A recent Royal Caribbean guest has asked about elevator use etiquette while toting luggage after encountering a skeptical passenger.
Cruise lines do not restrict guests from bringing luggage into elevators, even on the most crowded days.
Elevator etiquette can be a hot topic among cruisers, including rude behavior, misusing buttons, or smart elevator operation.
Every experienced cruiser has found themselves faced with a crowded elevator, and both embarkation and debarkation days are notorious for lacking elevator space when guests are trying to make their way around a very crowded ship. But what is the etiquette with luggage in the already tight confines of a cruise ship elevator?
Reddit users are debating the question after a recent guest on a Royal Caribbean ship was wondering if they were inadvertently rude when debarking the ship with their luggage.
They noted that they had chosen to carry their luggage themselves rather than hand it over to cruise crew members to move more quickly on debarkation morning and not have to wait, so they took to Reddit to check their behavior.
“We are as green as can be to cruising, so maybe we missed that part of the briefing where you are not supposed to take your luggage with you in the elevator,”the poster explained.
Responses were swift that there is no “no luggage in the elevator” rule aboard cruise ships, though polite guests will try to minimize how much space their bags take up in an elevator by using a corner, stacking bags, or standing over them.
The original poster did not identify the exact cruise ship they were on, but did state they were moving from Deck 14 to Deck 5. Many commenters agreed that while 1-2 decks might be okay to manage with a bag or two, multiple decks is too much without an elevator’s assistance.
Alternative Options
The idea of someone complaining about luggage in an elevator quickly led to multiple alternative suggestions for how to move one’s bags down multiple decks.
“I chuck mine over the railing down into the Central Atrium like any reasonable person would,”one guest said, to which another guest explained, “I prefer using the water slides.”
Luggage Outside Stateroom on Royal Caribbean Cruise (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)
This was met with a loyal-to-Royal comment of “Amateur. Try the Abyss,” referring to the Ultimate Abyss dry slide which spans 10 stories onboard the cruise line’s six Oasis-class ships.
Another guest noted how simple it is to throw one’s luggage off the balcony to lighten the load for debarkation.
On a more serious note, some commenters did suggest making sure one debarks early when there are fewer people leaving the ship, so elevator space is more available.
Elevator Debates Not Uncommon
Elevator etiquette has been a frequent debate among cruise guests. Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has even issued informal guidance to guests on elevator etiquette, including urging respect for those using mobility scooters in elevators.
The introduction of “smart” elevators in recent years onboard different cruise ships, including newer Royal Caribbean ships, has also caused some confusion as guests learn how to use the new design and find their designated elevators.
Of course, one contentious topic has always been children misbehaving in elevators, such as pushing every button as a prank or simply hanging out in elevators when others wish to use them.
Experienced cruisers know the best way to approach any elevator onboard is to just be patient. After all, what goes up will eventually come down again.
Scottish trail runner Paul Manson ran 7 marathons during a 7-night cruise aboard Enchanted Princess in August 2026.
He completed the first marathon in Rome the day he boarded the cruise ship and did additional marathon distances at every port.
One day was a marathon onboard the ship at sea with 185 laps on the jogging track on Deck 18.
Many cruise ships are equipped with fitness facilities and onboard jogging tracks, but it can be a joke that many cruisers add up more miles just walking around the ship than they ever would using the fitness equipment.
Adding up the miles is no joke to Scottish trail runner Paul Manson, better known as the Random Runner, however. His recent “Run the Med” challenge with Princess Cruises puts a bit of time on the jogging track to shame.
Manson does unique marathon and other running challenges to share on his Instagram page and YouTube, and one of his most recent was the goal of running seven marathons in seven days, all while on a Mediterranean cruise.
He undertook the ambitious feat onboard the Enchanted Princess, beginning on August 4, 2026 in Rome before boarding the ship. During the cruise, as the ship went from port to port, Manson planned out and completed marathon distances at each successive stop: Naples, Kotor, Corfu, Katakolon, and Messina (Sicily).
During the one day at sea, Manson completed 185 laps on the ship’s running track on Deck 18, the Sky Deck, using a hand clicker to keep track of the laps accurately.
“An incredible achievement and a unique way to explore the Mediterranean – well done Paul!”Princess Cruises posted on its UK and EU media Instagram page.
Manson posted each of his marathons to Instagram, as he stopped along the way to take pictures of top sights in the iconic cities.
In Rome, for example, his winding route took him past the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and the famous Trevi Fountain, along the River Tiber, and across historic bridges to add up to 42.3 kilometers (26.3 miles).
One of his most unique routes was the last marathon on the route, which included 2,500 meters running down the Mount Etna volcano. Manson shared a video showing just how coated with sweat and ash he was at the end of the trek.
“Looks like I’ve been working down in the mine,”he commented while catching his breath, later explaining that he didn’t know the volcano was actually erupting at the time.
He did say that the sticky, sweaty layer of ash was “nothing a jump in the sea didn’t sort out,” showing that he also indulged in other popular cruise activities.
How Far Did Manson Run in Total?
In total, Manson’s runs were 42.3 kilometers in Rome, 43.9 km in Naples, 42.2 km onboard Enchanted Princess, 42.6 km in Kotor (Montenegro), 43.0 in Corfu, 43.0 in Olympia (Katakolon), and 42.5 in Messina (Mt. Etna). In that week of marathons, Manson completed 299.5 kilometers (186 miles).
He described missing half a kilometer as “mildly annoying,” as that would also have been an interesting milestone for an already interesting achievement.
“Not bad, not bad at all,”he said.“And what a week it was.”
Videos Yet to Come
For cruisers inspired by Manson’s feat, he is planning what he describes as a “full feature length film” about the experience to be posted to his Instagram in the coming weeks, as he edits the footage and photos he took along the journey.
Several shorter videos have already been posted showing the highlights of some of his stops, including some insights he shares about each one, such as proper planning, staying hydrated, and in general enjoying the route.
Crowds, heat, and high humidity made the challenge even harder, but Manson completed each marathon with a smile and always an appreciation for seeing new things and having the ability to explore the world in such a unique way, an attitude that should be shared by all who enjoy cruises.
A small fire broke out onboard Norwegian Aura on August 28, 2026, while the future Norwegian Cruise Line ship was under construction at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard.
The fire reportedly began in a waste container, producing a large cloud of black smoke.
Emergency crews at the shipyard contained the fire and no injuries were reported.
Late on the morning of August 28, 2026, a small fire broke out in Monfalcone, Italy, at the Fincantieri shipyard. It began onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s future flagship, the 170,000-gross-ton Norwegian Aura, which is currently under construction at the shipyard.
A video shared on Facebook by Italian news outlet Il Piccolo shows a thick cloud of black smoke rising from the Prima Plus-class ship. Workers can be seen wearing face masks as they observe the smoke.
A container holding waste and construction debris onboard the ship was reportedly the source of the fire. The shipyard’s in-house emergency team responded and was able to contain the fire.
Local fire department personnel were reportedly not called on-site to assist. The cause of the fire has not been released and there were no injuries or significant damage reported. Fincantieri has not released a statement on the incident and it is unclear if an investigation has been launched into how the fire began.
Norwegian Aura Shipyard Fire (Credit: Il Piccolo)
While Norwegian Aura is the first Norwegian Cruise Line vessel to be constructed at the Monfalcone facility, Fincantieri has a long-standing relationship with the cruise line. The Italian shipbuilder also constructed all four predecessors in the Prima and Prima Plus classes, which began with Norwegian Prima in 2022.
The cruise line has also placed an order with the Italian shipyard for one more Prima Plus-class ship, set to debut in 2028. Additionally, five ships from a new class are on order with Fincantieri for delivery in 2030, 2032, 2034, 2036, and 2037.
Norwegian Aura Scheduled for 2027 Debut
There has been no confirmed delay to the construction of Norwegian Aura as a result of this fire. The ship remains scheduled to debut in May 2027 in Trieste, Italy. The Prima Plus-class vessel reached a major construction milestone on April 16, 2026, when she floated out of Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard for the first time.
Norwegian Aura Float Out (Credit: NCL)
This marked the completion of the hull’s external construction and the beginning of the internal finishing phase. Work has since focused on completing Norwegian Aura’s interior spaces ahead of sea trials and her eventual delivery to Norwegian Cruise Line.
At approximately 1,130 feet long, Norwegian Aura will be the largest vessel in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet when she enters service. She is approximately 10% larger than sister ships Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna and will feature 1,976 staterooms.
The 3,879-guest ship will embark on her maiden voyage on May 21, 2027, from Trieste. Originally set to end in Barcelona on May 28, port availability forced the cruise line to move the disembarkation to Tarragona, roughly 55 miles further along Spain’s coast.
Following her inaugural sailing, Norwegian Aura will cross the Atlantic before beginning year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami in June 2027. The ship will primarily operate 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, with scheduled visits to destinations including Great Stirrup Cay.
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 it will be useful to know which one is starboard side and which one is port side. I’ve been on over a hundred cruises as a crew member and passenger, and I still find myself getting confused, especially on a class of ship I haven’t been on before.
Why Do Cruise Ships Use Port and Starboard Instead of Left and Right?
So let’s go back and first find out why 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.
Port and Starboard Graphic
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 vessel 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.
Now I know you still might get confused, so when you are coming out of the elevators or coming down the stairs to your cabin deck, try to keep in mind the forward and aft of the ship, as that helps you to work out which side is which. Cruise lines will often have signage letting you know if it’s starboard or port side, along with the grouped cabin numbers.
I was actually on a recent P&O Arvia cruise, and it was a new ship to me, and I did actually get confused; it took me a few days to actually get familiar with it and automatically look at the port and starboard signage when heading back to my cabin on deck 11.
I’ll often also try to remember a particular venue, such as the perfume shop being on port and the logo ship with the ship models being on the starboard.
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 the 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.
A brief power outage onboard Adventure of the Seas on Saturday, September 5, 2026 interrupted ship operations.
The ship had departed Perfect Day CocoCay before losing power, but the outage only lasted about 30 minutes.
Royal Caribbean has not issued any statement about the incident but power appears fully restored and the ship’s itinerary is not impacted.
Guests onboard a cruise ship rarely have to think about what might happen if something goes wrong. Worrisome thoughts, however, briefly interrupted the evening for guests on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas when the ship had a power outage on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
According to videos posted on Facebook and Threads, the power outage occurred shortly before one of the ship’s main dining times, but it is unclear whether it was the early or late dining that was impacted.
Power failed shipwide, causing brief confusion and some concern as onboard operations were disrupted. All power in staterooms was lost, elevators did not operate, and dining service could not move ahead, though emergency lights did function throughout the vessel.
Guests began using the lights on their cell phones as they tried to determine what happened and whether there was an emergency situation.
The ship’s captain made a quick announcement to reassure guests, noting that if power was not restored within 15 minutes, he would make further announcements to clarify the situation.
Cruise Hive has reached out to Royal Caribbean but has not yet heard back as of publication time.
The 3,114-guest Adventure of the Seas departed Port Canaveral, Florida on Friday, September 4, 2026 for an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary. Before the power loss, the ship had visited Perfect Day CocoCay on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday is planned as a day at sea before calls to Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic (Monday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.); Oranjestad, Aruba (Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.); and Willemstad, Curacao (Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The ship will return to the Sunshine State on Saturday, September 12.
“The power has been restored and hopefully that’s the end of it because we still have six days left!”he quipped, mentioning that there had been no explanation offered to guests onboard.
Another guest on Reddit confirmed that the power was fully restored in approximately 30 minutes.
There have been no reports of any further power loss aboard the ship or additional operational concerns, and no injuries were reported. There also does not appear to be any change to Adventure of the Seas‘ itinerary.
Power Failures Rare But Do Happen
It can be frightening to be at sea when power is lost. Thankfully such failures are rare onboard cruise ships, and when power is lost, it is often restored quickly.
Another Royal Caribbean ship, Radiance of the Seas, lost power briefly on May 16, 2026, causing the ship to be adrift for a short time but power was restored within an hour.
On June 5, 2026, Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princesslost power for just over an hour while the ship was sailing from San Juan to Port Canaveral.
Cruise Hive has also reported about power outages aboard Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Valiant Lady, Carnival Panorama, Norwegian Star, and other ships at different times.
The causes of power outages can vary from electrical surges or small fires to other mechanical problems, but onboard technical and engineering teams typically respond swiftly to make repairs and restore power.
Of course, no cruise fan has forgotten the infamous “poop cruise” onboard Carnival Triumph in 2013, which Netflix covered in an in-depth episode of the series “Trainwreck” in June 2025.
Fortunately, the incident aboard Carnival Triumph was far more extreme than most cruise ship power failures, and guests onboard Adventure of the Seas just have another adventure to add to their cruise vacation memories.
A water leak onboard Quantum of the Seas caused flooding down a stairwell near the Royal Esplanade on a recent cruise to Mexico.
Royal Caribbean has not issued a statement on the incident, but it appears to be like a burst pipe, which is not uncommon on cruise ships.
The water was cleaned up quickly and there was no apparent change to anything else onboard or during the next cruise.
Cruise vacations may be all about water with stunning ocean views, poolside lounging, and beach days, but guests onboard Quantum of the Seas recently had more water than they knew what to do with.
Video posted to Reddit under the title “Major water leak on Quantum of the Seas last week” shows an impromptu waterfall in one of the ship’s public stairwells. While the video is only 12 seconds long, signage is visible for the “Royal Esplanade,” which is only onboard the Quantum-class ships.
On most larger ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, the central public space onboard where many shops and restaurants are located is the “Royal Promenade.”
The Royal Esplanade stretches down Decks 4 and 5. The video does not show which deck is being flooded, but the water is clearly flowing down from above and pooling in the stairwell.
The leak began during a storm while Quantum of the Seas was near Cabo San Lucas, but guests discussing the incident in the comments indicate the storm was not the cause of the impromptu waterfall.
“It was a burst pipe by the men’s room at the midship elevators, the storm was coincidence,”one guest noted, confirming that restroom is on Deck 5.
The date of the incident is unclear. While the original post says “last week” and the video was posted on Friday, September 4, 2026, a guest later in the thread notes that it was closer to August 25, almost two weeks earlier.
Nothing in the video indicates an exact date, and there is no discussion or photos of any leak or burst pipe in a Facebook group for Quantum of the Seas‘ August 31, 2026 sailing.
Furthermore, another guest on the August 31 sailing commented on the video about the condition of the ship after the leak.
“Just got off the ship. Was on a 4 day cruise from Aug 31 to Sept 4. There was absolutely no signs of a prior water leak whatsoever when I got on,”they said.“So it sounds like I was the follow up boat and they fixed it so quickly that I hadn’t even noticed.”
In the video, crew members were already blocking off the location even as the water was pooling at the base of the stairwell. While these types of incidents can be startling, they are often tended to very quickly and cleaned up as soon as possible.
Royal Caribbean has not made any public statement about the incident. There have been no reported changes to the ship’s recent itineraries.
Flooding on Quantum of the Seas (Credit: killerbitch)
The 4,180-guest ship is homeported from Los Angeles, offering various Mexican Riviera itineraries through September 22, 2026. On September 26, 2026 she departs for a one-way trip to Brisbane, visiting ports in California, Hawaii, and French Polynesia along the way.
Quantum of the Seas will remain in Australia until mid-April 2027, at which time she will return to the US to sail 7-night Alaskan itineraries from Seattle.
Water Incidents Not Uncommon
The leak onboard Quantum of the Seas is not the only recent water incident on a Royal Caribbean ship.
Cruise Hive has also reported similar incidents onboard different ships of different cruise lines, including Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess in May 2026, MSC Cruises’ MSC Seaview in January 2026, and P&O Cruises’ Azura in January 2025.
In addition to burst pipes, other incidents that can cause abrupt flooding onboard cruise ships include sprinkler malfunctions, pool overflows, and clogged toilets.
No matter what the cause, however, crew members always react quickly to contain and clean up such flooding, drying out flooring and making repairs right away so guests’ cruise vacations are never more watery than they’re meant to be.
Dominique Gamba has announced his departure from his position as Senior Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean.
Gamba has served with both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises and in different food and beverage leadership positions since June 2006, apart from a brief spell at Viking.
He has indicated that he may not yet be leaving the cruise industry entirely and hints that “paths will cross again” in the future.
Dominique “Dom” Gamba, the popular and skilled Senior Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean, has announced his departure from the company.
Gamba made the announcement via his social media accounts on September 3 and September 4, 2026, including Facebook and LinkedIn. With the posts, he shares his gratitude for so many great years with great people.
“After so many unforgettable years with Royal Caribbean Group, my heart is full. I want to thank each one of you [who] walked beside me – for the lessons, the late nights, the victories, and even the challenges that shaped us,”he said.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Gamba’s service with Royal Caribbean Group began not with Royal Caribbean, but with Celebrity Cruises in June 2006 when he began as a traveling restaurant operations manager. He stayed with Celebrity Cruises until January 2013, at which time he joined Viking Ocean Cruises until August 2013.
In September 2013, Gamba returned to Royal Caribbean Group, this time with Royal Caribbean as a traveling food and beverage director. Since that time, he moved up the management ranks of the cruise line to manage fleet restaurant operations to director of fleet restaurant operations to a senior director, and finally to the senior director for all of food and beverage operations in July 2026.
This position involves overseeing the culinary and bar teams across the 30 ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and more than 450 total dining and beverage venues. These range from classic main dining rooms to specialty restaurants to quick service locations, both onboard and at the cruise line’s private destinations, such as Perfect Day CocoCay.
His departure so soon into his new position is a surprise, but Gamba indicates that this may not be the end of his service with the cruise line.
Dominique Gamba Career in Photos
“This is not an ending. Just a pause in the journey, and I truly believe our paths will cross again. Thank you for being an important part of my life,”he said.
Gamba goes on to wish “Kudos” to operational team members and tags many of his colleagues in Royal Caribbean management as well as the culinary, beverage, and restaurant teams.
Well Wishes From Colleagues
Many different colleagues chimed in on Gamba’s announcement to wish him the best as he moves on to a new adventure, with the support stretching across different departments on different cruise lines.
“And just like that – we lose a wonderful colleague and dear friend. Thank you for the foundation you’ve built and for all of your years of service and loyalty,”said Aurora Laly Yera-Rodriguez, AVP of Guest Experience at Royal Caribbean.
“Wishing you all the very best my friend. Aren’t many who have done it better than you. Thank you for everything you did for me during all the years we worked together,”said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, former president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.“It was an honor and a privilege.”
“Dom – I truly put you in an elite category. The way you championed your team as well as every single crew member you came in contact with was inspiring,”added Mike Szwajkowski, Senior Director of Entertainment for Silversea, another brand in the Royal Caribbean Group.“The passion you brought every day left me awestruck and made me want to be a better leader.”
Cruise Hive also wishes Gamba well and thanks him for his devoted service to so many in the cruise industry and the guests who enjoy the amazing dining on every voyage.
A passenger aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Voyager passed away prior to a scheduled visit to Greencastle in County Donegal, Ireland.
The deceased passenger was brought ashore and transferred to Letterkenny University Hospital, with local authorities treating the incident as a medical emergency.
Irish police confirmed that the passenger’s death is not being investigated as a criminal matter.
A cruise passenger has died in County Donegal, Ireland aboard the 698-guest Seven Seas Voyager. The Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship was on a 12-night Viking Vistas cruise that departed from Reykjavik, Iceland on August 20, 2026.
The passenger died onboard the vessel, although it is unclear exactly when. The deceased passenger was brought ashore after the ship anchored off Greencastle on the western shore of Lough Foyle in Ireland. From there, they were transported approximately 39 miles to Letterkenny University Hospital.
“I understand that a passenger passed away onboard the Seven Seas Voyager and was landed ashore at Greencastle on August 28th to be transferred to Letterkenny hospital,” a Foyle Port spokesperson told local outlet Ireland Live.
“It was all organised by the ship’s agent and dealt with by the Garda in accordance with Irish regulations.”
The incident did not prevent Seven Seas Voyager from continuing its scheduled itinerary. The ship subsequently visited Belfast and Cobh before arriving in Southampton on September 1, 2026.
No details have been released publicly regarding the passenger’s identity or cause of death. Irish police (Gardaí) confirmed to Ireland Live that they are treating the situation as a medical emergency and are not investigating it as a criminal matter.
Seven Seas Voyager Continues Sailing
Seven Seas Voyager has continued scheduled operations following the incident, beginning its next scheduled cruise from Southampton on September 1. The 10-night voyage is scheduled to conclude in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 11.
The current sailing did see an itinerary change, although it was unrelated to the passenger’s death. A scheduled visit to Zeebrugge was cancelled to allow the ship to remain in Southampton for shore power testing.
The ship instead remained in Southampton through September 2 before continuing to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The rest of the itinerary includes calls to Kristiansand, Oslo, Lysekil, Aarhus, and Kiel before arriving in Copenhagen on September 11.
Seven Seas Voyager offers a variety of itineraries through the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Middle East. These cruises range from 7-night sailings to over 50-night Grand Voyages.
The luxury ship entered service in 2003 and is the third oldest vessel in Regent’s current six-ship fleet. The ship underwent a major refurbishment earlier in 2026, with refreshed onboard spaces, upgraded suites, and redesigned bathrooms.
Regent Seven Seas is Expanding
Regent Seven Seas will soon expand its fleet with the introduction of Seven Seas Prestige. The 77,000-gross-ton vessel will debut December 13, 2026, with a 14-night maiden voyage from Barcelona to Miami.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has also ordered three more Prestige-class sister ships from Fincantieri shipyard. These will debut in 2030, 2033, and 2036.
Two different Carnival sailings on different ships are losing Platinum benefits just days after the Carnival Rewards program began.
Both cruises are 8-night sailings departing on Saturday, September 5, 2026: Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Vista.
Carnival Rewards was introduced partly to address this problem because perks cannot be offered to so many guests onboard.
The new Carnival Rewards program just began on September 1, 2026, and already the cruise line is cancelling benefits for select sailings because too many passengers qualify for some of the most coveted perks.
The impacted sailings are the Saturday, September 5, 2026 departures of Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Vista. The ships are departing from Norfolk, Virginia and Port Canaveral, Florida respectively, but the messages to guests are the same.
“Due to the high number of Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide the following benefits,”the email notifications, which have been shared on Facebook, begin.
The now-cancelled benefits are the priority embarkation and debarkation both at the ships’ homeports as well as ports of call, along with early access to staterooms to drop off luggage.
“To allow the housekeeping team to get the staterooms ready by 1:30 PM, luggage ‘Drop and Go’ cannot be facilitated given the limited turnaround time,”the email explains.
Similarly, priority luggage delivery will not be available for either of these sailings, and the email notes that the priority line and phone assistance at Guest Services “may not” be available.
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98)
The 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine is departing on an 8-night Canada sailing on September 5, 2026, with port visits to Saint John, New Brunswick as well as both Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia before returning to Norfolk on September 13.
Meanwhile, the 3,934-guest Carnival Vista is sailing an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary on Saturday, with visits to Aruba, Curacao, and Celebration Key before returning to the Sunshine State.
New Rewards Program, Same Old Problems
Cancelling these types of benefits has become commonplace on Carnival cruises in recent years. This has been particularly true for unique or longer itineraries that may attract more guests higher in the cruise line’s former Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program.
Carnival Cruise Line does not disclose how many guests have what loyalty levels or status for individual sailings.
Guests impacted by the loss of benefits on these sailings will understandably be disappointed, particularly since Carnival Cruise Line was adamant that retiring the VIFP program and moving to Carnival Rewards was essential because too many guests had achieved high levels of benefits.
“When so many guests have elite status, it is much more difficult to make everyone feel special,” Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line’s president, said when the new rewards program was announced.
“These realities will only continue to erode the recognition and rewards of the current VIFP Club program, and we feel that change is necessary in order to better recognize our guests and give them more choice in how they are rewarded.”
With Platinum benefits now cancelled on two sailings less than a week after the launch of Carnival Rewards, it’s clear that any fix to offering rewards and recognition to guests will not be immediate.
Carnival Cruise Line has been clear that guests from the VIFP program keep their loyalty status, including Platinum, through December 2028 if they opted in to the Carnival Rewards program.
Because the priority boarding and stateroom access benefits are still part of the new program, these types of benefit cancellations on select sailings may continue at least until that time. After December 2028, the number of Platinum guests may begin to drop if guests do not re-qualify for that status under the spend-based program.
