Did you know that a cruise line has a standby program where you can cruise for just $49 per day per person? Here is how it works.
Holland America Line, one of nine cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation, is offering a standby program from eight different homeports in 2024.
This standby program allows you to just for just $49 per day, per person with no double occupancy fares for solo cruisers in single occupancy rooms. It’s available at the following eight homeports:
Seattle
Vancouver
Whittier
San Diego
Ft. Lauderdale
Boston
Montreal
Quebec
These cruises visit Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, New England, and transatlantic sailings.
You can add yourself to the standby list by calling Holland America Line at (877) 724-5425. If a cruise still has standby space, you will be required to make a full payment for the cruise that equals to $49 per day, per person.
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The cruise line reviews standby lists anywhere from two to seven days before embarkation. If you are cleared, you will received confirmation from the cruise line to pack your bags.
You will always know at least 48 hours if you’re been cleared to cruise standby.
If there are no open cabins by the time they come to your name on the list, you will receive a full refund in four to six weeks.
Priority is based on when you joined the standby list. The first ones to join will receive the first open cabins.
Your cabin will be an inside, ocean view, or balcony. The cruise line chooses for you and you are not allowed to choose the exact cabin type. So it’s best to go in expecting an inside and then be pleasantly surprised if you get a balcony.
Third and fourth guests in a cabin can sail for free, they just have to pay for taxes and port fees.
You can see a complete list of cruises in 2024 that are eligible for standby rates on HollandAmerica.com.
If you live near one of these eight homeports and have a flexible schedule, then this standby program is a great way to cruise for less.
The best Caribbean cruise ports are the ones where you can walk off the ship and straight into something worthwhile: San Juan, St. Thomas, Grand Turk, Aruba and Curaçao all dock close to a historic town or a great beach, so you waste little of your port day on transfers. The ports that most often underwhelm are not bad places, they just tend to be crowded, tender-dependent or a long way from the good stuff: think Nassau on a six-ship day, Philipsburg at peak, George Town in Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Freeport.
Below we explain why each port lands where it does, using factors you can check for yourself (dock or tender, distance to the beach, how many ships call at once, and what has changed in 2026), plus practical tips to make the weaker ports far more enjoyable.
How we judged the best and worst Caribbean cruise ports
We did not run a reader poll or invent star ratings. Instead, each port was weighed on five practical things that shape a typical eight-to-ten-hour port day:
Dock or tender: docking lets you walk off whenever you like; tendering adds queues and can be cancelled in rough seas.
Walkability: can you reach a town, a fort or a beach on foot from the pier?
Beach access: how far, and how much, to get to a good beach?
Crowding: how many ships typically call on the same day?
Safety and current status: official travel advisories, plus recent closures, storms and new developments.
Best Caribbean cruise ports at a glance
Port
Verdict
Dock or tender
Walkable from pier?
Best for
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Best
Dock
Yes, Old San Juan
History, food, forts
St. Thomas, USVI
Best
Dock
Partly (shops); taxi to beaches
Magens Bay, St. John day trip
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Best
Dock
Yes, beach beside the pier
Easy beach day, snorkeling
Aruba (Oranjestad)
Best
Dock
Yes, town; short taxi to Eagle Beach
Beaches, reliable dry weather
Curaçao (Willemstad)
Best
Dock
Yes, UNESCO waterfront
Colorful old town, independent wandering
Nassau, Bahamas
Can underwhelm
Dock
Yes, but busy
Short-cruise stop, beach clubs
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Can underwhelm on peak days
Dock
Yes, Front Street and Great Bay
Shopping, beach hopping
George Town, Grand Cayman
Can underwhelm
Tender
Yes, once ashore
Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach
Costa Maya, Mexico
Can underwhelm
Dock
Port village only
Mayan ruins excursions
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Can underwhelm
Dock
No, industrial harbor
Lucaya beaches by taxi
The 5 best Caribbean cruise ports
1. San Juan, Puerto Rico
Few ports deliver so much within walking distance. Ships dock along the Old San Juan waterfront, and the blue cobblestone streets, pastel colonial buildings and the 16th-century fortress of El Morro are all reachable on foot (a free trolley has also run through the old town, though check that it is operating on your date). Because Puerto Rico is a US territory, American passengers can use US dollars and their normal phone plan. If you want a beach, Condado and Isla Verde are a short taxi ride away. Evening departures, common on Eastern Caribbean sailings, mean you can stay for dinner.
2. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Ships dock at Havensight or Crown Bay rather than tendering, and taxis are organised and priced per person. The big draw is Magens Bay, a sheltered horseshoe of white sand that regularly appears on lists of the Caribbean’s best beaches. You can also take a ferry from Red Hook to St. John, where much of the island is Virgin Islands National Park. Charlotte Amalie offers duty-free shopping for those who want it. As with San Juan, US passengers need no passport stamp or currency exchange.
3. Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Grand Turk is the easiest beach day in the region. The Carnival-operated cruise center sits right on a soft sand beach with clear, calm water and good shore snorkeling, so you can be in the sea within minutes of getting off. Governor’s Beach and the small historic town of Cockburn Town are a cheap ride away if you want something quieter. It is a small island, so it can feel busy when two large ships are in, but the walk-off beach makes it hard to have a bad day.
4. Aruba (Oranjestad)
Aruba sits outside the main hurricane belt and is famously dry and breezy, which makes it a dependable stop. Ships dock right by downtown Oranjestad, and Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, two of the Caribbean’s widest stretches of white sand, are a short taxi or public bus ride along the coast. Many Southern Caribbean itineraries stay late or overnight here, giving you more time than a typical port call.
5. Curaçao (Willemstad)
Willemstad’s candy-colored Handelskade waterfront is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and ships dock close enough for you to walk across the floating Queen Emma pontoon bridge between the Punda and Otrobanda districts. It is one of the best ports in the Caribbean for exploring independently: cafés, museums and the floating market are all on foot, and beaches such as Mambo or the quieter coves to the west are a taxi away. Neighbouring Bonaire, often on the same itineraries, is a standout for shore diving and snorkeling.
Walkable, colorful old towns are what separate the best Caribbean ports from the rest. Photo: Taylen Lundequam on Pexels
5 Caribbean cruise ports that often underwhelm (and how to fix them)
These ports appear on many “worst Caribbean cruise ports” lists, but usually for reasons you can work around. Here is what tends to go wrong, and what to do instead.
1. Nassau, Bahamas
Why it underwhelms: Nassau is one of the busiest cruise ports anywhere. Its $300 million redevelopment, reopened in 2023, raised capacity to about 33,000 passengers a day and up to six ships at once, and on 8 June 2026 the port set a record of 33,254 passengers from six ships. On days like that, Bay Street and the nearest beach, Junkanoo Beach, get very crowded, and the area around the port has a reputation for persistent vendors.
How to make it better: The new port itself is a big improvement, with a waterfront plaza, a Junkanoo museum and an amphitheater. For a calmer day, take a ferry or water taxi to Paradise Island beaches, or book a beach club. Royal Caribbean guests now have another option: Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island welcomed its first guests on 23 December 2025, with ferry transfers from Nassau, loungers and an all-inclusive food and drink option. Half-day boat and snorkel trips from the harbor are another way to escape the crowds.
2. Philipsburg, St. Maarten (on peak days)
Why it underwhelms: On paper Philipsburg is excellent: you can walk from the pier to Front Street in minutes, and Great Bay Beach is across the road. The problem is volume. St. Maarten handled almost 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2025, up 16.3% on 2024, and on busy days several large ships share the pier, so Great Bay, the water taxis and the famous plane-spotting spot at Maho Beach can all be packed.
How to make it better: Check a port schedule before you sail and, on a multi-ship day, head away from Philipsburg early. Orient Bay on the French side, the dining town of Grand Case, or a ferry to Anguilla or St. Barts (allow plenty of buffer for the return) all feel worlds away from Front Street.
3. George Town, Grand Cayman
Why it underwhelms: Grand Cayman is still a tender port. A proposed cruise pier was shelved after strong local opposition, so ships anchor offshore and passengers are ferried in. That means tender queues on busy days and, occasionally, a cancelled call when wind and swell make tendering unsafe. Seven Mile Beach is lovely but is not walkable from the tender terminals, and Stingray City excursions can be busy.
How to make it better: Get off on an early tender (or book a ship excursion, which often gets priority tendering). Go to Stingray City or Starfish Point early, before the crowds, or take a taxi to quieter Cemetery Beach at the north end of Seven Mile Beach for snorkeling. Have a backup plan in case the call is cancelled.
4. Costa Maya, Mexico
Why it underwhelms: Costa Maya is a purpose-built cruise port. Step off the ship and you are in a pleasant but manufactured village of shops, bars and a pool. The nearest real town, the small fishing village of Mahahual, is a short taxi ride away, and the rest of the coast is undeveloped. If you stay in the port complex all day, it can feel like you have not really been anywhere.
How to make it better: Treat Costa Maya as a gateway. The Mayan sites of Chacchoben and Kohunlich are some of the most rewarding ruin trips on any Western Caribbean cruise, and Mahahual has an easygoing beachfront with beach clubs and seafood. For more ports on this route, see our guide to 17 Western Caribbean cruise ports worth visiting, or our list of the best things to do in Cozumel, which is often paired with Costa Maya.
A quieter beach a short ride from the pier can rescue a crowded port day. Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
5. Freeport, Grand Bahama
Why it underwhelms: The cruise harbor is in an industrial area, and there is nothing to walk to. The more attractive Lucaya beaches and Port Lucaya Marketplace need a taxi, and the island has taken longer than Nassau to recover from past hurricanes.
How to make it better: Taxi to Taino Beach or Lucaya Beach, or book a trip to Lucayan National Park and its caves and mangroves. Carnival guests may instead find themselves at Celebration Key, Carnival’s new Grand Bahama destination, which opened in July 2025. Its pier was extended in 2026 so four ships can dock at once, and it can host up to 13,000 guests a day, with a long beach and large freshwater lagoons. It is a very different, more resort-like day than Freeport. For how it compares with other cruise-line islands, see our guide to cruise line private islands and who owns them.
What has changed for Caribbean cruise ports in 2026
Labadee is off Royal Caribbean itineraries. Calls to the line’s private peninsula in Haiti were paused in April 2025 because of security concerns and, as of July 2026, the suspension runs through at least June 2027. The US State Department’s advice for Haiti remains “Do Not Travel”.
Jamaica’s ports are back. Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in October 2025, but the island’s main cruise ports, including Falmouth, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, reopened from December 2025. Our Jamaica cruise ports ranked guide covers each one.
Beach clubs and private destinations are growing. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island and Celebration Key both opened in the last year, and they change what a Bahamas port day looks like.
Crowding is rising. Record days in Nassau and growing passenger numbers in St. Maarten mean the ship count on your port day matters more than ever.
Tips to get more out of any Caribbean port
Check how many ships are in port. Free port schedule sites list every call. Two ships and six ships are completely different experiences.
Go early or go far. The first hour after arrival is the quietest time at most beaches and attractions. Alternatively, head to the far side of the island.
Know if it is a tender port. Grand Cayman and several smaller islands tender. Allow extra time and keep a backup plan.
Check the official travel advisory. Advice levels change, so look at travel.state.gov shortly before you sail and use licensed taxis or reputable tour operators.
Book independent tours with a return buffer. The ship will not wait. Choose operators that guarantee a return to the pier well before all-aboard time.
Pick itineraries by region. Eastern Caribbean routes favour San Juan and St. Thomas, Southern routes bring Aruba and Curaçao, and Western routes mix Mexico, Belize and Honduras.
For most cruisers, San Juan, St. Thomas, Grand Turk, Aruba and Curaçao stand out because ships dock close to a historic town or great beach. Bonaire and Roatán are excellent for snorkeling and diving.
What is the most overrated Caribbean cruise port?
Nassau is the port most often described as underwhelming, mainly because of crowding: it can host six ships and over 33,000 passengers in a day. A beach club, Paradise Island or a boat trip makes it much better.
What are the safest Caribbean cruise ports?
US territories such as San Juan and St. Thomas, plus Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Grand Turk and Grand Cayman, are generally considered low-risk for cruise visitors. Always check the current US State Department advisory and use licensed taxis or reputable tours.
What part of the Caribbean is best for a cruise?
It depends on what you want. The Eastern Caribbean is best for beaches and easy US-territory ports, the Southern Caribbean for colorful towns and dry weather, and the Western Caribbean for Mayan ruins and reef snorkeling.
Is Labadee still a cruise port in 2026?
No. Royal Caribbean has suspended calls to Labadee, Haiti, since April 2025 and has extended the pause through at least June 2027 because of security concerns.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced new culinary experiences that include their first Thai restaurant that will debut on their next new ship, Norwegian Aqua.
Norwegian Aqua is scheduled to debut in April 2025 and will have three brand new restaurants/bars for Norwegian.
The three new restaurants/bars for NCL are:
Sukhothai, NCL’s first Thai specialty restaurant
Planterie, the cruise line’s first eatery with a full plant based menu
Swirl Wine Bar, an upscale wine bar
Sukhothai will transport diners for a taste of Thailand. Dishes will include Thai Cashew Chicken, Salt and Pepper Prawns and Thai Grilled Steak Salad.
This upscale specialty restaurant will be located on deck 17 on the ship.
NCL is bringing back Indulge Food Hall and it will have a plant based eatery called Planterie. This will be one of 10 food stations in the food hall.
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David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, said the following about the new dining options on Norwegian Aqua:
“Discovering new flavors and dining experiences is such a memorable part of any vacation, especially when you share it with those who matter most to you. Expanding on our award-winning food and beverage program, we’re looking forward to bringing new concepts to life aboard Norwegian Aqua, while continuing to deliver on the variety of available offerings and value that NCL delivers.”
Norwegian Aqua will have many redesigned venues that include the Commodore Room, Metropolitan, Nama Sushi and Sashimi, Surfside Cafe, The Local Bar & Grill, Cagney’s and more.
Norwegian Aqua will be the 20th ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet and the first Prima Plus class ship.
The ship is scheduled to debut in April 2025 offering week long cruises to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, the world’s busiest cruise port.
After an inaugural season in Florida, the ship will move to New York City for cruises to Bermuda through the fall.
In October 2025, Norwegian Aqua will homeport in Miami sailing seven night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean through the spring of 2026.
Royal Caribbean has just announced that all cruise stops at its own private resort area in Labadee, Haiti will be suspended through the month of May.
The cruise line had paused scheduled visits to the port after unrest and rising tension in Haiti became a greater security concern in March.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson stated, “We have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through May 2024, and we continue to monitor the situation with our Global Security and Intelligence team.”
The following ships with the cruise line will be impacted by this decision as they were all scheduled to call on Labadee in May:
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Allure of the Seas
Adventure of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Cruise passengers with bookings on these ships next month will be sent to various ports of call as part of the itinerary change or may just have an extra sea day. Another port of call may include Perfect Day at CocoCay, but clarification on these changes has not yet been made.
We will update this article as changes are announced by the cruise line.
Initially, Royal Caribbean continued allowing cruise traffic to the private island in March, citing that the port remained safe. The port area is in a more exclusive part of the country and kept safe by its own security enforcement.
But as security around the country began to unravel it became a greater concern to cruise visitors and the decision was made to temporarily pause visits to the region.
Haiti is currently under a “Do not travel” advisory by the U.S. State Department. Security concerns listed include kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure.
Princess Cruises has announced that the debut of their next new ship, Star Princess, will be pushed back a couple months.
Star Princess, the cruise line’s second Sphere class ship, will now debut on October 15, 2025. The ship was originally scheduled to sail its maiden voyage on July 29, 2025 but the first nine sailings have been canceled.
The cruise line and the shipyard, Fincantieri, agreed together to postpone the launch of Star Princess.
Guests who were booked on one of the nine canceled sailings will have two options to choose from. They will be:
Rebook on any Princess ship in their fleet
Cancel and receive a full refund of the cruise fare
Those who choose to rebook on another cruise will receive future cruise and onboard credits.
Princess Cruises will honor all commission to travel agents who had clients booked on one of the canceled sailings.
John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises, gave the following statement about the updated launch for Star Princess:
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“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests.”
The maiden cruise on Star Princess will be an 11 day Mediterranean cruise on October 15, 2025. After a week long cruise, the ship will then sail a two week transatlantic sailing and will arrive in Port Everglades for the winter Caribbean season.
An artist rendering of Star Princess
These three new cruises will open for bookings on April 30, 2024.
Princess Cruises’ first Sphere class ship which recently debuted in the Mediterranean, Sun Princess, was also delayed and had the first few cruises canceled.
Star Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
I often book cruises a month or two before the sailing date. But there are some really good reasons for booking well before that, with one main reason that you should consider.
Last-minute cruises have their place as well, and for certain situations it’s the ideal way for whimsical travelers to grab a quick vacation at sea.
However, to really maximize savings — and I mean savings potentially in the thousands of dollars— booking almost a year or more ahead of the cruise has a huge perk some people overlook.
Booking a cruise a year or more in advance has one major advantage. Photo credit: Cruise Fever
We recently ran a poll on our Facebook page, asking our readers how far in advance they like to book a cruise.
After over 1,200 responses, “6-12 months out” was the most common answer. In fact, almost half of the poll voters (48%) selected this option.
31% said that booking 1 – 2 years before a cruise was right for them, with only 5% saying they typically booked less than 3 months before a cruise departed port.
Biggest benefit to booking a cruise far in advance
The biggest benefit is repricing. Any “price drops” along the way can be extra money in your pocket.
By booking early you’ve locked in that price. And if the price goes down it’s actually a good thing for you.
This is because most cruise lines allow you to rebook for the newly dropped cruise fare if you have not yet final payment.
Cruise fare prices are constantly changing. Weaker than expected demand can lead to a drop in price, with the stronger demand doing the opposite.
Cruise lines need to fill cabins– all of them if they can. So, if that means enticing more cruise travelers with a better deal, they’ll make it happen.
By booking far out in advance you have more flexibility.
If the price only goes up after you book, then you know you locked in the best price right off the bat.
If the price goes down considerably, you can take advantage of it and book a lower fare.
The earlier you book and the less you pay upfront, the more flexibility you have to rebook at a lower rate if the price drops.
This is why I’m constantly using price alert tools (more on this later) to help keep an eye on any price fluctuations after I book.
Some people are afraid to book too early because they want to wait for the price to go down. But most of the time they can do both. Book first, and then give yourself time for the price to drop to lock in more savings.
Keep in mind that last-minute cruises are not as easy to reprice since final payment will be due right at booking.
Ships in Costa Maya (Photo Credit: Cruise Fever)
How often can you reprice your cruise?
You can reprice as often as you would like before making final payment, depending on the cruise line’s policy.
The price drop has to be significant enough to justify a request for repricing as well.
How can you get the process started?
All it takes is a phone call to your cruise line. Some cruise lines have forms on their website that you can fill out as well.
Some cruisers will cancel their booking and then rebook on their own, but you really have to see what the cancellation penalty is to see if this is even worth it.
Also, know you run the risk of your same cabin category not being available if your cancellation is still lagging in the system. The same goes for excursions you might have booked along with your cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line has Early Saver deals that include price protection for free. This deal is usually available on cruises at least 5 months out. More on Early Saver deals here.
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Royal Caribbean will let you reprice your cruise if it is within a 48-hour window of booking (using the form here) with their Best Price Guarantee program. But this isn’t much time to snag a better deal. If you have not made final payment yet you can request repricing on your cruise with a phone call or a quick note to your travel agent.
Note: Not all cruise lines will allow you to reprice your cruise. They are not obligated to honor a drop in price but will often offer compensation or at least some onboard credit. Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Repricing is super simple with a travel agent
Honestly, the easiest way to get your cruise repriced is to just use a good travel agent. One phone call or email with a link to the new-found price and you’re done.
A good travel agent will save you money in the long run, but more importantly they will save you time and help you avoid frustration.
Just make sure that the cruise price you find is for the exact cruise and cabin category that you’ve already booked, and send this information along to your travel agent.
You don’t have to constantly check the cruise line’s website to see if there was a price drop. Price alert services make this very easy.
I like using Cruisewatch as I can set what parameters I’m looking for, click a button, and then wait for an email when the price drops to whatever level I set.
I recently found some great deals on Carnival cruises using these price alerts, after the fare dropped a couple hundred dollars.
You can find a ton of great information on cruise price alerts here on Cruise Fever and see some other great free tools I use for monitoring cruise fares.
Final Payment
Getting your cruise price reduced after finding a lower advertised price is much easier if you haven’t yet made your final payment.
After the final payment has been made you are more limited with your options, but it’s still possible in some cases.
For many cruise lines, if you’ve made final payment you will only be able to get a refund in the form of onboard credit or future cruise credit.
Final payments are usually due 75 – 90 days before the sailing date, depending on the cruise line.
On a separate point, final payment deadlines are usually a good time to scoop up some cruise deals for last-minute cruise watchers. Some potential travelers end up changing their mind, opening up cabins which need to be sold.
What is typically required to get a reprice on your cruise
Same exact sailing. Same date, itinerary, cabin category
Significant difference in price
A lower price that is publicly available
Often there are more limitations after final payment has been made
A few other benefits of booking early
I get it. Booking that far in advance is not for everyone. And it’s another good reason to have cruise travel insurance taken care of in case something comes up in the meantime.
But taking care of cruise plans this far ahead of time is a much less stressful process. You can take the time to make excursion arrangements, figure out flights, and do some research on all of the destinations you will see.
Another benefit is that you will have the best selection of cabins available the earlier you try to book. This is why many cruisers try to put down a deposit on a cruise the moment bookings open. If there is a special cabin category or suite you really want on a ship, book as early as you can to lock it in.
And lastly, by booking a cruise early you don’t have to worry about price hikes. I know we’ve focused more on price drops in this article, but pricing can go both ways.
A Carnival cruise ship has emerged from dry dock and is on its way to its new homeport in Florida.
Carnival Glory spent three weeks in dry dock getting enhancements, general maintenance work done, and also received new features.
Now that the ship is out of dry dock, it will sail a 14 day Carnival Journeys cruise to the vessel’s new homeport, Port Canaveral.
While in dry dock, the casino received a new layout in addition to a non-smoking section.
Carnival Cruise Line added their signature Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge that honors active and retired members of the military.
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The Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge on Carnival Glory.
Camp Ocean, a dedicated space for younger cruisers, was re designed and a large video wall was added to enhance the Space Cruisers program.
Camp Ocean on Carnival Glory.
Public areas of the cruise ship were also refreshed with new decor and furnishings.
Carnival Glory will sail her first cruise from Port Canaveral on May 2, 2024. This four night cruise will visit Nassau and Princess Cays in The Bahamas.
It will be the fourth Carnival cruise ship to homeport at Port Canaveral. She will join Carnival Vista, Carnival Freedom, and Mardi Gras sailing from the world’s busiest cruise port.
Carnival Glory will sail three and four night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral. The cruise ship is currently scheduled to homeport there until at least April 2026.
MSC Cruises has announced the U.S. homeports for four cruise ships during the summer of 2025 that include PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and New York City.
These cruises will visit the Caribbean, Florida, The Bahamas, and Bermuda. Almost all itineraries will visit the cruise line’s private marine reserve, Ocean Cay.
MSC World America
MSC World America will homeport at MSC’s new cruise terminal in Miami. It will be the cruise line’s largest ship based in the U.S. and will debut in April 2025.
The cruise ship will sail week long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
MSC Seascape
MSC Seascape will join MSC World America by offering cruises from PortMiami. The ship will sail a variety of three, four, and seven night cruises to the Caribbean and The Bahamas.
This will mark the first time that a Seaside EVO class ship offers short cruises from Miami.
MSC Meraviglia
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MSC Meraviglia will sail seven night cruises from New York City to Florida and The Bahamas. The ship will also offer six and seven night cruises to Bermuda from the Big Apple.
MSC Seashore
MSC Seashore will homeport at Port Canaveral offering everything from three to seven night cruises.
A few of the week long cruises will spend two days at Ocean Cay before heading to the Western Caribbean.
Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, gave the following statement about these ship deployments:
“We want our guests to experience MSC Cruises’ most modern and innovative ships, whether they’re on a quick weekend getaway or the vacation of a lifetime. The Summer 2025 season will be an exciting one for us.”
“MSC World America will let our guests experience the future of cruising with 7-night itineraries from Miami, and we’re enhancing our short cruises from Miami with the fantastic MSC Seascape providing 3- and 4-night options.”
“We’re especially thrilled that all four ships sailing from U.S. homeports will call at Ocean Cay, providing guests with the opportunity to experience MSC Cruises’ unique and beautiful private island in The Bahamas no matter where they embark.”
Carnival Cruise Line has cracked down on a lido deck activity that has caused a stir among passengers.
It’s not uncommon to find a group of cruise passengers playing a game of cards out on the pool deck. It can be a game of Uno, cribbage, and even poker.
But when money starts changing hands as a result, the lines start to get a little blurred.
Cruise lines are required to follow federal laws when sailing out of and operating from U.S. ports.
And when vessels are docked in foreign ports they must also abide by those local laws as well. This is why casinos are often closed when a ship is docked in port.
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald made guests aware of a regulation that does not allow gambling to take place outside of the casino on the ship.
In a Facebook post on his page, Heald informed readers of a situation on Carnival Luminosa in which some guests were gambling with large amounts of money on the lido deck.
“Yesterday I was informed that the group leader had been arranging a card game played on Lido each day where quite large amounts of money were changing hands. This was reported to me and as brand ambassador it was my duty to report that to the Ship,” Heald stated.
It is not unusual to see cruise guests playing card games outside of the casino. These are usually friendly matches in which large sums of money are not exchanged.
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Heald reminded guests that any form of gambling outside of the casino is not allowed on any Carnival ships.
“The group lead leader has kindly been asked to stop doing this and since this has happened, I have received a lot of disgruntled posts let’s say referring to me as a ‘snitch’ and some other choice words,” Heald added.
A few comments showed disdain for the announcement, claiming that the cruise line was more concerned with profits inside the casino.
To this claim Heald stated that he was only the messenger, making sure guests were aware of the current guidelines of the ship, stating,
“And for those in the group saying that we only are banning this so people would go running to our casino and spend their money there, well that is mot the case.
There are various laws about gambling on our ships and as the company representative, I had no choice but to report it.“
In a second edit to his original announcement on the matter, the brand ambassador noted that the large amount of cash changing hands made it difficult for the cruise line just to ignore.
“One of the reasons this was brought to my attention was because it was a group leader of a large group of people booked as individual guests that was organizing this game and money was exchanging hands. I am sure that all she wanted to do was provide some extra fun but when we see people holding fistful of dollar bills then this is just not something we can allow. Gambling with dice or cards for money organized by a group leader is not allowed. It is really truly that simple,” Heald added.
To celebrate Holland America Line’s 151st anniversary, the cruise line has lowered cruise deposits to just $1 per person for today only.
Holland America Line is celebrating their 151st anniversary on April 18, 2024. They are offering two different cruise deals with each one lowering deposits to just $1 per person. Yes, you can reserve your next cruise on Holland America for just a dollar.
The first deal is good for cruises that depart from the summer of 2024 through the spring of 2025. It includes the following:
The cruise line’s second deal that they are offering is good for cruises that depart on or after the summer of 2025. When combined with Have it All, it includes:
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This $1 deposit offer is not good on Grand Voyages.
A Holland America cruise ship anchored in Grand Cayman.
For complete terms and details of this special $1 deposit sale from Holland America Line, contact your preferred travel professional or visit HollandAmerica.com.
Holland America Line is one of nine cruise lines owned Carnival Corporation and they have 11 ships in their fleet.
