Carnival Cruise Line offers several weeks of holiday cruises, complete with seasonal decorations, popular carols, themed activities, holiday menus, and more.

Many travelers deliberately book these special sailings to make fun family memories without the associated holiday stress of shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and other preparations.

Not all cruisers, however, seem to appreciate the holiday touches Carnival adds to its fleet, or at least when the cruise line begins to celebrate the holiday season.

One self-professed “Mr. Scrooge” reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, with their seasonal concerns and the timing of when each ship is decorated.

“There should be no xmas decorations on cruises apart from the actual cruise over December 25th,” the guest stated. “If left up to me John Heald (I’ve always thought Mr. Scrooge had many admirable points) this would be about the right length of time to excite Carnival’s passengers who celebrate xmas.”

Typically, holiday decorations begin to appear on Carnival ships toward the end of November or the beginning of December, depending on each ship’s individual itinerary schedule, dry dock plans, and other operational needs. Decorations then remain up until roughly the first departure date after the new year.

The 2024 schedule for Carnival Cruise Line’s holiday decorating has not yet been released, though Heald did note that the schedule ought to be available during the first week of October.

Heald did respond to the guest’s claim, not with an answer they may expect, but with good logic about what they can also see on land even if they aren’t on a cruise.

“I respect, I understand everyone’s opinion but, well, it is a special time of year that I am sure the shops where you live will start celebrating in the next few weeks,” Heald said.

Christmas decorations have already appeared for sale in many stores, and social media feeds are becoming more cluttered with decorating hacks, baking recipes, and other holiday tips. The cruise guest, however, gives not indication if they have reached out to stores or social media platforms expressing their concerns.

Other travelers also pointed out that many ports of call are thoroughly decorated for Christmas the entire month of December, which is well out of the cruise line’s control but contributes to the festive atmosphere of such sailings.

The guest did further describe Carnival Cruise Line’s decorations and holiday festivities as “religious brainwashing.”

“Last year we were on the December 2nd Panorama cruise. The ship was decorated in gaudy fashion and the most horrible thing of all was the awful piped xmas music,” they described. “Religious brainwashing should not be extended on to people’s vacation.”

It should be noted that Carnival Cruise Line does integrate different faiths into its holiday decorations and activities, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. At no time, however, are guests compelled to participate in any religiously-oriented elements.

Read Also: Christmas on a Cruise Ship – What to Expect

Most of the cruise line’s holiday events are purely secular, with widely accepted decorative elements like pine boughs, ornaments, and ribbons, as well as Santa Claus-themed activities such as story times.

Guest Support for Holiday Sailings

Many other Carnival guests responded to this one traveler’s outrage, noting that their experiences onboard Christmas cruises are very different.

“My favorite cruise was when the ship was decorated for Christmas and all the special events going on. The candlelight service and Santa were highlights. Absolutely wonderful!”

“I love Christmas and I am a religious person. I don’t remember seeing any ‘religious’ Christmas decorations on a cruise. They were more ‘secular’. Therefore, I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with fun décor.”

“Loved loved loved cruising with Carnival in December! The holiday decor was beautiful!”

“December is the best time to cruise because the ship’s have been decorated so beautifully. It’s my favorite time to cruise.”

Have you taken a cruise during the holiday season? Share your thoughts, tips, and fun holiday cruise ideas on the Cruise Hive boards!

Hurricane Helene is wreaking havoc on Florida and numerous cruise ships based in the state’s ports, some of the biggest in the U.S. It’s newest victim? Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Glory may not return to Port Canaveral as scheduled on September 27, 2024.

According to the cruise line’s latest update surrounding Hurricane Helene, the 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Glory is currently sailing at a safe distance from the storm in the Bahamas but, due to the closure of Port Canaveral, cannot return to its home base.

The vessel, which departed from Port Canaveral on September 23, 2024, is on a 4-night voyage that called on Bimini Island and Nassau, Bahamas. It is currently at sea as it awaits its future schedule.

The storm, expected to bring significant winds and rough seas to Florida’s Gulf Coast, has forced officials to close several major ports, including Port Canaveral on the Atlantic Coast.

Read Also: Which Cruise Ships Are Affected by Hurricane Helene?

Cruise line officials have indicated that once the storm passes and port conditions improve, an assessment will be conducted to determine if the dock is clear to resume operations.

“We are very tentatively anticipating sometime Friday, September 27,” Carnival Cruise Line posted in an update that will be revisited at 9 a.m. on the 27th.

Passengers scheduled to depart on Carnival Glory’s following cruise on September 27 will also experience delays. The cruise line hopes to depart later in the day “with revised operational plans.”

That cruise, scheduled to set sail at 3:30 p.m., is a short weekend trip to Bimini and back on a 3-night itinerary. If the port does not reopen until September 28, the voyage is likely to be scrapped.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available,” stated Carnival Cruise Line.

Port Canaveral Closure

Port Canaveral is currently under Hurricane Condition ZULU, as ordered by the U.S. Coast Guard. This means the port has ceased all operations, both shoreside and waterside.

The closure was enacted shortly after midnight on September 26, 2024, due to Hurricane Helene’s impending arrival. With winds expected to reach at least 39 miles per hour, the Space Coast is bracing for the storm’s impact. By 3 p.m. local time on September 26, it had become a Category 3 hurricane.

Cruise operations at Port Canaveral have been severely affected by the closure. At least five cruise ships were scheduled to return between September 26 and September 27, including Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish and Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

Said Port Canaveral in a statement, “Because of the effects of Hurricane Helene, we are anticipating cruise vessels scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral on Friday, September 27, will be delayed. These delays will likely impact guest embarkation times for outbound sailings.

“All cruise guests planning to sail from Port Canaveral on Friday, September 27, or Saturday, September 28, are advised to contact their cruise lines to confirm their embarkation and ship’s departure time,” it continued.

The Brevard County Emergency Management Office acknowledges the currently sunny skies but reminds travelers that it anticipates high winds to develop later in the day into tomorrow.

The disruption to Carnival Glory is not the only headache for Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Elation, set to arrive in Jacksonville on September 26, is now expected to return after the storm passes, as Port Jacksonville has also closed due to Hurricane Helene. Similarly, its sister ship, Carnival Paradise, en route to Tampa, is facing delays due to that port’s closure.

Carnival Sunrise, departing from Miami, is also impacted. The 101,509-gross-ton ship concluded a voyage on September 26 but remains in port until conditions clear.

It’s never a good idea to drop the word “bomb” – especially when you’re talking about a cruise ship.

A 19-year-old from Bailey, Michigan, is learning this the hard way after being indicted on charges related to a false bomb threat that caused chaos aboard a Carnival Cruise Line voyage earlier this year.

On September 25, 2024, the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten, announced that Joshua Darrell Lowe II faces criminal charges for making a false bomb threat that triggered a full-scale search and emergency response on Carnival Sunrise.

The incident occurred in January 2024, when the cruise line received an email warning, “Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship.”

The 101,509-gross-ton had just left Miami, Florida, bound for Jamaica, with 2,984 passengers and 1,108 crew. The threat prompted personnel to search over 1,000 staterooms to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

The cruise line also contacted US Coast Guard and Jamaican Marine Police, who escorted the ship to port for further investigation. Fortunately, no explosives were found, but the incident caused delays and heightened tension aboard the ship.

Worth Reading: Carnival Cruise Loyalty Hoax Making Multiple Appearances

“We take every threat of mass violence,” said Totten. “Hoaxes can endanger lives, incur needless costs, and divert public safety resources needed to address real threats.”

He continued, “My office has zero tolerance for wrongdoers who intentionally convey false and misleading information that prompts a law enforcement response.”

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, Cheyvoryea Gibson, stressed the gravity of such threats. “Bomb threats are not a laughing matter and are extremely irresponsible,” he added.

“The FBI takes all threats to life seriously and will ensure that those who resort to this kind of intimidation face the appropriate consequences,” he added.

If convicted, Lowe could face up to five years in prison and will likely be required to pay restitution for the expenses incurred by his alleged hoax.

Hoaxes and Serious Consequences

Section 35 of Title 18 of the US Department of Justice’s Criminal Resource Manual, commonly known as the “bomb hoax” statute, provides civil and criminal penalties for conveying false information regarding attempts to destroy or damage aircraft, vehicles, or related facilities.

The criminal felony provision punishes reckless false information with up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.

Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation

This is not the first time the FBI has dealt with such a scare in the cruise industry. In a similar case, US District Judge Henry Lee Adams, Jr. sentenced Linda Gayle Wilson to 12 months in federal prison for making a false bomb threat that led to a large-scale response.

In 2010, Wilson, of Baldwin, Florida, made multiple phone calls to the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office, claiming that a female terrorist was aboard the now-scrapped Carnival Fascination cruise ship with the intent to detonate a bomb before the vessel reached port.

At the time, the ship was returning from a Mother’s Day Caribbean cruise with 2,404 passengers and 896 crew members. 

Wilson’s false report triggered a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, US Coast Guard, and Customs and Border Protection, to search the ship for explosives.

No bombs were found, and Wilson was arrested in December 2011, pleading guilty in July 2012.

Cruise passengers encompass a broad spectrum of people of all shapes, sizes, and health statuses – with some needing more accommodations than others. 

However, when special medical exemptions aren’t requested in advance, cruisers might run into a situation where they can’t have what they need because it violates the cruise line’s policies. 

A current guest of Carnival Paradise learned this the hard way after she was forbidden from bringing pre-made protein shakes onboard – which she drinks as part of her recovery from a recent bariatric surgery. 

The common weight loss operation – which is known as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) – reduces the size of the stomach significantly. In the initial period following the operation, patients typically have to stick to a liquid diet. 

Although this passenger’s predicament could have been avoided by doing extra research prior to embarkation day, she still took to Facebook to complain to Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald. 

“Does Carnival not care about the passengers who recently had bariatric surgery. Do you care John Heald. NO you do not,” the angry passenger wrote.

“I supplement my daily protein intake with pre-made bottles of Premier protein shakes. These were taken from me by the rude Carnival employee…Why am I a criminal and other passengers can bring on whatever they want that is illegal,” continued the complaint. 

The guest even went so far as to insult Heald and imply he would need weight loss surgery himself one day – but the brand ambassador still responded to the unidentified passenger with kindness and compassion. 

“I know the crew are doing their very best for you and I have asked my colleagues there to check in with you…Let me say of course I understand that after surgery like this that there will be challenges and so I promise to be here to listen and to help all I can,” said Heald, in part. 

He graciously informed the guest that she would have needed to request a medical exemption in advance from Carnival’s disability team, as the policy currently states protein shakes can only be brought onboard in sealed cartons or in powder form – not bottles.

Why Research Matters 

Even when sailing with a cruise line one is familiar with, it’s still important to do research prior to embarkation day – especially if something has changed in terms of health or other circumstances. 

The general consensus in the comments of Heald’s Facebook post – which received over 1,000 responses, was that the passenger didn’t do enough research in advance – which was her own fault and not the cruise line’s.

“It sounds like you were the problem and not Carnival. You didn’t research what you were supposed to do,” wrote one Facebook user, who also happened to be a Bariatric patient.

“People amaze me with the blame culture. Just because you didn’t plan correctly? Give me a break. The rules clearly state what is allowed. So next time get a medical exemption letter,” added someone else.

Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise

The crew onboard Carnival’s ships are also more than willing to assist guests with their unique situations – and frequently adapt to accommodate all kinds of dietary needs and allergies. 

Depending on where this guest is in her recovery, there may be other dining options on board that would also work for her dietary restrictions. All she would need to do to find out is ask nicely. 

If guests do have a medical emergency while at sea, whether they are suffering from a new ailment or post surgery complications, all Carnival ships have a clinic onboard that functions like an urgent care on land.