $18.70 when pre-purchased and $22 once onboard.
The middle tier Value Wi-Fi plan rose from $19.55 pre-cruise to $22.10 per day when purchased in advance – with the onboard price increasing from $23 to $26 per day.
The highest quality Premium Wi-Fi Plan increased the least – but still rose from $21.25 pre-cruise to $23.80, with the onboard price rising from $25 to $28.
Naturally, many were upset about the price hikes – especially as Carnival is largely viewed as a budget-friendly cruise line and because the changes came without notice.
Brand Ambassador John Heald tried to explain the reasons behind the increase on his public Facebook page, but still was met with much rage in the comments of his posts.
“I do understand your disappointment that I did not advise you of the increase in some of the services that we are offering such as the cheers program. I have scheduled comments with my colleagues and the beards,”Heald posted.
“We’re proud of the quality and value a Carnival cruise vacation provides our guests. Recent nominal price adjustments to help cover higher costs and our investments in on board offerings allow us to continue providing the high-quality experiences our guests know and love,”Heald continued.
This initial response, however, was not enough to stop the barrage of angry comments from flooding in.
Guests Lash Out Against Bad Timing and Poor Communication
Believe it or not, most passengers were less upset about the price changes than they were about the timing of the news and the lack of warning.
With Christmas just weeks away, many folks found that their holiday spirit was dampened by the surprise increase – especially among those that already find themselves overextended buying holiday presents.
If anything, many were expecting holiday related discounts from the cruise line – not to have to shell out extra cash for their next vacation.
“Please address the insane increase on CHEERS with no warning and right before Christmas.This is the second increase in a year. And the last one, we were given a heads up if already booked. This time we were blindsided and during the holidays,”one person wrote on Heald’s Facebook page.
“And here I was hoping for a Black Friday or Travel Tuesday deal for it and BAM!! Just kidding, best I can do is INCREASE IT,” she continued.
However, the bigger issue at hand wasn’t the holiday timing, but rather that the change wasn’t communicated as previous price increases have been in the past – which would have allowed future guests to take advantage of the old prices.
“I was waiting until next week to pay for the cheers package (I know my fault) so it was a very unpleasant surprise to find out they raised the price. While I understand that prices are rising and they are not obligated to say anything, a day or 2 notice would have been great,”one future guest wrote.
However, not everyone was so friendly in the way they expressed their frustration – with Heald actually having to make another post to address the onslaught of cyberbullying that came his way.
“Anything that involves some of the name calling and personal attacks that were posted today, well, please, I respectfully ask you to refrain from that,”Heald wrote.
It likely also doesn’t help that the price increases came at a time where there has been a growing annoyance about overcrowding on Carnival ships – which was already seen as taking away from the value of cruising.
The first-ever fully dog-friendly cruise is coming soon, with great interest from doting dog owners eager to set sail with their pets.
While it sounds like an amazing opportunity, there is no way this dog owner would ever walk my dog up a pet-friendly gangway. But why not?
Why I Would Never Take a Dog-Friendly Cruise
While travel agencies, cruise lines, and travel insurance companies will take all possible precautions for smooth sailing on any dog-friendly cruise, there are just too many things that could be very unpredictable onboard.
1. Seasickness
Just like humans, dogs can suffer from motion sickness. While my dog has never had issues even on longer car rides, setting sail for a multi-night cruise is a unique situation.
Having been on dozens of cruises myself, I am very familiar with how each voyage is different and how weather patterns can change quickly, causing pitching and rolling that might upset even the strongest stomachs.
I love roller coasters, have no trouble on car rides or in elevators, and enjoy most ship motion, but more than once I’ve had a bit of a queasy stomach on rough waters.
Once the cruise is underway, there would be no realistic option to debark early if one’s dog reacts badly to the ship’s motion. Instead, it will just be necessary to continue with the voyage, subjecting the dog to miserable conditions for several days. This is not something I’m comfortable risking, as there’s really no way to tell beforehand if a pet will get seasick.
2. Pests and Diseases
Dog on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Zivica Kerkez)
While all dogs boarding a cruise ship would undoubtedly be required to be up-to-date on required vaccinations, there is always a risk that diseases such as kennel cough could be passed from pooch to pooch, even if vaccinated. This highly communicable disease is a respiratory infection frequently found in boarding facilities, doggy day cares, grooming salons, and other group venues.
Like our own flu vaccine, the canine bordetella vaccine is not 100% effective against all kennel cough occurrences, and even a vaccinated dog can become infected. While not usually too severe and very treatable, it’s yet another risk I’m just not comfortable taking.
Furthermore, what about fleas and ticks that might be brought onboard? Different dog owners use different types of pest preventatives, and each one has different levels of effectiveness. Even a dog on flea and tick meds might occasionally have a pest, which can easily jump from one pet to another.
3. Stress and Anxiety
I take cruises to relax, as a fantastic way to unplug and escape the worries of the world while enjoying an amazing getaway. But taking my dog along would amp up my stress level onboard as I worry about his well-being and care in a very unique and unusual situation.
Furthermore, dogs thrive on routine, and I’ve seen firsthand how our dog might get uneasy and unpredictable in new and potentially frightening situations. No matter how well-trained, well-socialized, or well-adjusted any dog may be, a cruise would certainly be stressful.
This can lead to unpredictable behavior and even physical illness (the type of tummy troubles we don’t necessarily enjoy cleaning up). Even if my own dog adapts fine to life on the high seas, there’s no telling how other dogs onboard may react in adjacent staterooms or elsewhere on the ship.
4. Behavior and Training
Dog Playing in the Water (Photo Credit: Pascale Gueret)
All responsible dog owners will take steps to ensure their furry family member can confidently obey basic commands such as sit, down, or stay. Our dog follows these commands and knows a variety of tricks and other more advanced commands as well.
Onboard a dog-friendly cruise, however, there is no guarantee that all the pets are thoroughly trained. Furthermore, even the most well-trained dog may get distracted by unusual situations and may not obey as expected.
This could be even more of a problem on a dog-friendly sailing, as restrictions may require that only smaller dogs be welcomed aboard. Unfortunately, many small dog owners may be lax about thorough training because it can be just too easy to pick up one’s small dog when they disobey, laughing off potentially problematic behavior as cute instead.
I’m guilty of this myself, as there are times when our 18-pound dog believes he weighs 180 pounds and wants to defend his territory with that attitude. Rather than intensive training to correct that behavior, we may just deflect him instead (not great training practice, and certainly not useful on a cruise).
5. Size and Breed Restrictions
For safety and insurance purposes, any dog-friendly sailing is likely to restrict canine cruisers to certain body weights or overall sizes. Larger dogs or breeds perceived to have more aggressive behaviors are not likely to be as welcome.
While this may put some dog owners at ease, even small dogs can be aggressive in the right (or wrong) situation. I still have scars from a mean-tempered and poorly trained Chihuahua from when I was a kid – scars that are also my fault, to be fair, but that do prove that even a 10-pound dog can be potentially dangerous.
Every dog owner believes their dog is friendly, welcoming, and well-mannered, but each of those traits can have different definitions for different owners and different animals. I don’t want to risk my own dog’s safety based on another owner’s assumptions in a very unknown and first-of-its-kind situation.
6. Relief Areas
Dog Cruise Relief Station (Photo Credit: denbaim)
Whenever a service dog is onboard a cruise a special relief area is set up, usually on a lower deck in a quiet corner where the dog can more comfortably “do its business.” Depending on what stateroom the owner books, a similar relief area may be set up on their private verandah or balcony.
True service dogs are specially trained to “go” on command as needed and are accustomed to a wide range of surfaces and circumstances that can meet their bathroom needs. Few pets, however, have the same control and versatility for bathroom breaks as a fully trained service dog.
My dog is thoroughly house trained and has not had an accident in longer than I can recall. He takes his bathroom breaks in the yard or on walks, even in completely new areas.
He has never, however, used a litter box, artificial turf, or other similar surface that might be used in an onboard relief area, and I’m not sure he’d know what to do with it.
If other dogs onboard aren’t used to relief area arrangements, it could mean a very messy situation indeed, not to mention that illnesses and parasites such as worms are passed through feces – another risk I’d rather not take.
7. Onboard Restrictions
While a dog-friendly cruise will naturally permit pets to enjoy many areas of the ship, there are sure to be select venues where dogs aren’t allowed. For health and safety reasons, this is likely to include all restaurants and pool areas, two areas my family really enjoys on every cruise.
This means that if our dog were to accompany us on a sailing, there would be lengthy times when he would need to be left alone in our stateroom, crated in a kennel, or under other doggy daycare supervision – not actually enjoying the cruise with us as advertised.
While our dog is crate trained and comfortable in his accommodations, that may not be true for every dog owner. An upset dog can become a loud or destructive one, which can then cause reactions from other dogs, perhaps in nearby staterooms or common areas.
8. Paperwork
Dog Paperwork (Photo Credit: Krakenimages)
The paperwork necessary to bring a domestic animal to a foreign country can be convoluted and confusing. While travel agencies arranging dog-friendly sailings will likely take steps to help streamline the process for their booked travelers, it is still up to owners to be sure their dog is properly documented for a successful visit.
Without the proper paperwork, guests and their canine travel companions may be denied boarding at the last minute, or else may not be permitted to debark in ports of call.
For dog owners whose pets have challenging histories – an adopted older dog from a shelter, for example, that may be lacking a puppy vaccination history – the necessary paperwork can be an extra difficulty for setting sail.
I do have my dog’s paperwork, but over the years, it is possible that changing veterinarians, a more detailed health history with medical problems, changes in medication, or other challenges could make the paperwork even worse than trying to renew a human passport at short notice.
9. Emergencies
Dog-Friendly Cruise (Photo Credit: Able Image)
No pet owner wants to face the possibility of an emergency with their dog, particularly when far from home. While a dog-friendly cruise will undoubtedly have a vet onboard in case of emergencies, how well-equipped will any cruise ship really be for animal care? What meds may be stocked onboard, and what emergency equipment?
When a human has an emergency during a cruise they may be disembarked early to seek further care at land-based facilities, but will that be possible for a dog?
What standard of veterinary care may be available in different ports of call, just in case? These are questions that may be nearly impossible to answer but could be critical for the health and well-being of a beloved pet onboard a cruise.
10. Cost
Cruises can be very affordable vacations, but it is always more expensive to travel with a pet. Even when traveling on land, there are pet fees over and above the standard booking costs for hotels, and extra services for a pet – doggy day care, grooming, etc. – also have extra fees.
It stands to reason that a cruise line would also charge an extra fee for a pet-friendly sailing. This cost could help cover any extra staff that might be needed onboard to help with dog care, sanitation, supervision, and other duties, as well as to cover any potential damage or other expensive outcomes from dogs onboard.
Just as some hotels have a per-night pet fee while others charge a flat rate regardless of stay length, cruise lines might also vary in how they charge for any pets onboard. The dog’s size could also factor in to a fee’s overall total.
This also doesn’t count extra travel charges for cruise passengers to reach their cruise homeport with their pet. These could include airline pet fees, pet fees for hotel stays before and after sailing, or extra fees for other transportation such as surcharges with rideshare services when a pet is also part of the group.
Choose Wisely for Your Dog
Ultimately, every dog owner has to choose the experiences they want to have with their pet and decide for themselves whether certain experiences may be worth the inherent risks.
There will surely be plenty of demand for dog-friendly sailings if the difficulties are worked out, and different cruise lines may offer a wide range of possibilities for oceangoing canines.
For me and my dog, we’ll happily enjoy a stroll on the beach, a visit to a local park, and an extra play session at home. When I do set sail on my next cruise, I’ll be sure to bring dog toys back for us to enjoy together on dry land.
The world’s second-busiest cruise port is going to see even more passengers arriving at its terminals in the coming months.
On November 26, 2024, Port Canaveral celebrated the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s 3,600-passenger Voyager of the Seas, which will homeport at the port for its 2024-25 winter season.
The ship joins Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas at the Space Coast port, which saw more than 7.6 million passengers during fiscal 2024.
To mark the occasion, a traditional maritime plaque ceremony was held aboard the ship.
Although Voyager of the Seas set off on her first sailing from Port Canaveral on November 30, 2024, a 5-night Eastern Caribbean journey to the Dominican Republic and the cruise line’s private destination, Labadee, in Haiti, the formal plaque exchange took place on December 5, 2024, after the ship returned.
Prior to departing on a 4-night Bahamas cruise to Royal Caribbean’s other private destination, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, and Nassau, Captain Josep M. Ruyra received the warm welcome from Canaveral Port Authority Commission Vice Chairman Wayne Justice.
“Port Canaveral is thrilled to welcome Voyager of the Seas as the fourth Royal Caribbean International ship to call the port home,”a statement from the port revealed.“Welcome to Port Canaveral, Voyager of the Seas!“
The vessel is now operating 4- and 5-night voyages from Central Florida to the Caribbean through May 3, 2025.
Together, the four Royal Caribbean ships calling Port Canaveral home this season will bring a combined total of 18,118 passengers to the port for each sailing, reinforcing its role as a key hub for Caribbean cruises.
Voyager of the Seas Plaque Ceremony (Photo Credit: Port Canaveral)
Port Canaveral Poised for Record-Breaking Growth in 2025
Port Canaveral has experienced significant growth in cruise ship arrivals and passenger traffic in recent years. At the beginning of 2024, the port projected it would receive 7.3 million passengers. Instead, fiscal year reports recorded a record-breaking 7.6 million.
Trailing behind PortMiami, which witnessed more than 8.2 million visitors in fiscal 2024 and overtook Port Canaveral as the world’s busiest port in 2023, officials anticipate it will host 8.4 million cruise guests in 2025, spurred by the arrival of several new ships.
Royal Caribbean’s 5,668-passenger Utopia of the Seas, the second-largest vessel in the fleet made Canaveral its home when it debuted in July 2024, where it is slated to remain through at least April 2026, providing 3- and 4-night weekly sailings to the Bahamas.
The cruise line’s new Star of the Seas, currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, is also scheduled to arrive in the summer 2025.
Voyager of the Seas Docked in Port Canaveral
As the second Icon Class ship after Icon of the Seas, the 250,800-gross-ton vessel will bring 5,610 guests for its weekly 7-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The ship is scheduled to stay through April 2027.
Meanwhile, Disney Cruise Line’s newest vessel, the 144,000-gross-ton Disney Treasure, is making her much-anticipated maiden voyage from Port Canaveral on December 21, 2024. Carrying up to 4,000 guests, the ship will call the Space Coast home through May 2026.
MSC Cruises’ 181,541-gross-ton MSC Grandiosa, carrying up to 4,842 passengers, will become the cruise line’s largest ship to homeport at Port Canaveral when it arrives in December 2025.
In total, the port will homeport 16 ships in 2025 and anticipates more than 1,000 calls.
Cruisers who depart from driving destinations may have the ease of getting to ports easier than those who have to fly, but that ease often turns into a headache when it comes to parking congestion.
From heavy traffic to constant construction and limited shuttles from distant lots to cruise terminals, the experience can cause anxiety and stress that disrupt the start of a vacation.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is hoping to change that at the world’s busiest cruise port by taking over operations at PortMiami Garage.
The port, which welcomed more than 8.2 million passengers in fiscal 2024, is growing, and with it, passengers need more parking.
NCLH, which owns Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will take over Cruise Terminal B Garage’s operations and maintenance and announced it will also develop a new multipurpose parking facility at PortMiami.
“This agreement highlights our strong and growing partnership with PortMiami,” said Dan Farkas, executive vice president, general counsel, and chief development officer at NCLH.
“With increased passenger commitments and new infrastructure management and development, we are ensuring that PortMiami continues to lead as a world-class hub for the cruise industry and a key driver of our local economy,” he continued.
The agreement marks a major step in addressing the increasing volume of passengers moving through PortMiami, including Norwegian’s added commitment to bring 25 million more passengers over the next 30 years, bringing the company’s total to nearly 75 million during the initial terms of the agreement.
“By combining Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ and PortMiami’s resources, we can invest in infrastructure projects which will benefit the growing number of cruise customers,”said Danielle Cohen Higgins, chairwoman of PortMiami’s Resiliency and Sustainability Committee.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed optimism about the partnership and said, “By collaborating with our valued partners and investing in future-ready transportation projects, we are ensuring our global position as Cruise Capital of the World.”
The new multipurpose parking facility will boost parking capacity by adding a minimum of 2,000 additional parking space. Although a construction date has not been announced, NCLH says the project will be complete by late 2028.
Major Cruise Lines Invest in PortMiami
This isn’t the first time Norwegian has expanded its footprint at PortMiami. In 2021, Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled a new 188,000-square-foot terminal and parking garage capable of accommodating ships holding up to 5,000 passengers.
Known as Terminal B, the LEED Gold Certified project designed by Miami-based architecture firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners Inc., cost more than $100 million.
View of PortMiami in Florida (Photo Credit: Just dance)
However, Norwegian Cruise Line is not alone in addressing the parking needs of its passengers. Royal Caribbean Group is set to begin construction on new Terminal G in 2025. The project, with an estimated cost exceeding $2.8 billion, includes expanding the multi-level parking garage at the terminal.
Completion is anticipated by late 2027, and the new terminal is expected to more than double Royal Caribbean’s annual passenger movements across its brands, which include Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises.
Carnival Cruise Line also completed an expansion project at Terminal F in early 2023. The 471,500-square-foot project welcomes 100,000 passengers annually.
Cruisers will no longer get away with a somewhat common hack to avoid paying to use the internet – at least not on Royal Caribbean sailings.
Some techies within the cruise community don’t like to set sail without packing their handy dandy portable travel routers – which they use to stay connected during their voyage.
Not only are the devices tiny and portable, but they can connect to the internet with just a data plan and a SIM or eSIM card, depending on the router’s compatibility.
They then create a private Wi-Fi network that only the passenger’s private devices can connect to – without ever needing to pay for the cruise line’s internet package.
While Wi-Fi onboard Royal Caribbean’s ships has improved drastically thanks to the rollout of Starlink, the internet can sometimes still be spotty – which might be problematic for cruisers who need to work remotely. However, this issue can also usually be avoided with travel routers.
However, Royal Caribbean is cracking down on the use of these portable Wi=Fi routers after quietly adding the devices to their list of banned items. They weren’t listed as recently as November 22, 2024, but they are certainly included as of December 4, 2024.
“Cybersecurity and deliberate electronic crime: Satellite dishes, routers, and other networking equipment,”the list now reads.
While the wording now clearly includes the routers, it also leaves the option open for Royal Caribbean to confiscate more items it has not yet specifically named.
Indeed, the family friendly cruise line has begun enforcing the ban – with recent passengers reporting that devices found during the security check on embarkation day had been compensated.
It’s also possible that room stewards could report or confiscate routers they discover while performing housekeeping services if guests manage to sneak them through the luggage scans.
Royal Caribbean Internet Plans
With the ban already in effect, future Royal Caribbean guests will need to invest in a VOOM Surf + Stream Internet package if they want to stay connected during their voyage.
According to Royal Caribbean, their VOOM packages offer the fastest internet at sea – allowing guests to stream their favorite shows, music, and movies, check their emails, browse the web, post on social media, and partake in video calls at sea.
“VOOM is 6x faster than any other internet at sea! For the first time you will be able to stream music and movies, upload pictures, video chat with family and friends using FaceTime or Skype, check your email, look at your stock prices, surf the web and stay connected with work,”reads Royal Caribbean’s website.
Docked Royal Caribbean Ships (Photo Credit: fitzcrittle)
The specific pricing depends on the sailing and how many devices are included in the internet package – with plans available to cover individual devices, as well as more inclusive family plans.
There are also discounts available for booking internet packages early – which guests can do online through their My Royal Cruise account.
But while some will be frustrated with the change – especially after Royal Caribbean already banned multi-plug outlets earlier this year – they aren’t the only cruise line to make this change.
Carnival Cruise Line also cracked down on portable routers in September of 2024 – which came to light after a YouTuber named Richard Shillington had his Starlink Mini confiscated during his sailing.
Shillington reportedly paid $599 to purchase the device and $250 a month to use it during his travels.
He got caught after he posted a video showing how his portable router significantly outperformed the download speed of Carnival’s Premium Wi-Fi package – which was seen by the cruise line.
He was soon called to the hotel director’s office, where the Starlink Mini was confiscated due to a violation of Carnival’s policy – and the prohibited items list was updated accordingly.
Following the quiet price increase for the Cheers! beverage package, Carnival Cruise Line has also quietly increased the price for all three of its WiFi plans. Regardless of whether guests pre-pay for the package before setting sail or purchase internet access onboard, the costs are now higher.
Carnival offers three different WiFi plans – Social, Value, and Premium. Each one has now increased in price, with no notice to booked guests and no opportunity for travelers to lock in savings.
The cost increases can quickly add up, as each package has increased a minimum of 12% over previous pricing.
The Social WiFi Plan, which includes access to social media websites and apps to stay in touch with family members and friends back on land, has increased the most. Previously, the plan was $15.30 per day when purchased before sailing, and $18 per day when purchased onboard.
Now, the costs are $18.70 pre-cruise and $22 when purchased onboard, an increase of a whopping 22%. For a 7-night sailing, travelers will now pay $23.80 to $28 higher for this package, depending on when they make their purchase.
The Value Wi-Fi Plan includes all social sites as well as limited internet browsing with a faster connection speed than the Social option. The previous pricing was $19.55 pre-cruise and $23 when purchased onboard, but has now increased 13% to $22.10 and $26, respectively.
The Premium WiFi Plan has increased the least, but still has a notably higher price. Previously, the cost per day was $21.25 before sailing and $25 onboard, but guests will now pay 12% more – $23.80 when purchased pre-cruise and $28 when purchased onboard.
Carnival’s official website does note that prices “are subject to change without prior notice” but with previous price increases, the cruise line has typically notified booked guests several days early. This has permitted travelers to lock in savings by buying their Wi-Fi plans before an increase goes into effect.
“You should know that we are adjusting Wi-Fi pricing,” the notification read at that time. “Make sure to add your Wi-Fi package early to lock in the current package price for your upcoming cruise.”
No such notice was sent to guests about these latest price increases.
Guests React to Surprise Price Increases
Carnival guests are not happy about the price increases, but the lack of communication from the cruise line appears to be the most frustrating issue.
Many travelers have reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, with their concerns. While it is true that no business needs to notify customers of pending price increases, loyal travelers and repeat cruisers feel it would have been courteous for the cruise line to do so.
Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise
This is especially true when guests book cruises months, even years, before sailing, and may have budgeted very carefully for their add-on packages at that time.
Heald, while promising to ensure that guests’ frustrations are passed along to the cruise line’s executives and customer service team, does note that Carnival has not acted deceptively or done anything that other businesses would not do.
“I think that most restaurants and hotels and Cruise lines do not normally give email or press release warnings if they are going to increase a price of well anything really,”he said.“But I absolutely understand your frustration and I promise to make sure the right people will see it.”
Every traveler has to choose whether or not they want to purchase a beverage package or internet access according to their own preferences, needs, and budget. Forewarning of a price increase could encourage guests who may have been undecided to go ahead and make the purchase at a lower rate.
Without such warning, however, many guests appear to now be foregoing the packages or else reconsidering travel with Carnival Cruise Line altogether. What would your reaction be? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!
Just as one of the busiest sailing times of the year gets underway, Carnival Cruise Line has quietly hiked the price of its wildly popular Cheers! Beverage Program.
The increase removes the lower daily rate that has previously been charged for longer sailings, and instead, all passengers will now be paying the higher per-day price no matter what length of the cruise they enjoy.
The price change has been noted on Carnival’s official website, where both prices were previously listed. Guests on sailings of 6 nights or longer could prepay $70.74 (USD) per night compared to $82.54 per night for itineraries of 5 nights or less.
Now, only the higher prices are listed and any reference to the discount for longer sailings has been removed.
No other changes are noted with the program, such as what types of drinks are included or excluded. The $20 or lower menu price per beverage still applies, as does the firm 15-per-day drink limit.
This change represents a roughly 16% per day increase for travelers on longer sailings. Because of the duration of the cruises that are impacted by the change, this can be a significant extra expense for travelers.
For example, on a 7-night cruise – the most common longer sailing length offered by Carnival Cruise Line – guests will now pay $82.60 more per person for the drink package.
The cost will be even higher if more than one cruiser is over the age of 21 in a stateroom, as all adults must purchase the package if one person does.
Carnival does not make any exemptions for this rule, even with medical documentation that guests cannot drink, a point the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has been very firm about. The restriction is in place to prevent sharing the package and to monitor guests’ individual consumption as needed.
It should be noted that the price of the Bottomless Bubbles soda package has not changed, nor has the price of bottled water available for purchase through Carnival’s website. None of these options, however, had any price discount based on sailing length.
Cost Is Not Upsetting Guests – Timing Is
It isn’t necessarily the cost increase of the drink package that is most surprising and upsetting to guests. After all, the Cheers! package has never been inexpensive, and guests budget for the cost based on their own ability to indulge.
What is frustrating most travelers, however, is that no warning was given for this price increase, and therefore booked guests cannot “lock in” savings before the higher price takes effect.
Carnival’s Site Showing Increased Rate
When the Cheers! package last had a price increase in late 2023, travelers were notified of the change several days before the price was changed and urged to purchase their packages without delay to take advantage of the savings.
Most cruisers are relatively understanding about increased costs – after all, we all see such prices change in our daily spending, regular bills, and land-based recreation. What is irksome to cruisers, however, is that no notice is given and the higher prices simply appear in their check-out carts.
These types of surprises can be avoided, of course, by simply purchasing drink packages, wi-fi access, and pre-paid gratuities as soon as possible if the price is acceptable, rather than waiting and watching for a possible sale or price decrease.
