Silversea Cruises’ Silver Dawn has experienced a gastrointestinal outbreak during her current 12-night sailing that embarked in Southampton on September 3, 2025.
Increased sanitation protocols have been enacted onboard, and the ship will receive a “super sanitation” between voyages when she returns to Southampton on September 15.
Guests of the upcoming voyage have been asked to reschedule if they are sick, have compromised immune systems, or otherwise feel uncomfortable cruising at this time.
Passengers currently onboard Silversea Cruises’ Silver Dawn have unfortunately been plagued by stomach upset, and the luxury cruise line is making sure future passengers can make informed decisions in light of the current situation.
Interestingly, the current outbreak onboard Silver Dawn comes just about a week after its sister vessel, Silver Muse, reported a gastrointestinal outbreak of her own.
The cruise line wrote to the up to 596 guests booked on Silver Dawn’s 12-night voyage that is due to embark from Southampton, UK, on September 15, 2025, to alert them to the situation.
Just like the current sailing that embarked on September 3, the sailing will visit a variety of destinations throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Although the crew members quickly enacted enhanced safety and sanitation protocols, guests with compromised immune systems may want to reconsider their vacation out of an abundance of caution.
“During the previous voyage, Silver Dawn experienced a number of guests who presented to the medical facility with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness,” Silversea Cruises wrote.
“This type of GI illness is common worldwide and typically runs its course in 24 to 48 hours without serious health effects,” the Royal Caribbean-owned brand continued.
“However, people with chronic illnesses and those who are immune compromised may want to consult their physician.”
The cruise line implored future passengers who have experienced stomach upset within the last three days or who are uncomfortable sailing for any reason to speak with Silversea representatives at the Southampton cruise terminal to reschedule their vacation.
“…If you are uncomfortable taking your cruise at this time for reasons related to personal health or otherwise, our staff can assist you in rescheduling your sailing for another time,” the letter states.
Typically, guests would forfeit 100% of their cruise fare to cancel or reschedule at the last minute, but the cruise line appears to be making an exception for this unique circumstance.
Increased Sanitation Onboard
Of course, the approximately 411 crew members onboard aren’t just letting the illness spread.
While the crew members always strive to keep the ship clean, increased sanitation measures have already been put in place.
“Please know that the safety and comfort of our guests and crew is always our top priority,” the cruise line reassured passengers.
“In an abundance of caution and to help prevent any spread of illness, we did immediately implement enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures during the previous voyage as recommended by public health agencies worldwide.”
Silver Dawn Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis)
Additionally, a deep cleaning of the ship, which the cruise line calls “super sanitizing,” will occur between the two voyages when the Muse-class vessel returns to Southampton on September 15.
The cruise terminal will also be deeply cleaned as part of this exercise.
Relatedly, the 298 suites onboard Silver Dawn won’t become available to newly arrived passengers until 2 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. on embarkation day.
A guest has complained that Carnival Cruise Line’s evening activities start too late and don’t permit a good night’s sleep at a decent bedtime.
Brand ambassador John Heald offered a poll that shows great diversity for the bedtime question.
Guests offered many explanations for different bedtime preferences and ways to customize one’s evening cruise schedule.
Carnival Cruise Line just can’t seem to strike that perfect balance of activities and entertainment to please everyone. Now, a cruiser is complaining that there is too much going on too late in the evening.
This latest complaint alleges not that there isn’t enough to do, but that evening activities actually start too late.
“We are in our early 40s. Is Carnival aware that these days people of our age group think they’re going to bed at a reasonable hour and getting a good night? Sleep is one of life’s great pleasure[s]. At 10 p.m. bedtime is perfect,”the guest explained.
“This includes when we cruise. Everything, dinner, shows, and all the events need to start at least two or three hours earlier than they currently do.”
I’m not sure what the guests’ ages have to do with their preferred scheduling, but it is true that health-conscious individuals (of any age) are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of sufficient, restful sleep.
I happen to be in my late 40s, and I do find it very easy to get a good night’s sleep onboard a cruise ship, no matter what bedtime you prefer.
Whether the “perfect” bedtime is 10 p.m., 8 p.m., or 2 a.m. is irrelevant. Furthermore, everyone has different sleep needs and preferences, as well as different plans for the next morning that might impact when they choose to go to bed the night before.
The real difficulty is the guest’s suggestion that everything needs to “start at least two or three hours earlier” in the evening.
Consider the early dining time, which can be as early as 5 p.m. Does this mean some cruisers should be assigned to a dinner time of 3 p.m. or even 2 p.m.? I prefer early dining myself, but this would be far too extreme.
Furthermore, many signature evening events, such as production shows or comedy performances, do tend to have both an early and a late option. This lets guests customize their scheduling to suit whatever bedtime they may prefer.
Heald didn’t respond directly to the guest’s suggestion, but he did include their comment on his daily poll.
Themed Music Party on Carnival Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)
Roughly 2,150 other guests agreed that activities ought to start earlier in the evening. To be fair, I do occasionally miss out on later evening activities because I might be too tired to bother staying up. Maybe that’s the difference between early 40s and late 40s.
There were, however, more than 9,200 guests who firmly voted for “I am not usually in bed on my cruise by 10 p.m.”
Clearly, this particular guest is not representing everyone’s bedtime or evening schedule preferences, though Heald did not delineate poll options by age group.
How Flexible Are Evening Activities on Carnival Ships?
While it’s true that there are more than a few late-night activities onboard, including comedy shows, deck parties, nightclub events, and Playlist Productions, Carnival already offers great scheduling flexibility.
Plus, many guests comment that they enjoy changing up their vacation schedule.
“If there’s something going on that I wanna do I’m up after 10, sometimes I’m exhausted and I’m in bed by 9,”one guest commented.
“Our day ends when it ends. Sometimes it’s 10 pm, sometimes it’s closer to 12. It’s a vacation, and we are go-with-the-flow people on cruises,”another explained.
Many other cruisers noted things like personal circadian rhythms, families with young children having earlier bedtimes, or second and third shift workers being used to later evenings, all influencing bedtime preferences.
And, frankly, there’s always time for a nap onboard if you need to catch up on your sleep!
After embarking on more than a dozen cruises, I’ve truly met some of the most amazing people onboard who have become lifelong friends.
However, I have also met some pretty terrible and inconsiderate cruisers over the years. From my experience, these are the 13 worst types of cruise guests you might meet onboard – and I implore you to NOT be one of them.
We’ve all met that person who thinks they are better than everyone, and they are certainly at the top of my list for being the worst of the worst.
These are the people that are mean to the hard-working crew members. Instead of showing gratitude, they insist that the crew can’t do anything right and are constantly complaining, demanding compensation, and even insulting staff.
On one of my Disney Cruises, I once saw a woman verbally attack a waitress in the Animator’s Palate dining room over the consistency of the butter for her bread until the poor crew member scurried away with tears in her eyes.
Of course, they will also take their excessive complaints and rants to any and all other passengers in the vicinity who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and are forced to listen.
These are also the people who are most likely to skimp on gratuitiesbecause they have a plethora of complaints about why their cruise wasn’t perfect.
Checked-Out Parents and Their Out-of-Control Kids
This is a bit of a two-for-one, because you don’t usually get one without the other.
For whatever reason, some parents feel that their cruise vacation is also a vacation from their parenting responsibilities. Maybe they think their child can’t get into any trouble while confined to a cruise ship.
But at best, unsupervised children can become bratty or wild, which is understandably annoying to other guests.
I’ve personally had kids push all the elevator buttons, dump drinks over my head because they thought it would be funny, and have been caught in a surprise pool noodle “sword fight” on a private island.
At worst, the child might attempt stunts that are dangerous, such as climbing on railings or deck and balcony furniture that put them at riskof going overboard.
Chair Hogs and Seat Savers
Perhaps the most controversial people on this list are the chair hogs and seat savers.
These are the notorious cruisers that make their way up to the pool deck early to snag the best seats for their entire travel group, holding onto them for the entire day even when they aren’t actively in use.
Most cruisers do this by putting their towels or small personal belongings on the chairs, but some take things to the next level.
Royal Caribbean Chair Hogging (Credit: @jesstravel7)
Chair hogs have become such a problem that cruise lines like Carnival have had to crack down on the act. In Carnival’s case, chairs and loungers that are left empty for 40 minutes will be “unreserved.”
It’s one thing if you’re saving a seat or two for a few minutes for one or two people, but I’ve seen it happen where someone saves six or more prime seats and the people never actually come to watch the show.
Latecomers
During my travels, I’ve noticed that some guests don’t seem to believe that the schedule applies to them.
This is also something I notice most commonly in the theaters, where someone arrives late to the show and causes a big disturbance as they try to step over people to get to their desired seats – which is rude to both the guests and the performers.
However, latecomers can also wreak havoc in other cases. I’ve seen latecomers delay dining service at shared tables and force shore excursions to start late or leave destinations on the tour late when guests couldn’t return to the bus on time.
Line Cutting and Refusing to Wait
I get it. No one likes to wait in lines and patience is a virtue.
However, there is nothing more annoying than thinking you’re near the front of the line, and then someone (or half a travel group) tries to cut or run to the front to join their travel party.
Cruise Ship Tender Line in Papua New Guinea (Photo Credit: Annalucia)
But unfortunately, I see this all the time at onboard buffets, quick service restaurants, waiting to board tenders at tender ports, and at rental stands at the cruise lines’ private islands.
Similar to seat saving, it’s best to keep your travel party together and get in line once everyone is ready.
Impatient Elevator Users
There is a reason I try to always take the stairs on cruise ships, and I say this as someone who has chronic joint issues and could benefit from an elevator ride here or there.
I’m talking about the people who aren’t willing to wait their turn to use the elevator, and will shove their way in even when there isn’t space – potentially cutting more respectful guests in the process.
Elevators on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
These are usually the same people who act oblivious and refuse to move to let other guests out when the elevator stops at different floors on their way to their destination.
I’ve also seen a fair number of able-bodied cruisers shove past disabled guests who can’t move as quickly and do not have the option to take the stairs, forcing them to wait for another elevator.
Overindulgent Guests
Overindulgent guests fall into two categories: drinking way too much and gluttony in the buffet. And sometimes, the worst cruisers check both of these boxes.
Obnoxious drunks can be annoying, and sometimes dangerous, to other guests. They are often loud and unsteady, and for angry drunks, potentially aggressive.
But be warned: Overly intoxicated guests who become belligerent or show signs of becoming violent could risk confinement in the brigor their stateroom, or even removal from the ship.
Lido Buffet on Carnival Splendor (Photo Credit: Carnival)
Meanwhile, buffet gluttons are often known for having eyes bigger than their stomachs. They may take more food than they can actually eat, potentially taking the last of a dish that another guest may have also wanted to savor.
They tend to accumulate a large number of plates and utensils that makes more work for the crew members to clean and leaves little room for other guests in their travel party to dine at the same table.
Walking Noise Complaints
Some cruisers may forget to regulate their volume while at sea, or may just not realize that they are not the star of the show.
These are the people who talk through performances, scream their dinner conversations in the main dining room, and seemingly shout and stomp their way back to their cruise cabins in the wee hours of the morning when other guests are trying to sleep.
Norwegian Aqua Hallway (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)
This also applies to people who blast their own music or content from speakers or their smartphones in their thinly-walled cruise cabins or in public spaces onboard.
Know-It-Alls
Some avid cruisers want everyone else onboard, from the guests to the crew, to know just how experienced they really are when it comes to ship life.
They have strong opinions about how even complete strangers should be spending their time onboard, and anything that you have done, they have obviously done better and likely for less money (*insert eye-roll here*).
Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin / Shutterstock
While they may try to offer tips to who they deem as more novice cruisers, it can feel like they are beating you into submission with unsolicited information.
Know-It-Alls can often overlap with more elite members of the cruise line’s loyalty program, and they often like to brag about their status and rewards in between giving advice.
There is usually a dedicated outdoor area for this purpose, and for cruise ships with casinos, there may be a smoking casino or a smoking section within the casino.
However, some cruisers love to sneak in a cigarette where they aren’t supposed to, which is often on their private balconies.
Photo Credit: Filistra / Shutterstock
Not only does this create a dangerous fire hazard, but it’s extremely rude to other guests.
The smoke smell can ruin their enjoyment of their private balconies, and can linger in staterooms for the room stewards and potentially the next round of guests to deal with.
Anti-Germaphobes
Before you come for me, I am not saying that guests should constantly be wearing masks or anything too extreme.
As someone who has been coughed on and sneezed on more times than I can count on cruises, I would like to issue a friendly reminder to cover your nose and mouth.
Hand Sanitizer on Carnival Cruise (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
I also once saw a cruise passenger onboard a Princess Cruise Ship that shall remain nameless taste the mashed potatoes in the buffet with the serving spoon, and then put the serving spoon back and walk away like nothing had happened.
Luckily, a crew member saw the gross stunt and the dish was immediately removed and replaced.
I’ve also seen numerous passengers use the bathroom and leave without even glancing at the sink, which can lead to norovirus or gastrointestinal outbreaks if the wrong person pulls this stunt.
Social Media Obsessors & Amateur Documentarians
The point of a cruise vacation is to detach from the real world, relax, and unwind. However, some cruisers are simply addicted to their screens and can’t fight the urge to show off to their followers.
They are constantly scrolling and posting on social media instead of simply living in the moment.
I often find myself stuck behind these people as they stop or amble slowly down walkways because they are looking at their phone.
Constantly filming and taking pictures can also be annoying to other guests who would rather not be on camera or because they are always getting in the way to capture the perfect background or pose.
Personally, I have been hit in the face by a rapidly extended selfie stick and had an “influencer” stop talking to me mid-sentence because she saw an opportunity for content nearby. Like, really people?
And while I’m not saying you shouldn’t show affection to your loved one, some personal displays of affection can be too much and should be saved for the privacy of your cruise cabin.
Young Couple Dressed Formally on a Cruise (Photo Credit: Space_Cat / Shutterstock)
Not everyone wants to see excessive touching or an intense make-out session, and I’ve personally been driven out of public hot tubs by cruisers who couldn’t stop locking lips.
How to Deal With Annoying Cruisers
With potentially thousands of cruisers onboard, it’s inevitable that some personality types will clash.
But when you encounter one of the worst types of passengers, the best thing you can do is not to engage. Remove yourself from the situation and go back to enjoying your vacation, which is what you’re really there to do.
Carnival Cruise Ship Passengers on Open Deck (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)
That said, you also do not simply have to suck it up and take bad behavior.
In situations where guests are particularly obnoxious or exhibiting concerning behaviors, don’t be afraid to ask for help from crew members or security – it’s what they are there for.
Filing a noise complaint, calling security because someone seems dangerously intoxicated, or asking a waiter to not wait for late guests during dinner is all within the realm of reason.
However, we highly recommend that you do not personally confront unruly guests to avoid conflict or a physical altercation.
A Carnival guest has noted that tender boat operators have been asking for tips in Cabo San Lucas, behavior that seems unusual.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that tender boat operators are not cruise line employees but are independent operators.
There is no charge to use tender boats and guests should not feel obligated to offer tips, though they can certainly do so if they choose.
On any cruise vacation, hundreds of dedicated crew members are there to take care of guests’ needs. From the engineering team and officers to the housekeeping staff, dining team, bartenders, casino hosts, entertainment crew, youth services staff and so many more, they work diligently to ensure a great getaway for everyone.
Not all “crew members” guests might encounter during their vacation are actually crew members, however.
It’s fair to assume that everyone working onboard the ship is an official crew member. It’s equally fair to assume that employees in ports of call, such as retail workers at shops or tour guides at tourist hot spots, are local residents and not employed by the cruise line.
But what about in between? One recent Carnival cruise guest was confused about workers aboard the very critical tender boats that helped them visit Cabo San Lucas.
For clarification, they reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald.
“This week we are sailing on the Panorama and having an amazing time,”the guest explained.
“During our Cabo port of call yesterday and today [September 9-10], I noticed something that has never occurred before. The crew on all four tender boats from the Panorama to Cabo was walking around asking for tips. I felt that with this being a tender boat, they should not be asking for tips.”
Carnival Panorama is homeported year-round from Long Beach offering mostly 6- and 8-night Mexican Riviera itineraries. On this 6-night sailing, the ship left California on Sunday, September 7 and the overnight visit to Cabo San Lucas was her first port stop.
The cruise guest does note that they’ve sailed with Carnival for many years, with itineraries all over the world. Still, the request for tips on tender boats was a new experience for them.
Heald quickly clarified that even while the tender boat service is necessary for visiting Cabo San Lucas, the crew members operating the small boats are not, in fact, Carnival employees.
“Obviously these are not crew members. These are local people who provide the boat service,”he said.“I don’t know if we can control them for not doing that. But yes, I know it does happen. But again I do want to stress … these are not Carnival Cruise Line crewmembers.”
Should Guests Offer Tips to Tender Boat Operators?
It can seem startling to be asked for tips on a tender boat, but that’s not the only way the boat operators might seek to supplement their income.
When I first visited Cabo San Lucas many years ago, no one asked for tips. There was, however, a salesman with silver necklaces and bracelets draped up and down his arms (picture Elvis Presley’s famous eagle cape!) offering the trinkets for sale onboard the small boat.
Cruise Ship at Tender Port (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock)
No, I didn’t buy any. Nor should anyone feel obligated to offer a tip to a tender boat operator, though certainly they can if they wish.
This is similar to offering a tip to a tour bus driver on a shore excursion. While tips are never required, they can be a gesture of thanks for good service.
To be absolutely clear, there is no charge for tender boats at Cabo San Lucas or any other tender or water shuttle port, from Kona, Hawaii to Qaqortoq, Greenland to Santorini, Greece.
Independent operators can certainly request tips, even in a more forceful or persistent manner than some guests may be used to.
If the tip-requesting tactics are too intimidating, however, guests should politely report that behavior to the Guest Services desk so Carnival Cruise Line can address the situation with the tender operators they work with.
Four crew members were deported from Carnival Pride on September 7, 2025, sparking outrage among activists.
Advocacy groups say that the crew members’ rights were violated because they were deported without due process, meaning that they did not get to defend themselves in court.
Carnival Cruise Line is cooperating with law enforcement.
In a reaction to the deportation of several foreign crew members from Carnival Pride earlier this week, dozens of activists are peacefully protesting to demand that the rights of these workers are upheld.
Approximately 35 protestors gathered at the Baltimore Cruise Port in Marylandon September 14, 2025, which was a turnaround day for Carnival Pride. The Spirit-class ship homeports year-round out of Baltimore.
Allegedly, three Filipino crew members and one Indonesian crew member were detained on accusations of child pornography on the cruise ship’s last visit to Baltimore on September 7, and were subsequently deported without due process.
This means they were not given the chance to defend themselves in a court of law, nor were they actually found guilty by a judge.
According to the Tanggol Migrante Movement, one of the grassroots Filipino advocacy groups that has been speaking out, the seafarers’ rights were violated because due process wasn’t followed.
These groups also claim that no evidence has been presented to prove the crew members’ guilt.
They are among many calling on the Philippine government to intervene on behalf of their citizens.
“This was really a heinous act…We call on the Philippine government to act. It’s really their responsibility to do more,”said Mark Rodrigo, education officer for the Malaya Movement Baltimore, which is part of the Tanggol Migrante movement.
“My call is that their due process be upheld and respected,” former Filipino seafarer Philip Coronado said to the crowd gathered at the cruise port.
Additional advocacy groups like the Kabataan Alliance, Migrante USA, and the Filipino Workers Center of Southern California have also spoken out against the deportations.
Were the Workers’ Rights Violated?
If the crew members really are guilty, then they absolutely deserve to be fired and deported – but this was not determined in a court of law and the proper legal process was allegedly not followed.
Per the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments in the US Constitution, workers are allowed to defend themselves in court before a final judgment is passed.
The Fifth Amendment guarantees thatno person shall “bedeprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Amendment states that “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
The due process clauses in the Constitution are meant to protect all “persons” within US borders, not just citizens. The Constitution never specifically designated that this is a right only available to citizens in these clauses.
Carnival Pride in Baltimore (Photo Credit: Joe Andrucyk, Bill Mc Allen / Flickr)
While there are rare instances where a bad egg slips through the cracks, crew member arrests are rare.
Part of this is because all crew members who work for Carnival and the other mainstream cruise lines have to undergo thorough interviews and background checks before they are allowed to begin their careers at sea.
And of course, Carnival is cooperating with the authorities in their investigation.
“This is a law enforcement matter of which we always cooperate, and we defer to the authorities for further comment,” said Matt Lupoli, senior manager of Carnival’s public relations, in an email to “The Brew.”
According to cruise tracking data, Carnival Pride was not delayed by the protest and departed from Baltimore on time on September 14 to begin its 7-night voyage to the Bahamas.
However, the approximately 930 crew members onboard likely have had to do some rearranging to re-shuffle the workload between different members on the team until new workers can travel to the ship and be brought up to speed.
It’s possible that guests may notice some temporary delays or dips in service onboard as the crew may not be at its usual capacity.
A Carnival guest has complained to John Heald that their hot tea was served in a mug rather than a proper teacup.
This is apparently a significant issue involving hygiene and is troublesome enough to impact extra tipping.
Heald has reminded guests that crew members want to make things right, but guests have to ask if something is troubling them.
Tea can be a very elegant and comforting ritual to many people, from the exact blends they prefer to the temperature of the beverage, the timing of the service, and even the vessel it is served in.
It is the latter that has upset one Carnival Cruise Line guest, who feels their tea was not presented properly during their latest cruise. They were so upset at the container they were offered that they reached out to the line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, to air their grievances.
“Dis-embarked the Legend. Disappointed that when I ordered hot tea every night at dinner that the waiter brought this in a mug. A mug like the one you get at the buffet. There were no tea cups,”the guest explained.
“Come on Carnival, really. John Heald, as someone from the UK you must know that this is wrong. Tea and coffee at a dinner table should be served in a cup. Not having a place to rest the spoon is unhygienic.”
Just for full disclosure, Carnival Legend is currently homeported from San Francisco, more than 5,200 miles from the UK and the center of proper tea etiquette. San Francisco is even further from Turkey (6,900 miles), which is the country in 2025 that is drinking the most tea.
Nevertheless, it is the mug the tea is served in onboard that the guest appears to be most offended by.
There are differences between mugs and cups. Mugs are usually a bit larger and thicker. Cups are more delicate and have a saucer, whereas mugs do not have saucers.
But really, the beverage inside the mug is not impacted by the container that surrounds it. The guest doesn’t have any comments about the quality of the tea, its flavor, or its temperature, simply the serving vessel.
This may seem like a silly detail (and it really kind of is), but Heald does respond to the guest and offer his suggestions. Of course, he also notes the silliness himself.
Mug of Tea on Cruise
“Life’s certainly tough in the first world,”he commented before going on with his advice.
“This is one of those occasions where I repeat my mantra that if you are unhappy with something please tell someone during the cruise. Please give the crew a chance to help you, to do better.”
Heald did ask the guest if they requested a cup and saucer, but there was no response.
As for the “unhygienic” claim of where to rest one’s spoon, there are options during dinner service, even if it may not be a coordinating saucer with a specialized teacup.
“Where do you put your fork, knife and spoon when not in use? Is that any more unsanitary than your teaspoon?”another guest commented.
Is This Worth Removing a Tip?
The tea-drinking guest did note one thing they chose to do because they weren’t served a proper teacup.
“I was going to give an extra cash tip to [the server] but because of this I didn’t,”they claimed.
To be fair, the guest does not indicate that they removed automatic gratuities or otherwise impacted their tipping throughout the cruise. They simply did not offer an extra tip for their dinner tea service.
This does seem to be a petty reaction, however, especially if they hadn’t requested a teacup in the first place. Even the best crew members are not mind-readers, after all.
As for me, it wouldn’t matter what type of cup or mug that might be used to serve hot tea (granted, I am not a tea drinker and prefer hot chocolate). As long as my soup isn’t served with a straw, no problem.
Carnival has listened to concerns about the Carnival Rewards program and is now adjusting some parts of the program in response.
Adjustments include lifetime Diamond status, a Platinum points boost, and loyalty earning for young cruisers.
More adjustments may yet be forthcoming as the program continues to be refined.
Carnival Cruise Line’s upcoming changes from the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program to the new Carnival Rewards program have been outstandingly controversial.
Ever since the new program was first announced in mid-June, guests have registered complaints with their travel agents, via social media, to brand ambassador John Heald, and through various emails.
Now, Carnival has listened and made several fixes to the new program in an attempt to honor the requests of their most loyal guests.
“The announcement left some of our most loyal guests with the impression that their loyalty was being overlooked, which certainly was not our intention,”the cruise line explained.“As a result, we are pleased to share some modifications that address the concerns expressed.”
This does show that Carnival Cruise Line is listening to its most loyal guests, even if the adjustments might not be what every single guest has hoped for.
“We greatly appreciate the loyalty of our passionate guests and the years of dedication many have exhibited in order to achieve higher tiered loyalty status with Carnival Cruise Line,”said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president.
Permanent Diamond Status
Carnival Rewards Loyalty Program (Credits: Carnival & Melissa Mayntz)
The biggest adjustment is that now, any Carnival VIFP guest who has already earned Diamond status will keep that status, permanently.
“Reflecting upon what it takes to achieve Diamond status, we are permanently extending Diamond level status to all guests who have earned it by May 31, 2026,”Carnival confirmed.
To become a Diamond level VIFP guest under the existing program, guests must sail with the line for 200 days, the equivalent of more than 28 7-night cruises. For many guests, it has taken many years, even decades, to reach that goal.
This can be a great incentive for guests who are already close to, but not quite at, Diamond status to book a few more Carnival cruises in the next few months so they can earn the status for life.
Platinum Points Boost
Unfortunately, Platinum VIFP guests will not get the same permanent status under the new program. There are just too many guests who have already earned that loyalty level to make a lifetime grant possible.
Instead, Carnival Cruise Line is offering a points “boost” for Platinum guests by automatically giving those travelers 10,000 “stars” in their Carnival Rewards account at the start of every two-year earning cycle.
This means these guests will start each new earning cycle not at zero, but already at Gold status, giving them an immediate boost toward earning back either Platinum or Diamond status more easily.
Rewards for Children
Carnival Cruise Line Kids Area (Photo Credit: denbaim)
While it isn’t legal for children under the age of 18 to be enrolled in the Carnival Rewards program, it has been unclear how the cruise line might (or might not) offer rewards and earning status to young cruisers.
Now, that has been clarified and even the youngest Carnival guests will enjoy some rewards, depending on whom they are sailing with.
“We’re pleased to confirm that children will be able to enjoy the same status as their parent or adult that is designated as their responsible party on the booking for that sailing,”Carnival explained.
The cruise line is also going to note any young cruisers who will have earned Diamond or Platinum status before the new program begins on June 1, 2026. That status will be kept on file, and when the young guest turns 18, they will be invited to opt-in to Carnival Rewards at that loyalty level.
Milestone Rewards
Another question high-level VIFP guests have had is about their Milestone Rewards. These one-time-only perks celebrate the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th sailing guests enjoy aboard Carnival Cruise Line.
The new Carnival Rewards program made no mention of milestone acknowledgement, which the cruise line has now corrected.
“All existing VIFP Milestone awards earned through May 2026 will be fully honored through May 2030, giving us the honor of celebrating those special achievements with you,”the cruise line confirmed.
More adjustments are coming to the Milestone program, which will now be based on overall days sailed rather than total number of cruises. This can make the program more fair, considering 25 3-night sailings is just 75 nights, whereas 25 7-night cruises is 175 nights onboard – a very significant difference.
Further Milestone details are yet to be announced.
Program Still Applies Only to US Residents
At this time, Carnival Rewards still only applies to guests who are US residents. Many loyal Canadian and Australian guests have expressed dismay and feelings of being excluded despite their loyalty.
The cruise line is still exploring different options to offer similar programs in those countries, but no further information is available at this time.
“The passion and loyalty of our guests is something that motivates our team every day to deliver the best cruise experience at sea,” said Duffy.
“We appreciate the support of our guests as we move forward with a new loyalty program that has been designed to create more rewards and recognition for our guests.”
Undoubtedly, these adjustments will do a great deal to mollify passionate Carnival fans. It will be impossible to please everyone, but perhaps this is just a start and more adjustments may yet be made in the next eight months before the new program begins.
A passenger on a Royal Caribbean ship has raised concerns about unsupervised children on a recent sailing.
Other guests took to social media to highlight the issue brings safety risks, hygiene concerns, and disruptions to fellow passengers.
Cruise lines require children under 12 to be supervised when on board.
Cruising can be a relaxing way to travel, but for some passengers, the biggest disruption isn’t the weather or the itinerary but fellow guests.
A former passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, which is sailing Western Caribbean routes from Galveston, Texas, recently shared frustration over unsupervised children, saying they interrupt the cruise experience for others.
Taking detailed accounts of incidents that vexed him, the guest said a 3-year-old pressed random elevator buttons while his mother stood by silently, an 8-year-old was lost and crying in an elevator, and three kids aged 7 to 10 were wandering alone.
“One annoying thing throughout the 5 days was watching parents NOT watch their kids,” the passenger shared on social media before highlighting children were often spotted alone.
“On some of the decks, the railings aren’t as high as you would think, and a child that age might think it’s okay to climb on one for a better look. Crazy to let them wander alone,” the guest expressed.
The post sparked wide discussion among other cruise passengers reporting on similar situations on other cruise lines and ships.
One summed up the issue bluntly: “We have come across many, many people who think just because they are on vacation, parenting goes out the window.”
Many guests shared a common theme of children running in stairwells, elevators, and narrow hallways, where crowds and the moving vessels already pose risks.
Dining areas became another flashpoint, with passengers complaining of children running between tables or grabbing food directly from buffet trays with their hands.
For some, it’s not just an annoyance but a question of hygiene and fairness to crew. “Help them in the buffet line,” one guest urged, adding that crew members shouldn’t be responsible for policing table manners.
While most guests agree kids are welcome on family-friendly lines, many also believe that without proper supervision, small lapses can lead to big problems.
Rules for Minors
Cruise lines generally set policies for minors on board, but enforcement often depends on parents.
Royal Caribbean, for example, requires children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult at all times unless they are signed into the supervised Adventure Ocean kids’ club.
Children must be at least 6 months old to sail, and those under 16 are prohibited from using the fitness center.
The line also enforces “adults-only” restrictions in areas such as the Solarium, where access is limited to guests 16 and older.
Kids on a Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Tomsickova Tatyana)
Youth programs are designed to help families manage and give parents a break, offering activities divided by age groups and staff trained in child safety.
Many ships also employ lifeguards at pools and have security teams who can escort children to guest services if found wandering alone.
On family-friendly cruise lines, it is common to see thousands of children on board during peak holiday and summer sailings, and it becomes a fine line of providing family-friendly environments and maintaining order for adult passengers seeking quieter spaces.
For cruise lovers who don’t want to be disturbed by children running amok, adults-only cruise lines like Virgin Voyages and Viking take the worry away.
Royal Caribbean has notified guests that Anthem of the Seas‘ RipCord by iFly is closed for the September 19 sailing.
The feature is not being removed, but is due for maintenance. The exact nature of the maintenance has not been detailed.
Any pre-booked, pre-paid reservations for RipCord by iFly are being automatically cancelled and full refunds processed.
While a cruise itinerary and ports of call are definitely a highlight of any cruise vacation, the fun features guests can enjoy onboard their ship are equally important for making those cruise memories.
Guests setting sail on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas later this week, however, will have one less opportunity for exciting thrills and cruise memories.
The cruise line has reached out to booked guests to alert them that one prominent feature will not be available during their sailing.
“Just like in your home, our ships need some tender loving care too!”the notification letter explained.“We’ll be conducting necessary maintenance on the RipCord by iFly, and as a result, it will be unavailable during your sailing.”
The impacted cruise is Anthem of the Seas‘ September 19, 2025 departure, a 7-night Alaska Experience itinerary roundtrip from Seattle. The voyage will be visiting Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and Victoria, but without the unique onboard skydiving fun.
Guests who had already booked a reservation for RipCord by iFly have had those plans automatically cancelled and fully refunded to the original form of payment. Refund processing may take up to 14 business days, depending on the policies of individual financial institutions.
While this will be disappointing for guests who were excited about the unique and thrilling experience, there are still plenty of other activities onboard Anthem of the Seas to enjoy.
The 169,000-gross-ton, Quantum class cruise ship still offers the FlowRider surf simulator, the classic rock climbing wall, laser tag, the North Star observation pod, the relaxing Solarium, the SeaPlex sports court with bumper cars, and so much more.
There is no indication that Royal Caribbean is removing the RipCord by iFly simulator, only that the feature is undergoing regular maintenance.
The nature of that maintenance has not been disclosed, but could be related to any number of upgrades, safety updates, technical alterations, or even cosmetic changes to enhance the experience.
Anthem of the Seas is not the only ship with RipCord by iFly, nor is it the only ship that does not have the feature at the moment.
The exciting feature is part of all the cruise line’s Quantum and Quantum Ultra class ships: Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum, and Odyssey.
Unfortunately, RipCord by iFly is temporarily unavailable onboard Quantum of the Seas, according to a posted notice on the Royal Caribbean website:
“RipCord by iFLY onboard Quantum of the Seas is currently not available.”
Why the feature is not currently available or when it might return is not noted.
Unavailable Features Not Unusual
While it may be disappointing for guests who want to try certain features onboard to learn that those attractions won’t be operating during their cruise, this is not actually unusual.
Depending on their budget and vacation plans, guests might only spend a few days onboard a particular ship each year, but these ships do operate 24/7. Because of that, there can be significant wear and tear on highly technical features, even those that may have more limited operating hours.
Anthem of the Seas Open Deck (Photo Credit: Go My Media / Shutterstock)
It is then necessary for the feature to be removed from service, whether it is a closed hot tub, a shuttered restaurant, or an action amenity that isn’t available.
For example, in February 2023, the exclusive Diamond Lounge on Harmony of the Seas was unavailable for several sailings due to renovations.
Updates and construction aren’t the only reasons why venues might not be available.
More recently, the Solarium Bistro onboard Allure of the Seas was closed for the August 21, 2025 sailing so it could be used for kosher food preparation for a significant group booking.
These types of closures are not limited to Royal Caribbean ships either. Onboard Norwegian Bliss in October 2022, the Vibe Beach Club was closed to guests after it was chartered for a specific group onboard.
Venues are also occasionally closed during sailings for ongoing renovations or to fix accidental damage, such as the closure of the Frightening Bolt waterslide onboard both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas following glass breakage that injured a guest.
