While cruise cabins may be cozy, they are also typically pretty tiny – and what they’re often lacking is enough plugs to go around, especially for guests traveling with a big family or lots of friends. 

For experienced cruisers, the best solution to this is to bring a power strip with extra plugs and/or USB outlets to make sure there are enough to go around. Most cruise lines allow extra plugs as long as they don’t have a surge protector. 

But Royal Caribbean made waves earlier in September when the brand opted to prohibit multi-plug outlets as a potential flammable item. The controversial change had many worrying about how to charge all their devices on their next cruise – and if the ban would carry over to other cruise lines. 

So far, none of the other mainstream cruise lines have banned the tech – and Carnival, which is arguably Royal Caribbean’s fiercest competitor in the family-friendly cruise market, won’t be the first to follow suit. 

“I just read where another cruise line has added multi plugs and power strips to their prohibited items and wanted to know if Carnival plans to follow,” one cruiser asked Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald on his public Facebook page. 

“One cabin, two people, multiple devices that need recharging and limited wall plugs and usb ports makes for a cruise where you spend all your time swapping out charging cables,” she continued.  

Heald confirmed that this is not something Carnival guests will need to worry about anytime soon – as long as they leave power strips with surge protectors at home. 

“I read about this and we have no plans to do the same. Thank you, just remember no power strips with a surge protector are allowed,” replied Heald. 

Surge protectors are typically banned from cruise ships because they are more likely to increase the risk of fire – and it’s fairly easy to overload surge protectors if guests do not limit the number of devices they have plugged in.

Plugs without surge protectors come with much less risk – which is why they are normally allowed.

Why Did Royal Caribbean Ban Multi-Plug Outlets?

Royal Caribbean’s recent decision to prohibit extra plugs – whether they included surge protectors or not – has been highly controversial, especially as many cruisers now rely so heavily on staying connected through their devices.

The plug ban – which also includes extension cords and power strips – was likely made out of an abundance of caution.

Plugging multiple devices into a single outlet that may not be designed to handle that many plugs at once could lead to overheating, loss of power, potential fires, or other issues. However, cruisers who were used to relying on extra plugs were left feeling confused and frustrated.

Adding to the confusion is that Royal Caribbean is yet to release additional guidelines clarifying what their addition to the prohibited items list really means. 

For example, one guest reached out to the cruise line via messenger to find out if the ban also applied to charging blocks that feature multiple USB outlets.

“The current banned charging information is a little confusing to us and I want to make sure we bring the correct thing,” the future guest said in their message, along with a photo of the charging block in question.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival Cruise Line: Which One Does it Better?

The cruise line confirmed the USB charging block the guest sent was allowed – which is confusing because multi-plug options aren’t permitted but a block that can charge multiple devices via USB was deemed okay.

As the chatter online continues, Royal Caribbean will likely be forced to clarify the change further in the near future. 

But in the meantime, this serves as a reminder for future guests to cross check their packing list with what their specific cruise line allows – and to plan accordingly – to avoid unpleasant surprises on embarkation day.

In this case, guests may want to opt to leave any non-essential devices at home to avoid extra stress.

Travelers from Texas and Northern Florida are getting more opportunities to sail with Carnival Cruise Line. Revealing new itineraries that extend through spring 2027, Carnival is offering its expanded Carnival Journeys and a broader selection of voyages from Galveston and Jacksonville.

“We’re always looking for ways to give our guests more vacation options, and extending sailings from Galveston and Jacksonville is a big part of that effort,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Cruises from Jacksonville, Florida, in 2026 and early 2027 will continue on the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, currently offering year-round service from the northeast city port. 

The 70,367-gross-ton vessel will feature a mix of 4- and 5-day cruises with Thursday and Saturday departures.

Guests on the 4-day itinerary can enjoy calls in the much-anticipated Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination in the Bahamas scheduled to open in 2025, as well as the island nation’s capital, Nassau. Select itineraries will also include Bimini in the westernmost part of the islands.

For 5-day sailings, Carnival Elation will also visit Carnival Cruise Line’s private Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays, both in the Bahamas.

Meanwhile, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle will be repositioned to Galveston for a second season in 2026, maintaining the cruise line’s four-ship presence in Texas’s busiest cruise port.

Wrapping up its season in Alaska before the repositioning, Carnival Miracle will embark on a special 16-day Panama Canal cruise on September 26, 2026, as part of the Carnival Journeys program.

These longer sailings range from 9 to 16 days, call on more exotic destinations, and include enrichment activities and more immersive programming.

Once in Galveston, guests can expect a mix of short and long sailings for the 88,500-gross-ton ship, including 4-day Western Caribbean cruises to Cozumel for a quick weekend getaway. Five-day voyages will travel to Progreso, Mexico.

Read Also: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?

Additional extended vacations include 10-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries featuring stops at Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, and other notable ports such as Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and Belize City in Belize.

Some sailings also include visits to Costa Rica and Panama, with shore excursions available to visit the Panama Canal.

“These new itineraries offer something for every traveler, whether they’re seeking a quick getaway or a longer adventure,” said Duffy.

Familiar Routes with a New Celebration to Come

Carnival Elation’s and Carnival Miracle’s itineraries may sound somewhat familiar because the ships are already operating Bahamian and Caribbean routes.

In Jacksonville, Carnival Elation is currently and routinely taking guests on 4- and 5-night voyages to the Bahamas, while Carnival Miracle is about to move into its first Galveston season on October 16, 2024.

Currently wrapping up a Hawaii voyage and repositioning via California, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, the ship’s inaugural season in Texas will begin with a journey to Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Its schedule will also include calls to Key West, Florida, and multiple stops in the Bahamas for shorter Eastern Caribbean sailings. Longer cruises will visit Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Jamaica on Southern Caribbean itineraries.

The changes to the current offerings on both ships will come when Celebration Key opens in July 2025.

Located on Grand Bahama Island, the $500-million destination will welcome up to four ships at a time, with 12 Carnival Cruise Line ships already scheduling the new resort as part of a heavy rotation of calls in 2025 and 2026.

Demand for Celebration Key is anticipated to be so strong that Carnival Cruise Line already has plans to expand it to accommodate two more ships simultaneously by 2026.

With Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine continuing to strengthen in the western Caribbean, it is no surprise that more cruise ships are beginning to divert away from the storm’s influence. Two Carnival Cruise Line ships have already made changes, and more may be on the way.

First, Carnival Valor is unable to call on Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 as planned because the port was closed ahead of the storm. Instead, the ship is now enjoying a day at sea as she makes her way back toward New Orleans.

The 5-night voyage began on Saturday, September 21, and there is no expected change to her return to Port NOLA on Thursday, September 26.

Likewise, Carnival Paradise is also unable to visit Cozumel on Tuesday, and instead is diverting to Costa Maya as an alternative for her 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald conveyed these changes via his popular Facebook page, spreading the word so all guests are aware of the adjustments. He also noted that other ships are not yet impacted by the storm.

“There are no further changes to any cruises at the time of me writing this, however our Chief Communications Officer Chris and his team will keep updating you via text alert, emails, and I will share the news here as well,” Heald confirmed at approximately 4 a.m. Eastern time. “We will of course always keep you safe.”

Storm-related changes are often last-minute decisions, as cruise lines try diligently to preserve the original itineraries guests booked. While this is not always possible, particularly during hurricane season, safety is always the first priority.

Fortunately, cruise ships are easily able to change route and divert away from rough weather, ensuring a smoother, more comfortable, and safer journey for everyone onboard, even if it may not be the planned itinerary.

Due to the position and track of the developing storm, the port of Cozumel is likely to remain closed at least through Wednesday, September 25 as well. This would impact the itineraries for Carnival Breeze as well as Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape was also planned to be in Cozumel on Wednesday, but that ship has already changed itineraries and will be visiting alternative ports of call for her 7-night sailing instead.

Storm Update

As of the Tuesday morning 8 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine has not yet developed enough to be an official storm, but that development is expected later in the day.

The system currently has maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour (mph), just below the 39 mph threshold to be an official tropical storm. Higher gusts are also being recorded. When the system strengthens, she will be given the name Helene.

“Strengthening is expected during the next few days, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane on Wednesday and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico,” the forecast discussion from NHC Forecaster Berg read.

While it can be challenging to predict a storm’s path, intensity, and impact several days in advance, current forecasts do indicate that Helene will pass through the Yucatan Channel on Wednesday before turning northeast.

The storm is likely to become a major hurricane before making landfall late on Thursday – a Category 3, even possibly a Category 4. Landfall is expected in the “big bend” area of northern Florida, but could be anywhere from Panama City Beach to Tampa.

Read Also: How a Hurricane Could Affect Your Cruise

Hurricane watches are already in effect in the potential landfall area of western Florida, with tropical storm watches extending even further along the coast.

This week, all cruise travelers sailing in the Western Caribbean should be prepared for itinerary changes and stay in close contact with their cruise line for updates and alerts.