If you’re looking for a family river cruise, then CroisiEurope has some great deals with free places for children aged 16 and under.
Europe’s largest river cruise operator, CroisiEurope, has a summer Family Club programme with free child places that will make a river cruise an affordable option for your summer holiday this year.
These cruises also featured exciting and child-friendly excursions on the Douro, Guadalquivir and Rhine.
The summer Family Club programme is available on the following itineraries:
5 And 7-Night River Cruises From Porto
These Douro cruises call at Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Barca D’Alva, Senhora Da Ribeira and Ferradosa. Child-friendly excursions include a tour of Porto by tram, plus a visit to the Tramway Museum and a splash around in the swimming pool in Salamanca.
Five-night cruises for Summer 2025 cost from £1,301 per adult, with kids cruising free.
Seven-night cruises for Summer 2025 cost from £1,249 per adult, with kids cruising free.
5-Night River Cruises From Strasbourg
Rhine river cruises from Strasbourg will include calls at Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Mainz and the Black Forest. Child-friendly excursions include a boat tour of Strasbourg by night, a tour of local vineyards on a tourist train, visits to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum in Rüdesheim, the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz and a Treetop walk in the Black Forest.
These CroisiEurope cruises cost from £1,154 per person, and kids cruise free.
7-Night River Cruises From Dubrovnik
If you want something a little different from the typical CroisiEurope cruise deals, then why not choose this more coastal option, which includes visits to Mljet, Korcula, Sibenik, Trogir, Split, Vis, Hvar, and Kotor. The scenery here is absolutely stunning.
These cruises cost from £1876 per person, and, yes, kids cruise free.
Things To Know About CroisiEurope With Kids
The free child places offer doesn’t include excursions, you’ll have to pay for these separately. You’re also limited to two children per fare-paying adult.
CroisiEurope is the only river cruise line in Europe with no minimum age to sail, so kids of all ages are welcome on board, even babies.
Regarding accommodation, one child can share a room with two adults. Otherwise, kids aged five and over can stay in the cabin next door. Of course, if you take this option, then a room with windows, rather than a French balcony, is recommended.
CroisiEurope is a great choice for single parents too, as the single supplement is waived when travelling with children.
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.
How amazing is it when you stay on a ship or in a luxury hotel and they’ve thought of everything?
I’ve been on a couple of river cruises, along with spending time exploring nine river cruise ships over two days, and was blown away by how many thoughtful little touches I came across on board. Some of these cost barely anything to the cruise line but go a long way to show guests how much they’re thought of.
Many cruise lines and hoteliers could learn a lot from this, so read on to see what small delights I discovered during my river cruise experiences…
1. Spare Reading Glasses
If you wear glasses only for reading, you’ll be familiar with the feeling of being handed a menu, only to realise that you’ve forgotten your reading glasses. Well, it’s not a problem on an Avalon Waterways ship as you can choose from a selection of freshly sanitised glasses to borrow.
2. Sweets In The Lobby
On a Uniworld river cruise, you’ll struggle to walk through the lobby without being tempted by this display of gummy sweets and liquorice. There are even little paper bags so that you can take some with you as you head off on your excursions.
3. Fresh Flowers Everywhere
I’m always amazed by the beautiful fresh flowers on river cruise ships – in the restaurants, in the lounge and even in your cabin. They always look so perfect that I think that they must be artificial, but on closer inspection, they’re real!
4. Individual Towels
On a river cruise, whenever you visit a public bathroom you’ll find individually-folded towels to dry your hands on. This just feels so luxurious! This system would never work on a large ocean cruise ship with the number of people on board, but on a river cruise, it does.
5. Umbrellas By The Door
We all know that the weather in Europe can be unpredictable. But that’s not so much of a problem when there’s an umbrella ready for you to borrow as you leave the ship.
6. Blankets On The Chairs
Another thoughtful solution to the inclement weather of Europe is these gorgeous fluffy blankets that are placed on the outdoor chairs so that you can still enjoy sitting outside as the temperature drops. They’re so soft!
7. A Cute Message On Your Key Card
On a cruise, your cruise card really is your key to happiness. I just think it’s cute that on Avalon Waterways, it says that on the card.
8. Reusable Water Bottles
Sustainability is a major focus for the river cruise lines right now. To reduce plastic waste, Emerald Waterways provides every guest with a reusable water bottle that also makes a great souvenir to take home.
River cruise cabins are carefully designed to maximise the space. This room on a Scenic River Cruises ship has a clever lift-top desk that conceals your room phone and other useful bits and pieces like masks and hand sanitiser. With the added mirror, you can also do your hair and makeup here.
10. Audio Guides
Most river cruises include guided walking tours. To make it easy to hear your guide when you’re in a group, you’ll be provided with audio guides. Simply plug in your headphones and you can listen to the commentary as you explore.
11. Umbrella And Shoehorn In The Wardrobe
On an Ama Waterways river cruise, it was nice to see that there was an umbrella in the wardrobe in case I needed it. The shoehorn was also a thoughtful addition that takes up no space at all, yet some people would find it to be handy.
12. Slippers, Shoe Polish And Sewing Kit
Also in the wardrobe were slippers, a sewing kit and shoe polish. Even if these things aren’t in your room, you can always request them from the guest services desk (or your butler if you have one!) But I do prefer when things like this are just there, so you don’t have to ask.
13. Plenty Of Fancy Toiletries
River cruises always come with toiletries, oh how my heart sings when there’s separate shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Nobody likes that three-in-one stuff that you get on most ocean cruise ships! Scenic river cruise ships have L’Occitane toiletries, and lots of them too.
14. Bathroom Bits And Pieces
Nail files, cotton wool pads, cotton buds… I’m always in awe of how many thoughtful touches you’ll find in your room on a river cruise ship.
15. Kettle In Your Room
As us Brits appreciate a good cup of tea first thing in the morning or a hot chocolate before bed, you’ll find that most river cruises that cater for British guests have kettles in the cabins.
16. Coffee Machine In Your Room
In my opinion, there’s only one thing that could be better than a kettle in your room – a coffee machine in your room! Especially when it comes with lots of different pods to choose from. If you need special milk like soy, oat or almond, the staff will be happy to bring this for you too.
17. A Bell Jar Of Treats
Imagine returning to your room after a day of exploring ashore to find a glass cloche filled with chocolate-covered strawberries. The delight! Mini pastries, cakes, cookies and canapes are also popular treats for those lucky enough to stay in a suite on a Scenic river ship.
18. Chocolates On Your Pillow
Each night when I returned to my room on A-ROSA Donna my bed had been turned down and there was a single Lindor chocolate on my pillow. Such a nice touch!
19. Earplugs
Oftentimes, you only realise that you need earplugs when it’s the middle of the night – and that’s not the best time to go and source some! That’s why Scenic river cruise ships have them in your cabin, just in case.
20. A Note From Your Cabin Assistant
A little card from your cabin assistant allows you to call them by name whenever you need anything. On the back, you may find some suggestions for the different things you can request, such as different pillows.
21. A Pre-Breakfast Appetiser
On a recent Ama Waterways cruise, as I perused the breakfast menu the waiter brought me a plate of fruit. ‘Some vitamins, while you browse?’, he offered. What a lovely way to start the day right!
22. Thoughtful Buffet Options
It would have been easy for the A-ROSA chefs to put the smashed avocado and tomatoes inside the tofu sandwiches. But not everyone likes avocados and tomatoes. How thoughtful to have this separate so that you can add it if you wish.
23. A Selection Of Spices
On an A-ROSA cruise, your food will never be bland with this selection of spices that you can help yourself to. You can add these to soups, stews and salads to give your meals a unique flavour to suit your own preferences.
24. All Of The Teas
On river cruise ships, there’s always an area where you can help yourself to tea and coffee throughout the day. With so many different teas to choose from, as well as a coffee machine that makes many options, you may have a problem deciding which to go for!
25. Books To Borrow
Most river cruise ships have a library on board with books you can borrow. However, I particularly like this mini-library on board A-ROSA Donna. You can donate your own books when you’ve finished them or swap them for one on the shelf.
26. Games And Puzzles
You probably won’t have time to play games on your river cruise, but if you do, you’ll be sure to find a stack of games that you can borrow should you wish to.
27. Sunlounger Shades
Want your body in the sun but your face in the shade? No problem! Honestly, I wish that all sunloungers came with this extra part that shields your eyes from the sun so you can read your book more easily!
To Conclude
If you’re used to taking ocean cruises, then I have no doubt that you’ll be pleasantly surprised with some of the thoughtful little touches that you’ll find on river cruise ships. With fewer than 200 guests on board and a higher staff-to-guest ratio, the crew members have the time to make sure that everyone is really well looked after.
Now, if you’re wondering how much a river cruise costs to make all of this possible, then you may be pleasantly surprised by the answer.
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.
Thousands of Carnival Cruise Line guests were recently disappointed to learn that their 2026 sailings have been cancelled.
This is due to affected ships having their dry dock schedules adjusted, requiring a pause in operations for essential maintenance and refurbishments.
One of the most notable cancellations is Carnival Horizon’s 13-night Transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Miami, originally scheduled to depart on 15th June 2026.
The cruise line explained the cancellation was necessary due to changes in the ship’s dry dock timeline.
Affected passengers were offered two options:
Rebook a comparable cruise at the same rate and receive a $50 per person / $100 per stateroom onboard credit.
Do nothing and receive a full refund – including any pre-purchased packages – automatically after 1st May 2025.
Carnival reassured guests they would help find an equally exciting alternative and encouraged them to call for rebooking assistance.
Carnival Magic Cancels Over a Month of Sailings
Meanwhile, Carnival Magic will be out of service from 18th April to 24th May 2026, due to her own rescheduled dry dock.
This affects more than a month of sailings that were set to include popular 6–8 night Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries.
As with Horizon, Carnival offered impacted Magic passengers the same refund or rebooking options and noted:
“We sincerely apologize for this change and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to having you sail with us.”
While cancellations are never fun, dry docks are crucial for both safety and guest satisfaction.
Ships typically undergo dry dock every 3 to 5 years for regulatory inspections, maintenance, and updates to onboard amenities.
These pauses ensure vessels stay compliant with maritime regulations and continue to deliver top-tier cruise experiences.
Fortunately, guests have over a year’s notice to make alternative travel plans.
Carnival emphasised that refunds will be processed after 1st May 2025, and could take up to three weeks to appear, depending on guests’ banking institutions.
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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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Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty are both great choices of Carnival ships, with varying similarities and differences. If you’re looking to choose between the two or would like to know more about what to expect on board, read on and compare with a side-by-side guide on which is the best Carnival ship for your next cruise.
Ship Details
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
Class
Fantasy
Conquest
Year
1998
2005
Last Refurbished
2017
2021
Size
71,909 GT
110,000 GT
Guest Capacity
2,190
2,974
Length
855 feet
952 feet
Onboard Crew
900
1,160
Carnival Liberty is the newest of the two ships, initially launching in 2005 as part of the Conquest Class. In 2011, she was the first ship in the whole fleet to receive the Fun 2.0 renovations – a multi-million dollar project to bring enhanced facilities with improvements to existing water parks, mini-golf, a new restaurant, bar and entertainment options and more. In 2021, Carnival Liberty had a dry-dock renovation with the addition of the new blue livery.
The smaller and older Carnival Elation is part of Carnival’s Fantasy Class. The ship began sailing in 1998 and also had a refurbishment in 2017 as part of the Fun 2.0 renovations.
Carnival Liberty is more than 50% larger than Carnival Elation at 111,000 gross tonnes, compared to Elation’s 71,909. Read on to find out what Carnival Liberty has that Carnival Elation doesn’t…
Itineraries
Carnival Elation sails out of Port Canaveral in Orlando, Florida, on a range of 2- to 9-night sailings around the Caribbean, including the Bahamas. Ports include Nassau, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays.
Carnival Liberty also sails from Port Canaveral but instead focuses just on the Bahamas on shorter 2- to 5-night sailings, calling at ports including Bimini, Nassau, Princess Cays and Freeport.
Each ship offers very similar itineraries for short Caribbean-based cruises to ports based in the Bahamas and northern islands.
Comparison
Both ships have undergone renovations to bring them up-to-date with several Fun 2.0 enhancements as seen on newer ships such as Carnival Vista or Carnival Panorama. Carnival Liberty holds more guests and is much bigger than Carnival Elation, so would be a better pick if you’re seeking more space and facilities.
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Dining Options
Both Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty offer a wide variety of dining venues and options. Each offers the usual classic places such as BlueIguana Cantina, Main Dining Room, Guy’s Burger Joint and the Lido Marketplace, as well as additional venues that incur a charge, such as Bottomless Bubbles, Pizza Delivery and The Chef’s Table.
On Elation, you can also find Bonsai Sushi Express and JavaBlue Café, while Liberty features Coffee Bar, Mongolian Wok and Steakhouse. Elation features 20 dining selections, compared to Liberty’s 22.
Restaurant
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
24-Hour Room Service
Included
Included
BlueIguana Cantina
Included
Included
Bonsai Sushi Express
Extra Charge
–
Coffee Bar
–
Extra Charge
Dining Room
Included
Included
Guy’s Burger Joint
Included
Included
JavaBlue Café
Extra Charge
–
Lido Marketplace
Included
Included
Mongolian Wok
–
Included
Pizza Delivery
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Pizza Pirate
Included
Included
Seaday Brunch
Included
Included
Seafood Shack
–
Extra Charge
Steakhouse
–
Extra Charge
Steakhouse Selections
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Sweet Spot
Included
Included
Swirls
Included
Included
The Carnival Deli
Included
Included
The Chef’s Table
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Comparison
There are only a few dining venues different between the two ships, though Liberty has more overall in total. Both ships offer a fantastic range of eateries from those which are included in your cruise fare to speciality dining and additional extras. With Carnival Liberty offering more and only missing JavaBlue Café and the Coffee Bar, this would be the best ship in terms of food variety and venues.
If you’d like to sample some of the speciality restaurants, this is a great way to spend any onboard credit you may have. Check out my guide – 12 Ways to Use Your Carnival Onboard Credit Like a Pro for more tips and ideas.
Bars
Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty are incredibly similar in terms of bar options. Both ships include the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar and Alchemy Bar.
The only differences are that Carnival Elation has the Beer Station, where you can pour your own beer at any time of day and that Carnival Liberty has the SkyBox Sports Bar, where you can catch all the latest games on the big screens and check out the real-time scores and headlines on the panoramic ticker.
Bar
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
Alchemy Bar
YES
YES
Beer Station
YES
–
BlueIguana Tequila Bar
YES
YES
Casino Bar
YES
YES
Cheers!
YES
YES
Cruise the Vineyards
YES
YES
Exclusive Carnival Brews
YES
YES
RedFrog Rum Bar
YES
YES
SkyBox Sports Bar
–
YES
Comparison
In terms of keeping up with sports news and the latest matches, Carnival Liberty is your best option with the SkyBox Sports Bar. Otherwise, both ships offer the same bars to visit. If you’re not a keen sports fan, Carnival Elation may be your better choice.
Whichever ship you choose, make sure you check out my guide to Carnival drink packages to work out whether you should buy the package in advance or not.
Activities
Both ships offer plenty to keep kids, adults and families entertained, from games and mini-golf to the adult-only retreat at Serenity and pools to take a dip.
Carnival Elation offers Master the Martini, which is a mini martini tasting for an additional fee and not available on Carnival Liberty. However, the larger and newer ship of the two offers Alchemy Martini Tasting, which is a similar experience. Liberty also offers the chance to play basketball, which isn’t available on Elation.
Activities
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
Alchemy Martini Tasting
–
Extra Charge
Art Auctions
Included
Included
Art Exhibitions
Included
Included
Art Games
Included
Included
Art Seminars
Included
Included
Atrium
Included
Included
Basketball
–
Included
Bingo
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Cooking Demonstration
–
Included
Games
Included
Included
Library
Included
Included
Master the Martini
Extra Charge
–
Military Appreciation
Included
Included
Mini Golf
Included
Included
Mixologist Competitions
Included
Included
Serenity Adult Only Retreat
Included
Included
WaterWorks
Included
Included
Pools
Included
Included
Twister Waterslide
Included
Included
Comparison
The only main difference in terms of activities is that Carnival Liberty offers basketball, while Carnival Elation doesn’t. Both ships have been upgraded with the Fun 2.0, so each has the same facilities to enjoy, including WaterWorks, bingo and art auctions.
However, if you’re a keen sports player and love to make friends on the court, Carnival Liberty is the ideal option.
Entertainment & Events
There is plenty of entertainment and events to get stuck into with Carnival Cruise Line and both Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty spare no exception.
Both ships offer the same range of entertainment, aside from the Dive-in Movies, which are only available on Carnival Liberty. This is a poolside movie played on the big screen outdoors, which you can watch from your lounger, pool or table.
Entertainment
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
Dive-In Movies
–
Included
Karaoke
Included
Included
Live Music
Included
Included
Nightclub
Included
Included
Piano Bar
Included
Included
Playlist Productions
Included
Included
The Punchliner Comedy Club
Included
Included
On all Carnival cruises, you can expect a variety of organised events during your sailing. Enjoy games, giveaways, line dances and more at the Mega Deck Party or celebrate the start of your holiday with the Sailaway Party.
Events
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
Mega Deck Party
Included
Included
Groove for St. Jude
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Holidays Aboard
Included
Included
Sailaway Party
Included
Included
Comparison
Other than the movies by the pool, there isn’t much to distinguish between the ships in terms of entertainment or events. Carnival Liberty has just a little more to offer, thanks to the ship featuring the Dive-in Movies, which is a great activity to enjoy on a quiet evening.
The Carnival Elation activities for kids are the same as those on Carnival Liberty, from arts and crafts to the video arcade available for a range of age groups. Both Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty offer the same options of kids’ facilities with highlights including the Build-A-Bear Workshop, kids’ clubs and the Dr Seuss® events and activities such as character parades, interactive storytime and a character breakfast featuring their favourite Dr Seuss friends.
No matter which ships you pick, the same features will be on board that your children are sure to love.
Spa & Fitness
For those seeking a chance to work out, keep fit or enjoy a class or two, Carnival has a range of facilities great for keeping up your routine or just trying something new.
Some ships have been upgraded to the Cloud 9 Spas for the facilities, though this is only available on the cruise line’s newest ships, not including Carnival Elation or Carnival Liberty.
Spa & Fitness
Carnival Elation
Carnival Liberty
Acupuncture
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Facial Treatments
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Fitness Center
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Fitness Classes
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Hair & Beauty Salon
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Jogging Track
–
Included
Massage
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Medi-Spa
–
Extra Charge
Men’s Spa Services
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Spa Carnival
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
ZSpa
Extra Charge
Extra Charge
Comparison
There are only slight differences between the spa and fitness offerings of Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty. Liberty offers more in terms of a jogging track and Medi-Spa facilities, which include treatments such as Botox and Dysport. Other than that, both ships offer the same Spa Carnival experiences.
The Overall Verdict
After reviewing all the details of what’s available for Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty, I would say that the better ship of the two would be Carnival Liberty. The ship is newer and has had a more recent upgrade, and it’s larger meaning there is more space for guests to wander and enjoy life on board. There are also a few extra features for bars, dining venues, entertainment and activities.
Of course, you might read some Carnival Elation reviews and decide that the longer itineraries sound more fun. Or maybe you’ve made your mind up just by looking at the Carnival Liberty pictures.
When it comes down to Carnival Liberty vs Elation, there’s no single choice – but if you want my opinion, Liberty just about edges it.
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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.
Two Canadian travellers have filed lawsuits against Royal Caribbean International, claiming the cruise line failed to adequately prevent and respond to a Salmonella outbreak that impacted more than 180 guests during an Alaska sailing in September 2024.
The women, Tierny Patterson and Nicole Singh, sailed aboard Radiance of the Seas on a week-long cruise departing Vancouver on 20th September 2024.
According to legal documents filed with the British Columbia Supreme Court in March 2025, both women experienced severe gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming meals onboard and are now seeking compensation for physical suffering and financial losses.
Patterson claims she fell ill after eating multiple meals in the ship’s “dining hall,” though the specific venue – main dining room or buffet – was not clarified in the filing.
After returning to Vancouver, she was diagnosed with Salmonella by her physician on land.
Singh, who also reported diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and fever, alleges she was treated like a “biohazard” and confined to her cabin by ship medical personnel, who she says lacked proper training and equipment to provide adequate care.
She claims she wasn’t advised to seek hospital treatment ashore, which she believes further jeopardised her health.
Royal Caribbean Yet to Respond
Royal Caribbean has not issued an official statement regarding the claims. The lawsuits remain under review by the B.C. Supreme Court, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
The cruise line, however, did follow standard procedures outlined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) – which mandates that cruise ships report outbreaks when 3% or more of guests or crew report gastrointestinal symptoms.
On this sailing, 180 guests and three crew members were affected, representing 8.29% of those on board – well above the reporting threshold.
The outbreak was logged with the CDC, and experts monitored the ship’s sanitation response.
Cruise lines are prepared for outbreaks of illness and implement rigorous containment measures.
Onboard Radiance of the Seas, this included enhanced cleaning of high-touch areas, increased signage and announcements encouraging frequent handwashing, and collecting stool samples to identify the cause of illness.
In this case, tests confirmed Salmonella as the source.
Guests who reported symptoms were isolated in their cabins – a routine safety precaution to limit the spread of infection.
Isolated passengers typically receive room service meals, medical support, and regular monitoring.
Despite the disruption, Radiance of the Seas did not alter its itinerary or onboard entertainment schedule.
While no traveller wants to become ill on holiday, cruise ships – like any environment with thousands of people in close quarters – carry an inherent risk of spreading gastrointestinal viruses and foodborne illnesses.
Salmonella can be transmitted via undercooked or contaminated food, and even with strict food safety procedures, outbreaks can still occur.
The situation underscores the importance of travel insurance, particularly policies that cover medical care and potential trip interruptions.
Royal Caribbean, like other cruise lines, also encourages passengers to report symptoms early and follow health guidance during outbreaks.
As for Patterson and Singh, their claims will now proceed through the Canadian court system, where the cruise line’s responsibilities and outbreak protocols will likely come under closer scrutiny.
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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.
After spending a reported $15,000 on a cruise departing from Florida, a man flying from Australia to New York missed the sailing after being held by U.S. immigration at John F. Kennedy International Airport for eight hours.
The apparent reason: he took an “unusual route” in his travel plans, which included a stopover in Hong Kong.
We just highlighted a story in which a British man flew from the UK to Australia and was not allowed to board his ship because of the condition of his passport. This time it was an Australian traveler that also missed his ship.
I always stress getting to the cruise port on time and trying to arrive at least a day early if possible. After all the time and money spent planning a cruise vacation, you really don’t want to miss the ship and watch your vacation plans sail into the sunset.
But sometimes there are delays you just never see coming. In this case, it was more than just a delay.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was detained by U.S. immigration at JFK airport because—according to him—he had taken a “very unusual route.”
“Eight hours later, after three interview teams and extensive examination of my laptop and iPhone, [the decision of US immigration] was that I had come to the US on a very unusual route from Australia via Asia (I flew premium economy and Cathay Pacific had the cheapest airfare),” the man reportedly said.
The eight-hour delay meant that by the time the interview process was over, the man’s ship had already departed. But ultimately, he would not have been able to join his cruise anyway because, according to the Australian news source, the man was then deported back to Australia.
Reflecting on his experience, the traveler reportedly stated that he had no plans on returning to the U.S. The missed cruise resulted in a reported $15,000 loss for the traveler, although we’re still missing a lot of details in this story.
It does, however, again highlight the importance of cruise travel insurance for any sailing, especially when multiple flights are involved.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Also, while the traveler’s account in the Sydney Morning Herald sheds light on his unfortunate experience, it’s worth noting that several aspects of this incident remain unclear.
The specific reason behind U.S. immigration’s assessment of his Hong Kong travel route as “unusual” has not been publicly detailed. We don’t have a full explanation of the examination of his electronic devices. And the specific policy that led to the deportation decision, based on his itinerary, remains unclear.
So, while we know this Aussie missed his cruise and was sent back home because of his “unusual route” through Hong Kong, the exact reasons why that route was a problem are still a bit of a mystery. It could be anything from extra security checks for certain travel paths to security concerns that were raised during questioning. Whatever the reason, it turned a $15,000 cruise into a very expensive airport layover.
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In this article, I explore everything you need to know about where to park, how much it costs, and how to make your cruise departure from Portsmouth hassle-free.
Whilst Portsmouth is mainly known for its maritime heritage, it now also hosts a number of cruise ships, from lines such as Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line, Azamara and Fred Olsen.
If you’re lucky enough to be going on a cruise out of Portsmouth and planning on driving to Portsmouth Port, you probably want to know where’s the best place to park.
Since I boarded a cruise ship in Portsmouth, I’ve done a lot of research for you and put together this guide on Portsmouth cruise parking. I’ll review all the options so you can decide which is the best option for you.
The Cruise Ship Dock
In Portsmouth, both cruise ships and ferries dock at Portsmouth International Port. This is just under two miles from the main city centre attractions, such as Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower.
As well as cruise ships and ferries, Portsmouth Port is used for cargo from around the world.
If you’re using sat nav to find it, the postcodefor Portsmouth cruise port is PO2 8SP.
The coordinates are 50.811823, -1.088367.
Free Parking
There is no free parking at Portsmouth Cruise Terminal. Some free parking may be available in residential streets, but many require a permit, and it’s important to consider the security of your car during your cruise.
While some streets in Portsmouth do allow parking, they aren’t typically suitable for long-term stays. For cruise bookings, it’s recommended to secure a designated car parking spot for safety and convenience.
The Best Car Parks For Cruises From Portsmouth
When it comes to choosing the best place to park in Portsmouth for a cruise, you could park at the port. However, if you park further away, you can take a shuttle bus or taxi to the port or stay at a nearby hotel and leave your car there.
Which type of parking is the best will depend on your budget, how long your cruise is, mobility requirements and your preference for convenience, such as the proximity of the car park to the cruise terminal.
Next, I’ll explain each of the options for you…
1. On-Site Valet Parking
Price: £12 to £16 per night, depending on your cruise
Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS) offers a private and secure on-site valet parking service that’s right outside the cruise terminal building in Portsmouth. If you have a lot of luggage and want a really easy experience, this is a good choice.
Once you reach the cruise terminal, a CPS marshal will guide you to the correct vehicle lane. Here, someone will greet you, register your vehicle, and perform the necessary inspections, such as taking a photo of your car and giving you a barcoded receipt.
When you have checked in your car, the driver will park it for you in the secure multi-storey car park nearby. You can then head to the terminal to check in for your cruise.
The valet service is very convenient, but it is pretty expensive, particularly if you’re on a longer cruise. Another downside is that you have to hand over your car keys – something that not everybody is comfortable with.
However, there are other options for you, including a much cheaper way to park in the exact same car park…
2. On-Site Self Parking
Price: £9.50 to £13 per day
It’s possible to park your car yourself in the very same multi-storey car park that CPS uses. This is right by the terminal, less than a five-minute walk.
I’ve parked here myself and it’s very easy and safe. The address of this car park is George Byng Way, Portsmouth, Hants, PO2 8QN.
The entry procedure involves automated number plate recognition without barriers, and payment is due upon arrival based on the expected duration of stay. Cruise passengers will be greeted upon arrival and shown where to park.
Depending on your cruise, this option can be a little cheaper than the valet option in the same car park, but not always.
You can book your parking on the Portsmouth International Port website for £13 per day. However, when I parked here, I booked the exact same car park via Your Parking Space, where it costs just £9.50 per day!
You get the exact same experience, it just costs less. I’ve used Your Parking Space many, many times and always had a great experience.
3. St Mark’s Church Car Park
St Mark’s Church in Portsmouth has a secure car park at the rear that’s locked at night and has CCTV. The car park is just a 9-minute walk from Portsmouth Cruise Port, or you can get a taxi or Uber for around £2.50.
You can book this car park online on the Just Park website. You’ll then be given a code which you can use to access the car park 24 hours per day.
At just £5 per day, this is a really cheap, safe and relatively convenient place to park for your cruise from Portsmouth. The only downside is that the car park isn’t huge, but if you book in advance, you are guaranteed a space.
Hotels With Parking Near Portsmouth Port
If you don’t live near Portsmouth, you could extend your holiday by staying in a nice hotel beforehand. This approach can provide a more leisurely start to your holiday, eliminating the worry of potential traffic delays that could risk missing your cruise departure.
Numerous hotels near Portsmouth provide special packages, including pre-cruise overnight stays and parking facilities. Surprisingly, these packages can often be more cost-effective than opting for port parking.
Please note that the proximity of these hotels to Portsmouth International Port may vary slightly depending on the exact route taken and traffic conditions. It’s always advisable to confirm travel times and parking arrangements directly with the hotel before your trip.
My Recommendation
Determining the best car park in Portsmouth for your cruise depends on your personal priorities and requirements. If you want the convenience, I would personally park at the terminal, as within a few minutes, you’ll be able to check in for your cruise.
You can opt for valet parking, but it’s so much cheaper to book the same car park through Your Parking Space, so that’s what I do.
However, if you’re travelling a long way to reach Portsmouth and prefer a more relaxed start to your holiday, I would definitely recommend booking a hotel that provides a transfer service or one within a short taxi ride. Opting for this approach means you can drive to the hotel at your leisure the day before, with the knowledge that your transfer to the cruise terminal is taken care of.
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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 Costa Concordia was the biggest cruise ship disaster of recent times, when the ship hit rocks off the coast of a Tuscan island and partially sank.
33 people lost their lives due to the errors of the ship’s Captain, including 27 passengers, five crew members, and one member of the salvage team.
But was everybody found? Let’s take a look.
Recovering The Bodies
All 32 bodies of those who died on the Costa Concordia were recovered, although only some of these were discovered in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. In total, it took almost three years to find the last body, which happened during the scrapping of the ship.
The 33rd casualty was never lost at sea – he was a Spanish diver working on the wreck in 2014, preparing it to be righted and towed. He cut his leg on a sheet of metal during the operation, and while he was brought to the surface by a fellow diver, he later died.
Where The Bodies Were Found
The first 17 victims of the Costa Concordia disaster were found in the water and in various accessible parts of the ship when the search first began. Other bodies were found between the hull and the seabed, on Deck 4, and on Deck 3, in difficult parts of the ship to search.
Here’s a timeline of the bodies being found:
13th January 2012 – The Costa Concordia partially sinks. Within the next couple of days, the initial bodies are recovered, with 17 people found and a further 15 confirmed to be missing.
February 2012 – A mini-submarine is sent to search the lifeboat deck (Deck 4), which has previously been unsearched due to it being difficult to access. Eight bodies are recovered, including an American couple, a German couple, and the youngest victim, a 5-year-old girl from Italy. Seven bodies remain unaccounted for.
March 2012 – As the ship is prepared for the parbuckling process, which will right it in the water, five further bodies are found trapped between the hull and the seabed.
October 2013 – With the ship now righted, searches continue and one more body is found, the last passenger – Maria Grazia Trecarichi. Only a crew member remains unaccounted for.
November 2014 – The final body is found in a cabin while the ship is being dismantled in Genoa.
After the initial victims were recovered, efforts were made to find the bodies amongst the shipwreck, but they proved difficult.
It wasn’t until April when a previously unsearched area of the lifeboat deck was explored by a mini-submarine, and that’s when eight of the missing bodies were found. It appears as those some of the victims may have been sucked into an elevator shaft or were trapped in the elevators.
The next five bodies were found by divers who were working to set up a robotic device to search the ship as it was being prepared for parbuckling. The bodies had been trapped between the hull and the seabed for over 18 months by this point.
The Last Two To Be Discovered
The last two bodies were found on the Costa Concordia, but only once the ship had been righted. The last passenger to be discovered was Maria Grazia Trecarichi, who was found trapped near the third deck at the back of the ship, in an area where dishes were washed.
Because of the location of the body, it was originally believed that it was the body of the missing crew member, although later tests confirmed it was Maria.
The Last Body Found On The Costa Concordia
The last body to be found on the Costa Concordia was that of Russel Rebello, an Indian waiter on the ship. His body was recovered from a cabin during the scrappage of the ship.
By this time the ship had been righted and towed to Genoa. The dismantling of the ship began in July 2014, and it wasn’t until November that Russel’s body was found. Once the remains were recovered, the body was identified and then received by Russel’s brother, to be flown back to Mumbai to be buried.
The Last Movements Of The Costa Concordia
The Costa Concordia is no longer where it sank. She was removed in 2014 and towed to Genoa, where she was dismantled, with the process taking three years in total and being completed in July 2017.
Photo: Rab Lawrence, (CC BY 2.0)
All of the bodies on Costa Concordia were recovered, and the ship has been completely broken down.
While it was extremely tragic that these people lost their lives as part of the disaster, it may provide some comfort to the families to have recovered the bodies for proper burial ceremonies and other forms of grieving.
Often, when ships sink, the bodies can be lost at sea. But because of the nature of the disaster, being so close to land, most people were able to escape, and those who sadly died did so on the ship itself or in the entry to the water.
The incident has been attributed to the error of Captain Schettino, and hopefully, with all the new processes we have in place to avoid any course changes that he made, we won’t see another disaster like it.
Francesco Schettino – Captain of The Costa Concordia
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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.
While cruise ship disasters are extremely rare, there is still a very slim chance that something could go wrong. This was proven in 2012 when, due to negligence from the onboard crew, the Costa Concordia sank off the shore of Isola del Giglio in Italy.
There were 3,229 passengers and 1,023 crew on the ship when she sank, and sadly 32 people lost their lives, including some crew and some passengers.
But how about those who survived? What action have they taken since, and what compensation (if any) have they received?
Costa Concordia Passengers Sued The Cruise Line
Some of the passengers of the Costa Concordia did sue the cruise line. The cruise line made an offer of compensation regardless, but some chose to seek litigation, either because the offered sum was too low in their eyes, or because of the trauma brought on by the event.
The biggest lawsuit was brought in Miami, and it wasn’t against Costa Cruises, but instead was a lawsuit against Carnival Group PLC, the parent company (which also owns Carnival Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and more).
This lawsuit was originally brought in 2012 by six of the passengers who had been on the ship and survived. It was asking for $528 million in total damages – $78 million in compensation and $450 million in punitive damages.
The original six plaintiffs were later joined by 33 more survivors who hoped to take the class action suit against Carnival to a successful end, and claim their own share of the hundreds of millions being sought.
Over time, the suits grew and a second was launched. By 2016, there were two suits being brought against Carnival Group – one with 57 plaintiffs, and one with 52 plaintiffs. However, a court in Miami threw the suits out and declared that the survivors weren’t able to seek compensation in the US for the disaster, regardless of whether they were US citizens or not.
Instead, the recommendation was made for affected passengers to bring litigation through the Italian courts, specifically in Genoa. The alternative was to accept the compensation package being offered.
Some other passengers sued the cruise line directly, seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder and other long-term conditions. A lot of the settlements have been made privately, but one passenger was paid $105,000 in 2021 after they won their lawsuit against the company.
The Compensation Offer
All of the passengers of the Costa Concordia who survived the disaster were offered compensation, and the cruise line made separate compensation offers to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident.
Around a third of passengers took the compensation offer when it was first made, while others sought legal advice and a smaller percentage tried to take the cruise line to court. Most of the suits failed, but the compensation offers for those passengers still stood.
The compensation package offered to surviving passengers of the Costa Concordia disaster was worth €11,000, which is approximately £9,434 or $12,500. The crew were reimbursed differently, being paid their full wages for either two months or the remainder of their contract, whichever was longer.
Francesco Schettino – Captain of the Costa Concordia
On top of the compensation offered, passengers also received a full refund of their cruise fare and reimbursement for other costs they had incurred, including air and bus travel costs that were originally included in the holiday, and the travel expenses for returning home.
Guests weren’t charged for any expenses they had incurred during the cruise, and they were also able to claim back any medical costs that resulted from the sinking of the ship.
The cruise line recovered as much property from the safes on the ship as possible and paid to have it returned to guests, but there was no separate reimbursement for other belongings lost in the disaster – this was already covered by the compensation offer.
Costa made clear that the payments made by the cruise line would not impact any payments made to guests by their travel insurance – so guests with insurance would be able to claim for their lost belongings that way as well.
Alongside the financial offer, the cruise line also granted all survivors access to a programme for psychological assistance.
The crew’s compensation was negotiated by a trade union, and alongside their paid wages, they were able to claim up to £2,250 for any lost property on the ship, as well as any expenses incurred as a result of the disaster.
In total, the cruise line paid out over €84 million in compensation to passengers and crew. An average of around €1 million was paid out to family members of the deceased, although for a time the cruise line was unable to find any successors to a German passenger who died on the ship. It’s unclear whether the cruise line has since been able to find family members to make a payment to.
Final Word
The Costa Concordia may seem like a disaster which happened a long time ago, but some of the lawsuits have only been settled as recently as 2021, and there is a chance that further litigation could be brought against the cruise line.
Most of those who were onboard the ship and survived have accepted the offers made to them, closing that chapter. Lessons have certainly been learned and hopefully – with the heightened safety awareness of the senior crew members on ships – we will never see a disaster of this extent ever again.
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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.
AT&T has revamped their AT&T International Day Pass to include both land and cruise ships for a daily flat fee.
AT&T’s International Day Pass now includes over 400 cruise ships and allows for seamless use on both cruise ships and in foreign ports.
The travel package now includes the following:
Unlimited talk and text on the ship and in port
500MB a day of data
No data overages*
Daily flat fee of $20 per day
*At sea, after 500MB of data use within a 24-hour period, data speeds may be reduced to a maximum of 512Kbps on certain cruise ships. The highest available data speed will be restored at the beginning of the next 24-hour period.
Because of this new plan, AT&T’s Cruise Basic and Cruise Plus plans will no longer be available. This includes Cruise Day passes as they are no longer available.
Erin Scarborough, senior vice president of Consumer Product for AT&T, gave the following statement:
“AT&T’s guiding North Star will always be our customers. They keep us grounded and help guide us in creating deals and services they deserve – that’s why we do what we can to connect customers wherever they are. We’re in this journey together with our customers, so it’s important they experience seamless connectivity wherever they go.”
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