A Norwegian Cruise Line crew member was arrested in Juneau, Alaska on Tuesday, after allegedly stabbing three people while on the ship, Norwegian Encore.
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According to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy, the man stabbed two security guards and a woman with a pair of scissors.
The incident occurred late on Sunday night when other crew members spotted the man trying to deploy a lifeboat on the ship.
After this erratic behavior, the security guards attempted to bring the man to the medical center so he could be evaluated.
It was while he was in the medical center and the ship was at sea, sailing off the coast of Canada, that the man tried to leave the medical facility.
He allegedly attacked a guard and a nurse before running to another room and grabbing scissors, which he used as a weapon. The affidavit states he stabbed a woman in the medical facility who was being examined, in addition to two guards who were trying to detain him.
The woman was stabbed several times in the arm, hand and face. The security guards sustained stab wounds to the head, back, and shoulders.
The injuries sustained are reportedly non-life threatening.
According to reports, the 35-year-old man from South Africa was a recent hire by the cruise line and just joined the ship on Saturday when the vessel was docked in Seattle.
The man was arrested while Norwegian Encore was visiting Juneau, Alaska. Before his arrest, the man was detained in “cruise jail”.
The man is charged with “assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Alaska.
If he is convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to CruiseMapper, Norwegian Encore is currently on a 7-day round-trip sailing out of Seattle.
Before a crew member is hired, cruise lines conduct thorough background checks that include criminal records, employment history, and various references.
Most cruise lines require that any crew member working with children undergo a background check at least every two years.
Additionally, after hiring, the crew undergo training to get them ready for their job on the ship.
The cause of this man’s actions are not clear, but this article will be updated as more is known.
The FBI and Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case.
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Utopia of the Sea, Royal Caribbean’s next new cruise ship, has headed out sea for the first time as the ship begins sea trials.
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Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas headed out to sea trials
Utopia of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean’s sixth Oasis class ship and is scheduled to debut in July 2024. The vessel headed out to sea for the first time as it begins five days of sea trials.
During the sea trials, over 900 experts on board will test everything from safety to navigation to the ship’s speed. Hundreds of tests and inspections will take place over the next five days to see if the ship is sea worthy.
Utopia of the Seas leaving the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France
Utopia of the Seas will cover more than 1,000 miles during the five days of sea trials.
Once the sea trials are over, the final construction phase will take place as the vessel prepares for its July debut in Florida.
Utopia of the Seas will offer three and four night cruises from Port Canaveral to The Bahamas. The cruises will visit Nassau and the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. The four night cruises that depart every Monday will also have one sea day.
The cruise ship will have more than 40 dining and drink venues that include a new Railway dining experience. It will be a first of its kind train car dinner.
Utopia of the Seas will debut on July 19, 2024, a three night weekend cruise. It will be the 28th ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the most by any cruise line.
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The cheapest cruises from Florida for a full week are usually on MSC Cruises and Carnival. Their 7-night interior fares for 2027 often start at around $480 to $650 per person, including taxes and port fees. Norwegian is sometimes as cheap on older ships in winter. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Disney almost always cost more. Daily gratuities add about $17 to $20 per person, per night, so allow another $119 to $140 each for a week.
Cheapest Cruises from Florida: 7-Night Fares by Cruise Line
This table compares the main cruise lines out of Florida on the two things that matter most for a budget week at sea: the usual starting fare for an interior cabin, and the automatic gratuity charged each day. The fares are approximate “from” prices per person, based on two people sharing an interior cabin, for 2027 sailings, checked in October 2026, with taxes and fees included where the listing said so.
Cruise line
Florida ports (7-night)
Typical 7-night interior from
Daily gratuity (standard cabin)
MSC Cruises
Miami, Port Canaveral
approx. $520 to $740
$17 (Caribbean, since May 2026)
Carnival Cruise Line
Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa
approx. $480 to $650
$17 (since April 2026)
Norwegian Cruise Line
Miami, Port Canaveral
from approx. $450 on older ships; $900+ on the newest
$20
Royal Caribbean
Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa
approx. $580 to $740 on older ships; much more on new ones
$18.50
Celebrity Cruises
Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Miami
approx. $800 to $1,100
$18
Princess Cruises
Fort Lauderdale
approx. $950 and up
$18 (since March 2026)
Disney Cruise Line
Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale
often $3,000+ in summer
from about $16
Example fares behind these ranges: a 7-night Western Caribbean on Carnival Firenze from Miami in April 2027 was listed at about $490 per person for an interior. Carnival Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral in January 2027 was about $483, and Carnival Celebration from Miami in October 2027 was about $553. MSC Grandiosa from Port Canaveral was about $519 for a March 2027 sailing. Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa was about $580 to $680 for winter 2027 to 2028 dates. Gratuity rates are the published per-person, per-day figures as reported in 2026. Lines change them often, so check your booking.
Which Is the Cheapest Cruise Line from Florida?
There is no single winner on every date, but some patterns repeat.
MSC Cruises often has the lowest base fares, especially on 7-night Caribbean trips from Miami and Port Canaveral. In summer 2027 MSC World America sails 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean trips from Miami, and MSC Grandiosa does the same from Port Canaveral. Drinks, specialty dining and Wi-Fi are extra unless you book a bundled fare.
Carnival has the most Florida departures of any line, so there are lots of dates to choose from and frequent sales. Its newer Excel-class ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration) cost more than older ships like Carnival Vista or the Firenze, but they are still among the cheaper options.
Norwegian Cruise Line can be cheap on older ships and off-peak dates, and its fares often come with a “More at Sea” style package. Its $20 daily service charge is higher than most, which narrows the gap.
Royal Caribbean is usually cheapest on its older Radiance-class ships from Tampa. Big new ships such as Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral cost a lot more. For a full head-to-head, see our Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean comparison.
If your only goal is the lowest fare, compare MSC and Carnival first, then check Norwegian.
Florida's busiest ports give you the widest choice of cheap week-long sailings. Photo: Diego F. Parra on Pexels
Your Cruise Options from Florida at a Glance
Before comparing fares, it helps to know what kinds of cruise options from Florida there are. Most fall into four groups:
3- to 5-night Bahamas cruises: the cheapest way to try cruising, from Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville. Most call at Nassau and a private island.
7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean cruises: the focus of this guide, and usually the best value per night once you add travel costs.
Longer Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises: 10 nights or more, mainly from Fort Lauderdale and Miami on premium lines.
Small-ship cruises from Florida: adults-only Virgin Voyages from Miami, and luxury lines such as Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Windstar, which run some winter Caribbean sailings from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Ships are smaller and quieter, but fares are several times higher than the mainstream lines below.
If price is the main goal, stick with the big mainstream lines on 7-night sailings from Miami or Port Canaveral.
Cruise Lines Out of Florida, Port by Port
Florida has five main cruise ports, and the cheapest one depends on how far you would have to travel. Driving to the port instead of flying is often the biggest saving of all.
PortMiami
Miami has the most choice for budget 7-night trips. Carnival, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean all base ships here, plus Celebrity and Virgin Voyages. Typical 7-night interior fares for 2027 start at about $490 to $750 per person on Carnival and MSC. Norwegian lists some older-ship sailings from about $450 for winter 2026 to 2027, with newer ships like Norwegian Luna from about $900. Miami is also the best port for Western Caribbean routes to Cozumel, Roatan and Belize. Our guide to the best Western Caribbean cruise ports covers where these itineraries stop.
Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral, about an hour from Orlando, rivals Miami for cheap week-long trips. Carnival (Mardi Gras, Vista), MSC (Grandiosa, and MSC World Atlantic, which is expected to start sailing from here in 2027), Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Disney all sail from here. Carnival and MSC interiors for 2027 often start at about $480 to $650. Royal Caribbean’s newest ships and Disney sailings cost far more. Port parking went up to $20 a day plus tax in October 2025.
Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)
Fort Lauderdale is a better port for a nicer ship than for the lowest price. It is home to Celebrity, Princess, Holland America and Disney, plus some Royal Caribbean and MSC sailings. Interior fares on Princess and Celebrity 7-night trips usually start around $950 to $1,100 per person for 2027. Holiday weeks cost noticeably more: one Royal Caribbean Christmas sailing from here was listed at about $1,157.
Port Tampa Bay
Tampa is good value for Western Caribbean trips to Cozumel, Costa Maya and Grand Cayman, mostly on Carnival, Royal Caribbean’s older ships and Celebrity. Royal Caribbean interiors from Tampa often start around $580 to $740 per person. Celebrity’s Constellation was listed at about $811.
Jacksonville (JAXPORT)
Jacksonville mainly runs Carnival’s 4 and 5-night Bahamas cruises, and those are some of the cheapest short cruises in the state. Regular 7-night round trips from Jacksonville are rare, so for a full week most people in North Florida drive to Port Canaveral, which is about two and a half to three hours away.
Hidden Costs on Cheap 7-Day Cruises from Florida
A cheap fare is only part of what you pay. These are the extras that most often catch out people booking cheap 7-day cruises from Florida.
Taxes and port fees: Most US cruise line websites and big booking sites now include these in the price they show, but not every site does. On a 7-night Caribbean trip they are often about $150 to $200 per person, so they make a big difference if a site leaves them out.
Gratuities: These are charged automatically each day per person, kids included on most lines. For a week that is about $119 on Carnival or MSC, $129.50 on Royal Caribbean and $140 on Norwegian, per person. Some lines let you prepay before you sail.
Parking or flights: Parking for a week at a Florida port typically costs $100 to $170 or more. Flying in usually means a hotel the night before, too.
Drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining: Drink packages usually cost more per day than the fare on a cheap sailing.
Shore excursions and travel insurance: Booking excursions through the cruise line is easy but usually costs more than going independently. Travel insurance is worth pricing for any hurricane-season sailing.
What a cheap week actually costs
Here is a rough example for two people in an interior cabin, before drinks and excursions:
Item
Carnival, Miami (April 2027)
MSC, Port Canaveral (March 2027)
Fare incl. taxes (2 people)
approx. $980
approx. $1,038
Gratuities ($17 x 7 nights x 2)
$238
$238
Parking, about 8 days
approx. $160 to $200
approx. $160 plus tax
Approximate total
approx. $1,380 to $1,420
approx. $1,440
That works out at about $100 per person, per day, for meals, entertainment and four or five ports. This is why a $490 fare is still a good deal, as long as you budget for the rest.
Picking the right month can cut the price of the same cruise by hundreds of dollars. Photo: RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Cheapest Months to Cruise from Florida
The same ship and itinerary can cost very different amounts depending on the week. Usually:
Cheapest: late August to mid-October, when school is back and it is the peak of hurricane season. Early December before the holidays, and most of January after New Year, are also good value.
Good value: late April and May, between spring break and the summer holidays.
Most expensive: Christmas and New Year, spring break in March, and June to early August.
Hurricane season runs from June to November. Cruise lines change routes around storms rather than sail into them, but your planned ports can change. Booking flexible flights and having travel insurance makes these cheaper months much less of a gamble.
Tips for Booking the Cheapest Cruise Line from Florida
Compare totals, not headline fares. Add the gratuities and any taxes that aren’t included. The $20-a-day Norwegian fare and the $17-a-day Carnival fare are $42 apart per couple over a week.
Be flexible on ship and date. An older ship on a September date can cost half as much as a new ship over a holiday.
Look for resident and group offers. Some lines run Florida-resident rates. Virgin Voyages, for example, has offered Florida residents up to 15% off selected sailings. Third and fourth guests in a cabin often pay much less, which cuts the price per person for families.
Watch the fare after you book. If the price drops before final payment, many lines or travel agents will reprice or add onboard credit. Our guide to cruise deals in 2027 and when to book explains which sales are worth waiting for.
Use a deposit you can get back. Refundable deposits cost a little more but let you rebook if a cheaper sailing appears.
Drive if you can. For most Florida residents, avoiding flights and a hotel the night before saves more than any fare sale.
How We Checked These Prices
In October 2026 we looked at 7-night round-trip sailings from each Florida port for 2027 (and some early 2028 dates) on cruise line sites and large booking sites. We recorded the lowest interior fare listed per person, based on two sharing, with taxes and fees included where the listing said so. Gratuity rates come from the cruise lines’ published 2026 amounts as reported by cruise news sites. Fares change daily, so treat every figure as a starting point and confirm the current price before you book.
Many of these 7-night Florida sailings stop in Jamaica, so it is worth checking which Jamaica cruise port is best before you choose an itinerary.
Most short Florida sailings stop at a private island, and our guide to cruise line private islands explains who owns each one and what costs extra.
Florida is home to three of the world’s busiest cruise ports, so it is worth arriving early on embarkation day.
FAQs
What is the cheapest cruise line out of Florida?
For 7-night sailings, MSC Cruises and Carnival usually post the lowest interior fares, often around $480 to $650 per person including taxes on 2027 dates. Norwegian sometimes matches them on older ships in winter. Royal Caribbean can be close on older ships from Tampa, but its newest ships cost much more.
How much is a 7-day cruise from Florida per person?
An interior cabin on a mainstream line usually starts at roughly $450 to $750 per person for 2027 sailings, with taxes and port fees included. Add about $119 to $140 per person for a week of automatic gratuities. Premium lines and Disney cost a lot more.
What is the cheapest month to cruise from Florida?
Late August through early October is usually the cheapest time, because school is back and it is hurricane season. Early December (before the holidays), the weeks after New Year, and late April to May are also good value. Christmas, New Year, spring break and July cost the most.
Are taxes and port fees included in cruise prices?
Most US cruise line websites and big booking sites now quote fares with government taxes and port fees included. Some sites still show them on a separate line, so check the total before you compare. Gratuities are almost never included in mainstream fares.
Which Florida port has the cheapest cruises?
For 7-night trips, PortMiami and Port Canaveral have the most low-cost sailings because MSC, Carnival and Norwegian all base ships there. Jacksonville has some of the cheapest short Bahamas cruises, but very few week-long trips. Fort Lauderdale leans toward Celebrity, Princess and Disney, so it often starts higher.
Are there small cruise ships from Florida?
Yes, but they cost more. Virgin Voyages sails adults-only cruises from Miami, and luxury lines such as Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Windstar offer some Caribbean sailings from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, mostly in winter. Expect fares several times higher than Carnival or MSC for a similar length of trip.
Princess Cruises will once again offer cruises to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico for the winter 2025-2026 season. This will be the first time that Princess offered cruises from the Caribbean port in over 10 years.
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The cruise line is moving Grand Princess to San Juan. The cruise ship was originally scheduled to sail in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific but will now offer cruises to the Caribbean instead.
Grand Princess will offer two different port intensive cruises from San Juan starting in October 2025. The ports they will visit on each cruise are as follows:
Itinerary 1: Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, one sea day
Itinerary 2: St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Vincent, Barbados, one sea day
Grand Princess will homeport in Puerto Rico from October 12, 2025 until March 29, 2026.
Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises. gave the following statement about the cruise line’s return to San Juan:
“Our return to San Juan after more than a decade not only reconnects our guests with a port rich in history and charm, but further expands the variety of departure points across North America that our guests can sail from.”
“Puerto Rico remains one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean and continues to attract new airlift from source markets across the U.S. as well as markets in Europe and South America, which makes it a great fit for Princess. Plus, there are many outstanding options to choose from for a great pre- or post-cruise stay.”
These newly announced Caribbean cruises will open for bookings on May 16, 2024.
The sailings will be Princess’ most port intensive Caribbean cruises that they offer.
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Charleston, South Carolina has been looking to part with its cruise terminal for years. After taking a cruise from the downtown Union Pier, I saw firsthand the kind of congestion that embarkation day brings.
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But a meeting to discuss building a new cruise terminal right across the Charleston harbor in Mount Pleasant just took place on Monday.
The clock is ticking for Charleston’s cruise industry. On December 30th, 2024, Carnival’s final ship sets sail, marking the end of a 10-year contract with the South Carolina Ports Authority.
With that, the historic city’s cruise terminal will be out of service.
In the public meeting to bring a cruise terminal to Mount Pleasant, members were able to voice both concerns and support for the project.
There is currently a proposal to build a 30,000 square-foot terminal and a 1,200 car parking garage in the area that is only a few thousand feet across the water from the Charleston dock.
Support for the move was driven by jobs. By keeping the cruise industry in the same region hundreds of jobs would be saved.
Vice President of the International Longshoreman’s Association, Benjamin Flowers, brought up this point in the meeting.
“We’re concerned about over 500 to 800 jobs per week. It really affects us because it’s a lot of jobs lost, it’s a lot of tax base that’s going to be lost from the community,” Flowers stated, also reminding members in the meeting of the economic boost the project would be for Mount Pleasant.
Charleston, South Carolina, USA at Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
Another proponent of cruise ships in the area, Councilman Gary Santos has previously mentioned the extra revenue the city would bring in through the project.
“The benefit is, it will create more jobs for people in Mount Pleasant, definitely. And it will create revenue for, you know, the Medal of Honor Museum and the Yorktown and the business over there,” the councilman said according to a news report from WCBD-TV last year.
But Mayor Will Haynie and Town Councilwoman Guang Ming Whitley are both very much opposed to the idea of cruise ships coming to their town.
Mayor Haynie has made this clear when speaking on the issue in October of 2023.
“The people that are pushing this have no interest in this land, they have no leasehold stake in this land, and I think what’s offensive about this is they are trying to push an issue on the town about land that they have no right to be pushing this issue on,” said Mayor Haynie.
The mayor added that state law doesn’t even allow for these kinds of ships at Patriots Point.
During the meeting on Monday, council member Jake Rambo echoed the sentiment of cruise ships not being a good fit for the town.
“Cruise ships are not right for Mount Pleasant. I’ve heard resoundingly from our residents and citizens that this is not something they want for our town,” Rambo said.
The meeting concluded with council members agreeing to send a request to the South Carolina Ports Authority, asking for their opinion on the matter.
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Norwegian Cruise Line has added a new discount for teachers and educators that is part of their fifth anniversary of their Giving Joy campaign.
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NCL’s new discount for teachers includes 5% off cruises and $50 in on board credit. The following teachers are eligible for the discount:
Classroom Teachers (PreK-12)
Principals and Assistant Principals (PreK-12)
School Employees (PreK-12)
College/University Professors
The discount can be combined with Norwegian’s Free at Sea program that includes drink packages, shore excursions, WiFi, specialty dining, and more.
Teachers and educators can enroll for the discount on NCL.com and verifying their status your ID.me.
NCL is also once again awarding 20 educators with free cruises. From May 6 through June 7, 2024, you can nominate a teacher who is making a difference in their classroom.
Those who receive the most votes will be invited to attend an exclusive two night event in Boston on the cruise line’s next new ship, Norwegian Aqua.
David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, gave the following statement:
“We are proud of our history of thanking educators for their hard work and commitment to shaping the next generation of future leaders.”
“To honor these education heroes for the long-lasting impressions they make inside and outside the classroom, we are excited to not only award 20 teachers on the fifth-year anniversary of Norwegian’s Giving Joy program with a free vacation aboard the soon-to-debut Norwegian Aqua, but to also extend the recognition to the broader educator community across the U.S. and Canada with our new Teacher Cruise Discount.”
Travel is a powerful means of education, and we look forward to welcoming educators to join us on board to explore the world.”
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Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating 30 years of sailing its whale-tail ships out of New Orleans, Louisiana today.
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Carnival celebrates 30 years of cruising out of New Orleans. MS Tropicale (pictured here) was Carnival’s first newly built ship that entered service in 1982. The vessel was transferred to Costa Cruises in 2001 and was eventually scrapped in 2021.
Port Nola is the sixth largest cruise port in the U.S. and Carnival is the cruise line that most often sails out of the port.
To mark the three-decade occasion, chef Emeril Lagasse joined Carnival executives for a ceremony that included an anniversary cake cutting at 11:00 AM EST today.
Spokesperson for Carnival, Matt Lupoli, said that the company is “appreciative of the great partnership we have in New Orleans.”
“We have sailed nearly 7 million people from New Orleans, and it’s been a great 30 years. We’re looking forward to continued success here,” Lupoli added.
Carnival Liberty and Carnival Valor are currently sailing out of the cruise port known for jazz and jambalaya.
And to strengthen the 30-year history even more, Port Nola will be the homeport for these two ships all throughout the year.
From now until April of 2026, these two ships will offer cruise itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Carnival Valor will offer mostly 4- and 5-night sailings to Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico, while Carnival Liberty will have 6- and 7-night durations, with one 14-night cruise out of New Orleans in November of 2025.
With Carnival Liberty offering longer sailings it will be able to take cruise passengers further south to Belize City and Mahogany Bay in addition to other sailings to the Eastern Caribbean with stops in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
These year-round sailings will provide plenty of opportunities for local residents of New Orleans and the surrounding areas to take affordable cruises any time of year.
According to Nola.com, Carnival Cruise Line accommodates around 400,000 passengers every year who pass through the New Orleans cruise port.
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Royal Caribbean is expanding the Fresh Kosher Dining Package that they offer for Yeshiva Week to four cruise ship and six sailings in 2025.
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This is an increase from three sailings that were offered in 2024.
The Glatt Kosher Dining Package costs $80 per person, per day for adults. Kids age six through 12 cost $40 per day and there is no charge for kids age five and under. 18% gratuity will be added to the price.
This Kosher Dining Package will be offered on the following six cruises during Yeshiva Week in 2025:
Harmony of the Seas: 7 night cruise on January 19, 2025 from Galveston Texas
Symphony of the Seas: 7 night cruise on January 12, 2025 from Miami, Florida
Symphony of the Seas: 7 night cruise on January 19, 2025 from Miami
Odyssey of the Seas: 11 night cruise on January 16, 2025 from Bayonne, New Jersey
Wonder of the Seas: 7 night cruise on January 12, 2025 from Port Canaveral, Florida
Wonder of the Seas: 7 night cruise on January 19, 2025 from Port Canaveral, Florida
Guests who are interested in booking this kosher dining package must purchase it for the entire sailing.
The seating times for dinner are: 5:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The Solarium Bistro will be reserved for those who purchase the kosher package on these six cruises.
Glatt kosher supervision will done by Rabbi David Weberman or a representing rabbi.
On all other Royal Caribbean cruises, a Frozen Kosher Program is available as long as you notify the cruise line at least 45 days in advance for North American sailings, 90 days for European/South American sailings, and 100 days for Asia/Australia sailings.
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There are a few reasons you should never fly to your cruise port on the day of the cruise. Even if you find a cheap flight on the same day, don’t book it.
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A story recently went viral on social media after a woman tells of being denied boarding and missing embarkation day entirely.
Not only is this a cautionary tale for anyone considering flying into their cruise port on cruise day, but it also sheds light on overbooked flights in the airline industry.
Same day flight booked with Spirit
The story, shared by Facebook user Mercedes Jones, all began when the woman booked a flight with Spirit Airlines.
Jones was flying with a family of eight, including seven children under the age of 16, from New Orleans to Miami. The group was bound for PortMiami for a cruise to the Bahamas, or so they thought.
According to her post, trouble began even before arriving at the airport. She writes, “They were offering bids to be rebooked [the day before]” hinting at potential overbooking on the flight.
Things went from bad to worse after arriving at the airport. Despite checking in online the day before, Jones and her family were denied boarding because they “did not board when they called for family boarding.”
The woman’s frustration was evident when in her post she pointed out the impracticality of expecting a large family with young children to sit in “uncomfortable seats for 2 hours before the plane leaves.”
A later flight would be too late
The airline’s solution? Bumping the family to a later flight that wouldn’t arrive until after the cruise ship they had booked had already set sail.
When Jones contested this, she was apparently hit with a $99 per person rebooking fee, even though they were denied boarding on the original flight. “How are we no showed now and I owe YOUUUU MONEY?” she asked in disbelief.
The viral post highlights several dangers of flying on the day of your cruise. Flight delays, cancellations, and even overbooking can wreak havoc on even a meticulously planned itinerary.
In this case, no other airline could accommodate the entire group of eight on a single flight that would get them to the cruise on time.
This was a definite financial hit. As Jones said in her post, “cruise fares are non-refundable the DAY OF the cruise.”
While the cost of the cruise itself is likely a much larger expense, the added stress and cost of last-minute flights and rebooking fees can weigh heavy too, especially for families on a budget.
Key takeaways
Flying to a cruise port on the day of the cruise is an invitation for something to ruin those plans. Whether it’s weather-related issues, mechanical issues with the airplane, or simply human error in missing a flight, too many things can go wrong.
And when you’ve spent a good deal of money on a cruise vacation, the last thing you want to do is miss out on enjoying it.
Fly into the cruise port area at least the day before and have a relaxing embarkation day, free of stress.
This whole ordeal also underscores the importance of cruise travel insurance. Whether you get it through the cruise line or a 3rd part, make sure you have a back-up plan if the unexpected happens.
Cancel for any reason insurance gives you the most flexibility, but it also carries a greater cost. Still, when spending thousands of dollars on a cruise, it’s a very small amount that can help protect that vacation investment.
Remember, a cruise is meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Don’t let last-minute travel issues turn your dream vacation into a big ball of stress.
Just reading about the stress of flying and taking a cruise with seven kids is enough to make anyone feel the need for a vacation at sea.
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A cruise line has extended their Anniversary Sale that offers discounted cruise fares, free spending money, and reduced deposits.
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Holland America Line’s Anniversary Sale has been extended through May 31, 2024 and is good on cruises that depart this summer through the spring of 2025. It is worth nothing that Grand Voyages and sailings three nights and shorter are excluded from this sale.
Holland America’s Anniversary Sale includes the following:
The up to $300 in on board credit is broken down as follows:
$25 per person ($50 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 4- to 13-day cruise in an Interior or Ocean View stateroom
$50 per person ($100 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 4- to 13-day cruise in a Verandah stateroom
$75 per person ($150 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 4- to 13-day cruise in a Suite
$50 per person ($100 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 14+ day cruise in an Interior or Ocean View stateroom
$100 per person ($200 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 14+ day cruise in a Verandah stateroom
$150 per person ($300 per stateroom) for guests booked on a 14+ day cruise in a Suite.
For complete terms and details of this Anniversary Sale from Holland America Line, contact your preferred travel professional or visit HollandAmerica.com.
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