Diplomacy

Celebrity Cruises has named the acclaimed Brazilian chef Janaína Torres as the godmother of its newest ship, Celebrity Xcel. 

Torres, who was recently honored as the Best Female Chef in the World 2024 by World’s 50 Best, is the first Brazilian chef to be appointed to this role for a major cruise line.

Quality food and dining seem to be a real focus for the cruise line, and choosing Torres for this role is more than a traditional ceremony. It is a move that links the new ship’s focus on destination-inspired food with Torres’s globally recognized cuisine.

According to a press release from the cruise line, her work is celebrated for its revolutionary “no-waste approach to cooking that blends heritage with purpose“.

We’re proud to welcome Chef Janaína Torres as the Godmother of Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Xcel! Named Best Female Chef in the World 2024, Janaína brings a heritage-driven culinary vision that aligns perfectly with Celebrity’s commitment to culture and innovation. pic.twitter.com/HX1Ipap9Bb

— Royal Caribbean Group (@NewsfromRCgroup) August 25, 2025

Celebrity Xcel, the fifth ship in the Edge Class, is designed to have a strong focus on culinary experiences that “erase the line between ship and shore“. This same focal point is at the heart of a new venue called The Bazaar, which promises to connect guests with the local culture and food of the places they visit.

Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises, mentioned this connection, saying,

 “We are honoured for Chef Janaína Torres, a trailblazer in the culinary industry, to be Godmother of Celebrity Xcel… Janaína shares our commitment to celebrating and sharing global culture through elevated culinary experiences, connecting diners with culture through unique food experiences“.

Torres herself agreed, saying, “I’ve always believed that fine dining should be accessible, not intimidating. Food brings us together, connecting us through new flavours, traditions, and shared memories“.

The official naming ceremony will take place on November 16 in Fort Lauderdale, and Cruise Fever will be present to report on the ship and the events.

Following the christening, Celebrity Xcel will begin its first season with seven-night trips from Port Everglades, alternating between destinations in The Bahamas, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands, and a separate route to Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

A major technical failure aboard MSC World Europa left the cruise ship adrift for hours before its propulsion system was “partially restored,” allowing it to limp into Naples on Monday.

The ship, which has a max capacity of 6,762 passengers, experienced the breakdown off the coast of Ponza.  The incident prompted a swift emergency response from the Italian Coast Guard.

The Breakdown

According to news reports and social media reports, MSC World Europa experienced a technical problem that brought it to a standstill. A passenger on board said the engines had been off since as early as 5:30 a.m., nearly two hours before the official report was made to the Coast Guard.

While the vessel’s generators kept all on-board services running, including pools and restaurants, the ship was unable to move under its own power.

The Italian Coast Guard, which was quickly on the scene with patrol boats and a helicopter, confirmed the ship had reported an “electrical problem with the engines.”

Built at a cost of over €1 billion ($1.16 billion USD), the World Europa is the first ship in the MSC fleet to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), a greener fuel designed to reduce emissions.

The ship was launched in December 2022 as the first World-class ship with the cruise line.

What’s Next for the Cruise

After its engines were partially restored by the on-board technical crew, the ship was expected to reach Naples around 9 p.m. local time, well behind its scheduled arrival time.

News outlets have reported that two tugboats from the ports of Gioia Tauro and Naples assisted in bringing the vessel to Naples.

This delay has impacted thousands of passengers planning to disembark or begin their trip in Naples.

MSC Cruises will be conducting a “thorough technical check” once the ship is in port. The company added that, “barring any further problems,” the ship will set sail on Tuesday morning for its next scheduled stop in Messina.

We recently asked our readers what they do with their collection of cruise cards after a cruise is over. The responses were varied and interesting, so we decided to make a list of the many intriguing ideas that came from avid cruisers.

As you may know, most cruise lines give you a card to use throughout the cruise. It’s used to open your cabin, make purchases on board, and for identification when at a port of call and coming back onto the ship.

After the cruise this card becomes a keepsake for you to do whatever you would like with it. However, not all cruise line use cards now.

Princess Cruises provides an Ocean Medallion instead of a cruise card. The adults-only Virgin Voyages has a bracelet that you use instead of a card.

Cruise cards and wearables can really add up for regular cruisers who hit the open seas on a monthly basis.

This article will detail some of the most common uses of these collectible pieces of plastic, along with some creative uses that took us by surprise.

Why save cruise cards in the first place?

For many cruisers saving their old cruise cards is a great way to remember all the wonderful trips they’ve taken around the world. It’s also a conversational piece and opens the door to some bragging rights.

After taking a lot of cruises they can all run together in your mind, so saving these cards and sifting through them now and then will trigger memories that can help brighten those days when you’re still on land.

Every cruise card represents a certain itinerary, cruise ship, destination, and group of friends. Sure, you can toss them in the trash, and I’ve done this a few times but now wish I would have saved every single one of them to add to my stack.

So, what do cruisers do with all those old cruise cards?

Here’s what our readers said.

Save and Stack Them

Whether they are stacked in a box or somewhere on a desk, some cruisers love to just pile them up. They serve as a source of amazing memories at sea, as well as a bragging right as the pile gets higher and higher.

Use Them as Bookmarks

I’ve done this a few times with my old cruise cards. They make great bookmarks, but I will admit I get distracted with old cruise memories while reading a book sometimes.

Sure, they are a tad thick for a bookmark, but you can bring an old card on your next cruise and curl up with a good book on your balcony. The sounds of the ocean really do help provide a natural white noise to engross yourself into a great novel.

Scrapbook Them

Scrapbooking old cruise cards is another popular choice. You can add some photos of your cruise along with the cruise cards so you can remember exactly where your ship went and what you did on that particular trip. This makes for a great coffee table book or conversation piece as well.

Frame Them

Just make sure you have enough room in the frame for more cruise cards if you decide to frame them. This is the ultimate bragging rights power move, but it can also be a source of inspiration for an office.

Anytime you’re frustrated at work and just need a getaway you can at least look up at the frame and remember all those great cruises you took and start planning your next one.  Use a frame with a hinge and easy access so you can keep adding to your collection.

Make Some Coasters

I’m not exactly sure how cruisers are making their cruise cards into coasters, but this was mentioned a few times in the replies. I suppose they can be cut and joined with other cards to make some unique coasters, but it would be hard for me to cut them up, personally.

Refrigerator Magnets

Even though Princess Cruises has switched from cruise cards to medallions, their cruisers have found uses for these as well. The Princess Medallions are magnetic, so you can just use them as fridge magnets as soon as you get home from your cruise.

The magnetic aspect of these medallions is not very strong so you can’t use them to hold pictures and papers on the fridge, but as they will stick to most metal surfaces you can get creative with how you display them.

Make a Table Top

If you have enough cruise cards you can cover the entire surface of a table with them and add a protective coating. This is another great conversation piece and allows you to see all of your cruises in one glance.

Christmas Ornaments

Hanging cruise cards from a Christmas tree is a popular choice for regular cruisers. You can add some festive borders or even punch some holes in them to add some lights.

Enjoying a tree decked out in cruise cards will definitely cause some “Cruise Fever” so you might have the urge to book a cruise right after you finish decorating.

Bring Them on Next Cruise

Some cruisers stated they like to bring their old cruise cards on their next cruise and use it in the card slot so they don’t have to keep taking out their current card. Just make sure you don’t leave the card in the slot with the lights on when you leave if you do this.

We also heard from some saying they bring their old cruise cards on cruises so they can decorate the room with them and remember all the great cruises they already had.

Throw Them in a Junk Drawer

For the less organized among us who still are a little sentimental the junk drawer is the collection spot of choice. But if you cruise a lot this drawer will start to get very cluttered, so you might as well do one of the above or the response below if this is you.

Trash Them

There were still a few responses saying they simply throw the cards away. I mentioned earlier that I did this a couple times and regret not having those cards now. Admittedly, I didn’t know I would be cruising this much and would want a physical way to reminisce about all of those cruises.

Note: This article was updated in August 2025.

The debate about cruising during hurricane season comes up every—well, hurricane season.  For some travelers, especially first-time cruisers, the idea of a hurricane interrupting their plans can be very stressful.

While I completely understand why it would add stress to the planning process, for me, a major storm is not just something I don’t worry about; it’s something I tend to embrace.

Just recently, Hurricane Erin caused dozens of cruise ships to alter their routes or change their schedules, affecting at least nine different cruise lines.

But as an avid cruiser, I can tell you, my favorite time to sail is during hurricane season. While others are stressing about storms and potential cancellations, I’m booking my trips, knowing that I’m likely to get a great deal and have a great time.

A recent Reddit thread titled “Hurricane Stress” perfectly captured the anxiety many people feel. A user was panicking about a last-minute trip, worried about a hurricane and the lack of travel insurance.

But the responses, from fellow cruisers and seasoned travelers, were overwhelmingly reassuring. They echoed the same sentiments I hold true: cruise lines are experts at navigating storms, and an itinerary change is a small price to pay for an incredible vacation.

Here’s why I’ve learned to “go with the flow” and embrace cruising during hurricane season:

1. Cruise Ships Can Avoid Storms

The most important thing to remember is that cruise ships are not going to sail directly into a hurricane.  Obvious, I know, but it has to be stated. 

Each cruise line has their own weather experts that track these storms and give up dates on the most recent information.  In most cases, the ship can simply go around the hurricane or sail in a different direction.

Try that with a land resort or even an Airbnb rental.  If a major storm is going to be hitting that area, the only option you have is to cancel or wish you booked a watertight bunker.

But with cruising, they will reroute the ship, change the order of port visits, or even substitute an entirely new destination to keep passengers and the vessel safe.

One commenter noted on Reddit, “You’re safer on a ship than on land where a storm may visit.”

2. Itinerary Changes Are Part of the Adventure

While a missed port might be a bummer, it’s not the end of the world.  Yes, it’s disappointing you might not get to experience that same amazing excursion you planned for months, but there’s a certain element of adventure in a “surprise destination”. 

In fact, there are even cruises that offer mystery ports where the exact destinations are not revealed until you’ve almost arrived on the ship.  You can read about how Windstar offers those sailings here.

In the Reddit thread, a one user shared their experience of a recent cruise where they lost a day in Bermuda due to a hurricane but gained an extra sea day and a different port. They still had an “amazing time.”

This “roll with the punches” mentality is key. The cruise line’s priority is to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable vacation. This often means more sea days, which are perfect for relaxing by the pool, trying out a new restaurant, or catching a show you might have missed.

3. Cancellations Mean Full Refunds

If the storm is so severe that the cruise line has to cancel the sailing, you’ll get a full refund. This is a crucial point that some don’t realize.  Even without trip insurance (which you should always have anyway by the way), you will at least get your money back to plan another vacation if the weather situation is so bad that the ship cannot sail at all.

Of course, the key is to remember that this applies only if the cruise line cancels the trip. If you choose to cancel on your own, you’re out of luck unless you have a “cancel for any reason” policy.

4. Lower Prices Allow for More Cruises

We’ve written before on the cheapest times of the year to take a cruise, and it remains true that hurricane season is one of the best times to sail from a financial perspective.  

For me, the price difference can be huge, often 30% or more compared to peak summer or holiday sailings. This isn’t just about saving money on one trip; it’s about being able to take more trips. When a one-week Caribbean cruise that would normally cost $1,500 drops to around $1,000 or less, I can afford to book more cruises.

The potential for a minor itinerary change is a small price to pay when you consider the savings.  After all, those savings can be applied to a more luxurious stateroom or an extra perk I normally wouldn’t get.

5. The Importance of Travel Insurance

This is a point I can’t stress enough, and it’s something some have to learn the hard way. While the cruise line will keep you safe on the ship, they are not responsible for your pre- and post-cruise plans. If a hurricane causes flight delays or cancelations, you could be stuck with the fallout.

Cruise travel insurance is a small price to pay for that added layer of protection. It can cover everything from flight cancellations to lost luggage, making sure your trip isn’t derailed by those pesky unexpected details that can creep up at the worst times.

In the end, my approach to cruising during hurricane season is simple: I book with the knowledge that the ship will do its best to avoid any potential storms and the itinerary is subject to change.

I make sure I have travel insurance for my own peace of mind, and I remind myself that the true purpose of a vacation is to relax and enjoy the moment, no matter where the waves take me. As one comment online wisely advised, “Don’t stress. Just enjoy.”

Royal Caribbean officially christened and named their newest and largest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, this week at Port Canaveral.

Research astronaut and payload specialist Kellie Gerardi served as the ship’s godmother and gave a traditional blessing on the new ship.

“I name this ship Star of the Seas. May God bless her, and all who sail on her.”

Congrats @RoyalCaribbean on the christening of your newest ship, Star of the Seas. pic.twitter.com/8WVFVIfpmq

— Cruise Fever (@CruiseFever) August 21, 2025

Gerardi said the following about her role as godmother to Star of the Seas:

“I’m honored to celebrate Royal Caribbean’s new Star of the Seas in such a beautiful naming ceremony as godmother – a tradition that is close to my heart and a spirit that spans both sea and space.

“A vacation on Star is the perfect combination of two of my biggest passions in life, a spirit of exploration and quality time with family, and I can’t wait for this journey to begin.”

Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, added:

“Star of the Seas represents the next bold step in our journey to reimagine vacations. It brings together the best of our innovation, signature experiences, and the most sought-after destinations into one unforgettable vacation. With Star, we’re not just launching a ship, we’re advancing our mission to create the world’s best vacations responsibly for guests of all ages.”

Star of the Seas is the second Icon class ship from Royal Caribbean, the largest class of cruise ships in the world. The vessel will homeport at Port Canaveral offering week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

All sailings will visit Royal Caribbean’s highly rated private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.