Have you ever wanted to go on a ship’s very first cruise? Now is your chance to book the inaugural trip on Royal Caribbean’s third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas.
It might be a long wait for this vessel’s first cruise – which is currently scheduled for the end of Summer in 2026 – but there is no harm in planning ahead for this rare opportunity.
The 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise will be round-trip out of Barcelona, Spain – departing on August 2 and returning on August 9, 2026.
The itinerary is packed with stunning and historic locations along the Mediterranean – such as Palma de Mallorca in Spain and Florence, Rome, and Naples in Italy.
The 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise is round-trip out of Barcelona, Spain – departing on August 2 and returning on August 9, 2026.
Following the unveiling of the ship’s name, which Cruise Hive reported on, I’ve decided to dive into the pricing to see just how affordable – or not – this ship is.
The most affordable room – an interior cabin – goes for $1,998 per person per night. I will spare you doing the math – for 1 person on this cruise, it will cost $5,624 in the cheapest cabin. While you won’t have a window, you will at least have a TV and a desk!
On the other end of the spectrum, Royal Suite Class staterooms such as the Royal Loft Suite cost up to $51,246 per person.
Hypothetically, let’s say a family of 4 – 2 adults and 2 children – stay in the Royal Loft Suite on this cruise. This would cost that family $150,460.
Starting in October, 2026, Legend of the Seas will also offer 3-night Western Mediterranean cruises – which are significantly more affordable. The very first one of these cruises departs on October 22 out of Rome, Italy.
An interior cabin runs at $1,017 per person per night – where staterooms in the Royal Suite Class start at $3,344 per person per night.
The largest suite available on this cruise is the Icon Loft Suite, which will cost $17,368 for a single individual for the entire cruise.
Legend of the Seas Off to the Caribbean
Lucky for cruise goers, the very first cruise Legend of the Seas has scheduled in the Bahamas is a bit more affordable than the inaugural Mediterranean itinerary. With its affordability also comes a trade-off – there is only one stop.
Interior cabins start at just $895 per person per night – making the most affordable room on this new ship $2,140 for the 3-night cruise.
On the flip side, Royal Suite Class staterooms start at $1,793 per person per night. These suites are great for families and large groups – but for 1 person on the cruise, it will cost $3,928.
However, an interior room on the inaugural cruise is $5,624 – so $3,928 for a suite is not such a bad deal. Cruise math at its finest!
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas
One bonus is that the first cruise in the Caribbean is eligible for Kids Sail Free savings – when this promotion is available, guests 12 years old and younger get free cruise fares.
If you are looking into one of Legend of the Seas’ longer tropical itineraries, it will start offering both 6 and 8-night Western Caribbean cruises just in time to escape the winter weather.
The ship will depart on its first 8-day Western Caribbean cruise on November 14, 2025 – stopping in Willemstad, Curacao and Oranjestad, Aruba, as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Cabins range in price from $4,346 for interior cabins – to a staggering $149,396 for the most expensive suite.
Departing on November 22, 2026, Legend of the Seas will go on its first 6-day Western Caribbean cruise – making stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as Falmouth, Jamaica and Labadee, Haiti.
Prices range from $3,571 for an interior cabin – to $10,968 for a suite – all the way up to $124,510 for the Royal Loft Suite.
Before Legend of the Seas arrives, we’ve still got sister ship Star of the Seas, which will debut in summer of 2025.
Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore are experiencing some new and refreshed spaces thanks to the ship’s recently completed two-week dry dock.
The ship is the fourth in the line’s Breakaway Plus class, following Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Joy. The 4,000-guest mega-ship launched in 2019.
Among the planned enhancements the cruise line announced in August 2024, guests are now enjoying Spice H2O, the free adults-only outdoor area located on the ship’s main pool deck. The space, which debuted with the Breakaway Plus class of ships, has multiple hot tubs, spacious day beds, pools, and a dedicated bar area.
Limited to guests 18 and older, Spice H20 is a complimentary alternative to the line’s Vibe Beach Club, which also is an adult-only area but charges an entry fee.
Norwegian Encore’s dry dock included major renovations to The Haven, the line’s ship-with-in-a-ship private area featuring luxury accommodations, lounge areas, concierge services, and restaurants.
The ship’s Premier Owner’s Suites were expanded to three bedrooms, up from two, and the living room and master bedroom were renovated. The suites also received new balcony furnishings, and a dining room.
Improvements to Norwegian Encore featured several dining venue changes, too. Two specialty restaurants, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Teppanyaki, were expanded and the Ocean Blue restaurant was replaced by Palomar, which features Mediterranean cuisine.
The dry dock also repurposed some of the ship’s Observation Lounge into 24 additional balcony cabins and two club balcony cabins.
It was not all smooth sailing, however, as the clock ran out on the scheduled dry dock before some of the upgrades were completed.
The 169,116-gross-ton ship was in dry dock from November 18 to December 2, 2024, and returned to service on December 3, 2024. Her 12-night transatlantic crossing from Southampton to PortMiami began without all work completed.
Norwegian Encore’s Premier Owner’s Suites (Photo Courtesy: NCL)
For instance, the expansion of Teppanyaki was not finished by embarkation day and work continued on the eatery, which was closed to guests until December 8, 2024.
Also, Spice H20 required more space than originally estimated, and as a result the ship permanently closed the Laser Tag area, using that space for the adult-only retreat.
Norwegian Encore Will Deploy to Alaska in Spring 2025
Through March 2025, Norwegian Encore is sailing 7-night Caribbean voyages that call at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, USVI; Tortola, BVI; and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
On March 30, 2025, the ship will sail a 21-night Panama Canal: Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica voyage as Norwegian Encore repositions to the US West Coast. The ship is due to arrive in Seattle on April 20, 2025, where she will be based for seasonal Alaska cruises.
The 7-night voyages will call at pristine Alaskan ports such as Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, British Columbia, with scenic cruising through Glacier Bay. Norwegian Encore will return to PortMiami at the conclusion of her Alaska deployment in fall 2025.
Norwegian Encore Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Norwegian Cruise Line also recently upgraded Norwegian Bliss, which was dry docked from January 17 to February 2, 2025. Among the improvements the ship received was a new cinema concept, Silver Screen Bistro, and an outdoor recreation area called Horizon Park.
Like Norwegian Encore, the 4,000-guest ship also received expanded venues for Cagney’s Steakhouse and Teppanyaki, and enhancements to The Haven.
Meanwhile, the 3,900-guest Norwegian Breakaway entered dry dock on February 19, 2025 and will return to service on March 14, 2025. The ship will receive an outdoor activity area called The Stadium as well as Horizon Park.
Like the other ships, Cagney’s Steakhouse will be expanded on Norwegian Breakaway, and Ocean Blue will transform into Palomar. The Vibe Beach Club and The Haven Sundeck also will be expanded.
Galveston processes a huge number of cruise passengers each year. In fact, in 2024, Galveston Wharves set a new record, with more than 3 million cruisers setting sail from this Texas destination near Houston.
That said, you might be surprised to know that, for all these people, Galveston only has three cruise terminals (much less than, say, Port Everglades, which has eight terminals to handle its near-same number of cruisers).
If you’re planning on cruising from Galveston soon, here’s everything you need to know about these three terminals, for the most convenient, easiest embarkation possible.
In 2024, Galveston remained the fourth most popular cruise port in North America, as well as the eighth busiest cruise port in the world, with nearly 400 sailings and the aforementioned 3 million-plus cruisers hitting the open seas from Galveston Island, heading to popular cruise ship ports of call like the Western Caribbean, Cozumel and Costa Maya.
The Galveston Cruise Port’s three cruise terminals are Cruise Terminal 10, Cruise Terminal 25, and Cruise Terminal 28.
From these three terminals, the following cruise lines offer service: Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.
Cruise Terminal 25 primarily hosts Carnival Cruise Line ships. Cruise Terminal 10 hosts primarily Royal Caribbean ships. Cruise Terminal 28 hosts the remaining lines.
The Future of the Port of Galveston
Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal 16
It’s expected that even more passengers will sail from the Galveston Port in 2025. Current projections anticipate 3.6 million passengers will cruise from this already thriving maritime commercial center in 2025, with more than 400 sailings. This is partially the case because the port will open a new, fourth terminal in 2025.
The new Cruise Terminal 16 is anticipated to cost more than $150 million and will be primarily dedicated to MSC Cruises, which currently doesn’t even serve Galveston, making this an especially exciting development.
MSC Cruises plans to base MSC Seascape here, year-round, when the terminal begins operations. The terminal, when it opens hopefully in November 2025, will measure in at about 165,000 square feet and will also bring with it a new, adjacent parking garage, adding to the already plentiful Galveston parking options.
Renderings of the anticipated new terminal show very large, spacious embarkation and disembarkation areas capable of accommodating large crowds, and sleek, contemporary décor.
Galveston Cruise Terminal 10
Royal Caribbean’s Galveston Terminal (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
Galveston’s Cruise Terminal 10 opened in 2022, so it’s still relatively new. Made possible via a partnership with Royal Caribbean — the main cruise line to use this terminal — it cost an impressive $125 million to build. It accommodates well over half-a-million cruise passengers per year.
Since the terminal is only a few years old, it still feels modern and up-to-date inside. You’ll see Royal Caribbean branding on the exterior, which features a contemporary blue, geometric motif. The interior is very spacious, and offers lots of seating and décor in Royal Caribbean-familiar shades of blue.
The artistic flair from the exterior continues on past the terminal entrance, with art installations like “The Galveston Beach Trio,” a series of instrument-playing animals.
The terminal is also capable of hosting some of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, such as those within the Oasis class: Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.
The majority of these ships have set size records as they’ve debuted in past years and, as such, haven’t always been able to sail from just any port.
While Terminals 25 and 28 are relatively close to one another, this terminal sits quite a ways away, about a mile from Terminals 25 and 28.
Amenities
Zero Energy Cruise Terminal Infographic
The 200,000-square-foot terminal complex on 10 acres of land is the world’s first zero-energy cruise terminal, as well as the first terminal in Texas to achieve LEED Gold certification.
You can see this commitment to sustainability through the terminal’s solar panels, bike racks, EV charging stations and more. Additionally, the terminal incorporates a large degree of tech-savvy amenities, including facial recognition and mobile check-in capabilities.
Designed to somewhat mimic an airport terminal, Terminal 10 has similar amenities and a similar layout, with “arrivals” on the terminal’s first floor and check-in on the terminal’s second floor. There are multiple lounge areas to sit and wait for embarkation.
Drop Off and Pick Up
Royal Caribbean’s Galveston Cruise Terminal
There is a pick-up and drop-off ground transportation area right next to the Cruise Terminal 10 pier, off Royal Caribbean Way. Private cars, as well as Lyft and Uber services, can easily access this drop-off/pick-up point.
You’ll want to use the below address (1028 Harborside Drive) to get there, but the small loop road where you’ll be dropped off or picked up is technically Royal Caribbean Way if you look at a map, either Google Maps or one of the port’s official parking maps.
Speaking of parking, there are several parking lots nearby, within walking distance, including the port’s North Lot and North Premium Lot (the premium lot is just “premium” because it’s covered). If you’re driving your own car, you can park at either of these lots for under $30 per day.
This terminal, formerly known as Terminal 1, was expanded in 2010, for Carnival Cruise Line’s usage and the line’s older Dream-class ships. As such, it’s quite a bit older than Cruise Terminal 10.
However, in 2023, it did receive some further renovations to better serve Carnival Cruise Line’s newer ships, including the line’s Excel-class ships (which currently include Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee).
These most recent renovations totaled an estimated $53 million, and renovations included improving border patrol facilities, erecting new gangways, expanding passenger and luggage areas, building a new roof, redesigning the terminal’s interior, adding nearby parking spots and adding escalators and elevators.
The result is a terminal that can handle far more passengers, more efficiently and more comfortably.
That said, while the “new” Terminal 25 certainly feels fresh, some of the décor choices do feel like a bit of a throwback to Carnival Cruises’ earlier years, with, for example, a color palette that’s a mix of bright orange, blue and mustard yellow.
Drop Off and Pick Up
Port of Galveston, Texas (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Passengers can be picked up and dropped off right at Terminal 25, at 2502 Harborside Drive. If you need to park, parking attendants will direct you to a lot, but otherwise porters will help you with your luggage, if needed.
If you decide to park a long distance away from the terminal, shuttle services are available. Shuttles run regularly during embarkation hours.
Cruise Lines at This Terminal: Primarily Carnival, but also could include Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruises depending upon scheduling
Galveston Cruise Terminal 28
Photo Credit: Port of Galveston
Formerly known as Terminal 2, this terminal was once primarily used by Royal Caribbean until the cruise line established its own dedicated terminal with the newer Terminal 10.
With infrastructure originally designed to accommodate Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class ships (Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas), the cruise line’s larger group of newer ships have far surpassed this class in size, requiring more space as can be found at Terminal 10.
Drop Off and Pick Up
Cruise travelers can be picked up and dropped immediately in front of Terminal 28, at 2502 Harborside Drive. Parking lots are nearby, but porters will be there to help you with your luggage, if needed.
Carnival Cruise Line’s official Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has set sail this week on his “For Fun’s Sake” cruise, and is wrapping up the popular voyage with exclusive gifts for travelers.
The “FFS” cruises are an annual tradition with Heald and give Carnival cruise fans the opportunity to meet him and enjoy unique and insightful question-and-answer sessions, cocktail parties, and other special events.
The current FFS cruise is aboard Carnival Magic, which departed Miami, Florida on Sunday, February 16 and has visited Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. A day at sea will conclude the 6-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, and the ship will return to Miami on Saturday, February 22.
One of the most coveted parts of this exclusive cruise is the FFS swag for guests registered for the event. At the end of the sailing, Heald hosts a signing event and each guest also gets a lovely gift as a memorable souvenir for the voyage.
Aboard Carnival Magic, the signing event was held on Friday morning, the last sea day of the voyage. Even though it was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., excited guests were lining up well before that time for their chance to meet Heald, thank him for all the fun, and pick up their gifts.
“As you can see, people are very excited for me to sign things, so I think we better open the doors early,”Heald said, walking down the ship’s promenade alongside a very long line outside the Spotlight Lounge.
Guests brought a variety of items for Heald to sign, including photos, door magnets, shirts, rubber ducks, and more. Some guests arrived as early as 6:30 a.m. to line up ahead of the three-hour event.
The gift Heald is presenting to his FFS guests is a lovely coffee mug with a lid. The mug features a raised FFS logo with the ship’s name, date of the sailing, and “Cruise With John Heald” on the side.
Guests are also receiving a second gift, a pair of FFS towel clips in an oversized clothespin design, also with the ship’s name and sailing date.
“You can either use it as a towel clip, or if you’ve got very big underpants, you can wash them on the line and you can put them there,”Heald quipped.
Heald is well known for his tongue-in-cheek humor, no matter what type of situation he may be faced with either in person or through his popular Facebook page. Each week, he responds to hundreds of comments, requests, inquiries, and complaints, always trying to help guests have a great cruise experience.
Carnival Cruise Line Gifts
Carnival Cruise Line offers exclusive gifts through the “Very Important Fun Person” (VIFP) loyalty program once guests have reached the Gold, Platinum, or Diamond tier.
At the Gold tier, VIFP guests receive a pin on every sailing, customized with the year. Platinum and Diamond level cruisers also receive a pin, but it is a different design and includes the ship’s name, making them very sought after as collectible souvenirs.
Platinum and Diamond guests also receive a VIFP logo gift on each sailing. Those gifts are not available for retail purchase, and the item changes periodically.
Guests do not need to reach a certain level of the VIFP club in order to join Heald on a FFS cruise, and the gifts offered during the sailing are for all registered guests for the event, regardless of loyalty status.
While this year’s FFS sailing is now drawing to a close, the 2026 cruise is sure to be announced soon for travelers to join in. In the past, Heald has made appearances on different ships and different itineraries, trying to share the FFS love with as many guests as possible.
These are not full-ship charter sailings but the spaces for Heald’s events do fill up quickly, and interested guests and Heald fans should make their reservations right away to be part of the next FFS cruise.
True crime buffs and amateur sleuths can test their skills, learn from crime experts, and enjoy the company of like-minded cruisers onboard the “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise,” a voyage setting sail in early 2026.
Operated aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s 3,883-guest Norwegian Joy, the crime-focused 4-night cruise will sail roundtrip from PortMiami on January 26, 2026, and feature one port call at Nassau, Bahamas.
Wondery is a podcast studio and network that hosts several popular crime podcasts, and the hosts of some of them will be sailing onboard the cruise. Guests will have chances to meet and interact with the podcast hosts.
The voyage also will have two special guests — John and Callahan Walsh, the co-hosts of the long-running hit TV show “America’s Most Wanted,” which first aired in 1988. The show ran for 24 seasons and solved nearly 1,200 crime cases.
Guests sailing on the themed voyage will have plenty of opportunities to learn about crime-solving tactics, including forensic science, criminal profiles, and investigative techniques, during panel discussions and presentations.
Among the planned activities are a live murder mystery show in which the audience helps solve a fictional crime by using clues and interrogating suspects; a program called Historical True Crime that revisits famous crimes of the past; true crime trivia games; self-defense classes; and themed dance parties, among others.
Podcast hosts scheduled to sail on the voyage include Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala, co-hosts of Redhanded; Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi, co-hosts of Scamfluencers; Aaron Habel and Justin Evans, co-hosts of Generation Why; Carl Miller, host of Kill List; and Tracy Pattin, host of Hollywood & Crime.
Additionally, cruisers will gain insights into the criminal mind from a raft of true crime experts, including Susan Constantine, specializing in body language; Kris Mohandie, a forensic psychologist; Alilna Burroughs, a blood spatter expert; Cece Moore, a genetic genealogist; and Tori Telfer, a crime reporter.
Also, Robert Souza and Tom Lange, both former Los Angeles police officers skilled in solving robberies and homicides, will provide a law enforcement perspective.
Several of the podcasters will be available for photo ops with guests. The pre-arranged photo sessions vary based on the cruise package booked by guests.
Cruise Packages Offered for ‘Sleuths and Detectives’
Two packages are offered to those booking the true crime cruise: Silver Sleuths and Diamond Detectives.
The Silver Sleuths plan covers the 4-night cruise fare, all meals at included dining venues, basic beverages (not alcoholic), access to the podcast hosts and the various activities, one photo op with a podcaster, and True Crime Cruise credentials.
Cruise fares range from $1,335 per person, double occupancy, for an interior cabin, to $1,795 per person, double, for a balcony cabin, and $3,535 per person, double for a large penthouse suite.
Crime Cruise Details
The Diamond Detectives plan includes all of the Silver Sleuth amenities plus accommodations in The Haven, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private, key-card-access luxury area.
Additional perks include exclusive experiences with the podcasters, early entry to meet-and-greet events and photo ops, and a special gift.
Fares for the enhanced package range from $3,935 per person, double, in a penthouse suite to $4,335 per person, double, for a two-bedroom family villa with balcony.
None of the cruise fares cover crew member tips, alcoholic beverages, room service, WiFi access, shore excursions, or specialty dining.
Norwegian Joy offers five dining venues included in all base fares — three main dining rooms, Manhattan Room, Taste, and Savor, plus the Garden Cafe buffet, and the Local Bar & Grill. For those booking accommodations in The Haven, a private venue, The Haven Restaurant, also is available.
Guests will pay extra to dine in the ship’s 8 specialty restaurants, which include the popular Cagney’s Steakhouse, the seafood-focused Ocean Blue, and La Cucina, serving Italian fare.
Captain Kate McCue is the first American woman captain on a large cruise and is currently the master of Celebrity Beyond. However, she’s notable for so much more — here’s everything you might need to know.
According to McCue’s website, she’s long been an avid fan of cruising. Born in 1978, she took her first cruise at just 12 years of old (to the Bahamas), and then she decided she’d like to pursue a career as a cruise director.
However, her open-minded father encouraged her to think about all the various different careers that exist on a cruise ship. This prompted McCue to decide that, perhaps, she might become a cruise ship captain.
2. She Has Always Had a Career in Sailing or Cruising
Captain Kate McCue
While some of us hop from job to job before settling on a career path, this wasn’t the case for Kate McCue.
McCue’s College Years
That determination, as a preteen, to enter the cruise industry continued throughout her college years. She attended the California State University Maritime Academy and graduated after three years of studies, in 1999, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
While she was in college, she also studied celestial navigation, as well as crucial maritime skills such as ship maneuvering and medical first aid. She was able to take advantage of hands-on training experiences at sea during her studies, which took her sailing to places like Easter Island and throughout the South Pacific.
Her Internship at Chiquita
She also interned on a cargo ship for Chiquita (yes, the banana company), sailing between Ecuador and California.
In a Cosmopolitan interview, she said of the experience, “My job was to stand watch on the bridge and assist with cargo operations — whether it was loading the bananas, killing those giant spiders that come out of the bananas, ensuring temperatures were maintained in the cargo hold or unloading bananas.”
It was this experience, McCue said, that solidified her desire to work on cruise ships in the future. Working on a cruise ship includes fine dining, entertainment and luxurious shore excursions — much better than killing spiders on a cargo ship.
Her First Sailing Job
Her first cruising job after graduation was in Hawaii, but this wasn’t on any huge cruise ship like what she sails today. Instead, she worked on a tour catamaran, completing whatever jobs were needed, acting as deck hand, bar tender, surf instructor and more.
Working at a Major Cruise Line
Disney Wonder Cruise Ship in Melbourne (Photo Credit: Graham Drew Photography).
After a brief stint working on land in logistics for a container shipping company, she landed her first job with a major cruise line: Disney Cruise Line.
She started out as a third mate, which, on a cruise ship is basically the fourth-in-command and a safety officer. Disney kept her mostly on routes in the Caribbean. At the time, Disney Cruise Line was very small, with only two ships.
Building Her Career at Royal Caribbean
Captain Kate Celebrity Cruises
After a while, McCue moved on up to a new position as second officer, but with a new cruise line: Royal Caribbean. She took this job in 2003, but by 2004, she had already gained a promotion and become first officer.
Still, you can’t just move from first officer to ship’s captain. McCue needed more qualifications, so she achieved her chief mate and master’s license at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies in 2009.
After this, she was able to achieve even more promotions at Royal Caribbean, finally moving up to the second-in-command position as staff captain in 2011.
During her time at Royal Caribbean, McCue sailed the following ships: Brilliance of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.
3. She Made History in 2015
Photo Credit: Carlos Yudica / Shutterstock.com
After her long career at Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises reached out to McCue in 2015 with a tempting offer: become a captain, allowing McCue to achieve the dream she set out to pursue so many years earlier, as a preteen. Once McCue accepted the job, she made history as the first American woman to captain a mega ship, Celebrity Summit.
This is a huge accomplishment as, currently, women only represent 2% of the entire maritime industry. Looking more closely at just bridge teams, women make up about 32% of the individuals on those teams, though that percentage was only at 4% when McCue’s career began.
Taking her role seriously, McCue’s name tag only says “Captain” on it, as, given the sometimes unconscious sexism within the industry, a prior name tag with “Captain Kate” on it led to cruisers only calling her “Kate,” inadvertently dropping her hard-earned title — and that’s a title I think we can all agree that Captain McCue deserves.
4. Her Job Entails far More Than You Might Think.
Captain Kate Crew Drill (Credit: Kate McCue)
As the captain of a ship, McCue’s job entails quite a lot. Being a ship’s captain is not just standing around, steering a very large boat.
McCue likens the experience to moving a very large hotel, but beyond maneuvering the ship, her job also includes overseeing the crew, being on call 24/7, attending various functions where she mixes and mingles with the cruisers and more. At the end of the day, she’s entirely in charge of everything going on, on the cruise ship.
While McCue relishes her lifestyle as a captain, though, she doesn’t have to be “on” 24/7/365. Ship captains work 12 weeks on and 12 weeks off, so McCue has a three-month break between stints at sea.
5. Her Celebrity Cruises Career Continues
Photo Courtesy: Celebrity Cruises
Since taking the helm of Celebrity Summit, McCue has captained several different ships within the Celebrity Cruises fleet. In 2018, she moved to Celebrity Equinox.
In 2019, she took over Celebrity Edge (and, actually, she captained the ship when it was the first ship to sail from the U.S. following the Covid-19 cruising shutdowns). In 2022, she took on Celebrity Beyond, as the ship’s very first captain from launch.
6. She Once Rescued a Ship Lost at Sea
Celebrity Beyond Rescue (Footage Credit: Captain Kate McCue)
In 2017, McCue led a rescue operation, when her cruise ship came upon a small boat that had been adrift for multiple weeks. There were six individuals on the boat, two of which were pregnant, and they had already ran out of water and food. McCue and company had just been on their way to Curacao, when they came across the adrift boat and were able to perform a rescue.
McCue performed other rescues in 2023 and in early 2024, when she and the crew either solely executed or assisted in the rescue of more than 200 migrants, alongside the Italian Navy.
7. She Has a Huge Social Media Following
Captain Kate McCue Responds to Tipping Comment
McCue has long documented her adventures as a ship’s captain on various social media platforms. She has more than a million followers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and Celebrity Cruises notes that McCue is the brand’s biggest social media star.
Her posts range from educational videos that answer questions about life on a cruise ship or as a cruise ship captain, to wanderlust-esque imagery that would make anyone want to book their next cruise.
All in all, though, McCue’s social media presence primarily aims to show other women that the cruising industry is accessible, and that they, too, can have a maritime career. (Although, in a Travel Age West article, McCue noted that one of her favorite things to post are videos of her officers maneuvering the ship for the first time — a moment of pride for all involved!)
If you want to follow McCue’s social media-savvy from the start, you can easily go back to when her YouTube channel began, four years ago, and watch her “How I Sea It” series, that give an inside look at a ship captain’s life.
8. Her Cat is Almost as Famous as She is
Bug Naked (Credit: Kate McCue)
Across much of McCue’s social media, followers could, up until recently, frequently spy one very special guest: Bug Naked, a hairless sphynx cat that traveled with McCue around the world.
Bug often appeared wearing various costumes and uniforms in McCue’s social media posts, and she was a favorite with crews on the various ships that she and McCue called home. Bug could be seen accompanying McCue as she went about her daily routine, on the ship’s bridge. Bug even had her own passport!
Unfortunately, the beloved cat with a huge fanbase died on Dec. 26, 2024, following routine dental work.
At the time, McCue posted on Instagram: “The emotions since losing Bug are something I’ve never experienced. The gaping hole in my chest feels like a void that can never be filled…”
Bug was eight years and six months old, and had begun sailing with McCue at just three months old, in 2015. McCue said in a Instagram video that she had originally wanted to get a pet monkey to accompany her on her cruises, but when her superiors denied her request for a monkey, she found Bug.
9. She Met Her Husband on a Ship
McCue’s husband is Nikola Petrovic, a chief engineer in the cruise industry. She met him on a ship and was able to work with him, on the same vessel, when they both worked for Royal Caribbean.
However, this was not an option on Celebrity Cruises, as McCue would technically be Petrovic’s boss, leading to a conflict of interest. As such, the two work separately now.
After leaving Royal Caribbean Cruises in October 2017, Petrovic joined Virgin Voyages, where he worked for nearly five years, before returning to Royal Caribbean in late 2022.
10. She Recently Launched a Nautical-Themed Jewelry Collection
McCue has established herself as a personal brand beyond her work with Celebrity Cruises, and with that have come opportunities to launch other interesting endeavors — like a new nautical-themed jewelry collection that she crafted with Dune Jewelry.
The woman-founded brand is known for creating jewelry that encompasses sand and earth elements from unique locations across the globe.
The Captain Kate x Dune Jewelry Collection features sterling silver and gold vermeil designs, and gemstones like rainbow moonstone, which have historically been prized by sailors as good luck charms.
As her nickname suggests, popular Cruise Director Kyndall “Fire” Magyar is certainly on fire.
Along with many of her fellow Carnival cruise directors and fleet directors – including big names like Chris “Donkey” Salazar and Lee Mason – Magyar has spent the week of February 17, 2025, in Orlando Florida at the cruise line’s annual Entertainment Leadership Conference.
The week is full of learning, growth, and camaraderie – and ultimately culminates in a formal gala where Carnival’s cruise directors are recognized for their achievements.
While many were honored, Magyar arguably went home with the biggest award of the night, as she won the title of Cruise Director of the Year for 2024.
“More to come on the Gala last night, but I just want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for supporting and being a part of the journey this year, making this award and all it means to me so unforgettable,”Magyar wrote on her Facebook page.
This award has been a long time coming for the Texas-native, who has been working for Carnival Cruise Line since 2016.
Over the years, she has made history for the cruise line numerous times, such as by serving as the first female cruise director of Mardi Gras and as the inaugural cruise director for Carnival Jubilee– which is the newest vessel to join the fleet and Magyar’s current domain.
Speaking to her good nature, Magyar was also eager to celebrate with her colleagues who were honored in different ways during what’s been dubbed “the Cruise Director Conference.”
For example, Tyler Meehan was named the “Have Fun Be Safe Champion,” Frankie Portera won the “Peer Choice Award,” and Deon Williams became the “Carnival Culture Champion” for 2024.
New cruise directors, such as Keegan van Zyl (most recently onboard Carnival Magic) and the recently promoted Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clough(currently onboard Carnival Miracle), were also formally presented with their senior officer stripes earlier in the conference.
The Cruise Director of the People
Known for her bubbly personality and boundless energy, Magyar got her “Fire” nickname from another cruise director early in her career – which was given as a compliment for her unwavering positivity during a sailing that had been extended by a hurricane.
Essentially, it means that she rises from the ashes to always bring the heat and the fun, like a mythical phoenix, even when conditions aren’t ideal.
Her contagious joy is one of the reasons why she is so popular both onboard and online – and she currently has a whopping 149,000 followers on Facebook and 48.9K followers on Instagram.
Speaking to this, her Facebook post about the gala earned nearly 3,000 congratulatory comments in less than 12 hours.
“Nobody deserves this more than you! Congrats!”,one person wrote.
“Very much so well deserved!!!! I didn’t know what a CD was until the Jubilee last Feb, and boy did I learn WHAT and WHO they SHOULD be! No one even came close to your energy, your heart, your passion, your enthusiasm, and your vibrancy!”, another enthusiastic fan added.
She’s largely risen to social media stardom by sharing behind-the-scenes looks at what her life is like onboard and tips for future cruisers – essentially expanding the fun of being at sea to people watching at home.
She frequently connects with cruise lovers by sharing sneak peeks of what being a cruise director is really like – such as by taking her followers backstage at the Family Feud Live game show she hosts or giving a behind-the-scenes look at her jam-packed schedule on embarkation day.
More recently, she shared tips on how to ensure a ride on the BOLT roller coaster – which can be found onboard Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, and Mardi Gras – to make sure future guests had a jump start on the fun.
From building up status as a cruise line loyalty member and reaping all the rewards that come with it, to experiencing the seemingly unending new ports and ships to explore, there are so many reasons why you should keep going on cruise after cruise. I’ve been on hundreds as a crew member and passenger, and I’ll never give it up!
Here are 10 reasons why I continue to cruise, year after year, and why so many other avid cruisers do the same.
If you went on a cruise in the 1990s or even the 2000s or, yes, even the 2010s, your experience cruising was far, far different from the cruise experience you could have today.
Cruise ships just keep getting bigger and better, with “first at sea” features continuously rolled out from major lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.
Let’s just look at a few of the first-at-sea features to debut in recent history.
The much-lauded Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas showed off the largest water park at sea, which also included the tallest waterslide at sea and the first open freefall waterslide at sea. Norwegian Cruise Line introduced its Aqua Slidecoaster, on Norwegian Aqua, which is the first hybrid rollercoaster and water slide at sea.
Beyond water features, several Carnival Cruise Line ships, including Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, now feature BOLT, the first rollercoaster at sea. MSC Cruises’ MSC World America, meanwhile, unveiled the only over-water swing ride at sea, dubbed “Cliffhanger.”
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in Miami (Photo Credit: Ute Sonja Medley)
Don’t care for all of these adrenaline-pumping “firsts”? If you’d prefer a more luxurious record-setting feature, all you have to do is look to Princess Cruises. Again, Sun Princess stunned as it brought 25 retail brands to a cruise ship for the first time ever, for the ultimate in retail therapy.
And this just touches on the activities that you can expect on a cruise ship these days. The staterooms and suites likewise continue to get bigger and better (just look at the wealth of ultra-fancy suites coming out from lines like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises), and the dining options — from Utopia of the Seas’ new Royal Railway immersive tech-heavy experience to Icon of the Seas’ posh Empire Supper Club — are much the same.
In short, whatever you like most about cruising, it’s just getting better and better all the time. If you cruise often enough, with the proper planning, you’ll be able to see and do it all.
2. New Destinations are Always an Option
Celebrity Solstice Cruise Ship in Los Angeles (Photo Credit: Angel DiBilio)
There are thousands of cruise destinations that you could potentially visit. Even if you were to take an ultra-long cruise, like Celebrity Cruises’ 110-night Grand Voyage on Celebrity Solstice, which sets sail in late 2026 and visits 15 countries and nearly 60 ports, you wouldn’t see them all. As such, you’re going to have a hard time convincing me that you’ve already been to all the places you’d like to cruise to.
Sure, you may’ve visited the big popular cruise destinations throughout the Caribbean, or even the Mediterranean or Northern Europe, but there’s so much more to explore.
Over the past decade, cruises to more far-flung destinations have become more popular, like expedition cruises to Antarctica or the Galapagos, or river cruises down the Amazon.
Additionally, cruise lines continue to roll out exciting new itineraries to keep things fresh. As a few examples, recently, Viking Cruises announced six new itineraries throughout East Asia.
AmaWaterways is taking the river cruise experience to a brand-new destination, with itineraries along the Magdalena River in Colombia. Celebrity Cruises is adding new ports to its roster in Europe, including Bar, Montenegro; Trondheim, Norway and Djupivogur, Iceland.
If you have a preferred cruise line, chances are good that line will take you somewhere new, the very next season.
3. The More You Cruise, the More Perks You Get
Crown and Anchor Society Loyalty Passenger Event (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
If you’ve yet to join a cruise line’s loyalty rewards program, I would highly advise that you do so. For just taking a cruise, you’ll earn points and greater loyalty tier status, which then translates to more perks and benefits during your next cruise. The more you cruise, the more perks you get.
Take Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards Program as an example. You earn points through cruising by getting 1 point for every cruise night, 1 additional point for every cruise night spent in a suite or The Haven and 1 additional point for every cruise night booked as part of a Latitudes Rewards Inside Offer.
As you gain more points, you’ll move up the loyalty program’s tiers. You start out as a Bronze member. After earning 20 points, you become a Silver member, then a Gold member after 45 points, a Platinum member after 75 points, a Sapphire member after 150 points, a Diamond member after 350 points and finally an Ambassador member after 700 points.
Depending on the amount of points you’ve accrued, you’ll receive benefits such as discounts on open bars, shore excursions, spa treatments, WiFi and duty-free shopping. You’ll get free laundry service, access to exclusive events, priority check-in and more.
So, the more you cruise, the better your cruising experience will be!
4. There’s More Than One Way to Experience a Cruise
Cruise Ships Docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Even if you’re not cruising on a new-to-you ship, even if you’re not cruising to a new-to-you destination, you can still have a completely different experience than the last time you cruised.
There’s so much to do on any given ship, that you can’t possibly do it all. Add in differing fellow cruisers and the differences in how you spend your time become even more stark.
Let’s say you take one Caribbean cruise on Icon of the Seas with your kids and parents, for a multi-generation vacation. You’ll probably pick a stateroom or suite nearer the family-friendly amenities and spend your time having kid-friendly fun. Your dining experiences and shore experiences will likewise take the kiddos and grandparents into account.
Then, you take the same Caribbean cruise itinerary on Icon of the Seas, but just with your partner. Your cruise will probably, in this case, be dedicated to quality time and romance. You’ll likely spend less time at the water park and more time at the spa, less meals at the buffet and more in fine dining restaurants.
You can even experience the difference between spending your port days actually in the port versus spending your port days on the ship. While the former is full of excitement and can be pretty hectic, the latter allows you to enjoy all the ship’s amenities at a slower pace, with fewer crowds.
So, yes, even if you take the same ship to the same places, you can enjoy wildly different experiences.
5. Amazing Crew Members Make All the Difference
Royal Caribbean Crew Members (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
As someone who once worked on a cruise ship, I may be biased, but the amazing crew members within the industry really make a cruise experience stand out.
Compared to just traveling to some hotel where you may or may not get that much in the way of customized service, cruising offers a level of hands-on attention that really goes above and beyond.
No, you don’t need to stay in a suite with a butler in order to get spectacular service (though that is an experience I’d recommend every avid cruiser have at least once!).
Even if you’re just staying in a standard stateroom, your attendant will be there to make your cruise all the more amazing. From tips and suggestions to help you get the most out of your vacation to handling special requests to keeping your cabin tidy, they do it all.
Then, of course, there’s the cruise ship director, the one in charge of all the fun. Through their regular appearances at cruise ship events and ship-wide announcements, you’ll get to know their personality and flair for fun over the days.
In fact, some cruisers find that they appreciate certain crews’ work so much that they go out of their way to cruise on ships and itineraries where and when certain cruise directors and other crew members are working.
From the cruise directors to the attendants to the butlers and the concierges, you’re just not going to find this level of service anywhere else in the travel industry, for this type of price.
6. Cruising Continues to Be Affordable
Margaritaville at Sea Islander (Photo Credit: Feng Cheng)
And on the note of the price, one great reason to continue cruising overtaking another form of vacation is the mere fact that cruising continues to be affordable. As travel costs keep rising, cruising remains a budget-friendly way to see multiple destinations in an all-inclusive manner.
Of course, it is entirely possible to over-spend on a cruise and really blow your budget. However, if you avoid certain extra costs, you can easily cruise without spending a dollar more than your initial cruise fare and gratuities.
7. Self-Care is Always on Tap
Reading on Cruise Ship Deck (Photo Credit: Jeff R. Clow)
When you’re traveling the “normal” way, it’s easy to pack your itinerary with things to do. You can arrive at a destination and go-go-go the entire time. You want to see it all and do it all before your short trip ends. It feels like a total waste to just spend time at your hotel, no matter how nice that hotel might be.
Cruising eliminates this problem altogether thanks to the magic of sea days. On a sea day, you literally can’t leave the ship. There’s no pressure to go into port and explore. You can simply do whatever it is you love, at your leisure.
If that’s spending the day by the pool, lounging in the sun, you can do it. If it’s going to the spa, no problem. If it’s staying in bed late, ordering room service and just chilling on your balcony, that’s an option, too.
These low-pressure, low-energy sea days were made for self-care!
8. See Multiple Destinations with No Extra Travel
Cruise Ships Docked in St. Thomas (Photo Credit: Erin Cadigan)
Have you ever really stopped to think how difficult it would be to see all the places that you do on a cruise, without the cruise ship?
If you were to plan a similar trip but rely on airfare to get you from island to island, to coastal town to coastal town, you’d not only spend so much time simply waiting around or flying in a cramped, small aircraft, but also so much money.
With cruising, you can see a handful of different, unique destinations in one trip, and you don’t have to worry about traveling between those destinations at all.
You literally wake up and you’re in a new place. All the while, as the ship maneuvers its way along its itinerary, you can have the time of your life, going to shows, fine dining and drinking, sitting by the pool and more.
9. It’s Incredibly Easy to Disconnect
Cruise Passenger on Phone in Pool (Photo Credit: Jacobus Djokosetio)
If you’ve ever attempted to go on a trip and truly unplug — no checking work emails, no doom scrolling — you may’ve struggled. It’s really hard to step away from the technology that consumes so much of our lives.
However, when you’re on a cruise, it’s so much easier to disconnect. Yes, cruise lines now offer a range of internet packages that allow you to stay in touch and stream, and even cell phone providers have sea-friendly plans, but if you don’t buy them, you don’t have them.
That means if you want to make a conscious effort to unplug during your trip, all you have to do is avoid this purchase. You completely remove the temptation and can really focus on enjoying yourself.
10. Cruising is the Perfect Option for Mixed Groups of Travelers
Deck of Passengers on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Zigmunds Dizgalvis)
Finally, because the cruising experience can be so varied, even on a single ship, it’s a great option for groups of travelers, whether friends or family members, who have differing preferences.
Maybe your younger siblings are looking for more of a party getaway and want to spend their days beach bumming and their nights clubbing. Your parents want ultra-relaxation in the form of spa treatments and quiet poolside retreats.
Meanwhile, your partner wants adrenaline-pumping activities, both on the ship and on shore. A cruise delivers all this and more, ensuring that everyone is happy.
Who says romance is dead? Micah Lugones proved he is definitely his wife’s knight in shining armor when he leaped off the pier to rescue her hat from the water while visiting the Progreso Cruise Port in Mexico.
The couple explored the popular port as part of a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing onboard Carnival Valor – which embarked from New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 17, 2025.
The Conquest-class ship had already called on Cozumel, Mexico, on February 19, and arrived in Progreso on February 20 – which is when Lugones’ inner hero made an appearance.
The couple, who were only recently married in January of 2025, were on their honeymoon – which also doubled as their first ever cruise.
They were enjoying their day in the port when a hat belonging to Lugones’ new wife, Laci, was blown into the harbor. As the hat was a memento from their wedding, Lugones simply had to get it back.
As he swam, onlookers watching on the pier and from their balconies on the 110,000-gross ton ship cheered him on.
“When my wife’s special wedding hat flew overboard at Progreso I knew I had to get it back. Got the hat and a story too! Thanks for everyone cheering me on, haha,” Lugones shared in a Facebook group made for passengers of the voyage to connect.
Among Lugones’ fellow cruisers, the husband quickly earned a reputation as a hero – with one person even comparing him to Aquaman.
“We were right there and saw you jump in and swim back! Very brave of you!!”, one onlooker shared.
“You two are the sweetest…he is definitely a keeper!!,” another passenger exclaimed.
But while he clearly had good intentions, it’s likely best not to follow in his footsteps. Lugones was lucky to not get in trouble and to emerge from the ocean uninjured.
As is the case at the majority of destinations around the world, swimming in cruise ports is strictly forbidden for safety reasons.
An Eventful Sailing With a Happy Ending
Swimming in an operational port is quite dangerous for a multitude of reasons – most notably because of the risk of being hit by a ship.
But in addition to cruise ships, Progreso is also one of Mexico’s few deep-water cargo ports and is of course frequented by shipping vessels – with the iconic pier stretching four miles directly into the Gulf of Mexico.
A windy day can also create dangerous currents in the water that may be stronger than they appear from the surface – which could have pushed the man into some nearby rocks.
Carnival Valor Cruise Ship in New Orleans (Photo Credit: James Andrews1)
In the most recent event where a man tried to swim in a cruise port, which unfolded in December 2024 in Gran Caneria’s Las Palmas Cruise Port, the person was taken into protective custody after he was rescued.
Thankfully, this story had a happy ending. The couple – along with the up to 2,978 other passengers sailing with them – disembarked in New Orleans on February 22, 2025.
But interestingly, even disembarkation was a tad eventful – as it was delayed due to maintenance needs.
In turn, this pushed back the embarkation for the following sailing – which is an identical 5-night Western Caribbean cruise.
“Our engineers are handling some repair work as we sail back to New Orleans. As a precautionary measure, we may be escorted by tugboats and could dock later than scheduled,” Carnival wrote in a letter to the now current guests.
That said, cruise tracking data shows the 2004-launched ship is already sailing at normal speeds in the Gulf of Mexico – while the newlyweds could very well be home by now, with a story they’ll never forget.
