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Marella Cruises Is Making One of Its Ships Permanently Adults-Only

Melissa Mayntz
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Marella Cruises Is Making One of Its Ships Permanently Adults-Only

Key Aspects:

  • Marella Discovery 2 will be converted to an adults-only ship beginning with the winter 2027 season.
  • Four new adults-only spaces are planned: a speakeasy, an escape room, a karaoke room, and an arts and crafts area.
  • The ship will offer Canary Island sailings from multiple homeports for winter 2027.

Cruisers looking for a getaway from younger crowds will be excited at Marella Cruises new announcement for Marella Discovery 2, which is set to become a permanent adults-only ship from winter 2027.

The previous kids-only spaces onboard the 1,836-guest ship will be renovated into new concept spaces with intriguing options for all travelers to enjoy.

“With demand for adults-only cruising continuing to grow, we’re investing in four new onboard concepts to enhance the experience even further,” said Chris Hackney, Marella Cruises CEO.

The new spaces will include a creatively-themed speakeasy, a challenging escape room, a dedicated karaoke room, and an arts and crafts area. Exact details of each location have not yet been revealed but are sure to be announced in the months to come as the renovations get underway.

At the moment, the ship’s planned itineraries are available through mid-October 2027 and there is no gap for a dry dock for renovations. The most recent dry dock was in the fall of 2024.

The new adults-only ship is sure to be welcome for many travelers, particularly for the all-inclusive nature of Marella Cruises. When complete, Marella Discovery 2 will be the second adults-only ship in the Marella Cruises fleet, joining Marella Explorer 2.

Marella Discovery 2 Cruise Ship
Marella Discovery 2 Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: GEORGE STAMATIS / Shutterstock)

Cruise Hive has reported on the rapidly growing interest in adults-only sailings, from the popularity of Virgin Voyages as a complete adults-only cruise line to Carnival Cruise Line’s select SEA (Sailings Exclusive for Adults) offerings.

The UK-based Marella Cruises (a division of the TUI Group) is the third-largest cruise line in the UK. As a matter of fun interest, Marella Discovery 2 was formerly Royal Caribbean’s original Legend of the Seas from 1995-2017, when she was sold to the TUI Group.

Sailing on Marella Discovery 2

Following her adults-only conversion, the 69,472-gross-ton Marella Discovery 2 will offer three homeport options during the winter 2027 season.

From November 2027 through March 2028 the ship will be offering departures from Tenerife and Gran Canaria, then she will move on to Malaga in March and April 2028.

Read Also: Top 12 Best Cruise Lines for Adults

Itineraries range from 5-8 nights, including a brand-new 7-night “Atlantic Fusion” schedule with visits to top destinations in the Canary Islands and Morocco. Other port visits include Gibraltar, Funchal, and more, depending on the exact sailing date and itinerary length.

For more adults-only options, Marella Explorer 2 will be homeported from Barbados with Caribbean itineraries.

Marella Cruises is also extending its “Cruise & Stay” offerings with new hotel options for guests to choose from for a complete vacation package, including flights from 12 regional UK airports.

More From Cruise Hive

“With brand-new itineraries, festive overnight stays, repositional cruises, transatlantic cruises and an expansion of 39 hotels for our cruise and stay offering, we’re continuing to evolve our holidays to give customers more ways to cruise with Marella Cruises,” said Hackney.

All winter sailings, including aboard the soon-to-be adults-only Marella Discovery 2, will be on sale from July 2, 2026, giving travelers plenty of time to make their vacation plans.

FBI Reminds Cruisers to Immediately Report Crimes at Sea

Catie Kovelman
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FBI Reminds Cruisers to Immediately Report Crimes at Sea

Key Aspects:

  • The Houston FBI issued a reminder to make sure cruisers stay safe while sailing during summer vacation.
  • If passengers witness a crime at sea, they should report it to both the onboard security team and the FBI.
  • Crime on cruise ships is rare, but reporting suspicious activity early can help keep everyone safe.

With summer in full swing, it’s officially one of the most popular times of the year for families to embark on cruise vacations. But with an influx of passengers onboard, FBI Houston wants to make sure everyone stays safe at sea.

While cruises are generally considered to be one of the safest forms of travel, guests who witness a crime or become a victim are encouraged to immediately report the offense to the FBI, along with the onboard security team.

Guests will never be penalized for making a report in good faith, even if the investigation shows that the alleged crime was a non-issue all along.

“As summer vacations begin, the FBI reminds you that if you have been a victim of assault with serious bodily injury, kidnapping, sexual assault aboard a cruise ship, report it to security staff immediately,” FBI Houston posted on X.

If guests are not able to report the crime while onboard, they are encouraged to contact their local police and the FBI as soon as possible.

For reference, the FBI typically handles serious crimes that occur at sea, as the open ocean is outside the jurisdiction of any individual state. Should an incident occur, FBI agents will meet the ship at its next US port call to begin its investigation.

How Common is Cruise Ship Crime?

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010 requires all cruise ships that embark and disembark at US ports to report criminal activity to the FBI.

The investigations into these incidents are then publicly shared by the US Department of Transportation on a quarterly basis. 

Based on these reports, an average of 150 to 180 crimes are committed on cruise ships annually, which means there are less than 200 offenders out of 37.2 million people who go on cruises each year (and that’s not including crew members).

For additional context, the FBI reported that there were more than 14 million crimes committed in the US on land in 2024. The data for 2025 is not publicly available, but it’s likely also in the millions.

Cruise Hive confirmed that a total of 182 crimes by cruisers were reported to the FBI in 2025, which is on the higher side of normal.

So far, 43 cruise ship crimes were reported for the first quarter of 2026 (January through March).

Cruise Ships Strive to Keep Guests Safe

The cruise lines take action to keep guests safe well before they are onboard, including verifying identities during the pre-check-in process before guests even make it to their departure port.

If guests’ have active warrants or have been placed on a no-sail list for previous bad behavior, they may be removed from the sailing at this time.

For example, Cruise Hive recently reported on a man who was temporarily booted from his Carnival cruise due to a case of mistaken identity. The cruise line chose to remove the passenger from his reservation until the issue could be clarified instead of risking a potential offender making it onboard.

Once at the cruise port, employees will reconfirm guests’ identities (often by checking passports and/or using biometric technology) and will screen their belongings for prohibited items, including weapons and potential fire hazards.

Security screenings are then conducted at every cruise port to ensure no prohibited items have been acquired while exploring, and this process is in place for a reason.

As recently as December 2025, a cruising granny was not only removed from her sailing, but arrested in Nassau after getting caught with a gun. The grandmother allegedly forgot that the weapon was in her purse.

While at sea, cruise ships are protected by surveillance footage and round-the-clock security teams.

Carnival Guests Notified of Itinerary Changes on Two Tampa Cruises

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Guests Notified of Itinerary Changes on Two Tampa Cruises

Key Aspects:

  • Small changes have been made to one sailing each for Carnival Paradise and Carnival Legend in the coming weeks.
  • The July 6 sailing of Carnival Paradise has shifted her visit time in Belize.
  • Carnival Legend will depart Tampa one hour later for the November 16 sailing.

Guests on two different Carnival cruises have now received notification of minor adjustments to their respective upcoming itineraries. The impacted ships are Carnival Paradise and Carnival Legend, both sailing from Tampa, Florida, and the change to one ship is fairly significant, while the other is just a minor tweak.

Carnival Paradise Itinerary Change

The July 6, 2026 departure of Carnival Paradise has a relatively large change. While the Fantasy-class ship will still be sailing her 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary out of Tampa to Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel, the time in Belize has been heavily shifted.

Originally, the 2,124-guest ship was to have visited Belize City, Belize, for a full day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, as the first port of call on the sailing. The day has not changed, but now Carnival Paradise will be in port from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This is loss of a full hour of port time and the much later arrival may impact shore tours for many guests. If guests have booked any excursions through the cruise line, those tours with be changed accordingly.

“Where applicable, pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions will be automatically adjusted prior to sailing,” the notification confirmed.

Guests with independent tour arrangements will need to contact their tour operators for options to reschedule or cancel as necessary.

No explanation has been given for the change, but there is no indication of any mechanical trouble with Carnival Paradise that would require a slower sailing speed or other adjustments. Port schedules, berth availability, and other factors can all impact when a ship may visit a port of call.

Cruise Hive just reported days ago of a port cancellation for a harbor pilot shortage on Carnival Splendor, another type of situation that can create an itinerary change.

Carnival Paradise Docked in Cozumel, Mexico
Carnival Paradise Docked in Cozumel, Mexico (Photo Credit: denbaim)

Only the stop in Belize is impacted by this change. Carnival Paradise will still visit Roatan, Honduras on July 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by Cozumel, Mexico on July 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ship’s departure and return to Tampa are also unaffected.

One of the smallest and oldest ships in the Carnival fleet, the 71,925-gross-ton Carnival Paradise offers 4-, 5-, and 6-night sailings from Tampa year-round and is a favorite among many cruise guests who prefer the smaller, more intimate ship.

Carnival Legend Itinerary Change

The tweak to Carnival Legend is even simpler than the port adjustment for Carnival Paradise. For the 88,500-gross-ton ship, the only change is to her departure from Tampa for the November 16, 2026 sailing.

Now, the ship will set sail from the Sunshine State one hour later at 4:30 p.m. instead of 3:30 p.m. as previously scheduled.

No other changes have been announced for the 5-night Western Caribbean cruise, which will be visiting Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Likewise, the ship’s return to Tampa is not impacted and remains unchanged, which will be a relief to the 2,124 guests that may be aboard.

Carnival Cruise Line frequently makes these sorts of simple adjustments to various itineraries as port schedules and sailing routes are refined. Recently, Cruise Hive shared Celebration Key time changes for 50 sailings of Carnival Elation from Jacksonville.

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Similarly, more than 90 sailings of Carnival Panorama out of Long Beach have also been adjusted in recent weeks.

Any booked guests (from any line, not just Carnival!) should always stay in close contact with their cruise line in case of itinerary changes, port swaps, departure updates, or other changes that may impact their vacation plans.

Crew Member’s Body Recovered After Cruise Ship Overboard Near Oban

Melissa Mayntz
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Crew Member’s Body Recovered After Cruise Ship Overboard Near Oban

Key Aspects:

  • The body of a crew member overboard from Hebridean Princess has been found near Oban, Scotland.
  • The overboard occurred on Tuesday, June 16, just after 8 p.m. in the evening.
  • No details of the crew member’s identity or position have been made available, but the incident is not considered suspicious.

There is now an unfortunate and tragic conclusion to an overboard incident from the luxury ship Hebridean Princess last week. On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a crew member was reported to have fallen from the 48-guest small ship in the Sound of Mull, near Oban in western Scotland.

At the time of the incident, just 38 guests were aboard. The ship is also home to just over 30 crew members. While the local coastguard rescue team responded and search efforts commenced shortly after 8 p.m., the search was initially unsuccessful.

Now, however, the male crew member’s body has been located near Corran Esplanade, roughly a half mile north of the docking areas in Oban.

“The individual’s next of kin have been informed, and our thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues,” a spokesperson for Hebridean Island Cruises told the BBC.

No further details about the crew member, such as name, age, or position, have been released. This is standard procedure to protect the individual’s privacy and the privacy of their family members, friends, and colleagues.

Local authorities are conducting a complete investigation and the cruise line is fully cooperating.

“We are supporting the relevant authorities in their inquiries,” Hebridean Island Cruises confirmed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson did note that the death is not being treated as suspicious. Full investigations are normal under these circumstances.

Hebridean Princess is one of just two vessels operated by Hebridean Island Cruises, offering intimate explorations around Scotland to ports larger ships cannot visit.

Read Also: What Happens When Someone Goes Overboard on a Cruise Ship?

Prior to the incident, the ship had most recently visited Barra, the Isle of Harris, the Shiant Isles, Stornoway, and other unique destinations. Hikes, museum visits, local foods, church visits, and other activities are favorites in ports of call.

At the time of the overboard, the 2,112-gross-ton ship had just finished a 7-night “Footloose Over the Western Isles” itinerary that originally departed Oban on June 9. Because the incident happened late in the evening, however, it is possible it was the first night of the next sailing, also a 7-night cruise.

Crew Member Overboards Rare

It is a sad truth that crew member overboards do happen and are not confined to a specific type of cruise, ship size, or sailing region.

Cruise Hive has reported on different incidents, including a crew member overboard from Norwegian Viva in April 2026 while the ship was near Costa Maya, Mexico. Later that same month, another crew member went overboard from Norwegian Breakaway near Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Crew overboards have been reported in recent years from AIDA Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and other lines.

Working on a cruise ship can be a very stressful career involving long hours, heavy workloads, and being away from family members and friends for months at a time.

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While Hebridean Princess is a small ship with just three dozen or so crew members, larger vessels often have hundreds or thousands of crew members onboard each sailing.

Cruise lines do provide support for struggling crew members, as well as counseling services as needed when tragic situations unfold.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts and condolences are with the family members, friends, and co-workers of the crew member during this troubling time.

Berthing Conflicts Force Celebrity Summit to Drop Two Ports

Lissa Poirot
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Berthing Conflicts Force Celebrity Summit to Drop Two Ports

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Cruises removed Key West from Celebrity Summit’s November 1, 2026, sailing, and replaced it with a port call in Cozumel, Mexico.
  • The ship has also removed Costa Maya, Mexico, from its November 22, 2026, voyage, replacing it with a stop in George Town, Grand Cayman.
  • November 8’s sailing has also been modified, but is keeping all original scheduled port calls.

For Celebrity Cruises passengers looking forward to strolling along Duval Street, visiting the Southernmost Point in the US, or sampling the food and drinks at Sloppy Joe’s, an itinerary update may come as disappointing news.

The cruise line has informed guests sailing aboard Celebrity Summit on November 1, 2026, that the ship’s planned call in Key West has been removed from the itinerary and replaced with a visit to Cozumel, Mexico.

“Due to berthing availability in Key West, Florida, we’ve replaced this stop with a visit to Cozumel from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Day 3,” Celebrity Cruises said in a letter sent to booked guests.

The revised schedule now calls for the 91,003-gross-ton Celebrity Summit to visit Cozumel on November 3, followed by Bimini on November 5, and Nassau on November 6 before returning to Tampa, Florida, on November 8.

Worth Reading: Berth Shortage Triggers Itinerary Change for Norwegian Prima Sailing

The 7-night voyage, which had previously been marketed as a “Key West & Bahamas” cruise departing roundtrip from Tampa, now includes a sea day on November 4, replacing what had originally been the Key West port call.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and have no doubt your time with us will be nothing short of amazing,” the cruise line said.

Celebrity Summit Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Carlos Yudica / Shutterstock.com

Celebrity Cruises said guests who pre-purchased shore excursions through the cruise line for Key West will automatically receive refunds to their original form of payment. Passengers who booked shore excursions separately are advised to reach out for cancellations and refunds.

Read Also: Cozumel Cruise Port: Terminals, Piers, and Getting Around

Guests interested in booking activities in Cozumel will be able to browse available shore excursions through the Celebrity Cruises app and website. However, the company also warned that bookings may be temporarily unavailable for up to 10 business days while the itinerary updates are finalized.

Additional Celebrity Summit Itinerary Changes

The November 1 departure is not the only upcoming Celebrity Summit sailing to undergo changes. Celebrity Cruises has also notified guests booked on the ship’s November 8 and November 22, 2026, departures of itinerary adjustments affecting ports in Mexico, Belize, and the Cayman Islands.

For the November 8 sailing, the cruise line cited another berthing conflict as the reason for modifying the itinerary to “ensure your experience remains seamless and enjoyable.”

The 2,218-passenger ship’s sea day has now been moved up to November 10, with calls scheduled for Belize City on November 11, Cozumel on November 12, and Costa Maya, Mexico, on November 13.

Shore excursions booked through the cruise line are automatically being updated to align with the revised schedule, but passengers who booked their own activities are advised to reschedule to match the itinerary.

Celebrity Summit has also removed Costa Maya entirely from its November 22 departure after reviewing port operations at the Mexican destination.

More From Cruise Hive

To replace the cancelled stop, Celebrity Cruises added George Town, Grand Cayman, on November 27. The ship will spend the previous day at sea before arriving in the Cayman Islands from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

“While our itinerary has been adjusted, the incredible experience of your journey remains unchanged,” said the cruise line. “These updates allow us to uphold the integrity of our itinerary and ensure smooth operations.”

Guests who pre-purchased shore excursions in Costa maya will receive automatic refunds to their original form of payment. It will be opening shore excursions for George Town in the next 10 days.

Norwegian Sun Sailing Gets Late Adjustment Due to Propulsion Issues

Catie Kovelman
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0
Norwegian Sun Sailing Gets Late Adjustment Due to Propulsion Issues

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Sun experienced a loss of propulsion during its current 9-night sailing from Denmark to Finland.
  • The NCL ship was forced to skip its visit to Stockholm, Sweden, on June 22, but did make its visit to Tallinn, Estonia, on June 23.
  • At this time, the technical difficulties are not expected to impact the following voyage, which embarks on June 24.

Norwegian Sun’s current 9-night Baltic sailing is ending on a low note due to technical difficulties impacting the ship’s propulsion.

Reports have surfaced on social media indicating that the planned visit to Nynashamn, Sweden, which provides access to Stockholm, was cancelled on June 22, 2026, due to propulsion issues.

“Currently on NCL Sun and will be missing our port call in Sweden today due to lack of propulsion. Trip had been going great until now. Weather is gorgeous here too which adds to the sting,” one of the up to 1,878 guests onboard posted on Reddit on June 22.

“Looking out the window now and it seems we are dead in the water as we make our way to Estonia,” the current guest continued.

The news was also confirmed by another current passenger on Facebook.

Prior to the cancelled call in Stockholm, the 78,309-gross ton vessel successfully visited Oslo, Norway; Warnemunde-Rostock, Germany; Gdynia-Gdansk, Poland; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Riga, Latvia.

According to cruise tracking data, the NCL ship was also able to make its final call on the itinerary as planned to Tallinn, Estonia, on June 23.

At the end of her visit, she departed on time at 8 p.m. As of the time of this writing, the cruise ship is sailing toward Helsinki, Finland, at speeds of 7 knots.

But while this seems slow, Helsinki is quite close to Tallinn with only around 40 nautical miles between the destinations. The ship should arrive in Helsinki on time for disembarkation on the morning of June 24.

Will the Next Itinerary Be Impacted?

At this time, there is no known impact to the next cruise, which is the reverse of the sailing the Sun-class flagship will have just completed.

The June 24 cruise will sail from Helsinki back to Copenhagen, Denmark, which is where the current June 15 voyage embarked, over the course of nine days.

Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship
Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Felipe Sanchez)

At this time, there have been no public announcements indicating that itinerary changes will be necessary or that repairs will need to be completed in port before heading back out to sea. It’s also not known what caused the propulsion issues in the first place.

Sometimes the onboard engineers can fix the problem mid-voyage, while more complicated issues may require the ship to stay in port to finish the work.

Cruise Hive reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for more information about the situation, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Are Propulsion Problems Common?

Propulsion issues aren’t exactly common, but they do happen from time to time. With ships essentially operating 24/7, 365 days per year, sometimes onboard systems simply get out of whack.

But with several propulsion issues recently making the news, it can feel like this is a situation that is getting more common. 

For example, Cruise Hive has covered propulsion issues for Norwegian Bliss, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, and Holland America Line’s Zaandam in the past month alone.

“Is it just me or is ‘loss of propulsion’ becoming a more common issue? Or is this just something to be expected on older ships,” the Reddit user inquired.

It’s important to acknowledge that there are hundreds (if not thousands) of sailings that don’t become headlines because everything is operating normally.

And to Norwegian’s credit, the cruise company does its best to maintain its fleet. Even though Norwegian Sun is an older ship with a 2001 launch year, she visits dry dock routinely and was most recently refurbished in 2024.

In her decades at sea, the ship has only ever experienced propulsion or power issues in 2011 and 2023, so technical difficulties are clearly few and far between.

Brawl at PortMiami Terminal Lands 16 Carnival Guests on Do Not Sail List

Melissa Mayntz
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Brawl at PortMiami Terminal Lands 16 Carnival Guests on Do Not Sail List

Key Aspects:

  • 16 guests have been banned from Carnival Cruise Line following a huge brawl in the Port Miami terminal.
  • The incident happened during Carnival Conquest‘s debarkation on Monday, June 22 after a weekend Bahamas cruise.
  • No injuries, damage, or arrests were reported with the incident and individual identities have not been released.

Carnival Conquest‘s most recent sailing ended less than smoothly for some guests at PortMiami on Monday, June 22, 2026. When the 3-night weekend Bahamas cruise debarked, a massive brawl erupted in the customs area of the cruise terminal.

According to the Daily Mail, the incident began at roughly 8 a.m., shortly after debarkation began for the 2,980-guest ship.

A video shared widely online captured the violent incident. Both men and women were involved in the fight, throwing punches, pulling hair, wrestling, yelling, and more.

At several points, personal belongings and even luggage are seen flying through the air, and several participants appear to be barefoot. Queue lines were disconnected and knocked over during the brawl as well.

The ages and identities of those involved have not been confirmed, though one guest does appear particularly young and a voice is heard yelling in the background, “That’s a kid! That’s a kid!”

Security did intervene and was eventually able to break up the fight. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the disagreement was between two families, but it is unknown what exactly sparked the fight in the terminal.

“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of US Customs and Border Patrol. We are appreciative of law enforcement’s swift response and handling of the matter,” Carnival Cruise Line stated to the Daily Mail.

No serious injuries, arrests, or significant damage have been reported related to the incident.

Even while the fight was ongoing, other passengers are seen casually debarking the ship, steering their luggage past the brawlers and shaking their heads at the incident that is sure to put a damper on the end of what ought to have been a fun weekend getaway.

Carnival Cruise Line has not commented publicly on the fight nor revealed if any of the guests involved were cited for fighting or other unruly behavior during the cruise. The ship had departed Miami on Friday, June 19, and enjoyed a visit to the cruise line’s private destination in the Bahamas, Celebration Key, on Sunday.

There was no impact to Carnival Conquest‘s next cruise which departed later that afternoon. The 110,000-gross-ton ship, lead vessel in the Conquest class, is homeported year-round from Miami and typically offers 3- and 4-night Bahamas sailings, with occasional longer Southern Caribbean itineraries.

Fighting Can Have Lasting Consequences

Even though the fight did not occur directly onboard Carnival Conquest, passengers involved in the brawl are facing severe consequences.

Carnival did confirm that 16 individuals have now been placed on the “Do Not Sail List” and will be prohibited from future Carnival cruises.

Carnival Conquest Passengers
Carnival Conquest Passengers (Photo Credit: @onlyindade)

According to the cruise line’s ticket contract, section 9(j), any and all “disruptive behavior” will not be tolerated. A massive fight in the cruise terminal would certainly qualify as disruptive for debarking guests, port employees, and customs officers.

“Any Guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety, or well-being of other guests or crew will be detained onboard and/or disembarked at their own expense and will be prohibited from sailing with Carnival in the future,” the contract reads.

While the duration of a ban is not specified, Carnival could temporarily ban guests for just a few months or years, or the ban could be permanent and apply for the rest of a guest’s lifetime.

Major Incidents Becoming More Common

Unfortunately, this is not the first major brawl involving Carnival cruise guests. It isn’t even the first big fight in a cruise terminal.

Cruise Hive reported on a similar brawl in the Galveston cruise terminal in April 2025. In that incident, which also happened at debarkation, 24 guests from Carnival Jubilee were placed on the Do Not Sail list.

More recently, a brawl in the Nassau Cruise Port involved six Americans. While they were not confirmed as Carnival Cruise Line guests, they face more than $50,000 in fines for damage to a local police station, trying to escape police custody, and injuring officers.

Other large brawls have occurred on other cruise lines as well, such as a large fight in the pool at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, in August 2025.

As Heat Waves Soar, Carnival Reminds Guests of Cabin Fan Rules

Lissa Poirot
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0
As Heat Waves Soar, Carnival Reminds Guests of Cabin Fan Rules

Key Aspects:

  • John Heald is reminding guests that Carnival Cruise Line allows portable fans on board.
  • The cruise line allows passengers to bring fans provided they do not exceed 12 inches in diameter.
  • Heald also clarified that the company does not routinely provide fans by request in staterooms.

As temperatures climb across popular cruise destinations, many Carnival Cruise Line guests are asking the same question before boarding: Can I bring a fan?

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed the topic in his July 22, 2026, Facebook post, reminding guests that portable electric fans are permitted on board, provided they meet the cruise line’s size restrictions.

The clarification comes as parts of Europe is experiencing one the most significant heat waves of the year, including rare red heat alerts in some areas.

In the United Kingdom, officials issued a rare red extreme heat warning covering London and much of southern England, warning of potential risks even for healthy individuals as temperatures approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heald said he has received an increasing number of questions about fans as some destinations deal with soaring temperatures. “The answer is yes we do and the fans must be no larger than 12” in diameter,” Heald wrote. 

The cruise line’s policy permits guests to bring portable electric fans aboard as long as they are no larger than 12 inches in diameter.

“Electrical devices, such as fans (no larger than 12″ in diameter) are allowed when used with proper caution,” states the official policy.

Although it does also state that if devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned on debarkation morning.

Carnival’s fan policy has remained largely unchanged for years but questions about the rule surface regularly during the summer months. Guests frequently discuss battery-operated fans, rechargeable fans, and small electric fans and what is permitted.

Fans are allowed, alongside other common personal electrical devices such as hair dryers, curling irons, and electric shavers.

Travel Fan
Travel Fan (Photo Credit: studio_24 / Shutterstock)

But Heald also used his platform to address a passenger misconception that fans may be provided by cabin attendants upon request.

“People have also written and said that their cabin attendant would not provide them with a fan,” he said. “It’s not that they refused but because we only provide fans for unforeseen circumstances or for medical reasons.”

Heald encouraged guests who believe they may need a fan during their cruise to pack one themselves rather than relying on the ship to supply one.

Keep Balcony Doors Closed

While some guests prefer sleeping with their balcony door open for fresh air and ocean breezes, Carnival Cruise Line repeatedly advises passengers to understand how the ship’s climate-control systems operate.

Modern cruise ships are designed with sensors that detect when a balcony door has opened. When triggered, the system temporarily shuts down to prevent energy waste and excess humidity.

More From Cruise Hive

Beyond cabin comfort, open balcony doors can create strong airflow when the stateroom door is opened into the hallway. This “wind tunnel effect” can cause doors to close unexpectedly and create noise disturbances.

Heald has also reminded guests that balcony doors should be secured properly so cabin cooling systems can operate as intended.

The topic has generated debate among cruisers for years, with some guests claiming that open balcony doors can affect neighboring staterooms. Heald discredited that myth in the past, confirming the system only impacts the cabin where the balcony door is open.

There’s a Reason Norwegian Bliss Is Reworking Every Stop on Its July 4 Cruise

Melissa Mayntz
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There’s a Reason Norwegian Bliss Is Reworking Every Stop on Its July 4 Cruise

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Bliss continues to have propulsion difficulties that first appeared in late May, though repairs are ongoing.
  • Itinerary impacts include shortened port visits on every itinerary at least through the ship’s July 4, 2026 departure.
  • All ports are impacted, with the visit to Victoria becoming a technical stop and guests will not be able to debark.

Norwegian Bliss‘s July 4, 2026 departure from Seattle will be a bit less blissful for guests who enjoy lengthy port visits. On this 7-night Alaska sailing, the ship has to adjust every port visit for a total of six fewer hours in port.

Cruise Hive has already reported on the propulsion difficulties impacting the Breakaway Plus class ship, which began at the end of May 2026.

Because the work is continuing, it is necessary for additional sailings to adjust their itineraries to accommodate the ship’s reduced speed.

For the July 4 departure, this means time lost in every port visit and the effective loss of an entire port of call at the end of the cruise. An updated itinerary has been posted to Facebook by an impacted passenger.

Norwegian Bliss will still depart Seattle at 4 p.m. as planned and the first full day of the cruise is a day at sea. The arrival to Sitka on Monday, July 6, however, will now be at 11:30 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. Departure will still be at 6 p.m.

The ship will also arrive in Juneau on Tuesday, later than originally scheduled, at 7 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m.

The cruising through Endicott Arm to view Dawes Glacier is unchanged, but the next two ports are also shortened by 30 minutes each with earlier-than-planned departures. Norwegian Bliss will leave Icy Strait Point at 2:30 p.m. instead of 3 p.m., and likewise will leave Ketchikan at 12:45 p.m. instead of 1:15 p.m. For both ports, the ship will still arrive at 6 a.m.

Victoria, British Columbia, is the final stop on the itinerary. Originally, guests were to be able to enjoy the charming port from 8 p.m. until midnight. Now Norwegian Bliss will not arrive until 11 p.m. and the visit is just a short technical stop to comply with international regulations. Guests will not be permitted to debark in Victoria.

Norwegian Bliss in Seattle
Norwegian Bliss in Seattle (Photo Credit: lenic)

In total, guests are losing six hours of port visit time on the itinerary, with half of that time the now-sacrificed visit to Victoria. At the other ports, Sitka is the most dramatically impacted with the visit shortened by 90 minutes, but the 30-minute changes at the other ports should not significantly impact guests’ experiences.

The 4,002-guest Norwegian Bliss should arrive back to Seattle on schedule for debarkation at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 11.

Are Repairs Being Made?

Repairs were begun immediately once the propulsion difficulty appeared, though Norwegian Bliss has remained in service. No safety or navigational systems are affected and the vessel remains completely seaworthy.

All onboard operations, including entertainment, dining, hotel service, and the daily schedule of activities, are continuing as normal.

No details on the exact nature of the propulsion difficulty have been confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line. It is not uncommon for ships to develop these types of issues, which can often be corrected even while the ship is sailing. At times, extra work will be done during port visits when there is less stress on the engines.

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Similar issues have appeared on other ships, including Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas at the end of May and Holland America Line’s Zaandam in June.

Norwegian Bliss has had similar itinerary adjustments on every cruise sailing since the trouble first appeared and it is likely that such adjustments may continue until the repairs are complete.

Guests booked on upcoming sailings will want to stay in close communication with the cruise line in case of adjustments to their vacation plans.

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