With more and more cruise ports developing multi-use facilities that can not only support ship visits but can be great community resources as well, it is important that clear guidelines be developed to ensure safety and security for all guests and port residents.
Carnival Cruise Line has partnered with the Turks & Caicos Islands Government to agree on such guidelines for the Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC).
This will permit local residents the ability to enjoy the facilities as well as safeguard cruise visitors when necessary. Furthermore, the policies are designed to promote a family-friendly atmosphere while supporting local businesses.
“We greatly appreciate the collaborative spirit of partnership from government and cruise center leaders to provide an added layer of security at the Grand Turk Cruise Center facilities, while also allowing residents all opportunities to enjoy the beach, shopping and restaurants,”said Juan Fernandez, vice president of Carnival Corporation’s destination operations.
The new policies will be effective from Thursday, August 15, 2024, with Mardi Gras and Carnival Freedom both in port that day. The new policies include identification requirements as well as a code of conduct.
To minimize crowds as much as possible, public access to the Grand Turk Cruise Center will require all individuals to receive a one-day identification badge from the main entrance gate.
There will be no cost or admission fee to obtain a badge, but visitors must be 18 years or older and show a valid government ID. Younger guests (under age 18) must be accompanied by an adult.
Anyone at the GTCC without the proper identification badge will be asked to leave and may be referred to local law enforcement on possible trespassing or similar charges. Anyone who violates the admission policy may not be able to return to the GTCC for three months or longer, depending on the severity of their transgression.
A key feature of the new agreement is the code of conduct, intended to ensure that only authorized activities take place and everyone can feel welcome.
First off, visitors may not engage in any business activities within the port area. This includes solicitation and sales of any kind, except by approved tour operators or licensed retailers authorized within the space. This will eliminate any high-pressure sales or peddling that may compete with authorized individuals.
It goes without saying, but illegal activities are not permitted, including assault, drug dealing, or other illicit activities. Similarly, no weapons of any kind are permitted.
Furthermore, no visitors – whether cruise guests or otherwise – may interfere with the work activities of GTCC employees or licensed tour operators. No public nuisance activities are permitted, such as any obstruction of walkways or “any act that endangers the morals, comfort level of the public, or obstructs the enjoyment of rights common to all.”
Finally, any language or behaviors considered to be “abusive, offensive, [or] threatening” will not be permitted.
“The Government’s role is to ensure that those with access to the facilities at the Grand Turk Cruise Center – be they cruise passengers, tour operators, vendors, and visitors to the port – have an enjoyable experience,”commented the Honourable Charles Washington Misick, Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
“The Government is committed to working with Grand Turk Cruise Center to improve service delivery so that the destination remains competitive, whilst ensuring safety, and providing sustainable economic opportunities.”
Cruise Ships Docked in Grand Turk (Photo Credit: Mateus Andre)
To clarify the new procedure, cruise guests will not need to obtain a day pass to the Grand Turk Cruise Center – that provision applies to local residents only – but cruise travelers will nevertheless be expected to abide by the code of conduct.
While Carnival Cruise Line is the most popular visitor to Grand Turk, other cruise lines – Royal Caribbean International, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, etc. – also visit the destination and will also need to follow the new guidelines.
Biggest Problems in Port
While Grand Turk can be an enjoyable cruise destination with its tropical climate, laid-back atmosphere, and colorful culture, frequent cruise guests have noted some uncomfortable problems.
Transient vendors – those who aren’t authorized to operate in the area – can often be forceful when trying to attract customers, which can make visitors uncomfortable. Similarly, illicit beach chair or umbrella operators may “sell” prime space on the beach to cruise travelers at disparate rates or with poor quality products and service.
Furthermore, reports of selling drugs at the beach area have been frequent, but hopefully this new policy will help curb that illegal activity.
Wherever cruise guests visit, they are always obligated to abide by local laws and regulations. Savvy travelers will double check restrictions for the ports of call they plan to visit and will be on their best behavior as guests in different countries on all their cruise travels.
Guests who are planning to board Carnival Sunshine to embark on a Bahamas cruise on August 8, 2024, may want to pay close attention to their emails and text messages.
The Sunshine-class ship is slated to embark from Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday evening – which unfortunately coincides with when the East Coast port is expected to be slammed by Tropical Storm Debby.
John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, shared a message from the cruise line on his Facebook page on August 6, 2024, to help spread the word.
“Our Fleet Operations Center is actively monitoring Tropical Storm Debby, which is now located off the Georgia and South Carolina coastline. The storm is forecasted to move inland in the upcoming days, impacting the Charleston area Thursday,”read the message from the cruise line.
“Although forecasts can change, at this time, based on the current track, we are expecting Debby to affect our scheduled departure from Charleston,”continued the memo.
It’s currently unclear how much the 4-night sailing will be impacted, but the 27-ship cruise line will continue to monitor the forecast and make adjustments accordingly, with the safety and comfort of its guests and crew members as the top priority.
Assuming all goes to plan, the sailing includes one port call – scheduled for August 10, 2024, at Nassau, Bahamas.
The 3,0006-passenger vessel also isn’t the only Carnival cruise ship to be impacted by Debby’s wrath.
Carnival Paradise had a delayed return to Florida’s Port Tampa Bay, which was temporarily closed due to the storm. As a result, the subsequent sailing – a 6-night Western Caribbean Cruise that was supposed to embark on August 5, 2024 – has been shortened.
Looking at the other cruise lines, Margaritaville at Sea Islander remained stuck at sea until storm conditions passed and couldn’t disembark her sailing as planned in Tampa Bay on Sunday, August 4.
Indeed, Tropical Storm Debby made landfall near the town of Steinhatchee, Florida, over the Big Bend Coast, as a Category 1 hurricane on the morning of Monday, August 5, 2024.
As in Florida, the South Carolina Ports Authority will likely shut down operations at its ports while the Tropical Storm passes through, which is expected to make a second landfall in South Carolina on the morning of August 8 and last through at least August 9.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHS), the storm is expected to bring potentially catastrophic precipitation and flooding – with parts of the Carolinas and Georgia anticipating up to 25 inches of rain.
Tropical Storm Debby Track
“Dangerous storm surge and tropical storm conditions will spread northward along the southeast U.S. coast from northwestern Georgia to North Carolina through Thursday. Storm surge and tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect for portions of these areas,” reads the most recent update from the NHS, which was posted at 11 a.m. EST on Tuesday, August 6.
“Potentially historic heavy rainfall across eastern South Carolina through Friday will likely result in areas of catastrophic flooding,” continued the update.
Sustained winds are expected to reach around 40 mph and will be paired with stronger gusts. The impacted areas may also be impacted by flash flooding, loss of power, and downed trees and power lines – even in the days after the storm passes.
So far, the South Carolina Ports Authority has not announced an official closure, but will be operating with reduced hours at the Port of Charleston and at Inland Port Dillon on Wednesday, August 7, in anticipation of Debby’s arrival.
The gates will close to maritime traffic by 2 p.m. local time at both locations – with additional operational updates expected soon as the storm looms closer.
Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded its fleetwide Military Appreciation Program to members of the Canadian military services, including active troops and veterans in the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Canadian Coast Guard.
Previously, the program was offered to active members and veterans of US forces. The inclusion of Canadian soldiers and veterans is effective starting August 6, 2024 and features a standard 10% cruise fare discount plus an array of onboard amenities and services.
“The NCL family is committed to supporting the military community, and it is an honor to expand the benefits of our Military Appreciation Program to our allies in Canada,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Military Appreciation Program for Canada
“It is a privilege to welcome men and women who have bravely served their countries, along with their families, on board our ships,” added Herrera, who served in the US Army National Guard.
Norwegian Cruise Line launched its Military Appreciation Program, starting with cruises that departed on and after January 1, 2023. Special onboard recognitions that were rolled out include welcome receptions, gifts such as a collectible military challenge coin, pins to designate program participation, and collectible patches customized for each ship in the NCL fleet.
Besides the line’s 10% fare discount, all qualifying military guests can book the cruise line’s Free at Sea promotion, which when added to the discount provides more value to guests.
The Free at Sea program, available for a fee, includes cocktails, beer, and wine under $15; 20% off bottles of wine and champagne; unlimited soda and juices; two specialty dining meals; excursion discounts; and 150 minutes of WiFi.
“The expansion of our Military Appreciation Program is a testament to our organization’s passion for supporting and giving back to military service members,” said Derek Lloyd, vice president of Sales for North America at Norwegian Cruise Line.
“Fostering a sense of community and providing military members with a welcoming environment to relax with family and friends is an honor for Norwegian Cruise Line,” Lloyd added.
In addition to the fare discount and onboard perks, Norwegian Cruise Line recognizes military members in other ways. In May 2024, for instance, the cruise line marked Military Appreciation Month as the lead partner of Fleet Week Miami.
The line hosted high-level military members onboard Norwegian Breakaway at PortMiami, and presented a ceremonial plaque from the cruise line to US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.
In addition to expanding the appreciation program to Canadians, the cruise line recently broadened the eligibility of those serving in other uniformed services of the US government. These included NOAA Corps (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Other Cruise Lines Show Support For Military Members
Several cruise lines besides Norwegian Cruise Line offer special deals and onboard recognition events to military members. Margaritaville at Sea recently announced an expansion of its Heroes Sail Free program to guests sailing aboard its newest ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
The ship, which began sailing for the cruise line in June 2024, is based in Tampa, Florida. The sail-free promotion is identical to 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 are active or retired military members, and their guests.
Onboard appreciation events are a staple onboard Carnival Cruise Line ships. In July 2023, the cruise line altered its existing Military Appreciation Gathering to a full Military Appreciation Day on all North American sailings.
The Fun Ship line also introduced a special beer, with proceeds benefiting Operation Homefront, the non-profit organization that advocates for and supports former service members.
Generally, it’s not difficult to follow the dress code onboard cruise ships. Most of the time, cruisers are simply asked to adhere to “cruise casual” standards when dining onboard.
For example, guests aren’t allowed to only wear their swimwear in the buffet or main dining rooms. Instead, men need to wear a shirt and ladies need to wear a coverup of some sort.
That said, comfortable and easy attire like shorts, T-shirts, jeans, and sundresses are generally all acceptable.
On formal night – which typically happens at least one per sailing to allow guests to dress up and pose for once-in-a-lifetime pictures – ups the ante beyond a typical meal.
While the days of dressing to the nines with tuxedos and long evening dresses or ball gowns have largely become a thing of the past, guests are still encouraged to look their best – such as with nice button down tops or a fancier blouse and skirt.
Of course, a nice pair of shoes, such as a loafer, fashion boot, high heel, or dress sandal can complete the look. But what happens if you’re not able to wear standard “formal night” shoes?
An anonymous guest sought out Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald for advice after she was bashed online for her formal footwear choices, which she selected in order to accommodate a medical condition.
“I have a condition with my feet that does not allow me to wear any dress shoe or tennis shoe. Not for a long period of time anyway. I wear flip flops and sparkly style sandal style flip flops at dinner each night in the MDR and if we go to the steak restaurant for supper,” the recent guest messaged Heald on Facebook.
“I was called ‘trash’ and worse.’ I do not understand why people just cannot deal with it or turn the other way. My flip flops have a cushioned bottom on the inside also so they don’t make noise unless they get wet. I was told that I should not wear these because I am a rule breaker and wearing my shoes is ‘disgusting.’ Help please John, what is the answer,” continued the passenger.
Heald’s sympathetic response encouraged the cruiser not to worry so much about what other passengers may think.
“The answer is wear them. Your feet are under the table, nobody can really see them and if they can and your trotters are encased in a pair of sparkling sandals or a pair of knee high rumpy pumpy boots made of Cleveland leather…who cares, really,” replied Heald.
The comments section proved that Heald’s followers are largely in agreement with the brand ambassador.
Comfort Comes First – Until Crocs Are Involved
In the less than 24 hours since Heald shared the shoe controversy to his Facebook page, the post has garnered more than 1,700 comments – the majority of which sided with Heald and the distraught messenger.
“I also have a medical condition making wearing heels a non-option. I’m medically handicapped due to it. Wear the sandals. Someone will always have an opinion. Let them walk (or stroll) a mile in our shoes and they will realize that’s the least of our concerns,”said one empathetic commenter.
“Wear what makes you comfortable. This is your vacation,” added another.
“I don’t understand why people need others’ approval. She needs to walk in that steakhouse like she owns it!!!,” replied a third.
That said, not all sandals are created equal. While commenters were generally supportive of the first cruiser, some had less love for passengers who dare to don Crocs Sandals – stirring up a whole new controversy.
Crocs Sandles on the Beach (Photo Credit: Kosoff)
“On your shoe post there are people saying they wear Crocs on formal night. IMHO, crocs are just too ugly to wear unless you’re under the age of ten, or have foot problems that make wearing any other shoes extremely uncomfortable. Just saying,”wrote a person named David, who Heald called out in a secondary post.
“Thanks mate, I don’t usually post the names of people but in this case I had to so I could say, please David get a pair of Crocs so I can call you …Davy CROCKett…Oh FFS. Hands up. Who has a pair of Crocs that they wear on their cruises?,”Heald wrote below David’s message.
The post, which has over 1,500 comments after just about 10 hours, has earned a mixed response. Many cruisers sided with David, and made their distaste for Crocs known.
“Never owned a pair and never intend to. And I’m with OP. If you have a medical problem…ok. But I’m sure, like many other things…people that are perfectly fine will just say they have a problem,”replied one person.
“I hate the way classic crocs look and I am sad they have made a come back,”added another user.
On the other side of the spectrum, some responders were big fans of Crocs.
“I pretty much live in croc flops. My son lives in crocs. IYKYK. Mind ya business!,” wrote one commenter.
But even among those who did like Crocs, many felt that they did not belong in the main dining room – and certainly not on formal night.
“I have multiple pairs and styles of Crocs that I wear, but I would not wear any into MDR,”one commenter asserted.
And finally, another sector felt it was none of their business what other passengers chose to wear or found comfortable.
“I have to say that what other people are wearing has never played a role in my cruise enjoyment. Unless it’s a lack of deodorant, abundance of perfume. That has definitely been an issue on my elevator enjoyment,”said one woman.
“How about we just don’t judge each other. What anyone else wears has no effect on me or my cruise,” added someone else.
At the end of the day, guests should elect to wear the shoes that make them feel good. If there are any questions about dress code stipulations, it’s best to refer to the cruise line website or check with crew members onboard rather than turning to other guests – who may potentially offer strong opinions over correct information.
Europe’s leading cruise line is furthering its goal to become Carbon Neutral by 2050. MSC Cruises expects to cut emissions by up to 15 percent with its new itinerary planning optimization tool.
Dubbed OPTICruise, the tool was developed in partnership with the research company OPTIMeasy, based out of the University of Genoa.
The algorithm goes beyond traditional planning methods to include data such as port call sequencing, arrival times, ship speeds, and operational costs. These factors, among many others, are analyzed to optimize itineraries for both energy efficiency and guest appeal.
MSC Bellissima Cruise Ship in Japan (Photo Credit: Princess_Anmitsu)
“We have identified and developed this new technology to optimise the decision-making process of itinerary planning with the aim to further reduce emissions across our fleet from 2026,”said Michele Francioni, the Chief Energy Transition Officer for MSC Cruises.
To test OPTICruise, the 171,598 gross ton MSC Bellissima was analyzed over a 12-month period as it sailed between 17 Mediterranean ports.
The tool was developed as part of Project CHEK, an EU Horizon research project, led by the University of Vaasa in Finland. The CHEK Project is a consortium of organizations, including MSC Cruises, dedicated to developing technologies to aid in the reduction of carbon emissions in the shipping industry.
The introduction of OPTICruise comes as a part of MSC Cruises growing sustainability effort amongst its ever-growing fleet.
“The OPTIMeasy team calculates that the average fuel savings made, and emissions reduced by using OptiCruise are in the range of 10-15 percent which is a significant step forward in our ambition to achieve our net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 for our marine operations,”said Francioni.
Since cruise itineraries are typically planned two years in advance of the sailing, the effects of OPTICruise will not be evident until 2026, by which time MSC Cruises’ fleet will have grown to 24 ships.
MSC’s Efforts To Combat Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of cruising has been historically significant, with one report by GreenMatch UK, holding cruise ships, cargo ships, and other massive ocean vessels collectively responsible for up to 3 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions yearly.
To combat this, MSC Cruises has made strides in recent years towards an energy-efficient future, including a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
According to the 23-ship cruise line’s 2023 Sustainability Report, its fleet carbon intensity has lowered by 37.8% since 2008, despite its fleet growing by 15 ships in the same amount of time.
MSC World Europa Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: HasanZaidi)
For its efforts, the cruise line has been recognized with several awards and was the first cruise line to achieve the highest possible scores in pursuit of the Green Marine Europe Certification.
To reduce emissions, MSC Cruises’ latest two ships—MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia—are powered by LNG. LNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.
In June of 2023, MSC announced plans to connect to shore power in every port in which it is available. In July of 2024, this promise led to the massive 215,863 gross ton MSC World Europa making history as the first ship to plug into shore power at Valletta, Malta. By the end of 2024, 16 of MSC’s ships will be capable of connecting to shore power.
Further eco-friendly efforts by the cruise line have resulted in recognition from NAMEPA (the North American Marine Environmental Protection Agency) and Mission Blue, a non-profit dedicated to the protection of marine ecosystems.
MSC World America, the sister ship to MSC World Europa, will continue the cruise line’s sustainability trend when it debuts in April of 2025.
The P&O Cruises’ logo will soon adorn the uniforms of the Southampton Football Club team members, thanks to a new partnership between the cruise line and the athletic club.
P&O’s logo, showing the cruise line’s name in blue under the image of a golden sun, will be added to the uniform sleeves worn by the club’s men’s, women’s, and academy teams.
The agreement represents the first time that P&O Cruises has partnered with a sports organization, and will give the cruise line exposure to thousands of fans who watch the matches.
P&O Cruises and Southampton FC Kit (Credit: P&O Cruises)
Along with the logo placement, the pact will feature several benefits for the cruise line’s guests and the football club members, such as special cruise offers, tickets to matches, meet-and-greets, and coaching onboard cruise ships.
The football club’s first match of the season, when the logo will make its debut on the uniform sleeves, is set for August 7, 2024, as Southampton Football Club’s men’s First Team takes to the field.
Football fans who buy or already own the football club’s newest replica kits can visit the Southampton Football Club stadium store and have the P&O Cruises logo applied to their shirts free of charge. The offer is valid starting August 6, 2024.
The cruise line, a brand of Carnival Corporation that caters to the UK market, has a long history with Southampton and is a steady presence in the port, with six ships based there during the summer season.
“P&O Cruises is Britain’s favorite cruise line, with a long history sailing from the port of Southampton. Southampton Football Club is one of the oldest and most forward-thinking clubs in English football, with a passionate and dedicated following of supporters in the city and beyond. It is a natural partnership for both of us,” said Paul Ludlow, president of P&O Cruises and Carnival UK.
“Investing in our home port regions and in the communities in which we live and visit is vitally important to us and this partnership underpins our commitment to the region,” added Ludlow.
The sponsorship agreement is described as a multi-year partnership, although the cruise line did not disclose the timeframe, nor any financial arrangement between the two entities.
“P&O Cruises is an organization right at the heart in our city, much like us. With customer service and local community central to its business, its values are aligned to our own,” said Phil Parsons, CEO of Southampton Football Club.
“We look forward to what this partnership will bring to our fans and the local community,” Parsons added.
Cruise Line Offers Variety of Sailings From Southampton
P&O Cruise’s ships currently operating from Southampton include the 3,600-guest Britannia; Iona and Arvia, both accommodating 5,200 guests; the 3,100-guest Ventura; the 2,100-guest Arcadia; and the 1,878-guest Aurora.
Britannia will celebrate her 10th anniversary in 2025, with a special British Isles voyage. The 14-night cruise will feature Belfast’s Giant’s Causeway, in Northern Ireland, along with a Liverpool Beatles-themed itinerary.
The ship is sailing a variety of itineraries from Southampton, including an August 16, 2024 departure of a 14-night Mediterranean Islands cruise. The voyage calls at Cadiz, Ibiza, Mallorca, Alicante, Cartagena, all in Spain; and Gibraltar.
P&O Cruises’ newest ship, Arvia, on August 18, 2024 will begin a 14-night France and Spain cruise from the UK port. Cruise watchers will recall that the ship was the industry’s first to hold a beachside naming ceremony at a Caribbean island.
Arvia celebrated her christening in Barbados in March 2023, as the ship began her seasonal deployment there.
Iona, Ventura, Arcadia, and Aurora all currently sail from Southampton on itineraries that range from 3-day getaways to Guernsey, Channel Islands, to 7-day Norwegian fjords voyages, and 14-day cruises through the Mediterranean.
While Port Tampa Bay has reopened after successful inspections following Hurricane Debby’s passage, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise is slightly delayed from her expected arrival for debarkation and embarking the next, now-shortened sailing.
The cruise line alerted guests on Tuesday morning, August 6, that it would be necessary to shift their arrival times to the cruise port.
Now, guests have been advised of another brief delay. Text alerts and automated phone calls have been sent to all booked guests.
“For embarkation Tuesday, August 6, 2024, guests should arrive for check-in two hours later than their pre-selected terminal arrival appointments,”the notification read.“All guests must be on board by 4:00 PM for departure shortly thereafter.”
For example, if a guest had a chosen an 11-11:30 a.m. cruise terminal arrival time when they completed their check-in, their new arrival time would now be 1-1:30 p.m.
“Thank you everyone for please adhering to this request and that way we can get you on the ship ready for the brilliant crew to bring you the FUN you have been waiting for,”said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador.
Satellite tracking data confirmed that Carnival Paradise was still approaching the cruise terminal at 9:30 a.m. Typically when cruise ships return to their homeport, they arrive alongside the dock at 5-6 a.m. for customs and immigration processing, with debarkation beginning within a couple of hours.
The nature of the further delay this morning has not been specified. It is possible that fog caused some navigational difficulties in Tampa Bay, which is common and can last for several hours.
It is also possible that the post-storm inspections took longer than initially expected, or that some minor repairs to port facilities were necessary before ships could be cleared to return.
Nevertheless, the 71,925-gross-ton, Fantasy class cruise ship is ready to welcome her next group of guests. While the cruise has been shortened and the itinerary adjusted – Mahogany Bay, Roatan is cancelled as a port of call – Carnival Paradise‘s 920 international crew members are ready to ensure everyone aboard has as much fun as possible.
Compensation Offered for Shortened Sailing
Because Carnival Paradise has been so dramatically impacted by Port Tampa Bay’s closure and the passing storm, guests are receiving significant compensation.
All travelers on what was to have been the August 5, 2024 departure (now August 6) are receiving a one-day, prorated refund of their cruise fare.
Similarly, a one-day refund of any pre-paid packages based on cruise length, including gratuities, the Cheers! or Bottomless Bubbles drink packages, and WiFi access is also being provided.
Carnival Cruise Line is also giving a $100 (USD) per stateroom onboard credit as a courtesy to all guests.
Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship
Any guests with airline change fees or non-refundable costs associated with the change in cruise departure can submit their original tickets and change fee receipts for reimbursement consideration.
Carnival Cruise Line will pay up to $200 per person for those expenses. Guests who booked airfare through the cruise line’s FLY2FUN program have had their flights changed automatically without additional charges.
Finally, if passengers are unable to sail on the now-shortened cruise, they will receive a 100% future cruise credit for the fare and a full refund of any pre-purchased items, subject to terms and conditions.
Carnival Paradise is homeported year-round from Tampa, Florida. She offers 4-, 5-, and 6-night Western Caribbean cruises, calling on Roatan, Cozumel, Belize, and Grand Cayman, depending on the cruise length and departure date.
The ship also offers occasional Bahamas itineraries, and will be one of the first ships to visit the new Celebration Key when it opens in August 2025.
Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas interrupted her current sailing, a 7-night Greek Isles cruise, to rescue 77 refugees in the Ionian Sea during the overnight hours from Monday, August 5 to Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
The rescue operation was carried out without hesitation at the request of Greek authorities when the overcrowded sailboat was spotted in distress.
According to ABC News, a cargo ship spotted the refugee craft approximately 129 miles southwest of Pylos early Tuesday morning. Odyssey of the Seas was contacted to assist, and immediately diverted to the south of her sailing route.
Upon arrival, the 167,704-gross-ton, Quantum-Ultra class cruise ship lowered a lifeboat as well as its pilot craft to make contact with the smaller vessel.
The sailboat was overloaded with migrants, but every individual was able to be brought safely onboard Odyssey of the Seas. No details about their nationalities or the reason for their distress were available.
Video of the rescue showed the overcrowded sailboat with its sail raised, but it was not making any headway and appeared to be stranded. Some reports mention a fire or even capsizing, but this has not been confirmed and is not evident from the video.
The rescue operation took several hours, and refugees were not permitted to bring many of their belongings aboard the cruise ship.
As is standard procedure with rescues, they would have been given food, water, and medical attention as needed, and kept under supervision in crew-only areas. Local authorities would also have been kept apprised of their condition and any unusual circumstances.
After all the refugees were aboard, the sailboat was left adrift, as is common with refugee craft. Odyssey of the Seas then proceeded to Kalamata to debark the unexpected passengers, where Greek authorities took care of their processing.
Because of the unexpected diversion, Odyssey of the Seas was unable to make her port visit to Santorini as planned on Tuesday, August 6. The ship’s itinerary will be adjusted to compensate for the rescue, with Santorini hoped to be rescheduled for later in the sailing.
Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: MagioreStock)
The original itinerary included visits to Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, and Naples, before the ship returns to her homeport of Civitavecchia (Rome). Odyssey of the Seas is remaining homeported in Italy through the end of October, offering a variety of Greek Isles and Turkey itineraries.
On November 3, 2024, the ship will embark a 14-night transatlantic crossing to Cape Liberty, where she will be homeported for the winter to offer Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries. In late April 2025, Odyssey of the Seas will return to Civitavecchia for another Mediterranean season.
Migrant Rescues in the Mediterranean
Migration between the Middle East and Greece is common, with many refugees fleeing various conflicts in the hope of a better, safer life. Migrants may come from various Middle Eastern countries as well as Africa and Asia, attempting to enter the European Union.
According to FrontEx, the border guard for the European Union, there have been 25,000 illegal immigrant crossings in the eastern Mediterranean so far in 2024. The majority of the migrants originate from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Turkey.
Celebrity Beyond Rescue (Footage Credit: Captain Kate McCue)
Cruise ships regularly respond to refugee rescues, as the safety of everyone at sea is always the highest priority for any vessel, regardless of the circumstances.
For example, in August 2023, Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class Celebrity Beyond assisted in a rescue of more than 200 migrants from a drifting vessel in roughly the same area as Odyssey of the Seas‘ rescue operation. At that time, Celebrity Beyond offered support to other craft performing the actual rescue, and no refugees were brought onboard the cruise ship.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) governs the safety of all maritime vessels and dictates how vessels must respond to emergency situations. All ships are required to respond to distress situations so long as they are able to do so without putting themselves in similar danger.
Kudos to the officers and crew of Odyssey of the Seas for committing to the rescue operation and safeguarding so many lives.
Carnival cruise gratuities may come as a surprise during your first sailing. They’re not included in your initial fare price and some cruisers can be very vocal about how much they dislike them, while others say they’re a necessary part of the cruising experience. Here’s what you need to know.
As of mid-2024, Carnival Cruise gratuities are $16 per person, per day, if you’re staying in a standard stateroom. If you’re staying in a suite, the gratuities are $18 per person, per day.
It’s worth noting that cruise gratuities can increase over time. Carnival upped its gratuities in April of 2023. Previously, Carnival gratuities were $14.50 per guest, per day, for guests in standard staterooms, and $16.50 per guest, per day, for guests in suites. Before the 2023 increase, the last increase occurred in 2022.
However, in a February 2 announcement, Carnival said it will increase gratuities once again starting from April 2, 2026. For regular staterooms, the new rate will be $17 per guest per day. For suites, the rate will be $19 per guest per day.
While these numbers can seem pretty affordable at first, do keep in mind that they really can add up and make your cruise cost more than you originally expected. You can calculate the cost and compare your gratuities by using our tool here.
How to Pay Carnival Cruise Gratuities
You can pay for your Carnival cruise gratuities in two ways. Many guests choose to prepay for their gratuities. You can pre-pay for your gratuities at the time of booking or at any time up until your sail date.
If you booked directly with Carnival, you can pre-pay online; if you booked with a travel agent, they can handle this prepayment for you. You’ll see pre-payments for gratuities filed under “Miscellaneous Charge” in your documentation.
Carnival Cruise Ships Docked in the Bahamas (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
What is the benefit of pre-paying for your Carnival cruise gratuities?
If there is another increase in gratuity fees, between your pre-payment and the cruise embarking, you’ll only have to pay the fee that you’ve already paid. The new fee won’t apply to you.
So, in essence, pre-paid gratuities could possibly save you some cash. (And if you think it’s unlikely that the gratuity fees will go up again, consider that they did go up in both 2022 and 2023 — so it’s not the craziest idea that another increase is on the horizon.)
If, though, you do not pre-pay for your Carnival cruise gratuities, then the fees will be added to your Sail & Sign account on the second-to-last day of your cruise.
At that time, if you have any concerns or don’t wish to pay the full gratuity fee, you can take that issue up with Guest Services. After you disembark, the fee is considered final.
Do All Guests Have to Pay Gratuities on a Carnival Cruise?
Gratuities apply to all guests staying in a cabin or suite, except for children under the age of two. Additionally, you’ll still pay the same gratuities, regardless of where you ate or what you did during your cruise.
Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin / Shutterstock
For example, if you think you can save on gratuities by eating in a casual dining restaurant or at the buffet every night, versus at a sit-down dinner in the main dining room, think again.
Likewise, if you ask for your room not to be cleaned for a certain number of days during your cruise, you won’t save money on tips for the cleaning staff.
Can Carnival Cruise Gratuities Be Removed?
Technically, yes, Carnival cruise gratuities can be removed from your bill. You just need to go to the guest services desk and ask for them to be removed.
You will be asked to provide a reason for this removal, and the customer service representative may tell you that this decision will negatively impact the crew members. However, other than possibly a little social awkwardness, it’s that easy.
Despite this ease, though, there are mixed feelings on opting out of Carnival cruise gratuities. It’s quite the controversial topic in the cruising world.
Should You Opt Out of Paying Carnival Cruise Gratuities?
Just because you can do something, that doesn’t always mean you should. So should you opt out of paying Carnival Cruise gratuities?
Some worry that 100% of the fee doesn’t truly go to the crew (like Carnival says it does). Accordingly, some opt to simply tip crew members directly, with cash, over the course of the cruise.
Meanwhile, others argue that staff actually prefer to get the gratuity money divided up via the gratuity fees, rather than relying on one-off cash tips, and that one-off tips never make it to the behind-the-scenes crew members, like dishwashers.
To get around these worries, some cruisers opt to both pay the Carnival cruise gratuity fee, but then also tip on top of that, individually giving out tips to acknowledge a job well done.
In another cruising Reddit thread, one cruiser posted that the gratuity fee doesn’t really add anything extra to crew members’ salaries. Instead, Carnival just puts the fee toward the money they’re contracted to pay the crew members, and then, if not enough people pay their gratuities during a cruise, Carnival pays for the difference.
Should You Worry About What Carnival Does With Your Gratuities?
In short, there’s a lot of speculation regarding what Carnival does or doesn’t do with their gratuity fees. There are a lot of questions regarding how much crew members get paid and how much of those payments are gratuities and how much are true salaries. In fact, there have been so many rumors floating around that, in 2023, Carnival had to address them.
In August 2023, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald addressed the aforementioned rumor that cruiser-paid gratuities are used to pay the bulk of crew members’ contracted wages, and then Carnival just makes up any difference, if there is any.
Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line
He said, “Normally I would never comment on this, but let me say categorically that this is nonsense, totally 100% false and 100% inaccurate. We do not use the gratuities you so graciously give to ‘pay the crew.’ It is utter fabrication and untrue.”
With that rumor put to rest, it’s pretty safe to say that crew members have a salary and all gratuities are given to crew members on top of that salary, as a bonus.
Is There a Best Way to Tip on Carnival Cruises?
At the end of the day, the general consensus seems to be that the socially “right” thing to do is to pay the gratuities fee unless you experience truly very bad service. If that’s the case, talk to the customer services desk to see how you can lower that fee.
Otherwise, pay the fee, and then tip with cash, separately, to acknowledge specific crew members who go above and beyond with exceptional service to make your trip more enjoyable.
Can I Tip Crew Members More?
Yes, if you want to tip crew members more, above and beyond the flat-fee gratuity rate, you are more than welcome to do so! For example, you may want to give a tip to the room service staff, when they drop off your food, or you may want to leave a tip at a specialty restaurant.
If you do decide to tip extra, some cruisers recommend tipping your main dining room waiters and stateroom stewards or butlers on the first night of your cruise. This, they say, leads to better overall service throughout the cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line Crew (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
So how much should you expect to tip?
Frequent cruisers recommend tipping a few dollars to porters who help with your bags; a few dollars per day to your room steward, if they go above and beyond; under $50 to your main dining room wait staff, if they, again, went above and beyond; and a few dollars for room service, per each order.
That said, do be careful not to overtip! For example, when you get a receipt to sign at the bar, an 18% service fee will already be added to the receipt. This counts as your tip. If you want to add another tip on top of this fee, go ahead, but just recognize that a gratuity fee is already included.
Can I Use Carnival Onboard Credits for Gratuities?
Yes! If you have some onboard credits to use — like if your booking came with some or you took advantage of one of Carnival’s special offers — you can actually use those to pay for your gratuities.
Just refrain from pre-paying for your gratuities, ahead of your cruise, and then ask for that credit to be used toward your total costs at the end of your cruise, including gratuity fees.
Which Crew Members are Carnival Gratuities For?
The service and gratuity fee is intended to show appreciation to crew members throughout the ship. However, Carnival gratuities, while split 100% equally between these crew members, do not go to all crew members on a ship.
According to the cruise line, Carnival gratuities go to stateroom attendants, housekeeping staff, dining and culinary services team members, and behind-the-scenes team members.
Out of the per-day, per-person amount that you might pay in gratuity fees, the majority goes to the dining team, then the housekeeping team, and then a few dollars of that per person, per day goes to “alternative services.”
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
Carnival gratuities do not go to bar staff, shopping staff, casino staff, spa staff or any department not directly operated by Carnival Cruise Line.
Bar staff gratuities are added on to your receipt for all beverage purchases, at a rate of 18% of your bill. An additional 18% service charge is also applied to your bills at Chef’s Table, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Bonsai Sushi, Emeril’s Bistro, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse, and Seafood Shack. An 18% service fee is also applied to any room service orders.
That said, if you want to prepay for your bar staff gratuities as well, you can do so by booking the Carnival Cheers package ahead of your cruise. This drink package gives you up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, during your cruise.
Then, the 18% service charge is added to your drink package purchase, rather than to each individual drink that you purchase during your trip.
Unlike the daily gratuity fees that apply to your cruise overall, these 18% service charges cannot be negotiated or removed, and are automatically added to your bill.
Final Thoughts
While tipping on a cruise can be a controversial topic — or, more accurately, having those gratuities automatically applied to your bill can be a controversial topic — tipping ensures that the cruising industry continues to provide you with the same great experiences and service you know and love.
Be sure that the shipboard staff on your favorite cruise ships can continue doing their jobs, by factoring in the cost of gratuities into your overall travel budget. It might be an annoyance to some, but it’s a necessity. Your generosity can help ensure the overall cruise experience remains enjoyable.
