Please stay in the Loop with Our Free Cruise Newsletter: Uncover the Latest News and Exclusive Deals: Sign Up In this episode of the Always Be Booked Cruise Podcast, host Tommy Casabona covers the following
34 Insider Secrets About Disney’s Private Island
Disney’s private island is pure paradise – think soft white sand, crystal-clear water, and surprise visits from your favourite characters. But if you want to make the most of your day, there are a few things you need to know first…
I’ve rounded up 34 insider tips that’ll help you skip the queues, save money, and unlock hidden gems on the island. Trust me – you’ll thank yourself later!
1. The Only Way To Get To Castaway Cay Is By Cruise Ship
Castaway Cay is a Disney private island. It’s not technically owned by the cruise line, but it is leased exclusively to Disney for the long term, so for now, it’s a Disney island. The only way to visit Castaway Cay is to take a Disney cruise. Not all Disney cruise itineraries call at Castaway Cay, so look out for one that does if you have your heart set on visiting this paradise island.
Castaway Cay is located in the Bahamas, near Great Abaco Island. It’s 73 miles north of Nassau and 248 miles east of Port Canaveral, Florida.
2. Entrance To Castaway Cay Is Included In Your Cruise Fare
Many people wonder how much it costs to visit Disney Castaway Cay. The truth is that admission to the island doesn’t cost anything extra. Once you’ve paid for your cruise, you can visit Castaway Cay at no additional cost and there are lots of included attractions to enjoy on the island.
However, if you want to take part in an excursion on the island, such as a snorkelling trip, a glass bottom boat ride or a walking tour, then you can do those for an extra cost.
Suggested read: Here’s What’s Included With A Disney Cruise
3. The Food Is Free, Don’t Miss It
Meals and ice cream are free on Castaway Cay for Disney cruise guests. A buffet-style lunch is served between 11.30 am and 2 pm, so you can help yourself to barbecue food like burgers, hot dogs, ribs, salad, fruit and cookies.
Places you can grab food include Cookie’s BBQ, Cookies Too BBQ and Serenity Bay BBQ. They all serve pretty much the same dishes, but be sure to arrive before 2 pm. After that, your only option to eat on Castaway Cay will be to grab snacks from the bar.
4. There Once Was a Pirate Ship At Castaway Cay
The Flying Dutchman ghost ship from the movie Pirate of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was displayed at Castaway Cay between June 2006 and November 2010. This movie prop was a spectacular sight to behold until it was removed due to its deterioration.
While the pirate ship was certainly impressive, with its intricate details, it was only meant to be a movie prop and not to withstand the weather for years on end. So, in 2012, the Flying Dutchman was taken to another location on Castaway Cay, where it was dismantled.
5. Some Disney Cast Members Live On Castaway Cay
Around 100 Disney Cast Members live on Castaway Cay all year round, while more commute by boat from the nearby island of Abaco. Cast Members who live on the island include landscapers and maintenance workers.
The people who live on Castaway Cay live in prefabricated dormitory-style houses. They have their own crew beach, a football pitch, a gym and an indoor recreation area.
6. The Water At Castaway Cay Is Warm All Year Round
The sea temperature at Castaway Cay ranges from 70°F (21°C) in January to 88°F (31°C) in July and August. Even in the winter, the sea is warm enough to swim and in the height of summer, the shallow waters will feel very warm indeed.
I visited in July and the sea was a little too warm to provide much respite from the sweltering heat. In this situation, the best option is to get wet and then relax in the shade!
7. You Can’t Stay Overnight On The Island
It’s not possible to stay overnight on Castaway Cay. Your ship will dock at the island at around 9 am and leave at around 4 pm. So the longest you can stay on the island is around seven hours.
Listen out for the ship’s horn in the afternoon. That will signal the last tram back to the dock. If you miss that, you’d better run back to the ship quickly to avoid being stranded on the island!
If one day just isn’t enough for you, there are some cruises that call at Castaway Cay twice. So, look out for those activities for maximum island time.
8. You Don’t Need To Take Towels With You
As you get off the ship at Castaway Cay, you’ll be handed towels to use on the island. The towels are large beach towels, so they’re big enough to lie on. You’re welcome to take two per person, so you have one to sit on and one to dry off with.
If you forget to grab towels as you leave the ship, don’t worry. There are towel stations across the island where you can collect some or exchange your wet ones for dry ones.
When you head back to the ship, there will be a bin to throw your used towels in. Nobody checks to make sure that you returned your towels, but it’s polite to do so and not leave them on the island.
9. 95% of Castaway Cay Is Wild
Castaway Cay is 1,000 acres in size, but only 55 acres of the island are developed. Although the island is 3.1 miles long and 2.2 miles wide, 95% of the island is untouched. It’s mostly made up of lush, natural forests.
10. You Can Run A 5K Race On Castaway Cay
Each morning, there’s a 5K race on Castaway Cay. It’s free to enter and all participants receive a medal. You don’t need to run to enter; you can walk if you prefer. As well as seeing some interesting parts of the island that most people miss, if you take part in the Castaway Cay 5K, you’re guaranteed to be one of the first people off the ship in the morning.
You can register for the Castaway Cay 5K by signing up on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or at guest services once on board. It is weather permitting, though, so there’s a chance that it may be cancelled if the weather is bad.
11. You Can Snorkel For Free At Castaway Cay
When looking at Castaway Cay excursions, you’ll see several options for snorkelling for an additional fee. However, you can snorkel for free at Castaway Cay if you bring your own snorkelling gear.
The Snorkelling Lagoon has two snorkelling trails – one for beginners and one for more experienced snorkelers. You can rent snorkels, masks and flippers if you don’t have your own. But life vests are complimentary for everyone and really help you to float, so I’d recommend that you grab one.
12. There Are Sharks At Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay has shark nets around the family beach and snorkelling area, but none at the adults’ beach, Serenity Bay. If you swim at Serenity Bay, you may sometimes see sharks up to six feet in length. You don’t need to worry, though, because the sharks at Castaway Cay are nurse sharks that are harmless to humans.
You can swim with nurse sharks without any problems. They will only bite if you step on them or otherwise provoke them. While they do have thousands of teeth, nobody has ever died from a bite from a nurse shark, and any injuries have been minor and very rare. There are no reports of shark attacks at Castaway Cay.
Suggested read: Do Sharks Swim Around Cruise Ships?
Other dangerous creatures to be on the lookout for include jellyfish, barracuda, sea lice, stingrays, sea urchins, anemones and fire coral. There are also lots of harmless and pretty sea creatures like starfish and all kinds of pretty tropical fish.
13. It’s Almost Impossible To Get A Cabana
Castaway Cay cabanas cost between $399 and $949 to rent for the day. But despite the large price tag, they are always in demand and so it can be virtually impossible to reserve one, unless you’re a Concierge or Platinum guest. This is because there are only 24 cabanas on Castaway Cay and thousands of guests on the ship.
During my visit, I was lucky enough to snag a Castaway Cay cabana in the Serenity Bay area. Check out my guide to Castaway Cay cabanas for details of how to get your hands on one and what to expect when you do.
To reserve a Castaway Cay cabana, you’ll want to book it on the Port Adventures section of the Disney Cruise Line website as soon as bookings open. Guests staying in Concierge-level staterooms and suites can book 125 days ahead and guests with Platinum Castaway Club Member status can book 120 days ahead.
After that, guests with Gold or Silver Castaway Club Member status can book cabanas 90 days before the cruise sets sail. If you’ve never cruised with Disney before, you’re very unlikely to be able to book a cabana. But, people do cancel sometimes, so if you keep checking online every day, then you might get lucky.
Failing that, you can check with guest services as soon as you board the ship, in case anyone with a cabana has cancelled their cruise at the very last minute. This is rare, but it does happen sometimes.
14. You’ve Probably Been Pronouncing Castaway Cay Wrong
Castaway Cay is actually pronounced as ‘key’. The word ‘cay’ comes from the Spanish word ‘cayo’, which means ‘key’ – a small, low island. Although the correct way to pronounce Cay is ‘key’, many people do pronounce it as ‘kay’ and it’s okay to do so if you wish.
15. You Can Get Married On The Beach
Wedding ceremonies at Castaway Cay are available with up to 100 guests. The price starts at $4,500 for 16 guests, with extra guests costing $20 each. As well as a morning ceremony on the beach with live music, you’ll enjoy an intimate celebration back on the ship afterwards.
Suggested read: Can Ship Captains Marry People?
16. There Are No Rides On Castaway Cay
Despite being owned by Disney, there are no rides on Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Popular activities in this idyllic location include snorkelling, cycling, relaxing on the beach, basketball, ping pong and dance parties. There are waterslides for kids at the Pelican Plunge area, but no rides as such.
The waterslides are great, though. The one on the left is really fast, but I preferred the slide on the right, which is much more relaxing. The landing area is too deep to stand, but don’t worry if you’re not a strong swimmer, life jackets are available for you to use.
17. There’s Limited WiFi But Plenty Of Phone Signal
Many areas of Castaway Cay don’t have wifi, but you can access it in some of the bars, particularly the ones closest to the ship. However, the island does have a cell tower so you can use your mobile phone data. Roaming charges are the same as anywhere else in the Bahamas.
Suggested read: How to Avoid Roaming Charges on a Cruise
18. Castaway Cay Has A Secret Observation Tower
It’s something of a hidden gem, but Castaway Cay has a 40-foot-high observation tower where you can enjoy stunning views over the island. To get there, take the tram to Serenity Bay, then follow the cycle path to it. You’ll also pass it if you do the Castaway Cay 5K, so be sure to take a few minutes to stop to climb it.
19. Book A Room On The Starboard Side For The Best Views
Disney cruise ships typically back into the port when they dock at Castaway Cay, so if you choose a room with a balcony on the starboard side of the ship, you’ll have great views of the island from your stateroom.
We watched the early-morning arrival into Castaway Cay from our balcony on the starboard side of the Disney Wish.
20. Eat Breakfast In The Buffet For Morning Island Views
While Disney Cruise Line’s Dining Room breakfasts are incredible, I would advise eating in the buffet on the morning of your day ashore at Castaway Cay. Not only is this much quicker, so you’ll have more time to explore the island, but you’ll also enjoy the best views of the island.
Most ships have an outdoor area at the back of the buffet. Head here and you can enjoy spectacular views of Castaway Cay while you eat.
21. Those With Special Diets Should Pre-Order Their Food
If you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or have another dietary requirement, then pre-ordering your food is a must. You can do this with your waiter in the main dining room on the evening before your visit.
There is a choice of vegan options, including the Impossible burger and plant-based chicken tenders. You can also get fries, which aren’t available to everyone else.
Pre-ordered food will be delivered to Cookies BBQ, so you’ll need to head there to collect it, rather than to Cookies Too or the Serenity Bay BBQ. When you arrive, there’s a special counter to the left of the buffet. Let them know when you. arrive and they’ll cook the food especially for you.
If you haven’t pre-ordered, then the special options may still be available, but you might have a long wait if the crew need to head back to the ship to collect the ingredients!
Suggested read: How to Order Vegan Food on a Disney Cruise
22. There’s A Kids’ Club On Castaway Cay
Parents who want to enjoy some relaxing time in the adults-only area can drop their kids off at Scuttle’s Cove, Castaway Cay’s kids’ club. Here, youngsters will enjoy all kinds of activities such as scavenger hunts, volleyball and sandcastle competitions.
At Monstro Point, kids can become palaeontologists for the day and dig for fossils and dinosaur bones in the sand. If you prefer to stay with your children, you can do, and enjoy the dinosaur dig as a family.
23. There Are Plenty Of Loungers For Everyone
You never need to worry about getting a sunbed on Castaway Cay, as there are thousands of them across the various beaches. Sun loungers and umbrellas are all available free of charge and there’s no shortage, no matter how busy the ship is.
24. You Can Enjoy All Kinds Of Games
It’s truly impossible to be bored on Castaway Cay. When you’ve had enough of the beach, head to the shaded games area where you can play all kinds of games, including ping pong, table football, basketball shooting, pool, and giant versions of Connect Four, chess and checkers.
25. There’s A Pier Where You Can Jump Into The Sea
Located off the shore of the family beach, there’s a structure that older kids and teenagers will love. It has ropes to swing from and platforms where you can throw yourself into the sea. It’s closed at low tide, though, so you’ll want to time your visit well to take advantage of the fun that this platform offers.
26. Castaway Cay Has Lots Of Lifeguards
Disney Cruise Line always puts safety as its number one priority, so on Castaway Cay, there are so many lifeguards that you’d never be able to count them all. Many of the lifeguard stations are located very far out to sea, so you can be sure that you’re safe, even if you go for a swim in the ocean.
27. You Can Hire Bikes On The Island
Castaway Cay is pretty big, and so one of the best ways to explore is on a bicycle. You can follow the 5K race route, or just use your bike to get from A to B instead of the tram. Bike hire is free for cabana guests, but for everyone else, it costs $13 per hour.
There are lots of different sizes of bikes and helmets to choose from. There are adult bikes with child seats on the back, and small kids’ bikes for those as young as five. So the whole family can cycle together, no matter the age of your kids.
28. Spring-A-Leak Is A Great Place To Cool Off
Kids too hot? Then don’t miss the Spring-A-Leak water play area. It has jets of water that shoot up from the ground – the perfect place for kids of all ages to run around while cooling down. Tots in swim diapers are allowed, so even the youngest of babies can cool down in the shade in this fun, family area.
29. Soft Drinks Are Free On Castaway Cay
If you order a drink from any of the bars on Castaway Cay you’ll be charged. However, you can enjoy soft drinks and iced water for free at any of the three barbecue areas, even when the food service is closed.
The free drinks include water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Minute Maid Lemonade, Blue Powerade, Ginger Ale and Vitamin Water. Paper cups are provided, but I recommend bringing your own refillable drinks bottle so you can stay hydrated on the move.
You can also refill your water bottle at water fountains that are located outside of most of the restrooms. There are also stations where you can help yourself to lemon-infused ice water at most of the bars, so you really don’t need to waste money by ordering bottled water.
30. You Can Save With A Getaway Package
If you want to try a little bit of everything, you can book the Castaway Cay Getaway Package for discounted rentals. It includes all-day rental of snorkel gear and floats for the ocean, as well as one hour of bike rental.
It’s a good way to enjoy lots of experiences while keeping costs down.
31. You Can Snorkel With Stingrays
For the best snorkelling experience on Castaway Cay, head over to Castaway Ray’s stingray adventure. This activity costs $56 for adults and $45 for kids, but you’ll get to see stingrays up close and even touch these friendly creatures.
Snorkels, masks and lifejackets are provided and you’re given a training session on how to interact with these friendly creatures without upsetting them.
32. Ice Cream Is Free On Castaway Cay
On Castaway Cay, you can enjoy free ice cream from self-service machines that are located at the three barbecue buffet areas. It’s available all day long and comes with a choice of different flavours.
33. Mickey And Minnie Love To Visit Castaway Cay
If you’re lucky, you may spot Disney characters Mickey and Minnie during your visit to Castaway Cay. The delightful duo wear special beachwear when they step off the ship and visit the island.
34. There Are Rare Sea Lice Occurrences Around Castaway Cay
This isn’t the most pleasant one to talk about, but some people have reported being stung by sea lice while on Castaway Cay in the past. It’s very rare, and most people say that they’ve visited countless times without any problems, but it’s good to be aware just in case.
Sea lice aren’t actually lice, but they do give some nasty stings if you get caught by them in the water. It’s treatable with lotion, which you should be able to buy in the stores, or use the freshwater showers to rinse the area.
Again, you don’t need to worry about it, but on the rare chance you are stung, then you can at least deal with it while on the island.
To Conclude
Castaway Cay is such a wonderful private island that’s loved by everyone, whether you want to relax on the adults-only beach with a cocktail, snorkel in the sea or do something more energetic like go cycling or running.
I hope that this guide has helped you to plan your trip, but if you have anything else to add, please do so in the comments below.
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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.
The Ultimate Restaurant Guide For Virgin Voyages’ New Valiant Lady
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Virgin Voyages’ new ship creates such a dilemma.
Or maybe ia brilliant plan cooked up to perfection.
Virgin Voyages’ new cruise ship Valiant Lady — the second in the new cruise line’s fleet — offers so many restaurants and fantastic dining options that you would need to cruise again and again on the ship to properly indulge in all the creative cuisine.
Here is the Cruise Addicts definitive guide to the restaurants on Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady.
The ship offers more than 20 options for dining. You’ll find all sorts of international flavors but no big buffets or main dining rooms. Virgin Voyages really stands apart from the regular cruise concept when it comes to feeding its guests.
Plus, all of these eateries are included in your cruise fare. That’s right: no added fees for any of the specialty restaurants onboard Valiant Lady.
The Wake
This is the ship’s traditional surf and turf restaurant, with a menu that most closely resembles what cruisers are familiar with in a main dining room.
This is a beautiful space at the aft of the ship, and the entrance descends a gorgeous winding staircase below a huge bank of decorative hanging chandelier lights. It makes for a dramatic way to start your meal, entering the restaurant from Deck 7 down to Deck 6.
Passengers can indulge in the raw bar or traditional steak and seafood classics.
You can get a nice brunch here that features a small menu with eggs benedict specialties. We were disappointed that you can’t get eggs to order here during the brunches, so no scrambled or simple omelets even for those who don’t prefer eggs Benedict.
Extra Virgin
This is the Italian restaurant on Valiant Lady. We enjoyed a great meal here that started with a basket of delicious fresh bread and a charcuteries board with a range of savory salamis, cheeses and chutney.
We arrived early for our reservation and had a drink at the bar before being escorted to our table.
After our delicious apps (which also included braised mini meatballs), we still had room to indulge in main courses of pasta (I had a pappardelle bolognese), a brussels sprouts and polenta dish and a porcini-rubbed New York strip steak.
The Test Kitchen
This one might not be for everyone, but it’s worth a try. The Test Kitchen is operated in a huge space that looks like a laboratory, complete with staffers in lab coats. The dining experience takes diners on a journey into molecular gastronomy, with the chefs creating a set six-course menu offering an array of flavors.
Our dinner included courses of mushroom mousse, a smoky egg and peas, scallop, venison fillet and a chilled semifreddo blue cheese preparation that was a creamy delight. We also eagerly plunged our spoons into the mouthwatering chocolate layer-cake dessert.
Gunbae
This restaurant is universally loved among all the passengers I met. Gunbae is a fun Korean barbecue experience. Servers prepare your main dishes on a heating dish in the middle of a table that seats up to six people. This is a lively evening of eating, and you also choose small bites like seaweed salad and crispy chicken. You also can pick from rice, noodles and stew to accompany your main course. We had bibimbap, kimchi stew and stir-fried vegetables, egg and vermicelli noodles.
I chose the chef’s combo of pork belly, short ribs and shrimp, and our server deftly flipped the meats, onions and peppers into the sizzling flameless grill.
We also had a blast with interactive games and shots of soju while we dined. The staff does a wonderful job of making this a festive and memorable experience.
Pink Agave
This is the Mexican restaurant on Valiant Lady. Pink Agave is an inviting space with a variety of seating styles, including larger tables in more intimate nooks. The décor exudes the colorful and vibrant street scenes found in Mexico City.
The eatery features the largest variety of mezcals and tequilas found at sea, and they are used to help create a wide range of craft cocktails to be paired with authentic Mexican specialties. The menu offers small and medium plates good for sharing, such as guacamole, spicy grilled corn and ship and potatoes, as well as main course like a juicy pork pibil, pescado (fish) and chicken enchiladas.
Razzle Dazzle
Billed as a vegetarian-forward eatery, Razzle Dazzle offers a wide range of creative vegetarian and vegan options for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The space also offers the Red Bar, an all-red lounge area for music and events during the evenings.
Breakfasts are spectacular with menu items like avocado toast, coconut milk brioche french toast, smoked cheddar jalapeno croissant, acai bowls and malted buckwheat waffles. Plus, the variety of healthy smoothies (for a fee) are great choices for fitness-focuses cruisers.
The menu also offers Impossible burgers, black garlic bowtie pasta, ginger beer chicken, and fish and chips, as well as whole roasted heirloom cauliflower. Loaded tots and shishito peppers are popular sides.
While veg-focused, the menu also has a “Naughty” section with a salmon bowl, cobb salad with chicken and fried chicken sandwich.
Razzle Dazzle also has a wonderful array of desserts, especially the cookies, cheesecake and rainbow churros.
The Dock House/The Dock
Located at the aft of the ship on Deck 7, The Dockhouse is a bar and lounge area inside the ship, and The Dock is the cozy outer deck. These spaces have a relaxing resort feel, and the food options are delicious mezze (small plates) that are great for sharing. The dishes are Mediterranean-inspired creations like grilled octopus, goat cheese polenta and fire-roasted chicken thighs. Mezze carts offer ready-to-grab items like watermelon and feta, cauliflower couscous, beet hummus and black babaganoush.
The Sun Club Café
This small eatery sits outside on Deck 16 and serves as a convenient spot to grab a snack for cruisers who are out enjoying the sunshine and pool areas.
This café features Hawaiian poke bowls served over greens or rice.
The Social Club Diner
Hot dogs of all kinds are featured here. The menu features the reuben, which is layered with pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. You can also try the Philly, Chicago or a vegan hot dog. We also ordered up some wings. Popcorn is available to munch on while you play board or bar games or watch sports on the two big TVs.
A sweets case features chocolates, cake pops and other sugary treats, too.
The Galley
This is a hip food hall with a dizzying array of tasty options. Each of these venues has fresh-made goodies. You can stroll through here and find something to satisfy any craving. The venue is filled with a variety of seating, in a bright space with nice views outside. You can also sit outside at the very aft of the ship. The Galley also features charging outlets at some of the seats and counters. So, you can charge your phone or device while dining.
It has the feel of a vibrant diner.
Check out the variety of food stations in this large space on Deck 15.
Noodle Around is a noodle bar features pho and ramen bowls.
Bento Baby offers grab-and-go sushi and other pre-prepped meals for breakfast (mixed berries), lunch and dinner.
Let’s Taco Bout It is the taco stand, and I always grabbed the tacos al pastor from here when enjoying lunch in The Galley. It has avocado burritos or chorizo burritos for breakfast, too.
Diner & Dash has all-day breakfasts hot off the grill, with all kinds of omelets available. There is a hot roast beef sandwich for dinner, as well.
Burger Bar is just what it says. You can get burgers and fries, including an Impossible Burger.
The Sweet Side is the station for tasty desserts. Cookies, cakes, pies and muffins — in addition to fresh fruits.
Well Bread features all kinds of freshly baked breads, rolls and bagels.
Hot Off the Press specializes in paninis, with standards like the turkey and Swiss or pastrami on rye and creative sandwiches like a crunchy PB&J on brioche or buffalo mozzarella.
The Daily Mix is a salad station, where you can create your own or ask for special concoctions. The menu includes chicken Caesar, Greek, spinach and quinoa and mixed green salads, and you can add proteins like chicken, tuna and eggs.
The Pizza Place
This pizza joint is located on Deck 7 and features a simple menu of pizzas (white truffle and egg, pepperoni, chicken pesto, white pie and classic cheese). They are small enough for one person to finish on their own if you have a decent appetite. Plus, the pizzas are all made fresh to order, to be enjoyed around the ship (ask for it to go) or at the cozy little eatery that has indoors seating and wonderful outdoors tables and seating on the promenade.
Lick Me Till Ice Cream
Located close to the Pizza Place, this ice cream kiosk offers decadent and creamy flavors served in a dish or cones (try the red velvet cone).
Grounds Club
This is the ship’s coffee shop on Deck 7, and it’s worth a mention in our food guide for the fresh-made cookies, brownies and muffins you will be tempted to grab anytime you walk past.
This is a quite an array of food choices, huh?
We hope you can sail onboard Valiant Lady soon and try them all.
In this episode of the Cruise Addicts Talk Show, John Shallo interviews Lee Mason, the cruise director aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the Carnival Celebration.
Plan Your Trip?
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What’s Included (And What You’ll Pay Extra For!) (And how much is everything else)
If you’re new to cruising (or just new to P&O), it’s not always clear what’s included and what you’ll end up paying extra for. I get questions about this all the time on Instagram, so I’ve put together a simple guide to make it super easy.
P&O Cruises offer three different fares – Select Price, Saver, and Early Saver – and each one includes different things. If you want the best value for your money, you need to know the difference.
This quick guide breaks it all down: what’s included, what’s not, and how to avoid surprise charges on board. Perfect for planning – and saving!
P&O Cruises is one of my favourite cruise lines, so I’m always following their latest cruise news. If you’d like me to keep you updated about P&O Cruises, just pop your email in the form below…
1. Accommodation
When you book a P&O Cruise, you can choose to stay in one of several different cabin types:
- Inside cabins – The cheapest cabins with no windows
- Sea view cabins – Include a window or porthole
- Balcony cabins – With a private balcony to step outside
- Suites – VIP accommodation with added perks
You’ll find specific cabin types such as mini-suites, superior deluxe balcony cabins, and single cabins within these types.
Whichever cabin type you choose, you’ll enjoy the following comforts:
- En-suite bathrooms
- Air conditioning
- Tea and coffee-making facilities
- Fridge
- Hairdryer
- Safe
- TV
- Toiletries pack
If you stay in a suite, you’ll also get lots of included extras in your room, such as fresh fruit, Champagne, chocolates, and a bathrobe and slippers, to name but a few. You can see a full list of P&O Cruises suite perks here.
When booking your P&O cruise, you’ll have two main decisions to make:
- What type of cabin would you like? E.g. inside, outside, balcony or suite
- Do you want to pick your cabin number or not?
If you want to choose your cabin number, you’ll need to book the Select Fare. If you don’t mind which cabin you get, then the Saver or Early Saver Fare will be cheaper.
Select Fare
Choose the exact cabin you would like.
Saver & Early Saver Fares
Choose the cabin type you would like, and your cabin number will be assigned to you.
So, should you choose your cabin number or book what is known as a ‘guarantee cabin’ and have it assigned to you a few weeks before your cruise?
Well, that really depends on whether you want a cabin in a certain location (such as a low deck if you get seasick or near the lifts, if you can’t walk too far).
To help you decide, take a look at my P&O Cruises cabin guides for the ship that you’re interested in…
Booking the Select Fare doesn’t just allow you to choose a cabin number; you’ll also get some other perks, which we’ll discuss further in this guide.
Sometimes, free upgrades are given. This can mean that you pay for an inside cabin but get upgraded to a balcony for no extra cost. Upgrades are first offered to Select Fare guests, then Extra Saver Fare guests, then Saver Fare guests.
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2. Food
P&O Cruises include breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and snacks in a choice of venues. Each ship also has speciality restaurants where you can dine for a set fee.
The P&O Cruises menus change every day and special diets are always well catered for.
Included food on P&O Cruises:
- Main Dining Room – For breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Buffet Restaurant – For breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus an early tea for kids
- The Quays – A multi-venue food court (only on Iona and Arvia)
- Casual Snack Bars – Sandwiches, salads, fruit, cakes etc
- Poolside Grill – Burgers, hot dogs, chips, pizzas etc
- Poolside Pizzeria – Handmade stone-baked pizza slices
- Afternoon Tea – Finger sandwiches, scones, tea and coffee
- Speciality Dining – Restaurants offering global cuisine with a cover charge
- Market Cafe – Crepes, waffles, cakes and biscuits
- Ice Cream – Outside of mealtimes, ice cream has an extra charge
The speciality dining venues vary by ship, with some favourites, such as Sindhu Indian restaurant, appearing on every P&O Cruises ship.
The cover charges are reasonable, ranging from £9.50 per person for dinner at The Beach House to £30.00 per person for dinner at The Epicurean.
Although children are welcome in the speciality restaurants, there is no children’s menu and no children’s prices. I prefer to take the kids to the earlier kids’ tea in the buffet restaurant and then leave them at the kids’ club while we enjoy an adult-only dining experience.
There’s really no need to pay any extra for food on your P&O Cruise, especially if you’re cruising for less than a week. While it can be nice to dine in a speciality restaurant for a special occasion, you really don’t need to budget anything extra for food if you don’t want to.
Suggested read: P&O Arvia Restaurants Guide
3. Drinks
There are some drinks on P&O Cruises that are always available free of charge. For other drinks, you can either add these to your bill individually and pay for them at the end of your cruise, or you can buy a drinks package that will make your cruise all-inclusive.
Included drinks on P&O Cruises:
- Glasses of water
- Tea
- Coffee
- Cordial
- Milk
- Fruit juices (at breakfast)
When you book your cruise, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a drinks package or to pay for your alcohol and soft drinks individually. There are five different drink packages to choose from, and which one is best depends on what you like to drink.
To help you decide whether to buy a drink package or not, I’ve put together this thorough guide: P&O Drinks Packages Guide.
If you’d like to take a look at the drinks menus to get an idea of prices, you can see those here: P&O Cruises Drinks Menus.
I’ve also made a calculator to help you decide if you’ll pay more with or without a drink package. You just enter how many of each drink you plan to have, and it will work out your expected bar bill for you so you know if you’ll break even on the package or not…
4. Room Service
On P&O Cruises, room service is free of charge at breakfast time (7 am to 11 am), but there’s a charge at all other times.
Included room service breakfast on P&O Cruises:
- Fruit juices and smoothies
- Yoghurt
- Cereals
- Fruit and compotes
- Croissants, muffins, Danish pastries, pain au chocolat
- Toast
- Panini with sausage, bacon and tomato
To order the free breakfast room service on your P&O cruise, just mark what items you want on the card along with your preferred delivery time and hang it on the outside of your door.
After 11 am, the room service prices on P&O Cruises are very reasonable.
P&O Cruises room service prices:
- Baguettes with salad and crisps – £2.25
- Wraps with fries and tabbouleh salad – £2.75
- Speciality sandwiches with fries – £5.95
- Kids sandwiches with orange juice, yoghurt and brownie – £2.95
- Soups and salads- £1.95
- Small plates (starters) – £2.50
- Large plates (mains) – £5.95
- Sharing plates – £7.95 to £12.50
- Healthy salads and omelettes – £3.95
- Desserts – £2.50
- Cookies, brownies, muffins and doughnuts – £1.75
Below is the full P&O Cruises room service food and drinks menu…
You can also order drinks via room service. See the menu with prices above.
Read more: P&O Cruises Room Service Menu & How To Order
P&O Cruises Minibar
There is an extra charge for items from your minibar on P&O Cruises. The mini bar is not included in the drinks package either.
You can see P&O Cruises mini bar price list below…
I usually ask our cabin steward to empty the minibar. That leaves the fridge free so that we can store our own drinks.
P&O Cruises lets you bring up to one litre of wine or Champagne plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks on board with you. You can also bring on extra non-alcoholic drinks in each port of call and keep them in your minibar.
The cruise line used to let you bring spirits onboard too, but that policy changed in May 2024.
5. Entertainment
Your P&O cruise will include a range of entertainment throughout the day and evening at no extra cost. Each evening, you’ll receive a daily programme called Horizon, which will have the details of all of the activities and entertainment for the following day.
Included entertainment on P&O Cruises:
- West End-style theatre performances
- Cinema
- Comedians
- Live music and tribute acts
- Cabaret, musicians and acrobats
- Nightclub
There’s no charge to watch any of the shows on P&O Cruises’ ships.
6. Activities
On P&O cruises, the whole family can enjoy a wide variety of activities at no extra cost…
Included activities on P&O Cruises:
- Swimming pools and hot tubs
- Gym and fitness classes
- Running track
- Sports court with football, basketball and tennis
- Golf nets
- Deck quoits and shuffleboard
- Darts
- Table tennis
- Dance classes
- Card room and bridge classes
- Pub quizzes
- Family discos
- Sports tournaments
- Seminars with guest speakers
- Library
- Kids’ bingo
Some activities do have an extra charge. These are activities done in small groups, such as cookery classes or behind-the-scenes tours, as well as activities where you get to take something home such as photos or souvenirs.
- Spa with thermal suite, saunas and steam rooms
- Hair and beauty services
- Casino
- Arcades
- Cooking classes
- Art auctions
- Shopping e.g. Clothes, jewellery, perfume and souvenirs
- Behind-the-scenes tours
- Photo shoots
- 1 to 1 dance tuition
- Art classes
7. Kids’ Clubs
P&O Cruises offers The Reef Children’s Club, which, until June 2025, had been free of charge at all times.
However, P&O Cruises is now trialling a new system on Iona where parents can pre-book kids’ club sessions in The Reef for a fee – £4.95 for daytime and £8.95 for evenings. While some free spots will still be available onboard, they’re on a first-come, first-served basis. For families with two children attending all sessions, this could add up to £38 per day. No rollout date has been confirmed for its other family-friendly ships.
The Reef Children’s Club open from just after breakfast until late in the evening, with breaks for mealtimes.
The P&O kids’ club is split into four age groups:
- Splashers: 2 to 4 years old
- Surfers: 5 to 8 years old
- Scubas: 9 to 12 years old
- H2O / The Scene: 13 to 17 years old
On cruises outside the school holidays, when there are fewer children on board, the groups may be combined.
The activities on board P&O Cruises ships for kids in The Reef include arts and crafts, sports tournaments, soft play, games consoles, quizzes, karaoke and movie nights.
As well as the kids’ clubs, P&O Cruises offer a free night nursery service for children aged four and under. This is a group babysitting service for children who are asleep. It’s open between 6 pm and 2 am on a first-come-first-served basis.
8. Service Charges
Gratuities
While some other cruise lines mandate a daily service charge known as a gratuity, P&O Cruises includes this in the cruise fare, so you won’t get a bill for it at the end of your cruise.
Tipping staff isn’t required or expected on board P&O Cruises ships. There’s also no service charge when purchasing drinks on board.
If you’d like to tip certain staff members, such as your cabin steward or waiter at the end of your cruise, you can do so, but you don’t need to and most people don’t, as tips are included in your P&O Cruises fare.
Corkage
If you bring your own wine on board with you, you may drink it in public areas, subject to a £20 per bottle corkage fee. If you drink the alcohol in your own cabin, there’s no charge.
9. WiFi
WiFi is available on P&O Cruises’ ships for an extra charge.
When your cruise ship is in port, you’ll be able to connect to the internet over 3G, 4G or 5G. However, when the ship is at sea, you’ll want to turn this off to avoid a huge bill. And I mean huge! Data roaming at sea is notoriously expensive.
If you’d like to stay connected to the internet at sea, P&O Cruises offers two WiFi packages:
- My WiFi Essential – Web browsing, email, music streaming, social media, text, and images (no videos)
- My WiFi Ultimate – As above, plus video streaming
You can purchase each package for 24 hours or for your whole cruise.
P&O Cruises WiFi prices
| Package | Price for 24 hours | Price for full cruise |
|---|---|---|
| My WiFi Essential | £18 | £12 per day |
| My WiFi Ultimate | £24 | £18 per day |
If you need internet access for medical reasons, such as a continuous glucose monitoring device for diabetes, you can get this free of charge on P&O Cruises. Just ask at the reception desk on board for a free 100-minute internet voucher.
Read more: P&O Cruises WiFi Guide
10. Laundry
P&O Cruises offers two options for laundry:
- Self-service laundrettes – Free of charge
- Professional laundry services – For a fee
Self-Service Laundry
You’ll find a laundrette on most cabin decks, just take a look at the deck plan to find your nearest. Here, there will be washing machines, sinks, tumble dryers, irons and ironing boards.
The self-service laundrettes can get quite busy on sea days on longer cruises, so you may wish to do your laundry in the early morning or evenings to avoid the queues. The laundrettes close at 10 pm until 8 am so as not to disturb people in cabins nearby.
It’s a good idea to take your own 2-in-1 washing tablets. Otherwise, you can buy them from the onboard shop.
Laundry Services
If you’d rather not spend your cruise holiday doing laundry, you can send items to be washed, pressed or dry-cleaned. If you hand laundry to your cabin steward before 10 am, it will be returned the same day.
Professional cleaning is charged per item. On longer cruises, you may find special offers for multiple items.
Here is the P&O Cruises laundry price list…
11. Flights and Overseas Transfers
P&O Cruises offers cruise holidays as well as fly-cruise packages that include flights and overseas transfers.
If your cruise departs from a port outside of the UK, you will usually get flights and overseas transfers included in the cost of your package holiday.
If you prefer, it is possible to arrange your own flights or have a travel agent do this for you rather than travelling on the flight that comes as a package with your cruise. One thing to bear in mind with this option, though, is that if you travel on a P&O Cruises flight and it’s delayed, the ship will wait for you. If you book your own flight, it won’t.
P&O Cruises offers flights from the following UK cities:
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- East Midlands
- Glasgow
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
There is often a supplement for regional departures outside of London. You may also choose to pay extra to upgrade your flight to premium economy, business class or first class.
12. Transfers To Southampton
Depending on whether you choose P&O Cruises Select Fare, Saver Fare or Early Saver Fare, you may be able to enjoy included transport to the Southampton cruise terminal. This is an option on cruises of seven nights or more that depart from Southampton.
Select Fare
Option to have return coach travel to Southampton from a local pick-up point
(You can instead opt for free parking or on-board credit)
Saver & Early Saver Fares
Make your own way to Southampton
When I lived in the north of England, I’d normally book the Select Fare because the free coach travel alone is worth the extra cost. In the past, I have paid as little as £1 for kids’ places, which include a seat on the coach!
You’ll find more information about the coach to Southampton here: Guide to Coach Travel to Southampton Cruise Terminal.
If the coach to Southampton isn’t for you, you can instead choose free car parking in Southampton or some extra on-board spending money.
For cruises departing from Southampton, P&O Cruises can book internal flights from regional UK airports for an extra cost.
13. Shuttles Buses in Port
Another advantage of choosing P&O Cruises’ Select Fare is that it entitles you to ride the shuttle buses for free. These offer a constant service running between the ship and the city centre.
Select Fare
Free shuttle buses in port from ship to city centre
Saver & Early Saver Fares
Shuttle buses are available for around £5 per person each way
The shuttle buses aren’t available in every port. This is because in some ports your ship will dock very close to the city centre, so there is no need for one.
Some ports are working cargo ports where it’s not safe or possible for passengers to explore on foot. In these ports, a free shuttle bus will be provided for everyone.
In some ports, you’ll find independent buses and taxis which can work out to be a similar price to paying for the P&O shuttle bus.
14. Shore Excursions
On P&O Cruises, shore excursions are available for an extra charge. After booking, you can see which shore experiences are available for your cruise on the My P&O Cruises planner.
The excursions are usually a little pricier than doing your own thing and they can feel a little rushed sometimes. But if you prefer to step off the ship and onto a coach rather than planning your day ashore yourself, then it can be a stress-free way to explore.
P&O Cruises Onboard Credit
When you book a Select Price P&O cruise, you may receive some free onboard credit to spend on the ship. You’ll also get onboard credit if you’re a Carnival shareholder, as I am.
Many people wonder what to spend this free money on, and you may wish to plan this before you go.
You can spend P&O Cruises onboard credit on:
- Drinks (individually or as a package)
- Speciality dining*
- Shore excursions*
- Spa services, hair and beauty treatments*
- Items from any of the onboard shops
- Photographs
- Laundry and dry cleaning
- Internet and telephone charges
- Artwork from the gallery
- Celebration packages*
*To use your onboard credit, you must book these on the ship, not before embarkation.
You can not use P&O Cruises onboard credit to buy:
- Shore excursions, speciality dining or spa services that are booked before embarkation
- Visas
- Medical charges
- Cashback
- Future cruises
- Flight upgrades
- Foreign currency
- Casino and arcades
- Charity donations
- Shore excursion cancellation charges
There is no refund or cash alternative for any onboard credit that’s not spent before disembarkation. So if you have any left at the end of your cruise, be sure to head to the souvenir shop to spend it.
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Don’t miss the latest P&O Cruises offers…
To Conclude
P&O Cruises offers great value for money as there’s so much included. Are P&O Cruises all-inclusive? No, but very few cruise lines are, and those that are tend to charge a lot more for the privilege!
While many other cruise lines charge extra for gratuities, service charges on drinks and breakfast room service, these are included in the ticket price with P&O Cruises.
The free late-night babysitting for under-fives is something that you also won’t find on any other cruise line.
It’s possible to cruise with P&O without spending anything at all on top of your cruise ticket price. That said, most people do leave with something on their bill, even if it’s just drinks.
And if you’re a long-time P&O fan, you’ll know that there have been some serious cutbacks over the past 5 years or so. Check out this post: 20 Things That P&O Cruises Used To Offer That They No Longer Do to see what’s not included any more.
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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.
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Cruise |
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The more we do something, the more we learn. Each experience allows us to be a little bit more savvy and able to avoid the mistakes of the past.
The same goes for cruising. The more you go, the more equipped you are with the details and experiences to know your likes and dislikes. You can better refine your preparation, packing and onboard practices so that you have an even more amazing cruise each time out.
With that in mind, here are the 10 things that I wish I knew before I took my first cruise.
Before My First Cruise
You Don’t Need to Pack So Much
We were genuine excited for my first cruise – sailing on Carnival Inspiration out of New Orleans almost two decades ago – so we packed a lot. Much more than we needed, really, for a weeklong trip to the Caribbean.
The main culprits were the extra casual clothes and shoes. Sure, we needed some fancy items for dinners, but we found that we spent most of our time during the days in our swimsuits and sandals. So, we had too much casual wear. Also, a lot of the extras, like books and magazines, went untouched as we had so much else to do during the week. We now pack much lighter, and if we have to wear the same shirt or shorts a couple times, that works just fine and greatly lightens our load.
We now can typically do carry-on only for our flights.
Drinks Packages Are the Way to Go
Cruise lines offer all-you-can-drink plans. Note: Carnival Cruise Line’s Cheers! Beverage program allows a maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per day (that should be enough, I would think).
If you plan to have plenty of cocktails, beers, sodas, premium coffees and fresh-squeezed juices daily, your cruise line’s beverage plan is a great option. It also is a hassle-free way to go without worrying about signing for a drink each time you place an order. Plus, with alcoholic drinks typically priced from $6 to $11 each, the program price of about $55 to $60 daily might work out to be a bargain for you.
Order the beverage plan online ahead of your cruise, and you often can get an even better price.
Skip the Buffet on Embarkation Day
Most passengers board during the same window of time on the first day of the cruise, and this tends to be right around lunch time. This means that most people head straight to the buffet area on the upper decks.
It can be incredibly frustrating to deal with the crowds. Food lines are long, people are wandering and weaving throughout the facility, and it’s often difficult to find a table. Ask a crew member whether the ship has any other venues open that are serving lunch. Sometimes the main dining room could be open, or a smaller specialty restaurant might be serving food.
Koningsdam – Holland America Line
However, I occasionally enjoy a slower paced meal, with table service, and the main dining room is a nice option. I usually choose this venue on sea days when I have more time to relax and enjoy a meal ordered from a menu and while joining others at a table. This is a great way to meet people who might very well become your new friends.
Use a Travel Agent
Perhaps the best advice for first-time cruisers: Get a good travel professional who specializes in cruises to help you with you booking. A travel agent won’t cost you anything but can offer great services such as monitoring your reservation for price drops ensuring that you will pay the best price possible for your voyage. They often will include a few added goodies for you, too, as a way to show their appreciation for your business.
This could mean a welcome-aboard gift like a bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries, specialty dining vouchers or onboard credit. They also can help you book shore excursions, and travel agents have intimate knowledge of the ships to help you pick out just the right, ship, itinerary and cabin so you have the best experience possible.
Book Excursions on Your Own
Cruise ships offer an array of shore excursions for each port they visit. These are typically fun or culturally enriching activities. But they often cost up to twice as much as the same experience you can get by booking the experience on your own after doing a little bit of online research. These cruise ship tours often are larger groups of people, so you only move as quickly as the slowest member of the group.
If you prefer a more intimate and customized tour experience, you could be better off booking on your own. Read reviews to learn about the experience, and you can find reputable tours through sites such as TripAdvisor or Viator.
You can also often find tours offered once you arrive in port if you want to keep your schedule open and flexible. You can check at the kiosks with vendors at the pier area and negotiate a price on many of the tours.
It must be noted that cruise ship excursions are the only way to get a guarantee that the ship won’t leave you behind if your tour runs behind schedule and can’t get you back to the cruise ship at the scheduled “all aboard” time.
Swimsuit at the Ready
Back a small day bag, beach bag or backpack with the essentials you will need while you wait for your stateroom to be prepared on embarkation day. Rooms typically will be ready for you after 2 p.m.
If you get on the ship around noon for lunch and to enjoy the amenities – and you should make the most of your cruise by getting on to start your vacation ASAP – you will need things like phone chargers, a magazine or book, sunscreen and your swim trunks so you can get the fun started. Plus, if you drop off a large suitcase with the porters before you board, it might not arrive to your room for several hours.
Food, Food and More Food
I knew that there would be a lot of food to choose from. I just hadn’t realized how much and how often I would be enticed to indulge. The buffet, multi-course dinners, ice cream stations, poolside grills and pizza eateries are always beckoning.
Late-night snacking will be part of your cruise, even if it’s not your habit back home. Go ahead, and enjoy it. I always do. But I also do a little pre-cruise dieting to prep myself and also make sure to stay active and hit the gym regularly while onboard.
You Can’t Do It All
That daily cruise program is filled with all kinds of things to take part in, from trivia contests to dance lessons, karaoke events and late-night themes parties. Plus, your ship might offer features like water slides, rock-climbing walls, skating rinks, ziplines, ropes courses and basketball courts. Don’t forget the pool time, beach visits and other shore excursions, time at the bar, watching shows in the main theater, getting a massage and … (deep breath).
OK, it’s a lot.
That’s what makes these voyages so attractive to so many people. You will never be bored.
They Are Addictive
Which all leads me to this. A cruise vacation can be addictive. Once you’ve immersed yourself in all the fun, food and meeting new friends, you’re going to want to do it all over again soon. Since that first cruise, I’ve now been on dozens.
They even tempt you to book your next cruise while onboard at the ship’s Future Cruise desk. Check it out. You can find special deals (lower deposits and onboard credit enticements) only available for cruisers who book a future cruise while on their current sailing.
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Crew Barred From Leaving Ship Following Minor Gastro Illness Outbreak
Crew members aboard the luxury cruise ship Azamara Onward have been unexpectedly confined to the vessel following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness during the current sailing.
As a result, they were not be allowed to go ashore when the ship visited the tender port of Saint Tropez, France, on Saturday, 5th July 2025.
The restriction was confirmed in an internal communication from the cruise line’s human resources department:
“Sadly, based on our current OPRP status, crew will not be allowed to ride in tenders with guests tomorrow.”
The term OPRP refers to “operational prerequisite program,” which governs food safety and sanitation measures when a health-related incident occurs onboard.
Though the outbreak appears to be relatively contained – with fewer than 10 guests reported to be in isolation due to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea – the cruise line has enacted strict measures.
Reasonable Measures, or an Overreaction?
Azamara Onward can accommodate up to 826 guests, meaning the number of symptomatic passengers represents less than 1.5% of guests onboard.
It’s unclear whether any crew members have been affected.
On average, the chance of catching norovirus on a cruise is 0.018%. Ships that have confirmed outbreaks of the virus must report them, with Holland America Line the worst-affected in 2024.
However, the total ban on shore leave for all crew appears to be a pre-emptive effort to avoid any potential cross-contamination between guests and crew during tender operations and on land.
While safeguarding guest health is understandably a top priority, the decision has raised concerns among crew members and observers alike.
Onboard staff work long hours across extended contracts and often rely on occasional hours ashore for rest and mental well-being – especially in picturesque ports like Saint Tropez, a coveted stop along the French Riviera.
Critics of the policy have noted that more moderate steps could have been taken.
Proposals such as assigning separate tenders for crew, sanitizing boats between transfers, or even restricting shore leave only for crew working in food service or housekeeping may have served the same goal with less impact on morale.
Nevertheless, Azamara appears committed to keeping the outbreak contained.
There’s currently no indication of additional measures planned for Azamara Onward’s next 8-night voyage to Civitavecchia (Rome).
The 30,277-gross-ton ship was in the middle of a 10-night one-way Mediterranean cruise that departed Barcelona on June 27 and had already called at Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Marseille before the incident.
The vessel is carrying approximately 370 crew members.
While this latest incident is minor compared to past outbreaks on larger ships, it’s a reminder of how seriously cruise lines must continue to treat onboard illness – even in relatively isolated cases.
For the crew, however, being confined to the ship amid calm seas and sunny Riviera coastlines is undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow.
The best way to book an Azamara cruise…
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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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Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latest Mass Cancellations Affect 40+ Sailings
Norwegian Cruise Line has begun notifying travel agents that it will cancel dozens of sailings for two of its most popular ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima, due to upcoming fleet redeployments.
A total of 41 voyages between November 2026 and March 2027 are affected, disrupting early-booked holiday travel plans for many guests.
The cancellation period spans five full months: Norwegian Breakaway cruises from 8th November 2026 through to 28th March 2027, and Norwegian Prima sailings from 15th November 2026 through to the same March date have all been removed from the schedule.
The cruise line has not yet revealed where the two ships will be redeployed or what new itineraries may replace the cancelled voyages.
According to the official notice sent to travel advisors, all impacted guests will receive a full refund automatically returned to their original form of payment.
Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a 10% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) as a goodwill gesture, which passengers can apply to a future sailing.
Direct communication is currently being sent out to guests affected by the change.
Entire Seasons Removed From the Schedule
The most visible impact of the cancellations is the removal of Norwegian Breakaway’s entire winter Caribbean season from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The 145,655-gross-ton vessel had been scheduled to transition from its Boston-to-Bermuda itineraries in early November 2026 into a series of Southern Caribbean roundtrip sailings.
Those included alternating 7-night voyages to popular ports such as Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, and St. Lucia, as well as holiday cruises over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Similarly, Norwegian Prima’s winter schedule out of New Orleans has also been entirely cancelled.
The 143,535-gross-ton ship, fresh off a short autumn season from Port Canaveral, was slated to begin roundtrip Western Caribbean voyages from New Orleans starting November 15, 2026.
These sailings would have included stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Norwegian’s private island destination of Harvest Caye in Belize. Affected cruises again include major holiday season departures.
While no explanation has been offered for the redeployments, it’s not unusual for cruise lines to shuffle ships to meet changing market demands, fleet expansion strategies, or dry dock schedules.
Norwegian Cruise Line has not announced any broader changes to other deployments during the same period.
The change also comes at a notable time for both homeports.
San Juan recently reopened its cruise pier to accommodate larger vessels, and New Orleans saw record-breaking cruise traffic in early 2025.
Losing two high-capacity ships from these ports during the winter peak season is a significant shift.
Guests hoping to rebook an NCL cruise with their FCC may still find comparable itineraries available elsewhere in the fleet, though popular dates may fill quickly.
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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.
Crew members aboard the luxury cruise ship Azamara Onward have been unexpectedly confined to the vessel following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness during the current sailing. As a result, they…
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that the soft-drink fountains on its North-American ships will soon sparkle with Coca-Cola once more. The line first moved to Pepsi in January 2020 but…
Explora Journeys has just rolled out a very tempting updated loyalty programme, which could tempt other cruisers to consider switching allegiances. The luxury cruise line has launched phase two of…
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Live Event Invitation: New Viking Itineraries & Specials – Sunday 7/5/25 At 3:30pm –
Join us LIVE with Viking cruise expert Michael Consoli, who will share Viking’s brand new itineraries and special offers. We will also answer your questions during our live Q&A. Please join us live and check in with us. Set your clocks and tune in Sunday at 3:30 pm ET. – Watch Event
NCL Cancels 41 Cruises on Two Ships Due to Fleet Redeployments
Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled 41 cruises on two cruise ships due to fleet redeployments.
The canceled cruises were scheduled to depart from November 2026 through March 2027. Norwegian sent a letter to travel agents notifying them of the cancelations.
Norwegian Cruise Line is redeploying Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima in late 2026. The following cruises have been canceled:
- Norwegian Breakaway: November 8, 2026 through March 28, 2027
- Norwegian Prima: November 15, 2026 through March 28, 2027
Norwegian Breakaway was scheduled to sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico during this time offering cruises to the Southern Caribbean.
Norwegian Prima was scheduled to sail from New Orleans on seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean.
Norwegian is giving all guests who were booked on one of these 41 cruises a full refund and 10% Future Cruise Credit to use on another sailing.
The letter that NCL sent out to travel agents said the following:
“A full monetary refund of the fare paid will be automatically returned to the form of payment provided at the time of the reservation. In addition, we will be extending a 10% discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit (FCC).”
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