When you plan that dream Caribbean cruise, one of the last things you expect is to be impacted by a technical issue, but unfortunately, these situations happen occasionally. And that is the case with Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, which remained stuck in Mexico overnight.
Guests onboard the Brilliance of the Seas on October 19, sailing out of New Orleans, were informed that the ship was experiencing technical issues impacting its propulsion systems. The issue came to light while the vessel was docked in Progreso, Mexico, on October 24.
The 2,142-passenger ship was originally scheduled to depart the port at 5:00 PM on October 24 but remained overnight so engineers could resolve the issues.
The vessel eventually departed the following day, on October 25, at approximately 3:00 PM. According to passengers onboard, the issues were fixed, and the ship is heading back home. Guests have also been kept updated by public announcements by the ship’s captain.
The Radiance-class ship is coming to the end of a 7-night western Caribbean voyage, which also included visits to Cozumel in Mexico on October 21 and George Town in Grand Cayman on October 22.
The 90,090 gross ton vessel is still set to return home on the same day but much later than originally scheduled, resulting in delayed passenger disembarkation. This will mainly impact those who had earlier flights booked.
Following Sailing Impacted
As expected, the following October 26 departure out of New Orleans has been impacted, and the cruise line has already sent a communication to booked guests. Rather than departing at the normal 4:00 PM, Brilliance of the Seas is now scheduled to depart at 11:30 PM.
Royal Caribbean said, “Due to a brief technical issue with one of our propulsion systems during our previous sailing, Brilliance of the Seas will have to delay its arrival into New Orleans.“
“As a result, we will now depart later than originally planned at 11:30 PM. Due to our delayed departure, we will have to adjust our itinerary. Kindly note, while we will still visit the same ports of call, our times in each port will differ,” the cruise line added.
It will mainly mean guests will have to hang out in New Orleans a little longer and could even be a chance to enjoy more of the city. When guests usually arrive at the terminal for embarkation, they will have time slots. This will be the same case, but the time will now be much later.
Guests who were originally set to arrive at 11:30 AM and noon will now have to arrive at 9:00 PM. For those at 12:30 PM, the new arrival time is 9:30 PM. For 1:00 PM, the time is now 10:00 PM, and for guests originally set for 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, the new time is 10:30 PM.
Brilliance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean has also said that it will still stop passengers from arriving earlier than their set time. Guests could be turned away at the terminal, leading to further disruption for the day.
The October 26 Western Caribbean cruise will still be calling at Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Progreso as normal. The voyage will end back in New Orleans as scheduled on November 2, 2024.
It’s not the first time Brilliance of the Seas has suffered technical issues. Back in Spring 2025, the March 19 sailing out of Sydney, Australia, suffered a technical problem. It also led to the cancellation of Nouma during the 11-night voyage.
The ship’s following March 30 sailing had to be completely cancelled, to give the crew time to fix the problem, but for guests, it meant the 5-night Tasmania voyage could not go ahead.
Brilliance of the Seas is not the oldest ship in the fleet, as it entered service in 2002 after being constructed at the popular Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ship does have a scheduled dry dock for Spring 2025, where, hopefully, the ongoing issues can be fully resolved.
Following a number of travelers expressing disappointment and confusion about the 2024 holiday decorating schedule, Carnival Cruise Line has updated that schedule with some significant changes.
This meant that some travelers would miss out on holiday sailings because certain ships were now planned to be decorated later than originally estimated. For example, the Excel-class Mardi Gras had been expected to be decorated for her November 30, 2024 departure.
The schedule released in September, however, noted that Mardi Gras would not be festively outfitted until her December 7 departure, causing frustration for many booked guests.
In response to that confusion, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, took guest concerns to the cruise line’s executives.
“The other day, I posted a schedule of the Christmas decorating dates for the ship. I received a few comments from people who were not happy and so I have deleted that and asked my colleagues within the entertainment department to speak with our professional decorators to see if it is possible to make a few changes,”Heald explained.
“I’m afraid I can’t promise anything but we are going to do our best. As soon as the new schedule is ready, I will post it.”
Now, the revised schedule has been confirmed. Carnival’s 27 cruise ships will be decorated and ready to celebrate the holiday season from these departure dates:
November 24: Carnival Luminosa
November 25: Carnival Miracle, Carnival Splendor
November 29: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Firenze, Carnival Glory
November 30: Carnival Dream, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Magic, Mardi Gras, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Valor, Carnival Vista
December 2: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Sunshine
December 5: Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Sunrise
December 6: Carnival Venezia
While most of the ships remain on the now-deleted decorating schedule that Heald initially shared, there are some notable changes.
Of greatest concern to many guests has been Mardi Gras, which will now be decorated for the holidays for her November 30 departure, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Port Canaveral with visits to Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.
Other ships that have changed their decorating schedule are: Carnival Miracle (now 11/25 instead of 12/6), Carnival Glory (now 11/29 instead of 12/6), Carnival Dream (now 11/30 instead of 12/8), Carnival Jubilee (now 11/30 instead of 12/8), Carnival Vista (now 11/30 instead of 12/8), Carnival Celebration (now 12/1 instead of 12/8), Carnival Pride (now 12/1 instead of 12/8), and Carnival Spirit (now 12/1 instead of 12/7).
One Ship to Be Decorated Later
Only one ship – Carnival Paradise – has had her holiday decorating schedule delayed. Originally, the Fantasy-class Carnival Paradise was to set sail into the holiday season from November 30, but now the ship will not be decorated until her December 5 departure. That first Christmas cruise is a 4-night Western Caribbean sailing visiting Cozumel.
Overall, the new schedule ensures extra holiday sailings, as all Carnival ships will be decorated for the season no later than Friday, December 6, 2024. Previously, the last ships would not have been decorated until Sunday, December 8.
Christmas Decorations on Carnival Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
In general, most booked guests are pleased with the changes and happy they will be able to enjoy all of Carnival Cruise Line’s holiday spirit on their upcoming sailings.
“Woohoo!! Christmas décor for our December 1 sailing on the Spirit!”
“Thank you! Excited to see the Horizon decorated for the December 1st cruise.
“Thank you so much for getting the decorations up on the Mardi Gras 11/30. I know everyone on our sailing appreciates the changes you all made to make this happen!”
For the past three weeks, Heald has fielded many questions and requests for the holiday decorating schedule. Each time, he has noted that any changes would have to be arranged through the professional decorators who are hired to add festive touches to the fleet.
Now, many travelers are sure to be in the holiday spirit as they set sail!
The September 2025 launch of Brilliant Lady, the fourth ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet, promises to be a reality TV spectacle that cruisers won’t soon forget. Dubbed “Mystery Voyage,” the show will bring a whodunnit story to the ship, with guests trying to help solve a murder mystery plot.
Brilliant Lady, a 2,700-guest ship under construction at a Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, will be the site of a fictional murder plot with suspects, jewelry heists, kidnappings, and other happenings that advance the story on a weekly basis.
No specific dates have been announced for cruises that will feature the “Mystery Voyage” events, nor has it been revealed where the show will be broadcast. However, the casting of characters and the planning of the show are under way by SuperBloom and Purveyors of Pop, two well-known and creative production companies.
Purveyors of Pop-produced reality franchises, including “Real Housewives,” “Ex on The Beach,” and “Married To Medicine.”
“I’ve always loved solving problems and puzzles, and have been known to be up for a game of chess. Solving a good mystery is much like that, and with our beautiful Lady Ships as the film set, we’re bringing that romantic, mysterious, Hollywood feel to the high-seas,” said Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, parent company of Virgin Voyages.
Brilliant Lady is due to enter service with a series of cruises from New York in September 2025, followed by a repositioning to Port Miami in October 2025. The “Mystery Voyage” show will be filmed on the ship, and off-ship sets are planned for Mykonos and Santorini, Greece, and Bodrum, Turkey.
Like other guests, the show’s so-called mystery sleuths will enjoy all public areas of the ship as they look for clues to solve the plot.
“Afternoon tea at Sip, mud baths at the mermaid-inspired Redemption Spa, PJ soirees under the stars, and epic Scarlet Night parties might just be the place the contestants find their next leads,” explained Virgin Voyages.
Meanwhile, scores of viewers will gain insights into the unique vacation-at-sea product that Virgin Voyages offers. The cruise line differentiates itself from other premium lines by cutting out main dining room venues, for instance, and instead offering all specialty restaurants that are included in the cruise fare.
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: UrAvgPhoto)
“Not only will this cast of characters have the first chance to set sail aboard our new flagship vessel, but soon after, travelers around the world will be able embark on more than 30 new itineraries and understand why she’s Brilliant,” said Nathan Rosenberg, chief brand officer for Virgin Voyages.
Sailing from New York, Brilliant Lady will offer 5-, 8-, and 10-day Bermuda and Canada/New England itineraries, and from Port Miami she will offer a range of 7- to 12-day Caribbean voyages. The ship will deploy to Los Angeles in April 2026.
Cruise Community Embraces Reality-Style Shows
Virgin Voyages’ “Mystery Voyage” show will take branded TV shows to a new height, but it isn’t the first reality-style production to emerge in the industry.
Royal Caribbean’s “Ultimate World Cruise” became a TikTok sensation when the 274-night voyage got under way in December 2023.
Through its conclusion in September 2024, the digital reality show followed world cruisers, many of them known social media influencers, as they chronicled their experiences onboard the 2,100-guest Serenade of the Seas. The show garnered hundreds of millions of views on TikTok.
The launch of Brilliant Lady is some 18 months behind her originally-planned introduction. The cruise line in September 2023 announced that the ship would not debut in December 2023 as intended, but was indefinitely postponed. Supply chain and staffing issues were said to be the cause. The new September 2025 debut is on schedule.
Safety is important on every cruise ship and savvy travelers know to be careful at all times, such as using hand railings on stairs and being aware of slippery decks.
Carnival Cruise Line, however, will not permit passengers to use one common, easy item that could help prevent slipping and falling, particularly in and around pools and hot tubs that are always busy spaces onboard.
A concerned guest reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, bringing the situation to his attention.
“My elderly husband now wears water sandals on the pool deck and in the water for safety (after slipping getting out of the pool, requiring five stitches),”the guest explained.
“Today a lifeguard informed him he could not wear water shoes in the pool. Nowhere in the Carnival pool and safety information does it state water shoes are not allowed. We’re disappointed and concerned about safety and further injuries.”
While the guest does not clarify which Carnival cruise ship they were sailing on, the cruise line’s pool safety policies are the same fleetwide. Heald responded and explained the reasoning for not permitting water shoes.
“We don’t allow water shoes in the pool. The reason is because they may have picked up some kind of germ or even a piece of glass or dirt that may go into the swimming pool,”Heald said.“That’s why we don’t allow them.”
The cruise line’s reasoning is sound, because a guest might wear water shoes all over the ship – possibly stepping on spilled food in the Lido buffet or walking on public bathroom floors, for example. Similarly, the same guest may wear those shoes off the ship in port, which could mean walking on all types of dirt, sand, or rocks.
If that material gets into the ship’s pool, it can contaminate the water and may clog or damage filters. This would mean the pool needs to be closed and would be unavailable to any guests.
It should be noted, however, that what the original commenter said – “Nowhere in the Carnival pool and safety information does it state water shoes are not allowed,” – is true.
Main Pool on Carnival Cruise Line (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Carnival Cruise Line’s Pool Safety does note that no diapers are permitted in the pool, but there is no specific restriction stated about pool shoes, or even regular shoes for that matter.
The majority of the Pool Safety discussion covers swim life vests, crew water safety training, and some other basic guidelines, such as “use pool at your own risk” “showers are required prior to use” and “use ladder and handrails to enter and exit the pool.”
Other commenters have noted that the unwritten policy of no swimming shoes isn’t always fully enforced.
“That’s odd since I regularly wear water shoes in the pools,”another guest confirmed.
Aren’t Bare Feet Dirty?
The restriction against pool shoes may seem odd when bare feet can also be dirty. The difference, however, is that the decks of a cruise ship can get very hot, and most people do not go barefoot all over the ship.
This means travelers are more likely to be wearing flip-flops, sandals, or shoes around the ship as they head for the pool. Once they get a lounge chair (without saving the chairs for too long!), they would then remove their footwear just before entering the pool or hot tub.
Furthermore, since guests are required to rinse off in the nearby showers before getting in the pool, that would help rinse off any dirt or debris – this would rinse off easier from bare feet than from shoes with firmer soles.
Unfortunately, just as with the policy about water shoes, pre-pool showers are not always fully enforced and not all travelers rinse off before entering a pool or hot tub.
Not one, not two, but four cruises onboard Valiant Lady have been cancelled in favor of private charters that have booked out the entire cruise ship.
Impacted passengers, which were scheduled for May and October of 2025, were contacted by the adults-only cruise line to notify them of the cancellations and their options – and many weren’t happy about it.
The first impacted cruise would have embarked on March 23, 2025, from Miami, Florida, and called for stops at Cozumel, Mexico, and Bimini Islands, Bahamas, over the course of five fun-filled days.
“Unfortunately, Valiant Lady’s sailing scheduled for May 23, 2025 has been cancelled due to a private charter. We sincerely apologize for this disruption to your plans,” Virgin Voyages emailed impacted guests.
But what’s even more unusual is that the 2,770-passenger vessel’s following sailing also seems to have been cancelled due to another private charter.
“Got [an] email today cancelling our May 28th VL cruise due to the cruise getting privately chartered,” an impacted guest shared online, although the cruise line has not directly confirmed this information just yet.
Naturally, many passengers who had been looking forward to their upcoming vacations were disappointed by the news.
“Cancelling due to weather or ship maintenance is one thing, but cancelling due to a private charter? Not going to lie, this is pretty infuriating,”one cruiser shared on Reddit.
However, impacted guests were given multiple options to choose from to make things right, including a full refund, a future cruise credit, or to rebook a similar cruise at no extra cost with a $100 onboard credit thrown in for the inconvenience.
Why Do Cruise Lines Prioritize Charter Cruises?
In many circumstances, charter cruises – and especially full-ship charter cruises – are a good deal for the cruise lines that make it worth choosing these private groups or companies over already-booked passengers.
In a full-ship charter, an organization rents out the entire ship to celebrate a theme, cause, or activity. Some examples of recent chartered sailings to make headlines are themed around Star Trek, Taylor Swift, and Comic-Con – which is a first-of-its-kind celebration at sea taking place in 2025.
But in order to host these sailings, the organizers typically pay as if the ship was at maximum capacity with double occupancy in each stateroom.
Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
They may also be paying the cruise lines extra fees for things like facilitating special events onboard and administration fees for organizing the private sailing.
Considering most cruises aren’t at maximum capacity and at least a few cabins remain unsold, the cruise lines ultimately profit more when they accept the charter – even after refunding already booked guests.
Other mainstream cruise lines have also cancelled upcoming sailings in order to prioritize private charters – including an October 2025 voyage onboard Carnival Libertyandtwo Bahamas sailings onboard Norwegian Getaway in August of 2026.
This is also not the first time that Virgin Voyages has upset its guests with cancellations.
Earlier this year, there was an uproar online after the cruise line removed the ports of Toulon, France, and Marseille, France, from Scarlet Lady’s European “Irresistible Med” and “French Daze & Ibiza Cruises.”
There are a lot of nautical terms that you may hear for the first time when you take your first cruise. Among them, and two terms that you definitely need to understand, are port and starboard.
You probably know that one means “left” and one means “right,” but which is which and why do cruise ships use port and starboard instead of left and right anyway? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Do Cruise Ships Use Port and Starboard Instead of Left and Right?
Cruise ships use port and starboard instead of left and right because “left” and “right” are determined by the individual and how they’re standing. The port and starboard sides of the ship, in contrast, always stay the same.
This is vital because, when you’re operating a ship, you need to be able to communicate to the crew around you and tell them about certain sides of the ship, without any ambiguity. This port and starboard system helps avoid confusion.
Think about it. If you were sailing on a ship and an emergency occurred, you wouldn’t want to say “Crew, the ship’s left side is on fire!” Depending on where your fellow crew members are standing and the direction they’re facing, they could head to either side of the ship. However, if you say, “Crew, the ship’s starboard side is on fire!” they’ll know exactly what you mean and where to go.
Beyond emergencies, from on-board emergencies to potential collisions, port and starboard are also important terms for general navigation, as well as for identifying other ships in the water via their red and green navigation lights, and determining whether they’re sailing toward or away from you (particularly if the weather is bad or at night).
They also come in handy when docking or otherwise maneuvering the vessell into a certain position. For example, when sailing near buoys, a ship’s captain can look at the buoy’s paint or light for key directional information.
Red usually means “port” or “left” and green usually means “starboard” or “right.” If the captain sees a green buoy, it means that the ship should stay to the right of the buoy. If the captain sees a red buoy, it means the ship should stay to the left of the buoy.
Where Did the Terms Port and Starboard Come From?
Port Side Red Light
The terms port and starboard have been in use for centuries, since the early days of boating, and the linguistic history behind the two terms is quite interesting.
Before ships were powered by rudders, people would steer ships with a steering oar. Because many people are right-handed instead of left-handed, the people steering with these oars would sit on the right side of a boat.
The term “starboard” comes from two old English words: “stéor,” which means “steer,” and “bord,” which means a boat’s side. So, “steorbord” became “starboard,” meaning, “the steering side of the boat.”
The steering oar belonged on the right, steering side of the boat, which we now call “starboard.” Because of this, when ships were docked and moored, this would be done on the other or left, side. This other side was called, “larboard,” because it was the side on which the ship would be loaded.
However, over time, this term became confusing because it sounded too much like “starboard.”
So, this term was changed to “port” because it was the side of the boat that would be used when the ship was coming into port. This other side of the boat was the right side.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as the English began to sail their trading ships more often, these terms started to become popular. It was a way for navigators to give each other instructions while sailing the great seas.
As England colonized countries such as the current United States and India, sailors in the countries all over the globe that the English colonized began to use these terms, too. As a result, it became a global way of referring to the sides of the ship.
Since this time, maritime terms have become regularized and made uniform by international bodies. Because port and starboard were already being used by so many, they became the official terms used worldwide.
Even the colors used to indicate port and starboard have historical origins! The red for port and green for starboard weren’t just picked at random.
Historically, red lanterns were easier to come by than green lights (due to the limited availability of green glass, and the relative common use of red glass). As such, red lights were often used to illuminate ports and harbors. Thus, over time, red began to be used to indicate “port.”
How Do You Know Which Side of the Ship is Starboard and Which Side is Port?
So when you embark on your cruise, how do you know which side of the ship is starboard and which side is port? All you have to do is look toward the front of the ship (which is called the bow).
When you’re facing the bow, starboard is on the right and port is on the left.
Not sure you’ll be able to remember this? Try using a little memory trick or some mnemonic devices.
The words “left” and “port” both have four letters in them, and both are one syllable. This can help you remember that left equals port — so if you’re facing the bow, the port side of the ship is on your left side.
Other letter-related tricks for remembering the port and starboard sides of the ship include counting the number of “r”s in both words. Port as one “r” and starboard has two — thus, starboard equals “right,” as it also begins with the letter “r.”
You can also simply think about the terms alphabetically. Left comes before right, alphabetically, and so does port come before starboard alphabetically. As such, left equals port and right equals starboard.
You can also look for the ship’s lights and signage. As mentioned, often, red navigation lights and signage are used to indicate the port side of the ship, while green lights and signage are used to indicate the starboard sides of the ship. You can use another little memory trick to remember this as well. Just remember that port wine is red, and red indicates the port side of the ship.
And, if all else fails, you can simply buy some novelty items to help you remember which side is which — like socks! Just be sure to put them on the right feet, and be sure to be facing the ship’s bow before referencing them.
Does it Matter if Your Cabin is on the Port or Starboard Side of the Ship?
Carnival Cruise Line Balconies (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Beyond just averting potential accidents and preventing collisions, knowing the port and starboard sides of a cruise ship can also clue you in to where exactly your cruise ship cabin will be — and while this doesn’t always matter for every cruise, it definitely does for one-way cruises.
While cabins and suites are generally the same regardless of the side of the ship they’re on, in terms of layout and size, where they can differ is the views.
On round-trip sailings, both sides of the ships will typically get good views at different times of the cruise. However, if you’re on a one-way cruise, you may find that one side of the ship gets all the views while the other gets none.
For example, if you’re sailing up the Alaskan coastline, northbound, and it’s a one-way cruise, you’ll want a stateroom on the right (starboard) side of the ship, facing the shoreline. If you’re sailing southbound, the opposite would be the case. You’d want a stateroom on the left (port) side of the ship.
Do note that, on cruises such as these, getting a cabin on a certain side of the ship, where the views are best, will often cost more.
Beyond just soaking in the views of the shoreline, you may also want to pick a cabin on a side of the ship that will offer more sunrise or sunset views. The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west.
So, if your ship is traveling north, and you want to get some great sunrise views, you’ll want a cabin on the right side of the ship, or the starboard side. If you want sunset views, you’d choose a port side cabin.
How Do You Know Which Side of the Ship a Cabin is On?
But how do you actually find out which side of the ship a potential cabin you’re thinking of booking is on?
Some ships use odd and even numbers to indicate what side of the ship a cabin is on. If it does, the even numbered cabins are on the starboard side of the ship, while the odd numbered cabins are on the port side of the ship.
You can also simply look at your cruise ship’s deck plan and think about the front and back of the ship, and which rooms are on the port and starboard sides of the ship accordingly.
Other Important Nautical Terms to Know Before Your Cruise
Photo Credit: Michaela De Freitas / Shutterstock
Beyond port and starboard, there are some other nautical terms that it can be helpful to know before your cruise.
For example, both “fore” and “bow” refer to the ship’s front, as does the “prow.” “Stern” and “aft” refer to the ship’s back.
The ship’s “bridge” is where all the navigation happens, and where the captain works (you can sometimes get a behind-the-scenes tour that takes you to the bridge, depending on your cruise line!).
While not as important to know, if you hear someone refer to the beam, that’s the width of the ship at its widest point, in the middle. Likewise, the draft is the depth of the ship’s keel below the water. On that note, the keel is the bottom center of the boat (think of it a little like a spine).
The lee side of a ship is, unlike port side and starboard side, something that can change. The lee side is the ship’s side that’s not facing the wind at any given moment.
The wait is almost over! Disney Cruise Line has just received its newest ship, Disney Treasure – ahead of schedule – and soon will be setting off on her maiden voyage.
Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, delivered the new 144,000-gross-ton Disney Treasure to the cruise line on October 24, 2024, six days earlier than planned! It’s less than two years since its steel was first cut in January 2023 and less than a month after the vessel successfully completed its sea trials in the North Sea.
Ahead of the sea trials, Disney Treasurenavigated the narrow and winding Ems River from the shipyard in Papenburg to the North Sea, managing the tight conditions and maneuvering without issue and marking another key milestone before delivery.
Disney Signature Experiences President Thomas Mazloum and Captain Marco Nogara received the ship during the handover ceremony from Meyer Werft CEO Bernd Eikens and Managing Director Bernard Meyer.
“We are very happy to hand over the Disney Treasure to Disney Cruise Line today,”said Eikens. “She is the newest milestone in our longstanding partnership and everyone at Meyer Werft has put a lot of effort and passion into Disney Treasure.”
Malzoum echoed the statement, saying,“We’re incredibly thankful for our work with Meyer Werft and look forward to our bright future together as we continue to expand the Disney Cruise Line fleet.”
Bringing New Themed Experiences and Magic to the High Seas
Disney Treasure, which will be homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida, near Disney World Resort in Orlando, is slated to begin her maiden voyage on December 21, 2024, to the Eastern Caribbean, spending her first holiday enjoying calls in the British and US Virgin Islands and Disney Cruise Line’s private destination, Castaway Cay.
Disney Treasure handed over to Disney Cruise Line (Photo Credit: Meyer Werft)
As the second ship in the Triton Class, the 4,000-passenger ship, like each ship in the fleet, is designed to immerse guests in Disney’s stories and characters, with a new theatrical dining experience providing themed meals with performances that bring the Pixar film “Coco” to life, and a brand-new Broadway-style adaptation of “Moana.”
In addition to its themed entertainment, the ship is introducing a signature song as part of its debut and features an “Aladdin”-themed bow design along with a Grand Hall atrium that resembles the film’s palatial city of Agrabah.
Guests will get a sneak peek at the entertainment during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where Disney Cruise Line’s float will spotlight its newest vessel ahead of her official debut.
Additionally, the ship will offer kids and adults plenty of adventures with a reimagined AquaMouse waterslide/rollercoaster, a “Toy Story”-inspired splash zone, and multiple swimming pools.
Disney Treasure River Ems Conveyance
The vessel will also offer more than 1,200 staterooms with designs centered around the animated films “Aladdin,” “Up,” “Encanto,” and “Pocahontas,” as well as royal suites with features showcasing “The Lion King,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Aladdin.”
Of course, Disney Treasure’s dining, lounges, and bars will also feature a number of familiar characters and themes Imagineers are renowned for creating.
“The Disney Treasure is yet another example of how we’re bringing the magic of Disney to more fans than ever before – and today, we are one step closer to debuting this spectacular ship to the world,” Mazloum said.
As the latest addition to the cruise line’s fleet – and the fifth Disney ship built by Meyer Werft – Disney Treasure will soon be joined by a third Triton-class vessel, Disney Destiny, which is currently under construction in Papenburg and set for delivery in 2025.
Four more Disney ships are scheduled to be constructed at Meyer Werft between 2027 and 2031.
With another successful Alaska cruise season now in the rearview window, the Port of Seattle, a major embarkation port for voyages to the Great Land, is tallying up the 2024 cruise arrivals data.
During the May-to-October season, the port hosted 275 sailings and 800,000-plus cruise passengers. While the statistics are good, they fall a bit short compared to the 2023 season, when 291 sailings delivered about 907,000 passengers.
However, both 2023 and 2024 show vast improvements versus pre-pandemic 2019, when the port welcomed just 213 sailings.
The new data, released on October 24, 2024, shows the port has fully rebounded and has become a more popular departure choice for Alaska sailings. Port officials, who are predicting that the 2025 summer season will bring even more success, point to high-profile ships that will homeport in Seattle.
Among them is Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, a 2,100-guest luxury ship that will operate 11 Alaska cruises from the port, starting on June 12, 2025 and continuing to late September 2025.
A range of 7- to 11-day voyages is offered. Seven-day cruises will call at Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia; and feature scenic cruising in Glacier Bay. For guests with a little more time, 11-day itineraries visit those destinations and add Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska; and include scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier.
Each voyage will feature an Alaskan Cultural Heritage Guide and a naturalist onboard, and offer excursions that vary from whale-watching and land tours to gold panning, visits to wildlife preserves, and more.
Virtually every major cruise line is well represented with Alaska cruises from Seattle in 2025, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line.
Among the biggest ships slated to sail from Seattle are Royal Caribbean’s 4,900-guest Anthem of the Seas, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 4,000-guest Norwegian Bliss, and Princess Cruises’ 3,600-guest Royal Princess.
All of the Carnival Corporation brands, including Cunard, have preferential berthing privileges at the Port of Seattle, thanks to a 10-year agreement the conglomerate announced in June 2024.
Port Leads Industry in Environmental Policy
The Port of Seattle positioned itself as a leader in environmental sustainability efforts in June, when it announced that all cruise ships visiting the facility starting in 2027 must be able to connect to shore power.
Hooking into shore power infrastructure cuts cruise ship emissions by up to 99%, and greenhouse gases by more than 20%. The onshore power source enables ships to turn off their engines while in port and keep hotel systems running.
Carnival Cruise Ship in Seattle (Photo Credit: Port of Seattle)
At the Port of Seattle, two shore power connections are available at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. Shore power hook-ups are being installed at the port’s Pier 66 cruise berth, and when that project is complete, all cruise berths at the port will have the needed infrastructure.
The Seattle port is the first in the US to mandate the shore power regulation. The initiative is part of a Green Corridor plan introduced in 2022 that aims to safeguard the coastal cruising grounds between Washington State, British Columbia, and Alaska.
The long-term effort calls for zero greenhouse gas emission ships to sail the route, and for ports to support the ships with appropriate docking facilities.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), just 30% of cruise ships currently operating have shoreside power capabilities, but many vessels are being equipped with the technology.
Cruise travelers often bring home souvenirs for friends, neighbors, and family members who weren’t lucky enough to join them on the voyage. Some family members that often get great attention after a cruise are pets – but it can be surprisingly hard to find pet-friendly souvenirs while sailing.
One frequent cruiser has reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, with a request for Carnival-themed toys to be sold onboard.
The guest explains that they would normally buy souvenirs for their grandchildren, but as the youngsters have grown up, they don’t buy so many. Now, their attention is on a new family member.
“I now have a puppy for the first time in 15 years and he’s my baby! Wanted to get him something in the shops but nothing was dog-friendly,”the guest explained.“I think if Carnival added a few ‘Carnival dog toys’ they would be surprised how well they would sell! Just a suggestion.”
Heald’s assistant, Jacinta, responded to the guest’s suggestion with great enthusiasm.
“Thanks so much for the great suggestion and we will share this with our colleagues from the shops,”she said.
Cruise lines change the logo-branded merchandise they offer regularly, based on sales, guest feedback, and product availability. Carnival Cruise Line offers a wide selection of apparel, mugs, model ships, photo frames, keychains, and more.
The cruise line also often features special, limited-edition merchandise such as for a new ship’s inaugural season or holiday items that may only be sold onboard during that special season rather than year-round.
It should be noted that even if Carnival Cruise Line were to being offering pet-friendly merchandise, pets will not be permitted onboard. Only trained service dogs are allowed to set sail, in accordance with the cruise line’s service dog policy.
“Carnival only permits service dogs on board. A service dog is legally defined and individually trained to meet the specific needs of a person with a disability,”the policy reads.“Pets, or service dogs in training, are not allowed aboard. Emotional support dogs, which are not recognized by the US Department of Justice, are also not permitted on Carnival ships.”
What Pet Toys Could Carnival Offer?
Heald himself owns a young German shepherd named Quantum and is sure to be intrigued by the idea of dog toys onboard – especially since young dogs and puppies can often destroy toys easily.
While the onboard gift shops do offer toys – plush Freddy the Funnel or Carnival cruise ship toys, for example – these items are not suitable for pets.
Pet-friendly items should be free of small parts that could be swallowed, are typically more durable, and should be made with non-toxic materials.
Royal Caribbean Souvenir (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Of course, all new products go through rigorous testing and marketing approval before being offered onboard ships. Pricing options, potential interest, supply availability, and onboard space should all be considered before offering pet toys.
Possible options for Carnival-branded pet toys could include tugs, durable rubber chew toys, plushies, or treat-dispensing toys (just take my money if they make a Carnival funnel rubber treat dispenser!).
Other pet-themed items could also be offered in the gift shops, such as collars, leashes, bandanas, bowls, or even pet-sized shirts.
While Carnival-themed items would likely be the hottest pet items for frequent cruisers, more general nautically-themed pet merchandise could also be great additions to the onboard shops.
Limited selections of pet toys and other pet items have been spotted on other cruise lines, whether or not Carnival Cruise Line will begin offering pet merchandise is not yet confirmed.
Would you buy pet items onboard a Carnival ship? Share what you’d buy for your furry family members on the Cruise Hive boards!
