On 5th November 2024, a critical medical airlift was conducted for a crew member aboard Celebrity Edge, a cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises.
The incident took place off the coast of New South Wales, Australia.
The Celebrity Edge, a 130,818-gross-ton vessel, was on a 4-night roundtrip voyage from Sydney to Hobart.
The airlift operation was a coordinated effort involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
A rescue helicopter, supported by an additional aircraft, was dispatched to ensure the crew member received the necessary medical attention.
The crew member’s medical condition exceeded the capabilities of the ship’s onboard medical facilities, necessitating the urgent airlift.
While cruise ships are equipped with medical professionals trained to handle various health issues, certain emergencies require external intervention for adequate care.
In cases where onboard medical capabilities are insufficient, cruise lines work with maritime authorities to arrange air or sea rescues.
It’s the second sea rescue in just two weeks for cruise ships operating out of Australia.
On 24th October 2024, the Pacific Explorer had a guest onboard who suffered a heart attack, and had to be rescued and transported to Cairns Hospital.
And just two weeks prior to that, the same ship required a medical evacuation for another passenger onboard.
Med evacs are typically rare on cruises but there have been increasing reports of them recently, including back-to-back rescues on the same ship within two days.
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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.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the cancellation of its unique 20-day Alaska to Hawaii cruise aboard the Norwegian Sun, originally scheduled to depart on 20th June 2025. This cruise, which…
Utopia of the Seas, a flagship of Royal Caribbean and the world’s second-largest cruise ship, was unable to dock at Nassau, Bahamas, on 5th November 2024, due to severe weather…
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Popular British cruise line Fred. Olsen has announced its Summer 2026 collection is now on sale, with a new Freedom Fare Price Promise to tempt guests to book early. The…
The best cruises for adults depend on how kid-free you want your vacation to be. If you want no children at all, look at Virgin Voyages, Viking, Explora-style luxury or, increasingly, Oceania. If you’re happy with a ship where kids are rare, luxury and premium lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Azamara and Cunard work well. And if budget matters most, a family ship with a good adults-only zone can be the smartest buy.
This guide sorts the best cruises for adults into three practical groups, compares them in one table (minimum age, price level and vibe), and covers the policy changes for 2026 and 2027 that many older lists miss. If you only want lines that ban children outright, our separate guide to the best adults-only cruise lines goes deeper on that shortlist.
Three ways to cruise without kids
“Cruises for adults” can mean quite different things, and mixing them up is the most common reason people end up disappointed:
Strictly adults-only lines: the cruise line sets a minimum age (usually 18) on every sailing. You will not meet a child on board.
Adult-friendly lines: children are allowed, but the ships have few or no kids’ facilities, long port-intensive itineraries and higher fares, so very few families book. Outside school holidays you may not see a child all week.
Adult zones on family ships: mainstream lines with water slides and kids’ clubs, plus adults-only pools, sun decks or retreats. You get big-ship variety and lower prices, but the rest of the ship is shared with families.
Best cruises for adults at a glance
Price levels are a rough guide to typical cruise fares per person, from $ (budget) to $$$$ (luxury). Inclusions vary widely, so compare the final price, not the headline fare.
Cruise line
Minimum age
Price level
Vibe
Virgin Voyages
18+ on every sailing
$$
Social, modern, late nights, no buffet
Viking (ocean)
18+ on every sailing
$$$
Calm, cultural, no casino, no kids’ club
Oceania Cruises
18+ for bookings made from Jan 7, 2026
$$$
Food-focused, relaxed, country-club feel
Saga (UK)
50+ (companions 40+)
$$$
Traditional British, all-inclusive, small ships
Explora Journeys
Children accepted; kids’ club on some sailings
$$$$
Contemporary luxury, all-suite, mostly couples
Regent Seven Seas
Children accepted (from age 1)
$$$$
All-inclusive luxury, few kids outside summer
Silversea
Children accepted; no kids’ programme
$$$$
Intimate luxury, expedition options
Azamara
Children accepted; no kids’ club
$$$
Small ships, late nights and overnights in port
Cunard
Children accepted; kids’ clubs on board
$$–$$$
Classic ocean liner, dress-up evenings
Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean
All ages; adults-only zones
$–$$
Big-ship choice with grown-up retreats
Strictly adults-only cruise lines
Virgin Voyages: best for a lively, social trip
Virgin Voyages is 18+ on every ship, including Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady. The fare covers all of the onboard restaurants (there is no traditional buffet or main dining room), basic drinks such as soft drinks and coffee, Wi-Fi and group fitness classes, and gratuities are built in. Expect DJ sets, cheeky late-night shows and a crowd that skews younger than most cruise lines. Caribbean sailings from Miami often call at the line’s Beach Club at Bimini, and the ships also sail Europe, Alaska and the Mexican Riviera. Alcohol is extra unless you buy a bar package.
Viking: best for culture and quiet
Viking’s ocean and river ships accept guests aged 18 and over only. The atmosphere is calm and grown-up: no casino, no kids’ club, no water park, and an emphasis on lectures, local food and port time. Fares typically include one shore excursion in each port, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi and the Nordic-style spa’s thermal suite. It suits travelers who see the ship as a comfortable hotel between destinations rather than the destination itself.
Oceania Cruises: the newest adults-only line
The biggest change for 2026 is Oceania. The line announced that all reservations made on or after January 7, 2026 must be for guests aged 18 or over, across all eight ships. Bookings made before that date, including any with children, are honored, so you could still meet the odd family on sailings that were already on sale. Most commentators expect the policy to be fully felt from late 2027 into 2028. Oceania is best known for its cuisine, and it already attracted a mostly mature crowd.
Saga: best for over-50s from the UK
Saga’s booking conditions state that its cruises are for anyone aged 50 or over, with a travelling companion or family member allowed from age 40. Its small ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, sail from the UK and are all-inclusive, so drinks, tips and Wi-Fi are covered. It is a strong pick for British travelers who want a traditional, unhurried cruise; American travelers can book too, but most sailings start in Britain.
Smaller luxury ships tend to attract couples and adult travelers rather than families. Photo: Jean-Paul Wettstein on Pexels
Adult-friendly cruise lines with very few kids
These lines don’t ban children, but their style, pricing and itineraries mean families are the exception. They are often the best cruises for adults who want luxury or a classic experience and don’t mind seeing a teenager by the pool now and then.
Regent Seven Seas and Silversea
Both are top-tier luxury lines with high space-per-guest and a lot included. Regent’s fares include drinks, specialty dining, gratuities and shore excursions; children aged one and over are accepted, and a youth programme runs on select school-holiday sailings. Silversea also accepts children but has no organized kids’ programme, which keeps it overwhelmingly adult. For both, avoid July, August and the Christmas weeks if you want the quietest ships.
Explora Journeys
Explora, MSC Group’s luxury brand, is all-suite and largely sells to couples. It is not adults-only: it runs a Nautilus Club for ages 6 to 17 and markets some sailings to multi-generational families. Outside school holidays, though, the onboard crowd is very much adult.
Azamara
Azamara’s small ships focus on longer stays in port, with late evenings and overnights in places like Barcelona or Lisbon. There is no kids’ club and children are uncommon, making it a good mid-priced alternative to the ultra-luxury lines.
Cunard
Cunard does carry families, with kids’ clubs on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Anne and Queen Elizabeth. Even so, the gala evenings, ballroom dancing, afternoon tea and long voyages such as the transatlantic crossing tend to draw an older, adult crowd. A term-time transatlantic is one of the most grown-up experiences at sea.
Adults-only zones on family ships
If you want water slides, Broadway-style shows and lower prices, a mainstream ship with a good adult sanctuary can be excellent value:
Celebrity Cruises: the glass-roofed Solarium is adults-only on most ships, and Celebrity attracts more couples than most big-ship lines.
Princess Cruises: The Sanctuary is an adults-only, extra-cost retreat with loungers and cabanas, and the ships are generally calmer than other mega-ship lines.
Royal Caribbean: every ship has an adults-only Solarium, and Icon-class ships add The Hideaway, an adults-only area with a suspended infinity pool.
Carnival and Norwegian: Carnival’s Serenity retreat and Norwegian’s Spice H2O and Vibe Beach Club (on some ships) give you a kid-free place to sunbathe.
The trade-off: dining rooms, theaters and elevators are shared with everyone, and these ships are busiest during school vacations.
Adults-only pools and sun decks give couples a quieter space on bigger ships. Photo: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
Budget and UK options for adults
The UK market has more adults-only choices than the US, and UK searches for “best cruises for adults” are far lower than in America, so these lines often fly under the radar for American readers. If you’re based in Britain, see our guide to adults-only cruises from the UK for departure ports and itineraries.
P&O Cruises (Arcadia and Aurora): long known as adults-only ships, but P&O is opening selected sailings to all ages, starting on Aurora from December 11, 2026 and Arcadia from December 21, 2026 (20 family-open holidays through September 2027). Most of their year stays adults-only, so check the specific cruise code before booking.
Marella Cruises: Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only year-round, with a minimum age of 17, and the fare includes meals, drinks and tips. Marella also switches other ships to adults-only for set seasons, such as Marella Discovery 2 for winter. Our guide to Marella adults-only cruises explains how it works.
Fred. Olsen: Borealis is now adults-only, while Bolette and Balmoral welcome children from 12 months. From 2026 the Little Skippers kids’ clubs are no longer offered, so the whole fleet feels very grown-up.
Ambassador Cruise Line: a budget-friendly, no-fly line sailing from ports such as Tilbury, Liverpool and Bristol. It describes itself as adult-only apart from a small number of multi-generational school-holiday cruises, and says all no-fly sailings will be adults-only from the 2027-2028 season.
How to choose the best cruise for adults
Once you know which group you want, a few simple choices make a bigger difference than the brand name:
Decide how strict you need it to be. If a single toddler at dinner would spoil the trip, book a true 18+ line. If not, adult-friendly lines open up more itineraries.
Avoid school holidays. Summer, Christmas, spring break and mid-term weeks bring families even to luxury lines. Late September to early December and January to early March are usually the most adult months.
Pick longer or more unusual itineraries. Cruises of 10 nights or more, transatlantic crossings, repositioning voyages and port-heavy routes attract fewer families than three- or four-night Caribbean getaways.
Price the extras. Viking, Regent, Saga and Marella include more than a mainstream fare, so a cheaper base price on a big ship may cost more once you add drinks, tips and Wi-Fi.
Match the vibe. Night owls tend to prefer Virgin Voyages; food lovers Oceania; history buffs Viking; and classic cruisers Cunard or Saga. Solo travelers should also compare single supplements, which vary a lot between lines.
If you simply want peace rather than a strict no-kids rule, our guide to quiet cruise lines compares calmer ships that still welcome families.
FAQs
What cruise lines are best for adults?
For a guaranteed child-free trip, Virgin Voyages, Viking and (for new bookings) Oceania are 18+. Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Azamara and Cunard carry very few children, and Celebrity and Princess offer good adults-only spaces on family ships.
Which cruise lines are adults-only in 2027?
Virgin Voyages and Viking are 18+ on all sailings, Oceania requires guests to be 18+ for bookings made from January 7, 2026, and Saga is for over-50s. In the UK, Marella Explorer 2 and Fred. Olsen’s Borealis are adults-only, while P&O’s Arcadia and Aurora are adults-only on most but not all sailings.
What happens on adults-only cruises?
Much the same as any cruise, minus the kids’ clubs and water slides: dining, shows, spa time, lectures and shore excursions. The pace depends on the line, from Virgin Voyages’ late-night parties to Viking’s quiet, culture-focused days.
Is Celebrity Cruises good for adults?
Yes. Celebrity welcomes families, but it draws more couples than most big-ship lines and has an adults-only Solarium on most ships. Sailing outside school vacations keeps the number of children low.
What is the cheapest way to cruise without kids?
Book an adults-only zone on a mainstream ship outside school holidays, or in the UK look at Ambassador, Marella Explorer 2 or Fred. Olsen. Virgin Voyages can also be good value once its included dining, Wi-Fi and tips are taken into account.
Cruise drink packages let you pay a fixed daily price for most drinks on board, so you don’t pay for each one at the bar. At the time of writing, alcoholic packages on the big lines cost from around $70 to $120 per person per day once the service charge is added. Most of them only save you money if you have roughly six or more alcoholic drinks a day, every day of the cruise. Below we compare prices, rules and the break-even maths.
What are cruise drink packages?
A drink package is a prepaid allowance that covers a set range of drinks for the whole cruise. Lines usually sell three levels:
Soda packages cover fountain soft drinks and sometimes juice. They usually cost $10 to $15 a day.
Non-alcoholic or “refreshment” packages add speciality coffees, mocktails, fresh juice and bottled water.
Alcoholic packages cover beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails up to a set price per drink, plus everything in the lower tiers.
Packages are priced per person, per day, but you buy them for every day of the sailing. Most lines add an 18% to 20% service charge on top of the advertised price.
Some fares include drinks already, such as Celebrity All Included, Princess Plus and Premier, Holland America’s Have It All, Norwegian’s Free at Sea and Marella’s all-inclusive cruises.
Cruise drink package comparison by line
The figures below are typical per-person, per-day prices at the time of writing (late 2026). Lines set prices by ship, sailing length and booking date, and they run frequent sales. Treat these numbers as a starting point, then check your own cruise planner.
Cruise line
Main alcoholic package
Typical price per day
Service charge
Key limits
Royal Caribbean
Deluxe Beverage Package
Roughly $70 to $120+, varies by sailing
18% added
Drinks capped at about $14 each; all adults in the cabin must buy
Carnival
CHEERS!
$69.95 pre-booked, $74.95 on board
20% added (about $84 / $90 in total)
15 alcoholic drinks a day; drinks up to $20
Norwegian
Free at Sea drinks (or the Premium package bought on its own)
Free at Sea: pay the drinks service charge of about $28.50 (6+ nights) or $32 (2 to 5 nights). Bought on its own: from around $109
Included in the figures above; 20% when bought on its own
Not valid at Great Stirrup Cay unless you upgrade to Free at Sea Plus
Celebrity
Classic / Premium
Classic from around $65 to $85; Premium from around $80 to $95
20% added
Drinks capped at $12 (Classic) or $19 (Premium)
Princess
Princess Plus / Premier (bundles)
Plus $70 pre-booked, $75 on board; Premier $105 / $110
Crew gratuities included
New prices apply to sailings from 13 October 2026
MSC
Premium Extra (Easy in some markets)
Varies by sailing; around €70 to €75 in Europe before sales
Included
15 alcoholic drinks a day
Holland America
Signature / Elite, or Have It All bundle
Signature about $51, Elite about $56; Have It All $60 to $65
18% added on drinks packages
15 drinks a day; Signature drinks capped at $12
Virgin Voyages
No package; prepaid Bar Tab
Pay $300 and get $50 extra; pay $1,000 and get $250 extra
No tips added to drinks
Soft drinks, water, tea and filter coffee included in the fare
Disney
No unlimited package
Pay per drink, or buy small bundles of wine or beer
Gratuity added to bundles
You can carry on a limited amount of wine or beer
P&O Cruises
Classic / Deluxe
Around £50 (Classic) and £60 (Deluxe)
Included
Cruises of 5+ nights; 15 drinks in 24 hours
Marella
All-inclusive as standard
Included in the fare; Premium upgrade is extra
Included
Covers drinks from 10am to 2am
Points to note:
Norwegian experimented with a “More at Sea” bundle in 2025, then went back to Free at Sea for sailings from early 2026. The included drinks package isn’t strictly free, because you pay its daily service charge. The Free at Sea Plus upgrade costs about $49.99 per person per day and adds top-shelf spirits, Starbucks drinks and use at Great Stirrup Cay.
Holland America’s Have It All bundles the Signature Beverage Package with speciality dining, Wi-Fi and an excursion credit. Our Holland America vs Celebrity Cruises comparison explains how the two lines’ bundles differ.
Disney lets each adult carry on one bottle of wine (up to 750ml) or six beers under the rules introduced in June 2026. A $20 corkage fee applies if you open the wine in a dining room.
Options for UK cruisers
UK lines handle drinks quite differently from the American brands. Marella is all-inclusive, with house wine, beer, spirits and classic cocktails covered from 10am to 2am. The optional Premium All Inclusive upgrade adds branded spirits, a wider wine and cocktail list, Lavazza coffee and fresh juice for a modest daily supplement. P&O Cruises sells Refresh, Alcohol-free, Classic and Deluxe packages on cruises of five nights or more. Every adult in the cabin has to buy the same package. Ambassador sells its Explorer and Expedition packages from around £43 and £50 a night. Our Marella vs P&O Cruises guide compares the two approaches.
Speciality cocktails are where alcoholic packages earn their keep. Photo: jose luis Umana on Pexels
The rules that catch people out
Check these rules before you buy:
Every adult in the cabin must buy. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, P&O and most others require every adult sharing a cabin to buy the same alcoholic package.
The service charge comes on top. Royal Caribbean adds 18% and Carnival, Celebrity and Norwegian add 20%. MSC, P&O and Princess build the charge into the price instead.
There’s a daily cap on alcoholic drinks. Carnival allows 15 alcoholic drinks between 6am and 6am. MSC, Holland America, P&O and Ambassador use similar 15-drink limits. Non-alcoholic drinks usually have no limit.
Each drink has a maximum price. Each package covers drinks up to a set menu price, such as $12 on Celebrity Classic or $20 on Carnival.
Some places aren’t covered. Exclusions usually include room service, minibars, bottles of spirits, Starbucks outlets and some private islands. CHEERS! isn’t valid at Celebration Key, and Norwegian’s standard package no longer works at Great Stirrup Cay.
Are cruise drink packages worth it? The break-even maths
The simple test: divide the package’s daily cost (including the service charge) by what your usual drink costs (including its own gratuity). The answer is the number of drinks you need every day to break even.
Carnival CHEERS!: about $84 a day ÷ a $12 cocktail plus 20% ($14.40) = about 6 drinks a day.
Royal Caribbean Deluxe at $90: $106 with gratuity ÷ a $14 cocktail plus 18% ($16.50) = about 6 to 7 drinks a day.
Celebrity Classic at $85: $102 with service charge ÷ a $12 drink plus 20% ($14.40) = about 7 drinks a day.
Coffees, bottled water and soft drinks count towards the total too. A few lattes and sodas can cut the alcoholic drinks you need to three or four.
Most other guides miss one thing: you need to reach that average across the whole cruise, not just on your best day. Port days in places like Cozumel or Santorini often mean five or six hours ashore, and that’s when package holders drink least. Here’s a quick worked example for a couple on a 7-night cruise with four port days:
Two adults at about $84 a day for 7 days comes to roughly $1,176 for the package.
Say you each drink 8 drinks on the three sea days and 4 on each of the four port days. That’s 40 drinks each, or 80 for the couple.
At around $14.40 a drink, that comes to about $1,150 if you’d paid as you went. That’s close to break-even, not a big saving.
If you’re close to break-even, the package mainly buys convenience rather than savings.
Coffees and soft drinks count towards break-even too. Photo: hello aesthe on Pexels
Cheaper alternatives to a drinks package
If the maths doesn’t work for you, these options can still keep costs down:
Bring your own wine. Most mainstream lines allow a limited amount at embarkation. Carnival allows one 750ml bottle of wine per adult, and Disney allows one bottle of wine or six beers. You’ll pay a corkage fee if you drink it in a restaurant.
Soda and refreshment packages. Carnival’s Bottomless Bubbles, Royal Caribbean’s Classic Soda and Refreshment packages, and P&O’s Refresh package suit families and non-drinkers.
Pay as you go. If you have two or three drinks a day, you’ll nearly always spend less by paying for each one.
Bar tabs and onboard credit. Virgin’s Bar Tab bonuses work like a discount of 12.5% to 25%. On other lines, onboard credit from a travel agent or a promotion can cover drinks you pay for as you go.
Book a fare that includes drinks. Celebrity All Included, Princess Plus, Norwegian Free at Sea, Holland America Have It All and Marella’s standard fares all bundle drinks.
When to buy your cruise drinks package
For most lines, it’s cheapest to buy before you sail. Carnival charges $5 a day more for CHEERS! once you’re on board. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, P&O and MSC also charge more on board.
Check your cruise planner every few weeks after booking. Royal Caribbean and MSC both run frequent short sales, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and seasonal offers.
Note the deadline. Royal Caribbean generally stops pre-cruise sales a few days before sailing, and P&O stops sales three days before departure.
Compare the package price with an included-drinks fare before you pay your deposit. Our guide to cruise deals for 2027 covers when lines usually run their drinks-included promotions.
Verdict: should you buy a cruise drinks package?
Buy one if you have a cocktail or two before dinner, wine with dinner, a few drinks afterwards and some coffees during the day, especially on a cruise with lots of sea days.
Skip it if you drink lightly, are on a port-heavy itinerary or share a cabin with someone who barely drinks. The “every adult must buy” rule makes packages poor value for mixed couples.
Look at included-drinks fares first if you’re still choosing a line. Marella, Princess Plus, Celebrity All Included and Norwegian Free at Sea can work out cheaper than any standalone package.
If you are sailing with Princess, our Princess Plus vs Premier comparison works out which package pays off for you.
They’re worth it if you’ll average about six or more alcoholic drinks a day for the whole cruise, or fewer if you also drink a lot of speciality coffee and soft drinks. For light drinkers, or on itineraries with lots of port days, paying per drink is usually cheaper.
Do all adults in a cabin have to buy the drinks package?
On most lines, yes. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity and P&O require every adult sharing a cabin to buy the same alcoholic package.
How much does a drink cost on a cruise?
At the time of writing, a cocktail typically costs $12 to $16 on mainstream US lines, and beer costs about $8 to $10. Most lines then add an 18% to 20% gratuity. Soft drinks usually cost $3 to $5, while water, tea and filter coffee are free in the main dining areas.
Does Marella have a drinks package?
Marella doesn’t need one, because its cruises are all-inclusive. House wine, beer, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks are included from 10am to 2am. You can pay a daily supplement for the Premium All Inclusive upgrade, which adds branded spirits, better wines, speciality coffee and fresh juice.
Which cruise line has the cheapest drink package?
Among the big US lines, Holland America’s Signature package (around $51 a day plus 18%) and Carnival’s CHEERS! (about $84 including the service charge) are among the lowest standalone prices. A fare that already includes drinks, such as Norwegian Free at Sea or Marella, often works out cheaper still.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the cancellation of its unique 20-day Alaska to Hawaii cruise aboard the Norwegian Sun, originally scheduled to depart on 20th June 2025.
This cruise, which was to travel from Vancouver, Canada, to Honolulu, Hawaii, has been cancelled due to fleet redeployment.
Guests and travel advisors were informed of the decision directly, although specific details regarding the redeployment were not provided.
The itinerary was designed to offer a distinctive travel experience, beginning in Vancouver and concluding in Honolulu. It included stops in Alaska, such as Ketchikan, Ice Strait Point, Juneau, Sitka, and Whittier, with scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier.
The journey was to continue to the Hawaiian Islands, featuring port calls in Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, and finally Oahu.
The itinerary was eagerly anticipated as usually cruises go to either Alaska or Hawaii. For cruises to both regions, you’d typically be looking at much longer world cruise segments.
The good news is that, despite the cancellation, a similar itinerary in reverse, from Honolulu to Vancouver, remains available for booking. However, it was not flagged as an alternative option by NCL for impacted guests, so it may yet be cancelled.
Norwegian Cruise Line has a history of altering or cancelling voyages due to fleet redeployment. In recent years, the line cancelled nearly all of Norwegian Spirit’s summer 2024 Alaska cruises and several Western Caribbean voyages on Norwegian Escape in early 2025.
The cancellation has prompted varied reactions from the cruise community. Guests who were booked onto the cruise have, understandably, expressed disappointment, while travel advisors are working to accommodate changes and provide alternatives.
As a bonus for affected guests, they will all be offered a 10% discount on a future cruise booking, provided it’s taken between 11th November 2024 and 31st December 2025.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
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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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Utopia of the Seas, a flagship of Royal Caribbean and the world’s second-largest cruise ship, was unable to dock at Nassau, Bahamas, on 5th November 2024, due to severe weather conditions.
Winds reaching up to 50 knots forced the vessel to alter its planned itinerary, highlighting the challenges of maritime travel in adverse weather.
Passengers aboard the Utopia of the Seas shared their experiences on social media, providing real-time updates on the situation and how the high-speed winds were causing the sudden itinerary change.
The ship was originally on a 4-night itinerary with Nassau as a key stop. However, the inclement weather necessitated a change in plans, leading to speculation among passengers about a possible rescheduled visit.
The decision to skip Nassau was influenced by the challenges associated with docking a vessel of Utopia’s magnitude in adverse weather. It shows that even the biggest ships in the world can be impacted by winds!
The ship is expected to remain near Nassau before proceeding to its next scheduled stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas. The cruise is set to conclude at Port Canaveral, Florida, on 8th November.
While the itinerary change may have been disappointing for some passengers, it reflects the cruise line’s prioritisation of safety over adherence to schedule.
Tropical storms have hit the headlines in the past couple of months around the Caribbean, due to the damage they’ve caused across the region and into mainland USA.
Utopia of the Seas has been impacted in recent days too, with the prior cruise forced to cancel a trip to Perfect Day at CocoCay, instead sailing to Labadee.
They’ve also wreaked havoc on cruise itineraries, with a couple of key lessons for anyone planning a Caribbean cruise. If you’re going to sail during hurricane season, anticipate last-minute changes, and make sure you have appropriate travel insurance with cruise cover!
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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.
Luxury cruise ship Scenic Eclipse I is currently undergoing urgent repairs in Galveston, Texas. This vessel, which can accommodate 228 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 17,545, requires maintenance…
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Popular British cruise line Fred. Olsen has announced its Summer 2026 collection is now on sale, with a new Freedom Fare Price Promise to tempt guests to book early.
The new price promise applies to anyone who makes a booking for summer 2026 within the first four weeks of a cruise going on sale.
Any guests who book a cruise during that period, who then find that their cruise drops in price before the sail date, will either be given a cabin upgrade or onboard credit to match the value of the price drop.
“Our Freedom Fare Price Promise has been created with our guests in mind, following feedback that they weren’t sure when the best time to book was to get the best value for their cruise.
“Our new Price Promise means that if guests book a Freedom Fare within the first four weeks of a cruise going on sale, they will not get better value for money.”
Doug Glenwright, Guest Experience Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
The Freedom Fare allows guests to select their cabin grade and number, as well as choose their table size and dining time, so it’s not a restrictive fare – meaning guests can book now and know that they’ll get excellent value even if the price were to drop.
The Freedom Fare is even being extended across solo passenger fares, with a guarantee that single cabin prices will match the equivalent per-person twin fares with no single supplement, provided they’re booked in that initial four-week period.
And those single cabins are still given the same price promise benefits as guests in a twin cabin.
Two more big announcements came as part of the summer 2026 launch, with the first that from that season onwards, tips will now always be included in the fare that guests pay.
The other change is that Borealis will become a purely adults-only ship, perfect for guests who want to enjoy a cruise knowing that there won’t be children onboard.
While Fred. Olsen doesn’t tend to attract many young families, multi-generational cruises are still popular – so for guests who wish to avoid those, Borealis will be the ideal option from summer 2026.
The season is on sale now, so guests can book immediately if they wish to take advantage of this new promotion.
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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.
Luxury cruise ship Scenic Eclipse I is currently undergoing urgent repairs in Galveston, Texas. This vessel, which can accommodate 228 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 17,545, requires maintenance…
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Luxury cruise ship Scenic Eclipse I is currently undergoing urgent repairs in Galveston, Texas.
This vessel, which can accommodate 228 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 17,545, requires maintenance to replace one of its two Azipod propulsion units.
These units are crucial for the ship’s navigation through the icy waters of Antarctica, a region where the ship is set to return in November.
Repair work commenced on 28th October 2024 and is expected to last between two to six weeks.
The urgency of the situation is being addressed by coordinating with the Azipod manufacturers and utilising a chartered cargo plane so that the new Azipod can be delivered and fitted as quickly as possible.
Last month, the cruise line was forced to cancel three cruises between October and November that would’ve repositioned the ship, due to the propulsion issues.
The ship was initially set to reposition from the Caribbean to Argentina, starting with a 13-night cruise from Nassau, Bahamas, on 24 October 2024, and concluding in Bridgetown, Barbados, on 5 November. It was then scheduled for a 12-night journey from Bridgetown to Rio de Janeiro, followed by a repositioning leg from 16 November to 27 November.
Despite these challenges, Scenic Eclipse I is preparing for its upcoming Antarctic season and will hopefully be ready to serve the guests in time.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Popular British cruise line Fred. Olsen has announced its Summer 2026 collection is now on sale, with a new Freedom Fare Price Promise to tempt guests to book early. The…
A Halloween party taking place on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas quickly turned from treat to trick, as it set off the sprinkler system on the main promenade. During…
Carnival Cruise Line, via Brand Ambassador John Heald, has announced that a new mascot will soon be joining the fleet – Ducky. Ducky is a duck mascot that is based…
Princess Cruises has been forced to cancel a second cruise on Regal Princess due to technical issues, but has offered reassurances that repairs are now on track. Having already cancelled…
A Halloween party taking place on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas quickly turned from treat to trick, as it set off the sprinkler system on the main promenade.
During the ship’s 7 night cruise from Cape Liberty, guests were treated to a lively Halloween night, including a party held in the Royal Promenade, the main atrium area of the ship.
Witnesses onboard the ship say that the party included either fog machines or dry ice machines to help set the mood, but that these set off the sprinkler system.
“They use dry ice for Halloween which set off the smoke detectors, slamming the watertight doors down, trapping cruisers near the rising tide bar, and cafe promenade, which turned into a pool, while ruining people’s clothes, cell phones and costumes“
Reddit post from a witness
Despite guests being locked in the Royal Promenade for a soaking, some at least were able to find the humour in the situation. Online, the ship’s earned a nickname of “Sprinkler of the Seas”.
The good news is that nobody was injured during the incident and, thanks to the hard work of the crew, the Royal Promenade was completely fine by the following morning.
It’s not the first water-based mishap to hit the Oasis-class ships in recent times.
In 2022 on Wonder of the Seas’ maiden voyage, the sprinklers also went off in the Royal Promenade due to a malfunction.
And in 2023, Harmony of the Seas caused flooding over the Central Park area after making an abrupt turn to avoid an empty refugee raft, emptying the pools over the balconies of the inward-facing cabins.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Cruise Line, via Brand Ambassador John Heald, has announced that a new mascot will soon be joining the fleet – Ducky. Ducky is a duck mascot that is based…
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Carnival Cruise Line, via Brand Ambassador John Heald, has announced that a new mascot will soon be joining the fleet – Ducky.
Ducky is a duck mascot that is based on the popular hobby of hiding rubber/plastic ducks on cruise ships, an activity that many guests enjoy.
John Heald posted the news along with the photo of Ducky (above) alongside Pierre, the Carnival Jubilee Hotel Director, and Greg who is the Director of Guest Operations.
He announced that Ducky would be coming soon to all Carnival ships as a “continuation of the duck phenomenon”.
Most Carnival fans responded very positively to the news, posting comments about how they were excited to meet Ducky onboard their next Carnival cruise and get a photo with him.
However the feedback was not unanimously positive, and one comment had to be deleted by John Heald due to being “hateful”. It appears that the commenter had threatened to remove gratuities on their next cruise because of Ducky.
It’s not clear when Ducky will join the Carnival fleet, but it’s a feature that can obviously be rolled out very quickly.
Jumping on the duck bandwagon
The fact that Carnival has decided to create a duck-themed mascot for their cruise fleet shows their position on the popular duck-hiding hobby onboard.
Many guests like to hide small ducks on their cruises for other guests to find, often with a tag attached encouraging photos to be shared on different social media groups.
Some people have even, in the past, added their Venmo or other payment details asking for tips – don’t worry, this is rare and most people just take part for fun!
There has often been misinformation spread about ducks on Carnival cruises, with some guests hearing that ducks would be removed by crew.
Some cruise lines do remove ducks, but Carnival allows guests to take part.
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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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P&O Cruises and Cunard, two prominent UK-based cruise brands, have embarked on beach clean-up projects across ten global locations since March 2024.
In October 2024, crew members from P&O Cruises’ Britannia and Cunard’s Queen Anne participated in clean-up activities in Lisbon, Portugal, a frequent stop on their itineraries.
Two areas of the Alges city beach in the city were cleared of around 42kg of waste.
In the UK, clean-up efforts have been notably effective, with 170 kg of debris, including plastics and even a refrigerator, removed from beaches near Southampton.
“We’ve taken great pride in orchestrating the beach cleans along our UK coastlines close to our Southampton home, with so many of our passionate colleagues contributing their time to this important cause,
“This initiative is a reflection of our commitment to more sustainable tourism and our responsibility to help protect and preserve our vital marine ecosystems for future generations,“
Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises
Carnival Corporation, the parent company of P&O Cruises and Cunard, has outlined a comprehensive environmental strategy in its 2023 Sustainability Report. This includes beach clean-ups across all nine cruise brands under the Carnival umbrella.
The report highlights a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by over 10% since 2011, despite a 30% increase in fleet capacity. This achievement underscores the corporation’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
The corporation’s environmental initiatives extend beyond the UK and Portugal, with beach clean-ups conducted in countries such as Australia, Costa Rica, and the US. These efforts are part of a global strategy to enhance the environmental sustainability of cruise operations.
These clean-up projects serve a dual purpose: maintaining clean beaches for cruise guests and local communities while reinforcing the cruise lines’ commitment to environmental sustainability.
Looking ahead, P&O Cruises and Cunard plan to expand their environmental initiatives, further solidifying their roles as leaders in sustainable tourism.
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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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