Posts in category: Diplomacy

Carnival Corporation has expanded their unserved meal donation program to another cruise port in the Caribbean. Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras was the first ship to donate unserved meals at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.

Carnival, the world’s largest cruise company, started a Less Left Over Food program in 2017 and has been expanding it ever since. They are now donating unserved meals in the Dominican Republic, their second Latin American country.

While Mardi Gras was the first Carnival ship to donate meals, the program is expected to quickly roll to every Carnival cruise ship that visits Amber Cove.

Approximately 200 portions of prepared, unserved meals from the ship were provided to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata, Carnival’s local program partner, for distribution to area organizations assisting families and the elderly.

With the addition of the Dominican Republic, the program from Carnival Corporation has expanded to 19 ports since launching in 2017.

As of year-end 2025, the program has provided more than 320,000 meal portions to global communities since its inception, with plans to continue expanding the model into more cruise ports.

Vicky Rey, vice president of government relations for Latin America, Carnival Corporation, gave the following statement:

“Bringing our surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic is an important part of expanding this work across Latin America,” said. This work depends on clear processes, strong coordination with government and local partners, and a shared commitment to supporting the local community.

“Amber Cove’s long-standing presence in Puerto Plata gives us a strong foundation to build on. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata for serving as our local program partner, to our business partner Fabio Valenzuela, advisor to Rannik Group, and to government authorities for helping make this possible.”

Claritza Rochtte Peralta de Senior, governor of Puerto Plata, added:

“We value Carnival Corporation’s continued investment in Puerto Plata and its work with the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata to help ensure these meals reach organizations serving people in need. This donation reflects the value of bringing the right partners together to support communities across the province.”

After already turning one of their ships into an adult-only experience, a British cruise line with five ships in the fleet has announced plans to turn another vessel into a kid-free zone.

Along with the change to adult-only, the ship will be getting an escape room and a few other fun spaces for adults.

The ship making the big transition is Marella Discovery 2. Marella Cruises just announced that instead of just testing the waters with temporary child-free itineraries, it is making the change permanent ahead of the winter 2027–2028 season.

Every single kids’ club, teen zone, and youth play space currently onboard is being completely ripped out. By November 2027, the 1,836-passenger ship will only have adults on board.

So, what is taking the place of these spaces once dedicated to kids? The onboard space is being filled with four brand-new entertainment concepts built strictly for the 17-and-over crowd.

Guests can expect to find a hidden speakeasy bar, a high-tech escape room, a private karaoke lounge, and an upscale arts-and-crafts studio.

Adult-Only is a Growing Trend

While an adults-only transition is big news on its own, it’s the broader strategy that really highlights where the industry is heading.

Carnival recently has been experimenting with adults-only casino cruises, and even the luxury line Oceania Cruises has started going completely child-free earlier this year.

Almost Half the Fleet Going Child-Free

The British-based line, owned by travel giant TUI, already operates a dedicated adults-only ship, Marella Explorer 2, which has been a huge hit with travelers since it debuted in 2019.

By permanently transitioning Marella Discovery 2 in late 2027, nearly half of the line’s entire five-ship fleet will be dedicated exclusively to the grown-up crowd. I suppose we’ll use that term “grown-ups” loosely here.

The move is a direct response to a rise in guest demand. More and more cruisers are actively seeking out a relaxed, casual cruise vacation that doesn’t feel like a floating theme park.

While those waterslides and amusement part vibes work well in the shock-and-awe commercials, it doesn’t always work well when hard-working parents just want a break from it all.

But don’t worry if you’re a family cruiser that still wants to sail with Marella Cruises. The cruise line’s remaining ships (Marella Voyager, Marella Explorer, and Marella Discovery) will stay fully family-friendly to balance things out.

Where is the Ship Sailing?

The newly revamped, adult-only Marella Discovery 2 will be heading to sunny winter hubs across Europe and North Africa starting in November 2027.

The ship will split its time homeporting out of Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands through March 2028.

It will also debut a brand-new seven-night “Atlantic Fusion” itinerary, taking guests roundtrip to destinations like Lanzarote, La Palma, and Agadir, Morocco.

By March and April of 2028, the vessel will shift its homeport to Malaga, Spain, running shorter regional and repositioning cruises along the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar.

If you want to grab a cabin on these new adult-only sailings, you won’t have to wait until 2027. The itineraries officially go on sale next week on July 2, 2026.

Chris Hackney, CEO at Marella Cruises said about the news:

 “Our winter 2027 program will focus on the regeneration of Marella Discovery 2 returning as an adults-only ship for a second consecutive winter season. With demand for adults-only cruising continuing to grow, we’re investing in four new onboard concepts to enhance the experience even further. With brand-new itineraries, festive overnight stays, repositional cruises, transatlantic cruises and an expansion of 39 hotels for our cruise and stay offering, we’re continuing to evolve our holidays to give customers more ways to cruise with Marella Cruises.”

Just two weeks after we reported that Celebrity Cruises canceled a cruise because it had been chartered, Royal Caribbean has sent out a similar notification for Allure of the Seas.

Guests who had booked the March 7, 2027, sailing on the Oasis-class ship were sent notifications from the cruise line stating that their cruise was officially canceled.

The reason? The entire 5,718 double-capacity ship has been booked by a private charter.

The email from Royal Caribbean stated the following:

“We’re reaching out to let you know that, regrettably, we must cancel our March 7, 2027, Allure of the Seas sailing, as it has been chartered.”

The cruise line acknowledged it’s not ideal and apologized for the disruption to vacation plans.

Although it’s not the message you want to receive after weeks of planning and preparation for a cruise, Royal Caribbean is giving impacted guests a few options to sweeten the pot a bit.

Royal Caribbean is offering several options:

• Automatic rebooking on the March 21, 2027 sailing (same ship, same itinerary) with your original stateroom protected at the lower of your original fare or current pricing. The only different is that the cruise departs 2 weeks later.
• A nice onboard credit: $100 for interior/oceanview/balcony cabins, $200 for suites, plus $50 extra per third and additional guest.
• Full refund option with no penalties if you’d rather cancel and go a different route.
• Waived change fees and some help with non-refundable transportation costs (up to $200–$400 per person depending on domestic/international).

If you do nothing, they’ll move you over to the later sailing. Not perfect, especially if you had specific dates locked in because of your schedule’s availability, but it’s better than getting left high and dry.

So What’s Going On With All These Charters?

Private companies and groups have been chartering ships for years. It’s not a new thing. But they do seem to be popping up more often lately, especially on larger ships like Allure of the Seas and Celebrity Equinox.

Often charters are just for part of the ship, but I’ve been seeing more full ship charters taking over sailings in the last few months.

In this case, the ship has been chartered by Atlantis Events for an all-gay Caribbean cruise.

Is This Becoming More Common?

It’s not unheard of, but it’s happening more on popular ships and popular itineraries.

Cruise lines love the guaranteed revenue from a full charter, and with demand for private events growing, we might see a few more of these pop up in the coming years.

For any sailings that are at least a year out, it’s important to have those notifications from the cruise line turned on.  As we always say, it’s important to have flexible travel plans, and travel insurance is pretty much a must these days.

While Royal Caribbean is doing more than their fair share to compensate impacted cruisers in this case, other travel costs that you might have booked on your own might have to come out of pocket. That’s where “cancel for any reason” travel insurance can give you some peace of mind when you spend several thousand dollars on a much-needed vacation.

A viral video of a huge fight near customs in PortMiami has been spreading like wildfire online. After the arrival of Carnival Conquest, a massive brawl broke out that reportedly began between two families.

A cruise vacation is supposed to be a relaxing experience, and the goal is to come back refreshed and recharged. But for more than a dozen cruisers, it was the post-cruise customs line that set the stage for a massive fight.

By now, a few videos of the fight have surfaced. Phone cameras captured part of the fight as pushing, shoving, grappling, and punching ensued in the chaos of the moment.

According to news reports, two women started the fight. One dressed in a black dress went under a divider and began throwing fists at another woman in polka dot pajamas.

Another individual joined in the fight and grabbed the hair of one of the women.

The fighting individuals struggled to stay on their feet as the video shows them in their bare feet or just socks on the tile floor.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection got involved to try to break up the fight even as several more people joined in the brawl and create even more chaos.

Besides fists and elbows, luggage was also flying. In one video a suitcase can be seen being tossed into the fray.

The fight went on for a few minutes before it was finally peaceful again, but the damage had been done for at least 16 people who are now banned from Carnival Cruise Line for life.

None of the people involved decided to press charges so no arrests were made. There is no clear answer as to what exactly started the fight, and no serious injuries were reported.

According to a statement sent to DailyMail, the cruise line stated,

“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of US Customs and Border Patrol. We are appreciative of law enforcement’s swift response and handling of the matter. We do not tolerate such behavior.”

The incident does not seem to have impacted the next cruise on Carnival Conquest as the 2,980 double-capacity ship was able to leave on schedule on a 4-day sailing to The Bahamas.

In today’s earnings call, Carnival Corporation announced that they actually cut fuel consumption by 5.6% to help combat rising fuel costs.

Even though the cruise line’s stock is down along with the overall market today, the numbers on the top and bottom line were surprisingly good.

High gas prices are bad news for cruise operators.  And with the price of a barrel of oil spiking in the last couple months due to the conflict in Iran, cruise lines have had to get creative in order to maintain profit margins.

Combating Higher Oil Prices

Let’s look at Carnival’s (CCL) actual net income, keeping in mind that Carnival Corp is the parent company of cruise lines like Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises, and of course Carnival Cruise Line.

On the company’s earnings call today, Chief Financial Officer David Bernstein gave some insight into the brand’s ability to keep profits growing despite the major energy headwinds, saying:

“Net income of $569 million was more than 20% higher than the prior year, despite a nearly 30% increase in our fuel price.”

Walking away with a 20% profit jump when your fuel bill spikes by almost a third is a pretty impressive feat. It shows that the company is finding ways to run smarter and save money where it counts.

The Battle for Efficiency

A major part of that savings came directly from the engine rooms and navigation bridges.

Carnival did not just luck into these numbers. They actively cut back on how much fuel their ships burn.

CEO Josh Weinstein emphasized this focus on efficiency during the call, pointing out that this quarter’s success builds on previous conservation efforts:

“Fuel efficiency improved by more than 5%, building on last year’s over 6% efficiency gain and further supporting our cost performance. What stands out most is that we achieved these results despite operating through a period of extreme geopolitical volatility, consumer sentiment at historically low levels, and unusually high fuel prices.”

David Bernstein later clarified exactly how much this specific green initiative padded the bottom line, adding that part of their financial outperformance “came from improvements in depreciation expense and fuel consumption, where we delivered an over 5% year-over-year reduction.”

Back in 2022, Carnival signed a major fleet-wide deal to aggressively roll out air lubrication systems.  This is a tech that basically pumps a continuous layer of tiny bubbles under the ship’s hull so it glides through the water with way less friction.  This means better fuel efficiency.

On top of that, they are using automated “Power Saver Packs” across the fleet. These are upgrades that overhaul the ship’s heating and air conditioning systems to run much more efficiently.

Even small changes, when rolled out across more than 90 ships across all brands, can make a big difference.

Guidance

While Carnival did move their full-year earnings expectations up by a tiny penny, they also had to admit that ongoing global tensions are forcing itinerary changes in Europe. And this is putting pressure on their upcoming revenue.

David Bernstein noted that “Cruise costs without fuel per ALBD are now expected to be up approximately 1.3% on a normalized basis…” for the full year.

When investors see upcoming costs creeping up while future growth is being trimmed, they get a little nervous.

What This Means for Your Next Cruise

For the average cruiser, this is exactly what you want to hear. When a cruise line figures out how to absorb a 30% spike in oil prices through pure efficiency and smart cost control, it protects the consumer from higher fare prices, or at least it should.

It means they don’t have to slap high fuel surcharges onto your booking or hike up other prices to keep their heads above water.

Just a couple months ago StarDream Cruises announced they were adding a $19 to $26 per person fuel surcharge for their Asian itineraries. The big 3 cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian) have stated they have no plans to add a fuel surcharge.

So far, it looks like Carnival is filling ships (at 104% occupancy from this earnings report), passengers are spending money, and the fleet is fairly lean.

A cruiser had his passport stolen in Rome just days before he was supposed to hop on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. He missed the first day of his vacation but still managed to catch up with the ship and board successfully at the second port.

Here’s how it all happened and how you can make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

At Cruise Fever, we get questions all the time about passports. The most common point of contention is whether or not you should carry it with you off the ship. And in most cases, it really depends on the port.

The cruiser in this case shared the whole experience on a Reddit thread in r/Cruise, hoping it would help others who might face the same nightmare situation.

 “I had a hard time finding any advice online that was helpful, so posting in case someone in the future experiences this and needs help,” he wrote.

His bag was on the ground at an outdoor cafe table while he sat on a low wall reading the menu. We might see this as the first problem.

Someone at the next table used their leg to subtly pull the bag closer. “I never saw or heard anything until I realized the bag was gone.”

And of course, the traveler’s passport and other important items were in the bag.

The timing could not have been worse. It was an American holiday weekend, which meant the U.S. Embassy was closed.

The emergency hotline mostly led to automated recordings, and the live operators he managed to reach were not very helpful. He had no choice but to wait until Monday morning to go to the embassy in person.

Once at the embassy, things moved much faster. “The process was simple enough,” he said. He brought a police report, his driver’s license, a photo of the stolen passport, and his travel plans.

They issued an emergency passport the same day. He quickly flew to Catania, caught up with the ship, and guest services helped him check in.

He also learned an important lesson about cruise lines: You need to notify them right away so they hold your reservation.

They would not confirm he could board later until they knew he had a replacement passport physically in hand.

What to Do If This Happens to You

If you lose your passport abroad right before or during a cruise, you must stay calm and act quickly. Here are the exact steps you need to take:

• File a police report immediately: You will need this official documentation for the embassy and potential insurance claims.
• Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate: Go as soon as they open. Bring photos of your documents, any secondary ID you still have, and your full travel itinerary.
• Notify your cruise line or travel agent right away: Keep detailed notes and be persistent, as different customer service reps may give different answers. They must know you have valid travel documents before they will clear you to board at a later port.

One traveler who went through something similar years ago said that while getting in touch can be stressful, the embassy staff are typically very helpful once you actually get through to them.

Real-World Advice from Fellow Cruisers

From the comments in the original thread, experienced cruisers offered real-world advice for protecting your belongings in high-theft areas (like Rome).

One traveler wrote, “I usually just keep my bag/sling on my lap at restaurants with high theft.”

Another recommended, “Bags go between my feet and wrapped around one of my legs.”

Many suggested ditching traditional bags entirely in favor of a theft-resistant crossbody bag with locking zippers, a neck pouch worn under your shirt, or a thin money belt or fanny pack concealed under clothing.

“Always keep your passport, credit cards, and all your money on your body,” one person advised.

Protecting Your Documents

As a travel writer who has covered the cruise industry and global tourism for years, I would add two important things to this list:

First, always make color copies of your passport and important documents before you leave home. Store digital copies securely in your email or on a cloud drive accessible from your phone.

Having these digital backups makes getting a replacement at an embassy significantly faster.

Second, never underestimate the value of travel insurance that covers trip interruption and document replacement. It can provide peace of mind (something you overlook until you start stressing out) and often covers the extra costs of last-minute flights and hotels required to catch up with your ship.

The original poster didn’t say how much money was spent to catch up with the ship in this case, but I’m sure it wasn’t cheap since it was last minute.

Popular European ports like Rome, Barcelona, and Paris are famous for highly skilled pickpockets.

While a photo of your passport on your phone might work at some tourist attractions, countries like Italy require you to carry actual, physical ID. Do not take chances with it.

Losing your passport in a foreign country can be scary, but this story proves it does not have to end your vacation or be the end of the world.

File the report, get to the embassy early, communicate constantly with the cruise line, and use smarter ways to carry your valuables. A little extra caution goes a long way.

My biggest tip is just to always be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded or extra touristy areas. Assume your bag or wallet is a target.

This doesn’t have to ruin your vacation though. You still want to marvel at ancient ruins and majestic sites without constant worry. That’s why making a habit of keeping your bag or wallet protected should become second nature.

On Friday, June 19, 2026, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas docked in Seward, Alaska, with a sad discovery on its bow. A 61-foot adult fin whale was found dead, as the ship’s bulbous boy carried the body of the whale right into port.

Social media posts on Reddit showed pictures of the body of the whale lodged on the bow of the ship. And these photos are getting quite a flurry of comments from the community, with one post racking up almost 300 opinions.

Wildlife officials later suspected that the whale, which belongs to an endangered species, was pregnant.

The Big Question: How Did It Die?

Whether the whale was already dead when the ship picked it up or the ship struck the whale is the key question the investigation is looking to answer.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and the Alaska SeaLife Center are currently investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of death.

There are two main possibilities under review:

• A live ship strike: The cruise ship collided with the whale while traveling.
• An accidental pickup: The whale was already dead from other causes (like sickness or a previous injury) and its body was floating in the water when the ship ran into it.

To find out, scientists are performing an animal autopsy, called a necropsy.

They are examining the whale’s body for internal bruising or broken bones, which would prove whether the whale was alive during the impact.

Ovation of the Sea struck and killed this fin whale in Seward Alaska
by
u/pizzaboy420 in
royalcaribbean

Different Perspectives on the Incident

The event has sparked different reactions from the cruise line, marine experts, and environmental advocates.

Social media is already blowing up with strong views on both sides of the conversation. Some are pointing out this is just the second time the 4,180-passenger ship has sailed into the Alaskan cruise port, and others are wondering if the ship’s radar could have warned the ship ahead of time.

A self-proclaimed merchant mariner on Reddit claimed that it would be virtually impossible for the ship to see the whale at night and most radar systems would not be of much help, especially since the whale was at water level.

The Cruise Line’s Response

Royal Caribbean Group stated that they are cooperating fully with NOAA and are waiting for the final necropsy results. In a statement, the company said:

“We are saddened to hear that one of our ships struck a whale while on its way to Seward. We take any impact to marine ecosystems very seriously. The ship immediately reported the incident to the proper authorities.”

Guidelines for the Public

The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is handling the ongoing investigation. They have released a few important guidelines for locals and visitors in the area:

• Stay off the beach: The public is asked to stay away from the necropsy site to ensure everyone’s safety and to give the scientific team the space they need to collect samples.
• It is illegal to take parts: Federal law under the Endangered Species Act strictly prohibits anyone from collecting tissue, baleen, or any other parts of the whale. The only exception is for Alaska Natives collecting materials for subsistence or traditional handicrafts.
• Hotline for tips: Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the 24-hour enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.

If you’ve ever cruised to Santorini, Greece you know how important bus transportation is for the port. In fact, it’s so vital for the cruise industry that one bus strike is causing all kinds of problems for cruise ships that want to stop there.

Ships have to anchor off the coast when calling on Santorini, but even after passengers make it to land, another trip is necessary to see the iconic views the Greek port is known for.

Thanks to a bus strike in the area, three cruise ships from three different cruise lines have had to cancel or postpone their visits that were originally scheduled for Monday June 22, 2026.

Why the Ships Canceled Their Calls

The cancellations happened after Santorini’s tourist bus association called a one-day strike. They completely refused to transport cruise passengers for the day.

Cruise lines rely entirely on these local buses to run their shore excursions. They need them to safely move thousands of people away from the water.

Because of the strike, cruise lines had no choice but to adjust on the fly. Here are the three cruise ships impacted so far:

• MSC Sinfonia: Canceled its Monday stop completely.
• Norwegian Pearl: Canceled its Monday stop completely.
• Celebrity Ascent: Postponed its arrival by 24 hours. It shifted its port visit to Tuesday, June 23.

Cruisers on the NCL and MSC ships faced a tough break. There were no nearby alternate ports available on such short notice.

Instead of visiting Santorini, these ships will enjoy a day at sea.

The “70-30 Rule” at the Center of it All

The issue at the heart of the canceled visits is a controversial new passenger plan. It was introduced by Santorini’s port authority and is known as the “70-30” rule.

This new policy explains exactly why the bus operators walked out.

Under the new rule, 70 percent of passengers must get off at the Old Port of Fira. This port drops you at the very bottom of a sheer cliff.

To get up to town, you have to climb 588 steep steps, ride a donkey, or wait for the single cable car.

That cable car can only handle about 1,200 people an hour.

The remaining 30 percent of passengers are sent to Athinios Port, also known as the New Port. This is the only port with an actual road. It is the only place where full-sized tour buses can safely park, load up, and drive guests up the mountain.

The bus association called the new setup “dysfunctional”. They argued that local officials forced the plan through without parking facilities or organized meeting points.

Drivers also warned that forcing most cruise visitors to the Old Port creates a massive bottleneck.

Multiple ships can drop 8,000 people at the cliff base at the same time. Travelers then face hours waiting for the cable car in the scorching summer heat with zero shade or water.

Greece Still Battling Overtourism

This local bus strike is the latest in a pretty big summer crackdown on overtourism. The issue is hitting the Greek Isles hard this month.

On June 1st, Greece launched a strict €20 peak-season tax. The tax applies to every single cruise passenger stepping onto Santorini. The island also has a rigid new 8,000-passenger daily limit.

Because of these changes, the relationship between international cruise lines and local authorities is not exactly rainbows and unicorns. But cruisers are hoping the two sides can find a peaceful resolution to avoid cancellations like this again in the future.

Local shop owners and restaurants are in a tough spot. They are losing the income of thousands of tourists in a single day. Still, the bus operators insist they won’t drive until local authorities sit down for real solutions.

Between the three ships that are no longer visiting Santorini on Monday, it totals about 8,500 passengers, with Celebrity Ascent being the largest ship which accommodates around 3,260 at double capacity.

That’s a lot of missed revenue for local operators.

A man who used a fake ID to board the 4,600-passenger Discovery Princess last year has been sentenced to prison.

The Philippine national, 38-year-old Enrico Ronquillo, used one stolen ID to board the cruise ship and another to get a cash advance of $20,000 from the ship’s casino.

But before he could skip the rest of the cruise and take a flight from Alaska’s capital with the cash, border patrol agents spotted the red flags and spoiled his plans.

A “Catch Me If You Can” High Seas Scheme

This crazy story sounds more like the plot of a movie more than anything else. In a modern day “Catch Me if You Can” type scheme, Ronquillo admitted that he had committed this type of fraud on cruise ships before.

So, this wasn’t his first rodeo. We don’t have details as to how much he got away with during his previous cruises or what ship’s he booked.

But since he had used at least two stolen identities for this sailing alone, it’s safe to assume he used a stolen credit card to even pay for this vacation/job which began in Seattle.

Getting on the ship was the first part of the job. Grabbing a $20,000 cash advance from the Princess Cruises casino was the main goal.

And it appears this happened not in one lump sum, but cash withdrawals were made on at least four occasions at the cruise ship’s casino.

According to federal agency records detailing the initial indictment, Ronquillo even went as far as forging an IRS Form W-9 using a victim’s stolen name, signature, and Social Security number to keep the casino from flagging his cash-out streak.

Feds Board the Cruise Ship in Juneau

According to an affidavit, a Customs and Border Protection officer was looking for people on the ship that may have committed credit card fraud. Agents realized that Ronquillo did not match the photo ID he had used, and on May 14, 2025, CBP officers boarded the cruise ship when it docked in Juneau, Alaska, and searched the man.

That’s when they found all the evidence they needed: two birth certificates, a California driver’s license that appeared to be fake, and the biggest smoking gun… a huge amount of cash in his backpack.

Ronquillo was indicted by a federal grand jury back in June of 2025 after pleading guilty to one count of false impersonation and one count of aggravated identity theft.

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Ronquillo was handed a 53-month prison sentence in addition to one-year supervised release after completion of his sentence.

And more importantly, he must pay over $25,000 in restitution.

Because he is a lawful permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen, the court judgment also subjects him to mandatory deportation proceedings the moment he finishes his time behind bars.

U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska said that “Mr. Ronquillo knowingly used stolen identities and personal information of innocent U.S. citizens to gain passage on a cruise ship and enrich himself at its casino.”

“This fraudster stole the identity of a U.S. citizen and impersonated the victim while on board a cruise ship, where he then continued to commit financial fraud crimes on the high seas,” stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Pomerantz of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.

Ronquillo said that has was working with someone else in Seattle, and the plan was to split the cash with them.

If Customs and Border Protection agents did not board the ship when they did, the Philippine national who was living legally in the U.S. might have gotten away with it. He already had a plane ticket to fly out of Juneau the day he was arrested.

A Wild Airport Escape Attempt

But the dramatic story didn’t end there.

After his initial arrest in Juneau, he was released on bail a few days later. As detailed in official court documents tracking his escape attempt, he cut off his ankle monitor and headed straight to the Juneau airport to escape.

He even made it through the TSA security checkpoint and was waiting to board his escape flight when the Juneau Police Department caught up with him and once again arrested him.

Ronquillo is currently being held at the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility. While his primary 53-month sentence has officially been locked in for the cruise ship heist, he is scheduled for a follow-up court readiness hearing on July 16, 2026, to clear up the remaining legal fallout from his wild airport escape attempt.

In the end, his biggest gamble wasn’t hitting the ship’s casino and betting everything on black, it was betting that federal border agents wouldn’t notice he looked nothing like his ID.

Carnival Cruise Line has officially canceled a 16-day repositioning cruise on Carnival Splendor that was set to sail right after the ship’s upcoming dry dock.

The cancellation of the 2-week sailing has some wondering if the cruise line is planning on making bigger changes to the ship or perhaps the vessel just requires more thorough maintenance than originally thought.

The scrapped voyage, which was scheduled to depart from Singapore for Sydney on September 1, 2027, was removed from the schedule following changes to the vessel’s planned shipyard maintenance.

Impacted guests and travel advisors were notified of the cancellation on Thursday,  June 18, 2026.

While it’s never fun to receive a cancellation notice for an upcoming cruise, changes like this are fairly common, especially when a cruise is well over a year out.

After looking closely at the timeline for the ship’s itinerary and dry dock, it might explain why Carnival made this decision.

Dry Dock Timeline

The notification letter sent out by Carnival specifically mentions a “change in the dry dock schedule for Carnival Splendor in August 2027.”

While we still don’t have exact details as to what changes will be made during this dry dock, the timeline between the dry dock and 16-day sailing was pretty tight.

Before this change, this was the schedule of operations for the 18-year-old ship:

• July 31 to August 15, 2027: A 15-day cruise carrying passengers north from Sydney up to Singapore.
• August 15 to August 31, 2027: The ship enters a Singapore shipyard completely empty for routine dry dock maintenance.
• September 1, 2027: The Canceled Cruise. The ship welcomes passengers back on board in Singapore to start the 16-day sailing back home to Sydney.

Because the canceled cruise was scheduled to depart the literal day after the dry dock was supposed to finish, even a small hiccup would have been a problem.

Why the Change?

It’s possible the shipyard simply let Carnival know that they needed to extend the timeline for the dry dock or that the ship requires a little extra TLC.

Carnival Splendor was built in 2008, meaning she will be turning 19 years old in 2027.

Under international maritime regulations, specifically the Safety of Life at Sea agreement, cruise ships are legally required to undergo out-of-water structural and mechanical inspections twice every five years. Carnival Splendor had her last major dry dock in August 2024.

If the shipyard needs 20 or 25 days instead of 15 to take care of some heavy engineering overhauls, like servicing propulsion pods or thrusters, the September 1 cruise becomes questionable.

And no one wants a last-minute cruise cancellation, so this year in advance decision is the best alternative.

These pushbacks in the dry dock timeline can also be affected by another ship in dry dock scheduled before Carnival Splendor. Any delays in those ships pushes back the entire maintenance window.

What Carnival Is Offering Impacted Guests

These cancellations don’t come without attractive alternatives. Carnival is giving impacted cruisers two different options, which must be selected by July 3, 2026:

• Option 1 (The Transfer): Guests can change their booking to a comparable sailing in a similar cabin category. Carnival will protect the original cruise fare, meaning if prices have gone up since you booked, you won’t pay the difference. To sweeten the deal, they are throwing in an onboard credit of $50 AUD per person, capped at $100 AUD per stateroom.
• Option 2 (The Full Refund): If you just want your money back, you do not need to take any action. After July 3, 2026, Carnival will automatically process a full refund of the cruise fare and any pre-purchased packages, like Wi-Fi, beverages, or shore excursions, back to the original form of payment.

In the notification Carnival stated to impacted guests, “We apologise for this disappointing news, but we have a variety of alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of fun. Our team is ready to discuss options and rebook you on another voyage right away.”

This is the second major scheduling changeup for Carnival Splendor in the 2027 season.  An October 2027 sailing was also canceled due to a full-ship private charter.