As of September 6, 2025, the daybeds in the Calypso Lagoon area can be used by guests over the age of 13.
Previously, this was a free adults-only area that was limited to cruisers over the age of 18.
The Pearl Cove Beach Club will remain an adults-only attraction, but guests must purchase a pass in order to enjoy it.
For some adult cruisers, what they are most looking forward to is relaxing on an island paradise without any kids running around to disturb the peace.
Calypso Lagoon at Carnival Cruise Line’s new Celebration Key in the Bahamas has already proven to be great option for guests over the age of 18 looking for this sort of adult-friendly fun or relaxation.
The area has a freshwater lagoon, a swim-up bar, a bar with swing seats, beach access, and more.
Many guests take their experience a step further by reserving a private water daybed in advance, which is an all-day rental that costs $119.99 for two guests.
But as of September 6, 2025, which is just about a week away, younger teenagers will also be welcomed to relax on the daybeds in the formerly adults-only haunt.
Carnival sent a letter informing guests who had booked and paid for their daybed reservations of the change:
“Thank you for purchasing the Water Daybed at Calypso Lagoon Swim Up Bar 18+ as part of your upcoming visit to Celebration Key…At the time of your purchase, this area within Calypso Lagoon was designated for guests 18 years and older,”the letter reads.
While this area is geared toward adults, a small section has always been family-friendly.
“However, effective September 6, 2025, we are updating the age requirement to 13 years and older, allowing a broader range of guests to enjoy the space,” the update continued.
It’s unclear at this time if the new age limit applies to the entirety of the adults-only section within Calypso Lagoon, or if younger teens will need to stay closer to the daybeds.
If guests are unhappy with this change, they are allowed to modify their plans in the HUB App or online through Carnival’s website.
But in this case, cruise guests are not happy about the change.
Some guests theorized that the age limit was lowered because crew members were having trouble enforcing the adults-only requirement.
“So instead of enforcing the 18+ rule, they change it to 13+ which they still won’t enforce,” one cruiser quipped.
As the daybeds are located in a prime spot near the swim up bar, others were worried about teens getting access to alcohol when they shouldn’t, which can become dangerous.
Celebration Key, Bahamas
The crew membersare of course not allowed to serve alcoholto underage guests, but some are worried about mischievous teens swiping a drink from other unsuspecting patrons.
“The swinging bar needs to be adults only. Takes just one drunk to not see a kid get their drink,” one person noted.
But perhaps the crux of the issue is that there is now no longer a free adults-only section within Celebration Key.
The Pearl Cove Beach Club at the western edge of the destination continues to enforce an age limit of 18 and up, and has its own selection of daybeds and cabanas to rent.
However, guests have to purchase passes to get in and there are only a limited number of these available per day.
Some are taking this change as Carnival forcing adults who want a kid-free experience to hand over more money – and this is following pushback to the prices of other experiences and dining options offered at the island destination.
“Well they weren’t making any money off the Calypso Lagoon. But you notice how they’re directing you to go pay more,”one cruiser observed.
“Honestly, I think this is wrong. It also seems they are forcing you to buy the admission to Pearl Cove,” another reacted.
As of the time of publication, admission to the Pearl Cove Beach Club ranges from $99.99 to $179.99 depending on if guests just buy general access or select an inclusive package that includes an open bar and/or food from the restaurant.
A recent guest of Carnival Adventure discovered pre-made towel animals under his bed, which ruins the magic in a hilarious way.
It makes sense for the housekeeping team to pre-make the beloved animals, as they would need to make hundreds to thousands every day to place one in every stateroom.
The guest made light of the situation and decided to display the towel animals as a surprise for his room steward.
Aside from its reputation as the Fun Ships, Carnival Cruise Line is perhaps most famous for its loveable towel animals.
In addition to leaving the animals in staterooms, most Carnival sailings feature a towel animal zoo on the Lido Deck and classes where guests can learn how to make their own towel creations.
In fact, these creatures are so popular that the cruise line even has a towel animal mascot named Ellie the Elephant.
However, one recent guest of Carnival Adventure who was recently on a Sydney-based sailing to Moreton Island has discovered a secret that has put a damper on the magic.
Matt Kortelainen, who goes by @mynamesmattt on TikTok, discovered a bag of pre-made towel animals underhis bed in his cruise cabin.
They weren’t made with love by the room stewards during the daily cleans or turn down service, but were rather just ready and waiting to be placed in the cabin for cruise guests to discover.
“It’s like finding out Santa’s not real. Oh my God,” Kortelainen exclaimed in a TikTok where he revealed the bag.
During my own Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Radianceat the end of last year, I can confirm that I did not find any towel animals under my bed, so this shocking discovery may have been an accident.
Instead, I actually found an old, smelly sock (which our room steward quickly removed and cleaned), but that’s a story for another time.
However, I would not be surprised if towel animals were pre-made and stored elsewhere onboard for the sake of efficiency.
If the cruise ships are at capacity, crew members could potentially have thousands of towel animals to make and leave for guests every single day, which is certainly a daunting task.
Carnival Cruise Line Towel Animals
Guests React to Towel Animal Discovery
Just like the TikToker, other guests reacted to the pre-made towel animals with a mix of good humor and at least feigned shock and disappointment.
Other past Carnival cruise guests confirmed that they’ve also found pre-made animals hidden in their staterooms.
“I was on a cruise several years ago and I found all the towel animals in a hidden cupboard beneath the port hole window. Yep. Spoilt that immediately,”one person recounted.
Of course, Kortelainen’s TikTok was posted because he found the discovery to be funny and he was not actually upset.
“I’m not mad, this video is pure sarcasm but I didn’t know they do this lol,”he clarified in the comments section.
In a subsequent TikTok, the cruise guest revealed that he had actually unpacked the animals and displayed them in his cabin as an “uno reverse” surprise for his room steward.
Carnival Cruise Line will make in-cabin announcements on Alaska cruises if the Northern Lights make an appearance.
Onboard announcements can be controversial, but the cruise line wants to be sure no one misses such a memorable event.
Most guests are understanding about other announcements in staterooms, such as emergency code calls for developing incidents.
It’s the great announcement debate: how many intercom announcements are too many during a cruise, and does it matter what the types of announcements may be?
For guests in one bucket-list destination, a specific announcement can be a very welcome disruption even in the middle of the night. One interested guest reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, about such announcements.
“Do Alaska cruises provide announcements or notifications for northern lights or can a call be requested?”the guest asked.
Fortunately, Carnival Cruise Line will help guests have that experience, even if it might be a late-night interruption.
“Yes, we will have an announcement made inside the cabin should they appear,”Heald confirmed.“Fingers crossed for you and have a wonderful time.”
Even if guests were asleep, the volume of the in-cabin speakers would likely wake them up so they could enjoy the atmospheric phenomenon.
Many Alaska sailings do have an opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Carnival Spirit and Carnival Luminosa are offering Alaska cruises from Seattle this year, while Carnival Legend has limited Alaska voyages from San Francisco.
In 2026, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Luminosa, and Carnival Miracle will all be visiting the Last Frontier.
Carnival Cruise Line just recently released its 2027 Alaska sailings for reservations. Guests can choose from Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Luminosa with more than 50 total itinerary options.
No matter what ship, sailing date, or itinerary guests choose, they should be understanding that aurora borealis sightings are never guaranteed.
Deck of Carnival Luminosa in Alaska (Photo Credit: Artha sant)
The celestial phenomenon is a result of solar winds and flares interacting with the Earth’s magnetosphere. Depending on the angle and strength of solar output, the Northern Lights may be visible as ripples, ribbons, or waves in shades of green, yellow, blue, pink, or red.
There is no easy way to predict the appearance of an aurora. Even if solar conditions are right for the display, overcast skies can still prevent cruise guests from seeing the lights.
Fortunately, Carnival Cruise Line’s practice of making appropriate announcements can alert guests when the borealis appears, helping them make outstanding cruise memories.
Other Announcements Are More Controversial
While most cruise guests would not object to an announcement about the Northern Lights, other announcements are more controversial.
“It is the Cruise Director’s responsibility to promote the revenue and it is that onboard revenue that has always been the foundation on which Carnival Cruise Line can keep the cost of your cruises the most affordable in the entire industry,”he noted.
Those types of announcements are not automatically piped into guests’ staterooms. Instead, guests need to be in public areas or open their stateroom doors to hear such announcements properly.
Fortunately, the information in those types of announcements is also available in the printed Fun Times newsletter or through the Carnival Hub app, so guests aren’t missing out.
It can be more important, however, to tune in to such public announcements if the ship has an itinerary change. This can impact the day’s schedule, and onboard announcements will provide the most updated details.
One other type of announcement is piped into guest staterooms, but most guests are very understanding of it.
These are emergency code announcements that alert crew members to ongoing incidents such as an overboard situation, medical emergency, or possible fire.
Emergency calls are piped into staterooms to be sure all crew members are immediately alerted. Because crew members may be on different emergency teams, it is important that they receive alerts right away, even if they may be off-duty, repairing plumbing, or cleaning a guest stateroom.
Have you seen the Northern Lights on a Carnival cruise? Share your sightings on the Cruise Hive boards!
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas was floated out of dry dock on August 29, 2025.
The float out marks a major construction milestone and the start of the outfitting phase.
The move also clears the way for work to begin on the fourth Icon Class ship as Legend of the Seas moves toward delivery in 2026.
Another giant of the seas has officially hit the water. On Friday, August 29, 2025, Royal Caribbean’s newest vessel, Legend of the Seas, floated out of its dry dock at Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard.
The moment marked the first time the ship touched water and officially begins the outfitting phase of construction.
The float-out is a traditional step in shipbuilding, celebrated as the point when heavy exterior work is complete and attention turns to interiors, technical systems, and final details.
This means the vessel’s 2,805 staterooms are about to be installed and decorated, edging it closer to her handover to Royal Caribbean and eager guests boarding its third Icon Class ship on its first voyage in less than a year from now.
At Meyer Turku, the ceremony also cleared the way for the next stage of assembly on the yet-to-be-named fourth Icon Class ship: laying the keel.
Legend of the Seas Float Out Ceremony (Photo Credit: Meyer Turku)
“Legend of the Seas continues the state-of-the-art Icon Class, which allows the Finnish maritime industry to showcase its unique expertise at its best,” said Casimir Lindholm, CEO of Meyer Turku.
The Icon Class has already made history for Royal Caribbean. Icon of the Seas, which began sailing in January 2024, was the world’s largest cruise ship until joined by Star of the Seas in August 2025, extending the class with similar features and improvements.
Now that Legend of the Seas has touched water, shipyard crews will focus on outfitting the vessel with thousands of details.
This phase involves installing staterooms, restaurants, theaters, crew spaces, entertainment venues, and technical systems. It is one of the longest phases of construction before sea trials begin.
Meyer Turku follows a precise sequence in building ships of this size. The keel laying, which is now taking place for the fourth Icon Class ship (scheduled to debut in 2027) starts assembly, followed by block construction where massive steel sections are welded together.
In July, Meyer Turku added Legend of the Seas’ iconic AquaDome, the revolutionary glass dome that appears on all Icon Class ships.
Legend of the Seas Float Out (Credit: Meyer Turku)
Once the hull is complete, the float-out transfers the vessel from dry dock to the water.
Outfitting is the final stage before Legend of the Seas is tested at sea to ensure it maneuvers and operates the way it is intended.
After that? The vessel officially transfers to Royal Caribbean, with Legend of the Seas’ inaugural cruise to take place in the Mediterranean on August 2, 2026.
The 7-night Western Med voyage will sail roundtrip from Barcelona, Spain, to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and La Spezia, Civitavecchia, and Naples, Italy.
The ship, which is likely to be similar in size to her sisters, both at 248,663 gross tons, will continue to sail that roundtrip itinerary, as well as one from Civitavecchia until October 25, 2026, when Legend of the Seas repositions to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
She will spend her first US season sailing an array of itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, including a preview 3-night journey to the cruise line’s Perfect Day at CocoCay.
A fire broke out in a Deck 5 kitchen during a P&O Cruises’ Iona sailing on August 29, 2025.
Guests reported a series of announcements, fire crew running to the kitchen, and other crew members called to muster stations.
Several restaurants, including the Pearl and Coral dining rooms, were temporarily closed.
Passengers aboard a current P&O Iona sailing experienced a tense afternoon after a small fryer fire in a shipboard galley triggered a series of escalating announcements and briefly closed multiple restaurants.
Multiple guests aboard the P&O Cruises ship broke the news of the fire occurring on August 29, 2025, as the vessel is at sea and en route for Southampton, England.
According to the passenger, the first message over the ship’s loudspeakers requested a first aid team to Deck 5 to respond to “a fat fryer oil fire.”
Minutes later, a larger response team was called in, and eventually, crew were told to report to their muster stations.
“It did not get up to passengers being required to go to muster stations,” the passenger said, noting that guests were never instructed to leave their cabins or public spaces.
It took roughly 15 minutes before an all-clear was announced to the crew.
However, another announcement informed guests that half of the ship’s restaurant would be closed, particularly those located on Deck 6.
According to the source, the Pearl and Coral dining rooms, along with a few other venues, were affected.
Other guests confirmed the situation, with one reporting they were on Deck 5, where the fire occurred.
“They asked the adjacent rooms to get out of their cabins and closed the stair next to it,” one passenger explained. “I actually opened our door not long after the announcement to see a load of fully kitted firemen running down the corridor.”
The passenger said the corridors reek of burning oil and a clean-up crew is on hand.
No other disruptions were reported, and the crew is being praised for its quick action and communication to guests.
Safety First at Sea
P&O Iona is completing a 7-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords on August 30. The ship, home-based in Southampton, departed for the adventure on August 23.
Without any incident, guests onboard the 184,089-gross-ton ship journeyed to Stavanger, Flam, Olden, and Haugesund, Norway, before the fire broke out.
The Iona is one of the largest cruise ships sailing from the UK, carrying more than 5,200 passengers and 1,800 crew. At that scale, even a small kitchen fire requires an immediate response.
P&O Iona Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: P.Cartwright)
Cruise lines treat fire as one of the most serious emergencies onboard. Once smoke or flames are detected on a ship, trained fire teams respond within minutes while other crew members report to muster stations to prepare for possible evacuation.
Temporary closures, such as the shutdown of nearby restaurants, are part of the containment process, allowing teams to secure affected areas and begin cleanup.
In this case, the response was swift with no injuries reported and the disruption limited to dining operations.
The ship will arrive back in Southampton on schedule, disembarking its current passengers and embarking its next group for another Norwegian sailing.
The ship is slated to undergo dry dock for routine maintenance in October 2025.
Royal Caribbean has updated benefits for their exclusive VIP program, The Key.
Sports activities will now be discounted 50% and guests also get a one-time savings for spa treatments.
Pricing and availability for The Key varies for each sailing but does regularly sell out on most ships.
Royal Caribbean is giving guests the key to even more fun onboard with updates to the VIP package, The Key. This add-on package is an option guests can choose to give them special benefits, and now, even more perks are available.
Guests who have already booked The Key are being notified of the update with explanations of the new benefits.
“Exciting updates have been made to the product offering, and with your purchase, you’ll now enjoy some added benefits designed to take the thrill and chill to the max while onboard,”the notification explained.
Two updates have been added to the program. One enhances benefits already available to guests, while the other is a new benefit to ensure maximum relaxation.
First, The Key guests will now receive 50% off sports activities onboard. This doubles the previous discount of 25% and can be a great savings for guests who want to stay fit and active through their cruise.
The sports activities will vary on different ships and are subject to change. This can include the Crown’s Edge ropes course on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, Ripcord by iFly on the Quantum and Quantum-ultra class ships, or exclusive sessions on the iconic Flowrider fleetwide.
If guests prefer to chill out with the ultimate relaxation, they can enjoy the new benefit, $60 off a $250 spa treatment purchase. The treatment itself must cost $250 or higher, as taxes and gratuities are not included.
What is included is the fantastic pampering of a hot stone massage, the refreshment of a detoxification wrap, the wellness boost of an IV therapy, or a new reason to smile with a teeth-whitening treatment.
Exact eligible treatments will vary based on ship availability and package pricing. The spa service discount is a one-time use option and is non-transferrable.
These new benefits are in addition to the already wildly popular benefits of The Key. The top benefits of the package include priority cruise arrival times, carry-on luggage drop off and stateroom delivery, a welcome lunch, dining discounts, reserved show seating, and more.
While this change was not necessarily well-received, it does demonstrate that the benefits can and do change based on popularity and market research.
Is The Key Worthwhile?
While The Key does include a long list of benefits and discounts, it also comes with a hefty price tag of $25-40 or higher per person, per day. All guests in the same stateroom age 6 and older must purchase the package.
For a family of four with two older children, this could be $1,100 or higher for a 7-night cruise in addition to the cruise fare, port fees, and taxes.
Every guest has to evaluate whether such a potentially pricey package is a worthwhile value for their cruise experience.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
For me, for example, it would not likely be worthwhile. My family self-assists all our luggage and times our cruise terminal arrival to avoid the worst crowds. We prefer buffet dining on Royal Caribbean (can’t beat the Windjammer!), we don’t use the internet, and we don’t use the spa.
Therefore, many of the benefits of The Key wouldn’t apply to our cruise vacation, and the overall cost might be less if we simply paid for what we wanted, when we wanted it.
Families that enjoy specialty dining, take part in lots of sports activities, and prefer to stay connected would get a much better value from the program, however, and it could be a great savings overall.
An even better value is for booked guests to keep a close watch on the Royal Caribbean app or website as their sailing date approaches. The Key is often offered at steep discounts, as much as 40% off, depending on ongoing sales.
If you see it available at a price you can’t resist, don’t wait to book! Sales don’t last long and the total number of The Key packages is limited for each sailing. They can sell out quickly, then you’ll miss out on these VIP benefits.
Another Labor Day is fast approaching and with it comes the traditional flurry of cruise line deals and discounts designed to entice vacationers into reserving their next voyage.
It’s a great time to book an at-sea adventure, since the promotions offer a wide variety of incentives, everything from free fares for kids to reduced beverage packages and cruise rates.
Here’s a round-up of what’s on offer from several of the leading cruise lines:
Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating Labor Day 2025 with its “Biggest-Ever Bundle Deal,” which combines a $400 onboard credit with a 25%-off deal on certain onboard activities and amenities, such as spa treatments, Wi-Fi packages, specialty dining, and some shore excursions.
New bookings made through September 2, 2025 are eligible for the perks on select voyages departing through May 2026.
The bundle deal is offered on certain 3- to 5-day cruises departing between October 15, 2025 and May 31, 2026, and on certain 6-day or longer sailings that depart between January 1, 2026 and May 31, 2026.
Travelers who book during MSC Cruises’ Labor Day Sale receive up to 40% discounts on cruise fares and can take advantage of the line’s Kids Sail Free offer.
The line’s promotion is valid on new reservations made by September 1, 2025 for cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East, and many other destinations.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line Funnel (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
A whopping 50% sale on all cruises is on offer from Norwegian Cruise Line for new bookings made between August 29, 2025 and September 2, 2025.
The half-off sale applies to all guests in a stateroom and to solo travelers. Additionally, children sail free when they are booked as the third and fourth guests in a cabin.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
Royal Caribbean is marking Labor Day with its sale that features up to 40% off all beverage packages as well as a $50 bonus savings on certain Caribbean and US West Coast sailings.
One of its “Flash Deals” is a 4-night sailing aboard the new ship Wonder of the Seas, visiting Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay from PortMiami departing January 12, 2026. The per person fare starts at $478.
Holland America Line
Holland America Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
Holland America Line’s Labor Day sale combines several valuable incentives available on new bookings made through September 8, 2025.
First, it’s offering up to 45% off cruise fares plus onboard credits up to $400. A reduced deposit of $99 gets the ball rolling. The promotion is good on cruises of three nights or longer.
One sample itinerary included in the promotion is a 7-night Caribbean cruise onboard Zuiderdam, sailing from PortMiami on November 15, 2025.
Interior cabins start at just $78.43 per person, per night. The offers are valid on Mexico and Panama Canal cruises, too, as well as on some Holiday at Sea voyages.
Celebrity Cruises
Aerial View of Celebrity Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia)
The premium line Celebrity Cruises is offering a Labor Day deal of up to 50% off cruise fares.
Featured voyages include a 4-night Bahamas sailing aboard Celebrity Summit from Fort Lauderdale. Guests can book the February 17, 2026 departure for as little as $84.45 per person, per night.
Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea Islander (Credit: Margaritaville at Sea)
Margaritaville at Sea is tempting vacationers with a Labor Day sale that promises an eye-popping 80% cruise fare discount for the second, third, and fourth guests sharing a stateroom aboard its two ships — Paradise and Islander.
The promotion is valid on all Paradise sailings through December 30, 2026 and on Islander cruises through April 24, 2027. Reservations must be new, and must be booked between August 25, 2025 and September 8, 2025.
Both ships sail from the Sunshine State to destinations in the Bahamas. Paradise homeports in Palm Beach while Islander is based in Tampa, Florida.
A Virginia Beach resident was arrested on felony charges while attempting to board a cruise ship at the Norfolk Cruise Port on August 23, 2025.
The man was caught after he was connected to an active warrant by US Customs and Border Patrol agents during the routine security screening.
It’s unclear which cruise ship the suspect was intending to board, as both Carnival Sunshine and ACL American Patriot were in the port that day.
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time – and don’t try to board a cruise ship if you don’t want to get caught!
One alleged criminal named Fard Shaheed Matthews was just caught at Virginia’s Norfolk Cruise Port while going through the security process before boarding a cruise ship on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
It’s not clear which cruise ship the 49-year-old Virginia Beach resident was planning to sail on, as Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshineand American Cruise Lines’ ACL American Patriot were both in the port that day.
Either way, he never made it onboard because US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered the cruiser-to-be had an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Norfolk Police Department.
His alleged crimes are felony forcible rape and sexual battery charges, which, depending on the circumstances, could result in several years in prison to a life sentence if Matthews is found guilty.
“These allegations, if proven true, are serious and reprehensible, and Customs and Border Protection officers are pleased to assist our local law enforcement partners in returning a fugitive to justice,”said Keri Brady, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director for the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News.
“CBP’s unique border security mission of knowing who is entering or departing the United States allows us to ensure that victims’ voices are heard, and helps our law enforcement partners make our streets a little safer,”Brady added.
After verifying Matthews’ identity and that the warrant was indeed still active, CBP personnel turned him over to officers with the Norfolk Police Department, who took him into custody.
Are Cruisers Always Background Checked?
While cruise guests are not guaranteed to be background checked every time they embark on a cruise, major cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean do reserve the right to do so for safety reasons.
“Carnival Cruise Line (“Carnival”) reserves the right to use consumer reports prepared by a third-party consumer reporting agency, to conduct a criminal background check for guests who have booked a Carnival cruise,” reads Carnival’s policy.
“Given that cruise vessels are at sea, with many guests and crew in close contact for an extended period, Carnival has a legitimate business purpose for conducting these background checks.”
However, cruise guests will always undergo a strict security and document verification processbefore being permitted to board.
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk (Photo Credit: Carnival)
But at US Ports of Entry (which the Norfolk Cruise Port is), the security measures are taken to another level because CBP completes its own inspections and searches.
As part of this, CBP officers compare passengers to numerous law enforcement databases to identify guests who might require additional scrutiny. This is where active arrest warrants might come back to haunt certain cruisers.
According to CBP, its officers welcomed and processed more than one million travelers arriving at the various ports of entry, airports, and land border crossings on an average day in 2024.
Out of this massive number, an average of 44 wanted suspects would be identified and arrested.
This also isn’t the first time that a passenger with an active warrant was foiled by attempting to board a cruise ship.
In June, a 64-year-old woman named Karen Bryan was arrested while trying to board a cruise ship in Ketchikan, Alaska, because she had an active warrant for embezzlement charges in Wyoming.
As another example, a 47-year-old man named Dominic Weaver was arrested at the end of last year while disembarking a cruise in Miami because he owed more than$100,000 in back child support.
Looking to stay on top of the major cruise industry news? You’ve come to the right place. In this week’s recap, Cruise Hive covers the leading headlines, including the MSC Cruises’ ship that drifted without power off the coast of Italy, the people of Costa Maya putting the brakes on Royal Caribbean’s planned Perfect Day Mexico resort, and the dramatic medical evacuations of two guests from the same ship at the same time.
What could be more convenient than having the big cruise news stories delivered to your inbox each day? Sign up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update and don’t miss a thing.
Drowned Man’s Family Sues Norwegian Cruise Line
Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda (Photo Credit: Zea Raiza Pidut)
A lawsuit charging Norwegian Cruise Line with multiple negligent actions was filed by the family of a man who drowned during a Norwegian Getaway excursion to Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay on March 27, 2024.
It’s a tragic tale: Hyon Duk Shin was snorkeling with his two sons when he noticed a girl experiencing undertow currents and apparently drifting. He rescued her, but then got caught in the current himself.
His wife, Yanli Gong, and mother, Kwang Shin, watched from the beach and called for assistance. No lifeguards were present, but a bystander pulled Shin from the water. He could not be revived.
The victim’s family filed their lawsuit on March 25, 2025. The suit charges that the excursion is described by the cruise line as “easy,” with no mention of strong undertow currents. Also, it claims that the cruise line knew of the danger and of other drownings in that area.
Norwegian Cruise Line has continued to offer the excursions, which it describes as an easy Level 1 “Beach/Swimming” tour.
MSC Cruises’ Ship Loses Power Off Italian Coast
MSC World Europa in Italy (Photo Credit: Artem Stepanov)
If you must drift along somewhere on a powerless cruise ship, the coast of Italy would be a nice place to do it. But no one wants to be on a cruise ship that has lost power and propulsion.
That’s what happened to the more than 6,000 guests who were sailing aboard MSC Cruises MSC World Europa on August 25, 2025, as she operated a 7-day cruise from Genoa to Naples.
Back-up generators were working and sea conditions were good, but the Italian Coast Guard sent tugboats, a helicopter, and some patrol vessels to the ship anyway. The ship was about 8 nautical miles from the coast when propulsion was temporarily lost.
The slowdown caused MSC World Europa to arrive in Naples about 8 hours later than planned. After guests disembarked, the cruise line conducted a technical review and made any needed repairs. The ship’s next cruise, a 7-night sailing roundtrip from Naples, missed its scheduled departure at 6 p.m.
While it was lights-out temporarily, the ship’s back-up generators were quickly able to restore lights, air conditioning, and hotel services while the vessel was adrift.
An Imperfect Reception for Perfect Day Mexico
View of Perfect Day Mexico
A few hundred thousand residents in Costa Maya, Mexico, have signed a petition asking Royal Caribbean to conduct more environmental and cultural impact research before it proceeds with its planned resort, Perfect Day Mexico.
Like Perfect Day at CocoCay, the Costa Maya destination will host many thousands of Royal Caribbean cruise guests who sail aboard its Western Caribbean voyages. The cruise line plans to open the private destination in 2027.
However, the petition states that the development will alter local access to beaches, pollute the region, and cause damage to coral reefs and mangrove forests. The document does not call for Royal Caribbean to halt the project, but to conduct additional assessments.
For its part, Royal Caribbean has responded with promises to protect some 100 acres of mangroves and sea turtle nesting sites, and to install a wastewater treatment facility, among other environmental initiatives.
It has also pledged that the destination will use 100% green energy by 2040. At last count, 278,000 local residents had signed the petition.
Yet Another Glass-Shattering Moment For Royal Caribbean
Star of the Seas Glass Panel Breaks (Credits: Asphalt Mafia & Nancy Pauwels)
Sometimes a preview cruise onboard a brand new ship doesn’t go quite as planned. That was the case with Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas on August 26, 2025.
It was the ship’s second-to-last showcase sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay from Port Canaveral when a glass panel on Deck 15 suddenly shattered for no apparent reason. The panel was one of many safety barriers in place along the edge of the deck.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident startled guests who were sunbathing in nearby lounge chairs. Crew members quickly blocked off the area, but not before guests videotaped the scene and posted about it on social media.
The 5,610-guest Star of the Seas is set to sail her first revenue cruise on August 31, 2025.
The shattered glass panel was one of a few broken glass mishaps on Royal Caribbean ships this year. Three instances of broken glass panels or canopies broke onboard Symphony of the Seas and a piece of acrylic glass in the Frightening Bolt waterslide on Icon of the Seas broke away from the slide.
The thrill ride remains closed pending an investigation on both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, as a precaution.
Dual Evacuations After Ship Departs on Alaska Cruise
Coast Guard Makes Two Evacuations from Same Cruise Ship (Credit: US Coast Guard)
Medical evacuations happen from time to time on cruise ships, but they are not common occurrences, considering the number of vessels at sea on any particular day. So when two guests are evacuated from the same ship at the same time, it’s quite rare indeed.
It happened aboard Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess on August 24, 2025 shortly after she sailed from San Francisco on an 11-night voyage to Alaska.
First, a 52-year-old woman experienced cardiac arrest and was placed on life support by the ship’s medical team. Then, a 99-year-old man apparently choked, with an esophageal obstruction that became life-threatening.
The ship was sailing off the coast of Washington State when the evacuation of both passengers was required. US and Canadian authorities responded.
The Canadian Air Force sent a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft to coordinate the evacuations by two helicopters — a CH-149 Cormorant from Canada and a MH-65 Dolphin from the US Coast Guard.
Both passengers were successfully evacuated to medical facilities and the ship continued on her way as scheduled.
Man Overboard Alarm Turns Out To Be False
Disney Wish Overboard (Photo Credit: Tom McLaughlin)
Guests and crew aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish were able to breathe a sigh of relief on August 26, 2025, when a man overboard alert turned out to be a false alarm.
It wasn’t a person seen floating in the waters of the Bahamas as the ship sailed from Nassau to Castaway Cay, it was just a piece of floating debris.
But that was not immediately known, so the ship quickly turned around and crew members dispatched two rescue boats when the alarm was sounded. The 4,000-guest ship was sailing a 4-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral.
Nassau and Castaway Cay, one of the line’s private islands, are the only calls on the itinerary, which concluded at the Florida port on August 29, 2025.
Following the realization that it was debris in the water and not a person, the ship’s captain called for a mandatory count of all guests and crew, just to make sure everyone was safe and onboard.
Another overboard incident happened on a Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Dream, in late June 2025, when a child fell off the ship. Her father jumped into the water after her and was able to reach her. They waited for a rescue boat to arrive, and both were brought back onboard.
It was a kind of David and Goliath moment in Rotterdam on August 24, 2025, when environmental activists in kayaks and canoes attempted to block a 116,017-gross-ton cruise ship from docking.
Protesters from Extinction Rebellion were able to delay the ship from docking for about a half-hour, until police arrived and ended the demonstration. Two protesters were arrested.
It happened on the Maas River as P&O Cruises’ Ventura made a port call on her 4-night sailing roundtrip from Southampton. Rotterdam was the only port call scheduled.
Ventura accommodates 3,000 guests and sails 4- to 14-night voyages from the UK port.
It was the second time this summer that Extinction Rebellion attempted to disrupt cruise operations in the Netherlands. In late July, the protesters delayed Celebrity Cruises’ 2,850-guest Celebrity Eclipse for two hours as she tried to dock in Amsterdam.
In that case, the voyage was concluding in Amsterdam and guests needed to disembark the ship, which made the incident more troublesome.
More Cruise Headlines
Cruise Hive is chock full of news developments from across the cruise industry. Check out even more stories from the past week, including coverage of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship sailing from New York, Celebration Key lowering the age requirement at an adult-only venue, and the cruise industry’s trade group suing Hawaii over its new cruise tax.
Also, a celebrity chef is named godmother of Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel, and Australia gears up for the start of the busy summer season Down Under.
