Diplomacy

Many people take cruises to get away from it all and escape the pressures of life for a while. But one would-be cruise passenger was not able to find the “escape” she was looking for, as Karen Bryan, 64, was taken into custody before her cruise even began.

Bryan was wanted for the alleged embezzlement of thousands of dollars from a local church in Laramie County, Wyoming, and apprehended in Alaska while attempting to board a cruise ship.

The exact ship and cruise line have not been disclosed by the Sheriff’s Office, but the entire operation involved coordinated efforts between states.

The arrest was worked out between Alaska authorities and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, and news of the arrest made waves when Sheriff Brian Kozak posted a Facebook video explaining the incident.

While specific details regarding the church involved or the exact amount of money allegedly embezzled haven’t been released by the Sheriff’s Office, the update showed the cooperation that led to Bryan’s capture far from Wyoming.

“Our deputies are responsible for picking up wanted fugitives throughout the United States,” Sheriff Kozak said in the video.

He then specifically addressed Bryan’s case: “There was one person who was wanted here locally for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from a church. She was contacted by law enforcement in Alaska as she was boarding a cruise ship, and has been arrested.”

“So, our deputies are currently fighting over who is going to get to go to Alaska to extradite her back here to Laramie County,” Sheriff Kozak said, adding that the task would likely fall to the department’s new warrants division.

The circumstances of Bryan’s arrest — attempting to leave the country on a cruise ship — don’t paint the full picture, though.  And the full details of her flight from Wyoming have not yet been disclosed.

Some local reports, often citing the same “Sheriff’s Update” video, indicate that the alleged embezzlement involved a significant sum, though an exact figure hasn’t been officially confirmed by the Sheriff’s Office.

It’s common for details in cases like this to be kept private until official charges are filed and the investigation is finished. Once Bryan is brought back to Laramie County, we expect more information about the specific charges she faces and how much money was allegedly embezzled will become public.

Karen Bryan will now go through the process of being extradited back to Wyoming to face these charges. Her arrest is a clear reminder that even if someone tries to escape by hopping on a cruise ship, law enforcement efforts can still bring them to justice.  And that’s no vacation.

Chrissy and her mom were enjoying their Carnival Mardi Gras cruise. The balcony door was open, letting in that wonderful ocean breeze. But a simple, innocent action quickly led to a couple broken bones, and she is warning other passengers not to let the same thing happen to them.

She shared the details with Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, and Heald shared what happened in a recent Facebook video post.

Chrissy’s mom heard the room steward outside their cabin. Without thinking, she opened the main cabin door to ask him a question. That’s when it happened.

“As she opened the door, the pressure of having both the balcony and cabin door open at the same time pulled the cabin door shut on my mom’s fingers,” Chrissy explained. “She started screaming. She was bleeding profusely, and it was very traumatic.“

The powerful “wind tunnel” created by having both doors open slammed the heavy cabin door shut. Chrissy’s mom broke two fingers and needed seven stitches.

The “Wind Tunnel” Effect is No Joke

John Heald just recently talked about sleeping with balcony doors open, confirming that Carnival does allow it. He’s also cleared up a common myth and explained that opening your balcony door only turns off your cabin’s AC; it doesn’t affect your neighbors.

However, Heald has always stressed caution about strong drafts. Chrissy’s mom’s injury is a clear reminder of how powerful these “wind tunnels” can be.

The first time I experienced this on a cruise I felt like the wind was trying to rip the door out of my grip.

When both the balcony door and the main cabin door are open, the air pressure can cause the cabin door to swing violently and slam shut. This can lead to serious injury.

The golden rule, according to both Heald and Chrissy, is simple: Never open your cabin door when your balcony door is already open. Always close one before opening the other.

A rule for me is that if I know I have room service coming to my cabin, I will make sure the balcony door is closed ahead of time, so I don’t forget.

Great Medical Care at Sea

Despite the unfortunate accident, Chrissy also wanted to highlight the incredible medical care on board. She couldn’t praise the ship’s medical team enough.

“The medical staff were nothing short of amazing,” Chrissy said. “We received X-rays, wound care, and stitches all within half an hour. There is no way this injury would have been cared for this quickly on land in a typical emergency response room.”

Chrissy specifically thanked the doctor and medic on duty for their quick and expert help. John Heald stated that he immediately shared her appreciation with the ship’s captain and senior management, making sure the medical staff got the recognition they deserved.

A Few Cabin Reminders

There’s something really amazing about listening to the ocean and feeling the ocean breeze as you enjoy your balcony door being open.  And yes, Carnival is ok with you sleeping with the balcony door open. 

Just remember a few things to stay safe in your cabin.

• One door at a time: This is the most important rule. Never have both your balcony door and your cabin door open simultaneously. Close one before opening the other.
• AC Impact: Opening your balcony door will temporarily turn off your cabin’s air conditioning.
• Secure your balcony door: Even if you’re just sitting outside, make sure the door is secured so it doesn’t slide around. There’s usually a latch or stop to keep it in place.
• No mattresses on balconies: Yup, it shouldn’t even have to be said, and yet… it has to be said.

Bottom Line

So, what’s the real takeaway here? Go ahead and enjoy that ocean breeze from your balcony — it’s truly one of the best parts of a cruise. Just remember Chrissy’s story and keep safety in mind. A little bit of awareness can make all the difference between a perfect vacation and an unexpected trip to the medical center (which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly a souvenir anyone wants to bring home).

If you are looking into taking an adults only ocean cruise, there are two main cruise lines that you can choose from, Viking and Virgin Voyages.

I have taken a total of 13 cruises on both cruise lines, nine on Viking and four on Virgin. (They are a combination of media invites and cruises I paid full price for) I have sailed in Europe and the Caribbean with both lines. Here is my firsthand experience after sailing on the two, how they compare and how they are different.

Even though the two cruise lines are adults only, they really don’t compete against each other because of the completely different styles of cruises that each offer. However, they do have a few similarities.

How are Viking and Virgin alike?

• Must be 18 years and older to sail
• WiFi is included
• All dining is included
• No formal nights

That is pretty much where the similarities end and they are more different than alike.

How are Viking and Virgin different?

• Ship vibes are completely different
• Geared towards different clientele
• Viking costs more per night but includes more in cruise fares
• Viking offers more longer cruises than Virgin
• Virgin offers many shorter cruises, something Viking does not offer
• Virgin offers a ton more cruises to the Caribbean

I will start off by saying that I really love cruising on both, so this is not an article about which is better or which is my preference. I just want to show you my firsthand account on both so you can make the right decision for your cruise.

Vibes/Atmosphere

This is probably the biggest difference between the two cruise lines. Viking calls themselves the “thinking man’s cruise” while Virgin is more of a party cruise.

You go on Viking to experience culture, spend more time in port, and to see the world and you go on Virgin to let loose.

Viking has lectures to help you learn more about where you’re visiting while Virgin has Scarlet Night, the ultimate party at sea.

Virgin has a slightly younger crowd as Viking gears their cruises to those who are 50 and over. However, you do find adult guests of all ages on both cruise lines. My wife took her first Viking cruise when she was 25 and loved it.

Ships

Both cruise lines only have one class of ship and every vessel in their fleets is pretty much identical.

Viking’s ships are less than half the size of Virgins and offer more space per passenger when comparing the two.

The cabins on both are completely different. Every Viking stateroom comes with a balcony and the bathroom has headed floors and no-fog mirrors. They have a far more premium feel than what you’ll find on Virgin.

Cabins on Virgin have mood lighting and every balcony has a hammock (great feature). The entire room is controlled by a tablet, this includes the TV, lights, thermostat, and even the curtain. This is one feature I really wish all cruise lines would copy.

What’s Included

Viking offers more in cruise fares than Virgin, but also at a higher price point.  Here is a look at what’s included in both cruise line’s fares. Since they both include WiFi and all dining, I will not put them in the list of what each offer.

Viking:

• One shore excursion in every port
• All specialty coffees
• Thermal Suite
• Drinks during meals (soft drinks, wine etc.)

Virgin Voyages:

The food on Virgin is my favorite out of all cruise lines. However, Viking has by far the best Italian restuarant at sea, Manfredi’s, and also has the best steak (Traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina). Room service on Viking is nothing short of amazing.

Other Differences

Viking offers more overnight port stays that include embarkation and disembarkation ports. This allows you to see those cities without having to extend your trip.

Virgin also offers some overnight ports, but not nearly as many as Viking. I had an overnight stay at Ibiza during my cruise in the Mediterranean.

Viking sends out a pre-cruise packet in the mail that includes red luggage tags. They last for years and I still use them on every trip I take.

Viking offers a Silver Spirits beverage package that costs just $27 a day. Virgin does not offer beverage packages but you can get extra credit by pre-purchasing bar credit before your cruise.

Viking does not have a casino while Virgin has a non-smoking casino.

Virgin has far more activities going on around the ship than Viking and also a wider variety of shows and entertainment.

Viking’s ships are better for cold weather cruises since the main pool has a retractable roof and the ships have a two-story Observation Lounge.

For the Caribbean I would lean toward Virgin while in Europe, I would choose Viking.

Conclusion

Both cruise lines offer a great kid free cruise, it all depends on what type of cruise you’re looking for. I personally really enjoy both and will likely sail on both again when I want an adults only cruise.

About 1,500 young adults participating in heritage trips to Israel have been evacuated to Cyprus by the Crown Iris, a cruise ship operated by Israeli-based Mano Maritime.

This move comes as ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies following recent strikes between the two nations.

According to news reports, Crown Iris, built in 1992 with a gross tonnage of 40,876, arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus, today carrying approximately 1,500 participants of Birthright Israel.

Originally known as the MS Royal Majesty, the ship underwent a refit in 2019 after being acquired by Mano Maritime, and now offers a capacity of 1,790 to 1,970 passengers.

The 13-hour journey from Ashdod Port, south of Tel Aviv, was escorted across the Mediterranean by the Israeli navy.

Birthright Israel, an organization partially funded by the Israeli government, offers free 10-day “heritage trips” to Israel for Jewish young adults aged 18 to 26.

About 2,800 international participants in the program, mostly from the United States, had found themselves stranded in Israel since Friday morning when the conflict began.

On June 13, Birthright Israel provided an update, assuring the public that “All participants are safe, currently located near secure zones and shelters, and are being closely cared for by the operational teams and staff on the ground.”

Birthright Israel is covering all transportation costs for these evacuations.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis chartered four wide-body planes to fly all evacuated U.S. participants from the Cyprus port directly to Tampa, Florida.

Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel, commented on the complex operation, stating, “This was a complex and emotional operation, carried out under immense pressure, and we are proud to have brought 1,500 young adults safely to Cyprus. Our team continues to work around the clock to secure solutions for the remaining participants still in Israel.”

According to Birthright Israel, evacuation efforts, both by air and sea, are ongoing for the remaining international participants in the country. The organization has prioritized participants who were nearing the end of their 10-day experience.

While cruise ships are usually used for vacation and leisure, they are often used in humanitarian efforts because of their ability to carry large masses of people all at once.

Video of Crown Iris Being Boarded

Getting hit with an unexpected towel charge at the end of your cruise? You’re definitely not alone, and one frustrated cruiser’s recent experience shows just how annoying this can be.

Charged for Towels That Were Returned

Here’s what they shared online after a recent Royal Caribbean sailing:

“On the last night of the cruise right now. On my accounts tab I got charged with 2 towels which I 100% returned and scanned the seapass for.”

Other cruisers in the social media post said they were familiar with this same situation.  According to some comments, it’s happening to more and more passengers, and it’s creating some serious headaches for people who thought they followed all the rules.

How the Towel Tracking System Works (And Where It Goes Wrong)

Let me break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes. Most cruise lines that monitor towel usage will scan your ship card to check out towels and scan it again when you turn them in after use.

Sounds simple enough, right?

But here’s where things can get a little messy. The system relies on crew members (usually on lido deck) to properly scan towels both out and back in. When that doesn’t happen correctly, you end up paying for towels you never took.

Take this Carnival passenger’s nightmare scenario: “The room attendant kept taking our pool towels when he cleaned in the morning, but never marked them as returned on his end.” So the towels were physically collected by staff, but the computer system still thought they were missing.

The result? An automatic charge that shouldn’t have happened.

Royal Caribbean’s Automatic Charging System

Royal Caribbean has taken this tracking to the next level with their mobile app. The cruise line will actually text you about unreturned towels and automatically hit your account with the charge.

One passenger stated, “We were charged and texted with RC on their app and they removed it,” adding that this “seems to be a common problem” with Royal Caribbean.

The fact that passengers are calling it a “common problem” should probably raise some red flags about how well these systems are actually working.

Even Veteran Cruisers Aren’t Safe

You’d think experienced cruisers would know how to avoid these charges, but even they’re getting caught up in the system’s glitches. One seasoned passenger shared, “I’ve cruised a ton of times and I’ve never been hit with missing towel charges until my last sailing.”

While they got it sorted out easily enough, they mentioned getting “the ‘we’ll do this for you this time’ look as if I was actually stealing the towels.” That’s got to sting when you know you did nothing wrong.

The System Can Actually Penalize Innocent People

Here’s where it gets really frustrating. One cruiser pointed out this scenario: “Let’s say I am a lazy chair hog and leave my towels there all day. Then they are removed by staff. Then I… steal someone else’s towels to return. Then they get screwed.”

It’s like a towel shell game where the wrong person ends up paying the price.

Guest Services Will Fix It (Usually)

The good news? Guest services departments are typically quick to resolve these bogus charges. Multiple cruisers confirmed that a simple trip to the guest services desk gets the problem sorted out. As one passenger put it, “Just went to guest services and they removed” the charge.

What’s the Real Problem Here?

Cruise lines are usually pretty good at keeping track of their towel inventory, and failure to return them can result in an unwelcome surprise on your stateroom bill, which is generally around $25.

But one frustrated cruiser asked the question that other cruisers have been thinking: “Is this towel [policy] because they don’t want to have their employees picking up towels or were people stealing towels to bring home?”

That’s really the heart of the issue. Are these tracking systems solving a real theft problem, or have cruise lines created an overly complicated system that’s causing more problems than it’s solving?

Bottom Line

If you get hit with one of these surprise towel charges, don’t panic. Head straight to guest services and they’ll likely take care of it without much fuss.  For $25 you can get a pretty nice beach towel on Amazon, but if you really must have that cruise ship towel as a memento, get ready to pay a slight premium for it.

Carnival Cruise Line is helping to solve one of the biggest issues with cabins when sailing on one of their older cruise ships.

Cruise ships that are ten years and older tend to have very few electrical outlets. They weren’t built today when cruisers need many devices charged each day.

This includes phones, tablets, watches, battery packs, cameras, laptops and more.

Carnival Cruise Line is helping solve this problem by adding new lamps that have extra power outlets by beds when cruise ships go into dry dock. 

The photo above, posted by Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald, shows the new lamps that were recently added Carnival Valor. The lamps have a standard 110 outlet, a USB and a USB-C plug.

Heald said that these new lamps will be added to all Carnival ships when they go into dry dock.

Responses on the post from Carnival cruisers was overwhelmingly positive to these new lamps.

What Cruisers Are Saying

Joe – “It saves me running an extension cord across the floor so I can plug in my phone which I use as a clock at night.”

Tony – “Yes – all ships! So helpful.”

Donna – “Oh my can you start right away! That plug for my CPAP would just make the trip so much easier! No cord strung across the room trying to get power to CPAP! Jumping around the room for joy!”

Carroll – “In a perfect world, they’re on every ship by the bed.”

John – “Yes!!! Load’em up, John!! We had them on our last cruise and loved them. No extension cords run across the floor, now.”

Cheryl – “We both wear a CPAP and that would be SOOO much more convenient and alot less hassle than running cords along the walls to reach an outlet. Also, having your phone by the bed with a plug in would be awesome!! That would free up the plugs by the vanity.”

Robyn – “All Ships need these. Great to have phone/clock near bed but more importantly so many people on CPAPs to not have to run a cord across the room is fantastic.”

David – “Yes! We’ve had to bring long charging cords because there are none by the bed. This is one of the best things Carnival could do.”

Shawn – “We definitely use these. We prefer these actually because we put our phones on the nightstands when sleeping. It eliminates the need for extension cords and wires all over the room.”

22 of Carnival’s 29 cruise ships currently have a dry dock scheduled over the next two years. You can see which ships have one scheduled and the dates here.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, one of the finest ultra luxury cruise lines, has announced the largest all-inclusive, ultra luxury cruise ship suite in history that starts at $25,000 per night.

The 8,794 square foot Skyview Regent Suite will be on the cruise line’s next new ship, Seven Seas Prestige. The suite will be four times larger than the average home in the U.S. and includes a dedicated personal butler, private car and guide in every port.

The suite will have the following features:

• 3,703 square foot wraparound balcony
• Two bedrooms
• Two-and-a-half baths
• Floating natural stone staircase
• Private in-suite elevator
• Personal gym and sauna
• Walk-in closet
• Private dining venue for 12 guests
• View Prices on Cruises on Regent

The suite will be on two levels with the upper floor dedicated to the main suite.

The spa-inspired main bathroom offers twin vanities, a hand-carved floating tub, sauna, and an immense walk-in shower.

A large walk-in wardrobe, complete with a central island and glass-front cabinetry.

The suite will start at $25,000 per night and includes the following perks:

• Daily Serene Spa & Wellness treatments
• Unlimited laundry and dry cleaning
• In-suite caviar service
• Dom Pérignon Champagne
• Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac

Jason Montague, chief luxury officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, gave the following statement:

“At Regent, we are committed to setting new standards in ultra luxury travel, and the Skyview Regent Suite is a true embodiment of that promise. At nearly 9,000 square feet, this breathtaking two-level suite delivers the most exclusive and elevated experience at sea, complete with every imaginable luxury included in the voyage fare.

“As Seven Seas Prestige sets sail on her inaugural season in December 2026, visiting the Caribbean and Europe’s most iconic destinations, the ship’s 12 suite categories, including the Skyview Regent Suite, will offer our discerning guests a once-in-a-lifetime way to experience the world — with all the comfort, elegance, and Heartfelt Hospitality that defines Regent.”

Seven Seas Prestige will sail its inaugural season in Europe and the Caribbean and is scheduled to debut in December 2026.

After two months of sailing in Europe, the ship will make its Miami debut on March 5, 2027 and sail three voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from the Cruise Capital of the World.

A Carnival cruise ship is back in service after an extensive dry dock that saw the ship receive a new waterpark, lounge and expanded casino.

Passengers boarded Carnival Valor today for the first time in a month. The ship spent the past four weeks in dry dock receiving upgrades, new features and routine maintenance.

During the dry dock, the ship received a new WaterWorks aqua park and Carnival Cruise Line’s signature Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge.

New USB outlets and enhanced lighting were added to staterooms.

The casino was expanded and now offers an improved layout and new gaming options.

The spa on Carnival Valor was rebranded to Cloud 9 Spa.

On Deck 3, Dream Studio, an area for personalized photo sessions, was added.

On Deck 5, the addition of the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge creates a dedicated gathering space that honors the many active-duty military and veterans who sail with Carnival Cruise Line. The venue is now featured on 16 Carnival cruise ships.

Other improvements include upgraded carpets and general refurbishments across all public areas of Carnival Valor.

Now that Carnival Valor is back in service, the ship will sail to New Orleans on a Carnival Journeys cruise from Barcelona.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement about the ship’s dry dock:

“Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge is a heartfelt salute to the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country – and it’s fitting to have this popular venue now featured on Carnival Valor, a ship named in honor of our heroes. We’re proud that more military families choose Carnival for their well-deserved vacations than any other cruise line.”

Once home in New Orleans, Carnival Valor will continue its popular year-round itinerary schedule, sailing four- and five-day Western Caribbean cruises that feature stops in Cozumel and Progreso.