Royal Caribbean International is opening a slew of bookings on its 2025-26 Caribbean cruise roster, offering vacationers six embarkation ports and multiple ships to choose from including what will be the biggest cruise ship at sea, Icon of the Seas. The new itineraries opened for sale to loyalty club members on November 15, 2023, and will open to the general public on November 16.
Icon of the Seas to Remain at PortMiami
Royal Caribbean is courting cruisers with a wide range of 6- and 8-night winter and summer season cruises that call at ports across the Eastern and Western Caribbean and the Bahamas in 2025 and 2026. Embarkation options include ports in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico.
Among the showstoppers is the line’s new Icon of the Seas, which will enter service in January 2024 as the largest cruise ship afloat and the first of the line’s revolutionary Icon class. The 7,600-guest ship will be based at PortMiami during her inaugural year and will remain home-ported there for her 2025-26 season as well.
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Group
The ship will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages calling at ports such as Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Labadee, Haiti; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. All sailings visit also the line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Increased Capacity From Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Cruisers also can sail aboard the 4,400-guest Independence of the Seas from Miami, on 7-night cruises calling at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Cayman Islands; and other ports. The Freedom-class ship also calls at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The 5,600-guest Oasis of the Seas, the first of the line’s game-changing Oasis class that debuted in 2009, will be based at Fort Lauderdale and offer 6- and 8-night cruises alternating between Southern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Perfect Day at CocoCay also is a port call on most sailings.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock.com
The Oasis class introduced Royal Caribbean’s popular neighborhood concept when it unveiled Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, and Entertainment Place, among other themed shipboard destinations. There are five Oasis-class ships operating, and a sixth, Utopia of the Seas, under construction and due to launch in July 2024.
Voyager-Class Ship to Homeport at Port Canaveral
Elsewhere in Florida, the Voyager-class Adventure of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral on 6- and 8-night cruises to the Southern, Eastern, and Western Caribbean. Destinations feature ports in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, plus Perfect Day at CocoCay. The ship carries 3,800 guests.
Photo Credit: NAN728 / Shutterstock.com
Port Canaveral, the world’s busiest port in terms of cruise arrivals, will post another record-breaking year in 2023. Port officials revealed the facility welcomed a record 6.8 million cruise guests for the financial year, an eye-popping increase of more than 2 million arrivals versus 2022.
Two Ships Offers Winter Sailings From Tampa
Royal Caribbean will homeport two ships at Tampa in 2025 and 2026. Rhapsody of the Seas, accommodating 2,000 guests, will sail a winter schedule from Tampa, featuring 6 to 8-night cruises to Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, George Town, Grand Cayman; and Roatan, Honduras.
The Vision-class ship’s summer deployment brings her to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she will sail 7-night Southern Caribbean cruises to destinations like Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; and Roseau, Dominica.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ATGImages / Shutterstock)
The 2,446-guest Grandeur of the Seas, a Vision-class vessel, will homeport in Tampa, too, sailing 7-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and Bahamas. Port calls are planned to Belize, Mexico, Honduras, and of course, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Oasis-Class Ship to Deploy to Galveston
The popular drive-to port on the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston, will welcome the 5,500-guest Harmony of the Seas. The Oasis-class ship will sail 6- to 8-night voyages to the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas, calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Nassau.
Galveston continues to grow and attract more cruise ships and Royal Caribbean is poised to make the most of the port’s increased popularity. In November 2022, the cruise line opened a new dedicated cruise terminal at Port of Galveston, far ahead of similar plans by other cruise lines as the port expands.
Two guests boarding Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas did not receive the balcony stateroom they expected when they first got into their cabin and found no carpeting, upended furniture, no bedding, and industrial driers at work. Fortunately, the confusing situation was eventually sorted, but not without further aggravation and even more confusion.
Cabin Damaged But Still Assigned
In a booking mixup aboard Allure of the Seas, a couple checking in for the ship’s November 13, 2023 sailing had challenges from check-in to their stateroom, and the confusion didn’t end there.
The couple, whose full names have not been disclosed, first encountered difficulty when checking in for the 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. According to the couple, the check-in serviceperson thought there was “something wrong with [their] reservation” but continued to check them in for the sailing, and the couple proceeded with embarkation.
Upon reaching their assigned stateroom – according to the room number printed on their boarding pass – the couple had no keys waiting, so they went to Guest Services to receive their keys.
Allure of the Seas Cabin
Unfortunately, the 40-minute line at Guest Services was only the beginning of the difficulty, as upon entering the room, the couple was greeted with the absolutely unexpected.
Instead of a made-up bed, welcome letter, and a stateroom ready to begin a wonderful cruise, the couple found bare flooring with torn up carpeting and obvious water damage, bare bedsteads upended and a mattress without bedding, furniture in disarray, a foul odor, and industrial fans working away to dry out the cabin.
Apparently, the couple’s assigned stateroom – Deck 6, room 554 – had a flood on the previous cruise, but their reassignment to a different stateroom had not been effectively communicated prior to check-in.
Allure of the Seas Cabin
According to the couple, it took a total of three hours to sort out the confusion, which included going to a new Deck 6 stateroom that had been booked for a different family and still had children’s bracelets and welcome information inside, as well as a delivery of chocolate-covered strawberries.
Even the stateroom steward was unaware of the switch, having asked about the couple’s baby – when they do not have one.
Compensation Offered
The couple was given $300 of onboard credit to make up for the inconvenience, but is still fuming over the confusion and unsatisfied with not having gotten a more sincere apology for the mixup, nor were they granted the compensation they requested.
“Thanks for your patience. The ship has advised that you were moved to a different room since the original room had a flood, and you had [gone] to the incorrect room. They have advised you were compensated. Again, we apologize for the confusion and disappointment,”a text chat from the cruise line read.
“I was not compensated as requested. Nor was it addressed in a timely manner. Also, no, I did not go to the wrong room,”the guest’s reply read.
The couple has said they were told at Guest Services that their stateroom would be “upgraded” yet they were placed on the same deck, in a similar balcony cabin. They had requested a full refund of their sailing – on embarkation day, after already boarding the ship – so they could simply forget their travel plans and return home, arranging airfare on their own for the return trip.
Allure of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Mark Anthony Ray / Shutterstock)
The original, damaged stateroom – 554 – is a category 3D/4D “Superior Balcony” cabin, but the deck also has several other “Superior Balcony” classifications on the same deck with slightly larger balconies, as well as Junior Suites and Grand Suites.
Such situations can be confusing to all parties, not only the guests involved but also to cruise staff who may not have received every communication about individual incidents, particularly if it was an emergency or evolving situation on the same day.
Passengers should always be patient with staff when incidents – major or minor – occur, and be flexible with their idea of appropriate resolutions and compensation.
Carnival Cruise Line has just announced the cancellation of two additional sailings of Carnival Panorama as the ship undergoes engine repairs to restore her maximum cruising speed.
The December 9 and December 16, 2023 sailings are now cancelled due to complications in reaching an appropriate dry dock facility, but the ship will return fully repaired for the holiday sailing departing on December 23.
More Cruises Cancelled for Carnival Panorama
Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on two upcoming sailings aboard Carnival Panorama that, unfortunately, their cruises must be cancelled as the ship undergoes emergency repairs.
“While we have secured one of the limited number of dry dock facilities on the west coast for the work to be done, we do not have immediate access to the ship yard and will need more time to complete the work,”the notification email read.“Regrettably, two additional sailings are being cancelled.”
The impacted voyages – in addition to the four sailings already cancelled – are the December 9 and December 16 departures, both of which were to have been 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas.
Refunds and Credits Offered
All guests will automatically receive a full refund of their cruise fare, taxes, port fees, and any pre-paid onboard expenses, including gratuities, beverage packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, or shore excursions booked through Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival is also offering reimbursement of air travel change fees up to $200 (USD) per guest, with supporting documentation of the cost and only if there is no other reimbursement offered through the airline or a travel insurance company.
Furthermore, all guests will receive a 50% future cruise credit (FCC) of their cruise fare so they can rebook on a future Carnival cruise to enjoy the vacation they must now unfortunately miss out on.
Tricky Dry Dock Arrangements
The extra cancellations are necessary because of the complicated nature of Carnival Panorama reaching dry dock. Few shipyards on the West Coast are capable of handling the repairs, but the ship is currently sailing toward Astoria, Oregon and the facilities there.
To reach the shipyard, however, the vessel must pass under a bridge that requires the removal of the whale tale funnel, which will delay when she can reach the dock, and repairs can begin.
“There is a bridge and one of the things we have to do is take the whale tale off to actually get under the bridge,”John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador, explained.
The whale tale will be reinstalled after the dry dock work is completed and the ship has passed beneath the bridge on her way back to Long Beach, California.
Heald also explained that the cruise line did look for other areas on the west coast where the repairs could be completed, but options were limited. Factors influencing dry dock availability include not only available space and scheduling but also the nature of the repairs and the ship’s size and technical requirements.
Shortly thereafter, four cruises were cancelled as the ship needs to be removed from service for the repairs to be completed. This drastic step will correct the technical issue and allow the 133,868-gross-ton, Vista-class ship to resume sailing at her maximum speeds.
This is not the first time Carnival Panorama has had engine problems, as the ship had very similar difficulties in August 2021 as well as December 2022.
The ongoing propulsion challenges for the ship, as well as for her sister ships Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, have led to questions about what’s wrong with the Vista-class ships, and what actions may be necessary – or even if it is possible – to permanently correct their engine difficulties.
The Meyer Werft shipyard has happily announced that Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, has successfully completed her sea trials. The ship is already back at the dock in Eemshaven for finishing details before her upcoming delivery to the cruise line, when she will officially join the Carnival fleet.
Carnival Jubilee Completes Sea Trials
There is much jubilation at the Meyer Werft shipyard today, as well as throughout Carnival Cruise Line, with the announcement that Carnival Jubilee has completed her sea trials and is one critical step closer to welcoming guests aboard.
The ship’s sea trials rigorously tested all her technical and operational systems, including navigation, propulsion, turning, braking, stabilization, emergency responses, and more. The tests have been conducted in the North Sea over the past 10 days with a full team of engineers, technicians, and officers onboard.
“We’ve made great strides, and I’m very proud of the team that made this possible and implemented,”said Jürgen Storz, project manager from Meyer Werft.
The ship has already returned to her berth in Eemshaven at the mouth of the Ems River. To reach the North Sea from the shipyard, Carnival Jubilee had to complete a complex and challenging conveyance down the river, which was accomplished with the great skill and expertise of local pilots.
What Is Up Next?
Carnival Jubilee is now undergoing finishing work on interior details such as artwork, lighting, flooring, and other features that must be completed for the ship to be ready to welcome her first guests on December 23, 2023.
Very soon, the vessel will be officially handed over to Carnival Cruise Line, a delivery ceremony that marks the change of ownership from the shipyard to the cruise line. At that time, the ship will formally become the 26th ship in the Carnival fleet and the third vessel in the Excel class, joining her sister ships Mardi Gras (2021) and Carnival Celebration (2022).
The ship will need to move from Europe to Texas before she begins sailing, and her arrival in Galveston will be heralded with great fanfare, including the presence of cruise line executives to officially welcome the ship.
The first guests will join Carnival Jubilee on Saturday, December 23, for a holiday sailing and the wonderful gift of an inaugural cruise on one of the largest and most innovative ships Carnival Cruise Line has ever sailed.
Carnival Jubilee matches her sister ships in size and capacity at 183,521 gross tons and room for 5,374 guests at double occupancy. When fully booked with all berths filled, as many as 6,631 passengers will be onboard, along with more than 1,700 international crew members.
When Will More New Ships Join the Fleet?
Carnival Jubilee will retain the title of the newest ship in the fleet for just a few months, until Carnival Firenze completes her conversion from Costa Cruises and joins Carnival Cruise Line in April 2024, the second vessel (after Carnival Venezia) to become part of the “Carnival Fun, Italian Style” program. However, Carnival Cruise Line has no further ships on order, an unusual circumstance for the cruise line.
Carnival Jubilee Conveyance on the Ems (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
Many cruise lines, however, are continuing to struggle with debt accrued during the industry-wide shutdown. Instead of building more and more ships, cruise lines are instead focusing on ensuring the product they deliver to guests aboard their current vessels continues to be of the best quality and most amazing experiences.
Carnival Jubilee is sure to do just that, as guests can enjoy such amazing fun and luxurious amenities as the Cloud 9 Spa and stunning Thermal Suite, the transformative Grand Central atrium space, Dr. Inks, PH.D with color-changing cocktails, the onboard brewery at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse, Bolt: The Ultimate Sea Coaster, and so much more.
A cruise shore excursion has ended in tragedy in the Bahamas with a sunken boat and a passenger’s death during what was to have been an enjoyable day in the tropical destination’s popular tourist spot, Blue Lagoon Island. The incident happened on the morning of Tuesday, November 14, 2023, and a thorough investigation is sure to follow.
Cruise Tour Boat Sinks in Nassau
At approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14, a double-decker cruise tour boat en route to Blue Lagoon Island from the Nassau Cruise Port encountered rough water and larger than expected waves, causing the boat to take on water and tip dangerously.
Ultimately, the boat sank completely, though water in the area is only approximately 20 feet (6 meters) deep, and the upper part of the vessel was still visible above the waterline after the water intake stabilized.
“Today at approximately 11am, a vessel from Blue Lagoon Island started taking on water and became partially submerged,”a statement from Blue Lagoon Island read.“Emergency Teams from the island quickly arrived to render assistance. Passengers and 5 staff members were located and brought to the island and two passengers were taken to the hospital for additional care. All onboard are accounted for.”
Initial police reports indicated the boat was on a snorkeling excursion, a popular activity at Blue Lagoon Island, but it may also have been a ferry to the island before a beach snorkeling tour.
Video from the incident shared on social media, which already has more than 10,000 comments, shows guests onboard wearing life jackets and moving to one side of the boat as the craft lists dangerously to the other side. Later, guests are seen jumping into the water from the sinking boat as they try to reach other nearby boats.
Local authorities, including the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Blue Lagoon, and other nearby vessels all assisted in evacuating guests from the boat and getting them safely ashore.
A 75-year-old woman died in the incident, though the details of her death have not been confirmed nor has her identity been released. It is unknown whether or not she may have had pre-existing health concerns that could have been aggravated by the frightening incident.
While two other guests were taken to the hospital as a precaution, no other serious injuries have been reported.
All Cruise Guests Aboard
The statement from Blue Lagoon Island confirmed that all passengers aboard the vessel were cruise ship guests, but has not detailed which ship or ships they may have been from.
Five cruise ships from five different cruise lines were in port on November 14: Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl, Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty.
Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock
It is possible that guests from more than one cruise line were aboard the stricken vessel, as different tour groups from the same organization are often combined for transportation. No cruise line has issued a statement or comment on the incident at this time.
Undoubtedly, the impacted cruise line’s care team would be assisting guests, including the family members or friends of the deceased woman, at this difficult time.
Furthermore, a full investigation is likely to determine whether the boat was operating as expected and whether or not there were any safety or navigational violations that may have contributed to the incident.
It is unknown at this time whether additional tours for Blue Lagoon Island – which often include beach breaks, dolphin swims, snorkeling, and sting ray encounters – may be impacted over the next few days.
Carnival Cruise Line has announced the opening of its 2025-26 cruise season, featuring expanded itineraries from its Australian homeports in Sydney and Brisbane. This latest offering includes new sailings to Fiji and New Zealand aboard the Carnival Splendor, as well as cruises to Fiji and Papua New Guinea onboard Carnival Luminosa.
Additionally, both vessels will host several cruises exploring the majestic Great Barrier Reef.
Carnival Splendor From Sydney
Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new series of cruises from Brisbane and Sydney for 2025 and 2026, now open for bookings onboard Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor.
The Concordia-class cruise ship Carnival Splendor sets sail from Sydney, offering a variety of itineraries. These cruises range in length from short three-day escapades to extensive 12-day voyages.
Guests can explore Australian destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Island, Tasmania. The ship will also sail on a special Melbourne Cup cruise, the world-famous horse race. Beyond Australia, the ship will sail to the pristine environments of Fiji, the South Pacific islands, and New Zealand.
Photo Credit: Jon Ingall / Shutterstock
Carnival Splendor‘s cruises to New Zealand, ranging in length from ten- to twelve days, are all Carnival Journeys, the cruise line’s special cruises that offer an in-depth experience of the destination. Ports of call include Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and a scenic cruise in the Fiordland National Park, amongst others.
During their time onboard Carnival Splendor, guests can enjoy various activities and popular venues like Guy’s Burger Joint, Pizzeria del Capitano, and the Alchemy Bar. The 113,300 gross tons cruise ship also boasts the WaterWorks aqua park and the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, ensuring a diverse experience for all guests.
Carnival Luminosa Offers Exciting New Destinations
From Brisbane, the 92,600 gross tons Carnival Luminosa offers its 2,260 guests an equally enticing selection of destinations. Itineraries include six-, seven-, and eight-day trips to Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef, alongside cruises to tropical havens like Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu.
However, perhaps most interesting are two 11-day Carnival Journeys that will take guests to Papua New Guinee, an area few cruise ships venture to.
Carnival Luminosa will sail to the Conflict Islands, an area of outstanding natural beauty; Alotau, steeped in World War II history; Rabaul, situated on the edge of a flooded caldera; and Kiriwina Island, renowned for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters; and back to the Conflict Islands.
The two cruises promise an extraordinary journey through some of Papua New Guinea’s most stunning destinations. For those guests looking for a shorter cruise, Carnival Luminosa also offers a wide range of 3-day cruises where the ship stays at sea and 4-day getaway cruises sailing to Arlie Beach.
Carnival Luminosa originally sailed under the Costa Cruises fleet, as Costa Luminosa. In a move to optimize the fleet, Carnival Corporation decided to transfer the Costa Luminosa to Carnival Cruise Line.
The transition of the Costa Luminosa to become the Carnival Luminosa took place in 2022. This shift marked a significant expansion of Carnival Cruise Line’s offerings, and one that kickstarted the Carnival Fun Italian Style program, although she is not officially a part of that program.
With bookings now open, these new itineraries present an exciting opportunity for guests to explore the wonders of the Pacific onboard Carnival’s Fun ships.
Holland America Line has opened for sale an exciting series of South America and Antarctica voyages with departures in 2025 and 2026. Operated aboard the Vista-class Oosterdam, three unique itineraries will offer guests access to more than a dozen UNESCO sites.
Oosterdam Itineraries to Visit Iconic Landmarks
Holland America Line’s 1,964-guest Oosterdam will deploy to South America from November 2025 to March 2026, offering three itineraries of 14 to 22 days. The ship will sail between either Fort Lauderdale or Buenos Aires, Argentina, and San Antonio (Santiago), Chile.
Guests will explore iconic South American destinations such as Iguazu Falls and Machu Picchu, and experience scenic cruising in the Antarctic region’s Drake Passage, Beagle Channel, and Glacier Alley. A naturalist will accompany each Antarctic voyage.
Across the series of cruises, Oosterdam will bring guests to 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, including the Galapagos Islands via an optional overland tour.
Holland America Line in Antarctica (Photo Courtesy: Holland America)
“South America is a vibrant region that offers contrasting experiences within one cruise, sailing from the tropics to glaciers and busy cities to some of the most remote places in the world,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management at Holland America Line.
“Our mid-sized ships make it possible to craft itineraries that feature an exciting collection of South American ports; and our menus, enrichment and entertainment on board ensure guests come away feeling deeply connected to the places they visited,” added Rough.
Three Unique Itineraries Offer In-depth Explorations
Guests aboard Oosterdam’s 14-day “South America Passage” will cruise between Santiago and Buenas Aires, spending an overnight in the lively Argentina port city at the beginning and end of the voyage.
Port calls will be made in Chile, Argentina, Falkland Islands, and Uruguay, with scenic cruising in the Chilean Fjords, the Strait of Magellan, and around Cape Horn, plus other areas. Three departures are scheduled for December 4, 2025, and February 22 and March 8, 2026.
The ship’s 17-day “Panama Canal and Inca Discovery” cruise will sail between Fort Lauderdale and Santiago. A two-night call at Lima, Peru, will allow time for an overland tour to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. The ship will transit the Panama Canal and call at ports in Grand Cayman, Panama, Ecuador, and Chile.
An overnight is planned at Fuerte Amador, Panama, located at the Pacific Ocean entrance to the canal. Two departures are scheduled on November 17, 2025 and March 22, 2026.
Holland America Line at Elephant Island (Photo Courtesy: Holland America)
Oosterdam’s longest voyage in the region, the 22-day “South America and Antarctica” cruise, operates between Santiago and Buenas Aires. An overnight in Buenas Aires will either begin or conclude the sailing, while other port calls will include destinations in the Falkland Islands, Chile, and Uruguay.
Guests can interact with a naturalist guide while viewing wildlife such as penguins and whales as the ship cruises the Antarctic regions of the Drake Passage, Beagle Channel, and Glacier Alley, plus the Chilean Fjords. Three departures are set for December 18, 2025, which is a holiday cruise, and January 9 and 31, 2026.
The “Panama Canal and Inca Discovery” and “South America Passage” cruises can be combined to create a 31-day voyage.
Guests who book any of the new South America and Antarctica cruises are eligible for the line’s Have It All premium package. For a limited time, cruisers can receive several key inclusions, such as shore excursions, dining and drinks packages, a WiFi plan, and crew gratuities.
In April 2023, Holland America had unveiled its 2024-25 South America voyages. Some of the itineraries are similar, however, next year the line will deploy two ships to the region, Oosterdam and the 1,432-guest Zaandam.
The newly-opened 2025-26 cruises are in addition to the cruise line’s much-anticipated “Pole to Pole” grand voyage, setting sail aboard the 1,432-guest Volendam on January 25, 2025. The 133-day sailing, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, will visit both Antarctica and the Arctic Circle.
A 28-year-old male guest has been reported overboard from Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Glory, and the US Coast Guard is engaged in extensive search operations involving multiple assets.
The ship is currently continuing on its itinerary, as the time of the guest’s disappearance is unclear. This also makes search efforts more complicated.
Man Overboard From Carnival Glory
Carnival Glory departed New Orleans on Sunday, November 12, 2023, for a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing. On Monday afternoon, a male guest – identified by family members as Tyler Barnett from Houma, Louisiana – was reported missing. Details about why he was reported missing or the timing of the report have not been released.
Crew members aboard the 110,000-gross-ton, Conquest-class ship immediately began emergency measures, including accounting for everyone aboard. When Barnett was not located, the US Coast Guard (USCG) was contacted to begin a search.
Two aircraft have been engaged to search more than 200 miles along the ship’s recorded voyage path. The extensive search area is necessary because the exact location where the guest may have gone overboard is not precisely known.
Messages have also been broadcast to other vessels in the region to keep a lookout for the missing passenger, as is standard procedure during any search and rescue operation.
Carnival Glory is not involved in the search – again, owing to the lack of information about exactly when the passenger may have gone overboard – and is continuing on its itinerary.
The ship’s next stop, the first port of call for the cruise, is Montego Bay, Jamaica on Wednesday, November 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At this time, there are no reports of delays for the visit.
The remainder of the ship’s itinerary includes visits to George Town, Grand Cayman as well as Cozumel, Mexico, before Carnival Glory returns to New Orleans on Sunday, November 19.
Weather Complicates Search
Dangerous conditions in the search area, including gale wind strength and seas reported with 8-12 foot (2.4-3.7 meter) waves have forced a pause in the search operations, as it is unsafe for USCG craft to continue their efforts. The search will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
US Coast Guard Search of Missing Carnival Passenger
As of late Tuesday morning, winds in the region range from 13-27 knots (15-31 miles per hour / 24-50 kilometers per hour) and higher, conditions that make it impossible for aircraft to safely operate for low-level searches. Furthermore, rough seas would cut visibility even more, making search efforts ineffective.
Sadly, rough weather would also impact the survivability of anyone in the water. The USCG will remain alert and continue the search when possible, accounting for possible drift with respect to weather conditions.
Yet sometimes emergency response can be initiated quickly enough to rescue an overboard individual. On Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas in late October, swift actions by the crew rescued an individual overboard near the coast of Spain.
Other overboard incidents have been reported this year from Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Quantum of the Seas; Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess; AIDA Cruises’ AIDAperla; Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Elation and Carnival Magic; and other vessels.
While it may seem like overboards are frequent, it is important to remember that thousands and thousands of guests sail safely every week without any concerning emergency calls that denote these unfortunate incidents.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with the missing guest’s family members and friends at this troubling time, as well as the crew members of Carnival Glory as they cope with such a somber situation.
Whether you are new to cruises or have set sail many times, you might be wondering, are cruises safe? After all, nobody wants to risk injury or worse while enjoying their vacation. This is why we have provided this in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at cruise ship safety.
As you will discover, all cruise lines have a moral and legal obligation to ensure the safety of all passengers they are responsible for. While there is no such thing as a completely risk-free form of travel, modern cruise ships are much safer than you may assume.
So, if you are ready to discover the truth about safety standards within the cruise industry, let’s dive right in!
Given that cruise ships travel some of the roughest bodies of water on the planet, you may assume that they would be inherently dangerous. The truth is that modern cruise ships are statistically one of the safest forms of travel.
At the end of 2023 alone, there was an estimated total of over 31.5 million cruise ship passengers worldwide! With this many people choosing to book a cruise vacation, you would expect travel-related injuries and fatalities to be relatively high, but that is not the case.
Recent statistics clarify that the odds of dying on a cruise ship are just 1 in 6.25 million. For comparison, the National Safety Council (NSC) claims that your odds of dying in a car crash are roughly 1 in 103.
Put simply, the vast majority of cruise vacations are accident-free. Even amongst those injured while on board a cruise ship, many incidents are coincidental, meaning that the passenger suffered a health-related issue or had an accident that was not explicitly related to the cruise ship itself.
Even the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that the number of accidents per million passengers on cruise ships is significantly lower than on other passenger vessels.
What Types of Incidents Can Occur on a Cruise Ship?
When it comes to passenger safety, there are four main categories that most cruise lines and safety regulators look at: overboard incidents, onboard fires, illness outbreaks, and large-scale ship disasters.
Passenger Overboard Incidents
All cruise lines do everything they can to limit the risks associated with having passengers or crew members fall overboard. While man-overboard incidents are always a risk whenever any vessel leaves the harbor, they can be particularly risky for cruise ships given their massive scale, high number of passengers, and the types of waters they traverse.
Photo Credit: @johnnytrupp (Twitter)
To reduce the chances of these incidents, most cruise ships are designed so that falling off the ship accidentally would be almost impossible. All open-air areas of the ships are protected with high railings and more sophisticated safety measures, like motion sensors and cameras that would detect any such incident.
Cruise ships are also incredibly stable compared to other vessels, which helps reduce the risk that a passenger could be tossed overboard due to the ship’s movement.
Fire-Related Safety Risks
Cruise ship designers and safety regulators are also incredibly mindful of fire risks. Not only are modern cruise ships designed so that any fire can be compartmentalized immediately, but they also have a variety of fire safety measures in place to deal with these types of incidents should they occur.
Carnival Freedom Fire
For every 2,800 passengers, an average cruise ship will be equipped with the following safety measures: five firefighting teams, 4,000 smoke detectors, 500 fire extinguishers, 16 miles worth of fire sprinkler system piping, and six miles of fire hose.
On top of all of these safety measures, furnishings and décor are made from non-flammable materials wherever possible, so even in the unlikely event that a fire does occur, it cannot spread easily.
Illness Outbreaks
Cruise lines also place a great deal of emphasis on preventing outbreaks of illnesses, both contagious and food-related. All cruise ships have extremely rigorous health protocols and sanitation measures to minimize the risk of sick passengers and crew members. Strict hygiene standards concerning food preparation and storage also reduce the risk of food-related illness.
Photo Credit: bear_productions / Shutterstock.com
All cruise ships are also equipped with effective medical resources, like licensed physicians and registered nurses, available at all hours. Full-sized cruise ships even have sophisticated medical facilities with lifesaving equipment, like X-ray machines, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, and more. All crew members are also given first aid training and public health and fire prevention training.
Cruise ship disasters, like a full or partial sinking, are extremely rare. These events almost always get global media attention, which only stresses how uncommon they actually are.
Serious incidents, like the capsizing of the Costa Concordia, can usually be boiled down to human error. The ships have incredibly sophisticated safety and navigation systems that help automate many actions.
Cruise Ship Tipped Over (Photo Credit: MZeta / Shutterstock)
In the extremely rare situation where an emergency has occurred, the entire crew is professionally drilled in how to react, and ships are equipped with lifeboats. Even passengers must complete mandatory muster drills and evacuation training sessions.
Mandatory Safety Regulations Cruise Ships Must Follow
To ensure the safety of passengers and crew, all cruise ships are subject to various safety regulations. These minimum safety requirements are incredibly stringent and heavily enforced, so all cruise ships adhere to impressive safety standards.
International Safety Standards
For starters, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a global authority that regulates safety standards throughout the entire industry.
All cruise lines must follow the standards outlined by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which covers everything from ship construction and stability to the quantity and types of safety equipment that must be on board the ship. SOLAS is continuously updated to ensure that all ships feature the latest safety technology and follow the most up-to-date safety measures.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) (Photo Credit: cktravels)
Failure to live up to SOLAS mandates, including meeting lifeboat and lifevest requirements, can result in extremely heavy fines for the cruise line. Cruise ships are subject to evaluations from SOLAS representatives, so they are not examined internally. This means the evaluators are impartial and will not hesitate to penalize a cruise ship for any infraction.
Local Regulations
Cruise ships must also abide by their nation of origin’s local regulations and safety requirements. For example, all cruise ships operating in the United States must meet the U.S. Coast Guard’s strict safety regulations. Regular inspections ensure that all passenger vessels meet these stringent safety requirements.
Even foreign-owned and registered cruise ships operating in the United States would still have to abide by the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), which has strict mandates regarding safety standards and lifesaving equipment that must be carried.
Photo Credit: Jim Lambert / Shutterstock
The same is true for cruise ships departing from other nations. Sometimes, a single cruise ship could be subject to local safety regulations. For example, Carnival Corporation & plc is a joint British and American company, meaning all of this significant cruise line’s ships must meet the strict safety standards of both the United States and the United Kingdom.
How Else Do Cruise Ships Keep Passengers Safe?
While mandatory safety regulations ensure that all cruise ships meet specific standards for passenger safety, most cruise lines go above and beyond these mandates. This is because it is in their best interest to minimize safety risks.
A major accident that results in injuries or fatalities can be extremely damaging to a cruise line’s reputation, and the ensuing legal actions could be financially ruinous. This is why you will find that most cruise lines voluntarily enact the following safety measures for all of their ships:
Advanced Safety Training for All Crew Members
All reputable cruise lines prioritize crew training and emergency readiness. All crew members undergo extensive safety training, including fire safety lessons, first aid certification training, and evacuation drilling.
Cruise Ship in Port During Drill (Photo Credit: natatravel / Shutterstock)
Even crew members with service-related jobs take the same training exercises to ensure that they can effectively respond in the rare event of an emergency.
During a cruise and when the ship is in port, guests may come across a crew drill, including crew members donning their life jackets and heading to their crew muster station.
Well-Equipped and Fully Staffed Medical Facilities
As mentioned, cruise ships also feature fully staffed and equipped medical facilities. They can handle everything from minor slip-and-fall injuries to serious health issues. This ensures immediate and professional healthcare for all passengers, even if the ship is far from the nearest port.
In the rare event that a passenger needs specialized medical attention, cruise ships feature helicopter pads that can accommodate airlift medical evacuations.
Equipping Cruise Ships with Advanced Safety Technologies
Cruise lines also invest heavily in the latest safety technology for their ships. Sophisticated radar and weather detection systems help ships avoid rough waters and storms, while sonar systems and sensors help them avoid various obstacles.
Photo Credit: Dave R
Even if a ship is forced to navigate through adverse weather conditions, modern cruise ships are equipped with advanced stabilization systems that can minimize the impact of rough seas. Cruise ships are also outfitted with onboard motion sensors, smoke detectors, internal and external video monitoring systems, advanced communications systems, and more. These modern systems and precautions are designed with passenger safety in mind.
On top of that, many of these systems are automated, meaning that there is a reduced risk of human error that could lead to a safety issue.
Final Wordson Cruise Safety
While there is nothing wrong with being cautious while booking any vacation, you can rest assured that cruise vacations are incredibly safe. For cruise lines, passenger safety is always one of the top priorities.
Not only does passenger safety protect a cruise line’s reputation and bottom line, but mandatory safety regulations and sophisticated safety technologies ensure that cruise ships are an incredibly safe form of travel. All crew members are incredibly well-trained in protecting the safety of everyone on board.
Even when incidents have occurred in the past, the lessons learned help to spur innovation and safety standards so it never happens again. Even some of the most famous maritime disasters, like the sinking of the Titanic, revolutionized safety standards and regulations for all passenger vessels.
If you have any questions about safety standards, contact the cruise line you are traveling with. They will be happy to provide you with a detailed breakdown of their safety measures and the peace of mind you need to book a safe and enjoyable cruise vacation.
