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Antigua Packs in 12,000 Cruise Passengers as Six Ships Arrive at Once

Donna Tunney
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Antigua Packs in 12,000 Cruise Passengers as Six Ships Arrive at Once

Key Aspects:

  • Antigua celebrated a robust cruise day on January 4, 2026, when 12,000 guests visited.
  • The island destination is expecting its 2025 cruise arrivals number to reach 900,000.
  • A new cruise terminal in St. John’s is under construction and slated to open in summer 2026.

The new year got off to a strong start for cruise-tourism at the Antigua Cruise Port, which welcomed more than 12,000 guests in one day from ships calling at the destination.

The twin-island nation of Antigua & Barbuda, roughly 400 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, recorded its robust cruise day on January 4, 2026, when five ships called at St. John’s Harbour and one called at Falmouth Harbor.

St. John’s Harbor is located in the capital city of St. John’s and is typically the cruise terminal used by large ships. Falmouth Harbor, also referred to as English Harbor, is situated in the southeast region of Antigua and accommodates smaller ships.

Both cruise ports are managed by Global Ports Holding (GPH), a major player in port operations and management across the Caribbean and Europe.

Among the ships that called on January 4, 2026, were Ritz-Carlton’s luxury Ilma vessel, Celebrity Eclipse, Norwegian Epic, Marella Discovery 2, and Valiant Lady.

GPH noted the robust activity at its Antigua cruise ports in a social media post celebrating the good news.

“These calls are bringing significant movement and vitality to the capital and surrounding communities, supporting local businesses and the wider tourism ecosystem,” Global Ports Holding posted on Facebook.

“Antigua & Barbuda continues to build momentum in cruise tourism, with record passenger volumes contributing to economic growth and increased demand across the destination,” it added.

It Wasn’t a Record Day, But It Was Close

The high-visitor day was not a record for the island nation. On December 28, 2024, the destination counted 13,312 cruise passengers visiting from four ships.

In fact, 2024 was a great year for the island’s cruise industry, with 570 ship calls and 825,526 cruise guest arrivals. It marked a substantial increase over 2023, when 446 ship calls were made, delivering about 670,000 passengers.

Cruise Ships Docked in Antigua
Cruise Ships Docked in Antigua (Photo Credit: Antigua Cruise Port)

GPH is predicting a record number of cruise arrivals on January 23, 2026, when 17,000-plus passengers are slated to visit Antigua.

While 2025’s final cruise numbers have not yet been released, the island nation is expecting cruise guest arrivals to reach or break 900,000 for the year.

Read Also: When is the Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean?

Looking ahead to the remainder of the winter 2026 season, Antigua will host cruise ships from a slew of lines, including Virgin Voyages, Seabourn, Holland America Line, AIDA Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean, among others.

Antigua to Open New Cruise Terminal in 2026

Antigua & Barbuda will be able to roll out the welcome mat to more cruise ships going forward, thanks to the construction of a new cruise terminal in St. John’s. Expected to open in summer 2026, the terminal will be located at the port’s fifth cruise berth.

The massive 1.6 million-square-foot terminal will be situated on four acres in the capital city and represents an investment of $40 million.

The facility will offer several services to cruise guests, including the Antigua Day Club, where guests can relax in a recreational area that will feature a pool, dining and bar venues, and outdoor green spaces.

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A Bazaar will feature locally made arts, crafts, and other goods, where cruise guests can shop for souvenirs to take home.

The cruise terminal is a partnership between Antigua Cruise Port and GPH. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in February 2025.

Besides Antigua & Barbuda, GPH also manages Caribbean port operations at the Nassau Cruise Port, St. Lucia, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Carnival Navigates Two Jam-Packed Days at PortMiami With 19 Ships in Port

Catie Kovelman
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Carnival Navigates Two Jam-Packed Days at PortMiami With 19 Ships in Port

Key Aspects:

  • It’s been a busy start to the year at PortMiami, Florida.
  • Carnival warned guests embarking on January 4-5 of increased congestion at the cruise port.
  • 10 ships were present on January 4, with nine more ships in the port on January 5.

As one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, it’s rarely quiet at Florida’s PortMiami.

Though it recently lost its title of busiest cruise port in the world to Port Canaveral, the bustling port still welcomes over 8.5 million guests annually. Its record for one day is a staggering 75,201 guests.

In fact, two recent days were busy enough for Carnival Cruise Line to issue an advisory about the crowds descending upon the Cruise Capital of the World.

Guests embarking on January 4 and January 5, 2026, were told to expect delays caused by possible detours and heavy traffic. Construction is also underway in and near the port, which can bring delays even without big crowds.

Read Also: Miami Cruise Port Guide: Terminals, Transportation and More

“We’d like to inform you that PortMiami will be operating with a high number of ships the day of your embarkation, amidst construction in the downtown area and within the port premises. Consequently, there will be detours and heavier than normal traffic,” the cruise line advised guests on January 3.

“To ensure prompt arrival within your pre-selected Terminal Arrival Appointment, we suggest you allow ample travel time to account for any potential delays,” the notice added.

As an additional tip, it’s always a good idea to sign up for Carnival’s text alerts to ensure you get real-time updates about your sailing and departure port.

Embarkations on January 4, 2026

Both Carnival Celebration and Carnival Magic graced PortMiami with their presence on January 4. Both vessels are currently cruising in the Eastern Caribbean, with Carnival Celebration on a 7-night sailing and Carnival Magic on a 6-night voyage.

And of course, these Fun ships were not alone. They were just two of ten ships in the port on January 4 that were all going through the same embarkation and disembarkation processes.

Assuming the Carnival vessels are operating at maximum capacity, they could bring a combined total of 11,224 guests to the cruise port – with 6,500 passengers coming for Carnival Celebration and 4,724 booked on Carnival Magic.

Carnival Cruises in Miami
Carnival Cruises in Miami (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

This number is per sailing, meaning up to 11,224 guests could be disembarking as 11,224 new guests are arriving to embark on the next voyage.

They were also joined by Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Jewel. Two Royal Caribbean ships, Symphony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, were also present – as was sister-brand Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Beyond.

Next on the list of present ships is Virgin Voyages’ new Brilliant Lady and MSC Cruises’ MSC Divina. Last but not least is Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Allura, which was the smallest vessel present with a capacity for 1,200 guests.

Embarkations on January 5, 2026

Three more Carnival ships – Carnival Conquest, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Sunrise – returned to PortMiami on January 5 for another extra busy day.

Carnival Conquest is currently on a 12-night voyage to the Southern Caribbean, while the latter ships are on shorter sailings to the Western Caribbean.

All in all, nine ships were in PortMiami on January 5.

Diving back into the numbers, the Carnival ships alone could have drawn a maximum of 10,941 guests to the port per sailing.

Carnival Conquest can accommodate a maximum of 2,980 guests per voyage, Carnival Horizon can welcome up to 4,977 at maximum capacity, and Carnival Sunrise’s capacity is set at 2,984 cruisers.

Royal Caribbean also had two ships in the port, which were Freedom of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. NCL was back with Norwegian Getaway (3,969 guests), while MSC was represented through MSC Seaside.

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Rounding out the total was Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Nautica and Explora Journeys Explora II, both of which are on the smaller side with room for under 1,000 guests onboard.

PortMiami will now get to recover with a lower number of ship calls over the next few days, with eight ships expected to arrive at the port at once on January 10 to ramp things back up.

MSC Ship Arrives 10 Hours Late After Severe Weather Forces Delay

Catie Kovelman
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MSC Ship Arrives 10 Hours Late After Severe Weather Forces Delay

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Sinfonia arrived in Santos around 10 hours late on January 5, 2026.
  • The ship was delayed leaving her previous port due to poor weather conditions.
  • Aside from moving back disembarkation and embarkation, no additional itinerary changes have been announced.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Sinfonia finally made it to Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 5, 2026, after an extended delay.

The 2,646-guest ship was supposed to arrive in Santos to begin the disembarkation process at approximately 9 a.m. local time.

But due to bad weather that prevented a timely departure from Itajai, Brazil, on January 4, the Liraca-class ship did not make it to Santos until around 7 p.m. – which is approximately 10 hours late.

This also means the ship didn’t even arrive until well after she was supposed to depart Santos at 5 p.m. local time, though she may still scrape by without further itinerary changes.

Why Was the Delay So Extreme?

As always, the safety of all passengers and crew onboard the 65,591-gross ton ship is the top priority for MSC Cruises.

With this in mind, a careful decision was made to hunker down in the port of Itajai to let the worst of some inclement weather pass.

Read Also: What Happens If The Cruise Ship Is In Bad Weather

Instead of setting sail at 6 p.m. local time on January 4, the MSC ship didn’t depart until around 4 a.m. on the early morning of January 5.

With 230 nautical miles between Itajai and Santos, there was simply no way for the vessel to be on time.

Even sailing at top speeds (around 20 knots), this is a distance that still takes cruise ships between 10 and 11 hours to cover by sea.

Impact to Passengers

The most obvious impact is to the guests who were due to disembark from their 7-night South America sailing in Santos, who had their post-cruise travel plans and airfare disrupted.

Typically, the cruise line will reimburse or compensate guests as a gesture of goodwill in these types of situations, although it’s unclear what MSC Cruises may have offered in this case.

MSC Sinfonia
MSC Sinfonia (Photo Credit: hbpictures)

Guests embarking on a new 7-night South American sailing may have also been inconvenienced by the extended delay.

For example, these impacted guests may have had to pay for meals on land they didn’t budget for and secure alternate transfers from their hotel to the cruise port.

The 2002-launched vessel is also operating two other 7-night itineraries simultaneously, which are based out of Itajai and Rio de Janeiro.

While these guests weren’t anticipating a travel day in Santos, they missed out on exploring the port and pre-booked shore excursions.

No Itinerary Changes Made

As of 11:30 p.m. local time on January 5, cruise tracking data shows that MSC Sinfonia is still docked in Santos, meaning her departure has already been delayed by over six hours.

But luckily for current passengers, no itinerary changes have been announced as a result of this situation.

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She is next due in Ilhabela, Brazil, at 8 a.m. on January 6, which is approximately 40 nautical miles from her current homeport.

This is a distance that the ship can cover in as little as two hours, so she may manage to avoid any itinerary changes as long as she can head back out to sea by 6 a.m. at the absolute latest on January 6.

Cruise Ship Worker Wanted for Robbery Arrested in Germany

Lissa Poirot
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Cruise Ship Worker Wanted for Robbery Arrested in Germany

Key Aspects:

  • A routine border exit check at the Bremerhaven cruise terminal in Germany led to the arrest of a cruise ship crew member.
  • The man was subject to two different arrest warrants by two German courts.
  • The warrants included robbery-related theft and a probation violation following an assault conviction.

A routine departure check at a German cruise terminal resulted in a passenger ship crew member being arrested by federal police.

The 26-year-old man was detained moments before he was set to board an unidentified cruise ship as an employee of the ship.

According to a statement from Bundespolizei, officers detained the man at around 2 p.m. on January 4, 2026, at the Columbus Cruise Terminal in Bremerhaven, where he had reported for a departure check.

During the routine identity check, officers ran the man’s personal details through a law enforcement database, revealing he had been wanted for several weeks by the District Court of Augsburg and the District Court of Nördlingen and was the subject of two separate arrest warrants.

One of the warrants was issued in relation to a robbery-related theft charge. A second was due to violating probation following an earlier assault conviction.

Authorities did not disclose further details about the underlying cases or when the offenses occurred.

The man was transferred to the Bremerhaven state police and was scheduled to appear before a judge on January 5.

Disney Departs Bremerhaven

This isn’t the first time German police have nabbed criminals with outstanding warrants while at port. In September 2025, two crew members working for Disney Adventure were apprehended during similar boarding checks. The men were wanted for drunk driving and fraud.

German police did not identify the cruise ship the newly detained man was attempting to board on January 4, stating only that it was scheduled to sail to the Bahamas. However, one high-profile vessel departed from Bremerhaven that day: the Disney Adventure.

Disney Adventure in Bremerhaven
Disney Adventure in Bremerhaven (Photo Credit: Eckardt)

Officially delivered to Disney Cruise Line on December 16, 2025, following construction at Meyer Werft Wismar in Germany, its Bremerhaven departure marked the beginning of a long repositioning voyage as Disney Adventure makes it way to its new homeport in Singapore.

The 208,000-gross-ton vessel – the largest in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet – is sailing a transatlantic crossing with a scheduled stop in Freeport, Bahamas, before continuing to Cape Canaveral, Florida, for a brief media sailing and a chance for American journalists to see Disney’s newest ship.

According to industry sources, the ship is expected to arrive in the Port of Canaveral late on January 14 or early January 15, 2026.

Following its Florida call and press preview sailing, Disney Adventure is expected to transition through the Panama Canal and make another preview stop in Los Angeles before crossing the Pacific en route to Asia.

Reports say Disney Adventure will stop in Tokyo before arriving at its homeport in Singapore, where it will sail from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre beginning March 10, 2026. 

Its maiden season will feature 3- and 4-night itineraries and officially kick off Disney Cruise Line’s first long-term deployment in Asia.

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The roughly 6,700-passenger ship is expected to remain homeported in the region for at least 5 years.

TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 is also offering a transatlantic getaway to the Caribbean from Bremerhaven in January, although it doesn’t depart until January 7, 2026, and will not call in the Bahamas.

P&O Cruise Ship Diverts to Barbados After Major Technical Breakdown

Lissa Poirot
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P&O Cruise Ship Diverts to Barbados After Major Technical Breakdown

Key Aspects

  • P&O Cruises’ Britannia has cut short a 14-night sailing, returning to homeport early for emergency repairs.
  • Passenger reports indicate possible power and propulsion issues are to blame.
  • The ship is set to resume its original itinerary on January 6.

P&O Cruises is off to a difficult start in 2026. Just days after 5,000 passengers sailing with Arvia were stranded in the UK and the Caribbean following a temporary airspace shutdown, guests on Britannia are now dealing with a separate technical issue that has forced the ship to divert to Barbados for repairs.

Passenger reports suggest the trouble may be linked to the ship’s power and propulsion systems. Several guests noted a power outage while the ship was in Curaçao, when lights went out before backup systems restored electricity roughly 30 minutes later.

Other passengers said they were told the ship was operating with limited redundancy, including reports that only one generator was fully functional during part of the voyage.

The 143,000-gross-ton ship had departed from Bridgetown on December 26, 2025, for a 14-night New Year’s voyage, calling in St. George’s, Grenada, and Willemstad, Curaçao, before trouble ensued.

As the situation developed, itinerary changes followed. Britannia skipped its scheduled call in Aruba and, on January 3, passengers were informed the ship would bypass its visit to St. Lucia and sail directly to Barbados. The ship had originally been scheduled to spend two days in Castries.

Read Also: Barbados Cruise Port: Getting Around, What’s Nearby and Guide

While P&O Cruises has confirmed Britannia is in Barbados, it has not revealed what the “technical issue” is or outlined what will happen to its 3,647 passengers stuck onboard, some of whom report deteriorating onboard conditions.

“We are currently onboard Britannia docked in Barbados and have been informed that there is now a shortage of drinks due to ‘over consumption,’” shared one passenger. “Given the number of additional sea days on this cruise, it seems more likely this shortage is due to insufficient stock for the extended time at sea.”

Britannia in Barbados
Britannia in Barbados (Photo Credit: Roger Utting)

According to the guest, crew have said the ship will not be restocked until January 9, when the cruise is set to conclude. “This is quite concerning for passengers who have paid for drink packages and expected normal service throughout the cruise.”

The cruise line did release a statement to Cruise Hive saying repairs are nearing completion and sailing will resume in the evening of January 5.

“The ship is in Barbados and will leave this evening to arrive in Martinique tomorrow, followed by St. Maarten on Wednesday, as per the original itinerary,” said a P&O Cruises spokesperson. “The guests are being updated. We apologize to our guests for the alteration.”

Days of Headaches for P&O Cruises

The disruption aboard Britannia unfolded as P&O Cruises was simultaneously dealing with operational challenges for Arvia.

On January 3, 2026, Arvia remained docked in Bridgetown after a temporary airspace shutdown across parts of the Caribbean prevented its fly-cruise passengers from disembarking or embarking as scheduled.

Because Arvia occupied the primary cruise berth longer than planned, Britannia was unable to dock immediately upon arrival in Barbados.

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Passengers reported Britannia had to wait at a breakwater until Arvia departed late on January 4, 2026.

Ship-tracking data shows Arvia circling offshore near Barbados on January 5, suggesting the ship may have temporarily repositioned to make room for Britannia while cruise line teams work to adjust its itinerary following the unexpected extended port stay.

5,000 P&O Cruise Passengers Rerouted After Venezuela Tensions

Lissa Poirot
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5,000 P&O Cruise Passengers Rerouted After Venezuela Tensions

Key Aspects:

  • P&O Cruises was forced to reorganize travel for 5,000 fly-cruise guests after airspace closures disrupted Caribbean flights.
  • Chartered flights from the UK were turned back mid-flight or cancelled.
  • Some cruise passengers remained onboard Arvia in Barbados an extra night, awaiting new flights.

Thousands of cruise passengers spent the first days of the New Year facing unexpected travel chaos after the US military attacked Venezuela in the wee hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, triggering an emergency airspace closure across parts of the Caribbean.

Among those affected were P&O Cruises fly-cruise guests traveling to and from Barbados from the United Kingdom.

The cruise line, which offers Caribbean fly-and-cruise holidays from Birmingham, Gatwick, and Manchester, England, was forced to reorganize travel plans after the airspace restrictions left 5,000 passengers stranded on both sides of the Atlantic.

Some guests were unable to depart the UK to begin their cruise, while others arriving at the end of a previous sailing were unable to fly home from Barbados.

P&O Cruises confirmed to Cruise Hive that three TUI Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliners chartered to transport passengers from the UK to Barbados for a 14-night voyage sailing aboard Arvia departing on January 3 were forced to turn back mid-Atlantic and return to the United Kingdom.

Additional charter flights scheduled to depart later the same day were cancelled before takeoff.

Read Also: Barbados Cruise Port – Getting Around, What’s Nearby and Guide

At the same time, passengers concluding Arvia’s prior Caribbean cruise were unable to disembark, as planned, in Bridgetown, Barbados, due to flight cancellations. Those guests remained onboard for an additional night while replacement flights were arranged, and the ship stayed in port longer than scheduled. 

P&O Cruises spent the weekend arranging new inbound and outbound flights for a total of 5,000 fly-cruise passengers, according to a cruise line spokesperson.

In a statement to Cruise Hive, the P&O Cruises spokesperson said, “Following the disruption and impact caused on Saturday by the international air restrictions, all P&O Cruises guests on Arvia Caribbean cruise holidays now have confirmed flight details to/from Barbados.”

“P&O Cruises has worked tirelessly over the weekend with our charter carriers to arrange new flights for a total of 5,000 inbound and outbound guests.”

P&O Arvia
P&O Arvia (Photo Credit: EWY Media)

The 1,800-passenger Arvia, which spent an unexpected additional night in Barbados, has since embarked on her Eastern Caribbean Islands cruise as of January 5, although P&O Cruises has not specified adjustments to the itinerary.

“The onward ports of call and itinerary are being prioritized and communicated to all guests on board so they can now continue with their planned holiday,” the spokesperson continued.

Originally, the vessel was scheduled to call in Fort-de-France, Martinique, on January 5, followed by visits to St. Kitts, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Antigua, Grenada, and St. Lucia.

Shutdown Disruptions Across the Caribbean

The effects of the Venezuela attack unfolded rapidly over the weekend as emergency restrictions were implemented across parts of the Caribbean.

Airlines in the US, Canada, and Europe cancelled flights to and from several destinations, including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Aruba, leaving cruise passengers stuck.

Passengers sailing with Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady found themselves in a similar bind in Puerto Rico on January 3, although the ship carried on with its disembarkation and embarkation, offering passengers who missed the sailing a credit for a future voyage.

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Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises both adjusted operations delaying Norwegian Epic’s and Grand Princess’ sailings, respectively, to allow additional time for affected guests to reach Puerto Rico before departure.

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its restrictions at midnight on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with airlines, cruise ships, and passengers all scrambling to get back on schedule.

More Benefits Lost on Two Carnival Ships, No One Surprised Now

Melissa Mayntz
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More Benefits Lost on Two Carnival Ships, No One Surprised Now

Key Aspects:

  • Some VIFP benefits are removed for Carnival Radiance‘s January 10 sailing and Carnival Venezia‘s January 11 sailing.
  • Both impacted cruises are 14-night Carnival Journeys voyages, to Hawaii and the Panama Canal, respectively.
  • It is not unusual for Carnival Cruise Line to remove benefits from longer or more unique sailings.

Guests on two upcoming Carnival sailings have been notified that the most coveted Diamond and Platinum benefits will not be available. This has become typical of Carnival Cruise Line in the past few years and is a strong indication of why the loyalty program must change.

The two impacted sailings are:

  • Carnival Radiance – January 10, 2026 – 14-night Hawaii sailing from Long Beach
  • Carnival Venezia – January 11, 2026 – 14-night Panama Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral

Both of these 2-week itineraries are more immersive Carnival Journeys cruises. These sailings are very popular with experienced guests as they offer more unique ports of call that aren’t always available on more common itineraries.

Nevertheless, when there are hundreds of Diamond and Platinum cruisers on a voyage, it is impossible for Carnival Cruise Line to adequately offer certain loyalty benefits.

“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide [some] benefits,” the notification email confirmed.

For both of these cruises, the following benefits are now cancelled:

  • Priority embarkation and debarkation, both at the homeport and all ports of call
  • Early stateroom access, including dropping off bags even if leaving the stateroom
  • Priority luggage delivery to staterooms on embarkation day
  • Guaranteed main dining room seating requests for Diamond guests

Furthermore, the priority line at the Guest Services desk, as well as priority Guest Services phone assistance, may also be unavailable on either ship during these cruises. That determination may fluctuate for busier times at the Guest Services desk throughout each sailing.

“These operational changes are consistent with other voyages where we have a very large number of Diamond and Platinum guests,” the email notification explained. “We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for your understanding.”

Read Also: Carnival Pushes Back Launch of New Loyalty Rewards Program

To be clear, there are no itinerary changes or other adjustments for either sailing.

Carnival Radiance is still planned to enjoy some Aloha State hospitality in Kahului, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, and Hilo (along with Ensenada), while Carnival Venezia will enjoy the modern wonder that is the Panama Canal, along with visits to Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.

What Benefits Remain?

While the loss of these very popular benefits will be disappointing to some guests, there are still great perks that remain for both cruises, including:

  • Complimentary bottles of water
  • Collectible VIFP pins as well as program gifts
  • Complimentary wash-and-fold laundry (5 bags for Platinum, unlimited for Diamond)
  • VIFP parties during the cruise
Carnival Radiance Cruise Ship
Carnival Radiance Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: jejim)

Carnival has frequently cancelled high-level loyalty benefits on a variety of cruises, and not always the 10-night or longer Journeys voyages or more unusual itineraries.

Most recently, similar benefits were removed from an 8-night Carnival Spirit sailing from Mobile to the Bahamas, as well as a 7-night Carnival Miracle itinerary from Tampa, calling at Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Cozumel.

Benefits are also often removed from transatlantic cruises, repositioning voyages, and limited offer itineraries such as sailings to Greenland.

Changes Not Unexpected

Guests commenting on Reddit are not surprised by the change, but not necessarily pleased with it either.

“This is why they are changing the loyalty program. There are just too many of us. It sucks, but it makes sense. This seems to be the case on any cruise that is either longer than 7-8 days and/or some sort of specialty cruise,” one guest commented.

What is frustrating to some guests is that, in the past few months, since it was announced that guests with Diamond VIFP status would keep that loyalty level for life, Carnival continues to promote and encourage guests to reach a level the cruise line cannot adequately serve.

“Offer a service based on a rewards program that you must qualify for,” one guest noted. “Deny that service because too many of you qualified for it.”

Many previous Carnival guests have been receiving frequent offers for deeply discounted sailings that will count twice or even three times for loyalty points, helping them quickly “chase Diamond” before the VIFP program ends on August 31, 2026.

Quantum of the Seas Turns Back for Emergency, Next Sailing Delayed

Melissa Mayntz
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Quantum of the Seas Turns Back for Emergency, Next Sailing Delayed

Key Aspects:

  • Quantum of the Seas will be late returning to Los Angeles, and embarkation for the next cruise is delayed.
  • The 2-night sailing will still visit Ensenada and has even extended the port time as a bonus.
  • The delay is due to an emergency medical evacuation several hours after the ship departed Cabo San Lucas.

Guests boarding a rare 2-night sailing on Quantum of the Seas will be getting an even shorter cruise than anticipated due to a medical emergency that occurred near the end of the previous voyage.

Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests on the January 5, 2026 departure to alert them to the change in embarkation in Los Angeles as well as an adjustment to the planned port visit to Ensenada, Mexico.

“Due to a delay in our previous sailing, Quantum of the Seas will be arriving to the pier later than originally planned, and the terminal will be closed until 3:30 PM,” the email notification explained.

“Please note that the parking lot will be closed until 3:00 PM and incoming guests will not be able to park until our current guests have departed.”

Cruise terminal arrival appointments are now pushed back 4.5 hours. The earliest guests, those who chose the 11:00 a.m. arrival time, should now plan on arriving at the terminal at 3:30 p.m. The latest appointments, 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., should arrive at 6:30 p.m.

All guests must be checked in onboard the ship no later than 7 p.m.

The 2-night cruise is a rarity for Quantum of the Seas. These types of very short sailings are occasionally necessary as a ship shifts departure dates for a holiday period or when changing deployments.

The 168,700-gross-ton ship, lead vessel in the Quantum class, is homeported from Los Angeles through September 2026, offering Mexican Riviera sailings from 3-7 nights long to Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and occasionally Catalina, depending on departure date and cruise length.

Quantum of the Seas will spend the Australian summer sailing from Brisbane before returning to the Northern Hemisphere for Summer 2027 sailing from Seattle for the Alaska season.

The ship can welcome 4,180 guests onboard at double occupancy, and is also home to roughly 1,500 international crew members.

Itinerary Adjustment for the Better

Following the delayed departure from Los Angeles, the itinerary has been adjusted with extra port time for guests to enjoy.

“While we’ll be departing from Los Angeles later than originally planned, this will not affect our arrival time in Ensenada,” Royal Caribbean confirmed. “As a bonus, our departure from Ensenada will now be 6:00 PM instead of 4:00 PM, giving you even more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!”

Quantum of the Seas is scheduled to arrive in Ensenada at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, January 6.

Quantum of the Seas at Cabo San Lucas
Quantum of the Seas at Cabo San Lucas (Photo Credit: A. Viduetsky)

The ship is still able to keep that arrival time because Ensenada is only a short distance across the border into Mexico. Overall, the sailing distance from Los Angeles to Ensenada is just 170 miles.

This extra time will give guests the opportunity to enjoy an early dinner in Ensenada, a longer shopping trip, or even an extra shore excursion if they are so inclined.

Why the Delay?

While Royal Caribbean has not released information about why Quantum of the Seas has been delayed in returning to Los Angeles, guests onboard are aware of the change.

One guest explained the circumstances in a Facebook group dedicated to short sailing on Sunday, January 4, helping incoming guests understand the situation.

“Currently on [Quantum of the Seas] and wanted to give you a heads up as to why we so late. Yesterday after leaving Cabo, someone got critically ill,” the guest explained.

“We were 5 [hours] out and had to turn back. We got back to Cabo at 9:10 p.m. and off loaded the person. We were back sailing at 9:45 p.m.”

The current sailing that is returning to Los Angeles on Monday, January 5 is a 6-night New Year’s itinerary that had an extended visit in Cabo San Lucas from January 1-3. The ship originally departed Los Angeles on December 30.

“Captain is really trying hard to make up time. There just isn’t enough time to do it,” the guest said. “Captain told us today that we should expect to dock at noon to 12:30. 1st luggage will not be off ship until 1:30 at the earliest.”

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Unlike how close Ensenada is to Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas is at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, nearly 1,000 miles from the southern California homeport.

No official details about the medical evacuation have been released, which helps protect the guest’s privacy at a very stressful and troubling time.

Cruise Hives wishes all the best to the ill guest and hopes everyone onboard Quantum of the Seas still has a remarkable, if abbreviated, cruise for the ship’s first sailing of 2026.

Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Back Departure Due to Airspace Closure

Emrys Thakkar
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Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Back Departure Due to Airspace Closure

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Epic pushes back its San Juan departure from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
  • It is due to a temporary airspace closure caused by tensions between the US and Venezuela.
  • The rest of Norwegian Epic’s itinerary remains unchanged.

It’s been a chaotic weekend of flight cancellations and delays for cruisers following the US attack on Venezuela, which resulted in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closing airspace in Puerto Rico and impacting travel across the Caribbean.

The 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, is among several cruise ships affected. The cruise line has informed booked guests that the vessel will not be departing as scheduled.

The ship’s January 4, 7-night Caribbean cruise from San Juan was originally scheduled to depart at approximately 7:30 PM, but has now been moved to 10:00 PM.

“In light of the recent airspace closure and reopening in Puerto Rico that may have impacted some travel plans, we’ve adjusted Norwegian Epic’s departure today, January 4, 2026, to 10:00 PM local time. Wishing you smooth travels and we look forward to welcoming you aboard very soon. Your Epic adventure awaits!” NCL said in a message to passengers.

At this time, the cruise line has not adjusted Norwegian Epic’s itinerary. The vessel is still scheduled to call at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on January 5, St Johns in Antigua on January 6, Bridgetown in Barbados on January 7, St. Lucia on January 7, St. Maarten on January 8, and the final port of call at St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship
Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Polkovnykova Olena)

The 155,873 gross ton ship is still scheduled to return to San Juan as planned on January 11, 2026. Well before then, the flight situation should be back to normal with no further impact on cruises.

Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico has already issued an update with a news conference held on January 3. The airport plans to reopen at 1:00 AM on Sunday. However, the federal government could still extend the closure.

More Cruise Ships Impacted Out of San Juan

Norwegian Epic is not the only vessel affected by the airspace closure. Virgin Voyage’s Valiant Lady has been one of the most impacted ships, with the cruise line even deciding to replace two ports that are near Venezuela.

The cruise line had already issued a notice to guests on January 3 regarding the flight situation, stating that “All Sailors must disembark by 10:30 a.m. as originally scheduled.“

Valiant Lady
Valiant Lady (Photo Credit: Just dance)

In a follow-up, Virgin Voyages also decided to make an itinerary adjustment, replacing the call to Aruba on January 5 with a call to Bridgetown, Barbados. Also, replacing the call to Curacao with St. Lucia on January 6. The rest of the voyage is unchanged.

Grand Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, also experienced a departure delay and an itinerary change. The vessel is remaining in San Juan until Monday, January 5, 6:00 PM.

With the original departure being on January 4, it means the cruise is cut short and the cancellation of St. Thomas on January 5. However, the 2,610-passenger ship will add a call to St Kitts to make up for it on January 6.

More From Cruise Hive

There have also been impacts for Royal Caribbean passengers, with Jewel of the Seas delaying its January 3 departure from San Juan from the scheduled 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

Cruise Hive will continue to keep cruisers informed on all the latest developments that are impacting cruises. You can also have your say over on the Cruise Hive Boards.

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