MSC Cruises revealed new details about the Harbour outdoor family park and the Aqua Deck pool district on MSC World Asia.
The ship will include thrill attractions such as the Cliffhanger swing ride, a large ropes course, and an 11-deck spiral slide.
MSC World Asia will begin sailing 7-night Mediterranean itineraries on December 4, 2026.
A new outdoor park for families and a redesigned pool district are among the latest features announced for MSC World Asia, the next ship in MSC Cruises’ World Class series scheduled to debut late this year.
The cruise line just revealed new details about The Harbour and the Aqua Deck areas on board the vessel, highlighting outdoor attractions, dining spaces, and new pools that will be part of the ship’s family-focused entertainment offerings.
Building on the concept first introduced on MSC World America when that ship debuted on April 9, 2025, The Harbor will serve as a large outdoor activity area designed for families and children.
The attraction will make its European debut on the 215,863-gross-ton MSC World Asia and will be located within the ship’s Family Aventura district.
According to MSC Cruises, the space is designed as an outdoor park where guests can take part in activities throughout the day while also accessing casual food options.
“Reflecting the theme of the ship, the newly revamped Harbour on MSC World Asia will feature an Asian-inspired design where parents, children, and thrill seekers can come together, eat, and play and soak up in the sun in a revolutionary outdoor park within the Family Aventura district,” said the cruise line.
The Harbour on MSC World Asia
Among the attractions is Cliffhanger, an over-water swing ride positioned roughly 164 feet above sea level. The ride will move back and forth over the side of the ship while offering views of the ocean.
Another feature is a two-level ropes course covering about 6,210 square feet. The course includes two Sky Rails that function similarly to a zip line and are designed to allow guests to navigate elevated obstacles above the deck.
The Harbour will also include a small water park with multiple slides. These range from a vertical drop slide to raft rides and side-by-side racing slides, along with a splash area designed for younger children.
Nearby food service will be provided at The Harbour Bar & Bites, which will offer quick snacks and drinks intended for guests using the activity area. The outdoor district will also include a new Play Deck space intended as a quieter area where families can gather between activities.
Another feature connected to the area is the Tree of Life at The Spiral, an 11-deck dry slide that links The Harbour with the World Promenade below.
Aqua Deck and Pools
Across the ship, MSC World Asia will feature a total of seven pools and 13 hot tubs, with the Aqua Deck district the largest outdoor zone offering several pools.
Two of the pools are part of the redesigned Aqua Deck concept, including the Manila Bay pool. This outdoor pool will be ship’s primary pool area and will host daytime activities and entertainment.
MSC World Asia’s Coral Cove indoor pool (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)
Nearby, the Pearl Lagoon Bar will serve drinks in the main pool area. The second redesigned pool, Coral Cove, will be located indoors beneath a retractable glass roof. The space will also feature a bar.
MSC World Asia, currently wrapping up construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France, is being designed to incorporate Asian culture, art, and landscapes throughout public areas and venues.
It will be the third vessel in MSC Cruises’ World Class series and will accommodate 6,758 passengers. She is scheduled to begin service on December 4, 2026, operating 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean.
Itineraries will include calls at major ports like Barcelona and Valletta, Spain; Marseille, France; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, and Naples, Italy.
Fascinating footage of Harmony of the Seas departing from Port Everglades has popped back up.
The viral video shows how the ship pulls water away from the shore, which rushes back as soon as the vessel passes.
Because of the Royal Caribbean ship’s massive size, the effect is particularly impressive.
An old video of Harmony of the Seas leaving Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is making waves once again in 2026.
The viral clip, which was first shared seven years ago, captures the massive Royal Caribbean ship creating a phenomenon in which the water from the shoreline recedes as the mega-ship passes a stretch of beach.
Once the mega-ship has passed, the water comes rushing back in what looks like a mini tsunami, or what would be more accurately described as a “wake-induced surge.”
In the video, beachgoers who were seeing the Oasis-class ship off can be seen playfully running and screaming as the sea quickly returns to its normal depth.
What Caused the Phenomenon?
Part of why this video has resurfaced is because it is fascinating and cruise fans want to understand the science behind the clip.
“Could someone explain because the ship appears to be displacing a bunch of water (which makes it float) so wouldn’t the water be pushed out while it is nearby, and then recede when it departs?” one person inquired in a recent Reddit post.
Cruisers have Bernoulli’s Principle to thank for the sight, which in layman’s terms, states that faster fluid results in lower pressure and vice versa.
When a cruise ship moves quickly, reduced pressure along the hull (or bottom of the ship) creates “squat,” which causes the ship to sink lower. This, in turn, creates a suction effect that is responsible for the temporary receding shoreline.
“This is Bernoulli’s principle in action. As the ship moves through the narrow gap between its hull and the shallow bottom/shore, water is forced to squeeze through a restricted space and speeds up. Faster-moving water has lower pressure — and lower pressure pulls the surface down, creating a depression rather than a wave,”one cruise fan helpfully explained in the comments.
“It’s a well-documented phenomenon in maritime navigation — it contributes to what’s called squat, where the ship itself sinks slightly lower due to the same pressure drop under its hull,” they continued.
Notably, the entrance channel is one of the deepest in the US Atlantic with a depth of 42 to 45 feet, so the Royal Caribbean ship is likely in much deeper water than it may appear to be on camera.
An Impressive Ship Size
The effect of the receding waves and water rushing back to the shore is particularly impressive for Harmony of the Seas because the ship is so massive.
“We saw five of the six that passed through the jetty that day. They all create a mini tsunami but Royal Caribbean’s Harmony Of the Seas makes the biggest impact because it’s so massive,” the original video poster wrote.
Many of the hundreds of commenters on the new Reddit thread also spoke to how impressive the ship looks up close and how it was their first time seeing a vessel of this size so close to the beach.
Harmony of the Seas barely surpasses its Oasis-class sisters to be the current sixth-largest cruise ship in the world. She has a maximum capacity of 6,780 guests and 18 total decks, 16 of which are available to passengers.
She comes in at an impressive 226,963 gross tons and measures 1,188 feet long and 215.5 feet wide when looking at the maximum beam.
Where Was the Video Filmed?
For context, the video appears to have been filmed from the Fort Lauderdale Jetties Public Beach, which is located in Broward County, Florida. It’s just under five miles away from Port Everglades.
All cruise ships must pass through the narrow Port Everglades Harbor entrance channel, which passes by the Jetties, making it a popular spot for well wishers and maritime fans to watch the vessels come and go.
These days, the Royal Caribbean ship won’t be spotted from the shoreside haunt. Harmony of the Seas stopped calling to Fort Lauderdale after the 2022-2023 winter season and has just wrapped up its Caribbean season in Galveston.
As of the time of publication, the 2016-launched ship is in the middle of a 16-night transatlantic voyage to Barcelona, Spain, to begin its Mediterranean season.
However, Cruise Hive confirmed that 15 Royal Caribbean ships still sail from Fort Lauderdale, including some of Harmony’s Oasis-class sisters: Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas.
Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition embarked on a 13-night sailing to Norway on March 22, 2026.
But due to worsening weather in Northern Norway, the entire Northern Lights-themed itinerary has been replaced.
Instead of Norway, guests will now visit destinations in Sweden, Germany, and Denmark.
Inclement weather has snuffed out the lights on the current itinerary for Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition.
On March 22, 2026, the 1,200-guest ship embarked on a 13-night sailing to Norway on a Northern Lights-themed voyage. But due to worsening weather conditions in Northern Norway, the entire itinerary has had to change.
“Due to a significant deterioration in weather conditions in Northern Norway, Ambassador Cruise Line can confirm that guests on board Ambition’s Norway’s Land of the Northern Lights sailing have today been advised that the current itinerary has been amended,” Ambassador Cruise Line posted on Facebook on March 23, 2026.
Originally, the UK-based cruise line planned for the smaller ship to still make its first port call at Bodo on March 25, which is located in Northern Norway, about 50 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
But since embarking from London (Tilbury), England, on March 22, conditions deteriorated to the point that the planned call is no longer safe.
“At the time of departure from London Tilbury yesterday, Sunday 22 March, it was considered feasible for Ambition to reach its first scheduled port of call, Bodø, on Wednesday 25 March,”the cruise line explained.
“However, the forecast has worsened considerably over the past 12 hours, and conditions are expected to deteriorate further over the coming days.”
In light of the weather, the rest of the itinerary after Bodo has also been entirely replaced. This will be a disappointing blow for guests who have long dreamed of seeing the Aurora Borealis.
The New Itinerary
Originally, the 48,123-gross ton ship was supposed to visit Leknes-Gravdal (Lofoten Islands), Tromso, Alta, and Alesund in Norway.
Tromso, Alta, and the Lofoten Islands are especially famous for viewing the Northern Lights, offering optimal viewing from late September through early April.
Cruise Hive discovered that there was even an overnight call scheduled for Alta from March 29 until March 30, to allow guests to be in the “City of the Northern Lights” during prime viewing hours (usually between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.).
Of course, all of these plans have been scrapped due to the dangerous weather conditions and an alternate last-minute itinerary has been created.
“Ambassador has curated an alternative itinerary that will offer guests the opportunity to explore some of Northern Europe’s most iconic and charming destinations that feature a blend of historic landmarks, waterfront settings and easy-to-explore city centres,”the cruise line stated.
Current guests will now first sail to Oslo for an overnight call. This will be followed by Gothenburg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemünde (Berlin), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; and Aarhus, Denmark.
The Northern Lights are rarely visible from Denmark and Germany, but the Aurora Borealis is usually visible from northern Sweden.
Unfortunately, Gothenburg is on Sweden’s west coast and Stockholm is on the east coast, which lessens the chances of seeing the impressive spectacle.
Guests Appreciate the Safety-First Mindset
While a specific storm system has not been named, it’s the season for polar lows (intense but short-lived winter storms) in Norway.
Leknes, which was the scheduled port for March 26, is under a moderate wind warning through at least March 26. Winds are expected to reach Gale Force 7, or between 28 to 33 knots. This is much too strong to safely visit the tender port.
“Tuesday evening southeasterly occasionally near gale force 7, from early Wednesday morning southerly,” reads the alert from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
Snow and rain is in the forecast through the weekend for the remaining ports of call on the original itinerary.
While some guests are understandably disappointed, most are happy to safely avoid the rough seas. Some passengers have been told that swells in stormy areas may surpass 12 meters (around 40 feet).
“I’m onboard at the moment and, while I’m disappointed, the safety of the passengers, crew and ship has to take priority – no way would I willingly go into the weather that is threatening 12m+ swells!,”one current guest reacted.
Of course, itinerary changes are only made with safety as the top priority and when no other options are available.
Princess Cruises has released a new 2027-28 South America schedule for Majestic Princess.
The program includes six sailings ranging from 15 to 37 days.
Itineraries will visit 19 destinations across eight countries with extended scenic cruising in Antarctica.
Princess Cruises has opened bookings for its 2027-28 South America cruise season, revealing a series of longer voyages aboard the 3,560-guest Majestic Princess.
The season includes stops across the continent and extended time in Antarctica and will be the second season in South America for the recently renovated vessel.
Running from October 2027 through January 2028, the program includes six departures across four itineraries ranging from 15 to 37 days.
Sailings will visit 19 destinations in eight countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, with port calls in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Ushuaia.
The longest voyage in the lineup is a 37-day repositioning Grand Adventure departing from Southampton, England.
The itinerary crosses the Atlantic with stops in Lisbon, the Canary Islands, Rio de Janeiro, and Montevideo before concluding in San Antonio, Chile, the port serving Santiago. After that crossing, Majestic Princess will operate shorter regional itineraries.
These include a 15-day “Cape Horn & Glaciers of Patagonia” sailing between Buenos Aires and San Antonio, and a 17-day “Antarctica & South America” voyage that departs from Buenos Aires and includes extended time cruising in Antarctic waters.
Princess Cruises returns to Antarctica (Photo Credit: Princess Cruises)
“Our 207-28 South America season is designed to bring guests closer to the world’s most breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures,” said Jim Berra, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer.
He said the South America cruises will provide “unforgettable experiences that combine adventure, enrichment, and our friendliest service at sea.”
Voyages Include Antarctica
The 2027-28 South America season for the 143,700-gross-ton Majestic Princess will provide traditional port calls with extended scenic cruising and longer itineraries.
One of the highlights is scenic cruising through the Beagle Channel Fjords and Glacier Alley, a stretch of waterways near the southern tip of South America known for glaciers from the Darwin Mountain Range.
The Antarctica & South America itinerary will also include multiple days sailing through Antarctic waters such as the Gerlache Strait and the South Shetland Islands, where guests may see glaciers, icebergs, and wildlife.
Across the full season, itineraries will feature visits to 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among them are the Peninsula Valdes Patagonian Nature Reserve near Puerto Madryn, known for whale watching.
Additionally, passengers can visit the Carioca Landscapes between the mountain and the sea in Rio de Janeiro, which includes landmarks such as Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana Beach.
The cruise line is also offering optional land extensions tied to the sailings. These cruisetours include a 6-night Machu Picchu Explorer that visits Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco. Another is a 5-night Iguazu Falls Adventure visiting Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, and Rio de Janeiro.
Onboard programming during the Antarctica segments will feature naturalists and destination specialists providing commentary on wildlife and the history of the region. The new itineraries are now on sale through the cruise line and travel advisors.
A passenger was arrested after allegedly exposing himself to two teenagers aboard Celebrity Eclipse.
The man was arrested once the ship returned to Port Everglades.
He now faces two counts of exposure under Florida law.
A 39-year-old cruise passenger is facing criminal charges after authorities say he exposed himself and touched two teenagers in a sauna aboard a Celebrity Cruises ship, as reported by local news.
Michael Henry Mullis of Lutz, Florida, was arrested March 22, 2026, after Celebrity Eclipse returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Mullis faces two counts of exposure of sexual organs. Jail records show he was booked into the Broward County Main Jail, where bail was listed as $0 as it was a first offense.
The charges stem from an alleged incident that took place in a sauna area aboard the 121,878-gross-ton ship during the voyage.
Investigators say Mullis exposed himself and made inappropriate contact with two teenage girls in the sauna. The incident occurred while the vessel was still at sea, with the case referred to local authorities once the ship returned to South Florida.
The 2,852-passenger ship was returning from an 8-night Caribbean cruise that had departed Fort Lauderdale on March 14, 2026, and sailed to Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. Johns, Antigua; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
Photo Courtesy: Celebrity Cruises
Authorities have not released the ages of the teenagers or additional details about the circumstances of the encounter, or when it took place. It is unclear if Mullis was confined onboard Celebrity Eclipse following the occurrence.
Under Florida law, exposure of sexual organs is considered a criminal offense when a person intentionally exposes themselves in a vulgar or indecent manner in public or in the presence of others. The Broward Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the case.
If Mullis is found guilty, the charge is treated as a first-degree misdemeanor with penalties of up to one year in jail, up to 12 months of probation, a fine of up to $1,000, and court costs and mandatory counseling or conditions imposed by the judge, especially since the incident involved minors.
Rare Cases of Cruise Arrests
Celebrity Eclipse is one of the larger ships in Celebrity Cruises, the high-end brand owned by Royal Caribbean Group.
Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the vessel entered service in 2010 as part of the cruise line’s Solstice-class offerings that include Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Silhouette, and Celebrity Reflection.
Like all cruise operators calling on US ports, Celebrity Cruises must comply with reporting requirements under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act. This requires cruise lines to report certain crimes to federal authorities when voyages begin or end in the US.
In December 2023, a youth counselor on Celebrity Silhouette was charged with abusive sexual conduct of a minor under 12. The 35-year-old crew member was accused of touching a 6-year-old girl in the youth center. He later admitted to molesting at least four children.
Another Celebrity Cruises crew member, from Celebrity Reflection, was arrested in 2024 for child pornography.
While disturbing, serious crime aboard its ships is relatively rare in an industry that carries tens of millions of passengers globally each year.
Celebrity Cruises has not released a statement on the incident and Celebrity Eclipse is currently back at sea on a 6-night voyage to Grand Cayman and Mexico.
“Code Oscar” (or Oscar Oscar Oscar) is the crew alarm used when someone goes overboard.
A full search and rescue operation can last several hours and may involve the Coast Guard and nearby ships.
Accidental falls are extremely rare; most incidents involve reckless behaviour or are intentional.
A cruise ship man overboard alarm can be a scary situation on what should be a relaxing, enjoyable getaway. A strange code is announced over the intercom, and immediately, emergency procedures are initiated as crew members rush to react and the ship slows, reverses course, or even stops.
This can disrupt other activities and may require guests to comply with safety procedures. But what does the alarm mean and what exactly are crew members doing? How will guests be impacted? Can anyone survive a fall off a cruise ship?
Understanding what happens when someone goes overboard can help you be prepared if such an emergency happens on your cruise.
“Man overboard” is the international maritime term for any person who has gone into the water from any vessel. The person’s gender and age do not change the term, nor does it matter if they are guests or crew members.
It also does not matter what deck the person has gone overboard from or why, whether it is an accident or a deliberate act, or what the size of the ship may be.
Fallen Carnival Crew Member Being Rescued
Overboard stories from cruise ships may make headlines and Cruise Hive does report on them regularly, but it’s important to note these are very rare occurrences.
In total from 2000-2018, just 284 people went overboard from cruise ships. While statistics vary from year-to-year this averages to just 15-20 overboard incidents annually.
In comparison, tens of thousands of cruise guests set sail every week all over the world (millions every year!), safely enjoying their vacations and never hearing a man overboard alarm.
What Is Code Oscar? (The Man Overboard Alarm)
The emergency code “Oscar” is a common signal major cruise lines use to indicate a man overboard situation. The code might be repeated two or three times, “Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!” so it is clearly heard and the crew can react immediately.
The code comes from international maritime flag signaling, the “Alpha, Bravo, Charlie” codes you might know but don’t even realize are related to ships at all. Though widely used to indicate an overboard, “Oscar” is not universal and cruise lines might use other codes as well, such as “Mr. MOB” (Mr. Man Overboard).
The whole point of using code words is to minimize panic among guests while still alerting crew members to the situation. This way, cruise ship overboard procedures can begin right away, but other onboard activities aren’t necessarily interrupted.
The Step-by-Step Emergency Response to an Overboard
Exactly what happens when an overboard alert is triggered? Whether the situation is real or just suspected, the response is the same.
Step 1: Alarm Raised
Whether a crew member or passenger sees an incident, movement is caught by overboard motion sensors or infrared or thermal cameras, or a lost person is reported as suspected overboard, the first step is raising the alarm.
This may be calling out for help or otherwise getting attention right away. If the situation is immediate and visible, toss a life ring to the person overboard and do not let them out of sight.
Step 2: Notify the Bridge
The bridge will be immediately notified of any suspected person overboard. If onboard sensors are tripped, that notification will be immediate, otherwise a crew member will call the bridge right away with the alert.
Bridge Officers on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
At that time, the ship’s GPS notification is logged and the MOB button is pressed to mark the position and initiate emergency procedures. This is when “Code Oscar” may be announced.
Step 3: Ship Turns
The ship will be slowed and maneuvered to return to the exact position of the overboard. This can take several minutes, depending on the size of the ship, and the vessel might travel a mile or more before it can be safely turned. Guests might feel a sharp list or change in speed as this turn is made, but the ship is still safe for everyone aboard.
Step 4: Authorities Alerted
Depending on where the overboard occurs, local authorities, Coast Guard stations, and navies will be alerted to the situation. Any nearby vessels may assist in search efforts, such as in October 2024 when Utopia of the Seas responded to a search for an overboard from Allure of the Seas. Any ship from any cruise line will respond to the emergency.
Allure of the Seas Overboard (Photo Credits: Brian Rowe & MyImages – Micha)
It isn’t just cruise ships that will be alerted. Cargo vessels, fishing charters, or even pleasure craft and private boats will receive alerts if they are close enough to assist.
Step 5: Security Footage Reviewed
Even as the ship turns and alerts are sent to other ships nearby, security onboard begins to review CCTV footage to establish exactly where and when an individual may have gone overboard. This will help refine search operations and hopefully help with a successful rescue.
Step 6: Search and Rescue Begins
As the cruise ship returns to the location of the overboard, lifeboats and rescue craft may be launched to search. At night, large searchlights will be used to scan the water for any signs of the individual.
Coast Guard helicopter (Photo Credit: Trevor Howard Jones)
Trained crew members will also be on the lookout, and guests can assist with scanning for any signs of the individual as long as they do not interfere with the crew’s efforts. Depending on the local conditions and available assistance, a search may last for several hours.
Step 7: Cruise Ship Is Released
When better-equipped search vessels arrive on site, the cruise ship may be released from search efforts to continue its itinerary. This may seem like the search is abandoned, but rescue personnel remain active on the site and put all possible effort into an efficient and effective search. Different assets may be used for search efforts, including boats, aircraft, and even drones if available.
Liberty of the Seas Watches as Coast Guard Makes Rescue (Photo Credit: Mabel Dorta)
In the meantime, the cruise ship and its thousands of other guests will continue toward the next port. If there are any developments in the search, the ship will be informed as appropriate.
Any such information may or may not be shared with guests onboard according to the captain’s discretion and requests from family members or traveling companions.
Step 8: FBI Gets Involved for US Citizens
When a US citizen is involved in a potential overboard case, whether as the presumed victim, a family member, or other involved parties, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will be notified and brought into the case. The FBI has jurisdiction over cases on the high seas, even in international waters, and therefore would assist in the investigation.
What Passengers Experience On Board During an Overboard Alert
With such a well-defined plan for emergency response, how much disruption can guests expect onboard if an overboard alert is sounded? Fortunately, most cruise operations continue without pause.
Yes, guests will hear the “Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!” alert, and they may feel abrupt slowing or changes of direction as the ship is turned back to the search location.
If an overboard is confirmed, some areas of the deck may be roped off so crew members can work without interruptions or distractions. The area where any rescue boats are launched may also be closed.
Carnival Valor Overboard (Photo Credit: @johnnytrupp)
If an individual is believed missing, a manual headcount of guests and crew may be necessary. This could require guests to return to their staterooms or might be initiated in public areas with all guests scanning their ship identification cards. During dining services, guests might be asked to leave the dining room or restaurant and then scan back in for such a headcount.
Crew members will work to keep many activities running normally while search operations move forward. Dining services, shows, trivia contests, and musical performances may continue, though there could be brief interruptions if further announcements are necessary.
If an overboard is confirmed and intense search operations commence, the ship might be delayed to her next port visit. This will depend on how long a search goes on and whether or not better-equipped vessels arrive to release the cruise ship.
For an extensive delay, a port visit might be completely cancelled. If that happens, shore tours booked through the cruise line will be refunded. Guests may also be refunded any applicable port fees or taxes.
No additional compensation should be expected for emergency operations that might cause delays or cancellations. Cruise lines always prioritize safety and will take all steps necessary to preserve life in any situation.
The ship’s captain or cruise director could make further announcements later in the day or the next day if itinerary adjustments are necessary. In many cases, announcements might also update guests and crew members about the state of the search.
For those directly and personally impacted by an overboard, the ship’s care team will offer personal assistance. This will be extended to any family members or traveling companions of the missing individual and includes counseling services as necessary. Upon arrival back to the homeport, that group may be debarked privately ahead of other guests.
Can You Accidentally Fall Off a Cruise Ship?
Headlines often use the word “fall” to describe overboard incidents, but this is not entirely clear. Cruise ship railings on all open decks and balconies are specifically designed to prevent accidental falls and are usually around chest-height to an average adult, making it impossible to fall overboard just by casually leaning on the railing.
Similarly, slip-and-fall incidents do not result in going overboard. Whether someone trips on a door threshold, steps wrong off a stairway, or slips on a wet pool deck, they will not go overboard.
Even in rough weather, accidental overboards do not happen, and there has never been a recorded case of someone being swept or blown out to sea from a cruise ship.
Crew Member Overboard MSC Seascape (Credit: Sophia Lesseos)
Security camera footage of numerous incidents consistently shows reckless behavior leading to overboard alerts. Such behavior might include deliberately climbing or sitting on railings, extreme intoxication, violent altercations, or entering restricted areas. In some cases, overboards are intentional decisions on the part of the individual.
Cruise guests who follow safe practices such as staying behind railings, being mindful of their alcohol intake, and avoiding reckless behavior are not at risk of falling overboard. Anyone who sees reckless behavior, such as climbing on railings, should immediately notify a crew member or call security.
What Are the Chances of Surviving a Cruise Ship Overboard?
When an overboard happens, it is an unfortunate truth that the incident is most often fatal. The cruise ship overboard survival rate is less than 50% and could be much lower.
Different factors affect whether or not an individual can survive going overboard. Water temperature, weather conditions, the height of the deck the individual goes overboard from, any injuries sustained from the fall, their general physical condition and swimming ability, and the speed of rescue efforts all impact survivability statistics.
Survival is certainly possible. In June 2025, a young girl fell from a railing on Disney Dream and her father immediately jumped in after her. Both survived what could have been a doubly tragic situation, in part due to the immediate reactions of crew members to initiate emergency responses.
A man overboard can be a very scary and tense situation on any cruise ship. By recognizing how overboards happen, what the emergency Oscar code means, and how cruise crew members respond, guests can better understand what is going on if such a challenging event happens on their cruise.
The Meyer Werft shipyard has completed the installation of Carnival Festivale’s massive engines.
Due to launch in May 2027, the ship is Carnival Cruise Line’s fourth Excel-class vessel.
Carnival Festival will homeport at Port Canaveral, Florida.
Carnival Festivale, Carnival Cruise Line’s fourth Excel-class ship, reached a major construction milestone at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany — the installation of her massive engine.
Strong enough to power the 182,800-gross-ton ship, the engine was placed during the weekend of March 21, 2026, roughly 14 months before Carnival Festivale is due to enter service.
“Last weekend, the engine was successfully installed. An important step in the construction process and a visible sign of progress on the road to completion,” Meyer Werft posted.
Typically, engines on newer cruise ships are located on lower decks, between aft and mid-ship. On newer cruise ships, engine rooms are found on the aft of the ship and on the lower decks.
They take up a huge amount of space, usually multiple decks, to accommodate not only the engines, but also fuel tanks, generators, and a control room.
Like her sister ships in Excel class, Carnival Festivale will be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), which has lower emissions of CO2 than oil-based fuel.
Carnival Festivale’s May 2027 launch will surely be one of the most highly anticipated new ships of the year. The ship, accommodating 5,374 guests, follows the line’s first three Excel-class ships: Mardi Gras (2020), Carnival Celebration (2022), and Carnival Jubilee (2023).
A fifth in the class, Carnival Tropicale, is also under construction at Meyer Werft and is slated to debut in 2028. Carnival Festivale’ssteel cutting was held nearly one year ago, on April 8, 2025, signaling the start of construction.
As earlier reported in Cruise Hive, Meyer Werft in February 2026 announced that the ship’s 949 pre-fab crew cabins had been manufactured and were ready to be installed on the vessel. The ship will employ 1,735 crew members.
Carnival Festivale
In total, Carnival Festivale will have 3,585 staterooms for crew and guests. With all berths occupied, the new ship will have capacity for 6,600 guests.
Guest staterooms and suites, along with interior and exterior public spaces, have yet to be built. The next major milestone will be Carnival Festivale’s float-out from her construction bay, when the ship’s hull touches water for the first time.
After final outfitting, sea trials will be held, likely in the early part of 2027, when the ship’s engines, propulsion and navigation systems, and safety protocols will be tested prior to delivery to Carnival Cruise Line.
Newest Excel-Class Ship Is Bound For Florida
Carnival Festivale’s initial homeport in North America will be Port Canaveral, Florida, where she will operate 6- and 8-night Eastern and Southern Caribbean voyages.
The ship’s inaugural transatlantic cruise after leaving the Meyer Werft shipyard is a 15-night sailing departing from Southampton, UK, on May 2, 2027. Arriving in Port Canaveral on May 16, Carnival Festivale will operate a 4-night Bahamas cruise calling at Celebration Key and RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.
While Carnival Festivale will feature many venues and attractions found on other Excel-class ships, she will bring new experiences, too. Among them is a new outdoor zone, called Sunsation Point, which will span the ship’s top three decks.
The focal point will be Carnival Waterworks Ultra, a family-oriented water park with six slides, raft rides, and areas designed for young children.
Carnival Cruise Line has removed Tracy Arm Fjord from all of its 2026 Alaska itineraries due to unstable conditions within the waterway.
The scenic cruising day will take place in the safer Endicott Arm Fjord instead.
Three Carnival ships will be deployed to Alaska in 2026, including Carnival Miracle, Carnival Luminosa, and Carnival Spirit.
Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled all of its planned scenic cruising days in Tracy Arm Fjord for the upcoming 2026 Alaska season due to dangerous conditions in the area.
Following a landslide and tsunami on August 10, 2025, the fjord has been left with unstable ice and geological conditions that make scenic cruising unsafe.
The massive landslide unfolded near the South Sawyer Glacier, and the fjord remains under close observation by environmental experts as the surrounding area continues to shift.
As the landscape settles and glaciers retreat (shoutout to global warming), the risk of another landslide also increases. This is a situation no cruise ship wants to be caught in.
“We have been closely monitoring geological conditions in Tracy Arm Fjord. The waterways in the area are currently not suitable for cruise ship navigation,” Carnival wrote in a letter to booked guests.
It’s also worth noting that Carnival is now the second cruise line to scrap its planned visits to Tracy Arm for this year.
Carnival isn’t simply leaving its passengers high and dry. Instead of Tracy Arm Fjord, the scenic cruising will now take place in Endicott Arm Fjord.
Both fjords have the same entrance point at Holkham Bay, located roughly 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska, branching off the main channel of Stephens Passage.
However, Endicott Arm is a safer and more reliable option for Alaska cruises because it isn’t as narrow as Tracy Arm, and it also does not face the same dangerous ice conditions and landslide risk.
Carnival Luminosa in Alaska (Photo Credit: AS McCloud)
“We have made a minor adjustment to our itinerary and will be cruising to Endicott Arm Fjord instead. Essentially, we will be turning right, instead of left, upon entering the fjords,”Carnival confirmed.
The change will be reflected on Carnival’s website within 24 hours so that new guests will have the correct itinerary when booking their sailings.
Guests will get to enjoy views of the stunning Dawes Glacier as the ships make their way down the approximately 30-mile-long fjord.
The active glacier is famous for its deep blue ice and intense calving, which is the dramatic process in which chunks of ice fall from the edge of the glacier.
Which Itineraries are Impacted?
Carnival will be deploying three ships to Alaska for the 2026 season, including Carnival Spirit, Carnival Luminosa, and Carnival Miracle. All itineraries that included Tracy Arm have been adjusted.
This includes all of Carnival Spirit’s embarkations from April 28 through and including September 15. The 2,134-guest ship will be operating 7-night Inside Passage sailings from Seattle, Washington.
Similarly, Carnival Luminosa’s itineraries from April 27 through September 10 have received the same adjustment. In this case, the 2,260-guest ship will be alternating between 10-night Inside Passage Alaska sailings and 4-night sailings to Mexico from San Francisco, California.
Last but not least is Carnival Miracle, which has seen this switch made for all itineraries from April 27 through and including its September 17 voyage.
The 2,134-guest vessel will primarily operate 7-night Inside Passage sailings from Seattle, with longer voyages at the beginning and end of its season.
Hopefully, conditions will stabilize ahead of the 2027 cruise season and guests will be given the chance to see North Sawyer Glacier and the South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm once again.
Thousands of booked passengers have been receiving the same welcome emails from Royal Caribbean for weeks.
This is likely due to a technical glitch, though some are wondering if the daily emails are part of a marketing tactic.
The repeated emails are all the same and do not contain any new information about guests’ bookings.
Thousands of future Royal Caribbean guests are feeling a little too welcomed by the cruise line.
While it’s exciting to get that first confirmation email after booking your sailing, some guests have been getting the same welcome email over and over again for weeks.
The email is Royal Caribbean’s standard template for confirming that guests have booked their sailing and encouraging them to manage their booking, download the Royal Caribbean App, and to pre-book onboard packages.
“Woohoo! You’re officially booked, and we’re thrilled you’ll be joining us on your boldest vacation yet,” every email begins.
Impacted guests have reported that every email is identical and does not contain any new information or changes to their booking, which many have anxiously verified by checking their reservations online or on the app.
“I booked my June 2026 cruise back in December, and finished paying it off in February. When I booked it, and every time I made a payment, I got one of those welcome aboard emails, which I thought was weird but whatever. Now I seem to be getting them almost every day??,” one guest posted on Reddit.
The cruiser quickly learned that they were not alone, as several others said that they had been badgered by non-stop welcome emails going as far back as February.
“I was about to post the same question! So glad it’s not just me. It’s been a couple of weeks of receiving the same email daily,”another impacted guest replied to the post.
“Yeah I have been getting the same email just about every day or at least every other day for the last month or so,” another chimed in.
Cruise Hive has confirmed that guests booked to sail on Harmony of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas have been bombarded by the emails, but it’s very likely that more ships in the fleet have been affected.
Are The Emails a Glitch or Marketing Tool?
It’s unclear when the barrage of welcome emails will finally stop, and Royal Caribbean has not confirmed the cause behind them.
While the repetitive messages are most likely related to a glitch, some are wondering if it is a marketing tactic to encourage guests to pre-book onboard packages and shore excursions. These purchases can be made as soon as the cruise is booked.
“I’m getting the sense that their add on bookings aren’t quite what they were anticipating, so they’re pushing out as much marketing as possible to people to book drink packages, dining, and all of the other upcharge stuff that people are foregoing,”one cruiser theorized.
Star of the Seas Welcome Email (Photo Credit: Marie Negron)
Per guests who have called Royal Caribbean, the cruise line is aware of the glitch and is working on a resolution.
“RC has been having issues…I called customer service and they said it’s a known issue being worked on,”one guest said in a Star of the Seas Facebook group.
As Royal Caribbean has been experiencing record-breaking bookings and a sharp rise in revenue throughout 2025 and the first part of this year, it’s also hard to believe that the emails are related to an ulterior motive.
Email Glitches Have Happened Before
This isn’t the first time Royal Caribbean has dealt with a technical glitch, and it likely won’t be the last. These things simply happen from time to time.
For example, Cruise Hive reported on an app glitch in May 2025, in which mobile users were flooded with a series of repeated push notifications about “test segments.”
Some received up to 40 notifications from the app, which came fast and furious, before the glitch was fixed.
Similarly, the Royal Caribbean app accidentally sent a safety briefing reminder to all booked guests on February 2, 2023, whether they were embarking on a cruise that day or their vacation was still months away.
Speaking specifically to email issues, Royal Caribbean’s sister-brand, Celebrity Cruises, also dealt with a major glitch last year. Due to the issue, thousands of guests received incorrect emails about itinerary chances that didn’t exist.
