Oceania Cruises, one of the world’s leading destination focused cruise lines, is adding a new perk for all cruises booked on and after September 17, 2025.
Oceania Vista – Photo Credit: Oceania Cruises
Starting on September 17, all cruises booked on Oceania will include a new amenity choice. Guests will be able to choose from a generous shore excursion credit or complimentary wine and beer during lunch and dinner restaurant hours. It will be park of the “Your World Included” program.
The shore excursion credit is up to $600 per guest, depending on the length of the cruise. It is good on any of the 8,000 tours offered by the cruise line.
This new perk is in addition to the following that is already included in cruise fares on Oceania Cruises:
Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, gave the following statement:
“This is not another passing promotion; it’s a brand promise and reinforces the incredible value of the Oceania Cruises experience, giving our guests the luxury of even more choice.”
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Disney Cruise Line has announced that its highly anticipated new ship, Disney Adventure, will not debut until March 2026, several months later than originally planned.
The 208,000-ton vessel, under construction at the MV Werften shipyard, was due to launch in December 2025.
Instead, all sailings between 1th5 December 2025 and 9th March 2026 have now been cancelled.
In a letter to booked passengers, Disney explained that the additional time is needed to complete the ship to its signature standard, noting “unexpected delays in the shipbuilding process.” The inaugural sailing is now scheduled for 10th March 2026.
Compensation for Affected Guests
Guests booked on the cancelled voyages will receive a full refund, along with a 50% discount on a future sailing.
Those originally due to sail on the first voyage will automatically be rebooked on the rescheduled inaugural cruise, with their fare adjusted to reflect the reduced cost.
The future cruise credit must be applied by 31st March 2026, for departures no later than 31st March 2027.
Passengers who cannot join the new inaugural sailing can instead apply the discount to another itinerary.
Disney apologised for the disruption, acknowledging the disappointment caused by the delays.
The Largest Disney Ship Yet
Originally planned as Global Dream, the unfinished vessel was purchased by Disney and is being redesigned into a fully themed Disney experience at sea.
Once complete, Disney Adventure will become the line’s largest ship, with capacity for more than 6,000 passengers.
The ship will be homeported in Singapore, offering short “cruises to nowhere” for the Asian market.
The vessel is packed with unique attractions and themed areas that promise to deliver the brand’s signature storytelling at sea.
A standout feature will be the Marvel-themed adventure zone on the upper decks, which includes the Ironcycle Test Run – set to be the longest rollercoaster at sea – along with Pym Quantum Racers and Groot Galaxy Spin.
Families can also look forward to a Toy Story water park and a Moana-inspired pool area, complete with live performances.
Elsewhere onboard, Disney Imagination Garden will host lively stage shows such as “Avengers Assemble!” and the “Let’s Set Sail” dance party.
At the ship’s aft, Disney Discovery Reef will bring together favourite characters from The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Lilo & Stitch, and Luca, alongside new venues like a sports bar, Cosmic Kebabs eatery, and Bewitching Boba and Brews bubble tea bar.
Guests will also be able to explore San Fransokyo Street, inspired by Big Hero 6, which will feature teen hangouts, Baymax cinemas, shops, and even hidden entrances to kids’ clubs.
The Town Square neighbourhood will round out the experience with themed dining venues, Broadway-style productions at the Walt Disney Theatre, and Spellbound, a dramatic lounge inspired by the Evil Queen from Snow White.
Disney Adventure recently departed Germany for early sea trials, signalling progress towards her completion.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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Disney Cruise Line has announced that its highly anticipated new ship, Disney Adventure, will not debut until March 2026, several months later than originally planned.
The 208,000-ton vessel, under construction at the MV Werften shipyard, was due to launch in December 2025.
Instead, all sailings between 1th5 December 2025 and 9th March 2026 have now been cancelled.
In a letter to booked passengers, Disney explained that the additional time is needed to complete the ship to its signature standard, noting “unexpected delays in the shipbuilding process.” The inaugural sailing is now scheduled for 10th March 2026.
Compensation for Affected Guests
Guests booked on the cancelled voyages will receive a full refund, along with a 50% discount on a future sailing.
Those originally due to sail on the first voyage will automatically be rebooked on the rescheduled inaugural cruise, with their fare adjusted to reflect the reduced cost.
The future cruise credit must be applied by 31st March 2026, for departures no later than 31st March 2027.
Passengers who cannot join the new inaugural sailing can instead apply the discount to another itinerary.
Disney apologised for the disruption, acknowledging the disappointment caused by the delays.
The Largest Disney Ship Yet
Originally planned as Global Dream, the unfinished vessel was purchased by Disney and is being redesigned into a fully themed Disney experience at sea.
Once complete, Disney Adventure will become the line’s largest ship, with capacity for more than 6,000 passengers.
The ship will be homeported in Singapore, offering short “cruises to nowhere” for the Asian market.
The vessel is packed with unique attractions and themed areas that promise to deliver the brand’s signature storytelling at sea.
A standout feature will be the Marvel-themed adventure zone on the upper decks, which includes the Ironcycle Test Run – set to be the longest rollercoaster at sea – along with Pym Quantum Racers and Groot Galaxy Spin.
Families can also look forward to a Toy Story water park and a Moana-inspired pool area, complete with live performances.
Elsewhere onboard, Disney Imagination Garden will host lively stage shows such as “Avengers Assemble!” and the “Let’s Set Sail” dance party.
At the ship’s aft, Disney Discovery Reef will bring together favourite characters from The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Lilo & Stitch, and Luca, alongside new venues like a sports bar, Cosmic Kebabs eatery, and Bewitching Boba and Brews bubble tea bar.
Guests will also be able to explore San Fransokyo Street, inspired by Big Hero 6, which will feature teen hangouts, Baymax cinemas, shops, and even hidden entrances to kids’ clubs.
The Town Square neighbourhood will round out the experience with themed dining venues, Broadway-style productions at the Walt Disney Theatre, and Spellbound, a dramatic lounge inspired by the Evil Queen from Snow White.
Disney Adventure recently departed Germany for early sea trials, signalling progress towards her completion.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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Disney Cruise Line’s new ship for the Asian market, Disney Adventure, will not be ready to sail out of Singapore this December. Due to unexpected shipbuilding delays, the ship’s inaugural sailing has been postponed by three months.
This will impact sailings originally scheduled through early 2026.
According to a letter sent to booked guests, the ship’s maiden voyage has been moved from December 15, 2025, to March 10, 2026. The company stated that the change was a “difficult decision” made to ensure the final product lives up to Disney’s high standards.
Understanding the Delay
The company’s letter explained that Disney Adventure is not a typical new-build vessel. It is described as a “bold new chapter” that involves transforming a “partially built vessel into a fully reimagined Disney experience at sea.” This complex process, which includes adding features like a roller coaster and seven themed areas, has encountered unexpected delays.
Disney’s letter expressed a sincere apology to guests, acknowledging the disappointment and inconvenience the change would cause to their vacation plans.
Letter from Disney Cruise Line to impacted guests.
What This Means for Booked Guests
Disney Cruise Line has provided different options for guests affected by the delay, as explained in the letter.
For Guests on the Original Maiden Voyage (Dec. 15): Those who booked the very first sailing will be automatically rebooked on the new maiden voyage on March 10, 2026, and will receive a 50% refund. If they are unable to make the new date, they have the option to receive a full refund and a separate 50% discount on a future cruise.
For Guests on All Other Affected Sailings: Passengers booked on any of the other impacted voyages (from Dec. 15, 2025, to March 12, 2026) will be offered a full refund. They also have the option to receive a 50% discount for a future sailing of their choice. Both discount offers are valid for cruises departing on or before March 31, 2027.
Guests who booked with a travel agent are advised to contact them to discuss their options. Guests who booked directly with Disney can reach out to the company via email or phone.
The Ship
Originally built as the Global Dream for the now-defunct cruise line Genting Hong Kong, Disney Adventure will be Disney’s largest vessel. It will have a capacity for 6,700 passengers and feature attractions like the world’s longest roller coaster at sea and themed areas inspired by Disney’s films Moana and Marvel comics.
Despite the setback, Disney Cruise Line confirmed the delay will not affect other upcoming ships, such as Disney Destiny which is set to debut in November.
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Princess Cruises has added 13 new shore excursions in Mexico and a limited time offer of 20% off select shore excursions through September 16, 2025.
The newly shore excursions from Princess Cruises have been added to sailings to the Mexican Riviera. The cruise line has been sailing to the region for 60 years ever since their first ship, Patricia Princess, began sailing in 1965.
Shore excursions have been added to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Manzanillo, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.
Here is a look at the 13 new shore excursions from Princess Cruises.
Cabo San Lucas
PRINCESS EXCLUSIVE! Todos Santos Wine Experience
Transparent Boat Adventure – Marine Wonders, Land’s End and Los Arcos
The Best of Baja
La Paz
Daydream in Baja Beach Escape
Baja Ocean Wonders & Scalloping Experience
Manzanillo
Tropical Fruit Plantation & Barra de Navidad
Cuyutlán Turtle Sanctuary and Salt Museum
Mazatlán
A Day at Shekinah Beach Club with Lunch
Heritage Taco Fiesta
Old Mazatlán Trolley Tour
Horseback Riding Adventure at Cerritos Beach
Puerto Vallarta
Real Mexico & Chocolate Experience
Marina Vallarta and Piñata Art Experience
These new shore excursions are now available to book.
Alfredo Jimenez, Princess Cruises Vice President of Onboard Revenue, gave the following statement:
“Mexico remains one of our most beloved destinations, and we’re continually enhancing our shore excursion offerings to help guests connect more deeply with its vibrant culture.
“These 13 new experiences invite guests to savor authentic cuisine, discover local artistry, explore breathtaking natural landscapes, and immerse themselves in the rich history that makes Mexico truly unique.”
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One of the world’s most famous “cruise directors” wasn’t actually a cruise director at all. Julie McCoy was a beloved character on the hit TV series The Love Boat – a role that catapulted actress Lauren Tewes to near-household fame.
But behind the scenes, Tewes’ journey was far from plain sailing. A very public battle with drug addiction led to her sudden exit from the show, before she later made a comeback once she regained control of her life.
In this guide, we’ll dive into Lauren Tewes’ fascinating story, from her rise to stardom to the challenges she faced away from the cameras – and where she is now.
1. Lauren Tewes Played Julie McCoy
The Love Boat cruise director, Julie McCoy, was played by actress Lauren Tewes. Tewes had started getting serious work as an actress in 1974 but it was a guest spot on TV show Starsky & Hutch which got her spotted by Aaron Spelling, the producer of The Love Boat.
Tewes’ first big break in acting came for a Lipton Ice Tea commercial in 1974, so she had only been seriously acting for three years when she joined The Love Boat.
Indeed, she was only cast in the role the day before filming started on the third pilot episode – the story goes that she got the phone call telling her she had the part at 9 pm the night before, asking her to report on set at 6.30 am the next day!
Tewes held the role until 1984, when she was fired, although she later returned for one more episode in 1985 and reprised her role for the TV movies in a later season. She has fully reconciled with the show and often makes appearances for reunion interviews.
2. Her Name Is Not Pronounced “Te-wes”
Lauren Tewes pronounces her surname as “Tweeze”. Her full name is Cynthia Lauren Tewes, although she was billed as Lauren Tewes during her acting career. Today, in interviews, she is sometimes referred to as Cynthia and sometimes as Lauren.
She is best known as Lauren, though, and when Princess Cruises invited the actress onto a cruise to celebrate her 60th birthday, they made sure to wish “Lauren” a happy birthday on the big screens on the deck of the ship, although her cake was made out to “Julie”.
There is some confusion over the pronunciation of her surname and some people mistakenly say it as “Tooz”. She has confirmed that “Tweeze” is the correct way to say her name.
3. The Julie Character Was Replaced
The character of Julie McCoy was replaced by her sister, Judy McCoy, at the start of season 8. Judy McCoy was played by actress Patricia Klous, who had made her name in the CBS TV comedy-drama Flying High from 1978 to 1979.
Klous would remain with the series until the main seasons finished in 1986, with Lauren Tewes returning for a guest episode in 1985. When the TV specials began in 1986, Tewes had returned to the role, and Klous was not included.
Klous had actually already appeared on The Love Boat prior to her role as Judy McCoy. She guest-starred in episode 17 of season 5 and then appeared in a more prominent role in the first episode of season 7 as Laurie.
The character of Judy McCoy was often known for being frustrated as others on the show confused her with her sister Julie.
4. Julie Was Written Out of the Show Because of Tewes’ Struggles
On the show, the character of Julie McCoy was written out by saying she got married. But in reality, actress Lauren Tewes was fired from The Love Boat due to a cocaine addiction that had spiralled out of control.
Once Tewes was released from the show, she was able to get past her addiction and make a return, initially making a solo guest appearance and then fully returning for the TV movie specials.
5. Tewes Did Become Addicted to Drugs, but Overcame It
Lauren Tewes developed a drug addiction during her time on The Love Boat, which ultimately led to her being released from the show. She later overcame her addiction, got clean and was able to return to the show.
Lauren Tewes’s cocaine addiction was quite the scandal at the time. In Tewes’ own words, despite the popularity of the drug at the time in Hollywood and TV, to her, it seemed like only she was being punished for her addiction. She admits that the addiction started in the late 1970s, well before she was fired from The Love Boat.
Tewes has since been interviewed about her addiction, where she laments the fact that the tag “former cocaine addict” seems to follow her around, even though she was able to make a return to the show once she had beaten her addiction.
6. Tewes Was Fired Due to Her Addiction
Julie McCoy left The Love Boat between seasons 7 and 8 in 1984. The character did not receive a farewell on the show as the actress playing her was fired in between seasons. Instead, the character’s absence was explained at the start of the first episode of the eighth season.
Considering how Julie, the cruise director, was such a popular role, the writers decided they had to replace her with a similar character, hence the introduction of her sister Judy McCoy. Thankfully for fans and for Tewes, Julie was able to return to the show later.
Tewes was also invited to make an appearance on a special ‘reunion’ episode of Love Boat: The Next Wave. This was a follow-up show that was made in 1998 and only lasted until 1999, taking place on the Sun Princess. The reunion episode saw several Love Boat cast members return.
Julie featured prominently in the episode, with the big reveal that the character had been in love with ‘Doc’ Adam Bricker, played by Bernie Kopell, all along and that he was also in love with her.
Thank god the character finally got a truly happy ending, considering everything she had been through!
7. The Character Was Written Off Without Tewes Appearing
Julie McCoy was written off The Love Boat at the start of season 8. She did not appear in the episode where her character was written off – instead, Captain Stubing, played by Gavin MacLeod, announces to the rest of the crew that Julie has left the ship after getting married.
Julie appeared in one more episode – episode 8 of season 9 – as a guest. She then made a full return to the show for the TV specials, where she announced that her marriage had ended and so she was returning to her job as cruise director.
8. The Story Used Was That Julie Got Married
Cruise director Julie did get married on The Love Boat, although fans don’t see the wedding happen. It happened between seasons 7 and 8, and the storyline is the reason that Lauren Tewes was written out of the show.
Fans would no doubt have been disappointed that such an important and popular character had a major event happen that they couldn’t watch, especially after Julie had been left at the altar in a previous episode.
As far as I can tell, it was never made clear who Julie McCoy had married, although fans often assume it was Marty Chenault – the producer who guest-starred in the second-last episode of season 7 before McCoy left the show, and a character that she had almost married once before.
There are some fans who say that the character of Vicki announced that Marty was the person that Julie married. However, with the latter seasons so rarely repeated and hard to find, this isn’t easy to confirm (source).
9. Julie Had Already Been Left at the Altar…
In the first episode of season 5, Julie McCoy was due to marry her fiancé, Tony, when the ship visited Australia, where he was working on an animal reserve. However, Tony left her at the altar, explaining in a letter to her that he was dying.
The plan for McCoy had been to marry Tony and move to Australia to work with him, but unfortunately, it turned out to be another failed relationship for the character. In a later episode, the crew returned to Australia, and Julie visited David, Tony’s brother.
David explained that Tony had passed away from his illness, and it was revealed that Julie had continued to send him letters.
10. Tewes Is Alive and Doing Well
Lauren Tewes is still alive, and she continues to work as an actress. She has also made appearances with other cast members from the show on various TV interviews to discuss her time on the show.
The actress – and the other cast members of the show – still have close ties to Princess Cruises, the company which helped make the show onboard one of its ships, Pacific Princess. Just watch this clip from an interview with Access Hollywood where the actors talk about how good the newest Princess Cruises ships are:
Tewes’s current relationship status is unknown, but she has been married three times. She married her first husband, John Wassel, in 1977, and they were divorced in 1982.
Her second marriage was to Paolo Nonnis, whom she married in 1985 during her recovery from her cocaine addiction. That marriage lasted 10 years before the divorce.
Her final marriage was to Robert Nadir – she married him in 1996 and they stayed together until his death in 2002 of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
11. Tewes Recently Celebrated Her 70th Birthday
The actress who played Julie McCoy on The Love Boat, Lauren Tewes, was born on 26th October 1953, and so in 2023, she celebrated her 70th birthday.
For her 60th birthday, she was honoured with a special event on a Princess Cruises ship where she was able to film some promotional material for the cruise line, enjoy video messages from other actors from the show, and share a huge cake dedicated to her character.
12. Tewes Has Returned to Acting
Lauren Tewes continues to work as an actor, with some of her most recent work being for the radio drama Murder and the Murdochs, which is a comedy-mystery series available on Imagination Theater radio.
Since leaving The Love Boat, Tewes continued to work as an actor. She made appearances in some of the biggest TV series of the 1980s, including My Two Dads, Murder, She Wrote, TJ Hooker, and Hunter.
She did get cast in a recurring role on the TV show The Fugitive, which ran from 2000 until 2001. She played a police detective in the show.
Lauren Tewes now balances her acting work with her other interests in food. She is believed to be a ‘cheese specialist’ who works with clients to order specialist cheeses, and a trained sous-chef since her time in culinary school in 2004. She actively works as a sous chef for a catering company based in Seattle when she is not acting.
13. Her Estimated Net Worth Is In the Millions
While it is impossible to confirm, most profiles of Lauren Tewes, the actress who played Julie McCoy on The Love Boat, say that she has a net worth of $2 million. This is a reasonable estimate based on her acting experience.
Understandably, most people do not publish their net worth, and it is kept private, since net worth is based on career earnings and assets owned.
However, Lauren Tewes’ net worth is consistently quoted as being $2 million and considering her TV roles, including The Love Boat and other shows, her 50-year career and the fact that she was able to overcome her drug addiction and return to work relatively quickly, would mean that figure is likely to be in the right ballpark.
Final Word
So, now you know what happened to Julie on The Love Boat. A character that always seemed to be at the heart of a new romance was portrayed by an actor going through a very difficult time, and it’s a testament to her that she was able to still become so popular with audiences at home.
It’s also a credit to Lauren Tewes that she was able to move past her drug addiction and continue her career, and hopefully, she will keep working as long as she wants to as an actor, and she can shake off the tag of “former cocaine addict” soon enough, if she hasn’t already.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Royal Caribbean celebrated another cruise ship construction milestone this past week when the first block was laid on a 4th Icon class ship.
The Icon class from Royal Caribbean are the largest class of cruise ships in the world. There are two currently in service, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
The third, Legend of the Seas, will debut in 2026 with the 4th and currently unnamed ship in 2027.
The laying of the keel marked the official start of construction on Icon 4 as the blocks of the ship begins to come together. The ceremony took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
In keeping with ship building tradition, a layer of freshly minted coins was placed before the enormous block was lifted into place.
Royal Caribbean has yet to announce the name and homeport for this new largest cruise ship.
This news follows the float-out of Legend of the Seas, which recently touched water for the first time.
Royal Caribbean has three new ships either under construction or on order. They are Legend of the Seas, Icon 4 and Oasis 7.
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Ordinarily, going nude on a cruise ship (outside of the privacy of your own stateroom) isn’t allowed. But if you fancy a more liberated holiday, there are a number of nudist, clothing-optional, and lifestyle cruises where going bare is completely allowed.
In this guide, I’ll share the best cruises for those who prefer to spend their sea days totally textile-free.
The Different Types of Naked Cruise
It’s important that you know that not all naked cruises are the same. Before you search for a nude cruise, you should be sure that you understand the distinctions to make sure that you end up on a ship with like-minded people.
Nudist cruises – For naturists and people who like to be naked in a non-sexual way
Lifestyle cruises – Also known as swingers cruises, these are couples cruises with an erotic nature
When booking a nude cruise, you need to decide if you’re a nudist or a swinger. There are options for both, and you won’t want to end up on the wrong ship!
1. Nude Cruises
Texas-based company Bare Necessities has been chartering cruise ships for bare-optional cruises since 1991 and is the leading provider of naturist cruises. The company supports the belief that social nudity is not a sexual activity and strives to dispel the misconception that it’s anything but natural and beautiful.
This way, you get a whole nude cruise ship rather than trying to hide the nudity activities from clothed guests who don’t want to be offended.
Nude cruises aren’t about sex; they’re about being comfortable in your own skin, without the restrictions of clothing. These cruises are popular with adults of all ages, shapes and sizes, so you can expect to find all sorts of people on board.
Naked cruising can be addictive. It’s reported that 70% of guests are repeat customers, so you may start to recognise regular cruisers if this is something that you do often.
While some nude cruisers do hook up, this must be done in a very discreet way. Anyone being overtly sexual could be kicked off the ship.
Most nude cruises are actually clothing-optional. This means that you have the option to go nude if you wish, but you don’t have to. While most people will go naked, some remain clothed throughout as they book these cruises just to be sure that there will be no children on board.
Also, there aren’t currently any gay nudist cruises on large cruise ships. However, the company Gay Sail arranges gay nude cruises on yachts and catamarans that hold up to 14 guests.
On a nudist cruise, the crew will be fully clothed in their uniforms as usual. Cruise ship crew members are allowed to decline to work on a chartered nudist cruise if they find nudity to be offensive according to their culture or religion.
2. Lifestyle Cruises
When it comes to clothing-optional cruises for adventurous couples who want to meet up with like-minded others for a sexy getaway, there are two companies to consider – Desire Cruises and Bliss Cruise. Each of these companies charters ships for exclusive use and only permits heterosexual couples to sail.
Desire Cruises promises ‘a world of erotic pleasure’. As you cruise to exotic destinations in Europe or South America, you’ll enjoy endless erotic events, seductive entertainment and a sexually-charged atmosphere with drinks included.
Another option for adults-only lifestyle cruises is a Bliss Cruise, which also offers swingers cruises departing from the United States.
Then there’s Killing Kittens, offering a luxury lifestyle cruise experience with a playful, high-end twist. Designed for those who value connection, empowerment, and atmosphere, it’s all about creating a safe, inclusive space to relax, party, and explore at your own pace.
It’s best to choose one of these themed cruises if you want to swing on a cruise, to avoid offending regular cruise passengers. While the upside-down pineapple can be a sign of swinging on a regular cruise, it isn’t always known!
If you want to meet with other couples for adult fun, then clothing-optional swingers cruises offer just that. These include a whole host of activities to get your pulse racing, including sexy themed parties, erotic movie showings and couples workshops.
On these cruises, sex in public is allowed within the designated ‘playrooms’. Of course, you can also do it in the privacy of your stateroom or on your balcony.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to nude cruises, the first thing you need to confirm in your mind is whether you want a naturist cruise where you can be free to relax at your most comfortable in a non-sexual environment, or whether you want a sexy swingers’ cruise with clothing-optional areas.
That’s not to say that couples don’t hook up in private on nudist cruises, but that’s certainly not the focus, as it is on lifestyle cruises that have sexy entertainment and designated rooms for public sex.
If you want to cruise nude, or enjoy a topless cruise, without any pressure for sexual activity, then make sure you choose the right company.
Useful Things to Know About Nude Cruises
There are several rules you have to follow on a nude cruise. For example, every guest is required to sit on a towel in public areas. There are stacks of towels all around the ship, at the entrance to each venue.
Usually, clothing is required in the main dining room and speciality restaurants. So on a formal night, guests will wear formal attire as they would on any other cruise.
On a regular cruise, you might be able to go naked on your balcony, depending on the location of your cabin. Although some balconies are very private, others may be overlooked from above, and you could cause offence to anyone looking down.
Don’t forget you’ll likely be on CCTV too, so the officers will see you. You also shouldn’t be naked on your balcony when the ship is in port.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival currently has 29 cruise ships, with five more scheduled to join the fleet by the end of 2033. But did you know there’s a huge difference in their sizes?
The largest ship, Carnival Jubilee (on the left), is two and a half times bigger than the smallest, Carnival Elation (on the right).
It doesn’t look it, right? That’s because cruise ship size is measured in gross tonnage – a calculation based on a ship’s internal volume, not its weight. This means two ships can be similar in length, but if one has more decks and a wider structure, it’ll have a much larger overall volume.
As a guide, Carnival’s ships range between 855 and 1,130 feet long, with 10 to 17 guest decks. When you put those numbers together, it’s easy to see why a 10-deck, 855-foot ship feels much smaller than a 17-deck, 1,130-foot one.
So, how do the other Carnival ships size up? And does bigger mean better? Read on to find out…
List of Carnival Ships from Biggest to Smallest
The infographic above shows illustrations of all of the Carnival ships by size, from biggest to smallest. The images are to scale. As the tonnage and guest capacity vary slightly between ships, I’ve used the averages.
Here are the Carnival ship sizes in a table for you…
Ship
Gross Tonnage
Length (Feet)
Guest Decks
Max Guest Capacity
Carnival Jubilee
182,800
1,130
17
6,500
Carnival Celebration
182,800
1,130
17
6,500
Mardi Gras
180,800
1,130
17
6,465
Carnival Venezia
135,225
1,061
14
5,260
Carnival Firenze
135,156
1,061
15
5,078
Carnival Panorama
133,500
1,055
15
5,146
Carnival Horizon
133,500
1,055
15
4,977
Carnival Vista
133,500
1,055
15
4,977
Carnival Breeze
130,000
1,004
14
3,690
Carnival Magic
130,000
1,004
14
3,690
Carnival Dream
130,000
1,004
13
3,646
Carnival Splendor
113,300
952
13
3,734
Carnival Conquest
110,000
952
13
3,756
Carnival Glory
110,000
952
13
3,756
Carnival Liberty
110,000
952
13
3,756
Carnival Valor
110,000
952
13
3,756
Carnival Freedom
110,000
952
13
3,754
Carnival Sunshine
102,853
893
13
3,758
Carnival Radiance
101,509
893
13
3,873
Carnival Sunrise
101,509
893
13
3,873
Carnival Luminosa
92,600
963
12
2,826
Carnival Miracle
88,500
963
12
2,680
Carnival Pride
88,500
963
12
2,680
Carnival Legend
88,500
963
12
2,610
Carnival Spirit
88,500
963
12
2,610
Carnival Paradise
71,925
855
10
2,606
Carnival Elation
71,909
855
10
2,606
Excel Class – the Biggest Carnival Ships
Carnival’s Excel-class ships are 35% larger than the next biggest ships in the fleet. They’re made with the same hull design as other Carnival-owned ships like P&O Cruises Arvia and Iona, AIDAnova and AIDAcosma and Costa Smeralda and Toscana.
Excel-class ships have some features that you won’t find on other Carnival ships, such as the first-ever rollercoasters at sea. However, the next two Excel-class ships to join the fleet, Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, will forego the rollercoaster in favour of a bigger water park.
Carnival Jubilee
Making her maiden voyage in December 2023, Carnival Jubilee is the joint-largest ship in the Carnival fleet.
This Excel-class vessel boasts a staggering gross tonnage of 183,521 GT and stretches an impressive 1,130 feet in length. With the capacity to host 6,630 passengers and a dedicated crew of 1,735, the ship has 2,641 staterooms spread.
Key attractions include the thrilling BOLT roller coaster, the WaterWorks aqua park, the serene adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck and the NASA-inspired Space Cruisers programme for kids.
The ship also features delectable dining at the Seafood Shack, Shaq’s Big Chicken and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.
Carnival Celebration
I was lucky enough to visit Carnival Celebration at the start of her maiden voyage in Southampton
Carnival Celebration is the same size as Carnival Jubilee and accommodates the same number of guests. Launched in November 2022, this colossal vessel has a gross tonnage of 183,521 GT and spans a remarkable 1,130 feet in length.
Guests can experience the adrenaline rush of the BOLT roller coaster, engage in Family Feud Live, or unwind at the travel-inspired Latitudes bar. The WaterWorks aqua park promises splashing fun, while dining options range from the exotic Bonsai Sushi and upscale Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse to Rudi’s Seagrill and the ever-popular Shaq’s Big Chicken.
Registered in Panama and with an investment of $1 billion, the Carnival Celebration epitomises fun and entertainment at sea.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras was the first ship in Carnival’s groundbreaking Excel class and the first Carnival ship to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, marking a significant step towards sustainable cruising.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The Mardi Gras also boasts the exhilarating BOLT roller coaster, ensuring thrill-seekers are in for a treat. Guests can engage in spirited games at Family Feud Live or sip tropical concoctions at the RedFrog Tiki Bar. The WaterWorks aqua park promises endless aquatic fun, while the Excel suites offer an elevated experience with exclusive Loft 19 access.
Culinary adventures abound with the unique fusion of flavours at Chibang! Mexican and Chinese restaurant, the revamped Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Rudi’s Seagrill, and the crowd-favourite Shaq’s Big Chicken.
Venice Class – Ex-Costa Cruises Ships
The Venice Class ships were originally built for Carnival’s sister-company, Costa Cruises. Carnival Venezia was originally Costa Venezia, while Carnival Firenze was originally Costa Firenze.
Carnival Corporation signed an agreement in 2015 for five ships to be delivered between 2019 and 2022. Two of these were planned for Costa Cruises’ expansion into the Chinese market. However, the global shutdown of 2020 meant that these ships were no longer needed for Costa Cruises, and instead, they were transferred to Carnival Cruise Line.
As construction of the ships had already started, you’ll notice that they have some key Costa-style features, such as the rounded funnels instead of Carnival’s signature whale tails.
Carnival Venezia
The first Carnival Fun Italian Style ship, Carnival Venezia, began sailing for the cruise line in 2023, and it offers a fantastic blend of cruising styles. While she’s not as large as some of the other recent ships from Carnival, she still offers plenty to see and do for the whole family.
Guests will love the wide range of Italian and global dining options, the lively bars, and the relaxing Serenity Retreat for grown-ups only. Kids will never get bored either, with the organised activities and hangout spaces of the three youth zones plus the ropes course, mini golf, water slides and more.
Carnival Venezia offers cruises to the Caribbean and Canada/New England from New York and Port Canaveral.
Carnival Firenze
Carnival Firenze embodies the ‘Fun Italian Style’ of cruising with a fantastic combination of Costa-style venues and Carnival favourites. There are plenty of places to try Italian cuisine onboard, including the Palazzo and Medici restaurants along with the La Strada Grill street food venue, but guests can also enjoy classics like Guy’s Burger Joint, Bonsai Teppanyaki and more.
There’s more to Carnival Firenze than just food – guests can hit the waterslides, try out the ropes course and mini golf, or sample the many distinctive bars around the ship, while kids will love the different youth zones. Carnival Firenze sails to Mexico from Long Beach.
Vista Class
Carnival Vista
Carnival Vista may be around 70% of the size of the biggest ships in the Carnival fleet, but she still packs in an absolutely incredible amount of activities and thrilling attractions. Chief among them is the SkyRide suspended bike course, which made its debut on this ship.
There are plenty of indoor and outdoor bars and restaurants, and a host of activities for younger guests, too, including the Dr. Seuss Bookville. Adults will also find some peaceful locations to relax, so there’s always somewhere to enjoy, no matter whether you seek peace or adventure.
Carnival Horizon
The second of the Vista-class ships to launch for Carnival, the Carnival Horizon offers a very similar experience to her elder sister. There’s so much to see and do onboard that you likely won’t fit it all in on just one cruise – including the multi-screen cinema with IMAX, the water park and all the amazing live entertainment.
It also has a wider range of dining options than some of Carnival’s smaller ships, with plenty of snack stops, casual fast food options and speciality restaurants to cater to any taste. Carnival Horizon sails out of Miami to the Caribbean.
Carnival Panorama
Carnival Panorama was originally due to be added to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, but plans changed and she instead joined her sisters as the third Vista-class ship for Carnival. While many of her features are the same as on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, she does have a Sky Zone trampoline park instead of the IMAX theatre.
Beyond this, there are all the best Carnival restaurants to enjoy, live shows and entertainment in the evening, and plenty of quieter spots to unwind too. Carnival Panorama offers Mexico cruises from Long Beach.
Dream Class
Carnival Dream
The Carnival Dream launched in 2009 and took on the mantle of the largest ship in the Carnival fleet, offering around 11% more space than the Carnival Splendor, which launched a year prior.
Guests can expect all of Carnival’s most popular bars and restaurants, along with plenty of outdoor space to relax and soak up the sun. Then there’s the waterpark, the spa, the comedy club, the theatre… boredom is impossible! Carnival Dream sails to the Caribbean from Galveston.
Carnival Magic
Carnival Magic introduced some of Carnival’s signature features when she debuted in 2011, including the Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano and the SportsSquare, with the world’s first-ever ropes course at sea.
She also introduced the RedFrog pub and its exclusive beer, ThirstyFrog Red. Plus, she debuted Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, too! While some of these have since been added to older ships, Carnival Magic was the original place to catch them. She now sails out of Miami and Norfolk, with cruises to the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Carnival Breeze
Rounding out the Dream Class, Carnival Breeze didn’t necessarily bring anything new to the fleet, but she didn’t need to – replicating the amazing activities and dining options of Carnival Magic was plenty to keep guests happy.
There are outdoor sports activities, water slides, casual and speciality restaurants with choices galore, kids’ clubs, adults-only relaxation spaces and more. She sails out of Galveston, offering cruises to the Caribbean.
Splendor Class
Carnival Splendor
The sole ship in the Splendor Class, Carnival Splendor was originally planned to sail for Costa Cruises as part of the Concordia Class. Plans changed during construction, and she was transferred to the Carnival brand instead.
She was, for a short while, the largest ship in the fleet when she was built. And she has brought many of Carnival’s most popular restaurants and activities to the Australian cruise market, sailing around Asia and the South Pacific from Sydney (with some cruises from Singapore too).
Conquest Class
Carnival Conquest
When Carnival Conquest launched in 2002, she was the largest ship in the fleet. While the smaller Carnival Pride was considered the flagship, Carnival Conquest was around 30% larger, and she has packed that space with exciting things for guests to enjoy.
Kids love the youth zones and the Seuss at Sea interactive experiences, while adults can soak up the sun poolside or hit the various bars around the ship, including the Alchemy Bar and the ever-popular RedFrog Rum Bar. Carnival Conquest currently sails from Miami to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Carnival Glory
Carnival Glory is a fantastic ship if you’re looking for non-stop fun and great food. Guests love the WaterWorks waterpark, including the Twister and AquaTunnel water slides, while the Dive-In Movies make for a more serene way to enjoy the water in the evening.
Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and the Emerald Room Steakhouse are just a small sample of the popular Carnival restaurants onboard. Carnival Glory sails from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, with cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Carnival Valor
The Carnival Valor first set sail in 2004 and has been wowing guests for many years, especially with the upgrades she’s received since. Passengers love the variety of dining options, relaxation spaces and fun features, especially the Seuss at Sea kids’ activities and the impressive Twister water slide.
Big-screen movies under the stars, live comedy and musical theatre performances all help to ensure the fun carries on well into the evening, too. Caribbean cruises are available on the ship, sailing out of New Orleans.
Carnival Liberty
Carnival Liberty first launched in 2005 as the fourth ship in the Conquest Class, and she’s been well taken care of since. Indeed, she was the first ship to get some of the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, and she now has a fantastic range of activities and venues for guests to enjoy.
Whether it’s grabbing a beer in the SkyBox Sports Bar, soaking up the incredible live shows of the Playlist Productions theatre, or letting the kids go wild in the Camp Ocean clubs, there really is something for everyone. She sails out of Port Canaveral and New Orleans, with cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Carnival Freedom
Carnival Freedom was the last of the Conquest-class ships to launch, and she features the same venues and activities as her sister ships. There’s loads to do, and plenty of places to eat and drink, including all the Carnival favourites.
A great choice whether you want fun or relaxation, Carnival Freedom offers you the ‘freedom’ to cruise your way. She sails around the Caribbean and to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral.
Sunshine Class
Carnival Sunshine
The Carnival Sunshine is a milestone cruise ship – not just for Carnival but for all cruise lines. She was built in 1996 as the first-ever cruise ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons. She launched as the Carnival Destiny, but was refitted in 2013 and became the Carnival Sunshine, the first ship in the fleet to have all of Carnival’s Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades.
She’s now Carnival’s oldest ship, but still very popular with guests. She offers sailings out of Charleston and Norfolk, cruising to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Carnival Sunrise
Launching as the Carnival Triumph and renamed in 2019 as part of a major refit, the Carnival Sunrise is packed with exciting things to see and do, ideal for a cruise where the fun never stops.
She has water slides, pools, three youth spaces, live comedy performances and music, theatre shows, a sing-a-long piano bar, sports facilities, and so much more, along with a huge range of dining venues. She offers Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Miami.
Carnival Radiance
Originally launching as the Carnival Victory, the Carnival Radiance was the first ship of the new millennium for Carnival, and also the last of the Sunshine/Destiny Class. She was given a major upgrade in 2020, which is when the ship was given her current name.
As part of that upgrade, she was given a whole host of new features. Now, guests can enjoy Shaq’s Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, the RedFrog pub and loads more, along with loads of entertainment and activities.
She sails out of Long Beach with cruises to Hawaii and Mexico.
Spirit Class
Carnival Luminosa
The Carnival Luminosa is a little bit of an outlier – while the rest of the Spirit Class was launched between 2001 and 2004, she set sail in 2009 for sister brand Costa Cruises, sailing as the Costa Luminosa. Then, in 2022, she was transferred to Carnival. She’s considered a Vista/Spirit hybrid, but officially, she’s marketed as part of the Spirit Class.
She doesn’t have all the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades of her sister ships, but you’ll still find Carnival favourites, including many of the popular bars and restaurants, along with the Piano Bar and the Punchliner comedy club. She sails to Alaska and around Australasia from Seattle, Sydney and Brisbane.
Carnival Spirit
The founding ship of the Spirit Class, Carnival Spirit, offers a great time whether you want a fun-packed cruise or one that’s more relaxing. During the day, you’ll be able to play mini golf, unwind by the pool, try the water slide or escape to the Serenity adults-only retreat.
At night there’s the piano bar, live entertainment, lively bars, comedy performances and more. Carnival Spirit offers cruises to Alaska, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Hawaii from Miami, Mobile, and Seattle.
Carnival Pride
When the Carnival Pride launched, she wasn’t the biggest ship in the fleet, but she was considered the flagship due to her excellent dining and entertainment options. And those have been further enhanced with subsequent dry dock upgrades, including the addition of the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and a revamp of the Cloud 9 Spa.
She offers cruises primarily from Tampa in Florida, although sailings from Rome and Baltimore are also available.
Carnival Legend
The Carnival Legend has plenty to keep guests entertained, even when she’s crossing the Atlantic between seasons. Some of Carnival’s most classic features are present, including the Club Merlin Casino, the BlueIguana Cantina, and Truffles restaurant.
Entertainment options include Billie’s Piano Bar, the lively RedFrog pub, and the thrills of the Green Thunder waterslide. Carnival Legend sails around the Med in summer from Barcelona and Rome, and in winter offers sailings from Baltimore, Tampa, San Francisco and Galveston.
Carnival Miracle
Carnival Miracle is packed with features despite her smaller size, compared to larger ships in the fleet. The kids will love the WaterWorks park and the kids’ clubs, while the adults can escape to the Serenity Retreat for a truly relaxing getaway.
Food options include Nick & Nora’s Steakhouse and the RedFrog pub, with plenty of great bars too, including the Alchemy Bar for unique cocktails. Carnival Miracle sails out of Long Beach, San Francisco, and Galveston with itineraries including Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the Panama Canal.
Fantasy Class
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise was the last Fantasy-class ship to be built (several have since been sold or scrapped), and while she was first launched in 1998, she has been updated several times since, ensuring she still offers a great Carnival cruise experience.
While she’s too small to have all the exciting bells and whistles of a modern Carnival ship, she does offer pools, hot tubs, the WaterWorks waterpark, Seuss at Sea and a host of great restaurants and bars. She sails out of Tampa on Bahamas cruises.
Carnival Elation
Despite being the smallest ship in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Elation still has plenty to keep guests entertained and happy during their cruise. There’s the WaterWorks splash area, three youth spaces, an arcade and more for the kids.
Plus, there’s a wide variety of dining options, including BlueIguana Cantina for burritos and tacos, Guy’s Burger Joint, and some exciting bars for the grown-ups to try. Carnival Elation sails out of Jacksonville and offers Bahamas cruises.
Here’s How the Different Ship Classes Compare
There are currently nine classes of Carnival cruise ships. Each ship in a particular class is almost identical, with some small differences.
The table below shows the Carnival ship classes from largest to smallest, based on ship volume.
There are advantages to both the bigger and smaller Carnival ships. The biggest ships are newer and have more facilities on board, with bigger water parks and more stuff for kids to do.
The older, smaller ships in the Carnival fleet can be great too, though. The itineraries may be more destination-focused, so you’ll spend less time at sea during your cruise. Cruising on the older, smaller ships is usually a little cheaper, too.
One thing to consider with the older ships is that balcony rooms are rare. These ships have mostly interior and ocean view rooms.
Carnival ship sizes range from huge to medium-sized. None of the ships is small, and all of them have lots to keep guests entertained.
The bigger ships like Carnival Jubilee are typically seen as the nicest ships, but not because they’re big – just because Carnival’s building the bigger ships now, so they’re newer.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
A Royal Caribbean guest is facing serious legal consequences after deliberately leaping overboard from Rhapsody of the Seas in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an attempt to escape paying a casino debt of more than $16,000.
Image credit: Handout
The incident occurred on 7th September 2025 as the Vision-class ship was completing a 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing.
At around 9:15 am, while passengers were disembarking at Pier 4, Jey González-Díaz jumped into the water.
Surveillance footage later showed him being picked up by a jet ski and dropped back at shore, but authorities were quickly alerted.
Cash, Multiple IDs and a Fake Identity
Customs and Border Protection officers notified Homeland Security Investigations, though González-Díaz was apprehended before agents arrived.
He was located near Puerto Rico’s Capitol Building with $14,600 in cash, two mobile phones, a handbag, and five separate forms of identification.
Court documents state that he admitted to jumping into the water to avoid declaring the cash, mistakenly believing it would be taxed if reported.
Image credit: Handout
He has since been charged with failing to declare more than $10,000 upon entering the United States, a federal offence.
Investigators also discovered that González-Díaz boarded the cruise under the false identity of his brother, who is currently incarcerated.
Travelling under an assumed name could result in further charges.
Banned for Life
Royal Caribbean has not issued a public statement, but the guest is almost certainly banned from the line and its sister brands.
The company enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against both fraudulent activity and reckless behaviour such as intentionally jumping from a ship.
González-Díaz has been released on bail while awaiting further court proceedings.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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