Let Cruise Hive maintain you knowledgeable about all the huge cruise developments every week.
On this week’s recap of the main headlines, our protection features a development milestone for Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class ship, Norwegian Cruise Line including a no-show payment for individuals who don’t arrive for his or her specialty eating reservation, and a true-crime theme cruise getting mysteriously cancelled.
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Visitor Complains of On line casino Closure Throughout Emergency
A Carnival Cruise Line visitor complained he obtained no compensation for an inconvenience he skilled when his cruise ship returned to its homeport on account of a medical emergency onboard.
The inconvenience was the closure of the on line casino — ships routinely shut their casinos and retail retailers whereas in port on account of native legal guidelines, and this disgruntled passenger desires to be compensated.
The visitor reached out to model ambassador John Heald on his Fb web page, expressing his displeasure on the early closure of the on line casino.
It isn’t clear which ship the emergency occurred on, however the vessel made a return to PortMiami round 11:30 p.m., which is prime time for on line casino actions. The road has a number of ships primarily based on the Florida port, together with Carnival Dawn, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Magic, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Horizon.
Heald defined that the cruise line doesn’t present any compensation in instances like this. Many medical evacuations are carried out at sea, utilizing Coast Guard helicopters. On this case, the choice was made to show the ship round and head again to PortMiami.
Keel-Laying Ceremony Held for Fourth Icon-Class Ship
She doesn’t have a reputation but, however Icon 4, the fourth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, reached a development milestone on the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on September 8, 2025.
The ship’s keel was laid, and as is custom, cash to convey success and safety to the vessel have been positioned below the primary metal block. Shipyard and cruise line officers have been available to have a good time the occasion.
A brief distance away on the similar shipyard, the third ship within the class, Legend of the Seas, is below development.
Two Icon-class ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, are already working and have confirmed in style with company. The Icon-class vessels are true mega-ships, with capability for 7,600 company with all berths occupied. That is along with roughly 2,300 crew members.
Icon 4 is because of enter service in 2027. Earlier than that, Legend of the Seas will debut in 2026. In truth, that ship was just lately floated out of her development bay, which suggests her hull touched water for the primary time, and now the outfitting section of development can start.
Carnival Confirms No Sharing of Alcoholic Drinks Plan
Carnival Cruise Line took steps to make clear guidelines surrounding its all-inclusive CHEERS! alcoholic beverage bundle. If one individual in a stateroom buys the bundle, anybody else sharing that stateroom who’s over age 21 should additionally purchase it.
Some confusion erupted after the road launched its new CHEERS! Zero-Proof drink bundle, which supplies for a lot of non-alcoholic drinks.
Visitors puzzled whether or not the requirement tied to the alcoholic beverage bundle would now be relaxed — may one individual within the cabin purchase the alcoholic plan and one other occupant purchase the non-alcoholic plan, and share them?
The reply isn’t any, in accordance with model ambassador John Heald. The sharing of the alcoholic beverage plan is just not allowed, he stated, and the road has not modified its coverage.
Nonetheless, he identified that not all cabin occupants should purchase the non-alcoholic plan simply because one individual buys it. Mainly, it’s the alcoholic drinks bundle that company aren’t permitted to share.
The alcoholic drinks plan prices $69.95 per individual, per day, whereas the brand new zero-proof plan prices $29.99. A 3rd plan, Bottomless Bubbles soda bundle, prices $9.50.
Two Ships New to Galveston to Set Sail in 2027-28
Carnival Cruise Line will homeport 4 ships in Galveston, Texas in 2027 and 2028, and two of the ships are new to the vacation spot.
Homeporting for the primary time within the Gulf Coast port will likely be Carnival Spirit and Carnival Horizon, becoming a member of Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee.
Galveston is likely one of the cruise line’s hottest homeports, and the addition of the 2 vessels will supply extra selection to company.
Carnival Horizon will sail 70-plus seasonal cruises from the Lone Star State starting on Could 19, 2027. The 4,000-guest ship will supply 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries with port calls to locations comparable to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.
The two,100-guest Carnival Spirit will sail seasonal cruises from Galveston beginning on October 11, 2027, working 4- to 10-night sailings to Jap and Western Caribbean ports.
Carnival Spirit will arrive in Galveston following a 16-night Carnival Journeys cruise that can transit the Panama Canal and go to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Columbia. The crusing departs from Seattle on September 25, 2027.
True Crime-Themed Cruise Unexpectedly Cancelled
Cruisers who have been wanting ahead to crusing on a real crime-themed cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pleasure in early 2026 have been disillusioned to be taught it has been cancelled.
The crusing, which was not a full-ship constitution, was to function the “Wondery Exhibit C: A True Crime Cruise” expertise. The 4-night Bahamas cruise from PortMiami is scheduled to name at Nassau and Nice Stirrup Cay.
The theme cruise was to be hosted by John Walsh, creator of the hit TV present “America’s Most Needed.” Actions slated for the cruise included a dwell homicide thriller present, and academic components tied to forensic science, investigations, and crime-solving practices.
Booked company recommended that maybe gross sales have been sluggish. All company will likely be refunded. Nonetheless, they will rebook the crusing if they need. The ship has loads to entertain — it simply gained’t have the true crime element.
These nonetheless in search of a real crime expertise have another choice: Virgin Voyages is internet hosting its first true-crime cruise on Valiant Girl in October. The 5-night crusing, additionally from PortMiami, departs on October 10, 2025 and can go to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Bimini Island, Bahamas.
One other Line Provides Specialty Eating No-Present Payment
Norwegian Cruise Line turned the second model in per week to announce a crackdown on specialty eating reservation no-shows.
A $10 per-person payment will likely be charged to those that guide a desk at a specialty restaurant after which don’t present up. The penalty will likely be applied if company don’t cancel or change their reservation not less than two hours earlier than the precise time initially booked.
The choice displays the road’s need to allow extra company to expertise specialty eating venues, which usually have restricted area. Common venues on Norwegian ships embody Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro, Q Texas Smokehouse, Teppanyaki, and Los Lobos, amongst others.
The coverage was quietly enacted and not using a cruise line announcement. Royal Caribbean just lately added a no-show payment on its ships, too.
Royal Caribbean didn’t reveal the quantity of its payment. Visitors crusing with that line are exempt from the payment if they’ve a eating bundle or are booked in a Star Class suite.
Playing Debt Prompts Man to Soar Ship in San Juan
A playing debt appears to be the rationale why a cruise passenger jumped overboard from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas on the conclusion of a weeklong Caribbean voyage.
It was round 9:15 a.m. on September 7, 2025 when Jey González-Díaz plunged into the harbor in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an effort to keep away from having to pay $16,710.24 he apparently gambled away within the ship’s on line casino.
The ship was within the strategy of disembarking company on the finish of the cruise. A passing jet skier picked up González-Díaz and took him to shore. About an hour later, US Customs and Border Safety brokers apprehended him a brief distance away.
Native media reported that he was discovered with $14,600 in money and 5 totally different identities, amongst different objects. The suspect was charged with failing to report the entry of greater than $10,000 that was obtained outdoors america.
Authorities additionally decided that González-Díaz boarded the cruise ship below his brother’s title.
Will Rhapsody of the Seas’ on line casino ever recoup the cash González-Díaz misplaced? It’s most likely unlikely. In the meantime, González-Díaz was launched on bail.
Extra Cruise Headlines
Cruise Hive has many extra essential cruise tales so that you can take a look at, together with Holland America Line unveiling its 2027 Canada/New England voyages, a brand new examine detailing how youthful cruisers are altering the demographics of the business, and Disney Cruise Line delaying the launch of the brand new Disney Journey by three months.
Additionally, Superstar Cruises’ latest ship will enter service with two cruise administrators as a substitute of the normal one, and Carnival Cruise Line confirms its ships will broadcast Nationwide Soccer League video games this season.
Cruise Information Replace: Anger Over Compensation, No-Exhibits, Overboard, and Extra
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