One of the most popular theme cruises will be embarking for one last voyage in March 2025, as guests get the last chance to enjoy a Golden Girls sailing.
Image credit: Golden Fans at Sea
Themed for the extremely popular US TV show, the ‘Golden Fans at Sea’ cruise is a loving tribute to everyone involved in the show. While the original actors have all passed away, there will be other guests onboard including the show’s original writer.
Guests will be able to take part in panel discussions, dancing competitions, trivia games and more, as well as the popular costume competitions where many fans love to dress up as their favourite characters.
The cruise is the sixth Golden Girls-themed cruise and will be taking place on the Celebrity Reflection, on 9th March 2025.
It will depart from Port Everglades and will visit Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Bimini. Fares start at $1,694 per person for the cruise and include drinks, WiFi and tips.
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.
Even loyal cruise fans know that not every sailing goes to plan.
In fact, the most loyal cruise guests have often cruises so many times with a cruise line that they’re bound to have had the occasional bad experience.
So it’s no surprise that a group of Carnival cruise fans who are members of the VIFP loyalty program have some crazy stories to tell about their worst cruises.
Remember though that these are the loyal Carnival fans – so the cruise line must be doing enough right that these stories don’t put them off!
1. Racism from other passengers
One passenger explained how they’d experienced racism on their Carnival cruise – and that’s no doubt one of the worst experiences anyone could have onboard.
They clarified that it was racism from other passengers that spoiled their cruise, not from the crew or anything like that – which is still bad enough. To have other cruise passengers mistreating you because of your race must be horrendous.
Just to make it even worse, the person who claimed to be a victim of racism then had to argue with someone on Facebook who claimed it wasn’t racism after all – and that claims of racism are thrown around too often!
Carnival is a diverse cruise line that welcomes passengers from a lot of backgrounds and I believe that most have a great time without being the victim of racism, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen for this passenger.
2. Being exposed by automatic toilet doors!
Something completely different now, and a recurring complaint related to the public bathrooms on the newest ships in the fleet (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee).
The problem with the public bathrooms on these ships is that the doors use automatic locks… and not everyone can figure out exactly how they work!
The result is a number of people who’ve ended up getting ‘exposed’ as someone else opens the door, leading to some embarrassing situations!
A lot of people who’ve been caught have now decided they’d rather trek all the way back to their cabin even when they’re enjoying the entertainment, just to avoid the risk of having the door open on them.
Surely bathroom doors shouldn’t be this complicated?
3. Injuries
Some of the worst stories are related to injuries suffered onboard.
There are lots of different stories that people have shared, including being injured by a waiter dropping a tray onto their hand, or falling down the stairs when wearing high heels (even when not drunk).
Accidents do happen on cruises, especially when you’re around a lot of guests who might be enjoying a drink or two. Make sure you’re careful, because the medical costs onboard can be quite high!
4. Hookups gone wrong!
A couple of passengers have talked about how their cruise took a wrong turn when ‘interacting’ with other guests.
This passenger spoke about how they thought they were having a successful cruise romance until they discovered that the guy was married and that they were not swingers – the wife was less than pleased to discover what had been going on!
Carnival is a great cruise line for singles who want to meet new people either for short-term fun or long-term romance, but try to make sure you’re flirting with someone who is definitely unattached!
5. Passenger complaints about a disabled child
Carnival has a great reputation for welcoming all guests and accommodating those who have particular needs or disabilities.
It’s a shame that not all Carnival guests are quite as welcoming…
Imagine feeling so offended by a child being overwhelmed that you moan to other passengers and try to say they shouldn’t be allowed onboard!
Are cruises only for those without disabilities now? An awful experience for this passenger and I’m glad they stood up to the person complaining.
6. Hitting the drink package limit too early
If you buy the drinks package on a Carnival cruise, you can enjoy as many drinks as you like without paying for them individually.
Well, maybe not as many as you like…
There’s a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day, which for most people is not going to cause them any problems. 15 is quite a lot! But this passenger claimed that it spoiled their cruise because they were getting cut off by 7 pm on every day of their cruise.
It’s over 10 years since the Carnival Triumph’s famed ‘Poop cruise‘ and yet it’s still one of the most talked about topics when someone asks about the worst cruise ever.
It’s understandable though – it was hardly a pleasant experience.
If you don’t know about the poop cruise, what happened was the Carnival Triumph suffered an engine room fire in 2013 which took out the power, including the air conditioning. It also affected the plumbing.
This meant that the ship was stranded without propulsion, and with no working toilet system. As you can imagine, the conditions soon became unsanitary for everyone onboard.
Carnival made good by refunding everyone, paying $500 in compensation as well as offering another free cruise, but those who were onboard describe it as hell. Still, many people knew it was a one-off and have since sailed with Carnival again!
8. Hurricanes and storms
Lots of people blame hurricanes and storms for their worse cruises.
It’s understandable – you can’t control the weather, but it can completely spoil all the plans you had for a nice relaxing sailing.
Even if you don’t get rough waters, it can mean that your itinerary is completely changed at the last minute, and you might not even get to visit any ports – it could be a cruise that just has to dodge storms at sea.
One of the best bits of advice I always give when choosing a cabin is to make sure you’ve got other cabins directly above and below you, and on either side.
That’s because normally that will mean less noise – but not always…
There are noisy parts of the ship such as crew work areas, the pool deck or the bars, and that sound can carry through the walls or floor. But you really shouldn’t be dealing with neighbouring passengers causing a disturbance too.
If you’re having to call security every night, then security aren’t doing their job properly. Thankfully these types of story are rare!
A few people have mentioned their worst cruise experiences being when ship stabilizers failed – and it’s happened more than once.
Notable incidents have occured on several ships including Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Liberty, with the video above apparently on Carnival Legend.
It can be scary – so I can totally understand why some people would rank this as their worst experience. But it’s not like a ship is suddenly going to tip over.
I do love that the people in the restaurant thought that moving from one side of the ship to the other would help. Trust me, the weight of the people onboard a cruise ship is pretty negligible compared to the weight of the ship itself!
11. Sickness!
There’s nothing worse than getting so excited for a cruise (or indeed any type of holiday) only to lose some of it to sickness.
Lots of people have blamed the issues in 2020 for their worst cruises, but there are plenty of people who get sick on cruises at regular times too.
It’s not helped by unhygienic passengers who can’t even be bothered to wash their hands properly, or sneeze into their elbow. Basic rules!
Again, you might be able to get some money back if you’re sick on a cruise and quarantined in your cabin. Hopefully, it never happens for you but there’s always the possibility.
A breakup on holiday is awful. But it’s even worse on a cruise because you’ve no way of easily escaping each other!
Cruise breakups can happen, and there were a few people in the Carnival group who told similar stories.
Whether that’s because arguments can become fueled by booze, or just the nature of being on a ship and feeling like you can’t escape each other. Or maybe someone had a wandering eye, seeing all the people by the pool…
If you’re lucky, you might be able to pay for an additional cabin if you’re already onboard and explain your situation, but many cruises will sail sold out so if you do break up, you might be stuck together. Try to stay on each other’s good side!
13. Random food sharer
Whether or not this is worthy of being the “worst cruise ever”, I don’t know. But it’s definitely weird and a bit gross.
Having random people steal food from your plate is NOT common on cruises, don’t worry!
It’s not clear whether it was a child stealing food, or a grown woman, but either way it’s something that you should nip in the bud. Tell them no, and then feel free to go grab a new plate.
Chalk it up to a weird random experience, and try not to let it spoil your mood!
14. Accidentally flashing the crew
Are you the kind of person who lets embarrassing moments live on long in your memory?
The fact that this cruise passenger still tells the story as their worst cruise experience ever shows that it’s stuck with them – and maybe it has stuck with the crew member too!
Embarrassing moments can happen anywhere but don’t worry – you won’t typically find the crew in your cabin doing cleaning so the chances of you experiencing something like this are slim to none.
15. When EVERYTHING goes wrong!
This poor passenger!
When something goes wrong on any type of holiday, it can then feel like everything is going wrong. But I think for this passenger it really was. This isn’t a negative attitude – that’s a seriously long list of unfortunate occurrences.
It seems like they still were able to enjoy their honeymoon cruise thanks to their friends, but trust me – most cruises aren’t the catalogue of horrors that this person experienced!
16. When the cruise ends
The most common comment on that Facebook group about the worst cruise experience was that the cruise ended – and I think that shows that even bad moments can’t put off loyal cruise fans.
Plenty of people joked about how they were forced to get off the ship at the end of their itinerary and how it was unfair that they were surprised by this ‘debarkation day’ that crew were talking about.
But the fact that so many people made similar comments show that people really do enjoy being loyal to Carnival because of the great times they have onboard.
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Final word
Carnival is not a cruise line for everyone. It has a lively party atmosphere, it’s very bold and loud at times (especially during deck parties), and it’s very much aimed at the American market.
But if you’re the kind of person who would fit in on a Carnival ship, there’s a good chance you may want to stay loyal – even though it’s clear that bad things do sometimes happen.
That’s the same on any cruise line though. In fact, I know there are some cruise lines where bad experiences might be more common!
Just know that most people on a Carnival cruise – or any cruise – have an amazing time, and roll with the punches if something does go wrong. It shouldn’t spoil your cruise, and if it does, there’s always the next one!
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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.
One of the best features of a cruise ship’s pool deck can often be one of the more controversial – the hot tubs!
Cruise ship jacuzzis offer a great spot to relax and unwind as you soak up the view, but of course, there aren’t enough hot tubs for everyone to enjoy at once. While some new cruise ships like Arvia and Iona have 16 hot tubs, many ships have just one or two.
And so one of the more divisive subjects around hot tubs, especially with how cruise holidays have changed, is whether kids should be banned from using them.
I asked my Facebook audience this exact question – Let’s delve into the results!
It’s a fairly strong “yes, ban them”…
There’s a clear majority of cruise guests who feel that kids shouldn’t be allowed to use the hot tubs on cruise ships.
66% of people I asked said that kids should be banned, and they gave lots of reasons to back that up…
1. “It’s not safe”
Some people are concerned from a safety perspective, especially with younger children. Some hot tubs may not be safe for younger kids to use. One cruiser argued that “their bodies are not mature enough to regulate heat”.
This will depend on the ship and the hot tub – some might have rules about certain ages being banned already for this reason. However, in my experience, I’ve never known a cruise ship hot tub to be actually ‘hot’. Most are just warm whirlpools.
According to the Institue of Health Visiting, a baby’s bath should be 37°C to 38°C, which is actually a lot warmer than a cruise ship jacuzzi.
When we’ve stayed in holiday cottages that have hot jacuzzis that go as high as 40°C, the kids will sit on the side with their feet in. They just don’t like to go in water that’s too hot for them.
2. “Kids don’t know how to behave”
Behaviour is another biggie. One cruiser said “It’s the behaviour of some kids that is the problem”
Another pointed out that they avoid the main pool deck because there are “way too many kids playing in the hot tubs, jumping and splashing – not what hot tubs are for”.
Of course, nobody should ever be splashing anyone with water without their consent, it’s just rude.
And then there’s the issue of overcrowding, with one person saying “I have been on many cruises in school holidays and can’t get near a hot tub because there are 25 kids in there almost constantly!”
I sympathise with this. I’ve also been on adult-only cruises and not been able to go in the hot tub because it’s constantly full to capacity. So perhaps this isn’t to do with the age of the hot tub users? Just a problem with supply and demand?
4. “Kids spread germs”
One person spoke about how kids made the hot tubs unhealthy for other guests, and also put themselves at risk due to the germs from other people, especially as they had seen “lots of kids put their faces underwater” in the hot tubs.
5. “Kids should be supervised”
You should always be careful with kids around the pool area because, while most cruise guests are fine, you can’t trust everyone. As one cruiser pointed out,” “there was once a guy caught on a Carnival ship around the pool area with no bathing suit on – just a towel.”
He didn’t get into the hot tub (as the cruiser originally thought) but he was hanging around near kids. So just make sure you’re always supervising and looking out for creepy folk! You never know when there might be one.
Not everyone feels the same…
There were still plenty of cruisers who felt that kids shouldn’t be automatically banned from hot tubs – while a minority, it wasn’t just a handful of voices.
“Kids are people too and should be able to have fun and be respectful at the same time” was the response of one cruiser, who felt that banning kids from hot tubs wouldn’t be fair, as long as they were using them appropriately.
Another said, “My daughter is not childish when in public, she behaves and chats with other cruisers and I don’t believe she should miss out just because of her age”.
Adult supervision was mentioned often – “don’t ban them but they should have an adult with them” being just one example.
While several cruisers felt kids should be allowed to enjoy the hot tubs, it was unsupervised children that caused the most concern.
There were some unique cases too, such as one person who said “My daughter has a disability and can’t tolerate the child water in the main pool, she usually uses hydrotherapy pools so the hot tub is lovely for her.”
Adults-only limits must be enforced
It’s clear from the responses that one of the biggest problems with hot tubs is when kids are allowed to use those that are designated for adults only.
Cruise lines set aside some areas of a ship for adults to enjoy away from the kids and they should be enforcing those rules, but it seems like they aren’t, with entitled parents ignoring any signs or warnings.
One person even said “It’s why I won’t cruise again. Awful experience – brats all of them. P&O fault for not enforcing the rules.”
Best of the rest of the comments…
There were several other responses that maybe didn’t directly answer the question but I didn’t want you to miss out!
Several said that the problem with hot tubs wasn’t anything to do with kids but was instead all about the adults.
Some of the comments were things like “adults, please don’t have sex in the hot tub” or how irritating the “hogs that mark the hot tubs all day” are.
A few people also touched on people who drink in the hot tubs, risking spillages or perhaps even worse, as one person put it – “I watched a guy drink a bucket of beers once and not once did he get out of the tub. Iron bladder or…”
One cruiser commented on watching a woman have an actual bath in a hot tub, full-on washing herself!
And some people said that hot tubs should just be banned outright due to being an absolute germ-fest, with one person describing them as “vile and often like a human soup”. A nice thought to end on!
Here’s what I think!
My own view (as a ‘cruise mummy’!) is that kids should be allowed in the hot tubs, as long as they’re behaving properly and are supervised by adults. However, there should also be an option for adults to enjoy the hot tubs without kids, when they want to.
These could be the hot tubs in the adults-only areas of the ship (which could then be hotter, since there isn’t the concern about the safety of the temperature for kids) or it might just be certain times of the day that hot tubs are reserved for adults, maybe before 9 am and after 7 pm?
Of course, this would rely on cruise lines enforcing it, which they aren’t always the most reliable at. They set the rules but then will sometimes let things slide to avoid confronting guests, if they feel like nobody else is concerned and it’s not a safety risk
So, if you see someone breaking the rules and having kids in an adults-only hot tub, don’t be ashamed of having a quiet word with the crew and ask them to resolve it. If you are polite then they’ll definitely handle it for you.
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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.
With consumer demand for cruise vacations at historic levels, Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, has announced an order for three new ships for its namesake Carnival Cruise Line brand for a new class of vessel, at nearly 230,000 gross registered tonnes. The agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri provides for the design, engineering, and construction of these liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships, which will be delivered in the summers of 2029, 2031, and 2033, respectively.
Carnival Goes Big With New Class of 230,000 Ships
Mardi Gras in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic during her first-ever call during her maiden voyage.
“We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “For this next-generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE.”
With this order, there have been five new ship orders for Carnival Cruise Line announced in 2024. Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation placed its first newbuild orders in five years for two more Excel-class ships that will join the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in 2027 and 2028. The company also recently announced a series of strategic shifts to further optimize the composition of its global brand portfolio and to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, transferring a total of five vessels from sister brands to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet between 2023 and March 2025.
Doubling Down On The Growth
“We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc. “At this point, our newbuild pipeline is just one delivery in each of 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031 and 2033. We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year.”
According to Weinstein, this order will take the company’s overall measured capacity growth between 2025 and 2033 to an average of approximately 1.5% per year. “This gives us the headroom to strategically provide new capacity to the brands in our portfolio like Carnival Cruise Line, which provide outsized returns while continuing to execute against our responsible capital strategy, using our strong free cash flow over the next several years to improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce our debt, and continue to transfer value from debt holders to shareholders,” he said.
New Class To Hold Up To 8,000 Guests
With over 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in the Carnival Corporation global fleet and will be able to deliver fun to more guests than any ship in the world when carrying almost 8,000 guests at full capacity. Once delivered in 2033, Carnival Corporation will have a total of 16 LNG-powered ships – including eight Carnival Cruise Line ships – making up almost 30% of Carnival Corporation’s global capacity and delivering immediate greenhouse gas emission reductions. The new ships will also feature advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies to further reduce the company’s environmental footprint.
“We are excited to join forces with Carnival Cruise Line to debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built in Italy. We are proud of the role Fincantieri has played in helping Carnival Corporation secure its position as the world’s largest cruise company and look forward to continuing this success story together,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO, Fincantieri.
Design details and itinerary information for the new Carnival Cruise Line ships will be announced in the future.
This order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be completed later this year.
Booking a Princess cruise holiday isn’t as simple as picking a date, picking a room and then paying. There’s an added layer of complexity thanks to the different cruise fare options available, and choosing the right one for you is important.
They each impact what’s covered by your fare, and you need to make sure that you understand exactly what the price of the cruise is paying for, and how much extra you’re going to need to budget to pay for everything.
So, in this guide, I’ll take you through what you get with your Princess Cruises fare, what you need to pay extra for, and make it as easy as possible for you to work out how expensive your cruise will actually be.
Standard Vs Plus Vs Premier – An Overview
Exactly what you get included in your cruise depends on whether you choose a standard fare, or you upgrade to Plus or Premier.
Plus and Premier are packages that offer a wide range of extras for a set fee. Plus costs £50 ($60) per person, per day, while Premier costs £65 ($80) per person, per day.
Each cover your tips, a drinks package, WiFi internet access and more, with potential savings of up to 69% compared to buying everything separately.
However, you might not use everything within a package. If you’re not someone who drinks alcohol, or you don’t plan to use the WiFi, it’s important to price up what each element costs and decide whether it’s cheaper for you to upgrade to one of those fares, or stay with Standard and then add on the extras individually.
What’s Included in a Princess Cruise and What Costs Extra..?
1. Accommodation
Regardless of which cruise fare you choose to pay for, your accommodation is always included. Whether you choose Standard, Plus or Premier has no impact on the stateroom or suite you book.
You’ve got five main options when you book a room with Princess Cruises:
Interior – rooms without a window, always the cheapest option
Oceanview – rooms with a window
Balcony – rooms that have their own private balcony
Mini Suite – larger than a Balcony with a small number of extra perks
Suite – the biggest rooms, with a longer list of extras
You also have the option of choosing a guarantee cabin, where Princess Cruises will pick your cabin for you, or you can pay a little extra to choose the exact cabin you want.
Picking a guarantee cabin can save money, but risks you getting the worst cabins in your chosen class – an Interior room that’s a long walk from anything, or a Balcony stateroom with an obstructed view, for example.
If you pay extra for a Mini Suite, you’ll get a few extra benefits:
A separate sitting area with sofa bed and coffee table
A curtain to separate the sofa bed sitting area from the main bed
An extra TV
An enhanced bathroom with bathtub and massage shower
A luxury mattress topper and better pillows
Up to four chairs on the balcony (compared to the standard two)
A glass of sparkling wine when you board
If you pay for a Suite, you get a much longer list of perks. The best features include priority boarding and disembarkation, welcome Champagne, an upgraded room service menu and reserved dining areas.
On a Princess cruise, you’ll always be able to eat for free. You get to enjoy all your meals in the Main Dining Room, or you can eat casually at the buffet restaurant whenever it’s open.
There’s also an International Cafe serving lighter bites, and you can enjoy snack items from a poolside venue too, and none of these cost any extra.
There are some Premium Dessert options served in the Main Dining Room which cost extra – these are extra to the regular desserts.
If you’re a Plus guest you can enjoy two of these every day (surely that’s enough?) while Premier guests get as many as they want.
Then there are paid-for dining venues available too. These are split into two categories – Casual Dining, and Speciality Dining.
Casual Dining includes a range of different relaxed venues, such as Alfredo’s pizza, the Salty Dog Pub and more. These all have either a la carte pricing or a fixed fee, but they aren’t super-expensive – fixed-fee dining is $14.99 per person.
If you choose the Standard package, you’ll always have to pay for these. On the Plus package, you get two Casual Dining meals included in your cruise. On the Premier package, they’re completely unlimited.
Speciality Dining venues are more formal restaurants onboard, serving a range of cuisine. These cost more – typically around $29 per person for dinner.
Standard and Plus guests always have to pay for these, whereas Premier fare guests can enjoy two speciality meals during their cruise at no extra charge – the only exception is at the Chef’s Table Lumiere which is considered fine dining, and so will always cost extra.
Cruise Fare
Main Dining Room, Buffet, International Cafe
Casual Dining
Speciality Dining
Standard
Always included
Charged
Charged
Plus
Always included
2 included, then charged
Charged
Premier
Always included
Always included
2 included, then charged
3. Drinks
On a Princess cruise, you get eight different types of drink included as standard – tap water, lemonade, ice tea, hot tea, standard coffee, hot chocolate, milk, and fruit juice.
But you can’t get all of those from the bars – some are only available for free in the buffet, and some only at breakfast.
The rest of the day, you’re going to have to pay for your drinks. Expect to pay in the region of $7 for a beer, $10+ for a glass of wine or a cocktail, and $2.50 for a fountain soft drink, to give you an idea of how much you’re likely to spend onboard.
Like most cruise lines, you can also choose to pay for a drinks package. There are four you can choose from:
Drinks Package
Daily Cost
What It Includes
Premier Beverage Package
$84.99 per day + 18% service charge = $100.29 per day
All drinks up to a value of $20
Plus Beverage Package
$64.99 per day + 18% service charge = $76.69 per day
All drinks up to a value of $15
Zero-Alcohol Beverage Package
$29.99 per day + 18% service charge = $35.39 per day
Wide range of non-alcoholic drinks
Classic Soda Package
$14.99 per day + 18% service charge = $17.69 per day
Limited range of non-alcoholic drinks
If you choose the Standard fare, you can pick any drinks package if you want one – but you don’t have to. Remember that you can’t have a drinks package for just a few days, you need to pay for it for the duration of your cruise.
If you book your cruise with the Plus package, you get the Plus Beverage Package included. And the same with the Premier cruise fare – you get the Premier Beverage Package included.
Here’s what’s weird – the Plus and Premier packages are cheaper than buying the drinks packages separately!
There’s no catch – it literally makes zero sense to buy a Plus or Premier Beverage Package. If you want them, then buy the Plus or Premier cruise fare.
There are only two reasons that the prices could be weird in this way:
It’s an oversight by Princess Cruises (unlikely, as it’s been like this for a while)
Having the drinks package prices this much higher means they can claim bigger percentage savings for the Plus and Premier cruise fares
The Plus fare is advertised as saving you 57% instead of buying each bit separately.
The Premier fare apparently saves you 69%. But those percentages would be a little bit lower if the drinks packages cost less than the cruise fare packages.
A bit sneaky? Maybe.
Regardless – you need to work out whether a drinks package is right for you, and then budget for the package you want or for the drinks you’ll buy individually. My drinks package calculator can help you work it out.
4. Room Service & Ocean Now
Princess Cruises offer a room service menu with a wide range of food items you can enjoy. There’s a great breakfast selection, and plenty of snacks and simple food items served throughout the rest of the day.
There’s a $5 delivery fee every time you use room service, although this is waived if you’ve paid for the Plus or Premier cruise fares.
Princess also does something cool called OceanNow, which is essentially room service but for almost anywhere on the ship.
You might be sat by the pool, or in a bar, or in the theatre and decide you’re feeling peckish – just use the app on your phone and you can order food to be delivered to you.
If you want to use this, you’ll need to pay a one-off activation fee of $15 for your cruise but this is again waived if you’ve gone for the Plus or Premier cruise fare.
5. Entertainment
Princess Cruises offers a range of entertainment during your cruise, from Movies under the Stars on the pool deck to immersive theatre shows, live comedy, bar singers and so much more.
And it’s all included at no extra cost – you’re welcome to enjoy the entertainment in any of the venues no matter which fare you’ve chosen for your cruise.
However, there is one little catch. If you’ve paid for the Premier cruise fare, you get to enjoy reserved seating in the theatre for any production shows, meaning you’re guaranteed to get one of the best seats. Otherwise, you’ll need to queue up and hope you get a good seat.
6. Activities
There are a lot of activities available during your cruise with Princess, including organised sports games, leisurely swimming in the pool, fitness classes, cookery classes, casino gaming, shopping and more.
Some of these – the sports, the pool etc. are free and can be enjoyed as much as you want to, but most of the activities require you to spend your own money. You don’t get a casino budget as part of your cruise fare, unfortunately!
The only impact on activities from the cruise fares comes with the fitness classes. Plus fare guests get two free classes per cruise, while Premier fare guests can enjoy unlimited fitness classes.
7. Kids’ Clubs
Princess Cruises has a range of kids’ clubs that offer exciting activities throughout the day, and guests are welcome to use these at no additional charge.
Infants and toddlers under 3 must be accompanied by parents, but children aged 3 to 7 can stay in The Treehouse, while those aged 8 to 12 can enjoy The Lodge. There are also dedicated teen lounges too.
These are open into the evening, but then at night from 10 pm there is a charge for babysitting, and only for kids aged 3 to 12. It costs $5 per hour, per child.
8. Service Charges
There are two types of service charge that you’ll need to pay on your Princess cruise. The first are the daily gratuities, which cost between $16 and $18 per person, per day depending on which class of stateroom you have booked.
They’re included in the fare if you’ve chosen Plus or Premier fare packages, but anyone with a Standard cruise fare has to pay the gratuities separately.
The other charges are a set rate of 18% applied to any purchases of speciality dining, drinks, drinks packages, spa services and a couple of other features onboard.
If you get the Plus or Premier packages then the service charge is covered for anything included, but you’d need to pay it for anything you buy on top of that – so if you booked Premier, you wouldn’t pay the 18% service charge on the two included speciality dining meals, but you would pay it on any further speciality dining meals you paid for.
9. WiFi
WiFi is another feature which isn’t included on a Standard cruise fare, but that you do get if you pay for the Plus or Premier fare.
It costs from $24.99 per day for one device, but you can also get a four-device plan for $44.99 per day. The speeds are the same, it just affects how many devices you can connect.
The Plus cruise fare gets you the one device package included, while the Premier cruise fare includes a four-device WiFi package for your cruise.
10. Laundry
If you’re on a longer cruise, you might want to use the laundry services instead of packing enough outfits for every single day. Princess gives you two options, and neither are included in the fare – so make sure you budget for laundry if you plan on using it.
The self-serve laundry facilities are the cheapest option, but they take more effort. It costs $3 for a washload, $3 for drying, and you can buy detergent for $1.50.
If you’d rather have your laundry done for you, you can pay for the service instead. You’ll pay by the item, with the option for laundering or for dry cleaning. Expect to pay between $1 and $4.50 per item for washing and pressing, and between $2.75 and $11.50 for dry cleaning.
11. Flights and Transfers
The advertised cruise fares for Princess on their website won’t include your flights by default, but you can add them on through the cruise line if you prefer. If you do, you’ll also get your overseas transfers included too.
You don’t have to use the cruise line’s flights though. If you book via a travel agent, they’ll typically price flights separately and get you a better deal, or you can always book your own.
Just make sure you don’t forget to budget for (or book) your transfers from the airport to the cruise port, and leave plenty of time too. If your cruise port is more than half a day away, travel the night before and pay extra for a hotel so that you definitely don’t miss the ship.
Cruising from a port in your own country, like Southampton for UK guests?
Factor in cruise parking costs, or the cost of your coach or train to get to the port as well when putting together your cruise budget, as that won’t be included in the fare.
12. Shore Excursions
One last thing that you won’t get included in your fare – even if you book a Premier fare – is shore excursions.
If you want to go on tours when you’re in port, you’ll need to pay for them – either via the cruise line, or with a third party if you want to save money.
You don’t always have to. Some ports are walkable or there may be free shuttle buses to get you into the main town. Just be careful if you aren’t on a cruise line excursion – you have to make it back to the ship in time or you will be left behind.
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To Conclude
There you have it – everything you get included with your cruise fare with Princess, whether you choose Standard, Plus, or Premier, and all the extras you’ll need to pay for.
It can be tough working out what the best deal is for you, so try to work out what you would want to pay extra for, and then see if either the Plus or Premier fare offers better value. They definitely do if you want one of the drinks packages, but not everyone drinks enough to justify that cost.
At least now you know everything that will cost more, and it should be much easier to work out how much a Princess cruise will actually cost you.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
The best music cruises for 2027 include Cayamo, Sail Across the Sun and The Rock Boat for indie and songwriter fans, the 80s Cruise and Monsters of Rock for rock fans, The Jazz Cruise and Smooth Jazz Cruise for jazz, and the Country Music Cruise for classic country. Most 2027 music cruises sail from Florida between January and May, and many are full-ship charters that sell out early.
This guide lists the music cruises that have confirmed 2027 dates, with ship, departure port and genre for each, plus a few late-2026 sailings you can still catch. Dates come from organiser and cruise line announcements as of October 2026, so always check the official site before you book.
Music Cruises 2027 at a Glance
Here are the confirmed 2027 sailings in date order. Lineups change, and some organisers still list a ship as “to be confirmed”.
Cruise
Genre
Ship
Departs
Dates
Groove Cruise Miami
EDM / dance
Allure of the Seas
Miami
Jan 21-25, 2027
The Jazz Cruise
Jazz
Celebrity Summit
Tampa
Jan 17-24, 2027
ShipRocked
Hard rock / metalcore
Carnival Horizon
Miami
Jan 24-30, 2027
Smooth Jazz Cruise (two sailings)
Smooth jazz, R&B
Celebrity ship (TBC)
Tampa
Jan 31-Feb 7 & Feb 7-14, 2027
The Rock Boat XXVI
Indie / Americana / rock
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Feb 2-7, 2027
Jam Cruise 23
Jam band / funk
MSC Poesia
Miami
Feb 4-10, 2027
Country Music Cruise
Classic country
Celebrity Silhouette
Fort Lauderdale
Feb 7-14, 2027
Boots on the Water
Country
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Feb 7-11, 2027
Sail Across the Sun
Indie / alt-rock
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Feb 11-15, 2027
Cayamo
Singer-songwriter / folk
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Feb 26-Mar 5, 2027
The 80s Cruise
80s pop, rock & new wave
Mariner of the Seas
New Orleans
Feb 27-Mar 6, 2027
Outlaw Country Cruise 11
Outlaw country / roots
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Mar 5-10, 2027
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XII
Blues
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Mar 15-19, 2027
Cruise to the Edge
Progressive rock
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Apr 2-8, 2027
On the Blue Cruise
Classic & yacht rock
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Apr 8-15, 2027
The Broadway Cruise 4
Musical theater
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Apr 15-20, 2027
Underground Garage Cruise
Garage rock
Norwegian Jewel
Miami
Apr 24-28, 2027
Monsters of Rock Cruise
Hard rock / heavy metal
Norwegian Joy
Los Angeles
May 6-11, 2027
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska
Blues
Norwegian Jade
Seattle
Sep 14-21, 2027
Smooth Jazz Cruise (fall)
Smooth jazz
TBC
Quebec City to Boston
Oct 13-20, 2027
Most of these are full-ship charters, so everyone on board is there for the music. The cruise line runs the ship, while a promoter books the artists and sells the cabins. The biggest promoter is Sixthman, which runs dozens of festivals at sea each year, mostly on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Joy from Miami.
Best Rock Music Cruises for 2027
The 80s Cruise
The 80s Cruise sails from New Orleans on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas from February 27 to March 6, 2027, calling at Costa Maya, Cozumel and Belize City. The announced lineup includes Chaka Khan, Night Ranger, Loverboy, John Waite, DMC, Public Image Ltd, Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats, Stryper and White Lion, with original MTV VJs Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Downtown Julie Brown as hosts. Expect costume nights, a lot of neon and a crowd that knows every word.
Monsters of Rock Cruise
The heavy metal and hard rock favourite moves to the West Coast for 2027. Norwegian Joy sails from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, from May 6 to 11, with a Hollywood pre-party on May 5. It is one of the few big music charters that suits travellers from the western states without a flight to Florida.
ShipRocked
ShipRocked sails on Carnival Horizon from Miami on January 24 to 30, 2027, visiting Mahogany Bay (Roatan) and Cozumel. Nearly 30 bands are booked, including Papa Roach, Ice Nine Kills, Nothing More and Highly Suspect, and there is a free pre-party in Miami on January 23.
Cruise to the Edge, On the Blue and Underground Garage
Spring 2027 is busy on Norwegian Jewel. Cruise to the Edge (April 2-8) is the progressive rock festival at sea, On the Blue Cruise (April 8-15) focuses on classic and yacht rock, and Little Steven’s Underground Garage Cruise (April 24-28) is for garage rock and 60s-inspired fans.
Many music cruises stage full-scale concerts on the pool deck after dark. Photo: Maor Attias on Pexels
Best Indie, Folk and Singer-Songwriter Cruises
Sixthman’s three long-running sailings in this space all use Norwegian Jewel from Miami in early 2027:
The Rock Boat XXVI (February 2-7): the original Sixthman festival at sea, with a mix of Americana, pop-rock and up-and-coming acts.
Sail Across the Sun (February 11-15): an indie and alternative rock sailing to Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Cayamo (February 26 to March 5): a week of folk, Americana and singer-songwriters, calling at St. Kitts and St. Maarten.
These cruises have a loyal following and a relaxed feel, with plenty of small acoustic sets and artists mixing with passengers around the ship.
Country Music Cruises 2027
The Country Music Cruise moves to a larger ship, Celebrity Silhouette, for its 13th sailing, from Fort Lauderdale on February 7 to 14, 2027, with calls at San Juan and St. Maarten. Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Joe Nichols, The Bellamy Brothers and Neal McCoy head a lineup of more than 100 performances, plus a Grand Ole Opry at Sea show.
For a shorter trip, Boots on the Water sails from Miami to Nassau on February 7 to 11, 2027, while the Outlaw Country Cruise (March 5-10) heads to Key West and Ocho Rios for a rootsier, more rock-leaning crowd.
Jazz, Blues and Soul Music Cruises
The Jazz Cruise and Smooth Jazz Cruise
Entertainment Cruise Productions runs the two best-known jazz sailings. The Jazz Cruise departs Tampa on Celebrity Summit from January 17 to 24, 2027, and focuses on straight-ahead jazz. The Smooth Jazz Cruise has two back-to-back sailings from Tampa (January 31 to February 7 and February 7 to 14, both to Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman) and a fall Canada and New England sailing from Quebec City to Boston on October 13 to 20, 2027.
SOMMA with Dave Koz
For a luxury option, saxophonist Dave Koz hosts SOMMA on Silversea. The current sailing, “Jewels of the Adriatic”, leaves Athens (Piraeus) on November 6, 2026, aboard the all-suite Silver Nova, visiting Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar before Venice. Guests include Brian McKnight, Haley Reinhart, David Benoit and Jonathan Butler. No 2027 SOMMA sailing had been announced at the time of writing, so watch for news if you prefer a smaller, more upscale ship.
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea
Joe Bonamassa’s blues festival sails twice in 2027: from Miami to Grand Cayman on Norwegian Jewel (March 15-19), and a week in Alaska on Norwegian Jade from Seattle (September 14-21). The Alaska sailing is a rare chance to pair live blues with glacier scenery.
Jazz and smooth jazz cruises lean towards intimate lounge sets. Photo: Chevanon Photography on Pexels
Dance, Jam Band and Reggae Cruises
Groove Cruise Miami (January 21-25, 2027): the longest-running EDM cruise moves to Allure of the Seas, with a beach party at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. The 2027 sailing was listed as sold out, with a presale waitlist.
Jam Cruise 23 (February 4-10, 2027): George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Stephen Marley and moe. head this funk and jam band sailing on MSC Poesia from Miami, calling at Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise (November 11-16, 2026): Damian Marley’s reggae cruise sails on Norwegian Joy from Miami to Falmouth and Ocho Rios. 2027 dates were not yet announced.
Broadway and Other Music Cruises
The Broadway Cruise 4 sails from Miami on Norwegian Jewel on April 15 to 20, 2027, with stops in Cozumel and Great Stirrup Cay, and a cast that includes Patti LuPone and Darren Criss. If you want a broader mix of themes, such as food, comedy or TV fandoms, see our guide to the best themed cruises for 2027. Several music charters also attract a strong LGBTQ+ crowd, and you can find dedicated sailings in our list of the best gay and LGBTQ+ cruises for 2027.
A few cruises that used to appear on music cruise lists, including the Flower Power Cruise, the 70s Rock & Romance Cruise, the Soul Train Cruise and the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, had no confirmed 2027 dates that we could verify in October 2026. Check their official sites directly if one of them is your favourite.
How to Choose and Book a Music Cruise
Start with the lineup, not the ship. On a full charter the ship’s usual shows are replaced by the festival program, so pick the cruise where you like most of the bill.
Check what the fare includes. Many charters bundle concerts, gratuities, some drinks or taxes, while others do not. Compare like for like.
Plan your flights carefully. Most sailings leave Miami or Tampa, so fly in the day before. Organisers often run pre-parties the night before, which makes an extra hotel night worthwhile.
Know you are booking with the promoter. Charter cabins are generally sold through the organiser’s website, and the cruise line’s loyalty perks or onboard credits may not apply.
One thing many guides skip: music charters run to a festival schedule, so days are often quieter and the main sets run late into the night. If you are an early riser, a ship with lots of daytime acoustic sets and Q&As, such as Cayamo or The Jazz Cruise, will suit you better than an all-night EDM or metal sailing.
FAQs
What is the best music cruise for 2027?
It depends on your taste. Cayamo and Sail Across the Sun suit singer-songwriter and indie fans, the 80s Cruise and Monsters of Rock suit rock fans, The Jazz Cruise is the long-running choice for straight-ahead jazz, and the Country Music Cruise is the big one for classic country.
Are music cruises worth it?
For fans of the artists on board, usually yes. You see many acts in small venues over several days, often with Q&As and theme nights included, for a price that covers your cabin, meals and travel. If you only like one or two acts on the bill, a land concert is better value.
Where do most music cruises sail from?
Miami is by far the busiest port, as most Sixthman and NCL charters use Norwegian Jewel or Norwegian Joy from there. Tampa (jazz cruises), Fort Lauderdale (Country Music Cruise), New Orleans (80s Cruise), Los Angeles (Monsters of Rock) and Seattle (Alaska blues) are the other main ones.
When should I book a 2027 music cruise?
As early as possible. Popular charters often sell out months ahead, and Groove Cruise Miami 2027 was already sold out by autumn 2026. Many charters offer deposit plans and waitlists, so join the mailing list for the one you want.
Can I buy a music cruise through the cruise line?
Usually not. Full-ship charters are sold by the organiser, such as Sixthman or Entertainment Cruise Productions, not through the cruise line’s normal booking engine. Book through the official charter website or an agent it approves.
A large group of cruise guests were left behind in port due to a landslide blocking their private tour, and so instead boarded a different cruise ship in order to catch up, according to claims on Reddit.
Apparently, the group of 20 guests were enjoying a private tour in Skagway on their cruise onboard Discovery Princess, but the landslide meant that they were blocked and couldn’t get back to the ship before she was due to depart.
However, after presumably contacting the cruise line, they were able to speak to their counterparts at Holland America Line, who had the MS Koningsdam in the same port and following the same itinerary.
As the MS Koningsdam was departing after Discovery Princess, the guests were invited to board that ship for two nights until both ships reached Ketchikan, where they could be reunited with their original ship.
If true, it’s an amazing show of teamwork between two cruise lines – albeit two that are part of the same parent company, the Carnival Group.
It’s a much better option for the guests who can catch up with their ship without missing the beautiful views of Glacier Bay, and without having to pay for flights to reach the ship.
Well done to the staff and crew of the cruise lines and ships for sorting this out for the group – some quick-thinking saved a lot of hassle for those guests who otherwise would’ve been left with some serious headaches through no fault of their own.
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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.
NCL suite perks are worth paying for if you will actually use the butler, concierge and private spaces, and The Haven is the only tier that delivers a true ship-within-a-ship experience. A Club Balcony Suite is a nicer balcony cabin rather than a real suite, while Priority Access may be enough if a smoother boarding day is all you want. The right answer depends on the ship, your itinerary and the price gap on your sailing.
Norwegian’s perks vary by ship and category, and its suite and promotion terms change from time to time. This guide reflects information available in November 2026, but always check the current amenities for your exact sailing on NCL’s stateroom pages.
NCL suite perks compared
Feature
Club Balcony Suite
Suites and Penthouses (non-Haven)
The Haven
Butler
No
Yes
Yes, 24-hour
Concierge
No
Yes
Yes
Escorted on and off the ship
No
Yes
Yes
Private restaurant
No
No
On most ships
Private lounge, pool and sun deck
No
No
Yes, varies by ship
Welcome sparkling wine
Yes
Yes
Yes
Laundry
One complimentary valet laundry
Expedited dry cleaning and laundry
Expedited; free pressing in some top categories
2026 daily service charge
$20 per person
$25 per person
$25 per person
The Haven: is NCL’s top suite tier worth it?
The Haven is a keycard-access area on 15 ships as of 2026, with Norwegian Aura due to join in 2027. NCL lists concierge service, a 24-hour butler, personal escorts on and off the ship, and priority boarding, excursions, reservations and activity bookings. Depending on the ship, you also get a private bar, lounge, restaurant, pool and courtyard.
The biggest thing to check is the ship. Epic, Breakaway, Breakaway Plus and Prima class vessels have a Haven Restaurant, which is included for Haven guests and does not use up a Free at Sea dining credit. On the Jewel class ships, Jewel, Jade, Pearl and Gem, there is no dedicated Haven Restaurant and the courtyard is smaller.
Suite categories vary widely too, from Penthouses of around 309 to 418 sq ft to Premier Owner’s Suites of about 1,459 to 2,100 sq ft. Forward and aft-facing Penthouses are outside the main Haven complex, even though they keep Haven services. If you want to step straight into the courtyard, compare the deck plan first.
What the butler and concierge actually do
Your concierge deals with bookings: dining, shows, excursions, and practical arrangements such as tendering and disembarkation. Your butler looks after in-suite service. That can include arranging room service, setting up meals and handling small requests, though the level of service will vary. The butler’s time is included, although anything they bring may still carry a charge.
A private pool and sun deck are among the main reasons to book The Haven. Photo: Ahmet ÇÖTÜR on Pexels
NCL suite vs Haven: what you give up outside The Haven
Non-Haven Suites and Penthouses are NCL’s overlooked middle ground. Like Haven guests, you get a butler, concierge, escorted boarding and departure, priority reservations and a complimentary bottle of bubbly. NCL’s stateroom page also lists expedited dry cleaning and laundry and living areas with private balconies.
What you miss are the private spaces. You do not get The Haven’s courtyard, sun deck, lounge or restaurant, and you share the main pool deck with everyone else. Third-party guides also report breakfast and lunch in a designated specialty restaurant for suite guests, but that arrangement is not stated on NCL’s main stateroom page, so confirm it for your ship.
For couples who want more space and a helping hand, but who plan to be out and about, a non-Haven suite can be the best value on the ship. If you are still unsure how the categories stack up, our explainer on suites vs mini-suites vs balconies covers the basics.
NCL Club Balcony Suite perks
Despite the name, a Club Balcony Suite does not come with a butler, a concierge or access to private areas. NCL lists these benefits:
Dining pre-booking as early as 125 days before sailing
Treats delivered to your stateroom twice per voyage
One bottle of sparkling wine on embarkation
One complimentary valet laundry
A distinctive purple keycard
Upgraded linens, pillows and bathroom products, plus bathrobes
The perks are pleasant but modest. One 2025 traveler report put the upgrade at about $200 per person, though the premium depends entirely on the sailing. The category also pays the lower $20 daily service charge. Club Balcony Suites are not available on every ship, and NCL’s list excludes Norwegian Spirit, Star and Sun.
Is Priority Access a better deal?
If your main frustration is lines, NCL’s Priority Access may solve the problem at a fraction of the price. It is an add-on charged per cabin, and NCL currently lists these prices by cruise length:
Cruise length
Priority Access price per cabin
3 to 5 days
$129
6 to 9 days
$199
10 to 15 days
$279
16 days or more
$329
It includes priority check-in and boarding, priority tendering when applicable, priority debarkation at your home port, a daily room service breakfast, canapés on the second day and a $50 per person spa credit on eligible port-day treatments. It does not change your cabin, add a butler or provide access to private areas.
For a couple on a seven-night cruise, the $199 add-on is about half the cost of the $400 Club Balcony premium in the example above. If it is the priority perks you want, the add-on could be the better buy. If you want the bigger bathroom and in-room extras, the Club Balcony Suite may be worth the difference.
In-suite dining is one of the more useful services for suite guests. Photo: cottonbro studio on Pexels
Norwegian Cruise Line suite cost: what to budget
NCL does not publish a single price for its suites. One travel advisor’s 2026 analysis put Haven fares at roughly 4.3 to 5.2 times the price of an inside cabin on the same ship and date, so the gap can be significant. To get a fair comparison, consider these costs too:
Daily service charge: For two guests over seven nights, $25 a day comes to $350, compared with $280 at the $20 rate.
Butler tips: These are discretionary and on top of the service charge.
Free at Sea: This promotion is not automatic, and its inclusions vary by sailing. Compare it against our breakdown of Free at Sea vs Free at Sea Plus.
Extras: Drinks outside your package, extra specialty dinners, shore excursions and spa treatments are generally still charged.
Who should upgrade to an NCL suite?
A simple rule of thumb is to match the upgrade to how you will spend your time on board.
Choose The Haven for sea-day-heavy sailings, special occasions and multigenerational trips, particularly on a ship with a Haven Restaurant.
Choose a non-Haven suite if you want space and a butler but are happy to use the main pool deck.
Choose a Club Balcony Suite if the price gap is small and you like the extras.
Choose Priority Access if you only want to reduce lines.
Stay with a standard balcony on port-heavy or short cruises, where you will have little time to enjoy the extras.
Before you commit, check the deck plan for what sits above and below your cabin, and make sure its location does not appear among these Norwegian cabins to avoid.
NCL lists butler and concierge service for its Suites and Penthouses and for The Haven. Club Balcony Suites do not list either service.
What is the difference between an NCL suite and The Haven?
Both include a butler, concierge and escorted boarding. The Haven adds keycard-only spaces such as a courtyard, pool, sun deck and, on most ships, a private restaurant and lounge.
Are NCL Club Balcony Suites worth it?
They can be if the price difference is small. You get a few extras, including a welcome bottle of sparkling wine and one valet laundry, but no butler or private-area access.
Do NCL suite guests need Priority Access?
Haven guests already receive priority services, and non-Haven suite guests are escorted on and off the ship, so most would not need it. Club Balcony Suite guests can add it if they want shorter lines.
One quirk of cruising that you may or may not have experienced before (depending on your choice of cruise line, and how sharp your eyes are) is the way that many people like to hide ducks onboard.
It’s a huge community – thousands of people love to hide ducks around public areas of ships, or hunt for them. Often, they’ll come with a tag attached mentioning a social media group where you can post about your find, and then either keep the duck, or hide it again for someone else.
I know it’s not for everyone, but I think it’s a ton of fun, and so I spoke to Kelly May, AKA “The Duck Lady” from Cruising Quackers to learn more about the hobby and her passion for it.
Not a new phenomenon
Kelly described to me how it was in the build-up to a cruise that she first discovered the rubber duck trend, rather than when she was onboard.
She joined a Facebook group for the specific sailing in 2022 and was reading through the posts of people who were going to be onboard, and found someone posting about their plans to hide ducks onboard.
While this was new to Kelly, she did some digging and found that it’s something people have been doing for over 20 years…
“After doing a bit of research, I learned that people hide rubber ducks on cruise ships simply as a random act of kindness to make strangers smile. It has been going on for decades (someone reported finding one as far back as 1999), but has gained popularity with the rise of social media. In fact, there are a multitude of FB groups dedicated to the hobby, and over half a million duck hunters and hiders worldwide.“
Kelly was hooked before she’d even cruised, and quickly found a bundle of 30 ducks to pack into her carry-on bag to put to good use when she boarded.
That first cruise…
Kelly boarded the ship and had the perfect opportunity almost immediately – the first full day was a sea day. She filled her pockets with ducks and set off to have some fun.
.”..the ducks instantly brought out the silly child within us. We giggled at how we were trying to be so stealthy. Looking nonchalant while making sure the coast was clear, and with what we thought was the deftness of a magician, we used our best sleight of hand to hide our first duck in a plant.
Then we retreated to a table nearby to see what would happen.
Within minutes, a young boy of about 4 or 5 came running across the piazza, holding a rubber treasure in his hands, running towards his mom and yelling, “DUCK!”. The look of sheer joy on his face was priceless.“
From that point on, Kelly knew that ducks were going to play a huge part in her cruising future, and she said that while Alaska itself was amazing, it was the moments of “ducky delight” that really made the trip so unforgettable.
Convincing the reluctant
While Kelly took to the hobby very quickly, her husband wasn’t quite so sure at first. Describing it as “the silliest thing he ever heard”, he was far from convinced.
Kelly, husband Dave, and Captain Heikki Laakkonen onboard Sky Princess
But Kelly got him to join in on their next cruise, taking turns hiding the ducks on the ship. They witnessed a group of ladies getting excited over one of the ducks they found, and then saw a delighted toddler playing with their own new ducky friend, looking absolutely delighted.
It wasn’t until they were chatting with some other guests later in the day that Kelly knew she’d completely won her husband over, though.
“Later that day, we were in a lounge, talking to some newfound friends when Dave mentioned hiding ducks. The group came alive! Everyone wanted a duck. My husband, who had initially thought the idea was silly, was now enthusiastically sharing the joy of duck hiding with our new friends. He had become a full-fledged ‘Quackpot,’ spreading happiness and laughter wherever he went.
Seeing him transform from a skeptic to a passionate duck hider was heartwarming. It reminded me that sometimes the simplest, silliest things can bring the most joy and connection. Now, hiding ducks has become a special adventure we share, creating unforgettable memories together.“
The power of a duck
It may seem like a trivial or silly activity, to hide ducks or to give them out. But as many cruise guests know, it’s a lot of fun and can actually be a great way to boost someone’s mood, cheering people up with a little bit of light-hearted happiness.
And Kelly told me about one of the more memorable reactions to the ducks that she could remember:
“One time we were disembarking at a port, and we saw a young woman in the elevator bay with her parents. She was lying in a padded wheelchair, mostly staring blankly into the air. My husband asked her folks if it would be okay to give her a duck, to which they happily replied, “YES.”
My husband handed her a duck, and her smile grew HUGE. In that instant, we watched as this seemingly absent young woman became animated and full of life. She held up her prize and gleefully yelled, “DUCK!” showing it to every person she passed by.
It was one of the most touching moments we’ve ever experienced. The pure joy and excitement that little duck brought to her were truly heartwarming. Her parents’ eyes welled up with tears, and we couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion too.“
Cruising Quackers – born from a passion
Kelly enjoyed two cruises of hiding ducks before deciding she wanted something to show off her love for the hobby. And while there were plenty of t-shirts she could’ve ordered, they weren’t her style. So she designed her own shirt instead.
This sparked a lot of interest onboard, with strangers asking where they could get one. So Kelly made the design available online and it sold out immediately. She designed a few more shirts, and they were equally popular.
So, Kelly realised she had a business opportunity, and Cruising Quackers was born. Her website is dedicated to selling a range of apparel and accessories that duck-hiding fans can wear during their cruises.
It includes a wide range of clothing, including blouses, Hawaiian shirts, hoodies, t-shirts and even socks, and plenty of accessory options too such as tumblers, messenger bags, door signs and duck-themed shoes.
Plus, there had to be ducks available to buy too. And there are hundreds of styles available, ideal for hiding on cruises and spreading joy to other passengers.
“I often get ideas from fellow Quackers during our duck exchanges and through feedback in our Facebook group. Seeing what brings joy to others sparks my creativity. I also stay attuned to trends and themes in the cruising world and beyond, which helps me design products that resonate with our audience.
Moreover, my own experiences and adventures play a big role… For example, our ‘Cruising Quackers Duck Detective Agency’ T-shirt was inspired by watching two brothers on a duck hunt on the Lido deck calling themselves Duck Detectives.”
Kelly has several items that are among her favourites, including the “Get Lucky, Find a Ducky” t-shirt and the “Ahoy Ducky” tumbler, but her absolute favourite design is the Ducky Royal Blue Hawaiian, which features on her own blouse, her husband’s Hawaiian shirt, and several accessories she uses every day.
Hiding ducks – tips and tales
Kelly describes how each duck-hiding mission begins with the first step, which is choosing the right ducks for the cruise. Depending on the holiday or destination, she’ll select ducks that are themed and relevant among her batch, and then add tags that are personalised.
Then, when onboard, it’s time to hide the ducks. Kelly avoids shops, pools, hot tubs and bathrooms to prevent misunderstandings or accidents, instead focussing on places like elevators, stairwells, arcades, kiosks, gyms or other public areas that are eye-catching.
“We often start our mission during quieter times, like late nights or early mornings, when there are fewer people around. This makes it easier to hide the ducks without being spotted. As we explore the ship, we carry a few ducks with us, ready to seize any opportunity to hide them.“
Duck Hiding Tips!
Kelly offers these key tips and tricks for first-time duck hiders to help them get started:
1. Start small
Begin with a manageable number of ducks, like 20 or 30. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed, and you’ll get a feel for how the process works.
2. Personalise your tags
You can buy tags and fill them out by hand, or you can use free, customizable tags from the files section of the Cruising Quackers group.
Make sure your tags include essential information like “Keep or Hide, You Decide,” “#CruisingQuackers,” and “No shops, Pools, Hot tubs or bathrooms, Public areas only.”
You can also add your name, sailing date, ship name, and hometown for a personal touch.
3. Choose Your Hiding Spots Wisely
Avoid shopping areas, pools, hot tubs, and bathrooms to prevent misunderstandings or accidents. Don’t place your ducks anywhere that would be a safety issue to retrieve.
Stick to public spaces like small ledges, visible spots, or areas that blend with the ship’s decor. Elevators, stairwells, arcades, signage, kiosks, customer service desks, open areas, and gyms are great places to consider. You don’t have to make them overly hard to find; the joy is in the discovery.
4. Enjoy the Reactions
Watching people find the ducks is the best part. Whether it’s a child’s delight or an adult’s surprise, the joy and excitement make all the planning and effort worthwhile.
5. Engage with the Community
Join the Cruising Quackers Facebook group to share your experiences, get tips, and connect with other duck enthusiasts. You’ll find a supportive and fun community ready to help and inspire you.
6. Have Fun
Remember, the main goal is to spread joy and have a great time. Enjoy the process, and don’t worry too much about being perfect.
7. Keep an Eye Out
While you’re hiding ducks, also keep an eye out for ducks hidden by others. It’s a fun way to see how creative other Quackers can be and adds to the excitement.
8. Post Your Finds
If you find a duck, decide whether to keep it or rehide it. Take a photo and share it in the Cruising Quackers group with the tag information. This helps track the ducks and adds to the communal fun.
The duck-hiding community now, and in the future
Kelly has watched the duck-hiding community grow a lot since she first became interested, with even the cruise lines getting involved.
Royal Caribbean has held its own duck hunt, Effy Jewelry stores onboard ships sometimes hide ducks that can be returned for a prize, and John Heald even got his own custom duck made.
In March 2025 there’ll be the first ever Quack-tastic Duckers Cruise that will feature many of the most renowned duck enthusiasts from the world of cruise, with events including duck exchanges, classes on blinging ducks and more.
Kelly describes how, on every cruise, she arrangers her own duck exchange on the first sea day to swap stories and ducks, where she’ll also give out a Taste of Quack gift bag to newbies containing three ducks along with tags.
A duck exchange on a cruise
She’s gained the nickname of “The Duck Lady” thanks to her iconic clothing and clogs, and the community spirit she’s helped to build. It’s a nickname that she “absolutely loves” and she has made many cruise friends thanks to the hobby.
“One memorable exchange happened on a cruise to the Caribbean. I met a lovely couple from Australia who had traveled all the way just for the ducking fun. They brought beautifully hand-painted ducks, each one a tiny work of art. We instantly clicked and spent the rest of the cruise sharing meals, exploring ports, and of course, hiding more ducks together.“
She even uses ducks to thank the medical staff who look after her father, saying how they can brighten up their day and show some personalised gratitude for their hard work.
As for the future?
Kelly predicts even more innovation and imagination in the way ducks are designed, including with 3D printing, crocheted ducks, and even more ideas for painted or blinged ducks.
Kelly is happy to be involved in the community, helping people to get more creative. And she sees the duck trend spreading beyond cruises too – we’re already seeing events like rubber duck races, or cheerleading ducks or ducks placed on Jeeps. It’s only going to get bigger and bigger!
A huge thank you to Kelly May for taking the time to be interviewed. You can visit Cruising Quackers to order clothing, accessories and rubber ducks. Most products are available for customers in the UK, US and Canada, though rubber ducks are only available in the US due to shipping costs for now.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
The Carnival drink package, called CHEERS!, costs $69.95 per person per day when you buy it before your cruise or $74.95 onboard, plus a mandatory 20% service charge, so the real cost is about $83.94 or $89.94 a day. It covers up to 15 alcoholic drinks in each 24-hour period plus unlimited sodas, specialty coffees and other soft drinks, and every adult 21 or over in the cabin has to buy it. It pays off only if you will drink steadily every day, so do the maths before you book.
Carnival is moving its drink packages to dynamic pricing for sailings from December 1, 2026, so the price you see may vary by cruise length, itinerary and season. The rules below still apply. Here are 17 Carnival-specific tips to decide whether CHEERS! is worth it for you, and how to get your money’s worth if you buy it.
Carnival Drink Package Price and Rules at a Glance
Item
Details
Price before you sail
$69.95 per person per day + 20% service charge (about $83.94)
Price onboard
$74.95 per person per day + 20% service charge (about $89.94)
Alcohol limit
15 alcoholic drinks per 24 hours (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.)
Drink price cap
Included if the menu price is $20 or less; 25% off above that
Who must buy
Every guest 21+ in the same stateroom, for the whole cruise
Ordering
One drink at a time, 10 minutes apart
Not sold on
2-day cruises and charters
Under-21 alternative
Bottomless Bubbles soda package
These figures come from Carnival’s published CHEERS! terms as of November 2026. Always check the official CHEERS! page or your booking for the price on your sailing, especially after dynamic pricing begins.
Carnival Drink Package Tips: Buying and Pricing
1. Buy it before you sail and save $5 a day
Pre-purchasing online is $5 a day cheaper than buying at a bar on embarkation day. On a 7-night cruise for two adults that’s $70 before the service charge. Online sales close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern the evening before departure, and pre-purchased packages can be cancelled for a refund until 10 p.m. Eastern that same evening. Anything bought after that, including onboard, is non-refundable.
2. Always add the 20% service charge to your budget
The advertised daily price is not what you pay. Carnival adds a 20% service charge (it went up from 18% in late 2025). That charge counts as the bartenders’ gratuity, so you don’t need to tip again on included drinks, though extra cash tips for great service are your call. It is separate from the daily crew gratuities; see our guide to Carnival prepaid gratuities for how those work.
3. Watch prices once dynamic pricing starts
From December 1, 2026, Carnival says beverage and Wi-Fi package prices will vary by sailing length, itinerary and season. That means a summer week in the Caribbean may not cost the same as a winter short cruise. Check the price on your own booking regularly, and watch for limited-time bundles such as the “FunPacks” Carnival sold in October 2026, which combined CHEERS! with Wi-Fi, dining and excursion credits.
4. You pay for every day, including port days
CHEERS! must be bought for the entire voyage. You can’t buy it for sea days only, and you pay for port days even if you spend them ashore. On port-heavy itineraries, that makes the package harder to justify.
5. Check your homeport’s day-one rule
Because of state law, CHEERS! can’t be sold on sailings from Texas and New York until 6 a.m. on day two. Drinks on embarkation day are charged at menu prices, and the package covers only the remaining days. Factor that first-day bar bill into your sums if you sail from Galveston or New York.
6. Do the break-even maths honestly
Divide the daily cost (about $83.94 pre-purchased) by what you would normally spend per drink, including the 20% charge that is added to individual drinks too. The table uses example menu prices only; check current menus on your ship.
Example drink price (before 20%)
Cost with 20%
Drinks a day to break even
$10 (beer)
$12.00
About 7
$13 (cocktail or wine)
$15.60
About 5 to 6
$16 (premium cocktail)
$19.20
About 4 to 5
Count specialty coffees and bottled water too, since they’re included (see tip 10). If you’d only have a couple of drinks at dinner, paying as you go is almost certainly cheaper.
Most cocktails on the bar menu fall under the CHEERS! $20 price cap. Photo: Mohamed Olwy on Pexels
The Carnival CHEERS! Package Rules That Catch People Out
7. Every adult in the cabin has to buy it
If one guest 21 or over in a stateroom buys CHEERS!, every other guest 21 or over in that cabin must buy it too. Packages can’t be shared. Carnival has been known to consider exceptions in special cases, such as a pregnant cabinmate, so if someone in your cabin doesn’t drink, contact Carnival before you sail rather than assuming. Booking non-drinkers in a separate cabin is the reliable way around the rule.
8. Know how the 15-drink limit works
You can have up to 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period, reset at 6 a.m. Non-alcoholic drinks don’t count towards the limit. Bartenders can stop serving anyone who appears intoxicated, even before 15. For almost everyone, the limit is a ceiling, not a target.
9. One drink at a time, no doubles
The package allows one drink per order, with 10 minutes between orders. You can’t order doubles or share drinks. If you buy a round for friends who don’t have the package, one drink goes on CHEERS! and the rest are charged to your Sail and Sign account. Build in time at the bar before shows rather than trying to stock up.
10. Use the non-alcoholic extras
CHEERS! includes sodas, juices, smoothies, zero-proof frozen cocktails, energy drinks, milkshakes where available, and specialty coffees and hot tea in the dining rooms, specialty restaurants and coffee bars. A morning latte and an afternoon smoothie add real value on top of your evening cocktails.
11. Pick up bottled water at the bars
500 ml bottles of water and other non-alcoholic bottled drinks from bars and lounges are included and don’t count towards your 15. They’re handy for port days, when the package itself doesn’t work ashore.
12. Make the $20 cap work for you
Spirits, cocktails, beer, and wine or champagne by the glass are included up to a $20 menu price per serving. Above that, you get 25% off. You also get 25% off wine and champagne by the bottle and on beverage seminars, such as tastings. If you want a bottle of wine with dinner, CHEERS! cuts the cost.
13. Know what isn’t covered
Not included: bottles of spirits, drinks in souvenir glasses, drinks offered at the gangway, room service and in-cabin beverage programs, sharing drinks (buckets, pitchers, tubes), Enomatic wine machine pours, fresh-squeezed orange juice at the Havana Bar, and anything bought ashore. That includes Carnival’s own destinations, Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, so plan to pay for drinks on private-island days.
Specialty coffees are a hidden extra in the Carnival drink package. Photo: ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels
Is the Carnival Drink Package Worth It? Alternatives and Final Tips
14. Under 21 or not drinking alcohol? Look at Bottomless Bubbles
Bottomless Bubbles is Carnival’s soda package: unlimited fountain sodas and juices. Since April 2026 it costs $11.99 per adult per day and $6.95 per child, plus the 20% service charge. It’s bought onboard only, is non-refundable, and doesn’t include bottled water or specialty coffee. CHEERS! already includes everything Bubbles does. If you don’t drink alcohol but love coffee and smoothies, compare both against paying as you go.
15. Don’t expect it on a 2-day cruise
CHEERS! isn’t sold on 2-day sailings or charter cruises, so on a quick weekend getaway you’ll pay per drink. On 3- and 4-night cruises, check the price carefully. A short cruise with a port day and a private-island day leaves only one or two full days at sea to make the package pay.
16. Expect small tax charges on your folio
In US waters, state and local taxes are charged to your Sail and Sign account based on each drink’s menu price, not the package price. They’re small, but they explain why you might see charges for “free” drinks after leaving a US port.
17. Decide by drinking style, not by cruise excitement
The package suits guests who’ll have five or more cocktails, beers or wines on most days, plus coffees and soft drinks, and who want a stress-free bar tab. It suits less well light drinkers, port-intensive itineraries and cabins where only one adult drinks. For a wider look at how CHEERS! compares with other lines, read our guide to cruise drink packages compared, and check the common cruise drink package traps before you buy.
FAQs
How much is the Carnival drink package per day?
CHEERS! costs $69.95 per person per day if bought before the cruise, or $74.95 onboard, plus a 20% service charge (about $83.94 or $89.94 a day). From December 1, 2026, prices may vary by sailing length, itinerary and season.
How do you use your drink package on a Carnival cruise?
Pre-purchased packages activate when you board. Visit a bar to get a CHEERS! sticker on your Sail and Sign card, then show the card when you order. You can order one drink at a time, every 10 minutes, up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day.
What is the Carnival drink package limit per day?
The limit is 15 alcoholic drinks in each 24-hour period, reset at 6 a.m. Non-alcoholic drinks such as soda, coffee and bottled water are unlimited and don’t count towards it.
Is gratuity included in the Carnival drink package?
A mandatory 20% service charge is added to the daily package price, and it covers the bar staff’s gratuity on included drinks. It’s separate from the daily crew gratuities charged per guest.
Do all adults in the cabin have to buy CHEERS!?
Yes. If one guest 21 or over in a stateroom buys CHEERS!, all other guests 21 and over in that stateroom must buy it too. Contact Carnival before sailing if you think your situation merits an exception.
