Blog Page 6

Bomb Threat Holds Crown Iris in Greek Port for Hours

Melissa Mayntz
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Bomb Threat Holds Crown Iris in Greek Port for Hours

Key Aspects:

  • A bomb threat against Crown Iris delayed the ship’s departure from Syros, Greece, for several hours on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
  • Searches were carried out onboard by a bomb disposal team and a bomb detection dog, and a diver inspected the ship’s hull.
  • No suspicious materials were found during the searches, which took place the day after authorities banned a planned protest against the ship.

The Israeli-owned cruise ship Crown Iris was delayed in Syros, Greece, for several hours after her scheduled departure following a bomb threat against the vessel. Authorities were alerted to the threat and subsequently inspected the ship.

According to ekathimerini.com, a bomb disposal team from the Port Authority searched the ship but found no suspicious objects onboard. A bomb detection dog as well as a diver also assisted in the search, and the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Underwater Operations Unit is expected to conduct a second inspection before the ship will be cleared to depart the Greek port.

Crown Iris is finishing a 7-night sailing from Haifa, Israel that departed on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The Greek Islands cruise has already visited Kos, Piraeus, and Nafplio, and the visit to Syros is the last port on the round-trip itinerary.

The ship, operated by Mano Cruise, was to have been in port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but AIS tracking confirms the ship had not left Syros at press time, approximately 10 p.m. in Syros.

Local media reported that 940 passengers and 597 crew members are onboard the ship. According to the cruise line’s website, the full passenger capacity of Crown Iris is 2,000 guests, with a complement of 650 officers and crew members.

The bomb threat happened the day after protests against the ship’s visit to Syros were banned by local authorities. Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, November 2, 2026 that the Syros Anti-War Initiative had planned a demonstration on the Ermoupoli waterfront against the ship’s Tuesday visit. The protest was to have begun in the early morning, before Crown Iris arrived at 8 a.m.

The Hellenic Coast Guard issued a statement to local media noting that the waterfront demonstration location “posed a severe threat to public security due to the potential of serious crimes being committed, particularly against human lives, bodily integrity and property … and to the area’s social and economic activity.”

The protest was permitted to be held at an alternative location away from the waterfront, but there are no reports of whether it actually did move forward at an alternative site or if there were any violent incidents during the event.

Not the First Threat to the Ship

Crown Iris has been the subject of threats and protests several times over the past year. Both road and marine traffic restrictions were put in place during the ship’s October 14, 2026 visit to the Port of Argostoli as an extra precaution for the safety of the vessel.

Protests have been held against the ship at different Greek ports since mid-2025, including in Piraeus, Rhodes, and Crete. In June 2026, a 37-year-old Palestinian man was arrested in Crete for his suspected involvement in a possible attack plot against the ship, just days after a protest during the ship’s visit to Piraeus.

Crown Iris is the only cruise ship operated by Mano Cruise and is homeported year-round from Haifa, offering itineraries from 3-11 nights to Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, and other eastern Mediterranean destinations.

Celebrity Xcite Will Debut With Week-Long Caribbean Cruises From Miami

Calvin Musquez
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Celebrity Xcite Will Debut With Week-Long Caribbean Cruises From Miami

Key Aspects:

  • Celebrity Cruises has opened bookings for Celebrity Xcite’s inaugural season of seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami in 2028.
  • It will join nine other Celebrity vessels in the company’s largest Caribbean deployment yet.
  • The 2028/29 season will include the first three-night Edge Series sailings aboard Celebrity Beyond and expanded Southern Caribbean itineraries.

Celebrity Cruises has officially unveiled its 2028/29 Caribbean deployments, including the inaugural season for its upcoming flagship, Celebrity Xcite. The Edge Series ship will join nine other vessels in what the cruise line calls its most expansive Caribbean lineup yet.

Sailing from Miami, Celebrity Xcite will debut with seven-night Caribbean voyages. The roughly 3,200-guest ship will offer rotating itineraries visiting destinations in the Caribbean. 

Ports of call include St. Thomas, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and the Dominican Republic. 

“With the debut of Celebrity Xcite, and more Edge Series ships in the Caribbean than ever before, our 2028 and 2029 season gives guests more ways to experience the destinations they love,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Xcite is the sixth vessel in Celebrity’s Edge Series, which includes Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Beyond. The fifth Edge Series predecessor, Celebrity Xcel, entered service in November 2025.

Cruise Hive previously covered the ship’s October 2025 steel-cutting ceremony, which took place on the same day that Celebrity Cruises took delivery of Celebrity Xcel. While the ship’s maiden voyage has not been officially confirmed, the earliest sailings currently available to book depart in November 2028.

The cruise line opened bookings for the winter 2028/29 season on November 3, 2026. Summer 2028 bookings will open on December 9, 2026.

Edge Series Will Offer Its First Short Bahamas Sailings 

In addition to the debut of Celebrity Xcite, the cruise line will offer Caribbean and Bahamas sailings aboard nine other vessels. In a first for the Edge Series, Celebrity Beyond will offer short Bahamas getaways.

Nine three-night cruises to the region will be offered aboard the ship from Fort Lauderdale. These sailings will feature a day at sea, followed by a ten-hour call at Nassau.

Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship
Celebrity Beyond Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Sail Away)

Longer eight- to 11-night sailings will also be offered aboard Celebrity Beyond. These cruises will visit St. Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua, with six Panama Canal voyages.

Celebrity Eclipse will join Celebrity Beyond in offering weekend getaways from Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries include Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, and Key West.

Other short Bahamas itineraries will be offered aboard Celebrity Summit, sailing four- and five-night voyages from Miami. Select sailings will visit Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Nassau, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Other Expanded Caribbean Offerings

Included in the 2028/29 lineup, the cruise line will sail its first full summer season in the Southern Caribbean in 2028. As part of these expanded offerings, Celebrity Silhouette will offer new eight- to 12-night summer sailings featuring destinations such as Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Grenada.

Then, beginning in October 2028, Silhouette will also offer seven-night cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with five port days on every sailing. Destinations include St. Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Reflection will continue offering year-round six- to eight-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale. This will follow its planned March 2027 transformation with 13 new spaces.

Celebrity Ascent will also sail from Fort Lauderdale, offering nine- to 12-night sailings. These itineraries will visit destinations including Grand Cayman, Aruba, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Maarten, Barbados, Antigua, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

More From Cruise Hive

Other fleet highlights include Celebrity Apex’s return to Port Canaveral for Caribbean itineraries and seven-night cruises from Tampa aboard Celebrity Constellation. Another Edge Series ship, Celebrity Xcel, will offer six- and eight-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale.

Six-night Western Caribbean itineraries aboard Celebrity Xcel will visit Mexico, Honduras, and Grand Cayman. Meanwhile, eight-night Southern Caribbean sailings include Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

MSC Cruises Cancels Poesia Voyage After Coast Guard Holds Ship in Miami

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Cruises Cancels Poesia Voyage After Coast Guard Holds Ship in Miami

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Poesia has had her current 11-night sailing cancelled following a two-day delay in Miami due to a U.S. Coast Guard inspection.
  • The ship was originally scheduled to depart on Sunday, November 1 at 5 p.m. but remained in port through Tuesday morning when the cancellation was announced.
  • No information about the nature of the inspection or any findings have been publicly confirmed.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia was scheduled to set sail from PortMiami on an 11-night Southern and Western Caribbean itinerary beginning Sunday, November 1, 2026, but the ship remained at the South Florida port with guests onboard as the cancellation was announced on Tuesday morning, November 3.

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) inspection delayed the vessel’s departure. The ship should have been at her first port of call, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

At just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, however, guests were informed their cruise was now cancelled.

“It is with very deep regret that I must inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel our cruise,” the ship’s captain announced over the ship’s public address system. “Despite our team’s continuous effort to solve the regulatory matter that delayed our departure, we unfortunately have to cancel.”

MSC Cruises stated to Cruise Hive:

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel the current sailing. We recognize how disappointing and frustrating this news is for our guests, and we sincerely apologize for the disruption to their holiday.

Prior to departure, a regulatory matter arose that required resolution. Despite our efforts to address the matter, we were unable to resolve it in time for the sailing to proceed.”

Guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, and we are providing support to assist with their journey home.”

The captain went on to apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience, and confirmed that MSC Cruises would provide a full refund to guests along with a future cruise credit and additional compensation.

Full details about the compensation, debarkation, and next steps for guests would be delivered to guests’ staterooms later on Tuesday.

MSC Poesia Cruise Ship
MSC Poesia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Stop Kadras)

Guests are being permitted to remain onboard MSC Poesia until noon on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Furthermore, free WiFi is being provided to all guests so they could make travel arrangements if needed.

“We understand that this is not the outcome any of us had hoped for,” the captain said. “My crew and I share your disappointment and we are truly, truly, truly sorry that we have been unable to deliver the holiday experience you were so looking forward to. On behalf of everyone on Poesia, thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout this difficult situation.”

What Happened to MSC Poesia?

Passengers did board the ship on Sunday as planned, but MSC Poesia was unable to depart. According to CBS News Miami, Coast Guard Sector Miami had detained the ship for inspection to ensure compliance with U.S. regulations and international standards.

“The Coast Guard is tasked with verifying safe and secure commerce. It is the Captain of the Port’s priority to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, the vessel, and the environment,” the USCG said in a statement to CBS News.

No further details on the nature of the inspection have been publicly disclosed. This is not, however, a health inspection from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program, which is a different type of inspection from a different agency.

At 8:40 p.m. Monday, more than 27 hours after the ship had been scheduled to depart Miami, the ship’s captain provided an update to guests onboard, but it wasn’t what guests had hoped to hear.

“Regarding our departure from Miami, our team continues to work closely with the United States Coast Guard, and we remain hopeful that we will receive the necessary clearance to proceed with our voyage,” he said.

If clearance had been granted, a revised itinerary would have been provided for the remainder of the cruise. If guests preferred not to continue with the sailing, cancellation options would also be provided.

“If we are unable to depart tomorrow, we will unfortunately need to cancel the voyage,” the captain warned guests. “In that event, be assured MSC Cruises will provide a refund and additional compensation with full details and guidance on the next steps.”

Onboard entertainment, dining, and amenities remained available to guests during the delay.

The original itinerary for this 11-night sailing included port visits in Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize before the 2,550-guest, Musica-class ship would have returned to Miami on Thursday, November 12.

More From Cruise Hive

Depending on the outcome of the USCG inspection, additional sailings may also be impacted, though there is not yet any announcement about future cruises.

The ship’s next departure is a 10-night round-trip Eastern Caribbean itinerary planned to set sail from Miami on Thursday, November 12 with visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Carnival Moves Up Departure Times on 153 Sailings From Florida

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Moves Up Departure Times on 153 Sailings From Florida

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has moved departures 30 minutes earlier for upcoming sailings on Carnival Elation and Carnival Glory.
  • Carnival Elation has 77 sailings from Jacksonville adjusted, while Carnival Glory has 76 sailings from Port Canaveral adjusted.
  • Only the homeport departure times are changed and there are no additional adjustments to individual itineraries.

Guests on two Carnival ships, Carnival Elation and Carnival Glory, will get the fun started on their vacations slightly earlier, as Carnival Cruise Line is now notifying guests that the ships will set sail earlier than expected on a total of 153 planned departure dates.

In total, 77 sailings for Carnival Elation sailing from Jacksonville, Florida, are impacted, as well as 76 sailings for Carnival Glory departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

For all the impacted sailings, the ship will be departing 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled, now setting sail at 3:00 p.m. rather than 3:30 p.m.

The impacted sailings of Carnival Elation are all departures beginning December 3, 2026 through and including November 22, 2027. The 2,190-guest ship sails 4- and 5-night Bahamas itineraries from Jacksonville. Depending on the departure date and cruise length, the ship visits Nassau, Celebration Key, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Carnival Elation Letter
Carnival Elation Letter

Aboard Carnival Glory, the impacted sailings begin with the ship’s December 14, 2026 departure and include all voyages through the December 31, 2026 sailing. In 2027, cruises that will now be departing a half hour earlier are as follows: February 1 through and including April 26; May 15 through and including September 10; October 4 through and including October 15; and November 8 through and including November 26.

The 2,980-guest Carnival Glory offers 3- and 4-night Bahamas itineraries similar to the cruises aboard Carnival Elation, also with stops in Celebration Key, Nassau, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, depending on sailing date and cruise length.

In the advisories Carnival Cruise Line is now sending to booked guests, the cruise line reminds guests to be on time for their new departure.

“In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board no later than the final boarding time specified on the boarding pass,” the notification states.

Other than the earlier homeport departure, there are no changes to any of the impacted sailings’ port visits or homeport return.

Does Such a Small Change Matter to Guests?

While a 30-minute change may not seem significant to many travelers, guests driving to Jacksonville or Port Canaveral will want to be particularly aware of the earlier departure in case they had planned to arrive at the cruise terminal later in the afternoon.

The cruise line has previously confirmed that ship departures will not be delayed for guests who may be late, even when circumstances are out of the guests’ control. In August 2025, Cruise Hive reported on a family who missed their departure on Carnival Glory because of a traffic jam as they were traveling to Port Canaveral, even though the ship had not yet set sail.

Cruise lines do not set the deadlines on when terminals close before a ship’s departure. Federal manifest rules require cruise lines to close check-in well before a ship’s departure, so terminals stop processing guests before sailaway.

Carnival Cruise Line has not disclosed any specific reason for the earlier departures for either ship, nor why so many itineraries are now impacted.

Overall port operations and berth availability, local pilot schedules, and the presence of other marine traffic and ship arrivals and departures can all impact when cruise ships are able to set sail.

Carnival has made such mass adjustments previously for other ships sailing from different homeports. For example, in May 2026, a total of 92 different departures for Carnival Panorama from Long Beach were adjusted with departure time shifts, some port visit time changes, and even some later returns to California.

Virgin Voyages Pulls Resilient Lady Cruise for Full Ship Charter

Melissa Mayntz
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Virgin Voyages Pulls Resilient Lady Cruise for Full Ship Charter

Key Aspects:

  • The 4-night, April 28, 2027 sailing for Resilient Lady has been cancelled in favor of a full-ship charter.
  • Guests can rebook on select alternative sailings with price and promotion protection as well as onboard credit.
  • This is the second Virgin Voyages cruise to be ditched for a charter sailing in recent weeks.

Guests booked on the April 28, 2027 sailing of Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady have begun receiving notices that their sailing is now cancelled. While the voyage will still set sail, it is now a full ship charter and will not be operated as a regular guest sailing.

Cancellation emails were being sent out to booked guests beginning on Monday, November 2, 2026 and the sailing has been removed from the cruise line’s website.

The 4-night cruise is scheduled to depart PortMiami on Wednesday, April 28, 2027 at 4 p.m., with a full-day visit to Key West on Thursday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday is scheduled as a day at sea, and Saturday is a visit to Bimini from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Resilient Lady will return to Florida on Sunday, May 2, for debarkation.

This particular sailing is the ship’s last roundtrip sailing from Miami before her 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona. Resilient Lady will remain in Europe for the summer season and will return to Miami in early November.

Virgin Voyages has not publicly disclosed what company or organization has now booked the 2,770-guest ship. Charter cruises are frequently arranged for at-sea music festivals and other celebrations, as well as lifestyle groups, corporations, and similar groups.

Alternatives for Booked Guests

Guests who can no longer set sail onboard Resilient Lady are being offered three options, including two rebooking choices as well as the opportunity for a full refund.

The first option is to transfer to sister ship Valiant Lady for her May 6, 2027 departure. Also departing from Miami, that is the same 4-night sailing to the now-cancelled Resilient Lady itinerary, with calls to Key West and Bimini.

If guests prefer a different sailing, they can select from eligible 4- and 5-night cruises setting sail during April or May 2027, giving guests more options to choose a voyage close to their original schedule.

For both rebooking options, guests will receive onboard credit, which Virgin Voyages calls “Sailor Loot,” for adjusting their reservations. Guests in standard staterooms will receive $100 per stateroom, while guests in suites will receive $300 per suite.

Furthermore, all rebookings under these two options will be price protected for the original cruise fare as well as booking promotions. This allows guests to transfer their booking benefits to an alternative cruise without losing any bonuses or incentives from the now-cancelled sailing.

The third option is if guests do not wish to rebook, they can instead select a full refund with no fees or penalties.

Are Charter Cruises Frequent?

Though charter cruises do not frequently disrupt booked guests’ vacation plans, these types of shifts do occasionally happen. Just days ago, Cruise Hive reported that the October 30, 2027 cruise for Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady has also been booked for a private charter and is now cancelled for other guests.

Similar cancellations have been reported on many cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. The exact ships, homeports, and itineraries selected for full-ship charters vary for each group booking the ship and their expected needs.

The options that Virgin Voyages has provided for the now-cancelled Resilient Lady cruise are comparable to the choices most cruise lines provide under similar circumstances.

Barcelona Approves New Cruise Terminal in €104.5 Million Port Overhaul

Calvin Musquez
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Barcelona Approves New Cruise Terminal in €104.5 Million Port Overhaul

Key Aspects:

  • Barcelona Cruise Port has received approval to develop a new Terminal C as part of a €104.5 million investment.
  • This 11,253-square-meter terminal will feature solar power generation and shore power infrastructure for docked cruise ships.
  • The agreement extends the port operator’s contract until 2050, with an option to extend it through 2053.

Barcelona Cruise Port, which operates terminals in the Mediterranean’s busiest cruise port, is getting a major upgrade. The port announced on October 30, 2026 that it has received approval from the Port of Barcelona’s Board of Directors to develop a new cruise terminal at Adossat Wharf.

The new terminal will replace Terminal C and cover 11,253 square meters (approximately 121,100 square feet). More than €50 million of the project’s total planned investment of €104.5 million is earmarked for constructing the facility.

Operations at the current Terminal C ceased on November 1, 2026. The building will soon be emptied and demolished in preparation for construction.

The port says passenger experience, operational efficiency, and sustainability are at the forefront of the terminal project. The facility will feature solar power generation and shore power infrastructure.

This project will also relocate the current Adossat Wharf access roundabout and build new roads. A passenger walkway will be constructed for boarding and disembarking.

“The new Terminal C will allow us to deliver a modern, efficient and sustainable facility that enhances the cruise experience while supporting Barcelona’s long-term development as a leading cruise destination,” said Francesc Grau, General Manager of Barcelona Cruise Port.

As part of the agreement, Barcelona Cruise Port’s contract to operate cruise terminal facilities at the port has been extended through 2050, with an option to continue through 2053. The board also approved opening up bids for contractors to supply building and infrastructure maintenance at the port.

New Barcelona Cruise Terminal Render
New Barcelona Cruise Terminal Render

The new Terminal C will be accessible to the public and open to all cruise lines. Cruise lines without their own terminal, ships starting or ending cruises in Barcelona, and smaller ships will be given berths first.

The announcement comes days after a protest at the Barcelona Cruise Port. On October 28, 2026, port workers blocked access to the cruise terminal as part of a protest over a collective bargaining dispute.

Barcelona’s Wider Cruise Port Overhaul

The now-approved terminal project was first announced in July 2025. At the time, it was reported that the new terminal would be scheduled for completion in 2030 and have the ability to welcome up to 7,000 simultaneous passengers.

When the new Terminal C enters service, Terminals A and B will be demolished. This will reduce the total number of cruise terminals at the Port of Barcelona from seven to five.

It is unknown if the previously announced construction timeline remains the same following the October announcement. The port has not released an updated construction schedule, though it reconfirmed the 7,000 simultaneous passenger limit.

This comes amid other efforts by Barcelona to move cruise activity away from the city center, as Cruise Hive has previously covered. In 2023, a partial ban was introduced, preventing cruise ships from docking at the World Trade Center’s northern terminal.

Other improvements and expansions to the port have been made in recent years. For instance, in 2024, Carnival’s Terminals D and E became the first terminals in the port to have solar panels installed.

Then, in February 2025, MSC Cruises officially welcomed its first guests through its Barcelona terminal. Built, owned, and operated by MSC with sustainability in mind, the terminal achieved Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Carnival Brings Cat in the Hat Movie Fun to 23 Ships

Calvin Musquez
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Carnival Brings Cat in the Hat Movie Fun to 23 Ships

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating the November 6 release of The Cat in the Hat with limited-time activities aboard 23 ships.
  • Movie-themed festivities include giant inflatable hats, premiere parties, surprise stateroom gifts, and character appearances.
  • Two new Seuss-a-palooza activities are also being introduced as part of its ongoing Seuss at Sea program.

A new movie based on the Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat, is coming to the big screen this November and Carnival Cruise Line is getting in on the fun. Ahead of the film’s release, the cruise line has introduced limited-time movie-themed experiences onboard 23 ships in its fleet.

Cruisers are greeted by the theming right away. During embarkation, 40-foot-tall inflatable Cat in the Hat-style hats decorate open decks on select ships.

In true Hollywood fashion, guests can also participate in The Cat’s Hollywood Debut Party in ships’ atriums. Instead of a traditional red carpet, the party features a red and white striped premiere carpet, along with balloon drops, character appearances, family entertainment, and crafts.

Other movie-themed activities onboard include green screen photo opportunities and Seuss-inspired Build-A-Bear Workshop options. New The Cat in the Hat-themed activities are also featured at Camp Ocean, such as The Cat’s Messy Room Mission, The Cat’s Stacking Challenge and The Cat’s Rhyme-O-Rama.

Additionally, guests in select staterooms may receive surprise deliveries. These deliveries include themed postcards, snack packs, and invitations to special meet-and-greets.

“Celebrating the new ‘The Cat in the Hat’ movie adds a fun new chapter to our 15-year partnership [with Dr. Seuss Enterprises] and brings more family entertainment to life across our ships,” said Carnival President Christine Duffy.

Huge Cat in the Hat on Carnival Cruise Ship Deck
Huge Cat in the Hat on Carnival Cruise Ship Deck

The Cat in the Hat is a new animated take on the classic story, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. It will be released on November 6, 2026 and stars comedian Bill Hader as the voice of the titular cat. 

Two New Activities Join Seuss at Sea

Carnival Cruise Line has partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises since 2013. The cruise line launched its popular Seuss at Sea program on Carnival Splendor in 2014.

The program features a variety of Seuss-themed activities and dining. These include character meet and greets, parades, and the Grinchmas holiday celebrations. In addition to the movie tie-in experiences, Carnival is also now expanding Seuss at Sea with two new interactive experiences.

Seuss at Sea has been changed and expanded over the years, as Cruise Hive has previously reported. For example, the cruise line retired the fan-favorite Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast beginning in January 2024, replacing it with a new Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast experience. 

The first new experience onboard is Seuss-a-palooza Game Time. Held in the ship’s main theater, the interactive experience invites guests to participate in Dr. Seuss-inspired music, dancing, tongue twisters, games, and challenges in the lead-up to Seuss-a-palooza Story Time.

Another new experience is Seuss-a-palooza Family Time. In this activity, families get active, moving like Dr. Seuss characters, acting out scenes from books, and competing in charades.

Carnival said that the timing and availability of these experiences vary by ship and sailing. The cruise line did not specify which 23 ships feature the movie tie-in experiences.

Victory Casino Cruises Ship Arrested Over $790K Shipyard Bill

Melissa Mayntz
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Victory Casino Cruises Ship Arrested Over $790K Shipyard Bill

Key Aspects:

  • The Victory I casino cruise ship remains in dry dock with no confirmed return-to-service date due to a financial dispute.
  • Detyens Shipyards in Charleston, South Carolina, alleges the ship’s operator now owes $790,666 for repairs, storage, and other services.
  • Victory Casino Cruises has furloughed its entire staff from the Port Canaveral-based ship while the dispute unfolds.

The casino cruise ship Victory I is not currently sailing out of Port Canaveral and has furloughed its entire workforce during an ongoing financial dispute with Detyens Shipyards in Charleston, South Carolina.

Victory Casino Cruises confirmed the dispute in a statement posted on their Facebook page on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

“We are currently in a contractual dispute with the shipyard and are making every attempt to resolve it as soon as possible,” the company said. “As part of this dispute, the ship has been arrested through a civil proceeding in admiralty court.”

According to Casino.org, a federal court issued a warrant for the ship’s seizure on October 19, after the shipyard filed a lawsuit against Victory Casino Cruises’ operator, Sophlex Enterprises, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

The complaint alleges that the company owes the shipyard $790,666 for vessel storage, ship repairs, and other services. The total charges were $940,666 but the shipyard claims only $150,000 has thus far been paid.

A U.S. Marshal served the warrant aboard the ship on October 28, and Victory Casino Cruises has until November 6, 2026 to respond to the complaint or it may face a default judgment in favor of the shipyard.

Cruise Hive has reported on similar lawsuits and ship seizures when financial disputes arise, such as the claim filed against Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady after the ship broke free in Rhodes and damaged a catamaran ferry.

Financial disputes were also a factor in the ultimate decision to sink the SS United States as the world’s largest artificial reef, which is now scheduled for November 12, and residents aboard Odyssey were abruptly ordered off the residential cruise ship in Cambodia, in part due to rising fuel costs.

When Will Sailings Resume?

The company’s website states that the ship is presently in dry dock but has no date listed for service to resume.

Victory Casino Cruises previously offered twice-daily gambling cruises Tuesdays through Sundays from Port Canaveral. During the 5-hour sailings, guests could enjoy more than 600 slot machines plus various table games, including craps, roulette, blackjack, and more. The 4-deck ship features a sportsbook betting lounge, cafe, and dance floor.

According to the company’s Instagram, the ship headed north from Florida to South Carolina on September 8, 2026 for the extended dry dock but was originally expected to resume service on Friday, September 25.

On September 24, the company posted an update on Facebook, citing the dry dock as the reason for not yet resuming service.

“As many of you know, Victory I is currently undergoing an extended dry dock (maintenance), and as a result, we are temporarily not operating. While we had hoped to resume sailing sooner, additional necessary work has extended our time out of service,” the post explained.

At that time, any paid reservations or deposits for future sailings were to be refunded and no further reservations accepted, but no mention was made of the financial dispute.

The company does continue to keep guests informed through its social media channels.

“We will share confirmed updates through our official website and Facebook page as information becomes available. While we do not have a confirmed return date to announce, please know that we are making every effort to move forward,” the October 29 statement said.

Heavy Rain Slows Port Canaveral Cruise Day as Flooding Hits Brevard County

Melissa Mayntz
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Heavy Rain Slows Port Canaveral Cruise Day as Flooding Hits Brevard County

Key Aspects:

  • Heavy local rains and flooding are impacting travel to and from Port Canaveral on Monday, November 2, 2026.
  • Five ships are in port and guests are reporting minor debarkation slowdowns, which Port Canaveral has confirmed.
  • There are no reports of any delays to the ships’ expected departures on their various sailings this afternoon.

It is a wet start to the week at Port Canaveral, with significant flooding in the region and cruise ship debarkations impacted on Monday morning, November 2, 2026.

Five cruise ships are at the port to both debark and embark guests: Norwegian Getaway, Carnival Freedom, Disney Wish, Utopia of the Seas, and Carnival Glory.

While no ships were delayed arriving back to the central Florida homeport, guests onboard reported heavy rain and occasional flooding in the port area and along local roadways leading to the port.

To be clear, there was no independent confirmation of any terminal flooding for Norwegian Getaway or other ships.

Cruise Hive has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line about any impact to Norwegian Getaway but had not yet heard back at press time. According to the port’s cruise schedule, the ship is still expected to depart on time.

Norwegian Getaway is concluding a 5-night sailing and is docked at Cruise Terminal 5 on Port Canaveral’s north side. Norwegian Cruise Line has sent out text alerts to booked guests urging them to allow extra travel time due to localized flooding.

Guests from other ships are likewise reporting flooding in the region that could have a significant impact on travel plans to and from the cruise port.

“We just disembarked Utopia of the Seas at Port Canaveral, and it is absolutely raining BUCKETS here in Central Florida!” a guest debarking the Royal Caribbean ship commented with a short video. “If you’re traveling to Port Canaveral today, PLEASE allow extra time! We encountered standing water and flooding in some lanes along SR 528, and travel times may be longer than usual.”

Carnival Cruise Ship Entering Port Canaveral
Carnival Cruise Ship Entering Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Peter Titmuss)

State Road 528 is the main roadway between Port Canaveral and Orlando International Airport. The tracking website FlightAware is showing more than 95 flight delays at Orlando International Airport on Monday morning including both incoming and outgoing flights.

Local Flooding Impacting Traffic and Travel

According to WESH 2 News, multiple local roads are closed throughout Brevard County. While most of the closures are south of Port Canaveral, this could cause significant travel delays for cruise guests heading to or from the cruise port.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 11:45 a.m. for southeastern Brevard County. A total of 12-15 inches of rain has already fallen in many areas with an additional 3-5 inches expected. Local weather reports note that as much as 20.5″ of rain has fallen in some parts of the county since Sunday evening.

Multiple flood warnings and advisories for the Brevard County area and into central Florida, including Orlando, are also in effect. The extent and expiration of different warnings and advisories vary throughout the region, and rain is expected to continue throughout the day.

Many local businesses and even medical centers have closed in the region due to flooding, and all local schools in Brevard County are closed on Monday, November 2.

Cruise Hive reached out to Port Canaveral and received the following statement about the port’s immediate vicinity:

“There are no reports of roadway flooding. Traffic and cruise operations are normal, albeit slightly slower due to current rain and weather conditions affecting much of Central Florida.”

Are Ships Impacted?

At this time, there are no confirmed reports of any delays for the ships scheduled to depart on cruises from Port Canaveral today.

Carnival Freedom is departing on a 5-night Bahamas itinerary, while all four of the remaining ships, Norwegian Getaway, Disney Wish, Utopia of the Seas, and Carnival Glory, are beginning 4-night Bahamas sailings.

Cruise guests will want to stay in close contact with their cruise line for official updates in case of any delays or traffic advisories.

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