Diplomacy

After flying halfway around the world with his wife, a British man was told he would not be allowed to step onto the Cunard cruise ship.  But it wasn’t the cruise line’s rules that kept him from boarding.  Every future cruise passenger needs to pay attention to the seemingly bizarre reason this happened.

The documents needed for a cruise vacation are not only important at the port of embarkation, but also for every other port that will be visited on the itinerary.  And cruise lines will try to take into account these ports of call, so there is no trouble for passengers once they arrive.

But sometimes, the matter is out of their hands.

According to news reports, a 78-year-old man from England, David Hornsby, flew over 10,500 miles from England to Sydney with his wife.

And while David’s passport was good enough to sail through immigration in Australia, it was at the cruise port that he ran into trouble.

At the cruise terminal, David’s wife was cleared and ready to board the ship.  When it was David’s turn, his passport needed a second look.

“We arrived at the cruise terminal, went to check in as usual, having already dropped our luggage off, and they looked at my passport and then called somebody over, and then took it away.  My wife was cleared for boarding, but they said there was damage on my passport, which there wasn’t.”

Hornsby said the only damage he could see was some loose stitching, but it was apparently good enough for the Australian border security.

In the end, Cunard said that David would not be allowed onto the ship and the couple booked $1,500 flights for the long trip back home.

“It’s a disgusting treatment. The passport was fully legal,” David stated.

Why Was the Passport an Issue?

The condition of a passport and any important documents really, are important for each country being visited.  Sure, the passport was accepted in Australia, but a cruise line has to consider all other countries in route as well.

But in the end, it was not so much the cruise line’s decision as that of the immigration authorities of another country.  Cunard explained the reason David was not permitted on the cruise, saying the following a statement:

“Our understanding is that Mr. and Mrs. Hornsby were refused embarkation to the ship by immigration officials at the international cruise terminal due to a damaged passport. The planned voyage included a port call to Indonesia, where they have strict standards for damaged passports. Unfortunately, the actions of foreign immigration authorities are outside of our control, and any associated costs should be directed to the guests’ travel insurers.”

The cruise line said they were sorry for the couple and understood the disappointment the travelers faced, adding.

“We appreciate this is not the outcome that Mr and Mrs Hornsby would have wanted, but this set of circumstances is not one Cunard can take responsibility for.”

Indonesia’s Strict Passport Policies

Recent reports have warned travelers to Indonesia of the country’s strict stance on passport conditions, referencing some that have been turned away based on this factor alone.

Set My Trip mentioned the increase in entry denials in an article focused on Bali travel, stating that, “Indonesian immigration officers have become notorious for their strict passport checks. Passengers arriving with a damaged passport could be detained and made to arrange their immediate return flight, often at their own expense.”

According to some, Indonesia has the strictest immigration standards in all of Asia, and apparently damaged travel documents are a major focus.

Bottom Line

The Hornsbys’ story is a good example of how easily a long-awaited cruise can go sideways if what seems like a minor detail is missed. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve flown or how much money you’ve spent; if your passport or other documents aren’t up to snuff with even one of the countries on the cruise’s list, you might have your own sob story to tell.

Cruise lines aren’t going to fight those battles for you, and they really can’t.   They are subject to the countries they visit just as much as every passenger on the ship.  

So, if you’re not planning to travel for a while, it might be a good time to dust off that passport and make sure everything is in order.  Making sure you have at least 6 months before expiration when sailing on a cruise is just one thing to check.

This is also a good reason to make sure cruise travel insurance is purchased for every single sailing.

Two new cruise ships, MSC World America and Norwegian Aqua, were christened this past week at PortMiami, the Cruise Capital of the World.

MSC World America

MSC World America was christened by Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore in a ceremony that took place on April 9, 2025. Barrymore was joined by Orlando Bloom, who co-stars with her in MSC’s media campaign that launched during the Super Bowl.

MSC World America is the largest non-Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing in the U.S. at just over 216,000 gross tons. The arrival of the ship coincided with the opening of the world’s largest cruise terminal that was built by MSC Cruises.

Drew Barrymore, actress and host of the Drew Barrymore Show, gave the following statement just before the naming of the ship:

“It’s such an honor to be MSC World America’s Godmother, and I can’t wait to cut that ribbon tonight and wish the ship smooth seas and good fortune for years to come. I’ve had a lifelong passion for travel, which has always fueled my soul and left me with the most awesome memories.

“Millions of people will create their own memories aboard this beautiful ship as time goes by, and I know they’ll have a blast experiencing everything MSC World America has to offer.”

MSC World America is sailing week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami. All cruises will visit the cruise line’s marine reserve in The Bahamas, Ocean Cay.

Norwegian Aqua

Norwegian Aqua was officially named and christened on Sunday by godfather Eric Stonestreet. The ceremony took place at Terminal B in Miami, NCL’s LEED Gold Certified terminal.

The christening event concluded with the ceremonial bottle break across the cruise ship’s hull, which was initiated by Stonestreet and signifies good fortune and safe travels for all who sail aboard for the life of Norwegian Aqua.

Eric Stonestreet, two-time Emmy® Award-winning actor, gave the following statement:

“As a new cruiser who has a deep passion for travel, it is absolutely spectacular to see the amazing features and experiences that travelers and their families can enjoy aboard Norwegian Aqua, including the world’s first hybrid roller coaster and waterslide, the Aqua Slidecoaster!”

“The team at Norwegian Cruise Line, onboard and ashore, are the very best of the best, and I am honored to serve as the godfather of the beautiful Norwegian Aqua. As part of the NCL family, I can’t wait for guests to ‘Experience More at Sea’ with NCL and create unforgettable memories with their families as I look forward to doing with mine as well!”

After a couple of sailings from Miami, Norwegian Aqua will head to Port Canaveral for seven-night cruises to the Caribbean.

In the fall, the ship will reposition to New York for a series of cruises to Bermuda before heading back to Miami. Once in Miami, Norwegian Aqua will sail seven night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean for the winter 2025-26 season.

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company with eight cruise lines, now has eight new cruise ships that are either under construction or on order that will debut from now through 2033.

This past week, Carnival Corporation announced a order for two more new ships that will have 2,100 cabins each. They will be multi-fuel-capable ships that will enter service in 2030 and 2032.

Here is a look at the eight new cruise ships that Carnival Corp. has in the pipeline over the next eight years.

• Star Princess 2025
• Carnival Festivale 2027
• Carnival Tropicale 2028
• Project Ace 1 2029
• New Mid-size Class Ship 2030
• Project Ace 2 2031
• New Mid-size Class Ship 2032
• Project Ace 3 2033

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises’ second Sphere class ship, Star Princess, will debut this fall. The ship is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. 

Star Princess will debut on October 4, 2025 and set sail on an 11-night cruise from Barcelona to Italy, France, Spain and Gibraltar.

After just two cruises in Europe, the ship will head to Ft. Lauderdale where the ship will be officially named and christened on November 6. Star Princess will offer cruises to the Caribbean during the winter season.

In the spring of 2026, the ship will reposition to the West Coast and spend the summer sailing to Alaska from Seattle.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line currently has five more new ships on order, two more Excel class and three newbuilds from Project Ace. Carnival is currently has more cruise ships in their fleet than any other cruise line at 29.

This past week, Carnival announced that the names of the two Excel class ships will be Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale debuting in 2027 and 2028.

Carnival Festivale will homeport at Port Canaveral offering week-long cruises to the Caribbean with a port stop at Celebration Key.

The biggest news about these two ships is that they will not have the BOLT roller coaster on the top deck.

Instead, Carnival is building a massive waterpark called Sunsation Point that will even be open at night on several days of the cruise.

Carnival Cruise Line also has their largest cruise ships ever on order. Project Ace is three 230,000 gross ton ships that will carry up to 8,000 guests at a time.

The ships will debut in 2029, 2031 and 2033. Carnival has yet to give many details on these new ships as they are still four, six and eight years away.

AIDA Cruises

Just this past week, Carnival Corporation announced an order for two new mid-size class ships for AIDA that will have 2,100 cabins each. AIDA is the most popular cruise line in Germany.

The ships will be run on a variety of fuel types, including low- and no-carbon bio and synthetic fuels when available at scale.

These two new ships will enter service in 2030 and 2032 giving AIDA a fleet of 13 cruise ships. 

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO, Fincantieri, gave the following statement about the two new ships for AIDA:

“We are honored that our long-standing partner Carnival Corporation has selected Fincantieri to build ships for AIDA Cruises for the first time in our history. This milestone confirms our ability to serve the entire Carnival Corporation portfolio, while ensuring long-term term visibility for our shipyards.

“These new ships will embody the most advanced technologies for sustainability and efficiency, further strengthening Fincantieri’s and Carnival Corporation’s roles as leaders in cruise industry innovation.”

The cruise line said that they will give more details on these new ships in the future. The order is contingent on financing, which is expected to be completed later this year.

There’s been a lot of buzz about cruise ship health inspections going away because of job cuts.  But is it really true?  If you only read a few headlines, you might think that cruise lines were sailing without any guardrails for health and safety.

But those claims have largely been exaggerated and misleading.

These reports and social media posts have definitely made it sound like cruise ships were about to turn into the Wild West in terms of sanitation standards. And it hasn’t helped that several outbreaks have popped up just weeks before many of these claims began circulating.

But the reality is far less scary and doesn’t grab as many headlines.  The truth? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) remains fully operational, and inspections are continuing as they always have.

The sticking point comes from the large number of layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where over 2,400 CDC employees, including some civilian VSP were let go.

This news quickly got picked up by the media and started buzzing in online groups, which led to a lot of worried talk about what would happen to the program. Some people online were even saying that ships would basically become breeding grounds for sickness.

“Goodbye inspectors, hello norovirus,” one user stated on Reddit.

Fortunately, we have some clearer information now.  A CDC spokesperson clarified to USA TODAY: “This work has not stopped.”

The VSP relies primarily on 12 U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) commissioned officers.  The important bit is that they were unaffected by the layoffs.

An HHS person also confirmed that these officers will keep things going with the VSP. And it’s worth remembering that the cruise lines themselves pay for this program, not your tax dollars.

So, the VSP does a lot of checks – around 200 every year – and they also keep an eye on outbreaks. So far in 2025, there have been 12, mostly norovirus, compared to 18 last year.

Despite the shake-up with the layoffs, it’s just not true that inspections are stopping. Even with the HHS changes, the VSP is still making sure ships stick to the rules, giving them scores out of 100 and letting everyone know if there’s a bigger outbreak (when 3% or more get sick).

So, if you’re planning a cruise, the crew will still be very busy making sure the ship is clean and safe.  And at any moment a surprise inspection can still happen while that ship is in a U.S. port.

The truth is less dramatic, but hopefully it will still get a bit of attention as well.

Families planning Hawaiian cruises could soon face higher costs, as the state considers new taxes on cruise ship passengers. The proposed measures, which include a per-passenger fee or an 11% tax, similar to taxes paid by hotel guests, have triggered a strong threat of legal action from the cruise industry.

Some lawmakers in Hawaii are arguing that the fee increase will ensure cruise visitors contribute their “fair share” to the state, making them equal with other tourists who pay the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT).

“All we’re asking is for them is to pay their fair share,” State Rep. Adrian Tam, House Tourism Committee Chair, stated. “They are benefiting from Hawaii’s natural beauty.”

However, cruise lines are opposing the tax hike and threatening a lawsuit. Attorneys representing the cruise industry have sent a letter to Hawaii’s Attorney General and lawmakers, claiming the taxes are unconstitutional under long-standing maritime law.

They argue that federal regulations limit taxes on vessels to the cost of providing port services. The letter warns of “costly and time-consuming litigation” if the state proceeds.

Danial Farkas, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., spoke to reporters about the financial impact on passengers. He noted that guests on Norwegian Cruise Line’s inter-island Pride of America cruise already pay around $100 in existing fees and excise taxes per person for a five-day voyage.

The proposed new taxes could double this amount.

“And what that means is that for a family of five, such as myself, that’s an extra $500 to the price of a ticket,” Farkas warned. “And it is going to make very, very quickly the cost of a cruise simply unaffordable.”

Farkas also suggested that if the costs become too high, cruise lines could simply pack up and leave. “It picks up and moves, it’s got propellers, it’s got rudders, and we can move it wherever we want,” Farkas stated.

With both the House and Senate in Hawaii having passed their own versions of the cruise passenger tax bills, the final decision on how much more tourists will be taxed will be made in negotiations between the House and Senate in a conference committee.

Until then, future cruise passengers to Hawaii will have to wait to see if their vacation is about to get more expensive to the 50^th state.

With over 651 million followers on Instagram, soccer super star Cristiano Ronaldo has the largest audience on the platform.  And when he sends out a message, it gets a lot of attention.

A recent Instagram post has just revealed that Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodríguez are teaming up with a cruise line as part of a new publicity campaign.   The couple are promoting Aroya Cruises, a Saudi Arabian cruise line that currently has one 5,000 passenger ship.

In the shared video, Ronaldo and Rodríguez are seen in a casual setting at home, seemingly deciding on their next vacation. With Rodríguez scrolling through her phone, they land on Aroya Cruises as their vacation choice.

What follows is a bit of digital creativity, as the living space is transformed into a scene aboard the Aroya, complete with a balcony showing ocean views. In the video the couple says “Yalla,” the Arabic word for “let’s go,” which also serves as Aroya Cruises’ catchy tagline.

Ronaldo stated his enjoyment of the “Saudi lifestyle” and the Arabian nature of Aroya Cruises. Georgina Rodríguez also participated in the campaign, leveraging her own 65 million Instagram followers.

“Georgina and I are happy to feature in this campaign together and can’t wait to take our family on a cruise. We enjoy the Saudi lifestyle, and Aroya Cruises is intrinsically Arabian, from its design to its cuisine. Yalla Aroya Cruises,” Ronaldo stated.

Aroya Cruises was created by Cruise Saudi in 2023 to develop the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia. Their ship, Aroya, can accommodate 5,000 guests and 1,925 crew and was acquired in 2023 after previously being built for other cruise lines.

Initially offering 3- and 4-night cruises from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, starting in December 2024, Aroya Cruises is primarily targeting the Saudi market and nearby regions.

However, the cruise line has plans to expand, with 6- and 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean departing from Istanbul starting in June 2025, visiting destinations in Greece and Turkey.

Aroya features a wide range of amenities. It also includes dedicated facilities and times for female guests and separate prayer rooms for women, catering to the local culture.

Aroya Cruises is making a smart move by tapping into Cristiano Ronaldo’s huge social media presence to get the word out about their new Saudi Arabian cruise line. It’s a quick way to instantly grab attention as they set their sights on both the local Saudi market and their ambitions to sail the Mediterranean.

No one wants to think about plumbing while taking a cruise.  But what every cruise passenger needs to realize is that the toilet on a ship operates very differently than a toilet back home.

Carnival Cruise Line is once again reminding guests not to flush certain items down the toilet, as it wreaks havoc on cruise ship plumbing.  In fact, a total of 10 cruise cabins were left with inoperable toilets after one guest committed the cardinal sin of flushing the “unflushable”.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, once again took to social media this morning to address a frustratingly familiar issue: passengers flushing wet wipes down cabin toilets.

This time, the seemingly innocent act by one guest resulted in a domino effect, not only blocking their own toilet but also causing nine other toilets to stop working.  That’s not a great way to start a vacation.

“It not only had this person very upset that their toilet was blocked, but it also blocked and stopped the flushing of nine other toilets—nine!” Heald stated.

As many seasoned cruisers and Carnival followers may remember, this isn’t the first time Heald has had to deliver this particular message. In fact, as we previously reported, Heald has creatively addressed the problem of flushing wet wipes in the past, even highlighting the unpleasant task faced by the ship’s plumbers, affectionately known as “Luigi.”

Despite clear warnings displayed in bathrooms and on stateroom televisions, some passengers continue this habit, leading to blockages.

While household toilets can typically handle wet wipes and standard toilet paper, cruise ship plumbing is designed for rapid processing—you know that powerful vacuum sound that sounds like an airplane is taking off–and relies on a specific type of paper that breaks down easily.

Yes, wet wipes, even those marketed as “flushable,” often don’t disintegrate sufficiently in cruise ship toilets.  Don’t use them on a ship.

This latest incident, not only affected the passenger that flushed the wet wipes, but it also interrupted the cruise vacations of nine other cabins as well.

Heald admitted that cruise ship toilet paper isn’t the comfiest stuff in the world, saying the following:

“Listen, I’m not going to stand here, or sit here, and proclaim that our laboratory paper is the best toilet paper in the world. It’s not. But it is designed to accommodate the suction toilet system. Please don’t flush anything, anything, anything down the toilet – any other toilet paper and wet wipes and all that kind of stuff. Please don’t do it because it does not just affect you, but it affects others as well.”

As we outlined in a previous article, beyond wet wipes, other items that should never be flushed down a cruise ship toilet include feminine hygiene products, diapers, cotton swabs, hair, bandaids, food scraps, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, dental floss, contact lenses, and essentially anything that isn’t toilet paper or human waste.

While cruise ship toilet paper might seem thin, it’s important for the comfort and convenience of everyone on board.

Everyone loves a good cruise hack.  And social media is brimming with all kinds of clever tips and tricks for making a cruise vacation even better.  But Carnival is warning against a not-so-clever hack that will get you banned from the cruise line forever.

If you’re going to do something that is completely against the terms and policies of a cruise line, it’s probably not a good idea to brag about it online, just for some engagement farming and a couple likes.

Carnival Cruise Line is now reminding passengers not to attempt to smuggle alcohol onboard, while also reminding them how foolish it is to boast about it on social media accounts.

Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed the issue directly in a Facebook Live video this morning, emphasizing that such behavior could lead to a lifetime ban from Carnival.

Heald revealed that he had been alerted to numerous social media posts where individuals proudly displayed their concealed alcohol.

“Somebody – actually, I think it was at least a dozen people – wrote to me sending me a link to a social media video… where this – this is crazy, right?” Heald exclaimed, referencing the common, although prohibited, practice of hiding alcohol in items like hairbrushes and umbrellas.

Related: 8 mistakes too many cruisers make on embarkation day

While acknowledging that these methods are not new – “We have known for years that you can go on Mrs. Amazon, and you can get used to smuggle booze in, right?” – Heald expressed particular frustration with the public boasting that often follows.

“But what absolutely drives me crazy – it makes me laugh, to be very honest – is when people get on the ship, and they go, ‘Ohh, look what we smuggled on board, a tube full of vodka. Ha Ha Ha! We’re so clever.’ And they put it out….”

Heald made it clear that Carnival is actively monitoring social media.  This is a practice of any public company to get a pulse of their brand and how people are interacting or engaging with it.

And in this case,  it can be used to find guests who are violating the rules.

“Of course, of course, we have people monitoring social media pages, of course, we do. And then you monitor it, people watching it, and you send it to me, and you say, ‘Look, look!’”

The consequences for these “clever” smugglers are severe. “And then we go to their cabin, and then we find it, and then we tell them they can’t cruise with us anymore,” Heald stated plainly.

He acknowledged the motivations behind the smuggling – “I know, I know why people do it. I get that” – but firmly condemned the act of publicizing it.

“But don’t do it. Don’t do it,” Heald urged.

“And to put it on social media is absolutely ridiculous, bonkers. It makes me sad when we have to do this all for the sake of a tiny tube full of rum or whatever it is.”

John Heald’s warning to Carnival cruisers is simple: don’t try to sneak booze onboard and then show off on social media. If you do, you’ll probably be banned for life. Carnival is using social media to keep an eye out and make sure everyone plays by the rules.

Some people think that if they see it on a large social media account then the person got away with it, but we don’t always see the end result of these “hacks”.  After all, while it’s easy to brag about “beating the system” with a clever hack, no one likes to brag about not being able to cruise any more.

Carnival Cruise Line has rules about bringing your own alcohol. You cannot bring hard liquor or beer onto the ship. However, if you’re 21 or older, you can bring one sealed bottle of wine or champagne (the standard 750ml size) per person when you first get on the ship.

If you want to drink that bottle in the main dining room or a bar, there’s a $15 fee.

You can always buy a variety of drinks at the ship’s bars, and they often have drink packages you can purchase. You can also bring a small amount of sealed non-alcoholic drinks like soda or juice when you board.