For most people, a Holland America drink package is worth it only if you will have around four or five alcoholic drinks a day, every day of the cruise. The Signature Beverage Package costs roughly $56 to $61 per person per day before the service charge, and Elite costs about $5 a day more. If you like a glass of wine with dinner and maybe one cocktail, paying as you go is usually cheaper. If you were already thinking of buying a package, look at the Have It All fare first. It includes the Signature package plus Wi-Fi, specialty dining and a shore excursion credit, often for not much more than the drinks package costs alone.
Holland America Signature Beverage Package and Other Drink Packages at a Glance
Holland America currently sells four beverage packages. Prices are per person, per day, for the whole cruise. The figures below are the pre-cruise prices on Holland America’s own FAQ at the time of writing. Other recent guides quote about $5 more, which is closer to what you may pay onboard. Treat every number here as a guide and check your booking before you pay.
Package
Approx. price per day
Per-drink limit
What it covers
Coca-Cola
Around $8 to $9
No price cap
Unlimited fountain soft drinks
Quench
Around $18
15 drinks a day
Espresso coffees, juices, mocktails, Coca-Cola products, Red Bull, bottled water
Signature
From around $56 to $61
Drinks up to $12, 15 a day
Everything in Quench, plus beer, wine by the glass, spirits and cocktails
Elite
From around $61 to $66
Drinks up to $16, 15 alcoholic a day
Everything in Signature, plus premium spirits, wines and cocktails, with unlimited zero-proof drinks
On top of these prices there is a service charge. Holland America raised its beverage and restaurant service charge from 18% to 20% for sailings from around June 2026. Some of its own pages still show 18%, and the wording on whether the charge is included in the quoted price or added at checkout is not consistent. So check the final total. At 20%, a $55.95 Signature package works out to about $67 a day.
The rules that catch people out
Everyone in the cabin buys it. If one adult of legal drinking age buys Signature or Elite, every other drinking-age adult in the same stateroom has to buy it too, for the whole cruise.
15 drinks per day. On Signature, soft drinks and coffees count toward the 15. On Elite, only alcoholic drinks count and zero-proof drinks are unlimited.
One drink at a time. You cannot order for a friend or share. Drinks ordered for someone else are charged at bar prices.
Over the cap, pay the difference. On Signature, a drink above $12 is still yours, and you just pay the amount over $12.
Exclusions. The minibar, in-room dining, the self-service draft beer and drinks bought at Half Moon Cay or RelaxAway are not covered.
No refunds. Packages cannot be transferred or refunded. Holland America also advertises savings, often $10 a day, for buying select packages before you sail.
What’s Free, and What You’ll Pay Without a Package
Holland America gives you quite a lot without charging extra. These drinks are included in your fare:
Brewed drip coffee and hot tea
Iced tea and lemonade
Tap water (the ship’s water is safe to drink)
Milk, plus juice at breakfast
Everything else is charged per drink, with the service charge added. Recent guides put typical onboard prices at around:
Beer: about $8
Wine by the glass: about $11 to $13
Classic cocktails: about $11 to $12. Specialty cocktails: about $13 to $14
Specialty coffee: about $3 to $4.50
Fountain soda: about $3
Bottled still or sparkling water: about $4 to $6
Some bars run a happy hour, often in the late afternoon, with discounted drinks for guests who don’t have a package. If you drink at a moderate pace, it is worth checking the daily programme for it.
Photo: Matheus Bertelli on Pexels
Break-Even Maths: How Much Do You Need to Drink?
Here is a simple way to work it out. Assume the Signature package costs about $67 a day including a 20% service charge, and that a typical cocktail or glass of wine costs $12. With the same 20% charge, each drink then costs about $14.40.
Signature: $67 ÷ $14.40 is about 4.7. So you need roughly five alcoholic drinks a day, or four plus a couple of specialty coffees and a bottle of water, before the package pays for itself.
Elite: it costs only about $6 more a day including the charge, so it makes sense if you order premium spirits, top-shelf wines or Dale DeGroff cocktails above the $12 cap. If most of your drinks are standard beer and house wine, the extra spend is wasted.
Quench: at around $18 plus the service charge, you need roughly four to five specialty coffees, mocktails or bottled waters a day. Many people drink less than that.
Coca-Cola: at about $8 to $9 plus the service charge, three or four fountain sodas a day covers it.
Port days change the sums. On a busy itinerary you may be ashore for most of the day, so your onboard drinking falls, but you still pay for the package on every day of the cruise. On a cruise with lots of sea days, the numbers favour the package much more.
Have It All: Often the Smarter Way to Buy Drinks
Holland America’s Have It All fare adds a set of extras to your cruise fare for a daily price per person. According to Holland America’s US site, it is currently $65 per person per day, or $60 for cruises departing before summer 2027. It includes:
The Signature Beverage Package (drinks up to $12, 15 a day)
The Surf Wi-Fi package
Specialty dining: 1, 2 or 3 nights depending on cruise length, at venues such as Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Sel de Mer and Tamarind
A shore excursion credit of up to $100, $200 or $300 per person, depending on cruise length
Prices and inclusions differ in other markets. The UK and European versions, for example, also mention prepaid crew appreciation. Read the terms for the region where you book. If you already want the Signature package and would use Wi-Fi, Have It All is usually the better buy, because the drinks alone cost almost as much.
Look out for the Have It All Early Booking Bonus on select future sailings too. When we checked, it upgraded the drinks to the Elite Beverage Package and the Wi-Fi to Premium. It also added onboard credit and prepaid gratuities for selected 2027 and 2028 departures. These offers are time-limited and change often, so our guide to cruise deals for 2027 is a good place to see when promotions like this tend to appear.
Photo: cottonbro studio on Pexels
Bringing Your Own Wine
Holland America is one of the more generous mainstream lines on wine. Guests may bring wine or champagne onboard, in bottles of 750ml or less. A corkage fee of $20 per bottle applies, whether you drink it in the dining room or in your stateroom, according to the line’s current FAQ. The line doesn’t publish a strict bottle count, but it says excessive quantities may be refused. Wine bought on a Holland America winery shore excursion is exempt from corkage, limited to one bottle per person.
Spirits, beer, sodas and other soft drinks are not allowed. Bottled water is limited to a small amount per stateroom, and alcohol bought in port or duty free is held until the end of the cruise. If you love good wine but don’t drink much else, bringing a few favourite bottles and paying corkage can work out far cheaper than any package. See the official Holland America policy before you pack.
Verdict: Which Package Suits Which Drinker?
Light drinkers (zero to two drinks a day): skip the packages. The free coffee, tea, iced tea and lemonade cover the basics, and paying per glass will cost less.
Wine-with-dinner couples: pay as you go, or bring a few bottles and pay corkage. A bottle from the wine list shared over dinner is often better value than separate packages.
Moderate-to-heavy drinkers (five or more a day): Signature pays off, and Have It All usually beats buying Signature on its own.
Premium spirits and fine wine fans: Elite, ideally through an Early Booking Bonus fare that includes it.
Non-drinkers who love lattes and mocktails: Quench, but only if you’ll use it every day.
Soda fans and families: the Coca-Cola package is cheap and easy to justify.
If you are sailing to the Caribbean, remember that drinks at Half Moon Cay are excluded from packages. Our look at the refreshed Half Moon Cay private island covers what’s there.
Do both people in a cabin have to buy the Holland America drink package?
Yes, for the alcoholic packages. If one guest of legal drinking age buys Signature or Elite, all other drinking-age adults in the same stateroom must buy it for the full cruise. Underage guests in that cabin are expected to buy Quench.
Is the service charge included in the drink package price?
A service charge applies to every package, and Holland America raised it to 20% for sailings from around mid-2026. Some of its pages still say 18%, and the wording varies on whether it’s included or added. Check the final total in your booking.
Can I buy a drink package once I’m onboard?
Usually yes, on the first or second day of the cruise. Buying before you sail is generally cheaper, as Holland America often offers a daily discount for pre-cruise purchases.
Are coffee and tea free on Holland America?
Brewed coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade, water and breakfast juice are free. Espresso drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos cost extra unless you have Quench or a higher package.
The cruise line with the best food depends on what you are willing to pay. For included, no-surcharge dining, Oceania Cruises and Viking are the strongest picks; among mainstream lines, Virgin Voyages (adults only, every restaurant included) and Celebrity Cruises (the best paid specialty restaurants) lead the field; and at the top end, Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn serve restaurant-quality food with almost nothing extra to pay.
Below we rank the cruise lines with the best food by budget tier, explain what is actually included in your fare versus what costs extra, and list the standout restaurants worth booking. Menus, venues and prices change often, so treat any figures as a guide at the time of writing (October 2026) and check with the line before you sail.
How we judged the cruise line with the best food
Most “best food” lists only look at the fanciest restaurant on board. That is not how most people eat on a cruise. Over a week you will probably have most meals in the main dining room, the buffet and casual venues, so we looked at four things:
Included food quality: how good the main dining room, buffet and casual spots are without paying more.
Specialty dining: the quality and variety of the extra-tariff (or included) alternative restaurants.
Hidden costs: how much you need to add to your fare to eat well.
Recognition: current industry awards, such as the Cruise Critic 2025 Best in Cruise awards, announced in late 2025.
Best cruise food at a glance: comparison table
Cruise line
Tier
Specialty restaurants included?
Standout venue
Best for
Virgin Voyages
Mainstream (adults only)
Yes, all restaurants
Gunbae (Korean BBQ), Pink Agave, The Wake
Variety without extra charges
Celebrity Cruises
Premium
No (paid)
Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, Fine Cut Steakhouse
Best paid specialty dining
Princess Cruises
Mainstream
No (paid)
Sabatini’s, Crown Grill
Reliable classic dining rooms
Holland America Line
Premium
No (paid)
Pinnacle Grill
Traditional dining, fresh bakery
Royal Caribbean
Mainstream
No (paid)
Chops Grille, Izumi
Families who want choice
Oceania Cruises
Upper premium
Yes, no surcharge
Jacques, Polo Grill, Toscana, Red Ginger
Foodies on a sub-luxury budget
Viking
Upper premium (adults only)
Yes (except Kitchen Table)
The Chef’s Table, Manfredi’s
Destination-focused menus
Explora Journeys
Luxury
Mostly (Anthology extra)
Anthology, Marble & Co. Grill
Fine dining on a small ship
Regent Seven Seas
Luxury
Yes
Prime 7, Chartreuse
Truly all-inclusive dining
Seabourn
Luxury
Yes
Solis, Sushi
Relaxed fine dining
Best mainstream cruise lines for food
Mainstream lines have the lowest fares, but the food gap between them is big. The main thing to understand is that on most of these lines the best restaurants carry a cover charge or are priced à la carte.
1. Virgin Voyages: best included food on a mainstream line
Virgin Voyages won Best Dining for ocean cruise lines in Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best in Cruise awards, and it is easy to see why. There is no traditional main dining room and no conventional buffet. Instead, every restaurant on board is included in your fare and you can book a table at any of them, from Gunbae Korean barbecue and Pink Agave Mexican to The Wake steakhouse. The Galley food hall replaces the buffet with made-to-order counters. Drinks other than water, soda, tea and coffee cost extra, and so do tips. The ships are adults only, which suits couples but rules out families.
2. Princess Cruises: the most dependable main dining rooms
Princess is a solid choice if you mostly eat in the included venues. Its main dining rooms are consistent, the pizza and pasta are popular, and the paid specialty restaurants, especially Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and Crown Grill steakhouse, are good value compared with similar venues elsewhere. The newer Sphere-class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, add more casual and specialty options.
3. Royal Caribbean: the most choice, at a price
Royal Caribbean’s big ships have dozens of places to eat, which is great for families. The included food (main dining room, Windjammer buffet, casual cafes) is fine rather than special. The highlights, such as Chops Grille steakhouse, Izumi sushi and hibachi, and Wonderland on some ships, are paid. If you plan to eat in specialty restaurants most nights, look at the Unlimited Dining Package before you sail, as pre-cruise pricing is usually lower than buying on board, and prices vary by ship and sailing.
4. Norwegian, Carnival and Disney
Norwegian Cruise Line has a strong range of paid restaurants (Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki) and some fares bundle specialty meals. Carnival’s included casual food is a genuine strength, with Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina regularly praised. Disney Cruise Line’s rotational dining, where you move between themed restaurants with the same servers, is excellent for families, while the adults-only Palo and Remy are the foodie highlights (both paid).
Premium lines like Celebrity charge extra for their best specialty restaurants. Photo: Taha Samet Arslan on Pexels
Best premium cruise lines for food
Premium lines sit between mass market and luxury. You get better main dining rooms and more polished service, but still pay for the best restaurants.
5. Celebrity Cruises: best specialty dining in its class
Celebrity won Cruise Critic’s 2025 award for Best Specialty Dining among ocean lines. On the Edge-class ships, including the newest, Celebrity Xcel, the list of paid venues is long: Le Voyage by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud, Fine Cut Steakhouse, Raw on 5, Le Petit Chef (where animated projections play out on your plate) and Mosaic at The Bazaar on Xcel. The included main restaurants and the Oceanview Cafe buffet are above the mainstream average, and suite guests eat in the exclusive Luminae restaurant. Expect specialty dinners to cost from around $50 per person or more, so a specialty dining package can make sense if you will use it several times. Celebrity has also changed some Concierge Class perks; see our report on how Celebrity swapped Concierge Class canapés for free room service.
6. Holland America Line: traditional and comforting
Holland America is known for classic dining rooms, bread and pastries baked on board, and the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse (extra charge). It suits travelers who like a slower, more traditional evening. If you are also budgeting for drinks, our guide to whether Holland America drink packages are worth it breaks down the options.
Best upper-premium lines: gourmet food with no surcharges
This is the sweet spot for many food lovers, because the best restaurants are part of the fare.
7. Oceania Cruises: the best food cruise line for the money
Oceania markets itself on its cuisine, and it backs that up. On its newest ship, Oceania Allura, the specialty restaurants (Jacques for French classics, Red Ginger for pan-Asian, Toscana for Italian and Polo Grill steakhouse) carry no surcharge, alongside the Grand Dining Room, the Terrace Café buffet, Waves Grill and the Aquamar Kitchen for lighter, health-focused dishes. Paid extras are limited to private dining and wine-pairing experiences such as Privée. Larger ships also have a hands-on Culinary Center for cooking classes. For many cruisers, Oceania is the cruise line with the best food once you weigh quality against price.
8. Viking: destination dining for adults
Viking’s ocean ships include every restaurant in the fare except The Kitchen Table, a paid cooking-and-dining experience. The Chef’s Table serves rotating tasting menus themed around regions of the world, Manfredi’s is a well-regarded Italian, and Mamsen’s serves Norwegian comfort food. Beer and house wine are included with lunch and dinner. Viking ships carry under 1,000 guests and are adults only, which keeps dining calm rather than crowded.
Luxury lines include fine dining and wine in the fare. Photo: Elizabeth Ferreira on Pexels
Best luxury cruise lines for food
At luxury level, almost everything is included and portions are cooked to order, so the differences come down to style and atmosphere.
9. Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys won Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best Dining award in the luxury category. Its ships have six restaurants, five of them included, covering pan-Asian, Mediterranean, French and steak (Marble & Co. Grill), while Anthology, a gastronomic tasting-menu venue, costs extra.
10. Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn
Regent includes every specialty restaurant, such as Prime 7 steakhouse and Chartreuse (French), plus drinks, so you rarely sign a bill. Seabourn has dropped its Thomas Keller partnership and now runs Solis, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, along with Sushi and caviar service. If you are choosing between luxury lines on more than food, our comparison of Silversea vs Seabourn covers service, suites and price. Silversea’s S.A.L.T. program, built around local ingredients and recipes, is another strong option for curious eaters.
What is included vs what costs extra
This is the part most rankings skip, and it changes which cruise line has the best food for you. A mainstream cruise can end up costing more than an upper-premium one once you add specialty meals.
Always included: main dining room, buffet, most casual venues and basic drinks (water, tea, coffee). Virgin also includes soda.
Usually extra on mainstream and premium lines: steakhouses, sushi, chef’s tables, interactive dining shows and room service on some lines, with most specialty dinners costing roughly $30 to $130+ per person at the time of writing.
Included on Oceania, Viking, Virgin and most luxury lines: all or nearly all specialty restaurants. Only private dining, wine pairings or a single tasting-menu venue costs extra.
Tips and service charges: added daily on most mainstream lines and often charged at 18 to 20 percent on paid restaurant bills and drinks.
A simple test: if you would book specialty restaurants on four or more nights of a seven-night cruise, compare the total against an Oceania or Viking fare. The difference is often smaller than it first looks. For ways to cut the fare itself, see our guide to cruise deals for 2027.
Tips for eating well on any cruise
Book specialty restaurants before you sail. Popular slots on sea days and the last night fill quickly.
Look for first-night or lunch offers. Many lines discount specialty dining on embarkation day or at lunch.
Ask about off-menu items. Main dining rooms often have an always-available menu and can adjust dishes.
Tell the line about dietary needs early. Allergies, gluten-free and vegan requests are easier to handle when noted at booking.
Eat local in port. Even on a foodie line, a market lunch ashore is part of the experience.
For a slice-by-slice comparison, we have also ranked the best cruise ship pizza, free and paid, by cruise line.
There is no single winner. In Cruise Critic’s most recent Best in Cruise awards (2025), Virgin Voyages won Best Dining among mainstream ocean lines, Celebrity won Best Specialty Dining and Explora Journeys won in luxury. Oceania and Viking stand out for including gourmet restaurants in the fare.
Which mainstream cruise line has the best food?
Virgin Voyages is the best for included food, since every restaurant is part of the fare. If you are happy to pay for specialty dining, Celebrity Cruises offers the strongest range of extra-cost restaurants, while Princess has dependable main dining rooms.
Who has better food, Carnival or Royal Caribbean?
Carnival is often preferred for included casual food such as Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina, while Royal Caribbean offers more variety and stronger paid specialty restaurants on its large ships. It depends on whether you plan to pay for specialty dining.
Which cruise line includes specialty restaurants in the fare?
Oceania, Viking, Virgin Voyages, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn include their specialty restaurants, with only a few exceptions such as private dining or chef’s table experiences. Explora Journeys includes five of its six restaurants.
Sitka, Alaska, a bustling port renowned for its stunning scenery and vibrant tourism, is grappling with a significant issue that could impact cruise guests.
An extended internet and mobile service outage has disrupted daily life and business operations, affecting both residents and visitors.
On 29 August 2024, at around 11:25 a.m. local time, Sitka experienced a major outage of internet and mobile services. GCI Alaska, the main internet and mobile service provider in the area, confirmed the outage shortly after it began.
The company identified the cause and began assessing the damage. The outage is expected to last for about two weeks, significantly impacting daily life and business operations in Sitka.
The problem arose from a break in an important underwater fibre optic cable located about 30 miles off the coast of Sitka. The break in the cable has severed the connection, resulting in the loss of both internet and mobile services.
Repairing such a break is very challenging. Underwater fibre optic cables are complex and require specialised equipment and skills to repair. GCI Alaska has mobilised its resources to address the issue.
The company is working with specialised teams to repair the underwater cable and restore service as quickly as possible.
Despite the outage, cruise ships can still dock at the port. However, passengers might find the environment different due to the lack of connectivity. The absence of internet and mobile services can impact many aspects of their cruise experience, from communication to obtaining information.
Passengers might face difficulties in contacting family and friends, as well as accessing online information and services. It is recommended that cruise passengers book shore excursions through the cruise line to avoid issues caused by the outage.
This ensures their plans are not disrupted by the lack of connectivity and that they can enjoy their excursions without additional stress.
Local tour providers and other businesses that rely on internet and mobile services for communication and scheduling may face significant challenges. This could lead to disruptions in their operations, affecting their ability to serve customers effectively.
In June 2023, a fibre optic cable break caused major internet and mobile service outages in Western Alaska, affecting a large area and taking up to two months for full restoration. This incident highlighted the vulnerability of remote regions to such disruptions and the challenges involved in repairing underwater cables.
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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.
“Doctor Odyssey,” a new medical drama series created by Ryan Murphy, is set to premiere on ABC this autumn. The series mixes high-stakes medical drama with the calm yet unpredictable…
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“Doctor Odyssey,” a new medical drama series created by Ryan Murphy, is set to premiere on ABC this autumn.
The series mixes high-stakes medical drama with the calm yet unpredictable life on a cruise ship, giving viewers a unique experience. Ryan Murphy has created hits like “Glee,” “American Horror Story,” and “Pose.”
The show features a great cast, including Joshua Jackson, Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale, and Don Johnson. Dr Max, played by Joshua Jackson, is the new doctor on the ship.
His character is central to the series, dealing with the challenges of providing medical care in the middle of the ocean. Jackson is best known for his roles in “Dawson’s Creek” and “The Affair.”
Phillipa Soo plays a key member of the medical team. Her character’s skills and dedication are crucial as the team faces various medical crises. She gained fame for her role in the Broadway hit “Hamilton.”
The series is set on a luxury cruise ship, providing a unique and visually stunning backdrop for the medical drama. The medical team faces unique challenges, from limited resources to the isolation of being far from shore.
There’s been no mention of any real cruise ship used for filming, though. It appears to have been filmed entirely on sets.
The trailer offers glimpses of key scenes, including severe storms and life-or-death situations, building anticipation for the series.
No word yet on whether it’ll be shown elsewhere in the world, but most successful US dramas will be shown at least in the UK at some point. One to look out for!
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
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If you found this interesting, please share!
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.
Sitka, Alaska, a bustling port renowned for its stunning scenery and vibrant tourism, is grappling with a significant issue that could impact cruise guests. An extended internet and mobile service…
A recent study by MSC Cruises has highlighted the significant impact of children’s food preferences on family holiday plans. The research reveals that 83% of UK parents face mealtime challenges…
Royal Caribbean Group, in collaboration with Goldbelt Incorporated, an Alaska Native corporation, is launching a pilot programme to bring high-speed, low-latency Starlink internet to Juneau, Alaska. This initiative will address…
Carnival Cruise Line has responded to countless guest requests and added distilled water to its pre-purchase store, allowing guests to order it before their cruise. Many guests need distilled water…
The best side of ship for an Alaska cruise depends on which way you sail. On a one-way northbound cruise (Vancouver to Seward or Whittier), the starboard (right) side faces the mainland coast more often. Southbound, it is the port (left) side. On a round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver you pass the same coast in both directions, so neither side has a real advantage. On the big glacier days the ship turns so both sides get a view.
So choosing the wrong side will not make you miss Alaska. The rest of this guide explains where the side does make a difference, with a table for each itinerary type and advice on whether it is worth paying extra for a particular side.
Best Side of Ship for an Alaska Cruise, by Itinerary
Itinerary
Side with more coastline
How much it matters
Notes
One-way northbound (Vancouver or Seattle to Seward/Whittier)
Starboard (right)
Moderate
Mainland and the Gulf of Alaska coast stay on your right; open sea on the left across the Gulf
One-way southbound (Seward/Whittier to Vancouver or Seattle)
Port (left)
Moderate
The same view in reverse; starboard looks out over the Gulf
Round-trip from Vancouver
Either
Low
You sail the Inside Passage both ways, so each side sees the mainland for half the trip
Round-trip from Seattle
Either
Low
Open Pacific sailing west of Vancouver Island; land is often far away on both sides
Glacier day (Hubbard, Glacier Bay, Tracy or Endicott Arm, College Fjord)
Either
Very low
Ships usually pivot or turn in front of the glacier
Northbound One-Way Cruises: Choose Starboard
If you sail from Vancouver (or occasionally Seattle) to Seward or Whittier, the North American mainland is to the east of you, which is on your right. Celebrity Cruises’ own guidance says the best views of Alaska’s coastline on northbound sailings are likely to be on the starboard side.
The difference is most noticeable on the final stretch across the Gulf of Alaska. Heading northwest past Hubbard Glacier toward Prince William Sound, the coast and the Chugach and St. Elias mountains lie to starboard, while the port side looks out over open water. In the Inside Passage the gap is smaller, because islands such as Vancouver Island, Prince of Wales Island and Admiralty Island are visible to port as well.
Southbound One-Way Cruises: Choose Port
Southbound is simply the reverse. Leaving Seward or Whittier, the coast is on your left, so a port-side balcony gives you more land views across the Gulf and down through Southeast Alaska. The starboard side faces the Gulf of Alaska for much of the first part of the trip.
If you are booking a cruisetour that combines a land trip to Denali with a one-way cruise, check the direction before choosing a cabin. A cruise-first package usually sails northbound, and a land-first package usually sails southbound.
Round-Trip Cruises: Best Side of the Ship From Seattle or Vancouver
Most seven-night Alaska cruises are round trips. Because you sail north and then come back down a similar route, each side of the ship faces the mainland for roughly half the time. The choice of side matters very little here.
From Vancouver, ships enter the Inside Passage soon after leaving the city and stay in sheltered water between Vancouver Island and the mainland. You often see land on both sides. As you sail out under the Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park is on the port side and the North Shore mountains are to starboard.
From Seattle, ships normally head out into the Pacific and sail up the outer coast of Vancouver Island rather than through the Inside Passage. This means a sea day or so where the view is much the same from either side. Seattle round trips also call at a Canadian port, usually Victoria, to meet US cabotage rules. The best side of the ship for an Alaska cruise from Seattle is really a matter of personal preference. Pick based on sunrise or sunset if you have a favorite (see below).
On glacier days, ships usually turn so both sides get a view. Photo: Evelin Magnus on Pexels
Glacier Days: Why the Side Matters Least Here
Many people worry most about the glacier day, but it is actually the day when your cabin side matters least. Captains know every passenger wants to see the ice, so they plan for it:
Hubbard Glacier. Ships approach as close as ice and safety allow, then slowly rotate so both sides face the glacier for a while. Celebrity mentions full 360-degree turns at Hubbard.
Glacier Bay National Park. Only a limited number of large ships get permits each day. They spend several hours in the bay, with National Park Service rangers on board, and pause and turn at tidewater glaciers such as Margerie Glacier.
Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. These narrow fjords south of Juneau have steep walls and waterfalls on both sides, so there is scenery whichever way you face. Ice conditions sometimes stop big ships from reaching the glaciers at the end. In that case some lines switch to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, where Celebrity also says ships can turn fully.
College Fjord. Common on Princess Gulf of Alaska sailings, this fjord is lined with glaciers on both sides, and the ship turns at its head.
In practice, the best glacier views often come from the open deck at the bow (where ships allow access) or the top decks, not from a balcony. Glacier Bay in particular is worth watching from public areas, where rangers give commentary.
Which Side Faces the Port When You Dock?
This is one of the most common questions, and there is no fixed answer. Ships can dock on either side depending on the berth they are given, the direction of approach, the wind and the captain’s choice. In busy ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, several ships share the waterfront and berth assignments vary from one sailing to the next.
When you are in port, the view from a dock-side cabin is often the pier, the town or another ship. The other side may look out over the water and mountains, which can be the nicer view. Our Juneau cruise port guide covers where ships tie up in Alaska’s capital, the port-by-port Alaska guide describes each stop, and our Alaska cruise ports guide with map shows the route south to north, glaciers included.
Open decks give you views from both sides of the ship at once. Photo: Paul G on Pexels
Balcony vs Public Decks vs Aft Cabins
On many Alaska sailings, the type of cabin matters more than which side it is on.
Balcony cabins
A balcony lets you step out for a whale, an eagle or a misty fjord at 5am without dressing for the top deck. The Inside Passage is full of scenery that rewards that kind of casual watching. If you are deciding whether a balcony is worth it, see our balcony vs inside cabin comparison.
Public decks
Open decks give you a 360-degree view, so you see both sides at once. On glacier days, the forward observation areas and top decks are where most passengers gather. An inside cabin plus time on deck is a perfectly good way to see Alaska.
Aft (stern) cabins
Cabins at the very back of the ship look backward over the wake. That gives a wide view of both shores as the coastline slips past behind you. They avoid the port-or-starboard question altogether, but they can feel more vibration and motion, and they are popular enough to sell out early on many Alaska sailings.
Is It Worth Paying Extra for a Particular Side?
For most passengers, no. Cruise lines usually do not charge a different fare purely for port or starboard. The price is set by cabin category and location. But the “right” side can sell out first on one-way sailings, which leaves you with a higher category if you insist on it.
It makes sense to put the side first if:
You are on a one-way cruise and plan to spend much of your time on the balcony.
You are a keen photographer and want the coast and the low evening light on the same side.
Mobility makes it hard to get up to the open decks.
Otherwise, pick a well-placed cabin (midship for less motion) and spend glacier mornings on deck.
Sunrise, Sunset and Other Viewing Tips
Sun direction. Heading north, sunrise is on the starboard side and sunset is to port. Heading south, it is the reverse. In midsummer the sun sets very late, so evening light lasts a long time.
Pack binoculars. Whales, bears and mountain goats are often too far away for the naked eye, whichever side you are on.
Dress for the deck. Even in July, standing in front of a glacier is cold and windy. Bring a warm layer, a hat and gloves.
Listen for announcements. The bridge or naturalist often calls out wildlife sightings and says which side to look.
FAQs
Is port or starboard better for an Alaska cruise?
Starboard is better on a one-way northbound cruise and port is better southbound. On round trips from Seattle or Vancouver, both sides see a similar amount of coastline.
Which side of the ship is better for the Inside Passage?
Northbound, the mainland is on the starboard side and southbound it is on the port side. But islands are visible from both sides through much of the Inside Passage, so the difference is small.
What is the best side of the ship for Glacier Bay?
Neither. Ships spend several hours in Glacier Bay and turn at the tidewater glaciers so both sides get a view. Public decks with ranger commentary are often the best spot.
Will I miss the view if I book an inside cabin in Alaska?
No. The open decks and observation lounges give you views on both sides. A balcony adds comfort and convenience, but it is not essential to see the glaciers or wildlife.
A recent study by MSC Cruises has highlighted the significant impact of children’s food preferences on family holiday plans. The research reveals that 83% of UK parents face mealtime challenges with picky eaters while on holiday.
Birmingham children are identified as the pickiest eaters in the UK, followed closely by those in Newcastle and Leicester.
When planning a family holiday, parents must consider various factors, including accommodation, activities, and often most importantly, food.
Children’s food preferences can significantly influence these decisions, making it essential for travel companies to offer diverse dining options that cater to all tastes.
Mealtimes often turn into a negotiation process for families with picky eaters. Parents find themselves constantly trying to balance their children’s preferences with the available food options. This can lead to stressful mealtimes and can even impact the overall holiday experience.
The study reveals that 63% of parents allow their children’s food preferences to dictate their travel destinations. Parents often choose destinations that offer a variety of dining options to ensure that their children will have something to eat.
A notable 14% of parents are so concerned about limited food options that they would consider cancelling a trip. Parents want to ensure that their children will have access to food they enjoy, and if a destination does not offer suitable options, they may choose to cancel the trip altogether.
The study also found that 54% of children refuse to try new foods because they “looked weird.” Children often prefer familiar foods and may be hesitant to try something new, especially in an unfamiliar environment. Nearly 60% of children would prefer to eat pizza every day while on holiday.
MSC Cruises offers a variety of international cuisine options on their ships. This diversity ensures that there is something for everyone, including the pickiest of eaters.
From Italian to Asian cuisine, MSC Cruises provides a wide range of dining options that cater to all tastes. In addition to international cuisine, MSC Cruises provides relaxed buffet experiences.
These buffets offer a wide range of food choices, making it easier for families to find something that everyone will enjoy. The relaxed atmosphere of a buffet allows children to explore different foods at their own pace.
One of the unique shore excursions offered by MSC Cruises is a pizza-making class in Italy. This hands-on experience allows families to bond over a fun and educational activity. Children can learn how to make their own pizza, which can encourage them to try new foods.
Another exciting shore excursion is the chocolate-tasting tour in the Caribbean. This tour introduces families to new culinary experiences while satisfying their sweet tooth. Children can learn about the chocolate-making process and sample different types of chocolate.
MSC Cruises’ efforts to cater to picky eaters highlight the importance of understanding and addressing children’s food preferences. By doing so, the cruise line ensures a smooth and enjoyable holiday experience for families.
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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.
Royal Caribbean Group, in collaboration with Goldbelt Incorporated, an Alaska Native corporation, is launching a pilot programme to bring high-speed, low-latency Starlink internet to Juneau, Alaska. This initiative will address…
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Royal Caribbean Group, in collaboration with Goldbelt Incorporated, an Alaska Native corporation, is launching a pilot programme to bring high-speed, low-latency Starlink internet to Juneau, Alaska.
This initiative will address the common issue of internet congestion during the cruise tourism season, which has been a significant complaint among locals.
The installation of Starlink, a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX, will begin at the Goldbelt Tram Lower Terminal and extend north on Franklin Street. The service is expected to be fully operational and will be tested in time for the Alaska 2025 summer season.
This project will provide free internet access to both locals and cruise guests, enhancing the overall connectivity experience in Juneau.
Juneau, a popular cruise destination, has long struggled with internet congestion during the peak tourism season.
The influx of visitors often overwhelms the local internet infrastructure, leading to slow and unreliable connections.
Starlink, a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX, is designed to provide high-speed internet access to underserved and remote areas around the world.
Unlike traditional satellite internet services that rely on a few large satellites in geostationary orbit, Starlink uses a constellation of thousands of small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
This innovative approach allows for lower latency and higher speeds, making it an ideal solution for areas with limited connectivity options.
One of the standout features of this initiative is that it will provide free internet access to both locals and cruise guests.
For cruise guests, the availability of free high-speed internet will be a game-changer, allowing them to stay connected with loved ones, share their travel experiences on social media, or simply browse the web while docked in port, without needing to pay for the more costly WiFi package for the entire duration.
Locals will also benefit from the additional bandwidth, ensuring a better internet experience throughout the year. By addressing the seasonal internet congestion, this initiative will significantly improve the quality of life for the local community.
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to implement Starlink fleet-wide in 2022, setting a new standard for internet connectivity at sea.
Related posts
If you found this interesting, please share!
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 has responded to countless guest requests and added distilled water to its pre-purchase store, allowing guests to order it before their cruise. Many guests need distilled water…
Royal Caribbean offered a fun gift to a few thousand fans this weekend, whilst also getting to showcase the speeds of the Starlink internet connection on the fleet. The cruise…
Norwegian Cruise Line has begun the rollout of its brand-new cruise app, which is aimed to make life much easier for guests onboard and those interested in booking. The new…
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Whether you’re someone interested in maritime history, or you’re a little worried about taking a cruise for the first time, you might want to learn more about the number of times that cruise ships have sunk.
It’s a very rare occurrence and even when it does happen, modern safety protocols mean that most if not all passengers and crew will be perfectly safe.
So, let’s sate that interest (or quell those fears).
Cruise ships have sunk, but very rarely
Cruise ships have sunk in the past, but the instances are very rare.
Including the Titanic, 26 ships have sunk since 1912, if you include river cruise ships and ocean liners. Almost 2,000 people have died in these incidents but over half of those can be attributed to ships sinking before 1940. Many of the incidents involved no loss of life at all.
Sadly, there were some larger tragedies that occurred slightly over 100 years ago, including the Titanic and the slightly less well-known Empress of Ireland.
Lessons learned from these disasters have helped to keep people much safer in more recent times.
Arguably the most famous cruise ship sinking in the last 100 years is that of the Costa Concordia. She sank in 2012 and is the only modern major ocean cruise ship serving passengers from around the world to have sunk during a cruise.
Cruise ships very rarely sink, and when they do it is often when they don’t have passengers on board. Just over one cruise ship every 5 years has sunk in the last 100 years. Regarding sinking with casualties, that’s only one every 7 years.
In the last 50 years, there have been 15 cruise ships that have sunk. Of these, 5 occurred when no passengers were on board, and in another, there was an engine fire during a cruise but all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
Only nine times since 1956 have passengers lost their life during a cruise, and of these, some were due to human error and one was a river cruise that hit a freak storm.
The most recent was in 2020
The last cruise ship to sink was the Orient Queen. This ship was berthed in Beirut during the massive ammonium nitrate explosion of 2020 at the port. The ship suffered damage due to the explosion and sank that night. Two crew members were killed.
The last time a cruise ship sank with passengers on board was a Chinese river cruise ship in 2015, which hit an unexpected and severe storm that capsized the boat.
List of all sunken cruise ships since 1912
For the sake of this list, I’ve looked back at the last 110 years or so, so that we cover everything from possibly the most famous cruise ship sinking ever.
Important – I’ve also decided to keep this list to cruise ships (both ocean and river), and ocean liners that served as cruise ships.
I’ve omitted passenger ferries, since this is specifically about cruise ships. I’ve also chosen not to include ships that served as a cruise ship for a small part of their life but were being usedfor other purposes when they sank. But, if the ship was mainly a cruise ship and then was commandeered for war efforts, I’ve kept it in.
Just wanted to clarify those in case you felt I’d missed any – but let me know if I have still within those rules!
1. Titanic – 1912
Titanic
Arguably the most famous cruise ship sinking in history and also one of the worst in terms of deaths, the Titanic sunk on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean after colliding with an iceberg.
The ship was not equipped with enough lifeboats to be able to hold everyone on board, which is one of the main reasons why it’s one of the deadliest maritime incidents in history too.
The fact that the ship sunk in such cold waters also played a part, as those not in lifeboats had almost no chance of survival.
Often referred to as Canada’s Titanic – unsurprising considering how recent this was after the Titanic sank – the Empress of Ireland was a large passenger liner carrying almost 1,500 people. She sank after colliding with the Storstad, a Norwegian collier ship, during foggy conditions.
Both ships were aware of each other’s presence, having been sighted during clear conditions, but with fog rapidly surrounding the ships, they could only rely on whistles to communicate.
It wasn’t enough and the Empress of Ireland sank when struck, causing the deaths of 1,012 people, a mix of passengers and crew. This was the worst maritime disaster in Canada’s history.
Sinking of the Lusitania from The Illustrated London News, May 15, 1915
Lusitania was a cruise ship that was launched for Cunard Line in 1906 – the same Cunard Line that still operates cruise ships today. She was a British ocean liner that, for a few brief months, held the distinction of being the largest passenger ship in the world.
Unfortunately, she was a victim of the First World War. She sailed successfully for nine years and in that time completed 201 transatlantic crossings. However on her 202nd, travelling from New York to Liverpool, she was hit by a torpedo from a German U-Boat submarine off the south coast of Ireland.
Due to the size of the explosion and the speed of listing, only six lifeboats could be launched, and in total 1,198 passengers and crew lost their lives, with 764 survivors.
Sister ship of the Titanic, HMHS Britannic was the third of White Star Line’s Olympic Class of ocean liners and she was originally intended to serve as a passenger ship. However, just as she was due to launch, the First World War broke out.
In 1915, she began service as a hospital ship – the largest in the world. In 1916 she struck a German naval mine off the coast of a Greek island which caused her to sink just 55 minutes later.
Of the 1,066 people on board, 1,036 made it into lifeboats or the water and were rescued. 30 people sadly lost their lives.
The SS Principessa Mafalda was an Italian cruise ship built in 1909, regularly making sailings between Genoa and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
She sank in 1927 off the coast of Brazil when a propeller shaft broke and damaged the hull of the ship. She sank slowly, but there was some confusion on board which meant that 314 people died of the 1,252 passengers and crew on the ship.
Her sister ship, Principessa Jolanda, actually sank earlier and would be on this list if I’d gone back slightly further, but she capsized and sank as she was launched in 1907. There were no causalities but, despite being brand new, the ship couldn’t be retrieved.
The Saint-Philibert was a small cruise ship that would offer summer sailings around the Loire River and the French coastline. It’s unclear when she was first launched, but tragedy struck in 1931 when she sank.
There are multiple reasons for her sinking – the weather was extremely stormy, and the ship was way over capacity, with twice the expected load onboard. As passengers stood on the starboard side to view the storm, a freak wave combined with the weight of the passengers to capsize the ship. Almost 500 people died and only 8 survivors were accounted for.
Georges Philippar Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A French ocean liner, the Georges Philippar sank on her maiden voyage due to an electrical fault. She had sailed successfully to Yokohama, but on the return leg sank near Italian Somaliland.
The high voltage wiring used throughout the ship sparked from a malfunctioning light switch in one of the luxury cabins, setting the wood panel alight. 54 lives were lost.
There had been concerns about the quality of the ship before she sailed, but these were ignored due to worries about delay penalties to the build. Changes were made due to the sinking of the ship to make electrical wiring onboard much safer, including using an AC current and more modern circuit breakers.
The SS Morro Castle was an ocean liner that was designed to make regular sailings between the US and Cuba. She launched in 1930, but just four years later would sink in tragic circumstances.
The cause of her sinking was a fire, which would gradually disable the ship as it burned through electrical cables and hydraulic lines used for steering the ship. 137 people lost their lives, with the blame placed at the feet of the crew who handled the emergency badly.
Empress of Britain. Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Empress of Britain was another ship owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company to sink, and like the Lusitania, she was a victim of war, although this time it was the Second World War that caused her demise.
She first launched in 1930 and was formally completed in 1931, and served as an ocean liner sailing from Canada to Europe for nine years.
In October 1940, off the coast of Ireland, the ship was bombed from above, hit by two 250kg bombs. On board were 416 crew, 2 gunners and 205 passengers, consisting of military personnel and their families. 45 people died but most survived.
While still a tragic event in which 46 passengers and crew lost their lives, the sinking of the Andrea Doria demonstrated the impact that safety improvements had made to ships since the sinking of the Titanic.
Andrea Doria was struck by another ship, the Stockholm, and immediately began to list heavily which made many of the lifeboats inaccessible.
However, the ship sank slowly, and the crew made use of the improved communications systems and training and successfully got 1,660 passengers and crew to safety.
The lost lives were a direct result of the collision and not the sinking, which occurred the day after the initial impact.
The Bianca C is a unique entry on this list as it has somehow been sunk not once, but twice. The ship started life as a passenger ferry and was scuttled by the Germans during the Second World War. The hull was raised from the water and the ship was refitted as a cruise ship.
Eventually sold to Costa Line, the forerunner company of Costa Cruises, she was given the name Bianca C. She sank for a second time in 1961 after an explosion in the engine room. The explosion killed one crew member but everyone else made it off the ship.
The Angelina Lauro is a ship with a storied history. She spent most of her life as a passenger ferry under the name MS Oranje, having first launched in 1939. As with many ships at the time, she was commandeered for the war, serving as a hospital ship. In 1965 she joined Lauro Lines and in 1972 she was refitted as a cruise ship.
In 1979, whilst being chartered to Costa Lines, the ship caught fire in port at Saint Thomas. The fire burned for several days and the ship was declared a total loss. While being towed to a scrapyard she sank later that year. No lives were lost.
MS Mikhail Lermentov U.Gomez, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The MS Mikhail Lermentov was an ocean liner that was operated by the Baltic Shipping Company out of the Soviet Union. She entered service in 1972 and was later converted into a cruise ship, being fully converted in 1982.
In 1986, the ship was operating a cruise from Sydney, exploring New Zealand on a two-week itinerary. While sailing past Cape Jackson, around 30 miles northwest of Wellington, the ship hit rocks.
Of the 372 passengers and 348 crew onboard, most were able to make it into a lifeboat, although it was a close call – only 20 minutes after the last passenger was recused, the ship completely sunk. One person lost their life – a crewmember who remained with the ship, Pavel Zagladimov.
Remember when I said Bianca C was unique because she had sunk twice? That’s still true, but SS Admiral Nakhimov actually beats her, since this ship sunk three times in total. Originally a hospital ship for the Nazis, the ship was given to the Soviet Union according to reparations, even though she was underwater. She was raised, sank again, and then raised once more.
Her final sinking occurred in 1986 while operating cruises around the Black Sea. She collided with a freighter, despite the freighter’s Captain radio-ing to say they would make sure to avoid the collision. 423 people out of the 1,234 on board died in the incident.
The MV Jupiter was a Greek-registered ship that offered cruises around the Mediterranean. In 1988, she sank just 40 minutes after leaving Piraeus, and on board were 391 British schoolchildren and 84 adults taking part in a study cruise. There were also 110 crew.
The cause of the incident was a collision with an Italian freight ship. Sadly, four people died in the sinking – one pupil, one teacher and two crew members.
MS Achille Lauro. Photo: D. R. Walker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The MS Achille Lauro was a cruise ship that was originally built for a Dutch company but eventually ended up being in the hands of StarLauro, which would go on to form part of MSC Cruises.
The ship underwent a number of incidents in a storied life, including a hijacking in 1985, two serious collisions with other ships, and four onboard fires.
The last of these sunk the ship off the coast of Somalia. There were 979 passengers and crew on board and of those, two, unfortunately, died during the evacuation of the ship.
The MTS Oceanos was another ship sailing from Greece that sank, only three years after the MV Jupiter. The cause was excessive flooding, which was believed to have been caused by freak waves breaking apart a ventilation pipe that had been insufficiently repaired.
All 581 passengers and crew survived, but with no thanks to the captain and some of the crew, who were later convicted for abandoning the ship. It was the ship’s entertainers who sounded the alarm and helped get every passenger to safety.
Originally launched as the SS Galileo Galilei for the Lloyd Triestino line, the Sun Vista actually sailed as the Meridian for Celebrity Cruises for 7 years (the first ship for the cruise line) before being transferred to Sun Cruises and being renamed the Sun Vista in 1997.
She sank just two years later due to an engine room fire on 20th May 1999 which cut all power, resulting in the ship going down the following morning at around 1 am. With modern safety procedures in place, the entirety of the ship’s passengers and crew (1,090 total) were evacuated with no casualties.
The SeaBreeze was a cruise ship originally owned by Costa Cruises, first launching in 1958. She was then owned by Premier Cruises from 1983 until she sank in 2000, after the cruise line had already gone out of business.
The cause of the sinking was the boiler breaking off, which caused sufficient damage to sink the ship. There was a lot of controversy at the time, as some believed it was an intentional incident (the scrap value of the ship was around $6 million but it was insured for $20 million). Only 34 crew members were on board when she sank, and all were rescued.
One of the less dramatic incidents on this list, the Britanis had been a cruise ship for Chandris Lines, under the Fantasy Cruises brand. She was then sold to AG Belofin Investments when Chandris decided to focus on its Celebrity Cruises brand instead.
The ship was renamed Belofin-1 but never cruised. Instead, in 2000, she was towed towards shipbreakers in India where she was to be scrapped, but she began to take on water and list.
As there was nobody on board to correct the list, the only option was for the tugboat to cut the ship free and allow it to capsize and sink off the coast of Cape Town.
The MV Explorer was a small cruise ship that had many owners in her life, launching first in 1969. She has the honour of being the first cruise ship specifically used for cruises to the Antarctic Ocean. Unfortunately she also has the record of being the first ship to sink there too.
She struck an iceberg in 2007, and everyone on the ship took to the lifeboats, including 91 passengers, 54 crew and 9 expert guides. They were rescued by the MS Nordnorge after drifting for five hours.
The MS Sea Diamond was a small cruise ship that was originally built for Birka Line, sailing as Birka Princess. After 20 years of successful operation, she was transfered to Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines, but just a year later she ran aground in Santorini.
Ultimately the ship’s Captain was blamed and jailed, although it came to light that the sea charts for the area were inaccurate and the reef the ship struck was 131 metres from shore, not 57 metres as marked on the charts. Over 1,000 passengers and crew were rescued but two French passengers went missing and were never found, presumed dead.
If the Titanic is the most famous cruise ship sinking in history, then Costa Concordia would take that title for modern history. The Costa Cruises ship sank after striking an underwater rock off the coast of Tuscany, sailing closer to the island than it should have done.
There were 4,252 people on board the ship including over 3,200 passengers. Most were rescued but 34 people did lose their lives including 27 passengers, 5 crew and 2 members of the salvage team.
Captain Francesco Schettino was found to be at fault and found to be guilty of manslaughter, and is now serving a 16-year prison sentence.
Officially named ‘Dongfang zhi Xing’, this Chinese river cruise ship would make regular sailings along the Yangtze River around the Three Gorges. In 2015, while sailing from Nanjing to Chongqing, she was caught in a storm and sank in waters just 15 metres deep.
There were 456 people on board the ship and tragically only 12 people survived – the remaining 442 bodies were all found. Most of the passengers were in their 60s or 70s and the ship capsized and sank very quickly.
Improvements have since been made to the communication of severe weather reports to river cruise ships, and the Chinese government also concluded that negligence played a part, with 43 people punished due to flaws in the management of the company.
Of all the ships on this list, few have had quite the history of the Ocean Dream. Originally ordered by Norwegian Cruise Line, and due to be named Seaward, the shipyard underwent financial troubles and cancelled the order. NCL complained, so the shipyard agreed to continue working, but then NCL sold the ship to P&O where she sailed as Spirit of London.
She later became Sun Princess for Princess Cruises, then for Premier Cruises as Starship Majestic, and was chartered by Disney. She later became New Flamenco for Festival Cruises, then Flamenco 1, then Ocean Dream for three more cruise lines. She sank in Thailand in 2016 after having been abandoned for a year, with no casualties.
Orient Queen was a cruise ship that was owned by the Abou Merhi Group in Lebanon. Sailing from Beirut it offered cruises to the eastern Med, including ports in Turkey and Greece.
While berthed in port and without any passengers on board, the ship sank in 2020 after a massive ammonium nitrate explosion at the port. There were two crew on the ship that were killed as a result of the ship sinking. There were many other ships also in port at the time that suffered damage, although Orient Queen was the only cruise ship to sink.
The odds of a cruise ship sinking – they’re super low!
Only 11 ocean cruise ships have sunk while on a cruise in the last 50 years. Assuming an average of 100 sailings per ship per year, and an average of 150 cruise ships in that time, that translates to odds of 1 in 68,000.
That’s not exact, obviously – more ships have been built more recently and there are over 300 cruise ships currently sailing, so an average of 150 for the last 50 years is probably accurate. And some ships sail longer itineraries and some sail regular 3-4 day cruises. But that’s a rough guide to your odds.
And that’s just of the cruise ship sinking. The chances of dying in a cruise ship sinking incident are even lower since most people are saved – the odds of dying as a cruise ship sinks are around 1 in 5 million.
To demonstrate how safe cruising is – the odds of dying from a lightning strike are somewhere between 1 in 84,000 and 1 in 130,000 depending on which stat you believe. There’s apparently a 1 in 2 million chance of dying falling off a chair, and a 1 in 2.3 million chance of being killed by a falling ladder – and not when you’re on it.
How verified these stats are is questionable but the point is that cruise ships are an extremely safe way of travelling. Sinkings are rare, and fatalities even rarer.
How come these massive ships don’t tend to sink?
There are so many reasons why cruise ships don’t sink. Their basic design means that they are engineered to keep them upright, with ballast tanks preventing the ship from tipping over.
Add in state-of-the-art navigation systems and safety mechanisms, the expert crew that are trained in every potential outcome, and of course the threat of insurance companies ensuring that ships are all maintained to the highest standards, and you’ve nothing to fear.
The only ocean cruise ship to sink with passengers on-board within the last 15 years was human error, and they’ve been found guilty at a criminal trial. Cruise ship captains were already vetted for their safety standards but now even more so – it’s unthinkable that anything like that could happen again.
The bottom line
If you were reading this guide because you were interested in cruise ship history, hopefully, I’ve been able to shed some light.
More importantly, if you’re someone worried about being on a cruise ship then I hope you now feel reassured that you don’t have to be. The stats show that sinkings are exceptionally rare, and even when they do happen there are plenty of safety procedures in place.
So, now nothing’s stopping you from enjoying an amazing cruise holiday.
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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 has responded to countless guest requests and added distilled water to its pre-purchase store, allowing guests to order it before their cruise.
Many guests need distilled water for medical purposes, primarily for use in CPAP machines which use the water to keep running efficiently, allowing guests to breathe easier while they sleep.
John Heald, Carnival’s brand ambassador, has been fielding questions about distilled water for a long time on his Facebook page.
“Finally, now available for pre-order. Thank you to the Beards for listening to me on your behalf.“
John Heald
Prior to this move, guests would have to wait until they were onboard a cruise to order distilled water, and hope that there was enough available and that delivery was timely – neither was guaranteed.
But now, guests will be able to pre-order distilled water by the gallon so that it’s ready for them when they board the ship.
The price is $5.90 per gallon, and guests can order multiple if required. No smaller quantities are available.
Carnival’s beverage policy does allow guests to bring their own distilled water onto the cruise if they wish, but it must be carried in their hand luggage along with the CPAP machine.
It’s also unclear whether the price of distilled water has increased – some previous guests have said that they used to be able to order it once onboard for $3.50 but whether that was for a gallon hasn’t been clarified.
The $5.90 price does include delivery costs.
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If you found this interesting, please share!
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.
Royal Caribbean offered a fun gift to a few thousand fans this weekend, whilst also getting to showcase the speeds of the Starlink internet connection on the fleet. The cruise…
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Royal Caribbean offered a fun gift to a few thousand fans this weekend, whilst also getting to showcase the speeds of the Starlink internet connection on the fleet.
The cruise line decided to give guests of the Oasis of the Seas free WiFi internet access for 2 and a half hours on Saturday morning – so that any guests who wanted to buy Oasis tickets would stand a chance.
The British band Oasis announced last week that they would be reuniting after 15 years, with a world tour beginning in 2025.
Ticket demand was always going to be incredible, but the cruise line didn’t want fans who were on a cruise holiday to miss out.
Of course, they didn’t want to give free internet access to everyone – that’s a lot of lost revenue – so instead offered it to those guests onboard the aptly-named Oasis of the Seas.
The cruise line allowed guests to enjoy free WiFI from 8.30 am until 11 am on Saturday morning.
“With Oasis tour dates set to light up Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin next summer, this unique opportunity means that Royal Caribbean International guests won’t miss out on the chance of securing tickets, despite being on holiday.”
Royal Caribbean statement
It’s not clear whether anyone used it to try and buy Oasis tickets or if they were successful, but considering how thousands of people were left queuing well beyond 11 am around the world, and how many were disappointed, it would be quite the coup if any guests did secure tickets while cruising.
As long as the queues on ticketing sites didn’t cause too much stress and ruin the rest of the day on the ship, anyway!
And if you were someone who tried to get Oasis tickets and missed out, you could always go on a cruise instead during those dates, so you weren’t at home with FOMO.
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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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