P&O Cruises has unveiled a new promotion giving guests up to £800 in onboard spending money on selected voyages departing from Southampton, as the line looks to boost value across its upcoming sailings through to late 2027.
The offer applies to new Select Price bookings made between 24th March 2026 and 1st June 2026 on eligible cabin grades.
It covers a range of itineraries, including cruises to Spain and France, the Norwegian Fjords, and Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands, with departures running between 1st June 2026 and 29th November 2027.
Guests booking under the promotion will be able to use the onboard credit across a variety of experiences during their cruise. This includes speciality dining venues, spa treatments, retail purchases and shore excursions, offering flexibility in how travellers enhance their holiday.
As part of a separate, short-term incentive, the cruise line is also introducing deposits from £20 per person on selected sailings. This applies to new Select Price and Early Saver bookings made between 24th March and 31st March 2026.
“This offer is all about giving our guests more freedom to enjoy every moment on board, and with up to £800 to spend – whether it’s dining in our speciality restaurants, unwinding in the spa or celebrating with your favourite cocktail – guests can shape their holiday around what matters most to them. Our focus is always on adding even more value to a P&O Cruises holiday and helping guests create unforgettable experiences at sea.”
Carnival UK & P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow
Example Canary Islands Sailing With Added Value
One example included in the promotion is a 14-night Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands itinerary aboard Iona, departing Southampton on 2nd October 2027. The cruise calls at Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Madeira, Cadiz and Lisbon.
Prices for this sailing currently start from £2,799 per person, based on two people sharing a conservatory mini suite. The fare includes the full £800 onboard spending money per cabin under the Select Price promotion. Cheaper cabins, with a smaller amount of spending money, are available too on the same sailing.
Check out that cruise >
Alongside this incentive, P&O Cruises continues to promote its all-inclusive packages, which bundle drinks, Wi-Fi and speciality dining credit. Its Classic Package is priced at £49 per person per day, with the line stating this represents a saving of up to 32% compared to purchasing each element individually onboard.
Understanding Select And Saver Fares
The onboard spending promotion is only available on Select Price bookings, which are P&O Cruises’ premium fare type and include a wider range of benefits compared to lower-priced options.
Select fares typically offer added perks such as the ability to choose a specific cabin, flexible dining preferences, shuttle buses in port where applicable, and priority access to booking shore experiences and dining. Promotional extras, such as onboard spending money, are also usually tied to these fares.
By contrast, Saver fares, along with Early Saver options, are positioned as more budget-friendly alternatives. These fares generally come with restrictions, including limited or no cabin selection and fewer included benefits. While they can offer lower headline prices, they are less likely to include incentives such as onboard credit or added-value promotions.
As a result, travellers considering this latest offer will need to opt for a Select Price booking to take advantage of the onboard spending money, balancing the higher upfront fare against the additional inclusions and flexibility.
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Carnival Cruise Line is facing a new personal injury lawsuit after a former Carnival Elation guest alleged she was hurt while travelling to a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas, and is now seeking to hold the cruise operator responsible in federal court.
Court records show Karolrae Knight filed suit against Carnival Corporation on 20th March 2026 in the Southern District of Florida over an incident that allegedly took place on 24th March 2025.
According to the claim, Knight had booked Carnival’s “Swimming with the Pigs: Express” excursion in Nassau, a tour sold through the line that includes a short boat transfer to Pig Beach and around 30 minutes with the animals. Carnival’s excursion listing describes the experience as an express option built around a quick trip out to meet the swimming pigs.
Instead, the lawsuit alleges the outing went wrong before the excursion properly began. Knight says she was seated on a bench with two other passengers aboard the small transfer boat when the seat suddenly gave way about 10 minutes after departure.
The complaint states: “KNIGHT was seated on a bench along with two other passengers. Approximately ten (10) minutes after departure, while waters were calm, the bench suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed.”
The filing continues: “The collapse caused KNIGHT to be violently thrown downward onto the floor of the vessel. KNIGHT nearly fell overboard into the ocean. The seating was not reasonably fit for its intended purpose and failed under normal and foreseeable passenger use.”
Passenger Claims Injuries Continued After Return To Ship
Knight alleges she was unable to continue with the tour and was instead taken back to Carnival Elation, where she was reportedly diagnosed by the ship’s medical team with a fractured tail bone.
The claim further alleges that her condition worsened after the cruise and that follow-up treatment ashore identified more serious spinal injuries, including a bulging disc and tear at L4-L5 and another tear at S1.
She is seeking damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and lost holiday costs, and has requested a jury trial.
The lawsuit argues that Carnival should still bear responsibility even though the excursion itself was run by an outside operator.
Knight’s legal team alleges the cruise line marketed the tour, sold it directly to guests and profited from it, while also failing to provide sufficient warning about the risks involved or clear enough notice that the excursion would be operated independently.
That point is likely to sit at the centre of the legal fight. Carnival’s own published shore excursion terms state that tours and related transportation are operated by independent contractors, not by the cruise line itself.
In its shore excursion FAQ, Carnival says: “All of the shore excursions, including any related transportation, are operated by local independent companies and they are solely responsible for their products, excursions and any related transportation.”
Carnival’s legal terms go further, stating: “Carnival neither supervises nor controls their actions, nor makes any representation either expressed or implied as to their suitability. Carnival sells tickets for all such services as a convenience to Guests only.”
Another Test For Cruise Excursion Liability
The case is the latest example of the legal tension around cruise line-run shore excursion sales, where passengers often book through the ship but the on-the-ground operation is handled by a third party.
Similar arguments are appearing in other recent filings involving Carnival. In one lawsuit filed on 26th February 2026, three Carnival Sunrise passengers alleged they were injured on a tender ride to Princess Cays and accused Carnival of negligence linked to bench safety and the handling of the boat in rough conditions.
In another case reported on 2nd March 2026, a passenger sued Carnival over a Puerto Vallarta excursion accident involving an alleged fall into an unmarked ravine.
Cruise lines have often relied on their ticket contracts and excursion disclaimers in defending these claims.
A January 2026 order in a separate Norwegian Cruise Line shore excursion case found that written disclaimers in the passenger contract and excursion paperwork defeated apparent agency arguments, underlining how important those terms can be once a case reaches court.
That does not decide Knight’s claim, but it does show the kind of legal issues likely to shape Carnival’s defence.
For now, the Nassau case remains at an early stage. What is already clear is that the lawsuit once again puts scrutiny on the gap between how cruise lines market shore excursions to passengers and how much responsibility they ultimately carry when something goes wrong off the ship.
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Disney Cruise Line’s special offers this week now extend into mid-September 2026 — with 62 different sail dates available from a variety of departure ports, including Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, San Diego, and Vancouver. Additional special offers are also available across the fleet for these sailings.
The Disney Magic has taken the fleet lead with 23 sailings (up 1 from last week’s 22), followed closely by the Disney Wish at 19 sailings (down 3 from last week’s 22). The Disney Wonder stands at 17 sailings, continuing its recent gains. The Disney Treasure is at 14 sailings (down 1 from 15), while the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are now tied at 7 sailings each—the Fantasy down from last week’s 11, and the Dream holding steady.
The Florida Resident rate dropped 4 to 8 sailings, the US Military Personnel offer dropped 1 to bring the total to 32 sailings, and the Canadian Resident offer dropped 4 to 39 sailings. The special bonus US Military offer for $250 onboard credit, announced in November, for select sailings in 2026 remains available. The Southern California Resident offer which returned last week after a 3 year hiatus has 8 sailings (down 1).
Finally, the extra savings for those with placeholder reservations where the standard 10% is applicable for some concierge levels on select sailings and a bump in the discount up to 25% off on select sailings remain active.
The special offers listed below are available to book today while inventory lasts.
Special Offers for U.S. Military Personnel
Special Rates for U.S. Military Personnel (MTO) are limited to 50 staterooms per category and sailing. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. To take advantage of military cruise rates, at least one adult in each stateroom must provide Proof of Military Service. Please note: This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. Valid for new bookings only.
Disney Dream
12-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia ending in Barcelona Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • At Sea • Messina (Sicily), Italy • Corfu, Greece • At Sea • Mykonos, Greece • Piraeus (Athens), Greece • Rhodes, Greece • Rhodes, Greece • At Sea • Valletta, Malta • At Sea
7-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona Barcelona, Spain • At Sea • Livorno, Italy • Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Naples, Italy • Cagliari, Italy • At Sea
7-Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona Barcelona, Spain • At Sea • Cagliari, Italy • Naples, Italy • Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Livorno, Italy • At Sea
9-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Barcelona ending in Civitavecchia Barcelona, Spain • At Sea • Messina (Sicily), Italy • At Sea • Piraeus (Athens), Greece • Santorini, Greece • Mykonos, Greece • Chania, Greece • At Sea
9-Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles Cruise from Civitavecchia Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • At Sea • Chania, Greece • Mykonos, Greece • At Sea • Dubrovnik, Croatia • Corfu, Greece • Valletta, Malta • Valletta, Malta
Disney Fantasy
5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Castaway Cay • Lookout Cay • Nassau, Bahamas • At Sea
Disney Magic
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea • At Sea
4-Night Pacific Coast Cruise from San Diego to Vancouver San Diego, California • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver Vancouver, Canada • At Sea • Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska • Skagway, Alaska • Icy Strait Point, Alaska • Ketchikan, Alaska • At Sea
Disney Treasure
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • St. Thomas, USVI • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • At Sea • Castaway Cay
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • Grand Cayman • Falmouth, Jamaica • At Sea • Castaway Cay
Disney Wish
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Castaway Cay • At Sea
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Castaway Cay • Lookout Cay • At Sea
Disney Wonder
3-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
3-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver Vancouver, Canada • At Sea • Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska • Skagway, Alaska • Juneau, Alaska • Ketchikan, Alaska • At Sea
Special military rates are available to retired and active US military personnel (and their spouses), including US Coast Guard, US National Guard and US Military Reserves. Members of the US National Guard or the US Military Reserves (or their spouses) must show active-duty orders dated January 1st of the previous year to qualify. Third and fourth Guest prices valid with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom. Rates may vary by sail date and category. Other restrictions may apply. Other categories and sail dates may be available. To take advantage of military cruise rates, at least one adult in each stateroom must provide Proof of Military Service. Active and retired members (or spouse) of the US military must provide valid identification at time of check-in. Valid for new bookings only.
Special Offers for Florida Residents
Special Rates for Florida Residents (FLR) are limited to 50 staterooms per category and sailing. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. Please note: This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. Valid on new and existing reservations.
Disney Dream
14-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise from Fort Lauderdale ending in Barcelona Fort Lauderdale, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea • Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal • At Sea • At Sea • Cádiz, Spain • Málaga, Spain • Cartagena, Spain • At Sea
Disney Fantasy
5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Castaway Cay • Lookout Cay • Nassau, Bahamas • At Sea
Disney Treasure
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • St. Thomas, USVI • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • At Sea • Castaway Cay
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • Grand Cayman • Falmouth, Jamaica • At Sea • Castaway Cay
Disney Wish
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Castaway Cay • At Sea
To take advantage of Florida residency cruise rates, proof of Florida Residency for at least one adult in each stateroom must be presented at time of check-in. Guests unable to show proper proof of Florida residency at check-in will have their cruise re-priced and the balance must be paid before being allowed to sail.
Proof of residency must be valid at the time of sailing, and includes the following:
Florida Driver’s License
Florida Identification Card
If you do not have one of the IDs indicated above, then you must provide one of the following—dated within the past 2 months—verifying a Florida residential address and your name, along with a corresponding, valid government-issued photo ID (such as passport, driver’s license, state identification card):
Monthly mortgage statement
Renter’s lease agreement
Current automobile registration, insurance policy or bill
Current homeowner’s insurance policy or bill
Current utility bill (power/phone/cable/water)
Mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings or investment account statements
Mail from a federal, state, county or city government agency
Note: property deeds and P.O. boxes are not considered acceptable proofs of residency.
Children’s rates are also available to Guests ages 3 through 12 that are traveling with 2 adults in the same stateroom.
Special Offers for Southern California Residents
Special Rates for Southern California Residents are limited to 50 staterooms per sailing. The offer is available to those living in a qualifying zip code—90000 to 93599—at time of check-in. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. To take advantage of Southern California resident rates, at least one adult in each stateroom must provide proof of residency. Please note: This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts, but is valid on new and existing reservations.
Disney Magic
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
4-Night Pacific Coast Cruise from San Diego to Vancouver San Diego, California • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
Disney Wonder
3-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico
3-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • At Sea • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico
4-Night Pacific Coast Cruise from San Diego to Vancouver San Diego, California • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
7-Night Mexican Riviera from San Diego San Diego, California • At Sea • At Sea • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico • At Sea • Ensenada, Mexico
To take advantage of this offer, at least one adult in each stateroom must provide valid proof of residency in a qualifying zip code—90000 to 93599—at time of check-in. If valid proof of residency is not provided at check-in, the non-discounted, prevailing rate for the cruise will be charged and must be paid by Guests before sailing; failure to pay the full balance due will result in cancellation of the reservation with applicable fees.
Proof of residency must be valid at the time of sailing, and includes the following:
California Driver’s License
California Identification Card
If you do not have one of the IDs indicated above, then you must provide one of the following documents—dated within the past 2 months—verifying your California residential address in a qualifying zip code (90000 to 93599) and your name, along with a corresponding, valid government-issued photo ID (such as passport, driver’s license, state identification card):
Monthly mortgage statement
Renter’s lease agreement
Current automobile registration, insurance policy or bill
Current homeowner’s insurance policy or bill
Current utility bill (power/phone/cable/water)
Mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings or investment account statements
Mail from a federal, state, county or city government agency
Note: Property deeds and P.O. boxes are not considered acceptable proofs of residency.
Children’s rates may also be available to Guests ages 3 to 12 that are traveling with 2 adults in the same stateroom.
Other categories and sail dates with other rates may be available.
Canadian Resident Rates
Special Rates for Canadian Residents with savings on prevailing rates as quoted on Disneycruise.com for non-concierge Verandah, Oceanview, and Inside Staterooms on select cruises. Pricing varies, the lowest priced category per person per night listed below. New sailings added this week are in bold. Proof of residency is required an you must mention the special offer code CAN when booking. NOTE: Offers may be applied to existing bookings if requested when calling in. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offer or discounts, or onboard credits.
Disney Fantasy
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Lookout Cay • At Sea
5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Lookout Cay • Castaway Cay • At Sea
5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Castaway Cay • Lookout Cay • Nassau, Bahamas • At Sea
5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Lookout Cay • At Sea • Castaway Cay
Disney Magic
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea • At Sea
4-Night Pacific Coast Cruise from San Diego to Vancouver San Diego, California • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
4-Night Pacific Coast Cruise from Vancouver ending in San Diego Vancouver, Canada • At Sea • At Sea • At Sea
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver Vancouver, Canada • At Sea • Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska • Skagway, Alaska • Icy Strait Point, Alaska • Ketchikan, Alaska • At Sea
Disney Treasure
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • At Sea • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • St. Thomas, USVI • At Sea • Castaway Cay
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • At Sea • Cozumel, Mexico • Grand Cayman • Falmouth, Jamaica • At Sea • Castaway Cay
Disney Wish
3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Castaway Cay
3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Castaway Cay • At Sea
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Castaway Cay • At Sea
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral Port Canaveral, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Lookout Cay • At Sea
Disney Wonder
3-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Ensenada, Mexico • At Sea
3-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego San Diego, California • Catalina Island, California • Ensenada, Mexico
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver Vancouver, Canada • At Sea • Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska • Skagway, Alaska • Juneau, Alaska • Ketchikan, Alaska • At Sea
The Canadian Resident rate excludes suites and categories with restrictions (VGT, OGT, and IGT). Proof of Canada residency will be required at time of check-in. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses are not included. If booking through Disney Cruise Line’s Contact Center, you must mention code CAN. Offers may be applied to existing bookings if requested by caller. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offer or discounts, or onboard credits. Offer valid for new and existing reservations.
Please note, the offers listed are not to be taken as official quotes. Prices and availability can change at any time without notice. More importantly, the deals listed above are a snapshot in time based on DCL’s online cruise search tool.
Last but certainly not least, I wanted to invite you to consider joining us on an upcoming DCL Blog Group Cruise! This summer, we are heading to Fort Lauderdale to sail to the Western Caribbean on the all new Disney Destiny. Click here to learn more out this group opportunity. We look forward to seeing you aboard.
Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled a scheduled October 2027 sailing of Carnival Splendor from Sydney after the vessel was fully chartered by a private organisation.
Guests booked on the 10-night voyage, which was due to depart on 12th October 2027, were informed of the change via email. The round-trip itinerary had been set to explore New Zealand’s North Island, with planned calls in Napier, Tauranga, Auckland and the Bay of Islands before returning to Sydney on 22nd October.
“We are very sorry to inform you that the ship has been chartered and your cruise has been cancelled,” the notification stated.
While the sailing itself will still go ahead, it is no longer open to the public and will instead operate as a private charter. Carnival Cruise Line has not disclosed which organisation has booked the ship, which is standard practice for such arrangements.
Rebooking Options And Refund Details
Passengers affected by the cancellation have been given the choice of rebooking or receiving a full refund.
Those opting to move their booking to another sailing will have their original cruise fare protected when selecting a comparable stateroom.
However, extras such as port fees, taxes and onboard purchases are not included in this protection. As an added incentive, Carnival is offering a $100 AUD onboard credit per cabin for guests who choose to rebook.
Alternatively, guests who prefer not to make new arrangements will receive a full refund, including any pre-paid add-ons, returned to their original payment method. Refund processing is scheduled to begin from 4th April 2026, although timelines may vary depending on individual banks or payment providers.
Limited Alternatives For Similar Itinerary
The cancellation may prove particularly inconvenient for travellers seeking the same itinerary, as similar sailings are limited.
Carnival Splendor operates a range of cruises from Sydney, from short three-night voyages to longer itineraries across the South Pacific.
However, North Island-focused New Zealand cruises are relatively rare. The only comparable sailing in 2027 departs on 3rd January, while most other 10-night itineraries visit the South Island instead. A further North Island option is available on 17th January 2028.
A 10-night South Island cruise scheduled for 6th November 2027 may offer an alternative for some passengers, although the itinerary differs significantly.
Travellers open to different destinations may find more flexibility, but options within the Carnival fleet from Sydney are limited. Carnival Adventure, which is also based in the city during late 2027, does not offer any New Zealand sailings.
Charters Continue To Impact Cruise Availability
Full-ship charters are a common occurrence across the cruise industry and can lead to the cancellation of previously scheduled public sailings.
Carnival Splendor has previously hosted a variety of themed cruises, including music-focused events such as heavy metal and classic rock sailings. These types of charters, along with corporate events and special interest group bookings, often secure entire ships well in advance.
Although the specific charter behind the October 2027 sailing remains unknown, the move reflects ongoing demand for exclusive cruise experiences that can displace regular itineraries.
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Carnival Encounter has arrived back in Brisbane, Australia, after completing a 17-day dry dock in Singapore that has delivered a major refresh across the ship, from a new exterior look…
Carnival Encounter has arrived back in Brisbane, Australia, after completing a 17-day dry dock in Singapore that has delivered a major refresh across the ship, from a new exterior look to upgraded leisure spaces, dining additions and fresh entertainment.
The 109,000-gross-ton vessel underwent her refit from 16th February to 5th March before setting out on a one-way voyage back to Queensland. She received a warm welcome on Friday, 20th March, as she returned to her year-round homeport.
Among the most visible changes is the addition of Carnival Cruise Line’s red, white and blue hull design, which has become a defining part of the brand’s fleet. The livery first appeared on Mardi Gras in 2021 and has since been rolled out across Carnival ships.
That marks a more substantial visual change than when Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure moved from P&O Cruises Australia to Carnival Cruise Line in early 2025. At that stage, the ships were rebranded in name, but their hulls did not receive the full Carnival treatment.
New Venues And Refreshed Outdoor Spaces
The dry dock has also introduced a number of Carnival favourites on board. Carnival Encounter now features Cloud 9 Spa thermal suites, giving guests access to saunas, steam baths and heated loungers as part of an expanded wellness offering.
Outdoor areas have also been upgraded. All five pools on the ship have been revitalised, while all seven whirlpool tubs have been replaced. The Twin Racer slides on Deck 16 have also been polished, aiming to give guests a smoother and faster ride.
Elsewhere, the ship’s basketball court has been resurfaced and fitted with new hoops and netting, adding another refreshed activity space for families and groups travelling together.
Dining has also been expanded with the addition of Bonsai Sushi Express on the starboard side of Deck 5, beside Cherry on Top. The venue adds more grab-and-go choice for guests, serving sushi, sashimi, salads, poke bowls and other light options.
One previously announced change is still to come. Carnival has already confirmed that the ship is due to receive a Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, though that part of the rebranding is not expected to be completed until early May 2026.
Exclusive Shows Added For Australia Sailings
Carnival Encounter’s entertainment line-up has also been refreshed, with two exclusive productions now featured for the cruise line’s Australia-based ships: “Rock Revolution: Summer of 69” and “Broadway Beats.”
The ship has also added “Dear Future Husband,” a show first introduced on Carnival Jubilee in 2023. Alongside those productions, guests will still find familiar onboard entertainment such as comedy performances, trivia, game shows and other interactive activities throughout each sailing.
Across the rest of the ship, passengers will also notice more Carnival staples in place, including the youth clubs, Fun Shops, Seaside Theater, and around a dozen bars spread throughout the vessel.
With the refurbishment complete, Carnival Encounter is now set to resume her regular programme from Brisbane. The ship offers sailings throughout the year ranging from three to 14 nights, depending on the departure date and itinerary.
Shorter cruises typically call at destinations such as Airlie Beach, Cairns and Willis Island, while the three-night break sailings operate as cruises to nowhere, focusing entirely on the onboard experience.
Longer voyages expand the schedule to the South Pacific, with itineraries including Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, often with multiple calls across those island destinations.
Carnival Encounter carries 2,600 guests at double occupancy and is supported by roughly 1,100 international crew members. With the Singapore overhaul now complete, the ship returns to service with a noticeably more Carnival-branded identity and a broader range of attractions for the Australian market.
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Virgin Voyages is preparing to make cruise history with the first-ever full fleet meetup at sea, as all four of its ships are set to converge in the Caribbean on 16th February 2027.
The landmark gathering, dubbed “Sisters at Sea”, will see Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady come together at a fixed point roughly 44 miles north of Nuevitas, Cuba, and 200 miles south of Nassau in the Bahamas.
The precise coordinates have been confirmed as 22°12’57″N latitude and 77°16’07″W longitude.
The unprecedented event is expected to bring together approximately 15,000 guests and crew members across the four ships.
“When we launched Scarlet Lady, we had a vision, and that vision was always four ships but one community,” said Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. “This fleetwide meet-up is that dream made real.”
Celebrations Planned Across All Ships
While full details of the onboard programme are still to be revealed, Virgin Voyages has confirmed that the occasion will feature coordinated experiences across all vessels, including a synchronised horn salute and simultaneous deck parties.
Me on Scarlet Lady
The adults-only cruise line, known for its energetic and unconventional approach to cruising, is also expected to introduce exclusive merchandise and one-off entertainment tied to the event.
“There are voyages, and then there are moments that are so epic they become lifelong memories. Sisters at Sea is the latter, and we have so much planned to blow your mind and make you laugh and cry with joy,” said Chief Marketing Officer Nathan Rosenberg.
“When those four ships are on the water together, and we hear the collective cheers from every Crew member and Sailor, it will be proof that nothing is more powerful than the community that loves and supports you and that we are better together.”
Four Sailings To Take Part
Only four itineraries will offer guests the chance to be part of the historic meetup, with voyages ranging from five to ten nights.
Scarlet Lady will operate the shortest sailing, departing Miami on 15th February 2027 for a five-night Bahamas cruise. Valiant Lady will leave San Juan on 13th February for a seven-night itinerary that includes calls in the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk.
Resilient Lady will also offer a seven-night voyage, sailing from Miami on 14th February with stops in Mexico and Bimini. Meanwhile, Brilliant Lady will host the longest sailing, departing Miami on 8th February for a ten-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that includes St Maarten, Tortola, San Juan, St Croix, Bimini and Puerto Plata.
Each of the four identical ships can accommodate up to 2,700 passengers alongside approximately 1,160 crew members, ensuring a significant gathering at sea.
In addition to the meetup itself, guests onboard will receive previews of upcoming deployments and future plans for the cruise line, adding further anticipation to the event.
Cruise Industry Meetups Continue To Grow
While full-fleet gatherings remain extremely rare, multi-ship meetups have become increasingly popular across the cruise industry for milestone celebrations and special occasions.
Carnival Cruise Line notably organised several ship meetups in 2022 to mark its 50th anniversary and has already outlined plans for further gatherings in 2027 as part of its 55th anniversary celebrations.
More intimate encounters have also captured attention. On 2nd February 2026, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 met the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, creating a symbolic “royal rendezvous” despite the latter having been retired since 1967.
Virgin Voyages’ upcoming Sisters at Sea event, however, stands apart for its scale and ambition, setting a new benchmark for coordinated experiences at sea as the cruise line continues to build its brand around community and shared moments.
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A major overboard scare aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas turned out to be a false alarm after crew carried out a full search operation prompted by what was later revealed to be a prank by teenagers onboard.
The incident unfolded on 20th March 2026 as the 226,838-gross ton vessel was sailing between Amber Cove in Puerto Plata and Fort Lauderdale during a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary that departed Florida on 15th March.
According to passengers, the ship altered course near Cayo Guajaba off the coast of Cuba after an overboard report was raised. Crew immediately initiated emergency procedures, deploying life rings and contacting the US Coast Guard for support while a search operation began.
The response lasted around 90 minutes, with guests onboard describing a tense atmosphere as word spread of a possible person overboard.
Search Called Off After Captain’s Announcement
The situation took a dramatic turn when the ship’s captain addressed passengers via the public address system at approximately 1:45pm, confirming there had been no overboard incident.
Passengers later reported that the alarm stemmed from a prank involving a group of teenagers. One account circulating on social media suggested the confusion began when a girl’s friends falsely told her grandmother that she had fallen overboard, triggering panic that quickly escalated into a full emergency response.
Following the announcement, the search was halted, the Coast Guard was informed, and Oasis of the Seas resumed its original course back to Fort Lauderdale.
Despite the disruption, the ship remained on schedule and was expected to arrive on 21st March as planned, with no reported impact to the itinerary.
Passengers Call For Consequences
The incident has sparked widespread criticism among passengers and online, with many calling for strict consequences for those responsible.
A knowingly false overboard report can divert significant resources and place unnecessary strain on both crew and rescue services.
“The only way cruise lines will get parents to actually parent is to become much more aggressive with the lifetime bans on the parents for the children’s behavior,” wrote one Reddit user.
Royal Caribbean’s guest conduct policy states, “Parents and guardians are responsible for the behavior and appropriate supervision of their accompanying minor(s) and young adult(s) throughout their vacation.”
While the cruise line has not yet issued an official statement regarding potential penalties, the situation comes as operators continue to emphasise appropriate behaviour during the busy Spring Break period.
False Alarms Highlight Serious Risks
Although false overboard alerts do occur, they are typically the result of misunderstandings rather than deliberate actions.
Earlier in March, a similar incident aboard MSC Seashore led to hours of disruption as crew carried out search procedures and conducted a full passenger count, requiring guests to remain in their cabins.
Incidents like these underline the seriousness of overboard reports. Cruise ships are equipped with advanced safety systems and strict protocols, and even a suspected case prompts an immediate and comprehensive response.
While genuine overboard situations remain rare due to modern ship design and safety measures, every report is treated as a potential emergency where rapid action can be critical.
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Norwegian Cruise Line is facing two separate personal injury lawsuits filed in March 2026, with passengers alleging negligence in unrelated incidents both onboard and during a shore excursion.
The claims, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, stem from incidents that occurred in early 2025 aboard Norwegian Escape and during a port call in Roatan, Honduras, involving Norwegian Joy.
The first lawsuit was filed on 2nd March 2026 by Donka Kennedy, who claims she was injured while sailing on Norwegian Escape. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on 31st January 2025 when she slipped on a transparent, slippery substance on Deck 16 near one of the ship’s swimming pools.
Kennedy was walking towards the Garden Café buffet when she fell, sustaining a fractured left femur that required surgery and ongoing physical therapy.
Her legal team alleges that the cruise line failed to properly maintain the area and did not adequately warn guests of the hazard.
The lawsuit also claims that crew members did not sufficiently inspect the high-traffic pool deck and failed to implement appropriate non-slip flooring or cleaning measures that could have reduced the risk.
Norwegian Cruise Line has not publicly commented on the allegations, and there is no publicly available evidence confirming the exact conditions at the time of the incident.
Pool Deck Safety Under Scrutiny
While Kennedy’s claim raises concerns about onboard safety procedures, pool decks are widely recognised as areas where wet conditions are difficult to avoid entirely due to constant guest activity.
Norwegian Cruise Line states that its ships feature American Red Cross-certified lifeguards, slip-resistant surfaces, and enforced safety rules such as prohibiting running and requiring children under 12 to be supervised.
However, the lawsuit argues that such measures were insufficient in this case. Additional details, such as what footwear Kennedy was wearing or whether other contributing factors played a role, have not been disclosed.
Norwegian Escape continues to operate as scheduled, sailing Caribbean itineraries from New Orleans through mid-May.
Shore Excursion Incident Leads To Second Claim
A second lawsuit was filed on 18th March 2026 by Kelly Damron, a former passenger aboard Norwegian Joy, following an ATV accident during a shore excursion in Roatan, Honduras.
The incident took place on 19th March 2025 during the “Buggy Eco-Adventure & Mayan Eden Park” tour, which involved navigating steep terrain in off-road vehicles.
According to the claim, Damron lost control of her ATV while attempting to pass a stalled buggy on a hill, causing the vehicle to overturn and land on top of her.
“As DAMRON attempted to safely maneuver around the stalled buggy, she began descending the steep hill and attempted to brake,” the claim states.
“Due to the steepness and dangerous condition of the trail, and the lack of adequate supervision or guidance from excursion staff positioned along the trail, DAMRON lost control of the ATV, causing it to overturn and land on top of her,” the claim continues.
Damron reportedly suffered serious injuries, including a shattered collarbone requiring surgery, multiple fractured ribs, lower back injuries, neuropathy in her legs, memory loss, and possible cervical spine damage.
Her lawsuit is seeking at least $250,000 in damages and includes multiple allegations, including negligence, failure to warn, and claims that Norwegian Cruise Line is responsible for the actions of the third-party excursion operator.
“The subject excursion was purchased by DAMRON through NCL’s excursion website. There was no sufficient mention in the advertisement or the purchase confirmation for the excursion from NCL that the excursion was being operated by independent contractors,” the claim argues.
The filing also alleges that the cruise line had prior knowledge of safety concerns linked to similar ATV excursions, citing passenger complaints, reviews, and previous lawsuits.
Wider Questions Around Risk And Responsibility
Together, the two lawsuits highlight broader questions around passenger safety and liability, both onboard and during shore excursions operated by third parties.
Excursions such as ATV tours are typically classified as high-intensity activities and require guests to acknowledge potential risks before participating.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s listings for similar tours in Roatan note that they are intended for physically fit and adventurous travellers and involve uneven or steep terrain.
At the same time, onboard environments such as pool decks remain challenging to manage due to their inherently wet conditions.
Both cases are likely to explore the extent to which cruise lines are responsible for mitigating these risks, as well as how clearly those risks are communicated to passengers.
As of publication, Norwegian Joy is sailing Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral before repositioning to Seattle for the Alaska season in May, while Norwegian Escape continues her scheduled voyages without disruption.
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The most beautiful cruise ports are the ones where the scenery starts before you step ashore: Geiranger’s waterfall-lined fjord, Santorini’s caldera, the Bay of Kotor, Sydney Harbour and Bora Bora’s lagoon top almost every list. If you judge the best cruise ports on looks plus practicality (where the ship docks, how easy the walk is, and when to go), the 12 below are the ones worth planning an itinerary around.
For each port you’ll find why it’s beautiful, whether ships dock or tender, the best viewpoint, the best months and which regions call there. There’s also a quick table, a list of sail-in moments worth setting an alarm for, and tips for seeing these places before the crowds arrive.
The best cruise ports at a glance
Port
Region
Docked or tender
Best months
Geiranger, Norway
Norwegian fjords
Floating pier or tender
May to August
Bergen, Norway
Norwegian fjords
Docked
May to September
Santorini, Greece
Eastern Mediterranean
Tender
April to May, October
Kotor, Montenegro
Adriatic
Docked or tender
May to June, September
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Adriatic
Docked (Gruž) or tender
May to June, September to October
Valletta, Malta
Central Mediterranean
Docked
April to June, September to November
Juneau, Alaska
Alaska Inside Passage
Docked
June to August
Quebec City, Canada
Canada and New England
Docked
September to mid-October
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
South Pacific
Tender
May to October
Sydney, Australia
Australia
Docked
October to April
Cape Town, South Africa
Southern Africa
Docked
November to March
Hong Kong
East Asia
Docked
October to December
We picked ports where natural setting or architecture is the main event, spread across regions so there’s at least one on most popular itineraries. Busy shopping stops and private islands didn’t make the cut, however good the beach.
Most scenic cruise ports in Norway
1. Geiranger
Why it’s beautiful: The Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with sheer walls and the Seven Sisters and Suitor waterfalls facing each other across the water. Where ships dock: There’s no conventional cruise berth. One ship a day can use the SeaWalk floating pier; the rest anchor and tender to a landing a few minutes from the village. Best viewpoint: Flydalsjuvet on the road up, or Dalsnibba at around 4,900 feet for the full view down the fjord. Lines: Most Norwegian fjord cruises from Southampton, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Kiel. Norway now requires small passenger ships in its World Heritage fjords to be zero-emission, with larger cruise ships following from 2032, so check that your sailing still includes the fjord. Our Geiranger cruise port guide covers tours and timing in detail.
2. Bergen
Why it’s beautiful: The painted wooden warehouses of Bryggen line the harbor beneath seven hills. Where ships dock: Most ships berth near Bergenhus Fortress, about a 10 to 15 minute walk from Bryggen. Overflow berths are further out. Best viewpoint: Take the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen and look straight down on the harbor and your ship. Best months: May to September, though bring a rain jacket whatever the month. For transport and timings, see our Bergen cruise port guide.
Many of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports are reached by tender from an anchored ship. Photo: Diego F. Parra on Pexels
Most beautiful cruise ports in the Mediterranean
3. Santorini
Why it’s beautiful: Ships anchor inside a flooded volcanic caldera, with Fira and Oia’s white villages lining the cliff rim above. Where ships dock: It’s a tender port. Under a 2026 local rule, at least 70% of each ship’s passengers tender to Fira’s old port, and up to 30% can land at Athinios for coach tours. From the old port, you either take the cable car or climb the switchback path of nearly 600 steps. What to know: Greece now caps Santorini at 8,000 cruise passengers a day and charges a per-passenger levy of €20 from June to September (lower in spring, autumn and winter), usually built into your fare or port charges. Best months: April, May and October, when it’s quieter and the levy is lower.
4. Kotor
Why it’s beautiful: Kotor sits at the far end of a winding, fjord-like bay ringed by limestone mountains, with medieval walls zig-zagging up the slope behind the old town. Where ships dock: Depending on size and berth availability, ships either tie up right outside the city walls or anchor and tender. Either way, the Sea Gate is minutes away. Best viewpoint: The climb of more than 1,350 steps to San Giovanni Fortress. Start early, because the steps are exposed to the sun. Best months: May, June and September.
5. Dubrovnik
Why it’s beautiful: A walled old town of polished limestone and terracotta roofs juts into the Adriatic. Where ships dock: Most ships use Gruž port, about two miles from the old town, so it’s a shuttle or city bus ride. Some smaller ships anchor off the old town and tender. What to know: Under the city’s Respect the City program, there’s a limit of two ships at the dock at once, roughly 4,000 cruise visitors, and calls of at least eight hours. Best viewpoint: The city walls walk (go as soon as it opens) or the cable car up Mount Srđ. Best months: May to June and September to October.
6. Valletta
Why it’s beautiful: Grand Harbour is ringed by honey-colored fortifications, with Valletta on one side and the Three Cities on the other. Where ships dock: At the Valletta Waterfront, directly below the city. The Barrakka Lift takes you up to Upper Barrakka Gardens in under a minute. Best viewpoint: Upper Barrakka Gardens, timed for the noon gun salute. Best months: April to June and September to November.
Best cruise destinations in North America
7. Juneau
Why it’s beautiful: Alaska’s capital is wedged between Gastineau Channel and steep rainforest mountains, with the Mendenhall Glacier a short drive away. Where ships dock: At downtown berths along the waterfront, within walking distance of shops and the Mount Roberts Tramway. What to know: From 2026, Juneau limits visits to five large ships a day, with up to 16,000 passengers on weekdays and 12,000 on Saturdays. Best viewpoint: The tramway’s upper station, or the Nugget Falls trail at Mendenhall. Best months: June to August. Our guide to the best time to cruise Alaska compares months for wildlife, weather and price.
8. Quebec City
Why it’s beautiful: The Château Frontenac towers over the St. Lawrence and the only walled city north of Mexico. Where ships dock: In the Old Port at Pointe-à-Carcy, a short walk from the cobbled lanes of Lower Town. Best viewpoint: Take the funicular up to Dufferin Terrace, then follow the boardwalk to the Governors’ Promenade. Best months: September to mid-October, when Canada and New England cruises coincide with fall color.
Lagoon ports in the South Pacific are usually reached by tender from ships anchored offshore. Photo: Popoy Dev on Pexels
Most beautiful cruise ports in the Southern Hemisphere and Asia
9. Bora Bora
Why it’s beautiful: A jagged volcanic peak, Mount Otemanu, rises from a lagoon in every shade of turquoise. Where ships dock: Ships anchor in the lagoon and tender to Vaitape. Bora Bora limits cruise visitors to about 1,200 a day, and French Polynesia turns away ships carrying more than 3,500 passengers, so this is mostly small and mid-size ship territory. What to do: A lagoon snorkel or motu beach trip. Best months: May to October, the drier season. Lines: Paul Gauguin, Windstar and premium lines on Tahiti and transpacific routes.
10. Sydney
Why it’s beautiful: Few cities match the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a backdrop for docking. Where ships dock: The Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay is a short stroll from the Opera House. Ships berthing west of the bridge use White Bay, which is a taxi or shuttle ride away. Best viewpoint: Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, or the Harbour Bridge pylon lookout. Best months: October to April, Australia’s main cruise season.
11. Cape Town
Why it’s beautiful: Table Mountain’s flat top hangs over the harbor, often draped in its cloud “tablecloth.” Where ships dock: At the Cape Town Cruise Terminal beside the V&A Waterfront. The main waterfront area is roughly 15 to 30 minutes on foot. For the city center or the cableway, take a taxi or the hop-on bus. Best viewpoint: Table Mountain by cableway (go early, as wind closes it), or Signal Hill at sunset. Best months: November to March, within the October to April season.
12. Hong Kong
Why it’s beautiful: Victoria Harbour’s skyline, backed by green peaks, is especially spectacular after dark. Where ships dock: Smaller ships use Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, steps from the Star Ferry. Larger ships go to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on the old airport runway, which requires a taxi or shuttle. Best viewpoint: Victoria Peak by tram, or the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade for the evening light show. Best months: October to December, when it’s clearer and less humid.
Sail-in moments worth being on deck for
In several of these ports, the arrival is the highlight. Check the scheduled arrival time the night before and set an alarm for:
Geirangerfjord: The last hour or so in from Hellesylt, passing the Seven Sisters waterfalls.
Bay of Kotor: The narrow Verige Strait and the islet churches off Perast, roughly an hour before docking.
Grand Harbour, Valletta: Ships pass between Fort St. Elmo and Fort Ricasoli, the fortifications almost close enough to touch.
Sydney Heads: The turn through the Heads and the first sight of the Opera House, usually at dawn.
Santorini: Sailing into the caldera with the cliff villages lit by early sun. Sail-away at sunset is just as good.
Hong Kong: Entering through the Lei Yue Mun channel into Victoria Harbour.
Forward-facing open decks and the jogging track usually give the clearest views, so claim a spot by the rail early.
How to see these best cruise ports before the crowds
Get off first, see the icon first. Go straight to the headline sight (Dubrovnik’s walls, the Kotor fortress, Santorini’s cable car) and leave lunch and shopping for later.
Tender tickets matter. At tender ports, ship’s tours usually go ashore first. If you’re exploring independently, collect tender tickets early or wait until the mid-morning rush clears.
Check the port schedule. Sites like CruiseMapper list how many ships are in port each day. A day with one ship feels very different from a day with four.
Consider shoulder season and small ships. Caps in Santorini, Dubrovnik, Juneau and Bora Bora favor smaller ships and quieter months, and the views are the same.
Two notable absences: Venice is still one of the best cruise destinations to sail from or near, but ships over 25,000 gross tons have been barred from the historic lagoon and Giudecca Canal since 2021. Larger ships now use Marghera or nearby ports such as Trieste and Ravenna. Royal Caribbean’s Labadee in Haiti, a former favorite, is closed through at least April 2028.
FAQs
What is the most beautiful cruise port in the world?
There’s no official ranking, but Geiranger in Norway, Santorini, Kotor, Sydney and Bora Bora are the names most often cited, because the scenery starts before you even leave the ship.
What are the most popular cruise ports?
By passenger numbers, Caribbean calls such as Cozumel, Nassau and St. Maarten, plus homeports like Miami, are the busiest. Popular doesn’t always mean beautiful, though.
Which beautiful cruise ports require a tender?
Santorini and Bora Bora always use tenders. Geiranger uses one floating pier plus tenders, and Kotor and Dubrovnik can go either way depending on ship size and berth availability.
Are cruise ports limiting ship visits?
Yes. Santorini, Dubrovnik, Juneau and Bora Bora all cap daily cruise visitors, Venice bans large ships from its lagoon, and Norway is phasing in zero-emission rules for its World Heritage fjords. Check your itinerary for any changes.
I love cruising, but I’ve always thought one part of the experience could be far clearer – tipping.
Not because tipping itself is a problem – but because the way it’s presented often feels half-hidden, vaguely explained, or quietly added on when you’re not looking.
For a first-time cruisers, tipping sounds simple: show appreciation for good service.
In reality, it’s layered, pre-charged, auto-added, bundled into packages, and sometimes framed as “optional” even when it doesn’t feel that way in practice.
It’s not uncommon for people to sail thinking everything is covered, only to discover a surprisingly large gratuities total on their onboard account near the end of the trip and an envelope on their bed requesting cash on top.
So, let’s pull back the curtain a little so you can understand everything about tipping – and make the right decisions to benefit the crew who look after you so well!
How Cruise Tipping Actually Works
Although each cruise line has its own wording, most mainstream cruise lines follow a very similar system when it comes to tips.
Automatic Daily Gratuities
Instead of relying purely on guests to tip individually, cruise lines add a fixed daily charge to your onboard account.
This is usually called something like:
“Gratuities”
“Crew appreciation”
“Daily service charge”
This amount is charged per person, per night, and it adds up quietly in the background as your cruise goes on.
You don’t hand money over – it appears automatically on your onboard bill in the same way drinks or excursions would.
The cruise line then pools this money and distributes it across various crew departments.
Who Those Tips Are Meant to Cover
The daily gratuities are designed to cover far more than just the people you see the most. While your cabin steward and your dining room team are included, the pool also usually supports:
Galley staff who prepare food
Housekeeping support teams
Laundry staff
Buffet and behind-the-scenes hotel crew
This is one of the reasons cruise lines push guests towards the automatic system – it ensures that the less visible crew are also included in the tipping structure, rather than only those with direct guest contact.
What’s less clearly explained is exactly how this money is split between departments and individuals.
Most cruise lines don’t publish the detailed breakdown, which makes it difficult for guests to understand where their money really ends up.
Prepaid Vs Onboard Gratuities
Cruise lines give you two main ways to pay these daily tips:
Prepaying Before Your Cruise
You can add gratuities to your booking in advance. This locks the cost into your holiday price and means you won’t see daily tip charges appearing on your onboard account.
Paying Onboard
If you don’t prepay, the cruise line will simply add the charges to your onboard account each day. You usually won’t need to do anything – it happens automatically.
The part that isn’t made especially clear in marketing is this: whether you prepay or not, the system assumes you will be paying these gratuities.
They aren’t something you actively opt into – they’re something you have to actively opt out of, and even that isn’t straightforward.
From a guest’s point of view, the confusion often comes from how cruises are sold:
They’re advertised as “great value” or “almost all-inclusive”
The daily gratuity amounts are often buried, not made completely clear
The wording makes them sound optional, even though they’re added automatically
If you don’t go looking for the information yourself, it’s easy to board thinking it’s all covered, only to feel caught off guard later.
What Cruise Lines Don’t Clearly Explain About Tipping
This is where most people get caught out. The information technically exists, but it’s rarely presented in a way that’s easy to understand unless you already know what to look for.
How Tips Impact Salaries
This is one of the most hotly debated parts of cruise tipping, and it’s where a lot of misinformation circulates online.
A common claim you’ll see on social media is that cruise lines use guest gratuities to top up crew wages – in other words, that the company pays staff less and uses your tips to make up the difference.
Cruise lines strongly deny that this is how their payroll works.
Carnival, for example, has repeatedly stated that gratuities given by guests are not used to reduce or replace a crew member’s contracted salary.
Brand ambassador John Heald has publicly described these claims as false and misleading, saying that tips go to the crew and are not kept by the company to fund wages.
What’s undeniably true, though, is this: on most mainstream cruise lines, crew members’ base salaries are relatively low (by US standards) and gratuities make up a significant and important part of their overall take-home pay.
Even if tips are technically paid “on top” of salary rather than instead of it, the reality is that:
Many crew contracts are designed with gratuities in mind
The expected income from tips is baked into how attractive (or not) the base wages are
If large numbers of guests removed or stopped paying gratuities, many crew members would see a meaningful drop in their real-world earnings
That’s the uncomfortable grey area cruise lines don’t tend to explain very clearly. They deny using tips to replace wages – but they also rarely advertise just how heavily many roles rely on gratuities to make the job financially viable.
For guests, the key point is this: whether structurally “on top” or not, gratuities are not a small bonus to many crew members. They are a core part of what makes the job workable.
Cruise lines often describe daily gratuities as “discretionary” or “optional”. That wording sounds reassuring – but the reality is a bit different.
On most mainstream cruise lines:
The tips are added to your account automatically.
You don’t actively opt in – they’re just there.
If you want to change or remove them, you usually have to visit Guest Services and ask.
In practice, that can mean queueing, explaining your reasons, and feeling uncomfortable about it. Some cruise lines have made the process more difficult over time, asking guests to justify changes or, in certain cases, directing them to contact the cruise line after the sailing instead.
The end result is that although the tips are described as “optional”, the system is designed around the assumption that almost everyone will pay them.
Drink Packages Aren’t Tip-Free
One of the most common misconceptions is that buying a drinks package means tipping isn’t an issue anymore.
In reality, gratuities are very much built into that part of the experience too.
Depending on the cruise line:
An automatic service charge (often around 15–20%) is added when you buy the drinks package.
The same type of charge can apply to speciality dining, spa services and salon treatments.
If you don’t buy a package and pay per drink, gratuities are usually added to each purchase.
So while you may not be handing over cash at the bar, you’re still tipping – it just happens invisibly in the background. Cruise lines rarely highlight this in their marketing for packages, which is why so many people are surprised when they see the charges.
Why It’s Usually Cheaper to Prepay Gratuities Early
This is something cruise lines almost never shout about, even though it can make a real difference to your budget.
Many cruise lines increase their gratuity rates over time – typically once every 12-18 months.
If you prepay your gratuities when you book, or at least well before your cruise, you usually lock in the current rate.
That means:
If the cruise line increases the daily gratuities later, you’re protected.
You won’t be charged the new, higher rate onboard.
If you wait and let the tips be added during the cruise instead, you normally pay whatever the rate is at the time you sail, not the rate that applied when you booked.
It’s one of the few areas where booking early can genuinely save money, yet it’s rarely promoted clearly because higher gratuities benefit the cruise line’s overall pricing structure.
Cash Tipping Still Exists
Even with automatic gratuities and service charges, there’s still an unspoken culture of cash tipping in certain situations.
This commonly includes:
Cabin stewards who give particularly good service
Dining staff in speciality restaurants
Butler or concierge staff in suite areas
Spa staff and excursion guides
Room service delivery
The cruise line messaging tends to imply that everything is “taken care of”, but onboard reality can feel a bit different. It’s not usually mandatory, but it’s still very much part of cruise culture.
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Should You Tip Extra?
This is where it gets personal, and there isn’t one right answer.
When Tipping Extra Makes Sense
Extra tipping can be a thoughtful gesture when:
A crew member goes well beyond what’s expected
Someone makes a special effort for dietary needs or accessibility
Staff help make a celebration, anniversary or birthday genuinely memorable
You’re on a private or small-group shore excursion
In these cases, extra cash isn’t about obligation – it’s about recognition.
You don’t have to tip extra (you never HAVE to) but a lot of people feel like these are the situations that would justify an extra tip, if you wanted to.
When You Don’t Need to Feel Guilty for Not Tipping Extra
It’s also perfectly reasonable not to “double tip” when:
You’ve already paid substantial daily gratuities.
Service charges have already been added to spa, salon or dining bills.
You’re sailing with a truly all-inclusive luxury line.
You’re not being stingy by trusting that the systems in place have already covered the basics.
The Cultural Side of Things
Cruises attract guests from all over the world. Tipping expectations are different depending on where you’re travelling from.
Cruise lines often expect US-style tipping behaviour, even though many guests are more familiar with European models where service is built into prices. A lot of confusion comes from that cultural clash.
But there are British cruise lines like P&O Cruises and Marella Cruises where no tipping is expected, because of the culture.
MSC Cruises are a global brand that have different models, depending on where you’re sailing. Cruising in Europe? No tip needed. Sailing the Caribbean from a US port? Automatic gratuities will apply.
How to Tip Smart on a Cruise
There are a number of ways you can make sure you thank the people who need it, without causing yourself any unnecessary stress.
Set a simple tipping budget
Before you sail:
Look up your cruise line’s daily gratuity.
Multiply it by the number of nights and people.
Add a small buffer for occasional cash tips.
Once you’ve done this, anything extra becomes a choice rather than a surprise.
And if you don’t have the budget for extra cash tips – cruises are expensive sometimes – then don’t stress over it!
Decide Whether to Prepay Or Pay Onboard
There’s no moral right or wrong here, just practical differences:
Prepay if you:
Like predictable costs.
Want to lock in the current rate before possible increases.
Prefer not to see daily charges stacking up onboard.
Pay onboard if you:
Want flexibility (depending on the line’s policies).
Prefer to keep everything in one final bill.
Carry Small Amounts of Cash
Even in a fairly cash-free cruise environment, it helps to have small notes in local currency.
These are useful for porters, guides, drivers and staff who fall outside the normal tipping pool.
There are cash machines/ATMs on most cruise ships but they’ll often have a minimum withdrawal amount of $50. And Guest Services can’t/won’t always break a note for you. So try not to forget this or, if you feel you want to leave a cash tip, it might end up being $50 at least.
If you’re already paying daily gratuities, your cash tips don’t need to be random or constant.
They’re most meaningful when used for genuinely exceptional service, or for people who make your holiday noticeably easier or better.
What Crew Members Really Think About Tips
This is where the subject becomes more serious.
For many crew members on mainstream cruise lines, their base wages are relatively low. So, gratuities make up a significant part of their overall income.
Because tips are often pooled, your daily gratuities don’t just reward one person – they support a larger ecosystem of staff you never see.
The downside is that this system is not always transparent. Guests rarely know exactly how the money is divided, and crew members aren’t usually able to talk openly about it.
What’s clear is this: when guests remove all gratuities as a protest against the cruise line, it often affects the crew far more than the company.
That doesn’t mean guests should feel forced into tipping. It does mean the system is more complex – and more human – than it first appears.
In theory, sometimes. In practice, the entire pay structure for many crew assumes that most guests will pay the automatic gratuities. So yes, technically it’s optional, but if everyone treated it that way, cruise lines would struggle to retain those fantastic crew members.
“If I buy a drinks package, tips are covered”
They are – but usually through automatic service charges that are already built into what you paid. Still, a couple of small additional tips for bartenders can make all the difference for how good the service is.
“The crew are already well paid”
On most mainstream lines, tips are not really a bonus. They’re a core part of income, even if ‘technically’ that’s not the case.
You don’t have to. But small, thoughtful tips are usually welcomed, even on lines that say they aren’t necessary.
“Only Americans bother tipping”
Cruises are international. Once people understand the system, tipping habits tend to converge more than you’d expect. Yes, there’s more of a tipping culture amongst US guests, but most people are happy to pay the automatic gratuities, and tip a little extra if they feel it’s warranted.
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Final Thoughts
I’m not against tipping, quite the opposite. I’m not even against automatic gratuities. What I am against is confusion and surprise.
Cruising should feel relaxing, not like you’re constantly trying to decode what’s really included and what isn’t. Once you understand how tipping works, it becomes much easier to budget properly, make fair choices, and feel good about rewarding great service.
My approach is simple: plan for the automatic gratuities, tip extra when someone genuinely deserves it, and never feel pressured into tipping blindly.
If nothing else, knowing what cruise lines don’t always say out loud helps you stay in control of your holiday – and that’s how it should be.
