Once again, heroes from the US Coast Guard saved the day when its Houston-Galveston team came to the rescue of a passenger who had just embarked on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.
A 71-year-old male guest aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee, which had only departed on its 7-night voyage from Galveston at 2 p.m., was medically evacuated on Saturday, October 26, 2024, while the ship was offshore Texas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received the call at approximately 5:19 p.m. from a crew member aboard the 5,374-passenger ship sailing to its first call in Roatan, Honduras.
Exhibiting symptoms of a heart attack, the Coast Guard launched a 45-foot response boat from Station Galveston to medevac the man, enlisting support from the Galveston Fire Department.
On scene, the crew safely embarked the passenger, and the fire department and local EMS teams were waiting. They transported him to a nearby medical facility for further treatment. No further details have been provided on the passenger.
The 183,521-gross-ton Carnival Jubilee, which joined the cruise line fleet in December 2023 and homeports in Galveston year-round, continued its voyage and is currently spending October 28 at sea ahead of calls in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The vessel will return to Galveston on November 2, 2024.
Recent Surge in Coast Guard Rescues
This isn’t the first time a Carnival cruise has been halted shortly after departing due to a medical emergency.
In August 2024, Carnival Venezia was just hours into its voyage from Port of Manhattan in New York when a 56-year-old woman experienced an emergency that required she be airlifted by a team from Coast Guard Sector New York.
In fact, in recent months, the US Coast Guard has conducted several rescues from cruise ships. These rescues have covered a range of medical issues, from heart attacks to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and swift action has ensured passengers receive timely medical care.
Earlier this month, the New Orleans Coast Guard conducted two back-to-back rescues on two separate sailings on Carnival Liberty. The first involved a 66-year-old male passenger experiencing stroke-like symptoms who was airlifted by the Coast Guard’s MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew ahead of the ship’s arrival in New Orleans.
Carnival Jubilee Arrives in Galveston (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
Shortly after the rescue, a second call came in for a 30-year-old female passenger experiencing appendicitis after the vessel embarked on its next voyage from New Orleans. The MH-60 Jayhawk was reemployed for a second rescue.
And just weeks before, the Coast Guard in Honolulu, Hawaii, also had back-to-back rescues aboard Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess during the ship’s 114-night world cruise. Doctors from the vessel contacted the rescue team in Honolulu about a 70-year-old man with heart attack symptoms and an 86-year-old man with internal bleeding.
In that dramatic airlift, two Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters were flown to transport the passengers to Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii.
The Coast Guard’s process for rescues at sea is a coordinated effort involving communication between cruise ships, command centers, and onboard duty flight surgeons who assess the severity of each case.
If a medevac is determined to be necessary, Coast Guard teams are dispatched via helicopter or rescue boat, depending on the situation’s location and urgency. However, one thing that is clear about each rescue is the Coast Guard’s rigorous training to handle challenging rescues from large vessels and provide in-transit medical support.
Passengers relaxing in private balcony hot tubs on luxury cruises never expected their retreat to come with a hidden risk – a severe, sometimes deadly, respiratory infection traced directly to these bubbling waters.
A severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacteria, the CDC found 12 cases among passengers who traveled on two cruise ships between November 2022 and July 2024.
“Epidemiologic, environmental, and laboratory evidence suggests that private balcony hot tubs were the likely source of exposure in two outbreaks of Legionnaires disease among cruise ship passengers,”said the CDC.
The CDC first detected issues on “Cruise Ship A,” with five passengers reporting symptoms after a November 2022 voyage. In the following months, cases continued to surface, ultimately impacting eight passengers by April 2024.
Legionnaires Cruise Ship Hot Tubs Outbreaks (Photo Credit: CDC)
In response and at the CDC’s request, the cruise ship conducted comprehensive water samplings from various ship locations, including hot tubs, potable water systems, and public areas.
Legionella bacteria was detected in six of 10 private balcony hot tubs, with some samples showing dangerously high bacteria levels.
Further investigation revealed similar contamination on “Cruise Ship B,” where Legionnaires’ cases were reported in January, February, and May 2024. Lab tests confirmed the presence of the bacterium in every private hot tub tested, with some samples also dangerously high.
The CDC finds cases of Legionnaires’ disease to be highest among men and older adults. The passengers, of which 100 percent were from the US on Cruise Ship A, were predominantly male and over the age of 63.
All had been exposed to public and private hot tubs during their voyage, with 63 percent of guests from the first vessel also found to have used the spa.
The Two Hot Tubs in the Center of the Outbreaks (Credit: CDC)
Seventy-five percent of the cases from Cruise Ship A required hospitalization, while 100 percent from Cruise Ship B were hospitalized. All the passengers survived.
Although the CDC did not reveal the cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease aboard Norwegian Prima and Celebrity Ascent, respectively, which coincide with the CDC’s investigation timeline.
Stricter Cleaning Guidelines Recommended
While the CDC’s investigation found the contamination in hot tubs on the balconies of private suites, the most expensive and exclusive stateroom options available on cruise ships, hot tubs on vessels are also found on open decks near swimming pools and in cruise ship spas.
However, public hot tubs often undergo a rigorous cleaning program, including continuous disinfectant dosing and pH monitoring through automated systems that regulate and maintain safe levels of both. Kids who are not potty trained are also not allowed to go into a hot tub.
As the outbreaks occurred in private hot tubs, the CDC has issued broader guidance for cruise ships, suggesting more rigorous maintenance standards beyond the current weekly chlorination recommendation.
Cruise Ship Hot Tub (Photo Credit: Anjo Kan)
In fact, the CDC is encouraging cruise ships to implement continuous disinfectant dosing and pH monitoring for private hot tubs, similar to what is already required for public tubs.
In cases where continuous dosing isn’t feasible, the CDC advises thoroughly shock-chlorinating hot tubs after each guest to minimize contamination risks.
It also recommends draining and disinfecting hot tubs thoroughly after each use rather than retaining water between guests, as well as removing and cleaning heating elements and filtration systems that can trap bacteria.
MSC Cruises is continuing to expand its ever-growing North American presence by launching new Alaska itineraries in 2026. With MSC Poesia set to homeport in Seattle beginning May 11, 2026, it will be the first time the cruise line will offer cruises to America’s Last Frontier.
The 7-night sailings will take passengers through popular destinations, including Juneau and Ketchikan. They will also stop in Victoria, British Colombia, and Icy Strait Point, the first Indigenous-owned cruise destination where guests can participate in cultural experiences in Hoonah, Alaska.
As the 92,627-gross-ton ship is designed to navigate narrow channels, the vessel will travel the Inside Passage for glacier viewing.
“Guests from all over the world tell us they want to see Alaska’s beauty firsthand, which makes these itineraries the perfect addition to MSC Cruises’ global portfolio of bucket-list destinations,”said Lynn Torrent, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of MSC Cruises USA.
“Seattle will be our fifth US homeport, bringing our signature mix of European style and American comforts to the west coast as we continue to expand our offerings in the North American market,” she continued.
The Port of Seattle, which witnessed 277 sailings to Alaska across seven different cruise lines during its 2024 season, concluding today, October 28, is excited to add MSC Cruises to its roster.
Said Stephanie Jones Stebbins, managing director, maritime, at the port, “The Port of Seattle looks forward to welcoming MSC Cruises and MSC Poesia to Seattle. We know that MSC guests will enjoy exploring our region before and after their Alaska adventure.”
The port, which will require cruise ships to utilize shore power by 2027, is also impressed with the cruise line’s sustainability commitment. MSC Cruises actively seeks ports with shore power connections and anticipates 220 calls in 2024 will receive power at port.
MSC Poesia in Alaska
The 2,550-passenger MSC Poesia will spend the summer months in Alaska, ending her season on September 28, 2026. She will then return to PortMiami, where she is also spending winter 2025 and 2026, for another Caribbean season.
A Growing MSC Presence in North America
MSC Cruises is steadily increasing its footprint in North America. In 2023, the cruise line had just two ships operating out of US homeports. However, this winter, 2024 and 2025, MSC will have five ships sailing in the Caribbean.
The ships – MSC Seascape, MSC Seaside, MSC Seashore, MSC Meraviglia, and MSC Divina – will operate from key US ports, including PortMiami, Port Canaveral near Orlando, Florida, and New York City’s Brooklyn.
In 2022, MSC Cruises USA President Ruben Rodriguez said, “Bringing more ships to the US allows us to offer a wide variety of itineraries, adding new destinations and providing more opportunities for travelers to discover our unique international flavor.”
The Geneva, Switzerland-based cruise line’s ships often feature sleek interiors with a touch of Italian flair with onboard dining featuring a variety of Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
However, in April 2025, the cruise line will debut a new ship in Miami, specifically designed for the North American market. The vessel, the 6,782-guest, 215,863-gross-ton MSC World America, will offer 7- to 14-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
MSC Cruises will also introduce its fleet to Galveston, Texas, in November 2025, when MSC Seascape arrives for year-round Western Caribbean voyages.
Excited to go on your next cruise? If you’ve dreamed of your embarkation day for months now, you’ve probably given some thought as to what you’ll pack. Maybe you’ve made a packing list, even, or sat out your luggage expectantly.
However, make sure you’re not breaking any cruise ship rules by bringing along the wrong items and devices. If you’re wondering ‘what can you not bring on a cruise,’ here’s everything you need to know.
One of the big ones in this category? Drones. People really want to take their drones on cruises, and for good reason. You could get some super-cool shots of the ship sailing and of ports you visit, via your remote-controlled drones.
Unfortunately, many cruise ships do not allow for you to bring drones aboard, as is the case with Carnival Cruise Line. Royal Caribbean, meanwhile, does allow you to bring a drone on your cruise, but you can only use it on land, and away from the port.
If you don’t follow this rule, the drone will be confiscated. (But even if Royal Caribbean allows it, that doesn’t mean your ports of call necessarily will, so check local laws before bringing your drone on your cruise!)
Other similar electronic toys that you can’t bring include hoverboards and segways.
Various household electronics are prohibited, too. Basically, anything that has heating elements in it is prohibited because it’s a fire risk. Think irons, clothes steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines or coffee makers, hot plates, toasters, heating pads and humidifiers.
The exemptions include personal grooming products like flat irons, curling irons and hair dryers. If you’re worried about being able to iron all the wrinkles from your favorite sundress, no worries; most cruise ships have laundry facilities that are outfitted with ironing boards and irons.
If you want to bring a baby bottle sanitizer, warmer or cleaner, you may need to get someone from the cruise staff’s accessibility team to approve that for you.
You also can’t bring boom boxes or large radios, or routers or similar internet-related equipment. Laser pointers and satellite phones are also prohibited. If you bring a small radio or speaker, you can’t use it outside of your stateroom. You usually have to wear headphones or earbuds anytime you’re listening to media outside of your stateroom, to avoid disturbing the peace.
Do note Royal Caribbean does not allow Samsung Galaxy Note 7 cell phones aboard its ships, nor electrical extension cords and HAM radios (or even baby monitors!), but Carnival allows for these under certain circumstances. Norwegian Cruise Line, meanwhile, doesn’t allow for walkie-talkies.
Surge-protected power strips are generally not allowed across the board, regardless of cruise line. Recently, though, Royal Caribbean specifically added multi-plug outlets to its list of prohibited items, but this is in reference to multi-plug outlets with AC outlets rather than USB ports.
Weapons
Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship in Port (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
No, you can’t bring any weapons onto the cruise ship, and how cruise ships define “weapons” is quite broad.
In addition to prohibiting firearms, cruise ships also prohibit imitation firearms and firearm replicas, as well as firearm components. Other weapons not allowed include spears and spear guns, crossbows and other archery components, blunt weapons like clubs and batons; throwing stars; brass knuckles; air and BB rifles; tasers; mace; gas guns; and even paintball guns.
Knives are not allowed, for the most part, and even small sharp objects that you might not think of as a “weapon” per se are prohibited, such as scissors and open razors. (Don’t worry; you can bring personal grooming items still, like fingernail clippers and shavers). Norwegian Cruise Line specifies that it prohibits knives with blades longer than 4 inches.
Along with all these weapons that are not allowed on your cruise ship, you also can’t bring any ammunition. Tools that could be used as weapons are also prohibited, such as axes, hammers, or saws, as are restraining devices, such as handcuffs or binding materials.
Basically, if you couldn’t fly with it as an airline passenger, you probably can’t cruise with it.
Explosives
Similarly, explosives are not allowed on cruise ships either. This encompasses flares and fireworks, too, as well as any other pyrotechnics.
Other items that could be considered fire hazards or in danger of exploding, like gasoline or propane tanks, are also prohibited, as the last thing you want is an explosion or fire in the middle of the ocean. The same goes for large batteries and compressed gas tanks or cylinders — and even candles and incense!
The exemption is personal grooming products that come in aerosol cans, like hairspray. You can sometimes bring dive tanks, but may need to check them in with the cruise line for holding, and then check them out before your shore excursion.
Illegal Items
Photo Credit: Canaveral Port Authority / Shutterstock
If it’s illegal on land, it’s illegal on your cruise ship. This one should be pretty straightforward, clear cut, and self-explanatory. Don’t bring any illegal narcotics or drugs onto your cruise ship, including synthetic or designer drugs.
While not illegal in many places, medical marijuana and cannabis are also prohibited on some ships, like those in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, as are hookahs and kava.
Norwegian Cruise Line takes things a step further by not only prohibiting medical marijuana, but also prohibiting products that contain CBD, such as CBD-infused oils, candies and gummies.
Wheeled Items
There are various wheeled items you can’t bring on a cruise ship, including bicycles, wheeled shoes and scooters. Scooters are allowed if they’re used for mobility, but you have to store them in your stateroom.
Roller blades, skates, skateboards and collapsible wagons are allowed, but you have to leave them in your stateroom and only use them when you get off the ship while it’s in port.
Water Sport Items
Symphony of the Seas Pools (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
You might think of cruising and think “fun in the sun,” but don’t think that means you can bring all your favorite water toys and water sports items along with you.
Surfboards, boats and canoes are a no-go, as are pool inflatables and inflatable kiddie pools.
You can bring items like beach chairs, beach tents, beach umbrellas, snorkeling gear, fishing rods (with exceptions — Carnival allows for them, Royal Caribbean does not) and boogie boards, but you have to keep them in your room and only use them during port days.
Drinks
These prohibitions may differ from cruise line to cruise line, but, in general, cruise lines want you to leave your own drinks at home — so you buy more from them!
On Carnival Cruise Line, for example, you can’t bring any hard liquor or beer on your cruise. You can, though, bring one 750-milliliter bottle of wine or Champagne per every person 18 years of age or older in your party.
For non-alcoholic beverages, you can’t bring anything that’s not in a can or carton (so no water bottles!), and you can’t bring more than 12 drinks per person, or drinks in large packaging (375 milliliters or larger).
Virgin Voyages has somewhat stricter beverage limitations, only allowing 12, 12-ounce cans or cartons of a beverage per person, and only two 750 milliliter bottles of wine per cabin. In contrast, on an MSC Cruises cruise, you can’t bring any alcohol whatsoever on board.
Whatever drinks you bring aboard, you can’t bring a large cooler to store them in. Coolers must generally be no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches, on Carnival ships. Virgin Voyages ships do not allow ice chests or coolers at all.
Food
Common Things to Eat on a Ship (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
If you want to bring some of your own food with you, on your cruise, you usually can, but it has to be pre-packaged, unopened food. You can’t bring anything homemade.
You also can’t bring anything onboard that you’re in the process of eating (so, for example, if you grabbed a fast-food lunch before embarkation and are eating a sandwich as you board the ship, you’ll be asked to toss it).
You also can’t bring any fish. If you go on an excursion and catch a fish, you have to ship it home.
Pets
You may love to travel with Fido, but pets aren’t allowed on cruise ships. Only qualified service animals are allowed and, even then, they must be approved by Guest Access Services when you book your cruise, and you will need approval from the Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry.
And the Things You Would Likely Never Expect
Lastly, there are just some items that you can’t bring on a cruise ship that you might never expect would be prohibited.
For example, planning on throwing a party during your cruise? Leave the party poppers and helium-filled balloons at home, because you can’t bring ‘em.
Likewise, if you want to surprise a fellow cruiser with celebratory flowers, you’ll need to order them through the cruise line’s celebrations department (if that’s something the cruise line offers) or have them delivered directly to the ship via a florist, on embarkation day.
Hoping to get a little privacy in your cabin by creating a makeshift wall? Better not do it with curtains, drapes or hanging room dividers, because those aren’t allowed.
Decorating your cabin door is a particularly fun cruising tradition, with many cruisers decking their stateroom doors out with elaborate displays. However, Norwegian Cruise Line does not allow you to bring any type of door décor with you, citing these decoration’s “flammable nature.”
Lastly, if you’re an avid seashell collector and love picking up some new shells each time you go to a new beach, you may be disappointed. Some cruise lines, such as Virgin Voyages, will not allow you to bring these items aboard the ship.
What Happens if You Do Bring These Items Aboard Your Cruise?
In some cases, the cruise ship’s security office may allow you to keep the items, but they might just hold on to them and you can only use them during certain times. This is the case on Carnival Cruise Line, if you bring large scissors for crafting or recreational dive knives.
In other cases, cruise lines reserve the right to confiscate, destroy or turn your items over to other authorities.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that even if an item isn’t included among those listed above, if the cruise ship crew deem it a potential hazard, they have the right to take it and give it back to you at the end of the cruise. Along these lines, if you bring a wrapped gift onboard, it may be subject to search, based on the crew’s whim.
A Small Disclaimer
Do note that the above restrictions are generalized and based on restrictions enforced by Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Virgin Voyages.
Restrictions and prohibitions differ from cruise line to cruise line, as do actions that the cruise line may take if you’re found to be carrying any prohibited items.
For the most up-to-date and most specific information to your cruise possible, be sure to check with your cruise line, ahead of sailing.
Hurricane season is not over yet, and Royal Caribbean is taking extra precautions to ensure that cruise passengers and crew remain safe while the Oasis-class Utopia of the Seas sails through the Bahamas.
Guests booked on the October 28 sailing out of Port Canaveral in Florida were notified less than a day before departure that the cruise line had decided to remove two scheduled port of call visits in the Bahamas, including Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean said in a communication sent to booked guests, “Along with Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we’ve been monitoring some adverse weather along our intended path. In order to steer clear of any increment weather conditions, we’ll need to cancel our visits to Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and we’ll enjoy a visit to our private destination, Labadee, Haiti instead.“
Utopia of the Seas‘ was originally scheduled to visit the first port of call of Nassau in the Bahamas on Tuesday, October 29. The large cruise ship was then set to make a call to Royal Caribbean’s own private island, CocoCay, on Thursday, October 31.
So, you might be asking what the vessel will be offering instead during the short 4-night sailing. Utopia of the Seas will be spending a day at sea on October 29 and then make its first and only port visit at Royal Caribbean’s private destination of Labadee, Haiti, on Wednesday, October 30.
The ship will then sail another day at sea on October 31, before arriving back home in Port Canaveral on November 1.
Royal Caribbean added, “We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather – the safety and well-being of our guests and crew are always our top priority.“
There is no doubt it can be a worry for some guests when it comes to weather conditions in regions such as the Bahamas, especially during hurricane season. The good news is that it is better to be on a cruise ship than anywhere else!
As for the model signal itself, you can see over the next ten days there is potential for tropical development. So, we'll keep an eye on the Caribbean for now…that's all. pic.twitter.com/1DXLpLSIMs
Cruise ships can adjust course and adapt to any weather changes using advanced navigation systems. The captain will also keep the vessel away from any potential impacts. Royal Caribbean has Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer on hand advising on the developing weather situation, and Setzer also provides timely updates on his popular X account.
“Please know, being onboard is one of the safest places because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather,” Royal Caribbean also said in the communication to booked guests.
Utopia of the Seas is the second largest in the fleet at 236,473 gross tons and 1,188 feet long. The sixth Oasis-class ship also has a passenger capacity of 5,668 at double occupancy and 2,290 crew members.
Alternative Port of Call for Utopia of the Seas
The good news is that Labadee only just recently reopened for cruise calls in early October. Royall Caribean suspended all calls there in the Spring of 2024 due to local unrest and increased concern from booked passengers.
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Justin Kozemchak)
Adventure of the Seas was the first ship to return on October 8, and now Utopia of the Seas guests can unexpectedly get a chance also to enjoy the port. Guests will be able to experience a stunning beach and get a chance to drink the signature “the Labadoozie” and even get a thrill on the Dragon Tail Roller Coaster.
The next Utopia of the Seas cruise will set sail on November 1, and at this time, the cruise line has not announced any itinerary change. Guests should keep an eye out for any official communications from the cruise line.
According to the National Hurricane Center, there is a chance of a cyclone formation in the southwestern Caribbean in the coming days. It is possible this development could impact cruise itineraries at the end of October and into early November. Cruise Hive will keep readers updated on any impact on cruises.
TUI Cruises has announced the name of what will become the ninth ship in their growing fleet, and the second new-build mega-ship in the innovative inTUItion class.
Following the precedent of the lead ship in the class, Mein Schiff Relax, the new vessel will not be numbered as has been traditional with the TUI Cruises’ fleet, but instead will have a distinct name – Mein Schiff Flow.
The new ship is planned to enter service in 2026 and will bring her own unique vibe to encourage travelers to “go with the flow” and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere onboard for a refreshing getaway.
“We are delighted that we can meet the increasing demand for cruises with the Mein Schiff Flow. Our ninth new build is based on the Mein Schiff Relax, which also belongs to the InTUItion class,”explained Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.“The eponymous ‘Flow’ is reflected in the entire design of the ship, as well as in the special atmosphere on board, and makes it easy to let go, relax and slow down.”
Mein Schiff Flow will have a deliberately airy design throughout not only public areas, but carrying that theme into staterooms and suites.
While few details on the upcoming vessel have been released as yet, this “flow” of relaxation and a slower pace will surely be reflected in the ship’s architecture, color palette, lighting, artistry, and other design details.
Furthermore, as the second in the new class of ships, Mein Schiff Flow is likely to have very similar features to her sister ship. For example, details aboard Mein Schiff Relax that would be ideal aboard Mein Schiff Flow as well include the atrium’s panoramic windows, the terraced sun landscape, ample lounging spaces, and much more.
Of special interest and perfect for the airy “flow” of the ship will be the shadow roof, a unique design with an arched, open wicker-like style to promote air flow, coolness, and dappled sunlight.
“The iconic roof, which seems like a light-flooded grotto, will not only be visible from afar, it also offers guests a very special retreat. A unique place that probably doesn’t exist on any other ship,”said Björn Asmussen, architect at 3Deluxe, who helped design the roof for Mein Schiff Relax.
Mein Schiff Flow is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, alongside Mein Schiff Relax, which just successfully completed her first round of sea trials.
Fleet Growing Responsibly
With the two 161,000-gross ton inTUItion-class vessels debuting in 2025 and 2026, TUI Cruises is growing quickly. The new vessels dwarf the rest of the fleet, of which Mein Schiff 7 is the largest at just 112,982 gross tons.
Furthermore, the new ships will be able to welcome many more eager travelers with an expected capacity of 3,984 guests. In comparison, the rest of the fleet can only welcome approximately 2,500 passengers per vessel.
Mein Schiff Relax at Monfalcone Shipyard (Photo Credit: TUI Cruises)
“This will increase the capacity of the fleet by almost 60 percent,”explains Wybcke Meier.“This constant and sustainable expansion is part of our long-term strategy, in particular to serve the growing demand for experience-oriented cruises. The expansion of the fleet not only creates more capacity, but also enables us to reach different target groups and open up new markets.”
At the same time, TUI Cruises is mindful of the need for sustainable expansion and responsible cruising that meets environmental expectations.
Both new ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will have shore power connections to minimize local impacts to port communities.
Other onboard steps are sure to be taken to ensure each ship is as environmentally conscious as possible, guaranteeing a long service life that can adapt to changing conditions and new environmental needs as necessary.
While Mein Schiff Flow‘s maiden voyage has not yet been announced, Mein Schiff Relax will welcome her first guests in mid-March 2025 and will be officially christened in Malaga on April 9, 2025.
The upcoming Mein Schiff Relax from TUI Cruises has successfully completed her first round of sea trials, performing exceptionally well for maneuverability in the Adriatic Sea.
The 161,000-gross-ton vessel, largest ever built for TUI Cruises and first of the new and highly innovative inTUItion class ships, completed various maneuvers during her first round of sea trials.
Designed to ensure the ship can pivot, turn, and correct course properly, these maneuvers include a zig-zag course, a 360-degree circle turn in a tight radius, “crash stop” stopping distance test, and a Williamson Turn, a specific type of 180-degree, reciprocal course turn used in overboard situations.
“That is a very special situation,”said Moritz Schaefer, Chief Deck Officer.“Hopefully this will be the last man-overboard maneuver this vessel has to sail, ever.”
Mein Schiff Relax completed all these maneuvers well at at top speed, thoroughly demonstrating her abilities and responsiveness – something that was not necessarily guaranteed. New ship designs often have difficulties and challenges that aren’t revealed until these types of sea trials.
“This is not a given for a prototype with many technical innovations and a highly modern and innovative bridge,”TUI Cruises said.“The successful sea trial shows that the first ship in the Mein Schiff fleet to be equipped with two Azipods drives confidently and safely.”
“It is very important to do these tests as early as possible so that we have some time until delivery,”said Georgios Vagiannis, Newbuild Director for TUI Cruises.“To ensure that everything is working well.”
It should be noted that the ship’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) drive was not tested during this first round of sea trials, but will be put through its own rigorous operational testing during another round in a few weeks.
It is normal for new cruise ships to undergo several rounds of sea trials, each one focusing on different systems and actions. Safety, navigation, propulsion, maneuverability, emergency responses, and other features are all thoroughly tested in different scenarios to ensure the vessel’s complete operation.
While many tests and safety checks are performed throughout the ship’s construction, sea trials are necessary because some systems cannot be fully tested unless the ship is at sea.
“The behavior of the vessel is put through its paces on a test drive, you could say,”explained the ship’s start-up captain, Tom Roth.“That is also extremely exciting for us. We’re really learning how our vessel behaves. How it maneuvers. Everything is tested down to the smallest detail.”
Other systems tested during this first round include the davit system for lowering rescue boats, emergency horn signals, and other related functions.
“The maneuverability of our new Mein Schiff Relax, what it has proven, what it can do, has exceeded our expectations by far,”said Roth.
All the ship’s officers, cruise line executives, and shipyard authorities onboard for the sea trials note how emotional and exciting the results are as the ship moves to her next phase of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
“We usually compare the sea trial to a school test: If you have studied, you can aim for a good result.”said Massimo Canesin, Vice President of Production for Fincantieri.“I can say that we have studied, because we completed the sea trial with a good result. The behavior of the vessel is something that is unbelievable.”
Mein Schiff Relax Debut
While the new ship has aced her first sea trials, a great deal of work remains to be done before Mein Schiff Relax is ready for delivery and welcoming guests.
The ship’s interior, while framed in and recognizable in different spaces, has not yet been outfitted and all interior design work is yet to be completed. Carpeting, artwork, seating, and other final details are still missing, but the ship remains on schedule at this time.
It is normal to conduct sea trials early, while outfitting work will be done once the ship’s critical systems are confirmed fully operational and appropriately certified.
Mein Schiff Relax Sea Trials
The ship floated out in November 2023, and further detailed work will now be completed, as well as additional sea trials.
Mein Schiff Relax is scheduled for her maiden voyage to depart on March 16, 2025 from Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The 7-night sailing will include port visits in Italy and Spain.
The ship’s official christening is planned to be in Malaga, Spain, on April 9, 2025. Further details about what is sure to be a memorable event are yet to be released.
The vessel will remain homeported from Palma de Mallorca through October 2025, offering a diverse range of 7- to 10-night itineraries visiting top destinations such as Las Spezia, Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Cadiz, Lisbon, Rome, Naples, Palermo, and much more.
Up to 3,984 travelers will be able to enjoy Mein Schiff Relax on every sailing, with approximately 1,100 international crew members onboard to ensure that everyone has the most relaxing cruise vacation possible.
Cruisers preparing to embark on Regal Princess’s next cruise received the bad news that their voyage had been cancelled – just two short days before they were due to set sail.
On October 25, 2024, Princess Cruisers reached out to impacted passengers to inform them that the October 27 Western Caribbean sailing onboard the Royal-class vessel would not be going ahead due to unspecified technical difficulties.
“We deeply regret to inform you that due to unforeseen technical work needed for Regal Princess, we must cancel your upcoming voyage…we appreciate your understanding and regret any disappointment this causes,”reads a notification from the cruise line.
The 3,560-guest ship is currently en route to Galveston, Texas, which will be her homeport for the winter, from Southampton, UK. The now scratched voyage would have been the first of many Western Caribbean sailings offered from the Texas port.
This particular 7-night cruise would have called on Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Naturally, many of the impacted passengers are quite upset about the unfortunate turn of events and have taken to social media to express their frustration – even though Princess Cruises has offered compensation to make things right.
“You cancelled our cruise less than two days prior. 10 of us had this planned for over a year. You think 25% cruise credit covers this?!?”,one frustrated cruiser posted on X.
Indeed, all guests will receive a full refund of all money paid to Princess for this cruise and will get a 25% future cruise credit that is calculated from the total base cruise fare paid.
The credit can then be applied to any sailing made by May 31, 2025, that sets sail on or before May 31, 2026.
The cruise line will also cover nonrefundable airfare change fees of up to $200 per person.
Rocky Seas for Regal Princess
While the cruise line did not specify what exactly is wrong with Regal Princess, the 141,000-gross ton’s current voyage has not exactly gone smoothly.
While it hasn’t been confirmed by the cruise line, it’s possible that the issues that plagued the in-progress cruise are at least partially responsible for the current technical difficulties.
The current sailing, which is a Transatlantic crossing from Southampton, England, to Galveston, Texas, was offered as both a 33-night cruise embarking on September 24, 2024, and a 21-night cruise embarking on October 6, 2024.
No matter which embarkation date guests chose, all are due to disembark in Galveston on October 27 – when the now cancelled voyage would have set sail.
Regal Princess at Port of Galveston (Photo Courtesy: Princess Cruises)
However, a couple big things have gone wrong throughout the duration of the voyage.
First, on September 30, 2024, there was a fire in the 2014-launched ship’s engine room – which was thankfully put out quickly.
“Just had an emergency announcement on the Regal Princess that there was a fire in the engine room. It was followed by a raucous shuddering,”a current passenger shared on Facebook.
“Finally the captain shared that there had been a fire, but it had been extinguished and we could all go back to having a wonderful evening. I don’t know about you, but ‘fire in the engine room’ doesn’t usually precede ‘wonderful evening!’”,continued the guest.
The extent of any possible damage from the fire is unclear – with the captain and key officers likely keeping this information on a need-to-know basis to prevent panic onboard.
More recently, current passengers reported that there was a power outage onboard as the ship left George Town, Grand Cayman, on October 24, 2024 – which was the final port call of the voyage.
“There was an electrical fire a few weeks ago…Yesterday, the whole ship lost power as we were leaving Grand Cayman. I don’t know if the two are connected, but the ship definitely has issues to fix,” a current passenger commented.
Others alleged that this wasn’t the only power failure during the sailing and claimed that the ship has been operating on backup generators since the fire, although this has not been confirmed by the cruise line.
In any case, without knowing the extent of the ship’s technical difficulties and what repairs are required, it’s unclear how long she will be out of service.
However, the following voyage – which is another 7-night Western Caribbean cruise that is supposed to embark on November 3, 2024 – is still scheduled to sail as planned.
Initially, the intention was for the aging ship to be towed from her berth at Pier 82 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Norfolk, Virgina to be prepared for intentional sinking. This prep work would involve the removal of key components as well as ensuring the vessel meets environmental restrictions before being permanently scuttled.
The SS United States Conservancy has announced, however, that the move to Norfolk will not be possible after all, and instead, the 990-foot, 53,229-gross-ton vessel will be moved to Mobile, Alabama for the preparation work.
“Due to the amount of space and availability (only 2 to 4 months) in Norfolk, Virginia, Okaloosa County has decided to move the SS United States to a dock in Mobile, Alabama, that has recently become available,”Okaloosa County explained.“We understand that this is a huge shift in plans and this decision will be disappointing to many supporters of the ship in the Norfolk area.”
While the ship was in Norfolk, many ocean liner fans, Conservancy supporters, and general cruise ship aficionados would likely have made the effort to get a glimpse of the vessel and see her progression as she was prepared for her next phase. Now, the ship will completely bypass Norfolk on her way to Mobile.
The SS United States Conservancy, while it did lose its bid to preserve the ship in her entirety, is dedicated to ensuring everyone can enjoy the vessel as much as possible during this time as she prepares for and will make her final journey.
“We will endeavor to provide updates as soon as we have them,”the Conservancy confirmed.“We realize that many people are interested in seeing the ship off in person or watch online and we will work to provide as much notice as possible to help supporters plan effectively.”
At this time, there is no departure date yet confirmed for the ocean liner to leave Philadelphia. In addition to appropriate berth space for scuttling preparation, other factors such as towing ability, weather conditions, appropriate documentation, environmental safety, and other marine traffic must also be taken into consideration before the ship is moved.
“Okaloosa County maintains a robust and healthy relationship with the SS United States Conservancy and will be updating the organization on updates to the ship that include the date of the move,”the county said.
Why the Port Change?
While facilities at both Norfolk and Mobile are capable of doing the work on the SS United States to properly prepare the ship for her next phase, there are many reasons why, ultimately, the decision was made to do the work in Alabama rather than Virginia.
The “space and availability” in Norfolk could have made it challenging to complete the project in the allotted time, especially if new difficulties are discovered once the work begins. In Mobile, however, there is a greater window of time for the work to be done by the same contractor.
SS United States Ocean Liner (Photo Credit: PTS Aerial Services)
Costs are also “significantly less expensive” in Mobile, though Okaloosa County has not disclosed those costs at this time. Nevertheless, expenses are always a factor in such extensive work.
The distance the ship will need to be moved a second time – from being reconditioned for scuttling to her destination off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach – is also a factor.
“While the initial tow will be significant, its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico will allow for a much more streamlined operation leading to the artificial reef deployment,”Okaloosa County said.
For comparison, the distance to move the ship from Norfolk to off the coast of Destin/Fort Walton is approximately 1,600 miles, whereas the distance from Mobile to the Destin/Fort Walton area is just 150 miles.
While the ship will be stabilized for such a move, a shorter distance undoubtedly presents fewer technical challenges.
Both the SS United States Conservancy and Okaloosa County remain committed to providing updates about the process and ensuring all interested parties are fully aware of all developments as the final plans for the ship are confirmed and put into action.
