Carnival Cruise Line was voted Best Cruise Line for Service and Crew in the 2023 Cruise Hive Awards. The fun ship line scored highest among nine competing cruise brands, edging out Royal Caribbean, which came in second place.
Crew Members a Cornerstone of Sailing’s Success
Cruisers know that the success of any vacation at sea is closely tied to the level of service guests receive from the ship’s crew, including cabin stewards, waitstaff, bartenders, and others, all of whom help set the tone of a sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line received 28.79% of the votes in the category, followed by Royal Caribbean, which received 21.98%. The remaining brands earned far lower percentages, including some in the single digits.
The Cruise Hive Awards opened on October 1 and closed on December 22, with all valid votes tabulated to select the winners in each of the eight award categories.
As a new awards category this year, the service-and-crew acknowledgment calls attention to the thousands of onboard workers who keep things running smoothly across virtually every area of the ship.
Best Service and Crew
Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy points out on the brand’s website that 120 nationalities are represented in the line’s employee manifest, which includes 35,000 crew and shoreside staff. The line’s employee mantra is “Inclusion, Equity, Diversity.”
The line operates 26 ships of varying sizes and with crew members proportionate to the capacity of guests. Its largest ship, Carnival Jubilee, which entered service in late December 2023, carries 5,400 guests in double occupancy along with 1,735 crew.
Carnival Touted For Employee Policies
The brand’s parent company, Carnival Corporation, operates nine cruise lines and is routinely the recipient of industry awards that recognize its positive employee policies.
In 2023, Carnival for the third consecutive year, was named to the Forbes Global Employers List, which honors exceptional global employers. Inclusion on the list identifies Carnival as a stellar international employer that promotes a positive workplace and outstanding employment opportunities.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
Also, for the third year in a row, Carnival Cruise Line was named one of the top 25 companies for Latino employees by Latino Leaders Magazine in 2023. The criteria for receiving the honor is inclusivity-focused and is based on outreach and recruitment initiatives, career opportunities, leadership development efforts, and diversity representation in the boardroom, to name a few.
Most Competitors Fall Far Behind Carnival Cruise Line
Other cruise lines that earned scores in the best service and crew category of the Cruise Hive Awards included Celebrity Cruises, which received 11.62% of the votes, putting it in third place.
Six more cruise lines garnered votes, but all were single-digit percentages: Norwegian Cruise Line, 8.96%; Princess Cruises, 6.88%; Holland America Line, 6.66%; Disney Cruise Line, 5.92%; Virgin Voyages, 5.11%; and MSC Cruises, 4.07%.
Best Cruise Line for Service and Crew
The lower percentages could be a result of smaller fleet sizes of the competitors. For example, Disney Cruise Line has just five ships, so far fewer people sail aboard Disney ships versus Carnival ships. Ditto for Virgin Voyages, which operates four ships. Also, some lines, such as MSC Cruises, are better known in Europe than in the US.
The service and crew award is one of two new categories added to the annual Cruise Hive Awards. The other was Best Booking Experience, which also was won by Carnival Cruise Line.
The category covers all aspects of making cruise vacation reservations, including how easy a cruise line’s website is to navigate and find ships, itineraries, and sailing dates. The awards have been an annual feature since 2014, and offer cruiser insights into different brands and experiences.
When passengers book a suite, they are expecting nicer accommodations in exchange for the higher price, such as more space or extra amenities. But for one disappointed couple, the luxury suite they spent thousands of dollars to book may have actually been one of the worst cabins on the ship.
A Dream Cruise Turned Nightmare
As most families would be, the Kula’s were looking forward to their pre-holiday cruise on Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras cruise ship, the first Excel-class in the fleet.
The 7-day cruise, which departed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on December 16, 2023, was meant to be a dream vacation exploring popular destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, with port calls scheduled at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.
But the dream trip quickly turned into a nightmare when the couple reached their cabin onboard Mardi Gras. The Kula’s were disappointed to find the upgraded suite they paid nearly $6,000 (USD) to book had soaked floors and a dirty, musty smell.
The couple asked to switch to a new cabin, but were unable to move to new accommodations because the pre-holiday cruise was fully booked. At maximum capacity, Mardi Gras can hold 6,500 passengers and approximately 2,000 crew members.
In a statement obtained by FOX 35, Carnival apologized for the inconvenience and explained that the stateroom had been damaged due to severe weather. The cruise line’s statement read, in part: “We had a small number of staterooms on Mardi Gras that were impacted by heavy winds and rain… The ship is full for the holiday season, and we do not have any available staterooms or suites to move guests.”
With nowhere to go, the couple was stuck with their waterlogged suite for the duration of their cruise, in what Scott Kula describes as “a total disaster.”
“If they can put a rollercoaster on a cruise ship, they should be able to seal the doors properly from rain entering,” says Scott.
Nearly a week into the cruise, the wet carpet could still be heard and seen sloshing under Scott’s shoes in videos he shared with FOX 35. The musty smell from the first day eventually evolved into a “bad mold smell” that made it difficult for the couple to sleep.
Making matters worse, the crew members placed loud blowers inside the cabin to help dry the carpet, which ran for most of the day. Between the noise and the odor, Scott and his wife found being in their cabin unbearable. They paid extra, in addition to the thousands of dollars they spent on their suit, to rent a cabana to get away from their room.
“They’re still having the blowers in there 8-10 hours a day, blowing constantly. You can’t hear anything. You can’t spend any time in the room. It’s just very, very frustrating on our end,”says Scott.
So far, Carnival Cruise Line has offered the disgruntled passengers an onboard credit to use near the end of their voyage. But with only one day of the sailing left, Scott didn’t feel this was fair, calling the attempt at compensation “disturbing.” The Kula’s want Carnival to refund the cost of their suite.
While no resolution had been reached when Mardi Gras returned to Port Canaveral on the morning of December 23, Carnival said it would be contacting the Kulas to try to fix these issues.
Bad Weather Negatively Impacts Cruising
Multiple ships from multiple cruise lines were heavily impacted by severe weather between December 13 and December 17, 2023. The heavy wind and rain, accompanied by rough seas and high swells, forced several cruise lines to delay sailings and cancel port calls.
Photo Credit: Ramunas Bruzas / Shutterstock
Several ships in Carnival’s fleet were impacted by the bad weather. After departing from Port Canaveral on a 4-night Bahamian Cruise, Carnival Freedom found herself sailing on a cruise to nowhere after weather conditions made it unsafe to visit the ports as planned. The itinerary had originally included calls at Nassau on December 15 and Princess Cays on December 16.
Carnival Vista’s and Carnival Venezia’s December 10 sailings were also impacted, with both ships forced to make last-minute itinerary changes. Carnival Vista had to skip a visit to Grand Turk on December 14.
Meanwhile, Carnival Venezia had to cancel a day at the cruise line’s private island, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, and also suffered a power outage at sea.
While flying home on a charter plane following a holiday cruise, 11 guests from P&O Cruises’ Arvia were injured by unexpected turbulence, with some travelers requiring hospitalization to treat their injuries.
The plane diverted to Bermuda to ensure everyone could receive appropriate medical attention, but the diversion delayed travelers’ return to the UK in time for the Christmas holiday.
P&O Passengers Injured on Flight Home
After finishing a delightful holiday cruise aboard Arvia, 225 cruise passengers boarded their chartered Maleth Aero flight late on Saturday, December 23, 2023 unaware that they’d be making an unexpected stop in Bermuda just after midnight on Christmas Eve.
Arvia had just finished a 7-night sailing from Antigua to Barbados, including stops in St. Kitts, Martinique, and St. Lucia. Passengers could also have opted for a longer, back-to-back itinerary that also included visits to the UK Virgin Islands, Dominicana, and St. Maarten before arriving in Barbados on Saturday, December 23.
Just after two hours into the flight from Barbados back to the UK – part of a vacation package included with the cruise fare – the plane encountered unexpected “clear air turbulence” at 38,000 feet that caused dramatic motion and injured 11 passengers.
The flight immediately diverted to Bermuda as the closest possible emergency destination in order to get the passengers to health care as quickly as possible. Emergency medical personnel were on hand to meet the incoming aircraft.
“At approximately 12:50 a.m., Maleth Aero Flight 1975 [Airbus A300-200], en route from Barbados to Manchester experienced severe turbulence, necessitating an emergency landing at LF Wade International Airport,”said a Bermuda government spokesperson.
“Emergency Medical Technicians from the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service [BFRS] greeted the aircraft to provide initial assessments of the passengers and pre-hospital care.”
Photo Credit: Daniele Speranza
Fortunately, all affected passengers were able to be discharged from the hospital on the same day, as all injuries were determined to be minor.
Arvia is offering a variety of Caribbean itineraries through the winter months, and will return to the UK in mid-March 2024 to offer European and Mediterranean sailings for the summer season, before returning to the Caribbean in November.
The 185,581-gross-ton Arvia is the newest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet, and can welcome 5,200 guests aboard for each sailing. Also onboard are 1,800 crew members to ensure every passenger has a phenomenal cruise.
Travel Plans Delayed
The unexpected diversion has significantly delayed the cruise guests’ return to the UK, however. The original flight was to have landed in the UK on Christmas Eve.
Because of the holiday period and the need to thoroughly inspect the aircraft and ensure its safety and structural soundness, however, the flight did not resume until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 26, with a scheduled arrival of approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27. In the meantime, all guests were put up at hotels in Bermuda, with expenses paid by P&O Cruises.
Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Tourism Saint Lucia
“We are very sorry for this disruption to the journey following their holiday and we worked round the clock with the airline and hotels to take care of the guests and to ensure they get home as soon as possible,”said a spokesperson from P&O Cruises.
Guests were kept updated about travel arrangements through text messages and emails while the cruise line worked to finalize passengers’ return to the UK.
What Is Clear Air Turbulence?
The type of turbulence that impacted the original flight was “clear air turbulence” (CAT) which is very challenging to predict, as it comes without any visual clues such as cloud formations or precipitation.
Clear air turbulence, sometimes called air pockets, can affect any flight, but is most common between 23,000 and 39,000 feet, particularly where jet stream flows are found. Mountain ranges and their occasional disruptions to air flow can also cause clear air turbulence, but this would have been the case over the Atlantic Ocean from Barbados to the UK.
Cruise Hive hopes the flight home for Arvia‘s guests is a smooth one, with a safe and uneventful arrival in the UK after their already turbulent travels.
Among the Florida cruise ports across the state, passengers can enjoy a wide range of benefits, adventures and fun discoveries. Six of these destinations serve as homeports for a number of cruise lines and the seventh (Key West) remains a top port of call for many ships and itineraries.
Each of the cruise ports in Florida has modern, up-to-date facilities with a variety of amenities, creating a comfortable and convenient process to embark and disembark. And they each have their own “personality” with unique attributes and opportunities for visitors to enjoy.
Some are massive in scope and scale, while others are surprisingly small – one, single berth! Each prioritizes comfort and convenience for passengers with ample seating, ADA-compliant amenities, parking facilities, and helpful staff members ready to answer questions and offer assistance where needed.
All these cruise ports in Florida are easily accessible from major airports, interstates, and even rail transportation.
There are seven cruise ports in Florida, including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT, and Port of Palm Beach. There is also a port in Key West, but this is mainly used for cruise ship calls rather than a homeport.
Below are the main points and basic information about each of these cruise ports in Florida, interspersed with helpful hints and insider tips on “must-see and do” items at each port, which cruise lines sail from there, and anything else to make your cruise departure or arrival as smooth as possible.
PortMiami
Often called the “Cruise Capital of the World,” Port of Miami is known as the largest and busiest port on the planet to come aboard for a vacation at sea. This will likely be your homeport if your itinerary carries you to Mexico, the Bahamas, or various Caribbean destinations.
Cruise Lines that Operate to or from Port of Miami:
Carnival Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Holland America Line
Oceania Cruises
Seabourn
Located with a view of the Miami skyline from Biscayne Bay, the hugely popular Florida cruise port welcomed over 7 million passengers for the 2023 fiscal year, a 6.7% increase compared to 2019.
Travel options to reach your ship are numerous – shuttle services from the airport, rideshares, public transportation and personal vehicles (with plenty of parking available).
Traveling from Miami International Airport to PortMiami takes up to around 20 minutes, depending on the traffic (especially in downtown Miami), and the distance is just over 8 miles. A taxi can cost up to $33.
Of all the cruise ports in Florida, this one sets the standard for state-of-the-art infrastructure, bringing comfort and convenience to passengers. Additionally, environmental sustainability guides many of the improvements and plans moving forward.
Cruise Ships at PortMiami, Florida (Photo Credit: Francisco Blanco)
For example, several of the cruise lines’ terminals allow docking ships to “plug in” to what is called the “largest shore power system in the world.” This means turning off the engines, thereby reducing emissions and noise!
Arrive early and explore this vibrant city renowned for its nightlife, beaches, culture, sightseeing, and food scenes. Start your party on Ocean Drive; relax at the famous South Beach; immerse in the sights, sounds and tastes of Cuba in Little Havanna; or, take a guided tour for an overview of this exciting city.
Port Canaveral
Like other cruise ports in Florida, Port Canaveral embraces the need for stewardship of the fragile ecosystems where ships travel. This is one of the many reasons it continues to earn awards like “Best Cruise Homeport in the U.S.” with Cruise Hive readers. What began as a naval and cargo port 60 years ago now serves over five million cruise ship passengers across more than 900 cruise ship calls per year.
Cruise Lines that operate to or from Port Canaveral:
Carnival Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean International
Marella Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises
Costa Cruises
Cunard Line
The port has six terminals, all easily navigable thanks to clear signage. You will have no trouble locating your ship’s line in the midst of the busiest cruise port in the world.
Insider tip: If there is time, visit the port attraction known as Exploration Tower. It is a multi-story structure (that looks like a sail) with interesting exhibits about the port and THE best views of the area.
Photo Credit: Canaveral Port Authority
You may also want to take a “day” trip to the offshore waters on a casino cruise. Guests heading there for a cruise should also visit the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, only a 21-minute drive north of the port. The world-famous Walt Disney World and its theme parks in Orlando are just 58 miles away.
You might want to know that the closest airport to Port Canaveral is Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is approximately 73 Km (45 miles) and takes around 43 minutes to drive to the port.
Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises all have homeported ships at the port. Port Everglades also receives more than 100 port-of-call dockings from other cruise lines such as Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, and more.
Vacationers set sail to more than 50 destinations located throughout the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. While in this area of the state, add a trip to nearby Disney World (one hour away), Cocoa Beach, or the Kennedy Space Flight Center before or after your cruise.
Port Everglades
While embarking and disembarking on a cruise vacation can be a hectic and hurried endeavor, Port Everglades offers a different experience. Passengers at this Florida cruise port discover that they have a reason to slow down, look around and explore the surroundings. The reason: art, and lots of it!
Cruise lines that operate to or from Port Everglades:
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Holland America Line
Disney Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Silversea
Viking Cruises
Unique amongst cruise ports in Florida, this location is a destination in and of itself. It is located in Fort Lauderdale on the east coast of Florida. Eight of the cruise terminals have public art displays by renowned artists.
These include luminous wall and glass sculptures, tile mosaics, lighted maps and splendid murals all awaiting the perfect photo opportunity. And, while at the terminal, download entertainment (books, movies, music and more) via the county library’s Instant eCard privileges – all for free.
Photo Courtesy: Port Everglades
Reaching this port, which welcomed its first cruise ships more than 90 years ago, is convenient. It sits on the southeastern coast of the state near three international airports, three interstates, and the Florida Turnpike. The area is served by three train systems as well as public buses, taxis and rideshare options.
Voyages are available throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Mexico, Africa, Europe, the Pacific coast, and even Antarctica. Select from either a round trip or a one-way passage for your next dream vacation at sea.
Port Tampa Bay
One of the best benefits of setting sail from a smaller Florida cruise port is access to local attractions. At Port Tampa Bay, two of the city’s popular places are within walking distance of all three terminals – The Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf.
Cruise lines that operate to or from Port Tampa Bay:
Carnival Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean International
Norwegian Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Margaritaville at Sea
The former is a top-rated facility for stewarding aquatic and terrestrial animals and their habitats “from tree level to sea level.” The wharf showcases the city’s downtown waterfront with retail shops, eateries, and live events.
While in the area, be sure to visit Busch Gardens and Zoo Tampa or catch a professional sports team in action. Stroll the local beaches and discover vibrant nightlife in local establishments.
Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock
Insider tips: Watch time “melt away” at The Dalí Museum; enjoy Latin dining in Ybor City; and, hunt for real shark teeth on the beaches in nearby St. Pete. (Hint: bring along a small container, or your pockets are going to get wet!)
Four cruise lines call Port Tampa Bay “home,” including Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Itineraries from this location on the western (Gulf) side of the state include voyages to several Caribbean islands and destinations in Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela.
Traveling from the Tampa International Airport to Port Tampa Bay takes approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the traffic, which is just over 10 miles. A taxi to the port can cost around $35, which is a flat fee and could change, so always ask first.
Upon arrival, passengers can grab last-minute shopping items and some tasty treats from food trucks located along the waterfront area. Ample seating, ADA-compliant facilities, and free Wi-Fi at all terminals make this a comfortable port.
JAXPORT
Nestled along the St. Johns River in the upper northeastern part of the state is JAXPORT (the Jacksonville Port Authority). While its main area of commerce is as a container port (Florida’s largest), one passenger terminal welcomes voyagers to their next cruise adventure.
Cruise lines that operate to or from the Port of Jacksonville:
Carnival Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
This port, while up-to-date, feels like a vacation from another era, in a positive way! There are fewer crowds, ease of access, and only Carnival Cruise Line ships at this small Florida port.
Carnival Cruise Ship in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO)
Taxis and minivans offer services from the airport, and passengers driving their own vehicles will find the parking area is well-lighted, fenced and secured 24 hours per day. Passengers arriving at the 15,000-square-foot embarkation area can pick up drinks, snacks, and miscellaneous items at a small shop in the terminal. Ships leaving from this small port are generally boarding for four- and five-day excursions to the Bahamas.
While traveling through the “flip side of Florida” (as Jacksonville calls itself), enjoy 22 miles of beaches and 40 miles of the Intercoastal Waterway – more shoreline than any other city in the country.
Fishing expeditions, the street arts scene along with rotating exhibits in the Cork Arts District and taste creations from a new generation of Southern chefs await. Also, make time to visit one of the twelve museums in the city, offering impressive collections of the culture, history, art, and science from the area.
Port of Palm Beach
Discover a unique adventure at this location with only one terminal and one berth – a land and sea combination sure to please everyone in your group. Port of Palm Beach is located 80 miles north of Miami and is even further from Port Canaveral at 135 miles out.
Cruise lines that operate to or from the Port of Palm Beach:
Margaritaville at Sea
This Florida cruise port is home to mainly one mainstream cruise line created from a partnership between the former Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Margaritaville at Sea. However, there is a multitude of ways to create just the right package for your next cruise vacation.
Year-round, book cruises for two-night/three-day excursions to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island aboard a Margaritaville at Sea ship. Most passengers take this opportunity to “catch a ride” on a beautifully appointed floating resort and book a stay on the island for an extended tropical getaway.
Photo Credit: Port of Palm Beach
Explore pristine beaches, dive crystal clear waters (Insider tip: Unexso to swim with dolphins!), golf, go boating and fishing, try your luck at the casinos, stay out late at the nightclubs, and shop for duty-free souvenirs.
To encourage passengers to return again and again, the cruise line has offered unlimited vacation passes. These passes along with a “cruise & stay” package – cruise plus luxury resort accommodations on the island – can be a gift for the wallet with a bit of good timing.
Before and after the cruise, take a short drive from the terminal to Manatee Lagoon for family fun, interactive events, and a chance to see these gentle giants of the sea. For another nature experience, Singer Island offers hiking, biking, snorkeling, and a nature center for the eco-adventurers.
Key West
Cruise passengers whose itineraries include a stop at this port of call are in for a treat! Located at the southernmost tip of the continental United States, this Florida cruise port lies at the end of a chain of islands.
The surrounding community is a blend of cultures, artistic endeavors and culinary delights celebrating diversity. Visitors can easily explore all that the town of Key West has to offer.
Strategically, there are three piers utilized by several hundred visiting ships each year, that are sailing to or from the Caribbean. Two of the piers (Mallory Square and Pier B) are within an easy walk of downtown. The third (Outermole) is only a 10-minute shuttle ride away.
Key West can at times be a stop for transatlantic and repositing cruises and is frequented by ships that are part of the Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and a few more lines throughout the year.
Photo Credit: Worachat Sodsri / Shutterstock
When disembarking at the modern terminals, stop at some of the kiosks to inquire about guided tours (such as sandbar hopping, boating, paddling and haunted tours) or set out on a self-guided walking excursion.
Grab a bite to eat at one of the many eateries that range from upscale dining to locally-owned seafood shacks. Head over to Duval Street for a vibrant nightlife scene complete with live music and tasty tropical drinks. Spend time in nature at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Key West Aquarium and stroll the beaches.
Get the camera ready for a snap at the iconic Southernmost Point Buoy and join the sunset celebration at Mallory Square close to the ship. Insider tip: Take the opportunity to see original works of art and literature at The Audubon House and The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, respectively.
Final Thoughts
Whether your journey upon the sea launches from the world’s largest and busiest port or a single terminal, boarding a ship at any Florida cruise port can become part of everyone’s fun vacation memories.
Each port offers something different, with different experiences in the surrounding area. Depending on which cruise line, ship, and itinerary may also impact which cruise port in Florida you choose, relatively all of them include Caribbean voyages.
Carnival Cruise Line has taken the top honors in the 2023 Cruise Hive Awards as the Best Booking Experience, edging out Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and other major cruise lines for the ease of booking and making it simple for guests to plan their next cruise vacation.
Carnival Cruise Line Wins Best Booking Experience
Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s most popular cruise line, has won the 2023 Cruise Hive Award for Best Booking Experience, bringing in 31.03% of the total vote with nine cruise lines competing for the honor.
This means that the majority of guests who have booked cruises – whether or not they have set sail yet – have chosen Carnival Cruise Line above all others as an easier, more complete, and more satisfying experience when making plans for an oceangoing getaway, whether it is for a quick weekend jaunt or a once-in-a-lifetime specialty sailing.
Best Booking Experience
Despite some hiccups Carnival Cruise Line had after upgrading its booking systems in September, it is clear that travelers appreciate the ease of making their reservations on Carnival’s website, which also has options for adding onboard packages, booking shore excursions, and making other pre-cruise purchases right from the comfort of one’s computer, tablet, or phone.
This reader-driven award speaks well for Carnival Cruise Line’s ease of booking, making it a simple process for millions of cruise guests each year to smoothly book a cruise vacation.
Carnival Cruise Line Ship (Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin)
The annual Cruise Hive Awards opened on October 1 and closed on Friday, December 22, with all valid votes tabulated to select the winners in each of eight award categories. The awards have been an annual feature since 2014, and offer real, cruise fan insights into different cruise lines and experiences so everyone can plan their best cruise vacation.
How Other Cruise Lines Compare
Nine other cruise lines were up for the honor of Best Booking Experience, and Royal Caribbean International came in at a relatively close second place with 22.84% of the votes. Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line were relatively close together as third and fourth place, with 10.34% and 9.99% of the votes, respectively.
Best Cruise Line Booking Experience
The category was rounded out with Holland America Line (5.60%), MSC Cruises (4.74%), Disney Cruise Line (4.67%), and Virgin Voyages (3.74%).
Some cruise lines, while they may have exemplary booking systems, may have scored fewer votes because they simply aren’t as large or as popular as Carnival Cruise Line, which now features 26 ships in its fleet with the addition of Carnival Jubilee, now sailing her inaugural cruise from Galveston, Texas.
A New Award Category
Cruise Hive has offered reader-driven awards since 2014, with changes and adaptations along the way to take notice of the best aspects of cruising that travelers enjoy the most.
The first year for this new award category, Best Booking Experience includes all aspects of making cruise vacation reservations, including how easy a cruise line’s website is to navigate and find ships, itineraries, and sailing dates. How clear promotions and prices are, add-on options, and cruise line communication about the booking could all be considered for this award.
A second new category has also debuted for the 2023 awards – Best Cruise Line for Service and Crew. Results in all eight categories will be revealed in the coming days as a way to celebrate all the great fun and memorable sailings of 2023 – stay tuned for more winner announcements, including Best Cruise Ship Feature, Best Cruise Line Private Island/Destination, Best US Cruise Homeport, and more.
Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster has once again been voted Best Cruise Ship Feature in the annual Cruise Hive Awards.
The motorcycle-style thrill ride garnered more than double the percentage of votes that adventure rides on competitors Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line received.
Thrill Ride Wins Top Spot For Third Year
For the third consecutive year, Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster has scored highest as Best Cruise Ship Feature in Cruise Hive Awards 2023, coming out way ahead of Royal Caribbean’s The Ultimate Abyss, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Speedway Go-Kart.
BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster received 34.56% of votes, Royal Caribbean’s The Ultimate Abyss came in second place, with 16.65% of votes, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Speedway Go-Kart received 15.39%. Ultimate Abyss and Speedway also took second and third place in the 2022 Cruise Hive competition.
Best Cruise Ship Feature
Voting in the 2023 Cruise Hive Awards opened in October, with readers being able to cast a single vote in each of eight categories. With thousands of votes being registered, it’s been the most popular award to date.
Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster made its debut aboard Mardi Gras when the ship launched in July 2021. The thrill ride was included in the line’s most recent new-builds, Carnival Celebration, which was introduced in November 2022, and Carnival Jubilee, which sailed her inaugural cruise on December 23, 2023.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
BOLT is the cruise industry’s first roller coaster at sea, enabling thrill-seeking guests to soar 187 feet above the sea and reach speeds of 40 MPH on two-person, motorcycle-style open cars. They are all-electric vehicles, with the front driver controlling the vehicle’s speed.
Guests pay $15 per person to experience two laps around the 800-foot track, which is located on the ships’ open deck at the Ultimate Playground zone.
Ultimate Abyss Again Wins Second Place
The second-place winner in the best feature category, Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Abyss, is a thrilling 10-story slide that begins on Deck 16 aft, near the FlowRider, and continues down to the Boardwalk neighborhood on five ships.
At 150 feet above sea level, Ultimate Abyss is the tallest slide at sea. Guests enter a glass platform at the top of the slide and then descend 10 stories, twisting and turning before finally reaching the Boardwalk.
The ride, which is free to guests, debuted on Harmony of the Seas in 2016 and is now offered on three more ships, including Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas. Ultimate Abyss will also be featured onboard Utopia of the Seas when she enters service in July 2024.
Best Cruise Ship Feature Results
Third-place winner, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Speedway Go-Kart, is offered on Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, and Norwegian Bliss.
The ride consists of electric-powered, single-occupant race cars that can reach speeds of 30 MPH, plus a turbo-boost that allows even more speed. A single run costs $9.95, with higher-priced days and weekly passes available.
Runners-up in the Best Cruise Feature category included Celebrity Cruises’ Magic Carpet, which received 11.25% of votes; MSC Cruises’ LED Ceiling, 9.09%; Princess Cruises’ The SeaWalk, 7.47%; and Disney Cruise Line’s AquaDuck, 5.58%.
Any suspicious or repeated votes were not included in the final result. The awards have been running since 2014 and, each year, are open for Cruise Hive readers.
What ought to have been a festive Christmas cruise has turned into tragedy for guests aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas, as a man went overboard the ship on Saturday, December 23. Despite extensive efforts, the search was called off on Sunday, December 24.
Man Overboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
A 41-year-old male passenger was reported overboard from Vision of the Seas at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 23, 2023. Guests onboard the ship heard the “Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!” emergency call which indicates an overboard situation.
The ship’s crew immediately initiated emergency procedures, including scanning the water for signs of the man. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) received the alert at 7:17 p.m., when the ship was positioned approximately 127 miles (205 kilometers) east of Charleston, South Carolina.
#Breaking@USCG aircrews are searching for a 41-year-old man who went overboard from the Vision of the Seas cruise ship 127 miles east of #Charleston, Sunday.
Vision of the Seas has departed Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, December 22 for an 8-night holiday sailing to the Bahamas, with port visits to Port Canaveral, Bimini, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Freeport planned on the itinerary. The overboard incident happened before any port visit.
The circumstances of the incident, including further details of the guest’s identity and his traveling party, have not been revealed in order to safeguard the privacy of everyone impacted.
“The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and launched a search and rescue mission,”a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean International said.“Out of privacy for the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”
Two USCG C-130 Hercules planes and their rescue crews were part of the search efforts, which lasted more than eight hours and covered more than 1,625 square miles (2,615 square kilometers).
While details of the overboard are not known at this time, the holiday season is a challenging time for many individuals who may be suffering from depression or other difficulties. In 2022, a female guest went overboard from MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia in mid-December and was sadly found deceased.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the man’s family members, friends, and traveling party, as well as with the crew members impacted by this difficult situation.
Search Ended
Ultimately, the search was suspended without success. Exactly how long search efforts last depends on many factors, including weather conditions, water temperature, the location of the search, and the individual circumstances of each incident.
While Vision of the Seas was involved in the search efforts for approximately six hours, the ship was released to move along on her itinerary.
Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)
It is not unusual for cruise ships to be released from search operations after rescue boats arrive, as USCG and other support craft are better equipped to thoroughly search a region and administer immediate assistance if an overboard individual is located. This also helps the cruise ships continue with minimal disruption for the thousands of other passengers aboard.
The 78,717-gross-ton Vision of the Seas is one of the older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, having first set sail in 1998. The ship is well-equipped with appropriate safety gear, however, and all crew members are expertly trained in emergency operations.
Vision of the Seas can welcome 2,050 guests at double occupancy, or as many as 2,514 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled. During the holiday season, cruise ships are more often sailing closer to their full capacity.
The ship is currently homeported from Baltimore, Maryland, offering a variety of Southern Caribbean, Southeast Coast, Bahamas, and Bermuda itineraries, depending on departure date and cruise length. Vision of the Seas is scheduled to remain homeported from Baltimore at least through April 2025.
The furry stowaway discovered onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas in late October has a new family and a new home for the holidays.
After some protracted work with animal import authorities, the oceangoing cat, now named Ovie, has been adopted by a Royal Caribbean guest service team member in Florida.
Unexpected Cat on Ovation of the Seas Gets New Home
In October, as Ovation of the Seas was finishing a one-way, 19-night cruise from Honolulu, Hawaii to Sydney, Australia, a cat was discovered onboard, with no proper biosecurity clearance for the international sailing.
The animal caused quite a sensation for both the New Zealand authorities who discovered him as well as crew members who hadn’t known about the cat’s presence onboard.
Now, however, Ovie has a new home – halfway around the world from where he was discovered. Royal Caribbean International President and CEO recently gave an update on Ovie via social media, confirming the cat’s return to the US and his newly adopted status.
“Meet Ovie! The cat smuggled onboard Ovation of the Seas by a guest,”Bayley said, sharing a photo of the traveling feline.
“When discovered the cat was not allowed off the ship in Australia or New Zealand by authorities and was supposed to be euthanized, our guest service team stepped up to the plate and after several weeks and much back and forth safely brought Ovie halfway around the world to be adopted by one of the guest service team members in Miami. Ovie is now happily living in Miami.”
Ovation of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Galactic Droids / Shutterstock)
It is believed the cat originated from Arizona, though the cruise line has not commented on this. From Arizona first to Honolulu to board Ovation of the Seas, then to New Zealand, and then to Miami, this well-traveled feline has more than 16,000 miles (25,800 kilometers) under his paws.
How Ovie Came to Set Sail
When New Zealand authorities inspected Ovation of the Seas prior to her arrival – a standard practice – the cat was discovered in a guest’s cabin. While the guest has not been identified and no charges are known to have been pressed against the passenger for violating live animal import regulation, the cat was quarantined by authorities in Lyttelton, New Zealand, on November 18.
At that time, Royal Caribbean International assumed responsibility for the animal’s expenses and its eventual return to the US, once the quarantine period ended and the cat was able to be safely transported. Quarantines are commonplace for any live animals crossing international borders to ensure no infectious diseases or unwanted pests are transported along with the animal.
To legally import a cat to New Zealand – where Ovation of the Seas visited prior to finishing her cruise in Australia – travelers must apply for permission to import the animal and meet strict requirements, including having an approved microchip implanted, meet minimum age requirements, have specific veterinary clearances, and follow other travel guidelines.
Ovie
Ovie had none of this, as the animal was smuggled aboard the cruise ship without proper permission.
“We believe that it was in the guest’s sweatshirt and we assume he must have been sedated or something and he wouldn’t beep, since Ovie isn’t metal,”explained Bayley.
It is unlikely that Ovie was smuggled aboard the ship in any luggage, since both carry-on bags as well as luggage turned over to porters is screened before being permitted on the ship, and the cat’s skeletal structure would have stood out in security imaging.
If the animal was hidden in a bulky sweatshirt, however, the guest wearing that sweatshirt could have walked through the metal detector without difficulty if the cat was not wearing a metal collar or identification tags that would have set off the alarm.
As most cats don’t necessarily tolerate such confinement for long, the idea that Ovie may have been sedated is a good assumption, but has not been confirmed. While Royal Caribbean does welcome appropriately documented service animals onboard, pets are not permitted to set sail.
As the cat has returned to the US and taken up residence in the Sunshine State, he would be in good health and ready to celebrate the holidays as an honorary Royal Caribbean International crew member.
Carnival Cruise Line has once again increased the price of one of its more popular beverages – bottled water. In less than two years, the price of a 12-pack of bottled water has increased by a whopping 141% with two separate price increases. The larger 1.5-liter bottles have also increased in price, as have the 8-packs of the larger bottles.
Water Prices on the Rise
Carnival Cruise Line guests will now need to pay even more if they wish to buy the cruise line’s bottled water to have delivered to their stateroom. The natural spring water is now listed for sale on Carnival’s website at $11.95 (USD) per 12-pack (each bottle is 16.9 fluid ounces), while the 1.5 liter (50.72 fluid ounces) bottle is now $4.50. The 8-pack of 1.5-liter bottles is now $24.95.
Just weeks ago, the 12-pack was $9.95, while the 1.5-liter bottle was $3.95 and the 8-pack of larger bottles was $20.00. This represents price increases of 20%, 14%, and 25% respectively.
Just over one year ago, however, the 12-pack of water was a mere $4.95 – making the latest increase a total of 141% in 13 months – nearly three times the original price. Carnival Cruise Line increased the 12-pack price to $9.95 in November 2022.
Carnival Cruise Line Water Prices
The 1.5-liter bottle has been at $3.95 since at least September 2020, making its price increase more understandable given the current economic climate and inflation price increases across all sorts of products on land and at sea. The 8-pack of 1.5-liter bottles has also remained at $20.00 for several years.
In April 2023, as more attention was drawn to the bottled water price increase, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald made note of the change as related to inflation.
“Yes, prices did go up a bit recently with our bottled water because of inflation which I know many of you are facing on land as well,”he said.
Also, in spring 2023, Carnival Cruise Line increased prices on other pre-purchase food and beverage items, including cookies, celebration cakes, and party trays. This increase was also done with no warning to guests and was simply noticed as a quiet price hike.
Photo Credit: Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock
When a cruise line increases prices on pre-purchased items, booked guests are often notified in advance of the coming increase and given the opportunity to make their purchases at the lower rate up until a certain deadline, though this is a courtesy only and is not required. This option has not been offered to Carnival guests for any of the water price increases.
Bottled water prices are the same across the Carnival fleet, whether guests pre-purchase the water to have it waiting in their stateroom or if they order it onboard.
To ensure there are adequate supplies of bottled water onboard, however, guests are urged to pre-purchase the water, especially if it may be for a medical need.
Why Buy Bottled Water?
While the water onboard cruise ships is safe to drink – whether from the bathroom sink in one’s stateroom, dispensers at self-serve beverage stations, or served in restaurants – some guests with sensitive palates may prefer bottled water as a matter of taste.
In some cases, bottled water is a medical necessity, such as to run a CPAP machine without risk of mineral deposits or buildups that could damage the equipment.
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
If guests have brought powdered baby formula onboard for an infant cruiser, they may also wish to use bottled water rather than risk an upset tummy for their youngster.
Will the price of bottled water make-or-break a cruise vacationer’s budget? Most likely not. The dramatic nature of the increases, however, can be concerning to many travelers as a worrying trend, and emphasizes the need for a sharp lookout on invoices and overall pricing for cruisers to be sure they are getting the best value for their vacation dollars.
