Posts in category: Diplomacy

Most of us go on cruises to get away from it all, especially work.  But according to a recent social media post, some guests were bringing work with them on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and pitching health products to other cruisers.

A reddit user took to the platform to ask if there was “a mutli-level marketing group on Wonder right now” after being “bombarded” with sales pitches.

What was supposed to be a relaxing cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas turned into a series of unwanted sales pitches for one passenger this week.

A cruiser shared their frustration on Reddit after being repeatedly targeted by fellow passengers selling “stem cell patches.”

“I Guess If it Were Me…”

The passenger, who is currently cruising in a walking boot, believes their injury may have made them an “easy mark” for representatives of a multi-level marketing (MLM) group on board.

“I have never in my life been bombarded with as many sales pitches for stem cell patches as I have on this trip,” the cruiser wrote. “In fact, I have never experienced it on any previous cruises.“

The interactions reportedly took place on the pool deck. The passenger stated,

“As I was sitting with my kids, enjoying the pool deck, the last frustrated gal to pitch me left me with ‘I guess if it were me, I’d be willing to do anything to get healthy for my kids….’ before walking away. Yuck.”

Identifying the Group

Reddit users went into investigation mode and began searching for the possible source of the high-pressure sales pitches.

One user located a “Bahamas Luxury Cruise” event for “brand partners” of the company LifeWave, scheduled for February 8–13, the same dates as the current sailing.

LifeWave is a multi-level marketing company founded in 2004 that sells phototherapy patches.

Another passenger, apparently confirmed the connection to the company, saying, “My wife’s aunt does that… and was just posting about being on a Royal cruise! I just checked and she’s on the Wonder of the Seas right now!”

Royal Caribbean’s Stance on Solicitation

Royal Caribbean’s official Guest Conduct Policy is clear on “inappropriate or abusive behavior.”

The policy states that guests are expected to be respectful and that “inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted,” which specifically includes “uninvited physical contact, solicitation, [and] harassment” among other things.

The policy also covers banners and flyers.  Passengers are not allowed to “place materials (including signs, banners, decorations, etc.) anywhere on the exterior of the ship, or anywhere on the interior of the ship (including stateroom doors, along corridors, etc.) without the express permission of ship management.”

Cruisers in the thread were pretty much unanimous in what the traveler should do next. “I would report them to guest services,” wrote one user. “No one should be soliciting you while on your vacation.”

Large Group Cruises

If you’ve been cruising for any length of time, chances are you’ve been on a large group cruise without even knowing it, unless you happened to notice 100 or more people wearing the same t-shirts.

Most of the time, especially on a large ship like Wonder of the Seas, these group’s activities go largely unnoticed. 

Other times, a large group cruise can change the entire feel of the vacation. I went on a cruise a while back that was a large group cruise for a certain brand of music, and it felt like more than 50% of the ship was in on it and half the lounges on the ship were reserved for this group.

If you want to check if your next vacation might overlap with a large group there are a few things you can do:

• Search for Event Calendars: Use a search engine to look for “Ship Name + Date + Group” or “Ship Name + Date + Convention.”
• Check “Theme Cruise” Trackers: Websites like Theme Cruise Finder list many large-scale organized events.
• The “Roll Call” Test: Check the “Roll Call” for your ship and sailing date on forums like Cruise Critic or even on Facebook. If a group of 500+ people is coming, the regulars usually know about it.

Bottom Line

Don’t be “that guy” that uses a cruise vacation to advertise your business or company.  Besides being a pain to others around you who just want to get away from it all, you might be breaking cruise line policy as well.

For the frustrated passenger on Wonder of the Seas, the discovery that this was a specific group event was a relief. “I was hoping it was a specific cruise thing and not just how it is now. I’d have to stop cruising,” they wrote.

The parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced a new CEO.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has appointed John W. Chidsey as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Chidsey was a former CEO of Subway and Burger King.

According to a press release from the company, the Board of Directors appointed Chidsey to the role effective immediately, replacing Harry Sommer.

The press release states that Chidsey has a deep history with the company, having served on the Board of Directors for almost 10 years.

According to Stella David, the chairperson of the Board:

“John has demonstrated his ability to lead businesses through meaningful transformation with a focus on operational rigor and accountability… We are excited for John to assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer and are confident his leadership will enhance execution, strengthen financial performance, reduce leverage and drive long-term shareholder value.“

During his five years at Subway, Chidsey was credited with modernizing the brand and strengthening its “long-term growth trajectory.”

Norwegian is looking for that same magic. The company said that Chidsey is uniquely qualified to lead “pivotal moments” by restoring discipline and improving performance.

Chidsey stated:

“I am honored to take on the role of President and Chief Executive Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. I look forward to building upon the solid foundation already in place, laid out by the Company’s award-winning brands, dedicated team and crew members, and loyal guests. In my new position, my priority will be to partner with the Board and management team to sharpen execution, improve performance, and continue providing exceptional vacation experiences while delivering durable, long-term value creation.”

The company is set to release its full 2025 financial report on March 2, 2026, so this will be Chidsey’s first major opportunity to lay out his specific vision for the future of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection became the first cruise line to be awarded a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide.

Ritz-Carlton’s second yacht, Ilma, earned the distincted milestone in the 2026 Star Awards by Forbes Travel Guide.

Ilma’s Five-Star recognition reflects The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s commitment to delivering a highly personalized and refined experience at sea, where thoughtful design, service, and space work in harmony.

The ship offers one of the highest space and employee-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry. The ship accommodates up to 448 guests in 224 suites, each with their own private ocean-view terrace.

Ernesto Fara, President & CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, gave the following statement:

“From day one, we set out to redefine travel at sea through a highly personalized approach rooted in service, care, and attention to detail.

“Ilma’s recognition as an industry first underscores a new era of ultra-luxury voyages and reflects years of dedication from our Ladies and Gentlemen, both on board and ashore, who deliver exceptional experiences for our guests every day.”

Amanda Frasier, President of Ratings, Forbes Travel Guide, added:

“Our coveted Five-Star award is not given; it is earned through our exacting, incognito evaluation process.

“The Five-Star recognition is not just about delivering an exceptional guest experience, but about delivering it consistently from reservation service to disembarking – earning the guest’s trust and confidence. This doesn’t occur by happenstance, but through dedication and coordination. We congratulate the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection on this impressive achievement.”

A recent check of the CDC’s website for cruise ship inspection scores revealed that three luxury vessels received a perfect 100 before closing out 2025.

Sometimes these reports are delayed on the website, and I check it regularly to see what ships have been inspected in recent history.  This morning, I saw that some of these reports from inspections performed a couple months ago were now live.

While most people are walking around their cruise ship and enjoying their vacation, there is a group a very hard-working crew members making sure everything from the galley to the water systems remain as clean as possible.

Three ships, in the more luxurious category of cruising, earned a perfect score from the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).

Perfect Trio

The surprise inspections take place when a ship enters a U.S. port.   These three inspections took place within just a few days of each other.

• Seabourn Encore (Seabourn Cruise Line) – December 2, 2025
• Oceania Vista (Oceania Cruises) – December 3, 2025
• Seven Seas Grandeur (Regent Seven Seas) – December 4, 2025

Historic Inspection Scores

I also looked back at the past inspection scores for all three ships, and one ship’s scores really stood out.

Oceania Vista (built in 2023): This ship has maintained a streak of perfection, earning a perfect 100 in every single CDC inspection since its debut, with perfect scores in September 2023, December 2024, May 2025, and December 2025.

Seven Seas Grandeur (built in 2023): Grandeur previously earned a 100 in October 2024 and a strong 96 in February 2024.

Seabourn Encore (built in 2016): This Seabourn ship saw a jump in its score at the end of the year, climbing to a perfect 100 in December after a previous score of 90 in April 2025.

Where These Ships Sail Now

While cruise ship inspections take place in U.S. ports, these ships sail all over the world.

Oceania Vista is currently on a 77-day sailing that began in California, and is now sailing the coastline of South America, visiting Chile for the next week.  The ship is scheduled to arrive back in San Diego in early March.

Seabourn Encore is on the other end of the globe on a 14-day sailing out of Singapore.  The ship visits Vietnam tomorrow and is scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong on February 15.

Passengers on Seven Seas Grandeur are just ending their one-way, 16-day sailing from Los Angeles, California to PortMiami in Florida.  The ship actually just arrived this morning and is set to depart Miami on an 11-day sailing this afternoon.

Disney Cruise Line released their ship deployments for the summer of 2027 today that include Disney Wish sailing in Europe for the first time.

These newly announced cruises will open for bookings for Castaway Cay Club members on February 16, 2026 and to the general public a week later on February 23, 2026.

The cruises will visit the Caribbean, Alaska, Asia and Europe with select sailings having Marvel Day at Sea or Pixar Day at Sea.

Here is a look at Disney Cruise Line’s 2027 summer deployments.

Disney Wish will offer three- to ten-night cruises in Europe that include visits to Italy, Croatia and Norway.

Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will sail to Alaska from Vancouver. Both cruise ships will offer seven-night itineraries with Disney Magic also having six- and eight-night options.

Disney Dream will return to Port Canaveral for the summer of 2027. The ship will sail three- and four-night cruises to The Bahamas. The cruises will visit the cruise line’s private ports in The Bahamas, Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point.

Disney Fantasy will continue sailing from Port Canaveral on four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean. The ship will also offer a 10-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean.

Disney Treasure will sail week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral.

Disney Destiny will offer three-, four-, five-, and seven-night cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean from Port Everglades. Select voyages will include visits to both Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Disney Adventure, the cruise line’s largest ship, will continue sailing from Singapore on three- and four-night cruises. The sailings will have no port stops.

Marvel Day at Sea will return to Galveston, Texas, aboard Disney Magic and, for the first time, will be featured on two seven‑night itineraries visiting The Bahamas.

Pixar Day at Sea will be available on five‑night sailings aboard Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral.

Update: Carnival Cruise Line sent the following update message to guests who are booked on the February 7, 2026 sailing on Carnival Sunshine:

“Carnival Sunshine 02/07/2026 (now departing 02/08/2026): Carnival Sunshine is expected to arrive in Norfolk tomorrow morning, Sunday, February 8. See your email for full details and revised embarkation plans.

“Follow your original Terminal Arrival Appointment for check in. You must be at the cruise terminal no later than 3:00 PM. We appreciate your patience and understanding. See you soon!”

Original Article: A Carnival cruise ship was unable to return to its homeport today due to the port being closed because of weather.

Carnival Sunshine was scheduled to arrive back in Norfolk, Virginia this morning after a six-night cruise to The Bahamas.

Due to weather, the port has been closed and the ship will not be able to return until tomorrow. The eight-night February 7, 2026 sailing will be shortened by one day.

Carnival Cruise Line is asking guests who are booked on today’s sailing to not arrive at the cruise terminal until they receive a revised embarkation timeline from the cruise line.

The latest Carnival Cruise Line update on the sailing is as follows:

“Due to unfavorable weather, the Port of Norfolk will be closed Saturday, February 7, and the ship will be delayed returning from the current voyage. We are now expecting to arrive Sunday, February 8, shortening your sailing.

“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final operational update with revised embarkation timelines.

“We will be back in touch by 3:00 PM (ET), Saturday, February 7. Please see your email for more details. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Guests who are on the cruise can sign up for text updates by texting CCL5 to 278473 (CRUISE). They should also receive email updates straight from Carnival.

Carnival said that they expect to provide the next update by 3:00 pm this afternoon.

The original eight-day February 7 sailing was scheduled to stop at Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Amber Cove, to go along with four sea days.

Cruise Fever will have all updates on today’s sailing on Carnival Sunshine when they are provided by Carnival Cruise Line.

A select group of guests, set to sail on Royal Caribbean’s ship Oasis of the Seas, have been sent a very enticing offer.  All they have to do is cancel this upcoming trip that is scheduled for February 7, 2026.

According to the letter sent to future cruisers on the first Oasis-class ship, the cruise line is “looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements.”

For travelers that still want to cruise after all those months of planning, the letter said they can just ignore the email and get ready for their cruise.  And since the cruise sets sail tomorrow, this offer would have to be for those who don’t mind some last-minute changes.

To sweeten the deal, Royal Caribbean is offering a 100% refund for the canceled cruise, on top of a pretty big future cruise credit.

“Cancel your booking and receive a 100% refund, PLUS a 50% Future Cruise Credit to book an alternative Royal Caribbean sailing,” the letter stated.

This credit towards another cruise in the future would be for 50% of what the cruise fare was for the Oasis of the Seas booking, but you can see how this kind of offer, for basically half-off a future cruise, would be tempting. 

The future sailing could be on any Royal Caribbean ship or sailing as long as it departs no later than February 7, 2027.

“Please note that this special offer is valid for a limited time and subject to availability,” Royal Caribbean’s letter stated, as not every guest received this offer and only so many slots were available.

Other Expenses Compensated

You might think this kind of offer is only attractive to those who already live in Florida right near the port in Fort Lauderdale.  

But Royal Caribbean is making sure travelers aren’t left out of pocket for the “extra” logistics that come with a big trip. The offer includes a full reimbursement for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses.  This could include things like airline change fees, non-refundable flight tickets, or prepaid hotel stays in Fort Lauderdale.

They are even refunding things like shore excursions, drink packages, and spa treatments. 

Guests interested in canceling for the full refund and half off the next cruise just had to fill out a survey to register.

The letter never stated that the ship was oversold or overbooked, but this is often the case when these types of offers go out.  Cruise lines prefer to fill every cabin, and they try to compensate for the fact that not every guest shows up for the sailing.

Oasis of the Seas is a 5,400-passenger ship at double capacity with a max capacity of around 6,700.  With that number of passengers there are almost always a few that don’t quite make it to the port on embarkation day.

Travelers who decide to cancel aren’t just canceling a weekend trip though.  The cruise in question is an 8-night sailing out of Port Everglades that sails to Aruba and Curacao as well as Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay.

The decision to cancel an 8-day cruise at the last-minute isn’t an easy one, but getting all of your cruise fare back on top of a future cruise that’s 50% cheaper would be tempting for most. 

We don’t know how many guests received the email from the cruise line, but it was only sent to a select number of people.