What began as a serene off-the-grid excursion turned into an ordeal for dozens of Silversea cruise passengers on 26th June 2025, when a fast-falling tide left their zodiac boats stranded off Adele Island, along Australia’s remote Kimberley coast.
The incident unfolded during an expedition from the 254-passenger Silver Cloud, which was midway through a 10-day luxury Kimberley voyage from Darwin.
Around 70 guests and 10 expedition guides had set off earlier that day for a zodiac tour of Adele Island – a rugged outpost famed for its birdlife and coral beds – when they were suddenly caught off guard by a dramatic tidal drop.
As the tide retreated rapidly, multiple zodiac boats were grounded in shallow water, leaving passengers knee- to thigh-deep in the sea and unable to return to the ship. One passenger described the unfolding scene on social media:
“What started as a fabulous trip across to Adele Island ended with all 100 odd passengers and staff getting caught by the rapid tide going out and stranding us on the wrong side of the deeper part of the water to get our zodiacs back to the ship.”
Crew quickly sprang into action, guiding passengers across 500 metres of coral beds to reach deeper water, where other zodiac boats were dispatched from the ship to ferry them back.
Photos from the scene show guests slogging through shallow waters, some with the assistance of crew, as the sun began to set.
Rescue Continued Into the Night
By 8:00 p.m. local time, most passengers had been recovered, and ship medical staff treated guests for minor scrapes and twisted ankles.
However, the captain informed guests that 10 passengers and some crew still remained on Adele Island, waiting for the tide to return so their zodiacs could safely re-float.
Silver Cloud remained positioned near Adele Island late into the night. Tide forecasts predicted another high tide at 11:59 p.m., with an expected 20-foot rise in water levels.
Observers have raised questions about why the tide’s dramatic movements weren’t better accounted for, particularly given Silversea’s strong reputation for expedition expertise.
Adele Island is known for its extreme tidal shifts, and a low tide at 5:48 p.m. saw sea levels dip into negative measurements.
Although no serious injuries were reported, passengers described the hours-long experience as disorganised and physically taxing.
Zodiacs are not equipped for extended delays, and no provisions such as food or water were immediately available for the stranded group.
Luckily, temperatures hovered between 23°C (74°F) and 27°C (80°F), preventing heat-related issues, though discomfort was still high for those navigating coral terrain without preparation.
Some passengers retained their sense of humour, calling it a “true expedition,” while others voiced surprise at the miscalculation from such a seasoned cruise operator.
About Silver Cloud and the Kimberley Itinerary
The 16,800-gross-ton Silver Cloud is one of Silversea’s purpose-built expedition vessels, equipped with 20 zodiacs and designed for polar and remote coastal cruising.
Its Kimberley Coast voyage includes stops at uninhabited islands and regions accessible only by sea – areas described by Silversea as “wild and remote… untouched by humans.”
Before the Adele Island stop, the vessel had successfully visited Ashmore Islands on 25th June. It is scheduled to continue to the Buccaneer Archipelago, Yawajaba-Montgomery Island, and other locations before returning to Darwin on 2nd July.
Silversea is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, and a spokesperson for the company confirmed that everyone was OK and back on board and that “the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority”.
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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 scenic morning in Ketchikan, Alaska took a dangerous turn on 26th June 2025, when a school bus carrying 46 cruise passengers was involved in a serious collision with an…
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A scenic morning in Ketchikan, Alaska took a dangerous turn on 26th June 2025, when a school bus carrying 46 cruise passengers was involved in a serious collision with an SUV on Tongass Highway.
The crash disrupted a planned shore excursion and sent three individuals – two cruise guests and the SUV driver – to the hospital.
The accident occurred just after 9 am local time, as guests were likely en route to a morning tour experience from the busy Ketchikan Cruise Port.
According to a press release from the City of Ketchikan, the SUV struck a power pole after colliding with the bus, pushing the larger vehicle into a roadside ditch.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Emergency responders from the Ketchikan Fire Department quickly arrived at the scene to assess injuries and stabilize the situation.
Thankfully, no fatalities were reported, and most of the 46 passengers escaped without serious harm. After medical evaluations on-site, 44 passengers were cleared and returned to their ship via a replacement bus.
“The school bus was carrying 46 cruise passengers and a single driver when the accident occurred. The passengers and drivers were examined by EMTs and paramedics,” the city’s official statement confirmed.
Photos of the crash show significant damage to the SUV’s front end and the bus lodged off the road, highlighting the force of the impact.
Ketchikan was at full cruise capacity at the time of the accident. While officials did not confirm which ship the affected passengers were sailing on, multiple vessels were in port that morning, including:
Royal Princess (Princess Cruises)
Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Eurodam (Holland America Line)
Later arrivals included Sapphire Princess and Koningsdam, which docked after the incident occurred.
Not the First Tour Bus Incident in Alaska
This latest accident echoes a similar event from 6th September 2024, when a tour bus carrying 24 cruise passengers overturned on the South Klondike Highway near Skagway after the driver suffered a medical emergency.
That crash, which occurred in a remote area with no cell service, resulted in 12 injuries and required assistance from passing tour buses before emergency services could arrive.
Despite these rare incidents, the overwhelming majority of cruise excursions proceed safely and smoothly.
Thousands of organised tours take place each year across Alaska without incident, offering guests unforgettable experiences in the Last Frontier.
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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.
What began as a serene off-the-grid excursion turned into an ordeal for dozens of Silversea cruise passengers on 26th June 2025, when a fast-falling tide left their zodiac boats stranded…
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Ten passengers from Silversea’s luxury cruise ship Silver Cloud were temporarily stranded on a remote Australian island Thursday after the tide changed faster than anticipated.
Several Zodiac inflatable boats were stuck in knee-deep water, miles from the ship. This left their tour group cut off from the main vessel.
What Happened
It all happened during a shore excursion on Adele Island, about 62 miles north of Western Australia. Passengers were exploring the uninhabited island as part of their 10-day Kimberley cruise when the tide shifted unexpectedly around 4:30 PM.
This left several zodiac boats grounded in shallow water.
The stranded group was about four miles from their cruise ship when knee-deep water suddenly became too shallow for boats to navigate. And while zodiac boats might look light, they can weigh up to 1,000lbs and can be punctured by coral if the water level is too low.
The Rescue
Ship crews successfully rescued about 60 passengers and 10 guides first, who had to wade 1,500 feet through coral reef to reach deeper water, according to some reports. The final 10 passengers and several crew members were rescued after high tide returned around 10 PM.
Some passengers received treatment for minor cuts from walking through the coral, but no serious injuries were reported.
Extreme Tides in the Area
The Kimberley region of Western Australia is known for its rugged beauty, but it has some of the world’s most extreme tides, with water levels changing up to 35 feet.
Adele Island is extremely isolated with no permanent residents, making rescue operations a bit tricky.
This Silver Cloud cruise advertised prices that started at $11,568 per person. All passengers are now safely aboard, and the cruise continues as planned.
This ship is a luxury expedition vessel with the cruise line and the company calls it the first crossover ship in their fleet.
Current Status and Itinerary
Silver Cloud was last reported by AIS cruising en route to Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley, Western Australia, its next scheduled port of call for June 27th.
This incident occurred during a 10-day round-trip voyage from Darwin, Australia, which began on June 22, 2025, and is scheduled to arrive back in Darwin on July 2, 2025. Today’s stop at Adele Island was a planned highlight of their expedition through the stunning Kimberley Coast.
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For many cruising parents, the kid’s club is a lifesaver. It allows for some adult alone time while the children have a blast with all kinds of games and activities on board.
But a recent decision by one cruise line to introduce fees for making reservations at the kid center has sparked quite the debate.
P&O Cruises has begun introducing a new policy that will see guests pay a fee to pre-book and guarantee a spot in “The Reef,” the cruise line’s popular children’s club. This change, initially rolled out on the cruise ship Iona, seeks to provide families with more certainty, according to recent reports about the change.
Email Sent to Iona Guests
According to an email sent to guests, P&O Cruises is positioning this new service as a way to make it “even easier for you to plan your precious time away.”
The message emphasizes that “booking ahead gives you peace of mind that youngsters have their spot in the club,” allowing parents to “shape your holiday moments however you like,” including enjoying “peaceful spa treatments or romantic meals.”
Understanding the New Costs
Under the new system, booking slots in The Reef will incur a charge. Daytime sessions are priced at approximately $6.75 USD (£4.95), while evening sessions will cost around $12.20 USD (£8.95).
For a family with two children who opt to pre-book all available sessions, these fees could add up pretty fast, possibly adding up to around $52 USD (£38) per day on top of the standard cruise fare.
P&O Cruises has clarified that while pre-booking comes with a fee, a certain number of children’s club places will still be available for free, bookable onboard on a first-come, first-served basis.
This latest adjustment comes nearly a year after P&O Cruises introduced penalty fees for late cancellations (£5 / ~$6.80 USD) and no-shows (£10 / ~$13.60 USD) for pre-booked The Reef sessions.
Both the new pre-booking charges and the existing penalty fees apply specifically to The Reef, which caters to children aged 12 and under. The teens club, H2O (for ages 13-17), remains unaffected, as it operates more as a flexible hangout space without requiring reservations.
While the immediate rollout is on Iona, P&O Cruises has not yet provided a timeline for extending this policy to the rest of its family-friendly fleet.
P&O Cruises is a line that predominantly serves the UK market. It should be noted that right now many competitors sailing out of the UK, such as Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line, typically offer complimentary kids’ club access without the need for advance reservations.
Passenger Reactions
Some parents are voicing strong concerns about the extra fee. “You would think charging £1700 for a 2-year-old would more than cover the potential two times we might use the service on board next year,” commented one Facebook user. Another added, “This is a money making scheme… This could end up costing upto £500+ on a 2 week cruise which is madness!!!”
The feeling of “penny-pinching” is strong. But beyond the cost, some felt that the fee makes it difficult to have a structure-free vacation. “On vacation, kids get tired and crabby. They may not want to go when scheduled. How does anyone know what they want to do on any given day?” commented one cruiser.
However, not all reactions are negative. Some passengers see the new fees as a logical step. “Becoming a fee for ‘additional’ services… which makes sense when you think about it… For passengers without kids why should they essentially subsidise the cost of funding the kids clubs?” said one hopeful cruiser on Facebook.
Another suggested that “since P&O do frequently offer free child/ 3rd,4th passenger for free, adding a small fee for child care perhaps isn’t as penny pinching as it sounds.”
It’s also worth noting that several comments clarified a key detail: “It’s still free if you book on board”, reminding everyone that the pre-booking fee is for a guaranteed spot.
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Cruise ship cancelations are never fun to deal with, but dry dock issues can often be unpredictable. In this case, Carnival Cruise Line is going above and beyond to compensate disappointed cruisers.
Carnival Liberty will not be returning to service as scheduled after its dry dock in Europe. Recent changes have led to the unexpected cancelation of its July 6, 2025, sailing from New Orleans.
Guests booked on the now-canceled voyage received email notifications just 13 days before their planned departure date.
Unexpected Shipyard Shift Causes Delay
The change in plans is due to some reported labor issues overseas. According to these reports there was a worker’s strike at the shipyard in Spain.
Carnival’s executive vice president of maritime and new builds, Ben Clement, went to Cádiz to negotiate with strikers, and now the vessel is at a different facility in France.
Carnival explained the situation in an email to impacted passengers:
“As you may know, Carnival Liberty is currently in dry dock in Europe for scheduled maintenance. This past weekend, we were forced to move the vessel to a new shipyard to complete our work because of a labor work stoppage at the prior facility. Regrettably, this situation will delay the ship’s departure from Europe by a few days, impacting its scheduled return to service, and we are sorry to inform you that your voyage has been cancelled.”
Satellite tracking data shows that the 3,756 max capacity ship is in Marseille, France, where another facility, Chantier Naval de Marseille, will complete the refurbishment work.
Compensation for Passengers
The canceled voyage was a 7-night Bahamas itinerary from New Orleans, with scheduled stops at Key West, Freeport, and Nassau. Carnival is offering the following compensation to guests:
Full Refunds: All booked guests will automatically receive a full refund for their cruise fare, port taxes, and any pre-paid add-ons, such as gratuities, internet connectivity, drink packages, and shore tours. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment.
Future Cruise Credit (FCC): In addition to the full refund, Carnival is providing a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) for the cruise fare. This credit must be redeemed no later than June 30, 2026, and can be used on any Carnival cruise, allowing guests to rebook on any ship, homeport, itinerary length, or sailing date.
Airfare Reimbursement: Carnival will also reimburse guests up to $200 per person for non-refundable airfare or air change fees, provided supporting documentation is submitted for consideration.
While the specific updates being made to Carnival Liberty haven’t been fully disclosed, dry dock operations commonly include extensive hotel and public area upgrades, as well as the addition of new venues.
The ship last received an update in October 2021.
At this time, the Carnival Liberty‘s July 13, 2025, sailing – a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary – remains on schedule.
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P&O Cruises has started to roll out a change that will see places in the kids club charged if guests want to pre-book and guarantee a place.
In an email sent out to guests on Iona, the cruise line has said that it is offering guests the chance to reserve a place in The Reef before the sailing, to ensure that children have a place.
Slots are bookable individually, and will cost £4.95 for the daytime sessions and £8.95 for evening sessions.
For a family with two children who want to attend all of the sessions, that could mean paying up to £38 per day on top of the regular cruise fare.
The notification sent to guests does state that it is being rolled out to Iona first, with no time scale given for it appearing on the rest of the family-friendly ships in the fleet.
The cruise line has said that a number of children’s club places will remain bookable onboard for free, but on a first-come, first-served basis.
Further Charges Risk Annoying Loyal Guests
The new charges to pre-book a place in The Reef for young cruisers come almost a year after the last major change to the kids clubs across the fleet.
In late May 2024, the cruise line introduced penalty fees for guests who reserved a place in The Reef and then cancelled less than 24 hours before the slot. The charge for cancelling at short notice is £5. Guests who keep the booking in the The Reef but then no-show are charged £10.
The charges only apply to The Reef which is for children 12 and under, and it appears from the email communications that the new pre-booking charges also only apply to The Reef.
H2O, the teens club for children aged 13-17, doesn’t require advance booking, primarily because it’s more of a hangout space than one with organised activities.
The new pre-booking charges might sound appealing to some guests, especially those travelling in busier periods such as the school holidays who don’t mind paying extra to guarantee a space for their kids.
But compared to other cruise lines that are a lot more relaxed about their kids clubs, not even requiring the advance reservations regardless of charges, it could be seen as another example of penny-pinching by the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises and Disney Cruise Line are examples of cruise lines that sail out of the UK, just as most P&O Cruises do, that all have free kids clubs with no need to book in advance.
Why parents aren’t happy
The new P&O charges will quickly add up for families who wish to book multiple sessions, especially if travelling with more than one child.
Two children attending two sessions a day for just four days out of a week-long cruise could now cost a family over £100, if they don’t want to risk waiting until they’re onboard and seeing if spaces are still available.
Cruisers have accused P&O Cruises of ‘penny-pinching’ over the latest charges. But it’s not just the cost that’s annoying guests.
Having to plan each day of your cruise hour by hour takes away a lot of the fun and spontaneity of cruising. When it comes to 6pm on Tuesday and it’s time to go to the club, who’s to say that your children will want to? Or what if they wake up tired and aren’t ready for the 9am session?
Having to stick to a rigid schedule isn’t fun. Booking the day before is bad enough, but now we must book sessions before we even board the ship, or risk not being able to attend at all?
Many parents are commenting in Facebook groups that this has put them off cruising with P&O Cruises again. And honestly? I think I agree.
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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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If you know me, you’ll know that I’m always looking for a bargain when it comes to cruises. So much so that each week I send the very best deals I find to the people on my email list (join here if you want them).
So, when I spotted a cruise departing from Southampton that was just £99, I was all over it.
I also opted to add on a drinks package for another £80. Why? Well, this was a weekend cruise with my friend Hannah from Love Cruise Ships, and £40 per day for all-you-can-drink seemed like fun.
Why this cruise was so cheap
MSC Cruises are usually some of the cheapest there are. I’ve had cheap cruises before, paying just £800 for a family of four for a week on MSC Preziosa. The deals are there to be had.
MSC Cruises is different from most cruise lines because new guests can embark at almost every port of call. This cruise departed from Southampton, and the round trip was set to take three weeks. But, there was also the option to jump off anywhere you like for cheaper.
A one-way cruise from chilly Southampton to snowy Hamburg in early January is never going to be popular, and so this half-empty ship was super cheap, to try to fill at least some of the beds.
I have a whole article about why MSC Cruises are so cheap, if you’d like to know more about how this cruise line manages to keep prices so low.
I had low expectations
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much. This was my fourth cruise with MSC Cruises, and after the last one, my husband vowed never to sail with them again. I couldn’t even persuade him to try staying in the luxury area of the ship, the Yacht Club.
Our last cruise was in the school summer holidays, MSC Virtuosa was absolutely rammed full of kids and I suspect that some of the crew may have been isolating because there were just not enough of them to be able to manage the crowds. It wasn’t fun.
But, it seems that when you take a cruise on a half-empty ship with a full crew, having five times as many crew members per guest makes a massive difference!
But, it’s not just the level of service that has improved in my eyes. This cruise was better than I expected in so many ways.
The good times started with embarkation, which was the fastest check-in and embarkation ever! We arrived at Southampton’s Horizon cruise terminal an hour ahead of our allotted time and was on the ship within five minutes. It was incredible.
The ship
We sailed on MSC Euribia, which is one of MSC Cruises’ newest ships. She’s a sister-ship to MSC Virtuosa, but with some improvements. That’s one of the things I really like about MSC Cruises, with each ship they look at what works, what doesn’t, and aim to make things better and better.
Virtuosa’s wasted space of the carousel lounge (which was always empty in the daytime) and the gimmicky robot bartender are gone. Instead, there’s a lovely lounge with wake views and a pool table, plus a wine-tasting area with interactive screens on the tables.
Like all MSC cruise ships, MSC Euribia is stunning. She has a futuristic vibe with lots of grey leather, chrome and glitzy crystals. Unlike more traditional ships, there’s barely any wood in sight.
The central promenade, or ‘galleria’ is particularly impressive, with its huge LED ceiling that looked different every time you looked up. I loved the dolphins and whales that would make it feel like you’re underwater.
If you’d like to see more of the ship, I have a full walkaround video tour for your on my YouTube channel…
The food
In the past, I’ve talked about MSC Cruises’ small portions, bland tastes, unimaginative menus and slow service with meals that take three hours each.
Well, I’m delighted to say that we didn’t experience any of those things on this cruise. The food in the main dining room was delicious and I’m thrilled to report that MSC Cruises now offers vegan menus!
I can’t explain how happy it makes me to be able to pick something from a menu rather than ask to see tomorrow’s menu and figure out what can be cobbled together. Well done, MSC!
The buffet was huge, with pretty much everything you could want, and too my delight, there are now labels to help people with special diets know what’s suitable for them. Hallelujah!
As it was such a short cruise, I can’t comment on any of the speciality restaurants. But everything we did eat was fantastic and the waiters were really friendly and chatty.
The drinks
As we had the drinks package, I was keen to sample some of the cocktails, and they were all brilliant.
When we first arrived, I ordered a glass of wine at lunch, and was expecting a very small glass. When it arrived I couldn’t believe my eyes, my huge glass had about half a bottle of wine in it! This picture doesn’t do justice to how big it was…
I was yet to film a tour of my cabin so I ended up a little tipsy while filming. Oops!
You can check out that video here…
Whenever we ordered drinks we would also ask for water in an effort to avoid being hungover on such a short cruise. The waiter would put two drinks and two bottles of mineral water on one cruise card, no problem.
The activities
MSC Euribia has so much to do on board that we really had to prioritise to fit everything in. Our first stop was the spa, where we enjoyed a lovely, relaxing time. The thermal area spa is huge with two large Jacuzzis, about ten different saunas and steam rooms, an ice room, lots of fancy showers and plenty of relaxation areas.
Although Hannah hasn’t cruised with MSC Cruises before, she did have quite a high loyalty status with Royal Caribbean. Thanks to the MSC Status Match Program, Hannah was gold level with MSC. Whereas I was only silver.
This meant that as one of the loyalty perks, Hannah got a free pass to the spa. As we were sharing a cabin, I could also attend for just £20 instead of the usual £80. Sold!
I wouldn’t have paid £80, but the £20 was money well spent, and it was the only extra thing we purchased on board.
MSC Euribia has a huge outdoor water park and I did brave one of the slides, even though it was zero degrees outside. It wasn’t too bad as the water was warm, but the lifeguard said that the other two slides weren’t heated so I skipped those and jumped straight into the outdoor hot tub.
The outdoor hot tubs are warm enough, but I’d suggest bringing a woolly hat and sunglasses as the cold wind on your face isn’t the nicest. There is also a lively indoor pool though with indoor hot tubs which are much better for winter cruises.
We tried the high ropes course which is quite fun. It’s much tamer than some of the ones I’ve tried on other ships such as P&O Arvia and Norwegian Breakaway. This is good for younger kids, as they can join in too.
There are plenty more things to do for an extra charge like bowling, VR games, a Formula One simulator and an arcade. And there are lots of free activities for kids in the kids clubs.
Entertainment
We saw two shows in the theatre in the evenings and both were fantastic. There are three showings every night, but I’d still advise to book your place on the app each day as the theatre does get full.
As MSC cruises have guests of all nationalities on board, the shows feature lots of dancing, costumes, gymnasts and magic, which is great.
You can also enjoy live music in various bars and lounges and there are also street entertainers on the promenade as well as pop-up events.
We watched a beer-drinking competition where about 20 guests raced to finish glasses of beer the fastest. This probably wouldn’t happen on a British cruise, but it was pretty funny to watch!
The first night of our cruise was White Night. We had no idea that was on the agenda and I’m still not sure how you find out if there’s a White Night on your cruise or when it will be. So you might want to just assume there will be one and pack something white to wear.
The casino on MSC Euribia is really big. Smoking is allowed in the casino, so it does smell a bit. We were excited to try it but on the second night of the cruise when we went at 9pm it was already closed. I’m not sure why that was, perhaps we were too close to land?
The Itinerary
After sailing from Southampton and spending a day at sea, we arrived in Hamburg to several inches of snow!
There were taxis waiting outside so we jumped in one and headed straight to the airport. The taxi cost 55 euros. We could have taken the train for much cheaper, but a taxi was super convenient and it was nice to see the snowy city centre.
The flight back to London was really quick and cost about £30. People often overlook one-way cruises, but they can be a great way to get a bargain, particularly with MSC Cruises who have a lot of them available.
If you prefer a round-trip from Southampton, 7-night cruises start at around £380 per person.
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The Verdict
This cruise really made me realise that you shouldn’t ever write off a cruise line based on a bad experience, particularly if your bad experience was when restrictions were in place that were out of the cruise line’s control. I wasn’t a fan of MSC Cruises before, but this cruise was a 10/10 for me.
If you are able to cruise at less popular times of the year, as well as getting a great deal, one of the perks you may get is that your ship will be much less crowded. Having a waiter come over as soon as you sit down in a bar and never having to queue for an elevator are things that you really appreciate if you’re used to big, busy ships.
I’ll have no hesitation about cruising with MSC Cruises again. Now, I just need to get my husband to read this so that he’ll come too next time!
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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 Corp (NYSE: CCL) just dropped its second-quarter earnings report, and it’s a huge beat for the company.
The cruise giant, which operates eight cruise brands, not only tripled its profit and hit record revenue numbers, but they also announced they’ve already hit their goals for 2026, a full 18 months ahead of schedule.
Photo: Cruise Fever
Just How Successful Was Q2?
Carnival’s latest financial results show a strong rebound and continued growth:
Profit Soars: Carnival’s net income for the second quarter clocked in at $565 million. That’s an improvement of nearly $475 million compared to the same period last year, with adjusted net income more than tripling.
Record Revenue: The cruise company pulled in $6.3 billion in revenue, setting a new Q2 record. This is up nearly $550 million from last year’s $5.78 billion, proving that passengers aren’t just booking cruises, they’re also spending once they’re on board.
Beating Analyst Expectations: Analysts were expecting adjusted earnings per share of $0.24 and revenue around $6.21 billion. Carnival sailed past those estimates with adjusted EPS of $0.35 and revenue of $6.33 billion. The market clearly liked what it saw, with the stock seeing a significant bump in premarket trading.
Carnival Celebration and Carnival Breeze docked in Cozumel, Mexico. Photo credit: Cruise Fever
Ahead of Schedule for 2026
Perhaps the most impressive news is Carnival’s “SEA Change” initiative reaching its goals far sooner than thought.
Carnival has surpassed its 2026 financial targets a full year and a half ahead of schedule. They’ve managed to boost how much money they make from each available bed on their ships by 52%, and they’ve more than doubled the return on the money they’ve invested, now over 12.5%.
These numbers are now at their highest levels in nearly two decades.
Strong Bookings and Future Outlook
The strong performance is backed by booming demand.
Customer deposits hit an all-time high of $8.5 billion, a clear indicator of strong future demand. Even bookings for 2026 are looking strong as well, matching 2025’s record levels and at historically high prices.
Carnival has also raised its full-year guidance for 2025. They now expect net yields (a key measure of profitability per passenger cruise day) to rise by approximately 5% from 2024, and adjusted net income is projected to grow by over 40% compared to last year.
While debt is still an issue from the pandemic era ($27.3 billion), they are actively managing it, refinancing nearly $7 billion of debt at better rates and improving their net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio.
Credit rating upgrades from S&P and Fitch also bring them one notch closer to investment grade.
Despite recent backlash from a reward program roll out, Carnival is riding a wave of strong consumer demand and smart financial management. The recent earnings report showed that demand is as strong as ever and the company hopes to continue to capitalize on that going forward.
This is a list of all the cruise brands under Carnival Corp & plc:
AIDA Cruises (German market)
Carnival Cruise Line
Costa Cruises (Italian market)
Cunard Line (Luxury, British heritage)
Holland America Line (Premium, traditional cruising)
P&O Cruises (UK market focus)
Princess Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line (Ultra-luxury)
(Note: P&O Cruises Australia ceased operations as a separate brand in March 2025, with its ships transferring to Carnival Cruise Line.)
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There are people who think that the name ‘Celebrity Cruises’ is literal.
Have you ever wondered if there’s more to the name Celebrity Cruises than just a name? Is it a cruise line that attracts celebrity guests? Do they even hire celebrities to make your cruise feel more special?
Or is it just a name?
Don’t Expect Celebrities on Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises does have a selection of themed sailings that include celebrities, but they don’t have celebrities on them at all times of the year. Celebrity Cruises are known more for the premium cruise experience, rather than for hosting a lot of celebrity special events.
But there are a handful of carefully curated themed cruises where you can enjoy meeting some major names. Otherwise, you may just have to hope that you spot a celebrity enjoying their own cruise vacation.
There aren’t many tales of celebrities being spotted randomly on Celebrity Cruises or indeed on many cruise ships at all, and yet that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy a cruise.
And you could argue that Celebrity Cruises is probably one of the more likely cruise lines for celebrities to choose when enjoying their own vacation. The ships are contemporary and premium, offering a quality experience above the mass-market ships of Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
If a celebrity were to cruise with Celebrity then they would likely book a suite, so that they could enjoy quieter parts of the ship. So even if the ships did have celebrities on board, it would all be very discreet and the chances of you spotting them would be very low indeed.
Celebrity Beyond’s Iconic Suite
Celebrities That Have Sailed With Celebrity Cruises
Celebrities that you’ve been able to sail with on Celebrity Cruises in the past include Gwyneth Paltrow, as part of a special partnership with her company, goop, and various musicians on themed cruises such as Kool & The Gang, The Hollies, and Billy Ocean.
Celebrity Cruises doesn’t tend to pack out their sailings with celebrity entertainers beyond specially-chosen music cruises.
But the cruise line does sometimes partner with elite names in various fields to offer a range of experiences that are suited to the premium customer that sails with Celebrity.
The ‘goop at Sea’ cruise was a great example, where you were able to cruise with CEO and Hollywood actor Gwyneth Paltrow as she held Q&A sessions around her wellness advice, while there were special culinary events held on the ship.
Sometimes there is the opportunity to sail with a renowned chef and enjoy their own tailored menu. These don’t tend to be TV chefs as they often are with some other cruise lines, but instead, they are names more known in the world of fine dining. Daniel Boulud is one such example.
Celebrity Chef Daniel Boulud with Cornelius Gallagher, Celebrity Cruises AVP Food & Beverage Operations
Of course, one of the most famous celebrities in all the world is Santa Claus himself, and there are holiday cruises where you can enjoy a visit from the man himself, with younger guests receiving a gift from him too.
And one recurring cruise that you could argue was a celebrity one – depending on your definition – is the ‘Celebrate with the CEO’ cruise that sees you sail with Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. If you’re a cruise aficionado and you love Celebrity Cruises then you may consider Lutoff-Perlo a celebrity.
Captain Kate McCue during her time with Celebrity Cruises
Celebrities on Cruises
It’s hard to say whether celebrities go on cruises for their own vacations. The most famous celebrities will often go to great lengths to hide their plans for their holiday, so that they can relax. Some celebrities have definitely been spotted on cruise ships in the past.
If a celebrity was to cruise, they wouldn’t spend most of their time on the main pool deck surrounded by every other guest. Even on a ship with just 3,000 people, that’s still a lot of others who could pester them for photos or conversation.
Celebrities, whether you like them or not, deserve to have some form of private time on their holiday. A cruise can offer that, especially in suite accommodation where there are many more private spaces to relax.
But then often celebrities will take advantage of their status to enjoy perks such as free cruises, in exchange for some publicity.
List of Cruises with Celebrities Aboard
It’s impossible to give a list of every cruise with a celebrity because they change so often – people may take part in one-off cruises, and plans can change at short notice with celebrities who often have many different bookings.
Of course, the easiest way to guarantee seeing a celebrity is to book one of the special chartered music cruises or other themed cruises where celebrities will appear, perform and attend various events.
These could be Star Trek actors appearing on a special themed cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, or AEW wrestlers performing live on NCL’s Norwegian Pearl, or legendary San Francisco 49ers players on a Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas sailing.
These are some of the best cruise lines if you want themed sailings with celebrities on cruises alongside you.
Then there are more regular appearances. P&O Cruises often have Olly Smith or Eric Lanlard on board for special events, as well as dancing cruises that feature Craig Revel Horwood. These are a good bet if you want to cruise with celebrities on a British cruise line.
Olly Smith
Mark Ronson doesn’t appear on cruise ships, but he does host some gigs at the private beach club in the Bahamas that is exclusive to Virgin Voyages cruisers.
And Princess Cruises often invites guest speakers and singers onto their European sailings, with past guests including British actress Nina Wadia and singer Gareth Gates.
To Conclude
Despite the name, Celebrity Cruises is not the best choice of cruise line for celebrity spotting. They don’t have a massive range of themed cruises featuring celebrity guests, and any celebrities that enjoy their own holiday on board will be sticking to the suite areas away from the crowds.
There are plenty of other options if you want to spot someone famous, but the only way to guarantee it is to choose a special cruise where the celebrity is appearing at a named event. Don’t just hope that you’ll see celebrities randomly, otherwise you may be disappointed.
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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.
With the announcement of Carnival Rewards, the cruise line’s new loyalty program, there’s been no shortage of backlash.
Many long-time fans feel like their loyalty has been wiped out, and that the perks they once enjoyed are now locked behind sky-high spending thresholds.
Some are frustrated enough to say they’ll be cancelling upcoming bookings. Others are simply looking at alternatives for future sailings.
So where are they going? I’ve analysed the comments online, and these are the top choices…
Offers status match from most other cruise lines, including Carnival
Fun ships with water parks, ropes courses and more
Why it might not suit Carnival cruisers:
European-style service and dining can feel a little different
Not as high-energy as Carnival – entertainment is more reserved
Some guests find the onboard experience a bit inconsistent
MSC Cruises has made huge waves in the US market in recent years, and it’s no surprise that disillusioned Carnival guests are giving them a look.
The biggest draw? Status Match. If you’re Platinum or Diamond with Carnival, you can often jump straight into a higher loyalty tier with MSC, unlocking benefits from your very first cruise.
They’re also pretty affordable, and with family-friendly ships like MSC Seashore and MSC World America, you’ll find a similar energy – especially during school holidays.
That said, MSC’s European roots are noticeable. Dining can feel slower and more traditional, entertainment is less raucous, and service standards can vary.
If you’re looking for an exact Carnival clone, this isn’t it – but if saving money and keeping perks is your goal, they’re worth a look.
Offers status match through the “Deep Blue Extras” loyalty tier
Ultra-modern ships with a great party vibe
No kids onboard – just adults relaxing and enjoying themselves
Why it might not suit Carnival cruisers:
Adults only – no families or kids allowed
Pricing is higher, especially upfront (though more is included)
A different kind of “fun” – more chic than cheeky
Virgin Voyages is one of the newer players in the cruise game, but they’ve made a splash – especially with adults who love food, cocktails, and a bit of flair.
If you’re a Carnival fan who cruises without kids and loves a good time, Virgin might feel like a grown-up version of what you already love.
There’s still live music, themed parties and energetic shows – but the whole thing feels more curated, more premium.
The big caveat is that they’re adults only, so families are out of luck. And while pricing can seem high at first glance, it does include things like WiFi, gratuities, and all dining venues – which Carnival doesn’t.
And they’re the other major cruise line offering status match – so Carnival guests who are Platinum or Diamond can start enjoying enhanced perks right away.
However if you’re a Carnival cruiser who likes to order a drinks package, you’re out of luck – Virgin Voyages doesn’t offer them, though you can get bonus ‘bar tab’ credit by loading your account in advance.
Compared to Carnival, Virgin Voyages is definitely a shift in tone. Less hairy chest contest, more rooftop yoga.
3. Royal Caribbean
Why it’s good for Carnival fans:
A very similar cruise experience – lively ships, family fun, upbeat vibe
More onboard features – surfing, zip lines, robot bartenders…
Huge global fleet with loads of itinerary options
Why it might not suit Carnival cruisers:
Usually more expensive than Carnival, especially for similar itineraries
You’re starting loyalty status from scratch
If Carnival is the party cruise line, Royal Caribbean is its slightly shinier, slightly more advanced cousin.
There’s a lot of overlap – family-friendly ships, upbeat entertainment, relaxed dress codes – but Royal Caribbean ups the ante with larger ships and more ambitious features. Icon of the Seas is practically a floating resort, with seven pools, a waterpark, and Central Park all onboard.
The downside? Price. Royal ships are generally more expensive than Carnival’s even with itineraries that are almost identical, and you’ll be starting from zero on the Crown & Anchor loyalty ladder.
But if you’re happy to spend a little more and want that familiar energy with bigger ships and more toys, Royal Caribbean’s an easy next step.
Similar casual vibe – “Freestyle” cruising is very relaxed
Comparable itineraries, especially in the Caribbean
Newer ships packed with fun features and entertainment
Why it might not suit Carnival cruisers:
Higher prices, especially when you start adding extras
No status match – loyalty status starts from your first cruise
Entertainment can be more Broadway, less poolside party
NCL is another cruise line that appeals to the same kind of guest Carnival does – people who don’t want to dress up, who like lots of choice, and who want a good time at sea.
The “Freestyle” approach means you can eat when you like, dress how you like, and build the cruise you want. And ships like Norwegian Prima and Encore are packed with go-karts, VR gaming, and even open-air laser tag.
But like Royal Caribbean, you’ll likely pay more for a similar cruise – and while onboard perks are good, you’ll have to earn them from scratch. No status match here.
Great for those who want to “upgrade” from Carnival’s fun-focused style
Exceptional dining and service
Why it might not suit Carnival cruisers:
Much quieter – less party, more peaceful
No status match from Carnival
Higher pricing – especially with extras
Celebrity Cruises isn’t a direct Carnival competitor – and they’re not trying to be. But for some Carnival fans who feel the magic is gone, this is the cruise line they’re “growing into”.
Celebrity ships are chic, food-focused and calm. Entertainment is polished, the crowd tends to skew older, and everything just feels a touch more elegant.
But if you loved Carnival for the music, the trivia, the late-night pizza and the party energy, Celebrity might feel like a step too far in the other direction.
Still, if you’re looking for a change and don’t mind paying more for a bit of luxury, they might surprise you.
Honourable Mentions: Princess Cruises & Holland America Line
Both of these are technically still part of the Carnival Corporation family – so they may not feel like much of a change if you’re trying to move away from the Carnival brand entirely.
Why they’re good:
You’ll still get your shareholder onboard credit if you own Carnival Corp stock
A more relaxed atmosphere – ideal if you want to cruise in peace
Great for Alaska, Europe and longer itineraries
Why they’re not ideal for Carnival fans:
Still part of the Carnival Corp group
Much quieter – very little in the way of high-energy nightlife or entertainment
Tends to appeal to older guests
If you’re moving on from Carnival but want to keep your shareholder perks, Princess and Holland America are solid options.
But don’t expect the same atmosphere – these are laid-back, traditional cruise lines with a more refined tone.
Think afternoon tea and enrichment lectures rather than deck parties and DJ sets.
The launch of Carnival Rewards has shaken things up – and for many long-time fans, it’s the push they needed to start exploring other cruise lines.
Whether you’re looking to keep your perks via a status match, or you’re just curious to try something new, there are plenty of options out there.
Some feel familiar, others offer a totally different experience – and that’s the beauty of cruising today: there’s something for everyone.
Just remember, no cruise line is a perfect replacement for Carnival. Each one comes with its own pros, cons, and quirks. But if you’re feeling let down by the loyalty shake-up, it might be the perfect time to broaden your horizons.
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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.
