Holland America Line, a premium brand of Carnival Corporation, is rolling out an ambitious program that will bring fresh fish aboard all of its ships from 60 ports worldwide.
The plan also includes a new pop-up restaurant serving fish cuisine fleet-wide, and the naming of a top chef as the line’s “Fresh Fish Ambassador.”
Holland America to Begin Roll-Out of New Menu Items
Ships sailing in the Holland America Line fleet will soon source fresh fish from 60 global ports, bringing some 80 types of fish to its menus. Under the plan, fresh fish will go from port to plate within 48 hours, and be added to dining room menus on some ships as soon as this week.
Celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto has been tapped to serve as Holland America Line’s “Fresh Fish Ambassador,” and will oversee the fresh fish cuisine plus operate a new pop-up fish restaurant, which will begin rolling out in November 2023 and expand fleet-wide in 2024.
Chef Morimoto, the star of “Iron Chef” and “Iron Chef America,” and now executive producer and head judge for Roku’s Sushi Master, is known for integrating Western and Japanese ingredients. He owns restaurants in New York, Philadelphia, and other US cities, and in international cities such as Mumbai, Mexico City, and Tokyo.
Holland America Fish
“We know fresh fish is part of our guests’ daily lifestyle, and when they come on board, we are excited to expand their options beyond what they have access to at home,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.
“The ability to source and prepare so many types of fish globally is a testament to our outstanding culinary team. From yellowtail snapper in the Caribbean to barramundi in Australia, the variety of fresh fish we offer is unrivaled in the cruise industry,” Antorcha added.
Under the new program, Chef Morimoto’s dishes and all seafood dishes served across Holland America Line dining venues will be sourced and prepared as part of the global fresh fish network.
Holland America Line was the first cruise brand to serve fresh and certified sustainable Alaska seafood on board its ships in Alaska, where its sea-to-table dining experience is part of the line’s Alaska Up Close immersive program. With this latest initiative, the line is expanding the idea globally.
Pop-up Fish Restaurant Also to Debut Soon
Chef Morimoto’s pop-up restaurant, called Morimoto by Sea, will be staged in either the Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill specialty dining venues, both of which recently saw price increases on certain items. The eatery will be offered at least once per cruise and will include a specialty dining cover charge of $55 per person. Menus will include vegetarian and vegan options.
Chef Morimoto’s exclusive alcoholic beverages, such as Morimoto Brut Rosé and Sake Junmai Morimoto, will complement his fresh fish cuisine at the pop-up venue.
Holland America Fish
“Embarking on this type of culinary journey at sea is a first for me, and I am excited to bring my passion for fresh fish and fresh ingredients onto Holland America Line’s fleet,” said Chef Morimoto.
“I chose to partner with Holland America Line because we share a commitment and passion for fresh and regionally inspired foods, and you will see that come to life in the special dishes and pop-up experience we’ve created together,” added Morimoto.
Some of Chef Morimoto’s dining room menu options include Crispy Fried Whole Market Fresh Fish, with a sweet spicy chili sauce; Ishiyaki Buri Bop, featuring Pacific yellowtail on rice and cooked tableside in a hot stone bowl; and Angry Lobster Pad Thai, featuring Maine lobster with rice noodles and Thai red curry sauce.
Along with the main courses, the new offerings from Chef Morimot will include appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. But don’t worry: The desserts will not be from the sea. Guests can look forward to sweet treats like Dark Chocolate Sphere, cheesecake, and White Chocolate Lime Ganache.
Princess Cruises announced it will again deploy its Diamond Princess to Japan for the spring and summer seasons of 2025. Cruisers can look forward to the ship visiting 36 destinations in three countries, and choose from two cruisetours.
Diamond Princess to Sail 35 Japan Cruises
Built in Japan and designed for the Japanese market, Princess Cruises’ 2,670-guest Diamond Princess will offer a wide selection of cruises, plus two cruisetours, from her homeport of Tokyo between March and August 2025.
The Gem-class ship will return to Japan following similar seasonal deployments in 2024. Diamond Princess in 2025 will feature 7- to 22-day voyages to three dozen ports of call across Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
The 2025 schedule offers 35 cruise departures, roughly the same number the ship will sail in 2024, when it will operate 36 departures. Princess Cruises released its 2025 Japan sailings, which have officially opened for booking due to increasing demand.
“Japan is best experienced on a cruise, sailing around this scenic island nation taking in festivals, flowers, legendary sites and landscapes,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
“Our upcoming 2025 season features itineraries and offerings crafted with area tourism boards to showcase the best of the local art, cuisine, music and popular culture,” added Padgett.
New to the itinerary roster in 2025 is an 11-day “Spring Flowers” voyage, offered in March and April. A 10-day version of this cruise also is available. Both visit four Japanese islands, sailing from south to north and following the flower bloom season.
Other voyages in 2025 include a 9-day “Southern Islands” cruise, with two calls to the Okinawan islands and two calls to Taiwan, and 9- and 10-day “Sea of Japan” voyages that call at ports along the historic Kitamaebune trading route.
Two more 10-day sailings also are on the schedule. “Hokkaido” voyages call at Otaru (for Sapporo), Hakodate, and Kushiro, while “Japan Explorer” sailings visit the iconic destinations of Shimizu (for Mt. Fuji), Osaka or Kobe (for Kyoto), Hiroshima, and others.
Japan’s traditional summer festivals are itinerary highlights on select 2025 cruises that coincide with the events. Guests will have opportunities to attend the Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2 and 7); Kochi Yosakoi Dance Festival (August 12); Tokushima Awa Dance Festival (August 13); and Kumano Fireworks Festival (August 17).
Itineraries that include a festival event will provide extended late-night or overnight stays in port, giving guests extra time to enjoy the traditional activities.
Two Options for Cruisetours Offered
Two cruisetours will be featured in Diamond Princess’s 2025 schedule. The 13-day “Highlights of Japan” includes a land tour in Kyoto and Tokyo for the first five days, followed by an eight-day sailing with port calls to Nagasaki, Sakaiminato, and Aomori, and Busan, South Korea.
A 14-day option also features a five-day land tour to the same destinations as the shorter cruise, and a nine-day sailing that calls at Akita, Toyama, Tsuruga, Sakaiminato, and Kagoshima, Japan, plus Busan, South Korea.
Diamond Princess in Japan (Photo Credit: oasis2me / Shutterstock)
Both land tour components offer guests sightseeing at Kyoto’s famous gardens, Nijo Castle, the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple and the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Also featured is Mt. Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Princess Cruises announced in December 2022 that it would return to the Japanese market following the Japanese government’s decision to reopen its ports to international cruise ships. The country had imposed a more than two-year ban on cruise ships during the pandemic.
In 2023, Diamond Princess offered 43 unique itineraries between March and August, on cruises from five to 19 days. Two cruisetours also were offered.
Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas is having a tough month as the ship’s first sailing after several cancellations due to technical issues with its propulsion system has now had a dramatic itinerary change.
Four out of five planned ports of call are cancelled and while the ship will arrive in Vancouver as scheduled, the cruise line is providing generous compensation for the changes.
Radiance of the Seas Itinerary Change
On the ship’s first cruise after propulsion issues cancelled two sailings, Radiance of the Seas is now at the mercy of foul autumn weather in southeastern Alaska that has dramatically impacted the planned itinerary.
The ship was scheduled to depart Seward, Alaska on Friday, September 15, 2023 on its final southbound sailing of the Alaska season, with port visits planned to Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Icy Strait Point, and Ketchikan before arriving in Vancouver on Friday, September 22. Along the way, the ship was also to enjoy scenic cruising near the famous Hubbard Glacier.
Radiance of the Seas (Photo Credit: Ric Jacyno / Shutterstock)
Now, however, poor weather conditions with strong winds and heavy swells have radically impacted the itinerary. The ship remained docked in Seward for an extra two days, finally departing at midnight on Monday morning, September 18.
The revised itinerary now includes scenic cruising in four different locations – Hubbard Glacier, Pine Island, Seymour Narrows, and Cape Mudge – with just Ketchikan remaining as a port of call. The date of the visit to Ketchikan remains unchanged for Wednesday, September 20, but the visit time has been extended by one hour, now from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead of leaving at 6 p.m. as originally scheduled.
“We know this is a big change to our itinerary and appreciate that you’ve already been through so much prior to making it onboard, as we worked hard to correct our technical situation,”the email notification to guests read.“While weather is outside of our control – we understand the impact to you.”
Radiance of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: VIDEOVISTAVIEW / Shutterstock)
Southeastern Alaska has been inundated with poor weather in recent days from a low pressure system bringing high winds, rain, and strong waves to the coastal region. The strongest offshore winds are reported higher than 40 knots (46 miles per hour / 74 kilometers per hour), but even near ports of call the winds are too strong for cruise ships to safely maneuver.
For example, winds reported near Skagway on Monday, September 18 – when Radiance of the Seas was originally scheduled to visit – are reaching 13 knots (15 mph / 24 kph), and the ship would have to cross through even stronger winds just to reach the area.
In addition to overall wind speeds, wind directions and visibility must also be considered when visiting ports of call, particularly in narrow channels such as approaching top Alaskan ports.
Compensation Provided
Because of the very dramatic changes to Radiance of the Seas‘ itinerary, Royal Caribbean International is providing equally dramatic compensation for guests onboard.
“We’re providing a 50% refund of your cruise fare in the form of an Onboard Credit,”guests were notified.“Additionally, free drinks on us for the entire cruise.”
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas (Photo Credit: TamasV / Shutterstock)
Guests who purchased a beverage package, as well as any shore tours for the now-cancelled visits to Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Icy Strait Point, will have those purchases fully refunded as onboard credit.
Any funds that remain unused at the end of the cruise will be reimbursed to the credit card guests have on file, though the processing time for refunds can vary for different financial institutions.
The 90,090-gross ton Radiance of the Seas can welcome 2,143 guests onboard at double occupancy, or up to 2,466 guests when fully booked with all berths filled.
The ship will have just one more Alaska sailing this year, a roundtrip voyage departing from Vancouver, Canada on September 22 to visit Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
After the close of the Alaska season, Radiance of the Seas will reposition to Tampa, Florida to offer Western Caribbean cruises, as well as select departures to the Bahamas. In early April 2024, the ship will return to Vancouver to begin another Alaska season of alternating northbound and southbound sailings.
Royal Caribbean International’s last of the revolutionary Oasis-class ships, Utopia of the Seas, has floated out at the at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, bringing the massive vessel one step closer to welcoming guests in July 2024.
The momentous occasion is filled with as many stunning statistics as the stats on the impressive ship.
Utopia of the Seas Floated Out
The upcoming Utopia of the Seas was floated out at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, where the vessel has been under construction since the first steel was cut in April 2022.
This marks the first time the ship has touched water, and signifies the completion of the vessel’s outer hull. Now, Utopia of the Seas will move on to the interior finishing work as features are installed and the details of the ship come to life ahead of its July 2024 debut.
Utopia of the Seas Float Out
Impressive numbers have been a part of the floating out, including:
17 months from initial steel cutting to the completion of the hull with the float-out ceremony.
15 hours to fill the dock and bring the ship to float on its own.
46 million gallons of water used to fill the dock as the hull began to float.
74 blocks of steel were assembled to create the hull and the basis of the interior spaces.
Utopia of the Seas has now been moved to a nearby outfitting dock where the ship’s construction will continue with interior details and the installation of key features, such as the 295-foot long Ultimate Abyss slide, the longest dry slide at sea, as well as onboard waterslides, the FlowRider surf simulator, the brand-new Solarium suites, the outdoor movie screen, and so very much more.
More Impressive Stats
When Utopia of the Seas debuts in less than a year, the ship will be the last of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis class ships, revolutionary vessels that truly created the concept of next-level cruising.
While the exact stats on the ship cannot be precisely confirmed until the vessel’s completion, Utopia of the Seas will have 16 decks for guests to enjoy as well as two decks of crew cabins, training classrooms, and spaces, for a total of 18 decks.
Utopia of the Seas Float Out
The ship will come in at 236,860 gross tons – just slightly larger than her sister ship, Wonder of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship in the world.
Despite Utopia of the Seas‘ impressive size, however, she will not hold a “largest” title when she debuts – that honor will go to Icon of the Seas when that new class of ship sets sail in January 2024, six months before the official retirement of the Oasis class.
Utopia of the Seas Float Out
Still, Utopia of the Seas will offer an amazing experience for the 5,668 guests (double occupancy) she will welcome on each sailing. The ship will have 5 pools, 8 hot tubs, 21 restaurants, 23 bars, 2 casinos, and much more.
Cruising Aboard Utopia of the Seas
Most impressive is that the ship will offer “the world’s biggest weekend” with short 3- and 4-night sailings as she debuts, unlike other ships that have traditionally offered longer sailings for their inaugural seasons.
Instead, Utopia of the Seas will bring all the outstanding features of the Oasis class packed into Bahamas sailings to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas. The 4-night cruises will include an extra day at sea for guests to immerse themselves in the ship’s features and fun.
The cruise ship will homeport from Port Canaveral at least through spring 2025, offering these short getaways and bringing the best of Oasis class fun to more than 12,000 passengers every week.
Following our initial report detailing Carnival Cruise Line’s significant upgrade to its booking systems, Carnival’s booking systems and website are back online.
However, the upgrade aimed at improving front-end and back-end booking systems has encountered a few road bumps since it went live.
Notably, some cruise prices appear to have doubled, and several potential guests have reported difficulties booking a cruise with a deposit. Website visitors have also reported that several cruises seem to be unavailable.
Technical Glitches Following Upgrade
Carnival Cruise Line’s upgrade of its booking systems did not go entirely to plan. Since the website came back online, numerous issues have been reported.
The upgrade, scheduled to take place on September 16 and 17, between 12:00 AM ET and concluding on the evening of Sunday, was aimed at enhancing the user experience for guests and travel agents.
Given that the cruise line’s website receives millions of visits monthly, the upgrades have been a significant event affecting everything related to bookings.
Carnival Cruise Line Site
The issues ranged from guests finding cruises costing more than double the original price, an oceanview room costing more than a balcony cabin, travel agents being unable to make payments for cruises, cruises being invisible or unavailable, and it being impossible to book a cruise with a deposit.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, addressed the issues: “The website is still having a few concerns. For example, the price shows double on the first screen, but when you click on it, the real price shows. There are also people trying to book with a deposit but cannot and there are some cruises that are not showing.
“I didn’t want you to feel you have to let me know or call the Mothership so please allow me to apologize and I promise I have let the beards know and they are working on this right now.”
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
In systems as intricate as Carnival Cruise Line’s, which links thousands of terminals globally, the likelihood of encountering a glitch is almost inevitable.
Despite undergoing extensive testing before launching, unforeseen issues can still arise. However, Carnival may not have anticipated glitches of this magnitude.
A Short Term Hiccup?
The downtime over the weekend of September 16 and 17 was significant, with critical functionalities of the booking system rendered inaccessible for nearly two days.
These Included pre-cruise functionalities in My Cruise Manager, such as online check-in and booking shore excursions or spa and dining reservations, but also new bookings, service management, payments, and access to the travel agent platform.
This comes after the website experienced a series of glitches over the last couple of years, the most recent being the beverage package glitch in August 2023, and another glitch where cruises disappeared from the website.
Photo Credit: Ruth Peterkin / Shutterstock
According to an official email to travel agents, the downtime was expected to affect various pre-cruise functionalities such as online check-ins and booking shore excursions.
The upgrade should also help Carnival’s efforts to cope with the increasing number of visitors to its website, which saw an almost 9% rise in visitor numbers in July 2023, up to 13 million visitors per month, compared to the same month last year. By comparison, all nine brands in Carnival Corporation combined see about 35 million visitors per month.
It’s clear that the transition could have been smoother. Carnival is actively working to rectify these problems as swiftly as possible.
Given the considerable implications for guests and travel agents alike, the cruise line will want to have this corrected as soon as possible, and it should be no more than a short-term hiccup.
For now, it seems best to wait for a short time while Carnival gets rid of the various bugs that have been introduced in the system.
Carnival Cruise Line has been renovating and revitalizing its main dining room menus in recent months, and now additional new changes will bring more vegan options across the fleet.
The new vegan main dining room menu is already available onboard one Carnival ship, and is planned to be rolled out to the rest of the fleet by the end of 2023.
New Vegan Menu Onboard Carnival Ships
Carnival Cruise Line is adding more plant-based menu items to the main dining rooms with the introduction of a fully vegan menu.
Not only will this provide more delicious dishes for those who prefer vegan choices, but will also facilitate ordering as well as preparation to ensure no cross-contamination with animal products.
The new vegan menus include appetizers, entrees, and desserts, all of which are entirely vegan. When proteins are featured in the dishes, they are plant-based meat substitutes as appropriate.
Carnival’s Hawaiian Salmon Poke
“Plant-based food options are a rising preference on our ships just as they are on land, and so the new dishes we’re introducing are a direct response to that shift,”said Richard Morse, senior vice president of food and beverage at Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line has always offered featured vegetarian selections, but not every vegetarian choice is also vegan. While vegetarians may still eat some animal products such as diary, eggs, or certain proteins depending on their preferences and dietary needs, vegan diets are more strict and eliminate all animal products.
“Our skilled chefs work to accommodate all dietary needs and preferences but building on our vegan offerings and emphasizing them with specific menus will help to make ordering easier in the dining room and preparation more efficient in the galley,”said Morse.
Carnival’s Grilled Tofu Steak
The new menu offers delicious options for all courses, starting with a “Hawaiian Salmon Poke” featuring plant-based salmon and refreshing fruits and vegetables such as edamame, mango, and cucumber.
Guests can also enjoy “Stuffed Mushrooms” with plant-based cheeses and spinach, or a hearty “Spaghetti Carbonara” with vegan bacon and spices, available as an appetizer or entrée selection.
Carnival’s Eggplant Cutlet a la Parmigiana
For entrees, key highlights of the new vegan menu include “Grilled Tofu Steak” with a Hasselback potato and mixed vegetables, “Baked Vegetable Au Gratin” with a vegetable medley sprinkled with plant-based cheeses in a vol-au-vent presentation, and “Eggplant Cutlet a la Parmigiana” topped with rustic tomatoes, pesto, and basil.
Decadent desserts can also be part of every vegan meal. The “Key Lime Velvet Cake” combines refreshing lime, raspberry, and strawberry for a deliciously sweet finish.
Carnival’s Cappuccino Pot de Créme
Chocolate lovers won’t be able to resist the “Dutch Double Chocolate Pave” of layered cake and buttercream frosting, while coffee aficionados will want to indulge in the “Cappuccino Pot de Creme” with cinnamon creme chantilly topped with glazed nut crumbles.
When Will the Vegan Menu Debut?
The new vegan menu offerings have already debuted aboard Carnival Magic and Carnival Dream with great success.
“It’s been tested on two ships with our vegan guests and the reports are nothing but glowingly positive,”said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador.
Guest response indicates a great deal of excitement for the new menu, not only from those who follow a vegan diet by choice or medical necessity, but also by guests who are simply interested in the opportunity to try new foods or add more plant-based options into their diet, even if they still regularly eat meat.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Magic has already debuted the entire new vegan menu, while Carnival Dream is already beginning the rollout, and by the end of September, the new offerings will be available aboard Carnival Valor, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, and Mardi Gras.
Next up, the vegan menu will appear on additional ships: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Glory, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Sunshine, and Carnival Elation will all offer these choices by the end of October.
Finally, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Spirit will debut the new menus in November, and by the end of the year, vegan guests will have more options aboard Carnival Legend, Carnival Venezia, and the upcoming Carnival Jubilee.
Exact dates for the vegan menu rollout on individual ships have not been confirmed, and will likely depend on ensuring all supplies are available and each ship’s culinary staff is trained on the proper preparation and handling of the vegan items.
Carnival Cruise Line is quietly removing libraries from its ships, both with new builds not having a library venue and with older ships renovating the spaces into different uses during dry dock operations.
What does this trend indicate about changes in the onboard vibe, and what experiences guests can expect on Carnival cruise ships?
No More Libraries Aboard Carnival Ships
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald recently addressed guests’ concerns about the lack of libraries on newly built Carnival cruise ships – a feature missing from the cruise line’s Excel-class vessels: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and the upcoming Carnival Jubilee.
Furthermore, guests have also noticed that some older Carnival ships are having their libraries removed during dry dock upgrades, with the space replaced with other features, such as additional bars or annexes to adjacent spaces, such as the casino.
“We have stopped building new ships with libraries,”confirmed Heald.“The reason is so we can have other bars, restaurants etc. there and the reason is also that, well, the amount of people who want to borrow a book and sit, in library silence on their Fun cruise was we saw getting less and less.”
Carnival Cruise Ship Library
The ship’s library was often a small, quiet space with classic wood decor and cozy seating, with small tables for board games or cards to be played. In addition to a selection of books – some contributed by guests, others supplied by the cruise line – a variety of board games were often available.
Admittedly, the book selection could vary widely from ship to ship, and the books were often older or obscure titles rather than newly released bestsellers. Similarly, the board games were often well-played and might be missing pieces, but players could get creative with their game style to still enjoy the diversion.
Occasionally, library spaces would also be used for onboard weddings or small gatherings, such as group meetups or business meetings.
What Takes the Place of a Library?
Now, areas formerly used for ships’ libraries are being renovated for additional bars, coffee shops, smoke-free casino rooms, live music setups, or other venues that draw more attention than sedate, quiet space.
In other cases, the former library space may simply be an extension of adjacent seating areas or other venues to reduce crowding in those more popular spaces.
With space at a premium on ever-larger cruise ships that carry thousands of passengers on every sailing, it makes sense for the cruise line to eliminate less-used spaces and update them for more popular venues.
Furthermore, when the free libraries – there has never been a charge for borrowing a book or playing a board game – can be turned into revenue-generating spaces such as bars or extra-charge cafes, it makes “cents” to the cruise line’s bottom line.
Guest Reaction
Reactions have been mixed about the loss of libraries onboard, with some guests lamenting no longer having a quiet, peaceful, dedicated space for reading or games.
Other guests have often taken advantage of the library for onboard work time, a growing trend in today’s increasingly digital, ever-connected world, with some travelers putting in remote work hours even while on vacation.
Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock
Especially on rainy days when outdoor spaces may not be as desirable or usable, the library could become more popular for friendly gatherings.
Other cruisers, however, have been surprised to learn that libraries have continued to be part of ships until recently, as the space is generally under-utilized and may not be noticed with so many other features onboard to enjoy.
Where to Find a Quiet Space Onboard
Even without a dedicated library onboard, there are many quiet spaces to be found even on the largest, newest, most popular cruise ships.
Different seating nooks near the main atrium often have some quiet corners, or seating found alongside interior promenades can be a great place to read a book, play a board game, deal out a deck of cards, or simply people-watch.
When not being used for trivia contests, craft projects, or other scheduled activities, guests can often go into different small lounges and music venues, such as a piano bar, for quiet seating and fewer disturbances.
Adults-only areas such as Serenity can also be a great space to get away from more noise and activity, with great outdoor lounge seating and phenomenal views.
Of course, guests can also stay in their staterooms for a relaxing break, or find a space on the deck further from the main pools for more quiet to enjoy books, games, or cards they may bring from home to enjoy on their cruise vacation.
Have you used the libraries onboard Carnival cruise ships? Will you miss them? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!
Cruise vacations offer a unique blend of excitement, adventure, and relaxation, which is why they appeal to so many types of people. Not only do they allow voyagers to take in astonishing views, but modern-day cruise ships also offer countless amenities that provide passengers with options for both fun and relaxation.
Given that cruise ships travel through some of the world’s most fruitful fishing regions, it only makes sense that many people ask if they can fish while on a cruise ship. After all, a trip that combines the luxury and adventure of a cruise trip with the thrill of deep-sea fishing would be a fishing enthusiast’s dream vacation.
Today, we are going to explain whether or not you can fish off a cruise ship. We will answer this surprisingly complex question and explore some of the options fishing enthusiasts have if they want to indulge in their favorite pastime during their voyage.
No, unfortunately, you cannot fish directly off a full-sized cruise ship. While some of the smaller river cruises allow passengers to cast a line, it is not possible or allowed from a large-scale cruise ship.
Even though cruise ships are teeming with exciting amenities for passengers to enjoy, so you would think fishing would be relatively simple, there are many practical and regulatory reasons why it is prohibited. The following are just some of the reasons why cruise lines cannot allow passengers to fish directly from the ship:
Safety Concerns and Cruise Line Guidelines
For cruise lines, the safety of passengers and crew members is their most important concern. Unfortunately, fishing off the side of a cruise ship would pose various safety risks. Sharp hooks, tangled lines, and dropped fishing equipment could all endanger unsuspecting passengers and crew members.
While some passengers would certainly know how to operate fishing equipment safely, more experienced individuals could easily hurt themselves or others. Even relatively small injuries, like cuts from hooks and fishing knives, are made more dangerous when you are at sea.
While modern cruise ships have sophisticated infirmaries, cruise lines take as many precautions as possible to keep passengers out of them to avoid overcrowding.
Environmental Risks and Local Regulations
One of the main appeals of taking a cruise is observing and enjoying the natural world uniquely. This is why all major cruise lines are committed to minimizing their impact on marine ecosystems and the environment in general.
Despite a recent viral TikTok of a man catching what appears to be a buffalo trunkfish or cowfish from the stateroom balcony of a Carnival ship in The Bahamas, fishing from a cruise ship is not permitted. Carnival does allow passengers to bring fishing rods on board, but only to use at appropriate ports of call.
If cruise lines allowed passengers to fish directly from the cruise ship, it could result in significant damage to marine life and delicate ecosystems. Not only would pulling fish from the water indiscriminately hurt marine life directly but dropped fishing equipment, like cut fishing lines, could cause significant damage.
This could be particularly damaging in sanctuary areas where all forms of fishing are banned to allow the entire marine ecosystem to recover from overfishing.
There is also a risk of hooking an endangered or protected species if you do not know what you are doing. Depending on your cruise ship’s itinerary, you could be traveling through areas home to sea turtles, stingrays, and various at-risk fish species. Rather than risk the threat to marine animals that cannot be caught.
Finally, all passenger vessels must abide by strict environmental rules and guidelines, particularly cruise ships. While these regulations may seem like they are only ruining the fun passengers could have, they are designed to protect the seas and oceans that cruise enthusiasts enjoy traveling over.
Protecting Local Economies and Fishing Industries
Most cruise lines cooperate with the locals in the various regions and port towns they visit. By allowing passengers to ship from the ship, cruise lines would pose a risk to the local fishing industries in areas they are so dependent on. Not only is this destructive to the environment itself, but it could also threaten the livelihoods of those who depend on fishing for food, income, and their way of life.
Local fishing Near Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Aleksandr Puludi / Shutterstock)
Rather than reduce fish populations and threaten the livelihoods of locals, most cruise lines partner with experienced local fishermen to offer exciting fishing excursions for passengers. While we will explain this in greater detail below, this helps passengers enjoy a much better fishing experience and helps local fishing communities earn a good living.
Maintaining Regular Operations
Cruise ships also have very specific itineraries and tight schedules. Rather than tying crew members up with fishing-related issues that could disrupt their ability to ensure all passengers have a safe and enjoyable experience, cruise lines simply prohibit fishing from all decks.
Instead of worrying about passengers fishing off of balconies and observation decks, the activity is banned. With that said, passengers can enjoy countless other entertainment options.
Can You Book Fishing Excursions While You Are on a Cruise?
Even though fishing directly off a cruise ship is not allowed or even a realistic activity, most cruise lines recognize that many passengers have a passion for fishing. Most cruise lines offer a wide range of fishing excursions to help passengers enjoy fishing during their voyage.
Cruise Fishing Excursion Boat (Photo Credit: Stephen D. Gard / Shutterstock)
These fishing excursions are catered to different fishing styles and skill levels so that they can be enjoyed by just about any passenger on the ship. Whether you would like to try fishing for the first time or are an experienced angler looking to try serious deep-sea fishing for the first time, you can book a fishing excursion that meets your needs.
While each cruise ship and cruise line will have its own selection of fishing excursions on offer, some of the most common options include the following:
Shore Fishing Lessons
Depending on the port of call, some destinations offer shore fishing opportunities. These can replace lessons with a local fishing instructor or simply be equipment rentals and access to a private dock or fishing pier.
Fishing Boat and Cruise Ship in Seward, Alaska (Photo Credit: Vineyard Perspective / Shutterstock)
These tend to be more relaxed than other fishing excursions, but they can still be incredibly memorable for first-timers and experienced fishing enthusiasts alike. They are particularly enjoyable for families who are traveling with kids. Best of all, these more leisurely fishing opportunities tend to be very affordable.
Fly Fishing and Freshwater Angling
While these excursions are limited to Alaskan cruises, they offer passengers a truly exhilarating experience. Fishing is a major attraction for any Alaskan cruise, so it is a fantastic trip for fishing enthusiasts wanting to try something different.
While many different cruise lines operate in Alaska, you may choose Alaska Dream Cruises, as they focus more on fishing and nature than other cruise lines running in the area.
Deep Sea Fishing Excursions
Deep sea fishing is amongst the most popular cruise excursions you can book, so most cruise lines offer it in some form or another. Typically, you will book the excursion through your cruise line, ensuring the guides know when you need to be back to re-board the cruise ship.
Deep Sea Fishing (Photo Credit: Przemyslaw Wasilewski / Shutterstock)
While the exact experience will depend on which cruise line you are traveling with and where the excursion has been booked, most offer a thrilling experience unlike any other type of fishing you have ever experienced. The local guides often know where the richest fishing grounds are and will usually try to show you stunning coastlines and other sights.
While these excursions offer the opportunity to reel in massive deep-water fish, they can be incredibly exciting and unforgettable experiences even if you do not catch anything.
Snorkel and Spear Fishing Experiences
It is possible to book snorkel and reef fishing experiences in some of the more tropical ports of call. This can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as it is one of the most unique types of fishing on the planet. Not only does it allow you to try a whole new form of fishing, but you can also view the vibrancy of tropical marine environments firsthand.
Most of these excursions will include lessons from an experienced local, so do not worry if you have never tried snorkel fishing. Not only will they show you how to snorkel fish successfully, but you will also have the opportunity to witness your guide in action and view a completely different way of life from your own. Sometimes, your guides will even show you how to prepare and cook your catch when you return to the beach!
Are You Allowed to Bring Your Own Fishing Gear on a Cruise Ship?
Even though fishing directly from the ship is prohibited, you might wonder if you can bring your fishing equipment on board the ship for excursions.
Some cruise lines allow you to bring certain fishing items on board the ship, but you can only use them in port. Sometimes, your fishing gear will have to be stowed in a separate area.
Other ships allow you to keep your fishing gear in your cabin, but they will advise you about steep fines if you break any of the rules regarding the use of fishing equipment.
To play it safe, contact the cruise line you are traveling with ahead of time and ask about their policies on bringing fishing equipment.
Do You Need to Book an Excursion to Fish Outside of the Cruise Ship?
Sometimes, you can fish in the same location where the ship is docked, but this will vary from region to region, as some areas have strict rules regarding unlicensed fishing.
If you fish where you are not allowed to do so, you could face fines and other punishments from local port authorities, so it is always a better option to check with the crew of your cruise ship ahead of time.
Photo Credit: Angela N Perryman / Shutterstock.com
If fishing is allowed in the port of call you are visiting, ensure you do so in a designated area. Not only will this help you avoid trouble from local authorities, it will be a much safer and more peaceful place to fish from.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Will Happen if You Get Caught Fishing from a Cruise Ship?
While the exact punishment will depend on which cruise line you are traveling with, most have strict policies regarding this rule violation.
Not only can you face steep charges from the cruise line, they can and will ban guests caught fishing from the cruise ship. Typically, thesebans are for life, and the cruise lines are unforgiving when charging passengers. When you book a cruise, you must agree to aticket contract, which is a legally binding contract issued by the cruise line.
Beyond the cruise line’s internal punishments, if the incident occurs within the waters of a particular nation, you may even be in violation of their local laws, which means you could face additional charges.
Do Fish Follow a Cruise Ship’s Wake?
The idea that fish intentionally follow any large ship’s wake is a myth. Typically, fish avoid the churning waters, which can be incredibly dangerous. With that said, it is sometimes possible to see dolphins trailing behind cruise ships, as they like to play in the fast-moving water and even pick off fish that have been killed or injured by the ship’s propulsion system.
Final Words
While you cannot fish directly off a cruise ship and can even face severe consequences for doing so, there are numerous ways that you can still enjoy the thrill of fishing during your vacation.
Most offer a variety of fishing excursions that cater to all experience levels and fishing preferences, so you should not face any difficulty finding a way to fish while enjoying your cruise voyage.
To ensure that you can make some time to fish while you are away, take a look at cruise line itineraries and choose a cruise vacation that involves visiting numerous ports of call in areas known for fishing.
If you want to ensure you can fish during your cruise vacation, consider contacting the cruise line ahead of time and asking about the types of fishing excursions they offer.
Just make sure that you follow the rules carefully and make sure you enjoy yourself. Stay safe and create fishing memories that will last a lifetime!
Princess Cruises has reached out to guests booked aboard Discovery Princess for the ship’s March 16, 2024 sailing with the news that the planned visit to Lahaina has been cancelled, and another port destination extended as an alternative.
While this will be disappointing to many travelers, the community of Lahaina remains devastated by the August 2023 wildfires and may not be accepting ship visits for many months to come.
Itinerary Change for Discovery Princess
The 145,000-gross ton, Royal class Discovery Princess will not be calling on Lahaina, Maui as planned during the ship’s 15-night Hawaiian Islands cruise departing Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The cruise line has reached out to guests about the itinerary change, six months before the ship sets sail.
“Due to the devastating wildfires in Maui the port of Lahaina has suspended cruise operations indefinitely, and Discovery Princess will no longer call to Maui (Lahaina), Hawaii on Saturday, March 23, 2024,”the notification explained.
All pre-booked Princess Cruises shore excursions for Lahaina will be fully refunded to the original form of payment. This itinerary change is the same as one announced just days ago for Crown Princess, though that impacted sailing has a January 7, 2024 departure date, while Discovery Princess is visiting Hawaii more than two months later.
Extending Another Port Visit
To compensate for the loss of Lahaina as a port of call, Discovery Princess will instead extend the time spent in Kona on the Big Island for an overnight visit, arriving at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 and remaining in port until 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. Originally, the ship was scheduled to visit Kona from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. only on Sunday.
This will give guests abundant extra time to enjoy more of what Kona offers, such as visiting local historic sites, snorkeling adventures, coastal whale watching, visiting a local coffee farm, or exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
It must be noted, however, that Kona is a tender port that requires guests to transfer from their cruise ship to the dock via smaller craft, which does present some limitations to the time ashore.
“Due to local port restrictions, our water shuttle operations for Kona will be available from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday and from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday,”the email said.
In addition to the call on Kona, Discovery Princess will also be visiting Honolulu – the first port of call when the ship reaches Hawaii on March 21. Those two port visits, albeit the extended one in Kona, are the only Hawaiian destinations on this “Hawaiian Islands” cruise.
After leaving Hawaii, Discovery Princess will make a call to Ensenada, Mexico on March 30 before returning to Los Angeles on March 31.
Why Not Another Maui Port?
While it is certainly understandable that Lahaina will not be ready to receive visitors even six months from now – more than 80% of the port community was destroyed in the wildfires last month – the island of Maui is open to tourist visits and the port of Kahului is able to welcome ships.
In fact, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, which offers 7-night Hawaiian sailings year-round, resumed weekly calls to Kahului at the beginning of September, bringing essential tourist income to the economy which has been so hard hit by the natural disaster.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America (Photo Credit: Jose Gil / Shutterstock)
It is possible that Kahului simply cannot adequately accommodate the much larger Discovery Princess for the March 2024 sailing, or the port schedule does not have suitable availability at that time. Discovery Princess can welcome 3,660 guests per sailing, compared to 2,186 for each cruise aboard Pride of America.
Discovery Princess is currently finishing her Alaska season from Seattle and at the beginning of October will reposition to Los Angeles to offer a variety of California Coast and Mexican Riviera itineraries, as well as special Hawaii sailings. In April 2024, the ship will reposition back to Seattle for another season sailing in the Last Frontier.
