Few things put a damper on your vacation more than the cruise line losing your luggage – which is perhaps extra frustrating when you have a pretty good idea of where it is.
The Merritt family has found themselves in this very situation after embarking on Carnival Magic’s 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing that set sail from Miami, Florida, on February 8, 2025.
The cruise was meant to be a celebration of Jason and Tammy Merritt’s 26th wedding anniversary, but the trip quickly took a turn for the worse when they realized Jason’s luggage had gotten lost.
While losing luggage is always a hassle, this situation was particularly pressing – as the missing suitcase contained essential medication, a CPAP machine, car keys, and valuable electronics, such as an iPad and AirPods.
That said, those very same AirPods may hold the key to solving the mystery of where the luggage went, as the family has been using the “Find My iPhone” App to track the small headphones.
Surprisingly, the app revealed that the luggage was indeed onboard the 3,690-guest ship. Since that discovery was made, it’s just been a question of where.
“It is February 10, 2025, and we’re going to start a game called where is our luggage,”Tammy said in an Instagram video when she first began documenting the ordeal.
“So, our luggage is somewhere on this ship, but Carnival can’t find it.”she shared. “My husband has been without his suitcase since we boarded the ship on Saturday. That means he has had one pair of clothes, including one pair of underwear, for this entire trip.”
Tammy’s hope at the time – which was day 3 of the sailing – was that one of her followers would be onboard or know someone onboard who could help them hunt down the missing belongings.
However, the cruise came and went without any sightings of the mysterious suitcase and it hasn’t been found since the family returned home – which was more than one week ago.
The family has continued to use the “Find my iPhone” app to track the AirPods, and the data shows that they are still sailing the Caribbean onboard the Dream-class ship.
Finding some humor in this bizarre situation, Tammy has shared screenshots of where the AirPods have been since the family disembarked.
The AirPods, which Tammy calls Daddy-O’s, were most recently pinging in San Juan, Puerto Rico – but have also now sailed to St. Maarten and Charlotte Amalie (the capital of the US Virgin Islands).
“I know you were wondering this morning and YES the Daddy-O’s are STILL aboard the Carnival Magic, in San Juan PR to be exact,” Tammy updated on February 27, 2025.
“Having visited this beautiful port before, I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as they sail to all of these tropical destinations!,”She joked.
Their location has consistently matched the location of the Carnival ship when compared to cruise tracking data.
Depending on what happened to the luggage, it’s possible that the small headphones fell out and just haven’t been noticed. But odds are, the luggage is somewhere onboard in an unusual hiding place.
How is Carnival Helping?
According to Abbey Merritt, who is the couple’s college-aged daughter, the cruise line gave the family $50 per day – or $350 by the end of the sailing – to replace their belongings.
However, Abbey said that was not enough to get the basic needs – especially because they couldn’t find many of these, including underwear, in the Fun Shops.
Tammy added that Carnival did provide her husband with a free T-shirt and a bag of toiletries as well, but that this was not enough to replace the items in the missing suitcase – which she estimated was valued at around $1,000.
According to Carnival’s website, guests who find their luggage is lost or damaged during the embarkation process must fill out a claim form with a member of the guest services team onboard, while guests who experience issues during disembarkation must do the same with a port agent.
AirPods Tracking on Lost Luggage (Credit: Tammy Merritt)
Claims of damage or loss made after guests leave the cruise terminal will not be considered. When guests return home, the next step is to submit copies of receipt(s) showing what it cost to repair or replace broken or missing items for reimbursement.
“Carnival’s maximum liability for lost or damaged bags is limited to US $250 per bag per Guest up to a maximum of two (2) bags per Guest for sailings 14 days or less and up to a maximum of three (3) bags per Guest for sailings 15 days or longer,”the policy states.
But per Tammy’s updates, Carnival has not offered any additional reimbursement – with a recent email from the cruise line stating “regrettably, we are not able to compensate for the replacement of any missing items.”
However, while the luggage has not been returned to the family, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that members of the 1,386-person crew onboard Carnival Magic are still searching.
“Our team on shore has been in contact with the guest and has been working with our team on board Carnival Magic. Multiple searches for the bag have been conducted on board, and we continue to work toward resolving this issue with the guest directly,” Carnival said in a statement to KFOR (News 4).
And unfortunately, this isn’t the first time luggage has been lostby a cruise line – and it likely won’t be the last.
This family’s misfortune also serves as a cautionary tale to remind guests to pack the essentials they can’t live without – such as medication, medical devices, and valuables – in their carry-on so they can’t get lost for even a short time period.
Cruises can certainly cost a pretty penny – so when cruisers pay for a certain kind of stateroom, they expect to get what they booked.
But, a recent guest of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jadewas left feeling disappointed and angry when she boarded the 2,402-guest ship to find her cabin’s balcony didn’t have the view she was expecting.
Instead, it would be obstructed by a large, circular maintenance apparatus for a portion of her voyage through the Panama Canal.
“When we arrived in our cabin, we had a letter advising that due to regulations during Panama Transit crossings a maintenance apparatus has to be secured against the ship…Essentially this blocked our view until we arrived in Colombia,”the cruiser shared.
As the Panama Canal becomes extremely narrow, it’s possible that the normal storage of maintenance items like these would have made the 93,558-gross ton vessel too wide.
It’s not clear which sailing the recent guest was onboard for, but the Jewel-class ship just completed two one-way Panama Canal Cruises.
The first 11-night sailing embarked from Tampa, Florida, on January 29, 2025, while the 11-night return voyage embarked from Panama City on February 9, 2025.
If the guest was on the first cruise, her view would have been obstructed for more than half of the sailing – as the ship did not call on Cartagena, Colombia, until Day 8.
But if she was onboard for the subsequent sailing, Cartagena was the first port call on the itinerary, so she would have only had to live with the unsatisfactory view for a couple of days.
The second sailing brought the 2006-launched vessel to Miami, Florida, which will be her homeport through the end of March.
Did Norwegian Cruise Line Respond Appropriately?
While the cruise guest was disappointed with her private balcony, what really upset her was the lack of communication from Norwegian Cruise Line – which made her feel like the brand had “deceived” her.
“They knew the cabin view was impacted well in advance and did not advise us. I asked for a refund of the difference between an obstructed and non obstructed cabin but was basically told ‘too bad so sad,’”she said.
“It is not even the money, it is the principle. I should have been told. The whole purpose of the balcony was to enjoy the canal from our stateroom. Feeling so ripped off,”she continued.
However, while the cruise line didn’t refund the passenger in cash, she was provided with a $500 onboard credit that could be used for things like spa treatments and specialty dining.
Even though her sailing ended at least a week ago, the jilted cruiser still felt she deserved further compensation.
However, the cruising community largely felt that the matter reached its resolution when she accepted the $500 onboard credit.
“I would also be annoyed but I think once you took the $500 it was settled,” one person replied.
“This is like the story you hear about people who are in a car accident, and then quickly accept money from the other party’s insurance company, only to then find out that doing so prevents you from any other course of action. The moment you accepted that $500, you shot yourself in both feet,” another cruise fan confirmed.
That said, the recent guest’s disappointment is certainly valid – and many cruisers do take their balcony views very seriously.
Last year, one cruiser even went viral after complaining that the safety railing on her private balconyobstructed her view too much – which resulted in a lot of online ridicule.
Many cruise travelers want to unpack right away after embarkation, ensuring their clothing is unwrinkled, everything is organized, and they are ready to dress for any occasion onboard. But what about when you start unpacking and find you don’t have enough hangers to finish the job?
One Carnival cruise guest discovered just that problem recently aboard Carnival Radiance, with only a few hangers in their several closets to accommodate all the attire for multiple guests.
In their disappointment, they reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, to let him know of the apparently distressing situation.
“Maybe you should tell everyone to bring their own coat hangers. On the Radiance now with my husband, our teenage daughters and get this. We have only nine coat hangers, Nine!!”the guest explained.
“Where is the cabin steward’s pre-cruise check and prep? Not an awesome start is it John? Does anyone travel with their own hangars? I know I can request more but there never seems [to be] enough. There should be at least 20 IMHO. I will speak with the steward and see what he has to say for himself. This needs to be addressed.”
While I can’t imagine getting so upset about the lack of a few hangers, everyone packs different clothing for a cruise and some attire definitely needs to be hung to look its best.
Heald did respond to the guest’s concern and took immediate action to ensure they had enough hangers in their stateroom.
“Thank you and I did speak with the ship and arranged for many coat hangers to be delivered to their cabin,”he said.
Wouldn’t it be fun if “many” meant 50 or more? One would never run out of hangers.
While the guest only says they are “on the Radiance now” it is possible this comment was sent to Heald recently and not necessarily the day he published it. Carnival Radiance is homeported from Long Beach, California.
The ship’s current sailing – if this is a recent email – is a 4-night Baja Mexico voyage with visits to Catalina Island and Ensenada. The ship departed on Thursday, February 27, and will return to California on Monday, March 3.
Do People Steal Cruise Ship Hangers?
Following the upset guest’s concerns, Heald encouraged more discussion and offered a surprising revelation.
“This post reminded me of what a senior housekeeping beard told me a few weeks ago,”Heald commented. “Along with towels, bathrobes, and the occasional cabin attendant, one of the most stolen items is, yep, you guessed it… Coat hangers.”
While I’ve occasionally had to request additional hangers – something our stateroom steward always provides promptly – I’ve never personally run off with one from a cruise ship.
Carnival Cruise Line Cabin (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Some commenters note that they bring their own slim hangers from home, as it’s easier to pack in garment bags. Others don’t always hang up much clothing, while still other guests simply ask for more hangers if needed.
Heald continues to note that he dislikes the hangers onboard Carnival ships, as well as hotel hangers.
“They are the devil’s work and are designed to be sodding useless in normal closets, a headless stub that you have to shove into the ring but can’t and then all your clothes fall off,”he said.“And if the ship is moving a bit more than usual the unused coat hangers they bang against each other making a clicking sound that can drive a person crazy.”
He later admits that he has “hanger management issues” (insert groan for a bad pun), but asks whether or not other cruisers have ever stolen a hanger. No one is really admitting to stealing the hangers from the ship, at least not on purpose.
To minimize the noise of loose hangers on a swaying ship, different guests have suggested putting extra hangers in a drawer, under the bed, or just on the floor of the closet. This way, spare hangers aren’t able to move and click with the motion of the ship.
Galveston Wharves, the fourth-busiest North American cruise port that has consistently broken arrivals records in recent years, is moving ahead with several infrastructure projects detailed in its 20-Year Strategic Master Plan — all designed to make transiting the port smooth sailing for cruise passengers.
The port, on the Texas Gulf Coast, welcomed 1.6 million cruise guests in 2024 and is poised to receive 1.75 million in 2025.
Roughly two-thirds of passengers sailing from Galveston are drive-to cruisers, making traffic flow and parking a major part of the port’s master plan.
The port has recently completed $53 million in upgrades to Carnival Cruise Line’s Cruise Terminal 25 and construction is under way on the $156 million Cruise Terminal 16, which will open in late 2025 and accommodate MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
The port also operates Cruise Terminal 28, which is used by multiple lines, and Cruise Terminal 10, which is operated in partnership with Royal Caribbean.
With growth expected to continue, the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees on February 6, 2025 approved financing an updated master plan for the port, which will handle more than 400 cruise ship embarkations and debarkations in 2025.
Guests entering and exiting the area use Harborside Drive, a busy, five-mile stretch of road that connects the port to Interstate 45.
Galveston Wharves already is working to reopen a pedestrian skywalk — Harborside Walkover, at Harborside and 25th Street, which will provide easier access to cruise terminals 25 and 28.
However, port officials say more planning is needed to ease traffic, and staff plans to use Waze for Cities, a traffic data program, to review and analyze traffic patterns.
Port consultants will then use the data to help create traffic management plans aimed at easing congestion along the Harborside corridor.
“A big focus in the master plan update will be how we can continue to efficiently manage traffic on and around Harborside Drive as our cruise, cargo and commercial businesses grow. Our current master plan includes a 2.25-mile-long internal roadway, cueing lanes at cruise terminals and on-site parking garages,” Rodger Rees, port director and CEO of Galveston Wharves wrote in a port update.
“Those recommendations are already having a positive impact. We’re looking forward to seeing what recommendations the consultants make in the updated plan to accommodate future port growth,” Rees wrote.
Updated Plan Will Highlight Pedestrian Safety at the Port
The updated plan also will address pedestrian safety issues. For example, when Terminal 10 was built for Royal Caribbean, it included on-site parking for guests, allowing them to drop off luggage at the terminal and park nearby.
That is not the case at other terminals, where guests must use Harborside Drive to drop off luggage, then drive to a parking area where, after parking their vehicle, they take a shuttle bus back to the terminal.
Galveston Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
Among the safety highlights in the updated plan will be an expansion of a park-and-walk Express lot next to Terminals 25 and 28. The under-construction Terminal 16 will have two on-site parking lots.
Galveston Wharves is a homeport for ships from all of the major cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
The port is home to Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, which entered service in 2023. Ships sailing from the Gulf Coast port operate Western Caribbean cruises.
Galveston Wharves in 2025 is celebrating its 200th anniversary. Created in 1825, the port will host a birthday party on May 22, 2025, which coincides with National Maritime Day. Other celebratory events are slated for October 2025.
Cruise vacations are typically about relaxation, tropical drinks, and smooth sailing. Unless, of course, your ship happens to sail straight into a Category 4 cyclone.
That’s exactly what happened to nearly 1,500 passengers aboard P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Aria in May 2017, and after a long legal battle, they’re finally seeing some compensation.
A class-action lawsuit against Carnival Corporation, P&O Cruises Australia’s parent company, just resulted in a $2.4-million settlement for affected guests.
The lawsuit, initially filed by former passenger Debrah Jackson in 2023, claimed the company knowingly sent guests into the storm’s path without offering them a way to cancel or reschedule their trip.
“At the time the ship departed from Brisbane [Carnival] knew, or a reasonable and prudent cruise operator in the position of [Carnival] would have known, of the existence of Cyclone Donna,” the claim stated.
Carnival Corporation, however, denied any wrongdoing, pointing to their booking terms, which clearly state that itineraries can change due to weather or other unseen circumstances.
The company insisted that, at the time of departure, it believed the cruise could proceed as planned. Despite this, the company chose to settle rather than risk a drawn-out legal fight.
On February 27, 2024, Brisbane Federal Court Justice Roger Derrington sided with the guests and approved the settlement, which will compensate passengers who joined the suit nearly double what they originally paid for the trip.
With the median ticket price for the cruise $944, each class-action member will receive that amount plus an additional $900 in compensation. Jackson, will receive an additional $2,000 as lead plaintiff.
The total settlement includes $1.2 million for passenger payouts, while legal fees were capped at $1 million.
“The enjoyment of the cruise was not as desired and, generally, the cruise was a rather unpleasant experience,”Judge Derrington stated in his ruling.
What Happened on That Cruise?
The Pacific Aria, a 55,819-gross-ton ship, which was sold to Celestyal Cruises in 2023 and renamed the Celestyal Journey, set sail from Brisbane on May 5, 2017, on a 7-night cruise to New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
The itinerary included stops in Noumea, Lifou Island, and Port Vila, along with three days at sea.
The problem? Cyclone Donna was already brewing in the South Pacific before the ship even left port.
The storm first formed as a tropical disturbance northwest of Vanuatu on April 29, 2017, and had already been upgraded to a Category 1 cyclone by May 3, two days before the Pacific Aria departed.
Pacific Eden Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Travelstock by Powerhouse)
By May 7, it had intensified into a Category 4 beast, packing 145 mile per hour winds and waves as high as 20 to 23 feet near Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Instead of island hopping, passengers found themselves stuck at sea in brutal conditions. When the ship reached Noumea, the island was already in lockdown because of the storm.
After that, the remaining port stops were cancelled, and the ship spent the rest of the cruise at sea navigating the massive swells.
Things got so bad onboard that passengers reported furniture sliding across rooms, tables overturning, and the ship listing for an hour. Some even claimed seawater flooded into cabins and corridors.
“This was a truly a cruise from hell, with many passengers so scared they confined themselves to their cabin,” Peter Carter, director of Carter Capner Law, who took on the lawsuit,told media.
It’s not the first time passengers have taken a cruise line to court after a voyage turned into a nightmare at sea.
Nearly 200 guests also sued Norwegian Cruise Line after its Norwegian Breakaway sailed into a bomb cyclone in January 2018 while returning to New York from the Bahamas.
The lawsuit accuses the cruise line of negligence with passengers saying they feared for their lives as the ship faced massive swells and flooding. That lawsuit is ongoing.
When booking a cruise, you have a lot of important decisions to make — starting with, which cruise line do you want to cruise with? Making the right choice is about more than just picking a ship that’s going to where you want to go, for the price you want to pay.
You need to pick a cruise line that will give you the amenities you want, the experience you’d most prefer and fellow cruisers you’ll enjoy being around. To help you out, here are some of the key differences you’ll notice between 11 major cruise lines.
Key Differences Between Major Cruise Lines
Cruise Line
Fleet Size
Market Share
Largest Class
Carnival Cruise Line
27
15.8%
Excel Class
Royal Caribbean
29
17.2%
Icon Class
MSC Cruises
22
12.3%
World Class
Norwegian Cruise Line
19
7.6%
Breakaway Plus Class
Princess Cruises
17
5.6%
Sphere Class
Costa Cruises
9
4.7%
Excellence Class
Celebrity Cruises
16
4.4%
Edge Class
Holland America Line
11
2.6%
Pinnacle Class
Disney Cruise Line
6
1.6%
Wish Class
Virgin Voyages
3
N/A
N/A
P&O Cruises
7
2.5%
Excellence Class
Carnival Cruise Line
Easily one of the most recognizable cruise lines on the oceans, Carnival Cruise Line, based in Miami and owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC, claims a big chunk of the market share.
With nearly 30 ships, too, and cruises all over the globe, you’ll not be left wanting for options if you decide to vacation with Carnival Cruise Line.
So what makes Carnival Cruise Line so popular? One of the big things is affordability. Budget-friendly cruises are the name of the game here.
As such, you’ll often find these cruises are packed with travelers looking for a deal — think busy or big families, groups of friends on a bachelor or bachelorette party and even college kids on spring break.
As such, you can expect a bit of a party crowd on many Carnival cruises, and plenty of opportunities to let your hair down. From night clubs and karaoke, to a plethora of bars, the ships give you everything you need to have a good time, without even setting foot in port.
When you do set foot in port, though, you’ll find that the cruise line visits an array of the top cruising destinations in the world, on itineraries both long and short. If you only have three days, you can take a Carnival cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line Ships in Nassau (Photo Credit: MatGar)
One cool thing to note? Carnival Cruise Line frequently partners with well-known celebrities to launch certain venues, such as the line’s various restaurants created in partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, as well as the newer chicken restaurant launched alongside Shaquille O’Neal.
The ships range from the pretty old and outdated, to the brand-new and big. If you’re not seeing what you like when checking out a particular Carnival Cruise Line ship, you can probably find another that catches your fancy if you just look to another one of the line’s many ship classes.
There are eight Carnival Classes in total, with the biggest and most ground-breaking class being the Excel class, with its multiple ships that have debuted in recent years including Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee. Of course, you’ll find the most amenities and greatest variety of cabins on these biggest ships.
That said, I don’t like to advise that you only cruise on the biggest, newer ships in any fleet. I find that there’s often plenty to love about smaller ships as well, particularly if you don’t like huge crowds or get overwhelmed when you have a lot of options. So, pick the ship that’s best for you, not necessarily the newest.
Royal Caribbean
Brilliance of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas (Photo Credit: Eric Glenn)
Also based in Miami, Royal Caribbean likewise prioritizes fun, but there’s less of a party crowd on these ships, compared to Carnival Cruise Line.
Additionally, Royal Caribbean really puts the focus on families, while still delivering lots for the adults to do, too. This is a cruise line that really tries to offer something for everyone.
Additionally, Royal Caribbean is known for having some of the biggest and best ships in the business, across its six ship classes. The cruise line is constantly setting records for its massive ships and first-at-sea features.
For example, on the cruise line’s most noteworthy and talked-about ship in recent history, Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean introduced the largest waterpark at sea, along with the tallest drop slide at sea, the first open free-fall slide at sea, the first mat-racing duo slide at sea and the first family raft slide at sea.
Most Royal Caribbean ships are split into neighborhoods, with each neighborhood themed around a certain experience. For example, one neighborhood might be themed around the spa and wellness activities, while another might be all about nightlife, while yet another might be geared 100% toward family fun.
While not the most budget-friendly line out there, Royal Caribbean gives you a great bang for your buck, and you’ll find plenty of different cruise itineraries to choose from, all over the world.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Gabriel S Fernandes)
MSC Cruisesmay not be as popular in the United States as Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, with a much smaller market share, but MSC Cruises still holds its own in other parts of the world. According to the brand, it’s currently the leading cruise line in Europe, South America, the Middle East and Southern Africa.
MSC Cruises tries to offer a somewhat more premium experience than what you might get on, say, Carnival Cruise Line, but still manages to pack in a lot of fun, via waterparks and bowling alleys, and similar amenities.
The cruise line additionally manages to be relatively budget-friendly, compared to some of the other cruise lines on this list, and it attracts a broad mix of families, singles and couples.
MSC Cruises’ newest class of ships (out of six total classes) is the World Class, and these are some pretty mammoth ships. MSC World America and MSC World Europa offer a huge number of dining and drinking venues, and record-setting features such as the longest dry slide at sea.
While MSC Cruises may not visit every single big port of call, it does sail to many unique destinations, particularly in those regions of the world where it dominates, like the Middle East and Southern Africa. MSC Cruises is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices in Italian port cities.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line Ships in Miami (Photo Credit: Just dance)
Like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line manages to be very family friendly, while also offering something for cruisers of all ages to love. As such, you’ll find a good mix of different types of cruisers on these ships.
In addition to providing a wealth of entertainment and dining options on its ships, and plenty of stateroom and suite options, too, Norwegian Cruise Line takes the power of choice even further, by implementing a “freestyle” approach to cruising.
Rather than relying on pre-chosen reservations and schedules for your cruising days, you can dine when you want, with open seating in the dining rooms, for example.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships are spread over nine classes, and the ships range in size from huge mega ships like Norwegian Encore to smaller ships like Norwegian Spirit, so you can take your pick depending on your size preferences.
Also like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line consistently adds “first at sea” features to its new ships to attract avid cruisers, such as the first go-kart track at sea on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, and the first hybrid roller coaster and waterslide at sea on Norwegian Aqua.
Norwegian Cruise Line visits major cruise destinations all over the world, from Asia to the Caribbean, Alaska to Europe. The cruise line is based out of Miami.
For more luxurious experiences, you might look to Princess Cruises, based out of Santa Clarita, California. On the somewhat pricier side, Princess Cruises attracts an older crowd that can afford the higher fares.
Along these lines, Princess Cruises’s vessels also offer activities and entertainment that appeal to that older demographic. Think educational lectures and sun lounging versus go-kart tracks and waterparks.
Princess Cruises also does not have some of the biggest ships in the world, but you’ll notice that the ships aren’t as crowded and that you’ll typically get a nicer stateroom or suite on Princess. In general, the cruises are a bit more relaxed and low-key.
Princess Cruises ships are spread across four classes, with the new Sphere Class taking center stage. The first in the class, Sun Princess is the line’s newest ship, and carries just over 4,000 passengers. If you want something smaller, opt for the line’s Coral Class ships, which hold just 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Princess Cruises travels to more than a hundred countries throughout every major cruising region in the world.
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: ODIN Daniel)
Like MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises may not be all that familiar to North Americans, but you’ll find that this Italian line has a huge presence in Europe, so if you plan on taking a Mediterranean cruise in the near future, Costa Cruises will be one of your options.
That said, the Italian-headquartered Costa Cruises doesn’t stick to European itineraries only. The line’s handful of ships sail all over the world.
There are five Costa Cruises cruise ship classes, but some of these classes only contain one or two ships. Most of the line’s ships are in the Concordia class, though the line’s biggest ships are its two Excellence-class ships: Costa Tuscana and Costa Smeralda.
Much like Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises offers a variety of activities, amenities and entertainment for all ages, at a reasonable price point, so expect to see a mix of cruisers on these ships. You’ll find touches of Italian and Mediterranean-inspired designs throughout each ship.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dans Destinations)
Based in Miami, Celebrity Cruises offers a higher end, adults-focused and modern type of cruising experience, but without dipping into the luxury cruise lines category. Thus, if you want a cruise that feels a bit fancy, but you can’t afford one of the luxury lines, consider Celebrity Cruises.
Celebrity Cruises boasts a good handful of newer ships among its fleet, and those new ships offer high-end dining from celebrity chefs, unique stateroom and suite options (like the special balcony Infinite Veranda staterooms), The Retreat area for a VIP ship-within-a-ship experience and cool venues like the Lawn Club, with its real grass on one of the upper decks. Expect equally unique entertainment, too, from glass-blowing workshops to off-Broadway shows.
The Edge Class, encompassing Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent, is the newest and most innovative class of Celebrity Cruises ships.
Beyond the large, standard cruise ships, Celebrity Cruises also operates a few smaller, expedition cruising ships that will take you to in-demand locales like the Galapagos.
Holland America Line
Holland America Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Ute Sonja Medley)
Based out of Seattle, Washington, Holland America Line is a very traditional cruise line that attracts an older demographic of guests. Don’t expect a lot of high-thrill, adrenaline-pumping entertainment on the top deck.
Instead, you’ll find slower activities that are more suited to the curious traveler seeking an enriching trip. Think wine tastings or cooking classes.
Holland America travels to a variety of destinations all over the globe and provides plenty of similarly enriching shore excursions for its cruisers.
Holland America ships are split into four classes, but all ships are pretty similar and, like Princess Cruises, the line puts an emphasis on lack of crowding. The Pinnacle Class offers the biggest and newest ships in the line’s fleet.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Dream Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: P.Cartwright)
One of the smaller major cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line, based in Celebration, Florida, gives you exactly what you’d expect: a cruise that’s 100% geared toward Disney fans, both young and old. Families are the primary demographic here, but you’ll see a fair share of Disney adults, too.
Disney Cruise Line has experienced more rapid growth over the last decade. Founded in the 1990s,the oldest Disney cruise ship, Disney Magic, set sail for the first time in 1998.
The line operated just two ships until 2011, with the four remaining ships joining the fleet in 2012, 2022 and 2024. A handful of other ships are planned to join the fleet in the coming years.
Everything is themed around Disney franchises and characters, but don’t worry — it’s done so elegantly that you’ll never feel like you’ve been plopped into the middle of a theme park.
Disney doesn’t forget the adults all the while, with luxurious fine dining and adults-only areas that make it possible for parents to get away for a bit on their own.
Because Disney Cruise Line only has a handful of ships, its destinations are a bit more limited, but it still heads to some of the major cruising regions, stopping throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and beyond.
Additionally, due to only having a few ships, the line has relatively few classes. Ships are split between Wish Class, Dream Class and Magic Class. Wish Class is the newest.
Virgin Voyages
(Photo Credit: Virgin Voyages)
An even newer and smaller cruise line, Virgin Voyages, whose first ship launched in 2020, is an adults-only cruise line that currently only has a three ships in its fleet.
Those ships offer a fun environment that appeals to younger cruisers, but not necessarily the college crowd that frequently heads to Carnival Cruise Line (likely due to the higher cruise fares you’ll find with Virgin Voyages).
Expect a high emphasis on trendy experiences, from the dining to the drinks, staterooms and suites to the gym and fitness classes. One great perk? There are a lot of freebies within the line’s nearly all inclusive fare, such as all gratuities and Wi-Fi.
Virgin Voyages primarily sails in the Caribbean, Mexico and Mediterranean. The cruise line’s headquarters is in Plantation, Florida.
While the ship’s current fleet is limited to Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady, plans are in the works for fourth ship to join them in the latter half of 2025. All ships are on the smaller side, holding fewer than 3,000 passengers each.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Kirk Fisher)
This British cruise line based in Southampton, England may not be as familiar to the American cruising market, much like Costa Cruises, but it certainly offers a lot to love, and if you’re cruising in Europe, you’ll definitely have it as an option.
In addition to sailing the Caribbean, South America, Mediterranean and South Pacific, P&O Cruises also operates some river ships. Of P&O Cruises’ seven ships, the two Excellence-class ships, Iona and Arvia, are the largest and newest, both debuted within the last five years.
Additionally, like Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises is likewise suitable for all ages, and you’ll find a mix of families, younger and older couples on this cruise line.
There’s a nice blend of amenities, with all your basic venues and entertainment, including various dining options, bars, a spa, gym and multiple pools on most ships.
As the sailing date approaches, every cruise traveler knows that giddy countdown feeling and is happily planning for shore excursions, beach days, and onboard fun. But what happens when a highly anticipated port visit is swapped for another destination just a month before departure?
Guests aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas are dealing with just such a situation, as they’ve now been notified that their March 29, 2025 sailing will not be visiting St. Thomas as planned.
While the ship will still be enjoying an 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyage roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, that one key port of call has been changed.
“To provide you with the best experience during your journey, we’ve made some adjustments,”the notification read.“We’ll skip our visit to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and we’ll sepnd a full day in St. Johns, Antigua, instead. ‘Knot’ to worry, while it’s not the original itinerary we planned, we’re excited to explore this new port with you!”
Freedom of the Seas will depart Port Everglades as planned on Saturday, March 29, and spend the first two full days of the cruise at sea. Tuesday, April 1 (no foolin’!) the ship will visit St. Maarten from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The visit to St. Thomas was to have been from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2. That day will now be spent at Antigua, for the same time frame. Charlotte Amalie and St. Johns are approximately 220 miles apart. Philipsburg, St. Maarten is almost exactly halfway between the two ports.
After Antigua, Freedom of the Seas will spend Thursday, April 3 in Basseterre, St. Kitts. Two more leisurely days at sea will follow as the ship heads back to Fort Lauderdale for debarkation on Sunday, April 6.
Any shore tours guests had already booked for the now cancelled visit to St. Thomas will be automatically refunded back to travelers’ original form of payment.
Additional excursion opportunities for Antigua are being made available for booking online. Guests will also be able to book tours for any of the ship’s port visits onboard by visiting the Shore Excursions desk on Deck 5, starboard side, near the Guest Services Desk.
Why the Port Change?
Royal Caribbean has not offered any details beyond “to provide you with the best experience” as explanation for the port change just a month before setting sail. Cruise itineraries are typically set two years or more in advance, and cruise lines do try to maintain those original itineraries whenever possible.
It is likely this port swap is part of a knock-on effect from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Because of continuing difficulties with pier construction and safety certifications that have kept larger Royal Caribbean ships from docking there for months, those larger ships – Symphony of the Seas and now Icon of the Seas – have been rerouted to other destinations.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship in the US Virgin Islands (Photo Credit: GagliardiPhotography / Shutterstock)
One of those destinations is St. Thomas, which can better handle the larger ships, depending on their overall itinerary. This does mean, however, that Freedom of the Seas has had to change her schedule as well.
Trying to balance which ships are visiting which ports on which days is a complex logistical operation. Not only does berth space need to be available to accommodate each vessel, but Royal Caribbean is undoubtedly working to ensure as little overcrowding as possible so everyone enjoys their time in port.
The availability of port workers and tour operators will also factor in to such decisions, as well as sailing speeds, time spent in port, and how an individual destination best works into the other parts of a ship’s planned itinerary.
While some guests will undoubtedly be disappointed to no longer be visiting St. Thomas, the opportunity to explore Antigua can be very exciting for travelers.
With stunning beaches, outstanding architecture, vibrant marketplaces, and more, the port will surely be a memorable one for everyone aboard Freedom of the Seas.
Stay on top of cruise industry news with Cruise Hive’s weekly recap. This week’s edition features coverage on Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruises.
Make sure you stay well informed by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, so the big cruise stories are delivered right to your inbox.
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald tackles all kinds of topics and controversies on his popular Facebook page, where one disgruntled guest recently questioned why the cruise line won’t allow passengers to bring their own coffeemaker onboard.
After their Mr. Coffee machine was confiscated as a banned item while boarding a recent Carnival Radiance cruise, the guests declared their cruise was ruined. The angry guests are Diamond-level loyalty club members and suggested that, as such, they ought to be allowed to bring a coffee pot onboard.
They also complained that room service coffee was disappointing. Heald confirmed that, yes, appliances with heating elements are banned from being brought onboard Carnival Cruise Line ships for safety reasons.
But he noted that the guests could have ordered a new room service coffee delivery, asking specifically for it to be stronger, warmer, or made however they prefer it. Or, they could have paid for specialty coffees from the ship’s Java Blue Cafe.
Captain Kate McCue to Depart Celebrity Cruises
Captain Kate McCue Says Farewell (Credit: Kate McCue)
Celebrity Cruises is losing one of its top celebrities. Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman at the helm of a major cruise ship, announced she will soon leave Celebrity Cruises.
McCue most recently served as captain of Celebrity Beyond, but began her career as captain aboard Celebrity Summit in 2015. She also captained two other of the line’s ships — Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Edge.
She confirmed her plan to depart Celebrity Cruises on Instagram, where she has some 1 million followers. Captain McCue did not reveal where she is headed next, but indicated that her sailing days are not over, saying she has too much salt in her veins to leave the sea behind.
Her Instagram announcement included a video showing some of her top career moments, such as christening ships and interacting with crew members. Celebrity Cruises added a comment to the post, offering her their best wishes.
Before Celebrity Cruises, McCue was a third mate on Disney Cruise Line and a second officer with Royal Caribbean.
Guests Allege Poor Treatment After Balcony Fire
Carnival Glory Cabin Fire (Photo Credit: Tatianna Chuitian)
A small fire erupted on the balcony of a cabin on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Glory during a 3-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral. While the fire damaged a chair on the veranda, it was quickly discovered and extinguished, and no one was injured.
However, the three young women who were staying in the stateroom have complained they were badly treated by ship’s crew after the emergency. The fire happened on February 22, 2025 following a port call at Nassau, Bahamas.
Guest Tatianna Chuitian and two unidentified friends say they were not held accountable for the fire but were taken to the ship’s medical center and were required to take pregnancy tests. The guests said they also had to provide written statements about the incident but were not allowed to photograph those statements.
Moreover, the guests said they were intimidated by crew members and pressured to sign waivers. In a statement, Carnival Cruise Line acknowledged that a minor fire broke out onboard the 2,980-guest ship, but offered no response to the guests’ allegations.
Icon of the Seas Nixes Calls to San Juan
Icon of the Seas in Florida (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
When will it be business as usual at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Pier 3? Cruise lines are beginning to wonder.
Ever since MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia accidentally damaged a mooring dolphin at Pier 3 in April 2024, the dock has been unable to accommodate ships. Pier 3 is the port’s only berth big enough to host Royal Caribbean’s largest ships.
The line’s Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis-class mega-ship, has been altering itineraries to avoid the port since November 2024, and now, the even bigger Icon of the Seas, an Icon-class ship, is skipping scheduled calls to the port as well.
Impacted cruises are the May 3, June 7, June 21, and July 19 sailings — all 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyages from Icon’s homeport of Miami.
While repairs are under way at the San Juan port, Icon of the Seas’ July 19 cruise will swap the port with a call at St. Maarten. Her other three affected cruises will still visit Puerto Rico but will call at Ponce rather than San Juan.
Symphony of the Seas’ itineraries have been adjusted, too, and guests have been notified.
Strong Winds Cause Ship to List off New Zealand
Minor Damage on Crown Princess After Tilting (Credit: Kerry Burchett)
Thirteen guests and three crew members sustained minor injuries aboard Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess when the ship listed about 14 degrees due to strong winds in Milford Sound, New Zealand on February 24, 2025.
The listing was enough to cause a pool to flood a dining area and to knock items off tables and shelves. There was no structural damage to the ship but the incident caused panic among some guests.
The cruise line later confirmed that Crown Princess encountered strong winds during a course change, and that crew members responded immediately, cleaning up any broken items and dealing with the pool overflow.
The 3,080-passenger Crown Princess is operating a 14-night sailing roundtrip from Sydney. The sailing concludes on March 8, 2025.
This was not the ship’s first experience with a significant tilt. Back in 2006, the ship’s automatic steering was mistakenly disengaged, causing a 24-degree list as Crown Princess sailed off Port Canaveral.
Cruiser Jumps Off Mexico Pier to Retrieve a Hat
Carnival Valor Passenger In Water (Cfedit: Laci Lugones)
A pair of honeymooners got more than they bargained for at the port of Progreso, Mexico, when the wind blew the wife’s hat into the harbor. Apparently the hat was a special one — a memento from their wedding, and husband Micah Lugones jumped into the water to retrieve it.
Lugones and his wife, Laci, were sailing on their first cruise, a 5-night Caribbean voyage aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Valor from New Orleans. The ship had departed the Big Easy on February 17, 2025 and called at Progreso on February 20, 2025.
Lugones, who was able to grab the hat and climb out of the water safely, was cheered by those who watched from the ship and the pier, but such action is not recommended.
It can be dangerous to be in the water in an active port like Progreso. Cruise and cargo ships, and other vessels, are coming and going, and wind and currents can make swimming difficult, even hazardous. In this case, all’s well that ended well.
Oasis-Class Ship Nearly Fails CDC Inspection
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas in Miami (Photo Credit: Nicholas Lamontanaro)
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis-class ship carrying up to 5,500 guests in double occupancy, almost failed her most recent inspection by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Inspectors boarded the ship on February 9, 2025 and found 44 line-item violations, giving the ship a final score of 86, out of 100. A score of 85 or below means the ship failed its inspection.
The most serious violations were related to improper reporting of illnesses affecting several young guests sailing on the ship, and those guests not being isolated from others. Additional offenses involved plumbing leaks, improper food storage, broken hand washing stations, and lighting issues in some galleys.
The ship has a record of better CDC scores. In November 2023, the ship received a score of 97, and in October 2022, a perfect score of 100.
The 228,081-gross-ton ship is based at PortMiami and sails 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
More Cruise Headlines
Let’s keep going with even more cruise news from Cruise Hive. Check out additional stories about Holland America Line revealing new itineraries to Hawaii and the Panama Canal; Disney Cruise Line altering a Disney Treasure itinerary to the Caribbean; Ketchikan deciding to reinstate a local tax on shipboard purchases while vessels are docked; a Royal Caribbean ship making a rescue off the coast of Mexico; and Costa Cruises adding another embarkation port in the Caribbean.
Indeed, these skilled first responders sprung into action to rescue an ailing 72-year-old man onboard Holland America Line’s Koningsdam– which is in the middle of a 35-day sailing to destinations throughout Hawaii and French Polynesia.
The Coast Guard received word on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 26, 2025, that the guest had experienced multiple stroke episodes while the 2,650-guest ship was sailing 300 miles off the coast of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
By the next morning, first responders had met the ship and were ready to render aid – which was now 57 miles south of Honolulu.
“At 9 a.m. Thursday, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point rendezvoused with the Koningsdam about 57 miles south of Honolulu,”the US Coast Guard said in a press release.
Thanks to the teamwork and quick action of the first responders, the man was successfully transferred to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where he is receiving treatment and his condition is listed as stable.
According to current passengers who have allegedly interacted with the man’s wife, he is expected to make a full recovery.
“By combining the skills of our crews and the specialized capabilities of our aircraft, we are able to respond to emergencies across the vast Pacific region,”said Lt. Cmdr. John Stockton, HC-130 Hercules aircraft commander, Air Station Barbers Point.
“Teamwork is critically important for medevacs, which are among the most time-sensitive and high-stakes missions we take on,” Stockton continued.
This also isn’t the first time that US Coast Guard members have had the chance to put their skills to the test while assisting the 2014-launched vessel.
The successful rescue took place in December of 2024 on the final sea day of a Baja Peninsula cruise.
Impact on the Itinerary
The Holland America ship embarked from San Diegoon February 15, 2025 – and still has quite a lot of ground (or sea?) to cover before she returns to the California port on March 22, 2025.
The Hawaiian portion of the itinerary, which included calls on ports like Honolulu, Kailua-Kona, Kahului (Maui), and Kauai Island, was unaffected by the surprise evacuation.
In fact, the 99,863-gross ton ship would have just started sailing on to French Polynesia when the man began to deteriorate.
However, tracking data shows that the cruise ship doubled back to meet the US Coast Guard, which has led to the need to skip the next port of call on the itinerary – which was a visit to Fanning Island, Kiribati, on March 1, 2025.
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
“We headed back to Hawaii yesterday for a medical emergency. We met a Coast Guard helicopter and they transferred the person to fly him back to Honolulu,”a current guest shared on February 27.
“We have now turned around and are headed to Tahiti but the Captain just announced we will be skipping Fanning Island. A safe flight and godspeed to the Coast Guard and the patient!,” she continued.
But while the other passengers could have been annoyed by the change in plans, the majority have been wishing the guest well and thinking of his spouse.
His wife remained onboard Koningsdam, likely due to the urgency of the situation and/or the capacity on the helicopter, and will have to fly back to Honolulu to be with her husband from one of the upcoming ports of call.
“I hope they recover. I feel bad for their spouse who is still on the ship and will have to disembark at the next port and fly to meet them,” the current passenger added, with others echoing her sentiment.
The remaining French Polynesian ports, including destinations like Raiatea; Papeete, Tahiti; Moorea; Fakarava; and Nuku Hiva, remain unaffected.
