It was a busy weekend for Coast Guard Air Station San Diego, with three separate rescues evacuating four passengers from cruise ships within a 24-hour period off the coast of southern California.
Two of the three incidents were from Carnival cruise ships, while the third – involving two passengers at once – was from a Princess Cruises vessel.
Three Rescues From Three Different Cruise Ships in 24 Hours
Coast Guard Air Station San Diego rose to the challenge of multiple rescues with precision and efficiency over the weekend, when multiple calls came in from cruise ships requesting medical evacuations.
Carnival Panorama Rescue
The first was at approximately 7:10 p.m. Friday evening, April 28, from Carnival Panorama. At the time of the assistance call, the ship was positioned 165 miles (265 kilometers) south of San Diego on the last night of a 7-night Mexican Riviera sailing roundtrip from Long Beach, California.
Photo Credit: Khairil Azhar Junos / Shutterstock
A 47-year-old female was reportedly suffering from a “progressive acute illness,” and the cruise ship rendezvoused with the USGS MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter 100 miles (161 km) south of San Diego. The guest was hoisted aboard and transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego.
Majestic Princess Rescues
Just three hours later, a second call came in from another cruise ship involving two guests requiring medical evacuation from the same vessel. The guests were aboard Majestic Princess when the call for assistance was made at 10:20 p.m. on Friday evening.
One passenger, a 74-year-old female, was suffering stroke-like symptoms, and the second passenger, a 77-year-old female, was suffering from kidney failure.
Both evacuations were recommended within 12-14 hours, and the airlift by a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was coordinated for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, approximately 150 miles (241 km) southwest of Point Conception, or 280 miles (450 km) west of San Diego. Both patients were again transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital.
Photo Credit: RickDeacon / Shutterstock
Majestic Princess was sailing her 31-night repositioning cruise from Sydney, Australia to Vancouver, Canada, in preparation for the Alaska sailing season. The ship had departed Australia on Tuesday, April 4, and the evacuation came en route to Los Angeles as the ship’s next port of call on the extended itinerary.
Carnival Spirit Rescue
While the evacuation from Majestic Princess was being completed, a third evacuation request was made, this time from Carnival Spirit. As soon as the transfer of the two Majestic Princess passengers was completed, the same aircrew diverted directly to Carnival Spirit, at approximately 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 29.
The Carnival ship was approximately 86 miles (138 km) west of San Clemente Island, or 165 miles (265 km) west of San Diego at the time of the airlift.
The 84-year-old female passenger was reported with stroke-like symptoms, and was transferred to emergency medical services at Coast Guard Sector San Diego.
Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line
At the time of the airlift, Carnival Spirit was also on a repositioning cruise, moving from Miami, Florida to Seattle, Washington to begin the Alaska season. The ship’s most recent – and last – port of call on the journey was Cabo San Lucas on Thursday, April 27, and the ship is due to arrive in Seattle on Tuesday, May 2.
To protect the privacy of the evacuated guests, as well as their family members and loved ones, no further details about their conditions have been released.
Medical Evacuations Not Uncommon
While medical evacuations from cruise ships are not uncommon, it is unusual for a single air crew to participate in so many airlift operations in such a short time span. To do so requires superior training, commitment, and focus.
Cruise ships are equipped with medical centers and highly trained medical staff, but equipment onboard may be limited. If the onboard medical team determines that additional care or emergency services are needed, guests can be evacuated from the ship.
Medical evacuations can vary depending on where the ship is located, what its sailing route may be, and what resources are available. At times, the cruise ship may be able to divert directly to a nearby port with adequate medical facilities, or a pilot boat from a port could meet the cruise ship offshore.
However, when ships are further out to sea, airlifts are the fastest and safest option to ensure guests get prompt emergency care.
Cruise Hive says well done, and thanks to all the dedicated crew members of the United States Coast Guard and other organizations that provide such emergency evacuations to safeguard all cruise travelers as needed.
MSC Cruises has announced winter sailings from Japan, a first-ever commitment from the cruise line, which has sailed seasonally in Japan for 15 years.
Now, MSC Bellissima will offer varied sailings from November 2023 with cruises of different lengths to permit travelers multiple options for exploring the region, providing a new seasonal look at the intriguing nation and other top Asian destinations.
New Winter Season Japan Cruises
While MSC Bellissima was docked in Yokohama, Japan recently to begin the summer 2023 season, MSC Cruises used the opportunity to announce a new winter season in Japan, just open for sale on May 1, 2023 and marking the beginning of a year-round presence in Japan for the rapidly growing cruse line.
MSC Cruises is proud to offer the largest cruise capacity in the region, and with the new winter season offerings aboard MSC Bellissima, MSC Cruises is on course to become Japan’s number one cruise line.
The new winter season will begin in November 2023 and will include 6-, 9-, and 11-night sailings from Yokohama. Then, from January through March 2024, MSC Bellissima will move to homeport from Naha/Okinawa for additional cruises, with 4- and 5-night itineraries.
Depending on the sailing date and cruise length, the ship will visit such phenomenal ports of call as Okinawa, Ishigaki, Kobe, Hakodate, and Mijako Island, bringing guests to the heart of Japanese culture and beauty with pristine tropical beaches, stunning waterfront communities, amazing snorkeling and diving options, inspiring historical sites, and so much more.
Select itineraries will also visit Keelung, Taiwan, where guests can marvel at breathtaking views and indulge in deliciously varied street food to get a true taste of the area, while others call on Busan, South Korea, for yet another perspective of diverse Asian cultures.
The new winter Asian sailings are now available for booking, and other itineraries are also available exploring the region throughout the year.
Sailing Aboard MSC Bellissima
The Meraviglia-class MSC Bellissima is one of the largest ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet, and offers a wide range of amenities everyone can enjoy.
The ship features 12 distinctive dining venues, from the Butcher’s Cut American-style steakhouse to HOLA Tacos & Cantina to the French specialty restaurant L’Atelier Bistrot. More than 20 bars and lounges offer luxe libations, while the Mediterranean-style promenade is the heart of the ship, topped with a 262-foot-long spectacular LED Sky Screen at Sea.
Photo Credit: Lena Maximova / Shutterstock
The MSC Aurea Spa is a luxurious Balinese spa offering signature relaxation treatments as well as a relaxing thermal area and pampering appointments, while guests can also relax poolside.
For evening flair and excitement, the London Theater offers excellent sightlines for Broadway-style production shows with an international lineup of artists. The Carousel Lounge presents exclusive high-energy, avant-garde performances with immersive elements and cutting-edge effects.
Family areas, the Arizona Aquapark, a full-size bowling alley, and children’s programs are also available onboard MSC Bellissima, or guests can opt for even more luxury and all-inclusive elegance by staying in the exclusive 3-deck MSC Yacht Club.
MSC Bellissima weighs in at 171,598 gross tons, making her one of the top 20 largest cruise ships in the world, along with her sister ship, MSC Meraviglia. MSC Bellissima joined the MSC Cruises fleet in 2019, and can welcome 4,500 guests onboard each sailing.
Persistent rumors on social media have prompted Carnival Cruise Line to confirm documentation requirements for cruise travelers. This is specifically for roundtrip sailings from US homeports and whether or not passports are required, or will soon be required, by the cruise line.
Rumors Suggest Carnival Cruise Line to Require Passports
Rumors on different social media sites have suggested that Carnival Cruise Line will begin requiring all guests to have passports for all sailings beginning in 2024, regardless of the cruise embarkation port, itinerary route, or duration.
While all cruise guests are required to present proper identification before embarkation, Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that passports are not required for all sailings and that the cruise line’s documentation requirements are not planned to change.
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald spoke in detail about the concern, verifying document requirements for guests.
US Passport (Photo Credit: diy13 / Shutterstock)
“There are no requirements from us that a passport will be needed next year except on specific cruises to places in Europe and other specific locations,”Heald said.“However for Caribbean and all closed loop cruises there have been no changes set by Unites States Customs and Border Protection so you may use your birth certificate and Government issued ID.”
A “closed loop” cruise is defined as one that both embarks and debarks from the same homeport – a roundtrip sailing.
Guests booked on upcoming Carnival cruises should note that one-way, repositioning, or transoceanic sailings, as well as voyages departing from homeports outside the US that require guests to travel to a different country before embarkation may have different documentation requirements.
Depending on the sailing, some cruises – even though they may be closed loop itineraries – still require all guests to have valid passports. For example, all Carnival cruises that visit Greenland require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the last day of the cruise.
Similarly, all Europe and transatlantic cruises also require US citizens to carry passports valid for at least 6 months after their visit. These requirements are set by the countries being visited as part of their international security protocols, and are not determined by Carnival Cruise Line.
Cruising Without Proper Documentation
All cruise travelers should be aware that without the required documentation, guests will not be permitted to board their cruise ship and will instead be turned away at the embarkation terminal.
Documentation requirements are set by US Customs and Border Protection, and all cruise lines must abide by those guidelines.
Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock
Carnival Cruise Line’s online FAQ states“Any guest without proper documents will not be allowed to board the vessel and no refund of the cruise fare will be issued. Carnival assumes no responsibility for advising guests of proper travel documentation.”
Travel documentation requirements can change on short notice, and cruisers should stay updated about required documents well before their sailing date to ensure they have the proper documents.
Passports are often recommended and can make the check-in process faster at the cruise terminal, as well as being valuable documentation in case of any emergency during the cruise that might require guests to remain in a port of call or leave the ship to return home before the cruise ends.
Cruise ducks are a fun phenomenon that has truly taken flight aboard cruise ships, but why? What is up with ducks on a cruise? What is so appealing about these cute and quirky figures, and how can you join the feathered fun? Let’s get quacking!
A cruise duck is a small rubber duck that gets to take a big vacation aboard a cruise ship. These colorful toys may be plain or themed, and may even be homemade or decorated. They are hidden around cruise ships in a fun, passenger-led game of hide-and-seek.
Exciting to find and cheerful to share, cruise ducks come with a “hide or keep, you decide” philosophy. Some passengers love to re-hide ducks to bring joy to other passengers, while some collect ducks as whimsical vacation souvenirs.
Various Cruise Ducks (Photo Credit: Cliff Johnson / Creative Commons)
Many cruise ducks are labeled with stickers, tags, or ribbons with the name of the ship and sailing date, and may also include a family name, social media hashtag, or QR code with an invitation to snap a duck selfie to share in Facebook groups or on other platforms such as Twitter or Instagram.
Some ducks travel even further than a single cruise, and may eventually be spotted on different ships all around the world as they are kept by different guests for re-hiding on future sailings.
How Cruise Ducks Got Started
The exact beginning of the cruise duck phenomenon is shrouded in mystery, as some guests remember setting sail with rubber ducks for many years as far back as 2015 or earlier.
The most widespread acknowledgment of the accepted beginning of cruising ducks is in March 2018, when an 11-year-old girl named Abby Davis brought 50 ducks aboard Carnival Breeze, setting sail from Galveston to spread kindness and fun during her spring break vacation. The project was a rousing success, with one duck “hiding” in plain sight for three days before being found.
The Original Cruising Duck! (Photo Credit: Cruising Ducks Original)
Today, the cruise ducks phenomenon has become a type of oceangoing geocaching, with guests from all over the world eagerly hunting ducks on every major cruise line, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and more.
Social media groups dedicated to the ducks continue to drive interest in the game, and finding even one duck can be a source of delight for folks of all ages. Similar to the painted rocks scavenger hunts, the hide-and-seek of ducks can add even more fun to every cruise sailing.
Types of Cruise Ducks
The traditional cruise duck is a small rubber duck, similar to the classic bathtub toy, but that’s only the beginning of the fun.
Many rubber ducks have themed designs, and holiday ducks are especially popular for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or other holiday sailings. Pirate, captain, or mermaid ducks are other fun designs popular on cruises.
Many guests also choose ducks with themes to match their hometowns – cowboy ducks for Texas cruisers, for example – or to represent their favorite sports teams, careers, animals, or military branches. Some ducks are used to help raise awareness of individual causes, or to celebrate a special someone.
Handcrafted ducks are a popular favorite, or basic ducks may be hand-decorated with extra bling. Crocheted or origami ducks are also great choices. Many cruisers are opting for even more unique ducks with key chains, magnets, hair barrettes, or plush toys. Some ducks have wacky hairstyles, and some even light up.
Guidelines for Hiding Ducks
No matter what type of duck will take a cruise, there are basic guidelines for safely and effectively hiding the ducks. While no formal rules exist, these guidelines help ensure everyone can enjoy cruise ducks.
Ducks should be hidden in public areas only, never in crew-only areas or on any restricted equipment such as lifesaving gear.
No ducks should be hidden in any retail stores to minimize any hint of shoplifting or theft when the duck is discovered and picked up.
Do not hide ducks in restrooms or locker rooms, spa treatment rooms, on buffet food serving dishes, or anywhere sanitation may be a concern.
Duck tags or labels should be family-friendly without any vulgarity or profanity, as it is never known who will find and pick up the duck.
Avoid placing ducks in any spot that may be windy or if there is any risk of the duck accidentally going overboard, which would violate many cruise lines’ environmental policies.
Do not place ducks in a ship’s pools or hot tubs where kids might overreach in their eagerness to collect the duck and could fall into the water.
Do not place ducks irretrievably high where they will be hard for most passengers to reach, even if they do spot the duck.
Ducks should be in relatively plain sight so they can be seen without moving or rearranging items such as stacks of towels, library books, or dishes.
Fortunately, there are many great nooks and crannies to hide ducks. In stairwells and elevators are favorite spots, as are nestling ducks into potted plants or balancing them on sculptures, artwork frames, or statues.
The tops of signs, sitting on tables or chairs, atop a piano, in corners, or in a ship’s atrium are other popular places to hide cruise ducks. Some cruisers also choose to leave a duck in their stateroom for their attendant or future cruisers to find.
Once ducks are hidden, many participating cruisers enjoy going back to the hiding spot to see if the duck has been discovered, and it can be even more fun to try and find the same duck later during the cruise.
Tips for Finding Ducks
You don’t have to hide ducks in order to find them, as the game is not necessarily a reciprocal activity. If you find a duck, you can choose to rehide it, or you can keep it as a souvenir or gift. But how can you improve your odds of finding a cruising duck?
Be alert to unique and unexpected hiding places, especially high (above eye level) and low (closer to the ground), and frequently check for clever hiding spots.
Choose different stairwells and elevators when walking around the ship to cover as many potential hiding spots as possible.
Head out early in the day on a duck hunt to check out as many hiding spots as possible, as many participants hide ducks either late at night or early in the morning.
Revisit different areas of the ship throughout the day, as ducks may migrate to new spots each time they are found and rehidden.
Two Cruise Ducks (Photo Credit: G Allen Penton / Shutterstock)
When you find a duck, the choice is yours whether or not to keep it or hide it again for someone else to enjoy, with no judgment about which you choose. Some travelers reposition ducks immediately, while others might wait for a day or two.
Some even keep ducks until their next cruise, or photograph them on different adventures at different ports of call, even on different ships as they travel the cruising world.
What Do Cruise Lines Think?
There is a lot of debate about whether or not cruise lines approve of hidden ducks or not. While there are no official policies about cruise ducks, in general, crew members enjoy finding them and may keep or hide the ducks again themselves.
Some guests report seeing ducks discarded in the trash, though this was more frequent when the game was less well-known than today.
Large Cruise Duck! (Photo Credit: Cuson / Shutterstock)
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald has commented on cruising ducks, and encourages the fun aboard the Carnival cruise ship fleet.
“Many of the crew love finding the ducks and have them in their cabins as they bring them cheer,”Heald said.“We have absolutely no problem with guests leaving them as we do think it’s fun.”
While there are always those who hate ducks and think the practice should be banned, no cruise line has yet added “little rubber ducks” to its list of prohibited items.
Travelers who think the activity is silly can simply overlook any ducks they see, just as all cruisers are able to pick and choose which activities onboard a ship they want to join in and those they prefer to avoid.
Where to Buy Cruise Ducks
If you want to bring your own toy ducks to hide onboard a cruise, where do you buy them? Any small rubber duck will work, such as those found in claw game vending machines or sold as bath toys for young children.
Ordering ducks online is the easiest way to get a selection of ducks, with a greater variety of designs and themed ducks available with bulk quantity discounts. Amazon, party stores, and toy store websites generally have good selections of ducks available, and you can even buy duck kits that include pre-printed labels to attach to the ducks.
Rubber Ducks in Ship (Photo Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock)
Other options to check for buying ducks are local discount or dollar stores, as well as flea markets that may have bulk toy vendors. Online auction sites like eBay may also have great deals on ducks perfect for cruising.
Just how many ducks to bring along for a cruise vacation is a personal decision. Some travelers prefer to pack along just a few ducks, while others may prepare whole flocks to set sail. While cruise lines do not mind the activity, it is always best to be mindful not to cross the line between fun and obsession, and be sure not to bring so many ducks that they start to be seen as litter or debris.
If the ducks you buy do not come with pre-made labels or passport tags, a variety of templates for cruise duck tags can be found online, including on the dedicated cruising ducks Facebook page and groups.
You can also choose to make cruise ducks with whatever craft you enjoy, such as crocheting or knitting ducks, making hair bows, carving wooden ducks, creating felt ducks, or decorating duck ornaments. Every style is welcomed in the game, and more unique ducks make even more desirable and sought-after ducks to find.
Cruising ducks are a creative, cheerful, and fun way for many passengers to add enjoyment to their cruise vacations. Whether you bring ducks aboard to hide, prefer to be a duck finder and keep the ducks you seek, or rehide every quirky duck you come across, everyone can be a part of this oceangoing scavenger hunt.
Royal Caribbean International has reached out to guests booked aboard Allure of the Seas for the Sunday, April 30, 2023 departure to inform them that the ship has been oversold.
Guests have been able to choose from several options with very generous compensation if they revise their sailing, but little explanation has been offered as to why these overbookings continue to happen across the fleet.
Allure of the Seas Oversold
The April 30, 2023 sailing of Allure of the Seas is oversold, and guests have been offered several compensation options to change their travel plans.
“We’re sorry to inform you that due to an unexpected inventory error, your scheduled Allure of the Seas April 30th, 2023 sailing is currently oversold,”the email explained.
“We’re aware that this may cause disruption to your booking, so if your travel plans are flexible, you may be able to take advantage of our special offer.”
Photo Credit: Eric Glenn / Shutterstock
The impacted cruise is a 7-night roundtrip Western Caribbean sailing from Galveston, calling on Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, with three days at sea for guests to enjoy all Allure of the Seas has to offer.
The email did not indicate how much of the ship is oversold, but very generous compensation offers have been created to encourage guests to change their travel plans.
Compensation Options
The first option is for guests to move to the May 15, 2023 sailing of Voyager of the Seas. That cruise, also departing from Galveston, is a 5-night sailing (rather than the oversold 7-night cruise on Allure of the Seas), and will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, but not Roatan.
Guests who choose that option would receive a full, 100% refund of their Allure of the Seas cruise fare, plus $300 of non-refundable onboard credit for the free cruise on Voyager of the Seas.
While a financially generous compensation offer, Allure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are radically different ships in size, guest capacity, and onboard amenities.
Photo Credit: Cheri Alguire / Shutterstock
Guests who prefer to remain sailing onboard Allure of the Seas can shift their cruise to one of three alternative departure dates later this year. Instead of the overbooked April 30 sailing, guests can opt for the June 4, July 9, or July 16 departures, all of which are identical to the impacted cruise.
Guests who choose to shift their sailing to a later date will have their original stateroom category price protected or reduced to the current fare rate on the new departure date, whichever is lower, to ensure they receive the best deal.
Because the shifted sailing date is for an identical cruise, however, guests receive no onboard credit for accepting this option.
A third option is to simply cancel the cruise altogether. Guests who do so will receive a 100% refund, as well as a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) for the cruise fare paid, valid for any Royal Caribbean cruise departing through April 30, 2024.
Because the cancellations are happing just days before the cruise is to set sail, Royal Caribbean is also offering compensation for other charges.
“Regardless of which option you choose, we’ll also reimburse you for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses (e.g. hotel, flight) you have incurred,”the email said.
It must be noted that this “special offer” is extended to guests on the oversold cruise, but their reservations are not being forcibly cancelled.
Instead, the various compensation offers are designed to be so tempting as to encourage enough guests to take advantage of the options that no mandatory cancellations are required.
Why Are So Many Cruises Oversold?
Oversold situations have been happening more and more frequently across the Royal Caribbean fleet.
In August 2022, the Vision-class Rhapsody of the Seas, one of the smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, was similarly oversold for a Greek Isles cruise, and offered massive incentives to compensate guests.
Photo Credit: BA Arts / Shutterstock
In each instance, the explanation is given only as an “unexpected inventory error” with no other details. It is possible a technical glitch on the cruise line’s booking engine may be responsible for oversold sailings, or there could be other factors involved.
While Royal Caribbean has been generous with alternative offers, it can be frustrating and disappointing for travelers to have their plans disrupted or cancelled altogether just days before setting sail.
Guests booked on upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises will want to stay in close contact with the cruise line or their travel agent in case of similar situations or other adjustments, such as itinerary alterations, embarkation delays, or weather-related disruptions.
Royal Caribbean has informed guests booked on a sailing onboard the world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, that their cruise has been oversold. Guests have been given the option to remain on the sailing or reschedule or cancel their cruise.
Wonder of the Seas Overbooked, Again
Wonder of the Seas has been overbooked for the third time this year, with Royal Caribbean International again saying the overbooking was due to an unexpected inventory error, the same reason the cruise line gave in December 2022 and March 2023.
The affected cruise is a 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day sailing, scheduled from April 30 to May 7, 2023, from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Coco Cay, Bahamas; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Wonder of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: EWY Media / Shutterstock)
Royal Caribbean sent a letter to guests booked onboard the affected April 30 sailing, informing them of the error, and stating the following:
“We’re sorry to inform you that due to an unexpected inventory error, your scheduled Wonder of the Seas April 30th, 2023 sailing is currently oversold. We’re aware that this may cause disruption to your booking, so if your travel plans are flexible, you may be able to take advantage of our special offer.”
The 236,857 gross tons Wonder of the Seas can accommodate 5,734 guests based on double occupancy. When all berths are filled to maximum capacity, the ship can host as many as 7,084 guests.
Options Offered to Guests
Guests have been offered three options: reschedule to a different sailing of the Wonder of the Seas and receive a full refund; cancel, and receive a full refund and future cruise credit; or remain booked on the April 30 sailing if they are unable or not willing to reschedule.
For those willing to reschedule, Royal Caribbean has provided two alternative sailings onboard the ship: July 9, 2023, or an August 20, 2023, 7-Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day sailing. Both sailings offer the same itinerary, with calls to Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Bahamas; St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)
Alternatively, guests who choose to cancel will receive a 100% refund and a 100% Future Cruise Credit to book an alternate Royal Caribbean sailing. The Future Cruise Credit must be used for a new booking by April 30th, 2024.
Guests who used a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) to pay for their reservation will have any new funds paid above the certificate amount refunded, and the original FCC will be reinstated and remain valid for a year from issuance.
Past Overbooking Incidents with Wonder of the Seas
Overbooking issues have occurred previously with the Wonder of the Seas. Earlier this year, the company apologized to guests who had booked a cruise sailing on March 12, 2023, for overselling the cruise during the busy and popular Spring Break period.
On all three occasions, Royal Caribbean told guests just days before sailing and said the overbooking was due to unexpected inventory errors, language that Royal Caribbean uses more often when overbooking.
What an “unexpected inventory error” is, is not clear, but it could be due to several factors, such as technical difficulties with the cruise line’s booking engine or website, miscommunication for group bookings, or other causes.
This is similar to another recent Royal Caribbean International oversold situation for an August cruise aboard the Vision-class Rhapsody of the Seas.
Norwegian Sun, currently sailing on a 20-night Panama Canal cruise, has experienced technical issues since April 24 during its stop in Cartagena, Colombia.
The problems have led to power outages and the air conditioning system going offline. Although technical teams have worked diligently to resolve the situation, the ship remains docked in Cartagena on Tuesday.
At the very least, the scheduled transit of the Panama Canal will not happen today, while the impact on the remaining port calls on the Pacific coast remains unclear.
Extended Stay in Cartagena Due to Electrical Difficulties
Just days after departing from Miami on April 21, guests onboard Norwegian Sun have been quite literally left in the dark, as the 78,309 gross tons Sky-class cruise ship has been experiencing technical difficulties since arriving in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 24.
Norwegian Sun’s Captain Maksym Kyselov sent a letter to guests on April 24, stating that the stay in Cartagena would be extended due to technical problems. However, the issues appear more severe than initially anticipated as the cruise ship remains docked in Cartagena today, April 25.
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock)
Captain Maksym Kyselov:“We are committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences at sea, however, at times, unexpected circumstances may arise. Earlier today, we experienced electrical difficulties, which resulted in some amenities going offline. Since then, services have begun to return. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused”
Consequently, the Panama Canal transit scheduled for April 25 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for later this week. In the letter, Captain Kyselov expressed his regret for the inconvenience and informed guests that the all-aboard time for the day was extended to midnight to allow for more exploration of the city:
One guest contacted Cruise Hive and shared their experience: “Power has been out on Norwegian Sun most of the day. Ship staying overnight in Port of Cartagena, Colombia, while the crew works to fix electrical problems. Tuesday’s Panama Canal transit won’t happen. No further updates expected until the morning.”
Tension Grows Onboard
While many will understand the situation onboard, the delay is unfortunate for the guests who boarded the Norwegian Sun on April 21 for the 20 Night Panama Canal cruise. In a follow-up message from a passenger currently onboard Norwegian Sun, the tension onboard seems to grow with little communication from Norwegian Cruise Line.
“Frustrating to be 12:07 p.m. here in Colombia and no information regarding the situation. No Freestyle Daily newsletter has been distributed for today, nor any other communications except for a vague announcement by the captain at about 8:20 this morning that they are working on a new itinerary.”
Photo Credit: lgabriela / Shutterstock
That the situation is indeed quite serious shows as Norwegian Cruise Line was forced to close the dining rooms on April 24, and guests were offered a buffet only for dinner.
“The dining rooms were closed for dinner last night. Only a lackluster buffet was offered. Although this is certainly annoying, we do appreciate NCL’s desire not to set sail without full power. And we’re lucky this problem happened while we were in port and not at sea.”
Impact on Cruise Itinerary
Norwegian Sun‘s itinerary covers multiple ports from April 21 to May 11. The cruise began in Miami, Florida, on April 21, followed by the now-extended stop in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 24.
From Cartagena, the cruise was scheduled to visit Puntarenas, Costa Rica, on April 27 and San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, on April 28. Subsequent stops include Acajutla, El Salvador, on April 29 and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on April 30. The call in Nicaragua has been cancelled as the port is not currently allowing cruise ships to dock.
The ship would then sail to Mexico, making port calls at Huatulco, Acapulco, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas; Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, and arriving in Seattle on May 11.
It remains unclear how the delay in Cartagena and the rescheduling of the Panama Canal transit will affect the remaining itinerary of the Norwegian Sun cruise. Guests eagerly await updates on any possible changes to the schedule and how the cruise line plans to accommodate them.
Following the repositioning cruise to Seattle, Norwegian Sun will sail in Alaska this summer with 9, 10, and 11-day cruises with ports of call such as Sitka, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and more.
Guests aboard the Norwegian Dawn transatlantic crossing are not going to enjoy as many ports of call as they planned for, as just one day after setting sail, the ship’s master has notified passengers that two ports visits are unable to be kept on the itinerary – one due to icebergs and another due to weather.
Some compensation is being provided, but not all guests are pleased with the result, given that two full ports are being cancelled.
Norwegian Dawn Transatlantic Sailing Adjusted
Norwegian Dawn departed on her transatlantic repositioning sailing between New York and Southampton on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The very next day, guests received letters in their staterooms notifying them that two upcoming ports were being cancelled – St. Pierre & Miquelon, as well as St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Both ports are northeast of New York along the route to Iceland, but are currently posing hazardous conditions for visiting cruise ships.
“Unfortunately, due to the presence of icebergs near St. John’s, Newfoundland and forecasted adverse weather conditions enroute to Reykjavik, Iceland, our itinerary has been revised,”the email, signed by the ship’s captain, Asen Gyurov, explained.
Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Renatas Repcinskas / Shutterstock)
Norwegian Dawn was to have called on St. Pierre & Miquelon on Sunday, April 23 from 12:30-8 p.m., and on St. John’s on Monday, April 24 from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The two ports of call are approximately 260 miles (418 kilometers) apart for sailing distance, but just 185 miles (298 km) in a straight line measurement.
Weather in the region is forecast with showers and strong winds reaching 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour) or higher on the previously scheduled port days, conditions that can make either docking or tendering too dangerous.
Furthermore, a visit on such poor weather days would be a very disappointing experience for guests and could result in cancelled excursions.
The ship was able to visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, successfully on Saturday, April 22, and the remainder of the ports of call are unchanged at this time.
During the 14-night cruise, Norwegian Dawn will also call on Reykjavik, Iceland; Belfast and Dublin in Ireland, and Paris in France, before arriving in Southampton on Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Compensation Offered
Because two ports of call are cancelled with no alternative ports being offered, Norwegian Cruise Line is providing guests with $25 of onboard credit each for the first and second guests in each stateroom (maximum of $50 per stateroom). That credit is non-refundable, but can be used for onboard purchases.
All shore excursions booked through the cruise line for the now-cancelled ports of call are being automatically cancelled and fully refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock
There is no word on whether taxes and fees may be refunded for the missed ports, and not all guests onboard are pleased with the compensation offer, considering the ship will now spend half of the lengthy sailing – a full seven days – at sea.
It must be noted, however, that any cruise line can alter a ship’s itinerary for any reason, and many cruises lose ports of call due to weather.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Guest Ticket Contract explicitly outlines that the cruise line may “cancel any scheduled call at any port for any reason and at any time before, during or after sailing of the vessel.”
Are Icebergs Really a Threat?
The idea that icebergs might be of concern in late April can be a surprise to travelers who may be accustomed to setting sail in more tropical destinations, but icebergs are a real threat to cruise ship safety and navigation throughout the year.
In late June 2022, Norwegian Sun hit a small iceberg while sailing in the Hubbard Glacier area, resulting in a mid-cruise cancellation and several cruises cancelled afterward while the ship underwent repairs.
Furthermore, one of the world’s most famous cruise ships – Titanic – struck an iceberg and sank in mid-April 1912, roughly 550 miles (885 km) southeast of Newfoundland; well south of Norwegian Dawn‘s itinerary route.
With these ports of call cancellations, the 92,250-gross-ton Norwegian Dawn can take a much safer route and be sure guests enjoy their transatlantic crossing in comfort.
Guests featured in a recent viral video as they caught a fish off their stateroom balcony have now been banned for life from Carnival Cruise Line.
The guests’ behavior was in violation of the several of the cruise line’s policies, as well as local laws in The Bahamas, where the incident took place.
Fishing Gets Carnival Guests Banned
Many people enjoy fishing, and some cruises even offer a variety of fishing excursions at different destinations. A pair of Carnival Cruise Line guests have learned the hard way, however, that it is not acceptable to fish off one’s stateroom balcony.
In an incident reported several days ago, two Carnival guests were seen fishing from their balcony stateroom in a video posted to TikTok. While the cruise ship and sailing date were not identified, one of the guests was clearly wearing a Carnival Sail-and-Sign card, with the blue card indicating it was the guest’s first sailing with the cruise line.
You can watch the passengers fishing from the Carnival cruise balcony below:
Background details in the video identify the port as Nassau, as the new dock structures nearing completion can clearly be seen, which indicates the video was filmed relatively recently.
Carnival Cruise Line has reacted to the incident with a brief statement: “Fishing from our ships is prohibited. We have identified the guests and they will not be cruising on Carnival again,”a cruise line representative stated.
Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, also noted the prohibition on his popular Facebook page. “Fishing from our balconies or from anywhere else on board is not permitted,”he said.
To protect the identity of those involved, the names of the passengers have not been released, nor has Carnival confirmed which ship they had sailed on. The TikTok video and its associated account have since been deleted.
Policies Violated and Laws Broken
While there is no precise policy in Carnival Cruise Line’s ticket contract that prohibits fishing from a balcony stateroom, the action does violate a number of other policies that are outlined.
First, in section 9(a), every guest “agrees to abide by all shipboard rules and policies” and any violation “may cause Guest to be prohibited from sailing with Carnival in the future.”
Section 4(e) explicitly states “No Guest is permitted to bring on board the Vessel live animals” other than qualified service dogs with appropriate advance notice. The fish that was caught is seen alive in the video, and most definitely brought aboard the ship to the guests’ balcony.
Photo Credit: Georges_Creations / Shutterstock
“Fish of any kind” are also explicitly listed on Carnival’s prohibited items list, with the note that any fish caught during an excursion must be shipped home rather than brought onboard the ship.
Depending on how the incident is interpreted, the guests involved may be in violation of section 9(j) with respect to the cruise line’s environmental policy, which covers “releasing any unauthorized item overboard” – and an illegally caught fish could certainly be regarded as an unauthorized item, thought the video does not show whether or not the guests did return it overboard.
Finally, all Carnival guests are subject to “local requirements in respect of immigration, border patrol, customs and excise, agriculture, health, environment, or any other government regulation whatsoever.”
This means the implicated guests may have broken local laws by not securing the proper permits for fishing, which would be under environmental jurisdiction as well as Customs and Immigration for foreign visitors to The Bahamas.
When Can You Go Fishing?
Fishing is a popular hobby, and guests can choose from different shore excursions that offer fishing experiences, depending on their ship’s sailing date, itinerary, ports of call, and seasonal conditions.
For Carnival guests, fishing excursions are occasionally offered in The Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, St. Lucia, Bermuda, Bonaire, Belize, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and even Fiji. The types of fishing vary from sport fishing to reef fishing to deep sea fishing depending on the destination.
On these authorized tours, the tour operators arrange for all proper permits and ensure safe fishing conditions. Some tours even include “eat what you catch” or “cook your catch” opportunities for the freshest seafood imaginable.
