Luxury Cruising Editorial

Royal Caribbean International will remove its Coca-Cola souvenir cups from selected onboard drink packages from 15th March 2026, restricting guest access to the popular Coca-Cola Freestyle machines across most of the fleet.

The change, which has not been formally announced by the cruise line, was first noticed by guests logging into their upcoming sailings to review beverage package pricing and inclusions. Discussions quickly emerged online after passengers spotted that the cups were no longer listed as part of the Deluxe Beverage Package and the Refreshment Package.

Under the revised terms, guests purchasing either package will no longer receive the Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup as standard. Without the cup, passengers cannot access the self-service Freestyle machines, which allow users to create more than 100 drink combinations using touchscreen dispensers.

The adjustment also applies to guests adding a Royal Beach Club Open Bar Day Pass to their package, with the cup similarly excluded.

Souvenir Cup Still Available At Extra Cost

While the cup is being removed as a complimentary inclusion, it has not disappeared entirely. Guests can still purchase the Coca-Cola Freestyle cup as an add-on for a one-off charge of $4.99. The fee is a single payment rather than a daily supplement.

It remains unclear how the change will affect guests who have already prepaid for beverage packages for sailings departing after 15th March 2026. However, it appears likely that sailings departing on or after that date will no longer include the cup as part of the standard package offering.

Importantly, canned and fountain sodas remain included within the applicable drink packages. The only exclusion relates specifically to the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. Guests without the souvenir cup will need to order soft drinks directly from a bar or through onboard servers rather than helping themselves at the machines.

The Classic Soda Package continues to include one Coca-Cola Freestyle cup per package. Should the cup be lost during the voyage, a replacement can be purchased for the same charge.

Mixed Reactions From Guests

Although Royal Caribbean has not publicly outlined the reasoning behind the decision, some regular cruisers believe misuse of the cups may have played a role.

One guest commented online: “Too many people handed the cup to their kid to use. Just another hack people used that ruined it for others.”

The cruise line has previously tightened drink package policies. In mid-2025, Royal Caribbean introduced stricter enforcement measures aimed at preventing guests from sharing alcoholic beverages covered under package deals.

However, other passengers questioned whether the move would significantly curb misuse, noting that those determined to share access could still pay the $4.99 for the cup and continue similar behaviour.

Some guests suggested the change could also reduce waste, as not all passengers made use of the souvenir cups even when they were included.

“I rarely used it. My kid and I had the soda package and 99.9% of the time we just went to the bar to get a soda. My wife and son had an alcohol package. They never used it,” one guest shared.

“At the end of the cruise we left them in the room because I don’t need another souvenir cup at home and they couldn’t be used on a future cruise.”

Others simply prefer canned soft drinks or find it more convenient to order from a nearby bar rather than seek out a Freestyle machine.

Freestyle Machines Available On Most Ships

Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are installed across the majority of the Royal Caribbean fleet, typically located in high-traffic areas such as the Windjammer Marketplace buffet, near Sorrento’s Pizza outlets, and sometimes along the Royal Promenade.

There are currently four ships without the machines: Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas.

In August 2025, the cruise line added Freestyle machines to Liberty of the Seas, signalling continued investment in the self-serve beverage concept. It remains possible that the remaining vessels could receive the machines in future refits.

The Freestyle dispensers offer a wide variety of Coca-Cola branded beverages, including flavoured sodas, iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch and still water. Availability can vary by ship and sailing depending on supply and demand.

For now, however, guests booking Deluxe and Refreshment packages for sailings departing from mid-March 2026 onwards will need to decide whether access to those expanded options is worth the additional $4.99 fee.

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Carnival Cruise Line has halted all third-party gift requests after an administrative error resulted in a bottle of champagne being delivered to a cabin occupied by children.

The decision follows an incident involving the line’s long-standing brand ambassador, John Heald, who regularly arranges small celebratory gestures for guests marking special occasions at sea.

The mistake, which stemmed from an incorrect cabin number supplied by the person making the request, prompted an angry complaint and has led to a firm change in policy.

Heald, who receives hundreds of messages each week from passengers celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, retirements and other milestones, shared details of the incident with his followers on Facebook.

“One of the fun parts of my job is to be able to help people celebrate. People write to me and say it’s my birthday, it’s an anniversary or a honeymoon or whatever, divorce, I’m celebrating and I always do my best to send a little something,” he explained.

While he works within a set budget on each ship and cannot fulfil every request, Heald has traditionally tried to accommodate as many as possible. Gifts have ranged from cookies and medallions to bottles of champagne and, on rare occasions, the much sought-after ship-on-a-stick trophy.

How The Mix Up Happened

The issue arose when a frequent Carnival guest contacted Heald to arrange a surprise for close friends who were retiring from the police force. The individual making the request was not sailing but wanted to treat their friends onboard.

“I sent a bottle of champagne and a medallion,” Heald confirmed.

However, the cabin number provided in the request was incorrect. Instead of reaching the newly retired officer, the champagne and medallion were delivered to a stateroom occupied by two grandchildren.

“I had sent a bottle of champagne to two children,” Heald said. “They had no idea who I was, they just went to Guest Services.”

After spending several days in Miami attending corporate meetings and ship visits, Heald returned home to find an angry email from the intended recipient. According to Heald, the guest accused him of various failings and expressed strong frustration over the delivery.

Heald said he immediately apologised and acknowledged the seriousness of the error, noting that he would have been equally upset had it involved his own daughter.

Policy Change Follows Error

In response, Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a blanket ban on third-party gift requests arranged through Heald and his colleague Jacinta.

“I’m not going to put myself or my colleague Jacinta into that particular nest of vipers,” he said.

He later reiterated the position when responding to further requests. “We are very happy and glad to be able to send something to people actually cruising on the ship but third-party requests are not something that we are permitted to do anymore,” he responded to a more recent request. “Thank you for your understanding.”

The new approach means celebratory gifts can still be arranged for guests who contact Heald directly while sailing, subject to availability and budget, but surprises organised by friends or family not travelling will no longer be facilitated.

Cruise lines maintain strict controls over alcohol service onboard, particularly where minors are concerned, and any misdirected delivery involving alcohol is treated seriously. While the error was caused by incorrect information rather than a systems failure, the incident highlights the logistical challenges of coordinating personalised gestures across large vessels carrying thousands of passengers.

For many loyal Carnival guests, Heald’s small surprises have long been a cherished part of the onboard experience. However, this latest incident demonstrates how even well-intentioned efforts can carry unintended consequences, prompting the line to tighten procedures to avoid a repeat situation.

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Royal Caribbean has altered the itinerary of Liberty of the Seas to ensure guests enjoy optimal viewing of the total solar eclipse on 12th August 2026, removing a scheduled call to Lisbon in favour of a revised route through northern Spain and France.

The 9-night sailing, departing Southampton on 7th August 2026, will now position the 155,900-gross-ton ship directly within the path of totality, maximising the chances for the ship’s 4,960 guests to witness the full celestial spectacle at sea.

In a message sent to booked passengers, the cruise line confirmed the change. “To give everyone the best possible total solar eclipse viewing experience during our sailing, we’ll adjust our route after our visit to Gijon, Spain,”.

Itinerary Adjusted To Maximise Totality

Under the revised schedule, Liberty of the Seas will no longer visit Lisbon, Portugal. Instead, after calling at Gijon, the ship will sail directly to Vigo, ensuring it is positioned squarely in the eclipse’s path of totality on 12th August.

Originally, the ship was expected to remain within the 94 to 98 per cent totality zone. While that would have provided a dramatic partial eclipse, it falls short of the complete darkness and full corona visibility that only 100 per cent totality can deliver.

The updated itinerary is now as follows:

• Friday 7th August – Depart Southampton at 5 pm
• Saturday 8th August – Day at sea
• Sunday 9th August – Bilbao, Spain from 8 am to 6 pm
• Monday 10th August – Gijon, Spain from 9 am to 6 pm
• Tuesday 11th August – Vigo, Spain from 10 am to 7 pm
• Wednesday 12th August – Solar eclipse day at sea
• Thursday 13th August – La Coruna, Spain from 7 am to 6 pm
• Friday 14th August – Day at sea
• Saturday 15th August – Le Havre, France from 8 am to 9 pm
• Sunday 16th August – Arrive Southampton at 5:30 am

Le Havre will serve as the gateway to Paris, replacing what was previously scheduled as a day at sea. La Coruna moves to 13th August, while Vigo shifts forward to 11th August to accommodate the new routing.

Royal Caribbean has confirmed that shore excursions booked for Lisbon will be automatically cancelled, with refunds issued to the original form of payment. Excursions in Vigo and La Coruna will be adjusted to reflect the new dates and times.

Strong Guest Reaction To The Change

While itinerary alterations can often prompt frustration, reaction from booked guests on social media has been largely positive, particularly among those who selected the sailing specifically for the eclipse.

Total solar eclipses are rare events that are highly location dependent. According to TimeandDate, the next total solar eclipse after 12th August 2026 will occur on 2nd August 2027, with the path of totality largely crossing northern Africa.

That trajectory is expected to limit opportunities for cruise ships to position themselves for optimal at-sea viewing compared with the 2026 event.

Despite careful planning and route adjustments, eclipse viewing remains weather dependent. Cloud cover or poor visibility could still impact the experience, regardless of the ship’s precise position within the totality path.

For now, however, Royal Caribbean’s proactive schedule change appears to have reassured guests that the cruise line is committed to delivering what many are billing as a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical experience at sea.

There is still availability for this cruise (book here if you’re interested) although cabins are limited.

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A former senior executive at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been arrested in Argentina in connection with an alleged fraud scheme said to have cost the cruise giant more than $2 million.

Thomas “Tom” Markwell, 54, was taken into custody in Buenos Aires on Monday 23rd February 2026. According to local media outlet Infobae, Interpol agents arrested him in the Palermo neighbourhood in the northern part of the Argentine capital. He is now awaiting extradition to the United States to face multiple criminal charges.

The case was first opened in October 2023, when prosecutors alleged that Markwell and two accomplices orchestrated a long-running scheme involving fraudulent invoices submitted to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. The total amount in question exceeds $2 million.

Alleged Invoice Scheme Spanned Years

Markwell most recently served as Senior Director of Events for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, a role he held from July 2019 until September 2023. While the cruise company has not detailed his precise responsibilities, the position would typically involve organising corporate events, liaising with shareholders and partners, and coordinating corporate gifting and sponsorship activities.

Prosecutors allege that Markwell exploited his authority to approve payments by working with two external accomplices who were not employed by the cruise line or any related company. The pair allegedly issued invoices through a fraudulent supply business known as “The Gifting Company”.

The invoices were reportedly structured to fall below internal financial thresholds that would have triggered additional scrutiny or audit alerts. Authorities claim the documents did not fully disclose the services or products supposedly provided, yet remained within Markwell’s authorised approval limits.

Once the invoices were processed and paid by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, investigators allege that Markwell and his accomplices diverted and shared the funds.

Court documents state that dozens of transactions were used to carry out the scheme. Among them were at least two payments totalling $165,000, as well as an $82,000 transfer allegedly made directly into his girlfriend’s bank account.

In addition to fraud-related offences, Markwell is facing identity fraud and theft charges. Prosecutors allege he used his girlfriend’s account as part of the operation. There has been no indication that she was aware of or involved in the alleged criminal activity, and she has not been named.

At least seven charges of wire fraud and identity theft have been filed against Markwell. If convicted, he could face a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison under US law.

Markwell, who was born in Illinois, has spent decades working in the travel industry. He was educated at Eastern Illinois University and Robert Morris University, also in Illinois.

Cruise Fraud Cases Continue To Surface

While this case is one of the most significant to directly involve a senior cruise line executive, it is not the only example of alleged fraud connected to the cruise sector in recent years.

There was a recent story of a New York woman accused of operating a fraudulent travel agency that failed to book clients’ holidays, as well as incidents involving fake cruise gift cards, onboard theft and credit card fraud targeting passengers.

In other cases, cruise guests have been arrested in ports such as Miami and in Brazil over financial crimes linked to sailings.

However, allegations involving an executive at a major cruise corporation are comparatively rare, making this one of the largest cases of its kind to surface within the industry.

As extradition proceedings move forward, further details are expected to emerge regarding the extent of the alleged scheme and the status of Markwell’s two unnamed accomplices, whose whereabouts have not been disclosed.

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