Diplomacy

A cruise ship crew member on the Sun Princess is missing after reportedly going overboard on Wednesday, Princess Cruises confirmed in a letter to passengers. The incident occurred while the ship was sailing toward Istanbul, Turkey.

The incident occurred as the ship was sailing through the Dardanelles Strait after a port call in Chania, Greece.

The letter, dated August 21, 2025, from Captain Craig Street of the Sun Princess, confirmed the “deeply saddening” news. The crew member’s fall was verified after a review of the ship’s CCTV footage.

Following the overboard incident, the ship’s crew immediately initiated emergency procedures and began a coordinated search with multiple maritime search and rescue authorities.

After several hours of searching, the crew member has not yet been located. Princess Cruises has not released the identity or position of the individual at this time.

The cruise line’s assistance team is reportedly working to support the crew member’s family during this difficult situation.

The ship, which entered service in 2024, is Princess Cruises’ newest and largest ship, measuring 177,882 gross registered tons with a capacity for approximately 4,300 guests. This incident marks the first time a person has gone overboard from the vessel.

As a result of the ongoing search and coordination with local authorities, Sun Princess was directed to a position off Tekirdağ, Turkey, resulting in a change to its itinerary.

The scheduled visit to Mykonos, Greece, has been canceled, and the ship’s arrival in Istanbul will be delayed.

Passengers were informed that the ship is now expected to arrive in Istanbul at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 22, and that they should be back on board by 11:30 PM. The ship’s arrival in Athens on Saturday, August 23, is currently scheduled to remain unchanged.

In response to the canceled port call, Princess Cruises is automatically refunding all pre-booked shore excursions for Mykonos to guests’ shipboard accounts. Guests who had booked half-day tours for the canceled port of call were informed that updated meeting times for those tours would be sent to their staterooms.

The letter also noted that the ship’s Tour Office and Shore Excursions Desk would have limited hours.

The cruise line is also providing support for passengers affected by the event. The letter offers access to “specially trained counselors” and provides a phone number for guests who wish to speak with one.

The news of the incident has been widely shared on social media, with many users expressing their condolences and support for the missing crew member and their family.

The letter from Captain Street concluded with a message of reassurance to passengers, stating that the “safety and well-being of our guests and crew members remains our highest priority.” The crew asked for passengers’ “support and patience” during this challenging time. The cruise line has confirmed that it will continue to work with local authorities as the investigation into the incident proceeds.

Cruise passengers on Carnival Panorama experienced a dramatic night as a tropical storm swept through the Gulf of California. Social media posts and videos have revealed just how much movement the 133,500 gross ton vessel was facing as the ship was on the third night of its 7-day Mexican Riviera itinerary.

While most of the cruise industry is focused on the impact of Hurricane Erin on the East Coast of the U.S., it was a storm on the opposite side of the continent that disrupted at least one Carnival cruise.

A TikTok video posted by user queens_roost showed the aftermath in a dining area, with broken plates scattered across the floor.

The caption stated, “We just finished our appetizer… we got stuck in the eye of tonight’s #gulfofcalifornia huge tropical storm. It was wild and absolutley gorgous!”

The post also indicated that Carnival Panorama was located between Mazatlan and La Paz and that medics had been called, expressing hope that everyone was safe.

@queens_roost We just finished our appetizer… we got stuck in the eye of tonight’s #gulfofcalifornia huge tropical storm. It was wild and absolutley gorgous! Between Mazatlan and La Paz There were medics called so I hope everyone is ok. @Carnival Panorama @carnival #cruise #travel #storm #weather ♬ original sound – Queens Roost

Another TikTok video showed a spa jacuzzi with water spilling out and the text overlay: “POV you’re relaxing after dinner on a thermal lounger and a storm hits so bad the ship lists and the jacuzzi spills out.” The video’s caption also mentioned that “all the pools are empty,” and that “water [is] dripping from ceilings and elevators.”

The user described the experience as “honestly it’s pretty scary,” and noted they were staying in their room, hoping the storm would end soon.

@joyaumann Pretty scary storm tonight between Mazatlan and La Paz. #carnivalcruise #carnivalpanorama ♬ Daylight – jeansaudios

The ship’s route, as shown by a tracking map, confirms its position in the Gulf of California, aligning with the passenger reports.

According to the cruise schedule, Carnival Panorama departed Los Angeles on August 16th, with a stop in Mazatlan on August 20th. The tilting of the ship appears to have occurred as the ship was sailing towards its next scheduled port of call, La Paz.

More details emerged on a Carnival Panorama cruise group on Facebook. A post expressed concern, stating the user was “told the ship was tilting to one side after hitting a major thunderstorm off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico!”

The post mentioned hearing reports of people being stuck in elevators and the ship’s Celestial Show being abruptly halted.

One comment on the post from a person reportedly in the Havana section of the ship, noted water reaching several inches above balcony sliding doors and shattered glass at an outside bar, but assured that “all is ok.”

Several comments expressed relief that they were not on the current sailing, while others shared their own experiences with rough seas on previous cruises.

Bebe Grant, who appears to be a current passenger, commented, “Thank you we’re ok and it was very scary.” Shan Lee later added a reassuring note, stating, “Everything is fine- the ships stabilized and things are cleaned up quickly!”

While the experience was no doubt pretty scary for those onboard, the latest reports from passengers suggest the situation has stabilized and cleanup efforts are underway as the ship continues its journey to La Paz.

After all the planning that goes into a once-in-a-lifetime trip, it can be the little things that derail all those hopes and dreams.  I hope this can be a wakeup call for those who might not have looked at their passports in a while.

A honeymoon for one newlywed couple was ruined before it even began, all because of a passport issue. While the couple was not going on a cruise, it’s a good reminder for anyone planning to set sail in the future.

According to news reports, newlyweds Joe and Beccy Barnes had just gotten married and were ready for a romantic, all-inclusive getaway to a resort in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. They arrived at the airport with their bags packed and spirits high, only to be denied boarding for their flight.

The couple had booked a five-day, all-inclusive package with TUI, a massive global travel company. TUI operates its own airlines, hotels, and, most importantly for cruisers, at least 18 cruise ships across three brands.

TUI’s cruise brands, which include Marella Cruises in the UK, TUI Cruises in Germany (a joint venture with Royal Caribbean), and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises are well-known for their all-inclusive “fly-and-cruise” packages.

The Problem

After trying to check-in at East Midlands Airport in England, the couple was greeted with bad news. A TUI agent discovered what was described as a “very badly damaged” passport belonging to Joe.

The issue: a small 1cm rip on the upper right-hand corner of the photo page, along with what staff claimed was water damage and a taped-up cover.

Joe, a 35-year-old forklift driver couldn’t believe it. He had flown with a different airline, Jet2, on the same passport just three weeks prior with no issues.

“We got to the front check-in desk and the woman said you’ve got a slight rip in your passport page. I need to go talk to my manager,” Joe said. “She said ‘yeah there’s a rip in it‘”.

Despite explaining the situation and his recent wedding, Joe said that TUI wouldn’t budge, and in his words stated, “Do not let this man travel.”

“My wife was absolutely devastated”, Joe commented. “It was a horrible feeling. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go through this.”

The couple spent two hours at the airport before heading home, losing their entire £1,200 (about $1,600 U.S. dollars).

Reminder for Cruisers

This story should remind every future cruiser to make sure these documents are in order and in good condition, especially if there are plans to fly internationally.  The same rules that TUI followed for this flight can apply just as much to your cruise.

• Your Passport Is Checked Twice (or More): If you’re flying to your departure port, the airline will check your passport before you even get on the plane. Once you arrive, the cruise line will conduct its own inspection before allowing you to board the ship.
• Port Authorities Have the Final Say: On an international cruise, you’ll be visiting multiple countries. Immigration officials in each port of call can inspect your passport. A damaged document could lead to you being denied entry into a country.
• It’s Just Not Worth the Risk: What one agent sees a minor flaw, another can see as a major security issue. The cost of a replacement passport is cheap compared to the cost of a missed flight or cruise.

Joe and Beccy are now left to try and salvage what they can of their honeymoon. Joe’s warning to other travelers is a simple one:

“I would warn people to get their passport checked, even if there’s a slight mark on it.”

As far as some type of insurance covering the trip, Joe said, “It’s looking doubtful that insurance will cover it. It’s quite unlikely. We’re just going to try and book something later on.”

Oceania Cruises has announced a once-in-a-lifetime cruise that will depart from Sydney, Australia in 2027 and end in London, England 129 days later.

Oceania Cruises’ new Kangaroo Route will be an epic adventure that will visit 34 countries, four continents, and more than 80 ports.

The cruise will take place on Oceania Vista and depart from Sydney, Australia on February 26, 2027.

The cruise will feature overnight stays in the following ports:

• Cairns
• Shanghai
• Tokyo
• Singapore
• Mumbai
• Luxor
• Bordeaux

The cruise starts off sailing along the coast of Australia before heading to Asia for two months.

After spending time in Asia, the cruise ship will visit the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha) before a journey to mythical Egypt.

Once the ship is in the Mediterranean, it will visit ports in Greece, Croatia, Italy, France and Spain.

The epic voyage will conclude on in London after 129 days of exploring the world.

The cruise starts at $54,999 per person and includes the following amenities:

• Choice of free drinks or a generous shore excursion credit
• Unlimited WiFi
• Shipboard gratuities
• All gourmet dining
• Exclusive shoreside events
• Free visa package
• Free luggage delivery
• View Prices and Cruises on Oceania

The cruise line is also offering three additional itineraries that can extend to the trip up to 244 days or a shorter 127-day option.

Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises, said the following about this epic cruise:

“Our new Kangaroo Route, crafted from the epic 2027 Around the World cruise, is much more than a voyage – it’s a rare invitation to experience a vast part of the world with the comfort, warmth, sophistication and exceptional cuisine that Oceania Cruises is renowned for.

“We’re thrilled to offer this immersive new journey of exploration in 2027, aboard Oceania Vista, spanning four and a half remarkable months. Our guests crave enriching journeys, and this itinerary has been thoughtfully designed to effortlessly blend diverse continents, vibrant cultures and authentic cuisines into one utterly unforgettable experience.”

Oceania Vista is a 1,200 passenger that boasts two crew members for every three guests.

Oceania Cruises is one of the world’s leading destination and culinary focused cruise lines.