An incident on St. John River near the Port of Jacksonville, Florida has led to the closure of the cruise port this morning. A cruise ship’s departure has also been delayed.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald posted a message on social media, notifying guests that Carnival Elation will be delayed in departing from the port. The ship is returning from a 5-night cruise to The Bahamas. The United States Coast Guard is conducting a search of the area in a rescue operation.
Local news reports are stating that a boat with eight people on board capsized by the Dames Point Bridge. Some of the passengers on the small boat were children. Four have been rescued while three are still missing and one has died.
The age of the individual that has passed away has not been disclosed, but Jacksonville Fire Rescue stated that when four individuals were first reported missing, two of them were adults and two were children.
The incident occurred where Trout River and St. John’s River intersect, and according to preliminary reports the group was taking pictures of the sunset, and the accident happened around 8 p.m.
What caused the small boat to flip over is still unknown.
Heald stated that the cruise line is monitoring the situation and is asking guests not to proceed to the terminal until there is more information. Guests booked on Carnival Elation are being asked to sign up for Carnival’s text alert service by texting code CCL1 to CRUISE (which is 278473).
“Carnival Elation is still awaiting clearance to proceed to the cruise terminal. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide another update by 10:30 AM (ET). Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final update with revised embarkation plans. Thanks for your patience and understanding,” a recent text alert from Carnival stated.
Some guests reported a problem with the text number, but Heald stated that the cruise line was working on a fix for the issue.
Carnival Elation was scheduled to depart Jacksonville today on a 5-day cruise to Nassau and Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas.
This is the only ship impacted by this incident. In November, Norwegian Cruise Line will also be offering cruises from Jacksonville as well.
As more details are made available this article will be updated.
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Carnival Elation is currently unable to return to the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) this morning due to the port being closed.
The Port of Jacksonville is closed this morning due to an incident on the St. Johns River. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting a search and rescue mission in the area.
Carnival Elation was scheduled to arrive back in Jacksonville this morning after a five-night cruise to The Bahamas.
The latest update from Carnival Cruise Line can be read below:
“Carnival Elation is still awaiting clearance to proceed to the cruise terminal. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide another update by 10:30 AM (ET). Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final update with revised embarkation plans. Thanks for your patience and understanding.”
Carnival Cruise Line is asking guests to sign up for their text alert service by texting code CCL1 to CRUISE (which is 278473). This will give them the latest information as Carnival releases it.
Carnival Elation is scheduled for a five-night cruise to The Bahamas today with port stops in Nassau and Half Moon Cay. The cruise will also have two sea days.
Cruise Fever will continue to monitor the situation in Jacksonville and will update this article as more information comes in.
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One of the biggest cruise lines in the world has made an important change to its luggage policies this week, to mixed reviews from cruise guests.
Royal Caribbean has officially banned personal and Bluetooth speakers from its private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, citing guest comfort and ambiance as the top priorities.
The move comes after repeated complaints of inconsiderate passengers disrupting the island experience by blasting music in shared spaces.
“You’ll find music to set the soundtrack to your day playing throughout the island…
“But if you’d prefer to listen to your own selection of music, we ask that you please do so with personal headphones.”
Royal Caribbean website
The new policy doesn’t ban personal listening altogether – guests are still welcome to enjoy music or podcasts via headphones – but it does prohibit audible use of speakers that could disturb other visitors.
This is particularly relevant in communal beach and pool areas where passengers are trying to relax, read, or enjoy the natural setting.
The change has prompted speculation that Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Haiti, could be next.
While there’s no official ban in place there yet, anecdotal accounts from cruisers suggest that staff are already stepping in when speaker use gets out of hand.
One guest on Reddit shared their experience of a large family blasting music on Labadee’s beach, only to have their speaker confiscated by a lifeguard.
When the group protested loudly from the water, the employee reportedly informed them they could retrieve the speaker from security later – or wait until returning to the ship.
The family chose security, packed up, and left the beach.
Some applaud the ban – but want it to go further
Though Bluetooth speakers are not currently listed among Royal Caribbean’s prohibited items fleet-wide, the move at CocoCay may signal a shift in policy that expands onboard and across destinations.
And many cruisers would be just fine with that. Several have reacted to the news asking for the ban to be widened across the ships themselves, not just the private island destination.
For many, this new measure is not just about etiquette, but safety as well.
Similar concerns were cited when Carnival Cruise Line banned Bluetooth speakers in late 2024, with the cruise line pointing out that loud personal music can interfere with ship-wide announcements, especially in emergency situations.
With the new CocoCay rule in place and continued stories of misused speakers at Royal Caribbean destinations, some are wondering if this could lay the groundwork for a fleet-wide ban like Carnival’s.
At present, guests are permitted to bring personal speakers onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and some use them in their cabins or on balconies – often as a form of white noise.
However, passengers are reminded to keep volumes low and avoid disturbing others through thin walls or from nearby balconies.
What you can do instead
Use headphones or earbuds to enjoy personal music or podcasts.
Limit speaker use to private spaces, and always keep volume low.
Avoid using speakers in crowded or shared areas like pool decks, beaches, or lounges.
Double-check Royal Caribbean’s policy before each sailing, as restrictions may evolve.
As cruise lines strive to provide relaxing and inclusive environments for all passengers, policies like this reflect growing awareness of community comfort.
For guests heading to CocoCay, the message is clear: leave the speaker in your stateroom – and pack your headphones instead.
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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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Under 21? Read on to find out at what age you can drink on a cruise ship.
The legal age to drink alcohol on a cruise varies between 16 and 21 years. The exact age to drink on a cruise depends on the cruise line, the location of the cruise ship, the type of alcoholic beverage and whether the young persons’ parents are present or not.
As a general rule, you have to be 21 to drink on a cruise in the United States and 18 elsewhere in the world. There are some exceptions, but don’t worry – we’ve done all the hard work for you!
Drinking Age By Cruise Line
The table below shows how old you have to be to drink on a cruise ship.
Cruise Line
United States & Private Islands
Rest of the World
Carnival
21
21
Celebrity Cruises
21
21 (18 with parents’ permission)
Costa Cruises
21
18
Cunard
21
18
Disney Cruise Line
21
21 (18 with parents’ permission)
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
21 (18 in international waters)
18
MSC Cruises
21
18
Norwegian Cruise Line
21 (18 in international waters with parents’ permission)
21 (18 with parents’ permission)
P&O Cruises
21
18 (16 with a meal)
Princess Cruises
21
18 (20 in Japan)
Royal Caribbean
21
18
Virgin Voyages
21 (18 in international waters)
18
Please note that there are many exceptions to the age limits above and also some differences about what constitutes as the United States for these policies. You can read more about this below.
FAQs – Legal Age To Drink On a Cruise
Can 18-year-olds drink on a cruise in the US?
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol in the United States. However, this law does not apply to cruise ships when they are international waters.
You can read more about what international waters means and what’s legal there in this article.
Whilst most cruise lines have policies to prohibit under 21s from drinking at sea, others allow guests aged 18, 19 and 20 to drink alcohol when the ship is a certain distance from the US shoreline.
Some cruise lines count any cruise that includes at least one US port in the itinerary as a US cruise. For others, only cruises that depart from US ports are included in this definition. This can make a difference, for example, for a transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York.
Cruises to Alaska and Hawaii sometimes have their own rules. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line allows 18-year-olds to drink beer or wine with a parental waiver, but this rule doesn’t apply to Alaska or Hawaii cruises where guests must be 21 or over to drink.
Can you drink on a cruise at 18 with your parents’ permission?
Some cruise lines allow guests aged 18, 19 and 20 to drink on a cruise with the permission of a parent or guardian.
The parent or guardian will usually have to fill in a waiver to allow their son or daughter to drink. The parent or guardian must also be a passenger on the cruise.
Also, you can’t just ask your 21-year-old friend to be your guardian for the duration of the cruise, they must be your full-time legal guardian for the waiver to be accepted.
Can you drink if you turn 18 or 21 during your cruise?
If you celebrate a milestone birthday on board a cruise, most cruise lines will allow you to drink alcohol from the day that you’re old enough. You’ll need to visit the guest services desk with your ID to have them update your cruise card.
Cruise Line Policies
Carnival Cruise Drinking Age
Carnival Cruise Line’s policy states:
“Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required”.
“The minimum age for a guest to drink or possess alcoholic beverages on ships sailing from North America, the United Arab Emirates, or at any of our private destinations, is 21. The minimum age for a guest to drink or possess alcoholic beverages on ships sailing from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is 18. In all other cases, the drinking age of the home port shall control our determination of a legal drinking age.
“The Guest agrees that no alcohol shall be purchased or consumed by any Guest under the age of twenty-one (21) on cruises embarking or disembarking Guests at U.S. ports, or under the age of eighteen (18) for all other cruises. “
“Guests who are under 18 years of age are not permitted to purchase or consume alcohol on board. However, whilst in U.S. waters, Cunard enforces and abides by the U.S. legal drinking age of 21 years.”
“The drinking age on board is 21, and a valid photo I.D. is required. However, during round-trip cruises departing from any European country that has a lower drinking age, parents or guardians may sign a Beverage Consent Form that allows their 18- to 20-year-old children to consume alcoholic beverages while in the adult’s presence. In addition, for round-trip cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Brisbane, Guests 18 years of age and older may purchase and consume alcoholic beverages without parental consent.”
“For voyages that include a port in the USA, persons under the age of 21 may not order or consume alcoholic beverages. For voyages that do not include a port in the USA, persons under the age of 18 may not order or consume alcoholic beverages”
“The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Norwegian Cruise Line ships is 21. Guests who are 18 – 20 years of age can purchase and consume beer or wine when the ship is in international waters (3 miles out of US territorial waters). The age modification does not apply for Alaska and Hawaii sailings. The parent or legal guardian must be onboard the sailing with the young adult and present themselves at the Front Desk so they can sign the form allowing the consumption of beer and wine only.
On cruises embarking in a country where the legal drinking age is lower than 21 and where a young adult (age 18, 19 or 20) is not travelling with a parent or legal guardian, they will generally not be permitted to consume alcohol. There may be exceptions made to this restriction in areas of the world where local laws require and Norwegian Cruise Line concurs. Details on such exceptions can be obtained from the Guest Services Desk.”
“Anyone under the age of 18 (or under 21 when in United States of America waters) will not be served alcoholic beverages on board and must not be in possession of alcohol. Please don’t be offended if we ask you to verify your age.
It is prohibited to attempt to purchase alcohol for those under 18 in the bars and shops on board, although 16 and 17-year-olds may be bought modest amounts of beer, cider or wine to drink with a meal in the restaurants when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian”.
“The age for drinking on Princess ships is 21 years old. For cruises between Australia/New Zealand, China, Europe, Singapore and South America ports, the drinking age will be 18 years old. For cruises between Japan ports, the drinking age will be 20 years old”.
“The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings originating in North America is 21.
The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings originating in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is 21.
The minimum age to consume alcohol on Royal Caribbean International ships on sailings from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is 18.
The minimum age to consume alcohol at all private destinations remains 21 without regard to where the sailing originated. “
“The drinking age in international waters is 18, in the United States it’s 21, and in other ports, we’ll go with whatever their country’s laws specify.”
The general rule is that you have to be 21 or over to drink alcohol on a US cruise and 18 or over for the rest of the world. There are some exceptions to this and each cruise line has its own policy.
If you’re in any doubt, please confirm with the cruise line before you book your cruise.
And if you’re ready to take a cruise without your parents at 18, then check out my guide to the best cruises for 18-year-olds to help you decide which ship to choose.
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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.
Last month there was quite the uproar about the lack of longer sailings available on Oasis-class ships when Royal Caribbean released deployment schedules. I broke down the data for every Oasis-class voyage over the next two years to see what’s really going on.
Utopia of the Seas. Photo credit: Cruise Fever
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships are one of the biggest success stories in the cruise industry. The cruise line broke its own record for the world’s largest ship when Oasis of the Seas debuted in 2009, and the class held the title for 15 years until Icon of the Seas was built in 2024.
But the ships are not just big. They are also very popular. Royal Caribbean fans love these ships, and they are perfect for families as well, since there’s something for everyone.
But after recent schedules rolled out, some veteran cruisers were not excited about the number of 3-4 day sailings and apparent lack of 7-day or longer sailings on these beloved ships.
I Analyzed Every Oasis-Class Sailing Through 2027
So, I started digging into Royal Caribbean’s plans for its Oasis-class ships. I pulled up the sailing dates, ports, and duration for every Oasis-class cruise from now until April 2027, as far as the current schedule goes.
I put all six vessels in a spread sheet, looking at Harmony, Utopia, Oasis, Symphony, Wonder, and Allure—collecting data on all 870 sailings.
My goal? To figure out if the talk about short cruises taking over is true. It is—but not entirely.
While short trips dominate the number of sailings, the real story lies in the days sailed. After crunching the numbers, I found 49% of their time goes to 3–5-day voyages. Longer sailings still hang on, though, and not every fan is cheering the shift.
Short vs. Long: The Days Sailed Breakdown
Out of 870 sailings, 673 (77.4%) are 3–5 days, and just 93 (10.7%) are 7-day. But counting sailings alone skews it—shorter trips pile up faster and you can have two in one week as opposed to a single week-long cruise.
So, I calculated the total days sailed as well: 4,732 across all ships. Here’s how it splits:
Short Cruises (3–5 days): 2,410 days, 49%. Nearly half their time—quick escapes to places like CocoCay.
That 49% for short cruises is big—it’s what caught my eye first. But 26.7% for longer trips shows Royal Caribbean hasn’t fully abandoned the week-long crowd I know loves these ships.
While a 3-day cruise is great for a quick (and cheaper) getaway, it’s hard to really enjoy the size and splendor of an Oasis ship in less than 7 days.
The Ships: Which Ships Are Offering Short or Longer Cruises
I broke it down by ship—sailings, days sailed, and ports—to see which ones are driving this trend:
What I See: Utopia’s all-in on short from Port Canaveral. CEO Michael Bayley calls it a “game changer,” and I can see why—it’s built for 3- and 4-day demand.
Wonder of the Seas (Port Canaveral, then PortMiami):
What I See: Symphony sticks to longer sailings—89.7% of its days are spent on longer voyages.
Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas (Photo Credit: Cruise Fever)
The Push: Why 49% Short?
Royal Caribbean tested this with Allure of the Seas doing 3- and 4-day runs from Port Canaveral—a hit with new cruisers. I watched Utopia of the Seas take it full-time, and it’s paid off. The cruise line’s CEO says it’s drawing millennials and first-timers like crazy.
Now, Wonder (87.2% short days), Oasis (40.9%), and later Harmony (25.9%) are piling in. Together, Utopia and Wonder account for 1,354 of the 2,410 short days—56.2%. It’s about quick turnarounds, CocoCay stops, and hooking newbies with a taste of the Oasis-class.
The Pushback: Fans Miss Longer—and Quieter—Trips
Not everyone’s happy with this shift toward shorter sailings, and I understand why. Some Royal Caribbean fans on Facebook say short cruises—especially 4-day trips—are just too short to enjoy the ship.
Others point out that flying in for these quick trips gets pricey, a frustration I’ve felt planning my own cruises.
There’s also grumbling that short sailings turn Oasis-class ships into more of a party atmosphere—more noise, less calm. Online, Royal fans argue they’d never do less than 7 days if travel’s involved. With 7-day trips down to just 13.2% of days sailed (651 total), it’s clear why those who want a week-long escape aren’t thrilled with the short-cruise trend.
Bottom Line
Here’s what I’ve learned: 49% of Oasis-class cruises are short—Utopia and Wonder lead and Oasis and Harmony join in as well.
But Allure and Symphony still offer plenty of longer cruises with most of their sailings being week-long durations.
Still, the numbers speak for themselves: 49% of Oasis-class sailings are now short, a clear reflection of Royal Caribbean’s vision for the class. The strategy is to offer short cruises for the new generation, longer for the traditionalists.
The only question is: will this delicate balance hold, or will a new schedule beyond 2027 cater to a new type of cruise enthusiast? We shall see.
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Crescent Heights, one of the country’s largest and most prestigious real estate developers, announced the launch of Crescent Seas, an exclusive new residential model offering luxury residences at sea. Designed for discerning travelers accustomed to the private oasis of the yachting lifestyle, Crescent Seas now brings Crescent Heights vision of creating magical communities in the sky to the high seas.
Crescent Seas will launch with the Navigator – in agreement with the ship’s owners, which are affiliates of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (“NCLH”). It will undergo an extensive and top-grade refurbishment of more than $50 million. Three elite design firms are working with Crescent Seas to complete the redevelopment, Lissoni & Partners, Journey and MAWD, each responsible for respective features across the ships. The Navigator will feature 210 residences, ranging from $750,000 to $8 million. Amenities will include white-glove butler service for all units and Starlink internet connection to allow for remote work or schooling. Residence sales will open to the public on April 9th, with a sales gallery in Miami available for prospective buyers. The Navigator will embark on its maiden voyage in December 2026. Crescent Seas also plans to announce four more luxury residence ships over the next five years.
Russell W. Galbut, a founding partner of Crescent Heights and a leader in the cruise industry, is spearheading the growth of Crescent Seas, “After spending so much time on the seas, we noticed that travelers yearned for more. People on the ships kept telling us they wanted to live this luxurious lifestyle. So, we decided to select ships with the right configurations to convert to the most magnificent cruising yachts,” Galbut said. “With most of the earth’s surface covered by water, it only felt right to use our 50 years of development expertise on land, to create the most magical residences at sea. Why vacation to just one gateway city when you can be at home and live in all the greatest gateway cities around the globe? After hand-selecting this ship, we hired the same experienced management teams to operate the ship for the first 10 years of operations. We are delighted to be able to provide luxury homes to people that will carry them to places they’ve only dreamed of.”
Best-In-Class Residences
Unlike traditional commercial cruises, owners of these best-in-class residences will journey on extended voyages around the world staying in each destination for 2 to 3 days. The adventurous itineraries will span across all seven continents, reaching some of the most far stretched destinations on the planet. Marisa Galbut, President of Crescent Seas stated, “Residents will venture to exotic parts of the world to explore places like French Polynesia, the Faroe Islands and Madagascar.”
Ensuring a first-class level of service, each ship will be continuously operated and maintained by their existing crews; and the day-to-day on-board hospitality services will continue to be handled by the existing service provider, The Apollo Group. With more than 50 years of experience in the cruising industry, The Apollo Group will provide the highest level of service and dining for every resident as they have in the past.
“We are delighted to announce that Navigator will continue to sail the ocean with Crescent Seas. While we know Navigator is a favorite to many guests, with our two new Prestige Class ships on order, this agreement allows us to optimize our fleet while ensuring Navigator continues creating unforgettable memories at sea,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Crescent Seas is being launched through GFO Investments, Galbut’s global family office and a major investor in Crescent Heights. As Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Crescent Heights, Galbut has an exemplary track record of developing urban projects in gateway cities across the country, including Ten Thousand Santa Monica Blvd and The Remington in Los Angeles, Forma Miami, and the redevelopment of 25 Broad Street in New York City into the most desired homes and residences. Galbut’s development expertise coupled with his over 23-year tenure in the cruise industry gives Galbut a unique vantage point to meet the current market demands and drive the success of Crescent Seas.
Get To Know Crescent Seas
Crescent Seas is the ultimate residence at sea community, redefining the art of world travel with unparalleled sophistication, personalized service, and a sense of home no matter where you are. Crafted for the discerning explorer who craves adventure without sacrificing exclusivity and opulence, Crescent Seas delivers extraordinary long voyages and immersive destination experiences staying in ports for 2 to 3 days overnight. Our fleet guarantees smooth, top-tier service from port to port, creating a seamless journey that welcomes you home on the open seas. For more information, visit crescentseas.com.
Looking for the best cruise blogs to read? I’ve put together a handy list of the most-read cruise blogs and websites of 2025…
How I sourced the data
It can be tricky to know how popular a website is. With cruise YouTube channels or social media pages, you can easily see how many followers someone has. But with cruise blogs, we have to use special tools.
For the monthly visitors, I used SimilarWeb, which is recognised as the most accurate way to measure website traffic.
Please bear in mind that data from tools can only ever be an estimate, and in many cases, the actual traffic numbers will be considerably higher, particularly for blogs with traffic outside of the US.
Here’s some more information about the world’s most popular cruise blogs and websites:
1. Cruise Critic
Much more than just a cruise blog, Cruise Critic hosts the largest cruise community in the world where cruisers can leave reviews and post questions in the popular Cruise Critic forums. The site was launched in 1995 and bought by TripAdvisor in 2007.
2. Royal Caribbean Blog
The unofficial fan blog for Royal Caribbean hosts a wealth of information about the world’s most popular cruise line. The site was started in 2010 and along with The Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel, it continues to be the go-to place for all things Royal Caribbean.
3. Cruise Hive
Established in 2008 as one of the first cruise blogs in the world, Cruise Hive provides the latest cruise industry news and has an active forum. It’s updated multiple times per day by a team of expert travel writers.
4. Cruise Blog
The creation of Matt Hochberg who owns Royal Caribbean Blog, Cruise Blog offers a similar format, but with content about all cruise lines, not just Royal Caribbean.
5. Cruise Mummy
Originally focused on family cruising from the UK, the blog has evolved to cover all aspects of cruising with a global audience. Cruise Mummy was voted ‘Best Cruise Influencer’ in the Wave Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
6. Gang Waze
Gang Waze offers a huge selection of cruise excursions, hotels and insurance as well as blog posts to help you plan your cruise.
7. Disney Cruise Line Blog
Disney Cruise Line Blog is a go-to resource for fans of Disney cruises, offering news, tips and reviews on everything from ship updates to onboard experiences.
8. Cruzely
Since its launch in 2016, Cruzely has grown to become one of the most popular cruise websites in the world. It features hundreds of articles including some very useful guides for cruise ports in the United States.
9. World of Cruising
One of the UK’s largest cruise websites, World of Cruising shows all the latest cruise prices from a variety of travel agents, as well as cruise news and reviews.
10. Cruise Radio
Founded in 2009, Cruise Radio is primarily a podcast. However, the corresponding website also features a wealth of cruise news, reviews and useful tips.
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Don’t miss these hot cruise offers…
I’ve included all of the top trending cruise websites and blogs that I could find, but if I’ve missed any, please email me at [email protected]and I’ll be happy to add your suggestion to the list.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
A new cruise line, Crescent Seas, was announced today that is promising to be a new residential model for offering luxury apartments at sea.
The Navigator (Credit: Bespoke Luxury Marketing, Crescent Seas)
Navigator will be the first of five cruise ships from Crescent Seas. The ship is currently owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and it will receive a $50 million dollar renovation ahead of its first cruise with the new cruise line in December 2026.
The ship will have 210 residences that can be purchased. Prices range from $800,000 to $8 million and it includes white-glove butler service and Starlink internet connection. The fast internet will allow residents to “work from home”.
The residences on the cruise ship will open for purchasing on April 9, 2025 with a sales gallery in Miami for prospective buyers.
The cruise ship will spend two to three days at every port visiting all seven continents. Destinations will explore places like the French Polynesia, the Faroe Islands and Madagascar.
The cruises will be extended voyages around the world to some of the most far stretched destinations on the planet.
Russell W. Galbut, a founding partner of Crescent Heights and a leader in the cruise industry, gave the following statement:
“After spending so much time on the seas, we noticed that travelers yearned for more. People on the ships kept telling us they wanted to live this luxurious lifestyle. So, we decided to select ships with the right configurations to convert to the most magnificent cruising yachts.
“With most of the earth’s surface covered by water, it only felt right to use our 50 years of development expertise on land, to create the most magical residences at sea. Why vacation to just one gateway city when you can be at home and live in all the greatest gateway cities around the globe?
“After hand-selecting this ship, we hired the same experienced management teams to operate the ship for the first 10 years of operations. We are delighted to be able to provide luxury homes to people that will carry them to places they’ve only dreamed of.”
Navigator currently sails with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines.
Crescent Seas has plans to add four more cruise ships over the next five years. The cruise line said that their voyages will be designed for discerning travelers accustomed to the private oasis of the yachting lifestyle.
Crescent Seas joins The World and Villa Vie Residences in offering cabins on a cruise ship that you can buy and live in. A third cruise line, Storylines, has also been planning to offer cabins you can buy and live in but construction has yet to start on their first ship.
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Tensions have recently surfaced in Gibraltar after cruise ships sailed close to a nuclear submarine surfacing near the busy gateway to the Mediterranean port.
As Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure, carrying around 1,000 passengers on a 22-night voyage, approached Gibraltar, and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex, with approximately 2,910 passengers onboard for a 13-night cruise to Palma de Mallorca, environmental activists raised immediate concerns.
“Verdemar-Ecologists in Action cautions cruise ships, including Celebrity Apex bound for Palma de Mallorca and Spirit of Adventure heading towards Southampton, that they risked proximity to a nuclear submarine,” the organisation warned in a statement.
Passengers aboard both ships were largely unaware that HMS Astute, a nuclear-powered submarine from the UK’s Royal Navy, had docked at Gibraltar’s military facility on 15 March 2025, just three days before Spirit of Adventure arrived.
HMS Astute, recognised globally as one of the most advanced submarines, emits low-level radiation, typical for nuclear-powered vessels, raising alarm among environmentalists.
The activist group emphasised that military vessels should avoid docking in tourist-heavy ports like Gibraltar, which hosts nearly 300 cruise ship visits annually.
“Gibraltar must decide clearly between being a military or tourist hub,” Verdemar-Ecologists in Action stated. “Docking HMS Astute, a UK nuclear-powered submarine, poses unnecessary risks to local tourism.”
Previous Incidents and Protests
This is not the first controversy involving submarines in Gibraltar. HMS Astute’s prior visit on 6 February 2025 similarly sparked protests, with activists describing it as a “floating bomb.” Almost a decade ago, another Royal Navy submarine, HMS Ambush, collided with a merchant ship near Gibraltar, forcing emergency docking for repairs.
Neither cruise line nor Royal Navy officials have commented on the recent docking.
Cruise Passengers Continue Journeys
Despite the controversy, passengers from Spirit of Adventure enjoyed their scheduled nine-hour stopover in Gibraltar without disruption before continuing towards Portsmouth, where they are expected to arrive on 22 March 2025.
Celebrity Apex passengers spent their planned day ashore in Palma de Mallorca on 20 March, approximately 475 nautical miles from Gibraltar.
Navigating Shared Waters
International waters, generally extending about 12 nautical miles from coastlines, are open for all maritime traffic. Submarines, like other vessels, must surface upon entering territorial waters and typically notify local authorities of their presence, particularly in busy maritime regions.
Military submarines routinely dock at bases for resupply, maintenance, and essential repairs. Gibraltar, a UK territory, provides such services to the Royal Navy.
Other major cruise destinations near military submarine operations include Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, San Diego in California, Sydney in Australia, Portsmouth in England, and Kiel in Germany. Cruise passengers in these locations often capture images of submarines without concern.
Safety Assurances Amid Concerns
Despite global environmental concerns, military authorities maintain that nuclear submarines feature extensive shielding for reactors, minimising radiation emissions and keeping them within internationally accepted safety standards. Studies conducted around naval bases hosting nuclear submarines consistently confirm radiation levels remain negligible and safe.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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If you’re a regular cruiser you’ve probably experienced this before. You’re in your cabin getting ready for the day when the ship’s PA system kicks on with an announcement. But since the speakers are in the hallway, you strain to hear what’s being said.
You can either open the door, half dressed, and try to hear the tail of the announcement, or remain motionless and pretend you have the ears of a jack rabbit to get the gist of the audio.
Carnival addressed concerns about not being able to hear PA announcements from inside the cabins.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, addressed passenger concerns regarding this very issue of onboard announcements a Facebook Live video this morning.
Heald mentioned the complaints, particularly from passengers on Carnival Pride, who reported difficulty hearing general announcements from inside their cabins.
“Somebody wrote to me from the Carnival Pride this morning saying they couldn’t hear the announcements inside of the cabin,” Heald stated. He clarified that the announcements in question were primarily “general ones with the cruise director saying what’s happening around the ship.”
Heald then reassured passengers that critical announcements would always be relayed directly to cabins.
“If there is anything on any ship, not just Carnival Pride, but on any ship that you need to know, those announcements will be made inside the cabin, whether it’s an emergency announcement and need to know announcement. Those will come in.”
Heald also mentioned wanting announcements to be shown right within the Carnival Hub app, explaining the current issues with that idea.
“It’s not possible to do this at the moment because when the cruise directors make their announcements, they’re ad lib. It’s not written down, so we can’t just take one announcement and put it on the app.”
So, there’s no need to get too worked up if you happen to miss one of these announcements, beyond the possible FOMO of hearing about the day’s events.
It should be noted that sometimes the ship’s captain will give important information or reminders about a port of call or scheduling issue. While not an emergency, these are announcements most passengers would want to hear.
But Heald emphasized, in his own humorous way, that passengers should bot fly into a panic over missing an announcement.
“If you do not hear an announcement in the cabin, please do not worry. It is not an emergency. It’s not a need-to-know announcement. You don’t have to fling open the door and forget you’re not wearing anything to hear the announcement of the corridor. It’s just the general what’s happening around the ship type of announcement,” Heald stated.
He also gave a humorous look back at cruise director PA announcements from his time at sea. “When I think about the things that I used to do as a cruise director of the PA system, ohh my goodness, you could not do it today. Ohh no. There would be many people who would not appreciate it.”
Beyond the PA system concerns, Heald also addressed website login issues, assuring viewers that Carnival’s technical team was actively working on a resolution.
“If you’re still getting that error message, please stand by, and we will get that repaired. I’m sorry, so sorry for the frustration this is causing you, and I promise we’re working so hard on this.”
He also mentioned that the Easter menu was posted and that Passover service information will be shared soon.
On cruise ships, the PA system is an important tool for communication, used for everything from daily activity announcements and entertainment updates to safety drills and emergency notifications.
While general announcements are often broadcast throughout public areas, cabins will receive priority alerts for critical information.
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