Disney Cruise Line has announced some of the exciting, exclusive entertainment options that away guests at its new private destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Bahamian culture and classic Disney fun will infuse all the entertainment options, ensuring that cruisers of all ages have a memorable, enjoyable visit.
The signature entertainment event at Lookout Cay will be Rush! A Junkanoo Celebration – an authentic Junkanoo parade with dancing, drumming, and music. The traditional call of a conch shell will signal the start of the festivities, and performers will lead guests to the Goombay Cultural Center where they can explore even more about this exuberant type of dance and music.
Of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse – in their new tropical Lookout Cay attire – will join in the festivities that symbolize and bring to live the cultural heartbeat of the Bahamas.
Disney’s Lookout Cay Entertainment
A second highlight event at Lookout Cay will be the Disney Fun in the Sun Beach Bash, a lively and interactive beach party at the Play-Play Pavilion, with all sorts of Disney friends joining in the various activities.
Guests of all ages (and flexibility levels) will be able to show how low they can go with Goofy’s Good Day Limbo, or show off their hand-eye coordination with Pluto’s Pineapple Ring Toss. For the hottest summer days, joining in Chip-n-Dale’s Water Brigade will be a must for keeping cool.
Throughout the party, all-new renditions of favorite Disney tunes will feature distinctive Bahamian sounds, further incorporating local culture into the distinctly Disney vibe.
Touches of local Bahamian culture, art, and influence will be easy to see throughout Looking Cay, creating a unique experience for all guests and helping them feel a fun and memorable connection to the Bahamas.
In addition to these amazing entertainment options, guests to Lookout Cay will also be able to enjoy crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, nature trails, bike rides, snorkeling, hair braiding, private cabanas, youth activities, and so much more.
Of course, if parents and grandparents want some quiet time, they can visit Serenity Bay – the destination’s dedicated adults-only space, for some magical time alone while the youngsters enjoy youth activities and other amazing fun.
Visiting Lookout Cay
Now just weeks from opening, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is slated to welcome its first guests on Disney Fantasy‘s June 8, 2024 departure from Port Canaveral. That 7-night sailing will feature two stops at the new destination at the south end of Eleuthera Island, ensuring that guests have plenty of time to enjoy all the new hotspot has to offer.
Throughout the summer, Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy will both be offering itineraries that include calls to Lookout Cay, while Disney Dream will also feature the destination when she begins homeporting from Port Everglades in early November.
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Disney Cruise Line also operates Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, 130 miles (210 kilometers) northwest of Lookout Cay. While the larger Disney ships – Disney Wish and soon-to-debut Disney Treasure – will not be visiting Lookout Cay, both have itineraries offering great visits to Castaway Cay.
Other vessels are visiting both private destinations, given Disney guests amazing exclusive experiences to enjoy while they cruise throughout the Bahamas. It should be noted that both destinations are distinct, offering completely different experiences and activities for visitors.
Only Disney Wonder will not be visiting either destination for at least the next year, as she is currently homeported from San Diego for Mexico cruises, and will soon move to Vancouver for the Alaska season. This fall, Disney Wonder will sail from Australia and New Zealand, and she will return to San Diego in March 2025.
In an historic moment that befits her royal status, Cunard Line’s new Queen Anne departed Southampton just after 9 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024 to begin her maiden voyage. Thousands of spectators lined the shore to watch her departure, and a spectacular fireworks show heralded the beginning of what will hopefully be a long, smooth, and memorable service life.
Onboard the ship, a sailaway party celebrated the passage along Southampton Water as the ship began her 7-night voyage. A “Maiden Gala Evening” was underway, set to include special performances from English tenor Russell Watson, noted for his operatic as well as pop songs.
The ship will make her initial port visits to La Coruna, Spain on May 5 and Lisbon, Portugal on May 7, before returning to Southampton on May 10.
Queen Anne Arrival in Southampton
“Queen Anne’s maiden voyage signals the dawning of a new era in luxury ocean travel and her historic sail away from Southampton was a very special moment for everyone connected with Cunard,”said Katie McAlister, President of Cunard.
Queen Anne is the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard Line flag, continuing a distinguished maritime history that began in 1840 when the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which would eventually become Cunard Line, was founded.
Cunard Line has not had four ships in simultaneous operation since 1999, and Queen Anne now joins her fleetmates Queen Mary 2 (2003), Queen Victoria (2007), and Queen Elizabeth (2010).
“Here in the UK and across the globe, Cunard is famous for our beautiful iconic Queens. With Queen Anne joining our fleet, she marks not just a new icon but the completion of a perfect quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria,”said McAlister.
A Diverse Maiden Season
As befits a new ship already steeped with nautical history and a reputation for elegance and luxury, the 113,300-gross-ton, Pinnacle-class Queen Anne has a diverse season ahead of her.
After this first special sailing, the new vessel will make her first 14-night cruise to the Canary Islands. Her second 14-night voyage is around the British Isles and will include her naming ceremony in Liverpool on June 3.
Throughout the next few months, Queen Anne will offer departure options from Southampton, Civitavecchia, Hamburg, and Kiel, while she visits diverse ports of call in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, northern Europe, the British Isles, the Canary Islands, and the Baltic Sea.
Queen Anne Arrival in Southampton
In January 2025, she will begin her Maiden World Voyage, setting sail on January 9 for a route that will take her to North America, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. The outstanding itinerary includes transits through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal – provided the tensions in the Red Sea subside to permit that passage safely.
Her fleetmate, Queen Mary 2, recently adjusted a month of her 2024 world cruise to bypass the troubled region, but it is far too early to determine if such changes will be necessary for the new ship’s first world cruise.
Queen Anne is now Cunard Line’s second largest vessel, and can welcome 3,000 guests aboard. Queen Mary 2, the last true ocean liner left sailing in the world, is the largest in the fleet at 149,215 gross tons, but can only welcome approximately 2,700 travelers.
One Royal Caribbean passenger didn’t find the sympathy she was looking for when she posted a video complaining about her stateroom while sailing on Icon of the Seas earlier this year.
A Tiktoker named Abby, who goes by (@abbiesnormal)on the social media platform, complained that her cabin’s balcony had an “obstructed view” of the ocean.
According to Abbie, who was sailing on the world’s largest ship with her husband, there is a railing at the bottom of the balcony that spans the length of the cruise ship and blocks the bottom of her view when she’s sitting on her balcony, especially at night.
The railing in question is likely there as a safety measure or a support for Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, with most modern cruise ships likely set up similarly.
The saga began when Abbie posted a 15 second video of her view at night on February 26, 2024. Over the video, white text asked “should this rail be considered an obstruction on my balcony.” The video was viewed 49.2K times, and commented on over 100 times, with most responding that the balcony wasn’t obstructed or that it was too dark to see anything.
Determined to make her point, Abbie posted a follow up video the next day on February 27 showing her view in the daylight. Despite only having a little over 5,000 followers on TikTok, the video went viral and has been viewed more than 1.5 million times at the time of publication.
“I look over, there’s this rail. It goes all the way down, all the way down… So, when you sit on the balcony, with an unobstructed view, you should be able to just see right down at the ocean. But you can’t,” Abbie said in the video.
“It’s obstructed by about a foot or so and that messes up the way the ocean looks at night,” the TikToker continued.
While Abbie was likely looking for validation that her cabin should be classified as an “obstructed view,” the TikTok community did not hold back on telling Abbie how wrong they thought she was, with some asking if the video was posted as a joke.
“‘Should this be considered an obstructed view?’…shows the most unobstructed view I could possibly conjure up,”commented one user.
“I can’t imagine being on such an amazing vacation and complaining about an imaginary obstruction in your perfect view,”wrote another.
Still determined to prove her point, Abbie posted a third video on March 10, which has been viewed 36.2K times. In the latest installment, Abbie shows a balcony from Ovation of the Seas that she says is unobstructed, to illustrate how her balcony onboard Icon of the Seas was different.
Replying to @Brittany Ovation of the seas. Nitice how tgeres no foot wide white block holding a rail outside the bottom of my balcony. I could post others🤷♀️
Ultimately, the TikTok community still wasn’t buying it, with some commenting on other unrelated videos from Abbie’s cruise to jokingly ask if the view was obstructed there, too. Even so, it does seem like Abbie found the rest of her time aboard the massive 7,600-guest ship to be more satisfactory from her other content.
While it’s not clear what sailing Abbie took part in, the new ship has been alternating between Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises based out of Miami, Florida, since her maiden voyage, which embarked just a few months ago on January 27, 2024.
Cruise Cabins Onboard Icon of the Seas
As the world’s largest cruise ship, at 250,800-gross tons, Icon of the Seas has nearly 30 different types of staterooms and suites for all different kinds of guests, from those traveling solo to couples and big families.
All cabins have a smart design, featuring extra storage, USB ports and outlets, app-controlled lighting and temperature that can be controlled via guests’ phones, and a modern design.
In total, Icon of the Seas has 535 interior staterooms, 276 ocean view staterooms, and 1,815 balcony staterooms – and that’s just counting normal staterooms, not suites. There are then many different types of cabins within these three categories to choose from.
Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
For example, there are standard interior cabins, interior plus rooms, spacious interior cabins, and more – all of which have no view or look into a different part of the ship, such as the Central Park area.
Then, there are ocean view cabins, which also vary in size and quality, ranging from port holes to big windows for panoramic viewing and traditional private balconies.
For those looking to sail in the utmost luxury, there are also 179 suites onboard to choose from. Options begin with smaller junior suites and family suites and range to loft suites and family townhouses as big as 1,772 square feet. The ship even has its own “suite neighborhood,” which spans across four decks.
Of course, there are some cabins where views are obstructed onboard. According to Royal Caribbean, an obstruction is “something that blocks a proportion of the direct outward view from a stateroom,” usually something like a lifeboat or the “outer structure of the ship” – none of which applied to Abbie’s stateroom.
Additionally, passengers would be able to see that they were booking a cabin with an obstructed view before locking in their choice, or would be made aware that they could potentially be placed in an obstructed room if allowing the cruise line to assign their stateroom, depending on the category they selected while booking. An obstructed stateroom shouldn’t ever be a surprise.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a man was caught climbing down a rope from MSC Bellissima in what appears to be an attempt to enter Japan illegally during the ship’s current 7-night roundtrip sailing.
The strange part of the situation is that the vessel is sailing roundtrip from Yokohama, Japan, and therefore, the man must already possess proper documentation to have legally entered the country to board the ship.
According to Japan Today, the incident happened at roughly 10 p.m. on Tuesday night, while the ship was docked in Kobe. A witness at first contacted authorities with an alert about a passenger falling from the ship into the sea, and rescue personnel were dispatched.
Ship Deck Crew (Photo Credit: yanchi1984)
The man, reported as roughly 50 years old and appearing to be French, was quickly located and it was discovered that he had not fallen, but had rather been attempting to climb down from the ship purposefully.
The situation is confusing because as the ship was still docked, the man could have left via the gangway. It is unknown whether he was planning to climb all the way off the ship and slipped, falling into the water, or if he had planned to fall into the water intentionally.
The man was not seriously injured, other than some scrapes on his hands. It is unknown why he attempted such stunt-like behavior, or whether or not alcohol may have been a factor impacting his actions. He is currently in the custody of local Japanese immigration authorities, who are conducting a full investigation.
MSC Bellissima is offering several Asian itineraries from Yokohama, Japan; Shanghai, China; and Tokyo, Japan, depending on sailing date. On her current sailing, the ship departed Yokohama on Monday, April 29, and has visits to Kobe (April 30), Kochi City (May 1), Jeju Island, Korea (May 3), and Kagoshima (May 4) before arriving back in Yokohama on Monday, May 6.
The fact that the ship is visiting several ports in Japan makes the man’s behavior even more bizarre, as he would have had multiple opportunities to depart the ship and “miss” returning on time throughout the cruise. While doing so might have caused a missing person alert, it would likely not have led to more serious charges as could be levied now.
Another Incident From the Same Ship
This incident is eerily similar to another situation that occurred from MSC Bellissima just over a month ago. That situation also involved a foreign national jumping overboard while the ship was docked, attempting to enter the country illegally.
That earlier incident occurred on Thursday, February 1, while the ship was docked in Noha, Japan. The man who jumped overboard into the water was identified as a Turkish national. The man swam ashore but was quickly arrested for immigration violations.
Neither the earlier cruise nor MSC Bellissima‘s current sailing were impacted with any itinerary changes or other delays due to these unusual incidents.
The 171,598-gross-ton, Meraviglia-class ship can welcome 4,500 guests aboard for each sailing at double occupancy, and up to 5,655 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. She is also home to roughly 1,600 international crew members.
MSC Bellissima offers diverse Asian itineraries from various homeports. She is notable as the first international cruise line to begin homeport operations from mainland China after the pandemic, having set sail from Shanghai for the first time just six weeks ago.
The ship will be offering sailings from the Chinese homeports of Shanghai, Keelung, and Shenzhen throughout the summer months of 2024, before returning to other Asian homeports later in the year.
Starting May 8, 2024, P&O Cruises will adjust the pricing of its drink packages. The new rates will apply to all beverages purchased onboard or purchased ahead of a cruise.
Under the new pricing structure, the Refresh package, which offers a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, sees the most significant increase. In contrast, the Alcohol-Free package, catering to guests preferring non-alcoholic alternatives, aligns closely with previous onboard prices. However, it has been slightly reduced for pre-cruise purchases.
The Classic package, offering a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, presents a slight reduction in the pre-cruise price while increasing the onboard cost. The Deluxe package, which provides the most comprehensive beverage options, remains largely consistent, with a minor increase in the onboard price.
P&O Drinks (Photo Courtesy: P&O Cruises)
Said P&O Cruises in the announcement of the new prices, “Any packages purchased on board or pre-cruise from [May 8, 2024] will be in line with our new pricing.”
In addition to the pricing updates, P&O Cruises will implement a new alcohol policy effective from May 7, 2024. The policy dictates that passengers aged 18 and older (21 in U.S. ports) can bring a maximum of one liter of wine or Champagne on board at the start of their voyage without incurring a fee, as previously allowed.
However, if alcohol is consumed in public areas, a corkage fee of £20 per bottle will be charged, a decrease of £5 over the current policy.
The earlier policy had permitted guests to bring up to 1 liter of spirits, beer, and liquor on board, consumable in guests’ cabins. That option will be eliminated under the new policy.
Any alcohol beyond the one-liter maximum of wine or Champagne will be prohibited from being brought onboard, and any wine or Champagne exceeding the one-liter maximum will be compensated and returned to passengers before the end of the cruise.
Updated Beverage Pricing and Package Options
The cruise line’s announcement detailed that the Refresh package will see a new pre-cruise price of £12.95 per person per day and an onboard price of £14.45, rising from the current £10.95 and £9.85, respectively.
This package includes regular and large soft drinks on tap but does not include selected coffees and teas, cocktails and spirits, beers and cider, and select wines and Prosecco. The package is also not complimentary for children under 17.
The Alcohol-Free package will increase to £24.25 per person per day if purchased pre-cruise and £26.95 onboard from the existing prices of £24.95 and £22.45. This package resembles Refresh but includes selected small Costa coffees and tea pigs.
The Classic and Deluxe packages are the most inclusive. These include select cocktails, spirits, beer, cider, 175ml wines, and 125ml Prosecco. Selecting these packages also includes a 20% discount on products excluded from the drinks package and a complimentary Refresh package for children 17 and younger.
P&O Iona Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: E.R. Images)
The Deluxe package also includes an extended range of cocktails, 50ml spirits, and 250ml wines, as well as craft beers and perfect serves.
The Classic package will change to £43.95 per person per day if purchased before the and £48.85 onboard, up from £44.95 and £40.45. The Deluxe package will be priced at £54.45 pre-cruise and £60.50 onboard, an increase from £54.95 and £49.45.
The changes are set to roll out across the fleet throughout May, starting with Azura on May 9, when she sails a roundtrip Mediterranean cruise from La Valletta, Malta, and conclude with Arcadia on May 25, when she sails the Norwegian fjords on a 12-night roundtrip cruise from Southampton, England.
Britannia will launch on May 10 during its 14-night Northern Europe and Scandinavia cruise from Southampton. Ventura, sailing on a 14-night Spain, Portugal, and Canary Islands adventure,and Iona, journeying on a Norwegian fjords sail, will begin the new price structure on May 11.
Arvia’s Mediterranean voyage on May 12 and Aurora’s 3-day jaunt to Belgium from Southampton on May 15 round out the rollout.
The Queen Anne, Cunard’s largest ship with a capacity for 3,000 passengers, has embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, today with a distinct retail enhancement. Harding+, a global cruise retailer, aims to elevate the onboard shopping experience with retail spaces tailored specifically for the new vessel.
At the core of the Queen Anne retail experience is the “Cabinet of Curiosities.” This concept, a collaborative effort between Harding+ and Cunard, features an immersive, multi-sensory exhibit that highlights Cunard’s heritage through a carefully selected collection of brands and rare items.
Many of the products, including exclusive pieces from high-end brands like Chanel and Theo Febergé will be available for purchase onboard for the first time at sea.
Cunard Queen Anne Reloved (Photo Courtesy Harding+)
“We are hugely excited to see Queen Anne setting sail. The ship is truly beautiful and we have worked closely with the Cunard team to create a truly premium retail experience,”said Peter Newbould, COO of Harding+.
He added, the retail space includes first-at-sea and exclusive partnerships with Garrard fine jewelry, Chapel Down wines, handmade jewelry By Alona, Launer handcrafted leather bags and accessories, Raishma designer dresses, and Atkinsons fine fragrances.
The partnerships extend to unique collections like Harding+’s own “Reloved” brand, which offers pre-loved luxury goods, including vintage leather accessories and jewelry curated by Susan Caplan.
“The palatial surroundings, hands-on customer service, and world-class roster really exemplify the Cunard experience,” Newbould continued.
As the first Cunard ship constructed in 14 years (and the 249th Cunard ship in its lengthy history), Queen Anne was constructed at Fincantieri shipyard to join the current queen fleet. As the fourth ship in the fleet, it is larger than Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, weighing 113,300 gross tons.
The ship is designed to cater to a diverse array of tastes and interests and features 14 restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, an art gallery, a theatre, a library, and a casino. Queen Anne‘s curated retail space looks like an art gallery and even features an “Experience Lounge,” where guests can interact with products and learn about their origins and distinctive qualities.
Further enhancing the shopping experience, Queen Anne will also introduce a dedicated shopping host. This role is designed to ensure guests feel welcomed throughout their shopping journey. An extensive daily program of retail events will also be offered.
Queen Anne Arrival in Southampton
Additionally, the ship will host a Cunard merchandise store that includes the new Queen Anne collection, along with a heritage range inspired by Cunard’s archives and reimagined with a contemporary twist.
The adaptable retail space also allows for changes in the collections, based on the ship’s destinations and seasons.
Queen Anne, which will be christened in Liverpool on June 3, is launching from its homeport in Southampton on May 3 on a 7-night roundtrip cruise, calling in La Coruna, Spain, on May 5, and Lisbon on May 7.
The ship will depart on a number of adventures in Europe, from the Mediterranean to the Norwegian Fjords. Her next sailing is a longer journey on May 10, visiting Funchal, Madeira; Arrecife, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife, Canary Islands; and La Coruna, Spain, on a 10-night roundtrip voyage.
Queen Anne will also explore the British Isles following her christening with a festival voyage on June 7, calling in Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Invergordon, and Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Liverpool, England; and Cork, Ireland.
Just weeks after millions were enthralled by the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, Princess Cruises is looking ahead to the next one, which will occur in August of 2026, and will position Sky Princess in Europe to take full advantage of the celestial event.
The line’s “Total Eclipse Sky Princess Voyage” will place the ship off the coast of northern Spain on August 12, 2026, and provide guests with the opportunity to experience the 2-minute, 18-second total solar eclipse.
The 3,660-guest Royal-class ship will sail roundtrip from Southampton on August 8, 2026, and operate a 14-day Mediterranean cruise that will take full viewing advantage of the eclipse.
While Sky Princess guests will see the spectacle from the ship’s location off Spain, the total eclipse will also be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Russia, and in a small area of Portugal.
Princess Cruises Solar Eclipse (Photo Courtesy: Princess Cruises)
A partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, and North America, and from the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans, according to NASA.
Bookings on the special Sky Princess voyage will open for sale on May 23, 2024, and rates will start at $2,199 per person, double. During the event, guests will be provided with safety glasses and will gather on the ship’s upper decks to watch the eclipse.
The voyage will feature talks by astronomy professionals, eclipse-themed drinks, stargazing activities at night, trivia games about the solar system, and other fun experiences.
Similar events were held aboard Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess during the April 2024 eclipse, as the ships were positioned off the coast of Mexico, the prime spot for viewing the full eclipse.
“The best way to see a total solar eclipse is via cruise ship, and our guests who recently experienced this rare occurrence on Discovery Princess and Emerald Princess were simply blown away,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
“We make it easy for guests to come aboard, relax and meet other eclipse enthusiasts. It’s truly a special opportunity,” Padgett added.
Ports of call on Sky Princess’s 2026 eclipse voyage include Cherbourg, France; Bilbao, Malaga, La Coruna, and Cartagena, Spain; Gibraltar; and Lisbon, Portugal.
Sky Princess Boasts a Longtime Connection to Space
The 141,000-gross ton Sky Princess entered service in 2019, and her ties to cosmic forces began at her December 3, 2019 naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale. Princess Cruises selected two NASA professionals to serve as godmothers to the ship — Captain Kay Hire and engineer Poppy Northcutt.
Captain Hire first served as a NASA engineer and then became an astronaut, logging 700 hours in space, flying more than 12 million miles, and orbiting the Earth 475 times. Northcutt was NASA’s first female mission control engineer, and it was her team that helped bring the crippled Apollo 13 safely back to earth in 1970.
Aboard Sky Princess, guests will find nine stateroom and suite categories, and specialty dining venues, including The Catch By Rudi; Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria; Crown Grill; and Chef’s Table Lumiere.
Other dining options feature the main dining room; Alfredo’s Pizzeria; World Fresh Marketplace buffet; Salty Dog Grill; International Cafe; and Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar.
Guests can enjoy a range of entertainment in the Princess Theatre; Princess Live Cafe; Vines Wine Bar; and Vista Show Lounge. The ship also has three pools, Sportscourt, the Lotus Spa, and a casino.
Princess Cruises is not the only cruise line to announce plans for the 2026 eclipse. Cunard recently revealed that three of its ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and the just-launched Queen Anne, also will sail itineraries along the path of totality.
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has addressed and clarified the issue of service dogs on board Carnival ships in recent days, following a complaint and an unreasonable request for a refund.
In a recent Live broadcast on his popular Facebook page, Heald mentioned a group of 40 special travelers sailing on Carnival Celebration.
“I want to give a shout out straightaway if I can to a very important group of people who are sailing on Carnival Celebration,”Heald said.“I want to say hello to 40 very special people, and all 40 of them have four legs.”
Heald went on to explain that the group of travelers is a blind group with service guide dogs, and discussed what Carnival Cruise Line is doing to accommodate their needs.
On Deck 7, on both port and starboard sides of the ship, litter trays have been set up all the way forward, in a private area. Heald also noted that most of the passengers have balcony cabins, which will have a litter tray on the balcony to meet their dogs’ needs. Stateroom stewards will be refreshing and cleaning those trays.
Dog on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Zivica Kerkez)
The group also has other accommodations onboard, including being seated in the same area of the dining room and Braille bingo cards for the frequent games.
“We’re very proud to have them,”Heald said.“The challenges you have in everyday life are incomparable of course, but the fact that you have this four legged thing that takes care of you in such incredible ways is always something that I find absolutely amazing.”
Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased to hear that Carnival Cruise Line would be welcoming the group of travelers and their service animals onboard. Another passenger messaged Heald in distress, demanding compensation and accommodations of their own.
“You said there would be 40 dogs on Celebration. I am on this cruise. I am disgusted,”the guest said.“I think this is terribly unfair to the people who like me are allergic to dogs – and 50% of people are. A ship is a confined area, and a person with allergies could easily be assigned to a table near them at dinner. Even if you do not allow them to bring the dogs to dinner the owners will still smell like dog.”
It should be noted that the guest’s claim that 50% of people are allergic to dogs is false. The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology notes that approximately 10-20 percent of the world’s population has some level of dog allergy. Furthermore, not all of those allergic to dogs show the same severity of symptoms.
“Personally, I think this service dog thing has gone way too far,”the guest continued.“Dogs don’t want to [be] on a ship, and most people don’t want dogs to be in those places. I am asking for a full refund or full credit to move to another cruise.”
To be clear, Carnival Cruise Line does permit fully trained, working service dogs (not service-dogs-in-training) onboard all its ships. Service dogs perform medically necessary tasks, and are not considered pets. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not permitted onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line Responds to Complaint
Heald did respectfully respond to the guest, but will not be offering a refund for a future cruise credit in this situation.
“We have 40 legally blind guests whose lives are dependent on these incredible animals,”Heald said.“We are of course adhering to ADA rules but also we are proud that we are able to provide these wonderful people some Carnival Fun.”
Heald noted that if anyone with an allergy sensitivity is seated near the group in the main dining room, they can easily speak with the maître d’ to be moved to a table further away. Furthermore, all cabins will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized at the end of the cruise, which is standard procedure – with or without service dogs.
“Just to make it clear, every single guest cruising in this group is blind,”Heald confirmed in a follow-up comment.“These are guide dogs. We do not at any time now allow emotional support animals. Any dog who is allowed to sell with us under ADA regulations is offering a medical service to its owner.”
As a matter of interest, Carnival Celebration can welcome 5,374 travelers at double occupancy, and up to 6,500 guests when fully booked. The 40 service dogs onboard are accompanying less than 1% of the ship’s travelers.
Other comments and responses to the guest’s concern have largely supported the service dogs onboard, noting that to deny someone their ability to travel with a service dog would be similar to not permitting wheelchairs or other assistive devices.
Incidentally, Carnival Cruise Line recently clarified its mobility scooter policy, which initially led to confusion about whether or not such scooters were banned (they aren’t, but size limitations do apply).
The cruise line has also previously addressed concerns about service dogs when a guest sailing on Carnival Horizon expressed concern about a service dog in the ship’s casino. Service dogs are permitted in all public areas of Carnival cruise ships.
While Carnival Cruise Line will not offer refunds based on medical conditions of this nature – allergies when there are service dogs aboard – private travel insurance policies may cover such cancellations or sailing changes, depending on the terms and conditions of individual policies.
For many, taking a cruise is a budget-friendly and convenient way to see several destinations in one trip, without booking and paying for multiple hotels or forms of transportation. Even when it comes to food and entertainment, you don’t need to spend even an extra dime out of pocket, if you only enjoy the “included” and complimentary meals and entertainment.
That said, as anyone who’s been on a cruise can tell you, it’s very easy to overspend on a cruise. Make a few mistakes, and suddenly, your budget-friendly cruise becomes not-so-affordable. You get to the end of your itinerary and realize that you’ve somehow spent thousands of dollars more than you expected to, on this vacation.
Despite this common occurrence — Yes! It is totally possible to enjoy a spectacular cruise without wildly overspending.
There are many reasons why overspending on a cruise can happen. Basically, though, everywhere on a cruise ship, there are things to buy and upgrades to purchase. You can usually even book your next cruise before the current cruise is even over. Reining yourself in can feel like a chore and less than fun, when you’re supposed to be having the time of your life.
However, rest assured that keeping your cruise vacation within budget and still having an amazing time can go hand-in-hand. You don’t need to feel like you’re making any big sacrifices or having a less-fun time, just because you’re making an effort not to overspend.
Ready to see how? Here’s how to make the most of a cruise without overspending.
Realistically Think About the Type of Traveler You Are
The top thing you have to do before booking your cruise, if you want to avoid overspending, is be real with yourself. What kind of traveler are you? What are your travel habits?
If you have a cocktail in your hand from the moment you put up your out of office, to the moment you arrive back home, you’re not going to be very successful at avoiding the drink packages on a cruise.
Likewise, if you always plan your vacations around relaxing as much as humanly possible, you probably don’t want to miss out on a few spa treatments. If you’re a foodie traveler to the core, you’re not going to be happy eating at the buffet day in and day out.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
Trying to avoid these realities and travel preferences is setting yourself up for failure — and overspending. Think about why and how you travel, and then plan your budget and cruise accordingly.
For example, if you’re a foodie traveler, plan to pay for multiple specialty dining meals or specifically book a cruise on a ship that offers a very wide selection of complimentary dining.
Newer, bigger ships are your best bets for this, such as Carnival Jubilee, which offers 14 complimentary dining options, or Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which offers 12 complimentary dining options. Then, make a point to not spend on the stuff you don’t care about, like shopping on the cruise ship, babysitting services or pricey shore excursions.
Plan a Mix of Paid and Free Activities
Along these lines, plan a mix of paid, scheduled activities, and free, spontaneous activities.
There are two reasons to do this. One is, of course, your budget. But the other is because, believe it or not, if you pack your cruise ship itinerary with things to do, all day, every day, you’re going to regret it. You’ll end up more tired after your vacation than you were before.
Shuffleboard on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Plus, a totally packed itinerary leaves no room for spontaneity. Cruise ships always have interesting and free things going on, from classes to contests to games, and you want to be able to take advantage of those activities when you can.
So, on that note, consider a small handful of paid activities — think spa treatments and shore excursions — that you’d really like to do, but otherwise keep your plans loose. One day, you probably will want to just sit and drink by the pool all day, which is a perfectly great and (free!) way to spend a day on a cruise ship!
Watch Your Shore-Side Spending
Cruisers are big economic drivers for port cities. They just spend a lot of money. If you’re worried about overspending when you disembark at port, make a point to spend less.
Cruise Passengers in St. Lucia (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
For example, is dining out while on shore really the best use of your time? While it might be in port cities like Naples, Italy, it’s probably not going to be in some random port city in the Caribbean, where the food is a footnote compared to all the other things the destination offers.
Likewise, should you be buying lots of (very overpriced) souvenirs as soon as you step off the ship? Probably not.
Don’t Buy Everything Through Your Cruise Line
In a similar vein, don’t feel like, just because you’re on a cruise, you have to buy everything you enjoy during the cruise, from your cruise line.
Shore excursions? You can book those on your own, by yourself, without the cruise line’s help and more affordably, from local tour providers in your destination.
Carnival Fun Shops
Duty-free shopping? Yes, while it’s available on the cruise ship, you could just buy duty-free items while you’re in your port cities, at a cheaper rate.
Alcohol? While cruise line rules may differ, most will allow you to bring a limited number of bottles of wine with you, which could save you some money. Some will allow you to even bring non-alcoholic beverages on board.
Be Careful with Your Packing
One completely avoidable way you might be overspending when you’re on a cruise? Not packing your bags carefully. This is not the time to just throw what you think you’ll need into a bag, the night before you’re set to depart, and then show up at the cruise ship.
This isn’t an average, on-land vacation, where you can walk to the nearest drugstore if you’re missing something. If you need something, you can’t go anywhere else to get it. You’re in the middle of the ocean. The cruise line is aware of this and will charge you dearly for anything you might need.
Luggage on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Flowers26)
So, before you leave — and well in advance — make a list of everything you could possibly need over the course of your trip, and then pack it. You don’t want to buy it on the cruise ship unless you absolutely have to. This will ensure you have everything you need, without needing to spend extra.
Consider Your Phone, WiFi and Data Usage
Some cruisers can get away with turning their cell phones off for the duration of their vacation — and that’s definitely a good idea if you really want to save your cash for just the expenses that will enhance your cruising experience. (Don’t worry. You can still take all the vacay photos you want, but you’ll just need to wait until after the cruise to post them to social media.)
However, not all of us can do so, especially if friends and family back home may need us. That said, don’t just use the ship’s cellular at sea service, at your leisure (as this usually comes with an international roaming charge, which can really add up, depending on your cell phone plan).
Cruise Passenger Using Cell Phone (Photo Credit: Greg finnegan)
Instead, consider your options, such as the WiFi plans that many cruise lines offer, most at a rate of about $20 per line per day. Also, consider that your cell phone company may offer affordable cruise ship service.
Verizon offers a cruise ship daily pass that allows you to, for $30 per day, send and receive unlimited texts, talk on the phone for up to 50 minutes per day and use up to 0.5 GB of data per day.AT&T likewise offers cruise packages, with even more data and unlimited talk and text for a one-time fee of $100, for 30 days.
Don’t Buy the Photos
There are many experiences and things for sale on a cruise ship that, if you really enjoy or like those things, we’d say to go ahead and pay for them, and save money somewhere else during the cruise. If you like to go to the casino, go to the casino, but maybe don’t try the specialty restaurants. If you like your cocktails, buy a drinks package, but don’t go to the spa.
However, there’s one thing you should never, ever buy on a cruise ship, because they’re total rip-offs: the photos. Cruise ship employees will try to take your photo and then try to sell that photo to you, and that photo will cost a lot. Think $20 for one photo.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
Meanwhile, you could take a photo yourself and order it from photo-printing services like Shutterfly, at a rate of about $0.25 per photo.
So, skip the photos and do what you’d do if you were traveling any other way. Take your own photos with your phone, or ask someone else in your vicinity to take the photos for you. Your fellow travelers will be more than happy to do so if you’re willing to return the favor (and you could save each other hundreds of dollars in the process!).
Consider an Upgrade (If It Will Pay for Itself!)
Yes, sometimes it really is cheaper to upgrade your overall cruise experience, if you’ll already be using and paying extra for the amenities and services that will come for free with that upgrade.
For example, if you plan on using the ship’s spa and wellness amenities a lot, you might opt to upgrade to a spa-class cabin. Celebrity Cruises’ Aqua Class staterooms, for example, come with access to the SEA Thermal Suite, a spa concierge, a complimentary fitness pass and preferential rates on AquaClass spa packages.
Another example? If you’re planning on booking multiple staterooms for multiple members of your family (like if you’re traveling on a multigenerational vacation), then you might book one suite to share instead of four individual cabins.
And if you really want to spend, spend, spend to your heart’s content without ever worrying about going over budget… Well, you might want to consider upgrading all the way to an all-inclusive cruise line, where just about everything you could do is already included in your initial cruise fare.
This is the case on Regent Seven Seas cruises, where you get quite a lot for once price. Think all of your dining, all gratuities, shore excursions, WiFi, all your drinks and even airfare.
Try Not to Over-Tip (Unless You Really Want To!)
Cruise ship employees work hard and deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. That said, you might not want to tip those employees 40–50%.
That’s what can end up happening if you don’t pay attention to your bills, anywhere you might normally pay gratuity, such as in salons, spas, restaurants, bars, etc.
Cruise Tipping
If you receive a bill of any kind, on a cruise ship, check to see if the gratuity has already been included. In many cases, it will be, so if you add more gratuity, you’re over-tipping. This can be a bit of a waste — unless, of course, you really did receive stellar service and want to tip that 50%!
Just Say No
Lastly, just as with the photos, keep in mind that there are tons of opportunities to upsell you on a cruise and the cruise lines are looking out for those opportunities.
While some of us have a difficult time saying no to well-meaning employees, don’t feel pressured to buy something, just because you attended a free seminar or similar activity. You’ve already paid all you need to for the cruise. You can enjoy all the complimentary activities without being guilted into buying something extra.
Yes! You Can Thoroughly Enjoy Your Cruise Without Overspending!
Enjoying a cruise doesn’t have to mean overspending. So long as you’re honest with yourself as to what’s going to make your cruise experience as fun as possible, and you budget accordingly, opting to not spend on things that don’t matter so much to you, you can have an amazing vacation that’s also affordable.
