Luxury Cruising Editorial

Holland America Line will not only offer more 9+ day cruises to the Caribbean in 2026-2027, but nearly all of them will visit the cruise line’s enhanced private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Guests traveling to Half Moon Cay on a Holland America Line ship will enjoy a new beach club with priority tendering, waiter service, and exclusive food and beverage offerings. It will also have private beach access with indoor and outdoor seating with ship views.

Other parts of the private islands are also getting upgraded. Holland America Line guests will enjoy enhanced beach facilities, upgraded cabanas, villas and canopy loungers for two.

Guests will also be able to visit new shopping venues and refreshed dining locales — including a refurbished food court and Lobster Shack, as well as new food trucks with island-only menu items.

Other highlights include new pickleball courts, and refreshing beverages delivered via Aperol Spritz tricycles or Bacardi Beach Buggies.

The cruise line will offer more than 70 cruises to the Caribbean in 2026-2027 that are all at least nine days in length. In addition, week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean will also be offered.

Eurodam, Zuiderdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Nieuw Statendam will all sail to the Caribbean on seven-night cruises.

HAL’s cruises to the Caribbean will depart from Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida and range from seven- to 14-nights in length from October 2026 through April 2027.

The cruise line is also debuting a new adults-only Signature Pool Experience on its Caribbean cruises for those looking for the ultimate relaxation experience at sea.

Available at each ship’s Sea View Pool, guests can unwind with spa-like amenities including complimentary cold towels, cucumber water and lemonade, as well as services like sunglass cleaning. 

Michael Smith, senior vice president, guest experience and product development for Holland America Line, gave the following statement:

“The Caribbean, with its crystal-clear blue waters and sandy beaches, is the perfect destination to unwind — and we’re enhancing the guest experience to ensure the most relaxing vacation possible.

“Whether on board or at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, guests will feel immersed in the Caribbean’s charm and the award-winning, personalized service Holland America is known for.”

A cruiser looking forward to a Royal Caribbean vacation has left a warning online.  After multiple flight delays started piling up ahead of the cruise, this traveler stated the importance of flying well ahead of embarkation. 

While it’s tempting to just book a flight the same day as embarkation day on your cruise, more often than not it’s just inviting trouble—or at least some extra stress.

It’s hard enough for many people to get enough time off work to have a nice 7-day cruise, and the idea of flying into the city of the cruise port at least one or two days ahead of time might seem like overkill.

But after one Reddit user posted a warning about what happened this week, a lot more travelers are paying attention.

An Online Warning Turns Real

With a post entitled, “THIS is why you fly in the day before”, user Mamm0nn gave several status updates as they were attempting to fly from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

But what began as a minor inconvenience—a flight delay of a few hours—quickly snowballed into a worst-case scenario.

“On our 3rd flight delay… total of 5hr 30 minute delay so far… now getting in at 1AM the date of the cruise,” they posted late yesterday, still hopeful they’d make it to the ship after a late-night arrival.

Read more: 7 reasons you should never fly on embarkation day

From Delay to Disaster at O’Hare

Then came the first bit of even worse news: the flight was canceled.

The traveler then rebooked on a 5:00 AM flight the next morning, figuring they could catch a few hours of shut-eye on the airport floor and still get to the port in time.

So, now it was a same-day flight on cruise day, a situation the person was trying to avoid in the first place. 

But the bad news seemed to keep getting worse.  In a second update, Mamm0nn shared the sad reality:

“13 hours at O’Hare, 5 delays, 2 flight cancellations. We can’t get to Fort Lauderdale out of O’Hare until tomorrow evening.”

By then, their ship would be long gone. With no rental cars available to escape back to Milwaukee, they faced a bleak wait for a 6:30 AM bus, followed by an Uber ride home.

But there was at least a small silver lining in all of this, which should also be a reminder to all cruise travelers out there.

“Glad we got the insurance!!!” they added, a small win at least after a string of losses.

Others Shared Their Own Close Calls and Advice

The post racked up 211 upvotes, drawing dozens of comments from fellow cruise enthusiasts in the group.

Some offered practical tips like suggesting checking out flight delay compensation through the U.S. Department of Transportation—while others shared their own rules of thumb:

“I’ve never been one to cut it close. Our next one, we’re going in 3 days early.”

The comments were filled with stories of near-misses and hard-earned lessons, from driving cross-country to avoid flights altogether to last-minute shopping sprees when luggage didn’t make it.

The original poster’s story isn’t just bad luck—it’s a textbook example of why flying on departure day is a roll of the dice. Airlines can have issues for any number of reasons: storms, mechanical issues, staffing problems.

Cruises, though? They stick to the clock. Miss the boarding window, and you’re out of luck, watching your vacation fade over the horizon.

Cruise Fever and most cruise experts agree: arriving a day ahead—or even two or three—isn’t overkill; it’s peace of mind. It gives you time to settle in, maybe explore the port city, and start your trip refreshed instead of ready to pull your hair out.

This traveler’s cruise insurance will likely soften the financial blow, covering the cruise fare and extra costs—depending on what type they bought–, but it can’t replace the thrill of taking a cruise.

So, next time you’re eyeing that same-day flight to catch a cruise, think of this story.  Think of being stuck at the airport, dreaming of a ship you never got to board.

Flying in early means you have to spend extra time away from home and extra money on hotels, but it’s a vacation, and it’s supposed to be a relaxing occasion.

But if you book a short cruise for a very low price, and don’t mind taking the risk, by all means go for it.  Just remember to tell us the story and if it was worth it or not.

When passengers boarded Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, yesterday, they received a letter stating that the cruise will end in a different port than originally scheduled.

In the letter to guests, NCL said that due to weather concerns, the current cruise on Norwegian Aqua will now end in New York City instead of Boston. The sailing was a seven-night Transatlantic cruise from Southampton, England.

The cruise will also be extended a few extra days and will now end on April 7 instead of April 4.

The letter stated:

“While we always strive to maintain our original schedule, the safety of our guests and crew remains our top priority. Due to severe weather conditions, we will be altering our scheduled cruise, delaying our arrival to the U.S. As a result, Norwegian Aqua will now arrive in New York City on April 7, 2025, at 3:00AM local time, instead of Boston as originally planned.

“Due to these uncontrollable weather conditions expected along the route to Boston, which carry of high degree of uncertainty with no improvement expected, we must adjust our course to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for everyone on board.

“As a result, we will be taking an alternate, more southerly route to ensure a safe crossing. While this adjustment will delay our arrival, it will also provide a smoother sailing experience and offer additional time to enjoy all that our brand-new ship has to offer.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this unavoidable change many cause and appreciate your understanding and flexibility.”

Norwegian Cruise Line is giving guests a $300 reimbursement credit for any flight changes that need to be made. Guests who booked their flights directly with the cruise line will have their flights automatically rescheduled.

Norwegian Cruise Line had planned to do a three-day event from April 4-6 on the new ship for travel agents and media when Norwegian Aqua arrived in Boston. That event will no longer take place.

NCL does not have another revenue sailing scheduled for the ship until April 16, a five-night cruise from Miami to The Bahamas.

But first, the cruise ship will be officially named and christened by Emmy Award-winning actor, Eric Stonestreet. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in Miami on April 13.

Celestyal Cruises has updated their repositioning cruises in 2025-2026 and these four sailings will not only visit five new ports, but will also mark the cruise line’s return to Egypt.

Celestyal Cruises will offer repositioning cruises on their two ships to the Arabian Gulf this fall and then back to the Mediterranean in the spring of 2026.

The cruises will visit two new countries for Celestyal, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and five new ports. The new ports are: 

• Aqaba in Jordan
• Jeddah in Saudi Arabia
• Muscat in Oman
• Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt
• Ain Sukhna in Egypt

The four 14-night cruises will also be available to book in segments that can be as short as four days.

Celestyal Journey will depart from Athens on November 22, 2025 and arrive in Abu Dhabi on December 6, 2025. The sailing will visit Port Said, Sharm El Shiekh, Aqaba, Jeddah, Muscat and Dubai. The ship will arrive in Abu Dhabi in time for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Celestyal Discovery will depart from Athens on November 28, 2025 and sail the sail itinerary as Journey, with an additional port of call at Kusadasi, Turkey.

In March of 2026, both ships will sail similar repositioning cruises back to Athens, Greece.

Prices start at $339 per person on a four-night cruise, and $1,029 per person on a 14-night voyage including meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities. Junior Dream Suites start at $2,599 per person on each 14-night cruise).

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, gave the following statement about these four cruises:

“Last year, we committed to offering our guests even more destinations. Whether they are returning travelers or new to cruising, we welcome everyone with the warm hospitality that is at the heart of our heritage.

“Our tenth anniversary year will be bigger than ever, beginning with extensive renovations across our fleet and an expanded program featuring two new countries, five new ports of call, and a long-awaited return to Egypt.

“2024 was a record-breaking year for Celestyal, with our highest-ever bookings. We know this success is thanks to the incredible support of our guests, regional partners, travel agents and staff. As we look ahead, we remain committed to delivering unmissable experiences for our guests.”

After cruising for well over a decade, I’ve had my share of cruise experiences.  Some ports I skip and some I still enjoy visiting even after several previous port stops.

But a recent post online stirred up an interesting conversation about staying on the ship versus getting off in port.  And what made it even more interesting was the concept of purposely booking a very port heavy cruise, just to get more of the ship yourself.

I’ve often recommended staying on the cruise ship for certain ports of call, or just for the sake of taking it easy for a day. 

While I hate the idea of traveling all the way to an exotic destination just to completely ignore it, the benefits of staying behind do make sense.

You get more space at the pool, a more relaxed atmosphere, and just more opportunities to enjoy amenities without lines and hassle.

But normally when you book a port-intense sailing, it’s because you want to see and experience those places.

A recent Reddit post on a cruise-related subreddit gave the tip to “book a port heavy cruise instead of a cruise with many sea days” for the purpose of sleeping in and relaxing.

The Upside: A Ship to Yourself at Familiar Ports

I’ve seen every Caribbean port twice over, so I get the appeal. “Psyteet” said it’s perfect “if you have been to a few of the ports before and decide to use those days as sleep in and relax on the ship days.”

Another user gave a reason to enjoy those port days related to the spa on the ship:  “Thermal suite is empty. Quieter.”

On a port-heavy itinerary, you could turn familiar stops into bonus sea days without the crowds. Spas and restaurants might even offer discounts on port days. Some users expressed ports that they always skip just because they’ve seen them so many times or just aren’t as interested.

Another upside could be if there are 5 or 6 ships already in port that day.  If you don’t feel like fighting crowds from other ships, you can just stick to the one you’re on.

The Catch: You’re Missing Out

Not everyone’s onboard—literally. “PilotoPlayero” said, “If I can see land from the ship, I want to go ashore, even if I’ve been there 10 times.”

I feel that. Ports are half the fun, especially on unique itineraries.  And even if I’ve been to Nassau or Cozumel a dozen times, I always seem to find something new I missed previous times.  Besides, it’s not like you have to spend all day at a familiar port.

One comment put it simply: “If I’m in port I’m going ashore. Otherwise I could have just laid around my house.”   I guess the only difference is that my house doesn’t have an almost 24/7 buffet, hot tubs a plenty, and fun things to do at just about every turn.

And there’s a cost angle—“MacularHoleToo” pointed out, “Aren’t you paying more for ports versus sea days, with the port fees?”

That’s a valid point.  While not every port charges the same amount, none of them are free, and they all add to the final cost of a cruise.

I should note that some cruise ships turn into practical ghost towns on a port day.  You won’t see as many activities and most of the time shops will close down as well.   This has changed with some cruise lines as they realize more passengers do like to stay behind.  Just realize not everything will be open and running.

But if you just want to relax and enjoy the pool anyway, go for it.

It’s All About the Itinerary

Here’s the one kicker with the “book a port-heavy itinerary to stay on the ship” philosophy.  Many of the port-intense cruises are to unique and rare destinations.  Are you going to kick yourself later on for missing out on that experience?

There are some Mediterranean sailings where skipping a port would be almost crazy in my mind. But a Caribbean loop with repeats? I might stay put.

One user said they skipped Caribbean ports but wouldn’t dream of it in Croatia. I’ve learned that a packed itinerary can wear you out too—those all-day excursions can be exhausting.

My Verdict

At the end of the day, cruising is what you make of it, and there’s no wrong way to answer this question.  Just know what you’re signing up for so you don’t regret it later on.  There’s kind of a symbiotic relationship with the “get off the ship” and “stay on the ship” ideas here. 

After all, it’s the people getting off the ship that make the vessel more spacious for everyone else, right?  So, it’s a win-win for both.

“HalfManHalfCyborg” said it best in a comment: “Don’t be a gatekeeper on how we are allowed to enjoy cruises.”

Read more: 5 Reasons to Stay on the Ship When in Port

Trying to understand how cruise cabin upgrades work can be a little confusing, especially for people new to cruising.  We’ve selected some of the biggest myths about getting stateroom upgrades to help clear up this confusion.

While on a cruise, your cabin is your home away from home, so it is important to choose wisely which type of room is best suited for your party.

There are many types of staterooms ranging from interiors, which do not have any windows, to huge suites with private hot tubs and spacious balconies.

The types of cabins available will depend not only on the cruise line, but also on the particular cruise ship you are sailing on.  That’s because for the most part newer ships have a wider variety of staterooms available. 

Take Icon of the Seas, for instance. It has 28 different types of staterooms.

Related article: 7 Lesser-Known Things a Cabin Steward Can Bring You

If a cabin upgrade offer sounds too good to pass up, well, you may be surprised to learn that many seasoned cruisers do pass up on these offers for many reasons. Here are seven of the biggest myths about cruise cabin upgrades.

 1. Cruise Cabin Upgrades Will Always Be Available

One of the seven biggest misconceptions about cruise cabin upgrades is that they are always available. While cruise lines may occasionally offer upgrades, some sailings fill up faster than others, and many of the more desirable locations get booked up.

This may depend on your itinerary or your cruise ship. Cruise lines offer special upgrades for certain, less popular itineraries to encourage more guests to book that sailing, which is often advertised on their website.

The same applies to older ships, as newer ones have become increasingly popular, and in demand. 

Demand for cruises is also at an all time high. Cruise lines are reporting a record number of future bookings so upgrades are harder to get due to fewer cabins being available.

 2. Cabin Upgrades Are Free

A free upgrade to a cabin bigger, and better than the one you originally booked sounds like the dream of a lifetime. However, the sad truth is, while these upgrades were formerly more common, free cabin upgrades rarely happen anymore.

Cruise lines may decide to compensate a travel party with a free cabin upgrade if something on their reservation was seriously mishandled. Otherwise, your upgrade will most likely be within the same stateroom category (i.e. inside room to another inside room).

Should you choose to upgrade from one category to a higher category level, you will likely have to pay any costs associated, and all fees are typically per person, per night, and are always subject to availability.

Read more: What is the true cost difference between a balcony and inside cabin?

 3. A Cabin Upgrade Will Guarantee a Better Experience

It’s an upgrade, so obviously it will give you a better cruise, right?  Remember, it’s not just the category of the cabin that’s changing, it’s also the location, in addition to a few other things.

When the cruise line offers you an upgrade, it is essentially the same as booking a ‘guarantee’ cabin – where your cabin category is guaranteed, but your location is not. So, while you can choose the type of stateroom, you are unable to choose the location in most instances.

And for me, the location of my cabin is often more important than the category, all things being equal.

An upgrade may not be for you if, while booking, you never pick “choose my room for me” because you prefer to be on the same deck as the spa, where you spend a tremendous amount of time, or you enjoy a room near the elevators for quicker access to other decks with more entertainment.

An upgrade may place you in a more secluded area, which would not be enjoyable for this situation. Additionally, large travel groups who intentionally booked multiple rooms near each other should avoid upgrading for obvious reasons.

If any of these factors are important to you, you may want to think twice and stick with the room you initially reserved to avoid this problem.

4. Cabin Upgrades Are Always Worth the Extra Cost

Another myth is that the new cabin you upgrade to is guaranteed to have improved amenities, and better perks than you initially had.

You may be surprised to learn that your initial booking incentive perks probably won’t follow you to your new reservation.

Why? That old reservation and any information associated gets cancelled once a new one is created.

When you accept the upgrade, you won’t receive the incentives attached to the previous room you had reserved, and it’s possible that the new perks aren’t as enticing as the ones you received two, three months ago when you initially booked your cruise.

For example, if you initially booked a room with a promotion offering free Wi-Fi, and a $100 onboard credit per person, but the current offering is a $50 onboard credit per person, and no Wi-Fi package, you lose the free internet when you re-book your cabin.

It may be important to weigh the costs associated beyond the dollar signs when deciding if an upgrade is right for you.

 5. Bidding on Upgrades Has a High Success Rate 

You’ve probably seen the bragging posts online—someone bids a couple hundred bucks and lands a two-bedroom suite or jumps from an inside to a midship balcony for what seems like a low-ball bid.

It’s easy to think bidding’s your ticket to that kind of cabin success.  And it very well could be.  But remember, other cruisers are thinking the same thing.  And while it’s worth putting in that bid for whatever amount you’re comfortable with, don’t get your hopes up of you miss out.

Maybe you’ve heard the story of the guy that bid $3,500 and scored a $14,000 Haven suite for a family of four on Norwegian Breakaway.  This is the exception and not the rule.  But at the same time, why not give it a shot. Just don’t hang the success of your vacation on winning the bid or not.

Bidding is unpredictable—Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp and Norwegian’s Upgrade Advantage only offer what remains unsold, and it’s not always the best cabins. Still, it’s worth placing a bid if you’re open to flexibility; just don’t count on a dream upgrade every time.

Just remember, you’ll have a higher success rate if you’re sailing in the shoulder season and on a cruise ship that isn’t high in demand, like a ship built more recently.

How does bidding work? If you’re lucky, you’ll get an email from your cruise line—think Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp or Norwegian’s Upgrade Advantage—inviting you to bid online. You’ll log in, slide a dial to set your price (per person, double occupancy), and wait. Minimums start low, but it’s up to what’s left unsold. No invite? Check your reservation online—some lines let you peek anyway.

6. You’ll Get the Same Deck Location of Cabin You Originally Booked

As discussed earlier, cruise lines divide staterooms into categories (interior, porthole, veranda, etc.), and those cabins by deck location: midship, aft, and stern.

If you prefer to sail midship to ease seasickness, most knowingly book a midship category stateroom ahead of time to avoid this inconvenience. Upgrading your cabin may eliminate the room location you originally secured, which could put a wrench in your entire vacation plans.

Keep in mind, that once you upgrade, there is no guarantee you can switch back to the room location, or category you initially had, as it may be unavailable. It is almost impossible to move back to the exact room number you initially booked.

Related: What cruise cabins to avoid on the ship

7. If You Need an Accessible Cabin, you are Guaranteed One

All cruise lines welcome and encourage all individuals to sail with them regardless of physical limitations. In fact, cruise lines are now required to have accessible/wheelchair-friendly cabins on all their ships.

Being that most individuals are not physically handicapped, these cabins are not the majority, and there is a limited amount on board. If you need an accessible cabin, it is in your best interest to book ahead of time, and to say no to potential upgrades to avoid ending up with a stateroom that is not suitable to your needs.

There are terms and agreements proposed by the cruise line that you adhere to when agreeing to an upgrade, and the risk of losing the type of room you had initially secured is one of them, so unfortunately, there is no recourse here.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to cruise upgrades, the truth is they’re not always the slam dunk they’re cracked up to be—especially when you factor in what you actually want.

If you’re dead-set on a cabin in a specific spot—like, say, near the action and fun stuff—it’s probably worth shelling out upfront to secure that cabin. The same thing is true if you’re trying to stick together with a large group.

Also, what the cruise line hypes up as “prime real estate” or some fancy promo might not be the best suited cabin for you. Their idea of a great cabin could totally miss the mark on what you think is worth it.

To dodge that “ugh, should’ve known better” feeling, just do a bit of digging. Visit some online cruise forums—there’s a ton of them– and fire off whatever questions you’ve got about the cabins you’re looking at. Real talk from people who’ve been there, done that, with no agenda, can steer you right.

Related: Cruise cabin check: 11 things to do before you unpack your suitcase

*This article has been updated since its original publishing date

Carnival Cruise Line and Wyndham Rewards have partnered together for a new way to book cruises and save on vacations while earning points.

Wyndham members can now book cruises on Carnival cruise ships through Wyndham Travel Bundles. They will also be able to package together flights, pre-cruise hotels, rental cars, excursions and more.

Best of all, in the case of airfare, cruises, and car rentals, members are able to double dip, earning not only Wyndham Rewards points, but also miles and points in each brands’ rewards program.

Wyndham members will earn one point for every dollar they spend on cruise fares. However, they are offering double points now through April 30, 2025 for travel completed by December 31, 2025.

Michael Shiwdin, GVP, Guest Engagement, Loyalty & Strategic Partnerships, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, gave the following statement about this new partnership:

“Carnival is the world’s most popular cruise line, and its iconic red funnel serves as a passport to unforgettable journeys – making it the perfect addition to Wyndham Travel Bundles. From setting sail to unwinding after an adventure at sea, members earn every step of the way.

“It’s all turning dream vacations into even more rewarding experiences, giving travelers more ways to explore, more ways to earn, and more ways to make the most out of every adventure.”

Ken Tate, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Carnival Cruise Line, added:

“Wyndham is a fantastic partner and we’re eager to work together on creating even more unforgettable vacations and giving their loyalty members a fresh and easy way to enjoy our cruises. This collaboration not only expands our reach but also offers travelers a seamless, all-in-one vacation experience.”

It doesn’t take long for a rumor to spread online, and when it sounds like a sneaky trick to save money, it can travel even faster.  But before a rumor about using fake medical documents to con the cruise line travels too far, Carnival is nipping it in the bud.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald took to Facebook Live this morning to address a wave of social media posts about “beating the system” with the cruise line’s drink package.   These posts claim passengers can bypass the CHEERS! beverage program’s strict purchasing rules with medical exemptions—even fake ones.

Heald Calls Out the ‘Nonsense

The video comes after a growing trend of incorrect content about a sneaky method rumored to trick Carnival following the program’s price hike to $82.54 per day (pre-purchased) in December 2024.

“Anyway, CHEERS! program, so lots of you will have seen all these posts flying around yesterday, today, from, based on a, on a somebody who’s a moderator of a, of a Facebook or YouTube or one of those—but what they’re saying is that they were able to get a medical exemption for them and their family for the CHEERS! program,” Heald began.

“Some also wrote that they were able to scam this by having false medical documents. It’s all absolute…nonsense.”

The rumor appears tied to a recent, unspecified YouTube video or Facebook post that gained traction recently, likely from a cruise influencer or group moderator.

While Heald didn’t name the source, his comments suggest it’s a response to claims that passengers successfully avoided Carnival’s rule requiring all adults aged 21 and over in a stateroom to purchase the CHEERS! package if one does—a policy designed to prevent drink sharing.

The alleged workaround? Presenting medical documentation, real or fake, to excuse non-drinkers from the rule.

Heald was quick to shut down the idea.

“Listen, I know, I know not everybody agrees with this, and I totally understand, I really do, but the CHEERS! program is designed so that everybody in the cabin aged 21 or over, regardless of some very honest people writing to me saying my husband’s diabetic and my wife isn’t well, etcetera, etcetera, then the reasons that they can’t drink—and I understand them all—but at the moment, the only fair way that we can honestly control the program is by saying, without exception, including medical ones, that you must be 21 and over. If you’re in the cabin, everybody of that age must purchase the program.”

No Exceptions, No Workarounds

The CHEERS! package, which includes up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day plus unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, has sparked debate since its latest price increase.

Online forums YouTube vlogs have been filled with tips to maximize value or skirt rules, with some suggesting medical exemptions as a loophole. Heald acknowledged the complaints:

“And then people say, well, we’re forced to do it. Well, you’re not forced to do anything, obviously. It is up to you whether you decide to do it. You may agree, you may disagree, and I respect your disagreement, I really do.”

But he urged followers to dismiss the rumors.

“Please don’t believe what you’re reading on these pages over the last couple of days and what this YouTuber is saying because it is not true. If you go to guest services where they pretend, for indeed a totally legitimate medical reason for you not to be able to have the CHEERS! program, you would still be refused that.”

Carnival’s website reinforces this: no exceptions, medical or otherwise. The crackdown follows years of passengers testing workarounds—like discreet sharing or timing drinks to stretch the 15-drink limit—prompting stricter oversight via the Sail & Sign system and staff training.

Whether this puts a stop to the online drink package tricks or fuels more creative attempts remains to be seen—but for now, Heald’s message is clear: don’t bet on a doctor’s note, fake or not, to beat the system.