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Port of Quebec Closes Out Another Robust Cruise Season

Donna Tunney
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Port of Quebec Closes Out Another Robust Cruise Season

The Port of Quebec ended a successful 2024 season with virtually the same number of cruise arrivals it welcomed in 2023, and that was a record-breaking year.

A total of 154,299 cruise guests transited the cruise terminal in 2024, matching the roughly 150,000 recorded the previous year. The most recent numbers represent a substantial jump from the 92,000 cruise guests who visited in 2022. 

The port is growing, but in a measured and planned way. In 2014 it became the world’s first port to cap the number of cruise visitors at 15,000 per day in an effort to control cruise-tourism’s impact on the local population and infrastructure.

Even so, port operations are responsible for some 10,000 jobs, both direct and related, and $2 billion in economic activity.

The port in 2024 welcomed 42 ships from 23 cruise lines, including 112 port call visits and 28 embarkation and debarkation operations. Eight cruise ships made their inaugural calls to the destination.

In 2023, the port received 131 port call visits from 41 ships representing 28 cruise lines.

Cruise passengers currently represent 4% of Quebec City’s 4 million annual tourists, who visit the historic destination for its culture, history, architecture, and cuisine. The port in 2022 opened a new cruise terminal that can handle 2,500 passengers at a time.

Summer and fall season cruise itineraries typically include Quebec City on a combination of Canada/New England sailings, and the destination is frequently a port call on voyages to Greenland and Iceland from northeastern US ports.

The 2024 season opened with the arrival of MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia on April 10 as the ship sailed her 114-night World Cruise. The 2,550-guest ship called at Quebec on her way to Greenland.

While the Eastern Canada cruise season officially ends in November, the port announced in 2023 that Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot would call at Quebec in January 2025 as part of her winter cruise series.

The 31,300-gross ton luxury expedition ship, a hybrid icebreaker vessel powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), will visit the port on her 12-night “St. Lawrence River in the Heart of the Boreal Winter” cruise. The voyage begins on Saint Pierre Island and explores Eastern Canada before concluding in Quebec City.

The Port of Quebec’s summer season gets underway in May 2025. Early season visits are planned by Viking’s Viking Neptune and two Holland America Line ships, Zuiderdam and Volendam, both of which will be regular visitors through the season on a series of Canada/New England itineraries.

Cruise Ships Docked in Quebec
Cruise Ships Docked in Quebec (Photo Credit: Anne Richard)

Other notable ships slated to call at Quebec include Oceania Cruises’ Marina, in July; and Azamara’s Azamara Quest; Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow; Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, and Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojourn in August.

Port Focuses on Expanding Green Initiatives

The Port of Quebec operates under a sustainable tourism plan that includes installing electric plug-in capabilities at its three cruise wharves and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The $45 million shoreside power project is in progress.

Read Also: I Cruised Eastern Canada on Holland America – Here’s What I Loved Best

“The cruise season is a major contributor to the prosperity of the tourism industry in the Greater Québec City area. Not only does it make an important economic contribution, it also provides an exceptional international showcase,” said Robert Mercure, general manager of Destination Quebec. 

“We’re delighted to see how the port and the industry are taking steps to make cruises increasingly eco-responsible,” added Mercure.

In its 2035 Vision Plan, the port’s goals include shore power implementation; reducing air pollution; and building local and international partnerships in environmental management, among others.

Cruise Line Facing Lawsuit From 115 Former Passengers After Outbreak

Lissa Poirot
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Cruise Line Facing Lawsuit From 115 Former Passengers After Outbreak

More than 100 passengers who sailed on P&O Cruises’ P&O Ventura are suing the cruise line and its parent company, Carnival Corporation.

The claims, submitted Hudgell Solicitors on behalf of 115 affected guests, allege the passengers suffered illnesses, loss of enjoyment, and financial setbacks during cruises aboard the ship between April and June of 2024.

The illnesses reportedly peaked during a voyage departing from Southampton, England, on May 11, 2024, when 519 passengers were confirmed to have taken ill. 

According to Anne Thomson, senior litigation executive at Hudgell Solicitors based in England, the claims seek compensation for a range of damages, including medical expenses, diminished vacation value, and time off from work required to recover after returning home.

“This legal action should come as no surprise to Carnival as the problems with illness outbreaks on the Ventura over the past year have been well documented and extensively covered in the media,” said Thomson. “They are undeniable.”

Thomson added that guests were even warned the night before their cruise about previous outbreaks, yet illnesses continued to affect large numbers of travelers on consecutive sailings.

She expressed hope that Carnival Corporation would address the claims quickly, describing the situation as an opportunity for the company to demonstrate its commitment to customer care.

Carnival has six weeks to acknowledge the claims and an additional six months to investigate and respond.

Norovirus Outbreaks Aboard P&O Ships

The illnesses aboard P&O Ventura included a large-scale outbreak of norovirus, a gastrointestinal illness that disrupted a 14-night cruise that departed from Southampton on May 11, 2024, to Portugal, Spain, and the Canary Islands.

P&O Cruises reported approximately 100 guests onboard the 3,597-passenger ship with 1,200 crew members experienced symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Ill cruisers were asked to isolate in their rooms to avoid further spread, with some passengers reporting delays in receiving medical assistance and others opting to cut their trips short and return home early.

While docked in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on May 17, the crew conducted an intensive cleaning session, during which passengers were required to disembark for several hours. 

While the cruise line claimed less than 1 percent of its passengers were sick, Southampton’s port health authority, which reviewed the outbreak, found the number was actually higher than 12 percent. 

P&O Ventura Cruise Ship
P&O Ventura Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Martin Augustus)

In fact, interviews with passengers who had sailed on P&O Ventura weeks prior to the outbreak revealed many had experienced stomach illnesses, with an outbreak affecting 92 passengers on a 10-day cruise from Southampton to Spain and Portugal that departed on April 20, 2024.

Upon completion of the May 11 voyage, the following cruise from Southampton scheduled to depart on May 25 was delayed so the crew could further conduct a thorough deep clean to sanitize the ship.

At that time, the cruise line warned passengers of the previous outbreak via email, stating “We wanted to advise you that during the last cruise we saw symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.”

Hudgell Solicitors claim that guests got sick on the subsequent journey, despite the cleanup efforts.

P&O released a statement to the BBC that read, “We are sorry some of our guests may have been affected and we will be responding to the letter of claim in due course.”

P&O Ventura was not the only ship experiencing a gastrointestinal outbreak at the time. Sixteen percent of passengers on an April 26 voyage and 12 percent on a May 15 sailing aboard P&O Aurora also experienced related symptoms.

The cruise line also witnessed an outbreak in September on P&O Arcadia. Each ship originally departed from Southampton.

Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues Family During Transatlantic Cruise

Catie Kovelman
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Royal Caribbean Ship Rescues Family During Transatlantic Cruise

Voyager of the Seas just kicked off the weekend with an emergency rescue. 

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship, which is currently in the middle of a Transatlantic voyage, rescued a stranded family and their dog while sailing in West Africa.

On Friday, November 15, 2024, the Voyager-class vessel happened upon the family while sailing off the coast of Marrakesh, Morocco. 

According to witnesses, the stalled sailboat had engine problems that resulted in a loss of power. Making matters worse, the smaller vessel had also lost its masts – effectively stranding those onboard. 

It’s currently unclear how many passengers were stuck on the private vessel – with some witnesses saying it was a family of four (two kids and two adults) or a family of six (four adults and two kids), as well as their black labrador retriever.

 “We diverted to rescue a family of 2 adults, 2 minors, and a dog who were stranded with a broken sail [mast] and a stalled engine. Everyone is on board and safe, but they had to leave the boat behind,” a current passenger, named Roberto Mezquia Jr, posted on X.

Before bringing the refugees onboard, engineers from among the approximately 1,200 crew members employed by Voyager of the Seas initially tried to fix the boat so that the family could simply sail home. 

When it became clear a repair would not be successful, the crew transferred the family to a Royal Caribbean lifeboat and brought them onboard the 138,194-gross ton vessel, where they were welcomed by cheers and applause from onlookers. 

Pictures and videos show the rescued family huddling in the lifeboat on their way to the cruise ship – with even the dog wearing its own pink lifejacket.

“The rescue crew showed great skill (and bravery) in choppy seas to bring everyone safely aboard. There was a well-deserved big round of cheers and applause from all of the spectators on their balconies,” shared another current passenger.

There was some discussion of also towing the sailboat – if only so it could be repaired later – but this is a big undertaking and the powers that be ultimately decided against it. 

But what really matters most is that the stranded people – and their furry companion – are now safe and sound. 

What Will Happen to the Family?

The first thing a cruise ship does when they rescue stranded refugees is provide them with any necessary medical care and offer them food and water. 

Then comes the task of figuring out what to do with the unexpected passengers. As cool as it would be, the newly rescued guests typically don’t just get to stay onboard for the remainder of the cruise – if only because it wouldn’t be fair to paying passengers. 

The other issue is, that depending on the itinerary, both the cruise line and the refugees could run into issues regarding proper documentation and citizenship. 

With this in mind, cruise ships usually either turn over the rescued people to the proper local authorities or safely deliver them to the next port of call on the itinerary. 

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)

Read Also: Secret Codes on Cruise Ships Only Crew Members Know!

In this case, the family will remain onboard until Voyager of the Seas’ next port of call – which will be on Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, on November 17, 2024. 

From there, the family will be able to disembark and figure out their next steps. However, for their 24 hours at sea, they will be provided with food, lodging, and any additional medical treatment they require after their ordeal. 

The remaining passengers on the 3,602-guest vessel will sail on to their final port call, which is on Tenerife, Canary Islands, on November 18. The rest of the 16-night voyage will solely consist of sea days until the ship reaches Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on November 26. 

The sailing initially embarked from Barcelona, Spain, on November 10.

Carnival to Set Sail From Baltimore for Five More Years

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival to Set Sail From Baltimore for Five More Years

Cruise travelers in the northeastern United States will be thrilled to know that Carnival Cruise Line will be offering diverse sailings from Baltimore, Maryland for at least five more years, following a new contract with the Port of Baltimore.

Carnival has been offering sailings from Charm City for 20 years, with a variety of vessels over the years offering exceptional departures. At the moment, Carnival Pride is offering 5- to 14-night sailings to top destinations such as Bermuda, the Bahamas, and both Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean ports of call.

“We’re truly proud of our long history of sailing from Baltimore, and grateful for the strong partnership with the port and its great city and state.” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “We’re looking forward to building on our partnership over the next five years and couldn’t be happier to continue providing cruise vacations from Baltimore.”

In fact, the 80,071-gross-ton, Spirit class Carnival Pride is the first cruise ship to have begun offering year-round sailings from Baltimore when she initially joined the homeport in 2009. The ship is scheduled to remain homeported from the city through at least April 2027.

To be clear, Carnival Pride has not been homeported from Baltimore for 15 years, but the ship does have a significant history with the homeport.

“The international cruise industry recognizes Baltimore as one of the top cruise markets in our nation. We are delighted to have Carnival Cruise Line continue serving Maryland for another five years,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “Carnival is a longtime partner and supporter of the Port of Baltimore and we are very happy to continue that relationship.”

The new agreement takes effect on January 1, 2025, and includes a renewal option for a further five years in the future. This will ensure a long-standing partnership that will bring amazing cruise travel options to Carnival fans not only in Baltimore, but throughout the northeast for years to come.

With the cruise terminal just 10 miles from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and right off Interstate 95 makes it easy for travelers to access, drawing cruise fans from throughout the region for easy, convenient sailings.

Read Also: Baltimore Cruise Port Parking – Everything You Need to Know

In addition to Carnival Cruise Line, other cruise lines both homeport from Baltimore as well as visit the city as a day stop. Vessels from Royal Caribbean, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and others include Baltimore on their itineraries.

The local operator American Cruise Lines also frequently visits the Port of Baltimore on regular coastal sailings.

Cruising’s Impact on Baltimore

Cruise travel can bring great economic benefits to a region. In 2023, the Port of Baltimore welcomed more than 444,000 travelers – the highest number the port has served since 2012.

Baltimore Carnival 20th Anniversary
Lt. Governor Miller and Christine Duffy Celebrate 20 Years of Carnival Cruising from Baltimore (Photo Credit: Joe Andrucyk, Bill Mc Allen / Flickr)

The port itself supports 220 jobs and hundreds of other jobs are generated by cruise activity, including tour guides, hotel operations, local transportation, retailers, and more.

Overall, cruising is estimated to bring approximately $1 million per sailing in economic impact to the state of Maryland. This includes not only direct cruise taxes and fees, but also parking options, hotel use, restaurants, and pre- and post-cruise entertainment for travelers.

While 2024 numbers have not yet been released, it would not be surprising for the port to have had significantly less traffic following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in late March.

Due to the accident and closure of river channel to all marine traffic for weeks, Carnival Cruise Line (along with Royal Caribbean) had to temporarily relocate operations to Norfolk, Virginia.

Carnival Pride was the first Carnival cruise ship to return to Baltimore almost two months after the accident.

Cruise Ship Passenger Gets Windy Surprise After Opening Door

Catie Kovelman
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Cruise Ship Passenger Gets Windy Surprise After Opening Door

When most cruise passengers return to their stateroom, they are looking for rest and relaxation. But due to a simple mistake, one recent guest of MSC Meraviglia returned to a shock.

A TikToker, who goes by Beau Bays (@beaubays20) on the platform, left the door to his private balcony wide open. When he returned to his cabin and opened the door, his room essentially became a wind tunnel with both doors open.

“A tornado really went through my room,” he captioned the clip, along with a laughing face emoji.

The popular TikTok, which has been viewed 4.3 million times since it was posted on November 4, 2024, shows the cruiser struggling to open his door against the wind.

When he finally forces his way inside, viewers can catch a glimpse of his drapes flapping wildly.

@beaubays20

A tornado really went through my room🤣 #fyp #msc #cruise #vacation #royalcaribbean #mcs #cruiseship #viral

♬ original sound – Beau Bays

Thankfully, the cruiser seemed to be in good spirits – and has not posted anything that suggests he was injured in the incident, or that his luggage was damaged. 

He’s continued to show off his good sense of humor in the comment section of his video – even going back and forth directly with MSC Cruises. 

“You should close that,” the MSC Cruises US TikTok account quipped.

“Closing it would ruin my plans for a dramatic exit!” the recent guest joked back.

Assuming the video was posted the night it happened, the surprise wind tunnel experience would have taken place in the middle of MSC Meraviglia’s 7-night Bahamas sailing out of New York City (Brooklyn), which embarked on November 3, 2024.

Before the voyage concluded on November 10, the 5,642-guest vessel called on Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and MSC Ocean Cay, the cruise line’s private island destination and marine reserve in the Bahamas.

More Reasons to Close Those Balcony Doors

Many cruisers like to keep their balcony doors open during their voyage for reasons like letting in the fresh air or enjoying the sounds of the ocean. 

While it’s fine to prop the balcony door open while guests are in their cabin, the doors shouldn’t be left open if no one is in the stateroom to keep an eye on things. 

This is largely because wind might not be the only surprise that gets in through the open door.

As recently as October 2024, a Carnival cruise guest came back to her cabin only to discover dozens of birds flying around her room. She had also left her balcony door open.

MSC Virtuosa Stateroom

The passenger, who goes by @chanellbethley on Instagram and Facebook, posted a video showing the chaos in her cabin as the birds flew around the room.

It’s unclear which specific Carnival ship the unusual incident occurred upon, but both Carnival Freedom and Carnival Glory were bombarded with hundreds of birds while sailing in the Bahamas between October 4 and October 7. 

Read Also: What NOT to Do When Choosing Your Cruise Cabins

During stormy weather, it’s also important to keep those balcony doors shut tight to prevent rain from coming in and causing flooding. 

This has happened as recently as January of 2024, when Voyager of the Seas was hit with a severe storm in the Gulf of Mexico that caused flooding and water damage in several areas onboard – including guest staterooms. 

On a more somber note, guests who leave their balcony doors open while they are not present could also be setting themselves up to become victims of a crime of opportunity. 

While cruise ships generally are quite safe – and even have their own onboard security teams – burglars who see an easy opportunity could come up with a variety of ways to make their way onto the unattended balcony and into the open stateroom.

Carnival Cruise Guests Question Purpose of Adults-Only Area Onboard

Catie Kovelman
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Carnival Cruise Guests Question Purpose of Adults-Only Area Onboard

With potentially thousands of guests from different walks of life onboard at any given time – from families with young kids to couples on a romantic getaway – the mainstream cruise lines aim to have something for everyone to enjoy. 

As a family-friendly cruise line that prides itself on operating the “Fun Ships,” Carnival always has something exciting going on – from DJs creating a party atmosphere at the main pools to themed parties at night.  

But for adults who aren’t sailing with little ones, or parents who simply want a break from their kids, all Carnival ships have several adults-only spaces on board – one of which is the Serenity Retreat. 

While the name “Serenity” implies a calm and relaxing vibe, one recent guest of Carnival Pride found that her experience in the 21+ section was anything but. 

Her experience was so bad that she felt compelled to write to Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, to ask about the true purpose of the space. 

“Just wondering, is the Serenity Deck supposed to be serene or does it just mean it is a space for those over 21?” she asked Heald on his Facebook page.

“Last week on the Pride cruise to Bermuda there was a group of Baby Boomers (obviously with the drink package) who were anything but serene. They were loud, obnoxious, and dropping F-bombs. I ended up leaving the Serenity Deck because of them,” she continued.

While the cruise personality is usually the expert on all things Carnival, Heald was stumped on how to respond – as what each group of guests needed to have fun in the moment directly conflicted. 

“Well, it is an adult deck only and perhaps it doesn’t have the right name, I don’t know anymore. It’s a shame that some people do get boisterous but at the same time they are having fun which is well what we advertise so I find this one a very difficult question to answer,” Heald mused.

The Serenity Deck on Carnival Pride, which is the Carnival ship this woman sailed with, is quite large. 

Depending on how loud the other guests were, perhaps the annoyed passenger could have reclaimed her peace by relocating to the lounges and daybeds on the opposite side of the 2,124-guest ship.

Adults-Only Serenity Area
Adults-Only Serenity Area (Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin / Shutterstock)

How to Respond to Rude Cruise Guests

With thousands of strangers coming together on every sailing, it’s simply inevitable that sometimes people will clash with each other. 

If you feel safe to do so, you can politely approach other guests and respectfully ask them to stop inconsiderate behavior. 

However, Heald’s advice was to report particularly obnoxious behavior, which is what this unidentified guest did.

Worth Reading: Passengers Weigh in on What Carnival’s Serenity Retreat is Really Like

However, she said the members of the 910-person crew she spoke to weren’t helpful. 

“None of the workers/pool attendants said anything to the group. They should have asked them to lower their voices,” she added.

In response, some of Heald’s other Facebook followers clapped back that it’s not always the crew members’ responsibility to speak up – especially if they also feel unsafe to do so. 

Instead, the commenters suggested that the guest should have contacted the onboard security team – who are trained in the art of handling rowdy behavior.

But if guests do ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, one of the best things they can do is remove themselves from the situation – as this cruiser eventually did. 

Hopefully, she was able to find more of the vibe she was looking for in one of the other adults-only spaces onboard, such as the piano bar or the thermal suite in the Cloud 9 Spa.

Port Issue Causes Multiple Changes for Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas

Melissa Mayntz
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Port Issue Causes Multiple Changes for Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas

All experienced cruise travelers know that the occasional port of call change is inevitable because of poor weather, medical diversions, technical concerns, or other issues.

When one port changes, however, it can create a knock-on effect and impact much more of a ship’s itinerary. This is now the case for Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas.

Due to a problem in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the ship is unable to visit the popular port on her next sailing, departing Miami, Florida on Sunday, November 17. This has impacted all of the ship’s planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

Guests were informed of the change just a day or two prior to embarkation, which can be quite a surprise for travelers who had hoped to visit the planned ports of call.

“We’ve recently been advised by the port authority in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that due to technical issues with the pier and the work that must be done and cleared by the USCG for accepting a ship our size, we’ll have to adjust our itinerary for our sailing,” the notification read. “As a result, we’ll skep our visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.”

Symphony of the Seas will still enjoy her planned visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Monday, November 18, but the remainder of the itinerary is now much different than originally scheduled.

The ship will spend Tuesday at sea, then enjoy a stop in Labadee, Haiti from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20. This will be followed by Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Friday will be a day at sea, and Nassau has been added for Saturday, November 23 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by the changes,” the email notification concluded. “Nevertheless, we’re excited to visit our private destination and new ports with you!”

Symphony of the Seas has not changed her departure time for setting sail from Miami nor her return to her Sunshine State homeport, and no further changes are expected.

No details have been confirmed about the nature of the “technical issues” at the pier in San Juan, but it can always be a challenge to accommodate a ship as large as the 228,081-gross-ton, Oasis class Symphony of the Seas. The ship measures 1,187 feet long and 215.5 feet wide.

At many ports, larger ships can only use specific piers or terminal facilities. A ship’s gangway placement, fuel requirements, and other factors can also determine what piers they can safely use.

Symphony of the Seas is homeported from Miami through April 2025, offering 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings. It is unknown whether additional Eastern Caribbean cruises will be impacted by the pier work in San Juan, but booked cruisers will be notified if their itinerary must be changed.

How Different Are the Ports of Call, Really?

The private port of Labadee was closed for several months earlier this year due to crime and violence levels in Haiti, though there have been no direct incidents reported from Labadee.

Royal Caribbean ships just resumed visiting the destination in October. Despite the reopening, however, guests may be disappointed as the cruise line is limiting what shore excursions and activities are available in “phased rollout” of options.

Symphony of the Seas Cruise Ship
Symphony of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)

This means less to enjoy or explore at the destination, which remains under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory from the US Department of State.

While no such restrictions are in place at Puerto Plata, some travelers may be less than enthusiastic that it is yet another private destination, making three out of four ports on the itinerary offering somewhat similar private experiences.

Read Also: Labadee, Haiti – What You Need to Know

Visiting private islands can be a fun time, but for some travelers, they are not nearly as authentic as visiting local communities. In private destinations, experiences are often curated to provide just what visitors may “expect” on vacation.

It’s unlikely, however, that any hidden gems are waiting to be found, such as a unique local shop, family-owned restaurant, or budding artist.

Have you visited different private destinations? Would you enjoy a cruise where so many are included on the same itinerary? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival’s Late Night Snacks Cause Ketchup Concerns

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival’s Late Night Snacks Cause Ketchup Concerns

Sometimes, some cruise travelers might be a bit too concerned about what could really be insignificant details of their oceangoing vacation. It is a credit to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, that he still respectfully answers those concerns, no matter what the topic.

Following the cruise line’s announcement of expanded late-night snack menus, one guest has raised the issue of – wait for it – condiments. Specifically, ketchup and the ever-vital argument about ketchup vs. catsup.

Yes, really. Condiments that may make or break someone’s cruise vacation. Kind of reminds you of omelette-gate, doesn’t it?

“All of this food needs ketchup,” the commenter messaged Heald. “Will these bottles be on every table or do we have to scavenge for them like we do our Platinum freebies?”

The “scavenge” reference appears to be referring to the idea that the gifts Carnival Cruise Line gives to Platinum and Diamond members of its loyalty program, the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) club. Years ago, those gifts were placed in guests’ staterooms as a fun surprise on embarkation day or whenever they were to be handed out.

Now, those most loyal members of the VIFP club must instead pick the gifts up from the Pixels photo gallery onboard. This procedure was implemented during the cruise industry restart after the pandemic to minimize how many people went in and out of individual staterooms for contact tracing and disease transmission.

The most recent VIFP gift has only recently been introduced. The blue canvas baseball cap has been generating controversy of its own, but at least it’s not related to where ketchup may or may not be found.

Next, the guest also inquired – not so kindly – about what type of condiment would be available.

“Is it ketchup or catsup?” they asked. “John Heald, if Carnival uses catsup, I’ll need to bring my own. Which is it?”

At this point it’s relatively unclear whether or not this is a satirical post or not, but nevertheless, Heald does address the concern with his characteristic wit and unfailing politeness.

“Yes indeed, we cover the big issues here on my Facebook page,” he noted. “I was going to make some silly joke in my response but in Heinz sight that probably isn’t a good idea.”

Okay, all of Heald’s more than 590,000 Facebook followers probably collectively groaned at that one.

“We have ketchup,” Heald then confirmed. “Heinz, and it will be available for everyone during the late night grazing.”

While Carnival Cruise Line does not always provide individual ketchup bottles on tables throughout the Lido Marketplace, extra bottles can be found at various stations throughout the restaurant area. Mustard, steak sauce, tabasco sauce, relish, and other condiments are also available.

As a special note, there is no difference between ketchup and catsup. The two words are just different spellings for the same modern, westernized condiment that first began as a brined or pickled fish sauce. The tomato-based sauce we know and love today was first created around 1800.

Using Ketchup – or Catsup – on Carnival’s Late-Night Snacks

Finally, Heald addressed the idea of which of Carnival’s new late-night snacks truly need a dollop of ketchup.

“Pizza, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, fries – are you putting a dollop of ketchup on yours?” he asked.

Hundreds of commenters responded, noting that the condiment is generally easy to find or can be asked for without difficulty. By far, the most common use is for fries, though hot dogs and burgers are a close second.

Read Also: Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line – Menu, Which Ships, Details

For me, I will use a bit of ketchup (I don’t care if it’s catsup or not – I mean, really?) on fries, but nowhere else.

How do you prefer to use condiments, and does it make a difference which brand of ketchup/catsup you have available? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!

Royal Caribbean Ship’s Transatlantic Cruise Delayed by Two Days

Lissa Poirot
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Royal Caribbean Ship’s Transatlantic Cruise Delayed by Two Days

Bad weather that caused flooding in Spain in early November is bringing repercussions to a future cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas. 

After heavy rains and winds delayed the vessel’s routine maintenance dry dock schedule, guests set to embark on the 137,276-gross-ton ship’s November 24, 2024, voyage will need to wait a little longer.

The ship sailing from Barcelona will now depart on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, instead of Sunday.

In a letter, Royal Caribbean informed passengers of the changes. “Due to adverse weather impacting our ability to complete our current drydock operations, Adventure of the Seas will be arriving in Barcelona two (2) days later than we initially planned.”

Originally slated to embark on a 13-night transatlantic journey from Barcelona to Port Canaveral, Florida, on a repositioning cruise, the updated schedule has now been shortened to 11 days. 

Additionally, the voyage that included calls in Valencia, Malaga, and Cadiz, Spain, and Madeira (Funchal), Portugal, will now only make one call during its sailing, visiting Madeira on November 29. However, the cruise line said the arrival and departure times will be updated.

Guests have been advised to arrive for boarding at their originally scheduled time. All aboard is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on November 26.

The ship cannot extend the sailing for affected passengers, as Adventure of the Seas is kicking off its winter season in the Caribbean on December 7, 2024, the day of arrival into Port Canaveral.

Adventure of the Seas will then sail 6- to 8-day cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean through April 2025 with currently controversial stops in Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Labadee, Haiti, where political unrest has caused bans on airline arrivals to the island.

This is the second Royal Caribbean ship that is delayed due to weather conditions in dry dock. Voyager of the Seas, which recently completed routine maintenance and inspections earlier this month, was also supposed to sail from Barcelona to Port Canaveral on a 16-night transatlantic cruise that was delayed by a day.

Guests on that November 11, 2024, sailing also missed a call in Valencia to keep the vessel on schedule to arrive for her Caribbean season, scheduled to begin on November 26.

Refunds, Credits, and Compensation

Royal Caribbean, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the delay, has announced compensation for affected guests. Each passenger will receive a refund equivalent to two days of their cruise fare as onboard credit, as well as the original 13-night sailing points for Crown and Anchor Society loyalty points.

Adventure of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com

Guests with prepaid packages, including beverage, dining, VOOM Internet, and gratuities, will also receive prorated refunds as onboard credits. These can be used throughout the voyage and any unused refundable amounts will be automatically reimbursed to guests’ original form of payment within 14 days of disembarkation.

Read Also: What Is a Transatlantic Cruise?

Passengers who need to change travel plans due to the pushed back departure will also receive up to $200 for domestic and $400 for international change fees per person for flights or one-night hotel accommodation, up to $250.

Excursions in Valencia, Malaga, and Seville have also been cancelled with passengers who booked through Royal Caribbean automatically receiving refunds. Guests who booked private excursions should contact the providers to cancel and receive refunds.

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