Readers have chosen Port Canaveral as the Best US Cruise Homeport for the sixth consecutive year.
The central Florida homeport dominated with 27.3% of the vote total.
Florida homeports took all five top spots in this year’s Cruise Hive Awards.
For the sixth year in a row, Port Canaveral has dominated the Cruise Hive Awards for Best US Cruise Homeport to hold firm to the title as a favorite among cruisers.
The central Florida homeport is now the World’s Busiest Cruise Port, having welcomed more than 8.6 million guests in 2025, edging out PortMiami for that illustrious title. It’s no wonder then that the port would also be favored as the Best US Cruise Homeport!
Best US Cruise Homeport Award
Of all the votes cast from mid-October through mid-December, Port Canaveral secured 27.3% of the total, generously exceeding PortMiami’s 17.2%.
With the next three top homeports all in Florida, it’s a winning day indeed for the Sunshine State. Port Tampa Bay took 10.9% of the vote, followed closely by Port Everglades with 10.1% and Port West Palm Beach with 9.5% of readers’ votes.
Best US Cruise Homeport (Data: Cruise Hive)
Across the US, cruisers overwhelmingly prefer to set sail from Florida with a combined 75% of the votes for the state’s homeports.
Why Is Port Canaveral So Popular?
Port Canaveral is conveniently located less than an hour east of Orlando, making it an attractive homeport for fly-in guests who want to visit the central Florida theme parks – Disney, Universal, Sea World – as part of a longer vacation.
Furthermore, with Kennedy Space Center, the Brevard Zoo, and the world-famous Cocoa Beach nearby, there are plenty of attractions and fun to bring guests close to Port Canaveral before and after their sailing.
The diversity of cruise lines and ships at Port Canaveral is also attractive to frequent cruisers. More than 1,000 sailings set off from Port Canaveral each year, with ships from all the following lines based from central Florida:
Royal Caribbean
Disney Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
MSC Cruises
Princess Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
This range of cruise lines gives travelers an amazing selection of voyages from Port Canaveral, from fun weekend Bahamas getaways to weeklong cruises to both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean destinations.
Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
For longer sailings, guests can enjoy coveted Southern Caribbean “ABC” itineraries to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, as well as select Panama Canal voyages or even one-way transatlantic cruises to and from Europe.
Of course, arranging back-to-back sailings is another convenient option, and with the multiple side-to-side possibilities from Port Canaveral, eager cruisers can customize their dream cruise vacation.
The Port Canaveral Experience
It’s more than just cruise diversity that brings guests to a favorite homeport. While some cruisers opt for the most conveniently close homeport, the smoothness of parking, check-in, and even debarkation are all factors in just how popular a port may be.
Port Canaveral excels at the cruise experience, with easy-to-read signage directing drivers to their respective cruise terminals and ample parking ensuring a smooth arrival and departure. Plenty of bus lanes and drop-off areas are available as well for guests arriving via shuttles, ride shares, or taxis.
Once at the terminal, guests sailing from Port Canaveral enjoy updated and efficient embarkation or debarkation, complete with facial recognition processing that speeds up customs and gets cruisers on their way without delays.
But Port Canaveral isn’t stopping there. Thoughtful, forward-facing investments and development projects keep the port at the forefront of technology and innovation, ensuring an updated and ever-adapting experience for millions of cruise guests each year.
Other Popular Homeports
While Florida’s five homeports dominated this year’s voting, other popular cruise homeports certainly have their fans.
Port of Galveston has 5.4% of the votes, a great testament to the growing popularity of cruising from the Lone Star State. New Yorkers prefer the Manhattan Cruise Terminal with 4.0% of the votes, while anyone who loves Alaska cruising can’t do better than the Port of Seattle, with 3.0% of the votes.
Baltimore Cruise Port (2.2%) and Cape Liberty in New Jersey (1.9%) round out the options, with all other US cruise homeports totaling a combined 8.6%. That includes Mobile, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, New Orleans, Norfolk, Jacksonville, and other less common homeports.
Port Canaveral has opened a new debarkation ramp in Cruise Terminal 6.
The ADA-compliant ramp offers smoother debarkation for all guests, particularly those with luggage or strollers.
Other upgrades include emergency features, lighting, and HVAC modifications in the terminal.
Debarkation has gotten a bit smoother for guests returning to Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 6 with the opening this week of the terminal’s new ramp.
Inside the terminal leading from the ship to the first floor baggage hall and US Customs and Immigration checkpoint, the ADA-compliant ramp is part of a $2.5 million investment in the port’s efficiency and superior guest experiences.
“The new ramp provides a convenient, safe and efficient means for disembarking passengers to retrieve their luggage from the first floor baggage hall following their cruise from the world’s busiest cruise port,”Port Canaveral announced on Facebook.“Stay tuned for future enhancements to our cruise terminals!”
In addition to the ramp, upgrades to Cruise Terminal 6 include new lighting, HVAC modifications, security cameras, and emergency equipment.
The concrete ramp is smooth for rolling luggage or guests who need mobility aids such as wheelchairs or scooters, with a gradual, intermittent slope for easy control and steady progress. Wide enough for several guests to walk side-by-side, it ensures a smoother, faster debarkation for all travelers.
Port Canaveral Terminal 6 Ramp
As it descends, the ramp turns back on itself several times but with more graduated turns rather than immediate hairpins, further ensuring good accessibility.
Guests from Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom were the first to use the new ramp this week. The 110,556-gross-ton, Conquest-class ship typically docks at Cruise Terminal 6 on the north side of the port’s West Turning Basin.
Other ships that will take full advantage of the new ramp for guests in the coming weeks include Norwegian Joy, Carnival Vista, Sky Princess, and MSC Seashore.
Guests React to New Ramp
Guest responses to the new cruise terminal debarkation upgrade have been very positive, even though the ramp barely has any footprints on it yet.
“I love the ramps! Wish all terminals had them!”one guest exclaimed.
“It was so nice got off boat Wednesday [December 24],”another guest noted.
Many guests noted that the large ramp is much easier for debarking with one’s luggage rather than wrestling with it on escalators, downstairs, or in crowded elevators.
View of the Entire Port (Photo Credit: Port Canaveral)
The broad, gradual ramp is also a great benefit for families with young children in strollers, as well as for scooters or wheelchairs, so there is less waiting for elevators.
The ramp is also a great benefit for port efficiency as guest capacity continues to rise at the popular homeport. Port Canaveral just recently claimed the title of World’s Busiest Cruise Port with more than 8.6 million guest movements in 2025, just ahead of PortMiami’s 8.5 million guest movements.
Port Canaveral Upgrades Continue to Impress
With improvements such as the new Cruise Terminal 6 ramp, Port Canaveral continues to showcase its commitment to the best possible guest experience with both convenience and efficiency.
With 27.3% of the overall vote, Port Canaveral far exceeded the second place contender, PortMiami, with 17.2% of the vote. In fact, all five top spots were taken by Florida homeports, with Port Tampa Bay in third place (10.9%), Port Everglades in fourth place (10.1%), and Port West Palm Beach in fifth place (9.5%).
Because Port Canaveral works diligently to improve the guest experience and remain convenient for all travelers, it is sure to remain a popular homeport for both Florida cruisers and thousands of guests who fly to the Sunshine State to set sail.
Perfect Day at CocoCay was voted the Best Cruise Line Private Island/Destination of 2025 by Cruise Hive readers.
Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian island took 32.0% of the votes, well above the second-place destination.
The island includes thrills, chills, and everything in between for the ultimate private destination.
Looking for the best private island experience for your next cruise? Cruise Hive readers overwhelmingly recommend Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay and have chosen the Bahamian hotspot as the winner for Best Cruise Line Private Island/Destination of 2025 in the annual Cruise Hive Awards.
The island’s victory is an overwhelming one, with 32.0% of the votes, well above the second and third place destinations.
This is not a new accolade for the highly-rated private island, as Perfect Day at CocoCay has won the honor for the past four years, making this year’s honor the fifth time in a row the Royal Caribbean destination has been voted the best.
Best Private Island and Destination Award
In fact, Perfect Day at CocoCay has rated this top honor in every year the category has been part of the Cruise Hive Awards: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025.
Why Perfect Day at CocoCay Is the Perfect Private Island
Perfect Day at CocoCay truly offers something for everyone, no matter what type of experience they want most.
Thrill seekers? You can’t do better than Thrill Waterpark with its 14 adrenaline-inducing waterslides. At 135 feet tall, Daredevil’s Peak is the tallest slide in the Caribbean, or guests can race in the Dueling Demons drop slides. An immense wave pool and a range of different slide types round out the thrills.
Guests who want to stay dry but still feel the thrill can try out the zip line or soar above it all on the Up, Up and Away hot air balloon.
The littles will love Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon, both outstanding water-tastic play structures for younger cruisers. Conveniently located near the arrivals plaza, these kid-friendly options are sure to be perfectly fun.
Cruise Ships Docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay (Photo Credit: Rexjaymes)
Prefer to soak up the vibes? Oasis Lagoon is the place to be. As the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean with unique coves and plenty of lounge seating, including in-water loungers, it’s an amazing option for all ages to get their splash on.
For more exclusive, private experiences, guests can opt for the Coco Beach Club or the adults-only Hideaway Beach. While both do have extra admission fees, they offer distinctive fun ideal for that perfect beach day.
Chill Island, Harbor Beach, and South Beach all offer great options to enjoy, from beach volleyball, ping pong, and bocce ball to private cabanas, oversized hammocks, and more.
When it’s time to refuel, guests can enjoy two barbecue buffet locations or three Snack Shacks, all of which are complimentary. From burgers and tacos to fried chicken sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, and other deliciousness, there are plenty of food options to enjoy on CocoCay. Don’t miss the fresh, hot funnel cakes dusted with powdered sugar!
With so much on offer, not to mention the free beach towel use, plentiful beach loungers and shade umbrellas, tram service down the pier, live music, and more, it’s not surprising that Perfect Day at CocoCay continues to be voted the top private island destination.
Other Private Islands and Destinations Guests Love
While Perfect Day at CocoCay is the clear favorite for Cruise Hive’s readers, MSC Cruises’ Ocean Cay Marine Reserve proved a strong second with 19.9% of the vote.
A surprising third place is Carnival Cruise Line’s new Celebration Key with 13.7% of the vote. Considering Celebration Key only welcomed its first guests on July 19, the new destination has certainly made a positive impression. Of course, it has already welcomed one million guests, so its popularity is sure to continue growing in future years.
Best Cruise Line Island and Destination Chart (Data: Cruise Hive)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay and Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay (also visited by Carnival Cruise Line) were a close fourth and fifth place at 7.8% and 7.4% of votes, respectively, followed by Princess Cruises’ Princess Cays at 6.4% and Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay at 6.2%.
Both Harvest Caye in Belize (Norwegian Cruise Line) and Labadee in Haiti (Royal Caribbean) were lower in the voting at 3.2% and 2.8%, which is not surprising. Harvest Caye is not a common port on many itineraries, and Labadee has been closed to cruise guests for months due to civil unrest in Haiti.
Finally, Disney Cruise Line’s new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas garnered just .8% of the overall votes. This is a surprisingly low turnout, but the destination only opened in June 2024 and is less frequently visited than Castaway Cay.
The annual Cruise Hive Awards were open for voting from October 14 through December 19. Votes were carefully reviewed, and no bots or spam votes were included in the winning totals.
When the award-winning Wonder of the Seas made its debut in March 2022, it was the largest cruise ship in the entire world. Now, though, the Royal Caribbean vessel has been surpassed by some of the cruise line’s other ships.
Here’s everything you need to know about the impressive size of the massive mega-resort at sea!
Just How Big is Wonder of the Seas?
Wonder of the Seas weighs in at 235,600 gross tons, which puts it about 15,000 gross tons smaller than the newest ships in the fleet, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
The ship can hold close to 7,000 passengers at absolute maximum capacity, but at double occupancy, it sails with just 5,734 guests. There are 2,204 crew members, on average.
Ship Stats
Wonder of the SeasLength
Wonder of the Seas is 1,188 feet (or 362 meters) long — so it’s only about eight feet off Icon class ships. This length is equivalent to just a bit longer than three football fields.
Wonder of the SeasWidth
Wonder of the Seas is 215 feet wide. Again, when comparing its width to that of the biggest ship in the world — those ships in the Icon class, which tie for largest — that puts Wonder of the Seas at just about four feet thinner.
Wonder of the Seas Height
Wonder of the Seas stands tall at 240 feet, with 18 total decks, including 16 passenger decks.
If it’s difficult to imagine just how tall that is, consider that it’s about 9% of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It’s also about a fifth of the size of the Empire State Building. The ship is equal in height, though, to the Taj Mahal.
Wonder of the SeasWeight
Wonder of the Seas weighs 235,600 gross tons. Don’t think of gross tons as equal to 2,000 pounds, though. Gross tonnage is specifically a method of measuring cruise ship size and it refers to internal volume rather than actual weight. A gross ton equals an internal volume of 100 cubic feet.
How Does Wonder of the SeasMeasure Up to Other Major Cruise Ships?
As mentioned, Wonder of the Seas, which was constructed at the popular Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France is still one of the largest cruise ships in the world, but it’s been surpassed by other Royal Caribbean vessels in recent years.
View of Wonder of the Seas Open Decks (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)
As of writing this article, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas tie for the industry’s largest cruise ships, with Utopia of the Seas coming in next, followed by Wonder of the Seas.
Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are both Oasis-class vessels, with Symphony of the Seas, the next-largest cruise ship, also in that class.
Stats
Wonder of the Seas
Icon of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Gross Tonnage
235,600
248,663
236,473
228,081
Length
1,188
1,196
1,188
1,188
Passenger Decks
16
18
16
16
Total Decks
18
20
18
18
Maximum Guest Capacity
6,988
7,600
6,988
6,680
Total Cabins
2,867
2,805
2,834
2,759
Crew Capacity
2,204
2,350
2,290
2,200
For years, Royal Caribbean has held the title of cruise line with the most massive ships, and, with more and more big ships on order, that doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon.
Is Wonder of the Seas Really That Much Bigger Than Other Cruise Ships?
When you compare Wonder of the Seas to the other cruise ships within its own class, the sizes are fairly similar. As an average cruiser, you’re not going to notice that much of a dramatic difference between Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas or Symphony of the Seas.
However, if you look at the next class of Royal Caribbean ships, the ones that came before the Oasis class, you’ll definitely see a big loss in size.
Cruise Ships in St. Maarten, Caribbean (Photo Credit: JSvideos)
Before the Oasis Class, there was the Quantum Class, and the five ships in that class measure in at under 170,000 GT each — making for nearly a 70,000 GT difference.
The Quantum Class ships can also only hold around 4,000 people at double occupancy, meaning that if you’re sailing at double occupancy on one of these vessels, you’re going to be traveling with nearly 2,000 fewer people than if you were sailing on Wonder of the Seas at double occupancy.
So, yes, when you begin looking at Wonder of the Seasas compared to cruise ships outside of its immediate family, it’s very obvious just how big this vessel is.
Wonder of the SeasCapacity – Passengers and Crew
Wonder of the Seas holds nearly 7,000 passengers at maximum capacity and 5,734 guests at double occupancy. If you were closely comparing Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seasin our table above, though, you’ll notice something interesting.
Even though Icon of the Seas is notably bigger than Wonder of the Seas by gross tonnage, the latter can actually hold more guests overall, if we’re just talking about double occupancy rates.
Passengers on Wonder of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)
This is due to how the ships are laid out. Icon of the Seas dedicates more of its space to suites, which often hold more than just two passengers. Double occupancy rates, meanwhile, always assume that there are two people in every single stateroom and suite on the ship.
As such, if you’re putting two people in each room on Icon of the Seas, you’ll have fewer people than you would if you were to do the same on Wonder of the Seas. However, if you put the maximum number of people in each stateroom on each ship, Icon of the Seas proves that it’s bigger once again.
There are 2,204 crew members operating Wonder of the Seas.
Breakdown of the Accommodations on Wonder of the Seas
While staterooms on Wonder of the Seas can be basically broken down into interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms, plus suites, there are some key differences and standout offerings.
For example, when looking at interior staterooms, you have options such as studio single cabins, designed for single cruisers; virtual balcony cabins, giving you a real-time view of the ship’s exterior via a screen along one wall; and interior cabins that overlook the Boardwalk, Promenade, and Central Park neighborhoods.
Wonder of the Seas Boardwalk Cabin (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Then, there are also ocean view and balcony cabins that are designed with families and more space in mind.
As far as suites go, you have your typical junior, grand and owners suites, but also lofts and the crème de la crème: the Ultimate Family Suite.
Now a Royal Caribbean favorite, it first appeared on Wonder of the Seas and was quickly lauded as one of the best suites in the industry, with cool features such as an in-suite slide, game room, private cinema and balcony with a whirlpool.
How is the Interior of the Ship Divided?
It’s been the case for years now that Royal Caribbean splits its ships into a handful of neighborhoods, with individual areas and decks themed around a certain activity or vibe. Wonder of the Seas is broken down into eight such neighborhoods.
Central Park
The aptly named Central Park is Royal Caribbean’s park-style setting, where you’ll find more than 20,000 living plants in a verdant, lush, brightly lit landscape — it’s hard to believe you’re still on a cruise ship when you’re strolling through the Central Park neighborhood!
Central Park on Wonder of the Seas
This neighborhood is home to some dining, and you’ll find staterooms adjacent to and overlooking the park.
The Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade is the bustling heart of all activity on a Royal Caribbean ship, and it’s lined with shopping, dining, entertainment and more.
The Royale Promenade
If you’re ever bored during a cruise (unlikely) and not sure what to do with your time next, head to the Royal Promenade and you’re sure to find something fun to catch your fancy.
The Suite Neighborhood
The Suite Neighborhood actually made its first appearance on Wonder of the Seas (though you can also find it on ships that came after Wonder of the Seas today).
Wonder of the Seas Suite Neighborhood
This neighborhood basically followed the trend of creating a VIP area for suite guests only. It includes its own plunge pool, sun deck and restaurant, and is a nice way for suite guests to enjoy some amenities without any crowds.
The Boardwalk
With a boardwalk vibe (obviously), this neighborhood is home to Johnny Rockets, Playmakers sports bar and the AquaTheater. In later ships, the AquaTheater gets its own neighborhood, but for Wonder of the Seas, this is where you’ll find it.
The Pool and Sports Zone
High up on the top decks, the pool and sports zone is home to multiple pools, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, The Perfect Storm waterslides, the FlowRider and then the sports courts.
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas Cruise Ship, Pool Deck
Entertainment Place
You’ll find the ship’s main theater in Entertainment Place, as well as other venues, such as the Studio B ice rink and the Music Hall.
The Youth Zone
The Youth Zone encompasses the Adventure Ocean spaces, as well as the teen clubs, such as Social100. The Adventure Ocean space is for children ages 3 to 11 (with children further broken down into three age groups).
Social100 on Wonder of the Seas
The teen spaces are for kids 12-17, and include both indoor and outdoor spots where they’ll have some autonomy, but also access to structured programming.
Vitality Spa and Fitness
Lastly, another self-explanatory neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas, the Vitality Spa and fitness neighborhood is home to the spa and fitness center.
Final Words
While Wonder of the Seas may not be the biggest cruise ship in the world any longer, it’s still pretty big and, when it first debuted in 2022, it was a game-changer for Royal Caribbean, introducing features like the suite neighborhood and the Ultimate Family Suite, that have now become staples.
Pools and Slides on Wonder of the Seas
If you’re wondering if you should take a cruise on Wonder of the Seas, there’s very little reason not to do so. The ship is still very new, it offers tons to do, lots of space and near-endless amenities.
The only time you might not pick a Wonder of the Seas cruise, I think, might be, firstly, if you’ve already sailed on an Oasis-class ship and now you want to enjoy the biggest and best Royal Caribbean offers right at this moment — in which case, I’d say book a trip on an Icon-class vessel.
Then, secondly, if you don’t fancy sailing with thousands of other vacationers, you might look for a smaller ship. That said, many agree that crowds are a minimal issue and, most of the time, cruisers are given enough space to spread out.
So, weigh the pros and cons and decide if this ship is right for you. If you do, there’ll be plenty of room waiting for you.
Carnival Cruise Line has alerted guests that fog may delay Carnival Miracle in Tampa on Sunday, December 28.
Carnival Miracle is finishing an 8-night sailing and will begin a 7-night New Year itinerary.
No delays have been confirmed but guests should wait for a Sunday morning update for final details.
‘Tis the season for fog delays at Port Tampa Bay, but Carnival Cruise Line is proactively alerting guests to the possibility of delays that may impact embarkation for Carnival Miracle on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
With the Weather Channel predicting fog and low wind (so it won’t clear out quickly) for Sunday morning throughout the Tampa Bay area, Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on Carnival Miracle‘s New Year sailing.
“Fog may impact the Tampa area overnight, and this could affect the arrival of the ship and your embarkation,”the text notification sent to guests stated.“We will continue to monitor the weather and provide another update by 9:00 AM (ET), Sunday, December 28.”
Guests are urged to be sure they are signed up for text alerts for further updates, but are also advised to heed the morning’s update.
“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our update,”the message concludes.
If fog were to significantly delay Carnival Miracle, the cruise terminal will not open to embarking guests until the ship has arrived and onboard guests are able to debark and leave the area. Limited space, personnel, and parking mean incoming guests must wait until debarking guests have left.
Carnival Spirit Fog (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
While there is not yet any confirmed delay for Carnival Miracle, the ship is hastening toward Port Tampa Bay ahead of the expected foggy conditions.
Satellite tracking estimates the ship reaching the cruise terminal at approximately 3:30 a.m., though that time will likely be adjusted as the vessel changes speed on her approach into Tampa Bay.
Carnival Miracle is finishing an 8-night Christmas cruise that departed Florida on Saturday, December 20. The ship enjoyed visits to Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel and is spending Saturday, December 27 at sea as she makes her way back to the Sunshine State.
No Changes at This Time
To be clear, there are not yet any confirmed changes to Carnival Miracle‘s debarkation on Sunday morning or embarkation for incoming guests.
Carnival Cruise Line is simply being proactive with its communication to incoming guests in case such delays are necessary.
The 85,942-gross-ton, Spirit-class ship will be starting a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary on Sunday, with visits planned for Cozumel on Tuesday, December 30; Ocho Rios on Thursday, January 1; and Grand Cayman on Friday, January 2, before returning to Tampa on Sunday, January 4.
Carnival Miracle can welcome 2,124 guests aboard and is also home to more than 900 international crew members. This ship is homeported in Tampa through mid-April, at which time she will reposition to Seattle for the 2026 Alaska sailing season.
Preemptive Adjustments When Fog Is Predicted
This is not the first time Carnival Miracle‘s arrival (and the next subsequent departure) has been threatened by fog this season. In early December, the cruise line sent out a similar warning about fog and possible delays. Fortunately in that instance, the expected fog was not thick enough to cause delays.
Nevertheless, the warnings do alert guests to possible adjustments, and most guests appreciate that heads up as they get ready for their sailing.
Text alerts aren’t the only way the cruise line prepares for possible foggy arrivals, however. One guest onboard Carnival Paradise‘s Christmas cruise that departed Tampa on Monday, December 22 shared their experience.
“We came to port early [because] of the fog and were docked by midnight last night to make sure people were back home on time,”they explained on Facebook.
Carnival Paradise‘s 5-night sailing returned to Tampa on Saturday, December 27.
Royal Caribbean is taking a similar early arrival approach with Rhapsody of the Seas. Though the ship isn’t due back in Tampa until Sunday morning, tracking data confirms that the vessel is already docking at the cruise terminal before 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, December 27.
While early docking will cause some inconveniences to guests onboard, such as the casino and retail shops closing early, this is far less inconvenient than the possibility of being delayed for several hours and missing flights or other post-cruise arrangements.
Also due in Tampa on Sunday morning is the Celebrity Constellation. That ship is also en route to Tampa, making good speed that may bring her to the cruise terminal early.
Coral Adventurer ran aground just east of Papua New Guinea early on Saturday, December 27.
More than 120 guests and crew members are aboard but there are no injuries reported.
This is the ship’s first sailing since a guest was left behind on Lizard Island and died while hiking.
It’s been rough sailing for Coral Adventurer for the past few weeks. Now the ship has run aground off the east coast of Papua New Guinea at Dreghafen Point between Nussing Island and Kumbam Island, approximately 60 miles from the city of Lae, the country’s second-largest city.
According to Nine News, Coral Adventurer had departed Cairns, Australia on a 12-night sailing on Thursday, December 18 and has been cruising along the coast of Papua New Guinea.
On Saturday morning, December 27, the ship ran aground just before 6 a.m. Local authorities were alerted to the situation and measures are being taken to safely refloat the ship, including planning around tidal schedules for natural assistance.
There are reportedly 80 passengers and 44 crew members aboard the 5,536-gross-ton ship. Authorities and the cruise line have confirmed there are no injuries at this time.
“All passengers and crew are safe,”a spokesperson for Coral Expeditions told news media.
Strong currents appear to have contributed to the grounding. As the ship is refloated, the hull will be thoroughly inspected to ensure there is no damage or other potential safety risks.
“An initial inspection indicates no damage to the vessel,”Coral Expeditions said.“The incident has been reported to authorities and will undergo further official inspections to the hull and marine environment as a standard procedure.”
This will include inspections for any fuel leakage or other spills as well as any damage to nearby coral reefs.
There is no confirmed timeline for when the ship may be able to resume her itinerary. Coral Adventurer was due to return to Cairns for debarkation on Tuesday, December 30.
If the ship cannot be successfully freed in time to return to her homeport as planned, alternative arrangements may need to be made for guests to head home. It is also possible that additional voyages will be impacted if repairs are necessary.
Incident Follows Earlier Passenger Death on Lizard Island
The 80-year-old woman, Suzanne Rees, had been sailing aboard Coral Adventurer as a solo traveler and joined a group hike at the first port visit on what was to have been a 60-night cruise. She separated from the group to rest, but never returned to the ship before it departed.
Once she was reported missing, the cruise ship returned to Lizard Island and search efforts commenced. She was found deceased significantly off the hiking trail.
Lizard Island, Queensland (Photo Credit: Umomos)
The cruise had planned to circumnavigate Australia and visit a total of 48 ports for the immersive voyage. Just days after Rees’ death, however, the rest of the sailing was cancelled and guests were flown home on chartered flights.
The decision to cancel the sailing was due to the cruise line believing it could not offer the type of high-quality experience guests had expected from the expedition cruise line.
“It was increasingly apparent, given the circumstances of the last week, that we could not deliver on this promise,”said Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions, when confirming the cancellation.
The December 18 departure is the ship’s first sailing following the previous cancellation.
How Can Cruise Ships Run Aground?
While grounding incidents are not common, they do happen, particularly with expedition ships that may venture closer to shore in less well-known waters.
Submerged reefs, shifting sandbars, and changes in local currents can all cause navigational challenges that might lead to grounding. Furthermore, smaller ships may be more susceptible to strong winds or other weather-related influences.
While expedition cruise ships can often visit more remote locations, it is exactly because those locations are less frequently visited that the intricacies of their waters and coastlines may be less well known.
Carnival Spirit has been delayed by several hours returning to Mobile, Alabama due to heavy fog.
The port reopened later in the morning and the ship was able to dock at roughly 12 p.m.
Embarkation for the next sailing is delayed several hours but no itinerary changes have been confirmed.
Despite Carnival Cruise Line alerting guests boarding Carnival Miraclein Tampa on Sunday, December 28 to the possibility of fog delaying their embarkation, that isn’t the ship that has actually been delayed due to low visibility.
Instead, Carnival Spirit has been delayed returning to Mobile, Alabama.
“Together with our Fleet Operations Center in Miami, we have been actively monitoring all conditions in the Mobile area. The pilots have currently closed the port to all marine traffic,”an announcement onboard Carnival Spirit early in the morning explained.
“We will remain at sea at the channel entrance until conditions improve.”
Guests were permitted to remain in their staterooms to wait out the delay, and breakfast was available at the buffet as well as in the main dining room and coffee shops. Several new activities were also added to the morning schedule while the ship waited for clearance to enter Mobile Bay.
Booked guests scheduled to depart on Sunday were also advised of the delay, with a later update at 10 a.m. Central Time providing the final details and timing for the ship’s arrival.
“Good news! The port of Mobile has reopened, and the ship is expected to arrive late morning,”the late morning update confirmed.
This was certainly good news for guests planning to set sail on the ship’s 8-night New Year Bahamas cruise.
As a matter of interest, Carnival Miracle was not delayed after all, as the ship was able to enter Tampa Bay and dock ahead of schedule to beat the expected morning fog.
Embarkation Delayed Several Hours
Carnival Spirit was approaching the cruise terminal shortly after 11 a.m., with expected docking at roughly noon. This does not mean embarkation could begin immediately, however.
“Once the ship arrives, we must allow debarking guests to leave the cruise terminal and parking facilities before embarking guests can be accommodated,”the email notification to incoming guests explained.“As a result, embarkation for your cruise has been revised.”
All cruise terminal arrival appointments were pushed back by several hours. For example, if guests had selected the 10:30 a.m. arrival appointment, they should not arrive to the cruise terminal until 3:30 p.m. for their revised appointment.
Carnival Spirit Docked in Mobile
These extended delays are necessary to permit guests debarking the ship to process through customs, collect their luggage, and exit the port area before arriving guests can be accommodated.
.Cruise terminals do not typically have adequate space for hundreds or thousands of guests to simply wait for several hours when a ship is delayed. Furthermore, there may not be enough parking for two cruises’ worth of guests from the same ship.
The 85,920-gross-ton Carnival Spirit can welcome 2,124 guests aboard at double occupancy and up to 2,667 travelers when fully booked. Because of the holiday season, the ship is more likely to be fully booked with higher numbers of guests onboard.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things guests can do close to the cruise terminal with the extra time. A favorite is to visit the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, just three miles away. Visitors can tour the battleship and the USS Drum submarine, explore the aircraft pavilion, and more.
Will the Itinerary Be Impacted?
There are not yet any confirmed changes to Carnival Spirit‘s next itinerary. The 8-night sailing has visits planned for Celebration Key from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, followed by New Year’s Day in Nassau from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Princess Cays on January 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The first two full days of the cruise are days at sea, which gives Carnival Spirit plenty of time to adjust speed to make up for today’s delay.
It is not unusual for cruise ships to sail at slightly slower speeds during days at sea to provide more comfortable and less windy conditions for guests to enjoy the pools and activities on the outer decks. Picking up the speed slightly will ensure an on-time arrival to Celebration Key.
Of course, if any itinerary adjustments are necessary, guests onboard will be notified as soon as such changes are confirmed.
The Royal Caribbean App has been chosen as the Best Cruise Line App of 2025.
The results were close, with Carnival’s HUB App right on its tail.
This is the first time Best Cruise Line App has been included as part of the Cruise Hive Awards.
For the first time in the history of the Cruise Hive Awards, readers were asked to vote on the best cruise line app.
Out of a competitive group of apps from the major cruise lines, it was ultimately the Royal Caribbean App that eked out the win.
The results were tight, with Royal Caribbean snagging the title of Best Cruise Line App in 2025 with a narrow lead of only 1.3 points.
It earned 21.6% of the vote, with Carnival Cruise Line’s HUB App close behind at 20.3%. Princess Cruises’ Princess Cruises App ranked third at 13.2%.
Best Cruise Line App Chart (Data: Cruise Hive)
What Makes the Royal Caribbean App Special?
The Royal Caribbean App is really a one-stop shop to handle everything related to cruising, from booking and pre-planning to actually sailing.
While some tasks related to booking a cruise or pre-boarding need to be done online from a computer or via a phone call for other cruise lines, everything can be accomplished from this smartphone app.
Prior to embarkation day, guests can book new cruises, pre-book onboard packages, manage their loyalty program status, reserve shore excursions and shows, and book guest passes for private destinations, such as the newly opened Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau.
Best Cruise Line App Award
It also simplifies the pre-check-in and the subsequent boarding process at the cruise port by allowing much of the security check to be done in advance.
Guests are able to upload a security photo, important identifying documents (i.e., passports) in advance, which generates a mobile boarding pass. It also allows guests to pre-select an arrival time, which limits crowding in the cruise terminal.
Once onboard, guests can find any information they need from the app, which is known for being more intuitive and less glitchy than apps from other cruise lines.
From the app, guests can see all the activities happening onboard, make dining plans and view menus, explore deck plans, manage their onboard account, view operating hours, and more.
Royal Caribbean App (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean)
They can also chat with others in their travel party for free using the ship’s Wi-Fi without needing to purchase an internet package.
Other cruise lines, such as Carnival’s second-place HUB App, charge a fee of $5 per user to take advantage of in-app messaging.
How to Use the Royal Caribbean App
Royal Caribbean’s App is compatible with iPhones and Androids and can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. However, the App is not supported on tablets.
The app can be used in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese to be as broadly accessible as possible.
In order to fully take advantage of all that the app has to offer, guests will need to create a free account. This takes less than five minutes to do, and requires a name, email, birthday, and password of your choice.
Note that the app does have age restrictions. It is available to guests 13 years old and up in most countries.
Carnival HUB App Poses Competition
Carnival’s HUB App ranked very close behind the Royal Caribbean App in the voting, and is also well-liked for being a convenient all-in-one tool for managing cruises.
While new cruises can’t be booked directly from the HUB App like they can on the Royal Caribbean App, pretty much every other element before and during sailings can be managed from one’s smartphone.
However, it does have more of a reputation for being a bit glitchy or updating slowly, especially regarding onboard account balances and schedules.
Another Carnival-owned company ended up in third place. Princess Cruises’ app was next, and is very convenient for making advance bookings and seeing what’s happening onboard during sailings.
That said, this app can also be slow or glitchy, with the most commonly reported issues relating to problems logging in and not being able to access bookings or reservations that are visible online and in guests’ official travel summaries.
For context, the Cruise Hive Awards featured eight different categories, and participants were only able to vote once in each category. Additional results can be found here.
The public voting form was available from October 14, 2025, until December 19, 2025, and votes were screened to make sure they were from actual humans and not bots or spam.
Norwegian Getaway became the first ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay’s new pier on December 28, 2025.
Previously, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private destination had only been a tender port.
All Norwegian Cruise Line ships will benefit going forward, including sister brands like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
On December 28, 2025, Norwegian Getaway made history as the first NCL ship to dock at the newly completed multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
The 268-acre resort, which is located in the Berry Islands, is the one and only port call on a 3-night sailing from Miami that embarked on December 26, 2025.
“Today marks a historic moment for Norwegian Getaway and in the history of Norwegian Cruise Line to be the first ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay with the opening of our brand-new pier,” NCL wrote in the Freestyle Daily Newsletter, which was shared in Cruise Hive’s NCL Facebook group.
“Each and every one of our guests this cruise will be making history alongside us in this significant moment by being the first cruise passengers to walk off a Norwegian Cruise Line ship onto the island of Great Stirrup Cay,” the cruise line continued.
Norwegian Getaway Docked at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Katie Lowe)
Norwegian Gem was also in the port at the same time as Norwegian Getaway, but cruise tracking data shows that the Jewel-class ship anchored offshore and proceeded with the normal tender operations.
Both vessels were scheduled to be at the exclusive port from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. local time.
While the new pier is able to accommodate up to two large ships at once, it’s possible that the cruise line is in the final stages of completion or simply easing into using the facilities to work out any kinks before operating at full capacity.
Norwegian Getaway is First to Dock at Great Stirrup Cay on December 28, 2025 (Photo Credit: Katie Lowe)
In the newsletter, Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that all ships under Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, including Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, will be able to benefit from the pier going forward.
A Welcomed Change
Plans for the new pier were first announced in April of 2024, and construction began in Januaryof 2025. The goal was always to reach completion by the end of 2025.
Prior to this point, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private destination was solely a tender port, meaning crew members had to ferry guests between the ship and the shore.
Considering the biggest ships in the NCL fleet (including Norwegian Getaway) can accommodate around 4,000 passengers at once, this is a process that could become rather tedious.
New Pier Redner at Great Stirrup Cay (Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
“As a company we have made a transformational investment in Great Stirrup Cay to provide an enhanced experience; this now includes guests no longer being required to tender from ship to shore,” NCL explained.
“Instead, guests will have direct access to the island upon arrival,” the brand added.
This will also help prevent cancellations due to inclement weather, as rough seas are a much bigger issue for tendering than docking at a pier. Over the years, Great Stirrup Cay has become a bit notorious for cancellations due to this reason.
More Enhancements Coming to the Island
Norwegian Cruise Line isn’t kidding when they say they’ve invested a lot into improving their private destination. The brand has already shelled out around $150 million into the island’s expansion.
As of late 2025, NCL has launched a new island-wide tram service and a family-friendly splash pad.
The cruise line also introduced a massive 28,000 sq. ft. heated pool called the Great Life Lagoon. It is Norwegian Cruise Line’s biggest pool ever, and features swim-up bars, an on-site DJ, water toys for kids, and lounging.
They also added a shore-side version of the popular adults-only Vibe Beach Club, called Vibe Shore Club. This is an area for cruisers over 18 with premium drinks, snacks, and lounging.
For those looking to unwind, Hammock Bay has also been added as a new, tranquil zone to enjoy some peace and island views. This area features over 50 hammocks for relaxation and beachside naps.
And perhaps most anticipated is the new Great Tides Waterpark coming to Great Stirrup Cay in the summer of 2026. The new waterpark will feature 19 thrill-inducing slides, a lazy river, cliff jumps, children’s play areas, and more.
The new pier is a key component of making sure guests get to enjoy all that the revamped destination has to offer.
