The second Disney Cruise Line (DCL) destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas, opened for a preview on June 7, welcoming guests to experience the new retreat ahead of its official debut on June 10, 2024.
The preview was offered to passengers aboard the 83,338-ton, 2,713-guest Disney Magic, sailing a 3-night round-trip preview cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Guests at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point were treated to a blend of Bahamian culture and Disney magic with a special Junkanoo Celebration parade, music by local Bahamian artists, and beach games hosted by Disney characters in tropical outfits designed by Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett.
Guests at Disney’s Lookout Cay
The Disney Parks Blog revealed that the first visitors arrived at the Goombay Cultural Center to celebrate with Mickey Mouse and friends. They were also treated to a Sun Beach Bash at the Play-Play Pavilion and kid-friendly activities like Goofy’s Good Day Limbo, Pluto’s Pineapple Ring Toss, and Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Water Brigade.
A new original song, “Ery’ting Cool,” produced in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering and two Bahamian producers, was also introduced at the Cay, which was designed to offer visitors an authentic Bahamian immersion filled with music, color, and culture.
Bloggers aboard the ship shared images of their arrival, including a first look at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point’s dock, which was reported to be about a quarter mile in length.
Disney Magic llegó hoy a Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, le nueva isla privada de @DisneyCruise en las Bahamas. Detalles durante el día y reportaje completo en #Elnuevodia. pic.twitter.com/n4MY0PondC
Constructed to meet government mandates to protect the environment, reports mentioned that Disney Cruise Line is working on solutions for guests who may find it difficult to walk the distance from the ship to the destination’s entrance.
Additional reports reveal the walk from the ship to the family beach is more than 1.5 miles. However, the good news is that only one ship per day will dock at Lighthouse Point to allow guests a better experience when calling on the new destination.
Disney Magic is First to Arrive at Lookout Cay
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will welcome its official inaugural visit on June 10 with the arrival of Disney Fantasy sailing out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.
Accommodating up to 4,000 passengers and weighing 129,750 gross tons, the ship will depart Port Canaveral on June 8 and make its first call at the destination before continuing to Nassau, The Bahamas, and visiting Disney Cruise Line’s additional private destination, Castaway Cay. It will return to Lighthouse Point on June 13 before returning to Florida.
Guests at Disney’s Lookout Cay
Disney Magic, DCL’s oldest ship, will take its first official passengers to Lighthouse Point during a 5-night roundtrip cruise from Fort Lauderdale that sets sail on June 14. The special Vacation Club cruise will also call on the destination twice, as well as visit Castaway Cay.
Throughout the summer Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy will offer an array of cruises varying from 3- to 7 -days that spend a day at the destination, which had been under construction since April 2022.
Disney Cruise Line leaders, the Bahamian Government, and local community members celebrated its competition with a special ceremony on May 30, 2024.
All-you-can-eat buffets and cruise ships are synonymous. You can’t have a cruise ship without a buffet. Well, you can — there’s a very small handful of cruise lines that don’t feature buffets on their ships, like Virgin — but it’s not common.
Avid cruisers expect to be able to go onto a cruise ship, and eat until their hearts’ content, all throughout the sailing and all without paying a penny more than what they paid for their base cruise fare.
If you’ve yet to experience your first cruise, don’t make the mistake of thinking of the cruise ship buffet as some sad little dining venue serving trays of over-warmed food that’s been sitting out all day long.
Cruise ship buffets have really leveled up their game. They now offer tons of options at themed cuisine stations, with made-to-order counters where you can have certain items made before your very eyes (think sub sandwiches or eggs). Cruise ship buffets also often change up their offerings, just slightly, with every meal, for more variety.
In short, cruise ship buffets are pretty great and are a requisite part of the cruising experience. However, while the cruise ship buffet may seem like the Wild, Wild West, where there are no menus, and no rules and you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want, in any quantity you want, take caution. Rules still exist, and these are the 10 things you should never do at the cruise ship buffet.
You’ve seen them before. They’re the person at the buffet line whose plate is close to spilling out over onto the floor. They’ve stacked their bacon as high as the sky. They’ve amassed enough mashed potatoes and pasta to feed a small army. Pieces of pizza are stacked precariously, making room for desserts.
It all looks a little greedy, a little gross, and a little uncalled for. Don’t be that person at the buffet line. What’s the big deal, you ask?
Full Plate at the Cruise Ship Buffet (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
One, you’re depleting the available, fresh and ready food. Even if you will eat all that food, if you just take an average portion and then come back for more, it gives other cruisers a chance to get a serving as well, and the servers a chance to notice that they’re running low on a certain item, so they can make more. However, two, you probably actually aren’t going to eat all that food.
Yes, while part of the fun of a buffet is eating as much as possible, and as much variety as possible, don’t waste food unnecessarily.
2. Carry Multiple Plates at Once
Along these lines, even if you have a totally normal amount of food on your plate, don’t attempt to balance multiple plates, cups, bowls and other dishes all along your arms, as you make your way through the buffet line.
Yes, you may really want and even need two plates, one to hold your pancakes and one to hold your omelet (there’s nothing wrong with not wanting your food to touch, after all!), but when you end up balancing more than one dish as you make your way around the room, to the various food stations, you put yourself, your food and others at risk.
Carrying Plates (Photo Credit: Vershinin89)
Buffets can be crowded, and one accidental bump or knock could send your food to the floor. Not only is that wasted food, but it’s also a potential safety hazard, as dishes could break, scattering shards on the floor, and spilled food could pose a fall risk.
So, only get one plate of food at a time. If you need multiple plates, fill one, take it back to your table, and then go get another, and then sit down to eat.
3. Touch the Food with Your Hands
Do you want some stranger touching your food with their hands, at mealtime? They don’t want you touching their food, either. Even if it’s an item that you would normally eat with your hands — like pizza or pastries — refrain from just grabbing it.
Touching Food at the Cruise Buffet (Photo Credit: Melissa Herzog)
Even if you think you’ll only touch the item you’re going to eat, there’s a chance you could brush up against the other food on the buffet, spreading germs (and that’s the last thing you want to do on a cruise ship, where illness can spread quickly).
Look for a serving utensil and, if you can’t find the serving utensils, ask one of a crew member for some.
4. Skip Washing Your Hands
Along these lines, make sure that you wash your hands before you head to the cruise ship buffet. Some cruise ships feature hand washing stations near the buffet restaurant entrance, for this purpose. You may also be able to find hand sanitation stations nearby. At the very least, you can find a restroom and wash your hands, or carry portable hand sanitizer with you (a very good idea anyway).
Hand washing station on Carnival’s Mardi Gras cruise ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
This is, again, all about preventing the spread of germs and possible illness. Even if you don’t touch the food directly, everyone is still touching the same serving utensils, possibly thousands of passengers per day, and the possibility that someone out there has the sniffles is high.
5. Ignore the Dress Code
Yes, the buffet is always going to be on the super-casual side. That said, there’s kind of an unspoken rule among cruisers that you should at least wear some basic clothing items when visiting the buffet — mostly just to be polite to your fellow cruisers — and some cruise lines do enforce a very basic dress code at the buffet.
Cruise Ship Buffet on Celebrity Beyond (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
So, for example, on Norwegian Cruise Line, you can wear your swimsuit to the buffet, but you have to be wearing a cover-up or shirt. Additionally, you must wear shoes of some kind. While this may seem like an inconvenience, if you just want to walk from the pool, directly to the buffet line, trust us: You’ll feel way more comfortable if you cover up before you sit down, to chow down.
As for wearing your bathrobe from your cabin to the buffet, if you want to grab breakfast… Well, while someone might not tell you directly not to do it, you might get your fair share of disapproving glances. Let’s just say it can be frowned upon.
A good rule of thumb? If you wouldn’t wear it to pop into the convenience store, don’t wear it to the buffet.
6. Skip Line
It can be tempting to skip the line, especially if someone in front of you is taking their sweet time picking out their chicken tenders from a pile of identical chicken tenders. However, if the buffet is crowded and there’s a long line of people behind you, refrain from jumping up ahead to helping yourself from the next tray at the station.
Cruise Passengers Lining Up for Buffet (Photo Credit: Melissa Herzog)
Similarly, if you just arrived at the buffet, and you can see that there’s a line, don’t skip around it to get just that one thing that you want.
It’s important to be polite and well-mannered to your fellow cruisers — you’re stuck in the middle of the ocean with them, after all. It’s wise to play nice.
7. Change Your Order at the Last Minute
A lot of cruise ship buffets feature a few made-to-order stations for items like omelets, where a chef is on duty to prepare your requested item, just as you like it.
Cruise Ship Food Option (Photo Credit: Putu Agus Pradnyana)
However, just because you can have it your way, all day, that doesn’t mean you can rudely change your order at the omelet station at the last minute — again, that’s a food waste problem and it wastes the chef’s time, as well as requires other cruisers to wait longer, in line, behind you, as the chef remakes your order.
So, before you place your order, while you’re still in line, think long and hard about what you want, so you know when it’s time to order.
8. Reuse the Same Plate Over and Over Again
This one is another rule to follow due to health reasons, but it’s one that’s admittedly easy to forget. You might even think you’re doing a polite thing by reusing the same plate over and over again at the buffet; after all, you’re making less work for the crew, right? Won’t they appreciate fewer dirty dishes to wash?
While that’s a nice thought, taking your plate back to the buffet, over and over again, after you’ve already eaten off that plate, can mean that you’re accidentally spreading around some germs, via cross-contamination.
Filling Plate (Photo Credit: koentjoro)
Think about it. You’ve been eating off your plate, your fork going from your mouth to the plate and back again. Then, you take your empty plate that still has a bit of food residue on it, to the buffet.
You use the serving utensils to lay new items on your dirty plate, the serving utensils touch the food residue on the plate, which touched your fork, which touched your mouth… You can see where this is going.
So, if you’re getting a new serving of food, get a new plate. It’s that simple.
9. Not Communicate Any Food Allergies or Sensitivities
No one wants you to have an allergic reaction to food you ate on a cruise ship, so don’t worry about being considered “an inconvenience,” just by asking about a buffet item’s ingredients.
The good news is, many cruise ships will have items on the buffet clearly labeled for specific dietary needs, such as if an item is vegetarian or gluten-free.
Pizza Being Made Onboard MSC Meraviglia (Photo Credit: Claire Lucia)
However, if you have some niche food allergies, like if you’re allergic to onion or garlic, you may want to contact the cruise line ahead of time. Often, they’ll be happy to make sure you get some food that’s appropriate for your needs, while helping you steer clear of any foods that might result in a bad reaction.
10. Grab a Plate Without Checking Out All Your Options
Cruise line buffets are big. If you grab a plate as soon as you walk in the door and begin filling it up with the first yummy items you see, you’re bound to miss out on something delicious. So, take a little tour around the buffet before you decide, and then pick the items you’re most excited about.
Omelette At the Cruise Ship Buffet (Photo Credit: Reel creative)
Then, make a mental note to either return for seconds (with a clean plate!) for some of those other tantalizing items, or return later in your cruise. Since the cruise ship buffet is always included in your complimentary dining options, there’s no reason why you can’t come back again and again, as many times as you want.
In a story that highlights just how important it is to adhere to cruise schedules, a teen left his parents in port to return to his cruise on time while his parents missed the ship’s departure and were left stranded.
The teen, who graduated from high school in December and received a cruise as a combined gift for his graduation and 18th birthday, recounted the incident in a Reddit post. This was the family’s first cruise, and the teen had emphasized the importance of sticking to the schedule during excursions.
The teen, identified as ProfessionalTax7753, wrote, “Well, it was a week-long cruise, and they would not head back to the ship when I said it was time to go. They were busy shopping and bargaining with the locals. I finally said that I was heading back to the ship. My mom waved me off.”
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
Despite repeated warnings from their child, the parents missed the ship’s departure by 45 minutes. They later contacted their child via WhatsApp, expressing frustration and blaming the teen for not ensuring the boat waited for them.
“I wanted to scream that they were not going to inconvenience 3,998 people because two could not understand what a schedule was,” the teen added.
Ultimately, the parents had to fly to the next port at considerable expense, leading to further animosity. The teen, who did not identify the ship or where they were sailing, expressed regret, saying, “I wish I had never asked for this. They are making me miserable because I left without them.”
The Reddit post received numerous supportive comments, with users unanimously agreeing that the teen was not at fault. One usercommented, “What precisely do they think you could have done? Kidnapped the captain? Staged your own drowning. You didn’t abandon them, they abandoned you.”
Many users pointed out that the crew likely informed the parents multiple times about the schedule, emphasizing that they chose to ignore the guidelines.
Cruise Lines’ Right to Leave Passengers Behind
The story of the teen’s parents missing their cruise isn’t unique. Similar incidents have made headlines, such as the eight passengers recently stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after the Norwegian Dawn left without them. The group, consisting of six Americans and two Australians, were on a private tour and missed the ship’s departure by over an hour.
Despite efforts from the local Coast Guard to get them back on board, the ship’s captain did not allow them to rejoin. Norwegian Cruise Line stated that the passengers were responsible for ensuring they returned on time and that their passports were handed over to local port agents as per protocol.
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock
The stranded passengers eventually traveled through multiple countries over several days to rejoin the ship in Senegal.
While cruise lines prefer not to leave anyone behind and may wait up to 15 minutes for late passengers, they cannot delay their departure for extended periods, such as the 45 minutes the parents were late returning to the ship. However, waiting for late passengers is at the discretion of the captain.
Departure times are clearly communicated through daily newsletters, announcements, and posted schedules. Maintaining these schedules is crucial for adhering to port schedules, complying with legal and operational requirements, and minimizing the impact on other passengers.
Passengers who miss the ship are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the next port of call at their own expense, a policy outlined in the cruise contract that passengers agree to when booking their trip and boarding the ship.
P&O Cruises Australia has provided a variety of updates about the brand’s sunsetting and absorption into Carnival Cruise Line, scheduled for early 2025. This includes which cruises are now cancelled and how refunds will be processed as well as when each of the three ships will be out of service.
Carnival Corporation & plc announced just days ago that the P&O Cruises Australia brand would be dissolved, with two out of the line’s three vessels transferred to Carnival Cruise Line. The remaining vessel, Pacific Explorer, will be retired after her February 7, 2025 departure – an 11-night sailing from Fremantle to Singapore.
Guests booked on P&O Cruises Australia sailings in the time leading up to the rebranding are understandably concerned about their cruise vacations and how the experience may change as Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter are moved to Carnival Cruise Line.
Bugs on Pacific Explorer Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ymgerman)
“We are all immensely proud of P&O Cruises Australia’s 90-year heritage of dedicated operations in the region and Carnival Cruise Line are honored to carry forward its storied legacy and continue to deliver the same onboard experiences and itineraries with the benefit of Carnival Cruise Line HUB app and loyalty program,”the new FAQ page reads.
To bring the two remaining P&O Cruises Australia ships into the Carnival fleet, extensive renovations and rebranding will be necessary. To do this, several voyages are cancelled for each ship.
Pacific Adventure now has four cruises cancelled, while Pacific Encounter has just three cruises cancelled. Both ships will resume operations with Carnival Cruise Line from April 2025. P&O Cruises Australia is reaching out to guests on the now-cancelled sailings with refund details. The cruise line is offering both future cruise credits as well as onboard credit as incentives to rebook on different sailings.
The cancelled sailings are the March 14, 18, 22, and 25 departure dates for Pacific Adventure, as well as the March 15, 18, and 22 departure dates for Pacific Encounter.
Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment after June 30, 2024. With the volume of refunds to be processed, however, it may take up to 20 business days for full processing, depending on different individual financial institution’s policies. All add-on packages and pre-paid expenses will also be refunded.
From April 2025, both Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will be sailing their already planned itineraries from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively, but will be operated as Carnival Cruise Line ships.
The vessels will still maintain the high service standards of P&O Cruises Australia, however, as well as honor the line’s legacy alongside popular Carnival Cruise Line favorites.
What Will Change Onboard?
No details have yet been released about what enhancements, upgrades, or rebranding will be brought to Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter. Those announcements will likely be made by Carnival Cruise Line in the coming months as details of the cruise line merger are further refined.
Travelers can likely expect similar changes onboard the two ships as has happened aboard the “Carnival Fun, Italian Style” renovations that were made to Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Venezia, and Carnival Firenze. Those ships were moved from Costa Cruises into Carnival Cruise Line in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.
The former Costa ships still maintain their original vibe and much of their Italian-inspired décor. They have incorporated a variety of Carnival Cruise Line favorites, however, including select dining venues, entertainment, activities, children’s programming, and more. The ships do remain distinctive, however, and offer a unique experience for travelers who love Carnival Cruise Line.
Undoubtedly, the former P&O Cruises Australia ships will likewise retain their unique personas, and will bring a new and culturally-rich experience to Carnival Cruise Line for new travelers to enjoy.
Guests onboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia have reported an overboard situation near Flam, Norway, in the very early hours of Thursday, June 6, 2024. The ship is currently finishing a 7-night Northern Europe sailing roundtrip from Kiel, Germany, that departed on Saturday, June 1.
The overboard alarm was sounded at approximately 2:15 a.m. Guests were awakened by the alert, and a few minutes later, the ship’s captain made an announcement about the situation and notified passengers that the ship was stopping for rescue operations.
At the time, the 184,011-gross-ton, Meraviglia-Plus-class ship was cruising in the picturesque Sognefjord en route to Flam, where the vessel was scheduled to spend the day on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The incident happened approximately 3 miles east of Lavik, 53 miles west-northwest of Flam. The Sognefjord is the largest, deepest fjord in Norway. Cruise ship tracking data shows the large vessel turning around in the channel during the overboard incident.
Local coast guard authorities were notified and at least one rescue helicopter was dispatched to aid in the search. The cruise ship also launched a rescue boat to search the nearby waters. Video (courtesy of Lora Morrow) has shown someone being pulled from the water in the early morning hours, but it is unclear whether that may be the individual who had gone overboard or a member of the rescue team.
Follow-up announcements confirmed that the individual had been rescued and taken to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown. For the sake of their privacy, as well as that of their traveling companions and family members, their identity has not been revealed.
No further details have been released, and it is not known whether or not alcohol, a domestic disturbance, or other factors contributed to this incident.
MSC Euribia was able to resume her journey and there was no significant disruption to her schedule. The ship is still on track to return to Kiel as planned on Saturday, June 8.
The ship is currently offering a season of Northern Europe itineraries departing from either Kiel or Copenhagen, depending on travelers’ preferences and sailing date.
In addition to Flam, ports of call include Hellesylt, Geiranger, Molde, Maloy, and Alesund, Norway, with the exact stops varying based on departure date.
Second Recent Overboard
This is not the only overboard situation from MSC Euribia this year. In mid-March, a male passenger was reported missing and overboard from the ship as the vessel was sailing from Southampton to Hamburg. During that situation, an apparent lack of communication was frustrating to family members.
It can be difficult for a cruise line to properly communicate with understandably distraught families and friends while safeguarding privacy and simultaneously working with authorities.
It is customary for overboard incidents to be thoroughly investigated, but when incidents may happen in international waters, jurisdictional issues can be complicated.
MSC Euribia is the newest ship in MSC Cruises’ standard fleet (Explora 1 is just slightly younger as the first of the parent company’s luxury ships). The ship can host approximately 3,000 travelers, and has an international crew of roughly 1,700 to ensure the ship’s safe operation and excellent service.
This may seem like such tragic incidents occur frequently, but it is important to remember that many thousands of guests sail on hundreds of cruise ships around the world every day, enjoying amazing destinations and beautiful ports of call.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the family and friends of the individual in this incident, as well as the crew of MSC Euribia as they work to provide happier moments for everyone aboard the ship on every sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line has quietly removed a popular benefit for its Diamond and Platinum level returning guests, without notice of the discontinuation. The $25 FunPlay credit in the ship’s casino was never intended as a long-term benefit, but nevertheless, it has been a popular perk that guests have enjoyed for several years.
Now, however, the perk has been removed from the list of benefits for the upper tiers of Carnival’s VIFP loyalty program, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador has confirmed that the credit is no longer being offered.
“Yes, the casino has decided to remove the $25,”Heald said in response to a guest inquiry.“The $25 FunPlay casino credit was one of our temporary offers to our top tier VIFP guests. With a full suite of casino promotions and activities, we are sunsetting this credit and continue to look for other ways to make sure our loyal guests have a great time while cruising with us.”
The credit was first instituted during the cruise industry restart as a substitution for the loss of casino tournaments. The tournaments were halted in 2021 as a health and safety measure to promote social distancing and minimize the risk of disease transmission. Previously, Platinum and Diamond guests had received free or buy-one-get-one tournament entries.
When social distancing was required and casinos were unable to host blackjack, slot machine, or poker tournaments, however, Platinum and Diamond guests were instead given the casino credit as compensation and encouragement to enjoy time in the casino. The credit was redeemable for slots or table games.
“We want to thank you for the loyalty and support you have shown Carnival, and also make you aware of the new way to redeem your VIFP amenities. These changes were designed in accordance with our new Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols,”emails sent to booked guests explained in the early days after cruises began sailing again.
“Although we are currently unable to host casino tournaments on board, you will be given US$25 in Casino FunPlay.”
While guests received that notification of their benefit changes when the FunPlay credit was instituted, there has been no notification that the benefit has been removed. Furthermore, at this time, no further casino benefits have either been substituted as alternatives, nor have the old tournament entry benefits been returned.
Is This a Money Saving Strategy?
Many loyal Carnival cruisers are disappointed at the removal of the benefit, especially with no substitution offered. Speculation is high that this may be due to financial losses associated with the perk.
For example, cruisers with the credit might not spend more than the $25 FunPlay in the casino, and could perhaps even cash out at a higher cost with their winnings – without spending any of their own money.
It should be noted that this decision comes from the casino department and not from Carnival Cruise Line overall. Each department decides whether or not to offer loyalty benefits to travelers, and those benefits are always subject to change. Other benefits related to the Ocean Player’s Club are not impacted.
Heald does note that guests’ comments and feedback are passed along to the casino department. Furthermore, this change has nothing to do with the hints that have been given about an upcoming renovation to the entire VIFP program.
“It has nothing to do with the new program. That’s a completely separate entity,”Heald confirmed.“But this casino change has been made by the casino. I hope that makes sense. But I promise I’ve let everybody know who needs to see the comments and make sure they understand everybody’s thoughts on this.”
Heald notes that the new VIFP program should be ready by the end of 2024, though no information is yet available about tier levels, expected benefits, or how existing loyalty status may be impacted. Stay tuned to Cruise Hive as those new benefits are revealed in the months to come!
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald regularly addresses questions of dress code and formality in the Main Dining Room. On the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings during World War II – D-Day – Heald has definitively addressed the issue of military uniforms and whether or not they are appropriate.
This comes in response to a guest’s inquiry and a unique perspective on seeing military uniforms while on vacation.
“Why does Carnival allow men to wear military uniforms on a cruise?”the unidentified guest asked.“The last thing I want to see on a cruise vacation is a military uniform while dining.”
The guest, who notes that they were not born in the US but have lived in the country for more than 30 years, explains that while sailing on the newly revamped Carnival Legend, three “retired aged” men were wearing US military blue uniforms in the restaurant.
“Why is this allowed? There might be different memories connected with uniforms from different cultural backgrounds,”the guest attempted to explain.“Regardless of your service…, it is very possible that whilst wearing this uniform in the restaurant, you may be seen as an ambassador to the current US regime and its political decisions and presence.”
“That could easily put you in a position that you don’t necessarily agree with. Why [does] Carnival allow this to happen? We’re on vacation. They should not be allowed to wear their uniform. It brings back to a reality that [guests] are trying to get away from, so I’m not just speaking for myself. What does cruising have to do with war? Let me answer that, John Heald, the answer is nothing.”
The guest then implies that Heald’s response may impact whether or not they choose to cruise with Carnival again.
Before replying, Heald did check with Carnival Cruise Line’s executives to ensure the cruise line’s policy permits wearing military uniforms – it does – and he also made inquiries with staff members on Carnival Legend. The three gentlemen wearing the uniforms are cruising together to celebrate their retirement from their respective careers in US military service.
After gathering that information, Heald shared his official position on the issue.
“My first reaction is DON’T LOOK! JUST DON’T LOOK!”Heald said with great vigor.“Eat your food. If they’re over there in uniform look over there or look over there!”
Heald noted that his response – with appropriate arm-flinging gestures in different directions – is admittedly unprofessional. He acknowledged that the guest’s individual circumstances may have a different perspective on military service, but cruising brings everyone together for great fun, no matter what their backgrounds.
“To all the men and women who have served, if you wish to wear your dress blues, yes,”Heald said, confirming that military uniforms can indeed be worn in the restaurants. “If it does upset you to a certain extent, I understand. Please just look away, don’t let it spoil your cruise.”
Heald later asked commenters on his popular Facebook page to weigh in on whether or not military blue dress uniforms should be permitted. With more than 1,900 comments, the response was overwhelming that yes, such uniforms are perfectly acceptable, just as other travelers should wear what makes them comfortable.
Carnival Legend Heroes Bar
It should be noted that Carnival Cruise Line does have a dress code, though its language could be subject to wide interpretation.
“All guests are expected to ensure their clothing and accessories are respectful to fellow guests. Specifically, items worn during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive,”the guidelines read.“In addition, clothing and accessories should not promote negative ethnic or racial, commentary, hatred, or violence in any form.”
Unfortunately, the idea of what is considered “respectful” and “offensive” can vary greatly for different individuals, particularly as society becomes more and more sensitive to different issues and perspectives.
It is difficult for any cruise line to balance all guests’ preferences, and it may become necessary to more carefully define what is “offensive” in clear and precise terms, as well as to clarify what clothing, such as military dress uniforms, is permitted.
Carnival Cruise Line and Military Service
Carnival Cruise Line is well-known for honoring active-duty military personnel and veterans from all nations and all branches of service. The cruise line is gradually adding the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge to its ships, offers a special Heroes American Pale Ale that raises money for veterans, and gives away a free cruise to a military member every month.
Furthermore, Carnival is a proud supporter of Operation Homefront and all it does to help active-duty military families as well as veterans. For example, the recent auction of custom-made Carnival Jubilee cowboy boots raised $25,000 for the non-profit organization.
In July 2023, Carnival Cruise Line also expanded its Military Appreciation Gathering to a full Military Appreciation Day on all North American sailings, offering more opportunities to thank and acknowledge military members of all ranks and branches.
All veterans, active-duty personnel, and other military members should always feel comfortable wearing their uniforms onboard Carnival cruise ships, if they wish to do so.
Multiple river cruise lines have been forced to change itineraries and even cancel sailings as higher than average water levels have created flooding on several European rivers.
Portions of major rivers in Austria, Germany, and Hungary have been closed, with navigability uncertain as rivers are flooding over their banks and landmarks become obscured.
Several portions of the Danube – the second-longest river in Europe, running more than 1,700 miles from the Black Forest to the Black Sea – have been completely closed.
Roughly 140 passengers have recently been evacuated from a river cruise ship on the Danube in southern Germany, with the ship unable to continue due to closures.
The specific ship or cruise line involved in that incident has not been identified, but multiple cruise lines are considering cancellations and other adjustments.
“The Danube is experiencing higher-than-average water levels, due to an unprecedented amount of rain in the last month,”explained Pam Hoffee, Avalon Waterways President to Travel Market Report, “This week, we made the decision to cancel two cruises on the lower Danube, due to ship access and availability.”
Similarly, Viking River Cruises has kept booked travelers updated with announcements on its website.
“Currently, sections of the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers are experiencing high water levels. To varying degrees, these conditions may affect select itineraries,”the cruise line said.
“Our Switzerland-based nautical team is continually monitoring the situation and will make any necessary adjustments to accommodate the conditions. Guests and their Travel Advisors will continue to be notified directly if we think that their itinerary might be impacted.”
River cruise lines can often adapt itineraries by adjusting their routes along tributaries, or else spending more time on less affected portions of rivers while waiting for flooding to recede. Some lines that operate multiple vessels may also offer alternate sailings on sister ships to their booked guests, depending on the individual circumstances for each sailing.
Larger river cruise lines, such as Viking, can easily transfer guests to alternate ships, and in fact plan voyages in opposite directions to facilitate such transfers.
“In the event of high (or low) water, this tactic allows us to implement a ship swap that is typically seamless for guests – both they and their luggage are able to be transferred to their exact, identical stateroom on a sister ship that was purposefully sailing on the other half of the river in preparation for such a disruption,”Viking explained.
River Cruises in Budapest (Photo Credit: Borisb17)
The flooding and closure of portions of the Danube follows another recent incident when a river cruise boat and smaller motorboat collided, resulting in at least two deaths. Changes in water levels may have played a role in that incident, which is currently being investigated.
Guests booked on any river sailings in the coming weeks on any European rivers should stay in close contact with their cruise line about potential deviations, itinerary adjustments, or cancellations.
Why Can MORE Water Cancel Cruises?
Many travelers unfamiliar with river cruises may wonder why more water can have such a dramatic impact on sailings. Droughts that shrink rivers are easily understood as a hazard (ships can’t sail without water, after all), but flooding can be equally treacherous.
When rivers rise, for example, their banks may change or be subject to erosion, changing the edge navigability for docking procedures or even flooding docks so they cannot be safely used. Higher water levels also create problems for passing under bridges, and can change the strength and speed of local currents.
River cruises can be a phenomenal way to explore many European cities that aren’t easily reached by oceangoing vessels, delving into the rich culture of different destinations with longer stays and more intimate visits.
As the final stop on her special 14-night British Isles Festival Cruise, Queen Anne made her inaugural port call on Cork, Ireland, on June 5, 2024, which is the gateway to the seaport town of Cobh.
The new ship from Cunard Line – which is the first in more than a decade – arrived just two days after making her historic debut in Liverpool, England, where she was officially christened and named.
The Port of Cork celebrated the arrival of the 3,000-guest ship with much fanfare, including a traditional plaque exchange that commemorated the milestone occasion and honored the long-standing relationship between Cork and the British-operated cruise line.
“The arrival of the Queen Anne on her maiden voyage to Cobh is a momentous occasion for the Port of Cork. This event not only celebrates our rich maritime heritage but also reinforces the strong bond we share with Cunard,”said Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cork Company and Chair of Cruise Ireland.
“We are honored to welcome the Queen Anne and her passengers, and we look forward to many more such visits in the future,” continued Mowlds.
Indeed, the 249th ship to sail under Cunard’s flag is now a part of the rich history shared between the Irish Port and the cruise line. Cobh, which was formerly known as Queenstown, is one of the oldest ports of call visited by the Cunard fleet.
While much of Cunard’s history with Cork is positive, it was also the location where Cunard’s RMS Lusitania sank on May 7, 1915 after it was struck by a torpedo. Approximately 1,200 people died in the unfortunate incident.
As a way of honoring the memory of those lost in the tragic sinking, a commemorative wreath was placed at the Lusitania Memorial in Cobh during Queen Anne’s happy visit.
Queen Anne’s Career At Sea Is Off To A Good Start
Cunard’s newest ship hasn’t been cruising for very long, but the world’s current newest cruise ship has already been making waves around the world.
Queen Anne’s arrival marked an important milestone for the Carnival-owned cruise line, which hasn’t operated four ships at once since 1999.
The new ship was also designed to pay homage to the cruise line’s 183-year history, with her passengers encouraged to enjoy a unique blend of heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation across her 14 decks, as well as more onboard experiences than ever offered on any other Cunard ship.
Queen Anne Cruise Ship in Liverpool (Photo Credits: Global Ports Holding & Peel Ports)
The Pinnacle-class ship officially entered service on Friday, May 3, 2024, from Southampton, UK. Her 7-night maiden voyage was a round trip sailing to La Coruna, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal, which went off without a hitch.
Queen Anne is currently sailing on a historic 14-night festival voyage – aptly named as the cruise included her official naming ceremony – that embarked from Southampton on May 24, 2024.
The inaugural port call to Cork was the final stop of the itinerary, which also included maiden calls on Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Scotland, and the aforementioned Liverpool, England.
Throughout the voyage, the young ship also visited Kirkwall, Scotland; Invergordon, Scotland; Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The cruise is due to disembark in Southampton on June 7, from where the 113,000-gross ton vessel – the second largest in the Cunard fleet – will transition to offering a mix of voyages throughout the Mediterranean and Northern Europe for the next several months.
She will spend the end of the year and beginning of 2025 in Western Europe and the Canary Islands, before embarking on her maiden world voyage, which will last for 111 nights, from Hamburg, Germany, on January 7, 2025.
