Carnival Cruise Line gave a warm welcome and big applause to the Litteral family as they stepped onto Carnival Valor on October 1, 2024.
Turns out the family, traveling from the homeport of New Orleans on a 5-night journey to the Caribbean, included the 2,980-passenger ship’s 7th million guests since Carnival began sailing year-round from the Louisiana port in 1994.
It was a significant moment as Carnival Cruise Line is now the first cruise line in New Orleans to achieve this peak.
The family, comprised of Thomas and Julie Litteral and their children Zachary and Zoey, were welcomed on board by Carnival Valor’s Captain Antonio Modaffari and the ship’s crew, who celebrated the occasion with an impromptu ceremony.
The Litteral family are loyal Carnival cruisers and celebrated one more momentous occasion when 12-year-old Zachary achieved Diamond VIFP status on the voyage, joining his parents at the cruise line’s top loyalty level.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy shared her excitement about the milestone, saying, “Sharing this landmark embarkation in New Orleans with loyal guests, a family that clearly loves the fun they fund when they sail with us, makes this moment truly special.”
In May 2024, Carnival Cruise Line marked 30 years of year-round service from the Port of New Orleans with the arrival of the Carnival Liberty, a 2,974-passenger vessel.
At that time, Carnival Liberty was greeted by iconic New Orleans Chef Emeril Lagasse, who also serves as Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer.
“Just after celebrating 30 years of year-round service here this spring, we’re proud to continue building on our important partnership with the New Orleans community,” said Duffy.
She added, “Seven million guests cruising with us from Port NOLA signifies our unwavering commitment as the market leader in this vibrant city.”
Carnival’s commitment currently includes keeping both the 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty in New Orleans, operating a series of 4- to 10-day cruises to destinations in the Caribbean and the Panama Canal.
Combined, the cruise line carries approximately 400,000 passengers annually from New Orleans, contributing to the city’s vibrant tourism industry.
Port New Orleans Sees Strong Comeback and Cruise Commitments
The Port of New Orleans is having its moment, having finished 2023 with nearly 1.2 million cruise passengers, reflecting a strong recovery from the pandemic and renewed confidence in the city’s cruise market.
“The cruise business has rebounded in New Orleans and cruise line partners are confident in our Port NOLA cruise market,”said the port’s President and CEO Brandy D. Christian.
Photo Courtesy: Port NOLA
With 90 percent of cruise guests coming from out of state, New Orleans is a top pre- and post-cruise destination. It generates more than 300,000 hotel room nights and contributes over $125 million to the local economy each year.
Christian continued, “We want to thank all our cruise line and hospitality partners as we work together to make cruising out of New Orleans two vacations in one.”
Besides Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line has a commitment to the city through 2028 with Norwegian Getaway, which can accommodate 3,963 guests, set to replace sister ship Norwegian Breakaway this month.
Disney Cruise Line also has a presence with Disney Magic, which returned to the city in January 2024, and Royal Caribbean’s 2,543-passenger Brilliance of the Seas, which is making its debut in November 2024.
Another cruise destination, Haines, Alaska, has turned to cruise guests for an influx of revenue to build, repair, and improve port facilities. In this latest case, the town voted to charge each cruise passenger a $9 revenue fee upon arrival.
The Haines Borough Assembly voted on September 24, 2024 to enact the fee, effective on October 2, 2024. Since the Alaska cruise season has officially ended, the fee will be charged to guests starting with the 2025 season.
The $9 fee applies to guests onboard ships that dock at Haines as well as ships that anchor in the harbor and tender guests ashore. The cruise line is responsible for collecting and remitting the fees to the local government upon arrival in port.
“These fees aim to offset costs incurred by the Haines Borough in acquiring, operating, leasing, constructing, repairing, improving, and equipping its port facilities,” the Assembly’s meeting agenda states.
More generally, the fees will also be used to mitigate “the burden and impacts” that cruise ships and their guests have on the town’s services and infrastructure.
The fees that Haines will receive from cruise guests are slated to increase over time. A suggestion from town tourism director Rebecca Hylton, and adopted by the Assembly, provides for a hike to $12 per person in 2027 and to $13 per person in 2029.
“This approach not only ensures that we remain competitive and fair to both our guests and residents, but also provides cruise lines with the necessary information to set their pricing for the coming years,” Rebecca Hylton, Haines tourism director, said in a statement to the Assembly.
“By securing predictable revenue through these adjustments, we can ensure the long-term sustainability and enhancement of our port facilities, while aligning more closely with the fees charged by other Southeast Alaska ports,” added Hylton.
Haines, a popular port about 100 miles north of Juneau, the state capital, is situated on the Chilkoot Inlet, in Alaska’s Inside Passage. Guests on ships calling at Haines often visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and take excursions to the Chilkoot River, known for bear sightings thanks to its active salmon run.
While 2024 statistics are not yet available, the port welcomed 97 cruise ship calls in 2023, representing about 68,000 cruise guests. It was a decline from the totals in 2022, when 78,000 guests arrived, but still higher than the pre-pandemic arrivals number of 54,000.
Carnival Cruise Ship in Haines, Alaska (Photo Credit: Ken Schulze)
Cruise ships from virtually every major line called at the port in 2024, including such notable ships as Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun in June.
Several luxury ships also called, such as Seabourn’s Seabourn Odyssey, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse, and Ponant’s Le Soleal, during the course of the season.
Destinations Jump On Cruise Arrival Fee Bandwagon
Haines is not alone among Alaska ports looking to earn extra revenue from cruise arrivals. Juneau collects an $8 per cruise passenger fee, and recently took steps to lessen the impact of cruise ship arrivals in the city.
Earlier this year, it reached an agreement with the Cruise Lines International Association to set daily debarkation limits of 16,000 guests and a lower limit of 12,000 on Saturdays.
Besides Alaska, several popular cruise destinations around the world have enacted cruise arrival fees as the industry has grown.
In Greece, for example, cruise arrivals to Santorini and Mykonos starting in 2025 will pay a €20 (approximately $22) fee. The revenue will be used to mitigate the effects of cruise passengers on the local infrastructure.
Amsterdam, in 2024, raised its cruise guest fee to €11 (about $12 USD). The city had been charging €8. Amsterdam also hiked its tourist tax on hotel stays, which impacts cruisers who visit the destination for pre- or post-cruise stays. The fee is currently 12.5%.
A renewed focus on Europe is in the cards for Celebrity Cruises in 2026-27, as the upmarket line will deploy its highly-anticipated new-build, Celebrity Xcel, to the Mediterranean for her inaugural summer season.
The cruise line also will introduce its first Grand Voyage, a 110-night sailing in 2026, with calls at 55 destinations in 15 countries.
With 16 cruise ships operating and Celebrity Xcel, the fifth in the popular Edge class, set to enter service in fall 2025, Celebrity Cruises will have vessels operating in all of the world’s prime cruising grounds in 2026-27.
The line’s deployments, announced on October 1, 2024, include some surprises, too, including the homeporting of Celebrity Xcel at PortMiami in winter 2026.
The ship will be based at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for her first Caribbean season after her debut in fall 2025. The cruise line offered no reason for the port switch after just one season at Port Everglades.
However, cruisers looking to sail from Fort Lauderdale have other Celebrity Cruises’ ships to choose from, among them the 3,260-guest Celebrity Ascent, which will operate 10- and 11-night voyages to the Southern Caribbean and the Panama Canal.
Short sailings from Fort Lauderdale will be offered aboard the 3,000-guest Celebrity Reflection, which will operate 3- and 4-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bimini, Nassau, and Key West.
The 4,000-guest Celebrity Xcel, under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, will sail her inaugural Europe season starting in May 2026, with 7- to 11-night cruises from Barcelona and Athens. New to the fleet, overnight stays will be featured at Madeira, Portugal.
Other Celebrity ships slated for Europe in summer 2026 include the 2,850-guest Celebrity Equinox and the 3,260-guest Celebrity Ascent, also plying the Mediterranean but from Lisbon and Rome in addition to Barcelona.
The 2,850-guest Celebrity Eclipse will sail between Athens and Ravenna, while the 2,200-guest Celebrity Constellation operates cruises from Rome and Ravenna, and Celebrity Infinity, with a capacity for 2,362 guests, sails weekly cruises roundtrip from Athens.
Adventure seekers can book Iceland and Greenland voyages on the 3,000-guest Celebrity Silhouette, which has scheduled the cruise line’s record number of cruises operating roundtrip from Reykjavik. The ship also will sail the line’s 2026 Solar Eclipse cruise on August 12, 2026, in Iceland.
“Our 2026-2027 season offers exciting new and expanded experiences for Celebrity guests to indulge their sense of curiosity across all regions of the world. Edge Series ships continue to sail our four key regions, including the European debut of Celebrity Xcel which will offer guests exciting new vacation experiences in the region,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.
Other regions where Celebrity Cruises’ ships will sail in 2026 include the Arctic Circle and Norwegian fjords, onboard the 3,400-guest Celebrity Apex sailing from Southampton, Scandinavia with Celebrity Eclipse, and Alaska, where the 2,900-guest Celebrity Edge will offer 7-night voyages roundtrip from Seattle.
Also, Celebrity Millennium will be offering sailings out of the new Narita Terminal in Tokyo, Japan. The vessel will even overnight at the port so guests can enjoy the giant city at night! Cruises will include a return to Hualien in China for the first time since 2018.
Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship
Cruise Line Introduces First Grand Voyage in 2026
While the exact departure date has not yet been revealed, Celebrity Cruises unveiled a 110-night voyage that will span the weeks between September and December 2026, and sail from Canada to Southeast Asia.
Onboard the 2,852-guest Celebrity Solstice, the first in the line’s Solstice class, guests will sail to 55 ports in 15 countries. The ship, which launched in 2008, will undergo a dry dock refurbishment immediately before the Grand Voyage departure.
The departure port has not been revealed either, but it appears likely to be Vancouver, British Columbia, since the ship will be based there prior to the Grand Voyage for a series of Alaska cruises, which conclude in late September.
The cruise line’s Northern Europe, Alaska, Australia, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Hawaii, Iceland, and Japan sailings open for bookings on October 1, 2024.
Mediterranean and South America voyages open on November 5, 2024; Caribbean and Panama Canal on November 19, 2024, and Asia and the Grand Voyage on December 10, 2024.
Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new brand campaign offering MORE for travelers, elevating offerings and ensuring that every cruise guest has an oceangoing vacation that is truly “more” for them to enjoy.
The new “More At Sea” program replaces the cruise line’s popular “Free At Sea” package with even more options. Beginning October 1, 2024, the package will be available for all Norwegian Cruise Line voyages setting sail from January 1, 2025.
But what is “More” according to the cruise line? The new program offers an expanded selection of amenities, such as premium beverages with the unlimited open bar featuring Grey Goose vodka, Casamigos Tequila, Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey, and more than 100 specialty cocktails.
For dining, the “More At Sea” options will include specialty dining with more appetizers and desserts, up to three of each at each sitting, letting travelers indulge in the cruise line’s award-winning dining. If guests crave even more beyond that, a simplified cover charge of $40, $50, or $60 will apply depending on the restaurant.
All passengers will also enjoy faster, stronger at-sea connectivity with Starlink’s high speed internet access and more Wi-Fi minutes. In fact, each stateroom guest will now receive a dedicated login and 150 minutes to stay in touch.
Other amenities popular with the familiar “Free At Sea” package will remain part of “More At Sea” including a $50 shore tour credit for the first guest and free airfare for the second guest.
These upgrades come following guest feedback and are meant to enhance all travelers’ cruise experience in the ways that are most requested.
“This has been one of the most exciting journeys we’ve been on at NCL – always looking to further and genuinely understand what our guests value most during their cruise,”said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We have invested a lot of time listening to our guests and our travel partners… And we’ve found that what they want is to see more, do more and enjoy more when they vacation with us.”
Even More Onboard
In addition to the new promotional program, Norwegian Cruise Line is also dedicated to offering more onboard in all facets of the cruise vacation experience that guests love.
More entertainment will be available outside the main show theater, offering something for everyone from comedy to live music to other amazing options. Yet in the main theater, shows with global appeal are being developed, such as the new “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” that will debut aboard Norwegian Aqua in 2025.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free At Sea
The cruise line’s new mobile app, which Cruise Hive reported earlier, is scheduled to roll out fleetwide before the end of 2024, with enhanced options to streamline the guest experience so all travelers can enjoy more with the least effort.
Easier app check-in, intuitive browsing, simplified dining and entertainment reservations, and a dynamic home screen customized to individual voyages are just a few of the upcoming features that will help travelers make the most of their NCL cruise.
These upgrades and the new “More At Sea” program come as Norwegian Cruise Line is gearing up for the next two ships to join the fleet, the Prima Plus class Norwegian Aqua and the just announced Norwegian Luna.
The ships will debut in 2025 and 2026, respectively, bringing even MORE to travelers as the fleet expands to a total of 21 ships as both set sail.
Norwegian Cruise Line remains dedicated to ensuring that every guest has more – more destinations to visit with 450 ports of call on NCL itineraries; more cruise lengths with both short getaways and longer immersive journeys available; and more onboard fun with exclusive experiences such as go kart tracks, the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, luxurious and multisensory thermal suites, and so much “MORE.”
With still one more quarter remaining, the company that owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Costa Cruises revealed record-breaking revenue for a third time in 2024.
On September 30, the company reported a net income of $1.7 billion – a 60 percent increase over the same period in 2023. Additionally, third-quarter revenue reached an all-time high of $7.9 billion, up by $1 billion from the previous year.
Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation, said of the earnings, “We delivered a phenomenal third quarter, breaking operational records and outperforming across the board.”
He continued, “Our strong improvements were led by high-margin, same-ship yield growth, driving a 26 percent improvement in unit operating income, the highest level we have reached in 15 years.”
Strong demand for cruises helped the company exceed its June guidance by $170 million. The company reported Q3 yields, driven by higher ticket prices and increased onboard spending, rose by 8.7 percent.
Looking ahead, Carnival’s booking volumes for 2025 are already at record levels, with nearly half of the year’s sailings booked. Customer deposits during the third quarter reached a record of $6.8 billion.
Prices are also trending higher than in 2024, further indicating strong demand for Carnival’s cruise operations.
Moreover, bookings for 2026 have started at an unprecedented pace, also “achieving record-booking volumes in the last three months.”
Carnival is projecting a 5 percent increase in the fourth quarter and has raised its full-year forecast to $6 billion. This represents a 40 percent year-over-year increase for the company.
Said Weinstein, “Looking forward, the momentum continues as our enhanced commercial execution drives demand well in excess of our capacity growth.”
He says it leaves Carnival “well-positioned with an even stronger base of business for 2025, a record start to 2026, and firmly on the path towards our SEA Change targets.”
What’s Driving Carnival’s Growth?
Carnival’s remarkable 2024 has been fueled by several key developments across its cruise brands.
Several notable ships joined the global cruise fleet, including the 113,000-gross-ton Queen Anne, Cunard’s first new ship in 14 years. The 3,000-passenger ship debuted in Liverpool on June 3, 2024.
Carnival Cruise Line also welcomed Carnival Firenze to its fleet on April 23, 2024, after a full refurbishment from its original Costa Cruises identity, bringing the 135,156-gross-ton vessel to Long Beach, California, as a key player in the West Coast market.
Queen Anne Cruise Ship in Liverpool (Photo Credits: Global Ports Holding & Peel Ports)
Also, Princess Cruises launched its first Sphere-class ship, the 175,000-gross-ton, 4,300-passenger Sun Princess. The ship is the first in the cruise line’s fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its sister ship, Star Princess, is expected to debut in September 2025.
Its future also looks bright, with Carnival announcing in the spring the order of its fourth and fifth Excel-Class ships for Carnival Cruise Line in 2027 and 2028, anticipated to accommodate 6,400 passengers.
The company then dropped an additional announcement by summer that three more ships were ordered with delivery slated between 2026 and 2028. The ships will be constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
Outside of its new ships, the company is also introducing a new private destination in the Bahamas, Celebration Key, in 2025. The $600-million project is expected to bring 2.2 million guests to the resort via 12 ships from eight different home ports.
The project is so anticipated that Carnival already announced an expansion by 2028, which will accommodate 4 million passengers annually.
If you’re a seasoned Disney cruiser booking your next voyage, your final payment is due sooner and your chance to cancel for a refund has been changed, according to Disney Cruise Line’s (DCL) recent policy changes.
Effective September 30, 2024, DCL has updated its cancellation and final payment policies, applying to new bookings, that impact how guests manage their trip cancellations and payment plans moving forward.
Guests will now need to cancel their bookings earlier than before to avoid penalties, and final payment deadlines have also been adjusted to earlier dates. Now, for sailings 1 to 5 nights, that window has been changed to 90 days.
In addition, the final payment for cruises of five nights or less is now due 90 days before departure. This is a change from the previous policy, where final payments were required only 75 days before sailing.
However, for longer cruises of six nights or more, the window has been extended to 120 days.
Suite and Concierge stateroom guests face slightly different terms, with 45 days or more before shorter sailings (one to five nights) and 56 days or more for longer cruises (six nights or more) to cancel with the fee being the deposit per guest.
Under the old policy, Suite and Concierge guests enjoyed a 90-day cancellation window for all sailings.
The changes signal a return to more traditional booking standards for the cruise industry as a whole. Disney Cruise Line, like many others, is moving away from the more lenient pandemic-era policies that offered increased flexibility.
For those who have already booked their sailing before the announcement, the old cancellation and payment policies will still apply.
Cancellation Policy Tightened
Though the timeframe has shortened, the fees have not changed. For longer cruises, cancellations made between 119 and 56 days before departure result in the loss of the deposit. Those made between 55 and 30 days incur a 50 percent charge of the total vacation cost per guest.
This cost increases to 75 percent for cancellations made 29 to 15 days before the voyage, and cancellations made 14 days or less before departure result in a 100 percent charge per guest.
Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
For shorter sailings (one to five nights), guests who cancel between 89 and 45 days before the cruise will forfeit their deposit, with a 50-percent charge applying for cancellations made 44 to 30 days before departure.
Guests cancelling between 29 and 15 days will face a 75 percent charge, and cancellations made 14 days or less before sailing will be charged the full cruise fare.
While Suite and Concierge guests have a slightly more flexible policy, the fees for later cancellations remain the same, with a 50 percent charge for cancellations made 44 to 30 days before short voyages and 55 to 30 days before longer ones.
Regardless of the cruise length, cancellations between 29 and 15 days will incur a 75 percent fee, and cancellations within 14 days, as for all stateroom categories, result in the full 100 percent penalty.
All cruise travelers quickly come to realize how hard working crew members can be, and few work harder than the dedicated stateroom stewards. Many passengers enjoy rewarding that hard work and dedication with an extra gratuity, but how should that extra acknowledgement be offered?
A fun trend embraced by many travelers is to use cash bills to spell out “Thank You!” “Thanks!” or other messages of gratitude on the stateroom bed or beds, leaving the money for stewards to find. But not all guests agree with this practice.
“STOP showing these photos John. You are just virtue signaling,”one upset guest wrote to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador.“This is outdated, offensive and demeaning. If you are going to give a worker cash, hand it to them or place in an envelope. They are not children. This kind of photo should be trashed, not celebrated.”
Heald responds to several hundred questions, comments, and requests nearly every day via his popular Facebook page, and the subject of tipping and gratuities is a common one.
In response to this particular guest comment, Heald obviously does not share the commenter’s opinion, but is open to what other travelers think of the trend.
“This lady is referring to this photo which I think is, well, simply lovely. And I am sure the cabin attendant was smiling when he saw it and appreciated it so very much,”he said.
Heald does point out that the money crew members earn through their employment with the cruise line allows them to support their families with a far better life than what they might be able to do through other careers. Extra gratuities are always appreciated, however guests may choose to offer them.
The practice of spreading the money out, however, can be very polarizing among travelers. Some view it as cute and whimsical, a fun way to express appreciation.
Other guests, however, consider it making more work for the already hard-working crew to have to “pick up” an extra tip in such a way. Even it if only takes a few moments, that adds one more task to already very busy days.
“Is this lovely way of saying ‘thank you’ wrong?”Heald asked.
Some travelers think the trend is a fun and entertaining one, sure to be pleasant for everyone’s day.
“This is so adorable! And yes, I’m positive it brought a smile to the cabin attendant!”
“Anybody can do an envelope, but they took time to be creative to tell them how much they appreciated them!”
Other cruise guests, however, disagree with trend, even though it may be well-meaning.
“I think while it’s meant as a cute gesture, it’s one more thing for them to clean, and should be handed to the cabin steward or in an envelope.”
“I kind of agree that this is a silly way of giving an adult a tip. Bring a thank you card, write a short personal thank you and put the money in the card. Having the employee scooping up the dollar bills is very impractical and unnecessary.”
Cash Tipping on Carnival Cruise Line
Heald also asked whether an extra gratuity should be offered in an envelope or spread over the bed in the word thank you as part of a larger round-up poll.
Of the votes collected, nearly 10 times as many guests believe an envelope or handing the gratuity to the attendant personally is a better choice than writing out words with cash.
Of the more than 50,000 votes cast, 32% (roughly 15,800 votes) prefer an envelope, while just 3% (roughly 1,480 votes) would create a cute sentiment.
Can Giving Gratuities Be a Form of Virtue Signaling?
Part of the issue and why this trend can be controversial is the idea of whether or not it is virtue signaling and more about the guest’s reputation rather than actually showing gratitude to the stateroom attendant.
Virtue signaling is the act of using social media to show how good one is with posts, comments, or photos that supposedly demonstrate one’s high moral stance or highlight positive noteworthy actions. Ultimately, virtue signaling in itself is not seen as a positive trait.
“I left my cabin steward a $100 in an envelope with a thank you note. I don’t need to glorify my tipping to make myself feel important.”
“I think its a great way to bless a worker, but I like to bless people in secret and not telling everyone what I did.”
“The person is tipping this way, taking this photo, and sharing it with the world to show how great THEY are, not how great their steward is, in my opinion.”
If you leave extra gratuities for a stateroom steward, how do you do it? Share your “tip tips” on the Cruise Hive boards!
How do you imagine you’ll spend your very first cruise? If you want to experience your first cruise to the fullest, don’t just lounge by the main pool all day, waiting for the next island on your itinerary.
While pool lounging and island hopping are requisite parts of the cruising experience, today’s cruise ships offer so much more to enjoy. Here are 11 things new cruisers should always do on a cruise.
First things first, you need to get to know your ship. Explore the ship virtually, ahead of your embarkation date, by looking at deck plans for your chosen ship online, but then explore the ship on foot as well, as soon as possible.
Why is this important? Well, modern cruise ships are massive. Just take a look at Icon of the Seas. It has 18 decks that are open to passengers. It’s as long as three-and-a-half, full-sized NFL football fields. It has more than 20 elevators, more than two dozen restaurants and bars, and thousands upon thousands of staterooms.
In other words, it’s easy to get lost.
Getting to know your ship — walking your way through the various decks (or, if you’re traveling on a Royal Caribbean ship, the various ship neighborhoods) — will not only likely introduce you to a few features and venues you didn’t even know existed, but will also help you get your bearings.
Then, later on in the cruise, when you want to make tracks fast for the pool or you’re trying to beat everyone to a favorite restaurant or the buffet, you’ll know how to get there without a lot of roaming around.
2. Get Off the Ship — But Don’t Limit Your Shore Experiences
Cruise Ships Docked in Ketchikan, Alaska (Photo Credit: WESLEY FOULDS)
While there are many reasons to stay on the ship while it’s in port, there are just as many reasons to leave the ship while it’s in port, and shore excursions are one of them.
As mentioned, shore excursions are a requisite part of the cruise experience, especially for new cruisers. Snorkeling in tropical waters, ATV tours through deserts, walking tours through historic cities — these options are just a taste of the many shore excursions offered by major cruise lines.
However, don’t limit your shore experiences to just the guided tours offered by the cruise lines. These can be a bit pricey, you’re usually shoved into large groups and you may not get as authentic an experience as you would otherwise.
Instead, look to third-party tour and experience providers based in your destination. If you’re traveling to a very large and popular cruise port, like in the Bahamas, Jamaica or U.S. Virgin Islands, you’ll have no trouble finding a provider who can give you a great experience, while also ensuring that you make it back to the cruise ship in time for departure.
That said, if you do decide to just stick with the cruise line-offered excursions, there’s no shame there. For new cruisers, doing so can come with added peace of mind and ease of planning.
If there’s one person you want to be friends with during your cruise, it’s your cabin or room steward. While, when traveling on land, you may check in to a hotel and never even see the multiple people who clean and stock your room, that’s not the case on a cruise.
Instead, you’ll have one cabin attendant or steward who generally takes care of a group of cabins, and who’s responsible for ensuring your cabin is in great shape throughout the duration of your cruise.
They can also help with any needed maintenance and answer questions. Their general duties include restocking your toiletries, delivering your luggage, tidying your room, removing towels and trash, etc.
As such, meeting your room steward and establishing a friendly relationship with them the first or second day of your cruise can help ensure better service throughout the cruise.
Do note though that a room steward is not a butler. They can’t provide the same level of service a butler provides, such as delivering food or drinks, arranging special events, or unpacking or repacking your luggage.
If you’d like butler service during your cruise, then you’ll need to book a cabin that comes with it. For example, on Celebrity Cruises, all suite passengers get butler service. On Norwegian Cruise Line, cruisers staying in The Haven all receive butler service. On some luxury cruise lines, though, every single passenger gets butler service, such as is the case on Silversea.
4. Experience the Main Dining Room
Dining Room on Holland America’s Zaandam Ship (photo Credit: WESLEY FOULDS)
Cruise ship specialty restaurants get a lot of love, and for good reason. Cruise ships have really upped their culinary standards and now offer fine dining experiences that rival anything you’d find on land.
For example, Crystal Cruises has partnered with Nobu Matsuhisa to offer restaurants and sushi bars on select ships and Seabourn has likewise partnered with Michelin star-rated Thomas Keller.
However, don’t think that you need to spend extra to dine at the specialty restaurants, in order to have an amazing culinary experience on your cruise. In fact, you’ll want to definitely make sure that you don’t miss out on a meal in the main dining room.
A cruise ship main dining room offers a classic dining experience, with often exceptional service, a three-course menu, plenty of options and a high-end environment (even if you’re not expected to dress to the nines). And the best part? It’s all entirely free.
It’s truly something that you can’t find anywhere else, so it’s worth adding to your cruise itinerary, particularly if you’ve never been on a cruise before.
5. Book at Least One Specialty Dining Venue
Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas
On the flip side of this, though, don’t only go for the complimentary eats. While cruise lines offer tons of delicious free dining options, even beyond the buffet and main dining rooms, you still might want to try out the specialty dining venues.
Some specialty dining venues are far more than just a meal — they’re an experience. Take, for example, the new Royal Railway Utopia Station on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. The dining venue is set within two full-size rail cars and, as you eat, you’ll watch a virtual train ride pass by the “windows.”
Scope out the various specialty dining venues that are available on your ship and then consider where you might enjoy the best meal, based on your specific tastes and preferences. Whether you’re looking for an entertaining experience, elegant date night or just some world-class fine dining, you’re sure to find it.
6. Try Out the Different Pools
Pool Deck on Celebrity Equinox (Photo Credit: JJava Designs / Shutterstock)
Yes, the main pool is where all the action is, and you should definitely swing by for some sunning and swimming at some point during your cruise — but don’t spend all your time there. Cruise ships often have a bevy of different pools and other water features to try. Some are big, some are small, but all are sure to please.
If you’re staying in a VIP area of a ship, like in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Haven area, you’ll enjoy your own small, private pool available to Haven guests only. Go there for quieter times and a more intimate setting.
If you’re not a VIP suite guest, but you do want a quieter space with less shouting or kiddos, try the Solarium Pool on Royal Caribbean’s ships, which offers an adult-only setting. Celebrity Cruises likewise has an adults-only pool, also dubbed the Solarium Pool.
Want a pool with a view? Try Seabourn Cruises’ aft pools, or Viking Cruises’ infinity pools. Whatever the pool experience you’re seeking, you can find something that differs from the main pool.
7. See a Show
Show Theater on Icon of the Seas
When you think shows on a cruise ship, you may think of just theatrical performances, maybe music reviews or all-out musicals. While these are definitely easy to find on most cruise lines, with showings taking place in the ship’s large theaters, don’t think that these are the only show options.
Yes, see a show in the theater, but if you’re not intrigued by Broadway-style tunes, see what else is playing during your cruise that might catch your fancy.
Depending on the cruise line and the ship, you could catch acrobatic shows (MSC Cruises boasts Cirque du Soleil-created shows), ice skating spectaculars, comedy sets and more.
8. Find Your Personal Haven
The Haven Pool
You don’t have to be sailing on an NCL ship with The Haven VIP suite area to enjoy your own personal haven while cruising. On every cruise ship, it’s possible to find quieter, more private areas where you can relax, take in the scenery and overall get away from some of the hubbub and chaos that can come with crowded cruise ships.
Maybe you find a small spot on the deck with scenic views and few other cruisers. Maybe you hide away in the ship’s library. Perhaps you take to the spa’s steam room during a port day, when fewer cruisers are interested in going to the spa.
Wherever you end up going, rest assured that it is possible to find a small, special and quiet spot during your cruise, if you need it.
9. Try a New Drink
Tropical Green Cocktail on Cruise (Photo Credit: galka3250)
While, no, on most cruise ships, drinks are not included in the cost of your cruise fare, it’s still worth visiting some of your ship’s watering holes and trying a few drinks. Some cruise ships and even entire cruise lines have a very party-esque atmosphere, and the drinks are free-flowing, if not free.
Unless you’re buying a cruise drink package that comes with plenty enough booze every day, pick your chosen beverages carefully. You’re on vacation, after all, so don’t just stick with your standard light lager or glass of white wine that you might have at home.
If you’re cruising around the Caribbean, lean into it, with a fruity tropical beverage like those offered by Carnival Cruise Line’s RedFrog Rum Bar or BlueIguana Teqiula Bar.
Or, try a brew that’s only available while you’re on the cruise ship. Carnival likewise has a few beers that are brewed exclusively for the brand, including its ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat and ParchedPig West Coast IPA.
Cruisers are a friendly bunch. Don’t be afraid to get involved and make friends. You may just forge some lifelong relationships and end up with a crew of people that you cruise with over and over again.
The process can all start before your cruise even begins. There are myriad forums and Facebook groups that exist entirely to help cruisers all going on the same cruise connect.
You can get to know your fellow cruisers, plan group excursions or activities and more. Some groups will even plan to all wear similar outfits, either themed outfits in general or matching t-shirts, or they might coordinate similar décor on their cabin doors.
Another fun way to get involved with the cruising community? Ducking. Cruisers bring rubber ducks aboard the ship and hide them. As you find them, you catalogue their locations on social media and then hide them again for other cruisers to find.
11. Switch Off Your Phone!
Cruise Passenger on Phone in Pool (Photo Credit: Jacobus Djokosetio)
Last, but certainly not least, make sure that, as a newbie cruiser, you don’t commit a grave error: leaving your phone on after embarkation, resulting in expensive cell phone roaming and data charges! Put that phone in airplane mode before you set sail.
That doesn’t mean you’ll have to be completely disconnected from reality. If you still want to scroll social media or check your emails during your cruise, you can do so. You just need to buy a WiFi plan from the cruise line or purchase a cruising plan from your cell phone service provider.
These plans will allow you a certain amount of data privileges while you’re sailing, even if they don’t all come with talk and text privileges. Do note that the level of plan you purchase will dictate how much data you can use. Some, for example, aren’t suitable for streaming.
After days of uncertainty with storm closures, port diversions, and a cruise cancellation, guests eager to board Carnival Paradise will be relieved to learn that the ship’s September 30, 2024 departure is moving forward as planned.
Carnival Cruise Line sent out a notification to guests booked on the Monday departure to confirm embarkation plans and timing.
“Embarkation for your cruise will take place as planned,”the notification read.“Please get to the cruise terminal for check-in within your pre-selected Terminal Arrival Appointment. In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board by the final boarding time indicated on the boarding pass.”
Passenger choose their terminal arrival appointments when they check-in for their sailing. Online check-in is available 14 days prior to sailing and no later than midnight of the day before the cruise departs.
Guests who have reached the Platinum and Diamond levels of the cruise line’s VIFP loyalty program are able to check in 16 days prior to sailing. This is a coveted benefit of being able to select the most desirable terminal arrival appointments.
While the ship did proceed to the cruise terminal for debarkation as soon as possible, the vessel then moved off and away from the terminal – without new guests. This could give rise to anxiety that the ship may not, in fact, be ready to receive her next travelers.
Satellite tracking data now shows Carnival Paradise docked at a different part of Port Tampa Bay, however, an area that typically services cargo ships.
This temporary relocation may simply be to move the Fantasy class ship out of the way of other passenger cruise ships that required the terminal space to process passengers.
Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas were all debarking and embarking guests in Tampa on Sunday.
Because Carnival Paradise cancelled what was to be her current sailing following the extensive port closure delays, it makes sense that the empty ship would be moved to a different part of the port to wait until Monday, September 30, when her next guests arrive. This will not prevent the ship from being resupplied, cleaned, and refueled for her next sailing.
That next cruise is a 6-night Western Caribbean voyage leaving Monday with plans to visit Belize City (Wednesday), Roatan (Thursday), and Cozumel (Friday), weather permitting.
At the moment, a low-pressure system is developing in the Western Caribbean and may move toward the Yucatan peninsula in the coming days. This could impact ports of call, but it is too early at this point to predict any such changes.
The Crazy Schedule of Carnival Paradise
The 71,925-gross-ton Carnival Paradise is homeported year-round from Port Tampa Bay, typically offering 4-, 5-, and 6-night sailings to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas, depending on the sailing date.
Hurricane Helene drastically interfered with the ship’s schedule, however, when the storm system moved through the Western Caribbean and north up through the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast of Florida.
Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship
This not only caused itinerary changes for the vessel, but closed her homeport, delayed her eventual return, and cancelled her next sailing.
When the first changes happened, Carnival Paradise was on her September 21 cruise, a 5-night sailing. That cruise was altered as the ship was unable to visit Cozumel as planned, but instead diverted to Costa Maya as an alternative.
Then, Port Tampa Bay closed on the evening of September 25, meaning Carnival Paradise could not return home as planned on September 26. Instead, the ship remained out to sea to ride out the storm well out of danger.
As the port remained closed due to localized flooding and necessary inspections, the 5-night cruise became a 6-night, then a 7-night, then nearly an 8-night sailing. Port Tampa Bay finally reopened in the late afternoon of Saturday, September 28, and Carnival Paradise was the first cruise ship to return.
Because of the lengthy delay, the September 26 cruise was cancelled, but the ship will be fresh, clean, and ready to bring the FUN to up to 2,040 guests on Monday, September 30, as she sets sail again.
