The Port Authority of Jamaica has confirmed that all three cruise ports on the tropical island nation – Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Ocho Rios – have successfully reopened following Hurricane Beryl brushing the southern coast of the island on Wednesday, July 3. All ports and channels were thoroughly inspected, and reopened for operations at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.
“The opening of the harbors will allow ships to enter from this evening [July 4] and to proceed to berth at the designated terminals in preparation of commencement of port operations at 7 a.m. tomorrow,”the notification clarified.
This means that cruise ship visits to Jamaica scheduled for Friday, July 5 and beyond should go ahead as planned, with guests able to enjoy the vibrancy and colorful culture of the island.
At this time, however, no ship visits are scheduled for the immediate future for any Jamaican ports of call. The first vessel to return to Montego Bay will be Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty on Wednesday, July 24.
MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape will be the first ship to return to Falmouth with her planned visit on Monday, July 15. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon will be the first post-hurricane ship to visit Ocho Rios on Tuesday, July 16.
While Jamaica is a popular destination for many cruise travelers, the summer heat and the risks of hurricane season mean that the mid-summer months are not the busiest for the island. The winter months – November through March—are much more popular, with a greater number of ship calls from a variety of different cruise lines.
Other ports on the island – Kingston Harbour, Port Antonio, and Portland Bight – have also reopened, though they do not service cruise ships.
Hurricane Beryl and Jamaica
Hurricane Beryl impacted Jamaica as a major Category 4 storm through the day on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. At the time the storm brushed the island’s southern coast, maximum sustained winds were recorded at 140 miles per hour.
Widespread power outages, property destruction, and flooding were present in Jamaica during the storm, and at least two people lost their lives due to the hurricane’s impact, despite the storm not making official landfall on the island.
Hurricane Beryl Track (Credit: NOAA)
Hurricane Beryl has now made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula near the southern end of the island of Cozumel, which remains closed to all port traffic.
Beryl has weakened to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. While moving over land, the storm is expected to continue to weaken and will likely emerge over the Gulf of Mexico after being downgraded to a tropical storm rather than a hurricane.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) morning update, the storm may strengthen again in the Gulf of Mexico as it turns north, likely bringing significant impact to coastal Texas late this weekend and early next week.
Multiple cruise ships have already changed itineraries to avoid Cozumel, though predicting any impact on visits after the storm has passed is tricky. For example, Carnival Valor departed New Orleans on Thursday, July 4 and is still scheduled to visit Cozumel on Saturday, July 6.
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has confirmed that as of Friday morning, Carnival Valor remains en route to Cozumel and guests will be updated onboard if itinerary changes are necessary. Announcements have also been made onboard the ship to keep passengers updated about the situation as they enjoy a fun day at sea today.
“Hurricane Beryl continues its westerly path across the Caribbean and is set to impact the Yucatan Peninsula in the next few days, passing south of Cozumel, Friday afternoon,”the announcement onboard said.“The weather looks promising for Saturday, but local authorities must conduct an assessment after the storm passes Cozumel. They will keep us updated about port conditions.”
All cruise travelers should always remain flexible with their travel plans during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. A storm could cause changes to cruise itineraries and port visits at any time during the season—or even outside the official hurricane season. Cruise lines always prioritize safety when faced with such changes.
Royal Caribbean International has reached out to guests booked onboard Symphony of the Seas for the ship’s July 5, 2024 departure to alert them to the need for an earlier departure from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey than originally planned.
This means embarkation must finish earlier than planned as well, with all guests onboard ready for departure at a new time.
“Due to an inbound container vessel that will be entering the channel, Symphony of the Seas will need to depart earlier than originally planned,”the notification email explained.“We will now set sail at 3:15 p.m.”
Symphony of the Seas (Photo Credit: EWY Media)
While the check-in process for the ship’s 7-night sailing will still begin at 10 a.m. as scheduled, all guests must be checked-in and onboard the vessel no later than 2:45 p.m. prior to the now-sooner-than-planned departure. Symphony of the Seas was originally scheduled for departure from Bayonne at 4 p.m.
This change will most dramatically impact those who have a late check-in appointment scheduled. The latest arrival appointment for a 4 p.m. departure would usually be 2:30-3 p.m., but the cruise line is now asking those travelers to arrive 30 minutes early to facilitate the new departure time.
While large ports can easily accommodate the movement of multiple vessels, container ships are bulky and less maneuverable than some other types of ships. Furthermore, Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship and one of the largest cruise ships in the world at 228,081 gross tons.
Depending on expected weather conditions, tidal currents, and water levels, it is prudent to give these two large ships plenty of clearance around one another so there will be no mishaps or navigational difficulties. Symphony of the Seas is the only cruise ship departing from Cape Liberty on Friday.
It should be noted that this earlier homeport departure time in no way impacts Symphony of the Seas‘ overall itinerary for the 7-night cruise.
The ship will still be visiting Port Canaveral on Sunday, July 7, followed by Nassau on Monday, July 8 and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay on Tuesday, July 9. After two days at sea, the ship will return to Cape Liberty on Friday, July 12.
Symphony of the Seas can welcome 5,518 guests at double occupancy or as many as 6,680 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. Also onboard are approximately 2,200 international crew members.
The ship will remain homeported from Cape Liberty through the end of October, at which time she will move to Miami to offer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. She will return to New Jersey in April 2025 for another summer season of Bahamas sailings.
Why Do Early Departures Happen?
While moving up the departure time for a cruise ship isn’t a common occurrence, it can happen for a variety of reasons.
In addition to accommodating other port traffic, issues such as incoming poor weather or security operations could require an earlier-than-expected departure. Travelers are given as much notice as possible for these changes, but occasionally the decision is not made until the last minute.
Early departures can also happen at ports of call, though this is typically due to bad weather that makes it unsafe for a cruise ship to remain docked or continue tendering operations.
Two Royal Caribbean ships—Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas—experienced this earlier this year when high winds at CocoCay caused guests to be recalled and the island to be shut down in the early afternoon.
Guests should always remain in touch with their cruise line through text messaging or emergency contact information in case such unusual circumstances occur.
If you think that cruises are all-inclusive experiences, you may be surprised to learn that that’s not quite the case (at least not with most cruise lines). There are plenty of extra purchases you might want to make once you’re onboard the ship, from drink packages to specialty dining experiences to gym classes.
That said, though, you don’t have to buy any of these items, and there are loads of free things to do, eat, drink and experience on a cruise, all included within the price of your cruise fare. Some, of course, are better deals than others.
So, what are the best and top cruise freebies you should make the most of? These are our 10 favorites.
Who doesn’t love a cruise ship buffet? Cruise ship buffets are the place to chow down on whatever you want, whatever the time of day (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and in whatever quantities you want. Better yet, cruise ships always include dining at the buffet in the price of your cruise fare, so you never need to pay to eat there.
Sure, there are some rules you’ll need to follow at the buffet, like “don’t pile two plates high with food at once” and “don’t touch the food with your fingers,” but otherwise, the buffet is your personal culinary playground.
Carnival Cruise Line Lido Marketplace Buffet (Photo Credit: Emrys Thakkar)
Pizza? You got it. Pasta? Sure. Salad and soup? Yep. Sandwiches. Mhmm. All the desserts you can eat? Absolutely. Food from every continent? Probably. Many cruise lines also offer made-to-order stations, where crew members make your food right in front of you, whether that’s an omelet or waffle at breakfast, or a savory stir fry at dinner.
While the experience may not be as formal as what you’ll get in the cruise ship’s main dining room, and the food might not be the same quality as what you’ll get in a specialty restaurant, the free buffet is still a great deal.
So, for the variety and convenience, the cruise ship buffet is definitely a free experience that you shouldn’t overlook during your next cruise.
2. The Gym
While you may need to pay extra to attend certain workout classes and to get spa treatments, the fitness center on your cruise ship will still offer facilities that are free to use.
These facilities are often the main gym portion of the fitness center, where you can enjoy access to a range of high-end fitness equipment; for example, you can find Peloton equipment on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships. Often, cruise ship gyms are outfitted with walls of windows, too, so you get a great view along with your workout.
Additionally, while many classes do come with a minimal fee, you can find a handful of free, basic or beginner classes on many ships. Some select cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, even offer all their fitness classes for free.
Don’t really care to sweat but would still like to relax? Many fitness centers on cruise ships are outfitted with saunas or steam rooms that you can access for free, too.
In short, if you love the gym experience, but cringe at paying high gym membership fees at home, you won’t want to miss out on using the gym on your cruise ship every day.
3. The Daily Activities
Don’t just take a gander at your cruise ship’s map and assume your sea days are only going to be filled with activities at the various venues on the ship, such as taking a dip in the pool, gambling at the casino or visiting the ice rink. There’s a whole lot more going on, on the average cruise ship, than may meet the eye.
Via your cruise line’s app, you’ll be able to see daily activities scheduled for every single day during your cruise. These daily activities range from trivia games and competitions to seminars and classes, and they’re all free.
Splashaway Bay
All you have to do is show up and participate. Sometimes, the seminars and classes are led by industry experts and, sometimes, those games or competitions come with cool prizes.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll get bored while zipping down waterslides or go-karting at sea, these free activities are an excellent way to fill a few hours at no extra cost.
4. The Shows and Nighttime Entertainment
How many times have you shelled out hundreds of dollars for tickets to theater shows? Or paid hefty cover charges to see a local band at a bar? Get the same, high-quality entertainment on your cruise ship, but totally for free.
Most cruise ships have a large theater, where you can catch a few shows every night, and most cruise lines offer Broadway-style performances that range from shows you already know and love (for example, Hairspray, CATS or Mamma Mia! have all been offered on Royal Caribbean ships) to musical reviews that fit a particular theme, such as 80s or 90s rock music.
Show Theater on Icon of the Seas
If you do want to see one of the larger shows during your cruise, just note that, while it is free, you should still probably make reservations. You can pre-reserve tickets to a show on the cruise line’s website, and then your space is reserved.
Some shows are highly popular and tickets can go quickly, so reserving them in advance ensures you get to actually see the show you want to see, when you want to see it.
Reserving your seats at a show is easy. For example, if you want to book tickets to see a show on a Royal Caribbean cruise, all you have to do is go to the My Royal Cruise and Cruise Planner pages and you’ll be able to see a list of all the shows occurring during your cruise, as well as their days, times and descriptions.
Select the shows you want to reserve and, then during your cruise, just provide your SeaPass card to enter the show. Tickets can be reserved as early as on the first day of the month before the sailing.
5. Exclusive Spaces
If you upgrade to a suite aboard some ships, you’ll automatically receive an incredible free perk: access to exclusive, VIP spaces that aren’t open to cruisers who are staying in other parts of the ship.
Often, these spaces will include a lounge with free food and drinks, a free restaurant and possibly even a sun deck with a pool, hot tubs, loungers and a bar.
Celebrity Cruises’ VIP area is The Retreat, where suite guests enjoy access to Luminae, a private and free restaurant, as well as an exclusive lounge serving free coffee, cocktails and snacks.
So, if you did spring for a suite on a cruise ship, you definitely don’t want to miss out on taking full advantage of these spaces, where you can enjoy stellar, more customized service and the kind of experiences you’d expect from a VIP space.
Even if you didn’t book a suite, though, there are still more exclusive areas on many cruise ships, where you can get away from the crowds and enjoy a more relaxing vibe, and still for free.
Often, these are adults-only, outdoor spaces that sometimes include a pool or hot tub, as well as loungers and maybe a bar. On Carnival Cruise Lines, this space is simply called Serenity. On Royal Caribbean, this space is The Solarium.
6. WiFi
So you want to scroll through your social media while you’re at sea, posting all your vacation photos so you can get all those coveted likes and shares. Maybe you just want to keep in touch with the office via email. Maybe you really just want to stream your favorite shows in your cabin, before you go to bed at night.
Whatever the case may be, you’re going to need some WiFi. Unfortunately, cruise ship WiFi packages can sometimes be pricey — but then they can also sometimes be free as well. If you can snag free Wi-Fi on a cruise ship, that’s a cruise freebie you’ll want to take full advantage of!
Cruise Wi-Fi
So, how do you get that free WiFi? For starters, look for booking promotions that include it (both Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises have offered these booking incentives in the past).
Check the perks that come with being a part of the cruise line’s loyalty program, too. Sometimes, free WiFi is offered as a perk and all you have to do is sign up to be a loyalty program member (also free).
7. Shore Excursions
While shore excursions aren’t a free perk on every single ship and with every single cruise line, if this is a cruise freebie that you absolutely have to have, it is possible to get it, if you book your cruise with the right cruise line.
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Certain cruise lines offer free shore excursions, which means you can sightsee and tour on the cruise line’s dime, and never stick back on the ship during a port day just because you want to avoid spending extra cash.
Some of the cruise lines that offer free tours include Viking, which offers cruisers one free excursion at each port of call during the cruise’s itinerary, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers free, unlimited shore excursions.
8. Kids Sailing Free
Like the free WiFi, kids sailing free on a cruise is usually part of some booking promotion. However, if you’ve wanted to go on a big family cruise for years, or just want to take a cruise with the grandkids, this is one cruise freebie to watch for.
Kids on a Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Tomsickova Tatyana)
Usually, these promotions allow children under 12 to cruise for free, paying no extra cruise fare, when they’re sailing with two adults. Cruise lines that have offered this option in the past include Royal Caribbean Cruises, MSC Cruises and Holland America.
While it’s not available on every single cruise, if you can find one that offers it, that’s your sign: It’s time to book that cruise with the kiddos and save some cash.
9. Room Service
Ordering room service in your bathrobe is probably one of the best parts of going on vacation. However, doing this while staying in a hotel can be pretty pricey. That’s not the case on some cruise ships, though.
While some cruise lines charge a flat service fee and/or gratuity for all room service (as is the case on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines and MSC Cruises), other cruise lines offer room service totally for free (as is the case with Princess Cruises).
Photo Credit: CathyRL / Shutterstock
So, check out your cruise line’s stance and then, if the room service is free, order away.
Sure, you may miss out on dining at one of the great restaurants aboard the ship, but sometimes, after a long day of exploring in port or laying by the pool, you just want to kick back on your stateroom balcony, order a burger and some Champagne, and watch the world float by.
10. Babysitting and Childcare
Okay, so technically, babysitting services at night on any cruise ship will cost you a minimal fee. However, childcare during the day is totally free. So long as your child is around elementary age or older, there are kids clubs that can cater to them, providing fun activities designed for their age group and led by qualified childcare professionals.
Image Courtesy: MSC Cruises
Just drop your child off at the kids club, sign them in and come fetch them before the day’s end. The kiddos get to do something fun with other kids their own age, you get to enjoy a little quiet adult time and no one has to spend any extra to get it.
While your older kids (think preteen and older) won’t need childcare in the same manner, they’ll still get a free place to hang out, thanks to preteen and teen clubs on cruise ships.
These offer lots of free programming and fun things to do, from video game tournaments to karaoke parties. It’s a much better, more budget-friendly alternative to paying for your teens to have their own WiFi package or allowing them to spend dollar after dollar in the ship arcade.
Costa Cruises has announced an expansion of its winter offerings with two new cruise itineraries dedicated to exploring Asia. Starting in November 2025 through January 2026, travelers can embark on the newly design routes aboard what will be a newly renovated Costa Serena.
In Japan, Costa Serena will start and end in Hong Kong with stops in Keelung (Taiwan), a visit to Busan in South Korea, and multiple cities in Japan, including Naha, Kagoshima, Tokyo, Kobe, and Nagasaki.
The cruise line’s Southeast Asia itinerary, starting from either Hong Kong or Singapore, will include visits to Nha Trang and Phu My in Vietnam, Koh Samui in Thailand, Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines.
Creating “Fly&Cruise” packages that allow guests to fly from Europe to join Costa Serena for voyages in Asia, the new adventures will provide comprehensive 15-day tours.
Prior to embarking on the new itineraries, Costa Serena will undergo significant renovations. Details about the specific improvements are yet to be disclosed but are expected to upgrade the 17-year-old ship, which first set sail with Costa Cruises in 2007.
Costa Cruises is also offering the ability to book a one-week segment of either itinerary for a limited time. An eight-day voyage will depart from Hong Kong. With three at-sea days, Costa Serena will visit Keelung, Naha, and Kagoshima, where it will end.
The 15-day Asia cruise will continue the journey to Tokyo, Kobe, Nagasaki, and Busan, returning to Hong Kong.
In southeast Asia, the 8-day cruise leaves Hong Kong with three at-sea days and calls in Nha Trang, Phu My, and Koh Samui before ending in Singapore. Travelers continuing on the 15-day voyage have two additional at-sea days with stops in Bandar Seri Begawan and Puerto Princesa before returning to Hong Kong,
Costa Serena will also feature an option to combine both itineraries into a 29-night cruise, covering all 14 of its destinations.
The new Asian cruises will launch November 21, 2025, and run through January 30, 2026.
Costa Serena’s Journey
Constructed by Fincantieri at their Genoa, Italy, shipyard, Costa Serena was one of the largest cruises ships built in Italy when it debut weighing in at 114,000 gross tons.
Designed to accommodate up to 3,780 guests, it was dubbed the “Ship of Gods” for its unique décor inspired by classical mythology. A collection of nearly 6,000 art pieces, including 440 originals from 34 international artists, was incorporated into the ship’s design.
Following a christening in Marseille, France, with French actress Marion Cotillard serving as its godmother, the ship initially sailed Mediterranean cruises until deployed to Asia in 2015, targeting the Chinese cruise market.
The ship has undergone several extensive refits during its service, including multi-million-dollar renovations in 2009, and boasts an array of amenities that include three pool decks, a three-deck theater, casino, and multiple restaurants, bars, and lounges.
The ship spent much of 2023 serving as a charter for Asian partners, and then last winter in parts of India. The Carnival Corporation-owned ship’s last cruise, a 3-day roundtrip voyage between Busan and Nagasaki, completed in late May 2024. No details have been provided on where or when renovations will take place.
Guests setting sail later this month aboard Disney Dream have been notified of an itinerary change, as the ship will now be unable to visit Isafjordur, Iceland as planned on the original schedule. Guests will still enjoy another stop in Iceland, and an alternative port has likewise been arranged.
The impacted sailing is the July 24, 2024 departure, a 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland itinerary. Booked guests have been notified via email of the change just three weeks before embarkation.
“The Port of Isafjordur, Iceland, has been undergoing some work to the port channel. Unfortunately, the work is not yet completed, and we are unable to dock,”the email explained.“Therefore, it will be necessary to cancel your call to Isafjordur.”
The visit to the northwestern port was to have been on Thursday, August 1, but Disney Dream will now spend that day at sea instead. The ship’s visit to Reykjavik on both Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30-31, is not impacted, and will give travelers ample time to explore and enjoy that amazing destination.
Likewise, the ship’s visits to three different Norwegian ports and time sailing through the Norwegian fjords earlier in the sailing is not affected by this change.
What is changing, however, is a new port of call added to the itinerary. Saturday, August 3 was originally planned as a day at sea, but the ship will now call at Liverpool, UK to give guests another top destination to explore.
Any tours for Isafjordur that were booked through Disney Cruise Line will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests, while new tours will be made available for Liverpool.
The nature of the port channel work has not been revealed, but could be dredging or other work to ensure the best operational functioning of the port. Because of the size of Disney Dream, which measures 129,690 gross tons, it is possible that channel restrictions prevent the ship from visiting.
A variety of ships from other cruise lines, including Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and more, regularly visit Isafjordur.
On August 1, Disney Dream is the only ship scheduled for the port, and it is unknown whether other cruises on other days are also adjusting their itineraries. It is possible the port work will create only a temporary closure, and few ships will be impacted.
Sailing Europe With Disney Dream
Disney Dream is spending the summer in Europe offering cruises from multiple homeports. The July 24 sailing is the ship’s first departure from Southampton, where she will remain through late October with a diverse selection of itineraries from 3-13 nights.
Shorter cruises include visits to France, Belgium, and Spain, while longer sailings include the Norwegian fjords, the British Isles, and northern Europe.
Disney Dream (Photo Credit: penofoto)
On October 20, Disney Dream will leave Southampton for a one-way, 13-night transatlantic cruise to reposition to Fort Lauderdale, visiting Spain, Portugal, and the Azores along the way.
From Fort Lauderdale, the ship will be offering Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries at least through September 2025.
Disney Dream can welcome 4,000 guests onboard at each sailing, and is also home to 1,458 international officers and crew members who work very hard to ensure every traveler has a dream cruise vacation filled with signature Disney magic.
Carnival Cruise Line’s popular Brand Ambassador John Heald has been called out – in more ways than one – about the onboard dining rooms on Carnival cruise ships. Heald consistently refers to these as “dinning rooms” which has gotten criticism from both cruise line executives as well as guests. But why?
Heald recently revealed on his Facebook page—where he answers hundreds of questions, complaints, and requests nearly every day—that Carnival Cruise Line’s executives have repeatedly urged him to use a more official term for the dining venues.
“I am always under pressure from a few beards to stop calling the dinning room a dinning room and move to the ‘official’ term of restaurant,”he explained.
What is curious is that on the cruise line’s website, these venues are called the “Dining Room” when visitors explore various dining options. They are included with the cost of every cruise, and guests can choose from Early Dining or Late Dining reserved times, or the more flexible “Your Time Dining” for more personalized dining times each day.
Furthermore, the “Eating and Drinks” FAQ on the cruise line’s website also refers to the venues as the Main Dining Room.
Even on individual ship deck plans, each venue is labeled as a “Dining Room” with the appropriate themed names. For example, the Golden Olympian Forward Dining Room and Silver Olympian Dining Room are both found on Carnival Liberty, while the Destiny Aft Dining Room is found on Carnival Paradise.
Several ships, however, do use the term “Restaurant” instead. On the Excel-class Carnival Celebration, for example, the Carnivale Restaurant and Festivale Restaurant are the two main dining venues. Similarly, the recently updated Carnival Legend has the Truffles Restaurant on Deck 3, but her sister ship in the Spirit class, Carnival Miracle, has the Bacchus Dining Room.
Carnivale Restaurant on Carnival Celebration (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
The switch in naming may be to help modernize or standardize the language used onboard, or else to show the elevated nature of the venue following Carnival Cruise Line’s revamping of the menus over the past two years.
For many cruisers, however, the “official” name means very little, as “MDR” – Main Dining Room – is firmly entrenched with most experienced cruisers.
Spelling Noticed
In addition to the name dining room versus restaurant, some cruise guests have also questioned Heald’s spelling of the venue, which he refers to as a “dinning” room.
“Why do you insist of spelling dining room as dinning room. Do not tell me it’s the English way as that is false. I have checked. It is infuriating,”one guest wrote.
While Heald is well known for his humor and good nature when responding to all types of comments with tongue-in-cheek explanations even for rude comments, he only offered a minimal explanation for this eccentricity, yet still with his unfailing politeness.
“Thanks mate, and you are right, I do spell it that way and it is because my Father did the same. I won’t waste your time in explaining why as I am sure you have better things to do. I will say that I won’t change this out of respect and love I have for my late Father,”he said.
Whatever you call it, great meals and delicious desserts – don’t miss the signature warm chocolate melting cake – are always a hit at the Main Dining Room / Restaurant.
Villa Vie Residences‘ CEO Mikael Petterson addressed the latest delay of the Villa Vie Odyssey in a new video, announcing a definitive launch date of July 20, 2024, for the ship’s world cruise.
Originally scheduled to debut on May 15, 2024, following a multi-million-dollar renovation, the ship’s launch has been pushed back multiple times and remains docked for extensive renovations in Belfast, Ireland’s Titanic Yard.
The latest postponement stems from the need to replace extremely outdated rudder stocks on the 24,344-gross-ton Odyssey, which has not sailed with guests since March 2020, when it was a part of the Fred Olsen Cruises’ fleet. Rudder stocks are vertical shafts that force the turning of the ship’s steering gear to the rudder blades.
Villa Vie Odyssey During Dry Dock (Photo Courtesy: Villa Vie Residences)
Petterson was frank as he detailed the challenges faced during the ship’s renovation process. “It’s been a long journey,”he sighed.
“We took possession of the vessel four months ago. At that time, we had no knowledge about the vessel; the maintenance records had been deleted. We were given a clean slate on all of the equipment on board,” he said.
He continued to detail the current hold up by addressing the rudder stocks. “The rudder stocks are the original rudder stocks from 30 years ago. They can’t be thinner than 295 millimeters. They were measured in at 283, so significantly lower than what’s acceptable. We had to replace them,” he said.
The unforeseen issue pushed the refurbishment timeline further as the new parts were machined in Denmark and require precise integration with the ship’s existing systems. Although Petterson says the timeline is still fluid, “The 20th of July is our very, very last date we need to be ready to take residents on board for our launch date.”
Petterson recognizes the 924-resident ship still needs to float out and undergo certifications and clearances from maritime officials, but says they have padded the schedule by two weeks to ensure they make the deadline.
“This is still an older vessel and we are still facing some challenges here and there. It would be not so wise to think we are going to get things perfectly done all of a sudden,” he said. “But there is some room for us to wiggle.”
The optimistic Petterson shook off his fatigue at the process and said he can’t wait for the next couple of weeks to get on the water and welcome passengers.
Navigating Delays and Challenges
Villa Vie Odyssey, formerly Braemar, faced multiple setbacks even before the rudder stock issue came to light two weeks ago. Initially, the ship underwent a dry dock in Edinburgh, where it stayed until April 24, 2024. During this period, the ship’s debut was changed from May 15 to May 30, necessitated by the need to relocate the launch from Belfast to Southampton, England.
The initial delay was then extended to June 4, 2024, due to complications with the ship’s grey water tanks. These tanks, essential for holding water from kitchens, showers, and laundry facilities, needed repairs to meet environmental standards for water treatment before discharge into the ocean.
While still in dry dock, Petterson stressed the entire crew continues to work to get the ship where it needs to be, and will continue to keep working until residents arrive.
Villa Vie Odyssey Cruise Ship (Photo Courtesy: Villa Vie Residences)
Once Villa Vie Odyssey is ready to set sail, exactly two months from its initial launch schedule, it will begin a 3.5-year Continual World Cruise. Departing from Southampton, it will cover 425 ports across 147 countries over 1,301 days, with port stays ranging from 2 to 7 days.
Starting in Europe, the ship will head to Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean before venturing to Antarctica in 2025. The itinerary continues with stops in South America, Alaska, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Australia, and New Zealand. It will end its global journey in Europe in 2027.
Villa Vie Residences residents who have been in Northern Ireland since the initial delays have been welcome to board the ship during dry dock and watch the progress. Petterson says they have been extremely patient.
Port Canaveral, which services the Orlando, Florida, area, has been awarded the Green Marine re-certification for the eighth consecutive year. The certification was presented at the recent GreenTech2024 environmental conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The certification achievement places Port Canaveral among the elite group of 32 U.S. seaports to have earned this distinction. It is also one of only three in Florida, along with Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and Port of Pensacola on the Panhandle, bestowed with the environmental honor.
Bob Musser (right), senior director, Environmental, receives recertification from David Bolduc, president and CEO of Green Marine.
(Photo Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
“Port Canaveral has long held a high standard of environmental responsibility with our commitment to long-term sustainable goals,” said Captain John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO.
Murray emphasized, “This Green Marine re-certification underscores the quality of our environmental program and the dedication of our team to best practices in planning, implementation, and management of our efforts.”
Green Marine, which advocates for voluntary protective measures to enhance environmental performance, has a stringent certification process. Ports are awarded when they exceed standard regulatory requirements.
These include regulatory requirements for aquatic invasive species, reduction of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, spill prevention, stormwater and water management, control of underwater noise, mitigation of community impacts, and promotion of environmental leadership.
“Once again, for an eighth consecutive year, the port is exceeding compliance for all applicable indicators,”said David Bolduc, Green Marine’s president and CEO.“Port Canaveral is also achieving the highest level 5 for the spill prevention indicator, demonstrating environmental excellence and leadership.”
Participants in the Green Marine program are evaluated through an annual self-assessment and a biennial third-party verification.
Environmental Stewardship Amidst Growth
Since joining the Green Marine program in 2015, the 71-year-old Port Canaveral has set a benchmark in environmental performance, continuously enhancing its practices each year. It has invested millions in environmental initiatives, including $120,000 annually on water quality monitoring in the Canaveral Barge Canal and surrounding waterways.
Among its initiatives, Port Canaveral has established artificial reef habitats to enhance marine biodiversity and beach nourishment projects to combat coastal erosion.
Additionally, rigorous water quality monitoring programs ensure the ecological health of the surrounding waters. The port also prioritized wildlife protection with specific measures designed to safeguard endangered species, including proactive efforts during sea turtle season.
Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)
Port Canaveral’s approach to waste management includes a comprehensive hazardous materials and spill prevention plan that surpasses federal, state, and local requirements. The plan is incorporated into detailed preventative strategies, mandatory coordination with regulatory bodies, and regular employee training.
Seeing an annual influx of 19 homeporting ships with over 900 calls and nearly 7 million cruise passengers to the port in 2024, Port Canaveral’s infrastructure also includes an advanced wastewater management system that directs all port wastewater to the City of Cocoa Beach’s treatment facilities. Investments in stormwater treatment also ensure that water is cleaned of nutrients before being released into Canaveral Harbor.
Since welcoming its first homeported cruise ship in 1982, the SS Scandinavian Sea, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International have called Port Canaveral home, since 1990, 1998, and 2000, respectively.
MSC Cruises joined the port in 2021 with the arrival of MSC Divina and will expand its presence in 2025 when MSC Grandiosa begins to offer Port Canaveral cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line also arrived last year with Norwegian Prima.
To accommodate its growth, Port Canaveral is building a seventh multi-ship cruise terminal at its North 8 berth. Expected to open in summer 2026, the terminal will feature parking for up to 3,000 vehicles, roadway improvements, and a berth extension to 1,344 feet.
When cruise travelers book tours for ports of call but their ship is unable to visit that port, it is standard procedure for those missed tours to be refunded.
This is only guaranteed when tours have been booked through the cruise line, however, which is an expensive lesson that some travelers are learning following an unsuccessful cruise to Greenland in September 2023.
The associated cruise was Carnival Legend‘s September 2, 2023 departure, a 14-night Greenland sailing roundtrip from Baltimore, Maryland. The ship was originally scheduled to visit two ports in southern Greenland, Nanortalik and Qaqortoq, as well as three ports in Canada before returning to Baltimore on September 16.
Carnival Pride Cruise Ship In Greenland (Photo Credit: Gestur Gislason)
Jill Reiter was eager for the sailing as a unique opportunity to visit a highly sought after destination. After booking the cruise, however, she was disappointed to learn that Carnival Cruise Line would not be offering any shore tour options in the small communities.
“These small villages are incomparable. No tours, no shops just wonderful people who live off the sea and the land and who will open their doors to you and let you share their lives. It is remarkable and oh so so quiet and peaceful,”Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador posted on his popular Facebook page when the sailings first opened for booking.
Most cruise lines offer carefully curated tours guests can conveniently book through the cruise line. These tours are not run by the cruise lines, but are from independent local operators that meet safety standards and other guidelines.
With no tours available through Carnival Cruise Line, however, Reiter turned to what appeared to be an independent travel company offering an iceberg boat tour option.
Sandra’s Cruise Tours, run by Sandra O’Leary, was offering an excursion, and would even be onboard the ship herself to ensure that all arrangements worked well during the ship’s visit to Greenland, according to a report from Consumer Rescue. Hundreds of guests onboard Carnival Legend were eager to take advantage of the offer, including Reiter, who paid $424 for her family to enjoy the tour.
Unfortunately, poor weather – the remains of Hurricane Idalia – prevented Carnival Legend from visiting Greenland and substitute ports in Canada were added instead. Guests onboard were provided with $400 (per stateroom) of non-refundable onboard credit as compensation for the dramatic change and loss of the bucket-list Greenland ports.
While that credit helped ease the sting of not visiting Greenland, it was the tour arrangements that became more challenging. Despite O’Leary having assured travelers that they would receive refunds for their excursion, the situation quickly became much more unusual.
O’Leary reportedly debarked the ship at the first stop in Canada, effectively abandoning those who had booked the local tour with her. Furthermore, Reiter claims that O’Leary changed the terms and conditions on her website to note that tours were non-refundable, which had not been mentioned prior to the cruise.
“Suddenly, we noticed that the terms and conditions on her website had changed,”Reiter said.“Now it said something about how the remote nature of the location allowed the tour operator to keep the money.”
Further drama would ensue as social media groups were formed to connect guests and different details and communications were shared. O’Leary had apparently worked with approximately 800 passengers for tours, but refused to name the local operator whom she had arranged those tours with.
Some guests, including Reiter, opted to dispute the charges for the tour through their credit card companies, but many such claims were denied because O’Leary’s website now stated that tours were non-refundable.
Carnival Legend Cruise Ship
Reiter was able to provide Consumer Rescue with screenshots of communication with O’Leary, including the statement “if [the] ship doesn’t call on the port tours are refunded.”
Further investigation revealed that O’Leary had no registration as a travel agent, and while it is not required, the lack of credentials can be suspicious. At no time did numerous levels of investigation reveal which local tour operator O’Leary had supposedly worked with, but no tour operators in Greenland require a 100% penalty if tours are cancelled prior to the scheduled visit, which these were.
Now, 10 months after the cruise, Reiter has still not received a refund for the tour, but she is cautioning others to learn from her experience.
How to Protect Your Shore Tours
The easiest way for any cruise traveler to ensure they can receive a refund if their ship does not reach a port of call where they have booked a tour is to book excursions directly through the cruise line.
If this isn’t an option or travelers prefer tours that aren’t offered through the cruise line, working through a reputable travel agent with positive reviews can be a good start.
Likewise, the tour company should also have a history of good reviews and should have credentials or other documentation available online.
Documenting all terms and conditions at the time of booking – preferably with dated screenshots or printouts – can help if a dispute becomes necessary. Guests should keep all receipts and communication just in case it may be useful.
Finally, travelers should always familiarize themselves with the tour terms and conditions before booking or confirming payment. If a tour is non-refundable, it may be best to choose a different company or option. A cruise itinerary is never guaranteed, and ships can and do change destinations due to weather, medical evacuations, mechanical difficulties, and other reasons.
Investing in travel insurance can also be helpful, depending on the terms and conditions of the individual policy. Many policies will offer some reimbursement depending on why a tour may be cancelled or unreachable.
Have you ever booked shore tours through an independent operator or third party? Share your tips and tricks on the Cruise Hive boards!
