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Holland America Details Asia Season With Over 50 Ports

Holland America Line News

Lissa Poirot

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Jan 8, 2024

Holland America Details Asia Season With Over 50 Ports

Holland America Line has revealed its extensive plans for Westerdam’s 2025-26 Asia Itinerary. The ship will offer a deep dive into Asia’s varied landscape and traditions, exploring 11 countries and up to 12 ports in a single cruise.

51 Ports and 2 Ocean Crossings Offered in Immersive Schedule

Featuring a strong emphasis on Japan, Westerdam will navigate through more than 50 ports across Asia when it embarks on its Asian voyages between September 2025 and April 2026.

The ship’s 10 unique itineraries and two Pacific Ocean crossings are designed to showcase a rich tapestry of cultural experiences and regional cuisines and will stop in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Twenty-four ports across Japan will be featured, as well.

“For travelers looking to discover Asia, our 2025-2026 season provides an opportunity to explore the region in-depth via cruise. We want to ensure our guests have an authentic glimpse into the diverse cultures of each country, creating immersive moments and deeper connections to those destinations,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.

Departures are scheduled from major Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Yokohama (Tokyo), and Singapore, with notable overnight calls planned in cities like Shanghai, Bangkok, Manila, Hiroshima, and Seoul. Prices for these immersive cruises start from $1,999 per person.

14-Day Itineraries and Rich Cultural Experiences Await

Holland America’s Westerdam offers a variety of itineraries, each crafted to deliver an enriching cultural experience. The “North Pacific Crossing” itinerary is a highlight, bridging Seattle and Yokohama with scenic stops in Alaska and British Columbia, and culturally rich Japanese cities like Kushiro and Aomori. The journey encompasses a 13-day crossing to Japan and a 15-day return trip.

The “Circle Japan” cruises, lasting 14 or 15 days and departing from Yokohama, delve into Japan’s rich heritage. These itineraries include visits to cities such as Nagasaki and Kobe and an excursion to South Korea, featuring an overnight stay in Seoul.

Holland America Westerdam Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

For those interested in exploring the dynamics between Japan and its neighbors, the “Japan and South Korea Discovery” (14 days) and “Japan, South Korea, and China” (13 or 14 days) itineraries blend historical and modern landscapes across these countries, featuring overnights in Seoul and Shanghai, respectively, and the maiden port of Takamatsu, Japan.

Expanding further, the 14-day “Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan” voyage connects the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia and East Asia, stopping at Manila, Boracay, and Puerto Princesa in the Philippines; Keelung (Taipei) and Kaohsiung in Taiwan; and Osake, Naha, and Ishigaki in Japan.

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Meanwhile, the 13- or 14-day “Far East Discovery” cruise takes guests on a journey through the vibrant cities and stunning natural beauty of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, visiting iconic locations such as Halong Bay, Day Nang (Hue), Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang (Bangkok), and Nathon (Koh Samui).

Holland America Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Angel DiBilio / Shutterstock

For those intrigued by Indonesia’s charms, the “Indonesian Holiday” offers a 15-day roundtrip journey from Singapore through the Indonesian archipelago, including stops at Probolinggo, Surabaya, and Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) on Java; Celukan Bawang and Benoa (Denpasar) on Bali; Komodo Island; Lembar on Lombok; and scenic cruising by the Krakatau Volcano.

Lastly, the “Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines” 14-day cruise combines the exotic charm of Southeast Asian countries, offering an enriching experience Bangkok; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Puerto Princesa and Manila in the Philippines; and Phu My in Vietnam.

Limited-Time Packages Available

Launched in 2004 and receiving numerous renovations over its history, the 11-deck Westerdam is an award-winning member of Holland America’s fleet. It can accommodate 1,916 passengers and weighs 82,348 gross tons.

For a limited time, guests booking select 2025-26 Asia cruises with the “Have It All” premium package will receive standard amenities of shore excursions, specialty dining, a Signature Beverage Package, and Surf Wi-Fi. Additional perks include free prepaid Crew Appreciation, along with free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi.

Carnival Cruise Line Urges Respect Between Passengers

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jan 8, 2024

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Carnival Cruise Line Urges Respect Between Passengers

An empty elevator can be the most coveted space on a cruise ship, but frequent cruisers know how rare that phenomenon can be. Due to elevator crowding, the space can get particularly tense when mobility scooters are in use, especially in smaller elevators. Due to a rise in unpleasant interactions, Carnival Cruise Line is now urging respect on both sides of the elevator door.

Mobility Scooter Concerns Onboard Carnival Ships

All cruise lines deal with occasionally tense situations, but none can get more frustrating for guests than the etiquette of elevator usage. This is especially true when passengers have mobility scooters, wheelchairs, or strollers, bulky items that may take up most of an elevator’s limited space.

Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has recently addressed guests’ concerns about mobility scooters with regards to onboard elevators. Both sides of the debate can be heated – who should have priority using the elevators, and whether or not “aggressive driving” is a concern onboard.

Are Reserved Elevators the Answer?

These concerns are raised in the ongoing debate about who should have use of an elevator, depending on whether or not a guest using a mobility scooter is waiting. Should they be permitted first use of the next available elevator, regardless of whether or not other passengers have been waiting longer? Or does it depend on how full the next available elevator may be?

Frustrated guests who do require scooters have suggested that the cruise line provide a dedicated elevator for scooter use, perhaps with a crew member available to ensure compliance with who uses what elevator.

“We do not have the manpower to have a crew member reserve an elevator all day at each elevator bank just for mobility scooters,” Heald explained. “I wish we did. But I do know that most (I know not all) guests will be respectful to those guests who do need [scooters] to get about the ship.”

To station a crew member to reserve an elevator for mobility scooters is simply not feasible. Such a crew member would likely need to be on every deck – meaning a dozen or more crew members assigned to this single duty at just one elevator bank. Furthermore, most ships have several elevator banks onboard – forward, mid-ship, and aft at least – and so even more crew members would have to assume that duty.

Carnival Conquest Cruise Elevators (Photo Credit: gary yim)

If a cruise line opted for just one reserved elevator onboard, that would likely not satisfy many passengers, as it would require mobility scooter users to move forward and aft to a single elevator bank each time they needed to move between floors.

A single reserved elevator also would not be efficient if there are many mobility scooters on a particular sailing, as each elevator can accommodate just 1-2 scooters per trip.

Ultimately, the solution for how mobility scooter users should be accommodated on elevators comes down to courtesy. If an elevator is very full already and a scooter would not fit, other passengers can feel free to board the elevator even if they have not been waiting as long.

If the elevator is empty enough for a scooter, however, it is polite to permit the passenger on the mobility scooter to board first, as it may be several minutes before another elevator arrives that could accommodate them.

Guests who are able to ease the load on elevators may also consider taking the stairs if they are only going up or down a deck or two. In crowded areas – such as at forward elevator banks just after a production show – all guests could consider skipping the closest elevator bank and moving to another, less crowded area for more space.

Aggressive Driving Concerns

Carnival guests who do not use mobility scooters have shared a different concern with Heald, that of overly aggressive driving.

Several travelers have reported being nudged, bumped, or outright hit by mobility scooters, both in elevators and in public areas of the ship. While some scooter users do express remorse at such incidents, it seems equally common that their aggressive driving goes unacknowledged – even when other passengers may be injured by the heavy scooters.

Cruise Ship Mobility Scooter (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt)

“Can I ask mobility scooter users to please drive carefully,” Heald said. “Most of you do and are respectful to other road users, or deck users in this case. But a few do drive too quickly and this can result in a broken toe or as on a ship recently, three broken toes.”

Carnival Cruise Line’s guidelines for guests with mobility limitations explicitly states “Guests must drive at a safe speed to ensure their own safety and the safety of others on board.”

In crowded areas is can be difficult for scooter users to get by other guests without physical contact, but simply saying “Excuse me” in a loud but polite voice can easily alert others to the need for a bit more space.

Similarly, guests without scooters should remain aware of the space around them, and politely move aside if a scooter needs to get by.

As guests using scooters learn the layout of a particular ship, they could seek out better routes that offer more space, and be sure to leave early to reach activities and shows on time without needing to rush, which might accidentally cause them to hit someone.

Icon of the Seas Miami Arrival and Crew Party Detailed

Royal Caribbean News

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Jan 7, 2024

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Icon of the Seas Miami Arrival and Crew Party Detailed

All eyes in the cruising world are on Icon of the Seas with the new ship’s debut less than three weeks away. But more than just the ship itself, the crew is what makes cruising amazing, and Royal Caribbean International is treating Icon of the Seas‘ crew to some great celebrations ahead of the ship’s maiden voyage.

Icon of the Seas Celebrating Crew Members

Royal Caribbean International’s new and sensational ship – the most anticipated new ship debuting in 2024 – is less than three weeks away from welcoming her first guests, but great things are in store for the vessel in the days ahead of her maiden voyage.

Icon of the Seas just completed a visit to Ponce, Puerto Rico, where the ship took on additional supplies and underwent regulatory inspections prior to beginning passenger service. A variety of shipyard workers also left the vessel after completing onboard work, and the ship is one big step closer to her inaugural sailing.

The next stop for the massive 250,800-gross-ton vessel is not yet her homeport of Miami, Florida, however. Instead, Icon of the Seas will be visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay for a well-deserved party for her crew members.

“Our amazing Icon crew will be the first to experience the biggest and best private island party at the new Hideaway Beach,” announced Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

“This break is so well-deserved as they’ve been working hard to put the finishing details on Icon, making sure the ship is just right for our first guests. I am so grateful for this startup crew and the years of expertise and passion they bring to the World’s Best Family Vacation.”

Star of the Seas at PerfectDay at CocoCay

The new Hideaway Beach is an exclusive, adults-only addition to CocoCay, featuring new bars and dining venues, private cabanas, an acre of white sand beach, in-water hammocks, and more. Hideaway Beach is slated to open in late January, coinciding with Icon of the Seas‘ first visit to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination.

It is wonderful that Royal Caribbean is celebrating the hard-working crew members aboard Icon of the Seas by arranging the massive crew party at Hideaway Beach on Monday, January 8.

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Of course, the event will also be a trial of the new destination’s facilities to help work out any difficulties before guests arrive, and crew members may be asked to provide feedback to help tweak the space for more efficiency and enjoyment.

Icon of the Seas‘ Arrival Into Miami

While the new ship will be just 140 miles east of her new homeport on Monday, Tuesday will be spent at sea in anticipation of some stormy weather. Then, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Icon of the Seas will sail into PortMiami for the very first time. Her arrival time is expected at approximately 7 a.m., and a welcome party is planned as the ship cruises to the terminal.

“Wednesday morning we have a huge celebration planned for all of our shoreside teams and guests and loyalists are also welcome to see this historic occasion,” said Bayley. “Let’s wake up the whole city with our excitement for the Icon of Vacations’ arrival home.”

The official welcome event will be held at the Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade County (Perez Art Museum Miami) in downtown Miami with games, refreshments, live music, and giveaways. The museum is located at 1103 Biscayne Boulevard, just at the base of the MacArthur Causeway and with a spectacular view of Biscayne Bay for the ship’s arrival.

Icon of the Seas will welcome her first official guests aboard on Saturday, January 27, 2024 as she begins passenger operations. The inaugural sailing is a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, during which the ship will visit St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and CocoCay. Icon of the Seas will be homeported year-round from Miami, offering alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries at least through April 2026.

Deployment plans after April 2026 have not yet been finalized. At that time, the second Icon-class ship – Star of the Seas – will already be sailing from Port Canaveral, and it is possible Icon of the Seas may be moved to a different homeport to bring her iconic brand of vacations to a new sailing region.

Some Not Happy Over Preferential Treatment on World Cruise

Royal Caribbean News

Catie Kovelman

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Jan 6, 2024

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Some Not Happy Over Preferential Treatment on World Cruise

It’s been less than one month since Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas embarked from Miami, Florida, on December 10, 2023, but some passengers are already finding the cruise to be beneath their expectations because of alleged unfair treatment toward some of the guests.

Not Happy About Pinnacle Guests

The 274-night sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas is the longest of its kind. When all is said and done, the cruise will have sailed to all seven continents, called at 150 destinations across 65 countries, and visited the 11 wonders of the world.

But drama is already brewing onboard Serenade of the Seas less than one month into the nine-month voyage. In a now viral video on the @UKsecrettravel channel on TikTok, a woman known as “Tea Captain” certainly had some tea to spill in a video titled “Ultimate World Cruise Guests Are Not Happy!,” which has been viewed 2.1 million times by the time of this publication.

You can watch the video below:

According to an unnamed source currently onboard Serenade of the Seas, some guests are unhappy with the cruise line treating certain passengers better than others.

Namely, Pinnacle members are receiving preferential treatment compared to other passengers on board. Pinnacle members are the highest tier of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program.

The TikToker’s contact alleges that Pinnacle members are being given special treatment and opportunities not available to other passengers, such as exclusive opportunities and not having to wait in line to board the ship.

“They’ve been invited to meetings in town halls, which all the guests haven’t been invited to,” says The Tea Captain. “Things that are going on in these meetings are affecting the ship.”

The source also says all Pinnacle members got to see the Northern Lights, but no other passengers were made aware of the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. The other issue at hand, per the travel influencer, is that “world cruisers” who are staying for the entire nine-month journey may be getting better treatment than “segmenters,” or passengers who are only onboard for a portion of the sailing.

Approximately 700 passengers are completing the full nine-month sailing, but some cruisers are only joining the cruise for one of four segments, each of which still lasts for more than 60 nights, or on shorter nine to 28-night cruises wrapped into the World Cruise itinerary.

Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas — Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

In her video, the Tea Captain reports that many of these segmenters are being excluded from social media group chats by other passengers because they were not completing the full cruise, causing them to miss out on opportunities during their time onboard.

“So, to wrap up, a lot of segmenters on the cruise are really unhappy with how Royal Caribbean are handling the situation. They’re treating the guests completely differently when they’ve paid the same price,” the Tea Captain says to conclude her video.

What is Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society?

The Crown and Anchor Society is Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program to reward its guests. The more cruises someone takes with the cruise line, the more benefits they reap.

Pinnacle members have the highest rank, which earns them extra benefits onboard Royal Caribbean cruises and why they may be getting extra perks on the Ultimate World Cruise. In fact, it’s quite normal for the major cruise lines to offer extra perks to their more elite loyalty members – a fact that was pointed out in many comments on TikTok.

Passengers earn points for every cruise they go on, which leads to a higher status within the society and more benefits. Every night spent on a Royal Caribbean in a normal stateroom earns one point, while each night spent in a suite earns two.

All guests are automatically enrolled in Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society after they complete their first sailing with the cruise line.

There are several tiers within the Crown and Anchor Society that are reached as points are gained. The lowest tier is Gold, which requires three points or one three-night sailing to reach. But avid cruisers can work their way up to the top tier, Pinnacle status, which requires 700 points.

Norwegian Cruise Ship Breaks Mooring Lines During Debarkation

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jan 6, 2024

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Norwegian Cruise Ship Breaks Mooring Lines During Debarkation

While debarking guests in Galveston, Texas on Friday, January 5, 2024, strong winds caused Norwegian Prima to break her mooring lines, causing a temporary closure of the gangways and delaying ship operations.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the ship has been able to depart on her next sailing with what appears to only be a slight delay.

Norwegian Prima Breaks Mooring Lines

While Norwegian Prima was docked in Galveston, Texas and debarking from her most recent sailing, strong wind gusts caused the vessel to break her mooring lines.

The ship had just finished a 7-night cruise with visits to Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Roatan, and Cozumel. That cruise had departed on Friday, December 29, 2023.

The strong weather included wind gusts recorded as high as 47 miles per hour (76 kilometers per hour), conditions strong enough to put too much stress on the lines holding the 143,535-gross-ton vessel. At least one mooring line snapped, which could be dangerous if the line had ricocheted toward dock workers.

Fortunately, most workers had already taken shelter and were far enough from the incident to remain safe. The ship did not break completely free, and was quickly re-secured. When any lines break, a large ship will be drifting somewhat loosely, which can be a dangerous situation.

The incident happened at approximately 7 a.m., just as debarkation began. Some guests had already left the ship safely, but debarkation was halted immediately to ensure everyone’s safety.

Norwegian Prima has 20 total decks (16 accessible to guests), giving her an exceptionally tall profile that can be more susceptible to strong winds and gusts than smaller, more compact ships.

Debarkation Delayed

Because of the strong weather, debarkation was temporarily suspended, a delay that extended to approximately two hours. This was due to the breaking of several lines, as well as damage to one gangway used for debarkation.

“We would like to thank you for your patience this morning and have a safe trip home, thank you,” the ship’s captain announced while explaining the situation during the delay.

The debarkation delay also had a slight knock-on effect for the following embarkation. The impact was minimal, however, considering how the situation could have evolved if the damage had been more severe.

Instead, the ship has already been able to depart on her next sailing, another 7-night voyage visiting the same ports of call as her previous sailing. Norwegian Prima is offering the same itinerary each week through early April.

On April 5, the ship will depart Galveston for the last time on an 11-night, one-way repositioning sailing to Miami, and from there, to New York. After New York, the ship will move to Southampton, where she will begin her summer season in Europe, offering alternating departures from Southampton, UK and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Not a First Mooring Break for Norwegian Prima

Interestingly, this is not the first time Norwegian Prima has broken free of her mooring lines. A similar incident happened in July 2023 while the ship was docked in Zeebrugge, Belgium.

That stop was a port of call visit and the breakaway was also a result of strong winds that pushed on the vessel. During that incident, both forward and aft gangways dropping into the water as the ship drifted, though no injuries were reported and the ship’s overall itinerary was not impacted.

Norwegian Prima at Port of Galveston (Photo Courtesy: NCL)

With the same ship experiencing two similar unfortunate events in less than six months, it may seem to be a design flaw of the Prima class that the vessel could break lines with such frequency. Most cruise ships enjoy many years of service without a single such incident.

This is not necessarily a flaw, however, as it is more likely for larger ships to experience line breaks in foul weather, especially with severe wind gusts. It is simply bad luck that Norwegian Prima has been twice affected by the unique conditions that can cause such incidents.

At the same time, it is a credit to the ship’s crew as well as local dock personnel that in neither case were any severe injuries reported, and the ship was able to be re-secured and continue operations relatively promptly when the weather permitted.

Royal Caribbean Ship Makes Maiden Port Call After 14 Years in Service

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jan 5, 2024

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Royal Caribbean Ship Makes Maiden Port Call After 14 Years in Service

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas has made her inaugural visit to the beautiful destination of Aruba – more than 14 years after the ship first set sail.

It certainly isn’t unusual for new cruise ships to visit ports for the first time, but it is more unique for an older vessel to have new destinations on her itineraries.

Oasis of the Seas Visits Aruba for the First Time

Oasis of the Seas made her very first-ever visit to the gorgeous island of Aruba on Wednesday, January 2, 2024 – more than 14 years after the ship debuted. The stop was part of the ship’s current sailing, a 9-night Southern Caribbean Perfect Day itinerary that departed Miami, Florida on Friday, December 29, 2023.

“We couldn’t be happier today with another first call in our Port of Oranjestad. Welcome to Oasis of the Seas’ first visit,” said Aruba Ports Authority (APA) while commemorating the occasion.

Inaugural visits are often marked with special ceremonies and greetings. Port officials will frequently present the ship’s master with a token to mark the occasion, such as a plaque, photo, or small sculpture. These items are typically displayed onboard in a gallery of sorts, which can be a fun exhibit for passengers to browse.

Similarly, the ship’s officers may also present port officials with a commemorative item, cementing the connection between the ship and the port and ensuring a good relationship for future visits.

Oasis of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Artesia Wells)

Also in port during Oasis of the Seas‘ first visit was P&O Cruises’ Britannia. Additional Royal Caribbean International ships will also be calling at the port this month, including Rhapsody of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas. Even more ships will visit throughout 2024.

Aruba was the third of four ports of call on Oasis of the Seas‘ current sailing. Prior to arriving in Oranjestad, the ship enjoyed visits to CocoCay in the Bahamas and Willemstad in Curacao, and afterward, is visiting Falmouth, Jamaica, before returning to Miami on Sunday, January 7.

Why Hasn’t Oasis of the Seas Been to Aruba Yet?

Oasis of the Seas debuted with her maiden voyage on December 5, 2009 as the first in the revolutionary Oasis class of ships. During the 14 years the ship has been in service, she has sailed to many ports worldwide, including throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Canada, and more.

The ship has been homeported in various locations to offer such diverse itineraries, including Miami, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Barcelona, and Rome.

It is not uncommon for cruise lines to move new ships around to various homeports in their first few years, especially when a ship is debuting a new class with all new features. This brings the new vessel to more travelers and generates greater interest and more bookings.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas — Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas (Photo Credit: BA Arts)

Because Oasis of the Seas has been homeported several times from Fort Lauderdale and Miami, it is unusual that the vessel had not visited Aruba until this year. The tropical island – part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – is not as frequently included on Caribbean itineraries as many travelers may expect, however.

This is because of the island’s distance from US homeports. Aruba is 1,300 miles (2,092 kilometers) of sailing distance from Miami, the southernmost major US cruise homeport, and 1,500 miles (2,414 km) from Port Canaveral, the busiest passenger cruise homeport in the world.

Cruising to Aruba

Aruba is one of the stars of what are casually called the A-B-C itineraries – Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. This is a popular Southern Caribbean itinerary for cruise lines, but because all three islands are just 60 miles (97 km) off the northern coast of Venezuela and so far from popular homeports, these are not frequently scheduled itineraries.

Cruises to reach Aruba do tend to be longer, with 7-night sailings generally the minimum to visit one of the A-B-C islands. Longer 8, 9, or 10+ night itineraries are more likely to include one or more of the coveted destinations.

These itineraries frequently have several days at sea in order for ships to comfortably reach the region, and may also include stops in other ports of call such as Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, or the Bahamas, depending on the cruise line and sailing route.

In addition to Royal Caribbean ships, vessels from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, TUI Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and more will be calling on Aruba in 2024, giving cruise travelers plenty of options to see this amazing destination.

One Major Cruise Line Now Discouraging Cruising Ducks

Disney Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jan 5, 2024

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One Major Cruise Line Now Discouraging Cruising Ducks

Many frequent cruisers are familiar with the cruising ducks phenomenon, but one major cruise line now has a policy discouraging the guest-led scavenger hunt. Disney Cruise Line is requesting that guests not hide the ducks in either public areas or staterooms, which effectively eliminates the activity.

Disney Cruise Line Not Supporting Cruising Ducks

Cruise ducks can be a fun game onboard nearly any cruise ship, but guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line will now have fewer opportunities to either hide or find these quirky keepsakes. In response to passenger inquiries, the cruise line has confirmed that they prefer guests not hide ducks around their ships.

While bringing rubber ducks onboard is not strictly prohibited – the small toys are not on Disney Cruise Line’s prohibited or restricted items list – the cruise line does not encourage the practice of hiding ducks for others to find.

“According to our policy, guests are allowed to bring rubber ducks onboard,” Disney Cruise Line said. “However, it’s important to note that pool toys, including rubber ducks, are not permitted to be used in the pools. Additionally, we kindly request that guests not hide items such as rubber ducks in public areas or staterooms.”

While not strictly prohibited, the “kind request” amounts to a prohibition on the fun game that many cruise travelers enjoy. No further details about why Disney Cruise Line discourages the practice have been released or confirmed.

Disney Wish Cruise Ship (Photo Copyright: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

Because travelers who participate in cruising ducks often take great pains to be stealthy about where, when, and how they hide the small trinkets, it is unlikely that any strong measures, such as fines or bans from future cruises would be taken against those who hide or find ducks onboard Disney cruise ships.

It is always important to abide by cruise line’s policies, however, and guests taking Disney cruises should leave their ducks at home.

Furthermore, because Disney Cruise Line has discouraged the ducks, disregarding the request not to hide ducks and doing so anyway will just make more work for crew members, who will need to be collecting and discarding the ducks. All cruise travelers know that crew members are incredibly hard-working already, and it is best to avoid giving them more work.

Other Cruise Lines’ Reactions

It should be noted that hiding and finding rubber ducks on cruise ships is not an official activity aboard any cruise line, but rather is a guest-driving, voluntary scavenger hunt, similar to geocaching or painted rocks.

While Disney Cruise Line is the first to gently discourage the game, no cruise line has explicitly banned ducks with enforceable consequences. This would be difficult to do, as the ducks are not often labelled with guests’ names or identifying details, though some travelers add tags or “passports” that show the cruise date, line, or ship with a fun message about the game.

Two Cruise Ducks (Photo Credit: G Allen Penton / Shutterstock)

Other cruise lines have either not reacted to the cruising ducks fad, or have commented on it in a relatively unofficial capacity.

The phenomenon started aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Breeze in March 2018, and has grown to be found on all major cruise lines to varying degrees. Carnival Cruise Line has reacted to the game with their typical fun and easy-going attitude.

“Many of the crew love finding the ducks and have them in their cabins as they bring them cheer,” said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador. “We have absolutely no problem with guests leaving them as we do think it’s fun.”

Other cruise lines have no official policy on cruise ducks, but no cruise line outright bans the small toys either. Have you hidden or found any cruise ducks onboard a ship? Share your experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!

Taylor Swift Themed Cruise Taking Over Royal Caribbean Ship

Royal Caribbean News

Catie Kovelman

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Jan 5, 2024

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Taylor Swift Themed Cruise Taking Over Royal Caribbean Ship

It won’t be a “cruel summer” for Taylor Swift fans! On January 4, 2024, Quality Travel announced the Summer Era Cruise – a five-night cruise celebrating Taylor Swift and her music designed by Swifties for Swifties.

Taylor Swift Fans Charter Royal Caribbean Ship For Themed Cruise

First, the Eras Tour swept the nation, becoming a global phenomenon. Now, the hype of the Eras Tour is coming to the ocean for five nights of Swiftie heaven at sea.

Quality Travel has announced a one-time only Summer Era Cruise embarking from Galveston, Texas, on June 15, 2024 on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas.

The Taylor Swift-themed cruise will sail to the western Caribbean, calling on Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, before returning to Galveston on June 20, 2024.

Quality Travel is an award-winning travel agency based in Texas. It was founded by Rebecca Landry, who is a self-identified Taylor Swift fan. Landry is co-hosting the cruise with her husband, Steve, her daughter, Parker, and sons Blake and Bryce – all of whom are fans.

The cruise is meant to be the ultimate Swiftie experience for Taylor Swift’s followers, although the singer-songwriter will not be on board or appearing at any of the ports. It is a fan-sponsored event that is not endorsed or affiliated with Taylor Swift or TASRM.

During the cruise, Swift will be performing on an international leg of The Eras Tour, with concerts scheduled in the UK during the same week.

That said, there will be many activities on board dedicated to the star, such as friendship bracelet exchanges (a popular activity at the Eras Tour concerts), goody bags, trivia, themed bingo, karaoke, dance parties, and door decorating contests.

“My goal is to spread her name and music by creating genuine, enjoyable activities that represent all her music stands for and the things she has done like the Eras tour,” says Parker, Landry’s daughter and cruise co-host.

“We won’t just have a dance party; each activity will be based on a piece of her work or music, like Mirrorball, Lover, or bracelet making,” adds Parker.

Pricing for the themed cruise starts at $863.64 (USD) per person for interior cabins and peaks at $1,426.64 for oceanview balcony rooms. Swiftie Swag Bags and insurance are available for an additional fee. Booking is available until March 1, 2024.

Swiftie Cruise To Embark on Mariner of the Seas

For their themed getaway, the Taylor Swift fans of Quality Travel have chartered Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship can accommodate 3,344 passengers and 1,185 crew members at maximum capacity.

For the purpose of this themed cruise, the ship has been chartered, meaning any other previously scheduled itineraries that conflicted with the dates or passengers who are not part of the themed cruise would have been cancelled to give Swifties the full run of the ship.

Prior to the Summer Era Cruise, Mariner of the Seas will be sailing on four to five-night cruises throughout the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas.

The ship will also host a seven-night Star Trek cruise to Curacao and Aruba beginning on February 22, 2024, followed by a seven-night 80s-themed cruise to the same destinations beginning on February 29, 2024.

Carnival Pushes Two Cruise Destinations Past One Million Passengers

Carnival Cruise News

Robert McGillivray

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Jan 4, 2024

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Carnival Pushes Two Cruise Destinations Past One Million Passengers

With the help of the Carnival Cruise Line ships, two popular cruise destinations managed to welcome over 1 million cruise passengers in 2023. Amber Cove, Carnival’s private destination in the Dominican Republic, and Ensenada, Mexico, celebrated the massive achievement by the end of the year.

The achievement underlines that cruise tourism is on the rise and becoming more popular. The significant number of cruise passengers has a massive impact on the local economy due to guest spending and job creation for locals.

Celebrations at Amber Cove and Ensenada

When Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class cruise ship Mardi Gras arrived at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, on December 20, the Collier Family was celebrated as the one-millionth guests to arrive at the Carnival-owned destination.

One week later, as Carnival Radiance docked in Ensenada, Mexico, the Andrus Family stepped off the vessel as guests of honor.

“This year, we’re celebrating that no one does fun like Carnival, and it’s also true that no cruise line drives demand and the tourism economy like Carnival! We’re delighted that our guests set these important distinctions for both Amber Cove and Ensenada,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.

In both cruise ports, local dignitaries were present to celebrate with guests and Carnival Cruise Line officials. Bringing over one million cruise passengers to Ensenada and Amber Cove means the destinations benefit heavily from the economic impact that cruise ships have.

Besides guests spending money on souvenirs, local food and drinks, and tours, there is also significant income generation due to provisioning, port fees, and job creation.

Amber Cove: Carnival’s Caribbean Haven

Operational since 2015, Amber Cove has two berths to hold two large cruise ships simultaneously and can handle up to 8,000 passengers daily. Owned and operated by Carnival Corporation, the resort is open to all the company’s brands, including Princess, Holland America, Seabourn, AIDA, Costa, and more.

“Amber Cove is one of the best destinations in the Caribbean. Our guests love the relaxation and adventure they find here and that’s why many of our ships visit Amber Cove,” Christine Duffy said.

Carnival Cruise Line's Amber Cove — Photo Copyright: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive

David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, congratulated the cruise destination on reaching this milestone, acknowledging the significant growth and benefits it brings to the Puerto Plata region.

“We congratulate the Amber Cove cruise terminal for reaching one million cruise visitors. This represents unstoppable growth for Puerto Plata and its people who directly receive the benefits of these achievements.” said the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado.

Carnival Horizon, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Magic, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Venezia have regular calls to Amber Cove in 2024, where guests can indulge in a range of activities from relaxing poolside to excursions like snorkeling and waterfall adventures.

Rich History and Vibrant Culture

Carnival’s relationship with Ensenada, Mexico, spans nearly three decades. Known for its historical landmarks and thrilling activities like ATV riding, Ensenada has evolved into a vibrant destination offering a blend of culinary delights, cultural experiences, and exploration of the nearby wine country.

“Ensenada is a quaint coastal town that has grown into a strong part of our West Coast offerings. Our guests love its rich history and vibrant culture, with the addition of Carnival Firenze joining our fleet this spring, plus some exciting plans under development, we see even better things ahead for the destination,” Duffy added.

Carnival Firenze will join Carnival Cruise Line in April 2024. Sailing from Long Beach, California, Carnival Firenze will offer a range of itineraries, including four-day cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, and five-day Mexican Riviera cruises calling in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. Carnival Miracle, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Panorama make regular calls to Ensenada.