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Royal Caribbean Reveals Perfect Day Mexico With Record Breaking Thrills

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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May 15, 2025

Royal Caribbean Reveals Perfect Day Mexico With Record Breaking Thrills

Guests eager for a new and exciting port destination to visit in Mexico now have some fantastic fun to look forward to, as Royal Caribbean has revealed the first concepts for Perfect Day Mexico, slated to open in fall 2027. The cruise line also revealed Lelepa in Vanuatu and the Cozumel Beach Club.

First, let’s get started with Perfect Day Mexico! Never-before-seen features will be the highlights of the new destination near Costa Maya, creating a one-of-a-kind experience with something for all ages.

And you thought Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas was outstanding? Just wait until you see what the cruise line has in store for its new Mexican headliner destination.

“Perfect Day Mexico is bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean. “This destination will be the ultimate vacation for families, and we cannot wait to welcome adventurers from around the world to Mexico for an experience only Royal Caribbean can provide.”

The new destination covers more than 200 acres on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, divided into seven themed neighborhoods with something for everyone.

Up first is Fiesta Plaza, the colorful and energetic arrival area right in the heart of the action to welcome guests to Perfect Day Mexico. The world’s largest sombrero will crown the Tipsy Sombrero Bar, where guests can indulge margaritas, cervezas, and other tropical drinks.

Anyone who has visited Perfect Day at CocoCay is familiar with the Thrill Waterpark. At Perfect Day Mexico, the Loco Waterpark will feature more than 30 waterslides across five slide towers, including the tallest waterslides anywhere in North and South America.

Perfect Day Mexico, Loco Waterpark and Jaguar’s Peak

The most visually startling is the 170-foot-tall Jaguar’s Peak that includes two dueling slides. Other slides in the park will include the longest coaster waterslide in the world, the tallest family raft slide, hydrolaunch slides, and the world’s first sombrero slide, plus other smaller slides (but with equally impressive thrills).

For guests who want a bit of a slower pace, Splash Cove will feature the longest lazy river in the world – up to an hour to float along! – with an optional crazy side more daring visitors can tackle with rapids, spins, and other surprises.

Along the way, three swim-up-bars provide refreshment stops, while splash zones give guests not on the river the chance to make extra thrills along the route.

Costa Beach Club on Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico

For the youngest visitors, the Splashaway Bay water play complex will be the largest such feature Royal Caribbean has ever built, with ample seating for parents and nearby cabanas available as well.

There will be no lack of any sort of water fun with the more than 10 pools at the destination, including a massive 100,000-square-foot pool. Together, all the pools span the area of more than four football fields!

Several exclusive areas will be spread throughout Perfect Day Mexico, including the adults-only El Hideaway with a zero-entry pool, swim-up bar, live music, and in-pool DJ. For the ultimate party atmosphere, guests will want to consider the Ultimate Party Cabana that can host up to 20 guests!

El Hideaway is the signature adults-only neighborhood on Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico

The Costa Beach Club will provide an even more elevated experience with a heated infinity pool and white sand beaches for the very best of relaxation and private vibes. Private cabanas will also be available for rent with dedicated service and their own pool to ensure quiet, exclusive relaxation.

Almost two miles of white sand beaches will be featured at Chill Beach, with loungers, umbrellas, and towels for use so guests can relax the day away for the perfect beach getaway.

Throughout Perfect Day Mexico, regionally-inspired dining includes everything from casual eateries to sit down restaurants, most of which will be complimentary for guests. A total of 24 bars are spaced throughout the destination as well, ensuring that no one is far from a cool sip of their favorite drink.

“At Royal Caribbean, our ambition is bigger than ever, and so is our lineup of amazing experiences we are designing, all centered on our guests,” said Kara Wallace, chief marketing officer for Royal Caribbean.

“Vacationers trust us to help them make every moment a memory, which is why we are changing the game with unforgettable experiences at Perfect Day Mexico and beyond.”

What Is Beyond Perfect Day Mexico?

Royal Caribbean's Cozumel Beach Club — Royal Caribbean’s Cozumel Beach Club

It isn’t just cruises to Mexico that are getting the Royal (Caribbean) treatment. Two new Royal Beach Club destinations are also in development.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be the first of its kind in the Bahamas, situated conveniently near to the Nassau cruise terminal. Slated to open in December 2025, the destination will offer the world’s largest swim-up bar, the Floating Flamingo, as well as locally-inspired eateries, Bahamian art, and live music.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel is also in development and scheduled to open in 2026. Outstanding beaches, a locally-inspired street market, fresh dining, and more will be part of that new option for cruise travelers.

Royal Caribbean's Lelepa — Royal Caribbean’s Lelepa

To go even further afield, Royal Caribbean is developing Lelepa in the South Pacific, a Vanuatuan island east of Australia. This will be the first-ever exclusive, private cruise destination in the Southern Hemisphere and is sure to feature local flair and inspiration for guests to explore.

While exact itineraries and sailings for each destination have not yet been confirmed, stay tuned to Cruise Hive for more details as they are released, and get ready to book your perfect Royal Caribbean cruise vacation!

Cruise Guests Attempt to Illegally Import Thousands of Cigarettes

Port News

Skyler Wolpert

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May 15, 2025

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Cruise Guests Attempt to Illegally Import Thousands of Cigarettes

If you think you are smart enough to successfully commit a crime while cruising without getting caught, think again.

This was the case for two female passengers who, on April 17, 2025, disembarked a cruise carrying illegally imported cigarettes.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at California’s Long Beach Cruise Port discovered 749 cartons of cigarettes hidden within 10 pieces of luggage.

The duo had been on a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, and willingly went through CBP inspection – which is where the contraband was identified.

Per the CPB website, vacationers can only bring 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars back into the US after traveling abroad – so these cruise guests far exceeded the limit.

Larger quantities of cigarettes are not considered for personal use, but rather for commercial use, and requires a special importer permit from the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Even though the passengers had the corresponding purchase receipts available, they were unable to produce the required permits to import the large quantity of tobacco products to the United States.

Additionally, tobacco product labels must all fall under the approved FDA standards, including warning and accurate product descriptions – and it’s unclear if these met this requirement or not.

Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said, “The importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives.”

“Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price,” Davies added, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Between the ten pieces of luggage, authorities discovered 43 cartons of Marlboro Silvers, 58 cartons of Newport regulars, 112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold, and 326 cartons of Newport 100s cigarettes.

The amount of individual cigarettes was estimated to be about 150,000, with the average cost of a single one being $0.40 in the United States.

At the low end, it was estimated that each of the cartons would sell for about $80 in California — meaning the total value of all of the cigarettes was just shy of $59,920.

Every single one of the 749 cartons was immediately seized, and under the supervision of the CBP, will be destroyed.

The Crime and the Consequences

CBP has thus far kept the identity of the offending cruisers confidential, and did not say if any additional consequences were levied for their actions. In addition to seizing the cigarettes, the passengers could also be subjected to fines, or even jail time.

Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, spoke about how these types of schemes are usually meant to rake in a big profit without paying taxes. But in doing so, innocent consumers are put at risk.

“Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import,” Bell added.

However, the guests did consent to being searched during the disembarkation process, so there’s a chance they may have received leniency in exchange for their cooperation.

CBP Confiscate Cigarettes from Cruise Passengers at Long Beach (Credit: CBP)

According to cruise tracking data, the only cruise ship in Long Beach on the day of the seizure was the 4,126-guest Carnival Firenze – which had just returned from a 5-night sailing to Mexico. However, this has not been confirmed.

Since guests have to go through security screenings before re-boarding while in port, it’s also interesting that the ship security team did not flag the large amount of cigarettes the duo was bringing onboard – unless perhaps the women were bringing the items on in smaller waves throughout the day.

Smoking is allowed onboard Carnival’s fleet in designated locations, so smaller amounts of cigarettes likely wouldn’t ring too many alarm bells.

There’s also a possibility that the guests were buying the cigarettes onboard in increments throughout their sailing, and therefore wouldn’t have had to go through security with them.

But normally, the crew members selling the cartons would be advising guests on the allowance upon returning to the US. Some cruise lines also impose limits on how many cartons can be sold onboard in a single transaction.

That being said, Carnival can still issue a lifetime ban for the two cruisers in light of this information – even though they were technically caught in the cruise terminal after their voyage had ended.

Just last month, a fight broke out in the luggage hall of the Galveston Cruise Port in Texas during disembarkation. All 24 of the Carnival passengers involved were immediately placed on the Do Not Sail list for their actions.

Take this as a warning — people who work at cruise ports have seen it all and will find it all. If you are thinking about doing something illegal, do not do it or be ready to pay the price.

Amazingly Efficient Operation to Airlift Guest From Disney Ship

Disney Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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May 15, 2025

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Amazingly Efficient Operation to Airlift Guest From Disney Ship

No cruise guest wants to be medically evacuated from their oceangoing getaway, but when an emergency occurs, it is reassuring if the evacuation can be carried out smoothly and quickly.

For one guest and their family aboard Disney Fantasy, the outstanding professionalism and efficiency of the air rescue crew would have been a great relief during a very upsetting situation.

The evacuation occurred from the 129,700-gross ton Disney Fantasy while the ship was heading toward Lisbon, Portugal during the ship’s current 13-night sailing, a one-way transatlantic cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona.

On Monday, May 12, 2025, the call “bright star” was heard across Disney Fantasy. This is an onboard code used to indicate an urgent medical issue and summon an appropriate response team.

No details of the incident have been released – as is standard procedure to safeguard the individual’s privacy, as well as that of their traveling party. On Wednesday, May 14, however, a military helicopter approached the ship in the early evening.

In a matter of minutes, an emergency responder had been lowered to the deck on the front of the ship, the guest loaded onto a lift basket, and both raised up to meet the helicopter. Throughout the operation, the aircraft maintained smoothly consistent positioning with the cruise ship.

Once the basket had been safely loaded into the helicopter, the aircraft turned and sped away, taking the affected individual to more extensive land-based care.

You can watch the full video below:

From the time the aircraft crew member first descended from the helicopter to the time the helicopter turned away was just 6 minutes and 25 seconds.

No information on the age of the guest or the nature of the medical emergency has been confirmed. From injuries to appendicitis to cardiac incidents, evacuations have been performed from cruise ships for a wide range of medical emergencies.

Why Didn’t the Evacuation Happen Earlier?

The delay between the initial emergency incident on Monday to the evacuation on Wednesday evening could be due to a wide range of reasons. Because the ship was at sea, it may not have been possible to arrange an airlift immediately due to distance.

It is also possible that the guest’s condition was appropriately stabilized to await transport closer to shore, or their condition may have deteriorated over the intervening time to the point where an evacuation became necessary.

It is also possible the earlier emergency code call and the medical evacuation were not related at all, but merely coincidental.

Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock)

Undoubtedly, Disney Cruise Line is offering support to the family as needed, ensuring that everyone is kept updated and assisted as much as possible.

Disney Fantasy has continued her sailing as planned, calling on Lisbon on Wednesday and departing on schedule. Her next port is Cadiz, Spain on Thursday, May 15, after which she will enjoy another day at sea before arriving in Barcelona on Saturday, May 17.

The ship will remain in Europe through the summer and fall, offering various itineraries from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), and Southampton before returning to Florida and her Port Canaveral homeport in mid-November.

This week’s incident is not the first time Disney Fantasy has had what could have been a challenging medical evacuations (owing to the distance from shore). In April 2024, the US Coast Guard airlifted a pregnant woman from the ship while 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

Cruise guests on any ship should always be grateful that emergency personnel are ready and able to respond in all types of situations should an evacuation be necessary.

Virgin Voyages’ Celebration Cruise Shifts Itinerary Due to Wind

Virgin Voyages News

Catie Kovelman

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May 15, 2025

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Virgin Voyages’ Celebration Cruise Shifts Itinerary Due to Wind

Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady is about to embark on a special celebration voyage – and a last-minute itinerary change shouldn’t be enough to put a stop to the fun.

The 11-night voyage is due to embark from Athens, Greece, on May 18, 2025, and will sail through Turkey and the Greek Isles.

However, the second-to-last stop on the itinerary – which was supposed to be a visit to Mykonos, Greece, on May 26, 2025 – will no longer be possible due to anticipated high winds.

Instead, the final port call on Chania (Souda Bay)- which is a town in Crete, Greece – has been extended to become an overnight visit, giving the up to 2,770 passengers more time to explore the destination.

“Ahoy Sailor! Due to forecasted high winds in Mykonos, we’ll now be calling at Chania, Crete, for two full days, including an overnight stay,” Virgin Voyages wrote to booked guests.

“Shore Things will be available to book soon. Check your email or visit Sailor Services on Deck 5 for more details,” the notice continued.

Indeed, Mykonos is known for being rather windy – and has actually been given the nicknames of “The Island of the Winds” because of it.

These winds can get particularly bad during the summer season – sometimes even reaching speeds of over 50 miles per hour – because that’s when the strong Meltemi winds blow the island.

While cruise ships are capable of withstanding high winds, Mykonos is primarily a tender port – meaning guests are usually ferried to and from shore in lifeboats or other smaller vessels.

Strong winds can cause unpredictable swells and waves that increase the risk of accidents while loading and unloading passengers, and while navigating the harbor. Winds of 30 miles per hour (and sometimes even less) are enough for tendering operations to be deemed unsafe.

However, even if the 110,000-gross ton ship was slated to dock at the small pier, higher winds can make docking more dangerous and increase the risk of collisions.

Plenty of Fun to Still be Had

Although a last-minute itinerary change can be disappointing, this special edition sailing still has all the ingredients to be the trip of a lifetime.

Plus, only one port has been removed from the itinerary. The remaining destinations – which include Istanbul and Kusadasi (Ephesus) in Turkey and Santorini and Rhodes in Greece – remain unaffected.

Chania is also known for its charming old town, pristine beaches, rich culture and history, and an exciting nightlife (especially when tourists are around!) – which Resilient Lady’s guests will now get more time to experience.

Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)

This sailing is also one of two Virgin Celebration Voyages setting sail in 2025 – which was a tradition that started in 2023 to commemorate decades of innovation for the Virgin brand.

The only other sailing in this category for this year will be onboard Scarlet Lady and will last from July 22-27, 2025.

These unique cruises are extra fun because many important VIPs come onboard to join in on the fun – including higher ups in the cruise line and usually even founder Sir Richard Branson himself.

Adding to the hype, popular singers like Melanie C, who Spice Girls fans know as “Sporty Spice,” and Kathy Sledge, a founding member of the Sister Sledge musical group, will also be onboard for exclusive performances.

After that, the next rendition of these sailings won’t be until 2026 – and will be even more in demand as it will be hosted onboard Brilliant Lady, which is joining the fleet as its fourth ship in September 2025.

Starting next year, these cruises will also be known as Red Hot Sailing Club Voyages to better align with the cruise brand’s focus on musical legends and original programming designed specifically for fun-loving adults.

Norwegian Touts Upgraded Ships as Summer Cruises Begin

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Donna Tunney

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May 15, 2025

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Norwegian Touts Upgraded Ships as Summer Cruises Begin

The calendar doesn’t say summer quite yet, but Norwegian Cruise Line is highlighting its vast array of vacation-at-sea options that reach from the glaciers of Alaska to the sun-soaked Caribbean and the historic destinations of Europe.

Moreover, the cruise line is calling attention to recent dry dock investments it has made on several ships, which now offer new and refreshed public spaces.

Let’s start with a look at the line’s voyages to Alaska aboard three Breakaway-Plus class ships, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, and Norwegian Joy, all sailing from Seattle, the gateway port to The Great Land from the US West Coast.

Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore, each accommodating 4,000 guests, and Norwegian Joy, slightly smaller with a capacity for 3,800 guests, together offer a wide variety of cruise lengths and itineraries.

And from Vancouver, British Columbia, the line has deployed the 2,400-guest Norwegian Jade and 1,900-guest Norwegian Sun, bringing to five the number of Norwegian Cruise Line ships dedicated to Alaska in 2025.

Onboard Norwegian Joy, one sample sailing is the 10-night “Alaska: Hubbard Glacier, Skagway & Juneau” itinerary, with calls at Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Victoria, British Columbia, and scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier.

On Norwegian Encore, a recent dry dock added the adults-only Spice H2O outdoor recreation area on the ship’s main pool deck. The venue has a dedicated bar, day beds, and hot tubs, among other innovations.

Norwegian Joy also recently received Spice H2O, while Norwegian Bliss underwent an enhancement program that added Horizon Park, an outdoor area geared to lawn games like corn hole and other activities.

“In anticipation of this summer season, we have invested significantly in new and newly renovated ships to give our guests more to do, more to enjoy and more value for their vacation in some of the hottest destinations this summer,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Whether you are dreaming of an adventure in Alaska, a cultural discovery in Europe or dipping your toes in the sand on a beach in the Caribbean, NCL has a great vacation for every type of traveler this summer,” added Herrera.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Alaska experiences can be extended by booking a cruisetour, which combines a voyage with land components to Denali National Park, and Fairbanks, Alaska.

Onboard Norwegian Jade, for instance, a Fairbanks Denali Express cruisetour provides an 11-day exploration that features a 7-day sailing with port calls to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, and Hubbard Glacier, concluding in Whittier. From there, land tours begin to Denali and Fairbanks, and guests return by air from Fairbanks.

Line Offers Multiple Ships Sailing Europe, Caribbean

Recently renovated ships from the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet that are sailing European itineraries include the 4,000-guest Norwegian Breakaway and the 4,100-guest Norwegian Epic.

Norwegian Epic emerged from a dry dock renovation in early May 2025 with a refreshed Kids’ Aqua Park and a larger Vibe Beach Club, for adults only.

Norwegian Epic in Europe (Photo Credit: meunierd)

The ship is sailing 9- to 12-day voyages between Rome, Barcelona, and Venice, visiting destinations such as Sicily and the Greek Islands.

Also, two of the line’s newer ships, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, are deployed to Europe for the summer of 2025. They accommodate 3,000 and 3,200 guests, respectively.

Sun seekers looking for a summer vacation in the Caribbean have several Norwegian Cruise Line ships to choose from, including the line’s newest, Norwegian Aqua. The 3,500-guest ship entered service in April 2025.

Her 7-day “Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic” cruise, roundtrip from Port Canaveral, calls at Puerto Plaza, St. Thomas, Tortola, and the line’s private destination, Great Stirrup Cay.

MSC Meraviglia Undergoes Repairs, Coast Guard Warns Boaters

MSC Cruises News

Lissa Poirot

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May 15, 2025

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MSC Meraviglia Undergoes Repairs, Coast Guard Warns Boaters

An MSC Cruises ship is docked in Portland, Maine, but it’s not there with any passengers.

Arriving in port on May 12, 2025, for an unscheduled “call,” the 171,598-gross-ton MSC Meraviglia is being serviced by a dive team working beneath the surface to replace broken propeller blades, which forced the cruise line to cancel its first New York to The Bahamas voyage scheduled for May 11, 2025.

The US Coast Guard has been warning boaters in the area to use caution while sailing in Casco Bay due to the underwater operations taking place near the port’s Ocean Gateway Terminal, where the ship sits with just its crew.

Underwater repairs are necessary when a ship cannot return to a dry dock. Divers can remove bent propeller blades by using hydraulic grinders to cut and crop blade sections. They also will do the same on the opposite propeller to balance the system.

The massive ship is the 23rd largest in the world and an imposing figure at the port. Even more imposing has been a spew of “odd-colored” smoke emitting from the 4,500-passenger ship’s smokestacks.

Turns out, while under repairs, the vessel is utilizing its scrubbers to remove toxins from its exhaust, leading to the environmental group Portland Protectors to raise concerns about MSC Meraviglia’s impact on the air and water quality.

However, the ship won’t be in Portland much longer. Repairs are expected to be complete ahead of the weekend and MSC Meraviglia, which was christened in 2017, will be heading back to sea by May 17, 2025, to resume her cruise schedule.

The ship is not scheduled for dry dock until 2027, although details are not yet available.

Ship to Resume Bahamas Schedule

While residents of Portland aren’t exactly happy its port is home to a damaged vessel, MSC Cruises passengers will be thrilled to see the ship return to its course.

Instead of Portland, Maine, the ship will finally begin a long series of cruises from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to the Bahamas.

Guests set to journey with the cruise line on its first voyage of the season had been notified of the initial cancellation in mid-April due to then-reported mechanical issues that were affecting MSC Meraviglia’s speed.

Passengers were offered a chance to rebook on another MSC Cruises’ sailing or to receive a full refund, as well as a 50 percent Future Cruise Credit for the inconvenience.

Turns out the issue was related to its propellers and following the repairs, she will be ship-shape again and can finally launch the series of roundtrip voyages between New York and the Bahamas.

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Michelangelo DeSantis)

Her next scheduled sailing from Brooklyn is May 18, 2025, if the repairs can be complete on time, which the cruise line anticipates.

The Bahamas cruises will take passengers from New York to Port Canaveral, Florida, before visiting Nassau and MSC Cruises’ private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, in the Bahamas with two sea days to enjoy the ship.

This includes multiple pools and the Polar Aquapark, Broadway-style theater and Cirque du Soleil-style shows, the indoor Galleria Meraviglia promenade, and a host of specialty restaurants, themed bars, and lounges.

Kids sailing, from babies to teens, can enjoy the MSC Kids Club as well as special LEGO play areas and activities through the cruise line’s special LEGO partnership.

The Bahamas roundtrip sailings will continue through April 19, 2027, when MSC Meraviglia repositions to the Mediterranean.

The ship will also sail on two 7-night cruises to Kings Wharf in Bermuda in August and September of 2025.

Outbreak Hits Guests and Crew on Luxury Cruise Ship

Cruise News

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May 15, 2025

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Outbreak Hits Guests and Crew on Luxury Cruise Ship

As Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Explorer arrived in Vancouver, British Colombia, to begin a season in Alaska, some passengers on its repositioning journey across the Pacific Ocean were more relieved to be disembarking than expected.

Turns out that during the 750-passenger luxury vessel’s 18-night sailing from Tokyo to Vancouver, an outbreak occurred, affecting 22 of its 666 passengers and two members of its 545 crew.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received word from the ship’s medical team on May 14, 2025, the day it pulled into port.

The ship departed from Tokyo on April 26, 2025, with passengers beginning to fall ill to symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting in what the CDC is calling an official gastrointestinal outbreak.

A gastrointestinal illness is defined by symptoms of three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period and vomiting, along with one or more additional symptoms that include muscle ache, headache, abdominal cramping, or fever.

Although the CDC says the cause of the outbreak is unknown, it revealed norovirus is a likely cause.

When an outbreak occurs on a cruise, affected passengers and crew members are isolated and deep cleaning procedures begin.

But with the cruise ending, the bigger concern for the more intimate 54,000-gross-ton Regent Seven Seas Explorer is the subsequent voyage, the first of its first Alaska sailings.

The vessel underwent deep cleaning to prevent its next group of guests from contracting the highly contagious illness during the 7-night “Return to the Frontier” cruise from Vancouver to Whittier.

Norovirus can remain on surfaces for up to 2 weeks if not properly disinfected.

That voyage, which departed on May 14, 2025, is spending a full day at sea before reaching ports of call in Klawock, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, and Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, before arriving in Whittier, Alaska, on May 21, 2025.

Cruise Outbreaks on the Rise

According to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, this is the 17th gastrointestinal outbreak reported on a North America-based cruise ship in 2025, quickly nearing the 18 outbreaks that took place during 2024 in just the first five months of the year.

The last outbreak reported by the CDC was aboard Holland America Line’s Eurodam, which was reported on April 28, 2025. That Norovirus-affected sailing took place on its April 12 to May 3, 2025, voyage.

While three outbreaks reported did not identify the cause of illness, 12 were the result of norovirus.

But outbreaks on Regent Seven Seas Cruises are rare. The Seven Seas Explorer has never had a previous incident, and the cruise line has only recorded seven outbreaks on any ship since the CDC began recording the data in 1994.

The last such outbreak occurred aboard Seven Seas Mariner in 2018, where 38 of 652 passengers were sick.

That ship also saw norovirus outbreaks in 2009, with 28 passengers sick, and 2008, with 33 of 620 guests and 12 crew members reporting symptoms.

It also had a salmonella outbreak in 2007 and 2005, and an unknown cause of illness in 2006. Seven Seas Navigator experienced an outbreak in 2007.

While the cruise line completed deep sanitation before launching on its current journey, passengers can take precautions to stay healthy.

If any passenger feels ill, the CDC advises to stay isolated in staterooms and to notify the ship’s medical team.

Princess Cruises Moves Anniversary Sailing to March 2026

Princess Cruises News

Lissa Poirot

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May 15, 2025

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Princess Cruises Moves Anniversary Sailing to March 2026

Princess Cruises fans who couldn’t wait to celebrate the cruise line’s 60th anniversary will have to wait a bit longer.

The cruise line has announced it is changing its 60th Anniversary celebration plans from December 2025 to March 2026.

Unfortunately, that means anyone booked for the party on the Royal Princess scheduled to depart Los Angeles, California, on December 6, 2025, will no longer get to enjoy the planned anniversary events during the 14-night cruise.

Instead, the festivities will be a feature of a 7-night Mexican Riviera voyage departing Los Angeles on March 7, 2026.

In a statement to booked guests, Princess Cruises said, “Please be advised that activities for the 60th Anniversary Cruise will no longer take place during your 14-day voyage on Royal Princess from December 6 – 20, 2025.”

“Instead, these activities will now take place on the 7-day roundtrip Mexican Riviera voyage out of Los Angeles from March 7 to March 14, 2026,” the statement continued.

The original December 2025 cruise was to feature performances by The Temptations and appearances by Jill Whelan, known for her role as “Vicki Stubing” on The Love Boat, which was filmed aboard Princess Cruises ships in the 1970s and 1980s.

It is expected that similar programming will be included in the shorter March 2026 sailing, though specifics have yet to be confirmed.

Passengers who wanted to celebrate the big 6-0 with the cruise line are being offered full refunds, including those with nonrefundable bookings.

Refunds will be processed to the original form of payment. Princess Cruises is also providing assistance to those wishing to rebook the new March sailing.

The March 7, 2026, 60th Anniversary Cruise will still sail aboard the 3,560-passenger, 142,229-gross-ton Royal Princess.

The ship will visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, of which were features of the original 14-night cruise.

However, guests will miss out on visits to Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, and Loreto, Mexico. The cruise line did not offer an explanation as to why the celebration was moved to 2026.

A Host of Delays

Princess Cruises, which launched in 1965, shared the news of its 60th Anniversary Cruise in January 2025, announcing a special commemorative sailing would retrace the cruise line’s original route from Los Angeles to Mexico.

The celebration was designed to honor the milestone with nods to the cruise line’s roots and its cultural legacy, including its ties to the iconic television series that helped bring cruising into the mainstream.

“This commemorative 60th Anniversary Cruise will not only pay tribute to our rich history but bring together the joy of cruise travel, music, and unforgettable moments,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corporation.

Temptations Performing on Discovery Princess

The announcement was made aboard Discovery Princess, with The Temptations performing “My Girl,” the classic hit that became a No. 1 song in 1965.

Ahead of the anniversary, Princess Cruises will also celebrate the addition of its 17th ship, the brand-new Star Princess.

As the newest member of the fleet, the 4,300-passenger ship will debut in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2025 for an 11-night roundtrip sailing in the Mediterranean.

It will then reposition to Fort Lauderdale to spend a winter in the Caribbean.

The ship was originally scheduled to be delivered from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard in July 2025, but that was also delayed, forcing the cancellation of nine cruises.

Severe East Coast Storm Causes Flooding on Carnival Ship

Carnival Cruise News

Skyler Wolpert

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May 16, 2025

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Severe East Coast Storm Causes Flooding on Carnival Ship

It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s happening inside the cruise ship?

This is exactly what passengers experienced earlier this week when the 110,000 gross-ton Carnival Conquest was hit by severe weather.

The 1,000-mile-long atmospheric river, which has brought downpours to numerous southern states and multiple tornado threats, moved towards Florida and the Bahamas earlier this week.

Miami actually broke its daily rainfall record after getting 4.35 inches of rain on May 12, surpassing the previous record set in 1943. Throughout the day, there were numerous flash floods that affected low-lying areas in Miami-Dade County.

Despite this, Carnival Conquest departed from Miami on May 12, making its way to Carnival’s private island, Half Moon Cay — however, this put the ship directly in the path of the bad weather.

Debbie Smith, a current guest on this vessel, uploaded a video showing the severity of the storm while onboard.

“We left our door open on the balcony last night, because this is what it did all night,” Smith said, sharing her excitement about the weather, adding, “This is crazy — a storm at sea, but I love it.”

According to her video, the storm had started the night before and had not shown any sign of letting up. In an initial update from Smith, she shared that there was water running everywhere inside the ship, and deck 9 had flooded.

You can take a look at the video here:

She later posted a photo of the flooding in one of the dining rooms, also sharing that her balcony was flooding, nearly reaching her room.

Additionally, all of the vents on the 9th floor had to be closed, and deck 7 also became flooded.

Other passengers shared their experience on the flooding on Carnival Conquest, saying that the crew quickly stepped in to clean up the flooding and that no major damages were reported.

There were no reported delays caused by the weather, allowing for the itinerary to go on as originally planned.

Carnival al Conquest Hit by Storm and Flooding (Credit: Debbie Smith)

The cruise line has yet to share more information, but it is likely that all outdoor activities were cancelled and the pool areas closed for the duration of the bad weather and flooding.

While the ship experienced the harsh weather while departing on Monday and while at sea on Tuesday, when it arrived in Half Moon Cay on Wednesday, May 14, it was finally sunny.

The rest of the itinerary included a stop in Nassau on May 15 before disembarking in Miami on May 16.

While Carnival Conquest is an older ship, having been built in 2002, it has not previously had issues with flooding. However, Florida and the Bahamas are notorious for their extreme storms, so flooding on cruise ships in this region is not unheard of.

The Bad Weather is to Blame Again

Carnival Conquest now joins a list of vessels that have had flooding issues recently as the result of some less-than-ideal East Coast storm systems.

In late March, the 5,362-passenger Carnival Celebration was departing from PortMiami when a storm forced it to delay.

After waiting for 30 minutes, the vessel began to exit the port only to be hit even harder by a downpour of rain, causing the sail away party to be cancelled and the pool areas to flood.

Heavy Rain Hits Carnival Celebration (Credit: @ deiylydosediaries)

Thankfully, most cruise lines are aware of the weather in this region and do their best to avoid it for the passenger’s comfort and safety.

Bad weather causing flooding is not unheard of on cruises, but it does not happen often.

It is, however, the rainy season in the Bahamas — and while not every ship will encounter storms as bad as the ones Carnival Conquest or Carnival Celebration hit, some are bound to encounter heavy rain.

You know what they say, when it rains, it pours, just hopeful not inside of the cruise ship you are on.