A UK school principal lost her teaching career after changing school term dates to take cruises.
The disciplinary panel found the changes negatively affected attendance and disrupted families and school staff.
Investigators did not identify the cruise line or itinerary.
A pair of luxury cruise vacations ultimately cost a school principal in England her teaching career after authorities concluded she changed her school’s academic calendar so she could sail on luxury cruises.
Joy Ballard, the former principal of Ryde Academy, a public secondary school on England’s Isle of Wight, has been permanently banned from teaching after a professional misconduct panel appointed by England’s Teaching Regulation Agency found she acted dishonestly.
According to the panel’s findings, Ballard moved the end of the fall term and delayed the start of the spring term so the school schedule matched her personal travel plans.
Investigators also found she missed a teacher workday on January 3, 2024, because she was still returning from one of the cruises. It was also discovered she left another teacher workday early in February 2023 to board a separate cruise.
The panel determined the changes disrupted families, students, and school employees who had already planned their own travel and childcare around the previously published academic calendar. The last-minute changes also negatively affected attendance.
Acting on behalf of England’s education secretary, Decision Maker Marc Cavey agreed with the panel’s recommendation, writing that Ballard had behaved, “dishonestly and lacking in integrity.”
He added, “In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.”
Additional unrelated financial and governance violations were also uncovered. The panel found Ballard regularly used a Peugeot 5008 purchased with school funds for personal travel between 2022 and 2024, including a family vacation to France.
It also concluded school money had been used to purchase camping equipment, televisions, and a karaoke machine without appropriate oversight.
Carnival-Owned Ships in Southampton (Photo Credit: Ssisabal)
According to local media reports, current principal Will Doyle told the hearing that staff members feared retaliation if they challenged Ballard’s decisions.
Ballard admitted the factual allegations during the proceedings and expressed regret for her actions. However, the panel felt she had not demonstrated enough insight into her misconduct and said there remained a risk of similar behavior reoccurring.
She can apply to have the prohibition order reviewed after two years.
Why Off-Peak Cruises Are So Appealing
Although investigators never identified the cruise line, ship, or departure port involved in Ballard’s cruises, the Isle of Wight is an island just off England’s south coast near Southampton on the mainland.
Southampton serves as one of the UK’s busiest cruise ports and is home to major cruise lines like Cunard, Princess Cruises, and P&O Cruises.
The case highlights how off-peak cruises while schools are in session may be enticing for passengers, as they are often among the least expensive. For example, following the holiday travel season in December, cruise lines frequently reduce fares on January sailings as demand softens.
For guests without school-age children, retirees, and those with flexible schedules, sailing during these quieter periods can translate into lower cruise fares, reduced airfare, and fewer crowds onboard and at ports of call.
However, those off-peak windows can create scheduling challenges for parents and educators because they fall during the academic year. In both the United Kingdom and the United States, school calendars are typically established months in advance to allow families to plan vacations, childcare, and other commitments.
The disciplinary panel investigating Ballard did not criticize her for taking a cruise or vacationing during the school year. Instead, it concluded she improperly used her position as a principal to change the calendar for her own plans.
Carnival Cruise Line’s July 4th meetups offered fireworks at Celebration Key and many onboard events.
Not all guests were happy with the different activities and some ships did not seem to offer much.
It is possible the cruise line may begin offering annual July 4th celebrations, but this has not been confirmed.
The US hasn’t seen July 4th celebrations this big and bold in 250 years, and Carnival Cruise Line joined the fun with meetups of multiple vessels at both Celebration Key in the Bahamas and in San Diego.
As “America’s Cruise Line” it’s very appropriate that Carnival went all out for the 250th anniversary of the US declaring independence, with onboard parties, special activities, and a brilliant fireworks display at Celebration Key.
Depending on the ship, there were red-white-and-blue balloon drops, patriotic music and movies, themed inflatables, American menu favorites, ice sculptures, special veterans’ gatherings with commemorative America’s 250th Birthday pins, and more.
The fireworks at Celebration Key were a special favorite for many guests aboard the seven ships meeting there: Carnival Venezia, Carnival Elation, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Vista.
While the fireworks display did launch as planned on Saturday evening, not all guests on every ship had an equal view. A number of guests reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, with their disappointment.
Heald answers hundreds of guest comments and questions every week and was quick to explain the logistics of why the fireworks offered different views for different ships.
“Yes, there were two or three comments that said the fireworks were ‘[too] far away’ and one that said the fireworks were ‘boring,’” he noted.“That was for safety reasons of course.”
Regulations would require that each ship not only be a certain distance from the fireworks launching site, but also a certain distance from other ships to ensure adequate maneuvering room in case of emergency.
Depending on where individual ships were positioned and where guests were on the outer decks, the view could vary considerably and other ships at the meetup may have blocked some of the firework bursts from view.
Fortunately, the show was safe and offered a unique and fun experience for guests and many travelers enjoyed the parties.
A few Carnival ships and fireworks make for a pretty great Fourth of July 🎆🛳️ pic.twitter.com/4vVlsagqeT
— Carnival Cruise Line (@CarnivalCruise) July 5, 2026
In addition to the onboard parties, Cruise Hive has already reported on the homeport celebrations Carnival Cruise Line organized to honor veterans and military members on this very special holiday.
Not Every Ship Joined the Party
Guests on some vessels not involved in the at sea meetups did report less than patriotic experiences. Specifically, guests aboard Carnival Freedom and Carnival Jubilee reached out to Heald with their disappointment.
Carnival Freedom departed Port Canaveral on July 4th to begin a 5-night Bahamas itinerary. Of course, the ship could not be part of the meetup that evening, but onboard celebrations also seemed lackluster.
“I figured Carnival Freedom = Independence Day so with the correlation this ship may have done something extra. Leis and pins at the sail away party and a couple of themed desserts was the extent of it. Which is fine but seeing what was on other ships we were left with a lot left to desire and disappointment.“
Some guests onboard Carnival Jubilee were also disappointed at the timing of patriotic events. The Excel-class ship departed Galveston on July 4th for a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary.
“Carnival Jubilee showed the movie Wicked for our 250 year celebration. We DID NOTHING,” a guest claimed.
Heald noted that there was a Lido deck party onboard Carnival Jubilee and a balloon drop, but the guest replied that the balloon drop was scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 5 and the deck party was at sailaway, not a special event.
Even with patriotic celebrations and special events onboard, every ship also had other activities throughout the day. It is possible that some guests simply chose alternative activities or missed the patriotic festivities because of other events.
Has Carnival Started a New Tradition?
With the festive meetups and fireworks displays successful, many guests are now wondering if Carnival Cruise Line will start offering special Fourth of July events every year.
There has been no announcement or confirmation that any new annual events may be planned, but the cruise line is always adapting its onboard offerings and schedules to what guests enjoy most.
Holland America Line unveiled its 2027-28 Caribbean season with 47 departures across 29 itineraries.
The deployment emphasizes longer Caribbean voyages, with more sailings of 9 days or longer.
The season will also introduce a reimagined Oosterdam and upgrades to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.
Longer Caribbean cruises are taking center stage in Holland America Line’s 2027 deployment.
The cruise line has unveiled its 2027-28 Caribbean season, featuring 47 departures across 29 itineraries sailing between October 2027 and March 2028. Cruises range from 5 to 28 days and visit 35 ports in 25 countries throughout the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean.
The longer itineraries will allow ships to reach the Southern Caribbean without sacrificing time in port, giving guests access to less common destinations such as the ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
Nearly every itinerary in the new schedule announced on July 6, 2026, will stop at the cruise line’s private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, in the Bahamas.
Holland America said it will offer more Caribbean cruises lasting 9 days or longer than any other cruise line during the season, giving guests a bigger selection of extended sailings beyond the traditional weeklong cruise.
“We’ve built this season to give guests more ways to experience the Caribbean, whether they are looking for a quick getaway or a longer journey that explores more of the region,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president, deployment and revenue planning for Holland America Line.
Among the offerings are Southern Caribbean cruises to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao and Eastern Caribbean itineraries visiting ports including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten.
Western Caribbean voyages will call in Jamaica, Belize, Honduras, and Mexico, with 12-day Panama Canal Discovery sailings including a partial transit of the canal. Those voyages will stop in Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Cayman Islands while allowing guests to experience the locks and Gatun Lake without committing to a full canal crossing or a repositioning voyage.
Holiday travelers will have eight special departures, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s cruises aboard several ships in the fleet.
Holland America Ship at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)
For those looking for an even longer voyage, the season also includes the cruise line’s Legendary Voyages of longer, destination-intensive sailings that typically feature fewer sea days and multiple consecutive port days or late-evening stays in select ports.
This includes a 28-day Pan Am 100th Anniversary sailing aboard Zuiderdam. Departing October 30, 2027, from Miami, the itinerary visits 19 ports in 13 countries while tracing portions of Pan American Airways’ Caribbean routes.
New Accommodations and Upgrades
Beyond the itinerary lineup, Holland America is introducing several changes that guests will see both onboard and ashore during the 2027 Caribbean season.
The biggest ship upgrade will be the debut of the reimagined Oosterdam, which will begin sailing Caribbean itineraries in December 2027, following a multi-week dry dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy. The vessel will be the first to undergo the cruise line’s Evolution updates designed to refresh accommodations and add new public spaces across existing ships.
The renovations on the 81,769-gross-ton ship will include the addition of Solo Verandah staterooms with private balconies and dedicated workspaces designed for solo passengers. Bridgeview Suites with larger living areas and panoramic ocean views and Vista Suites, which will make their debut on the ship, are also expected.
Meanwhile, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay will also receive several more upgrades ahead of the season as the cruise line joins other major lines investing heavily in private destinations. The cruise line’s sister company, Carnival Cruise Line, recently added a new pier and amenities to the shared destination.
Next up will be a new beach club that will offer priority tendering, waiter service, upgraded seating, and exclusive food and beverage options. RelaxAway is also adding more cabanas and villas, expanding shopping areas and beach facilities, introducing new activities such as pickleball, updating dining venues, and adding beverage stations across the island. These include Aperol spritz tricycles and Bacardi beach buggies.
During the 2027 season, Holland America Line will continue to offer shore excursions developed with The History Channel alongside its “Meet the Makers” tours, highlighting local artisans and businesses.
Bookings for the 2027-28 Caribbean season are now open with sailings aboard Eurodam, Oosterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, and Zuiderdam departing primarily from Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Netflix is releasing a documentary on the Costa Concordia disaster on July 10, 2026.
“Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea” includes survivor accounts and never-before-seen footage of the incident.
The online streaming platform has released several documentaries on different cruise-related events.
News coverage was extensive in January 2012 when Costa Concordia struck a rocky outcrop off the coast of Italy and capsized. But what was that experience really like for the people who lived it and who are reliving every day more than a decade later?
Netflix is taking viewers back to that terrifying night with a new immersive documentary debuting Friday, July 10, 2026. “Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea” offers never-before-seen footage and survivor accounts of the collision, capsizing, and evacuation of the 114,147-gross-ton ship.
The incident is the deadliest cruise ship disaster in modern history and 32 people lost their lives that night.
An official trailer released by Netflix starts with ominous music and a sweeping shot of the ship’s name beneath murky water before changing to a scene every cruise guest is familiar with: dancing and fun in the main dining room. Shots of choppy waves are interspersed with champagne pours until chaos erupts.
“One moment you are celebrating and chilling with your family. The next moment you’re just there, powerless,”one survivor interviewed for the documentary describes.“It felt like the ground under our feet opened. People were grabbing on to the walls, grabbing on to each other.”
Video clips include serving staff in the dining room directing guests, frightened children clinging to their parents, and red-and-blue flashing lights along the tilted side of the vessel.
Later shots show helicopters hovering around the ship and lifeboats in the water. A voice in the background compares the scene to Titanic. The dark tones, shaky camerawork, and eerie music capture the terror and uncertainty of the incident.
Netflix: Shipwrecked
“Every time you close your eyes, you see something from the night,”another interviewed guest said.
“It’s literally back in the most terrifying moment you’ve ever experienced with your family,”her partner commented.
Those types of insights will offer firsthand accounts of the disaster, bringing viewers right onboard the ship during the fateful hours of the collision, capsizing, and evacuation.
Netflix Cruise Documentaries Prove Popular
Netflix has released several popular documentaries about cruise disasters. In June 2025, the streaming giant released an episode of its “Trainwreck” series covering the infamous 2013 “poop cruise” aboard Carnival Triumph, when the ship was adrift without power for five days following an engine room fire.
A similarly popular documentary is the three-part mini-series “Amy Bradley Is Missing” released in July 2025. In 1998, then 23-year-old Amy Bradley vanished from Rhapsody of the Seas while on a family cruise.
The documentary covered not only Bradley’s disappearance, but the ensuing investigative efforts and possible leads in the missing person case.
While no future cruise-related documentary topics have been announced, Netflix could easily cover a range of different cruise ship accidents and emergencies.
The implosion of the Titan submersible on a dive to visit Titanic, the guest who died after being left behind on Lizard Island, or the challenges of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf while the Strait of Hormuz was closed could all be intriguing topics.
Cruise Hive has covered all of these stories as news when they happen. Documentaries, however, offer more in-depth, retrospective examinations that include investigative reporting, firsthand accounts, court rulings, and other details that emerge months or years after such incidents occur.
Put your phone into airplane mode before your cruise to avoid unexpected bills.
Utilize WiFi-enabled texting via apps like iMessage or WhatsApp.
Look for deals that give you free WiFi on the ship or use free WiFi while in port.
One thing that always makes me nervous when traveling internationally, including while on a cruise, is how I’m going to stay in touch with folks back home. If you’re the same, you’ve probably looked into how you might be able to text during your cruise … and then you’ve come across some eye-watering-ly expensive cruise line WiFi and texting packages.
The good news? It is possible to text for free or near-free during your cruise, without paying high prices. Here’s what you should know.
How to Text for Free During a Cruise
Rather than texting like you normally might during your cruise, in order to do so for free, you’re going to want to use a texting app or similar option that works off a WiFi connection rather than a cellular connection. Texting using cellular service can leave you with a huge bill.
If you use iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat or something similar, you can text using the ship’s or a port’s local WiFi, without relying on pricy, at-sea cellular service (more on that below).
In some cases, if you just want to text other people that you’re sailing with, such as if you’re trying to get in touch with your teen who’s at the pool while you’re in your stateroom, you can often do so through the cruise line’s app specifically.
Texting on Specific Cruise Lines
Cruise Ships in the Bahamas (Photo Credit: Luciavonu)
Wondering what you need to know about texting on the specific cruise line that you’re sailing with? Here’s a breakdown of texting options on the major cruise lines. Some allow you to text with other cruisers for free. Some require a small fee.
Texting on Norwegian Cruise Line
You can download the NCL mobile app for free. Then, when you’re on the ship, according to Redditors, you can purchase a text-specific CruiseChat Pass, which allows you to use text apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Google Messenger. You cannot send photos or audio, but it’s enough to get you by and generally costs only a few dollars per day.
Texting with the Celebrity Cruises App
If you use the Celebrity Cruises app, you can text other people on the ship totally for free. There’s no need to buy anything specific or extra. You just have to be connected to the ship’s guest WiFi. If you need more capabilities, internet plans for your devices are available.
Texting with the Carnival HUB App
You can similarly use the Carnival HUB app to text with other people on your cruise, but with one caveat. While the app itself is free to use and download, if you want to unlock the chat feature, you’ll have to pay $5 per user.
Texting with the MSC For Me App
The MSC for Me app allows you to message friends or family who are also on the ship, without any need for an internet package. However, this feature is only open to cruisers ages 16 and up.
Texting with the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App
Disney Cruise Line actually offers some really impressive, free texting capabilities across its entire fleet.
To start, using the Navigator app, everyone you’re cruising with can join a group chat and talk during the cruise. Then, the ships also offer complimentary WiFi that allows you to text via WhatsApp and iMessage, both with those you’re cruising with and folks back home.
However, note that this complimentary WiFi is only really suitable for texting. For sending photos or video, you’ll need a package. Still! It’s a great value and a rarity in the cruising industry.
Texting with the Royal Caribbean App
If you have the Royal Caribbean app, you can chat with other users while you’re onboard the ship, totally for free. Otherwise, if you need to use the WiFi to text people back home, you’ll have to purchase an internet package.
Texting with the MedallionNet App
Similarly, you can text other cruisers on your Princess Cruises ship by using the chat feature in the MedallionNet app. However, some cruisers have found the chat feature to be less than ideal, as it doesn’t actually give you any notifications that you’ve received new messages, requiring an extra step to stay in touch.
Some cruisers also find that they can use WiFi-based texting apps like Google Chat without paying for an internet package. Others, though, aren’t so lucky, so don’t rely on this.
Texting with the Navigator by Holland America App
The Holland America App likewise allows for messaging other travelers during your cruise, for free. That said, again, some cruisers have complained about the app’s chatting capabilities and have preferred to purchase WiFi plans in order to stay in touch not only with people back home but also with fellow cruisers, stating that WiFi packages are often discounted shortly after embarkation.
How to Get Texting for Free Through Your Cruise Line
How to Text on a Cruise Ship for Free
You may’ve noticed something about many of the above options. While they may allow you “technically” to text for “free,” you often have to initially pay for WiFi or similar access in order to truly text anyone, anytime, anywhere. So how can you get that for free?
There are a few options.
Use Your Onboard Credits
If you’ve done your due diligence and hunted down the best cruise deals possible, you may’ve been able to book a cruise package that comes with some onboard credits. Use those to your advantage. While, sure, you can use them for “fun” stuff like dining or drinks, be a little more practical and use them to pay for onboard WiFi instead.
Join a Loyalty Program
Cruise line loyalty program members receive a lot of free perks. While those perks start out simple at first (maybe you get a credit for a free beverage or a discount on spa services), they accumulate the more you cruise, and you could just find yourself with free WiFi.
Look for Free WiFi Promotions When Booking
Additionally, you can specifically keep WiFi and texting in mind when booking your cruise. Many cruise lines will offer WiFi-included promotions from time to time, allowing you to book and know you’ll have WiFi-enabled texting, right from the start.
Book with a Cruise Line that Specifically Offers Complimentary WiFi
Of course, if having free WiFi is a make-or-break-it deal for you, then you may want to specifically book your cruise with one of the handful of lines that include basic WiFi in their fares.
Cruise Passenger on Phone in Pool (Photo Credit: Jacobus Djokosetio)
If you want to go through the least amount of hassle possible when trying to text for free on a cruise, even more options exist.
For instance, often in port, if you go out onto the ship’s open decks, you can pick up local free WiFi. Of course, you can also get off the ship and go out and get WiFi in port as well. Free WiFi is often available at cruise terminals, restaurants, coffee shops, malls and more.
If I’m really trying to be frugal and convenient, I’ll sometimes opt for just texting in port versus trying to stay connected all throughout my cruise (because, honestly, sometimes that disconnection, though stressful initially, can be relaxing).
If you do wait until you get to port to text, don’t take your phone out of airplane mode, unless you have coverage in that port via your existing cellular provider. Otherwise, you’ll pay your provider’s international rates. Instead, again, always rely on WiFi.
How to Avoid Unexpected Cell Phone Bills During a Cruise
Using a Cell Phone During a Cruise (Photo Credit: Elizaveta Galitckaia)
Let’s say you do nothing at all. You don’t go out of your way to find free texting work-arounds, but you also don’t actually text or call anyone during your cruise. You could still find yourself coming home to a big cellular bill.
This is because, whether you like it or not, your cell phone is always searching for service. Once your ship heads out to sea, your cell phone is going to find specialized at-sea providers like Cellular at Sea. These providers charge a pretty penny for their service. If your phone connects and is using that service, not even to text or call but just merely to run apps in the background, you end up with a big bill.
As such, make sure that you put your phone in airplane mode before you head out on your cruise.
That said, if you do want to use one of these providers for texting or similar communication, you can lower your bill by turning off any unnecessary phone functions. For example, disable apps running in the background. Turn off automatic updates or notifications.
Can You Text During Your Cruise Through Your Existing Carrier?
Communication on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: CLS Digital Arts)
It may very well be the case that you can text during your cruise through your existing carrier. I use Verizon and have great service all over the world. Additionally, some cell service providers offer cruise-specific add-ons that can be pretty affordable and make your trip all the more convenient and easy.
Here are some of your options.
Verizon Cruise Daily Pass
Verizon’s cruise daily pass is $20 per line per day, and you’ll only pay on days that you use your phone at sea. You’ll get unlimited data (0.5 GB of high-speed data, then unlimited data at 3G speeds), unlimited talk minutes and unlimited texting.
T-Mobile
While T-Mobile doesn’t offer a specific cruise package, your existing coverage could already allow for staying connected during a cruise, depending on your current international and roaming coverage.
AT&T International Day Pass
Then, AT&T’s international day pass provides cruise ship service for $20 per day. You get unlimited talk and text, and 500 MB of data per day. You only pay on the days you use the
Queen Mary 2 was anchored in New York Harbor as part of the Sail4th 250 event to celebrate America’s independence.
The visit concluded a transatlantic crossing voyage that departed Southampton on June 26.
An international ship parade, military flyovers, and fireworks were all part of the celebrations guests onboard enjoyed.
The skies were very star-spangled over New York Harbor on the evening of July 4, 2026 as the US celebrated its 250th anniversary of independence from Great Britain, but it was a British ocean liner that was a centerpiece of the Sail4th 250 event for the country and its own cruising history.
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the world’s only active ocean liner, was anchored in the harbor and offered her 2,695 guests a spectacular view of fireworks, a historic parade of more than 100 international ships, and multiple military flyby demonstrations.
The visit to New York City was part of the ship’s June 26 sailing, when the 149,215-gross ton vessel departed Southampton on a transatlantic cruise. Following her celebratory visit to New York, Queen Mary 2 will also call on Newport, Rhode Island and Halifax, Nova Scotia before concluding the sailing in the Big Apple on July 10.
It was that holiday visit to NYC that will be one of the most memorable moments of the voyage and celebrated a connection to the cruise line’s past.
“The participation of Queen Mary 2 in these festivities as the most elegant hostess for her guests made the commemoration of American independence most meaningful for our international partnerships,”said Chris O’Brien, President of Sail4th 250 New York.
“The sight of this magnificent ocean liner amidst all the pageantry and camaraderie in New York Harbor created indelible memories for a new generation of young sailors and families. She will always be welcome in our waters.”
Queen Mary 2 in New York Harbor
The line first sailed into New York Harbor in December 1847 with the wooden paddle steamer Hibernia. Every year since, at least one Cunard ship has called at the Port of New York.
“Queen Mary 2 is an iconic ship, and she represents the transatlantic story itself. To have her at the heart of Sail4th 250 on such a significant day felt incredibly special, with New York as the backdrop and our guests enjoying a front-row view of the celebrations,”said Katie McAlister, President of Cunard.
A British Cruise Line’s History with the US
On July 4, 1840, RMS Britannia set sail from Liverpool for Boston on the very first transatlantic crossing for Cunard. In every year since, for 186 consecutive years, Cunard ships have made at least one crossing between the US and the UK.
Those voyages were far different from today’s luxury cruises, however. From 1840 until 1923, roughly one in five immigrants sailed to the US aboard a Cunard ship.
In 2008 and 2011, three active Queens (Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2, and Queen Victoria) all met in New York for stunning rendezvous, creating other momentous occasions in the line’s history.
This year has been a significant one for Queen Mary 2 and the July 4th celebrations in New York are not her first historic moments of 2026.
Cruise Hive reported in February that the ship met up with her namesake, the original Queen Mary, during a rare visit to Long Beach, California. It was the first time the two ships had been together in 20 years.
That meetup was part of Queen Mary 2‘s 108-night World Voyage, which also included the liner’s first trip through the Panama Canal.
The original Queen Mary completed 1,001 crossings during her service lifetime, many of which either originated or concluded in New York.
A former guest of Mardi Gras is suing Carnival Corporation after breaking her ankle during a shore excursion.
The guest was riding a dune buggy in allegedly unsafe conditions, which flipped and fell on top of her.
Her legal team claims that Carnival is negligent in how it advertised the tour and for not properly warning guests of the danger associated with the excursion.
Thanks to a new lawsuit from a former passenger, Carnival Cruise Line has found itself in the hot seat.
Karisha McClinton filed a personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida on July 3, 2026, following an accident that occurred during a shore excursion last summer.
On July 6, 2025, McClinton and her family visited Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, as part of a sailing onboard the 5,270-guest Mardi Gras.
The lawsuit explains that a dune buggy flipped and broke McClinton’s ankle during the “Waterfalls, Buggies & Monkeys” excursion.
Allegedly, the cruise guest was riding the buggy (with her 6-year-old child in the front seat) through dangerous muddy, rocky terrain when the vehicle flipped and landed on her left ankle. There was no injury to the child mentioned in the lawsuit.
The family claims that tour operators did not provide proper instructions on how to operate the buggies safely, and that there were no safety railings on the route other than a barbed wire fence.
On top of all of this, the lawsuit also claims that McClinton’s buggy had dangerously worn tires and the excursion was not properly supervised, creating the perfect circumstances for McClinton to lose control of the vehicle.
The accident resulted in McClinton’s husband needing to lift the buggy off of his wife, as no excursion staff or safety team members immediately came to offer assistance.
Local doctors wanted to rush the wife and mother into surgery, but she declined treatment and initially opted to receive medical care onboard the cruise ship.
Upon returning home to San Antonio, Texas, the guest learned that her ankle was broken in three places and that she would need surgery to fix it, with multiple screws and plates implanted.
As the excursion was sold and marketed by Carnival as a safe activity, McClinton is now suing the cruise company on grounds of negligence.
Carnival Accused of Negligence
McClinton’s legal team at Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is accusing Carnival of selling and marketing the excursion as safe and vetted, without adequately disclosing that it was operated by an independent tour provider.
The family found and purchased the “Waterfalls, Buggies & Monkeys” excursion while browsing on Carnival’s website, with the activity still for sale as of the time of publication.
Carnival also received part of the profits from selling the tour, which adds to the company’s responsibility for it.
“CARNIVAL created the appearance that it was providing the excursion either directly or through agents of CARNIVAL. MCCLINTON placed trust in CARNIVAL – not some unknown entity she had never heard of before,” the lawsuit stated, in part.
Carnival Cruise Ship at Amber Cove (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
However, Carnival’s “Shore Excursion FAQs” web page does clearly state that most shore excursions are sold by the cruise line as a convenience to guests and that they are operated by independent companies.
“The majority of shore excursions, including any related transportation, are operated by local independent companies and they are solely responsible for their products, excursions, and any related transportation,” Carnival’s website states.
“Carnival is not responsible for any losses, damage, death, injuries, or claims whatsoever arising from, connected with, or related to any activities engaged in by guests while off of Carnival’s ships or tenders in any port of call,” the statement continues.
The cruise line also says that it does its best to source reputable and reliable tour operators, but is ultimately not responsible for monitoring and maintaining the outside companies and the equipment they use during shore excursions.
Did Carnival Know About an Increased Risk?
Another part of the legal argument is that Carnival should have known that the excursion was dangerous and failed to take action or to properly warn guests about the risks of participating.
The complaint attached screenshots of reviews for the tour on Carnival’s own excursion webpage, which include accounts of the buggies breaking down and experiencing gear problems.
But overall, reviews are positive. The experience currently has 4.3 stars out of 5 on Carnival’s website.
Additionally, this also isn’t the first time something like this has happened. In March, Cruise Hive reported that Norwegian Cruise Line was sued after an ATV flipped during a shore excursion.
As of the time of publication, Carnival Corporation has not responded publicly to the lawsuit.
Mardi Gras has continued to operate normally from its homeport, Port Canaveral, and the 180,800-gross ton ship routinely visits Amber Cove during its 7-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.
At least three of Zaandam’s remaining Alaska itineraries have been altered, with a high possibility that more have also been changed.
The confirmed impacted sailings include the departures on July 15, August 19, and September 16.
Holland America Line cited limitations related to operating speeds and ocean tides as the reasons behind the adjustments.
Several of Zaandam’s remaining Alaska itineraries for the 2026 season have been altered due to operating speeds and tidal constraints, impacting thousands of booked passengers.
Cruise Hive has learned of itinerary changes for the 1,837-guest ship made across multiple voyages, starting as soon as the July 15, 2026, departure and as late as the August 19 and September 16 sailings.
It’s quite possible that more voyages beyond these three have also been adjusted, and booked guests should look out for possible updates from the cruise line.
“We look forward to welcoming you on board Zaandam for your upcoming voyage. Due to operating speeds and tidal constraints, your itinerary has been adjusted,”Holland America began multiple letters, which were shared on Facebook by impacted guests.
The 61,396-gross ton ship is primarily operating identical 7-night voyages to Alaska via the famous Inside Passage, which sail round-trip out of Vancouver, Canada.
Prior to the itinerary changes, the sailings were supposed to visit Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.
The only exception is the September 16 voyage, which is the grand finale to the 2026 season and 18-nights long to visit more destinations throughout Alaska and Prince Rupert in British Columbia.
How Are the Itineraries Changing?
In March, Cruise Hive reported that Holland America Line had removed Tracy Arm Fjord from all of Zaandam’s 2026 Alaska itineraries due to unstable geological conditions. It was replaced by Endicott Arm Fjord.
Interestingly, Holland America’s new letters state that Tracy Arm had been removed from the impacted itineraries. It’s unclear if the cruise line is reminding guests of the earlier removal or if neither fjord will be visited anymore.
The new itinerary changes vary slightly by departure date. For example, one guest booked on the July 15 sailing posted on Reddit that departure would be delayed on embarkation day, Tracy Arm (or Endicott Arm) had been removed, and the ship would arrive late in Juneau.
Looking ahead to the August 19 sailing, the changes to Tracy Arm and Juneau apply plus a port call to Ketchikan had also been shortened by one hour. However, embarkation in Vancouver remained the same.
“We will no longer conduct a service call to Tracy Arm Inlet on Friday, August 21, and we will arrive in Juneau, Alaska at 2:00 PM rather than 1:30 PM on the same date,” Holland America wrote to guests booked on the August 19 voyage.
“Additionally, we will now depart Ketchikan, Alaska, at 6:00 PM on Monday, August 24, rather than 7:00 PM as previously scheduled,” the letter continued.
Meanwhile, the 18-night sailing that is scheduled to embark on September 16 will depart from Vancouver one hour early, which means guests who are flying to the port that day should plan to arrive in Vancouver no later than 10 a.m. local time.
Zaandam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Galina Savina)
An early departure on embarkation day is not where the changes stop. The scenic cruising schedule has also been reworked. Instead of sailing through the Seymour Narrows, the Rotterdam-class cruise ship will transit the Inside Passage.
Additionally, scenic cruising of Princess Royal Island, Grenville Channel, and Great Bear Rainforest has been moved forward. Port times have been amended accordingly.
For all impacted sailings, any Holland America shore excursions will be automatically rescheduled when possible and cancelled and refunded when not.
Is Propulsion a Factor?
Beyond citing operating speeds and tidal constraints, Holland America Line has not given a more specific reason behind the itinerary changes.
That said, the cruise community will be wondering if the ship’s engines are still in need of repairs after propulsion issues threw a wrench into the June 3 and June 10 Alaska cruises.
At the same time, Alaska is also known for having some of the most extreme tidal swings in the world. The Cook Inlet, for example, can see differences of up to 40 feet between high and low tides.
While tidal changes don’t typically prevent cruise ships from completing their voyages, they require careful planning and smart timing to navigate safely and can impact docking and tendering operations.
As another example, the Seymour Narrows creates powerful tidal currents and should only be traversed during specific “slack” water periods for safety reasons.
Ultimately, there is no doubt that Holland America Line made these itinerary changes with the safety and comfort of all onboard as the brand’s top priority.
Royal Caribbean is hiding special patriotic-themed ducks onboard ships to celebrate the July 4th weekend and America 250.
The red-white-and-blue ducks feature the Royal Caribbean logo and flag-like patterns.
Ducks are being hidden fleetwide and are already being found aboard Utopia of the Seas.
Cruising ducks continue to be a fun phenomenon that many guests enjoy, and Royal Caribbean is bringing out a flock of fun for the July 4th weekend and the America 250 celebration of the United States declaring independence.
Popular cruise director Marc Walker aboard Utopia of the Seas shared the duck-tastic news with a photo of specially themed patriotic ducks that will be hidden for the holiday weekend.
“What the Duck? Watch out for these very special 250 Red, White and Blue Ducks that we have hidden around the ship this Weekend,”he said with hashtags #utopiaoftheseas #4thofJuly and #duckhunt.
The ducks appear to be somewhat larger than the typical rubber duck, but still of a size to be easily hidden. The blue head features Royal Caribbean’s iconic crown-and-anchor logo as well as scattered stars, while the duck’s body has red-and-white horizonal stripes. The blue wings have the Coca-Cola logo.
Overall, the duck design is reminiscent of the US flag, a very patriotic design for a patriotic holiday weekend. Walker confirmed that the ducks are to be hidden fleetwide.
It is unclear if a grand total of 250 ducks will be hidden on Royal Caribbean ships or if there may be as many as 250 ducks on each ship joining in the red-white-and-blue fun all weekend long.
Guests Love the Idea
Reactions to the special ducks have already been very positive, with many guests hoping the flock might be hard to find so they stay around for future sailings. Already Walker’s post has more than 430 likes and dozens of comments.
“Love it!!!! We cruise in two weeks!”one guest commented.
“I’m currently searching for them!”another guest noted with a US flag emoji.
One guest has already found one of the patriotic waterfowl at the Park Cafe on Deck 8. Kelli, who is on a family cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas with her husband and 5-year-old daughter, shared the fun with Cruise Hive.
“[Looking for ducks is] something fun to do with our daughter, and we love to hide ducks too for others to find!”she said.
Royal Caribbean has thoroughly embraced the cruising ducks phenomenon. The cruise line has even created a customized duck-themed carousel for its newest ship, Legend of the Seas, which will welcome its first guests aboard on July 4, 2027 for a 7-night Mediterranean sailing from Rome.
One place that Royal Caribbean has asked guests not to hide ducks, however, is in the planters and green walls of Central Park on the Oasis and Icon class ships. Overly enthusiastic hiding and guests hunting for ducks can cause significant damage to the plants in that area. To safeguard the plants, signs are posted asking guests to keep the area as a “duck free zone.”
Other than the Fourth of July, themed ducks are always popular on cruise ships, with many guests bringing specialized ducks for Halloween, Christmas, and other holidays.
