Luxury Cruising Editorial

Costa Cruises, one of eight cruise lines from Carnival Corporation, has launched a new cruise offer that includes free drink packages on cruises to the Caribbean if you book by June 16, 2025.

This special promotion from Costa Cruises will allow you to receive the “Cruise Plus Drinks” fare for the price of a “Cruise Only fare”.

The “Cruise Plus Drinks” cruise fare features the “My Drinks” beverage package, which includes a wide selection of fine wines, cocktails, beers, spirits, cappuccino, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juices and soft drinks, plus two half-liter bottles of San Benedetto mineral water per cabin daily.

This offer is good on select cruises to the Caribbean on Costa Fascinosa and Costa Pacifica that depart from December 2025 through March 2026.

Costa Pacifica will sail roundtrip from La Romana, calling at Catalina Island, Samana and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic; Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico; and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.

Costa Fascinosa will sail roundtrip from Santo Domingo, calling at Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Catalina Island, and the British Virgin Islands’ Tortola.

Priscilla Reyes, head of sales for Costa Cruises North America, gave the following statement:

“Costa Cruises invites guests to discover the Caribbean with our Italian-style amenities and ambiance, now an even greater value with our ‘Spring Sale’ offer. Guests can enjoy a carefree vacation that includes a dedicated beverage package, making it the perfect time to book a Caribbean vacation.”

This special sale is open to residents of North America and expires on June 16, 2025.

For complete terms and details of this freed drink package offer from Costa Cruises, visit CostaCruises.com or contact your preferred travel professional.

Most cruise travelers dread the last day of a cruise when the ship pulls back into homeport.  But things got uglier than normal during the disembarkation process for some passengers retrieving their luggage in a Texas cruise terminal.

What should have been a smooth end to a Caribbean cruise turned into a scene of chaos at the Port of Galveston on Saturday, April 26, 2025.  The post-cruise brawl was caught on video and lead to the arrest of one man from Chicago while Carnival Cruise Line handed out lifetime bans to 24 passengers.

The wild scene, which was shared on social media and quickly spread like wildfire, showing Carnival Jubilee cruisers disembarking and walking through the cruise terminal.

Facebook user Trelle Ray, who posted the footage, simply stated, “It went down this morning,” capturing the scene of passengers shoving and punching each other near families and older individuals.

While the video showed the fight taking place, the reason behind the outburst remained unclear initially.

‘Chaos erupted at the Galveston Cruise Terminal today when a massive brawl broke out in the luggage pickup area, after guests disembarked from the cruise ship Carnival Jubilee.’

– CrewCenter
pic.twitter.com/8SiYdc7gbo

— The Daily Sneed™ (@Tr00peRR) April 26, 2025

However, a few details are now coming to light. According to a police affidavit, the trouble allegedly started in the luggage area after a heated exchange between the arrested individual, Ethan Merritt-Clark, and an elderly man.

Merritt-Clark reportedly first claimed the fight stemmed from a basketball game onboard, but later admitted to police that he “pushed” the older man “hard.”

The alleged victim told a different story, stating that Merritt-Clark had been watching his family with a “hostile manner” before striking him on the head after a brief verbal exchange. The impact nearly caused the elderly man to fall, with his luggage reportedly breaking his fall.

Two witnesses backed up the victim’s account, saying he tried to calm things down before the alleged assault. In response, the victim’s family members intervened.

Carnival Cruise Line didn’t mince words about the incident. “We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list,” the company stated.

This means those two dozen individuals are now barred from sailing with Carnival and the cruise line’s sister companies in the future.

Port of Galveston Police responded to the disturbance and confirmed the arrest of Merritt-Clark, who faces charges including injury to the elderly. They also noted that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assisted in detaining several people at the scene.

With one arrest made and two dozen individuals facing a lifetime ban from Carnival, the consequences of this Texas terminal brawl are significant. While Ethan Merritt-Clark is no longer in local custody, the legal process is just beginning.

Fighting on a cruise ship, or in this case even off the cruise ship, will almost always lead to a ban from the cruise line, in addition to other consequences relating to the legal process.

*UPDATE: Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald recently took to Facebook to respond to questions and concerns about the fight that took place.

“So many of you wrote to me about an incident in the terminal building at the Port of Galveston involving a group [of] people who will, like anyone who is involved in any physical altercation with other guests, or our crew will never, ever be allowed to cruise with us again,” he wrote on the social media account.

“Right now, there are many thousands of people having FUN on our ships. And 99.9% of those guests are wonderful…. We have the strongest bookings in the industry I am told, we certainly have the best guests and the best crew who will continue to make sure you have the best of times.“

Earlier this month, Carnival revealed another sneaky “hack” that could also lead to a ban: sneaking alcohol on board in clever containers.  The cruise line’s brand ambassador said “Don’t do it” as it violates Carnival’s policies and means violators “can’t cruise with us anymore”.

Read more:  6 times cruise passengers were banned for life by a cruise line

Carnival Cruise Line is making some big changes with bigger ships set to debut over the next eight years.  But some of these changes have certain loyal cruisers already feeling like they will miss a popular lounge for families.

While Carnival is emphasizing new ways to accommodate families, a popular venue on several existing ships – a lounge that’s a hit with families – is being phased out on upcoming fun ships.

A Family-Favorite: The Family Harbor Lounge

Family Harbor has been a hit with many families sailing on Carnival ships like Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee. These ships offer dedicated staterooms and suites near this special lounge, which provides a space cruising families have grown to love.

A recent discussion on the Reddit forum r/CarnivalCruiseFans showed how some cruisers are already missing this venue on future cruise ships.

One user expressed their disappointment about the change, and it’s easy to see why. For families, especially those with younger children, the lounge is just very convenient.

“If you dont have kids or your kids are grown, I dont expect you to care much for the Family Harbor lounge. Personally I am going to miss that place,” the user started.

“Waking up early with the kids and only have to walk down the hall to get breakfast was amazing. They also have an espresso machine where I can make all sorts of coffees that are much better than what they have at the buffet upstairs.

If we had an excursion it was even more helpful, because the excursions usually start early. We could get breakfast in 15 minutes and be off the ship and ready in no time.”

Imagine starting your day with a stress-free breakfast just steps from your stateroom. As the social media post pointed out, the lounge provides a quick and easy breakfast option, along with a decent espresso machine – a definite upgrade for parents needing that morning caffeine fix.

But the appeal of this family-friendly venue extends beyond breakfast. Throughout the day, it serves as a comfortable retreat for families. “Anytime we didn’t know what to do on the ship, we would swing by there and the kids would be entertained,” the post stated.

These lounges offer a selection of board games, family movies, and video games, providing a relaxed alternative to the often-crowded public areas.

What Cruisers Are Saying

Here are a couple more quotes from Reddit users that highlight the lounge’s appeal:

• “The food is great and much much less busy than anywhere else. If you like coffee, tea or chocolate milk then it’s a must imo.”
• “It was great to be able to get breakfast easily. Having chocolate milk and ice cream down the hall was good. Snacks were a hit. On the last cruise the kids hung out in there most of the time and made friends with other kids on the ship.”

Some cruisers even say the lounge has some of the best ice cream on the ship.

Casey Hogan, a frequent Carnival cruiser, told Cruise Fever that the chooses which Carnival ships to sail on based on whether or not they have a Family Harbor Lounge. He said:

“My wife and I have three-year-old twins, and after cruising with them twice on Dream-class ships, booking a Family Harbor stateroom on the Carnival Jubilee was an absolute game changer. Having the Family Harbor Lounge just down the hall was incredibly convenient—grabbing a quick drink or snack for the kids without trekking up to the Lido Deck saved us time and energy. Mom and Dad may have even taken advantage of the ice cream machine a few times!

“Being able to enjoy a full breakfast in the lounge without the hassle of finding a table on the Lido Deck made our mornings smoother and let us jump into the day’s activities even faster. We sailed in January when most kids were back in school, yet the lounge was still well-used—teenagers played video games, families gathered for snacks, and others watched movies together.

“We will choose Excel- or Vista-class ships with Family Harbor rooms due to this. Having Camp Ocean and the lounge close to our room on Deck 4 made everything easier and highlighted what great ship design can do for families.”

The Future of Family Cruising with Carnival

However, Carnival’s “Innovation Itinerary,” which outlines the cruise line’s future plans, reveals a different direction that doesn’t include the popular lounge.

The upcoming Carnival Festivale (debuting in spring 2027 from Port Canaveral) and Carnival Tropicale (expected in spring 2028), both part of the Excel class, will not include it. This change is also expected to be in place for the future “Project Ace” class ships.

So, what’s replacing it? Carnival is focusing on two key areas:

• More Interconnecting Rooms: Recognizing that many families value staying close together, Carnival is significantly increasing the number of interconnecting staterooms. Carnival Festivale, for example, will feature 1,000 such rooms.
• Enhanced Entertainment Zones: The cruise line is also investing in large-scale, multi-generational entertainment areas. Carnival Festivale will introduce “Sunsation Point,” a sprawling outdoor zone with the “Carnival Waterworks Ultra,” the largest water park in the fleet, and other attractions like mini-golf and sports courts.

While these new features promise plenty of fun for families, some cruisers say they will miss the unique convenience and relaxed atmosphere of the lounge that’s been so popular with families.

Family Harbor Fans Don’t Have to Say Goodbye

Of course, these lounges will still be available on the six ships mentioned above, so families that love these spaces can continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

The new changes coming to future Carnival ships may prove to be popular for families that still miss Family Harbor. But for loyal cruisers, changes to what they know and love are always a little disappointing at first.

If you ever wanted to visit Hawaii, Bora Bora, Australia or New Zealand but don’t want to get on a plane, there’s a new cruise from Miami, Florida that’s just for you.

This new 145-day cruise will sail roundtrip from Miami in 2027 departing on January 5 and returning to PortMiami, the Cruise Capital of the World, on May 30, 2027.

The cruise will take place on Seabourn Quest, an ultra-luxury cruise ship from Seabourn. The nearly five-month cruise will feature five overnight port visits and have two maiden calls for the cruise line.

The cruise will visit 67 ports in 19 countries and visit the French Polynesia, Bora Bora, Australia, New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands, and Hawaii. A map of the incredible journey can be seen below.

Overnight ports on the cruise are Sydney, Darwin, Papeete, Lima and Hobart. 

Four immersive optional Seabourn Journeys are be offered, as well as signature Seabourn experiences and exclusive events.

The cruise ship will also visit Wallaroo, Australia and Whangarei, New Zealand, two ports where the cruise line has yet to visit.

Scenic cruising will take place off the dramatic Kimberly Coast and Fiordland National Park.

The ship will transit the Panama Canal not once, but twice during the epic 145-day cruise.

The following is included in all cruise fares for this amazing sailing:

• Upgraded Stream Wi-Fi packages, powered by Starlink (two devices)
• Included medical services package, valued at $1,000USD
• Exclusive private dining experiences and sensational tasting menus
• Expanded and enhanced Special Events, exclusive to full World Cruise guests
• Up to $10,000USD Shipboard Credit per suite^
• Included Round-trip Business or First-Class Air
• Unlimited laundry, wet cleaning, and pressing on board
• One-night pre-cruise hotel stay
• Private car transfers door-to-door between home and airport
• Gala Bon Voyage dinner: Stay tuned for details of this guest favorite event, transformed for 2027
• Personal Valet luggage shipping service
• 50% Reduced Deposit at booking
• Special President’s Event
• Exclusive World Cruise pillow gifts
• View Best Prices on Cruises on Seabourn

Mark Tamis, president of Seabourn, gave the following statement about this new cruise:

“We invite travelers to embark on our 2027 World Cruise and discover the most awe-inspiring and extraordinary destinations across Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, and beyond.

“This voyage invites guests to explore and create lasting connections with both the extraordinary places we visit, and the people and cultures that bring them to life. Along the way, guests will enjoy Seabourn’s signature style of luxury travel at sea, elevated by the intuitive, personalized service delivered by our incredible onboard team.”

Guests who book the cruise on or before May 14, 2025 will receive Seabourn’s Early Booking Advantage (10% off).

MSC Cruises announced plans to expand activities for families on their cruise ships this summer beginning in June 2025.

These new activities on MSC cruise ships will offer something for everyone, from toddlers to teens to parents.

MSC Cruises is a family cruise line and offers the following five kids clubs:

• Baby Club Chicco (six months – 2 years)
• Miniclub Lego (3-6 years old)
• Juniors Club Lego (7-11 years old)
• Young Club (12-14 years old)
• Teens Club (15-17 years old)

Here is a look at the new activities being rolled out by MSC Cruises for families.

LEGO Family Game Show

The LEGO Family Game show launched on the cruise line’s newest ship in Miami, MSC World America, and will roll out across the fleet in June.

This interactive game show allows parents and kids to compete together in a creative challenge using LEGO bricks.

LEGO Family Parade

The lively LEGO Family Parade features seven LEGO mascots and will be on the following seven ships: MSC World America, MSC World Europa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Seashore, MSC Seascape, and MSC Meraviglia.

MSC Originals

MSC Cruises is introducing a new “DOREMIX Family Disco” on all of their ships by June 2025. This family friendly dance party will feature an exclusive MSC Cruises soundtrack where Doremi will serve as the DJ and dance judge.

The cruise line is also rolling out two new game shows, BOXES and MSC BOOM.

Guinness World Records

MSC Cruises is expanding their partnership with Guinness World Records with new activities for adults and children. It will be available on 16 cruise ships by this summer.

In addition to these new activities, MSC Cruises is adding new experiences for teens that include Teens-Club editions of the Silent Disco, Golden Party and Quiz O’clock.

A new event for parents, Golden Party & Quizzes will roll out on all MSC cruise ships and feature 75 original Trivia Quizzes.

Matteo Mancini, MSC Cruises’ Family Entertainment Development Director gave the following statement:

“With MSC Cruises being a family-owned company, we know what it takes to keep the whole family happy on vacation with our multiple-award-winning ‘Doremiland’ kids and family program, tailored entertainment activities and facilities, original game shows, amusement, cinema and waterparks for the youngest of guests through to teens.

“This summer, we are taking it to the next level, combining technology with engaging activities to create truly memorable experiences. Guests can look forward to more interactive game shows, more sports, more parties, and a fresh take on teen entertainment. No matter where our guests sail, endless fun awaits.”

When you’re the largest cruise ship in the world, you get a lot of attention.  You also get a lot of cruise passengers checking you out on a vacation, for better or for worse.   Some passengers are now asking if the ship is too crowded, despite its immense size.

With a double occupancy of 5,610 passengers and a max capacity of 7,600 passengers, Icon of the Seas, at 248,663 in gross tonnage, is the largest cruise ship–for now.  We will see if that title changes hands when Star of the Seas debuts in August of this year.

Read more: Star of the Seas vs Icon: 10 Differences

After cruising for over a year now, Icon of the Seas has sailed about half a million passengers around the Caribbean.  But some have started asking if the ship, in spite of its size, feels too crowded at times.

Too Crowded for Some

A recent discussion started on Reddit when a cruiser using the name mtbv08 shared their experience after taking a cruise on Icon. Their post, titled “Hot Take: Icon is too crowded,” explained that while their children thoroughly enjoyed the vacation, the sheer number of passengers – around 7,000 – was a significant drawback.

The user explained how everyday experiences were affected by the crowds.

“Every place one would want to be required pre-planning, jostling… to make things work,” they wrote. To illustrate, they mentioned that for the waterslides, “Get there at 9:00 AM because the line is 45 minutes by 9:15.”  The Reddit user also explained just how crowded the pool can get, with a humorous line about being ready to be on the receiving end of some kicks.

Attending the Aqua Theater show also required some effort to nab a less-than-ideal viewing spot: “Show up 40 minutes early, get a seat in the back left corner, and still fend off people trying to steal your seat while a kid runs to the bathroom.”

The cruiser also alluded to a common problem with getting a decent deck chair by the pool, which is the bane of any regular cruiser’s existence.

A few others in the comments agreed with the post’s sentiment.

One comment stated, “This is exactly why I won’t go on the larger ships. I tried it once and encountered all of this. Now I prefer the smaller, older ships.”

I recently wrote about this issue, with some preferring older cruise ships because of their size and affordability.

Sometimes, a ship’s “crowdedness” all comes down to that particular sailing as well.  During summer months or other times of year when kids are out of school, more cabins are above double occupancy.

One user that was on the same cruise on Icon of the Seas put it this way:

“The crowds were overwhelming, and we were all feeling ‘peopled out’ by the end of the week. The number of unsupervised kids and teenagers running around didn’t help either.”

Not Everyone Agrees

However, not everyone felt this way. One cruiser disagreed, saying, “We were just on Icon for spring break and never had a problem with crowds. We could easily get into every show and activity. The only wait was for the water slides.”

And just to show that a cruise experience is unique for every passenger, another comment from a person who was also on the same sailing as the original poster, mentioned not experiencing long lines for the waterslides when visiting at less popular times.  Go figure.

These differing opinions highlight the trade-off with larger cruise ships. While they offer a wider variety of amenities and experiences, they can also feel more crowded, but only in certain places at certain times. 

Avoiding the Crowds

I recommend you check out our article on the 12 best tips for avoiding crowds on a cruise, for a deeper dive into finding seclusion and peace on any ship.

With so many people on board, as is the case with Icon, it pays to do things at unpopular times, which is easier said than done when it comes to shows and entertainment.

I sailed on the Icon of the Sea’s inaugural sailing and really loved the ship’s layout.  This was not a jam-packed sailing though, and I’d imagine things like a water park would be a lot more crowded during times of the year when kids are not in school or during breaks.

We have broken down the passenger to space ratios on every ship with 9 different cruise lines, but even this metric is not perfect or even ideal.  It only compares the volume of a ship’s space with how many passengers it can hold.  And a lot of how crowded a ship feels comes down to flow and design.