A viral video of a cruise passenger sleeping on a rollaway bed on her private balcony is making waves on social media.
Most cruise lines do not allow guests to relocate their beds for safety reasons and to avoid damaging the bedding.
However, most cruise fans are more concerned that the person who filmed the video invaded the snoozing guest’s privacy on a viral scale.
Every now and then, cruisers get rather, umm, creative, when it comes to their cabin set ups.
In the past, we’ve seen Carnival cruisers go viral for dragging a lounge chair from the Lido deck to their interior cabin and another woman was scrutinized for moving her bed to her balcony on a chilly Antarctica cruise.
And once again, another cruise guest is going viral for moving what looks like a rollaway bed onto her cruise cabin’s private balcony.
A short clip was taken from another cruise ship that was docked next to the vessel as the passenger comfortably snoozed under a white comforter.
She even has a book on her lap and a make-shift nightstand set up on a chair, showing she made this decision for the long haul.
The ship she was onboard hasn’t been specified, but it was a Royal Caribbean ship that was docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.
“Why do y’all do this,” the original TikTok asked in white text over the short video clip.
Some scrutiny is valid, as most cruise lines actually do not allow guests to relocate their beds to their balconies for safety reasons.
First, sleeping on the balcony increases the risk of a passenger falling or slipping, especially if the vessel encounters rough seas or there is an unexpected change in weather.
Passenger With Bed on Balcony (Credit: @cartelmarcel)
Next, all entrances and exits to the cruise cabin need to be kept clear in the unlikely event of an emergency.
If this guest and her companions had to evacuate their cabin by means of their balcony, the bed would create a dangerous obstruction.
And while safety is the key concern here, long-term exposure to the salty ocean air can damage bedding and mattresses, potentially even leading to mold.
An Invasion of Privacy
You would likely expect that safety would be the top concern among onlookers, but the bigger sticking point was actually that many felt the snoozing cruiser was the victim of an unforgivable invasion of privacy.
Other cruise fans didn’t like that she was filmed without consent and that she was being judged for moving her bed.
One TikToker, who goes by @cartelmarcel on the platform, reacted to the surprisingly controversial video. He captioned the clip with “let people love their life lol.”
The TikToker’s video received over 2,400 comments, with most judging the cameraperson and original poster of the video more than the snoozing passenger.
“They thought it was weird to roll a bed onto a balcony but not weird to record someone who is minding their own business!?”one person exclaimed.
“People that record others at resorts and cruises and post it on social media to make fun of them should be banned. Let people relax and mind your business,”another commented.
But while I would never personally record and post a stranger on a cruise ship (and don’t recommend doing so), I do wonder if passengers actually have a reasonable expectation of privacy while enjoying cruise ship balconies.
On most cruise ships, you can still see other passengers enjoying their balconies from your own cabin, which means they can see you as well.
Additionally, cruisers are aware of when port calls are scheduled, and should, in theory, have the sense to know that their balcony may be visible from the dock or a neighboring vessel.
When they woke up in the morning in port, they realized guests on a neighboring cruise ship were getting an unexpected show.
In the age of smartphones and cameras everywhere, my advice is to never do anything in public that would upset you if it made the rounds on social media.
Royal Caribbean advised guests booked to sail aboard Liberty of the Seas on October 11, 2025 that the ship will not be able to visit Bermuda due to Tropical Storm Jerry swirling in the Atlantic.
The ship will instead head north, to Saint John, New Brunswick, and spend an overnight there rather than at Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard.
A notice from the cruise was sent to booked guests, and it does not indicate there will be any compensation for the revised itinerary.
So long, Bermuda. That’s what guests booked to sail aboard the next voyage of Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas are saying, thanks to a tropical storm that is causing the cruise line to alter course.
The 3,634-guest Liberty of the Seas, a Freedom-class ship that launched in 2007, was scheduled to embark guests at her New York homeport on October 11, 2025, for a 5-night Bermuda cruise with an overnight stay at the destination’s Royal Naval Dockyard.
Guests were expecting warm ocean breezes as they strolled along Bermuda’s pink sand beaches, but instead they will sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, and spend an overnight there.
“Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we’ve been closely monitoring the developing low-pressure coastal storm system in conjunction with the path of Tropical Storm Jerry impacting our voyage path south,” Royal Caribbean wrote in a notice to guests.
“These storms’ forecast tracks make it hard to provide you with a safe and comfortable journey toward Bermuda,” the line explained.
Tropical Storm Jerry is currently impacting the Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean, drenching islands with rainfall up to one inch per hour, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The storm, packing maximum wind gusts up to 50 mph, is headed north and expected to affect the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through October 11, 2025.
Tropical Storm Jerry
From there, the expected path continues to take the storm northeast, past Bermuda. At the same time, a Nor’easter is set to affect the New England region. While neither of the storms will reach the US mainland, they will affect ocean conditions.
Royal Caribbean looked at alternative itineraries and chose to reroute the ship to the Canadian port. The line apologized for the revised cruise but noted that safety is its top priority.
Guests were advised to pack sweaters and other clothing appropriate for Saint John’s chilly temperatures, which range from 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit in mid-October. That’s a pretty big contrast to Bermuda, where temperatures are still in the 80s.
However, there’s plenty to see and do in Saint John, which is situated on the Bay of Fundy and is known for its historic architecture. One of the top activities is watching the Reversing Falls, where the Saint John River empties into the bay through a tight gorge as the tide changes, falling some 52 feet.
Other Cruise Ships Take Steps to Bypass Storms
The weather activity in the Atlantic has prompted other ships, including those operated by Royal Caribbean, to alter itineraries and change embarkation times in an effort to avoid the worst of the stormy seas.
The cruise line’s newest ship, Star of the Seas, altered her itinerary away from St. Maarten and toward Puerto Rico on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing that departed Port Canaveral on October 5, 2025.
Looking to avoid Tropical Storm Jerry, the 5,610-guest ship dropped the St. Maarten call and shifted away from the Leeward Islands.
Another ship, Symphony of the Seas, moved up guest embarkation times by two hours so that the ship can depart earlier than scheduled from New Jersey’s Cape Liberty on October 12, 2025. That day is expected to be impacted by high winds and rough seas along the New Jersey coast.
The 5,518-guest ship is scheduled to sail a 7-day Bahamas and Perfect Day voyage, calling at Port Canaveral, Nassau, Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
A new VIFP loyalty gift is coming soon across the Carnival fleet, and it might be a collapsible water bottle.
Photos of the new gift were shared by a guest onboard Carnival Celebration this week and confirmed by multiple other guests onboard the Excel-class ship.
This may be the last loyalty gift ever offered, as the logo gifts are not listed in the upcoming Carnival Rewards program.
One of the soon-to-be-ending perks of Carnival Cruise Line’s loyalty program is exclusive VIFP gifts on every cruise. For several months, the current gift has been a set of three packing cubes, but that gift is now running out and a replacement is in the works.
The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, confirmed that a new gift is coming soon.
“There is a new gift coming very, very soon and I think this will be another popular one,”he said.“Stay tuned!”
Guests may not have to stay tuned for very long, however, as multiple recent guests aboard Carnival Celebration shared what they got this week: a collapsible water bottle.
Carnival Celebration is homeported from Miami, offering 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries. The ship’s current sailing, which departed South Florida on Sunday, October 5, is a western route with visits to Celebration Key, Cozumel, and Roatan.
These are certainly warmer destinations where having water handy would be useful, and the new gift appears to be a very useful one indeed.
The dark blue bottles have a stainless steel cap and a red metal carabiner for easy attachment to a bag or belt loop, making them very portable. The bottle material appears to be silicone and the neck is expandable/collapsible, which is a useful feature for saving space as the water is drunk.
The bottles appear to have a koozie-like wrap on the main body, with Carnival’s iconic whale tail logo and VIFP Club printed on it.
The capacity is unknown, but these appear to be similar to a small, individual water bottle, perhaps 12-16 ounces.
Carnival’s New VIFP Gift (Credit: Teddy rons)
With the VIFP loyalty program ending on May 31, 2026 as the new Carnival Rewards program begins, it is possible these water bottles may be the very last gift offered to loyal cruisers.
While the new program will still give a “member collectible pin” to guests who reach the Platinum and Diamond reward levels, branded gifts will no longer be one of the perks. The program is still being refined and full details have not yet been released, however, so future gifts may still be under consideration.
Not All Guests Like All Gifts
Several of Carnival’s VIFP gifts have been controversial over the years. Items that appear to be flimsy and inexpensive, such as the slap-koozie and the foam visor, have generated a lot of derision from Platinum and Diamond guests.
For some guests, style preferences play into whether or not a gift is loved or hated. In October 2024, a baseball cap gift got very mixed reactions with some guests loving it, but guests who don’t wear caps were less than impressed.
Other items, such as the valet bag (my personal favorite!), tote bags, and the current packing cubes, are almost universally enjoyed and appreciated.
Almost, but not quite. Heald recently had one guest criticize the packing cubes, not because they didn’t like them, but because they simply had too many.
“I met a guest today who wanted to swap her Platinum packing cubes for dinner at the Steakhouse because she has three sets,”Heald noted during his brief visit to Carnival Sunrise. “I didn’t give her the steakhouse and she isn’t happy with me.”
At current pricing, an adult dinner at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse aboard Carnival Sunrise (located midship, portside, on Deck 4) would be $52. While the packing cubes are a nice gift, they certainly aren’t valued at $52. On Amazon, sets of 4-8 cubes can easily be found under $20.
Under the current loyalty program, guests cannot swap gifts or choose other perks more to their liking. It is possible the Carnival Rewards program might offer such flexibility in the future.
What guests can do is simply not pick up gifts they don’t like or don’t want more of, or they can give the items away to other cruisers instead. One guest shares that they’ve donated extra packing cubes to a local homeless shelter, where the items are very welcome.
The day before embarkation, guests on Norwegian Escape‘s October 11, 2025 repositioning cruise have been informed of dramatic itinerary changes.
The ship will now visit two fewer ports of call and the time on shore has been slashed by 40% because the ship needs to sail at a slower speed.
Despite brewing storm systems, poor weather is not a factor in these changes, but may have additional impacts on the sailing.
A repositioning cruise, when a ship changes homeports, can be a great cruise opportunity, often a longer sailing and visiting more ports of call.
Guests boarding Norwegian Escape on Saturday, October 11, for the ship’s move from New York to New Orleans were hoping for exactly that type of experience for the 14-night sailing.
While the cruise will still be two weeks long, guests have now been notified that much of the itinerary has changed. The ship will still be moving from the Big Apple to the Big Easy, but along the way, every port visit except one has now been changed.
“Due to a required adjustment that slightly reduces our sailing speed (don’t worry, everything’s smooth and safe onboard!), we’ll be swapping our calls to San Juan, Puerto Rico and George Town, Cayman Islands for an extra beautiful day at sea and a stop at the beach-lover’s paradise of Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic,”the email notification said.
To be clear, this means that three ports are now dropped from the itinerary, with just one alternative port added instead. Furthermore, the times in other ports have also been adjusted.
Norwegian Escape’s new itinerary is as follows:
Saturday, October 11 – Depart New York City
Sunday, October 12 – At sea
Monday, October 13 – At sea
Tuesday, October 14 – At sea (previously Puerto Plata)
Wednesday, October 15 – Puerto Plata (previously San Juan)
Thursday, October 16 – St Thomas (time changed with nearly two hours less)
Friday, October 17 – At sea
Saturday, October 18 – Willemstad, Curacao
Sunday, October 19 – Oranjestad, Aruba (time changed with two hours less)
Monday, October 20 – Cabo Rojo (previously at sea)
Tuesday, October 21 – Falmouth, Jamaica (time changed with two hours less)
Wednesday, October 22 – At sea (previously Grand Cayman)
Thursday, October 23 – Cozumel, Mexico (time changed with one hour more)
Friday, October 24 – At sea
Saturday, October 25 – Arrive New Orleans
In total, the ship will now visit six ports of call, instead of the eight ports on the original itinerary. What is interesting is that the email goes on with a seemingly outrageous claim.
“We have modified the timing of many port visits to provide you with as much time in each port as possible,”it reads.
That language would seem to indicate more time in fewer ports, but the revised itinerary shows just the opposite.
When added together, guests will get to enjoy just 45.75 hours in all the ports combined, instead of the originally planned 76 hours. This is a loss of 40% of the planned port time.
Norwegian Escape in New York (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz / Shutterstock)
Nevertheless, the ship is safe and her onboard operations are not impacted, though Norwegian Cruise Line has not offered any explanation for why the slower sailing speed is necessary.
Is Bad Weather a Factor?
Some guests are speculating that poor weather along the east coast of the US may be a factor in changing the ship’s itinerary.
Neither system, however, should have a strong impact on Norwegian Escape. The ship is leaving before the worst of the nor’easter weather will begin, and according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Jerry will be well out of the way by the time Norwegian Escape gets anywhere close to her easternmost destinations.
Of course, poor weather can impact any cruise itinerary at any time, anywhere in the world. With a 2-week sailing, it is possible that Norwegian Escape may have further adjustments for regional conditions as needed.
Guests will be informed of such changes as soon as possible, but safety will always be the foremost priority no matter where the ship sails or which ports she visits.
It’s so easy to keep up with what’s happening in the world of cruising.
Just read Cruise Hive’s weekly news recap. In this week’s edition, some of our top highlights include a story about a bride-to-be who incurred a lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line after smuggling liquor onboard, and design details about Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, Beachcomber. And don’t miss our coverage of higher parking fees now being charged at Port Canaveral.
Get your daily cruise news fix by signing up for Cruise Hive’s Daily Update, delivered to your inbox each morning.
Smuggled Liquor Leads to Lifetime Ban on Carnival
Banned from Carnival (Credit: @madisonwest2000)
Here’s a tip: If you’re doing something onboard a cruise ship that you know is prohibited, don’t post a video of the activity on TikTok.
But it’s too late for one woman to take that advice, and as a result, she now has a lifetime ban on cruising with Carnival Cruise Line. It happened during a recent bachelorette celebration for Maddie (@madisonwest2000), when the woman, age unknown, sneaked alcohol onboard her ship.
After posting about it on TikTok, some viewers tagged the cruise line, and soon after, Carnival Cruise Line security arrived at her stateroom. She had apparently smuggled the liquor onboard via some feminine hygiene products.
Maddie was not the first to get caught smuggling alcohol onto a ship, but she received the same penalty — a lifetime ban from cruising with the line again.
She has since petitioned Carnival Cruise Line to rescind the ban, but we’re not optimistic. Meanwhile, online comments were not sympathetic, with most suggesting that she got what she deserved.
Like other cruise lines, Carnival does allow limited alcoholic beverages to be brought legally onboard. The brand’s policy states that a guest can board their ship with one 750-ml bottle of sealed wine or champagne in their carry-on luggage.
Venues Revealed Aboard New Legend of the Seas
Legend of the Seas Render
When Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas debuts in July 2026, the 250,800-gross-ton ship will offer experiences geared toward family fun, including the new stage show “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
The cruise line revealed some of what the new ship, which is third in the Icon class, will offer in entertainment, activities, and dining. Among the exciting aspects are Absolute Zero, the biggest ice skating venue at sea, and the Category 6 waterpark, with six thrilling waterslides.
The ship’s AquaTheater will feature aquatic shows with high divers, dancers, and aerialists, while Crown’s Edge will challenge guests with a ropes course and zip line 154 feet above the water line.
The ship will have seven pools, 10 hot tubs, and for youngsters, Splashaway Bay. Dining venues will include Royal Railway-Legend Station, where a five-course menu will feature international cuisine.
Legend of the Seas, with a capacity for 7,000 guests, is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She will spend her maiden season in Europe before deploying to Port Everglades and sailing a variety of Caribbean cruises.
With These Luggage Issues, Guests Are on Their Own
Carnival Cruise Line Luggage (Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto)
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald took up two unique issues resulting from guest complaints posted on his popular Facebook page, both having to do with luggage issues, and neither of which the cruise line can address.
One guest arrived at his departure port with a piece of damaged luggage; apparently, it was mishandled at an airport and suffered a big crack. The guest was disappointed that staff onboard Carnival Panorama were unable or unwilling to wrap his suitcase in plastic to prevent further damage.
Heald agreed to ask the ship’s repair shop to look at the damaged luggage to see if there was something to be done, but no, he told the guest, we will not wrap your suitcase.
In another issue, a guest complained that the cruise line does not provide luggage storage outside the cabin. This guest claimed that there is not sufficient space inside a stateroom to store suitcases and that other cruise lines do offer a storage option.
But in fact, virtually all staterooms do provide enough space under beds or in closets to store luggage. If some cruise lines offer to store luggage elsewhere, the practice is likely limited to the ultra-luxury brands.
Parking at Port Canaveral Just Got More Expensive
Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
The new rates took effect on October 1, 2025 and are meant to help offset ambitious expansion projects and maintain existing infrastructure. The fee hike is expected to raise some $12.8 million in additional revenue.
For cruise guests who need to park a vehicle or RV, it translates to an extra $21 for a 7-night cruise, and the fee must be paid upon arrival at the parking lot. Other popular ports in Florida have similar or higher fees. At PortMiami, for instance, parking rates range from $20 to $35 per day.
Port Canaveral is the second-busiest, behind PortMiami, in terms of cruise arrivals, and has six cruise terminals. Some 9 million cruise guests are expected to transit Port Canaveral in 2026.
Long-term development plans include new terminal facilities, upgraded cruise berths, more parking, and improved security systems. The last parking fee hike was in 2017, when rates were raised by $1 per day.
Beachcomber to Offer Massive 5 o’Clock Somewhere
Beachcomber Clock
The Jimmy Buffet-inspired Margaritaville at Sea cruise brand took the wraps off of its newest ship’s design to reveal the world’s largest 5 o’Clock Somewhere venue.
The vessel, Margaritaville Beachcomber, will begin sailing under her new name in early 2027 following a major renovation. The 2,702-guest ship will be purchased from Costa Cruises in 2026, and currently sails as Costa Fortuna.
The 5 o’Clock Somewhere venue will be the heart of the ship, and will be located on four decks at the aft of the 102,587-gross-ton vessel. The spacious venue will feature a pool, dining and bar venues, and an entertainment space with live music.
Eateries slated to be offered in the space include the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar and the Mexican Cutie Cantina. The Daiquiri Shack will entice guests to try a frozen cocktail while adult-only cabanas offer a luxury experience with ocean views and a dedicated bar.
Beachcomber will homeport in Miami, and join two ships currently sailing for the brand: Margaritaville Paradise, based in Palm Beach, and Margaritaville Islander, homeported at Tampa.
Cruise Line Narrows Adult-Only Sailings on Two Ships
P&O Cruises’ Arcadia sails from Southampton. (Photo Credit: Peter Titmuss)
P&O Cruises will soon welcome families aboard some voyages of its Aurora and Arcadia ships, which have both been traditionally reserved for guests 18 and older.
All of the affected cruises sail roundtrip from Southampton, UK, in 2026 and 2027. A total of 12 voyages aboard the 1,874-guest Aurora and 8 aboard the 2,094-guest Arcadia are affected. P&O Cruises said the change resulted from guest feedback.
It means that guests already booked on these sailings — thinking they would vacation without children onboard, will now likely have kids as fellow cruisers.
Knowing this could be an issue for some travelers, the cruise line will allow booked guests to swap cruises to an adult-only voyage without any penalty before December 1, 2025.
The itineraries that will accept children onboard vary from 3- and 4-night getaways to longer cruises of up to 24 nights.
Aurora’s first family cruise will be a 4-night getaway to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, departing December 11, 2026. For Arcadia, her first family voyage will be a 16-night Spain, Portugal, and Canary Islands holiday cruise departing on December 21, 2026.
Drink Package to be Pulled From Private Island
Great Stirrup Cay and Drinks (Photo Credits: Paul Bartlett & Dennis MacDonald)
Cruise ship guests who buy drink packages have become accustomed to using the pre-paid plans on private island destinations owned by cruise lines, but that will no longer be the case on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay.
Beginning March 1, 2026, the cruise line’s More at Sea drink plan will not extend to the island visits, although a new drink package designed for the destination will be offered starting in January 2026.
No details about the new package have been revealed yet, but are expected soon. Great Stirrup Cay does provide free beverages, including water, iced tea, and juice, but the More at Sea plan, offering unlimited open bar for guests over 21, will not be valid on the island.
The cruise line attributed the policy change to its plan to transform the island experience. Indeed, the line has big plans for improvements to Great Stirrup Cay, including the addition of a two-ship pier and the 6-acre Great Tides Waterpark, each debuting in late 2025 and summer 2026, respectively.
Comments on social media about the change in the More at Sea drink plan were mostly negative, with some calling the new policy a money grab and an example of a cruise line nickel and diming its guests.
More Cruise Headlines
Let’s keep going with even more news from Cruise Hive, including Carnival Cruise Line announcing its holiday decorating schedule, MSC Cruises opening bookings for its Alaska 2027 season, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship arriving at PortMiami for the winter season.
The Algerian Naval Forces responded to a call for a medical evacuation onboard Sky Princess on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The guest in need of the urgent rescue was a 77-year-old British national who was suffering from a serious medical condition.
The airlift went smoothly and there was no impact to the two itineraries that the Princess ship is operating simultaneously.
For one Princess Cruises’ guest, their voyage onboard Sky Princess has come to an abrupt conclusion.
The guest, who has only been identified as a 77-year-old British national, suddenly required urgent hospitalization while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean near Algeria.
The cruiser’s condition has not been disclosed, but the Princess medical team would have evaluated the guest and deemed their situation too serious to be managed onboard before calling for a medical evacuation.
When the distress call was received at approximately 10:40 a.m. local time on October 8, 2025, the Royal-class cruise ship was positioned approximately 35 nautical miles north of Algeria’s Cap de Fer.
For context, this would place the vessel in the Skikda Province maritime zone, which stretches approximately 80 miles from El Marsa in the east to Oued Z’hour in the west along the Mediterranean coastline.
The National Coast Guard Service immediately sprang into action to rescue the ailing patient.
The Algerian Naval Forces quickly sent an AS-14 search and rescue helicopter from the 560th Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron to rendezvous with the 3,660-guest ship.
The rescue was aided by coordination efforts made by the regional surveillance and rescue center in Jijel, Algeria.
Thankfully, the airlift went smoothly and the passenger was successfully transferred to the El Hadjar Hospital in Annaba, where they were admitted. Their prognosis has been kept private.
Cruise Hive is sending our thoughts and prayers to the disembarked passenger and their loved ones for the best possible outcome and a speedy recovery.
No Impact to the Itinerary
Sky Princess is nearing the end of a 31-night round-trip Mediterranean itinerary that embarked in Southampton, UK, on September 13, 2025.
An additional round of cruisers also embarked in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 27, for a 17-night sailing to Southampton.
Luckily, the evacuated passenger would have been able to enjoy the majority of the scheduled port calls, which included top-tier destinations throughout Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Malta.
Adding to the good fortune, we can confirm that there was no impact to the remaining two ports on the itinerary for the remaining guests because of the medical evacuation.
This is lucky, as rescues can sometimes lead to delayed or cancelled port calls. Just last month, for example,Carnival Sunshine arrived late in Bermuda after an early morning rescue.
According to cruise tracking data, the 141,000-gross ton vessel was not delayed long by waiting for the helicopter and did not go off course in order to meet the first responders.
She also had a full sea day in between the rescue and her next port call to help make up any lost time.
The first of the final calls was to Cadiz, Spain, where Sky Princess arrived on time on October 10, 2025. The final stop will be in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 11.
The 2019-launched vessel will then spend two more days at sea before returning to Southampton on the morning of October 14.
Disembarkation for the current voyage, and embarkation for the following cruise – which is a 5-night sailing to Hamburg, Germany – will proceed as normal.
Carnival Legend spent Saturday, October 11 in Acapulco as an unplanned visit after losing a visit to Cabo San Lucas to Hurricane Priscilla.
This visit is the first time a Carnival ship has visited Acapulco in more than 15 years, but the team pulled together to offer great options to guests.
Carnival Legend is already planning a return to Acapulco on a 2027 Carnival Journeys sailing as she moves from Tampa to Seattle ahead of the Alaska season.
Any longer, more immersive Carnival Journeys cruise can be a legendary vacation. Guests onboard Carnival Legend, however, are making Carnival Cruise Line history on their 16-night sailing between San Francisco and Galveston with an unplanned, surprise visit to Acapulco, Mexico.
The cruise line hasn’t visited the iconic Mexican destination since 2010, and in fact, Carnival Legend wasn’t scheduled to visit Acapulco on this sailing.
Hurricane Priscilla had other ideas, however. Carnival Legend departed San Francisco on Monday, October 6, 2025, just as the storm was at its most intense off the coast of the Mexican Riviera.
Guests were notified on Wednesday, October 8, that their planned visit to Cabo San Lucas would not be possible.
“The port is now closed and is expected to remain closed tomorrow,”the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained.“Further, rough seas in the Cabo area would hinder our ability to operate water shuttles to take you between the ship and shore.”
At that time, the revised itinerary simply had an extra day at sea on the way to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for the planned visit on Tuesday, October 14.
This would have given Carnival Legend a total of seven full days in a row at sea before making any port visit.
With multiple rough weather systems in the region Carnival Legend has needed to sail on this voyage, however, it was possible additional changes might be necessary.
“Safety for everyone on board is a priority and, as we head south, we will be taking a course that will help us avoid the most unfavorable conditions,”the letter confirmed.“None-the-less, as we sail, we may periodically experience some strong winds and choppy seas.”
That revision was about to be revised, however. On Thursday, October 9, just when guests should have been enjoying Cabo San Lucas, they received notification of yet another change from the ship’s master, Captain Mark Harlow.
“We are making good time with sailing, and I’m pleased to inform you that we have been able to secure a visit to Acapulco, Mexico for Saturday, October 11,”the next letter read.
The 85,900-gross-ton, Spirit class ship was able to schedule a visit from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the same length of time that the ship would have spent in Cabo San Lucas.
Before arriving in Acapulco, the Carnival Adventures team put together a number of options for eager guests.
Even with the last-minute change of plans, the team secured city tours, cliff diving shows, beach resort visits, a botanical garden visit with a lagoon cruise, a chance to release a baby sea turtle into the ocean, snorkeling, and more.
Guests were also welcome to explore the area on their own, and were advised to follow common sense safety precautions as is prudent in any port of call.
The rest of Carnival Legend‘s sailing is not yet impacted by any further changes.
The ship should still visit Costa Rica, transit the Panama Canal, and visit both Colombia and Grand Cayman before arriving in Texas on Wednesday, October 22.
A Historic Visit – With More to Come
While this surprise visit to Acapulco is the first time Carnival Cruise Line has called on the city in 15 years, there are already plans to return.
In 2027, a 16-night repositioning cruise from Tampa to Seattle will also visit Acapulco, also operated by Carnival Legend. On that itinerary departing Florida on April 4, 2027, however, the visit is planned.
That epic sailing was just announced in July 2025 as part of Carnival Cruise Line’s “dancing of the ships” itinerary reveals for 2027. Carnival Legend will be spending the 2027 summer in Alaska, and that Carnival Journeys cruise will take her to the Last Frontier.
While Carnival Cruise Line does not visit Acapulco regularly, the destination is offered through other cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises all have select sailings that include Acapulco in the next few months.
Carnival Sunshine will be delayed at least a full day in returning to Norfolk, Virginia, due to the nor’easter impacting the US East Coast.
This will subsequently shorten the next cruise and guests are being advised to wait for further details to be provided on Sunday, October 12.
The next sailing will now not be departing until at least October 13, depending on when the port is able to reopen and the ship can return.
Carnival Sunshine is not seeing a lot of sunshine as she sails back to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of her 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that initially departed on Saturday, October 4.
Unfortunately, due to bad weather as she approaches her homeport, the ship is going to be delayed and the next voyage shortened accordingly.
“Carnival Sunshine is experiencing strong winds and high seas as it sails back to Norfolk. Further, weather forecasts indicate that unfavorable conditions will continue into the evening both at sea and over the Chesapeake Bay area – the waterway leading into the port,”the notice sent to embarking guests read.
The nor’easter brewing along the Atlantic seaboard has already impacted Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which moved up her Sunday embarkation in New Jersey in the hopes of leaving ahead of the storm.
Norfolk, however, is 300 miles south-southeast of Cape Liberty, making that Virginia homeport much closer to the poor weather.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with our partners and local authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard. Given the current conditions, the channel into Norfolk is expected to be closed overnight,”the email continued.
“This, coupled with the unfavorable weather that is impacting the ship’s journey, makes it clear that the ship will not be able to dock until sometime Monday morning.”
Guests onboard Carnival Sunshine have been assured that all possible steps will be taken to keep them safe, as the ship is currently adjusting her heading to steer clear of the roughest weather. Outer decks have been closed as a precaution.
High winds and significant swells are to be expected, and guests onboard should be cautious when moving around the ship.
Once further details are confirmed, Carnival Cruise Line will assist guests with adjusting their post-cruise plans and making other necessary arrangements for their delayed arrival.
In the meantime, all onboard operations are proceeding as normal and there is no impact to the ship’s entertainment, dining, or other functions. Additional activities will certainly be added to the daily schedule so guests can continue to have fun during the unexpected extra day.
Next Cruise to Be Shortened
The exact time that Carnival Sunshine will be able to dock on Monday, October 13 is not yet confirmed. Scheduling will depend on when the rough weather passes sufficiently for the port to reopen, as well as any necessary safety inspections before port operations can resume.
Once cleared, the cruise ship will be able to proceed to the cruise terminal. There must still be sufficient time for customs and immigration clearance, however, as well as for previous guests to debark before incoming guests can board the ship.
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98)
“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received confirmation from us on when your cruise will operate,”Carnival is alerting guests.
A further update on the revised cruise and embarkation plans will be provided by 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, just when embarkation was to have finished and Carnival Sunshine would set sail on her next voyage.
The ship’s October 12 (now October 13) departure is for a 6-night cruise to Bermuda. The sailing is actually Carnival Sunshine‘s last trip to Bermuda for 2025.
While the cruise line will take every possible step to preserve that visit, if Carnival Sunshine is delayed too drastically, it is possible she may be unable to head for Bermuda and an alternative itinerary may be arranged.
Further details are sure to be provided once the weather lightens and the ship’s docking plans are confirmed.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that Carnival Sunshine will only be delayed by a single day due to the nor’easter impacting Norfolk.
The ship will now set sail on a 5-night cruise to Bermuda instead of the original 6-night itinerary, but the port visit is preserved as scheduled.
Guests are receiving a one-day prorated refund of their cruise fare and per-day packages, as well as a $100 per stateroom onboard credit.
Following a tense night of uncertainty about the itinerary for Carnival Sunshine, guests awaiting their now-delayed cruise have received the welcome news that they will still be visiting Bermuda as planned.
The former Carnival Destiny and one of the oldest ships in the Carnival fleet has been delayed returning to Norfolk, Virginia, due to the nor’easter impacting the US East Coast.
On Sunday afternoon, just as the ship would have been preparing for departure, Windy.com shows winds as high as 33-34 knots (38-40 miles per hour) at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, with even higher gusts.
Despite the rough weather on what was to have been embarkation day, however, Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the sailing will go ahead just one day late.
“We’re pleased to confirm that Carnival Sunshine will dock in Norfolk tomorrow morning, Monday, October 13,”the email notification reads.
Guests are advised to arrive at the cruise terminal at the same times they initially chose when checking in for the sailing, albeit on Monday instead of Sunday.
While of course, it is disappointing that the 6-night sailing will now be a 5-night voyage instead, the notification did have more good news.
“Aside from the adjusted departure date, the remainder of the itinerary, including the scheduled visit to Bermuda, remains unchanged,”the email said.
Carnival Sunshine is due to visit Bermuda for the last time this year with an overnight call from 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15 through 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 16.
To make up for the shortened sailing, all guests will be receiving a one day, prorated refund of their cruise fare as well as a one-day refund of any pre-purchased packages, such as the Cheers! drink package or Wi-Fi options.
Guests are also going to receive a $100 (USD) onboard credit per stateroom.
How Can the Ship Still Get to Bermuda?
Before it was confirmed that Carnival Sunshine would, in fact, be able to depart on the shortened sailing on Monday, there was uncertainty about whether or not the visit to Bermuda would still be possible.
Bermuda is roughly 735 miles from Norfolk. When compared to Carnival Sunshine‘s top speed of 21 knots (24 miles per hour), the ship would need a minimum of 31 hours to sail between the ports, along with extra time for docking maneuvers and slower speeds required in the harbors.
Fortunately, the ship has 41 hours from her estimated time of departure from Norfolk until she is scheduled to arrive in Bermuda. This gives the vessel plenty of time to make the journey with no adjustment to the time spent in port.
Cruise ships routinely reduce sailing speed on days at sea. This will reduce relative wind speeds on the outer decks and permit a more enjoyable experience for lounging by the pool, enjoying whirlpools, or joining in deck parties or games.
These lower planned speeds also provide a buffer for unexpected diversions, such as rough weather, medical evacuations, or refugee rescues. When such things happen, the ship has a plentiful margin to make up the loss of time without sacrificing time in port.
While Carnival Sunshine may now need to sail faster than anticipated on her way to Bermuda, at least she will still be able to make the trip safely and guests onboard will be able to enjoy their full visit to the British territory.
