Diplomacy

The mystery surrounding a Carnival Horizon cruise passenger who never came back to her cruise ship before the vessel left port last week has taken a new turn. Authorities now believe the woman is not missing but has chosen to stay in Bonaire and wishes to left alone.

Initial Disappearance

Jessica Collins, 47, was a passenger on Carnival Horizon during its port stop in Kralendijk, Bonaire, on September 17. 

She was last seen leaving the ship carrying a gray backpack, wearing a shirt with “unrecognizable figures” and light blue shorts.  When she failed to re-board, a full-scale search was launched by local police, coast guard, and volunteers.

Initial news reports described her as a missing person, stating that she was traveling alone and had taken her identification documents with her, but left her luggage behind. 

Police released security camera images and asked the public for help in finding her.

Online Speculation and the Truth

As the search went on, online speculation started stirring that the missing woman was the same Jessica Leigh Collins who has publicly claimed to be a victim in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

This unverified connection was fueled by a social media post from a friend of Jessica Leigh Collins, which added to the mystery and guessing game surrounding the disappearance.

However, Carnival Cruise Line has now clarified that Collins took deliberate actions to stay in Bonaire.

In a statement, the cruise line revealed that she emptied her stateroom, left a cash tip for her attendant, and sent a text message to a member of the Carnival Care Team. In the message, she reportedly stated that she was safe and did not want to be found or contacted again.

“While we are cooperating with local authorities, this guest appears to have taken deliberate action to be alone and on her own,” the cruise line stated.

The case has changed from a missing person investigation to a case of deliberate choice.  So, the good news is that the woman is no longer considered missing.  But this does bring up some questions about skipping the ship on purpose.

Some cruise lines may issue hefty fines—sometimes as much as $900 to $1,000—and passengers who walk away mid-cruise could even find themselves banned from sailing with the company again.

The cruise lines are required to follow strict rules and laws about passenger travel, so it’s not as simple or harmless as just deciding to stay behind for a longer vacation in port.

If someone is thinking about trying this, they need to let the cruise line know and go through proper procedures, but even then, penalties and bans are a risk.

While choosing not to return to the ship and stay in a port while on a cruise is not considered a legal or advised way to immigrate, U.S. citizens can stay in Bonaire for a limited time and may be able to apply for a residence permit once on the island.

Carnival Horizon was not delayed and has since returned to its homeport in Miami.

For most people, a cruise vacation is a chance to get away from it all and just relax.  But for more than a dozen cruise passengers, their actual vehicle was the thing that got away.

According to news reports, a major car heist unfolded over the weekend of September 9-10, when 17 vehicles were stolen from a secure parking facility used for cruise travelers in Southampton, one of the UK’s busiest cruise ports.

Southampton Cruise Parking Services, located on First Avenue in Millbrook, offers parking for those embarking on cruises from the city, but this incident has caused some to question the facility’s security.

Despite advertised security measures such as 24-hour CCTV surveillance, onsite patrols, secure fencing, and prominent risk disclaimers, the car thieves carried out what appears to be a highly organized theft.

How they managed to bypass these layers of security remains unclear, raising concerns among authorities and the public.

Southampton is a key cruise port for several major cruise lines popular with American travelers including Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Cunard, and P&O Cruises. These cruise lines offer a variety of itineraries sailing from Southampton to destinations like the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the British Isles, and even transatlantic crossings to the U.S.

These cruises often have a duration from one to two weeks, bringing thousands of cruisers who rely heavily on secure parking as they sail from Southampton.

Police have urged anyone with information to contact them or provide anonymous tips via Crimestoppers. Vehicle owners who parked at the facility during the weekend of the thefts are encouraged to report any information immediately.

Southampton Cruise Parking Services has yet to issue a statement but faces a lot of questions as this case puts a spotlight on their security.

The ongoing investigation may lead to other cruise ports raising their standards of security as well.

As of now, no arrests have been announced, and police have not released details on how the thieves were able to bypass the facility’s security.

Margaritaville at Sea continues to expand and the cruise line announced this morning that they will have a ship sailing from Miami year-round starting in 2027.

Beachcomber will sail from the Cruise Capital of the World, PortMiami, starting in 2027 offering a variety of four- to eight-night cruises to the Caribbean.

The first cruises on Beachcomber out of Miami are now open for bookings. The majority of the sailings will be seven-night cruises to the Caribbean.

Cruise ports the ship will visit on cruises from Miami include:

• Philipsburg, St. Maarten
• St. Thomas, USVI
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
• Bimini, Bahamas
• Oranjestad, Aruba
• Kralendijk, Bonaire
• Willemstad, Curaçao

This will be the third homeport in Florida for Margaritaville at Sea, the cruise line currently sails from the Port of Palm Beach and Tampa.

Beachcomber will be the largest ship in Margaritaville’s fleet at over 100,000 gross tons once it moves over from Costa Cruises.

The ship will feature more than 15 brand-new venues along with fan-favorite activities, reimagined dining, upgraded staterooms, and more.

Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Line, gave the following statement about this new ship sailing from Miami:

“In just a few short years, we’ve gone from one ship and one itinerary to three homeports, three distinct ships, and over 25 amazing Ports of Indecision throughout the Caribbean.

“The arrival of Beachcomber in PortMiami is the next big chapter in our growth, giving our guests greater accessibility, more horizons to explore, and more time to unwind.”

Brad Schwaeble, Chief Operating Officer of Margaritaville, added:

“The debut of Beachcomber in PortMiami is a clear reflection of how Margaritaville continues to grow in bold and meaningful ways. This ship brings our brand’s signature energy and spirit of adventure to life on a larger scale, offering guests even more ways to experience the Margaritaville state of mind at sea.”

Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, returned to PortMiami on the very day it had just left the port after a fight onboard left multiple guests injured.

According to news reports and a statement from the cruise line, the adults involved in the fight received medical care from the ship’s medical staff. When the ship docked, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel were also called in to assist.

“Our team provided medical care to adult guests who were involved in an altercation onboard, and the guests are being treated for their injuries,” Royal Caribbean stated.

“We notified local authorities and are working closely with them. As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no more information to share at this time.”

What Happened Onboard

Details around what triggered the fight remain unclear. The incident occurred early in the sailing, which had just set sail from Miami and was scheduled to visit two stops in the Bahamas before returning on Friday.

Apparently, the injuries were bad enough to force the captain to make the call to return to Miami just shortly after leaving port.  Initial reports stated that two passengers required hospitalization.

Some social media reports have stated one passenger may have broken an ankle and the altercation might have taken place near the pool.

Royal Caribbean has said the altercation was between a small group of passengers.

I’m currently aboard Wonder of the Seas. Ship had to turn around and go back to port because of a medical emergency. Cabin next door says there was a fight at the pool and it appears someone was injured bad enough to require hospitalization. pic.twitter.com/qHgBy7T9Pu

— Doug Quixote-sama (@DeTroyes1) September 16, 2025

Law Enforcement Response

Miami-Dade Police and the U.S. Coast Guard were notified of the incident. Authorities have not released the names of those involved or confirmed whether any arrests were made. The investigation remains ongoing.

Cruise lines emphasize strict codes of conduct, and serious fights like this can potentially lead to passengers being banned from the cruise line for life.

Royal Caribbean has not yet indicated whether any passengers will be disembarked due to this incident but confirmed they are assisting investigators.

Wonder of the Seas is currently visiting the cruise line’s private destination at Perfect Day at CocoCay on a 4-day sailing out of PortMiami.

Carnival Cruise Line continues to roll out new cruises for 2027-2028 and today they announced their first ever dedicated series of cruises to Hawaii.

These newly announced cruises leave from three homeports in the U.S.: Long Beach, Norfolk and Baltimore.

The cruise line is moving Carnival Freedom to Norfolk while extending Carnival Pride’s service in Baltimore.

Long Beach

Carnival Legend will move to Long Beach, California from October 2027 through April 2028. The ship will offer ten 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises to Hawaii from the port.

These cruises will visit Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Hilo and Kona, plus a stop in Ensenada, Mexico.

In addition to the cruises to Hawaii, Carnival Legend will also sail six- and eight-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera with calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Ensenada.

Norfolk

Carnival Freedom will start sailing from Norfolk on May 23, 2027 and will launch the most diverse cruise program ever offered from the region.

Highlights of cruises offered on Carnival Freedom include six-day Bahamas cruises calling on Celebration Key, Nassau, and Bimini, as well as six-day Bermuda cruises offering guests two days to visit the beautiful island.

Eight-day Eastern Caribbean voyages feature Amber Cove, Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk.

Carnival Freedom will also offer eight-day Canada cruises with stops in Halifax, Sydney, Saint John or Charlottetown.

Baltimore

Carnival Pride will continue to sail from Baltimore and offer cruises that range from seven- to 14-days in length.

The ship will offer several itineraries on seven-night cruises to The Bahamas. Port stops include Celebration Key, Nassau, Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays.

Extended nine-, 12-, and 14-day Carnival Journeys voyages to destinations including Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Tortola and Martinique will also be offered on Carnival Pride.

Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president, said the following:

“This update to our 2027/28 represents important pieces of our strategy to deliver more fun experiences that only Carnival can offer. With fun on the move, we’re creating new options – a newer ship for Norfolk and a new series dedicated to Hawaii sailings from Long Beach are both great examples of that.

“We’re also continuing our commitments in all our homeports, and Carnival Pride’s year-round deployment in Baltimore is a testament to that as well.

“From Baltimore to Norfolk and Long Beach, we’re proud to bring guests more opportunities to depart closer to home on itineraries that feature incredible destinations.”

Oceania Cruises has just announced one of its most interesting itineraries yet—a 96-day voyage from Auckland to Rome aboard Oceania Vista.  And since the cruise departs on January 4, 2028, travelers have plenty of time to make preparations.

Marketed as The Best of East & West, this luxury sailing visits more than 50 ports across Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, with fares starting at $37,999 per passenger.

Sailing Details

• Ship: Oceania Vista
• Duration: 96 days
• Route: Auckland, New Zealand to Rome, Italy
• Departure: January 4, 2028
• Arrival: April 9, 2028
• Starting Fares: From $37,999 per guest
• Special Offer (Your World Included™):
  • All Specialty Dining
  • Shipboard Gratuities
  • Unlimited Wi-Fi
  • Choice of Complimentary Drinks or $4,800 Shore Excursion Credit

From New Zealand’s Fjords to Australia

The cruise begins in Auckland before sailing to Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, and the Milford Sound fjords. Crossing into Australia, these passengers will explore Tasmania, Sydney, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, and Perth.

Through Southeast Asia

The cruise then sails north into Indonesia, with multi-day visits to Bali, Lombok, Komodo, and Java. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand follow, offering everything from Penang’s UNESCO-listed streets to Phuket’s beaches.

India and the Middle East

Mid-voyage, Vista will visit Cochin, Mumbai, and Goa, before steering toward the Arabian Gulf. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, travelers can explore the modern development of the region, while Oman and Saudi Arabia show off their own cultural heritage. The Suez Canal crossing will lead to visits to Egypt, including Luxor and Alexandria.

Europe’s Capitals and Islands

The closing weeks of the 96-day sailing visit Europe, stopping in Istanbul, Troy, and Ephesus in Turkey; several Greek islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Athens; and Adriatic jewels like Kotor and Dubrovnik.

In the Mediterranean, travelers will call at Malta, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast before disembarking in Rome on April 9, 2028.

Other Announcements from Oceania

In addition to the new 96-day Grand Voyage, Oceania Cruises’ press release today included several other announcements about its 2027-2028 collection.

• First Winter Mediterranean Season: The newest ship, Oceania Allura, will sail the company’s first-ever winter season in the Mediterranean from November 2027 to March 2028.
• Return to Alaska: The Oceania Riviera is set to return to Alaska, offering a variety of itineraries.
• Fleet Retirement: The press release announced that the Oceania Insignia will be retired in November 2027, following a farewell tour.
• Grand Voyage: The company also highlighted a second Grand Voyage on the Oceania Vista: a 59-day trip from Miami to Sydney.
• Enhanced Inclusions: A new option has been added to the “Your World Included” program, allowing guests to choose between a complimentary wine and beer package or a shore excursion credit.