It was a magical moment for the upcoming Disney Treasure as the new ship was floated out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on Saturday, August 3, 2024, where the vessel has been under construction since her steel cutting in January 2023.
This marks the completion of the ship’s exterior structure and she is now moving on to interior finishing.
Cheers greeted the ship as she floated out aft-first, guided by a tug to ensure a smooth float out without rubbing or scraping on the sides of the Hall 6 building.
During the celebration, Disney tunes were playing for the crowd and fireworks burst from the roof of the construction hall as the ship made her way into the harbor, marking this pivotal moment in Disney Treasure‘s construction timeline.
Disney Cruise Line offers fireworks shows on each sailing where possible, a unique moment for guests to enjoy.
The full float-out took more than an hour to be very careful the ship is not damaged during the transition from interior to outdoors, as she was also turned in order to dock nearby at the proper angle.
As the ship finished her maneuver out of Hall 6, she sounded her mouse-ears-shaped horn with the classic notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star” – another distinctive feature of Disney Cruise Line – to celebrate the moment.
It is very appropriate that Adventurer Captain Minnie was on hand for the celebration, as Captain Minnie adorns the ship’s bow with a welcoming smile, joining the lineup of artwork each Disney ship is known for.
Each vessel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet features a different character – Sorcerer Mickey (Disney Magic), Steamboat Willie (Disney Wonder), Captain Mickey (Disney Dream), Sorcerer Mickey – a different pose (Disney Fantasy), and Captain Minnie (Disney Wish). The upcoming Disney Adventure will feature Captain Mickey on her bow when she debuts from Singapore in 2025.
Next Steps for Disney Treasure
Now that Disney Treasure has floated out, she has moved to a nearby dock to continue interior finishing work. A great deal must still be completed before her December debut, including the exacting details the cruise line is known for in all interior spaces.
A few exterior tasks must also be completed, such as adding the smokestacks, antennas, and other tall features to the new ship, which cannot be done inside the hall. In fact, cranes were moving the smokestacks into place within minutes of Disney Treasure being secured to the adjacent dock.
Up next for the ship will be her conveyance down the River Ems to move into the open ocean for sea trials, though that is still several weeks away.
After she is officially certified as complete and seaworthy, she will be handed over to Disney Cruise Line and shortly thereafter should begin her transatlantic crossing to bring her to Port Canaveral, her first homeport.
Disney Treasure‘s maiden sailing is scheduled for December 21, 2024, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean holiday itinerary that will visit Tortola, St. Thomas, and Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. The 144,000-gross-ton ship can welcome 4,000 guests aboard to make Disney cruise memories to treasure.
Even as Disney Treasure moved out of the Hall 6 construction bay, a key component of Disney Destiny moved in. Within minutes, the floating engine room block of Disney Destiny, also a Wish-class vessel, moved into the space to begin more construction work.
From one complete hull to the barely recognizable piece of the next ship, it was a very busy day at the Meyer Werft shipyard, with new magic already underway to bring the next Disney Cruise Line vessel to life.
Long-time cruisers — particularly those that are loyal to the same cruise line, cruising with them over and over again — have their cruising routine down to an art. They know exactly what they’re going to do on embarkation day, where to go to avoid the crowds, what to do to save cash and how to have the overall best time possible.
However, newer cruisers aren’t so lucky. If you’re new to Carnival Cruise Line, there are certain things you’ll want to be sure that you do and don’t do, for the most enjoyable, affordable, stress-free experience possible. Here are the 15 top mistakes to avoid making on your first Carnival cruise.
First things first, don’t make the mistake of assuming thatall Carnival cruise ships are the same or nearly the same. Depending on the ship you book, your cruising experience could vary wildly.
For example, some of the older Carnival cruise ships offer a more classic cruising experience, with minimal activities and venues but still the traditional favorites like three-course meals in the dining room and a big pool deck.
These ships are smaller and hold fewer cruisers, and are ideal for cruisers who want a more laid-back, low-key cruise. These cruisers just want to get to the next island; they don’t necessarily need a floating resort at sea to get them there.
In contrast, some of Carnival’s newer ships are just that: basically floating resorts at sea. If you want every single second of your cruise to be filled with entertainment and variety, with loads of options for what you do during every part of the day, you’ll want to cruise on a newer ship.
It’s not just size, activities and venues that change from ship to ship, though. Certain amenities that you might just naturally assume are on a cruise ship, don’t exist on every Carnival cruise ship.
This is the case, for example, when it comes to laundry facilities. While most cruise ships have them, Carnival’s newer Excel-class ships (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee) do not (though you can pay for laundry service on these ships).
2. Not Buying the Carnival Faster to the Fun Pass
If you’re not a VIFP Club Diamond or Platinum member (and, let’s be real, if this is one of your first Carnival cruises, you’re probably not), then one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not buying the Carnival Faster to the Fun pass, ahead of your cruise.
This pass gives you loads of perks that can make your cruise all-around more convenient. You get priority check-in at the cruise terminal. You’ll have priority stateroom access to drop off your bags, once you’re on the ship.
Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock
Your larger luggage will be expedited to your stateroom. You’ll have a dedicated guest services phone line. You’ll get priority dining reservations. You’ll even get priority water shuttle boarding and late or early debarkation.
All of this can ensure you spend more time actually having fun during your cruise, and less time waiting around in lines, bunched up with the rest of the cruising crowds.
3. Visiting Guy’s Burger Joint at the Most Popular Times
Along the lines of, well, waiting in line, there are certain areas of every Carnival ship that get particularly crowded, at certain times. One of these areas is Guy’s Burger Joint.
Guy’s Burger Joint is a Guy Fieri-endorsed, complimentary dining option that’s available on every single Carnival ship. After being launched in 2011, the restaurant quickly became a fan favorite.
Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Mardi Gras
As such, it can get pretty crowded, with fans flocking to the restaurants for their burger and fry fix. If you go during certain times, you may find yourself waiting in a long line (albeit a fast-moving one).
Guy’s Burger Joint is only open six hours per day, on most days, so you’ll find it most crowded around lunchtime, as well as on embarkation days and during sea days. For fewer crowds and less of a wait, visit on a port day, when the rest of your fellow cruisers are off the ship, or go a little earlier or later than normal lunch hours.
4. Hitting Up the Lido Deck on Hot Sea Days
We get it. It’s a hot sea day in the Caribbean or similar warm locale. You don’t have any port to explore. Where else would you go other than the Lido Deck, where you can lounge in the sun, take a dip in the pool or just sip some tropical drinks at a bar?
Carnival Cruise Line Lido Deck (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Unfortunately, that’s everyone’s idea, so the Lido Deck can get pretty busy on sea days, especially when the weather is nice. If you don’t mind the crowds, proceed with caution, and just make sure to get there early, if you want to snag a good lounger.
If you do mind the crowds, find something else to do. There are plenty of indoor activities that you can enjoy on a Carnival cruise, if you want to stay cool but the pool’s not an option.
5. Not Taking the Behind the Fun Tour
One of those fun, indoor activities? The Behind the Fun tour. This is an exclusive activity that’s booked as an excursion, and is limited to just over a dozen participants, so you’ll want to book your spot on the tour in advance.
Behind the Fun Tour
During the tour, you’ll explore areas of the ship that are off limits to the public, such as the ship’s bridge, galley, staff areas and more. It’s literally a behind-the-scenes tour of everything that has to happen for you to have a fun cruise.
The tour can take up to just under four hours, depending on the ship you’re on, and you’ll also get some cool gifts to take home and light snacks.
6. Not Following the Carnival Code of Conduct
While a cruise can be a fun time to let down your hair and your inhibitions, it’s still important to follow the cruise ship rules, so that you and all your fellow cruisers continue to have a good time.
The Carnival Code of Conduct simply asks you to consider your fellow cruisers and be respectful and mindful of others. That means supervising your children, keeping noise in hallways down and not skipping lines, for starters.
You’ll be asked to acknowledge the Carnival Code of Conduct when you check-in for your cruise and, if you’re found in violation of the code during your cruise, you may be fined $500, confined to your stateroom or even removed from the ship and banned from the cruise line.
(And if you think that a cruise line would never go to such lengths, think again. Carnival has been cracking down on bad behavior, reminding passengers of this code and warning them to stay in line.)
7. Booking a Carnival Cruise Line Excursion
While, yes, Carnival will try to tell you that booking a Carnival Cruise Line excursion is the only way to really ensure that you make it back to the ship before it leaves port, more experienced cruisers will tell you that the risk of actually missing the ship is low.
All you have to do is make sure you book third-party excursions that leave you plenty of time, in case of an unforeseen delay.
Booking third-party excursions in port, versus Carnival’s excursions, comes with a wealth of benefits. You’ll be able to take excursions and tours that are less crowded, with fewer people. You’ll save money, as most third-party excursions are cheaper. You’ll also get more variety to choose from, as Carnival’s excursions are limited.
8. Playing Mini Golf on a Windy Day
This one is just a basic mistake that you can easily avoid.
Most Carnival cruise ships do have a miniature golf course, either a nine-hole or 18-hole course (with the outlier being Carnival Luminosa, which has no mini golf course).
Carnival Paradise Mini Golf
However, save this fun activity for a day with low winds. Otherwise, you could find yourself chasing your golf ball all around the green, and that getting that hole-in-one is a lot harder than you thought.
9. Not Using the Carnival Hub App
The Carnival Hub app is filled with features and information that can make your cruise more fun. For example, before your cruise, you can make dinner reservations and purchase excursions or spa services.
Carnival Hub App
Then, during your cruise, you can get information about what’s going on, on the ship, that day; chat with your fellow cruisers; and manage your account, viewing your charges and statements.
The app will also load all of your pre-booked reservations into the My Planner section of the app, so you can plan your day accordingly. You can even order food for delivery from the app.
10. Not Listening to the Cruise Director Announcements
Cruise directors are the individuals who are largely responsible for your cruising experience. They plan and organize all the fun, ensure that things keep sailing along and deliver important announcements to help you organize your day.
In fact, some avid cruisers have found that they really prefer some cruise directors over others, so they’ll go out of their ways to cruise on certain itineraries, when their favorite cruise directors are working.
Whatever your view on cruise directors, though, be sure that you listen to their announcements. They’ll let you in on important info you might need to know for ship schedule or safety reasons, and they’ll also remind you of events and activities going on throughout the ship.
11. Not Pre-Paying for Your Gratuities or Packages
Before your Carnival cruise sets sail, you’ll have the option to pre-pay for your gratuities. Gratuities are charged per person, per day of your cruise, at a set rate that will differ depending on whether you’re staying in a suite or standard stateroom.
If you don’t pre-pay, you’ll be asked to sign off on your gratuities near the end of the cruise. However, pre-paying comes with a perk: You could save money.
Occasionally, the gratuity rate increases and, if you didn’t pre-pay, you’re stuck paying the new, higher rate, when you could’ve gotten the lower rate all along.
The same can be said for packages. If you pre-pay, as early as possible, you’ll get a lower rate. If you don’t, you’re stuck paying whatever the going rate is, upon boarding.
12. Not Reading the Tender Information
If you’re traveling on an itinerary that will include tendering (which basically just means that the cruise ship is too large to travel right up into the port of call, so you’ll have to take a smaller boat from the ship, to the port), be sure you read up on all the necessary information.
Cruise Ship at Tender Port (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock)
Before the day you’re expected to tender, on Carnival, you’ll be provided with information regarding the tendering process. This process must be followed and, if it’s not, chaos and confusion can ensue.
You can’t just walk off the ship, onto one of the tendering vessels and go. You have to get in line, get a number and essentially follow an orderly system. Reading up on this system ahead of time will ensure you save time and frustration.
13: Not Paying Attention to Debarkation Information
Similarly, there’s a debarkation process when your ship returns to its home port that’s intended to reduce crowds. After all, if five thousand cruisers are all trying to get off the ship at once, that’s just a recipe for disaster.
So, before your cruise heads back home, be sure to brush up on the debarkation rules and regulations. On Carnival, the cruise line asks that you are out of your stateroom before 8:30 on embarkation day.
Carnival Cruise Ship in Galveston
From there, you can go to one of the designated waiting areas, to wait for you to be notified via the Carnival app that you’re able to leave the ship.
Carry off guests, or those that are carrying off their luggage themselves, are the first ones to leave. Guests that have checked their luggage come second.
14. Missing Free Special Dining Options
Don’t feel like you have to miss out on fun or interesting dining experiences on Carnival, just because you don’t want to spend a little extra at the specialty restaurants on the ship.
Keep an eye on the Carnival app and around the ship for free dining experiences that go beyond the handful of complimentary restaurants.
Carnival Luminosa Dining
For example, go to the sea day brunches in the main dining room, the sea day afternoon tea in the main dining room, the Carnival Elegant evening in the main dining room or the free buffet that’s sometimes offered in Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse on embarkation day.
15. Not Packing Items That Can Be Pricey on the Ship.
Carnival knows that there are just some items you’ll need during your cruise, and if you didn’t pack them, you may be willing to pay a pretty penny for them.
As such, make sure that you’re packing any OTC medications you might need, toiletries and plenty of sunscreen. Otherwise, you could find yourself paying double or triple the price you might pay, on land.
Port Tampa Bay is now at Condition Yankee. With gale-force winds expected within 24 hours, all cruise ship operations are suspended for Sunday, August 4.
This means that Margaritaville at Sea Islander will be unable to conclude her current sailing on Sunday as originally scheduled, and instead will remain at sea while the storm conditions pass.
Margaritaville at Sea reached out to booked guests to alert them to the change so they have as much time as possible to adjust their travel plans.
“As a result of this temporary closure, your August 4, 2024 sailing aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander will now depart Port Tampa Bay on Monday, August 5, 2024,”the notification confirmed.
The original itinerary was to have been a 5-night cruise leaving on Sunday, August 4 and returning on Friday, August 9, with visits to both Key West and Cozumel. Now, the ship will instead leave on Monday, August 5, but will still return on the Friday. The visit to Key West has been cancelled, but the visit to Cozumel, Mexico remains on Wednesday, August 7 as originally planned.
The cruise line has already cancelled and refunded any pre-paid shore excursions for Key West, which will be posted as onboard credit to guests’ accounts, along with any refunds for taxes, fees, or port expenses.
Similarly, any onboard add-ons for beverages, wi-fi, or gratuities that are priced by the day are being refunded for one day’s value due to the shortening of the cruise.
Guests are also being given a $100 onboard credit (per stateroom) as a courtesy for the shortened sailing. Any travelers who would prefer not to set sail on the shortened sailing may contact the cruise line to rebook without change fees.
The amount they paid for their August 4 cruise will be used as a future cruise credit, though differences in total cruise charges will apply. If the new cruise is less than the August 4 pricing, the difference will become onboard credit to enjoy during the new sailing.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander is the second ship for the boutique cruise line, having just debuted in mid-June. The 85,619-gross-ton ship is homeported year-round from Port Tampa Bay, offering primarily 4- and 5-night itineraries to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso, depending on the sailing date and cruise length.
Latest Tropical Storm Debby Update
As of the 8 p.m. update on Saturday, August 3, Tropical Storm Debby is located 100 miles west-southwest of Key West and 270 miles south-southwest of Port Tampa Bay. The storm is moving northwest at 14 miles per hour, and showing maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour.
Port Tampa Bay stated, “In accordance with the current Port Condition, Port Tampa Bay has secured waterfront facilities and dock areas to remove debris and hazardous materials. The Port Heavy Weather Advisory Group, made up of numerous local maritime entities has made arrangements for vessel traffic, and created queuing for those vessels that were required to depart port ahead of the storm.“
The storm is expected to continue moving northwest and then straight north west of the Florida peninsula through Monday morning, with a projected landfall in the Florida Big Bend area as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday afternoon.
Tropical Storm Debby (Credit: NOAA)
The storm will then curve eastward over the northern part of the state and into southeastern Georgia, before moving back into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.
In preparation for the storm’s impact, Carnival Cruise Line has also adjusted the next sailing of Carnival Elation from Jacksonville, which is now shortening her current sailing and moving up departure for her next cruise a day early on Sunday, August 4.
Despite the progress of Tropical Storm Debby, no other cruises from Port Tampa Bay are impacted at this time. This could change, however, as weather conditions continue to evolve.
“We encourage individuals cruising from Port Tampa Bay to contact the cruise line they are sailing with, should they have questions or concerns about their cruise itinerary,”the port posted.“Any changes to your cruise itinerary, including vessel weather avoidance plans and any port call changes, will be communicated by the cruise line directly.”
Cruise lines always keep safety as the first priority for any schedule changes and will give travelers as much notice as possible for any adjustments.
Carnival Cruise Line has notified guests booked aboard the Monday, August 5, 2024, departure of Carnival Elation out of Jacksonville in Florida, that their embarkation and departure will now take place one day early on Sunday, August 4. The current voyage, which departed the homeport on August 1, will now end a day early.
Guests preparing for their cruise on Monday now have to finish their preparations and arrive at the cruise terminal a full day early, as they received email alerts on Saturday, August 3, about the change in embarkation.
Carnival Cruise Line has attempted to ensure everyone is notified of the change as soon as possible with email and text alerts. The cruise line’s popular Brand Ambassador, John Heald, also sent a quick note to his more than 580,000 followers to look for the email or text alert.
“Monday’s embarkation has moved to Sunday to avoid the storm,”Heald confirmed.
Guests will not be charged any additional fare for the extra time onboard, as is typical in this sort of very unusual situation.
Of course, this also means that the current sailing – a 4-night (now 3-night) Bahamas cruise that departed Jacksonville on August 1 – will also end a day early.
Similarly, those guests will likely be offered a one-day prorated refund for their shortened sailing, as is standard practice for losing a cruise day. Other compensation may also be offered, but each situation is different and it is never guaranteed.
The August 5 (now August 4) departure was to have been a 5-night Bahamas cruise with port visits to Nassau and Princess Cays. The cruise will now be six nights long, though it is unlikely that the ports of call will be changed. Instead, the ship will enjoy an extra day at sea.
The 71,909-gross-ton, Fantasy-class Carnival Elation is the oldest ship in Carnival’s fleet. She can welcome 2,190 passengers and is also home to approximately 900 international crew members. Homeported from Jacksonville, Florida, Carnival Elation offers year-round Bahamas itineraries.
While many travelers will be scrambling to reach the ship before she sets sail on Sunday instead of Monday, it should also be noted that many cruisers who depart from Jacksonville drive to the port and will be able to adjust their plans slightly more easily. Flying in to a cruise homeport a day or two before sailing is also a wise precaution for travelers.
Tropical Storm Debby Track
The change to Carnival Elation‘s itinerary is due to Tropical Storm Debby, which was officially named on Saturday. As of Saturday evening, the storm’s center is 100 miles west-southwest of Key West, Florida and moving northwest at 15 miles per hour.
“The Fleet Operations Center in Miami is keeping a very close eye on what is happening in the tropics,”said Amy Sweezey, a weather contributor for Carnival Cruise Line.“The team at Carnival is working very hard behind the scenes to make sure that you are safe and of course can have fun.”
Tropical Storm Debby Track (Credit: NOAA)
The storm is expected to strengthen as it makes a northward turn west of the Florida peninsula, and an eastern turn in the Florida Big Bend area will bring the storm – likely as a Category 1 hurricane – to landfall on Monday, August 5.
Because the tropical storm wind field extends up to 100 miles east of the center, the Port of Jacksonville may be feeling the storm’s impact even as it makes landfall across the state.
The storm is expected to continue moving east after landfall, and will be strongly within the Jacksonville area by late Monday and through Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how its movement changes as it moves back out into the Atlantic.
Any cruisers sailing from or around Florida for the next few days will want to stay in close communication with their cruise line for updates and notice of any changes.
Thanks to road work, passengers planning to embark on cruises onboard Carnival Panorama and Carnival Firenze may be delayed in their travels to the Port of Long Beach this weekend.
The northbound side of the Shoemaker Bridge, which is one of the main routes into the Carnival-exclusive cruise port, will be closed on both Saturday, August 3, and Sunday, August 4, 2024, with work taking place on the bridge from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST each day.
The purpose of the closure is to allow crews to assess the damage that was caused by a truck accident in January of 2024, allowing them to make preparations to complete necessary repairs in the near future.
“The work is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days on the underside of the Shoemaker Bridge, which was damaged when cargo carried by a truck struck the span in January. Crews will assess and evaluate steel framing on the bridge to determine what will need to be replaced at a later date,” reads a press release from the Port of Long Beach.
Naturally, cutting out a key route to reach the port may mean alternative options and detours could be extra congested. As such, Carnival Cruise Line is warning this weekend’s guests to plan accordingly for potential delays.
“Shoemaker Bridge (near the cruise terminal) will be closed for repairs this weekend, resulting in increased traffic and possible impact to your commute. To ensure a smooth embarkation experience, please allow ample travel time,”Carnival sent in a text message to guests.
“Remember you must be on board by the final boarding time printed on your boarding pass. Thank you and see you soon,”concluded the message.
While Carnival does enforce assigned arrival times, it’s typically a good idea for travelers to plan to arrive around an hour early – which leaves a buffer for any traffic jams and allows time to find parking.
Which Sailings Are Impacted By The Road Closure?
Carnival, which is the only mainstream cruise line to utilize the Port of Long Beach, has two ships scheduled to embark from the port this weekend.
Carnival Panorama will be setting sail on a Mexican Riviera voyage on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
The Vista-class vessel will operate a 7-night, round trip cruise to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Mazatlan, Mexico; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The following day, on Sunday, August 4, the new Carnival Firenzewill embark on a 4-night Baja Mexico sailing, calling on Catalina Island, California, and Ensenada, Mexico.
As long as these passengers leave some extra time to get to the cruise port, they should have a wonderful time on their sailings.
In addition to scheduling with traffic in mind – which can be bad in Los Angeles even without road closures – it is also a good idea to be aware of alternate routes to the port.
Shoemaker Bridge Closure Route, Long Beach (Credit: Port of Long Beach)
As part of the Shoemaker Bridge closure, drivers coming from downtown Long Beach will only be able to access the northbound 710 Freeway from Anaheim Street. The on-ramps on Ocean Boulevard, Third Street, and Seventh Street will be unusable for the duration of the weekend.
Additionally, Harbor Scenic Drive will be shut down at Harbor Plaza. Vehicles will be directed to use northbound Pico Avenue to access the port via the westbound Long Beach International Gateway bridge, which carries six lanes of Interstate 710 all the way from Long Beach to Terminal Island.
Shoemaker Bridge Detour, Long Beach (Credit: Port of Long Beach)
However, it’s important to note that the eastbound Long Beach International Gateway Bridge, which connects to the northbound 710 Freeway, will be narrowed to just one lane while the work is taking place.
Further closures include the Pico Avenue onramp to northbound Harbor Scenic Drive, as well as the northbound 710 onramp from Pico at Ninth and the Pier B streets.
A new tropical system has developed near Cuba and is likely to impact multiple Florida homeports over the weekend and into early next week.
While there are no cruises with confirmed storm-related itinerary changes at this time, any travelers departing from Florida over the next few days should stay alert for potential adjustments.
The storm, which is currently centered over Cuba but moving west-northwest at 16 miles per hour, only has maximum sustained windspeeds of 30 miles per hour.
The system is expected to strengthen however, and may become an official tropical storm overnight between Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4.
Tropical Cyclone (Credit: NOAA)
As the storm moves across the Straits of Florida, it is expected to turn northward and skirt alongside the peninsula, with landfall somewhere in the Big Bend area where the peninsula transitions into the panhandle.
While the Port of Miami and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale are well outside the area expected to be impacted by the storm, other Florida homeports are keeping close watch on the system.
Port Tampa Bay on the state’s west coast is likely to see the strongest impact from the storm, which may be directly alongside Tampa Bay throughout the day on Sunday, August 4.
“Port Tampa Bay continues to monitor severe weather in the tropics. At time point in time, there are no impacts to our operations, including departures and arrivals of our cruise partners,”the port’s Friday afternoon weather update stated.
“We encourage individuals cruising from Port Tampa Bay to contact the cruise line they are sailing with, should they have questions or concerns about their cruise itinerary. Any changes to your cruise itinerary, including vessel weather avoidance plans and any portcall changes, will be communicated by the cruise line directly.”
While any impact to Port Tampa Bay is more than 36 hours away, the storm’s track could shift to the east for a more direct impact on the port area. Four different ships could potentially see changes when sailing from Tampa
Two Royal Caribbean International ships are scheduled to set sail from Tampa on Saturday, August 3. Grandeur of the Seas is beginning a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing, while Enchantment of the Seas is beginning a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary on the same day.
On Sunday, August 4, Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, Margaritaville Islander, is scheduled to depart Port Tampa Bay on a 5-night Key West and Cozumel sailing.
If the storm system slows somewhat, the Monday, August 5 departure of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise may also be affected. That Fantasy-class ship is scheduled to set sail on a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary that day.
In addition to Port Tampa Bay, Port Canaveral on the central-eastern coast of Florida may also have some storm impact if the system shifts further to the east or turns more sharply than anticipated. Any adjustments to sailings from Port Canaveral are likely to be for cruises leaving Sunday or Monday.
“Port Canaveral is closely monitoring the track and possible effects of Potential Tropical Cyclone Four,”the central Florida homeport posted on social media on Friday, August 2.“At this time, there is no impact to Port operations. We recommend our Port community continue to monitor weather updates and be prepared for changes in the storm’s progress.”
On Sunday, August 4, five ships from four different cruise lines are scheduled for Port Canaveral: Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista, MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore, and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy.
If the storm slows, Port Canaveral’s Monday ships – Utopia of the Seas, Disney Wish, and Carnival Glory – might also be impacted.
It should be noted that there are no changes at this time for sailings from either Port Tampa Bay or Port Canaveral, but cruise lines are keeping a close eye on the storm and will make any adjustments as necessary to ensure safe sailing.
Two Other Florida Ports May Also Be Impacted
Depending on the strength of the storm and the exact track it follows near the Florida peninsula, the Port of Jacksonville may also see disruptions. While only Carnival Elation is sailing from the northeast Florida homeport, the ship is scheduled for Monday, August 5 to begin a 5-night Bahamas itinerary.
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship in Jacksonville (Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO)
The latest predictions for the tropical system show the greatest impact on northeast Florida throughout Monday, but this may change as the speed and intensity of the storm adjusts over the weekend.
Finally, before the storm even begins impacting Florida’s homeports, one of the Sunshine State’s most popular ports of call could be disrupted. Key West is likely to see a strong impact from the storm on Saturday, August 3, though the forecast only has the system as a tropical depression at that time.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky is scheduled to visit Key West on Saturday as part of a 3-night Bahamas itinerary that also includes Great Stirrup Cay. While the weather may be less than ideal, the slow strengthening of the system may mean it is still possible for the ship to visit Key West with minimal impact.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates on this storm if necessary.
A slot tournament can be a fun way to spend time in the casino even for travelers who have little or no gambling experience, but are private slot pull tournaments permitted on Carnival Cruise Line? Brand Ambassador John Heald has offered some clarification about what is and is not permitted onboard.
Heald’s announcement comes after a recent guest reached out to the Brand Ambassador noting that her cruise was “ruined” when she wasn’t permitted to hold a private slot tournament.
While the ship name and date of her sailing were not revealed, the issue is not that she wanted to organize such a tournament, but the manner in which she went about trying to do so.
“The main problem with what happened was that the guest had been standing inside the casino, holding a sign that said ‘Slot Pull Sign Up’ and was selling tickets to join,”Heald explained.“Now I understand that the guest may not have known the rules. But obviously this is not allowed as not only taking money from other guests for anything is not permitted, doing so inside the casino is, well, you know.”
The same restriction applies to any unauthorized activity that involves exchanging money, as Carnival Cruise Line must adhere to local business and gambling laws based on where the ship is sailing.
It is possible to set up private slot tournaments, but it must be done through the casino while onboard the ship. Neither Heald nor his assistant is able to set up such a private event for guests prior to sailing, as the ultimate decision is up to each ship’s casino host.
“If you wish to have a private slot tournament please speak to the casino host once on board,”Heald suggested.“He or she will help you with this, help find a time, and go through the various rules.”
Whether or not a slot tournament can be arranged will depend on the overall popularity of the casino, available space, and any other operational concerns for an individual sailing.
Staffing, previously organized tournaments, or slot machine maintenance could all impact whether or not a private tournament can be set up.
What Is a Private Slot Tournament?
Private slot pulls or tournaments are often set up through social media groups, inviting guests booked on the same cruise to join in. All entrants typically pay a small fee to be part of the activity.
Once in the ship’s casino, designated slot machines are used – perhaps a favorite game of the group or a game that was voted on prior to the cruise.
A set number of “pulls” are then used, with each player having a turn. Individual scores may be tallied, and after everyone has played, the earned winnings are divvied up among players.
Casino on the Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship
This can be a way for multiple players to spend a longer time on a single machine, potentially building to a much larger jackpot than they may earn individually with just a few dollars’ for the entry fee.
For example, just playing $5 may not earn a single player much, but if they are part of a group of 20 players, the $100 total from everyone’s entry fee could add up to much more substantial winnings.
While some cruise travelers enjoy these activities, others consider them unfair as it is usually the organizer’s casino card that will be used for the entire tournament. This gives that individual a great way to build up extra loyalty points in the casino without investing their own money.
Official slot tournaments organized by the cruise line do not use just one person’s card, and may be organized differently. For example, all players may play at once as quickly as possible for a set amount of time, with the winner determined by overall individual scores. Furthermore, a set prize amount is usually provided, rather than prizes determined by the machine’s total.
Have you ever joined in a slot tournament? Did you enjoy it? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!
The Alaska Railroad’s Board of Directors greenlit the Seward Company’s purchase agreement for a new cruise facility in Seward, Alaska. Valued at $137 million, the agreement marks the start of construction for the largest turn port facility in the Alaska cruise industry.
The new facility, called the Port of Tomorrow, will include a 68,000-square-foot terminal building and a 750-foot, two-berth floating dock designed to accommodate modern cruise ships.
Upon completion, the Alaska Railroad will purchase the renewed cruise port with a 30-year pier usage agreement with Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises.
The company will be able to accommodate its 4,100-passenger Quantum-class ships at the new port following the expansion.
Rendering, Quantum of the Seas at the Port of Tomorrow, Seward Port (Rendering Courtesy: Seward Company)
The agreement grants Royal Caribbean Group preferential berthing rights while allowing the Alaska Railroad to operate the facility as an open dock welcoming multiple cruise lines.
“Large developments are never easy. Today’s greenlit approval was two years in the making,”said Mickey Richardson, CEO of the Port of Tomorrow, representing the Seward Company. “The agreement guarantees cruise ships will continue to serve Seward for the next 30 years and beyond.”
The construction of the state-of-the-art port will begin after the conclusion of the 2024 Alaska cruise season in September. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel will be the final ship arriving at and departing from the port on September 23, 2023.
Foundational work will be completed before winter with pier construction set to commence in fall 2025, ensuring no disruption to the summer 2025 cruise season, which will commence in May when Silversea Cruises’ Silver Moon arrives on the 15th.
The port is expected to be compete in the of spring 2026.
Expansive Growth Amidst Growing Concerns
The new terminal in Seward will be the largest community space in the area with a terminal capable of welcoming travelers and handling provisions for cruise ships.
The 750-foot floating dock will be the largest of its kind and includes features such as freshwater provisioning, fuel supply from a local vendor, and shore power support.
A 150-foot transfer span will connect disembarking travelers directly to an Alaska Railroad train or other ground transportation. The port will also add a parking lot to accommodate 48 cars and 32 bus stalls.
New Seward Cruise Port
Jason Davis, president of Turnagain, the design and build firm for the Seward port, emphasized the significance of the project, saying, “Alaska’s infrastructure growth, and for that matter, the growth of the tourism industry, depends heavily on projects supported by the cruise industry, global travel partners, and Alaskans.”
According to the Alaska Travel Industry Association, the visitor industry is the second-largest private-sector employer in the state, accounting for one in every 10 Alaska jobs and generating an economic impact of over $5.6 billion.
As Seward looks to expand its cruise offerings, other ports across the state are facing growing concerns of overtourism from residents. Juneau, the ninth busiest port in the U.S., recently agreed to restrict cruise guests per day to 16,000, except for Saturdays, which is set to 12,000.
The Port of Tomorrow, Seward Port (Rendering Courtesy Seward Company)
The agreement also limits the number of ships calling per day to five, with residents pushing to have a cruise-ship-free Saturday.
Sitka, Alaska, which welcomes 600,000 cruise passengers annually, is currently seeing residents push to cap its numbers at 300,000.
Currently, the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel and the 696-passenger Silver Muse and Silversea’s 728-passenger Silver Nova homeport in Seward this season on voyages between it and Vancouver.
Royal Caribbean International’s 2,466-passenger Radiance of the Seas, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 750-passenger Seven Seas Explorer, Crystal Cruises’ 740-passenger Crystal Serenity, Viking Oceans’ 930-passenger Viking Orion, and Celebrity Cruises’ 2,158-passenger Celebrity Summit are also homeporting in Seward.
The Caribbean-vibe cruise line Margaritaville at Sea announced it is expanding its Heroes Sail Free program to include cruises onboard the line’s second ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander, which began sailing for the brand from her Tampa homeport in June 2024.
The program mirrors one already in place onboard sister ship Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the cruise line’s first vessel that launched the brand in 2022. The sail-free offer provides a limited number of free fares in double occupancy cabins for guests who meet the Heroes criteria, and a traveling companion.
The Heroes Pass, which the line unveiled in November 2023, is offered to active duty and veteran U.S. military service members, police, firefighters, EMS personnel, nurses, and educators. Those who qualify do not pay a cruise fare but do pay taxes, fees, and port expenses.
Margaritaville at Sea also has upgraded the program to enable qualifying heroes to participate in the free fare offer as many times as they wish each year, on 3- to 7-night voyages to the Bahamas, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Previously, program rules allowed heroes to sail free just one time each year and only on 2-night Bahamas cruises aboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which is based in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Additionally, when free fare cabins are fully booked, or if a qualifying hero wishes to book a different stateroom category, the cruise line will provide a 20% fare discount off any cruise sale offer found online.
“Our newest ship, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, has received rave reviews from recent guests, and we want to do everything we can to make sure our Heroes receive an incredibly well-deserved vacation, especially as we expand into the Tampa market, home to several military groups and families,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea.
“By expanding the program to all ships and all destinations, including the all-new Islander, we are reaffirming our commitment to the tens of thousands of Heroes who have sailed with Margaritaville at Sea by giving them even more options to sail with us more frequently,” added Ivy.
Onboard the ship, heroes will be recognized with a Salute to Heroes ceremony once during each sailing, hosted by Cruise Director Zoltina-Jay (Zee-Jay) Medwik-Dailey.
The 2,114-guest Margaritaville at Sea Islander more than doubled the passenger capacity of the cruise line, which launched operations with the 1,300-guest Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Newest Ship Launched Following Major Renovations
Margaritaville at Sea Islander entered service in 2000 as Costa Atlantica for Costa Cruises and was sold in 2019 to Adora Cruises before being acquired by the Margaritaville at Sea brand.
The planned expansion of the fleet was announced in December 2023, shortly before the ship entered dry dock for a major renovation before relaunching as Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander Cruise Ship
Upgrades the ship received at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, included adding the tropical Margaritaville theme to public spaces, repainting the hull with colorful trees and parrots, and updating various technical aspects.
The ship sailed her maiden voyage from the Port of Tampa on June 14, 2024, and currently operates 4- to 7-night cruises to Western Caribbean ports.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise was built in 1991 for Costa Cruises and operated as Costa Classica until 2018, when she was sold to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. The ship was renamed when Bahamas Paradise partnered with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels to launch the branded cruise line that exists today.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise sails 2- and 3-day Bahamas cruises from West Palm Beach.
