Diplomacy

Over the last few months, a few stories about oversold Royal Caribbean cruises and tempting offers to impacted passengers have spread online.  Why this happens and what cruise lines offer is still a hot topic.

A recent discussion on social media has once again brought this to the surface as a future passenger with Royal Caribbean asks, “Should I be worried?” after receiving an email from the cruise line.

The Reddit user shared an email from Royal Caribbean about their July 5, 2025, sailing on Liberty of the Seas. The message gave an option “to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel plans”.

The option was to transfer to a different 2025 sailing and receive a 100% refund, if their travel plans were flexible.

Specifically, it offered a choice to transfer to a 2025 sailing departing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, and receive a 100% refund. Options included 9-Night Bermuda & Eastern Caribbean cruises on Liberty of the Seas departing in August, and 5-Night Bermuda cruises in September or October.

It also offered 7-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise options on Symphony of the Seas departing in August, September, or October.

The original poster immediately worried about potential overbooking and being turned away at the port, admitting they did not have flexibility to change plans.

Cruise Community Chimes in

But comments from the cruise community were quick to ease any worries. Comments like, “It says ‘if your plans are set in stone, please mark this e-mail as ‘read”…. That tells me you have nothing to worry about”.

Others echoed this sentiment, with one user noting, “Not one bit. There are always tons of people with flexible schedules who will take RC up on these generous reschedule offers in a heartbeat.”

So, why would Royal Caribbean send out such an email? And should cruisers who receive one be concerned?

Why They Do This

When a cruise line sends out one of these offers, it’s usually not about “overbooking” in the way you might typically think – like selling more tickets than they actually have space for. Instead, it’s part of a business strategy called yield management.

The main idea is to get the most out of every single sailing and make sure each ship is as full as possible.

Recent studies have shown that when ships are fuller, cruisers tend to spend more on average as well.  It’s a crazy stat, but the numbers have backed it up.

• Optimizing Cabins: Cruise lines want the right balance of cabin types. If a cruise has many standard rooms but high demand for suites, incentives can shift some guests. This frees up those pricier rooms, boosting revenue. As one user noted, they might be “trying to open up some cabins for parties of 3 or more.”
• Accounting for No-Shows: Just like airlines, cruise lines expect some cancelations or no-shows. If fewer people cancel than anticipated, or a cruise becomes very popular, they might be nearing full capacity. They ask for volunteers to move to avoid port issues.
• Spreading Out Demand: Alternative dates often fall during lower-demand times (like hurricane season)). Encouraging guests to move helps distribute that demand, keeping ships full year-round.
• Handling Unexpected Changes: Sometimes operational issues come up like maintenance or itinerary changes (the recent Labadee port adjustment). Offering alternatives helps manage any impact on guests smoothly.

Should You Be Worried? It Depends on Your Plans.

The clear takeaway is that if your travel plans are already set in stone, you truly have nothing to worry about. As one user explained, “They asked IF you have flexible plans – there’s no pressure to take the offer.”

Royal Caribbean is simply giving you an option, not a demand.  They’re counting on the fact that many travelers are open to changing plans, especially when there are some pretty generous incentives like a full refund and a new cruise waiting.

For those whose plans absolutely cannot change, just ignore the email. The fact that you already have a cabin number assigned confirms your booking is secure.

Ultimately, these offers are a clever business tactic by cruise lines to maximize revenue. They’re designed to benefit both the cruise line and, for those who are flexible, offer a potentially great deal on a future cruise.

Ten passengers from Silversea’s luxury cruise ship Silver Cloud were temporarily stranded on a remote Australian island Thursday after the tide changed faster than anticipated. 

Several Zodiac inflatable boats were stuck in knee-deep water, miles from the ship.  This left their tour group cut off from the main vessel.

What Happened

It all happened during a shore excursion on Adele Island, about 62 miles north of Western Australia. Passengers were exploring the uninhabited island as part of their 10-day Kimberley cruise when the tide shifted unexpectedly around 4:30 PM. 

This left several zodiac boats grounded in shallow water.

The stranded group was about four miles from their cruise ship when knee-deep water suddenly became too shallow for boats to navigate.  And while zodiac boats might look light, they can weigh up to 1,000lbs and can be punctured by coral if the water level is too low.

The Rescue

Ship crews successfully rescued about 60 passengers and 10 guides first, who had to wade 1,500 feet through coral reef to reach deeper water, according to some reports. The final 10 passengers and several crew members were rescued after high tide returned around 10 PM.

Some passengers received treatment for minor cuts from walking through the coral, but no serious injuries were reported.

Extreme Tides in the Area

The Kimberley region of Western Australia is known for its rugged beauty, but it has some of the world’s most extreme tides, with water levels changing up to 35 feet.

Adele Island is extremely isolated with no permanent residents, making rescue operations a bit tricky.

This Silver Cloud cruise advertised prices that started at $11,568 per person.  All passengers are now safely aboard, and the cruise continues as planned.

This ship is a luxury expedition vessel with the cruise line and the company calls it the first crossover ship in their fleet.

Current Status and Itinerary

Silver Cloud was last reported by AIS cruising en route to Buccaneer Archipelago, Kimberley, Western Australia, its next scheduled port of call for June 27th.

This incident occurred during a 10-day round-trip voyage from Darwin, Australia, which began on June 22, 2025, and is scheduled to arrive back in Darwin on July 2, 2025. Today’s stop at Adele Island was a planned highlight of their expedition through the stunning Kimberley Coast.

For many cruising parents, the kid’s club is a lifesaver.  It allows for some adult alone time while the children have a blast with all kinds of games and activities on board.

But a recent decision by one cruise line to introduce fees for making reservations at the kid center has sparked quite the debate.

P&O Cruises has begun introducing a new policy that will see guests pay a fee to pre-book and guarantee a spot in “The Reef,” the cruise line’s popular children’s club. This change, initially rolled out on the cruise ship Iona, seeks to provide families with more certainty, according to recent reports about the change.

Email Sent to Iona Guests

According to an email sent to guests, P&O Cruises is positioning this new service as a way to make it “even easier for you to plan your precious time away.”

The message emphasizes that “booking ahead gives you peace of mind that youngsters have their spot in the club,” allowing parents to “shape your holiday moments however you like,” including enjoying “peaceful spa treatments or romantic meals.”

Understanding the New Costs

Under the new system, booking slots in The Reef will incur a charge. Daytime sessions are priced at approximately $6.75 USD (£4.95), while evening sessions will cost around $12.20 USD (£8.95).

For a family with two children who opt to pre-book all available sessions, these fees could add up pretty fast, possibly adding up to around $52 USD (£38) per day on top of the standard cruise fare.

P&O Cruises has clarified that while pre-booking comes with a fee, a certain number of children’s club places will still be available for free, bookable onboard on a first-come, first-served basis.

Part of a Broader Trend?

This latest adjustment comes nearly a year after P&O Cruises introduced penalty fees for late cancellations (£5 / ~$6.80 USD) and no-shows (£10 / ~$13.60 USD) for pre-booked The Reef sessions.

Both the new pre-booking charges and the existing penalty fees apply specifically to The Reef, which caters to children aged 12 and under. The teens club, H2O (for ages 13-17), remains unaffected, as it operates more as a flexible hangout space without requiring reservations.

While the immediate rollout is on Iona, P&O Cruises has not yet provided a timeline for extending this policy to the rest of its family-friendly fleet.

P&O Cruises is a line that predominantly serves the UK market.  It should be noted that right now many competitors sailing out of the UK, such as Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line, typically offer complimentary kids’ club access without the need for advance reservations.

Passenger Reactions

Some parents are voicing strong concerns about the extra fee. “You would think charging £1700 for a 2-year-old would more than cover the potential two times we might use the service on board next year,” commented one Facebook user.  Another added, “This is a money making scheme… This could end up costing upto £500+ on a 2 week cruise which is madness!!!”

The feeling of “penny-pinching” is strong.  But beyond the cost, some felt that the fee makes it difficult to have a structure-free vacation. “On vacation, kids get tired and crabby. They may not want to go when scheduled. How does anyone know what they want to do on any given day?” commented one cruiser.

However, not all reactions are negative. Some passengers see the new fees as a logical step. “Becoming a fee for ‘additional’ services… which makes sense when you think about it… For passengers without kids why should they essentially subsidise the cost of funding the kids clubs?” said one hopeful cruiser on Facebook.

Another suggested that “since P&O do frequently offer free child/ 3rd,4th passenger for free, adding a small fee for child care perhaps isn’t as penny pinching as it sounds.”

It’s also worth noting that several comments clarified a key detail: “It’s still free if you book on board”, reminding everyone that the pre-booking fee is for a guaranteed spot.

Cruise ship cancelations are never fun to deal with, but dry dock issues can often be unpredictable.  In this case, Carnival Cruise Line is going above and beyond to compensate disappointed cruisers.

Carnival Liberty will not be returning to service as scheduled after its dry dock in Europe.  Recent changes have led to the unexpected cancelation of its July 6, 2025, sailing from New Orleans.

Guests booked on the now-canceled voyage received email notifications just 13 days before their planned departure date.

Unexpected Shipyard Shift Causes Delay

The change in plans is due to some reported labor issues overseas.  According to these reports there was a worker’s strike at the shipyard in Spain.

Carnival’s executive vice president of maritime and new builds, Ben Clement, went to Cádiz to negotiate with strikers, and now the vessel is at a different facility in France.

Carnival explained the situation in an email to impacted passengers:

“As you may know, Carnival Liberty is currently in dry dock in Europe for scheduled maintenance. This past weekend, we were forced to move the vessel to a new shipyard to complete our work because of a labor work stoppage at the prior facility. Regrettably, this situation will delay the ship’s departure from Europe by a few days, impacting its scheduled return to service, and we are sorry to inform you that your voyage has been cancelled.”

Satellite tracking data shows that the 3,756 max capacity ship is in Marseille, France, where another facility, Chantier Naval de Marseille, will complete the refurbishment work.

Compensation for Passengers

The canceled voyage was a 7-night Bahamas itinerary from New Orleans, with scheduled stops at Key West, Freeport, and Nassau. Carnival is offering the following compensation to guests:

• Full Refunds: All booked guests will automatically receive a full refund for their cruise fare, port taxes, and any pre-paid add-ons, such as gratuities, internet connectivity, drink packages, and shore tours. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment.
• Future Cruise Credit (FCC): In addition to the full refund, Carnival is providing a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) for the cruise fare. This credit must be redeemed no later than June 30, 2026, and can be used on any Carnival cruise, allowing guests to rebook on any ship, homeport, itinerary length, or sailing date.
• Airfare Reimbursement: Carnival will also reimburse guests up to $200 per person for non-refundable airfare or air change fees, provided supporting documentation is submitted for consideration.

While the specific updates being made to Carnival Liberty haven’t been fully disclosed, dry dock operations commonly include extensive hotel and public area upgrades, as well as the addition of new venues.

The ship last received an update in October 2021.

At this time, the Carnival Liberty‘s July 13, 2025, sailing – a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary – remains on schedule.

Carnival Corp (NYSE: CCL) just dropped its second-quarter earnings report, and it’s a huge beat for the company.

The cruise giant, which operates eight cruise brands, not only tripled its profit and hit record revenue numbers, but they also announced they’ve already hit their goals for 2026, a full 18 months ahead of schedule.

Just How Successful Was Q2?

Carnival’s latest financial results show a strong rebound and continued growth:

• Profit Soars: Carnival’s net income for the second quarter clocked in at $565 million. That’s an improvement of nearly $475 million compared to the same period last year, with adjusted net income more than tripling.
• Record Revenue: The cruise company pulled in $6.3 billion in revenue, setting a new Q2 record. This is up nearly $550 million from last year’s $5.78 billion, proving that passengers aren’t just booking cruises, they’re also spending once they’re on board.
• Beating Analyst Expectations: Analysts were expecting adjusted earnings per share of $0.24 and revenue around $6.21 billion. Carnival sailed past those estimates with adjusted EPS of $0.35 and revenue of $6.33 billion. The market clearly liked what it saw, with the stock seeing a significant bump in premarket trading.

Ahead of Schedule for 2026

Perhaps the most impressive news is Carnival’s “SEA Change” initiative reaching its goals far sooner than thought.

Carnival has surpassed its 2026 financial targets a full year and a half ahead of schedule. They’ve managed to boost how much money they make from each available bed on their ships by 52%, and they’ve more than doubled the return on the money they’ve invested, now over 12.5%.

These numbers are now at their highest levels in nearly two decades.

Strong Bookings and Future Outlook

The strong performance is backed by booming demand.

Customer deposits hit an all-time high of $8.5 billion, a clear indicator of strong future demand. Even bookings for 2026 are looking strong as well, matching 2025’s record levels and at historically high prices.

Carnival has also raised its full-year guidance for 2025. They now expect net yields (a key measure of profitability per passenger cruise day) to rise by approximately 5% from 2024, and adjusted net income is projected to grow by over 40% compared to last year.

While debt is still an issue from the pandemic era ($27.3 billion), they are actively managing it, refinancing nearly $7 billion of debt at better rates and improving their net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio.

Credit rating upgrades from S&P and Fitch also bring them one notch closer to investment grade.

Bottom Line

Despite recent backlash from a reward program roll out, Carnival is riding a wave of strong consumer demand and smart financial management.   The recent earnings report showed that demand is as strong as ever and the company hopes to continue to capitalize on that going forward.

This is a list of all the cruise brands under Carnival Corp & plc:

• AIDA Cruises (German market)
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Costa Cruises (Italian market)
• Cunard Line (Luxury, British heritage)
• Holland America Line (Premium, traditional cruising)
• P&O Cruises (UK market focus)
• Princess Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line (Ultra-luxury)

(Note: P&O Cruises Australia ceased operations as a separate brand in March 2025, with its ships transferring to Carnival Cruise Line.)

A new vessel is making a return to the more classic age of maritime travel, using the power of the wind with its huge 328-foot (100-meter) masts.

This groundbreaking ship, the Orient Express Corinthian, has recently debuted in France with an official launch. While its sheer size—722 feet (220 meters) long—puts it in the league of many traditional cruise ships, it’s officially the world’s largest luxury sailing yacht.

This 26,000 gross ton vessel is set to offer inaugural voyages in mid-2026.

This project comes from a partnership between the legendary train brand, Orient Express, and the French hotel group, Accor.

Another Vessel on the Way

The Corinthian is just the first of two vessels, with its sister ship, the Orient Express Olympian, planned for 2027, launching Orient Express into ocean cruising in a big way.

Accor Group’s Chairman and CEO, Sébastien Bazin, has stated the yachts aim to “reinvent movement and comfort on the water” while redefining what “ultra-luxury” means.

Luxury at Sea

The Corinthian was constructed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France. The yacht is designed for a very select group of travelers – just 110 passengers in 54 suites. The goal is to provide an exclusive experience, focusing on adventure and comfort.

The suites themselves are quite generous, ranging from about 484 to 2,475 square feet (45 to 230 square meters). Their interiors will feature materials like wood, leather, and marble, crafted by highly skilled artisans.

Some suites will even be two-story duplexes, and certain configurations can accommodate up to four guests, with special family-friendly voyages in the works.

The Orient Express Corinthian’s first sailings, starting in May 2026, will take guests along the French and Italian Rivieras, through the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas on two- to eight-night voyages.

Destinations like Monte-Carlo, Portofino, and Saint-Tropez are included. Exclusive shoreside experiences are also planned, such as private access to Pompeii or dinner at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice.

After its Mediterranean season, the yacht will sail across the Atlantic to spend the winter soaking up the sun in the Caribbean.

Powered by Wind and Cutting-Edge Tech

What truly sets this sailing yacht apart is the obvious: its sails.  The vessel has three towering masts, standing about 328 feet (100 meters) tall, supporting a total of nearly 48,500 square feet (4,500 square meters) of rigid sails.

This “SolidSail” technology, developed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, allows the yachts to be propelled by wind alone at speeds up to 17 knots. The sails can even fold up like an accordion when not in use, making them highly efficient. The design prioritizes true sailing performance.

While wind is the primary power source, there’s also a hybrid engine that runs on the latest generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for backup, with a future goal of using clean-burning hydrogen.

Sustainability is a focus too, with state-of-the-art technology applied to every system. This includes energy recovery from the engines, used to help power things like heating the onboard pools, and careful waste management practices.

For environmental protection, the yacht incorporates an artificial intelligence (AI)-based detection system to reduce the risk of mammal collisions.

A special dynamic positioning system also means they can hold their place without dropping anchors, protecting ocean floors from damage.

Onboard Amenities

Once onboard, guests will find five restaurants, including one by multi-Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno.

For relaxation, there’s a spa, two pools (one a 54-foot lap lane), a full-service salon, a barber, and a gymnasium. For entertainment, guests can enjoy a marina, a 24-seat cinema, and even an onboard recording studio. A bespoke suit tailor will also be available for custom fittings.

Bookings for the Orient Express Corinthian’s inaugural season are now open. 

Even rival cruise lines can step up to help each other out when it comes to the safety and well-being of cruise passengers. After all, not everything goes according to plan, especially with the many variables involved in shore excursions.

A recent shore excursion to Germany highlighted just that when an elderly couple was left behind, simply because they didn’t hear the time change for the bus returning to port. 

A Rough Start to the Day

For passengers on Norwegian Dawn, which is currently on an 11-day sailing from Stockholm to Copenhagen, things got a bit bumpy at the start of a shore excursion in Port Warnemunde-Rostock.

A Reddit user, who shared the whole story in a post titled “Shout out to MSC for helping NCL passengers”, stated,

“The weather was hot, our tour bus arrived late because they didn’t have one available so the tour company swapped out a city bus without AC or windows that open.”

According to the post, it was a 90-minute ride and people quickly ran out of water.

 “We drank up what water we brought with us. People were yelling to get another bus for the trip back and that we needed water,” the Reddit user recounted.

It’s worth noting that while cruise lines try to offer a great experience on shore excursions, they don’t typically own the tour buses used.  They partner with local operators.  And sometimes a bus is simply not available or has to be switched out at the last minute.

In this situation, the tour guide decided to move up the departure time for the way back but didn’t quite get the message to everyone.  That’s where the problem began for two cruise passengers.

An elderly couple, enjoying their time in the castle gardens, completely missed the memo about the schedule change.  They showed up at the bus stop before the originally scheduled time.  But the bus had already left.

The original poster said the couple tried to call the cruise line for help but were not able to get anywhere.

MSC Lends a Hand

But MSC Cruises also had a ship in port that day and was more than willing to help the couple out.

According to the post, when they saw the NCL couple stranded, they didn’t hesitate. MSC staff generously offered them a ride back to the ship and, just as importantly, gave them all the bottled water they needed.

“MSC was also in port, they had tours going and they took the couple back. Gave them as much bottled water as they needed too,” the Reddit user shared. “I have to thank MSC for taking care of NCL passengers when NCL wouldn’t.”

Community Comments

The whole story led to hundreds of upvotes and dozens of comments. Many praised the Reddit user for sticking up for the couple.

Others chimed in with their own frustrations about customer service when on recent cruises.

But ultimately, the story highlighted how important it is for people to help each other out, especially when traveling.  As another Reddit user shared from a different experience, “I would love to think that if I were in a situation like that someone would help out.”

What are the top 25 largest cruise ships in the world? With cruise lines continuing to build more mega ships than ever before, cruise ships continue to get bigger and bigger.

Cruise ships are measured by gross tonnage, a volume measurement of the internal space inside a ship (not to be confused with weight).  

The first cruise ship to ever break the 100,000 gross ton mark was Carnival Destiny (now re-branded as Carnival Sunshine) in 1996. There are now over 100 cruise ships 100,000 GT in size or larger.

Here is the current list of top 25 largest cruise ships in the world:
*Updated on 6/20/25

25. Tied at 25th are two Seaside EVO class ships with MSC Cruises: MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape.  These ships are about 170,412 gross tons and have a double capacity of 4,540.

23-24. Two more MSC ships tie again at the 23rd and 24th spot with MSC Meraviglia and MSC Bellissima (both in the Meraviglia class) at 171,598 gross tons.

22. The 2024-built Sun Princess is the first Sphere-class vessel with Princess Cruises and ranks 22nd with 177,882 gross tons and a double capacity of 4,320.

20-21. The fastest growing cruise line in the world, MSC Cruises, has another tie on the list with MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa, each at 181,541 gross tons.

19. Mardi Gras, Carnival’s first Excel-class cruise ship which entered service in 2021, is 181,808 gross tons and has a double capacity of 5,282.  This was the first ship to have a roller coaster on board.

17-18. Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Celebration are also Excel-class ships and are essentially the same in gross tonnage at about 183,521 gross tons.

16. AIDAcosma is 183,774 gross tons and is a Helios-class ship which is a sub class of Carnival’s Excel-class. AIDA Cruises is Carnival’s German cruise line.

15. AIDAnova is 183,858 gross tons, just slightly edging out its sister ship above.  Both of these vessels have a double capacity around 5,200.

14. In the Meraviglia Plus Class, MSC Euribia is 184,011 gross tons and it was built in 2023.

The next four ships are Excel-class ships from Carnival Corp.

13. Iona is 184,089 gross tons. Iona is operated by P&O Cruises, Carnival’s British cruise line.

12. Costa Smeralda entered service in 2019 and is 185,010 gross tons with a length of 1,106 ft. and a double capacity of 5,224.

11. Arvia is the largest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet at 185,581 gross tons and with a length of 1,130 ft.

10. Costa Toscana is 186,364 gross tons and the largest in Costa’s fleet. Costa Cruises is an Italian cruise line from Carnival Corporation.

9. MSC World Europa was the first World-class ship with the cruise line and was just the second class of cruise ships to be over 200,000 gross tons. The ship is 215,863 gross tons.

8. MSC World America, which just entered service in 2025, is slightly larger than her sister ship above at 216,638 gross tons.

The next six ships on the list are all from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class. This class of cruise ships first debuted in 2009 and forever changed cruising and launched the age of mega cruise ships.

These ships range from 226k gross tons to 236k and have a double capacity from 5,484 to 5,668.

7. Allure of the Seas is 226,637 gross tons and entered service in 2010.

6. Oasis of the Seas is 226,838 gross tons and was the first Oasis-class ship to be built for Royal Caribbean in 2009.

5. Harmony of the Seas is 226,963 gross tons and entered service in 2016.

4. Symphony of the Seas is 228,081 gross tons and entered service in 2018.

3. Wonder of the Seas is 235,600 gross tons and entered service for Royal Caribbean in 2022.

2. Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis-class ship with Royal and is the largest of its class at 236,473 tons. Another Oasis-class ship is scheduled for 2028.

1. Icon of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship in the world at 248,663 gross tons.  A second Icon-class ship is scheduled to arrive in August 2025 with Star of the Seas. This new ship is likely to assume the status of largest cruise ship in the world, but those exact details have not yet been revealed.