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Carnival Opens 2026 Reservations for Popular Cooking Classes

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Opens 2026 Reservations for Popular Cooking Classes

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Kitchen classes are now open for reservations for sailings in 2026.
  • These classes are only offered on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
  • Classes range from special cuisines and desserts to full meal experiences.

Guests onboard Carnival Cruise Line’s trio of Excel-class ships can now make reservations for the exclusive Carnival Kitchen classes for sailings in 2026.

These fun and educational activities cover all sorts of culinary creations and are massively popular for both port and sea days.

The opening of the reservations was confirmed by John Heald, Carnival’s brand ambassador. Heald answers hundreds of guests’ questions every week, and has often had to note that the classes aren’t sold out yet on future cruises, but simply weren’t yet available for booking.

“I am glad to say that the Carnival Kitchen cooking classes are now available to pre-book online for those ships that have them in 2026,” he confirmed. “And they are of course Mardi Gras Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.”

These small-group classes are offered for a range of tasty treats, including:

  • Pasta Master
  • Sushi Making 101
  • Cake Workshop
  • It’s an Ice Cream Kinda Day
  • Pit Grill and Smoke
  • Pizza Master
  • Cupcake Academy
  • Bake Shop & Pie Town
  • Tailgate Party

Even more immersive options are available such as “El Fuego – A Latin Incident” and “Mission Masala Tiger Class” that include full dinners.

For example, the “Orient Unknown” class offers guests the chance to “unravel the mysteries of southeast Asian cuisine” and create Thai, Indonesian, and Filipino dishes, from soups to satays to desserts.

The shorter classes generally last from one hour to ninety minutes and cost $47 per person. The longer classes vary in time as needed for different meals and cost $67 per person.

How to Take Carnival Kitchen Classes

The Carnival Kitchen classes are available to book before sailing through the cruise line’s website, or guests can sign up onboard via the Carnival Hub app.

These small-group activities do sell out quickly, however, and so pre-booking is highly recommended to be sure guests can enjoy their preferred classes.

Some classes are only offered once per sailing, while others may be offered multiple times throughout a cruise. Exact scheduling can vary depending on any itinerary changes or adjustments for individual sailings.

Carnival Kitchen is only available on the fleet’s Excel-class ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

In 2026, Mardi Gras is offering 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, with every cruise visiting Celebration Key in the Bahamas.

Carnival Kitchen
Carnival Kitchen

Carnival Celebration is homeported year-round from PortMiami, also offering both weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings with visits to Celebration Key.

Carnival Jubilee sails from Galveston and offers 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries to Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel through mid-September 2026, at which time she will switch to alternating 6- and 8-night cruises.

The 6-night Western Caribbean sailings will visit Cozumel and Roatan, while the 8-night cruises are to the Bahamas to visit Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and Celebration Key.

Read Also: Carnival Ships by Size – Ranked Largest to Smallest

With up to 6,500 guests onboard each ship, thousands of travelers will have the opportunity to enjoy Carnival Kitchen classes in the coming year. But with that many guests, it’s sure these limited opportunities will also fill up quickly.

Interested guests should consider booking their classes right away to ensure the best selection and availability.

Will Carnival Festivale Offer the Classes?

Carnival Cruise Line’s website confirms that the upcoming Carnival Festivale, the fourth Excel-class ship for the Fun Ship fleet, will also host Carnival Kitchen classes.

While Carnival Festivale is now under construction and in fact bookings for the ship opened in August 2025, she will not be sailing until 2027 and no Carnival Kitchen reservations are yet available for her cruises.

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The new ship will be homeported from Port Canaveral, offering 6- and 8-night sailings. At that time, Mardi Gras will transition to shorter 4- and 5-night cruises.

Undoubtedly, classes will continue to be offered onboard both ships in 2027, but those reservations are not likely to open for at least several months.

PortMiami Sees Most Cruise Passengers Ever in a Single Day

Melissa Mayntz
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PortMiami Sees Most Cruise Passengers Ever in a Single Day

Key Aspects:

  • PortMiami welcomed 75,201 cruise guests on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
  • This is the busiest day in the port’s history, with 10 cruise ships in port.
  • Traffic congestion and significant delays frustrated many guests.

Despite no longer holding the overall annual record as the World’s Busiest Cruise Port, PortMiami is proving it is still the Cruise Capital of the World with a new passenger record milestone.

On Sunday, November 30, 2025, the South Florida cruise homeport hosted an astonishing 10 cruise ships from seven different cruise lines.

“We’re breaking records at PortMiami!” the port announced on Facebook. “On Sunday, November 30, 2025, PortMiami set a new daily passenger record with 75,201 passengers traveling through the Cruise Capital of the World. Cheers to more milestones.”

In port on that record-breaking Sunday were:

  • Symphony of the Seas – Beginning a 7-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
  • Independence of the Seas – Setting sail for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day voyage
  • Azamara Onward – Offering the first of four Miami departures for various Caribbean routes
  • Scarlet Lady – Beginning a 5-night cruise to Grand Turk and Bimini
  • Norwegian Aqua – Departing on a 7-night Caribbean voyage including Great Stirrup Cay
  • MSC Divina – Setting sail on a 7-night Western Caribbean and Bahamas route
  • Celebrity Beyond – Going beyond for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary
  • Carnival Sunrise – Cruising a 4-night Bahamas sailing to Princess Cays and Celebration Key
  • Carnival Horizon – Beginning a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel
  • Carnival Celebration – Departing on a classic 7-night Western Caribbean route

Guest numbers through a cruise port are calculated for both embarking and debarking guests, as these are all individual guests who are processed by the port.

Biggest Ships Not Even There

Even more impressive for this record-breaking day is that two of the three largest ships homeported from PortMiami were not there. Icon of the Seas offers departures on Saturdays for as many as 7,600 guests per cruise, while MSC World America also departs on Saturdays for up to 6,762 guests.

Cruise Ships in Miami
Cruise Ships in Miami (Photo Credit: YES Market Media)

With a guest capacity of as many as 6,680, the Oasis-class Symphony of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in Miami on November 30.

Azamara Onward was the smallest vessel at PortMiami that day. The luxury ship can welcome just 826 guests if fully booked with all berths filled.

Not All Guests Are Happy About the Records

While record-breaking days are certainly momentous for the cruise port, not all guests are happy about the logistics of such frenetic days.

Embarking or debarking a cruise ship can be stressful enough, what with the need for security and health checks, customs clearance, luggage juggling, parking, keeping one’s group together, and any pre- or post-cruise travel arrangements.

Read Also: Miami Cruise Port Guide – Terminals, Transportation, and More

The one-way streets and ongoing construction around PortMiami makes that cruise homeport especially challenging, and guests who were part of those 75,201 travelers weren’t all happy about the congestion.

“The construction on the interstate system downtown is going to take until at least 2029, and is a major issue for people getting to port on time,” one guest noted.

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Travelers to the different ships shared drive times of 2-3 hours just from hotels a couple of miles from the cruise port, with traffic flow, signage, and full parking structures being top concerns.

Even guests debarking their ships had traffic congestion of an hour or longer to finally depart the port area.

The best solution, many experienced guests suggest, is to leave very early to ensure plenty of time to reach the cruise port, particularly before the worst of the heavy traffic begins.

Industry Veteran Takes Helm as President of Norwegian Cruise Line

Donna Tunney
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Industry Veteran Takes Helm as President of Norwegian Cruise Line

Key Aspects:

  • Marc Kazlauskas was named president of Norwegian Cruise Line.
  • He replaces David Herrera, who unexpectedly stepped down in August 2025.
  • The new executive joins the line at a time of fleet expansion and private island upgrades.

The wait for a new president of Norwegian Cruise Line is over. Marc Kazlauskas, an industry veteran with experience across the travel landscape, was named to the top post, parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) announced on December 11, 2025.

A search to fill the executive position began in August 2025, following former president David Herrera’s unexpected resignation. Since then, NCLH president and CEO Harry Sommer has served as interim president and CEO.

Kazlauskas, whose background includes top management posts in operations and sales for travel agency groups, tour firms, and one cruise line, has most recently served as CEO of Avoya Travel, a host agency for independent travel advisors.

Ironically, his travel industry career began at Orient Cruise Line, which at the time was part of the Norwegian Cruise Line portfolio.

He joins Norwegian Cruise Line at an exciting time. The line’s second Prima Plus-class ship, Norwegian Luna, is set to enter service in spring 2026, while a major overhaul of its private island destination, Great Stirrup Cay, begins to roll out early in 2026.

Marc Kazlauskas
Marc Kazlauskas

“The momentum already underway sets NCL up for continued success, and I look forward to building on the company’s strong performance alongside its incredible team,” said Marc Kazlauskas, the newly named president of Norwegian Cruise Line. 

“With robust booking trends, the upcoming debut of Norwegian Luna, as well as the company’s strong pipeline of new-builds through 2036 and major enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay, the company is well positioned for future success,” Kazlauskas added.

Read Also: The Different Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Classes

Sommer pointed to the new president’s leadership background and his “deep commercial expertise” as qualities that will benefit the cruise line.

“His appointment comes at a pivotal time for the Norwegian Cruise Line brand as we continue to see healthy demand for cruise, execute on our new-build program and make significant progress on major initiatives, including enhancements to our private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay,” said Harry Sommer, CEO of NCLH.

The parent company announced in 2024 that it planned a major expansion of the fleets of all three of its brands — Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

It placed orders for two ships each for Oceania and Regent, and four vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line.

New Executive Will Preside Over New-Build’s Launch

Norwegian Luna is a 3,550-guest ship under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. She is due to leave her construction site and sail her maiden transatlantic voyage to her US homeport, Miami, on March 10, 2026.

Once at PortMiami, the ship will sail 7-night Caribbean voyages. Western Caribbean cruises will call at Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, Harvest Caye in Belize.

Eastern Caribbean sailings will visit Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, Tortola, BVI, St. Thomas, USVI, and Great Stirrup Cay.

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No doubt, Kazlauskas will play a key role in the ship’s debut and christening, which has not yet been announced but will surely be a gala event.

Kazlauskas was named CEO of Avoya Travel just four months ago. Before that, he held executive positions at FROSCH/Chase Travel Group, Insight Vacations, and Tauck World Discovery.

MSC Cruises Bans Smart Glasses to Protect Privacy

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Cruises Bans Smart Glasses to Protect Privacy

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Cruises has now banned smart glasses and the wearable tech will be confiscated.
  • The ban is to safeguard guests’ privacy as well as security operations onboard.
  • No other cruise lines have yet banned smart glasses but policies are always under review.

Many cruise guests don’t think twice about snapping an onboard selfie, whipping out a camera to capture that fabulous ocean sunset, or getting a quick pic of a delicious dinner or dessert.

Some guests go even further with digital recording, creating videos of contests or activities or sending recorded greetings back to landlocked family members and friends.

In these types of videos, it’s not unexpected to capture the smiles of strangers on a crowded cruise ship. But does everyone appreciate being filmed?

MSC Cruises is now cracking down on one type of filming device to safeguard guests’ privacy. According to the cruise line’s luggage policy, smart glasses are not permitted in public areas.

“Devices capable of covertly or discreetly recording or transmitting data (e.g. smart glasses) are not allowed in ships’ public areas,” the policy reads.

This includes Google Glass, Meta/Ray-Ban Stories, AI glasses, or any discreet wearable technology that may be able to record, regardless of brand.

What will happen if guests do try to pack along smart glasses?

“Port Security has the duty to search Guests and luggage to confiscate any article internationally known as dangerous for the safety and security of Guests, Crew and ship,” the policy explains.

It is arguable whether smart glasses constitute a security risk, but they certainly be considered an unreasonable invasion of privacy if guests are filmed without their knowledge.

Why the Smart Glasses Ban?

Why would MSC Cruises ban smart glasses when other recording devices, including smartphones and regular cameras, are easily permitted?

The difference may be in how filming technology has advanced and the risk is poses to unsuspecting guests or crew members.

Because this technology may not be immediately recognizable, it is possible that smart glasses could be used for filming in restrooms, spa facilities, and other areas, or else used to record secure areas such as the gangways or cruise terminal security checkpoints.

Smart Glasses
Smart Glasses (Photo Credit: Erman Gunes)

“We are committed to ensuring that all guest feel comfortable and safe on our ships without concern that they might be recorded without their knowledge or consent, especially in private or communal areas,” a post to travel advisors explained.

Another possibility is the desire to avoid unsavory incidents that may be staged just for the purpose of online views, hits, and shares.

Vloggers and content creators who want to “go viral” with a controversial video post may resort to more discreet recording options, such as smart glasses, in order to capture incidents, or even to stage such behavior and record it with less notice so onboard security guards do not delete it.

Of course, most smart glasses do have lights that indicate when they are actively recording. Depending on the brand and one’s technical expertise, however, there may be workarounds to make recording less obvious.

Read Also: What Can You Not Bring on a Cruise?

The ban may also be a liability issue for the cruise line. If such technology is permitted and someone is filmed in violation of privacy policies, it is possible that MSC Cruises might be named in future litigation.

By banning the technology, the cruise line is limiting its risk, at the same time making an attempt to ensure guests’ privacy is preserved.

Will Other Cruise Lines Ban Smart Glasses?

At the moment, no other cruise lines outright prohibit smart glasses. It is possible, however, that more cruise lines will adopt similar policies, particularly if the technology is used for unsavory incidents.

Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas in early November 2025, two livestreamers were kicked off the ship in Roatan, Honduras for fighting.

The two men and others traveling with them are well-known for generating controversial videos, and the fight incident may have been an attempt to do just that.

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While smart glasses were not part of that situation, it is possible as technology evolves the wearable cameras could become much more widespread and problematic.

Guests sailing with any cruise line should always check the prohibited items list in the weeks leading up to their departure date, as policies are frequently updated as needs and concerns change.

Six Travel Trends Expected to Influence Cruising in 2026

Donna Tunney
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Six Travel Trends Expected to Influence Cruising in 2026

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Cruises identified six growing travel trends that will emerge in 2026.
  • They range from low-season cruising to sporting event destinations.
  • The trends are seen as helping to determine when and how people will cruise.

Cruise lines love to talk about how they satisfy, and hopefully exceed, guest expectations, and MSC Cruises is no exception. The cruise line is pointing to several key travel trends that it believes will influence cruise bookings and itinerary choices during 2026.

MSC Cruises revealed the trends on December 11, 2025, along with its plans to capitalize on each one.

For instance, the line cites the “Rise of the Me-Kend,” which it describes as “a weekend just for me.” It satisfies the trend toward indulgent quick trips with a goal of self-wellness and de-stressing. 

MSC Cruises is answering the call by offering 3- and 4-night getaway sailings from convenient drive-to ports such as PortMiami or Port Canaveral, onboard MSC Seaside and MSC Seashore, respectively. They make for easy, no-fly getaways to the Caribbean and Bahamas, with port calls to MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC Cruises also identified a desire by guests for “Low-Season Travel,” such as fall and winter cruises in Europe, for instance, when temperatures are mostly still mild, cruise fares are lower, and popular destinations are devoid of the big crowds seen during summer.

Read Also: Why Are MSC Cruises So Cheap?

The cruise line offers multiple opportunities to cruise without the peak-season chaos to places like Greece and other destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Three ships, MSC Orchestra, MSC Lirica, and MSC Divina offer such voyages.

MSC Divina, for instance, offers departures from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Mykonos, Greece, Kusadasi and Marmaris, Turkey, and Naples, Italy, while MSC Lirica sails from Venice (Marghera) to Kotor, Montenegro, Mykonos and Syros, Greece, and Ancona, Italy.

Cruise Line Has The Perfect Voyage For Every Trend

Here’s a recap of the remaining four trends the cruise line has identified:

Fan Voyages: MSC Cruises expects 2026 will be a big year for certain sporting events, as it notes that some 5 million people will go to soccer competitions in US cities such as Miami and Seattle. Both destinations are homeports for MSC Cruises’ ships.

Moreover, the cruise line is the title sponsor of multiple Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix races in 2026. The line’s partnership with Formula 1 continues through 2026. The line suggests that cruisers who attend the Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, for instance, can add on a cruise from Galveston onboard MSC Seascape.

LEGO Parade on MSC World America
LEGO Parade on MSC World America (Photo Credit: Catie Kovelman / Cruise Hive)

Kidfluencing: This trend refers to the way children help the family decide where and how to vacation. According to MSC Cruises, more than 80% of parents say their children help determine and plan their travel.

MSC Cruises responds to its youngest passengers with supervised programming for children, based on age group, and keeps them busy enjoying sports courts, water parks, bumper cars, thrill rides, and interactive games.

Quiet-cations: MSC Cruises has found that plenty of potential guests are looking to step away from their digital lives and instead embrace a quiet and calm escape. In fact, it says that 43% of travelers want to experience nature.

The cruise line has the ideal destination: Alaska. MSC Cruises in summer 2026 will deploy a ship to Alaska for the first time, when MSC Poesia sails roundtrip from Seattle. Itineraries feature glacial views, whale-watching, hiking in pristine forests, and spotting various wildlife.

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All-Inclusive and Personalized Luxury Experiences: According to MSC Cruises, upscale vacationers in 2026 will seek complete relaxation in a space where their specific needs are met.

Welcome to MSC Yacht Club. The cruise line addresses this trend with its exclusive luxury accommodations area as the cure-all for what ails affluent people. Think 24-hour butler and concierge services, thermal spa access, luxury suites, a premium beverage package, and private areas that feel like a sanctuary.

Carnival Cruise Line to Anchor for West Coast’s Biggest Fireworks Show

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line to Anchor for West Coast’s Biggest Fireworks Show

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is an official sponsor of Big Bay Boom on July 4, 2026.
  • The event in San Diego Bay is the largest fireworks show on the West Coast.
  • Carnival Luminosa, Radiance, and Firenze will all be on hand for the show.

With 2026 the year the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial (250th) birthday, it’s perfectly natural that America’s cruise line would get into the fun with its Fun Ship fleet.

Carnival Cruise Line will join in the festivities in a big way on the West Coast as the official cruise line sponsor of the Big Bay Boom, the celebration at the Port of San Diego. This will be the largest Fourth of July fireworks display on the West Coast, with a full day of outstanding programming and events leading up to the show.

Carnival will be part of the countdown activities before the show blasts off at 9 p.m., and the brand’s image and slogans will be featured throughout the day.

Furthermore, Carnival Cruise Line will be supporting various collaborations to support active-duty service members as well as veterans and military families.

“We’re honored to be part of such a historic milestone and iconic event in San Diego,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“Being the exclusive cruise line sponsor of the Big Bay Boom gives us a meaningful way to celebrate our connection to this community, to our military families, and to the patriotic spirit that defines Fourth of July.”

On hand will be all three Carnival ships homeported from California at that time: Carnival Radiance, Carnival Firenze, and Carnival Luminosa.

Carnival Luminosa in Seattle
Carnival Luminosa in Seattle (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography)

Carnival Radiance will be on a 5-night Mexican Riviera sailing beginning on June 30 in Long Beach and will spend July 4 in Ensenada before departing to head for the celebrations.

Carnival Firenze will just be beginning a 3-night Baja cruise, leaving Long Beach on July 3 and spending July 4 as a fun day at sea.

Carnival Luminosa will be sailing from San Francisco and will depart on July 2 for her holiday sailing, spending July 4 in Ensenada before heading north for San Diego Bay.

Long Beach is just 100 miles north-northwest of San Diego Bay, while Ensenada is roughly 90 miles to the south.

All three ships will anchor in San Diego Bay in plenty of time for the fabulous fireworks, which will be launched from four separate barges for a truly spectacular show.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Carnival for next year’s Big Bay Boom program and festivities,” said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

“Along with Carnival, their cruise ship guests, the local community and thousands of visitors, we look forward to enjoying another spectacular fireworks show and memorable Independence Day celebration across San Diego Bay.”

More Fun at Big Bay Boom

In addition to the 20-minute fireworks show choreographed to music, visitors will enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities, food concessions, dinner cruises, concerts, and more before the night lights up at Big Bay Boom.

Carnival Radiance Cruise Ship
Carnival Radiance Cruise Ship

As many as 500,000 or more people are expected to attend the event with viewing locations at various parks. Several operators are also offering harbor cruises for even more maritime viewing of the big show.

Unfortunately, guests onboard the Carnival cruise ships will not be debarking to spend time in San Diego, but they will certainly have prime viewing locations for the brilliant fireworks show.

Carnival Plans More Events to Celebrate America’s Birthday

Carnival Cruise Line will celebrate America’s 250th birthday in another memorable way, with a stunning meetup of seven ships near Celebration Key in the Bahamas.

Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise

“We’re America’s cruise line, and we’re commemorating this milestone in a big way! Uniting our ships will multiply the fun and make America’s 250th birthday even more memorable for guests who celebrate at sea,” said Duffy.

The seven ships and their respective July Fourth sailings will be:

  • Carnival Conquest – 3-night Bahamas cruise from Miami leaving July 3
  • Carnival Glory – 3-night Bahamas cruise departing Port Canaveral on July 3
  • Carnival Sunrise – 4-night Bahamas sailing from Miami leaving July 2
  • Carnival Elation – 4-night Bahamas itinerary from Jacksonville leaving July 2
  • Carnival Celebration – 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami leaving June 28
  • Carnival Vista – 8-night Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral departing June 27
  • Carnival Venezia – 8-night Bahamas cruise from New York leaving July 1

During the meetup on July Fourth, the ships will enjoy patriotic birthday-themed deck parties, complete with special food, drink, music, games, and other fun to celebrate such an amazing and historic occasion.

How a Forgotten Gun Landed a Cruise Grandma in Nassau’s Notorious Prison

Catie Kovelman
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How a Forgotten Gun Landed a Cruise Grandma in Nassau’s Notorious Prison

Key Aspects:

  • A 69-year-old cruise guest accidentally boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise ship with a gun.
  • She was caught in Nassau, which was the first port call, and subsequently arrested.
  • The grandmother had to shell out $8,000 in order to be released from Nassau’s notoriously unlivable Fox Hill Prison.

One cruising grandmother has learned a very important lesson: Always double check what might be in your belongings before setting sail.

A cruise guest named Mary Robinson managed to embark on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas with a firearm in her possession on December 1, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Allegedly, the 69-year-old Oklahoma resident forgot that she was carrying a black Kel-Tec .380 pistol and four rounds of ammunition, which somehow also sneaked through the standard security screenings for boarding the cruise ship.

She was meant to be onboard for a 4-night sailing to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay to celebrate her adopted son’s 12th birthday.

However, she didn’t get very far because the gun was found in her purse in Nassau on December 2 – the second day of the sailing – while Robinson was trying to reboard the Freedom-class cruise ship.

“On Tuesday December 2nd police arrested a 69-year-old female of US nationality after she was found in possession of a fireman and ammunition,” the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement.

She was arrested and taken to Nassau’s notorious Fox Hill Prison, which, per the US government, suffers from severe overcrowding, poor nutrition, inadequate sanitation, and inadequate medical care.

Robinson was traveling with a friend, who agreed to look after the 12-year-old on her behalf.

Grandma Spends Nearly a Week in Prison

Robinson appeared before Bahamas Magistrate Lennox Coleby Sr. on December 4, 2025, where she pleaded guilty to her crimes.

She tearfully apologized and explained that she forgot the weapon and bullets were in her purse.

“She simply forgot that she had the gun and I’m instructed that she has a touch of dementia,” Robinson’s attorney, Attorney Bjorn Ferguson, explained.

Read Also: What Can You Not Bring on a Cruise?

Unlicensed possession of a firearm and ammunition carries an automatic jail sentence of 24-months in the Bahamas, but the magistrate agreed to spare Robison from prison if she could pay an $8,000 fine.

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas (Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock)

Since she didn’t have the funds available that day, Robinson was sent to the Fox Hill facility for what were surely five or six very long and difficult days.

Her granddaughter, Graci Exendine, created a GoFundMe on December 3 to gather enough funds to cover the fine, which raised over $12,000 in just over a week – more than enough for Robinson to go home.

According to a Facebook post from the granddaughter, Robinson had been released as of December 8.

“I just talked to Mary, she is OUT!!,” she updated, before thanking everyone who contributed to the GoFundMe or sent well wishes.

The grandmother was staying in a hotel in Nassau while she worked out the details behind getting back home.

Not the First Time This Has Happened

Despite tight security from the cruise lines and cruise ports, this is not the first time a weapon has accidentally made its way onto a cruise ship – or come close to it.

Most recently, a 77-year-old cruise guest was detained and deported while trying to board an unspecified cruise ship with a gun in Ravenna, Italy, in October.

The American man also claimed that he had forgotten that the 6.35mm Browning semi-automatic pistol was in his backpack.

Also, earlier this year, a 73-year-old passenger from the US was arrested at Japan’s Kobe Cruise Terminal after a handgun was found in his luggage.

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Last year, two Carnival guests were banned for life after managing to intentionally smuggle a handgun onboard and bragging about the feat online.

Even though Robinson made an honest mistake, there is also a good chance that she was banned for life by Royal Caribbean, as the cruise line has a very strict policy concerning offenses that could threaten the safety of all onboard.

Of course, weapons, including fake guns and toys like Nerf Blasters, are strictly prohibited onboard.

Norwegian Escape’s Fall 2026 Voyage Isn’t What You Expect

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Escape’s Fall 2026 Voyage Isn’t What You Expect

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Escape’s September 5, 2026 sailing is changing every port visit.
  • One port has been cancelled and two new ports added to the itinerary.
  • Shore tours booked through the cruise line will be adjusted automatically.

A fall foliage cruise in New England and eastern Canada can be a breathtaking experience, but guests aboard one sailing of Norwegian Escape in September 2026 might be holding their breath over a dramatically changed itinerary.

While the impacted sailing is not departing for nearly nine months, it is still startling that every single port on the itinerary has been adjusted in some way, with one port dropped entirely and two new ones added.

The affected cruise is the Norwegian Escape‘s September 5, 2026 sailing, a 7-night voyage roundtrip from New York.

While the departure on Saturday, September 5 and the return on Saturday, September 12 are not changed, nearly every other day on the cruise is now adjusted.

“As part of our commitment to delivering a seamless and enriching experience, we’ve made an itinerary adjustment due to newly updated port availability,” the notification email explains.

The email admits that circumstances can change and despite every effort to lock in itineraries in advance, port plans change and those adjustments can be out of the cruise line’s control.

“As a result, we will no longer be visiting Saint John, Bay of Fundy, Canada, and instead we’re pleased to welcome Sydney, Nova Scotia, to your itinerary,” the email confirmed. “In addition, we’ve replaced a day at sea with a call to Newport, RI.”

This changes all but one full day on the planned itinerary, with updates as follows:

  • Saturday, September 5 – Depart New York at 4 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 6 – Day at sea
  • Monday, September 7 – Sydney, Nova Scotia, from 12-6 p.m. (formerly Boston)
  • Tuesday, September 8 – Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (formerly Portland)
  • Wednesday, September 9 – Portland, Maine, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (formerly Saint John)
  • Thursday, September 10 – Boston, Massachusetts, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (formerly Halifax)
  • Friday, September 11 – Newport, Rhode Island, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (formerly at sea)
  • Saturday, September 12 – Arrive in New York at 7 a.m.

The updated itinerary has exactly the same number of hours in port for the week, 39.5, though spread across five ports of call instead of just four.

Read Also: The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line – Worth It or Not?

This gives guests even more opportunity to explore the rich maritime heritage of the region, enjoy phenomenal seafood, delve into amazing history, and gawk at the beauty of the northeastern autumn.

Why the Changes?

Norwegian Cruise Line has not clarified exactly which “port availability” has caused so many changes to the itinerary. It would be easy to assume that Saint John is the culprit since that is the cancelled destination, but it is also possible that available berths at other ports required rearranging.

Norwegian Escape in New York
Norwegian Escape in New York (Photo Credit: quiggyt4)

Because the 165,000-gross-ton Norwegian Escape is one of the largest vessels in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, extra care must be taken to ensure proper space for the ship as well as port personnel to accommodate the more than 4,250 guests who may be onboard.

Port maintenance, changes in local regulations, dredging schedules, and other operations can all impact port availability for cruise ships. Unfortunately, those plans are not always known when cruise lines plan their itineraries.

Shore Tours Handled Automatically

Any shore tours booked through Norwegian Cruise Line for Saint John will be automatically cancelled and refunded to the original form of payment.

If guests have tours booked for other ports, those will also be adjusted to the new visit dates and times as necessary. If rescheduling is not possible, the tours will be cancelled and refunded.

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Guests who may have already made independent arrangements will need to reach out to their tour operators for rescheduling or cancellations.

Tours for the new destinations, Sydney and Newport, will be available to book in approximately three weeks, giving guests plenty of time to plan their perfect port adventures and look forward to what is sure to be an amazing escape.

Brazilian City Receives Two Unexpected Cruise Ships in Two Days

Melissa Mayntz
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Brazilian City Receives Two Unexpected Cruise Ships in Two Days

Key Aspects:

  • The seasonal port of Ilhabela enjoyed two unexpected ship visits in two days due to the weather.
  • Both Costa Favolosa and MSC Sinfonia diverted to the Brazilian port this week.
  • Weather-related changes aren’t unusual and Ilhabela is more sheltered than other destinations.

Two cruise ships in two days have unexpectedly visited Ilhabela on the coast of Brazil, 150 miles west-southwest of Rio de Janeiro. While the calls weren’t scheduled, poor weather along the coast cancelled the ships’ plans to visit other ports and they rerouted to Ilhabela instead.

According to Radar Litoral, the impacted ships were Costa Favolosa and MSC Sinfonia, both of which were sailing short itineraries.

The 114,500-gross-ton Costa Favolosa visited “Beautiful Island” (the translation of the Portuguese Ilhabela) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, bringing roughly 3,800 passengers to the island.

MSC Sinfonia arrived the next day, spending from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in port. The 58,200-gross-ton ship brought approximately 2,500 guests to Ilhabela.

“Cruise ship stops are very important for our main industry, which is tourism,” commented Toninho Colucci, mayor of Ilhabela. “In addition to bringing visitors and boosting the local economy, the ships also contribute to the promotion of our destination, fostering the economic development of Ilhabela.”

Because the island’s cruise pier is on the western coast, it is relatively sheltered from poor weather and easy for even larger cruise ships to dock when other ports may not be available.

Costa Favolosa Cruise Ship
Costa Favolosa Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Leif Ingvarson)

Upon arrival, guests onboard the two ships found a beautiful island indeed, with spectacular beaches and amazing watersports to enjoy, including sailing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, and more.

Hiking trails lead to outstanding waterfalls, while craft boutiques, delicious restaurants, bars, and other shopping are huge draws in the port area.

Ilhabela is located just off the mainland coast of southern Brazil, approximately 75 miles from Sao Paulo. For ships with full day visits, guests can enjoy longer tours and opportunities to dive even deeper into Brazilian culture, history, and art in the most populous city in the country.

Weather Changes Not Unusual

It is not uncommon for cruise ships to cancel ports of call based on poor weather. In some cases, it may seem like the perfect vacation day for guests onboard, but conditions at piers or for the use of tenders may be unsuitable and unsafe, leading to a port cancellation.

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

Whenever possible, cruise lines attempt to arrange alternative ports to give guests more opportunities to enjoy visits in unique destinations. Substitute ports are not always available, however, depending on berth numbers, itinerary schedules, port staffing, and other factors.

Cruising to Ilhabela

The cruise season in Ilhabela generally runs from November to March or April, depending on exact schedules.

In the coming months, additional ships from Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises will both visit the port, including MSC Fantasia, MSC Armonia, and additional calls from MSC Sinfonia.

From Costa Cruises, visits are planned for Costa Diadema as well as Costa Favolosa.

Other cruise lines that visit the charming port include Azamara, AIDA Cruises, Silversea, Fred Olsen, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with various ships visiting on both short getaways as well as longer sailings.

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In March 2026, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox will also call on the destination.

In total, more than 50 ship visits are planned for Ilhabela during the 2025-2026 cruise season, with the last visit scheduled on April 13, 2026, for Costa Diadema.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Musica is expected to open the 2026-2027 season for the port on November 19, 2026.

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