Diplomacy

Five of Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines have announced a change to the way that they will advertise the price of cruises. This change will go into effect for all new bookings July 1, 2024 and beyond.

A new California consumer protection law that go into effect on July 1, 2024 will require an advertised price to include port taxes, fees, and taxes.

Because of this, five of Carnival’s cruise lines have elected to include ALL the current taxes, fees and port expenses into the advertised price of a cruise.  They are:

• Princess Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Costa Cruises
• Cunard North America

Seabourn, Carnival’s ultra-luxury cruise line, already prices cruises this way. The other three of Carnival’s cruise lines (AIDA, P&O, P&O Australia) are not geared towards the U.S. market.

The total price of cruises will stay the same, just the advertised price will now include all the extras that get tacked onto the total cost of the cruise.

As an example, their websites will now show “$849 (includes all taxes and fees)” as the price.

Princess Cruises gave this example in an email a few minutes ago to travel professionals.

The cruise lines are asking travel professionals to start pricing cruises this way no later than July 1, 2024.

In the email to travel agents, Princess Cruises said the following about this new change:

“This will provide guests with the clear total price upfront for the cruise selected. Please understand this is only a change in the way the cruise prices are advertised but does not impact the total price consumers pay today or the portion of the cruise fare that is commissionable to travel advisors.”

These changes are being made because a new law by the State of California will make it illegal to show a price that is less than the actual price of a cruise.

Carnival’s five cruise lines are making this change for all of the U.S. and Canada so there is no confusion or “advertised price differences” depending on the state that you live in.

Cruise Fever recently published an article on whether cruise prices are too misleading, you can read it here. This change will help eliminate this problem where a cruise shows as $149 per person, but really costs $349 per person after adding in all of the extra fees/port charges.

Four months into the viral 9-month World Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, a couple has revealed an extra cost they didn’t originally plan on.

During an interview with Yahoo News UK, Joshua Terry and his fiancée Ina Ar said they are paying $25.99 per day for Wi-Fi on the ship.  This equates to $181.93 per week and about $6,500 for the duration of the 9-month voyage (if there are no other discounts included and Wi-Fi is purchased for every day).

Joshua said he tried to get free Wi-Fi as a recourse for some difficulty the couple had early on, like the cabin phone not working properly, but the two were offered a bottle of wine instead.

While it’s not clear if the couple pays for Wi-Fi on a daily basis, Joshua did say he has used the internet connection to post TikToks of the cruise and has even gained over 15,000 followers on the platform.

This World Cruise has become famous for the number of regular TikTok updates and reality-TV-show-like stories that pop up on a weekly basis.

Social media posting and constant filming on board has become a slightly sensitive topic on the ship as well. 

“There are people on the ship who are like, ‘I hate TikTokers and social media’. They’re here trying to enjoy the cruise, and there are people who are just filming. There was an announcement at one point where a staff member said: ‘We won’t have WiFi, so there’ll be no more TikToks for a bit’, and everyone cheered,” Joshua added.

Read more: Cost of Wi-Fi for Each Cruise Line

The cruise originally sold for around $60,000 per person, but the couple said they found that buying each individual leg of the cruise ended up being cheaper.

So instead of paying for one cruise, the couple bought 17 separate legs of the World Cruise.  These legs can be 2 to 4 weeks in length.

Booking these legs separately means that after each leg the couple has to pack up all their belongings and check back into a different cabin.

“They came out with a new one with 17 small legs and then it became the whole cruise, so then we noticed the price is much better than the chunky one booking,” Ina said.

Apparently, the hassle of calling a new cabin home every few weeks was worth the lower cost.

Joshua and Terry do not have to worry about a house payment or rent back home, however.

The couple sold their vehicle, investments, and even used some of their savings to go on this epic journey.  And as they are currently between houses and plan to move into a house once they get back, they have no extra expense of an unused home back on land.

Both quit their jobs, one as a comedy club manager and the other at an IT company. 

“We already got rid of everything and just hopped on the world cruise, so we’re not paying rent anywhere,” Joshua stated.

The couple has stated they would like to get married on the ship during this cruise, but itinerary changes have made it difficult to make solid arrangements so far.

The 9-month World Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas is a non-stop buzz generator it seems.

On a weekly basis new stories emerge from this epic voyage, making the cruise more like a reality TV show than a vacation.

The Ultimate World Cruise on Serenade of the Seas is labeled as “The most epic world cruise ever to set sail” by Royal Caribbean.  The trip will include 8 world wonders, 60+ countries with 274 nights on board.

Currently, Serenade of the Seas is sailing near the coast of Japan with an upcoming stop in Vietnam before the ship will sail to Singapore on April 24^th. 

Read more: 5 Ways to Money on Wi-Fi on a Cruise Ship

Our goal at Cruise Fever is simple, to help you have the best cruise vacation possible. With that being said, here are the biggest mistakes people make when taking a cruise on Carnival Cruise Line. 

Use these Carnival cruise tips wisely and feel free to add your own advice in the comment section below.

Not Purchasing FTTF – What’s FTTF? Faster to the Fun lets you skip lines during your cruise for a small fee.  You receive priority boarding, priority tender tickets, priority disembarkation, a priority line at guest services, and your cabin is ready as soon as you board the ship. 

After all, life is too short to wait in lines while on vacation.

Thinking All Ships Are the Same – Carnival Cruise Line has 27 cruise ships in service and each class varies in amenities offered on board.  Just because your last ship had an incredible new restaurant, doesn’t mean that the next ship that you book will have it.  The same is true for water parks and other features found on Carnival’s Fun Ships.

Each class of Carnival cruise ship is unique and only the Excel class have a roller coaster on the top deck.

Not Purchasing Drink Packages –  Drink packages offered on Carnival cruise ships can add to up real savings throughout your cruise.   An extra benefit is not having to worry about how much you are spending since every drink you order is already paid for.

Carnival offers CHEERS! and a package that includes unlimited soda.

Hitting the 15 Drink Limit –  Just because you are allowed up to 15 alcoholic drinks a day with CHEERS!, doesn’t mean you have drink that many.  As many cruisers point out, the break even point is around 5-6 drinks a day.

Not Checking For Price Drops – If you book an Early Saver Rate, you are eligible for price drops up to two days before your cruise.  This can add to up significant savings and onboard credit that you could be leaving on the table.  How to Check For Price Drops on Cruises

Thinking All Inside Cabins Are the Same – Carnival’s cheapest inside staterooms are Category 1A.  While the beds in most cruise ship cabins can be made into a queen size bed, the 1A staterooms have upper and lower bunk beds.  This is great for friends who are cruising, not so much for couples.

Think Port Stops Are Guaranteed –  Carnival does everything in their power to stick to the scheduled itinerary.  However, the cruise line does not control the weather and ports that require tendering (Grand Cayman, Belize, Half Moon Cay etc) can be bypassed due to rough seas and high wind.

Failing to Choose a Check-in Time – A few years ago, Carnival began testing staggered boarding and it has now been rolled out across the country. By not choosing a boarding time or waiting until the last minute to check in, you will likely be one of the last to board the ship and start your vacation.

Waiting to Purchase Shore Excursions – The most popular shore excursions can sell out quickly. If there is one that your heart is set on doing, don’t wait to purchase it.

View Cruise Deals on Carnival Cruise Line

Waiting to Purchase the ‘Behind the Fun’ Tour – Interested in going behind the scenes and seeing parts of the cruise ship that are off limits to passengers? The Behind the Fun tour is extremely limited it sells out quickly so book as soon as you can.

Bypassing Specialty Restaurants – Yes, the main dining room and buffet are included in your cruise fare. However, dining in specialty restaurants like the steakhouse or Bonsai Sushi can greatly enhance your cruise experience.  Especially when you are cruising for a special occasion.

Also, waiting to book specialty restaurants until later in the cruise could cause you to miss out.  Specialty restaurants tend to fill up near the end of the cruise so book early.

Not Dining in the Steakhouse On the First Night – When you dine in the steakhouse on the first night, you get a free bottle of wine.  And for those who do not drink (like myself), they brought us over a bottle of non-alcoholic.  Kudos to the Carnival staff for that.

Also, if you dine in the steakhouse on the second night of the cruise, you will receive a 50% discount on a premium bottle that is under $100 in value.

Not Booking Your Next Cruise On Board – By not booking your next Carnival cruise while onboard, you’ll lose out on extra perks that can include 50% deposits, $50 in onboard credit, and a two category upgrade.

Note: This article was updated in April 2024.

Since cruise cabin walls and ceilings are typically made of metal, many cruisers bring magnets for all kinds of purposes.

Some will use magnet hooks to hang up hats and coats.  Others will use magnet clips for organizing daily planners, excursion tickets, etc. 

In fact, there is a myriad of things you can do with magnets in a cruise cabin, and this has been done for years by veteran cruisers.

But Carnival Cruise Line is making a policy clear on the use of magnets in certain areas of the stateroom.

In a post on his social media account, Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald confirmed that passengers are not allowed to hang things from their ceiling.

“There were multiple posts about this from various people yesterday and I want to confirm that we do not allow anything like this to be done.”

“Nothing hanging or taped or magnetised or tied to the ceiling is allowed and for obvious safety reasons. Thank you for your understanding everyone,” Heald stated on his Facebook page.

Along with the policy update, Heald posted a picture of portable fans hung from magnetic hooks on the ceiling of a cruise cabin.

The post generated almost 600 comments from guests already.   While many guests said they often bring portable fans to use on the desk or floor of the cabin, others brought up other items they typically will hang from the ceiling.

One of the most common questions was on the topic of CPAP machines.

“We do the cord across the ceiling for my husband’s cpap. Have done it on many many cruises and will continue to do it until we are told not to. They should have outlets by the bed,” one person replied.

Shortly after making this announcement, Heald made another clarification on the cruise cabin policy.

“After conversation with the beards I should’ve noted that we do allow those people using CPAP machines to use magnets to attach the wiring across the ceiling down to the PowerPoint by the dresser. But nothing, nothing at all can be hung from the ceiling.  I do apologize for any confusion,” Heald added.

Some cruise passengers use magnets for hanging curtains as a room separator or even hanging up clothes to dry.

This new policy means that this would not be allowed.  For now it appears that using magnetic hooks on the walls of a cabin will still be permitted, but if there is another update we will let our readers know.

Read more: 25 cruise cabin hacks to make your stateroom more livable

On a few cruises, I’ve seen passengers do and say things that unintentionally got the crew into trouble.  At the very least, give them a few headaches.

I’ve even been guilty of it myself, asking questions that weren’t helpful, or thinking I was being helpful when I actually made things more difficult for a crew member.

This article highlights some of those behaviors that most cruise ship employees would appreciate if we all stopped doing.

If you’re on a cruise, your vacation is taking place in the middle of someone else’s workplace.  So, while you’re sipping an ice-cold beverage in a padded lounger, a crew member is hard at work behind the scenes.

But sometimes cruise passengers make the jobs of the crew a little more complicated.  Good intentions can get someone in trouble, even when the opposite was intended.

1. Offering gifts they can’t accept

A few months ago, Carnival Brand Ambassador John Health addressed a passenger complaint on his social media account.  A woman was upset that her cabin steward would not accept a cake she had made at home and sneaked onto the ship.

Not only was the crew member not allowed to accept this kind of gift from a cruise passenger, but doing so could have other consequences, namely food poisoning.

Cookies, snacks, and other homemade items should not be offered as gifts, and Carnival recently offered new guidelines to passengers who were accustomed to bringing these gifts from home.

“Please only bring something that is factory sealed and still in the packet or box”, Heald said.

This is for the crew’s safety and well being.  If you want to offer a gift to a crew member, a cash tip is always appreciated.

Read more:  10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make

2. Advertising how a crew member went above and beyond

It’s a nice gesture.  A crew member will go out of their way to grant a request or solve a problem and then the guest proceeds to post the story online.

Here’s the issue.  The “extra thing” the cruise employee did is read by other potential cruisers who will then make the same requests or have the same expectations of their stateroom attendants.

I remember when a certain “influencer” found a tray of chocolate covered strawberries in their cabin.  The person immediately took to social media, stating that this is what you can expect when sailing with this cruise line.  The problem is that this was a special circumstance and not everyone gets free chocolate-covered strawberries in their cabin.

If a cruise member does something for you that is beyond the scope of their regular job, you should be discreet about how you show your gratitude.  Don’t broadcast to everyone on board that this is what they should also request of other crew members.

When filling out the post-cruise survey, however, this is the perfect time to mention that crew member’s name. 

3. Monopolizing the time of the crew

There’s nothing wrong with being friendly with the crew and talking to them and asking questions.  Just be mindful of their time.  If you spend 30 minutes talking to your cabin steward about how amazing your shore excursion was that day, that’s half an hour taken from their schedule in which they have a lot of other things to do.

Be cordial and enjoy short conversations with the crew when they are in the middle of a shift, but don’t block the hallway so you can give a crew member your list of cruise experiences.

Read the room.  Most of the time you can tell when someone has a lot on their plate and needs to get some things done.  Body language can tell you if the person wants to take a break and talk or really needs to get back to work.

4. Doing the crew’s job for them

It might be slightly mind-boggling to some of you, but there are some cruisers who are so used to cleaning up at home that they will start doing the same on a ship.  After dinner they might start clearing the table themselves out of habit.

The problem is that this could make the waiter or waitress look bad.  You might think you’re helping them, but you’re taking away part of their job.   Their boss could look down on the fact that a cruise passenger did their job for them.

There’s a method to the madness when it comes to clearing a table or cleaning up on the pool deck.  Try not to interfere with the process even if you have to hold yourself back from stacking all those plates on the table.

Read more: How a better crew makes for a better cruise

5. Asking about their salary

This goes for any overly personal questions, but I hear this one get asked way too often on cruise ships.  Asking how much a crew member gets paid crosses the line.  You might be curious and be dying to know, but don’t throw common sense and general etiquette out the window when you’re on board the ship. 

You can ask questions and get to know the crew, though.  This doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly.  In fact, I recommend cruisers take the time to know a little more about their server or stateroom attendant.  But make sure it’s out of care and kindness rather than sheer curiosity or in trying to “get the scoop” on cruise ship workers.

Being away from family is hard, and it’s something every crew member has to endure.  It’s just part of the job.  I will often ask about their families and when they expect to see them again.  Just remember not to ask about potentially embarrassing or polarizing topics.

6. Being Late

Did you know that if a cruise ship leaves a port of call later than expected it could face extra fees? 

Cruise ships pay port fees at every port of call.  This is built into the price you paid for your cruise.  But when a ship waits for late passengers who are frantically trying to get back, it can face extra penalty fees in some situations.

If you want to cause fewer headaches for the crew of a ship, get back on time. 

Read more: The biggest reason people miss their ship in a foreign port

7. Being a little too friendly

Flirting with the crew is highly frowned upon.  Even if you’re just joking around, this kind of behavior could get you in some hot water. 

Crew members are not allowed to exhibit any kind of romantic behavior with guests on board.  If an employee on the ship is caught fraternizing with passengers, they could face a reprimand or even lose their jobs.

Crew are not even allowed into passenger cabins (except for cleaning of course).  Most cruise lines have a no socializing policy for anything beyond a friendly chat.

There may be more leeway when a crew member is off duty, but the same basic rules still apply.  Usually, ship entertainers have more freedom as well, as they are more like subcontractors on the ship.

8. Taking pictures of the crew

Always ask before you take a picture of one of the crew.  Contrary to common belief, not everyone wants to have their picture plastered all over social media while they work.   Ask before taking a picture and ask if you can post it online. 

I only recommend taking pictures of the crew so you can remember their names for the post-cruise survey.  This way you can get the spelling on the nametag right and give the proper credit to a crew member.

9. Using the post-cruise survey to vent

Rather than complain about an issue with someone on board the ship, some cruisers will vent their frustration in the post-cruise survey instead.

And while this survey is the perfect place to talk about how you enjoyed your cruise, if you have a problem while on the ship it’s best to talk to the staff about it right away. 

Some cruisers, trying to be polite, will just grin-and-bear-it when there is a problem a stateroom attendant can actually solve.  In fact, a cabin steward would rather you bring up an issue with them rather than bring it up in the post-cruise survey.  These surveys have consequences, both for good and bad.  It can lead to an employee’s promotion or to getting someone in trouble. 

Don’t wait until the cruise is over to complain about an issue.  Kindly mention it to someone on board and get it solved so you can enjoy your vacation. 

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At least 4,000 cruise passengers were notified that their upcoming cruise will be facing some itinerary changes.

Princess Cruises ship, Sun Princess, is canceling a visit to Santorini, Greece on a cruise scheduled in June of this year.  The original date for visiting the popular port was June 11, 2024.

According to news reports, the cruise line sent an email notification to impacted guests, citing overcrowding and congestion as the reason for the change.

 “Please note that there is a change to our scheduled itinerary. Due to cruise ship congestion, we will no longer call to Santorini, Greece.  We apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment this change may cause,” the email stated.

A New Port to Replace Santorini

The port of call at Santorini will be replaced with a visit to Chania, a city located in the northwestern region of Crete with a population around 54,000.  Santorini’s population is estimated to be around 15,000 residents.

Chania is known for its Venetian harbor that was built during the 1500’s.  Cruise travelers will have the chance to explore some of the best beaches in Crete and explore some Roman history that is embedded in this quaint cruise port.

Cause of Congestion

According to Cruisemapper there are four other cruise ships scheduled to dock in Santorini on June 11.  These ships include:

• Star Clipper
• Costa Fascinosa
• MSC Divina
• Odyssey of the Seas

While Star Clipper is a smaller vessel with only 170 passengers, the other ships combine for a passenger total that rivals the population of Santorini.

At double capacity the total passenger count of these four ships is about 11,727.  If Sun Princess were to call on this port that would put the passenger count at 16,000+, more than the population of Santorini.

Itinerary changes often happen when ships have not confirmed plans until later dates and by that time other ships have to rearrange their schedule.

While cruise ports like Santorini partially rely on tourism, overcrowding can negatively impact the port’s infrastructure and flow of traffic.  In short, with so many cruisers visiting a small port at once the result can be chaotic, frustrating both tourists and locals.

According to Greek Reporter the process of passengers getting of the ships in Santorini can take up to 3 hours.   Many visitors are usually scheduled on excursions to see Oia, a quant picturesque village 30 minutes away from the port.

And while the village is free to see, tour operators make money by transporting guests back and forth, causing congestion on the roads during peak season.

Read more: Skipping port: 8 reasons your cruise ship might change the itinerary

Sun Princess

Cruise Fever recently had the chance to sail on Sun Princess, the cruise line’s newest in the fleet of 16 ships.

The new Sphere-class ship is 177,882 gross tons, has a length of 1,133 feet, and at double capacity can carry 4,314 guests.

Sun Princess is the first LNG-powered ship for Princess and is the largest ship commissioned for the cruise line.  Sister ship, Star Princess, is scheduled to be completed in 2025.